BRISTOL NIGHT RACE ON SATURDAY: THE WILD CARD IN THE DECK

At Bristol Motor Speedway, the unpredictability is the only element that’s predictable.

August 21, 2013 – Saturday night’s IRWIN Tools Night Race (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC, Performance Racing Network radio, SiriusXM radio) just might be the biggest remaining unknown with the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ just three races away.

Bristol’s tall concrete banks well may determine who does or doesn’t qualify for the postseason.

The racing will be close, pressure-packed and physical. Who doesn’t remember Dale Earnhardt “rattling” Terry Labonte’s cage or Tony Stewart’s thrown helmet that bounced off Matt Kenseth’s windshield?

A few drivers – like five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who has already clinched a Chase berth – know Bristol’s twists and turns won’t end their championship hopes.

Others – not so much.

Drivers ranked seventh through 11th – Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Kasey Kahne – are separated by just 20 points. Last year’s Bristol night race saw 20 cars finish all 500 laps. Among those finishing off the lead lap was Carl Edwards, who needed a solid finish to close crucial ground on the points leaders.

He didn’t get it and ultimately failed to reach the Chase.

Saturday’s race could be huge for what’s now become a crowded field of four current Chase Wild Card hopefuls scoring victories in 2013. Although Tony Stewart remains eligible by virtue of a top-20 points position, Stewart-Haas Racing has pronounced its injured driver out for the remainder of the year.

Spring Bristol winner Kasey Kahne, attempting to become the first to score a sweep since Kyle Busch in 2009, would virtually lock up one Wild Card spot with his third victory of the year. That might be moot since Kahne is just four points out of the top 10.

The same could be said for Martin Truex Jr., 10 points out of the top 10. Truex finished 12th at Bristol in March and 11th a year ago. The New Jersey native has only two top-five finishes at the track but they are good ones – third in the spring of 2012 and second in the 2011 night race.

Neither Michigan winner Joey Logano nor Indianapolis winner Ryan Newman has been able to score a Bristol victory. Logano’s No. 22 Penske Racing Ford, however, is owned by Roger Penske. Penske Racing is No. 2 in the Bristol win column with 10 trips to Victory Lane – most recently in spring of 2012 with reigning series champion Brad Keselowski.

 

BRISTOL’S DOMINANT TRIO MUST RISE YET AGAIN

They are among Bristol Motor Speedway’s most successful competitors.

August 21, 2013 – Saturday night’s Irwin Tools Night Race may not be the last stand for three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions. But if Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski can’t rise to the occasion here; then where?

They are among Bristol Motor Speedway’s most successful competitors.

Gordon and Busch have each won five times at the .533-mile concrete oval. Keselowski counts two victories in the past four races with a third-place finish in March’s event thrown in for good measure.

This is a week for Keselowski and Busch to consolidate recent gains. For Gordon, it’s an opportunity to regroup after several disappointing races.

Keselowski (eighth) and Busch (ninth) are eight and six points, respectively, ahead of 11th. Gordon is 14th – 26 points outside the top 10.

Gordon’s recent statistics are best among the trio: second-best series Driver Rating (100.6), second-fastest Average Green Flag Speed (114.863 mph) and series-high 6,974 laps among the top 15 over the last 17 Bristol races.

A year ago, Gordon found himself in a similar situation – 16th in points – but with finishes of third, third and second in the final three races of the regular season qualified for the Chase.

“We have a good stretch of tracks ahead and we have to do everything possible to make the most of these races,” he said.

Source: NASCAR

 

MARTIN TRUEX JR. No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS TOYOTA BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY PREVIEW

CORNELIUS, N.C. – August 21, 2013 – No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota driver Martin Truex Jr. plans to continue Michael Waltrip Racing’s success at Bristol Motor Speedway when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on Saturday night. MWR’s three drivers own the best average finish in the last three races.

The MWR surge began in March 2012 when Truex, Clint Bowyer and Brian Vickers finished third, fourth and fifth — a first for the organization co-owned by Michael Waltrip and Rob Kauffman.

There’s a lot on the line Saturday night. Truex is 12th in the standings with three races remaining before the start of the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup. Truex holds the second and final provisional wild card (653 points, one win) as he seeks his second consecutive Chase berth. Kasey Kahne has the first transfer spot with 659 points and two victories. Only 14 points separate positions eight through 12 and 10 points separate Truex from 10th place in the standings.

