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Featured interviews from SpeedwayMedia.com

  • Alex Bowman: ‘Just a Normal 21 Year Old Turning Laps for a Living’

    Alex Bowman: ‘Just a Normal 21 Year Old Turning Laps for a Living’

    Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 23 Dr. Pepper Toyota for BK Racing, may be competing for Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, but he describes himself as “just a normal 21 year old who gets to turn laps for a living.”

    Bowman, who hails from Tucson, Arizona, started his lap turning career on short tracks in his home state, graduating at the age of seven to driving quarter midgets. The young racer than progressed to USAC and at age 17, moved to stock car racing, first in the Pro Cup Series in 2010 and then in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2011, where he won the Rookie of the Year honors.

    Bowman moved to the ARCA Racing Series for two years and then made his Nationwide Series debut at Chicagoland Speedway where he finished 17th. He ran full-time in Nationwide in 2013 and got the call to move up to NASCAR’s elite series for the 2014 season.

    “As far as getting this deal, I got a phone call from Rick Carpenter that he wanted to talk and sat down with him and Mike and Ron Devine and I worked on it for a couple months,” Bowman said. “And we were able to put it together and go from there.”

    While Bowman is enjoying competing at the highest level of the sport, he is also enjoying being a part of one of the biggest rookie crops to grace the Cup Series.

    “It’s great as far as being in one of the largest classes of rookies,” Bowman said “You’ve seen some rookie classes ride around all year in the past but there is none of that this year.”

    “You’ve seen the class this year put on a heck of a show so far,” Bowman continued. “So I feel good about being a part of such a big class.”

    Bowman’s crew chief Dave Winston is also a rookie, and yes the pair have indeed made their share of rookie mistakes, from issues over the radio to issues on pit road.

    “My crew chief Dave, it’s his first year being a crew chief,” Bowman said. “So, we’ve both made our share of mistakes and we are both learning.”

    “It’s really funny when he tries to talk on the radio and he has never really talked on the radio before,” Bowman continued. “So, it’s these little short bursts of words that scramble together.”

    “I think we’re working together really well,” Bowman said. “He’s definitely a good crew chief and he has a really positive attitude, which goes throughout the whole team. It’s a big difference versus what I had last year. I’m really happy with how the guys gets along and how everybody works together.”

    “My biggest rookie mistake is that I’ve spun on pit road a couple of times,” Bowman admitted. “On pit road at Daytona and Kansas as well I spun. So, I need to work on that a little bit. So, that’s our biggest thing.”

    While Bowman has yet to spin at Dover, he admitted that he has yet to really master the Monster Mile.

    “It’s gone alright so far here at Dover,” Bowman said. “We unloaded okay but as practice went on, we made some changes and got going in the right direction. We weren’t too bad in the first practice but we will see how practices go and how we will be during the race.”

    Bowman has the utmost respect for Dover as he turns laps around the Monster Mile. But he cannot quite say that it is one of his favorite tracks just yet.

    “It’s one of the toughest places we go,” Bowman said. “It’s real physical. It’s a lot of fun but at the same time when you have a bad race car it’s a really long day.”

    “I like it more than a lot of places but at the same time, if you have a bad race car you’re probably going to hate it.”

    “If we get out of here with a top-30, that would be good,” Bowman said. “I’d be pretty happy with that.”

    While Bowman dreams, as do most rookie drivers, of winning races and competing for future championships, he has one unique hobby that sets him apart from his fellow Cup competitors.

    “I guess I’m not really a typical race car driver in that I don’t hang out with anybody in the sport or anything like that,” Bowman said. “Most of my friends have no clue about racing. I hang out with a lot of car people but not a lot of race car people.”

    “All my cars most of the garage would look at and be like, that’s stupid,” Bowman continued. “I’m into like the low cars. Everything I own is really low or really fast.”

    “It’s fun and is something that I’ve always been interested in,” Bowman said. That’s what all my friends do too.”

    “Other than that though I’m pretty much a normal 21 year old kid that gets to turn laps for a living.”

    Bowman will race with his other BK Racing teammates Ryan Truex and Cole Whitt. He will start in the 23rd position for the 45th annual FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks on Sunday, June 1st.

  • Jeb and Ward Burton Emotional Over New Truck Ride and Sponsor

    Jeb and Ward Burton Emotional Over New Truck Ride and Sponsor

    Jeb Burton, his father Ward, representatives of his new sponsor Estes Express Lines and his new team ThorSport Racing were all on hand at the Monster Mile this morning to share the news of their partnership in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

    And while father and son are ecstatic with the new opportunity, both admit that the road to this moment has been filled with turmoil and great emotion.

    “I can tell you, from January when the rug was pulled out from under us until now, that was the most devastated I have ever been in my whole life,” Ward Burton said. “Those were weeks and the only time in my life when I could not find anything positive.”

    “It was like this, if you had a child who was sick with cancer and the medicine was there to fix his medical problems but you either did not have the means to do it or the way to do it and you couldn’t save him,” Burton continued. “That’s how I felt.”

