Category: K&N Pro Series

CONCORD, NC (August 2, 2012) After a rough night at Columbus Motor Speedway, Rev Racing is ready to show that they have what it takes to be competitive in their return visit to Iowa Speedway Friday night for the Pork Be Inspired 150 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West combination race. Following up on his top-10 finish earlier this season, title contender, Kyle Larson said that he is looking forward to returning to this .875-mile, banked asphalt oval. “We were quick at this track in the last combination race,” said Larson. “Although we lost some ground in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East points battle in Columbus, I believe that this team has worked hard to bounce back and get the No. 6 L&M Ethanol Maintenance Contracting Camry ready for competition.” Continuing on his strong run at Columbus Motor Speedway, current Rookie of the Year points leader and teammate, Bryan Ortiz is geared up for another strong run at Iowa Speedway. “My No. 4 Toyota/ Toyota Racing Development Camry was strong here earlier this season until a late race incident caused me to fall out of the top five,” said Ortiz. “Fortunately, we have continued to gain ground this season and I feel very positive about Friday night’s race.” Larson and Ortiz will join their NASCAR K&N Pro Series East teammates, Ryan Gifford and Jorge Arteaga in the lineup for the Pork Be Inspired 150 on Friday night, August 3.

Still manage a top-10 finish in Jegs 150 CONCORD, NC (July 24, 2012) Rev Racing experienced a rough return to Columbus Motor Speedway on Saturday night, in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Jegs 150, only able to achieve a single top-10 finish. Making his rookie appearance at Columbus Motor Speedway, Bryan Ortiz proved that he would be a top race contender by posting some of the fastest practice times and a solid qualifying run. Despite running on the outside for most of the race, Ortiz held a top-10 position throughout a race that had fans on their feet. After slipping into the top five within the first 100 laps, Ortiz was forced to save the No. 4 Toyota Racing Development Camry after receiving a tap in the final stages of this race, which caused the him to slip back to the sixth position where he would cross the finish. With his top ten finish, Ortiz was able to continue his climb in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East points standings and sits in seventh position only 45 points out of the lead. Additionally, he has taken over the points lead in Rookie of the Year standings. “This was a great points night for my team,” said Ortiz. “Although I was hoping for another top five finish this week, it was a tough race and running on the outside was probably not the best decision at this track. I am happy that we were able to come home with a solid top-10 finish and are continuing to work hard and improve.” Ortiz’s teammates weren’t as lucky. Only four points outside of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East points lead prior to the start of the Jegs 150, Kyle Larson continued to hold a top-10 position before a flat front tire sent the No. 6 L&M Ethanol Maintenance Contracting, Inc. Toyota Camry to the pits with 20 laps remaining. Larson’s night continued on a downward spiral when he received damage to the right rear after pulling into the pits. Attempting to limp around the track, Larson was forced to return for a second pit stop causing him to fall two laps down, resulting in his worst finish of the season in 21st position. “This was a disappointing night,” said Larson. “Fortunately, I have a hard working team that will do everything that they can to get us back on top in Iowa.” Making his return to Columbus Motor Speedway this season, teammate, Ryan Gifford, was able to battle back from a tough start to the day for a top-10 position before being spun in turn two with 35 laps to go, resulting in a 13th place finish. “We had a lot of challenges thrown at us today,” said Gifford. “The No. 2 Universal Technical Institute/NASCAR Technical Institute Toyota Camry was strong come race time and I believe we could have had a top-10 finish, but everyone is out here to do everything that they can to win and sometimes they do things you just wouldn’t expect an experienced driver to do. We’ll keep our heads up and come back from this in Iowa.” Jorge Arteaga’s inaugural run at Columbus also looked promising, as he battled for a Top 15 spot with a stout car under him. His night was prematurely ended when a cut right front tire sent him into the outside wall in Turn 2 on Lap 108, resulting in a 22nd place finish. Rev Racing’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series East drivers will make their return to the track in the Pork Be Inspired 150, at Iowa Speedway, in Newton, IA, on Saturday, August 3.

CONCORD, NC (July 18, 2012) Following a win at Columbus Motor Speedway last year, Rev Racing’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series East team is looking forward to continued success in this Saturday’s Jegs 150 at the demanding one-third mile oval track. After a win at Gresham Motorsports Park and a second place finish last weekend at CNB Bank Raceway Park in Clearfield, PA, Rev Racing rookie, Kyle Larson, is just four points out of the series lead. Hoping to continue on this hot streak, Larson said that he is excited about this weekend’s race. “The team has been pretty consistent this year,” said Larson. “I know we’ll bring a good car to the track. I’ll just have to make sure I can take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves during the race.” Following up on his top five finish at Clearfield, Bryan Ortiz, said that he hopes to race his No. 4 Toyota Racing Development Camry into the winner’s circle this weekend at Columbus Motor Speedway. “After a strong run last weekend I feel more than confident of what this team can do,” said Ortiz. “Each race we improve and even though we had some bad luck at the beginning of the race last weekend, we worked really hard and came back to finish fifth. This weekend, I hope to improve that position for both a win and a good points night.” Returning to Columbus Motor Speedway this season, Rev Racing veteran, Ryan Gifford, is poised and ready for a top finish in this weekend’s Jegs 150. “Although I finished outside of the top-10 at this track last year, I know I can have a much better result this year, especially with the car and team I have working for me,” said Gifford. Enduring several challenges in last Saturday’s race, driver of the No. 8 Toyota Camry, Jorge Arteaga, said that he is confident that he and his team will be ready for a good finish this weekend. “I think we have a good car and I feel good about going into this weekend’s race,” said Arteaga. “My crew chief, Mark Green, and the rest of the crew have been working very hard on the No. 8 Sign Innovations Toyota Camry and we’re looking for a strong finish in Ohio.”

