Rev Racing NASCAR K&N Pro Series drivers finish in the Top 10 of inaugural event
DAYTONA BEACH, FL (February 20, 2013) – The UNOH Battle at the Beach lived up to its name and proved to be a literal fight to the finish for the Rev Racing drivers and all who competed during the two days of racing here. Once the smoke cleared, the Rev Racing drivers emerged with two Top-5’s and a Top 10 finish.
“It was a very interesting race,” said Bryan Ortiz, who crossed the line in his No. 4 Putinka Vodka Camry in third place and showed he is poised to once again make a run at the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East crown.
“We started in the middle of the pack and the plan was to save the car for the end,” added Ortiz. “I got spun early and lost a lap which added some pressure. But, we took our time, got the “lucky dog” and once I was back on the lead lap we just worked our way through the field and ended up in third.”
Ortiz’s teammate, Ryan Gifford also made a statement that he’s ready to contend for the championship, as well, by coming in right behind Ortiz in fourth.
“I’m really surprised that we were able to get the No.2 Sunoco/Langley Speedway Toyota Camry into a fourth place finish,” said Gifford. “We didn’t have the fastest car but had watched the other races and knew that if we could just stay out of trouble until the end, we might be in a position to at least get a Top-10. So, coming home fourth, after getting spun and placed a lap down, is a great feeling and a great way to start the season.”
Their Rev Racing teammate from 2012, who joined them for this event, Kyle Larson was looking to have another good finish until he was hit and spun on the final lap of the race. Larson still managed to bring home a badly damaged Curb Records/Langley Speedway Toyota Camry in tenth.
The Rev Racing NASCAR Whelen All-American drivers, Mackena Bell and Trey Gibson struggled with mechanical issues during Monday night’s race and ultimately finished the event in 26th and 21st position, respectively. Bell, along with her 2013 Rev Racing NASCAR K&N Pro Series teammates, will make her next start at Bristol Motor Speedway, March 16, 2013.
Past and present drivers competing in NASCAR Whelen All-American, K&N Pro Series, Camping World Truck and Nationwide events at the SpeedwayConcord, NC (February 15, 2013) – In just three years Rev Racing has indentified and developed two Rookie of the Year winners and won a Championship in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. Expectations are high as the team prepares to kick-off the 2013 season at Daytona International Speedway starting on Monday, February 18, 2013.
Proving the team’s success is no fluke is the recent announcement that two of its former drivers will be competing full time in NASCAR’s top tier series’. Kyle Larson, a 2012 team member, will be driving full time in the Nationwide Series for Turner Scott Motorsports. Darrell Wallace Jr., a 2010 and 2011 team member, will compete full time for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Camping World Truck Series. Wallace and Larson will make their season debut on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway on February 22nd and 23rd, respectively.
Wallace and Larson’s graduation to the National Series is proof of the talent housed at Rev Racing and the program’s ability to successfully develop that talent for the next level of racing.
“We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of both Kyle and Darrell,” said Max Siegel, owner, Rev Racing. “While they are both extremely talented drivers, they are a testament to the caliber of athletes being indentified and developed by Rev Racing and the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program.”
In addition to debuts by Wallace and Larson with their new teams and series, Rev Racing will showcase some of its past and present talent during UNOH Battle at the Beach events at the Speedway.
Mackena Bell will be piloting the No. 4 Langley Speedway Toyota Camry and Trey Gibson, recipient of the 2012 Wendell Scott Trail Blazer award, will be driving the No. 2 Langley Speedway Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Whelen All-American series event on Monday, February 18, 2013 that will air live beginning at 7:00 pm EST on SPEED, MRN, and Sirius/XM. After Daytona, Bell will be racing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East beginning with the first points race of the season, at Bristol.
Along with last season’s late model drivers, 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Champion, Larson, and two of this year’s Drive for Diversity drivers, Bryan Ortiz and Ryan Gifford, will compete in the UNOH Battle at the Beach in the K&N Pro Series race on Tuesday, February 19, 2013, that will air live beginning at 7:00 pm EST on SPEED, MRN, and Sirius/XM.
Larson will be competing for Rev Racing in this single event after earning his way in with wins at Gresham Motorsports Park and Loudon, New Hampshire in 2012. Larson will be driving the No. 69 Curb Records and Langley Speedway Toyota Camry.
Ortiz will be driving the No.4 Toyota Camry sponsored by Putinka Vodka. Ortiz, a native of Puerto Rico, is in his third year driving for Rev Racing and NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program. After being the runner up for rookie of the year honors, Ortiz is looking to outdo last season’s result and be a contender for the championship. He will be under new direction this year from crew chief Eddie Dickerson.
