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75 years of NASCAR next year – what are the all-time great races?

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SM
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NASCAR has long been a favorite sport in the USA and for fans of high-speed racing worldwide. The intense action which unfolds on track, plus the off-track rivalries, always makes for superb entertainment. 2021’s NASCAR Cup Series is a great example of this and has served up some fabulous action during the regular season. With series playoff action set to commence soon and the season finale in early November 2021, it will be interesting to see if Kyle Larson can hold off people like Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex Jr. when racing starts again. 

For those NASCAR fans who want to get a head-start on series playoff racing, it can be fun to see who is being tipped to emerge triumphant in 2021. Checking out sports betting analysis sites is a good way to do this, as they show the odds given by sportsbooks for each driver to win. Of course, if you like to get more from NASCAR by actually placing bets, then looking at sites like this can also provide tips on which driver to back.

Although the 2021 season is heating up nicely, keen followers of this sport will know it has a long history to look back on. Actually, NASCAR is due to celebrate its 75th anniversary next year! The fact it has stuck around for so long shows just what an amazing sport this is and what a loyal fanbase it has. Of course, over these 75 years, there have been some iconic races that stick in the memory. 

But which are some of the very best?

Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 – 2015 

The simple truth is that you don’t have to go too far back in NASCAR history for some of the best racing ever. For many, the 2015 playoff race in Martinsville is the only choice when it comes to the most dramatic action ever produced. To begin with, Matt Kenseth decided to exact revenge on Joey Logano for spinning him out in Kansas by driving him into the wall! 

The resulting crash is one of the best-known scenes in NASCAR. This crash resulted in Kenseth being banned for two races, but also ended Logano’s championship hopes. As a result, Jeff Gordon and Jamie McMurray were left battling it out on the front row. After a restart with two laps left, Gordon got clear to claim a stunning victory and make it to the championship four. Jeff Gordon’s win in 2015 was his last one and this proved a fitting farewell to fans.

Cracker Barrel 500 – 2001 

Heading a little further back in time, many would agree that the 2001 Cracker Barrel 500 was a memorable event. It was also a highly emotional one for many involved with NASCAR. Only three weeks previously, racing legend Dale Earnhardt had sadly died in a high-speed Daytona 500 crash. This resulted in Kevin Harvick stepping in to take his spot when the action arrived in Georgia. 

Jeff Gordon started well and looked certain to win a second NASCAR race on the spin. Harvick came back at him though and eventually raced into the lead. In the final lap, Gordon made a late dash to take it, but Harvick won by just 0.06 of a second. After winning, he drove around the track backward with three fingers aloft in a tear-jerking tribute to Earnhardt.

Talladega 500 – 1984

For a lot of NASCAR followers, this 1984 cracker in Talladega is hard to beat. But what makes it so special still today? For starters, you had an insane line-up of some of the best drivers ever to jump behind the wheel. For example, the top seven spots included Dale Earnhardt, Buddy Baker, Bobby Allison, Harry Gant, Terry Labonte, Darrell Waltrip, and Cale Yarborough.

The star names on offer did not disappoint and the high-octane action saw the lead change a massive 68 times across 16 different drivers. Eventually, Earnhardt took the victory to extend his Winston Cup lead at the time. This did not last though because he finished in fourth behind Labonte, Gant, and Bill Elliott in the standings eventually.

Top racing in 75 years of NASCAR history

The above are certainly some of the best NASCAR races ever and show what makes this sport so magical. It is not only the high-speed driving or cool cars but also the drama, emotion, and characters it contains. With Kyle Larson crowned 2021’s regular season champion after some excellent racing and a 75-year celebration on the horizon, there is no doubt that the future of the sport is in good hands.

NASCAR Taking 2022 Clash to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

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Official Release
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 14, 2021) – The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, one of the most storied venues in all of sports and entertainment, will add a new event to its long and decorated list: The Clash at the Coliseum.

This season-opening exhibition will take place on Feb. 6, 2022 and become the first NASCAR race held inside the iconic Los Angeles stadium since it opened in 1923.  The Clash at the Coliseum will be a signature event as a part of the venue’s centennial celebration and mark the first time NASCAR’s prelude to the DAYTONA 500 will take place somewhere other than Daytona International Speedway, an icon in its own right that will host the regular-season opener two weeks later.

“Los Angeles is synonymous with major sports and entertainment events, so we seized an innovative opportunity to showcase NASCAR at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR senior vice president of strategy and innovation. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to take center stage in this market as we get our 2022 season underway.”

The traditional Coliseum playing surface will be converted into a quarter-mile, asphalt short track creating a brand-new action-packed event to kick off the season. Drivers will compete for the first time in the new Next Gen cars.

