Category: Truck Series PR

Kansas Preview
Friday, Sept. 8 | 8:00pm ET | FS1 – MRN – SiriusXM

Kansas Stats

NCTS Starts: 1; Best start: 10th; Best finish: 13th (Spring, 2023)

ARCA Starts: 2; Best start: 2nd; Best finish: 3rd (Spring, 2022); Top 5s: 2; Top 10s: 2

2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Season Stats

Starts: 18; Best start: 5th (Milwaukee); Best finish: 11th (Gateway); Laps led: 5; Current points position: 18th

About Race To Stop Suicide

Race to Stop Suicide, established by Daniel and Randy Dye, is a recognized 501(c)3 non-profit with a national trademark. Their mission is to amplify awareness, foster open discussions, and eliminate the prejudice tied to suicide. They also provide essential education about identifying warning signs, comprehending symptoms, and forming plans to assist and oversee the well-being of friends and family. A cornerstone of their initiative is to ensure that essential resources, like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the 988 hotline, are easily accessible to the public. For more insights, please visit www.racetostopsuicide.com.

Chassis History/Info

Dye and the No. 43 team will compete with GMS Racing chassis no. 348 at Kansas Speedway, the same track that it made its debut at earlier this year. It has been raced three times this year, posting finishes of 13th at Kansas, 19th at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and 22nd at Nashville Superspeedway.

Kansas in the Spring
Dye made his first NCTS start at Kansas back in May, and in his first race working with Blake Bainbridge, the No. 43 Race To Stop Suicide Silverado RST was fast. Qualifying up inside the top-10 for the first time in his career, Dye was promising, and nearly earned his first stage points of his career. He was credited with a 13th place finish, which is his best result on a mile-and-a-half track this year.

Bainbridge at Kansas

The May race was also Blake Bainbridge’s first NCTS race at Kansas as well, but he has also called two ARCA Menards Series races in 2019 and 2020. Both of those races were top-10 runs by his ARCA drivers, and the most recent one was his best result at the track when Taylor Gray finished fifth.

From the Driver’s Seat

As the season winds down with only five races left, what are some of the goals that you actively want to accomplish before it’s all said and done?

“I think it would be great to get a top-10 finish before we round out the year with our No. 43 team. We’ve been close so many times this season, but have had trouble finishing off the races. That’s something that we all really want to do, especially as I finish out my rookie year and begin to prepare for another season in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series next year. I’ve learned a lot, but would really like to get a top-10 before the year is over. We should have a good shot this weekend in Kansas, because our truck had plenty of speed here in the spring. I had a lot of fun in that race, and feel like I can take some of that into this weekend.”

About Race to Stop Suicide

Race to Stop Suicide, established by Daniel and Randy Dye, is a recognized 501(c)3 non-profit with a national trademark. Their mission is to amplify awareness, foster open discussions, and eliminate the prejudice tied to suicide. They also provide essential education about identifying warning signs, comprehending symptoms, and forming plans to assist and oversee the well-being of friends and family. A cornerstone of their initiative is to ensure that essential resources, like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the 988 hotline, are easily accessible to the public. For more insights, please visit www.racetostopsuicide.com.

STATESVILLE, N.C.: AM Racing confirmed today that Palm Beach Garden, Fla. native Mason Maggio will return to the driving duties of the team’s No. 22 Ford F-150 in Friday night’s Kansas Lottery 200 at Kansas Speedway.

Maggio returns to AM Racing for the first time since Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, where he wheeled his No. 22 ACE Hardware Rock Hill Ford F-150 to a competitive 25th-place finish after qualifying on time in the 31st position.

Maggio, 19, will make his fifth career NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series start of the season and second at Kansas Speedway after participating in May’s Heart of America 200, where he finished 27th after starting 33rd for Reaume Brothers Racing.

“I am really excited to be back at one of my favorite tracks this weekend,” said Maggio. “I am also thrilled to work again with the AM Racing team and crew chief Pickle (Ryan London). In the spring, I had a good run in the No. 33 Reaume Brothers Racing Ford F-150 and I would like nothing more than to return to Kansas and deliver a top-20 finish for AM Racing on Friday night.”

It’s been a busy summer for Maggio. In between limited starts in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series, the Floridan has also made four NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, including a recent start at Michigan International Speedway with SS GreenLight Racing.

“My luck hasn’t been great in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this summer, but I am incredibly thankful for the track time and the laps turned,” explained Maggio. “Even though we haven’t earned the finishes, I believe we have been capable of this summer – the experience behind the wheel has been priceless.

“I am also thankful to my partners, Professional AG Services, Show Me Real Estate, Ranch 4-D, LT Delivery and Page Construction, for continuing to stand by me and allowing me the opportunity to live out my dream as a professional race car driver.”

Set for his ninth Truck Series start of his career, Maggio is optimistic about the opportunity to improve on his most recent result at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, when he steered a second Reaume Brothers Racing entry to a 20th place finish after starting 32nd.

