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M&M’S Red, White, and Blue Racing: Kyle Busch Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Advance and Team Report

by Mike
M&M’S Red, White, and Blue Racing: Kyle Busch Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Advance and Team Report
HUNTERSVILLE, North Carolina (May 22, 2020) – Memorial Day in the United States is a time to remember and honor the soldiers who lost their lives while serving in the United States military.

 

With that, Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N. C.) Motor Speedway takes on a special meaning for those in the NASCAR community. It will be the annual “600 Miles of Remembrance,” during which each car in the field will carry the name of a fallen soldier on the windshield.

 

Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 M&M’S Red, White & Blue Toyota, has the honor of displaying the name of Naval Helicopter Aircrewman 1st Class Jonathan Clement on his windshield during NASCAR’s longest event. Clement, a native of Vero Beach, Florida, lost his life in July 2018 in an accident in San Diego. A longtime Washington Redskins fan, Clement’s family is excited to be riding along for the team owned by three-time Super Bowl winning coach of the Redskins. 

 

In addition to honoring the fallen soldier, the No. 18 M&M’S Red, White & Blue Toyota Camry features a patriotic paint scheme that celebrates M&M’S Red, White & Blue Mix that is available for fans to show their patriotic spirit.

 

The traditional Memorial Day-weekend 600-mile race comes at a busy time for NASCAR. The suspended 2020 schedule resumed last weekend at Darlington (S. C. ) Raceway after a 10-week hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Busch is coming off a runner-up finish Wednesday night at Darlington, where he rallied from his 26th-place starting spot after finishing in that same position in Sunday’s first race back from the hiatus for NASCAR’s top series. Sunday’s race is one of five among NASCAR’s top three series that Busch is scheduled to compete in over a seven-day span as the sport’s schedule is back in full swing.

 

As for the 1. 5-mile oval in Charlotte, Busch has managed to enjoy plenty of success there with 13 top-five finishes and 18 top-10s in his 30 previous Cup Series starts over the past 14-plus seasons. In addition to solid Cup Series finishes, Busch has captured eight NASCAR Xfinity Series wins at Charlotte – May 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2010, October 2008 and 2009, and both May and October 2013. He also has eight NASCAR Truck Series wins at the track – 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2019.

 

While he had gone to victory lane early and often in the Xfinity and Truck Series, Busch only recently broke through in the Cup Series at Charlotte. His 2017 win in the non-points All-Star Race was his first Cup Series win of any kind at Charlotte. The following year, in 2018, Busch was able to win there again, this time bringing home his first points-paying Cup Series win at the track and adding another crown jewel to his already impressive resume. Even more special, another fallen soldier’s name was able to help Busch on his ride to victory lane. SGT Eric Toth, who lost his life in Iraq in March 2005, adorned his windshield that day.

 

So, this Memorial Day weekend, Busch will look to bring home his second crown jewel win at Charlotte and, at the same time, honor Clement and all troops who have given the ultimate sacrifice, as well as those who continue to serve America and the Red, White & Blue.

KYLE BUSCH, Driver of the No. 18 M&M’S Red, White, and Blue Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing: 
Do you take pride in the way NASCAR handles honoring the military and the national anthem before races?

 

“Absolutely. We all are patriotic in our own ways. NASCAR seems to do it probably the best with the NASCAR Salutes program that we’ve had over the course of the last few years with having the ability to have the fallen soldiers on our racecars for Memorial Day weekend. Two years ago, I was fortunate enough to take my soldier’s family to victory lane – the Toth Family with SGT Toth. This year, I get the opportunity to carry around the name of Naval Helicopter Aircrewman Jonathan Clement, so I’m really looking forward to that. I understand that he was a big fan of the Washington Redskins, so i know his family is happy he’s along for the ride with us in a Joe Gibbs owned car. I’m honored to be able to have them as part of our night, and it makes it most special when you’re able to take them to victory lane. So, hopefully, we can do that with our M&M’S Red, White, and Blue Camry. With what we all do on Memorial Day weekend, I feel like we do it the best. ”

 

A lot of people talk about the beginning of the season, “Let’s skip past the West Coast swing and get back East to run a couple of races to see where your team stands.” Was there anything you saw out of the two Darlington races that is more optimistic than that take?

 

“The 11 (Denny Hamlin) had pretty good speed, but he’s always good at Darlington. Arguably, we were pretty equal on that second‑to‑last run, although he passed me and was able to drive away a good bit. He definitely had the long-run speed over what I did. He’s better at being able to take care of his tires, I think. The 20 (Erik Jones) led for a bit. I think he overused his stuff and fell back a little bit. You can kind of see those guys up front who ran hard, real fast on the front side of the runs, they’d burn their stuff up and start coming back to the other guys. Track position was so important. You could hold a guy up for a fair amount, not allow him to pass you very easily. That was, I guess, a little disappointing in that we were not able to make moves as good as we wanted with myself and the 18 car with the way my car was driving. Charlotte is a completely different deal, so we’ll see what that brings us. ”

 

Does the sport still need a 600-mile race like we have Sunday?

 

“Yes, I think so. Is it a tough race for the drivers? It is a tough race for the drivers. Is it as tough as it once was? Maybe not. Is it (tough) on the cars? No. The cars are way too sophisticated now. I bet you we could probably go 800, maybe even 1,000 miles, on a racecar before you’d start to see problems. It’s just a matter of length and attention span, I guess. Some other drivers would probably argue the fact with me that we don’t need a 600-mile race, but it’s tradition. I think it’s history. I think you keep some of those that have been the longer ones, that have meant more to our sport over the years like the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400, the Coca-Cola 600, the Southern 500. Those probably could stay the length that they are and many of the others could probably change. ”

 

Does Sunday’s 600-mile race feel different than other events?

