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Tag: Camping World Truck Series

  • Eldora Brings Back Racing Excitement to NASCAR

    Eldora Brings Back Racing Excitement to NASCAR

    It was as if someone turned on a light and all NASCAR fans saw the light, or actually the dirt. Suddenly they saw something that has been missing, all-out three and four wide racing. When Darrell Wallace Jr. took the checkered flag in the Mudsummer Classic, the crowd was on their feet.

    Let’s rewind back to the early days of stock car racing when it was all about the drivers and the sponsors were second. When the competitors got into their cars and strapped in, they were not thinking of the sponsor or bringing the car home in one piece. The drivers were racers; there was no doubt about it. They got behind the wheel of their car and lined up for the race to start and everything else faded away. Suddenly all they could see was the green flag and the cars they needed to pass. If the car wasn’t banged up at the end of the race, the driver wasn’t racing.

    Think back to the Alabama gang with the Allisons and drivers like Cale Yarborogh, Tim Richmond, Richard Petty, and Darrell Waltrip. They drove every lap like it was the last, it was all or nothing. As the saying goes,” Second place is just the first loser.”

    They fought each other hard at every track. The fans knew that no matter what race they attended, it was going to be “on” and they would not go home disappointed. This was real racing from start to finish, drivers have at it. This is what made NASCAR popular. These are stories that many fans have never experienced but only hear about, as slowly things have changed. Many changes have been minor but gradually it has become more about sponsors and bringing the car back in one piece.

    Wednesday night at Eldora Speedway, a simple dirt track reminded long time fans of how racing used to be and the newer fans got a taste of what they’ve been missing. They were enthralled by the competition, and asked themselves, “Where has this been all this time?” Fans were on the edge of their seats, eyes on the television. They didn’t want it to end. Last night the Camping World Truck Series reminded us what we need more of, pure racing. Every lap last night they were up against the wall or each other, they raced hard and the fans loved it. Today, this is what fans are talking about and some are already wondering if they can see more of this in the Cup or Nationwide series. All the fans know is that they want more.

    One has to hope that NASCAR watched and listened to the fans. Each week the sport loses fans in the stands for the races, no matter the division. NASCAR keeps changing the Chase format and adding gimmicks to address the lack of interest. It’s a hard pill to swallow for fans knowing that none of the races made it into a recently released list of the top 50 most-watched sporting events of the year so far.  Maybe the answer for NASCAR was right in front of them at Eldora. Maybe they are fixing things that aren’t broken.

    NASCAR, the fans don’t really want anything fancy, they want great racing like they saw Wednesday night, the kind of racing where you don’t move away from the action because you don’t want to miss anything. Sometimes the answer is in your history. Last night was the kind of racing that made NASCAR so popular. Bring it back and the fans will follow.

     

  • Crafton Wins NCWTS WinStar World Casino & Resort 400

    Crafton Wins NCWTS WinStar World Casino & Resort 400

    By Texas Motor Speedway

    FORT WORTH, Texas (June 6, 2014) – Defending NASCAR Camping World Truck SerIes champion Matt Crafton led a career-best 118 laps to propel him to victory Friday evening in the WinStar World Casino & Resort 400 at Texas Motor Speedway.

    After 26 previous starts and three near misses with runner-up finishes, Crafton (No. 88 Slim Jim/Menards Toyota) finally broke through for his first career victory at Texas Motor Speedway in dominant fashion.

    Crafton led 118 of the 167 laps – the most he has led in a single race in his 14-year career  – and cruised to a 13.302-second victory over runner-up, polesitter Justin Lofton (No. 20 NTS Motorsports Chevrolet). It was the fifth win of Crafton’s career and second of the season, marking the first time in his career he has recorded multiple wins in a single season.

    The only drama remaining late in the race was whether Crafton would be able to go the final 61 laps without a pit stop. While other contenders were forced to pit for a splash of fuel inside of 10 laps remaining, Crafton stayed out, conserved fuel and watched a 3.8-second lead morph into his double-digit margin of victory that established a track record for the series. The previous mark was 11.817 seconds set by Dennis Setzer in this event in 2004.

    Crafton, who started second, had a strong truck from the outset but it didn’t appear initially that he would coast to a victory. Ryan Blaney (No. 29 Cooper Standard Ford), who led 45 laps and finished fourth, and Ron Hornaday Jr. (No. 30 Ruud Chevrolet), who finished sixth, were his chief competition until 10 to go and they were forced to pit. Crafton took the lead from Blaney on Lap 112 and led the final 56 laps for the win over Lofton.

