Derek Thorn – Current NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Points Leader
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 1, 2013
Kevin W. Green
Integrated Marketing Communications
(707) 689-5533
kgreen@nascar.com
NASCAR K&N Pro Series West News & Notes for LEBANON I-44 SPEEDWAY
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 4, 2013) –
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will make its inaugural visit to Lebanon (Mo.) I-44 Speedway for the Toyota/G-Oil 150 on Sunday, June 9.
The event will mark the second race in three days for the series, following the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West combination race at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa on Friday, June 7. Overall, the Missouri race will be the third consecutive series event in the nation’s heartland, which began with a visit to Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota on May 25.
NASCAR K&N Pro Series West drivers and teams will get their first look at the .375-mile track in Lebanon, Mo., during a special practice session held by the track on Saturday evening.
For Derek Thorn, who leads the championship standings, his team intends to run the same car in both events.
“We’re going to try to take the same car that we take to Iowa,” said Thorn, the driver of the No. 6 Sunrise Ford/Lucas Oil/Eibach Ford for car owner Bob Bruncati. “We’ll take it one step at a time and get through Iowa as good as we possibly can. I think Lebanon will be the easier of the two races, as far as the East-West at Iowa and Lebanon are concerned.
“Lebanon will be fun,” Thorn said. “I talked to a buddy of mine that lives in Missouri, not far from there. It sounds like it is very close to The Bullring at Las Vegas. I think a lot of guys will feel at home. We’ll find out.”
As a driver, Thorn looks forward to both events and is confident his team is ready for both.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I’m glad they did something like that. We’ll be really prepared for it. We have two really good cars in the trailer. So, if something happens in Iowa, we’ll still show up in Lebanon with a really good package. I’m hoping that’s not the case. The guys on the Sunrise Ford team worked really hard to make sure we are prepared to run a double weekend.”
Toyota / G-Oil 150
Lebanon I-44 Speedway
Sunday, June 9
8 p.m. CT
SPEED, June 20, 3 p.m. ET
.375-mile paved oval
Inaugural event
Inaugural event
Sunday: Practice 12:30-2 p.m., Qualifying 5 p.m.
Kevin Greven (417) 532-2060 lebanoni44@yahoo.com Twitter: @i44speedway
@i44speedway
#ToyotaGOil150
Jason Cunningham (704) 201-6658 jcunningham@nascar.com Twitter: @NASCAR_NE
If photographs or graphics are needed for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, please contact Kevin W. Green.
FAST FACTS
The Race: This event is the fifth of 15 events on the 2013 schedule for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.
The Procedure: The starting field is 24 cars, including provisionals. The first 20 cars will qualify through two-lap time trials. The remaining four spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race will be 150 laps (56.25 miles).
The Track: Lebanon I-44 Speedway is a .375-mile paved oval with turns 1 and 2 banked 11 degrees, turns 3 and 4 banked 12 degrees and six degrees banking in the front stretch and back stretch.
Records: To be established.
