This Issue Has International Flair
Shelby Ebert Issue 9
A DenKel Media Publication
Inside columns 4 6 40
Bench Racer Hot Laps Straight Line
Ion the cover 15 The Fastest Woman on Water Shelby Ebert 28 The BIFF: 19 Wins and Counting 52 Chris Blose: Up To Speed 56 IMSA: Americans in Paradise
28
r International Flair e m m u S 22 Daniel Suarez n Down U
der
Part 1
34 46 62
Superprestigio Summer Down Under James Hinchcliffe
68 USMTS’ 2017 Plans 72 Todd Gilliland: Meet the Future II 78 Just For Fun A Wayne Stadler Cartoon
By Dennis Keeley | denkelmedia@usa.com
Do we REALLY know what we want? Do we really know what we want in racing, or do we just think we know?
This would be fantastic. It might add manufacturer interest and could be great for the sport.
Race fans tend to be vocal about their opinions and are typically quick to tell the world exactly how things should be done.
However, I will admit that it would be hard for me to stay interested if one car ran away with a race or if “my” car went two laps down while fueling even if it would make it up twenty laps later.
For the most part I think that is a good thing. It’s nice to know what people want, but do we really know what we want? I’ll give you an example. I think IndyCar ought to open up the rules to innovation and become a great test bed for automotive advancements. I believe it would be great to see an ultra high performance hybrid win against a traditional chariot of horsepower because it had to stop less times for fuel.
See what I mean? Do we REALLY know what we want in our ideal racing world? This leads me to ask you, our readers, what do you want in American Racing News? Do you want tractor pulling, monster trucks, or perhaps snowmobile racing? How far off the beaten path do you want us to stray?
Do you want to learn about racers you’ve never heard of, or just more Jimmie Johnson and Dale Jr.? I’m not knocking Jimmie or Jr., but we want to tell you about lesser know or up and coming racers like Shelby Ebert and the Todd Gilliland. Todd was our cover story in issue 3, and we have an update on page 72. Shelby is this month’s cover subject, you can “meet” her on page 15. It is drivers like these that we want to feature. We also want to bring you stories on the struggles of the small independent teams trying to survive. Only a small percentage of racers get 99% of the media attention. American Racing News may not put a dent in that number, but we sure will try. Let us know what you REALLY want. http://americanracingnews.co m/contact-us/
American Racing News is a bright, bold, colorful glimpse into the world of racing in the USA. Each issue will bring you a variety of series, stars and cars (or bikes, boats, etc.) that make us die hard racing fans. Subscriptions and back issues are available at americanracingnews.com Please send any news or comments to denkelmedia@usa.com
DenKel Media DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS
News from around the USA first shared across NASCAR social and digital media channels.
NASCAR Unveils New Brand Identity and Premier Series Name and Logo DAYTONA BEACH, FL - NASCAR today unveiled a new official brand identity which will replace the bar mark used by the sanctioning body since 1976. The announcement was made in conjunction with the news that Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™ will be the new name of the sport’s premier series beginning January 1, 2017. The new brand mark and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series mark, which prominently features the iconic Monster Energy logo, together represent a new era in NASCAR and were
The NASCAR brand identity has been in development since early 2016 as part of a broader effort to refresh the NASCAR brand. It was designed to pay tribute to the storied history of NASCAR, incorporating elements of all four previous marks since the company’s inaugural season of 1948.
USAC PARTNERS WITH ARDC FOR 19-RACE EASTERN REGIONAL MIDGET SLATE IN 2017 The United States Auto Club and the American Racing Drivers
Club have announced a partnership that begins in 2017 with a 19-race slate scheduled at a bevy of traditional stops for midget racing in the east.
that share the stage with USAC's national series. In fact, the series will share the event card with all three of the national divisions in 2017.
The USAC Eastern Regional Midget Series presented by ARDC will ensure that midget racing remains a stronghold in the east. The clubs are two of the most storied in the history of midget auto racing with ARDC's roots dating back to 1940 and USAC's to 1956.
On June 15 and 16, the USAC/ARDC Midgets will race on back-to-back nights at the historic Williams Grove Speedway half-mile in Mechanicsburg, PA. The first of the two events, which are both part of the 11th annual Eastern Storm, takes place on Thursday, June 15 with the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship. The following night, Friday, June 16, the midgets compete on a docket that also features the USAC Silver Crown Championship's "Horn-Schindler Memorial" 100lapper.
The USAC Midgets' renewed presence in the east over the last couple of seasons has created new opportunities for the famed series to add on to its long-standing Western States Midget Championship with the Midwest Midget Championship, which debuted last year, and its new partnership with ARDC in the east. ARDC's 75th year of competition is highlighted by high-profile events including six
Amid the month of August, the third edition of Pennsylvania Midget Week comes to the Keystone State for four races at four different tracks in a span of five nights in a battle for
territorial supremacy with the USAC Midget National Championship.
in Pottsville, PA on May 19 and Jul. 21. Additionally, two TBA dates are slated for Sep. 8-9.
York Haven's Susquehanna Speedway kicks the week off on Sunday, Aug. 13 with races at Spring Run's Path Valley Speedway Park (Aug. 14) and Lanco's Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway in Newmanstown on the two following nights. A oneday break for rest or a possible rain date (if needed) is slated for Aug. 16 with the week concluding at a yet-to-bedetermined venue in Pennsylvania on Aug. 17.
ARDC is the longest, continuously-operating midget racing series in the United States, crowning its first champion, Bill Schindler, after the 1940 season. In 2016, Alex Bright of Collegeville, PA, a veteran of both ARDC and USAC for several seasons as well as the winner of a Chili Bowl Midget Nationals preliminary feature win, earned the title.
The remainder of the 2017 schedule will be showcased at a variety of familiar stops, including four dates at Linda's Speedway in Jonestown, PA on Mar. 31, May 5, June 30 and Sept. 29; three races on tap at Lanco on Apr. 1, Jul. 1, Aug. 15; four at Susquehanna on Apr. 29, May 20, Jul. 29 and Aug. 13; and a pair at Big Diamond Speedway
The lineage of ARDC champions includes some of the most legendary and successful names in midget auto racing history including Henry Banks, Dutch Schaefer, Mike Nazaruk, Jiggs Peters, Len Duncan and Ray Bull. Plus, Nick Fornoro Jr. and Sr., Johnny and Joey Coy, Bob and Lou Cicconi, Jr., Steve and Tim Buckwalter as well as Bryan and Trevor Kobylarz.
