NASCAR Pole Position 2018 April/May by A.E. Engine

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■■ The Thunderbirds perform a flyover prior to the 60th annual Daytona 500. ■■ Darrell Wallace Jr.’s crew pushes the No. 43 Chevrolet down pit road prior to the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500. ■■ A NASCAR fan shows off his unique look at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

This edition of NASCAR Defined captures several special moments from the 2018 season. GETTY IMAGES

POLE POSITION 2018

■■ Kyle Larson celebrates with his son, Owen, after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas. ■■ Martin Truex Jr. and his crew chief, Cole Pearn, during practice for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500. ■■ Kurt Busch inspects the No. 41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford in the garage.

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CONTENT

14. NASCAR’S GREATEST RACES

MADE IN AMERICA

46. 13 QUESTIONS WITH TY DILLON

56. NASCAR LEGEND 57. RACE REWIND

NASCAR POLE POSITION RACE FAN GUIDE AN OFFICIALLY LICENSED PUBLICATION OF NASCAR

60. NASCAR ROOTS

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PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR: JASON TEDESCHI • GRAPHIC DESIGNER: STACEY FOSTER • WEB DEVELOPER: NICOLE COOPER • COPY EDITOR: KEITH WALTZ • EDITOR: DAN GUTTENPLAN • WRITERS: JARED TURNER, KEITH WALTZ, BEN WHITE, JOSEPH WOLKIN • OFFICE MANAGER: DENNIS FASONE • SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATORS: AUSTIN HERSH, VIKASH SINGH, HANNAH RENKE, SAGAR GUPTA, AIDAN ANDERSEN, ETHAN ANDERSEN • PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES, NASCAR/GETTY IMAGES • SPECIAL THANKS TO: MICHAEL FORDE (NASCAR), SARAH OBERGFELL (NASCAR), GREG CARTY (NASCAR), RACHEL SMITH A.E. ENGINE SPECIFIES THAT POST-PRESS CHANGES MAY OCCUR TO ANY INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PUBLICATION AND TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR GOODS OR SERVICES ADVERTISED. NASCAR® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR STOCK CAR AUTO RACING, INC. MAIL ORDER: TO RECEIVE A SUBSCRIPTION TO NASCAR POLE POSITION MAGAZINE, SEND A CHECK OR MONEY ORDER FOR $27.00 TO: NASCAR POLE POSITION, C/O A.E. ENGINE, 11880 28TH ST. N, SUITE 101, ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33716. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR RETURN MAILING ADDRESS AND AN EMAIL ADDRESS. ONLINE ORDER: SUBSCRIPTIONS CAN BE ORDERED ONLINE AT POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM/BUY. DISTRIBUTION: IF YOU ARE A BUSINESS OR AN ORGANIZATION INTERESTED IN DISTRIBUTING COPIES OF NASCAR POLE POSITION MAGAZINE, PLEASE CONTACT CRAIG BARONCELLI AT (727) 209-1750 OR CB@AE-ENGINE.COM. SALES INQUIRIES: IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING IN NASCAR POLE POSITION MAGAZINE OR WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE, PLEASE CONTACT DAVID WATSON AT (727) 209-0789, OR DKW@AE-ENGINE.COM. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

POLE POSITION 2018

PIT PASS 58. BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW!

DRIVER PROFILES PRESENTED BY

59. BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS 12. GREEN FLAG 16. NASCAR BUILDS

26. SPOTLIGHT: SYLVANIA

36. TAILGATING

20. SEAL THE DEAL

28. NASCAR CHARITIES

38. GRILL+CHILL

22. ON THE ROAD

30. FAVORITE FINDS

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GREEN FLAG Gordon Tops List of HoF Nominees

ASCAR announced the 20 nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019, as well as the five nominees for the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. The list includes five first-time NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees, representing different facets of NASCAR racing, all of whom influenced the sport throughout their careers. Included among the new nominees are four-time champion Jeff Gordon, and Harry Gant, a driver whose excellence spanned two decades and two series. The nominees for the Class of 2019 also include Davey Allison, Buddy Baker, Red Farmer, Ray Fox, Joe Gibbs, John Holman, Harry Hyde, Alan Kulwicki, Bobby Labonte, Hershel McGriff, Ralph Moody, Roger Penske, Larry Phillips, Jack Roush, Ricky Rudd, Kirk Shelmerdine, Mike Stefanik and Waddell Wilson. The five nominees for the Landmark Award are Janet Guthrie, Barney Hall, Alvin Hawkins, Jim Hunter and Ralph Seagraves.

he second half of the “Danica Double” has been finalized. Danica Patrick will end her full-time driving career in May by running the Indianapolis 500 in the No. 13 car fielded by Ed Carpenter Racing. It is expected to be Patrick’s final race. She competed in February’s Daytona 500, finishing 35th.

BY DAN GUTTENPLAN | PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

FAVORITE FINDS: SPEED CRATE

NASCAR and Anheuser-Busch announced the return of the “Busch Pole Award” in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and that Busch will serve as the “Official Beer of NASCAR.” It’s certainly a sentimental nod to NASCAR’s storied past and an exciting partnership to guide the sport’s future. Anheuser-Busch first sponsored the Pole Award 40 years ago in 1978 and was the sport’s “Official Beer” from 1988-1997. Two of the brand’s last pole winners are iconic names in the sport – Geoff Bodine and Jimmie Johnson.

TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY HAS ADDED SIX new sponsors to the roster of companies that support the multi-purpose motorsports facility. The additions include: Torchy’s Tacos is making a major investment in remodeling and reinventing the infield restaurant. In-N-Out Burger is planning on-site activation during race weekends while increasing brand visibility through an exterior trackside billboard. Universal Technical Institute is now the title sponsor for Friday Night Drags. Jostens has a new three-year agreement to sponsor the Speedway Club’s traditional Champagne Toast. Ashley HomeStores is backing the pre-race concert prior to April’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race. Outdoor Powersports is the new title sponsor of the Texas Off-Road Ruckus, held in conjunction with the Verizon IndyCar Series/NASCAR Camping World Truck Series doubleheader in June. 12

POLE POSITION 2018

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he Smithfield Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Smithfield Foods, has awarded a gift of $500,000 to Victory Junction, a children’s camp committed to enriching the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camp experiences. Smithfield’s donation will fund the camp’s new indoor archery range. Since 2004, Victory Junction has served 47,903 children and their family members through a variety of programs – onsite through summer and family weekend camps and offsite through the camp’s outreach program, which brings camp-like experiences to children in hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses.

Eastman Performance Films, a subsidiary of Eastman Chemical Co., has joined 12-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Hendrick Motorsports as a primary sponsor of driver Alex Bowman and the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series through 2020.

ichard Petty, Richard Petty Motorsports and sponsor Click n’ Close are giving one lucky NASCAR fan the chance to win the first Petty Fan Garage Makeover. The sweepstakes is sponsored by Click n’ Close, the Official Mortgage Provider of NASCAR and Richard Petty Motorsports. The contest is open to all – from the most avid NASCAR enthusiast to someone who just wants a priceless garage as an added value to their home. The grand prize even includes a personal visit from “The King” to celebrate the new garage. In addition, Click n’ Close will also give away five Richard Petty-autographed garage signs and 100 Click n’ Close Lionel Racing 1:24 die-cast cars, autographed by Richard Petty and driver Darrell Wallace Jr. Enter at clicknclose.nascar.com.

NBCSN to Broadcast K&N Pro FROM RUST TO FINISH Series and Whelen Modified TourPermanent Professional Restoration Products FEATURING NEXT GENERATION OF NASCAR STARS

FROM BC Sports Group and NASCAR are partnering to deliver NASCAR K&N Pro Series and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour coverage on NBCSN throughout RUSTthe TO 2018 season. The organizations announced the full broadcast schedule, FINISH where fans can tune-in to see the next generation of drivers competing to make a name for themselves on the track. RACE DATE Thu, Mar 15 Sat, Mar 17 Sat, Apr 14 Sat, Apr 28 Sat, May 05 Sat, May 05 Sat, May 12 Sat, May 12 Sat, May 19 Sat, Jun 02 Sat, Jun 02 Sat, Jun 09 Sat, Jun 16 Sat, Jun 23 Sat, Jun 23 Sat, Jun 30 Sat, Jul 14 Sun, Jul 15 Sat, Jul 21 Sat, Jul 21 Sat, Jul 20 Fri, Jul 27 Fri, Aug 03 Sat, Aug 11 Wed, Aug 15 Fri, Aug 24 Sat, Sep 01 Sat, Sep 08 Thu, Sep 13 Sat, Sep 22 Sat, Sep 22 Sat, Sep 29 Sun, Sep 30 Fri, Oct 05 Sat, Oct 13 Sun, Oct 14 Sat, Oct 27

FROM

SERIES K&N Pro West Whelen Modified K&N Pro East K&N Pro East K&N Pro West K&N Pro West K&N Pro East K&N Pro East K&N Pro West K&N Pro East Whelen Modified K&N Pro West K&N Pro East K&N Pro West Whelen Modified K&N Pro West K&N Pro East K&N Pro West K&N Pro East Whelen Modified Whelen Modified K&N Pro (Combination) K&N Pro East K&N Pro West Whelen Modified K&N Pro (Combination) Whelen Modified Whelen Modified K&N Pro West K&N Pro East Whelen Modified K&N Pro West Whelen Modified K&N Pro East K&N Pro West Whelen Modified K&N Pro West

TRACK Kern County Myrtle Beach Bristol Langley Tucson Tucson South Boston South Boston Orange Show Memphis Seekonk Colorado New Jersey Sonoma Langley Douglas County Thompson Spokane New Hampshire New Hampshire New Hampshire (All-Star) Iowa Watkins Glen Evergreen Bristol Gateway Oswego Riverhead Las Vegas New Hampshire New Hampshire Meridian Stafford Dover All American Thompson Kern County

FROM TO TO

RUST RUST FINISH FINISH

TELECAST Tue, Mar 20 Wed, Mar 21 Fri, Apr 20 Thu, May 03 Wed, May 09 Thu, May 10 Sun, May 20 Sun, May 20 Thu, MayAUTOMOTIVE 24 Wed, Jun 06 Wed, Jun 06 AUTOMOTIVE Thu, Jun 14 Mon, June 18* Thu, Jun 28 Thu, Jun 28 Fri, Jul 06 Tue, Jul 24 Tue, Jul 24 Wed, Jul 25 Wed, Jul 25 Fri, Jul 27 Thu, Aug 02 Wed, Aug 08 Wed, Aug 15 Wed, Aug 22 Thu, Aug 30 Thu, Sep 06 Thu, Sep 13 Fri, Sep 21 Thu, Sep 27 Thu, Sep 27 Fri, Oct 05 Fri, Oct 05 Thu, Oct 11 Thu, Oct 18 Thu, Oct 18 Thu, Nov 01

TIME (E.T.) 11 p.m. 6 p.m. 1 a.m. 11 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 1 p.m. 2 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 6 p.m.

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6 p.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m. 11 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 6 p.m.

