Showing posts with label NASCAR KNN Pro Series East. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NASCAR KNN Pro Series East. Show all posts

2012-03-18

Mission accomplie pour Ray Junior Courtemanche à Bristol

 

Communiqué - Pour diffusion immédiate

 

Montréal, le 17 mars 2012.- Le pilote de la série NASCAR Canadian Tire a couru ce week-end à Bristol (TN) sur l’ovale à haute vitesse d’un demi-mile, dans le cadre de la série NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. Il a terminé l’épreuve de 125 tours en 31e position, après avoir connu des problèmes mécaniques. Parti avec les objectifs de se remettre en forme et d’apprendre une nouvelle piste et une nouvelle voiture parmi des pilotes aguerris, Ray Jr a su tirer son épingle du jeu. « Je voulais apprendre et je vous assure que j’ai presque doublé mon niveau d’expérience d’un seul coup. »

 

Ray Junior a d’abord attaqué la piste lors de la première session d’essais, le vendredi, après avoir roulé sur la même piste lors d’essais en fin février. L’équipe menée par Mario Gosselin a travaillé fort pour s’assurer que les réglages de la voiture suivaient le développement de Ray Junior à mesure qu’il se sentait de plus en plus à l’aise sur la piste. « Je me retrouve dans une situation totalement différente de ce que j’ai vécu dans le passé. La piste est plus rapide, le bol des virages beaucoup plus élevé, la voiture est plus puissante, et avec des pilotes de premier rang que je dois laisser passer, ce qui me fait dévier du tracé idéal. De plus, à mesure que je fais des chronos plus rapides, l’effort physique augmente. Après avoir complété 73 tours de piste (plus que tous les autres pilotes) J’ai peiné à sortir de la voiture, et ce après m’être entraîné fort 5 jours par semaine depuis deux mois. »

 

La pression montait, car Ray Junior devait baisser ses temps de 0,3 secs lors de la qualif pour s’assurer de prendre le départ. « Je sais où trouver le temps, il ne me reste qu’à me concentrer et livrer la marchandise – je suis ici pour ça ! »

 

Lors de la qualification du samedi après-midi, la température ambiante avait chuté, ce qui a affecté le comportement de la voiture. « J’ai tout essayé lors de mes deux tours de qualifications, sans obtenir le résultat que j’espérais; mais j’ai beaucoup appris encore une fois. Nous partons dernier, mais nous sommes dans la course, et mon but demeure de terminer la course. Je me sens dans un autre monde… et je m’amuse comme un fou ! »

 

Parti de la dernière rangée pour la course de 125 tours, Ray Junior espérait suivre le peloton devant lui et éviter les multiples accrochages engendrés par la piste à la fois rapide et serrée comme Bristol. « Je suivais bien au départ, mais la voiture s’est mise à survirer après 25 tours. Nous avons finalement réglé le problème après quatre arrêts qui m’ont fait perdre plusieurs tours sur les meneurs. » Après l’arrêt obligatoire pour changer les pneus au 70e tour, Ray Junior suivait le rythme et remontait le peloton, mais les problèmes sont revenus. « J’ai fini la course avec des problèmes d’essence qui faisaient tousser le moteur. Les arrêts et problèmes m’ont couté cher, avec une 31e place, 34 tours derrière le gagnant. Mais nous avons roulé et terminé la course sans incident, et je serai d’autant plus prêt pour ma prochaine sortie en K&N, sur le "Monster Mile" de Dover (DE), le 26 avril prochain.»

 

- 30 -

 

 

 

 


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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 18.3.12 0 comments

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2011-04-26

KnN East PR - Blue Ox 100 Up Next For KnN East

First Stand-Alone Race In Series History at RIR

Up next for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East is the Blue Ox 100 at famed Richmond (Va.) International Raceway on Thursday, April 28.

The first two races of the 2011 season have produced two different winners, and there will be plenty of candidates to make it three-for-three when the series heads to 'America's Premier Short Track' this week.

Following strong performances in each of the first two outings this year, the three-car contingent of X Team Racing looks primed to break through sooner rather than later. Coleman Pressley may have a leg up on the field with three previous starts in NASCAR Nationwide Series action at Richmond, highlighted by a best finish of 18th in the April event last year. In his first two starts in the K&N Pro Series East with X Team, the son of longtime NASCAR driver Robert Pressley has finishes of second and fourth.

 

 

Pressley's teammates Matt DiBenedetto and Alex Bowman have been impressive in the season's first two outings as well. DiBenedetto was fifth in the opener at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway and was the runner-up last time out at South Boston (Va.) Speedway while the rookie of the group, Bowman, finished third and eighth, respectively.

The X Team contingent will undoubtedly have competition from fellow Toyotas driven by Brett Moffitt and Max Gresham. Moffitt, with the two-time defending champion No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing team, has been dominant so far this year as he led flag-to-flag at Greenville Pickens and was cruising toward a second-straight win at South Boston, but was wrecked by a spun lap-down car. Gresham, meanwhile, recovered from a late-race spin in the opener to finish a split-second behind DiBenedetto last week at South Boston. Gresham piloted his Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Camry to a win in last year's race at Iowa Speedway, a track that was built in Richmond's likeness.