 

“It depends on what kind of car you have. I’ve been in races in the 600-mile race where it’s felt really easy and short, and I’ve been in races where it’s been a long, drawn-out, knock ’em, sock ’em kind of day. Hopefully, Adam Stevens (crew chief) and the guys can bring a really good M&M’S Red, White & Blue Camry for me this weekend and it will be a smooth race for us. I like running the 600 miles. I think it brings a different aspect to our sport – its longevity. People will say, ‘It’s too long. It’s boring. Whatever.’ Well, you know, it’s a part of the product and the history that we’ve had on Memorial Day weekend for a long time that you run that extra hundred miles. And car preparation goes into that. Will your car make it? Will your engine last? Are the drivers able to be competitive throughout the whole race? You’ll have fatigue, sometimes, even at a 500-mile race. So, if you don’t show signs of weakness, you should be pretty good. ”

M&M’S Red White, and Blue Racing

Race 7 of 36 – Coca-Cola 600 – Charlotte

Car No.: 18 – M&M’S Red, White, and Blue Toyota Camry

 

Teammates:  Denny Hamlin – No. 11 Toyota Camry; Martin Truex Jr. – No. 19 Toyota Camry; Erik Jones – No. 20 Toyota Camry.

 

At-Track PR Contact: Bill Janitz, True Speed Communication (704-875-3388 ext. 803 or Bill.Janitz@TrueSpeedCommunication.com).

Primary Team Members:

Driver: Kyle Busch

Hometown: Las Vegas

 

Crew Chief: Adam Stevens

Hometown: Portsmouth, Ohio

 

Car Chief: Nate Bellows

Hometown: Fairfax, Vermont

 

Spotter: Tony Hirschman

Hometown: Northampton, Pennsylvania

 

Over-The-Wall Crew Members:

Gas Man: Matt Tyrrell

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

 

Front Tire Changer: Cam Waugh

Hometown: Johnstown, Colorado

 

Jackman: T.J. Ford

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

 

Tire Carrier: Joe Crossen

Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

 

Rear Tire Changer: Jeff Cordero

Hometown: Salem, Connecticut

 

Notes of Interest:
  •  The Coca-Cola 600 will mark Kyle Busch’s 541st career NASCAR Cup Series start and his 31st NASCAR Cup Series start at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
  • Busch has career totals of 56 wins, 32 poles, 203 top-five finishes, 299 top-10s and 17,446 laps led in 540 career Cup Series races. His most recent Cup Series win came in November at Homestead-Miami Speedway, resulting in his second Cup Series championship. Busch’s most recent pole, the 32nd of his career, came in November at Phoenix Raceway.
  • Busch has one win, 13 top-five finishes and 18 top-10s and has led a total of 1,449 laps in 30 Cup Series starts at Charlotte. Busch’s average Charlotte finish is 14.6.
  • Finally: Busch’s combined record in NASCAR Xfinity Series and Truck Series races is quite impressive at Charlotte, where the Las Vegas native has eight wins apiece on the 1.5-mile oval for a total of 16 victories. While he found victory lane early and often at Charlotte in those series, Busch was unable to find similar success in NASCAR’s top series. That all changed starting in 2017, when he brought home the win in the NASCAR All-Star Race, the first Cup Series win of his career at Charlotte, albeit a non-points event. But a little more than a year later, in 2018, Busch was able to bring home his first Cup Series points paying win at Charlotte as he led a whopping 377 laps of the 400-lap event en route to the crown jewel win.
  • 56 Career Cup Series Wins: With his Cup Series win at Homestead in November, the 56th points-paying win of his career, Busch passed NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace for sole possession of ninth place on the all-time win list in NASCAR’s top series. Next up for Busch on the list is eighth-place Dale Earnhardt, who had 76 wins during his Hall of Fame career. With his 40th Cup Series victory at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in August 2017, Busch became the fourth-youngest driver to reach 40 Cup Series wins at 32 years, 109 days, behind only Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon and Herb Thomas.
  • All-Time JGR Wins Leader: With his Brickyard 400 win in July 2016, Busch passed Tony Stewart for most all-time Cup Series wins for JGR. Busch now has 52 wins for JGR to Stewart’s 33 following his most recent win at Homestead last year.
  • 209 and Counting: Busch enters Sunday’s race at Charlotte with 209 career wins among NASCAR’s top three divisions – Cup (56), Xfinity (96) and Truck (57) – following his Truck Series win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway back in February.
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Christopher Bell – No. 95 Rheem Toyota Camry Preview – Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte

by Mike
Christopher Bell – No. 95 Rheem Toyota Camry Preview – Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte

No. 95 Rheem Toyota Camry News and Notes:

  • 600 Miles at Charlotte: Christopher Bell, a rookie contender in the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS), will make his first Cup start at Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) in the Coca-Cola 600, the longest race of the season for the series.  The 600 miles that make up the Coca-Cola 600 is a challenge for all drivers, but Bell knows his way around the 1.5-mile track at CMS.
  • Bell at Charlotte: Bell has three NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) starts at CMS earning two top-five and two top-10 finishes.  Last year at CMS Bell dominated early in the race, earning the pole position and leading 33 of 45 laps in the opening stage before a flat tire ended his day early in stage two.
  • NASCAR Salutes: Christopher Bell will carry the name of Sergeant Jerry L Ganey Jr. on the windshield header of his No. 95 Rheem Toyota Camry this Sunday for the Coca-Cola 600 in honor of Memorial Day weekend as a part of NASCAR Salutes.  Ganey Jr. was assigned to the 648th Engineer Battalion, 48th Infantry Brigade, Georgia Army National Guard, Statesboro, GA, and was killed Aug. 3, 2005 when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near his armored personnel carrier as he was conducting a dismounted security patrol in Baghdad.
  • Darlington Recap: Christopher Bell started 24th for the Wednesday night race at Darlington Raceway and went on to earn his best finish of the season.  The No. 95 team steadily made adjustments on Bell’s Toyota all night and Bell was sitting just outside the top 10 when the rains came, and the race was called.  Bell finished 11th, his best finish through six races this season.
  • RACE INFO: The Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway begins at 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 24, 2020. The race will be broadcast live on FOX, Sirius XM 90, and PRN Radio.

 

 

Bell’s Career NASCAR Xfinity Series Stats at Charlotte Motor Speedway:

StartsWinsTop 5Top 10PolesLaps LedAvg. StartAvg. Finish
30221335.012.7

 

Bell’s 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Season Stats:

StartsWinsTop 5Top 10PolesLaps LedAvg. StartAvg. Finish
60000021.325.2

 

Bell’s Career NASCAR Xfinity Series Stats:

StartsWinsTop 5Top 10PolesLaps LedAvg. StartAvg. Finish
741641461229206.410.2

 

From the Cockpit:

Christopher Bell: “I’m pretty anxious about the Coke 600 this weekend. Obviously, it’s a really long race, so I’m trying to make sure I’m as prepared as I can be. I just want to do a good job. I want to make sure I see the end of the race; after this one, the rest of them are going to feel short.  It’s also an honor to pay tribute to the brave men and women who protect our country’s freedom.  I’m proud to have Sergeant Ganey Jr. riding along with me on Sunday.”

