Speedway Digest Staff - Results from #110

Can you give us any more indication of what NASCAR is saying you guys did and what you’re going to try to argue on for the appeal?

Knaus: “Honestly, it’s pretty messy right now as we’re trying to figure out exactly what angle we’re going to take. I know that the whole industry went through a tremendous amount of work in the latter-stages of 2022 to try to get a new.. INAUDIBLE.. package from a cooling standpoint to help fix what maybe another OEM had problems with last year.

 

At the end of last year, everyone worked an awful lot; were very diligent on getting the spec parts developed. Everything done in the parity test that needed to be. When we started to get parts at the beginning of the 2023 season, we didn’t have the parts that we thought we were going to have. So through a tremendous amount of back and forth with NASCAR, the OEMs and the teams, there’s been conversations about whether we can clean up the parts, not clean up the parts. And it’s changed, quite honestly, every couple of weeks. So it’s been challenging for us to navigate and we’re just going to have to see what happens when we get through the appeal.”

 

There has been a lot of talk about maybe something you guys learned in Garage 56 with the louvers there that maybe were applied..

Knaus: “No, that’s not it at all. That’s a completely different package. It doesn’t even have the same cooling package or the same engine.. nothing of that translates.”

 

It was said that it was a voluntary inspection.

Knaus: “Yes, ma’am.”

 

Did NASCAR come to you and say ‘let us’, or did you go to NASCAR and say ‘hey, take a look at this’?

Knaus: “The way the voluntary inspections happen; when you show up to the race track with that type of a schedule, you have a mandatory safety and a mandatory engine inspection. Everything else beyond that is up to the teams. We typically choose to go ahead and put the car in for the voluntary inspection so that NASCAR has the opportunity to say ‘hey, we don’t like this’ or ‘maybe you need to tweak that’, or whatever it may be. And that’s been pretty much the standard cadence. I don’t know that there’s too many teams that usually go through the voluntary inspections and don’t get told ‘hey, you need to come work on this a little bit before you show back up tomorrow’.”

 

The statement stated that the communication documented was inconsistent and unclear. Was that with the manufacturer or was that directly with Hendrick Motorsports with specific questions that you guys had?

Knaus: “Yeah, there’s been dialogue. Like I stated, we submitted a part through the OEM to NASCAR, and then NASCAR chose the single source provider for those components. The components haven’t been coming the way that we expected them to be for a couple of the OEM’s as far as I know in the garage, and definitely all of the Chevrolet teams. So we started to have dialogue with them in early February about those problems.

 

So it was us through our aerodynamic department, through our OEM, back through NASCAR, back to us and back through our OEM. So there’s a significant amount of communication that’s been had. It’s definitely confusing. The timelines are curious, but they’re there.”

 

What you had done to the louver to make it fit, essentially, at Phoenix Raceway that created the issue, is that something you had done at Las Vegas, Auto Club or Daytona this year?

Knaus: “There was a parity test – as you guys know, we went to a new aerodynamic package when we went to Phoenix (Raceway). As they did that, what the OEM did when they went through the parity test, per NASCAR’s guidance, was to modify the louver.. INAUDIBLE.. to get the airflow correct through there so that we could fit inside the aerodynamic box that NASCAR created. So the OEM did that.. we went to Phoenix with what would be considered the new aerodynamic package – the small spoiler, the underbody treatments, all of that. All of that being the same thing in how the cars were tested to be proper for the parity test.”

 

Do you have an appeal date yet?

Andrews: “We have not received that yet.”

 

The communication issue regarding parts – is that just specific to louvers or has it involved other parts?

Knaus: “It’s been trying. Look, we’ve all jumped in bed on this thing together since we started this Gen-7 car. And that’s the thing that I think we’ve all prided ourselves on in the garage, is that there’s been a tremendous amount of give-and-take as we’ve tried to learn how to race this car and work together. It’s very disappointing to me that we’re sitting in this situation right now with a component that we’ve all come to the conclusion that it is not correct, and we’ve all tried to work to get it fixed because we’ve done that with other parts.”

 

Do you feel like the parts were faulty and that’s why you’ve been penalized, or did you modify the parts in a way that you thought was acceptable to NASCAR?

Knaus: “I can tell you this – we’ve got a brand new set of these parts that we can go pull off the shelf right now that NASCAR deemed illegal and inappropriate for us to race.”

 

Are you going to ask for the crew chiefs to be back next week if the appeal is not next week, or will you continue to use interim crew chiefs until the appeal is heard?

Knaus: “Jeff (Andrews) and I have discussed it with Mr. H (Rick Hendrick) and Mr. Gordon (Jeff Gordon), and we’re just going to see when the appeal comes down. We’re going to take it week-by-week and understand what it is that we need to do as the timeline develops.”

 

Are you working in conjunction at all with Kaulig Racing because they had an issue since they are a Chevrolet team, or because you’re two different organizations you’re doing your own thing?

Knaus: “We’re not holding hands right now at this point, but I’m sure there’s going to be communication as we get a little bit further. But to what level, I can’t disclose on that yet.”

 

To clarify, in the statement, it says the voluntary inspection took place and then it was four hours later that NASCAR came back and took them. Do you have any idea why there was such a gap.. why they didn’t just spot it then?

Knaus: “No, it’s really confusing. We knew there was some attention to that area when we first went through technical inspection. And that’s what’s really disappointing, to be quite honest, because we had plenty of time to get those parts off the car if they felt like there was something wrong. I can assure you if we knew there was going to be a four hour lag and we thought there was something wrong, they would have been in the trash can and burned with fuel somewhere so nobody would ever see them. We had no idea that we were going to be sitting in this position. So once again, really disappointed that we’re in the position that we’re in right now.”

 

Is the goal a full overturn of the appeal, a reduction or wait to see what happens?

