Sunoco

Raphael Lessard – No. 4 CANAC Tundra Gander Trucks Atlanta Advance

by Mike
Raphael Lessard – No. 4 CANAC Tundra Gander Trucks Atlanta Advance
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Overview
 
Event:                         N.C. Education Lottery 200, Race 3 of 23, 134 Laps – 30/30/74; 201 miles
Location:                    Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway (1.5-mile quad-oval)
Date/Broadcast:         May 26, 2020, at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90
 
Racing with Raphael
 
  • As the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series resumes action, Raphael Lessard will debut a new primary sponsor, Canac, a Quebec-based group specializing in the distribution and retail sale of building products and hardware. Lessard, a 19-year-old Canadian driver, has one career start on a 1.5-mile oval, earlier this season at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway. There he started eighth but finished 30th after a late-race incident. He is in his first full-time season in the Gander Trucks and is competing for Rookie of the Year honors with veteran crew chief Mike Hillman Jr.
  • So far in 2020, Lessard has two starts, with an average starting position of 8.0 and an average running position of 12.8, but due to bad luck near the end of both races has been relegated to an average finish of 25.0 despite running well. He is currently ranked 18th in the Gander Trucks driver points standings and fifth in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings.
  • Lessard made five Gander Trucks starts in 2019, three of those with Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM). Across his five starts he posted two top-10 finishes while recording an average starting position of 10.4 and average finish of 11.1.Lessard’s strongest run came in his final start of the season when he was running inside the top five with under 30 laps remaining before getting spun and relegated to a 12th-place finish. While Lessard may be a newcomer to the Gander Trucks, Hillman Jr. has plenty of experience. The veteran crew chief has 302 Gander Truck Series starts under his belt, with 22 wins, 115 top-five and 170 top-10 finishes with drivers including Todd Bodine, Jeb Burton, Kyle Busch and last season, Harrison Burton. At Charlotte Motor Speedway, Hillman has 13 Gander Trucks starts and his drivers have earned one pole, four top-five and four top-10 finishes, with an average start of 10.5 and an average finish of 13.7. His best result was a runner-up finish twice; in 2010 with Bodine and in 2018 with KBM owner-driver Busch.
  • Due to Lessard’s presence in the series, all 23 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Series races this season will be broadcast throughout Canada on RDS and RDS DIRECT.
  • CANAC is the first independent hardware and building materials store chain to open in Quebec City. Its expertise of over 145 years of experience allows CANAC to perpetuate the spirit of the hardware stores of yesteryear in a modern environment, with qualified personnel trained by its continuing education centre accredited by Emploi-Québec. CANAC serves both individual customers and contractors and offers aggressive prices that defy all competition. Since its acquisition by Groupe Laberge in 1985, the company’s expansion has focused on opening new modern hardware stores and on renovating existing branches to better adapt them to the needs and expectations of consumers. Today, CANAC has 30 branches and employs more than 3,400 part-time and full-time workers.
Raphael Lessard, Driver Q&A
 

 

Raphael Lessard Charlotte Q&A
Raphael Lessard Charlotte Q&A

What have you done to stay busy since the last NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race?

“During these crazy times I just worked out as much as I could to be ready for the season and I also watched a lot of film –studied some videos of races in the past. Also, I played some iRacing — iRacing helped a lot, I think it’s the best tool we can use right now. Also, the Toyota Racing Development (TRD) sim once it opened up. I just spent a lot of time there — they have an awesome simulator and I think it is going to help me a lot for the Charlotte race.”
Are you preparing Charlotte any differently knowing that there will be no practice and no qualifying?
“I haven’t been prepping any different. It’s another new race track and another race that I’ve been studying a lot. I’ve just been watching film and asking questions. I have one of the best crew chiefs in the series, Mike Hillman Jr., he’s got a lot of experience, so I’m sure he’s going to bring me a really good CANAC Toyota Tundra for the race. It’s going to be on me, getting used to the race track and the line. I’m going to be able to pace myself to the guys around me for the first few laps and they were are going to tray and just go for it after that. I’m sure we are going to be really fast.”
Will it be different racing without fans? Once you get in your truck, do you notice the fans?
“Not having the fans in the stands is going to be very weird. The atmosphere is going to be different and the place is going to feel empty. Once we get in our trucks, we don’t really see the fans because we are so focused on what we are doing on the race track and trying to win the race. I would say normally we see them during the cautions, for sure. What’s going to feel weird is not having my family with me. I moved down to North Carolina at the beginning of the year, full time, and my parents I see them at every race usually, but it’s been a long time since I’ve seen them and they won’t be at Charlotte. It’s going to feel a little bit weird, but it’s the same for everyone. I’m looking forward to the opportunity of having CANAC onboard with us for the first time as a primary sponsor. The truck is beautiful and I think we are going to have a very good day at Charlotte.”
 
