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Ford Performance NASCAR: Bristol Dirt Race Advance

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Official Release
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FORD PERFORMANCE NASCAR: BRISTOL DIRT RACE NOTES

For the first time in more than 50 years, NASCAR will be running a Cup Series race on dirt as Bristol Motor Speedway transforms into a half-mile dirt track for Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and Sunday’s NASCAR Cup event.

This Week’s Schedule:

Saturday, March 27 – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, 8 p.m. (FS1)
Sunday, March 28 – NASCAR Cup Series, 3:30 p.m. (FOX)

FORD IN THE NASCAR CUP SERIES AT BMS

  • Ford has 39 all-time series wins at BMS.
  • Ford swept Bristol last year with Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick winning.
  • Roger Penske is tied for the most BMS series wins among active owners with 13.

FORD IN THE NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES AT BMS

  • Ford has five series wins at BMS.
  • Joe Ruttman won the inaugural series race in 1995.
  • Brad Keselowski’s lone series win came at Bristol in 2014.

FORD’S DIRT HISTORY IN CUP

Ford has 100 all-time dirt wins by 29 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series from 1955-1969. NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett, who is Ford’s all-time leader in Cup wins with 43, also holds the record for most dirt wins for the manufacturer with 26. Fellow Hall of Famers Junior Johnson and Fireball Roberts are next on the list with 11 and 10 wins, respectively.

FORD’S CUP DIRT WINNERS

Ned Jarrett (26), Junior Johnson (11), Fireball Roberts (10), Dick Hutcherson (8), Curtis Turner (4), Marvin Panch (4), Ralph Moody (4), David Pearson (3), Paul Goldsmith (3), Eddie Gray (3), Joe Weatherly (3), Parnelli Jones (2), Eddie Pagan (2), Speedy Thompson (2), Tom Pistone (1), Buck Baker (1), Lloyd Dane (1), Bill Amick (1), Marvin Porter (1), Shorty Rollins (1), Johnny Beauchamp (1), Cotton Owens (1), John Rostek (1), Fred Lorenzen (1), Jimmy Pardue (1), Tiny Lund (1), Cale Yarborough (1), Darel Dieringer (1), Elmo Langley (1).

SPEEDY THOMPSON CLAIMS FORD’S FIRST DIRT VICTORY

Ford’s first win on dirt in what is now known as the NASCAR Cup Series came on Oct. 9, 1955 when Speedy Thompson won a 250-lap feature on the 1.5-mile Memphis-Arkansas Speedway in LeHi, Arkansas. Thompson, driving a 1955 Ford, started 10th before he eventually passed leader Tim Flock on lap 43 and never gave it up. He led the final 158 circuits as he and Marvin Panch were the only two drivers to end up on the lead lap, giving Ford a one-two finish and its first victory in the Grand National Series since Shirtless Jimmy Florian won the manufacturer’s first race in 1950.

DAVID PEARSON LAST FORD DIRT WINNER IN CUP

NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson registered three Ford wins on dirt, including the manufacturer’s last one on June 26, 1969. The race, which was held on a half-mile dirt track in Raleigh at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds, saw Pearson dominate. He led 182-of-200 laps and beat Richard Petty, who finished second in a Ford, by three laps. That marked Pearson’s final year driving the full schedule, which ended with him winning a second straight championship.

THREE FORD CUP DRIVERS ENTERED IN BRISTOL TRUCK RACE

Three Ford NASCAR Cup Series drivers are hoping to qualify for Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Bristol. Kevin Harvick, Chase Briscoe and Ryan Newman are all scheduled to compete in an effort to gain experience for Sunday’s feature. Harvick’s last start in the truck series came in 2015 when he finished second at Pocono while Newman will be trying to make his eighth career series start. His last truck effort came in 2018 at Eldora, where he finished 30th, while Briscoe’s came in 2019 when he finished seventh at Eldora.

