langley speedway Archives

DRIVE FOR DIVERSITY COMBINE ROSTER UNVEILED

Posted on October 3, 2013 by matchbook

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 3, 2013) — As the NASCAR Drive for Diversity (#NASCARD4D) program approaches its 10-year anniversary, NASCAR and Rev Racing have selected the participants for the 2013 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine. The drivers will participate in a rigorous on- and off-track evaluation process for the opportunity to join the NASCAR D4D program and compete for Rev Racing during the 2014 season. The combine will be held at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va., from Oct. 21-23. The annual Combine is the first step in identifying and developing the future stars of the sport. Kyle Larson and Darrell Wallace Jr. are among the drivers who have graduated from the NASCAR D4D program after attending the annual combine and driving for Rev Racing. Ryan Gifford, who currently drives for Rev Racing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut driving for Richard Childress Racing on Aug. 3. “The NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program has contributed to the success of some of the most promising young drivers and crew members in our sport,” said Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR vice president, public affairs and multicultural development. “The drivers announced today will have an opportunity to compete at the 2013 D4D Combine and earn a place on the 2014 NASCAR Drive for Diversity/Rev Racing roster.” NASCAR officials and Rev Racing representatives chose the 20 up-and-coming drivers from 95 applicants representing the United States, Canada and Latin America. “We are excited about this year’s group of Combine participants,” said Max Siegel, owner/CEO of Rev Racing. “They represent a great cross-section of talent and experience, and any one of them would make a great addition to the 2014 Drive for Diversity team.” The 2013 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine participants include:

Devon Amos, 22 Rio Rancho, N.M.
Annabeth Barnes, 18 Mooresville, N.C.
George Beasley, 21 Las Vegas, Nev.
Nicole Behar, 15 Otis Orchards, Wash.
Ryan Bernal, 19 Hollister, Calif.
Collin Cabre, 19 Thonotosassa, Fla.
Meagan Creech, 20 Ashland, Va.
Claire Decker, 18 Eagle River, Wis.
Paige Decker, 20 Eagle River, Wis.
Natalie Decker, 16 Eagle River, Wis.
Ruben Garcia, Jr., 17 Mexico City, Mexico
Blake Kisner, 18 Chanute, Kan.
Katlynn Leer, 14 St. Moulton, Iowa
Jack Madrid, 18 San Clemente, Calif.
Hannah Newhouse, 16 Twin Falls, Idaho
Sergio Pena, 20 Catharpin, Va.
Dylan Smith, 21 Randolph, Vt.
Kenny Stewart II, 16 Carson, Calif.
Cody Thompson, 20 Fremont, Calif.
Sam Wright, 18 Vancouver, Wash.

An additional eight young drivers will join these 20 drivers on Oct. 23 and compete for the opportunity to drive for Rev Racing during the 2014 Summer Shootout Series in INEX Legends and Bandoleros.

Jairo Avila, 17 Alhambra, Calif.
Austin Geer, 11 Johns Creek, Ga.
Kylin Hammer, 11 Meadowview, Va.
Ryleigh Lemonds, 10 Yorktown, Va.
Enrique Limon, 15 Mexico City, Mexico
Jaiden Reyna, 7 Newport News, Va.
Ashley Rogero, 15 Naples, Fla.
Walter Thomas, 15 Indianapolis, Ind.

All of the drivers attending the Combine will be mentored and coached by the Rev Racing staff, along with the team’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series East drivers Mackena Bell, Ryan Gifford, Bryan Ortiz and Daniel Suarez. The Hampton Convention & Visitor Bureau and Langley Speedway have partnered with Rev Racing and NASCAR to support the 2013 NASCAR D4D Combine. Langley Speedway will host the Combine for the third consecutive year. The paved 0.395-mile short track is one of the flattest tracks in the region with six-degree banked corners and four degrees of banking on the straightaway. Langley Speedway is an ideal track to test the abilities of NASCAR’s up-and-coming talent.

BARNES AND MADRID COMPETE IN THE HAMPTON HEAT 200 AT LANGLEY SPEEDWAY

Posted on July 29, 2013 by matchbook

CONCORD, N.C. (July 29, 2013) – When Annabeth Barnes and Jack Madrid arrived at Motor Mile Speedway on Saturday they thought their hopes of racing this past weekend were over. The weather wasn’t working in their favor, and the speedway had to postpone the CMS Supply Twin 125s due to rain. The team was determined to race however, so they loaded up the haulers and drove east to Langley Speedway, hopeful to make it there in time to compete in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (NWAAS) Hampton Heat 200. The clock and driving distance weren’t the only thing the team was battling, once they arrived at Langley they had to completely change the car setup to accommodate for the different track. The team made it to Langley on time and worked tirelessly to get the cars race ready. Barnes and Madrid were able to get some practice laps in, and qualified 27th and 21st respectively out of 31 cars. The field was stacked with a talented and well-known group of short-track drivers, and Barnes and Madrid were able to gain some great experience. Langley Speedway veterans Anthony and Phil Warren were able to coach Barnes in the No. 72 Toyota Racing Camry through the race, keeping her out of trouble, and leading her to a 13th place finish. Madrid in the No. 4 Toyota Racing Camry was caught up in a wreck early on in the race. The team was able to repair the damage, but he battled an overheating car all night. He was able to finish the race and come home with a 19th place result. The next race for both drivers in the NWAAS will be on Saturday, August 10th, at Hickory Motor Speedway.