About Rheem

Founded in 1925, Rheem® innovates all-new ways to deliver just the right temperature while saving energy, water and supporting a more sustainable future. Today, Rheem is America’s #1 water heating brand, and its products are available in more than 50 countries. Paloma Co., Ltd. of Nagoya, Japan, acquired the iconic Rheem brand in 1988, and today the company’s portfolio of premium brands include Rheem®, Raypak®, Ruud®, Eemax®, Richmond®, Splendid®, Solahart® and EverHot™ as well as commercial refrigeration brands Russell®, Witt®, ColdZone® and Kramer®, which are part of the Heat Transfer Products Group (HTPG®) division.

*All are Trademarks of Rheem Manufacturing Company.

 

About Leavine Family Racing

Leavine Family Racing is an organization competing in the NASCAR Cup Series focused on growing competitively and providing results-driven partnerships for its sponsors. The single-car team was founded in 2011 by Bob and Sharon Leavine, two individuals who are passionate about NASCAR and started the team to make a positive impact on the sport and community. Christopher Bell will pilot the No. 95 Toyota Camry for the team starting with the 2020 season. In alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota Racing Development, the team operates out of their Concord, N.C.-based race shop with a veteran group of racing personnel driven by their desire for progress. For more information, please visit www.LFR95.com.

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Martin Truex Jr. ­– No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry Preview – Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway

by Mike
Martin Truex Jr. ­– No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry Preview – Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway

No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry News and Notes

  • TRUEX AT CHARLOTTE: Martin Truex Jr. has three wins in 27 career NASCAR Cup Series starts on the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval layout. The Mayetta, New Jersey native has posted seven top-five results in the past eight races on the track’s 1.5-mile configuration, including four consecutive finishes of third or better. He has led more than 100 laps in three of the past four Coca-Cola 600s, including last season when he led 116 laps and won the race after overcoming an early tire issue and having to make a daring four-wide pass in the closing laps.
  • ELITE COMPANY: Truex is one of only three active drivers with multiple Coca-Cola 600 wins. After securing his second victory in the crown jewel event last May, he joined Jimmie Johnson (four wins) and Kevin Harvick (two wins) as the only active drivers to accomplish the fete more than once.
  • NASCAR’S RETURN TO RACING: The No. 19 team picked up their first two top-10 finishes of the season as the NASCAR Cup Series returned to action Sunday and Wednesday at Darlington Raceway. He claimed top-three stage finishes in three of the four stages and finished sixth and 10th in the races, respectively.
  • STAGE SUCCESS: Truex leads all NASCAR Cup Series drivers in stage points earned through the season’s first six races. After earning 17 stage points Wednesday night at Darlington Raceway, Truex has now accumulated 67 stage points this season. Those points account for 37.4% of his 179 total points scored so far.
  • TSGT JOHN A CHAPMAN: Truex and the No. 19 team will honor Technical Sergeant John A. Chapman this Memorial Day weekend. Sergeant Chapman, a native of Windsor Locks, Connecticut, was a highly decorated combat controller who served in the United States Air Force. In 2018, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Battle of Takur Ghar during the War in Afghanistan. He is the first airman to receive the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War and the first Air Force combat controller to earn the Air Force Cross in any war in history. His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Air Force Commendation Medal with one device, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two devices, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with four devices, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award with three devices, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Military Education ribbon, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship ribbon, and the Air Force Training ribbon.
  • BASS PRO SHOPS: A longtime supporter of Truex and NASCAR, Bass Pro Shops will be featured as primary sponsor of the No. 19 Camry for the Coca-Cola 600. Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri. Today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more.
  • RED, WHITE AND BLUE: Truex’s No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Camry will feature a red, white and blue design for this weekend’s race to honor the United States military and Bass Pro Shops’ relationship with the United Service Organizations (USO).
  • JGR AT CHARLOTTE: Joe Gibbs Racing has earned seven victories at Charlotte Motor Speedway, including the past two Coca-Cola 600s. Overall, the organization has tallied 51 top-five finishes, 78 top-10s, 10 pole awards and 3,673 laps led at the 1.5-mile quad-oval. Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart join Truex on the list of drivers to take JGR to victory lane at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  • TUNE IN: Coverage of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway begins Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN Radio and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

 

Martin Truex Jr., Driver of the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry

After two races back, what do you expect going into the 600 this weekend?

“The 600 is always a special race and an important weekend for our sport around Memorial Day weekend. Obviously, the circumstances are a lot different this year with everything that’s going on, but that doesn’t change the challenge the race presents going from day to night and 600 miles. It is difficult to keep up with the changes the track goes through as the sun goes down, but that’s what makes it fun. It’s an honor to have won this race twice now and we’re excited to get to the track Sunday for another chance to get it done.”

Truex NASCAR Cup Series Stats at Charlotte Motor Speedway (Oval)

StartsWinsTop 5Top 10PolesLaps LedAvg. StartAvg. Finish
273711197216.814.1

Truex 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Season Stats

StartsWinsTop 5Top 10PolesLaps LedAvg. StartAvg. Finish
600203116.219.0

Truex NASCAR Cup Series Career Stats

StartsWinsTop 5Top 10PolesLaps LedAvg. StartAvg. Finish
51926102207198,93714.415.8

About Bass Pro Shops®

Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.”

