Speedway Digest Staff

Trans Am Series PR

Bobby Labonte has run well in each of the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic events held at South Boston Speedway held over the course of the two previous seasons.

Last season Labonte qualified second and finished fourth in the 99-lap race at South Boston Speedway. He was having a good run in the 2021 event when he got caught up in a multi-car crash.

Having been fast and having run well at South Boston Speedway in the past two events gives the 2000 NASCAR Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer a good feeling as he looks ahead to the The Flying VA Classic, a 99-lap race for the SMART Modified Tour that will headline the URW Credit Union Fools Rush 262 racing program on Saturday afternoon, April 1 at South Boston Speedway. Race time is 3 p.m.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Labonte remarked.

“Last year we qualified second and finished fourth. We ran pretty well. The year before, we ran well and got caught up in a wreck. This is one of my favorite places of the year to go to.”

South Boston Speedway is a track that suits Labonte’s driving style.

“It fits my driving style somewhat with the speed,” Labonte explained.

“It’s a fast racetrack. I like that part about it. Things happen in a hurry. You’ve got to be on your toes. Last year as the race went on you were able to move around (on the track) a little bit. I think that’s cool.”

Labonte said fans will see a great a race in Saturday’s 99-lap race at South Boston Speedway.

“That racetrack puts on a great race,” he noted.

“I think the fans will see that. I always enjoy being part of that. I love going up there. That’s one of those tracks that if you had to go somewhere more than once a season, you ask why don’t we go there more than once a year. It’s one of the greatest facilities that we go to on the east coast.”

The former Cup Series champion points to a good handling car, tire management, and the timing of a pit stop for fresh tires as keys to having a successful outcome in Saturday’s race. Track position can also be a prime element to success.

“You need to manage your tires a little bit and your pit stop needs to be at the right time,” Labonte pointed out.

“When it comes down to it, handling is very critical. South Boston Speedway is a place where if you’re a little tight it will slow you down. If you’re a little loose, it will slow you down a lot more. Your balance has to be really really good. You can move around on the track a little bit to change that but it’s hard. If your (tire) stagger is off a little bit or if you pit at the wrong time, it’s hard to recover. It’s hard to pass, so track position might be the key."

Labonte is driving for a new team this season, piloting cars fielded by Sadler-Stanley Racing powered by Pace-O-Matic. The team is co-owned by former NASCAR competitor Hermie Sadler of Emporia, Virginia and Virginia State Senator Bill Stanley. Former Cup Series competitor Ryan Newman drives the team’s second entry and competes in selected races. Jonathan Cash is driving the car in events that Newman does not compete in.

Last season was the team’s first season, and it finished sixth in the final 2022 SMART Modified Tour point standings with driver Jonathan Brown. Brown finished second in last year’s race at South Boston Speedway.

Labonte debuted with the team in a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Martinsville Speedway last October.
“The transition is going well,” Labonte said during an interview last Friday.

“We did that race at Martinsville kind of in a hurry. We probably rushed that a little too quickly and weren’t quite as prepared. We had a good run going at Florence (South Carolina) Motor Speedway (in the 2023 SMART Modified Tour season-opener) and got a little loose at the end of the race. Then we had two rainouts.

“All of the stars are aligned,” he added.

“I feel we have everything we need to go win races or be competitive week-in and week-out and win races as good as anybody. There are a lot of good things there. We should show up with the feeling of we should be in Victory Lane.”

In addition to The Flying VA Classic 99-lap SMART Modified Tour race the Saturday, April 1 URW Credit Union Fools Rush 262 racing program will include twin 71-lap races for the Sentara Healthcare Late Model Stock Car Division and a 21-lap race for the competitors in the Virginia State Police HEAT Hornets Division.

An autograph session with the SMART Stars, the drivers that will be competing in The Flying VA Classic SMART Modified Tour race, will be held behind the main grandstand area immediately following qualifying.

