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Amber Balcaen; Rette Jones Racing Ready to Leave Their Mark at Salem Speedway

By
Official Release
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SALEM, Ind: The penultimate ARCA Menards Series race of the season is on deck for rookie Amber Balcaen and her Rette Jones Racing team and they plan to leave their mark in Saturday afternoon’s Herr’s Snacks 200 at the historic Salem (Ind.) Speedway.

After a brutal stretch of misfortune for Balcaen and her Mooresville, N.C.-based team the last several months, there appeared to be light at the end of the tunnel when she returned to her impressive top-10 form at Kansas Speedway earlier this month.

Unfortunately, an aggressive move by a part-time driver ended any hopes of back-to-back top-10 finishes for Balcaen and her No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion team in the series’ most recent race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

The tough finish has angered the driver and team who are determined to bounce back and fight for the respect they deserve on the track not only this weekend at Salem but in next Saturday afternoon’s season finale at Toledo Speedway.

“As I mentioned at Bristol, I’m sick of us being taken out because people think they can just run us over or take us out for whatever they feel their reason is,” said Balcaen. “I have worked hard to get to the ARCA Menards Series. My team busts their behinds to bring me fast No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusions each race and our sponsor doesn’t deserve us not seeing the checkered flag.

“I have no problem with racing people clean and I’ll race them with respect as long as they show me respect, but we don’t need any more races to end with us in the garage and we’re going to stand our ground even at a tough and demanding short track like Salem Speedway.”

Balcaen has never been to the Southern Indiana race track, but she has had many conversations with her crew chief and co-car owner Mark Rette who has enjoyed prior success at the half-mile short track in the past.

She hopes his leadership will lead to her fifth top-10 finish of the 2022 ARCA Menards Series season.

“I don’t know much about Salem Speedway but from the looks of it, it has similar characteristics to Bristol (Motor Speedway),” said Balcaen. “Being a short track with high banks, however, I know the line is much different than Bristol so should be an interesting track!”

Of course, Balcaen has been advised by Rette that the fastest way around Salem is hugging the top lane in Turns 3 and 4. And if you survive Salem without claiming the famed “Salem Stripe,” you might not be circling the track fast enough.

“I’m prepared to earn my Salem Stripe this weekend,” Balcaen expressed. “I will ease up into that high lane with coaching from Mark (Rette) and my spotter. I don’t want to do anything that is going to hurt us from making laps in practice and qualifying, but I’m sure the racing will be aggressive on Saturday and the stripe will be well earned.”

With just two races on deck, including the season-finale at Toledo Speedway on October 8, Balcaen looks to end her freshman season on the tour with some confidence on her side.

Despite the bad luck that has seemed to shadow her and the team for much of the year, the team has been able to compensate with talent and speed which allowed Balcaen to embrace new tracks with strong practice and qualifying efforts even if the box score doesn’t show favorable results.

“It is very encouraging that we have shown speed over the last couple of months, but I really want to get some good finishes over the next couple of weeks,” added Balcaen. “We’ve endured enough bad luck throughout the year, it’s time for good luck to fall our way and carry some momentum into the offseason.”

With top-10 finishes at both ARCA races at Kansas, Iowa Speedway and a career-high seventh place result at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway in May, Balcaen is hopeful for her fifth top-10 finish.

“I really want to get us back in the top-10 this weekend,” she said. “That is the goal for the next two races, finish inside the top-10 and collect as many points as possible.

“I’d love to get ourselves back inside the top-five in the championship standings, but we will just have to wait and see if that’s even achievable.

“One thing is for sure though; our team doesn’t quit and we refuse to quit even if there are just two weeks left in the season.”

For Rette, he continues to be proud of the resilience of his young driver and believes the stretch drive to the end of the season will be the team’s strength.

“Amber is staying incredibly resilient, especially after the highs and lows of the last couple of weeks,” explained Rette. “We have just two races left on the schedule and they are very demanding short tracks, but I think Amber will adapt to them well, including Salem and contend for a solid finish.

“Salem is no piece of cake, but neither was Bristol and Amber was able to quickly get up to speed and keep that pace until she was blatantly taken out. If we can avoid the chaos and carnage that some of the short track races have showcased this season, we should be in great shape for a strong finish with our No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion.”

Amber Balcaen 05.09.22a.jpg

ICON Direct will continue to adorn the primary positions on Balcaen’s race car in their 19th of 20 races this season.

ICON Direct is a manufacturer of high-quality plastic component parts for the RV industry, located in Manitoba, Canada. ICON aftermarket replacement parts are available through RV Dealers and Distributors across North America and directly through their website IconDirect.com.

The Winnipeger’s new endeavor at Rette Jones Racing will also be supported by Glenn McLeod and Sons – cementing a full Canadian roster of partners for her ARCA Menards Series rookie season.

Longtime RJR partners Ford Performance, Goodridge Fluid Transfer Systems, Jones Group Demolition and Abatement and JRi Shocks will continue their relationship with the team in 2022 and serve as associate partners on Balcaen’s No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion.

RJR is co-owned by Canadian entrepreneur and former race car driver Terry Jones.

Entering Salem, Balcaen sits seventh in the ARCA Menards Series championship standings, 64 points out of fourth and 189 markers in the arrears to championship leader Nick Sanchez.

“Mark (Rette) and the entire RJR team have worked their butts off this year,” sounded Balcaen. “It hasn’t been easy with the schedule but they have kept plugging away to put good cars together to bring to the track for me week in and week out.

“I have learned a lot as a driver from Mark, he’s really helped improve my knowledge and skills. I get so much support from all the guys on my crew and feel they really believe in me which is super important for a team to have belief in their driver. I am very grateful for all of them.

“I want to still put together some top 10s and maybe even sneak a top-five by the end of the season. I know we have it in us. I hope we are able to recover from Bristol and I am focusing on the positives of the speed and progression we have shown to aid in both my Salem and Toledo debuts.”

For more on Amber Balcaen, please visit amberbalcaenracing.com, like her on Facebook (AmberBalcaenRacing) and follow her on Instagram (@amberbalcaen10) and Twitter (@amberbalcaen10).

For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing) or follow them on Instagram (@RetteJones30) and Twitter (@RetteJones30).

The Herr’s Snacks 200 (200 laps |100 miles) is the 19th of 20 races on the 2022 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins on Saturday, October 1, 2022, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. General Tire pole qualifying kicks off at 2:00 p.m. The event will be televised live on MAVTV and FloRacing beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities. All times are local (ET).

About Rette Jones Racing:

Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the intent of building a successful racing operation built around the fundamentals of hard work and a never-give-up attitude.

Owned by racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, RJR plan to field a full-time entry in 2022 in the ARCA Menards Series, while also planning to field vehicles in the ARCA Menards Series East and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) respectively.

The winning ARCA team also offers technical and setup intel as part of its technical alliance partnership program.

Aidan Fassnacht Ready to Close Out Successful Mazda MX-5 Cup Rookie Season With Sword Performance at Road Atlanta

By
Official Release
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Fassnacht Will Pilot the No. 15 Sword Performance Mazda MX-5 In Final Doubleheader of the 2022 Season

BRASELTON, Georgia (September 28, 2022) – A successful rookie season for Aidan Fassnacht and the No. 15 Sword Performance Mazda MX-5 has just one doubleheader remaining, this week at Road Atlanta, September 28 – 30. This week’s race event, a precursor to the Petit Le Mans endurance race, features Thursday and Friday sprints for the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup.

Thursday’s 45-minute race begins at 1:50 p.m. ET, with Friday’s taking the green flag at 9:50 a.m. ET. Both races can be seen live, streaming on IMSA.com and RACER.com.

Fassnacht enters the doubleheader with significant milestones during his first season as a professional racer. The 19-year-old marched to his first podium finish at Watkins Glen during just the seventh race of the season, and then backed it up one day later in Round Eight with his first career win. In the last race event at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR), the Boston College sophomore sat on pole position for both races.

Rounds 13 and 14 of the season have an added element this week, as the effects of weather from Hurricane Ian remain up in the air for the track just north of Atlanta. That could play to Fassnacht’s advantage, however, as he is very familiar with the 2.54-mile circuit.

“Road Atlanta is definitely my favorite track in the country,” Fassnacht said. “I’ve had the opportunity to race it several times, including in an MX-5 Cup car at the 2020 Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout, and it honestly gets better every time. With the amount of elevation changes and unique passing opportunities, it can’t help but be full of character. I have high hopes for this weekend, as I Road Atlanta is not only my favorite track but also my best, as its high commitment and technical flow sections play to my strengths well.”

The final two races give Fassnacht one final opportunity to crack the top 10 in the season-long point standings. He currently sits 14th in his McCumbee McAleer Motorsports (MMR) prepared Mazda.

