Posted on by Holly Cain

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Fresh off his third victory of the season last weekend, Martin Truex Jr. could understandably carry a little swagger into Pocono (Pa.) Raceway for Sunday’s Pocono 400 (2 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

But the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup champion is all business. The victories are what he expects at this point in his decorated 14-year full time career. And this Spring has been very bountiful for the New Jersey native.

Anyone still curious how the transition from his championship single-car team to the long-established championship Joe Gibbs Racing operation this season has certainly seen the coordinated effort of success. Truex hasn’t missed a beat.

RELATED: Final practice results | Full schedule for Pocono

“For me, I would say that for a transition going from one team to another, it’s been the least change I’ve ever had in my career just because of the alliance what we had with JGR,” Truex said. “The cars are the same basically. Parts and pieces, a lot of them are the same. There was a lot less change.

“Back in the day, you’d change teams and they did things different. You didn’t know what to expect. The feeling, the way they handled things, the way they built their cars … all those things are stuff that you get used to as a driver and those feels of things you like. For me, it’s really similar stuff.

“I knew what to expect,” he explained.

And that really made a huge difference. What seems most satisfying for Truex, who is the defending winner of the Pocono 400, is that he has had success in the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry even when the team had to make adjustments. Even when he wasn’t necessarily the favorite.

“I think anytime you have success at a race track, it helps just because you kind of understand it a little bit,” Truex said. “That being said, with the new package, it is a lot different. There’s no question.

“But places that we’ve had success before, it seems to translate a little bit and I think a lot of that is just driver confidence and understanding the race track and team kind of understanding it as well. Hopefully we have the right approach. It’s going to be a tough weekend.”

That hasn’t necessarily proved to be any more challenging. Truex has eight top-10 finishes, including runner-up showings at Atlanta and Phoenix in addition to his three victories this season. He’s led 434 of his total 459 laps out front in just his three wins.

And his work at Pocono has set the bar of late. He has three top-10 finishes in the last four races on the 2.5-mile track and led laps in four of the last five races. He won in 2015 and 2018 and started from the front row three consecutive races from 2016-17.

“Being on a roll, it’s just a credit to the team and the hard work finally coming together,” Truex said. “Doing all the little things right.

“You know the pit crew has really come on strong and gelled as a unit and it takes everything at this level to win races and to put yourself in position consistently. Just coming together as a group and kind of starting to find that momentum. It’s one of those things in this sport that’s really hard to find and once you do, you want to do all you can to hang onto it because you never know when it’s going to go away.”

Posted on by Staff Report

Kurt Busch set a course to the top of the speed chart in Friday’s final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Pocono Raceway.

Busch pushed the Chip Ganassi Racing No. 1 Chevrolet to a 172.712-mph lap, fastest in the 50-minute session on the 2.5-mile triangular circuit. Busch is a three-time Pocono winner, having tamed the triangle most recently in 2016.

RELATED: Final practice results | Full Pocono schedule

Brad Keselowski turned in the second-fastest lap, 171.798 mph in the Team Penske No. 2 Ford. Busch’s teammate Kyle Larson was third, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. fourth, with series points leader Kyle Busch completing the fastest five in final practice for the Pocono 400 (Sunday, 2 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM).

Defending race winner Martin Truex Jr., who prevailed in last weekend’s Coca-Cola 600, was 10th-fastest in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 Toyota. He was also 10th-fastest in first practice earlier in the afternoon.

Busch Pole Qualifying is scheduled Saturday at 11:35 p.m. ET (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM).

Suarez shows the way in first Pocono practice

Daniel Suarez landed atop the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series leaderboard in Friday’s first practice at Pocono Raceway.

Suarez guided the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 Ford to clock a best lap of 171.217 mph on the 2.5-mile Pennsylvania track.

RELATED: Practice 1 results

Ryan Blaney, a former Pocono winner, was second-fastest in the 50-minute session at 171.090 mph in the Team Penske No. 12 Ford. Alex Bowman, Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski completed the top five in the opening tune-up for Sunday’s Pocono 400 (2 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM).

