HScott Motorsports Richmond International Raceway Preview: UNOH 100

Richmond International Raceway…The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKNPSE) heads to Richmond International Raceway this weekend for the second-to-last race of the 2015 season, the UNOH 100. HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks (HSMJM) is looking to rebound following the Biscuitville 125 at Virginia International Raceway. J.J. Haley led the charge for HSMJM at VIR, bringing home a top-five finish, while Dalton Sargeant and William Byron brought home top 10s. Scott Heckert and Rico Abreu suffered from tire issues that ended their days early.

 

No. 5 J.J. Haley...Haley comes into the UNOH 100 looking to build upon his strength of four straight top-fives and six straight top-10s in NKNPSE competition. After leading laps late in the event and looking poised to pick up his first-career victory, Haley overcame a late-race incident to bring home a fifth-place finish. This weekend marks the first time Haley will compete in the NKNPSE at Richmond, and the Indiana native hopes to use the momentum from previous races to his advantage as he sits sixth in the Driver Point Standings.

 

“I’m looking forward to getting on track this week at Richmond. I’ve grown up watching races there, and I’m excited to race on it for the first time. It’s always cool going to these companion events and racing on some of the bigger tracks that the National Series get to race on. Everyone at HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks has been giving me such fast racecars week in and week out, and the No. 5 Braun Auto Chevy will be no different this weekend at Richmond.”

 

No. 9 William Byron…Byron enters this weekend’s UNOH 100 looking to build upon his NKNPSE Driver Point Standings lead with only two races remaining in the 2015 season. Byron is coming off a race that saw him run inside the top five for the majority of the event, only to be caught up in a late-race incident that relegated the 17-year-old to a 10th-place finish. Byron looks to rebound as the series returns to the ovals this weekend at Richmond. This marks the first time Byron will compete at Richmond in his NKNPSE career. Byron enters the UNOH 100 leading the NKNPSE Driver Point Standings by 15 points over HSMJM teammate Scott Heckert.

 

“I’m really excited that we are returning to the ovals this weekend at Richmond. We had some good runs on the road courses, however I’m glad we are getting back to Richmond and Dover to close out the season. I think we are going to have another fast Liberty University Chevrolet this weekend. The guys at HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks have given me fast racecars all season long, and I’m looking forward to closing out the 2015 season strong.”

 

No. 34 Scott Heckert...Heckert comes into the UNOH 100 at Richmond this weekend looking to rebound from a disappointing finish at VIR a few weeks ago. After winning the pole and running up front throughout the race, the 21-year-old suffered from a tire issue in the closing laps at VIR, which cost him a chance at another road course victory. Heckert looks to rebound in his third career start at Richmond, where his best career finish is 18th earned in 2014. Heckert enters the UNOH 100 sitting second in the NKNPSE Driver Point Standings, 15 points behind HSMJM teammate William Byron.

 

Scott Heckert on the championship battle and running at Richmond:
“I’m looking forward to getting to Richmond this weekend with my HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks guys. We didn’t have the finish we were looking for at VIR, but this championship is still within reach and I know we will have a fast Project Lifesaver Chevrolet. Hopefully a few things can go our way and we can bring home a solid finish with two races to go.”

 

No. 51 Dalton Sargeant…Sargeant comes into this weekend’s UNOH 100 at Richmond looking to rebound from a tough outing at VIR. The NASCAR Next driver showed speed at VIR, leading laps and looking for his first-career NKNPSE victory in the late going, until suffering a set back on the final lap. Sargeant looks to put that behind him this weekend in the No. 51 GALT Chevy and put forth a strong showing in his first-career NKNPSE start at Richmond. The Florida native enters the UNOH 100 sitting fourth in the NKNPSE Driver Point Standings.

 

“I am looking forward to going to Richmond for the first time; it’s always exciting to have companion races with the Cup series and this weekend will be no different. I’ve grown up watching my heroes race around Richmond International Raceway, so to have the opportunity to make my first start at the historic short track is really exciting. That being said, with only two races remaining, we’d really like to get a K&N East win and we’re running out of time. Hopefully this is the weekend that everything comes together and my team and I can visit victory lane.”

 

No. 98 Rico Abreu…Abreu enters this weekend’s UNOH 100 looking to finish the 2015 season strong. Abreu is coming off a race at VIR that saw his day end early after suffering from a tire issue. The 23-year-old hopes to put that in the rear-view mirror and bring home another solid finish this weekend at Richmond. This marks the first-career start at Richmond for Abreu, who enters the UNOH 100 sitting seventh in the NKNPSE Driver Point Standings.

 

“I’m excited to get to Richmond on Thursday. I really like going to the bigger tracks that the Cup guys race on; we’ve had some success at those places, so I think we will have another fast No. 98 GoPro Motorplex/AccuDoc Solutions/Curb Records Chevrolet this weekend. The guys back at the shop have been giving me fast cars all year and hopefully we can close out the 2015 season strong.”

HScott Motorsports PR