The Clash at the Coliseum will be the first of two visits to Southern California, as NASCAR’s premier series will also visit Auto Club Speedway in 2022.

Tickets for the Feb. 6 NASCAR Clash at the Coliseum will go on-sale beginning Thursday, Sept. 16th at 1 p.m. ET.  Tickets start at $65 for adults and kids 12 & under starting as low as $10.  The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum offers a variety of seating options from lower to upper bowl, midfield start/finish line seats to premium club seats with access to the exclusive Lou Galen Club Lounge.  Premium Club seats will go on-sale starting Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. ET following a special pre-sale to current Club Members.  Tickets can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com. For more information visit nascar.com/lacoliseum.

The remainder of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series schedule, as well as schedules for the NASCAR Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series, will be announced later.

Tune in this Saturday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. ET as the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs continue at Bristol Motor Speedway, an elimination race that will determine who moves on to the Round of 12. All the action from Bristol will be live on NBCSN, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR consists of three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), three regional series, one local grassroots series, three international series and the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, Americrown Service and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

About The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a living memorial to all who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War I, has been a civic treasure for generations of Angelenos.  The legacy of events and individuals hosted in nine-plus-decades reads like no other:  the only venue to host two Summer Olympics (Xth Olympiad in 1932, XXIIIrd Olympiad in 1984) and soon a third (XXXIVth Olympiad in 2028); home to college football’s USC Trojans since 1923 and the UCLA Bruins (1928-1981);  professional football’s Los Angeles Rams (1946-1979 and 2016-2019), Raiders (1982-1994) and Chargers (1960); hosting three NFL Championships and two Super Bowls; home to the Los Angeles Dodgers (1958-1960) and the 1959 World Series; appearances by U.S. Presidents Franklin D Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan; and international dignitaries such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez, Pope John Paul II, the Dalai Lama, and Nelson Mandela.  

On March 29, 2008, the LA Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox set a Guinness World Record for the largest attendance ever at a baseball game with a crowd of 115,300. Other historic events include Billy Graham’s appearance in 1963 in front of 134,254 guests (still an all-time Coliseum record), Nelson Mandela’s 1990 triumphant return to the United States, the first ever Papal Mass by Pope John Paul II in 1987, and the 1976 Bicentennial Spectacular.

Gilliland Ready for Thursday Night Lights with Speedco and Luber-finer at Bristol Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, N.C. (September 14, 2021) – Going into Thursday night’s third NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoff race, Todd Gilliland and his No. 38 Speedco / Luber-finer Ford F-150 team will be on the offense. The team currently has an 11 point cushion heading into the Bristol Motor Speedway where the top-eight drivers in points will advance to race for the championship after the race.

Gilliland knows that things happen fast at Bristol and being aggressive when the time is right will help the team advance.

“You have to be smart, but you can’t think about not racing for the win either,” said Gilliland. “I think you want to be on the offense all night and be aggressive when you need to be and try and win. Winning is the cure for everything. So, that’s what we want to do.”

With a NASCAR Truck Series win at the Martinsville Speedway in 2018, it’s safe to say that Todd Gilliland is a nature on the short tracks. He has a track-best finish of 5th at the Bristol Motor Speedway and looks to improve on it this Thursday in his No. 38 Speedco / Luber-finer Ford F-150.

“Yeah, I’ve had some good fortune at Bristol,” continued Gilliland. “Even earlier this year we had a good run on the dirt with our Speedco Ford F-150. It’s a short track, which is something that I really like and have found success at in the past, so that will definitely help us, too.”

Thursday night’s NASCAR Truck Series race will be televised live on FS1 at 9:00 p.m. ET as Todd Gilliland and his No. 38 Speedco / Luber-finer Ford F-150 will take the green flag from the 4th position.

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 LUBER-FINER
Luber-finer® provides premium filtration solutions for all fleets operating vehicles on-highway, as well as all off-road applications such as heavy construction, mining, agriculture, oil and gas industry and marine. Luber-finer filtration products are part of FirstBrands Group, which includes Raybestos® complete brake solutions, Centric® Parts replacement brake components, FRAM® filtration products, TRICO®wiper blades, Carter® fuel and water pumps, ANCO® wiper blades, StrongArm® lift supports, and Autolite® spark plugs. Luber-finer® has been a trusted name in filters since 1936, providing high efficiency performance in the most demanding work environments. For more information visit www.luber-finer.com or call (800) 851-3641.

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.