Reliable Toyota / G-Oil 150 June 9, 2013 Fast Facts
Saturday, June 8, 2013
4:00pm Garage Opens, Haulers Enter/Unload
5:00pm – 8:00pm Promoter’s Practice (All 3 Classes)
9:00pm Garage Closes
Sunday, June 9, 2013
9:00am Registration Opens
9:45am NASCAR K&N Pro Series Mandatory Crew Chiefs Meeting
10:00am Garage Opens, Inspection Begins
10:45am Safety Communications Meeting
11:00am Track Services Meeting
11:30am Mandatory K&N Rookie Drivers Meeting
Followed by Drawing to determine qualifying order
12:30pm – 2:00pm NASCAR K&N Pro Series Final Practice
2:30pm Qualifying Tech Opens – Groups determined by qualifying draw
2:30pm – 4:30pm NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Pro Late Model Practice
NASCAR Budweiser Modified Practice
4:00pm Gates Open – Grandstands, Wild Side, Fan Deck
4:45pm NASCAR Lebanon I-44 Drivers Meeting
5:00pm K&N Pro Series Qualifying (Impound)
6:00pm Mandatory Driver K&N, Crew Chief and Spotter Meeting
6:00pm NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Pro Late Model Heat Races
NASCAR Budweiser Modified Heat Races
6:30pm – 7:15pm Mandatory Driver Autograph Session below VIP Suite Tower
7:00pm NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Pro Late Model Feature
NASCAR Budweiser Modified Feature
NASCAR K&N Pro Series Driver Introductions
Reliable Toyota / G-Oil 150(mandatory on track pit stop on lap 75)
Saturday June 8th Budweiser Wild Side (Tier Parking)
Everybody – 5pm Practice FREE WITH SUNDAY TICKET
Monster Energy Grandstand Closed
Sunday June 9th Monster Energy Grandstands:
Adults $20
Seniors (62 & Up) $17
Military (Active or Retired with ID) $17
Juniors (11 thru 15) $14
Kids (10 & Under) FREE
Sunday June 9th Budweiser Wild Side (Tier Parking)
Adults $25
Seniors (62 & Up) $21
Military (Active or Retired with ID) $21
Juniors (11 thru 15) $17
6 Pack (6 Adults all in 1 Vehicle) $125
Kids (10 & Under) FREE
Pit Passes
Saturday Pit Pass $25
Sunday Pit Pass $30
Two Day Pit Pass $50
Tickets available at Toyota / G-Oil 150 Advance Tickets
LEBANON RACE NOTES
First Missouri Visit:This will mark the first series race in the state of Missouri. The series raced in the neighboring state of Kansas in 1998 and again in 2001 and 2002.
Back-To-Back Events:This will not be the first time for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West to race in two races in one weekend in the Midwest. In 2007, the series competed in back-to-back NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West combination races – visiting Elko (Minn.) Speedway on a Friday night and then traveling to Iowa Speedway for an event on Sunday.
NEXT TIME OUT: Sonoma
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West next heads to the wine country of Northern California for its annual visit to Sonoma Raceway on June 22. The event is the second of three road course events on this year’s schedule. Last year’s race was won by David Gilliland.
NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Statistical Advance: Iowa
Analyzing The Casey’s General Store 150 At Iowa Speedway
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 4, 2013) -The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and NASCAR K&N Pro Series West travel to Iowa Speedway on Friday, June 7, for the first of two East-West combination races on the Newton, Iowa track this year. Below is a statistical look at the recent performance of the series and selected drivers at Iowa, as well as some other statistical trends:
Iowa Race Setup
• Brett Moffitt of Grimes, Iowa, has a four-point lead in the championship standings of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East after five races. Moffitt, who won the East-West combination race at Iowa in 2011, is the only driver in the top five in series points without a win so far this year.
• Derek Thorn has an eight-point lead in the championship standings of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, with three races complete in that division. Thorn of Lakeport, Calif., is one of three different series winners this year.
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West Combination Races At Iowa
• There have been seven previous East-West combination races at Iowa Speedway – one each year from 2007-2011 and two in 2012.
• Iowa Speedway is located about 30 miles east of Des Moines. It was designed by NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Rusty Wallace. The track opened in September of 2006.
• The seven East-West combination events have resulted in seven different winners – Joey Logano (2007), Brian Ickler (2008), Kyle Busch (2009), Max Gresham (2010), Brett Moffitt (2011), Chase Elliott (May 2012) and Corey LaJoie (Aug. 2012).
• The seven events have also produced seven different Coors Light Pole winners – Kevin Harvick (2007), Austin Dillon (2008), Kyle Busch (2009), David Mayhew (2010), Matt DiBenedetto (2011), Brett Moffitt (May 2012) and Cale Conley (Aug. 2012).
• Kyle Busch was the only driver to win the E-W race at Iowa from the pole. Chase Elliott started the furthest back and won, coming from 15th on the grid last May.
