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John Hunter Nemechek – No. 4 ROMCO Equipment Co. Camping World Trucks Texas Preview

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John Hunter Nemechek: Driver, No. 4 ROMCO Equipment Co. Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: SpeedyCash.com 220, Race 11 of 22, 147 Laps – 35/35/77; 220.5 Miles
Location: Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth (1.5-mile quad-oval)
Date/Broadcast: June 12, 2021 at 1 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

Neme’chek’ The Facts:

  • John Hunter Nemechek and the No. 4 ROMCO Equipment Co team roll into Texas Motor Speedway riding momentum after capturing the team’s third win of the 2021 season at Charlotte (N.C) Motor Speedway. The SpeedyCash.com 220 Saturday afternoon at Texas marks the halfway point of the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. So far in 2021, Nemechek leads the series in wins (three), stage wins (eight), top fives (six), and laps led (409). Nemechek continues to lead Ben Rhodes by 44 points in the point standings with five races remaining in the regular season.
  • ROMCO Equipment Co. is a long-time sponsor of Nemechek’s that serves the earth moving, ground engaging and materials handling markets by providing superior quality construction and mining equipment. ROMCO has supported customer’s purchase decisions with outstanding parts and service for over 60 years. Based 30 miles from Texas Motor Speedway in Carrollton, Tex., ROMCO is expected to have over 200 guests on hand Saturday cheering on Nemechek.
  • In NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competition at Texas, Nemechek has five starts at the 1.5-mile facility. His best career finish at Texas was seventh in 2021. Across his five starts, he has completed 95.7% (742/775) of the laps, has an average start of 14.6, and an average finish of 15.2. Nemechek finished 21st in his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Texas in November of 2019 and finished 22nd in both of his NASCAR Cup Series starts at Texas last season. In his three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, Nemechek finished in the top-10 in all three including a best finish of fourth in 2018.
  • Nemechek is a nine-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. Across 112 career starts in NASCAR’s third division, the second-generation driver has compiled two poles, 1018 laps led, 34 top-five and 58 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.7. The North Carolina native 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. He was voted the series most popular driver in 2015.
  • KBM has collected the trophy at all four mile-and-a-half races in 2021, with Nemechek winning at Charlotte and Las Vegas while Kyle Busch brought home the trophy at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway in Kansas City. KBM drivers have combined to lead 70.1% (379/538) of the total laps in the four races on 1.5-mile tracks this season.
  • Eric Phillips returns 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 40 career Truck Series victories make him the winningest crew chief in Truck Series history, with 30 of those coming while at KBM. Across 19 starts at Texas, Phillips has collected three wins, six top fives, 11 top 10s, and an average finish of 11.9. Phillips won in 2006 with Clint Bowyer and with Kyle Busch in 2010 and 2014. He also captured one NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at Texas with John Hunter Nemechek’s father, Joe, in March of 2003.

John Hunter Nemechek, Driver Q&A:

After everything that happened at Charlotte, what did it mean to get the win?

“Starting off the way we did at Charlotte by going P1 on the board to the next lap hitting the fence was not the way we wanted to start off the weekend. I guess we got it out of the way early. We were able to fix that truck and take it to victory lane. It meant a lot to myself and the team. We were in there working, trying to get it back together to not pull a backup truck out, and luckily it wasn’t as bad as we thought it was. We were able to get it going.”

How similar is Texas compared to Charlotte?
“I feel like it used to be similar before the repave. I feel like it’s definitely changed a lot now with the repave. The same aspect applies with the PJ1 being applied like Charlotte did. Hopefully it will make for some great racing and come in fast since we are the first ones on the track this weekend. There are a lot of unknowns going into the weekend. Texas has always been a good place for me. I hope to bring home another win on a mile-and-a-half.”

With five races left in the regular season, is winning the regular season championship on your mind?
“Getting the regular season championship is a goal for us. We are #Here4Wins. We want to win everything we can, from races to championships to anything plus. Winning the regular season championship gives you a big bonus going into the Playoffs. We have five more races to go and try to win to continue our points lead. We have to maximize our days and our potential and can increase that lead by the end of those five races.”

John Hunter Nemechek Career Highlights:

  • Nine-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 112 career starts in NASCAR’s third division, has compiled two poles, 1,018 laps led, 34 top-five and 58 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.7.
  • 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 52 career XFINITY Series starts, has totaled one win (Kansas Speedway, 10/20/18), one pole, 225 laps led, 12 top-five and 30 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.0.

John Hunter Nemechek’s No. 4 ROMCO Equipment Co. Tundra:

KBM-038: The No. 4 ROMCO team will unload KBM-038 Saturday at Texas. So far in 2021, KBM-038 has ran once at Kansas Speedway where Nemechek piloted the chassis to a fifth-place finish. Overall, “38 Special” has collected six wins across 21 career starts. Three with Christopher Bell and one each with Kyle Busch, William Byron and Noah Gragson.

Click Here for KBM-038 Performance Profile:

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected eight wins, three poles, 18 top-five and 33 top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 10.9 across 53 starts in the Lone Star State.
  • Owner-driver Kyle Busch’s victory in July 2020 was his fourth for his organization (2010, 2014, 2019 & 2020), Greg Biffle (2020), Christopher Bell (2017), William Byron (2016) and Erik Jones (2015) all have one victory at Texas.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (86) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Track, Martin 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 14 career victories at KBM and was the number for both of the organization’s driver championships.

Tear-off Manufacturer Racing Optics Named as INDYCAR Partner

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Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, June 8, 2021) – Racing Optics, the industry leader in multilayer, laminated tear-offs, has signed a multiyear agreement to become an official partner of INDYCAR and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

Among its diverse product line, Racing Optics manufactures the multilayer tear-offs used on the aeroscreen safety device equipped on every NTT INDYCAR SERIES car. Racing Optics’ products are considered the industry standard for driver visibility and protection with transparent shields.

“Racing Optics has been an integral partner to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,” INDYCAR President Jay Frye said. “During the development of the aeroscreen, they provided essential feedback, direction and a great product to ensure visibility while avoiding distortion for our drivers.”

The Racing Optics’ tear-offs ensure NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers maintain great visibility throughout a race, as the layers can be removed during pit stops, providing a completely clean field of view. Many INDYCAR drivers also use Racing Optics’ tear-offs on their helmet visors.

