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Featured interviews from SpeedwayMedia.com

  • Kyle Larson ‘Felt Like a Super Star’ With Top Ten Truck Finish

    Kyle Larson ‘Felt Like a Super Star’ With Top Ten Truck Finish

    [media-credit name=”Photo Credit: kylelarsonracing.com” align=”alignright” width=”157″][/media-credit]Making his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in the UNOH 225 at Kentucky Speedway, one young driver just wanted to learn and finish the race.

    But Kyle Larson, behind the wheel of the No. 4 Chip Ganassi Racing Teams Mobile App, finished top ten and simply “felt like a super star.”

    “That was a big surprise,” Larson said. “I didn’t get much practice there so I didn’t really know how I was going to do.”

    “And with me blowing a motor up and not having much practice, as well as being a go or go homer, I didn’t push it too hard in qualifying,” Larson continued. “I just wanted to spend the first part of the race figuring out how the truck handled and how the air moved around.”

    “Once I learned some stuff, I could really race and I could start picking off people,” Larson said. “And then I found myself in the top ten, so I was really excited about it.”

    “I felt like a super star.”

    With a top-ten in his Truck debut, Larson also garnered a fair amount of attention, particularly from the media. But the young driver took it all in stride.

    “I don’t pay too much attention about it,” Larson said. “The spot light’s been on me for quite a while now.”

    “I just try to go out and race because that’s my job and I love doing it,” Larson continued. “I just want to go out and win. And if I keep winning, the spot light will be even better.”

    Although Larson seemingly sprang onto the NASCAR scene, he has been driving since the age of seven. And he has an extremely impressive racing resume.

    “I started racing outlaw karts when I was seven,” Larson said. “They’re 400 pound go karts with 500 cc engines. So, they have way too much power for how much they weigh.”

    “I did that for about seven or eight years and moved into 360 and 410 sprint cars on dirt when I was 14,” Larson continued. “I won a couple races the first two years and my fourth year I won the championship and last year was my first year racing nationally in USAC in all their divisions.”

    “I also ran some outlaw races and I’m the only other driver besides I think Tony Stewart to win in all the open wheel national touring series all in one year,” Larson said. “I swept the four crown last year at Eldora Speedway and I did it my first try. That was cool to do.”

    “Last year I won a lot of big races so last year stands out to me because of that.”

    Larson has also been part of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, running in the K&N Pro Series East under the auspices of Rev Racing. And the young racer credits much of his success so far to that program.

    “It’s helped me a lot,” Larson said. “My mom’s Japanese so that’s how I’m in the diversity program.”

    “I run for Rev Racing and we’ve been pretty good all year,” Larson continued. “We got a win at Gresham a couple weeks ago.”

    “We just got to make the right calls for the race,” Larson said. “That’s our biggest problem we’ve had this year, not keeping up with the race track because it changes so much.”

    “I think if we work on that, we’ll be better and win some more races.”

    While Larson enjoys driving all types of race cars, his favorite being the winged sprint car, he sees himself racing in NASCAR’s highest levels. And ultimately, he would like to own his own race team.

    “Hopefully the route I’m going will take me to the Sprint Cup Series some day,” Larson said. “That’s my goal and that’s what I want to do.”

    “I want to race with Stewart and Gordon and Kahne and all those guys every week,” Larson continued. “And I’d like someday to own my own team like Kahne and Tony do.”

    “That’s my goal is to get to the Sprint Cup Series so I can help young kids coming up.”

    Larson aspires to be like two drivers in the Cup Series currently, but for very different reasons.

    “As far as a driver, I’d like to be like Kyle Busch because he wins, not a whole lot this year, but he’s a talented driver and he always gives 110%,” Larson said. “As far as off the track goes, I think I need to be like Jimmie Johnson.”

    “He’s really good with the fans and really good with the sponsors too,” Larson continued. “I’d like to be a driver like Kyle and like Jimmie off the track.”

    But for now, the young up and comer just hopes he can do some more truck racing, which of course is dependent on sponsorship.

    “Yeah, sponsors mean a lot as far as getting rides,” Larson said. “I’ve been lucky being with Chip Ganassi Racing and he helped out a lot with this year and also with the truck race at Kentucky.”

    “He has been a great help to me and hopefully we can find some more sponsors to get some more races,” Larson continued. “It’s tough to do with the economy being so bad.”

    “They’ve talked about a few more races but it all depends on if we get a sponsor,” Larson said. “If it were up to me, I’d be racing every weekend in that truck.”

    “I had a lot of fun.”

    Larson’s family also had a great time watching him race in his first ever Truck race. Although his parents still live in his native California, they have taken off this summer to watch their son and to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

    “Right now, my mom and dad are with me at these races, hanging out,” Larson said. “My dad just retired so he has some time now to come watch me.”

    “They were really happy after the Truck race,” Larson continued. “My dad’s a crier so he was up in the stands tearing up.”

    “They were really excited and happy that I did good in my first start.”

    For fans who want to get to know the young Larson, he has two surprises to share. The first is his passions off the track and the other is his interesting exercise regimen, or lack thereof.

    “These past few weeks, I raced every day,” Larson said. “I don’t get a lot of free time but when I do, I’m out fishing.”

    “During the winter, I like to go snowboarding when I can,” Larson continued. “I’m not good at it but I like going down the mountain.”

    “I’m also really skinny but I love to eat,” Larson continued. “And no, I don’t work out at all.”

    “I worked out a few times this year with Rev Racing but then I started racing so I didn’t have time,” Larson said. “I don’t get tired though.”

