DOUBLE THE EXCITEMENT NOAH GRAGSON JOINS ERIC ESTEPP
5 THINGS TO WATCH AT POCONO
TWO CUP SERIES RACES AT POCONO MAKE FOR A HISTORIC WEEKEND
TY MAJESKI’S TRUCK SERIES TITLE CHANCES
IN THE HOT SEAT WITH QUIN HOUFF
THE BEAST HAS ARRIVED XOR and you know it means One look at the 2020 RO e gressive grille, and 5:38 axl business. A new, more ag ils. tra the of a monster on ratio makes it even more , r, thanks to its steel body eve as Durable and capable bo tur dra hin L 4-cylinder Ma boxed steel frame and 2.5 20 ROXOR is truly a 20 diesel engine. The new er. side-by-side unlike any oth
$16,599
FIND YOUR DEALER AT ROXOROFFROAD.COM Š2020 Mahindra Vehicle Sales and Service, Inc. All rights reserved. ROXOR is a registered trademark owned by Mahindra Vehicle Sales and Service, Inc. *Starting price on 2020 base model (not shown) is MSRP $16,599 USD; tax, title, dealer charges, freight/delivery and registration fees extra.
AVAILABLE NOW: POCONO
MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM UPDATES & POSTERS TWITTER @NPPMAG FACEBOOK NASCAR POLE POSITION
COMMUNITY CREATOR: ERIC ESTEPP
YOUTUBE
/outofthegroove
@ericestepp17
@eric_estepp
PATREON
/outofthegroove
NOAH GRAGSON TALKS DALE JR, VICTORY CELEBRATIONS, AND MORE! In this week’s episode of Out of the Groove, host and creator Eric Estepp is joined on the show by a very special guest. Noah Gragson, driver of the No. 9 for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity series, joins Eric to talk about the latest in his world. Gragson is currently the points leader, and is a serious contender for the Xfinity championship outright in 2020, and he and Eric dive into what goes into that performance 0 0 4
every week. And not just for himself, but Gragson also talks life and struggles with his teammate Justin Allgaier, and how they work together under one roof. But that’s not all. Eric also dives into the most pressing matters, like how do you pronounce Gragson anyway? Join Eric and Noah Gragson as they talk everything from climbing fences to driving for Dale, Jr., all on this week’s episode of Out of the Groove!
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JUNE 26, 2020
5 THINGS TO WATCH
5
THINGS TO WATCH AT POCONO THE DOUBLE-DIPPER AT THE TRICKY TRIANGLE Prepare for a double dose of NASCAR Cup Series fun. When Pocono Raceway hosts a Cup race both this Saturday and Sunday, it will mark the first time in NASCAR’s modern era that the sport’s top division completes two separate events on consecutive days at the same facility. Up first is a 325-mile race on Saturday, followed by a slightly longer 350-mile race on Sunday. Check out five things to watch for in what will be an action-packed weekend of racing at the 2.5-mile Pennsylvania track known as the “Tricky Triangle.” BY JA RED TURNER
0 0 6
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JUNE 26, 2020
RACE THROUGH * HEARTBURN Starts neutralizing acid in seconds
Available at Use as directed. *with headache or body aches and pains
©2020 Bayer
5 THINGS TO WATCH
5
RYAN BLANEY RIDING HIGH
N
o one will enter this doubleheader weekend with a bigger wind at their back than Ryan Blaney. Along with the confidence that comes from Pocono Raceway being the site of his first win as a NASCAR Cup Series competitor — in June 2017 — the Team Penske driver will arrive in the Pennsylvania mountains as the series’ most recent winner, having going to Victory Lane after nipping Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in a photo finish on Monday at Talladega Superspeedway. It almost goes without saying that Blaney, who by virtue of his win at Talladega is now locked in the playoffs, has every reason to feel upbeat and optimistic about this weekend’s races at Pocono. “It was nice to finally break through, get the first one of the year,” Blaney said of his triumph at Talladega. “Hopefully, this opens the floodgates here and we can get on a roll. This team has been awesome. They’ve been so much fun to work with all year.”
0 0 8
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JUNE 26, 2020
5 THINGS TO WATCH
4
EMPTY STANDS
P
ocono Raceway reportedly boasts a seating capacity of nearly 77,000. But unfortunately, none of those seats will be occupied this weekend, thanks to restrictions put in place by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, who doesn’t believe his state is ready to have fans in attendance for a sporting event on this grand of a scale as Pennsylvania works to diminish the spread of COVID-19. Originally, this weekend was pegged to be arguably the biggest in the history of Pocono Raceway, with the track hosting NASCAR Cup Series races on consecutive days for the first time. “Race fans are Pocono Raceway’s lifeblood,” track president Ben May said. “We will miss the fans’ passion, laughs, cheers and smiles as the green flag drops in the Pocono Mountains.” With a select number of fans allowed to attend last weekend’s race at Talladega Superspeedway and the previous weekend’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, this will be the first race in three weeks where the stands are completely empty.
0 1 0
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JUNE 26, 2020
Experience security and peace of mind with the Honda EG2800i Inverter Generator. It provides quiet power, long run times, and a 30A receptacle for easy connection to a transfer switch. And at only 67 lbs., it’s trusted, portable home backup and DIY power where you need it, when you need it—for your home, and life. Find out more at gen.honda.com.