    Joe Nemechek (No. 8 smokeandsear.com Toyota), with 42 combined NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series career starts at Texas Motor Speedway, was on a different sequence then the leaders and took third in his first truck series start at Texas.

    The victory allowed Crafton to take the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship points lead. Crafton, who came into Texas one point behind Timothy Peters (No. 17 Red Horse Racing Toyota), exits with an 11-point lead over Johnny Sauter (No. 98 Nextant/Curb Records Toyota), who finished seventh.

    The race weekend culminates at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday evening when the Verizon IndyCar Series competes in the Firestone 600. Race time is 7:30 p.m. CT.

    Tickets for the Firestone 600 are available by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com or the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at Gate 4 on race day. For additional information, contact the ticket office at (817) 215-8500.

     

  • Jeb and Ward Burton Emotional Over New Truck Ride and Sponsor

    Jeb and Ward Burton Emotional Over New Truck Ride and Sponsor

    Jeb Burton, his father Ward, representatives of his new sponsor Estes Express Lines and his new team ThorSport Racing were all on hand at the Monster Mile this morning to share the news of their partnership in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

    And while father and son are ecstatic with the new opportunity, both admit that the road to this moment has been filled with turmoil and great emotion.

    “I can tell you, from January when the rug was pulled out from under us until now, that was the most devastated I have ever been in my whole life,” Ward Burton said. “Those were weeks and the only time in my life when I could not find anything positive.”

    “It was like this, if you had a child who was sick with cancer and the medicine was there to fix his medical problems but you either did not have the means to do it or the way to do it and you couldn’t save him,” Burton continued. “That’s how I felt.”

    “Jeb has gone through a lot,” Burton said. “We were here in 2012 and had a five-race deal and we worked and worked and worked.”

    “And then we came back in 2013 and then that got pulled out from under us after they had initiated a 2014 contract and even made payments,” Burton continued. “So, you can imagine that Jeb has been through a lot of inner turmoil.”

    “But the way I look at it, it’s going to grow his inner character and when he does have relationships like this, he’s going to work it hard and make it successful and he’s going to appreciate it so much.”

    Jeb Burton was indeed most appreciative as he talked about his new opportunity with Estes and ThorSport Racing. The 21 year old acknowledged that not only would he be racing full-time in the Truck Series for 2014 but also with options for the future as well.

    “It’s a really big deal for me and my family to be with Estes Express Lines,” Jeb Burton, driver of the No. No. 13 Estes Toyota Truck for ThorSport Racing said. “It means a lot to me and I look forward to the future with them.”

    “Each time I get behind the wheel, I’m not only representing the Burton family and ThorSport Racing, now I have the privilege of representing everyone at Estes, which means a team of almost 15,000 employees including more than 6,000 truck drivers.”

    In addition to Estes and ThorSports, both Jeb and Ward Burton were emotional when talking about the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, seeing the Series as giving many young drivers the chance to make their mark. In fact, Burton has already made his mark in the Series, having competed in all four Truck races this year, producing two top-10 finishes and ranking eighth in the Series standings.

    “Thank God for the Truck Series,” Ward Burton said. “Without the Camping World Truck Series, a lot of kids like Jeb wouldn’t have the opportunity either.”

    “It’s such a small window for a driver to get a ride and then win races,” Burton continued. “So, the whole dynamic has changed and if it had been like this when I was coming up, I would have never had a chance. It would have never happened for me.”

    “I didn’t have financial backing to bring with me,” Burton said. “And now, there are a few exceptions, but most for most of the kids don’t have it that way either. The economy and the way businesses have made financial decisions about the sport has just changed so much.”

    Jeb Burton was also emotional as he talked about what he hoped to bring not only to the race track but also to his new Estes family.

    “Last year I had a really good year and we had some good results,” Jeb Burton said. “Hopefully our results will pick up and we will get a win.”

    “I’m really excited to meet all the Estes drivers, bring them to the race track and entertain them every week because I want to make them all NASCAR fans.”

    But for both Ward and Jeb Burton, emotions spilled over as they acknowledged the new opportunity that would kick off at Dover International Speedway this weekend.

    “Everything happens for a reason and I felt that our deal was that way,” Jeb Burton said. “I just keep trying to be patient and get better and improve.”

    “Jeb and I both cried at our announcement with ThorSport and Estes on Tuesday,” Ward Burton said. “I don’t know any other way that I can tell you how much that means to both of us.”

    “Luckily every now and then you meet some people who you have something in common with you and your hard work pays off.”

