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ThorSport Racing celebrates 25th anniversary with silver schemes at Daytona

On Feb. 14th, 2020, the legendary ThorSport Racing crew will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in the NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series by having silver paint schemes on their Trucks. Johnny Sauter, Ben Rhodes, Grant Enfinger, and defending Truck Series champion Matt Crafton will carry the special honorary numbers that night. ThorSport Racing has sponsored entries in every season since 1996 with various drivers with Terry Cook being the first driver for them in the team’s history.

It wasn’t until 1998 when Duke and Rhonda Thorson earned their first victory with driver Cook at the former track, Flemington Speedway. Since that victory, the team has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success. Overall, the company has 253 top fives, 533 top-10 finishes along with 33 poles and four driver series championships. ThorSport also has collected Rookie of the Year titles with Willie Allen in 2007, Johnny Sauter in 2009, and Myatt Snider in 2018.

The three-time champion Matt Crafton has the most starts with the team with 453 races to his name, far surpassing Terry Cook starts who had 296 starts.

With the driver lineup remaining the same for the 2020 season, so will the crew chiefs. Sauter will have Joe Shear Jr., Carl Joiner Jr. with Matt Crafton, Jeff Hensley for Grant Enfinger, and Matt Noyce for Ben Rhodes.

The 2020 Truck Series season gets underway on Friday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET live on Fox Sports 1 and MRN Radio.

January 22, 2020
DiBenedetto Pumped To Make History with First NASCAR Test on IMS Road Course

NASCAR To Choose from Two Circuit Options for Historic Xfinity Series Race on July 4

INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020 – A significant page in the 110-year history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was written Wednesday, Jan. 22, as Matt DiBenedetto turned the first-ever laps by a NASCAR stock car on the IMS road course. The test is in preparation for the inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series road-course race at IMS, sponsored by Pennzoil, on Saturday, July 4 during the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Powered by Florida Georgia Line event weekend. The race is part of a revamped schedule for the annual NASCAR event on July 3-5, during Fourth of July weekend.

“I’d consider this one of the big things (to happen in my life),” DiBenedetto said. “Opportunities like this are things I’ll never forget for the rest of my life. I’ll be able to say forever, ‘Hey, I got asked by Mr. Penske himself, that whole team, by NASCAR, folks at IMS, everyone, to come and be the first ever to run the road course and test it out for the NASCAR Xfinity gang.”

DiBenedetto spent the day testing two different road-course configurations to see which will produce the most exciting racing, with both featuring the cars going clockwise, the opposite direction of the oval.

One version was a high-speed, 12-turn road course that features the cars driving through the entire Turn 1 of the oval and down the frontstretch into the infield for the first turn of the road course, which features a heavy braking zone. This was nearly identical to the layout used by Formula One for the United States Grand Prix from 2000-07 at IMS.

The other course was a more technical, 14-turn layout that uses the three-turn chicane inside Turn 1 of the oval before the drivers make their way onto the frontstretch, then stand hard on the brakes to enter the infield for Turn 1 of the road course. This is the same complex of turns used by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES during the GMR Grand Prix in May.

DiBenedetto said after running both layouts there is no wrong answer as to which circuit will best fit the NASCAR Xfinity Series, as both have features that will create several passing opportunities and offer great racing for fans.

“The cool thing is, what we love as road racers is heavy braking zones, and clearly, the end of the front straightaway here, you have a very heavy braking zone,” DiBenedetto said. “There’s high-speed stuff. There’s low-speed stuff. So, it’s pretty much everything we could ask for from a competitor’s standpoint for raceability.”

Wayne Auton, the managing director for the NASCAR Xfinity Series, said the decision on which road course layout to use will be decided with fans in mind.

“We want to put on the best show that we can for the fans, we want to put on the best show for NBC, which this race will be on, and definitely we want to make sure that the NASCAR Xfinity Series shines here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” Auton said.

Auton said NASCAR will take engine and tire data, plus input from DiBenedetto and Team Penske, to the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord, North Carolina, to evaluate which course layout and race distance will best suit the Xfinity Series at IMS. That decision will come in the near future, Auton said.