“With the addition of the aeroscreen, visibility is the critical factor at such high speeds,” Racing Optics President Bart Wilson said. “Our industry-leading technology has been trusted by professional drivers to help them see more clearly with a focus on safety and performance.

“I am proud to continue the Wilson family legacy of participating in and working with INDYCAR over the past 60-plus years.”

Racing Optics, Inc., is a family-owned business founded in Southern California in 1999 by Bart, Steve and Seth Wilson and is now located in Las Vegas. The Wilson family has deep motorsports roots, dating to the 1940s when Dempsey Wilson – Bart and Steve’s father – began building and racing roadsters before progressing to the Indianapolis 500, in which he made four starts between 1958-63 against legends such as A.J. Foyt and Parnelli Jones.

The company’s multi-layer, laminated tear-offs have become a fixture in professional and competitive racing, championed by legends like Tony Stewart, Ricky Carmichael and countless others. That racing heritage and success has led to expansion into other markets, including military and consumer applications.

Pocono Raceway 2021 NASCAR Doubleheader Campsites Selling Out Fast

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Official Release
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POCONO RACEWAY’S DOUBLEHEADER CAMPSITES SELLING OUT FAST AND LIMITED SPOTS REMAIN
5 Camping Locations Sold Out; Kids (12 and Under) Camp For FREE

LONG POND, Pa. (June 8, 2021) – Pocono Raceway’s Infield and GEICO Family Grandstand Camping areas are selling out ahead of the 2021 NASCAR Doubleheader at ‘The Tricky Triangle.’ A total of five camping sections are sold out and remaining sections have limited spots available. Those camping during the NASCAR Doubleheader Weekend will enjoy five nights of camping from June 24-27 and kids, ages 12 and under, always camp for free at Pocono Raceway.

To purchase a campsite, while supplies last, please visit www.poconoraceway.com/camping or call our Ticket Office at 1-800-722-3929.

“We may see the largest overnight camping crowd at Pocono Raceway during the 2021 NASCAR Doubleheader in a few weeks said Pocono Raceway President, Ben May. “The fans are back and our camping areas are going to be packed! Not only will our weekend camping guests enjoy five races in three days, but they also have access to exclusive perks and amenities this year.”

Camping guests can enjoy three nights of live music and entertainment at the Infield Block Party on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, daily programming for all ages at the Pocono Mountains Activities & Welcome Center, the ability to enjoy the first dog park (Pocono Raceway’s Bark Park) located inside a NASCAR track and the chance for kids of all abilities to learn, grow and play at the #POCONOMTNS Inclusive Playground. And, new for 2021, camping guests with a Pit/Paddock Pass will be able to ride their bike around the 2.5-mile track on Thursday evening and Friday morning, as well as walk the Frontstretch. In addition to these great perks, camping guests receive complimentary access to the Grandstand for the General Tire #AnywhereIsPossible 200 ARCA Menards Series race and access to Fan Fair all weekend.

Pocono Raceway will host five NASCAR and ARCA races in three days during the 2021 NASCAR Doubleheader Weekend. The jam-packed weekend starts with the General Tire #AnywhereIsPossible 200 ARCA Menards Series race on Friday, June 25th. The CRC Brakleen 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the first of two NASCAR Cup Series races will be held on Saturday, June 26th. The weekend ends with the Pocono Green 225 Recycled by J.P. Mascaro & Sons NASCAR Xfinity Series race and the Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 NASCAR Cup Series races on Sunday, June 27th.

For additional event information, visit www.poconoraceway.com.

About Pocono Raceway

Pocono Raceway, also known as ‘The Tricky Triangle,’ is family-owned and situated in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. In business for over 50 years, the Raceway hosts multiple, national motorsports events including two NASCAR Cup Series, one NASCAR Xfinity Series, one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and one ARCA Menards Series events each year. The facility’s calendar also consists of over 200 events including “The Great Pocono Raceway Airshow,” Tough Mudder and a wide range of car clubs and racing schools. Pocono Raceway is recognized as the world’s first, privately-owned solar-powered sports facility. Their 25-acre, three-megawatt solar farm provides the energy needs of the Raceway, as well as, adds electricity to the local power grid. Each member of our raceway staff is committed to creating exciting experiences and lifelong memories. For more information, please visit www.poconoraceway.com.

Scott Dixon Seeks His Third Road America Win in the NTT INDYCAR REV Group Grand Prix Presented by American Medical Response

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Official Release
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ELKHART LAKE, Wis., June 8, 2021 – Scott Dixon seeks his third Road America win in the REV Group Grand Prix Presented by American Medical Response on June 20 in Elkhart Lake but admits his memorable race moment at the 4.048-mile permanent road course wasn’t a victory.

Dixon was a CART Series rookie driving for PacWest Racing in 2001 when the New Zealander competed in his first event at the track.

A spirited battle between Dixon and Michael Andretti a couple of decades ago is the most vivid memory for the rookie of the year candidate.

“We had a hot battle,” Dixon said of Andretti, who won four open-wheel championships. “Michael kind of ran me off in the grass, the little straight there between (turns) three and four, and we made a bit of contact in five.”

Working on the tenth lap, Andretti overtook Dixon for sixth place in the first turn. Dixon bumped the back of Andretti’s car, which sent the car into a spin in turn five. Andretti recovered and continued.

“Getting my first win there was massive, but I think my memory there in racing Michael was definitely one that I think of the most,” Dixon said.

One of the best-known incidents in the 2001 race was when Memo Gidley hit the Billy Mitchell bridge concrete abutment in turn 13, and Dixon swiped the nose of Gidley’s spinning car. Gidley walked away with a broken arm.

“It was a pretty wild race,” recalled Dixon, who finished fourth that day.

The six-time IndyCar champion, who drives a Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing, is the lone competitor to win two events in the series’ five races at the track.

Dixon started ninth in 2020 and passed Will Power on the final pit stop to lead 16 laps of the 55-lap race and won by a 2.538-second margin. Felix Rosenqvist won the second race of the Road America doubleheader last year.

Dixon’s first career victory at Road America occurred in 2017 when he was bolted in front of Josef Newgarden on a restart midway through the race and held off Newgarden on another restart.

The 40-year-old says he enjoys the competition and nuances of Road America.

“It’s an old-school American road course,” Dixon said. “It’s massive, it’s got elevation change, it’s got fast corners, it’s got slow corners, it’s got blind corners, and the risk vs. reward is very prominent as far as the unfortunate part of circuits.”

