Category: Truck Series PR

Christian Eckes: Driver, No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass® Toyota

NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Overview:

Event: NASCAR Hall of Fame 200, Race 22 of 23, 200 Laps – 50/50/100; 105.2 Miles
Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (0.526-mile oval)
Date/Broadcast: Oct. 30, 2020 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

What You Need to Know:

• Christian Eckes and the No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass team head to Martinsville Speedway for Friday’s NASCAR Hall of Fame 200, where the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series will tackle the 0.526-mile oval under the lights for the first time. Eckes has two prior starts at the Virginia track, with a best result of ninth in his track debut in October of 2018. In last year’s event, the Toyota Racing Development driver earned his third career pole and spent most of the day in the top 10 and was battling for the lead late in the race when he got caught up in a wreck and was relegated to a 17th-place finish.
• Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) swept Martinsville last season with owner-driver Kyle Busch winning in March and Todd Gilliland winning the October event. KBM’s eight victories at the Virginia track are the most the organization has at any track on the circuit. Busch, Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace each have visited victory lane twice, while Gilliland and Noah Gragson have each won once. Eckes will be piloting KBM-38 at Martinsville Friday night, the Tundra Busch led 174 of 250 laps en route to victory at “The Paperclip” last March.
• Across the first 21 events of the 2020 Gander Trucks season, Eckes has posted five top-five and nine top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 13.1. He ranks second among series regulars in percentage of laps run on the lead lap (95.11%), fourth in average running position (8.986), and fifth in laps led (176) and laps in the top 15 (2,362). Last week at Texas Motor Speedway in Ft. Worth, Eckes was battling for the third position in the closing laps when contact from Ben Rhodes sent him crashing hard into the outside wall down the frontstretch. Major damage to the Safelite Tundra ended Eckes’ day and left him with a 25th-place finish. Eckes earned a career-best runner-up finish at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth on July 18, 2020 and then equaled it July 25, 2020 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City and Aug. 7 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.
• The 19-year-old driver earned a spot in this year’s playoffs after finishing sixth in the regular season point standings but was eliminated after the Round of 10 when he finished seven points behind the cutoff line after getting caught up in a last-lap accident at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Eckes sits second to Zane Smith in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings.
• Eckes is paired with champion crew chief Ryan “Rudy” Fugle. Fugle has guided his team to five owner’s championships (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019) as a crew chief at KBM, including combined owner’s/driver’s championships with Erik Jones in 2015 and Christopher Bell in 2017. The New York native’s drivers have combined for 28 wins, 24 poles, 76 top-five and 116 top-10 finishes across his 157 races calling the shots for the organization. His 28 wins as a crew chief rank second all-time in the Truck Series to former KBM signal caller Eric Phillips (37).
• Across 13 Truck Series starts at Martinsville, Fugle’s drivers have one win, two poles, 355 laps led, five top-five and 11 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 8.6. KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch led 174 of 150 laps en route to victory in March of 2019 with Fugle calling the shots.
• Safelite AutoGlass, the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services, will adorn the hood of Eckes’ No. 18 Tundra for all 23 events on NASCAR Gander RV& Outdoors schedule in 2020.

Christian Eckes Martinsville Q&A

Does it help going into Martinsville that you’ve made two starts there already?
“Having the two previous starts at Martinsville is definitely going to help going into this weekend at Martinsville. With not having practice and qualifying this year, it is pretty crucial to have been to places. I haven’t really had that fortune that much this year, but thankfully, I’ve been to Martinsville twice. I ran pretty well at both. I had a lot of speed in 2018 and finished ninth. Last year, we had a truck to win the race but got wrecked with just a couple of laps to go. Overall, I am looking forward to getting in my Safelite Tundra.”

Do you think the Truck Series needs more short tracks on the schedule?
“Yes and no. With a short track background, I really like going to them. In the same aspect, I feel like the Truck series is a good mix of 1.5-mile tracks, road courses, short tracks, and stuff in that nature. I wouldn’t mind a few added to the schedule. We will have to see what the 2021 schedule looks like.”

Is it important to finish these next two races strong?
“It’s super important. With not knowing what my future looks like, I definitely want to go run the best I can in the next few races to try to solidify that. I’m really looking forward to getting to Martinsville this weekend. We have not won yet this year, so that is at the top of the list as far as our team goals are. We definitely want to give Rudy a last win before he goes and moves on to the Cup Series.”

