NASCAR Pole Position 2019 Oct/Nov Edition

POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

NASCAR HISTORY

@NPPMAG

Q&A WITH NASCAR LEGEND

RICHARD PETTY ALAN KULWICKI

BOBBY ALLISON

CHASE

STATE OF THE TRUCK SERIES

ELLIOTT

WOMEN OF NASCAR I HOLIDAY FINDS I DRIVER PROFILES I SEAL THE DEAL I NASCAR BUILDS NASCAR PETS I TAILGATING I BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW I 36 UNDER 30 I NASCAR NEWS I TOOLS OF THE TRADE

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BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW

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STEVE KINSER TRIES NASCAR

Keselowski’s New Venture Earlier this year, 2012 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski launched Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing, a hybrid manufacturing company that utilizes 3-D printing technologies. ■ “Being a race car driver has perfectly positioned me to lead an advanced manufacturing company,” said the Team Penske driver. “Years in motorsports have taught me several important lessons in the harshest of environments– environments where the quarterly report comes every weekend.” ■ The business is housed in the 70,000-square-foot Statesville, North Carolina, facility that was formerly the home of Brad Keselowski Racing, which fielded a pair of entries in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series. ■ Partnering with several equipment and technology companies, KAM is focusing on “additive manufacturing” that uses 3-D printing to bend and form metal into parts.

STEWART’S USAC TRIPLE CROWN

D

uring the formative years of his racing career, three-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart became the first driver to win the championship in each of USAC’s three premier divisions during the same season. In 1995, the 24-year-old open-wheel sensation from Columbus, Indiana, claimed the Triple Crown by winning the USAC National Midget Series crown, the USAC National Sprint Car Series championship and the USAC Silver Crown Series title. He eventually parlayed his USAC success into an Indy Car ride, where he won three races during two full seasons and earned the Indy Racing League championship in 1997 while driving for team owner John Menard. Stewart became a full-time NASCAR Cup Series competitor in 1999 and won 49 times in 618 career starts.

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POLE POSITION 2019

STEVE KINSER, A 20-TIME CHAMPION OF THE WORLD of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and recognized by many as the greatest dirt-track racer of all time, tried his hand as a full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver during the 1995 season.

With sponsorship from Quaker State, the 41-year-old Kinser signed to drive the No. 26 Ford Thunderbird for King Racing, which was owned by legendary drag racer Kenny Bernstein.

The team struggled and Kinser’s best finish in the first five races was 27th at Rockingham.

After failing to qualify at Bristol Motor Speedway and North Wilkesboro Speedway, Kinser stepped aside and returned to sprint car racing with Quaker State remaining as his sponsor.

Hut Stricklin took over as the driver of the No. 26 Ford.

50 YEARS AGO RICHARD BRICKHOUSE, of Rocky Point, North Carolina, won one of the most controversial races in NASCAR history as the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway hosted its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race on Sept. 14, 1969.

With speeds approaching 200 mph, the Professional Drivers Association called for its drivers to boycott the race over concerns the tires would not hold up under the

high speeds and the stresses of the 33-degree banking in the turns.

Only eight premier series regulars were among the 36 starters as 23 Grand Touring cars and drivers filled out the field.

Brickhouse, in the No. 99 Nichels Engineering Dodge Daytona normally driven by Charlie Glotzbach, led 33 of the 188 laps as he beat Jim Vandiver to the checkered flag by seven seconds.

KENSETH WINS Even though he has retired from full-time NASCAR competition, 2003 NASCAR Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth is still winning races.

The 47-year-old native of Cambridge, Wisconsin, dusted off his helmet and returned to his racing roots during early July when he competed in the 40th annual Slinger Nationals, one of America’s most prestigious short-track races, at Wisconsin’s Slinger Super Speedway. Kenseth led only one lap in the annual 200-lap Super Late Model race — the final one. He used the front bumper of his car to make an aggressive pass on Ty Majeski coming off of Turn 4 with the checkered flag waving.

“It’s short-track racing,” Kenseth said about the move that earned him a record eighth Slinger Nationals victory.

BY KEITH WALTZ | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

NASCAR DEFINED

PRESENTED BY

Behind the Scenes in 2019

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: ■■ Matt DiBenedetto is introduced prior to the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race.

■■ Kurt Busch signs autographs during qualifying at Michigan International Speedway.

■■ Chase Elliott leads a pack of cars during the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race.

■■ Joey Logano talks with fans during practice for the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301.

■■ Alex Bowman waves to fans during practice.

■■ The ladies tailgate prior to the start of the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race.

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POLE POSITION 2019

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

“Victory Never Tasted So Good!”

Find Us In Your Local Grocer’s Freezer! www.bubbafoods.com

CONTENT

24. NASCAR LEGEND

26. RACE REWIND

22.FOR THE RECORD

BOBBY ALLISON 30. WHO I AM

10. GREEN FLAG 12. HOLIDAY FINDS 14. SPOTLIGHT: LIONEL RACING 16. SPOTLIGHT: JEB BURTON 18. SPOTLIGHT: GEICO 20. NASCAR PETS 21. CREW SPOTLIGHT 26. ARCA SERIES 28. MADE IN THE USA 32. SPOTLIGHT: ROXOR 36. NASCAR HEALTH 38. FAVORITE FINDS 42. TAILGATING 44. NASCAR BUILDS 46. TOOLS OF THE TRADE 48. HOT TOPICS 55. DRIVER PROFILES 76. NASCAR ESPORTS 78. 36 UNDER 30 80. PIT PASS NASCAR POLE POSITION AN OFFICIALLY LICENSED PUBLICATION OF NASCAR

11880 28TH ST. N, SUITE 101 ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33716 PHONE: (727) 209-0792 • FAX: (727) 209-1776 WEB: POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM, AE-ENGINE.COM

50. TYLER REDDICK

52. COLE CUSTER

NASCAR POLE POSITION MAGAZINE PUBLISHER: CRAIG BARONCELLI

SALES VICE PRESIDENT, SALES: DAVID WATSON VICE PRESIDENT, EXECUTIVE ACCOUNTS: DAYNE MAASDORP VICE PRESIDENT, MOTORSPORTS: CHRIS VITA NATIONAL ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: PETER GILCHRIEST, JUSTIN HAND, MARK MORALES, DENNIS FASONE

PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR: JASON TEDESCHI • GRAPHIC DESIGNER: JOE RABUCK • 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, AIDAN ANDERSEN, ETHAN ANDERSEN • PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES, NASCAR/GETTY IMAGES • SPECIAL THANKS TO: MICHAEL FORDE (NASCAR), GREG CARTY (NASCAR)

34. MY GREATEST DAY

40. SEAL THE DEAL

70. STATE OF THE TRUCK SERIES 74. TYLER ANKRUM 06

POLE POSITION 2019

68. WOMEN OF NASCAR

75. GRANT ENFINGER

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 $29.95 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.

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GREEN FLAG NASCAR Collaborates with Far Out Toys

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ASCAR and Far Out Toys have launched the NASCAR Adventure Force Crash Racers– the first in a new line of NASCAR-branded racing sets from Far Out Toys. The toy line debuted during Labor Day weekend at South Carolina’s historic Darlington Raceway as part of its rollout online and in Walmart stores nationwide. The release came on the heels of Walmart’s announcement of its “Top Rated by Kids” toy list, which included the NASCAR Adventure Force Crash Racers.

NASCAR Adventure Force Crash Racers are the only toys kids can race, wreck and rebuild on an officially licensed NASCAR track. The track measures nearly seven feet when assembled and combines motorized, high-speed racing with NASCAR race cars that break apart on impact. The vehicles easily snap back together for endless racing action.

BY DAN GUTTENPLAN | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

Justin Allgaier will be back in the NASCAR Xfinity Series next season driving the No. 7 Chevrolet sponsored by BRANDT. Allgaier has driven the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet full time since he returned to the Xfinity Series in 2016.

Allgaier has won 10 Xfinity Series races and has finished third three times in the championship standings. The 33-year-old from Riverton, Illinois, has also competed in 76 career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races.

Discount Tire has renewed its commitment to Team Penske with a multi-year agreement that enhances its presence on the No. 2 Ford driven by Brad Keselowski. Discount Tire will serve as the primary sponsor for five additional NASCAR Cup Series races next year, including the Daytona 500, for a total of 15 events.

Discount Tire will continue to be an associate sponsor of Team Penske drivers Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Austin Cindric.

ROUSH FENWAY RACING HAS INKED A three-year sponsorship agreement with Acronis, a global leader in cyber protection specializing in the development of on-premises and cloud-based backup, disaster recovery, secure file sync and share, and data access solutions.

The multi-year relationship will serve as both a marketing platform and technology partnership, with Roush Fenway utilizing the Acronis’ tools to enhance its racing operations.

The Acronis brand made its on-track debut at Watkins Glen International in August, serving as the primary sponsor on the Ford Mustangs of both Ryan Newman and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Acronis also served as the primary sponsor on Newman’s No. 6 Ford at Dover International Speedway in early October.

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POLE POSITION 2019

THE JIMMIE JOHNSON FOUNDATION ANNOUNCED the five recipients of this year’s $25,000 Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope grants. The Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope program invites fans and consumers across the country to nominate not-forprofit organizations that support K-12 public education. The five grant recipients are: Art with a Heart in Indianapolis, Indiana; High Mountain Youth Project in Ruidoso, New Mexico; Immigrant Family Services Institute in Roslindale, Massachusetts; Lakeshore Elementary School PTA in San Francisco, California; and Pilot Light in Chicago, Illinois. The final five were selected via a week-long public vote and more than 215,000 votes were cast.

ISM Raceway announced that Bluegreen Vacations will serve as the title sponsor of the track’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, Nov. 10. The Bluegreen Vacations 500 will be the series’ penultimate race of the season.

Bluegreen Vacations also becomes the Official Vacation Ownership Provider of NASCAR and an Official Partner of ISC.

FOLLOWING THE EVALUATION OF athletes from universities across the country, NASCAR and Rev Racing have chosen seven participants for the 2019-20 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Development Program.

The former collegiate athletes were selected based on a fitness assessment that tested their agility, strength and flexibility, followed by the participants learning the different crew member positions during a pit stop simulation.

The seven participants are former Norfolk State University football player Hadji Gaylord, former Central Piedmont Community College football player Robin Loza, former Guilford College football player Maurice McKinnon, former University of Miami soccer player Dalandra Quendeno, former Virginia State University football player Mequel Phillips, former Norfolk State University football player Raynard Revels and former Alcorn State University football player Alvin Wilson.

Those selected relocated North Carolina for a sixmonth pit crew training program led by Phil Horton, Rev Racing’s director of athletic performance.

CHANGES GALORE FOR 2020 NASCAR CUP SERIES SCHEDULE The theme of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series schedule is change, with a reimagined playoffs and new locations for both the Championship Race and the regular-season finale among numerous revisions.

For the first time since 2002, the premier series finale will have a new host track – the one-mile ISM Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. ISM Raceway has hosted the final race of the Round of 8 since the introduction of the NASCAR playoffs elimination format in 2014, and it has served as the penultimate race of the season every year since 2005.

To get to next year’s title race, though, NASCAR Cup Series drivers must navigate a 10-race postseason that will see short tracks and a road course host the elimination races.

The playoffs will open Sept. 6 at historic Darlington Raceway, whose throwback weekend has become a staple of late summer.

The opening round ends at Bristol Motor Speedway under the lights, as one of the most anticipated races of the year moves from its traditional August date to Sept. 19.

The Charlotte ROVAL remains an elimination race after its 2018 debut, but in the Round of 12 instead of the Round of 16. With ISM Raceway moving to the championship race, the vacancy for the final race in the Round of 8 will be filled by Martinsville Speedway.

DATE Sunday, Feb. 9 Thursday, Feb. 13 Sunday, Feb. 16 Sunday, Feb. 23 Sunday, March 1 Sunday, March 8 Sunday, March 15 Sunday, March 22 Sunday, March 29 Sunday, April 5 Sunday, April 19 Sunday, April 26 Sunday, May 3 Saturday, May 9 Saturday, May 16 Sunday, May 24 Sunday, May 31 Sunday, June 7 Sunday, June 14 Sunday, June 21 Saturday, June 27 Sunday, June 28 Sunday, July 5 Saturday, July 11 Sunday, July 19 Sunday, Aug. 9 Sunday, Aug. 16 Sunday, Aug. 23 Saturday, Aug. 29 PLAYOFFS Sunday, Sept. 6 Saturday, Sept. 12 Saturday, Sept. 19 Sunday, Sept. 27 Sunday, Oct. 4 Sunday, Oct. 11 Sunday, Oct. 18 Sunday, Oct. 25 Sunday, Nov. 1 Sunday, Nov. 8

LOCATION The Clash Duels at Daytona Daytona International Speedway Las Vegas Motor Speedway Auto Club Speedway ISM Raceway Atlanta Motor Speedway Homestead-Miami Speedway Texas Motor Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway Richmond Raceway Talladega Superspeedway Dover International Speedway Martinsville Speedway All-Star Race at Charlotte Charlotte Motor Speedway Kansas Speedway Michigan International Speedway Sonoma Raceway Chicagoland Speedway Pocono Raceway Pocono Raceway Indianapolis Motor Speedway Kentucky Speedway New Hampshire Motor Speedway Michigan International Speedway Watkins Glen International Dover International Speedway Daytona International Speedway Darlington Raceway Richmond Raceway Bristol Motor Speedway Las Vegas Motor Speedway Talladega Superspeedway Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL Kansas Speedway Texas Motor Speedway Martinsville Speedway ISM Raceway

HOLIDAY FINDS

COOL GIFTS FOR SERIOUS RACE FANS

NASCAR HEAT 4 NASCAR Heat 4 features the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series and the fanfavorite Xtreme Dirt Tour. Career mode enhancements, updated visuals and new engine audio immerses players in each race. The new track map and unlockable paint schemes, combined with new AI controls, drafting features and an updated user interface, give players a more authentic feel for the action. Compete for the championship across 38 tracks against more than 150 official NASCAR teams and drivers!

NASCAR ADVENTURE FORCE CRASH RACER TRACK SET

With Adventure Force NASCAR Crash Racers, you can RACE, WRECK and REBUILD cars on the official NASCAR branded race track.

Huge track: More than 16 ft. of double-wide track.

Insane speed: Flash charge your cars in less than 10 seconds for high speed, long-lasting races.

Epic crashes: Cars collide in the crash zone and parts fly off on impact.

Wreck & Rebuild: Reassemble the hood, doors and roof – and race again!

Only available at Walmart.

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POLE POSITION 2019

NASCAR AUTHENTICS CHASE ELLIOTT HAULER

FUNKO POP FIGURES Funko has done it again ... this time, bringing the stars of NASCAR to the Pop Vinyl universe! Each individually packaged figure stands approximately 3.75 inches tall and comes in a window display box. The first phase of the program featured NASCAR Hall of Famers such as Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Bill Elliott and 2019 inductee Jeff Gordon! Other featured drivers include Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott.

On April 28, 2019, Chase Elliott added to the Elliott family’s legacy at Talladega Superspeedway by adding his own dramatic win to the NASCAR® record books. This fall, Lionel Racing commemorates Elliott’s first Talladega victory with a special addition to its NASCAR Authentics line.

