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Kyle Busch primed for 600th Cup career start at Las Vegas

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Tim Jarrold for SpeedwayMedia.com.

In his 17th full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series, Kyle Busch is set to reach a significant milestone start. By competing in this weekend’s Playoff event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which serves as his home track, the driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry will achieve career start No. 600 in NASCAR’s premier series. In doing so, Busch will also become the 31st different competitor to achieve 600 career starts in the Cup Series.

A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, Busch made his inaugural presence in the Cup circuit at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March 2004. By then, he was a full-time Xfinity Series competitor for Hendrick Motorsports, competing for both the Rookie-of-the-Year title and the drivers’ championship. Driving the No. 84 Chevrolet for HMS, Busch started 18th and finished 41st in his Cup debut following an early retirement. He competed in five additional races for HMS throughout the 2004 season (Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, Auto Club Speedway in September, Kansas Speedway, Charlotte and at Atlanta Motor Speedway in October).

In 2005, Busch earned a full-time ride with HMS for the 2005 Cup season, replacing two-time champion Terry Labonte. Driving the No. 5 Chevrolet, it took the first 25 races of the season for Busch to achieve his first Cup triumph at Auto Club Speedway in September. With his victory, Busch became the youngest winner in Cup history at age 20, four months and two days. He went on to record a second career win at Phoenix Raceway in November following a late battle with Greg Biffle. Despite missing the Playoffs and finishing 20th in the final standings, Busch captured the 2005 Cup Rookie-of-the-Year title and in a season where he also earned a pole, nine top-five results and 13 top-10 results.

The following season, Busch achieved his lone victory of the season at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July. He went on to make the Playoffs for the first time in his career and achieve a pole, 10 top-five results and 18 top-10 results before finishing in 10th place in the final standings. The year after, Busch claimed his fourth Cup victory at Bristol Motor Speedway in March following a two-lap battle against veteran Jeff Burton. Busch’s Bristol victory was also the first event where NASCAR fielded the Car of Tomorrow stock car. Busch went on to earn 11 top-five results, 20 top-10 results, an average-finishing result of 14.1 and a spot in the Playoffs before finishing in fifth place in the final standings. By then, Busch surpassed 100 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series.

In June 2007, Hendrick Motorsports announced that Busch will be replaced by Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the 2008 season. Two months later, Busch announced that he will be joining Joe Gibbs Racing to pilot the No. 18 Toyota Camry for the upcoming Cup season.

In his first race with Joe Gibbs Racing and paired with crew chief Steve Addington, Busch kickstarted the 2008 season on a high note by finishing in fourth place in the Daytona 500 after leading a race-high 86 of 200 laps. Three races later, Busch achieved his first victory of the season and his first with JGR at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March after leading a race-high 173 of 325 laps. By winning at Atlanta, Busch also recorded the first NASCAR Cup career victory for the Toyota nameplate. 

Following his Atlanta victory, Busch went on to win at Talladega Superspeedway in April, Darlington Raceway in May, Dover International Speedway and Sonoma Raceway in June, Daytona International Speedway and Chicagoland Speedway in July and at Watkins Glen International in August, which tallied his Cup win column to 12. By then, he had also achieved 15 top-five results and was leading the regular-season standings. Despite qualifying for the Playoffs and emerging as a title threat, Busch finished outside of the top 20 through the first three Playoff events, which were enough to diminish his championship hopes early. When the season concluded, Busch, who earned four additional top-10 runs through the final 10 races, capped off his first Cup season with JGR in 10th place in the final standings and with a total of eight victories, two poles, 17 top-five results, 21 top-10 results and an average-finishing result of 12.5.

In 2009, Busch achieved four victories (Las Vegas and Bristol Motor Speedway in March, Richmond Raceway in May and Bristol in August) along with a pole, nine top-five results and 13 top-10 results. He, however, failed the make the Playoffs by eight points following a difficult summer stretch and went on to finish 13th in the final standings. By then, he was paired with crew chief Dave Rogers. He rallied the following season by winning three times throughout the 36-race schedule (Richmond and Dover International Speedway in May and Bristol in August), collecting two poles, 10 top-five results and 18 top-10 results and making the Playoffs before finishing eighth in the final standings. By then, Busch surpassed 200 Cup career starts and had won 19 career races.

For the majority of the 2011 Cup season, Busch and the No. 18 JGR Toyota team were strong on the track, with the combo winning four races (Bristol in March, Richmond in April, Kentucky Speedway in July and at Michigan International Speedway in August). During the midway section of the Playoffs, however, Busch’s title hopes came to an end as he went on to finish in 12th place in the final standings. The Playoffs was also where Busch was suspended for the Cup event at Texas Motor Speedway in November following a Truck Series incident with four-time series champion Ron Hornaday Jr., where Busch intentionally wrecked Hornaday under caution following an earlier incident and NASCAR suspended Busch from competing the remaining national touring series events during the Texas weekend. 

Despite a disappointing conclusion to a strong 2011 season, Busch kickstarted the 2012 Cup season on a wild, high note by rallying from two near spins to edge reigning three-time Cup champion Tony Stewart in a photo finish to win the Shootout at Daytona in February. Busch went on to achieve his first points victory of the season at Richmond in April, which marked his fourth consecutive spring Richmond victory. Despite the victory, Busch’s 26-race regular-season stretch was mired with inconsistent results throughout the summer and he missed the Playoffs by three points. While he was not a title contender, Busch earned seven top-five results during the 10-race Playoff stretch before concluding the season in 13th place in the final standings.

Five races into the 2013 Cup season, Busch snapped a 31-race winless drought by winning at Auto Club Speedway after overtaking teammate Denny Hamlin and former teammate Joey Logano on the final lap. Two races later and in his 300th Cup career start, Busch prevailed over Martin Truex Jr. to win at Texas in April. He went on to win at Watkins Glen in August and at Atlanta in September, which were more than enough for him to return to the Playoffs. While an accident at Kansas Speedway in October ended his title hopes, Busch went on to conclude the season in fourth place in the final standings, which marked his best points result since finishing fifth in 2007. Overall, Busch achieved four victories, three poles, 16 top-five results and 22 top-10 results in 2013. By then, his Cup career wins tallied to 28.

