Amos and Decker learn from Motor Mile

SONY DSCCONCORD, N.C. (June 30, 2014) — Saturday’s race proved to be a learning experience for Devon Amos and Paige Decker. The two Whelen All-American Series drivers raced their Late Models for the first time at Motor Mile Speedway, and both knew they wanted to pace themselves during the New River Bank TWIN 75s. After taking the green in the first race, a caution came on the fifth lap, and the drivers were given a little more time to warm up their tires. By lap 30, Amos worked his way up from his 21st qualifying spot, passing two cars and maintaining his position to finish 19th. Decker was not far behind and finished 23rd after managing to pass five cars from her 28th qualifying position. The drivers returned to the track about an hour later for the second race. After earning the 17th position in qualifying, the second race was going smoothly for Amos until lap 20. There was a wreck a few yards ahead of him at turn 1, and unfortunately, another driver tried to maneuver around the cars, but hit Amos near the end of the straightaway. The Rev Racing driver was unable to return to the track due to the amount of suspension damage on the front of the car. “I feel like I gave it my all. It’s unfortunate that we got caught in a big wreck because we had a great race day going,” Amos said. “We definitely made improvements on the car that should carry over to our next race, and I’m really looking forward to it.” The 13-car wreck resulted in a 40-minute caution to allow officials to get the track back in driving condition. None of the drivers were seriously hurt. Though the first race of the night didn’t go as Decker planned, she was eager to get back on the track for the second race. After qualifying 23rd, she improved tremendously on the track gaining 13 positions, and she was in the tenth position for a few laps. She almost gained her third top-10 of the season, however, during the last two laps, a driver passed her, and Decker took the checkered flag in 11th. “I went into Motor Mile just wanting to learn. I knew it was my first time at the track, and I knew the competition was going to be stout,” Decker said. “Next time I want to qualify better and improve my finishing spot.” The next race for the two drivers will be in Hampton, Va. at Langley Motor Speedway on July 26. 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.

Amos and Decker ready to conquer Motor Mile

SONY DSCConcord, N.C. (June 25, 2014) — After almost a three-week break, Devon Amos and Paige Decker will return to the track Friday to race in the New River Bank TWIN 75s at Motor Mile Speedway in Fairlawn, Va. The drivers will compete in their sixth race of the season on the 0.416-mile asphalt oval where they will try to redeem themselves after racing earlier this month at Langley Motor Speedway. Motor Mile will be a new milestone for the two drivers and both are anxious to compete there for the first time this season. Devon Amos (No. 6/Rev Racing Toyota) — Amos raced twice at Motor Mile last year, so he’s a bit familiar with the track. He is concentrated on winning and bringing the No. 6 car back to Concord safely. “Our team has been working to maintain the handling of the cars and a comfortable setup for me,” he said. “My goal is to bring the car home in one piece, so we can learn from the setup and be better the following week.” On Friday, he will look to add a fifth top-10 to his résumé in the Whelen All-American Series where he has accumulated 92 points. Paige Decker (No. 2/Rev Racing Toyota) — In her first season with Rev Racing, Decker has shown promise with five races under her belt. She is striving to get her third top-10 on Friday and hopes to improve her qualifying time. “I am looking forward to another new track with my late model,” she said. “I can’t wait to go out and hopefully get that top-10!” Qualifying will begin at 6:30 p.m., and the first race is set to begin at 8 p.m. with a second race to immediately follow. 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.

Winning Week for NASCAR Crew Member Development Program

IMG_0822Concord, NC (Jun. 18) — NASCAR’s Crew Member Development program traveled to St. Louis on Thursday for the Pit Crew Combine & Expo. The event, hosted in conjunction with The Demetrious Johnson Charitable Foundation and St. Louis Parks & Recreation, was held at Forest Park where over 100 adults and children were exposed to the different careers in the motorsports industry. Johnson, a native of St. Louis, is a former defensive back who played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions in the mid 1980s, and he has spent over 21 years giving back to the community to enhance the lives of inner city youth. “The combine and expo were great opportunities for the African-American community, particularly in St. Louis, to get exposed to an area that they may not have had an opportunity to see,” Johnson said. “It was one of the best things to happen to our community.” Six men aging from 18-30 were put to the test, going through a series of exercise drills to see if they were capable of handling the necessary tasks of pit crew member. Each of the men had a background in sports. “It opened up a new avenue for a career later on in their lives,” said Horton, Director of Athletic Performance for Rev Racing. While attendees learned the ins and outs of what it takes to be on a pit crew, they were also able to meet and speak with some of NASCAR’s executives. “I thought the combine was great,” said Jim Cassidy, Vice President of Racing Operations for NASCAR, who attended the event. “The expo in conjunction with it was a perfect way to make our return to St. Louis.” Last weekend was the first time since 2007 that the Camping World Truck Series had been to St. Louis and combine participants were invited to watch the race. They were able to witness a NASCAR Drive for Diversity (D4D) victory. Darrell Wallace, Jr., a former member of Rev Racing and D4D graduate, won the Drivin’ for Linemen 200 at Gateway Motorsports Park on Saturday evening. It was Wallace’s second win in the series.

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.

Young Drivers Race at Summer Shootout

Charlotte, NC (June 10th, 2014) – Based on their performance at the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine, Walter Thomas III and Enrique “Henry” Limon have been selected by Rev Racing to run in the Legend Car Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway this summer. Both Thomas and Limon participate in the youth component of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Program, which helps promising young drivers develop and succeed. Charlotte Motor Speedway hosts the Jack in the Box Summer Shootout Series on Tuesday nights through June and July. The series has a full program of Legends Car and Bandolero racing. Special attractions such as school bus race nights and firework shows will also be included to add to the excitement. An Indiana native, Thomas started racing at the age of four. Now 16, he has already received three titles; and was selected NASCAR Diversities “Young Driver of the year” in 2012. Thomas believes Rev Racing is going to offer him ample opportunities to grow. “Being selected to be part of the Rev Racing team is the opportunity of a lifetime,” he said. “I felt that joining Rev Racing was the best route to go in order to continue my career.” Originally from Mexico City, Mexico, Limon has been racing for 8 years. He is currently on his 2nd year racing in the US and recently won the National Championships for Karting in 2013. Limon is enthusiastic about growing his career through Rev Racing, “[I am] very excited because I knew that I would be doing a great job with a very good team. I really appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the Rev Racing team,” said Limon. The Summer Shootout Series will be located on the quarter-mile oval on the speedway’s front straightaway. Adult admission is $7, with children under 13 admitted for free. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

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.