This 1:64-scale hauler is designed with photos from the GEICO 500 Victory Lane celebration as well as Elliott’s car photo, door number and sponsor logos. This hauler is also built with a die-cast cab, rolling wheels and a plastic trailer with a rearopening trailer door.

In addition to the Chase Elliott Talladega Win truck, the NASCAR Authentics fall assortment of haulers will feature Stewart-Haas Racing, William Byron and more. NASCAR Authentics haulers can purchased in the toy section at Walmart stores nationwide.

NASCAR ADVENTURE FORCE SHAKE N’ STEER INTERACTIVE STEERING WHEEL

Start your engines for the ultimate interactive racing challenge! Feel the steering wheel react to your movements while speech and sound effects guide your adventures. The light-up display mimics a real dashboard. Only available at Walmart.

BLUETOOTH DIE-CAST WITH SPEAKERS Earlier this year, Lionel Racing introduced Bluetooth®-enabled 1:24-scale die-cast to the collector market for the first time in industry history.

Fans can pair one of the company’s Hendrick Motorsports Bluetooth die-cast with a smart phone and stream a race broadcast, crank up a playlist or listen to a NASCAR® podcast. The Bluetooth die-cast even allows you to take calls and talk hands free. Each Bluetooth die-cast includes embedded speakers, a charging port, cord, and an on/off switch.

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

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SPOTLIGHT New 2019 Products and Best Sellers from Lionel Racing DARRELL WALTRIP “SIGNING OFF” DIE-CAST WITH AUDIO ARCHIVE BASE Lionel Racing has honored NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Darrell Waltrip’s memorable broadcasting career with a truly special collectible set that includes a 1:24-scale No. ’19 FOX Signing Off die-cast, and an Audio Archive Base that is pre-loaded with two sound bites from Waltrip. The battery-powered base is designed to display Waltrip’s No. ’19 FOX Signing Off die-cast, and also holds a built-in speaker. Press one button to hear Waltrip’s famous “Boogity, Boogity, Boogity,” start command and press a second button to hear a special message from Waltrip to his many fans.

KYLE BUSCH’S 200TH WIN ICON COLLECTION DIE-CAST

I

nspired by the shimmering chrome-plated championship trophies that Lionel Racing produces for Goodyear each season, the die-cast in the ICON Collection are reserved for the sport’s rarest milestones and heroes. This year, when Kyle Busch achieved his 200th win across the sport’s top three national series, he joined the likes of Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Richard Petty as a driver with his own die-cast in the ICON Collection by Lionel Racing. This 1:24-scale showpiece features the official 200th win logo on the hood and is detailed with each of Busch’s 200 wins. It’s also completely chrome-plated, from the wheels to the chassis and the interior.

NASCAR AUTHENTICS 1:87-SCALE DIE-CAST In the toy aisle this fall at Walmart stores nationwide are Lionel Racing’s all-new 1:87-scale NASCAR die-cast.

Sold in packs of two, these die-cast cars are smaller than the company’s standard 1:64-scale cars. These fun-size cars feature die-cast bodies and rolling tires. They are produced with blacked out windows and slightly less decoration because of their smaller size.

CHASE ELLIOTT TALLADEGA WIN DIE-CAST As of press time, Chase Elliott’s Mountain Dew/Little Caesar’s Chevrolet is Lionel Racing’s best-selling Race Win die-cast of 2019. Not too surprising, given Elliott’s popularity and also his family’s incredible legacy at the Alabama speedway. The win was Elliott’s first of the 2019 season and earned him a spot in the NASCAR Playoffs.

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POLE POSITION 2019

NASCAR DEFINED ■■ Dale Earnhardt Jr. visits the Hellmann’s Fan Zone booth at Darlington Raceway.

SPOTLIGHT FAMILY TRADITION

‘Trying to Prove People Wrong’ STATE WATER HEATERS FUELS JEB BURTON’S EFFORT

L

ike so many sons of fathers who’ve raced stock cars, Jeb Burton decided to follow in the footsteps of his dad – 2002 Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton. After several years of ups and downs in the sport, Jeb Burton has arguably his best opportunity yet with a limited 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series slate of races for JR Motorsports – one of the Xfinity Series’ top organizations.

With three top-10 finishes in four starts for JRM as of press time, the 27-year-old is making the most of what he’s been given – much like his father, who never raced for one of the sport’s top teams but managed to win five premier series races over a career that stretched the better part of 13 years.

“The key to running well is getting that car to do what you want it to do – that’s the hard part, and a lot of times it’s out of my control,” Jeb said. “The last handful of years haven’t been easy, so the biggest thing is just trying to prove people wrong. People thought we were done (before 2019) and I was going to quit and I don’t have what it takes. That’s the kind of stuff that keeps me going. We’re getting close to where we want to be. I’m really excited about the things we’ve got going on for next year and the year after that. We’re working really hard and just ready to get to Victory Lane.”

As a full-time NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series driver in 2013 and 2014, Jeb Burton scored a victory and managed to finish a solid fifth and eighth in points, respectively. The 2015 season was a struggle, however, as he moved up to NASCAR’s

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POLE POSITION 2019

premier series with a team that lacked the resources to be competitive. The South Boston, Virginia, native has spent most of his time since then in the Xfinity Series, but never in a full-time capacity.

Ward Burton couldn’t be any prouder of his son’s resilience, which is thematic of the Burton family tradition of plowing through adversity and making the best of difficult situations.

“He’s definitely proven he’s tough enough to go through the good and the bad and the ugly, but I think what I’m the most proud of is that he’s persevered and works hard every day,” said the elder Burton. “His partners mean more than anything in the world to him, and I know if my son got the right opportunity, he could be a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series winner.”

JEB BURTON’S EFFORTS to keep the Burton family tradition going on the race track wouldn’t be possible without the financial support of longtime family sponsor State Water Heaters.

The Ashland City, Tennesseebased company has enjoyed a relationship with the Burton family dating back to 2006 when State Water Heaters embarked on a parttime sponsorship of Ward Burton, which led to a fulltime sponsorship in 2007.

Ward Burton retired from racing at the end of 2007, but State Water Heaters remained connected to the family by teaming with the elder Burton for special events. Then, a few years later when Jeb Burton went Late Model racing, the sponsor pounced on the chance to support another driver from the Burton family.

State Water Heaters has remained a huge backer of Jeb’s, most recently this season in the Xfinity Series as the primary sponsor on the No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.

The relationship continues to prove mutually beneficial.

“It works because we’re on the same page, and after so long, I think it gets easier to be on the same page, honestly,” said Jeff Storie, State Water Heaters’ director of marketing. “I think what really makes it work is Ward and Jeb; they put their all into it. Over the years, their full-time job has been going fast on the track, but just the nature of the business is, you have to wear multiple hats.

In addition to the on-track performance stuff, the offtrack sponsor side of it all can be a lot of work, and they’re just good at it.”

For Ward Burton, who continues to serve as an ambassador for the State Water Heaters brand, the partnership feels natural.

“Connecting to the men and women make their living by selling State Water Heaters products is easy,” Ward said.

“I’ve still got calluses on my hands, and those men and women do also, and State provides is a good product.”

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

SPOTLIGHT PRESENTED BY

NASCAR Delivers for GEICO COMPANY BECOMES OFFICIAL INSURANCE PARTNER

F

or almost two decades, GEICO has left a significant footprint in NASCAR. From race entitlement sponsorships to official partnerships with numerous race tracks to its primary sponsorship of Germain Racing’s No. 13 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series car now driven by Ty Dillon, GEICO has been a visible presence.

Since March, GEICO has been more visible than ever, however, thanks to its role as the Official Insurance Partner of NASCAR. The insurance company’s newest NASCAR tie-in gives it exclusivity across the sport, which means GEICO is the only insurance brand that can do direct advertising or have a direct relationship with NASCAR itself.

In addition, GEICO now has access to NASCAR’s intellectual property rights and the NASCAR trademarks with any type of promotional advertising, including radio, television, digital media and social media. Lastly, being the Official Insurance Partner of NASCAR enables GEICO to engage in co-branded campaigns with NASCAR and utilize direct mail and business-to-business consumer opportunities.

Though most widely known for its affordable car insurance, GEICO also offers coverage for homes, rental properties, condos, motorcycles, ATVs, RVs, boats, collector vehicles and more.

“Our big strategy is brand awareness,” GEICO senior field administrator Patrick Judge said. “With the NASCAR fan, there’s quite a bit of crossover not only on the auto side but also with motorcycles, boats, RVs – it’s huge. I think our RV numbers probably wouldn’t be where they’re at today if it wasn’t for what we’ve done within NASCAR. You take a look at each track every single weekend and it’s filled with RVs and

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POLE POSITION 2019

campers. So, for us, it’s just a good opportunity to get in front of more fans than we have before.”

While some notable corporate sponsors have recently ended relationships with NASCAR teams, GEICO has chosen to cast an even wider net within the sport.

“We’ve kind of taken a full 360 approach,” Judge said. “Having the Gecko (GEICO’s reptilian mascot) handing out the trophy in Victory Lane every single weekend is really about all that’s left. We’ve really taken a 360 approach with the team, with the tracks, with NASCAR, with the radio, the social, the digital. Being a NASCAR Official Partner is just such a unique opportunity within the sports world of just going beyond putting the logo on a car or a race track or a billboard. We’re really looking to see what else we can do and really tap into the consumers to see how we can get in front of them and get the message out about GEICO.” And the company is planning to be NASCAR’s Official Insurance Partner for the long haul, too.

“Our approach is that we kind of wanted to start small, kind of build a good foundation and climb the ladder from there, rather than going all in and then after a couple of years, it’s just like, ‘Well, that didn’t work out so well,’” Judge said. “I’ve seen it quite a bit in the sport where brands come in and then brands exit quickly. We’re a stable company, and we want to be in NASCAR as long as we can.

It still delivers a lot of value for us.”

A NATURAL FIT WHILE GEICO’S LATEST involvement with NASCAR is hardly the company’s first foray into the sport, being the Official Insurance Partner of NASCAR has allowed GEICO to take its involvement to a whole new level.

And doing so has proven beneficial – particularly when it comes to connecting with fans.

“Almost everybody going to the races owns a car, owns a house, rents a house or condo,” said Patrick Judge, GEICO senior field administrator. “Our research shows that not only do we have a potential customer base for auto insurance, but we have potential for five, six, seven other products.

“When we do our activations on site at NASCAR tracks, we’re able to get in front of the consumers and hear from them and they’re like, ‘Oh yeah, you saved me hundreds of dollars on my car, my house, my boat, my ATV, my UTV, my second house,’ wherever it may be. For us, it’s a pretty natural fit, and it’s just an area of the sport where it makes sense for us.”

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

NASCAR PETS Briscoe’s Buddy

S

eeking the perfect way to ask for girlfriend Marissa’s hand in marriage, NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Chase Briscoe enlisted the help of a friend. This was no ordinary friend, however; it was man’s best friend.

“She’d been wanting a dog, and I felt like that was kind of an easy way, because who could say no to a puppy?” Briscoe, reminisced some nine months later, with a chuckle.

The plan worked and the proposal was successful. Now, along with being happily engaged, the couple has a great pet – a French Bulldog named Ricky, who became part of their lives on Thanksgiving weekend 2018.

Weighing only 13 pounds when Briscoe bought him from a Statesville, North Carolina, dog breeder at 12 weeks old, Ricky is now 28 pounds, or as Briscoe describes him, “just bulky and heavy.”

Not that growing so fast has slowed Ricky down. In fact, it’s been quite the opposite.

“He’s wide open 24/7 – at least here recently he has been,” Briscoe said. “He’s really smart and funny. He’ll sit on the couch, and he looks like he’s a person the way he sits. He’ll put his arm up on the armrest and watch TV; it’s pretty funny how he acts. He’s just a cool dog.”

Describing Ricky as “pretty dang easy” to handle, Briscoe is still plenty protective of his cherished canine.

PRESENTED BY

“I’m like a helicopter parent always trying to make sure he doesn’t get into anything he shouldn’t and always trying to do what’s best for him,” Briscoe said.

For Briscoe, the best part of being a pet owner has been watching Ricky grow and change over the past year.

“It’s always nice to come home and he’s just excited to see you and wants to jump on you,” Briscoe said. “You can have a bad day at the race track or at the shop, and he’s always there to cheer you up.”

BY JARED TURNER

CREW SPOTLIGHT DAVE JONES CAR CHIEF AT STARCOM RACING

EVER SINCE I WAS A KID, I KNEW I WANTED TO BE IN RACING, BUT WASN’T SURE IT WOULD BE THIS STYLE OF RACING. IT’S SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO DO OUT OF LOVE AND PASSION. I WOULDN’T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ELSE.”

D

ave Jones, car chief for StarCom Racing and driver Landon Cassill, saw his first NASCAR event when a neighbor took him to Martinsville Speedway as a teenager during the late 1990s.

The native of Roanoke, Virginia, had followed drag racing and thought of possibly pursuing a career in that form of the sport. While working at a local dealership near his home in 2001, Jones was one of several volunteers who helped field a Late Model race team owned by the company.

“That’s when I knew what I wanted to do,” Jones said. “I spent about 10 years working with Late Models and some K&N Pro Series racing. Then a friend asked me to help with a K&N team owned by (former driver) Chad Little that his son drove for.

They brought me on and it went from there.”

Jones worked for seven years with various Xfinity Series teams before moving to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at the start of 2018.

“I was looking for something different and knew Tony Furr, the crew chief at StarCom at that time,” Jones

PLAYING FAVORITES WITH DAVE VACATION ■■ The Florida Keys

said. “We worked together in the past and figured he and I could have some fun again and go racing.”

Jones makes certain the StarCom Racing Chevrolet is ready to race.

“The car chief is in charge of the entire race car and is the crew chief’s second-hand man and go-to guy,” he noted.

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BY BEN WHITE

FOR THE RECORD Q&A WITH NASCAR LEGEND

Bobby Allison

D

ecades after he last turned the steering wheel of a race car, 1983 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Bobby Allison is still one of the sport’s most beloved competitors. Allison’s career came to an end four months after winning his third Daytona 500 when the longtime resident of Hueytown, Alabama, was involved in a near-fatal crash at Pennsylvania’s Pocono Raceway on June 19, 1988. The 2011 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee has remained close to the sport and at age 81 continues to make appearances at race tracks and venues across the country.

When did you decide to drive race cars? My grandfather took me to a race when I was pretty young at a track near our home in Miami and I was hooked. I thought it was the neatest thing I had ever seen. When I got a little older, I raced my own car on tracks around the area but used the name Bob Sunderman, so my parents wouldn’t find out I was racing.

When I started winning my photo was in the paper and my dad saw it. He told me if I was going to race I should use my own name. After a lot of persuasion, my mother finally signed permission for me to race because I was still too young at 17. I thought it was good for 100 years, but actually it was only for one race.

She saw how successful I was, as well my brother Donnie, and from then on was very supportive of our racing efforts.

