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Orange County Fair Speedway announces $10K to win HO Penn SB Championship

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Official Release
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[March 1, 2021] (Middletown, New York) – The fiercest competition on 4-wheels this summer is at Orange County Fair Speedway in the “H.O Penn 358 Small Block Modified” racing division! Most Saturday night OCFS events in 2021 will feature the H.O. Penn 358’s as the headlining division. What happened to the Big Blocks you may be asking? They haven’t gone anywhere! Big Block Modified racing remains a staple at OCFS, with 2021 introducing a new 12 race series with special format events on Thursdays AND some Saturdays, allowing weekly racing to shine a bigger spotlight on our co-headlining Small Blocks. Oh, and with a bigger presence, comes A BIGGER PAYOUT for 358’s!

Last year OCFS hosted an average of over forty 358 Small Block drivers weekly (with over 70 showing up for Eastern States Weekend). With the growing popularity of the 358 Small Block division (and its affordability compared to Big Blocks), it’s become common for many OCFS Big Block drivers to run both Big Blocks and Small Blocks pulling double duty on many Saturday nights (Anthony Perrego, Jerry Higbie, Mike Mahaney, Tyler Boniface, Bob McGannon and more!), making competition in the Small Block events just as star studded and exciting as the Big Block division ever was. Though the 358’s represent a drop off in sheer engine power, their reduced weight makes them only tenths of a second slower than their big block brethren, producing incredibly competitive side-by-side racing.

If the fact that most big block drivers also already have a Small Block too wasn’t enough to produce a competitive field of drivers in 2021, the 358 Small Block purse will certainly solidify that. 2021’s Saturday night Small Block races will pay out $2200 to the race’s winner, with $200 to start the feature. With this healthy purse, OCFS hopes to see drivers from other classes move on up to what will now be a co-headlining division at OCFS.

When asked “why the increased emphasis on the Small Block division”, OCFS Director of Motorsports, Brett Hearn declared “Todays SB modified creates a more economical option for teams and owners. This series with the money that’s being offered will give the incentive for top drivers to get excited as well as creating interest for drivers to move up from other classes.”

With a raise to the Small Block purse also comes a raise to their point fund. 2021’s points champion will walk away with an impressive $10,000 prize. The season starts with April 10th’s Regular Season Opener (following April 3rd’s Big Block Series Race “The OC Oval Kickoff”) and ends on Champions Night (also the “Big Block Final 4” in their points series) on August 28th after 11 races. Unlike the all-new Big Block championship series, the 358 Small Blocks will retain a traditional points series structure and handicapping. To help out our drivers who hope to compete in 2021’s Bristol Dirt race, our 358 Small Block race scheduled against it (April 24th) will be for show up points only. For those drivers who stay in Middletown, they’ll be competing for an enhanced $3,000 to win on that night!

358 Small Block drivers, do you want to test your mettle on America’s most historic speedway? 2021 at OCFS is calling, come add your name to the long list of legendary feature winners! This season marks the start of a new era for the H.O. Penn 358 Small Block Modifieds!

Ashton Harrison to pilot the No. 25 Harrison Contracting Lamborghini Super Trofeo for the 2021 Season

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Official Release
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Brownsburg, Ind. (March 1, 2021) Ashton Harrison returns to the championship-winning Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing team for a third season and will drive the No. 25 Harrison Contracting Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo.

Having risen through the Lamborghini Super Trofeo ranks after starring in the LB Cup where she became the first female to win a Lamborghini World Finals race, Harrison then transitioned to the PRO-AM class where while teammates with Andrea Amici finished last season with one win, seven podiums, three pole positions and two fastest laps.

