Category: Truck Series

Lucas Oil 150 | ISM Raceway Race Advance
Team: No. 45 ProMATIC Automation | Superior Essex Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Justin Fontaine
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @driverfontaine

Fontaine on Racing at Phoenix: “I’m really pumped about going to Phoenix and having a chance at a good finish,” said Fontaine.  “I’ve been able to get our No. 45 ProMATIC Automation Chevrolet inside the top-10 on a superspeedway and a speedway, I’d like to add a smaller track to our total on Friday night.

“They’ve made a lot of changes to Phoenix over the last year, including putting the start-finish line in Turn 2 before the dog leg, which should make restarts and even the finish even more thrilling for the race fans.

“Hopefully, I’ll get up to speed pretty quick, follow some good trucks in practice and go from there. We have an opportunity to build on our Texas finish and deliver a strong effort that will carry our No. 45 ProMATIC team to Homestead the following week for the last race of the year.”

Fontaine at Phoenix: Friday night’s race at ISM Raceway will mark Fontaine’s first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) start at the one-mile track.

Recapping Texas: In his second NCWTS start at Texas Motor Speedway, Fontaine battled from a starting position in the back of the pack, to finish the night in 19th.

“It was a solid night for our ProMATIC Automation team,” said Fontaine.  “We struggled with speed during practice and qualifying but my guys never gave up and we kept working on the truck and it responded pretty well during the race.

“We could have used a late-race caution to make one more final tweak to the finish, but we’ll take the finish as a good rebound from June and look forward to closing out the year with two positive runs at Phoenix and Homestead.”

On the Truck: Fontaine’s No. 45 Chevrolet will carry the ProMATIC Automation, Inc. colors in this week’s race.  ProMATIC Automation, Inc. specializes in the design and build of custom factory automation equipment.

ProMATIC Automation, Inc. has extensive experience in the integration of high-level automation technologies like robotics, laser, vision, and dispensing systems along with many years of combined experience in the design and machining of custom manufactured components.

About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece.  In 2018, Niece Motorsports enters its second full season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, fielding two full-time teams with Austin Wayne Self and Justin Fontaine.  Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 30 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices.  Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability.  The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry.  Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Lucas Oil 150 | ISM Raceway Race Advance
Team: No. 22 GO TEXAN | AM Technical Solutions Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Austin Wayne Self
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @AustinWSelf

Self on Racing at Phoenix: “Even though we haven’t had the results we were hoping for in the past at Phoenix, I’m hoping we can change our luck with a strong finish on Friday night,” said Self. “It’s hard to believe that there are just two races left in the year – but I feel like they are two races that we can go out and compete well and end our year on a high note.

“My crew chief Arthur Haire and I really have been working well together over the past couple months and I think that shows in our consistency. I appreciate his hard work, and all of the Niece team and we’ll go into the final two races with a positive outlook and hope that mindset pays off with strong results on the track.”

Self at Phoenix: Friday night’s race at ISM Raceway will mark Self’s third NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) start at the one-mile oval.

Recapping Texas: Self and the No. 22 team battled hard all night at Texas Motor Speedway to earn a 16th-place finish.

“That was not the finish we were expecting, but I was happy to see everyone from Sorghum come support me and the No. 22 team.  We had a crazy night with that tire compound.  We thought maybe we could make the truck better throughout the race but struggled a little bit and then ended up a half-lap short on fuel.

“Despite our ups and downs, I’m thankful for the Texans fans and everyone who came to support us, and we’ll get focused on the last two races of 2018.”

On The Truck: On The Truck: The Texas Department of Agriculture’s GO TEXAN program and AM Technical Solutions will support Self.

GO TEXAN represents Texas agri-business on state, national and international levels by building recognition with the GO TEXAN mark.

Along with its signature mark in the shape of Texas, GO TEXAN celebrates, promotes and supports the business savvy and plainspoken grit Texas agriculture is known throughout the world.