Christian Eckes Career Highlights:

• Across 33 career Truck Series starts has produced three poles, 307 laps led, eight top-five and 16 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.5. Earned a career-best runner-up finish at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth on July 18, 2020 and then equaled it July 25, 2020 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City and Aug. 7 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.
• Captured the 2019 ARCA Menards Series championship after recording four wins, two poles, 400 laps led, 13 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes, resulting in an average finish of 4.8 across 19 starts. Has seven career ARCA Racing Series victories across 46 starts to go along with four poles, 1094 laps led, 23 top-five and 35 top-10 finishes.
• Put his name on the motorsports map when he won the prestigious Snowball Derby Super Late Model race in 2016 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla. The then 15-year-old battled side-by-side with John Hunter Nemechek for the final two laps before narrowly edging him to the finish line.
• Christian Eckes’ No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass Tundra:

KBM-38: The No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass team will unload KBM-38 for Sunday’s race at Martinsville. The Tundra has visited victory lane six times across 19 starts, most recently by owner-driver Kyle Busch at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in March of 2019. Noah Gragson was victorious at Kansas with “38 Special” in 2018, Christopher Bell raced it to three wins and William Byron won with it in it the first time it saw the track; at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November of 2016. Eckes won the pole at Martinsville last October with KBM-38 and most recently drove it to a runner-up finish in the second race of a doubleheader in July at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City.

KBM-38 Performance Profile:

Starts
Wins
Average Start
Average Finish
Laps Led
19
6
4.9
5.7
807

KBM Notes of Interest:
KBM drivers have collected eight wins, five poles, 962 laps led, 22 top-five and 36 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 8.6 across 54 starts at Martinsville
Todd Gilliland picked up the organization’s most recent victory at the 0.526-mile oval last October. Kyle Busch (2017 & 2019). Denny Hamlin (2011 & 2012) and Darrell Wallace Jr. (2013 & 2014) have also each collected two victories while Noah Gragson (2017) has one win.
KBM holds the NGROTS records for most career wins (80) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). 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.

Brandon Jones: Driver, No. 51 Magick Woods Vanities Toyota

NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Overview

Event: NASCAR Hall of Fame 200, Race 22 of 23, 200 Laps – 50/50/100; 105.2 Miles
Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (0.526-mile oval)
Date/Broadcast: Oct. 30, 2020 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

What You Need to Know

• Brandon Jones returns to the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Trucks Series for Friday’s penultimate event of the 2020 season at Martinsville Speedway. Jones will be making his fourth and final start for KBM in 2020. The Georgia native picked up his first-career Truck Series victory in June at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa after a fierce two-lap battle with Shelden Creed. The win came after Jones had finished in the runner-up position five times across his first 45 starts in the Truck Series. Jones returned to the No. 51 in July for the doubleheader weekend at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City where he finished 14th in the Friday event and eighth in the Saturday event. After finishing the truck race on Saturday, the Toyota driver climbed aboard his No. 19 XFINITY Series Supra and went on to pick up his fourth career series victory.
• Jones has one win, 65 laps led, seven top-five and nine top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 8.8 across 13 events for KBM since the start of the 2018 season. The Toyota driver produced a runner-up finish at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway last November in his final start of the year, which helped the No. 51 advance to the Championship 4, and eventually win the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors owner’s championship.
• The task to help the No. 51 team advance to the Championship 4 this year will be much taller after an accident in the final stage haltered a strong run for Chandler Smith and relegated the young driver to a 21st-place finish last week at Texas Motor Speedway in Ft. Worth. The No. 51 team enters the final race in the Round of 8 in the owner’s playoffs in the sixth position, 31 points below the cutoff line for advancing. Due to Jones being an XFINITY Series regular, a win Friday night would not count towards the 51 team advancing, they must make their way in via points.
• Overall, across 48 career Truck Series starts, Jones has one win, 85 laps led, 14 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 13.0. Five of Jones Gander Trucks starts have come at Martinsville Speedway, with a best result of seventh the last time he competed at “The Paperclip” in October of 2015.
• The full-time XFINITY Series driver will be pulling double duty at Martinsville, also competing Saturday as that series returns to the 0.526-mile oval for the first time since a one-off race in 2006. The XFINITY Series race regularly at the Virginia track from 1982 to 1994. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver enters the final race in the Round of 8 four points behind the cutoff line for advancing to the XFINITY Series Championship 4. In his fifth full-time XFINITY season, Jones has compiled three victories, nine top-five and 17 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 13.3 across 31 starts.
• Overall, in 168 career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has produced four victories, three poles, 497 laps led, 14 top-five and 67 top-10 finishes. Additionally, he has collected five career ARCA Menards Series victories and one ARCA Menards Series East win (Iowa Speedway, 2014).
• Wes Ward, who has served as shop foreman at KBM since 2015, will serve as the interim crew chief for the No. 51 team this week while Danny Stockman serves his suspension for the wheel that fell off last week at Texas Motor Speedway in Ft. Worth. Ward is a veteran crew chief with more than 300 Xfinity Series races on his resume, as well as 27 Gander Trucks races. He has been atop the pit box for three victories at KBM, including wins at Martinsville with Kyle Busch (2016) and Todd Gilliland (2019).

