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Brandon Jones Named to JR Motorsports 2023 Lineup

By
Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 14, 2022) – There will be a new face behind the wheel of the No. 9 Chevrolet in 2023. JR Motorsports announced today the signing of 25-year-old Brandon Jones to the organization where he’ll compete full time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series next season.

Jones is five-time winner and eight-year veteran in the series who has qualified for the NXS Playoffs in six of the last seven seasons. In addition to his five wins – including a popular victory earlier this year at Martinsville Speedway – Jones claims 35 top-five and 97 top-10 finishes, and a best points effort of sixth in 2020.

“Brandon’s been a tough competitor over the years, and he’s a talented addition to JR Motorsports,” said Kelley Earnhardt Miller, JRM co-owner and general manager. “He’s a series veteran that brings a lot of experience, and we’re going to see big things from Brandon and the 9 team in 2023.”

In 2022, Jones owns one win, five top-five and nine top-10 finishes, and sits seventh in the championship points battle with one race remaining before the onset of the playoffs. He also won three out of four ARCA Menards® Series starts he’s made in 2022.

“To watch how competitive JRM has been over the years is really impressive,” Jones said. “They’re a threat to win every week, and one of the premier teams in our series. I’m so thankful to Dale (Earnhardt Jr.), Kelley and Mr. Hendrick for allowing me to be part of it.

“Reuniting with Chevrolet again is awesome, too. They were a big part of my career early on, and I’m looking forward to building on those relationships and driving a Camaro in 2023.”

Jones has found Victory Lane at every level of NASCAR national series competition in which he’s raced. The Atlanta native lays claim to eight ARCA wins, a K&N East-West Challenge victory and a Truck Series triumph in 2020.

JRM’s No. 9 team has won three championships (2014, 2017-18) and tallied 20 of the company’s 69 overall victories since 2014.

Sponsorship and crew chief duties for Jones and the No. 9 team will be announced at a later date.

ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:
JR Motorsports is the racing operation co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame member and 15-time Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kelley Earnhardt Miller and NASCAR Hall of Famer Rick Hendrick. Now in its 21st year of overall competition, JR Motorsports competes in multiple divisions, including the NASCAR Xfinity Series where it currently fields four full-time teams and earned championships in 2014, 2017 and 2018. The company also races in Late Model competition and owns four championships in regional Late Model divisions and added a prized national title in 2020. To learn more about the organization, its drivers and its sponsorship opportunities, visit www.jrmracing.com.

Greg Van Alst and Team Scramble to Compete at Bristol Motor Speedway

By
Official Release
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BRISTOL, Tenn: It’s been a tiring week for ARCA Menards Series driver Greg Van Alst and his Greg Van Alst Motorsports team.

After exiting Sunday’s rain-postponed Kansas Lottery 150 at Kansa Speedway with a wrecked No. 35 CB Fabricating Ford Fusion, Van Alst wasn’t sure if he would be able to keep his full season of competition intact but the team is thriving on the popular American English proverb “when the going gets tough, the tough get going” to compete in Thursday night’s Bush Bean’s 200.

“I still don’t know what happened,” said Van Alst referring to the Kansas Speedway accident.

“All I know is it definitely made a dent in what we are trying to accomplish, but we thoughtfully put together a plan that I think will work that will allow us to get to Bristol this week and then just hope for the best.”

Van Alst was hoping to take the Kansas Speedway car to Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway but will instead repair the heavily-damaged Du Quoin car to prepare for 200 laps of battle Thursday night.

“This is our best option at this point,” admitted Van Alst. “We were waffling back and forth on whether we would try and convert our road course car to a short track car or just do our best to repair our Du Quoin car and it just made sense to go to Bristol with the car that had the right parts and pieces,” Van Alst explained.

“We don’t want to use the Daytona car either, so this is our best option and we’ll spend the time getting prepared the best we can and then go to Bristol and just see what happens.”

Bristol is a race that Van Alst has circled on his calendar since he announced in January the team’s intentions of running the full ARCA Menards Series schedule.

Now, Van Alst will head to one of his favorite race tracks at a disadvantage but is hoping for motivation, perseverance and a little luck helps deliver his 10th top-10 of the 2022 ARCA Menards Series season.

“It doesn’t get better than Bristol,” explained Van Alst.

“I’ve been in love with Bristol ever since I’ve raced there in a Super Late Model and we almost won. I thought having the opportunity to come back in an ARCA car would be one of our best shots at winning in an ARCA race.

“Last year though we were plagued by brake issues and this year, we’re battling more gremlins. There is no quit in our team though. We will come, we will fight and leave nothing on the table.”

Following Bristol, Van Alst welcomes a small but much-needed break to allow his Anderson, Ind.-based team to focus on the two remaining short tracks this year.

“We’ll have a small break to regroup and prepare for the final two races of the 2022 ARCA season at Salem and Toledo.”

Chris Barkdull’s CB Fabricating, a longtime partner with Greg Van Alst Motorsports has boosted its commitment to the team and will continue its role as the primary marketing partner of Van Alst’s No. 35 Ford Fusion.

Headquartered in Anderson, Ind., CB Fabricating offers a complete list of fabricating from design, laser cutting, CNC punching, forming, welding, powder coating, and assembly.

Their 26,000-square-foot facility allows them to service the needs of many different industries. Everything from the Automotive, agricultural, aquatic, medical, transportation, electrical enclosures, and much more.

“Through the trials and tribulations of our 2022 ARCA Menards Series season, we’ve tried to approach each race with a positive attitude and with extreme grace because of the support of CB Fabricating and Chris (Barkdull),” Van Alst mentioned.

“With every race complete, even if it is not the finish we are hoping for, it’s a small victory for our team knowing the large mountain that is still left to climb to celebrate in Victory Lane eventually.

“Bristol can be somewhat of a wild card race, but I’m thankful and the team is extremely appreciative to have the support of Chris and CB Fabricating.”

In addition to CB Fabricating, Top Choice Fence, Norton Transport, KRJ Race Products and Lintz Creative will serve as associate marketing partners for Van Alst’s 29th career ARCA start.

Entering Bristol, Van Alst sits a career-high fourth in the ARCA Menards Series championship standings, 108 markers in the arrears to championship leader Nick Sanchez.

“Unfortunately, the championship appears out of our reach, so our focus will shift for these remaining three races to stay tucked up inside the top-five,” sounded Van Alst. “It is going to be tough to keep Sammy (Smith) behind because of the pace of his team right now and Toni and Amber are having solid runs too.

“I’d love to think that we can fight to third by the end of the season, I just don’t think it is realistic at this point but wherever we land – we will make it a priority to finish higher in 2023.

“This is a tough series and we are still proud of where we are at.”

For more on Greg Van Alst and Greg Van Alst Motorsports, please visit GregVanAlst.com, like them on Facebook (Van Alst Motorsports) and follow him on Twitter (@GregVanAlst35).

For more on CB Fabricating, please visit CBFabricating.com and like them on Facebook (CB Fabricating).

The Bush’s Beans 200 (200 laps | 106.6 miles) is the 18th of 20 races on the 2022 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins on Thursday, September 15, 2022, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. A timed General Tire pole session kicks off at 3:30 p.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire festivities. All times are local (ET).

