Category: Truck Series PR

MOORESVILLE, N.C.: fgrACCEL and Reaume Brothers Racing jointly announced today that Charred Flag Factory has leaped aboard for Chris Hacker’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) debut in Friday night’s Toyota 200 presented by CK Power at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) at Gateway.

The Charred Flag Factory was formed in Rochester, New York in 2017 by Paul Cummings after a cherry tree was cut down on his property.

After a few years of making flags around the holidays, he started customizing them and turned the Charred Flag Factory into his full-time passion.

The Charred Flag Factory only offers flags of the highest quality. They only use solid hardwoods and hand-pick each slab. They won’t let anything leave their shop that they wouldn’t be proud to display in their own homes.

They have built a few thousand flags for just about every industry imaginable including the military, corporations, fire departments, law enforcement, sports teams and more.

Because they send digital layouts before they start each flag, their customers can alter their designs and change things around before they start production. They can verify their flags’ appearance before they buy it!

They take a lot of pride in our work and love what we do. This helps give peace of mind.

“I’m honored to play a small part in Chris’s journey and his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race,” said Charred Flag Factory owner Paul Cummings. “His story has inspired me. He’s a proven fighter, a hard worker, and exactly the kind of person I like to be around and work with.

“Chris strikes me as someone who dreams about excellence and won’t stop working to improve each and every day. I can’t wait to see where this road takes him.”

Hacker has been overwhelmed by the support of his upcoming NASCAR national series debut, especially from Cummings and Charred Flag Factory.

“I will forever be thankful to Paul and everyone at Charred Flag Factory for being a part of my journey and this incredible opportunity at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway on Friday night,” offered Hacker.

“I’ve set some personal goals for my debut and that includes representing my partners with the best finish possible. What the Charred Flag Factory has done for so many is amazing, and I hope we’re able to bring them some new business with their reach into the NASCAR world at Gateway.”

For more on The Charred Flag Factory, please visit charredflags.com.

For more on Chris Hacker, please like him on Facebook (Chris Hacker Motorsports), follow him on Twitter (@chrishacker_) and Instagram (@chris_hacker).

The Toyota 200 presented by CK Power (160 laps | 200 miles) is the 16th of 22 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races on the 2021 schedule. The 40-truck field will take the green flag on Fri., Aug. 20, 2021, shortly after 9:00 p.m. ET with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio NASCAR Channel 90.

About Reaume Brothers Racing:

Reaume Brothers Racing (RBR) began in 1997 when John Reaume got his sons, Jonathan and Joshua into competitive kart racing. From these humble beginnings, the brothers have chased the racing dream, competing in events all around the world, studying mechanical engineering at university, and building a successful racing business specializing in karting and oval track racing.

Since 2018, RBR has fielded at least one full-time entry in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. With a culture focused on innovation, RBR will utilize cutting-edge technologies to improve on and off-track performance.

Driven with passion and fueled with engineering, RBR is looking to make its mark in NASCAR.

In 2021, the team will continue its presence in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, while also planning to expand its focus to the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Friday, August 20
Track: World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill., 1.25-mile oval
Race: 16 of 22
Event: Toyota 200 presented by CK Power (160 laps, 200 miles)
Schedule
Race: 9:00 p.m. ET (FS1)

Hailie Deegan, No. 1 Monster Energy Ford F-150

• Deegan is making her 17th career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) start in this weekend’s event at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) in Madison, Ill.
• This weekend marks Deegan’s second time at the facility. Last year, she competed in one ARCA Menards Series event at the 1.25-mile track. The California native started seventh and finished ninth in the August 2020 race.
• Deegan heads into Friday night’s 160-lap race after most recently racing at the Watkins Glen International road course two weeks ago for the first time in her young career. The Ford driver started the NCWTS event 18th and finished 19th after the event was ended prematurely due to lightning.
• Crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. has called 10 races at WWTR in his career. In total, he’s been the leader behind one win with Todd Bodine in 2006, and four top-fives and eight top-10 finishes. Hillman’s drivers have completed 99.4 percent of the laps and led a total of 72.
• WWTR is the first 1.25-mile track the NCWTS has raced on this season.

Tanner Gray, No. 15 Ford Performance F-150

• Gray makes his 42nd career start with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) and 16th of the 2021 season at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill.
• The Ford Performance driver has one career Truck Series start at the Illinois track coming last season where he started 14th and earned a 10th-place result. In his lone ARCA Menards Series start at the facility in 2019, mechanical issues forced him to retire from the race after 57 laps.
• Gray had a strong showing at Watkins Glen International two weeks ago, but lightning ended the race early and prevented him from continuing his drive forward late in the race.
• Marcus Richmond has called nine races at the 1.25-mile racetrack with four top-fives and seven top-10s. He has finished second twice with Dennis Setzer in 2008, and Todd Gilliland in 2018.

