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DGR NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race Advance: Martinsville

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Official Release
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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.

No. 10 Smithfield/IHOP Ford Racing: Aric Almirola Martinsville Advance

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Official Release
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Aric Almirola
Martinsville II Advance
No. 10 Smithfield/IHOP 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

● History at Martinsville: In 26 starts, Almirola has earned one top-five finish, five top-10s, and has led 75 laps.

● Crew chief Mike Bugarewicz visited victory lane at Martinsville in March 2018 with former Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) driver and current FOX analyst Clint Bowyer after leading 215 laps. “Buga” is in his sixth fulltime season at SHR and his second with Almirola. To learn more, click here.

● IHOP will adorn the No. 10 Ford this weekend at Martinsville for the first time with a special livery that features the words “The Pancake Man” above the door in place of Almirola’s name, playing off Almirola’s nickname “Bacon Man” that has been cultivated by NASCAR fans during Smithfield’s 10 years of sponsorship. IHOP and Almirola will also fuel the No. 10 team on Sunday morning prior to the race. The special paint scheme was unveiled on SHR’s social media channels, as can be seen here. Since 1958, IHOP has been the place where people connect over breakfast, enjoy study breaks, grab a bite before or after sporting events, and so much more. No matter what menu items they order, there’s one ingredient that’s always constant – a smile.

● Almirola locked himself into the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs with his July 18 victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. He led 46 laps around the flat, 1.058-mile oval en route to his third career NASCAR Cup Series win. After a year full of adversity and bad luck, the victory put the No. 10 team, which was 27th in the standings and facing a must-win situation if it was going to compete for this year’s championship, in prime position to earn one of the 16 coveted berths in the 10-race playoffs. Almirola’s award-winning YouTube series “Beyond the 10” captured his entire race day here.

● Smithfield celebrates 10 years of partnership with Almirolathis season with a special campaign called Taste Victory.As one of the most active partners in NASCAR, Smithfield engages fans all year long by hosting a microsite that provides the opportunity to win when Almirola wins or finishes inside the top-10. When Almirola wins, one fan wins $10,000, and 10 fans win a gift card for each top-10 finish. The microsite also doubles as an Aric Almirola fan page and entertainment source where fans can get behind the wheel of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford with a custom racing game, and learn more about Almirola with fast facts, favorite recipes and custom content about his life on and off the track. Visit www.tastevictory.com to learn more. Thanks to Almirola’s Feb. 11 win in his Duel qualifying race for the Daytona 500 and his July 18 win at New Hampshire, two lucky fans have already won $10,000 each.

● This year marked Almirola’s fifth career playoff appearance and fourth in a row since joining SHR. While he didn’t advance beyond the Round of 16, he has set his sights on a top-10 points position after the checkered flag drops at the season finale Nov. 7 at Phoenix Raceway. Fans and media can watch the “Beyond the 10” episode of his playoff run on YouTube here.

● Career Stats: Almirola has career totals of three wins, two poles, 26 top-five finishes, 82 top-10s and 893 laps led in 386 NASCAR Cup Series starts.

● Beyond the 10 YouTube Series:In 2021, Almirola continues to share his life beyond the No. 10 Ford with season three of his award-winning YouTube series. Fans and media can subscribe on YouTube to see Almirola’s personality on and off the track. Episodes have already featured life as a dad, a husband and an athlete, and it gives fans a unique perspective on what goes on in the life of a professional NASCAR driver. Fans can also follow Almirola’s social media channels: @Aric_Almirola on Twitter and Instagram, and @AricAlmirola on Facebook. Almirola’s latest Beyond the 10 gives a first look at the NASCAR Next Gen car.

● Point standings: Almirola is currently 15th in the driver standings with 2,147 points.

Aric Almirola, Driver of the No. 10 Smithfield/IHOP Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

What does it take to run well at short tracks?

“No matter what the situation is, we as racers always love going to short tracks. It’s what we grew up doing and it puts the outcome in the driver’s hands more than the superspeedway races. You can’t pass much, so it’s extremely important that you stay mentally and physically focused throughout the entire run.”