GMS Racing – Daniel Dye – ARCA Bristol Preview

By
Official Release
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Daniel Dye, No. 43 Champion Container GMS Racing Chevrolet

2022 ARCA Menards Series Stats

  • Starts: 17
  • Top 5’s: 11
  • Top 10’s: 15
  • Poles: 1
  • Avg Finish: 6.0

Bristol Stats

- Daniel has one prior start at Bristol (Sept 2021). Started third, finished twelfth.

Notes

  • Daniel Dye heads to Tennessee for round 18 of the 2022 ARCA Menards Series season. Bristol Motor Speedway host’s the Bush’s Beans 200 on Thursday evening.
  • Champion Container returns as the primary sponsor of the white GMS Racing No. 43 Chevrolet at Bristol, with Heise LED Lighting also onboard.
  • Dye raced at Bristol last fall with GMS Racing, qualifying third and finishing 12th.
  • Daniel currently sits second in ARCA points, 12 from the lead with three races remaining.
  • The Bush’s Beans 200 Sioux Chief Showdown Championship is set for 6:30 pm ET on Thursday, September 15, and will be televised live on FS1. The race will also be broadcast on select affiliates of the Motor Racing Network nationwide and on Sirius XM Radio Channel 391.
  • Behind-the-scenes updates and content will be posted to Daniel’s Twitter account (@danieldye43) on race day.

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.

Logano to make 500th Cup career start at Bristol

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by David Myers for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Competing in his 14th full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series, Joey Logano is primed to achieve a milestone start. By competing in this weekend’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, the driver of the No. 22 Team Penske Ford Mustang will achieve career start No. 500 in NASCAR’s premier series.

A native of Middletown, Connecticut, Logano, who grew up competing in quarter midgets before working his way up through the stock car ladder and becoming a part-time Xfinity Series competitor for Joe Gibbs Racing, made his inaugural presence in NASCAR’s premier series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September 2008. By then, he had racked up one Xfinity career victory at Kentucky Speedway in July and was announced as the driver of the No. 20 JGR Toyota Camry for the 2009 Cup season, where he would be replacing two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart. Driving the No. 96 Hall of Fame Toyota Camry at New Hampshire, Logano started 40th and finished 32nd in his Cup debut. He returned to compete at Kansas Speedway in September with Hall of Fame Racing and at Texas Motor Speedway in November with JGR, where he finished 39th and 40th respectively.

Taking over the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry in 2009, Logano endured an up-and-down Daytona Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway in February. He finished fourth in the first of two Gatorade Duels, but settled in 43rd place, dead last, in his Daytona 500 debut after being involved in a midway accident. Eight races later, he notched his first top-10 career result in the Cup circuit by finishing ninth at Talladega Superspeedway in April. After finishing 19th during the following weekend at Richmond Raceway, Logano recorded back-to-back ninth-place results at Darlington Raceway and at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May.

When NASCAR returned to New Hampshire in late June, Logano, who spun past the midpoint section of the event, utilized pit strategy to retain the lead ahead of Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch when NASCAR displayed the caution due to inclement weather with 35 laps remaining. Not long after, NASCAR declared the race official and Logano was awarded his first career victory in NASCAR’s premier series. At age 19 years, one month and four days old, Logano became the youngest winner in the Cup Series history. While he did not make the 2009 Cup Playoffs, the Connecticut rookie went on to record three additional top-10 results through the final 19 scheduled events, including a fifth-place result at Charlotte and a third-place result at Talladega in October, and finish in 20th place in the final standings as he captured the 2009 Cup Rookie-of-the-Year title.

Finishing in 20th place in the 52nd running of the Daytona 500 in February 2010, Logano rebounded during the following two weekends at Auto Club Speedway and at Las Vegas Motor Speedway by finishing fifth and sixth respectively. Two races later, he won his first career pole in the Cup circuit at Bristol Motor Speedway in March, where he finished 27th in the main event. He then finished in a season-best second place behind teammate Denny Hamlin at Martinsville Speedway the following weekend. Despite enduring run-ins with veterans Kevin Harvick and Ryan Newman throughout the summer and not qualifying for the 2010 Cup Playoffs, Logano and the No. 20 JGR Toyota team earned a total of three top-five results and 10 top-10 results throughout the 26-race regular season stretch. They went on to record six top-10 results through the remaining 10 scheduled events before settling in 16th place in the final standings. While he went winless in 2010, Logano doubled his top-five and top-10 results from his rookie season and improved his average-finishing result in his sophomore Cup season from 20.0 to 16.8.

In comparison to his sophomore season, Logano endured a difficult junior Cup season. Despite achieving two poles, one at Sonoma Raceway in June and another at Pocono Raceway in August, he only achieved a total of four top-five results, six top-10 results and two season-best third-place results at Charlotte in May and at Daytona in July. Mired in inconsistent results, Logano fell back to 24th place in the final standings. By then, he managed to surpass 100 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series.

Returning for a fourth full-time Cup season with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2012, Logano recorded back-to-back top-10 results during the first two scheduled events before finishing no higher than eighth during the following 11 events. Then at Pocono in June, the Connecticut native prevailed over a late battle against Mark Martin, his childhood hero, to emerge victorious for the second time in his Cup career and to become the first pole-winning race winner in 30 races. Compared to his first Cup victory at New Hampshire in 2009, which was shortened due to weather, Logano’s second win occurred after running all 400 miles, where he led a race-high 49 of 160 laps. Despite earning three additional top-10 results throughout the next 12 scheduled events, he did not make the Playoffs for a fourth consecutive season. Nonetheless, Logano managed to earn four additional top-10 results throughout the 10-race Playoff stretch and start on pole position for the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November before finishing in 17th place in the in the final standings.

Two months prior to the conclusion of the 2012 season, Logano was revealed to be moving to Team Penske to pilot the No. 22 Ford Fusion for the 2013 season while the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry would be piloted by the 2003 Cup champion Matt Kenseth. After finishing no higher than 12th during his first three races as a Penske competitor, Logano settled in 17th place at Bristol in March after being involved in a late run-in with ex-teammate Denny Hamlin, where the latter spun the former and resulted with both confronting one another following the race. Then during the following event at Auto Club Speedway, Logano was battling Hamlin for the win on the final lap when he rubbed against Hamlin’s car entering the final turn, which sent both competitors against the outside wall. While Hamlin spun and pounded the inside wall head-on, Logano managed to crawl across the finish line in third place. Controversy, however, continued for Logano, who fought with Tony Stewart on pit road at the event’s conclusion as Stewart was left irritated over a late restart block by Logano that cost Stewart an opportunity to win.

Since his third-place result at Auto Club through Watkins Glen International in August, where he finished seventh, Logano had notched three top-five results and nine top-10 results as he came within reach of making the Playoff’s cutline. Then at Michigan International Speedway, Logano benefited from Mark Martin running out of fuel with four laps remaining to notch his third Cup career victory and first with Team Penske in the Irish Hills after leading a race-high 51 of 200 laps from pole position. The Michigan victory along with two consecutive top-five results during the following three events were enough for Logano to make the Playoffs for the first time in his career. Despite recording two third-place results along with a total of five top-10 results throughout the 10-race Playoff stretch, the Connecticut native could not stay within grasp of the championship front-runners as he capped off the season in eighth place in the final standings, which marked his first top-10 result in a Cup standings.

