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Matt Scott from Pine Grove wins again in Roseville

Matt Scott from Pine Grove, CA began the 2011 NASCAR Whelen Series just like he ended the 2010 season, by winning. Matt started his career racing in the American Quarter Midget Association and has moved quickly up the ranks. At 18 years old, Matt was the track champion at Roseville’s All American Speedway, the youngest in the history of the track. Last season, in the Whelen All American Series he was ranked 60th in the nation and 3rd in California. This week Matt’s picture made it to the NASCAR Home Tracks website in the winner’s photo gallery, see it here.

Matt Scott from Pine Grove, CA 2010 Track Champion All American Speedway Roseville, CA. — Matt Scott from Pine Grove, CA - 2010 Track Champion at All American Speedway in Roseville, CA.

Rounding out the Top 5 in last Friday’s race were: Ron Chunn from Roseville, driver of the #44 car for C & H Racing, Gary Glenn from Orangevale, Juan Pitta from Galt, and in 5th place, Chris Scribner from Loomis. The following is a press release from Blakesley Sports Media about the April 15th race.

PINE GROVE, CALIFORNIA (April 19, 2011) – 2010 All American Speedway track champion Matt Scott kicked off his 2010 NASCAR California State title race with a win in the “A-All Mini Storage 100” driving his #35 BJB Enterprises / RPM NorCal / Karp Capital Chevrolet.

The 19 year-old driver picked up his 14th career NASCAR victory in just 58 starts in the division.

19 cars flocked to the All American Speedway one-third mile for the special season opener. The race was held before a huge crowd as a precursor to Saturday night’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series, West action.

Scott shined under the spotlight, setting fast-time in qualifying and starting fifth after a five car invert.

The fifth starting spot didn’t slow Scott down, as he rocketed to third quickly. Scott slid underneath both 2009 champion Jason Romero and Zane Lovelace, Jr. coming down the backstretch to take the lead at lap seven.

Romero and Scott made contact coming into turn one, sending Scott at a four-wheel drift at a 90 degree angle.

But Scott gathered the car up with a strong save while Romero backed off the gas. During a prolonged green flag run, Scott extended his lead to a quarter track at one point. Scott held off a few challenges on late restarts to claim the big victory.

“The Hoosier tire rubber laid down by the tour cars meant that it took about eight laps for the track to come in,” Scott said. “I drove hard the first few laps to get the lead then I dialed it back about 70 or 80%”

Matt Scott from Pine Grove, CA driving the #35 Chevrolet

Scott credited the victory to his crew especially with a special thanks to RPM NorCal’s Gary Quigley. Quigley’s shop houses the #35 car and sponsored three of the top-four finishing Late Models on Friday.

“We gave the trophy to Gary and Marcie for all of their help,” Scott said. “The support of RPM NorCal really really helps us a lot and I think the trophy will look really nice in their shop.

Matt Scott Racing will return to action for the second points race of the season on April 30.

Matt Scott Racing is sponsored by BJB Enterprises, Inc., RPM NorCal, Karp Capital, Kamps Propane, Jimboy’s Tacos, CatchYourEye.com, Halm Metal Fab, Pardee Lake Recreation, DoubleTree Hotel Monrovia, Hobbs Construction, T.A.S. Construction, Sumseeds, Red Corral Auto, and Blakesley Sports Media.

Additional sponsorships are available for both TOYOTA Speedway and All American Speedway NASCAR Late Model efforts. Matt Scott Racing is also actively pursuing opportunities to race in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, West in 2011.

Race fans can learn more about Matt Scott Racing at www.mattscottracing.com or “Matt Scott Racing” on Facebook.

Brad Sweet from Grass Valley racing in Nashville

Brad Sweet from Grass Valley, CA on the track in the #32 Great Clips Chevrolet Truck.

Brad Sweet from Grass Valley, CA is racing for the first time at Nashville Superspeedway. The 25 year old had a nice 15th finish his last race and hopes to keep his momentum going. He is currently in 17th place in the series points standings, one spot ahead of fellow NorCal driver Justin Marks of Rocklin. Here is a press release from Turner Motorsports about Brad and the race tonight.

Racing at ‘Music City’s’ Superspeedway a first for Sweet… This weekend’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) event at Nashville Superspeedway will mark Brad Sweet’s first start at the 1.33-mile track. The rookie driver hopes to build on his learning experience this season in the NCWTS by adding to his solid start thus far.

This Week’s Chevy Silverado… The No. 32 Great Clips Chevrolet Silverado team will bring chassis TMS-017 to the superspeedway for Friday’s 150-lap event. This chassis last saw track time at Martinsville Speedway where Sweet finished 15th.

Dirt Racing in Attica… Sweet, along with Kasey Kahne Racing, headed to Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio for the Attica All-Star on Saturday, April 8th. Sweet qualified 21st and finished second in his heat. This result landed Sweet in the A-Main Feature, where he finished in the 17th position.

