NASCAR Pole Position 2019 April/May Edition

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NASCAR HISTORY REVISITING 1986

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NATALIE DECKER, CHASE ELLIOTT

WIVES & GIRLFRIENDS

WOMEN OF NASCAR I FAVORITE FINDS I DRIVER PROFILES I SEAL THE DEAL I NASCAR BUILDS NASCAR PETS I TAILGATING I BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW I NASCAR ROOTS I NASCAR NEWS I TOOLS OF THE TRADE

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WIVES & GIRLFRIENDS

■■ Kyle Busch with his wife, Samantha, and son, Brexton.

■■ Austin Dillon and his wife, Whitney.

■■ Alex Bowman with his girlfriend, Emily Boat, at the Daytona 500.

■■ Kurt Busch and his wife, Ashley Van Metre.

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POLE POSITION 2019

■■ Chandra Johnson, wife of Jimmie Johnson, walks with their daughter, Genevieve.

■■ Brad Keselowski with his wife, Paige, and their daughter, Scarlett, at the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500.

CONTENT 18.

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SEAL THE DEAL 76. NASCAR ESPORTS

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26 SPOTLIGHT: TY DILLON 66. WOMEN OF NASCAR 68. BRETT MOFFITT

NASCAR ROOTS

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06. GREEN FLAG 12. SPOTLIGHT: ROXOR 20. NASCAR HEALTH 22. FAVORITE FINDS

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GREEN FLAG Kyle Busch Inks Extension with JGR

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015 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch recently finalized a multi-year contract extension to remain with Joe Gibbs Racing.

His extension parallels longtime sponsor Mars, Inc.’s new deal to remain as a primary sponsor of the No. 18 Toyota Camry driven by Busch and fielded by JGR. “Since the start of our partnership together in 2008, our relationship has been strong,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. “As a team owner, the hope is to find partners and drivers that help us grow as an organization, and Kyle Busch and Mars, Inc. have done exactly that. We have one of the longest partnerships in all of sports, and that really speaks to the strength of the understanding and respect we have for one another.”

Busch has driven a Mars-sponsored JGR car to 40 victories and the 2015 title since joining the team 11 years ago.

JOE GIBBS RACING and Mars, Inc. also reached a multi-year contract extension that will see the confectionery giant remain as a primary sponsor of Kyle Busch’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series car. Mars has served as a primary sponsor of Busch’s No. 18 JGR Toyota since 2008.

BY DAN GUTTENPLAN | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

Nominations are being accepted for The NASCAR Foundation’s ninth annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award, which honors the philanthropic ideals and vision of the late Betty Jane France.

Since its inception, the award has generated $1.4 million in donations to charities, impacting the lives of approximately 300,000 children in need.

Nominations will close on Friday, March 22. The nomination form can be accessed at NASCARfoundation.org/Award, and completed forms can be submitted via email or regular mail.

IN ITS 10TH YEAR AS A BACKER OF Chip Ganassi Racing, McDonald’s will serve as the primary sponsor for multiple races this season on the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro driven

by Kyle Larson in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

“It says a lot about our team – both on and off the track – that we will be celebrating 10 years of partnership with McDonald’s this coming season,” said team owner Chip Ganassi.

“McDonald’s has been a great partner over the past nine seasons, and we are looking forward to what this season holds with Kyle as their driver. I am sure there will be plenty of exciting moments throughout the year.”

Larson has raced a McDonald’s-sponsored car in each of NASCAR’s top-three national touring series.

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NASCAR and TrüNorth Warranty have inked a multi-year agreement expanding the company’s involvement in the sport and designating it as the Official Commercial Truck Warranty of NASCAR. TrüNorth is a leading provider of limited liability warranties for commercial medium- and heavy-duty trucks, including work trucks and construction and agricultural equipment. The company also participates in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series as a sponsor of Niece Motorsports drivers Ross Chastain and Reid Wilson.

DALE EARNHARDT JR. IS SCHEDULED TO BE BACK behind the wheel during the Aug. 31 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Darlington Raceway. Earnhardt Jr. stepped away from full-time racing following the 2017 season, but he returned to the track last September and finished fourth in the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Richmond Raceway “There are many things I love about Darlington that contributed to my decision to run there this year, but the main reason is the track surface,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I love races where you have to be smart and manage your tires.

Darlington is slick, and it wears out tires.”

Wyndham Destinations, the world’s largest vacation ownership and exchange company, has extended its sponsorship of Richard Petty Motorsports and the iconic No. 43 Chevrolet driven by Bubba Wallace through the 2020 season. This year is the 19th in which Wyndham Destinations has supported RPM in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

CITGO PETROLEUM CORP., through its CITGARD brand of heavyduty engine oils, has extended its sponsorship of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver David Ragan and the No. 38 Ford Mustang fielded by Front Row Motorsports.

Ragan, a native of Unadilla, Georgia, is scheduled to carry the CITGARD colors in three races, including the September event on the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL. The brand will also be featured as an associate sponsor throughout the season.

“It’s great to have CITGARD return to our program this season,” said Ragan. “As a team that travels thousands of miles from race to race, you need reliable, heavy-duty engine lubricants to ensure we get to the track and back home. I’m glad that we have the best. I want to thank everyone at CITGO for stepping up and helping us improve our race program.”

MARATHON MAN

MENARDS NOW TITLE SPONSOR OF ARCA SERIES

SEVEN-TIME MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson plans to run the Boston Marathon in April, and he hopes to complete the grueling, 26.2-mile course in less than three hours.

The world’s most famous marathon is scheduled for Monday, April 15, two days after a 400-mile NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway.

The 43-year-old Johnson, an avid cyclist and fitness freak, has never attempted a full marathon. The Boston Marathon caught his eye in 2013, the year of the bombing, but competing wasn’t an option until a shift in this year’s NASCAR schedule made it possible.

“I was convinced I was going to do it,” Johnson said. “But the NASCAR schedule comes out – schedule changes – it’s Sunday Bristol, Monday Boston, and I’m like, ‘There’s no way.’”

Johnson was running 70 miles a week and had hoped to extend that to 90 to 100 miles a week by late March. He also teamed with Gatorade, one of his sponsors.

Johnson said he’s “treating my body like it was a race car, what lubricants it needs, what fuel it needs and all the particulars that go with it. I feel like I have a good plan coming together – as long as I stay healthy.”

Menards and the Automobile Racing Club of America have signed a multi-year extension that elevates the home improvement chain from presenting sponsor to title sponsor of the sanctioning body’s premier stock car series.

The series is now known as the ARCA Menards Series.

The new agreement underscores the significance of family for ARCA, Menards and NASCAR with all three companies being family-owned. Menard’s opened in 1958 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and now has more than 300 home improvement stores located throughout the Midwest, many of which are in markets on the ARCA Menards Series schedule.

The ARCA and Menards relationship dates to 2009 when Menards came aboard as a joint presenting sponsor. A year later, Menards became the sole presenting sponsor of the series. The ARCA Menards Series was founded in 1953 and is a regional touring series concentrated in the Midwest. It is considered an important ladder series for the NASCAR national series platforms.

NASCAR announced the acquisition of ARCA in April 2018 and closed on Dec. 31 in order to strengthen a relationship that dates back more than 60 years.

CAR 2 CAN COLLECTIBLE BUSCH BEER TOOK RECYCLING IN an unusual direction by turning a NASCAR Cup Series race car into 40 collectible beer cans as part of the company’s celebration of its 40 years at the Daytona 500.

Sheet metal and carbon fiber from one of Kevin Harvick’s 2018 No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Fords was used in producing the cans for the Car 2 Can collection.

“Busch Beer officials brought the idea to me last year, and I thought it was a great way to connect with the fans,” Harvick said. “These cans are made up of pieces of my car from the 2018 season, and I’m excited for the cans to be released.”

A limited number of sets from the collection were given away through a trivia contest during the Daytona 500 TV broadcast on Feb. 17 and sold through an online auction on Feb. 11. Proceeds from the auction were matched by Anheuser-Busch and donated to Keep America Beautiful.

“We wanted to do something for the hardcore fans that had never been done before and give them a chance to hold the sport they love,” said Daniel Baker, senior marketing director for Anheuser-Busch.

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BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW

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FOUR-TIME INDY 500 STARTER

A Football Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs, who has won Monster Energy NASCAR Cup series championships with drivers Bobby Labonte, Tony Stewart (2) and Kyle Busch, earned three Super Bowl victories during his football coaching career, and the native of Mocksville, North Carolina, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996. ■ Gibbs’ coaching career began in the college ranks in 1964 and his first NFL head-coaching job came in 1981 with the Washington Redskins. He led the Redskins to Super Bowl victories in 1983, ’88 and ’92 before stepping away from football. ■ He was eventually lured back into coaching for another stint with the Redskins from 2004 to 2007. ■ Gibbs’ NASCAR team, Joe Gibbs Racing, debuted in 1992 with second-generation driver Dale Jarrett wheeling the No. 18 car.

PROMOTING HIS BUSINESS illionaire businessman Carl Kiekhaefer changed the NASCAR landscape during his two seasons as a car owner in the sanctioning body’s premier stock car series. The founder of the company that became known as Mercury Marine chose stock car racing to promote his outboard boat engines and two of his drivers – Tim Flock in 1955 and Buck Baker in 1956 – claimed series titles. Kiekhaefer brought a new level of professionalism to the sport. His fleet of Chrysler race cars were professionally painted and detailed, and team members wore uniforms. Kiekhaefer also utilized Mercury Marine box-style trucks to transport his fleet of race cars. Statistics show Kiekhaefer’s cars won 52 NASCAR Cup Series races and claimed 50 poles in only two seasons before he walked away from the sport.

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THREE-TIME MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough is best known for his stock car exploits, but the tough-as-nails racer also made 13 Indy car starts, including four in the Indianapolis 500.

During his rookie attempt at The Greatest Spectacle in Racing in 1966, Yarborough failed to complete a lap as he was caught up in a massive opening-lap crash that eliminated one-third of the 33-car field.

He crashed again during the 1967 race and did not return to the Brickyard until 1971 when he completed only 140 laps due to an oil leak and ended up 16th. Yarborough’s best Indy 500 finish came during his final start in 1972 as he charged from the 32nd starting position to finish 10th.

EXTREMELY TOUGH CONDITIONS WET WEATHER DURING the winter and spring of 1960 delayed construction and forced officials to postpone the inaugural Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway from May 29 to June 16.

Even with the extra three weeks, construction crews did not finish paving the 1.5-mile quad-oval until the morning of the first round of qualifying. The pavement did not have time to settle and

huge holes developed.

The track surface was patched daily leading up to the race and mechanics placed screens over the cars’ windshields and grilles in an effort to deflect debris.

Holding a five-lap lead, Jack Smith was a victim of the crumbling track when a piece of asphalt knocked a hole in his car’s gas tank.

Short-track veteran Joe Lee Johnson won the race.

FROM STEEL TO RACING The land in Fontana, California, now occupied

by Auto Club Speedway was formerly the site of a Kaiser Steel mill. Kaiser Steel was founded by Henry Kaiser to provide steel plate for the West Coast shipbuilding industry, which boomed during this country’s war years. Kaiser Steel closed its mills during the 1980s.

On April 20, 1994, Roger Penske and Kaiser Ventures announced plans to demolish the Fontana mill and build a two-mile race track. Construction began on Nov. 22, 1995, and the mill’s 100-foot water tower, a landmark of the Kaiser property, was preserved. The track hosted its first race – a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West event won by Ken Schrader – on June 21, 1997. The facility is now owned by International Speedway Corp.

BY KEITH WALTZ | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

NASCAR PETS Jeffrey Earnhardt’s Hunting Buddy

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ike most NASCAR drivers, Jeffrey Earnhardt finds his weekends consumed with racing.

That means he typically has to carry out his passion for duck hunting during the week – when most of his friends are working and can’t go.

The fourth-generation NASCAR driver has found the perfect duck-hunting companion, however, in Bama, an 80-pound, male Chesapeake Bay Retriever that he bought from a breeder near Nashville, Tennessee, two years ago.

Bama – given his name because of Earnhardt’s affinity for University of Alabama football – was about nine weeks old and weighed only about 15 pounds when Earnhardt picked him up.

