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Tag: Camping World Truck Series

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Kansas

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Kansas

    The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series travel to Kansas Speedway this weekend while the XFINITY Series is off. Please check below for the complete schedule of events.

    All times are Eastern.

    Thursday, May 5:

    On Track:
    2:30-3:25 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Practice
    4:30-5:25 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Practice
    6:30-7:55 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Final Practice

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    1:15 p.m.: Rico Abreu
    1:30 p.m.: Clint Bowyer
    1:45 p.m.: John Hunter Nemechek

    Friday, May, 6:

    On Track:
    11:30 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Practice – FS1
    1:30-2:50 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – FS1
    4:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    6:45 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    8:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Toyota Tundra 250 (167 laps, 250.5 miles) – FS1

    Garage Cam: (Watch live)
    11 a.m.: Sprint Cup Series

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    10:15 a.m.: AJ Allmendinger
    10:30 a.m.: Jamie McMurray
    12:30 p.m.: Carl Edwards
    3:30 p.m.: Brad Keselowski
    8 p.m.: NSCS Post-Qualifying (time approx)
    11 p.m.: NCWTS Post-Race (time approx)

    Saturday, May 7:

    On Track:
    7:30 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series GoBowling 400 (267 laps, 400.5 miles) – FS1

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    11 p.m.: NSCS Post-Race (time approx)

    Additional Info:
    Complete NASCAR TV Schedule

    Special NASCAR Programming:
    “NASCAR: The Rise of American Speed” – Sunday, May 8 at 9 p.m. ET on CMT – Dale Earnhardt Jr. Executive Producer

    *Click here for a sneak peek of the three-part special event

  • NASCAR Updates Lug Nut Rules

    NASCAR Updates Lug Nut Rules

    By Staff report | NASCAR.com

    NASCAR has made updates to the rule book regarding lug nuts, effective immediately. 

    In a memo sent to teams Monday, the sanctioning body informed organizations that they will be expected to have all five lug nuts installed in a safe and secure manner throughout all national series events. 

    Scott Miller, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition issued an official statement.

    “NASCAR has been closely monitoring the aggressive strategies on pit road. Safety is an area we do not take lightly, as our record has clearly indicated. It’s important for us to have a system in place immediately for addressing lug nut installation while we also work alongside the industry to develop the best long-term solution.”

    Any identification of missing lug nut(s) on a wheel will result in the following penalties for Sprint Cup Series teams:

    If found pre-race, it counts as an unapproved adjustment and the team will have to start at the tail of the field and must make a correction immediately.

    Tires intended for race use without all five lug nuts glued to the wheel results in a written warning and must be corrected immediately.  If found post-race, the first offense is a minimum of $20,000 fine and crew chief suspension for one race and probation. Multiple offenses will result in escalated penalties.

    Penalties are as follows for NASCAR XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series teams.

    NXS: Post-race (P3 penalty) First offense: minimum of $10,000 fine, crew chief suspension for one race and probation.

    NCWTS: Post-race (P3 penalty) First offense: minimum of $5,000 fine, crew chief suspension for one race and probation.

    Lug Nut Rules Update to Rule Book 4-25-16

  • The Silent Killer That Surrounds Us

    The Silent Killer That Surrounds Us

    On Jan. 22, 2003 NASCAR driver Rick Mast, then 45, announced that he was retiring from racing due to due to acute and chronic carbon monoxide poisoning from the race cars he occupied for over 15 years. He became the first NASCAR driver to announce that carbon monoxide was a contributing factor in his decision to retire from racing. According to an article in the New York Times, dated Feb. 2, 2003, Mast’s symptoms included being disoriented and falling ill for days at a time.

    According to the Mayo Clinic, “Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when carbon monoxide builds up in your bloodstream. When too much carbon monoxide is in the air, your body replaces the oxygen in your red blood cells with carbon monoxide. This can lead to serious tissue damage or even death. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas produced by burning gas, wood, propane, charcoal or other fuel. Improperly ventilated appliances and engines, particularly in a tightly sealed or enclosed space, may allow carbon monoxide to accumulate to dangerous levels.”

    Carbon monoxide (CO) is a byproduct of just about everything that motorsports does. In race cars, much progress has been made to keep the drivers safer from carbon monoxide while they race.  It was very common in the 1990s and early 2000s for carbon monoxide to be a factor in a race.