ELDORA EXPERIENCE BOOSTS BRISCOE

Speaking of Briscoe, the Ford development driver knows what it’s like to go to victory lane in one of NASCAR’s top three touring series on dirt. Briscoe won the Eldora Dirt Derby in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2018, edging Grant Enfinger at the finish line following a side-by-side battle the final lap. In all, Briscoe made three NCWTS starts at Eldora and finished in the top 10 each time – 3rd in 2017, 1st in 2018 and 7th in 2019.

CURRENT FORD DRIVERS ON DIRT IN NCWTS

Four other Ford drivers have competed on dirt in a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Eldora – Ryan Newman, Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski and Cole Custer. Here is how each of them fared by year:

2013 – Ryan Newman (P3), Ryan Blaney (P15)
2014 – Ryan Blaney (P3)
2015 – Brad Keselowski (P28), Cole Custer (P29)
2016 – Cole Custer (P6)
2017 – Chase Briscoe (P3)
2018 – Chase Briscoe (P1), Ryan Newman (P30)
2019 – Chase Briscoe (P7)

CURRENT FORD DRIVERS ON DIRT IN PRELUDE TO THE DREAM

Four current Ford drivers competed in the Prelude to the Dream at Eldora Speedway from 2005-2012. Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola, Ryan Newman and Joey Logano all competed multiple times in the exhibition event with their yearly results included below:

2005 – Kevin Harvick (P12)
2006 – Aric Almirola (P10), Ryan Newman (P14)
2007 – Aric Almirola (P11), Kevin Harvick (P14), Ryan Newman (P18)
2008 – Kevin Harvick (P7), Ryan Newman (P12), Aric Almirola (P19)
2009 – Ryan Newman (P4), Aric Almirola (P8), Kevin Harvick (P11), Joey Logano (P20)
2010 – Joey Logano (P13), Aric Almirola (P14), Ryan Newman (P16)
2011 – Aric Almirola (P3), Ryan Newman (P9)
2012 – Ryan Newman (P5), Aric Almirola (P6)

Benefits of Open Car Shipping

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SM
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Image by F. Muhammad from Pixabay

Open car shipping is a form of automobile transportation, wherein your vehicle will remain in the open during transport. As such, the vehicle will be exposed to the elements of travel throughout the journey. Of course, your property is always secured properly on the trailer to avoid unnecessary accidents.

This is currently the most common kind of vehicle transportation. Statistics suggest that about 90% of cars are transported by precisely these means. There are several types of carriers that are designed to provide this open transport auto hauling, and each one of them charges a different price. You can either go for a single-vehicle carrier service or those that are able to tow up to 10 cars per truck.

To help you find a carrier service Professional Car Carriers is the best option they are professional experts that offer the best combination of excellent services, affordable prices, and commitment to the business to deliver and transport on time, safely, and damage-free.

We will bring to your attention the benefits of open-car shipping, so you will have a clearer understanding of why this type of transport is so popular. 

Open Car Shipping Price 

Open car shipping is the cheapest way to transport your vehicle. This is the main reason why people opt for this form of transportation. As opposed to enclosed car shipping open car is affordable to the majority. If you are transporting a standard automobile, meaning it is not an old-timer or a race car, this is the best option for you. 

As you’d expect, the prices may differ from one company to another, but this method is generally cheaper than enclosed car shipping. As earlier mentioned, there are two main options available: single and multiple-vehicle trailers. The latter can be slightly expensive because you’ll have a truck traveling some distance to deliver only one car, while the other delivers about 10 of them.

Availability 

Due to the fact that these carriers can cater to 12 cars at once, the services of open car shipping are significantly easier to hire than enclosed car shipping. This makes the entire organization of the process a lot easier, especially when it comes to booking. 

Today, there are many open car shipping service providers located in almost every state. As such, there’s no need to plan the whole process months ahead of time. All you need to do is find a competent agency and discuss all the details with its representative. Depending on the queue, the whole process may take a few hours or days. 