Advance adult general admission tickets for the URW Credit Union Fools Rush 262 are priced at $17 each and may be purchased online on South Boston Speedway’s website, www.southbostonspeedway.com or by calling the speedway office at 434-572-4947 or toll free at 1-877-440-1540 during regular business hours.

Tickets at the gate on race day will be $20 each. Seniors ages 65 and older, military, healthcare workers, and students (with ID) can purchase tickets for $17 each at the gate on race day.

The tentative URW Credit Union Fools Rush 262 event-day schedule has frontstretch spectator gates opening at 10:45 a.m. Practice is set to start at 11 a.m., qualifying is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and the first race of the day is set to get the green flag at 3 p.m.

Fans and competitors can find the latest news and updates from South Boston Speedway on the speedway’s website and through the track’s social media channels. Information may also be obtained by phoning the speedway at 434-572-4947 or toll free at 1-877-440-1540 during regular business hours.

SBS PR

Our Motorsports is pleased to announce that Blaine Perkins will return as driver of the team’s No. 02 for the upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series race in Richmond, VA. This will mark Perkins’ third consecutive season behind the wheel of an Our Motorsports Chevrolet.

Perkins began the season as driver of the No. 07 for SS Green Light Racing; however, following the fifth race of the season in Atlanta, team and driver mutually agreed to part ways. After hearing the announcement, Perkins fell on the radar of Our co-owner Vic Reynolds. “We had an opening for our No. 02 at Richmond,” said Reynolds. “Blaine has been an important part of our team’s short history. He competed in the top-10 the entire race last fall at Martinsville and we want to give him the chance to do that again in Richmond.”

While Perkins pilots the Our No. 02, teammate Kyle Weatherman will take the wheel of the No. 96 Chevrolet of newly formed FRS Racing as a part of a strategic alliance between FRS and Our Motorsports for the 250-lap event. Weatherman will return to Our following the race in Richmond.

"I'm really excited for the opportunity that Chris, Vic and the men and women at Our are providing to me," said Perkins. “They gave me my first break at the top level and the high points of my career so far have been with them. I want to build on that success this weekend!”

Perkins will race with the support of Virginia-based Larry’s Hard Lemonade as a part of the company’s race weekend activities for the brewer’s home track. Catch all the action of the NASCAR Xfinity Series from Richmond this Saturday at 1:00 EST with coverage on FS1 and MRN.

Our Motorsports PR

The wait is finally over. The opening of a brand-new season is always one of the most anticipated events of each year.

So, when the green flag drops on Saturday night April 1 at Grandview Speedway, it will begin the 61^st consecutive season of stock car racing at the one-third mile high banked clay raceway, all under the direction of the founding Rogers family.

The special Opening Night event will be the 6^th annual VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker, featuring Big Block/Small Block Modifieds racing 50-laps for $7500 to win and $1000 to take the green flag. The winning driver will also get a guaranteed starting spot in the September 16 Freedom 76.

Prior to the Opening Night festivities, the annual Free-to-the-Public practice session will be held on Thursday evening, March 30. An all-day rain last Saturday, March 25 forced the open practice session to be rescheduled to the mid-week date, ensuring drivers some track time to test their racer cars before the official beginning of competition on Saturday, April 1.

For the practice on March 30, pit gates will open at 3 pm. and the practice, open to all classes, will run from 6 until 10 pm. Pit admission is $35 and no license is required. Grandstand admission is totally free for spectators wishing to catch some of the new race cars in preparation for the opener.

Anyone who purchased a season pass may also mark their seat on Thursday evening starting at 6 pm.

The VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker is run annually to honor the late track owner and promoter who helped his father build the track, then along with his family run it for over 50 years, taking it to national prominence before his death in 2017.

Scoring a win on Opening Day has always been considered a special event, as first of all it is a traditional race being one that is always remembered, and for the driver who wins, a great start to his season. In recent years, the driver who wins has the honor of winning the race run in remembrance of Bruce Rogers, the man who made it happen at Grandview Speedway for over five decades.

