Category: ARCA

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: Chuck Norris once said, “Dreams do come true, if you want them bad enough.”

For ARCA Menards Series driver Greg Van Alst that quote hits home as the 2019 ARCA CRA champion will return to the series for the first time since 2002 to compete in Saturday afternoon’s Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

It’s been a 13-month process for Van Alst to put his Greg Van Alst Motorsports on track for the 2021 season-opener. An opportunity to test at the “World Center of Racing” in January 2020 reignited a flame for Van Alst to return to the tour and now with the help of some of ARCA’s heavy hitters, his dream is becoming a reality.

“I feel like it’s Christmas Day or I just arrived at Disney World,” joked Van Alst. “I’m so excited, thankful and humbled to be heading to Daytona this week. It’s been a lot of hard work, countless hours of lost sleep – but it’s all worth it once that green flag drops on Saturday afternoon.”

Over the winter Van Alst acquired a superspeedway car from Chad Bryant Racing and with the help of Bryant, veteran and NASCAR championship crew chief Paul Andrews and Van Alst Motorsports crew chief Jim Long – Van Alst is upbeat about his chances in the 80-lap contest.

“Honestly, it all came together really fast during the off-season,” Van Alst admitted. “Really, one race turned into two races and with the help of my primary marketing partner a one-two-race deal has blossomed into a minimum 10-race deal and maybe with some luck a few more in-between.”

Showcasing his car’s ability during the open ARCA Menards Series test at Daytona in January, Van Alst knows he has a car capable of winning the race, but don’t mind if the Anderson, Ind. native falls back early in the race and just waits to make his mark.

“I’m a racer, so I know you have to be around at the end to have any chance of winning,” said Van Alst.

“That’s our strategy if we get caught in the middle early or somehow don’t have the starting position we want, we’ll let the race get to halfway or 30 laps to go or so and then make our march forward.

“I know the capabilities of our No. 35 Chevrolet SS. We proved that in the test. It was very sturdy and solid in the draft and produced a lot of speed in the single-car runs, so I know we have a good piece. I just have to take care of it if we’re going to have any shot of bringing home that Daytona trophy.”

Van Alst also has extra motivation to win on Saturday afternoon. His family will be in attendance, watching the race as spectators and rooting him on with every lap complete.

“I want so bad to be able to take that checkered flag and go and do a burnout in front of my family,” sounded Van Alst. “You talk about motivation, that’s it for me. My family supports me 100 percent and I’d love to reward them with a victory celebration at Daytona. It does not get any better than that.”

CB Fabricating, a longtime partner with Greg Van Alst Motorsports will boost its commitment to the team and make the leap to the ARCA Menards Series as the primary marketing partner of Van Alst’s No. 35 Chevrolet.

Headquartered in Anderson, Ind., CB Fabricating offers a complete list of fabricating from design, laser cutting, CNC punching, forming, welding, powder coating, and assembly.

Their 26,000 square foot facility allows them to service the needs of many different industries. Everything from the Automotive, agricultural, aquatic, medical, transportation, electrical enclosures, and much more.

“Without the support of Chris Barkdull and everyone at CB Fabricating, this chance to elevate our team to the next level would not have been possible,” added Van Alst. “We have set goals for ourselves in 2021 and I believe we are aligning ourselves with the right people who can allow us to turn heads not only at Daytona but throughout the 2021 season.”

In addition to CB Fabricating, Top Choice Fence, Kenny Greene No. 49, Norton Transport, KRJ Race Products and Lintz Creative will serve as associate marketing partners for Van Alst’s fourth career ARCA start.

Additional specifics on Greg Van Alst Motorsports’ 2021 ARCA Menards Series program is forthcoming, including a detailed series schedule.

For more on Greg Van Alst and Greg Van Alst Motorsports, please stay tuned for a new website, but like them on Facebook (Van Alst Motorsports) and follow him on Twitter (@GregVanAlst35).

For more on CB Fabricating, please visit CBFabricating.com and like them on Facebook (CB Fabricating).

The Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire (80 laps | 200 miles) is the first of 20 races on the 2021 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Fri., Feb. 12 with a one-hour session from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Group qualifying is set for race day, Sat., Feb. 13 at 8:30 a.m. The season-opener for the 69th consecutive ARCA season is set to take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), while ARCARacing.com will stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.