In 2014, Logano commenced his second season as a Penske competitor with an 11th-place result in the Daytona 500. Six races and three top-five results later, he executed a final lap pass on Jeff Gordon during a two-lap shootout to claim his first victory of the season and the fourth of his Cup career at Texas Motor Speedway in April. Another two races later, he prevailed over a late battle against Gordon, teammate Brad Keselowski and Kenseth to win at Richmond, thus claiming multiple Cup victories in a season for the first time. In August, Logano fended off teammate Keselowski and Kenseth to win at Bristol for his third victory of the season. The three victories along with a total of 10 top-five results and 15 top-10 results throughout the 26-race regular season stretch were more than enough for the Connecticut native to make his second consecutive Playoffs. By then, he also surpassed 200 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series. When the 2014 Cup Playoffs commenced, victories at New Hampshire in September and at Kansas Speedway in October enabled Logano and the No. 22 team to transfer from the Playoff’s Round of 16 to 8. Two results in the top six during the Round of 8 were enough for him to make the Championship 4 cutline and contend for his first Cup title at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November. During the finale, however, Logano suffered a slow pit stop in the closing laps after his jackman dropped the jack and the crew was needed to raise Logano’s car to have pit stop complete. The miscue relegated the driver of the No. 22 Ford to a 16th-place result on the track and in a career-best fourth place in the final standings.

Determined to make another championship run, Logano kicked off the 2015 Cup season on a high note when he fended off Kevin Harvick and the field at the moment of caution due to a multi-car wreck to win the 57th running of the Daytona 500 in February. By then, the 24-year-old Logano became the second-youngest Daytona 500 champion and the 36th overall competitor to win the Great American Race as he gave team owner Roger Penske his second 500 title. Twenty-one races later, Logano overtook Harvick on the final lap and the final turn to claim his second victory of the season at Watkins Glen International, thus completing a clean sweep of the weekend after winning the Xfinity event a day prior. Another two races later, he fended off Harvick to win at Bristol in August for a second consecutive season. The three victories along with 17 additional results in the top 10 throughout the 2015 regular season stretch enabled Logano to make his third consecutive Playoffs.

After earning three consecutive top-10 results to transfer from the Playoff’s Round of 16 to 12, Logano transferred to the Round of 8 after sweeping the round’s three events at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kansas and at Talladega Superspeedway. In the midst of his three consecutive victories, he encountered a late run-in with Kenseth, whom he spun at Kansas in the closing laps prior to his victory. Then at Martinsville Speedway in November, Logano dominated until he was intentionally wrecked by Kenseth under the final 50 laps, an incident that jeopardized the Connecticut native’s 2015 title hopes as he finished 37th. The situation went from bad to worse during the following weekend at Texas when he cut a tire early in the end and settled in 40th place. He rallied during the following event at Phoenix by finishing in third place, but the damage was done as he was far behind in the points and failed to transfer to the Championship Round at Homestead. While he did not win the 2015 title and ended up sixth in the final standings, the season stands as Logano’s best to date, where he notched a career-high six victories, six poles, 22 top-five results, 28 top-10 results, 1,431 laps led and an average-finishing result of 9.2.

Making another bid for his first title in 2016, Logano commenced the season with six top-10 results through the season’s first 12 scheduled events until he accomplished his first All-Star Race victory at Charlotte in May following a late battle with Kyle Larson. Four weeks later, he fended off rookie Chase Elliott to grab his first points victory at Michigan in June. A total of 18 top-10 results throughout the 2016 regular season stretch, including his victory at Michigan, were enough for Logano to qualify for his fourth consecutive appearance in the Playoffs. 

In the Round of 16 in the Playoffs, Logano finished no lower than 11th on the track as he transferred to the Round of 12. At Charlotte in October, he finished 36th after smacking the wall twice separately due to two right-front tire failures. After finishing third at Kansas during the following weekend, Logano earned a one-way ticket to the Round of 8 after winning at Talladega. He then went on to finish ninth and second at the start of the Round of 8 before capitalizing on a late restart at Phoenix in November to win and clinch a Championship 4 spot for Homestead. During the finale, however, Logano restarted behind championship rival Carl Edwards during a restart with 10 laps remaining and was involved in a late multi-car wreck that saw Edwards turning himself across Logano’s front nose and pounding the inside wall head-on while Logano sustained minimal damage to his No. 22 Ford. Despite continuing, Logano could only run as high as fourth place on the track as he settled in a career-best second place in the final standings behind seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson.

In comparison to his previous three seasons at Team Penske, where he contended for the championship, the 2017 Cup season ended up being a difficult season for Logano, who commenced the season with a victory in the non-points Clash at Daytona in February followed by back-to-back sixth-place results. After finishing no lower than sixth during all but one of the first eight scheduled events, he notched his first victory of the season at Richmond in April. By then, he became the sixth competitor to win in career start No. 300. The win, however, was overshadowed with disappointment when it was discovered that Logano’s No. 22 Ford encountered an issue with a rear suspension during the post-race inspection process. The issue made NASCAR declared Logano’s victory “encumbered” as his win would not count towards him making the Playoffs. From there, Logano endured an inconsistent, regular season stretch with three additional top-10 results, but 10 results outside of the top 20 during the next 16 events. Despite finishing second at Richmond in September, he was unable to make the Playoffs for the first time since 2012. From there, he managed five top-10 results during the 10-race Playoff stretch before concluding the season in 17th place in the final standings.

Determined to return as a championship-caliber competitor for himself and his team, Logano opened the 2018 season with a fourth-place result in the Daytona 500. Nine races and seven additional top-10 results later, he fended off Kurt Busch and the field to win at Talladega in May. Logano then went on to post nine more top-10 results before qualifying for the 2018 Cup Playoffs. Finishing no worse than 14th during the first six Playoff events, Logano was able to transfer from the Round of 16 to 8 by late October. Then during the first Round of 8 event at Martinsville, Logano rubbed and overtook reigning Cup champion Martin Truex Jr. on the final lap to win and clinch a spot in the Championship event at Homestead. Three races later during the finale at Homestead, Logano overtook Truex and led the final 12 laps before streaking to his third victory of the season and winning his first championship in the NASCAR Cup Series. With his first title occurring in his 10th full-time season in the Cup Series, Logano became the 33rd different competitor to achieve a championship in NASCAR’s premier series as he also recorded the second Cup title for Team Penske. Overall, Logano capped off his first championship season with three victories, a pole, 13 top-five results, 26 top-10 results, 934 laps led and an average-finishing result of 10.7.

Entering the 2019 season as the reigning Cup champion, Logano commenced the season by winning the second of two Daytona Duel events before finishing in fourth place in the Daytona 500. Two races later, he fended off teammate Brad Keselowski to notch his first victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March. Another 12 races later, he beat Kurt Busch during an overtime attempt to win at Michigan in June. To go along with his two regular season victories, he notched a total of 15 top-10 results during the regular season stretch as he made his sixth career appearance in the Playoffs. During the Playoff’s Round of 16, Logano finished no lower than 11th as he transferred to the Round of 12. Despite finishing no higher than 11th during the Round of 12, he was able to transfer to the Round of 8 while teammate Keselowski missed the cutoff by three points. During the first Round of 8 event at Martinsville in October, Logano was involved in a post-race skirmish with Denny Hamlin after Hamlin made contact with Logano late in the event that caused Logano to cut a tire and spin. Despite finishing eighth at Martinsville before proceeding to finish fourth and ninth at Texas and Phoenix respectively, he failed to reach the Championship Round at Homestead and was unable to defend his title. With his hopes of winning back-to-back titles evaporated, Logano finished in fifth place in the final standings.