No matter the course layout, DiBenedetto said he is certain fans will see one of the most unique weekends of racing on July 3-5, including an exciting road course event full of passing, beating and banging, and high speeds Saturday, July 4. Then the facility quickly will be converted to oval configuration for NASCAR Cup Series practice later that afternoon and Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard qualifying and race Sunday, July 5.

“This is a big, cool change for a really neat weekend,” DiBenedetto said. “We’re going to have Xfinity cars running on the road course here, then it’s Brickyard 400 weekend, and it’s the Fourth of July, and you got the fireworks show, Florida Georgia Line concert. It’s a weekend I would definitely want to come to as a spectator. They’re going to get a lot of show in one weekend.”

Tickets for the entire Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Powered by Florida Georgia Line event weekend, which includes NASCAR and the USAC Midget series’ Driven2SaveLives BC39 Powered by NOS Energy Drink, are on sale now at IMS.com and the IMS Ticket Office.

January 22, 2020
Roush Fenway Racing Names Castrol® as Team’s Official Oil Partner

Industry leader Castrol to serve as primary partner on No. 6 NASCAR Cup Team

CONCORD, N.C. (January 22, 2020) – Roush Fenway Racing has announced a partnership with Castrol for the high-performance lubricant brand to be the team’s official oil partner. In addition, Castrol will serve as a primary sponsor on Ryan Newman’s No. 6 NASCAR Cup Series entry in select events.

“We are really excited to have Castrol on board as our official oil partner,” said NASCAR Hall of Famer and team co-owner Jack Roush. “Castrol has been a leader in engine lubrication for as long as I can recall. They have a history of competing with great success at the highest levels of motorsports. I’m looking forward to the edge we feel they will provide our race cars going forward and we can’t wait to launch our partnership in Daytona.”

Roush Fenway Fords will run Castrol Oil exclusively in all of its Ford machines, with Castrol’s debut as a primary coming at Auto Club Speedway on March 1.

“Jack has a hard-earned reputation for success in NASCAR and all of us at Castrol are thrilled by the opportunity to join the Roush Fenway team,” said David Bouet, Castrol’s US president.

“Castrol has a long history of partnership and success with many Ford teams – in NHRA, World Rally and with the iconic Ford GTs in endurance. We look forward to using this proven race expertise and our leading performance technology to build on the team’s record of success.”

NASCAR veteran Ryan Newman has powered the No. 6 into a solid contender, propelling the iconic Ford Mustang back into the NASCAR playoffs last season with 14 top-10 finishes. Chris Buescher, who brought home Jack Roush’s eighth NASCAR Championship in 2015, returns to Roush Fenway to pilot the No. 17 in 2020.

About Castrol: Castrol, a global leader in lubricant technology, serves customers and consumers in over 140 countries in the automotive, marine, industrial and energy production sectors. Our branded products are recognized globally for innovation and high performance through our commitment to premium quality products, highly responsive services and cutting-edge technology. To find out more about Castrol products and programs, please visit www.castrol.com/us

About Roush Fenway Racing: Roush Fenway Racing is one of the most successful teams in NASCAR history, fielding multiple teams in NASCAR Cup Series. Moving into its 33rd season, Roush Fenway is a leader in driver development, having launched the careers for many of the top drivers in the sport. Off-track, Roush Fenway is a leader in ASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning Social Media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Roush Fenway is co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner Jack Roush, and Fenway Sports Group, parent company of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox and English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C. Visit www.RoushFenway.com, become a fan on Facebook and Instagram and follow on Twitter at @roushfenway.

January 22, 2020
CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: By the Numbers

DETROIT (Jan. 22, 2020) – Corvette Racing begins its 22nd season of competition – and first with the mid-engine Corvette C8.R – this weekend with the Rolex 24 At Daytona to start the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. To mark the occasion, here are some facts and figures on the team’s history at both Daytona and as a whole.

• 0.034: As in seconds – the winning margin of victory in Corvette Racing’s 1-2 finish at the 2016 Rolex 24. It is the closest finish in race history.

