Second Go-Around at Greenville Pickens

SONY DSCAfter a two-week absence following back-to-back road course races, Rev Racing will return to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East at Greenville Pickens Speedway for the Greenville 140. This weekend’s race will mark the second go-around for Rev Racing at Greenville Pickens Speedway this season. After scoring three top-10’s in the first outing, expectations are sky-high and leading the way for Rev Racing this weekend will be Ryan Gifford and Sergio Peña. Ryan Gifford (No. 2 UTI/NASCAR Tech Toyota) — Gifford heads into the Greenville 140 following one of his best performances of the season. The Biscuitville 125 at VIR was a race defined by strategy, and the Rev Racing veteran relied on his experience to come away with a top-10 in a race where barely half of the competitors were able to finish. Gifford will be looking to relay on experience once again at Greenville, where a top-10 qualifying effort landed him a sixth place finish last time out. Sergio Peña (No. 4 L&M Ethanol Toyota) — Peña has historically been fast at Greenville Pickens Speedway. In his last outing at the track, Peña garnered his first top-10 of the 2014 season. However, despite his admirable finish, Peña was forced to fight tooth and nail over the course of the 150-lap race to crack the top-10. The goal for Peña this time around is to qualify in the top-10 with the notion that if he can perform half as well as he did in his last outing, he’ll be in prime position to come away with a win. Bryan Ortiz (No. 6 Rev Racing Toyota Racing Development Toyota) — Ortiz will be making his second appearance for Rev Racing at this weekend’s Greenville 140. Ortiz, who will be piloting the #6 in place of Daniel Suarez, will have some big shoes to fill as Suarez’s top-5 finish was the highest finish for Rev Racing during the team’s last outing at Greenville. However, make no mistake, the Rev Racing alum is more than ready for the challenge and is looking to conclude his tenure with the team on a high note. Jay Beasley (No. 42 Rev Racing Toyota Racing Development Toyota) — Beasley may be the most eager to return to the track after engine troubles sidelined the Las Vegas, Nevada native only four laps into his outing at VIR. Additionally, Beasley didn’t have the performance that he had hoped for in his first outing at Greenville Pickens Speedway. However, the race was early in the year and the Rev Racing newcomer was still getting adjusted to the NKNPSE. Since then, Beasley has garnered a pair of top-5’s and four top-10’s. Needless to say, expectations for Beasley have changed, and he’ll be going into this weekend’s race looking to add another top-10 to his resume. Mackena Bell (No. 21 Special Smiles/Lung Force Toyota) — Bell is another Rev Racing driver eager to return to the track after suffering from mechanical issues at VIR. The leading lady for Rev Racing knows how important it is to carry some momentum into the next season and is looking to utilize the final two races of the 2014 season to do so. Qualifying begins at 6pm, followed by the autograph session at 7pm and the Greenville 140 at 8pm. ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities, women drivers, and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing visit https://revracing.net and follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

Getting to Know Sergio Peña

ER8V4316CONCORD, N.C. (Aug. 29, 2014) — Sergio Peña has been racing since he was 4 years old, but he didn’t start with stock cars. Instead, he started on a dirt bike with training wheels. His father, Jairo, raced go-karts and motocross in his native Colombia, so it was easy for the younger Peña to follow in his footsteps. In his eight-year professional career, Peña has raced motocross, go-karts, formula and late models before competing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, and his father was with him every step of the way. “He’s never missed a race in my entire life. He’s definitely been my biggest supporter throughout my entire career,” Peña said. “We’re more like brothers than father and son. I don’t think we would have the same super close relationship if it weren’t for racing.” Though he was doing what he loved at the track almost every weekend, one of Peña’s biggest challenges during his youth was dealing with his parents’ divorce. “Trying to keep both of them happy was difficult,” he said. “I was so close to my dad with all the racing stuff, that I felt like it may take away from the relationship with my mom. But, fortunately, it never did.” He maintained a close bond with his mother, Tracey, as well as his younger sister, Gabriela, who now attends West Virginia University. Since childhood, he has always kept racing at the forefront, but Peña didn’t let the sport keep him from living the life of an average kid.He still found time to play basketball, football, and soccer throughout middle school and high school in his hometown of Winchester, Virginia, even with racing almost year-round. “I honestly don’t even know how we had the time,” he laughed. “I always tried to be involved in a bunch of sports.” The 6-foot-3 driver still plays basketball almost every Tuesday night at a local church, and with a full-time racing schedule, he continues to remain just as active as he did when he was a child. When he isn’t racing, Peña enjoys mountain biking, swimming and running, specifically in charity events. This year, the 21-year-old participated in the Jimmie Johnson Foundation 5K and the Gallopond Gallop 5K, where he came in second in his age group. He also loves jogging along Lake Norman, located in the Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville areas. ”I like anything outdoors and adventurous. I just love being active and getting my adrenaline flowing,” he said. “I’m always looking to push myself to my limit.” He found himself striving to push his limit by joining the inaugural Rev Racing Team in 2010 at age 16. He grew up road course racing, so driving on the oval was a new obstacle for him. The young, aggressive driver welcomed the challenge and made his K&N debut at the All-Star Toyota Showdown where he stole the spotlight after capturing the pole and finishing second behind Joey Lagano. In his second year with the team, he tied for most wins in the NKNPSE with three victories as well as four top-5sand seven top-10s. After graduating from James Wood High School in 2011, Peña attended Radford University for two years where he studied mechanical engineering and communications to enhance his racing career. He aimed to learn more about the car’s mechanical structure and how to properly conduct himself with the media. While in college, Peña was a member of the NASCAR Next program, and it was then he discovered that it was nearly impossible to be a full-time racer and a full-time student. He decided to leave school to chase his dream. “I really want to finish and get my degree, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I have to pursue right now,” he said. Though Peña no longer physically attends to school, he continues his education in a different way. He has made it a habit to consistently practice Spanish. Growing up with his mother, who is a Spanish teacher, and his Colombian father, he could always understand the language but couldn’t speak it very well. “I have no idea why I didn’t practice Spanish with them. I learned it just from hearing it all the time,” he said. “At a lot of the go-kart races, there were a lot of kids from Colombia racing with us, so since I heard it so much, I was able to catch on.” Almost fluent in the language now, he’s been able to participate in interviews with Spanish-speaking networks this year. His Mexican teammate Daniel Suárez also continues to help him learn the language. Aside from racing, he often takes a breather from his life in the fast lane to express his artistic side. Though he his known for his charisma and outgoing personality during interviews, he enjoys life behind the scenes and takes time to work on his photography and filming. “I always took pictures when I was little. I just started to like it more and more as I grew up,” Peña said. He shares his passion for photography with his friend and former Rev Racing teammate, Darrell Wallace, Jr. The two can often be found taking pictures in downtown Charlotte. Peña also likes to play the piano and guitar in his spare time. ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities, women drivers, and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing visit https://revracing.net and follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

