Paul McMahan subs for Tony Stewart and finishes 14th in Knoxville 360 Nationals A-Main

Dates: Friday and Saturday, August 2nd & 3rd
Event: Knoxville 360 Nationals
Series: 360c.i. Sprint Cars
Track: Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, Iowa)
Paul McMahan A-Main Finishes (Start):
Friday: 6th (6th)
Saturday: 14th (4th)

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (August 5, 2019) - A last minute driver change in the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing/Rush Truck Centers/Toco Warranty/Ford Performance/Curb Records/Sage Fruit/Absolute Automation & Security/No. 14 sprint car placed Paul McMahan in the pilot seat, taking the controls for Tony Stewart during the annual Knoxville 360 Nationals.

Despite the last minute change and very little time to prepare, the team put together a sound performance at the Sprint Car Capital of the World, ending their two-day campaign with a 14th place finish during the $15,000-to-win weekend finale, earning their way into the big dance by finishing sixth during preliminary competition on Friday, August 2.

Impressive enough, Paul McMahan timed fourth quick overall during preliminary competition, eventually putting on a charge from sixth to finish second during his respective heat race which set the stage for the rest of his weekend results.

“I can’t thank him enough for helping us out last weekend,” Tony Stewart said of Paul McMahan, who is a resident of Nashville and a current All Star Circuit of Champions competitor. “It’s tough to throw a new driver in a car that quick and be successful, but we were able to pull that off. That just goes to show how talented these guys are."

Upcoming plans for Tony Stewart and the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No. 14 entry are undetermined. Fans are encouraged to stay alert via social media for further updates.

ADDITIONAL MEDIA:
Fans are encouraged to follow the progress of Tony Stewart, Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing and the No. 14/Rush Truck Centers/Toco Warranty/Ford Performance/Curb Records/Sage Fruit/Absolute Automation & Security/J&J Auto Racing motorsports team on the Web and on social media. More information can be found at www.tonystewartracing.com, as well as at www.tonystewart.com.

Tony Stewart: Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TonyStewart/ or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/TonyStewart.

Tony Stewart Racing: Facebook at www.facebook.com/TonyStewartRacing or on Twitter and Instagram at www.instagram.com/@TonyStewart_Rcg.

2019 Tony Stewart/Tony Stewart Racing Statistics: (thru August 5, 2019)
Total Races: 49
Total Wins: 8
Total Top-5s: 25
Total Top-10s: 30

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CONTACT:
Photo Credit: Paul Arch
Tyler Altmeyer
Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises
(724) 954-4915, pr@tonystewart.com

AT A GLANCE: EYEING KNOXVILLE UPSET
Carson Macedo and crew chief Joe Gaerte leaning on experience for potential Knoxville Nationals victory

KNOXVILLE, IA – Aug. 5 – Carson Macedo may be a rookie in the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series this year, but he is no rookie in the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores.

In his Knoxville Nationals Saturday Feature debut last season, Macedo finished sixth driving the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41. This year, in the Kyle Larson Racing No. 2, Macedo looks for another strong performance and a chance at the Knoxville Nationals title.

“Last year when I was going to run with the 41-car, a lot of people asked me, ‘Are you nervous?’ No, not at all,” Macedo said. “I’m going to come in there and drive as hard as I can. I’m going to do the best that I can and wherever the cards fall at the end that’s where they are. I’m going to go in this year with the 2-car with the exact same mindset.”

He already has two World of Outlaws wins this season, one at Silver Dollar Speedway and the other at Jackson Motorplex — a track many consider a “smaller Knoxville.”

The Lemoore, Calif.-native called Knoxville Raceway one of his favorite tracks. His performance shows it. Before the 410 Knoxville Nationals last year, Macedo won a preliminary race for the 360 Nationals in his debut with JJR. He then went on to finish second in the 360 Nationals title race.

In the Series’ two stops at the half-mile Iowa raceway in June, Macedo won a Drydene Heat race the first night and scored a top-10 finish both nights.

He sees the two races as good practice runs for the Nationals, knowing the drivers who were fast in June will be the ones to beat this week — including 49-time Knoxville Raceway Feature winner Brian Brown, defending Knoxville Nationals champion Brad Sweet and 10-time Knoxville Nationals champion Donny Schatz.