“Back with my Wayne Taylor Racing family and in my No. 25 Harrison Contracting LST,” said Ashton Harrison. “We’re bringing back our livery from 2020 and I’m looking forward to spending a third year with WTR and Harrison Contracting for my junior year of Lamborghini Super Trofeo. I’ve spent this offseason training so I can be prepared to jump in any type of car and compete. Scott Ackerman from CoreSyte and John Philbin from Philbin Sports Performance have helped me immensely in the areas of hydration, endurance and cross training and I feel so prepared to get the 2021 Lamborghini Super Trofeo season going. The last two seasons have been great learning curves and ending the 2020 season with a win in our #25 Harrison Contracting Lambo with Andrea Amici was special. I’m ready to continue that success for the 2021. “

The appropriately colored “Rely on Red” livery represents the Harrison Contracting Company culture (Reliable, Experienced and Diligent), a nationwide commercial painting and facility maintenance organization. Harrison Contracting Company has been in business for over 25 years and provides services nationwide across industry segments including major retail and industrial chains, new commercial construction, multi-family, hospitality, restaurant, and many others.

Having initially enjoyed a partnership with the Wayne Taylor Racing team through Lamborghini Super Trofeo, Harrison Contracting Company recently announced an expansion of this relationship to encompass the team’s No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 DPi program as an associate partner. Such an arrangement will see further branding and business-to-business opportunities for Harrison Contracting Company courtesy of the Wayne Taylor Racing commercial platform.

“It’s exciting to have Ashton back with us,” commented Wayne Taylor. “When we first met her, we immediately saw her talent. Like everything, it takes a bit of time to understand and she’s made great progress over the last two years. I’m really looking forward to watching Ashton as she continues to progress. She has Wayne Taylor Racing’s full support as she accomplishes her next steps in racing.”

The 2021 North America Lamborghini Super Trofeo season kicks off at the Circuit of the Americas on Friday May 21st as a part of what will be NASCAR’s inaugural event at the iconic Texas venue.

ABOUT HARRISON CONTRACTING
Harrison Contracting Company, Inc. (HCC) is a commercial painting and facility maintenance contracting company headquartered in Villa Rica, GA with divisional offices in Florida and Texas. HCC provides repainting/reimaging and facility maintenance services nationwide, and new construction painting across the southeastern US. At HCC, red is more than the company color, its culture. RED stands for Reliable, Experienced, and Diligent, and is the cornerstone for all we do. We are more than just your painter; we are your partner.

McDowell Makes FRM History and Alfredo Impresses Early in Season

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Official Release
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A Recap of the Weekend Past

For the third consecutive weekend, Front Row Motorsports (FRM) headed south from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters to the Sunshine State. Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series competed at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series was off.

William Byron won Sunday’s 267-lap race televised live nationally on FOX. He’s the third different winner of the season and joins FRM driver Michael McDowell in the NASCAR Playoffs later this year.

Tyler Reddick finished second, Martin Truex Jr. third, Kyle Larson fourth, Kevin Harvick fifth and McDowell sixth. Anthony Alfredo finished 24th.

McDowell has started the 2021 season with an eighth-place finish at the Daytona Road Course, Sunday’s sixth-place finish at the mile-and-a-half Homestead-Miami Speedway, and began the season by winning the Daytona 500 on the Daytona International Superspeedway. McDowell and his No. 34 team has succeeded unlike any other team to start the season- all on diverse track configurations.

The three Top-10 finishes is the best start in FRM history and in McDowell’s Cup career, but it’s the determination of the No. 34 Ford team that has been the most impressive.

Sunday, McDowell started the 267-lap race in sixth. He settled just outside the Top-10 during Stage One, as the team worked on the handling of his Love’s Travel Stops Ford Mustang. McDowell just needed minor adjustments and easily paced around the Top-15. He finished Stage One in 19th.

To start Stage Two, the team only made minor adjustments as McDowell took care of his equipment. Tire wear is always critical at the Homestead-Miami Speedway and McDowell was smart behind the wheel. He was rewarded with a 20th-place finish at the end of Stage Two, but in position to race hard in the final Stage.

McDowell picked up spots early in the final Stage and quickly moved to 11th before the caution waved. The Love’s Travel Stops Ford pit crew made another great pit stop and McDowell was inside the Top-10. McDowell raced there for the final 60 laps of the race. Even on old tires, McDowell made passes from ninth to finish sixth.

McDowell and the team are now fourth in the driver point standings.

