Home Blog Page 2659

Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing Teams Seek Continued Endurance Race Success in the 12 Hours of Sebring Following Victory in the Rolex 24 At Daytona

By
Official Release
-
Rolex 24 at Daytona, IMSA, Daytona, January 2021

SEBRING, Florida – Carrying the momentum of a breakout and historic victory in the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona, Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams seek additional endurance race success this weekend in the 69th running of the 12 Hours of Sebring at Sebring International Raceway. Two Mercedes-AMG GT3 teams will attempt to secure the second-straight endurance victory of the season in Saturday’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 12 Hours of Sebring. In Friday’s featured event on the 3.74-mile Sebring circuit, four Mercedes-AMG GT4 entries compete in the two-hour IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race.

In January at Daytona International Speedway (DIS), Winward Racing and team co-drivers Russell Ward, Indy Dontje, Maro Engel and Philip Ellis earned the first Rolex 24 win for the Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the GTD (GT Daytona) class. The victory, in Winward’s only planned GTD start this season, remarkably came in the team’s IMSA WeatherTech Championship debut.

Engel drove the winning Winward Racing entry across the finish line just ahead of the No. 75 SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3, anchoring a one-two Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing finish in North America’s premier 24-hour endurance.

With Winward shifting focus this weekend solely to its season-long IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Mercedes-AMG GT4 program with Ward and Dontje, two other Rolex 24 contenders will carry the Mercedes-AMG Motorsport customer racing flag in Saturday’s 12 Hours of Sebring.

Meanwhile, Engel steps into the No. 75 SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 at Sebring to co-drive with Kenny Habul and Mikael Grenier.

The other Mercedes-AMG GT3 competing Saturday at Sebring is season-long IMSA GTD entrants Alegra Motorsports, which made it three Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the top-10 in the Rolex 24. The No. 28 Alegra Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 team looks to improve on its ninth-place Daytona finish at Sebring with co-drivers Daniel Morad, Michael de Quesada and Billy Johnson.

The 12 Hours of Sebring is scheduled to start this Saturday, March 20, at 10:10 a.m. EDT. Live coverage airs on the NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) for the opening hours of the race at 10 a.m. EDT and picks up again on NBCSN at 7 p.m. EDT straight through to the race finish. Flag-to-flag coverage is available in the U.S. on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold and the NBC Sports App with authentication. International viewers can watch live at www.IMSA.tv.

The four-strong Mercedes-AMG GT4 effort in the top-tier Grand Sport (GS) class in Michelin Pilot Challenge was led by Ward and Dontje at Daytona, who return at Sebring in the No. 4 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4.

Ward and Dontje ran in contention for the win throughout the race only to be hampered by a late-race caution that didn’t work with the team’s strategy.

Dontje made up as much ground as he could in the closing minutes and took the checkered flag in eighth place before time ran out.

The No. 56 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 of Jeff Mosing and Eric Foss also contended early at Daytona, leading three race laps before being spun out of contention. The contact ultimately led to a retirement at Daytona, but the No. 56 team expects to return to front-of-the-pack form at Sebring.

Mosing and Foss team at Sebring with the Murillo Racing sister No. 65 Mercedes-AMG GT4 entry driven by Brent Mosing and Tim Probert.

The fourth Mercedes-AMG GT4 set for Sebring this week is the No. 10 LAP Motorsports/Bluff City Racing entry co-driven by Anton Dias Perera and Scott Andrews.

The Michelin Pilot Challenge two-hour race is scheduled to start Friday at 2:35 p.m. EDT. Live streaming on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold in the U.S. begins at 2:30 p.m. EDT with free streaming available to international audiences at www.IMSA.tv.

Maro Engel, Driver – No. 75 SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “I am absolutely looking forward to getting back to Sebring. My only previous start there was a few years ago in LMPC, so I am looking forward to my first outing in a Mercedes-AMG GT3. Sebring is a tough test for man and machine. It’s extremely bumpy but a great track, a driver’s track as they call it. It’s definitely a track where the Mercedes-AMG GT3 is well suited and performs well, so we will look to build on that. It’s great to be back racing with Kenny and Mikael, they ran a great race at Daytona as well, but when it was clear Winward was going to stick with their plan of running only the one race at Daytona, the opportunity came up to run with SunEnergy1. We will push hard for a strong result which will help Mercedes-AMG with the constructor championship and the SunEnergy1 team in the endurance cup.”

Billy Johnson, Driver – No. 28 Alegra Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3: “I’m really looking forward to Sebring. It’s great to finally be driving for Alegra in the 12 hour which was actually the first race I was scheduled to do with the team years ago. The whole team showed a lot of potential at Daytona and we look to carry that momentum into a strong result at Sebring.”

Indy Dontje, Driver – No. 4 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “Of course, it’s a shame not to be in GTD at Sebring, but this was our plan at the beginning of the year. We want to fight for the championship in GT4 and I think we have good chance. We just have to be smart and get points. Sebring suits me and Russell quite good so I think we can again fight in the front for the podium. At Daytona we did really well on strategy, but we were unlucky with safety car in the end. We performed well until that point. So, I have a good feeling for this weekend. The spirit in the team is of course great and we have to keep this momentum to continue this success.”

CHEVY NCS AT ATLANTA 1: Ryan Preece Press Conf Transcript

By
Official Release
-

NASCAR CUP SERIES
ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY
FOLDS OF HONOR QUICKTRIP 500
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 17, 2021

RYAN PREECE, NO. 37 PLANTERS CAMARO ZL1 1LE, Teleconference Transcript:

HOW’S THE CAR AND WHAT’S IT LIKE BEING BACK IN A MODIFIED TODAY AT MARTINSVILLE?
“Man, this place was made for it I can tell you that. Modifieds are light and fast, and they’ve got a lot of tire and a lot of grip. So, all smiles out of me today. It’s pretty cool.”