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Kyle Busch / No. 54 App State Class of 2020 Toyota Supra Preview Alsco 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway

by Mike
Kyle Busch / No. 54 App State Class of 2020 Toyota Supra Preview Alsco 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway

No. 54 APP State Class of 2020 Toyota Supra News and Notes:

  • BUSCH AT CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY: For his third NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) start of the 2020 season, Kyle Busch will make his 26th career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The veteran driver has eight wins, 18 top-five finishes, 21 top-10 finishes and two pole positions at the 1.5-mile oval. He also has a starting average of 8.4 and a finishing average of 6.6.
  • 2020 NXS STATS: In two NXS starts this season, Busch has two second-place finishes, one pole and has led 123 laps of competition.
  • 2020 KYLE BUSCH NXS SCHEDULE: Busch will run five races in the NXS this season. The five races include: March 7 at Phoenix Raceway, May 21 at Darlington Raceway, May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, June 20 at Chicagoland Speedway, July 18 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and August 15 at Watkins Glen.
  • BUSCH’S CAREER TOTALS IN THE NXS: Busch has 96 wins, 68 poles, 218 top-five finishes, 256 top-10s and 19,626 laps led in 354 career NXS starts. His most recent NXS win came in September at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Busch’s most recent pole, the 68th of his career, also came in September at Indy.
  • 209 and Counting: Busch enters Monday night’s race at Charlotte with 209 career wins among NASCAR’s top three divisions – Cup (56), Xfinity (96) and Truck (57) – following his Truck Series win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway back in February.
  • JGR AT CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY: Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has 96 total starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. In those starts, the team has earned eight wins, 37 top-five finishes, 56 top-10 finishes and six pole starting positions. The team has led 1,742 laps, completed 18,457 of 19,187 attempted laps (96.2%) and earned an average start of 10.6 and an average finish of 12.1. Kyle Busch leads the team with five wins followed by Mike Bliss, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin with one win each.
  • THIS WEEK ON THE NO. 54 SUPRA: This week, the No. 54 will honor the graduating class of 2020 from Appalachian State University.
  • RACE INFO: The Alsco 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Monday, May 25, 2020. Coverage will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1, PRN Radio and SIRIUS XM Channel 90.

 

Busch Career Xfinity Series Stats at Charlotte Motor Speedway:

StartsWinsTop 5Top 10PolesLaps LedAvg. StartAvg. Finish
258182121,3818.46.6

 

Busch 2020 Season NASCAR Xfinity Series Stats:

StartsWinsTop 5Top 10PolesLaps LedAvg. StartAvg. Finish
202201238.813.2

 

Busch Career NASCAR Xfinity Series Stats:

StartsWinsTop 5Top 10PolesLaps LedAvg. StartAvg. Finish
354962182566819,6267.59.0
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Riley Herbst – No. 18 Monster Energy Toyota Supra Preview (NXS) – Charlotte Motor Speedway

by Mike
Riley Herbst – No. 18 Monster Energy Toyota Supra Preview (NXS) – Charlotte Motor Speedway

No. 18 Monster Energy Toyota Supra News and Notes:

  • HERBST AT CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY: For the sixth race of the 2020 season, Riley Herbst will make his first-career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. While this will be his first start at the track in the Xfinity Series, Herbst has two starts at the track in the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) Series. In those two starts, Herbst has a best finish of second in 2018.
  • JGR AT CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY: Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has 96 total starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. In those starts, the team has earned eight wins, 37 top-five finishes, 56 top-10 finishes and six pole starting positions. The team has led 1,742 laps, completed 18,457 of 19,187 attempted laps (96.2%) and earned an average start of 10.6 and an average finish of 12.1. Kyle Busch leads the team with five wins followed by Mike Bliss, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin with one win each.
  • DARLINGTON RECAP: With the Xfinity Series retuning to the track for the first time following a two-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, teams unloaded at Darlington Raceway for the fifth race of the season. Starting the race from the fifth position for his first appearance at the 1.366-mile track, Herbst spent most of the day learning how to maneuver around the historic track. Poised for a solid top-15 finish, contact with the wall in the closing laps slowed the Monster Energy Supra. Herbst was able to hold on for an 18th-place finish at the South Carolina track.
  • POINTS STANDINGS: Following his 18th-place finish at Darlington Raceway, Herbst remains 11th in the Xfinity Series point standings, 95 points out of first place.
  • THIS WEEK ON THE NO. 18 SUPRA: This week, Monster Energy will serve as the primary partner for the No. 18 Toyota Supra team.
  • RACE INFO: The Alsco 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Monday, May 25, 2020. Coverage will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1, PRN Radio and SIRIUS XM Channel 90.

 

Herbst Career Xfinity Series Stats at Charlotte Motor Speedway:

StartsWinsTop 5Top 10PolesLaps LedAvg. StartAvg. Finish
0000000.00.0

 

Herbst 2020 Season NASCAR Xfinity Series Stats:

StartsWinsTop 5Top 10PolesLaps LedAvg. StartAvg. Finish
5013008.014.2

 

Herbst Career NASCAR Xfinity Series Stats:

StartsWinsTop 5Top 10PolesLaps LedAvg. StartAvg. Finish
15017019.915.3

 

From the Driver’s Seat: Riley Herbst

You get to race again on Monday. Are you excited for Charlotte?

“I’ve actually seen Charlotte – been around that place. I’m looking forward to that. Still with no practice or qualifying, I think that’s going to benefit me because we are equipped and we have a really good setup for Charlotte. We are not behind the eight ball because me and Harrison (Burton) have actually been to Charlotte, so we will be ready to go.”

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Roush Fenway Weekly Advance | Charlotte 1

by Mike
Roush Fenway Weekly Advance | Charlotte 1

NASCAR’s return to racing continues Memorial Day weekend with the running of the prestigious Coca-Cola 600. Roush Fenway has 20 wins all-time at Charlotte Motor Speedway, including four in the Coke 600. Chris Buescher – who will pilot the Fifth Third Ford – is coming off a sixth-place run in this race a year ago while Ryan Newman –piloting the Roman Ford – has nine-career poles at the 1.5-mile track, the most of any active driver in NASCAR.



Charlotte Motor Speedway (1.5-Mile)
Coca-Cola 600

Sunday, May 24, 2020 | 6 p.m. ET

FOX, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

  • Ryan Newman, No. 6 Roman Ford Mustang
  • Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fifth Third Ford Mustang



NASCAR Returns to Action

  • NASCAR continues its historic return to racing Sunday with the prestigious Coca-Cola 600, the third of four NASCAR Cup Series events over a 10-day span. The NCS will return to Charlotte Motor Speedway on Wednesday for a 310.6-mile event, which is set for 8 p.m. ET.
  • Despite heavy rain in the Darlington area on Wednesday, NASCAR was able to get an official race in under the lights for the Cup Series’ sixth points race of 2020.
  • Four weeks of NASCAR action were completed prior to the hiatus with races at Atlanta, Homestead, Texas, Bristol, Richmond, Talladega, Dover and Martinsville postponed.