    “That’s what I think people would find surprising about me,” Larson said. “I never get winded. I think it’s just because I stay calm.”

    Finally, the young racer is simply enjoying his time in the sun, especially during his Truck debut.

    “That’s really the first time I’ve ever raced with all that media around,” Larson said. “So that was cool to get interviewed.”

    “I really did feel like a super star.”

     

  • Krishtian Buescher: Living in a Racing World

    Krishtian Buescher: Living in a Racing World

    Photo courtesy of Krishtian Buescher

    Krishtian Buescher has been around racing since she was eight years old.  Krishtian is the wife of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) driver, James Buescher.  They got married during this past off-season and she spends almost every weekend at the race track.

    James was very close to winning last year’s NCWTS championship.  He finished third in the series standings, just 29 points out.  He has won three races the season.  He won the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race at Daytona in February.  Then he won the NCWTS events at Kansas Speedway in April and then Thursday night at Kentucky Speedway.

    Krishtian has been by his side for every one of his wins. Almost every truck race on SPEED you can see the cameras showing Krishtian’s smiling face.

    Recently I was able to interview Krishtian and below are the questions and her responses.

    Question 1: How did you and James meet?

    “James and I both used to drive legends cars, so we met racing against each other at ‘lil TMS (Texas Motor Speedway).”

    Question 2: What’s your favorite quality about James?

    “How humble he is.”

    Question 3: Is there a certain quality you don’t like about James?

    ‘”When I’m telling a story, he always interrupts me!!!!!!.”

    Question 4: Was racing a part of your life growing up?

    “Yes, my parents owned a dirt track when I was little. I’ve been a part of racing since I was 8 years old.”

    Question 5: How important is family to you and James?

    “Family is VERY important to both James and I. Anytime that we have the chance to spend time with family we do.”

    Question 6: How was your wedding?

    “Our wedding was AMAZING!! There was not a thing about it that was not perfect.”

    Question 7: What do you like to do when you’re not at the track?

    “I enjoy working our flowerbeds, volunteering at our church and spending time with friends and family.”

    Question 8:  What’s the toughest part about being on the road almost every weekend?

    “We don’t get to see our family and friends as much as we would like.”

    Question 9: Which tracks do you enjoy the most to go to and which ones the least?

    “I enjoy Bristol the most because the racing is so close. The least I would have to say Daytona and Talladega because of the unknown”

    Question 10: Do you ever get nervous during races?

    “I do at the super speedways and also if James is leading and it is coming down to the end.”

    Question 11: What’s your favorite travel destination?

    “Herradura, Costa Rica.”

    Question 12: Which one of James’ win did you enjoy the most?

    “Last night! Kentucky was awesome!! I was actually able to enjoy the moment. Daytona was kind of a blur and then I was not in Kansas.”

    Question 13: Do you and James like to hang out with any other driver’s and their wives?

    “We enjoy hanging out with T.J Bell and his girlfriend Alexis Gamboa, Justin and Ashley Allgaier, Brian Ickler and his girlfriend Christie Sloan and Miguel and Patricia Paludo. “

    Question 14: What’s some advice you would give to someone on life based on some of your experiences?

    “No matter what happens always stay strong in your faith. God will lead you in the direction he wants you to go.”

    Question 15: Do you enjoy interaction with NASCAR fans?

    “I love it!!! They are all a blast.”

    Question 16: What would a championship mean to you and James and Turner Motorsports?

    “A championship would be accomplishing the goals that we have all set out do!!”

    Krishtian was a blast to interview and I hope everyone who read this learned a little bit more about the Buescher’s.  You can follow Krishtian on twitter- @Kris_Buescher .

  • Emma Blaney’s Inside View

    Emma Blaney’s Inside View

    [media-credit name=”ThePodiumFinish.com” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]Many people know the last name Blaney. It’s synonymous with dirt racing, talent, and speed. Dave Blaney drives the #36 for Tommy Baldwin in the Cup series, and his brother Dale is making it happen on dirt tracks. The latest addition to this racing trifecta is 18-year-old Ryan Blaney, who runs in the K&N Pro series and making waves during a few Nationwide Series starts.

    Emma Blaney doesn’t race anymore, but she is still involved in the racing scene. The girlfriend of another K&N driver, Cale Conley, Emma plays the role of the silly one, showing everyone how normal their family really is. She tells me about her past racing career, watching her little brother grow up, and her infatuation with one Kasey Kahne.

    1. Not many people know that you use to race. At what age did you start racing, and what did you wheel?

    I started in quarter midgets when I was about 10. Bobby Labonte’s QM track opened up and it was real close to our house so my dad put my brother and I each in a quarter midget. I ran them until I was 16 (I suddenly got real tall and couldn’t really even fit into them anymore) and then let Ryan have all the glory. Those were some of the best years of my life, I swear. Got to travel so much and made so many close friends. I even met Cale through QM’s. In 2007, we raced up in Indy and Ohio and we spent about a month racing up there. I hated Cale for that whole month. I even beat him in one race we were both in.

    2. When and why did you decide that racing wasn’t what you wanted to do as a career?

    Well I turned 16 and got super tall. I was really into sports my whole life, racing was always just a fun thing for me. I played basketball and volleyball year round and so I had to choose what I wanted to do. I didn’t think I would be good at anything other than a little quarter midget, and I was right. Dad put me in a Bandolero twice, and I sucked terribly. So I went my way with sports, and I let Ryan take over the racing career. ;)

    3. Your younger brother Ryan is starting to cause a stir on the Nationwide side. Is it weird to see him cope with the pressure that comes with that series?