In 2014, Busch recorded his lone victory of the season at Auto Club Speedway in March, which was enough for him to make the Playoffs for the seventh time in his 10-year Cup career. He went on to achieve three pols, nine top-five results and 15 top-10 results before capping off the season in 10th place in the final standings.

The 2015 Cup season started off on a harrowing note for Busch, who was set to embark in his 11th Cup season and first with new crew chief Adam Stevens. While competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ season-opening event at Daytona in February, Busch was involved in a late multi-car wreck, an accident that saw him make a hard head-on contact into a concrete barrier installed with no SAFER barriers. The accident left Busch with a massive compound fracture to his right leg, a minor fracture to his left foot and a sprained left finger. With Busch sitting out for the first 11 events of the season, names like Matt Crafton, David Ragan and Erik Jones participated as interim competitors for Busch in the Cup circuit.

By the All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, Busch was medically cleared to return to racing. He had also received a medical waiver that would make him eligible for the Playoffs under the Playoff’s qualification rules. After finishing sixth in the All-Star event and 11th during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, which marked Busch’s first Cup points event of the season, Busch rallied from finishing outside of the top 30 on the track during two of the following three races to achieve his first victory of 2015 and his 30th Cup career victory at Sonoma Raceway in June. The win checked off Busch’s first goal in his quest to make the 2015 Cup Playoffs.

Following his victory at Sonoma and a 17th-place result at Daytona in July, Busch went on a three-race winning streak, where he won at Kentucky, New Hampshire and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway circuit in July. He also earned four additional top-10 results, which were enough for him to move into the top 30 in the regular-season standings and qualify for the Playoffs for the eighth time in his career.

After finishing in the top five in five of the first nine Playoff events, Busch earned a championship spot in the Championship Round at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November. During the finale, Busch led 41 of 267 laps and held off reigning champion Kevin Harvick to claim his fifth victory of the season and his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. In claiming his first Cup title, Busch became the 31st different competitor to win a championship in NASCAR’s premier series and the first since Richard Petty in 1971 to do so without competing the entire schedule. Busch also captured the fourth Cup career title for Joe Gibbs Racing and the first for Toyota, with the driver earning a pole, 12 top-five results and 16 top-10 results.

Entering the 2016 season as the reigning Cup champion, Busch claimed four victories throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch (Martinsville Speedway and Texas in April, Kansas Speedway in May and at Indianapolis in July). He went on to make the Playoffs for the ninth time in his Cup career and earn enough consistent results to make the Championship Round at Homestead in November for a second consecutive season. During the finale, however, Busch pitted late for fresh tires and settled in sixth place on the track and in third place in the final standings. While he did not repeat as a Cup champion, Busch achieved four victories, two poles, 17 top-five results, 25 top-10 results and an average-finishing result of 11.5. In addition, Busch surpassed 400 Cup career starts.

Determined to reclaim his title, Busch went winless through the first 11 races of the 2017 Cup schedule before capturing his first victory in the non-points All-Star Race at Charlotte in May. Two months later, Busch achieved his first Cup points victory of the season at Pocono. He went on to win at Bristol in August before winning back-to-back Playoff races at New Hampshire and Dover between September and October while as a Playoff contender. Following his fifth victory of the season at Martinsville in October, Busch qualified for the Championship Round at Homestead in November for a third consecutive season. During the finale, however, Busch ended up as the runner-up finisher on the track and in the final standings behind Truex. In a season where he won five races, Busch also captured a career-high eight poles along with 14 top-five results, 22 top-10 results and a second consecutive average-finishing result of 11.5. He also surpassed 40 Cup career victories.

The 2018 Cup season was one of Busch’s finest seasons to date, with the driver earning a total of eight victories throughout the 36-race schedule (Texas, Bristol and Richmond in April, Charlotte in May, Chicagoland in June, Pocono in July, Richmond in September and at Phoenix in November). By then, Busch surpassed 50 Cup career victories and had achieved a victory in every active track in the Cup Series. Along with a career-best eight victories, he also achieved four poles, a career-high 22 top-five results, a career-high 28 top-10 results and a career-best average-finishing result of 8.3. Despite making the Playoffs for the 11th time in his Cup career and earning a spot in the Championship Round at Homestead for a four consecutive season, Busch went on to finish in fourth place during the finale and in third place in the final standings.

The momentum from the previous season carried forth for Busch entering the 2019 Cup season, with the driver winning twice through the first five scheduled events (Phoenix and Auto Club in March) and earning a career-best runner-up result in the season-opening Daytona 500. By then, he surpassed 500 Cup career starts. Busch went on to win at Bristol in April and at Pocono in June before capturing the regular-season championship and make his 12th appearance in the Playoffs. After finishing in the top 10 in five of the first nine Playoff spots, Busch managed to qualify for the Championship Round at Homestead in November for a fifth consecutive season. Having a strong car throughout the finale, Busch went on to win the race for his fifth victory of the season and for his second Cup Series championship, his first while completing the entire 36-race schedule. With his second Cup career title, Busch became the 16th different competitor to repeat as a champion in NASCAR’s premier series as he also claimed the fifth Cup title for Joe Gibbs Racing and the third drivers’ title for Toyota. He also capped off the 2019 season with a pole, 17 top-five results, 27 top-10 results and an average-finishing result of 8.9.

The 2020 Cup season was a roller coaster season for Busch, who went winless throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch. Despite making the Playoffs for the 13th time in his career, his hopes for a third title evaporated following the second round. Nonetheless, Busch extended his winning streak in the Cup circuit to 16 consecutive years after Busch outlasted teammate Truex in a late fuel mileage battle to win at Texas in October. Overall, Busch earned a victory, 14 top-five results and 20 top-10 results throughout the 36-race schedule before finishing in eighth place in the final standings.

