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Tag: K&N Pro Series East

  • LaJoie Returns To Victory Lane

    LaJoie Returns To Victory Lane

    Picks Up First K&N Pro East Win Since 2012 At New Hampshire
    By Jason Christley, NASCAR

    LOUDON, N.H. (July 16, 2016) – Corey LaJoie returned to Victory Lane in dominating style Saturday night.

    LaJoie led the final 34 laps and drove away from the field on a green-white-checkered finish to win the United Site Services 70 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It was LaJoie’s first win since 2012 when he had five victories en route to a runner-up finish in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.

    The victory came twenty years to the week that his father, two-time NASCAR XFINITY Series champion Randy LaJoie, won at New Hampshire. A then four-year-old Corey was in Victory Lane with his dad that day.

    This time, Corey LaJoie was the elder statesman, as the 24-year-old NASCAR Next alum held off runner-up Todd Gilliland, 16, and 17-year-old third-place finisher Justin Haley.

    Kyle Benjamin and Austin Theriault finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

    LaJoie was making his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East start of the season, driving the No. 41 CarQuest Auto Part Chevrolet for Ranier Racing with MDM. He started second alongside teammate Benjamin and took the lead from him on Lap 39.

    It was sweep redemption for LaJoie, who suffered a mechanical failure while running in the top 10 earlier in the day in the NASCAR XFINITY Series race. LaJoie also twice came close to winning the NASCAR K&N Pro Series race at New Hampshire. He was was runner-up to Kyle Larson in 2012, and wrecked late in the running of the 2010 race while battling for the lead.

    Hunter Baize was sixth Saturday night, followed by Harrison Burton, Trey Hutchens, Ryan Preece and Tyler Dippel.

    With his finish, Haley was able to keep his lead to 40 points over Benjamin with five races remaining.

    The United Site Services 70 will air on NBCSN on Thursday, July 21 at 11 p.m.

    The NASCAR K&N Pro Series will next run at Iowa Speedway in the annual combination showdown with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West in the Casey’s General Store 150 presented by Vatterott College on Friday, July 28.

    Complete Results:

    [pdf-embedder url=”http://www.speedwaymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/race_results_-_nhms-KN.pdf”]

  • For Dalton Sargeant, Everything is Brand Spanking New

    For Dalton Sargeant, Everything is Brand Spanking New

    For Dalton Sargeant, who is running in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series this season, everything is brand spanking new, from his new sponsor to his new crew chief. And with that, Sargeant simply cannot wait for the drop of the green flag in his new rookie season.

    One of the biggest new things in the life of this up and coming driver is his sponsor. GALT, Global Asphalt Logistics and Trading, has stepped up to sponsor the Sargeant’s No. 51 Chevrolet for the full K&N East Season. GALT is a leader in asphalt trading around the world and will start their new sponsorship at the season opener on February 15>th at New Smyrna Speedway.

    “GALT was one of our partners when I was living in Europe,” Sargeant said. “They wanted to help out with my future moving forward. I had a good relationship with them through my father.”

    In addition to the K&N sponsorship, GALT will have their name on all Sargeant’s race cars, from being an associate partner on the No. 5s Wauters Motorsports machine in several super late model events to sponsoring the No. 51 Lee Pulliam Performance machine in select NASCAR Hometracks late model events.

    “It’s so exciting and refreshing to have GALT come on board with us in every single motorsports discipline we’ll be participating in during the 2015 racing season,” Sargeant said. “GALT has a great group of people behind them and it’s been a pleasure working towards this goal with them.”

    “I can definitely draw so many parallels between a company like GALT and an organization like HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks. It was evident after the first time our friends at GALT stepped into the facility at HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks and saw the resources and equipment that they were just as excited about the 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series racing season as we were.”

    “It was really refreshing to see that kind excitement with GALT and their associates and their level of involvement just grew from there. They realized this wasn’t just another race team but an organization that could push their brand to a whole new level.”

    “I’ll try to help them mobilize their name, particularly in America, because they are more of a European company. So, I hope to help them gain in popularity.”

    Along with his new sponsor, Sargeant also has a brand new crew chief in Kris Bowen, whose resume includes a New Hampshire win, two poles and 16 top-5 finishes under his belt in his three seasons atop the pit box.

    “I’m very excited to work with Kris,” Sargeant said. “He’s been a driver himself and has worked with some good drivers as well. He’s a great guy and he will play a vital role in my career prospects.”

    “We’re definitely very similar. We like to joke around a little bit and have fun off and on the track. I’m really excited to work with him.”

    Bowen is equally as excited to get started with his brand new driver.

    “This is such a great opportunity for not only myself but also for such a talented driver like Dalton Sargeant,” Kris Bowen said. “I’ve been watching Dalton since he made his debut on the late model stock car scene in 2014 and have been impressed with his results with such little stock car and oval experience for that matter. He came from a background in karting which is where I began my racing career as well, he’s a perfect example of a driver who’s taken all the attributes of being a successful driver in karts and has applied them in stock cars with great success.”

    “With a great driver and all the tools, cars and equipment that I could ever ask for from a great organization like HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks, I’m really looking forward to this opportunity and can’t wait to get started at New Smyrna Speedway.”

    In addition to the K&N Series, Sargeant also hopes to weave in other new opportunities for getting seat time and time behind the wheel, especially on tracks where he lacks familiarity.

    “I’m going to be running the full K&N East Series and I’ll also try to fit in a few K&N West races, although we haven’t determined which ones yet. Whenever I have off, we’re going to fill in with some other stock races,” Sargeant said. “It’s tough because they changed the testing policy. It will definitely make things more tricky for the rookies coming in this year. I’ve already gone to several of the tracks before in the past and I’m going to try to run Super Late Models and stock races at those tracks prior to my K&N races.”

    “I think the biggest challenge will be figuring out the new car with no time to test and no time in it.”

    While everything is brand spanking new for the young driver who caught everyone’s eye after finishing runner up in the Snow Ball Derby, Sargeant is definitely set for the 2015 race season.

    “I definitely have high expectations for myself going into this new season,” Sargeant said. “I definitely want to run really well. The pressure is not really high.”

    “I’m just another guy from South Florida,” Sargeant continued. “I have kind of a cool background coming from open wheel cars, which is kind of different. But at the end of the day, I want to get out there and do the best that I can.”