“While this year has been a success, I’m still out of contention for the championship,” he said.”I still haven’t proven what I’m fully capable of. I’m still hungry. My goal is to win out here at Road Atlanta, nothing less. With MMR putting a fantastic car underneath me and Sword Performance keeping me hydrated, I’d say that is fully within the realm of possibility. I’m looking to make a statement this weekend heading into whatever is next in my career.”

Wednesday afternoon’s qualifying included technical difficulties, and as a result Fassnacht will start Thursday’s race 19th on the 25-car grid. The start is reminiscent of his Watkins Glen win, which came from the rear of the field.

In honor of the season finale, Fassnacht’s partners at Sword Performance – The Leader In Healthy Hydration – is offering a 20 percent discount on products ordered through www.DrinkSword.com with the code RACE20 at checkout. This includes SHIELD Zero, a revolutionary all-natural zero sugar, zero artificial sweetener electrolyte hydration drink, that tastes light and refreshing without the junk. Packed with the same balanced electrolyte profile and natural ingredients found in SHIELD, the real fruit flavors of SHIELD Zero satisfy and help prevent hydration all day long without creating digestive issues.

The Road Atlanta finale gets underway for Fassnacht, Sword Performance and the entire MX-5 Cup field on Wednesday, September 28, with two practice sessions and qualifying at 3:45 p.m. Thursday’s race begins at 1:50 p.m., with Friday’s season finale at 9:50 a.m. ET live on IMSA.com and Racer.com.

About Sword Performance: Sword Performance, Inc. is an American manufacturer of performance hydration beverages, built around a system of proprietary electrolyte replacement products and heat stress subject expertise. Sword Performance Inc. was founded with a purpose: to provide great-tasting, effective hydration to hard-working men and women everywhere. From stadium lights to job sites, Sword Performance hydration products are designed to work with the body to battle dehydration and fatigue. More information can be found at www.DrinkSword.com.

About Aidan Fassnacht: A second-generation professional racecar driver, 19-year-old Aidan Fassnacht is conducting the 2022 Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup for McCumbee McAleer Racing (MMR) in the No. 15 Sword Performance Mazda MX-5 Cup. Fassnacht, a student at Boston College, raced a Spec Miata in Regional and National Sports Car Club of America events for two seasons before taking on the Spec MX-5 Challenge in 2021, earning a slot in the prestigious Mazda Shootout before signing with MMR for his 2022 rookie campaign.

NASCAR betting: What has changed over the years?

By
SM
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As one of the quintessential American sports, it is little surprise that so many of the thousands of new sports betting fans across the country have eagerly started to bet on NASCAR events during the year. The high-octane setting of NASCAR racing makes it the perfect sport to bet on. With races taking place at such high speeds over the course of such a prolonged period of time, there are plenty of opportunities for big upsets, dramatic turns, and anticipated crashes. 

But for the many fans taking advantage of a risk free bet promo at NASCAR events, you might have wondered how much the sport has changed over the years. You might also have found yourself wondering how these changes impact how you place bets and wagers on NASCAR races. 

With these questions in mind, let’s take a look at how the sport has evolved over the years and what this means for NASCAR sports betting fans.

NASCAR in the last 20 years

Although for many decades it was known primarily as a sport with deep Southern roots, over the last 20 years, NASCAR has very much injected itself into the mainstream of American culture.

Nowadays, far from being a peculiarity of motorheads in the South, it is a Pan-American phenomenon with fans spread across the country and drawn from all sectors of society. In recent years, it has also attracted large corporate sponsors who compete for advertising space on the cars, around the stadium, and during race broadcasts.

This has had a profound impact on all of NASCAR, as it has led to an influx of money into the sport, while also helping to raise its profile in general.

For NASCAR teams in particular, this has been a game changer. NASCAR teams are now worth hundreds of millions of dollars, with the most expensive team — Hendrick Motorsports — worth an estimated $315m!

Needless to say, NASCAR is now big business. As a result of these changes, sports betting on NASCAR Cup Series races has never been more popular! 

Nowadays, NASCAR is among the most popular motorsports to bet on. As the number of races has expanded and the coverage of the sport has improved overall, this has also improved the state of NASCAR sports betting.

How NASCAR races play out has also been shaped by technological changes. NASCAR cars are now capable of hitting average speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour and are carefully monitored by highly advanced computer monitoring software. The cars also have a front engine design with rear-wheel drive, which helps them to generate more power and steer with more precision.

To ensure parity and fairness among the drivers, the cars are carefully regulated and monitored. This helps to ensure consistency between the cars in the series, despite being constructed by different manufacturers.

This has had an impact on how NASCAR fans place wagers on races, as there is more of an emphasis on the skill of the driver rather than the quality of the vehicle manufacturer.

Technological changes have also made the sport much safer. Particularly following the death of Dale Earnhardt in 2001, the cars are much safer and there are fewer crashes during the races. This has inevitably had an impact on how NASCAR fans bet on races, as crashes and mechanical failures are much less common.

Manufacturers are constantly working with the NASCAR authorities to ensure these high levels of safety are maintained. Even in this latest season, NASCAR has made important technical changes to try and reduce next-gen car fires.

More international attention

Another interesting way that NASCAR has developed is that it receives far more international attention than it ever has before.

Although in decades gone by NASCAR was considered an American, and more specifically Southern, pastime, this perception no longer holds true. While it does not necessarily garner as much attention as Formula 1 among international audiences, NASCAR has nevertheless developed a solid international fanbase.

International fans have fallen in love with the sport for the high-octane action it delivers. In many ways, this is unique to NASCAR as not only are there far more competitors on the track at any time, but the oval-shaped track allows drivers to reach much higher speeds and to be far more tactical with how they drive their races. This has become even more noticeable in recent years as the average NASCAR speeds have continued to rise!

In terms of how this has impacted how people bet on NASCAR, the rise of online sports betting has given this new international audience an outlet for their interests. Rather than having to rely on watching in-person races or outdated information, international fans can now easily keep up with all the latest news about the sport.

This has helped these NASCAR sports betting fans to lock in better odds and to place wagers with much greater insight.

Weekend schedule for Talladega Playoff race

By
Angie Campbell
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Photo by Corey Grantham for SpeedwayMedia.com.

NASCAR travels to Talladega Superspeedway for what may be the most unpredictable racing of the Playoffs. After four races in the Cup Series postseason, none of the eligible drivers have been to victory lane.

There are only two more opportunities to advance in the Cup Series Playoffs with the upcoming race at Talladega and next week at Charlotte Motor Speedway. So far, none of the drivers have clinched a spot in the next 8-driver round.

Five of the playoff drivers, however, have previously won at Talladega. They include Joey Logano (3), Ryan Blaney (2), Denny Hamlin (2), Ross Chastain (1) and Chase Elliott (1).

Talladega will mark the second race of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs Round of 12. Noah Gragson secured his spot in the Round of 8 last week with the win at Texas Motor Speedway.

Gragson has been impressive this season with seven trips to victory lane. He won at Talladega earlier this year and has won the last four consecutive races, tying a record set by Sam Ard in 1983. A win this weekend would set a new record in the Xfinity Series.

The Camping World Truck Series Round of 8 continues at Talladega followed by Homestead-Miami before the Championship Round of 4 begins. Ty Majeski is the only driver that has clinched a spot in the final round. To make things more interesting, one driver will make it to the last round on points, so expect the competition to be fierce.

Notes:

Press Pass Live will be available after each race.
There will be no practice sessions at Talladega.
All times are Eastern.