What car number did you use when you started? I ran the number 312 back then because my birthday is Dec. 3, so the 12th month, third day. But the number 12 has always been a favorite of mine and I won a lot of races with it.

How was your first experience as a NASCAR Cup Series driver? It was known as Grand National then and I struggled the first few years to get going. By the mid-1960s, I was winning with my own Chevelle and showed I could run at the front and win. I started getting good rides and enjoyed some incredible success.

I went back to racing my own modifieds and won championships with them before my Cup career really got going with my little Chevelle against the top teams.

You raced in the Indianapolis 500 for team owner Roger Penske in 1973 and 1975. What were those experiences like? I always enjoyed racing any type of car during my career. Even though I drove a lot of different makes of cars in NASCAR, my driving wasn’t limited to NASCAR. I felt comfortable in everything I drove and adapted to the cars rather quickly.

In both of those Indianapolis 500 races we had problems very early, so we really didn’t get to see what the car would do. I did lead some laps and think we would have done well had they held together.

Your biggest victories came in the Daytona 500 in 1978, 1982 and 1988.

What did winning that race three times mean to you? Winning the Daytona 500 was incredibly special to me. I started racing there in the early 1960s but just couldn’t seem to get a win in the 500 until I joined Bud Moore in 1978. Another win came in 1982 while with DiGard Racing. Then there was the 1988 win, but I honestly still don’t remember that race as a result of the Pocono crash.

Davey (Allison’s oldest son) finished second to me in Robert Yates’ Ford, I’m told. I see the videos and I see it’s me there, but I don’t remember that race.

Are there any other NASCAR victories that stand out? I was incredibly fortunate to win as many as I did (84 races). I won five times at Darlington Raceway, once in the 1975 Rebel 500 in the AMC Matador as well as four Southern 500s (1971, 1972, 1975 and 1983) in a Dodge, Chevy and Buick.

I always enjoyed racing at Darlington. It was a tough track for so many drivers,

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POLE POSITION 2019

but I always thought that was an advantage for me.

I got around the track really well. The Labor Day South Carolina heat was something I never had a problem with but so many did. I think the track really fit my driving style.

Speaking of the AMC Matador, what about the years you raced that make of car for Roger Penske, and also as a team owner in 1977? I really liked the Matador and it’s a car fans still associate me with. It raced well, but there were a lot of engine problems along the way. We could run really strong for 450 miles of a race and then problems would creep in.

■■ Bobby Allison, right, and his late son, Davey, in Victory Lane after finishing 1-2 in the 1988 Daytona 500.

I finally decided it had taken its toll on me. That’s when I joined Bud Moore in 1978 and was still feeling some severe stomach issues and fatigue trying to keep that effort going. Had the engine issues been worked out I believe it would have won a lot of races. I was able to win with it at Ontario, California, in 1974, at Riverside California, in 1975, as well as the Rebel 500 and Southern 500 at Darlington in 1975. Mark Donohue also won a road course race in a Matador a year or two earlier (1973).

What does it mean to you to still have such a strong fan following? It’s incredibly special.

I still spend a good deal of time signing autograph requests I get in the mail. I’ve always enjoyed meeting fans everywhere I go. It’s extremely important to appreciate the fans by allowing a photo to be taken or signing an autograph. I did a lot of that even after winning 500-mile races. I’m very thankful for my time as a NASCAR driver. The fans are what helped make my success in the sport possible.

BY BEN WHITE | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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NASCAR HISTORY NASCAR LEGEND

Alan Kulwicki

Alan Kulwicki entered his first NASCAR Cup Series race on Sept. 8, 1985, at Richmond Raceway in Virginia. All told, he competed in 207 Cup Series races, winning five times and recording 38 top-five finishes.

Born in Greenfield, Wisconsin, on Dec, 14, 1954, Kulwicki began racing go-karts at age 13. His father, Gerry Kulwicki, worked as an engine builder and crew chief for several USAC stock car racers, including Norm Nelson and Roger McCluskey.

Kulwicki eventually moved from dirt to asphalt tracks, and in 1977 he claimed the Late Model championship at Wisconsin’s Slinger Super Speedway. That’s the same year he earned his mechanical engineering degree.

In 1978, Kulwicki added Wisconsin International Raceway to his schedule and finished third in points during his rookie season at the track. Over the next two years, he won a pair of titles at WIR. By 1984, Kulwicki had realized his goal of racing in NASCAR, entering several events in what is now the NASCAR Xfinity Series. In 1985, he loaded everything he owned onto a pickup truck and trailer and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, to pursue a career in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Originally driving for Bill Terry while assembling Alan Kulwicki Racing, Kulwicki debuted his own car, the No. 35 Quincy’s Steakhouse Ford, on Aug. 31, 1986, at Darlington Raceway. He ended up making 23 starts that season and was named Rookie of the Year.

From 1987 through 1991, Kulwicki claimed victories at ISM Raceway, Rockingham Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway as an owner/driver.

Then, in 1992, victories at Bristol Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway paved the way for him to claim the NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Sadly, Kulwicki died when his private plane crashed on April 1, 1993, near Bristol, Tennessee.

IN EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE, HAVE A GAME PLAN AND THEN DO YOUR BEST TO ACHIEVE IT.

BEST SEASON DURING THE 1992 season, Kulwicki posted victories at Bristol Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway, as 11 top-five finishes and 17 top-10 results carried him to his lone NASCAR Cup Series championship. The consistency of Kulwicki’s team proved that a title could be won with fewer personnel and greater technology.

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TALENTED FOCUSED

STUBBORN

CONSISTENT

KIND RESPEC T ED THOUGHTFUL

RECORD SETTER KULWICKI’S AVERAGE Cup Series start of 10.6 and average finish of 10.6 in 1992 offered a foundation from which to build his championship effort. In the final race of the season, Kulwicki won the title by 10 points over Bill Elliott by leading a lap and then leading the most laps.

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RACE FANS GREATLY appreciated Kulwicki as an independent thinker and someone who felt he could be successful with a lower budget than most teams. Fans called him “Special K” as he was a Cinderella-type figure and his Fords were known as “Underbirds” because they were underfunded but successful in NASCAR’s premier division.

BY BEN WHITE | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

SEASON RECAP

RACE REWIND

Petty Wins 27 Races

I

n 1967, Richard Petty and his Petty Enterprises crew put together the most phenomenal season in NASCAR history. The driver from Level Cross, North Carolina, won 27 of 49 races, including 10 consecutively.

During the 1967 NASCAR Cup Series season, Petty wheeled a solid blue 1967 Plymouth with the famed No. 43 on its doors and roof. The single car he and crew chief Dale Inman campaigned that season proved to be the most competitive piece of machinery to come out of the Level Cross, North Carolina, stable in the team’s illustrious 43-year history.

With the help of his father, Lee Petty, and his brother, Maurice, building the engines, Petty began the year with a victory in Augusta, Georgia. It proved to be a warm-up for what would become an amazing season. All told, Petty won 27 times on a variety of tracks.

Petty and the No. 43 team were unstoppable from Aug. 12 to Oct. 1. The 10-race win streak began at the famed quarter-mile Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and ended at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The streak included one win on a superspeedway, at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina on Sept. 4. Petty’s only other superspeedway win came at Rockingham Speedway on June 18. With so many victories to his credit that year, there was little doubt as to which driver would be crowned champion by season’s end.

Petty’s closest rival in points was James Hylton, a former crewman for 1960 champion, Rex White, who wheeled the No. 48 Dodge for team owner Bud Hartje. Hylton was unable to score a victory, but finished consistently enough to take second-place prize money in the point standings.

1967 BEST DRIVER RICHARD PETTY, DRIVER OF the No. 43 Petty Enterprises Plymouth, dominated the win column by putting his car in Victory Lane at 27 of 49 NASCAR Cup Series races. The team’s season proved so magical that Petty was just as surprised as his fans. Petty and his crew entered each race expecting to win and very few mechanical problems or crashes during the season often left them in position to best their closest competitors.

BY BEN WHITE | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

DATE November 13 January 29 February 24 February 24 February 26 March 5 March 19 March 25 March 27 April 2 April 6 April 9 April 16 April 23 April 28 April 30 May 13 May 19 May 20 May 28 June 2 June 6 June 8 June 10 June 18 June 24 June 27 July 4 July 9 July 11 July 13 July 15 July 23 July 27 July 29 August 6 August 12 August 17 August 25 September 4 September 8 September 10 September 15 September 17 September 24 October 1 October 15 October 29 November 5

LOCATION Augusta Raceway Riverside International Raceway Daytona International Speedway Daytona International Speedway Daytona International Speedway Asheville-Weaverville Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway Greenville-Pickens Speedway Bowman Gray Stadium Atlanta Motor Speedway Columbia Speedway Hickory Motor Speedway North Wilkesboro Speedway Martinsville Speedway Savannah Raceway Richmond Raceway Darlington Raceway Beltsville Speedway Langley Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway Asheville Speedway Middle Georgia Raceway Smoky Mountain Raceway Birmingham International Speedway Rockingham Speedway Greenville-Pickens Speedway Montgomery Speedway Daytona International Speedway Trenton Speedway Oxford Plains Speedway Fonda Speedway Islip Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway Smoky Mountain Raceway Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville Atlanta Motor Speedway Bowman Gray Stadium Columbia Speedway Savannah Speedway Darlington Raceway Hickory Motor Speedway Richmond Raceway Beltsville Speedway Orange Speedway Martinsville Speedway North Wilkesboro Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway Rockingham Speedway Asheville-Weaverville Speedway

WINNER Richard Petty Parnelli Jones LeeRoy Yarbrough Fred Lorenzen Mario Andretti Richard Petty David Pearson David Pearson Bobby Allison Cale Yarborough Richard Petty Richard Petty Darel Dieringer Richard Petty Bobby Allison Richard Petty Richard Petty Jim Paschal Richard Petty Jim Paschal Jim Paschal Richard Petty Richard Petty Bobby Allison Richard Petty Richard Petty Jim Paschal Cale Yarborough Richard Petty Bobby Allison Richard Petty Richard Petty Richard Petty Dick Hutcherson Richard Petty Dick Hutcherson Richard Petty Richard Petty Richard Petty Richard Petty Richard Petty Richard Petty Richard Petty Richard Petty Richard Petty Richard Petty Buddy Baker Bobby Allison Bobby Allison

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BEST RACE ON SEPT. 4, 1967, PETTY started the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway from the pole position and led 345 of the race’s 367 laps on what was then a 1.375-mile track. Drivers such as David Pearson, Buddy Baker and Donnie Allison held the lead briefly throughout the race but could not match Petty’s strength. His performance was indicative of how he managed the entire season, going into each event as the favorite.

TOP CARS RICHARD PETTY’S blue 1967 Plymouth Belvedere posted 27 victories, 38 top-five finishes and claimed 19 pole positions.

JAMES HYLTON, who wheeled a 1965 Dodge for Bud Hartje, recorded 26 top-five finishes and 39 top-10 results during the season.

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

25

ARCA SERIES Changes Ahead for ARCA and K&N Pro Series

A

s part of the April 2018 announcement that NASCAR had acquired the ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR revealed the two organizations would continue to operate independently through the conclusion of the 2019 season, with full integration coming in 2020.

Still to be revealed, however, was how NASCAR’s acquisition of ARCA (formally known as the Automobile Racing Club of America) might impact the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, which is similarly known as an ideal training ground for young drivers looking to move up through the ranks to one of NASCAR’s three national series.

The picture has since become significantly clearer with NASCAR announcing a new competition structure designed by the senior leadership of NASCAR and ARCA to preserve the historic lineage of ARCA and the NASCAR K&N East and West divisions.

ARCA, a Midwest-based sanctioning body for stock car racing, was founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum – close, personal friends of NASCAR founder Bill France. John Marcum raced against France and later worked as a NASCAR official. ARCA began competing at Daytona International Speedway in 1964 at France’s invitation.

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, which has been a springboard for the likes of current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series stars Joey Logano and William Byron, originated as the NASCAR Busch North Series in 1987.

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West traces its lineage back to the Pacific Coast Late Models in 1954 and the NASCAR Winston West Series. Nine races were on the schedule that first season.

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While some particulars, such as the 2020 schedules, had yet to be announced at press time, ARCA President Ron Drager couldn’t be more optimistic about the future of ARCA and both K&N divisions, which beginning next year will each have a different look from previous seasons.

“There’s going to be great opportunities on behalf of ARCA,” Drager said. “It’s very important to ARCA that K&N East and K&N West continue to be strong and prosper and that we’re all in this together as the NASCAR platform, and as the sport and the industry.”

The new competition framework, set to take effect on Jan. 1, consists of the following changes: ■■ Drivers will have the opportunity to compete for four championships, all of which feature an enduring commitment to grassroots short-track racing: ■■ The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and K&N Pro Series East championship calendars will feature approximately six to eight events, competing on historic short tracks (under one mile) within their traditional regional footprint.

■■ ARCA will be renamed the ARCA Racing Elite Series presented by Menards and its season will consistent of approximately 20 races, with at least half on speedways (over one mile) that include traditional companion events in both the ARCA and Pro Series.

■■ The fourth championship will be the Stock Car Invitational. This championship will consist of the remaining approximately 10 races of the Elite Series, and will be on premier short tracks that have long been part of both ARCA and the K&N Pro Series. To be eligible for the championship in this three-way combination series, East and West competitors must compete in a minimum number of races across those series.

■■ The chassis and bodies will be roughly the same across all four championships.

Teams competing in the Elite Series will run the current ARCA engine package, while teams competing in the Pro Series East and West will run the existing engine package in those series. Teams choosing to compete for the Stock Car Invitational title must race with the same engine they used in the Elite or Pro Series East/West.

■■ Drivers must be at least 15 years old to compete in the Pro Series East and West as well as the Stock Car Invitational. Drivers must be at least 18 years old to compete in the Elite Series.

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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I

SureCan: A New Way to Dispense Fuel

W

ho likes spilling gasoline when you’re simply trying to fuel up your lawnmower?

Thanks to a revolutionary, highly sophisticated but easy-to-use product appropriately dubbed the “SureCan,” pouring gas doesn’t have to be so frustrating anymore. In fact, the SureCan makes pouring a downright enjoyable experience.

“The most important benefit that people see right off is it’s just easier to use,” said Brad Ouderkirk, the founder and CEO of SureCan, Inc. “It takes all the pain out of it. When you are filling anything up, you can hold the can in a comfortable position, you can see what you are filling up and you’re not standing on your head.”

Ouderkirk owned a cabinet shop where he built custom cabinets when he first conceived the SureCan concept about 10 years ago.

“There was an awful lot of wood in that first prototype since that was what I had,” Ouderkirk recalled. “I put it all together and started showing

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POLE POSITION 2019

my new gas can prototype to everyone who would listen, and then asked them if this was something they would buy if it was on the market. I just got a resounding, ‘Yes, if that thing was available, I would take one in a second.’”

After some eight years of dreaming, planning, development and testing, the SureCan was ready to hit the stores in the spring of 2015. Now, it’s being sold by all the major outdoors retailers – Lowe’s, Menards, Tractor Supply and Ace Hardware.

Meanwhile, SureCan, Inc. – headquartered in Utah but with its factory in Lebanon, Tennessee – has more than tripled in size.