    Reports from Michigan in 1991 indicated that Dale Earnhardt was ill after damage early in the race to his vehicle caused carbon monoxide to build up. In September of 1998, Ricky Rudd extended his annual Cup Series race win streak at Martinsville. At the race track, Rudd collapsed in Victory Lane and it was reported at the time that it was because his cooling system failed and it was almost 100 degrees at race time. However, carbon monoxide was also an issue.

    Ward Burton had an issue in the motor coach lot prior to the Coca-Cola 600 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. After the race, Burton said, “It went from one end of the spectrum to the other all day. The motorhome compound is so tight here that I got a little carbon monoxide poisoning last night and that kind of played against me. I wasn’t 100 percent in the car late in the race. I hope Humpy and them will do something about that because that’s not right. We were all over the place. The generator fumes were coming up under the bus and I started to get a hell of a headache. The buses are so close together it’s like you can hardly open the doors.”

    From 1999 to 2010 the Center for Disease control noted that there were 5,149 deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning in non-fire circumstances. In the NASCAR world, the biggest carbon monoxide issues are not in the race cars or garage areas but in the camping and living areas, where deaths have been reported in the past. So take so, me time and review the portable CO buying guide to protect yourself and others from accidental poisoning.

    I recall an incident at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in May 2002 when two campers died from carbon monoxide poisoning due to them trying to heat their tent with a charcoal grill during a record cold snap. As recent as 2013, a camper died when his RV had a leaky exhaust causing carbon monoxide to build up at the Talladega Superspeedway.

    The author has personal experience with carbon monoxide poisoning. In 1987 his fraternity house furnace malfunctioned when it was -20 degrees. Having been trained in the US Marine Corps about the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, the fire department was called and they used special equipment along with a carbon monoxide respirator to inspect the house.  A disaster was averted when local officials deemed the house unsuitable for living quarters until the furnace was fixed.

    As the NASCAR season is underway and the weather has been somewhat unpredictable up and down the east coast, generator safety is paramount. Generators are a source of electricity for RVs, travel trailers, pop-up campers, and tent campers. One thing I’ve personally witnessed is the variety of ways generator owners try to protect their investment in a generator. They will build wooden boxes with covers but those don’t necessarily consider the proper and safe operation of the generator.

    One product that any generator owner should consider is the GenTent (http://www.gentent.com/).

    “Regardless of the numerous published warnings, consumers continue to operate portable generators in unsafe manners which prove to result in serious injuries and deaths every year,” said Mark Carpenter, CEO, Founder, GenTent Safety Canopies. “GenTent’s Top 10 Portable Generator Safety Tips list is a playbook for the proper use of portable generators and it enables owners to experience safe generator use year-round.”

    The folks from GenTent have created a product that allows generators to be operated safely in any kind of weather. More importantly, it allows the ventilation of carbon monoxide outside the tented area. The website is a plethora of information regarding safely operating a generator.

    As people load up their campers and head to the track, it’s important to remind everyone that carbon monoxide is an odorless gas and can kill in minutes. Take a few moments to check over your generator and correct any issues with its operation. It could mean the difference between life and death.

  • For Kyle Busch, Winning is Everything

    For Kyle Busch, Winning is Everything

    We’ve all heard the adage, it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game. For racers, nothing could be further from the truth. Winning is everything.

    And no matter how fervently they insist that they couldn’t have done it without the entire team, the reality is much simpler. The owner may have given him the best equipment, the crew chief may have executed the perfect strategies and the pit crew may have performed flawlessly to get their driver in position to win.

    But, when the green flag waves and everything is on the line, it all comes down to one thing…the driver. How badly does he want it and what is he willing to risk?

    As Dale Earnhardt once said, “The winner ain’t the one with the fastest car; it’s the one who refuses to lose.”

    No current driver embodies this competitive spirit more so than Kyle Busch.

    After an injury in the season-opening NASCAR XFINITY Series race in 2015 left Busch sidelined for 11 races, he came back to capture five checkered flags, including the season finale event at Homestead-Miami Speedway and won the Sprint Cup championship.