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* EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS OF NEW JERSEY RACE WILL AIR ON “NASCAR AMERICA”

NASCAR RUSH RELEASED FOR APPLE AND ANDROID DEVICES 704Games, publishers of NASCAR Heat 2 and NASCAR Heat Mobile, announced the worldwide release of NASCAR Rush, a new endless racer game available for download on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Developed by Invictus Games Ltd., the creators of Daytona Rush, NASCAR Rush is the first endless racer mobile game featuring licensed NASCAR drivers and tracks from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Players can swipe on smart phones and tablets to pass, draft, pit, and avoid wrecks. NASCAR Rush features three different gameplay modes and collectible virtual cards. These exclusive cards feature fan-favorite drivers and stock cars including Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott, and Kevin Harvick that can be used for various boosts on the track. “NASCAR Rush is a new, exciting way for fans to enjoy NASCAR,” said Ed Martin, president at 704Games. “The fast-paced action is perfect for gamers and NASCAR fans of all ages looking for quick, on-the-go action.”

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NASCAR’S GREATEST RACES

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POLE POSITION 2018

any drivers throughout NASCAR’s 70-year history have enjoyed single Cup Series victories during their careers. Here’s a look at a few of those finishes: August 2, 1981: Ron Bouchard, driving the No. 47 Race Hill Farms Buick, slipped under Darrell Waltrip and Terry Labonte to win the Talladega 500. Few realized Bouchard was on the lead lap until he crossed the start-finish line two feet ahead of the future champions. Waltrip and Labonte were focused on each other and not Bouchard! July 4, 1985: Driving a second unsponsored car for DiGard Racing, Greg Sacks bested Bill Elliott to win the Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Sacks battled the leaders throughout the 160-lap race, setting the pace for 33 circuits. His red-and-white Chevrolet was a former Cale Yarborough entry with Ranier Racing and carried an engine built by Robert Yates. March 27, 1988: While fielding his own Oldsmobile, Lake Speed led 178 of 367 laps and won the TranSouth 500 at Darlington Raceway in dominant fashion. The Mississippi native took the lead for the final time with 48 laps remaining and held off Alan Kulwicki for the victory. His purple car was the first of that color to win a Cup Series race since Fireball Roberts in 1964. April 22, 1990: Wheeling Kenny Bernstein’s Buick, Brett Bodine drove to victory in the First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. A question about scoring overshadowed the race after Bodine pitted during the 10th caution flag with 79 laps remaining. NASCAR instructed the pace car to pick up Dale Earnhardt as the leader. Officials later determined Bodine was the leader when the final yellow flag came out. Bodine led the final 62 laps.

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onstructing a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup ■■ StarCom Racing car chief Mike Chance Series car – be it a has built a career in NASCAR. Chevrolet, Ford or Toyota – from the ground up begins with the chassis, suspension, body and engine. Mike Chance, car chief for StarCom Racing, relies on outsourcing to keep the upstart organization running smoothly. The larger teams hire specialists for a variety of jobs, while StarCom’s team members are extremely talented at performing a variety of tasks. “My job is to supervise all of the mechanics that work on the race car here in the shop as well as at the race track,” Chance said. “I help our crew chief, Tony Furr, with any aspect of the work that he needs to have done.” The biggest thing we look for are the pivot points While growing up in Fayetteville, North Carolina, for the front-end geometry that we want and also Chance gained a wealth of knowledge about race the heights of the truck arm mounts, the track bar car construction through local short-track racing. mounts and having them where we want them. He worked for Roush Fenway Racing from 2003 “The measuring equipment needed to build the through 2005 and Ganassi Racing from 2006 center section on the chassis around the driver is so until 2010 before taking a few years off. He joined precise and very expensive. So it’s just not feasible Richard Childress Racing in 2015 and was there for us to build them. They buy theirs precut and bent through the fall of 2017. so they can sell a built chassis to us for about the When StarCom Racing opened its doors late last same price we could build it and we don’t have all of year, Furr, a longtime friend, and Derrike Cope, vice the overhead they have. So that works for us.” president of competition, asked Chance to come on The science of making chassis set-ups perform board as car chief. well on the short-track, intermediate or super“There’s nothing on a race car I haven’t done,” speedway configurations on NASCAR’s challenging Chance said. “The best way to get into racing is to schedule are as different as night and day. volunteer with a short-track team and get experi“On a short track, you want weight to transfer ence and work from the ground up. I call it ‘Racing from the front tires to the rear tires, whereas on a 101’ because the basics are the important part of superspeedway, you’re making so much downforce the job. There are big aspects to it but the basic with the body at speed that you’re trying to use common fundamentals, foundation and groundwork your springs to hold your car at the right attitude,” are always the same.” Chance explained. “You don’t have to transfer Being a smaller NASCAR Cup Series organization, weight because you aren’t constantly slowing they save time and money by buying their chassis down. It’s about momentum so you’re trying to from Richard Childress Racing. keep the car at the right attitude to keep the “We try to accomplish light-weight loads on the downforce consistent. If a car moves around on a left but that’s not a new concept,” Chance said. superspeedway, you need to depend more on the “The chassis is basically square tubing and pipe. angle of the car to get different downforce.”

POLE POSITION 2018

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MADE IN AMERICA NASCAR HALL OF FAME

DARRELL WALTRIP

Darrell Waltrip helped take stock car racing from the backroom to the boardroom during the 1980s. The fastdriving racer from Owensboro, Kentucky, was as polished and professional while explaining the sport to CEOs in New York City as he was circling the high banks of Bristol Motor Speedway. Waltrip’s dynamic personality and outspoken style also captivated a rapidly growing audience during an era when television coverage of the sport was in its infancy. Starting his driving career in go-karts at age 12, Waltrip entered his first stock car race just four short years later. He quickly developed into one of the nation’s top short-track drivers and made his first NASCAR Cup Series start in 1972 at Alabama’s Talladega Superspeedway. Waltrip continued to make sporadic NASCAR appearances while earning a living as a barnstorming short-track racer. Finally, in 1975, he decided to become a full-time competitor in stock car racing’s premier series – and the rest is history. In a Cup Series career that stretched from 1972 to 2000,

Waltrip made 809 starts, claimed three championships, won 84 races and earned 59 poles. His victories include the 1989 Daytona and five Coca-Cola 600s, while his honors are highlighted by being named NASCAR Driver of the Decade for the 1980s. Since retiring, Waltrip has worked as the lead NASCAR analyst for FOX. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall Fame in 2012. ■■ Darrell Waltrip gives his NASCAR Hall of Fame induction speech in 2012. (Photo by Getty Images) ■■ Darrell Waltrip celebrates his victory in the 1989 Daytona 500. (Photo from ISC Archives via Getty Images)

NASCAR HALL OF FAME

RICHIE EVANS

Richie Evans was one of the most successful short-track drivers in the history of American auto racing. A native of Rome, New York, Evans left his family’s farm as a teenager to work in a local garage and soon began drag racing. An associate eventually suggested he build a hobby stock car to race at nearby Utica-Rome Speedway and his oval-track career began in 1962. Evans eventually graduated to asphalt modifieds and he drove his familiar orange-and-black No. 61 B.R. DeWitt-sponsored entry to victory at tracks up and down the East Coast. During his 20 years of racing modifieds, Evans earned 26 track championships and more than 475 feature victories. He claimed an unprecedented nine NASCAR modified championships, including eight in a row from 1978 to 1985. He was also a nine-time recipient of the modified division’s Most Popular Driver Award. “I’m proud of modified racing,” Evans was once quoted as saying. “It’s more popular in the Northeast than any other kind of racing, and I haven’t found anything I’d rather do than race.”

POLE POSITION 2018

Evans was 44 years old when he was killed on Oct. 24, 1985, while practicing for a NASCAR modified race at Virginia’s Martinsville Speedway. He had already clinched the 1985 NASCAR modified title prior to his fatal crash at the half-mile track. Evans was inducted into the NASCAR Hall Fame in 2012. ■■ Richie Evans was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2012. (Photo by Getty Images for NASCAR) ■■ Nine-time NASCAR modified champion Richie Evans was a fan favorite. (Photo by Howie Hodge via NASCAR)

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SEAL THE DEAL JIMMY FLORIAN FIRST TO WIN IN A FORD Mechanic-turned-racer Jimmy Florian was the first driver in NASCAR history to wheel a Ford to Victory Lane. The marquee moment came on June 25, 1950, at Ohio’s Dayton Speedway. Florian’s win in the 100-lap event was considered an upset as he beat NASCAR stars Curtis Turner, Lee Petty and Bill Rexford, the eventual Strictly Stock division champion that season. Florian, a native of Cleveland, led 40 of the scheduled 200 laps. The summer heat prompted him to remove his shirt in Victory Lane. Known for his infectious smiles, Florian was only 27 years old the day he sealed the deal and won his lone NASCAR race. Sadly, Florian passed away on Feb. 14, 1999, at the age of 75. Bill Whitley described his close friend in a Sept. 29, 1999, interview at Martinsville Speedway provided by FordPerformance.com. “The night he won the race against [Curtis] Turner, [Joe] Weatherly – all the big boys were there – he just outdrove them, that’s all,” Whitley said. “We talked about that for years and years and years. I kept telling him there was no way he could outrun those Oldsmobiles with a flathead Ford, but we had been running on that track seven nights a week in midgets and sprint cars. It was just a fact that we were very familiar with [the speedway] and they weren’t. He just outdrove them.”

POLE POSITION 2018

PRESENTED BY

AUSTIN DILLON PENNIES FROM HEAVEN Sponsorships in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series are measured in millions of dollars, but Austin Dillon only needed one lucky penny to win this year’s Daytona 500. Dillon led only the final lap of the race in the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet as he secured his second-career Cup Series victory. Days before the race, Dillon met a young fan at an autograph session who hadn’t committed to follow any particular driver. Dillon asked him to be his fan and gave him his hat to seal the deal. The next day, Dillon spotted the young fan standing behind the fence just outside the garage area and was given a small but significant gift of his own. “He’s like, ‘Hey, I got this for you.’ It was a lucky penny,” Dillon said. “We put it in the car. It’s sitting on the dash right now, and it’s pretty special. I think that’s really cool. I’ve never been that superstitious in my life, but my grandfather [Richard Childress] is very superstitious. I listened to him in the race, I ran the bottom more, I found a lucky penny, and it just worked out tonight, I guess.” Coincidentally, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt was given a lucky penny just days before driving his No. 3 RCR Chevrolet to victory 20 years earlier on Feb. 15, 1998.

BY BEN WHITE | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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ON THE ROAD PRESENTED BY

TALES FROM THE ROAD

Chad Kohn Keeps on Truckin’

ow in his third season as hauler driver for the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing team, Chad Kohn knows a thing or two about bumpy roads – of multiple varieties. In addition to undoubtedly hitting a few bumps while traversing the continental United States 38 weekends out of the year to get race cars to and from the track, Kohn has also faced a few bumps in his employment history. Since he began driving trucks some 25 years ago, Kohn has been let go from multiple jobs – not because of anything he did, but because multiple teams for which he’s worked have shut down. At one point, Kohn was unemployed for almost a year. “Three-hundred-sixty-three days without a job; and I finally get a phone call from Hendrick Motorsports, saying, ‘Hey, we’re looking for a backup truck driver. Would you be interested?’” Kohn remembers hearing. In April 2009, Kohn joined the Hendrick organization as the backup truck driver for the No. 48 team

of Jimmie Johnson, and later spent a season as the primary driver of the No. 48 truck. While Kohn enjoyed his time at Hendrick, he’s found the perfect home at Wood Brothers Racing – a family-run team that is the longest continuously operating team in the sport. “They treat you like you are one of their kids,” Kohn said. “It’s one of the best places I’ve ever worked. It’s awesome. You’ve got to love it to do what I do.” While Kohn does love transporting race cars from coast to coast, he admits the schedule that comes with being a hauler driver can be brutal. “You almost have to be single to do this deal, because you’re gone so much,” said Kohn, who is married and has an 11-year-old son. “My weekends are Monday and Tuesday when everybody else is at work. Everybody else’s weekends are normal weekends – Friday, Saturday, Sunday when we’re all at the race track doing what we want to do because we enjoy racing.”

