PIT BOX: New Smyrna Takes Center Stage
Hosts 49th Asphalt Stock Car World Series, K&N Pro East Opener
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
• The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will kick off season for the second straight year on the .48-mile high-banked oval just 15 minutes from Daytona International Speedway. Last year’s inaugural event featured a final lap battle with Daniel Suarez taking the win by inches over Cameron Hayley. Suarez is now with Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, opening the door for a new winner.
HScott Motorsports With Justin Marks, which has fielded the past two champions with Dylan Kwasniewski (2013) and Ben Rhodes (2014), has five cars including youngester Dalton Sargeant and open-wheel standout Rico Abreu. Sargeant nearly won the Super Late Model race earlier in the month at New Smyrna, while Abreu is looking to follow in the footsteps of good friend Kyle Larson in making the transition to NASCAR.
Past K&N Pro Series race winners Gray Gaulding, Austin Hill and Scott Heckert are on the entry list, as is 2014 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series champion Anthony Kumpen. Hill won the final two NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season last year, and Nick Drake closed out the West season with a win at Phoenix. Other young names to watch include Jared Irvan, the son of former NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Ernie Irvan, who will be making his series debut; Kyle Benjamin, who claimed the World Series points title for the Super Late Model Division in 2012 at New Smyrna; and Kenzie Ruston, the holds the mark for highest finishing female in a K&N Pro race with her runner-up finish at Iowa Speedway last season.
• In addition to Sunday’s race, New Smyrna will be home to eight more nights of racing action, headlined by the Super Late Model and tour-type Modifieds of the track’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
Steve Wallace, the son of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Rusty Wallace, will be back to defend his World Series title in the Super Late Model Division. Wallace claimed the crown with a win and a consistent week where he never finished worse than fourth. Former NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion David Rogers leads a field of challengers that include Stephen Nasse and Ryan Moore.
Moore won the week-long title in 2013, while Nasse has several extra-distance wins at New Smyrna to his credit.
Drive For Diversity driver Natalie Decker will be racing with her family team along with sister Claire Decker and cousin Paige Decker.
Ryan Preece, the 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion, and Justin Bonsignore lead the field of Modified entrants, along with 2012 World Series champion Chuck Hossfeld.
Spencer Davis will once again be the busiest driver in the World Series. He is entered in the Super Late Model, Modified and Pro Late Model divisions. The 16-year-old Davis won the Pro Late Model championship at last year’s World Series.
On Track
NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES EAST
HART TO HEART BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION 150 at New Smyrna (Florida) Speedway
RACE TIME: Sunday, Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m. (Air Date: NBCSN, Thursday, Feb. 19, 10:30 p.m.);
TWITTER: #Hart2Heart150, #KNEast, @newsmyrnaspdway
RACE CENTRAL LIVE | ENTRY LIST
DATE TIME EVENT
Sunday, February 15 8 a.m. Registration opens.
8:45 a.m. Mandatory Crew Chief Meeting.
9 a.m. Garage opens. Inspection begins.
10:15 a.m. Safety Communications Meeting.
10:30 a.m. Track Services Meeting.
11 a.m. Rookie Driver/Spotter Meeting. Draw for qualifying.
12:30-1:15 p.m. Practice.
1:20-1:50 p.m. Rookie Only Practice.
2-2:45 p.m. Final Practice.
3:30 p.m. Qualifying Inspection begins. Groups determined by qualifying draw.
4:30 p.m. Driver Meeting.
5 p.m. Qualifying. (2 Laps.) (Fastest 24 cars earn starting positions 1st thru 24th.)
6 p.m. Registration closes.
6:30 p.m. Driver Autograph Session. (On Track.)