Paired with rookie crew chief Ben Beshore for this season, Busch commenced the season on another wild note by winning his second career Clash event on Daytona’s road-course venue following a last-lap pass on Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney, both of whom wrecked on the final corner. Despite crashing out on the final lap in the Daytona 500, Busch extended his Cup winning streak to 17 consecutive seasons after the two-time champion won at Kansas in May. Eight races later, he rallied from clutch issues to win the second of a Pocono Raceway doubleheader weekend after overtaking teammate Denny Hamlin and barely having enough fuel to finish. The two victories earned throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, along with 11 top-five results and 16 top-10 results, were enough for Busch to make the Playoffs for the 14th time in his career. Despite recent finishes of 35th, ninth and 21st in the Round of 16, Busch is through to the Round of 12 in the 2021 Cup Playoffs and seeded in fifth place with 3,022 points.

Through 599 previous Cup starts, Busch has amassed two championships, 59 wins, 32 poles, 225 top-five results, 333 top-10 results and an average result of 13.6.

Busch is set to make his 600th Cup career start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, September 26, at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

JR Motorsports — NXS Las Vegas II Preview

By
Official Release
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JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
RACE: Alsco Uniforms 302 (201 laps / 302 miles)
DATE: Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021

Broadcast Information – TV: 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN / Radio: 7 p.m. ET on PRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90


Josh Berry
No. 1 Pilot Flying J Driver Appreciation Chevrolet
• Josh Berry will sit in for Michael Annett again this week as Annett continues his recovery from a leg injury. It will be the fourth event in which the 30-year-old Tennessee driver will drive the Pilot Flying J #ThankATrucker Chevrolet.
• Berry has one start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in a NASCAR Xfinity Series car, and it came earlier this season with JRM’s No. 8 team. Berry started ninth and finished seventh in the spring race on the 1.5-mile oval.
• Berry has made 19 NXS starts this season and earned a victory at Martinsville Speedway, along with five top-five and 10 top-10 finishes while pacing the field for 175 total laps.

Sam Mayer
No. 8 Carly Pearce Written In Stone Chevrolet
• Sam Mayer will make his first NXS start at Las Vegas this weekend in a special Big Machine Label Group Chevrolet promoting country singer Carly Pearce’s new album 29: Written In Stone.
• In one start at a 1.5-mile track in his NXS career, Mayer started 22nd and finished ninth at Atlanta Motor Speedway in July.
• The 18-year-old comes off his strongest performance to date in the NXS as he paced the field for 49 laps last weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway en route to a ninth place finish, tying his career best finish in the series.

Noah Gragson
No. 9 Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet
• Noah Gragson will start the 2021 NXS Playoffs at his home track this weekend, a place where the 23-year-old Las Vegas native has had a ton of success. In five starts on the 1.5-mile oval, Gragson has four top-five and five top-10 finishes, none lower than sixth.
• Gragson is fourth in the playoff grid entering the first of seven races that will determine the series champion, 27 points off the lead.
• Gragson has been on a hot streak of late, earning two victories (at Darlington Raceway and Richmond Raceway), two more top-five finishes and a pair of top-10 results in his last seven races leading up to the playoffs.

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet
• Justin Allgaier heads into the opening round of the NXS Playoffs as the third seed on the playoff grid, just 24 points outside of the lead.
• In 14 previous starts at Las Vegas in the NXS, Allgaier has scored six top fives and 11 top 10s, with a best finish of second coming in this event in 2018.
• Allgaier has recorded a top-five finish in all three of the fall races at Las Vegas dating back to 2018, netting an average finish of 3.7 during that span.
• According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Allgaier ranks first in the NXS at Las Vegas in green flag passes (660), quality passes (554) and laps run inside the top 15 (2,654).

Driver Quotes

“In the spring, we were able to earn a top-10 finish despite the fact that I had never raced at Las Vegas. That’s my goal this weekend, to get Michael (Annett) and this No. 1 Pilot Flying J #ThankATrucker team another solid finish. I know that Bummy (crew chief Mike Bumgarner) will have a fast Chevrolet Camaro for me, and I look forward to the opportunity to represent all of the truckers who work so hard to keep us going.” – Josh Berry

“I’m ready to get these playoffs underway on Saturday in Las Vegas. We’ve traditionally had a lot of speed there with our BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet and I feel really confident that we will have that once again when we unload. This Round of 12 is full of unknowns, especially with the two wild card races coming up after Vegas, which makes this weekend all that more important to go out there and do what we can to try to secure our spot into the next round. If we can just execute the way we have been all season to this point, I feel like we will be in a great position to contend for the win and move on in the playoffs.” – Justin Allgaier

“We ran really well in our only other 1.5-mile start this year at Atlanta and I really learned a lot that I think will transfer over to this weekend. The first part of the race will be all about learning the track and how this No. 8 Carly Pearce Written In Stone Chevrolet handles and then towards the end we can start making our move. Hopefully we can put this car in Victory Lane to give our family friend Scott Borchetta something to celebrate and to advance us in the Round of 8 for the owner’s championship.” – Sam Mayer

“I’m always happy when I get a chance to head back to Vegas and see all my family and friends. Plus racing in front of a hometown crowd makes it even better. We’ve had really good runs there in the past and haven’t finished outside of the top 10. This starts our playoff run and I wouldn’t want it to be anywhere other than home. It’s the perfect place to keep our momentum moving forward and hopefully we can lock ourselves into the Round of 8.” – Noah Gragson

JRM Team Updates

• JRM at Las Vegas: JRM has competed in “Sin City” a combined 56 times. Over the course of the 56 starts at the 1.5-mile facility, JRM has tallied one win, 21 top fives and 35 top 10s. JRM’s win came in 2008 when Mark Martin drove the No. 5 to Victory Lane after leading 81 laps on the day. Martin’s win marked the first for JRM as an Xfinity Series team.
• Pilot Flying J Driver Appreciation Month: The No. 1 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet will again carry a signature paint scheme this weekend as part of Pilot Flying J’s Driver Appreciation Month. The red and yellow scheme features the words “If you’ve got it, a trucker brought it” on the hood and #ThankATrucker on the TV panel at the rear of the car. The Driver Appreciation theme inspires fans to thank professional drivers for all their hard work in delivering the goods we all depend on. And to see how Pilot Flying J is thanking professional drivers, visit pilotflyingj.com.
• 29: Written In Stone: Big Machine Records along with chart-topping Country star Carly Pearce joins the No. 8 team with a special paint scheme promoting the Grand Ole Opry member’s brand new album 29: WRITTEN IN STONE. Pearce is a two-time ACM Award winner with No. 1 hits such as the platinum certified “Every Little Thing” and 2X platinum “I Hope You’re Happy Now”, which ignited her truth-soaked career. Earlier this summer, Dolly Parton invited the Kentucky native to become a member of the Grand Olem Opry ahead of an official induction by Trisha Yearwood.