    “This winter break has definitely been too long. I’m ready to start the new season and go racing.”

     

     

  • An interview with Rico Abreu – Teleconference Transcript

    An interview with Rico Abreu – Teleconference Transcript

    January 20, 2015

    THE MODERATOR:  Good morning everyone and welcome to today’s teleconference with the newest full-time driver at HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks, Rico Abreu. Rico won the 2015 Chili Bowl last weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and as previously mentioned has secured his first full-time ride in NASCAR.

    Congratulations, Rico. Thank you for joining us today.

    RICO ABREU:  Thank you, guys. I’m really excited for what is to come and looking forward to all my new goals and accomplishments.

    1. With this coming a couple days after the Chili Bowl, I would assume that it was signed before or did you sign it after? Did winning the Chili Bowl have any effect on it?

    RICO ABREU:  No, no effect at all. The Chili Bowl is what I look forward to the whole year. Then again, this whole K&N East schedule with Harry and Justin, it’s just been a tremendous 2014, and I’m looking to build off it for 2015.

    1. The kind of alterations to the pedals and seats in a stock car, is it any different than what it would be in the sprint cars that you’ve been driving?

    RICO ABREU:  Yeah, the sprint car is a lot different because you sit down like you sit in a chair when you sit in a sprint car. So your legs are underneath you. My sprint car, the pedal location, there are foot blocks that allow my feet to reach the pedals. Then the seat is pushed forward about six inches. So it’s a little different than the stock car where you’re more sat down and your legs are in front of you and the pedals are moved toward you like you sit in a vehicle you drive daily. All the modifications are really simple.  Nothing is way off the radar that they did and it’s really safe. Everyone agreed with every decision and every modification they made. So I’m really excited and really comfortable sitting in a car that I haven’t even raced yet.

    1. Talk about your hopes and dreams of being in NASCAR and how you see your career laying out ahead of you now?

    RICO ABREU:  I think it’s a big step, really, just because I come from the open wheel world where everyone knows everyone. And there are so many more NASCAR fans that don’t follow dirt racing and don’t know what I do, so I’m really looking forward to it. I don’t know. I think the fans will react a lot differently than the average driver — average-looking driver coming to NASCAR. I’m excited to see how it goes. I think it’s going to be just fine.

    I think I’m planning on having a lot of success. The people that I’ve surrounded myself with are phenomenal people, and I think that raises the bar and raises my confidence level and support.

    1. I got a kick out of the picture. I think you tweeted it. Tony Stewart was getting the surface ready and you were talking and obviously he thinks a lot of you. What race car drivers in any division are you friends with? You’ve been around a while and talking to them and hanging out with them.

    RICO ABREU:  Yeah, I really got to know Tony through one of my best friends Kyle Larson. Kyle has made a really big impression in the sport over the last year just with all the success he’s had. I’ve known Kyle for the last six years, and I consider him a brother. His parents really could be my mom and dad just how close we are or how close I am to his family and him.

    So Kyle is definitely the one I really look up to and the one I can go to for anything just because our close friendship and relationship we have together. Then the people I’ve met through Kyle like Tony and Kasey, and there are so many other drivers I feel I can go to for support and that will support me. My confidence is so high. I’m just really looking forward to it. I don’t think I’m going to have too many problems to deal with.

    1. Congratulations, Rico on the new opportunity. It came a little faster than we anticipated. But talk about going to New Smyrna this weekend and the challenges that lay ahead there? Because from your conversation with us Saturday night this will be your first opportunity getting in a stock car and actually racing; is that correct?

    RICO ABREU:  Yes, I’ve never even raced one. Like yesterday I just drove it around the parking lot for the first time, a late model. So my whole goal on going to New Smyrna is just getting laps in and making sure I’m comfortable in the race car. I started reading a book yesterday that Ross Bentley has wrote, and he says in it the most important thing is being comfortable in your race car and that is so right. So that’s my whole goal about this weekend is getting comfortable and making sure that everything is right just so I don’t run into problems down the road where I’m not comfortable. Because you have to be a hundred percent in these race cars and you can’t lose concentration when you’re racing about being uncomfortable. So that is my biggest thing about this weekend is just making sure I’m in my comfort zone and making sure everything’s right and getting in as many laps as I can on the track.

    1. Following up, Rico, it was mentioned that the set-up in sprint cars is with the blocks. Is the set-up going to be similar to that in the stock cars do you think?

    RICO ABREU:  It’s somewhat similar, like the spacing behind the seat is really the same. There’s not a big spacer, but there is a decent sized spacer behind my seat to get me closer to the steering wheel because NASCAR has so many rules where you can’t be too far away from the seat — the tubing on the frame of the car. The pedals are mounted right under the dashboard and the dashboard is moved up closer to me where I can reach all the electronics. Everything is correct, and nothing is way far off, like I said, the radar that they did. If you look in my cockpit, it’s hard to tell there is a difference. The only difference is I’m sitting a lot closer and the pedals are closer to me, but the adjustments aren’t that bad.

    1. Have you been working hand-in-hand with NASCAR to get prepared for the modified for the K&N races?

    RICO ABREU:  Yeah, NASCAR came and saw all the improvements and they’re fine with it all. So it’s pretty cool that they got it all done in one try, and they didn’t have to really change anything. They’re satisfied with all the adjustments that they did. They said everything is safe and looks safe, and I feel safe in the race car so I think that is the big first step.

    1. You mentioned that a lot of NASCAR fans might not follow the sprint car racing as much and might not know what you do. But I would think over the last three days a lot of them probably do know who you are. Can you talk about what things have been like since Saturday and do you sense that this announcement’s coming at the right time with everybody learning who you are right now?

    RICO ABREU:  Yeah, it’s pretty cool. Saturday was a big night for me just because of all the coverage that the Chili Bowl has gotten and the people that have attended that event Saturday night. I was watching the race in the infield of the track, and I look over and see Roger Penske. It was his first time at the event, and he came and introduced himself, and I asked him what he thought and he said this is unbelievable. And Kurt Busch was there and Danica and all these people were so intrigued.