Knaus: “We’re still working on that.”

 

You guys were penalized, Kaulig Racing was penalized.. do you have any idea why other teams weren’t doing what you were doing?

Knaus: “I don’t know if they were or weren’t.”

 

The statement stated that the severity of the penalty is similar to a post-race penalty.

Knaus: “From my perspective, I think it’s different. A voluntary inspection, I don’t understand why you would be hung and ordered for a voluntary inspection. Typically, you would be told ‘hey, you need to go work on that’ or ‘hey, we need to discuss what’s going on here’.”

 

Andrews: “If you look back at 2022 and the L2 penalties that were handed out, all of those were post-race inspection penalties. There was not a L2-level penalty handed out in 2022 during a pre-race - or at that point even a pre-inspection - where a part was taken and a penalty was issued.”

 

Generally, NASCAR says once the car is in the garage, it’s open for inspection and for parts to be taken. What is the argument for that it was voluntary or why is that different?

Knaus: “Because it specifically said voluntary inspection when you rolled into Phoenix. Specifically.”

 

Regardless of the outcome of the appeal, what’s the impact of having four crew chiefs suddenly suspended?

Knaus: “Yeah, you go through the depth chart pretty quick when that happens, obviously. But we’re very fortunate at Hendrick Motorsports and the leadership we have there. We’ve got some amazing people that can fill in and help us out through these trying times.

 

Obviously, Tom Gray has a tremendous amount of experience working closely with the No. 9 team and Alan Gustafson (crew chief). We’ve got Kevin Meendering, who unfortunately had to sit in last year on the No. 5. Greg (Ives), obviously he’s right at how with the No. 48. And Brian Campe is a great fit for the No. 24 team. We’re in a really good spot there. We feel like we can continue down the path of being successful; racing hard and doing what it is we need to do for our partners.”

 

With that said, why aren’t you one of the crew chiefs?

Knaus: “I’m too old, man. I don’t have it anymore.”

 

Do you feel like the harshest impact of the penalty is the 10 playoff points and any potential playoff points that could be gained by regular-season finishes?

Knaus: “I think it all is. It’s a terrible situation.. not only for us, but for the industry, to be quite honest with you. That’s what I dislike the most – it’s ugly, we shouldn’t be in this situation and it’s really unfortunate that we are because it doesn’t help anybody.”

 

You said it’s a terrible situation.. what is it about the situation that’s terrible?

Knaus: “We as a company, we as the garage – every one of these teams are being held accountable to put their car out there to go through inspection and perform at the level that they need to. The teams are being held accountable for doing that. Nobody is holding the single source providers accountable at the level they need to be to give us the parts that we need. Now, that goes through NASCAR’s distribution center and NASCAR’s approval process to get those parts and we’re not getting the right parts.”

 

How can that be fixed other than saying we need the right parts.. is that more on NASCAR’s shoulders?

Knaus: “Yeah, absolutely. There are so many areas that we need to continue to improve upon. And again, that’s where I’m probably the most disappointed is that we’ve been going down this path working collectively as a group for quite some time, and for this to pop up like this is really disappointing.”

 

Elton said NASCAR works with the teams to make sure the parts fit properly, but he specifically used the words ‘this was modified outside of those bounds’. It seems like you take offense to - we modified these for performance.

Knaus: “We have a CAD that has been submitted by the OEM, and the OEM gets that CAD from NASCAR. It’s NASCAR’s responsibility to make sure the parts we get fit the car.”

 

Are you saying you pretty much modified the parts to fit the hood?

Knaus: “We made sure our parts fit the hood, and the hood closed and did all the stuff that it needed to do.”

 

GM PR

Parker Retzlaff – No. 31 FUNKAWAY
Chevrolet Camaro SS Preview- Atlanta Motor Speedway

Social Media; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

News and Notes: 

- Practice; No practice is scheduled for Saturday afternoon’s Raptor King of Tough 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS).  

– Starting Position; With no practice scheduled, NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) teams would spend Friday afternoon going thru technical inspection prior to taking the track Friday afternoon for pole qualifying for Saturday’s Raptor King of Tough 250. Similar to 2022, AMS would once again use superspeedway qualifying consisting of two rounds of single car single lap qualifying with the 10 fastest cars in Round 1 moving on to Round 2 to determine the starting order of the Top-10.

However, due to thunderstorms and steady rain in the greater Hampton, GA area Friday afternoon NXS Qualifying would be cancelled. With no practice or qualifying the starting lineup would calculated by the competition-based performance metrics system; fastest lap in the previous race 15 percent, driver finish from previous race 25 percent, owner points 25 percent, and driver points 35 percent. After the completion of the calculation, it was determined Retzlaff would line up in the 17^th position inside Row 9 for the Raptor King of Tough 250.

– Atlanta Motor Speedway Stats; Saturday’s Raptor King of Tough 250 will mark Retzlaff’s first career start at AMS.

Featured Partners



- FUNKAWAY; Headquartered in Waukegan, Illinois, FunkAway is a line of odor elimination products that removes the horrible effects of bad smells. Guaranteed to work on clothing, shoes, gear, pet products, car interiors and more, FunkAway allows customers to renew and refresh, rather than throw away.
 
To learn more about FunkAway, visit Funkaway.com and connect on Instagram and Facebook.

Jeb Burton– No. 27 Rocky 
Chevrolet Camaro SS Preview- Atlanta Motor Speedway

Social Media; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

News and Notes: 

- Practice; No practice is scheduled for Saturday afternoon’s Raptor King of Tough 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS).  

– Atlanta Motor Speedway Stats; Saturday’s Raptor King of Tough 250 will mark Burton’s sixth career start at Atlanta Motor Speedway in NXS competition. In five previous starts Burton holds an average finish of 13.0 with a career best of 2^nd coming in July of 2021. Burton also holds one start in the Cup Series at AMS coming back in 2015.