Taking a look at the history of Opening Day at Grandview, there have been 37 different drivers that have reached victory lane, and the story can be told in two separate chapters. No driver was able to repeat as an Opening Day winner from the first race in 1963 won by Lauden Potts until 22 seasons later, when Fred Rahmer won the 1984 opener after winning in 1981.

The list of names that won in the early years included Potts, Dick Grimley, Red Coffin, Chris Skias, Bucky Williams, Charley Gilmore, Warren Mutter, Paul Fitzcharles, Ed Mumford, Dave Kelly, Mike Erb, Ronnie Peck, Mike Geiser, Francis Hardner, Pete Damiani, Russ Smith, Larry Solomon, Rahmer, and Doug Hoffman.

These drivers were tops in their era and were very important in building the foundation of Grandview Speedway history. After this era, the list of winners became shorter, as several drivers began to dominate the winner’s circle on Opening Night.

Leading the list with the most Opening Night wins is Duane Howard, who has recorded eight first night victories. Howard won an incredible four in a row (2006-2009) and six out of seven openers between 2006 and 2012. His streak was interrupted by a John Willman win in 2010. Howard was also an Opening Night winner in 2015 and 2021.

Craig Von Dohren has seven victories in the season opener and is the defending Bruce Rogers Memorial winner. Von Dohren’s wins have been spread out over a period of time. Von Dohren’s first win in the opener was in 1982, and followed it up with wins in 1990, 1992, 1995, 1998 and eighteen seasons later in 2016, as well as last season in 2022.

Jeff Strunk has six opener wins, the first coming in 1996. He also dominated at the beginning of the new century when he won five out of six season openers between 2000 and 2006. Only a Meme DeSantis win in 2003 stopped his streak.

Other drivers with multiple wins in the opener include Tom Mayberry (1980, 1999), Davey Wenger (1987, 1988), Meme DeSantis (2003, 2013) and Stewart Friesen (2014, 2018).

Drivers who also took single wins since 1985 include Dennis Thomas, Charlie Eckert, Rick Schaffer, Billy Schinkel, Kenny Brightbill, Paul Koch, Randy Bailey, John Willman, Kevin Hirthler, Matt Sheppard and Tim Buckwalter.

The last five seasons, the opener has been expanded to include Big Block Modifieds in addition to the track’s regular Small Block Modifieds running in a combination event. Winning the first five VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorials were Stewart Friesen, Matt Sheppard, Timmy Buckwalter, Duane Howard, and last year Craig Von Dohren. All the other openers were for the 358 modifieds except the very first race in 1963 which was a Big Block event.

In addition to the Modifieds, the Sportsman will also be a part of the Opening Night activities running a full program with qualifying and feature action.

Jared Umbenhauer won the first two for the class (2012, 2013), followed by Brett Kressley winning the next two in (2014, 2015). Craig Whitmoyer was a winner in 2016 before the Hirthler brothers took over the next four seasons, with Brian winning (2017, 2020) and Kevin (2018, 2019). For the 2021 season it was Kyle Lilick grabbing the opening victory, followed by Jordan Henn scoring a win in 2022.

VP Racing Fuels is the sponsor of the Season Opener and will have a VP fuel truck on hand at the track for this event, fully stocked. The VP Fuel truck will be on hand selling fuel as well as VP lubricants and apparel.

VP Fuels is advising all race teams that for this program they can do pre-orders with distributor Road Runner Fuels by contacting them at 717.587.1693. There will be free shipping charges for this day.

Grandview Speedway management has announced that new for this season, the Opening Night program will now be sanctioned by NASCAR and will be the first point race of the new campaign for both the Modified and Sportsman divisions toward both the track and NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Championships.

As was announced earlier, only the driver is required to hold a NASCAR license for competition during the season, with owners and crew members having the option to enter the pits as members or pay a non-member fee. Management does encourage purchasing the NASCAR license for the additional insurance coverage.