Brandon Jones Martinsville Q&A

How cool is it to introduce new partners to NASCAR through the Menards partnership?
“I think it is so cool to always have new partners coming into the sport and look forward to having a strong run with Magick Woods onboard our No. 51 Tundra this week. I think that is one thing that Menards does so well is bringing vendors and their partners into the sport, I think that is so much fun to be able to do through that company.”

The last time you raced at Martinsville was in the 2015 truck race. How will you go about preparing for two races there this weekend?
“When I saw that Martinsville was back on the XFINTY schedule for this year, I thought that was going to be a really fun time to get to Martinsville. It’s been a while since I’ve raced here in a truck or a late model. I’ve been getting lots of laps in the Toyota Racing simulator. That has been a big help and key this week for preparation. I also feel that possibly even iRacing could help in getting some extra laps before we get to the track.”

With all the action in last week’s truck race do you feel that this week’s race will be even more chaotic than normal?
“After watching last week’s truck race and seeing everything that happened, I do feel like Martinsville will be a little more action packed than it normally would. You always have this feeling coming into Martinsville that the only way to pass is the bump and run. After everything that has happened throughout the entire year, honestly, not just last week, that this is when everyone’s tempers are up when trying to make it to the final four. I think that it will be a pretty exciting race for fans to watch.”

Brandon Jones Career Highlights:

• Jones has one win, 65 laps led, seven top-five and nine top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 8.8 across 13 events for KBM since the start of the 2018 season. Overall, since making his Gander Trucks debut in August of 2013, Jones has recorded one win, 85 laps led, five runner-up, 14 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes across 48 starts.
• In the NASCAR XFINITY Series, he has registered four wins, three poles, 18 top-five and 67 top-10 finishes across 168 career Xfinity Series starts.
• Additionally, the 23-year-old driver has collected five career ARCA Racing Series victories, most recently at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway in 2018, and one NASCAR K&N Pro Series win (Iowa Speedway, 2014).
• Brandon Jones No. 51 Magick Woods Vanities Tundra:

KBM-45: The No. 51 Magick Woods team will race KBM-045 for Friday’s race at Martinsville. Chandler Smith finished 12th with the Tundra in its latest outing in September at Richmond (Va.) Raceway. Kyle Busch captured KBM-45’s lone win in its debut race at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway in 2017.

KBM-45 Performance Profile:

Starts
Wins
Average Start
Average Finish
Laps Led
14
1
9.0
9.0
235

KBM Notes of Interest:
KBM drivers have collected eight wins, five poles, 962 laps led, 22 top-five and 36 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 8.6 across 54 starts at Martinsville
Todd Gilliland picked up the organization’s most recent victory at the 0.526-mile oval last October. Kyle Busch (2017 & 2019). Denny Hamlin (2011 & 2012) and Darrell Wallace Jr. (2013 & 2014) have also each collected two victories while Noah Gragson (2017) has one win.
KBM holds the NGROTS records for most career wins (80) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). 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 34 victories, the No. 51 is the winningest number in KBM’s Truck Series stable.