IN THE TOUR-TYPE MODIFIED COMMUNITY HERE IN THE SOUTH, IT’S STARTING TO HAVE A RESURGENCE. WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO HOOK SOUTHERNERS ON TOUR-TYPE MODIFIED RACING?
“We’re all racers. We all enjoy racing. To be honest with you, there’s plenty of racing to go around; whether you’re a Late Model fan or a full-body fan, or if you’re an open wheel Sprint Car guy. Modifieds are just special, right? They’re a fun race car to go out and basically drive really, really hard. The harder you drive it, the more rewarded you are. That’s what is exciting about it. It was actually really cool. I saw a picture Matt Dillner posted of Caraway, and they actually had a really great crowd. They had a good car count. And it is cool to see how healthy Modified racing is in general is becoming; and obviously healthy the Modified Tour is, where they’re getting 35-plus cars week-in and week-out. That’s what you want to see as a racer. It’s really cool to see the direction the Tour is heading in and all the changes that have been put in place to help the teams and to make it easier for newer teams to come in.”

THE TOUR IS BEING CHALLENGED AND THERE ARE A LOT OF ALTERNATIVES IN THE NEW ENGLAND AREA. SO, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS AS RACERS AND TEAMS, PRIORITIZE AS IT PERTAINS TO THE NASCAR TOUR. WHAT DO THEY NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THEY’RE STILL P1 ON THE TOUR-TYPE HUBS?
“Well, I think they did a really important step, which was releasing some of those purse structures that usually most people don’t get to see. The majority of the races on the Modified Tour, I think all of them, are over $10,000 to win, which is a great step. That’s something some of the other series and shows, they’ve been really making a big effort and paying more money. I know the Modified Tour does a great job in doing that and also making it pay throughout the field for people who are just showing up, or if you have a bad night, or whatever it might be. At the end of the day, I don’t kind of look at which series I’m going to run or not run. Obviously, the Modified Tour has always been the spotlight, kind of like the World of Outlaws, I feel, or the All-Star Series are kind of like the two big series in Sprint Cars. Really, I just want to race. That’s what I’m concerned about. It’s really awesome that NASCAR and the Whelen Modified Tour have been able to put this all together to come to Martinsville and to go to Richmond and go to these premier race tracks because it’s a great opportunity for guys like myself and Ryan Newman and other drivers that wouldn’t necessarily have the opportunity to run at a historic race track like here or Richmond; and go out and race and put on a great race for the fans.”

WHAT’S MORE FUN TO DRIVE? A MODIFIED OR A CUP CAR?
“Man, I love race cars. I love racing. A Cup car is a lot of fun. I really enjoy it. I love working with JTG and the No. 37 guys and just fine-tuning those things. But I also enjoy racing Modifieds, just like I’m sure Kyle Larson enjoys racing his Sprint car or Christopher Bell enjoys running his Midget or some of these guys doing those things. So, it’s a nice refresher to kind of come out here and it’s no different than if you’re a kid going and racing a Go Kart in a sense. You get excited. I’m having a lot of fun here today. I’m lucky enough that Ed and Connie Partridge, who own the Modified team that I race for, they have a new guy that’s taken over maintaining and setting these cars up. He’s a young kid that I have a lot of faith in, and I’m really excited about working with him this year.”

YOU GET TO HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO BY RACING IN NASCAR CUP AND ALSO THE MODIFIED TOUR. DO YOU FEEL BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO JUMP BACK AND FORTH A LITTLE BIT?
“Yeah, for sure. As a racer, your ultimate goal is to get to NASCAR’s Cup Series. That’s where it is. That’s where you want to be. But at the same time, I know where my roots are. I know where I’ve cut my teeth. I know where I’ve put many hours in the race shop to go and win races. And I enjoy racing these race cars and I know quite a bit about them and they’re a lot of fun to race. So, I obviously enjoy doing it, for sure. But yeah, I’m definitely pretty blessed to be able to have owners like Tad and Jodi (Geschickter) that allow me to come do things like this and do these races, and it’s a lot of fun. The best thing for a race car driver is to be in the seat all the time.”

YOU ARE 14TH IN THE NASCAR CUP SERIES SEASON. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE START OF THE SEASON SO FAR?
“I feel like it’s important to get off to a good start like that. We had two really solid runs back-to-back with the Daytona Superspeedway and the Daytona Road Course; capitalizing on getting some Stage points, which I knew was going to be extremely important. And, we had a pretty good run at Las Vegas. It probably, I felt like, could have been a Top 10. And then just a bad weekend last weekend. It’s just part of those things. It’s like I was talking to my crew chief yesterday, we want to forget about Phoenix. We want to learn from it but we want to look forward to Atlanta and rebounding and putting a solid run together because right now, it’s important to stay consistent and stay out of wrecks and we do our job an execute, we can really shock some people this year. So, we’re excited about it and I’m definitely pumped about how we started the season.

ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO BRISTOL DIRT AND POTENTIALLY ANOTHER RACE WHERE YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO QUALIFY IN?
‘’Yes. Pressure doesn’t bother me. We talked about it for the 500, trying to qualify in or even race your way in, it’s just part of the deal. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to race my way in. I’ve been to races where I’ve had to qualify and there have been 60-plus cars there and I’ve done it. So, ultimately you do as much preparation as you can, as a race car driver, which, dirt stuff, I haven’t done a whole lot of dirt experience but, I have been watching their broadcasts and kind of seeing what the track is doing. And I do have a teammate that does run a lot of dirt races, so I’m sure I’m going to lean on him. I’ve also been lucky enough to have a sponsor like Mohawk Construction, who owns Big Block Dirt Modifieds and a race track in New York. So, I’m going to be on quite a few people over the next week, but right now I’m focused on Atlanta and having a solid run there.”

ANY UPDATES ON YOUR CUP SCHEDULE? IF THERE IS A POINT WHERE YOU HAVE TO SKIP A RACE, HAS THAT BEEN DETERMINED?
“Every week I’m focused on whatever race is scheduled. So, I I know Tad and JTG and their entire marketing team have been working extremely hard to sell the rest of the races. But my job as a race car driver is to be as well-prepared as I possibly can and to keep pushing out good finishes so we can stay up there in points.”