Featured Partners

- Rocky: Founded in 1932, ROCKY manufactures rugged outdoor, military, duty, work and western footwear, apparel and accessories. The company’s products are available in nearly 3,000 retail and catalog outlets. It is a division of Rocky Brands, a publicly traded company on NASDAQ® under the symbol: RCKY.

More information can be found at RockyBoots.com.

JAR PR

Richard Childress Racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway ... In 158 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Richard Childress Racing has earned nine wins and three pole awards, including Kevin Harvick's emotional victory in 2001. Dale Earnhardt won eight times at the Hampton, Ga., track under the RCR banner (1984-fall, 1986-fall, 1988-spring, 1989-fall, 1990-spring, 1995-fall, 1996-spring, 2000-spring). The Welcome, N.C., based team has 29 top-five and 59 top-10 finishes at Atlanta and has led a total of 3,013 laps at the 1.54-mile oval. Team owner Richard Childress recorded his best finish at Atlanta finish as a driver, a ninth-place effort, in the 1980 Atlanta Journal 500.   RCR In the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway ... RCR has recorded four NASCAR Xfinity Series wins at Atlanta Motor Speedway, led by Jeff Burton (2006 and 2007). Kevin Harvick (2013) and Austin Hill (2022) have also claimed victories at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Hill's win in 2022 was extra special because Hill is a Georgia native and primary sponsor Bennett Transportation and Logistics is based in nearby McDonough. RCR as an organization has racked up 15 top-five and 30 top-10 finishes over a span of 56 starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway.   Catch the Action ... The RAPTOR 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway will be televised live on Saturday, March 18 beginning at 5 p.m. ET on FS1 and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.    The Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway will be televised live on Sunday, March 19 beginning at 3 p.m. ET on FOX and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

This Week’s Andy’s Frozen Custard Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Atlanta Motor Speedway … In 12 NASCAR Cup Series races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Dillon’s best finish is sixth in March 2021. Dillon had a fast RCR Chevrolet at his most recent appearance at Atlanta Motor Speedway in July 2022 but was taken out of the race in an on-track incident after 90 laps. He has earned top-10 finishes in each of his three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the track and four NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts at the track.   Welcome, Andy’s Frozen Custard … Andy’s Frozen Custard is a fun, family friendly destination for desserts and treats, with lightning-fast service at safe drive-thru and walk-up windows. Andy’s uses only the finest ingredients and ensures that the frozen custard is always Made Fresh Hourly™. With a focus on product quality, customer service and community involvement, Andy’s has grown into the nation’s largest frozen custard-only business, with more than 2,000 employees and 131 company-owned and franchised stores across 15 states proudly serving the World’s Finest Frozen Custard. To find the closest Andy’s location near you, visit their website, www.eatandys.com.   Try the Andy’s Frozen Custard Three Crete Concrete … Andy’s Frozen Custard’s partnership with RCR and Dillon inspired a custom treat at Andy’s called the Three Crete Concrete that Dillon personally concocted with his favorite toppings – vanilla frozen custard, fresh banana, peanut butter and cookie dough. The Three Crete Concrete is available at all Andy’s locations.   GM Moves … Dillon made some key moves this week in his role as General Manager of the Carolina Cowboys, North Carolina’s first and only professional bull riding team in the PBR Team Series. Dillon made a blockbuster trade with the Nashville Stampede, trading bull riders Mason Taylor and Ednelio Almeida in exchange for the Stampede’s 2023 No. 1 draft pick. The Carolina Cowboys now join another notable sports franchise – the NFL’s Carolina Panthers – as Carolina-based sports teams heading into their season with their sport’s No. 1 overall draft pick.   Meet Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to make an appearance at the RCR Merchandise Trailer in the Atlanta Motor Speedway fan midway area on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET. The 2018 DAYTONA 500 Champion is scheduled to greet race fans and sign merchandise at the rig (weather dependent).   AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES: What are your thoughts on Atlanta Motor Speedway? “I’m excited to get to Atlanta Motor Speedway in the No. 3 Andy’s Frozen Custard Chevrolet. Atlanta has a little bit more of that superspeedway racing feel and if our RCR Chevrolet handles as it did in the Daytona 500, we will be a threat to win. We don’t have any practice, so we won’t worry so much about handling. It’s more about surviving and being at the right place at the right time. I’m confident my team will bring a fast Camaro this weekend."   Overall, are you looking forward to Atlanta Motor Speedway? Chevy is off to a strong start to the season. “I feel really good about Atlanta Motor Speedway. I have a lot of confidence heading into this race because Chevy has been so strong early this season. Atlanta Motor Speedway races like a speedway now and I’ve always loved speedway racing. If we get track position, I think this can be a really good race for us. There’s definitely some good racing going on at Atlanta Motor Speedway. There was some aggressive driving and blocking last year, so it’ll be interesting to see how the race plays out.”   What is your mind set when racing doesn’t go your way? When you don’t get the win, or have a less-than-desirable finish? How do you take it in stride? “I do a pretty good job of keeping my mindset the same. Consistency over time usually pays off. That’s a big thing with me - being consistent in how I react to things. Last year, the Coca-Cola 600 did hurt because we were so close to a win. I did lose some sleep over that one, but past that, it’s been pretty good. I usually don’t lose much sleep at night.”