“He grew quite fast,” Earnhardt said in late February. “He’s put on a little weight now that duck season’s over and we’re not hunting every morning. He’s packing

on a few pounds.”

When duck hunting season is in, Earnhardt has been amazed by how helpful Bama has been during their various adventures into nature.

“It’s crazy to see the drive that these dogs have just to want to please their owner, or their father, if you will,” Earnhardt said. “Just to see the drive a dog can have, to just want to go work, is pretty incredible.”

But when Bama isn’t hunting ducks, he’s more of a “couch potato.”

“He’s 80 pounds and thinks he weighs 20,” Earnhardt said. “He wants to lay on your lap 24/7, gets up on the couch and just puts all his weight up against you. He’s just a good companion, man. It’s a cool bond that you get with a dog like that. Literally, when they say man’s best friend, it’s a true statement, because even on your bad days, he finds a way to make them better.”

Earnhardt grew up around various

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animals with his stepmother working as a veterinarian assistant, and he hopes to eventually purchase a motorhome so Bama can travel with him to the track on race weekends.

“I don’t think they (NASCAR) would let him in the garage, but he would take up half the hauler if they did,” Earnhardt said with a laugh. “We probably wouldn’t get a whole lot of work done if he was around.”

BY JARED TURNER

NASCAR HISTORY NASCAR LEGEND

Jeff Gordon Jeff Gordon entered his first NASCAR Cup Series event on Nov. 15, 1992, at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It was the beginning of a career that featured some of the greatest accomplishments in NASCAR’s modern era.

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BIRTHDATE ■■ August 4, 1971 BIRTHPLACE ■■ Vallejo, California NOTABLE MOMENTS ■■ 4-Time NASCAR Cup Series Champion ■■ 93 NASCAR Cup Series Wins ■■ 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee

Born Aug. 4, 1971, in Vallejo, California, Gordon’s formative years were spent building a very successful career as an open-wheel Midget and Sprint Car driver. Even though he dreamed of joining the Indy Car ranks, an opportunity to drive in NASCAR proved to be a fateful decision.

The rising star came to stock car racing in 1990 in what is now the NASCAR Xfinity Series. During the 1992 season, he claimed three victories and a fourth-place finish in the series standings while driving a Ford owned

by Bill Davis.

That same year, Gordon joined team owner Rick Hendrick in NASCAR’s premier series, making his debut during the season finale. He earned rookieof-the-year honors in 1993 and two years later, in 1995, Gordon became the youngest driver in the modern era to claim a championship at the age of 24.

He went on to win three more titles in 1997, ’98 and 2001.

Gordon currently sits third on NASCAR’s list of all-time winners with 93 Cup Series victories. His stats show 325 top-five finishes, 477 top-10 results and 81 poles in 805 starts. Among his victories are three Daytona 500s and five in the prestigious Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

After his retirement from driving, the 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee turned his attention to co-ownership of Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet at Hendrick Motorsports, as well as a promising career as a television broadcaster. Gordon remains one of NASCAR’s most popular personalities.

DRIVING FOR RICK HENDRICK THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE CUP SERIES CAREER WAS ONE OF MY GREATEST REWARDS. THE PHENOMENAL PEOPLE AROUND ME THROUGHOUT MY CAREER ARE WHAT MADE IT SO GREAT. BEST SEASON DURING THE 1998 NASCAR Cup Series season, Gordon and crew chief Ray Evernham amassed a modern-era record 13 victories in 29 starts. Also that year, Gordon posted 26-top five finishes, 28 top-10 results and seven poles.

Those incredible numbers led to him winning his second of four championships.

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RECORD SETTER GORDON’S AVERAGE start of 10.5 and average finish of 12.5 are considered impressive statistics. From 1992 to 2016, he completed 231,223 laps and led 24,936. Fifteen of his 93 victories came on short tracks with nine on road courses and the remainder on tracks of one mile or more in length.

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RESPEC T ED KNOWN FOR

GORDON IS KNOWN for his respect for fans, his team members and the media. His amazing ability as an open-wheel race car driver at times helped him to make moves in stock cars that were nothing short of miraculous.

He was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.

BY BEN WHITE | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

RACE REWIND

1986: Title No. 2 for Earnhardt Second-generation driver Dale Earnhardt wheeled the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet to victory five times during the 1986 season en route to his second NASCAR Cup Series championship.

SEASON RECAP Earnhardt made his NASCAR Cup series debut during the 1975 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but he did not become a series regular until 1979 when he was named rookie of the year. Driving for car owner Rod Osterlund, Earnhardt then shocked the racing world the following year when he won five races and captured the series championship. But midway through the 1981 season, Earnhardt suddenly found himself without a ride after Osterlund sold his race team.

Owner/driver Richard Childress elected to step out of the cockpit with 11 races remaining on the 1981 schedule. The decision opened the door for Earnhardt to finish the season and begin rebuilding his career. From there, Earnhardt joined team owner Bud Moore for two seasons in 1982 and 1983 before returning to Childress’ No. 3 Chevrolet the following year. Entering the 1986 season, Earnhardt had earned six victories and 36 top-10 finishes since returning to RCR and was among the favorites to claim the series title.

Capitalizing on a new sloped rear window design that improved the aerodynamics of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Earnhardt won at Darlington, North Wilkesboro, Charlotte, Rockingham and Atlanta.

With 16 top-five finishes and 23 top-10 results in 29 races, Earnhardt’s numbers proved good enough to claim his second title by 288 points over Darrell Waltrip, who was chasing his fourth championship in Junior Johnson’s No. 11 Chevrolet.

Earnhardt, who grew up in Kannapolis, North Carolina, went on to claim additional championships with RCR in 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994.

1986 BEST DRIVER TIM RICHMOND, DRIVING THE NO. 25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, recorded seven victories, 13 top-five finishes, 17 top-10 results and eight poles in 29 starts during 1986. His biggest victory came in the prestigious Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

He also scored race wins that year at Pocono, Daytona, Richmond, Watkins Glen and twice on the road course in Riverside, California. The driver from Ashland, Ohio, ended up sharing Driver of the Year honors with Dale Earnhardt.

DATE February 16 February 23 March 2 March 16 April 6 April 13 April 20 April 27 May 4 May 18 May 25 June 1 June 8 June 15 July 4 July 20 July 27 August 10 August 17 August 23 August 31 September 7 September 14 September 21 September 28 October 5 October 19 November 2 November 16

PRESIDENT: RONALD REAGAN

LOCATION WINNER Daytona International Speedway Geoff Bodine Richmond Raceway Kyle Petty Rockingham Speedway Terry Labonte Atlanta Motor Speedway Morgan Shepherd Bristol Motor Speedway Rusty Wallace Darlington Raceway Dale Earnhardt North Wilkesboro Speedway Dale Earnhardt Martinsville Speedway Ricky Rudd Talladega Superspeedway Bobby Allison Dover International Speedway Geoff Bodine Charlotte Motor Speedway Dale Earnhardt Riverside Raceway Darrell Waltrip Pocono Raceway Tim Richmond Michigan International Speedway Bill Elliott Daytona International Speedway Tim Richmond Pocono Raceway Tim Richmond Talladega Superspeedway Bobby Hillin Jr. Watkins Glen International Tim Richmond Michigan International Speedway Bill Elliott Bristol Motor Speedway Darrell Waltrip Darlington Raceway Tim Richmond Richmond Raceway Tim Richmond Dover International Speedway Ricky Rudd Martinsville Speedway Rusty Wallace North Wilkesboro Speedway Darrell Waltrip Charlotte Motor Speedway Dale Earnhardt Rockingham Speedway Neil Bonnett Atlanta Motor Speedway Dale Earnhardt Riverside Raceway Tim Richmond

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BEST RACE ON FEB. 23, 1986, AT VIRGINIA’S Richmond Raceway, Kyle Petty, driving the No. 7 Wood Brothers Racing Ford, scored his first career victory when race leaders Dale Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip crashed on the last lap while battling for the win. As Waltrip attempted to pass to the inside down the backstretch, the two cars made contact, sending both hard into the outside guardrail. Petty avoided the carnage to emerge as a surprise winner.

TOP CARS TIM RICHMOND’S Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet recorded seven wins, 13 top-five finishes, 17 top-10 results and eight poles in 29 starts.

DALE EARNHARDT’S Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet posted five victories, 16 top-five finishes, 23 top-10 results and one pole position.

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SPOTLIGHT

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MEET THE ROXOR

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The History of Mahindra and ROXOR Off-Road

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even decades in the making, Mahindra’s history began in India assembling rugged offroad vehicles under license from Willys. Vehicle production has continued since the 1940s while also building one of the world’s largest tractor brands.

Other internationally known vehicles such as THAR, Bolero, Scorpio and MM540 have grown from the Mahindra family of businesses. And now ROXOR bursts onto the off-road scene in the Western Hemisphere.

Many other modern SUVs, mini vans, pick-ups and automobiles are designed and manufactured by Mahindra along with aircraft, electric motorcycles, Formula E racecars and specialty military vehicles.

This India-based powerhouse has also developed financial, hospitality and agricultural divisions to become a global manufacturing and financial power.

Mahindra has obtained controlling stakes in the REVA Electric Car Company to create Mahindra Electric. It has also acquired South Korea’s SsangYong Motor Company in 2011 as well as the well-known Italian automotive coach builder and design firm, Pininfarina S.p.A., in 2015. Mahindra Automotive North America based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, is one of five manufacturers to build and prototype USPS mail delivery vehicles that would replace their current aging fleet. Mahindra has delivered 14 designed-from-the-ground-up prototypes that are now being tested by the USPS.

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POLE POSITION 2019

Mahindra Automotive North America and the Mahindra North American Technical Center are located in the Detroit area, where they design, prototype and assemble vehicles of many different types for use around the world including the new ROXOR brand for the US and Canada. The ROXOR brand is specifically designed for off-road use only and is representative of products built by Mahindra starting in 1947. The American-assembled ROXOR enters the off-road world with a 70-year-proven value proposition based on its authenticity, simplicity and strength.

It is an “original off-road vehicle” with a 70-year heritage. ROXOR Off Road 4x4 edition starts at $15,999. Look for the ROXOR brand of off-road vehicles available at a powersports dealership near you.

o other off-road vehicle on the planet has the heritage, durability, and reputation. Its predecessors helped win wars, explore continents, and has taken its occupants around the globe. This is truly an original off-road vehicle, with modern innovation.

■■ Reliable, economical, and long lasting, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel engine ■■ 4WD to help get you where you need to go – anytime, anywhere ■■ Sturdy box steel frame ■■ Rock-solid, reliable drivetrain with truckstyle, 5-speed, manual transmission ■■ Big wheels and brakes, high tech tires.

A perfect blend of old school simplicity and current technology. Invest in an industrial strength ROXOR today and be prepared for the fun of accessorizing and customizing to match your adventure. This simple platform has proven itself worthy. Make yours MISSION: READY.

AN ORIGINAL OFF-ROAD VEHICLE WITH MODERN INNOVATIONS

Mahindra has been building vehicles for over 70 years. In fact, 600,000 vehicles every year.

We know tractors, automobiles, airplanes, motorcycles and more. A more than $20 billiondollar company supports the ROXOR brand.

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FIRST RESPONDERS: All active duty, retired, and Honorable Discharged employees of Federal, State or Local Law Enforcement/ Firefighter/EMT.

PROOF OF MILITARY SERVICE: Copy of military ID Copy of military Orders Or, copy of Leave and Earnings Statement

PROOF: Proof of active duty, retired, honorable discharge or employment status

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NASCAR HEALTH MSG: Making Racing Safer

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Motorsports Safety Group is a collaboration of innovators in the sport who are determined to improve the safety of racing. MSG shares tips for race car drivers to help avoid injuries during races and practice sessions.

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INTRODUCING BRAIN ARMOR

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cknowledged as one of the country’s leading neurosurgeons, Dr. Jason Cormier has helped MSG provide a comprehensive, grassroots marketing campaign focused on preventative health care education and wellness training.