    It is a little weird. I guess I still see him as my tiny, wimpy brother with a big gap between his front teeth. But I think he is handling things pretty well for being 18. I think the biggest thing that has helped him is my dad. He has been through it all and he has always taught us, and especially Ryan, about how to handle this career. Ryan has 4 more Nationwide races this year and I have a ton of faith that he will do just fine. He has big dreams and won’t stop going after them, and we all support that. What’s weird is that the pressure and attention is on Ryan when he races. Our family is use to the Sunday afternoon NASCAR races, media, pressure and all that, but with my dad. And now, it is all about Ryan. But the real question is, when is it going to be all about me!? (just kidding :) )

    4. How do you feel about Ryan having a girl fan base? Have you given him any tips to charm the ladies?

    Haha, the girl fan base… Well it’s interesting. I’ll admit, he is a cute little thing, but my mom has always told him “Girls or racecars, choose.” You know a lot of girls usually think that I am his girlfriend, which I find completely offensive. I mean, come on. But I don’t really give him too many tips! I tell him to stay away from girls right now, and focus on his racing. Racing is your girlfriend, Ryan!

    5. Ryan also races against your boyfriend, Cale Conley, in the K&N races. Is it hard to deal with that extra anxiety?

    Yes the extra anxiety SUCKS. I highly recommend no girls have a boyfriend who races in the same series as your brother, it’s so stressful! But I honestly would not change it for the world. I love having both of them there, it’s exciting. My nerves go a little crazy though. They always joke about what if they were coming to the checkered 1 & 2 and one of them wrecked the other. I don’t find it so funny. But Cale has actually been racing with my family for awhile. Cale started out in sprint cars and raced them for 2 or 3 years and he raced against my Uncle Dale almost every week. In 2010, Cale, my Uncle and Dad were all in the Kings Royal up at Eldora, and also the 3 of them were racing the Knoxville Nationals too. So I have been through this for awhile now! I’m a pro.

    6. Your whole family has been successful at many different levels of racing. How does the family deal with all the media attention that comes with it?

    I get asked this question a lot, and I always try to think of a really cool answer for it, but I never can think of a good one. We aren’t any different from any other family. People seem to think that we have this great life and we really don’t. Yes, we are very blessed to be where we are, but there are flaws and hardships that come with this lifestyle. My family is not anything like the Gordons, or Johnsons, we don’t get that kind of attention but my siblings and I were always taught that “This is just what we do, this is just what our family does for a living, and this is what makes us stick together as a family.” I feel like my job in my family is to just show people how normal and silly we are, and show that we are personable people and aren’t anything to special. That’s why I enjoy Twitter, or Facebook or any social media so much.

    7. Your uncle Dale also races. Between him, your dad, and Ryan, who’s the best driver?

    I think I would get punched for answering this question! But they are all incredible. I think they are very similar in their driving techniques but they each bring something a little different to the table. They learn a lot from each other and that’s what I think is really cool about having an entire family that races.

    8. I understand that you have a ‘small’ crush on Kasey Kahne. What is your favorite quality about Kasey?

    Haha! Ohhhh Kasey. I do have a little crush, yes! And I am pretty sure he knows it, which is so awkward. I don’t know what it is about him, I just think he is beautiful. Not sure how my dad really feels about it…

  • Five Questions With Brian Scott

    Five Questions With Brian Scott

    [media-credit name=”facebook.com/BScottRacing” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]In my next interview I had the chance to speak with Nationwide Series driver Brian Scott. He currently drives the No. 11 Dollar General Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. Here is my interview with Brian Scott.

    Q: Imagine yourself not as a driver but as a race fan. If you were to do a ride along with any driver other than yourself, who would you chose, which track and why?

    Brian Scott: If I wasn’t a race car driver I think the most exhilarating ride along would be with Jimmie Johnson at Dover. Dover is such an incredible place with the most sensation of speed anywhere we go, and Jimmie because he is amazing at the track.

    Q: If you could have a track named after you, what kind of track would it be and where would it be located?

    Brian Scott: I think to have a track named after me in my home state of Idaho or just even in the Northwest would be neat. It would be a track that was a fast short track. Something like if you merged Bristol and Phoenix together.

    Q: What is your most memorable race?

    Brian Scott: My most memorable race was the 2009 Camping World Truck Series race at Dover. I won the race, my first win in NASCAR, and it will always be a memory I cherish.

    Q: Who would you consider NASCAR’s bad boy? Golden boy?

    Brian Scott: NASCAR’s bad boy in my eyes is my teammate Kyle Busch. And the golden boy is Carl Edwards.

    Q: What advice would you give someone who wanted to be a race car driver?

    Brian Scott: I would tell anyone with aspirations of being a race car driver to work hard, be humbled, and never give up. Its a long, hard road to make it and when it all comes down to it you have to be lucky, talented and smart.

  • Miguel Paludo looks forward to first Nationwide Series start at Road America this weekend

    Miguel Paludo looks forward to first Nationwide Series start at Road America this weekend

    [media-credit name=”Tammyrae Benscoter” align=”alignright” width=”133″][/media-credit]While the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is off this weekend, series regular Miguel Paludo will be making his first ever Nationwide Series start at Road America. Paludo has been enjoying the atmosphere after arriving at the track early on Tuesday night after driving the motorhome from North Carolina.