MICHAEL MCDOWELL. NO. 34 LOVE’S TRAVEL STOPS FORD MUSTANG. FINISHED SIXTH
“I think tonight says a whole lot for this whole Front Row Motorsports organization. We’re just making huge improvements, and to come here to a very challenging mile-and-a-half and run in the Top-10, and not luck our way in, we raced there all night long, is super impressive. Thank you to everybody back at the shop. I’ve got to thank Love’s Travel Stops, Speedco, Fr8 Auctions, CarParts.com and Speedy Cash, and especially Ford and Roush Yates Engines. This whole team is super strong right now. Everything is clicking. The momentum is going and it’s pretty awesome right now. It’s exciting to be a part of this organization and to have this momentum. Like I said, this is a win for us to come to Homestead and run in the Top-10.”

Making his NASCAR Cup Series start at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, Alfredo ran a smart race Sunday and earned his second consecutive Top-25 finish. Alfredo was at his best in the final Stage of Sunday’s 400-miler and was closing in on the cars in front of him.

Alfredo had an impressive Stage One. He started the race from 27th, but had a fierce race with the likes of Corey LaJoie, Erik Jones, Ryan Preece and others throughout the first Stage. The team made changes to the car to help Alfredo, making his car loose to help his grip and balance. Alfredo was happy with the car, but the “dirty air” was hurting Alfredo from making big gains.

The second Stage, Alfredo had some minor left rear damage, but the crew was able to patch it. Alfredo knew the damage was hurting his handling, but he was at his best when the field raced single-file. Alfredo was always able to make passes and get close to the Top-25. The team was just never in the position to jump up to get more clean air.

The final stage, Alfredo raced hard and moved into 24th at the end of the race. It was another great learning experience for Alfredo who is now 29th in the standings, but only 10 points from 25th.

ANTHONY ALFREDO. NO. 38 DUDE WIPES FORD MUSTANG. FINISHED 24
“I learned a lot today in our Dude Wipes Ford Mustang. I felt like I got up to speed really quick, but the hardest part of race is the dirty air. We were really good when we had clean air. We had a lot of speed, just look at what Michael was doing up front, but I just need to learn a little more about the dirty air and how the car reacts. But, I think we saw some really good cars back in the pack, too. Everyone struggles with that. We just start in the back right now, but we’ll get that track position and we’re only going to get better.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series and the 2021 Daytona 500 champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team– from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Newman Muscles to 7th-Place Run at Homestead

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Official Release
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HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Feb. 28, 2021) – In a race that saw Roush Fenway shine in more than one way, Ryan Newman was in the thick of the action early and often, ultimately finishing seventh in the 400-mile race in his Oscar Mayer Ford.

“More than anything I’m glad and excited for a good run, it’s what we needed,” Newman said. “Our guys have been working extra hard all offseason, and to come down here and collectively show what we were able to do says a lot about the progress we’ve made. We still have work to do yet, but I’m happy with a top-10 in our Oscar Mayer Ford.”

Newman, a prior winner at Homestead in the Xfinity Series, rolled off 23rd on the grid but quickly inserted himself into the conversation, jumping inside the top-10 by lap 54. For much of the first stage he and teammate Chris Buescher – who went on to lead 57 laps – were well inside the top-10 simultaneously. Following a pair of opening-stage pit stops, Newman finished just one position shy of earning a stage point in 11th.

After starting 13th for the second 80-lap segment, Newman worked his way back to 11th before hitting pit road under the green flag at lap 117. He was one of the first to hit pit road in that sequence and the strategy paid off as he maintained the ninth spot when the yellow came out at lap 153, seven laps prior to the stage end. Newman restarted eighth for the one-lap shootout, but got shuffled back to finish 17th in the second segment.

Following another stop in the stage break, Newman restarted 21st for the final 100 laps, and from there began his march forward. He worked his way back to 15th by lap 199, when the race’s final caution flew. Following another stop, he restarted 13th, and continued charging to the end, ultimately finishing seventh.