“People have really taken to our gas can since it’s a lot safer and since the gas only goes where it’s supposed to go,” Ouderkirk said. “It’s also greener so you’re not spilling all over the ground and getting all the emissions into the environment. And, it’s the easiest gas can to use.

“The can is 100-percent made in the USA and it will always be that. We’re going to always keep it here. That’s important to us. I think we’re on our way to changing how people dispense fuel into their machines.”

n addition to being picked up by major retailers, the SureCan has received global recognition. In 2014, Ouderkirk took his new product to the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas where the SureCan won the Most Innovative New Product Award and a Retailers Choice Award.

Later, the SureCan was featured on the DIY Network’s hit show, “I Want That,” and as a Top 100 Product for This Old House Magazine.

The SureCan has since been selected a Silver Winner at the Edison Awards in New York City where 300 judges around the world voted on new innovative products.

“People are noticing that we’re different and that we’ve actually changed the way people do things from here on out,” Ouderkirk said. “Basically, our growth is attributed to our innovation. All we have to do is get in front of people and people immediately see the benefit and they’re purchasing our cans.”

One of the most innovative features of the SureCan – which is available in both 2.2- and 5-gallon sizes – is its thickness. Ouderkirk recalls conducting an informal test last summer when he intentionally left two 5-gallon cans in the back of his truck.

After a week, he couldn’t smell the gasoline.

“Our can is six layers thick,” Ouderkirk said. “One layer in the middle is a barrier layer that locks all the vapors in the can. One thing you’ll notice right away is that if the can is in your shed or garage, you’ll never smell gasoline, because the vapors are locked in so tight. It does its job. It locks the vapors in and keeps the emissions from escaping into the atmosphere.”

BY JARED TURNER

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WHO I AM Newman Named after Hollywood Star

■■ Ryan O’Neal, Hollywood star in the 1960s and 1970s

R

yan Newman, driver of the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, attended a press conference at Darlington Raceway earlier this year to announce his primary sponsor and unveil his throwback paint scheme for the Southern 500.

While enjoying a lunch of Oscar Mayer hot dogs, chips and soft drinks in the track’s garage area, Newman was asked, “Do you know any family history as to where the name Ryan comes from?”

Newman stopped, thought for a moment and finally said, “That’s a good question. I’m not sure.

Let me text my mom.”

With that, Newman whipped out his phone and began typing for details. His phone soon lit up with a ding and a surprise answer. The name had nothing to do with anyone within the racing community.

A phone call to Newman’s mother, Diane, about a week later revealed additional information and it’s accurate to say Ryan’s name came from a rather unexpected source.

“Back in the day before Ryan was born, I didn’t want to know what the sex would be until the birth,” Diane Newman explained. “My husband (Greg) told me I could name him whatever I wanted. I had real long hair then and I wanted to cut my hair because tending to a baby with long hair was so hard. He said, ‘I don’t care what you do as long as we have a boy.’

“Back in those days, I just loved the actor Ryan O’Neal. I loved the name and that’s where I came up with it.”

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During that era, Ryan O’Neal starred in several Hollywood blockbusters, including “Love Story,” “Paper Moon” and “A Bridge Too Far.” When pressed a bit further as to why Ryan was the favored name for her son, Diane Newman replied with a laugh, “I liked Ryan O’Neal because he was so gorgeous. I just kind of fell in love with him as far as actors go. I’m not a huge movie person but I said, ‘That’s it. That’s the one.’

“His middle name, Joseph, came from his grandfather; my dad’s name was Joseph Duczkowski. His name was Martin Joseph, so I named him Ryan Joseph,” Diane Newman added. “Actually, Ryan also has a confirmation name of Mark, which is my husband’s middle name.”

The additional confirmation name came from Newman’s religious studies as a child. It is generally the name of a biblical character or saint, thus securing an additional patron saint as a protector and guide. “(Ryan and his sister Jamie) didn’t go to a Catholic school, but were involved in classes,” Diane Newman said. “I took them to church every Sunday. They made their Holy Communion in the second grade and then in the fourth or fifth grade they had their confirmation and received another name. And that’s where the name Mark comes from.”

BY BEN WHITE | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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ROXOR Making Its Mark in NASCAR

M

ahindra Automotive North America’s new ROXOR is an offroad workhorse built on a nononsense, heavy-duty steel frame with a Mahindra 2.5L turbo diesel engine and 3,490 pounds of towing capacity.

The off-road vehicle will be on display at Homestead-Miami Speedway on championship weekend as part of its expanding marketing campaign with NASCAR. NASCAR fans may be becoming more familiar with Mahindra’s ROXOR due to the company’s marketing campaign, which is putting its off-road vehicle in front of NASCAR fans at events across the country.

The branding and experiential campaign in 2019 included a showcase of Mahindra ROXOR vehicles at a stop at Michigan International Speedway, the entitlement naming rights on the XFINITY race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (ROXOR 200), and a customized digital campaign throughout the year.

Why is ROXOR becoming more and more prevalent on the NASCAR circuit? Because NASCAR fans make the perfect market for the off-road vehicle, according to ROXOR Senior Marketing Manager Dan Proffer.

“ROXOR is excited to be supporting NASCAR events and being part of the next evolution of car racing,” Proffer said.

“The NASCAR audience is a perfect fit for ROXOR, which is why our sponsorships

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POLE POSITION 2019

across the various tracks play an important role in our overall marketing strategy.”

With a price point of $16,000 per vehicle and a demographic of 35- to 65-year-old males, ROXOR fits the bill as a potential NASCAR partner. NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton owns several ROXOR off-road vehicles.

The marketing campaign at HomesteadMiami Speedway will offer fans an opportunity to see the ROXOR off-road vehicles on display. The speedway will operate the products throughout its 650-acre facility

GOING ALONG WITH ITS strategy to engage and reward NASCAR fans, ROXOR is offering fans an opportunity to see Justin Moore in concert. Fans can either sign up at select NASCAR tracks or online at www.roxoroffroad.com to win two tickets (flights included) to Justin Moore’s last concert of the year. The country music star has yet to announce the location of his final tour stop of 2019, so stay tuned.

ROXOR also will have a kiosk set up at Homestead at the event display truck in the fan zone, where fans can register to win a ROXOR off-road vehicle.

during Ford Championship Weekend. Several other NASCAR tracks have purchased Mahindra tractors for use by speedway operations personnel.

“As far as fans are concerned, we’ll have these vehicles on display and we’ll offer fans a chance to win one,” Proffer said. “Our strategy is we want to get involved at as many tracks as possible.

Our goal is to be in every track in some capacity – whether it’s on a car or an activation at a race track.”

■■ Christopher Bell celebrates his victory after the ROXOR 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

BY DAN GUTTENPLAN

MY GREATEST DAY Two Marquee Victories Every NASCAR driver has one special victory that stands out when they think back on their careers. Here’s a look at two of those memorable events.

HARVICK’S DAYTONA 500 WIN Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, has been one of NASCAR’s top drivers since making his Monster Energy Series debut at Rockingham Speedway in February 2001. The 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion has collected 47 series victories, and he especially enjoys the sport’s marquee events.

While driving for Richard Childress Racing, Harvick won the 2007 Daytona 500 in a photo finish over Mark Martin. Harvick led only four of the race’s 200 laps but was in position to claim the victory when a three-car accident sent the race into overtime. Martin enjoyed one of his best Daytona 500 performances, leading 26 laps. However, the veteran driver could only watch as Harvick edged him by inches at the line.

“For me, the 2007 Daytona 500 comes to mind,” Harvick said when asked about his greatest victory. “I think that’s our sport’s biggest race and it’s a difficult race to win. You see several of our great past champions and drivers that haven’t won that race and so I was fortunate to win that one.”

While pondering the question, Harvick also named two other prominent victories that stand out.

“Winning at Indy (the 2003 Brickyard 400) was pretty neat,” said the native of Bakersfield, California.

“It was (because of being) a huge Rick Mears fan and winning there that was neat for me. Then winning the championship race in Homestead (in 2014) as well would probably be my top three.”

BOWYER DANCES IN NASHVILLE Clint Bowyer, who wheels the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, came to NASCAR in 2005 when team owner Richard Childress called to offer him a ride. Thinking it was a prank, Bowyer told him not to call back and hung up. Fortunately for Bowyer, Childress called back.

Bowyer’s first NASCAR victory came on June 12, 2005, in a NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Nashville Superspeedway, while he recorded his first NASCAR Cup Series victory two years later at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

“The first one is always the most memorable because of all the years of working and trying and dreaming, ins and outs, peaks and valleys,” Bowyer said. “All of a sudden you’re standing there in Victory Lane; beat all of the best of the best and

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people you grew up watching as heroes, people you’ve been accustomed to racing during your professional career.

“All of those aspects come out with your first win. I mean, you’re sitting there in Victory Lane with your family and your crew guys and everybody that made that happen for you and you’re like, ‘Holy cow, this just happened.’”

Bowyer was just as happy in 2018 when he snapped a six-year drought with a win at Martinsville Speedway.

“It was a long time, a long void last year when we finally broke back into Victory Lane,” Bowyer said. “Now you’ve got a new family and kids and the whole new aspect of your life that had never got to see you win a race or anything like that, so that was pretty special.”

BY BEN WHITE | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

NASCAR HEALTH MSG: The Q Collar Is the Future of Brain Safety 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 to help avoid injuries during races and practice sessions.

PRESENTED BY

A

cknowledged 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.

One of Cormier’s areas of focus is concussion prevention and education. 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 that the company is unable to manipulate the data, which ensures the accuracy of the efficacy and outcomes.

The Q-Collar is actively being evaluated with consideration for its involvement in motorsports. The Q-Collar is already worn by professional athletes in

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POLE POSITION 2019

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 which 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.”

The Q-Collar will be coming to several racing series, in addition to college football and its continued use in the NFL. “It’s a preventative collar, and studies have indicated decreases in the incidence of concussions by almost 90 percent, depending on the sport,” said Cormier. “The helmet protects the skull and skin from fractures and lacerations. The HANS device protects the neck from fractures.

Those are integral safety tools, and we hope the collar will fill in several important missing pieces.”

TM

EXPLAINING THE SLOSH EFFECT 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.

“What the woodpecker and battle ram have in common is they depend on striking the head to survive and eat,” Cormier said. “What they have in common with us is related to yawning. Each time we yawn, we mildly obstruct a small amount of blood from draining to the brain. That slows the slosh effect internally of the brain moving inside the skull.”

In fluid dynamics, the slosh effect is the movement of liquid inside another object. In this example, the vehicle is the skull and the moving substance is the brain, which is composed of 70-percent water.

BY DAN GUTTENPLAN

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ROXOR OFF-ROAD Want to know how the Motor City Madman enjoys the outdoors? Build your ROXOR just like his. The Ted Nugent ROXOR edition starts with a camo body wrap, HD Bumper with a Warn Winch and D-ring mounts, a hardtop, windshield, four Kolpin Rhino grips, a 40-inch KC Light Bar, spare tire kit and grab handles. As always, the core is the same, exactly like Uncle Ted: steel body, steel boxed frame, legendary simplicity. Respect the environment and get off-road. Nine-hundred numbered Ted Nugent ROXORs are available while supplies last at authorized ROXOR dealers across North America. You can find more information at roxoroffroad.com.

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POLE POSITION MAG.COM

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SEAL THE DEAL KASEY KAHNE A TEXAS TWO-STEP On April 9, 2006, Kasey Kahne, driving the No. 9 Evernham Motorsports Dodge, became the 11th winner in as many Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway.

The Enumclaw, Washington, native was also the first driver in the track’s history to win a Cup Series race from the pole.

Kahne sealed the deal by leading 63 of 334 laps, including the final 27, as he held off the Roush Fenway Racing Ford driven by Matt Kenseth.

Kahne collected his third of six wins that season after building a comfortable lead following the final restart with 17 laps remaining. At the checkered flag, he was five seconds ahead of Kenseth with Tony Stewart finishing third.

“This is a great victory. It’s one of the tracks I have looked at since I started racing,” Kahne said, according to an Associated Press article. “This is a track you want to win at. This track, Indianapolis and Daytona … if you can win at one of (them), you have really done something.”

Three of Kahne’s six victories in 2006 came after starting from the pole. The best season of his 15year career included 12 top-five finishes, 19 top-10 results and six pole positions.

All told, Kahne logged 18 victories before retiring from NASCAR Cup Series competition in 2018.

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PRESENTED BY

BOBBY LABONTE LADY LUCK SHOWS UP On Nov. 16, 2003, Bobby Labonte was set to finish second behind a dominant Bill Elliott in the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Labonte, driving the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet, knew he wouldn’t win unless something unexpected happened.

Coming off the second turn on the final lap, the right-rear tire on Elliott’s No. 9 Evernham Motorsports Dodge blew, forcing him to limp around the bottom of the track at a reduced pace. Labonte looked up and realized the race was suddenly his to win.

He sealed the deal by passing Elliott’s wounded Dodge to claim his second victory of the season.

Crew chief Michael “Fatback” McSwain had encouraged Labonte over the radio not to give up and Elliott’s misfortune was a wake-up call for the Texas native during the final half-lap.

What made the win even sweeter was the fact Labonte and his team had struggled to find luck during their second half of the season. He hadn’t led a lap all day until the last one – the one that counted most.

“Oh man, I couldn’t believe it, I just couldn’t believe it,” Labonte said in an Associated Press article. “Fatback kept saying, ‘Keep going, he’ll make a mistake.’

But I told him Bill was just playing with me.”

It was also the final race for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. after 33 years as the NASCAR Cup Series title sponsor.

BY BEN WHITE | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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TAILGATING Q&A WITH DENNY

PRESENTED BY

Tailgating with Denny Wilson

F

or longtime NASCAR fan Denny Wilson, tailgating at Talladega Superspeedway is about more than good food and drink or even relaxing with friends and family. In Wilson’s world, tailgating represents a prime opportunity to let the proverbial hair down and just have fun.

“It’s the simple fact that I get to see what I consider family twice a year and cut loose, relax, and – I’ll use the term loosely – act a fool,” Wilson said.

To that end, Wilson has been known to prank some of his favorite tailgating companions.

“The funniest story of all time would have to be when I woke up on a Friday morning only to discover my camper door taped shut and that my entire campsite – all four spots – had been covered in toilet paper by none other than Jeremy

Stephens and his cohorts,” Wilson said.

“The second funniest would have to be when I got ‘even’ with Jeremy Stephens.”

Not to be outdone, Wilson raised the bar a bit when it came to executing a prank that no one would soon forget.

“We took every empty garbage can we could locate in the Talladega infield and staged them on Jeremy’s campsite before he arrived and we roped it off with crimescene tape,” Wilson said. “Later that evening – well, actually in the wee hours of the morning – we stacked all of his ice chests and tables against his camper door. Then we patiently waited for him and his crew to wake. The funniest part of that fiasco was hearing John Monk trying to get out of the camper and screaming in desperation, ‘Let me out. I gotta pee!’”

Good times, indeed.