    Without testing — NASCAR taking the testing policies away all these drivers are looking for something to do, and I think the Chili Bowl is the event to go to in January. Then let alone me winning it in front of such a big crowd, it’s just been a phenomenal week and weekend. People don’t experience many situations like that, and it’s definitely one I’ll never forget, and I’m so glad that all these people that are associated with me were a part of it all.

    1. Rick, a lot of people on Twitter posted throughout the Chili Bowl weekend that someone should give you a shot in NASCAR. I was just wondering, what was it like for you reading those? Does that give you more confidence going into this deal?

    RICO ABREU:  Definitely humbling, that’s for sure. You know, when I grew up I played sports and I wrestled in middle school, and all my friends and classmates kind of outgrew me. I was limited to the things I could do and I became a big race fan. Well, I didn’t even think I could race until I did it for the first time, let alone be so competitive so quickly in my career.

    It’s just so cool to have the feeling that people really believe in you and would like to see you achieve. Then let alone winning the Chili Bowl and all the prestigious races I got to win last year. I think a lot of people believe in me, and it gives me a lot of confidence and humbles me. So I’m glad that people can really see who I am and they don’t judge me for what I look like or why I’m doing it. I’m doing it because I’m a racer and I love the sport.

    1. Rico, a lot of very good racers have made careers out of racing in sprints. Was the opportunity to compete in NASCAR a goal that you set for yourself?

    RICO ABREU:  Last year it wasn’t. Until I had all my success this year, I set goals last year that I never thought I would achieve and I achieved them. So the end of last year the discussion came up and the opportunity was there, and I said why don’t we give it a shot? Because I can always come back to sprint car racing if NASCAR doesn’t work out or if something happens where I can’t race or you’re not competitive. Which I don’t feel — I feel I will be competitive just with all the experience I’ve already gained racing a hundred times a year.

    You know, I’m on the same path as a lot of these NASCAR standouts were on. So I’m pretty confident about all of it, and I’m really excited to see what happens in the next few months.

    1. Speaking of how often you were racing before, you’re down for, I guess, it’s 14 or whatever K&N races. How will that schedule impact your sprint car schedule? Will there be any big races on the sprint car side that you’ll have to miss or anything because of the K&N schedule?

    RICO ABREU:  A few races. It won’t impact my sprint car schedule at all. The K&N schedule is going to be my priority, and then I’ll race sprint car races and midget races around it. I’m planning on racing 120 times this year and as many as I can get in.

    I was talking to Tony at the Chili Bowl, and I told him there is a conflict where the K&N guys are at Dover, and there are three sprint car races at Williams Grove, and he said don’t worry about that, I’ll get you there. So it’s pretty cool that I have Tony behind me on all this and Kyle. It just allows me to race even more than I was already planning on.

    Next year — my goals this year are pretty high to just finish all these K&N races and be there at the end of them. If I could win some of them, or win one of them I’d be in awe.  I’m really looking forward to racing with Harry and Justin Marks and the whole organization they’ve built together.

    1. Congrats again, the whole dirt community is proud of you. First off we have Keith Kunz coming on Winged Nation today. How much do you attest your quick success so far in the past five years, even the last three years with him on him and Pete Willoughby’s success with midgets?

    RICO ABREU:  Keith and Pete have been a big part of my career. If it wasn’t for those two guys there’s no way I’d be here where I’m at today let alone all the success I’ve had.  Pete and Keith are someone I’ve really looked up to. Over the past few years that I’ve gotten to know them, I’ve stayed at his house, and we do a lot of things outside of racing and just having a great friendship. Let alone the career success they’ve had together, those two, I’m pretty sure they’ve been together for 19 years this year racing midgets, and that is an unbelievable success that they’ve had with the championship and winning the Chili Bowl and winning the Belleville Midget Nationals twice, and all the major midget events. There are so many great drivers that have come out of their camp to NASCAR I’m just honored to be a part of their team still.

    1. You had been in an outlaw car five years ago.  Did you ever dream this day would come?

    RICO ABREU:  No, I had no idea. It’s so cool to see what’s been going on and to be a part of it.  It’s all about the people I’ve surrounded myself by and gotten to know. They’ve all been a part of it, and I’ve had a lot of great opportunities that I’ve taken advantage of, and it’s been so much fun. I’m really looking forward to the future.

    1. When did it sink in for you that you won the Chili Bowl or has it sunk in yet?

    RICO ABREU:  Yeah, probably Sunday morning on the way to the airport when I got to the airport and all these fans were wanting pictures and autographs right before we got on the plane. Then I got on the plane and flew to Chicago, and when we landed they announced on the plane that the Chili Bowl National winner is on this flight, Rico Abreu, they actually said Rich Ab Roe, and then they came back and said Rico Abreu.

    So I never thought this day would come, but now that I think about it, it’s so cool to win the Chili Bowl because there are not too many drivers that have. The race has been put on for 29 years in a row, and there have only been 18 different drivers to win it. So it’s pretty cool the car count they get and the fan base they’ve built and the build up around the event, and then let alone win it is unbelievable. It’s definitely one of the biggest wins in my career and one I’ll never forget about.

    1. Based off what we saw on social media, your win was very popular in the motorsports community. Out of all the congratulatory messages you received publicly or privately, was there someone you heard from that you weren’t expecting and meant more than the others?

    RICO ABREU:  No, you know, everyone that usually congratulates me after I win any race was there to congratulate me. Then all the people that I’ve gotten to meet over the last year that are in NASCAR congratulated me that I’m well aware of.  It’s just pretty cool to win and to see all the congrats is very humbling.

    Probably the biggest one was just my family. They don’t get to many races and they were there.  So they got to see me win in front of such a big crowd, I think that was the coolest part of it overall, the congrats. Then my mom and dad were there, and they were just so proud. That’s really the one that means the most to me.

    1. Rico, congratulations on today’s announcement.  Do you have sponsorship ironed out for the 14 NASCAR K&N East races this year?

    RICO ABREU:  They’re still working on it. I’m not sure who the primary sponsor is going to be.  I think they’re going to announce it soon. But as of right now it’s going to be Harry Scott with Justin Marks Racing.