Speedway on Wednesday, June 14.
(Rich Forman Photo)
GRANDVIEW AND LINCOLN TO OPEN UP JUNE'S EASTERN STORM The Eastern Storm schedule for 2017 has been completed with the additions of Grandview Speedway and Lincoln Speedway to the five-race series for the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship in Pennsylvania during June. The series now kicks off on Tuesday, June 13 at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, PA, followed up one night later at Abbottstown, PA's Lincoln
Eastern Storm continues with the previously-announced dates on Thursday, June 15 at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA before resuming Saturday, June 17 at Port Royal Speedway and concluding at York Haven, PA's Susquehanna Speedway on Sunday, June 18. Grandview has been a staple of Eastern Storm since the series' inception in 2007 while Lincoln has held Eastern Storm features in 2010 and 2011, including double-features in 2016 won by Bryan Clauson and Landon Simon. Levi Jones (2007-2010-2011) and Bryan Clauson (2012-20132016) hold the record for most Eastern Storm titles with three apiece. Clauson won the 2016 Eastern Storm on the strength of three feature victories in five races. Further champions
include Cole Whitt (2008 & 2009), Brady Bacon (2014) and Robert Ballou (2015). Jones and Clauson also hold the record for most Eastern Storm wins with six each. Both have a pair of victories at Grandview while Jones scored twice at Lincoln and Clauson once. Other drivers who've earned Eastern Storm triumphs at Grandview include Jesse Hockett, Bobby East, Daron Clayton and Chase Stockon. Eastern Storm has also proven to be a harbinger of success throughout the years with seven of its ten champions going on to win the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car title in the same season as their Eastern Storm championship.
USAC AND NOW 600 PARTNER TO FORM NEW NATIONAL MICRO SPRINT SERIES Going into the fifth season of competition for the Oklahoma based Driven Midwest National Open Wheel 600 Series presented by MyRacePass will see something new in 2017. Officials with the NOW600 Series and USAC have partnered together to form the Driven Midwest USAC NOW600 Micro Series. The partnership will allow 600cc micro sprint drivers in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas a chance to run for a NOW600 National Tour championship along with a chance to run for a
USAC Micro Sprint National Championship. "I believe this partnership will help take the series to the next level." Commented NOW600 Series Promoter, Terry Mattox. "We have had some great success with the series the past four years and see nothing but growth in the future with the USAC sanction behind us." Drivers running for points with the USAC NOW600 National Tour will be required to purchase a USAC Membership license for $150, which includes the same insurance policy as the USAC Silver Crown, Sprint Car, and Midget drivers receive. The USAC National Champions will be recognized at the USAC banquet during PRI week in Indianapolis next December. Fourteen dates currently line up the 2017 season for the Driven Midwest USAC NOW600
National Micros with more dates still in the works.
USAC TO SANCTION ATLANTIC, F2000, F1600 CHAMPIONSHIPS BEGINNING IN 2017 Formula Race Promotions (FRP) announced Monday that the United States Auto Club (USAC) will sanction the Atlantic, F2000 and F1600 Championship Series for 2017 and beyond. The new sanctioning agreement will provide a seamless transition of licensing and credentialing for FRP competitors. The 2017 Atlantic, F2000 and F1600 Championships will open
at Virginia International Raceway, joining an actionpacked road racing weekend with the Pirelli World Challenge, also now aligned with USAC, April 28-30.
BACON TO PILOT THE DOOLING/HAYWARD #63 IN 20-25 USAC SPRINT RACES IN 2017 Brady Bacon announced plans to wheel the Joe Dooling/Brody Hayward-owned sprint car in 20-25 USAC AMSOIL National
Sprint races during the 2017 season. Bacon, the two-time USAC National Sprint Car champ (2014 & 2016), takes over the wheel of the No. 63, which won seven series features with Brady's close friend, the late Bryan Clauson, as the driver in 2016. Dooling and Hayward will resume their partial USAC schedule that involves hitting several of the major events on the racing calendar including the season opening "Winter Dirt Games" at Ocala, Florida's Bubba Raceway Park in February as well the seasonending western swing at Arizona Speedway's "Western World Championships" and the Budweiser "Oval Nationals" at California's Perris Auto Speedway in addition to numerous events throughout the summer months.
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma's Bacon captured two series titles with the Hoffman Auto Racing team, including this past season in 2016. In 2017, Bacon will pursue a bevy of racing endeavors in USAC and elsewhere, but his part-time role in the 63 is an honor he cherishes. "I'm excited to be involved with them," Bacon said. "Obviously, there is a sentimental element there for me having raced against Bryan (Clauson) in the No. 63. Hopefully, I can continue the success they had with him. Hopefully, it's something he would be proud of as well. It's a very special opportunity for me." Hayward, a sponsor and owner of the team, feels Bacon is a perfect fit for the goals the teams seeks in 2017. With the caliber of driver, equipment and team
assembled, team owner Joe Dooling is eager to get back to the track.
(LOUDPEDAL Photo)
ALEX BRIGHT TO SUIT UP FOR 2017 USAC EASTERN STORM Midget racing standout Alex Bright will pilot a USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car for Pennsylvania car owner Rick Kaylor in the 11th annual "Eastern Storm" series in 2017. Bright, who has yet to make a USAC Sprint Car start in his career, has 40 career USAC National Midget feature starts,
including a second-place finish at Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway in 2012.
13K as Kaylor anxiously awaits his first venture into the world of USAC Sprint Car racing.
The Collegeville, Pennsylvania native is renowned for his success in a midget on a resume that is highlighted by a 2016 ARDC title as well as a preliminary night feature win at the "Chili Bowl Midget Nationals" earlier in the season in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
"I was at the Knoxville Nationals in 2007 and decided to go to Oskaloosa to watch USAC," Kaylor recalls. "I just thought they were incredible. Since then, I would go to Grand view, or wherever they ran locally, and decided when the time was right, I would like to field a car."