7:15 p.m. Driver Introductions
7:30 p.m. Hart to Heart Breast Cancer Foundation 150
On Track
NASCAR WHELEN ALL-AMERICAN SERIES
49th ANNUAL WORLD SERIES OF STOCK CAR AUTO RACING at New Smyrna (Florida) Speedway
RACE TIME: Friday, Feb. 13-Saturday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m. ET (daily);
TWITTER: #NewSmyrnaWS, #NWAAS, @newsmyrnaspdway
RACE CENTRAL LIVE: DAY 1 (FRIDAY) | DAY 2 (SATURDAY) | DAY 3 (SUNDAY) | DAY 4 (MONDAY) | DAY 5 (TUESDAY) | DAY 6 (WEDNESDAY) | DAY 7 (THURSDAY) | DAY 8 (FRIDAY) | DAY 9 (SATURDAY)
ENTRY LISTS | SCHEDULE | PAST CHAMPIONS
LIVE STREAMING
In a unique partnership between NASCAR, FansChoice.tv and Speed51.com will allow fans across the globe – and in the stands at the venerable – to witness the action as never before. In a special presentation format, FansChoice.tv powered by Speed51.com will broadcast eight nights of racing and will include a mix of live and same-day coverage. The stream will be simulcast on NASCARHomeTracks.com and FansChoice.tv.
• The coverage will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET, on Friday, Feb. 13 with a full slate of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action. Live race coverage will be streamed on Monday, Feb. 16-Wednesday, Feb. 18, as well as the final night of racing, Saturday, Feb. 21. The finale will be highlighted by the Super Late Model 100.
• On three other nights – Saturday, Feb. 14; Thursday, Feb. 19; and Friday, Feb. 20 – the stream will begin immediately following the conclusion of television coverage of the NASCAR racing at Daytona International Speedway. In addition, all of each night’s races will be available as ‘video on demand’ at 8 a.m. the following morning.
Sources: Jason Christley/NASCAR PR
NKNPS East New Smyrna 2/9/14 Entry List
CAR DRIVER/HOMETOWN TEAM OWNER CREW CHIEF
1 TBA TBA Toyota Shigeaki Hattori TBA
2 Collin Cabre, Thonotosassa, Fla. * UTI/NTI Toyota Max Siegel Coleman Pressley
3 Kaz Grala, Westborough, Mass. Kiklos Olive Oil Toyota Benjamin Kennedy Mike Fritts
04 Ronnie Bassett, Jr., Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Ford Ronnie Bassett Jerry Babb
4 Kenzie Ruston, El Reno, Okla. Rev Racing Toyota Max Siegel Mark Green
5 J.J. Haley, Winamac, Ind. * Braun Auto Chevrolet Harry Scott, Jr. Mark McFarland
6 Devon Amos, Rio Rancho, Tex. * Max Siegel, Inc. Toyota Max Siegel John Wolfe
7 Codie Rohrbaugh, Petersburg, W.Va. * Grant County Mulch Chevrolet Larry Berg Mark Tuff
9 William Byron, Charlotte, N.C. * Liberty University Chevrolet Justin Marks Kevin Bellicourt
15 Nick Drake, Mooresville, N.C. NAPA Toyota Bill McAnally Matt Goslant
19 Chuck Buchanan, Jr., Hildebrand, N.C. Spring Drug Chevrolet Chuck Buchanan TBA
20 Gray Gaulding, Colonial Heights, Va. Krispy Kreme Chevrolet Bob Newberry Doug Howe
22 Austin Hill, Winston, Ga. A&D Welding Ford Bryan Hill Ron Otto Sr
27 Kyle Benjamin, Easley, S.C. * Benjamin Motorsports Ford Steven Benjamin Kevin Reed
28 Jared Irvan, Midland, N.C. * BIAA/Race2Safety Toyota Ernie Irvan Mark Reno
31 David Garbo, Jr., Stonington, Conn. * Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Ted Marsh TBA
34 Scott Heckert, Ridgefield, Conn. Project Lifesaver Chevrolet Justin Marks Fuz Burgdoff