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W

hat good is a drink bottle if you can’t open it? Worry not, NASCAR’s only active seven-time champion driver has you covered. With a quick twist of the wrist and some help from the Jimmie Johnson Colordome Pro Driver Bottle Opener, found at the NASCAR.com “NASCARSHOP,” tailgaters can easily pop a top on their favorite beverage and do so in style. The Johnson-themed bottle opener – which features both a rendering of the Ally-sponsored No. 48 car and a replica of the Hendrick Motorsports driver’s signature – is 100 percent Stainless Steel and available for only $16.99. The best part of all might be that it ships within one business day.

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BY JARED TURNER

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE DRIVERS? My favorite drivers would have to be Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson, simply because I have hung out with them and partaken in a few adult beverages with them. They seem to be a couple of pretty laid-back guys, so I enjoy watching them make left turns. Then, there is Chase Elliott. I had to find someone to pull for from the Hendrick Motorsports team, and he was it.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Geneva, Alabama.

WHAT’S YOUR OCCUPATION? I’m an electrical/general contractor.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A FAN? About 14 years.

WHERE WAS YOUR FIRST TAILGATE? Talladega Superspeedway.

AT WHAT TRACKS HAVE YOU TAILGATED? Talladega 25 times, Atlanta Motor Speedway nine times, Watkins Glen two times, and Homestead-Miami.

WHAT MAKES FOR A GOOD TAILGATE? The company of good friends and a YETI full of good ideas.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE FOODS? Fried catfish, crawfish, a little BBQ, Bud Light and Jack Daniel’s.

KIM CADRAIN’S

FAVORITE RECIPE KIM CADRAIN, OF PORT CHARLOTTE, Florida, is a frequent tailgater at Talladega Superspeedway. In her own words, here’s her special recipe for Easy Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers.

STEP 1: “Half each jalapeno from stem to end.

Then use a spoon to scrape out the seeds and white membrane to reduce the heat of the peppers.”

TIP: “It’s the seeds and white membrane that make peppers hot. For the mildest poppers, remove all the seeds and membrane. If you like things hot and spicy, leave the membrane inside the pepper but remove the seeds.”

STEP 2: “Fill the pepper halves with cream cheese. You can leave the cream cheese plain or add some flavor. We love fresh chives or chopped green onion, so it’s your own choice. You could also add some chili powder, other herbs or any combination of cheeses, goat cheese and shredded cheddar cheese, which are great options.”

STEP 3: “Cut cocktail sausages in half, length ways, and place on top of the cream cheese filling. Cut thin slices of bacon into smaller strips, which should be just large enough to wrap around a pepper half. Wrap the bacon around each stuffed pepper half and secure it with a toothpick.”

TIP: “Soak toothpicks in water about one hour before making.”

IN CONCLUSION: “We keep the filling really simple, but there are lots of extra ingredients you can add to make them extra special. To grill the jalapeno poppers on an outdoor grill, use a grill basket or aluminum foil. This prevents the peppers from falling through the grates. Grill over medium-high heat until tender and the bacon is crisp – about 15 minutes.”

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NASCAR BUILDS

PRESENTED BY

FAMILY LEGACY

Swing Low Sweet Chariot

W

hen Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams visit Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, they focus on one key strategy for having a successful racing weekend.

Crew chiefs, car chiefs and engineers want their race cars to be as low as possible in order to perform to maximum capacity on the race track.

While circling Daytona or Talladega in tightly bunched packs, fans might notice how low the cars sit. Their bodies look to be just barely above the tires or, in some cases, seem to cover the tops of the tires.

Mike Cook, an engineer for Stewart-Haas Racing and driver Aric Almirola, explains the general reason why teams set their cars so low.

“You want a low-drag car in order to go fast,” Cook said. “You have a set amount of horsepower and when you reduce the drag, we go faster. That’s the basic premise. With these race cars, the majority of the drag is made by the spoiler hanging off the back of the car, so the lower we can get the car, the lower the spoiler is, the less drag it will have.

“You want the car to be down because the air goes over the roof and the lower the back is, it won’t get caught on the spoiler. You slam everything down and that effectively makes the car look smaller with less drag.”

There is no longer a penalty for having a car too

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low in NASCAR’s premier series. Still, teams must be careful not to set the car so low that it causes cause damage to components underneath it.

Greg Erwin, crew chief for Wood Brothers Racing and driver Paul Menard, takes the topic a bit more in detail.

“We come to a speedway, such as Daytona and Talladega, and we are not for the most part handling limited until we get a long way into a tire run or we get in a huge pack of cars,” Erwin said. “All the aero comes off our car and we’re basically running in a vacuum. Our car will slip and slide a little bit but for the most part, if you take any of these cars in the garage area and line them up single file, they can run around (those tracks) without lifting for at least a half of a fuel run or even three-quarters of a fuel run.”

In essence, it’s all about horsepower working together with air flow around the car.

“The idea behind running the car so low is at that point the only thing that controls the horsepower at the rear wheels and the drag is the body,” Erwin continued.

“The horsepower at the rear wheels is for the most part a function of the engine. Teams work really hard to get the parasitic losses out of the drive train.

“We run as low as we possibly can at the front as well as the rear, especially with the wicker bill we’ve installed on the back of the spoilers at Talladega, which makes the car more sensitive to rear ride height. It’s just a big air catch on the back side of the car.”

IT’S BEEN ALMOST 90 years since James D. Forney began selling his invention, “The Forney Instant Heat Soldering Iron,” door-to-door across the heartland. With ingenuity and determination, Forney advanced his business and it didn’t take long for farmers and ranchers to discover the usefulness of his inventions.

Eventually, the Rural Electric Association granted permission for salesmen to climb utility poles to hook up welders for demonstrations.

With the increased exposure to Forney’s products, his business began to expand. Soon he would broaden his product line with battery chargers, welding supplies and more.

By 1943, Forney Industries had more than 1,400 products from 150 outside suppliers.

Today, Forney offers close to 5,000 metalworking products within four categories: welding, abrasives, personal protective equipment and shop tools. J.D. Forney’s grandson, Steve Anderson, is now the president and CEO of Forney Industries, and he is committed to his customers’ success; a legacy his grandfather began all those years ago.

One day, J.D. Forney’s great grandson, Dane Anderson, will lead the company and that same legacy will be running four generations strong.

Much has changed in 87 years, but the foundation of Forney Industries remains the same. After all, Welding in America isn’t just a slogan, it’s the backbone of the company. –Rachel Bigum

BY BEN WHITE | MAIN PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

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POLE POSITION 2019

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, StewartHaas Racing, Kyle Busch Motorsports and Rev Racing with EU series generator products that provide smooth, reliable power for their racing needs.

When every inch of space in your rig matters, the Original Tailgater Tire Table is a must have for when you need an extra surface for your cold drinks or hot pans off the grill. It attaches to any of your vehicle’s tires, including the spare, and comes fully assembled with all pieces secured. Weighing 12 lbs., it is easily maneuvered and can be tucked away and stored flat for your next adventure without wasting valuable space.

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Learn more and see photos in action at TailGaterTireTable.com.

HOT TOPICS

PRESENTED BY

Hot Topics The calendar has turned to fall and that means the weather is finally cooling down. However, even as the temperatures chill, a handful of NASCARrelated storylines are sizzling. These are five hot topics that everyone will be discussing during the final months of the year – and into the offseason.

1

No Foreseeable End to Joe Gibbs Racing’s Dominance. JGR driver Denny Hamlin kicked off the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season with a huge and emotional victory in the Daytona 500. Twenty-four races into the schedule, JGR drivers had accounted for exactly half of all Monster Energy Series race wins. Arguably just as impressive was the fact that those victories were evenly distributed among three of JGR’s four drivers – Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Hamlin.

A 2020 Jimmie Johnson Farewell Tour?

Jimmie Johnson is in a three-year contract with Hendrick Motorsports that runs through the 2020 season. Will the seven-time NASCAR premier

2

series champion renew for one or more additional seasons, or will 2020 be his farewell tour? As of late August, Johnson had offered no indication of his plans.

Forty-four years old as of Sept. 17, Johnson is the oldest active full-time Monster Energy Series driver.

The Continued Emergence of the Young Guns. The season hasn’t been the greatest for NASCAR’s so-called “young guns,” but it hasn’t been bad either. Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman, Erik Jones, William Byron, Daniel Suarez and Matt DiBenedetto – all drivers central to NASCAR’s youth movement – have all enjoyed some terrific moments. Bowman, Byron, Suarez and DiBenedetto, in particular, have displayed marked improvement over 2018 when it was rare for any of them to contend for wins.

Possible Retirement for Kurt Busch. Leading up to this season, Kurt Busch signed only a one-year agreement with Chip Ganassi Racing and made no attempt to hide the possibility that he might not race beyond 2019.

But after a playoff-clinching victory in July at Kentucky Speedway where he edged younger brother Kyle in an epic last-lap duel, Busch acknowledged that his overall successful season to date had led him to seriously contemplate the possibility of racing at least one more year although a deal was far from done.

A Majorly Revamped 2020 Schedule. It’s certainly not too early to look ahead to the 2020 schedule, which will look vastly different than this season. Among the most notable changes for NASCAR’s premier series will be Homestead-Miami Speedway moving from the season’s final race to Race Six while Atlanta Motor Speedway moves from Week Two to Week Five. Martinsville Speedway is taking over the Mother’s Day weekend date previously occupied

by Kansas Speedway, while the first Kansas race has been pushed back to the last weekend in May. Rather than making two trips to Pocono Raceway, NASCAR’s premier series will visit the “Tricky Triangle” only once – in late June – and run two races on back-to-back days.

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BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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NASCAR XFINITY No Second-Guessing Reddick’s Decision Although not unprecedented, it’s pretty uncommon for a NASCAR driver to win a championship in one season and join a rival team for the next.

That’s exactly what NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Tyler Reddick did, however, after capturing the 2018 Xfinity Series championship as a rookie for JR Motorsports. Less than three weeks before his surprising but remarkable championshipclinching victory, Reddick announced his intention to join Richard Childress Racing for the 2019 Xfinity Series season.

The decision, though not shocking, was unexpected in light of the fact that Reddick had won a race, reached the playoffs and was in the thick of the championship hunt when he revealed his plans for an imminent departure.

Nevertheless, Reddick felt it was the right move, and that feeling persisted even after he claimed the championship in dramatic fashion during the seasonending Championship 4 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

As Reddick now nears the end of Year One with RCR, it’s looking an awful lot like he knew something almost no one else did. While staying at JR Motorsports might have seemed like the most logical choice on the surface, his change of scenery has borne considerable fruit.

“It’s been pretty incredible, honestly,” Reddick said. “I knew I was going to another great organization, but you never know how things are going to start off

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POLE POSITION 2019

when you have a new group, but, obviously, our year started off really well and we’ve been able to run really strong all year long.”

Consider, for example, that after 23 races in 2018, he owned 12 top-10 finishes that included only two top-five results and a single victory. At the same point in the 2019 campaign, Reddick had earned four victories and a series-leading 20 top-10 finishes – all but two of them being top-five efforts. He was also the series points leader, compared to being seventh at the same time a season earlier.

The bottom line? Reddick has gone from a really good situation at JR Motorsports to an even better one at RCR, the organization founded by 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Richard Childress.

“I think right now we just have more speed at all the different places that we need to have it,” Reddick said. “Our pit crew has also done a phenomenal job all year long. You may be able at times to question our outright speed at some places, but I don’t feel like you would be able to question our ability as a team to overcome those hurdles that we’ve had so far this year.”

Not surprisingly, Reddick faced some skepticism when he revealed his plans to leave JR Motorsports, but the 23-year-old Corning, California, native feels like he’s proved any doubters wrong.

“Everyone had an opinion on the matter, whether it was to me personally or people on Twitter,” Reddick said. “I think it’s safe to say that all the people who had a lot of negative to say about it on Twitter have all but shut up because they look like idiots.

We took care of those guys. The people that know RCR know what they’re capable of, and I’ve had a lot of people tell me it was a good move.

“Going into it, I was really positive. They have everything in-house on campus – the ECR Engines, the chassis shop. That was a nice thing to have at RCR; it’s a complete package, and it’s really easy to adapt to a place like that.”

The other driving force behind Reddick’s move was the fact that he wants to position himself for a jump to NASCAR’s premier series in the relatively near future. Unlike JR Motorsports which doesn’t have a direct footprint in the sport’s top division, RCR fields two full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams and has room to expand.

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

Reddick has already had the opportunity this year to make a pair of cameo Monster Energy Series starts for the organization, which captured six premier series championships between 1986 and 1994 with the late Dale Earnhardt. Reddick has been particularly impressed with the leadership style of Childress – RCR’s founder and owner.

“You never have to question Richard’s involvement in the team,” Reddick said.

“He’s always very hands-on, very involved with what’s going on with our cars and what’s going on at the shop and even strategy throughout the race. Obviously, racing means a lot to a lot of these car owners, but you can’t question the level that it matters to Richard and his whole group. Racing is their business and the way they make their living, and, obviously, Richard wants to go out there and win races, but he wants to win championships as well, and that’s what our goal for the year has been.”

Like his boss, Reddick believes a hands-on approach is critical to success.

A self-professed car aficionado, Reddick doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty – soto-speak. In fact, it comes naturally.

“I couldn’t rebuild an entire engine, but I feel like if I had to fix something, I could do it, and that love for cars and race cars has carried over to the personal side of things and what I drive every day,” Reddick said.

“I just like working on cars, in general.

I have a love for cars, and it’s what got me into racing. I pretty much spend my free time that I have when I’m not at the

race track going to the shop, trying to be the best driver that I can be physically and getting the best prepared with my crew chief that we can; and when I’m outside of that, I try to go home, work on my car, watch a little TV, relax. It’s pretty straightforward. There’s nothing really super-extravagant about it, because the last thing I want to do is get distracted and lose sight of what’s most important.”

Understandably, Reddick feels good about his chances of becoming the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ first back-to-back champion since Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in 2011 and 2012. Unlikely Stenhouse, however, Reddick’s championships would be with two different teams – a truly rare feat at any level of the sport.

“To go back-to-back and do it with two different teams would be really cool for me,” Reddick said. “It would say a lot about RCR, in general. They had me come in their doors and they said, ‘We’re going to go win a championship together.’ That’s been my goal, and that’s been their goal.

So, it’d be really cool for us to do that our first year together. I would like to go backto-back and bring another championship to the RCR stable and be that guy to do it for them.”

Regardless of whether Reddick makes it two Xfinity Series championships in a row, his success the past two years – and in 2019, in particular – has turned a lot of heads. Whether that will translate into a full-time premier series ride for 2020 remained to be seen at press time, however.

“It’s hard to say,” Reddick admitted.

“There’s a lot of good drivers in the Cup Series. It’s about finding the right spot at the right time.

I’m just really excited to be at a team like this where I have the opportunity to hop in a Cup car for them when the opportunity arises. If we can just take advantage of those opportunities to hop in a Cup car and go race, I think we’ll be able to compete at the level that we need to. I don’t know when that step happens, but I just want to do everything I can to continue to improve as a driver so when I do have that opportunity, I’ll be ready for it.”