Taylor Gray, No. 17 Ford Performance F-150

• Taylor Gray made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Watkins Glen International two weeks ago. The young driver had just cracked the top-10 when he began to experience fuel pump issues and had to spend time in the garage for a replacement. He was credited with a 35th-place finish.
• Gray has one career start at Gateway with the ARCA Menards Series in 2020. He started fourth and finished eighth in the 120-lap event.
• It will be another busy weekend of racing for the 16 year old. After competing in his second ever Truck Series race on Friday night, he will make the 1.5 hour trek north to the Springfield Mile at the Illinois State Fairgrounds to drive the No. 46 Fusion on the dirt with the ARCA Menards Series.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (August 17, 2021) – Carson Hocevar will once again race full time for Niece Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2022. The announcement comes on the heels of Hocevar advancing to the Truck Series playoffs in his rookie campaign.

“I’m so excited and thankful for the chance to race full time again with Niece Motorsports in 2022,” said Hocevar. “The support of Al [Niece], Cody [Efaw], Phil [Gould] and every single employee at Niece Motorsports has meant the world. We are still 100 percent focused on chasing that Championship this year, but it’s definitely a relief to have next year’s plans already in place. Thanks to everyone at Premier Security, GM Parts Now and Scott’s Coins, Jewelry & Sports for their support this year. We wouldn’t be able to do any of this without them.”

Hocevar has shown an impressive ability to quickly adapt to the varying style of tracks on the circuit, with little to no practice time or qualifying. The Portage, Michigan native has led laps on dirt tracks, road courses, intermediate tracks and short tracks.

Through the first 15 races of the 2021 season, Hocevar has earned three top-five finishes and five top-10 finishes. In addition, Hocevar has earned 10 top-15 finishes. The 18-year-old driver has led laps in four races this season, and has finished on the lead lap in 13 of 15 starts.

“It’s a huge win for our organization to have Carson back behind the wheel of our Chevrolets again next season,” said Niece Motorsports General Manager Cody Efaw. “Sometimes I forget that Carson is only 18-years-old because he races with such maturity. I’m excited to see what Carson can accomplish next year – going back to a lot of these tracks for the second or third time. He’s been so impressive in his first full season behind the wheel in the Truck Series. As an organization we are focused on giving him the best possible chance to close out this season on a high note and compete for a championship.”

Hocevar enters round one of the Truck Series Playoffs in eighth-place. In addition, Hocevar leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings with seven races remaining in the 2021 season.

The first race in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs will take the green flag at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway on Friday, August 20 at 9 p.m. ET, airing live on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2021, Niece Motorsports enters its sixth season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 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.

Chandler Smith: Driver, No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass® Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: Toyota 200, Race 16 of 22 (Race 1 in the Round of 10), 160 Laps – 55/55/50; 200 Miles
Location: World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in Madison, Ill. (1.25-mile oval)
Date/Broadcast: Aug. 20, 2021 at 9 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

Mr. Smith Goes World Wide:

• Chandler Smith and the No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass team head to World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) at Gateway for the first of three races in the Round of 10 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoffs. Smith finished the regular season 10th on the playoff grid, 10 points above the cutoff line for qualifying for the post season, after posting three top-five and five top-10 finishes across 15 races. With the points reset and his playoff point for winning a stage earlier this season at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway added in, the 19-year-old driver begins the Round of 10 ninth on the playoff grid, one point below the cutoff line for advancing to the Round of 8. Smith and fellow Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Carson Hocevar, the eighth seed, are the only two drivers who will be competing for a championship for the first time. The other eight contenders have all competed for the Truck Series championship at least one time in previous seasons.
• While this will be Smith’s first time taking part in the driver’s portion of the NASCAR Camping World Serie playoffs, he has been a part of the owner’s playoffs for the No. 51 team each of the last two seasons. Last year, he recorded top-five finishes in all three races of the Round of 10 (Bristol Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway) advancing the No. 51 team to the Round of 8. He opened the Round of 8 up with another top-five finish at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City before an accident relegated him to a 21st-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth in the second race of the round and then after Brandon Jones finished 17th in the final race in the Round of 8 the No. 51 team was eliminated from playoff contention. In 2019, Smith opened the 51 team’s owner’s-championship season up with a runner-up finish at Bristol Motor Speedway in the first race of the playoffs, his only playoff start that year.
• Smith has at least one Truck Series start at all seven tracks that will be contested during the 2021 playoffs, including two starts at World Wide Technology Raceway. In just the second start of his Truck Series career, the Georgia native came from the 25th starting position to finish fourth in the 2019 event at the 1.25-mile track. Last year, he was involved in a mid-race accident that relegated him to a 24th-place result. He has also made two ARCA Menards Series starts at the Illinois track, including a runner-up finish in the 2020 event.
• The talented teenager ranks second to his KBM teammate John Hunter Nemechek among full-time Truck Series drivers with 165 laps led this season. The Georgia native has accumulated 119 of those laps led over the last four races of the regular season. He and Kraus were tied for the most laps led (48) at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway and Smith led a race-high 71 laps at Knoxville.
• The Toyota Racing Development driver has 11 top-five, and 14 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 15.2 across 31 career Camping World Truck Series starts. His runner-up finish at Knoxville (Tenn.) Raceway earlier this season equaled the career-best finish he achieved at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in 2019.
• Veteran crew chief Danny Stockman calls the shots for Smith and the No. 18 team this season. Stockman led the No. 51 team to four wins in his first season atop the pit box at KBM in 2020. He came to the organization with experience as a crew chief in all three national series, including a Truck Series championship with Austin Dillon in 2011 and an Xfinity Series championship with Dillon in 2013. Stockman’s Truck Series drivers have two starts at WWTR, with Dillon’s seventh-place finish in 2010 being the best result.
• Safelite AutoGlass – the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair, replacement, and recalibration services – will serve as the primary sponsor on Smith’s Tundra this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway and for 16 races total this season. Smith General Contracting and Fortune-Johnson, a premier building contractor for multifamily projects in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, will be associate partners on the bedtop of the No. 18 Toyota for Friday’s 160-lap event.

Chandler Smith, Driver Q&A:

Does having some prior experience at Gateway give you confidence heading into Friday?
“I feel like Gateway is one of my better tracks on the Truck Series schedule. It’s a short track in my opinion. I’ve had really strong runs in a truck and I’m definitely looking forward to going there again.”

Evaluate your regular season.
“Overall, I would say our regular season has been very up and down. We’ve had a lot of bad luck and a little good luck. We’ve had some pretty decent runs. We’ve had races where we were really good, and something happened. I’m looking to flip all that going into the playoffs. Trying to flip all this luck around and hopefully we have our dividends paid in for this luck deal going into the playoffs.:

Do you feel like your team can win the Truck Series championship this year?
“I don’t think there is any excuse of anything keeping us from winning the championship. I think the only thing holding us back is beating ourselves or having bad luck. These last few races we’ve been really, really good and we haven’t been able to show it because something happens – mechanical failures or something happens on pit road, get caught up in someone else’s mess – that’s all part of racing. At the same time, when is enough enough? Do these things that you can’t control justify how good your team is and kind of question can this team win a championship?

Chandler Smith Career Highlights:

• Across 31 career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts has recorded 258 laps led, 11 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 15.2.
• Posted an average finish of 7.7 across his final seven of 12 total Truck Series starts in 2020, including third-place finishes in the series finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway and his first career superspeedway start at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in October.
• Produced three top-five and four top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 4.2 across his first four career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts in 2019. He led 55 laps and finished eighth in his Gander Trucks debut at Iowa Speedway last July and then posted top-five finishes in his final three starts, including a runner-up finish at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.
• Has collected nine wins, 10 poles, 1783 laps led, 22 top-five and 29 top-10 finishes en route to an average finish of 5.4 across 34 career ARCA Menards Series starts. Set an ARCA Racing Series record by winning four consecutive poles to start his career and earned his first victory after leading a race-high 102 laps at Madison (Wis.) International Speedway in his fourth series start.

Chandler Smith’s No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass Tundra:
KBM-60: The No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass team will unload KBM-060 for Saturday’s 160-lap event at World Wide Technology Raceway. Smith has raced KBM-60 twice this season, with a best result of fourth at Richmond (Va.) Raceway in April. Brandon Jones picked up his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway with the same Tundra last June and KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch was victorious with this chassis at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway last March.

KBM-60 Performance Profile
KBM Notes of Interest:

• KBM drivers have collected two wins, 363 laps led, six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 13.6 across 23 starts at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.
• Christopher Bell was victorious at the 1.25-mile track in 2016 and Darrell Wallace Jr., won the 2014 event.
• KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (88) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Track, Truex Jr. became the 16th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
• The No. 18, the number which was on the first Tundra that went to victory lane for KBM in 2010, has 21 career victories.