Suarez Becomes Third Rev Racing Driver to Ink National Series Deal

14_5980_Daniel_Suare#20F83CAs Rev Racing aims to advance and support the development of drivers in the program and beyond, we would like to congratulate Daniel Suarez on signing a deal with Joe Gibbs Racing to compete full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for the 2015 season. Suarez will join Kyle Larson and Darrell Wallace Jr. among the ranks of Rev Racing graduates who have moved on to a national series in NASCAR. “Daniel is a special talent. We are proud to have been apart of his development as a driver and we are excited to see what the future holds for him. Along with Darrell and Kyle, Daniel is another testament to the success of the diversity program and we wish him the best in his latest endeavor,” said Rev Racing owner, Max Siegel. Suarez is will finish out the 2014 season competing in both the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and the NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series. In the NKNPSE he has two wins, four top-fives and seven top-10 finishes this season. However, Suarez will miss the next NKNPSE race at Greenville Pickens Speedway as he will be in Mexico contending for the NMTS championship, where he is currently first in the point standings. Suarez will return to the NKNPSE at Dover International Speedway in what is expected to be the culmination of his career with Rev Racing and the beginning to his career with Joe Gibbs Racing. ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities and women drivers and drivers and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing, visit revracing.net or follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

Gifford Scores Top-10 at VIR

14965018152_a67c071516_zPatience, patience, patience. Mark Green, crew chief of the No. 2 NTI/UTI Toyota, repeatedly stressed the sentiment to Ryan Gifford over the course of the 55-lap race at Virginia International Raceway this past weekend. Gifford, who struggled a bit in qualifying, took the green flag in 18th. However, keeping a steady pace and not overdriving the car allowed Gifford to take the checkered in ninth. “Be patient and stick to your lines”, Green continually repeated to Gifford over the radio. The incessant reminder to Gifford that he would be in for a long race kept the Winchester, Tennessee driver at bay from trying to force his way through the pack. Unlike Watkins Glen, the track at Virginia International Speedway has sharper turns and much more variation. Consequently, those who overdrove their vehicles paid the price. In a race where 24 cars took the green flag, only 13 were able to take the checkered. There were seven caution flags (two of which were red) that kept the race under caution for 16 laps. As the field began to diminish lap after lap, Gifford slowly but surely began to improve his position until he found himself in 12th with three laps to go. It was then that Gifford made a push, and as the beneficiary of an accident by teammate Sergio Peña, Gifford was able to crack the top-10. After retaining position through the subsequent green-white-checkered restart, Gifford was able to coast to a 9th place finish, cementing his fourth top-10 of the 2014 season. Peña, Ortiz, Bell, and Beasley were unfortunately unable to take the checkered and finish 13th, 19th 21st and 23rd respectively. ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities and women drivers and drivers and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing, visit revracing.net or follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

American Lung Association and NASCAR Driver Mackena Bell Team Up at Virginia International Raceway

LungForce_lockup_041514-01ALTON, VA (Aug. 13, 2014) – On August 16, NASCAR driver Mackena Bell will be at Virginia International Raceway, racing for the checkered flag and to help stop the clock on lung cancer, the #1 cancer killer of women in the United States. A K&N Pro Series East driver, Bell pilots the Special Smiles Pediatric Dentistry Toyota Camry 21*. She has joined the American Lung Association and national presenting sponsor, CVS Caremark, as an honorary spokesperson for LUNG FORCE, a new effort to make lung cancer in women a public health priority, drive policy change and increase research funding. Bell’s personal connection to lung cancer results from having lost her grandfather – the man who inspired and encouraged her love for racing – to the disease. “My papa was always my biggest fan and came to nearly all my races. When he was diagnosed with lung cancer, we were devastated,” Bell said. “Just six weeks later, heaven gained an angel. In honor of my papa’s memory, I have joined LUNG FORCE to fight the #1 cancer killer in the U.S.” By adding her voice to LUNG FORCE, Bell is working to educate women nationwide to help increase the likelihood they will make healthy decisions about their own lung health and influence the decisions made by the men, women and children they love. According to the Lung Association’s first Women’s Lung Health Barometer, a survey of more than 1,000 American women, current awareness about the impact of lung cancer in women is extremely low. Even though lung cancer has long been the top cancer killer of women, the Barometer revealed that only 1 percent of women named the disease as a cancer that is top-of-mind for them. Furthermore, statistics show that, on average, fewer than half of all women with lung cancer will be alive one year after diagnosis. And anyone can get lung cancer – two-thirds of lung cancer cases are in those who have never smoked or have successfully quit smoking. “Mackena Bell is giving us a unique opportunity to raise public awareness about lung cancer in women,” said Dennis Alexander, “By speaking out about lung cancer as she travels the country racing, Mackena is helping change people’s thinking about the disease and how it impacts families, bringing much-needed attention to the lung cancer risk factors everyone needs to know about.” Locally and across the nation, LUNG FORCE will educate and empower patients and healthcare providers, focus public policy on addressing the disease and its causes, and raise critical funds for research into better detection and targeted treatments for lung cancer. The American Lung Association of Virginia offers several resources for individuals and families that have been impacted by lung cancer. Anyone seeking help can visit Facing Lung Cancer (www.mylungcancersupport.org), powered by the American Lung Association, our comprehensive education and support website developed specifically for patients and caregivers.  Assistance is also available through the Lung Association’s Lung Helpline at 1-800-LUNG-USA, which connects callers to information, resources and support services. About the American Lung Association The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is “Fighting for Air” through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.lung.org. ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities and women drivers and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing visit https://revracing.net or follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