    “Jeb has gone through a lot,” Burton said. “We were here in 2012 and had a five-race deal and we worked and worked and worked.”

    “And then we came back in 2013 and then that got pulled out from under us after they had initiated a 2014 contract and even made payments,” Burton continued. “So, you can imagine that Jeb has been through a lot of inner turmoil.”

    “But the way I look at it, it’s going to grow his inner character and when he does have relationships like this, he’s going to work it hard and make it successful and he’s going to appreciate it so much.”

    Jeb Burton was indeed most appreciative as he talked about his new opportunity with Estes and ThorSport Racing. The 21 year old acknowledged that not only would he be racing full-time in the Truck Series for 2014 but also with options for the future as well.

    “It’s a really big deal for me and my family to be with Estes Express Lines,” Jeb Burton, driver of the No. No. 13 Estes Toyota Truck for ThorSport Racing said. “It means a lot to me and I look forward to the future with them.”

    “Each time I get behind the wheel, I’m not only representing the Burton family and ThorSport Racing, now I have the privilege of representing everyone at Estes, which means a team of almost 15,000 employees including more than 6,000 truck drivers.”

    In addition to Estes and ThorSports, both Jeb and Ward Burton were emotional when talking about the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, seeing the Series as giving many young drivers the chance to make their mark. In fact, Burton has already made his mark in the Series, having competed in all four Truck races this year, producing two top-10 finishes and ranking eighth in the Series standings.

    “Thank God for the Truck Series,” Ward Burton said. “Without the Camping World Truck Series, a lot of kids like Jeb wouldn’t have the opportunity either.”

    “It’s such a small window for a driver to get a ride and then win races,” Burton continued. “So, the whole dynamic has changed and if it had been like this when I was coming up, I would have never had a chance. It would have never happened for me.”

    “I didn’t have financial backing to bring with me,” Burton said. “And now, there are a few exceptions, but most for most of the kids don’t have it that way either. The economy and the way businesses have made financial decisions about the sport has just changed so much.”

    Jeb Burton was also emotional as he talked about what he hoped to bring not only to the race track but also to his new Estes family.

    “Last year I had a really good year and we had some good results,” Jeb Burton said. “Hopefully our results will pick up and we will get a win.”

    “I’m really excited to meet all the Estes drivers, bring them to the race track and entertain them every week because I want to make them all NASCAR fans.”

    But for both Ward and Jeb Burton, emotions spilled over as they acknowledged the new opportunity that would kick off at Dover International Speedway this weekend.

    “Everything happens for a reason and I felt that our deal was that way,” Jeb Burton said. “I just keep trying to be patient and get better and improve.”

    “Jeb and I both cried at our announcement with ThorSport and Estes on Tuesday,” Ward Burton said. “I don’t know any other way that I can tell you how much that means to both of us.”

    “Luckily every now and then you meet some people who you have something in common with you and your hard work pays off.”

  • Sage Karam Having fun, Learning Lots

    Sage Karam Having fun, Learning Lots

    The typical teenager’s high school life flies by, but normally not at more than 220 miles an hour. As a racing prodigy he’s not living the life of a typical 19-year old college bound kid.

    I recently had the chance to sit down with the 19-year old Indy 500 rookie. He had just finished his first qualifying attempt running a 228.650 run which put him in the 21st position.

    After the run he told me, “There’s not much we can really do right now. The team looked at me like I shouldn’t leave yet so I don’t know yet. I know we made some changes so heading into tomorrow but we may try to get another run in.”

    Davey Hamilton, a former driver with Dreyer and Reinbold racing, told me Sage has asked him, “Basic things really, how the lines run, how the process goes, some goals for each day, things to look for. He’s a great kid and has a super lot of talent. We’re taking it just one step at a time right now but I believe that with the talent that both him and the team have that we could end up being a top 9 team.”

    Sage told me, “Davey has been helping me a lot. Dario (Franchitti), Scott (Dixon) and Tony (Kanaan) have helped a lot as well. So I’ve got a lot of good guys in my camp that I can rely on as well.”

    “I’m having a blast so far, it’s amazing. I think I’ve been coming every year since I was eight years old. It’s awesome to see it from the cockpit and see it from that point of view. It’s a dream come true, I love it.”

    When asked about being eight (now seven) away from his first 500 and what he was looking forward to the most he told me, “Probably just the day itself. Just to get here in the morning and see all the fans rolling in. I remember coming in every year and waiting one, two or three hours in traffic trying to get in the gate. Just waiting in that line and seeing people partying at 7 a.m. I saw one guy playing with this gas powered helicopter and stuff and it’s like these guys have an awesome time. So now I’m coming in here at seven with a police escort so things obviously have changed. I just can’t wait to get in here and see the fans and see what it looks like sitting in my car with the grandstands full.”

    Sage will start in the 31st position next Sunday. With a bright future ahead, and many people rooting for him, he’s determined, humble, and ready to give it his best shot.

