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Tag: Joe Denette Motorsports

  • Ron Hornaday: Smooth Transition to Joe Dennette Motorsports, so far

    Ron Hornaday: Smooth Transition to Joe Dennette Motorsports, so far

    [media-credit id=5 align=”alignright” width=”278″][/media-credit]This year marked a year of change for Ron Hornaday as he switched over to Joe Denette Motorsports (JDM) from Kevin Harvick Incorporated (KHI).

    “Joe is a really pumped about his race team, and it’s quite an honor to drive for Joe and his whole family,” Hornaday says. “They are really dedicated to racing. They put two trucks in the Camping World Truck Series, and it’s an honor.”

    Hornaday made the move from KHI to JDM as Kevin Harvick announced that he and wife Delana were closing the team. The change hasn’t been as drastic as anticipated as the trucks are still built in the KHI building.

    “We lease the shop from Kevin and DeLana and got the fabricators and got Mark Smith doing the motors and all the support from Chevrolet,” Hornaday continues. “So it’s been a real honor to drive for him just because with Jeff Hensley and all the guys really getting the trucks prepared right.”

    Hornaday says that Denette has an active part in the team as he is at shop as much as he can be.

    “He’s got the No. 9 on the side for Bill Elliott,” Hornaday adds. “He’s really a big Bill Elliott fan, and he stays not only at the truck races, he stays for the Cup races where he shows up. So his involvement in racing, he wants to be a champion owner someday.”

    So far this season, it hasn’t started out as Hornaday would have planned as he finished 14th at Daytona and 16th at Martinsville to now sit ninth in points.

    “The first two showings haven’t shown how good the truck is,” Hornaday says. “We spun out at Martinsville and came back through the pack a couple times and got a penalty and went to the back about three times and came back through there. If that shows anything what we have this year for the competition.”

    This weekend marks NASCAR’s return to Rockingham Speedway, which last held a NASCAR sanctioned race in 2004. A lot of people are anticipating it to be a great weekend for NASCAR due to the history of the race track. Hornaday backs it up, stating the track has some of the same characteristics despite the repave.

    “It’s still got the little whoop-di-dos on the bottom and the middle groove is pretty smooth and the top groove is really smooth,” he says. “But they still use the asphalt from down there where it still wears the tires out, so you’ve got to really be patient and control your truck for the whole run and figure out how many sets of tires to get in and see what you’ve got for the race and plan that out.

    “It’s still old Rockingham, but it’s got a little narrower now where you can’t run real close to the wall because of the soft wall moving in. So there will be a different groove up there.”

    It will mark the first time Hornaday has a raced a truck on the oval and he says the racing should be exciting.

    “It’s going to put some exciting racing on because with the new tires you’re going to go out there wide open and then in a matter of five or six laps you’re going to start to really feather the throttle and try to save the tires,” he explains.

    Hornaday hopes to have an advantage this weekend having Ted Musgrave as his spotter.

    “He was so good down there,” Hornaday says. “He’ll be down there for the open test day where maybe he can teach me some patience and try to save these tires.”

  • Joe Denette Hits Lottery Again with New Driver Ron Hornaday and New Home at KHI Shop

    Joe Denette Hits Lottery Again with New Driver Ron Hornaday and New Home at KHI Shop

    Last year, Joe Denette started a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team with his winnings from the Mega Millions Virginia Lottery drawing.

    [media-credit name=”Photo Credit: lotterypost.com” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]But this year, Denette feels like he has hit the lottery all over again by securing veteran and championship Truck Series driver Ron Hornaday, as well as the shop formerly operated by the winners of the 2011 Owner’s Championship, Kevin and DeLana Harvick.

    “I think this is one of the best scenarios I could ask for,” Denette said. “I got one of the best drivers out there in my opinion. I lucked out on this one.”

    Denette said the deal with Hornaday came about over a simple dinner together.

    “Hermie Sadler, my business manager in racing, came to me with a proposal because Hermie and Kevin (Harvick) are pretty good friends,” Denette said. “They started talking back and forth and he started talking to Ron.”

    “We sat down for dinner one night and by the time we were done with dinner, we had a deal struck.”