Jack Wood, No. 21 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet
Daytona International Speedway Stats
– No prior starts at Daytona International Speedway

2020 Stats – ARCA Menards Series West
– Starts: 8, Top 5s: 1, Top 10s: 6

Notes:

– Jack Wood joins GMS Racing for the 2021 season. Wood will make his first start at Daytona International Speedway and his first start in the ARCA Menards Series.

– Wood previously competed part-time for a family-run team in the ARCA West Series and earned one top-five and eight top-10 finishes in 14 starts throughout the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

– Wood made his first start with GMS on Monday at New Smyrna Speedway where he qualified fourth, but a cut left rear tire ended his night early, relegating him to a 13th-place finish.

Quote:

“It’s exciting to go to a track with so much history. It’s definitely a dream come true to race at Daytona. the GMS crew has done a great job of giving me a car that’s capable of competing for wins. We will have to keep our eyes up during the race and hope we can be there at the end.”

ABOUT GMS RACING

GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with drivers Sheldon Creed, Zane Smith, Tyler Ankrum, Chase Purdy and Raphael Lessard. The team also competes in the ARCA Racing Series with Jack Wood. Since the team began in 2014, GMS Racing won the 2016 and 2020 Camping World Trucks Championship, the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA East championship and 2020 Sioux Chief Showdown Championship. GMS has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. The campus also includes operations for GMS Fabrication. More information can be found at https://www.gmsracing.net/

SOCIAL MEDIA

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow GMS Racing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla: When it comes to superspeedway racing, confidence is always a good thing.

For ARCA Menards Series driver Howie DiSavino III, confidence is on his side ahead of Saturday afternoon’s Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

Undoubtedly, the 2021 ARCA season opener will be the biggest race of DiSavino’s career, but that does not seem to faze the AM Racing development driver one bit.

“It’s important for me to do well at Daytona this weekend,” said DiSavino. “I really want to give this AM Racing team some momentum.

“Kevin (Cywinski), Jamie (Jones) and everyone on this No. 32 Chevrolet are going to Daytona with the mindset of winning the race and I think we can do that – I just need to do my job and have a little luck along the way.

“I’m incredibly thankful for this opportunity to compete on this big stage,” added DiSavino. “It’s a very humbling moment for me and my family, but once I climb into the car on Saturday, I can’t treat it as the biggest race or biggest chance of my career – I just have to treat it as another race.”

That cool, calm demeanor could be the winning ticket for DiSavino aboard Kevin Cywinski’s No. 32 Bud’s Heating & Air Conditioning | Front Runner Boats Chevrolet. Of course, AM Racing (formerly WinTron Racing) is no stranger to Daytona’s victory circle.

Cywinski alongside crew chief Jamie Jones have been fielding the No. 32 Chevrolet for several years around the 2.5-mile superspeedway and while also having fast race cars, when the payday window opened, they always found themselves collected in someone else’s mishap.

DiSavino isn’t thinking about the dreaded “Big One” this weekend, because chances are there will be nothing he can do to prevent being collected. What he can do is act off instinct and the guidance of his spotter, Tyler Monn.

To help prepare DiSavino for his superspeedway debut, the Chesterfield, Va. native participated in the open ARCA Menards Series test at Daytona last month with Jones and Monn by his side.

“I learned a lot at the test,” added DiSavino. “It certainly can be intimidating, but I felt like we made the best of the test for sure. We made adjustments throughout the two days and my comfort level was really at its best on Saturday and I feel like I’ve done my part studying up on the prior races since the test that will all help with the cause and our goal.

As DiSavino prepares for his sixth career ARCA Menards Series race, he knows he doesn’t have to go far outside his circle for advice on how to conquer Daytona.

DiSavino’s manager is former ARCA Daytona winner and former series champion Austin Theriault who captured both crowns during the 2017 season. Theriault has not only been instrumental in mentoring his young driver in the car but out of the seat too.

Former ARCA winner Joey Coulter has also played an important part in coaching Howie, in preparation for the biggest race of his career.

Former ARCA winner Joey Coulter has also played an important part in coaching Howie, in preparation for the biggest race of his career.

“Having them (Austin and Joey) is going to help me with my learning curve as I continue to climb the ranks. I’m glad they are on my side,” sounded DiSavino.