TRUEX ON BRISTOL: “It’s just insane — it’s out of control. Bristol is like having a boxing match in an elevator. Everything is so right there and so packed together. The fans are on top of the action. When you’re driving the car, you’re always in the middle of something.  You’re always busy and you don’t get any time to rest. It’s just an exciting place and it keeps you amped up and keeps you on the edge of your seat all night long.”

WINNING AT BRISTOL: “The NAPA team has been close to winning there. We’ve been second there a few times and third — we’ve been really good there. It would be a fun one to win. I won there in Nationwide and it sure would be great to win. We want to win everywhere, but there are certain tracks that are really cool to win at and Bristol is definitely one of them with that night race and getting to drive on top of the building with the fireworks shooting off. Yeah, that is one I want to get especially considering how close the points are with three races to go. A second win would certainly help us if we need a wild card to make it into the Chase.”

RACING WITH VICKERS: “He’s been a great part-time teammate. He fits in so well with our group that Monday’s announcement to put Vickers in the seat for 12 of the 13 races left makes the most sense. It gives us all a head start and allows for a seamless transition into 2014. I think with the few races he’s run with us this year — obviously it includes a win, he’s done an incredible job. Now, he’s going to be able to help us even more as we try to lock up two of our three cars into the Chase with just three races to go.”

 

BOBBY LABONTE NO. 47 BUSH’S® BEANS TOYOTA CAMRY BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY PREVIEW

Track:  Bristol Motor Speedway

Event:  Irwin Tools Night Race

Date:    Saturday, August 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET

TV/Radio: ESPN / MRN Radio / SiriusXM

BOBBY LABONTE NOTES:

In 41 starts at Bristol Motor Speedway, Bobby Labonte has three top-five and 10 top-10 finishes and has led 60 laps. His average start is 22.073 and his average finish is 21.122. His best finish is third (3/23/03).

The 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion’s best finish of the season is 15th, which occurred at Daytona International Speedway in February.

QUOTES:

Speedway to short track racing: “We are coming from a two-mile track with a wide racing surface to a fast, action-packed fun short track,” driver Bobby Labonte said. “We had a good run the last time we were at Bristol Motor Speedway and we feel good about the setup we have this weekend. The last time we raced at the .533-mile concrete oval, we were running around the top 15 before our motor blew up. We just wrapped up our competition meeting and  we feel like we have a good package this weekend with our No. 47 BUSH’S Beans Toyota Camry.”

Key factor:  “The spotter is really important at a track like Bristol because things happen so fast,” Labonte said. “You have to have great communicate between the driver and spotter. You have got to be ready for anything. I feel really comfortable having David Green spotting for me.”

In sync:  “Basically, the driver and spotter need to be in sync at a place like Bristol,” spotter David Green said. “Communication becomes more important than ever. It only takes 15 seconds to get around that place and things happen quickly. Some tracks are easier to spot, but at Bristol there are 43 cars on track at all times and that starts with practice on Friday. The timing of what you are saying and the wording is vital. At Bristol, I come in with the mindset that I’ve got to step everything up three notches.”

Getting in the mode:  “I’m going to spot the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race to get into the flow of things,” continued Green. “Any amount of practice and race time before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is good to get you in that mode and mindset because it is different.”

Sense of danger:  The neat thing about Bobby and I working together is that he knows when something is going to happen before I even get it all out of my mouth. He can sense it before I say it with just my adjectives or inflection in my voice. It is one track where I use my voice level a little more effectively than any other track. It is due to the close quarters where everything is happening.

Fast forward:  “When you go to Bristol it’s like watching a movie on play,” Green said. “As soon as the cars hit the track, you are going in fast forward times three from simply getting on track, merging in traffic and getting off the track. Sometimes after the race at Bristol, I walk away from that track thinking, ‘Man, it’ has got faster and faster.’ It really has sped up over the years.”

 

FRANCE FAMILY’S BEN KENNEDY MAKES TRUCK DEBUT TONIGHT AT BRISTOL

Wednesday August 21, 2013 – Ben Kennedy will want to be considered just another driver attempting to make his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race when Bristol Motor Speedway hosts the UNOH 200 on Wednesday night. The exception is Kennedy is not just another driver.

