Category: XFINITY Series

Ryan Truex, No. 20 Toyota Camry Phoenix International Raceway Preview

Phoenix International Raceway

Wypall 200

TV: ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.

RADIO: MRN, 3 p.m.

No. 20 Notes of Interest

-Truex heads in to his final NASCAR Nationwide Series race this season at Phoenix International Raceway after a late surge of strong finishes with Joe Gibbs Racing.

-Saturday will mark his 6th start with JGR. Truex has had all top-15 finishes, including back-to-back top-10 finishes at Kansas and Dover, and a top-5 at Richmond.

-Truex has received the Sunoco Rookie of the Race Award for all five races with JGR. Despite fewer starts than his competitors, Truex sits only 3 points behind Blake Koch and Timmy Hill (who are tied for first) in the battle for the 2011 Sunoco Rookie of the Year (ROY) Award.

-ROY points are awarded based on a driver’s best 16 races in the Nationwide Series. In addition to points earned for attempting to qualify and finishing positioning, the Sunoco ROY panel will meet during the Homestead-Miami race weekend and can reward each eligible driver with up to 10 extra points for favorable on and off-track conduct throughout the year.

-Saturday marks Truex’s 3rd start at Phoenix International Raceway in a NASCAR Nationwide Series car, and his 16th start in the Nationwide Series in 2011. He finished in the top-15 at his only other start at Phoenix last year in a Toyota Camry for Pastrana-Waltrip Racing.

-He is teamed up with veteran crew chief Adam Stevens this weekend; with whom he’s posted a 4th, 10th and 11th place finish in their three other starts together.

Ryan Truex on Racing at Phoenix International Raceway

“I’m excited to get back in the car and get back to a smaller, flat track. I’ve always been able to run well at those tracks, and with Phoenix being reconfigured all the drivers will be on the same page coming in. We’ll just have to get the car driving well in practice and hopefully I can pick up on the track quickly.”

Truex On Goals For His Final Nationwide Series race in 2011

“My goal is to get a top-5 finish. I feel like we have run good enough to have top-5s every weekend and this weekend will be no different. As a driver it’s starting to feel like I belong up front racing with the Cup guys, so there’s no reason why we can’t finish up there. We will have to be smart and I’ll have to take care of my car to be there at the end and have a shot at it

Truex On His Biggest Accomplishment This Season

“I’m just proud that I’ve been able to get in the JGR cars and be competitive every weekend. It’s hard to be out of a race car for a few months and jump right back into it, but Jason [Ratcliff] and Adam [Stevens] both made it very easy for me by giving me great cars every weekend.”

Follow Ryan Truex on Twitter!           Twitter.com/RTruex00

Follow Ryan Truex on Facebook!      Facebook.com/RyanTruex

“Daystar.com No. 81 heads to Phoenix coming off back-to-back Rookie of the Race awards.”

(MOORESVILLE, NC) November 7, 2011 – It doesn’t get any closer than this.  After winning the Sunoco Rookie of the Race award last weekend in Texas, Blake has moved even with Timmy Hill for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year.  With momentum on the side of the Daystar No. 81 team, Blake hopes he can take the lead this weekend in Phoenix.

“The February race at Phoenix was my first race for MacDonald Motorsports this season,” explained Blake Koch.  “This time around I am much more comfortable in the race car and we have a ton of momentum going into the weekend.”

Blake was two points behind Timmy for much of the summer before winning Rookie of the Race at Charlotte in October.  Another Rookie of the Race award last weekend in Texas brought Blake to a tie with Hill for the first time this season.  Fellow Rookie Ryan Truex now sits three points behind Koch and Hill.

In 11 short track races this season, Koch and Hill are virtually dead-even.  Timmy Hill has finished ahead of Koch in six of those races while Blake has come out on top in five.  Whoever comes out of Phoenix with a better finish will hold a huge advantage heading into the final race of the season in Homestead.

The Wypall 200 from Phoenix International Raceway can be seen live on ESPN2, Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EST.