• 1: As in one team, one manufacturer and one model of car going on 22 years: Corvette Racing and Chevrolet.

• 2: Number of the overall winning Corvette C5-R in the 2001 Rolex 24. Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Chris Kniefel and Franck Freon completed 656 laps for 2335.36 miles in the winning effort.

• 3: Rolex 24 wins in nine tries for Corvette Racing: 2001 overall, 2015 GTLM (Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen/Ryan Briscoe) and 2016 GTLM (Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Marcel Fässler).

• 12: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001.

• 16: Number of GTLM wins for Corvette Racing since the start of 2014 – all with the Corvette C7.R.

• 20: Drivers who have driven for Corvette Racing at the Rolex 24 – Justin Bell, Ryan Briscoe, Kelly Collins, Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Marcel Fässler, Ron Fellows, Franck Freon, Antonio Garcia, Oliver Gavin, John Heinricy, Chris Kniefel, Robin Liddell, Jan Magnussen, Tommy Milner, Simon Pagenaud, John Paul Jr., Andy Pilgrim, Mike Rockenfeller, and Scott Sharp.

• 21: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races – Baltimore, COTA, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Daytona, Detroit, Houston, Laguna Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Miami, Mid-Ohio, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Sonoma, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres and Utah.

• 67: Years since Corvette was introduced to the world on Jan. 17, 1953 in New York City. A total of 300 were produced that year.

• 107: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 99 in North America and eight at Le Mans.

• 39,651.92: Number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing in the Rolex 24. For reference, the distance around the Earth at the equator is 24,901 miles. The team has completed 11,634 racing laps at Daytona.

• 299,130.44 Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing entering the 2020 season. For reference, the Apollo 13 spacecraft holds the record for farthest distance traveled from Earth – 248,655 miles. The team needs just 869.56 miles (245 laps) to break 300,000 all-time miles in competition.

Corvette Racing at Daytona
1999
No. 2 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Chris Kneifel/John Paul Jr. – 3rd in GTS
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Scott Sharp/John Heinricy – 12th in GTS

2000
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Chris Kneifel/Justin Bell – 2nd in GTS
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Kelly Collins/Franck Freon – 10th in GTS

2001
No. 2 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell/Chris Kneifel/Franck Freon – 1st in GTS (overall win)
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Kelly Collins/Dale Earnhardt/Dale Earnhardt Jr. – 2nd in GTS

2014
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Ryan Briscoe – 10th in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Robin Liddell – 5th in GTLM

2015
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Ryan Briscoe – 1st in GTLM (Magnussen fastest race lap)
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Simon Pagenaud – 3rd in GTLM (Gavin pole)

2016
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Mike Rockenfeller – 2nd in GTLM (Garcia fastest race lap)
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Marcel Fässler – 1st in GTLM (Winner by 0.034 second)

2017
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Mike Rockenfeller – 4th in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Marcel Fässler – 9th in GTLM

2018
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Mike Rockenfeller – 3rd in GTLM (Magnussen pole)
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Marcel Fässler – 4th in GTLM

2019
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Mike Rockenfeller – 6th in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Marcel Fässler – 8th in GTLM
Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 100 countries and selling more than 4.0 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

January 22, 2020
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Playoffs Expand to 10

The Gander Trucks playoff field in 2020 will expand from eight drivers/trucks to 10 drivers/trucks.
The new structure will be as follows:

Round of 10: World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Bristol Motor Speedway

Round of 8: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, Martinsville Speedway

Championship 4: Phoenix Raceway

NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Managing Director, Brad Moran, explained the decision.

“Expanding the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series playoff field to 10 is a win-win for drivers, teams and, most importantly, the passionate fans who support our Gander Trucks. This will only increase the competitive intensity this series offers, as more drivers and teams vie for one of the most coveted championships in all of racing.”

January 21, 2020
New express shuttle added betwween infield and fan zone for NASCAR weekend at AMS

HAMPTON, Ga. (Jan. 21, 2020) – NASCAR fans camping in Atlanta Motor Speedway’s infield are getting an express pass to fun during the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 weekend.

