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Ryan Truex – United Rentals 200 Race Advance

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Official Release
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Team: No. 40 Marquis Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Ryan Truex
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @Ryan_Truex
PR Contact: Amanda Efaw; aefaw@niecemotorsports.com

Truex on Racing at Martinsville: “It feels good to come to the track after a few really solid finishes,” said Truex. “This team has battled hard all year long, and to finally get those results is rewarding. We’re going to do all we can to close out the year on a high note and get our Marquis Chevrolet up front.”

Truex at Martinsville: Saturday’s race at Martinsville Speedway marks Truex’s seventh start at the Virginia short track in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Truex has four top-15 finishes in those six starts, with a best finish of 10th coming in 2017.

The New Jersey native has one NASCAR Cup Series start at Martinsville Speedway, coming in 2014.

Honor a Cancer Hero: Baylee Cromwell’s name will adorn the No. 40 Chevrolet at Martinsville Speedway. Baylee was nominated by Jerrod Deitchler as part of the Honor a Cancer Hero initiative with the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation and the NASCAR Foundation.

On the Truck: Truex will race with support from Marquis this week at Martinsville Speedway.

Marquis, an employee-owned company founded in 1980, builds world-class hot tubs in the USA. Designed with cutting-edge features, Marquis hot tubs deliver the ultimate hydromassage experience, costing less to operate, and requiring the least amount of maintenance. Marquis is proud to craft spas designed to enhance health and well-being. For more information, visit: www.marquisspas.com.

About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2021, Niece Motorsports enters its sixth season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Toyota Racing – Weekly Preview – 10.27.21

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Official Release
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This Week in Motorsports: October 25-31, 2021

· NCS/NXS/NCWTS: Martinsville Speedway – October 30-31

PLANO, Texas (October 27, 2021) – Three of NASCAR’s top three series battle this weekend at the track known as the paperclip – Martinsville Speedway – to decide the Championship 4 Playoff spots.

NASCAR National Series – NCS| NXS| NCWTS

Martin plans for another Martinsville win… Martin Truex Jr. has been stellar at the Virginia-short track recently. The 2017 Cup Series champion has won three of the last four NASCAR Cup Series races at the track – including a victory earlier this season. Truex Jr. comes into the final race in the Round of 8 just three points below the Playoff cutoff.

Hamlin wants to secure another Championship 4 berth… Denny Hamlin is looking to secure his third straight Championship 4 berth this weekend. Hamlin holds a 32-point advantage over fifth in the standings as the Virginia-native heads to a track where he has earned five career Cup Series victories (March 2008, October 2009, March 2010, October 2010, March 2015).

Busch ready for another Grandfather Clock… Kyle Busch currently holds the final Championship 4 spot by a single point heading into Martinsville. Busch has two wins at Martinsville in the Cup Series (April 2016, October 2017).

Hemric looks to clinch Championship 4 spot… Daniel Hemric leads Team Toyota heading into Martinsville as he sits fourth overall – the final position to advance to the Championship 4 in the Xfinity Series Playoff race. Hemric finished third at the first stop at Martinsville earlier this season. Hemric’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Brandon Jones and Harrison Burton both will need a victory to advance. Burton won at Martinsville Speedway last fall.

Gibbs top rookie… Ty Gibbs will clinch the Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year honors at Martinsville, simply by starting the race. The 19-year-old won both the national ARCA Menards Series Championship and the Xfinity Series race at Kansas Speedway last Saturday. Gibbs has four wins in his limited schedule along with nine top-fives and 10 top-10 finishes.

Garrett to run at his home track… Colin Garrett will make his first Xfinity start at Martinsville Speedway – his home track – this weekend. The Elmo, Virginia native is making his fifth start of the season in Sam Hunt Racing’s No. 26 Toyota Supra. He has three top-20 finishes in four starts this season.

Toyota looks to make Truck Series history… Toyota drivers could make Playoff history in the Truck Series as they look to sweep all the Championship 4 spots. Since the current Playoff system was brought to the Truck Series in 2016, no manufacturer has swept all four final positions. Currently, John Hunter Nemechek, Ben Rhodes and Matt Crafton hold the top three spots, with Stewart Friesen in fifth – just five points below the final Championship 4 berth.

Clinching another Truck Series manufacturer’s title… Toyota will clinch its 12th manufacturer’s title in the Truck Series this weekend. Toyota drivers have won 14 of the first 20 races this season. It is Toyota’s seventh manufacturer’s title in the last nine Truck Series seasons.

Heim returns… Toyota development driver Corey Heim will make his third career Truck Series start this weekend at Martinsville Speedway in the No. 51 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports. Heim won six races in the ARCA Menards Series this season and finished every race inside the top-10 on his way to a runner-up result in the point standings.

Stay Connected

https://www.toyota.com/racing @ToyotaRacing.com @ToyotaRacing

facebook.com/ToyotaRacing Camera With Flash on Apple iOS 11.3 ToyotaRacingMedia.com

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands plus our 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota has created a tremendous value chain and directly employs more than 47,000 in North America. The company has contributed world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama that begins production in 2021.