TALE NO. 1: “Just the fans’ appreciation as you’re driving down the road makes you feel good. I’m driving a 70-foot rolling billboard that’s got my company and our sponsors on the side of it. You’ll have fans drive up alongside of you and give you a thumbs-up or honk their horn. Without the fans, I wouldn’t have a job. They might be on vacation or just driving wherever, and here I come, or here come the other trucks.” TALE NO. 2: “In January, we tested in Vegas and I got to talking to a couple from Canada and he owned trucks himself. Just the interaction with the fans as you’re waiting to park or are at a truck stop, you wouldn’t believe the people who want to come talk to me at truck stops when I’m getting fuel. It’s a pretty good deal. But it’s just talking to fans in general as I’m waiting to park in the garage or whatever. That guy and I talked a good two-and-a-half hours. He was just amazed about our paint job and what it consisted of and how many gallons of paint it took. We have to paint our truck and trailer every year because it fades so badly. It takes roughly 25 gallons of paint to paint it. Just talking with the fans is pretty cool.”

GET TO KNOW

CHAD KOHN HOMETOWN: Decatur, Illinois FOOD HE CAN’T DO WITHOUT: Probably chicken wings. I love some chicken wings.

POLE POSITION 2018

FAVORITE TRIP: Going out to Sonoma. It’s a 48-hour ride. We travel the southern and middle part of the United States, but we very seldom get up toward the Northwest. And the way we go, we run up through Wyoming

and all that, and come in the northern side of California. It’s pretty nice. DAYTIME OR NIGHTTIME: I would prefer to drive at night. There’s a lot less traffic to deal with. You can stay with the speed limit for a long time in-

stead of brake-checking for everybody because there’s so much traffic. BEST ROAD BUDDIES: The three Penske haulers and I all leave about the same time, and we run together to and from. It’s like a band of brothers.

BY JARED TURNER

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CREW SPOTLIGHT BRIAN HAALAND BORN TO TEACH

Brian Haaland, pit crew coach for Team Penske, began working in NASCAR through a rather unexpected path. “I was playing hockey at the University of Nebraska,” said the native of Minot, North Dakota. “We had a team performance psychologist named Dr. Jack Stark, and he was also working with Hendrick Motorsports. Kind of jokingly, he said to me, ‘Hey, have you ever thought about working on a NASCAR pit crew?’” Haaland’s brother invited him to attend a NASCAR Cup Series race at California’s Auto Club Speedway in the early 2000s. The show on pit road fascinated him much more than the race itself. A 2003 physical education graduate, Haaland began a new career in motorsports with Hendrick Motorsports in 2004. He changed tires there before moving to Red Bull Racing in 2008. Red Bull’s unique team plan called for athletes with experience from a variety of sports to make up their pit crews. He joined Team Penske in 2009 and changed tires through 2011 before becoming a pit crew coach at the start of the 2012 season. “I was going to be a teacher, and it was a natural fit,” Haaland said. “You can only change tires and work out so many times a day. I was becoming pretty close to the pit crew coaches and helped guys during pit crew practices make some improvements. Obviously, someone has to believe in you and give you an opportunity. Andy Papathanassiou [at Hendrick Motorsports] saw my ability on that side of it and allowed me to pursue it.”

POLE POSITION 2018

TOMMY DIBLASI LIVING HIS DREAM

NO ONE EVER GROWS UP PLAYING PIT CREW ON THE PLAYGROUND, SO YOU BASICALLY TEACH THEM A NEW SKILL. THE QUICK IMPROVEMENT CAN GET DOWN TO THE TINIEST DETAIL NEEDED FOR BEING THE BEST.”

PLAYING FAVORITES WITH BRIAN HAALAND VACATION SPOT: ■■ Saint Lucia SEASON: ■■ Winter HOLIDAY: ■■ Christmas TV SHOW: ■■ The Good Doctor MOVIE: ■■ Miracle MUSIC: ■■ Dave Matthews Band

Tommy DiBlasi, tire specialist for Furniture Row Racing and driver Martin Truex Jr., traveled an interesting path en route to becoming a championship crew member in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The native of Annapolis, Maryland, received his business administration degree from West Virginia University in 2006. He instead followed his heart in hopes of landing a full-time job in NASCAR. After moving to North Carolina in 2007, DiBlasi met several crew members while working a part-time job waiting tables near Charlotte Motor Speedway. They helped him find jobs in the Hooters Pro Cup Series and the ARCA Series as a tire changer. Prior to the 2015 season, while in Denver, Colorado, to see childhood friend Jordan Woodward of the Denver Broncos, DiBlasi visited the Furniture Row team and was offered an interview. He was proud to be a part of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2017 as the tire specialist for the team’s No. 78 Toyota. Both he and Woodward realized their dreams of winning championships in NASCAR and the NFL. “Winning the championship was exciting,” DiBlasi said. “I really enjoy doing the tires. It’s just me. The tires are the only four things that touch the ground. The more I pay attention to them, the more consistent they are, and the better the car will be. If the tires aren’t balanced correctly, it’s not going to go as well as the engineers expect it to.”

YOUR FIRST DREAM IS TO BE IN NASCAR. THEN YOU THINK IF YOU COULD BE ON A CUP TEAM THAT WOULD BE EVEN COOLER. ONCE YOU MAKE IT THERE, THE NEXT GOAL IS TO BE ON A TOP-10 TEAM. THEN YOU’RE WITH A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM. THAT’S CRAZY AND PRETTY WILD.”

PLAYING FAVORITES WITH TOMMY DIBLASI VACATION SPOT: ■■ Cabo San Lucas, Mexico SEASON: ■■ Fall HOLIDAY: ■■ New Year’s Eve TV SHOW: ■■ Entourage MOVIE: ■■ Gladiator MUSIC: ■■ All types

BY BEN WHITE

ClearMinis Cle

™

^It's possible while taking Nexium® 24HR. Use as directed for 14 days to treat frequent heartburn. Do not take for more than 14 days or more often than every 4 months unless directed by a doctor. Not for immediate relief. †May take 1 to 4 days for full effect. All Nexium® 24HR products have the same effectiveness. The stylized No. 3 and the RCR checkered flag logo are registered trademarks of RCR Enterprises, LLC. Ty Dillon’s name, likeness, signature and the TD stylized logo are registered trademarks of Ty Dillon. All trademarks and the likeness of the No. 3 race car are used under license from their owners.

SPOTLIGHT PRESENTED BY

MAKE A STATEMENT WITH LED LIGHTING

Upgrading to LEDs Enhances Safety

ooking for longer lasting, safer, more aesthetically pleasing lighting for the interior or exterior of your vehicles? Consider switching from incandescent bulbs to LEDs, because compatibility with your vehicle certainly won’t be a problem and the benefits will be quickly seen. SYLVANIA, the world’s leader in automo¬tive lighting, offers 150 mini LED bulbs, 75 each in two LED families, that work in cars, trucks, campers, boats, four-wheelers, ATVs and various other forms of transportation, anything 12V. The ZEVO family of LED mini bulbs comes with a lifetime warranty adding to the benefit of LED. “Upgrading to LED technology on the interior of your vehicle, your lights become brighter and whiter,” said Brian Noble, marketing manager for OSRAM SYLVANIA. “Everything becomes more easily seen. So if you were to drop a pen or your kids’ drop french fries on the floor, you can see them. It’s a big improvement over incandescent bulbs. There’s a safety side of it too; when you open up the car, it is all visible and there are no shadows or dark spots. So that’s the interior side. As we move outside the car, those third brake lights and turn lights on a lot of newer cars are moving to LED. And LED gives you a new style, which can be gained with the new LED replacement bulbs” As great as it might be to have more modernlooking lights, it’s the safety enhancements of LED mini bulbs that really set them apart.

POLE POSITION 2018

“LEDs light up faster, so they’re on/off almost instantly, versus an incandescent bulb that warms up and cools down,” Noble said. “That instant-on/ off, when you’re talking highway speeds, equals about 18 feet that somebody could see your vehicle sooner as you’re hitting the brakes or making a turn. Drivers around you can make a better decision. Eighteen feet is almost the length of an average car, so you look at that and say, ‘We really are affecting people’s lives if you install these LED brake lights.’ Somebody is going to see your action sooner,so they can react sooner – especially in this day and age of distracted driving. Seeing something sooner is always a good thing.” And a safer, brighter option is always better. “I’d rather keep somebody’s front bumper out of my trunk all day long,” Noble said. “When your kids are the ones in the backseat, you definitely don’t want somebody hitting you back there.”

ore and more drivers are making the move from halogen headlights to HID or LED headlights in their brand new cars. In fact, 10 percent of all vehicles on the road now use LED or HID headlights as the original equipment choice. A lot of the newer vehicles may have LED or HID headlights but still come with halogen fog lights because of the difference in cost between technologies. Because of this, SYLVANIA has created ZEVO LED fog lights where drivers can kick the halogen foglight out with the new “plug and play” LED bulbs, as SYLVANIA’s Brian Noble described. SYLVANIA’s new premium ZEVO LED bulb, empowers you to update your vehicle’s fog lights with the stylish look of an LED direct replacement bulb to match your HID or LED headlights. Engineered to provide the ultimate in style and durability, the ZEVO bulbs are guaranteed to turn heads. World-class manufacturing and high quality materials guarantee ZEVO bulbs an extended lifetime, along with a 5-year warranty (5X better than the halogen bulbs warranty). “Put the LED bulb in, and the front of the vehicle will look cleaner as you are driving down the road,” Noble said. “Everything will be a similar color, which is really important for those people worried about the aesthetics of their car. A car is a representation of the driver, in a lot of cases. There’s the ‘I want this car to get me from Point A to Point B, but I also want this vehicle to represent who I am.’”