That’s because the Speedway is implementing another enhancement under its 20 in 20 Initiative that fans have been asking for: a direct shuttle between the AMS Fan Zone and the infield.

New for the 2020 NASCAR weekend, this shuttle will make use of a specialized non-stop path to get fans staying in the infield out to the Fan Zone and all of the games and entertainment that await. Thanks to the new Infield/Fan Zone Express Shuttle, fans in the infield will spend less time traveling and more time enjoying everything NASCAR weekend at AMS has to offer.

The Infield/Fan Zone Express Shuttle is the 14th improvement to come from Atlanta Motor Speedway’s “20 in 20” initiative. All told the Speedway will be announcing 20 individual enhancements to increase fan value and the overall enjoyment of the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 NASCAR weekend on March 13-15.

Tickets and camping locations for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway are available now by calling 877-9-AMS-TIX or visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.

January 21, 2020
Darlington Raceway to celebrate Daytona Day with community watch party on Sunday, Feb. 16

Ninth annual event to be held at Mellow Mushroom in Florence, SC starting at 1:30 p.m.

DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA (Jan. 21, 2020) – Darlington Raceway will celebrate Daytona Day and the start of the 2020 NASCAR season by hosting its ninth annual Daytona 500 Community Watch Party on Sunday, Feb. 16.

The party will be hosted at Mellow Mushroom, located at 120 Dunbarton Dr., in Florence, S.C. The event will start at 1:30 p.m. and continue until the conclusion of the Daytona 500.

The Community Watch Party will feature a food and drink special courtesy of Mellow Mushroom. Fans who attend will have the chance to win tickets, pit passes and pre-race ceremony wristbands, along with other prizes and giveaways to the NASCAR Cup Series Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend.

“Our ninth annual watch party is a great way for us to engage with our local race fans and celebrate Daytona Day and the start of the 2020 NASCAR season,” track President Kerry Tharp said. “We’re excited that the event will once again be held at Mellow Mushroom for the fourth consecutive year, which is an outstanding venue to watch The Great American Race on February 16.”

The watch party will also feature a video gaming area at Mellow Mushroom where fans will be able to simulate racing at Daytona International Speedway. Top times posted during the contest will receive prizes during the party.

Proud partners of the ninth annual Community Watch Party are Coca-Cola, Crown Beverages and WEGX Eagle 92.9 FM (iHeart Media).

Additionally, with the Daytona 500 quickly approaching, Darlington Raceway will be a presenting sponsor of live coverage from Daytona Speedweeks. Local media partners WWFN 100.1 FM ‘The Fan’ and WEGX Eagle 92.9 FM will broadcast live from Daytona International Speedway on February 13 and 14. The Daytona 500 will also be available live on Eagle 92.9 FM (MRN) beginning at 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 16.

“We appreciate all of our local media partners for their assistance in covering the Daytona 500, the Super Bowl of our sport, as well as their involvement in supporting our Community Watch Party,” Tharp said. “We encourage fans to tune-in to either Eagle 92.9 FM or The Fan 100.1 FM on Thursday and Friday evening for live coverage from Daytona, which will feature a wide variety of interviews and news updates from the World Center of Racing.”

You can keep up with all of the latest news from Darlington Raceway at DarlingtonRaceway.com, on Facebook at Facebook.com/DarlingtonRaceway and on Twitter at Twitter.com/TooToughToTame. Fans are encouraged to post their Southern 500 stories and memories at, #Southern500 and #SportClips200.

January 21, 2020
TMS to host free Daytona Speedweeks parties
TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY TO HOST 6TH ANNUAL WORLD’S LARGEST DAYTONA 500 WATCHING PARTY AND RUDY’S KICK OFF PARTIES
- Infield To Open Feb. 15-16 For Campers, Tailgaters To Watch Season-Opening NASCAR Weekend On World’s Largest TV
- Fans Can Select Seats And Infield Camping In Person For 2020 Season at the Track on Feb. 15-16 or at One of Six North Texas Rudy’s Country Store & Bar-B-Q Locations Feb. 13
FORT WORTH, Texas (January 21, 2020) – Daytona won’t be the only track rocking when the green flag flies on NASCAR’s 2020 season. The next best option to being at “The Great American Race” is watching it at “The Great American Speedway” on the world’s largest HDTV.

