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Roush Fenway Recognized by MarCom Awards for Outstanding Achievement and Marketing Excellence; Wins Six Awards for 2020

Team recognized for outstanding marketing efforts with team partners Fastenal, Castrol and Guaranteed Rate

CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 22, 2020) — Roush Fenway Racing has once again been recognized for outstanding achievement by the prestigious MarCom Awards, taking home three Platinum and three Gold Awards for its marketing efforts in 2020. MarCom Winners are recognized for ‘their excellence in terms of quality, creativity and resourcefulness, with only a small percentage achieving Platinum status.

The team garnered a pair of Platinum Awards for its creative marketing efforts – designed to overcome pandemic induced obstacles – with its highly successful fan-facing Roush Madness platform in March winning in the Social Media Campaign category and a robust Virtual Hospitality Partner program that the team implemented with partners throughout the altered 2020 season awarded in the Communication Program category.

In addition, the team received Platinum Award recognition in the Social Campaign category for its work with Castrol in promoting the Garage Life platform with driver Ryan Newman during the early weeks of the Covid-19 shutdown.

“We are certainly pleased to once again be recognized by the distinguished MarCom Awards panel,” said Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark. “This has obviously been a difficult year for all sports franchises, and we’re proud of our team’s ability to adapt and continue to design and implement creative and innovative platforms during these genuinely challenging times. At the same time, the willingness and trust on our partner’s behalf to allow us to continue to authentically promote their brands is equally rewarding and proves that NASCAR partnerships continue to provide flexible and powerful marketing solutions.”

Roush Fenway Racing also received honors in the Crisis Communications Plan/Response category, taking home a Gold Award for its handling of Ryan Newman’s dramatic accident in the waning moments of the Daytona 500 and his return to the track later in the year.

Additionally, the team won Gold Awards in the Digital Marketing category for its work highlighting the tenth anniversary of its relationship with Fastenal, as well as in the Integrated Marketing category for its program launch with new partner Guaranteed Rate.

Roush Fenway Racing has now won a total of 25 MarCom Platinum Awards since 2011, when it took home its first Platinum for the famed ‘Ricky vs. Trevor’ campaign. In addition, Roush Fenway has also taken home top honors from the PR News Platinum Awards, Social Media Icon Awards and Hermes Awards.

2020 Awards

  • Roush Madness Fan Vote – Platinum Award for Social Media Campaign
  • Virtual Hospitality Program – Platinum Award for Communications Program
  • Ryan Newman Crisis Communications – Crisis Communication Plan/Response
  • Castrol Garage Life with Ryan Newman – Platinum Award for Social Campaign
  • Fastenal Racing Program – Gold Award – Digital Marketing
  • Guaranteed Rate Program Launch – Gold Award – Integrated Marketing

MarCom Awards is an international creative competition that recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communications professionals, administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. The international organization consists of several thousand creative professionals. The Association oversees awards and recognition programs, provides judges and sets standards for excellence. Judges are industry professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry.

MarCom entries come from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies and freelancers. The competition has grown to one of the largest of its kind, with winners ranging in size from individual communicators to media conglomerates and Fortune 500 companies.

Luck Brings Momentum to Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., (October 22, 2020) — Seven months after the cancellation of the season-opening event for the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA at St. Petersburg, the series is back at the downtown street course this weekend for the penultimate event of 2020. Following the calendar rescheduling due to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two rounds at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will finally race on the circuit to October 23-25, running in conjunction with the NTT IndyCar Series.

Charlie Luck and the No. 45 Porsche will be the sole Wright Motorsports entry, coming off a highly successful weekend at the Road Atlanta triple-header last weekend. Luck swept all three podiums, claiming victory in each round. The strong performance gives him solid standing as second in the standings for the Platinum Masters Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama.

“Charlie has had such a strong season this year, and we’re expecting him to do well at St. Petersburg,” said Team Owner John Wright. “His performance at Road Atlanta shows his growth and development as a driver, and being the only street course on the 2020 schedule, it comes with new challenges for the field. We’re looking forward to racing this weekend.”

The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will be the only event of the 2020 Cup calendar to feature a temporary street course. The 1.8-mile, 14-turn circuit is comprised of St. Petersburg’s downtown streets, blocked off to create a thrilling race course for fans and a demanding route for competitors. With little runoff area and concrete walls lining the sides, the circuit allows little room for error.

After two tripleheader events to make up for canceled rounds, the series will return to the traditional two-race format for the weekend, beginning with practice one, two, and qualifying on Friday, October 23. Race one and two will take place Saturday, October 24 at 1:55PM, and Sunday, October 25 at 12:40PM Eastern. Both 45-minute races will stream live on imsa.com.

Driver Quote

Charlie Luck | No. 45 Porsche
I’m looking forward to the first street course race of my career. I believe the key to doing well here will be to qualify as close to the front as possible and finish well. The course has a lot of blind corners and there’s no room for error with concrete walls on both sides of 90% of the course. This will be a new challenge and a new learning experience that I’m very excited about and know that thoughtful race management will be key.

Who would have ever thought we would have had a clean sweep of winning all three races at Road Atlanta? I don’t know if this has ever been done in the history of IMSA with a three-race weekend set up. So many things came together for us: the car preparation was extremely good, the driver focus was one of my better performances, and we also had racing luck on our side, as Alan Metni had challenges as well. When I reflect over the four years of development that Wright Motorsports has taken me through, I’m so appreciative of the tremendous coaching that has been given to me by Jan Heylen, Bob Viglione, and John Wright. These three men have pushed me hard and have certainly had a major impact on my racecraft and ability to drive at a higher level.

Wright Motorsports
Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series, international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013 and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. The 2020 season will see the team return to IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship. For more information, visit wrightmotorsports.com

RCR Event Preview – Texas Motor Speedway

Richard Childress Racing at Texas Motor Speedway … Richard Childress Racing has a storied history at Texas Motor Speedway that includes two NASCAR Cup Series wins with Jeff Burton (1997) and most recently with Austin Dillon (2020). The Welcome, NC organization has earned five NASCAR Xfinity Series wins with Kevin Harvick (2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2012) and two NASCAR Truck Series wins with Jay Sauter (1999) and Ty Dillon (2013).

RCR 1-2 Finish at Texas … Richard Childress Racing scored a 1-2 finish with drivers Austin Dillon and Tyler Reddick earlier this season at Texas Motor Speedway. The victory clinched Dillon’s fourth career NASCAR Playoffs berth and Reddick’s runner-up finish was the rookie’s best career finish in the NASCAR Cup Series to date.

Catch the Action … The NASCAR Xfinity Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway will be televised live Saturday, October 24, beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

The NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas Motor Speedway will be televised live Sunday, October 25, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

This Week’s Dow Sullair Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Texas Motor Speedway … Austin Dillon heads into this Sunday’s 500-mile NASCAR Cup Series race as the defending race winner. He punched a ticket to the 2020 NASCAR Playoffs with a win at Texas Motor Speedway in July, crossing the finish line first over his teammate, Tyler Reddick, to produce a 1-2 finish for Richard Childress Racing. Overall, Dillon is an accomplished driver at Texas Motor Speedway with 31 starts spread out across NASCAR’s Cup, Xfinity and Truck Series. He has even competed virtually at the track on iRacing. The Welcome, North Carolina driver has earned pole awards in all three of NASCAR’s national touring series while competing at Texas Motor Speedway and has led laps in four of his 15 Cup races there.

Dow brings a science and engineering crew who is driven by limitless curiosity to the RCR Team … Austin Dillon and the RCR team are again supported by Dow’s materials science expertise and technologies this season. Backed by the power of data analysis and virtual modeling, Dow develops and manufactures high-performance components and materials custom-made for the No. 3 car. Dow and RCR’s partnership has expedited innovation and shortened testing time in the automotive industry by recreating in the lab one of the most extreme environments – the racetrack. After 7 years of collaboration, Dow scientists and RCR engineers are continuing to work together to make the No. 3 car faster, safer and more precise. Stay up to date with Dow’s exciting developments at www.dow.com/sports and follow us on twitter @DowSports & @DowNewsroom.

About Sullair … Since 1965, Sullair has developed and manufactured air compressors with proven reliability and wear-free durability. Sullair is globally recognized as a leading manufacturer of air compressors for use in manufacturing, oil and gas operations, food processing, construction and more. Customers around the world keep their compressors running optimally with a full line of aftermarket parts, fluids and services.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
Tell us about racing at Texas Motor Speedway and how it differs from other 1.5-mile tracks, such as Kansas Speedway?
“Texas Motor Speedway is a bit different from Kansas Speedway in that it has two different ends. You have one end that’s very banked and has high speeds, and then you have a hard end where you have to get turned and get back on the gas. Texas Motor Speedway just has so much grip now. It’s quite a bit different, and the banking has changed a lot from the old track to the new track. I really like Texas and am looking forward to getting there, especially since we are the defending race winners. Our cars have been strong on 1.5-mile tracks this year, and we will look to some of that speed to try and get the No. 3 Dow Sullair Chevy into Victory Lane.”