Following a disappointing conclusion to the 2019 season, Logano notched two victories through the first four scheduled events of the 2020 season: Las Vegas and Phoenix in March. By then, he surpassed 400 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series. When all NASCAR activities were suspended in March before returning in May during the COVID-19 pandemic, he managed to earn 12 top-10 results before making his seventh appearance in the Playoffs. After transferring all the way from the Round of 16 to 8 on the strength of three top-three results, Logano earned a one-way ticket to the Championship Round at Phoenix after winning the Round of 8’s opening event at Kansas in October. During the finale, however, Logano settled in third place on the track and in the final standings behind Chase Elliott and teammate Keselowski.

At the start of the 2021 Cup season, Logano was in position to win his second Daytona 500 title while leading on the final lap when he was turned by teammate Brad Keselowski with two corners remaining. The collision between both Penske teammates ignited a fiery multi-car wreck that left both with demolished race cars with Logano settling in 12th place. The incident marked Logano’s second consecutive DNF in the Daytona 500. He rebounded by finishing in second place during the Daytona Road Course event after being overtaken by Christopher Bell on the penultimate lap. Five races later, Logano fended off Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Denny Hamlin during an overtime shootout to win the inaugural Cup event at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Course, which marked his 27th career win in NASCAR’s premier series. Despite enduring a wild airborne wreck at Talladega in April, he earned a total of 13 top-10 results throughout the regular season stretch before making his eighth appearance in the Playoffs. Finishing no higher than 11th place during the first half of the 2021 Cup Playoffs, Logano was able to transfer from the Round of 16 to 8. An engine issue during the first Round of 8 event at Texas, however, affected his hopes of winning the title and ultimately, he was unable to transfer out of the Round of 8 despite notching back-to-back top-10 results for the remainder of the event. Capping off the season with an 11th-place result during the finale at Phoenix, Logano ended up in eighth place in the final standings behind teammates Keselowski and Ryan Blaney.

Logano commenced the 2022 NASCAR season on a high note by winning the non-points Busch Light Clash in the sport’s inaugural exhibition event at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in February. After achieving five top-10 results through the first 11-scheduled events, he claimed his first Cup points victory of the season at Darlington Raceway in May. The Darlington victory occurred after Logano pulled a “bump-and-run” move on William Byron prior to the final lap that knocked Byron out of contention. Another three races later, Logano prevailed in an overtime battle against Kyle Busch to win the inaugural Cup event at World Wide Technology Raceway in June. The victories at Darlington and Gateway along with a total of seven top-five results, 12 top-10 results and an average-finishing result of 14.0 throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch were enough to earn a one-way ticket to the Playoffs for the ninth time in his career. Coming off runs of fourth and 17th through the first two events in the Round of 16, he is currently ranked in fourth place in the Playoff standings and 40 points above the top-12 cutline to advance to the Round of 12.

Through 499 previous Cup starts, Logano has achieved one championship, 29 victories, 24 poles, 146 top-five results, 253 top-10 results, 7,911 laps led and an average-finishing result of 13.9.

Logano is scheduled to make his 500th Cup Series career start at Bristol Motor Speedway for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on Saturday, September 17. The event’s coverage is slated to occur at 7:30 p.m. ET on USA Network.

M&M’S Racing: Kyle Busch Bristol Advance

By
Official Release
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KYLE BUSCH
Bristol a Sight for Sore Eyes

HUNTERSVILLE, North Carolina (Sept. 14, 2022) – Despite strong efforts by Kyle Busch in each of the first two races of this year’s NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, neither neither race turned out how he and his team had hoped.

In the Round of 16 opener at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway two weekends ago, Busch led a race high 155 laps and appeared headed for victory when an engine issue derailed his bid just 21 laps from the finish. Last weekend at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Busch again had a strong outing, having worked his way into the top-five before a pit-road penalty relegated him to the back of the field. From there, he spun through the infield grass and damaged his car enough to keep him out of contention.

While the first two playoff races have not netted the results he and his team expected, good news is on the horizon in the form of his favorite racetrack on the circuit – Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, site of Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race.

The event has long been a staple on the Cup Series schedule and certainly a favorite of drivers and fans alike. Many even argue that the 500-lap race is slowly and steadily evolving into a crown jewel on the schedule.

Busch, driver of the No. 18 M&M’S Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), has at least nine reasons why he’s been looking forward to Bristol and its significance in the 2022 Cup Series playoffs. His eight wins on its high-banked, half-mile concrete surface are the most among active drivers. If anyone thought adding dirt to the surface would slow Busch down at Bristol, they’d need to think again. Busch brought home a victory there in April’s Food City Dirt Race, giving him nine total wins within the confines of the track coined “The Last Great Colosseum.”

A ninth Cup Series victory on the concrete surface and 10th overall at Bristol would send the younger Busch brother into a tie with some all-time greats of the sport. Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarborough and Rusty Wallace all ended their careers at the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile” with nine victories. If Busch was to achieve nine Bristol concrete wins, the next milestone would be Darrell Waltrip’s all-time record of 12 wins at the Tennessee short track.

A win Saturday night for the M&M’S driver would not only add to his career total at Bristol, but also vault him directly into the playoffs’ Round of 12. Heading into Saturday night’s race, Busch sits just two points below the top-12 cutline to advance. The Round of 12 begins Sept. 25 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

Busch, the two-time Cup Series champion, holds the distinction of being the only driver in NASCAR history to win all three national series races in a single weekend, which he’s done twice at the Bristol bullring. He captured the “Bristol Triple” in 2010 and 2017, when he swept NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series, Xfinity Series, and Cup Series races. In addition to his eight career Cup Series concrete surface wins, Busch has 14 top-fives and 19 top-10s in 32 career starts on the concrete surface at Northeast Tennessee’s “Thunder Valley.”

So, as Busch and the M&M’S team head to Bristol this weekend, it will no doubt be a sight for sore eyes. A ninth victory on the concrete surface would not only put him alongside NASCAR Hall of Famers Earnhardt, Yarborough, and Wallace, but also send him to the next round of the playoffs so he can take another step toward a third Cup Series championship.

KYLE BUSCH, Driver of the No. 18 M&M’S Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing:

What are your thoughts heading to Bristol Saturday?

“I would like to get back to victory lane at Bristol, no doubt. We’ve had some decent runs there the last several years and hope we can do the same there this year. We were obviously there earlier this year but that was a completely different kind of race on the dirt surface, but never hurts to get a win there no matter what the surface looks like. There are a lot of unknowns going into this race since there hasn’t been a race with the NextGen car on the concrete surface, so a lot of unknowns, for sure. It’s always a great racetrack to circle on the calendar and know it’s a time when we can shine. We also have M&M’S on board again this weekend, so hoping we can have a solid finish and get us through to the next round.”

What makes Bristol Motor Speedway so unique?

“Bristol Motor Speedway is one of the best racetracks on the circuit. All the fans love it because of the excitement, the run-ins and the close-quarter action with all the cars being packed on top of one another at a half-mile racetrack with us 40 lunatics running around in a tight circle. With the fans, the atmosphere there always makes for a good time, and sometimes a frustrating time when things don’t always go your way.”

What is the toughest part about 500 laps at a place like Bristol?