CONCORD, NC (July 16, 2012) After a hard fought night in Clearfield, PA, Rev Racing continued its impressive team performance in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East with three top five finishes in Saturday night’s Samuel 150, at CNB Bank Raceway Park. Rookie, Kyle Larson remains a championship contender with a second place finish, followed by veteran driver, Ryan Gifford, in fourth and fellow rookie of the year contender, Bryan Ortiz, in fifth. With good qualifying runs, resulting in three top-10 starting positions for Larson, Ortiz and Gifford, and a 15th for teammate Jorge Arteaga, the team was poised for a good night of racing at the inaugural NASCAR K&N Pro Series East event at this challenging and fast track. As Larson battled a loose race car during the first half of the race, teammates Ortiz and Gifford made their march to the front before Ortiz scraped the outside wall while attempting to move into the third position on lap 66. Although losing a few positions, Ortiz was able to remain inside the top-10, along with teammates Gifford and Larson as the race reached its midpoint break. As the second half of this race began, Gifford was able to hang onto a top five position, with teammates Larson and Ortiz following close behind, while teammate Arteaga remained in a solid position just outside the top-10. With the adjustments and repairs made to his No. 6 L&M Ethanol Maintenance Contracting, Inc. Toyota Camry, Larson began a strong move through the field and would find himself in third with just 30 laps remaining in the race. With just four laps remaining, an unexpected blackout on the backstretch placed the race in a red flag situation setting up a green-white-checker finish. With the wave of the green flag, Larson, Gifford and Ortiz all advanced their positions and crossed the finish line in second, fourth and fifth, respectively. With his second place finish, Larson was able to move back into second place in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East point’s battle, just four points behind race winner and new points leader, Brett Moffitt. “Although the start of this night was difficult, this was a good race,” said Larson. “After receiving some damage at the start, my team was able to make the right adjustments during the midpoint break and put my Camry back into contention for a win.” Following a disappointing night at Langley Speedway, Gifford said that he was happy with the progress that his team made this week. “The No. 2 Universal Technical Institute/NASCAR Technical Institute Toyota Camry was very competitive tonight and this team continues to put me in a car capable of winning,” said Gifford. “We just need to remain consistent and avoid other peoples mistakes to see the type of results we all know we can achieve.” Like Larson, teammate, Ortiz continued to show his driving skill by overcoming early damage and steadily moving through the field for another top five finish. “We had a strong night and I am very happy for both my team and sponsors,” stated Ortiz. “Although I feel we had a car to compete for the win before my incident, I am happy to bring home a top five and close the gap a little in the points chase.” Sporting a new sponsor for the race, Arteaga had another good outing for the second straight race and brought his No. 8 Sign Innovations Camry home in 13th position, moving him into 14th in the Series points race. “We chased the car most of the night and then got loose going for position late,” said Arteaga. “I hate it for the team and new sponsor, Sign Innovations. We had a solid top-10 car but I just drove it in a little too hard there at the end and lost it in turn two. Fortunately we gained some ground in the points race and I can’t wait to get back on the track.” Rev Racing’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series East drivers will make their return to the track in the Jegs 150, at Columbus Motor Speedway, in Columbus, OH, on Saturday, July 21.

CONCORD, NC (July 11, 2012) Sign Innovations will appear in the primary sponsor position on the No. 8, Toyota Camry, of Jorge Arteaga, for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race on July 14, 2012, in Clearfield, PA. “We are excited to have Sign Innovations come on board for this race,” said Derik Crotts, General Manager, Rev Racing. “This small-business, which also happens to be woman, minority and veteran owned and operated, compliments the goals and objectives of our program really well. Plus, they produce a variety of products that have multiple uses in the industry. It’s a great fit.” Sign Innovations is a full service commercial sign and visual brand communications company specializing in custom requirements for large format high-resolution digital graphics, displays and events, commercial building signage and vehicle advertising. “While we’ve done some racing related work before, we’ve never been directly involved with a NASCAR race team,” said Deanna Duke, Owner/President of Sign Innovations. “We really like what Rev Racing is doing from a developmental standpoint for youth, women and minorities and felt like they offered a good opportunity and match for our company.” So far in 2012, Rev Racing has continued to show growth and progress both on and off the track. “We’ve been making tremendous strides this year as we revamp our program and its operations,” added Crotts. “This makes more than 10 new partners, in the past six months, that have shown a commitment to helping Rev Racing and NASCAR provide opportunities to female and minority drivers and pit crew members. With partners like Sign Innovations and others, we can and will make a difference in the sport.”

Last year, NASCARHomeTracks.com introduced fans to the #Next9 — nine drivers that are 21-and-under running in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series who represent the next wave of young talent set to make an impact on the national series scene. It’s time to take a look at the 2012 Class of the #Next9.

CONCORD, NC (June 3, 2012) Avoiding every obstacle standing in his way, Rev Racing’s Bryan Ortiz achieved his career best finish, of third place, in Saturday’s NASCAR Hall of Fame 150, NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race, at historic Bowman Gray Stadium. After a qualifying lap of 14.895 seconds, Ortiz started this race in his No. 4 Toyota/ Toyota Racing Development Camry, just seven positions behind teammate, Kyle Larson, who took the pole after posting a record qualifying lap of 14.696 seconds. As many in the almost sold out crowd expected, this race didn’t lack in the excitement department with the first of ten caution flags thrown in the first 20-laps of this extended 153-lap race. Avoiding the first of many destructive wrecks, Ortiz fell back to ninth and held this position until a two car spin allowed him to slip into the top seven, behind teammate Ryan Gifford, on lap 41. Ortiz continued to keep his No. 4 Toyota/Toyota Racing Development Camry out of trouble and within the top seven throughout this race. With five laps to go, Ortiz weaved his way into the top four and thought he would hold this position until the finish. After points leader Chase Elliott spun on lap 148, narrowly missing Ortiz, the race would go into overtime with a green-white-checker finish. This opened an opportunity and, on the last lap, Ortiz took his chance to jump into the top three by making his way around the No. 15 of Carlos Iaconelli. “In the end it was time to go around. It was the last lap and I could not let him stop me from finishing as close to the front as possible,” said Ortiz. “It was a crazy race, especially in the end. Fortunately, my spotter did a great job, which led to this finish.” Teammate Kyle Larson also finished this race in the top five with teammate, Jorge Arteaga, in eleventh. Unfortunately, teammate, Ryan Gifford, experienced the “curse of the madhouse”, which led to an eighteenth place finish. Gifford kept his No. 2 Universal Technical Institute/NASCAR Technical Institute Toyota Camry within the top 10 until lap 105, when he was tagged from behind going into turn two and ended up stuck in the infield needing repairs to his No. 2 Toyota. After returning to the race 10 laps down, Gifford crossed the finish line in eighteenth. “I was really disappointed,” said Gifford. “My Rev Racing team worked hard all day to give me a great car. I tried hard to stay out of trouble all night and someone just got a little too aggressive and took me out. I’m from this area and come to this track often to watch the modified’s race. I see that same thing happen to good drivers and cars every week here. I guess that’s one reason they call it the ‘mad house’. It’s frustrating to say the least”. These Rev Racing drivers will make their return to the track in next Saturday’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Slack Auto Parts 150, at Gresham Motorsports Park, in Jefferson, Georgia.