BY JARED TURNER

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NASCAR CHARITIES

HELPING CHILDREN

Boyd Gaming: Making an Impact

ne of the largest and most successful casino entertainment companies in the United States, Boyd Gaming, is making an impact that goes beyond pleasing customers and creating memorable experiences for those who visit any of the company’s 24 gaming properties. This is happening in large part through Boyd Gaming’s longstanding relationship with the Las Vegas Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. One of the Vegas chapter’s most important initiatives is the annual Speedway Children’s Charities NASCAR Driver & Memorabilia Auction that takes place on the Thursday of the spring NASCAR weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The auction is held at Sam’s Town Live!, which is located inside Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall – a Boyd Gaming property. Featuring an array of racing memorabilia and other items, the live auction gives attendees an opportunity to bid on the ride of a lifetime – a chance to join a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series or NASCAR Xfinity Series driver during the pre-race parade lap for that weekend’s Pennzoil 400 Monster Energy Series race or Boyd Gaming 300 Xfinity Series race at LVMS. This year’s auction, which included guest appearances from NASCAR drivers Ty Dillon, Dalton Sargeant and Jeffrey Earnhardt, featured 137 silent or live caution items, and attracted more than 100 guests. Most importantly, the event raised $46,446 to benefit the Las Vegas Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. Boyd Gaming helped make the

POLE POSITION 2018

auction possible by not only providing a venue but also providing help with food and beverages, audio and visuals, room setup, lighting, sound, equipment and event personnel. Boyd Gaming, which also always helps arrange for at least one NASCAR driver to be in attendance, has donated all of this free of charge for more than a decade. “They are a fabulous partner in the community,” said Paulette Anderson, the Las Vegas Chapter director of Speedway Children’s Charities. “They are very generous in they donate a lot of items – some autographed, some not – for NASCAR that we are able to turn around and utilize at our NASCAR driver memorabilia auction.” Boyd Gaming’s involvement with Speedway Children’s Charities even extends beyond NASCAR. In December, Boyd Gaming hosted the 10th annual Bob Tallman WNFR Charity Bowling Tournament benefiting the Las Vegas Chapter and the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund. “Boyd Gaming definitely takes pride in the fact that we do community outreach and are involved in several different organizations around town that support helping groups in need,” said Jackie Ferrando, Boyd Gaming’s director of event marketing. “Our founder, Sam Boyd, back in the ’60s was one of the partners who brought the Boys and Girls clubs to town. So one of the foundations the company was built on was that we want to share our successes and give back to the community.”

n December, the Las Vegas Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities distributed more than $311,000 to various national and 57 local charities after a stellar year of fundraising. The money raised in 2017 is the second-highest total for the Las Vegas Chapter, behind the charity’s $314,000 in distributions in 2007. Baby’s Bounty, the Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation, Street Teens and the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation were among the charities receiving grants. Speedway Children’s Charities is a nonprofit organization that provides funding for hundreds of nonprofit organizations throughout the United States that meet the direct needs of children. Its vision is that every child has the same opportunities no matter what obstacle they are facing. Local chapters of Speedway Children’s Charities work with a diverse range of people and organizations to identify and resolve pressing issues dealing with children in their communities. “It’s very rewarding to see the impact we’re making on the community,” said Jackie Ferrando, who sits on the board of Speedway Children’s Charities in addition to her role with Boyd Gaming. “That’s the best part. It definitely goes to the children. If we receive a grant application and it’s to help pay the salary for a teacher or administrative costs, it gets denied. We want to see the money being used for kids – whether it’s buying them shoes or clothes because it’s a group that just doesn’t have access to that, or whether it’s an opportunity for children who might have a disability to go on a field trip that they might not otherwise be able to go on.”

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: T.J. MILLER

Book your Fall 2018 Race package now! September 14 - 16, 2018

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Visit BoydEvents.com/NASCAR or call 888-582-6278

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FAVORITE FINDS

COOL STUFF FOR SERIOUS RACE FANS

GLACIER COOLERS

SURECAN The award-winning SureCan was designed with all of your gas-powered machines in mind. With patented technology, the SureCan offers its user the best experience they have ever had with a fuel can. The flexible spout rotates down more than 180 degrees and fits perfectly into any machine’s fill location, while the thumb-release trigger on top controls the flow. By pulling straight back on the safety trigger and then down on the thumb button, fuel is released immediately while you stay in complete control. When you notice your tank is almost full, slowly release the thumb button and allow the excess fuel to drain from the top of the spout before rotating it back up. No more bending over, tipping your fuel can forward and holding it in an awkward position. The SureCan is a high-quality fuel dispensing machine. Learn more at surecanusa.com.

POLE POSITION 2018

The evolution of GLACIER Coolers has set the new standard for cooler design, construction and insulation. We started GLACIER with big ambitions. Our goal was to design and construct a cooler that would exceed our customers’ expectations. Our coolers are, quite simply, the world’s finest. We created a product that will give you a generation of use. Our commitment to innovation and craftsmanship is built into every cooler. Whether you are camping, fishing or just love the outdoors, GLACIER builds coolers to withstand many years of rugged outdoor exposure. Learn more at glaciercoolers.com.

BUBBA BURGER BUBBA burger® is sold in grocery stores throughout the United States as well as worldwide through the U.S. Military Commissary system. BUBBA burger® is a natural choice for quality and convenience, using only the highest quality meat to produce our uniquely shaped, gluten-free BUBBA burgers®. You can take them right from your freezer to your grill or skillet and BUBBA burgers® come in many varieties to fit any taste. Race to your favorite local grocer’s freezer today and grab a box of BUBBA burgers® so that you are sure to have a winning race weekend! bubbafoods.com

UNIVERSITY OF RACING

BLAKEWAY PANORAMAS

Behind every Icons 1:24 scale die-cast replica is a memorable story of passion, dreams and commitment to excellence. Our quality materials, uncompromised craftsmanship and attention to detail assure you of the most authentic and best value in the industry. Our University of Racing die-casts bring back the memories of the true race fan, while educating the new race fan about the amazing cars, the legendary drivers and the unbelievable stories that have made NASCAR the fan favorite sport it is today. Icons goal is to recognize these competitors and their amazing race cars that made stock car racing what it is today. They are the true “Legends.” We welcome the opportunity to bring these memories to life in your collection. Learn more at universityofracing.com.

Showcase your love for NASCAR and make your man cave the envy of your friends with a Blakeway Panoramas print of your favorite race track. This wide, panoramic format will take your man cave decor from ordinary to extraordinary. Each 40-inch panoramic photo is printed with UV resistant ink on art stock to ensure you’ll have a long-lasting memento of the big race. Shop now at panoramas.com.

HOWES MULTI-PURPOSE OIL

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Howes Multi-Purpose Lubricator and Penetrating Oil is the ultimate solution to all of your penetrating oil needs. Made from a secret formula of highly refined petroleum ingredients, Howes Multi-Purpose contains no alcohols or harmful solvents, making it safe to use on virtually any surface including electrical wires. With Howes Multi-Purpose, you can dissolve rust, sludge and gunk while displacing water and repelling dust. It permeates, penetrates and does not evaporate so each job lasts. From stopping squeaky door hinges to preventing locks from freezing or getting sticky, the uses are almost never ending! Spray on nuts, bolts, tools and more to remove and prevent rust and corrosion. Lubricate and drive water out of cable housings or spray on wires, leads and distributor caps to start damp engines. Join the likes of national fleets as well as thousands of automotive repair shops and marinas nationwide by grabbing a can of Howes Multi-Purpose today! Learn more at howeslube.com.

The No. 1 RV Holding Tank Treatment. Porta-Pak RV Holding Tank Deodorizer and Waste Digester was introduced by Walex Products Company, Inc. to provide the ease and convenience of the watersoluble drop-in for Recreational Vehicle enthusiasts. Porta-Pak revolutionized the RV industry when it was introduced and is now used globally by millions in a variety of applications including: Portable Restrooms, RV, Marine, Bus and Trains. Porta-Pak remains the industry’s leading portion control product by offering the best deodorizer and waste digester in the industry at an affordable price. Porta-Pak is formaldehyde free, biodegradable, contains non-staining color and offers the most powerful odor prevention in the market. The ease of use makes Porta-Pak the product of choice for millions of customers around the world. Available in two fragrances: fresh scent and lavender breeze. Check your local retail outlet for your favorite Walex product or visit Walex at rvsanitation.com.

PORTABEER Your favorite beer can be on tap anywhere with the PortaBeer mobile draft beer system. Designed for parking lots, backyards and block parties, it delivers a perfect, bar-quality pour using easy-to-use, easy-to-clean technology. Engineered to fit any size keg — and keep it cold for up to three days indoors or out — you can enjoy a great-tasting beer at any gathering (or long weekend!) without ever having to worry about where to plug it in. Choose from five colors that fit your décor or style. Learn more at PortaBeer.com.

TIGER BALM Whether you’re a world-class athlete or a weekend warrior, you can trust Tiger Balm for proven, pill-free pain relief. It’s the world’s No. 1 selling pain-relieving ointment, made from a blend of herbal ingredients, based upon annual sales of ointment sold worldwide. Visit facebook.com/TigerBalmUS or tigerbalm.com for your nearest retailer.

HONDA GENERATORS

FOLEX

Honda’s Super Quiet Series generators – the EU1000i, EU2000i, EU3000is, EU3000i Handi and EU7000is – are inverter-equipped, lightweight models that feature extremely quiet performance. Designed for the ultimate in quality, portability and convenience, these models are ideal for tailgating, camping or any trip to the great outdoors. Honda is proud to support several teams such as Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Stewart-Haas Racing, Kyle Busch Motorsports and Rev Racing with EU series generator products that provide smooth, reliable power for their racing needs.

FOLEX® is perfect for removing stains from upholstery, vinyl, clothing and practically any other material that is “colorfast” and “color-stable.” Even hard surfaces, painted surfaces, walls and woodwork that can be safely dampened with water will be quickly and easily cleaned with FOLEX®! Please visit folex.net for a list of retailers in your area and other useful information!

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

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Cain Daytona is the latest release from Studio Tobac. The Jalapa Ligero is more refined than other Ligeros. Jalapa Ligero, plus Cain’s triple fermentation, makes Cain Daytona a medium to fullbodied, smooth, rich and flavorful smoke. Making a Straight Ligero cigar requires a unique understanding of the leaf. Ligero comes from the top of the tobacco plant. Its direct exposure to the sun darkens and thickens the leaf. Smaller than leaves lower on the plant,

it also enjoys a concentration of nutrients. Habano Seed Ligero is recognized as the most full flavored leaf. Additionally, the region in which this Habano Seed is grown plays a significant role in its flavor and strength. Jalape Ligero is the smoothest of these powerhouses. Jalapa is the northernmost tobacco region of Nicaragua. Jalapa Ligero is grown in a valley and enjoys less direct sun. The result is a full-bodied leaf with a more noticeable range of flavor. Cain Daytona is exclusively manufactured and distributed by Tabacalcera Oliva Cigar Co. Learn more at CainCigars.com.

GEICO Great news! There’s a quick way you can save money: Switch to GEICO. All it takes is 15 minutes to find out if you could save 15 percent or more on car insurance. And GEICO offers coverage for more than just car insurance. Got a motorcycle? GEICO’s got you covered. Got an RV? Covered. Got a boat? Covered. How about homeowners or renters insurance? You bet GEICO’s got you covered. And there’s so much more GEICO could help with, plus don’t forget the discounts. Go to geico.com today and see how much you could save. That’s geico.com!

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BFGOODRICH RUGGED TERRAIN T/A Are you driver enough? Just because a tire looks good on your truck doesn’t mean you have to hear it on the highway. Introducing the BFGoodrich® Rugged Terrain T/A® tire – it sounds nothing like it looks. Learn more at Walmart.com. BFGoodrichTires.com © 2017 MNA, Inc. All rights reserved.

NEXIUM 24HR Nexium® 24HR is the No. 1 selling frequent heartburn brand*. More than 10 years and millions of prescriptions later, The Purple Pill® you know and trust is available without a prescription for frequent heartburn. Nexium® 24HR works by blocking acid directly at the source, giving you complete protection^ from frequent heartburn – no matter what triggers it. This is Nexium Level Protection®. * Based on IRI sales data 52 weeks ending 2/14/16 among OTC brands. May take 1 to 4 days for full effect. Use as directed. ^ It’s possible while taking Nexium 24HR. Use as directed for 14 days to treat frequent heartburn. Do not take for more than 14 days or more often than every 4 months unless directed by a doctor. Not for immediate relief.