“I have some confidence returning to Kansas knowing it’s a track that I have laps at, and we had a pretty good showing at Nashville,” explained Maggio.

“I know the elements of Kansas and Nashville do not compare with each other – confidence is everything for a driver, and with the support of the AM Racing team, my friends, family and partners in the garage, I believe it can be a productive race weekend and hopefully lead to more races before the end of the season.”

For more on Mason Maggio, like him on Facebook (Mason Maggio Racing), follow him on Instagram (@masonmaggio1), TikTok (@masonmaggio1) and X | Twitter (@MasonMaggio1).

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

The Kansas Lottery 200 (134 laps | 201 miles) is the 19th of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Friday, September 8, 2023, from 3:35 p.m. – 4:05 p.m. Qualifying will immediately follow at the conclusion of practice. The 36-truck field will take the green flag shortly after 9:00 p.m. with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are Eastern.

About AM Racing:

AM Racing is a multi-tiered, multi-faceted Motorsports program headquartered in Statesville, N.C.

Established in December 2015, AM Racing is prided on faith, honesty and intelligent performance.

The family-owned team will compete in the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and various Dirt Modified events in its seventh year of competition.

The team has named Brett Moffitt and Christian Rose as their primary drivers for the 2023 Xfinity and ARCA Menards Series seasons.

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Kansas Lottery 200 Advance | Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Ben Rhodes, driver of the No. 99 Kubota Ford F-150 for ThorSport Racing, was this week’s guest on the weekly Ford NASCAR media call. Rhodes, who finished 16th the last time the series visited the track in May, is three points below the cut line going into Friday night’s Kansas Lottery 200.

BEN RHODES, No. 99 Kubota Ford F-150 – HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF IN THIS POSITION GOING INTO A CUT-OFF RACE? “Yeah, I have. The unfortunate part about it is that I’ve found myself in this situation in the first round – you know, the round of 10, right? Typically when this happens, it’s been in the second round where things are a little bit tighter and four people get cut rather than just two. So, I’m not happy about that by any means, but I have been in this situation before. In fact, when we were racing for the championship in 2021, we made it on from Bristol by one point… or maybe it was a tie-breaker. Then last year at Homestead, it was one point that got us into the final championship race at Phoenix. So, I find myself in this situation more times than I care to be in, right? It happens. But, the experience that I’ve gained from being in it already makes it to where I can go to this race and not stress. The intensity is there. The stress is there. But, I’m not going to let it get to us or affect us, because we’ve known this before. The difference is, with this race now going to Kansas, some people can approach this as just that they can lollygag their way through it. For us, we’re going to have to approach this like it’s Phoenix. This is it. So, there’s a level of intensity that my team has to bring this race weekend that others don’t have to do.”

DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE POINTS SCENARIO THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN, OR DO YOU HAVE TO SHUT IT OUT DURING THIS WEEKEND IN ORDER TO PERFORM? “Well, I guess I just don’t look at stuff. It’s funny because we were at the last race, Milwaukee, and Josh Sims, the FOX Sports 1 reporter, kept bringing up where we were in the playoffs and in the points. I’m like, ‘Man, I didn’t even know.’ He kept bringing it up, but ‘I didn’t know and I didn’t care to know. Let’s just not talk about it.’ But really, the stress is just part of it. I actually enjoy this time of the year, because the intensity is up and it makes everything seem more real to me while we’re at the track. It makes every moment matter more – not that the regular season doesn’t. But, you can kind of get into a little lull in the hot summer months, week-after-week, and now we do typically have a break in-between races – the next two are the exception. But, we do typically have a break, which allows you to put special emphasis on it. The intensity is up, and it makes everything matter more. I like it, and I feel like I typically thrive in it myself. I’m not saying that our performances are ‘stand-out’ in the playoffs by any means, but I’m saying that me personally…my mental realm that I’m living in… I feel like I thrive more in this high-intensity stuff.”

MICHAEL MCDOWELL MENTIONED THAT HE WATCHES THE FLAGS AT KANSAS TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH THE WIND IS AFFECTING HIS CAR. DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE WIND AFFECTS YOUR FORD F-150 THERE? “It can. Typically, we’ll kind of look at the flags before getting into the truck to have an idea of where it’s blowing. But really, you can tell a decent difference when you’re inside the truck, right? The way that it handles in Turn 1 versus Turn 3, and coming off Turn 4 versus Turn 2. You can kind of see differences, and everything you’re doing as a driver to try and weigh that against aerodynamics versus the track and how it’s laid out – the dynamics of the track between the bumps, the load and then just the mechanical grip of the race truck itself. There’s a lot going on in your mind as a driver if you are a thoughtful driver. I’ve been told and accused of overthinking things. I have prescribed the philosophy lately of, ‘Shut up and drive,’ because you can’t overthink it. But at the end of the day, giving good feedback to your team is what matters to tune it in. I feel like I’ve always done that. I just try to make sure that I frame it within reality – like ‘Is this a real sensation, or is this just fake because the wind is blowing here on x number of laps, and then later in the race it is going to go away?’ We work on that stuff.”