“Hopefully, our race ends with a strong finish and something to be proud about looking ahead to the rest of 2021.”

Bud’s Heating & Air Conditioning, Front Runner Boats and KEES Vacation will support DiSavino in 2021.
Additional details on DiSavino’s 2021 program are forthcoming.

For more on Howie DiSavino III, please visit howiedisavino.com, like him on Facebook (Howie DiSavino III Racing), follow him on Twitter (@hdisavino) and Instagram (HowieDiSavino).

For more on AM Racing, please visit AMRacingteam.com, like their Facebook page (AM Racing) or follow them on Twitter @AMRacingNASCAR.

The Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire (80 laps | 200 miles) is the first of 20 races on the 2021 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Fri., Feb. 12 with a one-hour session from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Group qualifying is set for race day, Sat., Feb. 13 at 8:30 a.m. The season-opener for the 69th consecutive ARCA season is set to take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), while ARCARacing.com will stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.

About Bud’s Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electric:

Bud’s Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electric is the recognized leader in residential and light commercial mechanical contractors in the Hampton Roads market. From simple, honest beginnings in 1969, Bud’s quickly rose to prominence, establishing a legendary reputation for quality, service and professionalism while always maintaining the same home-town personalized connections with clients throughout its 51-year history.

In 2000, Bud’s expanded under the current leadership of CEO Robert W. Nelson Jr. adding plumbing and electrical departments and introducing a science-based whole home approach that has now become the industry benchmark, while national influencing the market through innovative business and customer relations practices.

About Front Runner Boats:

Front Runner as defined by Meriam Webster is “a contestant who runs best in the lead.” Indeed, this defines the vision of Front Runner Boats’ founders, two fishing buddies and business partners who saw an opportunity to build the boats they enjoyed, but with their own ideas on how to build them better!

There are plenty of big, beautiful, boats on the market, but none that came up to the standards Mark and Phil had set for themselves. Standards that today’s boat builders have never seen. Standards that only people that take the sport of blue water fishing seriously will appreciate.

If you’ve always dreamed of having everything you wanted in a boat, it’s time for Front Runner Boats.

Show your support for Howie, the team and our boats using #MrFrontRunner on social media.

Monday, February 8
Track: New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway, half-mile oval
Race: 1 of 8
Event: Jeep Beach 175 (175 laps, 84 miles)

Taylor Gray, No. 17 Ford Performance Fusion
Start: 1st
Finish: 3rd

• Gray earned his second career ARCA Menards General Tire Pole Award and paced the field to the initial green flag. He led the opening 10 laps before being overtaken on lap 11.
• A long green flag run allowed the No. 17 Ford Performance Fusion to find its groove and reassume the lead on lap 65. Caution flag waved on lap 90 and the team would pit for four tires and fuel.
• A discrepancy on pit road relegated the No. 17 to restarting fourth. Gray quickly moved into third and held steady there until a caution on lap 164. Rain began to fall during this caution period and resulted in the race being under red flag conditions for well over an hour.
• ARCA officials corrected the error from the prior pit sequence when cars returned to the track for the closing laps, which placed Gray in 2nd place for the restart. A quick yellow on the opening lap would set up a green-white-checkered finish. Gray took the lead coming to the white flag, but was bumped out of the groove in turns 3 & 4 and narrowly finished third in a three-wide photo finish.
• Gray on New Smyrna: “It was just a short track last lap deal. The 18 tried to move me and didn’t do it right. It’s unfortunate to lead that many laps and not come away with a win, but on the positive side we had a really fast Ford Performance Fusion all day long. We will take the podium finish and move on to Pensacola to hopefully redeem ourselves and get a win.”

Joey Iest, No. 54 ASN/Basila Ranch Ford Fusion
Start: 3rd
Finish: 5th

• Iest qualified 3rd, but the inside row checked up hard on the initial start and caused him to fall to 11th on the opening lap.
  The California native stayed composed and worked his way back through the field to second-place on lap 82. He was on the bumper of the leader when the caution flag waved on lap 90 for pit stops.
• The pitting discrepancy forced the No. 54 to restart the race in 5th. Iest quickly moved to fourth and was running there when the caution waved on lap 164.
• After the lengthy rain delay and lineup reshuffling due to the pitting error, Iest would restart third and come away with a fifth-place finish in his ARCA Menards Series East debut.
• Iest on New Smyrna: “It felt great to come to a new track with a new team and have speed right out of the box. After that initial start where the inside lane bottled up, I think we showed that we had one of the fastest long run cars here. I wish we could have gotten a long run to the finish, but a top-five to start our ARCA Menards Series East campaign with DGR is awesome. I can’t wait to get to Pensacola in a few weeks and build on this performance.”