    -Ryan Kent Jr
    @RyanKent47

  • NASCAR BTS: Chris MacNicol AKA Talladega Tire Man

    NASCAR BTS: Chris MacNicol AKA Talladega Tire Man

    At Talladega this past weekend, one fan, wearing only a Goodyear, received some significant television time during the race broadcast. So, this week’s NASCAR Behind the Scenes simply had to focus on Chris MacNicol, the man otherwise known as the Talladega Tire Man.

    MacNicol, surprisingly was not always a rabid, tire-wearing race fan. In fact, the native Floridian moved to Alabama to play baseball in college. One weekend, his baseball buddies suggested they check out the nearby NASCAR race track.

    “A bunch of my teammates said to go to Talladega and I told them, “I’m not going to watch that. That’s silly,” MacNicol said. “But I’ve been to every race since. I always tell people who ask me about the races that it is really that different when you are there at the track.”

    “It give me goose bumps to talk about it now,” MacNicol continued. “Once you stand next to the track and see 43 cars go by at 200 miles per hour, you are hooked. It’s unbelievable.”

    Once MacNicol was hooked on racing, not only did he attend the Talladega races but he also went off to Daytona, which had been on his bucket list. And at Daytona, not Talladega, the Tire Man was actually born.

    “One year, my dad, my brother, my best friend I grew up with and his dad said we were all going to meet at Daytona,” MacNicol said. “So, we met them in Daytona, which was on our bucket list in 2004.”

    “I had just enclosed the carport on my house and that was my man cave, with all my baseball memorabilia and my NASCAR memorabilia,” MacNicol continued. “I was building an end table out of racing tires for the man cave and I had one tire that a friend gave me after he drove at the Richard Petty Driving School. So, we were walking around the infield at Daytona on Saturday after what was then the Busch race and a NASCAR truck pulled by and asked if we wanted to buy a tire.”

    “And, of course, I wanted to buy one for my end table and asked how much,” MacNicol said. “So, for $5 I bought it. I rummaged through the truck trying to find some decent tire and I came across Joe Nemechek’s right front tire that he qualified with. I thought that was cool and so I bought the tire.”

    “We were in Turns One and Two but we were camped in Turns Three and Four, which was a long way,” MacNicol continued. “So, I’m carrying my cooler and my beverage and I’m trying to roll this tire. And I’m spilling my beverage and I’m getting frustrated so I laid the tire down and sat down. I sat on the edge of the tire and my rear end sunk in the middle. And I had this epiphany that if I pulled the tire up on my hips that it would stick.”

    “So, after I pulled it up, it pulled my shorts up too. It took us close to five hours to get back to our campsite because everybody started stopping and taking pictures. Instantly I knew that this would have to happen at Talladega too.”

    “And here we are today.”

    Once the Talladega Tire Man was born, MacNicol’s adventures continued, even to the point of having a brush with the law.

    “One of my dad’s favorite stories to tell is after we finally get back to the campsite at Talladega and I’m standing there in my tire, a Sheriff’s officer came by in the car,” MacNicol said. “It was a lady Sheriff and she just rolled down her window far enough so we could see her eyes. She motions me to come to the car and she said “Please tell me that you’re wearing something underneath that tire.” I told her “Yes, ma’am and do you want to see?” And she said “Nope”, slowly rolled the window back up and drove away.”

    MacNicol found out the hard way after his Daytona tire inauguration, that some modifications had to be made if he was going to be able to continue living out his stint as Tire Man at every Talladega race.

    “I had to make some modifications to the tire,” MacNicol said. “Walking around Daytona, I actually got scars on my legs from where it rubbed me raw. When I pulled it up on my hips, the inner tire bead sat just below my hips so it actually was held up on the upper part of the legs. So, you can imagine walking around for a few days in a tire, it didn’t feel that great.”

    “So, I got the bright idea from my wife’s granddaddy, who always wore these two-inch Dickies suspenders and I thought I could make it to hold the tire up,” MacNicol continued. “The tire has two U-bolts in the front and two in the back that I attach my suspenders to. I also cut out the bottom, but it was still jagged. So, one day I was walking through Home Depot and I saw this nice, cushy pipe insulation and I thought I could put that around the bottom of the tire. And it worked great.”

    The Talladega Tire Man sensation really gained momentum, however, after being featured in a book and also through social media, especially Facebook and Twitter.

    “I was approached in 2010, when NASCAR was really trying to put the race fans first, the business communications director for NASCAR at the time and a writer for the Sporting News contacted me about making the Talladega Tire Man part of a book on race fans,” MacNicol said. “The book was “The Weekend Starts on Wednesday”, which was a story all about NASCAR fans, from those like me who go to the race track and act silly to Afghanistan war veterans who have a purple heart and a doctor who climbed Mount Everest and planted a NASCAR flag.”

    “There are some pretty amazing people in that book,” MacNicol continued. “Once that started, we thought that we should get involved with Facebook and Twitter. But we mostly did it because we wanted to share pictures with the fans. And it’s just blossomed from there.”