HOW CLOSELY DO YOU WATCH WHAT THE OTHER DRIVERS ARE DOING IN YOUR CURRENT SITUATION? “That’s tough. I remember vividly racing at Bristol in 2021, and we were below the cut-line and we were racing for, what felt like, our lives. I watched the other guys, but I don’t really want updates on where they are. I physically or mentally know where they are whether I see the scoreboard myself, or I’m keeping track of them in my mirror or in my sights. I’m kind of doing mental math the whole race, and maybe at the very end, in the last 10 or 20 laps, I’ll ask for an update. That will give me an idea of, ‘Hey, this is all or nothing,’ or what I have to do. It gives me an idea of how to frame everything at the end of the race. If I need to frame it up as, ‘Alright, I need to do everything I can to keep this guy behind me,’ or ‘I just need to be five spots ahead of them,’ whatever it is, it gives me an idea of how I have to work. So all-in-all, I try to keep an eye out for myself, but I’ll ask at the end. It gets complicated, and you have so much going on in the race truck where worrying about that too early can make things worse for yourself.”

Kansas Lottery 200 | Kansas Speedway (134 Laps / 201 Miles)
Friday, September 8 | Kansas City, Kansas | 9:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Team: No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Carson Hocevar (Portage, Michigan) | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Carson Hocevar: Twitter: @CarsonHocevar | Instagram: @CarsonHocevar | Facebook: /carsonhocevarracing | Web: www.CarsonHocevar.com

Milwaukee Mile Recap: Hocevar qualified his No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado in third for the 175-lap race at the Milwaukee Mile, in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ first visit to the one-mile track since 2009. Hocevar showed speed, posting the third fastest lap in Saturday’s lone practice session as well. Hocevar ran a clean race, battling for the lead on older tires as the laps dwindled down. The Portage, Michigan native brought his No. 42 Chevrolet home in second after leading 40 laps. The finish marks Hocevar’s ninth top-five of the 2023 season.

Hocevar on Last Race at the Milwaukee Mile: “Runner up is definitely a bummer,” said Hocevar. “I’m proud of the hard work that Phil [Gould] and everyone on this team are putting in. We showed up to the track with a fast Worldwide Express Chevrolet. It was a fun battle for the lead at the end, just didn’t have quite enough to close the deal.”

Starting the Playoffs Hot: Friday’s race at Kansas Speedway marks the first elimination race of the playoffs. Following the race, the field of 10 playoff contenders will be trimmed to eight. Heading into this race, Hocevar currently sits fifth in playoff standings.

Hocevar on Friday’s Race at Kansas Speedway: “Kansas was definitely a heart-breaker last year, but this team has used that as fuel this year,” said Hocevar. “We feel a lot more confident in our race trucks and our position in the playoffs heading into this race. With all of the hard work that everyone at this organization is putting in, I know we’ll have a fast Worldwide Express Chevrolet Friday night.”

By The Numbers: Hocevar will make his fifth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start at Kansas Speedway on Friday night. Hocevar earned his best finish of second at the track in this race last season.

Honor a Cancer Hero: Through the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation and the NASCAR Foundation, Hocevar’s No. 42 Chevrolet will honor and remember cancer hero David Whitfield. Whitfield, a beloved brother, son and friend passed away from cancer in 2021.

On the Truck: Hocevar’s No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado will race with support from the WWEX group of brands, which comprises Worldwide Express, Unishippers and GlobalTranz, and offers full-service logistics expertise to more than 115,000 customers across the country.

About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2023, Niece Motorsports enters its eighth season in the NASCAR Craftsman 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.

Media Inquiries: media@niecemotorsports.com | www.niecemotorsports.com

About Worldwide Express:
The WWEX group of brands, which comprises Worldwide Express, Unishippers and GlobalTranz, offers full-service logistics expertise to more than 115,000 customers across the country. With access to industry-leading small package, truckload, less-than-truckload and managed transportation solutions, its customers benefit from enhanced visibility and value for their supply chains. The company is the second-largest privately held freight brokerage and largest non-retail UPS Authorized Reseller® in the U.S., with an annual systemwide revenue nearing $5 billion through a network of company-owned, franchise and agent locations. A highly selective carrier portfolio, proprietary technology, unique data assets and business intelligence capabilities provide clients with unmatched options and flexibility to meet their shipping needs. The WWEX Racing initiative was borne of a desire to address the complex but underserved logistic needs of the performance motorsports industry, using the unique combination of capabilities offered by the three brands’ combined 80+ years of insight. To learn more about the WWEX Racing program, visit www.wwexracing.com. For media inquiries, contact racing@wwex.com.