You won at Texas Motor Speedway in July. How does that change your mindset going into the race this weekend?
“I think our team remains just as hungry as ever to get back to Victory Lane. My RCR team has been really strong on mile-and-a-half tracks this season, and I know that we have everything we need to try and back up our performance from July. We’re going to attack from the opening green flag.”

Tyler Reddick and the No. 8 Clark Pipeline Services Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Texas Motor Speedway … Tyler Reddick has one NASCAR Cup Series start at Texas Motor Speedway, having finished second at the track to teammate, Austin Dillon, earlier this year. Reddick also has five NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the 1.5-mile speedway, with his best finish of second coming in both October 2018 and March 2019. The driver also has six starts, one pole award and four top-five finishes at the 1.5-mile speedway in the NASCAR Truck Series.

About Clark Pipeline Services … Clark Pipeline Services is a multi-million dollar company based in the heart of Eagleford Shale with over 10 years of experience in large and small diameter pipe with zero accidents. Clark Pipeline Services is a Civil Construction and Energy Construction Company dedicated to the service and safety of their clients. Clark Pipelines Services can provide superior quality, time savings, unmatched services and environment protection while completing successful projects. Learn more at
clarkpipeline.com.

TYLER REDDICK QUOTE:
What is the biggest lesson you took away from Texas Motor Speedway earlier this year when RCR finished 1-2?
“Well, the way we went about that race is now out in the open and everyone knows how we did it, so I’m not sure that strategy will work when we go back this weekend. We’ll have to come up with something a little different this time. Texas is going to be a little bit like Kansas in the way that you have to take all the track position you can get and not make mistakes. The people you pass once are going to then understand where you were better than they were, so if you have to pass them a second time around they’ll know how to defend against you. That’s what makes it so hard racing in the Cup Series. Everyone is so smart about it. We’re going to need a really solid race in our No. 8 Clark Pipeline Services Chevrolet to be able to grab a good finish this weekend.”

This Week’s No. 21 Maestro’s Classic Chevrolet Camaro at Texas Motor Speedway … Anthony Alfredo will make his final start of the season for Richard Childress Racing this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Alfredo led laps earlier this season at Texas Motor Speedway before an on-track incident ended his day early. He also has two career starts in the NASCAR Truck Series at the 1.5-mile racetrack. In eight career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts on 1.5-mile racetracks, Alfredo has five top-10 finishes. He recorded his best finish of fourth at Homestead-Miami Speedway in June.

About Maestro’s Classic … Maestro’s Classic is more than a Beard Care Products Brand. It is a movement in masculinity, with a nod to love, hard work, strength and creativity. Maestro’s Classic shines a light where others don’t…on its supporters. We celebrate the integrity of man and honor his commitment to family, community and craft while shaping the bearded path for the next generation of young men. We have designed a line of beard care products that are Undeniably Good™ and will assist in Crafting a Better You™ in beard care. Visit https://www.maestrosclassic.com/ to shop our products today.

ANTHONY ALFREDO QUOTES:
You were able to drive to the front and lead laps last time you were at Texas Motor Speedway. What is it about Texas that seems to fit your driving style?
“I’m honestly not really sure. Texas Motor Speedway is a fast and challenging racetrack with two completely different sets of corners. It’s hard for me to pinpoint exactly what it is that seems to fit my style so well. I just really enjoy these tracks with high speeds. Texas is so unique. It’s hard to get the balance right for both corners, but my Richard Childress Racing team always does such a great job unloading fast Chevrolets. I’m just excited to go back to a track where we competed at earlier this year. Hopefully, we can get up front again and get the job done this time in my last start of the season.”

This weekend will be your last start of the season in the No. 21 Chevrolet for RCR. Overall, do you feel like you have met your expectations, while running a limited schedule this year?
“Absolutely. I definitely feel like I have met my own and everyone else’s expectations and maybe even exceeded some. With that, I am never satisfied. Every time I achieve a goal or reach an expectation, I always set the bar higher for myself. I just want to go out and win this weekend because we have proven we have the speed and I know we can do it as a team. We have the people, the equipment, and all the means necessary to do so and I’d love for us to put one together. I think a win would just be an incredible way to cap the season off and hopefully help set us up for next season.”

TPC Racing Returns To Streets of St. Pete For IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA With Three Car Stable

Castro, Hardee, McClure On Driver Roster For Downtown Street Race Doubleheader

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (October 22, 2020) – TPC Racing returns to the unofficial start of the IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama season this weekend as part of the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg with a three-car effort. Efrin Castro will continue his full-season run in the Gold Cup, while both Dan Hardee and Vernon McClure race in Platinum Cup Masters.

The doubleheader weekend on the 1.8-mile street circuit features a condensed schedule, with practice and qualifying on Friday, October 23 and a 45-minute race each day on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25. Saturday’s race begins at 1:55 p.m. ET, with the green flag on Sunday scheduled for 12:40 p.m. ET. Both races can be viewed live on IMSA.tv.

The race weekend is being held after a seven-month postponement, in front of limited fans. Prior to the race suspension in March, the Porsche GT3 Cup field actually held a 30-minute practice session on the temporary circuit before the uncertainty of the pandemic sent the field home prior to the weekend’s completion.

Castro and the No. 65 Fine Fares Supermarkets/TPC Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup enters the doubleheader weekend second in the Gold Cup standings. Castro has been on the podium in 11 of 12 events this season, including all three races less than a week ago at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Both McClure and Hardee are involved in select events in the 2020 season. McClure raced the No. 10 Main Street Homes/TPC Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup at Road America and VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) to open the season, while Hardee has made appearances at Road America and the championship’s first stop at Road Atlanta in the No. 69 Vbar Live/Student Wireless/Apple Rush/Hardee Family Foundation Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

Like Castro, McClure and Hardee participated in the March practice session before the race weekend was suspended. That session remains the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge drivers’ lone session on the street circuit.

Friday features a 45-minute practice session at 9:30 a.m. ET and a 30-minute session at 1:15 p.m. ET before qualifying at 4:25 p.m. The quickest lap in Friday’s qualifying will set the grid for Saturday’s 1:55 p.m. race, with the second-quickest lap part of Sunday’s qualifying procedure.

Harris Levitas, Director of Race Operations: “It’s been a quick turnaround between Road Atlanta and St. Pete, with an unexpected trip back to TPC Racing in Maryland to make some repairs. The guys did a great job after a couple of long days, and we’re ready to go again. It seems like a lifetime ago since we were at St. Pete, but all of our guys have at least seen the track now. We’ll jump right in and get to work on a track that’s unique for this series and make the best of it.”

Efrin Castro, driver, No. 65 Porsche 911 GT3 (Gold Cup): “We had a solid weekend in Road Atlanta. We had the pace to sweep the weekend but could not put it all together. Right now, we’re focusing on St. Pete to be back on top.”

Dan Hardee, driver, No. 69 Porsche 911 GT3 (Platinum Cup Masters): “I’m really looking forward to getting back on track and running this Porsche with TPC Racing. This St. Pete event, along with Sebring, are the closest races of the year to my home. The street race, festival atmosphere is the perfect opportunity to show off Vbar Live, an interactive venue and broadcast facility that has hosted everything from comedians Alex Reymundo and Ron White to live bands. Even from home this year, you can watch the TPC Racing team on the track, and then catch a concert that night, all from your couch.”

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.

DiBenedetto Optimistic About His Return to Texas

Matt DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Menards/Richmond Water Heaters team head to Texas Motor Speedway hoping to avoid the bad luck that ruined a promising day for them at Texas back in July.

In that race, DiBenedetto was poised for a strong finish when he was collected by a rookie driver who made a sudden move to pit road from the outside groove.

DiBenedetto salvaged a 17th-place finish, but he’s still thinking about that good finish that got away as he heads back to the Ft. Worth track for Sunday’s AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500.

“We had a really fast car at Texas earlier this year and got wiped out by the lap car while running fourth,” DiBenedetto said, adding that the positives from the summertime Texas race far outweigh the negatives. “I feel great going back.”

The 1.5-mile Texas track is similar to intermediate-length ovals at Las Vegas, where he finished second in both races there this year, and Kentucky Speedway, where he finished third in the Cup circuit’s only appearance at that track.

“The mile-and-a-half tracks are strong for our Menards/Richmond Water Heaters team,” he said. “And this weekend we will have great notes from the first Texas race to go off of.”

DiBenedetto is scheduled to start 14th in Sunday’s 500-miler, which is set to get the green flag just after 3:30 p.m. with TV coverage on NBCSN.