For the Bruce Rogers Memorial event, all drivers are welcome to compete as in years past, and if any driver is not a track regular, the Speedway will cover the cost of the $25 temporary NASCAR driver license for this one night of competition.

The feature event will qualify 24 cars to start. There will be no provisional or guaranteed starters added of any kind. Heat races will be lined up by a straight draw, consolation qualifiers will follow to set the field for the 50-lap championship feature.

There is no entry fee for this special event, however drivers are encouraged to pre-enter by calling or texting 484.256.4375, providing the driver’s name, contact information and phone number. Drivers are also reminded to visit the speedway website at www.grandviewspeedway.com to print and fill out a W-9 form and bring it with them to the track on Opening Night. The W-9 form must be provided to the pit office to be eligible for drivers to draw for heat race starting spots.

The T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman will also begin their point season on the Opening Night program in a full show which includes qualifying events and a 25-lap feature race.

Information and car rules are listed for the VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker on the speedway website at www.grandviewspeedway.com under the Bruce Rogers Memorial tab.

Rev. Don Kerns will present Da Rev’s tailgate worship and communion service from 4-4:45 at the meet and greet area outside the main gate on April 1. Bring your own tailgate and chair and join in the worship service. Pastor Don will be on hand starting at 3:45 pm. There will not be a meet and greet with the drivers for the opener.

Race time on Opening Night is 6 pm, which will be the starting time for all Saturday night programs for the month of April. Pit gates open at 1 pm, grandstand gates open at 4 pm, followed by the drivers meeting and position draw at 4 pm, then warm-ups at 5 pm.

Grandstand admission for adults is $30, students 12-16 with ID are $20, while children 11 and under are admitted free. Pit admission is $40 for NASCAR members, and $45 for non-members, and again no license is required.

Saturday, April 8 is set aside as a rain date if needed for the opener. However, if not needed, then it will be a two-division program under the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series banner for the T.P. Trailer 358 Modifieds and T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman. The program will consist of qualifying races leading up to the 30-lap Modified and 25-lap Sportsman main events.

Since the 1960’s, Grandview Speedway has been presenting exciting wheel to wheel NASCAR stock car racing every Saturday Night starting in April and running through September, plus special events. Grandview Speedway is located at 43 Passmore Road, Bechtelsville, Pa. 19505, just off Route 100, ten miles north of Pottstown, Pa.

Information is always available at www.grandviewspeedway.com or on Facebook, or by telephone at 610.754.7688.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Thursday, March 30 – Free-to-the-Public Open Practice session – 6 pm.

Saturday, April 1 – 61^st Anniversary Season Opener – 6^th Annual VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds 50 laps, T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman – 6 pm.

Saturday, April 8 – T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman – 6 pm.

Saturday, April 15 – T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman – 6 pm.

Sunday, April 16 – Outlaw Racing Series Enduro and Outlaw Racing Series Vintage – 1 pm.

Grandview Speedway PR

CAAL Racing has finalized its plans for the 2023 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series with an all-Belgian line-up for the #56 Chevrolet Camaro. NWES veteran and endurance racing legend Marc Goossens will drive the car in EuroNASCAR PRO, while his good friend Sven van Laere will join the team to compete in EuroNASCAR 2. The two Belgians know each other well and it will be like clockwork when it comes to fine-tuning the car for six thrilling events of NASCAR racing in Europe. 

Goossens was born in Lommel but lives in Kasterlee. The popular endurance star joined EuroNASCAR in 2016 and has one race win so far, which he achieved in the 2017 season at his home track, Zolder. With 24 top-5 finishes in EuroNASCAR PRO to his credit, the 52-year-old knows what it takes to be successful at the wheel of a 400-horsepower V8 beast without any electronic driving aids. The professional racer, team owner and Formula One TV analyst for the Belgian television is looking to add more wins to his resume. 

