2015-04-10

Derek White to Drive Grafoid Dodge in the NASCAR Xfinity Series



Derek White Motorsports

 



 

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION

 

NASCAR Xfinity Series

 

Derek White to Drive Grafoid Dodge in the NASCAR Xfinity Series

 

Veteran driver Derek White has signed with Motorsports Business Management (MBM) principal Carl Long to participate in the remaining rounds of the 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series. The team will be supported by Grafoid and Braille Battery.

 

Kahnawake (Canada), April 10, 2015 – The partnership between Derek White and Carl Long is the fruit of many years of discussions, as both shared a common goal of building a NASCAR team capable of competing at the highest level with a partner they had full confidence in. The team will prepare on and supply trackside support for the No. 13 Grafoid Dodge that will race in every round of the 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series. White will drive the car for the majority of events, and it will be rented out for events when business commitments prevent White from attending the event.

 



Derek White, a Mohawk based near Montreal (Canada), came to NASCAR racing after almost 30 years of Drag Racing, culminating with a 1300hp / 8-second car. At the time, White wanted an even more exciting outlet for his energies and turned to oval racing on pavement in 2009. He enjoyed the new type of racing right from the start. "After a few races in a Sportsman car, I moved up and had to learn completely different driving techniques while competing in the highest level of stock car racing in Canada, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (NCaTS). I took it easy at the beginning, learning from watching the old pros and making sure that I was never in the way. I am really proud to have been named the 2010 Rookie of the year in NCaTS.''

 

History repeated itself after some 35 races in NCaTS, as White started looking for tougher competition and more power. Derek first turned to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for six races before moving up to the Nationwide Series (Now called the Xfinity Series), just one step below the top series in NASCAR, the Sprint Cup.

 

As he points out, he is now racing in a different world. ''The thrill of driving up to 200 mph (320 km/h) close to a wall, on a much longer and wider track, is beyond anything I have ever experienced. Adjusting to twice the speed, to the aerodynamic forces and to the mix of highly skilled and less experienced drivers, is a fantastic challenge for me. I go racing to get a break from running my businesses, and an Xfinity weekend is certainly another world far from my day-to-day work.'' Derek's race strategy is simple: get a feel for the track, the traffic and the competition in the early laps, then push harder to take advantage of the inevitable incidents and move up the order in the second half of the race.

 

White already has his eye on the Sprint Cup, against the best drivers and cars in NACAR. As he admits: "I am always up for a challenge, and running against the absolute best is what I really want to do. I am doing everything I can to achieve that goal."

 

Main sponsor Grafoid, "Leading the Graphene Revolution", came on board this year. Founded in 2011, Grafoid Inc. is a research, development and investment company that helps fund, manages and develops markets for processes that produce graphene for use by leading corporations and institutions. Graphene is an extraordinary element, the basic structural component of organic elements such as graphite, charcoal and carbon. It is 100 times stronger than steel by weight, conducts heat and electricity with great efficiency and is nearly transparent.

 

As Derek explains: ''Together with Grafoid, we have already approached NASCAR and top teams to see how graphene can be used to add solidity and safety, and decrease the weight of the race cars.'' NASCAR operates a top-flight R&D facility in Charlotte NC, where the cars of today and tomorrow are being studied and developed and where modern composites such as grapheme could find more applications at major teams and suppliers.

 

Braille Battery has also signed up as a partner for the team effort. A subsidiary of Grafoid, Braille Battery is the world leader in ultra lightweight Lithium-Ion high performance batteries and also produces the world's first and only AGM carbon fiber race batteries.

 

The next round of the 30-race series will take place at Texas Motor Speedway, with practice on Thursday April 9th then qualifying and racing on Friday April 10th

 

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Champlain Centre Mall to Host Airborne Park Speedway Car Show

ATTACHED PHOTO: As many as 25 stock cars from Airborne Park Speedway will be on hand at the Champlain Centre Mall in Plattsburgh, NY on April 18-19.

 
 
 
Champlain Centre Mall to Host Airborne Park Speedway Car Show

Meet drivers and see stock cars and go-kart racers on April 18-19

 

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                                               APS-040715-1

 

PLATTSBURGH, NY – Winter's chill seems to be hanging on a little bit longer than normal this year, so Airborne Park Speedway is headed indoors. The Champlain Centre Mall in Plattsburgh, NY will host a two-day racing show on the weekend of April 18-19, featuring the cars and drivers of the track's NASCAR Whelen All-American Series stock car championship and the young stars of the Kart Racing Series.

