Musselman’s Racing Looks Ahead to Season Effort with Venturini Motorsports and ‘Family of Drivers’

Concord, North Carolina (March 14, 2017) – As previously announced Musselman’s Apple Sauce has partnered with Venturini Motorsports (VMS) for the 2017 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season.

As part of Musselman’s efforts to promote their retail brand of products and ongoing initiative to expand their national motorsports presence, Mussleman’s and VMS have created the ‘Musselman’s Family of Drivers’ program. The program, which will highlight the strength of VMS’ well-known driver development platform, will integrate a multi-driver rotation to carry out Musselman’s branding throughout the 2017 ARCA Racing Season.

The Musselman’s brand will showcase their Musselman’s BIG CUP and Musselman’s Squeezables products in primary and associate branding on VMS’s No.25 and No.55 Toyota’s throughout the 20-race season. This will include primary branding in twelve races and associate branding across the remaining eight races. Musselman’s BIG CUP satisfies appetites of teens and adults with active lifestyles, while Musselman’s Squeezables is the healthy snack Mom can provide her children who are on-the-go.

Powered by VMS, the Musselman’s Racing – ‘Family of Drivers’ will feature a talented crop of young and accomplished drivers including Zane Smith, Raphael Lessard, Tom Hessert, Noah Gragson, Tanner Thorson and Christopher Bell.

The integration of VMS’ multi-driver platform will be highlighted on and off-track throughout the racing season. As demonstrated in the series season opener with Noah Gragson behind the wheel of VMS’s Musselman’s Toyota, the team will rotate six different drivers during the nine month season.

Next up for VMS in the Musselman’s branded Toyota will be 15-year old standout, Raphael Lessard. Lessard, the 2016 CARS Tour Super Late Model Racing Champion, will make his highly anticipated ARCA debut in the next series event taking place at the Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville on April 8. A native of Quebec, Canada, the high school teenager will be the youngest competitor in the starting field.

In addition to Nashville, Lessard will drive the Musselman’s colors at Salem Speedway (April 30) and at Winchester Speedway (August 6).

As for the other individuals making up Musselman’s Family of Drivers, Noah Gragson will return at Talladega Superspeedway (May 5) and Zane Smith, who’s running in eighteen series events, will feature the Musselman’s logo for ten events at Toledo Speedway (May 21), Elko Speedway (June 3), Pocono Raceway (June 9 & July 28), Michigan Int’l Speedway (June 16), Iowa Speedway (July 8), Lucas Oil Raceway (July 21), Road America (August 27), Kentucky Speedway (September 22) and Kansas Speedway (October 20).

Six Time ARCA Series winner, Tom Hessert will represent Musselman’s at the Illinois State Fairground’s Dirt Mile (August 20), DuQuoin State Fairgrounds (September 4) and at Salem Speedway (September 9).

Tanner Thorson will take the reins at Madison International Speedway (June 23) and recent NASCAR Camping World Truck Series winner, Christopher Bell will bring Musselman’s to VMS’s home track at Chicagoland Speedway (September 14.)

ABOUT MUSSELMAN’S APPLE SAUCE

A family tradition, deeply rooted in quality.

Musselman’s BIG CUP satisfies appetites of teens and adults with active lifestyles, while Musselman’s Squeezables is the healthy snack Mom can provide to her children who are on-the-go.

Musselman’s was founded in Biglerville, PA, in 1907 by Christian and Emma Musselman. The original plants in Biglerville and Gardners, PA, provided much needed canned goods for the servicemen during WWI including corn, tomatoes, and of course apples. They focused on the processing of the abundant local fruit in the area, producing apple sauce, apple juice, and their now-famous Musselman’s Apple Butter.

In 1984 the C. H. Musselman Company was purchased by a cooperative of local fruit growers (Knouse Foods, Inc.). The Musselman’s name, which reflects quality, tradition, and value was preserved and remains a thriving brand today under the ownership of the growers who still tend to their fruit orchards. Knouse Foods, Inc., established as a growers’ co-op in 1949, has a long history of providing outstanding fruit products. They believe making healthy, delicious fruit products is more than just a job; it’s a way of life. And that’s why the growers who have spent their entire lives nurturing their orchards and harvesting their fruit also own the company. That pride and care are the key ingredients that make Knouse fruit products the very best.

For more information visit www.Musselmans.com & #MusselmansRacing

ABOUT VENTURINI MOTORSPORTS:
Venturini Motorsports (VMS), fielding cars for over 30-years in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, is one of the premier NASCAR driver development programs in the country. Multiple team championships and consistent on-track success, VMS has evolved into one of the most recognizable names in motorsports. Since 2007, VMS has assisted in the career development of notable NASCAR drivers such as Joey Logano, Erik Jones, William Byron, Justin Allgaier, Alex Bowman, Brian Scott, Ryan Blaney, Brennan Poole, Daniel Suarez, and Brandon Jones. Over the years the Venturini name has become synonymous with modern-day racing in America. In 2012, the Venturini family was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame (www.NIASHF.org) and now find themselves enshrined with such sports icons as Joe DiMaggio, Mario Andretti, Vince Lombardi, Tommy Lasorda and Rocky Marciano.

Official: www.VenturiniMotorsports.com | Twitter: @VenturiniMotor | Facebook: Venturini Motorsports

Sources: Tommy Venturini/Venturini Motorsports PR