After three-straight races in Florida to start the season, NASCAR heads west next weekend to Las Vegas, where the Cup Series runs Sunday afternoon. Coverage is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, and can also be heard on PRN and SiriusXM Channel 90.

DiBenedetto Finishes 28th at Homestead

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Official Release
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A frustrating start to the 2021 season for Matt DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Menards/Moen team continued on Sunday with a 28th-place finish in the Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Poor finishes in the first two races of the season – both at Daytona International Speedway – relegated DiBenedetto to a starting position of 37th on Sunday, as the field was set based on results of the first two races.

For a time early in the race, it appeared that DiBenedetto and the Menards/Moen team were on their way to putting the disappointments of February behind them. After just five laps, he had driven into the top 20, gaining a few of those spots when drivers scheduled to start ahead of him had to drop to the rear and motoring by the rest.

By Lap 16 of 167 he broke into the top 15 but lost three spots by the time the Competition Caution flew at Lap 25.

DiBenedetto finished the first 80-lap Stage in 14th place. Stage Two was more of a challenge. Although crew chief Greg Erwin and the Menards/Moen crew made adjustments intended to improve the handling of the car, the changes didn’t produce the intended results, and the No. 21 Mustang was outside the top 20 at the end of the second Stage.

The third and final segment of the race saw DiBenedetto and the team continue their search for speed, and while he was able to gain spots just after restarts, as the runs went on he fell back.

An incident with the No. 42 of Ross Chastain left the Menards/Moen Mustang with what appeared to be minor damage, but when the team made repairs on a subsequent pit stop, DiBenedetto reported the repairs made his car drive better.

As the laps wound down, DiBenedetto was poised to finish just outside the top 20 but a tire problem with six laps remaining led to an unscheduled pit stop, a lost lap and a drop to 28th place at the finish.

“We were just off all night,” DiBenedetto said. “Then we got damage in the nose from the 42, and that set us back more.

“We have some work to do.”

Eddie Wood said his team did its best to make the most of a difficult situation.

“The car was too tight for much of the race,” he said. “The crew made adjustments, but the changes made the car worse instead of better, which meant they had to go back the other way on the next stop just to get back to where they were to start with.

“That was frustrating.”

Wood said that while the Menards/Moen team is off to a rough start to the season, he’s not overly concerned at this point.

“I’ve been through stretches like this many times in my years in racing,” he said. “You just have to keep working hard, and eventually things will turn around.

“And your competitors who have had things going good for them will have their fortunes go the other way.

“It’s racing.”

The No. 21 team will be looking for that change of fortune next Sunday in the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where DiBenedetto and the team scored runner-up finishes in both Cup Series races hosted by the track in 2020.

Menards

A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 236 stores in 15 states. Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building. Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too! For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.

Wood Brothers Racing

Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glen Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glen’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Matt DiBenedetto in the famous No. 21 racer.

GRANDVIEW PRACTICE DAY MARCH 27, COVENTRY MALL SHOW MARCH 5-7

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Official Release
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NEWS FROM ROGERS FAMILY GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY, Bechtelsville, PA

Presenting Saturday night NASCAR stock car racing plus a variety of special events. 2021 will mark their 59th consecutive season of stock car racing.

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GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY READY FOR 2021 SEASON, FREE TO THE PUBLIC PRACTICE ON MARCH 27

  • 4th ANNUAL VP RACE FUELS BRUCE ROGERS MEMORIAL SET AS FIRST RACE OF 59TH SEASON
  • 50th ANNUAL FREEDOM 76 CLASSIC IS SET FOR SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST
  • 13TH ANNUAL COVENTRY MALL RACE CAR SHOW, MARCH 5-7, HAS GRANDVIEW INVOLVED

BECHTELSVILLE, PA March 1, 2021 . . . The annual free-to-the-public practice session on Saturday, March 27th will kick off the 59th consecutive season of stock car racing at Grandview Speedway. That practice, which starts at noon, is open to all forms of racing competition.

Practice day is a great opportunity to see what their favorite racer will be driving this season and for fans to pick out their seats for 2021 and purchase their season tickets priced at just $350 and covering all Saturday night events, April through the Freedom 76 in September.