Menards

A family owned company started in 1958, Menards is headquartered in Eau Claire, WI. Menards has more than 300 retail stores located throughout the Midwest in the states of IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI and WY. Menards is known throughout the home improvement industry as the low price leader. It’s famous slogan “Save Big Money at Menards” is widely known and easy to remember. For more information, visit Menards.com, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest.

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.

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Texas

TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY (1.5-MILE OVAL)
LOCATION: FORT WORTH, TEXAS
EVENT: NASCAR CUP SERIES (RACE 34 OF 36)
TUNE IN: 3:30 P.M. ET, SUNDAY, OCT. 25 (NBCSN/PRN/SIRIUSXM)

Chase Elliott
No. 9 Hooters Give a Hoot Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
Driver Chase Elliott Hometown Dawsonville, Georgia
Age 24 Resides Dawsonville, Georgia

2020 Season
5th in standings
33 starts
3 wins
1 pole position
13 top-five finishes
20 top-10 finishes
858 laps led

Career
182 starts
9 wins
9 pole positions
57 top-five finishes
94 top-10 finishes
2,702 laps led

Track Career
9 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
2 top-five finishes
5 top-10 finishes
44 laps led

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Hooters Give a Hoot Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, will be available to members of the media via video conference on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 1:15 p.m. ET. Visit NASCARmedia.com for details.

THREE TO GO: As the series heads to the second race in the Round of 8 this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, Chase Elliott currently leads playoff drivers with the most points earned (286), stage points (89) and holds the best average running position (5.57) in the seven playoff races. He has also run the most laps in the top five (1,340) and in the top 10 (1,810) of all drivers. In those seven playoff races, the driver of the No. 9 has led laps in each race and holds the second-most laps led (328).

HOOTERS RETURNS: In September, Hooters unveiled the No. 9 Hooters Give a Hoot Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE that Elliott will pilot on Sunday at Texas. The special pink and black scheme promotes Hooters’ Give a Hoot campaign that supports the fight against breast cancer. It will be the final race of the season that Hooters will serve as the primary partner on the No. 9 Chevrolet. Most recently, Hooters adorned the Chevy at Daytona International Speedway where Elliott finished second.

2020 SEASON: With only three races remaining in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, Elliott has picked up career bests in laps led (858), top-five finishes (13) and stage wins (nine). His three wins are tied for his most and his 20 top-10s are Elliott’s second-most at the 33-race mark.

TOP-10 STREAK: Elliott has earned three consecutive top-10 finishes (fifth at Talladega, first at the Charlotte roval and sixth at Kansas). The No. 9 team’s stretch of strong results is tied with Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron for the longest active streak in the Cup Series.

1.5-MILE TRACKS IN 2020: In 10 1.5-mile races in 2020, Elliott won at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 28 and has two runner-up finishes. He has led the third-most laps (310) in the Cup Series and has collected the fourth-most points (376). Elliott’s four stage wins at 1.5-mile tracks are tied for most in the series this season with Denny Hamlin.

LONE STAR STATE STATS: On Sunday, Elliott is set to make his 10th NASCAR Cup Series start at Texas Motor Speedway. In his previous nine starts, Elliott garnered two top-five finishes, five top-10s and an average finishing position of 11.1, currently the fifth-best average finish at Texas of all time. He collected his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at the 1.5-mile speedway in April 2014. In five Xfinity Series starts there, Elliott accumulated three top-five finishes and five top-10s.

GUSTAFSON IN THE PLAYOFFS: No. 9 crew chief Alan Gustafson has garnered 10 career NASCAR Cup Series wins in the playoffs, the third most of all crew chiefs.

GIVE A HOOT: Everyone can join Hooters in the fight against breast cancer and #GiveAHoot by purchasing specially produced pink No. 9 merchandise at Hooters.com/give and the Chase Elliott Store. During the month of October, the Chase Elliott online store will donate $5 from every pink item purchased to the Hooters Give a Hoot program benefiting the V Foundation to support the fight against breast cancer. Click here to shop.


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William Byron
No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
Driver William Byron Hometown Charlotte, North Carolina
Age 22 Resides Charlotte, North Carolina

2020 Season
12th in standings
33 starts
1 win
0 pole positions
4 top-five finishes
13 top-10 finishes
140 laps led

Career
105 starts
1 win
5 pole positions
9 top-five finishes
30 top-10 finishes
434 laps led

Track Career
5 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
0 top-five finishes
2 top-10 finishes
24 laps led

KANSAS KEEP UP: Starting 10th Sunday, William Byron overcame early adversity at Kansas Speedway to race his way back inside the top-10 running order by the final stage. Continuing his forward momentum, Byron piloted his No. 24 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE to just outside the top five before ultimately crossing the finish line in eighth – his third consecutive top-10 finish.

CONSISTENCY IS KEY: After his eighth-place finish at Kansas Speedway, Byron has now notched 13 top-10 finishes in the 2020 Cup Series season – tying the same amount he secured in 2019. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native has now scored three consecutive top-10s, tying his longest career streak. In fact, the driver of the No. 24 has six top-10 finishes in the last nine races – tied for second with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott and behind teammate Alex Bowman with seven.

TRUCKIN’ IT IN TEXAS: Byron’s success at Texas Motor Speedway started over three years ago in his first start at the 1.5-mile oval. Starting from the sixth position, the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series rookie led six laps before capturing the checkered flag and becoming the youngest to ever win a Truck Series race at Texas.

TEXAS TOUGH: Statistically, Texas Motor Speedway has been one of Byron’s best tracks throughout his NASCAR career. Despite an on-track incident in this year’s July race, he has an average finish of 17.2 in his five Cup Series starts in the Lone Star State. Byron has four other starts at the 1.5-mile oval with an average finish of 3.5 in two Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series starts and 8.0 in two NASCAR Xfinity Series races.

KNAUS HAS ‘NO LIMITS’: This weekend, crew chief Chad Knaus will call his 36th Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway from atop the pit box. In his 35 previous races, Knaus has won seven times at the ‘No Limits’ track, with the most recent win coming in April 2017 with Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team. In his career, Knaus’ seven wins at Texas Motor Speedway are the fourth-most victories for the veteran crew chief behind Dover International Speedway (11), Martinsville Speedway (nine) and Charlotte Motor Speedway (eight).

LIBERTY U IS BACK: For this weekend’s race at Texas Motor Speedway, Liberty University will be on board Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for Sunday’s race. Liberty University is in its sixth season of sponsoring the 22-year-old driver dating back to his time in the late model ranks. Liberty has been Training Champions for Christ since it was founded in 1971. Located in the mountains of Central Virginia, Liberty is a liberal arts institution with 17 colleges and schools that offers more than 600 degree programs from the certificate to the doctoral level, on campus and online. Working on an undergraduate degree in business communications, Byron is in his junior year at Liberty University through its online program.


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Jimmie Johnson
No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
Driver Jimmie Johnson Hometown El Cajon, California
Age 45 Resides Charlotte, North Carolina

2020 Season
18th in standings
32 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
4 top-five finishes
9 top-10 finishes
103 laps led

Career
683 starts
83 wins
36 pole positions
231 top-five finishes
373 top-10 finishes
18,937 laps led

Track Career
34 starts
7 wins
2 pole positions
16 top-five finishes
22 top-10 finishes
1.152 laps led

RANKING ‘SEVEN-TIME’ AT TEXAS: Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson has had his fair share of success in the Lone Star State. The seven-time Texas Motor Speedway winner ranks first among all drivers for number of wins at the 1.5-mile track. Additionally, he ranks first among active drivers with second-place finishes (five) and first among top-five finishes (16). Johnson has led the most laps at Texas with 1,152 and has the fourth-best average finish with 10.9.

TEXAS THREE PEAT: Johnson won three consecutive races at Texas between November 2014 and November 2015 – the longest streak ever by a driver at the track. He also has posted three-race win streaks at Phoenix Raceway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway. Johnson won four straight at Charlotte Motor Speedway from May 2004 to October 2005. Of the 15 playoff races run at Texas in the last 15 seasons, Johnson has won five of them.

TEXAS TRAIL BLAZER: Texas Motor Speedway is one of four tracks on the circuit where Johnson has led more than 1,000 laps, joining Dover International Speedway (3,113), Martinsville (2,932) and Charlotte (1,936). Johnson has led 1,152 at Texas. He also has more wins than anyone else at Dover (11), Martinsville (nine), Charlotte (eight) and Texas (seven).

A SWEET DESIGN: Nineteen-year-old Michigan native and college student Noah “Lefty” Sweet is a lifelong Johnson fan who has created dozens of amateur graphic paint scheme designs for the No. 48 Chevy and other esports events. Ally recently approached the young fan with the opportunity to design a special paint scheme for his idol to celebrate the positive impact Johnson has made in the lives of so many fans during his legendary career. Sweet, who works under the name “Lefty Designs,” worked with Hendrick Motorsports graphic designer Mark Barrera to achieve the paint scheme Johnson will run this weekend for his final race at Texas Motor Speedway. Sweet also met Johnson virtually and described it as a “dream come true.”