WHAT TRACK WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE MODIFIED TOUR?
“How about Daytona Superspeedway? No, I’m kidding. I don’t really know. You start talking about those 1-mile plus race tracks, it starts getting really, really fast; and things can happen there. But I’d like to see a road course again. They’re pretty fun. But I don’t really know. I haven’t put a whole lot of thought into it. I guess there are some really cool short tracks out there. New Smyrna would be a really cool race track to see open up on the Modified Tour. Hopefully it can happen soon.”
Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 75 countries with nearly 4 million cars and trucks sold in 2019. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found www.chevrolet.com.

Martin Truex Jr. to Drive No. 51 Auto-Owners Insurance Tundra at Bristol Dirt Race

By
Official Release
-

Toyota Racing Driver Returns to Camping World Truck Series for First Time Since ’06

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 17, 2021) – Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) announced today that 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. will pilot the No. 51 Tundra March 27 in the Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Truex’s Tundra will carry primary sponsorship from Auto-Owners Insurance, one of the nation’s largest insurers. Noble Aerospace, one of the largest and most capable aerospace metal finishing business in the United States, will serve as a major associate sponsor.

Truex Jr., Busch’s Cup Series teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, will make a start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for the first time since 2006 when he got behind the wheel of the No. 51 for Billy Ballew Motorsports at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. The New Jersey native has just two career starts in NASCAR’s third division, with a best result of 19th at the Milwaukee (Wisc.) Mile in 2005.

The Toyota Racing driver has 28 career Cup Series victories, including the series-best eight he collected en route to the championship in 2017. Truex Jr. is a two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion (2004 and 2005) and has earned 13 career wins in that series. He has one win on the pavement at Bristol, which came in the XFINITY Series race in 2004.

Truex will be looking to join an exclusive club of just 35 drivers that have won at least one race in all three of NASCAR’s National Series. Christopher Bell, who won his first Camping World Truck Series race for KBM in 2015, became the most recent member of the club after winning the NASCAR Cup Series race at the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway Road Course earlier this year.

Erik Jones (2013) and William Byron (2016), like Bell, earned their first career Truck Series victory at KBM on their way up the ladder, winning in order of progression through each series. Denny Hamlin won his first XFINITY Series race in March of 2006 and then won his first Cup Series race later that year. It was not until 2011 that Hamlin won his first Truck Series while racing driving for KBM. Busch is also a member of the club, but he earned his first Truck Series victory driving for Billy Ballew Motorsports in 2005, five years before the debut of KBM.

“This is something Kyle (Busch) and I have talked about over the last few years and I’m excited that we were finally able to make it happen,” Truex Jr. said. “I’m really thankful for Auto-Owners Insurance coming on board for what is going to be a big weekend for our sport racing on dirt at Bristol for the first time. Also, I want to thank Noble Aerospace and Cessna for their support.”

“We’re excited to have Martin behind the wheel of the No. 51 Auto-Owners Insurance Tundra for the inaugural Bristol Dirt weekend and provide him with the opportunity to join the list of drivers who have been able to win in all three NASCAR National Series,” Busch said. “It’s pretty cool to say that four of the 35 drivers in that exclusive club earned their first Camping World Truck Series victory driving for KBM, and we’re going to do everything we can to help Martin become the fifth.”

“We know that Martin has wanted to compete in another truck series race for almost 15 years and we are thrilled to support him in this opportunity,” said Auto-Owners Insurance Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales Mary Pierce.

The Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Cup Series will take part in the inaugural NASCAR dirt-track race weekend at Bristol. The event will feature unique rules include four 15-lap heat races, with a lineup set by a random draw. where drivers will earn points for positions gained during their heat to calculate the starting lineup for the feature. During the Bristol dirt race tire changes, vehicle work and fueling can only be conducted during the two stage breaks, with the exception being trucks that are involved in incidents.

KBM has earned two of its series-leading 81 career wins on dirt. Darrell Wallace Jr. won at Eldora Speedway, a ½-mile dirt oval in 2014 and Bell made it back-to-back victories for the organization at the famed track in 2015.

Live coverage of the Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt at Bristol will be March 27 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1.

About Auto-Owners Insurance:

Established in 1916, Auto-Owners Insurance Group is a Fortune 500 insurance company headquartered in Lansing, Michigan. Auto-Owners is 100% committed to the Independent Agency System and is a values-driven company. Recognized for exceptional financial strength and stability, it is among the nation’s largest insurers, writing over 5 million policies annually.

Auto-Owners backs up its products by providing award-winning claims service. The company is represented by over 47,500 licensed agents in 26 states and offers multiple lines of insurance including life, home, auto and business.

Auto-Owners is rated A++ (Superior) by the A.M. Best Company, a nationally recognized independent insurance rating authority. It has received numerous awards from national organizations for customer service and quality, and is certified as a Great Place to Work®.

About Noble Aerospace:

Noble Aerospace is the parent company of Embee Processing in Santa Ana, California and All Metal Processing of Orange County in Stanton, California. Noble Aerospace is one of the largest and most capable aerospace metal finishing business in the United States. For more information, please contact Michael Coburn at michael@nobleaero.com or visit our website at www.nobleaero.com

About Kyle Busch Motorsports:

Since debuting in 2010, Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) has quickly established itself as one of the most successful teams in all of NASCAR. Owned by two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch and fueled by his passion for winning, the organization holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (81) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). 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).

KBM prepares a fleet of race-winning Toyotas out of its state-of-the art 77,000-square-foot facility in Mooresville, N.C. Fans can stay up-to-date with all the latest KBM news online at www.KyleBuschMotorsports.com, by liking the team on Facebook (KBMteam) and by following the team on Instagram (KBMteam), and Twitter (@KBMteam).