Driver Matt Tifft and the Front Row Motorsports No. 36 Ford team were docked 15 minutes of practice time after two inspection failures last weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Posted on by Staff Report

One of the hottest drivers in the garage with four consecutive top-seven finishes, Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman was a little hot under the collar Friday at Pocono Raceway following on-track tension at Charlotte with Team Penske’s Joey Logano.

In addressing his stance, Bowman said “he’ll get his for sure” in reference to Logano, currently second in the Monster Energy Series standings.

“Everybody has to race everybody hard with this package,” Bowman said in discussing what happened last week. “There’s not a lot of room for give and take. I thought the situation was, there was a good chunk of the race left, it was pretty unnecessary. Probably wouldn’t have been as mad as I was about it if he didn’t about crash us in practice, which I thought was really unnecessary.

“It’s all good and he’ll get his for sure.”

RELATED: Pocono schedule | Who topped practices at Pocono?

Bowman finished seventh in the Coca-Cola 600, moving up to 10th in the standings. He was 21st in the standings a month ago, but finished second, second, second and seventh over the last month.

“He about crashed us in practice and then he drove into Turn 1 and tried to turn us,” Bowman added. “I don’t know. I like Joey a lot and it is what it is. We’re all racing hard. I’m not super mad about it. I just thought it was dumb that’s all.”

In an interview with NASCAR.com on Friday afternoon at Pocono, Bowman further explained his position and indicated it wasn’t strictly based on events that occurred at Charlotte.

“Just a couple situations throughout the course of the year and then in practice last Saturday and then Sunday in the race, it’s just like really uncalled for and unnecessary because I race him really clean,” Bowman said.

“When I say he’s going to get his, I’m not going to go wreck the guy. It’s I’m going to race him exactly how he races me. He can have those big saves up the race track or he can stand on the brakes not to wreck us both in the corner instead of me being the one to do it.

“Shoot, I feel like I’ll have plenty of opportunities and I’m just going to be like the elephant and when it’s convenient for me, he’ll get it back.”

Contributing: RJ Kraft, NASCAR.com

Posted on by Nascar

Name: Mandy
Current City: Zanesville, Ohio
Member Since:  2014

Getting to know Mandy

​How did you first become interested in NASCAR?
“I first became interested in NASCAR as a little kid when I would watch the races with my mom. She has always been a fan and would watch the races and go to the Daytona 500 every year, so it became a time for my family to spend together.”

What is your favorite part about NASCAR?
“I enjoy the experience of NASCAR, from the track to watching or listening from home. I enjoy the thrill you get watching the cars get the green flag at the beginning of the race. The best thing for me is the ability NASCAR has to bring different types of people together in an environment where you feel safe expressing your differences in drivers and can have fun while doing it.”

What is your favorite NASCAR memory?
“My favorite NASCAR memory would be the first time I went to the Daytona 500. I had already been to other tracks like Michigan, Martinsville, and Darlington; but nothing can compare to the sheer awesomeness of the Daytona International Speedway! The first race of the season and hearing the cars coming off turn four to the green still gives me chills.”

Do you have a favorite in any of the following categories?
Memorabilia: “I have a race day program from every race I have attended. I display them on custom shelves on my wall along with a signed Kurt Busch car and hat.”
Sponsor: “I would say at this time my favorite NASCAR sponsor would be M&Ms because I like the kid friendly image they provide the sport. It gives my younger child someone to relate to and it’s something they recognize.”

What are some of your hobbies?
“I enjoy camping, fishing, and any outdoor activities really. I like spending time with my family and traveling. I enjoy history and when I have time, I like reading a good historical book.”

​FROM ALL OF US AT NASCAR, WE THANK MANDY FOR HER CONTINUED SUPPORT AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM HER IN 2019!