Derek Griffith: Driver, No. 51 JBL/Hudson Speedway Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: Toyota 200, Race 16 of 22 (Race 1 in the Round of 10), 160 Laps – 55/55/50; 200 Miles
Location: World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in Madison, Ill. (1.25-mile oval)
Date/Broadcast: Aug. 20, 2021 at 9 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

The Details on Derek:

• Derek Griffith will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut behind the wheel of No. 51 Tundra Friday at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. The 24-year-old driver’s Toyota will carry co-primary sponsorship from JBL, the authority in engineering superior sound and Griffith’s NASCAR Home Track, Hudson International Speedway. Friday’s 200-lap race will be the first race of three races in the Round of 10 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series owner’s playoffs. The No. 51 team qualified for the owner’s portion of the playoffs by finishing the regular season ranked fifth in the point standings. They enter the playoffs seventh on the playoff grid, four points ahead of the cutoff line for advancing to the Round of 8. Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) has won a series-record seven owner’s championships, including three by the No. 51 team (2013, 2014 and 2019).
• Griffith has posted three top-five and eight top-10 finishes across 10 ARCA Menards Racing Series starts the last two seasons. Griffith has also made three ARCA Menards Series East starts, picking up one pole, one top-five and two top-10 finishes. In his East Series debut at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway in 2020, he captured the pole and led a race-high 144 laps, before being relegated to a runner-up finish after falling back a spot on a late-race restart.
• The New Hampshire native cut his racing teeth in the four-cylinder class at Hudson Speedway, a quarter-mile oval, located near his hometown, Nashua, N.H. He graduated to the Super Late Model Division at the track in 2012 and the New Englander has been on the rise ever since. Griffith has been recognized with such prestigious honors as being part of the Kulwicki Driver Development Program (2018-2019) and being selected as the No. 1 top prospect in short-track racing by a panel of industry experts, racers, media members and more in the 2021 Speed51 Short Track Draft.
• Behind the wheel of a Super Late Model Griffith has numerous wins, including the Motor Mountain Masters 150 at Jennerstown (Pa.) Speedway (2021), back-to-back World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing championships at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway (2020-2021), a sweep of the PASS Easter Bunny 150s at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway (2021), the Thompson Icebreaker 75 at Thompson (Conn.) Speedway and the Freedom 300 at Lee (N.H.) USA Speedway (2020).
• Mardy Lindley has guided the No. 51 team to three victories across 15 races is in his first season as a crew chief at KBM. Owner-driver Kyle Busch was victorious at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway in Kansas City while Martin Truex Jr. won the inaugural Truck Series event at the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway Dirt Track. Truex Jr. became the 16th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM and the 12th to collect their first-ever victory in NASCAR’s third division. Before arriving at KBM, Lindley guided his drivers to 32 wins and four ARCA Menards Series East championships since 2013, including back-to-back titles with Sam Mayer the last two seasons. Additionally, he earned the ARCA Menards Series Sioux Chief Showdown championship with Mayer in 2020. Behind the wheel, the second-generation driver won 11 races on the Pro Cup Series from 2000 to 2006 and was crowned the series champion in 2001. His ARCA Menards Series drivers have posted two top-five finishes across three starts at Gateway, including third-place results with Mayer in 2019 and 2020.

Derek Griffith, Driver Q&A:

How do you feel about getting the opportunity to make your NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut?
“I can’t put into words how thankful I am to KBM, JBL and Hudson Speedway — this is really a dream come true. Just being here at KBM the last couple days and checking everything out and having it all settle in is pretty amazing.”

How are you preparing for your Truck Series debut?
“Definitely taking as much time as I can to watch as much footage as possible. I know going in that I’m going to have the best Toyota Tundra that I can have with Mardy (Lindley, crew chief) and the crew working on it. I have a lot of confidence in what they can do. Coming into Gateway it’s going to be a big thing for me for sure.”

Have you set any goals for your Truck Series debut?
“It’s hard to set goals with the circumstances that are at hand because I have such a lack of experience compared to the other drivers. If we go out there and have a good run and it shows good, that’s all I am hoping for. I don’t want to tear anything up, I want to have a good finish and I know that I have a truck that is capable of winning. I’m very excited to get out there, but don’t have anything as far as goals yet other than to keep it clean and do what I can.”

What does it mean to be carrying your hometrack’s logo on your Tundra for your Truck Series debut?
“The whole story from start to finish has just been amazing. I started racing at Hudson Speedway when I was 12 years old in a little Volkswagen Gulf. To come from there to be stepping into a Tundra prepared by KBM with Hudson Speedway on the side all these years later, I never thought I would be here. Especially with carrying Hudson Speedway on the side, it’s very fulfilling, very special to me to be able to do that.”