“I can’t be more excited for the season to start,” said Ortiz. “There has been a lot of work put into the car during the off season. I’m very confident that we will be really good the entire season, with having a crew chief with so much experience like Eddie Dickerson is going to be great. The Battle at the Beach will be extremely important to learn about each other in the first non-points race of the season, which will get us ready for the championship starting in Bristol”.
Gifford is back for his fourth season with Rev Racing and will be maneuvering the No. 2 Toyota Camry sponsored by Sunoco, the Official Fuel of NASCAR.
Gifford the “veteran of the team” is optimistic that this year’s results will mirror his skill and effort. After a mid season crew chief change in 2012 Gifford started having more consistent runs and will continue with Mark Green as his crew chief for the 2013 season.
“In all sincerity, if we can get a little good luck to run Ryan’s way for a change we should have a great season,” said Green. “Tracks like Bristol, Dover and Rockingham suit (Ryan’s) driving style the best and I have confidence that we will be in victory lane this year.”
In addition its primary race sponsors, Rev Racing is grateful for the contributions and continued support provided by Toyota and Toyota Racing Development, Goodyear, Sprint, Nike, L&M Ethanol Maintenance and Contracting, NASCAR Technical Institute, Mobil 1, 3M, JRI Shocks, Wix Filters, Castle, Impact, Mechanix Wear, iRacing, Logitech and Doghouse Systems.
By Mark McCarter for AL.comWINCHESTER, Tennessee — There was this unfortunate racing parallel to the Gatorade bucket being dumped on a football coach.
Winchester, Tenn. driver Ryan Gifford makes season debut at Daytona next Monday (Getty Images for NASCAR)
Ryan Gifford had been racing go-karts for a year or so when he finally earned his first victory, on a track in Crossville, Tenn.
“It was so exciting to pull in and see everybody else’s excitement,” Gifford recalled. “But go-kart tracks have a big bucket of water where you clean your tires. They dumped that bucket on me.”
Still, he said, “It was cool.”
Gifford was nine years old or so when he got that baptism.
Now 23, Gifford, a Franklin County (Tenn.) High School grad who attended Middle Tennessee State, is looking for more celebrations.
Gifford is one of the select participants in NASCAR’s “Drive for Diversity” program, to encourage and support drivers of color and women in their racing careers. He’s driving a Toyota in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and will make his season debut next Monday at Daytona International Speedway.
Gifford was 11th in points last season, with three top-10 finishes in 14 races, after finishing 10th in points in 2011.
“He’s had his share of bad luck,” said Derik Crotts, general manager of Gifford’s Rev Racing team. “He was leading three races last year. But on a restart at Richmond, he spun his tires. Another time, a teammate blew a tire and took him out.
“He definitely has the talent and the personality (to succeed),” Crotts continued. “He’s willing to listen and to learn.”
Gifford, the son of Allen Burnette and the late Michelle Gifford, who died in 2010, got much of his racing inspiration from grandfather Farrell Gifford, who was a drag racer. As a six-year-old, Ryan asked for a junior dragster, but his grandfather said, “Let’s got the go-kart track first and check it out and see if you like it.”
And, said Ryan Gifford, “I automatically fell in love with it.” He got a go-kart from Christmas “and we went wide-open pretty much from there.”
He raced in Toney, Ala., and other go-kart tracks in the area, then graduated to late-model dirt-track cars as a 15-year-old, racing in Moulton, Talladega and tracks in middle Tennessee.
Gifford did well enough to impress Mike Dillon, the vice-president of Richard Childress Racing (and the owner’s son-in-law) to earn a dirt-track ride with Team Dillon, and then earned his way into NASCAR’s diversity program.
“It’s been huge for me,” he said. “Without it I’d be back in Winchester working, just trying to scrounge up enough money to go race. My family’s not been super well-off, so this is a good opportunity from NASCAR. It’s really awesome.”
Contact Mark McCarter at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @markmccarter
CONCORD, NC (February 6, 2013) Rev Racing’s youngest developmental driver, Ryleigh Lemonds of Yorktown, Virginia, won her first indoor arena race of the season at Richmond Coliseum on Saturday, February 2, 2013.
Lemonds took the lead on lap 4 and held on to win the 30 lap event, which ended a four race winning streak of one of her fellow competitors. Several cautions were displayed throughout the race for various incidents on track but Lemonds set sail creating a 1.162 second lead over her other competitors.
“I am so excited to win my first arena race” said Lemonds in a tweet after her event.
Lemonds is one of two drivers participating in a stand-alone developmental program and youth racing initiative by Rev Racing. She is set to compete again this weekend at the Richmond Coliseum.
Please follow her at @ryleighlemonds for updates on all of her races throughout the 2013 season.
K&N East Champ Among Five Headed To Battle At The Beach
By Jason Cunningham, NASCAR
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Reigning NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Champion Kyle Larson will lead a contingent of five Rev Racing drivers that are slated to head to Daytona International Speedway for the inaugural UNOH Battle At The Beach, Feb. 18-19.