Kaulig Racing Weekly Advance | Atlanta Motor Speedway

By
Official Release
-

Jeb Burton, No. 10 State Water Heaters / Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevrolet
Points Standings: 3rd (-76 Points)

‌NXS Atlanta Stats:
Starts: 1
Wins: 0
Top Fives: 0
Top 10s: 1
Laps Led: 1
Best Start: 15th
Best Finish: 10th
‌
Justin Haley, No. 11 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet
Points Standings: 8th (-99 Points)

NXS Atlanta Stats:
Starts: 2
Wins: 0
Top Fives: 1
Top 10s: 2
Laps Led: 8
Best Start: 13th
Best Finish: 3rd

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Ellsworth Advisors Chevrolet
Points Standings: 4th (-86 Points)
‌
NXS Atlanta Stats:
Starts: 1
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 1
Top 10s: 1
Laps Led: 37
Best Start: 30th
Best Finish: 1st

Jeb Burton
2021 season stats:
Starts: 5
Wins: 0
Top fives: 3
Top 10s: 5
Laps led: 2
Avg. start: 5.2
Avg. Finish: 5.8

“I haven’t raced an Xfinity car at Atlanta since 2016, but I finished 10th the last time I was there. I love that track, and I am so excited about the direction our team is headed in. It should be a good weekend. I am also excited about having Crossroads with the Burtons and State Water Heaters on the hood, so hopefully we have a good showing.” – Jeb Burton

Justin Haley
2021 season stats:
Starts: 5
Wins: 0
Top fives: 0
Top 10s: 3
Laps led: 17
Avg. start: 10.2
Avg. Finish: 12.1

“I’ve always been fast at Atlanta, and with our 1.5-mile program stepping up this year, I can’t wait to see how fast we will be. Hopefully this week we can finally have some luck and get the finish we deserve in our No. 11 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet.” – Justin Haley

AJ Allmendinger
2021 season stats:
Starts: 5
Wins: 1
Top fives: 3
Top 10s: 3
Laps led: 93
Avg. start: 15.0
Avg. Finish: 12.0

“I have always loved Atlanta. It’s such a fun racetrack to drive, because of the worn-out pavement and how much the cars slide around. Atlanta will always be special to me after winning my first oval race there. I can’t wait to get back to it this weekend in the No. 16 Ellsworth Advisors Chevy.” – AJ Allmendinger

About Kaulig Racing™
Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started and made the Championship 4 round for the first time in 2020. Kaulig Racing fields three full-time entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by Jeb Burton, the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Justin Haley, and the No. 16 Chevrolet driven by AJ Allmendinger. Kaulig Racing™ earned five wins in 2020 and have come to be one of the top competitors on track each weekend. The team will make its second NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) start in the 2021 Daytona 500 with Kaz Grala, as well as a limited NCS schedule this season. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

Kyle Busch – No. 51 Cessna Tundra Camping World Trucks Atlanta Preview

By
Official Release
-

Kyle Busch: Driver, No. 51 Cessna Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: Fr8Auctions 200, Race 4 of 22, 130 Laps – 30/30/70; 200.02 Miles
Location: Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga. (1.5-mile quad-oval)
Date/Broadcast: March 20, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

Report on ‘Rowdy‘
• Owner-driver Kyle Busch gets behind the wheel of the No. 51 Cessna Tundra Friday night for his second of five NASCAR Camping
World Truck Series starts in 2021. In his first start of the year, Busch was able to rebound from going a lap down after suffering a flat tire in the final stage at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to finish second to KBM teammate John Hunter Nemechek.
• ‘Rowdy’ will also pilot the No. 51 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway (April 17), Kansas Speedway in Kansas City (May 1) and Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. (June 26). Since Textron Aviation became a partner in 2017, Busch has recorded 12 victories, 1,366 laps led and an average finish of 5.5 in 21 starts with the Cessna and Beechcraft brands adorning his Tundra.
• Busch, the winningest driver in series history, enters Saturday’s event having won 38.1% (59/155) of the Truck Series races he has entered and finished first or second in 55.5% (86/155). He has won multiple races in each of the last eight seasons (2013 2020). The talented wheelman in recent years had scored a victory at every active NASCAR Camping World Truck Series venue that he had made a start at, but with Richmond being added to the schedule this year, he will need to win there to keep that stat intact. He’s made two starts at Richmond (2001 and 2005), with a best finish of 22nd.
• Rowdy’s five victories at Atlanta are the most by a Camping World Truck Series driver. He also leads Truck Series drivers in career laps led at Atlanta (516) and top-five finishes (eight). In Truck Series events at Atlanta since 2005, Busch leads all drivers in driver rating (127.9), fastest laps (279) and average running position (3.7). His most recent truck triumph at Atlanta, in the 2019 event, was the 52nd of his career and made him the winningest driver in series history. It was his first win in the Truck Series at Atlanta driving for his own team, his first four victories (2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009) came while driving for Billy Ballew Motorsports.
• As it did for the historic win in 2019, Busch’s Tundra on Saturday will carry associate sponsorship on the lower rear quarter from the Dawsonville, Ga. location of Ballew’s car dealership. You can find the lowest prices on used Cars, Trucks and SUV’s at www.BillyBallewMotorsports.com.
• In addition to his five Camping World Trucks victories at Atlanta, Busch has two Cup Series victories (2008 and 2013) and two triumphs in the NASCAR XFINITY Series (2016 and 2017) at the Georgia track.
• It will be a busy weekend for Busch as he does triple duty at two different tracks on two distinct surfaces. The Las Vegas native will be driving a Dirt Late Model for Double L Motorsports at the Bristol Dirt Nationals at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway on Friday night. After traveling to Atlanta for Saturday’s Camping World Truck Series race, he will return to Bristol for a second night of Dirt Late Model action at Bristol. The 35-year-old driver will conclude his hectic weekend in the Cup Series race at Atlanta on Sunday.
• After three events, the No. 51 team sits sixth in the Camping World Trucks owner standings, 57 tallies behind KBM’s No. 4 team. Busch’s runner-up finish at Las Vegas was the team’s best result this season. Drew Dollar finished 10th in the season-opening event at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, and Parker Chase, after a solid run, was relegated to a 23rd-place finish at the Daytona Road Course.
• For more than 90 years, Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has empowered our collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna, and Hawker brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for our customers. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops, and high-performance pistons, to special mission, military trainer and defense products, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on our legendary performance, reliability, and versatility, along with our trusted global customer service network, for affordable and flexible flight. For more information, visit www.txtav.com.