    1. Can you talk about your relationship with Justin Marks?

    RICO ABREU:  Yeah, I’ve gotten to really know Justin over the past few years just being, obviously friends with Kyle and a part of their sprint car team that they built together. I think it’s so cool that he’s become a part of Harry’s K&N East team and co-owner in it, and he’s going to get to run some races this year for their team. So I think Justin’s a big influence on that whole program and he’ll help it even more.

    Justin’s a very smart man, and in all sorts of situations, business, and let alone just being a friend I think he’s going to be really fun to be around all year. He’ll be on the majority of the races and someone I’ll be able to go to and talk about racing or just talk about being friends.

    1. Final question is how is your test going today at Motor Mile?

    RICO ABREU:  It’s in like five minutes when I get off the phone with you guys.

    1. Two questions, one, with racing, and one sort of about a hobby I’ve seen you enjoy doing. The first question is so you’re planning on doing the majority of your outlaw and midget stuff and K&N?

    RICO ABREU:  Correct. The K&N East schedule will be my priority, and then I’ll fill in sprint car and midget races around the schedule and plan on running 110 to 120 races this year like I did last year. I feel like I’m more capable of doing that with all three teams, but I’ll be associated with the midgets and the sprint car and the K&N East cars.

    I think the year Kyle ran the K&N East schedule he raced 130 times, so I think I’m more than capable of running 110 to 120 this year.

    1. I’m seeing a couple pictures. I also write and do photography.  Is photography a hobby of yours? I’ve seen a couple pictures of you shooting at the Chili Bowl.

    RICO ABREU:  Not so much. I do enjoy nice photography pictures, but I’m not into photography or anything. I was just someone took a picture of me taking a picture.

    FastScripts by ASAP Sports

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  • Mike Stefanik Humbled Awaiting Hall of Fame News

    Mike Stefanik Humbled Awaiting Hall of Fame News

    Later this month, NASCAR will officially announce the next five drivers who will enter the Hall of Fame and Mike Stefanik, nine-time NASCAR champion in both the Whelen Modified Tour and the K&N Pro Series East tour, is just humbled to even be in the mix of consideration.

    “It’s very humbling actually,” Stefanik said. “I didn’t really think about it much when I found out they were coming out with the list. I thought I would see what would happen.”

    “My daughter called me and she informed me and it was pretty exciting news,” Stefanik continued. “It was kind of shocking. Even though you knew you had a chance, it was still very shocking to hear it and to get it confirmed.”

    “Shocking and humbling the more I thought about it because there are so many people that deserve to be in that Hall of Fame and I never really looked at myself as one of them,” Stefanik said. “That’s just how I am.”

    While Stefanik has accomplished much in his storied career, he credits his back to back championships in both the Busch North Series (now the K&N Pro East Series) and the Modified Tour Series in 1997 and 1998 for his consideration as a future Hall of Famer.

    “Mike Joy called me and officially gave me the news,” Stefanik said. “And Mike said that my championships had a lot to do with it. Those were two strong programs and I was in that nice spot.”

    “I knew then and told my wife that this will be remembered,” Stefanik continued. “It’s just all the stars were aligned.”

    “It was very stressful but it all worked out and I’m sure that had a lot to do with the Hall of Fame nomination.”

    Stefanik feels particularly privileged as he views his nomination as a teachable moment for fans who are not as familiar with the more grass roots, regional levels of the sport.

    “You always hear ‘When are you going to go NASCAR’ and well, I am already there,” Stefanik said. “I’ve had a NASCAR license for 37 years.”

    “NASCAR is all about levels of racing,” Stefanik continued. “Obviously the Cup level is the top rung on the ladder and then Nationwide and then Camping World Trucks and then the Touring Series.”

    “I always thought the Modifieds, and maybe I’m biased, but I always thought they were the toughest Touring Series on the schedule,” Stefanik said. “It just seemed like the level of competition, the car counts and the amount of capable cars in each race was there.”

    “Obviously the K&N Series has become more expensive than the Modified Tour but I think the Modifieds are way more competitive because of the depth and possibility of various winners at different tracks where nobody would be surprised. Twelve drivers could easily get twelve different wins.”

    So, has Mike Stefanik been to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and did he ever in his wildest imagination consider that he could be honored in those hallowed halls?

    “Oh absolutely, I’ve been to the Hall of Fame a few times,” Stefanik said. “I’m kind of a history buff. So, I love to see the older cars, how the sport developed and the technology side of the sport.”

    “It’s always interesting to stick my head inside a 1960s Cup car and wonder how those guys didn’t get hurt with such poor quality of protection at the speeds they were running back then,” Stefanik continued. “So, yeah, I always like to look back and see where the sport came from, where it is and where it’s going.”

    While Stefanik enjoys the history at the Hall, he also likes to reminisce about some of the personalities with whom he has raced when he visits.

    “When I go to the Hall of Fame, I’m looking at the technology side of racing but also the personalities, especially a personality like a Richie Evans.”

    “I was fortunate enough to race with Richie Evans and get to know Richie Evans and be a friend. He let me drive one of his cars so he had to like me to let me do that,” Stefanik continued. “So, yeah, when Richie would walk in the room, it would be like a very special person was there even when you were racing with him week in and week out. I always had a lot of respect for that man.”

    “So, going to the Hall of Fame and seeing his car in the Hall was just like you have to stop and take a moment to remember a lot of good times.”

    As the time grows closer for the Hall of Fame vote, Stefanik is taking a philosophical approach to it all as he humbly awaits the decision-making.

    “From what I understand they vote on it May 21st for the five new members to be inducted,” Stefanik said. “You can’t win if you’re not in it. So, now we’re in it and we have a shot to win it. That’s how I look at it.”

    “It’s kind of like a race and I feel like we won it before we even entered,” Stefanik continued. “But we haven’t won the race yet but we are in the race. And eventually you’ve got to come to the top however long that takes.”

    “It doesn’t matter now that I’m in it,” Stefanik said. “There are so many people more deserving than I am.”

    While he awaits the Hall of Fame decision, Stefanik is also deciding how he will fashion his own future going forward.

    “I’m not really racing now,” Stefanik said. “I have an opportunity to run some but I haven’t finalized the program. We’re just in the talking stages.”

    “That’s the only reason I didn’t officially retire,” Stefanik continued. “I knew last season I wasn’t going to run a full schedule.”