As many as 25 stock cars and 15 go-karts will be on display, and the free-admission show will have a real race-event feel with a driver autograph session and a pit stop competition. In addition, 98.9 WOKO will broadcast live from Champlain Centre and will raffle off Airborne Park Speedway passes provided by Taylor Rental and movie tickets for "Furious 7" provided by Regal Cinemas.

"We are very excited to host the drivers and cars from Airborne Park Speedway, and we're really looking forward to making this a fun, family-friendly event that we can build on each year," said Champlain Centre Mall Marketing Director Catherine Jennings. "It's going to be a great time, and hopefully it comes along with a little spring weather, too!"

Drivers and cars from all four NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions are expected to attend the show, including J&S Steel Modified champion Nick Heywood, Ground Round Late Model champion Bucko Branham, top Key R-D Trailer Sales Renegade racers Shawn Duquette and Zack Daniels, and Busch Beer Mini Modified racer Tyler Irwin. Brent Jarvis is expected to bring both his Renegade and his Kart Racing Series entry, and will be joined by young Kart racers Mathew Lavalley, Alex Buskey, Evan Patrie, and more.

The car show will open on Saturday, April 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Sunday, April 19 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The driver autograph session is scheduled for Saturday, April 18 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., with the pit stop competition scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 19.

Champlain Centre is the leading shopping center in Plattsburgh, and is home to major brands including Target, Best Buy, JC Penney, Sears, Old Navy, Dick's Sporting Goods, Gander Mountain, Burger King, Regal Cinemas, and many more. Champlain Centre is located on Smithfield Boulevard in Plattsburgh, just off the Interstate 87 Northway, and serves shoppers from Plattsburgh, Montreal, Burlington, and beyond. For more information, visit www.champlaincentre.com.

Airborne Park Speedway's 62nd season of stock car racing opens on Saturday, May 2 at 6:00 p.m. with a 100-lap Modified race presented by FedEx Ground of Plattsburgh.

Airborne is located on Broderick Road in Plattsburgh, NY, one mile south of Exit 36 on the Interstate 87 Northway. Visit www.airborneparkspeedway.com for more information, or call (518) 647-4444. Airborne Park Speedway is on Facebook at Facebook.com/AirborneParkSpeedway and on Twitter at @AirborneSpeed.

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Devil’s Bowl Speedway Welcomes Contingency Partners

Devil's Bowl Speedway Welcomes Contingency Partners

Bonus awards to boost winnings for drivers

 

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                                                 DBS-040915-1

 

WEST HAVEN, VT – Devil's Bowl Speedway competitors will receive a little extra for their efforts in 2015.  The Rutland County race track will again reward racers in all four NASCAR Whelen All-American Series stock car racing classes with contingency bonuses from several racing industry supporters.

The Bond Auto Parts Modified division welcomes Shiley Fabrication back for its second season.  The Williamstown, PA racing parts manufacturer will offer $50 certificates to both the "Hard Charger" and "Hard Luck" drivers in each feature race during the year. The driver who advances the most positions will win the Hard Charger award, while the driver who has the toughest outing will take home the Hard Luck award.

Long-time Devil's Bowl supporter Bond Auto Parts will present the Hard Charger award for both the Brileya's Chrysler-Jeep Renegade and Portland Glass Mini Stock divisions, with $50 gift cards redeemable at any of the 45 Bond Auto Parts locations in Vermont, New York, New Hampshire, or Massachusetts.

Crazy Horse Racing of South Paris, ME – one of the Northeast's winningest chassis builders – returns to Devil's Bowl for its third year, and will present the Winner's Circle Challenge award in the Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model division.  The driver earning the most feature wins during the season will receive a commemorative plaque and a $200 gift certificate from Crazy Horse Racing.

Five Star Race Car Bodies of Twin Lakes, WI will again supply racers with certificates to be awarded at the annual Banquet of Champions.  One Late Model driver will win a $500 certificate to redeem toward the purchase of any standard body package, while a Modified racer will win a new MD3 nosepiece and a Renegade driver will win a $125 certificate.