Precisely because it is an open carrier, the size of your vehicle doesn’t make a difference, meaning however tall or long your car might be it will fit on the carrier. This flexibility, therefore, makes it the number one option for most people.

Safety 

Even though vehicles are not covered (literally) during transport, this is still a very safe way to transport your car. The carriers have mechanisms that secure your car onto the carrier making it safe from any kind of movement during transportation. Additionally, companies that offer open car shipping services also offer insurance for your vehicle. This way you are completely covered should any harm come to the automobile, although we must add these cases are extremely rare. 

If you have a luxury car and are worried any harm should come to it, you can opt for a carrier with one level. These carriers have a smaller capacity than the two-level carriers and tend to be used for shorter distances. 

It is very easy for our drivers to check the status and safety of their car, with one glance in the review mirror. It is also possible for them to make a short stop and check the car thoroughly. This is a big advantage compared to enclosed car shipping. 

Speed 

Open car shipping ensures the fastest delivery to your desired destination. The main reason is the fact that it can transport up to 12 vehicles, making it unnecessary to make extra rounds whereby time would be lost. Additionally, carriers that transport vehicles in the open are significantly lighter than enclosed car carriers, which also makes their journey quicker. The fact that they are lighter also means that they use less fuel which will positively affect the price of your shipping, making it much cheaper.

Stress Free 

The transport of your vehicle can be a stressful job if you choose to do it yourself. This is especially true for long distances. With open car shipping, you avoid the possibility of this happening; you hand over the responsibility and task to professionals who will consciously and effectively get the job done for you. The time you would spend transporting your vehicle you can spend with family and friends. Additionally, if you entrust a company to deal with your car shipping, you don’t have to miss out on work which would mean losing money.

Ryan Newman – Bristol Dirt Advance

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Official Release
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Team: No. 6 Oscar Mayer Cold Cuts Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman

Qualifying Heat Races – Saturday, March 27 at 6 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90
Food City Dirt Race – Sunday, March 28 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Newman at Bristol Motor Speedway

  • Newman makes his 39th Cup start at Bristol on Sunday but, like the rest of the field, will tackle the dirt for the first time in a Cup car. In 38 prior events at Bristol, Newman has an average finish of 15.6 with 19 top-10s.
  • Newman’s best finish at ‘The World’s Fastest Half Mile’ came in the fall of 2004 when he finished second after starting fourth. He also finished fifth in the 2015 spring event.
  • Dating back seven events at Bristol, Newman has an average finish of 12.5 with three top-10s. Most recently, he finished 15th and 25th in last season’s two events.
  • Newman has an additional nine combined starts in the Xfinity and Truck Series, winning in NXS action back in 2005. He earned the Xfinity pole in 2006 and finished 10th or better in five NXS starts. He recorded a fourth-place result in the No. 2 truck in 2009.

Newman on Dirt, in Truck Series

  • With Sunday’s race on the Bristol Dirt the first time the series will race on dirt in more than 50 years, the playing field is somewhat leveled in a way that NASCAR has never seen. However, Newman will be one of multiple Cup drivers to attempt the Truck Series race Saturday night in an effort to gain valuable experience entering Sunday.
  • Newman grew up on the dirt circuit back in his USAC racing days, and has participated in the Chili Bowl the last two seasons. He also ran in two of the NCWTS events at Eldora Speedway in the last decade, including a strong showing in 2013 when he finished third. Most recently he ran the No. 3 entry in 2018 and finished 30th.
  • Saturday, he’ll pilot the No. 39 entry and attempt to race his way into the field for Saturday night’s Truck event. The No. 39 is a bit of a throwback to Newman’s earlier days in the Cup Series, when he ran that number in five seasons for Stewart-Haas Racing, winning a combined four races in that span. One of 44 trucks on the initial entry list, he will don the Coca-Cola colors, among others, across his Ford F-150.