CONCORD, NC (May 21, 2012) Rev Racing’s Kyle Larson battled his way to a sixth place finish in Saturday’s Graham Tire 150, NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West Combination race, at Iowa Speedway, and is tied with his teammate, Bryan Ortiz, for first in the Rookie of the Year, K&N Pro Series East, standings. After a solid qualifying effort, Larson started the night in the fifth position, in his No.69 L&M Ethanol Maintenance Contracting Toyota Camry, and appeared ready to make an impression for his new race sponsor, and the large crowd in attendance, as he moved up to second by lap 46. “We had a really good L&M Ethanol Toyota Camry,” said Larson. “We started a little tight and made some adjustments at the halfway break. I was in a pretty good spot most of the night but started to get a little loose about lap 125 and slid back some. We just needed a little longer run there at the end and we’d at least had a top five, if not a win.” Two of Larson’s teammates, Ortiz and Ryan Gifford, promising night seem to blow away like the howling winds that swirled through the Iowa Speedway Ortiz rolled off the grid in seventh position and was solidly in fifth by the halfway break, at lap 75. He would find himself in fourth position with less than 20 laps remaining, running lap times equal to the leader. However, during a restart, with just 15 laps to go, he was caught in the middle of a three-wide battle going into turn one where he was shoved out of position, lost momentum, and slid back to the twelfth position. “I’m really disappointed with the outcome tonight,” said Ortiz. “I had a car that could have won this race. My Toyota Camry was super fast but an experienced driver just got out of position, got into my side and I had to lift to keep from wrecking him and the guy on my outside. I can promise that I won’t let myself be placed in that position again.” Gifford was just as disappointed as Ortiz but for a different reason, as he didn’t know exactly what happened to his No. 2 Universal Technical Institute Toyota Camry after he had started the race in eighth position and battled to fifth by lap 46. “Man, I don’t know what happened to my race car,” said Gifford. “We were just a little loose at the halfway mark and made some small adjustments. When I went back out it was like I couldn’t turn the wheel. I’m not sure if it was the set of tires or what, but nothing we did adjustment wise corrected the problem.” Gifford’s troubles started to really show after lap 100, where in less than 20 laps he fell nine spots, from eleventh to twentieth, and a lap down. He would eventually finish the night in the twenty-first position. Next up for the Rev Racing drivers is the Madhouse at Bowman Gray Stadium on June 2, 2012. For more information about Rev Racing visit www.revracing.net or follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

CONCORD, NC (May 16, 2012) Rev Racing’s, Kyle Larson, will sport a new number along with a new Primary Partner for this Saturday’s Graham Tire 150, NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West Combination race at Iowa Speedway. L&M Ethanol Maintenance Contracting, Inc. will make its first on track appearance on the No. 69 Rev Racing Toyota Camry, driven by Kyle Larson. Larry Earnest, President of L&M Ethanol Maintenance Contracting Inc., said that he is excited about the opportunity to partner with the next generation of NASCAR. “L&M is excited about partnering with Rev Racing and Kyle Larson, in his pursuit of being the next generation of NASCAR drivers,” said Earnest. “At the young age of 19, Kyle has proven he is capable of running with the best and is a winner.” Organized in 2005, L&M specializes in many aspects of providing millwright services, hydro blasting and vacuum services, specialized welding, metal fabrication, insulation, R-stamp welding services, scaffolding services and confined space rescue services to the industrial world. Offering service to many Fortune 100 and 500 companies, L&M prides itself in safety and customer satisfaction. “It’s great to welcome a partner that can assist this team in our efforts to grow and develop the next generation of NASCAR talent,” said Derik Crotts, General Manager of Rev Racing. “With all that NASCAR and Toyota are doing to help develop drivers and “green” the sport, L&M is a great fit for our program.” NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Rookie, Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 69 L&M Ethanol Maintenance Contracting, Inc. Toyota Camry, said that he is looking forward to sporting a new number and new partner at Iowa Speedway. “The No. 69 has been a part of my racing career in the past. Every time I’ve run this number in open wheel I’ve won, and I am hoping for the same in stock car racing,” said Larson. “I am also looking forward to working with a new partner who has a passion to see drivers like me excel in this sport.” L&M will continue to partner with Rev Racing throughout the remainder of the 2012 K&N Pro Series East season. They will once again be the primary partner for driver Kyle Larson during the August race in Iowa and will serve as associate partner on his car for the entire season. For more information about Rev Racing visit www.revracing.net or follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.  