Rev Racing Looking for Redemption at VIR

SONY DSCConcord, NC (Aug. 14, 2014) – Watkins Glen International is a difficult track to conquer. Drivers who are conditioned to turning left are all of a sudden faced with the task of turning right. And while this task may seem trivial and second nature to the average driver, imagine completing such a task at 120 mph. Even the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who took to the track two days later had enough difficulty at Watkins Glen International that there were a couple major wrecks, resulting in red flags and significant time under caution. When merely crossing the finish line is arduous task, success isn’t always determined by winning. Sometimes, it’s determined by improvement. It is this mindset that each of the Rev Racing teammates are carrying into the second road course competition of the season this weekend. Leading the pack for Rev Racing will be none other than Sergio Peña who will be competing on a course he is very familiar with. Sergio Peña (No. 4 L&M Ethanol Toyota) — The Winchester, VA native will be competing on a track that he’s grown familiar with over the years as VIR is located only a few hours from Peña’s hometown. Although, Peña and crew did not leave Watkins Glen International with the results that they had hoped for, they are banking that experience and familiarity with VIR will be the difference and allow him to garner another top-5 to add to his résumé. Ryan Gifford (No. 2 UTI/NASCAR Tech Toyota) — After tire issued sidelined Gifford early in last weekend’s competition, the NASCAR Next driver will be looking to redeem himself. A top-10 at VIR would greatly contribute to his campaign to end the season on a strong note. Bryan Ortiz (No. 6 Rev Racing Toyota Racing Development Toyota) — Ortiz will be making his season debut with Rev Racing at Virginia International Raceway. The Biscuitville 125 is the first of two races that Ortiz has signed on for with the team. Filling in for Daniel Suarez who will be competing for a title in the Mexico Toyota Series, Ortiz will look to make a statement that he is still a force to be reckoned with in the NKNPSE. Jay Beasley (No. 42 Rev Racing Toyota Racing Development Toyota) — Beasley was one of two Rev Racing drivers who were able to successfully finish the race at Watkins Glen International. And while his 13th place finish was admirable, Beasley is convinced that he could have finished within the top-10. With a bit more turnaround time leading in VIR than the previous two races, Beasley and crew have been working around the clock to get the #42 to the exact specification for Beasley to add another top-5 to his resume. “Going into Watkins Glen we didn’t have the car to the specifications we would have liked. We took a car that was meant to turn left to a road course with all right turns. With the extra time, we’ll be able to get the car into better shape,” said Beasley. “We were able to set the transmission off and make sure the car handles better as a road course car and not an oval car.” Mackena Bell (No. 21 Special Smiles/Lung Force Toyota) — Perseverance. Bell has battled all season long, and battled her heart out for a 13th place finish at Watkins Glen International in a race where not everyone was lucky enough to finish. VIR will be no different and Bell will continue her goal of finishing the season on a strong note. Furthermore, with the added experience of a road course under her belt, Bell is looking to build upon last weekend and finish with a top-10 or better. The Bully Hill Vineyards 125 will be broadcast on Sunday, Aug. 17 at 9 a.m. ET on FOX Sports 1. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will resume with the Biscuitville 125 at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va. on Saturday, Aug. 16th. ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities, women drivers, and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing visit https://revracing.net and follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

First Road Course for Rev Racing

Concord, NC (Aug. 7, 2014) – The Bully Hill Vineyards 125 has been circled on each of our driver’s calendar since the beginning of the season. While the Rev Racing drivers enjoy racing on oval tracks, they also enjoy the thrill of being able to turn right. That being said, Watkins Glen International is the first road course that Rev Racing will compete on this season. Tomorrow’s race marks the first time that the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East has competed at Watkins Glen International since 2009 and leading the way for Rev Racing is none other than Sergio Peña. Sergio Peña (No. 4 L&M Ethanol Toyota) —With 4 races left in the NKNPSE season, Peña has seemed to find his groove. His last two races have resulted in two top-5’s, including a hard-fought win at Columbus Motor Speedway. With the momentum of two solid performances behind him, Peña could not be more confident going into tomorrow’s competition. The Winchester, VA native grew up racing and testing on road courses and feel that his experience provides an advantage. Even though his last two performances were on ovals, Peña is confident that he will be able to secure his third top-5 in a row at the Bully Hill Vineyards 125. Peña is currently 14th in the point standings. Ryan Gifford (No. 2 UTI/NASCAR Tech Toyota) —Gifford comes into this weekend’s race with an optimistic, but cautious mindset. The Winchester, Tenn. native had his best performance of the season at Columbus Motor Speedway, followed by his worst performance of the season at Iowa after a blown tire sidelined him after barely a dozen laps into the race. The Rev Racing veteran is looking to return to the same form that earned him his first top-5 of the season at Columbus Motor Speedway, and finish the season strong. Gifford is currently 17th in the point standings. Daniel Suárez (No. 6 Rev Racing Toyota) — Suarez heads into this weekend’s race with a bit of a chip on his shoulders. After a less than favorable performance at Iowa Speedway that surprisingly resulted in the Monterrey, Mexico native falling one spot short of a top-10, Suarez looks at the Bully Hill Vineyards 125 as a chance to earn back the top-10 he missed out on. And with his competitive edge, it’s difficult to bet against him. Suarez is currently 16th in the point standings. Jay Beasley (No. 42 Rev Racing Toyota) — Like Peña, Beasley grew up racing and testing on road courses. However, this weekend’s race will mark the first time that the Rev Racing newcomer will compete on a road course in a K&N car. Beasley had a less than favorable outing at Iowa Speedway after suffering tire issues. However he is looking to return to the same form that earned him three top-10’s in four races. Beasley is currently 12th in the point standings. Mackena Bell (No. 21 Special Smiles/Lung Force Toyota) — Bell has shown signs of greatness this season. However, she’s been plagued with bad luck as of late. The Rev Racing veteran is looking to turn her bad luck around and finish the season strong, starting with a solid performance at Watkins Glen, so that she can have some momentum going into next season. Bell is currently 16th in the point standings. The autograph session will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, August 8th with the two-lap qualifying beginning at 3:40 p.m. ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities, women drivers, and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing visit https://revracing.net and follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

Peña Scores Top-5 in Return to Iowa

SONY DSCConcord, NC (Aug. 5, 2014) –  Mistakes can be costly. However, being on the opposite side of a mistake can prove beneficial. In this past weekend’s Autolite Iridium XP 150, other’s mistakes going into the halfway break became the defining moment of the race for the Rev Racing team. Leading Rev Racing heading into the break was Sergio Peña, who was P5 after fighting his way up from his P21 qualifying position. Battling back from an unfavorable qualifying effort at Iowa Speedway is all too familiar for the Rev Racing returnee. In his first stint at Iowa Speedway this season, Peña impressively improved 18 spots over the course of the race before finishing P11. And although he had hopes of qualifying better this time around, he was forced to battle back again. A few laps before the halfway break, Peña’s campaign to crack the top-3 was cut short by a caution flag that was issued after a Rev Racing competitor hit the wall in turn two. Significant damage from the crash was enough to keep the race under caution until the halfway mark. As cars continued their go-around under the caution, the leading four cars deviated from the pack and drove down pit road, prior to officials giving the signal that pit road was open. As a result, each of those drivers was penalized and sent to the back of the 43-car field, allowing Peña to automatically jump to P1. Unfortunately, Peña was unable to hold his first place position for the remaining 75 laps. However, it was his ability to recognize the mistake of his competitors and their pit road mistake to put him in position to secure his second top-5 in a row. “I was able to move up early in the race by running high because nobody else was running up there. Then at the end of the race everyone else decided to go high. However, by that time the car was a little too loose and I couldn’t hang on. We’re still happy with our top-5,” Peña said. Daniel Suarez also had an admirable run for Rev Racing. The Monterrey, Mexico native had the best qualifying position for Rev Racing and took the green flag in P14. After a roller coaster race that saw Suarez move up as high as P5 and fall as low as P18, the Rev Racing veteran ultimately fell one spot short of the top-10, taking the checkered in P11. Bell, Beasley, and Gifford finished the race P23, P29, and P40 respectively. The Autolite Iridium XP 150 will air on FOX Sports 1 on Friday, Aug. 8 at 11am. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will resume action with the Bully Hill Vineyards 125 at Watkins Glen International in New York on Friday, Aug. 8. ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities, women drivers, and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing visit https://revracing.net and follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

