Ryan Blaney Bristol Preview
Ryan Blaney (@RyanBlaney22), driver of the No. 29 Cooper Standard Ford F-150, will make his second career start at Bristol Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) during Wednesday night's UNOH 200.
In last year's UNOH 200, Blaney started fifth and finished sixth in a BKR Truck sponsored by, Cooper Standard.
Blaney is coming off a disappointing finish Saturday at Michigan after being wrecked before the first lap was over.
It will be Blaney and his Cooper Standard team's third short-track run of the season and first since his 15th place finish at Eldora back in July.
Cooper Standard will have hundreds of employees on hand cheering Blaney on from the grandstands Wednesday night.
The No. 29 Cooper Standard team currently sits eighth in the NCWTS driver points standings, 85 points back from first place.
"I'm really looking forward to rebounding at Bristol after such terrible luck at Michigan this past weekend. We ran well here last year and I'm looking to top that performance on Wednesday night. My Cooper Standard team is prepared and ready to come back stronger than ever this week." - Ryan Blaney
BKR PR
Brad Keselowski Bristol Preview
Brad Keselowski (@Keselowski), driver of the No. 19 Draw-Tite Ford F-150, will make his third start this season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) on Wednesday night at Bristol Motor Speedway in the UNOH 200.
Keselowski will pilot the No. 19 BKR Ford F-150 in his sixth career NCWTS start at Bristol Motor Speedway. Keselowski's best finish came 2010 where he started sixth and finished seventh.
This weekend, Keselowski will be aiming for the weekend trifecta, piloting the No. 22 Discount Tire Ford Mustang in Friday night's NASCAR Nationwide Series, as well as running the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion in Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event.
Proud sponsor, Draw-Tite, will have hundreds of guests on hand at Bristol for Wednesday night's race.
Crew chief, Chad Kendrick, will be calling the shots for Keselowski.
The No. 19 BKR team now sits sixth in the NCWTS owner points standings, 66 points back from first.
"It's always fun to jump back in my Truck and give it a run regardless of the track and Bristol has to be one of my favorite tracks on all the NASCAR National circuits, so I'm very excited. I'm ready to close the deal in the Truck Series and Wednesday night we will have a great shot at it, as my team's been getting stronger and stronger each race." - Brad Keselowski
BKR PR
Chris Carrier Named Crew Chief of Turner Scott Motorsports' Fourth Truck Series Entry
Turner Scott Motorsports (TSM) announced today that the team has named Chris Carrier as crew chief of the team's fourth NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) entry. Carrier, a NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and NCWTS veteran, has served as crew chief for 329 events throughout the three series, earning five wins, 24 top fives, 52 top 10s and seven poles. Carrier's most recent work in the NCWTS includes serving as crew chief on the No. 30 last season, leading Nelson Piquet Jr. to two wins, nine top fives, 15 top 10s and four poles. The Tennessee native earned his first career win with Harry Gant in 1994 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The team will run a limited schedule for the remaining portion of the year with Ben Kennedy and Cale Gale behind the wheel.
Carrier and his TSM team will be at Bristol Motor Speedway Wednesday night providing support for Ben Kennedy Racing's No. 96 entry in the Titan Roof 150. Carrier will also be on the pit box and calling the shots for the No. 96 at Iowa, Chicago, Martinsville and Homestead-Miami Speedway.
"I look forward to the opportunity to compete again in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series," said Carrier. "I enjoy working with young talent, and I think Ben Kennedy and Cale Gale have what it takes to be successful in this sport. We have a great team behind us at Turner Scott Motorsports, and I am looking forward to getting to work and joining the truck series this week at Bristol."
TSM PR
Bayne Battles Back to Secure Top-10 Finish at Mid-Ohio
Trevor Bayne and the No.6 Nationwide Children’s Hospital No. 6 team crossed the finish line in the 9th position in Saturday's inaugural Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200 at Mid-Ohio Motorsports Park.
It was the first NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) sanctioned event at Mid-Ohio and the teams were given an extra day of practice on Thursday to try and figure out the twists and turns of the tight 2.4-mile course.
With Bayne pulling double-duty this weekend, splitting his time between the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in Michigan and the inaugural Mid-Ohio race, Chris Buescher was tapped to step in and qualify the No. 6 Ford Mustang for Saturday’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200. The minimal amount of seat time didn’t seem to bother Buescher, he was able to secure a 20th starting position with minimal seat time for the young gun. Unfortunately Bayne was unable to attend the mandatory driver’s meeting due to his Sprint Cup obligations and was relegated to the back of the field.
