April 19, 2016 – Mooresville, N.C. – The Cunningham organization is pleased to announce Chase Briscoe and Brady Boswell as the drivers of the No. 77 and No. 22, respectively at Talladega Superspeedway on April 29.
The team will pull into the 2.66-mile high-banked track as the two-time defending champion. Last year, rookie Blake Jones went to victory lane in just his second ARCA Series start, after inheriting the lead when teammate, Tom Hessert ran out of fuel on the restart under green/white/checkered. With cars that were fast all day, the duo lead 68 of the 79 laps. Hessert was attempting to be a repeat winner, after winning in 2014.
This year it will be up to Briscoe and Boswell to carry on the torch that Cunningham Motorsports has fueled at Talladega. The organization is going for their third visit in a row to victory lane and their fourth in seven years. Dakoda Armstrong started the trend in 2010, followed by Tom Hessert in 2014 and Blake Jones last year.
Chase Briscoe will pilot the No. 77 Dodge in his sixth ARCA Series start. It will be his first attempt at the historic track outside of Talladega, Al. After finishing fourth in his first speedway, he is looking forward to hitting the high-banks as he commented, “After finishing fourth at Daytona, I am anxious to get to Talladega for my second plate race. I feel more comfortable than I did in February. I know that all the guys at the shop will bring a fast racecar…giving me a chance to make up to Briggs (Cunningham) and Kerry (Scherer) for my disappointing finish at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville.”
Brady Boswell, who celebrated his 19th birthday yesterday will steer the No. 22 Dodge for the General Tire 200 at Talladega. He will make his second ARCA Series start, after starting fifth and finishing 15th at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville two weeks ago. In addition, Boswell led 44 of the 200 laps.
The teenager, from Watkinsville, Georgia, earned the Rookie of the Year award in 2013 in the X-1R Pro Cup Series, while compiling 12 top-5 finishes and 21 top-10 finishes in 23 starts during two seasons. In addition, he has numerous victories in the Bandolero and Southern Pro Challenge Series. The full-time student at the University of North Georgia, majoring in Business
Management said, “I am honored to have the opportunity to join the Cunningham Motorsport No. 22 team for Talladega. They put a lot of effort into their superspeedway cars to make them competitive. I am confident that we will have a shot to win.”
On Thursday, before they hit the track, at speeds up towards 188 mph, the Cunningham drivers will make their annual visit to the Alabama Institute of Deaf and Blind (AIDB). This will mark Briscoe’s and Boswell’s first tour of the facility fifteen minutes from the superspeedway. In the past six years, many drivers have had the opportunity to visit with students from 4 years old to adulthood at the impressive facility.
The General Tire 200 at Talladega is a one-day event on Friday, April 29. The lone practice is scheduled for 8:30-10:20 CDT, with Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell at 2:30. Fans will have the chance to meet drivers during a one-hour open garage session beginning at 11:30. The green flag will drop on 76 laps of racing, which will be covered live on FS1, at 5:00 CDT.