MOST ALL-TIME: Johnson is the NASCAR Cup Series’ all-time wins leader on 1.5-mile tracks with 28. Second on that list is Johnson’s former teammate Jeff Gordon with 17 victories.

TOY AWARDS APPEARANCE: The 2020 “Top-Rated by Kids Toy Awards Show,” hosted by DJ Khaled and Meghan Trainor, will air on Sunday, Oct. 25 on FOX and on Walmart’s social media channels immediately following the NFL game at 4:30 p.m. ET. The show will feature appearances and musical performances from “some of today’s hottest celebs,” including Johnson and his girls, Genevieve and Lydia.

MARTINSVILLE SCHEME REVEALED: As seven-time NASCAR champion Johnson concludes his final full-time NASCAR season, Ally revealed a paint scheme for the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet featuring the signatures of 10,000 fans. The scheme will appear on the car at Martinsville on Nov. 1.

ALLY GIFT: Ally chief marketing officer Andrea Brimmer made an appearance on FOX Sports 1’s “Race Hub” last week when Johnson unveiled his paint scheme for Martinsville to surprise him with a $70,000 donation to the Jimmie Johnson Foundation – $10,000 for each championship title. The funds will be distributed to two Charlotte-based nonprofits: the CMS Foundation, which helps bridge the digital divide for students in need; and the Center for Racial Equity in Education (C.R.E.E.D.).


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Alex Bowman
No. 88 Acronis Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE ​
Driver Alex Bowman Hometown Tucson, Arizona
Age 27 Resides Concord, North Carolina

2020 Season
6th in standings
33 starts
1 win
0 pole positions
5 top-five finishes
13 top-10 finishes
396 laps led

Career
186 starts
2 wins
2 pole positions
15 top-five finishes
39 top-10 finishes
870 laps led

Track Career
10 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
1 top-five finish
1 top-10 finish
14 laps led

THIRD IN KANSAS: Last weekend, Alex Bowman and the No. 88 team collected points in both stages and captured a third-place finish at the end of the 267-lap event in Kansas. The Tucson, Arizona, native battled handling conditions at the beginning of the race but a round of adjustments on pit stops allowed the No. 88 machine to close the gap on the leaders in the final 15 laps. Following the event, the No. 88 team is now sixth in the NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings going into this weekend’s race in Texas.

CAREER YEAR: The 2020 season is turning out to be a career year for Bowman and the No. 88 team. For the first time in his career, Bowman secured a spot in the Round of 8. Prior to 2020, he had not captured a stage win, but this season he has collected four after 33 events. Bowman has more top-10s (13) and has led more laps (396) this season than before. The 27-year-old driver has finished inside the top 10 in seven of the last nine races this season, which is a career best.

BOWMAN IN TEXAS: Bowman will make his 11th start at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon. The 27-year-old driver’s best qualifying and finishing position of fifth came in the fall event last season after leading 11 laps. Bowman also has two starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series that took place in 2013. He qualified for the pole in both races and led a combined seven laps before finishing 14th and 18th, respectively, in those events.

2020 STATS: The No. 88 team has earned 255 points so far in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, which ranks fourth among drivers. Bowman is fourth on the list of drivers with the most stage points (57). The team has the third-best average finish (8.7) and the fifth-best average running position (9.8) in the playoffs. Bowman has run 1,503 laps inside the top 10 and owns five top-10 finishes in the playoffs, which are tied for first. He has the most top-10 finishes (seven) in the last nine races among drivers.

1.5-MILE STATS: Bowman has led 226 laps on tracks measuring 1.5 miles in length this season. His best finish on an intermediate track came this past weekend at Kansas Speedway when the team finished third. Bowman has two top-five finishes and three top-10s at 1.5-mile facilities this year. The No. 88 team has also won three stages on intermediate tracks this year.

LONE STAR STATE STATS FOR IVES: Crew chief Greg Ives has called the shots for the No. 88 Chevrolet 11 times at Texas Motor Speedway. The Bark River, Michigan, native’s résumé includes four top-five finishes and five top-10s. Ives’ best finish at the track came in 2016 when Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second. The crew chief also has four starts in the Xfinity Series at Texas, including one win from 2014 when Chase Elliott led 38 laps to bring home the victory. As a race engineer for the No. 48 team from 2006-2012, Ives was part of two wins, nine top-10 finishes and one pole award with driver Jimmie Johnson.

WELCOME BACK, ACRONIS: Hendrick Motorsports recently announced a new partnership with Acronis, a global leader in cyber protection. Acronis has been featured on the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE in two events this season at Dover and will be on board this weekend at Texas for its final primary this season. The global technology company will become a major associate partner of the organization’s four-car stable beginning next season.

SPEEDY ON PIT ROAD: The No. 88 pit crew ranks seventh in the NASCAR Cup Series with an average four-tire stop time of 14.13 seconds after 33 events this season. The team includes fueler Jacob Conley, tire carrier Rowdy Harrell, jackman Dustin Lineback and tire changers Scott Brzozowski and Devin DelRicco.

GOOD DISCOUNTS: During the month of October, No. 88 team sponsor ChevyGoods.com is providing discounts on various accessories on its website. Customers can receive 10% below MSRP on Adam’s Polishes and NOCO accessories purchased online with code CHEVYGOODS. With code TRUCKHERO, customers can receive 20% below MSRP on Truck Hero accessories purchased online.


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Hendrick Motorsports

WE’RE STREAKING: Hendrick Motorsports has finished inside the top 10 in the last 15 races. Not only is that the organization’s longest streak of the season but it ties its streak from the 2016 championship year. The last time Hendrick Motorsports had a streak of more than 15 races with a top-10 finish was from October 2014 to July 2015. Hendrick Motorsports has also led laps in each of the last 11 races, which is the longest active streak of any organization.

THROUGH 33: Hendrick Motorsports has five wins through the first 33 races this season – the most since its seven wins through the first 33 in 2015. It also has 26 top-five finishes, the most in the last four seasons; 55 top-10s, the most in the last five years; and has led for 1,497 laps, the most since 2014.

THREE OR MORE: The last time Hendrick Motorsports had at least three drivers win a race in a single season was in 2015. This year, Chase Elliott, William Byron and Alex Bowman all have ended up in victory lane. Overall, Hendrick Motorsports leads all teams with 12 different seasons where three or more drivers have notched a win.

PLAYOFF ROYALTY: Since the inception of the format in 2004, Hendrick Motorsports has 45 NASCAR Cup Series playoff wins – 16 more than any other team. With Elliott’s victory at the Charlotte roval on Oct. 11, the organization has now scored at least one playoff win in a record-extending 16 different seasons, missing only 2017. A series-topping seven different drivers have won a playoff race for Hendrick Motorsports.

JUST SEVEN MORE: Since its inception in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports has earned 261 race victories and holds the all-time records for championships (12), pole positions (226), top-five finishes (1,097), top-10s (1,894) and laps led (70,386) in points-paying NASCAR Cup Series competition. Including 2020, the organization has won at least one race in 35 consecutive seasons, the longest-ever streak. Hendrick Motorsports is seven wins away from tying Petty Enterprises’ all-time Cup record of 268.


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QUOTABLE /
Driver Chase Elliott on how his approach to Texas has changed over the years:
“Texas is just a different animal since the repave and I feel like we had some great runs there. I love going to Texas before they repaved it and just felt like I had a nice feel of the racetrack and I knew what I wanted. It was a very, kind of natural thing for me for whatever reason. I kind of lucked into that I guess, but man after the repave it’s been a struggle. I feel like it’s one of our worst tracks as a team and Texas is a bad place to struggle because if you make it to the Round of 8 it’s a track that seems like it’s always right there at the tail end of the season. It’s an important track to have a good performance at that can propel you to a potential final four run. Those types of struggles at a track like that, where it falls in the playoffs is not ideal so I hope we can get a little better out there.”

Elliott on raising awareness for breast cancer:
“It’s a great feeling to be able to use my platform and raise awareness. My family, like most, has been impacted with breast cancer. My grandmother was a breast cancer survivor for many years and we unfortunately lost her last fall. As time goes on, I think you can try and help or do anything in a small way, which is good. I know how it has impacted so many families, as well. I just appreciate Hooters jumping on board and wanting to do something special like this with the black and pink car. It’s going to look really cool running at Texas.”

Crew chief Alan Gustafson on 1.5-mile track program:
“You’re never happy. We started to improve; we’ve been solid. We’ve certainly been in contention to win a lot mile-and-a-half tracks, led a lot of laps and were able to win at Charlotte earlier in the year. We’ve had good runs. I think it is a strong suit of ours and a place where we can go exploit some good performance. We’re ready to go and just trying to continuously improve and put our best foot forward and make sure we get everything we can out of what we got.”

