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[/media-credit]MOORESVILLE, NC – June 5, 2012 – NASCAR rookie driver Ross Chastain can finally claim a first this week. For the first time in his career, the Florida teen will return to a track that he is familiar with as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series heads to the Texas Motor Speedway for the WinsStar World Casino 400k.
Last November in only his fourth career start, Chastain started 33rd at Texas before earning his first-ever lead lap finish coming home 16th. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate will return to the Texas with confidence from a strong run last year and coming off his career best qualifying effort of 12th last week at Dover.
“I feel like we’ll be a lot stronger there this year. Last year I never came off the bottom of the track, I just followed the white line around. It was my first time on a fast mile and a half and I wasn’t comfortable moving up the track,” Chastain said. “We’ll have more options this year and hopefully I’ll be more comfortable to move up if things get bottled-up at the bottom.”
“You’ve got to have your truck right if your going to able to run different lines to find that extra speed. We’re going to try to run with the guys towards the front and keep pace with them and hope to be there at the end,” Ross continued. “There are some bumps down in one and two. You have to really arch it into one to keep up your speed, if you go in too shallow you scrub-off a bunch of speed. I was able to figure that out last year, it was a steep learning curve for sure.”
Melon 1, the largest shipper of watermelons on the East Coast will adorn the hood of Chastain’s No. 08 Toyota Friday night at Texas and will be joined by the National Watermelon Promotion Board on the rear quarters.
I’m excited. We’ve had trucks capable of finishing in the top ten almost every week, but you have to put it all together to make it happen week in and week out. I can’t wait to get to Texas and have a little fun. I’m excited to have Melon 1 on our Toyota and we’re going to do our best to promote them.”
The WinStar World Casino 400k is the 277th consecutive NCWTS start for the SS Green Light Racing team and the twelfth career start for Chastain in the Truck Series. He has an average starting spot of 22.7 and an average finish of 21.6 including two top-ten finishes in his eleven previous starts.
There are 33 trucks on the entry list for the WinStar World Casino 400k, which will prelude the Indycar Firestone 550. Johnny Chapman will pilot the No. 07 for SS Green Light Racing.
Practice for the WinStar World Casino 400k will be Thursday, June 7th from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. with final practice from 1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and two laps of qualifying at 6:00 p.m. The green flag will fly in the WinStar World Casino 400k on Friday, June 8th at 8:00 p.m. All times Central. The race will be shown live on SPEED TV and will also be broadcast live via on the Motor Racing Network and on SIRIUS Satellite Radio NASCAR Channel 128-XM104.
Melon 1, Inc is one of the largest watermelon shippers in the United States with three generations of growing, handling, and shipping experience. Melon 1, Inc. represents the absolute best farmers in the United States and Mexico and is able to offer our customers a 52-week supply of watermelons. From electronic sizing to individual per unit tracking to food safety certified packing shed and farms Melon 1 is at the cutting edge of watermelon packaging and shipping. With packing sheds in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland and Delaware and our refrigerated distribution center in Hamilton, NJ, Melon 1 can reach most east coast destinations overnight and some the same day. Melon 1 continues to grow by providing customers dependable supply and excellent quality. For more information on watermelon visit the National Watermelon Promotion Board at www.watermelon.org.
For more information about SS Green Light Racing visit www.SSRacingonline.com or email pr@ssracingonline.com