Please read the owner’s manual before operating your Honda Power Equipment and never use in an enclosed or partially enclosed area where you could be exposed to odorless, poisonous carbon monoxide. Connection of a generator to house power requires a transfer device to avoid possible injury to power company personnel. Consult a qualified electrician. Specifications subject to change without notice. © 2019 American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
5 THINGS TO WATCH
ONE HITCH FOR ALL YOUR TOWING NEEDS ALUMINUM ADJUSTABLE INTERCHANGEABLE HITCH MOUNTS UT623410
6” Drop 2” Receiver
6-3/4” Rise
PLASTIC CASE MODEL
UT623900
UT623411
8” Drop 2” Receiver
8 3/4” Rise
PLASTIC CASE MODEL
UT623911
UT625810
8” Drop 2 1/2” Receiver
8” Rise
PLASTIC CASE MODEL
UT653910
Black Oxide Finish with Stainless Steel Hitch Balls & Locks UT623800
6” Drop 2” Receiver
6-3/4” Rise
Plastic Case Included
Scan to view our products on youtube
PATENTED PRODUCT ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH URIAH PRODUCTS® Contact us for more information Uriah Products® www.alumatow.com | 800.545.9633
0 1 2
3
THE FATIGUE FACTOR… OR NOT
W
ith fewer than 24 hours between Saturday’s Pocono Organics 325 and Sunday’s Pocono 350, this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series doubleheader has the potential to be a real test of drivers’ endurance and stamina — especially with the hot June temperatures. At least one driver isn’t too worried about having to navigate 675 miles in less than a full day, however. “I don’t think it’s gonna be that big a deal for us,” Roush Fenway Racing’s Chris Buescher said. “You see so many drivers that will do the Xfinity Series race followed by a Cup race. With the length of the two races at Pocono, that’s basically what we’re gonna be looking at, so it’s not something that’s gonna be completely new to a lot of people. Now that we’re starting to get back in the shop a little bit and back in the gym, I don’t feel like I’m unprepared for it, whatsoever. I think it’s gonna be almost a complete non-issue.”
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JUNE 26, 2020
TASTY WAYS TO ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF GINGER. P O P G I N G E R C H E W S A R E A S W E E T,
S P I C Y A N D H E A LT H Y G I N G E R T R E AT ! F I N D A F L AV O R N E A R Y O U @
PRINCEOFPEACEGINGER.COM
P O P G I N G E R AVA I L A B L E AT:
5 THINGS TO WATCH
2
A REJUVENATED, WELL-SUPPORTED BUBBA WALLACE
A
s the NASCAR Cup Series’ only African-American driver, Bubba Wallace has grabbed much attention in recent weeks as issues of racial inequality and social injustice have dominated headlines everywhere. While Wallace has faced some unjustified criticism on Twitter, he has been the recipient of much love and support from the NASCAR community at large, and that was never more evident than Monday at Talladega after reports surfaced that a noose had been found in Wallace’s garage stall the previous day. While the noose turned out to be a garage door pull rope — fashioned like a noose — that the FBI and NASCAR later concluded did not constitute a hate crime (the rope had been there since at least last fall), Wallace witnessed first-hand at Talladega just how much fans and fellow drivers care about him, thanks to a demonstration of solidarity like never before seen at a NASCAR event. These positive vibes should spur Wallace forward at Pocono and in the weeks to come.
0 1 4
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JUNE 26, 2020
THE ONLY CHARGER FOR LITHIUM ION BATTERIES
Manufactured and Serviced in the USA
INTELI-POWER® PD9100L Series Designed to meet the stringent voltages required for properly charging & maintaining lithium ion batteries NOW OFFERING: PDI PLUS Extended Lifetime Warranty
Learn More: www.progressivedyn.com | (269) 781-4241
CHeCk out tHe CuStom rifle Builder on our weBSite FIMS IS, In every SenSe, a FaMIly buSIneSS. In 2016 FIMS acquired its Class 07 FFL in order to expand into the manufacturing of firearms. Hiring several engineers, FIMS is now paving the way to make an impact in the defense industry. vISIt uS onlIne at
FIMSFIrearMS.coM @FimsFirearms
Proud SPonSor of
@Fims_Firearms
#98 Chase Briscoe & Stewart-Haas racing
les.
REPLACEMENT
LIFETIME
OF
See www.galleryofguns.com for complete program terms and conditions.
plete co
ntest ru
While enter o at GalleryofGu ur GRE ns.com A A Winn T GUN GIVEA , See ww WAY. er Ever w.galle y Week ryofgun s.com ! for com
5 THINGS TO WATCH
1
KYLE BUSCH IN HOT PURSUIT OF HIS FIRST 2020 VICTORY
T
he bad news for Kyle Busch? He’s surprisingly winless in 13 NASCAR Cup Series starts this season. The good news? Up next on the schedule — and set to host a doubleheader, no less — is Pocono Raceway, a track where Busch has captured three of the last five premier series races and finished no worse than ninth in his last seven starts. Understandably, the reigning series champion feels good about his chances of ending his current drought this weekend at Pocono. Perhaps the best part for Busch is that he will have two opportunities — one on Saturday and another on Sunday. “There are certainly a lot of things over the years that we’ve worked on (at Pocono), and there are definitely things we’ve fine-tuned on and gotten a lot better at,” Busch said. “I think it started in 2013 or 2014, and then it’s evolved with Adam Stevens being the crew chief since 2015, as well. We’ve run really well there.”
