Speedway Digest Staff - Results from #70

There will be quite the professional sports flair when the commands to start engines are given at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr headlines the trio as he will deliver the most famous words in motorsports just moments prior to the start of the Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube. Carr’s command will top off a weekend that will see Buffalo Bills running back Antonio Williams announce engines for Friday’s Bucked Up 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and Utah Jazz star forward Joe Ingles deliver the message for Saturday’s Alsco Uniforms 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race.

“This will be such a thrill to have the chance to bring the NASCAR Cup Series cars to life,” Carr said. “I know there have been a long list on luminaries who have served in this role, and it’s pretty cool to join them. I’m sure it’s going to be exhilarating once those cars fire up.” Carr joins rap star Pit Bull, TV star and comedian Kevin James and Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as grand marshals for Cup races so far this season.

Carr just completed his seventh season with the Raiders, where he has amassed 26,896 yards and 170 touchdowns – both all-time bests in Raiders history.

Ingles is in his seventh season with the Jazz, where he has been a key player at both the shooting guard and small forward positions. Williams just completed his rookie season with the AFC runners-up Buffalo Bills, where he scored two touchdowns and rushed for 63 yards in the regular season finale against Miami. Williams also is a member of Joe Graf Jr.’s Xfinity Series team as well.

Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube is sold out, but tickets do remain for Saturday’s Alsco Uniforms 300 and Friday’s Bucked Up 200. Go to www.lvms.com for tickets and RV spaces.

LVMS PR

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series heads west this week to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Bucked Up 200 on Friday.

Derek Kraus aims to carry momentum with him, after turning in a strong performance in Florida on the road course at Daytona International Speedway in the most recent series race.

His McAnally-Hilgemann Racing No. 19 Toyota Tundra will feature Hunter Nation as the primary sponsor at Las Vegas, along with the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa.

Kraus has run well on tracks like the 1.5-mile speedway in Las Vegas. About half of the series events that comprised his rookie season last year were contested on tracks of comparable size to the Vegas venue. He had one top-five and six top-10s in the 11 races on similar tracks in 2020.

Kraus missed the playoffs by just one position last year. He and the MHR team are working hard to build on their success of 2020 and make the playoffs this season.

Friday’s race is the first of three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races in the month of March. Following the Las Vegas event, the series heads to Atlanta on March 20 and will follow that up with the Bristol dirt race on March 27.

Derek Kraus – About this week

What are your thoughts as you prepare for your fourth visit to Las Vegas Motor Speedway?

“I’m really looking forward to the first true oval of the season.”

Can you carry momentum with you from your strong finish on the Daytona road course?

“I think that we can take the momentum we have from the road course and have a good, strong run in Vegas.”

BMR PR

KBM PR

McAnally-Hilgemann Racing has announced that Hunter Nation, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the right to hunt, will be the primary sponsor on their No. 19 Toyota Tundra for multiple races this season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

The MHR entry will carry the Hunter Nation branding beginning with the series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday, March 5.

“We’re proud to announce that Hunter Nation will join the MHR team this season, beginning with the race at Las Vegas,” said team co-owner Bill McAnally. “The team is working hard to build on our success from 2020 and we look to be a strong contender this year. It will be great to have Hunter Nation be a part of our program and to have them on board at multiple events through the season.”

Derek Kraus – a 19-year-old from Stratford, Wisconsin – is in his second season of driving for MHR in the Camping World Truck Series. He had a remarkable rookie season last year, finishing 11th in the series championship standings and missing the playoffs by just one spot. He registered three top-five and 13 top-10 finishes in 23 starts, including a runner-up finish at Darlington Raceway and a fourth-place finish at Daytona International Speedway.

Kraus previously raced for three seasons with Bill McAnally Racing in the ARCA Menards Series West (NASCAR K&N Pro Series West), where he won the 2019 championship.

The Bucked Up 200 Camping World Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be televised live on Fox Sports 1 and will air on radio on the Motor Racing Network, on Friday, March 5, beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

Hunter Nation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting America's hunting heritage. With a stated commitment to God, family, country and the outdoor lifestyle – Hunter Nation works to educate and engage hunters about policies aimed at ensuring that the right to hunt is passed down to the next generation. Learn more about the organization at HunterNation.org.