Driver William Byron on Texas Motor Speedway’s configuration:
“With both ends of Texas being different, you have to find a compromise some on your handling instead of focusing on one set of turns over the other. I think in (turns) 3 and 4, speed makes the biggest difference through there. When you’re in (turns) 1 and 2 it’s more about the handling of your car but still having good speed out of (turn) 2 so you can get down the backstretch and set up your entry to turn 3 with a good pace. It’s a lot different of a racetrack than we’re used to and compared to how it was. Now it’s very unique and makes for an interesting challenge, especially as the race progresses.”

Driver Jimmie Johnson on racing at Texas Motor Speedway:
“The biggest change at Texas over the years is the new reconfiguration. The new asphalt has made the racing more single file. I love how supportive the market is of the venue and I love the Dallas-Fort Worth area; we have really good friends there and usually our stay is extended. The best memory I have is when I was able to duel with Matt Kenseth. Matt and I had nothing to gain – I knew I had a good car and so I went after it knowing Matt would race me clean and he wouldn’t make a mistake. It was certainly an exciting finish and although Matt probably didn’t like the outcome, it was one of my most memorable battles for a win with a great friend.”

Driver Alex Bowman on the outlook for Texas:
“We had a good run in Kansas last weekend and captured stage points, which is what we needed to do. The points don’t look good in our situation, so we really need to go to Texas and have a strong car from the start. Hendrick Motorsports’ intermediate program is definitely strong, and I know that this No. 88 team has been working hard on our Texas Chevrolet Camaro. The last time Acronis was on our car we ran really well in Dover, so hopefully we can get the job done for them this weekend.”

Raphael Lessard – No. 4 CANAC Tundra Gander Trucks Texas Advance

Raphael Lessard: Driver, No. 4 CANAC Toyota

NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Overview:

Event:  SpeedyCash.com 400, Race 21 of 23, 147 laps – 35/35/77; 220.5 miles

Location:  Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth (1.5-mile quad-oval)

Date/Broadcast: Oct. 25, 2020, at noon. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90 

Racing with Raphael

  • Lessard and the No. 4 CANAC team head to Texas Motor Speedway for the second time in 2020. Earlier this season, Lessard finished in 12th at the 1.5-mile track after battling a tight-handling Toyota Tundra for most of the event. After a disappointing 33rd-place finish at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, the CANAC team looks to rebound this weekend in Texas. 
  • So far in 2020, Lessard has 20 starts in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Series with one win (Talladega Superspeedway), two top-fives, five top-10s, an average starting position of 12.8 and an average finishing position of 16.1. On 1.5-mile tracks this season, Lessard has an average finish of 17.9 in 10 starts, with a best result of 11th twice: at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway in June and in the second Kansas race in July. 
  • Lessard made five Gander Trucks starts in 2019, three of those with KBM. Across his five starts, he posted two top-10 finishes while recording an average starting position of 10.4 and average finish of 11.1. Lessard’s strongest run came in his final start of the season at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway when he was running inside the top five with under 30 laps remaining before getting spun and relegated to a 12th-place finish. 
  • While Lessard may be a newcomer to the Gander Trucks, crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. has plenty of experience. The veteran crew chief has 320 Gander Truck Series starts under his belt, with 23 wins, 23 poles, 117 top-five and 175 top-10 finishes with drivers including Todd Bodine, Jeb Burton, Kyle Busch and last season, Harrison Burton. At Texas, Hillman has six wins (Todd Bodine: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and Jeb Burton: 2013), 11 top-fives, 13 top-10s, an average start of 9.7 and an average finish of 11.0 across 26 starts. 
  • Due to Lessard’s presence in the series, all 23 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Series races this season will be broadcast throughout Canada on RDS and RDS DIRECT. 
  • CANAC is the first independent hardware and building materials store chain to open in Quebec City. Its expertise of over 145 years of experience allows CANAC to perpetuate the spirit of the hardware stores of yesteryear in a modern environment, with qualified personnel trained by its continuing education centre accredited by Emploi-Québec. CANAC serves both individual customers and contractors and offers aggressive prices that defy all competition. Since its acquisition by Groupe Laberge in 1985, the company’s expansion has focused on opening new modern hardware stores and on renovating existing branches to better adapt them to the needs and expectations of consumers. Today, CANAC has 30 branches and employs more than 3,400 part-time and full-time workers. 
Raphael Lessard Texas Q&A

This is your first time getting back in the CANAC Tundra since your win at Talladega. Will it be sentimental when you climb aboard your truck on Sunday?“It’s going to be the first time with CANAC on board since the Talladega win, so I’m excited for it. We had a great race at Talladega and won my first race with them. Hopefully we can go out and do it again. I’m excited. Texas is a fun place and really fast. I’m excited to go back there and get a great result.”You’ve tested and raced at Texas already this year. How beneficial will that be as you prepare for this weekend’s race?“I tested at Texas at the beginning of this year, and we raced there in July. It was a lot of fun there. We struggled with our handling when we were there. We were way too tight. We are going with something I think is going to be really good. I’m excited for it. Hopefully we can get a better result than the last time and maybe contend for the win. That is the goal. We are going to go hard. I’m ready to bounce back from Kansas.” You finished 12th at Texas in July. What do you have to do to improve upon that finish this weekend?“We finished 12th when were at Texas, which is pretty good because we were way too tight handling wise. I felt that the PJ1 that they put hurt us. Every time I would jump into the PJ1, it would make me way tighter. We are going with something different. I’m excited. I think we should be really good there. I’m looking forward to getting something way better than 12th place. We don’t want to finish 12th again. We know that we can do way better than that.” 

Raphael Lessard Career Highlights:

  • Across 25 career Truck Series starts has produced one win (Talladega Superspeedway), two top-fives, seven top-10 finishes and an average finish of 15.1.
  • In 2019, Lessard posted 83 laps led, two top-five and three top-10 finishes across three ARCA Menards Series starts and one win, one top-five and two top-10 finishes in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series. His Pinty’s Series victory came at his hometown track, Autodrome Chaudiere in Vallee-Jonction, Quebec, on June 29 when he led a race-high 153 laps en route to the sentimental win.
  • Won two marquee events driving KBM’s famed No. 51 Super Late Model in 2018: the Short Track U.S. Nationals at Bristol Motor Speedway in May and the Red Bud 400 ARCA/CRA Super Series race at Anderson Speedway in July.
  • Overall in 16 starts for KBM in 2018 split across the CARS Super Late Model Tour, the Southern Super Series and the ARCA/CRA Super Series, posted two wins, three poles, seven top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in 2018.Started seventh and led 68 laps in the prestigious Snowball Derby at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla.
  • Captured the 2016 CARS Super Late Model Tour championship after recording four wins, one pole, 157 laps led, eight top-five and nine top-10 finishes across 10 races. 

Raphael Lessard’s No. 4 CANAC Tundra:KBM-059: The No. 4 CANAC team will unload chassis number KBM-059, which has been raced seven times. Most recently, Lessard piloted the chassis to a 19th-place finish earlier this season at Dover (Del.) International Speedway. The rookie driver ran the same chassis earlier this year at Texas. KBM-059 Performance Profile:

StartsWinsAverage StartAverage FinishLaps Led
707.79.13

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected eight wins, three poles, 862 laps led, 17 top-five and 32 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 10.6 across 50 starts in the Lone Star State.
  • Owner-driver Kyle Busch’s victory in July was his fourth for his organization (2010, 2014, 2019 & 2020). Greg Biffle completed the 51 team’s season sweep of Texas last year with a win in June. Erik Jones earned a win in November 2015; William Byron took the checkered flag in June of 2016 and Christopher Bell went to Victory Lane in June of 2017.
  • KBM holds the NGROTS records for most career wins (80) 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). 

Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 4 Toyota Tundra 2020 NGROTS Box Score:

DateSiteDriverStartFinishLapsLaps LedStatusDriver Pts./Pos.
2/14DaytonaRaphael Lessard820105/1060Running24/14th
2/21Las VegasRaphael Lessard83090/1340Crash39/18th
5/26CharlotteRaphael Lessard2015134/1342Running61/15th
6/6AtlantaRaphael Lessard1918136/1360Running84/15th
6/13HomesteadRaphael Lessard1411134/1340Running114/13th
6/27PoconoRaphael Lessard14375/600Crash119/15th
7/11KentuckyRaphael Lessard131371/710Running143/15th
7/18TexasRaphael Lessard1612166/1670Running168/15th
7/24Kansas 1Raphael Lessard1216134/1340Running189/15th
7/25Kansas 2Raphael Lessard1611134/1340Running217/15th
8/7MichiganRaphael Lessard117107/1074Running247/14th
8/16Daytona RCRaphael Lessard10346/463Running285/13th
8/21DoverRaphael Lessard519198/2000Running305/14th
8/30WWT RacewayRaphael Lessard196160/1600Running338/13th
9/6DarlingtonRaphael Lessard66152/1520Running377/12th
9/10RichmondRaphael Lessard726245/2500Running388/12th
9/17BristolRaphael Lessard1918199/2000Running407/12th
9/25Las VegasRaphael Lessard1520133/1340Running424/13th
10/3TalladegaRaphael Lessard15194/941Running464/12th
10/17Kansas 3Raphael Lessard103339/1390Crash489/12th
10/25Texas 2Raphael Lessard      

Christian Eckes – No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass Tundra Gander Trucks Texas Preview

Christian Eckes: Driver, No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass® Toyota

NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Overview:

Event:                          SpeedyCash.com 400, Race 21 of 23, 147 Laps – 35/35/77; 220.5 Miles

Location:                     Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth (1.5-mile quad-oval)

Date/Broadcast:          Oct. 25, 2020 at noon ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

What You Need to Know:

  • Christian Eckes and the No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass team head to Texas Motor Speedway for Sunday’s SpeedyCash.com 400. The Texas race is one that Eckes has had circled since his runner-up finish at the 1.5-mile quad oval in July. The rookie driver was 0.7 seconds ahead of KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch that day when the final round of scheduled pit stops began under green-flag conditions. When pit stops had cycled through, the mentor had used his exceptional skills getting on and off pit road and distanced himself from his pupil by nearly three seconds. A late-race accident gave Eckes another shot at that win, and although he was able to race side-by-side with his boss for three laps and momentarily take the lead, Busch would make his way back around his young driver and cross the stripe 0.77 seconds ahead of Eckes.
  • The No. 18 team will be bringing the same Tundra, KBM-55, it raced in July on Sunday. In addition to Eckes’ runner-up finish, the truck swept the season at Texas in 2019 with Busch winning in March and Greg Biffle winning in June giving it an average finish of 1.3 across the last three Gander Trucks races in The Lone Star State.
  • Eckes’ runner-up finish at Texas in July was one of three this season for the rookie driver. The 19-year-old driver finished second to three-time series champion Matt Crafton at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City on July 25 and second to Zane Smith at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn on Aug. 7. Across the first 20 events of the 2020 Gander Trucks season, Eckes has posted five top-five and nine top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.5. He ranks first among series regulars in percentage of laps run on lead lap (95.10%), fourth in average running position (9.086), and fifth in driver rating (95.9), laps led (176) and laps in the top 15 (2,217).
  • The 19-year-old driver earned a spot in this year’s playoffs after finishing sixth in the regular season point standings but was eliminated after the Round of 10 when he finished seven points behind the cutoff line after getting caught up in a last-lap accident at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Eckes sits second to Zane Smith in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings. 
  • The Toyota Racing Development product secured the ARCA Menards Series title last year producing four wins, two poles, 400 laps led, 13 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes and average finish of 4.8 across 19 starts en route to the championship. Across 46 career ARCA Menards Series starts overall, the New York native has collected seven wins, four poles, 1094 laps led, 23 top-five and 35 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 6.9.
  • Eckes is paired with champion crew chief Ryan “Rudy” Fugle. Fugle has guided his team to five owner’s championships (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019) as a crew chief at KBM, including combined owner’s/driver’s championships with Erik Jones in 2015 and Christopher Bell in 2017. The New York native’s drivers have combined for 28 wins, 24 poles, 76 top-five and 116 top-10 finishes across his 156 races calling the shots for the organization. 
  • Across 14 Truck Series starts at Texas, Fugle’s drivers have five wins, one pole, 493 laps led, seven top-five and 11 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 8.2. The veteran signal has won with five different drivers at the 1.5-mile quad-oval: Erik Jones (2015), William Byron (2016), Christopher Bell (2017), Kyle Busch (2019) and Greg Biffle (2019). His five wins at Texas are three more than he has collected at any track; he has won twice at eight different tracks. 
  • Safelite AutoGlass, the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services, will adorn the hood of Eckes’ No. 18 Tundra for all 23 events on NASCAR Gander RV& Outdoors schedule in 2020. 
Christian Eckes Texas Q&A

After finishing second to Kyle at Teas in July have you had this race circled on your calendar?“I always look forward to going to Texas. It is a really fun racetrack and one I’ve had some speed at in testing and the race. I finished second there to Kyle in the last race there. It’s a place I really enjoy going to. I’m really confident in our Safelite team, and hopefully, we can go get our first win of the year.” Do you feel like the track conditions will be the same at they were in July or will they be different?“The characteristics will change a little bit. It will be a little bit colder than July. It should have a lot more grip and possibly have a little bit more air to be like a superspeedway race in a way. It should be a lot of fun. There should be a lot of passing. Be sure to tune in on FS1.” How crazy are late-race restarts in the Truck Series?“They are pretty crazy. Last weekend they were insane. Unfortunately, I was sleeping a little bit. You have to be on your game when it comes to restarts. In the same aspects, I learned a lot from last week and can put that into use and not screw up as bad.”Christian Eckes Career Highlights:

  • Across 32 career Truck Series starts has produced three poles, 307 laps led, eight top-five and 16 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.1. Earned a career-best runner-up finish at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth on July 18, 2020 and then equaled it July 25, 2020 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City and Aug. 7 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.
  • Captured the 2019 ARCA Menards Series championship after recording four wins, two poles, 400 laps led, 13 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes, resulting in an average finish of 4.8 across 19 starts. Has seven career ARCA Racing Series victories across 46 starts to go along with four poles, 1094 laps led, 23 top-five and 35 top-10 finishes.
  • Put his name on the motorsports map when he won the prestigious Snowball Derby Super Late Model race in 2016 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla. The then 15-year-old battled side-by-side with John Hunter Nemechek for the final two laps before narrowly edging him to the finish line. 

Christian Eckes’ No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass Tundra:KBM-55: The No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass team will unload KBM-55 for Sunday’s race at Texas. KBM-55 is the same truck that Eckes finished second with in the July race at Texas this year and finished third with it at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga. in June. The Tundra has visited victory lane at Texas twice; with owner-driver Kyle Busch behind the wheel last March and with Greg Biffle last June. Busch also was victorious with KBM-55 at Atlanta in 2019. Overall, across eight-career starts, the Tundra has an average finish of 2.25. KBM-55 Performance Profile:

StartsWinsAverage StartAverage FinishLaps Led
838.52.3324

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected eight wins, three poles, 862 laps led, 17 top-five and 32 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 10.6 across 50 starts in the Lone Star State.
  • Owner-driver Kyle Busch’s victory in July was his fourth for his organization (2010, 2014, 2019 & 2020). Greg Biffle completed the 51 team’s season sweep of Texas last year with a win in June. Erik Jones earned a win in November 2015; William Byron took the checkered flag in June of 2016 and Christopher Bell went to Victory Lane in June of 2017.
  • KBM holds the NGROTS records for most career wins (80) 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).
  • The No. 18, the number which was on the first Tundra that went to victory lane for KBM in 2010, has 21 career victories. 
DateSiteDriverStartFinishLapsLaps LedStatusDriver Pts. /Pos.
14-FebDaytonaEckes322106/1070Running23/16th
21-FebLas VegasEckes423130/13410Running55/8th
26-MayCharlotteEckes614134/1340Running78/8th
6-JuneAtlantaEckes13136/13618Running125/6th
13-JuneHomesteadEckes48134/13417Running165/2nd
28-JunePoconoEckes43348/6010Accident179/6th
11-JulyKentuckyEckes4671/710Running222/4th
18- JulyTexasEckes72167/16752Running267/4th
24-JulyKansasEckes113134/13410Running300/4th
25-JulyKansasEckes32134/1346Running344/3rd
7-AugMichiganEckes32107/1071Running379/4th
16-AugDaytona RCEckes21246/463Running412/5th
21-AugDoverEckes911200/20034Running450/4th
30-AugGatewayEckes732121/1600Driveshaft471/6th
6-SeptDarlingtonEckes175152/1520Running505/6th
10-SeptRichmondEckes318249/2500Running525/6th
17-SeptBristolEckes1012200/2000Running2032/9th
25-SeptLas VegasEckes98134/1345Running2069/8th
3- OctTalladegaEckes61893/946Accident2096/9th
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CHEVY NCS: Richard Petty Motorsports, Erik Jones Teleconference Transcript

NASCAR CUP SERIES
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
OCTOBER 21, 2020

Erik Jones met with media via teleconference to discuss the recent announcement that he will be joining Richard Petty Motorsports in 2021 as the driver of the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE in the NASCAR Cup Series. Full Transcript:

MODERATOR: BIG DAY FOR YOU, ERIK. HOW EXCITED ARE YOU TO FINALLY GET THIS PAST, GET THIS DONE AND GET READY TO MOVE ONTO 2021?
Erik Jones: “Yeah, it feels good. These past few months have been kind of hectic trying to work with teams, talk to different people and figure out what opportunities are out there. It’s just nice to finally have it sealed up – have it done, announced and have it out there. You don’t have to answer all the questions anymore from everyone – where you going, what are you doing and when you are going to announce it. So, it’s nice to have it done. It’s a really cool opportunity for myself and I think it’s going to be a pretty great pairing for both of us.”