Texas Motor Speedway officially kicks off the opening of the 2020 NASCAR season Feb. 15-16 with its sixth edition of the World’s Largest Daytona 500 Watching Party.

Just like in Daytona, though, Speedweeks don’t start with the big race. That’s why Thursday, February 13 during the Daytona Duels qualifying races, all six Rudy’s Country Store & Bar-B-Q locations across North Texas are hosting season kick off parties for race fans.

The parties, both at Rudy’s on Thursday and Texas Motor Speedway Saturday and Sunday, give fans multiple ways to get their early-season racing fix — and their 2020 race tickets.

From 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 13, fans can purchase 2020 season tickets or O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 weekend tickets at Rudy’s, guaranteeing themselves access to an exclusive Q&A session with a NASCAR Cup Series driver on O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 race day (Sun, March 29). On top of that, Rudy’s is offering a 20 percent dinner discount that night and one free bottle of BBQ sauce for 2020 TMS season ticket holders.

That weekend No Limits, Texas, plays host to a free infield party for campers and tailgaters highlighted by the season-opening NASCAR races being broadcast live from Daytona International Speedway on the colossal 20,633 square foot “Big Hoss TV.”

On-track action begins with the NASCAR Racing Experience 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday, Feb. 15, (1:30 p.m. CT, FS1) and culminates with the 62nd running of the Daytona 500 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 16 (1:30 p.m. CT, FOX).

Last year’s event attracted more than 5,000 fans along with 350 RVs to watch the racing action from Daytona Beach, Fla., on the 12-story tall, high-definition TV located on the Texas Motor Speedway backstretch.

In addition to the racing action and pre-race NASCAR shows on “Big Hoss,” there will be free Chevrolet Impala and Camaro SS pace car rides on track Sunday from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Fans can even ensure they have the best seat and camping spot available at Texas Motor Speedway for the 2020 season as speedway ticket representatives will be on hand to provide guided tours and let interested ticket purchasers personally select their grandstand seats or camping spots.

The event is open free to the public and fans planning to tailgate or camp can RSVP now by clicking HERE. Fans, however, are not required to RSVP to the event and can just show up for the festivities on either day, including those planning to camp.

Access to the infield via the South Tunnel opens at 9 a.m. CT on Saturday, Feb. 15, for those fans looking to camp overnight and for tailgaters visiting for the Xfinity Series race. Guests are permitted to bring their own food and beverage to the infield throughout the weekend.

The 2020 season at Texas Motor Speedway opens March 26-29 with the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 NASCAR tripleheader. The opening weekend features the Vankor 350 Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race on Friday, March 27; My Bariatric Solutions 300 Xfinity Series race on Saturday, March 28; and the NASCAR Cup Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 on Sunday, March 29.

Both season tickets and individual tickets for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 weekend are available by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com or calling the speedway ticket office at 817.215.8500.
January 21, 2020
Howie DiSavino III to drive for Win-Tron Racing in NASCAR’s Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series

RICHMOND NATIVE DISAVINO TO DRIVE FOR WIN-TRON RACING IN NASCAR’S GANDER RV & OUTDOORS TRUCK SERIES

CONCORD, NC (Jan. 21, 2020) — It’s about to get busy for Howie DiSavino, III, in 2020. After several starts with Mooresville, N.C.-based Win-Tron Racing in 2019, the team is announcing DiSavino is signing on to pilot the team’s NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series (NGOTS) entry. DiSavino’s truck series debut will be at Richmond Raceway, his home track, on Saturday, April 18, 2020, as well as, other select NGOTS and ARCA Menards Series races. The deal will also feature two new Virginia-based partners for DiSavino, KEES Travel™ and Bud’s Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electric.

Howie DiSavino III
“Everyone at Win-Tron Racing is very excited to have Howie back behind the wheel. From the time he first jumped in the #32 ARCA car at Elko, MN, we could see that Howie is a smart and intelligent driver. He is a quick learner and a respectful young man with a huge future in front of him. We are proud to be a part of that future. Howie is a rising star, and we are truly looking forward to working with him and his partners again!” said Kevin Cywinsky, owner of Win-Tron Racing and former American Speed Association Champion.