Max Gutiérrez and Rette Jones Racing ready for ARCA East finale at Bristol

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Official Release
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BRISTOL, Tenn.: With the checkered flag set to fly in the 2021 ARCA Menards Series East (AMSE) finale at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway for rookie Max Gutiérrez and Rette Jones Racing, the pair is hoping to end their season the same way they started.

A trip to Victory Lane.

Gutiérrez stole the victory in a photo finish at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway in the season-opener in February and has since enjoyed a solid season driving the No. 30 TOUGHBUILT Ford Fusion.

However, with the eighth and last race of the season on deck, Gutiérrez is hopeful to put an exclamation point on his freshman season with his second career ARCA Menards Series East victory.

“It’s hard to believe that the 2021 ARCA Menards Series East season will be over with on Thursday night,” said Gutiérrez. “I have had a blast this year learning new tracks, racing at the front of the field and winning, but we still have one more job to do on Thursday night.”

Luckily for Gutiérrez, 18, he isn’t approaching the season finale completely blinded, especially at a race track as demanding at Bristol.

Last fall, Gutiérrez was able to experience the madness of “Thunder Valley” with his first career ARCA Menards Series East start at the historic half-mile colosseum.

“I’m very thankful that I have nearly 200 laps under my belt at Bristol,” added Gutiérrez. “We don’t have to spend practice getting myself up to speed and instead we can just focus on dialing in our race car and putting some fast laps together that will help for qualifying and the race.

“I know that track position is crucial, so hopefully we can whip off a fast lap in qualifying and then keep making gains during the race.”

Gutiérrez is also hopeful for a strong showing that will help him in the East point standings.

Entering Bristol, he sits fifth in the championship standings, just seven points out of third and a mere 16 markers from the runner-up spot.

With the Bush’s Beans 200 considered a combination event with the premier ARCA Menards Series, Gutiérrez realizes the competition will be tough, but he is prepared for the battle that awaits.

“Every spot is going to be critical,” he said. “I have a feeling that Thursday night is going to be a lot like Dover earlier this year, but it paid off for us because we ended up with a top-five. I expect a lot more cars than we had at Dover though.

“We can’t worry about this or that, we just have to stay focused and hope at the end of the night, we have a lot of reasons to celebrate.”

In addition to TOUGHBUILT. TekNekk and Jimmy Morales Escuderia TELMEX | TELCEL, Distributed Ledger Inc. (DLI), GoGig, Ford Performance, Goodridge Fluid Transfer Systems, Jones Group Demolition and Abatement and JRi Shocks join the Mooresville, N.C.-based team as partners this weekend.

No matter the outcome Thursday night, Rette is happy with the efforts of his driver and team.

“We are going to Bristol this week with the same mentality that we’ve had all season long,” Rette sounded. “We’re here to win. But if for whatever reason we can’t, we will do what we can to bring home the best finish possible for all of our partners and everyone who supports Rette Jones Racing.

“Max’s experience should be helpful for us and we’ve been in a position to win this race before and I’m hopeful that we can find ourselves in an opportunity to finish what we started from a couple of years ago. It’s going to be a stacked field, but we’re ready to end the ARCA East season on a high note.”

In nine career ARCA Menards Series East starts, Gutiérrez has one win, two top-five and five top-10 finishes and hoists a series’ average finish of 9.4 over two years.

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

The Bush’s Beans 200 (200 laps | 100 miles) is the eighth of eight races on the 2021 ARCA Menards Series East schedule. Practice begins Thurs., Sept. 16 with a one-hour practice session from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. A timed General Tire pole qualifying session is set for a short time later at 4:00 p.m. The race is set to take the green flag shortly after 6:30 p.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio (XM channel 391, online channel 981). ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the day’s festivities. All times are local (ET).

The Bush’s Beans 200 (200 laps | 100 miles) is the 18th of 20 races on the 2021 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Thurs., Sept. 16 with a one-hour practice session from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. A timed General Tire pole qualifying session is set for a short time later at 4:00 p.m. The race is set to take the green flag shortly after 6:30 p.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio (XM channel 391, online channel 981). ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the day’s festivities. All times are local (ET).

For more on Max Gutiérrez, please visit maxgutierrez.com, like him on Facebook (Max Gutierrez Racing) or follow him on Instagram (@maxgutierrezmx).

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

About TOUGHBUILT Industries Inc.:

TOUGHBUILT is an advanced product design, manufacturer and distributor with emphasis on innovative products. Currently focused on tools and other accessories for the professional and do-it-yourself construction industries.

We market and distribute various home improvement and construction product lines for both the do-it-yourself and professional markets under the TOUGHBUILT brand name, within the global multibillion-dollar per year tool market industry. All of our products are designed by our in-house design team.

Since launching product sales in 2013, we have experienced significant annual sales growth.