    What may be most surprising, however, is that the Talladega Tire Man does not charge for pictures or receive any remuneration for his efforts. MacNicol simply does it for the love of racing and the race fans.

    “My only thing is that I do this because I love it,” MacNicol said. “I love racing and I love the fans. I’m not in it for the money. Once it becomes a job, that’s not what I want. That’s not fun anymore. The Tire Man to me is somebody who is out, has passion for racing and is just like everybody else in the stands. I’m no different than anybody else that buys a ticket and comes to the race track.”

    What has surprised MacNicol himself the most as he roams the Talladega infield is the warm reception that he gets each and every race.

    “The most surprising thing is how gracious people are and how friendly people can be,” MacNicol said. “Sometimes when you walk up and there’s a half-naked man there, you may not get the best response.”

    “But everybody is so nice and it’s been that way my entire experience at Talladega,” MacNicol continued. “I’ve made life-long friends and that friendship has just expanded with the Tire Man to an enormous amount of people all over the country. When they showed me on TV on Sunday, we got messages from people in Chicago, Nashville, Charlotte and all over the place.”

    “So, that’s probably the best thing and the most inspiring thing to me to come back and do it every year.”

    Now in his tenth year as the Talladega Tire Man, MacNicol realizes that he may not be able to do this forever. But he has already been thinking ahead and is well prepared for the future.

    “I’m 40 now and pretty soon now, the Tire Man is going to have a little drag in his rear quarter panel,” MacNicol said with a laugh. “But I’ve got three boys, ages 11, 9 and 5, and last year, I made them their own tires.”

    “I didn’t force them to wear them and they have to want to wear them,” MacNicol continued. “I didn’t bring them this past race but they said I had to bring them next race.”

    Simply put, MacNicol wants all race fans to know one thing about the Talladega Tire Man.

    “I just appreciate the opportunity and just love being able to convey a fan’s passion about NASCAR,” MacNicol said. “I am a huge race fan.”

    “And basically I’m just me.”

     

  • Mike Stefanik Humbled Awaiting Hall of Fame News

    Mike Stefanik Humbled Awaiting Hall of Fame News

    Later this month, NASCAR will officially announce the next five drivers who will enter the Hall of Fame and Mike Stefanik, nine-time NASCAR champion in both the Whelen Modified Tour and the K&N Pro Series East tour, is just humbled to even be in the mix of consideration.

    “It’s very humbling actually,” Stefanik said. “I didn’t really think about it much when I found out they were coming out with the list. I thought I would see what would happen.”

    “My daughter called me and she informed me and it was pretty exciting news,” Stefanik continued. “It was kind of shocking. Even though you knew you had a chance, it was still very shocking to hear it and to get it confirmed.”

    “Shocking and humbling the more I thought about it because there are so many people that deserve to be in that Hall of Fame and I never really looked at myself as one of them,” Stefanik said. “That’s just how I am.”

    While Stefanik has accomplished much in his storied career, he credits his back to back championships in both the Busch North Series (now the K&N Pro East Series) and the Modified Tour Series in 1997 and 1998 for his consideration as a future Hall of Famer.

    “Mike Joy called me and officially gave me the news,” Stefanik said. “And Mike said that my championships had a lot to do with it. Those were two strong programs and I was in that nice spot.”

    “I knew then and told my wife that this will be remembered,” Stefanik continued. “It’s just all the stars were aligned.”

    “It was very stressful but it all worked out and I’m sure that had a lot to do with the Hall of Fame nomination.”

    Stefanik feels particularly privileged as he views his nomination as a teachable moment for fans who are not as familiar with the more grass roots, regional levels of the sport.

    “You always hear ‘When are you going to go NASCAR’ and well, I am already there,” Stefanik said. “I’ve had a NASCAR license for 37 years.”

    “NASCAR is all about levels of racing,” Stefanik continued. “Obviously the Cup level is the top rung on the ladder and then Nationwide and then Camping World Trucks and then the Touring Series.”

    “I always thought the Modifieds, and maybe I’m biased, but I always thought they were the toughest Touring Series on the schedule,” Stefanik said. “It just seemed like the level of competition, the car counts and the amount of capable cars in each race was there.”

    “Obviously the K&N Series has become more expensive than the Modified Tour but I think the Modifieds are way more competitive because of the depth and possibility of various winners at different tracks where nobody would be surprised. Twelve drivers could easily get twelve different wins.”

    So, has Mike Stefanik been to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and did he ever in his wildest imagination consider that he could be honored in those hallowed halls?

    “Oh absolutely, I’ve been to the Hall of Fame a few times,” Stefanik said. “I’m kind of a history buff. So, I love to see the older cars, how the sport developed and the technology side of the sport.”

    “It’s always interesting to stick my head inside a 1960s Cup car and wonder how those guys didn’t get hurt with such poor quality of protection at the speeds they were running back then,” Stefanik continued. “So, yeah, I always like to look back and see where the sport came from, where it is and where it’s going.”

    While Stefanik enjoys the history at the Hall, he also likes to reminisce about some of the personalities with whom he has raced when he visits.