Derek Griffith Career Highlights:

• Across 10 career ARCA Menards Series starts has three top-five and eight top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 9.4.
• Has made three ARCA Menards Series East starts, picking up one pole, one top-five and two top-10 finishes. In his East Series debut at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway in 2020, he captured the pole and led a race-high 144 laps, before being relegated to a runner-up finish after falling back a spot on a late-race restart.
• Behind the wheel of a Super Late Model Griffith has numerous wins, including the Motor Mountain Masters 150 at Jennerstown (Pa.) Speedway (2021), back-to-back World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing championships at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway (2020-2021), a sweep of the PASS Easter Bunny 150s at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway (2021), the Thompson Icebreaker 75 at Thompson (Conn.) Speedway and the Freedom 300 at Lee (N.H.) USA Speedway (2020).
• Has been recognized with such prestigious honors as being part of the Kulwicki Driver Development Program (2018-2019) and being selected as the No. 1 top prospect in short-track racing by a panel of industry experts, racers, media members and more in the 2021 Speed51 Short Track Draft.
• Derek Griffith’s No. 51 JBL/Hudson Speedwy Tundra:
• KBM-62: The No. 51 team will unload KBM-62 for Friday’s race at World Wide Technology Raceway. KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch led 26 laps and finished second to KBM driver John Hunter Nemechek with the Tundra at Richmond (Va.) Raceway in April. Raphael Lessard drove KBM-62 in last year’s event at WWTR and came home with a sixth-place finish.

KBM Notes of Interest:

• KBM drivers have collected two wins, 363 laps led, six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 13.6 across 23 starts at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.
• Christopher Bell was victorious at the 1.25-mile track in 2016 and Darrell Wallace Jr., won the 2014 event.
• KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (88) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Track, Truex Jr. became the 16th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
• With 37 victories, the No. 51 is the winningest number in KBM’s Truck Series fleet.

Sheldon Creed, No. 2 LiftKits4Less Chevrolet Silverado
World Wide Technology Raceway Stats

• NCWTS Starts: 2, Wins: 1 (2020), Top 5s: 1, Top 10s: 2, Best start: 12th, Laps led: 15
• ARCA Starts: 1, Wins: 1 (2018), Top 5s: 1, Top 10s: 1, Poles: 1, Laps led: 85

2021 NCWTS Season Stats

• Starts: 15, Wins: 1 (Darlington), Top 5s: 6, Top 10s: 7, Stage wins: 1, Best start: 2nd, Laps led: 161

Notes:

• Sponsor spotlight: LiftKits4Less returns this week to feature on Sheldon Creed’s No. 2 Silverado. LiftKits4Less will sponsor Creed for the remainder of the season all the way through the season finale in Phoenix.
• Chassis history/info: Creed and the No. 2 team will utilize chassis no. 337 at Gateway. This is a brand new chassis that will make its debut on Friday night.
• Multi-Time Gateway Winner: Gateway has statistically been one of Creed’s best tracks, and he enters the weekend as the defending NCWTS race winner. Sheldon has won in everything that he has competed in at Gateway, notching one ARCA win from the pole in 2018.
• #Back2Back: Sheldon Creed begins his quest to defend the 2020 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship with the Playoffs opener at Gateway. Driver No. 2 enters Friday night’s race sitting fifth in the standings, currently ten points ahead of the cutline.

Quote: “It feels great to start the Playoffs in St. Louis, a track that has been so good to me over the years. A solid race at Gateway is going to be key to having a competitive Round of 10, but this weekend will also be good practice for the season finale in Phoenix. I’m looking forward to seeing what our GMS Racing team has in store for these final seven races.”

Zane Smith, No. 21 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet Silverado
World Wide Technology Raceway Stats

• NCWTS Starts: 2, Top 5s: 1, Top 10s: 2, Poles: 1 (2020), Best finish: 5th
• ARCA Starts: 1, Best start: 5th, Best finish: 16th

2021 NCWTS Season Stats

• Starts: 15, Top 5s: 1, Top 10s: 10, Stage wins: 3, Best start: 2nd, Best finish: 4th (Nashville), Laps led: 47

Notes:

• Sponsor spotlight: Chevy Accessories returns this week to feature on Zane Smith’s No. 21 Silverado.
• Chassis history/info: Smith and the No. 21 team will utilize chassis no. 325 at Gateway. This chassis has six Top 10 finishes to its credit, and was last raced at Charlotte earlier this season where it finished 10th with Smith behind the wheel.
• First Impressions: Smith made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Gateway in 2018 and put his name on the map by running near the front of the pack for the duration of the race. Impressing many, the standout talent earned a Top 5 finish in just his very first start.
• #21in21: Zane Smith makes his second Playoffs appearance in his sophomore season of NCWTS competition, and is hungry to jump one spot from his runner up finish in 2020. Driver No. 21 enters Gateway sitting sixth in the standings, currently eight points ahead of the cutline.