About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece.  In 2018, Niece Motorsports enters its second full season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, fielding two full-time teams with Austin Wayne Self and Justin Fontaine.  Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 30 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices.  Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability.  The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry.  Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Lucas Oil 150 | ISM Raceway Race Advance
Team: No. 38 In Memory of DPS Trooper Tyler Edenhofer Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Landon Huffman
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @LandonHuffman

Huffman on Racing at Phoenix: “I’m definitely looking for a little redemption this week at Phoenix,” said Huffman.  “I’m thrilled to have another chance behind the wheel of this truck, and to work with this Niece Motorsports team again.  ISM Raceway will definitely be the biggest challenge I have had so far in my career, and I’m looking forward to getting on track and learning as much as possible.  I want to give a huge thank you to Al Niece, Cody Efaw, Chuck Efaw and Team Dillon Management for making this opportunity possible.”

Huffman at Phoenix: Huffman will look to make his ISM Raceway debut in Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race.  Huffman has two previous NCWTS starts, which came in 2017 at Bristol Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway.

On the Truck: The No. 38 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet is honored to carry the name of Arizona Department of Public Safety Trooper Tyler Edenhofer.  Edenhofer, who previously served in the Navy, graduated from the academy on May 4, 2018.  Edenhofer was killed in the line of duty on July 25, after just 52 days with the DPS.

About Huffman:  Huffman, a third-generation driver, began his racing career in go-karts at the age of four, competing at tracks across the southeast.  Huffman follows in the footsteps of his father, Robert Huffman, a former five-time NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series champion.

Huffman has accumulated 20 wins across multiple tracks, along with the 2015 Hickory Motor Speedway Paramount Kia Challenge Championship.

Additionally, Huffman is currently a student at UNC Charlotte, majoring in Marketing.

About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece.  In 2018, Niece Motorsports enters its second full season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, fielding two full-time teams with Austin Wayne Self and Justin Fontaine.  Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 30 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices.  Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability.  The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry.  Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as twitter @NieceMotorsport.

NCWTS Advance: ISM Raceway

Track: ISM Raceway, 1-mile oval
Event: Lucas Oil 150 (150 laps, 150 miles)
Entries: No. 17 May’s Hawaii Toyota Tundra, Tyler Ankrum
No. 54 Advance Auto Parts Toyota Tundra, Riley Herbst
Broadcast: FS1, MRN Radio

Schedule: Friday, Nov. 9
10:30 a.m………..Practice (FS2)
12:05 a.m………..Final Practice (FS2)
5:35 p.m………..Qualifying (FS1)
8:30 p.m………..Race (FS1)
(all times ET)
______________________________________________________________________

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Nov. 7, 2018) – The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) will head to ISM Raceway in Avondale, Ariz. this weekend with only two races remaining in the 2018 season. DGR-Crosley will field two trucks in the Lucas Oil 150 for Tyler Ankrum and Riley Herbst. Ankrum will drive the No. 17 May’s Hawaii Toyota Tundra, while Herbst will pilot the No. 54 Advance Auto Parts Toyota Tundra.

Ankrum, a San Bernardino, Calif. native, will be making his second-career NCWTS start this weekend, his last of the season. Coming off the heels of a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Championship, this will mark the 17-year-old’s first trip to the one-mile track of ISM Raceway. Last month Ankrum made his Truck Series debut at Martinsville Speedway where he went on to finish 18th after rain cancelled all practice sessions that weekend. The rookie driver competed at two one-mile tracks at the end of the K&N East season. He looks to carry that experience over to the truck series for this weekend’s Lucas Oil 150.

Herbst will be returning to DGR-Crosley for his final Truck Series race of the 2018 season. The Lucas Oil 150 will mark the 19-year-old Las Vegas, Nev. natives fourth career NCWTS starts, and his second driving the No. 54 Advance Auto Parts Toyota Tundra this season. Herbst earned a career high Truck Series finish with Kyle Busch Motorsports earlier this year, scoring an eighth-place finish at Gateway Motorsports Park in his series debut. He earned a top-15 finish at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in his first race with DGR-Crosley this summer. Herbst has one NASCAR XFINITY Series starts this season where he went on to finish sixth at the 7/8-mile track of Iowa Speedway.