Next event: Pensacola 200 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida on February 27 at 6 p.m. ET.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: Officials from Rette Jones Racing (RJR) announced today that female standout Brittney Zamora has been tapped to drive the team’s No. 30 Ford Fusion in Saturday afternoon’s Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire ARCA Menards Series season opener from Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

ARCA championship-winning crew chief and team co-owner Mark Rette will guide Zamora as she prepares to make her superspeedway ARCA debut on Feb. 13, 2021.

Square1 Flex, VISA, Pit Road Pals and Davis Groupe Promotions will serve as Zamora’s marketing partners for the first ARCA Menards Series race of 2021.

A native of Kennewick, Washington, Zamora burst onto the racing scene with success in the Northwest Super Late Model Series in 2017 and 2018 and became the first female to win a championship in the series.

In fact, Zamora carried the title honors for two consecutive seasons, drawing the attention of many, including ARCA Menards Series West championship team Bill McAnally Racing who signed the promising driver to a full ARCA Menards Series West schedule in 2019.

In her rookie ARCA West season, she scored two poles, netted six top-five and 10 top-10 finishes and captured fifth in the championship standings. She earned a career-best third twice at Tucson (Ariz.) Speedway and Evergreen (Wash.) Speedway.

She joined Jefferson Racing in 2020 but the coronavirus pandemic played havoc with her racing schedule, leaving her to piece races together on a variety of different levels.

Regrouped and determined to race on the east coast, the 21-year-old worked hard during the offseason committed to aligning herself with good people and a winning organization like Rette Jones Racing.

“I am really excited to be joining Rette Jones Racing for my first superspeedway race,” said Zamora. “It is going to be a great experience and I am going to learn a lot. Daytona is a track I have always dreamed of racing at.

“I am confident in Mark (Rette), the RJR team and myself to be successful at Daytona. If luck stays on our side, I know we will have a strong chance to be in contention for a podium and possibly even a win.”

Rette Jones Racing is no stranger to success at Daytona. In January 2020, the Mooresville, N.C.-based team topped the speed charts with female driver Dominique Van Wieringen and contended for a top-five finish before being swept into an accident nearly halfway into last February’s race.

In 2017, RJR finished second in the ARCA season-opener with team co-owner Terry Jones who led 25 of the event’s 80 laps. Jones was preparing to a potentially winning move in the closing laps, but a late-race caution forced the event to end under yellow flag conditions.

Knowing his team is capable of success in front of a captive audience has Rette excited about Zamora’s ARCA Menards Series debut in the sport’s biggest race.

“I’m excited,” offered Rette. “Brittney should be too. I really feel like our No. 30 Square1 Flex Ford Fusion is going to be fast and I know Brittney isn’t afraid to drive, so we should be right up there with the best of the best in the series.

“I’m glad she turned some laps during the open ARCA Menards Series test in January and hopefully that track time will prove to be valuable for when she climbs aboard our race car with an opportunity to become the first female winner in ARCA national series history.

“We had that chance last year with Dominique but came up short. I’m thankful to have a second opportunity to do that this year with Brittney.”

RJR is co-owned by Canadian entrepreneur and former race car driver Terry Jones.

The Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire (80 laps | 200 miles) is the first of 20 races on the 2021 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Fri., Feb. 12 with a one-hour session from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Group qualifying is set for race day, Sat., Feb. 13 at 8:30 a.m. The season-opener for the 69th consecutive ARCA season is set to take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), while ARCARacing.com will stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.

For more on Brittney Zamora, please like her on Facebook (Brittz52) and follow her on Instagram (@brittney.zamora) and Twitter (@Brittz52).

For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing) or follow them on Twitter (@RetteJones30).

About Rette Jones Racing:

Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the intent of building a successful racing operation built around the fundamentals of hard work and a never give up attitude.