Raphael Lessard: Driver, No. 4 Mobil 1 Toyota
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Overview:

Event: NASCAR Hall of Fame 200, Race 22 of 23, 200 laps – 50/50/100; 105.2 miles
Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (0.526-mile oval)
Date/Broadcast: Oct. 30, 2020, at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

Racing with Raphael

• Raphael Lessard and the No. 4 Mobil 1 team head to Martinsville Speedway for the penultimate race of the 2020 season. The talented teenager made his NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck series debut at the Virginia track in March 2019. He earned the seventh starting position finished and would finish in the 14th position after finding it challenging to find the necessary grip in the final stage to work his way into the top-10.
• The 19-year-old Canadian rookie became just the fifth foreign-born driver earn a Gander Trucks victory when he narrowly edged former Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne under caution in NASCAR overtime at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on Oct. 3. Overall, in 2020, Lessard has 21 starts with one win, three top-fives, six top-10s, an average starting position of 13.2 and an average finishing position of 15.5. He scored his career-best mile-and-a-half finish in last Sunday’s SpeedyCash.com 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. Lessard started in the 20th position and worked his way through the field to finish fourth.
• The rookie driver has delivered improved finishes in the second half of the season. After posting an average finish of 18.3 and a best result of 11th across the first 10 races of the season, Lessard has improved to an average finish of 13.0 across the last 11 events, including his victory and all six of his top-10 finishes.
• While Lessard may be a newcomer to the Gander Trucks, crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. has plenty of experience. The veteran crew chief has 321 Gander Truck Series starts under his belt, with 23 wins, 23 poles, 118 top-five and 176 top-10 finishes with drivers including Todd Bodine, Jeb Burton, Kyle Busch and last season, Harrison Burton. At Martinsville, Hillman has 25 starts, one pole (2013), eight top-fives, 13 top-10s, an average start of 11.7 and an average finish of 10.3. He earned two runner-up finishes, both with Todd Bodine (2007 & 2009).
• Due to Lessard’s presence in the series, all 23 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Series races this season will be broadcast throughout Canada on RDS and RDS DIRECT.
• The world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand, Mobil 1, features anti-wear technology that provides performance beyond our conventional motor oils. This technology allows Mobil 1 to meet or exceed the toughest standards of car builders and to provide exceptional protection against engine wear, under normal or even some of the most extreme conditions. Mobil 1 flows quickly in extreme temperatures to protect critical engine parts and is designed to maximize engine performance and help extend engine life.

Raphael Lessard Martinsville Q&A

With no practice or qualifying, how much does it help to be going to Martinsville this week, where you already have a start under your belt instead of a track you haven’t been to before?
“I feel like it is going to help a lot. I ran my first truck race at Martinsville, so I know what to expect a little bit. I’m sure it’s going to be different. It always seems to be a little bit different this year. I’m excited. We are just going to go for it and work on our Mobil 1 Toyota Tundra throughout the race to make it better and be there at the end. I know there is a lot going on at Martinsville during the race. We are going to try to stay on the racetrack and stay clean for the last couple of laps.”

Do you feel that the truck series schedule should have more short tracks?
“For sure. I think we should go to more short tracks. Short tracks are exciting and have a lot of action going on. It’s my background. It’s what I’ve been doing since I started racing. I think it will help me a lot. This year I feel like I was able to perform at bigger racetracks too, but short tracks are something that I always enjoy racing. It’s awesome. I love it. I’m excited.”

How important is it to you to finish out these last two races strong?
“I think it is going to be very important to finish the season strong with two other great finishes because we are working really hard to get something for next year. The better result we get, the better it is for me to get something and get people excited. We are going to work hard. Just like Texas, we will work on it and get better as the race rolls on to be there at the end. I’m excited. I’m sure my Mobil 1 Toyota Tundra will be really good at Martinsville.”

Raphael Lessard Career Highlights:

• Across 26 career Truck Series starts has produced one win, three top-fives, eight top-10 finishes and an average finish of 14.7.
• In 2019, Lessard posted 83 laps led, two top-five and three top-10 finishes across three ARCA Menards Series starts and one win, one top-five and two top-10 finishes in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series. His Pinty’s Series victory came at his hometown track, Autodrome Chaudiere in Vallee-Jonction, Quebec, on June 29 when he led a race-high 153 laps en route to the sentimental win.
• Won two marquee events driving KBM’s famed No. 51 Super Late Model in 2018: The Short Track U.S. Nationals at Bristol Motor Speedway in May and the Red Bud 400 ARCA/CRA Super Series race at Anderson Speedway in July.
• Overall in 16 starts for KBM in 2018 split across the CARS Super Late Model Tour, the Southern Super Series and the ARCA/CRA Super Series, posted two wins, three poles, seven top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in 2018.Started seventh and led 68 laps in the prestigious Snowball Derby at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla.
• Captured the 2016 CARS Super Late Model Tour championship after recording four wins, one pole, 157 laps led, eight top-five and nine top-10 finishes across 10 races.