Posted on by Team Release

Welcome, N.C. (May 31, 2019)—World Wide Technology (WWT), a market-leading technology solutions provider, in collaboration with Victory Junction, a camp committed to enriching the lives of children with chronic medical conditions and serious illnesses, today announced a special collaboration. Through a leadership donation to Victory Junction made by WWT founder and chairman David Steward and his family, Victory Junction will partner with Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. , driver of the Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

Wallace will drive the No. 43 Victory Junction Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in a select number of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) events in 2019. Victory Junction will retain partner benefits to be used for the benefit of their campers.  More importantly, WWT’s support of Victory Junction provides the camp with a profound cause-driven opportunity to raise awareness, and funds for their mission to provide life-changing camp experiences. The relationship also brings exciting opportunities for a key partnership with Wallace and Richard Petty Motorsports.

From the moment Wallace first spent time at Victory Junction in 2015, the smiles and laughter heard throughout the lush 84 acres in the rolling hills of Randleman, N.C. left an indelible mark and impact on the Mobile, Ala. native.

“Victory Junction not only gives opportunities to children that have boundaries in their lives — it gives them a chance to be a kid,” said Wallace. “It’s just an incredible place.”

The Petty family established Victory Junction in honor of Adam Petty. Since opening in 2004, Victory Junction has delivered over 50,000 camp experiences to children and their families, and in celebration of their 15th anniversary season, WWT will leverage its strategic partnership with Wallace and Richard Petty Motorsports to donate to Victory Junction the creation and development of an advertising, fundraising and call-to-action campaign, “Feel Your Heart Race.”

“I remember when I was a kid, having a lot of fun going out and doing things with my friends, and Victory Junction provides that and gives each child the opportunity to simply be a kid,” said Wallace. “The camp makes these kids feel as special as they truly are. This is a great opportunity for NASCAR fans to support Victory Junction and make every kid feel special — to feel empowered. Fifteen years is a great accomplishment and I want to do my part to help Victory Junction reach another 15 years.”

“Investments in diversity are critical for the long-term viability and future competitiveness of WWT.  The same applies to the sport of racing,” Steward said. “As the only African American NASCAR driver in over 40 years, we have been honored to support Bubba Wallace.  With the Victory Junction alliance, we will celebrate and enable kids with diverse challenges and perspectives to reach their fullest abilities. ‘What you have done for the least of of them, you have done for me.’ Given our family’s long history with Variety the Children’s Charity, BJC Health System and St. Jude’s, it was an easy decision to get involved with Victory Junction,. Diversity matters. That is why we support Bubba. That is why we support Victory Junction.”

“NASCAR fans connect with drivers like Bubba and the causes they care about, so we’re excited for this opportunity to partner with Bubba Wallace, WWT and RPM,” Chad Coltrane, Victory Junction president and CEO, said. “Thanks to the generosity of the Steward family and WWT, we’ll be able to share the message of how Victory Junction helps children living with serious illnesses and medical conditions, and how fans can support that mission. We anticipate that other like-minded corporations and foundations will join WWT in the Victory Junction alliance in support of Bubba.”

“The Steward family is blessed to support Victory Junction and their amazing work empowering kids with serious illnesses,” said David Steward II, Polarity, Ltd CEO. “Given our family’s shared values with Bubba, the Petty family and Victory Junction leadership, this partnership is a natural fit. We are grateful for the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of the Victory Junction kids and their families. Together, we will show a global audience that diversity in all its forms is important.”

The partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports will commence at the Pocono (Pa.) Raceway on June 2. The No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will feature a colorful Victory Junction paint scheme.   Wallace made his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut, and his first appearance as a driver at Richard Petty Motorsports at the 2.5-mile “Tricky Triangle” on June 11, 2017.

The Pocono Raceway, Mattioli family, and Petty family hold a strong connection. In 2001, Pocono Raceway paid tribute to Adam Petty by re-naming the garage area in his honor. The great-grandson of Lee Petty, grandson of Richard Petty, and son of Kyle Petty, Adam was the only fourth generation athlete to compete in the highest level of his sport.

The Pocono 400 will be broadcast live on FS1 and FOX Sports GO on Sunday, June 2 at 2:00 p.m. (EST). It will also broadcast live at 1:00 p.m. (EST) on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Posted on by Staff Report

Father’s Day is about celebrating the dads in our lives. And all dads, no matter who they are or where they’re from, have one thing in common — they love dad jokes. We know they aren’t really that funny, but we laugh along anyway because we know our dads love them, and we love our dads.