This Week’s Lenovo Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Atlanta Motor Speedway … Since making his first Atlanta Motor Speedway NASCAR Cup Series start in 2004, Kyle Busch has won twice at the 1.540-mile speedway (2008 and 2013). He has earned eight top-five and 11 top-10 finishes in 26 previous starts, and also won the pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2018. Busch ranks third among active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in laps led at Atlanta Motor Speedway with 551. He has three victories in NASCAR Xfinity Series competition at the track and six victories in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.   Get to the Points ... Busch is fifth in the NASCAR Cup Series driver standings, 29 points behind the leader. The driver of the Lenovo Chevrolet finished eighth this past weekend at Phoenix Raceway, his second top-10 in four races this season.    Welcome, Lenovo … Lenovo’s story has always been about shaping computing intelligence to create a better world. With the world’s widest portfolio of technology products, we deliver our vision of Smarter Technology for All through products, solutions, software, and services that individuals, communities, businesses, and entire populations need to fulfill their potential. We serve more than 180 markets, and we own the majority of our facilities, giving us unrivaled scale, efficiency, and control of our supply chain. Our global manufacturing allows tailored offerings to regional markets and includes more than 30 manufacturing facilities, including in-house, joint venture, original design manufacturer, and contract manufacturer sites in Argentina, Brazil, China, Germany, Hungary, India, Japan, Mexico, and USA.   KYLE BUSCH QUOTES: Is racing at the new Atlanta Motor Speedway especially challenging? “Driving on the new Atlanta Motor speedway configuration is definitely challenging due to the fact that it’s really, really fast and it’s a mile-and-a-half so it seems like the superspeedway speeds that you get at a mile-and-a-half make everything go by really quick. Things happen quick, faster than a superspeedway. That’s definitely the challenging part. Understanding the grip level, the draft and the moves you can make is also pretty challenging. Since everybody is able to hold it wide-open for the most part, it pretty much makes it a plate race and it's easier for everybody to go faster. Drivers would rather race on the old Atlanta Motor Speedway configuration.”   Does running well at Daytona International Speedway give you confidence entering this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway? “Yes and no. I would say that we’ve had speed at Daytona International Speedway with the superspeedway cars. We had a pretty good handling primary car and then, unfortunately, we just weren’t quite able to get the handle the way we wanted it to with the second one, although I thought it was good after the practices we had. Going into Atlanta Motor Speedway, it’s just kind of an unknown. We just have to go in there and see what it all feels like and see how the Lenovo Chevy drives compared to what I remember driving there last year.”

Sheldon Creed and the No. 2 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Camaro SS at Atlanta Motor Speedway… Sheldon Creed has two career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway, both coming behind the wheel of the No. 2 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet in 2022. The 25-year-old captured his best finish of ninth place in the spring event at the Georgia speedway. In addition, Creed has three NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts on his resume, earning one top-five and three top-15 results.   Strong Finish to West Coast Swing… Last week at Phoenix Raceway, Creed ended the West Coast swing on a high note. The No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet driver started from the fifth position and crossed the finish line in third place. This marks Creed’s best finish of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.   About Whelen Engineering… Whelen Engineering is a family-owned company with a pioneering spirit and a passion to protect the lives of those who protect and serve others. The company mission is to provide industry-defining safety solutions around the world, while creating a community of problem-solvers who are inspired to push boundaries and continue our legacy of delivering ground-breaking innovation. As a global leader in the emergency warning industry, Whelen has been trusted to perform since 1952, when George Whelen III invented the first rotating aviation beacon. Whelen now encompasses two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire with over 750,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing space and the largest design staff in the industry. Every part of every Whelen product is proudly designed and manufactured in America. We embrace quality as our foundation, we celebrate innovative engineering in every product we produce.   Meet Creed… On Saturday, March 18 at 2:45 p.m. ET, Creed is scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Trailer located in the Fan Midway at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Stop by to meet the California native and purchase new gear.   SHELDON CREED QUOTE: What are your expectations for Saturday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway? “The repave and redesign of Atlanta Motor Speedway was brand new for everyone last season and no one knew what to expect during the first weekend. We came back for the second race with notes to utilize while preparing and it paid off for our Whelen Chevrolet. Our speed was there in both races, and I expect our Camaro to be fast once again. Coming off a third-place finish last week at Phoenix Raceway, I think we are ready to take another step forward with our No. 2 team.”

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation and Logistics Chevrolet Camaro SS at Atlanta Motor Speedway… Austin Hill has two career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway, earning one win and a second-place finish while piloting the No. 21 Bennett Transportation and Logistics Chevrolet in 2022. Hill led a total of 73 laps before capturing the checkered flag in July 2022. In addition, Hill has six NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts at the Hampton, Georgia facility, posting one pole (2019), two top-five (2020, 2021) and three top-10 results (2019-2021).   Points Leader… After four races, Hill continues to lead the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver championship point standings. Hill has a 30-point lead over second-place John Hunter Nemechek.   Georgia Boy Returns Home… Hill is a native of Winston, Georgia, sited 60 miles from Atlanta Motor Speedway. The 28-year-old started his motorsports career racing bandolero and legends cars on the frontstretch quarter-mile oval at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Hill’s family continues to live in the Peachtree State and will be in attendance for Saturday’s race.   Bennett Home Race… Located a short 15 minutes from Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bennett Transportation and Logistics’ headquarters are based in McDonough, Georgia. On Thursday, March 16, Hill visited the home office and met more than 200 employees and truck drivers. During Saturday’s race, Bennett will have more than 260 employees in the Upper Earnhardt Grandstands and Condo.   About Bennett Family of Companies... McDonough-Ga. based Bennett Family of Companies is a woman-owned, Women’s Enterprise Business Council (WBENC) certified, diversified transportation and logistics company. Through its 14 affiliated operating companies, the Bennett Family of Companies delivers integrated transportation and supply chain management solutions worldwide. Bennett has 4,625 drivers/owner-operators, over 1,000 employees and 600 agents located across the United States. For more information, visit www.bennettig.com.   Meet Hill… On Saturday, March 18 at 1 p.m. ET, Hill is scheduled to take part in a question-and-answer session at the Trackside Live stage located in the Fan Zone at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Directly after at 1:20 p.m. ET, Hill is scheduled to make an appearance at the Bennett Family of Companies display in the Fan Zone at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Stop by both spots to meet the latest Xfinity Series winner at the Hampton, Georgia oval.   AUSTIN HILL QUOTES: You are headed to your home track. Does that make the weekend extra special? “It’s always fun to go back to your home track. I want to do well because I have a lot of family there and with Bennett Family of Companies being right down the road in McDonough, our No. 21 team wants to put on a good showing for them as well. We are really good on superspeedway style tracks, and this is one of those. The opportunity is there to get our third win of the season. It’s probably our race to lose, just because of how successful we have been on superspeedways both last year and to start the season this year. Our Bennett Chevrolets have been very fast and hopefully that carries over to Atlanta and we can do the hometown proud.”   If qualifying gets rained out, does that impact your strategy? “No, not really. If it rains out qualifying, we should start third which is totally fine. If we are anywhere inside the top-10 to start, it will be great. To possibly start third, I think if you give the right push to the guy in front of you on the initial start, you both can get out and control the race. Track position is huge at Atlanta Motor Speedway with the new configuration, so starting up front and staying up front is crucial to having a good day.”