Kansas Lottery 200 | Kansas Speedway (134 Laps / 201 Miles)
Friday, September 8 | Kansas City, Kansas | 9:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Team: No. 41 Unishippers Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Bayley Currey (Driftwood, Texas) | Crew Chief: Mike Hillman Jr.
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Bayley Currey: Twitter: @BayleyCurrey | Instagram: @bayleycurrey05 | Facebook: /bayleycurrey05 | Web: www.bcurrey.com/

Milwaukee Mile Recap: As the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returned to the Milwaukee Mile for the first time since 2009, Bayley Currey looked to make his sixth start in the Truck Series in 2023. Currey was pleased with the speed in his GlobalTranz Chevrolet following Saturday’s lone practice session. Qualifying on Sunday morning left the No. 41 with a 14th-place starting spot for the 175-lap race. Currey battled hard all race long, crossing the finish line in 10th, his third top-10 of the season.

Currey on Last Race at the Milwaukee Mile: “The Milwaukee Mile was a blast to race on,” said Currey. “I had such a great time in this No. 41 GlobalTranz Chevrolet Silverado. I’m so appreciative of the opportunity to come out and race fast trucks. I’m looking forward to continuing to learn these trucks and build on this strong run.”

Currey on Friday’s Race at Kansas Speedway: “I’m excited to get back to the track with our No. 41 Unishippers Chevrolet,” said Currey. “It’s fun to drive these race trucks and I feel like we’re really starting to gel as a group. We’ve had some strong runs this season and I’m looking to continue that momentum as we close out the year.”

By The Numbers: Friday night’s race marks Currey’s fifth NCTS start at Kansas Speedway, with his best finish of 12th coming in 2021. In six NCTS starts this season, Currey has two top-five and three top-10 finishes.

Honor a Cancer Hero: Through the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation and the NASCAR Foundation, Currey’s No. 41 Chevrolet will honor cancer hero Teena Burton. Burton was a big fan of NASCAR before passing away from cancer.

On the Truck: Currey’s No. 41 Unishippers Chevrolet Silverado will race with support from the WWEX group of brands, which comprises Worldwide Express, Unishippers and GlobalTranz, and offers full-service logistics expertise to more than 115,000 customers across the country.

About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2023, Niece Motorsports enters its eighth season in the NASCAR Craftsman 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.

Media Inquiries: media@niecemotorsports.com | www.niecemotorsports.com

About Worldwide Express:
The WWEX group of brands, which comprises Worldwide Express, Unishippers and GlobalTranz, offers full-service logistics expertise to more than 115,000 customers across the country. With access to industry-leading small package, truckload, less-than-truckload and managed transportation solutions, its customers benefit from enhanced visibility and value for their supply chains. The company is the second-largest privately held freight brokerage and largest non-retail UPS Authorized Reseller® in the U.S., with an annual systemwide revenue nearing $5 billion through a network of company-owned, franchise and agent locations. A highly selective carrier portfolio, proprietary technology, unique data assets and business intelligence capabilities provide clients with unmatched options and flexibility to meet their shipping needs. The WWEX Racing initiative was borne of a desire to address the complex but underserved logistic needs of the performance motorsports industry, using the unique combination of capabilities offered by the three brands’ combined 80+ years of insight. To learn more about the WWEX Racing program, visit www.wwexracing.com. For media inquiries, contact racing@wwex.com.

Lawless Alan – Kansas Lottery 200 Race Advance

Kansas Lottery 200 | Kansas Speedway (134 Laps / 201 Miles)
Friday, September 8 | Kansas City, Kansas | 9:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Team: No. 45 IEDA / Niece Products of Kansas Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Lawless Alan (Los Angeles, California) | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Lawless Alan: Twitter: @lawlessalan25 | Instagram: @lawless_alan | Facebook: /LawlessAlanRacing | Web: www.lawlessalanracing.com

Milwaukee Mile Recap: Lawless Alan and the No. 45 AUTOParkit team qualified 20th for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ first visit back to the Milwaukee Mile since 2009. Alan battled in mid-pack for the majority of the 175-lap race, ultimately crossing the finish line 21st.

Alan on Last Race at the Milwaukee Mile: “I definitely learned a lot in my first start at the Milwaukee Mile,” said Alan. “Our AUTOParkit Chevrolet had speed, we were just stuck in the middle of the pack for most of the day. I’m proud of all the hard work that everyone continues to put in.”

Alan on Friday’s race at Kansas Speedway: “I’m looking forward to getting back to Kansas,” said Alan. “I have a few races under my belt at this track, and I feel like we’ve learned a lot as a team each time. Everyone in the shop is working hard; our Chevrolets have a lot of speed. I’m hopeful that we can put down a good lap in qualifying and put ourselves in a good spot for the race.”

By the Numbers: Alan will make his fourth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start at Kansas Speedway on Friday night. Alan has two top-20 finishes in his three previous starts.

Honor a Cancer Hero: Through the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation and the NASCAR Foundation, Alan’s No. 45 Chevrolet will honor cancer hero Darran Dunlap. Darran was diagnosed with leukemia when she was five years old. She is now 12. They selected Lawless’ truck, because according to Darran’s twin brother Declan, Lawless has the best NASCAR name.