This Father’s Day, Busch Beer, as part of its sponsorship of Kevin Harvick and his No. 4 car, is celebrating dad jokes like never before. Busch announced a contest celebrating both dads and dad jokes, as one lucky dad will have the chance, alongside his son or daughter, to get behind the wheel of a real stock car at the legendary Daytona International Speedway.

RELATED: See the No. 4 paint scheme

To nominate your dad, just tweet to Busch (@BuschBeer) the best dad joke you know alongside #Dad2Daytona and #Contest at any time during the weekend of the Pocono 400. Busch will select the best one, and the winning dad, alongside his son or daughter, will be given an all-expenses-paid trip down to Daytona International Speedway for the ultimate NASCAR experience for Father’s Day weekend. This lucky dad will not only have all travel and accommodations taken care of by Busch, but will have the opportunity to drive a real stock car on the Daytona track with his son or daughter for an unforgettable Father’s Day weekend.

If you’re watching the race at Pocono this weekend, it will be impossible to forget about the contest, because Busch has transformed Harvick’s No. 4 car into the #Dad2Daytona car. The new paint scheme was revealed earlier this week in Busch Light Blue, #Dad2Daytona on the side, a “Best Dad Joke Wins” on the hood and “Your Dad Here” pointing to Harvick’s driver seat.

The contest opens May 30, 2019, and ends on Sunday night, June 2. Fans can enter via Twitter by tweeting their best dad joke to @BuschBeer and using the hashtags #Dad2Daytona and #Contest.

Posted on by Staff Report

Although his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour record might not show it, Anthony Nocella has plenty of experience racing Modifieds in New England.

The Woburn, Massachusetts, driver won the 2017 championship in the Valenti Modified Racing Series, and has countless wins driving his family-owned No. 92 in the class. He’s also been able to run at the front of the field in the Tri Track Open Modified Series — another one of New England’s stout Modified classes.

This year, Nocella is hoping he can break into Victory Lane in Whelen Modified Tour action. And he’s hoping the upcoming Seekonk 150, at Seekonk Speedway, is the place where it happens. He does have experience at the tricky Massachusetts third-mile both with the Valenti Series and Tri Track — and he’s going to be leaning on that some Saturday.

“We’ve been running well a lot of different places but Seekonk out of all the tracks on the schedule, it’s probably our best one. That’s where I am the most even with everyone. Some of the tracks, a lot of guys have a lot more laps and experience there, but going to Seekonk, it evens out for us,” Nocella said. “It’s our home track. It makes it a little bit easier on us and I have some confidence knowing that we should run well there.”

RACING-REFERENCE: Career Stats For Anthony Nocella

Two years ago, Nocella scored his best career finish in Whelen Modified Tour at Seekonk — grabbing a second-place finish to Doug Coby. Last year, he was running inside the top three when contact with a lapped car took him from contention.

“I thought we had the car to win it last year,” Nocella said. “It’s a key to unload quick and have a little bit of confidence going into the race and I think it will be a key to try and stay up front. When we ran second a few years ago, we came through the field from 13th, but last year, I felt like we had a much better shot starting up towards the front. You have to be able to save your tires knowing that you can’t change them.”

As Nocella points out, this is one of just a few races where Whelen Modified Tour teams won’t have the luxury of bolting on fresh rubber in the second half of the race. With the pit area at Seekonk outside the track itself, not in the infield, any teams that do pit will likely lose a lap. Saving tires and equipment until the final stages could be crucial.

“I like it. It’s something different and I think it benefits us with no change. We have the speed and we can run up front, it will fit my style a little bit more,” Nocella said. “I think running with the Valenti Modifieds, it taught me how to keep the tires on the car better than some of the other guys, since we can’t have a change there either.”

After Seekonk, Nocella’s plans are to run the majority of the remaining Whelen Modified Tour races in search of his first checkered flag.