RCR PR

Mother Nature got the best of Friday’s afternoon qualifying at Atlanta Motor Speedway for both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, as the respective sessions were canceled due to rain in the area.

NCTS points leader Zane Smith will start on the pole for Saturday’s Fr8 208 (2 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The subsequent lineup will be set by performance metrics per the NASCAR Rule Book: 15% of a fastest lap time position in the previous series event, 25% of the driver’s final race finish position in the previous series event, 25% of the owner’s final race finish position in the previous event and 35% of the Owner Points position.

Sammy Smith, who won last week’s showdown at Phoenix Raceway, will lead the pack to begin Saturday’s Xfinity Series RAPTOR King of Tough 250 (5 p.m. ET, FS1, PRN, SiriusXM).

While Mother Nature won the day Friday, forecasts for Saturday’s slate of on-track action at AMS are much more favorable. Qualifying for the Ambetter Health 400 precedes the doubleheader racing with the Fr8 208 and RAPTOR King of Tough 250 running back-to-back. The weekend culminates with the Ambetter Health 400 on Sunday.

Tickets and camping options for the weekend remain available at AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com or by calling 877-9-AMS-TIX.

AMS PR

No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Kris Wright   Primary Partner(s): First National Bank (FNB)   Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST   Crew Chief: Andrew Abbott   2023 Driver Points Position: 20th   2023 Owner Points Position: 26th   Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies   Starting Position: 25th Notes of Interest:   Welcome Back To The Team: Road racing standout Kris Wright returns to Young’s Motorsports for the full 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series season continuing with Saturday afternoon’s FR8 Auctions 208 at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway.   The former IMSA and Formula 3 driver returns to Young’s Motorsports after spending the 2022 season competing in both Trucks and the Xfinity Series.   Wright competed in 16 Truck Series races during the 2021 season for Young’s Motorsports earning four top-20 finishes and a season-high 12th-place finish at Daytona.   Glad You Are Here: For the third time in 2023, F.N.B. Corporation will serve as the primary partner on Wright’s No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado RST.   F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., is one of the 50 largest bank-holding companies in the United States, and continues their partnership with Kris Wright for the second consecutive NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series weekend at the epicenter for everything speedy in Sin City, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, on the No. 02 F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet Silverado RST for Young’s Motorsports.   Peach State Statistics: Deep in Varsity and Braves country, NASCAR returns to the ‘Peach State,’ with Atlanta Motor Speedway completing a repaving of its surface and a reconfiguration in 2021 that created a superspeedway.   This weekend marks Kris Wright’s second NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (CTS) start at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Wright made his NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series track debut at the Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 19, 2022.   The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will have the same tire set-up as they previously ran at the track during the 2022 season.   Speedway Stats: This weekend marks Kris Wright’s 19th speedway (tracks 1 to 2 miles in length) start in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series.   The 28-year-old also has five combined NASCAR Xfinity Series starts on speedways.   Calling the Shots: Guiding Wright as crew chief of the No. 02 F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet Silverado is longtime crew chief Andrew Abbott.   He will crew chief his 106th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series race on Friday night. In his previous 105 races, he has two top-five and seven top-10 finishes to his resume.   He has four prior Truck Series races as crew chief at Atlanta with a best finish of 10th with Cup Series driver Austin Dillon in February 2018.    Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at the Atlanta Motor Speedway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ 17th, 18th and 19th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series scene starts at the Hampton, Ga., -facility.   The organization posted a team-best finish of 10th place with driver Austin Dillon on February 24, 2018. The 16 previous starts at the 1.5-mile speedway, built for high speeds and competitive racing, have earned Young’s Motorsports an average starting position of 22.0 and an average finish of 21.3.   Putting the Young in Young’s Motorsports: Young’s Motorsports team principal Tyler Young has two (2015, 2016) starts in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series scene at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, including a 13th-place finish.   Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series scene in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., - based organization has logged 412 starts from 47 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019, 2021), seven top-five finishes and 31 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 22 and an average finishing position of 21.2.   Follow on Social Media: For more on Kris Wright, please visit, kriswrightmotorsports.com, like him on Facebook (Kris Wright Racing) and follow him on Twitter (@kriswrightraces).   For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).   Kris Wright Pre-Race Quotes:   On Atlanta Motor Speedway: “Pumped to take a purpose-built Chevrolet Silverado RST to the Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Young’s Motorsports’ No. 02 team is excited to be going back to the newest ‘superspeedway’ on the schedule.   "The racing there has been tight across all three series last year and with a year and more data to provide insight, it should be even more exciting this year.”