Rev Racing looks for more success in the Midwest

1900162_10152142332613649_158787121_nCONCORD, N.C. (July 31, 2014) — Coming off a win and a top five in the last NASCAR K&N Pro Series East event, Rev Racing will return to Iowa Speedway for the second time this season on Friday, Aug. 1. With three Rev Racing drivers advancing in the point standings, the team is looking forward to competing in the Autolite Iridium 150, which will be the second K&N East-West combination race of the season. Sergio Peña (No. 4 L&M Ethanol Toyota) — Peña heads to Newton, Iowa with his first win of the season after holding off Cameron Hayley in the JEGS 150 at Columbus Motor Speedway during the last NKNPSE outing. Peña has one win, one top five, and four top 10s this season moving him up to 15th in the point standings. With five years of experience in the K&N Pro Series, he will strive to keep his momentum going as he competes in the 36-car starting field. Ryan Gifford (No. 2 UTI/NASCAR Tech Toyota) Gifford earned his first top five of the season in Columbus putting him at 17th place in the point standings. After some difficulties and obstacles throughout the season, the veteran was able to persevere to secure his fifth place finish at Columbus Motor Speedway and plans to continue his success with the five remaining races. He is one of nine members of the 2014-2015 NASCAR Next class competing on Friday. Daniel Suárez (No. 6 Rev Racing Toyota) — Suárez returns to the NKNPSE after taking a race off to compete in the NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series where he currently leads in points. Though he’s had some time off from the series, he is coming back with a good track record at Iowa Speedway. In his last two outings at the track, he finished with a top five and a top 10. This season, Suárez has captured two wins, four top fives and six top 10s, and he is currently ranked 14th in the point standings. After Friday’s event, Suárez will travel to Mexico to compete in the Queretana 200 on Sunday. Jay Beasley (No. 42 Rev Racing Toyota) — With a 13th place finish in Columbus, Beasley is eager to go back to the track where he received his first career NKNPSE top five. Beasley has racked up two top fives and four top 10s in 11 starts this season, placing him 11th in the point standings. Mackena Bell (No. 21 Special Smiles/Lung Force Toyota) — Bell was able to get extra seat time racing her late model in the Hampton Heat 200 last weekend at Langley Speedway. She’s hoping the extra opportunity will help her have a successful weekend in Iowa, specifically because she was unable to finish in her last outing at the speedway due to an accident. Bell is ranked 17th in the standings. There will be an autograph session at 3:15 p.m. with the two-lap qualifier to follow at 5 p.m. The Autolite Iridium XP 150 will air Friday, Aug. 8 at 11 a.m. on Fox Sports 1. ­­ ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities, women drivers, and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing visit https://revracing.net and follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

Get To Know Jay Beasley

Rev Racing has some of the most loyal fans in NASCAR, who support our drivers day in and day out. The support and encouragement that our drivers receive is unparalleled. Thus, in an effort to connect with our fan base on a more personal level, Rev Racing is distributing a Get To Know Your Driver series. Each of our drivers has worked hard to reach this point in their career. And while a career in NASCAR is their dream job, it does not define who they are. For each of our drivers, there is a story behind the helmet, behind the fire suit, and behind the car. We want to share that story with you…   ER8V3902Concord, N.C. (July 25, 2014) —For Jay Beasley, it all started at 7-years-old with a Go-Ped. His father, Rod Ronnow, was asked to fix two Go-Peds for a friend, but instead, he was told to keep the two-wheeled motorized scooters. Ronnow had a knack for repairing motors and loved to race motocross, street bikes, and drag boats, and Beasley shared that same passion. “When I was really young, I always said that I was going to be a NASCAR driver,” he said. “It was weird because I was racing everything with two wheels, but I kept saying I was going to be a NASCAR driver.” As a child, Beasley played other sports, including football and lacrosse, but nothing could quite measure up to racing. “Football was fun…I loved lacrosse, but I just wanted to go fast,” he said. The Las Vegas native became such a talented rider that he was sponsored by Go-Ped in 2002 and went on to become a five-time Go-Ped Scooter Cross champion. After racing Go-Peds, he transitioned to Supermoto, but only for about a year. During a race, his back tire failed to make it over a jump. The bike sent Beasley flying, landing on his chest and breaking his collarbone. He then contemplated racing street bikes because he loved racing on asphalt, but his dad wasn’t in favor of any more two-wheelers for the young racer. Instead, he wanted something more stable that his stepson would be contained in, so Beasley began racing Legend cars. “I miss two wheels, but I’m enjoying NASCAR and four wheels. Plus, it’s safer,” he said. Every day Beasley exercised to stay in shape for racing. He also practiced riding his Go-Ped and dirt bike around the neighborhood and worked on his racecar after school. “I would spend so many hours on the track. In the winter time, when it was 20 degrees outside, we’d wear leather jackets and just go on the track and mess around,” he said. His mother, Evelyn Beasley, supported him throughout his childhood and career, and he credits his father for much of his work ethic and success. “He taught me how hard to work for it at such a young age, so, now it’s not hard work. It’s every day life,” he said. “It was really frustrating at some points, but I’m really grateful he did that.” At the beginning of his career, one of Beasley’s biggest setbacks came his senior year of high school in 2009. He was at a friend’s house talking outside with classmates when two SUVs pulled up to the crowd of people. “A whole bunch of people got out, and they were all wearing black. Then I saw these girls beginning to run up the street,” he said. “Right when I turned around I saw someone standing next to me wearing all black. Then everyone started running in a panic.” The gang in black began shooting at the crowd, and the person standing next to Beasley aimed a gun at his head and fired. “I barely missed it. I heard the bullet zoom right by me.” He continued to run from the gang but couldn’t find anywhere to hide, and a few of the members caught up to him. “One of the guys pointed the gun right at my face, but his buddy ended up telling him not to shoot me, and then they left,” he said. “It was crazy.” Beasley left the incident with a gunshot wound to the leg that shattered his fibula. Fears of paralysis and death continued to cross his mind. At the time, Beasley had also been training to become a firefighter as a back-up plan if racing didn’t work out, but the incident solidified how much he wanted to succeed in racing. It also became one of the reasons why he tries not to take anything for granted. “I’m glad it happened because it made me focus more on my career,” he said. “It also made me a better person, and now, I don’t let little things bother me.” Though he was forced to keep the bullet in his leg to prevent an extended recovery time, he refused to let that stop him. After four months of physical therapy, he continued to race in the INEX Legend Series accumulating two wins and 17 top-5s in 2010. In 2011, he began racing super late models where he achieved much success early on, but in 2012, he suffered a severe concussion after crashing head-on into a wall during practice, destroying the racecar and causing Beasley to miss the rest of the season. Despite the delay in his career, he came back ready to conquer the 2013 season, but he did more than that. Beasley made history and became the first African-American to win a race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after capturing the Super Late Model title. He also won the prestigious Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, and later joined the 2014 Rev Racing team. “Accepting the Wendell Scott Award was a big deal and meant a lot. It was a blessing,” said. “To be able to be a trailblazer just like him this past year was amazing. It was such an honor.” Off the track, Beasley enjoys the outdoors, fitness training, watching movies, and traveling, especially when he gets to visit different racetracks. He also loves listening to hip-hop and rock music. “I love anything that gets me to swaying!” While Beasley loves to have fun, he also enjoys giving back to the community. His traumatic experience has motivated him to support individuals who have been confined to a wheelchair due to a permanent injury. To help support this cause, please make a donation to The Carolina TarWheels. The Carolina TarWheels is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities. By promoting health and fitness through sports, recreation, and social activities, the organization allows individuals to maintain an active lifestyle while offering a program that is enjoyable and meaningful to its participants. ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities, women drivers, and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing visit https://revracing.net and follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