Bristol Dirt Formats

  • Both the NCWTS and NCS will run practice sessions and qualifying heats that will determine the starting lineups for each main event. The lineup for each of the four qualifying heats per series will be determined by random draw.
  • Passing points – a common theme across weekly dirt track racing – will also play a role this weekend. Passing points are the amount of points collected based on how many cars drivers are able to pass during a qualifying heat. Those points will help determine the starting lineup for the main event.
  • As for the qualifying heat races, the Cup Series will run four 15-lap heats with 9-10 cars in each race. The Truck Series is scheduled to run four qualifying heats with 11 trucks in each.

Scott Graves at Bristol Motor Speedway

  • Graves will call his 11th Cup event at Bristol this weekend, where he has an average finish of 15.6. Dating back four races, he and Newman have finished outside the top-15 just once.
  • Graves also called seven Xfinity events at Bristol dating back to 2012, recording one top five with Chris Buescher (2015).

QUOTE WORTHY
Newman on racing at Bristol Dirt:
“There’s obviously been a lot that’s gone into making this weekend happen on the Dirt, something that is unique for us in the Cup cars but a race that I look forward to. Going back to my younger days, racing on dirt is something I’ve always enjoyed and this weekend will no doubt be historical in many aspects. I’m thankful to have an opportunity to run the Truck race Saturday night, and want to thank both Coca-Cola and Aggressive Hydraulics for coming on board. Sunday will be a lot about patience for a lot of guys in our field that have never run on dirt, but we’re looking forward to the challenge and can’t wait to get dirty in our Oscar Mayer Ford this weekend.”

Last Time Out
Newman found himself inside the top-five at one point late in the action of Sunday’s race at Atlanta, before going on to finish 13th in the Kohler Generators Ford.

Where They Rank
Through six races, Newman is 21st in driver points.

On the Car
Oscar Mayer takes its colorful scheme to the Bristol Dirt this weekend, highlighting Cold Cuts on the side of Newman’s machine. It marks Oscar Mayer’s first time on the car at Bristol, and the last time they were the primary, Newman finished seventh at Homestead.

About the Kraft Heinz Company

For 150 years, we have produced some of the world’s most beloved products at The Kraft Heinz Company (Nasdaq: KHC). We are one of the largest global food and beverage companies, with 2019 net sales of approximately $25 billion. Our portfolio is a diverse mix of iconic and emerging brands. As the guardians of these brands and the creators of innovative new products, we are dedicated to the sustainable health of our people and our planet. To learn more, visit www.kraftheinzcompany.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Chris Buescher – Bristol Dirt Advance

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Official Release
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Team: No. 17 Fastenal Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Luke Lambert
Twitter: @17RoushTeam, @RoushFenway and @Chris_Buescher

Qualifying Heat Races – Saturday, March 27 at 6 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90
Food City Dirt Race – Sunday, March 28 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Buescher at Bristol Motor Speedway

  • Buescher makes his 12th Cup start at Bristol on Sunday, where he has two top-10 finishes, most recently an eighth-place run last fall.
  • Buescher’s best finish at ‘The World’s Fastest Half Mile’ came in 2016 when he ran fifth.
  • In five Xfinity starts at Bristol, Buescher has three top-10 runs, including a career-best third in 2015.

Buescher on Dirt Elsewhere

  • While not as experienced on dirt as his teammate, Buescher is fresh off his first experience on the Bristol dirt track with last week’s Bristol Dirt Nationals.
  • Buescher competed in the 604 Late Model Class last week, and prior to that also turned laps on separate dirt tracks, all in an attempt to prep for Sunday’s Cup race.
  • He also ran select dirt events in the ARCA Series during the early days of his career, notably winning one dirt race at DuQuoin Fairgrounds in Illinois in 2011.

Bristol Dirt Formats

  • The NCS will run practice sessions and qualifying heats that will determine the starting lineups for the main event. The lineup for each of the four qualifying heats per series will be determined by random draw.
  • Passing points – a common theme across weekly dirt track racing – will also play a role this weekend. Passing points are the amount of points collected based on how many cars drivers are able to pass during a qualifying heat. Those points will help determine the starting lineup for the main event.
  • As for the qualifying heat races, the Cup Series will run four 15-lap heats with 9-10 cars in each race.