With an emphasis to educate and engage race fans in their growing role as health care consumers, the objective is to influence behavioral changes, to provide racing’s brand-loyal audience with the medical knowledge to make informed, preventative decisions that directly affect the wellness of their families.

One health issue that affects NASCAR racecar drivers and fans alike is neck and back pain.

Cormier shared some preventative measures one can take to help avoid lower back pain.

“Outside of the red flags – like a fever, weight loss that is not explained by a change in diet, suspicion of cancers, long-term steroid use, or a weak immune system – we can look at simple things to prevent lower back pain,” Cormier said. “We’ll take a look at improving the diet, weight loss, smoking habits and exercise.”

A patient can also strengthen his or her core to help prevent lower back pain. Improving one’s range of motion and maintaining an active lifestyle are also helpful preventative measures.

In the event that a patient is already affected by lower back pain, Cormier recommends he or she take an anti-inflammatory, such as Ibuprofen

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or Tylenol – if the patient has been cleared by a doctor. Avoiding carrying large bags, briefcases and purses can also limit the stress on a person’s back.

“Watch your posture,” Cormier said. “You want to make sure you’re not overloading your back.

Consider switching to a briefcase or bag on wheels.”

One of the most common causes of upper back and neck pain in this day and age is poor posture when sending text messages and looking down at smart phones. Writing for extended periods of time without stretching your neck is another common cause.

“It’s the result of constantly looking down at a computer or phone,” Cormier said. “It’s important to think about the posture of the neck.”

Neck trauma is a more serious issue that can be managed non-surgically with traction therapy, physical therapy or an interventional procedure, depending on the results of one’s MRI. Racecar drivers also are at risk of suffering compression fractures. Austin Therriault and Aric Almirola have both suffered those types of injuries in the recent past.

“When you’re driving at high speeds, the spine absorbs the ‘G’ forces of the wreck, which predisposes one to the possibility of spinal fractures,” Cormier said. “Protect your body by consistently exercising for a few minutes three to four times weekly, and maintain a healthy life style, and your body will be significantly optimized to endure the physical challenges ahead.”

A NEW PRODUCT THAT excites Cormier in terms of improving brain function is the Brain Armor nutritional supplement.

The product is the work of Dr. Julian Bailes, a recognized leader in the field of neurosurgery and the impact of brain injury on brain function.

The supplement includes Omega-3 Fatty Acids, which help the human brain possess the ability to grow new nerve cells, or neurons.

Cormier said that patients tested after 30 days of ingesting Omega-3 Fatty Acids were less likely to incur brain-related injuries.

Also, patients that suffered brain-related injuries were more likely to recover after 30 days of ingesting Omega-3 Fatty Acids.

“That component of the nervous system is huge,” Cormier said. “We found that people who are rich in DHA and EPA levels are more protected with regard to brain function. That drew me in. If we pursue that in racecar drivers, we can protect them with a supplement like Brain Armor that includes fish oil and Omega-3 Fatty Acids.”

Fish oils are also available for purchase over the counter. Cormier said the only downside of ingesting fish oil is that of its blood thinning properties.

“Other than that, we haven’t seen any downside,” Cormier said.

Find out more about Brain Armor at brain-armor.com.

BY DAN GUTTENPLAN

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POLE POSITION MAG.COM

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SEAL THE DEAL DENNY HAMLIN MASTERFUL AT MARTINSVILLE

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n March 29, 2015, Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, managed to avoid crashes that resulted in 16 caution periods for 119 laps to win the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

The Chesterfield, Virginia, native sealed the deal by passing Matt Kenseth, driver of the No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, with 28 laps remaining in the 500-lap race. It was Hamlin’s fifth-career victory at the track and first since 2010.

“By no means did we have a smooth race at all, and we still won,” Hamlin said. “So that to me shows what we’re capable of.

“My goal at the end of my career is to be whispered as one of those great short-track guys that I grew up watching, and hopefully we’re able to continue the success on it.”

His biggest challenge came from Brad Keselowski, driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Ford, with five laps remaining. Keselowski tried everything but couldn’t get past Hamlin for the lead.

“I’m a little disappointed that I’m not taking home the clock (trophy),” Keselowski said. “I did everything I could other than wreck him. I hit him pretty good a couple of times. Don’t know what more I could have done but drive through him.”

There were 31 lead changes among 12 drivers with Kevin Harvick leading 154 laps and Joey Logano leading 108.

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PRESENTED BY

TONY STEWART THE WILL TO WIN On Oct. 29, 2006, Tony Stewart, driving the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet, led 146 of 325 laps on his way to winning the Bass Pro Shops 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It was Stewart’s fourth of five victories that season.

The Columbus, Indiana, native came into the Atlanta race outside the playoffs after having missed the cut by only 16 points. Still, Stewart was determined to continue his quest for victories even though a Cup Series title was out of the question.

Stewart pitted for four tires and fuel during the final caution period on lap 312 while others saved track position on old tires.

He sealed the deal with his second victory in seven championship races, having also won at Kansas Speedway on Oct. 1. En route to winning at Kansas, Stewart’s team gambled on fuel and he ran out just as he crossed under the checkered flag.

“There’s a lot of pressure on those guys (the playoff contenders),” Stewart said, according to an Associated Press article from that day. “Sometimes it gets you off your game a little bit. Sometimes it makes you be a little bit conservative. Sometimes, because of the pressure, you make mistakes.

Those guys are in a totally different situation than we are. So it’s easier for us to go out and just try to win races.”

BY BEN WHITE | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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SPOTLIGHT ON TO PHASE 2

PRESENTED BY

Change Is in the Air at Talladega When NASCAR arrives at Talladega Superspeedway for a tripleheader weekend highlighted by the GEICO 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, April 28, change will be in the air.

Then, when NASCAR returns to the 2.66-mile tri-oval for its fall doubleheader race weekend Oct. 11-13, change will be felt virtually everywhere.

Give all the credit to Transformation – The Talladega Superspeedway Infield Project, an approximately $50 million redevelopment endeavor that is part of International Speedway Corporation’s long-term capital allocation plan and reinvestment into its major motorsports complexes.

The project, highlighted by the one-of-a-kind Talladega Garage Experience, will feature up-close access, interactive attractions and enhanced amenities for fans, sponsors, teams and stakeholders in the Talladega infield. And, it will all coincide with the 50-year anniversary of the first NASCAR race at

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Talladega Superspeedway in the fall of 1969.

“We have had nearly 50 years of incredible history in motorsports and have been a tourist destination for so many,” said Grant Lynch, chairman of Talladega Superspeedway. “The investment that we are making shows a commitment today, tomorrow and beyond. Fans, both current and future, have a lot to look forward to in the next 50 years. There’s only one Talladega.”

Arguably the most notable enhancement set to debut ahead of the GEICO 500 is a two-lane, oversized vehicle tunnel in Turn 3 that will allow 24/7 entry-and-exit access for vehicles of all kinds, including RVs and team haulers. Meanwhile, a new premium RV area just inside the track between the start-finish line and the entrance to Turn 1 will consist of 69 parking spots and be equipped with power and water/sewer hookups. Also on tap for the April race weekend is the addition of more reserved parking lots and new infield showers.

The various amenities coming to Talladega in April are considered Phase 1 of the Transformation project and will set the stage for a far more elaborate Phase 2, which will be officially unveiled at the fall race weekend.

“Over the years, we have met so many fans that love our sport here, and with this new endeavor, Talladega and ISC are taking this place to next level,” team owner Richard Childress said.

ON THE MONDAY AFTER the GEICO 500, construction will commence on Phase 2 of Transformation – The Talladega Superspeedway Infield Project.

An all-new garage viewing walkway is one of an array of new attractions for fans as part of the Talladega Garage Experience, which will boast over 140,000 square feet of social and engagement areas, complete with Wi-Fi, along with two new concession stands, restroom complexes, a Guest Services Center and a fan First Aid facility.

A new Gatorade Victory Lane will offer fans from the grandstands, as well as those in the Talladega Garage Experience, a closer view of race winners. A two-level Pit Club, with seating for more than 600 guests, will be located near the end of pit road. Other amenities in the Talladega Garage Experience include four 25-person garage suites and four garage offices.

Looking to 2020 and beyond, the current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series garage will be used by NASCAR Xfinity Series teams during the spring event weekend and the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series in the fall.

Starting in October, approximately 300 new RV spaces – all with power and water hookups – will be part of the track’s infield, offering a view of the Alabama Gang Superstretch to experience the worldfamous Talladega infield.

“Since 1969, no other track in NASCAR has lived its brand better than Talladega Superspeedway,” said Lesa France, CEO of International Speedway Corp. “Big, bold and one-of-a-kind best describe this legendary facility and the larger-than-life visionary who created it, my grandfather Bill France Sr. Transformation – The Talladega Superspeedway Infield Project is a worldclass extension of his vision offering many new amenities and conveniences.”

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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NASCAR DEFINED

PRESENTED BY

Behind the Scenes in 2019

■■ Ryan Preece, Chris Buescher, Michael McDowell and Brad Keselowski at Las Vegas.

■■ Joey Logano waves to fans during driver introductions for the Daytona 500.

■■ Kevin Harvick is focused on the task at hand.

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■■ Crew chief Chad Knaus holds his child prior to the 61st annual Daytona 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race.

■■ Christopher Bell, driver of the No. 20 Rheem/Smurfit Kappa Toyota.

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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NASCAR DEFINED

■■ 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Jack Roush.

■■ Chase Elliott’s helmet.

■■ Members of Kyle Busch’s team hold a banner remembering J.D. Gibbs during the 61st Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

■■ The No. 98 Champion Power Equipment Ford driven by Grant Enfinger in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series.

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PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

■■ Natalie Decker drives the No. 54 N29 Technologies Toyota in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series.

■■ An up-close view of the shoes worn by Chase Elliott.

■■ A young fans poses for a photo with Toyota driver mascots at Daytona.

■■ Jeff Gordon addresses the audience during his induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

■■ Joey Logano’s No. 22 Pennzoil Ford at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

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NASCAR DEFINED

■■ Kevin Harvick prepares to climb into his race car.

■■ Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 Extreme Concepts/iK9 Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinty Series Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas.

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■■ NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Roger Penske poses in front of the display that bears his name with drivers, family and friends.

■■ Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman.

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

■■ Kyle Busch celebrates by throwing his son, Brexton, into the air after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

■■ Aric Almirola in the garage area during practice.

■■ Brad Keselowski recording video during practice.

■■ The cars of Daniel Suarez, Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson sit on pit road.

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

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5 HOT TOPICS

Hot Topics

PRESENTED BY

Will a fourth manufacturer enter the field? How will Chase Elliott do? How will a higher downforce aero package change things? Find these answers and more below.

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A Continued Crackdown on Blatant Rule Bending. NASCAR has made it abundantly clear in recent seasons that it has less tolerance than ever for teams that try to bend the rules. And the proof is in the punishments.

Consider, for example, the penalty issued to Kevin Harvick and the No. 4 team after Harvick’s race-winning car flunked post-race inspection at Texas last fall. Saying that Harvick’s team had manipulated the car’s spoiler to gain an aerodynamic advantage, NASCAR docked Harvick 40 points, suspended crew chief Rodney Childers two races, and decreed that Harvick’s Texas win no longer automatically qualified him for the Championship 4.

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Plans for a Fourth Manufacturer. From 2007-2012, NASCAR’s top series featured four manufacturers – Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota and Dodge.

But since Dodge’s departure from the sport at the end of 2012, it’s been just a trio of automakers holding down the fort.

Speculation that Dodge could re-enter the sport – or a new manufacturer could come on board – as early as 2020, is little more than speculation. But don’t be surprised if it happens, especially if NASCAR’s legions of car-loving fans make their voices heard. For most NASCAR fans, the more manufacturers, the better.

The Continued Rise of Chase Elliott. After two solid yet notably winless seasons in NASCAR’s premier series, Chase Elliott upped his game considerably in 2018 by winning not one, not two, but three races.

The fact that those victories came on three different types of tracks – a road course (Watkins Glen), a 1-miler (Dover) and a 1.5-mile track (Kansas) – suggests the second-generation driver could be a serious championship contender this year.

If Hendrick Motorsports as a whole can find the speed it lacked much of last season, Elliott will be more than capable of making it all the way to Homestead.