  • Kyle Busch Wins Caution Plagued SFP 250

    Kyle Busch Wins Caution Plagued SFP 250

    Kyle Busch threw the monkey off his back at Kansas Speedway by winning the SFP 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race. The race saw a series high number of cautions, with nine. Busch added to his 130 career win tally with the victory.

    Busch led a race-best 104 laps winning Friday night’s SFP 250 NCWTS race. The victory was the second of the season in the truck series for Busch. It was his 37th win in the series. The margin of victory came by 3.021 seconds over second-place Matt Crafton.

    “Kansas? I’m a winner at Kansas?” Busch said in mock shock in Victory Lane. Yes, it’s true. Thanks, he said, to a terrific Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota Tundra and an Eric Phillips-led team that were in his words, “flawless.”

    “Just real proud of Eric and all my guys,” Busch said of Phillips, who by winning his 79th race as a truck series crew chief became the series’ winningest crew chief. “It was really good once we unloaded and we just made some slight changes to it, playing around with some things, trying to make it better in practice.”

    Matt Crafton finished second a year after winning at Kansas, and Joey Logano, Busch’s former Sprint Cup teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, finished third.

    Crafton said despite his second-place finish, he had nothing for Busch. “He had a very, very fast truck,” Crafton said. “We were just a little bit scared – we wanted to make a maybe a track bar change – but we were tight center-off all night. We made one adjustment and made it quite a bit better. But then I got a little bit free and tight-off but I was afraid to make any more adjustments to help my off because I knew it was going to hurt my entry.”

    The race was halted nine times by cautions. The most serious being a multi-car incident that involved Johnny Sauter and Ryan Blaney. Blaney spun in turn two and Sauter was hit from behind shoving him straight into the wall and then into the truck of Blaney.

    “We were three wide.” Sauter said, “and I think another truck ran into me in the back and sent me from the bottom of the race track to the top. When I got there, Ryan was sideways and stopped and there just wasn’t enough room between him and the wall.”

    “We were racing hard with Joey and I took it to the fence and they got kind of bottled up there behind me and destroyed our truck,” Blaney, who started the race fourth in points, said.

    “Just hard racing. He (Logano) was just too (close) on my door and it just sent me around, that’s how we got on the apron. Just unfortunate, we had a good truck.”

    The race was slowed for one more caution when Bryan Silas spun. Austin Dillon would lead the charge out of the pits but Busch would take the lead with 21 laps to go and never looked back.

    1 51 Kyle Busch Toyota 1 167
    2 88 Matt Crafton Toyota 9 167
    3 19 Joey Logano Ford 5 167
    4 20 Austin Dillon Chevrolet 7 167
    5 32 Tayler Malsam Chevrolet 13 167
    6 13 Jeb Burton Toyota 6 167
    7 77 German Quiroga Jr Toyota 17 167
    8 30 Ron Hornaday Jr Chevrolet 14 167
    9 8 Joe Nemechek Toyota 16 167
    10 35 Mason Mingus Toyota 18 167
    11 5 John Wes Townley Toyota 11 167
    12 21 Joey Coulter Chevrolet 10 165
    13 10 Jennifer Jo Cobb Chevrolet 27 163
    14 17 Timothy Peters Toyota 8 158
    15 54 Darrell Wallace Jr Toyota 21 156
    16 63 Justin Jennings Chevrolet 26 154
    17 50 T.J. Bell Chevrolet 24 150
    18 57 Norm Benning Chevrolet 29 140
    19 99 Bryan Silas Chevrolet 22 125
    20 31 Ben Kennedy Chevrolet 30 115
    21 98 Johnny Sauter Toyota 3 85
    22 29 Ryan Blaney Ford 2 84
    23 02 Tyler Young Chevrolet 15 84
    24 9 Brennan Newberry Chevrolet 12 76
    25 07 Jimmy Weller III Chevrolet 20 49
    26 08 Todd Shafer Chevrolet 23 37
    27 7 Brian Ickler Toyota 4 9
    28 0 Ryan Ellis Chevrolet 28 8
    29 42 Charles Lewandoski Chevrolet 25 3
    30 23 Spencer Gallagher Chevrolet 19 0
    31 36 Scott Stenzel Chevrolet 31 0
  • Busch Sets New Track Record At Kansas Speedway

    Busch Sets New Track Record At Kansas Speedway

    The pole for the SFP 250 went to Kyle Busch with a new track qualifying record of 178.921 mph. It is Busch’s 13th pole in 117 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) starts and his first in three races at Kansas Speedway.