Follow Blake on Social Media…..Keep up with everything that Blake is doing by following him on Facebook and Twitter.  Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/BlakeKRacing and twitter @BlakeKochRacing.

Vote for Blake for NNS Most Popular Driver…..Remember to vote every day for Blake Koch for NASCAR Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver. The link to vote is .

About Daystar Television Network Daystar is a Television Network committed to spreading this message across the world:  No matter what you’ve done, where you’ve been, or who you are.  It is not too much for God to handle.   There is life, hope, and forgiveness waiting for you through Jesus Christ.  Find out more on www.Daystar.com.

About MacDonald Motorsports The MacDonald family name has been in the racing circles since owner, Randy MacDonald, started his own driving career in the 1980’s. The provisions made by Randy’s father, Merril “Doc” MacDonald, and mother Pat helped Randy start racing professionally and establish his own company. Randy’s father Doc helped him create business relationships and carry out other important functions of the team until finishing his own race in March of 2007. Despite his death, Doc’s impact on the team will not end, as MacDonald Motorsports continues on in his honor and memory.

Michael Annett Phoenix 2 News and Notes

The Headlines:

Oakley Again Teams with Michael Annett in West Coast Race: Oakley joins Pilot Flying J on Rusty Wallace Racing’s No. 62 Nationwide Series entry for this weekend’s 200 mile event at Phoenix International Raceway. The Oakley brand also appeared on Michael Annett’s Toyota Camry at Auto Club Speedway in March and at Daytona International Speedway in July. Annett, a devout wearer of the Oakley brand, is outfitted by Oakley for all of his at-track gear including firesuits, gloves, footwear and sunglasses.

Relationship Continues with Rusty Wallace and Oakley: Dating back to 1990, Oakley began their relationship with driver-turned-team owner Rusty Wallace during his days as a Sprint Cup Series driver. That 21-year relationship has now carried into Rusty Wallace Racing where Oakley serves as the team’s primary outfitter.

Racing to Save Lives: After declaring St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® as his charity of choice, Annett will again support the hospital on Saturday by sporting their logo on his No. 62 Toyota. This week, the St. Jude logo will honor 11-year-old St. Jude patient Roberto Blanco. After suffering with nausea and fatigue that developed into having trouble holding his head up, Roberto’s parents, Roberto Senior and Aurora of Phoenix, Arizona, took him to the hospital where an MRI revealed a mass on his brain. Further tests showed that he suffered from medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor. Roberto underwent surgery to remove the tumor, and his doctor referred the family to St. Jude for Roberto’s treatment and care. At St. Jude, Roberto successfully received intensive chemotherapy and radiation. He now returns to St. Jude for regular checkups. Roberto likes art and playing baseball, football and soccer. To join Annett in donating to St. Jude, please visit www.stjude.org/racingtosavelives.

Rusty Wallace Racing at Phoenix: In 29 combined NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at Phoenix International Raceway, Rusty Wallace Racing entries have earned one top-five and seven top-10 finishes with three different drivers. Rusty Wallace, a former driver in NASCAR’s junior division, himself contributed a top-10 finish in November 2004. The No. 62 team’s fourth-place run in April 2010 is Rusty Wallace Racing’s best effort at the desert oval.

Cast Your Vote: Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver voting continues on NASCAR.com. Fans can cast their vote for Michael Annett once per day by visiting www.NASCAR.com/nnsmpd. Voting runs from now until November 17. The winner of the Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver award will be announced at the year-end banquet on November 21.

For the latest updates on Michael Annett, please visit www.michaelannett.com.

From the Cockpit:

Michael Annett on Oakley and Pilot Flying J partnering for the Phoenix race:

“We’re excited to have Oakley and Pilot Flying J on board for another race with the No. 62 team. Both Oakley and Pilot Flying J have been behind me since my initial races at the NASCAR level, and I look forward to being able to give back to both brands for all of their support with a strong finish at Phoenix.”