36 Dalton Zehr, Daytona Beach, Fla. * Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Linda Marsh Todd Fisette
40 Travis Miller, Chesapeake, Va. TBA Chevrolet Michael Hillman Doug Chouinard
42 Jay Beasley, Las Vegas, Nev. Special Smiles Pediatric Dentist Toyota Max Siegel Skip Eyler
44 Dillon Bassett, Winston-Salem, N.C. * TBA Ford Ronnie Bassett TBA
45 Christian Celaya, Caborca, Mexico * Farbe Technik Chevrolet John Stange Rick Crawford
47 Mike Senica, Newark, N.J. * Bell Plantation Chevrolet John Stange James Hueberger
49 John Holleman, IV, Winston-Salem, N.C. * Midway Mobile Storage Toyota Zeno Marshall Jr Greg Foley
51 Dalton Sargeant, Boca Raton, Fla. * Galt Chevrolet Harry Scott, Jr. Kris Bowen
57 Brandon Oakley, Beavercreek, Ohio * Daytona International Airport/Oakley Chevrolet Thomas Oakley TBA
98 Rico Abreu, St. Helena, Calif. * GoPro Motorplex/AccuDoc Solutions Chevrolet Mike Curb Mardy Lindley
99 Anthony Kumpen, Hasselt, Belgium NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Toyota Bill McAnally Roger Bracken
* Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender
NKNPS East New Smyrna 2/15/15 Schedule
DATE TIME EVENT
Sunday, February 15 8 a.m. Registration opens.
8:45 a.m. Mandatory Crew Chief Meeting.
9 a.m. Garage opens. Inspection begins.
10:15 a.m. Safety Communications Meeting.
10:30 a.m. Track Services Meeting.
11 a.m. Rookie Driver/Spotter Meeting. Draw for qualifying.
12:30-1:15 p.m. Practice.
1:20-1:50 p.m. Rookie Only Practice.
2-2:45 p.m. Final Practice.
3:30 p.m. Qualifying Inspection begins. Groups determined by qualifying draw.
4:30 p.m. Driver Meeting.
5 p.m. Qualifying. (2 Laps.) (Fastest 24 cars earn starting positions 1st thru 24th.) “Impound”
6 p.m. Registration closes.
6:30 p.m. Driver Autograph Session. (On Track.)
7:15 p.m. Driver Introductions.
7:30 p.m. Hart to Heart Breast Cancer Foundation 150
49th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing
Racing at 7:30pm Every Night
WORLD SERIES 2015
Thursday February 12, 2015
Parking and Practice
Pit Passes: $40
Friday February 13, 2015
Super Late Models
Pro Late Models
Pro Trucks
IMCA Modifieds
Tour Type Modifieds’
Grandstands: $30, Pits: $40
Saturday February 14, 2015
Joey Coulter Pro Truck Series 50
Super Late Models
Pro Late Models
IMCA Modifieds
Tour Type Modifieds’
Mini-Stocks 75
Grandstands: $30, Pits: $40
Sunday February 15, 2015
K&N Pro Series East
American Canadian Tour 100 (ACT)
Grandstands: $35, Pits: $40 (Members), $50 (Non-Members)
Monday February 16, 2015
TBA
American Canadian Tour 100 (ACT)
IMCA Modifieds
Tour Type Modifieds
Grandstands: $30, Pits: $40
Tuesday February 17, 2015
American Canadian Tour 100 (ACT)
Pro Late Models
Super Late Models
Grandstands: $30, Pits: $40
Wednesday February 18, 2015
John Blewett III Memorial Tour Type Modified 76
IMCA Modified 75
Super Late Models
Pro Late Models
Grandstands: $30, Pits: $40
Thursday February 19, 2015
Super Late Model 50
Pro Late Model 50
Tour Type Modifieds
IMCA Modifieds
Grandstands: $30, Pits: $40
Friday February 20, 2015
Richie Evans Memorial Tour Type Modified 100
Super Late Models
Pro Late Models
IMCA Modifieds
Grandstands: $35, Pits: $40
Saturday February 21, 2015
Super Late Model 100
Pro Late Models
IMCA Modifieds
Sportsman 50
Grandstands: $35, Pits: $40