“Races at Bristol are very demanding, both mentally and physically. I think physically just because of the nature of the non-stop driving. You are always on the go and always doing something, down the straightaway, in the corners, because it’s so long and what it takes from the corner entry throughout the corner you just don’t have any time to relax at all on the straightaway. And then the mental demands of that place, too, because it’s concrete and the vibration and the challenge it puts on your body is pretty high there. Bristol is the one the more fun racetracks for me, especially being so successful there, and I pride myself on being able to handle that and not falling out of the seat.”

What is your first memory of Bristol and what is your best story of success?

“I remember my first time. It was in an Xfinity Series car at a test session for Hendrick Motorsports. I remember I needed about 27 laps before I thought I was going to knock the wall down, with all the optimism and pumped-up feelings I had about going there. But after that, it’s been pretty fun. We’ve had some challenging times there, but I’ve also had some good times there. Looking to continue that on Saturday night with our M&M’S Camry. What’s the highlight? You can’t dismiss the sweeps there. I would say that the first one was really, really awesome and really, really special, and the second one was special, as well.”

Event Overview:

● Event: Bass Pro Shops Night Race (Round 29 of 36)

● Time/Date: 7:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, Sept. 17

● Location: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway

● Layout: .533-mile oval

● Laps/Miles: 500 laps/ 266.5 miles

● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 125 laps / Stage 2: 125 laps / Final Stage: 250 laps

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

Meet the No. 18 M&M’S / Joe Gibbs Racing Team

Primary Team Members:

Driver: Kyle Busch
Hometown: Las Vegas

Crew Chief: Ben Beshore
Hometown: York, Pennsylvania

Car Chief: Nate Bellows
Hometown: Fairfax, Vermont

Spotter: Tony Hirschman
Hometown: Northampton, Pennsylvania

Race Engineer: Seth Chavka
Hometown: Soldotna, Alaska

Race Engineer: Jaik Halpainy
Hometown: Blockville, New York

Over-The-Wall Crew Members:

Gas Man: Matt Tyrrell
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Front Tire Changer: Thomas Hatcher
Hometown: Middleburg, Florida

Jackman: Kellen Mills
Hometown: Mesa, Arizona

Tire Carrier: CJ Bailey
Hometown: Outer Banks, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Lee Cunningham
Hometown: Leaf River, Illinois

Road Crew Members:

Engine Tuner: Dan Bajek
Hometown: Camden, New York

Truck Driver: Chris Miko
Hometown: Bronx, New York

Truck Driver: Eloy Trevino
Hometown: Adrian, Michigan

Mechanic/Tire Specialist: Justin Peiffer
Hometown: Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Mechanic: Scott Eldridge
Hometown: Warsaw, Indiana

Mechanic: Tony Hamm
Hometown: Walla, Walla, Washington

Notes of Interest:

● Playoff Points: Busch has accumulated 11 important playoff points he can take with him through each round. Busch sits 11th in the playoff standings, two points below the 12th-place cutoff to advance to the next round. He has one win, six top-five finishes and 13 top-10s this season.

● All in the Stats: Busch has eight wins, 14 top-five finishes, 19 top-10s and has led a total of 2,593 laps in 32 career Cup Series starts on Bristol’s concrete oval. Busch’s average Bristol concrete finish is 13.0.

● 224 and Counting: Busch will be aiming to add to his record 224 overall wins among NASCAR’s top three series this weekend at Bristol. In addition to his 60 Cup Series wins and 102 in the Xfinity Series, Busch has 62 wins in the Camping World Truck Series.

What Does a Car Strut do When it Goes Bad?

By
SM
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Photo by Vlad Grebenyev on Unsplash

Hundreds of things can go wrong when a car strut is not working properly. If you are postponing the replacement of your vehicle’s strut (or shocks), this article is for you. 

Here, we will explain what changes a damaged car strut can do to your vehicle and how risky it is to drive with one. 

We all know how a lousy car strut can impact the steering of the vehicle. However, it’s nothing compared to its effect on the stability and safety of the vehicle. 

Keep reading to find out what happens if you don’t replace shocks and struts on time (and how you can avoid it).

Effects of a Bad Car Strut on Vehicle

Here’s how a bad car strut affects your vehicle:

  1. Loss of Handling and Steering

If the strut of your vehicle is not working correctly, it can impact the handling and steering of the vehicle. It is not just about convenience but it can also attract safety concerns due to reduced control over the vehicle.

You will notice that the vehicles start bouncing unnecessarily while driving. It is more prone to do this while taking a turn. 

Most experts recommend you do a shocks and struts replacement at the right time to avoid such situations. 

  1. Affects Weight Transfer of Vehicle

All of the car manufacturers focus on the transfer of weight to provide a smooth riding experience to the user. However, driving with a bad car strut can affect the weight transfer which will eventually lead to the loss of control over the vehicle. 

If you are someone who loves to drive your vehicle at high speed, you can not take chance with a bad strut. You will find it much more challenging to apply the brakes at the right time. 

  1. Excessive Weight on Other Suspension Parts

The complete suspension system includes different parts like shocks, arms, linkage, struts, etc. All these parts bear the weight of the vehicle and give you complete control over the wheels. However, when a strut goes bad, it puts more pressure on other suspension parts.

Thus, there is a heavy chance that the complete suspension system will require a replacement if you keep using a bad strut. Even if there is no other damage, they will start wearing out at a much faster rate.

  1. Impacts Braking Efficiency

You do not need to be a proper car mechanic to know that there is a clear relationship between the suspension and the braking efficiency. When there is some issue with the suspension, the brakes start taking more time to stop your vehicle and it takes longer distances to stop completely.

It simply means there’s an increased risk of an accident because the vehicle won’t stop efficiently.

  1. Tire Wear

Be ready with the tire replacement as a bad strut is going to affect your vehicle’s tire life as well. With a damaged suspension, there’s more pressure on the wheels that leads to the premature wearing of the tire. 

If you feel like your vehicle’s tires are getting worn out at a faster rate, you should get the steering and suspension checked by an expert. Simply replacing the tires won’t help you much.

Easiest Way to Know if the Struts Have Worn Out

If you are not sure about the health of your vehicle’s strut, you can refer to our guide and find out of they need a replacement or not.

Here are some easy quick tips to do it:

Tip1- Check for Noises

A bad strut will always make some noise when your vehicle needs suspension. The best way to do it is by driving through rough surfaces or listening to the noises while going through a pothole.

If there’s some noise, you will need to get the strut checked and replaced. 

Tip2- Check for Excessive Movement

A bad strut car can not absorb the shock and the vehicle starts bouncing over rough surfaces. Instead of a smooth ride, you will feel like you are losing control over the vehicle. 

Tip3- Excessive Swaying

Another way to find out if the car strut is working is by driving the vehicle at high speed. Most vehicles with a bad strut will start swaying and you will always notice it at a higher speed. However, make sure to tick out all other factors that can lead to the swaying of the vehicle before doing this test.

Tip4- Hydraulic Fluid Leakage

The most obvious way to identify a bad strut is by checking for leakage. A worn-out strut starts leaking the hydraulic fluid that is visible to everyone. If there’s some leakage, make sure to get the strut changed as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Will bad struts cause clunking noise?

A bad strut can make some noises but a clunking noise is usually due to some loose hardware. It is advisable to get your vehicle checked in such situations. 

  1. Can a bad strut cause tire wear?

Yes, a bad strut is one of the most common reasons behind tire wearing. It is because there’s more pressure on the wheels and they start wearing out prematurely.

