Darrell Wallace Jr Comes Home Third in Series Championship

Photo Credit: Wade Leaphart
Four D4D Drivers Excel in 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series Season Dover, Del. (Sept. 24, 2010) – Darrell Wallace Jr.’s impressive rookie season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East ended on a down note Friday at Dover International Speedway when a cut tire on lap 34 put his No. 6 Castle Packs Power car into the third turn wall and ended his season. Wallace finished 25th in the 150-lap race and wrapped up his season third in NASCAR K&N Series East points. Race winner Brett Moffitt got past Wallace to finish second in series’ points, while Ryan Truex, who finished the race in third, captured his second consecutive NASCAR K&N Series East championship. Wallace’s season ended with two wins, five top-fives and seven top-10s. The 16-year-old Revolution Racing driver, who in the season’s first race at Greenville-Pickens Speedway made history when he became the NASCAR K&N Series’ youngest and first African American to win a race, finished the season 195 points behind Truex and 61 points behind Moffitt. Wallace’s second win came at Lee USA Speedway in New Hampshire. Sergio Pena, 17, driving the No. 4 Changing Lanes on BET car, was the highest finishing Revolution Racing driver in the Sunoco 150 at Dover with an eighth-place finish, while teammates Michael Cherry finished 13th and Ryan Gifford finished 19th. Pena ended his season with three top-10 finishes in his rookie campaign, not including an exciting duel in his series debut in January at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale with Joey Lagano, where the Winchester, Va., driver won the pole and finished second to the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year. Gifford, 21, finished ninth in points and recorded four top-five NASCAR K&N Series finishes and a pole at Martinsville Speedway. That historic accomplishment marked the first time an African American driver won a NASCAR K&N Pro Series pole position.
Michael Cherry and the No. 8 Playseat Chevy
Cherry, 21, of Valrico, Fla., only made three series starts, but recorded two top-10 finishes and one top five. Cherry started the season at Revolution Racing in one of the team’s six NASCAR Whelen All-American Series late models and became the first African-American to win a race at Tri-County Motor Speedway before making the transition to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. Three Revolution Racing driver’s finished the season in the top 15 of NASCAR K&N Pro Series points (Wallace third, Gifford ninth and Pena 12th). All four Revolution Racing cars completed the season in the top 15 in NASCAR K&N Pro Series owner’s standings – No. 6 (Wallace) third, No. 2 (Gifford) 10th, No. 4 (Pena) 13th and No. 8 (Cherry) 14th. Revolution Racing fields 10 teams for the Drive for Diversity program, four in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and six NASCAR Whelen All-American Series teams. In addition, Revolution Racing fields youth racing programs in Bandolero and Legend cars. Among the historic accomplishments of Revolution Racing drivers in 2010 include:
  • March 27, 2010 Revolution Racing driver Darrell Wallace, Jr. became the youngest and first African-American driver to win in NASCAR K&N Pro Series history;
  • On June 5, 2010 Revolution Racing driver Ryan Gifford became the first African-American driver in NASCAR K&N Pro Series history to qualify on the pole;
  • On June 11, 2010 Revolution Racing driver Michael Cherry became the first African-American to win at Tri-County Speedway (Hudson, N.C.);
  • On July 2, 2010 Revolution Racing driver Megan Reitenour became the first female driver to win at Tri-County Speedway (Hudson, N.C.).