No. 12 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Spencer Boyd   Primary Partner(s): Off The Grid Surplus Apparel   Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST   Crew Chief: Brad Means   2023 Driver Points Position: 29th   2023 Owner Points Position: 31st   Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies   Starting Position: 27th   Notes of Interest:   Back To Familiar Territory: Fan favorite Spencer Boyd returns to Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway, the third race of the 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series season eyeing his first top-10 of the year but more importantly hunting his second win of his Truck Series career.   No. 143: This weekend at Atlanta, Boyd will make his 143rd career NASCAR start. Boyd has three starts in the NASCAR Cup Series, 50 starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and will make his 90th start in Trucks when the green flag waves Saturday afternoon.   The highlight of his NASCAR career is a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series win at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in October 2019 driving for Young’s Motorsports.   Welcome Aboard: This weekend at Atlanta, Young’s Motorsports and Boyd welcome Off the Grid Surplus Apparel as the primary partner on the No. 12 Chevrolet Silverado RST for the first time in 2023.   Off The Grid is the motor-driven adventure brand, built to inspire more connection through adventure. They find retreat in motorized adventure, whether it is off-road racing in a Jeep, camping in Baja or connecting around campfire.   They make functional clothing with this lifestyle always front of mind hoping to inspire people to get away and connect with each other, person to person.   Spencer Boyd Truck Series Atlanta Motor Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s FR8 Auctions 208 will mark Boyd’s fifth NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series race at the 1.5-mile superspeedway.   In his four previous efforts, Boyd has a track-best of 20th after starting 30th in the 2022 FR8 208 driving for Young’s Motorsports.   He holds an average finish of 26.3 since 2019.   Spencer Boyd Truck Series Speedway Stats: At NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series tracks classified as a speedway 2.0-mile or under in length, Boyd has made 53 starts throughout his career. He also holds an average finishing position of 24.7.   Chasing That W: Boyd is eyeing his second career NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series victory for himself and Young’s Motorsports.   In 2019 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Boyd pulled an upset during the Truck Series Playoffs by winning the Sugarland Shines 250 at the 2.66-mile superspeedway edging Todd Gilliland by 0.027 seconds.   Truck Series Rundown: In seven years of Truck Series competition, Boyd has 89 career Truck Series starts with one win, two top-five and three top-10 finishes, and a championship best of 17th in 2019 and carries an average finish of 23.9.   Calling the Shots: Guiding Boyd as crew chief of the No. 12 Off The Grid Surplus Apparel Chevrolet Silverado RST is new crew chief Brad Means.   He will Truck Series crew chief debut at AMS on Saturday afternoon.    Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at the Atlanta Motor Speedway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ 17th, 18th and 19th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series scene starts at the Hampton, Ga., -facility.   The organization posted a team-best finish of 10th place with driver Austin Dillon on February 24, 2018. The 16 previous starts at the 1.5-mile speedway, built for high speeds and competitive racing, have earned Young’s Motorsports an average starting position of 22.0 and an average finish of 21.3.   Putting the Young in Young’s Motorsports: Young’s Motorsports team principal Tyler Young has two (2015, 2016) starts in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series scene at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, including a 13th-place finish.   Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series scene in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., - based organization has logged 412 starts from 47 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019, 2021), seven top-five finishes and 31 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 22 and an average finishing position of 21.2.   Follow on Social Media: For more on Spencer Boyd, please like him on Facebook (Spencer Boyd Racing) and follow him on Instagram (SpencerBoydpr) and Twitter (@SpencerBoyd).   For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).   Spencer Boyd Pre-Race Quote: On Atlanta Motor Speedway: “Atlanta should be a blast again with the relatively new surface. Excited to get out there in our No. 12 Off The Grid Surplus Apparel Chevrolet Silverado RST and contend for a solid finish for everyone.”   On Off The Grid Surplus Apparel Returning: “I’m humbled that Off The Grid is back on board this year. They were our primary (sponsor) at Phoenix last season, but they know motorsports enthusiasts are all over our great country, so I’m excited to have them at Atlanta to kick off their season with our team.    “As for their gear, I love their stuff! While our crew shirts look like their Thunderbolt shirt, my go-to are their flannels.”