Our current product line includes three major categories, with several additional categories in various stages of development, consisting of Soft Goods & Kneepads and Sawhorses & Work Products.

Our mission is to provide products to the building and home improvement communities that are innovative, of superior quality, derived in part from enlightened creativity for our end users while enhancing performance, improving well-being and building high brand loyalty.

Additional information about the company is available at: toughbuilt.com.

About Rette Jones Racing:

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

Owned by racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, RJR plan to field a full-time entry in 2021 in the ARCA Menards Series East, while also hopeful to field vehicles in the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS).

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

GMS Racing NCWTS Bristol Motor Speedway II Preview

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Official Release
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Sheldon Creed, No. 2 LiftKits4Less Chevrolet Silverado
Bristol Motor Speedway Stats

  • NCWTS Starts: 2, Top 10s: 1, Best start: 8th, Best finish: 6th
  • NKNPSE Starts: 1, Best start: 2nd, Best finish: 11th

2021 NCWTS Season Stats

  • Starts: 17, Wins: 3 (Darlington I, II, & Gateway), Top 5s: 8, Top 10s: 9, Poles: 1 (Darlington II), Stage wins: 4, Laps led: 407
  • Sponsor spotlight: LiftKits4Less returns this week to feature on Sheldon Creed’s No. 2 Silverado. LiftKits4Less will sponsor Creed for the remainder of the season all the way through the season finale in Phoenix.
  • Chassis history/info: Creed and the No. 2 team will utilize chassis no. 310 at Bristol Motor Speedway. This chassis has not competed at all this season, but was used last year at Bristol where it finished 11th. Most recently, the chassis earned a 3rd place finish at Martinsville in November, its best finish to date.
  • Back2Back: Sheldon Creed and the No. 2 GMS Racing team have opened the NCWTS Playoffs in a big way by dominating and winning the first two races of the Round of 10 at Gateway and Darlington. Heading into Bristol, Creed has taken over the points lead, and is securely locked into the next round. It’s safe to say that driver No. 2 is off to a great start of potentially competing for championship number two.
  • Quote: “My No. 2 team has been absolutely killing it since we started the Playoffs. I’m ready to head to Bristol with another good starting position. Hopefully, we can end this round on another high note and keep building our momentum heading into the Round of 8.”

Zane Smith, No. 21 Karl Chevrolet Chevrolet Silverado
Bristol Motor Speedway Stats

  • NXS Starts: 1, Best start: 16th, Best finish: 11th (2019)
  • NCWTS Starts: 1, Best start: 6th, Best finish: 16th (2020)
  • NKNPSE Starts: 1, Top 10s: 1, Best start: 16th, Best finish: 9th (2017)

2021 NCWTS Season Stats

  • Starts: 17, Top 5s: 1, Top 10s: 11, Stage wins: 3, Best start: 2nd, Best finish: 4th (Nashville), Laps led: 66
  • Sponsor spotlight: Karl Chevrolet joins GMS Racing for the first time this season to feature on Zane Smith’s No. 21 Silverado. The premier Chevrolet dealership based in Ankeny, Iowa has sponsored numerous NCWTS and ARCA drivers in years past, and last partnered with GMS Racing in 2017.
  • Chassis history/info: Smith and the No. 21 team will utilize chassis no. 330 on Thursday night. This chassis debuted in 2020 and has competed eight times with four Top 10 finishes to its credit. Smith raced this Silverado to a victory at Dover International Speedway last season, the second win of his career.
  • 21in21: Zane Smith enters Bristol with one main goal: advance to the next round of the Playoffs. A parts failure in Gateway severed Smith’s points cushion to the cutline, and for the second week in a row, the sophomore is on the outside looking in. Only five points separate Smith from a chance to continue his bid for the 2021 NCWTS championship, and the No. 21 crew is ready to put up a fight to prove they belong.
  • Quote: “I’m ready to return to racing at a high banked concrete track like Bristol. These tracks are my favorite type, and the closest thing I have to Dover so I’ve had it circled all year. I hope to have a mistake free night and lock ourselves into the Round of 8. Hopefully, we can get Karl Chevrolet into victory lane by the time it’s all said and done. I know we will have the speed to do so.”