Having local partners join on for the season makes DiSavino’s debut even more special, “It feels amazing to show pride in my Virginia partnerships and show racing fans what KEES Travel™ and Bud’s Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electric have to offer. My partners have made my dream a reality, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate them.”

“It also means the world to me to be able to make my NASCAR debut in my hometown at Richmond Raceway. I started racing at Southside Speedway and Dominion. Through all of those races, I knew it was my dream to make it to NASCAR. Now it’s starting to sink in. I’m especially thankful for the support of my family. I know I’ll be making them proud,” said DiSavino of his NASCAR opportunity.

On the ARCA front, DiSavino has set a goal of top-10 finishes and sees the truck starts as a way to hone his skills and continue to learn about racing in NASCAR’s higher-level series. He knows that working with a team he already has a relationship with will help him in his transition, “I love the guys at Win-Tron and the way we work together. It will be a great year running with them on the ARCA side and the truck side. Working with PMG and Win-Tron, I have learned so much, and I want to continue to keep learning with them behind me.”

During the off-season, DiSavino has been busy keeping his skills sharp through simulation racing and staying active in the gym to be physically ready for this new level of racing. Yet, he views his biggest work as fostering relationships with new partners, who will be able to experience a new level of exposure and access to a larger group of potential customers.

“I couldn’t be happier with the new partnership with Howie DiSavino, III, and the opportunities surrounding the relationship. There are few things more important to our company than the KEES brand. We feel Howie represents that brand and our values well,” said Jeremy Grogg, RRP, CHA, President of KEES Vacations.

Robert W. Nelson, Owner/CEO of Bud’s Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electric echoed Grogg’s excitement on the new partnership with DiSavino, “When the option to partner with HDIII Racing became available, it was a no-brainer. Anytime I have the opportunity to get my people excited and demonstrate pride in my company and its direction with community involvement, I’m doing it. It’s great to be sharing support for HDIII Racing within other top-notch companies. I’ve known the DiSavino family for 2 decades and hold them in the highest regard. Howie is a shining example of focus and drive. It’s refreshing to see these qualities in a person his age. 2020 is going to be a great year for everyone involved.”

With a seat on a competitive team and dedicated partners, DiSavino is set to make an impact in the 2020 racing season but is keeping his definition of success simple, “A successful season is just to compete with the racers up front and to come home with the car or truck in one piece. I strongly believe we will have a great season with my team, partners and family. I want to focus on getting better and learning, my ultimate measure of success in 2020.”

Before getting behind the wheel of the truck, DiSavino’s first race will be in Win-Tron’s No. 32 ARCA Menards Series entry at Phoenix International Raceway (Avondale, Az.) on March 6.

About Howie DiSavino, III
A pair of free tickets. That’s what started Howie DiSavino’s love for racing at the age of 8. After his dad took him to an Arena Racing show in the Richmond, Virginia area with those tickets, young Howie begged his family for a racecar.

Finally, at age 13, Howie got his wish. He and his family spent a couple years racing the arena circuit before making the jump to full-fledged late models just two years later. Since then, he has grown as a driver and a person, contributing to his race team and his community utilizing racing as an avenue for charitable giving while also building relationships with his partners and supporters.

In 2019, Howie took another step toward his NASCAR dreams, making his ARCA debut with WinTron Racing at Elko Speedway in Minnesota. 2020 looks to be a promising year as this skilled, young driver makes his NASCAR debut in the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. Learn more at www.howiedisavino.com, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

About Bud’s Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electric
Bud’s Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electric has offered Legendary Service since 1969. We have a well-established tradition of excellence. You can trust our company with 24-hour emergency service! We also have NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certified technicians to make certain that you only receive the best service.

From routine maintenance to full system replacements, we are well equipped to handle all of your comfort needs. As members of Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Safety Coalition (AC&R), and the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA), Bud’s is on the cutting edge of industry trends. With specialists in Geothermal and Hybrid systems as well in Indoor Air Quality products, Bud’s designs the most efficient and superior home comfort systems on the market. Learn more at www.budsusa.com, Facebook and YouTube.