CONCORD, NC (May 11, 2012) Rev Racing’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Team has returned from a successful day of testing at the famed ¼-mile in Winston-Salem, NC. This team will make its return to racing, at historic Bowman Gray Stadium, on June 2 after a successful start in 2011. Ryan Gifford, driver of the No. 2 Universal Technical Institute/NASCAR Technical Institute Toyota Camry, who will be returning this season after a top-10 finish in the inaugural race at Bowman Gray Stadium in 2011, said he and his team had a great day and are ready for the return to “The Madhouse”. “The No. 2 Universal Technical Institute/NASCAR Technical Institute Toyota was really fast and the handling, even at such a challenging small track, was perfect,” said Gifford. “I am really looking forward to the racing here again in June,” Bryan Ortiz, driver of the No. 4 Toyota/Toyota Racing Development Camry, will be making his first start at Bowman Gray Stadium and was excited about the challenges that this short track is sure to include. “My car was fast but the challenge for this track will be figuring out how hard to get on the gas,” said Ortiz. “This is the first short track of its kind that I have ever competed at, but I am looking forward to competing here and showing that both myself and this team can handle any challenge.” Jorge Arteaga, driver of the No. 8 Toyota Camry who will also be competing for the first time at the famed ¼-mile, was one of the first drivers out on the track yesterday and felt that this was a benefit to him and his team. “We got started early and had a good feeling for this track,” said Arteaga. “We continued to improve throughout the day and are looking forward to our first race at such a short but fun track.” Rev Racing’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series East team will return to Bowman Gray Stadium to compete in the NASCAR Hall of Fame 150 on June 2, 2012. For more information about Rev Racing visit www.revracing.net or follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.

Gifford taking over where Wallace, Pena left off By Travis Barrett, Special to NASCARHomeTracks.com May 4, 2012 – 8:24am These days you can hardly recognized Ryan Gifford, either on the track or out of his car. Not only did Gifford shed nearly 20 pounds over the offseason and commit himself to becoming a better all-around race car driver, but the third-year veteran of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East is off to an impressive start to 2012. He finished third in the season opener at Bristol Motor Speedway in March – the highest-finishing series regular in the race – and nearly won last week at Richmond International Raceway. “It’s really been good for me this year,” said Gifford, a native of Winchester, Tenn., and driver of the Rev Racing No. 2 Universal Technical Institute Toyota. “I have a really good group of guys behind me, they all believe in me. They know I’m capable of winning races in this series and they’re encouraging me to go out there and do it.” Gifford isn’t alone in having undergone a dramatic off-season transformation. Rev Racing changed its name from Revolution Racing, overhauled its lineup of K&N Pro Series drivers and took its organizational structure in an entirely new direction. The results? Three drivers, including rookies Kyle Larson and Bryan Ortiz, sitting in the Top-8 in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East standings and two more drivers — Trey Gibson and Mackena Bell — are running successfully in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model division at Hickory Motor Speedway. Rev Racing owner Max Siegel, who formed the team as part of NASCAR’s Drive For Diversity program four years ago, said the road has been a long one, though the organization has finally found its footing. “Being a new organization and a new model (was difficult),” Siegel said. “Getting both the startup costs as well as the startup effort, that was really a big challenge. We’ve had the pleasure of having some really good professionals in our organization, but getting the right chemistry and the right teamwork together was key. “I don’t want to harp on it, but it was about right-sizing the business model. It’s no secret it’s expensive to field a race team, so those are things that have been a challenge for us.” Rev Racing has fielded a multi-car team in the K&N Pro Series since the start of the 2010 season, and last year it found plenty of on-track success. Between them, Darrell Wallace Jr. and Sergio Pena won exactly half of the races on the schedule – six out of 12 – but both left for new teams in 2012. Siegel said that while the on-track performance was starting to get noticed, the behind-the-scenes workings at Rev Racing needed attention. To help treat some of the in-house ailments, the organization looked at where it was spending its money and focusing its overall effort. “Darrell was Rookie of the Year (in 2010), and we won several races last year as a team – we won 50 percent of the races, which was unprecedented,” Siegel said. “It validated both the (academy-style) training model that we had and the entire program. “We know the work that went into driver development at this level. The model works… That being said, we’re always looking to improve as an organization. We’re doing more data-driven analysis, we’ve created an exciting partnership with St. Vincent Sports Performance – which works on everything from sports psychology to medical treatment, and a lot of simulation work.” Gifford has noticed the difference and thinks it’s translated directly to the races. In his third year at Rev Racing, he said the team made more leaps over this past off-season than at any other point in his time there. “They’ve completely restructured and downsized their program,” Gifford said. “I think we’re focused on the competition part of it more than anything now. That’s done a lot for our on-track performance, and it’s helped us with our relationship with Toyota. “It’s really awesome.” What’s as impressive is how quickly the team has come up to speed. Larson, a California driver with an open-wheel background, had never competed in a stock car before this season. And Ortiz is making the transition from a Late Model to the heavier, more powerful K&N Pro Series car. And all four crew chiefs – Dennis Connor (Gifford), Mark Lindley (Ortiz) Randy Goss (Larson), and Mark Green (Jorge Arteaga) – are new to the series. Gifford has has plenty to do with Rev Racing not missing a beat, despite the off-season loss of Wallace and Pena, and filling the other three seats on the team with untested rookies. He’s learned how to race at the front of the field in this series, and he’s learned to hold onto the positives each week while not dwelling on the negatives. After a promising rookie season in 2010, when he won his first career pole and posted four Top-5 finishes in 10 races, he slipped in 2011. He managed just two Top-10s in 12 starts. “I’ve tried to take a different approach this year,” Gifford said. “I wanted to go into it and keep a good attitude, get in shape and take a look at myself as a driver and what I could do better. It can be a hard thing to do, but the thing that’s different about this year – look at what happened at Richmond. Instead of getting down, I look at it as we had a car capable of winning, and that’s awesome.” “This year, he’s just on a whole different level,” Siegel said of Gifford. “He’s focused. He’s totally engaged and has stepped up his leadership. He’s always been a quiet leader, but he’s stepped that up a lot. “I’m really proud of the space he’s in right now. I think he’s matured in that he isn’t satisfied. He has a hunger to win, and he really wants to grow.” And as Gifford steps up his own game, the rest of Rev Racing has, too. Gibson won his first Whelen All-American Series race at Hickory last Saturday night, and he’s posted three Top-3 finishes in six starts this season for Rev Racing. With every race win, every podium finish, every successful championship finish, Siegel knows his job gets just a little easier. “The better we have performed as an organization, we’ve been able to attract better talent not just on the track but in the shop,” Siegel said. “We’ve been able to get crew chiefs that have won a lot of races in other sports, or get the right people on the management side, like with (Rev Racing general manager) Derik Crotts. “It’s literally taken the last three years to get that kind of credibility.” Now Rev Racing has the credibility, and Gifford hopes to be the guy that delivers the organization its first K&N Pro Series East title. “I think we’ve got a great shot at it,” Gifford said. “It’s a series where you’ve really got to race smarter rather than harder. Sometimes you can beat yourself, getting involved in stuff you really don’t have to. The main thing is that, in a series like this, everybody’s so anxious and wanting to prove themselves at that level, it can cause more trouble than its worth. And without Rev Racing and NASCAR’s D4D program, Gifford said he’d never have had this shot at taking his career to the next level. In fact, he said he’d probably be back home working in his family’s construction business. “It’s so hard to fund the funding to go do this today,” Gifford said. “For somebody like Max and NASCAR to stick their necks out and give me and my teammates a chance is top-notch in my book. There wouldn’t be an opportunity for me without it. I’m blessed to be where I am.”