    “It’ll be a special weekend, special race for me because racing in Nationwide is a huge accomplishment for me and my career,” Paludo says.

    He adds that it’ll be more special because it is on a road course, which is his background after moving up through the road racing ranks in his home country of Brazil.

    “I’m looking forward to it,” he says. “I know a lot of good guys will be out there, but I just want to do a great job and show that we’re able to make it.”

    Before moving to the United States, Paludo progressed through the ranks in Brazil from go-kart in 2004 to Copa Clio to the Porsche GT3 Cup, winning two championships.  From racing then, Paludo says he’s used to turning both right and left, managing his brakes and taking care of the gearbox.

    “It’s kind of a different mentality than oval racing,” he says. “Even though when you’re tires wear out here, you have to be even smoother ‘cause these cars are so heavy and the timing has to be perfect.”

    He says that he learned a bit about the Nationwide Series car from testing so combining that with what he knows, it does have its advantage, yet he’s also learn some new things this weekend.

    “It’ll be a new experience for me as I’ll learn a lot about this car and what it needs to go fast,” he says.

    So far this season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Paludo sits 12th in the standings with one top 10 in seven races.

    “I think we’re doing okay. I hope to run a little bit better,” he says. “We had a really strong beginning of the season. Daytona was really special for me, winning the pole and leading the most laps ever.”

    The race at Daytona didn’t end like Paludo would’ve liked, however, as he hit the inside wall hard after some contact from behind. Since then, he says that they’ve been running okay, though they’ve been struggling a bit.

    “Dover, we got back on track, running in the top five most of the day and almost finish in the top five, just got caught by the rain,” he says. “Our season has been okay, but we need to do better so I’m looking forward to the next races.”

    Despite the numbers not looking the best on paper, he is doing better than he was last year at the beginning of first full season in the Trucks and Paludo says that part of that attributes to the fact that he’s more comfortable in the trucks.

    “I know the race tracks and I’m pretty sure we can do a lot better than we are doing,” he says. “You know, it takes time. it’s a tough sport. I’m running with really experienced guys every week and they have been in the racecar for a long time. But at the same time, I’m pretty sure of myself and the guys that I have at Turner Motorsports that we have a good truck and we will perform better. Sometimes if you’re a tick off, it turns into a lot off. It takes you from the top five to a top 15 truck.”

    At Turner Motorsports to help bounce information around is a diverse group of teammates, from James Buescher to Nelson Piquet Jr. to Justin Allgaier.

    “I talk a lot to those guys ‘cause I learn from them,” Paludo says. “James has more experience than I do so a lot of times, we talk during practices and even on the road course, I talk to Justin and Brad (Sweet) and we tried to help each other. That’s good when you have such a big racing team with so many drivers – many information you can get one from them.”

    Paludo joined Turner Motorsports at the end of last year after his contract was up with Red Horse Racing.

    “At the end of the year, I was looking for another opportunity and Turner showed that they had great equipment, really strong engines with Hendrick,” Paludo says. “So we started talking a lot about it and the deal really happened late in the season. I think we were after Homestead, we signed the contract.”

    Paludo’s move to NASCAR has helped expand to NASCAR to new fans as more people are being exposed to the sport. Paludo says that back in 2010 when he first moved to the United States, Brazil would only broadcast a few truck races while broadcasting the full Nationwide and full Sprint Cup schedule, with some races on delay. However, now they are doing all of the races live.

    Paludo says that fans are now watching the races and beginning to understand how they go, compared to the traditional F1 races that most fans were watching.

    “It’s hard to understand the pit stops, the race strategy, why the races are so long, why only change so many tires on each pit stop,” he says. “But you know, the fans, they understand that now and we have a lot of feedback on the website, twitter and those things. So it’s pretty cool to do that and have more interest from the fans.”

    For Paludo, his most memorable moment in racing is from when he was racing in Brazil when he won his first championship in the Porche Cup.

    “I won the championship in the last race, last lap, on the last corner,” he says. “Passed the guy and won the championship there. It was pretty special for me because nobody knew what was going to happen and it happened on the last moment. I never give up that I couldn’t make it and we did it. That made me a lot stronger as a driver.”

    [media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photography” align=”alignleft” width=”225″][/media-credit]Away from the track, Paludo is an advocate of diabetes awareness and care after being diagnosed with type one diabetes in 2004. Paludo announced this year that he would become the next Blue Circle Champion for the International Diabetes Federation, becoming the first representative of the organization from South America.

    A month and two weeks ago, Paludo’s eight-month-old son Oliver was also diagnosed with type 1 diabestes. Paludo ran a special paint scheme at Texas Motor Speedway in  response to the news.

    “Having them already diagnosing your son, it’s tough, because he doesn’t talk so you need to judge what he needs, how much he needs and what time,” Paludo says. “You can’t make mistakes because diabetes is a pretty thin line between the high and the low. You need to be right in the middle. I think I had eight years to learn about it and now I can use my experience to help me help him.

    “So far, he’s doing great and he’s a lot happier baby after we diagnosed him and the blood levels came back to normal. He’s doing great.”

  • Justin Allgaier looks to turn season around after some early disappointment

    Justin Allgaier looks to turn season around after some early disappointment

    [media-credit name=”Brad Keppel” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]”I’m a little disappointed. We’ve felt that we’ve had very strong racecars week-in-week-out, and for whatever reason, we’re not finishing the way we should. We’re struggling a little bit for the finishes, but not all of it is our fault. Some of it is mechanical failures, crashes, and things that are unfortunate, yet out of our control. We’re hopeful that we can get it turned around and we’ll be in good shape come the end of the year.”