POLE POSITION 2018

ELEKTROPLATE Personalize your very own license plate frame with us today! Comprised of an all-metal frame with striking customizable 3D text options, there are over 25 different combinations of colors and designs to choose from, so you’re sure to find one that works perfectly for you. Own a company or organization? We also work with many of the country’s largest auto manufacturers, dealerships and automotive organizations on custom automotive accessories! Whether you are looking to garner brand recognition or generate revenue, we can find the perfect solution for you. Elektroplate specializes in high-end automotive accessories that are guaranteed to

withstand harsh outdoor environments. Product lines include chrome emblems, hitch covers, front license plates, license plate frames, and specialty decals. Product categories include collegiate, military, religious, masonic, hunting and fishing, flags, letters and numbers, ribbons, fire, EMS, police, DC Comics and many more. Race to chromeemblems.com to see all the possibilities!

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TOOLS OF THE TRADE Wedge Wrenches Cars raced in today’s NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series are state-of-the-art machines built for ultimate speed and safety. In order to make them go fast, they must handle well on every track configuration. One small but important tool of the trade is the wedge wrench, an L-shaped device used to adjust the weight on each corner of the car. Scott Bowen, pit crew coach for Roush Fenway Racing, confirms these specially built wrenches are an integral part of every pit stop. “The wedge wrench is inserted into a jack screw inside the car that goes up or down,” Bowen said. “That changes the height of the car being adjusted. Basically, it comes in different shapes and sizes depending on the ergonomics of the pit crew member using it. So a taller crew member may use a shorter wrench.” NASCAR has one important rule teams follow when making each wedge wrench. From there, they are customized for those using them. “The color is mandated by NASCAR, which is yellow,” Bowen

said. “But the size, shape and weight are totally up to the crew member’s preference. We make all of them in-house. They are all basically the same. Some will be a solid piece; some will have little handles that will spin around on top as the crew member makes the adjustments to both sides of the car.” BY BEN WHITE

POLE POSITION 2018

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Tailgating with Bruce and Sherry Kerns

ruce and Sherry Kerns are passionate about NASCAR, good food and drink, and making memories with friends. No wonder the husband and wife have a hard time passing up an opportunity to tailgate at a race. So each time NASCAR ventures to Dover, Delaware, one need not look too hard to find Bruce and Sherry. If cars aren’t on track, the Kernses are probably huddled up doing, well, what tailgaters do. “Dover will always be a special place,” said Sherry, who enjoyed her first Dover tailgating experience in the fall of 1992. “It is our home track, it is the first race that Bruce and I attended together, and we spend time with dear friends for a weekend. We get to walk, take in the sights, eat, shop and people-watch … or be watched.”

Not that the Monster Mile is the only track where the Kernses have made tailgating memories for a lifetime. One of their most memorable tailgates came years ago at Bristol Motor Speedway, where they and a big group of friends chowed down on giant steaks and shrimp. “There were three campers, two tents, two awnings, a large grill, a griddle, fire, wood, coolers, four or five tables, a blender, five dogs and 16 people,” Sherry recalled. “This was fun, and I certainly could not pass on any tales from that weekend. Everyone still talks about this trip.” As far as Bruce is concerned, it’s all but impossible to go wrong with a NASCAR tailgating experience – regardless of where the tailgating occurs. “I’ve never been to a bad race,” he said.

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ace fans like Bruce and Sherry Kerns, who are regulars of the tailgating scene at Dover International Speedway, might like to consider purchasing the ultimate showpiece for funfilled, lighthearted tailgating experiences at the one-mile track known as the Monster Mile. The Dover International Speedway WinCraft Monster Mile 3’ x 5’ Flag – “a perfect display of racing pride” – is a 100-percent polyester, officially NASCAR-licensed, ready-to-hang, Made-in-the-USA flag bearing the likeness of Dover’s impossible-to-miss and immensely popular icon, Miles the Monster. The eye-catching flag features high-quality stitching and is available at the NASCAR.com Superstore for $39.99.

POLE POSITION 2018

o have a quality tailgate, quality food is a necessity. So it goes with Bruce and Sherry Kerns, who are never willing to skimp on their culinary selections. “We have a pretty broad menu, and really no recipes are ever followed exactly,” Sherry said. “A good meal is sometimes the company and the effort. We certainly have never had a bad meal.” While the Kernses may not typically follow recipes to the letter, there’s at least one that they keep close by. It comes to them courtesy of their good friends, Nick and Luann – whom they met in 1992 when Nick and Luann were Sherry’s neighbors. It’s no wonder that when Bruce and Sherry tailgate at the races, Nick and Luann can often be found right there with them. Here’s the recipe and directions for Luann’s macaroni salad, which Sherry considers one of her favorite tailgating dishes: ■■ One-pound package of elbow noodles (16 ounces – cook and drain) ■■ Two medium cucumbers cleaned, peeled and cut in half (scoop seeds out, then cut in small pieces) ■■ One small-to-medium onion chopped to about a half cup ■■ Two 9-ounce cans of drained tuna ■■ One tablespoon of garlic pepper ■■ Refrigerate

Q&A WITH BRUCE & SHERRY FAVORITE DRIVERS BRUCE: Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson. SHERRY: I am currently undecided, since Dale Jr. retired. RESIDENCE AND HOMETOWN BRUCE: Dover, Delaware. SHERRY: Dover. Born and raised in Milford, Delaware. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A NASCAR FAN? BRUCE: 15 years. SHERRY: 30-plus years. WHERE HAVE YOU TAILGATED? BRUCE: Dover, Richmond, Bristol, Darlington, Atlanta, Talladega, Martinsville, Homestead and Daytona. SHERRY: Dover, Bristol, Charlotte, Darlington, Richmond, Atlanta, Daytona, Talladega, Martinsville and Homestead. WHAT MAKES A GOOD TAILGATE? BRUCE: Food, beer, friends and good racing. SHERRY: The people, the atmosphere and the food.

BY JARED TURNER

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NASCAR National Series

Driver Profiles There’s a lot to learn about NASCAR drivers. Whether it be their hobbies, their favorite things or how they’ve performed on the track, take some time to get to know them.

POLE POSITION 2018

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

Erik Jones SOPHOMORE SENSATION As a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series rookie in 2017, Erik Jones showed flashes of the promise that his current team owner, Joe Gibbs, saw in him years ago when he signed him to a contract with Joe Gibbs Racing.

Now in his second season in NASCAR’s premier series – and racing under the JGR banner after spending 2017 with Furniture Row Racing – Jones wants to take his performance up a notch. After all, he’s taken over a ride – the No. 20 Toyota Camry – that achieved notable success the past five years with veteran Matt Kenseth at the wheel. Now, after a winless rookie season, Jones believes it’s time to really show what he can do. It helps that he’s a proven winner, having captured the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship for Kyle Busch Motorsports and earned a total of nine NASCAR Xfinity Series victories for Joe Gibbs Racing from 2014-2017. This season’s overarching goal is rather straightforward. “I think last year it was disappointing for us not to make the playoffs,” Jones said. “We still had a good year, but it was disappointing. One of our big goals was to make the playoffs. Not being able to make it was disappointing, but for sure this year that’s a big goal of ours. I think we have to make the playoffs. There’s really no reason we shouldn’t. We’re going to have great stuff, and we’re going to have fast cars, and we have more than enough opportunity to do that.”

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espite claiming Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series rookie-of-theyear honors in 2017, Jones wants to up his game a bit this season. And, there’s one key area in particular where he sees room for growth. “I think green flag pit stops really are a huge spot for me to improve on,” he said. “There’s a lot of time to be gained on entry and exit of pit road as well as time on pit road.”

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Jimmie Johnson: Top-5 Wins

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immie Johnson has experienced terrific success in his championshipladen NASCAR career. Here is a glimpse at five of his greatest victories. 2006 Daytona 500: It took Jimmie Johnson only five tries to notch his first victory in The Great American Race, which he won for the first time in 2006 and did so under the unlikeliest of circumstances – while competing without crew chief Chad Knaus, who had been suspended for a rules violation earlier during Speedweeks. With interim pit boss Darian Grubb calling the shots for the No. 48 team, Johnson led the final 17 laps on the way to scoring arguably what still remains the biggest victory of his career. 2005 Coca-Cola 600: Johnson all but owned Charlotte Motor Speedway during his early years, piling up victories at a dizzying pace at the 1.5-mile track just down the road from the Hendrick Motorsports campus where his No. 48 Chevrolets are built and maintained. One of Johnson’s most impressive and most exciting wins at Charlotte came in the 2005 Coca-Cola 600, an event in which he staged a furious late-race charge to the front and nipped Bobby Labonte at the finish line for the victory by .027 seconds. 2016 Ford EcoBoost 400: After trailing his three fellow title contenders almost the entire race, Johnson moved to the front for the first time with three laps remaining. Then, despite being on older tires than most, Johnson got the restart of his life for the green-white-checkered finish, and managed to hold the field at bay for the final two laps. With the win, Johnson made history by tying legends Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt as the only drivers to earn seven championships in NASCAR’s premier series. 2012 Brickyard 400: Johnson took the checkered flag 4.758 seconds ahead of Kyle Busch, tying teammate Jeff Gordon for most NASCAR premier series victories at the Brickyard with four. Johnson won for the 58th time in his premier series career, leaving the Hendrick Motorsports driver eighth on the all-time list. Perhaps most impressive, the victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was Johnson’s fourth in a seven-race stretch at the fabled track. “To come here and win is a huge honor,” Johnson said. “And to win four – four wins – I’m at a loss for words.” 2012 Bojangles’ Southern 500: After months of trying, Johnson gave team owner Rick Hendrick his 200th premier series victory, running away from the field at Darlington Raceway on a green-whitecheckered-flag restart. Johnson ended his own winless streak of 16 races, a notable drought by his lofty standards. The victory was Johnson’s 56th, breaking a tie with Rusty Wallace for eighth on the all-time list. After pitting for the final time on lap 299 of 368, Johnson managed to save enough fuel to make it to the checkered flag.

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Kyle Busch: 5 Favorite Tracks

yle Busch, an almost-certain Hall of Famer, has excelled since entering the NASCAR scene, especially at these tracks. Indianapolis Motor Speedway: It took Kyle Busch 11 tries to master the worldfamous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but when he figured it out, he really figured it out. Busch became the first back-to-back NASCAR winner at the legendary 2.5-mile track with his victories in 2015 and 2016. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has started from the pole at Indy the past two years and appeared to be on his way to a possible third-consecutive victory at the fabled facility in 2017 before tangling with Martin Truex Jr. Busch finished 34th after leading a race-high 87 laps. Bristol Motor Speedway: As of press time, Busch owned six Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victories at Bristol – where he’s been to Victory Lane more than at any other track on the series schedule. Particularly impressive about Busch’s triumphs in Thunder Valley is that they’re split right down the middle, with three coming in the track’s spring day race, and the same number coming in the track’s nighttime fall race. Also impressive is that Busch’s Bristol wins have been spread out; the first came in 2007, and the most recent as of press time came last fall. Richmond Raceway: From 2009-2012, Busch could seemingly do no wrong at Richmond. Whether dominant or in far less overwhelming fashion, the Las Vegas native collected four consecutive spring race victories under the lights at the three-quarter-mile Virginia short track. Busch hasn’t been to Victory Lane in a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond since 2012, but he earned his sixth career Richmond runner-up finish in the spring of 2016. One of Busch’s Richmond wins – the one in the spring of 2010 – came after starting from the pole. New Hampshire Motor Speedway: One of several tracks where Busch has more than two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victories, New Hampshire is one of the few tracks where Busch has gone to Victory Lane with two different teams. Busch’s first victory at the one-mile track came all the way back in 2006 – during his three-year run with Hendrick Motorsports. Busch’s other two wins at the “Magic Mile” – in 2015 and 2017 – have come since he joined Joe Gibbs Racing and took over the organization’s No. 18 Toyota in 2008. Sonoma Raceway: Becoming more well-known in recent years for his ability on the road courses, Busch has been especially stout at Sonoma Raceway – a serpentine 1.99-mile course that provides one of the trickiest layouts on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule. Busch first conquered the venue in Northern California’s Wine Country back in 2008, his first year with Joe Gibbs Racing. His second and most recent win here came in his championship season of 2015. Busch has finished no worse than seventh in his past three Sonoma starts.