Peña Wins in the Buckeye State

IMG_0122Patience. This was the sentiment that Sergio Peña expressed after taking the checkered in Saturday night’s JEGS 150 at Columbus Motor Speedway. Peña hasn’t had the season that he’d hoped for and he isn’t shy about letting that be known.  However, despite the obstacles, the one thing that the Winchester, Virginia native has never done is give up. Peña had shown glimpses of dominance as of late, qualifying no worst than 11th in each of the last five races. However, Peña and crew have struggled to find the winning formula, as only one of those starts has garnered a top-10. All of that changed Saturday night as Peña was adamant that getting over the hump and finally winning a race was not a matter of “if”, rather a matter of “when”. “We have definitely turned the season around. I really think we could have won at New Hampshire but we were just unlucky. In regards to Columbus, we ended up in front and kept the car in one piece throughout the race. We drove hard. I can’t say that we did anything different for Columbus as we’ve had some really fast cars as of late. It’s just been a matter of taking advantage of them. In Columbus, I just happened to be in the right place at right time and it all worked out,” said Peña enthusiastically. Entering the race, Peña and Gifford were the Rev Racing favorites after both drivers qualified in the top-5. Immediately after taking the green, some quick shifting allowed Gifford to move up to second place while Peña fell to fifth. Both drivers maintained their positions until roughly the 25-lap marker. It was then that Peña and Gifford began losing position. Competitors were making aggressive moves to the inside on turn 3, and both drivers conceded instead of challenging. By lap 40, Gifford had fallen out of the top-5 and Peña had fallen out of the top-10. Such passive behavior was a little uncharacteristic of both drivers as they’re usually the ones making the aggressive moves. However, upon further listen to each drivers radio, Peña and Gifford’s crew chiefs were encouraging each driver to race at their own pace and keep their lines, regardless of the actions their competitors took. Keeping one’s line proved to be crucial at the Columbus Motor Speedway as 5 of the 6 cautions occurred from drivers being overly aggressive and spinning out in turn 4. Luckily, a spinout on lap-42 allowed the drivers to regroup. After taking the green flag that followed, Peña and Gifford essentially swapped positions and Peña was now sitting at sixth while Gifford slid to eleventh. Over the course of the next 80 laps, Peña and Gifford maintained position relatively well, only fluctuating one position either ways. However, teammate Beasley utilized those same 80 laps to increase his 17th place position until he cracked the top-10 and landed at ninth place. By lap 120, Peña had waited long enough and decided to make his move. Over the course of the next five laps he made some aggressive moves and managed to fight his way into first place. It appeared the race was all but won, until a caution with 10 laps to go set the stage for a wire-to-wire finish. The race remained under caution for the next 8 laps. It became apparent that whoever took advantage of the subsequent green flag was going to be the winner of the race. After taking the green with two laps to go, Peña did everything in his power to hold on to his first place position and immediately jumped out to a 2-car lead by the time he came around for the white flag. From there, he cruised to an easy victory. Not to be discounted are the efforts of teammate Gifford who also took the checkered flag in the top-5. Sitting in P6 during the final caution, he was also in a dogfight over the course of the final two laps. Luckily, Gifford was able to persevere and come out on top when challenging for the final spot in the top-5. Unfortunately, not every Rev Racing driver benefitted from the final two restarts. Jay Beasley, who had managed to fight his way into the top-10, fell a few spots over the final 20 laps and took the checkered in 13th Rev Racing’s Mackena Bell unfortunately suffered two flat tires early in the race, keeping her at the back of the pack. Bell was able to return to the track after both flat tires, however around the 60-lap marker, the sway bar on her car broke and sidelinws her for the rest of the race. The JEGS 150 present by Germain Toyota will air on FOX Sports 1 on Sunday, July 27 at 9 a.m. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East with return to action at Iowa Speedway on Aug. 1. ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, N.C., Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities and women drivers and drivers and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing visit https://revracing.net or follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

Rev Racing Continues Focus on Driver Advancement, Development Opportunities

danielbryanConcord, North Carolina (July 17, 2014) – Rev Racing driver Daniel Suarez continues to advance as a competitive driver, achieving success in both the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series (NMTS). To continue providing Suarez growth opportunities as he contends for NMTS championship, he will sit out of three K&N Series races due to schedule conflicts with the NMTS. The opportunity will allow Suarez to focus his efforts and attention on maintaining his current points lead as the series heads into the Desafio, the official playoffs of the series. Though Suarez will not participate in upcoming races at Columbus Motor Speedway, Greenville Pickens Speedway and Virginia International Raceway this season due to schedule conflicts with the NMTS, he will return with the team in the remaining K&N Pro Series East events. “Rev Racing aims to advance and support the development of drivers in the program and beyond. We are happy to be part of this development and growth [for Suarez],” said team owner Max Siegel. “We are proud to see him achieve success at such an esteemed level across all series in which he competes and look forward to watching his progression through the remainder of the season and beyond.” In Suarez’s absence, NASCAR Drive for Diversity graduate and former Rev Racing team member, Bryan Ortiz will pilot the No. 6 Toyota at VIR and Greenville Pickens. Ortiz competed in the 2013 season for Rev Racing after a three-year stent in the program, accumulating eight top-5 and 21 top-10 victories. The 25-year-old, Puerto Rico native will compete at Virginia International Raceway Aug. 16 and Greenville Speedway Sept. 6. Ryan Gifford will be running the No. 6 Toyota at Columbus Motor Speedway this Saturday. Follow @RevRacin on Twitter for live race updates. ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities and women drivers and drivers and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing, visit revracing.net or follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