No. 20 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Mason Maggio   Primary Partner(s): HMY Yachts   Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST   Crew Chief: Joe Lax   2023 Driver Points Position: N/A   2023 Owner Points Position: 22nd   Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies   Starting Position: 31st   Notes of Interest:   Welcome!: Newcomer Mason Maggio joins Young’s Motorsports for the first of a hopeful limited NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series schedule for Saturday afternoon’s FR8 208 Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway.   After a successful 2022 racing season which included multiple wins in the Carolina Pro Late Model Series, Maggio made the leap to the Truck Series and made his debut at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway driving for Reaume Brothers Racing.   In all, Maggio, 18, made four starts overall and looks to build on that experience this season beginning with Young’s Motorsports at Atlanta.   Sponsor Intel: Maggio will pilot the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado with support from HMY Yachts.   HMY Yachts represents the finest yachts and superyachts in the industry. HMY is one of the highest-regarded yacht brokerage and luxury charter firms in the world.   We have 14 sales locations and over 50 sales professionals to support our growing portfolio of yacht brands and customers. HMY’s extensive network of brokers and support teams, yachting industry experts, clients, and customers have been our recipe for success since 1979.   Additional Support: In addition to HMY Yachts, Maggio will carry partnership support from Ace Hardware (Rockhill, S.C.), Ace Hardware, family owned and operated since 2011 in Dallas, Ga., Professional AG Services, Dallas, Ga.-based Fusion Powersports, the largest bighorn power sports dealer in the country, Ranch 4-D (Plattsburg, Mo) and Dry Shine.   Mason Maggio Truck Series History: Mason Maggio is beginning his second season of NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series competition on Saturday at Atlanta.   In 2022, Maggio competed in four Truck Series races driving for Reaume Brothers Racing at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Richmond (Va.) Raceway, Kansas Speedway and Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway respectively.   He earned a career-best 27th-place finish at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.   Mason Maggio Truck Series Atlanta Motor Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s FR8 208 will mark Maggio’s first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series race at the 1.5-mile speedway.   Mason Maggio Truck Series Speedway Stats: At NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series tracks classified as a speedway 2.0-mile or under in length, Maggio has made three starts throughout his career, holding an average finishing position of 30.3.   Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at the Atlanta Motor Speedway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ 17th, 18th and 19th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series scene starts at the Hampton, Ga., - facility.   The organization posted a team-best finish of 10th place with driver Austin Dillon on February 24, 2018. The 16 previous starts at the 1.5-mile speedway, built for high speeds and competitive racing, have earned Young’s Motorsports an average starting position of 22.0 and an average finish of 21.3.   Putting the Young in Young’s Motorsports: Young’s Motorsports team principal Tyler Young has two (2015, 2016) starts in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series scene at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, including a 13th-place finish.   Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series scene in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., - based organization has logged 412 starts from 47 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019, 2021), seven top-five finishes and 31 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 22 and an average finishing position of 21.2.   Calling the Shots: Guiding Maggio as crew chief of the No. 20 HMY Yachts Chevrolet Silverado is veteran crew chief Joe Lax.   He will crew chief his 98th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series race on Friday night. In his previous 97 races, he has one pole and eight top-10 finishes to his resume.   This weekend marks his fifth race as crew chief at Atlanta.   Follow on Social Media: For more on Mason Maggio, like him on Facebook (Mason Maggio Racing), follow him on TikTok (@masonmaggio1), (Twitter (@MasonMaggio1) and Instagram (@masonmaggio1).   For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).    Mason Maggio Pre-Race Quote:   On Atlanta Motor Speedway: “Super cool to be able to come back to Atlanta and race in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. I raced bandoleros and legend cars there for my first couple of years of racing, even winning my first-ever race there.   “To be able to come back and race at this level is a dream come true. A big thanks to Young’s Motorsports and all our partners for the opportunity. Ready to have some fun this weekend”

Race Information:   The FR8 208 (135 laps | 207.9 miles) is the third of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races on the 2023 schedule. The field will take the green flag on Sat., March 18, 2023, shortly after 2:00 p.m. ET with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (ET).

Young's Motorsports PR

Blaine Perkins No. 07 To The Point Inc. Chevrolet Camaro NASCAR Xfinity Series News and Notes   Event: Raptor 250 Date: Saturday, March 18, 2023 Venue: Atlanta Motor Speedway Location: Hampton, Georgia Track Description: 1.5 mile(s) Race: 163 Laps/250 Miles   Giving It A Go: Blaine Perkins will make his first Xfinity Series start on the new Atlanta Motor Speedway configuration this weekend.  Meet Blaine: Blaine will be appearing at the Team Chevy display Saturday March 18th at 12:30pm ET.

Quote Worthy Blaine Perkins, driver of the No. 07 To The Point Inc. Chevrolet Camaro for SS GreenLight Racing:  On racing at Atlanta: “Excited to get to Atlanta this weekend. We had good speed at Daytona and hopefully that translates to the reconfigured Atlanta track as well. I've always enjoyed pack style racing, just hoping we have luck on our side this weekend and come home with a good finish."    Follow Blaine Perkins’ on Social Media ... To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, visit www.BlainePerkins.com or connect with Blaine Perkins on Facebook (OfficialBlainePerkins), Twitter (@BlainePerkins21) or Instagram (@blaineperkins21).     Blaine Perkins Statistics

SS GreenLight Racing’s NASCAR Xfinity Series History...Since entering the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2015, the Mooresville, N.C. ,-based team has made more than 350 starts with multiple drivers. These include Cole Custer, Ross Chastain and Ross Chastain. SS GreenLight Racing has collected one win (Fontana 2022), eight top-fives, and 23 top-10 finishes.   Follow SS GreenLight Racing on Social Media: Keep up with SS GreenLight Racing news, notes, information, exclusive content and much more! visit www.ssgreenlight.com or connect on our social media channels. Follow along on Facebook (SSGreenLightRacing), Twitter (@SSGLR0708), Instagram (@ssgreenlightracing) and TikTok (SS GreenLight Racing)   SS GreenLight Racing Statistics

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Perkins and SS GreenLight Racing teammate Gray Gaulding head to Las Vegas Motor Speedway looking to rebound after a rough outing last weekend.. Gaulding will be behind the wheel of the #08 Panini NFT machine for team owner Bobby Dotter.   Card Collector: Blaine Perkins Racing has partnered with Panini America as a Brand Ambassador. Perkins joins SS GreenLight Racing and Panini sponsored teammate Gray Gaulding as a Panini athlete. To start your collection, visit Panini. #whodoyoucollect   Catch the Action … The NASCAR Xfinity Series RAPTOR King of Tough 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway will be broadcast live on FS1 on Saturday, March 18, at approximately 5:00 PM ET. It will also be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network (PRN).

SS Greenlight Racing PR

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ today announced a partnership with Black Rifle Coffee Company (BRCC) to be featured as the primary partner on Noah Gragson’s No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for six events this season, starting with the March 26 NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, TX. 

BRCC, a rapidly growing and mission-driven premium coffee company founded to support Veterans, active-duty military, and first responders, first formed a relationship with Gragson in 2020. Gragson took BRCC to victory lane with him for the first time at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 15, 2020 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the partnership has flourished ever since. 

“It’s such an honor for me to continue working with Black Rifle Coffee Company and take it to the NASCAR Cup Series level,” said Gragson. “I really value all my partners and work hard for them. I love their coffee, what their company stands for and to see them grow has been really amazing.”