Raphael Lessard Career Highlights 
  • Across seven career Truck Series starts, he has produced two top-10 finishes and an average finish of 15.1.
  • In 2019, Lessard posted 83 laps led, two top-five and three top-10 finishes across three ARCA Menards Series starts and one win, one top-five and two top-10 finishes in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series. His Pinty’s Series victory came at his hometown track, Autodrome Chaudiere in Vallee-Jonction, Quebec, on June 29 when he led a race-high 153 laps en route to the sentimental win.
  • Won two marquee events driving KBM’s famed No. 51 Super Late Model in 2018; the Short Track U.S. Nationals at Bristol Motor Speedway in May and the Red Bud 400 ARCA/CRA Super Series race at Anderson Speedway in July.
  • Overall in 16 starts for KBM in 2018 split across the CARS Super Late Model Tour, the Southern Super Series and the ARCA/CRA Super Series, posted two wins, three poles, seven top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in 2018.
  • Started seventh and led 68 laps in the prestigious Snowball Derby at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla., in 2018
  • Captured the 2016 CARS Super Late Model Tour championship after recording four wins, one pole, 157 laps led, eight top-five and nine top-10 finishes across 10 races. 
Raphael Lessard’s No. 4 CANAC Tundra:
 
KBM-066: The No. 4 CANACteam will unload chassis number KBM-066, a brand new Tundra.
KBM Notes of Interest
  • Across 27 starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, KBM drivers have earned six wins, three poles, six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 8.6 and an average finish of 8.8.
  • KBM holds the NGROTS records for most career wins (76) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers; Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 4 Toyota Tundra 2020 NGOTS Box Score:
  
Date
Site
Driver
Start
Finish
Laps
Laps Led
Status
Driver Pts./Pos.
2/14
Daytona
Raphael Lessard
8
20
105/106
0
Running
24/14th
2/21
Las Vegas
Raphael Lessard
8
30
90/134
0
Accident
39/18th
5/26
Charlotte
Raphael Lessard
6/6
Atlanta
Raphael Lessard
 
 
 
 
 
 
6/13
Homestead-Miami
Raphael Lessard
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Views: 528
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John Hunter Nemechek Post Race Report: Darlington 2

by Mike
John Hunter Nemechek Post Race Report: Darlington 2
Track: Darlington Raceway, 1.36 Mile Oval
Race: 6 of 38
Event: Toyota 500 (311.4 miles, 228 laps)
John Hunter Nemechek
No. 38 Scag Power Equipment Ford Mustang
Started: 12th
Finished: 35th
  • Stage One: 39th
  • Stage Two: 37th
  • Stage Three: 35th
  • Following an impressive finish in Sunday’s race and an inverted starting lineup, John Hunter Nemechek started Wednesday’s “Toyota 500” at Darlington Raceway in 12th position. Trouble came early for the Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year candidate with a spin on Lap 2, which caused heavy damage to the rear of the car. Nemechek would spin again on Lap 11 and later radioed to the team that the car turned on him as soon as he hit the brakes. Nemechek would finish Stage 1 in the 39th position.
  • Down but not out, Nemechek worked with Crew Chief Seth Barbour to make adjustments to the car’s handling in Stage 2, and take notes for the next time NASCAR returns to the track “Too Tough to Tame.” Unfortunately, the car’s balance was consistently unpredictable and Nemechek took the Stage 2 green-and-white-checkered flag 37th on the leaderboard.
  • Nemechek hung on and kept his nose clean throughout the remainder of the race despite his car’s handling being unpredictable. Nemechek would finish the rain-shortened evening in 35th place, 6 laps down.
Nemechek on Darlington:
  • “For as good as our day was on Sunday, we swung to the opposite end of the spectrum tonight. It was a long night. You never want to be that guy who goes out early. Not sure if I cut a tire or just drove it too hard and got loose. I really hate it for my crew and our No. 38 Scag Power Equipment team. These guys have been working their tails off over the last two weeks, and it’s obviously very frustrating to have the kind of race we did tonight. It happens sometimes, but I’m still happy to be here. We’ll take it as a learning experience and move on to Charlotte. Thank you to everyone at Scag Power Equipment and all of our Front Row Motorsports partners for continuing to support us race after race.”
Views: 437
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CarParts.com Adds Charlotte Motor Speedway to Schedule with McDowell