Chase Purdy, No. 23 Bama Buggies Chevrolet Silverado
Bristol Motor Speedway Stats

  • NKNPSE Starts: 1, Best start: 22nd, Best finish: 12th (2017)

2021 NCWTS Season Stats

  • Starts: 16, Top 10s: 1, Best start: 4th, Best finish: 6th (Gateway), Laps led: 4
  • Sponsor spotlight: Bama Buggies returns this week to feature on Chase Purdy’s No. 23 Silverado.
  • Chassis history/info: Purdy and the No. 23 team will utilize chassis no. 306 under the lights at Bristol. Chassis 306 has over twenty races under its belt and has gone to victory lane twice – once with Johnny Sauter at Texas in 2018 and once with Brett Moffitt at Kansas in 2020. Chase has raced with this chassis three times this season, most recently at Pocono Raceway, where it finished 15th. - New Truck, Same Track: Thursday night will mark Purdy’s first start on Bristol’s asphalt configuration in Camping World Truck Series competition, but don’t let that fool you. This short track racer has raced at Bristol in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East cars along with Super Late Models. In addition, Purdy competed on the dirt configuration at Bristol earlier this season. - Quote: “I’m excited to get back to racing at Bristol once again. Fortunately I’ve raced here twice before – once in a K&N car and once in a CARS Tour Super Late Model. I’m looking forward to coming back to high banks with my No. 23 Silverado on the concrete this time.”

Doug Coby, No. 24 Mayhew Tools Chevrolet Silverado
Bristol Motor Speedway Stats

  • NWMT Starts: 8, Top 5s: 4, Top 10s: 4, Best start: 5th, Best finish: 2nd (2017)

2021 NCWTS Season Stats

  • Doug Coby will make his NCWTS debut at Bristol Motor Speedway
  • Sponsor spotlight: Mayhew Tools, a longtime sponsor of Doug Coby in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour competition, will join forces with Coby for his NCWTS debut at Bristol. Mayhew Tools is the oldest punch and chisel manufacturer in the United States, growing their extensive professional grade, American made product line to include pry bars, pneumatics, cable ties, and more.
  • Chassis history/info: Coby and his No. 24 team will utilize chassis no. 301 in Thunder Valley. This chassis has been in the GMS Racing stable since 2017 and has won twice with Johnny Sauter at Chicagoland in 2017 and Charlotte in 2018. Most recently, Jack Wood ran this Silverado at Nashville where he qualified second and finished 11th.
  • Not-So New Kid on the Block: Doug Coby will make his first ever NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start on Thursday night in Bristol. Colby, however, is not your average rookie. In fact, he has the most experience out of any of the GMS Racing drivers, with a career in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour spanning two full decades. In total, Colby has 31 wins, 105 Top 5 finishes, 157 Top 10 finishes, in 255 starts behind the wheel of a modified.
  • Quote: “Can’t wait to get out there with GMS Racing for my first Camping World Truck Series start. It’s been really exciting so far and hopefully we have a strong run for Mayhew Tools. It’s going to be challenging because Bristol always is, but I’m really looking forward to it!”

Tyler Ankrum, No. 26 LiUNA! Chevrolet Silverado
Bristol Motor Speedway Stats

  • NCWTS Starts: 2, Top 10s: 1, Best start: 5th, Best finish: 7th (2020)
  • NKNPSE Starts: 1, Top 5s: 1, Top 10s: 1, Best start: 4th, Best finish: 4th (2018)

2021 NCWTS Season Stats

  • Starts: 17, Top 5s: 3, Top 10s: 5, Poles: 1 (COTA), Best finish: 3rd (twice), Laps led: 12
  • Sponsor spotlight: LiUNA! returns this week to feature on Tyler Ankrum’s No. 26 Silverado.
  • Chassis history: Ankrum and his No. 26 crew will utilize chassis no. 311 at The World’s Fastest Half Mile. This chassis has been driven by Stewart Friesen and Tyler Ankrum since 2019, and has a best finish of 3rd place. Tyler last drove this Chevrolet at Nashville Superspeedway earlier this season.
  • Rebound Time: After a disappointing 18th place finish in the last truck race at Darlington Raceway, Tyler Ankrum is eyeing an opportunity to turn his momentum around at Bristol. Luckily for Ankrum, he’s got all the right tools on his side. Ankrum’s Crew Chief, Charles Denike, knows a thing or two about finding victory lane at the famed short track, as he led Sam Mayer and the No. 24 team to the win in 2020. With only five races left in the season, Ankrum’s time to shine is now.
  • Quote: “I’m excited to head back to Bristol this weekend with my No. 26 GMS Racing team. I love this track and am always happy to return to it as long as it’s paved. Hopefully we have a great Thursday evening and get to watch the Playoffs drivers shake it up before the end of this round.”

ABOUT GMS RACING: GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with drivers Sheldon Creed, Zane Smith, Tyler Ankrum, Chase Purdy and Jack Wood. The team also competes in the ARCA Menards Series with Daniel Dye. Since the team began in 2014, GMS Racing won the 2016 and 2020 Camping World Trucks Championship, the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA East championship and 2020 Sioux Chief Showdown Championship. GMS has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. The campus also includes operations for GMS Fabrication. More information can be found at https://gmsracing.net/.