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NASCAR XFINITY

Confidence Equals Success for Custer 21-YEAR-OLD EYES NASCAR XFINITY SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP

G

rowing up in a racing family, Cole Custer idolized the legends of the sport he saw race on TV and occasionally in-person.

Now, as a 21-year-old, Custer is one of the top drivers in the NASCAR Xfinity Series where he’s in his third full season with Stewart-Haas Racing – one of NASCAR’s premier organizations.

Even though Custer is no longer considered a newcomer to the sport and has already enjoyed his fair share of success, there are times when he still has to practically pinch himself.

“It’s pretty unbelievable,” Custer said.

“When I was a kid, I looked at those guys that drove in NASCAR like gods. I never knew I was going to be doing it. It’s pretty surreal. And so many people don’t get the shot to do it, so you’ve definitely got to take advantage of it, and you don’t want to waste the opportunity. So you just try to put as much work in as possible and make sure you’re doing your job as best you can.”

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The 2019 season to date really couldn’t have gone much better for Custer, who at press time had posted an impressive five victories and 15 top-10 finishes in 23 starts. That’s compared to a total of two wins combined over his first two seasons in NASCAR’s No. 2 division.

“I think it’s a combination of everything.

I think it’s a combination of having a new crew chief in Mike Shiplett who brought a lot of experience to our team and a lot of new ideas. I think it helped a lot,” Custer said. “And it’s my third year, and I have a better understanding of what I want in the car and what I need to do in every single situation during the weekend. So going into this year, I think we knew we could win races. It was just a matter of how long it was going to take us to figure it out, and I think, luckily, we figured it out pretty quick.”

The biggest obstacle between Custer and outright dominance has been fellow young bucks Tyler Reddick and Christopher Bell, who sat 1-2 atop the standings

and had rang up a total of 10 victories between them at press time. Reddick, of course, is the reigning series champion, while Bell led the series in wins a season ago and has been arguably just as stout this year. Both Reddick and Bell joined Custer in last year’s Championship 4, and based on how things have gone this year, it’s a pretty good bet the trio will make it back to Homestead-Miami Speedway and join a fourth driver in competing straight up for the series title again.

Custer would certainly look forward to the challenge.

“It’s been really fun just because I think we’ve all made each other better and it’s really good competition,” he said. “I think I’ve definitely learned a lot from Tyler on running the top of the race track and being able to do that. So I think what’s really cool is it’s so rare, also, to see guys that are 1-2-3 so often. I don’t know. It’s been a fun year and none of us have gotten into it too bad (with each other) so far, so it’s been fun.”

“Fun” is also an accurate descriptor for the totality of Custer’s racing career, which started in quarter midgets at age 4 but really began in earnest when the Ladera Ranch, California, native began driving Late Model cars in his early teens.

It was then that Custer first really believed he might be able to make a career out of racing, which his father, Joe, has been part of as a team executive since 2002.

The elder Custer is now the president of Stewart-Haas Racing, which Cole joined as a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series driver in 2017 after one full season and two partial seasons in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, where he earned two wins in 42 starts. Custer’s first truck win came at age 16 and made him the youngest winner in the history of the series. The record still stands.

Custer has enjoyed more consistent success in the Xfinity Series, winning a race in each of his first two seasons before embarking on what has turned out to be a breakout 2019 campaign.

As an Xfinity Series rookie in 2017, Custer finished fifth in the standings after barely missing the Championship 4. As part of last year’s Championship 4, he finished second to Reddick, falling painfully short of the big prize.

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

Custer’s performance this season has been the biggest year-to-year leap he’s made so far. Make no mistake: Any gains haven’t been bereft of deliberate effort on his part.

“I feel like I work pretty hard at it,” he said. “I don’t know if I have, at times, the best natural talent, but I feel like I study a lot of film and work at a lot of different stuff and ask questions of people, and I think I try and make sure I do my homework before the weekend. I think that’s the biggest thing.”

As part of Stewart-Haas Racing – an organization co-owned by three-time NASCAR premier series champion Tony Stewart – Custer has plenty of experienced, accomplished people to lean on for guidance and advice. One of Custer’s go-to resources has been 2014 premier series champion Kevin Harvick, who is one of SHR’s Monster Energy Series drivers along with Clint Bowyer, Aric Almirola and Daniel Suarez.

“I try not to bother them as much anymore, but my rookie year I think I pretty much talked with Kevin Harvick every single weekend,” Custer said. “It’s definitely pretty big getting to talk to him and using his experience.”

Due in part to having more experience under his own belt, and thanks partly to the expanding repertoire of knowledge and wisdom he’s been able to squeeze

out of veterans such as Harvick, Custer has taken his game to a new level. And, of course, having a garage area veteran like Shiplett in his ear as crew chief hasn’t hurt either.

“Confidence, I think, is one of the biggest things,” Custer said. “And confidence comes with the experience. I think because I have the experience right now, I know what I’m looking for, I know what to expect, so it just gives you that much more confidence going into the next corner or the next lap or the weekend just knowing you kind of know what to expect.”

Excited about the prospects of a move to NASCAR’s premier series in the near future, Custer is for now laser-focused on winning an Xfinity Series championship, which would help atone for his disappointment in the 2018 season finale, when he led a race-high 95 laps but ultimately took the checkered flag in second behind race winner and fellow title contender Reddick.

“Winning this championship would be huge,” Custer said. “All the guys on the team work so hard and I think it would mean a ton to them but, also, I think we were so close last year. After finishing second last year, it would mean a ton to go back and win this year. It’s what we all want to do. We all strive to win races and championships. If we can go to Homestead and win one, that’s something you would remember for the rest of your life.”

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NASCAR National Series

Driver Profiles Success in NASCAR racing is defined by much more than statistics and every racer must make a series of life-changing decisions. Here are five key moments that defined the careers of Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer.

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

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DRIVER PROFILES 5 KEY MOMENTS

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Kyle Busch 1

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Starting Kyle Busch Motorsports. Possessing an entrepreneurial spirit and uncanny knack for finding and developing talent, Kyle Busch made INFO a bold business decision in 2009 when he and wife OWNER Samantha decided to launch a NASCAR truck team.

JOE GIBBS Known as KBM, the company has gone on to claim TEAM multiple owner and driver championships in the series JOE GIBBS RACING while providing a platform for young drivers such as SPONSORS Erik Jones and William Byron to be recognized and M&M’S, SKITTLES, INTERSTATE BATTERIES ultimately ascend the ranks to NASCAR’s premier series. Drivers who’ve raced KBM equipment also MANUFACTURER TOYOTA include Greg Biffle, Kimi Raikkonen, Kurt Busch and CREW CHIEF Kyle himself.

ADAM STEVENS Becoming a Parent and Helping Others Do the Same. After being very open about their journey with infertility and their decision to ultimately try in vitro fertilization, Kyle and Samantha Busch welcomed son Brexton into the world in May 2015. In an effort to help others achieve their dream of becoming parents, the couple started The Samantha and Kyle Busch Bundle of Joy Fund, which advocates for infertility education and awareness and grants monetary awards to couples who require fertility treatments to have their own bundle of joy.

These funds help pay for infertility treatment through the REACH Clinic of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Joining Joe Gibbs Racing. After scoring his first four premier series wins while driving for Hendrick Motorsports from 2005-2007, Busch did what most drivers never do – leave a championship-winning organization – and joined Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2008 season. It turned out to be the best move Busch has ever made. Now, more than a decade later, Busch has long since established himself as one of the sport’s top drivers, thanks in large part to his 2015 premier series championship and the more than 50 premier series races he’s won for the organization founded and owned by legendary NFL coach Joe Gibbs.

Battling Back from Injuries. It’s been obvious from pretty much Day One that Busch had a lot of driving talent. In 2015, the world learned he has incredible will and determination, too. After suffering major foot and leg injuries in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on the eve of the Daytona 500, Busch was expected to miss most of the season. Instead, he missed less than a third of it – only 11 races – and came back to capture five wins and his first championship in NASCAR’s premier series. The lesson here? Even when he’s down, Busch can’t ever be counted out.

Drowning Out the Wrong Voices. It’s hard to say exactly when it happened, but sometime relatively early in his career, Busch made a conscious decision not to be negatively impacted by dissenters. While Busch is beloved by a lot of people, some fans don’t care for his brash, outspoken style. And others simply don’t like him because he wins so much. Busch takes it all in stride, however, and keeps his head up.

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DRIVER PROFILES

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5 KEY MOMENTS

Kurt Busch 1

Running the Indy 500. Few NASCAR drivers ever get the opportunity to run the Indianapolis 500. Kurt Busch had such an opportunity in 2014, and it’s fair to say he made the most of it. Making a cameo appearance for Andretti Autosport, Busch finished an impressive sixth in open-wheel racing’s most prestigious event before flying home to compete in that night’s CocaCola 600 NASCAR race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The 2004 NASCAR premier series champion’s Indy success brought NASCAR major publicity and may have helped him secure his current ride with the NASCAR team owned by legendary Indy car team owner Chip Ganassi.

Joining Team Penske. After five mostly successful seasons as part of Roush Fenway Racing’s NASCAR premier series program, Busch made a change at the end of 2005. That change was joining Team Penske – the organization owned by legendary team owner, businessman and motorsports icon Roger Penske. Over six seasons at Team Penske, Busch won 10 races and never had a year when he was absent from Victory Lane. His biggest win at Team Penske came in the 2010 CocaCola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway where he led 252 of 400 laps in his No. 2 Dodge Charger.

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TEAM Beating Little Brother.

CHIP GANASSI RACING Although Busch has enjoyed treSPONSORS mendous success during his lengthy MONSTER ENERGY, GLOBAL POKER NASCAR career, he hasn’t been to Victory Lane nearly as often as his MANUFACTURER CHEVROLET younger brother, Kyle. But when it CREW CHIEF comes to brotherly bragging rights, MATT MCCALL there’s one race that neither brother will ever forget – and it happened to turn out in Kurt’s favor. That race was July’s Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway, where Kurt edged Kyle at the checkered flag by .076 seconds as the two brothers went door-to-door and bounced off each other in an all-out drag race on the final lap.

Teaming with Stewart-Haas Racing. Early in their careers, Busch and Tony Stewart didn’t get along so well. In 2014, however, the two old rivals buried the proverbial hatchet when Busch became a driver for Stewart-Haas Racing – the organization that Stewart co-owns with businessman Gene Haas.

Over five years at Stewart-Haas Racing, Busch won six races, the most notable being the 2017 Daytona 500. Putting their past differences aside, Busch and Stewart seemed to get along reasonably well and maintained a mutual respect for each other as teammates and once Stewart hung up his driving helmet.

Joining Chip Ganassi Racing. Looking to sign a shortterm contract with a quality team after parting ways with Stewart-Haas Racing at the end of 2018, Busch found such an opportunity in Chip Ganassi Racing, which had an open seat due to veteran Jamie McMurray’s decision to retire from full-time driving. Busch found the No. 1 CGR car attractive enough and signed a one-year deal with the company. Whether Busch would return to the organization for another season remained a matter of speculation at press time, but Busch has enjoyed a solid first season with the organization.

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OWNER CHIP GANASSI

DRIVER PROFILES 5 KEY MOMENTS

PRE S E N T E D BY

Chase Elliott 1

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Becoming a Hendrick Motorsports Development Driver. It’s not every day that a high school freshman signs a contract with a top-tier NASCAR team. That happened, however, in 2011 when second-generation driver Chase Elliott inked a driver development contract with powerhouse INFO Hendrick Motorsports. As part of his deal, Elliott – OWNER RICK HENDRICK the son of 1988 NASCAR premier series champion Bill Elliott – received support for his family-owned TEAM HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS Bill Elliott Racing team while competing in Super SPONSORS Late Model, Pro Late Model and NASCAR regional NAPA, MOUNTAIN DEW, events. Hendrick Motorsports fielded a truck for ElKELLEY BLUE BOOK, HOOTERS liott in nine NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series races in 2013.

MANUFACTURER CHEVROLET Joining JR Motorsports. As part of his deal CREW CHIEF as a development driver for Hendrick MotorALAN GUSTAFSON sports, Elliott teamed with Hendrick affiliate JR Motorsports in 2014 to run the full NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule. Elliott, just 18 at the time, had no prior Xfinity Series experience and had made only nine starts in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series. Calling his appointment to JRM “the opportunity of a lifetime,” Elliott went on to take full advantage of his time with the Dale Earnhardt Jr.-owned organization, winning four races over two full seasons to go along with the 2014 series championship.

Being Promoted to Hendrick’s Cup Series Program. After two stellar seasons in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Elliott took the next logical step in his career by moving to NASCAR’s premier series in 2016.

Already under contract with Hendrick Motorsports, Elliott took over the iconic No. 24 Chevrolet previously driven by four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon, who retired at the end of 2015. As opportunities in NASCAR go, they don’t get any better than the one Elliott had to be promoted to a fabled organization’s premier series program and take over the wheel of a ride synonymous with a legend.

Teaming with NAPA. Already involved in NASCAR for a number of years, NAPA embarked on a new sponsorship in 2014 with Elliott, who wanted to move up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series but needed the support of a major sponsor. Elliott found just that in NAPA, and the relationship between the driver and sponsor has only flourished with time. After following Elliott to NASCAR’s premier series with Hendrick Motorsports in 2016, NAPA has continued as Elliott’s primary sponsor and has a deal in place with Elliott’s team through the conclusion of the 2020 season.

Becoming Mr. Popularity. Buoyed by his on-track success, friendly demeanor and family heritage, Elliott has been voted by fans as most popular driver five times across three NASCAR divisions: K&N Series East (2011 and 2012); Xfinity Series (2014 and 2015); and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (2018). Fans voted the second-generation driver into the NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in both 2016 and 2017, and he consistently ranks in the top three among all drivers in licensed merchandise sales.

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5 KEY MOMENTS

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Singing with Hendrick Motorsports.

Before the 2002 season, Jimmie Johnson was not all that well known in the NASCAR world. In fact, the El Cajon, California, native INFO had won only one race over two full seasons in OWNER what is now the NASCAR Xfinity Series. But at RICK HENDRICK the recommendation of four-time champion and TEAM Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon, team HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS owner Rick Hendrick took a chance on Johnson SPONSOR ALLY FINANCIAL and hired him to drive the organization’s new No. 48 car. Seven championships and more than 80 MANUFACTURER CHEVROLET wins later, it’s fair to say Hendrick’s gamble paid CREW CHIEF off. Johnson has certainly benefited from the CLIFF DANIELS arrangement as well.

Teaming with Lowe’s. At the end of 2001, the Lowe’s home improvement chain ended a multi-year sponsorship with another NASCAR team to join forces with incoming Hendrick Motorsports driver Johnson and the organization’s new No. 48 team. At the time, no one had any way of knowing, of course, that Lowe’s and Johnson would ultimately team up for 17 years and enjoy one of the longest sponsor/driver relationships in the sport’s history. Although the 2018 season was the last for Lowe’s as Johnson’s primary backer, the brand will forever be tied to Johnson’s amazing success in the sport.