Watkins Glen and Mid-Ohio are two of Dixon’s favorite American circuits along with Road America, but he ranks Road America, Watkins Glen, and the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit in Victoria, New Zealand, in his top-three overall. Phillip Island’s track is a 3.3-mile, four-turn triangular circuit.

“My favorite worldwide would be Phillip Island,” Dixon said. “I really like Watkins Glen, and Road America is right up there.

“With Road America, it also is the small-town vibe, which is similar to those three circuits, in general. Where the town really gets behind it. As far as the history, side of it, Road America is huge as well.”

Dixon said there are many challenging and rewarding sections at Road America and added that it’s difficult to string together a perfect lap. The long period before corners is also an intriguing dynamic.

“It’s always got these tricky corners where you can gain a lot, but you can also lose a lot,” Dixon said. “For me, the complexities of turns five and six are very tough. It’s very easy to overextend yourself, and then that’s the same for 13 as well.

“Now, also, the entry to 14, the last corner, because of the difference you feel from apex to the small bump there. I guess compromised sums up the track the best. It’s almost impossible to get a perfect lap at that circuit, just because it’s so long, the actual layout of it, it’s tough to get it 100 percent correct.”

Like many amateur and professional drivers who’ve tackled Road America, Dixon likes the Carousel in turns nine and 10. The right-hand turn Carousel is nearly flat and drops downhill.

“I think everybody kind of really enjoys the Carousel just because it goes so long,” he said. “The Carousel, for me, is a trigger point in the race to create some really good overtaking, so I think I enjoy the carousel the most.”

The weekend schedule, June 17-20, will also be bolstered by Vintage Indy and the Radical Cup series, plus two junior development series of the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires, the Indy Pro 2000, and USF2000, of which many drivers of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES are graduates.

Tickets are available, and fans are welcome. Additional event details, ticket pricing, and camping information can be found at www.roadamerica.com or by calling 800-365-7223. Anyone 16-years-old and under is FREE with a paying adult at the gate. Racing runs rain or shine.

To plan your visit, check out Road America’s Frequently Asked Questions webpage at www.roadamerica.com/faq

About Road America: Established in 1955, Road America is conveniently located between Milwaukee and Green Bay in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The world’s best racers have competed at this legendary four-mile, 14-turn road circuit for over 65 years. Along with over 500 events held seasonally at the 640-acre facility, several major weekends are open to the public, which include the IndyCar Series, the MotoAmerica Series, three vintage racing events, numerous Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) events, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and NASCAR. Road America’s park-like grounds offer amazing viewing opportunities, numerous camping options, fantastic concessions, and high-speed excitement to hundreds of thousands of spectators each year. Fans can also stay and play in cabins conveniently on the grounds and find all sorts of souvenirs, collectibles, and apparel at the 7,500 sq. ft Paddock Shop. Affectionately known by many as America’s National Park of Speed, Road America can accommodate groups of all sizes, including weddings and corporate events in the Tufte Conference Center. In addition to public race weekends, Road America offers various group event programs, including geocaching, disc golf, and off-road adventure tours, karting, and the Road America Motorcycle and Driving Schools. For more information, visit www.roadamerica.com Follow Road America on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube or call 800-365-7223

Drew Dollar – No. 51 Sunbelt Rentals Tundra Camping World Trucks Texas Preview

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Official Release
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Drew Dollar Camping World Trucks Texas Preview (printable)
Drew Dollar: Driver, No. 51 Sunbelt® Rentals Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: SpeedyCash.com 220, Race 11 of 22, 147 Laps – 35/35/77; 220.5 Miles
Location: Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth (1.5-mile quad-oval)
Date/Broadcast: June 12, 2021 at 1 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

The Data on Dollar:

  • Drew Dollar will make his third career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start behind the wheel of the No. 51 Tundra in Saturday’s 147-lap event at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth as part of an eight-race schedule with Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) in 2021. Sunbelt Rentals, the premiere rental company in North America, will serve as the primary sponsor on Dollar’s Tundra Saturday and for four more races this season. Friday will be Dollar’s first-ever start in any series at Texas.
  • The Georgia native made his first career start on a mile-and-a-half track in the Truck Series in the series last event at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. Dollar was running inside the top 10 with 20 laps remaining in the event when he attempted to avoid a truck that was slowed on the frontstretch and got clipped from behind. The incident caused significant damage, and while the over-the-wall crew was making repairs, Dollar went a lap down. He would end the night credited with a 20th-place finish. In his Camping World Trucks debut in February, Dollar exited Turn 4 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in the third position on the final lap before getting clipped from behind and getting swept up in a last-lap crash. Despite the incident, the 20-year-old driver brought the JBL Tundra home in the 10th position.
  • Dollar has recorded an average finish of 5.3 across six career starts on 1.5-mile circuits in the ARCA Menards Series, including a runner-up finish at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City earlier this year.
  • After Saturday’s event, the remaining five races on Dollar’s schedule in the No. 51 Tundra this season are Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway (June 18), Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway (Sept. 16), Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway (Sept. 24), Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway (Oct. 2) and the series finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway (Nov. 5).
  • In addition to his part-time schedule with KBM in the Truck Series, Dollar is competing in a limited schedule in the ARCA Menards Series this season with Venturini Motorsports. Despite not being schedule to compete in the full season and missing one event so far, the 20-year-old driver ranks fifth in the standings behind the strength of an average finish of 5.0 across his six starts this year.
  • The Toyota Racing Development driver finished fourth in the ARCA Menards Series championship standings in 2020 after recording one win, four top-five and 14 top-10 finishes across 20 starts. Dollar led 40 laps en route to his lone series victory at Talladega Superspeedway last June. He also finished inside the top 10 in both of his ARCA Menards Series starts in 2019, including a sixth-place finish in his series debut at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.
  • After 10 events, the No. 51 sits third in the Camping World Truck Series owner standings, 63 tallies behind KBM’s No. 4 team. The No. 51 team is tied for the series lead with the No. 4 team with three victories. Owner-driver Kyle Busch collected victories at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga., and Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, while Martin Truex Jr. picked up first-ever Truck Series victory at the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway Dirt Track.
  • Mardy Lindley is in his first season as a crew chief at KBM. Before arriving at KBM, Lindley guided his drivers to 32 wins and four ARCA Menards Series East championships since 2013, including back-to-back titles with Sam Mayer the last two seasons. Additionally, he earned the ARCA Menards Series Sioux Chief Showdown championship with Mayer in 2020. Behind the wheel, the second-generation driver won 11 races on the Pro Cup Series from 2000 to 2006 and was crowned the series champion in 2001. Friday night will be Lindley’s first time calling a race at Texas.
  • Kyle Busch Motorsports’ (KBM) eight wins at Texas are equal to the organization-best eight they have at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Owner-driver Kyle Busch’s victory at Texas in July of 2020 was his fourth for his organization (2010, 2014, 2019 & 2020). Greg Biffle (2020), Christopher Bell (2017), William Byron (2016) and Erik Jones (2015) all have one victory for KBM in The Lone Star State.