Friday, September 30

3:30 p.m.: Truck Series Qualifying – No TV
5:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series Qualifying – USA/NBC Sports Streaming App

Saturday, October 1

10:30 a.m.: Cup Series Qualifying –MRN/NBC Sports Streaming App
12:30 p.m.: Truck Series Chevy Silverado 250
Distance: 250.04 miles (94 Laps)
Stage 1 ends on Lap 20, Stage 2 ends on Lap 40, Final Stage ends on Lap 94
FS1/MRN/SiriusXM
The Purse: $806,669

4 p.m.: Xfinity Series Sparks 300
Distance: 300.58 miles (113 Laps)
Stage 1 Ends on Lap 25, Stage 2 Ends on Lap 50, Final Stage Ends on Lap 113
USA/MRN/SiriusXM/NBC Sports Streaming App
The Purse: $1,653,281

Sunday, October 2

2 p.m.: Cup Series YellaWood 500
Distance: 500 miles (188 Laps)
Stage 1 Ends on Lap 60, Stage 2 Ends on Lap 120, Final Stage Ends on Lap 188
NBC/MRN/SiriusXM/NBC Sports Streaming App
The Purse: $8,338,881

NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings after Texas

RankDriverPointsRace WinsStage WinsPlayoff Pts+/- Cutoff
1Joey Logano (P)3,071252537
2Ross Chastain (P)3,059252025
3Kyle Larson (P)3,057242023
4Ryan Blaney (P)3,056061422
5Denny Hamlin (P)3,049231315
6Daniel Suarez (P)3,04512711
7Chase Elliott (P)3,045454011
8Chase Briscoe (P)3,0411497
9Austin Cindric # (P)3,034116-7
10William Byron (P)3,0332415-8
11Christopher Bell (P)3,0161413-25
12Alex Bowman (P)3,015127-26

GMS Racing NCWTS Race Preview: Talladega Superspeedway

By
Official Release
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Grant Enfinger, No. 23 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet Silverado RST

Talladega Superspeedway Stats

  • NCWTS Starts: 8, Wins: 1 (2016), Best start: 2nd, Top 5s: 2, Top 10s: 3, Laps led: 96
  • ARCA Starts: 6, Poles: 1 (2014), Best finish: 3rd (2009), Top 5s: 1, Top 10s: 3, Laps led: 89

2022 NCWTS Season Stats

  • Starts: 20, Wins: 1 (IRP), Best start: 3rd, Top 5s: 7, Top 10s: 11, Laps led: 44, Current points position: 7th

— About Champion Power Equipment: Since 2003 Champion Power Equipment has earned a reputation for designing and producing the market’s finest power equipment. From our original headquarters in Santa Fe Springs, California, Champion has expanded its North American footprint to include facilities in Jackson, Tennessee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Toronto Canada. Today, Champion’s product line has expanded to include portable generators, home standby generators, inverter generators, engines, winches and log splitters. With over 2.5 million generators sold in North America, Champion is a market leader in the power equipment field. Visit ChampionPowerEquipment.com for more information.

  • Chassis History/Info: Enfinger and the No. 23 team will compete with chassis no. 141 at Talladega Superspeedway. This Chevrolet made its on-track debut in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway, where Grant ran inside the Top-10 for the majority of the event before getting swept up in a crash coming to the white flag. Saturday’s race will mark the first time that this chassis has raced at ‘Dega.
  • Sweet Home Alabama: Every time the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series rolls into Talladega, hometown fans have Grant Enfinger on pinned high on their list to cheer for. Enfinger, who grew up in nearby Fairhope, AL, has had plenty of memorable moments at his home track. In 2010, Enfinger made his first career NCWTS start at the 2.66-mile super speedway, and in 2016, he earned his first career victory in the series driving for GMS Racing. You’d better believe that this track is one of his favorite stops of the season!
  • Trackside Appearances: Fans attending Saturday’s Chevrolet Silverado 250 will have a chance to meet the hometown hero on race day at the NASCAR Trackside Live stage where he will be participating in a Q&A session from 9:30 AM – 9:45 AM local time.
  • Breast Cancer Awareness: As part of a team tradition, Grant Enfinger will be honoring several women who have been affected by breast cancer with pink ribbons lining his No. 23 Chevrolet at Talladega. The women highlighted are family members of GMS Racing employees directly associated with his team.
  • FearTheFinger Playoffs Profile: One race down, two left to go in the Round of 8 for the NCWTS playoffs. Grant and the No. 23 team have been on a hot streak since the start of the postseason, posting four Top-5 finishes in four races including a win in the opening round at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Entering Talladega, the veteran is seeded in seventh position in the points standings, currently 15 points below the cutline. - GE Quote: Enfinger ‘s thoughts on racing at his home track during the Round of 8:

“Talladega is always a special place for me, so I’ve been looking forward to this weekend for a while. Jeff Hensley and the guys have our Champion Power Equipment Chevy as prepared as we can possibly be. Speedway racing is always chaotic, but hopefully we have the speed and make the right decisions to get some valuable stage points and contend for a win. Roll Tide!”

Jack Wood, No. 24 Logitech G Chevrolet Silverado RST

Talladega Superspeedway Stats

  • NCWTS Starts: 1, Best start: 24th, Best finish: 40th (2021)
  • ARCA Starts: 1, Best start: 12th, Best finish: 11th (2021)

2022 NCWTS Season Stats

  • Starts: 20, Best start: 10th, Best finish: 13th (Atlanta), Current points position: 23rd
  • Game On: Earlier this week, GMS Racing officials announced a two-race primary sponsorship with Logitech G on Jack Wood’s No. 24 Chevrolet. One of the most iconic brands in the esports industry will be promoted by Wood at the next two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races at Talladega Superspeedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.
  • About Logitech G: Logitech G, a brand of Logitech International, is the global leader in PC and console gaming gear. Logitech G provides gamers of all levels with industry-leading keyboards, mice, headsets, mousepads, and simulation products such as wheels and flight sticks – made possible through innovative design, advanced technologies, and a deep passion for gaming. Founded in 1981, and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Logitech International is a Swiss public company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (LOGI). Find Logitech G at logitechG.com, the company blog or @LogitechG.

Logitech and other Logitech marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Logitech Europe S.A and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries.

  • Chassis History/Info: Wood and the No. 24 team will compete with GMS Racing chassis no. 127 on Saturday afternoon. Having raced at the plate tracks since 2016, this Silverado RST has always shown speed on the high banks. In nine previous races, this chassis has finished in the Top-10 four times, including a pair of second place finishes at Talladega with Spencer Gallagher and at Daytona with Justin Haley.
  • Breast Cancer Awareness: As part of a team tradition, Jack Wood will be honoring several women who have been affected by breast cancer with pink ribbons lining his No. 24 Chevrolet at Talladega. The women highlighted are family members of GMS Racing employees directly associated with his team. - JW Quote: Wood’s thoughts on super speedway racing in the Truck Series:

“There are a lot of unknown variables that come along with super speedway racing, but I think Talladega provides us with a great opportunity to capitalize. I wasn’t able to get much experience racing in the pack there last season as we had a mechanical failure, but I learned a lot earlier this year at Daytona and Atlanta that I look forward to using this weekend. Our main goal has to be all about surviving, so if we can avoid ‘the big one’ and put ourselves in a good spot to be there when it counts, that is going to pay huge dividends. I’m looking forward to taking on this challenge with my No. 24 Logitech Silverado RST.”

ABOUT GMS RACING:

GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series operating the No. 23 and the No. 24 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs, as well as the ARCA Menards Series with the No. 43 Chevrolet SS. Since the team was formed in 2012, GMS Racing has won five titles across multiple series, including the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship, the 2015 ARCA Menards Series championship, as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA Menards Series East championships. GMS has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. including operations for GMS Fabrication. The GMS Racing campus also houses operations for Petty GMS, a two car full-time NASCAR Cup Series team formed in 2021.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow GMS Racing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Talladega

By
Official Release
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Talladega Superspeedway
Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022
2.66-Mile Tri-Oval
2:00 PM ET
Location: Talladega, Alabama
TV: Fox
Event: NASCAR Cup Series (31 of 36)
Radio: SiriusXM, PRN

5 KYLE LARSON

Age: 30 (July 31, 1992)

Hometown: Elk Grove, California

Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels

Standings: 3rd

No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

TEXAS TWO-STEP: Last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, Kyle Larson won stage one and led 19 laps en route to a ninth-place finish – his 16th top-10 finish this season. The Elk Grove, California, native is third in the standings and increased his advantage over the cutoff position to 23 points heading into the second race in the Round of 12 of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

ROLL TIDE: In 15 Cup Series starts at Talladega Superspeedway, Larson has one top-five finish and three top-10s. He posted a ninth-place result in his first race at the Alabama track in 2014 while his best finish of fourth occurred earlier this year – his best-ever finish on a superspeedway. In that 188-lap race, Larson paced the field for 32 laps. For comparison, he has led a total of 31 laps across his 31 other superspeedway starts.

SPRING AHEAD: In April at Talladega, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion had an average running position of 4.77 during the 500-mile race – tops among all drivers. In fact, Hendrick Motorsports drivers posted three of the four best averages during the 188-lap event.

NOT SO AVERAGE: Larson has an 8.5 average finishing position through four playoff races this year – one of only three drivers to average better than 10th. The 30-year-old driver trails only Denny Hamlin (5.75) and Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron (6.00).

FIVE FOR FIVE: Since 2020, there have been 24 playoff races with Larson victorious in five of them – two more than any other driver – while competing in only 14 of them. Last year, the driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet won half of the 10 playoff races including the finale at Phoenix Raceway to capture the 2021 Cup Series championship.

DOUBLE UP: Larson has won 12 times since joining the Rick Hendrick-owned team at the beginning of last year. Second and third during that span are Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman with six and five wins, respectively.