Once again the one-third-mile banked clay track will be operated by the Rogers family and will again carry a NASCAR sanction and will be part of the Advance Auto Parts National Weekly Racing Series.

Scott Hoffmaster with sponsor Wicked Effects Car Club will host their 13th annual car show at the Coventry Mall in Pottstown, PA on March 5th through March 7th. The show is open to street and race cars with move-in set for March 4th after 7 p.m. Grandview Speedway will be well represented. There will be no admission charge with the show open during mall hours (11 am to 7 pm on Friday and Saturday, 11 am to 6 pm on Sunday). For more information check in with Scott Hoffmaster at shoffy66@gmail.com.

Again this season long time track supporter T.P.Trailers will sponsor the Modifieds while T.P.Truck Equipment will be back sponsoring the Sportsman division of racing.

However the first racing event of the new season will be the VP Race Fuels 4th Annual Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker offering $7,500 to the winner of the 50-lapper that has the Small Block Modifieds going up against the Big Block talents. The race is set for Saturday, April 3rd and is run in memory of the man who was instrumental in building the track and making it the huge success it has become. The first annual Rogers Memorial was won by NASCAR Camping World Series and dirt Modified standout Stewart Friesen.

Ready to kick off their season at Grandview will be Craig Von Dohren seeking his 12th NASCAR track title. Jeff Strunk will be looking for his 11th championship while Duane Howard seeks his seventh. Doug Manmiller, Jared Umbenhauer and a host of others will be seeking their first titles. And in Sportsman Brian Hirthler will be looking to claim a third title.

And the biggest race of the season, the “Granddaddy of Major Modified Races”, the 50th annual Freedom 76, which offers the biggest pay day of the season is on the schedule for Saturday, September 18 with a September 25th rain date.

A complete 2021 schedule is available at www.grandviewspeedway.com.

Opportunities for event sponsorship and billboard advertising are available for the 2021 season. Full information can be had through Ernie Saxton at 267.934.7286 or Esaxton144@aol.com.

Information updates can be had at www.grandviewspeedway.com or check in at Facebook. Track telephone number is 610.754.7688.

Grandview Speedway is located on Passmore Road, Bechtelsville, PA, just off Route 100 10 miles north of Pottstown.

5 Ways to Reduce Your Vehicle’s Risk of Car Theft

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SM
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Car thefts are among the most expensive types of crime people commonly encounter in the United States. According to authorities, the average cost of automotive theft is approximately $8,886 per incident. Even worse, the average rate of car theft is at almost 220 incidents for every 100,000 people. These costs can be a major inconvenience to a lot of people and cripplingly expensive to a vast majority. Not to mention the inconvenience of filing your insurance claims, the loss of devices, and the loss of mobility given by the car.

If you want to reduce the risk of your car getting broken into or being stolen entirely, you need to learn the common types of car thieves. You also need to know how to increase your car’s protection from such crimes.

With GPS asset tracking technology more accessible than ever, anti-theft remote immobilization-enabled GPS asset tracking devices like those offered by Digital Matter have become an increasingly vital way to protect your vehicle.

Types of Car Thieves

There are multiple types of theft involving vehicles. Some of them involve taking the entire car itself and others are more aimed at objects inside the car. Learning about which types of criminals your car will most likely attract will be important in dissuading them.

  • Professional Car Thieves

Professional car thieves are interested in either selling your stolen vehicle or breaking them down into parts in chop shops. Since they’re after your entire vehicle, sight-reducing techniques such as having a reputable tint shop darken your windows won’t be enough. They’re more likely to be dissuaded by complex security systems and actual preventative methods like guards. If you drive an upscale car, your vehicle will most likely be a target.

  • Joyriders

Some people don’t want to take your car for parts but to drive it around, whether for casual entertainment or daredevil, reckless races. These joyriders pose a danger to your vehicle and other people. They could drive your car into a post during their wild rides or even injure pedestrians or other drivers. Joyriders are often opportunistic, targeting high-performance cars or cool cars, like high-profile vehicles, for their entertainment.