Talking Shop:

Crew chief Rick Viers on this week’s race at Phoenix:

“A couple of our best races this year, including Loudon and Lucas Oil Raceway, were on flat tracks like Phoenix. We worked hard this week at TRD on the seven-post preparing for Phoenix and the new track surface. With the information we gained at TRD, we’re going to provide Michael with a great racecar for this weekend’s race. We’re looking forward to ending the season with two strong finishes at Phoenix and Homestead.”

The Machines:

Team 62 Primary: RWR-061 – The No. 62 Pilot Flying J team last raced chassis 061 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October. They also finished 12th at Dover International Speedway (October) and sixth at Bristol Motor Speedway (August) in this car.

Team 62 Back-Up: RWR-051 – The No. 62 Pilot Flying J team’s last race competing with this chassis was at Bristol Motor Speedway in March.

Michael Annett’s Oakley Selection:

Annett’s current pick for Oakley shades is their signature SCALPEL. He also sports an Oakley firesuit, base layers, gloves and race boots.

For more information on Oakley and to order from their extensive product line, check out www.oakley.com.

Pilot Flying J Locations on your way:

Pilot Flying J provides 12 Pilot Travel Centers and Flying J locations along the highways throughout Arizona. Four of these locations are conveniently positioned within a 100 mile radius of Phoenix International Raceway. For more information on Pilot Flying J and to map their nearest locations along your route, please visit www.pilotflyingj.com.

Flying J

I-10 Exit 137

6700 West Latham

Phoenix, AZ 85043

Pilot Travel Center

I-10 Exit 133

900 North 99th Ave.

Avondale, AZ 85323

Pilot Travel Center

I-10 Exit 208

619 South Sunshine Blvd.

Eloy, AZ 85231

Flying J

I-10 Exit 208A

16189 S Sunshine Blvd.

Eloy, AZ 85231

About Pilot Flying J:

Pilot Flying J is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has more than 550 retail locations across North America. Pilot Flying J is also one of the Nation’s largest wholesale fuel providers; delivering over 500 Million gallons of fuel to thousands of customers in 47 States and eight Canadian provinces. The company employs approximately 20,000 people and is the largest operator of travel centers and travel plazas in North America.

Broadcast Info:

Qualifying

Saturday, November 12, Noon ET

SPEED

Wypall 200

Saturday, November 12, 3:30 p.m. ET

ESPN2

Carl Edwards– Wypall 200 Advance

Team:           No. 60 World Financial Group Ford Mustang

Crew Chief:  Mike Beam

Chassis:       RK-707 – primary. Last ran in Richmond. Finished second.

RK-621 – backup. Last ran in Bristol. Finished fourth.

QUOTES

Carl Edwards on racing at Phoenix International Raceway:

“This Nationwide race is about two things. One, it is fun and I love racing at Phoenix.  Two, is learning something for the Cup race. We have had a blast running these Mustangs this year.  We have World Financial Group on the car that has been with us for some of the greatest moments in the sport. We are looking forward to having a fun day on Saturday that will prepare me for Sunday.”

Crew chief Mike Beam on racing at Phoenix International Raceway:

“We are going into Phoenix with a lot of unknowns. Since the resurface, there is currently only one racing groove and we are uncertain of the tire wear. Luckily we get an extra day of practice which will allow us to dial in our No. 60 World Financial Group Ford. Carl has an excellent record at PIR so we are hoping to get this Mustang back in Victory Lane and gain on the owners championship.”

FAST FACTS

So far in 2011, Edwards has eight wins, 21 top-five, and 25 top-10 finishes.

Edwards captured his 37th career Nationwide win at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Edwards has captured seven Coors Light pole awards so far in the 2011 Nationwide Series season.

The No. 60 Mustang is two points out of first place in the NNS owner’s championship.

Edwards’ average finish is 5.8 at PIR.

