Tuesday, January 15, 2013

NASCAR announces 2013 Drive for Diversity class


   Four drivers selected from the NASCAR Drive For Diversity Combine will join three returning drivers to compete for Rev Racing in 2013.

    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 Kyle 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.

    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 combine was held at Langley Speedway, a .4-mile asphalt oval.

2013 Daytona Speedweeks schedule

2013 Daytona Speedweeks schedule
 
Thursday, Feb. 14
1-5 p.m. ARCA practice

Friday, Feb. 15
2 p.m. ARCA qualifying
5-5:45 p.m. Sprint Unlimited practice
6:30-7:30 Final Unlimited practice

Saturday, Feb. 16
10-10:45 a.m. Final ARCA practice
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sprint Cup practice
2-3:45 p.m. Cup practice
4:30 p.m. ARCA race
8:10 p.m. Sprint Unlimited (non-points)

Sunday, Feb. 17
1:05 p.m. Cup qualifying for Daytona 500

Monday, Feb. 18
UNOH Battle At The Beach

Tuesday, Feb. 19 UNOH Battle At The Beach

Wednesday, Feb. 20
Noon-1:30 p.m. Cup practice
2:30-4 p.m. Cup practice

Thursday, Feb. 21
9-9:50 a.m. Nationwide practice
10:15-11:50 a.m. Final Nationwide practice
12:10-1 p.m. Truck practice
2 p.m. Gatorade Duel qualifying races
6-7:20 p.m. Final Truck practice

Friday, Feb. 22
11 a.m.-noon Cup practice
12:30-1:30 p.m. Cup practice
1:40 p.m. Truck qualifying
3:35 p.m. Nationwide qualifying
7:30 p.m. Truck series race (100 laps)

Saturday, Feb. 23
10:30 a.m.-noon Final Cup practice
1:15 p.m. Nationwide Series race (120 laps)

Sunday, Feb. 24
1 p.m. Daytona 500 (200 laps)

Brad Keselowski Racing to field two NASCAR Trucks in 2013


   Brad Keselowski Racing will field two fulltime entries in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series this season, including a fulltime season by Ryan Blaney, who became the series' youngest winner in 2012 with his victory at Iowa.

    Michigan-based Cooper Standard will sponsor Blaney's No. 29 Ford for the entire season.  Doug Randolph will again serve as crew chief.

    Cequent Consumer Products and Cequent Performance Products (Cequent Group) will sponsor 15 races on the No. 19 Ford, which will be driven by several drivers including team owner Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Dave Blaney and Ross Chastain. Dave Blaney will drive in the July 24 race at Eldora Speedway, the series' first race on dirt.

    Chastain will drive in 15 races in the No. 19, including the season opener at Daytona.