Kyle Busch, Driver Q&A
What is it like finishing second to one of your KBM drivers?
“At Las Vegas, John Hunter was a little bit better than us at the end of the race and I hate I finished second obviously, but it’s nice to see our Tundras getting used to their full potential and running up front. I’m excited to have John Hunter racing at KBM this year and to have Eric Phillips (crew chief) back on board. I felt like when we were able to make that move over the offseason and pair those two together it was going to be a winning combination. Three races in we’ve already reaped the benefits. They’ve had really fast trucks everywhere they’ve gone early in the season, the first few races they just had some issues that kept them from victory lane. Now that my first race with Mardy (Lindley, crew chief) is under our belts, hopefully we will come out a little bit stronger at Atlanta and get our Cessna Tundra back to victory lane and have the other KBM trucks finish second and third.” Kyle

Busch Camping World Truck Series Career Highlights
• Busch has a total of 156 Camping World Trucks starts and is ranked first in wins (59) and second in laps led (7,321)
• The 35-year-old driver has won 37.8% (59/156) of the NCWTS races he has entered and finished first or second in 55.7% (87/156). He has won multiple races in each of the last eight seasons (2013-2020).
• Busch has a total of 103 top-five and 124 top-10 finishes with an average start of 7.3 and an average finish of 6.8.
• Busch stands alone as the leader in all-time career wins in NASCAR’s national touring series with 213 total victories. He has earned 57 NASCAR Cup Series wins, 97 NASCAR XFINITY Series wins, and 59 NGROTS wins.
• In August of 2010, Busch made history when he won the NCWTS, NXS and NCS races at Bristol Motor Speedway, becoming the only driver to sweep all three of NASCAR’s top three series at one track on the same weekend. He then repeated the feat in August of 2017.

Kyle Busch’s No. 51 Cessna Tundra:
KBM-066: The No. 51 Cessna team will race KBM-066 for Saturday’s Fr8Auctions 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Tundra made three starts last season with Raphael Lessard behind the wheel with a best result of sixth at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

KBM-066 Performance Profile:
Starts Wins Average Start Average Finish Laps Led
3 0 12.0 8.0 2

KBM Notes of Interest
• KBM drivers have collected two wins, two poles, 566 laps led, eight top-five and 11 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.8 across 23 starts at Atlanta. Busch led a race-high 92 laps en route to victory in the 2019 event, while Christopher Bell became to the first driver under NASCAR’s new format to sweep all three stages of a race after leading 99 of 130 laps en route to victory from the pole in 2017.
• KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (81) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014.With his victory at Las Vegas, John Hunter Nemecheck became the 15th 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 34 victories, the No. 51 is the winningest number in KBM’s Truck Series fleet.

TPC Racing Back In Action With Vernon McClure For Inaugural Porsche Carrera Cup North America Doubleheader

By
Official Release
-

McClure Will Run the No. 10 Main Street Homes/TPC Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup at Sebring International Raceway

SEBRING, Florida (March 17, 2021) – TPC Racing’s long history with Porsche Motorsports continues this weekend at Sebring International Raceway, where Vernon McClure will run the No. 10 Main Street Homes/TPC Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in the long-awaited Porsche Carrera Cup North America.

The IMSA-sanctioned series will run a doubleheader at the season opener, with the 45-minute Race One at 5:30 ET on Thursday, March 18 and Race Two at 10:10 a.m. ET on Friday, March 19. Both races can be seen on the live stream at IMSA.tv.

Porsche Carrera Cup North America brings the latest-generation Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars to the United States, matching the world-wide platform used in Regional Championships around the world. McClure will run in the Pro-Am class utilizing the same equipment as the Pro Class.

“It’s very cool to have Carrera Cup in the United States now,” Director of Race Operations Harris Levitas said. “It’s something everyone has been looking forward to. It’s still an IMSA-sanctioned event, but Porsche is stepping up a bit with support for the series. We’re really looking forward to it here at TPC Racing.”

McClure was a regular competitor for TPC Racing in the previous-generation of Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA and got his first taste of the new 992-generation car in a series-wide test at Sebring just a couple of weeks ago.

“We’re really looking forward to running the 992 with Vernon McClure,” Levitas said. “Vernon did a terrific job last week on the test days, and we’re looking for some pretty promising results in the Pro-Am class. I think he’ll do very well. The car was great for him to drive. He was so confident behind the wheel. Spencer Pumpelly is working with him, coaching in Carrera Cup. Between Spencer’s notes and Vernon’s approach to the year, I think he good get some very good results in the class.”

McClure had a successful outing at Sebring last November, earning the Hard Charger award and a top-five class finish. The confidence from that, coupled with a successful first test in the new car, should provide a boost for this upcoming weekend.

The No. 36 DSC Sport/Erin Levitas Foundation Porsche 911 GT3 Cup piloted by Mike Levitas was on the original entry list in the 991 Pro-Am Class for previous generation cars. That car was damaged in an incident a week ago at Sebring and, while repairable, will not be competing this weekend in Porsche Carrera Cup North America.

The race week gets underway on Wednesday, March 17 with a 30-minute practice at 3 p.m. ET. Porsche Carrera Cup returns with an 8:15 a.m. ET practice on Thursday, March 18, followed by qualifying at 12:25 p.m. ET and that afternoon’s race at 5:30 p.m. ET. The race week wraps with Friday morning’s race at 10:10 a.m. ET.

About TPC Racing:
TPC Racing is the Mid-Atlantic’s premier maintenance, service, tuning and modification center dedicated solely to Porsche sportscars. TPC Racing specializes in R&D and sales of high-performance modifications for Porsche sports cars and race cars, offering a wide range of vehicle upgrades. Best known for a line of forced induction solutions for the Porsche 911, Cayman and Boxster, a long-time focus on only one make, Porsche, has enabled TPC Racing to become experts in Porsche service, tuning, and racing. In 2000, TPC Racing began entering races under its own banner, scoring an SGS-class Championship in 2004 in the Grand-American Rolex Series and was a class winner in the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona, and captured the 2013 and 2016 IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA Gold Cup Championships. More information can be found at www.TPCRacing.com.

Kyle Larson Returns to the Truck Series for the Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt

By
Official Release
-

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 17, 2021) – Kyle Larson, a winner in all three of NASCAR’s top series, will return to NASCAR Camping World Truck Series action at Bristol Motor Speedway, as the Series makes its debut at the Bristol Motor Speedway dirt track.