Ingersoll Rand, the Official Power Tools of NASCAR, will reward both fans and racers through a new partnership with the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.  Ingersoll Rand will select one fan each week to win a prize pack through a new text-to-win program, while winning drivers in all four divisions will receive tool prize packs worth up to $600 each at four events during the season.

Devil's Bowl Speedway's 49th season of stock car racing opens on Saturday, May 9 at 6:00 p.m. with a 100-lap special for the Modified division, a 50-lap Late Model race, and championship openers for the Renegade and Mini Stock divisions.

Devil's Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, VT, four miles north of Exit 2 on U.S. Route 4.  For more information, visit www.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com or call (802) 265-3112.  Devil's Bowl Speedway is on Facebook at facebook.com/DevilsBowlSpeedway and on Twitter and Instagram at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.

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New Bonus Programs Announced for Airborne Park Speedway

New Bonus Programs Announced for Airborne Park Speedway

Drivers to receive weekly awards for on-track performance

 

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                                                APS-040915-1

 

PLATTSBURGH, NY – The pot just got sweeter at Airborne Park Speedway. The Plattsburgh race track will offer competitors a stack of new contingency bonuses during the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season to increase total winnings for all four stock car racing classes.

Lenny's Shoe & Apparel has expanded on its "Hot Shoe Challenge" racing program to include Airborne. Winners in the J&S Steel Modified division will receive a $150 Lenny's gift card for their first win of the season, while first-time Key R-D Trailer Sales Renegade winners will receive $100 gift cards and first-time Busch Beer Mini Modified winners will earn $50 gift cards. The "Hottest Shoe" – the driver with the most wins – grabs a cash bonus of $500 in the Modifieds, $250 in the Renegades, and $100 in the Mini Modifieds.

Lenny's Shoe & Apparel will also help kick off the Airborne Park Speedway racing season by hosting a car show at its location on Tom Miller Road in Plattsburgh on Saturday, May 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., just a few hours before the season-opening race.

"The whole team at Lenny's is proud to support our friends in the North Country," said Amanda Cashin, Lenny's Shoe & Apparel Marketing Director. "We are really looking forward to building our relationship with racers and fans here in the Plattsburgh community and we can't wait for the season to begin."

Shiley Fabrication will present two weekly awards for Modified racers, with $50 gift certificates for the "Hard Charger" and "Hard Luck" drivers. The driver who advances the most positions in feature races will win the Hard Charger award, while a driver who suffers a tough break or a crash will get the Hard Luck award. Bond Auto Parts will present the Hard Charger award for the Renegades and Mini Modifieds with $50 gift cards redeemable at any of its 45 stores in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

Five Star Race Car Bodies will award three year-end prizes, including a $500 certificate toward the purchase of any standard body package for one driver in the Ground Round Late Model division. One Modified racer will win a new MD3 nosepiece and a Renegade driver will receive a $125 product certificate.

Ingersoll Rand, the Official Power Tools of NASCAR, will reward both fans and racers through a new partnership with the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Ingersoll Rand will select one fan each week to win a prize pack through its new text-to-win program, while winning drivers across all four divisions will receive tool prize packs worth up to $600 each at four events during the year.

Airborne Park Speedway's 62nd season of stock car racing opens on Saturday, May 2 at 6:00 p.m. Airborne is located on Broderick Road in Plattsburgh, NY, one mile south of Exit 36 on the Interstate 87 Northway. Visit www.airborneparkspeedway.com for more information, or call (518) 647-4444. Airborne Park Speedway is on Facebook at Facebook.com/AirborneParkSpeedway and on Twitter at @AirborneSpeed.

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Derek White en série Xfinity avec Grafoid.com

Derek White Motorsports

 

 

Communiqué de presse – Pour diffusion immédiate

 

Séries NASCAR Xfinity 

 

Derek White en série Xfinity avec Grafoid.com

 

Derek White, le vétéran pilote de Kahnawake, complètera la saison 2015 en série NASCAR Xfinity à bord de la Dodge No 13 préparée par l'équipe américaine Motorsports Business Management (MBM), sous la direction de Carl Long. L'équipe bénéficiera de la participation de nouveaux partenaires, Grafoid et Braille Battery. 