“It’s definitely the highest in Modified racing. This is some of the hardest competition with some of the best teams. There are some big races to be able to win,” Nocella said. “We’ve been close a couple of times at different places, but I’d definitely like to win some of the NASCAR races. It’s something a little different for us to do, with a little bit more prestige.”

RACING-REFERENCE: Previous Whelen Modified Tour races at Seekonk

If you couldn’t already tell, he is looking forward to Saturday.

“I think we are gaining on it,” Nocella said.

“I’d love to win. I grew up watching races and going to the track, and I always thought they were exciting. There is so much prestige. We are getting closer and closer. I’d love to be able to do it for myself and my guys.”

Whelen Modified Tour News & Notes:

  • There are 32 cars on the entry list for Saturday’s Seekonk 150, and if all show to the track, it would mark the largest car count in the history of the Whelen Modified Tour at the third-mile. Right now, last year’s 31 car appearance is at the top of the list.
  • After nearly capturing his first series win at his home track, Andrew Krause is entered for the Seekonk event. Last year, Krause qualified sixth and finished 13th.
  • Chase Dowling returns to Whelen Modified Tour competition for the first time after nearly capturing the victory in the NAPA Spring Sizzler at Stafford Motor Speedway on May 11. Dowling led 78 laps, but had to pit from the lead with rear end issues that sidelined him from the remainder of the event. Dowling finished second to Justin Bonsignore last year at Seekonk.

SEEKONK, MA - June 2: at Seekonk Speedway on June 2, 2018 in Seekonk, Massachusetts. (Matthew Thomas/NASCAR)

Posted on by Staff Report

Alaska’s baby grand racing division has a special place in the heart of Tonya Klayum. Her grandfather brought cars to the division to Alaska in the late 90s when he was a dealer and and had a three car frachise.

Klayum’s grandfather, Larry Theobold, and her dad, John Klayum, both raced the cars for several years. One night, when Klayum was about 16, her dad was unable to make the race, and the team needed an emergency fill in.

Img 4058

“The track opened for the season and my grandpa said my dad couldn’t make it so he asked if my brother could run the car,” Tonya Klayum said. “He’s younger than me and he was actually working at the track so that was a no-go. So he was like ‘well, what about Tonya?’ and I said, ‘Well, I’ve give it a try.’ I hadn’t even driven a clutch before. So we got in there and that’s just kind of how it started for me.”

After Theobold sold all his cars when he sold the franchise, Klayum and her family got out of racing for several years before she got back into it about five years ago, almost by accident. Klayum’s boyfriend was perusing Craigslist one night and saw someone advertising a race car.

The same style baby grand her family had known for years.

“He said, ‘Hey, do you know this car?’ and I said, ‘Oh yea, I used to race with that guy over at North Star Speedway,’” Klayum said. “And we kind of read the ad a little more and it ended up being free to a good home and I said, ‘Well that can’t be true.’

“So we ended up calling him and it was legit, so he actually gave us the race car for absolutely nothing. It’s an awesome car. We had a little bit of work to do to it but aside from that it’s been awesome for us.”

Klayum now drives her baby grand at Alaska Raceway Park, a third-mile asphalt oval in Palmer, Alaska. She won the track championship in the Extreme Fun Center Baby Grands at Alaska Raceway in 2017, her first season at the track. She currently leads the points in the division, while also pulling double-duty driving sprint cars at the track.

Alaska Raceway Park | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Klayum’s success at Alaska Raceway has caught the eye of owners across the state. Another chance encounter got her a seat in the sprint car.

“I had a guy at the track approach me who owns a sprint car,” she said. “He’s actually one of my customers at work and he came in and I didn’t really know it was him driving the car until he came into my work and he was like, ‘Hey good racing out there.’ And I was talking to him and I said, ‘You guys are crazy running the sprint cars on asphalt. I can’t believe how fast you go,’ and all that good stuff. And he goes, ‘Well do you want to drive it? And I kind of shook it off like it was a joke. ‘No I don’t want to race your car, I don’t want to hurt it.’ And he just kept coming back. He said, ‘You’d be really good at it, your driving is awesome, you should really give it a try.’ So we did get in a sprint car toward the end of last season, actually after the season closed.”