On the Truck: Lawless Alan’s No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado will carry the Independent Equipment Dealers Association (IEDA) and Niece Products of Kansas colors this week at Kansas Speedway.

The Independent Equipment Dealers Association (IEDA) is a non-profit trade association promoting participation, professionalism and advancement in the independent distribution of heavy equipment.

About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2023, Niece Motorsports enters its eighth season in the NASCAR Craftsman 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.

Media Inquiries: media@niecemotorsports.com | www.niecemotorsports.com

About AUTOParkit:
AUTOParkit™ designs, manufactures, and constructs fully automated parking systems for new and existing buildings. AUTOParkit system structural steel and modular design can provide double the capacity of a traditional parking garage, providing up to 17 LEED points and drastically reducing construction time.

AUTOParkit automated systems are 40 percent less expensive to operate, safer for the user and reduces carbon emissions associated with parking by more than 80 percent. AUTOParkit’s charging pallets provided by AUTOChargit, are a fast and convenient way of charging EVs and Hybrids. AUTOChargit’s patented technology allows for shuffling charged vehicles cutting infrastructure costs by up to 80 percent.

For more information on AUTOParkit, visit www.autoparkit.com

About AUTOChargit:
AUTOChargit designs, manufactures and installs EV charging systems for automated and conventional parking applications. AUTOChargit can decrease capital expenditures by up to 75 percent by providing automated coupling and decoupling of EV charging stalls from the power source. For conventional parking applications, a single 40-AMP circuit coupled with a single AUTOChargit System can be multiplexed to four, eight, or 12 stalls. Each charging stall is individually metered for the exact tracking of electricity usage. The AUTOParkit Mobile APP provides a touchless experience for the user.

Mooresville, NC (September 6, 2023) – Spencer Boyd announced today that Twang, creators of the original Beer Salt and premium flavored salt, sugar and spice blends, will be a primary sponsor for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway and an associate sponsor for the remainder of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. The partnership marks an exciting collaboration that resonates with the spirit of competition, innovation, and celebration that both Twang and NASCAR embody.

“I love bringing new sponsors to our sport,” said a smiling Boyd. “This is such an iconic brand in Texas and I’m super excited to be part of their roll out to Walmart so the rest of America can taste it! The team over at Twang is amazing. They are going to love the race at the Last Great Coliseum and chances are we’ll all have some fun that weekend.”

Twang, founded by the Treviño family of San Antonio, has been adding fun and flavor to the lives of millions with its premium flavored beer salts, michelada mixes, and cocktail rimmer blends since 1986.

“We’re revving up for an electrifying partnership with Spencer in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Season,” said Edmundo Macias, Director of Marketing of Twang. “Just like the fast-paced action on the track, Twang’s flavorful offerings bring joy and excitement to food and drink enthusiasts nationwide. This collaboration perfectly aligns with our upcoming expansion into 3,500 Walmart stores across the country with our Lime & Lemon-Lime Beer Salt, and we’re eager to amplify our presence in the hearts of NASCAR fans.”

Twang’s partnership with Spencer Boyd goes beyond the racetrack. As part of this dynamic alliance, Twang will also engage fans through unique experiences and giveaways. Fans will have the opportunity to sample Twang’s wide array of products, adding a dash of flavor to their NASCAR experience. Additionally, Twang will take part in e-blast giveaways, offering fans the chance to win exclusive prizes and immerse themselves in a world of flavor with Twang.

As Twang continues to celebrate its rich heritage and legacy, this partnership marks a thrilling chapter in the brand’s story. From its humble beginnings in a garage to becoming a nationwide sensation, Twang’s journey mirrors the resilience and spirit of both Spencer and NASCAR.

The UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics marks the first race in the round of eight of the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series payoffs. Catch all the action on FS1 Thursday, September 14 at 9:00pm ET.

Chase Purdy: Driver, No. 4 Bama Buggies Chevrolet
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Overview:
Event: Kansas Lottery 200, Race 19 of 23, 134 laps – 30/30/74; 201 Miles
Location: Kansas Speedway (1.5-mile tri-oval)
Date/Broadcast: Sept. 8, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

‘Chase’n Wins:

Chase Purdy and the No. 4 Bama Buggies team head to the Kansas Speedway for Friday night’s Kansas Lottery 200. Purdy qualified third for the May race at Kansas and went on to finish the opening stanza fifth and Stage Two in the eighth position. After being in the back of the field via strategy just past the halfway point of the race, he got caught up in a five-truck accident that ended his night and relegated him to a disappointing 33rd-place finish. Overall, across six career starts at the 1.5-mile tri-oval, Purdy has recorded an average finish of 20.2, with a best result of 10th in July of 2020.

Purdy is coming off a solid outing at the Milwaukee Mile in the Truck Series’ last stop, where he qualified seventh and finished sixth. With that finish, he gained one position in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver point standings. The 23-year-old driver now ranks 12th, nine tallies behind 11th-place Tanner Gray. The 23 year-old driver entered the 2022 season having never earned a top-five result in Truck Series action but has produced two across 18 races in his first season at KBM, including a career-best runner-up finish at Texas Motor Speedway in April. He has also produced a career-high eight top-10 finishes this season, after posting just two each in 2021 and 2022.