BMR PR

The Racing Capital of the World has partnered with the Indiana Department of Health to host a mass vaccination clinic for Hoosiers eligible to receive a free COVID-19 vaccine.

The clinic at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will run from Friday, March 5 to Sunday, March 7 with vaccinations beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at 10 p.m. each day. All Hoosiers ages 55 and up are eligible for the vaccine, and appointments must be booked via https://ourshot.in.gov or by calling 211. No walk-ups will be permitted.

“We’re a community-first organization, and we’re extremely proud to assist with this important effort to keep Hoosiers safe and healthy,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “I encourage those who are eligible to sign up, and I’d like to thank our state’s leadership – most especially Governor Holcomb and Dr. Box – for the opportunity to team up and pitch in.”

In addition to IMS, additional clinics will be hosted later this month at University of Notre Dame’s Compton Family Ice Arena and Ivy Tech Community College in Sellersburg.

“Getting tens of thousands of vaccines in arms in a matter of days is a huge undertaking that requires incredible partnerships,” Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb said. “We are incredibly grateful to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Notre Dame and Ivy Tech for their willingness to meet this challenge head on to help save Hoosier lives.”

The mass vaccination clinics will offer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which received its Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA on Saturday. The vaccine requires only one dose and has been shown to be safe and effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths in clinical trials involving nearly 44,000 participants from all races and ethnicities.

“The Johnson & Johnson vaccine gives eligible Hoosiers a safe, effective and convenient way to protect themselves from COVID-19,” said State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG. “Because it requires just one dose, every shot administered represents a Hoosier who can rest easier, knowing their risk of severe illness from this disease has dropped exponentially.”

Indiana’s Area Agencies on Aging, AARP and nearly 70 libraries around the state also can help Hoosiers schedule their appointments.

Participants will remain in their cars for their vaccines.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the world's largest spectator sporting facility, has been the worldwide leader in motorsports entertainment since opening in 1909. It annually hosts the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, the crown jewel of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and part of motorsports famed “triple crown” of racing.

The clinic schedules:

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

4790 W. 16^th St., Indianapolis

March 5-7

8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Enter through main gate off 16^th Street

Ivy Tech Community College

8204 County Road 311, Sellersburg

March 12-13

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

University of Notre Dame

Compton Family Ice Arena

100 Compton Family Ice Arena, Notre Dame

March 19-20

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

A separate advisory with instructions for media interested in covering the clinics will be issued closer to the events.

For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit https://ourshot.in.gov.

IMS PR

It has been four years since Terry Dease has raced a full season at any speedway. That will change in 2021.

Dease broke the long silence of winter at South Boston Speedway last Thursday when he arrived at “America’s Hometown Track” to do some testing with his Late Model Stock Car. He is the first driver to test at South Boston Speedway in 2021.

The Oxford, North Carolina resident was preparing to compete at South Boston Speedway in 2021, starting with the track’s season-opening NASCAR Late Model Twin 75s racing program on Saturday afternoon, March 20.

“I plan to run every race up here this year, if we can,” Dease remarked.

“We haven’t raced a full season anywhere since 2017 when I won the track championship at Orange County Speedway. I really want to do that again.”

The last race Dease competed in at South Boston Speedway was South Boston Speedway’s big pre-July Fourth 200-lap race in 2019. 

“I miss this place,” Dease said of South Boston Speedway.

“I’ve always wanted to come back and race here some more, but finances wouldn’t let us. We run longer races here, and still do. Now, South Boston Speedway has gone to the two-tire rule. I like that, and that is kind of what brought us back.”

Dease has been racing for 35 years and is no stranger to followers of racing at South Boston Speedway. He has won three South Boston Speedway Limited Sportsman Division championships and has raced in the Late Model Stock Car Division at South Boston Speedway from time-to-time after that. The desire to compete and be competitive remains very much alive for Dease.

 “I’m 57-and-a-half years-old and still have the passion for racing,” he remarked with a smile.

“I still love to get behind the wheel and I like to turn wrenches on this thing. I still enjoy it and I’m looking forward to running with the guys up here this year.”

One of the things that excites Dease about returning to competition at South Boston Speedway this season is that he has family ties in Halifax County, Virginia where South Boston Speedway is located.

“My dad (Pete Dease, a former racer who once won more than 30 races in one season) is originally from Halifax County,” he pointed out.

