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NASCAR National Series News & Notes

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Landon Cassill Kentucky preview

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Jeffrey Earnhardt Kentucky preview

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Toyota NCWTS Kentucky Darrell Wallace Jr. Notes & Quotes 6-26-14

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Richard Childress Racing News

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Helio Castroneves hoping for no issues this weekend with Houston track

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Photo Credit: Chris Jones/IndyCar

Last year, Helio Castroneves felt that he had a car that could’ve won at the Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston, however fell short of completing the task as a result of gearbox issues. Those issues, according to Castroneves, were brought forth by the car bottoming out going into the first turn of the 1.683-mile MD Anderson Cancer Center Speedway.

“I’m very pleased that they made some changes,” Castroneves said. “”We didn’t finish last year because of an issue that was outside of our control. Hopefully we’ll continue what we’re doing and continuing on to the championship.”

Beyond simply losing the race, Castroneves lost valuable points towards the championship, which allowed Scott Dixon to grab the title in the final event of the year at Auto Club Speedway.

As a result of Castroneves’ frustrations and other drivers’ comments, Anderson Cancer Center Speedway Director of Operations Martyn Thake said that they surveyed the area in February, finding the bumps, completing demolishing that part of the track before repaving with new concrete.

“We had some smaller bumps between Turns 9 and 10 and we ground those down about an inch to 1½ inches,” Thake added. “We also ground a couple of small places here and there and did spot repairs, including in pit lane.

“We had some areas that had some surface break up and we fixed those as well. We have an advantage with these temporary courses in that we can make improvements and do retro fits every time we build it.”

Currently sitting second in points, Castroneves cannot afford any issues this weekend as he tries to make up the 60 points that separate him and points leader Will Power.  Castroneves has yet to win a championship in his career, but those around him feel that he has the ability to do it this year based on his attitude. Rick Mears, who spotted for Castroneves at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last month, says that Castroneves is a very focused and determined driver.

“A lot of people look at him and they see his easy-going, happy personality. And that is who he is, but underneath that is a driver that will do whatever it takes to win,” Mears commented. “You have to have that attitude to win the number of races he’s won.”

Three different times, he has finished in the runner-up position, missing the title by mere points.

Over the course of the second half of the season, the key will be for Castroneves to stick to his guns, posting solid finishes and overcoming adversity in the best ways possible while not wrapping himself up with controversies.

Avoiding issues like he had last year at Houston would be a good start towards the goal at hand.

BCL Auction Sponsoring Earnhardt at Kentucky

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‘Drive Sober’ Campaign Sponsoring Cassill

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Johnny Sauter hoping to get lucky at Kentucky Speedway this weekend

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Photo Credit: Simon Scoggins

Over the past couple of years, Johnny Sauter has been fast at Kentucky Speedway in the Camping World Truck Series, but he has yet to reach victory lane. Sauter has come close on many occasions including a runner-up finish, and went from leading to in the garage with 20 laps to go due to a broken axle.

Sauter is hoping this weekend goes much better as he comes into the weekend leading the points following a solid start to the 2014 season.

“Every year we come back, it seems to get more challenging – to say the least – but I think it enables guys to move around the track and find what works for their truck,” Sauter commented. “I’m just looking for whatever we can get as it’s been a track that we’ve had success, but haven’t. We need to keep the points at the back of our mind as it’s too early to say that we’re points racing as we’re only seven races in so long way to go, but we still need to put finishes together and keep competitive.”

In wanting to keep the consistency going while looking for a shot to grab the victory, Sauter says it’s all about “keeping everything in perspective” with regards to expectations and looking for the right handle on his Toyota Tundra.

“I think I’ve been doing this long enough that I can come in here and manage those expectations,” Sauter commented. “I don’t think I’ll come in here tomorrow and dominate, but I don’t think I will come in here and run 20th. You just have to manage it and make the right adjustments as it’s a challenging place as we practice in the day and race at night so just managing those expectations. You just have to have a level head and know that set-ups are going to change and evolving. As they say in racing you can show up with a set-up that was successful last year to the track this year and you’re not going to be fast so things are constantly evolving and you just try to do the best you can and whatever the night brings you, it brings you.”

Though heading into the weekend, a lot of people haven’t pinned Sauter or fellow series regular to win the race. Instead, fingers have pointed towards Sprint Cup Series drivers Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski and Austin Dillon who are running the truck race on Thursday night as potential winners. While some drivers may call the double-dippers “annoying”, Sauter says it doesn’t bother him as he believes that his ThorSport Racing team has what it takes to beat them.

“I don’t ever feel when I walk out to driver intros that I’m beaten because they’re in the race,” Sauter stated. “It doesn’t bother me the least.

 

Cayden Lapcevich to Make OSCAAR Modified Debut during Don Biederman Memorial Weekend

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GRIMSBY, ON- Sunset Speedway Super Stock division standout Cayden Lapcevich will make his first career OSCAAR Modified start this weekend, as part of the 16th annual Don Biederman Memorial weekend.

The third-generation driver will campaign a Troyer chassis jointly owned by Hamilton, ON-area competitors Terry Baker and Kevin Job.

“This is such a huge opportunity”, exclaimed Lapcevich when asked of his upcoming tour debut. “I’m counting the days. I feel like I’m waiting for Christmas morning. Terry & Kevin have been friends of my family for as long as I can remember, and I’m honoured that they think enough of me as a driver to let me race their car”

Coined ‘The Prodigy’, Lapcevich is the son of current NASCAR Canadian Tire Series star Jeff Lapcevich. The Grimsby, ON driver is a Sunset Speedway standout, already securing a pair of Super Stock feature victories this season at the Innisfil-area 3/8 mile.

“I’m real interested in seeing how the Modified responds”, explained Lapcevich. “I’ve never so much as sat in one, so I have no idea if I’ll be able to run Sunset the way I do in my Super Stock, or if I’ll have to attack the track completely different”

“Sunset’s definitely home and I think I know the track as well as anybody on the tour, but I might be hitting the reset button this weekend and learning my way around all over again”

Though the Baker Performance of Hamilton No. 26 will be foreign to Lapcevich, the 14-year old is only three seasons removed from a Quarter Midget career that took him across North America en route to 7 National Championships.

“It’s been a while since I’ve raced anything with open wheels, but that’s the kind of experience you never really lose”, said Lapcevich. “When you’re racing anything without fenders, you have to be mindful of what’s around you, and you have to have a tonne of respect for the guy racing beside you. That’s the most important thing I learned from my Quarter Midget racing, and it’s definitely something I’ll be applying to the way I race the Modified this weekend”

When asked if his appearance in an OSCAAR Modified could turn into a regular occurrence, the high-school student is careful to play his cards close.

“Right now, our goal as a team is just to stay on the track and get as much seat time as possible. In anything. As long as I’m learning and getting better, then I’m doing my job. I just love racing. I’ll drive anything if given the opportunity”

Cayden’s OSCAAR Modified Tour debut will be made possible thanks to support from Baker Performance of Hamilton, Tim Hortons, Troy Cove Marine, Springers Meats, EPIC Racewear by OnePromo.ca and Cathcart Trucking.

Fans can follow Cayden on Twitter @CaydenLapcevich or at his official Cayden Lapcevich Racing page on Facebook.

 

By Spencer Lewis (@itsspencerlewis)

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