    “I’m not burned out but it’s just time,” Stefanik said. “You just know. I don’t want to officially say that I’m never going to sit in a race car again because I love racing. I love the Modified Series. So, I might run a race or two if it’s fun, if it’s right and if everything is good about it.”

    “We also have the empty nest at home,” Stefanik continued. “My kids are grown and out of the house. We have a really nice home that we really haven’t been able to enjoy because we work six days a week and then we race.”

    “I’d like to spend some time at home,” Stefanik said. “We live on a lake and I’d like to use the lake and really enjoy home. I think that’s how I’m going to spend my time. I enjoy it and it’s relaxing. We have a pontoon boat that we putt around and we’re into the kick back, stress free time as opposed to work and racing. I’m going to find some non-stressful areas and hang out in them for a while.”

    “And then I’ll probably get bored and do more racing so, who the heck knows?”

    Stefanik summed up his thoughts on his Hall of Fame nomination in three words, flattering, humbling and magical.

    “The more I think about this, it’s very flattering,” Stefanik said. “It makes you think back to when you get started and all the people that I really hope can be a part of it when and if it happens. I’ve been thinking about that which is unusual for me.”

    “I’m very humbled by it and I’ll be humbled when it happens whenever that is,” Stefanik continued. “It will be more of an ‘Oh my God feeling” than some who might have a feeling of “finally”.

    “I won’t have that,” Stefanik said. “I’ll be nervous.”

    “I never got into racing to be in the Hall of Fame but it is quite a good place to end up and certainly it will be a magical time when that does happen.”

  • KENZIE RUSTON PARTNERS WITH KEVIN WHITAKER CHEVROLET

    KENZIE RUSTON PARTNERS WITH KEVIN WHITAKER CHEVROLET

    Greenville, SC, March 19, 2014–Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet will be sponsoring Kenzie Ruston and the #96 Chevrolet Impala this weekend. Last season, Kenzie Ruston raced into the record books at Greenville Pickens Speedway with her third place finish; the finish was the highest for a female driver in a NASCAR K&N Pro Series race. Ruston plans on improving that record Saturday, March 22 in the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150.

    Ruston said, “It’s awesome to have Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet on the car this week. Kevin does so much for racing at Greenville Pickens Speedway, and all over South Carolina. It means a lot to me that he was willing to support us this weekend, and that he is confident we will deliver results for him and his team over at Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet Cadillac.”

    In addition to her third place finish last spring, Kenzie finished eighth in the fall event at Greenville Pickens Speedway. Crew Chief Mike Fritts said, “Greenville is extremely hard on tires so NASCAR has made the decision to give the teams a second set of tires at a mandatory halfway break at lap 75. I feel this will benefit us with Kenzie’s driving style. With her feedback and knowledge of the car she has been able to help us get the car driving the way she needs it to. It takes an aggressive driver to win at this track and I feel we have the best one out there.”

    Kenzie will be at Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet on Friday, March 21 from 1:00-3:00 PM, for autographs. Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet Cadillac is located at 2320 Laurens Rd, Greenville, SC 29607. Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet has been Greenville’s premier Chevrolet and Cadillac dealer in South Carolina for over 30 years.

    The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race is Saturday, March 22 at Greenville Pickens Speedway. The speedway is located at 3800 Calhoun Memorial Hwy, in Easley, SC. Kenzie will participate in the pre-race autograph session at 7:00 p.m. the Kevin Whitaker 150 will start at 8:00 p.m. The race will be televised on Fox Sports 1, on Friday, March 28 at 11 a.m.

    ###

    For more information please contact Kyle Zimmerman at 336-575-8725 or email at         Kzimmerman@hi-revracing.com.

    Kenzie will be available for media request at Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.

  • Daniel Suárez Proud to Represent Mexico in 2014 Drive for Diversity Class

    Daniel Suárez Proud to Represent Mexico in 2014 Drive for Diversity Class

    While Daniel Suárez is proud to have been chosen for NASCAR’s 2014 Drive for Diversity program, he is even prouder to represent his country of Mexico in the sport.

    Suárez, a 22 year old driver from Monterrey, Mexico, will be competing for his second year with Rev Racing in the K&N Pro Series East. Last year, he finished third in the championship standings in that Series, the highest mark for an international driver in the Series’ history.

    The young up and coming driver earned his first K&N Pro Series win at Columbus Motor Speedway in 2013. He was also the championship runner-up in the NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series.

    Suárez admits that the competition is intense in the K&N East Series. But he also feels that his strong finish last year, particularly in the second half of the season, will give him and his team just the boost they need to get out of the gate fast for 2014.

    “There are many teams competing in the K&N East so that’s pretty tough and for sure there are many good teams,” Suárez said. “But I feel that Rev Racing is doing an awesome job and now with the same people as last year, we are going to start pretty strong.”

    “I feel like in 2013, the start of the year was pretty difficult,” Suárez continued. “Many small things were not in the best position but in the second part of the year, we were earning more points than anyone.”

    “We closed 2013 very, very strong so I feel like if we can start 2014 like that, we’re going to be pretty strong.”

    One of the biggest hurdles that the driver, his crew chief Skip Eyler, and his team have had to face is communicating effectively with one another, especially in the heat of race competition.

    “Last year, everything was difficult, not just for me but for my team because with me being from another country and speaking another language, it’s kind of difficult,” Suárez said. “I mean, I can speak English but when you are in the race car, with all the engine sounds, it’s kind of difficult to keep up.”

    “But now I feel like our communication is good already.”

    In addition to having mastered the art of conversation, Suárez is also thrilled to have his sponsor, Visit Acapulco and Tourism of Mexico, return to his race car.

    “It’s awesome because when they support me, many people in Mexico are now knowing that there is a race car driver from their country and that is something,” Suárez  said. “They are looking forward to being involved again because they were happy with what happened last year.”

    With this young racer being unique in his country of origin, at least for so many who participate in the sport, just how did he get interested in becoming a NASCAR competitor?

    “For me, it was kind of different than everyone,” Suárez said. “Normally, everyone starts because his dad or his grandpa was a race car driver or something like that but my family doesn’t come from racing.”

    “I have a friend that used to race go karts,” Suárez continued. “When I was ten years old, he met me to do a practice and to hang out on the weekend. His dad started watching me and he told my family that I got some potential.”