RICHARD PETTY MOTORSPORTS HAS A TECHNICAL ALLIANCE WITH RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING AND THEY JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE GETTING ENGINES FROM THE HENDRICK GROUP. IS THAT PROGRAM GOING TO EXPAND TO YOU GUYS, AS WELL?
Erik Jones: “I believe so. I can’t answer for sure, but RPM has had an alliance with RCR for a few years and it’s been a full-on technical alliance. There’s still some stuff I have to learn about in how it all works -what we’re getting from RCR and what the whole program is there. I know the essentials of it and how it works, but that was a pretty recent announcement, so I haven’t really dove into that yet in how everything is going to work there. But, I assume it’s the same stuff, so I think that’s going to be a positive. They’ve been trending upwards the last couple of years anyways, with RPM on their own and with RCR’s help, they’ve both been moving in the right direction. So, I think that’s going to continue to drive it the right way anyways.”

OBVIOUSLY, WITH THE CREW CHIEF, IT’S A GUY YOU’RE FAMILIAR WITH – JERRY BAXTER. HOW EXCITED ARE YOU TO GET BACK WITH HIM AND HOW MUCH DOES THAT HELP A TRANSITION GOING FROM ONE TEAM TO THE NEXT, WHERE YOU HAVE SOME FAMILIARITY THERE?
Erik Jones: “Yeah, it makes things simpler. I’m not going in blind by any means. I know Jerry (Baxter) pretty well. I haven’t worked with him as a Crew Chief of my own, but when I was at KBM, he was obviously there and working at KBM on the other Trucks. I know Jerry and have met and talked to him quite a bit. I actually already talked to him a little bit the last week or so after we were getting really close on getting this deal signed. He’s really excited – I’m excited to work with Jerry. He’s been around for a long time in the sport – has a lot of knowledge, a lot of know-how and I think what he’s done at RPM has been pretty impressive too. I think it will be an easy transition. We get to skip kind of the awkward introduction stage and we can go right into working on the race cars and kind of what we’re going to look for in each other and the team to go out and be strong right off the bat at Daytona. So, I think that’s going to be a good pairing. Jerry’s a racer at heart, as am I, and I think we can share that right off the bat and kind of get things started off on the right foot.”

I KNOW FOR YOU, YOU WERE IN A GROUP OF FOUR DRIVERS BEFORE. NOW, YOU’RE THE GUY. THEY SAID TODAY THEY’RE GOING TO PUT ONE HUNDRED PERCENT EFFORT AND FOCUS ON YOU. COMING FROM A SMALL TOWN LIKE BRYON AND NOW COMING TO A SMALLER TEAM, HOW EXCITED ARE YOU AND HOW MUCH DOES THAT GIVE YOU MORE COMFORT AS OPPOSED TO BEING A PART OF JUST A MASSIVE TEAM WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT MOVING PARTS?
Erik Jones: “Yeah, I think it’s great. That was one of the things that when RPM reached out I was excited about – the opportunity to be a single-car team and just have everybody working in the same direction. The cool part is I’ll have the chance to get to know everybody at RPM – everybody that’s working on the car in the shop and getting it to the race track. Coming from JGR, I never got the chance to meet everybody. It’s a pretty big company and there’s a lot of people that I never had the chance to really interact with too much. So, that was always a little strange for me with growing up racing and working on my own stuff with my family and getting to know everybody that had a hand in working on the race car. So, kind of getting back to that small town and small team feel I think is going to be really kind of nice. Just having one voice, which is mine and Jerry’s, to kind of lead the team in the direction we think we need to go, I think is going to be a good thing.”

THE NO. 43 IS A PRETTY IMPORTANT NUMBER. I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT NOW ON THE SIDE OF YOUR CAR AND JUST THAT HISTORY AND LEGACY THAT COMES WITH THAT?
Erik Jones: “Yeah, it’s definitely iconic. You look at the history of NASCAR and the 43, everybody knows who Richard Petty is if they’re a race fan. And even if they aren’t a race fan, a lot of people know who Richard Petty is. So, that’s really neat. Having the chance to get to spend some time with him the last couple of weeks has been pretty cool. I’d never really gotten the chance to talk too much with him and spend a lot of time with him, other than in passing. So, it’s just really cool to hear the old stories. I’m a really big fan of the history of the sport and to get to hear some of the stories first-hand is a pretty cool experience. It’s really neat to see how invested he is in the team, in the sport and the direction we’re going. I think that’s going to be a really good match. The thing about RPM, like I mentioned a second ago, it’s a group of racers and that really fits me well and my goal, as well. I think we are both really motivated going into it. I have a lot that I want to go out and prove in the Cup Series and want to continue to go out and win more races, and RPM wants to do the same thing. They want to go out and want to win races. I think we can work together pretty well in trying to get to that goal and get that accomplished for next year.”

DO YOU FEEL ANY EXTRA ADDED PRESSURE WITH THAT NUMBER ON THE SIDE OF YOUR CAR?
Erik Jones: “There is definitely a heritage you want to uphold. I think that number is one of the most successful numbers in the history of the sport and one of the biggest numbers. You want to do it proud. You want to run well and you want to be up front. I don’t know that there’s extra pressure from that. I always feel like I think the pressure that’s on me is really internally just from myself. I want to go out and run well. I want to go out and compete and win races. I’ve never tried to let too many things from the outside come in and influence that.”

YOU MENTIONED IT WAS GOING TO BE A GREAT PAIRING FOR THE BOTH OF YOU. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT?
Erik Jones: “I think it was just kind of a good timing for us. Obviously, they were moving on and looking for a new driver and I was looking for a new team. Just common goals and common interests, I think, that really matched up between both of our groups going into it. Just the motivation side of it – I think they’re more motivated than ever to continue to grow their program and they’ve been heading in such a good direction the last few years. They are just so close to taking that next step and they wanted to find somebody on the same path. I feel like I’m kind of in that same spot, where we’ve been really close, we’ve won races and I want to win more. So, I think that’s a really good joining of two groups coming together now that are going to be able to go out and really go for a common goal and have one focused effort on it. That’s really the part I’m most excited about.”

YOU MENTIONED THE ICONIC NUMBER, THE NO. 43. I THINK WITH THAT, YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE A FAN BASE THAT’S GOING TO BRING A NEW FAN BASE. TALK ABOUT WHAT IT’S GOING TO MEAN TO GO DRIVE THAT 43 FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH THE NEW FAN BASE AND COMING TO MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILIES THERE?
Erik Jones: “Yeah, there’s a huge fan base that follows along with RPM and with the number. So, that’s going to be really cool to welcome all of those people into my group that’s already following me and have them, hopefully, join along and follow. I think we share a lot of the same core values, really, between the fans and myself, what we do and what we look for. It’s cool for me. My grandma is a huge Richard Petty fan. Growing up, she was always interested in watching him. So, that’s pretty cool. She’s excited about it and has been wanting to tell everybody for the last week about what I was doing. It will be cool. I hope when we come back to MIS we get to have fans there so I can have some friends and family come down and to have the chance to meet the King. That’s a pretty cool experience. He’s been really welcoming to me coming in there, so I think it’s going to be a pretty cool experience for everybody.”

WHEN YOU LEFT YOUR TEAM AND WHEN BUBBA (WALLACE) LEFT RPM, WAS THIS THE JOB YOU WERE REALLY TARGETING OR WERE THERE SOME OTHER PARTNERS THAT WERE IN THE BACKGROUND PERHAPS LOOKING FOR YOUR SERVICES?
Erik Jones: “We definitely talked to a variety of different teams. I wouldn’t say that RPM was the only team on the plate. But as things started to shake out and people started finding their rides, we were starting to work towards one direction. I think RPM became a pretty clear choice for us and the place that we wanted to go.”

“The thing that meant a lot to me was RPM reached out to us and I thought that was really encouraging. As a driver and a person, you want to be somewhere where you’re wanted. RPM showed that interest right off the bat when they were looking for a driver and I thought that was really encouraging. Like I said, you want to be somewhere where you’re wanted, you’re appreciated and I think RPM is definitely going to be that place.”