The Mississippi native is in his third full-time season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and first with KBM. Purdy finished 16th in the Truck Series final standings in 2022 after competing in 22 of the 23 events. He posted two top-10 finishes and nine laps led, with a season-best finish of seventh coming at Talladega Superspeedway in October.

Jimmy Villeneuve is atop the pit box for Purdy and the No. 4 Chevrolet team this season. Prior to being promoted to crew chief for the 2023 season, Villeneuve had served as a Truck Chief at KBM since the 2017 season and in that role was a part of 18 wins, a driver’s championship with Christopher Bell in 2017 and the 2019 owner’s championship with the No. 51 team. This will be Villeneuve’s second race calling the shots for a race at Kansas. He qualified third and finished 33rd with Purdy earlier this year in his first trip to Kansas as a crew chief.

Bama Buggies, your one-stop shop for all the biggest names in powersports and utility vehicles, will be the primary sponsor on Purdy’s No. 4 Chevrolet Sunday and for the majority of the events on the 2023 schedule. They are Central Alabama’s powersports experts, serving as an authorized dealer of Polaris, Slingshot, and Seadoo.

As part of the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation’s Honor A Cancer Hero Program, Purdy’s truck will carry the names of Libby Hall and Sara MacPherson on his Silverado Friday night at Kansas.

Chase Purdy, Driver Q&A:

Will going back to Kansas for a second race be beneficial to you?

“I think it’s exciting for all of us on the No. 4 team and everyone at KBM because we had a lot of speed there the first time. We were set for a really solid day — probably one of our more solid days. I thought we had a chance to win that race and then we just had some misfortune happen and bad luck. I’m really excited to get back there and have high expectations. We have nothing to lose and were only chasing wins so we’re going to do whatever we can to do that.”

Coming off a solid outing at Milwaukee, does that reinvigorate confidence in you?

“It does, it’s not only good for me but all the guys on this No. 4 team. All of us do our part to do the best we can and when we have a result like that, it resembles the hard work we put in. When we have a good day at the racetrack it puts momentum back on our side and we’re all really excited to go to Kansas.”

Do you enjoy racing at Kansas?

“I do. I think it’s fun from a driver’s point of view and from a spectator perspective because of the different lanes you can run. Most places you go to only have a lane or two to work with, but Kansas is like five lanes wide so there’s just a whole bunch to work around. You can really go anywhere and race with anybody, so it makes the racing exciting, and you don’t feel as handicapped.”

Chase Purdy Career Highlights:

• Across 70 career Truck Series starts, has produced 20 laps led, two top-five and 13 top-10 finishes. Posted a career-best runner-up finish at Texas Motor Speedway in April of 2023.
• Finished 16th in Truck Series championship standings in 2022.
• Finished fourth in the 2018 ARCA Menard’s Series championship standings after recording 84 laps led, 10 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes.
• Earned the 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East rookie of the year honors and finished fourth in the championship standings after posting four poles, 200 laps led, five top-five and eight top-10 finishes across 14 starts.
• Won the prestigious Snowflake 100 Pro Late Model race at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla., in Dec. of 2018.
• Chase Purdy’s No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado RST:

KBM-79: The No. 4 Bama Buggies team will unload KBM-79 for Friday night’s race at Kansas Speedway. This Silverado made its debut at Pocono Raceway, where Purdy qualified 10th and finished 18th.

KBM Notes of Interest:

• KBM drivers have collected six wins, six poles, 816 laps led, 17 top-five and 30 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 10.0 across 45 starts at Kansas. John Hunter Nemechek scored the organization’s most recent triumph at Kansas capturing the pole and leading a race-high 88 laps en route to victory last September. Owner-driver Kyle Busch has collected three wins at Kansas (2014, 2017 and 2021). Noah Gragson led a race-high 128 laps and swept all three stages in the 2018 event and William Byron earned his first career Craftsman Trucks victory there in 2016.
• KBM holds the Craftsman Truck Series records for most career wins (100) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch picked up his organization’s first-ever win at Nashville Superspeedway in April of 2010 and also picked up its 100th Truck Series victory at Pocono Raceway in July of 2023. 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. 4 has 18 career victories at KBM and was the number for both of the organization’s driver championships.

CONCORD, N.C. (September 5, 2023) – Carson Kvapil, a multi-time winner on the CARS Pro Late Model and CARS Late Model Stock Car tours, will make his NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) debut at Bristol Motor Speedway aboard Spire Motorsports No. 7 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Silverado in the September 14 UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics.

Kvapil is the full-time driver of JR Motorsports’ No. 8 pavement late model and the 2022 CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour Champion. He is part of the Chevrolet Driver Development program and the 2023 CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour points leader.