Through its Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

Carson Hocevar – United Rentals 200

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Official Release
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Team: No. 42 Good Sam Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Carson Hocevar
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @CarsonHocevar
PR Contact: Amanda Efaw; aefaw@niecemotorsports.com

Hocevar on Racing at Martinsville: “Really the pressure is off this week,” said Hocevar. “We know what we have to do, and so our destiny is in our hands. We’re in a position where we have to win to advance in the playoffs. I’m proud of every single person at this team, they’ve worked hard all year and have never given up. We’re going to do all that we can to put our Good Sam Chevrolet in position to win this race. Thank you to Marcus Lemonis and Good Sam for their support.”

Hocevar at Martinsville: Hocevar will make his second start at Martinsville Speedway this weekend. In his previous start, which came last season, Hocevar started 33rd and led five laps before finishing 13th.

In the Points: Hocevar was having a strong run at Talladega Superspeedway before being collected in one of the ‘big ones’, which ended his day early. Hocevar enters the playoff cutoff race at Martinsville Speedway in seventh place in the driver point standings.

Honor a Cancer Hero: Annika Drolema’s name will adorn the No. 42 Chevrolet at Martinsville Speedway. Annika was nominated by her uncle Butch Drolema as part of the Honor a Cancer Hero initiative with the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation and the NASCAR Foundation. Annika is a Leukemia survivor.

On the Truck: The No. 42 Chevrolet will race with support from Good Sam this week at Martinsville Speedway.

Since 1966 Good Sam has delivered big savings, plus dependable services for millions of RVers. Today, Good Sam continues to provide a wide range of money-saving discounts and a range of services to help RVers enjoy their time on the road and focus on the fun!

As the world’s largest organization of RV owners, Good Sam members enjoy 10% savings in our network of 2,100+ Good Sam Parks in the United States and Canada. Members also get discounts at Camping World and Gander RV & Outdoors retail locations along with instant fuel discounts at select Pilot Flying J locations. Plus, Good Sam members enjoy savings on propane, installation fees, free online RV trip planning, show discounts and much more!

Good Sam has you covered with Roadside Assistance, extended warranty plans, RV and auto insurance, life and health insurance and travel assistance programs. Plus, the Good Sam Finance Center offers RV loans that could help you save on RV purchases or refinances. And, card holders earn points on every purchase with the Good Sam Rewards Visa.©

About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2021, Niece Motorsports enters its sixth season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

MHI Group to deliver Japan’s First Systems for Automated Valet Parking and Automated Transportation of Finished Vehicles

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Official Release
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  • Automated valet parking service improves user experience and increases parking capacity
  • Automated transportation system for finished vehicles solves shortages of skilled drivers and enables 24/7 operation

TOKYO, Oct 27, 2021 – (JCN Newswire) – Two MHI Group companies have reached an agreement with Stanley Robotics, a French venture-backed company, on joint development of Japan’s first business in advanced autonomous handling robots enabling automated valet parking service and automated transportation of finished vehicles. Stanley Robotics is a startup offering the world’s first automated valet parking systems employing autonomous handling robots, with systems already in operation at airports in France and the UK.

Autonomous Handling Robot

Use of autonomous handling robots offers a number of significant benefits: greater convenience for users of large car parks, relief from manpower shortages in the transportation of finished vehicles at car manufacturing sites, 24/7 operation, reduced carbon emissions, etc. By combining Stanley Robotics’ autonomous handling robots with MHI Group’s accumulated expertise in mechanical parking garages, traffic flow management systems, and unmanned system surveillance/management systems, services will be provided matching diverse customer needs.

Ahead of full-scale adoption of highly automated driving systems, provision of automated valet parking services by autonomous handling robots enables efficient use of limited garage space at shopping malls, commercial complexes, amusement parks, etc. Drivers stand to benefit from significantly enhanced convenience, freed from the stress of searching for a parking space or parking far from their destination. Automated systems engineered to transport finished vehicles enable 24/7 operation at car factories, port facilities, motor pools, etc., relieving shortages of skilled drivers and providing safe vehicle transport at low cost.

MHI Group has also concluded an agreement with Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. calling for cooperation in demonstration testing ahead of deployment of the country’s first automated valet parking system. Discussions will now turn to selecting a candidate site for testing the system at large commercial facilities and airports operated by Mitsubishi Estate Group.

MHI Group is currently taking steps to develop its solutions business in “New Mobility & Logistics” as a growth strategy under its 2021 Medium-Term Business Plan, and this project is one of various initiatives focusing on the development of infrastructure to support “CASE”* era automobiles. Going forward, under its cooperative arrangement with Stanley Robotics, the Company aims to provide new automated, labor-saving mobility services centered on its business in parking garages.

“CASE” is an acronym derived from the words “connected,” “autonomous,” “shared” and “electric.” It refers to the current technological trend in the automotive industry to create next-generation mobility services that offer outstanding safety and convenience.

About Stanley Robotics

Stanley Robotics is a deep tech company that combines hardware and software to provide solutions for outdoor logistics. The technology lies in a robot lifting and moving cars autonomously and in an intelligent storage management software. Robotics has transformed indoor logistics (e.g. in warehouses), resulting in a spectacular increase of productivity. Stanley Robotics’ ambition is to bring this transformation to outdoor logistics with its proprietary technologies.

Founded in 2015, the SME is headquartered in Paris, France, and is also behind the world’s first outdoor robotic valet parking service. For more information, visit https://stanley-robotics.com/en/

About MHI Group

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, logistics & infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on www.spectra.mhi.com.