• David Mayhew and Brett Moffitt have the most overall top-five finishes in E-W action at Iowa, with three each.
• Eddie MacDonald and Brett Moffitt have the most overall top 10 finishes in the Iowa combination races, with four each.
• With an average of 5.33, Chase Elliott and Jesus Hernandez have the best average finish among drivers with at least three starts in E-W competition at Iowa.
• Brett Moffitt has led the most laps of competition in E-W action at Iowa, leading the way for 339 circuits.
• David Mayhew and Eric Holmes are the only drivers to start all seven E-W combination races at Iowa.
• Two of the seven East-West combination races at Iowa were extended by a late-race caution for a green-white-checkered finish.
• Toyota and Chevrolet have each gone to Victory Lane in three E-W events, while Ford has one win.
• 140 different drivers have competed in the seven E-W combination events at Iowa.
Iowa Speedway Data
Race: (6/7/13)
East – #6 of 15
West – #4 of 15
Track Layout: .875-mile, paved oval
Banking: 10 degrees in the tri-oval, 4 degrees on the backstretch, 12-14 degrees in the turns
Race Length: 150 laps (131.25 miles)
Overall Records
1-lap Qualifying: Kyle Busch, 23.250 seconds, 135.484 mph, May 17, 2009
150-lap Race: Corey LaJoie, 1 hour 28 minutes 36 seconds, 88.883 mph, Aug. 3, 2012
Overall Comb. Race Winners at Iowa
Kyle Busch…………………………………. 1
Chase Elliott……………………………….. 1
Max Gresham……………………………… 1
Brian Ickler…………………………………. 1
Corey LaJoie………………………………. 1
Joey Logano……………………………….. 1
Brett Moffitt…………………………………. 1
Overall Comb. Pole Winners at Iowa
Kyle Busch…………………………………. 1
Cale Conley………………………………… 1
Matt DiBenedetto…………………………. 1
Austin Dillon……………………………….. 1
Kevin Harvick……………………………… 1
David Mayhew ……………………………. 1
Brett Moffitt…………………………………. 1
EAST DRIVERS
Cale Conley (No. 47 Tait Towers Toyota)
• One win, two poles, three top fives, four top 10s in 23 career series starts
• Best finish this season of 13th
• Average finish this season of 18.4
• One top five, two top 10s in two E-W combination races at Iowa
• Best overall E-W finish of third in May of 2012
• Led four laps at Iowa, while contending for win in May of 2012
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 5.0
C.J. Faison (No. 39 Sherwin-Williams Chevrolet)
• One pole, one top five, three top 10s in 17 career series starts
• Best career series finish of fifth, earlier this season at Bristol
• Average finish this season of 11.0
• Best finish of 21st in two E-W combination races at Iowa
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 23.5
Gray Gaulding (No. 20 Krispy Kreme Toyota)
• One pole, one top five, four top 10s in five career series starts
• Best career series finish of second, earlier this season at Pensacola
• Average finish this season of 10.0
• Recorded top-10 finishes in each of his first five combined NASCAR K&N Pro Series starts
• Became the youngest pole winner in NKNPS East history at Richmond (15 years, two months, 15 days)
• This will be his first NKNPS appearance at Iowa
Brandon Gdovic (No. 46 WindStax.com/Montana Mike’s Toyota)
• One win, eight top fives, 17 top 10s in 30 career series starts
• Scored first career series win earlier this season at Greenville
• Average finish this season of 6.8
• Best finish of 11th in three E-W combination races at Iowa
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 17.33
Ryan Gifford (No. 2 Universal Technical Institute/NTI Toyota)
• One wins, one poles, 13 top fives, 17 top 10s in 45 career series starts
• Scored first career series win earlier this season at Richmond
• Average finish this season of 9.0
• One top 10 in four E-W combination races at Iowa
• Best overall E-W finish of sixth in 2011
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 21.0
Ben Kennedy (No. 96 Emco Gears/MAC Tools/Mechanix Wear Chevrolet)
• Two wins, two poles, six top fives, 13 top 10s in 32 career series starts
• Scored first two career series wins this season at Pensacola and Bowman Gray
• Only NASCAR K&N Pro Series driver with multiple wins this year