    “When I go to the Hall of Fame, I’m looking at the technology side of racing but also the personalities, especially a personality like a Richie Evans.”

    “I was fortunate enough to race with Richie Evans and get to know Richie Evans and be a friend. He let me drive one of his cars so he had to like me to let me do that,” Stefanik continued. “So, yeah, when Richie would walk in the room, it would be like a very special person was there even when you were racing with him week in and week out. I always had a lot of respect for that man.”

    “So, going to the Hall of Fame and seeing his car in the Hall was just like you have to stop and take a moment to remember a lot of good times.”

    As the time grows closer for the Hall of Fame vote, Stefanik is taking a philosophical approach to it all as he humbly awaits the decision-making.

    “From what I understand they vote on it May 21st for the five new members to be inducted,” Stefanik said. “You can’t win if you’re not in it. So, now we’re in it and we have a shot to win it. That’s how I look at it.”

    “It’s kind of like a race and I feel like we won it before we even entered,” Stefanik continued. “But we haven’t won the race yet but we are in the race. And eventually you’ve got to come to the top however long that takes.”

    “It doesn’t matter now that I’m in it,” Stefanik said. “There are so many people more deserving than I am.”

    While he awaits the Hall of Fame decision, Stefanik is also deciding how he will fashion his own future going forward.

    “I’m not really racing now,” Stefanik said. “I have an opportunity to run some but I haven’t finalized the program. We’re just in the talking stages.”

    “That’s the only reason I didn’t officially retire,” Stefanik continued. “I knew last season I wasn’t going to run a full schedule.”

    “I’m not burned out but it’s just time,” Stefanik said. “You just know. I don’t want to officially say that I’m never going to sit in a race car again because I love racing. I love the Modified Series. So, I might run a race or two if it’s fun, if it’s right and if everything is good about it.”

    “We also have the empty nest at home,” Stefanik continued. “My kids are grown and out of the house. We have a really nice home that we really haven’t been able to enjoy because we work six days a week and then we race.”

    “I’d like to spend some time at home,” Stefanik said. “We live on a lake and I’d like to use the lake and really enjoy home. I think that’s how I’m going to spend my time. I enjoy it and it’s relaxing. We have a pontoon boat that we putt around and we’re into the kick back, stress free time as opposed to work and racing. I’m going to find some non-stressful areas and hang out in them for a while.”

    “And then I’ll probably get bored and do more racing so, who the heck knows?”

    Stefanik summed up his thoughts on his Hall of Fame nomination in three words, flattering, humbling and magical.

    “The more I think about this, it’s very flattering,” Stefanik said. “It makes you think back to when you get started and all the people that I really hope can be a part of it when and if it happens. I’ve been thinking about that which is unusual for me.”

    “I’m very humbled by it and I’ll be humbled when it happens whenever that is,” Stefanik continued. “It will be more of an ‘Oh my God feeling” than some who might have a feeling of “finally”.

    “I won’t have that,” Stefanik said. “I’ll be nervous.”

    “I never got into racing to be in the Hall of Fame but it is quite a good place to end up and certainly it will be a magical time when that does happen.”

  • Joey Gase’s Prior Decisions Still Impacting People Today; Excited For ‘Dega This Weekend

    Joey Gase’s Prior Decisions Still Impacting People Today; Excited For ‘Dega This Weekend

    Joey Gase finished 31st at Richmond International Raceway in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, despite lacking tires and pit crew members, just one example of how Jimmy Means’ one-car squad is persevering.

    ”Richmond was really frustrating,” Gase explained to Speedway Media on Saturday. “We were short on tires and crew members, nevertheless, still a decent finish, good points night, huge thanks to Donate For Life Virginia for teaming up with us this weekend, just glad we didn’t lose anything.”

    The Nationwide Series and Gase now hit the high and unforgiving banks of Talladega Superspeedway where they are prepared for anything and everything to occur.

    “I’m really looking forward to Talladega,” Gase further expressed about anyone being able to win at ‘Dega. “Anything can happen, allowing anyone to win, and it’s kind of a crap shoot.”

    Gase, 21, has not experienced a top-10 running, much less a victory, during a four-year tenure within the Nationwide division. However, with Talladega being recognized for its generous attitude towards underfunded organizations, Gase touched on the possibility of an unforgettable and emotional trip to victory lane this weekend.

    “If we win this weekend then I’ll be excited for months,” Gase explained with a chuckle. “A victory would really put us on the map.”

    Snapping back into expected circumstances, Gase is aiming to avoid damaging the car while producing solid runs each weekend.

    “Our goal this season is to finish top-20 in the driver standings, and top-30 in owner standings,” Gase noted about his goals in the No. 52 Jimmy Means machine this season. “Thankfully, we are currently accomplishing those standards.”

    The still-developing driver earned his career-best 19th place finish at Kansas Speedway driving for Jimmy Means during the 2012 Nationwide Series season. While his finishes aren’t there – probably due to equipment – he still manages to keep the car in one piece, making him a very respectable driver for an owner.