Pairing with Chad Knaus. In addition to landing with a top team in Hendrick Motorsports, Johnson was also fortunate to begin his NASCAR premier series career paired with crew chief Chad Knaus. A former member of the original “Rainbow Warriors” team that helped Jeff Gordon achieve greatness, Knaus was named crew chief for Hendrick’s new No. 48 team prior to Johnson’s rookie year of 2002. With Knaus atop the pit box, Johnson won seven championships and 81 races as the crew chief rightfully earned a reputation as one of the most brilliant minds and hardest-working people in the sport.

Entering the Ally Era. When Lowe’s announced it would not return for an 18th season as Johnson’s primary sponsor, Hendrick Motorsports needed a suitable replacement for its seven-time champion driver. The team found one in Ally Financial, which agreed to serve as Johnson’s primary sponsor for the full season in both 2019 and 2020 – the latter being the final year of Johnson’s current three-year contract. “It’s so important to have a sponsor that is going to be on all the cars for every race for two years,” team owner Rick Hendrick said. “You know, Jimmie deserves that.”

Becoming a Health and Fitness Guru. One of the secrets to Johnson’s amazing success is actually not really a secret. Johnson is widely known for being a health and fitness guru and has continued to participate in triathlons well into his 40s. Johnson’s dedication to being in top shape for many years has undoubtedly played to his advantage in 400-, 500- and 600-mile races where having optimal stamina is critical to top performance. Earlier this year – at the age of 43 – Johnson participated in the Boston Marathon, fewer than 48 hours after driving in a 400-lap race.

DRIVER PROFILES

PRE S E N T E D BY

5 KEY MOMENTS

Martin Truex Jr. 1

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Meeting Dale Jr. More than 15 years ago, Martin Truex Jr. struck up a friendship with INFO Dale Earnhardt Jr. and actually spent several OWNER years living on the Mooresville, North Carolina, JOE GIBBS property of NASCAR’s most popular driver. Little TEAM did Truex know at the time that becoming friends JOE GIBBS RACING with Earnhardt would lead to arguably the biggest SPONSORS break of his career, which was landing a full-time BASS PRO SHOPS, AUTO-OWNERS INSURANCE NASCAR Xfinity Series ride with Chance 2 Motorsports – an organization co-owned by Earnhardt MANUFACTURER TOYOTA and Earnhardt’s stepmother, Teresa. While driving CREW CHIEF for Chance 2, Truex won back-to-back Xfinity COLE PEARN Series championships in 2004 and 2005, which ultimately led to an opportunity to join NASCAR’s premier series in 2006.

Taking the Fight to Cancer. Few NASCAR drivers have done as much to help the fight against cancer as Truex Jr. Together with longtime girlfriend Sherry Pollex, a cancer survivor, Truex launched the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation in 2007 to support underfunded cancer initiatives specific to ovarian and childhood cancers, and assist the individuals and families affected by them. In 2014, the Martin Truex Jr. Pediatric Care Center at Southern Ocean Medical Center opened in Truex’s home state of New Jersey. In 2015, the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation began a partnership with Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Teaming with Bass Pro Shops. As a NASCAR premier series rookie in 2006, Truex Jr. carried primary sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops on his No. 1 car fielded by Dale Earnhardt Inc. Clearly, he made a good impression. Although Truex has competed for several teams since joining NASCAR’s premier series, one of the near-constants for the Mayetta, New Jersey, native has been financial support from Bass Pro Shops, which later reunited with Truex after he joined Furniture Row Racing in 2014. The company owned by well-known businessman Johnny Morris has since followed Truex to his current team at Joe Gibbs Racing.

Being Paired with Cole Pearn. In his first season with Furniture Row Racing, Truex Jr. was winless and finished 24th in points. The next season, Truex was paired with crew chief Cole Pearn. He’s won a race in every season since, along with the 2017 championship. Truex and Pearn moved together to Joe Gibbs Racing for 2019. “To still be able to work alongside Cole is something that was very important to me,” Truex said. All but two of Truex’s more than 20 career wins have come with Pearn, who has been one of the biggest difference-makers in Truex becoming an elite driver.

Landing at Joe Gibbs Racing. When Furniture Row Racing suspended operations at the end of the 2018 season, Truex Jr. needed a new racing home. He found one in Joe Gibbs Racing – the powerful organization founded and owned by three-time Super Bowl-winning coach Joe Gibbs.

Truex, who won four races in the first half of his first season with JGR, couldn’t be any happier to be with such a great team. “I look at Coach (Gibbs), and he leads by example,” Truex said. “He puts everything he has into it.

I can tell you that every time I go to the shop, he’s there.”

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DRIVER PROFILES 5 KEY MOMENTS

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Clint Bowyer 1

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Getting a Call from Richard Childress.

After leading 47 laps and finishing second in his ARCA Series debut in August 2003, Clint Bowyer got a phone call he never expected. It was from the secretary of legendary NASCAR team owner Richard INFO Childress. “I thought it was a prank call,” Bowyer OWNERS said. “I’m like, ‘Yeah, right, who the hell is this?’ I TONY STEWART & GENE HAAS all but hung up.” The next voice on the phone was Childress, who had just watched Bowyer race and TEAM STEWART-HAAS RACING wanted to offer him a NASCAR Xfinity Series ride.

SPONSORS Bowyer went on to spend eight years with RCR, TOCO, RUSH TRUCK winning five premier series races.

CENTERS, CUMMINS, HAAS AUTOMATION Starting a Dirt Team. In 2008, Bowyer started a team that now fields two Dirt Late MANUFACTURER FORD Model cars that compete under the banner of CREW CHIEF Clint Bowyer Racing – which has a race shop in MIKE BUGAREWICZ Clemmons, North Carolina, and is one of the few multi-car operations on today’s national Dirt Late Model scene. “I’ve always loved Late Models,” Bowyer, who will occasionally jump in one of his own dirt cars, said in 2017. “Never in a million years did I think I would make it to the Cup Series and actually have an opportunity to own two Dirt Late Model teams.”

Being Handpicked by Tony Stewart. More than a year before stepping down as driver of the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing car, team owner Tony Stewart announced Bowyer would be his successor.

This was and still is the biggest break of Bowyer’s career. The Emporia, Kansas, native joined SHR in 2017 and has become one of the sport’s elite drivers after several years of struggles with lower-echelon teams. “Damn, I’m glad that you decided to retire and open this seat up for me,” Bowyer jokingly said to Stewart at the press conference announcing he would team with SHR. Making a Difference at Home. No NASCAR driver has made a bigger impact on the area where he grew up than Bowyer. The ultimate testament of this is the Clint Bowyer Community Building, which came to Bowyer’s hometown of Emporia, Kansas, in 2012 thanks to a $1.5 million donation from Bowyer’s foundation. Additional support includes 25 new computers at the public library, a scoreboard at the aquatic center, a video camera at the auditorium, shoes for the Big Brothers-Big Sisters program, backpacks for kids, Christmas trees for needy families, and in nearby towns, playground equipment and the reconstruction of a tornado-ravaged community center.

The 2012 Season. If there was one season that forever changed Bowyer’s career for the better, it was the 2012 season at Michael Waltrip Racing where Bowyer earned a career-high three victories and finished a career-best second in the Monster Energy Series standings behind champion Brad Keselowski. Although Bowyer hasn’t had a season of this magnitude before or since, 2012 positioned him well for the future and made his stock rise considerably among potential future employers.

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WOMEN OF NASCAR Breanna O’Leary Switches Gears FORMER SOFTBALL PLAYER BECOMES A NASCAR TIRE CHANGER A native of Amarillo, Texas, Breanna O’Leary did not grow up a NASCAR fan. “It was always stick-and-ball sports,” O’Leary said. “I was never into NASCAR at all.

No interest in it. I didn’t understand it at all.”

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After attending college on a softball scholarship, O’Leary spent a year as a strength and conditioning graduate assistant at Alcorn State University at a time when representatives from NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program were visiting colleges to recruit former college athletes for potential roles on NASCAR pit crews.

“I was always in the weight room with my strength coach and he was like, ‘Hey, NASCAR’s coming and putting on a tryout,’ and I was like, ‘OK, I don’t know what that is,’” O’Leary said. “But he was like, ‘You should do it. It could take us places.’”

A group from the D4D initiative came by Alcorn State and conducted some physical assessments in the weight room, which led to O’Leary being one of 20 people invited to a national combine in Concord, North Carolina. From the combine – which included more physical assessments – 10 individuals were invited to move to Concord and spend six months with Rev Racing becoming fully trained NASCAR pit crew members. O’Leary, to her surprise, made the final cut.

“I was one of the 10 selected, so I moved out here at the end of that summer

of 2016 and started training, and now I’ve been at the track ever since,” said O’Leary, now 27.

O’Leary’s first two seasons on a NASCAR pit crew didn’t involve more than 10 races each. This season, O’Leary is serving as a rear-tire changer in four different divisions – Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series – and is at a race track virtually every weekend.

“I’m just ready at all times,” said O’Leary, who works with multiple drivers at Rick Ware Racing. “You’ve got to be ready, because I don’t always know what’s coming. One weekend, I might just be doing one race; the next weekend, I might have a tripleheader. So, it’s always just being ready to rock-n-roll for anything, you know?”

O’Leary’s biggest assignment to date has been the 2019 Daytona 500, where she changed tires on Rick Ware Racing’s No. 52 car.

“I am fully invested in this, and it’s a skill I want to continue to develop and see how far I can go,” she said.

TRUCK SERIES

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State of the NASCAR Truck Series In this 25th season of the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, there’s considerable reason for optimism about the future of NASCAR’s No. 3 division – which began in 1995 and has consistently produced some of the sport’s most exciting racing.

NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Managing Director Brad Moran recently spoke with NASCAR Pole Position about his overall vision for the series, possible changes to future Truck Series schedules, and more.

What are your thoughts on the overall on-track product the Truck Series has delivered this season?

It’s been a stellar year. I think we had a real good year last year, and this year seems to be topping it so far. There’s been a ton of drama, there’s been a lot of competitive, close battles. From Ross Chastain to Tyler Ankrum to Austin Hill all picking up their first win, the stories just keep coming. It’s crazy. It’s put a lot of pressure on the teams.

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How big was it for the series for Ron Hornaday to get voted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame?

Yeah, it’s big. You always hope that your series is out there and making a name and just doing really well, and that the people who are in there doing that get recognized, because winning these races certainly isn’t easy. It’s good to see people who put the effort into the sport – in whatever division they’re in – get recognized.

Eldora Speedway has been a huge hit. Based on the success there and how much fans love dirt-track racing, could you envision more dirt tracks being added to the schedule?

Eldora is a great event and it’s a wild card in the regular season, which really adds a lot more excitement. The finishes there have been outstanding. It’s a prized event and it’s great to have it. Would we do more dirt tracks? I would say that we always look at opportunities and a lot of people talk to us about events and different dirt tracks and short tracks and so on. We listen to the fans, we’re taking all that in, and we’re getting good information right now. Our 2020 schedule is set and it is with Eldora – one dirt race only – but in 2021, I believe there’s going to be a lot of changes and the schedule may have a new look. So, I would certainly not count it out.

How encouraged are you about the future of the series with secondgeneration drivers such as Harrison Burton and Todd Gilliland starting to make a name for themselves?

Could you be more pleased with how the series has evolved?

Honestly, I believe today we’re probably as strong or stronger than we’ve ever been in the history of the Truck Series. We’ve got a great group of young drivers not just this year but who have come through here the last couple of years and made it to the top level of the sport. We’ve tightened up a lot of rules over the years, so I believe the racing is closer and tighter than it’s ever been. And we’ve just got a great mix of young drivers who come in every year, of veteran drivers who have been here for a long time and are multi-time champions. The races are short, the stages are short, it’s a combination of everything that I think right now has us at the strongest we’ve ever been.

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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TRUCK SERIES

It’s a great feeling. It’s fabulous seeing the young guys come in, the young kids come in with a lot of success out of the K&N programs and Modifieds and wherever they do come from, come into the trucks and really develop their skills and get ready for the next levels. You know their plans are to get to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, and we’ve had many who have gotten there already.

It’s great to see that, and I think the future just looks really bright, and the drivers and the talent, they just keep coming.

We’ve got Burton, we’ve got Gilliland, and the names keep popping up, and that’s a great thing for the sport.

Looking back over 25 years, why do you think only one driver – Matt Crafton – has been able to win backto-back Truck Series championships?

That’s interesting. That’s pretty cool.

I think the reason is it’s just so tough to win. When they say the trucks are tough, that’s no lie. The competitors who come in here have to be on their game. We’ve had races where I’ve done a count of who could win the race, who really had a shot of winning the race, and there have been some races where we’ve had 18-20 teams that could win the race. That’s deep in the field to say that you have 20 drivers who can win any given race. That’s part of the reason why it’s so tough to win a couple of championships in a row.

How refreshing is it to see a guy like Stewart Friesen – a Canadian driver who doesn’t have a ton of truck experience and isn’t competing for a team with a lot of experience – running this strong?

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That’s great, and Stewart Friesen coming from the dirt, he’s done awesome. It’s great to see that, and then there’s other stories on the same line, such as Niece Motorsports. They’re in their second year in racing and went out and got themselves a good driver and worked really hard with their equipment and making it better. The engine parity made it possible for a team like that to work really hard and find success. And then you’ve got David Gilliland’s team, DGR-Crosley – another new team that came in and won a race and got their way into the playoffs. When I see that, I feel that stamps that we’re doing our job, the parity is there and new people can come into this series and have a fair shot to win. To me, I think that’s really my job and one of the biggest things we try to do here at NASCAR. Do you expect to see more situations like we had earlier this year where Greg Biffle, a former Cup Series driver who hadn’t raced in a while, came out of retirement for a one-race cameo and went to Victory Lane in a truck?

I don’t really know if we’ll see more of that. I think what Greg did was a great story. He had a great race, did an awesome job and didn’t tear the truck up. The

way everything shook down, he won the race, which was pretty awesome to see.

Obviously, he was talented when he left the Cup Series, and you don’t forget how to ride the bicycle. The competitors like it, a lot of the owners like it when some of these guys do come in and race, so, I don’t know if it will become a trend, but I think when it happens, it’s exciting. When Kyle Busch races, our competitors like it.

They want to race against him, they want to beat him. It’s kind of not a bad thing. It keeps the intensity level up, and when he comes, all the other teams are on their ‘A’ game because it’s the only way you can beat him.

What do you envision the Truck Series looking like five or 10 years from now?

The future, you don’t really know where we’re gonna go, but the main thing is: If we can keep the costs in check, the parity there and the competition level where it is, I think we’ll be going to a lot of different tracks. It’ll probably change somewhat.

There’s a lot of people who want truck races in their area. Hopefully, we can fulfill some of that and just get to a few more tracks and continue to do what we do, and hopefully the fans will keep coming out and keep wanting to watch the truck races.

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TRUCK SERIES

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18-Year-Old Ankrum Visits Victory Lane A rookie driver in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, Tyler Ankrum had to sit out the first three races of the season due to NASCAR’s rule that restricts drivers under the age of 18 from competing in national series races.

But upon turning 18 on March 6, Ankrum eagerly went truck racing – and he wasted little time making his presence felt. In only his 10th start of the season and just his 12th overall start in a truck, Ankrum earned his first career Gander Outdoors Truck Series victory when he took the checkered flag at Kentucky Speedway on July 11.