After winning the K&N Pro Series East title for Rev Racing, which fields teams for NASCAR’s Drive For Diversity initiative, Larson will return to the team for the first running of the Daytona short-track showcase. He will be joined by teammates Ryan Gifford and Bryan Ortiz at the .4-mile oval on the backstretch at the “World Center of Racing.”
“We’re excited about the opportunity to come to Daytona and are looking forward to what promises to be an exciting week of racing,” said Rev Racing General Manager Derik Crotts. “We’ve got a great lineup of drivers competing for Rev Racing in both the Late Model and K&N Pro Series events at UNOH Battle at the Beach.”
Larson has a locked-in starting position for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series race as part of the UNOH Battle At The Beach by virtue of series championship and two race wins during the 2012 season. Larson will have one more run with Rev Racing, and although his 2013 plans have not yet been announced, he will not be returning to the team for the coming season to defend his title.
“It’s going to be nice to have Kyle representing Rev Racing one last time before he moves on to bigger venues,” Crotts said. “He’s a special talent and we’re proud to have been a part of his growth and development in NASCAR.”
For Gifford and Ortiz, the opportunity to race at Daytona will provide a jump-start to their return to Rev Racing for the 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season. The coming campaign will mark the fourth for Gifford in the series while 2013 will be the sophomore season for Ortiz, who finished as the Sunoco Rookie of the Year runner-up to Larson.
“Being that it’s a non-points race, this provided us a unique opportunity to say thank you to some of our 2012 drivers and get things dialed in a little before we head to Bristol,” Crotts added.
Gifford and Ortiz will need to race their way into the K&N Pro Series feature through the qualifying races since they do not have locked-in starting positions. Drivers that won touring series races and championships in 2012 are locked into their respective features in Daytona. All others must qualify through heat races.
In addition to the three NASCAR K&N Pro Series teams, Rev Racing will also take two NASCAR Whelen All-American Series entries to compete in that series’ UNOH Battle At The Beach Late Model event, with Mackena Bell and Trey Gibson as the drivers. The pair ran Late Models together at Hickory Motor Speedway in 2012, and both will have to race their way into the Whelen All-American Series feature at Daytona through the qualifying races.
“We’re going to be rolling out some new paint schemes on our Toyota Camry’s and will have Curb Records sponsoring Kyle for the event,” Crotts said. “We’re also pleased to have Putinka Vodka back behind Bryan Ortiz, and Langley Speedway supporting both Kyle Larson and Ryan Gifford, in addition to our Late Model’s at this race.”
MOORESVILLE, NC (January 15,2013) Someone once said, “It’s not where you start, but where you finish.” Considering the path to his current career in motorsports, that person could have been talking about 2003 NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech) graduate Jonathan Sickler.
For the last two years, Sickler has been an integral part of the No. 8 Rev Racing Toyota pit crew where he serves as a finish fabricator and drives the team rig that hauls the cars. All those miles on the road and hours in the garage could take a toll on a person, but not Sickler.
“If you’re passionate about what you do and enjoy it, it doesn’t seem like work,” said Sickler.
Even if it doesn’t seem like work, the time and effort he and his team put in this year was well worth it. In Nov., the No. 6 Rev Racing Toyota driven by Kyle Larson captured the K&N Pro Series East crown with engines built by current Universal Technical Institute (UTI) students in the Spec-Engine Program. The victory marks the first NASCAR touring championship for Rev Racing and NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity initiative.
More than a decade ago, when Sickler was installing car stereos in Pinellas Park, Fla., NASCAR championship trophies were not exactly top of mind. However, as he worked more with cars, he developed a passion for them, beyond the stereo component. Taking on the same tasks, day after day, he was ready for a change, and knew that expanding his knowledge of cars was the first step.
At 25, Sickler packed up his belongings, drove across the country and enrolled at UTI-Avondale, and completed the 51-week Core Automotive Program. With a solid mechanical foundation, Sickler was ready for more. After speaking with NASCAR Tech representatives about their industry specific training programs, “Race City, USA” and NASCAR Tech was his next pit stop.
“The curriculum was really strong and I was at the age where I was mature enough to understand what I wanted to do and how I was going to get there,” said Sickler. “NASCAR Tech provided a platform for me to accomplish my goals.”
At 27, Sickler was not deterred from reaching the pinnacle of the racing world. UTI and NASCAR Tech see a lot of students walk through the doors and embrace the understanding that no matter the age, a career in the automotive industry is possible.
“Shops and race teams are looking for qualified, skilled and passionate individuals,” said John Dodson, community/NASCAR team relations director at NASCAR Tech. “Those are the types of graduates we turn out, and they get the job done.”