While he has yet to record a podium finish in 2011, Darrell Wallace Jr. also figures to be a threat to take the checkered flag at Richmond. Wallace has recorded sixth-place finishes in each of the season's first two races for Revolution Racing, and he'll have an advantage on many of his fellow competitors as he's participating in the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown and is allowed to test and practice in advance on the .75-mile circuit.

With a high level of interest in the event, the Blue Ox 100 could very well attract the largest entry list of the 2011 season. There is also a historical angle to it, as this will be the first stand-alone race at Richmond in the series' 25 seasons of competition. The K&N Pro Series East participated in five races in combination with the Nationwide Series at Richmond from 1988-92.

 

Race Notes

Peña a Surprise Points Leader ... After finishing 12th in the final 2010 standings, Sergio Peña may not have entered the current campaign with the expectation of contending for a title, but he's in just that position, albeit after only two races. Peña, from Winchester, Va., crossed the line seventh in the season-opener at Greenville Pickens on April 2, then registered his first career win last time out at South Boston on April 17. He heads to Richmond with a one-tally advantage on Pressley.

Pastrana, Blaney to Attempt Debuts ... A pair of notable up-and-coming stock car drivers hope to make their K&N Pro Series East debut in the Blue Ox 100. Action sports star Travis Pastrana is entered in the No. 99 Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing while Ryan Blaney, son of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Dave Blaney, also hopes to make his first start in the family-owned No. 10. Pastrana finished sixth in January's NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown and was involved in an accident three laps shy of the finish in the K&N Pro Series West opener at Phoenix International Raceway.

Showdown Winner Headed to RIR ... The reigning champion of the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown, Jason Bowles will attempt to make his first K&N Pro Series East start of 2011 at Richmond. The 2009 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion, Bowles has made spot starts across five different NASCAR national and regional touring series the past two seasons. His only previous K&N Pro Series East start was the 2010 opener at Greenville Pickens.

Busy Weekend for Pursley, Ranger ... A pair of K&N Pro Series drivers will attempt to compete in both the East and West events this week. Current K&N Pro Series West points leader Greg Pursley will attempt to make his K&N Pro Series East debut at Richmond while two-time NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Champion Andrew Ranger hopes to make his East season debut after he started eight races in the series a year ago. They'll both then fly to Utah to compete in the K&N Pro Series West race at Miller Motorsports Park on Saturday. Pursley is also slated to compete in the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown in Richmond before departing Friday morning.

Sellers' Return ... Former K&N Pro Series East competitor Peyton Sellers will attempt to make his first start in the series since he won the 2008 season finale at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway. Sellers, from Danville, Va., registered 16 top 10s in 29 East starts from 2006-08.

School Visit ... On Friday, April 16, Wallace and Revolution Racing teammate Michael Cherry visited with automotive program students at Hermitage Technical Center and Highland Springs Technical Center in the greater Richmond area. The drivers shared their background in racing and education, and talked about the many facets of the racing industry.

Tune-In Reminders ... The Blue Ox 100 will be broadcast live on NASCARHomeTracks.com via Speed 51 Radio ... The season-opening Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 from Greenville Pickens will also air on SPEED on Thursday, April 28 at 6 p.m.

 

Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown

The fourth edition of the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown will share the racing card at Richmond International Raceway on Thursday with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. One of the premier charity racing events in the nation, the Showdown benefits the Denny Hamlin Foundation and proceeds from the race will help raise awareness and funding for the specific needs of individuals afflicted with Cystic Fibrosis as well as other programs that support chronically ill children and underprivileged youth.

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will have a significant presence in the event. Those who will attempt to pull double-duty that day include: Clay Campbell, Max Gresham, Brandon McReynolds, Travis Pastrana, Greg Pursley, Peyton Sellers and Darrell Wallace Jr. The entry list also includes former K&N Pro Series East drivers Trevor Bayne, Joey Logano and Curtis Markham.

The Hamlin Showdown is a sanctioned NASCAR Whelen All-American Series special event.

 

25 For 25 

The 2011 season is the 25th in series history. From its days as the Busch North Series, to the present-day NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, there are countless moments that have come to define the series. Each race week we will take a look back at those moments and figures that have defined the series. 

Combo Races ... From 1987-200, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East - then known as the Busch North Series - competed in a total of 72 races in combination with the NASCAR Nationwide Series - then known as the Busch Series - at tracks ranging from superspeedways like Daytona International Raceway to road courses like Watkins Glen International. In these races, East drivers competed alongside their Nationwide counterparts for overall position and purse in the race, but for points in respect to their fellow East drivers. During these seasons, an East driver was allowed to count his two best combo race finishes toward his point total for the East championship standings.
Site of this week's Blue Ox 100, Richmond International Raceway played host to five such combo races from 1988-92. Among the K&N Pro Series East contingent that participated in those races, Joe Bessey registered the best finish, 10th, in 1992. Current two-time defending K&N Pro Series East champion car owner Michael Waltrip took the checkered flag for the Nationwide Series in the 1990 race.