JR Motorsports and Unilever Renew Deal for 2022

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Official Release
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Earnhardt Jr. to Race Martinsville in 2022 with Fan Vote Determining No. 88 Paint Scheme

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 27, 2021) – JR Motorsports confirmed today it has renewed with a familiar partner for 2022. Unilever, one of the world’s leading suppliers of food, refreshments, home and personal care products, will enter its 14th year of partnership with the organization next season. With the announcement comes the news that NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive the No. 88 Hellmann’s Fridge Hunters Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Martinsville Speedway (April 8, 2022).

The two-time series champion will continue as a brand ambassador and spokesperson while Unilever’s additional off-track efforts will focus on awareness campaigns and charitable initiatives. In addition to Earnhardt Jr.’s race, the contract renewal includes primary branding on the No. 7 team with Justin Allgaier for six NXS races in 2022.

“I love short tracks. When it comes down to it, short track racing is what I love to do,” said Earnhardt Jr., who broke the announcement during this week’s The Dale Jr. Download podcast. “Races at Martinsville are always a blast, so I’m really excited about this opportunity. Unilever has been a great partner, and I’m thankful to them for allowing me to go race at Martinsville. I’m going to get in there in the thick of it and have some fun.”

As one of Hellmann’s newest initiatives, Fridge Hunters is a campaign encouraging consumers to look inside their fridge to make a meal with food they would otherwise throw away. It is estimated that 40 percent of all food waste in the U.S. happens at home. Fridge Hunters is an extension of the Make Taste Not Waste awareness campaign and part of a larger commitment by Unilever to help achieve the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goal of reducing food waste by 50 percent by 2030.

“JRM is a trusted and collaborative partner, and we are excited that Dale Jr. will be returning next year in the Hellmann’s colors and driving continued awareness around how fridge hunting can help reduce food waste,” said Ben Crook, senior marketing director for Hellmann’s North America. “Hellmann’s recognizes a simple change can have a big impact and is proud to do its part in helping to reduce food waste.  We hope the NASCAR community will join us in looking inside the fridge to make one meal each week from ingredients that normally get thrown away.”

Beginning today fans are able to vote on Earnhardt Jr.’s paint scheme for the anticipated event. By visiting hellmanns.jrmracing.com fans can select one of three No. 88 Hellmann’s Fridge Hunters-inspired paint schemes. The voting runs through Nov. 17, 2021 with the winning livery featured on track next season at Martinsville with Earnhardt Jr. behind the wheel.Dating back to 2009, Unilever is JRM’s longest-tenured partner and one of the longest-running active sponsors in the NXS. As it has done since the beginning, Unilever will use its racing partnership to market multiple consumer brands with team JRM.
Unilever offers products in multiple categories, including mayonnaise, dijonnaise, and white spoonable dressings products, ketchup, ice cream, frozen yogurt, and frozen confectionery desserts; personal care products, including men’s hair shampoo, men’s hair conditioner, men’s hair styling products, men’s body wash and men’s deodorant. 
Earnhardt Jr. has raced at least one NXS race with Unilever every year since 2009. Earlier this year, he drove a special United for America paint scheme honoring the victims of 9/11 at Richmond Raceway on Sept. 11, 2021, the 20th Anniversary of the terror attacks. The Martinsville event will mark Earnhardt Jr.’s return to the No. 88 in NXS competition for the first time since 2018. 
Details on schedule, track locations and featured brands for the races with Allgaier and the No. 7 team will be forthcoming.

ABOUT UNILEVER UNITED STATES:
Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care, and Foods & Refreshment products, with sales in over 190 countries and products used by 2.5 billion people every day. We have 149,000 employees and generated sales of €50.7 billion in 2020. Over half of our footprint is in developing and emerging markets. We have around 400 brands found in homes all over the world. In the United States and Canada, the portfolio includes iconic brand such as: Dove, Knorr, Hellmann’s, Lipton, Magnum, Axe, Ben & Jerry’s, Degree, Dollar Shave Club, Q-tips, St. Ives, Suave, TRESemmé, and Vaseline.

Our vision is to be the global leader in sustainable business and to demonstrate how our purpose-led, future-fit business model drives superior performance. We have a long tradition of being a progressive, responsible business. It goes back to the days of our founder William Lever, who launched the world’s first purposeful brand, Sunlight Soap, more than 100 years ago, and it’s at the heart of how we run our company today.

The Unilever Compass, our sustainable business strategy, is set out to help us deliver superior performance and drive sustainable and responsible growth, while:

  • improving the health of the planet;
  • improving people’s health, confidence and wellbeing;
  • contributing to a fairer and more socially inclusive world.

While there is still more to do, we are proud to have been recognized in 2020 as a sector leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and – for the tenth-consecutive year – as the top-ranked company in the 2020 GlobeScan/SustainAbility Leaders survey. For more information on Unilever U.S. and its brands visit: www.unileverusa.com

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 20th 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.

Living on the Most Luxurious Island in UAE: Palm Jumeirah

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SM
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Photo by Christoph Schulz on Unsplash

Palm Jumeirah, one of Dubai’s largest man-made structures, has been described as the eighth wonder of the world, a man-made paradise, and a marker on the Dubai map. 

If you’re considering relocating to this renowned mixed-use complex, it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the benefits and drawbacks of living on this man-made island. Is it your cup of tea to live on the Palm Islands? The Dubai Palm Jumeirah is part of a wider series of artificial archipelago (group of islands) projects known as the Palm Islands, which was created by master developer Nakheel. 