Owned by racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, RJR plan to field a full-time entry in 2021 in the ARCA Menards Series East, while also hopeful to field vehicles in the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS).

The winning ARCA East team also offers technical and setup intel as part of its technical alliance partnership program.

Jack Wood, No. 21 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet

New Smyrna Speedway Stats

• No prior starts at New Smyrna Speedway 2020 Stats – ARCA Menards Series West
• Starts: 8, Top 5s: 1, Top 10s: 6

Notes:

• Jack Wood joins GMS Racing for the 2021 season. Wood will make his first start at New Smyrna Speedway and his first start in the ARCA Menards Series East.
• Wood previously competed part-time for a family-run team in the ARCA West Series and earned one top-five and eight top-10 finishes in 14 starts throughout the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
• Wood and the No. 21 team will compete with chassis No. 406 this week in New Smyrna. This chassis was raced eight times by the team in 2020 and finished first or second in seven of those eight events.

Quote:

“We had good momentum through the test at New Smyrna and I feel confident going back. The test was my first look at the track, I’ve never raced there before so it’ll be fun. I’m excited to get to work with everyone at GMS and Chevrolet, we’re kicking it off with two races in one week so it’s going to be hard work. Short track racing is where I came from so being able to get acclimated to a new team with a style of racing that I’m familiar with is a confidence boost. Hopefully we’re in victory lane on Monday night.”

ABOUT GMS RACING

GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with drivers Sheldon Creed, Zane Smith, Tyler Ankrum, Chase Purdy and Raphael Lessard. The team also competes in the ARCA Racing Series with Jack Wood. Since the team began in 2014, GMS Racing won the 2016 and 2020 Camping World Trucks Championship, the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA East championship and 2020 Sioux Chief Showdown Championship. GMS has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. The campus also includes operations for GMS Fabrication. More information can be found at https://www.gmsracing.net/

SOCIAL MEDIA

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow GMS Racing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

MOORESVILLE, N.C.: Officials from Rette Jones Racing (RJR) announced today that teenage standout Max Gutiérrez has joined the organization for the full 2021 ARCA Menards Series East season beginning with Monday night’s Jeep Beach 175 at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway.

Gutiérrez, 18, will pilot Rette Jones Racing’s flagship No. 30 Ford Fusion with support from TOUGHBUILT, Telcel, TekNekk and Avaya.

Gutiérrez enters the ARCA Menards Series East scene an accomplished racer, including as a six-time Super Kart Champion (2008 – 2013).

Continuing to excel at his craft, Gutiérrez won Rookie of the Year honors in Mikel’s NASCAR Truck Series in Mexico in 2017 before capturing the series’ championship a year later in 2018.

In 2019, he advanced to the NASCAR Mexico Challenge Series where he won two races in 10 starts, while also competing in select Late Model Stock Series events.

Last season, he continued his dominating ways in the NASCAR Mexico Challenge Series where he won five of his 12 races and earned 10 top-five finishes. During the summer he traveled to the United States to compete in the ARCA Menards Series East where he made two starts at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and Five Flags (Fla.) Speedway respectively, earning a career-best 12th at Five Flags in October.

“First, I’m very happy to be running for the ARCA Menards Series East championship with Rette Jones Racing,” said a jubilant Gutiérrez. “I don’t have the words to express how thankful I am.

“I cannot thank my partners TOUGHBUILT, TekNekk, Telcel (Jimmy Morales) and Avaya enough for this chance and of course for Rette Jones Racing for the opportunity – and to all the people behind this project who made it possible, I can’t wait for the green flag.”

To prepare Gutiérrez for his New Smyrna debut, the Mexico City, Mex. native recently participated in a private test at the Central Florida short track, where he spent the day with co-car owner and crew chief Mark Rette and the rest of the RJR team working on setup, qualifying runs and race pace – all getting their rookie driver ready for the 175-lap battle on Feb. 8.

“We made a lot of gains during the day and everyone left the track pleased,” offered Rette. “Max didn’t leave anything on the table and continued to provide exceptional feedback that allowed us to keep adjusting the handling on the No. 30 TOUGHBUILT | Telcel Ford Fusion with the hope of contending for a top-10 finish on Monday night.