by Mike
CarParts.com Adds Charlotte Motor Speedway to Schedule with McDowell
Auto Parts Retailer Continues Relationship During NASCAR’s Return
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 20, 2020) – CarParts.com and their millions of customers are excited for the return of the NASCAR Cup Series to the live sports landscape. The e-commerce auto parts retailer recently debuted as the primary partner of Michael McDowell and the No. 34 CarParts.com Ford Mustang team at the Darlington (S.C.) Speedway and will continue that partnership for tonight’s event. In addition, CarParts.com will now be the primary partner of McDowell at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway on Wednesday, May 27.
“We have seen the excitement that the NASCAR Cup Series, Front Row Motorsports, and Michael McDowell are bringing to sports fans during this time, and appreciate the opportunity to be a part of it,” said Lev Peker, CEO of CarParts.com and its parent company, US Auto Parts. “Our customers have been tuning in, and we are looking forward to watching tonight’s race and now next week’s race in Charlotte.”
CarParts.com offers an easy-to-navigate, mobile-friendly website and a 90-day return policy that assures customers they will get the right parts, guaranteed. The company has delivered over 50 million parts across America and recently counted McDowell as one of their customers.
“You’re always looking for authentic partnerships that are natural to what you do every day,” said McDowell, who is currently upgrading his 2017 Ford F-150 with parts from CarParts.com. “I’ve had my personal truck for a few years and now it’s time for some upgrades. CarParts.com makes it easy for me and everyone. So, it’s cool that they are continuing their partnership and getting the NASCAR fanbase familiar with their site and services. It’s been fun to work with them.”
CarParts.com is the answer to race fans’ collision, repair, and maintenance needs. The company will continue to brand their homepage with the No. 34 CarParts.com Ford Mustang and spotlight McDowell via social media and other marketing efforts. The retailer will also continue their relationship with Sunoco Rookie of The Year driver John Hunter Nemechek throughout the season.
After tonight’s event, the No. 34 CarParts.com Ford Mustang will be ready to return to the Charlotte Motor Speedway on Wednesday, May 27. The NASCAR Cup Series race will air nationally on FS1 at 8:00 p.m.
For more information about CarParts.com, visit CarParts.com.
About CarParts.com
Established in 1999, CarParts.com is an e-commerce auto parts retailer that specializes in OE replacement collision, repair, and maintenance parts. With over 50 million parts delivered, we’ve helped millions of drivers across the United States find the right parts to fix their cars and keep their vehicles on the road. Our vehicle selector and easy-to-navigate, mobile-friendly website offer customers guaranteed fitment and a convenient online shopping experience. Paired with our 90-day return policy and satisfaction guarantee, CarParts.com makes it easier than ever to get the parts you need delivered straight to your door.

About Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields two full-time entries – the No. 34 of Michael McDowell and the No. 38 of John Hunter Nemechek – from its Mooresville, N.C., headquarters just outside of Charlotte. In 2020, the team announced an expansion to include the No. 38 Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series, driven by Todd Gilliland. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.
Views: 403
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Harrison Burton/ No. 20 DEX Imaging Toyota Supra Preview Toyota 200 at Darlington Raceway

by Mike
Harrison Burton/ No. 20 DEX Imaging Toyota Supra Preview Toyota 200 at Darlington Raceway

No. 20 DEX Imaging Toyota Supra News and Notes:

  • Back to Racing: After a two-month stoppage in racing action due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Harrison Burton and his DEX Imaging team return to the track Tuesday night for the Toyota 200 at Darlington Raceway. Based on a random draw Sunday afternoon, Burton will start in the 12th position in his Toyota Supra. Tuesday night will be Burton’s first -career start at the historic NASCAR facility.
  • Hot Streak to Start the Season:  Before the stoppage in racing action in March, Burton and his team were off to a historic start to his rookie campaign in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Through the first four races of the season, Burton became the only Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender to have four-consecutive top-five finishes in as many races. In fact, this feat has only been accomplished just seven times by six drivers all-time: Carl Edwards (2009, 2010), Elliott Sadler (2012), Harrison Burton (2020), Kevin Harvick (2005), Kyle Busch (2014) and Sam Ard (1984).
  • Points Update: Heading into Darlington on Tuesday night, Burton leads the Xfinity Series Driver Championship points standings, holding a three-point lead over Chase Briscoe. Burton also heads to Darlington with a commanding 67-point lead in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings.
  • JGR at Darlington: In 58 combined Xfinity Series starts at Darlington Raceway, JGR has earned 10 wins, 29 top-five finishes, 39 top-10s and seven pole starting positions. The team has led 1,114 laps, with an average start of 12.6 and an average finish of 10.6.
  • DEX IMAGING: DEX Imaging returns as a full-time sponsor of Burton and the No. 20 team this season. DEX Imaging is the digital document imaging division of Staples, the world’s largest business solutions provider. DEX sells and services the broadest selection of copiers, printers and data management solutions in the industry, such as Konica Minolta, Canon, Kyocera and HP. What makes DEX unique is its people, whose combined knowledge of cutting-edge business technologies and depth of service experience is unmatched. DEX Imaging’s success is directly tied to its mission: to help customers of all sizes drive down document-related expenses while improving productivity.
  • RACE INFO: The Toyota 200 at Darlington Raceway is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19th, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Watch and listen live on FoxSports 1, Sirius XM Channel 90 and MRN Radio.

 

Burton’s Career NASCAR Xfinity Series Stats at Darlington Raceway:

StartsWinsTop 5Top 10PolesLaps LedAvg. StartAvg. Finish
––––––––

 

Burton’s 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Stats:

StartsWinsTop 5Top 10PolesLaps LedAvg. StartAvg. Finish
41440494.02.5

 

Burton’s Career NASCAR Xfinity Series Stats:

StartsWinsTop 5Top 10PolesLaps LedAvg. StartAvg. Finish
131590497.512.4

 

From the Cockpit:

Harrison Burton:

 “I’m really looking forward to getting back to racing and behind the wheel of my DEX Imaging Supra on Tuesday night. I’m truly thankful to NASCAR and everyone who has worked tirelessly to get us back to racing. My team and I had some great momentum going before we stopped racing back in March, so hopefully we can continue to build on that in the upcoming weeks. Tuesday will be a challenge, no doubt about it, but I know my team and I are up for it. I’m looking forward to getting back to racing and putting on a show for everyone tuning in on Tuesday night.”

About DEX IMAGING:

DEX Imaging is the digital document imaging division of Staples, the world’s largest business solutions provider. DEX sells and services the broadest selection of copiers, printers and data management solutions in the industry, such as Konica Minolta, Canon, Kyocera and HP. What makes DEX unique is its people, whose combined knowledge of cutting-edge business technologies and depth of service experience is unmatched. DEX Imaging’s success is directly tied to its mission: to help customers of all sizes drive down document-related expenses while improving productivity.

Views: 519
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McDowell to Race with CarParts.com at Darlington

by Mike
McDowell to Race with CarParts.com at Darlington
New Front Row Motorsports Partner Helps Navigate NASCAR’s Return to Racing
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 13, 2020) – CarParts.com, an e-commerce auto parts retailer specializing in collision, repair, and maintenance parts, has teamed up with Front Row Motorsports (FRM) for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season. The California-based company will be the primary partner of veteran driver Michael McDowell in the NASCAR Cup Series’ return to racing at Darlington Raceway on May 17 and 20. FRM, McDowell and Sunoco Rookie of The Year candidate John Hunter Nemechek are all excited for the partnership and will be representing CarParts.com through social media and other marketing assets throughout the season.
The events at Darlington will serve as the much-anticipated return to racing and one of the first live sporting events on FOX in several weeks. The NASCAR Cup Series has not competed on track since March 8, due to the impact of the novel coronavirus.

Getting drivers back on the road, especially when we need essential workers to get back to work, is a driving force that has naturally fueled CarParts.com’s partnership with FRM. Established in 1999, CarParts.com has helped millions of drivers across the United States fix their cars and keep their vehicles running. With an easy-to-navigate, mobile-friendly website and vehicle selector, CarParts.com offers customers guaranteed fitment and an ultimately convenient online shopping experience. To date, the online retailer has delivered over 50 million parts straight to customers’ doors all across America.