    13 races into the 2012 Nationwide Series season, Justin Allgaier has one top five and seven top 10s, sitting fifth in points.

    It hasn’t been the season that Allgaier and team were looking for as many had them as contenders for the championship this season with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Austin Dillon and Elliott Sadler. However, it’s been a mix of issues for Allgaier and Turner Motorsports, including a pair of finishes outside the top 15 due to an engine failure at Fontana and a wreck at Daytona.

    This past weekend at Michigan International Speedway, Allgaier finished 14th after qualifying eighth.

    “We unloaded off the truck and thought we were pretty decent, and for whatever reason, we seemed to kind of not have the day we were hoping for,” the driver of the No. 31 Brandt Chevrolet says. “During the race, we felt like we were underpowered a little bit and for whatever reason, we felt like we’d be better off the truck. Not sure what issue we were fighting, but we definitely not what we were looking for.”

    This weekend, though, welcomes a change in pace for the NASCAR Nationwide Series with the road course event at Road America. Allgaier is hoping it brings him a good finish and begins a string of a solid finishes after running well last year before running out of fuel at the end.

    “It’s a totally different mindset,” Allgaier says. “You’ve got to change how you race; it’s differnet than what we’re used to. Definitely got a big challenge ahead of us, but at the same time, it’s a good challenge. I think we all really enjoy going to the road courses and changing it up a little bit, and I think we’ll have a good weekend.”

    Allgaier met Steve Turner after becoming good friends with both Chris and James Buescher.

    [media-credit id=26 align=”alignleft” width=”225″][/media-credit]”Everything kind of worked together with BRANDT and just the whole timing of everything was perfect and fortunately we were able to put a deal together and get them on the car,” Allgaier adds. “It was just the perfect storm, to be honest with you.”

    Being a driver at Turner Motorsports has given him the opportunity to work with a diverse group of teammates, from veterans like Kasey Kahne to fellow young drivers like Brad Sweet and Steve Arpin.

    “I think its great to work with those guys,” he says. “It’s a good group of guys and everybody is there to run good and win races, and I think that’s important number one.”

    Allgaier says that sometimes, it can be tough being part of a non-Sprint Cup team when you’ve got a problem on your hands and can’t find the solution. That’s why at times it can be tough to run against the Sprint Cup guys in the Nationwide Series, but Allgaier welcomes the challenge.

    “I think it’s a good thing for our sport to have the Cup guys run with us and elevate the competition like they do,” he says. “I think that’s great. Trust me, don’t get me wrong, it’s frustrating to have to race against those guys and try and beat them.”

    He adds that racing against them prepares him for future goals, like making it to the Sprint Cup Series. Allgaier has been able to beat the field twice with a pair of wins in the Nationwide Series. Looking to help him reach the goal of victory lane for a third time is crew chief Jimmy Elledge.

    Allgaier says that he and Elledge have a great relationship, though it can be their downfall sometimes to how much they are alike.

    “We just seemed to hit it off right away, right out of the box,” Allgaier says. “I really enjoy that relationship and glad that he’s my crew chief. I feel that we work very well together.”

    He adds that they also have fun together as Elledge got him interested in Outlaw Go-Karting and now they race together each week.

    Allgaier is one of many drivers that came through the ARCA Series ranks up to the NASCAR ranks. Allgaier says it’s a great series to learn from and his most memorable moment came when he won the championship in 2008.

    “At the time, I was driving for my dad’s ARCA team and it came down to the last race and we were third in points going in,” he says. “Everything had to work out exactly how it did for us to win the championship. We ended up winning the race and the championship and it was just an awesome experience for me and to see the joy on his face was just amazing.”

    In all of his racing, Allgaier says that the biggest lesson he has learned is that you’ve got to put 100% effort into racing.

    ‘There’s always someone that going to want it and try just as hard, and if you’re not putting the effort in, someone else is going to be,” he says.

  • Rob Poole moves up to OSCAAR for something new and different

    Rob Poole moves up to OSCAAR for something new and different

    [media-credit id=4 align=”alignright” width=”266″][/media-credit]Going into a season running a new type of car, you’d think the biggest thing that’d stand in the way of having a good, solid finish would be learning how to drive the cars. However, so far for Rob Poole and team, it’s been bad luck that has been bitten him so far.

    At Sunset Speedway in his first ever feature, he was involved in two separate incidents, however still managed to come home with a top 10 finish of eighth.

    “It was a good time the first night out, learning the car,” Poole said. “It was something different.”

    Going into the race at Barrie, Poole said he wasn’t looking forward to the night.

    “Hopefully we don’t too crashing and banging and wrecking,” he said before the race. It was predicted that it’d be a caution filled event due to how tight Barrie Speedway is.

    To compound issues, there were motor problems in practice, however the team was able to get them figured out before the first heat race.

    In the feature, Poole started 12th and was running fifth with 11 laps to go when the rear end let go, resulting in a 12th place finish.

    [media-credit id=4 align=”alignleft” width=”149″][/media-credit]The three-time Sunset Speedway Thunder Car Champion made the decision to move up to OSCAAR during the off-season. Last season, he had competed full-time in the Limited Late Model division at Sunset Speedway, finishing third in points with two feature victories.

    “We decided to do it just for something new and different, instead of going to Sunset Speedway every Saturday night,” Poole says. “The schedule is a little nicer, not so hectic in the summer as we’re all getting older and having less and less time for racing. So thought OSCAAR would be a fun way to still race, but have a few nights off, too.”