“The guys that we raced in the two-day show there, they’re the guys that are usually up front at the Nationals, too,” Macedo said. “I think we were there with the guys I would think are the ones to beat. Of course, you’re going to have more guys come in and be really fast. It’s the Nationals. You’re going to get a lot of cars. I have a lot of confidence in our package. I know that everyone is looking to put their best foot forward for that week because between that and the Kings Royal, they’re the two most important races of the year.”

Part of his confidence stems from being paired with veteran crew chief Joe Gaerte, who he’s worked with for the past two years. The two hit it off and found speed out of the box, Gaerte said.

“I can kind of read what he needs and make it work,” Gaerte said. “I know what he’s going to say before he says it.”

Having raced in the World of Outlaws full-time for several years, Gaerte knows how steep the competition gets when they roll into Knoxville for the Nationals.

“I think everyone steps up their game for that race,” he said.

To compete with them, the KLR team has to do the same. Gaerte said there’s a few new things the team has been working on that they’ll try during the Nationals, including a different engine.

With the event filling the grandstands full of fans, filling the town full of campers and filling the pit area with more than a hundred of the world’s best Sprint Car drivers, there’s a lot of pressure associated with trying to win the most prestigious Sprint Car race of the season, and the $150,000 prize that comes with it. Sometimes too much pressure, according to Gaerte.

“That’s just all of the extra people that never come to a race, except Knoxville,” Gaerte said. “You’ve got to contend with all of that. It’s not just what’s going on, on the track, it’s all of the stuff behind the scenes that can be tough to keep it all in order. He’s (Macedo) pretty good with pressure. I think he’ll be fine. I just roll with the punches.”

Macedo concurred that he doesn’t let the pressures of the big event get to him. He’s there to win; yes. But he’s looking to have fun trying, too.

“We’re going to do the best we can and whatever happens, happens,” Macedo said. “I have confidence in this coming up week. I have a lot of confidence in our car, our package and our guys. I’m looking forward to it.”

You can catch all four nights of the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey's General Stores on DIRTVision.com.

Donny Schatz caps Ironman weekend with runner-up finish in 55-lap finale

Dates: Friday and Saturday, August 2nd & 3rd
Event: Ironman Weekend
Series: World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series
Track: Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 (Pevely, Missouri)
Donny Schatz A-Main Finishes (Start):
Friday: 3rd (2nd)
Saturday/Ironman 55: 2nd (2nd)

2019 World of Outlaws Championship Standings: 2nd - 6412 points (2 points behind Brad Sweet)

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (August 5, 2019) - Earning back-to-back podium performances during World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series competition is never an easy feat, especially at a demanding facility such as Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Missouri. But that is exactly what Donny Schatz attained during the recent weekend, concluding the two-day Ironman with a third place finish and second place finish, respectively, all while knocking down Brad Sweet’s World of Outlaws championship point lead to a mere two markers.

Schatz, the ten-time and defending World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion, concluded his weekend in eastern Missouri with a runner-up performance during the 55-lap, Ironman 55 finale on Saturday, August 3. Schatz led the first ten circuits of the $20,000-to-win program before losing the top spot to Wooster, Ohio’s Sheldon Haudenschild. Haudesnchild ran away to a ten second lead before claiming the five-figure payday.

“That was a solid weekend for our team. When you’re that close to the front, the last thing you want to settle for is a second or third place finish. But those guys showed they were better than us so we’ll take these results and move forward,” Donny Schatz explained, driver of the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing/Toco Warranty/Ford Performance/Curb Records/Sage Fruit/Absolute Automation & Security/No. 15 sprint car. “Sheldon [Haudenschild] put on a clinic Saturday night. I’m not sure if anyone was ever going to catch him.”

Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart Racing will continue their 2019 campaign with a return to the Sprint Car Capital of the World - Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa. The coveted Knoxville Nationals is on the agenda blasting off officially on Wednesday evening, August 7. The four-day program will be headlined with a $150,000-to-win main event on Saturday, August 10.

Donny Schatz owns ten Knoxville Nationals crowns with his last accomplished in 2017.

“This is what we’ve been waiting for,” Donny Schatz continued. “This is certainly one of the biggest races of the year, if not the most prestigious race of our sport. We’ve been fortunate enough to be successful on the big stage many times, but this is a new year. I have the hardest working team in sprint car racing and I’m confident we have what it takes to be on top on Saturday.”