Larson, who is no stranger to racing on dirt, won at Eldora Speedway in the Truck Series in 2016.  The Elk Grove, Calif. native will pilot the No. 44 Rich Mar Florist/CircleBDiecast.com Chevrolet Silverado.

“I really appreciate the opportunity given by Niece Motorsports,” said Larson.  “I’m excited to get back into a truck at one of my favorite race tracks.”

The 28-year-old driver has built an extensive and impressive racing resume with more than 250 career race wins.  Larson has won in every racing circuit he has competed in. Most notably, Larson has earned seven victories in the premier NASCAR Cup Series and won the prestigious Chili Bowl Midget Nationals twice in 2020 and 2021, the NASCAR All-Star Race in 2019, and the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2015.

He also won the 2011 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway, winning in all three types of USAC cars in a single night, only the second driver in history to accomplish the feat.

In 2020 Larson turned in one of the most impressive years in the history of dirt-track racing.  While primarily driving sprint cars, he racked up 46 victories in 97 attempts. Larson led the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series in victories with 12 despite competing in only 26 of its 54 events and he secured his first Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series win.

“Kyle is obviously one of the best drivers out there today,” said Niece Motorsports General Manager Cody Efaw.  “His resume on dirt speaks for itself.  We are looking forward to him joining the organization at Bristol and contending for a win.”

The No. 44 Chevrolet will carry the Rich Mar Florist and CircleBDiecast.com colors under the lights at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The Rich Mar Florist story began with the vision of Richard P. Morrissey, his wife, Dolores A. Morrissey, and his parents, Frieda and Vincent Morrissey.  Together, they founded the company in 1955 in Allentown, Pa.

Since its inception, Rich Mar is renowned for its service across Pennsylvania, as the award-winning floral provider has become a community staple in its Allentown and Bethlehem locations.  Building upon its already stellar reputation, the family-owned and operated business has blossomed into the trusted florist of Pocono Raceway, Dover International Speedway and both Lehigh Valley professional sports organizations.

“We’re looking forward to taking part in this historic event for the Truck Series and are excited to be alongside Kyle for what is sure to be a stellar performance,” said Jonathan Morrissey, co-owner of Rich Mar Florist.  “This is a huge announcement for Rich Mar Florist Racing Nation and those that support our involvement in NASCAR.  We are extremely thankful for this partnership with Niece Motorsports and are thrilled to share this historic moment together.”

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

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

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

The Truck Series will be on track Friday, March 26 for practice, and will race on Saturday, March 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET, airing live on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Niece Motorsports: 

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

Sean Creech Motosport Ready for Sebring 12 Hour

By
Official Release
-

JUPITER, Fla. (17 March 2021) – Sean Creech Motorsport (SCM) makes another run at the top spot on the podium in a “home” race this week, taking on the 69th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s new LMP3 class (Saturday, NBCSN, 10:00am ET).

The team, and it’s No. 33 SCM Exelixis Ligier JS P320, served notice in January with an impressive second-place finish in its first WeatherTech series event. But the team, including drivers João Barbosa, Lance Willsey and Yann Clairay, are no strangers to IMSA.

Team principal Sean Creech estimates that 2021 marks somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 Sebring 12 Hour races for himself and several team members, dating back to the former IMSA GT Championship through the American Le Mans era until today.

“It was even harder back in the GTP era, since those were big downforce cars,” Creech remembers. “Racing in this series is always about survival, but even more so at Sebring.”

The LMP3 class is new to the WeatherTech series in 2021, though a version of the car competes in the IMSA Prototype Challenge (Creech won the 2018 championship title managing the ESM team before bringing the program in-house the following season). The team, like most of the LMP3 field, experienced its share of drama ahead of January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona as they came up to speed with the new car, but near-flawless execution by team and drivers brought the car home in second position. With a second straight home state race, the team is focused on reaching that top step.

“We didn’t have a super easy week leading up to the Rolex 24, but I could see how hard the team was working to fix the issues with the car, and how passionate they were,” said Barbosa. “This team is not interested in just competing, they’re here to win every race. I’ve known Sean for a long time, he’s always been a racer, and I knew that mentality was there. The way they approached the race was on par with any other top team I’ve raced with.”

Local knowledge comes in handy around Sebring’s historic, but notoriously tricky (and bumpy) 3.74-mile circuit. Creech’s experience combined with Barbosa’s (the Ormond Beach, Fla. resident has 13 races at Sebring, including two wins and seven podium finishes, on his CV) puts the team a step ahead – as does the return of a familiar face to the pit stand, legendary sports car team owner, mechanic and strategist Mike Colucci.

Colucci worked with the team last weekend at Sebring, as they competed in both the Masters Endurance Legends series and the IMSA Prototype Challenge in the LMP3-2 class. The team took a hard-fought victory in the IPC race, with the track time keeping the team in top form – as did a recent test at Sebring, which confirmed its baseline setup as they prepare for the challenges of race week.

“Sebring is a totally different animal from Daytona, so we worked on every part of the setup and the suspension at the test,” said Creech. “On paper, it looks like an easier race than Daytona, but in reality, it’s so hard on the car, like no other track in the world. Things that don’t break at Daytona, break at Sebring. If you want to survive, you’ve really got to test there, and we had a very productive two days.”

“The test was the first time I’d driven the LMP3 car at Sebring, but we accomplished a lot, testing a lot of different things, and we were very happy with the results,” Barbosa agreed. “It’s a track that changes a great deal, but hopefully it will just be a matter of tweaking things. Sebring puts a lot of stress on all the components, and with all the bumps, it’s even more challenging than Daytona. The class is limited on the number of adjustments a team can do so to find the right compromise is difficult, but we’re happy where we are now”.

“Several teams have moved up to WeatherTech from IPC and they all have a great deal of experience with the first generation LMP3 car at Sebring,” said Willsey, who contested the series with Creech the past three seasons. “We had a pretty good framework to start with, but we continued progressing through the two-day test and I feel that we ended up with a fast car that’s comfortable over the long haul. The wild card this weekend is the weather, and how the car handles it, both inside the cockpit and on the components. The demands at Sebring are radically different from Daytona, but we’ve looked at every point of potential concern. We have a good sense of the amount of abuse the platform will take in different areas: for example, there are profound differences in the car between low fuel load and older tires versus full fuel and new tires, especially on the bumps. It magnifies the importance of teamwork.”