Quote: “I am ready to start the Playoffs at Gateway with my No. 21 crew. Fortunately, we are going to be starting up front, which is very important at this track. Hopefully, we will have a mistake free day and stay up front throughout the race to fight for a win at the end.”

Chase Purdy, No. 23 Bama Buggies Chevrolet Silverado
World Wide Technology Raceway Stats

• First start at Gateway in NCWTS competition, but Purdy has one start in the ARCA Menards Series.
• ARCA Starts: 1, Top 5s: 1, Top 10s: 1, Best start: 6th, Best finish: 2nd

2021 NCWTS Season Stats

• Starts: 14, Best start: 4th, Best finish: 15th (twice), Laps led: 4

Notes:

• Sponsor spotlight: Bama Buggies returns this week to feature on Chase Purdy’s No. 23 Silverado.
• Chassis history/info: Purdy and the No. 23 team will utilize chassis no. 313 at Gateway. This chassis has a pair of wins to its credit, with races at Martinsville and Bristol won by Johnny Sauter in 2018. Last time the chassis raced at Gateway was in 2020, where it finished second with Brett Moffitt at the wheel. - Back and Better Than Ever: Purdy returns to the seat of the No. 23 Chevrolet after missing the series’ last race at Watkins Glen due to a positive COVID-19 test result. GMS Racing is happy to report that Chase is in good health and is medically cleared to race once again. Quote: “I’m excited to finally get back in the seat this weekend after a long break! Gateway is a racetrack that I’ve run well at in the past in an ARCA car, but I’ve never been here in a truck, so I’ll be learning every lap. I’m looking to keep up that speed I’ve had here in the past with my No. 23 team.”

Jack Wood, No. 24 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet Silverado
World Wide Technology Raceway Stats

• Jack Wood has no previous experience in any series at Gateway

2021 NCWTS Season Stats

• Starts: 6, Best start: 2nd, Best finish: 11th (Nashville)

Notes:

• Sponsor spotlight: Chevy Accessories returns this week to feature on Jack Wood’s No. 24 Silverado. Jack’s Chevrolet will sport a new gold and black paint scheme, a bit different than his familiar white and black color scheme.
• Chassis history/info: Wood and his No. 24 team will utilize chassis no. 312 at World Wide Technology Raceway. This chassis competed at Gateway last season, starting from the pole and carrying Zane Smith to a seventh place finish. Its most recent race was earlier this year at Richmond with Rafael Lessard behind the wheel, where it placed 23rd.
• First Start: Jack Wood will make his first start at World Wide Technology Raceway in Friday night’s race. Wood has had plenty of seat time in the Chevrolet simulator and is eager to continue to learn in his rookie season.

Quote: “This weekend will be my first time on a paved oval in a while, and I couldn’t be happier! Although it is a racetrack I have never been to before, I am looking forward to getting back to what I am accustomed to. Hopefully, this race will be the start of a swing in momentum for the rest of the season.”

Tyler Ankrum, No. 26 LiUNA! Chevrolet Silverado
World Wide Technology Raceway Stats

• NCWTS Starts: 2, Best start: 8th, Best finish: 12th
• NKNPSE Starts: 1, Top 10s: 1, Best start: 16th, Best finish: 6th

2021 NCWTS Season Stats

• Starts: 15, Top 5s: 3, Top 10s: 5, Poles: 1 (COTA), Best finish: 3rd (twice), Laps led: 12

Notes:

• Sponsor spotlight: LiUNA! returns this week to feature on Tyler Ankrum’s No. 26 Silverado.
• Chassis history: Ankrum and his No. 26 crew will utilize chassis no. 329 on Friday night at Gateway. This chassis has only been raced three times, but has finished in the Top 10 twice. TA finished 7th at Dover last season and earned his season-best finish of third at Richmond earlier this year with chassis no. 329.
• Gaining Momentum: Though no longer in the Playoffs picture, Ankrum and crew are looking forward to finishing out the remaining races of 2021 on a high note. Their number one goal is to get to victory lane by the end of the season.

Quote: “I’m excited to go back to Gateway – it isn’t a track I’ve had a lot of success or luck at, but we have the opportunity to capitalize and help my teammates in the Playoffs. It should be an exciting weekend and I hope all of my GMS teammates and I are fast.”