The Impact of the Higher-Downforce Aero Package. Moving away from a trend toward downforce reduction, the 2019 Monster Energy Series season will mark the official debut of a higher downforce aerodynamic package aimed at stabilizing a race car’s handling – unlike the lower downforce cars of the past few seasons that have been harder to drive.

The new baseline aero package features an 8-by-61-inch rear spoiler, a 37-inch-wide radiator pan that tapers to 31 inches, and a front splitter with a two-inch overhang. The new rules package is intended to strengthen the Monster Energy Series’ already stout on-track product, particularly at the intermediate tracks.

Schedule Changes. Every year, NASCAR announces some tweaks to the Monster Energy Series schedule in the season to come. This year will likely be no different. It’s widely speculated, however, that the 2020 itinerary for NASCAR’s premier division will feature more changes than are typically introduced from one season to the next.

Look for NASCAR’s biggest adjustments to possibly come with the tracks that make up the 10-race season-ending playoff from which the champion is crowned. The 2018 playoff featured two newcomers – Las Vegas Motor Speedway and a road course, the ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

3

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PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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TAILGATING

PRESENTED BY

Tailgating with Harry Wiley

H

arry Wiley loves tailgating and camping at NASCAR events, like few others. The ultimate testament of his passion is simply how long he’s been doing it.

For 53 years, Wiley has tailgated and camped NASCAR-style. While Wiley, who lives in Johnson City, Tennessee, has naturally tailgated more at nearby Bristol Motor Speedway than any other track, it’s another track – Charlotte Motor Speedway – that won his heart long ago.

Wiley’s memories from four decades of tailgating and camping at Charlotte Motor Speedway include marrying his wife, Judy, in May at the track several years ago; deep frying turkey in ankle-deep rain water; repairing the vehicle of a first-time camper in the Fourth Turn Campground; and entertaining special campsite guests such as legendary former Charlotte Motor Speedway promoter H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler.

“Honoring our veterans with campsite decorations each year is also a high

blessing,” Wiley said. “There have been many wounded warriors, Purple Heart recipients, active and retired veterans, and campers stopping to salute our veterans.”

Ollie, the man Wiley helped with the car repair, is now a friend for life.

“This act of kindness was the beginning of our annual potluck dinner for our immediate group of friends,” Wiley said.

Appropriately, the campers at Charlotte Motor Speedway decided about 12 years ago to make Wiley the honorary mayor of the Fourth Turn Campground, presenting him a wooden sign and iron stand in a dedication church service where numerous campers were present.

“Tailgating and camping at Charlotte Motor Speedway is the biggest blessing of my life,” Wiley said. “At the end of the day, life is about being happy and being who you are, and I feel like we are so blessed to have such great friends and be able to camp and help people all the time and enjoy life’s blessings.”

MUST-HAVE GEAR

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atching your favorite driver win the Daytona 500 is a memory that will last a lifetime. Watching your favorite driver win the Daytona 500 for the second time is a memory you should quite literally take with you. That’s now possible for Denny Hamlin fans, thanks to the Denny Hamlin WinCraft 2019 Daytona 500 Champion 12-ounce Can Cooler available for purchase in the NASCAR Superstore at NASCAR.com. The can cooler, or koozie, is priced at $5.99 and features a smiling Hamlin holding up two fingers – for his two Daytona 500 wins – in Victory Lane after the 2019 running of The Great American Race. The 100 percent polyester koozies are made in the USA.

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POLE POSITION 2019

Q&A WITH HARRY WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE DRIVER? Neil Bonnett – He was a down-to-earth person.

RESIDENCE AND AGE Johnson City, Tennessee; 72.

OCCUPATION? Army man and mechanic; now retired after 35 years as solid surface fabricator.

WHERE WAS YOUR FIRST TAILGATE? 1965 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

AT WHAT TRACKS HAVE YOU TAILGATED? Atlanta Motor Speedway (6 times), Rockingham (6 times), North Wilkesboro (6 times), Darlington Raceway (8 times), Martinsville Speedway (8 times), Bristol Motor Speedway (53 years) and Charlotte Motor Speedway (40 years).

WHO HAVE YOU TAILGATED WITH THROUGH THE YEARS? Dwayne (deceased), Ken and Debbie, Ollie and Kathy, Pam and Charlie, and many, many more all met through camping and racing.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE TAILGATING FOODS AND BEVERAGES? Deep-fried turkey, Coca-Cola and margaritas.

WHAT ARE YOUR ESSENTIALS? American flag and pole, chairs, canopies, a portable bar with stools and campsite decorations.

TAILGATING

RECIPES HARRY WILEY AND HIS WIFE, JUDY, have been tailgating long enough to know that no tailgate is complete without an array of fun eats and treats. Following are two recipes that have been staples of the Wileys’ tailgates over the years: DEEP FRIED APPLE SLICES ■■ Granny Smith Apples peeled, cut in half and sliced 1/4 inch ■■ Favorite pancake mix ■■ 1/2 cup of sugar ■■ 2 tablespoons of cinnamon ■■ Combine all dry ingredients and coat apple slices ■■ Heat oil to 350 ■■ Drop in apple slices, cook until golden brown “We usually do the apples when frying pickles and onion rings,” Harry said. “The apples are loved because they are healthy and a little different.”

BROCCOLI SALAD ■■ 3 tablespoons sugar ■■ 2 tablespoons vinegar ■■ 1 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise ■■ 1/2 cup Craisins ■■ 1/2 cup shelled sunflower seeds ■■ 7 cups broccoli florets, chopped ■■ 8 slices bacon cooked and crumbled In a large bowl, integrate mayonnaise, Craisins, sugar and vinegar. Add broccoli and stir to coat. Cover and sit back inside the refrigerator for a minimum of two hours or as much as 24 hours. Before serving, stir in sunflower seeds.

BY JARED TURNER

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NASCAR BUILDS

FINISH STRONG WITH FORNEY PRESENTED BY

Fuel Cells: A Vital Safety Component

T

here is one very important part of today’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series machines that race fans rarely see.

In addition to the engine, chassis, tires, wheels and body, each vehicle is equipped with a fuel cell, a rectangular tank located in the rear that stores gasoline. Much like gas tanks on passenger vehicles, NASCAR fuel cells are equipped with safety features that keep them from exploding during crashes.

NASCAR’s definition of a fuel cell from its media guide reads: “A holding tank for a race car’s supply of gasoline. It consists of a metal box that contains a flexible, tear-resistant bladder and foam baffling.

A product of aerospace technology, it’s designed to eliminate or minimize fuel spillage.”

Each NASCAR-mandated fuel cell holds approximately 18.5 gallons of gasoline. The maximum outside dimension of the fuel cell container must be 33 inches in width by 17 inches in depth and eight inches in height.

The technology was developed in 1964 following the death of Glen “Fireball” Roberts due to burns he suffered in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and the massive fire during the opening lap of the Indianapolis 500 that claimed the lives of Eddie Sachs and Dave MacDonald.

Following those wrecks, executives from the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. began designing a fuel tank based on those used in aircraft during World War II. The new design contained a rubber seal or pouch where fuel could be contained without the fear of a spark setting off an explosion.

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Had Roberts, Sachs and MacDonald had the fuel cells of today 55 years ago, they would have been protected from the danger of fire.

Jimmy Makar, senior vice president of racing operations for Joe Gibbs Racing, has been a NASCAR crew chief and team manager since the mid-1980s.

He has seen firsthand many innovations that have kept drivers safe on the track and crew members safe on pit road.

“Basically, the fuel tank used in racing during the old days was just that, a metal fuel tank,” Makar explained. “So if you were ever in a wreck that punctured the tank, it would leak fuel onto the ground and with a spark, would potentially cause a fire. It was more common back in the day before the fuel cell was invented.

“But basically a fuel cell is very simple. It’s a rubber bladder that’s inside a metal container. Instead of the tank holding the fuel you have a rubber bladder holding the fuel, protecting it from a spark. The bladder is designed in such a way that it’s very hard to puncture.

There’s a lot of technology built into it to keep it from being punctured. That keeps the fuel from spilling.”

In addition, Makar notes another feature that prevents gasoline from pouring out if the cell is inverted or becomes detached from the car.

“There’s a valve with a ball at the top so if the car turns over in a crash, the fuel can’t run out the fuel fill line and spill, and potentially cause a problem.”

Makar said. “The ball will seal it off and keep fuel from coming out of the gas fill neck. All of the fuel cells have a specific spec they must meet as far as size and design to run in NASCAR.”

FOR OVER 80 YEARS, Forney Industries has delighted customers with top of the line metalworking products. When it comes to abrasives no one makes them quite like Forney, and the newest addition to Forney’s abrasive line is no exception. Strip and Finish Discs are made with purple fiber webbing adhered to a fiberglass backing, which makes them perfect for intense finishing projects.

What’s more, the heavy-duty quality of these discs allows them to last longer and endure more wear and tear.

Forney’s Strip and Finish Discs feature an open web design that helps disperse heat and reduce warp lines, burning and discoloration.

This design also allows air to flow through the wheel, which prevents build-up and increases the cutting effectiveness throughout the life of the disc.

Robin Lang, Senior Product Line Manager for Abrasives at Forney Industries adds, “The open web design provides cooler removal and won’t clog. This also reduces the risk of gouging or cutting into the base metal surface like you would with a traditional sanding disc.”

Safety is important to Forney, that’s why the discs are designed to protect the user and others in the workplace. “These wheels are safer than wire brushes as they are made of nonwoven fiber, so it reduces the risk of injury from loose flying wires,” Lang adds.

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“I remember Richard Petty borrowed some fourinch wide gray duct tape from my dad and uncle, Glen and Leonard, during the 1968 Daytona 500,” said Len Wood of Wood Brothers Racing. “That year,

40

POLE POSITION 2019

they ran a black vinyl top on their Plymouth but the wind got under it and started making it peel back.”

Veteran crewman Tom McCrimmon of Joe Gibbs Racing has seen multi-colored tape used in numerous ways around the garage area during the past three decades.

“We depend on racers’ tape for patching and also on car grilles for cooling purposes,” McCrimmon said. “The grille is taped to regulate water temperature during the race, but crews can pull tape or add tape as the race goes on. We make patches of racer’s tape before each race and stick them to the pit box or pit wall. We can repair a hole pretty quickly with patches or what’s called Bear Bond. We couldn’t race without it.”

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ires and wheels are routinely bolted to the hubs of the machines that compete in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series. Essentially, tires are the most important part of every vehicle on the track.

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Many times, winning and losing comes down to tires and how well they perform in the heat of battle.

Jim Bender, tire specialist for the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet driven by Daniel Hemric, uses a special tire gauge to monitor air being added to and taken out of each tire.

“It’s a little bit more than just a regular air gauge,” Bender said.

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NASCAR National Series

Driver Profiles With the NASCAR season off and running, learn more more about five of the sport’s brightest stars, and get to know Daniel Hemric, Daniel Suarez, William Byron, John Hunter Nemechek and Corey LaJoie – drivers who have great reason for optimism and are looking to take their careers to the next level in 2019.

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

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DRIVER PROFILES 5 THINGS ABOUT

PRE S E N T E D BY

Chase Elliott 1

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Along with being the son of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Bill Elliott, Chase Elliott is the nephew of legendary NASCAR engine builder and crew chief, Ernie Elliott – Bill’s brother.

Over 12 years of serving as Bill’s crew chief, Ernie led his sibling to 33 NASCAR premier series wins, along with 39 poles, in 279 starts. Ernie was also Bill’s crew chief in 1988, the year Bill INFO captured his lone championship. Today, an Ernie OWNER RICK HENDRICK Elliott-built engine holds the NASCAR premier series qualifying record of 212.809 mph set by TEAM HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS Bill at Talladega in 1987.

SPONSORS Chase Elliott is a man of multiple names. The NAPA, MOUNTAIN DEW, Dawsonville, Georgia, driver’s formal, full name KELLEY BLUE BOOK, HOOTERS is William Clyde Elliott II. His nickname – at least according to Dale Earnhardt Jr. – is “Young Elvis.”