    It seemed as if the time away spent with wife, Samantha, and the birth of his son, Brexton, had given him a new perspective. We saw a more mature and focused driver. And while he is still prone to the occasional bursts of temper when things don’t go his way, Busch is slowly shedding his role as villain and embracing his reign as Champ.

    He hasn’t lost any steam this year.

    Busch has won four straight NASCAR national touring races, scoring the victory at last week’s Camping World Truck Series race as well as the Sprint Cup race at Martinsville. He followed that up with another sweep at Texas Motor Speedway, winning the XFINITY Series race and his second consecutive Cup race.

    His 36th Sprint Cup Series victory ties him with Matt Kenseth for 20th place on the all-time wins list. Additionally, Busch gained two spots to lead the points standings, six points ahead of Jimmie Johnson in second place.

    Add to that, 80 XFINITY wins and 45 in the Camping World Truck Series, and you begin to grasp the enormity of what he has accomplished.

    Busch is enjoying his success and life in general.

    “It’s pretty darn good, I’ll tell you that,” he said after the Cup race at Texas. “I’ve got a great wife, a great son and I’m having a blast, living the dream.”

    While he’s savoring this year’s success, Busch is also looking ahead to the future and the possibilities are endless.

    “There are plenty of things that are out there to achieve,” Busch recently said. “Building that win column, to be able to build that to 100 or something like that. That would be pretty special. Now whether 100 is reachable or not, I doubt it, but we’ll give it our best shot.”

    Hero or villain, Busch’s talent on the track is undeniable. The ride may sometimes get bumpy but it is always compelling.

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Martinsville

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Martinsville

    The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the Camping World Truck Series travel to Martinsville Speedway this weekend while the XFINITY Series is off. Please check below for the complete schedule of events.

    All times are Eastern.

    Friday, April 1:

    On Track:
    10-10:55 a.m.: Camping World Truck Series Practice – FS1
    11 a.m.-12:20 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Practice – FS1
    12:30-1:55 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Practice – FS1
    3-3:50 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Final Practice – FS1
    4:15 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1

    Garage Cam: (Watch live)
    10:30 a.m.: Sprint Cup Series

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    9 a.m.: Parker Kligerman
    9:15 a.m.: John Hunter Nemechek
    9:30 a.m.: Ryan Blaney
    1 p.m.: Denny Hamlin
    1:15 p.m.: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    5:45 p.m.: Post-Sprint Cup Series Qualifying (time approx.)

    Saturday, April 2:

    On Track:
    10-10:55 a.m.: Sprint Cup Series Practice – FS1
    11:15 a.m.: Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    1-1:50 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – FS1
    2:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Alpha Energy Solutions 250 (250 laps, 131.5 miles) – FS1

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    12:15 p.m.: Jamie McMurray
    4:45 p.m.: Post-Camping World Truck Series Race (time approx.)

    Sunday, April 3:

    On Track:
    1 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series STP 500 (500 laps, 263 miles) – FS1

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    4:45 p.m.: Post-Sprint Cup Race (time approx.)

    Additional Info:

    Complete NASCAR TV Schedule

     

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Atlanta Motor Speedway

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Atlanta Motor Speedway

    NASCAR heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway this week where all three NASCAR Series will compete. Please check below for the complete schedule of events.

    All times are Eastern

    Friday, Feb. 26:

    On Track:
    9-9:55 a.m.: XFINITY Series Practice – FS1
    10-10:55 a.m.: Camping World Truck Series Practice – FS1
    11 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series practice – FS1
    12:30-1:25 p.m.: XFINITY Series Practice – FS1
    1:30-2:25 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Practice – FS1
    2:30-3:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – FS1
    4-5:25 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Final Practice – FS1
    5:45 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1

    Garage Cam: (Watch live)
    10:30 a.m.: Sprint Cup Series

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    8:15 a.m.: Ty Dillon
    9:15 a.m.: Christopher Bell
    9:45 a.m.: Chase Elliott
    10 a.m.: Jimmie Johnson
    12:30 p.m.: Carl Edwards
    1 p.m.: Denny Hamlin
    1:30 p.m.: Greg Biffle
    7:15 p.m.. (approx.): Post-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying

    Saturday, Feb. 27:

    On Track:
    8:35 a.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    10 a.m.: Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    11:30 a.m.-12:50 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – FS1
    1:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series Heads Up Georgia 250 (163 laps, 251.02 miles) – FS1
    4:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Great Clips 200 (130 laps, 200.02 miles) – FS1