Qualifying for the Lucas Oil 150 will take place on Friday, Nov. 9, at 5:30 p.m., ET with racing action beginning at 8:30 p.m. Both, qualifying and the Lucas Oil 150, will be broadcast live on FS1.
______________________________________________________________________

Ankrum on Phoenix: “I’m really excited to get back in a truck this weekend at Phoenix. So many great races have happened there. It’s going to be cool being there and having a lot of family coming out to watch me race. May’s Hawaii is back on the truck this weekend, they were super pumped up and happy with how Martinsville went, so to have them back on the truck means a lot. Phoenix is the perfect size track. We’ve had some one-mile experience this year at Loudon and Gateway so I’m not really too worried. I know the guys at DGR-Crosley bring good, fast trucks and I’ve been watching film, doing a lot of iRacing. I’m ready to get out there.”

Herbst on Phoenix: “Being from the West Coast, this is a really exciting race for me. We are going to have a lot of family and friends come out from Las Vegas. Being my fourth truck race of the season, my second with DGR-Crosley, I feel like we can put together a solid race. There’s going to be a learning curve with the new configuration but I’m really excited to get out there and see what we can do. Hopefully we can get a good finish for the guys at DGR-Crosley and Advance Auto Parts.”

Sheldon Creed, No. 2 United Rentals / A. M. Ortega Chevrolet Silverado
Phoenix Stats
This will be Creed’s first NCWTS start at ISM Raceway.
2018 Season Stats
3 starts, Best Finish: 15th (Eldora)

Notes:

– Making his third NCWTS start with GMS Racing this weekend, Creed will race chassis no. 310 in his debut at ISM Raceway. The No. 2 team utilized this chassis one other time this season, at Charlotte Motor Speedway, with Cody Coughlin.

– For his first NCWTS race at ISM Raceway, Creed’s No. 2 Chevrolet Silverado will carry longtime supporter United Rentals. A.M. Ortega will remain featured on Creed’s truck, as well as newly added Team Chevy.

Quote:

“I’ve never been to ISM Raceway as a driver, only as a fan to watch. For me, the new track layout will be considered ‘normal’ since I’ve never raced there. While for other guys, they’ll have to adjust to the changes. I think I have that on my side before we even get on track. I’m just going to go in with an open mind and hopefully we’re fast.

“I know that restarts were always a big place to gain positions in past races at Phoenix. That may change now with the new start finish line, but I personally love restarts. I feel like that’s one of my stronger suits. I’m really looking forward to seeing how Friday night’s race plays out.”

 

Johnny Sauter, No. 21 ISM Connect Chevrolet Silverado
Phoenix Stats
9 starts, 1 win, 5 top-fives, 7 top-10s, 1 pole
2018 Season Stats
21 starts, 6 wins, 14 top-fives, 16 top-10s

Notes:

– Sauter will run GMS chassis no. 313 at ISM Raceway, the same chassis raced to the win at Martinsville Speedway two weeks ago. In total, Sauter has run this chassis four times this season, earning two wins and four top-fives.

– Last year, Sauter won the Lucas Oil 150, his first win at the 1-mile track.

– Sauter continues to lead both the driver and owner point standings and is already locked into the Championship Four in Miami, alongside teammate Justin Haley.

Quote:

“ISM Raceway is a track that I really enjoy going to and I can’t wait to see the improvements that have been made. Winning there last year was very special, not only because there was finally a sense of accomplishment, but because it was important to have that momentum leading into Miami. I think the new configuration with the start-finish line moving will be interesting. You’ll see some guys really using up the entire track and some that are content to find their line and stay there, trying to stay out of trouble. Either way, it’ll be a great race and a really exciting weekend for our friends at ISM Connect.”

 

Justin Haley, No. 24 Fraternal Order of Eagles Chevrolet Silverado
Phoenix Stats
2 starts, 1 top-10
2018 Season Stats
21 starts, 3 wins, 9 top-fives, 17 top-10s

Notes:

– This weekend at ISM Raceway, the No. 24 team will unload chassis no. 314, one of the best in their GMS Fabrication fleet. Haley has raced this chassis two previous times in 2018, first at Gateway Motorsports Park where he qualified fourth and captured his first career NCWTS win. He later ran chassis no. 314 at Pocono Raceway where he qualified third and raced to a fifth-place finish.