Luke Lambert at Bristol Motor Speedway

  • Lambert will be on the box for his 18th Cup race at Bristol. In 17 prior starts, he has five top-10s with a career-best fifth in the 2015 spring race. His average finish is 15.1.
  • Dating back seven events at ‘The World’s Fastest Half Mile,’ Lambert has three top-10s and five finishes inside the top-12.
  • Lambert is a former winner at Bristol in the NXS, bringing home one of his four career Xfinity wins back in the 2012 spring race. He and Elliott Sadler started fourth in the No. 2 machine and led the final 36 laps for the victory.

QUOTE WORTHY

Buescher on racing at Bristol Dirt:
“I think a lot of it is going to be survival, trying to do decent in the heat races to get a good starting position. I don’t completely understand the system, but I haven’t done much dirt racing in my past at all, so, like I said, we’ll work on practice, we’ll get it driving decent, we’ll go into the heat and try to get some points without tearing our race car up and that way we’ll find ourselves ready for a really long dirt race.”

Last Time Out
Buescher secured his first top-10 of the season last weekend at Atlanta with a seventh-place run, and scored stage finishes of ninth and eighth along the way.

Where They Rank
Following his top-10, Buescher is 16th in driver points through six events.

On the Car
Fastenal returns to the fold at Roush Fenway for its 11th season in 2021. They spent three years on the No. 99 before jumping to the No. 17 Cup Series entry, and were the primary partner on the No. 60 Xfinity team that captured the owner’s championship in 2011.

Fastenal will feature top suppliers Ansell, Duracell/Procell, Master Lock, Go-Jo and Krylon 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 [Nasdaq: FAST] is North America’s largest fastener distributor and a ‘one-stop’ source for hundreds of thousands of OEM, MRO and Construction products. With more than 2,600 stores worldwide, the company supports B2B customers with tailored local inventory and dedicated personnel, who visit regularly, quickly respond to emergency needs, and provide efficient inventory management solutions. Fastenal’s service-oriented business network includes the world’s largest industrial vending program, 14 regional distribution centers, 8 custom manufacturing facilities, thousands of delivery vehicles, and industry-leading sourcing, quality and engineering resources.

NASCAR legends attend Goodyear Tire Test at Nashville Superspeedway

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Busy Thwaits Ready for Road Atlanta Trans Am

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Official Release
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Franklin, TENNESSEE – March 23, 2021 – There are few drivers on the Trans Am scene busier at the moment than Tennessee based Ken Thwaits, who will be behind the wheel of his new Chevrolet Camaro for the second weekend running following his hugely promising debut in the car at Charlotte Motor Speedway. While Ken is becoming increasingly familiar to the world of Trans Am, it’s nevertheless a huge challenge taking on the driver’s seat of the new car in only his second race in the full series of the TA Class.

Ken’s No. 5 Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro is one of a bumper 17 car entry in the high octane series defining TA Class. A number that indicates the growing strength and popularity of the series. Meanwhile the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta is a happy hunting ground for Ken, who won the rescheduled XGT event there in November en route to wrapping up that Championship and set a new track record for the class of 1:27:056 in the process. 

This weekend Ken comes to Atlanta for Round 2 of the 2021 Trans Am presented by Pirelli Championship season on the back of a fine podium P3 finish in the Pro-Am event at Charlotte last Sunday. We spoke to him about the weekend ahead and how it contrasts to the Audi R8 LMS ULTRA he piloted with such aplomb in 2020. 

“Last year was great fun and it was fantastic to get to know everyone and familiarize myself with the various tracks in the Audi. I really caught the Trans Am bug last year but there’s no doubt it’s a whole different ball game running in the TA Class as opposed to the GT3 cars. The Trans Am cars are bigger power platforms, there are more competitors that we’re up against – some seriously talented drivers in the likes of Ernie [Francis Jr.], Chris Dyson and Tomy Drissi.”