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    3:15 p.m. (approx.): Post-NASCAR XFINITY Series Race
    6 p.m. (approx.): Post-NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race

    Sunday, Feb. 28:

    On Track:
    1 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 (325 laps – 500.05 miles) – FOX

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    4:45 p.m. (approx.): Post-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race

     

    Additional Info:

     

  • In Wild Finish, Sauter Wins Truck Series Opener at Daytona

    In Wild Finish, Sauter Wins Truck Series Opener at Daytona

    NCWTS Race Recap
    By Reid Spencer – NASCAR Wire Service 

    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – With the No. 4 Toyota of Christopher Bell barrel-rolling through Turn 1 behind him, Johnny Sauter nosed ahead in his No. 21 Chevrolet and had more than a car-length lead when NASCAR called the final caution of the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

    With the victory, Sauter is all but guaranteed a spot in the first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase, a seven-race playoff modeled after the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

    But Sauter needed a push from Bell to take the lead, moments before contact with the No. 17 Toyota of Timothy Peters launched the No. 4 and sent it rolling in as part of a 10-truck accident. Ryan Truex ran second, followed by Parker Kligerman, Brandon Brown and Tyler Young, as attrition eliminated some of the strongest trucks in the field.

    The victory was the first for Chevrolet in 17 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races at Daytona. It was Sauter’s 11th win in the series in his first start in the No. 21 GMS Racing Chevy and his first race with crew chief Marcus Richmond.

    “I just had this feeling that our truck was so good yesterday that, if I didn’t make any mistakes, we were going to have a shot at this,” Sauter said. “And Marcus did a phenomenal job calling the race… This is unbelievable.

    “I’m so pumped to be the first guy to get to Victory Lane here. GMS—I mean, what can I say? This is the opportunity of a lifetime.”

    A colossal wreck on Lap 93 involved more than half the 32-truck field and eliminated some of the strongest competitors from contention, including Austin Theriault (who had led a race-high 31 laps), polesitter Grant Enfinger, two-time series champion Matt Crafton, defending race winner Tyler Reddick, Canadian Cameron Hayley and Mexican star Daniel Suarez.

    NASCAR red-flagged the race for 27 minutes, 54 seconds for track cleanup. When the trucks began rolling again, Truex was in the lead, followed by Sauter and Peters, for a restart on Lap 98. Truex and Sauter battled side-by-side until Bell pushed Sauter to the lead after the trucks took the white flag.

    “The 4 truck, thanks for the push,” Sauter said. “He was pushing me. I was sideways. We lost momentum there, and I thought we were all going to crash. The next thing I knew he was pushing me again and bumping me, and it all worked out.”

    Note: After the race, Bell was transported to a local medical facility for further examination and observation. No specifics about his condition were available, but Bell was able to climb from his car and walk to a waiting ambulance–standard protocol after any wreck. 

    NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race – NextEra Energy Resources 250
    Daytona International Speedway
    Daytona Beach, Florida
    Friday, February 19, 2016