– With his win at Texas Motor Speedway, Haley has locked himself into the Championship Four of the NASCAR Playoffs to run for a NCWTS championship in Homestead with GMS Racing teammate Johnny Sauter.

Quote:

“The new track configuration and pit road at ISM Raceway is pretty insane now. I was in the Chevy simulator a couple weeks ago prepping for this weekend’s race at Phoenix. I did the first five laps, came in and was giving the engineers feedback on the truck. After a few minutes the engineers told me that my feedback didn’t match up with the data they had pulled. They had to remind me that Turns One and Two were the new Turns Three and Four, and vice versa. You don’t think about that kind of stuff in the truck though. I’ve already talked with my crew chief, Kevin Bellicourt, and we’re going to reference them as big corner and little corner so there is no confusion throughout the day. I think that aspect is going to be a big unknown though for everyone, especially on restarts and how aggressive you can really be. No one knows what exactly to expect.

“The good news is the actual track didn’t change at all, just the start finish line moving. We brought a really fast Fraternal Order of Eagles Chevy to Phoenix last year and hopefully this year we will have the same speed when we unload.”

 

Tyler Dippel, No. 25 Alesso Chevrolet Silverado
Phoenix Stats
This will be Dippel’s first NCWTS start at ISM Raceway.
2018 Season Stats
3 starts, Best Finish: 13th (Eldora)

Notes:

– The No. 25 team will utilize GMS chassis no. 018 at ISM Raceway for Dippel’s third start with GMS Racing. This chassis has been raced once this season, by Timothy Peters, at Martinsville Speedway (start: 9th / finish: 10th).

– Dippel’s Chevrolet will feature Swedish producer Alesso and his latest single “Remedy”. After opening for Madonna on her 2012 MDNA tour, Alesso’s ascension was sped up with the success of 2014’s “Heroes (We Could Be)” featuring Tove Lo. He reached no. 1 on Billboard’s US Dance Club Songs and no. 11 on the Top 40. It was certified Platinum in the US. He has also moved fans at the biggest festivals music has to offer like Coachella, EDC, Ultra, and Tomorrowland. He and Hailee Steinfeld released “Let Me Go” with Florida Georgia Line and Watt; reaching no. 9 on the US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and cracked the US Billboard Hot 100.

– Also on the #25 Chevy Silverado is 10:22 pm, a new label created by Celine Joshua under Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment. The label is charged with signing and developing recording artists, social media influencers and digital media creators with a focus on creating multimedia content and advancing new forms of storytelling.

Quote:

Tyler Dippel: “We’re getting better each week, so I’m looking forward to getting out to Phoenix and making my first start at ISM Raceway. Jerry (Baxter, crew chief) and I have spent a lot of time talking about what to expect and I have the benefit of never having raced on the old configuration. Hopefully, that plays into our hands, especially on restarts where the other guys will have to adjust to that change. I really appreciate this No. 25 team sticking behind me and preparing fast trucks each week. I expect it won’t be long before we’re able to come out with a top-10 finish.

“I’m excited to have Alesso and Remedy on our Silverado this week. It’s great when music and racing can come together. To be able to partner with someone who has had so much success is really special.”

Alesso: “Music, very much like sports, brings people together. It’s a universal language and powerful tool in life. Shots Studios has mastered cross-pollination in many aspects, including sports, and is always open to exploring unique opportunities.

“It’s always been my passion to create music that reaches and connects with everyone all over the world. Being from Stockholm, racing has always been big in Europe and it’s neat to be able to experience NASCAR here in the US and support young athletes chasing their dream. We wish Tyler all the luck and hope he continues to have the Remedy for long-term success in his career.”

ABOUT GMS RACING

GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with drivers Johnny Sauter, Justin Haley, Sheldon Creed and Tyler Dippel, and in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Since the team’s start in 2014, GMS Racing has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. The campus also includes operations for GMS Fabrication.

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