Concord, N.C. (May 1, 2012) – Rev Racing’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series East team is quietly progressing through this early season with a persistent effort and is being rewarded for it. Through three races, the team has brought home two Top-5’s, and four Top-10’s. Individually, the three rookie drivers on the team are making their presence felt. Bryan Ortiz received the Coca-Cola Move of the Race award in the series’ inaugural event at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 17th. Ortiz was not able to record a qualifying lap time because a broken track bar bracket caused him to spin out in Turn 4 as he was taking the Green Flag during qualifying. He started in the rear of the field in the 33rd spot, but methodically moved his way through the crowd and earned a 14th Place finish. Last Thursday, at Richmond International Raceway, both Kyle Larson and Jorge Arteaga distinguished themselves in their efforts. Larson, in his first visit to the track, qualified on the outside pole, but he wasn’t done. He ran in the Top-5 throughout the race and even challenged the leaders in a 3-way battle up front on his way to earning a 4th Place finish and receiving the Sunoco Rookie of the Race award. Additionally, Arteaga, who qualified in the 33rd position, raced his way through the field and crossed the stripe with a Top-15 finish, making him the recipient of that race’s Coca-Cola Move of the Race award. In the Sunoco Rookie of the Year award standings, Rev Racing has two drivers at the top of the list, with Ortiz edging out Larson by 1 point for first position. Jefferson Hodges, Rev Racing’s Competition Director summed it up best, “The season is still young, but we are certainly proud of the effort put in by this entire team. If we keep this level of production up, I’m sure we’ll be happy with the way the rest of the season unfolds.”

RICHMOND, VA. (APRIL 27, 2012) – With eight laps remaining, Rev Racing driver Ryan Gifford was in second position and the only driver, other than the eventual winner Brett Moffitt, to have lead any laps in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Blue Ox 100, here. “We had a really fast car tonight and was in an exciting race,” said Gifford. “If that last caution had not occurred there would have still been an exciting finish but there would have been two Rev Racing drivers in the middle of it.” Gifford, driver of the #2 Universal Technical Institute/NASCAR Technical Institute Toyota Camry and teammate Kyle Larson, driver of the #6 Langley Speedway Toyota Camry had run in the top three positions for the majority of the race. Both where in position to contend for the win when a red flag caution came out on lap 90. During the restart on lap 92, Gifford, who had lead 11 of the 100 laps, spun his tires and was hit from the rear and sent spinning toward the infield. He was able to save the car and did not bring out a caution. He was able to regroup and catch the field, but with only eight laps remaining, could not advance any further than twenty-first position before the race ended. “After being so dominant all night, it’s a shame to have it end that way,” said Gifford. “But, we’ve shown we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with this year. There’s still eleven races remaining and a lot is going to happen.” In addition to Gifford and Larson, the remaining Rev Racing drivers also showed the power being displayed by the team this year. Bryan Ortiz, driver of the #4 Toyota Racing Development Toyota Camry, had another strong outing finishing the night in seventh position. Fellow driver Jorge Arteaga, driver of the #8 PRECON Marine Toyota Camry, came from a thirty-second starting position to finish the night in fifteenth. “While I’m happy with the good finish, I’m not satisfied,” said Arteaga. “The team and I have come a long way in the first three races. I’m improving each time and expect to be running in the top, with my teammates, very soon” Three Rev Racing drivers remain the top 10 in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East points standing with Larson in fifth, Ortiz in seventh and Gifford at eight. Rev Racing NASCAR K&N Pro Series East drivers will be in action again at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa on May 19.

Concord, NC (April 24, 2012) – Rev Racing announced today that they will be joined by two new sponsors for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Richmond International Raceway this Thursday evening. Precon Marine, Inc. and Langley Speedway will support Rev Racing’s efforts in the “Blue Ox 100.” “We are excited to have two great partners on board for the Blue Ox 100,” says Jefferson Hodges, Director of Competition for Rev Racing. “With the only scheduled live televised event of the series, and good cars and drivers, we plan to make this a memorable night for both Precon Marine and Langley Speedway.” Precon Marine, Inc. is a diversified marine contractor specializing in heavy marine construction, waterfront construction and related services throughout the East Coast area and abroad. With an extensive inventory of equipment and a stable, skilled offshore workforce, Precon Marine is able to take on major bridge, pier, and bulkhead rehabilitation work, subaqueous utility installation as well as provide call-out services for underwater inspections and commercial diving needs. They will be riding along with Jorge Arteaga and the #8 Toyota Camry. Langley Speedway is now in it’s 62nd anniversary season with a well-established and well-earned reputation as one of NASCAR’s best weekly tracks. From it’s modest opening in 1950 as a dirt track with few amenities to today’s paved showplace, Langley has consistently stayed ahead of the competitive and administrative curve. On June 23rd, Langley Speedway will host the “Visit Hampton 175” for the second consecutive year. Additional races this summer include the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series “Hampton Heat 200” on July 28th, and a Whelen Southern Modified Tour race on September 1st. Langley will be on board at Richmond International Raceway with Kyle Larson and the #6 Toyota Camry.