Spencer Davis ready for seventh Truck Series start of 2021 at Las Vegas

By
Official Release
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LAS VEGAS, Nev.: It’s often been said that seven is a lucky number in Las Vegas and as the Spencer Davis Motorsports (SDM) team treks to Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway, driver Spencer Davis hopes the legendary tale lives up to its hype in Friday night’s Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 presented by Westgate Resorts.

Davis, the Dawsonville, Ga. native will make his seventh start of the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) and looks to boost his Mooresville, N.C.-based team to a season-high finish in the 19th Truck Series race of the season.

Statistically speaking, the 1.5-mile speedway of Las Vegas Motor Speedway has been a solid track for the 22-year-old driver and ahead of his fifth Truck Series start in Sin City, he hopes to roll the dice and earn a top-10 under the Friday night lights.

In his four prior starts, Davis has wheeled to four top-20 finishes nestled with two top-15 finishes including a 13th in his Truck Series debut at Las Vegas in 2018 with Kyle Busch Motorsports. Last spring, he finished 12th in his family-owned entry.

Davis has completed all but two of the 536 laps available for a 99.6 percentage lap completion.

“Las Vegas has been a pretty good track for me,” said Davis. “We may not of had the best starting position over the last couple of years, especially last year with the pandemic and all, but we’ve been able to make steady gains throughout the race to put us in a good position for a solid finish.

“We have been working on this truck for a few weeks diligently preparing it for battle and I’m confident that will be competitive on Friday night.”

Davis says the lack of practice and qualifying has certainly helped his team from a financial standpoint, but it has also prevented some challenges during the early run of the race.

“It’s a huge cost-cutting measure for us to not have practice and qualifying, but that time you had spent dialing in your truck is now being done in a crucial part of the race which is Stage 1,” added Davis.

“Everyone is in the same boat, so I’m okay with that, but it has forced some of the smaller teams to be more aggressive on our setups to make sure we’re marching forward from the drop of the green flag with the intent to stay on the lead lap.

“Some races it has worked, others it has not, but I think it has definitely made us be a little more on top of our game before we leave the shop. I feel pretty good about the setup and hope we’re able to make some moves in that opening stage on Friday night.”

Spencer Davis Motorsports partner INOX Supreme Lubricants will serve as a major partner for Davis’s 30th career Truck Series race.

INOX product range was first released in 1989 with the Original INOX MX3 Lubricant. The original MX3 product was in development stages for two years prior to release with testing and focus on creating the right product for the market.

The INOX product range continues to grow with 12 products on the market, each with their own many specialized qualities used in all different industries. All their products are tested and trialed before hitting the market to ensure the best of quality is maintained in the INOX name. INOX products are available at all major industrial, electrical, automotive, hardware, bearing and mining, marine, fishing and tackle outlets, plus many more locations.

A wholly owned Australian company Candan Industries is now exporting to over 25 countries including United States of America, Canada, France, South Africa, New Zealand, Indonesia and Malaysia.

“Excited to have a long-time friendship turn into a season-long partnership with INOX Supreme Lubricants,” said Davis. “I can’t thank Angel and James at INOX enough for their continued support and partnership with our small team.

“We use their products day to day on our race team and in our machines at our business. A quality product and amazing people helped bring this all together.”

Based on metrics set by NASCAR without practice or qualifying, Davis will lineup 34th for the 134-lap race.

Melvin “Woody” Burns who started the year with SDM as car chief will continue in his new role as crew chief for the third consecutive NCWTS race.

Entering Las Vegas, Davis, 22, has 29 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts to his credit with a career-best finish of seventh at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in Feb. 2018, with additional top-10s at Texas Motor Speedway (June 2018) and Kentucky Speedway (July 2019).

Following Las Vegas, Spencer Davis Motorsports plans to compete at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in the Chevrolet Silverado 250 on Sat. October 2, 2021.

For more on Spencer Davis, please like him on Facebook (Spencer Davis Racing) and follow him on Instagram (@spencerdavis_29) and Twitter (@spencerdavis_29).

Stay connected with Spencer Davis Motorsports on Instagram (@teamsdm11) and Twitter (@teamSDM11).

The Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 presented by Westgate Resorts (134 laps | 201 miles) is the 19th of 22 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races on the 2021 schedule. The 40-truck field will take the green flag on Fri., Sept. 24, 2021, shortly after 6:00 p.m. PT (9:00 p.m. ET) with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (PT).

Ty Dillon and South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa to Join Jordan Anderson Racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

By
Official Release
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STATESVILLE, N.C. (September 22, 2021) – Jordan Anderson Racing (JAR) announced today Ty Dillon will drive the team’s No. 31 South Point Chevrolet Camaro SS in the Alsco Uniforms 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) on September 25.

“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to get back behind the wheel in the NASCAR Xfinity Series,” said Dillon. “Jordan’s program has had strong runs this season and I look forward to continuing what his No. 31 team has been able to put together so far. It’s cool to honor Brendan Gaughan in his hometown and sport the South Point Hotel and Casino’s colors once again in my career. Back in 2012 when I made my first Xfinity Series start, South Point was the sponsor on my car and what Brendan and his family have done and continue to do for our sport is worth celebrating.”

Having competed in the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) full-time and partially for the last eight seasons, the Lewisville, North Carolina native holds 166 NCS starts to his credit. In those starts Dillon has collected two Top-5’s and six Top-10 finishes.