                   1. (2) Johnny Sauter, Chevrolet, 100

                   2. (20) Ryan Truex, Toyota, 100

                   3. (23) Parker Kligerman, Ford, 100

                   4. (22) Brandon Brown, Chevrolet, 100

                   5. (32) Travis Kvapil, Chevrolet, 100

                   6. (21) Tyler Young, Chevrolet, 100

                   7. (24) Ben Rhodes #, Toyota, 100

                   8. (18) Daniel Hemric, Ford, 100

                   9. (26) Scott Lagasse Jr(i), Chevrolet, 100

                   10. (6) Matt Crafton, Toyota, 100

                   11. (29) Michel Disdier, Chevrolet, 100

                   12. (25) Bobby Gerhart(i), Chevrolet, 100

                   13. (13) William Byron #, Toyota, 100

                   14. (30) Timmy Hill, Chevrolet, 100

                   15. (3) Timothy Peters, Toyota, 100

                   16. (8) Christopher Bell #, Toyota, 99

                   17. (15) John H Nemechek, Chevrolet, 99

                   18. (12) Tyler Reddick, Ford, 99

                   19. (19) Austin Wayne Self, Toyota, 99

                   20. (1) Grant Enfinger #, Chevrolet, 98

                   21. (11) Spencer Gallagher, Chevrolet, 96

                   22. (17) Chris Fontaine, Toyota, Accident, 95

                   23. (31) Ben Kennedy, Toyota, Accident, 93

                   24. (10) Cole Custer #, Chevrolet, Accident, 93

                   25. (14) Cameron Hayley, Toyota, Accident, 92

                   26. (7) John Wes Townley, Chevrolet, Accident, 92

                   27. (4) Austin Theriault, Ford, Accident, 92

                   28. (5) Daniel Suarez(i), Toyota, Accident, 92

                   29. (16) Rico Abreu #, Toyota, Accident, 92

                   30. (27) Jordan Anderson, Chevrolet, Rear Gear, 75

                   31. (9) Cody Coughlin #, Toyota, Accident, 41

                   32. (28) Tommy Joe Martins, Chevrolet, Accident, 11

     

    Average Speed of Race Winner:  129.032 mph.

    Time of Race:  01 Hrs, 56 Mins, 15 Secs. Margin of Victory:  Caution.

    Caution Flags:  7 for 29 laps.

    Lead Changes:  26 among 10 drivers.

    Lap Leaders:   G. Enfinger # 0; A. Theriault 1; G. Enfinger # 2-3; A. Theriault 4-9; G. Enfinger # 10; J. Sauter 11-13; T. Reddick 14-20; A. Theriault 21; J. Sauter 22-24; M. Crafton 25-29; A. Theriault 30-44; T. Kvapil 45-46; T. Peters 47-51; A. Theriault 52-59; J. Sauter 60-63; C. Hayley 64-66; T. Hill 67; T. Peters 68-70; T. Reddick 71-75; T. Peters 76-82; C. Hayley 83; R. Truex 84; G. Enfinger # 85; R. Truex 86-91; J. Sauter 92; R. Truex 93-99; J. Sauter 100;.

    Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  A. Theriault 5 times for 31 laps; T. Peters 3 times for 15 laps; R. Truex 3 times for 14 laps; J. Sauter 5 times for 12 laps; T. Reddick 2 times for 12 laps; M. Crafton 1 time for 5 laps; C. Hayley 2 times for 4 laps; G. Enfinger # 3 times for 4 laps; T. Kvapil 1 time for 2 laps; T. Hill 1 time for 1 lap.

    Top 10 in Points: J. Sauter – 36; R. Truex – 32; P. Kligerman – 30; B. Brown – 29; T. Kvapil – 29; T. Young – 27; B. Rhodes # – 26; D. Hemric – 25; M. Crafton – 24; M. Disdier – 22.

  • RBR Enterprises, Kligerman Team up for Daytona

    RBR Enterprises, Kligerman Team up for Daytona

    CERRO GORDO, N.C. (Feb. 3, 2016) – Ricky Benton Racing (RBR) Enterprises announced Wednesday that Parker Kligerman will be behind the wheel of the No. 92 Valvoline/Advance Auto Parts/BTS Tire and Wheel Distributors/Goodyear Commercial Tire Network Ford F-150 when the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) makes its first stop of 2016 at Daytona International Speedway for the NextEra Energy Resources 250.

    “Over the last few years, I have watched the Ricky Benton Racing team improve their program and results,” Kligerman said. “Having this opportunity, as they come off one of their best years in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, is a massive honor.”

    Daytona marks a return to the NCWTS for Kligerman, who competed full-time in the series in 2011 and 2012 (winning once in 2012) before moving to the Xfinity Series in 2013. In addition, he had 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup starts in 2013 and 2014. Kligerman ran the full ARCA Series schedule in 2009, finishing the year with nine wins, 14 top fives and 18 top 10s in 21 races.

    When not racing over the past two seasons, Kligerman served as an analyst for the NBC Sports Network.

    “Parker comes to us with a great racing rėsumė,” said RBR owner Ricky Benton. “He has proven that he can be competitive and win races in good equipment. Now it’s our job to make sure we give him fast trucks and put him in a position to be successful.”

    Meeting the team
    As part of joining the RBR team, Kligerman met with employees of Black’s Tire and Auto Service, the company owned by Benton and one of the team’s primary sponsors.