Sickler is talented and motivated, but notes that without the education he received at UTI and NASCAR Tech, he would not be where he is today.
“You have to have an education in automotive technology to get into racing,” said Sickler. “It’s really competitive and hands-on experience is the differentiator race teams are looking for.”
Sickler realizes how fortunate he is to be in this position and wants others to know that all things are possible.
“Whatever you put into life you will get out of it,” he said. “If you work hard and believe in what you’re trying to accomplish, you can do it.”
-UTI News Briefs
Seven Drivers Join Rev Racing For Full Seasons In The NASCAR K&N Pro Series And NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
DAYTONA BEACH, FL (January 15, 2013) — Coming off the most successful season in the nine-year history of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program, NASCAR and Rev Racing welcomed the 2013 NASCAR D4D class live on Google+ Hangout today – a group that will attempt to match the first series championship in the program’s history.
“Four drivers selected from the NASCAR Drive For Diversity Combine will join three returning drivers to compete for Rev Racing in 2013,” said Max Siegel, Owner of Rev Racing. “With Kyle Larson capturing NASCAR D4D’s first title in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship as well as the series’ Sunoco Rookie of Year Award, the new class is in a position to continue the momentum and defend the 2013 title.”
Bryan Ortiz, from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and Ryan Gifford, of Winchester, Tenn., will return to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. Ortiz finished second to teammate Larson in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors last season and fifth in the standings.
They will be joined by Daniel Suarez of Monterrey, Mexico, and Mackena Bell of Carson City, Nev. Suarez is coming off a third-place finish in Mexico’s NASCAR Toyota Series, while Bell drove in Rev Racing’s Late Model program last year.
Annabeth Barnes from Hiddenite, N.C., and Jack Madrid from San Clemente, Calif., will pilot the Late Models for Rev Racing. While Devon Amos, from Rio Rancho, N.M., will compete for the team’s Legends program.
“In 2012, the NASCAR Drive for Diversity initiative has strengthened its position as a leading driver development platform in our sport with outstanding finishes from many drivers, especially Kyle’s championship, which was a first for the program,” said Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR vice president of public affairs and multicultural development. “Clearly, the NASCAR D4D initiative and Rev Racing have raised the bar in preparing young drivers for success in our sport.”
Seventeen hopefuls went through a three-day driver evaluation of on-track performances and physical fitness assessments to be considered for a spot in the 2013 D4D class. For the second-consecutive year, the D4D Combine was held at Langley Speedway, a .4-mile asphalt oval and NASCAR sanctioned track.
While several of the drivers will compete in the UNOH Battle at the Beach at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 18-19, the full team will begin their season in March. The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series drivers will make their series debut at the historic Hickory Motor Speedway March 9, while the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East drivers open their season on March 16 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Toyota and Toyota Racing Development will once again support Rev Racing and the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, with all drivers racing Toyota Camrys in 2013. Goodyear, Mobil 1, Sprint, NASCAR Technical Institute (NTI), 3M, Wix Filters, Mechanix Wear, iRacing, Castle, JRI Shocks, Impact, Playseat, Doghouse Systems, Logitech, and Sign Innovations also return to support Rev Racing and the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program.
Concord, NC (Dec. 13, 2012) – The 23rd Annual Stocks For Tots charity event took place at NASCAR Technical Institute on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 in Mooresville, NC. Rev Racing was honored to partner with their sponsor, NTI, to play a part of this meaningful holiday tradition in the North Carolina racing community.
Stocks For Tots was created as a way to bring together stock car racing and its fans, while raising awareness of the child abuse problem in North Carolina. The idea was to collect toys and raise money during a festive, family-oriented holiday event.
Rev Racing drivers, Kyle Larson and Ryan Gifford, attended and were on hand to sign autographs for the hundreds of race fans and visitors to the event. Additionally, the Rev Racing/iRacing driving simulator provided an opportunity for the guests to get in the driver’s seat and take some hot laps around Charlotte Motor Speedway. Even Santa got in on the action.
“We are a part of this community and understand the social responsibility that entails,” remarked Derik Crotts, Rev Racing General Manager. “We get so much from the fans throughout this area that it becomes an honor to give some of that support back to them.”
Net proceeds from the Stocks For Tots event goes to SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) of Iredell County. SCAN is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children, supporting parents and improving the community. Since 1987 The Child & Parenting Centers of Iredell County have been working with families to create positive and effective parent-child relationships. For more information about SCAN please visit the website at www.iredellscan.org.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 8, 2012) – NASCAR announced today the 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East schedule that features 15 points races at 13 different tracks across the eastern United States.
The 27th season of K&N Pro Series East competition will see NASCAR’s top developmental division visit 10 states highlighted by six national series companion events including a pair of first-time visits to Florida.