ADDITIONAL MEDIA:
Fans are encouraged to follow the progress of Donny Schatz, Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing and the No. 15 Toco Warranty/Ford Performance/Curb Records/Sage Fruit/Absolute Automation & Security/J&J Auto Racing motorsports team on the Web and on social media. More information can be found at www.tonystewartracing.com, as well as at www.donnyschatzmotorsports.com.

Tony Stewart Racing: Facebook at www.facebook.com/TonyStewartRacing or on Twitter and Instagram @TonyStewart_Rcg.

Donny Schatz: Facebook at www.facebook.com/DonnySchatz or on Twitter and Instagram @DonnySchatz.

Watch Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart Racing live during each and every World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event of 2019 at www.dirtvision.com.

2019 Donny Schatz / Tony Stewart Racing Statistics: (thru August 5, 2019)

World of Outlaws Races: 46

World of Outlaws Wins: 7

World of Outlaws Top-5s: 31

World of Outlaws Top-10s: 42

 

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CONTACT:
Photo: DB3IMAGING
Tyler Altmeyer
Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises
(724) 954-4915, pr@tonystewart.com

Abreu scores back-to-back top-tens during Ironman Weekend; Knoxville Nationals on deck

Dates: Friday and Saturday, August 2nd & 3rd
Event: Ironman Weekend
Series: World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series
Track: Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 (Pevely, Missouri)
Rico Abreu A-Main Finishes (Start):
Friday: 6th (13th)
Saturday/Ironman 55: 7th (7th)

ST. HELENA, Calif. (August 5, 2019) - Rico Abreu’s path to Knoxville Raceway for the annual Knoxville Nationals first rolled through Pevely, Missouri, where the St. Helena, California-native challenged the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series during Ironman Weekend.

An event where he has been victorious, claiming one of two Ironman 55 titles in 2018 worth $20,000, Rico Abreu capped his two-day venture to Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 with back-to-back top-ten finishes, the first - a charge from 13th to finish sixth on Friday, August 2 - resulted in a Hard Charger Award; a prize for advancing the most positions during main event competition.

Although unable to repeat as Ironman champion in 2019, it was a consistent outing for Abreu at I-55, finishing sixth and seventh, respectively, which bumped his season total to 32 top-ten finishes in 48 event starts.

In addition, Rico Abreu participated in the POWRi midget portion of the Ironman program and successfully swept the entire weekend; winning both shows, Friday and Saturday, for Keith Kunz Motorsports.

“It was a great two days for our team. Of course we want to win, but to put together a consistent weekend like that says a lot about our potential. I’m proud of everyone,” Rico Abreu said, driver of the Rico Abreu/Curb Agajanian Racing/Abreu Vineyards/Curb Records/Lucas Oil Products/Southern Pacific Farms/Priority Aviation/Dewalt Tools/Mac Tools/Self Made Racing/Dancer Logistics/No. 24 sprint car. “All we can do now is look ahead and get ourselves ready for Knoxville. I’m excited to get started.”

Rico Abreu will battle the best in the business yet again, this time for a Knoxville Nationals championship at the famed Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa. The four-day blockbuster, kicking off on Wednesday, August 7, and extending through Saturday, August 10, will be headlined with a $150,000-to-win main event on Saturday night. Abreu has never won a Knoxville Nationals championship, but has qualified for the big dance, most recently finishing 24th during the 2018 edition.

SOCIAL MEDIA:
Fans are encouraged to follow Rico Abreu online, as well as on all of the available social media networks. Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RicoAbreuRacing, Twitter at https://twitter.com/Rico_Abreu, or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/rico_abreu/

APPAREL:
Those seeking the lastest Rico Abreu Racing apparel should visit shop.ricoabreu.com. Abreu’s traveling merchandise vehicle will be a select events in 2019. A complete list of at-track merchandise availability can be found on Rico Abreu’s racing calendar via www.ricoabreu.com.

Rico Abreu Racing: http://www.ricoabreu.com/

2019 Rico Abreu Racing Statistics: (thru August 5, 2019)
Total Races: 48
Total Wins: 4
Total Top-5s: 18
Total Top-10s: 32
**Stats only reflect starts in RAR #24 Sprint Car

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CONTACT:
Photo Credit: Trent Gower
Tyler Altmeyer
Rico Abreu/Curb Agajanian Racing
(724) 954-4915, altmeyer119@gmail.com