Drew Dollar, Driver Q&A:

What can you apply from Charlotte to this weekend at Texas?
“Takeaways from the Charlotte race is just a lot of confidence in knowing how to drive the Sunbelt Rentals Tundra. Now, I’ll be able to go into Texas knowing what to expect and know how the truck drives.”

How have you prepared for Texas with the lack of practice?
“I’m actually excited to fire off without any practice. I think that will be fun even though I’m going to be one of the guys with the least amount of experience out there, but with the Toyota simulator, watching in-car video and previous races at Texas, I think that’ll be very beneficial to me when we show up without any practice.”

What are the differences between racing an ARCA car and a truck on 1.5-mile tracks?
“The ARCA mile-and-a-halves in the Sunbelt Rentals Camry are very different than the Sunbelt Rentals Toyota Tundra even though they seem like they should be similar, but they are quite different with how the car drives versus the truck. Just all the takeaways I was able to learn from Charlotte and also racing the ARCA back-to-back with the truck really showed me how different they are. Now, I’ll be able to go into Texas knowing how the Sunbelt Rentals Toyota Tundra is going to drive and use all the things I learned and apply it when we unload.”

Drew Dollar Career Highlights:

  • Has one top-10 finish and an average result of 15.0 across two career Camping World Truck Series starts.
  • Across 27 career ARCA Menards Series starts has one win, 98 laps led, eight top-five and 21 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 7.7.
  • Picked up his first career ARCA Menards Series victory at Talladega Superspeedway June 20, 2020.
  • Finished fourth in the ARCA Menards Series championship standings in 2020 after recording one win, four top-five and 14 top-10 finishes across 20 starts.
  • Recorded two top-five and seven top-10 finishes with 49 laps led across eight NASAR K&N Pro Series East starts in 2019.
  • Drew Dollar’s No. 51 Sunbelt Rentals Tundra:

KBM-066: The No. 51 Sunbelt Rentals team will unload KBM-66 for Saturday’s race at Texas. Kyle Busch collected the Tundras lone win across four career starts earlier this year at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway.

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected eight wins, three poles, 986 laps led, 18 top-five and 33 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 10.9 across 53 starts in the Lone Star State.
  • Owner-driver Kyle Busch’s victory in July of 2020 was his fourth for his organization (2010, 2014, 2019 & 2020). Greg Biffle (2020), Christopher Bell (2017), William Byron (2016) and Erik Jones (2015) all have one victory for KBM at Texas.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (86) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Track, Martin 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).
  • With 37 victories, the No. 51 is the winningest number in KBM’s Truck Series fleet.

GMS Racing Camping World Trucks Texas Preview

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Official Release
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Sheldon Creed, No. 2 LiftKits4Less.com Chevrolet Silverado
Texas Motor Speedway Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 5, Wins: 1, Best start: 1, Best finish: 1, Top 5: 1, Top 10s: 2, Laps led: 145

2021 Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 10, Wins: 1, Best start: 2, Best finish: 1, Top 5s: 4, Top 10s: 5, Laps led: 158

Notes:

  • Track record: Sheldon Creed won the most recent NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway in October 2020, which locked him into the Championship 4 in Phoenix where he went on to claim his first series championship.
  • Sponsor spotlight: LiftKits4Less.com returns as primary sponsor for Creed’s No. 2 Silverado this weekend in Texas.
  • Chassis history: Creed and the No. 2 team will utilize chassis no. 324 on Saturday in Texas. This is the same chassis Creed took to victory lane in Kentucky and Texas, collected seven top-10 finishes and led 288 laps with in 2020.
  • Playoff outlook: Creed is currently fourth in the champship standings, 106 points behind the leader. Creed is locked into the playoffs with his win at Darlington and is projected as the number three seed entering the Texas weekend.
  • Crew chief corner: Jeff Stankiewicz has called 14 Camping World Trucks races at Texas Motor Speedway and has collected one win, two top fives and four top 10s in those races.

Quote:

“I’m ready to get to Texas this weekend. It’s a good track for us and we won here last year. We’re bringing that same truck this weekend so that gives us a bit of confidence heading into the weekend. We’ll be starting back in the pack so I’ll have to be patient but I’m sure we’ll be able to work our way to the front and compete for win number two of the year.”

Zane Smith, No. 21 Michael Roberts Construction Chevrolet Silverado
Texas Motor Speedway Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 2, Best start: 6, Best finish: 3, Top 5s: 1, Laps led: 26

2021 Camping World Truck Stats

  • Starts: 10, Best start: 3, Best finish: 6, Top 10s: 6, Stage wins: 1, Laps led: 6

Notes:

  • Sponsor spotlight: Micheal Roberts Construction returns as primary sponsor of Zane Smith’s No. 21 Silverado for Saturday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway.
  • Chassis history: Smith and the No. 21 team will utilize chassis no. 336 this weekend in Texas. This chassis is a brand new addition to the GMS stable.
  • Playoff outlook: Smith is currently sixth in the championship standings, 143 points behind the leader and 81 points above the playoff cutoff line.
  • Crew chief corner: Kevin “Bono” Manion has called nine Camping World Trucks races at Texas Motor Speedway and has collected three top fives and four top 10s in that time.

Quote:

“I’m looking forward to Texas. We ran good there last year. We have a new truck which I’m excited about as well as having MRC back onboard for Saturday. Just hoping for some luck and to minimize mistakes. If we can keep good track position it should be a good day for us.”