Rev Racing gears up for Columbus

Jay BeasleyCONCORD, N.C. (July 16, 2014) — Rev Racing will return to the track on Saturday for the second week in a row to compete in the JEGS 150 at Columbus Motor Speedway. Each Rev Racing team has been hard at work all week and the cars are ready to hit the track for a successful weekend in the Midwest. With all Rev Racing drivers ranking in the top 20 of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, this race could result in a positive outcome for the team. Jay Beasley (No. 42 Rev Racing Toyota) — The NKNPSE rookie is headed to Columbus fresh off his second top five of the season where he finished fourth in New Hampshire, tying his season-best. So far this season, Beasley has been successful racing on short tracks and looks forward to driving on the .333-mile oval. “Going into Columbus, I feel like we can get another top five finish, and I feel like we’re even going to win shortly,” he said. “I’m really excited because I think we’ll do really well, especially on a short track.” He captured his first top five at Iowa Speedway in May and hopes to return home from the Midwest again with the same success. In his last five races, Beasley has garnered two top fives and four top 10s, increasing his point standing to 12th place. Mackena Bell (No. 21 Special Smiles/Lung Force Toyota) — Saturday’s race will be Bell’s second go-round in Columbus. She finished 11th during her first trip there last year, and now she’s aiming for her second top 10 of the 2014 season. In three of her last four races, Bell was just a few positions shy of a top 10 finish, so she is eager for redemption on Saturday to improve her 15th place point standing. Sergio Peña (No. 4 L&M Ethanol Toyota) — Peña continues to be optimistic about the remaining six races of the season with hopes of finishing strong. He will race at Columbus Motor Speedway for the second time with Rev Racing, and with one top 10 under his belt this season, he is ranked 16th in the point standings. Ryan Gifford (No. 6 Rev Racing Toyota) — The five-year veteran will enter the JEGS 150 with 15 career top fives and 22 career top 10s. In his last three races, Gifford was unable to finish due to irreparable damages and mechanical issues that occurred on the track, but he plans to use the incidents as motivation for Columbus to improve his 18th position in the point standings. Two-lap qualifying for the JEGS 150 begins at 6 p.m. with an autograph session to follow at 8 p.m. The race will air on July 27 at 10 a.m. on Fox Sports 1. ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities, women drivers, and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing visit https://revracing.net and follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

Beasley Catches Fire, Again

SONY DSCConcord, NC (Jul. 15, 2014) – Many people were convinced that Jay Beasley’s 3 consecutive top-10’s were merely luck when his hot streak came to an end after a disappointing showing at Langley Speedway. However, the Las Vegas, Nevada native was determined to prove his skeptics wrong at Loudon; and he did just that. Things began a little rocky for Beasley at the 1-mile oval track where the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East newcomer made his 10th track debut of the season.Beasley and his crew initially struggled to adapt to the racetrack. “For practice and qualifying, the car was really loose getting into corner. It wasn’t until the half-way break of the race that we were finally able make the right adjustments so that I felt more comfortable with the car. We tightened the car up, entry and exit, and from there we were good to go,” said Beasley In addition to the necessary adjustments, Beasley and crew’s strategy for the race proved to be equally as instrumental in securing Jay’s top-5 finish. With roughly 100 miles after taking the green flag to improve his 20th place qualifying position, Beasley took his time and waited for his opportunities to arrive instead of forcing them. And when the time came, Beasley would make one of his signature moves to the inside and pass one competitor after another until he found himself fluctuating between 10th and 12th place. From there his progress grew stagnant, and it appeared that Beasley could secure a top-10 finish at best. However, after a restart with 10 laps remaining, Beasley became involved in a 4-wide battle before managing to squeeze through and secure the sixth place position. Beasley, took the white flag in sixth, however an accident between the first and second place drivers on the final turn allowed Beasley to move up two positions and take the checked flag in the top-5 for the second time this season. While Beasley had a successful weekend, he was unfortunately the only Rev Racing driver that was able to finish the race. Beasley’s teammates were among the many drivers who fell victim to blown tires and pile-ups over the course of the competition. Nonetheless, with the JEGS 150 coming up this weekend, the Rev Racing teams won’t have to wait long to redeem themselves. The Granite State 100 will air on FOX Sports 1 on July 20 at noon. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will race next in the JEGS 150 at Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway on Saturday, July 19. ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities and women drivers and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing visit https://revracing.net or follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

Road Trip To Loudon

SONY DSCConcord, NC (June 8, 2014) – This weekend’s companion race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will mark the first of a five race, six-week gauntlet for the K&N Pro Series East. With a brief break since their last competition, the Rev Racing drivers have used the past two weeks to mentally and physically prepare for the impeding task ahead. The 5 drivers have utilized the downtime to visit family, hit the gym, and work on their cars. Each driver is aware that in order to experience success over the next six weeks, every member of their team will be required to fire on all cylinders. And with the Granite State 100 only a few days away, the drivers are more than ready to get back on the track and finish the season strong. Daniel Suarez (No. 6 Rev Racing Toyota) – Suarez’s attitude as of late, can be summed up with one word: insatiable. Though, the Monterrey, Mexico native is coming off of a top-10 performance at Langley Speedway, he’s far from content. Suarez is still in the hunt for the NKNPSE championship, and with seven races remaining, he believes that now is the time to make one final push. Consequently, Suarez and his crew have been working diligently in the shop for the past two weeks to make sure that his upcoming performance at New Hampshire will reflect such a sentiment. Suarez is currently 5th in the point standings. Ryan Gifford (No. 2 UTI/NASCAR Tech Toyota) – In his last outing, Gifford was sidelined after experiencing brake issues. Yet, through the adversity Gifford has remained optimistic that he is due for a breakout performance of the 2014 season, and that New Hampshire Motor Speedway will be the perfect venue. Gifford is currently 17th in the point standings. Jay Beasley (No. 42 Toyota Racing Development Toyota) – Beasley’s hot streak came to end at Langley Speedway after he spun out mid-race. However, after three dominant performances prior to his last outing, Beasley believes that the mistake that spun him out was the exception, not the rule, and that he will quickly be able to catch fire again. Beasley is currently 14th in the point standings. Sergio Peña (No. 4 Toyota Racing Development Toyota) – In his last outing, Peña was collateral damage of an early pile-up and was unable to make up for lost ground. However, Peña is confident that the car he took to Langley was possibly the fastest of the season. Therefore, Peña is adamant that if his crew can get his car to the same specifications, he can earn his first top-5 of the season at New Hampshire Speedway, and improve his 16th place point standing. Especially since the last time that Peña competed at New Hampshire for Rev Racing, he walked away with a 2nd place finish. “New Hampshire have always been good tracks for me. And we were really fast at Langley, we just experienced some bad-luck. So the goal is to get the car exactly how it was at Langley. We believe that if we can accomplish this, we’ll have a good run at New Hampshire,” said Peña. Mackena Bell (No. 21 Special Smiles/Lung Force Toyota) – Similar to Peña, Bell is another Rev Racing drivers who was unable to recover from an early pile-up in the last outing. However, one of her four top-10’s last season came at New Hampshire. Bell’s last top-10 was the first race of the 2014 season, so the leading lady for Rev Racing is prime for a breakout performance at a track where she has a history of performing well. Two-lap qualifying for the Granite State 100 will be on Thursday, July 10 at 5:00 p.m. followed by the autograph session at 6:30 p.m. at the WOKQ FanFest. The Granite State 100 will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, July 11.  ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities, women drivers, and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing visit https://revracing.net and follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