“NASCAR fans understand the value of performance and they understand the importance of good-skilled competition even in difficult times,” said Lev Peker, CEO of CarParts.com and its parent company, US Auto Parts. “We are grateful for the opportunity to align with Front Row Motorsports and Michael McDowell to do our part and help reintroduce NASCAR back to fans who have been eagerly anticipating its return.”

“I’m looking forward to getting back on track this weekend with CarParts.com,” said McDowell. “Being one of the first live sporting events to return is not something any of us are taking lightly. We’re doing everything we can from both the team side and the sanctioning body to put on a good show while making sure that all participants and their families are staying safe. Our No. 34 Ford Mustang is going to look and run great on the track, and we’re ready to work hard.”

The No. 34 CarParts.com Ford Mustang will make its debut at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, May 17. The NASCAR Cup Series race will air at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX and MRN.

For more information, visit CarParts.com.
About CarParts.com
Established in 1999, CarParts.com is an e-commerce auto parts retailer that specializes in OE replacement collision, repair, and maintenance parts. With over 50 million parts delivered, we’ve helped millions of drivers across the United States find the right parts to fix their cars and keep their vehicles on the road. Our vehicle selector and easy-to-navigate, mobile-friendly website offer customers guaranteed fitment and a convenient online shopping experience. Paired with our 90-day return policy and satisfaction guarantee, CarParts.com makes it easier than ever to get the parts you need delivered straight to your door.

About Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields two full-time entries – the No. 34 of Michael McDowell and the No. 38 of John Hunter Nemechek – from its Mooresville, N.C., headquarters just outside of Charlotte. In 2020, the team announced an expansion to include the No. 38 Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series, driven by Todd Gilliland. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.
Views: 405
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Scag Power Equipment Joins Front Row Motorsports at Darlington

by Mike
Scag Power Equipment Joins Front Row Motorsports at Darlington
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 12, 2020) – Front Row Motorsports (FRM) announced today that Scag Power Equipment, a leader in commercial-grade professional and premium residential lawn mowers, will join the organization as its newest partner. The company will be featured as the primary partner of Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender, John Hunter Nemechek and the No. 38 Ford Mustang team when the NASCAR Cup Series returns to Darlington Raceway on May 17 and 20.
The events at one of NASCAR’s most historic tracks will mark the first time the sport has competed since March 8, due to the impact of the novel coronavirus. It will also be one of the first live sports on FOX.
“We’ve been tasked with a huge responsibility, carrying the world of live sports into a new normal,” said Nemechek. “Our goal this weekend is to return to racing as safely as possible. Being able team up with a new partner such as Scag Power Equipment at Darlington gives us added motivation to restart the season on a positive note. Our No. 38 team is ready to work hard and perform at the top level, just like Scag’s mowers.”
Scag Power Equipment, a division of Metalcraft of Mayville, has been producing premium, heavy-duty mowers for its commercial and residential customers since 1983. Scag Power Equipment’s innovation and attention to quality is known and respected throughout the power equipment industry. Mowers and accessories are designed to be user friendly, with an emphasis on quality, performance, ease of maintenance, profitability and long life.
Scag is no stranger to the world of motorsports, though this weekend will mark the company’s debut at the NASCAR Cup Series level.
“We’re thankful for the opportunity to participate in NASCAR’s return to racing with Front Row Motorsports and John Hunter Nemechek,” said Chris Frame, President of Scag Power Equipment. “It’s truly an honor to play a small part in helping the rest of the world get back on its feet in these difficult times. We’re looking forward to seeing the No. 38 car carrying our colors on track.”
The No. 38 Scag Power Equipment Ford Mustang will make its debut at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, May 17. The NASCAR Cup Series race will air at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX and MRN.

For more information about Scag Power Equipment, visit Scag.com.

About Scag Power Equipment
Scag Power Equipment, a division of Metalcraft of Mayville Inc., is one of the largest independent manufacturers of commercial lawn mowing equipment in the United States. Metalcraft of Mayville Inc., an ISO 9001:2008 Registered company, manufactures products in its three facilities, totaling over 850,000 square feet, located in Mayville, West Bend, and Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.

About Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields two full-time entries – the No. 34 of Michael McDowell and the No. 38 of John Hunter Nemechek – from its Mooresville, N.C., headquarters just outside of Charlotte. In 2020, the team announced an expansion to include the No. 38 Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series, driven by Todd Gilliland. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.
Views: 438
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RCR Event Preview – Virtual Richmond Raceway

by Mike
RCR Event Preview – Virtual Richmond Raceway
Richard Childress Racing at Richmond Raceway … Richard Childress Racing boasts 15 wins at Richmond Raceway spread out among the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series. The Welcome, N.C.-based organization will make it’s first attempt at virtual Richmond Raceway this weekend.
The Format … NASCAR, iRacing and FOX Sports are teaming up to deliver the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, a selection of simulation-style esports races that include NASCAR Cup Series drivers Austin Dillon (No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet) and Tyler Reddick (No. 31 Cat Rental Store Chevrolet). The series heads to the virtual Richmond Raceway for a fixed set-up race this Sunday, April 19. Drivers will compete in a qualifying session to set the starting field for the 150-lap race.
But Wait, There’s More … In addition to Sunday’s eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race, RCR will compete in a special Saturday night race at virtual Richmond Raceway with our roster of NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers, including Anthony Alfredo (No. 33 DUDE Wipes Chevrolet), Myatt Snider (No. 93 TaxSlayer Chevrolet) and Kaz Grala (No. 29 HotScream Chevrolet). The race features NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series and NASCAR Whelen Euro Series drivers competing in a true short track-style showdown, complete with qualifying times to set heat races and a last chance qualifier race to round out starting lineup. Fans can watch all the action at eNASCAR.com.
The Car Designs … Each RCR driver’s paint scheme was designed in-house by the RCR Graphics Center Powered by Roland, an in-house full-service design and production facility located on the Richard Childress Racing campus in Welcome, North Carolina. Local graphic artist John Dragonetti then rendered these designs for the iRacing platform. Learn more about Dragonetti’s designs at twitter.com/JohnRDragonetti.
Did You Know … While Richard Childress was a driver on NASCAR’s senior circuit, he contributed three of RCR’s 71 top-10 finishes at Richmond Raceway from 1976-1978.
Interactive RCR ... For up-to-date news and exclusive content, visit RCR’s corporate Twitter page – @RCRracing – along with the RCR eSports Twitter page – @RCR_eSports, the RCR NASCAR Cup Series team Twitter page – @RCRCup and the RCR NASCAR Xfinity Series team Twitter page – @RCRNXS. Information about the 16-time championship winning organization can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardChildressRacing and on Instagram at Instagram.com/rcrracing. Visit www.RCRracing.com.
 
Catch the Action … The eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series at the virtual Richmond Raceway will be televised live Sunday, April 19 beginning at 1 p.m. ET on the FOX broadcast network (where available), FS1 and the FOX Sports app. Races will be available in Canada through FOX Sports Racing. Catch our Xfinity Series drivers Saturday night by visiting eNASCAR.com.
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This Week’s American Ethanol Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at the virtual Richmond Raceway … In 12 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Richmond Raceway, Dillon’s best finish at the track is sixth (April 2019 and September 2018). He has 10 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Richmond Raceway, acquiring seven top-10 finishes and one pole award. This weekend marks the Welcome, North Carolina driver’s first virtual start at Richmond Raceway.
 