Car owner Rick Kaylor has been involved in sprint car racing for over two decades. Beginning his driving career in 1989, he has spent the past decade in the role of car owner and sponsor. Rick has owned sprint cars for the likes of Lucas Wolfe, Kenny Jacobs, Ryan Bohlke and, more recently, Super Sportsman driver Troy Rhome and 358 sprint car driver Jordan Givler.
"I started looking at drivers and was spending a lot of time at Susquehanna earlier this year," Kaylor explains. "ARDC just happened to be there quite a bit and I took notice of Alex. I watched him all summer and was impressed with him on the track. Since I didn't know him, I asked around and heard nothing but good things. We talked in September and made a deal for USAC "Eastern Storm" and possibly the URC wingless races."
The team is currently assembling a CS9 chassis with a fresh Rider Racing Engine underneath the hood of the No.
This month’s star is Lucas Oil Drag Boat driver Shelby Ebert. Shelby grew up in a racing family. Her dad has been racing for 27 years now, and racing is the only lifestyle Shelby knows. Ebert started racing jet skies at 14 and won her first world championship by the time she reached 15.
By 18 she was the Top Eliminator runner up in both the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series Division 2 and the Southern Drag Boat Association. At 19, Shelby moved to Pro Eliminator and, in only her first year won the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series Division 2 and the Southern
with Drag Boat Association championships. Shelby repeated BOTH titles the very next year. Ebert calls herself “the fastest woman on water” and, while the record books may disagree, I don’t see anyone currently out there that can challenge that title.
After Pro Eliminator, my parents decided to take a leap of faith and buy a Pro Modified drag boat for me to drive in the 2016 season. I say that this was a leap of faith because no one on my team has ever driven a pro mod, including my dad. We dove head first into it, knowing that I wanted to go faster, and my parents wanted
“I truly believe that Lucas Oil has saved the sport of drag boat racing.�
me to be safer. The 2016 season went better than I had ever dreamt. I made it to a final in my rookie season, and unfortunately, we didn't get the chance to race it because of weather.
shot at the championship at the end of the year. We are incredibly excited to see what will happen this season.
I also ended up 6th in the national Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series points for the year.
First and foremost, I have to thank God for placing me with the right family and people to give me this opportunity.
As far as the 2017 season goes, we are planning to bring our "A game" and continue to try to succeed in the Pro Modified class.
Secondly, my parents. They have encouraged my dreams and have been my biggest fans along the way. I can't say enough about how much they support me, on and off the track. I might be biased, but I think they're the best parents ever.
My goals for the 2017 season are to win a race, and to have a
Also, my team is a huge part of my success. I have been blessed to have amazing people come into my life and they amaze me every weekend with the amazing passes that they give me.
always feel like I didn't do as well as I could have. This is just one of those things that I have to get through to follow my dreams.
Our team is truly a family; every single one of them are like another dad, or mom, or sister, or brother to me. Lastly, I'd like to thank Lucas Oil for not only believing in this sport, but believing in me as a person and as a driver.
Most people wouldn't know this by watching me on tv and what not, but I am absolutely terrified of public speaking. Interviews have gotten so much easier over this season since I've been exposed to them more and more, but I get so nervous and I
I truly believe that Lucas Oil has saved the sport of drag boat racing. They have come into this sport and have had nothing but the best interest in mind for the racers and the sport itself. I'm
not sure if I can think of anything in particular that they could do to make this sport better because they have done so much. Our sport is being shown all over the United States and beyond, and that is extremely important just to have more people learn about what we do and fall in love with it.
thankful for them coming in and changing our sport for the better.
I have a few goals of my own to try to make our sport better. My number one goal is to get the sport out there and into peoples minds, because without the fans, we don't have a sport. The more people who fall in love with drag boat racing and want to come and watch and support it, the better off we all are.
If you have an opportunity to go to a drag boat race, I promise you'll fall in love with it for one reason or another. We're all a big family who love each other but we all want to win at the end of the day. Bottom line, Lucas Oil has been a huge positive thing for this sport and I am definitely
My second goal is to get kids involved. We also won't have a sport if we don't get the next generation involved. I have been lucky enough to be able to connect with kids, especially girls, of course, and hopefully get them interested in our sport. There are of course some racers
daughters and sons that will come to be involved eventually or already are becoming involved but we need outsiders to become interested and involved as well to continue to grow this sport. I know from experience that there are only some kids that will stick with racing for the long haul. I raced with probably between 8-12 kids when I raced jet skis and only about 3 or 4 still come to the races and none of them are still driving at this point. Some of them may come back, but right now I'm the only one from that era that still races.
This means we need more kids involved! It would kill me to see this sport die with the generation above me. I want to continue to grow this sport and help it change kids lives just like it did mine.
RETURNS HOME TO MEXICO A CHAMPION Story and photos | NASCAR.com
Fresh off his 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series championship, Daniel Suarez will make his highly anticipated return to Mexico this weekend in the very place his NASCAR career began -the NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series. The Monterrey native will serve as honorary grand marshal for the series’ exhibition race Sunday at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, site of Suarez’s first NASCAR Peak Mexico Series win in 2012. After a year’s hiatus, Mexico’s national stock car championship series will be back on track in 2017 with a full race schedule. The series will celebrate its 10th
season with its first year of a multi-year agreement with PEAK as its entitlement sponsor.
To get ramped up for the return, the series will compete this weekend in the country’s capital. Nearly 30 drivers have registered for the event, which will be run in two 70-lap segments. Each segment will include a 50-minute time limit. Teams will be allowed to make adjustments in the intermission, and the top 10 positions will be
inverted for the second segment. Practice and qualifying will be Saturday. The race is slated to include past champions Abraham Calderón (2014), Rodrigo Peralta (2013), Jorge Goeters (2005, 2012) and Rafael Martinez (2007). Martinez was the first Mexico Series champion under the NASCAR banner. Suarez finished third in the championship in 2012, and was runnerup in 2013 -- missing out on the title by just eight points. Suarez was part of the inaugural NASCAR Next class in 2011, the industry initiative that spotlights the sport’s rising young stars.