After winning New Hampshire this year, do you head to Martinsville and Phoenix with some extra confidence?

“Yeah, these short tracks have been strong for us all year. Martinsville is so tricky, but we’ve brought some really good speed there in the past. I’m excited we get to cap off the season with two 750-horsepower tracks.”

No. 10 Smithfield/IHOP Ford Mustang Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Aric Almirola
Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Crew Chief: Mike Bugarewicz
Hometown: Lehighton, Pennsylvania

Car Chief: Jerry Cook
Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Engineer: Lee Deese
Hometown: Rockingham, North Carolina

Engineer: James Kimbrough

Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Joel Edmonds
Hometown: Dobson, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Mulder
Hometown: Sioux Center, Iowa

Rear Tire Changer: Michael Johnson
Hometown: Andover, New York

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard
Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotton
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: James “Ace” Keener
Hometown: Fortuna, California

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Tony Silvestri
Hometown: Sylvania, Ohio

Mechanic: Robbie Fairweather
Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller
Hometown: Monroe, New York

Tire Specialist: Russel Simpson
Hometown: Medford, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Dale Lackey
Hometown: Taylorsville, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Wayne Smith
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

Ryan Newman – Martinsville II Advance

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Official Release
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Team: No. 6 Kohler Generators Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Luke Lambert
Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman
Race Format: 263 miles, 500 laps, Stages: 130-130-240
Xfinity 500 – Sunday, Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Newman at Martinsville Speedway

· Newman returns to Martinsville for his 40th Cup race this weekend, one of his best tracks statistically with a 14.9 average finish. He has 17 top-10 and eight top-five finishes at the 1-mile track.

· Newman won the spring race back in 2012, leading the final 12 laps after starting fifth. He’s completed just under 98 percent of all the laps at ‘The Paperclip,’ and finished top-10 in nearly 45 percent of his starts.

· In the last four races at Martinsville, Newman has finished 10th, 12th, 18th and 19th.

· He also ran second in 2007 and finished third twice (2004, 2014).

Luke Lambert at Martinsville Speedway

· Lambert will call his 19th Cup event from Martinsville on Sunday, where he carries a 15.3 average finish. He has six top-10s and one top five at ‘The Paperclip.’

· He led Newman to the third-place run in the 2014 fall race for his best finish, and also led Jeff Burton to a sixth-place finish in 2011. Most recently he led Chris Buescher to 13th this spring, and also finished 13th with him in the 2020 spring event.

QUOTE WORTHY
Newman on racing at Martinsville:
“Martinsville has always been a track I enjoy running at. A lot goes into having a good day there with managing the brakes and keeping your stuff in line for late in the race. Short tracks is something we’ve focused on in previous months and we’ll see what we’ve got come Halloween Sunday in the Kohler Ford Mustang.”

Last Time Out
Newman finished 27th last weekend in Kansas.

On the Car
Kohler Generators returns to the No. 6 Ford Mustang for its final primary race of 2021. As part of Halloween weekend, Kohler will run a unique look on the No. 6 helping commemorate the holiday.

About KOHLER Generators
KOHLER Generators is a leading manufacturer of automatic standby generators, which connect to the electrical system of a home or a business and quickly restore power following an outage to provide security and peace of mind for everyday life. KOHLER whole home generators are permanently installed outside a home, similar to a central air conditioning (AC) unit. The generator operates on natural gas or liquid propane (LP) and is wired into a home’s electrical system. When power is lost from unexpected events such as severe weather storms, the standby generator automatically kicks in – generally within seconds – and can power hard-wired systems and appliances including air conditioning, heat, medical equipment, Internet and Wi-Fi, security systems and lighting. KOHLER Generators is part of privately held Kohler Co., headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin. The company provides complete power systems including portable, residential, industrial, and marine generators; automatic transfer switches; switchgear; monitoring controls; and accessories for emergency, prime power and energy-management applications. Kohler Power Systems has delivered energy solutions for markets worldwide since 1920. Visit KOHLERGenerators.com, facebook.com/KOHLERPower, or Twitter at @KOHLERPower. or more information.