The Palm Jumeirah Island development takes on the magnificent design of a Palm Tree, with a two-kilometer long trunk, 17 fronds, and a surrounding crescent. There are a range of residential properties in Palm Jumeirah for sale on offer, all promising beachfront living and access to the greatest amenities and services, whether you’re a young professional wanting to live in a metropolitan region of Dubai or a family wishing to live in a private villa. 

You will undoubtedly find your dream house here, ranging from fancy flats to large villas well suited to a suburban lifestyle. 

THE ADVANTAGES OF RESIDING IN PALM JUMEIRAH

You might be asking what the benefits of living in Palm Jumeirah are, aside from the wide range of homes available. 

Take a closer look at what makes this man-made island in the Palm Islands unique.

  • THE PALM JUMEIRAH ISLAND IS AN INDEPENDENT NEIGHBORHOOD.

Nurseries, hospitals, shops, hotels, restaurants, and other amenities may be found across Palm Jumeirah. 

It’s also adjacent to major commercial centres like Dubai Media City and Dubai Marina, making it the greatest place in Dubai for young professionals and new families wanting to live in one of the city’s most opulent neighborhoods. Parents with small children can choose between Asya’s Nursery and Redwood Montessori Nursery; for grocery shopping, there are larger chains such as Choitrams and Carrefour, as well as Organic Foods & Cafes, one of the UAE’s leading organic food retailers; and for a quick doctor’s checkup, there are Emirates Hospitals Clinic and Al Das Medical Clinic. 

If you want to go for a walk in the park, go to Al Ittihad Park on the Palm, while those seeking some retail therapy could go to the Golden Mile Galleria or the Palm Strip Mall. The Nakheel Mall, also known as The Pointe, is another planned shopping complex on the Palm that will add to the variety of activities available.

  • PALM JUMEIRAH HAS MAGNIFICENT WATERFRONT VIEWS.

Palm Jumeirah is an island, all of the residences give inhabitants magnificent ocean views in a calm environment, with several offering direct beach access. 

Many of the residences on the Palm Jumeirah are located in high-rise structures, providing residents with miles of unbroken views of the sparkling ocean and Dubai cityscape. Many of the villas on Palm Jumeirah offer private beach access, so if you like the sound of the ocean waves crashing on the shore, living on Palm Jumeirah is a fantastic alternative.

Apart from the stunning ocean views, the entire development is located outside of the busy main cities, making it very tranquil and ideal for anybody who prefers to be away from the hustle and bustle of larger towns.

  • PALM JUMEIRAH’S ACTIVE SOCIAL CALENDAR

The abundance of hotels in the region is one of the most appealing aspects of living on Plam Jumeirah. The luxury Atlantis the Palm Dubai, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, the One& Only The Palm, and many more hotels on Palm Jumeirah are all just a short distance away. 

Nobu, 101 Dining Lounge, and Club Vista Mare are just a few of the outstanding fine-dining restaurants located within these hotels. If visiting a Palm Jumeirah hotel with colorful cafés and enticing restaurants isn’t enough to keep you occupied on weekends, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to entertainment and leisure facilities, since the Aquaventure Waterpark, one of the greatest in the UAE, is located here. 

  • PALM JUMEIRAH LUXURY LIVING

It’s like living on a tropical island if you live on the Palm Jumeirah. Dubai is famed for its opulence, and the houses on the Palm Jumeirah are no exception. 

Both the apartments and villas have distinctive designs and high-quality furnishings, as well as world-class amenities and services including swimming pools, gyms, and access to a variety of beach clubs. Palm Jumeirah also has some of the city’s most costly and opulent resorts and hotels, which is the subject of our following point on our list of benefits of living in Palm Jumeirah.

THINGS TO CONSIDER IN PALM JUMEIRAH

Although there are many advantages to living in Palm Jumeirah, there are a few drawbacks to be aware of before relocating to this island development.

  • PALM JUMEIRAH CONSTRUCTION AND ROADWORKS

When visiting to see a home in Palm Jumeirah, bear in mind that the region has numerous projects that are currently under construction, so make sure you are okay with the amount of noise and dust. 

Residents also frequently note that the streets can be difficult for visitors and that you will frequently have to drive around the Palm to reach your goal. There is, however, enough signage to assist you in your navigation.

  • ACCESS TO THE DUBAI METRO

Although the Palm Jumeirah has a monorail, it is mostly utilized by visitors and residents who want to move within the Palm. 

For those who rely on public transportation, the Palm Jumeirah is currently not connected to the Dubai Metro, which may cause a problem if this is your chosen means of transportation.

  • PALM JUMEIRAH’S LOW-COST LIFESTYLE

You may anticipate paying a lot of money because you will be living in one of Dubai’s most exclusive projects. 

The prices on the Palm Jumeirah are more than in other sections of Dubai, but you get an exclusive lifestyle unlike any other on the globe. So there you have it: all you need to know about Palm Jumeirah if you’re thinking about relocating there. 

Although there are certain disadvantages to living on the Palm Islands, the advantages and benefits are more than enough to convince anyone to invest or rent on the Palm.