Three of Suarez’s 10 series wins took place at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, which was named after legendary Formula One driver and one of the earliest Hispanic NASCAR drivers, Pedro Rodriguez. Suarez also notched 25 topfive finishes in 58 races over his four seasons competing in the Mexico Series. He moved up to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, where he won three times driving for Rev Racing and the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program. On November 19, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver became the sport’s first foreign-born national series champion, beating out Elliott Sadler, Justin Allgaier and Erik Jones in the inaugural NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase by virtue of his victory in the series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
E T A D P U
R ASCA the N ent”, d e k c tirem ds sho dwar pected “re 19 ARRIS E l r a x # C After ith his une o drive the yota. t w To n d l p e r s u wo RC cho A s a C S w A l Danie r Energy N te s n o M
THE 19 Wins and Counting?
Greg Biffle’s association with Roush-Fenway Racing came to an end after the end of the 2016 season finale at Homestead.
2.
GFS Marketplace 400, Michigan International Speedway, August 22, 2004
The #16 team has struggled over the last few years and the parties agreed to split ways. As of this time, Greg has not announced a ride for 2017, so we will have to sit tight for now. Over the last 15 years, Biffle has 19 victories and 175 top ten finishes under the Jack Roush banner. Let’s take a look at the 19 wins so far.
1.
PEPSI 400, Daytona International Speedway, July 5, 2003
The Sunoco Rookie of the Year led 21 laps to win his career first race.
It would be a little over a year before Biffle would visit victory lane again, but he did so in the Irish Hills. This would become a common trend over the years to come. Biffle led 73 laps en route to victory over his legendary teammate Mark Martin.
3.
Ford 400, Homestead Miami, November 21, 2004
This win would be the first of three straight at the 1.5 mile track for Biffle. Leading a race high 117 laps, Greg took the lead away from Tony Stewart on a green-whitechecker restart. 4.
Auto Club 500, California Speedway, February 27, 2005
5.
Biffle put on a dominating performance at Texas, leading 219 of the 334 laps to win the race. 6.
Dodge Charger 500, Darlington Raceway, May 7, 2005
Spring was the right time for Biffle in 2005. The Roush driver led 176 laps but had to take the win away from Ryan Newman on a green-white-checker finish to get the victory. 7.
The 2005 season was the best of Biffle’s career and he started out with a win in just the second race of the year. He held off Jimmie Johnson for the victory in California.
Samsung/Radio Shack 500, Texas Motor Speedway, April 17, 2005
MBNA RacePoints 400, Dover International Speedway, June 5, 2005
As the weather warmed up, Biffle stayed hot as he notched his third win in seven races. In 2005, Greg recorded his most top five finishes (15). Amazingly, despite the hot streak, he had yet to take the points lead.
8. Batman Begins 400, Michigan International Speedway, June 19,2005
10. Dodge Charger 500, Darlington Raceway, May 13, 2006
Michigan is the first track that Biffle recorded more than one win. Biffle led the final 31 laps to win the race and maintain his second place in the points, which is right where he would finish out the season.
Biffle defended his 2005 win at this same race by leading 170 laps. He had to hold off Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth for the win.
9. Ford 400, HomesteadMiami Speedway, November 20, 2005
Biffle defended his Homestead win by leading just the final nine laps. Biffle posted 6 wins in 2005.
11. Ford 400, HomesteadMiami Speedway, November 19, 2006
Overall, the 2006 season was disappointing for Biffle as he failed to make the Chase a year after he was the runner-up in the standings. But he was able to make it three straight at the southern Florida track to close out the season.
12. Ford 400, HomesteadMiami Speedway, November 20, 2007
14. Camping World RV 400, Dover International Speedway, September 21, 2008 This is the only time in his career the Biffle posted back-toback wins. After a winless regular season, Biffle used these two wins to score a third-place finish in the standings.
Despite missing the Chase for a second straight year, there was no give up in “The Biff.” Biffle led the final 37 laps of a race shortened to 210 laps due to darkness at the 1.5-mile track. 13. Sylvania 300, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, September 14, 2008 After missing the postseason for the past two seasons, Biffle qualified for the Chase and made his presence known immediately win a win at the “Magic Mile.”
15. Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500, Pocono Raceway, August 1, 2010 After a winless 2009, Biffle saw his winless streak grow to 64 races. The streak ended here with a late-race restart to best Tony Stewart and teammate Carl Edwards for the victory. 16. Price Chopper 400 Presented by Kraft Foods, Kansas Speedway, October 3, 2010 Biffle dominated the latter half of the Kansas Chase race to score his second victory of the
2010 season. For the year, Biffle would go on to finish sixth in the points.
Ford driver Brad Keselowski as well as Kasey Kahne to score the win.
17. Samsung Mobile 500, Texas Motor Speedway, April 14, 2012
19. Quicken Loans 400, Michigan International Speedway, June 16, 2013 Biffle’s forth win at Michigan marked the fifth time that he won a race starting 15th or worse and the third time that occurred in the Irish Hills.
Biffle endured another long winless streak (49 races) coming into Texas. Biffle got the best of Jimmie Johnson to get his second career Texas Motor speedway win. 18. Pure Michigan 400, Michigan International Speedway, August 19, 2012 Green-white-checkered wins have been a forte for Biffle over the years and this win was no exception. Biffle held off fellow
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BARCELONA – American Flat Track star Brad Baker has been crowned the king of the Superprestigio in each of his two previous appearances, but this year Marc Marquez toppled the crown. The three-time, defending MotoGP™ World Champion took top honors in
the Superfinal in front of his hometown crowd at Barcelona’s Palau Sant Jordi on Saturday night. The pair headed into the final showdown of the evening as winners of the brackets for their respective classes –
“Last year I was really close from the victory and this year I get it. I know the mistakes that I did last year, but this year I try to be in a different way and it was working well. But especially the pace was working really good. Toni (Elias) was pushing a lot but the pace this year was the best year, what I feel. Also, one of the reasons was my team. They are right here at the Palau. It was a really good job.” It was a reversal of fortune for Baker, as this time around Marquez made improvements to his setup and rode off into the distance, while Baker had to play it smart to get a spot on the podium. Superprestigio and Open – but they were both after bragging rights for taking home that Superfinal win and Marquez was happy to have that this year. “Of course I’m really happy because this is the Superprestigio,” Marquez said.