 

Wednesday Recap, Sunday Preview

  • With rain in the area through much of the night Wednesday, a bold strategy call put Newman in the lead just past halfway Wednesday night, before he overcame an unlucky pit road incident to record a 14th-place finish in a rain-shortened 208-lap race.
  • The same strategy call put Buescher just behind teammate Newman for a restart just past halfway in Wednesday’s event at Darlington, with the race ultimately running 208 laps before rain cut it short. Buescher later missed pit road on a pit stop and got one of his laps back, before recording a 23rd-place finish.
  • After two straight events with no qualifying, the field for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 will be set by qualifying, which is slated for 2 p.m. ET (FS1).

 

Roush Fenway in the 600

In 102 NCS starts in the famed Coca-Cola 600, Roush Fenway Racing has visited victory lane four times and recorded 23 top-five and 38 top-10 finishes. Jeff Burton leads the way with two Coke 600 victories for Jack Roush, while Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth have one each.

 

Golden Sombrero

Roush Fenway won a record four-consecutive Coca-Cola 600’s from 1999-2002 with drivers Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth and Mark Martin. During that span, Roush Fenway led 427 laps, including 201 of 400 laps in the 1999 event.

 

2006 Dominance in the Coca-Cola 600

Roush Fenway had its best overall outing in the Coca-Cola 600 in 2006, when its five entries averaged a 5.4 finish. Roush Fenway Fords finished third, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth, while leading 52 laps in the event. In 2002, Roush Fenway posted a one-two finish in the event with Martin and Kenseth battling feverishly for the win and combining to lead 67 laps in the race (with Martin taking the win).

 

Tale of the Tape

Roush Fenway has started 210 NCS races at Charlotte, recording eight total wins with 46 top-five and 79 top-10 finishes. RFR Fords have an average finish of 16.3 with 2627 laps led all-time.

 

600 Miles of Remembrance

To align with the nation’s spirit of Memorial Day, the NASCAR industry will come together to honor and remember the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice defending our freedom. Each driver/team entry into the Coca-Cola 600 will display a fallen service member name on the windshield header decal of the racecar.

Buescher will carry the name of SPC Anthony Kinslow, a native of Phoenix who was based in Fort Carson, Colorado, in the U.S. Army. Kinslow was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. He was killed June 13, 2005, when his military vehicle came under a grenade attack while he was conducting combat operations in Ramadi, Iraq.

Newman will carry the name of Nathan Bruckenthal, a native of Stony Brook, N.Y., who enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard on Jan. 5, 1999. He was later assigned to Tactical Law Enforcement Detachment South, LEDET 403, at Coast Guard Air Station Miami, Florida, and deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

 

On April 24, 2004, while serving as part of Coast Guard Patrol Forces Southwest Asia aboard USS Firebolt, Petty Officer 3rd Class Bruckenthal, a damage controlman, and two U. S. Navy sailors were killed in the line of duty while conducting maritime intercept operations in the North Arabian Gulf. Bruckenthal and six other coalition sailors attempted to board a small boat near the Iraqi Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal. As they boarded the boat, it exploded. Bruckenthal later died from the wounds he sustained in the explosion. Bruckenthal was the first Coast Guard member killed in action since the Vietnam War.

 

Roush Fenway Charlotte Wins

 

1992-2   Martin  Cup

1995-2   Martin  Cup

1998-2   Martin  Cup

1999-1   Burton  Cup

2000-1   Kenseth Cup

2001-1   Burton  Cup

2002-1   Martin  Cup

2011-2   Kenseth Cup

1993-2   Martin NXS

1995-2   Martin NXS

1996-1   Martin  NXS

1996-2   Martin  NXS

1998-1   Martin  NXS

1999-1   Martin  NXS

2000-1   Burton  NXS

2001-2   Biffle     NXS

2002-2   Burton                  NXS

2006-1   Edwards               NXS

2011-1   Kenseth               NXS

2011-2   Edwards               NXS

2011-2   Edwards               NXS

2015-1   Buescher             NXS

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Chase Briscoe Wins at Darlington

by Mike
Chase Briscoe Wins at Darlington
HighPoint.com/Ford Performance Racing School Driver Takes Championship Points Lead
Date:  May 21, 2020

Event:  Darlington 200 (Round 5 of 33)

Series:  NASCAR Xfinity Series

Location:  Darlington (S.C.) Raceway (1.366-mile oval)

Format:  147 laps, broken into three stages (45 laps/45 laps/57 laps)

Start/Finish:  11th/1st (Running, completed 147 of 147 laps)

Point Standing:  1st (223 points, 19 ahead of second)

 

Race Winner:  Chase Briscoe of Stewart-Haas Racing (Ford)

Stage 1 Winner:  Noah Gragson of JR Motorsports (Chevrolet)

Stage 2 Winner:  Kyle Busch of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

 

Overview:

Chase Briscoe beat one of the best drivers in NASCAR to score his fourth career Xfinity Series victory and his second this season. The driver of the No. 98 HighPoint.com/Ford Performance Racing School Mustang started 11th for the 200-lap race around the 1.366-mile oval and ran consistently among the top-10 through the race’s first 90 laps. A quick pit stop on lap 91 for four tires and field allowed Briscoe to restart in second place on lap 96. The 25-year-old driver from Mitchell, Indiana, promptly took the lead, pacing the field for the next 34 laps. A caution on lap 133 allowed Briscoe to pit one final time for fresh tires and fuel, and another lightning-fast stop put Briscoe in the lead for the lap-138 restart. This set up a battle between Briscoe and Busch, the winningest driver in Xfinity Series history with 96 career victories. But Briscoe would not be denied, crossing the finish line first in a fender-scraping, tire-rubbing duel where the margin of victory was just .086 of a second.

 

Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 98 HighPoint.com/Ford Performance Racing School Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:        

“This is the best thing that could happen, honestly. For those that don’t know, we had a miscarriage Tuesday of our daughter and, to be honest with you, I wasn’t sure what racing we would do. God is so good. Earlier when I got dressed, I prayed that whatever His will is, just let it be done today. I knew He was going to have a high because of the low, and it’s just unbelievable to win here at Darlington and to beat Kyle Busch doing it.

 

“I just kept making a lot of mistakes on the final lap. Emotionally, I wasn’t there. Getting into turn one, I knew that there was no way he was going to drive in deeper than me. I wasn’t going to let it happen. Kyle was gracious enough to at least leave me a little bit of a lane and it was a heck of a race. This is the number one win. Honestly, winning the Daytona 500 couldn’t even top the feeling of the ups and downs. This is what my family needed and what my wife needed.