MANUFACTURER CHEVROLET Elliott, however, isn’t a fan of the moniker given to CREW CHIEF him by his former Hendrick Motorsports teammate.

ALAN GUSTAFSON “I think he needs to retire from giving nicknames,” the second-generation driver said. “For some reason, he’s always thought I look like Elvis, and I really don’t know why. I know he’s got a little bit of an obsession for Elvis.”

Elliott’s first foray in NASCAR came in 2011 when he signed a driverdevelopment deal with powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports at the age of 15.

Competing in the NASCAR K&N Series, Elliott captured his first career NASCAR victory the following year at Iowa Speedway.

Elliott followed that up with an impressive 2013 campaign, posting his first ARCA Menards Series victory at Pocono Raceway to become the youngest superspeedway winner in series history at age 17. He later became the youngest pole winner in NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series history by qualifying first at Bristol.

Elliott’s hometown of Dawsonville, Georgia, is a NASCAR hotbed.

In addition to Chase’s father, Bill, hailing from the rural Georgia town, several other Dawsonville natives have gone on to make names for themselves in the sport.

These drivers include the original “Dawsonville Gang” of four – Gober Sosebee, Roy Hall, Lloyd Seay and Bernard Long — who won races on Daytona’s beach/road course from 1941-1959.

In addition, 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Raymond Parks was a Dawsonville native who owned the race car with which Red Byron won the inaugural championship in NASCAR’s premier series.

Elliott’s long list of off-track hobbies includes snowboarding, wakeboarding, dirt bikes, fitness training, flying and following the Atlanta Braves baseball team. “I love being on the lake, riding dirt bikes, being outdoors,” he said.

Elliott supports his home state Georgia Bulldogs in college football and enjoys country music, especially country artist Eric Church. In addition to being “big into summertime sports,” Elliott likes spending winters in Colorado where he pursues his passion for snowboarding. “We try to have fun when we’re not at the race track,” he said.

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POLE POSITION 2019

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Kyle Busch 1

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It doesn’t seem like a stretch to say Kyle Busch was born to race. After all, he unofficially began driving at age 6, when he cruised around the culde-sac of his family’s Las Vegas neighborhood in a makeshift go-kart.

Busch was too small to reach the pedals, but that didn’t stop him from picking up the basics. His father, INFO Tom, worked the throttle on the engine while Busch OWNER steered the kart on the street. Once Busch was tall JOE GIBBS enough to reach the pedals, an accelerated pace was TEAM set for his future career in motorsports.

JOE GIBBS RACING Busch has won at all but one track currently SPONSORS on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series M&M’S, SKITTLES, INTERSTATE BATTERIES schedule. The lone track where the Joe Gibbs Racing driver hasn’t prevailed – the ROVAL at Charlotte Motor MANUFACTURER TOYOTA Speedway – has only been raced on once by NASCAR’s CREW CHIEF premier series.

ADAM STEVENS In addition to amassing more than 50 victories in NASCAR’s premier division, Busch is the all-time wins leader in both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series. As of press time, Busch was nearing a landmark 200 wins among NASCAR’s three major divisions.

Busch’s run to the 2015 Monster Energy Series championship was anything but conventional. After suffering major foot and leg injuries in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on the eve of the Daytona 500, Busch missed nearly one third of the Monster Energy Series season but returned earlier than initially expected.

Granted a medical waiver by NASCAR that allowed him to be eligible for the playoffs despite sitting out 11 races, Busch went on to capture a remarkable five wins on the way to an unlikely championship that culminated with a victory in the season-ending race at Homestead.

It might feel like Busch has been with Joe Gibbs Racing forever, but he actually began his NASCAR career with Hendrick Motorsports, scoring four premier series wins for the organization from 2005-2007.

As a rookie with Hendrick in 2005, he won twice on the way to capturing rookie-of-the-year honors. Busch’s best Monster Energy Series points finish with the organization came in his final year with the Hendrick camp when he placed fifth in the standings.

Busch also won 11 races for Hendrick in what is now the NASCAR Xfinity Series, finishing second in the standings in 2004.

After facing their own struggles with infertility and undergoing an in vitro fertilization procedure that led to the birth of their first child, son Brexton, Busch and his wife, Samantha, started The Samantha and Kyle Busch Bundle of Joy Fund, which is dedicated to advocating for infertility education and awareness and removing financial barriers by granting monetary awards to couples who require fertility treatments to have their own bundle of joy. These funds assist with the costs associated with infertility treatment through the REACH Clinic of Charlotte, North Carolina.

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In 2006, Jimmie Johnson and his wife, Chandra, launched the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, which is dedicated to helping children, families and communities in need. It focuses on funding K-12 public education, primarily through the Jimmie Johnson Foundation/Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Champions Grant program and the annual Helmet of Hope initiative.

Grants have been awarded nationwide to INFO hundreds of school projects focused on science OWNER and technology, health and fitness programs, RICK HENDRICK trade-based programs, school improvements, TEAM language and literary programs, and the arts. To HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS date, more than $11 million has been contribSPONSOR ALLY FINANCIAL uted to various organizations.

Hours after winning his sixth championship, MANUFACTURER CHEVROLET Johnson was the first athlete to co-host CREW CHIEF ESPN’s flagship news show, “SportsCenter.” He KEVIN MEENDERING has been a guest on many talk shows, including “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America” and “Ellen.”

Johnson made a cameo on NBC’s “Superstore” and was a presenter at the 51st annual Country Music Association Awards. He has appeared as himself numerous times in scripted series, including on Nickelodeon’s animated “Bubble Guppies.”

Growing up in the working class town of El Cajon, California, just outside San Diego, Johnson began his racing career on 50cc motorcycles at the age of 5. His father, Gary, worked for a tire company while mother, Cathy, drove a school bus.

At the age of 8, Johnson won a 60cc class local track championship despite suffering a severe knee injury with several races remaining and finishing the season in a cast. From motorcycles, Johnson graduated to the Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group Stadium Racing Series, where he had even more success.

Before reaching NASCAR’s premier series in 2002, Johnson enjoyed success in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, running a full schedule for team owners Stan and Randy Herzog from 1998-2001. He racked up 24 top-10 finishes and his first career NASCAR win at Chicagoland Speedway in 2001. But midway through the season he received news that his sponsor would not return and the team would potentially fold. Concerned about his future, Johnson made the bold move of introducing himself to Jeff Gordon, who ultimately helped him land a NASCAR premier series ride at Hendrick Motorsports.

Johnson married the former Chandra Janway in 2004 and is a father to daughters Genevieve Marie and Lydia Norriss. He has a vested interest in art and photography, as Chandra owns SOCO Art Gallery in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the family resides.

Johnson is also a partner in Charlotte-based restaurant SouthBound, which opened in 2017 and features authentic, made-from-scratch Mexican street food with a Southern California twist.

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DRIVER PROFILES 5 THINGS ABOUT

PRE S E N T E D BY

Kurt Busch 1

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Kurt Busch is one of NASCAR’s most versatile drivers, having competed in everything from the NHRA to Rally cars to sport cars to open-wheel Indy cars.

Busch’s most impressive non-NASCAR feat came in the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500, where he finished sixth in a cameo appearance for Andretti Autosport. Later that day, Busch competed in NASCAR’s longest race – the INFO Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. By OWNER running both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600, CHIP GANASSI Busch became just the fourth driver to pull off TEAM the rare “double” on Memorial Day weekend.

CHIP GANASSI RACING Busch has raced for more NASCAR teams SPONSOR MONSTER ENERGY than any driver currently competing in the sport’s premier series. After starting his MANUFACTURER CHEVROLET Cup Series career with Roush Fenway Racing CREW CHIEF in 2000, Busch joined the powerhouse Team MATT MCCALL Penske organization in 2006 and remained there through 2011.

In 2012, he joined Phoenix Racing where he spent just one season before joining Furniture Row Racing in 2013. After a lone season at Furniture Row, Busch joined Stewart-Haas Racing, where he spent five seasons prior to moving into his current ride for the 2019 season at Chip Ganassi Racing.

Busch has a royal connection thanks to his wife, Ashley Van Metre, who is both an accomplished polo player and model. Last summer, Busch and his bride traveled to Great Britain and spent an afternoon with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Ashley and Prince Harry played on the same team in the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club in Windsor. They were playing at a fundraiser for Harry’s charity, Sentebale, which helps young people affected by HIV. Despite being from Las Vegas, Busch is a lifelong fan of the Chicago Cubs and has had the opportunity to practice with the team, throw out the first pitch at Cubs games, and lead the crowd at historic Wrigley Field in a rendition of “Take Me Out to The Ballgame.”

His Cubs connection is personal. “Both my mom and dad were born in the Chicago area,” Busch said. “My grandfather lived downtown and was a big Chicago Cubs fan. I remember growing up and going to his house and seeing all of his Cubs stuff.”

Busch has competed against younger brother Kyle for most of his NASCAR career, but on one special night in 2012, the siblings teamed up – and ended up celebrating together in Victory Lane.

Making a cameo appearance for Kyle Busch Motorsports, Kurt won a NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Richmond Raceway, edging local favorite Denny Hamlin.

“I’ve driven for guys like (Roger) Penske and (Jack) Roush, but when you’re driving for a guy named Busch, you’ve got to be on it, and I was glad to be able to deliver,” Kurt said.

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Martin Truex Jr. 1

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A notable item missing from Martin Truex Jr.’s impressive NASCAR résumé is a victory in the Daytona 500, a race he has entered 14 times.

In 2016, Truex came painfully close to winning The Great American Race when he finished second to Denny Hamlin by .010 seconds – the narrowest margin of victory in Daytona 500 history. Truex has also never won the July Monster Energy Series INFO race at Daytona but likewise has a best finish of OWNER second – coming in the summer of 2018 when he JOE GIBBS followed Erik Jones to the finish line.

TEAM Prior to moving to NASCAR’s premier series, JOE GIBBS RACING Truex Jr. won back-to-back NASCAR Xfinity SPONSORS Series titles in 2004 and 2005, driving for the AUTO-OWNERS INSURANCE, BASS PRO SHOPS now-extinct Chance 2 Motorsports team co-owned by his good friend, Dale Earnhardt Jr. MANUFACTURER TOYOTA In both of those championship seasons, Truex CREW CHIEF carried primary sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops, COLE PEARN which continues to support him today as a primary sponsor in his first season at Joe Gibbs Racing.

“His spirit and passion for hunting and fishing make him a great ambassador for Bass Pro and the outdoors,” Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris said.

In 2010, Truex Jr.’s girlfriend, Sherry Pollex, asked him how he would feel about hosting a fashion show to raise money for pediatric cancer. Pollex had a friend whose daughter had been diagnosed with a rare stage II Neuroblastoma at age 3. After seeing the struggles a family endures when a child has cancer, Catwalk for a Cause was born.

“We began in a country club with 50 guests and now we are up to over 600,” Pollex said. “It’s still hard to imagine how far we’ve come – raising $7,000 our first night to $600,000 in 2018.”

Even though Truex Jr. has been one of the Monster Energy Series’ most consistent frontrunners in recent seasons, life hasn’t always been so good. In his first nine seasons as a full-time driver in NASCAR’s premier series, Truex won just twice. In fact, prior to qualifying for the Championship 4 in 2015, Truex had never finished in the top 10 in points. The low point of Truex’s career came at the end of 2013 when he was left without a ride at Michael Waltrip Racing after primary sponsor NAPA decided to move on.

The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation was founded in 2007 by Truex and Pollex. The foundation exists through the generosity of donors, partners and corporate sponsors passionate about the organization’s mission to support underfunded cancer initiatives specific to ovarian and childhood cancers, and assist the individuals and families affected by them.

“I feel very fortunate that Sherry and I are in the position to give back to our community through the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation,” Truex said.

“I am humbled by the amount of support we have received.”

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5 THINGS ABOUT

Daniel Hemric 1

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When Daniel Hemric was 5 years old, he went karting for the first time after discovering a small go-kart track at Concord Motorsports Park, just a few miles from home.

Hemric jumped in a full-fledged go-kart for the first time in 1996 and over the next seven or eight years competed almost every weekend – usually multiple times a weekend. Hemric’s first go-kart race at the state INFO level was at Charlotte Motor Speedway on a dirt track OWNER RICHARD CHILDRESS designed especially for karting. He went on to compete nationally from 1998 up through the early 2000s.