Kennedy, the great-grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., will make his national series debut this Wednesday night in his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at BMS.

Kennedy is no stranger to racing at Bristol. His 42 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West starts include two trips to the .533-mile track with finishes of 10th and sixth in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

His mother is International Speedway Corporation President Lesa France Kennedy. Her son will be the first member of the France family to compete in a NASCAR national series event (NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide or NASCAR Camping World Truck Series). His great grandfather raced stock cars prior to the creation of NASCAR.

Kennedy is a two-time winner this season in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East competition and a winner in the first NASCAR-sanctioned oval race in Europe last year in Tours, France in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. His NASCAR K&N Pro Series wins came at Five Flags Speedway in April and at Bowman Gray Stadium in June. The latter victory was special in that his grandmother, Betty Jane France, is a Winston-Salem, N.C., native and a Miss Bowman Grey Stadium prior to meeting her future husband Bill France Jr.

Kennedy will make three more starts in the trucks this year. The remaining races on his 2013 schedule are Iowa, Chicagoland and Homestead-Miami Speedways.

 

TEAM CHEVY IN THE GARAGE BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY – ALBA COLON, PROGRAM MANAGER, NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES – CHEVROLET RACING:

Alba Colon

August 21, 2013 – “With just three races to go before the 2013 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup begins, the pressure is really on those teams in the top 20 in the point standings.  The Wild Card situation has been changing constantly on a weekly basis.  The field is not going to be decided until the last lap at the Richmond race.  Every lap led, every win, and every position counts more than ever.

“Team Chevy has four drivers in the top 10; and several drivers sitting between 11th and 20th place that can make it into the Chase under the Wild Card rule.  Our main goal the next three weeks is to continue to work hard to secure as many drivers as we can for the final 10-race run for the championship.

“As we head to Bristol Motor Speedway this week, we will get to see all three NASCAR premier racing series battling it out under the lights.  There is nothing more exciting for fans and participants alike, than short track racing at night!  This high-speed half-mile track offers its own set of unique challenges.  Drivers will need to focus on collecting the maximum number of points along with fighting for the win.  Having a well-balanced car and staying out of trouble are the keys for success at Bristol.

“We are looking forward to victories for our Team Chevy drivers in all three NASCAR racing series events this weekend.”

TEAM CHEVY FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT:

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S DOVER WHITE CHEVROLET SS – POINTS LEADER:

“Yeah, short tracks are fun.  I’m looking forward it.  The night race in Bristol is awesome.  I tell many many friends if they are going to pick one that is the one that they need to come see and be a part of for a lot of reasons.  I’m excited to go back.  We run well there.  I’d like to find a little bit more and really be a car racing for the win and go to Victory Lane again.  I have high expectations and expect to go there and run really well.”

DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 88 DIET MOUNTAIN DEW CHEVROLET SS – 7th IN STANDINGS:

“I like Bristol (Tenn.). I’ve always enjoyed going there as a kid and watching races. The Saturday night race is one of the best tickets in the series. It’s an exciting racetrack, and it’s a lot of fun for the drivers. You’re always in the middle of something every lap. It keeps you on your toes, and it’s a pretty tough racetrack. I enjoy the challenge and look forward to hopefully having a good weekend.”

 KURT BUSCH, NO. 78 FURNITURE ROW RACING/SEALY CHEVROLET SS – 9th IN STANDINGS:

“Bristol — it’s a good chance for us to break through (for a win).  It’s one of those fun tracks that you anticipate going to, knowing the track and knowing the different types of setups it takes to back up the top-five finish we had there earlier this year.  The Bristol night race is one of those top-five events of the year where you feel the excitement and the electricity. The fans are jazzed up for the race. The race has a special vibe to it like the Daytona 500, Coke 600 and the All-Star event.  The Gen 6 car has a different feel to it at a short track and our Furniture Row guys have adapted well — some of our best cars have been at short tracks this year.   We’re in the Chase mix and the biggest thing is to stay out of trouble. We all know that trouble can happen at any corner at Bristol. There’s 500 laps at Bristol and we have to protect our car and still finish well. There’s three weeks to go where we could get in a little fender-bender, some itty-bitty thing can happen that will put us on the outside. We need to stay focused and worry about what we do and not what others do.”

KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 FARMERS INSURANCE CHEVROLET SS – 11th IN STANDINGS:

“The Bristol night race is always one of the better races of the year. It’s one of the races I look forward to just because of the time of the season it is. I like racing there at night. It’s hot. It seems like tempers kind of get out of control there at times on the night race probably because it’s hot and you’re racing under the lights. We won the first one, and we ran really well there the last few times we’ve been at Bristol so I’m looking forward to trying to get another win and sweeping the season there.”

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 AXALTA COATING SYSTEMS CHEVROLET SS – 14th IN STANDINGS:

“Our mindset hasn’t changed going into this weekend. We’re still going to work hard all weekend to have a fast race car, hopefully qualify well and lead some laps and be in position to battle for the win at the end of the night. That’s our plan of attack every weekend. We have a good stretch of tracks ahead and we have to do everything possible to make the most of these races.

“I love this race and I love this track. This is one of the few tracks that when I get here, I usually make it a point to walk the track on Thursday night and soak it all in. With the high banks, the speed and the grandstands surrounding the entire track, this is just such a cool place and a cool experience.”

RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 39 QUICKEN LOANS CHEVROLET SS – 15th IN STANDINGS:

“It’s just a great racetrack and a great short track. I’ve always liked the banked racetracks, in general, over the flatter racetracks. So, I guess in some ways, you could say I’m more comfortable at Bristol. I think Bristol has always been one of those short tracks that everybody loves. And, obviously, that’s changed with the different surface and the way they’ve changed it a little bit. But, ultimately, it’s still a great short track. I really love the banking and I love the fact it’s concrete and doesn’t seem like it changes a whole lot. Once you get a car right, it’s typically right for 500 laps, which is difficult to get on some of the racetracks. Honestly, there’s just no place like Bristol. I’ve told people before that Bristol is like a baby superspeedway. If something happens in front of you, it may not be your fault, but you can get caught up in somebody else’s wreck in the blink of an eye. You have to really be on your toes at Bristol. Everything happens so fast there. You don’t have time to think or blink.”

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, NO. 42 TARGET CHEVROLET SS – 23rd IN STANDINGS:

“We had a really good Target Chevy the last time we went to Bristol and then we noticed a fuel pressure issue early on in the race and had to go behind the wall for repairs. It’s a shame because when we returned to the track I was going around the lead lap cars with no problem. If that hadn’t of happened the Target team would of easily had a top-five finish. This time we’re looking for a little redemption and getting the finish we deserve at Bristol.”

DANICA PATRICK, NO. 10 GODADDY CHEVROLET SS – 27th IN STANDINGS:

“I’ve liked Bristol since I went there the first time.  I remember when I stepped foot onto that track, it was the day before, it was load in day and I looked out there and you’re standing on the straightaway, but it sure seems like a corner.  It’s a very cool track and a spectacle for the fans.  I feel like that is always the one that everyone says, ‘I want to come see the Bristol night race.’  I feel like the attendance lately has been great, the coverage has been great of NASCAR and I think we’ll get a lot of people out there.

JJ YELEY, NO. 36 UNITED MINING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET SS – 34th IN STANDINGS:

“I am looking forward to having United Mining Equipment back on board the No. 36 Chevy at Bristol Motor Speedway. It will be nice to race under the lights, the fans love this race and so do the drivers. I am really excited about driver intros, if you remember my Bristol shake…stay tuned!”

 MARK MARTIN, NO. 14 BASS PRO SHOPS/MOBIL 1 CHEVROLET SS – INTERIM DRIVER FOR THE INJURED TONY STEWART:

“I’m incredibly honored.  Sometimes I have a hard time understanding how Tony (Stewart) could possibly feel that way toward me when the guy is so amazing, the modern‑day A.J. Foyt.  When I was growing up, A.J. drove anything and everything and was fast and won in everything he drove.  And Tony is the guy today that really does that and is successful at it.

“So it’s hard for me to comprehend that, but he’s made great friends ‑‑ we’ve been good friends for quite some time with amazing respect, mutual respect.  It’s an honor to be in the situation where we’re able to do this.