Playseat to Sponsor Michael Cherry and the No. 8 Team at Monster Mile

Mooresville, N.C. (Sept. 20, 2010) – Playseat, the premier manufacturer of gaming furniture worldwide, has signed on as a primary sponsor of Revolution Racing’s No. 8 car driven by Michael Cherry in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Sunoco 150 at Dover International Speedway. Cherry, from Valrico, Fla., will be making his third start in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series.  In his previous two starts he recorded a fourth-place finish in his series debut at Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, Ga., on Aug. 28 and an eighth-place finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sept. 17.  Cherry made the transition from Revolution Racing’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series team last month where earlier in the season he become the first African-American driver to win a race at Tri-County Motor Speedway in Hudson, N.C. Playseat’s relationship with Revolution Racing began earlier this year as they joined forces to bring the Revolution Racing Technology and Training Lab to life.  In addition to driver development and training, the Revolution Racing Training and Technology Lab offers opportunities for educational and youth groups to get an inside look at the world of motorsports.  Revolution Racing exclusively uses the Playseat Evolution racing chassis.  Additional technology partners include Doghouse Systems, iRacing.com and Logitech, who are currently finalizing the details for the official Revolution Racing Sim Training Rig.

NASCAR D4D Drivers Salvage Top-10 Finishes at New Hampshire

LOUDON, N.H. (Sept. 17, 2010) – Two NASCAR Drive for Diversity drivers – Michael Cherry and Darrell Wallace Jr. – battled to hard-fought top-10 finishes in the New Hampshire 125 NASCAR K&N Series East race Friday afternoon at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, while Sergio Pena finished 16th and Ryan Gifford finished a distant  28th after blowing an engine on lap 79. All four Revolution Racing drivers were disappointed with their finishing positions, but none more than Wallace, whose Castle Packs Power car got turned on a late restart and now finds himself 118 points behind race winner and defending series champion Ryan Truex in championship standings with only one race remaining.  Wallace still has the slimmest of opportunities next Friday at Dover International Speedway to become the first African American driver in NASCAR history to win a national touring series championship.  The 16-year-old high school senior made history in the first race of the season when he became the NASCAR K&N Series’ youngest and first African American to win a race. Cherry, from Valrico, Fla., driving the ASM Graphics / Changing Lanes on BET car followed up his 4th-place debut in the NASCAR K&N Series East race at Gresham Motorsports Park with another impressive top-10 finish.  Cherry made the transition from Revolution Racing’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series team last month where earlier in the season he become the first African-American driver to win a race at Tri-County Motor Speedway in Hudson, N.C. Gifford fell to eighth in series standings while Pena slid one spot to 12th. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will wrap up its season Friday at Dover International Speedway in the Sunoco 150. The New England 125 can be seen on Speed TV Thursday at 6 p.m. (ET).  Changing Lanes, a docu-reality show chronicling Revolution Racing’s selection process of its current driving corps, airs Wednesday night at 10 p.m. (ET) on BET. ABOUT REVOLUTION RACING Revolution Racing fields 10 teams for the Drive for Diversity program, four in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and six NASCAR Whelen All-American Series teams.  In addition, Revolution Racing fields youth-racing programs in Bandolero and Legend cars. Among the historic accomplishments of Revolution Racing drivers in 2010 include:
  • March 27, 2010 Revolution Racing driver Darrell Wallace, Jr. became the youngest and first African-American driver to win in NASCAR K&N Pro Series history;
  • On June 5, 2010 Revolution Racing driver Ryan Gifford became the first African-American driver in NASCAR K&N Pro Series history to qualify on the pole;
  • On June 11, 2010 Revolution Racing driver Michael Cherry became the first African-American to win at Tri-County Speedway (Hudson, N.C.);
  • On July 2, 2010 Revolution Racing driver Megan Reitenour became the first female driver to win at Tri-County Speedway (Hudson, N.C.).
ABOUT DRIVE FOR DIVERSITY Drive for Diversity is the industry’s leading development program for minority and female drivers and crew members.  The Drive for Diversity program currently supports drivers in two of NASCAR’s development series – the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.  Drive for Diversity also supports crew member candidate through a year-long pit crew training program.  Crew members have gone on to compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Diversity is NASCAR’s top corporate initiative.  The Drive for Diversity program has been successful in creating meaningful opportunities for minority and female competitors.  The program helps to further diversity NASCAR’s participant and audience base.  The program has seen continuous growth since its inception in 2004. ###

