Tag: K&N

  • Brandon Gdovic, Ronnie Basset Jr. Among NASCAR NEXT ‘Snubs’

    Brandon Gdovic, Ronnie Basset Jr. Among NASCAR NEXT ‘Snubs’

    Brandon Gdovic and Ronnie Basset Jr., unfortunately, were not selected into the 2014-2015 NASCAR NEXT program, making them this season’s ‘snubs’, however, both competitors are hoping to use the rejection as extra motivation this season and beyond.

    Gdovic, 22, has not begun the 2014 K&N Pro Series East season the greatest. He finished a season-best ninth in the UNOH Battle at The Beach in February, but has yet to experience another top-10 run through four races.

    “This season, obviously, we are not running full-time,” Gdovic explained to Speedway Media on Friday about his time in the K&N East Pro Series this year. “We’re trying to conserve money, but we’ll be running in other series, looking to post some top-fives and compete for wins, just hoping to avoid frustrating weekends.”

    Despite not running the full K&N schedule, Gdovic is still going to be racing at local short track levels trying to re-earn his credibility and recognition.

    “We’ll run the K&N car at Langley Speedway, Virginia (International Raceway), Watkins Glen (International Raceway), Dover (International Raceway), and a few more.” Gdovic further expressed about his plans this season. “We’ll run late models at Langley, some legends and modifieds, we just want to run 50 races this season rather then the 15 on the K&N schedule.”

    Gdovic was not an inductee in this season’s NASCAR NEXT class; however, he’s not dwelling on the unfortunate.

    “I don’t really think about it too much,” Gdovic noted about not being inducted to the 2014-2015 NASCAR NEXT class. “It is what it is, just means I have to try harder, and it is hard to go up against teams like Turner Scott Motorsports, but when you can beat them, it’s just that much more satisfying.”

    Bassett Jr., like Gdovic, has been competing across the eastern coast racing in the UCAR Series and other local divisions, which he believes has helped him improve on the K&N side.

    “It’s pretty cool,” Bassett Jr. explained to Speedway Media on Friday about running across the east coast in a multitude of series. “We’ve traveled around a lot, I’m not one track wonder, and the extra track time at different tracks has really helped a bunch.”

    Bassett, 19, has preformed quite nicely this season in the K&N East Series, finishing a season-best second at Greenville-Pickens Speedway and posting another top-five last weekend at Richmond International Raceway.

    The performances, though, were not enough to include his name on this season’s NASCAR NEXT program.

    “It sucks,” Bassett further explained with a disappointed tone about not getting into the NASCAR NEXT class this season. “It just makes you want to perform better and strive to make yourself better, and open some eyes, but it’s definitely a setback.”

    However, the Winston Salem, North Carolina driver is hoping to prove to critics, and NASCAR, that he deserved a spot on the list.

    “Hopefully, we can give the guys who did get in a run for their money, and show NASCAR they missed out on something, being left out just makes you want to drive harder all the time.”

     

  • Daytona Introduces Short Track Races For Speedweeks 2013

    Daytona Introduces Short Track Races For Speedweeks 2013

    Daytona track president Joie Chitwood III: “Grassroots short track racing is the foundation of this great sport.”

    [media-credit name=”Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR” align=”alignright” width=”222″][/media-credit]Recently announced to take place at Daytona during Speedweeks 2013 is the inaugural “UNOH (University of Northwestern Ohio) Battle at the Beach” event that will include three non-point special races for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified tours, and the Late Model division of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.

    All these series are used as stepping stones to NASCAR’s more lucrative national series, such as Sprint Cup and Nationwide.

    The series’ will race on a temporary oval slated to be a quarter mile (0.4) in length built on the 2.5 mile superspeedway’s back stretch.

    “When I think about adding a short track event here, it’s just an opportunity to connect with that local racer supporting NASCAR,” Mr. Chitwood said.

    He also went on to say he is thrilled to give young drivers the opportunity to fight for a win at the” World Center of Racing”.

    “Many of NASCAR’s greatest stars cut their teeth on short tracks around the country and we look forward to hosting the stars of tomorrow in 2013. Whether it’s a hobby or profession, everybody should have the chance to race at Daytona. ”

    The criteria for setting the field in the event include: winners of the 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West events as well as the series champions will automatically be locked into that series’ race at Daytona next year.
    Additionally, winners of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour or NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour races this season and series champions will be locked into the Modified event.

    The top 10 finishers in this year’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division I national standings will earn a starting spot in the Late Model race.

    And the champions of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, NASCAR Toyota Series from Mexico, and Euro Racecar NASCAR Touring Series this season will earn a protected starting spot in whichever one of the three 2013 Daytona races they choose to run.

    The remaining spots in next year’s features at Daytona will be filled through time trials and heat races.

    The “UNOH Battle at the Beach” event is scheduled for February 18-19, 2013, the Monday and Tuesday before the Daytona 500. Days that are also known as Daytona International Speedway’s “dark days”.