NASCAR’s Jason Fensler Gambling On Getting His His Third Win In-A-Row In Las Vegas
It’s been close to two months since TeamCassRacing’s Jason Fensler, has sat behind the wheel of his NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race car when the team competed in the Toyota/Napa AutoCare 150 in Roseville, California. Fensler, who started the race 15th, led the final eight laps in his TCR / Pick-n-Pull / Simple Green sponsored Chevrolet, and went to victory lane in only his second start for team owners Jim and Terri Cass.
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[/media-credit]The win was Fensler’s second points win in-a-row in only five starts; with his first one coming at Altamont Motorsports Park in 2008 when he drove for SpeedWong Racing. “We didn’t qualify that well. We started 15th. We had to start toward the back of the pack,” said Fensler after his win at Roseville. Fensler also added that, “We just kept ourselves in position the whole entire race and that was the key. We didn’t have real good car, but we put ourselves in position and I just knew on the last restart to get the best run I could of off of two and it worked out for us.”
“At the close of the Roseville event when we were able to take the lead, my spotter Justin did a great job. It really enabled me to focus on hitting my marks and drive a good consistent line.” Fensler who is racing as a rookie in the series is running a limited schedule because of sponsorship restrictions, and will make his next start on Saturday in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 200 at the Bullring in Las Vegas, Nevada. This will mark the Elk Grove, California natives second start in a point’s race with the team, his first start came at the season opening Toyota All-Star Showdown which is a non-points event.
Fensler qualified seventh for the showdown, and ran as high as eighth before Derek Thorn slid into race leader Paulie Harraka coming through Turn 4 on lap 206. Fensler, Dale Quarterley, David Mayhew, Darrell Wallace and Chad Boat were all involved as each driver had nowhere to go and ended in the grass in Turn 4, which ended Fensler’s night where he would finish 28th. With Fensler’s last win coming two months ago, he was asked what he’s done within that time to prepare himself for this weekend’s race, and how hard is it to get back in the car and be competitive after a two month layoff?
“I have changed a few things inside the car for comfort. Foreseeing hotter weather this weekend in Las Vegas I mainly worked on driver cooling and fluids for myself. When you have Roger Bracken preparing a car, a great crew working on it and owners like Jim and Terri Cass it makes it so much easier on myself as a driver. It really enables myself to speed that process up of getting settled back behind the wheel,” said Fensler.
Crew chief Roger Bracken has been hard at work since the last race working on the ways to improve the team, and make them stronger by communicating with Fensler as well as the team owners. “I tell ya, it’s hard to win these races, and to be the only other driver to win this season in the K&N Pro Series West, once again shows what a great team TCR is,” Fensler said.
Fensler finished with, “Roger and myself communicate very well. We have talked a lot about qualifying, since we didn’t qualify that well at Roseville, to try and improve on that. We both agree, we don’t want to spend too much time on it and let ourselves get behind on race setups.” Even though Jim and Terri are still seeking sponsorship to cover the rest of the season and are considered an underfunded team, they are still able to provide Fensler with a fast and competitive race car as well as a team that gels really well together.
Fensler added that, “Everyone on the team gives 110% to do the best we can, and at the close of the day know we can walk away knowing we did the best we can. We win as a team, we lose as a team and with that being said I personally focus on giving the best feedback I can to Roger on the chassis, and drive a smart race. These races are long races and you have to race smart and put yourself in the right spot at the end to have a shot at a victory or getting the best finish you can.”
TJ Bell Racing Green Smoke Camry at Pocono Raceway
Green Smoke® Driver TJ Bell Slated to Race “Tricky Triangle” Bell Hopes His Road Racing Background Will Lead to a Great Racing Performance at Pocono Raceway with No. 50 Green Smoke Camry
(Mooresville, NC June 10, 2011) – Green Smoke®, one of the nation’s leading electronic cigarette brands, first sponsored TJ Bell in his second attempt to race on NASCAR’s largest stage, the Sprint Cup Series, in the Memorial Day weekend event at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and again at Kansas Speedway. Bell and Green Smoke® learned together what many teams and accomplished drivers have learned before them – starting a new team in the highest level of competition in NASCAR is not the path of least resistance.
“Racing in the Sprint Cup Series means racing against champions, veterans, the best racecar drivers in the world who drive for the best racing organizations in the world. LTD Powersports is a new team, and we are anxious to give Green Smoke® their first appearance on the Sprint Cup Series stage. The playing field in NASCAR is as level as it has ever been, which means it’s tougher than ever to qualify for the 43-car fields that race on Sunday. We’ve learned so much about our No. 50 Green Smoke® Camry that I think we are the most confident heading into Pocono Raceway that we’ve been,” said Bell, who was impressive in his Sprint Cup Series debut at Darlington Raceway.
Green Smoke’s sponsorship of Bell is the company’s first NASCAR endeavor, as well as the first NASCAR sponsorship by any organization within the electronic cigarette industry.
“LTD Powersports is the first team to bring an electronic cigarette sponsor, Green Smoke®, into the Sprint Cup Series garage. They’ve been with us for two race weekends at Charlotte Motor Speedway and in Kansas. We hope that Pocono Raceway will be the event where we get the opportunity to put Green Smoke® in the field for Sunday’s race,” said Bell, of Sparks, NV.
Bell, a NASCAR competitor since 2003 cut his teeth in road racing and he likes his chances for getting a good starting position at Pocono Raceway with the Green Smoke® Camry.
“Pocono Raceway is a three-corner road course. It’s not an oval. I love the track. I’ve been there in the ARCA Racing Series with cars that you shift, and cars that you don’t shift. To head back there with the Green Smoke ® Camry, a car that I’ll be shifting, I couldn’t be more excited. I love racing at Pocono and it should be a great opportunity for this race team,” said Bell, who currently resides in Mooresville, NC.
T.J. Bell (Timothy Peter Bell, Jr.), born August 25, 1980 in Sparks, NV, has raced in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series. Prior to joining the stock car racing scene, he made a name for himself in the Toyota Atlantic Series. Bell has raced for more than two decades, accumulating 20 top-10 finishes in ARCA competition and 13 NASCAR career top-10s.
About Green Smoke® Green Smoke® Inc. is based in Miami, Fla. and was founded to provide smokers with an exciting new alternative to traditional cigarettes. As a leading electronic cigarette brand, Green Smoke® was amongst the first companies to deliver a simple two piece e-cigarette. Today, Green Smoke® continues to pride itself on consistently delivering the highest quality products and the most authentic e-cigarette smoking experience.
To follow T.J. Bell, visit or on Twitter @TJBell_Racing. For sponsorship information on T.J. Bell & NASCAR, contact: Dan Leon; danleon@comcast.net; 610,291.7418.