• Average finish this season of 8.6
• Best overall finish of 22nd (2011) in three E-W combination races
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 26.66
Dylan Kwasniewski (No. 98 Royal Purple/Rockstar Chevrolet)
• One win, three top fives, five top 10s in eight career series starts
• Scored first career series win in season opener at Bristol
• Average finish this season of 7.6
• Two top 10s in three E-W combination races at Iowa
• Best overall E-W finish of eighth in May of 2012
• 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion
Eddie MacDonald (No. 7 Grimm Construction Toyota)
• Six wins, two poles, 29 top fives, 78 top 10s in 163 career series starts
• Best finish this season of fourth
• Average finish this season of 9.2
• One top five, four 10s in six E-W combination races at Iowa
• Best overall E-W finish of third in 2011
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 13.83
Brett Moffitt (No. 11 Toyota Gosei Toyota)
• Nine wins, 10 poles, 31 top fives, 38 top 10s in 52 career series starts
• Best finish this season of second
• Average finish this season of 6.0
• One win, three top fives, four top 10s in five E-W races at Iowa
• Iowa victory was in 2011
• Has led 339 laps in E-W competition at Iowa
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 6.8
Bryan Ortiz (No. 4 Rev Racing Toyota)
• Two top fives, 11 top 10s in 19 career series starts
• Best career series finish of third in 2012 at Bowman Gray
• Best finish this season of sixth
• Average finish this season of 14.6
• Best finish of 12th in two E-W combination races at Iowa
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 13.0
Daniel Suárez (No. 6 Rev Racing Toyota)
• Two top fives, eight top 10s in 21 career series starts
• Best career series finish of fifth, on two occasions, both at Columbus
• Best finish this season of seventh
• Average finish this season of 15.2
• One top 10 in three E-W races at Iowa
• Best overall E-W finish of 10th in August of 2012
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 17.0
Jimmy Weller (No. 31 Integrated Metal Products Chevrolet)
• Three top 10s in 19 career series starts
• Best career series finish of eighth, on three occasions
• Best finish this season of eighth
• Average finish this season of 16.2
• Best finish of 16th in two E-W combination races at Iowa
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 21.5
WEST DRIVERS
Carl Harr (No. 2 WestWorld Computers Chevrolet)
• 15 top 10s in 64 career series starts
• Best career series finish of seventh, three times
• Best finish this season of 11th
• Average finish this season of 12.0
• Finished 26th in only E-W combination race at Iowa
Daryl Harr (No. 71 iWorld Connect Chevrolet)
• Four top fives, 31 top 10s in 107 career series starts
• Best career series finish of fifth, four times
• Best finish this season of 17th
• Average finish this season of 22.0
• Best finish of 16th overall (2010) in six E-W starts at Iowa
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 26.16
Cameron Hayley (No. 24 Cabinets by Hayley/GPM Ford)
• One pole, 10 top fives, 14 top 10s in 22 career series starts
• Best career series finish of second, three times
• Best finish this season of second
• Average finish this season 3.33
• Best finish of 12th overall in two E-W starts at Iowa
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 18.5
Eric Holmes (No. 16 NAPA Toyota)
• 17 wins, 13 poles, 56 top fives, 72 top 10s in 91 career series starts
• Finished fifth in only previous start this season
• One top 10 in seven E-W starts at Iowa
• Best overall E-W finish of 10th in 2010
• Average overall E-W finish at Iowa of 25.14
• NASCAR K&N Pro Series West three-time champion
David Mayhew (No. 17 MMI Chevrolet)
• Four wins, eight poles, 31 top fives, 49 top 10s in 68 career series starts
• Finished 25th in only previous start this season
• Three top fives in seven E-W starts at Iowa
• Best overall E-W finish of third in 2009
• Won overall Coors Light Pole Award at Iowa in 2010
• Led 86 laps in E-W competition at Iowa, all in 2010