POLE POSITION 2018

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY PHOTOS

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and took us to Victory Lane. We didn’t really know the importance of the race; we just knew we had won the race and were in Victory Lane. That was such a special moment in time because I feel like that was where my want for victory and Victory Lane celebrations came from, which eventually fueled my passion for racing. Do you race your brother any differently than anyone else? I don’t think so. We race each other really hard – just the same as anybody else. I think we’re very competitive and we definitely want to beat each other when we’re out there on the track together, but in other circumstances we always want to see each other do well. Do you ever worry about your brother being more successful than you? No. His career path is his, and I’ve got my own. What’s next on your bucket list? I think after racing is over I want to get involved in other sports and with other sports teams. And I love technology, so whatever that may bring, I want to invest more time in that, and learning it. I have a lot of things I want to do beyond racing. I think my biggest goal in racing is to win a championship and be able to win races consistently. Would you rather win 100 races or seven championships? Probably seven championships because I’d have to win about 100 races to win seven championships. Had you not pursued a career in motorsports, what would you be doing? I’d be involved with some kind of sports team – in management or something like that. I’ve always loved the statistical side of sports and the player/ personnel side. Why are you so passionate about hunting? I just love being in the outdoors, and I think it’s not necessarily about the hunt as much as it is about the stories and things that you learn about yourself and other people when you’re out hunting, and just the expanse of being outdoors and being in the woods and getting to see the world from a different view. Name one driver in the sport you’d like to get to know better? Probably Jimmie Johnson. Why Jimmie? Because he’s a seven-time champion. What do you think Dale Earnhardt would think about NASCAR in 2018? I think he would love where it’s at. I think the sport is in a great spot with all the young drivers coming in. I was really young when Dale passed away, and I didn’t know him that well, but I think he would be proud of where our sport is.

QUESTIONS WITH

Ty Dillon 1

What do you love most about GEICO? The fact that they’ve been so loyal not only to the sport of NASCAR but to Germain Racing; and they’ve really put a lot of effort into helping this team and they’re so involved in everything in NASCAR that it just means a lot for them this past year to take a risk on a rookie like myself and reinvest back in the sport in a young guy. Biggest takeaway from first-time parenting? Luckily, I have a great wife and she’s like “super-mom” already, and she does so much. Just the communication that you’ve got to put together in just having one child is a lot, but it’s been an awesome experience, and to be able to look in your little girl’s eyes and see yourself and see your wife; just to have that is pretty amazing. What would constitute a successful NASCAR career for you? It would be to be able to look back on whatever it is – 10 or 15 years – and say that I got better every year and achieved more goals year in and year out and won races and competed for championships. I want to be able to leave the sport as more than just a race car driver, but as someone who helped the sport develop and move to a better spot than it is now. When Dale Earnhardt won the Daytona 500, you were about to turn 6. What do you remember about that day? I was actually at Motor Racing Outreach and we were hanging out and my grandma came and got us

POLE POSITION 2018

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BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY PHOTOS

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Kurt Busch: 5 Fast Facts

After Years of Frustration, He Won the Daytona 500: Prior to last season, Kurt Busch had never won at either of NASCAR’s two restrictor-plate tracks – Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. That all changed with the 2017 Daytona 500 as Busch put his past plate disappointments aside and captured a thrilling triumph in the 59th running of the sport’s biggest race. Busch, who counts Monster Energy as one of his primary sponsors, couldn’t have picked a better time to break through in the 500 since this was Monster Energy’s first official race as NASCAR’s new title sponsor. He’s Married to a Model/Athlete: Busch is married to Ashley Van Metre, an accomplished model and polo player. The couple tied the knot on Jan 7, 2017, in a private wedding on the Caribbean island of Saint Barthelemy. They began dating the previous year. “My life completely changed when fate brought us together. So happy to call you my wife,” Busch tweeted two days after joining in matrimony with his new bride. Van Metre is now a familiar face at the race track, often standing on the grid with her husband during pre-race ceremonies. He Made Indy 500 History in 2014: Making his first open-wheel start of any kind, Busch finished an impressive sixth in the 2014 Indianapolis 500. He later competed in NASCAR’s longest race – the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway – that same day. While several drivers with NASCAR connections have made appearances in open-wheel racing’s biggest event, none have finished as high as Busch in their first Indianapolis 500 start. “What an unbelievable experience,” Busch said. “I’m sure I had a top-five car. To be able to post a sixth-place finish was beyond my wildest expectations.” He Has Competed for Multiple NASCAR Teams: Busch began his full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career with Roush Fenway Racing in 2001, winning a championship in 2004. Busch joined Team Penske beginning with the 2006 season and remained there through 2011. He moved to Phoenix Racing in 2012 but left the organization to join Furniture Row Racing for the final six races. Busch competed full time for Furniture Row in 2013, before jumping to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014. Busch is in his fifth season with SHR, co-owned by Tony Stewart and businessman Gene Haas. He Has a Diverse Racing Background: Busch spent the 2000 season as a full-time driver in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, finishing second in the standings and earning four wins for Roush Fenway Racing. The previous year, Busch made three starts in what is now the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and drove the full season in the NASCAR Southwest Series where he recorded six victories and captured the series championship. In addition to his memorable Indy 500 start, Busch owns a pair of starts in what is now known as the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and he’s even tried his hand at NHRA Pro Stock drag racing.

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POLE POSITION 2018

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY PHOTOS

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Ryan Blaney POSITIONED FOR SUCCESS

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After leading the most laps on the way to a seventh-place finish in the Daytona 500, Ryan Blaney was less than buoyant about the outcome. Five days later, the Team Penske driver seemed to be in a better frame of mind – but only slightly. “I was in kind of a weird mood Sunday and Monday and I wasn’t really distraught or nothing, but I wasn’t really happy or excited,” Blaney admitted before the season’s second race. “I was almost in kind of a weird, peaceful mood, which was strange. I knew we went out and we did the best that we could and it just didn’t work out for us and what are you gonna do? You can’t complain too much about that.” Nor can Blaney complain much about the enviable position he finds himself in these days. As the driver of a third car for the powerhouse Team Penske organization, Blaney knows he’s with one of the sport’s top teams and is positioned to go far in the sport, especially after earning his first career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory last year with Wood Brothers Racing. “I’ve been so lucky to drive for some great teams over the past few years,” Blaney said. “With the Wood Brothers and now to drive a Cup car full time for Roger Penske is a dream of mine. Those are two of the most historic teams and names in the sport. I’ve been lucky enough to get to drive for both of them now.”

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Blaney admits he often still leans on his father, Dave, a former longtime driver in NASCAR’s premier series, for parental wisdom and guidance along the way.

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SPONSORS MENARDS, PPG, DEX IMAGING MANUFACTURER FORD CREW CHIEF JEREMY BULLINS

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hile Ryan Blaney is technically with a new team this season in Team Penske, he’s no stranger to the organization. Blaney has made multiple starts for Team Penske in the NASCAR Xfinity Series over the past few years and even made his premier series debut with the team back in 2014. While driving for Wood Brothers Racing the past three seasons, he also worked in tandem with Team Penske personnel as part of the two organizations’ close technical alliance.

Josh Bilicki

NEW TEAM + NEW DRIVER = HIGH HOPES

JP Motorsport and driver Josh Bilicki found each other just as the season was set to begin. Bilicki brought primary sponsor Prevagen into the mix and as a result there is tremendous excitement surrounding the new combination. In 2017, Bilicki earned a 12th-place finish in his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Bilicki is very pleased to have the support of Prevagen. “They were my primary sponsor at several NASCAR races last year, so it will be great to have them for a full season this year,” he said. “The company began in a building only five miles from my house.” Prevagen is the No. 1 selling brain-health supplement in America and has been shown to support healthy brain function, a sharper mind and clearer thinking. It is manufactured by Madison, Wisconsin, based Quincy Bioscience. Prevagen is available in over 40,000 stores across the country.

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OWNERS JERRY AND PHYLLIS HATTAWAY TEAM JP MOTORSPORTS SPONSORS PREVAGEN

MANUFACTURER TOYOTA CREW CHIEF DAVID JONES

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DRIVER PROFILES

Elliott Sadler

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As heartbreaking defeats go in organized sports, they don’t get much worse than the one Elliott Sadler endured while racing for the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship last season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. After passing JR Motorsports teammate and chief championship foe William Byron on lap 165 of 200, Sadler stayed out front until lap 191 when he closed on the No. 18 Toyota of Ryan Preece and lost momentum. Byron charged past Sadler into third place – and into the lead among the four drivers battling for the title. With four laps remaining, Sadler pulled up to Byron’s bumper. Byron shot past Preece’s Toyota, clearing him to the inside. Sadler tried to follow but couldn’t complete the pass, and slid up into Preece’s Camry, with the right front of his No. 1 Chevrolet clipping the left rear of the Toyota. Sadler hit the wall and his title hopes were gone. Angry with how Preece raced him in the final laps, Sadler let the young driver know it after the race, and admitted to feeling the most “down and out” he’d ever felt in his lengthy career. It was the fourth time and second year in a row that Sadler has been the series’ championship runner-up. Think this song and dance is getting old for the 42-year-old veteran? “It’s motivation,” Sadler said early this year. Sadler, who began this season with three consecutive top-five finishes, can only hope that 2018 is the year he finally gets the proverbial championship monkey off his back.

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BEING FAMILY A MAN & PHILANTHROPIST: One of Sadler’s favorite hobbies is spending time with his wife and two children. He supports breast cancer awareness and autism awareness through his foundation.

1 INFO

OWNER DALE EARNHARDT JR. TEAM JR MOTORSPORTS

SPONSORS ONEMAIN FINANCIAL MANUFACTURER CHEVROLET CREW CHIEF KEVIN MEENDERING

OH, SO CLOSE

adler began the season in his familiar runner-up fashion, suffering a disappointing loss in the NASCAR Xfinity Series opener at Daytona International Speedway where he was nipped at the finish line by younger teammate Tyler Reddick. Sadler’s deficit was the narrowest in NASCAR history. “It’s definitely tough to finish second,” Sadler said. “I think that’s three seconds in a row for me on superspeedway races, so we’ve got to figure out how to be leading one of these things.”