    While Denette knew of Hornaday’s championship resume, including 51 victories, 27 poles, and 146 top-five finishes, he was most impressed with the veteran driver’s heart and passion for the sport. He also was taken with his new driver’s desire to keep winning.

    “His passion and his desire to keep winning impressed me most,” Denette said. “His goal is to win a fifth championship. When he left the table, he asked me what I expected from hi and I said just to give it your all and compete.”

    “I told him, I want you to win your fifth championship with Joe Denette Motorsports.”

    Hornaday, a 14-year veteran of the Truck Series, shared Denette’s excitement for his new ride, especially with the closure of his former team, KHI Motorsports.

    “I’m very excited for the opportunity to work with JDM next season,” Hornaday said. “This is a young team and they have put a lot of the right people in place to win races and compete for a championship in 2012.”

    “I’m honored to continue my relationship with Chevrolet and I’m looking forward to a successful 2012 season.”

    Another important part of Hornaday’s team that will be come to Joe Denette Motorsports is crew chief Jeff Hensley. And, according to Denette, one of the best holdovers from the KHI days is that the team will actually be running out of the former race team’s shop.

    “We hired Jeff a week or two before we hired Ron,” Denette said. “We’re actually going to be running out of Kevin’s old shop.”

    “I feel like I’m taking over where Kevin left off.”

    While Denette confirmed that he will definitely be running one truck full-time, as he did last season in his rookie year, he also revealed that he may be running a second truck, perhaps even on a full-time basis.

    “Right now we are running the No. 9 truck with Ron driving and several races throughout the season, we planned on running a second truck,” Denette said. “But from what my understanding is Hermie (Sadler) is already striking some deals where I feel like we’re going to have two trucks on the track this whole season.”

    “I’m not 100% sure but I know for a fact that Elliott Sadler will be driving a few races this year and I also believe that Kevin (Harvick) wants to run a few Truck races for me this year.”

    “In essence, he’ll be driving his old stuff, so I figure it’s a win/win situation.”

    As with many NASCAR teams currently, Denette continues to be in the hunt for sponsors at all levels for his race trucks.

    “We’re still working on sponsors,” Denette said. “Right now, I’m still open for sponsorship.”

    “If someone wants to come up with some money and wants their company or logo on the side of my truck or on the hood of the truck, I’d gladly take it,” Denette continued. “I’ll put anybody on the truck that wants out there.”

    In addition to sponsorship dollars, however, what Denette is dreaming about most is getting that first ever race win next year with his new team and driver.

    “The first win, there will be nothing like it,” Denette said. “That’s what I came into the sport to do.”

    “I want to win,” Denette continued. “I want to win a driver’s championship. I want to win an owner’s championship. I want a NASCAR trophy of my own.”

    This week, Denette is going to finish up the 2011 season by heading to Las Vegas for NASCAR Championship week, taking the opportunity to check out that NASCAR trophy that he is so hoping to win next year.

    And, yes, Denette will not only be heading to the championship banquet but also hoping that he will get lucky at some of the black jack tables in the casinos as well.

    “I actually purchased a table at the banquet and have a group of six people coming with me,” Denette said. “We will have Hermie Sadler and his wife and some people who won a contest through the Virginia Lottery.”

    “It’s pretty cool. When you meet the drivers in person, it’s cool,” Denette continued. “You can sit down and talk to them. I played black jack last year with Kenny Wallace and Kurt Busch.”

    The biggest lesson that Denette has learned in his rookie year is that racing is indeed all about the people in the sport, especially having the right people in the right places to win. And, through it all, Denette’s passion for the sport, especially the Truck Series, has remained strong, if not increasing even further.

    “I love the sport even more now,” Denette said. “I have more access to come up to the drivers and talk to the drivers and shoot the breeze. I run across these guys all the time and I’m still amazed at what they do.”

    “Just go to a Truck race,” Denette said. “It’s unreal. Any day, any time, anybody can be a winner there.”

    “I’ve got a passion for trucks,” Denette continued. “To see them racing, it’s pretty cool.”

    “The Truck Series is the grass roots of NASCAR,” Denette said. “It’s how the sport started.”

    “And the best part is that anybody can come to the track and win.”