“I’m really, really sorry that it comes at the expense of Tony getting hurt.  But one thing I do want to say that is really important here is the amazing amount of cooperation that it took to get this deal done by so many parties, and I haven’t seen this much cooperation in the past, and I think it was largely in part for the incredible amount of respect that everyone has in the sport for Tony Stewart.”

 

ROB FULLER READY TO MAKE MODIFIED REBOUND AT BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Looking to use Bristol experience to his advantage at “World’s Fastest Half Mile”

STATESVILLE, N.C. August 20, 2013 – If it weren’t for bad luck Rob Fuller would have no luck so far this season, but Fuller and his 15-40 Connection team look to change that on Wednesday when the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) hit’s Bristol Motor Speedway’s high-banks for the TitanRoof 150.  With more experience at Bristol than any other track on the modified circuit, Fuller is looking forward to a strong run Wednesday and more importantly a rebound from recent bouts of bad luck.

For Fuller and his No. 15 RFM team it looked like luck was finally starting to come his way last Thursday when the NWMT returned to Thompson Speedway for the second time in 2013.  After practicing and qualifying in the top-10 with a very fast car Fuller was ready for a strong run and more importantly reaching the checkered flag with no damage.  Unfortunately luck was not on his side as another driver made contact with Fuller, while running solidly in the top-10, sending him hard into the outside wall demolishing his No. 15-40 Chevrolet.

With only one car and a volunteer crew it didn’t look like Fuller would be able to make the repairs needed in time for Bristol, but with the heart of a champion, countless hours of work, no sleep and the help from some friends Fuller and crew were able to rebuild their No. 15 Chevrolet in time to make the trip to Bristol.

“Luckily we had a bunch of the parts we needed to fix the car in the shop and Troyer was able to overnight the other parts we needed,” explained Fuller. “There were four or five guys that helped us for three days; I don’t even want to count how many hours we worked to get our 15-40 Connection Chevrolet ready. I didn’t get to see my bed a whole lot. We basically had to rebuild the entire car.  I have no idea what to expect out of it on Wednesday. I actually took it around the block in my neighborhood to make sure that the drive train was going to be alright before we loaded it.”

Although Fuller will be heading to Bristol’s high-banks with a big question mark about his newly repaired car, the one advantage he will have is his Bristol experience.  Having made starts at the famed half-mile oval in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Modified Series and in a Late Model Fuller knows how to get around Bristol Motor Speedway.

“It’s a better feeling going to Bristol then it is going to most of the other tracks that these guys race at all the time. I probably have just as much if not more laps then 95% of the guys that we’ll be running against, so that definitely feels good.  I would be a little more optimistic if we were going there with a straight race car, but it is what it is; we just have to make the best of it then turn around, come home and get ready for Loudon.”

Fox Sports 2 will have live race coverage of the TitanRoof 150, the first live NASCAR race for the newly-formed sports network.  The green flag is set to drop for 150 laps of modified racing action at the “world’s fastest half-mile” on Wednesday, August 21 (Tomorrow) at 6:00 p.m. EST.

 

McCALL TO PILOT No. 92 CHEVROLET AT BRISTOL

Cerro Gordo, N.C. August 19, 2013 –  Having worked for Richard Childress Racing for the last three years, Matt McCall is no stranger to Bristol Motor Speedway.

But Wednesday, the race engineer for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series No. 31 Chevrolet entry will get a whole new view of the high-banked half mile. McCall will be behind the wheel of the Ricky Benton Racing (RBR) Enterprises No. 92 BTS Tire and Wheel Distributors/Goodyear FleetHQ/QMI Chevrolet for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) UNOH 200.

“I’m thrilled to have this opportunity,” said McCall, who will be making his first NCWTS start in 10 years. “I’ve worked with Ricky (Benton) over the last several years with my late model team and he and Black’s Tire have been big supporters.

“It is an honor to be able to drive the truck at Bristol.”

Despite his limited experience in the series, McCall has high expectations for himself and the team.

“(Crew chief) Mike (Hester) and the guys have us a good piece for the race,” said McCall. “I think if we can stay out of trouble, we can run in the top 10. With a little luck, a top-five finish isn’t out of the question.”