“The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East features the stars of tomorrow, a very diverse entry list, and some of the most compelling racing action in the sport,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR vice president, regional and touring series. “The 2013 calendar provides an excellent mixture of local short tracks, NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide companion events, speedways, and a new high-profile event on a renowned road course. These are all the right ingredients for another outstanding season of racing excitement in NASCAR’s stepping stone to the national series.”
The season will commence with the inaugural UNOH Battle at the Beach exhibition event on the .4-mile track at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on Feb. 19 in which the K&N Pro Series East and K&N Pro Series West will compete in combination. The K&N Pro Series East will then return to The Sunshine State on April 13 for its first appearance at the half-mile Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola.
In another debut event, NASCAR returns to Road Atlanta, the 2.54-mile road course located in Braselton, Ga., on Oct. 18. The stock-car series will join the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón for the Petit Le Mans weekend.
Following Daytona, the 2013 regular season will begin at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, on March 16 as part of the spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend.
Iowa Speedway again will welcome both the K&N Pro Series East and K&N Pro Series West for combination contests. This year the first date is set for June 7 while the return date is Aug. 2. Both events will be held in conjunction with the NASCAR Nationwide Series at the Newton, Iowa track.
In addition to Bristol and the two Iowa races, the K&N Pro Series East will have three more companion events in 2013 with NASCAR’s national series. The East will return to Richmond (Va.) International Raceway on April 25, New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H., on Sept. 21, and Dover (Del.) International Speedway on Sept. 27.
Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway will host the series with dates on March 23 and Sept. 2. Short tracks Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. on June 1, Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va. on June 22 are featured dates on the slate as are a July 13 date at Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway and a visit to CNB Bank Raceway Park in Clearfield, Pa. on July 20.
The 2013 season will conclude at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway on Nov. 2.
2013 NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES EAST SCHEDULE
Date Track (Length) Location
Tue., Feb. 19 *^ Daytona International Speedway (.4-mile) Daytona Beach, Fla.
Sat., March 16 Bristol Motor Speedway (.533-mile) Bristol, Tenn.
Sat., March 23 Greenville Pickens Speedway (.5-mile) Greenville, S.C.
Sat. April 13 Five Flags Speedway (.5-mile) Pensacola, Fla.
Thu., April 25 Richmond International Raceway (.75-mile) Richmond, Va.
Sat., June 1 Bowman Gray Stadium (.25-mile) Winston-Salem, N.C.
Fri., June 7 * Iowa Speedway (.875-mile) Newton, Iowa
Sat., June 22 Langley Speedway (.396-mile) Hampton, Va.
Sat., July 13 Columbus Motor Speedway (.333-mile) Columbus, Ohio
Sat., July 20 CNB Bank Raceway Park (.52-mile) Clearfield, Pa.
Fri., Aug. 2 * Iowa Speedway (.875-mile) Newton, Iowa
Mon., Sept. 2 Greenville Pickens Speedway (.5-mile) Greenville, S.C.
Sat., Sept. 21 New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1.058-mile) Loudon, N.H.
Fri., Sept. 27 Dover International Speedway (1-mile) Dover, Del.
Fri., Oct. 18 Road Atlanta (2.54-mile road course) Braselton, Ga.
Sat., Nov. 2 Rockingham Speedway (1-mile) Rockingham, N.C.
* Combination race with NASCAR K&N Pro Series West
^ Non-points event
Subject to Change
The final stop of the 2012 Fueling Your Dreams tour took place right where we started the year, in Miami, Fl. As part of the NASCAR Championship Weekend festivities, Rev Racing and NASCAR Diversity teamed with Lead Dog Marketing to present an interactive immersion to the sport with area middle-schools. The results were outstanding!
We made three stops in market: North Miami Middle School, Jose Marti Math and Science Technology Academy, and Rockway Middle School. Students there spent ½ the day in an informational session revolving around Ten80 and business aspects within NASCAR, including measuring battery voltage while learning to use a multi-meter, exercises about friction and race tires, and marketing scenarios using sponsorship locations on the racecar. A team building activity, where groups of students formed “race teams,” was the culminating event for the classroom portion of the In-School activation. Students split into driver, crew chief, and pit crew roles and raced each other in remote controlled cars.
Following the classroom session, students then had the opportunity to interact with the show car, most seeing an actual race car for the first time. Also on hand was the iRacing simulator, which tied a lot of the information they just learned in the classroom together by driving around Homestead-Miami Speedway and seeing how a race car reacts on the track. Drivers Kyle Larson, Mackena Bell and Trey Gibson were on hand to sign autographs and take pictures. Kyle and Mackena were able to meet with some of the students who viewed their videos in the first phase of the activation and spoke a little more with them about their experiences with racing. For more info about Ten80, click here.