About Kohler Co.
Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin, Kohler Co. is one of America’s oldest and largest privately held companies comprised of nearly 35,000 associates. Kohler is a global leader in the manufacturing of kitchen and bath products; engines and power systems; premier cabinetry, tile and lighting; and owner/operator of two of the world’s finest five-star hospitality and golf resort destinations in Kohler, Wisconsin, and St. Andrews, Scotland.

Cornwell® Quality Tools Extends Partnership With John Force

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Official Release
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Continues As the ‘Official Tool of John Force Racing’

WADSWORTH, Ohio, October 26, 2021 (Newswire.com) – Cornwell Quality Tools announced they have extended their partnership as the Official Tool of John Force Racing for an additional three years. The new contract begins in 2022 and will run through the 2024 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing season.

The Cornwell Quality Tools name/logo will continue to be seen on the wings of both the John Force and Robert Hight Funny Cars, as well as on the canopy of the Top Fuel Dragster driven by Brittany Force. The Cornwell brand will continue to be visible throughout the Force race pit at all NHRA races, with the teams utilizing Cornwell toolboxes and tools when working on the cars, as well as branding on car haulers, signage, hospitality canopies, and more.

Cornwell has been the Official Tool of the 21-time NHRA world championship John Force Racing team since 2019.

“We are excited to extend our partnership with a high-caliber team in John Force Racing,” said Bob Studenic, President and CEO of Cornwell Quality Tools. “As we have seen over the past few years, supporting and working with John Force Racing has been a blast. John and his family know the importance of loyalty, hard work, and dedication. We value those same principles. We look forward to continuing to grow our partnership with the team, as they race towards additional NHRA championships.”

“I treat sponsors like family, and I always want to be treated the same. I’ve built long-range relationships that we have turned into 16 championship for myself and 21 as a team owner. Our relationship with Cornwell Tools has grown but it’s getting better as we extend out years into the future,” said John Force, owner, CEO and driver of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevy Camaro for John Force Racing. “We’re making new plans as we speak. Not just bigger signs on a race car but being able to ride along on the tool trucks, bringing Cornwell Tools trucks to races, more hospitality and meeting more of their Franchisees. This is how you win championships and grow sales. What makes it easy is we’re working with a great product. We use Cornwell Tools, not only at the races, but at our shops and at home.”

About: Cornwell Quality Tools is the oldest mobile tool company with a market presence since 1919. Cornwell is committed to the pride that accompanies the sale of quality materials. With the use of high-grade alloy steel, combined with modern heat-treating methods, Cornwell has continued to produce the finest tools in the world that have truly been “The Choice of Professionals®” for over 100 years. Products are sold via independent mobile tool dealers across the country. Cornwell has distribution centers located in Utah and Ohio, along with manufacturing facilities in Pennsylvania (Forging), Mogadore, Ohio (Hand Tool Manufacturing), and Van Wert, Ohio (Toolbox Manufacturing). For more information: www.cornwelltools.com.

Gilliland Looks to Martinsville as Opportunity to Lead Owners Championship

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Official Release
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Speedco Joins as Primary Partner with Luber-finer as Major Associate

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (October 26, 2021) – After a four-week hiatus, the NASCAR Truck Series is back in action this weekend at the Martinsville Speedway. On Saturday, Todd Gilliland will carry the blue and gold livery of Speedco aboard his No. 38 Ford F-150 along with major associate partner, Luber-finer.

With only two races remaining in the 2021 season, Gilliland heads to Martinsville only four points out of leading the NASCAR Truck Series Owners Championship and knows that a victory on Saturday would propel his No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford into the lead for next weekend’s season-finale at the Phoenix Raceway.

“Martinsville (Speedway) has been a great track for me over the last few years,” said Gilliland. “It’s definitely one of those races that our team has had circled on the calendar as a place where we feel a little bit more confident about showing up to contend for the win.”

As a previous Truck Series winner at Martinsville, Gilliland knows what it takes to win on the short tracks and looks to capture his second grandfather clock on Saturday.