Starting Dillon’s ladder progression to NASCAR’s top-level, the now 29-year-old claimed the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Sunoco Rookie of the Year (ROY) title with one win, an impressive seven Top-5’s and 17 Top-10 finishes. Dillon backed up his first year by claiming two wins, nine Top-5’s and 12 Top-10’s the next season on the way to being the 2013 NCWTS Championship Runner-Up.

Prior to moving to the NCS full-time, Dillon would spend three seasons in NXS competing for a Championship. In his rookie season Dillon would capture runner-up honors to Chase Elliot in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings after a fierce battle all season long claiming one win, seven Top-5’s, and 24 Top-10’s.

The following season would see Dillon grab 12 Top-5’s and 25 Top-10’s in claiming third in the 2015 NXS championship point standings. In his last full-season driving in NXS Dillon would earn nine Top-5’s and 17 Top-10’s with a career best five second place finishes. NASCAR would move to the Chase format in 2016 for the point standings, making the chase Dillon would be eliminated from the final round in a close battle with Justin Allgaier. Ultimately, finishing fifth in the season long standings.

In 155 career NXS starts, Dillon has raced to one win with 34 top-five finishes, and 90 top-10’s.

In seven starts at LVMS in NCS competition, Dillon holds an average finish of 24.9 with a best of 10th coming in 2020, while holding an average finish of 15.3 with a best of seventh in six starts in NXS. Dillon also holds two starts in NCWTS claiming a best of fourth.

“Ty is a very experienced driver who will be able to step into the seat and instantly put the team in a position to compete towards the front. We first raced against each other in Legends cars over ten years ago – so this is really cool to see this opportunity come full circle.” Stated JAR President Jordan Anderson.

“It’s been incredibly fulfilling to have an opportunity to assemble a lineup of drivers that have been able to show the ability of our equipment and team. As we continue to build our relationship and program with the equipment from RCR and engines from ECR – it’s exciting to see the potential that the future has in store for us all. We’re also incredibly honored to welcome South Point Hotel and Casino on board this weekend. South Point and the Gaughan family have been a proud supporter of many race teams throughout the years, and they do a great job making the teams feel like they are at home during the race weekend.”

Partnering with JAR for the Alsco Uniforms 302 is South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa; the “Official Hotel and Casino of Las Vegas Motor Speedway” and sponsor of the Las Vegas NASCAR Cup Series race, South Point 400.

Featuring more than 2,100 guestrooms, South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa overlooks the famous Las Vegas Strip and the serenity of the surrounding mountainscape. Each oversized guest room features state-of-the-art LED televisions as well as WiFi with high-speed internet connections.

Guests visiting South Point Hotel will experience affordable luxury through a casino offering top-of-the-line gaming technology, over 2,200 slot and video poker machines, more than 60 table games and a separate race and sports book area, 11 restaurants, including the award-winning Michael’s Gourmet Room, world-class Costa Del Sur Spa and Salon, a 400-seat showroom featuring headliner entertainment, a 700-seat Bingo room, a 16-screen Cinemark movie complex, a state-of-the-art 64-lane bowling center, a 52,000-square foot Conference Center and an 80,000-square foot Exhibit Hall.

South Point Hotel is also home to the Tournament Bowling Plaza, a multi-million-dollar professional bowling tournament facility. In addition, South Point Hotel has the finest equestrian event facility in the country. The 240,000 square feet of event space features three climate-controlled arenas, vet clinic, feed store, more than 1,200 climate-controlled stalls and plays host to some of the country’s most unique events.

For more information or for room reservations, call (702) 796-7111 or visit the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa website. Connect with South Point on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Coverage of the NXS Alsco Uniforms 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway begins at 9:00 PM ET on Saturday, September 25. The event will air on the Performance Racing Network (PRN), SIRIUS XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90, NBCSN, and the NBC Sports APP.

Stay updated with everything Ty Dillon by following him on Social Media; Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

For more information on JAR, visit JordanAndersonRacing.com, and be sure to follow the team all season on the JAR social channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Jordan Anderson Racing

Jordan Anderson Racing (JAR) is a NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) team, owned by owner/driver Jordan Anderson. Established in 2018, JAR has competed full-time in the last three NCWTS seasons claiming back-to-back runner-up finishes in the 2020 & 2021 season opening NextEra 250 at Daytona International Speedway. JAR fields a full-time entry in the NXS Series; the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro SS driven by Jordan Anderson, Tyler Reddick, Josh Berry, Kaz Grala, Sage Karam, Erik Jones, Austin & Ty Dillon. JAR also fields the No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado for select drivers in the NCWTS.

Toyota Racing – Weekly Preview – 09.22.21

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This Week in Motorsports: September 20-26, 2021

· NCS/NXS/NCWTS: Las Vegas Motor Speedway – September 24-26
· ARCA WEST: The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – September 23

PLANO, Texas (September 22, 2021) – It’s a fresh Playoff round for all three top series of NASCAR as they all try to move forward with a victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The weekend starts on Thursday with Toyota drivers looking to close in on an ARCA West championship with a race at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

NASCAR National Series – NCS| NXS| NCWTS

600 for Busch… Kyle Busch hits a big milestone this weekend as he competes in his 600th Cup Series event at his home track – Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He has 59 victories, 225 top-five finishes and 333 top-10 finishes. The two-time Cup Series champion has one Cup Series victory (March 2009), two Xfinity Series wins and three Truck Series victories at his home track.

All four Playoff drivers moving on… All four Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) drivers advanced into the Round of 12, Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin on their victories in the first round and Busch and Christopher Bell on their point standings. Truex has scored Toyota’s last two wins at Las Vegas (March 2017 and September 2019).

Xfinity Series Playoffs begin… All three full-time Supra drivers Harrison Burton, Daniel Hemric and Brandon Jones are part of the 12-driver Xfinity Series Playoffs that begin this weekend. All three drivers earned top-10 finishes at Las Vegas earlier this year with Hemric coming home in second after leading 74 laps. Jones followed him to the line after leading 28 circuits.