Remembering Beau … This weekend at Nashville, Turner Motorsports’ three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series entries will carry decals honoring the life of former ARCA Series competitor and Turner Motorsports employee Beau Slocumb who lost his heroic battle with cancer last weekend. Slocumb made four ARCA starts in 2009, logging an impressive 7.0 starting average combined with a solid 11.2 average finish. The 26-year-old driver logged a pair of top-10 finishes over those four starts including a career-best fifth-place finish at Kansas Speedway. Slocumb began his career racing Legends cars and climbed the professional ladder through the late model ranks, earning 131 feature wins in Legends and late model competition, and eventually making his mark in the ARCA series. He is survived by his wife Jessica, parents Burke “Buster” and Jeanne, brothers Seth and Daniel and sister Maggie. Memorials can be made to the Ryan Newman Foundation, Hospice of Iredell County (N.C.) or Hospice of Central Georgia.

Got My First Real Six String… In hopes of bringing home the custom Gibson guitar trophy on Friday night, Sweet and his Turner Motorsports teammates will take a private tour of the Gibson Guitar Factory in Nashville on Thursday afternoon. The home of Gibson electric guitars, ‘Gibson USA’ was built in ‘Music City’ in 1974.

Turner Motorsports Driver Brad Sweet from Grass Valley, CA.

Brad Sweet had this to say about Nashville Superspeedway: “I’m looking forward to racing under the lights this Friday night at Nashville Superspeedway. I hope to build on the strong start to the season we have had. I’m hoping to quickly get a feel for the track when we unload and bring the Great Clips Chevy home with a solid finish.”

– Turner Motorsports Press Release

To keep up on Brad Sweet’s stats, please visit: www.racing-reference.info

Matt Crafton from Tulare is fired up to race in Nashville

Matt Crafton from Tulare CA, who will turn 35 on June 11th, is in his tenth year racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for ThorSport Racing. He finished 4th last year and up until the last race in Martinsville, Matt had been the points leader all year. He is one of the most successful NorCal drivers and we will follow his progress towards the Truck Series Championship. Here is a press release from his race team about the upcoming race in Nashville, Tennessee.

Matt Crafton from Tulare, CA. Photo courtesy of www.mattcrafton.com.

Sandusky, Ohio – April 20, 2011 – Matt Crafton, driver of the No. 88 Menards / Ideal Door Chevrolet Silverado for ThorSport Racing, sums up Nashville in two words. Fired up. The veteran driver, on a quest for the championship in 2011, looks in the rear view at an 11th place finish in Martinsville and knows it’s time to prove how his team can perform this year at Nashville and beyond. Sitting second in driver points contention going into the race, as well as one top five and five top 10s in eleven appearances – a seventh place finish or better in the last three races – he knows what is possible.

“Yep, I’m fired up. There is no other way to say it. Me and my guys were seeing red, blood red, after Martinsville,” said Crafton. “We knew we were a better team than that performance, especially this year. It takes perfection at the race track week in, week out to beat the field in this environment in the Truck Series. We know we can do it. So I told my guys this week when I flew to Sandusky – ‘we are going to finish where we left off in Martinsville.’ We are, and we will, prove that we can win races and hopefully win championships with consistent performances.”

ThorSport Racing Sets Standard in 2011

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series recently reported that “ThorSport Racing is, arguably, the team to beat in 2011.” Crafton is five points away from the leader spot where his teammate, Johnny Sauter sits. Crafton has been atop the standings for the first four races of the season.

Nashville Superspeedway’s Bully Hill Vineyards 200 marks ThorSport Racing’s 327th consecutive race, matching that of Circle Bar Racing for second all-time. Crafton has been a part of the organization since 2001, one of the longest-standing driver/team owner relationships in the Series. That determination and loyalty sits well with the driver and his confidence on the race track.

Matt Crafton in the #88 Menard's Chevrolet Truck. Photo courtesy of www.thorsport.com.

“I say this all the time – Duke and Rhonda Thorson are like second parents to me. Duke and I talk on the phone sometimes twice a day, just talking about life,” says Crafton. “They are such a strong, supportive leadership team for all of their drivers. I am so confident going to the track that they ‘have my back,’ in however we perform. So me and my guys know on the 88 that we have a responsibility to that family. The Menards family, and also the ThorSport family. This can be our year.”

He went on to say that it’s time to really tackle this track. “It’s no secret that I really love asphalt tracks, and I’m pretty outspoken about it. Concrete is a challenge. But again, we really are not just competitive this year, but ready to win races at any track. We’re bringing the No. 35 chassis for the 88 team – used most recently at Darlington. It was strong there, and Bud and I have worked on it since. Time to race and show how we can make it happen in Nashville. I want a Gibson guitar.”

– ThorSport Racing Press Release

For more information on Matt Crafton please visit: www.mattcrafton.com or to keep track of all his results visit www.racing-reference.info.