Rush Truck Centers Racing: Chase Briscoe Martinsville Advance

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Official Release
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CHASE BRISCOE
Martinsville Advance
No. 14 Rush Truck Centers Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview
● Event: Xfinity 500 (Round 35 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 31
● Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway
● Layout: .526-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 500 laps/263 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 130 laps / Stage 2: 130 laps / Final Stage: 240 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Two races remain on the 2021 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series calendar and up next is the tight and flat .526-mile Martinsville (Va.) Speedway oval. Briscoe’s first trip to the track affectionately known as “The Paperclip” back in April was the first true short-track test for the Cup Series rookie. The No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) Ford team finished 27th after sustaining damage in multiple incidents. This weekend, Briscoe returns with more experience under his belt and a Rookie of the Year title in sight.

● With 34 races complete, Briscoe leads the Rookie of the Year standings by 306 points and has been the highest-finishing rookie driver in 29 of the 34 events thus far. With Rookie of the Year honors in the Truck Series (2017) and Xfinity Series (2019), Briscoe is looking to join Erik Jones and William Byron as only the third driver in history to claim the title in all three of NASCAR’s top national touring series.

● Briscoe made 15 short-track starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, scoring two wins – last September at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and July 2019 at Iowa Speedway in Newton – and earning 10 top-10 finishes. When the Xfinity Series made its return to Martinsville in the fall of 2020 after a 13-year hiatus, Briscoe finished seventh.

● The 26-year-old driver from Mitchell, Indiana, also made two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at Martinsville. His best result came in April 2017 when he started eighth and finished 11th. He returned in October to start on the pole and lead the first 39 laps before a late-race accident relegated him to a 19th-place finish.

● Briscoe’s Ford Mustang and all of the SHR racecars travel from race to race in haulers from Rush Truck Centers, the premier service solutions provider to the commercial vehicle industry. And those haulers are supported by RushCare, which helps customers find the nearest Rush Truck Centers location, provides service concierge and technical support, schedules mobile service, dispatches roadside assistance and more. Rush Truck Centers is the largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in the United States with more than 100 locations, and takes pride in its integrated approach to customer needs – from vehicle sales to aftermarket parts, service and body shop operations, plus financing, insurance, leasing and rental, as well as alternate fuel systems and other vehicle technologies.

Chase Briscoe, Driver of the No. 14 Rush Truck Centers Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

Martinsville doesn’t really compare to any of the other short tracks you race at throughout the year, so how do you feel about going back there as the season winds down?

“I’m not really sure what to expect. I have a hard time at these short tracks and you could see that at Richmond, too. I just didn’t grow up doing this kind of racing and there isn’t anything I can apply from my background that works at these places. It’s good that I’ve at least had a chance to run Martinsville in the Cup car this time around, but I’m honestly still kind of lost with what to expect. We’re not going to have the best starting spot, which isn’t great because that means it’ll be easier to get caught up in something early on. But, I think it will be an exciting race. Martinsville has always been one of my favorites to watch as a fan and, with the way the points are right now, I would expect it to be entertaining. Everyone is going to be mad by the end of it and fighting for whatever spot they can get.”

No. 14 Rush Truck Centers Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Chase Briscoe
Hometown: Mitchell, Indiana

Crew Chief: John Klausmeier
Hometown: Perry Hall, Maryland

Car Chief: Chad HaneyHometown: Fairmont, West Virginia

Engineer: Mike Cook
Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Engineer: Marc Hendricksen
Hometown: Clinton, New Jersey

Spotter: Joe White
Hometown: Windsor, Virginia

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Daniel Coffey
Hometown: Granite Falls, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Chris Jackson
Hometown: Rock Hill, South Carolina

Tire Carrier: Jon Bernal
Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Jack Man: Brandon Banks
Hometown: High Point, North Carolina

Fuel Man: Justin Wilson
Hometown: Wise, Virginia

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Stephen Gonzalez
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Front End Mechanic: J.D. Frey
Hometown: Ferndale, California