Another Top-10 for Suarez

SONY DSCConcord, NC (Jun 24, 2014) – There were those who were apart of caution flags, and those who were able to avoid caution flags. This sentiment ultimately determined the position in which each driver took the checkered flag at Saturday night’s Visit Hampton 175 at Langley Speedway due to the fact that few positions were gained or lost during the actual competition. Most notable was Daniel Suarez, who rallied from a 14th place qualification effort to secure Rev Racing’s best finish of the night. Roughly 20 laps after taking the green, Suarez was the beneficiary of a pile-up, which unfortunately included Rev Racing teammates Mackena Bell and Sergio Peña. The incident automatically moved Suarez up a few positions. From there, the Monterrey, Mexico native only needed to pass one more driver to crack the top-10; a feat he was ultimately able to accomplish before taking the checkered flag in 10th. Jay Beasley also posted an impressive showing before spinning out midway through the race. After qualifying sixth, the best of the Rev Racing team, Beasley was in prime position to secure his second top-5 of the season. However, a small miscue roughly 90 laps into the race caused Beasley to make contact with another driver and spin out, knocking him from sixth to 16th. Beasley fought tooth and nail to make up for lost ground, but was unable to increase his standing. Ryan Gifford had a solid top-10 qualifying effort, but a brake line burst as he was avoiding the first pile-up of the race, preventing him from finishing the race. Bell and Peña who were apart of the same pile-up that affected teammate Gifford were unable to bounce back from the setback and finished 13th and 14th respectively. The drivers will have a few weeks to make some adjustments on their vehicles before returning to action on July 11 for the Granite State 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities and women drivers and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing visit https://revracing.net or follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

Rev Racing Homecoming

SONY DSCConcord, NC (Jun. 19) – Since the beginning of the season, Director of Competition Jefferson Hodges has had this weekend’s K&N Pro Series East race circled on his calendar. For Hodges, the Visit Hampton VA 175 (which takes place at Langley Speedway) is more than just another race on the schedule; it is a homecoming. Langley used to be owned by Hodges’ family, and it remains a track he knows too well. “It was a place that we were always proud of and always had great support from the teams and community. It is a showplace for short-track stock car racing and really makes me happy to have all the memories of growing up there and see all the improvements Bill [Mullis] and his staff have made to the place I grew up knowing as ‘Langley Field’. I think everyone in the K&N Series enjoys going there and that makes me feel really good.” From a historical standpoint, Hodges’ knowledge of the track has proven advantageous for his drivers. In 2013, three of the four Rev Racing cars finished in the top-11, with the outlier suffering from electrical issues. “Langley is a tricky place. It is shaped like an oval, but not at all raced that way,” Hodges said. “There are certain parts of the track where it is important to be very good, and others where it does not matter nearly as much. In my opinion, to be able to share that [insight] with my team is an advantage.” For the upcoming race, the spotlight will be on NKNPSE newcomer Jay Beasley along with veteran Sergio Peña. Jay Beasley (No. 42 Toyota Racing Development Toyota) – Beasley is currently on a hot streak. After another impressive performance at Five Flags Speedway, he will make his debut at Langley Speedway behind the momentum of three consecutive top-10’s. Conjunctionally, each of Beasley’s aforementioned top-10 performances have been during track debuts, proving that the Las Vegas native has developed the ability to quickly adapt to unfamiliar circumstances. Beasley’s last few outings have moved him up in the point standings, where he currently sits at 13th. Sergio Peña (No. 4 L&M Enthanol Toyota) – Peña reigns supreme at Langley Speedway. Of the active drivers in the NKNPSE, the NASCAR Next alumnus has the most wins, top-5’s, and laps led. Coming off of a top-10 performance at Five Flags Speedway, Peña is looking forward to continuing his dominance at Langley Speedway. Daniel Suarez (No. 6 Toyota Racing Development Toyota) – Last season, Suarez’ performance at Langley Speedway fell just short of taking the checkered flag in first. However, his valiant second place finish resulted in his first top-5 of the season. After mechanical issues prevented him from finishing last week’s race at Five Flags Speedway, Suarez won’t have to wait much longer to redeem himself and move back into the top-5 of the point standings. Suarez is currently 6th in the point standings. Ryan Gifford (No. 2 UTI/NASCAR Technical Institute Toyota) – Gifford is another Rev Racing driver who has historically performed well at Langley Speedway. In last year’s campaign, Gifford was able to secure a top-5 finish after a solid top-10 qualifying effort. After a less than favorable finish last weekend, Gifford is adamant about returning to the same form that recently secured him a top-10 finish at Bowman Gray Stadium. Gifford is currently 17th in the point standings. Mackena Bell (No. 21 Special Smiles Pediatric Dentistry Toyota) – In her last campaign at Langley Speedway, Bell put forth an admirable effort, but finished one spot shy of the top-10. After showing signs of improvement over her past few races, Bell is looking use the knowledge of Hodges and her crew chief to earn her second top-10 of the season. Bell is currently 15th in the point standings. Two-lap qualifying for the Visit Hampton 175 will be Saturday, June 21 at 4:00 p.m., followed by an autograph session at 5:45 p.m. The race begins at 8:00 p.m. ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities and women drivers and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing visit https://revracing.net or follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