Tyler Reddick

FROM DIRT TO DAYTONA

When JR Motorsports hired Tyler Reddick to join its NASCAR Xfinity Series program for this season, it came with the expectation that the 22-year-old driver would find quick success. But just how quick did success come calling? Try one race. Making his debut with the organization co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Reddick topped the season opener at Daytona International Speedway in electrifying fashion by edging teammate Elliott Sadler by less than three inches. Reddick made a move to the outside off Turn 4 and won a drag race with Sadler to the stripe after their cars bumped side-to-side coming to the finish line. The margin of victory was listed officially as .000 seconds because NASCAR timing and scoring doesn’t measure beyond thousandths of a second. “This feels amazing,” said Reddick, who picked up his second NASCAR Xfinity Series victory. Reddick is a three-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race winner, who finished a careerbest second in points during the 2015 season. His journey to NASCAR began with an impressive five-year stint in the dirt late model ranks. “Tyler is a very talented race car driver,” said Kelley Earnhardt Miller, general manager of JR Motorsports. “We’ve seen him make a lot of strides in the short time he’s been in the Xfinity Series. He’s a strong complement to our driver lineup next season, and we’re confident that with consistent seat time he’ll find additional success at this level.”

MR. NICE GUY Perhaps cut from a mold similar to that of his team owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Reddick earned the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ Most Popular Driver award in 2016.

READY TO WORK.

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OWNER DALE EARNHARDT JR. TEAM JR MOTORSPORTS

SPONSORS NATIONWIDE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, BURGERFI MANUFACTURER CHEVROLET CREW CHIEF DAVID ELENZ

HISTORY LESSON

eddick, a native of Corning, California, followed up his time in dirt late models with a transition into ARCA and NASCAR K&N Pro Series East competition, winning at Rockingham Speedway in his K&N series debut. Then, it was on to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, where he made his debut in 2013, drove part-time in 2014 and competed full time in 2015 and 2016 for Brad Keselowski Racing.

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MSG: Making Racing Safer Motorsports Safety Group is a collaboration of innovators in the sport who are determined to improve the safety of racing. MSG shares tips for race car drivers and fans to help avoid injuries during races and practice sessions. As one of the country’s leading neurosurgeons, Dr. Jason Cormier has helped MSG provide a comprehensive, grassroots marketing campaign focused on preventative health care education and wellness training. With an emphasis to educate and engage race fans in their growing role as health care consumers, the objective is to influence behavioral changes, to provide racing’s brand-loyal audience with the medical knowledge to make informed, preventative decisions that directly affect the wellness of their families. “From the perspective of the fan, the first question to ask is whether you packed appropriately to prepare for the race track,” Cormier said. “Your health doesn’t start with us; it starts with you. Did you show up hydrated on a hot day? Did you consume anything that might be detrimental to your health like fried foods, processed foods or alcoholic beverages on an empty stomach? Have you had annual checkups, which include your heart, blood pressure, cholesterol, electrolytes, etc.? Are you following the advice of your family doctor or internist?” In addition to being a fan of racing, Cormier also races go-karts at top speeds of up to 130 mph. He has established relationships with multiple racing organizations, such as ARCA, NASCAR and Formula 1. His collaboration with other safety organizations like the International Council of Motorsports Sciences, Motorsports Safety Education Foundation, After the Impact Fund, Race Go Safer and Think First has created an important platform for an ever-growing exchange of safety information. “I still race professionally, so my goal is to provide safety tips to drivers, pit crew and loyal fans that come out every weekend,” Cormier said. “While the sport has dangers, we can take precautions to provide a measure of safety.” With his surgical background, Cormier has been able to engage companies to establish new technologies to diagnose and rehabilitate head injuries. He is now focusing his efforts on prevention.

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One particular piece of technology that has Cormier excited is Q30 Innovations’ Q-Collar. Q-Collar’s technology has been approved for sale in Canada, where it is being marketed as the Bauer Neuroshield. The company has been around for more than seven years, and the data collection remains third party. This means the company is unable to manipulate the data, which ensures the accuracy of the efficacy and outcomes. This promising research into concussion prevention is inspired by human yawns, woodpecker tongues and mountain-dwelling rams. The manifestation of this work is the novel Q-Collar, a device worn around the neck that works by enhancing the brain’s own physiology by lightly compressing the jugular vein to increase blood volume in the skull. That may help prevent the brain from moving around within the skull and thus could reduce traumatic brain injuries. The Q-Collar is actively being evaluated with consideration for its involvement in motorsports. The Q-Collar is already worn by professional athletes in other forms of high-contact sports like football, hockey, soccer and even the military. “I am particularly excited with the possibility of driver-athletes, in varying age groups, being able to embrace this novel technology,” Cormier said. “There are exciting nuances with the collar that we think could have an important role with regards to helping on the preventive side of concussions, and part of the technology is established on nature’s physiological advantages found in other animals and human beings. “This collar provides a small defined amount of pressure over the neck muscles, which, in effect, engages a ligament to react similarly to what a battle ram experiences. In the battle ram, this band causes a small reduction in blood flow from the brain that creates an internal air bag, which apparently protects this species from brain injuries.” Through Cormier’s work with race car drivers, he has found that very few have the desire to alter their racing styles, so preventative measures are best taken before the racing begins. “We deal with brain injuries all the time, ranging from mild to more severe,” Cormier said. “Those predispose you to the long-term effects of brain injury. The diagnosis of concussions is certainly key to taking the racer-athlete out of the contest and providing rest. The appropriate rest will help provide longevity in the sport and additionally create an environment whereby transitioning into retirement occurs with their faculties intact. This allows one to both enjoy and remember their retirement. That’s something we’re promoting from the Motorsports Safety Group standpoint.”

NASCAR HISTORY PRESENTED BY NASCAR LEGEND

Darel Dieringer Darel Dieringer ran his first NASCAR Cup Series race on Feb. 17, 1957, on the 4.1-mile beach and road course in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Indianapolis native entered 181 events through 1976, winning seven of them.

BIRTHDATE June 1, 1926 BIRTHPLACE Indianapolis, Indiana NOTABLE TEAM OWNERS ■■ Bud Moore ■■ Ray Nichels ■■ Bill Stroppe

orn in the Circle City on June 1, 1926, Dieringer showed great talent on short tracks around the Midwest. He raced with NASCAR sporadically in 1958 but didn’t find a strong ride until joining Ray Nichels and Petty Enterprises in 1961, finishing fifth at Daytona and sixth at Charlotte. Fourteen events followed in 1962 while driving for Buck Baker, Ray Fox, Bob Osiecki and Mamie Reynolds. He scored his first NASCAR victory on the road course in Riverside, California, aboard Bill Stroppe’s Mercury. Then in 1964, Dieringer landed a ride with Bud Moore Engineering that netted him a win on the half-mile short track in Augusta, Georgia. Dieringer loved Daytona International Speedway, a place where victories in qualifying races became his specialty. His only win of 1965 came there that February in a 100-mile race. At season’s end, he finished third in the point standings behind fellow Ford drivers Ned Jarrett and Dick Hutcherson. The 1966 season proved to be his best, with three victories, one coming in Monroe, North Carolina, driving a Reid Shaw-owned Ford. Dieringer, NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver that season, collected two additional wins with Moore in Weaverville, North Carolina, and his biggest victory, the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. His last win came in 1967 at North Wilkesboro Speedway while driving for legendary driver and team owner Junior Johnson. Dieringer made 22 additional NASCAR Cup Series starts through 1976 before working as Goodyear’s assistant field director through 1981. Sadly, he passed away on Oct. 28, 1989, after a battle with cancer.

DAREL WAS AN INCREDIBLE COMPETITOR ON THE SHORT TRACKS AND SUPERSPEEDWAYS WHERE WE RACED. HE ROUTINELY TESTED TIRES FOR GOODYEAR AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING THEM SAFER. –BOBBY ALLISON BEST SEASON DURING THE 1966 NASCAR Cup Series season, Dieringer scored victories in Monroe, North Carolina; Weaverville, North Carolina; and in Darlington Raceway’s prestigious Southern 500, where he led 105 of 367 laps to secure his biggest win. That year, he logged nine top-10 finishes in 25 starts aboard Bud Moore’s Mercury.

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RECORD-SETTER THROUGHOUT HIS CAreer, Dieringer was able to shine on short tracks, posting several qualifying times that were exceedingly fast for that era of racing. Four of his seven-career victories came on the smaller ovals, while three came on superspeedways. His average start was 11.4, while is average finish was 14.7.

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RESPECTED HAPPY DETERMINED KNOWN FOR WHEN NOT COMPETing in NASCAR’s highest level of stock car racing, Dieringer tested tires for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. He purposely ran over spikes placed on the track to blow out tires to study their reaction. He helped save the lives of many drivers through his researchand-development efforts.

BY BEN WHITE | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

RACE REWIND

1954: Petty Wins 1st Title Lee Petty and Herb Thomas, two of NASCAR’s early stars, proved they were the top championship contenders of the 1954 Cup Series season, winning a combined 19 of 37 races. In only its sixth season as a sanctioning body, NASCAR saw many drivers struggle to find a place in the sport. Some had difficulty with various rule changes and stepped away at times during the season. That left the door open for Petty and Thomas to shine and they logged seven and 12 wins, respectively, during the eight-month season. Petty fell shy of Thomas by five in the win column. Still, his 24 top-five finishes and 32 top-10 results paved the way to his first of three NASCAR Cup Series championships. Petty ended up with a 283-point advantage over Thomas when the season ended at North Carolina’s North Wilkesboro Speedway on Oct. 24 Thomas, the 1951 and 1953 champion, logged 19 top-five results and 27 top-10 finishes in 34 starts, but he was running at the finish in only 24 races. Thomas’ biggest victory of the season came in the Southern 500 at South Carolina’s Darlington Raceway. Petty’s most significant triumph of 1954 was in the 160-lap season-opening event on the beach and road course in Daytona Beach, Florida. It came after apparent winner Tim Flock was disqualified for an illegal carburetor. On June 13, NASCAR sanctioned its first road course event on the airport tarmac in Linden, New Jersey, with Al Keller winning the race in a Jaguar. Interestingly, Buck Baker, Dick Rathmann, Hershel McGriff, Keller, Jim Paschal, Curtis Turner, Gober Sosbee, John Soares and Danny Letner all enjoyed at least one victory each over the course of the season.

1954 BEST DRIVER DRIVING HIS OWN PETTY Engineering Oldsmobile, Lee Petty relied on consistency at the front of the field to score seven victories and his first-career NASCAR championship. The Level Cross, North Carolina, native is known as the first NASCAR driver to rely on racing alone as his livelihood. He kept his cars clean and away from crashes on the track to keep repairs down. His smooth driving style kept him in contention throughout the 37-race season.