    “When I turned eleven, my dad bought me a go kart and then we started doing some races and I started winning,” Suárez said. “That was really impressive and so we did more and more races.”

    “My second year racing when I was 12 years old, I went to Las Vegas actually and we ended up in the top-five getting the best Mexican driver in the States,” Suárez continued. “We started doing some international races and we went to Europe and everything that started like a hobby started changing to be my career like it is now.”

    Suárez admits that he looks up to many drivers as potential role models, however, he has been humbled to be also wear the moniker of role model himself.

    “There are many drivers that I want to be like them or I want to compete with them,” Suárez said. “There are many drivers out there that are really good, like Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski, not just here in America but also in Europe.”

    “Well, my goal is to be the first Mexican in the top series,” Suárez continued. “I will tell you something, I was in the Hall of Fame in Charlotte signing autographs and some Mexican fans came out to ask for our autograph and I was very surprised”

    “Those guys not just brought the hero card to sign but they also brought a very old picture of me when I was starting here in the States racing stock cars,” Suárez said. “And that really was really important for me because many Hispanic fans here in the States are starting to follow me and my career.”

    “I mean, hopefully we can keep winning races and being in the top all the time to have more Hispanic people to follow me,” Suárez continued. “And hopefully we can make my goal of a championship come true.”

    Although Suárez cannot wait for the 2014 season to start so that he can work toward achieving his goal, he is also, in one word, grateful for the opportunity.

    “I want to say thank you for everyone in NASCAR for the Diversity program, Suárez said. “The luck to be part of this program in 2013, with more learning and getting the opportunity to still learn about this is awesome.”

    “I’m really proud of this opportunity and looking forward for it.”

     

  • Ryan Truex Feeling Fortunate and Lucky After Bristol Debut

    Ryan Truex Feeling Fortunate and Lucky After Bristol Debut

    While Ryan Truex’s Sprint Cup Series debut might not have turned out exactly as he had hoped, the 21 year old development driver for Richard Petty Motorsports and past K&N Series Champion left Bristol feeling ‘fortunate and lucky’ to be where he is at currently in the sport today.

    First and foremost, the youngest racing Truex feels lucky to be able to get back in a race car after a dirt bike accident over the Easter holiday left him injured with a broken collar bone.

    “I went to the doctor and we hoped it would heal on its own,” Truex said. “We went six weeks and it hadn’t healed so then we had to have surgery.”

    “I have a plate and twelve screws in there,” Truex continued. “It’s fine now but it wasn’t fun at the time.”

    “I had to go through the surgery plus the physical therapy, which was twelve weeks from the time I had surgery to the time I was cleared to race.”

    “And that didn’t include the six weeks of hoping that it would heal on its own,” Truex said. “It’s been a challenge and I’m apparently now banned from dirt bikes.”

    Truex also feels fortunate and lucky to have signed with Richard Petty Motorsports as a development driver and to have been able to maintain a relationship with Phoenix Racing that allowed him to make his Cup debut in the No. 51 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

    “Before I signed with Richard Petty Motorsports, I was supposed to drive the No. 51 in Richmond and Dover,” Truex said. “And then I went and got hurt and messed those plans up.”

    “Phoenix Racing was able to plug me into their schedule later in the year and Bristol was the first opening,” Truex continued. “So, that was the first one we chose being a half mile and I was approved for it by NASCAR to run in the Cup Series.”

    After being out recuperating from his injury, the opportunity to be back behind the wheel of a race car, especially in the Cup Series at one of the most noted tracks on the circuit in a race under the lights was not only exciting but a bit overwhelming for the young up and coming driver.

    “It was really cool but a little intimidating being in a field with guys like Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson, all those guys who have proven themselves in the Cup Series,” Truex said. “And that was my first race since the Daytona Truck race so it had been about six months since I had raced anything.”

    “The week before, I practiced and qualified Marcos Ambrose’s Nationwide car so I had a little seat time in something but other than that, that was the first weekend back in a race car and the first time in the Gen 6 car at all,” Truex continued. “So, it was a bit of a curve ball for me and it was a steep learning curve.”

    Truex did indeed have challenges in his Cup debut, struggling with his car race, hitting the wall and finishing 42nd in the Bristol Irwin Tools Night Race.

    “We qualified really well and I was really happy with that,” Truex said. “We practiced pretty good and I thought we were a top-20 car at least.”

    “In the race, we started off the first few laps and did alright but for some reason our car was just really, really loose and I ended up getting up out of the groove,” Truex continued. “I got up in the marbles and got freight trained.”

    “Once I gathered it back up and got the junk off my tires, we started riding and were way back,” Truex said. “I was biding my time and then we started to get really, really tight and, being a rookie, I didn’t realize the problem at the time but it turns out that we ran over some debris and we had a cut in the left front tire.”

    “It was slowly going down and then it blew out and ended our night.”

    Fortunately, the rookie driver did not re-injure his collar bone although his older brother Martin Truex Jr. did not fare so well. After Martin’s hard hit late in the race at Bristol, an MRI showed that he had broken his right wrist and will have to wear a special cast for the rest of the racing season.

    Although Ryan’s Cup debut race night was shortened by the blown tire and wreck into the wall, the younger Truex did learn some lessons from the evening and even got some advice and counsel from some of the biggest names in the sports.

    “The biggest lesson for me is that I just need to be out there every weekend,” Truex said. “Since I stepped up from the K&N Series to Nationwide in 2011, I’ve been running part-time, once or twice a month at the most.”

    “Last year, I had seven races with Joe Gibbs Racing, plus a couple of other races with some other teams, which added up to about eleven races for the year,” Truex continued. “That’s been the biggest challenge for me is just having some repetition in my racing and going out every weekend in my race car and be familiar with it.”

    “One of the people that I talked to before driver intros standing in the tunnel at Bristol was Jeff Burton,” Truex said. “I thought that was really cool.”

    “Mark Martin came up to my car and talked to me for a few minutes and told me what to expect and what to do,” Truex continued. “So, there were a couple of guys that I respect who talked to me and I thought that was awesome.”

    “I grew up watching them race so for them to come over and give me words of advice was really cool.”

    Another of Truex’s idols has been Richard Petty and the young driver feels especially fortunate and lucky to be invited into the fold of the ‘King’ and a part of Richard Petty Motorsports.