Interior Mechanic: Trevor Adams
Hometown: Naples, Florida

Tire Specialist: Keith Eads
Hometown: Arlington, Virginia

Engine Tuner: Jon Phillips
Hometown: Jefferson City, Missouri

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

Transporter Co-Driver: Glenn Funderburk
Hometown: Mint Hill, North Carolina

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

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

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: United Rentals 200, Race 21 of 22, 200 Laps – 50/50/100; 105.2 Miles
Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (0.526-mile oval)
Date/Broadcast: Oct. 30, 2021, at 1 p.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 Martinsville Superspeedway for the final race in the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoffs 36 points above the cutoff line for advancing to the Championship 4 at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway. With both race wins in the Round of 8 going to non-playoff drivers, all four spots in the championship will be decided in Saturday’s race. The 24-year-old driver has made 12 career Truck Series starts at “The Paperclip,” including his series debut as a 16-year-old in October of 2013. Nemechek was victorious in the spring Truck Series race in 2018 and overall has four top-five and five top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 14.3. In two Cup Series starts he produced an average finish of 25.5.
  • Nemechek rebounded from a disappointing 33rd-place finish when he experienced electrical issues at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway in the opening race in the Round of 8 to finish fourth at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in race two. After running in the top 10 most of the day at Talladega, Nemechek took the lead momentarily on the final lap before getting turned through the tri-oval and crossing the finish line sliding sideways in the fourth position.
  • Since the Truck Series was last in action at Talladega, Nemechek has made two starts in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 54 Supra. He led a race-high 92 laps and overcame a pit road penalty with just over 50 laps remaining to pick up the second win of his NASCAR Xfinity Series career Oct. 16 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.
  • The second-generation driver has put together a remarkable season thus far in his first season driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM). In addition to leading the circuit in race wins (five) and stage wins (11), he leads the Truck Series in top fives (12), fastest laps run (284), driver rating (114.5), average running position (6.961) and average finish (8.5). Nemechek registered his fifth Truck Series win of 2021 June 26 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. The talented wheelman has posted victories at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway in March, Richmond (Va.) Raceway in April, Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway in May and in June at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.
  • The Toyota Racing driver is competing in the Camping World Truck Series playoffs for the third time in his career. He finished eighth in the championship standings for his family-owned team, NEMCO Motorsports, in 2016 and 2017. Nemechek is an 11-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 this year with KBM.
  • Eric Phillips returned to KBM to lead the No. 4 team this season. 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. His 42 career Truck Series victories make him the winningest crew chief in Truck Series history, with 32 of those coming while at KBM. At Martinsville, Phillip’s drivers have collected one win, six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 13.0 across 20 starts. He called the shots for Denny Hamlin’s first career Truck Series victory in October of 2011.
  • Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, an industry leader in commercial fire protection since 1946, will adorn the hood of Nemechek’s Tundra this weekend at Martinsville and again for the season finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway (Nov. 5). Pye-Barker recently acquired Nemechek’s long-time supporter Fire Alarm Services.
  • As part of the second annual Honor a Cancer Hero Campaign which raised over $100,000 for the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation and The NASCAR Foundation, two organizations recognized as champions for the health and well-being of others, Nemechek’s No. 4 Toyota will carry the name of Karen Morgan over the driver door on Saturday. Morgan, a long-time NASCAR fan, was diagnosed with Grade 4 Glioblastoma in January of 2019 and succumbed to the disease in May of 2020. Karen’s husband posted the winning bid in an effort to help bring awareness and donate what he could to the terrible disease.
  • John Hunter Nemechek, Driver Q&A:
  • John Hunter Nemechek | Martinsville Speedway Preview
  • Do you remember what your favorite Halloween costume was as a kid? Do you have a costume picked out for Aspen’s first Halloween?
  • “I don’t know what my first or favorite Halloween costume was. I remember dressing up as a kid probably as a race car driver or something modeling after my dad. Aspen, we have a flamingo costume and working on a couple others. It might be a whole costume outfit change a few times on Halloween day.”

How will you approach Martinsville being 36 points above the cutoff line?
“Go try and run all the laps, maximize stage points, maximize our finish, not get caught up in a wreck and run our race. If we don’t beat ourselves and don’t have a mistake or a mechanical failure and don’t get taken out, I definitely think that we’ll be in a spot to advance. It’s definitely close with the 99 behind us, one point I think behind us, and then there is a couple others that are racing their way in and then quite a few that are in a must-win situation. I feel like it is definitely going to be a heated battle, there is going to be a lot of intensity and it’s knowing who to race, how to race them and when to race them to not put yourself in a bad spot.”

You made your first-ever Truck Series start at Martinsville and have a win there as well, how special of a place is it for you?
“I’ve really liked going to Martinsville. I think anywhere that you’ve made your debut has a special place in your career and being able to go back to Martinsville – I finished second there too many times and given up a few races there that we should’ve won and finally brought home a grandfather clock in 2018 – it’s definitely a special race track for me. It’s been a lot of fun being able to go there and race a unique race track with concrete corners and asphalt straightaways. It’s a place I look forward going to every single year.”
John Hunter Nemechek Career Highlights:
Eleven-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 122 career starts in NASCAR’s third division, has compiled two poles, 1,179 laps led, 40 top-five and 65 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.4.
Qualified for the Camping World Truck Series playoffs in each of his two full-time seasons, finishing eighth in the championship standings in both 2016 and 2017.
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, earned the Sunoco Rookie of the Race award four times and finished 23rd in the championship standings.
Across 55 career XFINITY Series starts, has totaled two wins, one pole, 325 laps led, 14 top-five and 32 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 11.8.

John Hunter Nemechek’s No. 4 Pye-Barker Tundra:
KBM-58: The No. 4 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety team will unload KBM-58 for Saturday’s race at Talladega. So far in 2021, KBM-058 has collected three wins (Charlotte Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Richmond Raceway) with Nemechek behind the wheel. Overall, the chassis has collected four wins across 13 career starts. The other win came with Kyle Busch behind the wheel at Charlotte in 2019.
Click Here for KBM-058 Performance Profile:

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected eight wins, five poles, 985 laps led, 23 top-five and 37 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 8.9 across 57 starts at Martinsville.
  • Todd Gilliland picked up the organization’s most recent victory at the 0.526-mile oval in October of 2019. Kyle Busch (2017 & 2019). Denny Hamlin (2011 & 2012) and Darrell Wallace Jr. (2013 & 2014) have all collected two victories at the Virginia track while Noah Gragson (2017) has one win.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (89) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at Bristol Motor Speedway Chandler Smith became the 17th 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 16 career victories at KBM and was the number for both of the organization’s driver championships.