About KEES Travel™
It all started because the vacation rental and timeshare rental markets only offered weekly stays. KEES Travel™ saw this as an opportunity to offer travelers more accessibility to these accommodations for a short-term or partial stay. We believe everyone deserves a vacation no matter the length.

KEES Travel™ believes in providing quality accommodation for our guests and taking care of our properties for our owners. We strive to give each the best experience possible in hospitality management. Our partners GOODMANagement manage our timeshare rental properties, and we work closely to take care of both owners and guests. Learn more at www.keestravel.com, Facebook and Twitter @KEESVacations.

About Win-Tron Racing
Headquartered in Mooresville, N.C., Win-Tron Racing is a professional race team entering its 14th season of Motorsports competition located in “Race City USA.” Owned by former champion racer Kevin Cywinski, in 2020 the team will compete in the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. Learn more at www.Win-TronRacing.com, Facebook or on Twitter @WinTronRacing.

About PMG
PMG is an industry leader with a fresh perspective on driver career path management, sponsorship acquisition, and the value of digital branding in motorsports. Headquartered in Concord, North Carolina, we work with drivers, teams and sponsors nationwide in multiple levels and divisions of motorsports competition. PMG’s principle partners have over 100 years of combined experience in marketing, public relations, competing in NASCAR, and race team management. We put that experience to work for our clients, helping them achieve their goals in motorsports. Learn more at www.racingpmg.com.

January 21, 2020
Hendrick Motorsports extends innovation partnership with Microsoft through 2021

TWO NASCAR CUP SERIES TEAMS TO SHOWCASE THE MICROSOFT BRAND

CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 21, 2020) – Hendrick Motorsports has extended its marketing and technical relationship with Microsoft Corp., which will continue as the Official Cloud Partner of the 12-time NASCAR Cup Series champions for the 2020 and 2021 racing seasons.

The agreement incorporates new promotional assets, notably the iconic Microsoft brand debuting as an associate sponsor on Hendrick Motorsports’ Nos. 48 and 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE teams competing in the Cup Series. In addition, Microsoft will continue to collaborate with Hendrick Motorsports on key technology projects including enhanced data analysis capabilities, a speech-to-text solution and race simulation upgrades.

“We’re excited to build on the success of our longstanding marketing and technology partnership with Hendrick Motorsports,” said Mike Downey, principal software engineer at Microsoft. “The organization, from the drivers to the race engineers, trusts in our innovative technology to give the team a competitive edge. As the sport evolves, we’ll continue to find new opportunities to promote our solutions and utilize Microsoft technology in the team’s quest for another championship.”

Hendrick Motorsports relies heavily on Microsoft technologies, including Azure cloud services, Windows 10 and Office 365, along with artificial intelligence and machine learning. Last year, the company fully transitioned to Microsoft Teams for chat, meetings, calling and collaboration. In addition, Hendrick Motorsports rolled out custom data tools developed via the partnership to analyze large amounts of data in real time and help guide decision-making during race events.

“Success on the racetrack is a product of having world-class people and the finest tools and technology,” said engineer Alba Colón, director of competition systems for Hendrick Motorsports. “In today’s environment, the data available is almost infinite, and we must make split-second decisions utilizing all the information at our disposal. Our partnership with Microsoft allows us to quickly analyze that data and make the best choices. The technology also lets us communicate and collaborate more efficiently and effectively. It’s a powerful relationship that we are proud to extend and build on.”

ABOUT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS:
Founded by Rick Hendrick in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports has earned 256 points-paying race victories and a record 12 car owner championships in the premier NASCAR Cup Series. The organization fields four full-time Chevrolet teams on the Cup circuit with drivers Chase Elliott, William Byron, Jimmie Johnson and Alex Bowman. Headquartered in Concord, North Carolina, Hendrick Motorsports employs more than 600 people. For more information, please visit HendrickMotorsports.com or interact on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

January 21, 2020