5-Hour Energy Team News and Notes

This Week’s 5 Hour Energy Toyota … Steve Wallace will pilot Rusty Wallace Racing chassis RWR-058 in Saturday afternoon’s Wypall 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. A workhorse of the 2011 season, this Toyota Camry raced at Auto Club Speedway in March, Nashville Superspeedway in April, and twice in the month of May, at Darlington Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway. Wallace then raced it at Michigan International Raceway in June, at Bristol Motor Speedway in August and most recently, at Richmond International Raceway in September.

White Flag Next Time By … With just two races remaining in the 2011 season, Wallace has accumulated two top-five, five top 10 and 15 top-15 finishes, an average starting position of 13.7 and an average finish of 16.1. Wallace has completed 98.2 percent of the laps contested (5,891 of 5,997) thus far.

Get to the Points … Wallace continues to maintain the ninth position in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver point standings. With just two races remaining in the 2011 season, Wallace trails eighth-place driver Kenny Wallace by 13 markers, and holds a 12-point advantage over his Rusty Wallace Racing teammate, Michael Annett, for the 10th position..

Wallace at Phoenix … In 10 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at Phoenix International Raceway, Wallace boasts two top-10 finishes. His best finish at the one-mile desert oval is 10th, where he has finished twice (November, 2009 and November, 2010).

Welcome Aboard … Rusty Wallace Racing and 5-Hour Energy are pleased to feature Safeway on the TV panel and Circle K on the C-post of the No. 66 Toyota this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. Rusty Wallace Racing at Phoenix … In 29 combined NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at Phoenix International Raceway, Rusty Wallace Racing entries have earned one top-five and seven top-10 finishes with three different drivers including Brendan Gaughan and Jamie McMurray. Rusty Wallace, a former driver in NASCAR’s junior division, himself contributed a top-10 finish in November 2004. Gaughan’s fourth-place run in April 2010 is Rusty Wallace Racing’s best effort at the desert oval.

Rusty Wallace Racing in 2011 … With 32 of 34 races completed thus far in the 2011 season, Rusty Wallace Racing’s three NASCAR Nationwide Series entries have recorded a combined three top-five, 12 top 10 and 31 top-15 finishes. Rusty Wallace Racing Toyotas have completed 12,821 of 13,219 laps attempted, and have been atop the leaderboard for 21 laps with drivers Michael Annett, Jason Bowles, David Reutimann and Steve Wallace.

Meet the Driver … Fans can meet Wallace Thursday, November 10 from 6 – 7 p.m. MST at the Total Wine store located at 1416 North Litchfield Rd. in Goodyear, Ariz.

Cast Your Vote … Voting has begun for the Most Popular Driver of the Year award in the Nationwide Series. Fans are encouraged to log onto NASCAR.com to vote for their favorite driver from the series once per day until voting ends on Thursday, November 17.

“We’re all looking forward to getting to Phoenix next week, because our short track program has been really strong this year. We feel like we can be competitive when we get there. Everyone is starting with a clean slate since the track has been reconfigured, so we’ll look to make the most of the extended practice sessions and hopefully have a good finish.” – Steve Wallace on racing at Phoenix International Raceway

About Living Essentials, LLC

Farmington Hills, MI-based Living Essentials, LLC, is the maker of 5-Hour Energy, the category leader in 2 oz. liquid energy shots. 5-Hour Energy is available nationwide at major retailers in the Grocery, Drug Store, Mass Merchant, Warehouse and Convenience Store classes of trade.  Living Essentials sells over seven million bottles of 5-Hour Energy per week.  For more information, please visit 5hourenergy.com.

About Rusty Wallace Racing, LLC

North Carolina-based Rusty Wallace Racing (RWR) is a professional auto racing team steeped in the legendary racing history of its founder, Rusty Wallace.  The team currently campaigns the No. 66 and No. 62 Toyota Camrys-driven by Steve Wallace and Michael Annett, respectively-in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.  RWR will also campaign the No. 64 Camry in select 2011 events.  RWR entries have finished among the top-ten in the Nationwide Series driver or owner standings in each of the last three seasons.  For more on Rusty Wallace Racing, please visit the award-winning rustywallace.com.