Chase Purdy, No. 23 Bama Buggies Chevrolet Silverado
Texas Motor Speedway Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 1, Best finish: 12

2021 Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 10, Best start: 4, Best finish: 18, Laps led: 4

Notes:

  • Track history: Chase Purdy made his first career start at Texas Motor Speedway last October.
  • Chassis history: Purdy and the No. 23 team will compete with chassis No. 328 on Saturday in Texas. This chassis has two top-five finishes in four starts with GMS.
  • Championship Outlook: Purdy is currently 24th in the championship points standings.
  • Crew chief corner: Jeff Hensley has called 34 Camping World Trucks races at Texas Motor Speedway and has collected 1 win, 13 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes in that time. Quote:

“I’m excited about Texas this weekend. We had a pretty good run here last year and it’s definitely a confidence boost going to a track I’ve raced at before in the truck. I’m pumped for this weekend and ready to turn our luck around with this 23 team.”

Chase Elliott, No. 24 Adrenaline Shoc Chevrolet Silverado
Texas Motor Speedway Camping World Trucks Stats

  • No prior Camping World Trucks starts at Texas Motor Speedway.

Career Camping World Truck Stats

  • Starts: 15, Wins: 3, Top 5s: 10, Top 10s: 12, Poles: 3, Laps led: 367

Notes:

  • Track record: Although Chase Elliott has no prior Camping World Truck starts at Texas Motor Speedway, he has one win and five top-10 finishes in five NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the track. Elliott has collected two top-five and five top-10 finishes in 10 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway.
  • Sponsor Spotlight: Adrenaline Shoc energy drink will feature on Elliott’s No. 24 Silverado for Saturday’s SpeedyCash.com 200 at Texas Motor Speedway.
  • Chassis history: Elliott and the No. 24 team will compete with chassis no. 308 this weekend in Texas. This chassis has four top-10 finishes with GMS including two wins at Iowa in 2019 and Bristol in 2020.
  • Crew chief corner: Chad Walter has one top-10 finish in two Camping World Trucks races as crew chief and has collected three top fives and six top 10s in 13 races as a crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Texas Motor Speedway.

Quote:

“I’m really excited about running the truck race this weekend at Texas. I haven’t been the best at that track so anything I can do to get better and improve. It’s a good opportunity and I appreciate everyone at GMS Racing for letting me come and drive one of their trucks to try to help me out and get better. I’m looking forward to getting the A_SHOC Silverado out there.”

Tyler Ankrum, No. 26 LiUNA! Chevrolet Silverado
Texas Motor Speedway Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 4, Best start: 5, Best finish: 3, Top 5s: 1, Tpo 10s: 3, Laps led: 9

2021 Camping World Truck Stats

  • Starts: 10, Best start: 1, Best finish: 3, Top 5s: 2, Laps led: 12

Notes:

  • Sponsor spotlight: LiUNA! returns this week to feature on Tyler Ankrum’s No. 26 Silverado.
  • Chassis history: Ankrum and the No. 26 team will utilize chassis no. 305 this weekend in Texas. This chassis has nine top-10 finishes in it’s history with GMS and went to victory lane at Texas Motor Speedway with Justin Haley in 2018.
  • Playoff outlook: Ankrum enters the Texas weekend 14th in the championship standings, 60 points back from the playoff cutoff line.
  • Crew chief corner: Charles Denike has one top-10 finish in two Camping World Trucks races as crew chief at Texas Motor Speedway.

Quote:

“I’m excited to go back to Texas. We’ve run really well there in the past and it’s one of my favorite 1.5-mile tracks we go to. Last year we didn’t end so hot, but we had a really strong run in the first race there. I’m really happy with the next stretch of races we have coming up and I’m ready to go kick off the summer stretch with a win at Texas.”

ABOUT GMS RACING

GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with drivers Sheldon Creed, Zane Smith, Tyler Ankrum and Chase Purdy. The team also competes in the ARCA Menards Series with Jack Wood and 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.

Ryan Newman – All-Star Advance

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Official Release
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Team: No. 6 Wyndham Rewards Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman
Race Format: 150 miles, 100 laps, Six Rounds (15-15-15-15-30-10)
NASCAR All-Star Race – Sunday, June 13 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Another Historic, New-Look All-Star Race on Deck

  • After holding the NASCAR All-Star Race in Charlotte for many years prior to 2020, the annual invitational event moves to its third track in as many seasons with the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway set to host the 2021 event.
  • Outside of the 1986 event in Atlanta, the race had been held in Charlotte every season. Due to implications from COVID-19 a season ago, NASCAR officials moved the event from Charlotte to Bristol. And this season it moves again, this time to TMS.
  • Also new to this season’s version of the ASR is a six-round, 100-lap bout that will see the winner collect $1 million, and an additional $100,000 will be presented to the fastest pit crew in a mandatory pit stop near the end of the race.
  • For the All-Star Race itself, the overall starting lineup will be set by random draw. The format and procedures are below:
    • Round 1: 15 laps. After this round, the field will be inverted starting anywhere from the eighth through 12th positions, to be selected by a random draw.
    • Round 2: 15 laps, with entire field inverted after this segment.
    • Round 3: 15 laps, again the field will be inverted starting anywhere from the eighth through 12th positions, to be selected by a random draw after this round.
    • Round 4: 15 laps.
    • Round 5: 30 laps. The lineup for this round will be determined by cumulative finish from the first four rounds, with the best cumulative finisher starting from the pole. All cars must enter pit road for a mandatory four-tire pit stop during this round. The crew with the fastest stop will pocket $100,000.
    • Round 6: 10 laps. Cars will line up according to their finishing position from the previous round for the final segment.

Newman Historically in the All-Star Race

  • Newman will make his 20th All-Star Race start on Sunday. He is eligible by way of his 2002 victory in The Winston, a race he won after also winning that event’s qualifying race just prior.
  • Outside of the victory in 2002, Newman has two additional top five finishes, including second in 2004 and fifth in 2006. He most recently finished 19th in last season’s non-points race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
  • Newman is one of 17 drivers locked into the All-Star Race, while the rest of the field will compete in the NASCAR Open qualifying race two hours prior.
  • The 2003 Driver of the Year started on the pole once back in 2004, and had two second-place starting positions in 2004 and 2012.
  • Overall at Texas, Newman has 35 starts with one win, three top fives and six top-10s for an average finish of 18.4. He has finished 11th, 15th, 13th and 19th in the last four events at TMS.

Scott Graves in the All-Star Race

· Graves will be atop the box for his third All-Star Race after finishing 13th and 19th each of the last two seasons with Newman.