“Tire choice was very crucial today,” Baker said. “The surface was very abrasive and these tires are very soft, so they wear really quick. I really never road with a new tire all day long, but I just thought with the 16 laps that I was going to need a lot of
rubber, a lot of tire to last at the end and it was a bad decision.” Two laps in, Baker knew his mistake and knew that his race was over. Toni Elias was able to get past Baker and attempt to chase down his fellow Spaniard, but Marquez was in the zone. The former Moto2 World Champion and current MotoAmerica Superbike racer had to settle for second, but
after a rough week struggling to find the right setup, Elias was more than happy with a runnerup result. “We didn’t expect that. We knew that the Superprestigio (Final) was possible but not the Superfinal,” Elias said. Thanks to my team because they work really hard throughout the week, especially the last days. We made the right choices at the right time.”
Elias also had a bit of luck, as he realized last minute that his tire was toast before going into the Superfinal. But with the good will of the tire manufacturer, they reopened their truck and fitted a new tire for him. “I was really close to losing the Superfinal because my rear tire was completely finished and I went to push for it; I need to change my tire,” Elias said. “He waited for me and finally everything was right. The Superfinal was perfect. I could pass Brad, someone who rides that well. This is nice to end the year this way, because it’s been a nice year. Thanks to everybody in the U.S. Thanks to this team, to my family, all the fans in the stand. And tonight to continue to party!”
come back next year and take back the crown.
“Well, first off, this event, this time that I come over and spend in Spain is something that I’ll remember forever,” As for Baker, he was obviously Baker said. “It’s been something disappointed not to keep his that is very important to me Superprestigio streak alive, but he’s enjoyed his time in Spain and and the people that I’ve met here in Spain and for the is more motivated than ever to
Superprestigio – it’s irreplaceable. I’ve enjoyed it and I’ve had a really good time here at the Superprestigio, but it’s like the pressure to win and to produce for Flat Track, it gets more intense every single year, everybody else gets better. But I’m just thankful to be a part of that and that Flat Track is here and the Superprestigio is getting bigger and everyone else is growing with it.” Moto2 racer Xavier Simon was fourth. In fifth, and the next best Open class rider was Spanish flat track racer Gerard Bailo followed by another Moto2 racer, Marcel Schrotter. The 2016 RFME Copa de Flat Track Champion Ferran Cardus was shuffled back to seventh after a mid-race miscue. Fivetime FIM Supermoto World Champion Thomas Chareyre’s eighth-place result completed the results for the Superfinal.
By Rev. Jim Jack | revjimjck@aol.com
If You Can’t Tell Time… Time Will Tell On You. Your greatest possession right now may well be your next twenty four hours, so, in basic terms, simply take life one day at a time. Success comes from doing the right thing at the right time. Ask any racer about that? If you’re not sure what the right things are, imagine you only have a couple weeks to live: The only thing that matters is the time you have left! If you’re a racer, you better know how to tell time otherwise you may miss your qualifying or elimination round. It would be embarrassing to confess to your peers you missed your call because you didn’t know what time it was, or worse yet, didn’t know how to tell time. Being able to tell time is more
than just knowing what time of day it is. Time never stops, and if you ignore it, time doesn’t care, because it just keeps ticking away, no matter what you do or say. You can’t deny it, can’t stop it, and you can’t change it. Look in the mirror, you’re older than you want to be, and you’re aging every day whether you like it or not! My favorite band from the late 60’s through the mid 80’s was Pink Floyd. Their brand of acid rock was my favorite. I listened to their music—nearly every night—and we attended several of their concerts. Thank God I survived that era with some brain cells remaining. Their 1972 performance at the Hollywood Bowl—only half the
seats were occupied—was possibly the best concert ever. A fireworks display rivaling a New Year’s Eve show started in front of the stage: The water literally came alive with twirlers, sparklers, exploding things, and then followed by a colossal fireworks display behind the Bowl. You had to be there! It was the debut of “Dark Side of the Moon.” I still have their lyrics running through my brain…without pain…or purple rain…now I’m in the correct lane…God’s grace gave me everything to gain. As we all know, racing is about time: Time to plan, time to find a sponsor, time to prepare, time to get to the track, time to race, and hopefully time to win. Time equals speed, speed equals excitement, and excitement tells a vivid story. The BIG story is what life is all about. Life is about knowing what time it is in relation to
eternity. I have twenty nine years worth of eternal stories. If you want to hear some more, ask and you shall receive…I won’t deceive…eternal life is something you need to perceive…that human effort will never achieve…I pray you will truly believe! Some races seem like they take an eternity to complete, but in reality drag racing happens in a hurry, and if don’t leave on time you may lose. “If you snooze you lose.” “If you creep you weep.” “A no show is a no go.” “If you sputter, no need to turn the rudder.” “If you break, the Champaign bottle you don’t get to shake.” Envision Pink Floyd’s song Time: “Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day, you fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way. Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town, waiting for someone or something to show you the way.”
The job of all Jesus followers is to show others the proper way down the track of life.
will happen in the very next moment. In racing, stuff happens…sometimes your stuff flattens.
Time waits for no one. We all have the same amount of time each day. What we do with our time is a serious responsibility— to ourselves as well as others. You can never get back one splitsecond of time. You can’t turn the clock back and get another chance at something. If you missed out on something like your kids’ activities, it won’t happen again.
“Tired of lying in sunshine staying home to watch the rain, you are young and life is long and there is time to kill today. And then one day you find ten years have got behind you, no one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun.” Missing the starting gun in God’s eternal race to His heavenly kingdom is the worst defeat ever!
You must plan your time wisely because you never know what
Life is to be lived with no regrets. In racing, if you get beat, you get
Team, Series and Sponsor Promotional Publications And Presentations.
beat. You simply try harder the next time. Winning or losing a drag race has no bearing on eternity. But losing as a human being in the race of life—not having the proper heart and mind-set—can be a regret that is unrecoverable. We were all young once with time to spare…it was easy to take someone’s dare…but it’s all gone if you really don’t care…it makes no difference what you wear…or how long is your hair…we all have a responsibility to bear…and only so much time to share…remember Jesus paid everyone’s fare. In racing—excluding safety— time may be the most important key factor. Finding the quickest way down the track is what racers strive for. You can win being the slower vehicle, but that’s the exception to rule 1: First one to the finish line wins (slowest is normally the loser).