At the drop of the green flag Bayne went to work, slowly maneuvering his way through the twists and turns of the technical Mid-Ohio road course. A caution on Lap 19 brought the No. 6 Ford Mustang down pit road for the first time on Lap 21. The team took four tires and fuel, along with air pressure adjustment. The pit crew gained their driver three positions on the stop, moving Bayne up to the 17th position on the restart.
Bayne battled a loose racecar for most of the day radioing in the crew chief Mike Kelley; ”Needs rear grip, tight through the corners.” Kelley took note and planned for the next stop for the young gun.
The next opportunity for Kelley and the team to make adjustments came at lap 57, the team took four tires and two cans of fuel yet again making adjustments to the air pressure to settle the car into the track for Bayne. The adjustments proved to help but the car was still too loose for Bayne and he eventually spun the car and lost several positions. Bayne radioed in that he felt the tires were fine and Kelley told him to stay out until a caution came out.
Unfortunately no caution came out before Bayne found himself deep in a gravel trap. By the time Bayne worked his way out of the trap he found himself mired back in the 28th position.
The team finally caught a break on lap 89 when a caution flew and gave the team a chance to make some adjustments for their final charge for the checkers. Crew chief Mike Kelley called for four tires, two cans of fuel and two rounds up on the track bar.
Bayne was able to battle his way back to the front gaining 17 positions in the closing laps and crossing the line with a 9th place finish.
RFR PR
Diabetes doesn’t stop. It is 24/7, 365 days a year. To showcase the extraordinary effort it takes to live a day with the disease, the American Diabetes Association, since Oct. 1, 2012, has uploaded thousands of photos to the Association’s Facebook mosaic to create a bigger picture of what the disease means to people affected by diabetes, creating and capturing “A Day in the Life of Diabetes.”
The Association will continue to ask people to submit a personal image to the Association’s Facebook mosaic representing what A Day in the Life of Diabetes means to them. To make the mosaic more impactful this year, Ryan Reed will showcase the mosaic on the No. 16 Drive to Stop Diabetes℠ (D2SD) Roush Fenway Racing Ford Mustang.
The NASCAR Nationwide Series car will be wrapped with photos from the mosaic, and will be featured at Phoenix International Raceway November 9th, 2013 during American Diabetes Month. The Drive to Stop Diabetes℠ cars will feature 18,000 photos, including a race simulator that will be onsite at PIR.
As part of the effort, Reed and the Drive to Stop Diabetes℠ team will be supporting the A Day in the Life of Diabetes at Bristol Motor Speedway, Richmond International Raceway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway NASCAR Nationwide Series race events. The Roush Fenway Racing No. 16 Ford Mustang will feature a Drive to Stop Diabetes℠ paint scheme at Bristol, Richmond and Charlotte Motor Speedway before the mosaic is unveiled in Phoenix November 9th.
“I’m very excited about being back racing the No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Mustang this week at Bristol,” Ryan Reed said. “It's been a few months since Richmond but I know we will pick up right where we left off and be a top 10 team all weekend. I'm definitely going to use up all the practice I can get, Bristol is no joke! I look forward to supporting the American Diabetes Association’s A Day in the Life of Diabetes mosaic. I encourage everyone to upload their picture, about their day in the life of diabetes, on the Association’s Facebook page for a chance to be on the Ford Mustang in Phoenix.”
The Drive to Stop Diabetes℠ campaign features awareness and educational efforts at NASCAR Nationwide race events, as well as off-track health and wellness initiatives across the country throughout the year. dwinQ, an innovative social media platform, will be an associate sponsor at Bristol and will be on hand to allow Reed’s fans to interact with him virtually.
Ryan Reed PR
HIGH BANKS, HIGH EXPECTATIONS: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year contender Germán Quiroga looks forward to every new challenge the 2013 season brings him. He is especially anxious for the UNOH 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The No. 77 NET10 Wireless driver has captured eight wins on tracks smaller than one mile in length during his reign in the NASCAR Mexico Series and has no doubt that his Toyota Tundra will be fast as he makes his debut at the World's Fastest Half-Mile.
NET10 WIRELESS®: NET10 Wireless will be on board the No. 77 Toyota Tundra this weekend at the World's Fastest Half Mile. Quiroga has competed in nine races this season with NET10 Wireless as primary sponsor. The no contract cell phone leader will continue its support as primary or associate sponsor for the remainder of the season. For more information on NET10 Wireless, visit www.NET10Wireless.com.