HOME GAME: This weekend, Larson and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com team will wear their “home” white uniforms at Talladega. Home races occur in markets where there are Hendrick Automotive Group dealerships nearby, and the Talladega area is home to three of them. Be sure to follow Hendrick Automotive Group’s social media channels and visit HendrickCars.com to view the complete home and away schedule.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT

Age: 26 (Nov. 28, 1995)

Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia

Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia

Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson

Standings: 7th

No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media at the Talladega Superspeedway media center on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 8:45 a.m. local time.

JUST KEEP DIGGING: Heading into the second race of the Round of 12 in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs at Talladega Superspeedway, Chase Elliott sits seventh in the standings. He is 11 points above the cutoff line to advance to the Round of 8. The regular-season champion has been in the playoffs every full-time season he’s raced in the Cup Series. The previous two seasons he advanced to the Championship 4, earning a Cup Series title in 2020. Elliott has six total victories in the playoffs, most recently in the 2020 season finale at Phoenix Raceway, when he captured the championship.

SUPER ON SUPERSPEEDWAYS: In five starts in 2022 on superspeedways and drafting tracks this season (those tracks are Daytona International Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Talladega), Elliott has one win and finished inside the top 10 in all but one of them. The 26-year-old is the only driver to finish inside the top 10 in four of the five events and earned the second-most points in those races (195). The 2020 Cup Series champion scored a victory on the newly reconfigured Atlanta in July, leading 96 laps. In addition to his win, he finished 10th in the DAYTONA 500, sixth in the Atlanta spring race and seventh at Talladega. In his last nine starts on traditional superspeedways (Daytona and Talladega), Elliott scored two second-place finishes (tied for the most), three top-five finishes and six top-10s (a series high).

‘DEGA NUMBERS: This weekend, Elliott will make his 14th Talladega Cup Series start. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native earned a victory on the 2.66-mile superspeedway in 2019 and has collected four top-five finishes and six top-10s across his 13 starts at the track. Elliott currently has the third-best average finish at the venue among active drivers at 15.23, trailing only Ty Dillon and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

GUSTAFSON AT TALLADEGA: No. 9 team crew chief Alan Gustafson will call his 36th Talladega Cup Series race from atop the pit box on Sunday afternoon. He collected his first superspeedway victory at the Alabama facility on Apr. 28, 2019, with Elliott and the No. 9 team. In total, at this track calling the shots for five different drivers (Elliott, Kyle Busch, Casey Mears, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon), Gustafson’s teams posted eight top-five finishes, 11 top-10s, 276 laps led and six pole awards.

TOP DOG: Gustafson’s superspeedway résumé is impressive with two Daytona Duel wins (2017 and 2018) and a 2019 win at Talladega, all coming with Elliott behind the wheel. His 11 superspeedway poles are the most among all active crew chiefs.

PIT ROAD POWER: Last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, the No. 9 team had the best average time for four-tire pit stops at 10.499 seconds. The NAPA AUTO PARTS pit crew is comprised of jackman T.J. Semke, fueler John Gianninoto, tire carrier Jared Erspamer and tire changers Chad Avrit (rear) and Nick O’Dell (front). They currently hold the fourth-best average (11.814) for four-tire stops across the season.

NAPA IS BACK: NAPA AUTO PARTS, the Atlanta-based company that has been a primary partner of Elliott in all seven of his seasons at Hendrick Motorsports, will be on board the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this weekend at Talladega. This will mark the 10th time the brand has served as the primary sponsor of the No. 9 team at this particular track. NAPA was on board earlier this year for the team’s seventh-place finish.

24 WILLIAM BYRON

Age: 24 (Nov. 29, 1997)

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle

Standings: 10th

No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

ON TO THE NEXT: The Round of 12 of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs kicked off last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Following a seventh-place finish at the Fort Worth venue, William Byron was ranked third, 17 points above the cutoff line. However, with a 25-point penalty assessed Tuesday, Byron is now sitting 10th in the standings, eight points below the cutoff line heading to Talladega Superspeedway (pending an appeal).

PLAYOFF POWER: In the first four races of the Cup Series playoffs, Byron is one of two drivers – Denny Hamlin is the other – to finish in the top 10 in every event. He finished eighth at Darlington Raceway, sixth at Kansas Speedway, third at Bristol Motor Speedway, and seventh at Texas. In fact, Byron holds the second-best average finish so far in the 2022 playoffs (6.00) behind Hamlin.

SUPERSPEEDWAY STAR: Sunday’s race at Talladega will be Byron’s 20th superspeedway start in the Cup Series. In his previous 19 starts, Byron has scored one win (Daytona International Speedway, August 2020), two runner-up finishes, four top-fives – two of which were at Talladega – and four top-10s with 188 laps led. In fact, the 24-year-old has three top-five finishes in the last nine superspeedway races – tied for the second-most in the series.

LEADING THE DRAFT: In five drafting-style races in the 2022 season (those tracks are Daytona, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Talladega), Byron has led the field for 192 laps – the most of any driver ahead of Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott (156). He also won at Atlanta in March, which used the superspeedway rules package in its two races this season.

TALLADEGA TELL-ALL: Byron will be making his 10th Cup Series start at the 2.66-mile oval when the No. 24 team hits the track Sunday. In his previous nine starts, Byron has a track-best finish of second coming in April of 2021 at the Alabama-based venue. In addition to that runner-up finish, he has two stage wins at Talladega including winning stage two in the spring this season. He also has led 94 laps there since 2018 – tied for the sixth-most among drivers.

DIGGIN’ DEGA: When the Cup Series heads to Talladega this weekend, it will mark Rudy Fugle’s fourth race at the venue as a crew chief in the sport’s top series. Fugle and the No. 24 team have a track-best qualifying effort of fourth and a runner-up result, both coming in the spring race of the 2021 season. Aside from those three races, the Livonia, New York, native has eight additional national series starts at the 2.66-mile track already under his belt. In seven NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races, Fugle has accumulated three top-five finishes and five top-10s. One of those previous starts was with Byron, in 2016, where the duo started eighth and raced to a 10th-place result.

RAPTOR® TOUGH: Heading to Talladega, Byron will be back behind the wheel of the No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the second consecutive weekend. RAPTOR® is a durable protective coating and bed liner that is designed to tolerate the toughest climatic conditions and can be applied to a wide range of substrates from steel, wood, concrete and plaster to plastics and composites. Resistant to common fuels, U.V., scratches and stains, RAPTOR® is available at local paint distributors, auto parts stores and can also be purchased from online retailers like Amazon.

48 Alex Bowman

Age: 29 (April 25, 1993)

Hometown: Tucson, Arizona

Resides: Concord, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Greg Ives

Standings: 12th

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

BACK ON THE BOULEVARD: Last time Alex Bowman was at Talladega Superspeedway, he crossed the finish line in ninth. The driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 finished the first stage in ninth and the second stage in fifth en route to his top-10 finish – a part of Hendrick Motorsports’ fourth event at the Alabama venue where at least three of its drivers finished in the top 10.

OH, SO CLOSE: Bowman is one of four active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series to finish second at Talladega but have yet to win at the sport’s biggest oval. The Tucson, Arizona, native took home a runner-up result in April 2019, finishing second to teammate Chase Elliott. Since then, he has two top-10 finishes in six appearances at the Alabama venue.

RUNNING IN THE SHADOWS: Since the start of the 2021 Cup Series season, Bowman has five victories – third-most of all active drivers in that span. Only teammates Kyle Larson and Elliott have more wins, with 12 and five, respectively.

PACING THE FIELD: Bowman is one of seven drivers to have led at least 100 laps in the 2022 Cup Series playoffs. He has the sixth-most circuits completed as the leader with 107 laps, trailing Chris Buescher (169), Christopher Bell (155), Kyle Busch (155), Brad Keselowski (151), and Tyler Reddick (108).

POINT MADE: The 29-year-old is one of five active playoff drivers to have added to his playoff point total this postseason. Bowman’s stage win at Kansas Speedway is one of three stage wins for Hendrick Motorsports in this year’s playoffs. He enters this race 30 points behind the cutoff line with two races left in the Round of 12.

SHOT CALLER: Crew chief Greg Ives has a storied career of success at superspeedways as a crew chief in the Cup Series. Through his 31 superspeedway starts in NASCAR’s premier level, Ives has tallied four pole positions (including the 2018 and 2021 DAYTONA 500 poles with Bowman), two points-paying wins (Talladega and Daytona International Speedway in 2015 with Dale Earnhardt Jr.) and two victories in the Daytona Duel qualifying races (2015 and 2016 with Earnhardt Jr.). He also led Regan Smith to a NASCAR Xfinity Series win at Talladega in 2013.