Driving the No. 17 Toyota for DGR-Crosley, Ankrum led 40 laps and gave the team co-owned by former NASCAR premier series driver David Gilliland its first national series win.

Ankrum, a native of San Bernardino, California, spent 2018 in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East where he captured four victories in 14 starts on his way to the series title.

As pivotal as Ankrum’s success in the K&N Pro Series was to him landing a Gander Outdoors Truck Series ride for 2019, winning a race in one of NASCAR’s national series was even more meaningful to the young driver.

“I was driving my butt off,” said Ankrum, who enjoyed three stints out front at Kentucky and crossed the finish line 7.373 seconds ahead of runner-up Stewart Friesen. “I think I was holding my breath for the last three laps there. Holy cow, that was awesome. Honestly, one of my biggest faults is

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I’ve always doubted myself, and I kind of saw all of that wash away (with the win).”

The victory punched Ankrum’s ticket into the Gander Trucks playoffs and was a major milestone for DGRCrosley, which is in only its second year of operation.

“I’m so proud of Tyler,” said Gilliland, whose son, Todd, is a Truck Series driver for Kyle Busch Motorsports. “I’ve been watching him race since he was 11 or 12 years old. To see these kids grow up and watch them move up and succeed within our organization is really special and something that we are really proud of. I’m so proud of every single person that we have at DGR-Crosley.”

Ankrum had a strong showing all night at the 1.5mile track in Sparta, Kentucky, as he finished fourth in both Stage 1 and Stage 2. While several teams chose to make quick final pit stops in the last stage, Ankrum’s crew chief, NASCAR garage area veteran Kevin “Bono” Manion, opted for a slower stop that would allow the team to get more fuel in Ankrum’s truck. The strategy paid off when the No. 24 truck of reigning series champion Brett Moffitt ran out of fuel with two laps remaining, handing the lead – and the victory – to Ankrum.

“I was so worried because I couldn’t see the 24 truck ahead of me,” Ankrum said. “They (the team) kept telling me they needed me to get all I could out of it, and that’s what I was focused on. I think I forgot to breathe the last three laps. I’m so thankful for what we’ve done here. This is a total team effort.”

TRUE YOUNG GUN IN WINNING AT Kentucky Speedway, Tyler Ankrum became just the second driver under the age of 25 to score a NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series victory this season. As of press time, the DGR-Crosley wheelman was the only driver under age 24 to prevail this year.

“I think it goes to show that the youngsters and underdogs can still win,” Ankrum said. “I don’t think DGR has been viewed as a GMS Racing or a Kyle Busch Motorsports or a ThorSport Racing, but I think they will be now. I’m honestly so proud of that. That’s really what I’ve been wanting to do.

I’m just all about improvement. Improve every single week and try and get better.”

Like his driver, DGR-Crosley co-owner David Gilliland applauded the whole team for Ankrum’s win at Kentucky.

“We have a great group of people who left other opportunities to take a chance on our team,” Gilliland said. “We are working so hard on developing something special and different at DGR-Crosley.”

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

Enfinger on an Upward Trajectory ALABAMA NATIVE EARNS REGULAR SEASON TITLE Now in his third season as a full-time driver in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, Grant Enfinger sees room for improvement in himself and his No. 98 team at ThorSport Racing.

which began at age 11. After starting in go-karts, Enfinger progressed to Legend Cars and then Super Late Models before graduating to the ARCA Menards Series in 2011. He went on to amass 16 wins in 95 ARCA starts, the most recent of which came in 2018.

That success led Enfinger to the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series where he earned his first victory in 2016 as a part-time driver for GMS Racing.

That accomplishment helped catapult him to his current ride at ThorSport, a Sandusky, Ohio-based organization that fields four Gander Trucks teams.

ThorSport won back-to-back NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series championships in 2013 and 2014 with driver Matt Crafton, who is now a teammate of Enfinger. This season, all four ThorSport drivers have been weekly contenders, with three of them – Enfinger, Crafton and Johnny Sauter – making the playoffs.

Enfinger, however, was still in search of a victory this season. That’s a fact not lost on the 34-yearold native of Fairhope, Alabama, who at press time owned two career Gander Trucks victories, the second coming with ThorSport at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in September 2018.

“We’ve got a lot left to do and a lot more to prove – that’s for sure – but the biggest thing is being able to seal some deals,” Enfinger said. “We’ve been really close and had really good speed. We just don’t have the wins to show for it this year, and that’s what we’re lacking. And that’s pretty much all we need to clean up.”

Even with the dearth of victories, Enfinger is upbeat about the overall state of his No. 98 team, which had recorded more top-five finishes after 17 races this season than it did in all of 2018.

“The pit crew is making good stops, Jeff Hensley’s making good adjustments and Josh Hankish – our truck chief – is making the right actual physical adjustments on the truck,” Enfinger concluded.

However, Enfinger is enjoying a steady progression – and he’s certainly not lacking in confidence. After barely missing the playoffs in 2017 as a newcomer to ThorSport, Enfinger made the eight-driver championship field in 2018 and finished fifth in the standings after barely missing out on the Championship 4.

This season, Enfinger not only qualified for the playoffs; he did so as the Gander Trucks regular season champion – a distinction given to the driver atop the standings at the conclusion of the 16-race regular season.

Even more remarkable than winning the regular season championship was the fact that Enfinger and his team, headed by veteran crew chief Jeff Hensley, led the points after all but three regular season races.

So has Enfinger been surprised by his success this season?

“There is definitely no lack of motivation or incentive for myself, Jeff Hensley or anybody on this team,” he said. “This is the same core group of guys that came up just a little bit short last year, and we’ve kind of grown as a team together.”

Steady progression isn’t something new to Enfinger since going full-time Gander Trucks racing in 2017; rather, it’s been a way of life throughout his racing career,

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

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NASCAR Heat 4 Sets a New Standard THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE NASCAR EXPERIENCE ON CONSOLES The story of NASCAR console games in recent generations, at least as told by the fans who play them, ping pongs wildly between history and legend.

The towering characters in this drama are various game publishers and development studios, and the sacred artifact they battle over is colloquially referred to as “the NASCAR license.”

A loose version of the story goes like this: Such and such company used to have the license, and the games they made were either passed on or canonical classics, depending on who’s spinning the tale. But then a different company got it, and again, it was either amazing or trade-in worthy.

The specifics vary by the telling, often mixing up publishers, developers, years, platforms and so on, but that’s part of what keeps the legend going – every time it’s told it gets a little more interesting, if also a little less true.

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The real history, of course, is that this has nothing to do with NASCAR, and is instead a natural phenomenon of the annual video game franchise. This same story, after all, could be told of Call of Duty’s rotating cast of studios, or Madden’s clockwork blitz.

To call the latest release, NASCAR Heat 4 from 704Games, a chapter in the story would be a disservice, however.

Because while the fans have been passing around their epics, 704Games has been quietly toiling away on one of the most definitive NASCAR gaming experiences ever released on consoles.

The Track Record The legends of the fan base are not for nothing; they have a basis in the chaotic past of NASCAR video games (big-headed kart racers, anyone?). But that’s why every fan epic ends with a coda, “but now that ‘704’ has it…” there’s hope. 704Games, from the fans’ point of view, was brought in to restore order.

It is still motorsports, though, so order here is better understood as consistency.

Rather than chasing fads or producing the unfocused kitchen-sink games of the past, 704Games has, release by release, focused on consistent execution.

Year after year, each new “back of the box” bullet point promised and delivered gold standard performance. The bullet points ranged from tiny to enormous: New tracks, new career modes, new multiplayer options.

These options begin to pile up. Heat 2 added trucks, and Heat 3 added dirt racing. Heat 2 added new modes for local and co-op play, while Heat 3 added

BY JOSH MULL

an industry-defining multiplayer esports program. Over time, they’ve developed a definitive NASCAR racing experience.

Authenticity Verified NASCAR Heat 4 is basically a seminar in authenticity for every other game publisher. It starts with the premise of turning the development calendar directly over to the fan base, in a manner of speaking.

The foundation being developed is, again, a collection of rock-solid features built to last over the years. So, what have the fans been wanting?

Most obviously, the sleeper hit from NASCAR Heat 3 was the fantasy dirt series. Fans wanted more, and 704Games delivered. Tony Stewart’s own dirt racing team, Smoke Racing, is now featured in the dirt-series mode. If you could somehow collect the entire spirit and history of dirt racing into a single human, that person would probably be Tony Stewart.

What about the main event, NASCAR Cup Series racing? Fans always want more realistic driving physics, manifesting itself in popular community discussions of “the new physics model,” with new information spoken about in whispers and hushed tones like a Russian missile program.

704Games intercepted those signals and delivered one of the most significant physics upgrades in the history of the franchise.

More pack racing? Done (and it comes with an adjustable slider to narrow and widen the field of traffic as you see fit).

When you’re in that pack, the new aero package is fully modeled, so there’s plenty of side drafting, another much requested feature. Go below the line? No more instant spin-outs, the apron is realistically modeled. Tire models, grip, weight and contact recovery? Yes, yes, yes and

definitely yes (again, with an adjustable slider and assists!).

And what about the feature every gamer has wanted since the dawn of video games – better graphics? NASCAR Heat 4 is a complete overhaul with spectacular upgrades to everything from the lighting to the audio. New camera angles provide an incredible sense of speed, and the transitions from day to night are breathtaking.

Lest we forget in all this talk of realistic physics and collaborations with Tony Stewart, NASCAR Heat 4 is still a video game. You’re allowed to break some rules.

So, when the fans want something like being able to race in the current season with Jeff Gordon’s classic paint scheme – check, you can do that.

The Definitive NASCAR Video Game The current generation of consoles is coming to a close soon, and a new era of NASCAR titles will be out. Only next time, the fan base legends will be different. NASCAR Heat 4 represents the culmination of years of work, capped off with significant input straight from the community. While we’ve spent the last generation repeating “but now that ‘704’ has it” out of muscle memory, the next generation won’t remember a time before Xtreme Dirt Series, before the Heat Pro League, before 704Games ever created the Heat franchise.

Over 150 drivers and teams, 38 tracks, realistic audio, physics and graphics, four complete series across single player career modes, couch co-op and online multiplayer, and all with an astonishing degree of control and customization in the hands of the player. NASCAR Heat 4 is the most comprehensive and definitive NASCAR gaming experience available.

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36 UNDER 30 Top Drivers Under 30 NASCAR’s racing series are overflowing with talented, up-and-coming drivers under the age of 30, and many of them are expected to have a tremendous impact on the sport’s future. Here are two of NASCAR’s Young Guns.

MATT DIBENEDETTO

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att DiBenedetto, a 28-year-old racer from Grass Valley, California, never had the funding to advance his racing career, instead he had to do it the old-fashioned way – by performing the best he could with the equipment at hand.

Born on July 27, 1991, DiBenedetto developed an interest in racing by watching the sport on television. He began driving Outlaw Karts at Cycleland Speedway when he was 8 years old and quickly advanced through the various divisions.

His attention eventually turned to Late Models and the DiBenedetto family relocated to Hickory, North Carolina, in an effort to further Matt’s racing career.

The move paid off as DiBenedetto was named rookie of the year and finished fourth in the UARA Stars Late Model Tour standings in 2007.

DiBenedetto made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in 2009, the same year he won a pair of NASCAR K&N Pro Series East races. However, opportunities were few and far between until 2015 when he was hired to drive for BK Racing in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

His performance in under-funded equipment eventually earned DiBenedetto his big break, as he was named to replace the retiring Kasey Kahne in the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Toyota for the 2019 season.

Away from the track, DiBenedetto enjoys CrossFit workouts and spends much of his free time making performance modifications to street cars.

BY KEITH WALTZ | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

JUSTIN HALEY The opportunity to drive a go-kart during a birthday celebration peaked Justin Haley’s interest in racing and the youngster from the small town of Winamac, Indiana, began his competitive career at age 9 in Quarter Midgets.

Born April 28, 1999, Haley is the nephew of former NASCAR team owner Todd Braun, so it’s no surprise he decided to pursue motorsports after capturing multiple Quarter Midget championships during a four-year span.

Micro Sprints and Late Models were the next challenges on his dance card and Haley won a JEGS/All-Stars Tour feature in 2014, the same year he made his debut in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. Two years

later, Haley won two races and finished among the top 10 in each of the 14 races en route to the Pro Series East title.

Two seasons of NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series racing in 2017 and 2018 produced three wins, 12 top-five results and a third-place finish in the points.

This year, Haley graduated to the NASCAR Xfinity Series where he drives the No. 11 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing.

In July, the 20-year-old Haley shocked the racing world when he won the rain-shortened Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway on a strategy call. Driving for the upstart Spire Motorsports team, Haley was making only his third start in NASCAR’s premier series.

PIT PASS

Favorite Food Ryan Blaney Loves Steak: For many, including third-generation race car driver Ryan Blaney, there’s nothing finer than a nice steak. Blaney, who wheels the No. 12 Team Penske Ford, doesn’t hesitate when asked about his favorite food, noting that he prefers his steak rare. As he puts it, there’s “nothing better than a good cow.”

2Q

WITH ARCA MENARDS SERIES DRIVER JOE GRAF JR.

J

oe Graf Jr., a 21-year-old full-time competitor in the ARCA Menards Series, made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut earlier this year at Iowa Speedway, pairing with Richard Childress Racing in a unique way.

The New Jersey native, who attends New York University, signed up for an internship with the legendary NASCAR team located in Welcome, North Carolina. From there, Graf also got to run five Xfinity Series races in the team’s No. 21 Chevrolet.

What’s your racing journey been like? I had six ARCA races last year, and one of the drivers backed out at Talladega. We went there, came in second. I got another race, ran third and then Chad Bryant Racing signed me for the rest of the year. I had the opportunity to run ARCA again this year. It was my first year at NYU, so I spent the first semester on campus full time.

Then, I came down to North Carolina after that. I wanted to do an internship and to be close to the ARCA shop.

Tell us about your internship. I’m going to be a sophomore. I wanted to be in racing. When I was on campus, it was tough sometimes just to fly to races and never be at the shop. I wanted something where I could be full time in school and be in North Carolina for a semester. RCR accepted me as an intern, and I’ve been working in the marketing and communications department since March. The actual internship ended at the end of the semester, but I still go over there to help. I got to see several different parts of the company.

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POLE POSITION 2019

TERMINOLOGY Optical Scanning Station: Part of the inspection process, the system uses 17 cameras and eight projectors to scan and measure a race car’s body and underside. Proprietary software compares the gathered data to the body approved for each OEM. The system’s accuracy allows NASCAR to officiate each race car to a degree never before available.

BY JOSEPH WOLKIN | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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OCTOBER 12, 2019

GANDER OUTDOORS TRUCK SERIES

S I P W I S E LY ! S U G A R L A N D S S H I N E P R O D U C E D A N D B O T T L E D B Y S U G A R L A N D S D I S T I L L I N G C O M P A N Y , G A T L I N B U R G , T N . 2 0 % - 5 0 % A L C / V O L