“It’s going to be a stacked tour in 2021, but I feel that Max will be a quick learner and we can compete for not only Rookie of the Year – but the overall ARCA Menards Series East championship.”

Even though Gutiérrez realizes a learning curve awaits him in 2021, his faith in himself and his Rette Jones Racing has him upbeat about overcoming any early season hurdles.

“It is great to be involved in the ARCA Menards Series East to help my development for a path in NASCAR,” added Gutiérrez. “The cars are more powerful than in Mexico and a Late Model, but I feel I can control the car better than any other series I’ve competed in.

“There are goals to be conquered in 2021 and with the help of Rette Jones Racing and my partners, they are helping me make my dream a reality.”

Rette believes his rookie driver can contend for a top-10 finish in his ARCA Menards Series East debut.

“We’re a winning team in the ARCA Menards Series East and we plan to continue that tradition with Max Gutiérrez in 2021,” sounded Rette.

“When you have a determined driver and team, you’ve already have conquered half the battle before you even enter the garage.

“Max will utilize practice to his advantage and hopefully we can have a strong qualifying effort that will keep us near the front and allow Max to have a strong and clean race.”

RJR is co-owned by Canadian entrepreneur and former race car driver Terry Jones.

Additional details on Rette Jones Racing’s 2021 season is forthcoming.

The Jeep Beach 175 (175 laps | 84 miles) is the first of eight races on the 2021 ARCA Menards Series East schedule. Practice begins for the one-day show on Monday, February 8 from 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Group qualifying is set for later in the day at 6:00 p.m. The event will take the green flag just after 7:30 p.m. with live television coverage on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold.

For more on Max Gutiérrez, please visit maxgutierrez.com, like him on Facebook (Max Gutierrez Racing) or follow him on Instagram (@maxgutierrezmx).

For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing) or follow them on Twitter (@RetteJones30).

About Rette Jones Racing:

Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the intent of building a successful racing operation built around the fundamentals of hard work and a never give up attitude.

Owned by racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, RJR plan to field a full-time entry in 2021 in the ARCA Menards Series East, while also hopeful to field vehicles in the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS).

The winning ARCA East team also offers technical and setup intel as part of its technical alliance partnership program.

Monday, February 8
Track: New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway, half-mile oval
Race: 1 of 8
Event: Jeep Beach 175 (175 laps, 84 miles)

Schedule
Final Practice: 3:00 p.m. ET
Qualifying: 6:00 p.m. ET
Race: 7:40 p.m. ET (Trackpass on NBC Sports Gold)

Taylor Gray, No. 17 Ford Performance Fusion

• Taylor Gray will make his first career start at New Smyrna Speedway as he begins his title pursuit in the ARCA Menards Series East on Monday.
• In addition to running the entire ARCA East schedule, Gray plans to enter a majority of the ARCA Menards Series national races, a handful of ARCA Menards Series West races and will make his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at Richmond (Va.) Raceway in April after his 16th birthday.
• The 15-year-old competed in five ARCA East races in 2020 with two top-five and five top-10 finishes. The lone race he missed was this race one year ago due to age restrictions.
• Click here for Gray’s career statistics.

Gray on New Smyrna: “I’m excited to get to Florida and kick off the 2021 season. After having to miss New Smyrna last season, I am looking forward to racing there for the first time. We ended last season on a little bit of a hot streak with a win at Kern County and a podium at Phoenix, so hopefully we can pick right back up where we left off.”

Joey Iest, No. 54 Ford Fusion

• Joey Iest (pronounced east) will make his debut with David Gilliland Racing at New Smyrna Speedway for the first of his six scheduled ARCA East races with the team. He will also contest the full ARCA West schedule for Naake-Klauer Motorsports.
• The Madera, California native competed in four ARCA West races in 2020 for Naake-Klauer Motorsports with a best finish of 11th at The Bullring at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway.
• Iest is no stranger to success having won the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model championship and the Western Speed 2 Midget Series championship in 2019.
• Click here for Iest’s career statistics.

Iest on New Smyrna: “A new track with a new team is always challenging. Thankfully, we were able to test there a few weeks ago, which helped me get familiar with the track and work with my team for the first time. I want to learn as much as possible on Monday night and hopefully earn a top-five finish. I would consider that a successful debut with DGR.”