  • Object Theft

The most opportunistic of these criminals are simply thieves who are more interested in the contents of your car than the vehicle itself. Perhaps they want to pilfer your electronics, salvage a few parts from your car, or steal valuables. They can be easily dissuaded by using common sense and basic preventative measures.

How to Protect Your Car

You can dissuade all the aforementioned types of criminals by employing different methods for securing your vehicle. Some of them only involve common sense, while others employ more elaborate methods. Using a few or all of these tips in tandem will greatly reduce the risk of your car getting broken into.

  1. Hide Contents

First and foremost, give thieves no reason to break into your car. Do not leave valuables inside your car, such as laptops or handbags. Even if you’re only stepping out of your vehicle for a few minutes, hide them from sight by stuffing them under the seat or inside the glove compartment. You can also increase the tint on your windows to make it harder to see inside.

  1. Keep it Locked

It may seem like common sense, but so many people think that they’ll only be gone a few minutes and don’t need to lock their car doors. Even if you’re only taking groceries into your house or popping by the ATM, locking your car door should be instinctual.

  1. Park in Public Places

Resist the urge to park your car in a secluded spot or a darkened alley, not even when parking spots are hard to come by. Public locations make it extremely difficult for casual thieves to break into your car because the chances of law enforcement or pedestrians spotting them goes higher. Park inconspicuous and public places as much as you can.

  1. Install Location Tracking

A lot of upscale cars automatically come with emergency GPS devices that allow you to lock into your vehicle’s location should it ever be stolen. However, other less expensive vehicles may not come with such amenities and you’ll have to install them yourself. If such location tracking machinery is still too expensive for you, you can buy a second-hand smartphone and turn on its GPS. Whenever you leave the house, charge this smartphone and hide it somewhere in your vehicle. Should your car be stolen, you can locate it by finding the phone.

  1. Remote Open Nearby

Don’t be too complacent just because your car opens remotely. High-tech thieves can steal and duplicate the radio signal from your key fob from a considerable distance. This is why you should open the car door remotely only when you’re close to the vehicle. Before you do, keep an eye out for suspicious loiterers who may be waiting for you to do so. Avoid opening it remotely if you can.

Car theft can change your life, even if you have insurance. The inconvenience and distress caused by such a loss can be devastating. Protect your vehicle as much as you can, so you can enjoy your life with as little trouble as possible.

Buescher Wins Opening Stage, Earns Playoff Point in Strong Effort at Homestead

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Official Release
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HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Feb. 28, 2021) – Chris Buescher was the talk of the afternoon in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, advancing to the point early and leading 57 laps – including winning the opening stage – before going on to finish 19th in his No. 17 Fastenal Ford Mustang.

“It was a good run for our Fastenal group,” Buescher said. “I’m really proud of the effort through the offseason. I think we made a lot of improvements and a lot of really good things, but still working to close the deal. We’ll keep digging and take what we learned and get ready to go for Las Vegas and beyond.”

The stellar afternoon produced a number of highlights for the Texas native. Buescher’s 57 laps led marked a new career best for the driver, and was the most laps a Roush Fenway driver has paced in a single race since Greg Biffle led 58 laps in the 2014 spring Talladega event. The opening stage win also marked the second of Buescher’s career, following last year’s first stage in the fall Talladega race.

Buescher rolled off the grid in 12th and quickly broke into the top-10, running eighth by the time the competition caution waved at lap 25. After a quick pit stop for service, the team gained three positions on pit road to restart fifth. Twenty-one laps later, Buescher took the lead and held it all the way until the caution flag waved at lap 64.

With just 24 laps to the stage break, pit strategy came into play. The driver reported a tight-handling Ford on corner entry and the team elected to pit for service and more adjustments. With another fast pit stop effort, Buescher was able to maintain his lead and restarted first with eight to go. With the choose cone back in play, the Prosper, Texas native opted to restart on the bottom lane. Buescher held strong on the restart and led the field all the way to the green-white checkered flag to win stage one, earning a playoff point and 10 stage points.