Last Time Out: South Boston 150

The second race of the 2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season started out like the first; with a postponement due to rain.

Once the sun came out in South Boston, Va., however, the K&N Pro Series East was able to put on a show at South Boston Speedway that saw Revolution Racing's Sergio Peña earn his first career win.

The race was dominated through the first half by one of Peña's teammates - Darrell Wallace Jr. - who earned his first career pole earlier in the day and led the first 73 laps. Brett Moffitt then went door-to-door with Wallace for a couple of circuits before he wrestled the lead away.

Moffitt appeared to be in position to cruise to a third-straight series victory with a full three-second lead on the rest of the field, but Michael Cherry's spun car was in the middle of the groove coming out of Turn 4 on Lap 141 and Moffitt - with no escape route - T-boned him. Peña then inherited the lead and fended off Matt DiBenedetto and Max Gresham for the win.

 

Up Next: East-West Challenge at Iowa

The fifth edition of the K&N Pro Series East-West Challenge at Iowa Speedway is slated for Saturday, May 21 with the Goodyear Tire Dealers of Iowa 175 presented by Tompkins Industries.

It will be a natural transition for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East to go from Richmond International Raceway to Iowa Speedway for the next event, as the later was patterned after the former by the track's designer and owner, Rusty Wallace.

While the set-up of the event doesn't change this year, there are a few differences between the 2011 race and the first four runnings at the Newton, Iowa oval. This year the K&N Pro Series race will be held on Saturday instead of Sunday, and the two development series will be joined at the .875-mile track by the NASCAR Nationwide Series, which will now race on Sunday. Additionally, the K&N Pro Series race has been shortened from 200 to 175 laps.

The first four K&N Pro Series East-West races have produced a different winner, and each time the victor piloted a car representing the East. Three of the four winners - Joey Logano, Kyle Busch and Max Gresham - took the checkered flag in Joe Gibbs Racing cars.

 

 

 


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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 26.4.11 0 comments

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2011-04-25

Hodgson PR: Cody Hodgson Richmond International Raceway Race Preview

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 4.25.1

For more information, visit www.CodyHodgsonRacing.com or email TbarrettGWC@hotmail.com

 

Cody Hodgson: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East

Richmond International Raceway Race Preview

 

 

 

THE STORY

 

Cody Hodgson of Escalon, Calif., will compete alongside the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series when the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East heads to the Blue Ox 100 at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., on Thursday, April 28. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate sits 12th overall in the K&N Pro Series East standings as the series heads to its first standalone Richmond event in history – on the undercard of a Saturday night Cup race at the .75-mile track. Better yet, Hodgson is fifth in the standings among a field of 24 rookies who have made a start in the series already this season.

 

THE FACTS

 

WHO: Cody Hodgson, Escalon, Calif.

TEAM: Dave Davis Motorsports No. 03 Ocala Gran Prix Chevrolet

CREW CHIEF: Lonnie Rush, Mooresville, N.C.

 

BEST CAREER RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY FINISH: N/A

LAST RACE AT RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY: N/A

 

WHAT: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Blue Ox 100

WHERE: Richmond International Raceway, Richmond, Va. (.75-mile D-oval)

WHEN: Qualifying – 4:30 p.m., Thursday, April 28; Race – 7 p.m., Thursday, April 28

 

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East

NEXT RACE: May 21, Goodyear Dealers of Iowa 175, Iowa Speedway, Newton, Iowa (.875-mile oval)

CURRENT POINTS POSITION: 12th

 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW?

 

  • Richmond International Raceway represents the largest track Cody Hodgson has ever competed on.
  • Cody Hodgson has two Top-15 finishes in two career K&N Pro Series East starts, including a career-best 10th-place finish in his career debut at Greenville Pickens Speedway last month.
  • Following the series' last race at South Boston two weeks ago, Cody Hodgson returned home to California for the first time since early March.
  • Cody Hodgson lives with team owner Dave Davis during the week, working at the shop during the day and competing on the weekends.

 

 

 

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

 

CODY HODGSON, Driver of the No. 03 Ocala Gran Prix Chevrolet, On racing at Richmond International Raceway for the first time: “I'm definitely excited about it. I've never been to one of these big events like this. I'm sure there will be a lot more people, a lot more fans. Every driver out there will be trying to show that they're the next greatest thing. It should be a lot of fun.

 

“I really need to focus on qualifying better, but with a big track like this it's not going to be as much about where you start at the beginning of the race. The Richmond track is obviously bigger and will be faster, but the actual racing will be 'slower.' I think you'll have more time to work around other cars if you have to.”

 

On preparing to race at a track you've never raced on before: It's a whole new game for me. I'm excited about it. Everything in the pits, I'm sure, will feel bigger and more exciting. The racing will be a lot different from what we've seen already, too, (at Greenville and South Boston). There's just one day of practice, with the two one-hour sessons, so I'm going to need to be a little cautious with the speeds and everything at first. That first session, it will be all about going out and getting a good feel for the speed.