Kvapil is a second-generation racer and the son of 2003 NCTS Champion Travis Kvapil. The Mooresville, N.C., native began his driving career at 10-years-old in the U.S. Legend Car Bandolero division and has accumulated a host of late model wins dating to 2014.

“I’m super excited for the opportunity to drive the No. 7 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Silverado at Bristol,” said Kvapil. “Bono, (Mike) Greci, and all the guys are awesome to work with and I can’t wait to work with them at the track. Fortunately, I am getting some simulator time in with Bono and Andrew (Overstreet) to get ready for the race. Huge thanks to Jeff (Dickerson), T.J. (Puchyr), Mr. Hendrick, everyone at JR Motorsports and everybody else who helped me get to this point. I’m ready to hit the track for my first start in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.”

Some of Kvapil’s most notable late model wins include the 2021 North/South Challenge at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and the Racetrack Revival at North Wilkesboro Speedway in August 2022. While the 20-year-old driver has spent much of his fledgling career fine-tuning his late model race craft, Kvapil has proven to be a versatile talent and counts a win in the 2021 Carolina Micro Showdown at Millbridge Speedway – a one-sixth mile dirt oval in Salisbury, N.C., – as one of his career highlights.

“We’re looking forward to getting to know Carson and having him drive the HendrickCars.com Chevy Silverado at Bristol,” said Spire Motorsports crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion. “We’ve been having a lot of fun and a fair amount of success with our truck program this season. Winning at North Wilkesboro with Kyle Larson was definitely a highlight, but it has really been fun seeing what some of these younger guys can do. Layne Riggs and Derek Kraus did a really good job for us and we’re looking for the same type of thing out of Carson. It’s exciting to give these guys a shot in our truck.”

The UNOH 200 present by Ohio Logistics from Bristol Motor Speedway will be televised live on FS1 Thursday, September 14 beginning at 9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The 20th of 23 races on the 2023 NCTS schedule will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

About HendrickCars.com …
HendrickCars.com is the online home for everything Hendrick Automotive Group. Visitors can shop thousands of new or pre-owned vehicles, locate centers for service and collision repair, receive a value to sell or trade their car, chat online with customer service, discover career opportunities, learn more about vehicle protection programs, and explore how the company gives back to the community.

About Hendrick Automotive Group …
Representing 131 franchises and 25 manufacturer nameplates from the Carolinas to California, Hendrick Automotive Group is the largest privately held automotive retail organization in the United States. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company employs more than 10,000 people in its 95 dealership locations, 21 collision centers and four accessories distributor installers in 13 states. For more information, please visit HendrickCars.com.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports is a full-time, two-car NASCAR Cup Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2023, Spire Motorsports will field the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for driver Corey LaJoie and No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Ty Dillon. The team also fields NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series teams in select events.

Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on May 20, 2023 when Kyle Larson took the checkered flag in the Tyson 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Overview:
Event: Kansas Lottery 200, Race 19 of 23, 134 laps – 30/30/74; 201 Miles
Location: Kansas Speedway (1.5-mile tri-oval)
Date/Broadcast: Sept. 8, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

Get to Know Jack:

Jack Wood will make his ninth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start of 2023 for Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) behind the wheel of the No. 51 High Fives Foundation Chevrolet in Friday’s Kansas Lottery 200 at Kansas Speedway. Wood has finished inside the top 10 in two of his eight Truck Series starts this season, including a career-best ninth-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway in April. Across 43 career Truck Series starts, he has produced three laps led and three top-10 finishes.

Wood did not race in the Truck Series race at Kansas earlier this year, KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch qualified second, led 11 laps and finished seventh in the No. 51 that night. Wood did, however, race in the ARCA Menards Series event that day, where he came from the ninth starting position to finish fifth. In his two prior Truck Series starts at Kansas, Wood has an average finish of 26.0. He also has one additional ARCA Menards Series start at the 1.5-mile tri-oval, a fourth-place finish in 2021.

The High Fives Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to be the leader of education and recovery of life-altering injuries in outdoor action sports, will serve as the primary sponsor on Wood’s No. 51 Silverado Friday night. High Fives focuses on preventing life-changing injuries and provides resources and hope if they happen. They have helped countless injured athletes and Veterans get back to doing what they love by creating a universal shift in adventure sports that expands what is possible for those who have faced life-changing injuries.

After two races of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series owner’s playoffs the No. 51 team sits 10th on the playoff grid. With just Friday night’s races remaining in the Round of 10, they sit 31 points below the cutoff line for advancing to the Round of 8. The No. 51 team qualified for the owner’s playoffs after finishing seventh in the regular season owner point standings. Across 18 starts in 2023, the team has recorded two wins, one pole, 170 laps led, seven top-five and 10 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.9. Owner-driver Kyle Busch recorded both of the 51 team’s victories winning the second race of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and most recently collecting his organization’s historic 100th win July 22 at Pocono Raceway.