TEAM RICHARD CHILDRESS Hemric is married to the former Kenzie Ruston, RACING who he met through racing. Kenzie, who hasn’t SPONSORS been involved in competitive racing for several years, CATERPILLAR, ALSCO, LIBERTY NATIONAL competed full time in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East from 2013-2015, scoring no wins but a total of 17 MANUFACTURER CHEVROLET top-10 finishes – including seven top-five results. She CREW CHIEF also made four ARCA Menards Series starts in 2011, LUKE LAMBERT recording two top-10 finishes. The couple tied the knot in Jamaica in January 2017.

“I don’t ‘feel’ like the luckiest man in the world. I ‘am’ the luckiest man in the world,” Hemric tweeted at the time.

Hemric is a native of Kannapolis, North Carolina — the same mill town where the late, legendary Dale Earnhardt grew up. Earnhardt, of course, spent his most successful NASCAR seasons with Richard Childress Racing, the Welcome, North Carolina-based organization for which Hemric is now competing as a Monster Energy Series rookie. RCR is owned and was founded by 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Richard Childress.

“Growing up in Kannapolis, it was all about racing,” said Hemric. “I always dreamed of having the opportunity to drive for RCR and for Richard himself.”

Hemric’s No. 8 car carries special significance because of its connection to three generations of Earnhardts – Ralph, Dale and Dale Jr. – all from his hometown of Kannapolis, North Carolina. Most recently raced by Earnhardt Jr. during his nine seasons at Dale Earnhardt Inc., the No. 8 was also the number that Dale Earnhardt campaigned for his NASCAR premier series debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1975.

Before Dale Earnhardt drove the No. 8 car, Ralph Earnhardt utilized the number during the 1950s as he began building his family’s racing legacy on the local short tracks around North Carolina.

Before joining Richard Childress Racing and spending two full seasons in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Hemric drove two full seasons in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, the latter with Brad Keselowski Racing. In 2010, Hemric snared the largest paycheck in Legend Car history when he won the inaugural Legends Millions race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the largest one-of-a-kind grassroots event featuring more than 300 entries. The titles kept coming for Hemric with Summer Shootout Series and Champion Racing Association JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour championships in 2012 and in 2013, respectively.

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DRIVER PROFILES

PRE S E N T E D BY

William Byron Most Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers don’t get the opportunity in just their second season to join forces with a legendary crew chief who is bound for future enshrinement in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

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William Byron has such an opportunity this season with new crew chief Chad Knaus.

A winner of seven Monster Energy Series titles over 17 seasons atop the No. 48 pit box of Jimmie Johnson, Knaus was reassigned by team owner Rick Hendrick to call the shots for Byron’s No. 24 team in 2019 while still remaining part of the Hendrick Motorsports organization where he’s spent his entire career.

To say Byron and Knaus are excited to be paired up is an understatement, especially considering Byron had a disappointing rookie campaign in which he was unable to win a race or make the playoffs, while Knaus stumbled through his toughest season ever with Johnson.

“He’s exciting to work with,” Byron said of Knaus, whose intense personality is well known in the NASCAR garage. “He’s super-into anything racing related, whether it’s car related or driver-related. He’s helped me a lot with a lot of things I didn’t really expect him to really care about that much. He cares about me as a person. That builds a level of trust and respect between us. It’s still very fresh and very new of a relationship. We worked a lot in the offseason to make sure it’s the way it should be.”

FAVORITE THING IRACING PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN HELPING WILLIAM Byron reach NASCAR’s big leagues. Where would be without it? “I’d probably be sitting behind a desk at a school somewhere,” he said.

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MORE THAN CHECKERED FLAGS ALONG WITH BEING A full-time Monster Energy Series driver, 21-year-old William Byron continues to pursue a degree at Liberty University, where he currently has junior status. Not surprisingly, trying to juggle racing with academics poses its challenges.

“It’s tough,” Byron said.

“Liberty does a good job of kind of helping me with that. Honestly, I kind of do the work during the week, get it knocked out of the way before I get to the track.”

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DRIVER PROFILES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Daniel Suarez As a NASCAR Xfinity Series competitor, Daniel Suarez made history in 2016 by becoming the first Mexicoborn driver to win a NASCAR national series race. Later that same year, Suarez made history again by becoming the first Mexico native to capture a NASCAR Xfinity Series title.

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This season, Suarez hopes to make history a third time – by becoming the first Mexican to win a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race and reach the Monster Energy Series playoffs. The good news is Suarez believes he’s in the perfect place to do exactly that.

Hired by Stewart-Haas Racing during the offseason to drive SHR’s No. 41 Ford Mustang, Suarez has taken over a car that won at least one race in each of the past five seasons with now-former SHR driver Kurt Busch behind the wheel. He’s also competing for an organization that won a total of 12 races in 2018 as all four SHR drivers made it to Victory Lane and into the playoffs.

“This is definitely a huge opportunity,” said Suarez, who went winless in two Monster Energy Series seasons with Joe Gibbs Racing. “It’s a wonderful opportunity that I believe happens once in a lifetime. To have the opportunity to join a topcaliber organization like Stewart-Haas Racing with great bosses, Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, and get an opportunity to work with great teammates Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer and Aric Almirola is gonna be a lot of fun to learn from these guys and learn together.”

FAVORITE THING WHEN JOE GIBBS Racing parted ways with Suarez, he wasn’t shocked or demoralized. He simply went out and found a ride with an another elite organization in StewartHaas Racing.

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FEELS RIGHT AT HOME IN JOINING STEWART-HAAS Racing, Daniel Suarez found an organization where not one of his three teammates – Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer or Aric Almirola – is even remotely unfamiliar to him.

“I have known Kevin since I was racing in the Xfinity Series,” Suarez said. “It’s something similar with Clint. I know that we’ve always had good conversations, so we have had communication in the past. With Aric, I’ve had maybe the most. We ride bicycles together sometimes and we’re good friends.”

Corey LaJoie

32

A third-generation racer, Corey LaJoie is carrying on a family tradition that began with his grandfather, Don LaJoie – a member of the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame alongside Corey’s father, Randy LaJoie, who won NASCAR Xfinity Series championships in 1996 and 1997.

Corey LaJoie, who is in his first full season of competition in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, has an impressive racing résumé that includes six wins in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and three wins in the ARCA Menards Series.

He competed as a Monster Energy Series rookie in 2017, earning a career best finish of 11th at Daytona International Speedway in July.

In 2018, he moved to TriStar Motorsports to drive the No. 72 car part time, earning a season best finish of 16th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

LaJoie is excited to have the opportunity to go full-time Monster Energy Series racing this season with Go FAS Racing, owned by Archie St. Hilaire.

“I’ve always respected Archie, Mason (St. Hilaire, team manager) and Go FAS Racing for constantly building their race team better year after year,” LaJoie said. “I’m glad to be a part of that continued growth for 2019 and look forward to showing more of my potential.”

The team is happy to have LaJoie on board.

“Corey is a driver we’ve kept our eyes on for several years, and he’s impressed and delivered when given the opportunity,” Mason St. Hilaire said.

“We think he’s a great fit for our program.”

FAVORITE THING Corey LaJoie is a newlywed, having tied the knot with his now wife, Kelly, on New Year’s Eve 2018.

“I get to marry my best friend today. That is all,” he tweeted on his wedding day.

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MOVING ON UP COREY LAJOIE WAS SELECTED as a member of the 2012 NASCAR NEXT Class, an industry initiative to help spotlight NASCAR’s top rising stars and bolster fan recognition around talent that will grow into Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series mainstays. He was in the same class as fellow standout drivers Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney.

LaJoie grew up working in his family’s business, The Joie of Seating, which is the only race seat company with seats designed and manufactured by a professional race car driver.

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DRIVER PROFILES

PRE S E N T E D BY

John Hunter Nemechek

23

After a successful part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule in 2018 with Chip Ganassi Racing, John Hunter Nemechek got promoted to full-time status for this season – albeit with a different team.

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Nemechek, the son of longtime NASCAR premier series driver Joe Nemechek, was tapped by GMS Racing to drive the organization’s No. 23 Chevrolet in NASCAR’s No. 2 division.

GMS Racing, owned by Allegiant Air CEO Maury Gallagher Jr., also fields multiple entries in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series where it claimed the 2016 title with Johnny Sauter. The organization hopes to replicate its Truck Series success in the Xfinity Series with Nemechek — a second-generation driver who as a part-time series driver with Ganassi a year ago collected one win (Kansas Speedway), six top-five finishes, 11 top-10 results and one pole award (ISM Raceway).

GMS dabbled in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with multiple drivers last season after running a full Xfinity Series campaign in 2017 with the owner’s son, Spencer Gallagher, who scored the team’s first Xfinity Series victory at Talladega Superspeedway in the spring of 2018.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity that Mr. (Maury) Gallagher and the entire GMS Racing organization has presented to me to be able to run full time in 2019,” Nemechek said. “The results that GMS Racing showed last year in their NASCAR Xfinity Series program were impressive. Their goal is to create a championship-caliber team, like their Truck Series program, and I believe that we can achieve that goal in the 2019 season.”

FAVORITE THING A DOG-LOVER, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK IS THE PROUD owner of a 3-year-old Golden Doodle named Layla, a 3-year-old Charcoal Lab named Tucker and a 1-year-old black lab named Nyx.

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OWNER MAURY GALLAGHER JR. TEAM GMS RACING

SPONSORS FIRE ALARM SERVICES, ALLEGIANT MANUFACTURER CHEVROLET CREW CHIEF CHAD NORRIS

MAKING AN IMPRESSION WHILE JOHN HUNTER NEMechek’s win as a part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series driver last season certainly played a role in him landing a full-time series ride for 2019, his success in the Gander Outdoors Truck Series over the past few years was equally pivotal to his promotion.

Over 94 Truck Series starts spanning from 2013 to 2018, Nemechek rang up six series victories.

“John Hunter is a wheelman,” Mike Beam, president of GMS Racing. “We are excited to have him on board.”

DRIVER IN ACTION

20 S T C FAABOUT

A N O T Y DA

0 0 5 Y N N DE n i l m a H R E N WIN

■■ Denny Hamlin struck up a friendship with NBA legend and Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan after Jordan recognized him at a Hornets game in 2010.

■■ Denny Hamlin’s full, formal name is James Dennis Alan Hamlin.

■■ In 2011, Denny Hamlin became the first NASCAR driver to sign with the Jordan Brand. Michael Jordan agreed to let Hamlin represent his brand, making it the first sneaker brand sponsorship in NASCAR since Adidas teamed with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2007.

■■ A huge basketball fan, Denny Hamlin has a full basketball court with lights and a scoreboard at his house.

■■ Denny Hamlin has had courtside seats for Charlotte Hornets (previously, Charlotte Bobcats) NBA basketball games since 2007.

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POLE POSITION 2019

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

■■ Denny Hamlin’s primary sponsor, FedEx, has been with him since his rookie Monster Energy Series season of 2006.

It’s the longest-running driver/primary sponsor relationship in the sport today.

■■ Denny Hamlin’s longtime girlfriend is Jordan Fish, a former dancer for the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats (now known as the Hornets).

■■ Denny Hamlin owns more Monster Energy Series wins – five – at Martinsville Speedway than at any other track.

■■ Denny Hamlin was born on Nov. 18, 1980, in Tampa, Florida, and grew up in Chesterfield, Virginia, just outside of Richmond. He considers Richmond Raceway his home track.

■■ Denny Hamlin’s favorite sports teams are the Charlotte Hornets (NBA), Virginia Tech Hokies (college football) and the Washington Redskins (NFL).

■■ Denny Hamlin’s hobbies include golf, playing basketball, boating, traveling, skiing and playing cards.

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

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DRIVER IN ACTION

■■ In 2006, Denny Hamlin became the first rookie in NASCAR history to qualify for the Monster Energy Series playoffs.

■■ Denny Hamlin founded the Denny Hamlin Foundation, which is committed to raising awareness and funds for the specific needs of children with cystic fibrosis. As such, the foundation partners with organizations that focus on cystic fibrosis research, treatment advances and overall quality of life care.

