Aric Almirola and the No. 43 Eckrich team are prepared to continue their consistency at intermediate tracks. At the last three 1.5-mile tracks, Almirola and team scored Top-12 finishes with a best finish of eighth at Kansas. The Richard Petty Motorsports Ford team aims for a Top-10 finish this weekend at Kentucky Speedway.

Almirola has seven starts at the 1.5-mile track including two Sprint Cup Series starts. He scored three Top-Six finishes in his seven starts and a best finish of third in the 2010 Truck Series race.

Eckrich returns to the hood of the No. 43 "Petty Blue" Ford this weekend as well as their "Operation Inspiration" campaign that supports and honors military families. For the third year, Eckrich teamed up with Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit which provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors. As part of the campaign, Eckrich will donate up to $250,000 through the contribution of five cents from each purchase of specialty marked products from May 1 through July 4. In addition to the donation from products, Eckrich utilizes their relationship with Richard Petty Motorsports, Aric Almirola and "The King" Richard Petty to thank military families.

This weekend, RPM welcomes back @EckrichMeats & #OperationInspiration Campaign at @KySpeedway. #NASCAR     This weekend, @Eckrich returns to the No. 43 "Petty Blue" Ford with driver @Aric Almirola to promote their #OperationInspiration campaign. From May 1 through July 4, Eckrich will donate up to $250,000 to @Operation Homefront through the contribution of five cents from each purchase of specialty marked products.

"Kentucky is a racetrack that we have circled as a place where we can run well. As rough as the racetrack is, the new setups are going to be interesting there. For us, the new setups will help us. It should help the car get across the bumps better. The bumps at Kentucky are like miniature motocross jumps, and there are a few that we have the potential to get some air. We'll focus on getting through the bumps and keeping our speed on the track.

"I'm glad to have Eckrich back on the car this weekend. We've had the opportunity to participate in their 'Operation Inspiration' campaign for the last few seasons. It's an honor to be able to thank military families for all they give up for our freedom. Because of their sacrifice, we get to race this weekend at Kentucky. To be able to give a little back is really humbling."

RPM PR

David Gilliland, driver of the No. 38 Love's Travel Stops Ford, comments on racing at Kentucky Speedway:

"For a long time Kentucky was my favorite racetrack after winning there in the Nationwide Series. But it's a little different in the Cup car. It's another racetrack that just seems to get rougher and more abrasive on the tires, and it changes a lot from year to year. It definitely has a lot of character. But I've got some great memories from Kentucky from going to Victory Lane.

David Ragan, driver of the No. 34 Taco Bell Ford, comments on racing at Kentucky Speedway:

Leavine Family Racing's consistent work in the first quarter of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) season has been gaining traction, especially after the single-car team secured 24th place, it's best finish this season, on Sunday at Sonoma Raceway. Michael McDowell and the No. 95 K-LOVE team have displayed brilliant versatility of late, adapting again this past weekend to the particular needs of one of the two road courses on their limited schedule. Making his eighth start of season for Leavine Family Racing (LFR), McDowell scored his best finish of this year's campaign. McDowell started the 110-lap event from the 28th position and utilized tactical driving and smart pit strategy to advance his position on the 11-turn course. The Glendale, Ariz., driver methodically maneuvered his way up through the field and narrowly avoided multiple incidents as he raced as high as 20th, improving from his starting position on the 1.99-mile course. Crew chief Wally Rogers was able to keep up with the dynamic strategy and handling changes throughout the day, and McDowell was able to keep the progress on track en route to the 24th-place finish. The K-LOVE Ford Fusion had the third-highest number of fastest laps run (seven) and was credited with 80 green flag passes.

Start- 28                   Finish- 24                     Laps Led- 0

Michael McDowell Quote:

"We had high expectations going into Sonoma this past weekend. Our No. 95 K-LOVE Ford struggled with rear grip all weekend, but in the race the team did an excellent job executing. We finally finished a race where we should have, but we are always looking for better performance. It was definitely a good result to build on."