©2020 Davidson’s, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
0 1 6
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JUNE 26, 2020
SUMMER GRILLING SPECIAL mr.steak THE MAN - THE LEGEND - THE STEAKS
®
STEAKHOUSE QUALITY MEATS Mr. Steak’s ranch to table steaks and burgers are hand-selected, hand-cut, and delivered directly to your door from local midwestern ranchers. Mr. Steak’s goal is to bring steakhouse quality meats to your home by offering the same USDA Prime and Choice steaks sold at many of the finest steakhouses in America, featuring no additives, humanely raised, and with a focus on sustainability. For every box sold, Mr. Steak donates a meal to hungry families in our community.
ORDER NOW AND RECEIVE A MrSteakv3.indd 1
FREE 10OZ NY STRIP STEAK • WWW.MRSTEAK.COM/RACING 5/15/2020 8:28:57 AM
RECAPPING JIMMIE JOHNSON’S NASCAR CAREER
■■ Jimmie Johnson won an XFINITY Series race in the No. 92 Chevrolet at Chicagoland in 2001.
THE ONE AND ONLY JOHNSON’S LONE XFINITY SERIES WIN CAME IN 2001 AT CHICAGOLAND BY JA RED TURNER
A
s a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series driver in 2000 and 2001, Jimmie Johnson never seriously contended for a championship nor was he a frequent face in Victory Lane. However, Johnson — now a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion — wasn’t completely absent from Victory Lane in what is now known as the Xfinity Series. His lone Xfinity Series win in 93 career Xfinity starts came at Chicagoland Speedway on July 14, 2001. Coincidentally, Chicagoland is one of only four current NASCAR Cup Series tracks where Johnson has never been triumphant. But on that day in the summer of ’01, Johnson took care of business at the 1.5-mile suburban Chicago track, taking the checkered flag a comfortable 4.932 seconds ahead of runner-up finisher Mike Skinner. Future NASCAR Cup Series star Jeff Burton, who is now an announcer for NASCAR on NBC, finished third. Driving a No. 92 Excedrin-sponsored Chevrolet for team owner Stanley Herzog, Johnson started sixth and led 43 of 200 laps. While Johnson never won again as a driver in NASCAR’s No. 2
0 1 8
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JUNE 26, 2020
division, he did go on to finish an Xfinity career-best eighth in points that season. Clearly, it was enough to capture the attention of NASCAR Cup Series team owner Rick Hendrick, as by the time 2002 rolled around, Johnson had landed a full-time Cup ride as driver of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Of course, little did anyone know when Johnson prevailed for his first and only time as an Xfinity Series driver just how incredibly successful he would go on to be at the next level. Now seven championships and 83 Cup wins later, Johnson can look back on that Xfinity Series win at Chicagoland as one of the few truly great moments of his short Xfinity Series career but also as a moment that helped propel him to bigger and better things, nonetheless.
L A E S K H T I W
T S A F T I FIX
NSOR OF O P S D U PRO
JORDANRSON ANDE NG RACI
? k a e L t n a l CoSohake, Pour & eGaoks in the: L x i F y l t n ze Plug e e n e r a F m 9 Per ad ock / He Ju s t
9 9 9
r Radiato asing C p m u P Water ore Heater C
9 Bl Gasket d a e H 9
s d a e H d ke c a r C s l ks a c e o l S B o s s l A rou old Engine* o P d e k or C & Crac o a Hot
dded t A Silicate e B m n u i a d C o 9 ass / S l g d i ow Tank u fl r q i e l v T O O 9N d to the e d d A e NO 9 Can B NG
ON WORKS EADS
AND MOST FINE RETAILERS
MADE IN THE
G DRAININ
FLUSHI
rks on D3147 wos. M T S A t ine mee tested to water cooled eng ly t n e d n ll e ep ha s been ind for use wit K-Seal ha plastic and safe hard
UM H ALUMIN
AVAILABLE AT:
NO
USA
kseal.com | info@kseal.com | 888.254.0150
* WARNING/Caution: Take care before opening the cooling system when engine hot as it may be under pressure and could cause injury. Always consult a qualified mechanic before proceeding. If in doubt wait until engine cools or add via overflow tank.
NASCAR STANDINGS
NASCAR CUP SERIES
STANDINGS NO. DRIVER
PTS.
1
DENNY HAMLIN
428
Dual-Action Topical Analgesic Cream
2
KEVIN HARVICK
490
3
JOEY LOGANO
467
4
BRAD KESELOWSKI
441
5
RYAN BLANEY
465
Provides penetrating, fast pain relief from:
6
CHASE ELLIOTT
458
7
MARTIN TRUEX JR.