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 Jack Wood. The team also competes in the ARCA Menards Series with Daniel Dye. 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://gmsracing.net/.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (August 16, 2021) – Jake Griffin will make his ninth NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start this week at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, this time behind the wheel for Niece Motorsports in the No. 45 Great Escapes RV Center Chevrolet.

“I’m really excited to get a chance behind the wheel at Niece Motorsports,” said Griffin. “Every driver dreams of the chance to get to race at this level, in equipment capable of winning, so I’m looking forward to making the most of the opportunity.”

Griffin has two Truck Series starts to his credit so far this season, both coming on dirt at Bristol and Knoxville. His best finish in those two starts was 12th in a wild race at Knoxville.

The Illinois-native has eight Truck Series starts under his belt, dating back to 2015. His career-best finish came in 2016 at Eldora, where he started 11th and finished fourth.

“We are thrilled to have Jake join Niece Motorsports for Gateway,” said Niece Motorsports General Manager Cody Efaw. “He’s had some really solid runs in the Truck Series in just a few starts, and I think we will have a great chance to continue that. Gateway is a fun track and should really suit his driving style.”

With more than 300 top-five finishes to his credit, Griffin has amassed over 68 feature wins, one regional championship, and six track championships since his start in quarter midgets at age seven.

Since then, he has raced in the UMP A and B-Modified, Crate Late Model, NASCAR and Super Late Model Series. Griffin became the youngest driver in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series history to win a feature race, with a victory at Lebanon I-44 Speedway (MO).

The Truck Series will take the green flag at Gateway on Friday, August 20 at 9 p.m. ET, airing live on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2021, Niece Motorsports enters its sixth season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 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.

MOORESVILLE, N.C.: fgrACCEL and Reaume Brothers Racing jointly announced today that Chris Hacker will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) debut in Friday night’s Toyota 200 presented by CK Power at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) at Gateway.

Hacker will drive the No. 34 Toyota Tundra, a second entry for Mooresville, N.C.-based Reaume Brothers Racing, and a teammate to the team’s other driver Armani Williams.

Hacker started his racing career at eight years old, racing in quarter midgets, where he ranked second overall in his home state of Indiana. From 2009 to 2011, he competed in the Bandolero bandits where he won the Indiana state championship back-to-back in 2010 and 2011.

After consecutive championship seasons in Bandoleros, he advanced to INEX Legend Car Series competition in 2012, where he captured the Indianapolis Speedrome Championship in the Young Lions category.

In 2013, he continued his racing resume acceleration moving from Legends Car to the Champion Racing Association Sportsman category, where he became the youngest driver to win a CRA event at age 13.

The following season, competing in the JEGS All-Star Series, he won the Sportsman of the Year award.

Hacker continued to turn heads in Late Model competition and positioned himself to move into the development ARCA Menards Series in 2020 – competing at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway driving for Fast Track Racing, finishing 15th after starting 24th.

Hacker was slated to make his debut in the premier ARCA Menards Series at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February, but COVID-19 delayed his start to Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway in May where he started 12th and finished 10th in an entry fielded by Cram Motorsports.

“I am very excited to be able to make my NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at World Wide Technology Raceway with Reaume Brothers Racing,” said Hacker. “It has been a dream of mine to be a competitor in the NASCAR ranks ever since I started racing at the age of eight.

“I want to thank Josh (Reaume) and the entire Reaume Brothers Racing team for allowing me to have this opportunity and my management team at fgrACCEL for working tirelessly to make this all a reality.”

Wildwood, Missouri-based ARS Construction will serve as Hacker’s primary partner for the 16th NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race of the season.

ARS Construction is a family-owned construction firm that has been successfully servicing the greater St. Louis area since 2001. They specialize in both residential and commercial roof installs. Their multifaceted team provides general contracting services such as windows, siding, home additions, remodeling among other various contracting services.

Recently, ARS Construction expanded their same quality services to Norman, Oklahoma and Kansas.

“We are very excited to be partnering with Chris Hacker for his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut behind the No. 34 ARS Construction Toyota Tundra at World Wide Technology Raceway,” said ARS Construction owner Christian Larson.

“We are stoked by the synergies of sponsoring a truck that resembles our other 12 ARS Construction work trucks and hope that this will help facilitate a wide reach of our brand!”

Added Hacker, “There are no words to describe the support from ARS Construction. Our No. 34 ARS Construction Toyota Tundra looks amazing and I’m focused on having a positive and strong debut with them and Reaume Brothers Racing and hopefully pave the way for more opportunities in the future.”

Team principal Josh Reaume says the team is ecstatic to have Hacker join them for his NASCAR National Series debut.