"Winning the championship and going to Victory Lane are always the goals," said Goossens. "I just love the close racing in the best series in Europe." The full-time father has competed in major races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 24 Hours of Daytona and also US NASCAR races during his career, so experience is one of his key strengths in beating the competition in EuroNASCAR's premier championship. Despite a late start to his career at the age of 14, Goossens has become one of the most successful professional drivers from Belgium.

His good friend van Laere is no newcomer to EuroNASCAR, with the Belgian making his debut in the 2019 season and finishing as high as 16th at his home track, Circuit Zolder. The 49-year-old will be fighting for glory in the Legend Trophy, which is dedicated to drivers 40 years and older, and to have a say in the top-10 of the EuroNASCAR 2 overall standings. Born in Gent, the Zoersel-based racer has set himself high goals for his first full-time season. 

"I want to win the Legend Trophy and fight for some overall podiums," said the Belgian. "I really like the close racing with the same cars for every driver in the championship. Drivers can really make the difference in EuroNASCAR." Entering his 26th season of racing, van Laere is a true veteran when it comes to driving fast cars around the track. The veteran sports car driver has enjoyed success in Belgium throughout his career and is eager to add some international trophies to his EuroNASCAR shelf at home.

As the founder of two companies in the automotive and real estate sectors, van Laere will be in good company with other fast gentleman drivers in EuroNASCAR 2. Spending a lot of time with his family, the Belgian will compete in all twelve races across six events at some of the best tracks in Europe. "My experience and my ability to fight in close races in a clean and proper way are my strengths," said van Laere when asked what sets him apart as a race car driver. In the 2023 season, he will also be supporting his son Maxime, who will be making his debut in karting. His teammate Goossens is not only a close friend, but also his racing idol.

The 2023 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season kicks off May 6-7 at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain. The Belgian duo will be part of the coverage on EuroNASCAR's YouTube channel, Motorsport.tv and several TV channels around the world, which will include all qualifying and race sessions. CAAL Racing will once again field three cars and compete for victories in nearly every category EuroNASCAR has to offer.

NWES PR

NTT, a leading global technology and business solutions provider, and NTT DATA have extended the entitlement partnership with INDYCAR, North America’s premier open-wheel motorsports series, through a multiyear agreement that also includes official technology partner status.

NTT has been the title sponsor of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES since 2019 and will continue in that capacity with this multiyear extension that goes into effect in 2024. NTT and NTT DATA will continue as the Official Technology Partner for INDYCAR, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR Brickyard weekend.

“NTT is an excellent partner across our enterprise with strong expertise and a deep commitment to our sport,” said Roger Penske, chairman, Penske Corporation. “From Smart Venue technology at the Racing Capital of the World to the reimagined series mobile application, NTT is transforming the fan experience in new and innovative ways. We look forward to a bright future together.”

NTT helps organizations like INDYCAR with its digital transformations and remains committed to accelerating the future of sports. Of note, NTT's Smart Solutions use proprietary technology to consume, analyze and transform massive amounts of data and deliver valuable insights.

“INDYCAR is a great partner for NTT DATA because of our shared commitment to driving innovation, increasing sustainability and delivering amazing experiences,” said Kaz Nishihata, chief executive officer, NTT DATA, Inc. “We also appreciate how INDYCAR is so diverse, with drivers from 15 different countries, and races that range from short ovals and superspeedways to road and street courses. It’s both an incredible sport and a wonderful example for our world.”