LFR PR

Ingersoll Rand, a global leader in compressed air systems and services, power tools, material handling, and fluid management equipment, donated a full suite of its vehicle service power tools, valued at approximately $10,000, as part of its first Ingersoll Rand Race Day. The donation, including the new W5330 Cordless Right Angle Impactool™ and the IQ^v12 Series of cordless tools, was made to Hunterdon County Polytech Career and Technical School on Tuesday, June 3, in Annandale, NJ.

The purpose of the Ingersoll Rand Race Day is to engage, excite and educate employees and customers about technical automotive industries and Ingersoll Rand tools with a focus on the Ingersoll Rand racing program. The event featured the Ingersoll Rand hauler used at NASCAR^® racing events with interactive product displays such as a pit crew tire-changing challenge. Attendees were also able to meet NASCAR driver Will Kimmel and see the #69 Kimmel Racing Ford used at ARCA Series races. Among the attendees were employees, local officials, automotive technicians, mobile jobbers, industrial customers and students who use Ingersoll Rand tools as part of their training.

"Ingersoll Rand Race Day events are a great opportunity to enhance our customer partnerships, demonstrate our product and service capabilities, and to recognize our employees for their efforts to innovate and serve our customers,” said John Evans, president of power tools at Ingersoll Rand.

Ingersoll Rand PR

NASCAR Nationwide Series rookie driver Chad Boat and his Billy Boat Motorsports (BBM) team return to action this Friday night at Kentucky Speedway.  The Phoenix, Arizona native will once again pilot his No. 84 Chevrolet in the running of the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign 300 at the 1.5-mile track in Sparta, Kentucky.

"We have taken off a few weeks here to continue to build on our inventory of cars and build this race team," said Chad Boat.  "It has been hard for me to not be at the track racing each week but these weeks off are important as we build for the future with this BBM team.  So needless to say I am very anxious to get back behind the wheel and what a great place to do so in Kentucky.  The track has a lot of character with its multiple racing grooves and of course the bumps that have developed in the track over the years.  My team and crew chief Dan Deeringhoff do a tremendous job of giving me fast cars each time we take the track and all of us are eager for a strong run this weekend in Kentucky."

Chad and the BBM team will be joined this week at Kentucky Speedway by season long sponsor Keen Parts and their CorvetteParts.net program.  Keen Parts owners Tom and TJ Keen will host an Open House and Corvette Cruise-In on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 from 4:00pm to 8:00 pm at their store in Cleves, Ohio.  Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend, giving opportunity for fans to enjoy Corvettes on show spanning multiple generations. Driver appearances, refreshments, door prizes, and special discounts on parts and merchandise will be available, as well as Corvettes from C1s through C7s on display.

Boat will be making his second career start at the Kentucky Speedway having finished fifth in the ARCA Racing Series event at the track last year.  Additionally, team owner Billy Boat has three starts to his credit at the track in the IndyCar Series.

"All of us at BBM are excited to get back to racing this weekend in Kentucky," added Billy Boat.  "And what a great place to do so with a tremendous facility at Kentucky Speedway which also happens to be the home track for our sponsor CorvetteParts.net."

ISM PR

Powered by Red Kap's partnership with Richard Childress Racing (RCR), VF Imagewear, who owns Red Kap, has joined forces with Alsco, a worldwide leader in the rental of linen, uniforms, and washroom products, to fuel the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro driven by Ty Dillon for the NASCAR Nationwide Series John R. Elliott HERO Campaign 300 event, which is presented by Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, at Kentucky Speedway.

Welcome, N.C. native Ty Dillon is the defending Camping World Truck Series winner at Kentucky Speedway, taking the checkered flag in last year's 3rd annual UNOH 225 before moving up to the Nationwide Series this season. He scored a third-place finish in 2012's Camping World Truck Series race, indicating Kentucky Speedway is a track that suits his style.