 

On the importance of better qualifying efforts: “As far as the racing and everything, I've been feeling really good. I've been able to pass guys. But I feel like right now I really need to focus on qualifying better. A couple of guys in the series are really good at that, and it's helping them every week.

 

“I feel like I've passed a ton of cars, and I've learned a lot about how to race with people around me in this series. What I really need to learn now is how to get more out of the car in qualifying, even if maybe there's not a lot there to get. We've been able to make our car really good on the long runs, but I just haven't been able to be up in the top spots (after qualifying) to ride around with those top guys and show them what we've got at the end. We've had to race so hard just to get there, that we haven't had a lot left at the end of races to be able to really race with the leaders.”

 

 

 

UP NEXT

 

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East heads to Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa for a combination race with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West on Saturday, May 21 – the Goodyear Dealers of Iowa 175... The Dave Davis Motorsports entry of Kevin Swindell finished ninth in the event last year as K&N Pro Series East teams took seven of the top nine spots at the track owned by former Sprint Cup Series driver Rusty Wallace.

 

 

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

 

Follow Cody Hodgson on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CHodgson55

Follow GWC Motorsports Marketing on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Green-White-Checker/45527276443

Follow GWC Motorsports Marketing on Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/GWCNewEngland



Travis Barrett
GWC Motorsports Marketing
TBarrettGWC@hotmail.com
(207) 522-0357

 




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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 25.4.11 0 comments

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2011-04-03

TEAM PR: Cody Hodgson Posts Top-10 In K&N Pro Series East Debut

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 4.2.11

For more information, visit www.CodyHodgsonRacing.com

 

Hodgson Lands Top-10 In K&N Pro Series East Debut

 

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Cody Hodgson of Escalon, Calif., finished 10th in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 at Greenville Pickens Speedway on Saturday, April 2. Hodgson also qualified the No. 03 Ocala Gran Prix Dodge in the Top-10 in his series debut with Dave Davis Motorsports, posting the ninth-fastest speed on the 32-car starting grid. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate rallied for the impressive finish after twice pitting to fix damage suffered in accidents involving other cars. In a race featuring 19 rookies in the field, only four of them finished ahead of Hodgson.

 

WHO: Cody Hodgson, Escalon, Calif.

TEAM: Dave Davis Motorsports No. 03 Ocala Gran Prix Dodge

WHAT: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150

WHERE: Greenville Pickens Speedway, Greenville, S.C. (.500-mile oval)

 

STARTED: 9th

FINISHED: 10th

LAPS LED: 0 times for 0 laps

 

NEXT RACE: April 16, South Boston 150, South Boston Speedway, South Boston, Va., (.400-mile oval)

 

***********

 

CODY, TALK ABOUT YOUR RACE TONIGHT.

 

That first 50 laps, it was really about feeling everything out, feeling out what the car was going to do and the guys I was racing with that I've never raced with before. Once I got in my groove, it was a lot of fun.

 

Despite the fact that we had to pit twice and come back up through the field, I was really happy with my performance, and the team was happy with my performance. It makes you confident knowing that you can have a good day after all we went through.

 

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BOTH QUALIFY AND FINISH IN THE TOP-10 IN YOUR FIRST K&N PRO SERIES EAST RACE?

 

I'm more than happy to just finish in the Top-10 in my first race, especially with everything that happened in the middle of the race. With having to pit a couple of times and all the damage we hand and then having to restart in the back, I wasn't even sure if I'd get anywhere near the Top-10.

 

The guys did awesome job in the pits to get us a good car. Had we we been better early on and qualified a little better, we had a Top-5 car, no problem, which is awesome.

 

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO IMPROVE HEADING INTO SOUTH BOSTON IN TWO WEEKS?

 

I know know what I need to do now, what I can get out of the car in qualifying, especially. Qualifying is really, really important in these races. But at the same time, if I don't get the qualifying I want, I know that I can just settle in early, stay out of wrecks and be able to move to the front.

 

I kept the car clean, never gave up and still came out of there with a Top-10 finish. So, I'm really excited about keeping things going.

 

--30--

 


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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 3.4.11 0 comments

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NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Review: Moffitt Keeps On Rolling

For Immediate Release

Includes Quotes and Additional Notes

 

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Recap: Moffitt Keeps On Rolling

Led wire-to-wire in season opener at Greenville Pickens Speedway

 

 

GREENVILLE, S.C. (April 2, 2011) — Brett Moffitt started off 2011 the same place he ended last year: in Victory Lane. The only difference was the uniform.

 

In his first race for Michael Waltrip Racing, Moffitt won the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 Saturday night at Greenville Pickens Speedway. Moffitt led all 150 laps in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East opener at the historic half-mile.

 

“This was an amazing win,” Moffitt said. “Luckily we were able to put it on the pole – I was very excited about that – and then after that being able to lead green-to-checker is just awesome.”

 

Moffitt closed out the 2010 season with a win at Dover International Speedway with for Joe Gibbs Racing. He took over the No. 00 at MWR, and replaced two-time series champion Ryan Truex who moved up to the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Moffitt won the 21 Means 21 Pole Award presented by Coors Light earlier in the day Saturday and became the first driver since Ryan Moore in July of 2005 to lead every lap.