424
8
ALEX BOWMAN
419
9
KYLE BUSCH
378
Arthritis Sore Muscles Back Pain
10 KURT BUSCH
369
11 JIMMIE JOHNSON
353
12 ARIC ALMIROLA
337
13 CLINT BOWYER
328
14 WILLIAM BYRON
319
15 MATT DIBENEDETTO
312
16 TYLER REDDICK
306
17 ERIK JONES
305
18 AUSTIN DILLON
282
19 CHRIS BUESCHER
266
20 RICKY STENHOUSE JR.
263
21 BUBBA WALLACE
258
22 JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK 238
Low Price Available at:
Wal-Mart, HEB, Local drugstores & buy “online”
www.Thera-gesic.com Copyright © 2020 MainPointe Pharmaceuticals, LLC. All rights reserved.
23 MICHAEL MCDOWELL
225
24 CHRISTOPHER BELL
210
25 RYAN NEWMAN
204
26 COLE CUSTER
199
27 TY DILLON
184
28 COREY LAJOIE
182
29 RYAN PREECE
158
30 MATT KENSETH
131
31 BRENNAN POOLE
93
32 QUIN HOUFF
62
33 DANIEL SUAREZ
122
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
0 2 0
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JUNE 26, 2020
WINS
POLES
TOP 5
TOP 10
3 0 7 8 2 0 6 10 2 0 3 6 2 1 5 9 1 0 7 7 1 1 6 8 1 1 2 6 1 0 2 4 0 1 6 7 0 1 3 9 0 0 2 6 0 0 2 5 0 1 2 3 0 0 0 4 0 0 1 3 0 0 1 3 0 0 3 5 0 0 1 4 0 0 1 3 0 1 3 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BLUE AREAS HIGHLIGHT PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS
W
NASCAR STANDINGS
XFINITY SERIES
STANDINGS Engage Your Freedom!
• All Pistols, Pistol Frames, & Accessories are designed and manufactured in U.S.A.
NO. DRIVER
PTS.
1
CHASE BRISCOE
454
2
NOAH GRAGSON
469
3
HARRISON BURTON
399
4
JUSTIN HALEY
385
5
BRANDON JONES
375
6
AUSTIN CINDRIC
426
7
ROSS CHASTAIN
422
8
JUSTIN ALLGAIER
337
9
MICHAEL ANNETT
296
10 RYAN SIEG
273
11 RILEY HERBST
257
12 BRANDON BROWN
250
13 MYATT SNIDER
214
14 JOSH WILLIAMS
210
15 ALEX LABBE
202
16 JESSE LITTLE
182
17 JEREMY CLEMENTS
176
18 B.J. MCLEOD
166
19 JOE GRAF JR.
150
20 CHAD FINCHUM
145
21 VINNIE MILLER
144
• Next Generation Ergonomics & Features
22 DANIEL HEMRIC
237
23 ANTHONY ALFREDO
185
• Stainless Steel Slides & Barrels
24 AJ ALLMENDINGER
143
• Perfect for Every Day Carry!
25 TOMMY JOE MARTINS
131
26 JEFFREY EARNHARDT
126
27 COLBY HOWARD
94
28 RAY BLACK JR.
92
29 MATT MILLS
81
30 J.J. YELEY
78
Visit Us
www.Polymer80.com Save 20% by using Coupon Code:
0 2 2
NASCAR
31 JEB BURTON
70
32 MASON MASSEY
69
33 ROBBY LYONS
66
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JUNE 26, 2020
WINS
POLES
TOP 5
TOP 10
3 0 5 8 2 0 7 9 2 0 7 10 1 0 4 7 1 1 4 7 0 0 6 8 0 0 3 9 0 0 2 4 0 0 0 3 0 0 2 4 0 0 1 5 0 0 0 3 0 2 1 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 0 0 1 4 1 0 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BLUE AREAS HIGHLIGHT PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS
NASCAR STANDINGS
GANDER OUTDOORS TRUCK SERIES
STANDINGS NO. DRIVER
THE
JAMPUI
Say goodbye to sweaty and smelly feet with the Jampui boot featuring ultra breathable eVent membrane. Light as a trail runner, supportive as a boot—Jampui is perfect for work as well as ultra light backpacking and through hiking.
MISHMITAKIN.COM
PTS.