Lupton back in the Xfinity Series… For the first time since 2018, Dylan Lupton will be back in the Xfinity Series driving the No. 26 Toyota Supra for Sam Hunt Racing for his first of two races with the team. Lupton has 35 career starts in the Xfinity Series.

Friesen continues to run strong… Stewart Friesen has continued to have an impressive Playoffs. The Canada-native started the Playoffs with three straight top-five finishes – his first such streak in over two years. Friesen looks to add to that streak at Las Vegas. Since joining Team Toyota in 2020, Friesen has two top-five finishes, and three top-10 finishes in three starts at Las Vegas.

Tundra top-fives… Bristol was the second time this season – and fifth time in Toyota’s Truck Series tenure – Toyota drivers swept the top-five finishing positions with first-time winner Chandler Smith leading them to the line. The last time Toyota swept the top-five finishing positions was earlier this year at Las Vegas Motor Speedway where championship points leader John Hunter Nemechek scored his first victory for Kyle Busch Motorsports with team owner Busch coming home in second followed by Austin Hill, Friesen and Matt Crafton to complete the top-five for Toyota.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA WEST

Love plans to add another win… Toyota development driver Jesse Love continues to be impressive in his quest for a second-straight ARCA West title for Bill McAnally Racing. The 16-year-old holds a 19-point advantage in the standings with three races remaining. Last season at the Bullring, Love started on the pole and finished third to Toyota teammate Gracie Trotter, who scored a historic victory.

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.

John Hunter Nemechek – No. 4 Berry’s Manufacturing Tundra Camping World Trucks Las Vegas Preview

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John Hunter Nemechek: Driver, No. 4 Berry’s Manufacturing Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200, Race 19 of 22 (Race 1 in the Round of 8), 134 Laps –30/30/74; 201 Miles
Location: Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway at (1.5-mile tri-oval)
Date/Broadcast: Sept. 24, 2021, at 9 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

Neme’chek’ The Facts:

  • John Hunter Nemechek and the No. 4 Berry’s Manufacturing team head to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the opening race in the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoffs 44 points above the cutoff line for advancing to the Championship 4 at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway. Nemechek accumulated 49 playoff points in the regular season and added an additional playoff point during the Round of 10 with his stage win at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.
  • Nemechek was able to hold off KBM team owner Kyle Busch over the final seven laps earlier this season at Las Vegas to score his first victory of 2021. He led a race-high 94 laps of the 134-lap event. Overall, in seven Truck Series starts at the Nevada track, the 24-year-old driver has one win, two top-five and three top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 14.9. In the Xfinity Series, he has finished inside the top 10 in both of his starts, including a second-place finish in March of 2019. In Cup Series action, he has an average finish of 22.0 in his two starts at the 1.5-mile venue.
  • 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 (10), he leads the Truck Series in top fives (11), top 10s (14), fastest laps run (270), driver rating (115.5), average running position (5.954) and average finish (7.3). Nemechek registered his fifth Truck Series win of 2021 June 26 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. The talented wheelman was able to beat KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch head-to-head for the third time this season. Nemechek also bested his boss at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway in March and at Richmond (Va.) Raceway in April. Busch finished second to his pupil in all three of those events. Additionally, Nemechek has produced victories at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway and 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. He qualified for the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs in 2019 and finished the final standings in the seventh position.
  • 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. Under his guidance, the No. 18 team won eight races in its inaugural campaign and became the first team in Truck Series history to capture an owner’s championship in its first season of competition. In 2014, the Illinois native led the No. 51 team to an owner’s championship and his team’s 10 wins spearheaded KBM to a single-season Truck Series record of 14 wins. 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 Las Vegas, Phillip’s drivers have collected two wins, two top-five and seven top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 11.4 across 10 starts. He won with Nemechek earlier this year and with Erik Jones in the fall of 2014.
  • Long-time sponsor Berry’s Manufacturing will adorn the hood of Nemechek’s No. 4 Tundra at Las Vegas Friday. When you choose Berry’s Manufacturing, you are selecting a family-based business centered on exceptional quality, friendly customer service, and a product base that is proudly Made in the USA. Visit them online at www.berrysmfg.com.

John Hunter Nemechek, Driver Q&A:

Does winning at Las Vegas earlier this year make you optimistic that you can do it again this weekend?
“For sure, playoff race, first race of the Round of 8, so we’re looking forward to going back to Las Vegas. We won there in the spring and had a really fast Toyota Tundra. Hopefully, we’ll have the same this weekend. There are a lot of great trucks. A lot of guys have stepped up their game and brought some really fast trucks to the race track the past couple weeks. Hopefully, we have our Toyota Tundra dialed in and we can get to victory lane and lock ourselves into that final four for Phoenix at the end of the year.”

Do the track conditions at Las Vegas stay consistent from the spring race to the fall race?
I really don’t think that Vegas stays that consistent. Yes, the weather is consistent, but at the same time I feel like it’s the end of summer, you do get hotter temps this time of year, the sun has been baking on the race track all summer long, compared to it being winter – even though it doesn’t get super cold out there. I definitely think that the conditions are going to be a little bit different. I feel like the fall race is a little bit different than the spring race. Hopefully, we went back to the right notebook and took some notes and made the right adjustments to our setup for Friday night.

How will you approach the Round of 8?
“This round for us if we can go win Vegas and lock ourselves in, that would be amazing. Then, you don’t have to worry about the wildcard of Talladega and the cutoff race at Martinsville. All in all, if we can’t win Vegas, then we definitely want to point our way in and get a great starting position for Talladega and Martinsville. I feel with the playoff points that we have currently, we are in a pretty good position. We just have to go out there an execute and maximize stage points all day to maximize our end result.”

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 120 career starts in NASCAR’s third division, has compiled two poles, 1,135 laps led, 39 top-five and 64 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.3.
  • 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 53 career XFINITY Series starts, has totaled one win (Kansas Speedway, 10/20/18), one pole, 225 laps led, 13 top-five and 31 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 11.8.