 

“Being able to start the season like that is amazing, and hopefully we never look back,” Moffitt said.

 

Coleman Pressley challenged Moffitt for the lead on Lap 136, and looked to have the line to move up front, but the caution flag came out which reverted the field back to the last completed green flag lap. Moffitt was too strong on the final restart and the closing laps, and Pressley had to settle for a runner-up finish in his K&N Pro Series East debut.

 

“We put ourselves in a good position, and there at one time I thought we had the lead from Brett, but cautions and restarts didn’t fall our way,” said Pressley, the son of past Greenville Pickens track champion Robert Pressley. “For the first time out for X Team Racing, we’ll take it, and go to South Boston and go for the win.

 

Rookies Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott finished third and fourth, respectively. Matt DiBenedetto, a teammate of Pressley and Bowman with X Team Racing, rounded out the top five.

Defending race winner Darrell Wallace Jr. was sixth, followed by Sergio Peña, Brandon McReynolds, Brandon Haley and Cody Hodgson.

 

Four months after his 15th birthday, Elliott also became the youngest driver in series history to take a green flag. With a finish of 22 positions higher than his starting spot, he took home the Coca-Cola Move of the Race Award. Wallace was the Featherlite Most Improved Driver with a finish 19 spots better from the previous race while Bowman earned Sunoco Rookie of the Race honors as the highest finisher among the 18 rookies in the event.

 

There were a total of 12 drivers that made their first K&N Pro Series East start in the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150, which saw 11 caution periods for 57 laps. Twenty-one cars finished on the lead lap.

 

The 2011 edition of the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 marked this sixth year in a row the series opened its season in Greenville. Each event has produced a different race winner, but Moffitt became the first to earn more than one pole as he was also the fastest qualifier in 2009.

 

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will return to the track for the South Boston 150 at South Boston (Va.) Speedway on Saturday, April 16 in a doubleheader with the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour.

 


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2011-03-26

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East at Greenville Postponed

For Immediate Release

 

Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 rescheduled for April 2

 

 

GREENVILLE, S.C. (March 26, 2011) — The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season-opener at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway scheduled for Saturday, March 26 has been postponed to Saturday, April 2.

 

Rain moved into the Greenville area Saturday morning, and the forecast calls for persistent precipitation throughout the weekend.

 

The race-day schedule for the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 will remain the same, with the green flag slated for 8 p.m. For ticket information, please call 864-269-8052 or visit the track’s official website, www.greenvillepickens.com.

 


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2011-03-22

NASCAR - Analyzing The Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 At Greenville Pickens Speedway

For Immediate Release

 

Statistical Advance: Analyzing The Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 At Greenville Pickens Speedway

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 22, 2011) – The 25th season of competition for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will commence with the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway on Saturday, March 26.

 

At Greenville Pickens Speedway:
History
•  Opened on July 4, 1946 as a dirt track … Race surface was converted to asphalt in April, 1970.
•  Held 29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races from 1951-71, including the first flag-to-flag televised event.
•  David Pearson (1959) and Ralph Earnhardt (1965, 66) are among the famed drivers that have won championships at the track.
Notebook
•  The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East held its inaugural Greenville Pickens Speedway race on June 6, 2006 and has returned every year since.
•  There have been five-different winning drivers and five-different pole winners in each of the first five NKNPS East races at GPS.
•  In the first five years of the event, only Joey Logano has won both the pole and the race, which he accomplished in 2007.
•  For the first time in 2011, there will be two NKNPS East races at GPS. The series will return to the historic half mile on Sept. 5.

 

Greenville Pickens Speedway Data
Race: #1 of 12 (3/26/11)
Track Layout: Half-mile oval
Banking: Five degrees in the turns
Race Length: 150 laps / 75 miles

 

Qualifying/Race Data
2010 pole winner: Cole Whitt (86.726 mph, 20.755 seconds)
2010 race winner: Darrell Wallace Jr. (47.098 mph, 1:39.22)
Track qualifying record: Joey Logano (87.481 mph, 20.576 seconds, 4/28/07)

 

NKNPS East Race Winners at GPS
June 6, 2006 ... Sean Caisse
April 28, 2007 ... Joey Logano
April 19, 2008 ... Austin Dillon
April 11, 2009 ... Brian Ickler
March 27, 2010 ... Darrell Wallace Jr.

 

NKNPS East Pole Winners at GPS
June 6, 2006 ... Mike Olsen
April 28, 2007 ... Joey Logano
April 19, 2008 ... Peyton Sellers
April 11, 2009 ... Brett Moffitt
March 27, 2010 ... Cole Whitt

 

Up to Speed:
•  The 2011 season will be the 25th for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. The inaugural event was a combination race with the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Darlington Raceway on March 28, 1987. The first stand-alone race was held at Oxford Plains Speedway on April 26.
•  There will not be a title defense in 2011 as Ryan Truex – the 2009 and 2010 champion – has moved up to the NNS with Pastrana-Waltrip Racing. Last year’s championship runner-up, Brett Moffitt, has moved from Joe Gibbs Racing to take over for Truex at Michael Waltrip Racing.
•  Six of the top 10 finishers in the 2010 season standings will return full-time in 2011. Two of the four not returning, Truex and Cole Whitt, moved up to national series rides.
•  New to the 2011 NKNPS East schedule is the inaugural stand-alone race for the series at Richmond International Raceway and the first trips to historical NASCAR weekly tracks Bowman Gray Stadium, Columbus Motor Speedway and Langley Speedway.
•  NASCAR lowered the minimum competition age for drivers to 15 across all touring divisions. Chase Elliott will attempt to be the first driver to compete at the age of 15 this weekend at Greenville Pickens Speedway.