CHASSIS HISTORY: Germán Quiroga will unload Chassis No. 014 this week at Bristol Motor Speedway. The chassis most recently raced at Kentucky Speedway where the No. 77 Toyota Tundra team started and finished in the eighth position. The chassis made its racing debut earlier this year at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
REARVIEW MIRROR - MICHIGAN: Germán Quiroga welcomed back NET10 Wireless as primary sponsor on his No. 77 Toyota Tundra at Michigan International Speedway. Quiroga qualified 16th for the National Guard 200 and found himself racing for position inside the top-10 for the first three quarters of the race. It was lap 76 when Quiroga spun down the backstretch and made contact with the wall. Quiroga finished 19th and remains 14th in the driver point standings.
Germán Quiroga on Bristol Motor Speedway:
Has Timothy Peters given you the secret to getting around Bristol Motor Speedway?
"Part of the success that we are having right now with our No. 77 NET10 Wireless Tundra comes from all the things that Red Horse Racing has established. Timothy (Peters) is very talented and hopefully he is going to give me good advice once we get to the track. I know Red Horse Racing has good data for the track and hopefully things go our way and we collect a one-two-three finish for Red Horse Racing.
What has been the most memorable part of your season thus far?
"I would say my third-place finish at Texas. It opened many doors and gave me a lot of opportunities. It was my best result on track and the best results for a Mexican in a National division of NASCAR. It also brought OtterBox on board our No. 77 Toyota team and I am very proud and happy with the experience. Hopefully we will have a win soon in the second part of the season. I want to make things happen and start finishing consistently in the top-10. Our goal is to finish in the top-10 in the driver championship."
RHR PR
HIGH STRUNG: There is no better place to race than 'The Last Great Colosseum' after capturing your NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career-high finish. That's the case for the driver of the No. 7 Zaxby's Toyota Tundra, John Wes Townley after finishing seventh last weekend at Michigan International Speedway. The young driver is anxious for Bristol Motor Speedway to see that he tops his career best finish during the UNOH 200 behind the wheel of his Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra.
NEW MENU ITEMS AT ZAXBY'S: Zaxby's, a southeast favorite for chicken fingers and wings, has been indescribably good for more than 20 years. The Athens, Georgia based chain offers its guests prepared-at-order Chicken Fingerz, Traditional or Boneless Wings, sandwiches, Zalads and Zappetizers, along with a variety of nine sauces ranging from Wimpy and Tongue Torch to Nuclear and Insane. Mixing things up, guests can now enjoy Zaxby's new Cobb Zalad through summer's end. Additionally, Zaxby's offers a new line of premium milkshakes including the popular Birthday Cake and Banana Pudding Milkshakes and the new Chocolate Cookie Milkshake. The company operates more than 575 locations in 13 states. John Wes Townley will compete with Zaxby's serving as primary sponsor for the entire 22 Truck Series race schedule. For more information, please visit zaxbys.com, facebook.com/zaxbys or follow on Twitter @Zaxbys.
CHASSIS HISTORY: John Wes Townley and his No. 7 Zaxby's Toyota Tundra team will unload Chassis No. 003 this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. Most recently, the chassis raced at Iowa Speedway where Townley finished 12th. The chassis was rebuilt after Martinsville Speedway earlier this season. Chassis No. 003 also competed in five races in 2012 including the win at Dover International Speedway, both Martinsville Speedway races, the series first visit to Iowa Speedway in July and Bristol Motor Speedway.
REARVIEW MIRROR - MICHIGAN: It was a standout day for the driver of the No. 7 Zaxby's Toyota Tundra during the National Guard 200 at Michigan International Speedway. John Wes Townley captured a seventh-place finish which marked his highest finishing position in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The Tundra driver qualified 17th and battled a loose handling truck for the majority of the 100-lap event. Townley was the cause for caution on lap 66 as he lost control of his Tundra coming out of Turn 4. With some masterful driving, Townley was able to keep his Tundra off the wall, sustaining no damage. Townley went on to fight his way through the field to cross the finish in the seventh position.
John Wes Townley on Bristol Motor Speedway:
What do you like the most about Bristol?