LEADING THE WAY: With nine wins through the 30 NASCAR Cup Series races in 2022, Hendrick Motorsports has earned the most victories so far this season. It is the only four-car team to see all of its drivers win a race this season. The organization is also the only one to have multiple drivers with at least two wins – Chase Elliott (four), Kyle Larson (two) and William Byron (two). On top of that, Elliott and Byron rank 1-2 in laps led this year.

ALL IN: For the second straight season and third time in nine seasons, all four drivers for the 14-time Cup Series championship organization are in the Round of 12 of the NASCAR playoffs. The quartet of Alex Bowman, Byron, Elliott and Larson also did this in 2021. In the first year of the elimination-style playoff – 2014 – the foursome of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne each advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

SUCCESS ON SUPERSPEEDWAYS: With 28 wins on superspeedways, Hendrick Motorsports has the most victories on that track type in Cup Series history. Thirteen of those victories have come at Talladega Superspeedway, while 15 have come at Daytona International Speedway.

VICTORY FORMATION: Gordon’s six wins at the Alabama venue top the board for the organization followed by Johnson’s two triumphs. Earnhardt Jr., Elliott, Terry Labonte, Ken Schrader and Brian Vickers each have one victory for the Rick Hendrick-owned team. The seven drivers to win at the 2.66-mile track are the most for one team.

SPRING SUMMARY: In the spring race at the sport’s biggest oval, Hendrick Motorsports led 70 of the 188 laps (37%). Byron paced the field for a race-high 38 circuits and won stage two, while Larson held the point position for 32 laps. Larson (4.77), Byron (4.87) and Elliott (7.84) had three of the four best average running positions in the race. The team spent 44% of their laps running in the top five and 72% percent of their laps in the top 10. At the end of the day, three of its drivers finished in the top 10 with Larson finishing fourth, Elliott placing seventh and Bowman taking ninth.

FACTOID FOUR YOU: In four races at Talladega in the team’s storied history, the organization has placed at least three drivers in the top 10. This year’s spring race was the most recent occurrence. The first came in April 1998 with Labonte placing fourth, Gordon in fifth and Randy LaJoie earning a 10th-place showing. In October 2007, Gordon and Johnson placed one-two while Casey Mears came in sixth. In April 2011, Johnson won, Gordon took third, Earnhardt Jr. came in fourth and Mark Martin placed eighth.

DRAFTING DARLINGS: In the season’s five drafting races with the 2022 superspeedway rules package – two at Daytona, one at Talladega and two at Atlanta Motor Speedway – Hendrick Motorsports has won twice. Byron and Elliott earned wins at Atlanta in March and July, respectively. In fact, Byron (192 laps led) and Elliott (156 laps led) rank first and second in laps led on drafting tracks this season.

RECORD SETTERS: Hendrick Motorsports has posted a series-best 53 wins in the playoffs – 20 more than the next closest organization. Johnson has the most wins with 29. Among the current driver lineup, Elliott tops the board with six wins, followed by Larson with five and Bowman has one. Nine different drivers have won a playoff race for the team, which is the most in the Cup Series ranks. Entering this year’s playoffs, the company has won a race in the postseason in 17 seasons and that mark is also the most among all Cup Series teams.

QUOTABLE /

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on if drivers might play it safe and run behind the main pack this weekend: “I don’t think so just because there’s so many stage points on the line. Yes, there might be a couple that do that, but I feel like you typically don’t see that. I think there’s so many stage points on the line that if you can get those points then, even if you wreck, you’ll have a decent points day out of it. I see everybody racing pretty hard.”

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on if strategy or luck helped with their fourth-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway in April: “I would say more luck because we were able to stay out of the wrecks. From a strategic standpoint, everything we accomplished that race is the exact strategy we try to implement every speedway race. We try to get up front and stay up front. We try to have a good driving car that can pass and draft and do all the things you need it to do. We try to be on the right side of pit strategy while working with our teammates and other Chevrolet teams. From a pure strategic standpoint, we target that every single speedway race.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Talladega: “It’s obviously not an ideal situation to be where we’re at in the points heading into Talladega (Superspeedway), but it is what it is. I’ve said for years that no one is safe in these playoffs. We’ve been in similar situations in the past, so we know what we need to do these next two weeks to put ourselves in a good position to advance. I know we’re fully capable of getting the job done. We’ve proven it time and time again.”

Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on Talladega: “We were able to learn a lot when we were at Talladega (Superspeedway) in the spring to really improve our superspeedway program. That was our goal going into the race, knowing we’d be coming back here in the playoffs. For us, it’s about getting maximum points this weekend, minimizing our mistakes and making sure we survive until the end. If we do that, we’ll have just as good a shot as anyone to get the win and lock ourselves into the next round.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on how to balance racing at Talladega: “Racing at Talladega (Superspeedway) is more about how well you can push someone and how well your car can receive a push. It’s a track where you really have to be able to work with other cars to not only get to the front but also stay up there. We were running up front in the spring race and lost our help in the end to stay up front, unfortunately. Once you get back in traffic, it’s a lot harder to make your way forward. With how close the points are right now, I think stage points are going to be even more crucial Sunday than they normally are in this race. With everyone trying to get every point they can, you don’t want to put yourself at risk of not finishing the race either just trying to get a stage point. It’s a fine balance for sure.”

Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on preparation for Talladega: “Talladega (Superspeedway) is a track where balance comes more into play than a place like Daytona (International Speedway). It’s a fine line between finding speed for qualifying, but also having the handling of your car right to keep you up front during the race. We’ve only had qualifying for two superspeedway events this year, but we have a good notebook on what adjustments we made from Saturday to Sunday. We ran really well in the spring race at Talladega earlier this year, and those notes are going to be a huge help even though the weather will be different this time around. We’ll also run the same tire that we ran not only at Talladega this year, but also at Daytona as well. This is probably one of the tracks in the playoffs that we have the most notes on and can prepare for.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his approach to the next two races in the Round of 12: “Texas (Motor Speedway) put us behind in points, so our work is cut out for us heading to Talladega (Superspeedway) and the (Charlotte Motor Speedway) ROVAL. Our team has a lot of motivation right now and when our backs are against the wall, the crew steps up and goes the extra mile to put ourselves in the best position possible. Obviously, anything can happen at a superspeedway, so we just have to be smart and make the right moves to stay out of other’s messes. We will take it one race at a time like we always do and go compete this Sunday.”

Greg Ives, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his approach to Talladega: “This race is always challenging and being in the playoffs, there’s more at risk. We obviously aren’t where we want to be in points, but a win locks us into the next round and takes all the pressure off for the (Charlotte Motor Speedway) ROVAL. Our focus right now is maximizing on every opportunity we get and having a clean race at Talladega (Superspeedway) is our first priority. Alex (Bowman) is doing his homework to make sure he is ready to compete, and the crew is putting in the time to get the No. 48 Ally Chevy setup for him. We just need to stay focused on maximizing this Sunday.”

Jessica Fickenscher Named Executive Director for 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway

By
Official Release
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CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 28, 2022) – Speedway Motorsports executive Jessica Fickenscher has been named Executive Director for the upcoming May 21, 2023, NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

A 23-year veteran with the company, Fickenscher will add planning, community relations and stakeholder coordination surrounding All-Star Race week to her current role as Chief Experience Officer for Speedway Motorsports. In addition to continually looking at how to improve fan experiences at Speedway Motorsports venues, Fickenscher currently manages the company’s relationship with food-services partner Levy Restaurants; leads business operations for company subsidiaries U.S. Legend Cars International and SMI Properties; and serves as the managing director of Speedway Children’s Charities’ national chapter.

“Speedway Motorsports is committed to creating a once-in-a-lifetime event for fans, corporate partners and competitors at the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race,” said Speedway Motorsports President and Chief Executive Officer Marcus Smith. “Jessica Fickenscher has a proven track record of improving the race day fan experience as well as collaborating with NASCAR and our business partners. Her background coordinating capital improvement projects will also be a benefit as we prepare the facility for race weekend.

“Like our efforts to produce NASCAR at COTA in Austin, Texas, the NASCAR All-Star Race weekend will be a team effort amongst our company staff from several speedways. Jessica’s leadership and skillset as a teambuilder will be invaluable as we work with the community, NASCAR and our stakeholders to create a spectacle many thought would never take place at North Wilkesboro Speedway.”

The historic race weekend will feature NASCAR’s return to North Wilkesboro Speedway, one of NASCAR’s original tracks, during the 75th anniversary season of the sport. The NASCAR All-Star Race featuring the NASCAR Cup Series will take place on Sunday, May 21, and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will race on Saturday, May 20. The event weekend will be the first time either series has visited the venerable 0.625-mile short track since 1996.