Darrell Wallace Jr Aims to Add to Historic Season

Wallace celebrates second win of season
D4D Driver Looks to Capture Championship
LOUDON, N.H. (Sept. 16, 2010) – Darrell Wallace Jr.’s hunt for a historic NASCAR Championship is still in play at New Hampshire Motor Speedway as NASCAR K&N Series East teams qualified today for the New Hampshire 125. The 16-year-old Revolution Racing driver, who made history in the first race of the season when he became the NASCAR K&N Series’ youngest and first African American to win a race, is in second place 66 points behind defending series champion Ryan Truex with two races remaining. Wallace qualified eighth for tomorrow’s race which is slated for 5 p.m. Truex qualified 5th. Joe Gibbs Racing development driver Brett Moffitt won the pole. Should he overcome the points’ deficit in the final two races, Wallace would become the first African-American to win a NASCAR touring series championship. “Obviously it would be a historic accomplishment,” said Wallace, who along with his teammates is a NASCAR Drive for Diversity participant. “Not since Wendell Scott’s only NASCAR Cup Series win in 1963 has there been an African American to make a huge mark on the sport and it would be an honor to be the next.” Wallace’s win at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in March was his first of two wins this season; the second came at Lee Speedway in July. Revolution Racing qualified four cars for the New Hampshire 125, with Ryan Gifford lining up seventh, Sergio Pena 14th and Michael Cherry 22nd. Gifford stands fifth in NASCAR K&N Series East points; Pena 11th and Cherry is making only his second series start. Cherry’s debut at Gresham Motorsports Park on Aug. 28 was a huge success for the rookie, where he started and finished the race in the fourth position. Revolution Racing fields 10 teams for the Drive for Diversity program, four in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and six NASCAR Whelen All-American Series teams. In addition, Revolution Racing fields youth racing programs in Bandolero and Legend cars. Among the historic accomplishments of Revolution Racing drivers in 2010 include:
  • March 27, 2010 Revolution Racing driver Darrell Wallace, Jr. became the youngest and first African-American driver to win in NASCAR K&N Pro Series history;
  • On June 5, 2010 Revolution Racing driver Ryan Gifford became the first African-American driver in NASCAR K&N Pro Series history to qualify on the pole;
  • On June 11, 2010 Revolution Racing driver Michael Cherry became the first African-American to win at Tri-County Speedway (Hudson, N.C.);
  • On July 2, 2010 Revolution Racing driver Megan Reitenour became the first female driver to win at Tri-County Speedway (Hudson, N.C.).