"Everyone at RCR involved with our Nationwide Series program really values our partnership with VF Imagewear and Red Kap, and we're grateful for their support," Dillon said. "We're looking forward to having Alsco, a leader in the uniform business, on board the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro at Kentucky Speedway, a track where I've had success in the past."

"We're extremely excited for this opportunity to work with Richard Childress Racing and the No. 3 team, thanks to our partnership with VF Imagewear," said Jim Divers, Alsco's Director of Sales and Marketing. "We believe in NASCAR, it's built around a loyal fan base and those fans are also our customers.

"We value the relationships we've built in NASCAR and will continue to build them as we progress in this sport. There will be three gold standards - VF Imagewear, Alsco, and RCR - involved with one car. It doesn't get any better for everyone involved."

VF Imagewear and Alsco have each been in business for over 100 years, and Richard Childress Racing is one of the longest-tenured and most respected teams in NASCAR.

"Longevity in business means doing things right," said Brett Barthel, VF Imagewear's Vice President of U.S. Sales. "All three organizations - VF Imagewear, Alsco, and RCR - have a long history of success. Both inside and outside of the NASCAR community, the significance of the No. 3 represents longevity, success, and a 'Done Right' attitude."

"In the uniform rental business, customer satisfaction is a combination of superior service coupled with quality products. Alsco manages their customers' rental experience using innovative Red Kap and Bulwark branded products. Both VF Imagewear and Alsco provide addictive customer experiences by always putting the end user as the focal point of their daily activities."

RCR PR

The Domino Band will feel right at home at Celebration 2014 on July 3. It will be the eighth Celebration appearance at Martinsville Speedway for the Roanoke-based horn band and it never gets old for them or for the crowd.

Domino made its first Celebration appearance in 2003 and their funky, soulful sound was immediately embraced by the many thousands of fans in attendance.

“Playing at Martinsville Speedway for this event is really special to the entire band,” said Steve Finch, the group’s lead guitarist. “We’re so excited to come back. We all have a lot of friends in Martinsville and the show is always so much fun.”

Domino will be one of two opening acts for Celebration 2014. Superhold, a 1980s cover band from Roanoke, will open the event at 4 p.m., followed by Domino. The show’s headliner, The Cadillac Three, will take the stage at 8 p.m.

Celebration 2014 will kick off at 3 p.m. when carnival rides open. The night will explode with a fireworks display at about 10 p.m.

There is no admission charge to Celebration 2014 and the carnival rides are also free. Concession items will be on sale.

While Domino plays primarily summertime festivals and large corporate events, the band is no stranger to the big stage. Since they formed way back in 1990 they have opened for the likes of Percy Sledge and The Stylistics, in addition to their seven prior Celebration appearances before national acts.

In the almost 25 years since they made their debut, the band has seen many changes. One thing hasn’t changed, though, the type of music they produce.

“We’re still doing the same high-energy show,” said Finch, the only original member still with the group. “We started out as almost a Southern Rock band then morphed into a blue-eyed soul band. But then in the late 90s we went to a full-on soul band and that’s what we’ve done since then.”

Finch said most of the current members of Domino have been around for 15 years or so, but they recently added a female vocalist and a trumpet player, which gives the group a four-piece horn section.

“We’re really excited we have added her,” Finch said of Carmen Stegall, the new vocalist. “She’s a breath of fresh air. She allows us to do some material we haven’t been able to do. She gives us a fresh angle.”