“Short track racing is a lot of fun, but it’s also a lot of work. When you have a truck that handles well, you can really get into a rhythm of knocking out consistent lap times, which makes for a great day,” Gilliland added. “But what really makes a half-mile track like Martinsville so tough is that you don’t really get a chance to rest unless it’s under caution. At most mile-and-a-half tracks, you can loosen your grip on the wheel and re-adjust down the straightaways, but at a track like Martinsville, you’re constantly on the wheel because of how short it is.”

Gilliland elaborated on the toughness of Martinsville by saying, “another crucial component to short track racing is learning how to manage your brakes as they can only handle so much before wanting to give out on you. If you’re continuously overdriving the entry of each corner for multiple laps, your brakes are eventually going to over heat and fail, which can definitely put you out of the race early.”

The green flag for Saturday’s NASCAR Truck Series race at the Martinsville Speedway is scheduled to drop at 1 p.m. ET with race coverage airing live on FS1.

ABOUT SPEEDCO
Speedco is a member of the Love’s Family of Companies. Love’s is the nation’s industry leading travel stop network with more than 560 locations in 41 states. Love’s has more than 415 truck service centers, which include Speedco and Love’s Truck Care locations. Love’s and Speedco combined is the largest oil change, preventative maintenance and total truck care nationwide network. Love’s is committed to providing customers with “Clean Places, Friendly Faces” at every stop.

To learn more about Speedco, visit www.loves.com.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series and the 2021 Daytona 500 champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team– from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Chris Buescher – Martinsville II Advance

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Official Release
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Team: No. 17 Fifth Third Bank Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @17RoushTeam, @RoushFenway and @Chris_Buescher
Race Format: 263 miles, 500 laps, Stages: 130-130-240
Xfinity 500 – Sunday, Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Buescher at Martinsville Speedway

· Buescher makes his 13th Cup start at Martinsville on Sunday where he carries a 20.8 average finish. His best finish at ‘The Paperclip’ came in 2017 when he ran 11th in the spring race. But, he’s fresh off a 13th-place finish there this spring, and also finished 13th last spring.

· Of his overall five top-15s at the track, four have come in the last six races.

Scott Graves at Martinsville Speedway

· Graves will be on the box for his 11th Cup race from Martinsville, where he has an average finish of 20.3 with a best finish of 10th (Ryan Newman, 2019).

· Most recently, he and Newman ran 12th, 18th and 19th in races since the top-10.

QUOTE WORTHY
Buescher on racing at Martinsville:
“Martinsville is a challenging place, as it’s very tight all the way around, and even on pit road, and a place that you’ll find yourself pretty exhausted at after 500 laps. We’ve been decent there minus an unfortunate incident last fall, and we only have two left to finish this campaign strong, so we’re looking forward to doing just that come Sunday with Fifth Third back on board.”

Last Time Out
Buescher was one of only 15 cars to finish on the lead lap last weekend at Kansas and ultimately ran 12th in the Fastenal Ford.

On the Car

Fifth Third Bank makes its sixth and final appearance on board Buescher’s No. 17 Ford this season. The company is celebrating its 10th season as a partner with Roush Fenway in 2021 as the partnership began back in 2012 with Matt Kenseth.

Fifth Third will feature Colony Tire on the decklid of the No. 17 machine on Sunday as part of the Fueled by Fifth Third pass-through program.

· Colony started with a single location in 1976 and has grown to over 30 locations and more than 700 employees across VA, NC, and SC.

· GO SAFER! At Colony Tire, your family’s safety always comes first. Let our experts recommend the best tires for your family’s car, truck or SUV. Find the location nearest you at colonytire.com.

· When it comes to making shopping for tires an auto service a lot less painful, Colony Tire is not your typical tire store. It’s … A BETTER WAY TO GO.