SUAREZ EARNS CAREER BEST FINISH AT LANGLEY

Posted on June 25, 2013 by matchbook

CONCORD, N.C. (June 24, 2013) – After a long day of waiting for the storms to pass, the sky cleared and 23 drivers hit the track for the Visit Hampton 175 at Langley Speedway. Qualifying was rained out, so drivers started based on their standing in the series points. Ryan Gifford started fifth, Bryan Ortiz 10th, Mackena Bell 11th, and Daniel Suarez 12th. Suarez fought hard throughout the race to position himself to battle for the lead. Unfortunately, there weren’t enough green flag runs at the end for him to catch up to the race leader, and he came home with a career best second place finish. Gifford who has had a strong season, drove hard all night to come home with a fifth place finish. It was a strong points night for the driver who moved up to fifth in points. Rev Racing finished the night with three top-15 finishes, and three drivers in the top-10 in points. Ryan Gifford (@RyanGifford2) (No. 2 NASCAR Technical Institute/UTI Toyota Camry) – Gifford, who earned his first career win earlier this season had a strong night at Langley. He ran in the top-10 throughout the night, and managed to position himself well in the last re-start of the race, earning a fifth place finish. Gifford moved up in points and is currently fourth. Bryan Ortiz (@BryanORacing) (No. 4 Rev Racing Toyota Camry) – Ortiz suffered from the start of the race with a series of misfortunate events that left him with a 22nd place finish. His car was quick at practice, finishing fifth and seventh, and he started 10th based on points. Unfortunately, a flat tire early in the race caused him to loose laps, and a mechanical failure later in the night ended his race early.

Daniel Suarez fought hard all night to come home with a career best second place finish. Photo Credit: Getty Images for NASCAR — Daniel Suarez fought hard all night to come home with a career best second place finish.
Photo Credit: Getty Images for NASCAR

Daniel Suarez (@DnlSuarez) (No. 6 Rev Racing Toyota Camry) – Suarez was the frontrunner for Rev Racing throughout the race. He started 12th but quickly moved his Toyota Camry through the field, and put himself in a position to battle for the lead. He fought hard to keep the third place driver off, but didn’t get enough green-flag runs at the end to catch-up to the leader. He moved up to ninth in points. Mackena Bell (@MackenaBell) (No. 21 Toyota Racing Development Toyota Camry) – Bell, who came home 11th, was the highest finishing female of the night. Her car was fast and she ran in the top-10 for most of the night, proving her determination to win. She’s currently 10th in points. The Visit Hampton VA 175 will air on Thursday, June 27 at 3 p.m. ET on SPEED. Rev Racing will head to Columbus Motor Speedway on July 13 for the NAPA Auto Parts 150, the eighth NKNPS East race on the 2013 schedule.

REV RACING READY FOR ACTION AT LANGLEY SPEEDWAY

Posted on June 20, 2013 by matchbook

CONCORD, N.C. (June 20, 2013) – Rev Racing will return to action with the Visit Hampton VA 175 NASCAR K&N Pro Series (NKNPS) East race at Langley Speedway on Saturday, June 22 in Hampton, Va. The last time Bryan Ortiz, Daniel Suarez, Mackena Bell and Ryan Gifford hit the pavement at Langley Speedway was for the 2012 NASCAR Drive for Diversity combine, where their driving careers depended on how well they could find their way around the .396 mile oval. All four were selected for the 2013 Drive for Diversity class, and hope to find success once again at Langley this weekend. The Visit Hampton VA 175 marks the midway point of the 2013 season, one which has been memorable for Rev Racing. Gifford came home with his first series win at Richmond in April, and Bell set the record for highest qualifying by a female in series history at Iowa the last time out. Ryan Gifford (No. 2 NASCAR Technical Institute/UTI Toyota Camry) – Gifford, who won his first NKNPS East race at Richmond earlier this year, is having a stellar season. He has three top-five finishes, 2 top-10s, and is currently sixth in points. This will be his third time racing at Langley, where he ran in 2011 and 2012 and qualified eighth and sixth respectively. Bryan Ortiz (No. 4 L&M Toyota Camry) – Ortiz has three top-10s this season, with a best finish of sixth at Pensacola, and is currently 10th in points. This will be his second NKNPS East race at Langley, where he qualified 10th in 2012 and finished sixth. Daniel Suarez (No. 6 Rev Racing Toyota Camry) – Suarez, who is racing in both the NKNPS East and NASCAR Toyota Series this season, will be competing at Langley for the first time. He has two top-10 finishes this season, with a best finish of seventh at Greenville, and is currently 12th in points. Mackena Bell (No. 21 Toyota Racing Development Toyota Camry) – Bell, who’s competing in her first full NKNPS East season, broke the record she had previously set, by becoming the highest qualifying female in series history with her fourth place qualifying effort at Iowa the last time out. She’s currently 11th in points and in contention to win Rookie of the Year honors. This will be her first NKNPS East race at Langley. There will be a an autograph session at 5:30 p.m. followed by the race at 8:30 p.m. ET. Follow @RevRacin on Twitter and Instagram for race updates. The Visit Hampton VA 175 will air on Thursday, June 27 at 3 p.m. ET on SPEED.