JUSTIN ALLGAIER QUICK FACTS

No. 31 BRANDT/MONTEREY Chevrolet

WYPALL 200

Phoenix International Raceway

November 12, 2011

No. 31 BRANDT/Monterey Ag Resources Chevrolet News and Notes

Flying the BRANDT/MONTEREY colors at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR)… The red No. 31 Chevy will sport the BRANDT/MONTEREY name this weekend at PIR. MONTEREY was founded to provide products and services for the crop protection and animal feed industries in the western United States. Their acquisition of MONTEREY in 2010 gave BRANDT Consolidated coast-to-coast representation, cementing the organization as a leader in the agriculture industry.

Phoenix by the Numbers… The 25-year-old BRANDT/MONTEREY Chevy driver has six NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) starts at PIR.  He is credited with three eighth-place finishes at the one-mile track. He has an average finish of 10.7 and has a lap completion rate of 99.9%

Top 3 in Points… Allgaier is tied for third place in the NNS point standings after his finish at Texas Motor Speedway.  The NNS competitor sits 99 points out the first place.

This Week’s Impala… The No. 31 BRANDT/MONTEREY team will hit the track with TMS-112 this Saturday afternoon at PIR.  This chassis last saw track action at Auto Club Speedway where Allgaier started from the 10th spot and went on to finish 12th. TMS-112 was also run at Las Vegas Motor Speedway where Allgaier drove his way to a runner-up finish.

Turner Motorsports: In the Hunt… In 32 Nationwide Series events in 2011, Turner Motorsports-prepared entries have notched three wins, 21 top-five and 61 top-10 finishes. Both of Turner Motorsports’ championship-contending drivers are inside the top-10 in the driver point standings with Allgaier tied for third and Jason Leffler in sixth.

Justin Allgaier on Phoenix International Raceway:

“I feel like everyone this weekend is on an even playing field at Phoenix International Raceway with the new surface. We ran well here in the spring, so we’ll use our notes, but we’ll definitely need to feel out the track and see how much it has changed after the re-paving. I’m confident in the No. 31 guys and we’ll come away with another strong finish

Follow the No. 31 team on Twitter!Twitter.com/No31TurnerNNS

Follow Justin Allgaier on Twitter! Twitter.com/J_Allgaier

Follow Turner Motorsports on Facebook!Facebook.com/TurnerMotorsports

RON HORNADAY, JR QUICK FACTS

No. 32 Dollar General Chevy

Phoenix International Raceway

Wypall 200

November 12, 2011

No. 32 Dollar General Chevrolet News and Notes

Welcome Ron Hornaday – Turner Motorsports and the No. 32 team welcome Ron Hornaday, Jr. as he pilots the Dollar General Chevy this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. A consistent force to be reckoned with and title contender in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS), Hornaday is making his first NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) start for Turner Motorsports. In his 183 race NNS career, which spans 13 seasons, Hornaday boasts four wins, 32 top-five and 70 top-10 finishes along with one pole award.

Hornaday at Phoenix International Raceway – While he has made yearly trips to the one-mile Phoenix track for NCWTS action, Hornaday hasn’t turned competitive NNS laps at the track since 2007. Ironically, that last start came in a Dollar General sponsored car for Kevin Harvick, Inc. Hornaday will make his 11th NNS start at the track and has notched three top-five and six top-10 finishes in 10 previous starts along with 103 laps led. He owns an average starting position of 16.5 with an average finish of 14.6.

It’s New to Me – Hornaday will make good use of the extra testing session NASCAR is giving NNS competitors this weekend due to the newly paved track, as this is his first stint in the ‘new’ Nationwide Series car. Hornaday’s last NNS start came in 2010 at Lucas Oil Raceway Park.