About Fifth Third Bank
Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio and the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank, National Association, a federally chartered institution. As of June 30, 2020, Fifth Third had $203 billion in assets and operated 1,122 full-service banking centers and 2,456 ATMs with Fifth Third branding in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina. In total, Fifth Third provides its customers with access to approximately 53,000 fee-free ATMs across the United States. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending and Wealth & Asset Management. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of June 30, 2020, had $405 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $49 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations through its Trust and Registered Investment Advisory businesses. Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Fifth Third’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Fifth Third Bank was established in 1858. Deposit and Credit products are offered by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

AmericanTrucks Reviews the 2021 F250 Tremor

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New Video Includes Walkaround and Dyno | The Haul

PAOLI, Pa. (October 25th, 2021) – Is the 2021 F250 Tremor the working man’s Raptor? AmericanTrucks (AT) weighs in during its latest episode of their ongoing “The Haul” YouTube series. AT host, Justin Dugan leaves no stone unturned as he conducts a full walkaround and review, including a dyno and drive test of the new rig. The video aims to help viewers with honest feedback on a truck package that claims to do it all.

“There’s no denying that Ford’s diesel F-250 with the Tremor package is still going to be a work truck first, off-road toy second…” Justin Dugan

Justin begins his review at the front end of the truck, discussing its recent refresh, the traditional super duty badging, and unique grille. Next, he moves onto the side, underside, and engine offering his thoughts on what Ford got right and what they did not. The Tremor package kicks in a high-capacity tow package allowing it to pull about 15,000 pounds with the bumper, and 18,000+ pounds when using the fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch. Justin runs through the result of the dyno then jumps in the truck for a chat about the interior and ride quality. “There’s no denying that Ford’s diesel F-250 with the Tremor package is still going to be a work truck first, off-road toy second…” says Justin.

AT’s new episode of “The Haul” brings viewers up to speed on all the pros and cons explaining how Ford has done a decent job of blurring the more traditional lines of needing a dedicated rig for work and off-road adventures. AT plans to continue its mission to keep its community of Ford owners and enthusiasts informed with truck reviews, customer builds, install videos, and more.

View it here: https://www.americantrucks.com/thehaul-f250-october-2021.html

 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

About AmericanTrucks

AmericanTrucks is regarded as one of the best, most dependable online aftermarket retailers providing parts and accessories for F150, F250, Ranger, Silverado, Sierra, and RAM. Catering to the needs and demands of late-model truck owners and enthusiasts, AmericanTrucks provides the best parts with support from genuine truck experts. Located just outside of Philadelphia, AmericanTrucks is dedicated to offering the truck community with the highest quality of parts and customer service. Please visit https://www.americantrucks.com for more information.

Carson Kvapil Joins JRM Late Model Team for 2022 in No. 8 Chevrolet

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MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 26, 2021) – JR Motorsports announced today that 18-year-old Carson Kvapil, son of former NASCAR Cup Series driver and 2003 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Travis Kvapil, will take over the team’s iconic No. 8 Late Model for 2022. Josh Berry, the linchpin of the team’s Late Model success over the past 11 years, will embark on a full-season effort with JRM’s NASCAR Xfinity Series team next season.

Kvapil learned of his new opportunity by surprise, as team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. delivered the news Monday afternoon. “I thought I was coming here to JRM to sign some papers or something, and they surprised me by saying I was running the No. 8 next season,” he said.

In the coming weeks, Kvapil will drive the No. 8 in the Fall Brawl at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway on Nov. 6 before ending the season on Nov. 20 at Florence (S.C.) Motor Speedway in the Florence 400.

“It’s really exciting,” said the younger Kvapil, fresh off his championship in the CARS Racing Tour’s Super Late Model division earlier this month. “I ran the Florence race for JRM, came out with a really good finish after leading 113 of the 125 laps and just came up a little short in the end. I’m really thankful for this opportunity. These kinds of chances don’t come up that often.

“I just need to be able to be consistent, try to stay out of the wrecks and contend for wins every week in the CARS Racing Tour’s Late Model Stock Car Series.”

On Oct. 16, Kvapil overcame an eight-point deficit to Matt Craig to win the CARS Tour’s Super Late Model crown with a win in the season finale at Virginia’s South Boston Speedway.

“The Late Model program is the foundation on which JR Motorsports was built,” said L.W. Miller, JRM’s director of motorsports. “It has always been very important to Dale, Kelley and myself. Josh won a lot of races and championships for us, and looking to the future, we see Carson as the kind of driver we can continue to build our program around.