    Gase has always been tagged as underfunded, therefore not a good driver, however that stereotype is slowly but surely starting to be ceased as the Cedar Rapids, Iowa native continues to make headlines not only by his contribution to Donate For Life but also for his on-track capabilities.

    Many folks, especially new NASCAR fans, don’t understand the hardships that Gase faced and battled through. His life was flipped upside down three years ago when his mother, Mary Gase, passed way, unexpectedly, from an aneurysm.

    Gase, 18-years-old at the time of the tragic death, decided to donate his mother’s organs and tissues which ended up saving 60-people’s lives.

    “My mom always loved helping people. She always had a big heart,” Gase said a few years ago. “She was always helping people when she could and we knew if she could help all these people, if she could no longer continue her life, this is what she would want to do.”

    Now, the competitor, while not on-track, helps spread newly acquired information about organ and tissue donation. He also visits hospitals during the week to spend time with patients and help cheer them up during the toughest of instances.

    While many racers have different backgrounds and hair-raising stories, Gase’s journey and caring decisions are some of the most unbelievable things you’ll encounter, and again, he manages all of this while, still, going 200 MPH every weekend.

  • Gray Gualding Not Phased By Criticism; Inducted to NASCAR NEXT Class

    Gray Gualding Not Phased By Criticism; Inducted to NASCAR NEXT Class

    Gray Gaulding was inducted to the 2014-2015 NASCAR NEXT class at Richmond International Raceway on Friday due to impressing the voting panel with one win and 13 top-10 finishes among the K&N East and West divisions.

    “I think it’s a really good program,” Gaulding expressed to Speedway Media about the NASCAR NEXT announcement on Saturday. “Thanks to NASCAR and NASCAR NEXT, it really helps us get our name out there on the media and racecar driver side, there’s a bunch of talent in the group this year and hopefully I can stay a part of the program for a while and I’m just thankful that NASCAR asked me to be a part of it again.”

    Gaulding, piloting from Colonial Heights, Virginia, scored his first career triumph in the K&N West Pro Series at Phoenix International Raceway last season becoming the youngest K&N West victor in series history, in addition to shocking many NASCAR owners.

    “On the K&N (East) side it’s all about learning and doing the right things, fortunately, I’ve been able to win in the K&N (West) Series, I’m actually the youngest winner and pole sitter in that division, so we’ve been able to break a lot of records, but now it’s time to go win a championship this season,” Gaulding further commented about his tenure in the K&N East Pro Series to date.

    Gaulding, 16, is competing full-time in the K&N East Pro Series this season. He’s captured three top-10 finishes already this young season; yet, he’s still craving better results.

    “Unfortunately, we didn’t have the run we wanted at Richmond, we ran third but faded away late.” Gaulding explained about his dismal finish at Richmond. “We have to go back to the shop and fix that, you can’t win a championship finishing 11th, hopefully we’ll improve and go to the next one.”

    Despite Gaulding’s first-career triumph being a memorable one, he’s dealt with the controversial move that’s questioned his capabilities and aggressiveness.

    “It’s racing when you move somebody out of the way for the win,” Gaulding noted about the incident with Cole Custer at Phoenix International Raceway last season. “Like I’ve always said, I would wreck my mom for a victory, it doesn’t matter.”

    Gaulding pile-drived Custer going into turn three on the final lap at Phoenix, sending Custer spinning in a cloud of smoke and Gaulding to victory lane.

    “You’ve got to do what’s expected, and that’s winning, that’s what I was raised to do.” Gaulding said about his passion to win. “When I go out and put my heart and soul in something my goal is to win.”

    Due to the aggressive move the NTS Motorsports driver has been criticized by fans and fellow competitors, however, he’s hoping to use their hatred as motivation – utilizing the famous phrase ‘let haters be my motivators’.

    “People are going to talk either way,” Gaulding expressed about people disliking him for making the controversial move. “And as a driver you have to put that behind you, half of it’s jealousy and I know I’ve worked hard to get where I am today.”

    Gaulding finished with a powerful statement that shows this developing driver will certainly be, like him or not, a force to reckon with in the next few seasons and beyond.

    “I know how to race, and sometimes you have throw the friendship out the window because sometimes the trophies all that matters.”

  • NASCAR BTS: Kevin Henry Brings Penn State Roar to Pocono Raceway

    NASCAR BTS: Kevin Henry Brings Penn State Roar to Pocono Raceway

    This week’s NASCAR Behind the Scenes focuses on Kevin Henry, who after running Penn State University’s Beaver Stadium, is bringing his own brand of roar to Pocono Raceway, recently assuming the position of Senior Director of Facility Operations.

    “My new job entails the event and lease operations of the track, dealing with security, guest relations, and all the guest management tools that we have to put in place for a big event,” Henry said. “I’m preparing for a three-race summer and trying to get my brain around this thing called auto racing.”

    “It’s a lot of fun so far.”

    While Henry is thrilled with the new role, he really did not come looking for it. In fact, the leadership at Pocono Raceway came calling on him.