  • Jason White Hits Lottery Again for Joe Denette Motorsports with Best Team Finish

    Jason White Hits Lottery Again for Joe Denette Motorsports with Best Team Finish

    With his Mega Millions lottery winnings in hand, Joe Denette has been living the NASCAR dream , creating his own Camping World Truck Series team, Joe Denette Motorsports, this season.

    But Denette’s driver, Jason White, behind the wheel of the No. 23 BunBroker.com Chevrolet, hit the lottery again for him, scoring the team’s best finish ever at Kentucky Speedway this past weekend.

    [media-credit name=”Photo credit joedenettemotorsports.com” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]After battling eventual race winner Kyle Busch in the final restart, White was able to score his first top-5 finish in 2011 and a career best finish for Joe Denette Motorsports.

    “It’s huge,” White said of his finish. “To drive for Joe Denette Motorsports is awesome.”

    “The guy was a huge NASCAR fan and hit the lottery and now for his first season to be able to come out and be competitive and to have a chance to win a race was big for him and us,” White continued. “It’s exciting for the team.”

    White credits the career best team finish with testing that he and his crew did at Rockingham the week before, along with fellow driver and competitor Ron Hornaday.

    “We went testing the week before with Ron Hornaday and we learned a lot, what not to do and what to do,” White said. “I ended up being just as fast as him so the team was all excited about that.”

    “We took what we learned there and took it to Kentucky,” White continued. “So, with the setup we came up with at Rockingham, we just fine tuned it.”

    White practiced in the top-10 and told his team that he thought they had at least a top-five truck and potentially could win the race.

    “I ended up qualifying ninth and even took the lead, going back and forth with Austin Dillon,” White said. “So, that was pretty exciting.”

    Unfortunately, White and his team had a problem with the jack during one of the pit stops later in the race and came out in seventh. He was, however, able to charge back to the front of the field, before the caution flew yet again.

    “That last restart, we were fourth and so basically went to second in the first turn and came up to Kyle (Busch) and was about to pass him for the lead with three to go and the caution came back out for that big wreck,” White said. “I was like ‘oh, man, I didn’t need that.’

    White also knew that the bottom of the track had limited grip and was very slick. On the restart, the young driver spun his tires, allowing Kyle Busch to go on to win the race.

    “I would have been OK but Elliott (Sadler) made it three wide and that really hurt us bad,” White said. “He was doing what he had to do, but looking back, if he would have just pushed me or stayed in line, we could have both had a chance on Kyle (Busch).”

    “We ended up fifth but it was a great weekend for the entire team,” White continued. “To be able to compete for the win was definitely exciting and we will be able to continue that throughout the rest of the season.”

    White was also pleased that he got to lead a few laps at Kentucky Speedway. And, although he has led before, particularly at Bristol, this meant a lot to the young driver.

    “I’ve led laps the last couple of years here and there but this year, we’ve got better equipment and better stuff,” White said. “We’re trying to be able to continue on with that for the rest of the season.”

    As for race winner and competitor Kyle Busch, White and his team are just a bit tired of continuing to run behind him.

    “I learned from him, but I’m just ready to beat him,” White said. “I’m at the point now that I can beat him.”

    “If we could have restarted the race the time before, I think we could have gotten him,” White continued. “We had a lot of fun and we learned what we did wrong and will fix it for next time.”

    White is definitely looking forward to his next chance, which will come this weekend in the Camping World Truck Series Coca-Cola 200 presented by Hy-Vee at Iowa Speedway.

    “I always liked the track,” White said. “We’ve always been fast there.”

    “I think we’ll be top-five and contending for the win,” White continued. “If we’re not, I’ll be disappointed.”

    “I really believe that with what we learned last week, we should be able to go out and continue to do what we did last week.”

    While Joe Denette most definitely feels like he won the lottery twice now after the team’s best career finish, White has reserved his judgment.

    “I don’t necessarily feel like I’ve won the lottery yet,” White said. “I need to win a race first.”

    “This weekend was a great shot in the arm, it was great for me and it was great for the team,” White continued. “But I want to be able to win. We need to win.”

    “This is the momentum we needed to continue for the next few races so we can prove we can go out there and do it,” White said. “Once I win a race, then I’ll say ‘I’ve won the lottery.’