    “I was recently able to spend time with many of the Black’s Tire Service employees and learned about the passion they have for what they do,” Kligerman said. “The BTS culture is about taking care of customers and providing them with experiences that make them customers for life. I hope to provide the same level of passion and success on track.”

    Benton appreciates what his new driver did to ingratiate himself to his new team.

    “Black’s Tire and BTS is a big family,” Benton said. “A big part of why we do what we do with the race team is for our employees. In fact, many of the guys who work on our trucks on race weekends spend their weeks working for our BTS customers. It means a lot to have Parker take the time to get to know our people.”

    RBR 2016
    Beyond the new driver, there are very few other program changes for the Ricky Benton Racing team for 2016. Mike Hester returns atop the pit box as crew chief. The team will again be running Roush-Yates-powered Fords F-150s

    Daytona F-150
    The RBR Enterprises Ford F-150 that the team will be taking to Daytona for the NextEra Energy Resources 250 is T-2. It is the same truck that David Gilliland drove to a sixth-place finish in the 2015 running of the race. In addition to Valvoline, Advance, BTS and Goodyear Commercial Tire Network, the truck will be carrying the colors of Wynn’s and Fayetteville, N.C.-based Highland Construction.

    On Social Media

    Follow RBR Enterprises on Twitter or like them on Facebook.

    About Valvoline: Valvoline was founded in 1866 by Dr. John Ellis when he discovered the lubricating properties of distilled crude oil, thus the world’s first petroleum based lubricant. Over the past 150 years Valvoline has reach many milestones such as, its first car race in 1895, the first all-purpose gear oil in 1939, used in Allied vehicles in World War II, introduced Valvoline Racing Motor Oil to the world in the mid-60’s, led innovation with Durablend, the first synthetic-blend motor oil in 1996, and in the early 2000’s Valvoline launched Maxlife High Mileage Motor Oil. Today it remains the best-selling racing oil of all time. Valvoline is very proud of its association with NASCAR. Valvoline is owned by Ashland Oil Inc. of Kentucky. The Valvoline product line is blended and packaged in 60 plants worldwide. As Valvoline celebrates 150 years of success they are busy planning for the next 150 years that will keep the world moving.

    About Advance Auto Parts: Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is a provider of automotive aftermarket parts. The company’s stores offer a selection of brand name, original equipment and private label automotive replacement parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items for domestic and import cars. The company’s operations consist of 5,261 stores, 111 distribution branches, which operate in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands primarily under the trade names Advance Auto Parts, CARQUEST, Autopart International and WORLDPAC. They also service 1,325 independently owned CARQUEST stores.

    About BTS Tire and Wheel Distributors: BTS Tire & Wheel Distributors offers wholesale distribution services to tire and automotive dealers across the Southeast, operating out of locations in North and South Carolina. For more information, visit bts.tireweb.com. There are 37 Black’s Tire and Auto Service retail locations throughout North and South Carolina. To learn more about Black’s Tire or to find a location, visit www.blackstire.com.

    About Wynn’s: Wynn’s, formerly Wynn Oil Company, traces its history to 1939 when the original Wynn’s Friction Proofing Oil Treatment® formula was first developed and introduced to the automotive market. In the more than 70 years following the introduction of that single product, Wynn’s has grown to become a worldwide manufacturer and marketer of innovative automotive specialty chemicals, service equipment and complete automotive maintenance programs. Today, Wynn’s operates as a division of Illinois Tool Works, Inc.

    About Highland Construction: Founded in 1981, Highland Construction is a North Carolina-licensed general contractor specializing in fire and water restoration. Over the past 35 years, Highland Construction served thousands of businesses and homeowners. The company is based in Fayetteville, with offices in Wilmington and Jacksonville N.C.

  • Finley Factor: Media Week Thoughts

    Finley Factor: Media Week Thoughts

    Instead of focusing on one big story, today I’m going to tackle five of the bigger stories coming out of last week’s media conferences and interviews.