“We’ve got a lot of family up this way. They’re excited we’re going to race up here.”

Dease was pleased with the progress he made with his car during the testing session.

“We’re picking up a little more speed than this car had in it last year,” he pointed out.

“I’ve done a bunch of things on the car and we’re picking up speed here and there. There’s no rubber on the track but I’m getting comfortable with the car. I just wanted to make sure that I what I put on the car didn’t fall off and that there are no leaks or anything like that going on.”

Dease has set modest goals as he looks ahead to the 2021 South Boston Speedway racing season.

“I just want to come out here and run in the top 10 the first couple of races and get used to the track and the people that are racing here,” he explained.

“I want to be competitive. I want to be in the hunt. I want to be in the top five at the end of the year. I’m not looking to win the championship. It’s not out of the question, but you’ve got to be consistent, and you’ve got to outrun a lot of good people. We’ll just see what plays out.”

The first action on South Boston Speedway’s 2021 season calendar is the track’s annual Open Practice Day on Saturday, March 13. Practice begins at 10 a.m. and will conclude at 4 p.m.

South Boston Speedway will kick off its 64^th season of racing on Saturday, March 20 with the 2 p.m. running of the NASCAR Late Model Twin 75s racing program. Twin 75-lap races for the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Late Model Stock Car Division highlight the afternoon’s six-race card.

The latest news and updates about South Boston Speedway and its racing events can be found on the new South Boston Speedway website at www.southbostonspeedway.com and on the speedway’s social media channels. Fans can also subscribe for e-mail updates on the speedway’s website.

SBS PR

A strong contingent of the top drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series who will compete in the historic Food City Dirt Race on March 28, have entered the upcoming Karl Kustoms Bristol Dirt Nationals, March 15-20, to get a sneak preview of the layout of the BMS dirt track.

Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson and Joey Logano are among the drivers to date who have entered the Karl Kustoms Bristol Dirt Nationals in one of the eight classes of competition. Several more NASCAR drivers are expected to enter the race in the coming weeks.

Larson, an accomplished dirt racer who has tons of experience racing sprint cars and super late models, is registered in the marquee Super Late Model division, as is 2019 Cup Series champ Busch. Logano will compete in the Open Modified class and be joined by three-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Matt Crafton, who has also entered the Dirt Nationals in the Open Modified category.

Headlined by the powerful dirt Super Late Models, the Karl Kustoms Bristol Dirt Nationals, March 15-20, will provide fans with a first look at the BMS dirt track, which will feature 19-degree banking in the corners and a 50-foot wide racing surface. More than 20,000 cubic yards of dirt were hauled in to create the temporary dirt track surface.

“The Karl Kustoms Bristol Dirt Nationals is shaping up to be an epic event, one of the largest dirt racing events to ever be contested and now that some of the top NASCAR drivers are joining the action, the overall fun-meter just ramped up significantly,” said Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager, Bristol Motor Speedway. “Having the opportunity to showcase some amazing dirt track racing during our 60th anniversary really is very special, given the overall roots of racing and the history that dirt has here at The Last Great Colosseum.”   

The Karl Kustoms Bristol Dirt Nationals will be promoted and produced by X.CELERATED of Silver Bay, Minn., an innovative company that specializes in streaming live motorsports events. The company recently worked with BMS sister track Las Vegas Motor Speedway on its Duel in the Desert event. The Karl Kustoms Bristol Dirt Nationals will be streamed on raceXR.com and the raceXR apps under the monthly subscription option. For information on tickets and camping, please click here. For participant information, please visit www.bristoldirt.com.

Founded in 1961, Bristol Motor Speedway is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2021 and will reflect on the great moments that have made the multi-use sports and entertainment destination one of the very best for creating wow moments and cherished memories for fans. Home to epic NASCAR races and other major motorsports events, as well as NFL and college football games, a wide variety of music concerts and other captivating events, Bristol Motor Speedway has shined in the spotlight on many occasions throughout the past six decades.

For Bristol Motor Speedway ticket information, please visit www.bristolmotorspeedway.com or call the BMS Ticket Sales Center at (866) 415-4158.