Light trips the speed clocks at 186,000 miles per second. You can’t beat light in a race, but even light is restrained by time. Since God created everything around us including time, let’s be attentive to this precious commodity, guardedly redeeming every second as a gift. We can’t see time, but we can see what time does in many ways. For instance, we can feel and sense time like the three and a half seconds it takes a Top Fuel Hydro to make a run down the liquid track, but in all reality, we can’t feel or sense our own body aging in that short amount of time. But if we increase the time frame to three and a half years, we can see the difference in what time does to the body, i.e. growing and maturing from infant to adult, or aging and growing weary as a senior citizen. When a seasoned driver makes a sub four second run down the track, he or she can get use to the
time sensation and usually tell if the run was slower or faster than the time frame of four seconds. But when it comes to a thousandth of a second, it’s mighty hard to say you could feel much difference. A driver or observer cannot see the finish line beams that stretch across each lane on the racetrack for timing purposes, but we know—by faith—they are there. When a vehicle breaks the beam, the timing equipment records the amount of time on the racetrack. You believe the time on the clocks because you saw and experienced the run. God also has a clock, and it’s ticking away during your lifetime, but, no one can run fast enough to catch up with His ticking clock. “So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it’s sinking, racing around to come up behind you again. The sun is the same in a relative way but you’re older, shorter of breath and one day closer to death.”
As each day sinks into the horizon, you’ll never catch up with it again. Tomorrow is the same, but you are one day older, next year you are one year older, and the ageing factor is bringing all of us closer to our last breath. “Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time, plans that either come to naught or half page of scribbled lines. Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way, the time is gone, the song is over, thought I’d something more to say.” No matter who you are, you don’t have the last word. So, reserve your own last words for God and people. Far away across the field tolling on the iron bell, calls the faithful to their knees to hear time’s softly spoken enchanting spell. There’s nothing magic about time. It just keeps on doing its thing as we all observe the aging process: Life going by at two hundred fifty, a 50Ǧǚ class
reunion, or waiting for the “time” when we meet the Lord, here, there, or in the air! Remember, God’s clock doesn’t simply tell time, it tells history. His-story is what earthly time is all about… please don’t doubt…cause He has the clout…so let’s give Him a shout. “Thought I’d something more to say,” if you do, please say it. Don’t wait for your time to expire. Tell someone you appreciate them. Tell someone
you love them. Tell someone about Jesus: He came to save all people for eternity, and the time is now! God is summoning all people to redeem the time and let their light shine…there’s no magic sign…no need to whine…don’t get left behind…look up to a cross made of Jewish pine…we are the branches He is the vine…His voice ringing your phone line…by accepting the call you’ll hear God
Summer Down Under
Part 1
While winter is settling into much of America’s short tracks, some of our best sprint car drivers wander a “little” south to find summer all over again. Yes, our American sprint car heroes got to enjoy an extended racing season, but this was no cake walk as Australia’s national champ Kerry Madsen showed his talent by scoring back-toback wins at the Australian Open at Ausdeck Patios Archerfield Speedway.
champion Donny Schatz, along with Carson Macedo, Lucas Wolfe and Logan Schuchart did the USA proud with strong performances, and by being great ambassadors of American racing. American Racing News was lucky enough to get our first Australian correspondent, Stephen Edgley to capture Team USA while they played in the Summer Down Under. Next issue we will visit Valvoline Raceway in Sydney in part 2 of Summer Down Under.
World of Outlaws
A Photo Essay by Stephen Edgley Special Thanks to John and Coral Carrell and the entire Archerfield Speedway staff
r e m S um
nder Down U
Part 1
By Andy Bowyer | arenacross.com
In 2016, Chris Blose came within a few scant points of becoming AMSOIL Arenacross Champion. He battled his teammate Gavin Faith right down to the final main event of the season, but came up just short. Blose has enjoyed a long career and found a home in the AMSOIL Arenacross series. Chris made a big change in the off-season, moving to the new Rockstar Energy OTSFF Yamaha squad and has his sights centered squarely on winning the title that he came so close to last year. One of the toughest and most intimidating racers in the field, Blose pulls no punches. We caught up with him and got up to speed on his thoughts for the season to come. First off, you came painfully close to winning the AMSOIL Arenacross championship in 2016. How does that motivate
you heading into the 2017 season, which is quickly approaching? Yeah, as you said it was painfully close in 2016. There was honestly nothing more I could do but limit one crash, which cost me the championship. I work harder then anyone out there. I am a vet in this sport so I try to use my experience to my full advantage. In 2017 I just have to limit the mistakes, but when competition is high and you have to ride all out, mistakes will be made.
New year. New team. How has the transition to the Yamaha been? How are things run
differently than your previous team? In all honesty the transition to the new team and new bike has been amazing. Yamaha has been a bike that I’ve been wanting to race for a while now, so now that I'm on it I'm super happy and in a great place mentally and physically. The Yamaha 250F is a very proven bike with Cooper Webb and Jeremy Martin dominating on them, so its time Yamaha comes in swinging in AMSOIL Arenacross. The Rockstar OTSFF Yamaha team is very professional and they want to win as bad as the riders do. They have nothing but the best, so they give the riders the righat tools and equipment to succeed. Talk about the new AMSOIL Arenacross
“experience.” More pyro, new logo, DJKO and more of a production. Are you enjoying yourself in the AMSOIL Arenacross championship? Yes ever since I entered AMSOIL Arenacross in 2015 it has been an amazing time. Every year the AMSOIL Arenacross world grows and as an older rider who's been around a long time it is awesome to see and appreciate. Being a former SX rider for almost a decade, in my opinion, AMSOIL Arenacross is way more entertaining from a fan standpoint. I've asked lots of fans that have been to both SX and AX and they love the action packed experience they get over Monster Energy Supercross. In AX, there is always something going on and never a dull moment. How do you feel about the Race to the Championship? Its two-year history has produced a scenario where the title came down to the final main event!