  • Joe Denette Parlays A Dollar and A Dream Into His Own Race Team

    Joe Denette Parlays A Dollar and A Dream Into His Own Race Team

    Every NASCAR fan dreams of winning the lottery and starting his or her own race team.  NASCAR fan Joe Denette did just that, parlaying his dollar and his dream into his own race team after winning the Mega Millions Lottery.

    [media-credit name=”Joe Denette Motorsports” align=”alignright” width=”210″][/media-credit]The Fredericksburg, Virginia native had been a bit down on his luck prior to picking the winning ticket.  In fact, Denette was unemployed.

    “I was a construction worker up until January of 2009 and then I got laid off,” Denette said.  “In May of 2009, I hit the lottery and I’m still laid off.”

    “I just played the lottery like I usually do and woke up one morning in May and found that I had won,” Denette said.  “Needless to say I went from there to the race track.”

    At the race track, in fact at Richmond International Raceway, Denette met Hermie Sadler, NASCAR driver and SPEED TV personality.  Denette and Sadler clicked during a ride around the track in celebration of his lottery win and the partnership was formed.

    “During the check presentation for the lottery, he (Sadler) drove me around the track and that’s how I got with him,” Denette said.  “We became friends then and we’re still real good friends.”

    “One thing led to another and we started talking about starting our team,” Denette said.  “And that’s what we did.”

    Denette decided to focus on the truck series because of his affinity for the race vehicles.

    “I love trucks to start with,” Denette said.  “I drive a truck myself so I’m a little partial to trucks.  I’ve always loved racing and this will be the best start.”

    After claiming his winnings of over $70 million, Denette decided to first work with his new NASCAR mentor Sadler to field a truck at the Bristol race in 2009, with Sadler behind the wheel.  Denette continued to support Sadler in various runs throughout 2010 before deciding to launch his own team for 2011.

    This year, Denette will launch his new Camping World Truck team, Joe Denette Motorsports.  The new owner plans to participate in the season opening truck race at Daytona and will run the entire 2011 schedule.

    “To start with, we plan on winning races and winning the championship,” Denette said confidently.  “Jason White will be driving our No. 23 truck and GunBroker.com is our primary sponsor.”

    “We are running all 24 races and we will make them and contend for a championship.”

    Denette is most confident in his new team, as well as his driver, citing White’s experience, as well as his pole run at Daytona last year.  “I think he can do it again this year,” Denette said.

    White will be paired with crew chief Chad Kendrick, fresh off his stint with Germain Racing, where he worked with drivers such as Max Papis, Stacey Compton, Narain Karthikeyan, and Timothy Peters.  The 31 year old driver, competing in his  fourth year in the series, echoed the confidence of his new owner as well.

    “I feel like I am finally somewhere that I can grow, be competitive and race for wins,” White said.  “With this team and my sponsor behind me, I feel like we will be not only win races but contend for the championship.”

    Denette is sparing no expense in his racing endeavor.  Under the tutelage of Sadler, he has purchased top notch equipment, as well as forming an alliance with Kevin Harvick Inc.

    “We’re renting a place to house all of our trucks from KHI,” Denette said.  “Kevin Harvick is also doing all of our chassis and bodies and we basically have an alliance so we get our research and development from him.”

    Although Denette is trying to be as involved as he can in all aspects of his new truck team, he is primarily focusing on the business side of the operations.

    “But as many chances as I can get to go to the shop, I take,” Denette said.  “And as many times as I can get to the track, I will go.”

    Denette clarified, however, that he might not be able to make the trip himself for the first race of the season at Daytona.

    “My wife’s expecting a baby, due the following week and we’re not sure if he’s going to wait until then,” Denette said with a chuckle.  This will their first child and he realizes that, although he is now a NASCAR team owner, he has little control of when his son decides to enter the world.

    “When he’s ready, he’s ready,” Denette said.

    Although Denette is experiencing many new transitions in his life, from husband to father and from unemployed to NASCAR truck team owner, he still primarily defines himself as a race fan.

    “I’ve been a NASCAR fan my entire life,” Denette said.  “Now rather than sitting in the stands just watching the race, I’m a part of it.  I’ll be in the pits and a part of all the action.”

    “A lot of times, I do want to pinch myself,” Denette continued.  “And I think, I hope I don’t wake up from this dream.”