“In recent years I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know many people from the Wilkes County community and I understand what this opportunity represents,” said Fickenscher. “Our Speedway Motorsports team has a history of creating memorable events, and I’m grateful that I have the chance to play a role in producing NASCAR’s return to North Wilkesboro Speedway. We have a lot of work to do, and thankfully, we have the support of a passionate community and a dedicated staff to get it done.”

Event week schedules and ticket information for the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race Week will be released at a later date.

MORE INFO:

Fans can obtain the latest news and information surrounding NASCAR All-Star Race week by following North Wilkesboro Speedway on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook or by visiting www.NorthWilkesboroSpeedway.com.

About Speedway Motorsports:

Speedway Motorsports is a leading marketer, promoter and sponsor of motorsports entertainment in the United States. The company, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the following premier facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dover Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway, Sonoma Raceway, Texas Motor Speedway and Kentucky Speedway. Speedway Motorsports provides souvenir merchandising services through its SMI Properties subsidiaries; manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars and parts through its U.S. Legend Cars International subsidiary; and produces and broadcasts syndicated motorsports programming to radio stations nationwide through its Performance Racing Network subsidiary.

Beard Motorsports: Noah Gragson Talladega Advance

By
Official Release
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NOAH GRAGSON
Talladega Advance
No. 62 Beard Oil Distributing Chevrolet Camaro

Event Overview

● Event: YellaWood 500 (Round 31 of 36)

● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 2

● Location: Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway

● Layout: 2.66-mile oval

● Laps/Miles: 188 laps/500 miles

● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 60 laps / Final Stage: 68 laps

● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Noah Gragson is set to make his 14th career NASCAR Cup Series start in Sunday’s YellaWood 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. It will be his second Cup Series start at Talladega and his fourth and final with Beard Motorsports. Gragson has turned a career year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series – where he has a series-leading seven wins, including a record-tying four in a row coming into Talladega – into a fulltime drive in the Cup Series in 2023 with Petty GMS Racing.

● Gragson has been on an upward trajectory every time he has climbed behind the wheel of the No. 62 Beard Oil Distributing Chevrolet Camaro. The 24-year-old Las Vegas-native made his Cup Series debut with Beard Motorsports in this year’s Daytona 500. After starting 39th in the Great American Race, Gragson was running among the top-10 with just 10 laps remaining. But on lap 191, another car lost control and slid into Gragson’s No. 62 machine as the two raced through the frontstretch. Gragson was turned into the wall and his car suffered heavy front-end damage. Gragson was unhurt, but the same could not be said for his racecar. He was unable to continue the race and was ultimately credited with a 31st-place finish. Gragson returned to Beard Motorsports in April for the GEICO 500 at Talladega. In contrast to Daytona, it was a relatively quiet affair. Gragson finished 20th after getting off sequence during the final round of pit stops and lost the draft. Nonetheless, Gragson did what many of his counterparts could not – bring home a straight racecar. The GEICO 500 featured six caution periods for a total of 28 laps with 13 drivers failing to finish. His third and most recent race with Beard Motorsports was the Aug. 28 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, and it resulted in the best Cup Series result for Gragson and for Beard Motorsports. Gragson finished fifth after threading his way through four multicar accidents that collected an eye-popping 28 cars.

● Gragson’s fifth-place drive five weeks ago at Daytona was his best in 13 career Cup Series starts. In his 10 Cup Series starts prior to the Coke Zero Sugar 400, Gragson’s best finish was 18th on May 15 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City.

● Gragson’s fifth-place performance at Daytona was also the best result for Beard Motorsports since the team’s NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2017. The effort came in the organization’s 20th Cup Series start and its 10th at Daytona. Its previous best result also came at Daytona – a pair of seventh-place finishes in the 2017 Coke Zero 400 and the 2020 Daytona 500, both with former driver Brendan Gaughan.

● Beard Motorsports was the first team to provide Gragson with the opportunity to sample the NASCAR Cup Series. A year before he made his official Cup Series debut in this year’s Daytona 500, Gragson competed for Beard Motorsports in the lead up to the 2021 Daytona 500. As an independent, non-chartered team with no guaranteed starting spot in the Daytona 500, Beard Motorsports had to race its way into the 40-car field via the Duel, a 150-mile qualifying race. Unfortunately, Gragson was collected in a multicar accident just four laps short of his finish in the Duel, which prevented him from advancing to the Daytona 500. With qualifying unavailable at the other superspeedway races in 2021, Beard Motorsports didn’t have the chance to race again. The 2022 Daytona 500 provided that long-sought opportunity for Beard Motorsports to get back to the track and Gragson to get his first career Cup Series start.

● That ordeal was an example of the resilience Beard Motorsports has displayed since its NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2017 Daytona 500 where Gaughan drove to a respectable 11th-place finish. The generational race team founded by the late Mark Beard Sr., has proven to be the little team that could, a modern-day David competing against the Goliaths of NASCAR. Beard Motorsports has taken a strategic approach to its racing endeavors, running only the superspeedway races at Daytona and its sister track, Talladega. With a Chevrolet Camaro powered by an ECR-built engine, Beard Motorsports can race at the front, a fact recently proven by Gragson when he finished fifth in this year’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, one-upping a pair of top-10 finishes in 2020 at the hands of former driver Gaughan – seventh in the Daytona 500 and eighth in the Coke Zero Sugar 400.

● What drives Beard Motorsports? Passion. Matriarch Linda Beard, along with her children, carry on the pursuit of their husband and father, respectively, in racing and in business. Beard Motorsports and its family-owned company, Beard Oil Distributing – a certified women owned business – is a distinctive qualifier in the male-dominated sport of auto racing. Linda is hands-on with the race team and was alongside her husband as he pursued his passion of racing at Daytona – first as a NASCAR Xfinity Series driver in 1982 and simultaneously as a team owner. Today, Beard Motorsports competes in his honor. The YellaWood 500 will be the team’s 21st career NASCAR Cup Series start and its 10th at Talladega.

● While it’s Linda Beard at the top of Beard Motorsports’ masthead, the team is managed with ample support from her children, Amie and Mark Beard Jr., along with help from crew chief Darren Shaw and Gaughan, the former NASCAR Cup Series driver who made 17 of his 67 career Cup Series starts with Beard Motorsports. It was Gaughan who, upon retiring from racing at the conclusion of the 2020 season, tabbed Gragson to be his successor in the No. 62 Beard Oil Distributing Chevrolet Camaro. In addition to both being natives of Las Vegas, Gaughan has observed Gragson’s rise from regional racer to a competitor in NASCAR’s top national touring series.

● While Gragson is still relatively new to the NASCAR Cup Series, he is not new to NASCAR. The 24-year-old competes fulltime in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports (JRM) and 2022 serves as his fourth season in NASCAR’s stepping-stone division to the elite Cup Series. Gragson is a 12-time winner in the Xfinity Series, and he scored his first career victory in the 2020 season opener at Daytona. He is currently enjoying his best year yet in the Xfinity Series. He has seven wins so far this season with six races still remaining, easily surpassing his previous season-high tally of three wins, earned last year when Gragson advanced all the way to the Championship 4 where he competed for the series title in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway, finishing a career-high third in points.

● Before joining the Xfinity Series fulltime in 2019, Gragson competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2017 and 2018. He won twice – Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in October 2017 and Kansas Speedway in May 2018 – and finished second in the 2018 championship. Those Truck Series results were a continuation of the kind of talent Gragson showcased in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. In 2015 and 2016, Gragson raced in this developmental league, regionally split into two divisions – K&N Pro Series East and K&N Pro Series West. Gragson won six races between the two entities and narrowly missed out on the 2015 West title by a scant seven points.

● The No. 62 Beard Oil Distributing Chevrolet Camaro sports a touch of pink this weekend at Talladega. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Beard Motorsports is doing its part to highlight the annual initiative that raises overall awareness as well preventative measures. Breast cancer is a disease that affects both men and women, and it is among the most common cancers. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. Next year, new breast cancer diagnoses are expected to number more than 200,000 for women and more than 2,000 for men. Family and friends of Beard Motorsports who have battled breast cancer are being recognized on the TV panel of the No. 62 Chevrolet. Their names are Debra Bell, Marcia Funnell, Sara Resnick, Rachelle Palazzolo, Linda Elliott, Sue Puryear, Diane Feldwisch, Linda Young and Kate Shuttleworth.

Noah Gragson, Driver of the No. 62 Beard Oil Distributing Chevrolet Camaro

You scored a fifth-place finish in your last outing with Beard Motorsports in the regular-season finale at Daytona. That race had some chaotic moments and you not only managed to be there at the end, but capitalized on the opportunity. Walk us through some of the moments in that race where you had to make split-second decisions, where you zigged while others zagged, that ultimately put you in a strong position at the end of the race.

