Kaz Grala charges into the NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 at historic Bowman Gray Stadium only eight points out of fourth place in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East point standings.
Grala will have an added flavor to motivate his success at NASCAR’s longest tenured racetrack, as Bib’s Downtown will adorn the rear quarter panel for the second consecutive season for Ben Kennedy Racing. With Winston-Salem’s one and only “Bestern BBQ” on board, the 16 year-old Boston native is set to smoke the competition in the gladiator style battle on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East’s short circuit.
“It’s been really great having Kiklos on our car all year and now we have a great local restaurant in Bib’s Downtown for one of the biggest races of the year,” said Grala. “Bib’s has been an active sponsor at Bowman Gray stadium since they opened in 2008. It’s great that they came back to Ben Kennedy Racing for another year and we’re looking forward to a great race with them.”
Bib’s is located in the heart of Downtown Winston-Salem and is known for its “Bestern Barbecue” that combines flavors from both eastern and western sauces. The menu features a variety of specialties for all taste buds to enjoy. Co-owners Mark Little, Ricky Seamon, and Robert Moreau share a passion for great quality food and customer service. The pitmasters also offer private party rooms and many catering options at the popular restaurant.
Bib’s Downtown BBQ will be on display at Winston-Salem’s Jammin’ Pig BBQ Music Festival held at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds leading up to the weekend of the NASCAR Hall of Fame 150.
Winning at Bowman Gray is not foreign to Ben Kennedy Racing, as team principal Ben Kennedy saw Victory Lane in 2013 during the NASCAR Hall of Fame 150, sixty-four years after his great-grandfather brought racing to the stadium. While the stadium no longer hosts NASCAR’s Grand National Division (NASCAR Sprint Cup), the tradition of racing on the tight quarter-mile continues with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.
“After the challenging race at Iowa, I am really excited for Bowman Gray”, Grala stated. “We’ve been fast everywhere this year and I think we got all of our bad luck out of the way at Iowa Speedway so we should be in great shape for the NASCAR Hall of Fame 150.”
Crew Chief, Mike Fritts, knows just how to navigate the notoriously rough short track. “We have a really great car for Bowman Gray this year”, Fritts says. “Qualifying in the top-5 is extremely important, winning the pole is certainly the goal, but as long as you can start near the front and stay on the inside lane you can compete for the win.”
Prior to the NASCAR Hall of Fame 150, Kaz will travel from Boston to Winston-Salem for a NASCAR open-test at the stadium. The sophomore in high school will then fly back to Boston before the race on Saturday to finish his final exams at the prestigious Worcester Academy where he is on the Honor Roll.
Grala will be one of the few drivers making a second start at Bowman Gray Stadium, having competed last season at the stadium. He plans to use his experience to guide the No. 3 Kiklos/Bib’s Toyota Camry to Victory Lane as he continues to mount a charge on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship.
Ben Kennedy Racing PR
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