A rented out track allowed Klayum to do some hot laps in the sprint car to get used to how different it drives from the baby grand.

That’s all it took. On opening day at Alaska Raceway this season, the team broke the track record.

“So that was a huge deal,” she said.

Tonya Klayum Alaska Raceway Park driver profile

Tonya Klayum

Right now, the plan is to run both divisions this season. Klayum said she’s still getting used to the difference in driving style – “I was just amazed at how different it was.” While she’s become accustomed to exactly how the baby grand is supposed to feel, it’s taken some time to get used to the sprint car.

“I know absolutely nothing about it aside from just watching the owner and seeing him go around the corners drifting,” she said. “So it’s definitely a learning curve on how to pilot both of these cars the way its supposed to be.”

This year, in both cars, is about playing it by ear. While getting as many wins as possible, and ultimately a championship, is the goal, she said the team is all about staying positive either way. The competition at Alaska Raceway has gotten better and better as the series has grown, and after some big set backs last season, this year she just wants to make sure they run as best as they can.

For her, racing is about more than just wins and championships. It’s about keeping the family legacy alive.

“It’s been a lot of fun, and that’s the biggest thing is just kind of keeping it in the family,” she said. “Just over the years, all the hard work my family has put into it time and time again. I mean, the whole week used to revolve around race cars. It still does, just on a smaller scale. It’s not a whole team any more, it’s just a single car.

“My Dad races late models so he’s always there to help us out and he has so much knowledge about the cars, and my grandpa, he has so much knowledge. We’re still learning. We don’t know everything about the cars, myself and my boyfriend, but we’ve also got two kids and they’re just cloud nine about it. It’s just awesome how family-oriented this racing team is, so that’s our biggest deal.”

Racing will return to Alaska Raceway Park on June 8 with NASCAR/INEX races featuring GCI Late Models, Extreme Fun Center Baby Grands, the Legends of Classic Country 100.9, Pruhs Construction Thunder Stocks, Sportsman Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Sprint Cars.

Posted on by Matt Lederer

Editor’s note: This is a letter by Matt Lederer, Vice President for Brand Partnerships

We created the Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award at the start of our NASCAR partnership to recognize and honor the incredible individuals in this industry giving back to communities in remarkable ways. As I reflect on the four Comcast Community Champions, and the countless stories we’ve uncovered, I am so proud to say this program has far exceeded all expectations. The ongoing commitment to giving back within the NASCAR industry continues to inspire us, and we’re greatly looking forward to what is to come in 2019.

The nomination window is now officially open for you to recognize someone within the industry who is working hard to make a difference in the community. Over the next few months, our Xfinity Racing team will be working closely with you to continue education and encourage participation during the nomination process.

Please take the time to nominate deserving candidates, and learn additional details about the award, by visiting ComcastCommunityChampion.com.

The nomination deadline is Monday, July 8. Eligible award recipients include team owners, drivers, all Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Gander Outdoors Truck Series team employees, employees of tracks on the 2019 schedule for NASCAR’s top three national series, NASCAR officials and motorsports media members. In October, we will announce the three finalists; the champion, determined by a selection panel, will be announced during NASCAR Championship Weekend in Miami and recognized at the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Awards Ceremony. Comcast will make a donation of $60,000 to the charity of the 2019 Comcast Community Champion, and a donation of $30,000 each to the two remaining finalists’ respective charities.

RELATED: Nominate someone today

Since the Comcast Community Champion of the Year program kicked off in 2015, we have donated a total of $480,000 to causes of inspirational individuals in the NASCAR industry who are truly living Comcast’s core values. From work with the Iowa Donor Network to hosting camps for children with heart disease to the incredible working being done by our 2018 Champion, Joey Logano, we have been able to shine a much-deserved spotlight on individuals who have dedicated their lives to making a difference beyond the track.

Thank you in advance for your help in identifying deserving individuals to be the next Comcast Community Champion.