Delivering Performance on and Off the Racetrack … Austin Dillon races on Sunoco Green E15 fuel made with 15 percent American Ethanol. Ethanol is the most effective and least expensive source of octane available and it also burns cleaner and cooler than gasoline. All those factors mean that ethanol helps drive peak engine performance whether you’re in a racecar or on your way to the grocery store. And, ethanol helps keep our air cleaner and our environment healthier by reducing toxic and greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more about why ethanol is the smart choice for your engine, your wallet and our environment at americanethanolracing.com.
A Commitment to eSports … Dillon is a long-time iRacing team owner. For the past two years, he has fielded two cars in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series, which is a $300,000 eSport World Championship series officially sanctioned by NASCAR featuring the world’s most elite oval simracers. Dillon’s two drivers, Blake Reynolds (No. 30) and Michael Guest (No. 33) compete on simulated versions of the actual real-world NASCAR tracks and Gen6 cars available on iRacing. The rounds run every other Tuesday night and is broadcast live on Twitch, Facebook and YouTube.
The Crew … Dillon will be competing in a rig provided by Sim Seats and will have a talented support system on Sunday, including his eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series driver, Blake Reynolds (@breynolds_66). Reynolds was a Champ 4 contender in 2019.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
Richmond Raceway is a short track but some drivers say it races a little bit more like an intermediate-style track. How do you see it?
“Richmond is a short track to me. I love that place and the way the tires fall off. In the past, it’s been a place that I circled as the worst track for me, but my perspective has changed over time. Virtually, the track is very similar to how we race on it in real life. I always try to do the opposite of what I think when I get to Richmond Raceway and it helps because the track seems to mysteriously do things that you wouldn’t obviously think affect the car as the rubber lays down.”
This Week’s Cat Rental Store Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at the virtual Richmond Raceway … In five NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Richmond Raceway, Reddick’s best finish is fourth in April 2019. The two-time Xfinity Series champion will make his first virtual start at Richmond Raceway this weekend in the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series on Sunday.
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The Crew … From his home in North Carolina, Reddick will be competing in Sunday’s eNASCAR iRacing Pro invitational Series race in a rig provided by Sim Seats. His spotter, Derek Kneeland, will be assisting Reddick during the race.
TYLER REDDICK QUOTE:
How does competing at Richmond Raceway virtually compare to competing at Richmond Raceway in actuality?
“Richmond is a tough one that I always feel challenged by, both in real life and virtually. To me, it’s all about treating your tires right for the first 10-laps of a run to have a decent fall-off rate, but with the speeds we carry and how much dirty air can affect your car and its brakes, it can be tough on how you get around the race track. It takes a short-track mentality to get around Richmond, and you have to be very disciplined around the bottom of the racetrack.”
This Week’s DUDE Wipes Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at the virtual Richmond Raceway … Anthony Alfredo has not yet made a Richmond Raceway start in real world conditions, but is a seasoned veteran of the virtual track and considers it one of his favorite places to compete within the iRacing platform.
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The Crew … From his home in North Carolina, Alfredo will be competing in Sunday’s eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race in a rig provided by Sim Seats. Alfredo has a talented support system on Sunday, including Zack Novak and his teammate Jimmy Mullis, who will serve as crew chief and spotter, respectively. The duo race for Richmond Raceway eSports in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series and won the championship last year.
ANTHONY ALFREDO QUOTE:
You’ve never been to Richmond Raceway before in a NASCAR-sanctioned event but are quite experienced there on the iRacing platform. What are your thoughts heading into this virtual race weekend?
“Richmond Raceway is one of my favorite tracks on iRacing! I’ve never been there in real life, but I would love to. I think it will provide great racing and we are also running the NASCAR Xfinity Series cars this weekend rather than the ARCA cars. I believe that will make for even more fun and exciting racing for the drivers and fans. I will have the same crew, too, which could provide an advantage. Jimmy Mullis and Zach Novak happen to drive for Richmond Raceway eSports. I’m hoping that will provide us with even more of an advantage since that is their home track.”
This Week’s TaxSlayer Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at the virtual Richmond Raceway … Snider has never competed at Richmond Raceway but is excited to try the virtual version of the track on Saturday in a Xfinity Series car this week.
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MYATT SNIDER QUOTE:
What are your thoughts on racing at the virtual Richmond Raceway on Saturday night?
“Richmond Raceway is going to be a fun one. I’ve never actually raced there, but just from what I’ve heard from various other racers, it’s a handful. That’s what we drivers like in a racetrack. Hopefully there’s a lot of tire falloff so we can start getting sideways. I can’t wait to Slay It in my TaxSlayer Camaro!”
This Week’s HotScream Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at the virtual Richmond Raceway … Grala has two starts at Richmond Raceway in the Xfinity Series, and will add the virtual version of the track to his resume this Saturday.
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KAZ GRALA QUOTE:
What are your thoughts on virtual racing at Richmond Raceway?
“It will be fun to get back behind the virtual wheel this weekend after a weekend off. I’ve always enjoyed real racing at Richmond Raceway, so I’m sure the race on iRacing will be a blast, too. This will be our first time on a true, classic short track, so I expect the race to be intense and tempers to flare. No doubt there will be carnage, but I’m just hoping I can escape the melee and keep the car clean to the finish. If I can, I’m sure we can contend for the win when the time comes.”
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