    “I was lucky enough that the folks here at Pocono Raceway reached out to me and found me and asked if I would apply and interview,” Henry said. “I made it through the process and was lucky enough to get the job.”

    “But they found me; I didn’t really find them,” Henry continued. “So, that was the good part of that whole thing.”

    Besides his Penn State roar, why did Henry think that Pocono sought him out?

    “I think they wanted somebody more local and also I think they wanted to go outside the box a little bit and not go through the traditional auto sport folks they know,” Henry said. “They wanted to bring in fresh ideas and hopefully I can do that.”

    “My background is in college athletics. I was facilities manager, event manager and equipment manager at Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania. I was on the Beaver Stadium management team doing big, large-scale events on an annual basis there.”

    “But also I’ve had the good fortune of working two NCAA Final Fours as a subcontractor for Turner Live events,” Henry continued. “So, big venues, big footprints, big events, they are all the same. It doesn’t matter if they are a football game or an auto race, the principles of access control to protecting the livelihood of the sanctioning body and the people that are there, it’s all the same no matter what.”

    “The tools are very, very similar,” Henry said. “It’s just getting used to the circus that is auto racing when it comes to town. That’s the difference. It’s just a different circus than my past role.”

    Henry was able to recently check out his first in-person NASCAR race, bundling it with the Final Four in Texas.

    “Because I was there for the Final Four, it did line up well with the race in Texas,” Henry said. “I drove over there on Thursday morning just casually and not really with any agenda. I like driving around these large footprints and looking at wayfinding signs, looking at staffing, looking at the logistics that go into it. With a semi-trained eye, you pick out little things that you can apply back.”

    “Everybody has a different way of doing things so that is interesting to see,” Henry continued. “To drive the infield and then watch Nationwide and Trucks moving into the garage, which was something I had yet to see.”

    “All the parking and the logistics were so interesting,” Henry said. “That’s what I basically learned from Texas was the pre-race logistics that the fans don’t see.”

    “I will get to other tracks as the season goes and get around to other venues to see whatever works. We’ll take advantage of that as the opportunities come.”

    Henry did not, however get to check out the Pocono Raceway by his usual method of driving around the footprint as he did in Texas.

    “I wish I could say that the first thing I did was drive the Pocono footprint but the harshness of the winter kind of prevented me from doing that,” Henry said. “The snow got on the ground early and stayed until a few weeks ago. So, I’ve been driving that footprint every day this week and for the weeks to come to catch up.”

    Henry will bring his PSU expertise to tackle any of the challenges at Pocono Raceway, which he feels will be more than applicable to the track known as the ‘Tricky Triangle.’

    “I think really the challenges are the same no matter what big venue you’re working with,” Henry said. “It’s dealing with the staff, making sure they’re energized over a long period of time, to greet our guests, greet the sanctioning bodies, and greet anyone that touches this footprint.”

    “Making sure that they have the tools to make good decisions and tell us what’s going on out in the world so that we can make good decisions is my number one focus,” Henry continued. “I don’t touch our fans because I’ll be in a room somewhere or going from point A to point B for a meeting so our workforce has that interaction. We have to give them the tools to interact the way we want them to so our guests come back again and again and again.”

    “We do have a mix of volunteers, paid hourly staff, contractors and so the challenge is communication, like it is in every workplace,” Henry said. “So, we set up a system as to how we’re going to educate them, like a handbook they can carry in their back pocket or a brief sheet of what’s going on that day or whether it is the production notes of what changes from race weekend to race weekend.”

    “We get redundant and go over and over and over the five or six key points,” Henry continued. “We don’t want to overwhelm with information because we want to focus in on the key elements, which are safe, clean and friendly.”

    “If you’re safe, they will come back. If it’s clean and they have a good experience, they are going to come back. And if everybody is friendly, smiling and asking how they can help, they are going to come back.”

    Henry admitted that one of these elements does indeed worry him enough to disturb his sleep.

    “Safety is one of the things that keeps me up at night, wondering if you have enough or if they are going to be where they need to be when the time comes,” Henry said. “But it’s a multi-layered approach. We try to run a unified command program, with State, federal and local authorities with assets in the right place at the right time, whether weather assets, law enforcement assets, or fire and EMS assets.”

    “You want to plan for the worst and hope you never use that plan. Plans are for every contingency that we can think of right now.”

    Friendliness is another key element that Henry hopes will translate from Penn State University to Pocono Raceway.

    “You have to stress that friendliness with your staff, like stressing the little things like making eye contact with the fans,” Henry said. “Once you get within ten feet, you make eye contact with people and within five feet you say ‘hello’ or ‘how may I help you.’ That’s an old, and I might get this wrong but, I found it in an old Marriott handbook of training.”

    “Yeah, we’re a sports industry and a racing industry but we are a hospitality industry, which we try to stress and apply.”

    “We won’t do anything too much different from Penn State to Pocono,” Henry said. “A lot of things that we do in college football are unique to college football, like the pomp and circumstance of the band or a large video board.”