GREENVILLE, SC. (March 31, 2012) – While the Rev Racing drivers didn’t leave with the on-track results they had expected here last night, three of the four now find themselves in the Top-10 in Standings for NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series East.   Ryan Gifford, driver of the #2 Universal Technical Institute/NASCAR Technical Institute Toyota Camry is now fourth in points and two behind the leader, while his teammates, Bryan Ortiz, driver of the #4 Toyota Racing Development Camry and Kyle Larson, who pilots the #6 Rev Racing Toyota Camry find themselves in ninth and tenth respectfully.  Both Ortiz and Larson are Sunoco Rookie of the Year contenders.   The night started with rain halting qualifying and leading to the starting grid being set based on 2011 Owners Points.  This placed a number of rookie drivers in the front of the field, some of which were in their first NASCAR K&N Pro Series event.  While this would put Larson on the front row, it meant the start of the race was going to be an adventure for the entire field.   “On the very first lap, the #99 ran into my left side and on lap four, the #16 gave me a hard hit from behind,” said Larson.  “I knew we were going to have a long night but the damage didn’t help the handling of my #6 Rev Racing Toyota.”   The first of six cautions flew on lap 4 of 150 when the #1 car came to rest on the Turn 4 wall with an engine failure.  The second caution came out on lap 10 and found Larson in sixth position, Bryan Ortiz in ninth, Gifford in tenth and Jorge Arteaga in nineteenth.   The third caution of the night was brought out on lap 18 of 150 when Gifford was clipped by the #07 going into Turn 2. Ortiz also suffers car damage in a separate incident on the same lap and both he and Gifford would restart near the rear of the 29-car field.   “ It really is a shame we didn’t get to qualify,” said Gifford “ We really had a fast car and I think we would have started much further up if it hadn’t rained.  You never want to have to try and come from the back to front and especially not here.”   Ortiz was able to come from the rear of the field and move up to as high as ninth position before finishing the night in eleventh.   Gifford would find himself at the rear of the field for a second time when he and Larson were caught up in a spin by the #15 in Turn 3.   The wreck resulted in the tire rubbing the left front of Gifford’s car and required him to pit for repairs. He would get back on the lead lap when he received the “Lucky Dog” during a caution brought out on lap 121.  However, the damage and tire wear were too much to over come and he would finish the night in thirteenth position, one lap down.  Larson would finish the night two laps down in seventeenth position.   Arteaga, who was having a solid run and moving up inside the Top-20, had a right rear go down on lap 60 and would end up going five laps down before finishing the night in twenty-fifth.   The next event for Rev Racing and NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity drivers is April 26, at Richmond International Raceway in the Blue Ox 100.

By Ron Lemasters Jr. Jorge Arteaga hails from a little farther south than is usual for a NASCAR driver, but he grew up wanting to be in the field of 43 at Daytona just like a kid from Alabama or Georgia. “When I was very young, I remember watching the Daytona 500 and I knew then I wanted to be in that race someday, like those racers,” the 24-year-old Arteaga said recently before competing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season opener at Bristol Motor Speedway. “I started doing some racing in Mexico and, fortunately the next year, NASCAR came to Mexico and began sanctioning races there creating an opportunity for me.” That opportunity right now is with Drive for Diversity and the Rev Racing team, which fields four cars in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Division. Rev Racing is coming off the most successful season in the history of NASCAR Drive for Diversity, which is in its ninth season as one of NASCAR’s leading on-track initiatives. In 2011, Rev Racing collected six wins in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and had three drivers finish in the top 10 in series points. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West is the highest level of NASCAR’s developmental race series, and many drivers have used it as the stepping stone to the three national NASCAR series. So, how does a racer go from Aguascalientes, Mexico, to Bristol, Tenn.? A lot of hard work, a good bit of talent and a whole lot of drive is the way it worked for Arteaga. “I came from the NASCAR Mexico Series, and it’s just a matter of learning all I can from my crew chief and my teammates,” said Arteaga, who earned a spot on the Rev Racing roster via the D4D combine. “I’m the first Hispanic driver to be accepted into the program and now have the chance to be trained, coached and developed by an American NASCAR team. It’s a different experience for me, because in Mexico we don’t get the opportunity to race NASCAR as frequently as we can here in the U.S. “This program gives me the opportunity to race more and develop my skills under NASCAR trainers. Hopefully that will be there when I take the next step up, too.” Arteaga’s already made impressive strides as a driver. He has 12 top-10s in 49 career NASCAR Toyota Series starts in Mexico. And there’s a little bit of rock star to him, as well. During the 2010 racing season, Arteaga was filmed for a reality TV series entitled NASCAR Mexico 24/7, which followed the behind-the-scenes happenings of NASCAR from the perspective of the FCV Racing team. It was broadcast on Speed TV in Latin America during race weeks. In 2008, Arteaga founded a charitable program called Equipo Nutricion (the Nutrition Team) in partnership with La Huerta and Red Baron to provide support to Mexico’s poor and malnourished. He and his sponsors have donated 12 tons of food to local food banks in each NASCAR Mexico race city and raised awareness for malnutrition and obesity by conducting chats in schools. While Arteaga is used to the constant travel that goes hand-in-hand with racing as a profession, there are a few things he’s working hard to improve. “English all the time is something I had to get used to,” he said with a grin. “One of the smaller changes, I guess, was just getting used to the change in weather between here and my home in Mexico. In Mexico, it’s always warm. But here I have to get used to driving in colder conditions, too. The training here is a bit tougher via the coaching and workshops that teach us drivers to endure a four-hour race without being nervous or tired. But, I love the training here and it’s really working for me.” Mexico has always had a proud racing tradition. Pedro and Ricardo Rodriguez were huge stars and are still spoken of with reverence. But they were open-wheel and sports-car racers. Arteaga chose NASCAR. “I like the culture and I like the cars themselves,” he said. “I enjoy some Formula One racing, which is popular in Mexico, too, but I enjoy NASCAR more. I enjoy the feeling of teamwork and how the racers likeJimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. work with the fans. In fact, one of the best things about NASCAR for me is enjoying the fans. The fans follow you all the way — no matter where you start or no matter where you finish, the fans will always be there. “It’s kind of a relationship between the fans and the racer. In Formula One racing, the fans may support a team overall, but in NASCAR, the fans support the driver. They cheer for the driver. They support us and we are really grateful for that.” Speaking of Earnhardt, Arteaga has won three consecutive most popular driver awards in the NASCAR Mexico Series and is known as the “Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Mexico,” a fact he chuckles upon hearing. “That’s what I appreciate so much from the fans,” he said. “NASCAR is fairly new in Mexico. It only started in 2008, and the first driver to win it was my teammate Carlos Contreras. The following years, I was really surprised to win that [most popular driver] award because there have been drivers who have been racing 30 years, and I’ve only been racing for four. So, this is real appreciation from the fans, for me and for NASCAR. The fans are truly important.” Bristol Motor Speedway has a reputation the world over as a tough track to get around, and while Arteaga was confident going in, the world’s fastest half-mile had the advantage. Arteaga was involved in a crash on the front stretch on Lap 30 of the Pro Series East race and finished 30th. Undeterred, Arteaga is ready to move on and compete. “I want to be racing cars in the biggest leagues of NASCAR eventually,” he said. “I really want to race in Daytona one day. Right now, I’m racing in the local series, but I’m looking forward to moving up the ranks. When I was a child, I said I would race at Daytona and it’s my dream. “I also hope to be able to encourage more Hispanics to support our people’s representation in this sport. I want to be a Mexican driver — a Hispanic driver who’s not only representing my country, but also my dreams.” Indeed, NASCAR knows no boundaries.