■■ Denny Hamlin’s parents – Mary Lou and Dennis – are proud supporters of their son and made great financial sacrifices for him to pursue his racing dreams.

■■ Denny Hamlin is the father of two daughters: Taylor James Hamlin (born Jan. 20, 2013) and Molly Gold Hamlin (born Aug. 15, 2017).

■■ Denny Hamlin has worked with five crew chiefs during his Monster Energy Series career: Mike Ford (2005-2011), Darian Grubb (2012-2014), Dave Rogers (2015), Mike Wheeler (2016-2018) and Chris Gabehart (2019-present).

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POLE POSITION 2019

■■ Denny Hamlin has won in all three of NASCAR’s major divisions: the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series.

■■ Denny Hamlin spent two full seasons in what is now the NASCAR Xfinity Series, competing in both 2005 and 2006.

In 2006, he drove the full season in both the Xfinity Series and the Monster Energy Series.

■■ Denny Hamlin is one of only two active full-time drivers with two Daytona 500 wins. Jimmie Johnson is the other.

■■ Denny Hamlin’s first Daytona 500 win, which came when he beat Martin Truex Jr. by .01 seconds in 2016, represents the closest margin of victory in Daytona 500 history.

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

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WOMEN OF NASCAR

Jamie Little

PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN FOX’S NASCAR COVERAGE

PRESENTED BY

A

veteran motorsports reporter and TV personality, Jamie Little joined FOX Sports’ NASCAR team in 2015 to cover pit road during Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series races.

Her duties with FOX have spanned well beyond the place where she was initially hired to spend her time, however.

Since becoming part of the FOX NASCAR team, Little has taken on additional roles that most notably include being a reporter for “NASCAR RaceDay” – FOX Sports’ popular prerace show for the Monster Energy Series.

“FOX is an amazing place to work because they give you opportunity,” Little said. “You can ask for opportunity; they’ll give it to you. They hand you something that maybe you didn’t even know you wanted to do, and I had that happen.”

Little’s other assignments at FOX have included select races and special events, such as her debut as a pit reporter for the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2017, and hosting duties for FOX Sports’ Supercross coverage and FS1’s popular “NASCAR Race Hub” show that airs weeknights on the cable network affiliate to FOX. “While her versatility is remarkable, her ability to think on her feet and report not only the news but also the sport’s humaninterest stories, with a down-to-earth presentation, make her a perfect fit for FOX,” said John Entz, FOX Sports’ former president of production.

Prior to joining FOX, Little spent 13 years at ESPN/ABC as a reporter for NASCAR (2007-’14), IndyCar (2004-’14) and telecasts of the Winter and Summer X Games. She began her television career in 2002 as a reporter for ESPN after graduating from San Diego State University, where she earned a journalism degree.

Little, a native of South Lake Tahoe, California, has also worked for SPEED, NBC and TNN. She covered an array of motorsports events for SPEED – the forerunner to FS1 – in 2002 and 2003, including the network’s live coverage of Daytona Supercross, which marked her live national broadcasting debut.

“Of all the racing events I’ve covered in my career, one of the most special was my first-ever live national broadcast in 2002 when I covered Daytona Supercross for SPEED,” said Little, a 41-year-old married mother of two and noted philanthropist.

“At that time, most of the shows I worked were pre-packaged and tape-delayed, so being live on a national broadcast was a reporter’s dream.”

In 2004, Little became the first female pit reporter for the television broadcast of the Indianapolis 500, and in 2015, she became the first female pit reporter to cover both the Daytona 500 and the Indy 500 for network TV’s live, flag-to-flag race coverage. Little is now in her 18th year as a broadcaster.

To learn more about Little or to keep up with her work, follow her on Twitter at @JamieLittleTV.

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

TRUCK SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Moffitt Chasing Two in a Row Shortly after claiming the 2018 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series championship in surprising but impressive fashion, Brett Moffitt found himself in the extremely rare position of being a reigning champion without a ride.

He wasn’t a free agent for long, however. After being released by Hattori Racing Enterprises, Moffitt was quickly scooped up by GMS Racing – winners of the 2016 Gander Outdoors Truck Series championship with Johnny Sauter, who was let go by GMS after the 2018 season.

Now, Moffitt gets to chase a second consecutive championship with the same organization that won 13 races over the past three seasons with Sauter behind the wheel of one of its trucks. GMS, owned by Allegiant Travel Co. CEO Maury Gallagher Jr., currently fields multiple Truck Series teams and a NASCAR Xfinity Series team.

“I think the depth of the organization is just huge,” said Moffitt, who opened the season with a pair of top-five finishes in his first three starts with his new team. “They have quality equipment in all of their race teams. … Every truck they brought to the track in 2018 was top of the line. They put all their best feet forward, and as a driver, you notice that.”

GMS also clearly took notice of Moffitt, who rang up six victories a year ago on the way to capturing the championship for an underdog Hattori Racing Enterprises organization that spent 2018 competing on a shoestring budget. HRE ultimately went in a different direction with its 2019 driver choice, parting ways with Moffitt and hiring Austin Hill – a driver who could bring sponsorship.

“No matter what, looking back, at least I can say I was the 2018 Truck Series champion with six wins on the year,” Moffitt said after it was announced he would not return to HRE. “I’ll forever have that, and the people who supported me will have that.”

‘TRIPLE TRUCK CHALLENGE’ ADDS INTRIGUE TO THE 2019 NASCAR GANDER OUTDOORS TRUCK SERIES

T

he NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series will feature the “Triple Truck Challenge” this season, a bonus program that takes place at three consecutive races – Texas (June 7), Iowa (June 15) and Gateway (June 22).

All drivers earning series points are eligible and drivers who win one of the three races receive a $50,000 bonus. Winning two races nets a driver $150,000 total ($50,000 per race plus a

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POLE POSITION 2019

$50,000 bonus), while winning all three races results in a $500,000 total prize ($50,000 per race win, $50,000 bonus for winning twice, plus a $300,000 bonus for sweeping the Challenge races). Monster Energy Series and Xfinity Series drivers are not eligible to compete in the three races of the program.

“What better place could there be to ask drivers to put it all on the line than at No Limits, Texas?” Texas Motor Speedway

President/GM Eddie Gossage said. “To lay an extra $50,000 out there for these drivers to fight over further enhances what’s always the perfect opening event to our summer race weekend.”

The program is similar to NASCAR’s Dash 4 Cash in the Xfinity Series, but the difference is anyone can win. In Dash 4 Cash, only four drivers are eligible for the prize, and they have a qualifying race to identify those four challengers.

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

TRUCK SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Ross Chastain Rebounds from Disappointment

R

oss Chastain had his hands firmly around the brass ring, but it still managed to slip from his grasp. When Chastain, 26, appeared in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway media center last September, he had just hit the high note of his NASCAR Xfinity Series career. After an impressive showing at Darlington the week before, Chastain drove the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet to victory at Las Vegas.

Chastain had signed on for three races in the No. 42 and made an indelible mark in that limited sample size – enough to earn a full-time ride in the No. 42 Chevy for the 2019 season in a deal that was announced Nov. 9 at Phoenix.

During the offseason, however, the opportunity Chastain had earned with his head-turning performances fell apart abruptly and unexpectedly when sponsor DC Solar, which was to fund Chastain’s effort for the 2019 season, ran afoul of a federal investigation.

Without sponsorship, Ganassi abandoned his Xfinity Series program and the Cinderella story of the 2018 dissolved in disappointment.

“It’s part of life,” said Chastain, whose history as a Florida watermelon farmer has been well-documented. “I took a couple days when I first found out, and then a couple days at Christmas and New Year’s with my family. I got on a tractor and drove it for five days straight for our watermelon crop.

“I was jumping back and forth between tractors, working a regular job. I needed to just get on there… It was really good to just get that couple days away and then Jan. 2, back to Mooresville (N.C.) and hit the ground running.”

That’s an understatement. Chastain did triple duty on the first two race weekends of the season.

Driving for owner Jay Robinson, he posted a 10th-place finish in the Daytona 500. He started sixth and finished 13th in a Kaulig Racing Chevrolet in the Daytona Xfinity race and followed that with a 14thplace run at Atlanta in a reunion with former owner Johnny Davis.

In two Gander Outdoors Truck Series starts with Niece Motorsports, Chastain finished third at Daytona and sixth at Atlanta.

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POLE POSITION 2019

“On the No. 4 car, we’ve never had West Coast sponsors before, and we’ve got all our West Coast races filled up,” Chastain said of his ongoing effort with Davis. “That’s a big step forward. Johnny lost a lot in the offseason as well, of potential sponsorship and potential guys that were going to race for him, which ultimately worked out in my favor, where I was able to come back and race.

“That’s what a lot of those days at home were, figuring out, ‘Do I want to do this? Do I want to start over?’”

One of the yardsticks Chastain used for comparison was his brother, who is six years younger and once had aspiration to race.

“My brother is 20 years old, he’s building a house, driving a truck, working at the farm, and he’s so far ahead of where I’m at.

I’m driving a used truck. I’m renting a house in Mooresville, and it’s just different aspects of life.

“So I thought I could go to the farm with a lot lower stress – but I want to race. I want to make a go at this, and I feel like I can get back to where I was and a lot further.”

And next time, perhaps Chastain will have better luck holding onto the brass ring.

BY REID SPENCER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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

TYLER REDDICK

O

n his journey from the tiny dirt tracks of Northern California to the 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship, Tyler Reddick took the road less traveled. Instead of ascending the traditional career path of Outlaw Karts, Mini Sprints, Midgets and Sprint Cars, Reddick took a detour and ended up racing something with fenders – a dirt Late Model.

“It came down to age and what I was able to run at that time.

I was racing Mini Sprints and we were trying to run some Midgets and Sprint Cars, but I wasn’t old enough to race a Midget or Sprint Car,” said Reddick. “So after running Sprint Cars for about a summer in Indiana, we shifted to Late Models.”

Reddick was only 15 when he started making noise in the Late Model ranks and his transition to pavement racing started after he caught the attention of NASCAR veteran and fellow dirt racer Ken Schrader.

Proving that Schrader has an eye for talent, Reddick drove a Ken Schrader Racing entry to victory in his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series start during the series’ 2012 visit to legendary Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina.

Six years later, Reddick claimed the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship in a JR Motorsports Chevrolet. This season, the 23-year-old racer from Corning, California, is driving for Richard Childress Racing in an effort to defend his title.

HARRISON BURTON Harrison Burton, the 18-year-old son of former NASCAR driver and current NBC analyst Jeff Burton, is one of NASCAR’s brightest young stars as he enters his first full season in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series.

Burton was only 2 years old when he started driving a go-kart, and he was wheeling a quarter-midget just two years later. He was racing a Late Model by the time he was 11 and his first Super Late Model victory came in 2014.

The second-generation racer from Huntersville, North Carolina, was 16 years old when he won five races en route to the 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship. He’s also a two-time winner in the ARCA Racing Series.

Burton made 15 Truck Series starts for Kyle Busch Motorsports during the previous three seasons, posting seven top-10 finishes.

“Harrison has done a great job of balancing being a high school student, as well as a student of racing since making his first Truck Series start for KBM shortly after turning 16 a few years ago,” team owner Kyle Busch said. “The results of his hard work are starting to pay dividends and we’re confident that his first Truck Series win will be coming shortly and he’ll be able to be in the mix for the championship.”

This season, Burton is driving the No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass Toyota for KBM.

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POLE POSITION 2019

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CREW SPOTLIGHT MILES STANLEY ENGINEERING LOGANO’S VICTORIES

WINNING THE 2018 CHAMPIONSHIP WAS PRETTY AWESOME AND HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS. EVERYONE IN THIS SPORT KNOWS HOW MUCH EFFORT, SACRIFICE AND WORK GOES INTO EVERYTHING THAT WE DO TO WIN IT. THOSE THAT HAVE WON CHAMPIONSHIPS HAVE DEVOTED THEIR WHOLE LIVES TO DOING IT. IT’S INDESCRIBABLE.”

Miles Stanley, race engineer for Team Penske and driver Joey Logano, was introduced to NASCAR through watching races on television with his dad as a young child.