Beasley Scorching Hot After Third Consecutive Top-10

SONY DSCConcord, NC (Jun 17, 2014) We’ve reached the halfway milestone of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season and Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Jay Beasley has found his stride. After a brief transition period to his first season competing in the NKNPSE, Beasley has torn-off the training wheels and settled into his rightful place as a contender in the series. When asked whether he believes others drivers in the series are finally beginning to view him more as a contender and less as a rookie, Beasley stated, “The other drivers aren’t my concern. Some people will give you positive remarks and others will criticize, so I don’t pay attention to what other people think. I just try to do my best every time I’m out there and take it one lap at a time.” Based on the results of his last three races, this sentiment has proven favorable for the young driver from Las Vegas, Nevada. The initial storyline of the Pensacola 150 was centered around the weather, with an impeding thunderstorm threatening to postpone the race. The thunderstorm, however, proved to be short-lived and the lone practice resumed on a damp track. Nevertheless, drivers and crew chiefs alike were thrown a curve ball as the sun appeared just prior to qualifications, drying the track and forcing the drivers to qualify in conditions they had not practiced in. Initially, Beasley had trouble adjusting to a dry track and found himself in a hole for Friday’s 150-lap competition after qualifying 17th. However, with some skillful maneuvering and quick shifting, he was able to take advantage of each of the 5 restarts and methodically pass one driver after another until finding a place in the top-10. Sergio Peña also posted an impressive performance at Five Flags Speedway. After qualifying 11th, Peña was in prime position to add another top-10 to his résumé; and that’s exactly what he did. It was initially reported that Peña finished 16th. However, once the race had concluded, it was discovered that a collision during the actual competition had broken Peña’s transponder, giving the illusion that he had fallen a lap behind the rest of the pack, despite being in the thick of the action. For a significant portion of the 150-lap race, Beasley, Peña, and Rev Racing teammate Mackena Bell found themselves battling one another for the final few positions in the top-10. Unfortunately, all three drivers weren’t able to hold on to their positions and Bell gave up one too many positions over the final few laps and took the checkered flag in 12th. Ryan Gifford and Daniel Suarez were unable to finish the race after suffering from mechanical and tire issues. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will resume competition this weekend with the Visit Hampton 175 at Hampton, Virginia’s Langley Speedway on Saturday, June 21. ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities and women drivers and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing visit https://revracing.net or follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

From the Madhouse to Five Flags

SONY DSCConcord, NC (Jun 10, 2014) – After a thrilling race at Bowman Gray Stadium, the Rev Racing team will load up the haulers and take the racecars to Pensacola, FL to compete in the Pensacola 150 at Five Flags Speedway. However, unlike Rev Racing’s 2013 outing at Five Flags Speedway, this year’s race was scheduled further along into the season, giving each of the Rev drivers the advantage of having more time to gel with their crew. The additional seat-time, combined with the momentum surrounding the team after placing three drivers in the top-10 at the toughest track on the 2014 schedule, has the bar set high for Rev’s upcoming endeavor. Leading the charge for Rev Racing will be newcomer Jay Beasley and veteran Daniel Suarez. Jay Beasley (No. 42 Toyota Racing Development Toyota) – The K&N Pro Series East newcomer, who is 15th in the point standings, will be competing at Five Flags Speedway for the first time. However, after finishing top-5 and top-10 in his last two races, Beasley’s stock and confidence are sky-high. “I think my success lately is due to having more seat-time in the car and more time to gel with my crew. The team has done a great job with the car. Over the season our communication has gotten better and better. And recently we’ve been making strides in having the car set up better.” Daniel Suarez (No. 6 Toyota Racing Development Toyota) – Suarez heads to Five Flags Speedway coming off an unlikely second place finish at Bowman Gray where he managed to improve 18 places over the course of a 150-lap, 37.5-mile race. Furthermore, the Monterrey, Mexico native returns to the United States after recently winning his fourth race in the Mexico Toyota Series. Suarez is currently third in the point standings. Ryan Gifford (No. 2 UTI/NASCAR Technical Institute Toyota) – Coming off of a hard fought top-10 effort at Bowman Gray, Gifford is looking to build some momentum to carry him into the second half of the season. Historically, Five Flags Speedway has been a generous track for the NASCAR Next driver. In his last outing at Five Flags Speedway, Gifford finished within the top-10. Gifford is currently 16th in the point standings. Sergio Peña (No. 4 L&M Enthanol Toyota) – Sergio Peña will be competing at Five Flags Speedway for the first time with Rev Racing. After mechanical issues put a damper on his top-10 qualifying effort at Bowman Gray, Peña is eager to get back behind the wheel. “Last race was unfortunate as blowing a front right tire isn’t something you can control. So the strategy hasn’t changed. The team is working hard and still believe we have a great car,” said Peña. He is currently 17th in the point standings. Mackena Bell (No. 21 Special Smiles Pediatric Dentistry Toyota) – In her last outing at Five Flags Speedway. Bell narrowly missed a top-10 finish. With a chip on her shoulder, Bell is looking to redeem last year’s efforts and finish in the top-10. Two-lap qualifying for the Pensacola 150 will be Friday, June 13 at 5:30 p.m., followed by an autograph session at 7:00 p.m. The race begins at 9:00 p.m. ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities and women drivers and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing visit https://revracing.net or follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

Suarez Leads Top-10 Trio at the Madhouse

SONY DSCConcord, NC (Jun 3, 2014) – Saturday’s NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 at Bowman Gray Stadium was headlined by Suarez’s 2nd place finish, while three Rev Racing drivers ultimately took the checkered flag within the top-10 in a race that was decided on the final lap. Jay Beasley was the only driver to qualify in the top-10. Ryan Gifford qualified 14th and Daniel Suarez qualified last after hitting the wall in turn one of his qualifying efforts. The damage to the #6 Toyota Racing Development Toyota was extensive, but repairable, leaving the question of how it would perform during the actual race. Bowman has historically been a track that is difficult to navigate. The flat and narrow quarter-mile track is designed for bumping, banging, and sliding. The only way to steer clear of other drivers is to stay is to distance oneself from the pack. However, with the Rev Racing drivers scattered throughout, each car was in the thick of the action. After the drivers took the green flag, an immediate pile up in turn three involving Rev Racing drivers Bell and Gifford, forced a yellow flag. There was a grand total of 12 yellow and one red flag over the course of the hour-long competition. While the entire race was marred with caution flags, it was the final flag on lap 143 that set the stage for a green-white-checkered restart. Under the yellow, Suarez, Gifford, and Beasley were positioned 2nd, 6th, and 7th respectively. Once the green flag was issued on lap 150, Suarez was door-to-door with Rhodes in a battle for first. Unfortunately, Rhodes, who had the inside position, was able to clear Suarez just before taking the checkered. Though Rhodes and Suarez had a clear path the finish line, the remaining drivers were involved in a pile up in turn four. After extensive contact, Gifford and Beasley narrowly escaped and sprinted to 7th and 9th place finishes. Mackena Bell took the checkered flag in 13th while Sergio Peña was unable to finish due to mechanical issues. In reference to his come-from-behind 2nd place finish, Suarez admitted that Saturday’s efforts were a combination of teamwork and luck. “I want to thank everyone on the Rev Racing team who helped get my car back to where I could compete. They did an awesome job. The car for the race was not exactly the same as it was in the morning because we hit the wall, but it was fast. And with some luck we were able to drive all the way back to the front and now we head home with a smile on our faces and a 2nd place finish.” With his 2nd place finish, Suarez has jumped Cameron Hayley and has reclaimed 3rd place in the point standings. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will return to action on Friday, June 13 with the Pensacola 150 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida. The NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 will air on FOX Sports 1 on Saturday June 7 at 10:30am. ABOUT REV RACING: Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities and women drivers and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing visit https://revracing.net or follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.