John Hunter Nemechek’s No. 4 Mobil 1 Tundra:
KBM-56: The No. 4 Berry’s Manufacturing team will unload KBM-56 for Friday’s race at Las Vegas. Nemechek piloted this Tundra to his fifth victory of the season earlier this year at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., in its lone start this season.
KBM-56 Performance Profile

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected five wins, four poles, 14 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes across 39 starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. They have earned a collective average starting position of 8.3, an average finish of 11.8 and have led 655 laps.
  • Nemecheck collected a victory earlier this season at Las Vegas, while owner-driver Kyle Busch won in the spring of 2018, 2019 and 2020 and Erik Jones was victorious in the fall of 2014.
  • 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.

Howie DiSavino III to race in late Mother’s memory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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LAS VEGAS, Nev.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) rookie Howie DiSavino III heads to Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway for Friday night’s Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 presented by Westgate Resorts competing with a heavy heart.

Following his most recent Truck Series start at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway last Thursday night, DiSavino’s mother Dawn lost her five-year battle with cancer on Sat., August 18.

Determined to keep his emotions in check, the Chesterfield, Va. native has decided to fulfill his obligations to Jordan Anderson Racing (JAR) and his marketing partners and race, but he is also poised to honor his mother’s last words to her only son, “Pass them all” in his Las Vegas debut.

“The last few days have been the most difficult of my life,” said DiSavino. “My mom was one of my biggest fans and it is going to be incredibly hard to get into that truck on Friday night knowing that I won’t be able to send her a text message or follow-up with a phone call or even a hug, but I know she would want me to continue my dreams.

“I’m going to do my best to “pass them all” just like she told me too shortly before she died. The outpouring of support and condolences has been overwhelming, but I am incredibly grateful to each individual who has thought of me and my family during this difficult time.

“I know my Mom is watching me from heaven and I hope I continue to make her proud not only this weekend at Las Vegas but whatever my racing career brings in the future. I love you, Mom.”

DiSavino, 20, will make his fifth Truck Series start of the season on Friday night and hopes to rebound from a disappointing 28th place finish at Bristol.

“We were really fast, but Bristol was tough,” added DiSavino. “We got collected in a few incidents, but it was ultimately a mechanical issue that put us out of the race.

“The guys on the Jordan Anderson Racing team have been working hard on our Las Vegas truck over the last few weeks and I hope we’re able to go to Las Vegas and not only pass them all, but recover for a career-best finish in the Truck Series.”
Longtime DiSavino partner Bud’s Heating & Air Conditioning will serve as the primary marketing partner on the No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado, while KEES Vacations will hold an associate partnership role in the triple-header weekend with the three national series of NASCAR all in competition in Sin City.

“I cannot thank my primary partners Bud’s Heating & Air Conditioning and KEES Vacations enough for this opportunity and sticking with me through a most challenging week. There are no words to describe what their support means to me, especially when you go through something like this. I hope I make them and all of our partners proud on Friday night.”

In addition to KEES Vacations and Bud’s Heating & Air Conditioning, Azalea D Realty, Bommarito Automotive Group, Lucas Oil, MassMutual Greater Richmond, and Q Barbeque Richmond will serve as associate marketing partners on DiSavino’s No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado.

Keeping his mother’s spirit close to him, DiSavino’s passenger door will adorn a special name rail decal.

In addition to Bristol, DiSavino made his NCWTS debut in April at Richmond (Va.) Raceway and competed at both Texas Motor Speedway and Pocono (Pa.) Raceway in June. He is also a six-time participant in the ARCA Menards Series where he earned two top-10 finishes for AM Racing.

Former winning NASCAR driver Reed Sorenson will continue to guide DiSavino from above this weekend as his spotter.

For more on Howie DiSavino III, please visit howiedisavino.com, like him on Facebook (Howie DiSavino III Racing), follow him on Twitter (@hdisavino) and Instagram (HowieDiSavino).

The Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 presented by Westgate Resorts (134 laps | 201 miles) is the 19th of 22 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races on the 2021 schedule. The 40-truck field will take the green flag on Fri., Sept. 24, 2021, shortly after 6:00 p.m. PT (9:00 p.m. ET) with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (PT).
About Bud’s Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electric:

Bud’s Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electric is the recognized leader in residential and light commercial mechanical contractors in the Hampton Roads market. From simple, honest beginnings in 1969, Bud’s quickly rose to prominence, establishing a legendary reputation for quality, service and professionalism while always maintaining the same home-town personalized connections with clients throughout its 51-year history.

In 2000, Bud’s expanded under the current leadership of CEO Robert W. Nelson Jr. adding plumbing and electrical departments and introducing a science-based whole home approach that has now become the industry benchmark, while national influencing the market through innovative business and customer relations practices.

About KEES Vacations:

Your Vacation, Your Way with KEES FLEXSTAY™.

KEES Vacations on the Outer Banks, a division of KEES Travel™, is your source for quality vacation rentals from hotels to oceanfront homes. KEES FlexStay™ gives you the freedom to plan your ideal vacation with flexible check-in and check-out dates. We believe everyone deserves a vacation no matter the length and strive to provide the best experience possible.

Enter promo code HOWIE2021 at checkout and receive a discount at KEESVacations.com and KEESOuterBanks.com.

FedEx Racing Express Facts – Las Vegas Motor Speedway

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Denny Hamlin
11 FedEx Office Toyota
Joe Gibbs Racing

Sunday Race Info:
Race: South Point 400
Date/Time: Sunday, Sept. 26/7:00 p.m. ET
Distance: 267 laps/400.5 miles
Track Length: 1.5 miles
Track Shape: Tri-Oval
Banking: 20 degrees

Express Notes:

Bristol Recap: Denny Hamlin had a third Bristol Motor Speedway win in his sights Saturday night. He’d already led 65 laps and was working on retaking the lead from Kyle Larson, but contact between the two cars cut a tire on the FedEx Freight Toyota and sent Hamlin sliding into the wall, ending his drive toward Victory Lane. The incident came with 101 laps to go in the 500-lap race, when Hamlin dove underneath Larson to go for the lead, and the two cars made side-by-side contact. The #11 team quickly made repairs under the ensuing caution and kept their car on the lead lap. But there weren’t enough laps remaining for Hamlin to get back to the front to challenge Larson. The FedEx Racing team did reclaim 13 spots, pushing the FedEx Camry from 22nd to ninth before the checkered flag flew as Larson crossed the line for the win.

