Crew Member, David “Lightning” Smith Goes Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 2, 2014 (Kansas City, KS) – As the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards 2014 Season comes to a close Friday night with the ARCA 98.9 from Kansas Speedway it also completes the 32nd year of series competition for Venturini Motorsports (VMS).
Eyeing their sixth victory of the season, which would match last season’s mark in team wins, VMS looks to drivers John Wes Townley (No.15 Zaxby’s Toyota), Justin Boston (No.25 ZLOOP Toyota), Cody Coughlin (No.55 JEGS Toyota) and Leilani Münter (No.66 Energy Freedom Toyota) to end the season on a high note.
Since the season opener at Daytona VMS has claimed five tour victories with four different drivers behind the wheel. Full time team driver Justin Boston claimed his first two series victories at Toledo Speedway and Madison International Speedway while Austin Theriault (Michigan), Kevin Swindell (Springfield) and Brennan Poole (Kentucky) etched their names to the season win total.
Kansas Speedway Driver Lineup
No.15 John Wes Townley, Zaxby’s Toyota – After missing the last two ARCA races due to scheduling conflicts with his NASCAR Camping World Truck schedule Townley returns for the finale. Currently occupying the eighth spot in the ARCA point standings Townley has earned (1) Menards Ansell Pole Award, (5) Top-5’s and (9) Top-10 finishes in 14 series starts.
No.25 Justin Boston, ZLOOP Toyota – Boston is looking to add a speedway win to his resume after earning his first career victories earlier in the season at Toledo Speedway and Madison International Speedway. Currently sitting fifth in the championship point standings he’s earned (4) Menards Ansell Pole Awards, (2) wins, (7) Top-5’s and (12) Top 10 finishes in 2014. In recent weeks Boston made back-to-back NASCAR Nationwide Series starts for Joe Gibbs Racing. Driving the No.20 car, Boston impressed with a 9th place finish at Kentucky and a 12th place finish at Dover.
No.55 Cody Coughlin, JEGS Toyota – Coming off his career best 4th place finish at Kentucky Speedway Coughlin is eager to compete for the win at Kansas. The team likes his chances. Coughlin took his first laps around Kansas Speedway back on Wednesday, September 3rd during an ARCA open test session. Coughlin set the fast lap of the day with a speed of 171.630 mph. Friday’s ARCA 98.9 at Kansas Speedway will be Cody Coughlin’s 11th start in the ARCA Racing Series. Along with his two top-five finishes, he has seven top-10 finishes. His goal is to end the season with a win or a podium finish at Kansas Speedway.
JEGS Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month Cody Coughlin’s No. 55 JEGS Toyota Camry prepared by Venturini Motorsports will have some pink on his car along with the JEGS Racing for Cancer Research ribbon this Friday night to help promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Coughlin will also be promoting the JEGS Foundation where their motto is “Racing for Cancer Research.” The JEGS Racing for Cancer Research ribbon was designed to create awareness.
No.66 Leilani Münter, Energy Freedom Toyota – Eco-driver, Leilani Münter is calling on fans to put energy freedom on the fast track. She will debut her new red-white-and-blue No.66 Energy Freedom Toyota at the ARCA 98.9 race in the ARCA series Friday night at Kansas Speedway. The car is emblazoned with the slogan “Energy Freedom: Your Family, Your Choice.” Like many of her fans, Münter believes that American families should have the right to cleaner energy choices and the freedom to produce, own and control the energy they use to power their homes, cars and businesses. A long-time champion of energy freedom, Münter and her team are powering her pit box with a ZeroBase portable solar power system, replacing the standard diesel generator with a quieter, cleaner, more cost-effective option. When off the track, Leilani drives an electric vehicle. Leilani will be returning to the racetrack in the No.66 Energy Freedom Toyota in partnership with The Solutions Project at the ARCA race at Daytona International Speedway on February 14.
| Historically, Kansas Speedway’s 1.5 mile oval has proven to be a welcome sight for VMS. Since 2011, the team has notched one trip to victory lane (Alex Bowman ’11) and two Menards Pole by Ansell Awards (Dylan Kwasniewski ’13 & Max Gresham ’11) along with seven, Top-5 and eight Top-10 finishes.
Last year VMS’s multi-car team concluded the season at Kansas with three drivers finishing in the top-5 final results; John Wes Townley – 3rd, Dylan Kwasniewski – 4th and Justin Boston – 5th. Prior to Friday night’s event VMS drivers Justin Boston and Cody Coughlin will participate in a moderated Q&A session located on the Toyota Pit Pass stage at 3:30PM located in the fan zone outside Kansas Speedway.The 20th and final event of the ARCA season also marks the beginning of the month long (October) Breast Cancer Awareness month campaign. As many teams and drivers will do their part to raise awareness and honor their loved ones affected by this disease, VMS’s longtime and colorful crew member on the No.55 JEGS team, David “Lighting” Smith, will do his part by GOING PINK (hair) and collecting donations in the garage area through the sales of team sponsored Pink DETOUR Sunglasses with all proceeds going directly to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (www.bcrfcure.org) and the JEGS Foundation (www.JEGS.com). DETOUR Sunglasses (www.detoursunglasses.com) is the official sunglass sponsor of VMS and endorses drivers Justin Boston and Brennan Poole. The ARCA 98.9 is a two-day event with technical inspection on Thursday, with practice, Menards Pole qualifying and the race on Friday at 7:30 CDT with live race broadcast on Fox Sports 2 with timing and scoring for practice, qualifying and the race on ARCAracing.com.
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