  1. How bad is a leaking strut?

If a car strut starts leaking, it means there’s no hydraulic liquid left. That is why it is important to change the struts as soon as possible. A leaking strut can stop working anytime.

Where to Buy Car Struts For My Vehicle?

You can find some compatible car struts online and offline as well. We recommend going for online auto parts stores like SuncentAuto, CarID, Autozone, etc., as they offer better replacement options than the offline stores  Also, you can filter for compatible car struts on online websites.

You can also go for marketplaces like Amazon and eBay for some better deals. Make sure to find compatible car struts that work with your vehicle to avoid returns and replacements.

What Are the Main Types of Car Insurance?

By
SM
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Photo by Helena Lopes

If it is your first time purchasing automobile insurance, you are not to blame for being confused. With so many options available, it can be difficult to know which ones to choose. You can start by checking out sites like Waffle Insurance which offers multiple bundles to suit you, but keep reading this article to discover the types of insurance available and help you select the proper coverage.

Liability Insurance

Liability car insurance covers your compensation costs when you are responsible for a vehicle accident that causes damage or injuries to others. Liability insurance also covers the costs associated with your legal defense if you are sued due to an accident.

Liability insurance covers a wide range of vehicle-related incidents, such as crashing your vehicle into private property, causing a car accident that damages another person or vehicle, hitting a pedestrian with your car, or scratching another car in a car park. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to insurance.

All the states in the United States require liability car insurance aside from New Hampshire and Virginia. The minimum insured sum required by law and the insurance cost differs from state to state. So, Pennsylvania car insurance and state minimums may be significantly less than in New York.

While state minimums may be adequate in some situations, they typically only cover minor accidents. If you are involved in a multi-vehicle crash, the resulting medical bills could easily exceed basic policy limits. Therefore, it is prudent to insure yourself for more than just the state minimum.

Collision / Comprehensive Insurance

Collision and comprehensive insurance are two types of insurance that are frequently sold together as they cover a range of peripheral problems that may come with car ownership. They are commonly packaged with vehicle lease agreements to ensure that rental cars are covered for any damage.

Collision insurance pays for car repair expenditures after a car collision, regardless of who is at fault. Comprehensive insurance covers various events such as car theft, vandalism, animal collisions, or falling branches. It also covers damage from natural occurrences such as hail, floods, and fire.

Uninsured Motorist Insurance

There is nothing worse than being involved in an accident and discovering that the driver that is liable for the accident does not have insurance. The process of securing compensation from an uninsured motorist can take months and cost you thousands of dollars of out-of-pocket expenses.

Uninsured motorist insurance and underinsured motorist insurance are two ways that you can protect yourself from irresponsible drivers. These policies will also cover expenses incurred from the accident in the event that the other driver’s insurance company refuses to compensate you.

Uninsured motorist insurance and underinsured motorist insurance can be used to pay for medical treatment for you and your passengers who got hurt during the accident, lost wages from work missed due to the accident, and funeral expenses in the event of a death. In some states, they can also be used to cover vehicle repair and replacement costs.

Personal Injury Protection

Personal injury protection coverage ensures that you and your passengers will be covered for any medical expenses for injuries sustained in an automobile collision, regardless of who caused the accident. In some states, this is compulsory, while it is optional in others.

Aside from medical bills resulting from the accident, personal injury protection will cover the costs of rehabilitation or therapy. It will also compensate you for lost wages due to the inability to work and the cost of replacement services to cover household tasks that you cannot perform.

Gap Insurance

Gap insurance is another type of insurance that is often mandatory if you lease your vehicle. Should your car get stolen or destroyed, gap insurance will cover the difference between the value of your car and the balance remaining on your auto loan. In some cases, this can amount to thousands of dollars.

New Car Replacement Insurance

As its name suggests, new car replacement insurance will replace your car with a brand new vehicle of the same make and model—minus the deductible—if your car is damaged beyond repair after an accident. This option is ideal for vehicles that depreciate quickly after purchase.

How to Choose Car Insurance Coverage

If you are buying a new car or taking out a car loan, you will need to have full coverage auto insurance. The definition of full coverage can change depending on your state but it typically refers to a combination of policies such as liability insurance and comprehensive and collision insurance.

Make sure that the policy you buy meets your state’s minimum insurance requirements and consider if you have the budget to increase your coverage. Although a higher monthly insurance premium may seem unappealing, it can save you tens of thousands of dollars in the event of a serious crash.

Do your research online, visit sites that rate car insurance companies, and be duly informed about your state’s requirements. Read reviews from existing customers about the different products and claim processes. Then, compare quotes from various reputable providers to find one that suits your needs.

Auto insurance is part and parcel of car ownership in the US. A solid insurance policy not only protects you but also your passengers and other road users. By getting educated about the numerous types of car insurance available, you can make the best choice to safeguard your assets.

Wheel Spacer Facts: What To Know Before You Buy

By
SM
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Wheel spacers have become one of the most common aftermarket accessories today. Millions of people are trusting them to provide better stability to their vehicles. Still, many people question the safety issues of installing wheel spacers.

In this article, we will explain what wheel spacers are and get into their pros and cons. After reading, you will have a better idea of this add-on accessory and to better decide whether you need to get wheel spacers for your vehicle.  

What are Wheel Spacers?

A wheel spacer is a part that increases the space between the wheels by bolting between the wheels and the mounting hub. This way, anyone can give their vehicle a visibly enhanced look by increasing the gap between the wheels by the desired distance. 

Another important thing about the wheel spacers is you can change the entire pattern of the wheels by getting these wheel spacers. However, it depends on the type of vehicle you have and whether it can support the vehicle load by changing the wheel’s positions. 

What are Wheel Spacers Made of?

Most of the wheel spacers are made of high-quality aluminum for trucks and SUVs. It is because this metal can hold more weight and provides ample strength for overall vehicle stability. 

Experimenting with other materials to make wheel spacers can cause safety issues. The only reason you can not use steel is that it weighs more than aluminum and requires more metal to provide the required support.

Pros and Cons of Wheel Spacers

This list of pros and cons of using wheel spacers will give you an idea of whether you should go for them or not.

Pros

  1. Lets you Fit Wider Wheels

If you are someone with a soft spot for larger wheels or tires, wheels spacers let you do it with minimum modifications. It won’t only improve the vehicle’s look but also gives you better control of the vehicle. If you have an off-roader, you would want to replace the stock wheels by using the wheel spacers.

  1. Improves Brakes Quality

Another benefit of using wheel spacers is you can improve the performance of your brake system. It works by letting you use wider brakes that work better on wider wheels (using wheel spacers). Adding the wider brakes after the wheel spacers ensures they do not rub against the wheel wells to avoid damage.

  1. Improves Handling

No doubt having wheel spacers can improve the handling of your vehicle as it offers more area to manage the vehicle’s weight efficiently. Apart from this, you also get a much better grip on the road with the wider wheels.

  1. Easy to install

Using wheel spacers is the easiest solution to get wider wheels with minimum modifications. You only need a few tools to do it yourself. However, there can be some alignment issues, and getting professional help is recommended.

Cons

  1. Affects Ride Quality

Every car manufacturer keeps ride quality in mind when introducing new models. The stock wheels are designed to provide the best riding experience to the user. However, altering the wheel size can affect the ride quality and the vehicle may not be comfortable for long rides.

  1. Takes more Effort to Steer

Even if you have a power steering vehicle, you will have to put in more effort to move the wheels. It’s because using the space wheelers increases the space between the wheels and it has to cover more area to steer now.