Concord NC, (November 6, 2012) Rev Racing and Bryan Ortiz will make their series debut with Putinka Vodka this weekend in the Talking Stick Resort “50” NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at Phoenix International Raceway.
“It is such and honor to have the support from Russian Roulette, distributor of Putinka Vodka its owner Ramon Abad and general manager Monseratte Flores who want to help me to continue to excel in my racing career, ” said Ortiz. “This endeavor has created a lasting friendship and this is just the beginning of our business relationship. I can’t wait to see the car, not only is it going to look great but it is going to handle even better”.
This is the first motorsport event for Russian Roulette distributor of Putinka Vodka. “I am proud to sponsor and be associated with such a great driver,” said Ramon Abad. “His team has welcomed me into their family and has been involved in helping Putinka Vodka become part of the Puerto Rican landscape. I hope to be a part of his success as he moves up towards the Nationwide Series.”
Tune in to Speed Channel on November 10 at 6pm for a live broadcast from Phoenix International Raceway. For more information about Bryan Ortiz visit www.bryanortizracing.com or follow Bryan on Twitter @BryanORacing. For more information on Ortiz’s sponsor visit http://russianroulettepr.com/.
CONCORD, NC (November 4, 2012) The 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Championship was won by Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 6 Rev Racing and L&M Ethanol Maintenance & Contracting, Inc. Toyota Camry. Saturday’s Classic 3 Championship Presented by RCR Racing Museum, at Rockingham Speedway, came down to the final lap where Larson was able to avoid a crash on the backstretch for a sixth place finish and brought the trophy home for Rev Racing.
With his top-10 finish, Larson, also claimed the 2012 Sunoco Rookie of the Year crown by a small margin over teammate, Bryan Ortiz who finished the year fifth in points.
“We have worked hard and been pretty lucky this season,” said Larson. “I didn’t get all that nervous in Saturday’s race until the final laps and I knew that I needed to have a top place finish. Then when the last lap wreck happened and I was able to avoid it, I knew that we had a good shot at winning this championship as well as the Rookie of the Year title. I have to thank my team as well as NASCAR Diversity and great partners, like Toyota, UTI/NTI, 3M, Mobil 1, and L&M Ethanol for making this possible.”
After lining up for his final race of the 2012 season in 21st, Rev Racing veteran, Ryan Gifford, fought back for a seventh place finish, right behind teammate, Kyle Larson.
“Qualifying didn’t quite go as we had hoped,” said Gifford, who would finish the season 11th in points. “Fortunately, my hard working team was able to get the No. 2 Universal Technical Institute/NASCAR Technical Institute Toyota Camry where it needed to be for this race and we were able to end this season on a high note. I can’t thank my team and sponsors enough for all their support this season.”
Rev Racing driver Jorge Arteaga and his DogHouse Systems Toyota would get caught up in an accident on Lap 79 that would the end his day and season 16th in series points.
Derik Crotts, Rev Racing general manager, said that he couldn’t have imagined a more successful season.
“All of our teams and drivers have worked very hard this season,” said Crotts. “I couldn’t be more proud of this entire Rev Racing team and what they have accomplished this year. To bring on a championship for this program and its partners is truly special.”
Larson will be crowned the 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion at the NASCAR Touring Awards, on Dec. 10, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
CONCORD, NC (November 1, 2012) Rev Racing along with rookie driver, Kyle Larson, will be competing for its first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship during the Classic 3 Championship Presented by RCR Racing Museum weekend, this Saturday, at Rockingham Speedway.
After an impressive rookie season, including two wins, eight top five’s and 11 top-10’s; Larson makes his first visit to “The Rock” as the current series point leader. With a season average finish of 3.6 at track’s .75 miles or larger, Larson said that he is hoping to continue this successful streak and bring his team home its first series championship.
“This is a great opportunity for me and my team to show the results of all the hard work for this year. Rev Racing, Toyota, my team and teammates have helped me to be in this position and I look forward to an exciting event this weekend.”
Larson will also be battling for another series title at this one-mile speedway. Lurking 5 points behind him in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings is teammate Bryan Ortiz.
This season, Ortiz has 9 top 10’s with a best finish of 3rd at Bowman Gray. He also has an average finish of 8th in speedway starts this year and is looking to add to these positive results in the final race of the season.
“Kyle and I are teammates but we are both very competitive and it is an honor to be battling with him for the Sonoco Rookie of the Year title. I know my crew chief and team will give me a car capable of making a great run this weekend and I will do my best to reward their hard work with my best effort”
With a goal to develop the skills and capabilities of its drivers seeking opportunities in this competitive sport, Rev Racing’s General Manager, Derik Crotts, said that he has been impressed with this season’s talent.
“Our drivers continue to prove that they have what it takes to be some of this sport’s next group of young stars,” said Crotts. “ Regardless of the outcome this weekend, this has been a very successful season for this team and I am extremely proud of all they have accomplished this year.”