“He knows how to race and win, and he has a bright future ahead of him. I can see him taking the same kind of path to the upper levels of NASCAR, just like Josh has done, and I’m very excited for his future and for the future of our Late Model program.”
Additional details on sponsorship and the 2022 schedule 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 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.

Corey Heim – No. 51 HYTE Tundra Camping World Trucks Martinsville Preview

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Official Release
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Corey Heim: Driver, No. 51 HYTE 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

The Story on Corey:

  • Corey Heim will make the third start of his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career behind the wheel of the No. 51 HYTE Tundra in Saturday’s Camping World Truck Series event at Martinsville. The 19-year-old driver was impressive in his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway May 7 where he finished the opening stage eighth and by the end of the second stage had moved into the runner-up position behind his KBM teammate John Hunter Nemechek. With just under 30 laps remaining, he restarted on the front row next to Nemechek, but as the field exited the restart zone another competitor tapped the bumper of the JBL Tundra sending Heim into Nemechek and a 17-truck pileup ensued. With major damage all around his Toyota, the over-the-wall crew threw feverishly attempted repairs but ended up with a 23rd-place finish when the six-minute clock expired under NASCAR’s damaged vehicle policy. Heim’s second start of the season came at Watkins Glen International, where he was plagued by issues that kept him mired mid-pack and relegated him to an 18th-place finish.
  • While it will be the talented teenager’s first Truck Series start at “The Paperclip,” he has made two starts there in a Late Model Stock. He qualified third, finished second in his heat and started the feature from the seventh position in this year’s event on Sept. 25. In the feature a flat tire caused him to go multiple laps down and relegated him to a 32nd-place finish. He finished runner-up in a controversial finish to the 2018 event, when he took the lead on the third and final attempt at a green-white-checkered but after another yellow came out the scoring was reverted to the running order on the prior lap due to not using scoring loops for a Late Model Stock event.
  • The Toyota Racing Development product finished second to Ty Gibbs in the 2021 ARCA Menards Series championship standings. Heim collected six wins, three poles, 406 laps led, 16 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes and produced an average finish of 3.1 across 20 starts. Across 36 career ARCA Menards Series starts has seven wins, 503 laps led, 26 top-five and 35 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 4.2. Heim Picked up his first career ARCA Menards Series victory at Kansas Speedway Oct. 16, 2020.
  • Heim has also found his way to victory lane in the Late Model Ranks the last few seasons. Most recently, the Georgia driver brought home a victory March 27 in the Super Late Model Georgia Spring Nationals at Crip Motorsports Park in Cordele, Ga. It was his second Super Late Model win at his home state track, where he also won CRA SpeedFest at the 3/8-mile track in 2020. On the CARS Tour, Heim has one Super Late Model win at South Boston (Va.) Speedway in 2018 and one Late Model Stock victory at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway in 2020.
  • The No. 51 team has produced three victories in Mardy Lindley’s first season as a crew chief at KBM, two with owner-driver Kyle 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. In Lindley’s lone visit to Martinsville in the Truck Series, Mayer led 33 laps before being caught up in a multi-truck wreck that relegated him to a 28th-place finish. Lindley’s father, Butch, finished second to Harry Gant in the Cup Series race at Martinsville on April 25, 1982.
  • HYTE, a subsidiary brand of iBUYPOWER, will serve as the primary sponsor for Saturday’s race with Heim. HYTE is a lifestyle-centered brand which focuses on enhancing play with its fresh and innovative PC components and accessories. Designed to fuel passions in gaming, music, the arts, and entertainment, all HYTE products are rigorously researched and tested before they are brought to fruition. HYTE, as a company and its products, are inspired by the needs and behaviors of its community and the many ways people play. HYTE is committed to designing products to help people experience play throughout their lifestyle, no matter what that may be.
  • 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, Heim’s No. 51 Toyota will carry the name of Nicole Mancini over the driver door on Saturday. Mancini is a breast cancer survivor who has kicked cancers butt as well as completed multiple full Ironman events. She is also an integral, long-term board member of The Mohawk Foundation, a small charity that uses triathlons and running to raise funds for breast cancer research.