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

John Hunter Nemechek – No. 4 Mobil 1 Tundra Camping World Trucks Bristol Preview

By
Official Release
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John Hunter Nemechek: Driver, No. 4 Mobil 1 Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: UNOH 200, Race 18 of 22 (Race 3 in the Round of 10), 200 Laps – 55/55/90; 106.6 Miles
Location: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway (0.533-mile oval)
Date/Broadcast: Sept. 16, 2021 at 9 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

Neme’chek’ The Facts:

  • John Hunter Nemechek and the No. 4 Mobil 1 team head into the final race in the Round of 10 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season at Bristol Motor Speedway having already locked themselves into the Round of 8. After a tough opening race of the playoffs, where he finished 22nd at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Nemechek bounced back with a runner-up finish in the second race of the round at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. Thanks in part to the 49 playoff points he accumulated during the regular season, the talented wheelman is 67 points ahead of the cutoff line and will have the sole mission of trying to add more playoff points and bring the trophy home Thursday night at Bristol.
  • Nemechek will be making his sixth career start at Bristol in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competition. He has finished inside the top 10 in five of those starts, including three third-place finishes (2015, 2017 and 2018). In 2018, he led a race-high 104 laps and had taken the lead from Johnny Sauter with 23 laps remaining but in the closing laps suffered fuel pickup issues and fell back to third. In the Xfinity Series, he has two top-five finishes across three starts, including a third-place finish in the fall race in 2019. He finished inside the top 20 in both of his Cup Series starts in 2020, with a best result of 13th coming in the May race.
  • 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 (10), top 10s (13), laps led (526), fastest laps run (265), driver rating (116.1), average running position (5.953) and average finish (7.6). 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.
  • The 24-year-old driver finished third in last week’s Xfinity Series race at Richmond Raceway, an organization-best finish for Sam Hunt Racing across its 36 career starts in NASCAR’s second division.
  • 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 Bristol, Phillips has 10 starts with one win coming in 2010 when Kyle Busch led a race-high 116 laps driving KBM’s No. 18 Tundra in the first leg of his historic weekend sweep. Phillips has also registered two Xfinity Series triumphs at The Last Great Colosseum, in 2017 with Busch and in 2018 with Ryan Preece.

John Hunter Nemechek, Driver Q&A:

Knowing that you are already locked into the Round of 8, how will you approach Thursday night’s race at Bristol?
“Points don’t matter at Bristol, the only thing that matters is trying to go win both stages and the race. We just want to win the race and get playoff points. With us already being locked in, our eyes are all set on Las Vegas for the following week for that next round. It’s all about wins, #Here4Wins.”

Is Bristol one of your favorite tracks?
“It is, Bristol is one of my favorite places to go to. I love that you can run the bottom and you can run the top. It’s a concrete surface and the track changes a lot – I have a lot of fun with it. Being able to run the top and the bottom at a race track is so much fun. It also takes you back to the short track roots – high banks, really fast race track. It races like a short track and when it is underneath the lights at The Last Great Colosseum, tempers will flare, and sparks will fly. I think that racing under the lights there is one of the greatest things as a fan to be able to watch.”

With so many guys around the cutoff line for advancing to the Round of 8, do you expect it to be an aggressive race Thursday night?
“I definitely think it will be a super aggressive race. You look at the cutoff line and there are five to eight guys within 18 to 20 points of each other. That can change a lot, if you have one bad race or if you get caught up in a wreck, that can change your whole playoff outcome. I’m glad that we are locked in, compared to being on the outside looking in. Overall, I think it is going to be super aggressive race, just like the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is every week.”

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 119 career starts in NASCAR’s third division, has compiled two poles, 1,135 laps led, 38 top-five and 63 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.4.
  • Qualified for the Camping World Truck Series playoffs in each of his two full-time seasons, finishing eighth in the championship standings in both 2016 and 2017.
  • Produced three top-10 finishes and an average result of 22.4 while competing for rookie of the year honors in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2020. He recorded a career-best eighth-place finish twice, both coming at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, earned the Sunoco Rookie of the Race award four times and finished 23rd in the championship standings.
  • Across 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-68: The No. 4 Mobil 1 team will unload KBM-68 for Thursday night’s race at Bristol. Nemechek piloted this Tundra to a 10th-place finish at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway in its only outing of 2021. Across four career starts, KBM-68’s best finish was a fourth-place result with Christian Eckes behind the wheel last November at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway.