    Tony Stewart criticizes Brian France for not being around often

    On SirusXM Speedway last week, Tony Stewart commented that Brian France is never around and that he wants to see him be more active. Tony is right on the ball with these comments. The Frances, both Bill and Bill Jr., were very common around the garage area. Brian wouldn’t be caught dead near it. It kind of reminds me of what happened at Dale Earnhardt Incorporated in its last few years of existence, when Teresa Earnhardt wasn’t around and team performance dropped off greatly. With everything Brian France has done in the last 12 years, probably more than his father did in his 30 years in ownership, it’s strange not to see him around. I was at Richmond in the fall of last year and it seemed crazy to me that France was nowhere to be seen for the start of the second season of what will ultimately be his legacy (The 16 driver Chase format). When introducing such wild changes to a sport or team, you need to be there and show your employees or players that you care. If you don’t, why should they?

    Denny Hamlin’s Knee Still Not Healed

    After tearing his ACL playing basketball last season, Hamlin told USA Today that he still is only “about 50 percent” but that he’s fine to get back in the car. You can say a lot about Denny Hamlin, but you have to give the Virginian credit; he has shown time and time again that he doesn’t slow down when he gets injured. Just look at Martinsville in 2010, where he won with the same exact injury before getting surgery. He’ll be fine this year.

    Tommy Baldwin Racing replaces Alex Bowman, Bowman finds out on Twitter

    Where to begin with this. You just can’t do this in today’s world without it completely backfiring on you. It would have been perfectly fine had Baldwin informed Mr. Bowman a month or even a week ago that he was out of a job. It’s not perfectly fine to make a deal on your new driver on Tuesday, tell your current driver on Wednesday night everything is fine, then officially announce the change Thursday. And then, just to make things even better, Baldwin doesn’t even really apologize to Bowman in their third press release of the week. Instead, he takes a shot at the media for leaking the story out before he could inform Bowman. Mind you, Baldwin didn’t need to announce his driver change almost as soon as the news leaked; look at how long it took a couple of years ago for Carl Edwards to announce his move to JGR after it leaked out online. Plenty of people want to root for the underdog like Baldwin’s team. But a move like this could kill any good feelings race fans may have had for TBR, and it’s because of such an easy thing to prevent.

    XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series Chases

    It’s about time. It has always been strange that the XFINITY and Truck series determine their champions in a different way from the Cup Series. Hopefully, in 2017, the Homestead ban extends to the entire chase period. It’s understandable NASCAR might have been squeamish about cutting such a large portion of the schedule out from Cup Series drivers on relatively short notice.

    Caution Clock in the Truck Series

    Probably the most controversial new change announced this season is the addition of the caution clock in the Truck Series, where every 20 minutes of green flag racing a competition caution will come out. It’s certainly controversial and definitely the brainchild of Brian France.

    Why is it happening? Because it’s a test to see if this can work and bring in the fan base NASCAR has been marketing to; the young millennials. The NASCAR audience is the oldest in sports today, according to just about every study done in the past five years. NASCAR just hasn’t attracted young fans since the sport was in its late 1990s boom period, and that’s a huge problem for advertisers/sponsors craving the 18-49 demo. And it’s not for lack of trying; just look at Fox Sport’s Daytona Day commercial aired this past weekend. Not one person among the hundreds of people in that ad looked above 30.

    You can’t say “Well, it’s because all the drivers are old,” because even in the late 90s plenty were over thirty. It’s because my generation simply doesn’t have patience and wants to see everything happen right now. Look at the smartphone, for example. Within seconds, I can watch almost anything that has ever been put in front of a camera. Why should I, hypothetically speaking, sit down and watch an hour long green flag run when I can watch, say, a few episodes of Top Gear on Netflix? I’m not going to miss much and because fast cars are everywhere (Like in Top Gear), I’m not impressed with how fast these go.

    So overall, putting marketing aside, is this new rule good or is it bad? I’m going to reserve overall judgment on that one. Why? Two simple reasons –

    1. Let’s not pretend cautions are frequently called in national series races anyway. There are legitimate debris cautions, but there is also, say, the tiny piece of metal that caused the final caution of the 2015 season at Homestead. Is it really going to make a huge difference calling a caution every 20 minutes instead of calling one every 40?
    2. Truck races are only around an hour and a half long. So we’re talking maybe 1-4 time cautions as it is, which is probably the same amount of debris cautions in these races to begin with.

    This rule will have one of two results. It could be a complete failure and NASCAR does away with it by mid-season. Or it brings excitement to the sport and goes to the XFINITY and Cup Series in 2017 (albeit with a modified time). Is it fabricating excitement? Yes, it is, but that’s to be expected in today’s NASCAR.