Dollar General Team Continues To Build Solid Stats – It has been a solid year for the No. 32 Dollar General team, it’s first year under the Turner Motorsports banner. Through 32 races this season, the Trent Owens-led team has amassed two wins, eight top-five and 24 top-10 finishes, split between three drivers. Turner Motorsports notched its first team win with the No. 32 team at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March with Mark Martin behind the wheel.

Fans Can Win Big with Dollar General – Dollar General, an Official Partner of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™, is offering customers the chance to win more than 9,000 prizes including free gas for a year, a trip for two to Las Vegas for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week™ and $250,000. The “Race in to Win” sweepstakes officially launched August 28 and runs through November 12, 2011. When customers purchase qualifying items from DG, they are given a code on their receipt to enter online at dollargeneral.com.  It is the first-ever national retail program around the Chase, NASCAR’s version of the playoffs.

This Week’s Impala – This weekend, Hornaday will pilot TMS-122 in the Wypall 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. This is the first time this car will see action since an eighth-place finish at Darlington Raceway earlier in the season.

Hornaday on making an NNS start at Phoenix for Turner Motorsports:

“I’m really excited to get behind the wheel of the Dollar General Chevy this weekend for Turner Motorsports in Phoenix. I want to thank DG and Mr. Turner for the opportunity, as well as Kevin and DeLana [Harvick] for allowing me to compete in the Nationwide race with Turner Motorsports. This will be the first time for me in one of these new cars and it should be fun to give it a go with Trent [Owens] and the No. 32 team. I know they’ll have their stuff ready to race at a track I enjoy going to.”

JASON LEFFLER QUICK FACTS

No. 38 Great Clips Chevrolet Impala

Wypall 200

Phoenix International Raceway

November 12, 2011

No. 38 Great Clips Chevrolet News and Notes

Jason Leffler always a solid contender at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR)… In 14 Nationwide Series starts at the Avondale, Ariz.-based track, Leffler has captured two poles (2000 and 2006), two top-five (2nd in 2000 and 2009) and four top-ten finishes. He has finished outside the top-20 on only four occasions and has led for a total of 121 laps.

Leffler knows his way to PIR’s Victory Lane…In his USAC racing days, Leffler visited PIR’s victory lane on two occasions.  He won the Midget race in 1999 and the Silver Crown feature in 2000.  Prior to making the transition to stock cars, Leffler experienced tremendous success in the open wheel ranks, becoming the first driver in 37 years to win three consecutive USAC Midget National titles.  In addition, he won the Silver Crown National Championship in 1998, his rookie year in the series.

This week’s Impala… The No. 38 Great Clips team will hit the track with chassis TMS-116 this weekend at PIR. This is the same chassis Leffler piloted at Bristol Motor Speedway, Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis and the Nationwide Series first stops at Iowa Speedway, Richmond International Raceway and PIR.

Turner Motorsports: In the hunt… In 32 NationwideSeries events in 2011, Turner Motorsports-prepared entries have notched three wins, 21 top-five and 61 top-10 finishes. Both of Turner Motorsports’ championship-contending drivers are inside the top-10 in the driver point standings with Justin Allgaier tied for third and Leffler in sixth.

Happy 10-Year Anniversary, Great Clips… This season marks Great Clips’ 10-year anniversary as a primary sponsor in the NNS.  The Minneapolis-based Great Clips, Inc., which is currently the longest-running primary sponsor in the series, came onto the scene in 2001 as a primary sponsor of Akins Motorsports No. 38 entry, then driven by Christian Elder.

Leffler on SIRIUS’ Morning Drive every Wednesday…Don’t forget to tune in to SIRIUS Radio’s “Morning Drive” with Mike Bagley and Pete Pistone every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. to hear Leffler’s take on recent events in the Nationwide Series and what you can expect from the week’s upcoming race.