 

Selected Driver Highlights:
Michael Cherry (No. 8 Toyota)
•  Had two top 10s in three starts at the end of the 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season.
•  Competed in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model division at Greenville Pickens Speedway in 2009.
•  Will compete for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors out of the Revolution Racing garage and the Drive for Diversity program.

 

Matt DiBenedetto (No. 15 Toyota)
•  Recorded two wins, three poles and five top 10s in seven NKNPS East starts in 2009 as a Joe Gibbs Racing development driver.
•  Finished 10th in the 2009 season opener at GPS.
•  Will compete for the newly-formed X Team Racing in 2011.
•  Earned two top 10s in seven combined NNS starts for JGR in 2009-10.

 

Chase Elliott (No. 9 Chevrolet)
•  The son of Bill Elliott, he will attempt to become the first 15-year-old to compete in a NASCAR touring series race with the minimum competition age lowered from 16 to 15 this past offseason.
•  Signed a multi-year contract with Hendrick Motorsports. He will receive technical support from HMS while competing out of the family shop in Dawsonville, Ga.
•  Earned 12 wins and 38 top 10s in 40 Late Model races in 2010.

 

Ryan Gifford (No. 2 Toyota)
•  Has a pole and seven top fives in 14 career NKNPS East starts.
•  Finished fourth in the 2010 opener at GPS.
•  Competes for Revolution Racing and Drive for Diversity, and is a development driver for Richard Childress Racing that competes in dirt and asphalt Late Models with Team Dillon Racing.

 

Max Gresham (No. 18 Toyota)
•  Has two wins, two poles and five top 10s in 13 career NKNPS East starts the two previous seasons with JGR.
•  Was involved in an accident and finished 23rd in the 2010 opener at GPS.
•  In addition to competing for the NKNPS East championship, he also hopes to make his NNS and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debuts in 2011, and some ARCA superspeedway starts.

 

Ben Kennedy (No. 96 Chevrolet)
•  Made NKNPS East debut with one start in 2010. He finished 24th following oil line failure at Gresham Motorsports Park.
•  Earned Pro-Truck and Late Model division titles at Orlando Speed World.
•  The son of Lesa France Kennedy and great-grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr.

 

Corey LaJoie (No. 07 Ford)
•  Has three top fives and an additional top 10 in seven career NKNPS East starts.
•  All four of his top-10 finishes have come at national series tracks. The best was a runner-up effort in the 2010 finale at Dover International Speedway.
•  Is the son of Randy LaJoie, two-time NNS champion.

 

Eddie MacDonald (No. 71 Chevrolet)
•  Has six wins, two poles and 56 top 10s in 131 career NKNPS East starts.
•  Has an average finish of 11th in four starts at GPS with a best effort of third in 2009.
•  The longest-tenured driver on the pre-entry list, this will be his 11th year in the series.

 

Brandon McReynolds (No. 37 Chevrolet)
•  Will look to make his NKNPS East debut at GPS.
•  Competed regularly in UARA from 2008-10 and earned two wins at Rockingham Speedway.
•  Made NNS debut at Gateway International Raceway in 2010.
•  The son of former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crew chief and current NASCAR on Fox analyst Larry McReynolds.

 

Brett Moffitt (No. 00 Toyota)
•  Has four wins, three poles and 16 top 10s in 21 career NKNPS East starts.
•  Finished third in points as a rookie with Andy Santerre Motorsports in 2010 and was the championship runner-up to Ryan Truex in 2010 with JGR.
•  Has finishes of fifth and 24th in two previous starts at GPS. He became the youngest driver in NKNPS East history – surpassing Joey Logano – to earn a pole in 2009 at GPS.
•  Will compete this year for MWR in the same car that Truex won the two previous championships.

 

Sergio Peña (No. 4 Toyota)
•  Had three top 10s in 10 starts as a rookie in 2010.
•  Finished 27th after an accident in his series debut at GPS a year ago.
•  This will be his second year with Revolution Racing and Drive for Diversity.

 

Coleman Pressley (No. 14 Toyota)
•  Will attempt to make his NKNPS East debut at GPS with X Team Racing.
•  Made 12 combined NNS starts in 2009-10.
•  Was the 2010 UARA Late Model champion.
•  Is the son of former NASCAR national series driver Robert Pressley.

 

D.J. Shaw (No. 60 Chevrolet)
•  Has five top 10s in 12 career starts.
•  Best finish of his 2010 rookie season was a fifth-place effort in the opener at GPS.
•  Is the son of 1994 NKNPS East Champion Dale Shaw, who is crew chief of the No. 60.