By Jason Cunningham, NASCAR DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The second event of the 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season is set for this Saturday, March 31, at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway with the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150. Below is a statistical look at the performance of selected drivers in the series: Select Driver Highlights: Jorge Arteaga (No. 8 Rev Racing Toyota) • Has four career NASCAR K&N Pro Series East starts with a best finish of 10th at Lee USA Speedway in 2010. • This will be his first career NKNPS East appearance at Greenville Pickens Speedway. • Has 12 top 10s in 49 career NASCAR Toyota Series starts in his native Mexico. Chase Elliott (No. 9 Aaron’s/HendrickCars.com Chevrolet) • Has seven top 10s in 13 career NKNPS East starts. • Recorded finishes of fourth and third in his two previous starts at Greenville – the two best results of his career. • Led 40 laps and finished 10th in the 2012 season opener at Bristol Motor Speedway. • Has three Late Model wins so far in 2012. Duarte Ferreira (No. 16 LS Sports/Sonagol Toyota) • Will attempt to make his NKNPS East debut at Greenville. It would also be his first career stock car race. • Would become the first driver from Angola to compete in a NKNPS East race. • Finished eighth in the 2011 Indy Lights season standings with 10 top 10s in 14 races and a best finish of third at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Ryan Gifford (No. 2 UTI/NTI Toyota) • Has a pole and 12 top 10s in 27 career NKNPS East starts. • Will be the highest-raking championship contender heading to Greenville with the two drivers ahead of him in the standings not entered. • Has an average finish of ninth and a best finish of fourth in three previous starts at Greenville. Carlos Iaconelli (No. 15 Bienvenidos a NASCAR Toyota) • Finished 25th in his NKNPS East debut on March 17 at Bristol. • This will be his first career appearance at Greenville. • Competed in the NKNPS West 2011 finale and 2012 opener at Phoenix International Raceway and registered finishes of 12th and sixth, respectively. Ben Kennedy (No. 96 Ben Kennedy Racing Chevrolet) • Has a pair of top 10s in 14 career NKNPS East starts, including a best finish of third at Bowman Gray Stadium in 2011. • Has finishes of 11th and 22nd in two Greenville appearances. • Finished sixth in the 2012 opener at Bristol. Dylan Kwasniewski (No. 20 Toyota) • The 2011 NKNPS West Sunoco Rookie of the Year has two wins, two poles and nine top-five finishes in 14 starts in that series. • Will attempt to make his NKNPS East debut at Greenville in the first of a planned limited schedule in the series this year. Corey LaJoie (No. 07 Sims Metal Management Ford) • Has a pole and 10 top 10s in 20 career NKNPS East starts. The pole came at Greenville in September 2011. • Has finishes of 20th and 13th in his first two Greenville races. Eddie MacDonald (No. 71 Grimm Construction Chevrolet) • Has six wins, two poles and 63 top 10s in 145 career starts. • Has an average finish of 11th and a best finish of third – in 2009 – in six career starts at Greenville. • His six starts at Greenville are the most among active drivers. Brett Moffitt (No. 11 Kobe Toyopet Toyota) • Has seven wins, four poles and 24 top 10s in 34 career starts. • Is the defending winner of the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150, which he captured from the pole. • Has an average finish of eighth in four previous appearances at Greenville and is the only driver in NKNPS East history to earn two poles at the track. Travis Pastrana (No. 99 Boost Mobile Toyota) • Has an average finish of 22nd in four career NKNPS East appearances. • His best finish in those four starts was 12th, recorded in the 2012 opener at Bristol. • This will be his first career appearance at Greenville. • NASCAR schedule for 2012 includes 11 of 14 NKNPS East events and seven NASCAR Nationwide Series races. Sergio Peña (No. 1 JMS Toyota) • Has three wins and 10 top 10s in 23 career NKNPS East starts. • Won the last NKNPS East race in Greenville in September 2011, and has an average finish of 12th in three previous appearances at the track. Dylan Presnell (No. 26 American Mountain Rentals Toyota) • Has four top 10s in seven career starts. • Best career finish of seventh came in the September 2011 Greenville race. Dale Quarterley (No. 32 Van Dyk Baler Chevrolet) • Is the active career leader in starts (150), top fives (31) and top 10s (66). • Despite having more starts than any other active driver, this will be his first appearance at Greenville. Daniel Suárez (No. 14 Telcel/Finsa/Roca Acero Toyota) • Has three top 10s in eight career starts with a best finish of fifth at Columbus Motor Speedway in 2011. • This will be his first career appearance at Greenville. • Also competes in the NASCAR Toyota Series in his native Mexico. Darrell Wallace Jr. (No. 18 Coca-Cola Toyota) • Has five wins, three poles and 18 top 10s in 23 career starts. • Recorded a win and top 10s in all three of his previous appearances at Greenville and has the best average race finish – fourth – among active drivers with three or more starts at the track. • His win in the 2010 opener at Greenville marked the first series win by an African-American and also made him the youngest race winner in NKNPS East history. Up to Speed: • The 2012 season is the 26th for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. • The 2012 schedule features 14 races at 12 different tracks across 10 states. • The NKNPS East season opened with the inaugural series event Bristol Motor Speedway on March 17. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Nelson Piquet Jr. made a spot-start in the event and won from the pole. • Following the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 at Greenville Pickens Speedway, the NKNPS East will be idle until the Blue Ox 100 on April 26 at Richmond International Raceway. At Greenville Pickens Speedway: History • Opened on July 4, 1946 as a dirt track. The race surface was converted to asphalt in April, 1970. • Held 29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races from 1951-71, including the first flag-to-flag televised event. • David Pearson (1959) and Ralph Earnhardt (1965, 66) are among the famed drivers that have won championships at the track. Notebook • The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East held its inaugural Greenville Pickens Speedway race on June 6, 2006 and has returned every year since. • There has yet to be a multi-time winner in the first seven NKNPS East events at Greenville, and Brett Moffitt is the only driver to capture two poles. • In the first seven events there have been two drivers that have won from the pole: Joey Logano (2007) and Moffitt (2011). Moffitt also set the track qualifying record in the first 2011 event. • Logano, Austin Dillon (2008) and Darrell Wallace Jr. (2010) earned their first career NKNPS East wins in events at Greenville. Greenville Pickens Speedway Data Race: #2 of 14 overall, #1 of 2 at GPS Track Layout: .5-mile asphalt oval • Race Length: 150 laps (75 miles) • Banking/Corners: 5 degrees EVENT SCHEDULE  |  ENTRY LIST Qualifying/Race Data 2011 pole winner: Brett Moffitt 2011 race winner: Brett Moffitt Track qualifying record: Brett Moffitt (87.659 mph, 20.534 seconds, 4/2/11) NKNPS East Race Winners at GPS June 6, 2006 … Sean Caisse April 28, 2007 … Joey Logano April 19, 2008 … Austin Dillon April 11, 2009 … Brian Ickler March 27, 2010 … Darrell Wallace Jr. April 2, 2011 … Brett Moffitt Sept. 10, 2011 … Sergio Peña NKNPS East Pole Winners at GPS June 6, 2006 … Mike Olsen April 28, 2007 … Joey Logano April 19, 2008 … Peyton Sellers April 11, 2009 … Brett Moffitt March 27, 2010 … Cole Whitt April 2, 2011 … Brett Moffitt Sept. 10, 2011 … Corey LaJoie Laps Led at GPS – Active Drivers Brett Moffitt … 150 Sergio Peña … 83 Corey LaJoie … 57 Darrell Wallace Jr. … 22 Eddie MacDonald … 4