QUOTE WORTHY
Newman on racing in the All-Star Race:
“I think the opportunity to move the All-Star Race around and do as they started to do and have it at Texas versus where it’s been in the last 20-plus years in Charlotte is a good thing. The format, it’s like a recipe. You can make cookies many different ways and in the end you still have a cookie. Not everybody is gonna like that cookie, but there’s a chance you’re gonna like it. I really don’t know that I have one, to stop talking about cookies and making myself hungry, I know that the way I won it eliminated the competition, but, in reality, that competition is eliminated anyway. You’re not gonna go from 20th to first in 10 laps. It just doesn’t happen, so it kind of is what it is and we deal with the ingredients that NASCAR provides for the All-Star Race going into it and you just do your best to try to make up for what you’re lacking, whether it’s track position, starting position, things like that and make a good day out of it.”

Last Time Out
Newman was on the wrong end of a last-turn incident Sunday at Sonoma and finished 33rd in the Guaranteed Rate Ford.

Where They Rank
Newman is 23rd in points through 16 events.

On the Car

Wyndham Rewards returns to Newman’s No. 6 machine for its second race of 2021.

About Wyndham Rewards
Recently named the number one hotel rewards program by readers of USA TODAY, Wyndham Rewards® is the world’s most generous rewards program with more than 50,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals worldwide. Designed for the everyday traveler, members earn a guaranteed 1,000 points with every qualified stay and may redeem points for a wide range of rewards, including free nights at over 8,900 hotels or thousands of vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally through affiliation with Wyndham Destinations and others. Wyndham Rewards has 86 million enrolled members around the globe. Join for free today at www.wyndhamrewards.com. You’ve earned this.®

2016 Challenger R/T Scat Pack | Customer Spotlight Video

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Official Release
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AmericanMuscle Breaks Down a Big Body Muscle Car

PAOLI, Pa. (June 7th, 2021) – AmericanMuscle (AM) is back with another episode of their popular “Customer Builds” YouTube series. The new video gives viewers an exclusive look at a 2016 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack with McLeod RXT 1000HP Clutch. AM host, Adam Maqboul chats virtually with the owner, Bennett Sheppard to learn more about his existing and future upgrades. Muscle car enthusiasts can head to AM’s website for more photos, a complete mods list, and other inspiring customer builds.

“I love when people put like five or six really small, but super impactful mods on and that’s exactly what you did.”                                     – Adam Maqboul  

What looks like a regular Challenger is a real surprise once it starts up. The Corsa Xtreme Cat-Back Exhaust coupled with Kooks Long Tubes deliver maximum sound output. Early in the video, viewers are treated to a sound clip before finding out how Bennett settled on this combination. Bennett credits AM’s tech guide for helping to narrow down the options and finally, sealing the deal on the long tube headers. Adam and Bennet get into details on his pre-loaded tuner, performance results, and plans for future mods.

AM’s 2016 Challenger R/T build profile is ideal for customers who want to get a taste of all the possibilities out there when it comes to personalizing their own ride. Bennett’s upgrades show the impact a handful of well-chosen mods can make. More information about this specific build is found on AM’s customer spotlight page. This includes images and a full breakdown of Bennett’s mods list. 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

About AmericanMuscle

Starting out in 2003, AmericanMuscle quickly rose to be one of the leading aftermarket Mustang parts providers in the business. With the addition of Challenger in 2018 and Charger in 2020, AmericanMuscle provides the most sought-after parts, accessories, and fast shipping. Located just outside of Philadelphia, AmericanMuscle is dedicated to supporting the Mustang, Challenger and Charger communities with the highest level of customer service. Please visit http://www.AmericanMuscle.com for more information.

Chris Buescher – All-Star Advance

By
Official Release
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Team: No. 17 Fastenal Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Luke Lambert
Twitter: @17RoushTeam, @RoushFenway and @Chris_Buescher
Race Format: 75 miles, 50 laps, Three Segments (20-20-10)
NASCAR All-Star Open – Sunday, June 13 at 6 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Another Historic, New-Look All-Star Race on Deck

  • After holding the NASCAR All-Star Race in Charlotte for many years prior to 2020, the annual invitational event moves to its third track in as many seasons with the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway set to host the 2021 event.
  • Outside of the 1986 event in Atlanta, the race had been held in Charlotte every season. Due to implications from COVID-19 a season ago, NASCAR officials moved the event from Charlotte to Bristol. And this season it moves again, this time to TMS.
  • Also new to this season’s version of the ASR is a six-round, 100-lap bout that will see the winner collect $1 million, and an additional $100,000 will be presented to the fastest pit crew in a mandatory pit stop near the end of the race.
  • Buescher will compete in the NASCAR Open qualifying race and attempt to race his way into the All-Star field. The Open will be run in three segments – 20 laps, 20 laps and a 10-lap shootout – with segment winners and the overall winner advancing into the main event. Fan balloting will determine the final driver in the field who is otherwise ineligible.
  • For the All-Star Race itself, the overall starting lineup will be set by random draw. The format and procedures are below:
    • Round 1: 15 laps. After this round, the field will be inverted starting anywhere from the eighth through 12th positions, to be selected by a random draw.
    • Round 2: 15 laps, with entire field inverted after this segment.
    • Round 3: 15 laps, again the field will be inverted starting anywhere from the eighth through 12th positions, to be selected by a random draw after this round.
    • Round 4: 15 laps.Round 5: 30 laps. The lineup for this round will be determined by cumulative finish from the first four rounds, with the best cumulative finisher starting from the pole. All cars must enter pit road for a mandatory four-tire pit stop during this round. The crew with the fastest stop will pocket $100,000.
    • Round 6: 10 laps. Cars will line up according to their finishing position from the previous round for the final segment.

Buescher Historically in the All-Star Race

  • Buescher has one start in the All-Star Race, which came in 2017. He was eligible for that race after winning in 2016 at Pocono, his lone win in the Cup Series to date.
  • Buescher finished 17th in the 2017 event. Otherwise, his best finish in the Open (qualifying race) is fourth, which came last season at Bristol. He also finished fifth in the Open in 2018.
  • Overall at Texas, Buescher makes his 12th Cup start. His best finish there is 15th, which came in 2018.

Luke Lambert in the All-Star Race

  • Lambert has called seven All-Star Races all-time, and will again try and race his way in Sunday evening with Buescher. His best ASR finish came in 2013 with Jeff Burton finishing third.

QUOTE WORTHY
Buescher on racing in the All-Star format:
“This weekend we’ll have yet another new-look All-Star event, both in the track and the format. Last season we were very close in racing our way in at Bristol, and our goal come Sunday is to do just that. Obviously going back home again to Texas is cool for me, and it makes Sunday’s Open that much more special. Sunday is sure to be full of fireworks, and we hope to have our Fastenal Ford in the big show late Sunday night.”