CONCORD, NC (October 28, 2012) Good finishes in Saturday night’s Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 140, at Greenville Pickens Speedway, weren’t enough to keep Rev Racing’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series East team at the top of the championship point standings. However, Kyle Larson remains in good position heading into the series final race at Rockingham Speedway, six points out of the championship.
Starting the night in the second position, Larson continued to hold off the remaining field before being shuffled back to sixth on lap 105. After falling back as far as ninth, Larson was able to weave his No. 6 Rev Racing and L&M Ethanol Maintenance & Contracting, Inc. Toyota back into the top five as the laps began to wind down. Avoiding a collision on lap 136, Larson was shuffled back in the field. Not letting this stop him from the best finish possible, Larson quickly wove his way into the top five narrowly avoiding the pile up in Turn 4 on the final lap and crossed the finish line in fourth.
“I’ll take a fourth place finish after getting slammed around a few times,” said Larson. “I am pretty happy with the way the points are going into the Rock.”
Bringing home this team’s second top-10 of the night, Larson’s teammate Bryan Ortiz was also forced to overcome several challenges for his sixth place finish. Starting the night off in sixth, Ortiz moved his No. 4 Toyota Racing Development / Breast Cancer Awareness Camry, into the top three during the opening laps of the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 140. Holding this position as this race approached the half way point, a broken shifter forced Ortiz to fall back in the field. After clawing his way back to 12th, Ortiz was forced to the rear of the field after a pit road speeding penalty.
Refusing to quit, Ortiz was able to race his way back into the top-10 with 16 laps remaining. Also avoiding the wild finish under the checkered flag, Ortiz’s No. 4 crossed the finish in sixth.
“This was not our night,” said Ortiz. “Not sure how I made it back into the sixth position. Fortunately, we have a good car for next weekend’s final season race.”
Larson and Ortiz, along with their teammates Ryan Gifford and Jorge Arteaga, will wrap up their 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season in next Saturday’s Classic 3 Championship, presented by RCR Racing Museum, at Rockingham Speedway.
CONCORD, NC (October 25, 2012) Rev Racing Racing Rookie, Kyle Larson, will continue to battle for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship in this Saturday’s Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 140 at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway.
Originally scheduled to be the 11th event on the 14-race schedule, the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 140 will now be a major factor in shaping the championship picture. Originally to be contested, Sept. 3, Brett Moffitt had a 20-point lead on Larson with four races to go before rain washed out everything but practice and this race was rescheduled. Now, following a win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and a top-five finish at Dover International Speedway, Larson holds a slim points lead heading into one of the final two races of the season and is eyeing this program’s first NASCAR touring series championship.
“We’ve been pretty consistent all year and you’ve got to be consistent to win,” said Larson. “My No. 6 Rev Racing and L&M Ethanol Maintenance & Contracting, Inc. Toyota has been pretty strong this season and while we really haven’t had the best car all year, or on any (single) night, we’ve always been there at the end and I am hoping that this continues in the last two races of the season.”
While keeping their eyes on the prize, Rev Racing will also be honoring those who battle a much more difficult challenge, defeating breast cancer. The No. 4 Toyota Racing Development Camry, driven by Rookie of the Year contender, Bryan Ortiz, will be adorned in hot pink and pink ribbons to remember and commemorate two very special breast cancer survivors.
“My mom is a two time breast cancer survivor and I try to do everything I can to promote breast cancer awareness,” said Ortiz. “I am so thankful to have the opportunity to celebrate my mom in this way and can’t wait to race and have a great run, hopefully a win, for her.”
This hot pink No. 4 Toyota Camry is also a special salute to the mother of Jefferson Hodges, Rev Racing’s director of competition.
“I am proud to be associated with a team and sponsors who are willing to change their identity to honor such a great cause as Breast Cancer Awareness,” said Hodges. “Nothing makes me happier than knowing that because of all the research and advancements in the cure for this horrible disease that my mom is still around to see our hot pink No. 4 Toyota Camry.”
Additionally, the hood features a design by Rev Racing’s own Mackena Bell, one she submitted into a T-shirt design contest sponsored by Toyota to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Dylan Smith peeled off the track following his practice laps at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va., Wednesday morning and keyed the radio: “Hey guys, I just want to say ‘thank you’ for this opportunity.”
It’s a sentiment that was shared among the 17 candidates that took part in the on-track portion of the 2012 NASCAR Drive for Diversity (D4D) Combine put on by Rev Racing.
After the combine kicked off with fitness evaluations and iRacing simulations Tuesday, the drivers got to show what they could do Wednesday in three identically prepared Late Models on the .4-mile NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track.
For some, like Annabeth Barnes, from Hiddenite, N.C., it was redemption.