    “So, the entertainment is different here at Pocono,” Henry conclude. “We will integrate as much as we can but it is very much different.”

    Henry’s first test of his Penn State roar at Pocono Raceway will come the weekend of June 5th to 8th with the first NASCAR race of the season, the Pocono 400.

  • Brandon Gdovic, Ronnie Basset Jr. Among NASCAR NEXT ‘Snubs’

    Brandon Gdovic, Ronnie Basset Jr. Among NASCAR NEXT ‘Snubs’

    Brandon Gdovic and Ronnie Basset Jr., unfortunately, were not selected into the 2014-2015 NASCAR NEXT program, making them this season’s ‘snubs’, however, both competitors are hoping to use the rejection as extra motivation this season and beyond.

    Gdovic, 22, has not begun the 2014 K&N Pro Series East season the greatest. He finished a season-best ninth in the UNOH Battle at The Beach in February, but has yet to experience another top-10 run through four races.

    “This season, obviously, we are not running full-time,” Gdovic explained to Speedway Media on Friday about his time in the K&N East Pro Series this year. “We’re trying to conserve money, but we’ll be running in other series, looking to post some top-fives and compete for wins, just hoping to avoid frustrating weekends.”

    Despite not running the full K&N schedule, Gdovic is still going to be racing at local short track levels trying to re-earn his credibility and recognition.

    “We’ll run the K&N car at Langley Speedway, Virginia (International Raceway), Watkins Glen (International Raceway), Dover (International Raceway), and a few more.” Gdovic further expressed about his plans this season. “We’ll run late models at Langley, some legends and modifieds, we just want to run 50 races this season rather then the 15 on the K&N schedule.”

    Gdovic was not an inductee in this season’s NASCAR NEXT class; however, he’s not dwelling on the unfortunate.

    “I don’t really think about it too much,” Gdovic noted about not being inducted to the 2014-2015 NASCAR NEXT class. “It is what it is, just means I have to try harder, and it is hard to go up against teams like Turner Scott Motorsports, but when you can beat them, it’s just that much more satisfying.”

    Bassett Jr., like Gdovic, has been competing across the eastern coast racing in the UCAR Series and other local divisions, which he believes has helped him improve on the K&N side.

    “It’s pretty cool,” Bassett Jr. explained to Speedway Media on Friday about running across the east coast in a multitude of series. “We’ve traveled around a lot, I’m not one track wonder, and the extra track time at different tracks has really helped a bunch.”

    Bassett, 19, has preformed quite nicely this season in the K&N East Series, finishing a season-best second at Greenville-Pickens Speedway and posting another top-five last weekend at Richmond International Raceway.

    The performances, though, were not enough to include his name on this season’s NASCAR NEXT program.

    “It sucks,” Bassett further explained with a disappointed tone about not getting into the NASCAR NEXT class this season. “It just makes you want to perform better and strive to make yourself better, and open some eyes, but it’s definitely a setback.”

    However, the Winston Salem, North Carolina driver is hoping to prove to critics, and NASCAR, that he deserved a spot on the list.

    “Hopefully, we can give the guys who did get in a run for their money, and show NASCAR they missed out on something, being left out just makes you want to drive harder all the time.”

     

  • Jesse Little Earns NASCAR NEXT Placement; Craving First Career K&N Triumph

    Jesse Little Earns NASCAR NEXT Placement; Craving First Career K&N Triumph

    Jesse Little was inducted into the 2014-2015 NASCAR NEXT class at Richmond International Raceway on Friday due to winning last season’s K&N East Pro Series Rookie of the Year honors and posting eight top-five finishes throughout his K&N tenure.

    “It means a lot,” Little explained to Speedway Media on Friday at Richmond about being inducted to the NASCAR NEXT class. “I’m really excited, it’s a great opportunity and you can gain a lot of experience from (the program), it’s a fun deal and I’m really looking forward to (being involved).”

    Little, 17, won the Rookie of the Year award after finishing ninth in points and posting four top-fives and a remarkable six top-10 finishes, including a career-best third at Langley Speedway.

    Now, Little is focused on improving upon those results, hoping, and praying for his first triumph with his family-run team.

    “It gave me and the team a lot of confidence,” Little expressed about winning the K&N East Rookie of the Year award last season. “It has given us momentum to carry into this season, forcing us to set the bar higher, and the expectations farther, we have to perform better this season.”

    Little, who made his first-career K&N East start 11 days after his 15th birthday, currently rides fifth in the driver standings following a 10th place running in Richmond, Virginia, and is a mere two markers behind fourth place driver, Daniel Saurez.

    “To win races and be in a position for the championship it’ll take good runs each week,” Little commented via a press release prior to Richmond. “(Our) first series victory is just around the corner for this team and (soon) would be a great (time) to make that happens.”

    Little returns to the racetrack on May 19, 2014 at Iowa Speedway for the Casey’s General 300 in hopes of driving to victory lane and showcasing his talents and his legitimacy within the NASCAR NEXT program.