    “It’s a huge deal for me to be with Richard Petty Motorsports,” Truex said. “In the past few years, I’ve been jumping around between teams and had some one-off deals, but since I’ve left Michael Waltrip Racing, I’ve never really had a true home.”

    “So, they’ve taken under their wing and committed to developing me as a driver in the Cup Series,” Truex continued. “I’ve signed a multi-year deal with them with the goal of running full-time in the Cup Series one day.”

    “So, that feels really good to just have one place to focus on and not have to worry about where I’m going to race week to week.”

    For this year, Truex will continue to run some races in the No. 51 car for Phoenix Racing and hopes to be back in that car as early as the Richmond race. But his real focus is on the 2014 season when, sponsorship pending, he hopes to race full-time for Richard Petty Motorsports in the Nationwide Series.

    “That’s the goal for me personally and for the team to be out there next year running for a championship,” Truex said. “But the biggest thing is finding the funding to do that.”

    “Now that I have a team out there searching and helping me find the funding to run full-time, it takes a lot of pressure of me and makes me feel more secure with my future.”

    Most of all, Ryan Truex is feeling fortunate and lucky to be a part of a family that has supported and nurtured his racing career every step of the way.

    “My brother has always been there for me my whole career, and my parents are at my races every single weekend giving me support,” Truex said. “My dad always tells me that if you work as hard as you can and take advantage of every opportunity, there is no reason why you can’t reach your goal.”

    “That’s been my philosophy too,” Truex continued. “There has been plenty of frustrating moments but then you step back and look at how far I’ve come and at the people I have around me, and it’s a pretty awesome deal for me.”

    “I’m fortunate and lucky to be able to be where I’m at,” Truex said. “And I know that if I keep working at it, never give up and get down on myself that eventually it will work out.”

     

  • Larry Barford Jr. Promotes Breast Cancer Awareness at Rockingham Speedway

    Larry Barford Jr. Promotes Breast Cancer Awareness at Rockingham Speedway

    [media-credit name=”Angela Campbell” align=”alignright” width=”199″][/media-credit]Larry Barford Jr., driver of the No. 86 Trauma Doc Chevrolet for Deware Racing Group, will compete in the K&N Pro Series East race Saturday at Rockingham Speedway in the Classic 3 Championship presented by RCR Racing Museum. His car will feature a pink and white paint scheme with a pink bow on the side to promote Breast Cancer Awareness.

    The decision to run this special paint scheme was a personal one.

    “Cancer has touched my life in a lot of different ways,” Larry told me.

    His wife’s aunt and grandmother are breast cancer survivors and he wanted to pay tribute to them and others like them. Larry posted a request on his Facebook page asking his friends and fans for the names of loved ones who have been “diagnosed with breast cancer, are in remission or still fighting the fight.” The car will also carry the names of those who have lost their life to breast cancer.

    The first 86 names that were submitted are displayed on the deck lid of his racecar. Larry was disappointed that all the names could not fit on the car but says that each one of them “is in his heart.”

    Saturday’s race will be the last one of the season for the pink and white Breast Cancer Awareness car but Larry has vowed that all of his future cars will carry a pink ribbon somewhere on them.

    Larry qualified his car on Friday and will begin the race in the 16th position. This is his best qualifying run in three NASCAR K&N Pro Series East starts.

    Next year he will run a full season in the series as well as several select races in the Camping World Truck Series to round out the year.

    His goal is simple. Larry wants to be competitive, learn from each race and continue his development into the top levels of NASCAR.

    “Everything that I’ve learned yesterday, I apply today.”

  • Joey Logano Pumped Up, Upbeat and Ready to Go

    [media-credit id=62 align=”alignright” width=”227″][/media-credit]With his trademark smile in place, Joey Logano said he was “pumped up, upbeat and ready to go”, not only for the weekend racing at Dover, but for the next step in his career and life as well.

    Logano had an exciting start to his Monster Mile weekend as he was on one of the planes impacted in the incident on the runway at the Charlotte airport on the way to Dover, Delaware.

    “We were in our plane about to get ready to go and the other plane drove off the runway a little bit,” Logano said. “I figured the runway was the easy part, but I don’t know I never drove one.”

    In spite of being delayed, Logano finally made it to the race track, one where he has admittedly had his share of ups and downs. Logano’s high at Dover was winning his K&N Pro Series East championship in 2007 and his low at the Monster Mile was barrel-rolling his No. 20 Cup car seven times down the banking of one of the turns.

    But for the ever-upbeat Logano, he only remembers the ‘ups’ from all of his experiences at Dover.

    “I love this track,” Logano said passionately. “I think it’s mainly up when it comes to Dover.”

    “I think it’s a great track and a great place to race,” Logano continued. “It’s just fast.”

    “It’s one of those tracks where you really feel like you’re hauling the mail,” Logano said. “It puts on great racing and I’ve had great cars most every time I’ve been here.”

    Logano will certainly see his fair share of the Monster Mile this weekend as he is doing double duty in the No. 18 Sports Clip Toyota in the Nationwide race and his familiar No. 20 Home Depot Toyota ride on the Cup side.

    How does the young driver balance all of that racing? Logano acknowledged the challenges but also expressed that there are great rewards in doing the Dover double.

    “It’s definitely a challenge,” Logano said. “Today’s the biggest challenge, running back and forth from car to car.”

    “The hardest part is when you practice the Cup car, qualify the Nationwide car and then come back and qualify the Cup car because they’re so different,” Logano continued. “You’ll run around a lot.”

    Logano said it is almost like having to keep a score card on each car in his head. And just so he does not get too confused by it all, he debriefs just as quickly as he can after each run in the two cars.

    “You have to keep track of what you did in this car and what changed in each car and then debrief with both of them,” Logano said. “That’s the challenging part.”

    “I try to debrief right then, so that way I did it and I can move on,” Logano continued. “But there are also great rewards in driving both cars because you can learn a lot in the Nationwide car that can come over and help your Cup program.”

    Logano definitely agreed with his Nationwide crew chief, Adam Stevens, in that the Monster Mile requires great aggression but can also prove most punishing if any mistakes are made.

    “Dover is an intense track,” Logano said. “You’ve got to take every opportunity you can.”