Gragson joins a list of other elite athletes and BRCC ambassadors to include Travis Pastrana and NASCAR driver Matt Crafton; seven-time off-road racing champion BJ Baldwin; freestyle motocross competitor Jayden ‘Jayo’ Archer; skateboarder-turned-rally racer Bucky Lasek; Green Beret-turned-rally racer Mike Glover; rally racer Tom Williams; and rally racer “Texas Dave” Carapetyan.

"Noah is one of the most exciting drivers in NASCAR today and we’ve been a proud partner and supporter of him for the last three seasons in the Xfinity Series,” said Evan Hafer, BRCC founder and CEO. “We couldn’t be more excited to continue that partnership in 2023 for his full-time NASCAR Cup Series debut with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. I can’t wait to see him crush it!" 

“We’re extremely excited that BRCC has decided to continue its partnership with Noah and join the No. 42 LEGACY M.C. team this season,” said Bruce Mosley, president, business operations of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. “We stand ready to do what we can to support BRCC’s objectives and promote its mission.”

In addition to COTA, NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year candidate Gragson, will feature BRCC as the primary sponsor on the No. 42 Chevrolet ZL1 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 28), Nashville Superspeedway (June 25), Daytona International Speedway (Aug. 26), Bristol Motor Speedway (Sept. 16) and for the season finale at Phoenix Raceway (Nov. 5). 

LMC PR

In just about a month’s time racing will get underway at the Bloomsburg Fair Raceway which begins the third season at the 3/8-mile dirt oval located inside the historic Bloomsburg Fairgrounds in Bloomsburg.

And as the anticipation mounts there has been a flurry of groundwork taking place both on and off the track in preparation for the Thursday, April 20 season opener.

Under the direction of Rich Tobias – who is part of the promotional team that includes Steve O’Neal and Dino Oberto – the track surface has been the focus of attention with most of the emphasis in turns three and four.

It was no mystery that drivers had noted those two corners should have more banking and that’s exactly what Tobias went to work on, adding his magic touch of keen track prep that has been very successful at Action Track USA in Kutztown where he co-manages on Wednesday nights with Doug Rose.

This past week the third and fourth turns where scraped. Once that was done Tobias completely re-contoured the banking with new dirt and limestone clay. The result is close to four feet of added banking.

“For years I lived around limestone quarries and I looked at them making roads and I always said that limestone clay would make for a great track and that’s what we always used at Action Track USA and it’s also the same clay they use at Port Royal Speedway,” said Tobias.

“We were just very fortunate that some farmer in a field dug down and said, ‘Hey I think I got something that you may want,’ and we went and looked at it just two miles down the road from the race track and it was an awesome vein of great limestone clay which we’ll be covering the race track with.”

            The first and second turns had similar work done last season and Tobias felt there was not as much effort needed on that end of the surface. In all there are plans to have close to 100 truckloads of clay brought in. The clay was sent out to be tested and was approved, showing low sand content.

“They already did a great job reshaping (turns) one and two which I did do a little more contouring change to that. Three and four we’re basically doing what they did to one and two which is to make it for sure sixty-five feet of multi-groove racing,” he said.

            Tobias was also working out the design of a new inner oval which will be used for the Slingshot race cars that will be running as part of the night’s regular program.

The Slingshot mimics a scaled down dirt Modified and is powered by a Briggs & Stratton engine. They give drivers the opportunity to race without the large investment of motorsports and these purpose built race cars are designed for 1/8 to 1/3 mile dirt and pavement speedways.

“It’s going to be a challenging race track and it will be very close to the same size as what the Trenton indoor race was. Everyone knows how exciting the race there was for the 600 Micros and hopefully the Slingshots will be looking forward to some great new challenging aspect here at Bloomsburg,” noted Tobias.

“The biggest thing with the Slingshots they’re going to be running in front of this awesome grandstands. And with this type facility along with Action Track and some of the other tracks we have, it’s great that the Slingshots have the opportunity to compete at a facility like Bloomsburg.”

Additionally there will be 100 arborvitaes planted around the outside wall starting in turn one and along the back straight into turns three and four.

“It’s all good especially for the first time being able to work on the track. They have great equipment and great people that give me what I need to do the job right and I’m looking forward to the big change we’re going to have with the whole surface and the type of racing and atmosphere,” said Tobias. 

            “It’s very exciting looking forward to the start of the 2023 season here. They did a great job building it and we’re just refining it. Fairgrounds are what made auto racing in central Pennsylvania and most of all your key race tracks were fairgrounds and to be able to work at one like I do at Kutztown and now here at Bloomsburg, I feel the racers should be ultimately excited to be able to race at a fairgrounds type of atmosphere,” offered Tobias.

“Certainly come September getting to race at one of the biggest fairs in the country is going to be incredible. The opportunities for the racers to showcase on a great race track is just endless.”

The Bloomsburg Fair Raceway will continue to keep up its goal of presenting action packed family entertainment at a good value. This year will also be a bit of a different feel as the track will run more standard divisions and for the first time there will be class champions crowned when all is said and done.

The season begins April 20 and continues through September 28 during the 168th Bloomsburg Fair. The regular line-up will be the headlined by the USAC All-Pro SpeedSTRs along with the 602 Crate Modifieds, the 4-Cylinder Stocks that will be run under the SCDRA rules and the Slingshots.

Weekly driver meeting will take place at 6:00 pm followed by warm-ups at 6:15. Heats and qualifying will get underway starting at 7:00. Pits will open at 5:00 and grandstands at 6:00. Pits are $30 per person and grandstands are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, active military and students. Kids 6-12 are $5 under 6 are free.

For up to date news please visit the track’s website at https://racing.bloomsburgfair.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BloomsburgFairRaceway/, Twitter at https://twitter.com/BloomFairRacewy and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bloomsburgfairraceway/

Bloomsburg Fair PR