After pitting for fresh tires and fuel, Buescher chose to restart in the bottom lane and once again led the field to green. Ten laps into the stage, the driver toggled between the first and second position, but regained the lead at lap 109. Green flag pit stops soon began to cycle through and the team visited pit road at lap 121 for an air pressure adjustment, tires and fuel.

Buescher settled into the second position after the cycle finished up. When a late stage caution flag waved at lap 156, the team pitted for an air pressure adjustment, more tires and fuel. Back on track in fifth for a one-lap shootout to end the stage, the driver finished stage two in sixth and earned five stage points.

The No. 17 team opted to stay out for track position during the stage break and restarted sixth with 100 laps to go in the race. During a chaotic restart, the driver got shuffled back through the pack, settling into 14th by lap 170. When the caution flag waved at lap 199, the team made another small adjustment and gave Buescher a fresh set of tires.

Buescher lined up 17th on the bottom lane for the final restart of the race and worked to maintain track position. Toggling as far back as 23rd, he was able to work his way back up to 19th before the checkered flag waved on 400 miles in south Florida.

Buescher and the No. 17 team head out west to Las Vegas Motor Speedway next weekend for 400 miles. Race coverage is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM Channel 90.

William Byron Cruises to Victory in Dixie Vodka 400 NASCAR Cup Series Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway

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Official Release
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NASCAR Wire Service

HOMESTEAD, Fla (February 27, 2021) – In a No. 24 Chevrolet that steadily improved its performance as the sun went down, William Byron streaked to a decisive victory in Sunday’s Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

With Tyler Reddick, Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr. battling for second place behind him, Byron cruised to a 2.777-second victory over Reddick, who charged through the field late in the final 60-lap green-flag run to the finish.

Truex ran third, with Larson coming home fourth. The victory was Byron’s first of the season, first at Homestead and the second of his career. The win was the 264th in the NASCAR Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports, leaving the organization four victories behind Petty Enterprises for most all-time.

“It was just a really smooth day,” said Byron, who won Stage 2 after finishing fourth in the opening 80-lap stage. “We worked hard in the winter on this track. I can’t believe it.” With the victory, Byron became the track’s youngest winner at 23 years of age (born 11/29/97).  The previous youngest winner was Kurt Busch who was 24 (born 8/4/78) when he was victorious in 2002. 

Though Reddick made his charge by running inches from the outside wall, Byron preferred to maintain a respectful distance from the fence whenever possible.

“You had to go to the wall at certain times,” added Byron, who led 102 laps, a career-best for a single race. “(Turns) 3 and 4, it was really fast up there. I definitely didn’t do it as good as the Xfinity cars do it, but I used it when I had to. This car was just awesome. It was really a lot of hard work. I think we went to the sim (simulator) four or five times this offseason, and it pays off, man. It’s awesome.”

Byron delivered the first Cup victory to crew chief Rudy Fugle, with whom he teamed to great success in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. In fact, the last time Byron and Fugle worked together, they won the 2016 season finale at Homestead.

Reddick didn’t score a point in either of the first two stages, but his No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet was lightning fast at the end of the race. When Reddick moved into fourth place past Kevin Harvick on Lap 254 of 267, he was nine seconds behind Byron. By the end of the race, despite having to clear both Truex and Larson for second, he had trimmed more than six seconds off Byron’s lead.

“Once I really saw how fast we were in clean air, when I saw how fast we were catching everybody, it’s beyond frustrating,” said Reddick, who matched his career-best finish. “Three different decisions on restarts would have put me miles ahead, and I would have been within reach. 

“Second’s great, but I saw how much faster I was than those guys at the end, so naturally, it’s frustrating.”

Chris Buescher was dominant early, leading a career-high 57 laps in a single race and picking up the second stage win of his career in the opening segment. But as the sunlight faded, so did Buescher’s No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford. He finished 19th.

Truex thought his car capable of maintaining Byron’s pace in the final run and was disappointed when it didn’t.