Are Wheel Spacers Safe?

There’s always confusion among car owners about the safety of wheel spacers. To find the right answer, you must understand how they work.

The main thing to understand is wheel spacers can affect the weight-bearing capacity of a vehicle. With the stock mountings, a vehicle is designed to hold the weight of all the car parts. However, when you make modifications to that mounting (to install wheel spacers), you may compromise the safety of the vehicle. 

To avoid this issue, you must find the most compatible wheel spacers that are tested by the manufacturer on compatible models. By doing this, you can ensure you have all the safety measures done before using your vehicle again. 

So overall, the safety factor comes in when you upgrade your vehicle with wheel spacers without following the procedure the right way. Always find compatible wheel spacers after making sure your vehicle can support wide wheels.

Should I get Wheel Spacers for my Car?

Getting wheel spacers is a completely personal choice and you can always use your vehicle without getting the wheel spacers as well. However, there are some clear benefits like better stability, control of brakes, and vehicle weight management by getting the wheel spacers.

However, the main factor is the compatibility of the wheel spacers with your vehicle. Not every vehicle is suitable for wheel spacers and installing them there will do more harm than good. Thus, if you have any other vehicle other than an SUV or truck, you must make sure it can support the increased space between the wheels. 

There are some downsides like steering issues which must be considered while getting wheel spacers. 

According to some experts, getting wheel spacers on a perfectly-fine working vehicle can impact the user’s performance. 

How to Find Compatible Wheel Spacers For your Vehicle

You can easily find compatible wheel spacers for your vehicle online. Many platforms offer high-quality compatible wheel spacers for a specific vehicle. The easiest way is to get them from professional auto parts sites like SuncentAuto, Carparts, and Autozone, which lets you buy wheel spacers that are designed specifically for your vehicle.

All you need is to select your vehicle model on the website and select from the results. 

You can also use marketplaces like Amazon and eBay to find wheel spacers online. Just make sure to check the reviews and the photos submitted by the buyers.

Magical Vacation Planner Racing: Chase Briscoe Bristol Advance

By
Official Release
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CHASE BRISCOE
Bristol Advance
No. 14 Magical Vacation Planner Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Bass Pro Shops Night Race (Round 29 of 36)
● Time/Date: 7:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, Sept. 16
● Location: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway
● Layout: .533-mile concrete oval
● Laps/Miles: 500 laps/266.7 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 125 laps / Stage 2: 125 laps / Final Stage: 250 laps
● TV/Radio: USA / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 14 Magical Vacation Planner (MVP) Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), is on a mission to conquer The Last Great Colosseum Saturday night in the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Briscoe heads into the final race of the first-round of the playoffs 15th in the standings, nine points below the cutoff line to advance to the Round of 12. He began the playoffs with a 27th-place result at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway after being caught up in an accident early in the race. Last Sunday at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Briscoe looked to be on pace for a top-five finish until he was held up during a pit stop and lost several positions. Though the No. 14 MVP Ford Mustang was fast, Briscoe was unable to work all the way back through the field and finished 13th.

● Briscoe started 20th and finished 13th in last year’s night race at Bristol, his first Cup Series start on the concrete surface. He was the third-highest-finishing non-playoff driver in one of his stronger performances of the season. It was a reminder of the success Briscoe had found at Bristol in the NASCAR Xfinity Series just the year before.

● In September 2020, Briscoe claimed his first Bristol Xfinity Series victory after leading only 11 laps. It was his sixth Xfinity Series start at the Tennessee short track. The Mitchell, Indiana, native also has two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts there – one on the traditional concrete surface in which he earned a 12th-place finish in 2017, and one on the dirt surface in 2021 resulting in a top-five effort.

● The last time the Cup Series visited Bristol, when the track was covered with dirt for the April 17 race, the 27-year-old racer put on a show but ultimately ended up with a roughed-up No. 14 Ford Mustang parked last on pit road. Briscoe started fourth, won the second stage and led a total of 59 laps. He was closing in on leader Tyler Reddick in the final laps before attempting a slide job exiting turn two. Briscoe was unable to clear Reddick and collected him when the No. 14 spun in the bottom groove, handing the win to Kyle Busch. Briscoe was credited with a 22nd-place finish.

● MVP was founded by Jamie Ane Eubanks alongside her husband JJ, a former professional basketball player, as a storefront travel agency in 2006. Today, it is a company that provides one of the best vacation planning services in the industry. It operates through three branches: MVP Parks, MVP Cruising and MVP Getaways. The company provides its exclusive and personalized, stress-free planning service at no additional expense to its clients, making the extensive array of Disney options and add-ons easy to understand and navigate. MVP actively seeks savings for its clients, monitoring early-morning releases of discounted room or vacation packages while also scouring existing reservations for price drops to where they can modify an existing reservation at the newfound lower price. MVP will also plan a family’s itinerary, expertly navigating Disney’s Genie+ and Lighting Lane systems to maximize resort and park times by avoiding long lines while also securing those premium Disney dining experiences that include coveted character meetings.

Chase Briscoe, Driver of the No. 14 Magical Vacation Planner Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

You’re only nine points below the cutoff line as we head into this weekend. What will it take to advance to the next round?

“A clean race. Bristol is chaotic and unpredictable. Nine points above the cutoff line would be a lot better than nine below, but either way we’d have to go in and have a good race with some stage points and no mistakes. So, I don’t think it makes much difference. We know we can do it, we’ve just got to avoid the chaos and I feel like we can go there and get some stage points and be in good shape.”

This will be the first time in the Next Gen car at Bristol on the concrete surface. Is there any information that can be carried over from last year, or from the dirt race in the spring, to help preparation for Saturday’s night race?

“No, I don’t think there’s anything that you can use. We know what racing at Bristol is like. It’s a fast short track with a lot of banking and guys trying to figure out how to make passes without a lot of time to figure it out. You typically have to put yourself in a position you may not want to be in to get where you want to be. But as far as what we do with the car, I think we’ll have to rely a little on what we’ve seen at some other tracks this year and a lot on sim data. This car has shown it races a lot differently than what we’ve had in the past and you definitely can’t compare to anything that happened in the dirt race.”

Does that make you nervous with this being the cutoff race for the first round?

“I don’t think so. I’ve done well at Bristol, it’s one of my stronger tracks, and I enjoy racing there. I think we’ve done well on the short tracks, which is definitely not my strength. We certainly can’t afford to have a bad race and we’ll need to be aware of what is going on with other guys. You’ve got to be focused on running your race just as much as you’re trying to stay out of other people’s messes, and things happen quickly. We’ll have to do that without compromising our chances of moving on. I feel good about it, I know the guys on this team are going to give me what I need and I’m excited to get to Bristol.”