WITH THE PARTNERSHIP HAPPENING WITH HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS AND OTHERS, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE SOME TOP-NOTCH EQUIPMENT. DOES THIS HAVE YOU, RICHARD, KYLE AND THE WHOLE TEAM REALLY EXCITED TO KNOW THAT THE NO. 43 COULD RUN UP FRONT?
Erik Jones: “Yeah, I think they’re going to have great equipment. Like I mentioned, the way that they’ve been trending the last few years, continuing to get their stuff better and better. I think their alliance with RCR has been great to keep developing their equipment. And I hope I can help with that. I hope that I can bring something to the table that’s going to help them continue to get better and better. Obviously, I have four years of experience at JGR – what we did over there and can bring a lot of knowledge from that situation. I think it that’s going to be helpful going into it – that we can continue to improve the stuff. But I definitely think going into it, watching from afar, I think they are continuing to improve and can run up front.”

DO YOU FEEL LIKE NOW WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OUT THERE, DO YOU FEEL LIKE IT’S A FRESH START FOR YOU?
Erik Jones: “Yeah, I do. I spent seven years really with Toyota and what they had going on between KBM and Joe Gibbs Racing, and that was great. They did a lot for me and, obviously, took me from the Truck Series all the way to the Cup Series for the last few years and it was a great ride. I got a lot of great things out of that, won races with them and did a lot of good things. I think it was to a point where it was time to do something different for maybe both sides and this is definitely a fresh start for me – a new manufacturer, a new team. Things are going to be pretty new. It’s definitely the most change that I’ve ever had since 2013, my first year in the Truck Series coming from late models. So, it’s a whole new slate for me. The only thing that stays the same is that it’s the Cup Series and we’re racing the same tracks. It’s just going to be a whole new group and everything. It’s going to be good I think. You kind of reset, take what you learned the last few years, apply what you can and learn what you can moving forward to try and take advantage of the current situation. I think that’s a good thing. Like I mentioned, I think both sides are really motivated and I think it’s going to be a good, clean slate and a breath of fresh air to start over.”

WHO’S THE COOLEST PERSON THAT REACHED OUT TO YOU ABOUT THIS?
Erik Jones: “I’ve definitely got some cool texts today. People from actually my past racing that have reached out and said their congratulations, and that’s been really cool. Really from the start, the support that’s been out there from the time we made the announcement that I wasn’t going to be back at JGR all the way up until now, obviously today announcing the new ride with RPM – the support has been pretty amazing and more than I really ever expected. So, that’s been pretty cool.”

YOU TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ICONIC OF THE NO. 43 AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PART OF THE TEAM. BUT FOR YOU TOO, THIS IS A TEAM IN THE HISTORY OF NASCAR, HAS GOTTEN TO VICTORY LANE A LOT, BUT THEY HAVEN’T SINCE 2014. WHAT WILL IT MEAN TO YOU WHEN YOU CAN GET THEM BACK TO VICTORY LANE AND KIND OF CLOSE THAT GAP OF SOMETHING THEY HAVEN’T FELT AS A TEAM SINCE 2014.
Erik Jones: “It would be a huge moment, I think, for both of us. Getting the No. 43 back in victory lane would be awesome. I can only imagine seeing the King walking into victory lane and what that emotion would be like for the both of us, really. There’s a lot of people there that would be really, really ecstatic about it. I’m getting the chance to meet more and more people, and just seeing their excitement to start this deal next year, has been really encouraging. They want to win. Like I mentioned, they’re racers and they want to go out there and win races. That’s the goal – we want to go out there and get back to victory lane for both of us. So, I think that’s going to be cool. I think we have a great opportunity to do it. The emotions would be high, I think, from a lot of people if we can get that car back to victory lane.”

YOU ALSO SAID YOU’VE BEEN SITTING ON THIS FOR A LITTLE BIT TOO. I KNOW COMING INTO THE PLAYOFFS, YOU HAD SAID THAT THIS WHOLE CONTRACT SITUATION AND TRYING TO FIND A RIDE WAS A BIT OF A DISTRACTION. IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, YOU’VE BEEN ONE OF THE BEST DRIVERS, PLAYOFF DRIVERS OR NOT. DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT REALLY TOOK THAT PRESSURE OFF AND HOW MUCH HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO JUST FOCUS ON DRIVING?
Erik Jones: “Yeah, it’s been great to run as good as we have the last few weeks. That’s the goal – you want to run up front. We obviously want to finish the year strong with where we are now and hopefully we’ll win another race. That’s what we want to do. Those guys, they haven’t given up at all. And for me, we were still working on this deal the last couple of weeks. I was just doing my deal, I guess – just going out, try to put it aside for the weekend and run strong. It was definitely somewhat of a distraction. You know, you’re trying to work hard on putting this deal together, getting it done and keeping tabs on what all is going on. You spend a lot of time on the phone, catching up with a lot of different people. And then after you sign it, trying to learn everybody’s roles, who everybody is and trying to make that all happen really fast. And in the meantime, keeping pace with what you’re doing right now. So, there’s a lot of different things going on, but having it done now is going to make life a little bit easier. Only three races left in the season – still pretty focused on those and trying to get done what I want to get done there in the No. 20 car. But, definitely excited to have this done, be able to start working on it a little bit and start heading in that direction.”

Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
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Roush Fenway Weekly Advance | Texas

Roush Fenway Weekly Advance | Texas

The Lone Star State is the next stop on the NASCAR circuit, a track where Jack Roush has amassed 18 wins, including nine in the NCS. This race marks a return trip home for Chris Buescher, a native of nearby Prosper, Texas, who is coming off a 19th-place run in the spring. Teammate Ryan Newman, a 2003 winner at the track, has six top-10s at Texas all-time.

Texas Motor Speedway (1.5-Mile)
Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500
Sunday, Oct. 25 | 3:30 p.m. ET
NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90
· Ryan Newman, No. 6 Guaranteed Rate Ford Mustang
· Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fastenal Ford Mustang

NASCAR Turns Attention to Lone Star State

· With just three races remaining in the 2020 slate, the Cup series heads west to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend for a 500-mile race in the Round of 8 in the #NASCARPlayoffs.
· Sunday’s starting lineup will be set by three competition-based metrics, rewarding both season-long and single-race performance. Buescher will start 20th, while Newman will line up 25th.
· Four weeks of NASCAR action were completed prior to the COVID-19 hiatus with races at Atlanta, Homestead, Texas, Bristol, Richmond, Talladega, Dover and Martinsville postponed before the schedule later picked back up in mid-May.

Kansas Recap, Texas Preview

· Newman worked his way to second midway through Sunday’s race in Kansas, which featured extremely cold temperatures and high winds, before going on to finish 22nd in the Hy-Vee Ford.
· Buescher finished 21st Sunday at Kansas in the Fastenal Ford.
· Guaranteed Rate returns to Newman’s Ford Mustang in Texas, and will finish out the season as the primary as part of its 12-race partnership.
· Fastenal returns to Buescher’s machine at Texas, as do the pink numbers on board continuing to raise awareness during Breast Cancer Awareness month.

“Dream Season”

Roush Fenway won both the first NCS (Jeff Burton) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (Mark Martin) races at Texas in 1997. Burton began the afternoon from the fifth position and led 60 laps en route to the inaugural victory.

Houston, We Don’t Have a Problem

Roush Fenway has earned nine NCS victories at Texas, dating back to the inaugural event in 1997. Former drivers Burton, Martin, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth have captured the checkered flag in the Lone Star State.

J.R.’s ‘08 Sweep

Edwards swept the 2008 NCS races for Roush Fenway at Texas, leading 335 laps in the two events.

9 A.M. in Dallas

Roush Fenway has started 146 NCS races at Texas, recording a total of nine victories, 38 top-five finishes, 59 top-10 finishes, an average finish of 15.7 and has led 2,524 laps. Biffle earned Roush Fenway’s most recent victory at Texas in the April 2012 event.

North Dallas Forty

Roush Fenway has earned eight victories, 26 top-five finishes, 47 top-10 finishes and an average finish of 13th at Texas in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Roush Fenway won three of the first four races at the 1.5-mile oval.

Jack Roush; Texas Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Member

Based on the strength of Roush Fenway’s numerous accomplishments at Texas, team owner Jack Roush was inducted into the Texas Motor Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.

Tale of the Tape

Roush Fenway has started 297 races all-time at Texas Motor Speedway, recording 18 wins, 76 top-fives and 133 top-10s. RFR Fords have captured nine poles at the 1.5-mile track and led 3500+ laps while turning more than 109,000 miles.

Roush Fenway Texas Wins
1997 Burton Cup
1997 Martin NXS
1998 Martin Cup
1999 Martin NXS
2000 Martin NXS
2000 Biffle Truck
2002 Kenseth Cup
2005-1 Biffle Cup
2005-2 Edwards Cup
2007-1 Kenseth NXS
2008-1 Edwards Cup
2008-2 Edwards Cup
2010-2 Edwards NXS
2011-1 Edwards NXS
2011-2 Bayne NXS
2011-1 Kenseth Cup
2012-1 Biffle Cup
2012-1 Stenhouse NXS