“On that last run, for whatever reason, I was just babying it,” Truex said. “The 24 (Byron) got the lead from me on that (last) restart (on Lap 208), and then the 5 (Larson) got by us, and I’m just biding my time waiting for them to start coming back to me, and they just never did. 

“They obviously were really fast at the end, and we weren’t quite as good that last run. These things are so hard to win. These cars are so touchy and just needed one more adjustment to have a chance.” 

Harvick came home fifth, followed by Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell, as both drivers have scored top-10 finishes in each of the first three races of the season. Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, Alex Bowman and Kyle Busch completed the top 10. Denny Hamlin ran 11th, failing to keep his top-10 streak alive because of a late-race pit road speeding penalty.

Hamlin nevertheless retained the series lead by 20 points over Harvick.

For information on events at Homestead-Miami Speedway, visit www.HomesteadMiamiSpeedway.com or calling 866-409-RACE (7223). Fans can keep up with up-to-date happenings at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway has been open since 1995 following an initiative to spur economic recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. The Speedway, which was founded by Miami businessman, racing enthusiast and philanthropist Ralph Sanchez, is a 650-acre facility that features a 1.5-mile oval and 2.21-mile road course. The Speedway hosts on-track events nearly 300 days per year and generates more than $301 million annually for the region. NASCAR crowned champions in all three of its national series at Homestead-Miami Speedway for 18 straight years (2002-19).   In 2021, the Dixie Vodka 400 moves to the third race of the NASCAR Cup season on Sunday, Feb. 28, following two weekends of action at Daytona International Speedway.

About NASCAR

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

3 Things you must consider before hiring a Heavy Haulage company

By
SM
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A fast and reliable service has always been vital to a business’s success, but during the pandemic, with more people turning to online shopping than ever before, there is an extra element of pressure on companies of all sizes to keep up performance.

Depending on the type of goods your business deals in, shipping can be a pretty straightforward process. However, for those handling large, cumbersome loads, there are a considerable number of things you must consider to ensure goods arrive safely and on time.

For this reason, you may be considering hiring a heavy haulage company to take care of deliveries for you, but this isn’t a decision you should take lightly.

The employment of a heavy hauler is certainly a worthwhile step if you have the requirement there, but choosing the right one is easier said than done. So, here are three things to consider:

  1. Do your research

There are hundreds of freight companies out there, so picking the right one for your needs can be tricky. Here are a few research points you should know before you choose one:

  • Do they have testimonials?
  • Can they provide references?
  • Are they a member of any accredited industry bodies?
  • Do they have a modern fleet?
  • What training and qualifications do their staff members have?

If you feel a company is being evasive, that should act as a red flag to steer clear.

  1. Do they have experience in your industry?

Some heavy haulage companies specialize in specific industries, so it’s best to check before committing that they have some experience in yours, particularly if you handle niche goods. 

For example, heavy haulage companies like JB Rawcliffe have experience in a range of industries, including: 

  • Construction
  • Defence
  • Marine

And can provide details about how they operate to ensure the safe management of these types of heavy loads, giving their customers additional peace of mind where it’s needed most.

  1. Cheaper doesn’t always mean better

If you’ve done your research, the chances are you have obtained a number of quotes from heavy haulage companies, and now are left with the difficult final decision. Although the budget is important, so too is getting a service that will support your needs, so if a company is standing out because it’s the cheapest, consider if it really offers everything else you need before signing on the dotted line.

For instance, some heavy haulage companies offer additional services which can prove invaluable, and that you’re unlikely to get from the cheapest option. For example, JB Rawcliffe not only safely distribute your heavy goods, but also handle machinery, install and remove transformers as well as jacking, skidding, and rigging. So, consider exactly what services you need, and don’t let price guide your decision. 

Ready to hire a heavy haulage company?

Putting your business in the hands of an external company is no small thing, and it’s so important that you feel completely comfortable and confident with the decision you make. Companies like JB Rawcliffe have over 45 years of experience and remain a trusted heavy haulage company in the UK, operating all over thanks to their fantastic services and established reputation. So, if you’re still on the hunt for the right heavy haulage company, why not get in touch with them?

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