“I definitely had a lot of luck. I didn’t initially have a car capable of contending, so I just rode around in the back and waited for them to wreck. The way we were handling all day – the front tires were bouncing around the racetrack – I was super tight, so I couldn’t hold it wide open. But then we got the red flag for rain and before the race went back to green while we were still under caution, we were able to work on the car and kind of diagnose it during that rain delay. It really made it a lot better when we went back racing. I know there were fewer cars on the track, but it was like a completely different car and we were a contender. I guess the wreck before the red flag was pretty hairy, but other than that, we didn’t really get racing until after that red flag, and it ended up working out for us.”

It was a Las Vegas native in Gaughan who teed up this opportunity to drive for Beard Motorsports. Prior to you coming on board, Gaughan was responsible for Beard’s best Cup Series results – a pair of seventh-place finishes in the 2017 Coke Zero 400 and the 2020 Daytona 500. You one-upped him with your fifth-place finish at Daytona. Does that give you bragging rights in your hometown, or at least some good-natured ribbing between the two of you?

“No. Brendan is someone I really look up to. Just fortunate to be able to be friends with him.”

The old adage of to finish first, one must first finish, was definitely on display at Daytona in the regular-season finale. That applies to all kinds of racing, but is it particularly accurate when it comes to racing at Talladega and Daytona?

“It kind of depends on how we’re running, and the handling of the car and the speed of our car, no matter which superspeedway it is. Obviously, you want to finish the race, but you have to learn. If you want to have a shot at winning the race, you need to be spending that time throughout the race racing the whole time, learning where your strong suits are. You might be able to go get a top-10 finish, but if it’s up to me and my car’s good, I want to race the whole time. If you do make it to the end, you know what you’ve got. You’re not trying to figure it out in the last two or three laps when you’re trying to make your runs. You already know where your car is strong and where it’s not. For me, I’d rather just go up there and race every lap as hard as I can.”

Before the race even starts, do you talk with other drivers about how you can help them and how they can help you?

“I just try to haul ass out there and see who else is fast, and try to beat the rest of them.”

You’re having a career year with seven wins in the Xfinity Series and already a top-five finish in just 11 NASCAR Cup Series starts. How helpful has your limited Cup Series schedule been in making you have such a strong season in the Xfinity Series?

“It all helps. The time in the Xfinity car helps when I’m in the Cup car, and the time in the Cup car helps when I’m in the Xfinity car. Just all of it. I’m very grateful and fortunate for the opportunity to race with a bunch of teams this year and I’m definitely enjoying my time behind the wheel with Beard Motorsports.”

Talladega will mark your final race with Beard Motorsports before you embark on your first fulltime season in the Cup Series next year with Petty GMS Racing. How has the experience been, and do you feel better prepared for next season because of the time you’ve put in this year?

“Yeah, definitely. You’ve got time behind the wheel, so you don’t go into next year with question marks about this new car. You have a somewhat more realistic idea of what the thing feels like. So, just going in with some experience is definitely a benefit.”

Your Xfinity Series team owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr., has always talked about how proud he is of JRM drivers who get the opportunity to move up to Cup. What’s some of the advice he’s given you this year, especially at the superspeedways, and also for next year as you take the next step in your racing career?

“He’s helped me with superspeedway racing and racing the Xfinity car, but more just learning a ton from him over the years about being a better person and navigating challenges in life. Those are the things that stick out in my mind – the times that I’ve gotten to lean on him for advice. To be able to lean on him in certain life situations has been a great help to myself, and it’s something I’m very grateful for.”

No. 62 Beard Motorsports Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Noah Gragson
Hometown: Las Vegas

Crew Chief: Darren Shaw
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Car Chief: Drew Mickey
Hometown: Walkerton, North Carolina

Spotter: Ron Lewis
Hometown: Manteca, California

President: Linda Beard
Hometown: Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

VP of Racing Ops: Brendan Gaughan
Hometown: Las Vegas

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Tim Sheets
Hometown: Carmel, Indiana

Rear Tire Changer: David Mayo
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Damien Wermes
Hometown: Huntersville, North Carolina

Jack Man: DeAndre Smith
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: Bobby Grant
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Jack Gagnon
Hometown: Quebec, Canada

Mechanic: Mark Sanders
Hometown: Springfield, Ohio

Mechanic: Phillip Goltzene
Hometown: Springfield, Ohio

Tire Technician: Mike Harrold
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Engine Tuner: Jason Watkins
Hometown: Ridgeway, Virginia

Chandler Smith – No. 18 iBUYPOWER Tundra TRD Pro Camping World Trucks Talladega Preview

By
Official Release
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Chandler Smith: Driver, No. 18 iBUYPOWER Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: Playoff Race at Talladega, Race 21 of 23 (Race 2 in the Round of 8)
94 Laps – 20/20/54; 250.04 Miles
Location: Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway (2.66-mile, tri-oval)
Date/Broadcast: Oct. 1, 2022, at 12:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

Chandler Chatter:
Chandler Smith and the No. 18 iBUYPOWER team head to Talladega Superspeedway for the second race of the Round of 8 looking to stay above the playoff bubble. Smith dominated the early portion of the opening round of the Round of 8 at Bristol Motor Speedway, picking up the opening two stage wins after taking the lead on lap 28 and remaining out front until he hit pit road on lap 117. After the pit stop, the 20-year-old driver found passing to be at a premium and was only able to work his way back to a ninth-place finish. After scoring 48 points over the course of the Bristol race, he sits second on the playoff grid, 24 points above the cutoff line for advancing to the Championship 4 with two races remaining in the Round of 8.

Saturday’s race will mark Smith’s third start in Truck Series action at Talladega. In his first-ever superspeedway race in any series, he brought home a third-place finish in the 2020 event. Last year, he ran inside the top 10 for the majority of the first half of the event before getting caught up in a 21-truck accident in the Final Stage that relegated him to a 19th-place finish. He also raced in the Xfinity Series race at the 2.66-mile tri-oval this year but was relegated to a 38th-place finish after getting caught up in an early wreck.

Smith punched his ticket to the Round of 8 with a win at Richmond (Va.) Raceway. Smith dominated the middle race of the Round of 10, leading 176 of the final 177 laps, picked up the Stage 2 win and the victory and added six playoff points that have carried over to the Round of 8. The victory was Smith’s third of 2022 and the fifth of his career.

The Toyota Racing Development product has produced three wins in 2022: the second race of the season at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway, the regular season finale at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway and in the Round of 8 at Richmond. Across 20Truck Series starts this season Smith has recorded eight top-five and 14 top-10 finishes. He ranks first among Truck Series regulars in laps led (423), average running position (8.506), laps completed (2803) and quality passes (619), is second in average finish (8.7) and fastest laps run (202), and third in driver rating (103.9).

Smith made the playoffs last year in his first full-time campaign as the 10th seed. He advanced to the Round of 8 with a must-win victory at Bristol in the final race in the Round of 10. He found himself in another must-win situation in the final race in the Round of 8 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway and saw his playoff run end when he finished fourth. As a consolation prize, he won the pole and swept all three stages in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway.

The Georgia driver earned NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year honors in 2021 after producing two victories, one pole, 213 laps led, six top-five and nine top-10 finishes in his first full-time season. He earned his first career Truck Series victory at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in September of 2021. Across 58 career Truck Series starts, the Toyota Racing Development driver had recorded five wins, one pole, 729 laps led, 22 top-five and 32 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.8.

Veteran crew chief Danny Stockman will once again call the shots for Smith and the No. 18 team in 2022. Stockman’s drivers have produced eight victories at KBM since he joined the organization in 2020, including four with Smith behind the wheel. The veteran crew chief captured a Truck Series championship with Austin Dillon in 2011 and also won an Xfinity Series championship with Dillon in 2013. Stockman’s drivers have produced one top-five and three top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 9.3 across four Truck Series starts at Talladega. Smith’s third-place result in 2020 was his best result. In Xfinity Series action, his drivers have complied three top-10 finishes, with an average finish of 13.2 across six races.

iBUYPOWER will serve as the primary sponsor on Smith’s No. 18 Tundra TRD Pro on Saturday. Since 1999, iBUYPOWER has been delivering on its promise to build the best gaming systems for the most discerning gamers. Friday’s race will be the sixth event for iBUYPOWER sponsoring Smith’s KBM entry since 2019. Smith has finished inside the top 10 in all five of those races, including an eighth-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth earlier this year. Safelite, the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair, replacement and recalibration services, will be back on the No. 18 for the final two races of the season: Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway and Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway.