Dixie Vodka Racing: Cole Custer Martinsville Advance

By
Official Release
-

COLE CUSTER
Martinsville Advance
No. 41 Dixie Vodka Peach Cocktail Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview
● Event: Xfinity 500 (Round 35 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 31
● Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway
● Layout: .526-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 500 laps/263 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 130 laps / Stage 2: 130 laps / Final Stage: 240 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Cole Custer and the No. 41 Ford Mustang team for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) welcome back Dixie Vodka for the fourth and final time this season as primary partner when the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway for the penultimate event of 2021, Sunday’s Xfinity 500. And for the third time this season, Custer and the No. 41 Ford team are introducing a delicious, new product offering – Dixie Vodka Peach Cocktail – as well as details of the exciting Dixie Vodka Bar Car Sweepstakes. Dixie Vodka Peach Cocktail features a tasty blend of luscious peach with a touch of carbonation and award-winning Dixie Vodka. Click here to order yours today!

● Meanwhile, the Dixie Vodka Bar Car Sweepstakes features a once-in-a-lifetime prize for one lucky fan – an actual 2021 SHR Ford Mustang racecar outfitted with a grill and cooler. SHR and Dixie Vodka are teaming up for this unique opportunity. Starting the week after the Nov. 7 Cup Series season finale at Phoenix Raceway and running through Dec. 31, fans (who must be at least 21 years of age) simply need to visit the Dixie Vodka Bar Car Sweepstakes website to enter. No purchase necessary. The Dixie Vodka Bar Car will be delivered to the winner with a set of tickets to the 2022 Daytona 500.

● Sunday’s 500-lap race around the .526-mile, paperclip-shaped Martinsville oval will be Custer’s 74th Cup Series start and his fourth at Martinsville. The 23-year-old from Ladera Ranch, California, had a best Martinsville finish of 13th last October before returning this past April and recording an 18th-place finish.

● Custer, last year’s Cup Series Rookie of the Year, had solid runs among his six NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races at Martinsville from 2014 through 2016. He qualified on the pole and led a race-high 96 of 200 laps before finishing fourth in the October 2015 race, when he drove the No. 00 JR Motorsports entry. His next-best Martinsville Truck Series finish of seventh came in the October 2016 race, his most recent, when he drove the JR Motorsports racetruck to a seventh-place finish after qualifying third and leading 17 laps. He drove to another front-row qualifying spot alongside polesitter and race-winner Joey Logano in the March 2015 Truck Series race at Martinsville, leading two laps of the race before finishing 16th in the JR Motorsports racetruck.

● After recording his 18th-place finish last Sunday on the 1.5-mile oval at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Custer arrives at Martinsville 27th in the driver standings.

● Launched in 2014 and based in Charleston, South Carolina, Dixie Vodka was established with the simple mission of creating an all-American premium craft vodka that represents the best of Southern flavor, craftsmanship and hospitality. With six signature flavors – including its flagship Southern Original, Black Pepper, Citrus, Mint, Peach and Wildflower Honey – Dixie Vodka partners with local farmers across the South to infuse regionally cherished ingredients into its award-winning products, each of which is six-times distilled from American corn. In 2020, Dixie Vodka was ranked the ninth-fastest growing spirits brand in the United States by the Beverage Information Group and remains the largest premium craft vodka produced in the Southeast. In partnership with the Southern-raised sport that transcends regional boundaries, Dixie Vodka is proud to serve as the Official Vodka of NASCAR, the title sponsor of the Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and the Official Vodka of Stewart-Haas Racing. Dixie Vodka donates at least 1% of all profits through its 1% for the Planet program, a commitment to supporting non-profits that work to protect the future of the planet. A core brand within the Grain & Barrel Spirits portfolio – an innovation-driven beverage platform that develops and scales craft spirits brands led by founder Matti Anttila – Dixie Vodka can be found on Facebook and Instagram, and on shelves in more than 30 states.

Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 41 Dixie Vodka Peach Cocktail Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

With Martinsville being one of the iconic short tracks in NASCAR, what are your thoughts about the significance of doing well there?

“Martinsville is one every single driver wants to win because I think the driver can make a pretty big difference at Martinsville. You get the grandfather clock, all the history about the place, every single driver wants to go there and get that trophy. It’s just one of those tracks I would call one of the crown jewel races because it’s one you want to check off your list.”

What would it mean to you to win one of those grandfather clock trophies?

“I’d have to figure out somewhere to put it. (Laughs.) I’d probably put it somewhere in my kitchen, or in the middle of the living room or something, because it would be probably the biggest and best trophy I’d ever gotten. That’s one every single person wants. It’s so unique, it means so much in our community in NASCAR to win that trophy. At the end of that race, everybody wants to get that clock and they’re going to beat and bang for it.”

You made your first NASCAR starts back in 2014 at Martinsville in the Truck Series. Take us back to that experience.

“I remember my first two Truck races at Martinsville. It was a deal where we were really fast, but I just couldn’t figure out how to race there and keep my truck in one piece until the end of the race. You’re racing in such tight quarters and everybody’s beating and banging, it’s hard to know when you’re supposed to be aggressive and when you’re not supposed to be since you’re supposed to be taking care of your car. It was one of those things where I had to figure out the pace of the race.”

What’s the biggest thing you’re looking forward to about racing there this weekend?

“For me, it’s just the challenge of it. It’s one of those tracks where, when you’re out there by yourself, you have to finesse your car around the track and it takes a lot of rhythm. And once you get out there with 39 other cars, it becomes a physical race. So it’s a matter of balancing those two things of finesse and beating and banging, it’s one of the toughest tracks on the schedule.”

People say it takes a long time to master it. Do you feel like you’re mastering it?