Some of the highlights of NTT and NTT DATA’s commitment to accelerating the sport’s future include:

• Indianapolis Motor Speedway as a Smart Venue: The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled optical detection technologies, combined with real-time entry gate flow rate data, provide the IMS operations and security teams more insight into current and possible scenarios at the historic venue. The technology allows the staff to see a broader venue picture in real time ranging from visitor and traffic flow to congestion points and security. At-gate IMS personnel also have mobile point-of-sale capabilities at their fingertips for digital ticketing and parking transactions – all to help manage the event venue more safely and efficiently. It also provides fans attending one of the world’s largest-attended, single-day events with real-time entry gate wait times through the IMS app and website.
• INDYCAR App Enhancements and Growth: Powered by NTT DATA since 2019, the INDYCAR App has made dramatic gains in functionality, features and use. Over the last three years, downloads have grown by nearly 50 percent with users representing more than 200 countries and territories. A new version debuted for the start of this NTT INDYCAR SERIES season with a modernized look, upgraded navigation, and enhanced pre-race, live race and post-race experiences. It also returned fan favorite features such as driver-specific telemetry, live timing and scoring, multiple in-car cameras and driver-to-team radio communication. The INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA is free and available for download from the iOS App Store or Google Play.
• INDYCAR Data Experience: NTT is providing fans with more race and driver data than ever before through multiple channels, including the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA and NBC television broadcasts. Utilizing 140 different data points from each car in the field and also the track, NTT delivers real-time, data-driven racing insights for fans to better consume and understand how a race is unfolding. AI and predictive data analytics allow NTT to provide fans real-time access to key in race aspects such as head-to-head driver battles for position, pit stop performance impact, fuel strategies and tire wear, leaderboard predictions, weather impact and much more.

"The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will continue to be a hub for progress and discovery with the extension of this world-class partnership,” said Mark Miles, president & chief executive officer, Penske Entertainment. “NTT is fully invested in the development and growth of our sport and has already established a terrific track record in our industry with problem-solving capabilities and access to top talent and tools.”

INDYCAR and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES have also been important partners to NTT. The sanctioning body and series have provided NTT with valuable opportunities for brand awareness, client engagement and a range of business-to-business (B2B) initiatives while spearheading a digital transformation within the industry. NTT also values its Penske Corporation business partnership as an important B2B platform. Participation in INDYCAR’s ongoing sustainability initiatives remains important as the relationships extend.

“As INDYCAR’s Technology Partner, we’re thrilled to continue our collaborations that enhance and expand the fan experience for motorsports and serve as proof points for data analytics, AI and other innovative digital technologies,” said Bob Pryor, chief executive officer, NTT DATA Services. “For more than a century, this racing series has pioneered innovations making driving safer for everyone, and by continuing this relationship, we will accelerate the pace of innovations and new technologies, particularly related to sustainability that ultimately can benefit organizations, communities and individuals around the world.”

To learn more about the NTT INDYCAR SERIES visit: https://us.nttdata.com/en/about-us/content/ntt-indycar-series

NTT IndyCar Series PR

Harrison Burton and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team overcame the loss of first gear early in Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, and came away with a 22^nd-place finish.

Burton started Sunday’s scheduled 68-lap race from 16^th place, but lost first gear on a pit stop with two of 15 laps remaining in the opening Stage.

The loss of the lowest gear meant Burton couldn’t be as aggressive on restarts and in negotiating the slow-speed corners on the 3.41-mile, 20-turn race course. 
 
He finished the first Stage in 34^th place and the second 15-lap Stage in 28^th.
 
Crew chief Brian Wilson elected to stretch the fuel in the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang before making the second stop of the day at Lap 39.
 
A caution flag flew just after the stop. As other drivers made their pit stops, Burton advanced to the front row for the subsequent restart with 25 laps left to run.
 
Without low gear he fell back and was running 28th when a caution flag flew four laps shy of the checkered flag.
 
Wilson brought the No. 21 Mustang to pit road for fresh tires and fuel.
  
Dodging wrecks ahead of him while being as aggressive as he could under the circumstances, Burton gained three spots on the first attempt at a green-white-checkered-flag finish. He continued his move forward over the final two Overtime runs, gaining three more positions and taking the checkered flag in 22^nd place.
 
Burton and the No. 21 team now head to Richmond Raceway for next Sunday’s 400-lapper on the three-quarter-mile oval.

WBR PR

Kaulig Racing PR