Jason Leffler on Phoenix International Raceway

“Phoenix has always been my favorite track on the NASCAR circuit. I spent a lot of time out there as a kid and ran the Copper Classic for a number of years. I have mixed feelings about coming back with the new surface. It was a slick, old track which suited my driving style, and they have obviously made big changes to it. It’s definitely going to take some time to get used to, and Thursday’s extended practice sessions will be very beneficial since none of our notes will translate from previous runs there. This is a place we have always been pretty strong at and we have come close on a couple of occasions to getting the win but came up short.  Coming back with Turner Motorsports, with top of the line equipment and Hendrick horsepower, I feel good about our chances to get the Great Clips Chevy back into victory lane!”

Follow the No. 38 team on Twitter!Twitter.com/No38TurnerNNS

Follow Turner Motorsports on Twitter!Twitter.com/TurnerMotorspts

Follow Turner Motorsports on Facebook!Facebook.com/TurnerMotorsports

Homestead, Fla. (November 8, 2011) – The 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series season finishes up with the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, November 19. But that is just the start of a new partnership for Rusty Wallace Racing and the No. 62 Pilot Flying J race team.

The No. 62 Pilot Flying J Toyota Camry, driven by 25-year old Michael Annett, will sport a new look at Homestead as they recognize new Mars Inc. brand sponsor Combos.

“Mars Inc. is already one of our great retail partners, and this is the first time we have partnered with an in-store brand on our race car,” said Laura Palenkas, Pilot Flying J vice president of marketing. “Since Combos is one of the most popular snack foods at our Pilot Flying J travel centers it’s a natural tie and we are thrilled to have them on board.”

The No. 62 car will feature a bag of combos on the rear quarter panel with the treats spilling out across the rear of the car. The featured flavor of these stuffed pretzel snacks is buffalo blue cheese, but Combos come in a variety of other flavors as well. In conjunction with the Pilot Flying J and Combos partnership for the Homestead race, Pilot Travel Centers and Flying J locations are offering a two for $4 promotion on assorted flavors of Combos through the end of November.

“This partnership called for more than just a logo decal,” said Palenkas. “We worked hard to make Combos a part of our look and give Mars Inc. great on-track exposure. I think everyone is pleased.”

Annett is currently in 10th place in the Nationwide Series championship point standings with six top-10 finishes so far this season. He has recently chosen St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® in Memphis as his choice charity, also sporting the St. Jude logo onboard the No. 62 Pilot Flying J Toyota to honor patients of the pediatric cancer research center.

“We think Michael Annett and our new Mars partnership is a winning combo,” said Palenkas. “It is a great way to finish the year and get a jump start on our planning for next season.”

Homestead-Miami Speedway has been host to the NASCAR Nationwide Series since it opened in November 1995. Located in Homestead, Florida, this exciting 1.5 mile track is best known for nose-to-nose finishes that keep fans on their feet to the end.

As a top-10 contender, Pilot Flying J is looking for a great finish at Homestead with Combos on board Annett’s No. 62 Toyota Camry.

For more information about Pilot Travel Centers, visit http://www.pilottravelcenters.com, and for more information about Flying J, visit .

For more information on Michael Annett, please visit www.michaelannett.com and follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/michaelannettracing and on Twitter at @MichaelAnnett.

# # #

About Pilot Flying J

Pilot Flying J is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has more than 550 locations in North America. The company employs more than 20,000 people and is the largest retail operator of travel centers in North America.

About Mars, Incorporated

Mars, Incorporated is a private, family-owned company founded in 1911 and employs 70,000 associates at 250 sites, including 151 factories, in 67 countries worldwide. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, U.S.A., Mars, Incorporated is one of the world’s largest food companies, generating global revenues of more than $30 billion annually and operating in six business segments: Chocolate, Petcare, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, and Symbioscience. These segments produce some of the world’s leading brands: Chocolate – M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Petcare – PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, SHEBA®, CESAR® and ROYAL CANIN®; Wrigley – ORBIT®, EXTRA®, STARBURST®, DOUBLEMINT® and SKITTLES®; Food – UNCLE BEN’S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS® and SEEDS OF CHANGE®; Drinks – KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – WISDOM PANEL™, SERAMIS®, and COCOAPRO™. For more information, please visit www.mars.com.