Chandler Smith, Driver Q&A:
With being 24 points above the cutoff line, how will you approach Saturday’s race?
“We’ve had some meetings about how we will approach it and I still don’t think we have an answer – we’re kind of up in the air. It’s super situation dependent – it depends on who we are racing around, where the other guys that we are racing for points are and what they are doing, how much energy is in the pack – and our strategy could change lap to lap. The ultimate goal is to finish the race in our iBUYPOWER Tundra TRD Pro and if we can collect some stage points along the way that would be a bonus. At the end of the day, we just need to be safe about it.

How important is it to have a good spotter for superspeedway races?
“It’s huge, if my spotter tells me to bail, I trust in his judgement and I’m going to bail without thinking about it twice. I have full trust in (Chris)Lambert and he’s obviously really good at what he does – you see what he and Denny (Hamlin) are able to do in the superspeedway races and they have the Daytona 500 rings to prove it.”

Chandler Smith Career Highlights:

  • Across 58 career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts has recorded five wins, 729 laps led, 22 top-five and 32 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.8.
  • Earned NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year honors in 2021 and finished eighth in the championship standings after producing two victories, one pole, 213 laps led, six top-five and nine top-10 finishes in his first full-time season. He earned his first career Truck Series victory at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in September and in the series finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway earned his first career pole and swept all three stages en route to his second victory.
  • Has posted an average finish of 29.5 across two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts in 2022, with a best result of 22nd coming at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway.
  • Has collected 10 wins, 10 poles, 1894 laps led, 23 top-five and 30 top-10 finishes en route to an average finish of 5.2 across 35 career ARCA Menards Series starts.

Chandler Smith’s No. 18 iBUYPOWER Tundra: TRD Pro:
KBM-64: The No. 18 iBUYPOWER team will unload KBM-64 for Saturday’s Truck Series race at Talladega. It is the same Toyota that Smith has piloted in all four of his superspeedway races across his career with a best result of third coming with it at Talladega in 2020 in his first career superspeedway start.

KBM-64 Performance Profile
KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected two wins, two poles, 79 laps led, 10 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 11.1 across 31 starts at Talladega. Raphael Lessard collected the first victory of his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career at the 2.66-mile tri-oval in 2021 and owner-driver Kyle Busch was victorious in the 2010 event when he finished 0.002 seconds ahead of Aric Almirola in the closest finish in Truck Series history since electronic scoring was instituted.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (98) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway earlier this year, Corey Heim became the 18th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
  • The No. 18, the number which was on the first Tundra that went to victory lane for KBM in 2010, has 26 career victories.

John Hunter Nemechek – No. 4 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Tundra Camping World Trucks Talladega Preview

By
Official Release
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John Hunter Nemechek: Driver, No. 4 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: Talladega 250, Race 21 of 23 (Race 2 of 3, Round of 8)
94 Laps – 20/20/54; 250.04 Miles
Location: Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway (2.66-mile tri-oval)
Date/Broadcast: Oct. 1, 2022, at 12:30p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

Neme’chek’ the Facts:
John Hunter Nemechek and the No. 4 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety team head to Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway for the second race in the Round of 8 in the Camping World Truck Series playoffs nine points below the cutoff line for advancing to the Championship 4. In the last Truck Series event at Bristol, an incident in practice forced the No. 4 team to bring out their backup truck and start from the rear of the field. Despite starting in the rear, Nemechek drove to a 12th-place finish and picked up three stage points with an eighth-place finish at the end of Stage Two.

The 25-year-old driver has made six Truck Series starts at Talladega, with a best result of fourth in last year’s event. He was leading on the final lap last year before being turned as the field came through the tri-oval and sent sliding sideways across the stripe. He finished eighth in each of his Cup Series starts at the Alabama track, both in 2020. In the Xfinity Series, he has finished inside the top 10 in both of his Talladega starts, with a best result of sixth in 2019.

In his most recent superspeedway race in the Truck Series, Nemechek led 50 laps in the 2022 season opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway before a late-race incident relegated him to a 24th-place finish.

With just three races remaining in the 2022 Truck Series season, Nemechek continues to lead Truck Series regulars in poles (six) and driver rating (105.3). He is also second in average running position (8.772) and third in laps led (352) and average starting position (7.9).

The Toyota Racing driver made his tenth Xfinity Series start of the season this past weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, piloting the No. 18 GR Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing. Nemechek qualified fourth and led the second most laps (60) before being caught up in an incident on lap 116, relegating him to a 28th-place finish.

Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, an industry leader in commercial fire protection since 1946, will serve as the primary sponsor for Nemechek at Talladega. Pye-Barker, who acquired Nemechek’s long-term partner Fire Alarm Services in 2021, will also serve as the primary sponsor of the No. 4 Tundra TRD Pro for the season finale at Phoenix Raceway (11/4).

Nemechek is a 13-time winner in Camping World Truck Series action, winning at least one race each season from 2015 to 2018 for his family-owned team, NEMCO Motorsports, and returning to victory lane in 2021 and 2022 with KBM. Across 144 career starts in NASCAR’s third division, he has compiled eight poles, 1,533 laps led, 49 top-five and 80 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.3.

Eric Phillips returned to lead the No. 4 team in 2022. His 43 career Truck Series victories make him the winningest crew chief in Truck Series history, with 34 of those coming while at KBM including five last year. Phillips led the No. 18 team at KBM in its debut season in 2010 and helped build the organization into one of the premier teams in all of NASCAR before departing at the end of the 2014 season. Under his guidance, the No. 18 team won eight races in its inaugural campaign and became the Series history to capture an owner’s championship in its first season of competition. In 2014, the Illinois native led the first team in Truck No. 51 team to an owner’s championship and his team’s 10 wins spearheaded KBM to a single-season Truck Series record of 14 wins. At Talladega, Phillip’s drivers have collected one win, two top-five and six top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 10.0 across eight starts. He was victorious with KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch at the 2.66-mile tri-oval in 2010.

John Hunter Nemechek, Driver Q&A:
How will you approach Talladega Being nine points below the cutoff with two races remaining in this round?
“You just have to go race. Stage points matter and finishing position matters. Talladega can make or break you.”

You were so close to a win there last year. Do you feel like maybe it owes you one?
“It’s superspeedway racing. All you can do is put yourself in a position to have a shot at the end and control everything you can control. It would be a very good weekend to get back to victory lane and lock ourselves into the Championship 4.”

What do you think makes a good superspeedway racer?
“I think overall, being a good superspeedway racer is recognizing the situations – being able to know when to side draft and when not to side draft and using the air and the run to your advantage. The Trucks are a little bit different than a Cup car or an Xfinity car, they definitely draft different. I feel like it’s more single-file or pack-style racing compared to the other series. There are a lot of new guys to superspeedway racing, with not a lot of experience in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series compared to the other two series. You have to be on the lookout for that as well. I think just recognizing the situations, knowing when to take a run and when not to take a run. Knowing who your drafting partners are – who you can trust and who you can’t trust is what all goes into making a really good superspeedway racer.”

John Hunter Nemechek Career Highlights:

  • 13-time winner in Camping World Truck Series action, winning at least one race each season from 2015 to 2018 for his family-owned team, NEMCO Motorsports. Across 144 career starts in NASCAR’s third division, has compiled eight poles, 1,533 laps led, 49 top-five and 80 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.3. Registered a career-high and series-leading five victories in 2021, earned the NCWTS Regular Season championship and finished third in the final standings after qualifying for the Championship Four for the first time in his career.
  • Produced three top-10 finishes and an average result of 22.4 while competing for rookie of the year honors in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2020. He recorded a career-best eighth-place finish twice, both coming at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
  • Across 66 career XFINITY Series starts, has totaled two wins, one pole, 570 laps led, 17 top-five and 37 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.5.

John Hunter Nemechek’s No. 4 Pye-Barker Tundra TRD Pro:
KBM-13: The No. 4 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety team will unload KBM-13 for Saturday’s race at Talladega. Nemechek has raced this Tundra once earlier this season at Daytona where he qualified second and led 50 laps before getting caught up in a late-race incident and finishing 24th. KBM-13 is the same chassis that Nemechek piloted at Talladega last fall, where he was leading on the final lap before being turned and crossing the finish line sideways in the fourth position. KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch won with KBM-13 at Daytona in 2014.

KBM-13 Performance Profile
KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected two wins, two poles, 79 laps led, 10 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 11.1 across 31 starts at Talladega.
  • Raphael Lessard picked up the organization’s most recent victory, collecting his first win of his Camping World Truck Series career in 2020 at the 2.66-mile tri-oval. Owner-driver Kyle Busch was victorious in the 2010 event when he finished 0.002 seconds ahead of Aric Almirola in the closest finish in Truck Series history since electronic scoring was instituted.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (98) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 19, Corey Heim became the 18th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
  • The No. 4 has 18 career victories at KBM and was the number for both of the organization’s driver championships.
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