Drew Dollar, Driver Q&A:

Are you looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of a Tundra this weekend?
“Absolutely, I think in our first two starts we had really good speed both times at Watkins Glen and Darlington. Going to a track that I’ve been to before, unlike the other two, I think is a big advantage for me. Just being in a late model a couple times there is going to give me a really good head start on it.”

How do you think driving a truck at Martinsville will compare to what you are used to with a Late Model Stock?
“I think the basics are pretty similar, as far as race dynamic and line, and everything are pretty similar. I definitely have to be mindful that it’s a heavier race vehicle and it has more power than the late model. We’ve been doing a lot of sim to prepare for it. I think I’m pretty well prepared but without having practice it might be tough.”

Have you set a goal for your final start of 2021?
“I think the main thing is to try and get a top five with our HYTE Toyota Tundra this weekend. We’ve had a good year; had a lot of speed and I think just putting ourselves in the top five would be our goal.”

Corey Heim’s Career Highlights:
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 36 career ARCA Menards Series starts has seven wins, 503 laps led, 26 top-five and 35 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 4.2. Picked up his first career ARCA Menards Series victory at Kansas Speedway Oct. 16, 2020.
Brought home a victory March 27, 2020, in the Super Late Model Georgia Spring Nationals at Crip Motorsports Park in Cordele, Ga. It was his second Super Late Model win at his home state track, where he also won CRA SpeedFest at the 3/8-mile track in 2020.
On the CARS Tour, has collected one Super Late Model win at South Boston (Va.) Speedway in 2018 and one Late Model Stock victory at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway in 2020
Captured the 2017 Atlanta Motor Speedway Thursday Thunder Pro Series championship and the 2016 Atlanta Motor Speedway Young Lions Legends Car championship

Corey Heim’s No. 51 HYTE Tundra:
KBM-62: The No. 51 HYTE team will unload KBM-62 for Saturday’s race at Martinsville. KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch produced the career-best finish with this Tundra when he led 26 laps and finished second to KBM driver John Hunter Nemechek at Richmond (Va.) Raceway in April. In its most recent outing, Derek Griffith finished 26th with it at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.
Click Here for KBM-62 Performance Profile:

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected two wins, two poles, 68 laps led, nine top-five and 17 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 10.6 across 28 starts at Talladega.
  • Raphael Lessard collected the first victory of his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career last year at the 2.66-mile tri-oval. Owner-driver Kyle Busch was victorious in the 2010 event when he finished 0.002 seconds ahead of Aric Almirola in the closest finish in Truck Series history since electronic scoring was instituted.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (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).
  • With 37 victories, the No. 51 is the winningest number in KBM’s Truck Series fleet.

Chandler Smith – No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass Tundra Camping World Trucks Martinsville Preview

By
Official Release
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Chandler Smith: Driver, No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass® Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: United Rentals 200, Race 21 of 22 (Race 3 in the Round of 8), 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

Mr. Smith Ready to Rip at “The Paperclip”:

  • Chandler Smith and the No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass team head to Martinsville Speedway for the final race in the Round of 8 of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoffs. Smith enters Saturday’s elimination race sixth on the playoff grid but finds himself 34 points below the cutoff line for advancing to the Championship 4 and basically in a must-win situation. Smith was put in a hole by being involved in accidents in each of the first two races in the round which relegated him to finishes of 35th and 19th, respectively at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
  • Despite having 36 career Truck Series starts under his belt since making his debut in June of 2019, the 19-year-old driver will be making his first career start in any series at “The Paperclip.”
  • Being in a must-win situation is nothing new to Smith, he fended off elimination in the Round of 10 when he collected his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory Sept. 16 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in the final race of the round. Smith muscled his way past reigning Truck Series champion Shelden Creed on a restart with five laps remaining and then held off his KBM teammate John Hunter Nemechek to collect the victory in his 34th career start in NASCAR’s third division.
  • Smith finished the regular season 10th on the Camping World Truck Series playoff grid, 10 points above the cutoff line for qualifying for the post season, after posting three top-five and five top-10 finishes across 15 races. Smith and fellow Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Carson Hocevar are the only two drivers in the playoffs who are competing for a driver’s championship for the first time. Overall, across 20 starts in 2021, Smith has recorded one win, four top-five and seven top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 18.3.
  • The Toyota Racing Development driver has one win, 12 top-five, and 16 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 15.6 across 36 career Camping World Truck Series starts. In addition to his Bristol win, he has posted two runner-up finishes; at Knoxville Raceway earlier this season and at Bristol in 2019.
  • Veteran crew chief Danny Stockman calls the shots for Smith and the No. 18 team in 2021. Stockman led the No. 51 team to four wins in his first season atop the pit box at KBM in 2020 and has earned one with Smith this season. He came to the organization with experience as a crew chief in all three national series, including a Truck Series championship with Austin Dillon in 2011 and an Xfinity Series championship with Dillon in 2013. Across four starts at Martinsville, Stockman’s drivers have collected one top-five and two top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 10.5. His best result was a third-place finish with Dillon in 2011.
  • Safelite AutoGlass – the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair, replacement, and recalibration services – will serve as the primary sponsor on Smith’s Tundra at Martinsville and for 16 races total this season. Smith General Contracting and QuickTie – a proprietary, patented hold down system for high wind and seismic construction – will be associate partners on the bedtop of the No. 18 Toyota for Saturday’s 200-lap event.
  • 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, Smith’s No. 18 Toyota will carry the name of Rene Neff over the driver door on Saturday. Neff is a Stage 4 breast cancer survivor who has been an advocate for cancer research and volunteering; as well as support system for those going through the same.

Chandler Smith, Driver Q&A:

With being 34 points below the cutoff line for advancing to the Championship 4, how will you approach Saturday’s race?
“We just have to go out there and win. Every weekend our goal is to go out there and win races, so nothing has really changed. When it comes push to shove, we are definitely going to give the shove probably a little more than give and take. It’s no different than Bristol, we had to win at Bristol. We had a really good Safelite AuotoGlass Toyota Tundra at Bristol and I expect the same at Martinsville.”

How are you preparing for your first start in any series at Martinsville?
“I’ve had a lot of sim time for sure and I’ve talked to a few guys that have been there – talked to Kyle a little bit. I’ve watched a lot of film, to say the least. At the end of the day, it’s a short track and that’s kind of my background and I don’t think there’s going to be much different from short track to short track. At the end of the day, they are all circle tracks and it’s The Paperclip, I’m looking forward to it for sure.”

What’s it going to take to win on Saturday?
“I think its all about being there at the end. For us to even be able to win the race, we have to make sure we survive all the way to the end. I believe in my team, I believe in everybody behind me and know that we’ll have that Safelite AutoGlass Tundra out front by the end of the race.”

Chandler Smith Career Highlights:

  • Across 36 career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts has recorded one win (Bristol Motor Speedway, 9/16/2021), 267 laps led, 12 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 15.6.
  • Posted an average finish of 7.7 across his final seven of 12 total Truck Series starts in 2020, including third-place finishes in the series finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway and his first career superspeedway start at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in October.
  • Produced three top-five and four top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 4.2 across his first four career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts in 2019. He led 55 laps and finished eighth in his Gander Trucks debut at Iowa Speedway last July and then posted top-five finishes in his final three starts, including a runner-up finish at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.
  • Has collected nine wins, 10 poles, 1783 laps led, 22 top-five and 29 top-10 finishes en route to an average finish of 5.4 across 34 career ARCA Menards Series starts. Set an ARCA Racing Series record by winning four consecutive poles to start his career and earned his first victory after leading a race-high 102 laps at Madison (Wis.) International Speedway in his fourth series start.

Chandler Smith’s No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass Tundra:
KBM-25: The No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass team will unload KBM-25 for Saturday’s race at Martinsville Speedway. Smith led a race-high 71 laps and finished second with this Tundra in its most recent outing in July at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway. KBM-25 has three career wins, Todd Gilliland (Oct. 2019) and Noah Gragson (Oct. 2017) both were victorious with it at Martinsville and Christopher Bell went to victory lane with it at World Wide Technology Raceway (2016).
KBM-25 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. 18, the number which was on the first Tundra that went to victory lane for KBM in 2010, has 22 career victories.
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