“We are happy to welcome Chris to Reaume Brothers Racing,” he said. “We are excited to work with him and be a part of his journey in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He has shown us he is a good driver and we think he will do well not only at Gateway but in the series overall.”

Looking ahead, Hacker plans to compete in select ARCA and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events this season while focusing on an accelerated schedule in 2022.

Hacker, 21, is also the first NASCAR driver known to have a brachial plexus injury (BPI), also known as brachial plexus lesion. BPI is an injury to the brachial plexus, the network of nerves that conducts signals from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm and hand.

Hacker and fgrACCEL would also like to thank fellow NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team On Point Motorsports who has been equally instrumental in preparing Hacker for his series’ debut in a variety of roles.

For more on ARS Construction, please visit advancedroofsys.com.

For more on Chris Hacker, please like him on Facebook (Chris Hacker Motorsports), follow him on Twitter (@chrishacker_) and Instagram (@chris_hacker).

The Toyota 200 presented by CK Power (160 laps | 200 miles) is the 16th of 22 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races on the 2021 schedule. The 40-truck field will take the green flag on Fri., Aug. 20, 2021, shortly after 9:00 p.m. ET with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio NASCAR Channel 90.

About Reaume Brothers Racing:

Reaume Brothers Racing (RBR) began in 1997 when John Reaume got his sons, Jonathan and Joshua into competitive kart racing. From these humble beginnings, the brothers have chased the racing dream, competing in events all around the world, studying mechanical engineering at university, and building a successful racing business specializing in karting and oval track racing.

Since 2018, RBR has fielded at least one full-time entry in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. With a culture focused on innovation, RBR will utilize cutting-edge technologies to improve on and off-track performance.

Driven with passion and fueled with engineering, RBR is looking to make its mark in NASCAR.

In 2021, the team will continue its presence in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, while also planning to expand its focus to the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Statesville, NC — When six-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Doug Coby makes his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway next month, a familiar sponsor and colors will be on his No. 24 GMS Racing Chevrolet Silverado.

Doug Coby will carry the Mayhew Tools name in a special American Flag style paint scheme that mirrors the scheme he runs for his own race team on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Mayhew Tools, a company based in Turner Falls, Massachusetts, has been a sponsor of Coby’s Modified efforts since 2017.

Coby, who has two Whelen Modified Tour wins to date during the 2021 season, and also a victory in the inaugural Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) event at Stafford Motor Speedway, is excited to showcase the colors and sponsorship to the Truck audience in his debut.

“It’s exciting for me because Mayhew Tools stepped up to help Mike Smeriglio’s team on the Whelen Modified Tour when I was driving for him, and they stood behind me when I started my own team,” Coby said. “They help me with whatever they can. To have them with me on the Truck with GMS Racing in my debut, it shows there is a strong commitment between the two of us. It’s a cool feeling to have people behind you that want to contribute to everything that you are doing. The American Flag paint scheme is a fan favorite and I am excited to showcase it to a national audience.”

The UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics will take place on Thursday, September 16 at 9 p.m., live on Fox Sports 1, MRN, and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

“Doug has been successful with the Whelen Modified Tour and the short tracks and we are excited to support him on this bigger stage,” John Lawless, President of Mayhew Tools, said. “We have been with Doug for a while and not only do we think he has a lot of talent, but he is a wonderful spokesman for Mayhew Tools. We think he will go out there and do well and we wanted to be involved in his Truck debut.”

GMS Racing President Mike Beam remarked, “I am looking forward to watch Doug Coby make his truck debut with our team at Bristol in September. Earlier this year, I had the chance to work with Doug through the SRX Series, and his ability to drive became apparent right away. This opportunity is a big one for him, and we are proud to represent his longtime sponsor, Mayhew Tools, onboard our No. 24 Silverado.”

For more information on Doug Coby Racing, visit dougcobyracing.com.

ABOUT MAYHEW TOOLS:

Founded in 1856, Mayhew Tools is the oldest punch and chisel manufacturer in the United States, growing their extensive professional grade, American made product line to include pry bars, pneumatics, cable ties, and more. In 2020, the company extended their product line to include a complete line of dual drive and socket bits and sets. Serving the Industrial, Automotive, Hardware, and Construction industries, Mayhew’s premium hand tools are sold globally through an extensive distributor network. For more information, contact Mayhew Tools at 800.872.0037 or visit Mayhew.com.

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 Jack Wood. The team also competes in the ARCA Menards Series with Daniel Dye. Since the team began in 2014, GMS Racing won the 2016 and 2020 Camping World Trucks Championship, the 2015 ARCA Menards Series championship as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA East 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 http://www.gmsracing.net/.