To make the event as safe as possible for all attendees, BMS is instituting procedures to reduce contact and crowd density as guests and competitors purchase tickets, enter the grounds, enjoy the event and depart the facility. Face coverings will be a required accessory in high-traffic areas inside and outside the stadium for all guests who attend. The “Mask Up” campaign is part of an important initiative by Bristol Motor Speedway that strongly encourages the public to wear face coverings, not only when they are visiting the Speedway, but also when they are out in the surrounding communities as well, and to follow all of the necessary protocols and guidelines to do their part to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

BMS PR

Martinsville Speedway and Dead On Tools strike an agreement on the entitlement for the penultimate NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff race on Oct. 30. Dead On Tools is now the Official Hand Tool & Tool Belt of Martinsville Speedway. The official name of the Xfinity Series Playoff race will be the Dead On Tools 250.

“Martinsville Speedway is one of the toughest tracks in NASCAR, so it is fitting to partner with a brand known for making a strong, innovative product in Dead On Tools,” said Martinsville President Clay Campbell. “We look forward to action of the Dead On Tools 250 as part of another historic race at Martinsville Speedway.”

Martinsville will host the penultimate race of the Xfinity Series Playoffs for the second consecutive season on Saturday, Oct. 30. The Dead On Tools 250 will be a short track battle to set the field for the Xfinity Series Championship the following week at Phoenix Raceway.

“We are proud to partner with one of the toughest, historic tracks in NASCAR for the Dead On Tools 250 at Martinsville Speedway,” said Brian Ranallo, Marketing Manager, Dead On Tools. “In the Dead On Tools 250, we know the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff competitors will do some of their best driving to lock in their spot in the championship field. We are proud to have Dead On Tools be a part of the NASCAR Playoffs!”

Dead On Tools was born on the jobsite. Fate struck when the original engineer created one of the lightest, most powerful hammers on the market. Instantly, the tool became an industry favorite on job sites throughout the country, and Dead On Tools became a household name. Soon after, additional hand tools started development like the Exhumer nail puller series and the ever-popular Annihilator wrecking bars.

Today, Dead On Tools still carries its namesake hand tools, but has focused intently on mastering professional tool belts and storage gear. Dead On Tools has taken the time to carefully craft the industry’s leading work and storage gear, while listening to the end user’s needs. Dead On Tools prides itself with producing products that aim to help each individual Live Life Out Loud.  

To learn more about Dead On Tools and its best-in-class products, visit deadontools.com.

Martinsville Speedway PR

Tickets are now available for the 37^th Running of the All American 400 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. The 2021 running of the famed All American 400 Race Weekend is to take place on Friday, October 29^th through Sunday, October 31^st. Tickets are also now on sale for the ARCA Menards Series East Music City 200 set for Saturday, May 8^th.

This Saturday event in May will also feature the North/South Super Late Model Challenge 100 tri-sanctioned race by the ARCA/CRA Super Series, Southern Super Series and CARS Super Late Model Tour. The JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour and Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Pro Late Models will also be in action with a 100 lap feature. It only costs $25 to be a part of four hundred laps of feature racing with the best cars, drivers, and sanctioning bodies short track racing in North American has to offer. 

Get your tickets today at nashvillefairgroundsspeedway.racing or by calling the Speedway Box Office at 615-254-1986. Music City 200 adult tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the gate. Senior citizens and military personnel can get advance tickets for $22 and child tickets are just $10.

The marquee event at America’s Favorite Short Track is the All American 400. On Sunday, October 31^st the green flag will wave on the crown jewel Super Late Model race for the 37^th time. Past winners of the race include short track aces, Bubba Pollard and Mason Mingus, along with NASCAR stars Chase Elliott, John Hunter Nemechek, Daniel Hemric, and Chris Gabehart. Last year former Nashville late model track champion, Casey Roderick went to victory lane.

In addition to Super Late Models and Pro Late Models on Sunday afternoon, the All American 400 Race Weekend features the Van Hoy Oil CRA Street Stock Series and Vores Compact Touring Series on Saturday night. Action begins on the quarter-mile on Friday evening with track championships for the Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, Front Runners, Legends and Bandoleros.

Adult tickets are just $15 for Friday night’s show, $20 for Saturday’s event and $25 for Sunday’s All American 400. Three-Day grandstand adult passes are just $50. Senior, Military and Child discounts are available.

For more information about Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway visit, nashvillefairgroundsspeedway.racing and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

Nashville Fairgounds PR