“I would not say I’ve mastered Martinsville, yet. I don’t know if you ever master Martinsville. It’s a place that is always going to challenge you. Something different is going to always happen in the race, something is always going to get thrown at you, like somebody messing your race up or something like that. It’s just a constant battle of trying to get your car to handle right and then to try and navigate through 39 other cars.”

You talk about navigating – what does that mean at a place like Martinsville?

“They call it the paperclip for a reason. It’s one of those tracks where you have to try and go down this long straightaway and then come to a stop, pretty much, in the corner, and how you manage your brakes and how you manage the throttle – everything about it is just difficult. And you have to finesse the car around the corners. It’s one of those tracks that’s not easy for a driver to figure out and try and get a rhythm.”

When you and the team are at the shop talking about what you and the car need for race day, how much input do you have?

“It’s a balance. When you look at it, we have such smart people working on the cars at SHR and Ford, I don’t want to step on any toes, really, by telling them what I think is right because they know way better than I do. (Laughs.) It’s one of those things that, as a driver, you have to know what kind of feel that you want and know that feel, so you tell them, ‘This is what I’m thinking going into the weekend, this is the feel that I’m looking for, and maybe we can work in this direction.’ But at the end of the day, the engineers and the crew chiefs have a way better idea of what to do than I do. I try and trust the people with the big degrees to make those decisions.”

No. 41 Dixie Vodka Peach Cocktail Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Cole Custer
Hometown: Ladera Ranch, California

Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
Hometown: Amherst, Ohio

Car Chief: Tony Cardamone
Hometown: Bristol, Virginia

Engineer: Davin Restivo
Hometown: Ashboro, North Carolina

Engineer: Scott Bingham
Hometown: Lawrenceville, Georgia

Spotter: Andy Houston
Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: John Roselli
Hometown: Terre Haute, Indiana

Rear Tire Changer: Coleman Dollarhide
Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Chad Emmons
Hometown: Tyler, Texas

Jack Man: Matthew Schlytter
Hometown: Ponte Vedra, Florida

Fuel Man: Corey Coppola
Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Joe Zanolini
Hometown: Sybertsville, Pennsylvania

Mechanic: Nick McIntosh
Hometown: Havre, Montana

Shock Specialist: Aaron Kuehn
Hometown: Kensington, Connecticut

Tire Specialist: Thomas Gagliano
Hometown: East Hampton, Connecticut

Engine Specialist: Evan Cupples
Hometown: Hudson, Illinois

Transporter Co-Driver: Eddie DeGroot

Hometown: Baldwinsville, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: David Rodrigues
Hometown: Santa Clarita, California

DGR NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race Advance: Martinsville

By
Official Release
-

Saturday, October 30
Track: Martinsville Speedway, .526-mile oval
Race: 21 of 22
Event: United Rentals 200 (200 laps, 105 miles)

Schedule
Race: 1:00 p.m. ET (FS1)

Hailie Deegan, No. 1 Monster Ford F-150

  • Deegan is making her 22nd career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start on Saturday at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
  • The California native will pilot the No. 1 Ford F-150 with the Monster Energy livery this weekend at the Virginia track.
  • Deegan will be making her first start at Martinsville in the second-to-last event of her rookie season.
  • This weekend above the driver side door of Deegan’s F-150 will be the name of Brandy Snell. Snell, a breast cancer survivor, was nominated by Brett Taylor as part of the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation’s Honor a Cancer Hero program.
  • In Deegan’s last Truck Series start three weeks ago at Talladega, the young driver started 26th but her race ended prematurely after an accident with 24 laps remaining.
  • The Monster Energy driver has two starts this season at tracks less than one mile in length – Richmond (Va.) Raceway in April and Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in September. Her best result came at Richmond with a 17th-place finish.
  • Crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. has called 26 truck races at Martinsville. In total, he’s earned one pole award with Jeb Burton in April 2013, eight top-five and 13 top-10 finishes at the half-mile track.
  • Click here for Deegan’s career statistics.

Tanner Gray, No. 15 Ford Performance F-150

  • Gray makes his 21st start of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) season and 46th of his career on Saturday afternoon.
  • The Ford Performance driver returns to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, the site of his first career NCWTS start back in 2019. Last season, the team’s day was ended prematurely after 154 laps due to the damaged vehicle policy.
  • Gray will run a unique orange paint scheme this weekend in honor of Larry Pettet, the cancer hero whose name will be riding along him as part of the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation Honor a Cancer Hero program. Orange is the official awareness ribbon color of kidney cancer.
  • Marcus Richmond has called 23 career races at Martinsville in the Truck Series. He has notched three wins (Dennis Setzer, Kevin Harvick, Noah Gragson) to go with six top-fives and 13 top-10s.
  • Click here for Gray’s career statistics.

Taylor Gray, No. 17 Ford Performance F-150

  • Taylor Gray makes his fourth career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) start at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Saturday. He will also compete in the season finale next weekend at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway to round out his first season of truck competition.
  • The 16-year-old driver is searching for a strong run at the .5-mile oval after bouts of bad luck at Watkins Glen and Bristol. He brought home a 12th-place finish at World Wide Technology Raceway in his other NCWTS start.
  • The Ford driver has a couple of late model stock starts at the iconic short track, but this will mark his first appearance there with a NASCAR national series.
  • Chad Johnston has called 18 career NASCAR Cup Series races at Martinsville with three top-five and five top-10 finishes.
  • Click here for Gray’s career statistics.
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