Clairay, from Laval, France, heads to Sebring International Raceway for the first time this week, armed with videos and data from the team’s recent test. The veteran racer, who has extensive Ligier testing experience with the LMP3, knows well the task ahead.

“I know it’s a real challenge ahead of me, as the track is very physical and it doesn’t allow any mistakes,” said Clairay. “I feel as though I’m going to rediscover the spirit of street-type racing a bit, but with higher speeds! I’ve watched videos with on-board cameras and I’ve also been working on my simulator, so I’ll be ready. I am really very happy to race at another monument of American motorsport, and I want to thank Lance, Sean and João for their trust in me. We had a solid race at Daytona without any errors from the team and the drivers: that result has built confidence among all team members and will help us try to climb a step further.”

The 69th Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts takes the green flag Saturday, March 20 at 10:10 a.m. Eastern. The race will be broadcast live in the U.S. on the NBC stations listed below and on NBC Sports Gold’s TRACKPASS, while international viewers can watch via IMSA.tv. IMSA Radio will also be available at IMSA.com.

USA:
NBCSN 10:00 a.m. – Noon
NBC Sports Gold Noon – 7:00 p.m.
NBCSN 7:00 – 10:30 p.m.
NBC Sports Gold’s TRACKPASS 10:10 a.m. – 10:10 p.m.

International:
IMSA.tv/IMSA Radio 10:05 a.m. – 10:10 p.m.

AUTOTRADER REACHES MULTI-YEAR EXTENSION WITH TEAM PENSKE

By
Official Release
-

Keselowski and Logano to Continue Racing in Autotrader Colors in NASCAR Cup Series

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 17, 2021) – Team Penske announced today that Autotrader has reached a multi-year extension of its agreement with the team, beginning with the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season and into the future. The partnership renewal includes an increase in races where the Autotrader brand will serve as primary sponsor for the Ford Mustangs driven by both 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Brad Keselowski and 2018 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Joey Logano. Keselowski and Logano will compete in the Autotrader orange and blue colors for a total of six races during the 2021 season, starting this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where Keselowski will race the No. 2 Autotrader Ford.

Autotrader’s and its parent company Cox Automotive began their relationship with Team Penske in 2014 and together celebrate their eight-year partnership this season.

“Following a strong 2020 season, we look forward to continuing our longstanding sponsorship with Team Penske,” said Steve Rowley, president of Cox Automotive. “Our relationships with Brad, Joey and everyone at Team Penske are so valuable to our business. This partnership allows us to elevate our brands by aligning with a world-class sport, racing team and drivers – not to mention, the ability to connect with some of the most passionate fans in sports. We share their enthusiasm for NASCAR, and these connections help us to build awareness for Autotrader’s efforts to make car buying easier.”

In addition to this weekend’s race in Atlanta, Keselowski will compete in the Autotrader Ford Mustang at Martinsville Speedway (April 10) and Las Vegas Motor Speedway (September 26) this season. Keselowski has enjoyed considerable success with Autotrader as a primary partner, with the No. 2 carrying the brand to Victory Lane three times dating back to 2017.

“It’s great to have Autotrader back on board for 2021,” said Keselowski. “They’ve been a great partner with us for several years and do a lot to activate with our fans, which is really cool. I think it’s so important to have partners in our sport that aren’t just on the side of the car, but actually have active programs and platforms to engage the fans.”

Logano will have Autotrader as the primary sponsor on the No. 22 Ford Mustang at three races in 2021: Talladega Superspeedway (April 25), Sonoma Raceway (June 6) and New Hampshire Motor Speedway (July 18). Autotrader will continue to be featured as an associate sponsor on both cars throughout the Cup Series season.

“As a driver, you always enjoy when a consumer facing brand is on the side of your car, because you instantly know that the fans know who you are representing,” said Logano. “As a huge fan of cars, and someone who likes to buy and sell, it’s great to be associated with Autotrader. I’ve been fortunate enough to represent them for the last several years – now I just need to get them to Victory Lane.”

Autotrader is one of the most recognized third-party car listings brand, with the most engaged audience of in-market car shoppers. Not only can you shop the widest variety of cars, Autotrader features the Kelley Blue Book® Price Advisor on car listings, giving car buyers the confidence to purchase with the most trusted pricing.

About Team Penske
Team Penske is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Cars owned and prepared by Team Penske have produced more than 550 major race wins, over 650 pole positions and 40 Championships across open-wheel, stock car and sports car racing competition. Over the course of its 55-year history, the team has also earned 18 Indianapolis 500 victories, two Daytona 500 Championships, a Formula 1 win, overall victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring along with a win in Australia’s legendary Bathurst 1000 race. In 2021, Team Penske will compete in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. For more information about Team Penske, please visit www.teampenske.com.

About Autotrader
Autotrader is the most recognized third-party car listings brand, with the most engaged audience of in-market car shoppers. As the foremost authority on automotive consumer insights and expert in online and mobile marketing, Autotrader makes the car shopping experience easy and fun for today’s empowered car shopper looking to find or sell the perfect new, used or Certified Pre-Owned car. Using technology, shopper insights and local market guidance, Autotrader’s comprehensive marketing and retailing solutions allow consumers to build their deal online, and guide dealers to personalized digital marketing strategies that grow brand, drive traffic and connect the online and in-store shopping experience. Autotrader is a Cox Automotive™ brand. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. For more information, please visit http://press.autotrader.com.

About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using vehicles easier for everyone. The global company’s more than 27,000 team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with annual revenues of nearly $20 billion. www.coxautoinc.com.