1
GRANT ENFINGER
161
2
AUSTIN HILL
209
3
CHRISTIAN ECKES
165
4
BEN RHODES
161
5
TODD GILLILAND
148
6
ZANE SMITH
147
7
JOHNNY SAUTER
140
8
BRETT MOFFITT
137
9
SHELDON CREED
135
10 TYLER ANKRUM
133
11 DEREK KRAUS
132
12 MATT CRAFTON
132
13 RAPHAEL LESSARD
114
14 STEWART FRIESEN
112
15 TANNER GRAY
111
16 TY MAJESKI
109
17 CODIE ROHRBAUGH
86
18 AUSTIN SELF
72
19 JORDAN ANDERSON
69
20 CORY ROPER
69
21 SPENCER BOYD
67
22 TATE FOGLEMAN
65
23 ANGELA RUCH
58
24 SPENCER DAVIS
66
25 NATALIE DECKER
58
26 KORBIN FORRISTER
45
27 TIMMY HILL
39
28 JASON WHITE
27
29 JENNIFER COBB
26
30 CLAY GREENFIELD
26
31 RYAN TRUEX
24
32 BRYAN DAUZAT
18
33 GRAY GAULDING
16
WINS
POLES
TOP 5
TOP 10
2 0 2 2 0 0 2 5 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 3 0 0 1 3 0 0 2 3 0 1 2 4 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 3 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BLUE AREAS HIGHLIGHT PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS
0 2 4
Mishni Takin-3rdpage.indd 1
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JUNE 26, 2020 5/15/2020 8:30:21 AM
At Tracks Benefits* Receive 20% OFF your next Racing Electronics Rental! Garate Tours. Up Close Access to Driver Introductions. Pace Car Rides. Attending the Driver’s Meeting. Joining the Race Winner in Victory Lane. * at selected tracks
Exclusive Members Only Online Store Up to 70% OFF your Favorite Driver NASCAR Licensed Products.
Ultimate VIP Experience Special Member Opportunities throughout the Season. Exclusive Offers from Our Proud Partners.
CREW MEMBER PROFILE
CARRYING THE LOAD RIDDLE STRIVES FOR FAST PIT STOPS BY BEN WHITE
S
cott Riddle, tire carrier for Premium Motorsports and driver Brenan Poole, saw his first NASCAR race via television broadcasts with his Dad when he was 8 years old. A few years later, he got the chance to attend his first NASCAR race. “When I was 15, I attended a race at Rockingham,” Riddle said. “I went with a buddy that had a cousin racing in the Xfinity Series then. It was the only race I had been to until I started working in the sport.” In 2014, the former high school athlete was coaching football quarterbacks at Hampden Sydney College when a team recruiter from Hendrick Motorsports contacted him about working as a crew member. A successful tryout led to joining HMS in 2015. He remains employed with HMS but is a part of an alliance with the Premium Motorsports. Riddle also carried tires for the No. 24 HMS team and driver William Byron in 2019. “A pit stop is similar to a football play,” Riddle said. “Everything happens in a hurry. Snapping the ball for the first time in a higher level of football is kind of like being a part of a pit stop for the first time. As you get experience, the pit stop slows down just like football did for me.” Riddle enjoys the action on pit road each time Poole brings the No. 15 Chevrolet to a stop. “There’s no question it’s an adrenalin rush when you’re on pit road,” Riddle said. “We are carrying two tires out so we have to be a little bit quicker with five men than we were with six.”
■■ Scott Riddle, tire carrier for Premium Motorsports
EXTRA LAPS WITH SCOTT RIDDLE MARRIED: KEATON HOMETOWN: RAMSEUR, N.C. FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: THE BEACH FAVORITE HOLIDAY: THANKSGIVING FAVORITE SEASON: FALL FAVORITE TV SHOW: SONS OF ANARCHY FAVORITE MOVIE: DUMB AND DUMBER FAVORITE MUSIC: COUNTRY
“You know right away when you have a good stop. Right after, you want to run over to the TV monitor to see how many spots you gained. Sometimes there are adjustments that we have to make to the car, but we know when we put down a 13- or 14-second stop.” -SCOTT RIDDLE 0 2 6
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JUNE 26, 2020
BY THE NUMBER
10
BY THE NUMBER
CAR NO. BY K EITH WA LTZ
D
errike Cope scored the biggest NASCAR Cup Series win for car No. 10 when he drove Bob Whitcomb’s Chevrolet to an upset victory in the 1990 Daytona 500. Cope is among only five drivers to win in car No. 10 as Ricky Rudd leads that list with six triumphs during his 196 starts as an owner/ driver in NASCAR’s premier series. A total of 105 drivers have driven car No. 10 and Stewart-Haas Racing has been the number’s caretaker since Danica Patrick joined
■■ 1985 – Greg Sacks (Racing One via Getty Images photo)
the operation in 2013. Aric Almirola currently drives car No. 10 and he is among those who have won with the number. Overall statistics show that cars carrying No. 10 in the NASCAR Cup Series have visited Victory Lane only 11 times while posting 250 top-10 finishes in slightly more than 1,400 starts. Fred Johnson, of Hamptonville, North Carolina, used No. 10 on his 1947 Ford during the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race on June 19, 1949, at the three-quarter-mile Charlotte Speedway dirt track. He finished 25th. It was 36 years later before a car carrying No. 10 found Victory Lane. That milestone moment came on July 4, 1985, when Modified racer Greg Sacks scored a major upset in the Firecracker 400 at Florida’s Daytona International Speedway. Sacks was a driving an R&D Chevrolet entered by DiGard Racing and prepared by mechanical wizard Gary Nelson. ■■ 2020 – Aric Almirola (Getty Images photo)
0 2 8
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JUNE 26, 2020
DRIVER Q&A
THE MAGIC MAN TY MAJESKI THRILLED FOR TITLE CHANCES BY JOSEPH WOLK IN
Two years ago, Ty Majeski checked racing for Jack Roush off his bucket list. After a year of running part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, the Wisconsin native is gunning for his first NASCAR championship with Niece Motorsports. He’s ready to prove why he is considered a Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series title favorite. ▶ HOW EXCITED ARE YOU TO GET BACK ON TRACK? “I had a great opportunity to race a super late model in Alabama a few days before the truck race in Charlotte. That will be huge to knock the rust off, so I’m prepared and ready to go for the truck races with no practice or qualifying.” ▶ WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR? “Our expectations at Niece Motorsports are high. We all saw what Ross Chastain was able to do last year. Everyone at the shop has done a great job building fast race trucks week in and week out. I think we are capable of making it to victory lane and competing for a championship in the playoffs.” ▶ HOW SURREAL IS IT TO KNOW THAT AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF HARD WORK, YOU HAVE A 0 3 0
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JUNE 26, 2020
■■ Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series driver Ty Majeski
FULL-TIME NASCAR RIDE? “As a young, up-and-coming racer in this sport, all you can ask for is to have an opportunity to run for a championship with race winning equipment and good people. I have that opportunity this season. I am certainly ready to make the most of it and prove myself at the NASCAR level.” ▶ HOW WILL YOUR PART-TIME EXPERIENCE IN THE XFINITY SERIES HELP YOU COMPETE FOR A TRUCK SERIES TITLE? “The biggest thing having XFINITY experience will help me with is familiarity with many of the race tracks. With the situation we are in with no practice and no qualifying, it is huge to have at least raced the track before even if it wasn’t in a truck.”
