NASCAR Driver Ready to Take on Challenge of Talladega Superspeedway
FLAGLER BEACH, Fla. (April 27, 2016) – After two straight weeks of short track racing, NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Ray Black Jr. is ready to switch it up and take on the challenge of restrictor plate racing as the series hits Talladega Superspeedway this weekend. The driver of the No. 07 ScubaLife.com Chevrolet has a knack for excelling at superspeedways, collecting one Top-5 and two Top-15 finishes in three starts.
“I really enjoy restrictor plate racing,” stated Black. “Especially somewhere like Talladega, where there is such a strong history of racing. It’s an iconic southern track where some of the best racers, like the Alabama Gang, found a lot of success.”
Last year during his rookie season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Black grabbed the attention of the racing industry at Daytona International Speedway when he expertly avoided The Big One and finished fifth. He backed up that finish with a solid 14th place finish at Talladega in the fall.
Unfortunately for Black, his return to Daytona this past February with the XFINITY Series did not go as planned. He and the team are looking forward to changing their superspeedway strategy and continuing their streak of great finishes.
“We’re definitely looking to perform a lot better this time around,” Black said. “We raced in the back of the pack at Daytona thinking it would help us avoid the big wreck, but it backfired and we lost the draft and a shot at the win. I’m looking forward to racing up front this time around and grabbing a Top-5 finish!”
In addition to the change in strategy, Black also commented on the change in racing styles at Talladega.
“Talladega is a little wider and smoother than Daytona,” he explained. “You can race four wide a little easier than you can at Daytona. You also have to plan out the tri-oval a little more since the start / finish line is more towards Turn 1 than the center of the track.”
For Black, this week’s trip to Talladega also marks a time when he can return to his Alabama roots and spend some time with family, as the 24-year-old was born in Montgomery, Ala. and lived there until he moved to Florida at age nine.
“It’s cool to go back. I always enjoy getting the chance to visit with family before a race,” said Black. “I’ll head out there a little early and stay a little longer after the race to visit with my mom and sister. They’ll be at the track this weekend along with some more of my family.”
The Sparks Energy 300 will take place on Saturday, April 30 at 3:00 p.m. ET. Fans can tune in via FOX or MRN Radio for live coverage.
Fans can keep up with Ray Black Jr. by following him and his sponsor, ScubaLife, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @RayBlackJr and @TeamScubaRacing. Learn more about Ray Black Jr. and Team Scuba by visiting www.rayblackjr.com and www.teamscuba.com.
About Ray Black Jr.
Ray Black, Jr. grew up in Florida after relocating from Montgomery, Alabama at age 9. It was here that Black fell in love with deep sea diving after a couple of scuba trips with his father. His passion for motorsports came later at age 14 after playing some racing video games. He began competing in the Florida Mini Cup Racing Association (FMCRA), where finished in the Top-5 in every race and secured the FMCRA Junior All Star Championship. In 2013 Black moved up to racing pro late models and then into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2014. During that year, he got his first taste of true NASCAR racing when he competed in seven races for SS Green Light Racing. In 2015, Black competed in his first full season of NASCAR in the Camping World Truck Series, where he finished 11th in the championship standings with one Top-5 and 11 Top-15 finishes. Black will compete in the NASCAR XFINITY Series for the 2016 season. Learn more at www.rayblackjr.com.
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