"I've always liked Bristol a lot. Since the repave it's been a really fun place to drive on. The high banks and short tracks are what I grew up on. It's a lot of fun. It reminds me of my roots. The new walls certainly made it a little more challenging. I'm looking forward to this week. I will definitely have a good Zaxby's Tundra which will hopefully make for an exciting weekend for our team.
Is there something about Bristol that gets you excited?
"I love it. I love the way the grandstands are. They call it the last great colosseum and it really has that feel to it. With it being so high banked it makes it a lot of fun to drive on. It's a challenging place too which makes it a real fun race as a driver overall.
Do you approach Bristol any other way?
"I think you have to guard yourself a little more. You don't want to overdrive it too fast. It is very easy to do. You can drive down into the corners and really overdrive getting it in. That can be a problem early in the race. It's one of those tracks where you really have to be disciplined and wait till the where it really matters to put yourself in contention to make the move. It's really intensified at Bristol."
RHR PR
McCall to pilot No. 92 Chevrolet at Bristol
Having worked for Richard Childress Racing for the last three years, Matt McCall is no stranger to Bristol Motor Speedway.
But Wednesday, the race engineer for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series No. 31 Chevrolet entry will get a whole new view of the high-banked half mile. McCall will be behind the wheel of the Ricky Benton Racing (RBR) Enterprises No. 92 BTS Tire and Wheel Distributors/Goodyear FleetHQ/QMI Chevrolet for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) UNOH 200.
"I'm thrilled to have this opportunity," said McCall, who will be making his first NCWTS start in 10 years. "I've worked with Ricky (Benton) over the last several years with my late model team and he and Black's Tire have been big supporters.
"It is an honor to be able to drive the truck at Bristol."
Despite his limited experience in the series, McCall has high expectations for himself and the team.
"(Crew chief) Mike (Hester) and the guys have us a good piece for the race," said McCall. "I think if we can stay out of trouble, we can run in the top 10. With a little luck, a top-five finish isn't out of the question."
Benton, likewise, is expecting a good finish at Bristol.
"Matt is a guy with a ton of short track experience and success in late models and we feel he can translate some of that success into our effort at Bristol," said Benton. "The team has worked hard on the truck for this week and I think it's going to pay off for us."
The UNOH 200 will be RBR Enterprises' sixth attempt of 2013. Scott Riggs has starts at Daytona, Martinsville, Charlotte and Kentucky. Clay Rogers drove the truck at Rockingham in April.
After Bristol, the team plans to return to the NCWTS at Chicagoland with Riggs back behind the wheel.
RBR PR
Trevor Bayne and the crew of his No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion tried some of the best plays in their strategy book at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, but in the end they had to settle for a 21st-place finish in the Pure Michigan 400.
Any disappointment from the afternoon was offset by the fact that the team’s long-time partner Ford Motor Company became the inaugural winner of the Michigan Heritage trophy, which will be awarded to the winning manufacturer of Sprint Cup races at MIS for years to come. The trophy, inspired by professional hockey’s Stanley Cup, celebrates the spirit of the automobile and its importance to the Michigan track, which is the home turf of the U.S. automobile industry.
“We certainly want to congratulate Roger Penske and Joey Logano on their victory,” said Len Wood, co-owner of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford. “When any Ford wins, we all win.”
Ford and Wood’s team have been a big part of NASCAR history at Michigan. Of Ford’s league-leading 34 Cup victories at Michigan, the Woods own 11. One of their greatest drivers, David Pearson, still leads all drivers in Michigan victories with nine, all of which came in either Ford or Mercury race cars.
While Bayne and the Woods will have to wait for another Sunday to try to deliver Ford another Michigan Heritage trophy, they were encouraged by the team’s performance in the Pure Michigan 400.
Bayne started 18th and held his own through the opening laps. With teams on various pit strategies, Bayne wound up getting all the way into the lead before pitting on Lap 48.
Time after time, his Motorcraft/Quick Lane over-the-wall crew members helped him keep track position with their quick work on pit road.
At one point he gained 10 positions in a single two-tire stop.
“The pit crew did a great job all day,” Wood said. “Even when we changed four tires we were able to gain positions, and they made adjustments on several stops and still got us off pit road in good shape.”
The team’s strategists, led by crew chief Donnie Wingo, also were at their best, even if circumstances, mostly caution flags, didn’t fall in their favor.
“We had a fuel-mileage strategy working twice, but because of the way the cautions fell it didn’t work out,” Wood said. “The race wound up with a lot of short green-flag runs, which we did not need.”
Wood Brothers Racing PR