IN THE HOTSEAT
IN THE HOT SEAT Quin Houff BY ROB TIONGSON
Throughout the season, Rob Tiongson interviews various drivers in the world of NASCAR. Today, he talks with Quin Houff, a driver in the NASCAR Cup Series. ▶ AS A ROOKIE COMPETING IN THE COMPETITIVE WORLD OF NASCAR CUP SERIES RACING, WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE FOR YOU TO DRIVE FOR STARCOM RACING’S NO. 00 CHEVY CAMARO? It’s been a dream. As a racecar driver from the young age of 8, with this dream in mind, it’s very humbling to get my first full-time gig off the ground with StarCom. I feel like we’ve made big gains and there’s a lot of things that we’ve learned as a team with me as their new driver with a new crew chief with these cars. We’re checking off all the boxes and we’ve done nothing but progress since Daytona. ▶ YOU HAIL FROM VIRGINIA, A STATE THAT’S PRODUCED VARIOUS NASCAR STARS LIKE THE BURTON FAMILY, DENNY HAMLIN AND RICKY RUDD. DID YOU LOOK UP TO THESE VIRGINIANS OR OTHERS IN NASCAR? Coming from the area, Denny Hamlin was kind of the hope for me as a young driver. I came through a similar way that he did, and I competed against some of the people that he raced and worked directly with. I looked up to him and I enjoyed seeing that success for Virginia from him early on (racing) for Joe Gibbs. There’s a lot of drivers that I’ve learned to respect with the talent that they have, whether it’s someone who races on Sundays or even someone racing in late models like Philip Morris and Lee Pulliam. There’s a lot of different people that I didn’t even know that I would have to respect like that. There’s a reason that some of these guys get to the top level and wheel it on Sundays.
0 3 2
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JUNE 26, 2020
Hand Cleaner Since 1948 Dirty Hands? No Water? No Problem! For speedy clean up and excellent conditioning performance, try Joe’s Hand Cleaner
Building Relationships One Hand At A Time
www.joeshandcleaner.com Made in the USA
Available at:
MEMORY LANE
Snakeskin-PolePos-ColAd.qxp_Layout 1 1/27/20 10:58 AM Page 1
■■ Jeff Gordon faltered in his bid for a win at Pocono in 1995.
By:
BLACK
MAMBA
TOUGHEST GLOVES ON THE MARKET Long lasting for tough jobs that need tough gloves and ultimate protection. 3 times chemical protection of latex or vinyl gloves!
NEW! Snakeskin 7 mil Enhanced Grip Nitrile
Black Mamba 6.25 mil Tough Black Nitrile
Orange Mamba
BY ROB TIONGSON
6.0 mil Hi-Viz Orange Nitrile
ProBlu Mamba 14 mil HD Long Blue Latex
Mamba Torque 6.25/10.25 Raised Torque Grips
Waterproof Detail Gloves Ideal for Auto Detailing and General MechanicWork
For samples or to find a dealer in your area, please visit: BLACKMAMBAGLOVES.COM
0 3 4
TERRY LABONTE WINS WHILE JEFF GORDON MISSES SHIFT AT POCONO
W
hile nobody may recall who finished second, race fans may remember who finished 16th on June 11, 1995 at Pocono Raceway. For most NASCAR fans and, especially, Jeff Gordon, it’s a race that reminded everyone to not count their chickens before they hatch. Starting from the fifth position, Gordon quickly made
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JUNE 26, 2020
his way to the top spot by Lap 12, the first of seven occasions in which he led the way at the 2.5-mile “Tricky Triangle.” In fact, Gordon was virtually untouchable in his unmistakable No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, dominating the event as he had on most occasions that year. Truly, the then 23-yearold Vallejo, Calif., native was putting on a clinic like Randy
PREMIUM QUALITY
AUTOMOTIVE LUBRICANTS WITH...