Of his newly acquired Camaro machine Ken added, “It’s safe to say I’ve been around Camaros and a collector for a very long time, but never one quite like this one. It’s an absolute monster with a huge amount of horsepower to transfer to the track. While I’m still getting to know it, the car was fantastic at Charlotte and if we run as well this weekend, I’ll be delighted.” 

He went on, “The team and everyone around has been great and it’s good to be racing again at what is still a very difficult time for many people.” 

John Clagget and his team have done a terrific job in getting the program together this year and the action on the schedule. At Road Atlanta for the TA Class sessions will start on Friday morning at 11:15 a.m. with an optional test session. Official practice is at the same time on Saturday morning with qualifying at 4:45 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. The race itself goes green at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, March 28. 

It should be an exciting year ahead when the action resumes for Franklin Road Apparel, Ken and Showtime Motorsports. Learn more about the Showtime Motorsports team partner, Franklin Road Apparel, at franklinroad.com and showtimemotorsports.net. Keep up to date with the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli at gotransam.com.

Check out the Showtime Motorsports Facebook page: facebook.com/showtimemotorsp/ and @ShowtimeMotorsp.

About Showtime Motorsports:

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

Hamlin to Compete in 2021 eNASCAR ProInvitational Series

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Official Release
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Hamlin to Compete in 2021 eNASCAR ProInvitational Series

Season Outlook: Denny Hamlin will compete in the 10-race 2021 season of the eNASCAR ProInvitational Series, the iRacing series that showcases top-level NASCAR drivers performing in simulators on virtual racetracks. The series launched in 2020 during NASCAR’s nine-week hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, giving drivers the opportunity to continue competing while working from home.

Hamlin won two ProInvitational Series races in 2020 – the inaugural event at Homestead-Miami Speedway and the series finale at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Just as memorable as the wins was an incident during the Talladega Superspeedway race when Hamlin’s seven-year-old daughter inadvertently turned off his simulator’s monitors mid-race, causing him to finish last.

FedEx, the primary sponsor of the #11 Toyota in the NASCAR Cup Series, will once again carry over into the iRacing series as Hamlin kicks off the season Wednesday in the virtual FedEx Freight Toyota.

Hamlin iRacing Statistics:
Starts:169
Wins: 32
Top-5s: 77
Poles: 31

Series Schedule (FS1):
Wednesday, March 24 – Bristol Dirt (8 p.m. ET)
Wednesday, April 21 – Talladega (7 p.m. ET)
Wednesday, May 5 – Darlington (8 p.m. ET)
Wednesday, May 19 – COTA (7 p.m. ET)
Wednesday, June 2 – Track TBD (8 p.m. ET)
*Second half of schedule (NBC) to be released at a later date

For more series information, visit www.enascar.com.

TicketSmarter becomes official ticket resale marketplace of World Wide Technology Raceway

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Official Release
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March 23, 2021, St. Louis Region – World Wide Technology Raceway, the home of NASCAR, INDYCAR and NHRA racing in the St. Louis-Metro East region, today announced TicketSmarter as its official ticket resale marketplace partner.

“We are excited to partner with World Wide Technology Raceway as an extension of our strategy to develop strong, mutually beneficial relationships that provide WWTR’s race fans with an enhanced ticketing experience,” said TicketSmarter CEO Jeff Goodman. “We look forward to developing our relationship with WWTR over the next several years.”

As the official ticket resale marketplace, TicketSmarter will gain marketing and sponsorship rights for WWTR, and give motorsports fans a safe, trusted platform to buy and sell tickets.

For TicketSmarter’s available WWTR tickets, please visit https://www.ticketsmarter.com/venues/world-wide-technology-raceway-at-gateway.

Major WWTR events for the 2021 season include the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 200 (August 20), the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline (August 21) and the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Midwest Nationals (September 24-26).