Raphael Lessard’s No. 4 Mobil 1 Tundra:

KBM-035: The No. 4 Mobil 1 team will unload chassis number KBM-035, which has been raced 16 times. Most recently, Lessard piloted the chassis to a 26th-place finish earlier this season at Richmond (Va.) Raceway. The Tundra’s lone victory came with Daniel Suarez behind the wheel in November of 2016 at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway.

KBM-035 Performance Profile:

Starts
Wins
Average Start
Average Finish
Laps Led
16
1
5.6
13.1
248

KBM Notes of Interest:
KBM drivers have collected eight wins, five poles, 962 laps led, 22 top-five and 36 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 8.6 across 54 starts at Martinsville.

Todd Gilliland picked up the organization’s most recent victory at the 0.526-mile oval last October. Kyle Busch (2017 & 2019). Denny Hamlin (2011 & 2012) and Darrell Wallace Jr. (2013 & 2014) have also each collected two victories while Noah Gragson (2017) has one win.

KBM holds the NGROTS records for most career wins (80) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). 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).

Sheldon Creed, No. 2 Chevy Truck Month Chevrolet Silverado
Martinsville Speedway Gander Trucks Stats
– Starts: 3, Best start: 4

2020 Gander Trucks Stats
– Starts: 21, Wins: 4, Best start: 1, Best finish: 1, Top 5s: 8, Top 10s: 11, Stage Wins: 10, Laps led: 495

Notes:

– GMS racing announced last week that Sheldon Creed would return to Gander Trucks competition full-time with the team in 2021.

– Creed and the No. 2 team will compete with chassis No. 310 this weekend in Martinsville. This is the same chassis Creed competed with at Bristol in September. Creed has two top-10 finishes with this chassis in 2019.

– Creed is currently first in the playoff standings and is locked into the Championship 4 at Phoenix by virtue of his win last week at Texas Motor Speedway.

– Creed has a series high 10 stage wins in 2020.

– The GMS fleet will carry special pink ribbons throughout the month of October to promote breast cancer awareness and honor individuals close to GMS team members who have been affected by the disease.

Quote:

“Heading into Martinsville already locked in to Phoenix is a huge weight lifted. We need to be smart this week and not make any enemies that could come back to bite us in Phoenix, but I’m not going to let myself get moved around. We need to have a solid day and do whatever we can to put us in the best starting position possible for next week, but my goal is to go out and compete for a win.”

Zane Smith, No. 21 La Paz Margarita Mix / Michael Roberts Construction Chevrolet Silverado
Martinsville Speedway Gander Trucks Stats
– No prior Gander Trucks starts at Martinsville Speedway.

2020 Gander Trucks Stats
– Starts: 21, Wins: 2, Best start: 1, Best finish: 1, Top 5s: 5, Top 10s: 11, Laps led: 308, Stage wins: 5

Notes:

– Zane Smith is set to make his first career start at Martinsville Speedway.

– Smith and the No. 21 team will compete with chassis No. 325 this weekend in Martinsville. Smith has four top-10 finishes and 137 laps led in six starts with this chassis in 2020.

– Smith is fourth in playoff standings entering the Martinsville weekend, 12 points above the cut line for the Championship 4.

– The GMS fleet will carry special pink ribbons throughout the month of October to promote breast cancer awareness and honor individuals close to GMS team members who have been affected by the disease.

Quote:

“I feel like I’m at a bit of a disadvantage seeing Martinsville for the first time this weekend with no practice, but a lot of these tracks this year I’ve been seeing for the first time. I’ve been relying on my teammates and simulator time to prepare for my first start. We’re going to go into this week and run our race and hope we advance to the final four at Phoenix.”