 

Darrell Wallace Jr. (No. 6 Toyota)
•  Recorded two wins and seven top 10s to finish third in overall points and earn Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in 2010.
•  Is the defending winner of the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150. The win made him the youngest and first African-American race winner in NKNPS East history.
•  Competes for Revolution Racing and Drive for Diversity. He is also part of the JGR driver development program.

 

For more information, contact:
Jason Cunningham, NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications

 


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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 22.3.11 0 comments

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2011-03-21

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East 2011 News & Notes - Greenville Pickens

East Crown Wide Open As 2011 Season Launches At Greenville

 

Host of newcomers set to challenge returnees

 

With the departure of two-time defending champion Ryan Truex to the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the chase for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East crown will be wide open in 2011. That journey will begin on Saturday, March 26 with the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway.

 

 Among the title contenders that return from a year ago, Brett Moffitt is the head of the class. The Grimes, Iowa driver's third season in the series figures to be his best. After a third-place effort in the final standings as a rookie in 2009, and a runner-up finish to Truex a year ago, Moffitt has the experience to go along with the talent to be a championship favorite. He has also moved over to Michael Waltrip Racing and into the seat vacated by Truex, which can only enhance his chances for a title.
Darrell Wallace Jr. and Max Gresham also figured to be in the title hunt. Like Moffitt, both won two races a year ago in their first full seasons in the K&N Pro Series East. Wallace remained in championship contention through the first three-quarters of the 2010 schedule while Gresham had an up-and-down year. While both figure to be a threat to win everywhere they go, they'll need to focus on consistency to mount a championship run.
While the previously-mentioned trio figures to be the odds-on favorites, there is no lack of other talent in the garage that could contend for the championship. Wallace's Revolution Racing teammates Michael Cherry, Ryan Gifford and Sergio Peña learned valuable lessons from their experience a year ago, as did D.J. Shaw, who finished ahead of each of them in the standings. And the elder statesman among the returners - Eddie MacDonald - will take another swing at what would be his first East crown. Also, don't forget about Corey LaJoie. While this will technically be his rookie season, he has logged seven starts across the two previous seasons, and finished in the top 10 in four of those outings.

 

What To Watch For

The 2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season-opener at Greenville Pickens Speedway shapes up to be similar to those of recent seasons past with a number of new teams, a lot of new faces and plenty of storylines to keep an eye on.
More History for a Historical Track: Not only has Greenville Pickens produced esteemed track champions such as David Pearson, Ralph Earnhardt and Robert Pressley, but it is also one of just nine facilities that has been a sanction member of each of the 30 years of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Now it will become the first host track for the 25th season of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.
Notable Newcomers: While the list of possible newcomers to the series seems to be endless, there are a number of recognizable names that will look to launch their NASCAR career's in Greenville. Ben Kennedy - great-grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France - will launch his first full season at Greenville Pickens after one start in 2010. Then there's past NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Bill Elliott's son, Chase, former crew chief and NASCAR on Fox analyst Larry McReynold's son, Brandon, and former Cup driver Robert Pressley's son, Coleman.
Formation of X Team Racing: Led by successful crew chief Robert Huffman, and with strong ties to Toyota Racing Development, the newly-formed X Team Racing has already made a splash with its stable of drivers. A standout during the 2009 K&N Pro Series East season, Joe Gibbs Racing development driver Matt DiBenedetto will return to the series full-time with X Team this year. His teammate will be USAC standout Alex Bowman, and the plan is for Pressley to pilot a third car part-time.
Who Makes History This Year?: With the minimum competition aged lowered to 15 in the offseason, Elliott stands to become the youngest driver to take the green flag in series history. Could he also surpass Brett Moffitt's mark as the series' youngest pole sitter, or Darrell Wallace Jr.'s record for youngest race winner? Both of those marks were established at Greenville Pickens.
Women's Movement: The 2011 season-opener could potentially have two females take the green flag. Michelle Theriault has returned to the series for the first time since her 2007 rookie campaign while Ali Kern will also attempt to make the starting grid. The series could also see Sloan Henderson at some point in 2011.
Five Years, Five Different Winners: Each of the first five K&N Pro Series East races have produced different pole and race winners. Will Moffitt be the first with multiple poles, will Wallace be the first to get a second trip to Victory Lane, or will the trend continue?

The 2011 season is the 25th in series history. From its days as the Busch North Series, to the present-day NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, there are countless moments that have come to define the series. Each week we will take a look back at those moments and figures that have defined the series.
Logano Launches: While he may have already had a win under his belt from the K&N Pro Series West race at Phoenix International Raceway, budding star Joey Logano launched his memorable 2007 K&N Pro Series East title run with an impressive performance at Greenville Pickens Speedway. The impact was immediate as the 16-year-old drove to the pole with a lap that still stands as the track record, then led 75 of the 150 laps for the first of his five triumphs en route to a record-shattering season that resulted in the championship.