THE
POWER
TO PROTECT No. 105 Motor Assembly Grease
• The “Original” Prelube for Installed Engine Parts. • Prevents “Dry Start” During Initial Start Up. • Trusted By Top Engine Builders For Decades.
Chain & Cable Fluid - Penetrating Oil
• A Superior, Non-Gumming Penetrating Oil. • For Chains, Cables, Tools and General Lubrication. • Loosens Rusty Nuts & Bolts. Also For Metalworking.
Spray Lube `A´ White Lithium Grease
• Sprays Like a Fluid, Congeals To A Grease. • For Locks, Latches, Hinges, Battery Terminals and More. • Creamy White Color - Correct For Classic Show Cars.
Gear Shield Extra Heavy
• Heavy-Duty, Extreme Pressure Spray Lubricant. • For Gears, Pins, Bushings and Jack Screws. • Excellent Fifth Wheel Lubricant for Trucks.
Biodegradable Penetrating Oil
• ECO-Friendly, Bio-Based, Multi-Purpose Lubricating Oil. • For Tools, Locks, Latches and General Lubrication. • Displaces Moisture and Will Deliver a “Wet Start.”
SYNXTREME HD-2 Grease
• 100% Synthetic, Calcium Sulfonate Complex Formula. • NLGI GC-LB Certified Wheel Bearing & Chassis Lube.
Visit Our Online Webstore At: www.lubriplate.com Also Available At:
Newark, NJ 07105 / Toledo, OH 43605 / 800-733-4755 LubeXpert@lubriplate.com / www.lubriplate.com
for store locations CARQUEST.com
MEMORY LANE Johnson on the baseball diamond or Michael Jordan against any team in the NBA. The only competitor that could beat Gordon was, well, the “Wonderkid” himself. However, this was during a time in which Gordon and his famed “Rainbow Warriors” team were still ironing out the final details as the dynasty of the 1990’s in NASCAR. Consider their botched pit stop in the Daytona 500, a mechanical ailment at Richmond, a crash at Darlington, and the costly wheel hub issue at Charlotte just a few weeks prior to Pocono. Still, Gordon and his team evened out those tough finishes with wins at Rockingham, Atlanta and Bristol. Those wins and strong finishes from North Wilkesboro to Dover (minus the Charlotte incident) boosted the third-year Cup racer to third in the points standings. With 21 to go, Gordon scooted past Ted Musgrave to take the lead. Seemingly in control and poised to take his fourth victory of the young 0 3 6
season, the dreaded yellow flag unfurled with just 10 laps remaining when Pancho Carter wrecked in Turn 3. Certainly, there was no way that Gordon could lose what appeared to be a surefire win that was within grasp. The young driver had a fast Chevy Monte Carlo, his pit crew delivered with quick stops, and one of the best crew chiefs, Ray Evernham, was calling the shots. What could possibly go wrong? When the field assembled for a restart on Lap 194, the virtual perfect game was all but gone for Gordon and company. As the field made their way off Turn 3 and towards the stripe, Gordon began to accelerate but did not execute on flawlessly shifting through the gears. Essentially helpless, Gordon watched the win slip away as Hendrick Motorsports teammates Terry Labonte and Ken Schrader swept past him prior to Turn 1.
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JUNE 26, 2020
MEMORY LANE
Dropping down the scoring order, Gordon’s chance at his fourth victory of the year was gone. However, Hendrick Motorsports was still in position to nab a Pocono win with Labonte leading the way. Incredibly, Labonte had his own challenges, as he was evidently overcome by fumes as he radioed to his team, “I am not feeling well. Whatever happens, have some oxygen standing by after this race.” Well, what happened was Labonte earning a hard day’s work, as he drove from his 27th starting spot to Pocono’s hallowed Victory Lane. “Well, I held the record before for starting the farthest back and winning here,” Labonte said after his win. “We weren’t so worried about starting back there.” 0 3 8
Meanwhile, Gordon learned a valuable lesson from Pocono, perhaps fueling the dominance that kicked off after a difficult result in the 13th race of the 1995 season. “I just got careless,” Gordon said. “Instead of really concentrating on hitting every shift, I really don’t know what I was thinking about. Obviously, I wasn’t thinking about shifting. “I was just thinking about getting up to speed as fast as I could. It was a mistake that I made, and hopefully I’ll learn from it and never make it again.” From that point on, Gordon finished eighth or better in 15 of the last 18 races of the year, including four wins and most of all, the prestigious NASCAR Cup Series championship. Sometimes, champions learn from rather humbling moments.
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JUNE 26, 2020
UP TO 4 YEARS OF PROTECTION IS ONLY 5 MINUTES AWAY.