“This is a really great experience for all of us here,” said Barnes. “Everybody is really, really talented, so it’s great to be put in this group of drivers. We’re all given this great opportunity to show what we have that you wouldn’t get anywhere else.
“I came here last year – my first time here – and I was disappointed in myself. Coming to a different track that you’ve never raced before is hard. I traveled around a lot racing this year, trying to get prepared for this. So coming in, I was a lot more confident and I was a lot more prepared.”
The day was divided into a morning and afternoon session, with each of the drivers getting an opportunity to make 10-lap runs.
Headquartered in Concord, N.C., Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, operates the NASCAR Drive For Diversity program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for multicultural and women drivers and pit crew members. Rev Racing fields cars in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
The 2013 Rev Racing team will be selected from among the 2012 Rev Racing drivers and the Combine participants. This year’s Combine class included drivers from 12 U.S. states as well as Canada and Mexico, and a variety of racing experience from sprint cars to Late Models.
Their common goal of making their way up the NASCAR ladder brought them to Virginia.
“I love this place,” said Smith. “This is a great opportunity. You get to hang around people that can relate to you, and know some of the struggles and some of the things you’ve gone through. That’s really cool.”
The Combine will conclude Wednesday with additional on-track testing sessions.
The NASCAR D4D program created in 2004 is now executed by Rev Racing. Currently the top two rookies in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, Kyle Larson and Bryan Ortiz are in the 2012 D4D class, while Larson and Rev Racing graduate Darrell Wallace Jr. made their national series debuts this year. Earlier this season, Wallace became the first African-American to win a pole award in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, while Larson has been impressive in several NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts.
Drivers at the Combine include:
Devon Amos, Rio Ranch, N.M.; Dustin Ash, Las Vegas; Annabeth Barnes, Hiddenite, N.C.; Collin Cabre, Thonotosassa, Fla.; Kayla Cazares, Goffstown, N.H.; Amber Colvin, Mooresville, N.C.; Jessica Dana, Olympia, Wash.; Paige Decker, Eagle River, Wis.; Cassie Gannis, Phoenix, Ariz.; Lindsay Katz, Kalmazoo, Mich.; Jack Madrid, San Clemente, Calif.; Kate McCall, Port Orange, Fla.; Dallas Montes, Bakersfield, Calif.; Hannah Newhouse, Twin Falls, Idaho; Dylan Smith, Randolph, Vt.; Daniel Suarez, Monterrey, Mexico; Erica Thiering, Sherwood Park, Alberta.
Fueling Your Dreams and NASCAR Diversity teamed up with the Black Expo for the second time this year at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center in Jacksonville, FL. This event allowed us to continue building a partnership with the Black Expo brand as well as expose the sport of NASCAR to a new and engaged audience.
The Toyota show car and the iRacing simulator again proved to be eye catching along with the pop-up banners of race car specs, the 2012 Toyota Camry and the African American history in NASCAR display. The history banner was especially relevant
and introduced many of those who visited our footprint to a piece of racing history special to the Jacksonville area. NASCAR driver and African American, Wendell Scott, won the first and only top division event in NASCAR at Speedway Park, which was located in Jacksonville in 1963. In addition to the assets, Rev Racing drivers Ryan Gifford and Dylan Smith were on hand as representatives of
the diversity efforts in NASCAR and imparted knowledge and information to some curious, eager visitors. They also signed autographs and took pictures with some of their new fans!
“We started in the middle of the pack and the plan was to save the car for the end,” added Ortiz. “I got spun early and lost a lap which added some pressure. But, we took our time, got the “lucky dog” and once I was back on the lead lap we just worked our way through the field and ended up in third.”
Ortiz’s teammate, Ryan Gifford also made a statement that he’s ready to contend for the championship, as well, by coming in right behind Ortiz in fourth.
“I’m really surprised that we were able to get the No.2 Sunoco/Langley Speedway Toyota Camry into a fourth place finish,” said Gifford. “We didn’t have the fastest car but had watched the other races and knew that if we could just stay out of trouble until the end, we might be in a position to at least get a Top-10. So, coming home fourth, after getting spun and placed a lap down, is a great feeling and a great way to start the season.”
Their Rev Racing teammate from 2012, who joined them for this event, Kyle Larson was looking to have another good finish until he was hit and spun on the final lap of the race. Larson still managed to bring home a badly damaged Curb Records/Langley Speedway Toyota Camry in tenth.
The Rev Racing NASCAR Whelen All-American drivers, Mackena Bell and Trey Gibson struggled with mechanical issues during Monday night’s race and ultimately finished the event in 26th and 21st position, respectively. Bell, along with her 2013 Rev Racing NASCAR K&N Pro Series teammates, will make her next start at Bristol Motor Speedway, March 16, 2013.