Sponsors for Celebration 2014 include: American Global Logistics, Ameristaff, Applied Felts, Bassett Furniture, Bassett Office Supply, BB&T, Blue Ridge Aquaculture, Brad Parker Insurance Agency – Nationwide Insurance, Carter Bank & Trust, Carter Machinery, Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth, City of Martinsville, Collinsville Printing, Commonwealth Laminating, Cool Knobs and Pulls, Dillon Insurance, Eastman, First Piedmont, Frith Construction, Henry County, Henry County Baptist Association, Henry County Sheriff’s Department, Hooker Furniture, Martinsville DuPont Credit Union, Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville Speedway Children’s Foundation, Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County, Nelson Automotive, RTI Martinsville, River Community Bank, Shenandoah Furniture, Southwestern Virginia Gas, Stanley Furniture, Steve Martin Trenching, TR Properties, Taco Bell, Tarheel Paper and Supply Company, The Lester Group, Virginia Mirror, West Window and Zenith Logistics.

Martinsville Speedway PR

Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation (JGCF) is one of over 250 advocates from the childhood cancer community that will visit with members of Congress and staff on Capitol Hill today in support of Childhood Cancer Action Day. 

The two-day annual event, sponsored by the Alliance for Childhood Cancer, includes advocacy training, and pre-arranged visits with Congressional offices for parents, children and advocates providing them the opportunity to speak directly with legislators about important childhood cancer issues currently before Congress.

"When we lose a child to cancer, it's not only sad for the family and friends, it is sad for the world," said Trish Kriger, Executive Director of the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation.  "It's sad to think what we have all lost - a child's potential.  Who would they have touched in the next 70 years?  What would they have contributed to society?  What would their children and grandchildren have accomplished?  That's why we all have a stake in this fight, because when the potential of a child is limited by cancer, we all lose."

Action Day participants will share their personal stories and ask legislators for the support of increased appropriations for federal childhood cancer research funding and support of the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Reauthorization Act. In the United States, cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease in children. Childhood cancers are comprised of well over one hundred different types of cancer, many of which still have unacceptably low cure rates. Funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has steadily decreased which has in large measure resulted in an ever decreasing amount of research funding for children with cancer.

"It's more important than ever that the voice of the childhood cancer community is heard, "said Jeff Gordon, Founder of the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation. "Advancements made in childhood cancer treatment in the past decade have in large part come from funding from the National Cancer Institute. With the NCI's most substantial funding cut to date, future advancements in research and treatment for our children with cancer are in jeopardy."

In 2013, Action Day participants conducted 145 meetings with legislators, resulting in new co-sponsors for every legislative bill impacting childhood cancer and 17 members of the House of Representatives joining the Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus.

Jeff Gordon Foundation PR

There were those who were apart of caution flags, and those who were able to avoid caution flags. This sentiment ultimately determined the position in which each driver took the checkered flag at Saturday night’s Visit Hampton 175 at Langley Speedway due to the fact that few positions were gained or lost during the actual competition.

Most notable was Daniel Suarez, who rallied from a 14^th place qualification effort to secure Rev Racing’s best finish of the night. Roughly 20 laps after taking the green, Suarez was the beneficiary of a pile-up, which unfortunately included Rev Racing teammates Mackena Bell and Sergio Peña. The incident automatically moved Suarez up a few positions. From there, the Monterrey, Mexico native only needed to pass one more driver to crack the top-10; a feat he was ultimately able to accomplish before taking the checkered flag in 10^th.
           
Jay Beasley also posted an impressive showing before spinning out midway through the race. After qualifying sixth, the best of the Rev Racing team, Beasley was in prime position to secure his second top-5 of the season. However, a small miscue roughly 90 laps into the race caused Beasley to make contact with another driver and spin out, knocking him from sixth to 16^th. Beasley fought tooth and nail to make up for lost ground, but was unable to increase his standing.
             
Ryan Gifford had a solid top-10 qualifying effort, but a brake line burst as he was avoiding the first pile-up of the race, preventing him from finishing the race. Bell and Peña who were apart of the same pile-up that affected teammate Gifford were unable to bounce back from the setback and finished 13^th and 14^th respectively.
           
The drivers will have a few weeks to make some adjustments to their vehicles before returning to action on July 11 for the Granite State 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Rev Racing PR