WWTR is located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis. For additional information on World Wide Technology Raceway, please call (618) 215-8888 or visit www.WWTRaceway.com. Follow WWTR on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram.

About World Wide Technology Raceway

World Wide Technology Raceway is the home of INDYCAR, NASCAR and NHRA racing in the St. Louis region. Located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering more than 600 acres, WWTR is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the area. WWTR’s facilities include a 1/4-mile drag strip, 1.25-mile superspeedway, recently-expanded 2.0-mile road course, a state-of-the-art karting facility, a 14-acre, multi-purpose dirt off-road venue and the Gateway Drive-In Theater at World Wide Technology Raceway (a drive-in entertainment venue able to accommodate 3,000 cars). WWTR acquired Gateway National Golf Links, adjacent to the speedway property, in 2019. WWTR was the recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Facility of the Year Award from the Race Track Business Conference and the 2017 Spirit of St. Louis Award from the St. Louis Attractions Association. In 2018, owner and CEO Curtis Francois received the Innovator Award from the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission in recognition of his work for restoring World Wide Technology Raceway (known then as Gateway Motorsports Park) to prominence. In 2020, WWTR received the Track Award at the annual NASCAR Drive for Diversity Awards. The 2021 season marks the 10th year of Francois’ ownership of the facility.

About TicketSmarter

With seats for over 125,000 live events and 48 million tickets for sale, TicketSmarter is a national ticket marketplace whose mission is to enable customers to experience the power and excitement of live events by creating valuable partnerships while giving back to children’s charities. TicketSmarter is the official ticket resale partner of Rose Bowl Stadium and the title sponsor of the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl with ESPN Events. Additionally, TicketSmarter is the official ticket resale partner of over 20 collegiate conferences, 70 universities, and hundreds of events and venues nationally.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TicketSmarter
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/TicketSmarter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TicketSmarter

Rackley Roofing to be title sponsor of Nashville Superspeedway’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday, June 1

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GMS Racing Camping World Trucks Bristol Dirt Preview

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Official Release
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Sheldon Creed, No. 2 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet Silverado
Bristol Dirt Camping World Trucks Stats

  • No prior starts on the Bristol Dirt Track.

2021 Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 4, Best start: 2, Best finish; 2, Top 5s: 2, Top 10s: 3, Laps led: 25

Notes:

  • Dirt details: Sheldon Creed has four Camping World Trucks starts on dirt with a best finish of second in the Eldora Dirt Derby in 2019. Creed’s dirt background includes the Lucas Oil Offroad Racing Series, Speed Energy Stadium Trucks, the world-famous Dakar Rally and the acclaimed Baja 100-. He was a gold medalist in Stadium Super Trucks at X-Games Austin in 2015 and won the ARCA West race at the LVMS Dirt Track in 2018.
  • Chassis history: Creed and the No. 2 team will compete with chassis No. 021 this weekend in Bristol.This chassis finished inside the top-10 four times at Eldora from 2016-2019, most notably a second-place finish for Creed in 2019 and a win for Kyle Larson in 2016.
  • Crew chief corner: Jeff Stankiewicz has one win as crew chief in a dirt race in the Camping World Trucks with Kyle Larson at Eldora in 2016 and finished second at Eldora with Creed in 2019. Stankiewicz has one win as a crew chief on a dirt track in the ARCA Menards Series in 2015 at DuQuoin and won at the LVMS Dirt Track with Creed in 2018 in the ARCA West Series.

Quote:

“I’m really excited to get back to dirt racing, it’s a style of racing I know well. It’s a new track for everybody, but I’m confident in myself and my team and I think this will be a good week for us to try to make up some points on the championship lead.”

Zane Smith, No. 21 Chevrolet Silverado
Bristol Dirt Camping World Trucks Stats

  • No prior starts at the Bristol Dirt Track.