In addition to his part-time schedule for KBM in the Truck Series this season, Wood is running a limited schedule in the ARCA Series with Rev Racing. The California native has two top five and five top-10 finishes with an average result of 10.6 across seven ARCA Menards Series starts this season. Across 16 career ARCA Menards Series starts he has recorded three top-five and nine top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.4.

Veteran crew chief Brian Pattie is calling the shots for the No. 51 team this year in his first season at KBM after spending the last 14 seasons atop the pit box in the NASCAR Cup Series. It took the veteran signal caller just two races to get his first win at KBM, winning with owner-driver Kyle Busch at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The duo won again in July at Pocono Raceway and collected KBM’s 100th career Truck Series victory. In the Cup Series, his drivers produced six wins, nine poles, 57 top-five and 131 top-10 finishes across 528 starts. The Florida native has also recorded 11 wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and now has three wins as a crew chief in the Truck Series. Busch’s seventh-place result earlier this year was Pattie’s first race atop the pit box for a Truck Series race at Kansas. His best result across 26 cup starts was fourth with Juan Pablo Montoya in 2009.

As part of the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation’s Honor A Cancer Hero Program, Wood’s truck will carry the name of Kaitlyn Helms above the driver side door Friday night. The 14-year-old Florida native is currently in remission from thyroid cancer.
Jack Wood, Driver Q&A:

You’ve shown speed on the mile-and-a-halves this year. Are you excited to go to Kansas?

“Yeah, I think it’s kind of the last normal mile-and-a-half track on the schedule this season for us, so obviously the KBM mile-and-a-half stuff has historically been really fast as an organization. At the first Kansas race I think they were a little bit off, so everyone on the No. 51 team and really KBM as a whole has put in a lot of work to get the stuff right going back to Kansas. I feel like out of all the races this year, I’ve put in the most time preparing for this one and trying to get in contact with as many guys as I could to be prepared to go out and have a good showing.”

What did you learn observing the first Kansas race from behind the scenes at the track while Kyle was driving?

“I sat on the pit box for the whole race to see firsthand how Brian (Pattie, crew chief) and Darren (Fraley, engineer) call the race. From that side of it, it was good for me to get that perspective on what they are doing throughout a race. I think one of the biggest things I’ve had to kind of work on this year is just giving better feedback and trying to be quick with what I can give them since practice is so short and I’m trying to learn as much as I can as quickly as I can. I got to sit and watch Kyle kind of do his thing and watched the different lines that he was using. Really the biggest thing for me is that I can go back and watch the 51 truck from the spring race and look at SMT data with Kyle driving it. I think I’ve been able to learn a lot of what he’s doing, his controls in the truck and I think a lot of that stuff, as far as my preparation, is going to help quite a bit.”

Talk about your sponsor this week,

“It’s really cool for me to have High Fives on the truck. It connects what I did before I was racing in NASCAR to what I’m doing now, because I grew up ski racing for a long time in California. To have a non-profit that does such a cool thing with injured athletes that have had life-altering injuries and getting them back out to the sport they love is something that really means a lot to me. I saw a lot of those injuries when I was a kid. To have them on the truck and help raise awareness but also to be around a group of people like that is going to be very inspiring. We’re excited to have Roy (Tuscany, Founder & CEO) at the track with us and all the incredible stuff he’s doing. I’m really looking forward to Friday and we’re going to give it all we have to put together a good race for those guys.”

Jack Wood Career Highlights:

• Has produced three top-10 finishes across 43 career starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Posted a series-best ninth-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway in April.
• Has compiled 14 laps led, three top-five and nine top-10 finishes across 16 career ARCA Menards Series events.
• Has totaled three top-five and eight top-10 finishes across 12 career starts in the ARCA Menards West Series.
• Compiled one top-five and three top-10 finishes across 24 starts in the SRL Spears Southwest Tour from 2017 to 2021.
• Jack Wood’s No. 51 High Fives Foundation Chevrolet Silverado RST:

KBM-77: The No. 51 High Fives Foundation team will unload KBM-77 for Friday’s race at Kansas. This Silverado was the truck that KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch drove to his organization’s historic 100th victory earlier this year at Pocono Raceway. William Byron piloted KBM-77 to a fourth-place finish earlier this year at Darlington Raceway in its debut.

KBM Notes of Interest:

• KBM drivers have collected six wins, six poles, 816 laps led, 17 top-five and 30 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 10.0 across 45 starts at Kansas. John Hunter Nemechek scored the organization’s most recent triumph at Kansas capturing the pole and leading a race-high 88 laps en route to victory last September. Owner-driver Kyle Busch has collected three wins at Kansas (2014, 2017 and 2021). Noah Gragson led a race-high 128 laps and swept all three stages in the 2018 event and William Byron earned his first career Craftsman Trucks victory there in 2016.
• KBM holds the Craftsman Truck Series records for most career wins (100) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). Kyle Busch picked up his organization’s first-ever win at Nashville Superspeedway in April of 2010 and also picked up its 100th Truck Series victory at Pocono Raceway in July of 2023. 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 42 victories, the No. 51 is the winningest number in KBM’s Truck Series fleet.