No. 14 Magical Vacation Planner Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Chase Briscoe
Hometown: Mitchell, Indiana

Crew Chief: John Klausmeier
Hometown: Perry Hall, Maryland

Car Chief: J.D. Frey
Hometown: Ferndale, California

Engineer: Mike Cook
Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Engineer: Marc Hendricksen
Hometown: Clinton, New Jersey

Spotter: Joey Campbell
Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Shayne Pipala
Hometown: Frankfort Square, Illinois

Rear Tire Changer: Dakota Ratcliff
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee

Tire Carrier: Jon Bernal
Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Jack Man: Dylan Moser
Hometown: Monroe, North Carolina

Fuel Man: Corey Coppola
Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Stephen Gonzalez
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Interior Mechanic: Trevor Adams
Hometown: Naples, Florida

Tire Specialist: Keith Eads
Hometown: Arlington, Virginia

Shock Specialist: Brian Holshouser
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Engine Tuner: Jon Phillips
Hometown: Jefferson City, Missouri

Transporter Co-Driver: Todd Cable
Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Rob Fink
Hometown: Mocksville, North Carolina

Corey Heim – No. 51 Crescent Tools Tundra TRD Pro Camping World Trucks Bristol Preview

By
Official Release
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Corey Heim: Driver, No. 51 Crescent Tools Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: UNOH 200, Race 20 of 23 (Race 1 in the Round of 8)
200 Laps – 55/55/90; 106.6 Miles
Location: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway (half-mile concrete oval)
Date/Broadcast: Sept. 15, 2022, at 9 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

The Story on Corey:

Corey Heim and the No. 51 Crescent Tools team head to Bristol Motor Speedway for the opening race in the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series owner’s playoffs. Heim propelled the team to the next round with three top-10 finishes in the Round of 10, putting them 33 points above the cutoff line for advancing. Overall, the Georgia driver has put together a stretch of four consecutive top-10 finishes, including his seventh-place result last week at Kansas Speedway. With the points reset to start this round, the No. 51 team sits sixth on the playoff grid, four points below the cutoff line for advancing to the Championship 4.

The No. 51 team qualified for the owner’s portion of the playoffs via Heim’s two wins this season (Atlanta Motor Speedway and World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway). They are tied with the No. 18 and No. 38 teams with a series-leading three wins this season. In addition to Heim’s two wins, Kyle Busch was victorious at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway in June. The No. 51 team has captured the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series owner’s championship three times (2013-2014 & 2019) and as on organization KBM has collected a series-record seven owner’s titles.

Thursday night’s 200-lap event will mark Heim’s first Truck Series start at the half-mile oval. He has one ARCA Menards Series start at Bristol, a fifth-place result in last year’s race. Heim finished third in the 100-lap Super Late Model feature at the U.S. Nationals at Bristol in 2018.

Across 12 Truck Series starts this season, Heim has produced two wins, two poles, 64 laps led, five top-five and seven top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 14.8. The Georgia driver picked up his first career Truck Series victory in just his fifth start earlier this season at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway in March and was also victorious in June at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

With two victories across his first 10 Truck Series starts, the 19-year-old driver became one of just 12 drivers in series history to net multiple victories in their first 10 starts. Kasey Kahne and Mike Skinner each produced five victories, Mark Martin collected four wins, Ron Hornaday Jr., Ted Musgrave and William Byron brought home three checkered flags and Heim, Kyle Busch, Erik Jones, Rich Bickle, Clint Bowyer and Tony Stewart all delivered two wins.

Heim leads the Truck Series rookie of the year standings by 124 points over Lawless Alan. Heim will look to join three other KBM drivers that have won the award, reigning winner Chandler Smith, William Byron (2016) and Erik Jones (2015). Overall, Heim sits 15th in the driver point standings, despite only starting 12 of the 19 events, and is ahead of six full-time competitors.

On Sunday at Kansas Speedway, Heim picked up his ninth career ARCA Menards Series victory. Across 43 career ARCA Menards Series starts he has produced 814 laps led, 31 top-five and 41 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 4.3. Heim finished second to Ty Gibbs in the 2021 ARCA Menards Series championship standings.

Mardy Lindley returned to KBM for his second season atop the pit box of the No. 51 team. Lindley has led his team to six wins since coming to KBM at the start of the 2021 season, including two with Heim and one with Kyle Busch this year. In 2021, his drivers produced three victories, two with Busch and one with Martin Truex Jr. Before arriving at KBM, Lindley guided his drivers to 32 wins and four ARCA Menards Series East championships since 2013, including back-to-back titles with Sam Mayer the last two seasons. Additionally, he earned the ARCA Menards Series Sioux Chief Showdown championship with Mayer in 2020. Behind the wheel, the second-generation driver won 11 races on the Pro Cup Series from 2000 to 2006 and was crowned the series champion in 2001. Lindley’s drivers have an average finish of 27.5 across two Truck Series starts at Bristol.

Crescent Tools, a premier hand tool brand from Apex Tool Group, will be the primary sponsor on Heim’s No. 51 Tundra TRD Pro Thursday night and for two more races this season. JBL, the authority in engineering superior sound, returns for their final race of the season at Talladega (Ala.) Motor Speedway.

Corey Heim, Driver Q&A:
The No. 51 team starts the Round of 8 four points below the cutoff line for advancing the Championship 4. What is it going to take to advance?
“It’s going to take a good effort from everyone on this No. 51 crew. Kyle Busch Motorsports has been giving me great Tundras, I think executing at the track is the last piece of the puzzle.”

You’ve raced ARCA and Late Models at Bristol, but this will be your first start in a truck at Bristol. How much different will the racing in the Truck Series at Bristol be?
“Running the truck at Bristol will definitely be a challenge, with all of the experienced drivers on a technical racetrack like that.
Regardless of that I’m really excited to see how I fare against the field.”

You won the ARCA race at Kansas on Sunday. Even though it’s not in the same series, can you build off that momentum heading to Bristol for the Truck Series race Thursday night?
“Anytime I can get some momentum I definitely think it helps. Kansas was good in both the arca and the truck, and the extra seat time should help me knock the rust off and get right up to speed at Bristol.”

Corey Heim Career Highlights:

  • Picked up first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway March 19, 2022 in just his fifth start. Across 15 career starts has two wins, two poles, 66 laps led, five top-five and seven top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 14.8.
  • With two victories across his first 10 Truck Series starts, the 19-year-old driver became one of just 12 drivers in series history to net multiple victories in their first 10 starts. Kasey Kahne and Mike Skinner each produced five victories, Mark Martin collected four wins, Ron Hornaday Jr., Ted Musgrave and William Byron brought home three checkered flags and Heim, Kyle Busch, Erik Jones, Rich Bickle, Clint Bowyer and Tony Stewart all delivered two wins.
  • Finished runner-up in the ARCA Menards Series championship standings in 2021 after collecting six wins, three poles, 406 laps led, 16 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 3.1 across 20 starts.
  • Across 43 career ARCA Menards Series starts has nine wins, 814 laps led, 31 top-five and 41 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 4.3. Picked up his first career ARCA Menards Series victory at Kansas Speedway Oct. 16, 2020.
  • Corey Heim’s No. 51 Crescent Tools Tundra TRD Pro:

KBM-62: The No. 51 Crescent Tools team will unload KBM-62 for Thursday night’s UNOH 200 at Bristol. This Toyota has two starts in 2022, a third-place finish with KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in April and a fifth-place finish with Heim at Indianapolis Raceway Park. KBM-62’s best result across 10 starts was a runner-up finish with Busch at Richmond (Va.) Raceway in 2021.

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected four wins, five poles, 534 laps led, 11 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.7 across 31 starts at Bristol. Smith won last year’s race at Bristol. Owner-driver Kyle Busch collected the first three of his organization’s victories at the half-mile oval, winning the Camping World Truck Series race as a part of his historic Bristol Sweeps in 2010 and 2017 and he also won the 2013 event.
  • 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).
  • With 40 victories, the No. 51 is the winningest number in KBM’s Truck Series fleet.
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