From an early age, he spent time turning wrenches on bicycles and virtually anything with sprockets and motors. There was always a curiosity to see what made things tick.

He played sports while in high school but didn’t find his path into motorPLAYING sports until attending the University of FAVORITES Dayton, where he began his studies in WITH MILES mechanical engineering.

STANLEY After transferring to the University of Akron, Stanley became involved in the VACATION school’s Formula Car racing program.

■■ Baja, California While still in college in 2005, he joined HOLIDAY Polestar Racing in the Atlantic Champi■■ Christmas onship Series as a mechanic, car chief and shop foreman.

SEASON He made the move to NASCAR in ■■ Fall 2009 and worked with driver Robby TV SHOW Gordon as crew chief for his NASCAR ■■ Ozark Xfinity Series and NASCAR Cup Series MUSIC teams. Stanley joined BK Racing in ■ ■ Alternative 2012 as head race engineer before moving to Team Penske in 2013.

“The race engineer is responsible for specifying all the pieces and parts on a race car,” Stanley said. “We will create a buildspec for the car that says all the nuts and bolts are where they need to go, such as the suspension parts, where engine parts are out together, transmission ratios, things like that.

From there, we work on specific setups with the crew chief and the driver.”

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POLE POSITION 2019

CURTIS TINCHER GARAGE AREA VETERAN

I LOVE THE EXCITEMENT OF COMPETING AND WINNING, SO I WANT TO STAY WITH THIS AS LONG AS I CAN. I WAS WITH JAMES BUESCHER WHEN HE WON THE TRUCK SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2012.”

Curtis Tincher, tire specialist for Rick Ware Racing and driver B.J. McLeod, was introduced to NASCAR racing during the mid-1960s when his uncle competed in NASCAR’s Grand American division.

PLAYING “I grew up liking racing and Richard FAVORITES Petty,” Tincher said. “With Baltimore WITH CURTIS not being the hub of racing, I graduated from high school, moved south and TINCHER started bugging people for a job.”

VACATION After relocating, Tincher began ■ ■ Cruises working as a carpenter, assistant grocery HOLIDAY store manager and furniture manufacturer. Each of his work schedules allowed ■■ Thanksgiving time to pursue his passion for racing.

SEASON “While working for Food Lion, I was ■■ Fall off one weekend a month so I started TV SHOW signing in with a Cup team out of ■■ The A&E Channel Asheboro, North Carolina,” Tincher said.

MOVIE “(The driver) didn’t make the race at ■■ Westerns Talladega one year so I started walking around asking if anyone needed help.

MUSIC That’s when I got linked up with Steve ■■ All types Grissom at Diamond Ridge Motorsports.

I had my foot in the door and have been going since the mid-1990s.”

In addition to Diamond Ridge, Tincher has worked for Joe Gibbs Racing, Petty Enterprises, Robert Yates Racing, TRG Motorsports, Turner-Scott Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing and Rick Ware Racing.

Over the years, Tincher found his niche working with tires, citing the specialized position allows a feeling of being his own boss. Aside from stepping away for part of the 2018 season due to knee surgery, Tincher has been in NASCAR’s garage areas for the past 25 years.

BY BEN WHITE

NASCAR ESPORTS Out of the Groove and onto Your Screen MEET THE NASCAR SUPERFAN QUIETLY TAKING OVER YOUTUBE

“T

hat’s amazing that they can do that at 200mph,” Eric Estepp’s father said in 2004 while he and his son watched on television as Dale Earnhardt Jr. overtook Jeff Gordon. It is one of Eric Estepp’s earliest NASCAR memories.

“It was a simple pass, but my dad was really impressed by it,” the younger Estepp recalled, “and that stuck with me.”

That simple pass, though, sparked a passion for NASCAR that is now shared by some half-a-million viewers on YouTube every month. As of this writing, Estepp’s YouTube channel, Out of the Groove, hosts 83,000 subscribers, with over 56 million lifetime views. For perspective, Dirty Mo Media’s YouTube channel, hosted by none other than Dale Earnhardt Jr., has 23,000 subscribers and just over 1.4 million lifetime views.

When Estepp was in middle school, he had already developed a passion for filmmaking, producing short films with his friends. He launched his YouTube channel in 2011, and for the first six months Estepp didn’t get much in the way of viewership.

“I wasn’t really interested in making NASCAR videos yet, just goofy skits,” he recalled. “But at the end of the year, I made a stop-motion video with my die-cast cars.”

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POLE POSITION 2019

The stop-motion race quickly became his most-viewed video. By 2012, the channel became entirely dedicated to NASCAR and racing. The stop-motion videos eventually became the Double E Cup Series. It was an ongoing series of stop-motion races, with some episodes garnering over a million views.

“It was unique, it was something I could do well,” Estepp said of the series, “and the high views just made me want to do it more and more.”

Estepp, 21, is now studying Radio, TV and Film at UT Austin. Balancing the life of a college student and a YouTube creator has forced him to put DECS on a hiatus. It hasn’t, however, stopped his community from growing.

“I started Out of the Groove in college,” he said. “I had to transition. I no longer had the time or the physical space – sharing a dorm room with a roommate – to make stop-motion. I had to find another form of NASCAR content.”

Out of the Groove, true to its creator, is a more mature program than DECS or Estepp’s old parody videos. Each week the program covers the major stories and issues in the NASCAR fan scene.

“I typically look at what happens in the race, any major controversies,

crazy finishes, that stuff that’s easy to narrow in on and talk about,” he said. “I pay attention to social media, and what other fans are talking about. I think this is something I can open up and have a conversation about.”

These conversations have gone to unexpected places with even NASCAR Cup Series drivers popping up on Out of the Groove. During this year’s Daytona 500, Aric Almirola made an appearance.

“I was there for his first win in 2014 at Daytona,” Estepp said. “And then here I am sitting down, I’ve got Skype on my computer, and there’s Aric Almirola on my screen staring at me!”

It’s a fan experience that was unthinkable even a decade ago, but that’s the power of digital media.

“I’m focused on school, school comes first. But I spend all of my gaps on social media keeping up with NASCAR stories, and when I’m at home two or three days a week, I’m filming a video.”

Estepp has often found himself editing videos until 1 or 2 a.m.

“Managing the balance is the thing I always question myself on,” Estepp said.

“Am I devoting enough time to school? Am I devoting enough time to YouTube?

“Believe in yourself and what you’re making,” Estepp added. “It’s stressful, but it comes with a lot of freedom. It can be difficult to hold yourself accountable, but it’s fun to put yourself out there.”

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NASCAR ROOTS Matt Tifft’s Invaluable Education It’s fairly common for a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver to come from a background in karting. In fact, quite a few of today’s drivers cut their proverbial teeth and developed their earliest skills from driving go-karts as children and teenagers.

‘THE SAME THRILL’

To that extent, Monster Energy Series rookie Matt Tifft isn’t much different from several of his peers. But, unlike most of his fellow drivers who started out in go-karts, Tifft didn’t just grow accustomed to turning left. He became equally adept at turning right.

That’s because, if you grew up in Hinckley, Ohio, and wanted to try your hand at racing go-karts, you did it on road courses, not ovals. And that’s exactly what Tifft did – and did quite well for the better part of three years – following his 12th birthday.

“I begged for my birthday present to be a go-kart,” said Tifft, who became hooked on karting after participating in a day of trial runs in Barberton, Ohio, when he was 11. “My mom finally came around.”

Tifft went on to participate in over 100 karting events, all of them on paved road courses and most of them on tracks that were a mile to a mile-anda-half in length and located in Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. The 2019 Monster Energy Series rookie doesn’t remember exactly how many karting races he won – just that it was “a good bit of them.”

“You kind of look back on those days, you’re a kid and it’s just exciting and fun to do, but I don’t think I ever really kept count of them,” said Tifft, who will turn 23 this summer.

Tifft does estimate probably capturing in the

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neighborhood of 20 or more feature wins at the kart level, progressing from the local to the regional to the national ranks and competing in the Great Lakes Sprint Series, the WKA Gold Cup and the Manufacturer’s Cup Series.

The education Tifft gained from his karting days has proven invaluable at NASCAR’s upper levels – especially when it comes time to go road course racing.

“Some of the bigger things are similar to my karting days,” Tifft said. “When you go to road courses, the way you overtake people or set people up (to pass them) is mostly the same, so I’d say it translates a whole lot better to road course racing.

It was really more about overtaking and trying to maximize braking points and all that sort of stuff, so not all that translated to ovals.”

It’s not surprising, therefore, that of the nine top-five finishes Tifft earned as a NASCAR Xfinity Series driver the past few seasons, four were on road courses.

“Typically, my really good runs are on those road course races,” said Tifft, who owns a pair of top-five Xfinity Series finishes on both the Mid-Ohio and Road America road courses. “That wasn’t always the case starting out in stock cars, but I think I kind of learned the skills that eventually translated from the go-karts to the stock cars, once I learned how to manage the stock car in road course racing.”

MATT TIFFT NATURALLY doesn’t do as much karting these days as he did in his youth, but he still finds tremendous value in jumping in a go-kart every chance he gets. That’s why he has a TaG kart that he periodically uses at GoPro Motorplex, an 11-turn outdoor kart-racing track in Mooresville, North Carolina, where the Front Row Motorsports team for which he competes is also based.

“I don’t use it a lot, but every time I get back in it, it’s kind of amazing because the power and the speed of those things – even though you’re only going maybe 65 or 70 mph – you feel like you’re absolutely flying because there’s no seatbelts or suspension, so you’re truly having to react quickly and just your reaction timing has to be so fast,” Tifft said.

“I think that helps you be ready for the bigger cars and thinking fast and on your feet. When you’re 12 years old, at some of those tracks, those karts can get up to 90 mph with a 23-horsepower motor on there. The kart only weighs maybe 500 pounds with the driver in it, so the power-to-weight ratio is still pretty crazy. So still, no matter what, a kart is a type of a race car, and it’s still the same thrill no matter what the vehicle is. Obviously, the stage you’re racing on and all that kind of stuff changes, but karting certainly gave a great foundation for any form of racing that I could have gone into.”

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY TIFFT FAMILY

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PIT PASS

GANDER OUTDOORS TRUCK 3Q WITH SERIES DRIVER SHELDON CREED

G

MS Racing is chasing another NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series title this season and one of its drivers is rookie Sheldon Creed, who is already making headlines in the No. 2 Chevrolet. The former ARCA Menards Series driver is excited about his new challenge.

What are your expectations for this year?

I think we can go run in the top-five every weekend.

There’s no reason we shouldn’t. We’re going to have some weekends where we struggle. But for me, I want to run in the top-five each weekend.

What’s it like to be teammates with the reigning champion, Brett Moffitt?

Brett’s been awesome. We all train with Josh Wise, so we work together during the week. He’s great to talk to and bounce questions off of. He’s been awesome in the few weeks we’ve been together.

GMS Racing recently partnered with JR Motorsports and Chevrolet. How will that alliance help advance your career?

I think the whole collaboration among GMS, JR Motorsports and Chevy has been cool. We get to go in the simulator. We have great support from Chevy.

It can be great for the future. The goal is to be in the Xfinity Series next year, whether it’s GMS in a second car or to be able to go to JRM. It’s a cool deal, and it’s just getting started. Right now, I’m doing one Xfinity Series race for GMS at Charlotte. Next year, I’d like to run full time. If you can get sponsorship, you can do that stuff.

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Favorite Food Kyle Busch’s Favorite Snack: Every NASCAR driver has their favorite food. For 2015 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, his is actually a snack – or if you ask the Las Vegas native, a full meal. Busch loves M&M’s Crispy, which is now offered as a flavor in the new M&M’s Chocolate Bar. Busch truly found the perfect match with this partnership.

TERMINOLOGY Slingshot: With the introduction of the new aerodynamic package that is being used at several of the intermediate tracks, NASCAR fans may hear this word more often this season. Fans might remember the term from “Talladega Nights,” and that’s because it is indeed wild. A slingshot is when a driver uses the aerodynamic wake of the lead car to close on that car and then swings out to steal the lead position.

BY JOSEPH WOLKIN

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