• Average finish in E-W event of 17.28
Greg Pursley (No. 26 GPM/Star Nursery/Real Water Ford)
• 14 wins, 16 poles, 38 top fives, 52 top 10s in 73 career series starts
• One win this season at Phoenix
• Average finish this season of 4.66
• One top five, two top 10s in six E-W starts at Iowa
• Best overall E-W finish of fourth in 2011
• Average finish in E-W events of 20.5
• 2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion
Michael Self (No. 21 Golden Gate Meat/Bay Bio Diesel Chevrolet)
• Four wins, 14 top fives, 23 top 10s in 46 career series starts
• One win this season at Brainerd
• Average finish this season of 6.33
• One top 10 in four E-W starts at Iowa
• Best overall E-W finish of ninth in 2012
• Average finish in E-W events of 20.75
Brett Thompson (No. 61 RTT Chevrolet)
• One win, one pole, 23 top fives, 66 top 10s in 121 career series starts
• Best finish this season of eighth, on two occasions
• Average finish this season of 11.33
• Three top 10s in five E-W starts at Iowa
• Best overall E-W finish of seventh on three occasions (2007, 2009, 2011)
• Average finish in E-W event of 18.4
Derek Thorn (No. 9 Sunrise Ford/Lucas Oil/ Eibach Ford)
• Three wins, one pole, 17 top fives, 19 top 10s in 24 career series starts
• One win this season at Stockton
• Average finish this season of 2.33
• Best finish of 24th overall in two E-W starts at Iowa
• Average finish in E-W events of 26.5
Contact:
Kevin W. Green
Integrated Marketing Communications
(707) 689-5533
kgreen@nascar.com
Lebanon I-44 Speedway is located four miles east of the Lebanon city limits on Historic Route 66 and Missouri’s only NASCAR sanctioned facility. Patrons using Interstate 44 may take Exit 135 and then drive approximately one mile east on Route 66 to the track’s main entrance. Additional information about this event, including a full schedule of events, the rules being enforced, and a purse distribution, will be released on the facility’s official website, www.i44speedway.net in the coming weeks. Keep up with news about Lebanon I-44 Speedway on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Lebanon-I-44-Speedway, and on Twitter (@i44Speedway).
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About Lebanon I-44 Speedway
Lebanon I-44 Speedway is Missouri’s only weekly Asphalt Racing Oval settled nearly 300 miles from any other and is Missouri’s only NASCAR sanctioned facility. Located in Lebanon, Missouri, along Interstate 44 adds easy access from any direction. Just about 45 minutes to the East of Springfield, Missouri on I-44 and just 2 hours East of St. Louis on I-44 as well as just 30 minutes south of Lake of the Ozarks.
Lebanon I-44 Speedway has a history of producing great racecar drivers, and some of the biggest stars in American motorsports honed their skills on our tracks high banked 3/8-mile asphalt oval. Legends such as the great Larry Phillips, the only 5-time national champion in NASCAR’s weekly racing series, along with NASCAR stars like Mike Wallace, Jamie McMurray, Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart and the late Tony Roper have either won races or even track championships over the years.
Lebanon I-44 Speedway has perhaps the smoothest racing surface of any weekly racing facility in the nation along with new aluminum backed Monster Energy grandstand seating, Budweiser “Wild Side” tier parking that you can pull up in your car or tailgate in your pickup and enjoy all of the racing from a great view, the new Central Bank VIP Suites in the middle of the front stretch and entering turn one is the newest addition, the Budweiser Fan Deck.
Lebanon I-44 Speedway runs many special events throughout the race season as well as an exciting NASCAR weekly show that consists of Pro Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman, Road Warriors and the Chargers with special appearances by the United States Super Truck Series, Pro National Baby Grand Cars, NASCAR racing special events and various Concerts.
For all of the latest information always visit
www.i44speedway.net