Las Vegas Preview: The Round of 12 of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs takes the green flag at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday evening, taking the FedEx Racing team back to an intermediate track, where they’ve made significant gains in recent months. Hamlin is still looking for his first career win at the mile-and-a-half oval, where he has four top-five and nine top-10 finishes, including a fourth-place finish in March.

Hamlin Statistics:

Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Races: 19

Wins: 0

Poles: 0

Top-5: 4

Top-10: 9

Laps Led: 186

Avg. Start: 15.2

Avg. Finish: 12.9

Hamlin Conversation – Las Vegas:

Do you see Vegas as the most important race in the next round?

“That is the track where you can control your own destiny the most, so that is the one you have to put the most emphasis on. If you do a good job as a driver and your car is fast and the team does their job, that is where you can get your best result. The other two tracks you are more likely to be caught up in someone else’s issues. I’m sure that race will be the most nervous the entire 12-car playoff field is going to be, hoping that they perform well, because there are just no givens after that.”

What has the team done to try to end your winless streak at Vegas?

“The second round, for many years, terrified me because Las Vegas was by far my worst mile-and-a-half racetrack. So, we found a set-up that really works for me there, and we’ve been really good. We’ve had good internal meetings about what I need to do to be the best car. I’ve been the second- or third-best car on the mile-and-a-halfs this year – (Kyle) Larson obviously being the stand-out best. As a team, we’ve got a plan, and I’ve got a plan, to take the next step to be a dominant car every week.”

FedEx Office Along for the Ride at Las Vegas: FedEx Office recognizes FedEx Office District 122 – NYC East for being the top district in its Elite Club standings through June 2021. “D122” will be along for the ride with Denny Hamlin for the Las Vegas race, appearing on the B-post of the FedEx Office Toyota.

FedEx Office – Closest to Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 228 S Nellis Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702) 431-5076

Gilliland and Speedco Look to Play Spoilers in Las Vegas

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MOORESVILLE, N.C. (September 22, 2021) – Todd Gilliland and his No. 38 Speedco Ford F-150 team want to play the spoiler role as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competes at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway this Friday night.

Gilliland, who is no longer in the championship hunt, looks to continue competing for wins and top-five finishes through the remainder of the 2021 season as he knows that his No. 38 Speedco team will be a factor in all four of the remaining NASCAR Truck Series races.

“I think we’ll be a threat at Las Vegas and the rest of the season,” said Gilliland. “We’re still racing for an owners championship and getting as high in the points as possible. We’re still going to be competitive and plan on racing with the guys that are still in the championship hunt. Our Speedco team has had a great season, but it’s not over it. We still have work to do.”

Gilliland heads into the Las Vegas Motor Speedway with six previous starts. He has three Top-10 finishes with a best result of fifth.

Friday night’s NASCAR Truck Series race will be televised live on FS1 at 9:00 p.m. ET.

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.

Thwaits Returns to the Scene of 2020 Trans Am Triumph in Fine Shape

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Alton, VIRGINIA – September 22, 2021 – Ken Thwaits makes the journey east from his Tennessee base to Virginia International Raceway this week with more action in the 2021 Trans Am presented by Pirelli Championship season. Ken currently sits in P5 after surviving the two incident packed all-class races at Watkins Glen to finish just off the podium in both events, in P4 and P5.

Our venue for the weekend’s action, Virginia International Raceway, has excellent recent memories for Ken Thwaits. Racing in the XtremeGT Class in 2020, the No. 5 Franklin Road Apparel Audi R8 LMS Ultra piloted by Ken set a new track record in class of 1:52:858 in Saturday’s race last year. This year the car bearing the No. 5 Franklin Road Apparel livery is a Chevrolet Camaro for all but the first race of the season, when he ran in the Pancho Weaver prepared Dodge Challenger.

In the Camaro, Ken has put together a terrific series of results, garnering him 171 Championship points, 33 ahead of sixth place and former TA Champion Simon Gregg. Ken is just one point behind Amy Ruman in P4, while Chris Dyson looks set for his first Trans Am Championship.

“I like the track in Virginia, it’s really fast,” stated Ken Thwaits. “The team keeps improving each race weekend with our prep and setup on the car. It’s hard to believe we only have two races left in the season! I’m just getting going!”

12 cars are in the Trans Am race at VIR, billed as the VIR SpeedTour and some of the best vintage and historic sports racing, Formula and Production GT race cars will grace the road course over the weekend. The grids are going to be featuring many of the best-known, and prestigious marques in racing, including: Lotus, Porsche, Shelby, Alfa, Corvette, MG and Jaguar. A fine pairing for the Trans Am features.

Ken has put tremendous effort and resources into spending as much time behind the wheel of the TA Class Camaro this year. He will get his first look at the track at 11:30 a.m. on Friday for testing with another session at 5:00 p.m. Official practice is at 11:40 a.m. on Saturday morning with qualifying at 5:30 p.m. the same day. The race goes green at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday morning.

Reserved Camping and tickets for the event are available through this link:

Download the new Trans Am Racing App and watch the race events live from the Google PlayStore or Apple from your smartphone or mobile device.

Learn more about the Showtime Motorsports team partner, Franklin Road Apparel, at franklinroad.com and showtimemotorsports.net. Keep up to date with the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli at gotransam.com. Check out the Showtime Motorsports Facebook page: facebook.com/showtimemotorsp/ and @ShowtimeMotorsp on Instagram.

About Showtime Motorsports:

The Showtime Motorsports brand includes Ken Thwait’s racing team and racecars, and an outstanding classic Camaro collection. Showtime Motorsports brings together a dynamic staff who employ diverse talents and share a passion for cars, racing and caring for clients like they are our own family members.

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