Benton, likewise, is expecting a good finish at Bristol.

“Matt is a guy with a ton of short track experience and success in late models and we feel he can translate some of that success into our effort at Bristol,” said Benton. “The team has worked hard on the truck for this week and I think it’s going to pay off for us.”

The UNOH 200 will be RBR Enterprises’ sixth attempt of 2013. Scott Riggs has starts at Daytona, Martinsville, Charlotte and Kentucky. Clay Rogers drove the truck at Rockingham in April.

After Bristol, the team plans to return to the NCWTS at Chicagoland with Riggs back behind the wheel.

Sponsorship Opportunities Available

For more information, or to learn how you can partner with RBR Enterprises in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, contact Rick Benton II at 910.840.6857 or by email at rbrmarketing@ncez.net.

 

HARVICK SCORES SECOND PLACE FINISH FOR TEAM CHEVY AT MICHIGAN; KURT BUSCH FINISHED THIRD

A Total of Five Chevrolet Drivers Earn Top 10 Finishes

BROOKLYN, Mich. – Aug. 19, 2013 – Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 29 Rheem Chevrolet SS, scored his sixth top-five finish of the season by coming home second in the Pure Michigan 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at Michigan International Speedway.   The Richard Childress Racing (RCR) driver holds firm to his fourth-place position in the series standings with the finish.

Kurt Busch had another strong run in his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing/Serta Chevrolet SS after leading 43 of the 200 laps in today’s race.  Busch finished third, and moved up two spots in the point standings to ninth with his 11th top 10 finish of 2013.

Harvick’s RCR teammates also had strong finishes today at MIS.  Paul Menard scored his first top-five finish of the season today in his No. 27 Nibco/Menards Chevrolet SS by finishing fourth, and Jeff Burton came home eighth in the No. 31 Cheerios Chevrolet SS.

While Hendrick Motorsports drivers Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 National Guard Youth Foundation Chevrolet SS had trouble in today’s race – teammate Kasey Kahne brought his No. 5 Pepsi Max Chevrolet SS home in seventh position.  The finish helped Kahne move up one spot in the point standings to 11th.   Johnson lost an engine early in the race while Earnhardt Jr. made contact with the wall after a right-front tire failure near the mid-point of the event.

Joey Logano (Ford) was the race winner and Clint Bowyer (Toyota) was fifth to round out the top-five.

The next race on the tour will be Saturday, August 24, 2013 at Bristol Motor Speedway

BRANDON JONES TO MAKE NCWTS DEBUT AT BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Turner Scott Motorsports NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Driver Brandon Jones to Drive the No. 33 Katy Spring Entry at Bristol

MOORESVILLE, N.C. August 15, 2013 – It was announced today that Turner Scott Motorsports’ (TSM) NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKNPSE) driver Brandon Jones will attempt to make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) debut in the No. 33 Katy Spring Chevrolet Silverado at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The 16-year-old Jones participates in the UARA-Stars series full time for TSM andhas seven top-10 finishes and is currently fifth in the points standings. Jones also runs part time in the NKNPSE for TSM and has four starts with one top 10 coming at Iowa Speedway in June.

“I can’t thank Turner Scott Motorsports and Katy Spring enough for this opportunity to get into one of their trucks at Bristol,” said Jones. “Bristol can be a tough track so I’m happy that my team and I ran the K&N race there earlier this year. We were also able to test at Gresham earlier this week and I feel like that really help me understand the truck. I have set some realistic goals for this race and I feel my Katy Spring’s team and I are prepared to meet those goals.”

Jones will bring his NKNPSE Director of Competition Mike Greci to call the race at the UNOH 200.

“For the short time that Brandon has been running for us at Turner Scott Motorsports you can really see how much he has matured,” said Steve Turner co-owner of Turner Scott Motorsports. “I think the best thing for Brandon right now is to get some seat time. I feel that he is ready to take this step and I am confident that he will learn a lot with the crew that we have assembled for him.”

The UNOH 200 from Bristol Motor Speedway can be seen live on FOX Sports 1 starting at 8:00 p.m. EDT on August 21. The race can also be heard on SiriusXM Satellite Radio, channel 90 or MRN Radio.