Last Time Out
Buescher finished 16th at Sonoma after a hectic ending that saw the race go into NASCAR Overtime.

Where They Rank
With a halt in points racing this week, Buescher maintains his 14th spot in the point standings through 16 events.

On the Car
Fastenal is in its 11th season with Roush Fenway, having first joined the fold in 2010 as the primary partner on the No. 60 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team and driver Carl Edwards. That team went on to win the owners championship with Edwards in 2011. Fastenal later served as a primary on Buescher’s No. 60 Ford that captured the NXS Championship in 2015.

Fastenal will feature top suppliers Louisville, Eaton and National Safety (NSA) on Buescher’s Mustang as he competes this weekend. For more information on these suppliers, visit Fastenal.com, and stay up-do-date on social @FastenalRacing, @Fastenal.

About Fastenal
Fastenal helps its business partners strengthen their supply chains, remove unnecessary costs, and focus more resources on what they do best. The company’s distribution system centers on 3,200+ in-market locations, each providing tailored inventory, flexible service, and custom solutions to support the unique local needs of our customers. This customer-centric service network is supported by 15 regional distribution centers, a captive logistics fleet, multiple teams of industry specialists, a suite of e-business and automated supply technology solutions, and robust sourcing, quality, and manufacturing structures – all focused on helping customers reduce costs, capture time, and achieve their business goals.

Ford Performance NASCAR: Ryan Newman All-Star Race Media Availability Transcript

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Official Release
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Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Ford Zoom Media Availability | Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 6 Guaranteed Rate Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing, will be making his 20th NASCAR All-Star Race appearance this weekend. The race, which is taking place for the first time at Texas Motor Speedway, will start with the All-Star Open at 6 p.m. ET with the main event following at 8 p.m. Newman was this week’s guest on the Ford Media Zoom call.

RYAN NEWMAN, No. 6 Guaranteed Rate Ford Mustang — DOES IT SEEM LIKE 20 YEARS OF ALL-STAR RACES FOR YOU? “Yeah, if you think about it. I got to start pretty early as a rookie and got fortunate that our first real Cup win was the All-Star Race, so to look back at it, I guess it’s paid dividends because I haven’t earned my way in other than that first All-Star Race on many occasions, but in the grand scheme of things that’s part of the way it works and just happy to be a part of it. It’s a pretty special race. I’m happy to see that they’re including the pit crew back into the mix this year, more so than the past few years.”

HOW DO YOU EXPECT THE 510 HORSEPOWER TO BE ANY DIFFERENT THAN 550? “I just learned about that over the weekend and I’m kind of curious. I don’t know what the exact number was on the initial All-Star package. We started off with the reduced horsepower package for the very first All-Star Race, but I don’t remember if it was 430 or 450.”

I WANT TO SAY 450. “And I think you’re right. I couldn’t remember the exact number. That sounds right. I guess my point is we’re taking a step towards that direction. We’re already wide-open all the way around the racetrack at Texas, so I think it’s gonna turn it into a mini-Daytona or a mini-Talladega, which has a sidebar I guess attached to it with the way we race those racetracks and the situations that we’re in. You can make one little mistake or you can be a part of somebody else’s mistake a lot easier it seems at those racetracks, so I really just don’t know. Three and four, I think, is gonna be no issue. My biggest question is gonna be more about how they prepare the racetrack and the race-ability we’re gonna have with multiple grooves. When you reduce horsepower it gets back to the point of usually the shortest distance is the best, especially when you’re wide-open, so the draft is gonna be pivotal, but again, if you can’t make up for that distance, then it doesn’t really matter.”

WHAT DO YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT — A, THE ALL-STAR RULES THIS WEEKEND OR B, WHAT YOU’RE DOING NEXT YEAR? “I guess neither at this point, but probably what I’m doing next year is a better answer because I don’t know. I got a cliff notes version and didn’t read it before I got on this call because I knew that you would know more than I did no matter what, so my point is there are too many things to try to remember and I guess the crew chiefs are gonna get some mental exercise as we go through each stage on Sunday.”

DOES THE ALL-STAR RACE STILL HAVE THE SAME SIGNIFICANCE IT HAD WHEN YOU WON IN 2002? “That’s a good question and I can look at that two different ways. In 2002, it paid $750,000 and now it pays $1 million, so that part is different. I think the criteria and how they do things are similar, but yet they’re still quite a bit different. When I won in 2002 there were teams that got eliminated as we went through stages and we barely made the cut on multiple occasions, got the invert and got to start up front and were able to be fast and lead and when we didn’t take tires and the 8 car did we were able to capitalize. I think all those things are gonna be similar, but it’s so much different, now especially being in Texas versus Charlotte and the car package, the aero package and how we race is so much different. So, yes, same luster, same significance, and I’m not a fan of really any other sport for that matter, but the All-Star games and the All-Star events in other sports, I think, are fairly equal to what we do. I guess my point is they are a pretty special event.”

YOU’VE WON THE DAYTONA 500 AND BRICKYARD. OTHER THAN WINNING THE SOUTHERN 500, COCA-COLA 600 AND THE CHAMPIONSHIP, WHAT ELSE DO YOU HAVE TO ACCOMPLISH IN CUP? “A great question and the reality is I’m way past the point of being more successful than a failure. After 700-plus starts and only 18 wins, there’s not enough life in me to try to get that back to a 50-50 number, but you’re right. I feel like I’ve been so close with the Coke 600 and so close with the Southern 500, a championship, a road course win — all those things that I’ve been second in, which is nothing to be ashamed of, but, at the same time, it’s not achieving the goals that I want and that’s really where I stand and where I sit. I don’t mean this in a bad way by any means and I think you know that knowing me, but I don’t want to have Mark Martin syndrome where you achieve a lot, but don’t always achieve the things that you say you wanted to achieve, but I think that’s the case for so many people. There are guys in our sport that have not gotten their first top 10 or top 5, and to have 18 wins and as many poles as I have is special, but it’s a humbling sport and you’re never probably as successful as you think you can be or should be.”