FRAM Ultra Air provides expectational engine protection in all driving conditions
• Extended protection – blended multi-fiber filter media provides long term durability • Superior dirt holding capacity – Traps and holds smaller dirt and dust particles* • Installs in as few as 5 mins†
* Based on FRAM Group testing of dirt holding capacity of models 4309, 9683 and their FRAM Extra Guard air filter equivalents under ISO-5011 † See vehicles owner manual for proper installation
fram.com
© 2020 Fram Group Operations LLC, 3255 West Hamlin Road, Rochester Hills, MI 48309 Printed in USA
OWNER SPOTLIGHT
START RUN STORE
SLY & SMART RAY FOX REVERED IN NASCAR CIRCLES
Start up with ease every time Store with confidence between use Run faster, cleaner, smoother
BY BEN WHITE ■■ Rax Fox, NASCAR owner
S
tock car racing in New England has always been fierce among drivers for generations. NASCAR team owner Ray Fox experienced his own career in racing into motion, first as a driver and later as a talented mechanic. Born on May 28, 1916, in Pelham, N.H., Fox’s firstever automobile race was at the 2-mile board track at Rockingham Park near Salem, N.H. Following service in the U.S. Army in World War II, he moved to Daytona Beach, Fla., to work as a mechanic and become closer to stock car racing’s fledgling sanction called NASCAR. In 1956, he landed a job with the prominent Carl Kiekhaefer operation and won 22 of the season’s first 26 races. That accomplishment earned him Mechanic of the Year.
WWW.STARTRON.COM PROTECTION
0 4 0
020 Ad COL.indd 1
+ PERFORMANCE
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JUNE 26, 2020 1/9/20 5:03 PM
Fox also worked for Fish Carburetor Co., and drove Modifieds in Florida and South Georgia for five seasons. He quickly earned a reputation as a master builder of both cars and engines, an outstanding crew chief and someone willing to give a young driver a chance. One of those young drivers Fox hired as crew chief for team owner John Mason was David Pearson, the eventful winner of 105 Cup Series races beginning in 1961. Pearson won three races in Fox’s car that season as well as rookie of the year honors. Junior Johnson took a yearold Fox-prepared Chevrolet and won the 1960 Daytona 500 as well as eight other NASCAR races. Others who drove for Fox include Buck Baker, Fred Lorenzen, Cale Yarborough, Marvin Panch, Lee Roy Yarbrough, Buddy Baker and Bobby Allison, to name only a few. In 1962, Fox became a car owner, winning the prestigious Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in 1964 with NASCAR legend Buck Baker. Fox retired from NASCAR team ownership on Oct. 6, 1974 after driver
■■ Rax Fox became a NASCAR owner in 1962.
Wally Dallenbach finished 29th at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Fox’s second job in racing came in 1990 as NASCAR’s engine inspector, a position he held until his second retirement at the age of 80 in 1996. Buck Baker, Buddy Baker, Earl Balmer, Fred Lorenzen, Cale Yarborough, Marvin Panch, Fireball Roberts and LeeRoy Yarbrough drove Ray’s cars. All told, Fox’s Pontiacs won 14 races and 16 pole positions in 200 career starts. It is said that in 1963, Ford Motor Company spent over $1 million trying to catch Ray’s No. 3 Chevrolet. Fox was a legendary engine builder and team owner ahead of his time. NASCAR issued the following statement, regarding Fox’s passing on June 15, 2014. “Ray Fox was one of the individuals who helped form the foundation of our sport, with a personality that was every bit as important as his on-track accomplishments. “His place in our record book is secure, but no one should ever view Ray Fox solely in terms of statistics. A resident of Daytona Beach, Florida, he was a hometown hero of sorts, serving as an ambassador for NASCAR in the community where the sport began. Most importantly, he was a friend to us all.” 0 4 1
CREDITS
ROAR! WEEKLY RACE MAGAZINE 11880 28TH ST. N, SUITE 101 ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33716 PHONE: (727) 209-0792 FAX: (727) 209-1776 ROAR! SITE: POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM CORPORATE: AE-ENGINE.COM EMAIL: ROAR@AE-ENGINE.COM
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
PUBLISHER: CRAIG BARONCELLI EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, SALES: DAVID WATSON VICE PRESIDENT, EXECUTIVE ACCOUNTS: DAYNE MAASDORP VICE PRESIDENT, MOTORSPORTS: CHRIS VITA SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: JUSTIN HAND, MARK MORALES, JOHN ENGLE OFFICE MANAGER: DENNIS FASONE
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
ART DIRECTOR: JOE RABUCK DIRECTOR, DIGITAL: NICOLE COOPER DIRECTOR, DIGITAL CONTENT: JOSH MULL MANAGING EDITOR: DAN GUTTENPLAN CONTRIBUTORS: JARED TURNER, BEN WHITE, JOSEPH WOLKIN , KEITH WALTZ, ROB TIONGSON A.E. ENGINE SPECIFIES THAT POSTPUBLISHING CHANGES MAY OCCUR TO ANY INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PUBLICATION AND TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR GOODS OR SERVICES ADVERTISED.
AVAILABLE NOW: POCONO MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM UPDATES & POSTERS TWITTER @NPPMAG FACEBOOK NASCAR POLE POSITION
0 4 2
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JUNE 26, 2020
SUBSCRIPTIONS: YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS CAN BE ORDERED ONLINE AT POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM. SALES INQUIRIES: IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING IN ROAR! WEEKLY RACE MAGAZINE, OR WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE, PLEASE CONTACT DAVID WATSON AT (727) 209-0789, OR DKW@AE-ENGINE.COM.