    The final 12 waited until there were two minutes remaining in the session before taking the track. The field was led to the green by Brandon Newberry who ended up 12th in the final session.

    Knock out qualifying for the Camping World Truck Series went off with only a couple snags. The first occurred when Ben Kennedy got loose and slapped the wall with the rear of the truck and was relegated to a back up truck. The second happened when Darrell Wallace Jr lost a second motor on the weekend in the second round of knock out qualifying.

    Three drivers will be doing double duty this weekend, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, and Ryan Blaney. All three qualified in the top-12 for tonight’s SFP 250.

    1 51 Kyle Busch Toyota ToyotaCare 178.921 30.181
    2 29 Ryan Blaney Ford Cooper Standard 178.873 30.189
    3 98 Johnny Sauter Toyota Nextant Aerospace-Curb Records 178.772 30.206
    4 7 Brian Ickler Toyota Bullet Liner 178.194 30.304
    5 19 Joey Logano Ford Reese Towpower 177.737 30.382
    6 13 Jeb Burton Toyota Carolina Nut Co. 177.556 30.413
    7 20 Austin Dillon Chevrolet NTS Motorsports 177.416 30.437
    8 17 Timothy Peters Toyota Red Horse Racing 177.363 30.446
    9 88 Matt Crafton Toyota Goof Off-Menards 177.032 30.503
    10 21 Joey Coulter Chevrolet VERTX 176.407 30.611
    11 5 John Wes Townley Toyota Zaxby’s Real Chicken 176.396 30.613
    12 9 Brennan Newberry Chevrolet Qore-24 175.673 30.739
    13 32 Tayler Malsam Chevrolet Outerwall 175.587 30.754
    14 30 Ron Hornaday Jr Chevrolet Rheem 174.972 30.862
    15 02 Tyler Young Chevrolet Randco/Young’s Building Systems 174.763 30.899
    16 8 Joe Nemechek Toyota MD Anderson Cancer Center/smokeandsear.com 174.746 30.902
    17 77 German Quiroga Jr Toyota Otter Box 174.678 30.914
    18 35 Mason Mingus Toyota Call 811 174.481 30.949
    19 23 Spencer Gallagher Chevrolet Allegiant Travel 173.656 31.096
    20 07 Jimmy Weller III Chevrolet Geneva-Liberty Steel-Polaris 173.505 31.123
    21 54 Darrell Wallace Jr Toyota Toyota Time Sales Event 173.366 31.148
    22 99 Bryan Silas Chevrolet Bell Trucks America Inc. 172.933 31.226
    23 08 Todd Shafer Chevrolet Thunder Exhaust 167.567 32.226
    24 50 T.J. Bell Chevrolet America’s Linemen 166.492 32.434
    25 42 Charles Lewandoski Chevrolet Randco/Young’s Building Systems 166.128 32.505
    26 63 Justin Jennings Chevrolet Mittler Bros. Machine & Tool 163.211 33.086
    27 10 Jennifer Jo Cobb Chevrolet Mark One Electric 162.891 33.151
    28 0 Ryan Ellis Chevrolet Grimes Irrigation & Construction 161.440 33.449
    29 57 Norm Benning Chevrolet Boedecker Construction-GPC-Whatt Truck Centers 157.779 34.225
    30 31 Ben Kennedy Chevrolet ALS Association 0.000 0.000
    31 36 Scott Stenzel Chevrolet Mittler Bros. Machine & Tool 0.000 0.000
  • John Hunter Nemechek ‘Feeling Good’ With Top-15 Finish in Martinsville Truck Race

    John Hunter Nemechek ‘Feeling Good’ With Top-15 Finish in Martinsville Truck Race

    John Hunter Nemechek, son of Joe Nemechek, was ‘feeling good’ after making his debut in the 2014 Camping World Truck Series at Martinsville Speedway this past weekend.

    In fact the sixteen year old was feeling especially good after finishing eleventh behind the wheel of his No. 8 pelletgrillusa.com/SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Toyota in the Kroger 250

    “It feels good to finish top-15 and run really, really close to the top-10,” the young up and coming driver said. “We ran top-12 most of the day.”

    “There towards the end, I thought we were going to be good restarting on the inside that first green-white-checkered,” Nemechek continued. “The second green-white-checkered, the final one, we ended up starting on the outside and that was not the place to be because you couldn’t get down and you couldn’t pass anybody. The inside line would freight train you.”

    “We battled hard for two laps and didn’t fall back too many positions and finished 11th,” Nemechek said. “Our pit crew was great all day. The guys made very good calls and adjustments. It was a great team effort.”