 

Kahnawake (Canada), le 10 avril 2015 – Le partenariat entre le pilote et MBM est le fruit de plusieurs efforts entre Derek White et Carl Long, les deux voulant monter une équipe pour rejoindre les plus hauts niveaux en NASCAR avec un partenaire en qui ils auraient pleine confiance. L'équipe ainsi constituée s'occupera de la préparation et le support à la piste de la voiture. Selon une autre entente avec NASCAR, la voiture sera en piste à toutes les courses, avec le pilote de chez nous au volant, ou sera louée à un pilote d'expérience lorsque les engagements de White l'empêcheront de participer à la course.

 

Derek White, de la nation mohawk, habite dans la région de Montréal. Mordu de vitesse dès son jeune âge, il participa pendant presque 30 années à des courses d'accélération, terminant sa carrière au volant de voitures de 1 300 ch. Toujours à la recherche de sensations plus fortes, il se tourna en 2009 vers les courses de stock-car sur asphalte. Il a tout de suite apprécié l'expérience : « Après quelques courses en classe Sportsman, je me tournai vers la série NASCAR Canadian Tire (NCaTS) où je remportai le titre de recrue de l'année en 2010. » White continua ensuite à parfaire ses techniques contre les vieux loups de cette série, le plus haut niveau de compétition automobile au Canada. Son approche faisait aussi preuve de maturité : « Après une ou deux saisons à faire mes classes en milieu de peloton, je me retrouvai à rouler de plus en plus rapidement et à suivre les meilleurs pilotes de la série. »

 

Après 35 courses en NCaTS et toujours à la recherché de sensations de plus en plus fortes, White se tourna alors vers la série NASCAR Truck, plus puissantes, mais dont les courses sont plutôt centrées sur des pistes plus courtes. Il passa ensuite rapidement à la série NACAR Xfinity (Nationwide à l'époque) et ses voitures de 725 ch très proches des performances de la catégorie reine en NASCAR, la Sprint Cup.

 

Le pilote avoue volontiers qu'il se retrouve maintenant dans un autre monde : « Rouler le long d'un muret à quelque 320 km/h est une autre réalité. Je dois apprendre à rouler deux fois plus vite qu'avant, à composer avec les forces aérodynamiques, la circulation plus lente et plus rapide, et le mélange de pilotes d'expérience et de jeunes en apprentissage (comme moi cette année !)

 

Piloter a un effet thérapeutique pour le pilote : « Je vais aux pistes pour me détacher complètement de mes autres responsabilités et activités d'affaires, et ça marche. Pendant deux jours, je suis plongé dans un tout autre monde. Je me retrouve dans un présent où seules ma performance et celle de l'équipe comptent – un bonheur total qui continue jusqu'au lendemain de la course avant que mon niveau d'adrénaline revienne à la normale. »

 

Le pilote adhère encore à l'approche graduelle de ses débuts en NASCAR : rouler en début de course de façon à bien apprendre la piste et le comportement des autres pilotes, puis pousser plus fort en seconde moitié de course pour doubler les plus lents et bénéficier des incidents de piste pour remonter le peloton. »

 

White ajoute qu'il regarde aussi vers la série Sprint Cup, avec des voitures plus évoluées et un pilotage encore plus poussé. Il trouve le défi irrésistible : « Je cherche toujours à monter plus haut et à me battre contre les meilleurs, comme en série Sprint. » 

 

Grafoid fait partie de ce projet depuis cette année. Leaders mondiaux du graphène, Grafoid développe et d'investi dans des activités centrées sur ce nouveau produit révolutionnaire : identification et développement de nouveaux procédés et usines pour la fabrication, et son utilisation par de grandes entreprises. Le graphène est un produit extraordinaire, l'élément de base de plusieurs composés organiques comme le graphite, le charbon de bois et le carbone. Il est cent fois plus solide que l'acier pour le même poids.

 

Braille Battery, une filiale de Grafoid.com, supporte aussi les efforts de l'équipe. Ils produisent les batteries aux ions de lithium les plus légères et le plus performantes sur le marché. Ils produisent aussi la seule batterie en fibre de carbone AGM sur le marché.

 

La prochaine sortie de la Dodge No 13 Grafoid / Braille Battery aura lieu au Texas Motor Speedway. Les essais du vendredi 10 avril seront suivis le samedi 11 avril de la qualification et la course, retransmise à RDS et FoxSport2.

 

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