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected three wins, five poles, 534 laps led, nine top-five and 14 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.7 across 28 starts at Bristol.
  • Owner-driver Kyle Busch has collected all three of his organization’s victories at the half-mile oval, winning the Camping World Truck Series race as a part of his historic Bristol Sweeps in 2010 and 2017 and he also won the 2013 event.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (88) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Track, Truex Jr. became the 16th 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.

Lawless Alan – UNOH 200 Race Advance

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Team: No. 45 AUTOParkIt.com Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Lawless Alan
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @lawlessalan25

Alan on Racing at Bristol: “I’m excited to be driving again for Niece Motorsports,” said Alan. “Our AUTOParkIt Chevrolet was strong at Darlington, and seeing the guys working long hours at the shop, I’m confident our truck will be fast for Bristol as well.

I’m in the learning process right now with both the truck itself and running new tracks every week. So knowing the equipment is good allows me to totally focus on learning the track and pushing myself further each and every lap. Bristol is another tough track and another new track for me, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and continuing to gain experience in the trucks.”

Alan at Bristol: Thursday night’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway will mark Alan’s seventh start of the season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and his first start at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Alan continues to garner experience in the Truck Series, with six races so far, all coming this season. The 21-year-old driver made starts at the Daytona Road Course, Circuit of the Americas, Nashville, Pocono, and Watkins Glen.

He also made his first start with Niece Motorsports earlier this month at Darlington Raceway, starting 31st and having a strong run, advancing to 12th, before being collected in an incident with approximately 30 laps to go.

On the Truck: Alan and the No. 45 Chevrolet will race with support from AUTOParkit™.

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

About AUTOParkit:
AUTOParkit™ is designed, manufactured, and constructed by Dasher Lawless Automation, LLC. These autonomous parking systems are for new and existing buildings and can potentially double the parking capacity compared to traditional ramped concrete parking structures. AUTOParkit’s sustainable approach to autonomous parking provides up to 17 LEED points; reduces construction time due to a modular/scalable architecture; provides automated swapping of EVs to reduce electric vehicle charging infrastructure by up to 10X; is 40% less expensive to operate since it is automated; is safer for the user, and delivers a necessary, convenient alternative to an escalating global problem.

For more information on AUTOParkit, visit www.autoparkit.com
For more information on Dasher Lawless Automation, visit www.dasherlawless.com

Carson Hocevar – UNOH 200 Race Advance

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Team: No. 42 Circle B Diecast Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Carson Hocevar
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @CarsonHocevar

Hocevar on Racing Bristol: “I love short track racing, Bristol always puts on a good show, and with this being an elimination race in the playoffs, I’m sure it will on Thursday night too,” said Hocevar. “Our CircleBDiecast.com Johnny Benson throwback truck looks incredible. Johnny has meant so much to me, and helping me get to where I am today, I hope we can make him proud this week at Bristol and lock ourselves into the next round of the playoffs.”

Hocevar at Bristol: Hocevar returns to Bristol Motor Speedway in the traditional configuration for the second time. In his first start at ‘The World’s Fastest Half Mile’, Hocevar finished 17th. Hocevar finished 21st earlier this season on the dirt at Bristol.

Johnny Benson Throwback: The No. 42 CircleBDiecast.com Chevrolet Silverado will carry a throwback scheme to fellow Michigan-native Johnny Benson.

“This scheme means a lot to me, because I remember watching races where Johnny ran this paint scheme,” said Hocevar. “Being a kid, Johnny was one to root for in the Truck Series, and now to know him and have him mentor me, it’s an honor to pay tribute to a scheme that I’ve always loved and grew up cheering for. I’m glad CircleBDiecast.com came on board to help us bring this to life. Having them make a diecast of this truck is the cherry on top for me.”

Benson, a fourteen-time winner in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, took this scheme to victory lane at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2007, leading 84 of 200 laps.

In the Points: Hocevar remains in seventh place in the driver point standings following the second race of the Truck Series playoffs at Darlington Raceway. Two drivers will be eliminated from the 10-driver playoff field following Thursday night’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

In addition, Hocevar maintains the lead in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings.

On the Truck: The No. 42 Chevrolet will race with support from CircleBDiecast.com this week at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Plan B Sales was founded in 2010 with the goal of bringing service to dealers that carry licensed motorsports products. Plan B Sales started as a Lionel diecast and Chase Authentics apparel distributor. Over the last few years Plan B Sales has grown to be the largest account for Lionel, servicing the motorsports market and has expanded its product offerings.

Plan B Sales has quickly become the choice of dealers for a one-stop stocking distributor. Its product offering also includes Auto World, Greenlight Collectibles, BrandArt and are the exclusive distributor for University of Racing product lines.