Brett Moffitt, No. 23 Destiny Homes Chevrolet Silverado
Martinsville Speedway Gander Trucks Stats
– Starts: 5, Best start: 2, Best finish: 2, Top 5s: 3, Top 10s: 4, Laps led: 80

2020 Gander Trucks Stats
– Starts: 21, Wins: 1, Best start: 1, Best finish: 1, Top 5s: 10, Top 10s: 15, Laps led: 391, Stage Wins: 6

Notes:

– Brett Moffitt’s Destiny Homes Silverado will carry a special throwback scheme to Harry Gant’s “Mr. September” 1991 scheme this weekend at Martinsville Speedway.

– Moffitt and the No. 23 team will compete with chassis No. 313 this weekend in Martinsville. Moffitt has two top-five finishes in two starts with this chassis this season. Moffitt competed with this chassis in both Martinsville events in 2019 and earned three top-10 finishes in four starts in chassis No. 313.

– Moffitt is currently second in the playoff standings entering Martinsville and is locked into the Championship 4 by virtue of his win at Kansas Speedway.

– The GMS fleet will carry special pink ribbons throughout the month of October to promote breast cancer awareness and honor individuals close to GMS team members who have been affected by the disease.

Quote:

“Martinsville is a tough track because the racing is so physical and aggressive, but it’s a track I enjoy. We had some speed here last year and I expect that to carry over this weekend. Obviously, a win is always the goal, but we need a nice strong run to get some stage points to build momentum and set us up for a good start at Phoenix.”

Sam Mayer, No. 24 All Weather Armour Chevrolet Silverado
Martinsville Speedway Gander Trucks Stats
– Starts: 1, Laps led: 33

2020 Gander Trucks Stats
– Starts: 4, Wins: 1, Best start: 15, Best finish: 1,, Top 5s: 2, Laps led: 54

Notes:

– Sam Mayer returns to the No. 24 team for his first race since his win at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mayer has one prior Gander Truck start at Martinsville in 2019 where he led 33 laps and scored his first career stage win.

– Mayer and the No. 24 team will compete with chassis No. 308 this week in Martinsville. Mayer has two starts with this chassis in 2020 at Dover and Richmond.

– The GMS fleet will carry special pink ribbons throughout the month of October to promote breast cancer awareness and honor individuals close to GMS team members who have been affected by the disease.

Quote:

“Going back to a track we were fast at last year, and a track that I enjoy is exciting. I know we have good notes on the track and the guys prepare a fast truck every week. I know we have what it takes to compete.”

Tyler Ankrum, No. 26 LiUNA! Chevrolet Silverado
Martinsville Speedway Gander Trucks Stats
– Starts: 3, Best start: 5

2020 Gander Trucks Stats
– Starts: 21, Best start: 2, Best finish: 2, Top 5s: 3, Top 10s: 9, Laps led: 54, Stage wins: 1

Notes:

– GMS announced last week that Tyler Ankrum would return to run Gander Trucks full-time for the team in 2021.

– Ankrum and the No. 26 team will utilize chassis No. 305 at Martinsville. Ankrum led 53 laps and finished 7th with this chassis at Bristol in September. This chassis also had two top-five finishes in three starts for GMS in 2019.

– Ankrum is currently eighth in the playoff standings, 79 points back from the cutoff line for the Championship 4 heading into the last race of the Round of 8.

– The GMS fleet will carry special pink ribbons throughout the month of October to promote breast cancer awareness and honor individuals close to GMS team members who have been affected by the disease.

Quote:

“Our goal is simple this week and that’s go out and win to keep our championship hopes alive. I’ve spent a lot of time in the Chevy simulator preparing for this race, and I have faith in my guys to bring a truck capable of winning. I just need to keep my head in the game and avoid any trouble.”

ABOUT GMS RACING

GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series with drivers Brett Moffitt, Sheldon Creed, Tyler Ankrum and Zane Smith as well as part-time with David Gravel and Chase Purdy. The team also competes in the ARCA Racing Series with Sam Mayer. Since the team began in 2014, GMS Racing won the 2016 Gander Trucks Championship, the 2019 ARCA East championship and 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/.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 | Martinsville Speedway Race Advance

Team: No. 44 Ruedebusch Development & Construction Chevrolet Silverado

Driver: Natalie Decker

Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @NatalieRacing

Natalie Decker on Racing at Martinsville: “I’m looking forward to going short track racing this week,” said Decker. “Last week was tough with the engine issues, but we’ve put that behind us and have our sights set on a solid run this week at Martinsville. I think Niece Motorsports has a strong short track program and know we’ll have a strong truck on Friday night.”