    As I was finishing up this article, news broke that Barney Hall, the lead track announcer for the Motor Racing Network for many years, has passed away. Barney was an absolute legend and many in and around the sport grew up hearing him. He was a person I looked up to as a journalist and it will never feel right to me hearing anybody but Hall calling these races over the radio. There were more famous announcers over the years, such as Ken Squier, but there was only ever one voice of NASCAR, and that was Hall.

  • Rico Abreu Joins ThorSport Racing in 2016

    Rico Abreu Joins ThorSport Racing in 2016

    Abrew will pilot the No. 98 CURB Records Toyota Tundra full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

    Tulsa, Oklahoma (January 15, 2016) – Rico Abreu, USAC National Midget champion, open wheel standout, and 2015 Chili Bowl Nationals winner, will join ThorSport Racing as a full-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) driver in 2016 piloting the No. 98 Curb Records Toyota Tundra powered by Triad engines. Abreu’s first full-time season in NASCAR’s national touring division will be led by crew chief Doug George as he competes for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors and the 2016 NCWTS championship.

    “This is one of the best opportunities I have been given,” said Abreu. “I appreciate the support and the hard work that everyone at ThorSport Racing and Curb Records has put into all of this for me to live my dream. I’m thankful to be a part of Duke’s (Thorson) team and am excited to race with all my ThorSport Racing teammates and crewmembers.

    “My team, sponsors and fans will know that I’m giving 100% effort every time I’m at the track and on the track. My goal is to get the most out of every lap and every opportunity this season. I’m looking forward to meeting new fans and representing ThorSport and Toyota well.”

    Abreu, 23, has had the type of success in his early racing career that most drivers only dream about. In 2015 the St. Helena, California native competed in more than 100 events, with two major wins. After sweeping his Chili Bowl Nationals preliminary night, winning his heat, qualifier and A-Main, the open wheel standout went on to win the 29th annual Chili Bowl Nationals, one of dirt track racing’s most prestigious events.

    The achievement introduced the talented racer to a new audience – NASCAR. Making just his seventh-career start in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKNPSE), Abreu won his first NASCAR race at Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway (July). The sprint-car sensation concluded his rookie season in the 2015 NKNPSE fifth in points, earning three poles, and leading 119 laps en route to four top-five and eight top-10 finishes. He was also voted as the series Most Popular Driver.

    “Competing full time in the NASCAR K&N East Series prepared me the most for this opportunity,” said Abreu. “My first time being in stock cars and getting a full season under my belt helped me understand how to race and put together full races, longer races, than I was used to running in open wheel cars.”

    In November, 2015, Abreu made his NASCAR national touring debut in the NCWTS at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway and went on to compete in the season-ending event at Homestead-Miami Speedway, earning a career-best finish of 13th.

    “Running the last two Camping World Truck Series races of 2015 was a huge help as well,” continued Abreu. “I know what to expect now compared to last year when I had no experience on tracks bigger than one mile.”

    The NASCAR NEXT alum’s 2016 campaign will be led by NCWTS veteran crew chief, Doug George. Entering his 12th season in the series, George is credited with five poles, two wins, 32 top-five and 65 to-10 finishes.

    ThorSport Racing has competed in the Truck Series annually since 1996 and has fielded at least one truck in 454 races, a series record.

    “We look forward to Rico joining our race team in 2016,” said Duke Thorson, owner of ThorSport Racing. “Rico has proven himself at every level in racing to date, and is a winner and true racer in every sense of the word. He brings a style and attitude that reflects who we are, and what we are all about. We are prepared to give him every single opportunity to win, and look forward to seeing what he can do in his first full-time season in the Truck Series.”

    ThorSport Racing will kick off it’s 21st season of completion in the season-opening NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on Friday, Feb. 19. All the action will be televised live on FOX Sports 1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR channel 90.

    Additional sponsorship for the No. 98 Toyota Tundra will be announced at a later date.

    Abreu plans to defend his Chili Bowl Midget Nationals title on Saturday night in the 30th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The final features will be televised Saturday, Jan. 16 on MAVTV American Real. F or a complete listing of channels, and to request MAVTV, log onto http://www.mavtv.com.