By Jason Cunningham, NASCAR DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The second event on the 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East schedule will be at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway on Saturday, March 31 with the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150. After opening the current campaign with the inaugural visit to the high concrete banks of Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, the K&N Pro Series East will return to familiar territory at the historic half mile in Pickens County. The series has raced at GPS each year since 2006, which marks the third-longest association among the tracks on the 2012 slate and NASCAR’s top developmental series. While the veterans of the K&N Pro Series East have plenty of familiarity with the half mile at GPS, which is nearly flat, it will still be quite a change in driving style from the first race of the season on the 33-degree banks at Bristol. One of those veterans, Ryan Gifford, sees a definite challenge in transition from Race 1 to Race 2. “A place like Bristol you get in the corner with quite a bit of speed then you have to slow yourself down, where at Greenville you really have to back the corner way up and roll for a long ways,” Gifford said. “It’s going to be a challenge mentally to say ‘you’ve got to slow down to go faster’.” For all intents and purposes, Gifford is the season points leader heading to Greenville. Gifford finished third at Bristol behind Nelson Piquet Jr. and Ryan Blaney. Bristol was a one-off deal for Piquet while Blaney is running just five races this season and will not be in attendance at GPS. Now in his fourth season of competition in the series, Gifford has a pair of runner-up efforts in his career and carries an average finish of ninth in three previous starts at GPS, with a best finish of fourth in the 2010 opener. After a few near misses in his K&N Pro Series East career, Gifford hopes to break through for his first win in the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150. “After talking with my crew chief, Dennis [Connor], I think we’ve got a really good shot at it,” Gifford said. “They spent a couple days at TRD at the pulldown getting everything right – and [me] knowing how to save tires there plays into it a lot. “I want to go get my first win there, and if not, hopefully we can keep the car clean and come out of there with a top five,” Gifford said. Race Notes No multiple winners:  In seven previous K&N Pro Series East races at Greenville Pickens, there has yet to be a driver reach Victory Lane twice. This year three drivers will have a shot: Brett Moffitt and teammate Sergio Peña along with Darrell Wallace Jr. Two drivers have come as close as you can to a second win at GPS without ending up in the Winner’s Circle – Sean Caisse was the runner up in 2007 following his win the previous year while Moffitt finished second to Peña last September after his win in the 2011 opener. First-time winners: Greenville Pickens has a habit of producing first-time winners in its brief association with the K&N Pro Series East. Previous Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 race winners Joey Logano, Austin Dillon and Wallace all nabbed their first series win at the track. Kwasniewski to make East debut: NASCAR K&N Pro Series West sophomore Dylan Kwasniewski will attempt to make the first of a handful of K&N Pro Series East starts this weekend at GPS. Kwasniewski registered two wins, two poles and nine top 10s in 13 West races last year to capture Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors. He will pilot the No. 20 Toyota for owner Steve deSouza, a vice president at Joe Gibbs Racing. The first of two:  Greenville Pickens is one of two tracks that will entertain the K&N Pro Series East for a pair of races in 2012 along with Iowa Speedway, which has added a second combination race with the K&N Pro Series West. GPS added a second date – which is on the Monday of Labor Day weekend – for the first time in 2011.