    “But when you start overheating your tires and overworking your car, it’s also a finesse track,” Logano said. “So, it’s a combination of both.”

    “It’s hard to do both but that’s what makes it fun and a cool track to race.”

    Logano said that he truly has learned from his racing experience at the Monster Mile, especially from his runs that did not go so well.

    “You learn that throughout your career, being put in certain situations,” Logano said. “You learn from your mistakes and you try to use them the best you can to make those changes.”

    “This is one of those tracks where you use a lot of your tools.”

    For Logano, Dover also feels a bit like coming home, which may just contribute to his comfort level at the Monster Mile.

    “The northeast tracks are a lot of fun for me,” Logano said. “This is where I’m from and I like being able to see everyone.”

    “I just like these tracks,” Logano said. “Dover is one of my favorites, and it might actually be my favorite.”

    “It feels like home.”

    Although Logano is feeling at home at Dover, he only has a few more races, eight to be exact, before he makes the next major change in his life. He will move from his home at Joe Gibbs Racing to his new home at Penske Racing in the No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford.

    “We plan to finish off as hard as we can,” Logano said. “I got a really great team where I’m at and I’m going to a really great team.”

    “I’m fortunate to have two situations like that,” Logano continued. “But my life has become very busy lately, trying to learn a new team and get to know those guys and trying to finish off this year the best you can and try to get eight more wins.”

    “It’s definitely difficult but I’m very lucky and fortunate to be in a position like this.”

    Whether lucky or busy, do not call Joey Logano a ‘lame duck’.

    “There is no such thing as that at this level,” Logano said. “Each one of these races is equally as important as before Penske came along.”

    “This is all very, very important to me,” Logano continued. “This is all we work for.”

    Logano also admitted, with all of these changes, that this is probably the most interesting time in his young life and in his racing career.

    “It is interesting for sure,” Logano admitted. “There are a lot of new things and I look at things in a different way for sure.”

    “It’s cool.”

    “I don’t know if I can sum it up in one word, but it is exciting,” Logano said. “I’m pretty upbeat about it all.”

    “I’m ready for it,” Logano continued. “I’m pumped up to go do it and make a new step in my life.”

  • Corey LaJoie Scores First Monster Mile Win In Wild K&N Pro Series East Race

    Corey LaJoie Scores First Monster Mile Win In Wild K&N Pro Series East Race

    [media-credit name=”Gary Buchanan” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]With wrecks aplenty, a torn off bumper, and a green, white checkered finish, Corey LaJoie survived to score the win in the K&N Pro Series East race, the American Real TV 150, at Dover International Speedway.

    And in one of the more unique victory celebrations, LaJoie removed his driving shoe, autographed it and handed it to a young race fan in the stands.

    This was LaJoie’s fourth career K&N Pro Series East victory, with all four wins in the 2012 season. It was his first win at the Monster Mile, where he finished

    “First I just want to start by saying how blessed I am to be in this situation,” the driver of the No. 07 Sims Metal Management Ford, said. “There are a million and a half kids who’d like to be in my spot right here so I’m just lucky enough to have the opportunity.”

    “It doesn’t matter how many races I win in my career, I’ll always be second to the Lord.”

    LaJoie was also effusive in his praise for third place finisher and good friend Brandon McReynolds.

    “Brandon’s my best buddy since we came out of the womb,” LaJoie said. “To get to race for Miles the Monster in one of his one-off races, man it’s something you couldn’t ask for more.”

    “I also need to thank Brand Gdovic for pulling that bumper off or we’d be sitting her in tenth place half tore up.”

    “All in all, that was an awesome race.”

    LaJoie admitted that the car he was driving and won the race in just happened to be borrowed.

    “Miguel Paludo drove it last year and we pulled it out of the barn to get it out,” LaJoie said. “We got it a month ago, stripped it, painted it and the first time it hit the track was yesterday.”

    LaJoie is also focused on the biggest prize in the series, the championship. And what does he have to do in his opinion to achieve that goal?

    “Win the next two races,” LaJoie said simply. “If we win the next two races, no matter what anybody else does, we’re going to win the championship.”

    LaJoie also came into the media center shoeless, thanks to his unique victory celebration.

    “I give both of my shoes away,” LaJoie said. “I started that at Iowa.”

    “I gave one away in the stands and one away in Victory Lane and my socks are soaking wet with Budweiser.”

    Darrell “Bubba” Wallace, Jr. had an incredible comeback to finish second, his second top-2 finish at Dover having won the race last year, but he was none too happy in the media center after the race.

    “It’s not even that I’m disappointed that we lost,” the driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, said. “We lost the wrong way.”

    “If you have to cheat to win and get somebody else to take your rear bumper off, I don’t understand that.”

    “I’m frustrated over that but great day for us and a great weekend overall,” Wallace said. “We’ve been struggling all year and to be able to finish second, I’ll take it.”

    “That’s how it is,” Wallace continued. “Maybe that will come around to us when our bumper gets ripped off and we get someone else to take it off for us.”

    “It is complete awesomeness – sarcasm there – but we’ll take it.”

    Brandon McReynolds, son of broadcaster Larry McReynolds, came in third in his No. 28 Turner Motorsports Chevrolet. This was McReynolds best finish in his eighth K&N Pro Series East start and his first race of the season.

    “I really believe the 18 or us had the best car to beat,” McReynolds said. “I just didn’t get the pickup full of fuel so our restart was pretty terrible.”

    “But it all started when I got a good run on the top and got on the outside of the 07,” McReynolds continued. “He just stuck me in the fence and tore up his bumper.”

    “But that’s fine,” McReynolds said. “He’s one of our buddies and we’ll get over it and talk about it sometime.”

    “He’ll realize pretty quick when you move up, you ain’t going to go far doing stuff like that,” McReynolds continued. “There’s only so many guys who will cut you breaks.”

    “I shouldn’t have cut him a break,” McReynolds said. “I should have put him in the fence.”

    “But we’ll move on to the next one,” McReynolds continued. “We were here to spoil the party and everyone knows we were a force to be reckoned with.”

    “We made our statement and hopefully Mr. Turner sees that we have a really good thing going here and we can get some more races.”

    The rest of the top five finishers were Ben Kennedy in fourth and Kyle Larson in fifth place.