    Although Nemechek was indeed feeling good, he also had an expectation that he wanted to meet and just came shy of achieving that goal.

    “Our goal was to finish top-10 and we came really close to that,” Nemechek said. “You can’t really be disappointed in missing it by a spot.”

    “To run up in the front with all of the guys that are veterans and have been in the Truck Series forever, it felt really good to run up there and be competitive.”

    “I was overall happy with the day.”

    Nemechek did not feel good, however, about having to wait out the rain delay, which postponed the race from Saturday to Sunday, immediately following the conclusion of the Sprint Cup race.

    “The rain out was boring to tell you the truth,” Nemechek said. “There was nothing going on but just sitting around in the rain.”

    “I got quite a few naps in and got well rested for the race,” Nemechek continued. “That’s always a plus.”

    The rain delay did, however, allow the youngster some good learning opportunities as he watched the big league drivers race, particularly as to how they managed to pass on the short track.

    “We had to come from 20th at the start of the race so watching how the Cup guys were passing and getting to the front was important,” Nemechek said. “It was all interesting just trying to learn.”

    The young driver also observed changes in the track due to the Cup drivers laying down rubber throughout their 500 mile race.

    “Normally we’re the first race on the track and we’re the ones putting rubber down so the track is freer,” Nemechek said. “With the Cup drivers running the track, it really didn’t take that much rubber so their being out there before us made the track a little bit tighter.”

    “The rain made it really loose for them because it was a green race track,” Nemechek continued. “So, as they put rubber down, the race track kept getting tighter and slicker as well.”

    Not only did the sixteen year old have to battle the track but he also had to battle other drivers. And at one point, the Martinsville Truck Series rookie actually became the meat in the middle of a sandwich until one of the other drivers lifted to drift up the track and out of the way.

    “It was tight quarters for sure,” Nemechek said. “I didn’t know that we could run three-wide at Martinsville but we proved that we did.”

    “That was definitely pretty cool to run like that,” Nemechek continued. “I just had to remain calm and do the best I could to stay in there and even gain positions being in that three-way battle.”

    One of the biggest lessons that the young driver took away from the short track, however, was to understand with whom he was racing and to carefully balance respect and aggressiveness.

    “We were around a couple different groups of trucks all day and then we sort of got in a rhythm. We got out on our own and was passing trucks in front of us,” Nemechek said. “We had a really good long run truck.”

    “I didn’t really know who we were around most of the day,” Nemechek continued. “They’re all good to race with but there are a couple guys that you don’t like to race with because they’ll wreck you at any point. So, you just have to watch out for them.”

    “I’m staying out of naming any names on that though.”

    “I learned not to take anybody’s stuff,” Nemechek said. “So, like if they mess with you, you mess with them right back. You have to earn respect with all these veterans in the Series and you do that by running them clean and running them hard.”

    “At the same time, if they rough you up, you rough them back up,” Nemechek continued. “So, it’s all about earning respect and that’s what we take on to the next race.”

    The youngster also admitted that he did get a little bit of advice from Dad, especially when things got challenging during the green-white-checkered battles.

    “Dad kept telling me ‘Good job and keep the tires on it and keep your nose clean so you can be there at the end’, Nemechek said. “That’s what we did and we were there at the end and we got in a good battle for the finish.”

    “The green-white-checkered finish was a new deal for me this year in the Truck Series,” Nemechek said. “We’ve done it plenty of times in other Series so when we did it, my crew chief and dad came on to tell me to drive it like my late model, where we had quite a few green –white-checkers.”

    “So, we did that and didn’t worry about anything else.”

    Because of his age, John Hunter Nemechek’s next race will not be until the Monster Mile in Dover, Delaware and his father instead will be behind the wheel. The young driver will, however, keep himself busy by racing Super Late Models at Asheville and Pensacola until he gets back into the Truck in a few more weeks.

    Most of all, the second generation racer is feeling good about simply having the chance to go and not only follow in his father’s footsteps but also pursue his own dreams of being a successful race car driver.

    “I’m so grateful for this opportunity,” John Hunter Nemechek said. “I’ll be running ten Truck races this year and Dad will be running the other twelve that I can’t run because of my age.”

    “It’s a father-son deal, which is the best.”

  • NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Driver Brennan Newberry Tells His Story

    NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Driver Brennan Newberry Tells His Story

    As with a lot of drivers, Brennan Newberry’s story started very similar but Newberry himself wasn’t the typical young aspiring driver. Newberry lived in Bakersfield, California where his father, Bob Newberry, drove late model race cars. As a young boy, Newberry was around racing a lot but he did not start out thinking about racing, he was more into showing off the car in the garage to his friends. There were not many young boys in the neighborhood that could top having a real race car in the garage.