    For the rookie, the goals are simple – have fun, try new tracks and bring the car home in one piece. One of the tracks that Poole is looking forward to getting to is Kawartha Speedway, which was rained out at the beginning of the month. The make-up date is set for September 7th.

    “I’ve raced there a little bit,” Poole says. “Another track I’m looking forward to Delaware – never raced there, been there to watch a few times. It looks big and fast, and hopefully we can make it down there and run well.”

    “The Professional” got involved in racing through a friend who was helping Herb Walters, before buying the thunder car that was pitted beside Walters. Since then, the success over the span of 11 years has been impressive, including three thunder car championships. After the thunder car success, Poole moved up to the Late Model ranks where he has had success in multiple wins.

    Of the wins that he has had in his career, some of the most memorable wins including his first late model victory, winning the last feature on the

    [media-credit id=4 align=”alignright” width=”200″][/media-credit]last night of the third thunder car championship season and some of the invitationals at Barrie Speedway.

    Poole says for him, he’s always tried to stay patient no matter what.

    “I’ve always been one to try and be patient, not to let my temper get the best of me,” he said. “Sometimes I get frustrated, but I always just try and be patient. That’s all you can do; not try and wreck the equipment.”

    In making this year happen, Poole would like to thank his crew as they spend a lot of hours working on the car. He’d also like to thank his sponsors for their support:  Visser Farms, Multi-Tech Machine and Welding, AGNAV, Alliston Auto Sales, R.A Electrical, Central Industrial Supply, Everlast, B.F.I, Reliable Waste Management and Triple Crown Auto Collison Ltd.

     

    For more information on Rob Poole, check out http://robpooleracing.com/, like the “Rob Poole” facebook page and follow both Rob Poole Racing (@RobPooleRacing) & Rob Poole (@rpr45) on twitter.

  • Brandon Crumbie is ready for Barrie Speedway after a top five at Sunset

    Brandon Crumbie is ready for Barrie Speedway after a top five at Sunset

    [media-credit id=4 align=”alignright” width=”266″][/media-credit]In the first race of the inaugural OSCAAR Modified season at Sunset International Speedway in Innisfil, Ontario, Brandon Crumbie finished fifth in the feature after starting seventh following a fourth and a sixth in the qualifying heats.

    Crumbie is one of the 16 drivers that showed at Sunset last month to take a chance with the new series. Crumbie said he made the decision after deciding to take a season off from running Late Models. With a modified in his garage, the decision was easy.

    “When I heard about the class and the schedule, it was a great opportunity to race and still have some weekends off,” the driver of the No.  72 California Daves Complete Auto Body, Amsoil (Al Prichard), Alliston Signs, Akn Automotive and Homeland Auto Service Modified says.

    “Basically we had the car in the garage and we were actually going to take a season off from Late Model,” Crumbie says. “So when I heard about the class and the schedule, it was a great opportunity to race and still have some weekends off.”

    Last season, Crumbie spent most of the year running a Late Model at Varney Motor Speedway, which is one of the seven different tracks that the modifieds will hit this year. Amongst the tracks, Crumbie is excited to go to Kawartha Speedway and Delaware Speedway.

    “I’ve never raced at them and these mods sound like they are gonna fly at those tracks,” he adds.

    This will mark Crumbie’s first season running a Modified so the expectations right now are to win rookie of the year and get a good finish in points.

    “I think we have a really strong car right now after testing at Sunset and Barrie,” he adds.

    Crumbie got started in 2001 after watching his dad run a derby van event at Barrie.

    “When we were there, we saw the mini stocks running,” he tells the story. “The next year we built the Chevette and my dad drove it because I was too young. In 2003, I ran my first full season in Pure Stock fours.”

    Behind the scenes, it was his family and friends helping him every step of the way. He thanks his A-Team for helping him out, which includes Dave, Will, Spencer, RJ, Ben, Justin and his fiancé Erica.

    He adds that what drives his passion to race is that it keeps him out of trouble.

    Entering his ninth season of racing, the Beeton, Ontario native has already had plenty of memorable moments.

    “My first win in the Chevette I’ll never forget,” he says. “Next would be the championship at Barrie and I’ll never forget the rollover at Varney in the Late Model, getting it back for the second with a lot of help.”

    For the driver that calls his racing hero Tony Stewart, he says that those wishing to go racing should not get discouraged when things get tough and just keep trying.

    Outside of racing, his interests including water sports, go-karting, biking and anything that goes fast.

  • Aric Almirola Experiencing Opportunities of a Lifetime

    Aric Almirola Experiencing Opportunities of a Lifetime

    [media-credit name=”Gary Buchanan” align=”alignright” width=”223″][/media-credit]While Aric Almirola did not have quite the qualifying run that he had hoped for at Pocono Raceway, the young driver of the No. 43 Transportation Impact Ford indeed feels like he is having the opportunities of his lifetime.

    He and his team, including crew chief Mike Ford, have been improving steadily, particularly in the last three Cup races. In fact, Almirola brought his famed race car to a sixth place finish at the Monster Mile last weekend.

    “I think it’s a team effort,” Almirola said. “Bringing Mike Ford on has certainly helped.”

    “But as a whole, as a team, and as an organization, we’ve gotten better,” Almirola continued. “We’re running stronger and our finishes show that.”

    “I’m really proud of everybody at Richard Petty Motorsports and all these guys on the No. 43 team,” Almirola said. “At the beginning of the year it wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t what we really wanted either.”