 

Last Year's Event

As with a number of the previous NASCAR K&N Pro Series East races at Greenville Pickens Speedway, last year's Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 was once again a history-maker. After Cole Whitt earned the 21 Means 21 Pole Award presented by Coors Light in his first series start to get the festivities started, Darrell Wallace Jr. took the headlines in the end as he took the lead for the third and final time on the white flag lap and held on for the checkers.
In his first race, Wallace made history on two fronts. Not only did he surpass Brett Moffitt's previous mark as the youngest race winner in K&N Pro Series East history, but he also became the first African-American to reach Victory Lane.

 

Up Next: South Boston150

For the fifth season in a row, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will visit South Boston (Va.) Speedway for the South Boston 150 on Saturday, April 16.
The first four visits for the series to the famous Virginia short track have produced four-different winners. Matt Kobyluck was the victor in the inaugural 2007 event, followed by Brian Ickler in 2008. This year's event will feature the last two race winners as Brett Moffitt (2009) and Max Gresham (2010) will vie to become the first drivers to triumph multiple times at the fast half mile.

 


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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 21.3.11 0 comments

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2011-03-20

NASCAR's Next Generation Has Arrived

For Immediate Release

 

NASCAR’s Next Generation Has Arrived

Infusion of legacy drivers in K&N Pro Series East

 

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 16, 2011) — The phrase “NASCAR’s Next Generation” has been bandied about for a decade, if not longer. Perhaps at no time has that term taken on a more literal meaning than when referring to the 2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East newcomers.

 

No less than eight drivers with family ties to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series are expected to participate in the K&N Pro Series at some point in the coming season. Two have Hall of Fame lineage, one has seen his famous father hoist the Sprint Cup and another is the son of a multi-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion.

 

The first sign of such a movement came late in the 2010 season when Ben Kennedy participated in the K&N Pro Series East event at Gresham Motorsports Park under the Mark Martin Performance banner. While a mechanical issue ended the night early for the son of NASCAR Vice Chairwoman and Executive Vice President Lesa France Kennedy – and the great grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. – the writing was on the wall that was a test run for a full campaign in 2011.

 

A similar litmus test was made by Chad Boat, son of former Indy racer Billy Boat, when he participated in the fall race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The indication again was that this was setting the stage for a full season when the calendar turned, and indeed he will compete in a car fielded by Mike Curb.

 

NASCAR Hall of Famer Junior Johnson then founded Junior Johnson Motorsports late in 2010 to field a car for his son, Robert Johnson, for the full 2011 K&N Pro Series East season. Since the calendar turned, however, the flood gates have opened for the sons racing families that are now turning to NASCAR’s top developmental series to take the next step.

 

Chase Elliott will be the first driver to take advantage of the lowering of the minimum competition age to 15 for 2011. The son of 1984 Sprint Cup Series Champion Bill Elliott signed a multi-year deal with Hendrick Motorsports and will now compete full-time – a year ahead of schedule – out of the family garage in Dawsonville, Ga.

 

The K&N Pro Series East will also see a handful of legacy drivers get their toes wet on a part-time basis this year. Ryan Blaney, the son of current Sprint Cup Series driver Dave Blaney, plans to make spot starts in a family-owned ride while longtime national series driver Robert Pressley’s son, Coleman Pressley, will compete in a number of events with the newly-formed X Team Racing. Announced just this week, Brandon McReynolds, son of former Sprint Cup Series crew chief and current NASCAR on Fox analyst Larry McReynolds, will run with longtime K&N Pro Series East team Spraker Racing Enterprises. And Clay Alexander, the son of 1983 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion and former national series driver Mike Alexander, also hopes to make his debut in the series this year.

 

Not to be forgotten is a pair of drivers who also watched their fathers compete at the touring level. Ryan Reed, the son of former K&N Pro Series West competitor Mark Reed, has moved his operation from California to North Carolina in the offseason and plans to compete part-time in the K&N Pro Series East while ASA Late Model driver Yale Conley hopes to see his son, Cale, get some action in the K&N Pro Series East in 2011.

 

This group of racing sons just adds to those of a similar background that have already been running in the K&N Pro Series East. Two-time Nationwide Series titlist Randy LaJoie’s son, Corey LaJoie, has made seven starts in the series in the two previous season and plans to run for the championship in 2011. D.J. Shaw, the son of longtime K&N Pro Series East driver and 1994 champion Dale Shaw, will also be back for his sophomore campaign and expect to see Ty Dillon, son of former Nationwide Series driver Mike Dillon and grandson of Sprint Cup Series car owner Richard Childress, also return for a few spot starts.

 

As the 2011 schedule opens at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway on Saturday, March 26 with the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150, this group of racing offspring will just be a portion of the new faces that will take to the track as three-quarters of the starting grid figures to be rookies or second-year drivers.

 

And evidenced by the national series success of recent graduates Joey Logano, Trevor Bayne, Ricky Carmichael, Austin Dillon and now Cole Whitt, the K&N Pro Series East has become the destination for the best up-and-coming prospects to launch their NASCAR careers, and the destination for fans to get a glimpse of the starts of tomorrow.

 

For additional information, contact:

Jason Cunningham, Integrated Marketing Communications

 

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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 20.3.11 0 comments

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