Decker at Martinsville: Decker has one previous start at Martinsville Speedway, a 22nd-place result coming last season.

On the Truck: Decker’s No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado will race with support from Ruedebusch Development & Construction and REMarkable Pillow.

Ruedebusch Development & Construction, Inc. is a highly qualified, vertically integrated full service commercial construction, and real estate development company located in Madison, Wisconsin which offers: Commercial Real Estate Development Design Build Construction Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Economic Development, Commercial Real Estate, and Facility Consulting.

REMarkable Pillow is the recognized industry leader in innovation, state-of-the-art product design, U.S. Manufacturing, and an uncompromising commitment to total customer satisfaction. REMarkable Pillow prides itself with an ever-growing portfolio in design and manufacturing of advanced molded foam solutions for a wide variety of industrial sectors including but not limited to Aviation, Automotive, Bedding and Office Furniture.

About Niece Motorsports:

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2020, Niece Motorsports enters its fifth season in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors 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.

NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 | Martinsville Speedway Race Advance

Team: No. 42 Scott’s/GM Parts Now Chevrolet Silverado

Driver: Carson Hocevar

Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @CarsonHocevar

Hocevar on Racing at Martinsville: “I’m excited to get back into the truck,” said Hocevar. “It feels like it’s been forever. I know Martinsville has a reputation as a tough track, but I’m excited for the challenge. I think if we turn all the laps and keep our nose clean that we will have a great chance at a solid run.”

Hocevar at Martinsville: Friday night’s race at Martinsville Speedway marks Hocevar’s first start at the track.

On the Truck: The No. 42 Chevrolet will carry the Scott’s and GM Parts Now colors at Martinsville Speedway.

Scott’s Sport Cards, Coins & Jewelry carries the largest selection of high-quality estate jewelry, rare coins, and anything in between in Southwest Michigan. Since 1972, Scott Hocevar has been collecting, buying, and selling gold and silver jewelry, coins, and bullion. Having earned a reputation for offering fair prices, working with Scott’s allows customers to be confident that they are getting the best, most current prices available when buying gold and silver, estate jewelry, and sports memorabilia.

GM Parts Now is the go-to online auto parts store for OEM car parts. Whether customers are looking to repair or customize an old or new vehicle, GM Parts Now has what you need. GM Parts Now offers car parts and GM accessories for a variety of years, makes and models.

About Niece Motorsports:

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2020, Niece Motorsports enters its fifth season in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors 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.

NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 | Martinsville Speedway Race Advance

Team: No. 40 Marquis Chevrolet Silverado

Driver: Ryan Truex

Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @Ryan_Truex

Truex on Racing at Martinsville: “I’ve been looking forward to this race all season,” said Truex. “Martinsville is a tough track, but it’s one that I really enjoy racing at. I’m excited about Friday’s race and think that our Marquis Spas Chevrolet will have a great run.”

Truex at Martinsville: Truex has five previous NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series starts at Martinsville Speedway, with one top-10 and four top-15 finishes.

He also has one NASCAR Cup Series start at Martinsville Speedway, coming in 2014.

On the Truck: The No. 40 Chevrolet will carry the Marquis colors at Martinsville Speedway.

Marquis, an employee-owned company founded in 1980, offers creative and innovative designs that provide the ultimate soaking experience, cost less to operate, and require the least amount of maintenance. Marquis spas are designed with cutting-edge features for supreme comfort and long-lasting enjoyment. Marquis is proud to craft a spa designed to enhance health and well-being.

About Niece Motorsports:

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2020, Niece Motorsports enters its fifth season in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors 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.

Track: Martinsville Speedway, 0.526-mile oval
Race: 22 of 23
Event: NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 (105.2 miles, 200 laps)

Schedule:
Friday, Oct. 30
8:00 p.m…………..Race (FS1)
(all times ET)

Tanner Gray, No. 15 Ford Performance F-150

Tanner Gray returns to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway where he made his first career NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series start last year in the fall race. He finished 20th in his first start at the paper clip-shaped oval and completed every lap. This time around with a year of truck racing under his belt, he’s hoping for a more competitive finish in the No. 15 Ford Performance F-150.