 

“This has been the hardest week I’ve ever had to deal with. At the initial start, I was all over the place emotionally, and then when I had the lead with 50 to go, I was just making so many mistakes because I was literally crying inside the racecar. There’s nothing else to say other than God is just so glorious. Obviously, I’m happy to get HighPoint.com and Ford Performance Racing School in victory lane, but this is more than a race win. This is the biggest day of my life after the toughest day in my life, and to be able to beat the best there is, is so satisfying.”

 

Notes:              

● The win gave Briscoe the lead in the championship standings. He holds a 19-point advantage over second-place Harrison Burton.

● This was Briscoe’s 55th career Xfinity Series start, but only his second at Darlington. He finished sixth in last year’s race.

● Briscoe led three times for 45 laps.

● Briscoe finished eighth in Stage 1 to earn three bonus points and fourth in Stage 2 to earn an additional seven bonus points.

● There were five caution periods for a total of 28 laps.

● Twenty-four of the 39 drivers in the Darlington 200 finished on the lead lap.

 

Next Up:          

The next event on the Xfinity Series schedule is the Alsco 300 on Monday, May 25 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. The race starts at 7:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

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Ryan Newman – Charlotte I Advance

by Mike
Ryan Newman – Charlotte I Advance

Team:                   No. 6 Roman Ford Mustang
Crew Chief:         Scott Graves

PR Contact:         Brandon Lee; blee@roushfenway.com; 704-783-5446

Twitter:                @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman
Race Format:     600 miles, 400 laps, Stage Lengths: 100-100-100-100

Coca-Cola 600 – Sunday, May 24 at 6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

                                                                                                                                                                 

ADVANCE NOTES

NASCAR Returns to Action

  • NASCAR continues its historic return to racing Sunday with the prestigious Coca-Cola 600, the third of four NASCAR Cup Series events over a 10-day span. The NCS will return to Charlotte Motor Speedway on Wednesday for a 310.6-mile event, which is set for 8 p.m. ET.
  • Despite heavy rain in the Darlington area on Wednesday, NASCAR was able to get an official race in under the lights for the Cup Series’ sixth points race of 2020.
  • Four weeks of NASCAR action were completed prior to the hiatus with races at Atlanta, Homestead, Texas, Bristol, Richmond, Talladega, Dover and Martinsville postponed.

 

Wednesday Recap, Sunday Preview

  • With rain in the area through much of the night Wednesday, a bold strategy call put Newman in the lead just past halfway Wednesday night, before he overcame an unlucky pit road incident to record a 14th-place finish in a rain-shortened 208-lap race.
  • After two-straight events with no qualifying, the field for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 will be set by qualifying, which is slated for 2 p.m. ET (FS1). Newman will pilot the Roman Ford Mustang in the company’s debut into NASCAR.

 

Newman Historically at Charlotte Motor Speedway

  • Sunday marks Newman’s 37th start at the oval of Charlotte Motor Speedway, and 20th start in the Coke 600. He has an overall average finish of 18.2 with a best Coke 600 finish of second (2009).
  • Newman has turned in 15 career top-10 finishes at CMS, including eight in the 600-mile event. Dating back four spring events, Newman has two top-10s (ninth – 2017, 10th – 2016).
  • Newman has an impressive nine poles at CMS dating back to 2001, by the far the most of any active driver at the 1.5-mile track and tied for second-most of any driver in NASCAR history. Only David Pearson has more with 14, while Newman and Jeff Gordon are tied for second. He swept the pole awards in 2003 and 2007, and also secured the top spot in 2001, 2004, 2005, 2009 and 2010.
  • Newman has five Xfinity Series starts at CMS with one win (2005) and finished top-10 in each race. He also made one start in the truck series there in 2009 finishing fourth in a Kevin Harvick-owned truck.

Scott Graves at Charlotte Motor Speedway

  • Graves will call his eighth NCS race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, and fifth Coke 600. In seven prior start he has an average finish of 15.7 with one top-10 (sixth – 2017).
  • He also has sixth starts in the NXS atop the pit box, earning four top-10s and one top five. He finished third with Suarez in 2016, and also earned three top-10s with Chris Buescher in 2014 and 2015.

QUOTE WORTHY
Newman on the Coke 600:
“The Coke 600 is the longest race of the season and a special tribute and thanks to all the men and women who make Memorial Day the freedom day that we should all appreciate. NASCAR does a great job of showing patriotism, so as we go into our longest race of the year, we think about those who we have lost. On the track, we have to focus on what we need to do to be good at the start of the race and especially good at the end as it is a challenging race. I’m a proud member of the Coca-Cola Racing Family so the Coca-Cola 600 is definitely special for us.”

600 Miles of Remembrance
To align with the nation’s spirit of Memorial Day, the NASCAR industry will come together to honor and remember the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice defending our freedom. Each driver/team entry into the Coca-Cola 600 will display a fallen service member name on the windshield header decal of the racecar.

Newman will carry the name of Nathan Bruckenthal, a native of Stony Brook, N.Y., who enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard on Jan. 5, 1999. He was later assigned to Tactical Law Enforcement Detachment South, LEDET 403, at Coast Guard Air Station Miami, Florida, and deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On April 24, 2004, while serving as part of Coast Guard Patrol Forces Southwest Asia aboard USS Firebolt, Petty Officer 3rd Class Bruckenthal, a damage controlman, and two U. S. Navy sailors were killed in the line of duty while conducting maritime intercept operations in the North Arabian Gulf. Bruckenthal and six other coalition sailors attempted to board a small boat near the Iraqi Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal. As they boarded the boat, it exploded. Bruckenthal later died from the wounds he sustained in the explosion. Bruckenthal was the first Coast Guard member killed in action since the Vietnam War.

On the Car
It was announced Wednesday that Roman – a leading men’s digital health clinic – will serve as the primary partner for Newman and the No. 6 team for the prestigious Coke 600. Powered by its parent company Ro, Roman offers a personalized healthcare experience for men from online treatment to the delivery of medication and ongoing care.