    Around the age of 8-9, while his dad was working on the race car one day, Newberry asked his dad if he could drive a race car. His father looked at him funny and said, “Nah I don’t think so.” Newberry was not satisfied with that response and said, “C’mon dad I really want to do this, I think this is something I could do, and it looks like fun.” His dad later decided if this was what his son wanted to do then they would to do it right and start with go-karts.

    Newberry’s idea of go-kart racing was on dirt and jumping hills, so he was not too thrilled with his father’s idea.  The following weekend, his father took him to race go-karts.  Newberry thought it was pretty fun and cool, but wasn’t thinking that this was a possible career.

    Newberry raced go-karts for fun until the age of 15 when he decided that he wanted to be more serious, he wanted to race for points, be a champion, and most of all he wanted racing to be a career.

    Being a racer wasn’t easy though. In school he liked to swim, but was not able to go very far on the swim team because of racing.  He missed out on normal school things such as dances, football games, or time with the buddies because his time was spent racing or working on the car.  He has no complaints about it though, it was what was needed to be done for his career.  His family has been very supportive of him and did without things in order for him to race and further his career.

    In 2010, his father formed a team for Newberry to start his career in a limited schedule in the K&N Pro Series.  Suddenly Newberry was racing at tracks like Irwindale Speedway, Phoenix and Sonoma.  These were tracks where another Bakersfield driver used to race, Kevin Harvick.  He raced in his first Toyota All Star Showdown and a limited schedule in the series.

    In 2012, with support from his family they decided in order to go further they needed to go all in.  With his parents and both of his sisters blessing, he decided to run 10 races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS). His first race was at Martinsville, then Charlotte and on to Michigan to name a few.  The NCWTS was a learning experience for Newberry due to the differences in aero packages on the trucks and how they were different than what he had been driving.  During this time he also raced in the ARCA series to help him gain confidence as a driver.

    In 2013 Newberry moved to where the center of NASCAR is, he moved to North Carolina. He moved by himself, to fulfill his dream.

    2013 was the year of ups and downs for Newberry. He was racing in the NCWTS full-time and started off strong by winning the pole at Daytona in his first attempt there. He was with a new team and everything was new and different.

    For the most part it was a year of firsts and so many big moments. He was very well aware of just where and who he was and that he, a young man from Bakersfield, was taking it all in like a sponge. Everyone in his family had made sacrifices and he was going to take in as much as he could knowing his family was behind him 100 percent.

    This season Newberry is running full time in the K&N Pro Series and sharing the NCWTS duties with a new teammate. Newberry will be in the NCWTS for 12 races.  He has nothing but praise about his teammate, 16 year-old Gray Gaulding. He says that they mesh well together and each of them has different strengths and they will be able to learn a lot from each other.

    Newberry also talks about fitness. It’s a must to be a driver if you want the stamina to finish races and keep your mind on the race.  He did a triathlon a couple of years ago and really hopes to get the chance to do another one.  But juggling a busy race schedule with an event like that is easier said than done. He takes pride in being fit; he takes pride in all his accomplishments.

    Newberry never dreamed that first day in the go-kart that he would be where he is today. He owes much to a very supportive family, but doesn’t really take much credit for himself for being where his is today. In his eyes he is living a dream, a dream he didn’t know he had until one fateful day when he realized this is what he was destined to do.

    Newberry doesn’t know where this road will take him, or the ups and downs still to come, but one thing that is for sure is that he is living a dream, this is his story and it’s only the beginning.

    You can follow Newberry on Twitter at twitter.com/brennannewberry or his website at www.brennannewberry.com.

  • “A Frenchman In NASCAR” Comes Alive at Daytona

    “A Frenchman In NASCAR” Comes Alive at Daytona

    MOORESVILLE, NC – February 17, 2014 – While his story may be quite a bit different than the character Jean Gerard that Will Ferrell created in the popular movie “Talladega Nights” a real life Frenchman is coming to race at Daytona this weekend as Nice, France native Michel Disdier will get behind the wheel of the SS Green Light No. 07 Chevy Silverado for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season opening Nextera Energy Resources 250 on Friday night at the Daytona International Speedway.