Gray scored a top-10 finish last weekend at Texas, despite damage to his truck from an incident earlier in the race. It was a bit of redemption following unavoidable accidents which took him out of contention at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and Kansas Speedway earlier this month.

In 21 Truck Series races to date this year, Gray has four top-five, eight top-10 finishes, has led four laps and sits 13th in the driver point standings. Of his four top-five finishes, three of them have been third-place finishes all within the last few months.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 from Martinsville Speedway will be run on Friday, Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on FS1. The 200-lap race will be broken into three segments with stage-ending cautions on laps 50 and 100.

Gray on Martinsville: “I like racing at Martinsville, but it’s a tough track. We had a good run going last year and got wrecked coming to the line. I’ve learned a lot about the trucks and racing in this series since then, so I’m looking forward to going back again this Friday. It will be challenging, but fun.”

Track: Martinsville Speedway, 0.526-mile oval
Race: 22 of 23
Event: NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 (105.2 miles, 200 laps)

Schedule:
Friday, Oct. 30
8:00 p.m…………..Race (FS1)
(all times ET)

Tanner Gray, No. 15 Ford Performance F-150

Tanner Gray returns to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway where he made his first career NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series start last year in the fall race. He finished 20th in his first start at the paper clip-shaped oval and completed every lap. This time around with a year of truck racing under his belt, he’s hoping for a more competitive finish in the No. 15 Ford Performance F-150.

Gray scored a top-10 finish last weekend at Texas, despite damage to his truck from an incident earlier in the race. It was a bit of redemption following unavoidable accidents which took him out of contention at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and Kansas Speedway earlier this month.

In 21 Truck Series races to date this year, Gray has four top-five, eight top-10 finishes, has led four laps and sits 13th in the driver point standings. Of his four top-five finishes, three of them have been third-place finishes all within the last few months.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 from Martinsville Speedway will be run on Friday, Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on FS1. The 200-lap race will be broken into three segments with stage-ending cautions on laps 50 and 100.

Gray on Martinsville: “I like racing at Martinsville, but it’s a tough track. We had a good run going last year and got wrecked coming to the line. I’ve learned a lot about the trucks and racing in this series since then, so I’m looking forward to going back again this Friday. It will be challenging, but fun.”

Track: Martinsville Speedway, 0.526-mile oval
Race: 22 of 23
Event: NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 (105.2 miles, 200 laps)

Schedule:
Friday, Oct. 30
8:00 p.m…………..Race (FS1)
(all times ET)

Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Black’s Tire Ford F-150

Todd Gilliland returns to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, the site of his first NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series victory in the fall race last year. He is hoping to defend his race-winning title Friday night in the No. 38 Black’s Tire Ford F-150.

Gilliland has a solid record in the Truck Series at the paper clip-shaped oval. In five starts he has one win, two top-five, two top-10 finishes, one pole and has led 51 laps. Last year with 10 laps to go, Gilliland took the lead and never looked back, despite a caution which triggered a green-white-checkered overtime finish. Gilliland earned his first career win in the Truck Series in his 46th start.

In 21 starts this season, Gilliland has four top-five, nine top-10 finishes and has led 92 laps in the No. 38 Ford F-150 for Front Row Motorsports. He is 10th in the driver point standings.

Gilliland’s No. 38 Ford F-150 will be sponsored by Black’s Tire at Martinsville Friday. With over 50 retail locations and wholesale distribution throughout North and South Carolina and Virginia, their 800-plus employees have kept the Carolina’s rolling for the past 90 years.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 from Martinsville Speedway will be run on Friday, Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on FS1. The 200-lap race will be broken into three segments with stage-ending cautions on laps 50 and 100.

Quick Facts:
Number of Truck Series Starts at Martinsville: 5
Best Start: 1st (10/27/18)
Best Finish: 1st (10/26/19)
2020 Driver Point Standings: 10th

Gilliland on Martinsville: “I have had this race circled on my calendar all season. Martinsville will always be special to me since I got my first win there, and hopefully Friday I can get my second win as well. My Front Row Motorsports team is bringing a fast Black’s Tire Ford F-150. It’s a tough track and hard to get a win there. A lot of things have to go your way, not just a fast truck. Last year I got caught in an accident late in the race, was leaking water and somehow still managed to win in an overtime restart. Patience is key, and a little luck goes a long way too.”