In September of 2020, Plan B Sales decided to split its wholesale and retail business into two different websites to better serve each segment of customers, effectively launching CircleBDiecast.com.

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

First 5 Mods | 2021 F150

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AmericanTrucks’ New Video Breaks Down the Best Starter Upgrades

PAOLI, Pa. (September 13th, 2021) – AmericanTrucks’ (AT) host, Justin Dugan heads up the latest episode of AT’s “The Haul” YouTube series. The new video shows 2021 F150 owners where to begin when modifying their rig. Justin’s top 5 list includes functional mods, appearance upgrades, and parts that combine a little bit of both. The video arms 2021 F150 owners with the confidence to get started with guidance from an industry expert.

In this episode of “The Haul” I’m giving you my top 5 modifications for that brand new F-150 at home — Justin Dugan

Beyond selling car parts, AT is committed to supporting truck owners on a quest to personalize their rigs. In addition to AT’s detailed tech guides and customer builds, videos like this provide 2021 F150 owners with the inspiration and know-how to sift through all the options and get modding. The parts highlighted in AT’s new episode include the Mammoth 2.50-Inch Front Leveling Kit, Proven Ground Low Profile Hard Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover, Weathertech Floor Liners, Magnaflow 3-Inch Street Series Single Exhaust System, and new wheels and tires. Justin talks about cost and options for each mod, providing before-and-after footage and sound bites where appropriate.

AT’s new episode of “The Haul” motivates 2021 Ford F150 owners to bite the bullet on their first upgrades. The video breaks down 5 starter mods along with the reasons for each choice. Customers can head to AT’s website to check out the product specs and customer reviews on all the aftermarket parts mentioned in the video. Viewers are also invited to subscribe to AT’s YouTube channel to stay on top of all upcoming 2021 F150 content.

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

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About AmericanTrucks

AmericanTrucks is regarded as one of the best, most reliable 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.

Karl Chevrolet to Partner with GMS Racing and Zane Smith at Bristol Motor Speedway

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Statesville, NC — GMS Racing is proud to announce a partnership with Karl Chevrolet, a premier Chevrolet dealer based in Ankeny, Iowa. The newfound partnership will culminate on Zane Smith’s No. 21 Silverado under the lights at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Karl Chevrolet is no stranger to the NASCAR world, as the dealership has sponsored a number of drivers over the years in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series competition. In fact, this won’t be the first time that Karl Chevrolet partnered with GMS Racing either, as the duo initially paired up in 2017 at Michigan International Speedway with Johnny Sauter behind the wheel.

Thursday night’s race at Bristol will mark an important opportunity for driver Zane Smith to advance to the next round of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs. Entering the weekend, Smith finds himself five points below the cutline, so a stellar run must be in the cards in order for the 22-year-old to advance.

Smith looks forward to the challenge, and welcomed his newest partner by saying “I am proud to represent Karl Chevrolet this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. My GMS Racing No. 21 team and I have been working hard to prepare for this Playoffs cutoff race and I believe that we will have a good shot at advancing to the Round of 8. Bringing on new partnerships at this time of the season is crucial to our success on the racetrack, and I look forward to giving it my all for the Karl Chevrolet family of employees and customers on Thursday night.”

Fans can view the UNOH 200 Presented by Ohio Logistics with live coverage on FS1 on Thursday, September 16th at 9:00 PM ET. Tune-in to watch Zane Smith carry the No. 21 Karl Chevrolet Silverado to the front at the ‘World’s Fastest Half-Mile’.

ABOUT KARL CHEVROLET:

Carl Moyer first opened his doors to Karl Chevrolet in January 1978, he started with nothing more than a vision and a plan. He quickly established a set of ground rules that always put the customer number one, treating everyone the same after a sale as he did during the purchase process. With his hands-on approach and daily involvement we can proudly say this attitude has not changed in over 43 years. Now with 6 dealerships in Iowa, as well as Karl Kustoms, his goal has always been focused on being Your Dealer for Life®. We’re here to help from every angle of the buying and aftercare process, and we’re eager to help you realize your automotive dreams. For more information, please visit www.karlchevrolet.com.

ABOUT GMS RACING:

GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with drivers Sheldon Creed, Zane Smith, Tyler Ankrum, Chase Purdy and Jack Wood. The team also competes in the ARCA Menards Series with Daniel Dye. Since the team began in 2014, GMS Racing won the 2016 and 2020 Camping World Trucks Championship, the 2015 ARCA Menards Series championship as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA East championship. GMS has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. The campus also includes operations for GMS Fabrication. More information can be found at gmsracing.net.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

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

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