About Roman
Launched in 2017, Roman is the men’s digital health clinic from Ro that brings the care of leading medical experts to the privacy of one’s home. The company’s nationwide network of physicians and pharmacies provides a personalized, end-to-end healthcare experience from online treatment to the delivery of medication and ongoing care. Roman offers treatments for erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, hair loss, cold sores, genital herpes, allergies, skincare and more. For information about Roman, please visit www.getroman.com.

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Chris Buescher – Charlotte I Advance

by Mike
Chris Buescher – Charlotte I Advance

Team:                   No. 17 Fifth Third Bank Ford Mustang
Crew Chief:         Luke Lambert

Twitter:                @17RoushTeam, @RoushFenway and @Chris_Buescher
Race Format:     600 miles, 400 laps, Stage Lengths: 100-100-100-100


Coca-Cola 600 – Sunday, May 24 at 6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

                                                                                                                                                                 

ADVANCE NOTES

NASCAR Returns to Action

  • NASCAR continues its historic return to racing Sunday with the prestigious Coca-Cola 600, the third of four NASCAR Cup Series events over a 10-day span. The NCS will return to Charlotte Motor Speedway on Wednesday for a 310.6-mile event, which is set for 8 p.m. ET.
  • Despite heavy rain in the Darlington area on Wednesday night, NASCAR was able to get an official race in under the lights for the Cup Series’ sixth points race of 2020.
  • Four weeks of NASCAR action were completed prior to the hiatus with races at Atlanta, Homestead, Texas, Bristol, Richmond, Talladega, Dover and Martinsville postponed.

 

Wednesday Recap, Sunday Preview

  • A bold strategy call put Buescher and teammate Ryan Newman on the front row for a restart just past halfway in Wednesday’s event at Darlington, with the race ultimately running 208 laps before rain cut it short. Buescher later missed pit road on a pit stop and got one of his laps back, before recording a 23rd-place finish.
  • After two straight events with no qualifying, the field for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 will be set by qualifying, which is slated for 2 p.m. ET (FS1). Buescher will pilot the No. 17 Fifth Third Ford Mustang in their second consecutive race on the car.

 

Buescher Historically at Charlotte Motor Speedway

  • Buescher makes his seventh Cup start at Charlotte on Sunday, and fifth Coke 600 start. Overall he carries an average finish of 21st at the 1.5-mile track.
  • Buescher has a best finish of sixth in the Coke 600, which came last season after starting 22nd.
  • His best qualifying effort at the CMS oval is 18th (2018), with an overall average starting spot of 23rd.
  • Buescher also made five starts at Charlotte in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Roush Fenway from 2013-15, earning three top-10 finishes with a best of sixth in 2014.

Luke Lambert at Charlotte Motor Speedway

  • Lambert will be atop the box for his 13th NCS race at the CMS oval, and seventh Coke 600. Overall he has an average finish of 17.2 in 12 starts.
  • His best Coke 600 finish as a crew chief came in 2017 with Ryan Newman with a ninth-place result. He and Newman put together a sixth-place qualifying effort just two years ago and has an overall average starting spot of 18.1.
  • Lambert also called two NXS events at CMS with Elliott Sadler in 2012, finishing fifth and third after earning the pole in the fall race that season.

QUOTE WORTHY
Buescher on the Coca-Cola 600:
“First and foremost, as a sport and personally, we’re always honored to pay tribute to those who fought for our freedom. NASCAR’s efforts in Mission 600 and the recognition of Memorial Day ties together the meaning behind the weekend, and we’re honored to have SPC Kinslow riding with us on the No. 17 Ford. The Coke 600 is one of our tougher races, both physically and mentally, and with our condensed schedule now it’s more important than ever. I had a good run in this race a year ago, so we’re hoping to put our Fifth Third Ford in a good position at the end of a long 600 miles.”

600 Miles of Remembrance
To align with the nation’s spirit of Memorial Day, the NASCAR industry will come together to honor and remember the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice defending our freedom. Each driver/team entry into the Coca-Cola 600 will display a fallen service member name on the windshield header decal of the racecar.

Buescher will carry the name of SPC Anthony Kinslow, a native of Phoenix who was based in Fort Carson, Colorado, in the U.S. Army. Kinslow was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. He was killed June 13, 2005, when his military vehicle came under a grenade attack while he was conducting combat operations in Ramadi, Iraq.

On the Car
Fifth Third Bank makes its second consecutive appearance aboard Buescher’s No. 17 machine on Sunday in the prestigious Coke 600. As part of NASCAR’s return and the ongoing implications from COVID-19, the company will run special messaging aboard Buescher’s Ford Mustang on the hood and TV panel.

  • In appreciation of all frontline employees, Fifth Third has added a special tribute to the No. 17 scheme. The message reads, “Thank you frontline heroes for giving your 166.7%.” The messaging is a nod to the Bank’s brand campaign, which plays off the improper fraction that is the Bank’s name.
  • As a fraction, 5/3 translates to more than 100 percent – 166.7 percent, to be exact – this special scheme honors all frontline employees who are going the extra mile to help our communities during this difficult time.

About Fifth Third Bank
Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank, National Association, a federally chartered institution. As of March 31, 2020, Fifth Third had $185 billion in assets and operated 1,123 full-service banking centers and 2,464 ATMs with Fifth Third branding in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina. In total, Fifth Third provides its customers with access to approximately 53,000 fee-free ATMs across the United States. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending and Wealth & Asset Management. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of March 31, 2020, had $374 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $42 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations through its Trust and Registered Investment Advisory businesses. Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Fifth Third’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Fifth Third Bank was established in 1858. Deposit and Credit products are offered by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

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No. 10 Smithfield Ford Racing: Aric Almirola Charlotte 1 Race Advance

by Mike
No. 10 Smithfield Ford Racing: Aric Almirola Charlotte 1 Race Advance
ARIC ALMIROLA

Racing for Those Who Make Freedom To Race Possible

 

KANNAPOLIS, North Carolina (May 21, 2020) – Aric Almirola and the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang team for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) will head just a few miles down the road from the race shop for Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. This marks the third race in eleven days to continue NASCAR’s return to racing amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

 

Almirola and the No. 10 team returned to racing strong by moving up a position in the point standings after a 12th-place finish in the first Darlington race and earning his best finish of eighth in the second Darlington race on Wednesday.