PETTY

THOMAS

SEASON RECAP DATE CIRCUIT February 7 Palm Beach Speedway February 21 Daytona Beach and Road Course March 7 Jacksonville Speedway Park March 21 Lakewood Speedway March 28 Oglethorpe Speedway March 28 Oakland Speedway April 4 North Wilkesboro Speedway April 18 Orange Speedway April 25 Central City Speedway May 2 Langhorne Speedway May 9 Wilson Speedway May 16 Martinsville Speedway May 23 Sharon Speedway May 29 Raleigh Speedway May 30 Charlotte Speedway May 30 Carrell Speedway June 6 Columbia Speedway June 13 Linden Airport June 17 Williams Grove Speedway June 19 Hickory Speedway June 25 Monroe County Fairgrounds July 3 Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds July 4 Asheville-Weaver Speedway July 10 Santa Fe Speedway July 11 Grand River Speedrome July 30 Morristown Speedway August 1 Oakland Stadium August 13 Charlotte Speedway August 22 Bay Meadows Speedway August 29 Corbin Speedway September 6 Darlington Raceway September 12 Central City Speedway September 24 Charlotte Speedway September 26 Langhorne Speedway October 10 Memphis-Arkansas Speedway October 17 Martinsville Speedway October 24 North Wilkesboro Speedway

WINNER Herb Thomas Lee Petty Herb Thomas Herb Thomas Al Keller Dick Rathmann Dick Rathmann Herb Thomas Gober Sosebee Herb Thomas Buck Baker Jim Paschal Lee Petty Herb Thomas Buck Baker John Soares Curtis Turner Al Keller Herb Thomas Herb Thomas Lee Petty Herb Thomas Herb Thomas Dick Rathmann Lee Petty Buck Baker Danny Letner Lee Petty Hershel McGriff Lee Petty Herb Thomas Hershel McGriff Hershel McGriff Herb Thomas Buck Baker Lee Petty Hershel McGriff

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BEST RACE AT GEORGIA’S LAKEWOOD Speedway on March 21, 1954, Herb Thomas edged Buck Baker and Dick Rathmann in a three-wide photo finish. Thomas and Baker were eventually put a lap down for not falling to the rear of the field after pitting under caution. Rathmann was penalized for receiving fuel while on the race track. When many more drivers were found in violation of the rules, NASCAR officials dropped all penalties and declared Thomas the winner.

TOP CARS LEE PETTY’S 1954 Petty Engineering No. 42 Oldsmobile 88 won seven series races as Petty claimed his first NASCAR championship. HERB THOMAS’ 1954 Smokey Yunickowned No. 92 Hudson Hornet topped 12 races with Thomas finishing second in the point standings.

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BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW

345 A BIG BOWL OF CHILI

Historic Hat Trick for Jones Rising star Erik Jones is only 21 years old, but the driver of the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing has already secured a place in the NASCAR record book. ¶ Last season, Jones became the first driver to win the Sunoco Rookie of the Year award in each of NASCAR’s three national touring series – and even more impressive was that he did it in consecutive years. ¶ The native of Byron, Michigan, was the Sunoco Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2015, and he earned the same honor the following year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. In 2017, Jones posted 14 top-10 finishes en route to being named Sunoco Rookie of the Year for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

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hristopher Bell, one of NASCAR’s brightest young stars and the reigning NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion, won the prestigious Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals for the second consecutive year on Jan. 13. Run on an indoor dirt track in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the nation’s most prestigious midget race attracted 345 cars for five nights of racing action. Bell took the lead on lap of 42 of the 55-lap finale when the engine in Kyle Larson’s car went sour. Bell ended up beating teammate and two-time Chili Bowl winner Rico Abreu to the checkered flag by 3.162 seconds. “To win the Chili Bowl last year is something that I’ll never forget,” Bell said. “To be able to do it back-to-back is something that I’m just speechless for.”

THROWING SNOWBALLS

ven though he fell short of capturing his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship, Kyle Busch ended the 2017 season on a high note. The Las Vegas native made a late-race charge to win the 50th running of the Snowball Derby, one of America’s marquee late model races, at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida. “Wow,” Busch said in

Victory Lane. “What a day. The car really came to life at the end. “It was fun racing against these guys,” added Busch, who won the Snowball Derby for the first time in 2009. “I can’t thank my crew enough for giving me a great car.” The roster of Snowball Derby winners also includes Erik Jones, Chase Elliott, John Hunter Nemechek, Darrell Waltrip and Donnie Allison.

DIRT TO PAVEMENT Chase Briscoe, a Ford development driver competing in select NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season, had virtually no experience racing on pavement prior to claiming the ARCA Racing Series championship in 2016. “I feel like racing a non-wing sprint car on dirt is what’s made me have some success in the stock car world,” Briscoe explained. “Throttle-wise, the non-wing car has so much power you have to finesse it. They tip up so easy that you are constantly on that edge. In a stock car, I feel like I run so loose compared to a lot of people, but I don’t feel on edge because of that experience. Growing up running non-wing sprint cars is certainly a factor in why I’m having success on the pavement.”

BY KEITH WALTZ | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

Breakfast of Champions

he proverbial alarm clock just went off and it’s breakfast time. See what these six NASCAR drivers choose to eat – and not eat – for their first meal of the day.

DAVID RAGAN, MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES DRIVER: I like lean eggs, oatmeal and a lot of fresh fruit in the mornings, and some toast. I don’t eat real heavy stuff on race day. I do the rest of the week. I’m fortunate to have high metabolism and be on the thin side.

PAUL MENARD, MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES DRIVER: Normally, I don’t eat cereal. Hard-boiled eggs and a banana – that’s kind of my go-to. I don’t really eat much during the day. I’ll have breakfast on the go; skip lunch and kind of snack throughout the day.

JUSTIN ALLGAIER, NASCAR XFINITY SERIES DRIVER: If my daughter wants breakfast, I’ll make it. Usually it’s toast or waffles or pancakes or bacon. Sometimes I steal a little bit of food from her. She loves crispy bacon. If you’re going to make bacon, you’d better make it crispy.

ALEX BOWMAN, MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES DRIVER: Maybe some eggs and bacon. Typically, I sleep as long as I can. If I have time to eat, it is maybe pancakes, waffles; maybe some fruit, some sausage, some biscuits. I’d probably drink orange juice.

MICHAEL MCDOWELL, MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES DRIVER: I’m an eggs and oatmeal kind of guy. Breakfast is my most important meal because once I get going in my day and I’m running around, I don’t really have time for a big lunch. I try to get my calories in at breakfast.

TY DILLON, MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES DRIVER: I don’t eat breakfast unless I get up early. It’s usually like a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit or a croissant if I have enough time. I don’t do cereal or anything. I’m so bad. I should eat breakfast.

BY JARED TURNER

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PLENTY IN COMMON

W Karting Launched McDowell’s Career

ong before Michael McDowell started wheeling NASCAR stock cars for a living, he was racing go-karts as a hobby. And, similar to his life today as a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver competing 38 weekends out of the year, McDowell was constantly on the go. “In karting, you do so many races,” McDowell said. “I’m sure my dad probably knows the stats. But I raced at least two or three times a month for 10 years, and I ran multiple classes and multiple days. I’ve probably done well over 500 go-kart races in my lifetime. I’ve won hundreds of races and multiple championships and two national championships and local and regional and all those things. It’s just what I did for such a long time.” McDowell’s passion for karting began innocently enough. “My brother had a friend growing up in elementary school who raced go-karts at our local track in North Phoenix,” McDowell said. “So we went out and watched him a few times and it was really cool, and we were definitely interested in it. And, my dad took me to a parking lot one day where they had set up a temporary go-kart track. My dad was just kind of seeing if I was ready for something like that, and we bought a real inexpensive four-cycle go-kart and

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took it to our local track and started practicing and started racing shortly after that. “I just sort of evolved from a very entry level hobby to racing nationally and internationally and now doing it as a career. It’s crazy to look back and see what those years of karting did for my career and my life.” Now in his 11th season as a Monster Energy Series driver, McDowell considers his time in gokarts as instrumental to his long-term development and growth in motorsports. “I feel like all the skills and fundamentals I have come from karting,” he said. “I did it for such a long time – from the time I was 8 years old until I was racing professionally. So that’s really the training ground. That’s where I learned everything about racing that I apply today. And, you’re constantly learning and growing, but I just felt really prepared the first time I hopped into a full-size race car. I felt like I knew what I needed to do and how to execute it — and that’s from 10 years of racing in karts. So, I really feel like, for me, that was just an unbelievable preparation and training ground to do what I’m doing now.”

hile the differences between driving a go-kart and maneuvering a 3,500-pound stock car are obvious, the two disciplines have more in common than might be visible to the naked eye. “The things that are similar are hand/eye coordination, seat-of-the-pants feel, overall racing instincts,” Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series veteran Michael McDowell said. “All those are the same, but you just have to apply them to a different discipline. It’s no different than racing on dirt or sprint cars and then coming into the Cup Series. You’ve got to be able to adapt quickly.” Like with NASCAR drivers, go-kart racers are accustomed to frequent changes in scenery that keep them on their proverbial toes. “One thing about karting is racing different tracks all the time and going to a new track in a new state, and you only get a couple practices before you qualify,” McDowell said. “It really helps you to quickly learn new tracks, learn new settings, and you’ve got to be adaptive. I feel like that really helps now as we go to different tracks every week with different rules and different setups and things like that. Just being able to adapt quickly is the thing that correlates a lot.”

BY JARED TURNER | DRIVER PORTRAIT: GETTY IMAGES | KART RACING PHOTOS: MMCDOWELL.COM

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Track Food Dover International Speedway’s Delmarva Dog: When visiting Dover International Speedway, a must-get is the Delmarva Dog. This juicy hot dog will be available during both NASCAR weekends at the Monster Mile. The hot dog is served in a split-top bun, featuring fire-roasted corn on top of it. In addition to the corn, the dog is topped with a cheese sauce that has a special Delmarva twist – crab meat. Not only do you get a hot dog, but it comes with delicious Old Bay potato chips. Each Delmarva Dog will cost fans $10 at select concession locations around the track.

WITH NASCAR DRIVER

Brett Moffitt B

rett Moffitt has been in the NASCAR garage area for a few years but has never competed for a championship. Thanks to a new deal this season with Hattori Racing Enterprises, Moffitt hopes to challenge for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title.

Terminology Drag: The air resistance race cars encounter on the track. When air pushes against the car, the resulting forces on the vehicle cause it to slow down. Team engineers work on the cars to make the air flow more efficient, which will increase speed. When multiple cars run together, drag actually works in a way that increases speed. The velocity increases thanks to less resistance for the trailing car, while the lead car cuts through the air. During race weekends, crews work to find an aerodynamic balance that will produce less drag while maximizing the car’s handling capabilities.

POLE POSITION 2018

What would you like to tell our readers about your new team? A lot of the guys here at HRE are actually really familiar faces. Between Michael Waltrip Racing, Red Horse Racing and a few other teams, I’ve pretty much worked with all of them. That made working here really efficient and everyone here has a really good attitude. We all have the same goal. It’s easy to fit right in and move on. Why did the deal with HRE come together so late in the offseason? A lot of things were up in the air. You never know what things are going to go through or not go through. I’m very fortunate to be standing here right now to race this truck. I think it’s a championship-caliber team and we’ll have a good shot at going for the championship. You’ve had some tough breaks with teams. How have you been able to pick yourself up and keeping moving forward? Racing is the best way I can make a living. It’s always been a passion of mine. When you’re having those struggles, you really get down. My family kept telling me to keep pushing and to keep after it. A lot of that came from my dad and some of the struggles he’s been through in life. To keep going after it and being with Red Horse the last couple of years off and on, getting that win, really refueled my fire. The sport is a lot of fun when you’re winning. When you’re running mid-pack to back of the pack, you lose sight on how much fun you have winning. It’s fun to be winning the races and competing. That’s what drives me. That little glimpse was all I needed to refuel me and keep me going.

BY JOSEPH WOLKIN | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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