    “So, for all of them to keep their heads up and keep working hard and not getting discouraged and to finally see the hard work pay off in the last few weeks have been good.”

    Almirola also feels that he is having the experience of a lifetime in working with his crew chief. He is especially impressed with Ford’s leadership abilities and his attention to detail.

    “Our relationship has come along really good and really quick,” Almirola said of his crew chief Ford. “It’s always easier when you have fast cars.”

    “So, when your cars are driving good and you’ve got speed, everybody’s happy, things are good and everything’s a lot easier.”

    “The last few weeks have been great,” Almirola continued. “Me and Mike have hit it off really good. I feel like we understand each other.”

    “He leads this team really well,” Almirola said. “I think the experience is huge but his work ethic is great.”

    “He’s hands on and out in the shop. He’s been around the sport for a long time and he’s done all these guys’ jobs,” Almirola continued. “So, he knows each aspect of the car and understands what needs to be done.”

    “He has a certain way that he wants things done and he is very meticulous,” Almirola said. “I think that with as competitive as our sport is today, the detail is really important and he really focuses on the details.”

    Almirola, however, readily admits that he has not had the experience of a lifetime at Pocono so far. In fact, he has found everything and every turn challenging for his first race in a Cup car at the ‘Tricky Triangle.’

    “It’s a tough track, really tough,” Almirola said. “It takes some learning and getting used to I’m finding out. So, my first time here in a Cup car, I’ve been finding the challenges.”

    “The whole place has proven to be a challenge for me so far this weekend.”

    Although Almirola qualified 29th, he feels that he will be able to improve as the racing begins. And he and Mike Ford may have to use some pit or tire strategy to move toward the front of the pack.

    “I think in the race everything will happen a lot smoother,” Almirola said. “I’ll be in a pack and be able to judge my speed a lot better off other cars.”

    “We’ll have to play some strategy because it’s going to be really tough to drive from the back where we qualified up to the top ten or so,” Almirola continued. “It’s going to take some strategy and some good pit stops, which have to be solid all day.”

    Almirola is thrilled with one aspect of coming to Pocono, that of bringing on a new race sponsor. For the Pocono 400 presented by #NASCAR, Almirola has welcomed Transportation Impact to the race car.

    “Brian Moffitt and all the marketing guys at RPM have done an outstanding job of bringing on new sponsors,” Almirola said. “These are new sponsors that are coming on that have never even been involved in the sport.”

    “We’re bringing new money to the sport which is always good to see,” Almirola continued. “Weekends like this weekend, having Transportation Impact on board, is a huge help.”

    “It’s no secret that it takes a lot of money to run these race teams,” Almirola said. “So every race we get sponsored is a big deal.”

    Experiencing the opportunities of a lifetime has, however, brought its share of challenges to the up and coming racer. First and foremost are the time demands of the Cup Series, followed closely by the extreme competition on the track.

    “The time demand has been most surprising,” Almirola said. “I knew it would take some time to learn and there would be weekends like this weekend.”

    “But what I didn’t realize was the time and attention and focus that it would take,” Almirola continued. “I knew it would more than what I was used to running a Nationwide car or a Truck but it is unbelievable how much time I spend focused on this 43 car, whether I’m at the race track or when I’m not doing sponsor meet and greets or meeting with new potential sponsors or just going to the shop for debriefs.”

    “All the things that it takes to be successful at this level take time,” Almirola said. “It’s a 24 hour a day, seven day a week job.”

    “I think the other challenge is just how competitive this series is,” Almirola continued. “You can’t be off just a little bit and you’ll be 30th.”

    “You look at guys like Jeff Gordon and even Jamie McMurray and they have had their struggles,” Almirola said. “That’s what I’m talking about. That’s how competitive our sport is.”

    “From week to week, you have to be on your game all the time.”

    In spite of the challenges, Almirola acknowledges two of the biggest opportunities of a lifetime that he is experiencing and will experience soon.

    “It’s amazing to race for Richard Petty,” Almirola said. “Just the experience and the knowledge he has and to be able to drive the No. 43 car is so special.”

    “It’s the opportunity of a lifetime,” Almirola continued. “I remember when I was a kid and watching him race.”

    “So, to have the opportunity to drive that 43 car is very special,” Almirola said. “I’m very thankful for it.”

    “I think the biggest opportunity that I will have and the thing that people would be surprised to know about me is that I’m getting ready to be a dad,” Almirola revealed with a grin. “That’s a big surprise.”

    “He’s due in September and we’re really excited about it,” Almirola continued. “I’ll have a whole new role as a human on this planet.”

    “For the past 28 years, it’s been all about me and I’m getting ready to experience something totally different,” Almirola said. “And I’m looking forward to it.”

  • Travis Kvapil All About Building

    Travis Kvapil All About Building

    [media-credit name=”Gary Buchanan” align=”alignright” width=”182″][/media-credit]For Travis Kvapil, whose No. 93 Burger King Toyota team came together in February of this year, the focus, as a driver and a team member, is all about building. And building they are, both on the track and in the point standings.

    “Everything is new, my crew chief, the team, everything,” Kvapil said. “So, it takes a little while to build that notebook and build those relationships.”

    “I think overall for the season, our goal is to scratch our way into the top 25 in points,” Kvapil, who currently sits in the 32nd points position, continued. “That would be a good goal for us.”

    “It will be tough to get there because if you look at who is around us in points, there are no slouches,” Kvapil said. “We’re going to have to perform better.”