Statistical Advance: Analyzing The New Hampshire 125 At The “Magic Mile”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The penultimate race of the 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season will take place on Friday, Sept. 17 with the New Hampshire 125 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. At New Hampshire Motor Speedway: History • Groundbreaking for New Hampshire International Speedway was Aug. 13, 1989. • The official opening was June 5, 1990 and the first NASCAR event was a NASCAR Nationwide Series race on July 15, 1990. • The first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race was held on Sept. 2, 1990. • The track was renamed New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2008. • The largest racing oval – and the largest sports facility overall – in New England. Notebook • There have been 53 NKNPS East races all-time at NHMS, more than at any other track. • There have been 23 different race winners, led by Brad Leighton’s eight. • There have been 27 different pole winners, led by Kelly Moore’s six. • Eddie MacDonald has won three of the last five NKNPS East races at NHMS, and is the defending race and pole winner of this event. • Ryan Truex earned his first NHMS win this past June while Brett Moffitt captured the pole. • Among all entrants for the 2010 New Hampshire 125, only MacDonald (3) and Truex (1) have won at NHMS. New Hampshire Motor Speedway Data Race: #9 of 10 overall, #2 of 2 at NHMS Track Layout: 1.058-mile oval Banking: Variable between 2-7 degrees in the turns Race Length: 125 laps/132.25 miles Qualifying/Race Data 2009 pole winner: Eddie MacDonald (127.079 mph, 29.972 sec.) 2009 race winner: Eddie MacDonald (80.296 mph, 1:18.16) Track qualifying record: Brian Hoar (127.141 mph, 28.892 sec., 7-18-02) Up to Speed: • Darrell Wallace Jr. won the season-opener at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway on March 27. • Max Gresham was victorious on April 3 at South Boston (Va.) Speedway and in the East/West combination race at Iowa Speedway on May 23 in Newton, Iowa. • Brett Moffitt was the winner of the inaugural stand-alone NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on June 6. • Defending champion Ryan Truex captured his first win of 2010 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 25 in Loudon, N.H. • Andrew Ranger earned his first NKNPS East pole and race wins in the K&N 100 at Lime Rock Park on July 3 in Lakeville, Conn. • Wallace reached Victory Lane in the first race for the NKNPS East at Lee (N.H.) USA Speedway since 2004 … Kevin Swindell earned his first career pole prior to the race. • Ty Dillon registered his first career win last time out as the NKNPS East made its inaugural visit to Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, Ga.. • Truex leads Wallace in the season standings by 66 points. • The 2010 NKNPS East season will close on Friday, Sept. 24 with the Sunoco 15 in Dover (Del.) International Speedway. Selected Driver Highlights: Michael Cherry (No. 8 Changing Lanes Chevrolet) • Made NASCAR K&N Pro Series East debut last time out at Gresham Motorsports Park and registered a fourth-place finish. • Has taken over the seat of the No. 8 Revolution Racing Chevrolet – previously driven by Mackena Bell – for the balance of the season. • Part of the Drive for Diversity program, he was competing in Revolution Racing’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model program prior to the promotion. Ty Dillon (No. 3 Mom ‘N’ Pops Country Ham Chevrolet) • Has a win and six top 10s in nine career NKNPS East starts. • Earned first career win last time out at GMP. • Has four top 10s in six starts this year. • Has finishes of 17th and sixth in two career starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Ryan Gifford (No. 2 Changing Lanes Chevrolet) • Has seven top fives in 12 career NKNPS East starts … Best career finish is second, twice. • Won his first career Coors Light Pole Award at Martinsville Speedway to become the first African-American driver in NKNPS East history to earn a pole. • Is fifth in points with four top fives in eight starts this year. • Has finished fourth in both of his previous starts at NHMS. • Is competing out of the Revolution Racing garage as part of the Drive for Diversity program. Max Gresham (No. 18 Gresham & Associates Toyota) • Has two wins, a pole and five top 10s in 11 career NKNPS East starts. • Won the second and third races this year at South Boston Speedway and Iowa Speedway. • Is seventh in points … Has three podium efforts, but the other five finishes are 12th or worse. • Has finishes of ninth and 21st in two previous starts at NHMS. • Is a teammate to Brett Moffitt at Joe Gibbs Racing. Matt Kobyluck (No. 40 Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino Chevrolet) • The 2008 NKNPS East champion. • Has seven poles, 16 wins and 95 top 10s in 176 career NKNPS East starts. • Has wins at 11-different tracks, but still seeks his first at NHMS. • Is sixth in points after eight races with four top 10s and a best finish of fourth at