GMS Racing Camping World Trucks Atlanta Preview

By
Official Release
-

Sheldon Creed, No. 2 Overton’s Chevrolet Silverado
Atlanta Motor Speedway Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 2, Best start: 4, Best finish: 12

2021 Camping World Trucks Stats

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

Notes:

  • Sponsor spotlight: Sheldon Creed will sport Overton’s colors this Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Marcus Lemonis, CEO of Camping World and Good Sam Enterprises, has made an effort to support and cultivate B2B relationships throughout the Camping World Trucks field.
  • Chassis history: Creed and the No. 2 team will compete with chassis No. 302 this weekend in Atlanta. Creed scored two top-three finishes and led 182 laps in six starts with this chassis in 2020.
  • Crew chief corner: Jeff Stankiewicz returns to crew chief for the No. 2 team this season.The 2020 championship winning crew chief reunited with Creed mid-season in 2019 after winning the 2018 ARCA Menards Series championship together. Stankiewicz has seven Camping World Trucks wins as a crew chief including five in 2020 en route to the series championship.

Quote:

“I’m excited to get back to Atlanta and get back on track after a week off. We had a strong run last year, but didn’t have the finish to show for it. My guys bring fast trucks every single week and I’m looking forward to going out and better our run from last year.”

Zane Smith, No. 21 Overton’s Chevrolet Silverado
Atlanta Motor Speedway Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 1, Best start: 7, Best finish: 5, Top 5s: 1, Laps led: 5

2021 Camping World Truck Stats

  • Starts: 3, Best start: 8, Best finish: 6, Top 10s: 1

Notes:

  • Sponsor spotlight: Zane Smith will sport Overton’s colors this Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Marcus Lemonis, CEO of Camping World and Good Sam Enterprises, has made an effort to support and cultivate B2B relationships throughout the Camping World Trucks field.
  • Chassis history: Smith and the No. 21 team will compete with chassis No. 331 this Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Smith has three top-10 finishes in three starts with this chassis in 2020 including his win at Michigan in August.
  • Crew chief corner: Kevin “Bono” Manion returns for a second season with Smith and the No. 21 team. The pair racked up two wins and 13 top-10 finds in 2020 en route to a second-place finish in the championship standings. Manion has six Camping World Trucks wins, 17 NASCAR Xfinity Series wins and five NASCAR Cup Series wins in 19 years as a crew chief in the sport.

Quote:

“I like Atlanta, I love wore out tracks where you have to manage tires and manage your truck throughout the race. I feel like our team does that well and finds a way to be there at the end. We’re starting closer to the front than we have our first few races so hopefully it’s a smooth one. We need to score some stage points and be there at the end like we were last year.”

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

  • No prior Camping World Truck starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

2021 Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 3, Best start: 4

Notes:

  • New kid on the block: Chase Purdy is set to make his Atlanta Motor Speedway debut this Saturday in the Fr8Auctions 200.
  • Chassis history: Purdy and the No. 23 team will compete with chassis No. 306 in Saturday’s race. The 23 team earned a top-10 finish in six of the seven races with this chassis in 2020. This chassis has two victories for GMS at Kansas in October 2020 and Texas in June 2018.
  • Crew chief corner: Jeff Hensley rejoins GMS as crew chief for Purdy and the No. 23 team. Hensley has three Camping World Trucks wins at Atlanta Motor Speedway as crew chief. Hensley has 18 Camping World Truck wins in 395 races atop the pit box through 17 seasons in the series. Hensley was previously at GMS in 2016 and served as crew chief for Spencer Gallagher. Quote:

“I’m really excited to go to Atlanta. I’ve never been there before, but it seems like it’s a very multi-groove racetrack with a lot of action. It seems like a fun place to race and I’ve got a lot to learn my first time out on the track. I’ve been relying on a lot of film and what my teammates have to say to prepare.”

Raphael Lessard, No. 24 Richelieu Chevrolet Silverado
Atlanta Motor Speedway Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 1, Best start: 19, Best finish: 18

2021 Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 3, Best start: 5, Laps led: 17, Stage wins: 2

Notes:

  • Sponsor spotlight: Raphael Lessard welcomes Richelieu Hardware as primary sponsor for Saturday’s Fr8Auctions 200. Lessard and Richelieu previously partnered in 2020.
  • Chassis history: Lessard and the No. 24 team will compete with chassis No. 320 on Saturday in Atlanta. The No. 24 utilized this chassis eight times in 2020 and earned four top-10 finishes including Chase Elliott’s bounty win at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  • Crew chief corner: Chad Walter shifts to the No. 24 Silverado to crew chief for Lessard in 2021. Walter has five wins in 208 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at crew chief and led Tyler Ankrum’s team to a playoff berth in 2020 in his first season as a Camping World Trucks crew chief.

Quote:

“I’m really excited about Atlanta. I had a lot of fun running there last year. As a driver you have some options, you can run the fence or the bottom. It’s really cool, but you’ve got to be careful with your tires. I’m really looking forward to it. We should have a lot of speed with our Richelieu Silverado and it should be a good race.”

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

  • Starts: 1, Best start: 2, Best finish: 15

2021 Camping World Truck Stats

  • Starts: 3, Best start: 11, Laps led: 6

Notes:

  • Chassis history: Tyler Ankrum and the No. 26 team will utilize chassis No. 311 on Saturday in Atlanta. Ankrum scored two top-10 finishes in three starts with this in 2020.
  • Sponsor spotlight: LiUNA returns as primary sponsor for Ankrum’s No. 26 Chevrolet for Saturday’s Fr8Auctions 200.
  • Crew chief corner: Charles Denike move to captain the No. 26 crew for Tyler Ankrum in the 2021 season. 2020 marked Denike’s first full-time season as crew chief and produced two memorable wins, with Chase Elliott at Charlotte in May 2020 as well as Sam Mayer’s commanding win of Bristol in September.

Quote:

“GMS has had speed at Atlanta in previous years so I’m excited to see what we can do this weekend. I’m ready to go with Charles (Denike, crew chief) and continue to build our relationship. I’m happy with what he’s been able to do so far with this team and he’s been carrying us through some bad luck the first few races. I’m ready to turn our luck around this weekend. I’ve got one race under my belt at Atlanta and have a better idea of what to expect during the race than I had going into last year’s race with no practice.”

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/.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

1...2,6582,6592,660...6,773Page 2,659 of 6,773