I mean that's what its all about right? Nobody wants to see it won two or three rounds before its even over, and then it's boring. They want it to come down to the last race and the last corner to determine the champion. The last two years, AMSOIL Arenacross has accomplished that. So yes, I am a fan of it. You’ve battled your fair share of rookies in your career. Austin Forkner and Chase Sexton have earned their #R2SX points recently. Are you hard on the new guys, or do you take them under your wing and show the some tricks? You have to watch out for these young guns because when they come in, they are locked and loaded and come at you with their guns blazing. You have to be a little rough on them in my opinion. Nobody likes to get beat, especially when your a Chase Sexton or an Austin
Forkner and have dominated your whole amateur career. They come in to AMSOIL Arenacross and then there are five dudes that are just as fast as you if not faster. I think it is good for them to go through that adversity because when they actually get to Monster Energy Supercross and the big show they'll be somewhat used to it and know how to deal with it. I was really impressed with Sexton, even though his results may have not been ideal; his riding was way more impressive. Can't wait to watch and see's what he does in Supercross.
Chris, you’ve made a great career racing a dirt bike and in AMSOIL Arenacross. How much would the 2017 AMSOIL Arenacross Championship mean to you? The 2017 AMSOIL championship would mean a lot to me. I came into this sport knowing I can win not only races but also the championship. We came up a few points short in 2016 and now I'm on a new bike, new team and a newfound confidence. So, I’m really looking forward to 2017!!
Americans in Paradise IMSA’s best American cars for 2017 at Daytona International Raceway
James Hinchcliffe DANCING HIS WAY TO INDYCAR CHAMPIONSHIP
He surprised himself as a runnerup in ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” but James Hinchcliffe expects better than second place at the racetrack. That was his best finish for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series. In accentuating positives, “Hinch” acknowledges he had some highlights away from the dance floor. In addition to three podium finishes, he celebrated his first career pole in the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Penn Grade Motor Oil. The competitive 30-year-old Canadian is convinced he’s on the cusp of being a serious series contender, although a 13th-place points finish in the No. 5 Arrow Electronics Honda suggests otherwise. He’s adamant the past season was better than the statistics show.
By Phillip B.Wilson | IndyCar.com
“No doubt, no doubt,” he said. “If you wipe the Detroit weekend off the map, you give us back the points from Texas and we finish the race at Watkins Glen, we’re fighting for a top three in the championship,” he said. “It shouldn’t be that surprising. This team has done that before.” Reigning champion Simon Pagenaud of Team Penske finished fifth, third and fifth in points while driving for team owner Sam Schmidt from 2012 to 2014. When Pagenaud joined Penske for 2015, Schmidt hired Hinchcliffe. “That’s what’s so impressive about SPM, they are kind of the little team that could,” Hinchcliffe said. “When you think there’s the three powerhouse teams (Penske, Ganassi and Andretti) that combine to make 12 cars or half the grid, if you’re anywhere in the top 12 in points, you’re
doing a good job if you’re not one of those (powerhouse team) guys.”
Too many times this season, Hinchcliffe was in position to do better but didn’t. He was running second and ran out of fuel on the last lap in the INDYCAR Grand Prix at The Glen. He finished 18th. He also laments finishing 18th and 21st at the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit doubleheader, the first race particularly disappointing after he qualified fourth. His best race was the Firestone 600 at Texas Motor Speedway, where Hinchcliffe dominated
with 188 laps led but was dramatically overtaken in the home stretch by Graham Rahal by 0.0080 of a second, the fifthclosest finish in Indy car history. “One lap longer, one lap shorter, we win that race,” he said. “But that’s racing. I’ve been on the beneficial end of that before.” To add insult to narrowly missing victory at Texas, Hinchcliffe’s car was penalized in post-race inspection for excessive domed skid wear. He was docked 25 points, which wound up costing him five positions in the final standings. He finished third at the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis as well as the Honda Indy Toronto, and was fifth in the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. But finishing outside of the top 10 in seven of 16 races shuffled him back in the points standings.
Setbacks aside, Hinchcliffe provided the feel-good story of the month of May when, one year after nearly losing his life in a practice crash, he won the Indy 500 pole. As much as “Dancing with the Stars” heightened his popularity after the season ended, the headlines from winning his first pole had the same effect. He led 27 laps but finished seventh, a microcosm of his “what might have been” season, although it was only one spot behind his previous best in five Indy 500 starts. “I think we take a lot of pride in this year, to come back from everything last year and be competitive out of the gate,” he said. “We had a couple of rough events at the start of the season, one of them kind of our fault and one of them not. After that, it really picked up, the results started coming, Long Beach (eighth), Barber (sixth) and at the Indy Grand Prix
(third) getting our first podium of the season, then the pole at the 500, we had a great month of May in general.” Hinchcliffe is under contract to return for a third season with Schmidt, who sees his driver as the complete package. “I’ve always believed that,” Schmidt said. “He drove for us in Indy Lights in 2009. We tried to get him earlier than we did, (but) he had the contract with Andretti. It’s all worked out pretty well. We can build a longterm program around him and a long-term program around Mikhail (Aleshin, whose deal for
2017 is not yet finalized) and keep on improving. “We’re still not perfect, but I think the guys are doing a hell of a job. We want to position ourselves in the off season, fill in a couple of spots here and there, and legitimately go for the championship next year.” Three of Hinchcliffe’s four career wins came in 2013 with Andretti Autosport. The fourth victory came at the 2015 Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana at NOLA Motorsports Park outside New Orleans. He’s run with one of the “Big Three” in Andretti Autosport for three seasons and competed against Team Penske,
Chip Ganassi Racing and Andretti for three years. His best points finish was eighth in back-to-back years with Andretti in 2012 and 2013. He’s set his mind to being better than that. “The pace that we’ve had and some of the weekends we’ve salvaged from subpar starts is what I’m really proud about,” he said. “I think it shows that we’re getting into position to start to begin contending for a championship.” Hinchcliffe’s approachable demeanor makes him one of the series’ most popular drivers with the fans. And he comes by it honestly, just being himself. There’s no “dancing” around the bottom line that he’s a driver driven by an intensely competitive desire, but he’s ever mindful of the big picture, too. “I’m a guy who appreciates
where he is and what he gets to do and I enjoy every day of it. I think that shows. It resonates with people. They would kill to do what we do,” he said. “I’m a competitive person, I’ve been in this environment enough to know that when stuff is not going well, it’s to look and act miserable because you’re a competitor, you’re aiming for something. And then people on the outside are looking in and saying, ‘Yeah, you had a bad day at the track, but you’re still an INDYCAR driver, what are you complaining about?’ It’s a delicate balance. “The competitor in you always wants to strive for the best out of yourself and your team. But every once in a while, you’ve got to remember that we’re all human and, in the grand scheme of humanity, we’ve got it pretty good.”