 

“I feel like we might have become even more competitive now that we’ve picked back up than we were before,” said Almirola. “We’ve got one of the crown jewels coming up this weekend. The 600-mile race at Charlotte is one everyone has on their bucket list to win. I’m excited based on the way we’ve run the last few races here at Darlington. I’m excited to continue the momentum from Darlington and see if we can get ourselves a win there.”

 

Once again joining the Memorial Day weekend tradition of honoring America’s fallen service members as part of the NASCAR Salutes initiative, the windshield header of each NASCAR Cup Series car will feature the name of a fallen service member. The No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang will feature United States Army SPC Seth Blevins. Army SPC Blevins was a 2008 graduate of Eastern High School in Sardina, Ohio, where he was in the band, ran track, played basketball and soccer. His academic and extracurricular activities qualified him for National Honor Society.

 

SPC Blevins was heavily involved in his local community as a youth, participating in a number of activities including the Brown County Fair. He attended the University of Cincinnati where he studied criminal justice. After being accepted into Ohio University in Athens, he applied for the ROTC program and joined the Army a year after.

 

The soldiers on the No. 4 (Army Staff SGT Kristofferson B. Lorenzo), 10 (SPC Blevins) and 14 (Army PFC Andrew M. Krippner) were all members of the same unit that made the ultimate sacrifice in the same incident . On May 23 in eastern Kunar province, Afghanistan, their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. They were nominated by SHR fabricator Matthew Ridgway – who didn’t know them personally, but joined their battalion after the incident and according to him, “knows them as well as you could know someone you’ve never met based on the stories from fellow soldiers he served with.”

 

“It is such an honor to drive a race car in memorial day weekend and honor and remember some of fallen heroes that have paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we get to do what we do,” Almirola said. “It is so cool and such a humbling experience to represent these men and women. For me personally, I’ll be able to represent Seth Blevins and to have his name on the windshield is just a very cool experience. To be able to pay my respect to someone like Seth who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country so we can be free every day is amazing – but it’s not free. People like Seth and many more of our fallen heroes have paid that sacrifice and we’re so grateful and thankful for all of them men and women who serve our country.”

 

Almirola will run a special red, white, and blue patriotic paint scheme with Smithfield adorning the hood. Smithfield Foods Inc., who will sponsor Almirola’s car this weekend and at the majority of races this season, is an American food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. Its 40,000 U.S. employees are dedicated to producing “Good food. Responsibly®” and have made it one of the world’s leading vertically integrated protein companies.

 

The 36-year-old has eight NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Charlotte and garnered one top-five finish, three top-10s and has completed 99.4 percent of all possible laps. He also has two starts in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series at Charlotte, which both resulted in top-10 finishes.

 

Almirola has three top-10s this season and sits seventh in the points standings with 186 points – 72 behind first place Kevin Harvick.

Aric Almirola: Driver of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:
 

What does it take to win at Charlotte?

 

“It takes the same thing to win at Charlotte as it does Darlington honestly. You’ve got to have a car that handles well with grip and it’s a fast track. It’s got to be a fast car and unload fast with no practice and I feel like our organization has really closed the gap on where we were a year ago. We were not very good at Darlington last year and then I felt like we could have had all SHR cars running in the top-10 this year. As an organization we have certainly closed the gap and I think that will translate to Charlotte as well.”

 

Why is Charlotte a race that drivers have on their bucket list?

 

“Charlotte has been really good to me. I think it will be nice to race at Charlotte at home. It still stinks we can’t have fans here, but it’s still nice racing at home and knowing our shop is just a few miles up the road from the race track. We have a lot of pride running at Charlotte knowing it’s a home race for the teams and the crews guys and everyone.”

 

How is racing three times in 11 days?

 

“Racing Darlington two weekends in a row is unique and challenging itself. Being able to go from Darlington to the next new race track will bring back some normalcy like we’re used to. I’m excited about that and excited to get back in the routine and get back going from track to track.”

 

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang Team Report
Round 6 of 36 – Coca-Cola 600 – Charlotte Motor Speedway
Car No. 10: Smithfield Ford Mustang Team Report

At Track PR Contact: Dakota Hunter with True Speed Communication (Dakota.Hunter@TrueSpeedCommunication.com)

Primary Team:

 

Driver: Aric Almirola

Hometown: Tampa, Florida

 

Crew Chief: Mike Bugarewicz

Hometown: Lehighton, Pennsylvania

 

Car Chief: Jerry Cook

Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

 

Engine Builder: Roush Yates Racing

Headquarters: Mooresville, North Carolina

 

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller

Hometown: Monroe, New York

 

Spotter: Joel Edmonds

Hometown: Dobson, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Crew:

Gas Man: James “Ace” Keener

Hometown: Fortuna, California

 

Front Tire Changer: Clay Robinson

Hometown: Simi Valley, Calif.

 

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard

Hometown: King, North Carolina

 

Rear Tire Changer: Chris McMullen

Hometown: Canton, Michigan

 

Jackman: Corbin Martin

Hometown: Winston Salem, North Carolina

 
Notes of Interest:

●   Almirola will make his 14th NASCAR Cup Series start at Charlotte Sunday to bring his total of career Cup Series starts to 323.

o   The Smithfield driver is looking to capture his fourth top-10 finish of the season.

 

●  Almirola has one career Cup Series top-10 finish at Charlotte, along with one pole award – both earned in 2012.

 

●  Career: Almirola has career totals of two wins, two poles, 18 top-five finishes, 64 top-10s and 543 laps led in 322 starts.

 

●  The 36-year-old has eight NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Charlotte with one top-five finish, three top-10s and a lap-completion rate of 99.4 percent. Almirola also has two starts in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series at Charlotte, which both resulted in top-10 finishes.

 

●  Points: Almirola sits seventh in the driver standings with 186 points – 72 behind leader Kevin Harvick.

 

●  Last win: Almirola’s Oct. 14, 2018 win at Talladega was his most recent in the Cup Series.

 

●  ‘Beyond the 10’ – Almirola is back with season two of his YouTube documentary series, where fans can get VIP, behind-the-scenes access by subscribing to his YouTube channel. Episodes showcase never-before-seen footage of Almirola at the racetrack, on iRacing, and “A Day in the Life” during the week, as well as all that goes into a NASCAR Cup Series driver’s season. Click here to subscribe on YouTube and watch the latest episode.

 

●  Crew chief Mike Bugarewicz is in his fifth full-time season at SHR and his first with Almirola. To learn more click here.

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