Martinsville. • Has nine top 10s, an average finish of 21st and a best finish of third in 29 career starts at NHMS. Eddie MacDonald (No. 71 NEMO/Grimm Construction Chevrolet) • Has six wins, two poles and 54 top 10s in 129 career NKNPS East starts. • Is ninth in points after eight races with best finish of fourth at Lee USA Speedway. • Has won three of the last five races at NHMS, including this event last year … Has eight top 10s and an average finish of 19th in 20 career starts at NHMS. • Will also attempt his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at NHMS, as well as defend his 2009 win in the ACT Invitational. Corey LaJoie (No. 07 LaJoie Auto Wrecking Ford) • Will look to make his third start of the year, and sixth of his career overall. • Has finishes of 31st and eighth in two starts at NHMS. • Best career finish was third last year at Dover International Speedway. Brett Moffitt (No. 20 Game Plan for Life Toyota) • Has three wins, two poles and 14 top 10s in 19 career NKNPS East starts. • Is fourth in points with five top 10s this year. • Has finishes of 27th, second and fifth in three career starts at NHMS. • Competes as a teammate to Max Gresham in the JGR development program. Sergio Pena (No. 4 Changing Lanes Chevrolet) • Is 11th in points with two top 10s in eight starts as a rookie this year. • Best career finish – sixth – came last time out at GMP. • Is competing out of the Revolution Racing garage as part of the Drive for Diversity program. Andrew Ranger (No. 35 Waste Management Recycling Chevrolet) • Has a win and three top fives in five NKNPS East starts during his rookie season. • Finished ninth in his debut at NHMS in June. • Was the 2007 and 2009 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 champion. • Has three wins and top 10s in all five NCATS starts this year … Has 12 wins in 42 career races. D.J. Shaw (No. 60 Precision JLM Chevrolet) • Has four top 10s in 10 career starts … Debuted in the series with two starts at NHMS in 2009. • Is eighth in points with four top 10s and a best finish was fifth in the season opener. • Has finishes of 24th, 21st and 13th in three career starts at NHMS. Kevin Swindell (No. 9 Curb Records/NOS Energy Drink Chevrolet) • Has two poles and five top 10s in 13 career starts. • Is 10th in points with three top 10s. • Has finishes of third, 10th and second in three career starts at NHMS … Runner-up effort this past June is his best career finish overall. • Has made three NASCAR Nationwide Series starts in 2010 for Baker-Curb Racing. Ryan Truex (No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota) • The 2009 NKNPS East titlist … Has four wins, two poles and 15 top 10s in 20 career starts. • Leads Darrell Wallace Jr. by 66 points atop the standings … Has six top fives in seven races. • Has a win (June 2010), a pole (June 2009) and podium finishes in each of his three NHMS starts. • A development driver for Michael Waltrip Racing … Has three NNS starts for MWR this year. Darrell Wallace Jr. (No. 6 Revolution Racing Chevrolet) • Trails Ryan Truex by 66 points in the standings … Has two wins and six top 10s in eight races. • With his win at Greenville Pickens Speedway, he became the youngest race winner in series history, and also became the first African-American driver to win in the series’ 24 years. • Is the leading candidate for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors. • Competes out of the Revolution Racing garage as part of the Drive for Diversity program. Cole Whitt (No. 84 Red Bull Toyota) • Has six top 10s in eight starts in the series and is third in points as a rookie. • Best finish was second at South Boston, Lime Rock and Gresham. • Earned the pole and finished third in his debut at GPS … Also won the East pole at Iowa. • A highly-decorated open wheel racer, he is a development driver for Red Bull Racing.

Nascar Turns to TV to Boost Minorities (New York Times)

A few clicks on the Web site of Black Entertainment Television leads viewers to a short Nascar tutorial filled with information about popular drivers, racetracks and salaries. It may seem odd to find a sport so closely tied to white Southern men featured on a Web site devoted to African-American entertainment, but it represents Nascar’s latest attempt to build a following for minority drivers it hopes to develop into stars. Nascar is behind a new reality television series on BET, “Changing Lanes,” that will make its debut at 8 on Wednesday night. A field of 30 minority drivers will be narrowed to 10, who will live together for a month as they compete on the track and prepare in the classroom for the chance to race in a high-profile event and ultimately succeed in Nascar. The series is the brainchild of Max Siegel, a former music industry executive and global president of Dale Earnhardt Inc., who became involved with Nascar’s diversity effort in 2003 when the Hall of Fame football player Reggie White tried to start a minority-based race team. White died in 2004 before seeing his dream come true, but the effort to draw minorities has continued. Read more…