USMTS unveils preliminary 2017 campaign slate
Officials from the United States Modified Touring Series have released an exciting and aggressive preliminary schedule of events for the 2017 campaign. The line-up for the 19th season of USMTS competition features 77 nights of racing over the course of 269 days and is jam-packed with a mix of ongoing classic events at staple venues and new venues that are sure to please fans of dirt modified racing. For the fourth year in a row, the season will launch in February with a flurry of threeday shows running through the end of March. Opening weekend takes place Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 9-11, with the inaugural event at the Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Texas. Two weeks later, the series will trek to the State of Mississippi for the first time with stops penciled in at the Jackson Motor Speedway in Byram on
Friday, Feb. 24, and the Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian on Saturday, Feb. 24, with a third date yet to be announced on the following Sunday. The 6th Annual Cajun Clash takes place Thursday-Saturday, March 2-4, at Gene Boyter's Ark-La-Tex Speedway in Vivian, La., followed by another triple header shoot-out the following weekend at the Southern Oklahoma Speedway in Ardmore, OK. The month of March wraps up in style with the running of the $15,000-to-win King of America VII Modified Nationals, March 23-25, at the Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, KS. Several venues return to the calendar after being absent for one or more years. Kennedale Speedway Park in Kennedale, Texas, is back for the first time since 2013 on Friday, May 12, after two rain-outs the previous two tries and two wins by
Johnny Scott in the two before that. Another two-time victim of Mother Nature over the last five seasons-the Lonestar Speedway in Kilgore, Texas-looks to see the green flag for the first time since 2011 on Saturday, May 13. On Tuesday, June 13, the USMTS returns to the Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen, S.D., for the first time since Corey Dripps won the inaugural event in 2011, and the Oshkosh SpeedZone Raceway in Oshkosh, WI., will host the Best of the Best in dirt modified racing on Friday, July 14. It will have been more than seven years later when the USMTS banner flies again at the Buena Vista Raceway in Alta, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 19, and the Mid-America Speedway, South Coffeyville, OK.-now under new ownership and managed by legendary
racer Al Purkey-will kick off the 2017 Hunt for the USMTS Casey's Cup on Thursday, Aug. 3.
Silver Dollar Nationals at the I80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb., with a $10,000 reward awaiting the winner.
Finally, on Wednesday, Aug. 30, the series will make its way back to the Kossuth County Speedway in Algona, Iowa, for the first time since 2010 in a pivotal Labor Day Weekend clash during the Hunt for the USMTS Casey's Cup.
Two big shows cap the 2017 season, beginning with the 19th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, MN., Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 21-23.
In addition to King of America VII in March, four other highprofile big-money special events are on the list. The 19th Annual Modified Masters will take place at the Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, WI, Thursday-Saturday, June 15-17, with the single biggest paycheck in series history will be handed out when the winner collects a whopping $50,000. Friday and Saturday, July 21-22, will see the USMTS join the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series once again for the 7th Annual
The curtain will close again next year with the 2nd Annual Chisholm Trail Showdown at the 81 Speedway in Park City, KS, on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3-4. Overall, more than a quarter million dollars are earmarked just for main event winners throughout the 2017 USMTS campaign trail, with more than $1 million in purses and points funds entering the pockets of the world's greatest dirt modified racers.
E T A D UP
By Team release | NASCAR.com
MOORESVILLE, NC – Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) announced that 2016 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion Todd Gilliland will compete in four NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races in 2017 with
primary sponsorship from Toyota – the world’s top automaker. Gilliland, who competed in seven Super Late Model races for KBM in 2016, will make his Truck Series debut behind the wheel of the
No. 51 Toyota Tundra June 17 at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Illinois. The third-generation driver will also compete at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, Sept. 3, New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon Sept. 23 and Phoenix International Raceway Nov. 10. With six victories this year in the K&N Pro Series West, the 16-year-old matched three other drivers for the series record for most wins in a single season and also collected six poles, 11 top-five and 13 top-10 finishes en route to becoming the youngest champion in the history of any NASCAR national or touring series. The K&N West Series Rookie of the Year also competed in five K&N Pro Series East events in 2016, registering one win, one pole, three topfive and five top-10 finishes. Gilliland was victorious in his K&N Pro Series West debut at Phoenix International Raceway in November of 2015 and opened up the 2016 season with wins in both the East Series opener at New Smyrna Speedway and the West Series opener at Irwindale Speedway. He followed it up with a win at Kern County Raceway Park in April, giving him wins in each of his first four K&N Starts which matched a 60-year-old record
set by International Motorsports Hall of Famer Dan Gurney. In addition to his seven career K&N Pro Series victories, Gilliland made history in his ARCA Racing Series debut at Toledo (Ohio) Speedway in May of 2015 when he became the youngest winner in series history just two days after his 15th birthday. He finished ninth in his only other ARCA start at Iowa Speedway in July of 2015. "Todd joined the driver lineup for our Super Late Model program this year and we liked what we saw with his
competitive nature and strong work ethic, so we are looking forward to seeing him move up to the Truck Series program for 2017 and getting behind the wheel of our Tundras for four races," Busch said. "He proved by winning several races in the K&N Series, both East and West, and the West Series championship that he has the talent to succeed in bigger stock cars and he deserves a chance to compete at higher levels next season." "I'm very excited for the opportunity to race in the Truck Series for KBM next year and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of everyone at
Toyota and TRD," Gilliland said. "Moving up into the top levels of NASCAR is going to be a learning experience, but I know that I'm getting behind the wheel of fast Tundras and with the staff that they have in place at KBM and the knowledge that Kyle can pass along I'm going to learn a lot and continue to grow as a driver.� Gilliland joins owner-driver Busch (five races) as part of the multi-driver lineup that will compete behind the wheel of the No. 51 Tundra in 2017. Announcements for the drivers who will complete the remainder of the schedule are forthcoming.
Let us know if you want to see more of this.
Next Issue
Summer
Down Under
Part 2
Speedway Photos By Tony Wilson