2021 Camping World Truck Stats

  • Starts: 4, Best start: 7, Best finish: 6, Top 10s: 2

Notes:

  • Dirt details: Zane Smith is no stranger to dirt racing having earned a fifth-place finish at DuQuoin in the ARCA Menards Series in 2018 and competing in several trophy trucks events.
  • Chassis history: Smith and the No. 21 team will utilize chassis no. 136 this weekend in Bristol. This chassis is a brand new addition to the GMS stable.
  • Crew chief corner: Kevin “Bono” Manion has been crew chief in four dirt races in the Camping World Truck series and has one top-10 at Eldora in 2019.

Quote:

“I’m looking forward to Bristol Dirt. It’s going to be crazy to see what the track turns into with a 150 lap race. Luckiy, I’ve been able to get some dirt experience thanks to Chevy and GMS Racing. It’s going to be a fun night and I’m just ready to get it going.”

Chase Purdy, No. 23 Bama Buggies Chevrolet Silverado
Bristol Dirt Camping World Trucks Stats

  • No prior starts at the Bristol Dirt Track.

2021 Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 4, Best start: 4, Laps led: 4

Notes:

  • Dirt details: Chase Purdy’s last start on dirt was at DuQuoin in 2018 in the ARCA Menards Series where he finished eighth.
  • Chassis history: Purdy and the No. 23 team will compete with chassis No. 009 this weekend in Bristol. This chassis has two starts at Eldora for GMS in 2018 and 2019.
  • Crew chief corner: Saturday’s race will mark Jeff Hensley’s 400th Camping World Trucks race atop the pit box. Hensley heen a fixture in the Camping World Trucks since 2004. Hensley has bee crew chief for six dirt races with three top-five and four top-10 finishes. Quote:

“I’m excited about Bristol Dirt this weekend! I don’t really know what to expect with the new track and neither does anyone else so that’ll be interesting. Hopefully we can figure it out quickly and have a great run this weekend with this No. 23 team.”

Raphael Lessard, No. 24 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet Silverado
Bristol Dirt Camping World Trucks Stats

  • No prior starts at the Bristol Dirt Track.

2021 Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 4, Best start: 5, Laps led: 17, Stage wins: 2

Notes:

  • Dirt details: Friday’s practice session will be Raphael Lessard’s first professional race on dirt.
  • Chassis history: Lessard and the No. 24 team will compete with chassis No. 315 this weekend in Bristol. This is the same chassis that went to victory lane at Eldora in 2019 with a GMS affiliate team.
  • Crew chief corner: Chad Walter will call his first dirt race as crew chief in Saturday’s Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt.

Quote:

“I’m really excited for Bristol Dirt! It will be a great experience making my first start on dirt. I’m ready to learn and go out and get a good finish for our team.”

Tyler Ankrum, No. 26 LiUNA! Chevrolet Silverado
Bristol Dirt Camping World Trucks Stats

  • No prior starts at the Bristol Dirt Track.

2021 Camping World Truck Stats

  • Starts: 4, Best start: 11, Laps led: 6

Notes:

  • Dirt details: Tyler Ankrum has one Camping World Trucks start on dirt at Eldora in 2019 where he started 26th and finished 9th.
  • Chassis history: Tyler Ankrum and the No. 26 team will utilize chassis No. 228 this weekend in Bristol. This chassis finished 16th at Eldora in 2018 for GMS.
  • Crew chief corner: Charles Denike will call his first dirt race as crew chief on Saturday, but is no stranger to success on dirt. Denike was engineer for Stewart Friesen’s victory at Eldora Speedway I 2019.

Quote:

“I’m excited for Bristol. I’m pumped up to get back on dirt. I’m happy we’re going back to Bristol, it’s a really cool track and it’s something special that NASCAR is doing for all of us. I’ve been doing a lot of dirt testing and a lot of preparation for this race. I think we’ll go fast and the whole GMS team will be strong. I’m really excited.”

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 Raphael Lessard. The team also competes in the ARCA Racing Series with Jack Wood. 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/.

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