    “Our goals are to finish in the top-20,” Kvapil continued. “That’s where we set our standard and for the most part, we’ve been able to achieve that.”

    “I just believe as the season goes, we’ll continue to building and get better and better.”

    Kvapil also had to do some character building, particularly after the tough run he had in Dover. He and his team were involved in the early ‘big one’ at the Monster Mile and, to make matters worse, his teammate Landon Cassill was also involved in the wreck.

    “To finish 23rd with a car all torn up and 50 laps down, I didn’t really expect that,” Kvapil said. “It’s just one of those things that Dover, you’re going so fast there.”

    “So when they wreck in front of you there coming off Turn Two, you can’t see,” Kvapil continued. “When I came around the corner I saw Landon (Cassill) sideways.”

    “Immediately I’m on the brakes but you’re just going too fast and there’s nowhere to go,” Kvapil said. “I saw him and I kind of made the move I thought would help, but Landon was sitting here parked.”

    “And I thought ‘perfect, just perfect, of all the guys.’

    “I tried my best to avoid him but I just really couldn’t,” Kvapil said. “There’s going to be days when we’re going to race each other and days where we’re going to be in the same wreck.”

    “And it just happened to be one of those days last weekend at Dover.”

    Kvapil definitely felt that the Dover experience was not only a gut check and character building experience him as a driver, but also for his race team. He was especially with the resilience of his team in the face of such adversity.

    “I was really proud of the guys,” Kvapil said. “We’re obviously a brand new team.”

    “I feel like some of the things, like crash repair and having fenders ready, I didn’t think we were quite prepared for all that,” Kvapil continued. “We have enough to worry about getting cars to the track and getting caught up..”

    “So, a lot of times, those kinds of things get pushed to the side but I was very impressed with our team,” Kvapil said. “They did a great job.”

    “They got the fenders cut off and got the car rolling and we didn’t have to go to the garage so that saved us a bunch of time,” Kvapil continued. “I’m really proud of them and they did a great job and gained us a bunch of points last week.”

    Kvapil is also anticipating continuation of the building process as he and his team tackle the ‘Tricky Triangle.’ And he has high hopes for his race at the newly repaved Pocono Raceway, especially after the days of testing this past week.

    “It was a good opportunity to get up here and test,” Kvapil said. “It’s been a long week but we don’t get many opportunities to get real information at the real track with the real tire and have data acquisition telemetry on the car.”

    “So, we have really good feedback when we make a change,” Kvapil continued. “We can go look at the computer and see what it really did to the shock travels or where the splitter’s at on the race track or whatever.”

    “It’s been invaluable for us to get that information,” Kvapil said. “For us it was a lot about making changes and collecting data so that when we go to tracks down the road, we can maybe pull that out of our memory bank and apply it and have more of an educated knowledge of what it does to the race car.”

    Kvapil, like many of his fellow competitors, had nothing but praise for the repave at the Pocono Raceway. Unlike some of the other drivers, however, Kvapil feels that we might just see another groove come into the track, especially as the racing continues over the weekend.

    “The track is great,” Kvapil said. “It’s got a lot of grip.”

    “When we first got on the track on Wednesday, the groove was pretty narrow but it’s widening out,” Kvapil continued. “I’d say it’s one and three quarters of a groove right now.”

    “So, the more the weekend goes, the more the groove will widen out,” Kvapil said. “It’s just a matter of getting out there in race conditions and forcing that second lane. I think the racing will be great.”

    Kvapil is also looking forward to building his racing notebook about Pocono, especially as it pertains to track position and tire strategies.

    “Tires are one thing we have been looking at,” Kvapil said. “It doesn’t seem like the left side tire wear was too bad so there might be opportunities to do two tires and pick up some spots or maybe even fuel only.”

    “The tires that Goodyear brought are holding up real well and it doesn’t seem like there’s a lot of fall off,” Kvapil continued. “So, anytime there is something new, it will take a while to figure things out and what the best strategy will be.”

    “Track position is always important, especially when you’re running 170 miles an hour,” Kvapil said. “Track position is important but I think with the long straight-aways, you should be able to make the passes if you have a good handling car. Hopefully we can do that Sunday.”

    In addition to building his on-track performance, Kvapil is also working hard to build a solid relationship with his teammate as well as between the two teams. And he thinks the world of his new teammate Landon Cassill.

    “I really have a lot of respect for Landon,” Kvapil said. “Being as young as he is, he’s very mature. He’s got a lot of experience and he’s great with sponsors, owners, and the media.”

    “He’s a really good kid and a really good race car driver,” Kvapil said. “We share information, our thoughts, and what’s happening at the track. I’m happy and I couldn’t ask for a better teammate.”

    “Me and him both are trying to build BK Racing and take it to the next level,” Kvapil continued. “I think we have a great relationship so we can do that together.”

    Whether on or off the track, Kvapil feels there is just one thing needed to continue to build his own team and his BK Racing team, perseverance.

    “I think the lesson is hard work, dedication and perseverance through the hard times,” Kvapil said. “I think back in my career in racing and my days growing up in Wisconsin, working on my car all hours of the night to get to the race track just to race for a couple hours on a Saturday night.”

    “It was something I loved but it was a lot of hard work and dedication,” Kvapil continued. “There’s always bumps in the road but you have to figure out a way how to get through them.”

    “You just keep fighting and if it’s something that you have your heart set on and enjoy, you always find a way,” Kvapil said. “You build by being dedicated and believing in yourself.”