    Michel visited the USA during a school exchange program years ago and he fell in love with the speed of the high-banked superspeedways. He has spent the last 20 years dreaming about running a NASCAR race at 180 mph on the 2.5-mile Daytona tri-oval. After attending the season ending race at Homestead-Miami in 2002, the French road-racer returned home and has worked twelve years to catch his break racing across the Atlantic from his native homeland. “I have some fans coming to Daytona from France so I hope to put on a good show for them.”

    Michel’s first North America race was in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series back in 2007 and he has made eleven starts in the ARCA Series over the last six seasons with a best finish of eleventh last year at Daytona. “Racing has been my life and although most of my experience has been on road racing circuits in Europe I have always dreamed of racing in NASCAR,” Michel said. “I will have the chance to show what I can do at the Nextera Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway in a NASCAR Camping World Truck and that is all I am focusing on right now. I feel I am ready and am prepared to do well.”

    “With less than one week until the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Daytona, I am of course very excited. For me it has been a long time coming and all the training and preparation will soon be put to the test,” Disdier continued. “I thank everyone who was there for me over the years and I hope I will make them proud.”

    SS Green Light Racing owner/crew chief Bobby Dotter will guide Disdier’s NASCAR debut. “Michel has a lot of enthusiasm and desire to compete in NASCAR, the guys have worked hard in the SS Green Light shop to prepare the No. 07 Silverado. We want him to run well and to help him realize his passion of racing in Camping World Truck Series.”Friday night Michel Disdier will live his life-long dream at Daytona, “I may live in France but now I feel like I am coming home to the USA.”

    The Nextera Energy Resources 250 is the 314th consecutive NCWTS start for the SS Green Light Racing team, a streak that dates back to 2001. The race will prelude Sunday’s 56th running of the Daytona 500.

    Practice for the NCWTS Nextera Energy Resources 250 will be Wednesday February 19th from 2:30 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. and Thursday February 20th from 1:30 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. and 4:40 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Friday February 21st there will be two laps of qualifying at 4:10 p.m. and the green flag will fly for the Nextera Energy Resources 250 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time. The race will be shown live on FOX Sports 1 and will also be broadcast via on the Motor Racing Network and on SIRIUSXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

     

  • NASCAR Unveils the Deterrent System

    NASCAR Unveils the Deterrent System

    In NASCAR, penalties are always inconsistent and there is always controversy surrounding each call. In an effort to make the process more transparent or more black and white, if you will, the powers that be have come up with a new system – the Deterrent System. Infractions are now classified on a scale from warnings to P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, and P6. They have informally handed out warnings in the past but now, they will be tracked and made public. NASCAR reiterated that they will not, under any circumstance, take wins away. They want fans to leave the track knowing who won the race.

    NASCAR also has a new Chief Appelant Officer. Bryan Moss will replace John Middlebrook and NASCAR stressed that the decision to make a change was not due to Middlebrook going against NASCAR in multiple appeals last year. Race manipulation is not included in this new system though, perhaps because it will be treated as a separate entity. Along with organizing the process more, this system slams repeat offenders. For a detailed look at the new penalty scale, click on the chart below…

    Via NASCAR
    Via NASCAR

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    NASCAR Executive VP of Racing Operations Steve O’Donnell

    “NASCAR’s Deterrence System is designed to help maintain the integrity and competitive balance of our sport while sending a clear message that rules violations will not be tolerated. “This is a more transparent and effective model that specifically spells out that ‘X’ infraction equals ‘X’ penalty for technical infractions. At the same time, we believe the Appeals process allows a fair opportunity for our NASCAR Members to be heard, and have penalty disputes resolved by an impartial, relevant group of people with the ability to handle the complexities inherent in any appeal.This system has been tailored specifically to fit the needs of our sport.”

    The appeal process itself will continue to have two levels. The first is a three-person panel, called “The National Motorsports Appeals Panel.” The team involved then has the option to go to the Chief Appellant Officer Bryan Moss. All alterations to the penalty system will be implemented immediately.

  • Dakoda Armstrong Sees New Ride as ‘Greatest Opportunity’

    Dakoda Armstrong Sees New Ride as ‘Greatest Opportunity’

    Twenty-two year old former Truck Series driver Dakoda Armstrong has been tapped by the ‘King’ to drive the iconic No. 43 Ford Mustang full-time in the Nationwide Series. And for Armstrong, he sums up his new ride simply as the ‘greatest opportunity.’

    “Obviously, the iconic number has so much behind it that it would be impossible to live up to the expectations of that,” Armstrong said. “But the fact of knowing that I’m going to be able to run a full season is the greatest opportunity, especially with Richard Petty Motorsports.”

    “I’m very excited and really ready to get going on it and get everything working.”