HOW MUCH IS NOT BEING ABLE TO QUALIFY NOW HURTING YOUR ABILITY TO PROGRESS IN THE POINTS AND STANDINGS WITH WHERE YOU HAVE TO START A LOT OF THESE RACES? “It’s whatever they call the law of diminishing returns and that’s the way the series kind of is right now. I don’t mean it in a bad way, but the fact is if you don’t run well on one week, you start at a deficit the next week and without practice and qualifying you don’t have much of a chance to work on your race car to make it better. There are only so many things that we can do adjustment-wise to try to make gains for a 300-500 mile race, so it’s got way more challenges than we’ve ever had, but those challenges are the biggest issue when you start at that deficit and it carries over. I’ll just give you an example. We’ve struggled in the pits for a few weeks. This past weekend we didn’t struggle in the pits, but we struggled on the racetrack. It takes everything, so to keep moving up and try to gain some positions and gain starting spots and gain points and get stage points and things like that, if you don’t start on the front side of it, I guess you could say, you’re gonna be at that disadvantage for a long time throughout the year and then as it resets for the last 10 races it becomes a different type animal if you’re in that group of 16 or if you’re not.”

ARE THERE ANY CHANGES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE ALL-STAR EVENT AND WHAT FORMAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE? “I don’t know that it necessarily matters what I think. I don’t mean that in a bad way, but I think the opportunity to move the All-Star Race around and do as they started to do and have it at Texas versus where it’s been in the last 20-plus years in Charlotte is a good thing. The format, it’s like a recipe. You can make cookies many different ways and in the end you still have a cookie. Not everybody is gonna like that cookie, but there’s a chance you’re gonna like it. I really don’t know that I have one, to stop talking about cookies and making myself hungry, I know that the way I won it eliminated the competition, but, in reality, that competition is eliminated anyway. You’re not gonna go from 20th to first in 10 laps. It just doesn’t happen, so it kind of is what it is and we deal with the ingredients that NASCAR provides for the All-Star Race going into it and you just do your best to try to make up for what you’re lacking, whether it’s track position, starting position, things like that and make a good day out of it.”

HOW CAN NASCAR RECAPTURE THE ALLURE IT HAD AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY? “I don’t know that that’s possible. I think society has changed so much. People have changed so much that you can compare it and it’s fair to compare it, but in the end I don’t think that you can target that as a goal. It’s just because things have changed. It’s just not the same and I don’t know that you’d want it to be the same, but it’s definitely no doubt different — different in good ways and different in bad ways and that’s just the way life is. That’s my experience in doing this 20-plus years.”

DOES RACING PART-TIME OR ANY LOVE OF RACING TO BE A PART OF IT BECOME AN OPTION? IF IT DOES COME TO THAT WOULD THAT FULFILL THAT IN YOU OR ARE YOU ALL-IN, OR DO YOU NOT KNOW? I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU WANT THAT CHAMPIONSHIP. “That’s always been my ultimate goal from the time I was in elementary school. That’s on my radar still and will always be on my radar, whether I achieve it or not because that’s just the nature of the beast when it comes to the competitiveness of what we do, so I don’t know. I don’t know what all the steps will be, but, ultimately, that’s where my mind and heart will always want to be.”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TROPHY IN TERMS OF UNIQUENESS? “I think that the no-brainer for me for the most special trophy I’ve ever earned and been a recipient of was the Daytona 500 in 2008, the 50th running. I have the one and only — when I say the one and only there’s a replica made for the team owner and what-not — but the original, the one and only given in victory lane gold Harley J. Earl Trophy and that commemorates the 50th running of the 500. So that will always be, I don’t know that there’s anything that could be more special than that. I mean, even a Cup championship trophy. I wouldn’t think that has the significance of 50 years of the sport and the people that I’ve followed as a driver and as a fan before I was ever my own race car driver in NASCAR, so that. The Brickyard 400 was really special just because I’m from Indiana and the yard of bricks and the brick that comes on the trophy, and then I always keep my second-place finish in the 2014 championship. That was just a significant race because it was one race. We were so close. We got beat, but we gave it 100 percent and we got 100 percent, we just didn’t have enough.”

WILL YOU BE ABLE TO LEARN ANYTHING THIS WEEKEND WITH THE 510 PACKAGE THAT WILL APPLY IN THE PLAYOFF RACE? “I don’t think it will be a whole lot different because we’re so close to terminal velocity. A lot of it depends on the weather and on track position. When I say terminal velocity you’re wide-open all the way around the racetrack and it’s just a matter of how little bit of drag you have in your car and what your package is, so I don’t know how different it’s gonna be, but I know it will be different because the All-Star Race is hero or zero, drive it like you stole it, and there will be some drivers that are like that in the fall race in Texas because of the playoff situation, but, overall, it’s gonna be much more mild in the fall race than it will be at the All-Star Race, in my opinion.”

HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILI BOWL EXPERIENCE TEST YOU AS A DRIVER? “I wouldn’t say it tested my driving skills, I had to knock off some rust that I had from over the years. I never drove a midget like that and we talked about it at the Chili Bowl. I never drove a midget like that with that much power to weight ratio and lifting the front tires off the ground. When I drove midgets back in ‘93 and ‘94 and ‘95, when I raced mostly on dirt then, or ran dirt as well as pavement is what I’m trying to say, and, for me, it was kind of just an opportunity. I’m very thankful for Driven to Save Lives and Clauson Marshall Racing for giving me that opportunity to got there and do that. This past year I wasn’t as successful as I was the year before, but I had my kids there and they got the chance to see it and be a part of me racing in the Chili Bowl, which is a different kind of special, but it’s just racing. You’ve always heard me say this too, I admire guys that can drive anything anywhere at anytime like the A.J. Foyts and the Tony Stewarts and now the Kyle Larsons of the world. That’s just the way I look at it. It’s just a part of what my makeup is and I’ve always looked at myself as a racer, not a stock car racer, or a midget racer, or go-kart racer, or a quarter-midget race, just a racer, and if I’ve got an opportunity to jump in something that’s good, I’ll strap the helmet on and do it.”

WILL WE SEE YOU WITH TIM CLAUSON IN TULSA NEXT JANUARY? “I don’t know about next January. I’m hoping to be able to do the BC39 race, which I think they’ve announced, at Indy. I want to be able to do it some more, but it’s got to be the right time and the right place because I’ve always said, and you’ve heard this before, that I won’t take away from what we do in the Cup garage. That’s been a challenge in more ways than one with the lack of practice and all the things that we have to do now with the simulators and whatever else, so I want to be the best person, the best driver I can be.”

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