    As with so much in the sport of NASCAR, Armstrong acknowledged that the deal with RPM came about quickly.

    “One thing in this sport, stuff happens overnight,” Armstrong said. “We were looking for a deal where we could do as much racing as we could.”

    “This deal opened up with Michael Annett leaving and it just worked out perfectly.”

    Armstrong is grateful to not only Richard Petty Motorsports for the opportunity but is also thankful to his sponsor, Winfield, for stepping up to the next level with him.

    “Winfield came on board all this year and helped us out in the Truck Series,” Armstrong said. “They are really, really new to the NASCAR scene but everything they’ve done, they have done a great job with, being able to activate the sponsorship and making sure it’s not just a car and a number.”

    “I think it’s going to be a great fit and our sponsor is really happy to be on board and have that No. 43.”

    Winfield, a Land O’Lakes Company, is a natural fit for Armstrong because of the young driver’s farming background.

    “We deal with them a lot on our family-owned farm so that is how we got in touch with them,” Armstrong said. “It’s all worked out on a local level, then a national level, and now on this new NASCAR level.”

    “They are really excited and I’m really excited for this year and to be able to slap the No. 43 on with their logos puts a big smile on their faces.”

    Although Armstrong will be the new kid on the block, he will have continuity with his crew chief, Philippe Lopez, and the team at the shop and at track.

    “Everyone at the shop, which I’ve just recently met, were already there,” Armstrong said. “Philippe is going to be our crew chief and he has been the crew chief for the last couple of years with the Annett deal.”

    “He’s staying there and I don’t think anyone has left,” Armstrong continued. “So, it’s going to be a team that’s ready to go, which should be good.”

    Armstrong acknowledged that it will take some time for the team, crew chief and himself to gel. But he has every confidence that will occur, especially when they get to their first race together.

    “I’m still learning everybody and they are still learning me,” Armstrong said. “We’re all trying to figure it out.”

    “Once we get to Daytona we’ll be together and ready to go for the season.”

    One of the greatest opportunities that Armstrong has enjoyed so far since the announcement of his No. 43 ride is getting to spend some quality time with the big boss Richard Petty.

    “I’ve talked to him a few times that I’ve been there,” Armstrong said. “He’s just so humble and just like a normal guy that you forget when you’re talking to him that he is the ‘King’.

    “It’s kind of surreal,” Armstrong continued. “He’s told me some stories and how different racing is nowadays. So, that’s pretty cool.”

    The ‘King’ is equally impressed with his new young driver.

    “Dakoda will help us continue the success of our No. 43 Nationwide Series program,” Richard Petty said.  “Dakoda is a driver who has grown up in the sport and has paid his dues.”

    “He has proven himself at every level and we will now give him the tools he needs to be successful in the Nationwide Series and believe he can win races for us.”

    So, what is Armstrong doing in the off-season to prepare himself for the next leap in his career? Why racing of course.

    “I’m actually at Pensacola to do the Snowball Derby right now,” Armstrong said. “I’ve never run a late model in a big race like this.”

    “I did one race when I was 16 years old, so it’s been awhile,” Armstrong continued. “I don’t really know how these things drive so I’m just going to go out and have a lot of fun and a good time.”

    After he finishes his Snowball Derby racing, Armstrong plans to head home to the farm and family in Indiana before he starts the hectic race season.

    “I think I’ll get to see my family a little bit for the holidays,” Armstrong said. “Anytime you can get home to Indiana, I want to and try to.”

    “Definitely after New Year’s I want to really get focused, go to the shop and get ready for the season.”

    An important part of getting ready for the new race season for Armstrong, however, has been taking at least a moment or two to reflect on his good fortune in securing this new ride for a full race season.

    “A month ago, I really didn’t know what would happen,” Armstrong said. “I thought we would just do a partial deal.”

    “Being able to compete for points and being there each and every week is a great benefit,” Armstrong continued. “We’re going to have to make sure that we’re competitive and getting better every week.”

    “One thing about this sport is that you can’t win every week but you can get better each time and that’s what we have to work on.”

    So, what does this new ride really mean to the young driver taking the next step in his career?

    “In one word, other than to be boring and just say like it’s awesome or exciting, I’d have to say it’s the greatest opportunity,” Armstrong said. “Nowadays in this sport, you never know what’s going to happen.”

    “There are so many people looking in from the outside that to have a ride and know I’m doing something full-time for this team is great,” Armstrong continued. “It’s something I’m really excited about.”

    “And now we just have to get ready for Daytona and have some fun.”