Big Year for Teenager Byron

By Joseph Wolkin HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks dominated the K&N Pro Series East this season. When the final checkered flag flew on a rainy day at Dover International Speedway in October, it was rookie William Byron who had claimed the championship crown. The 17-year-old racer from Charlotte, North Carolina, emerged as a title contender early in the season, leading all 152 laps at South Carolina’s Greenville-Pickens Speedway en route to his first triumph. As the season continued, Byron’s No. 9 Chevrolet visited the winner’s circle three more times – at Iowa Speedway, Virginia’s Langley Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Holding…

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Steckly Claims Fourth Title

By Joseph Wolkin Redemption was certainly sweet for Scott Steckly. The 43-year-old racer from Perth East, Ontario, entered the 2015 season with high hopes after falling short of winning back-to-back titles. He finished fourth in points in 2014, a year after his third NASCAR Canadian Tire Series championship. The 2015 season brought back old memories for Steckly. Holding off Jason Hathaway, who was a title contender for the first time in his ninth season on the tour, Steckly was crowned champion for the fourth time. The title battle was intense entering the finale at Ontario’s Kawartha Speedway as Steckly had a nine-point…

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Title No. 3 for Ander Vilarino

By Joseph Wolkin After disappointing his team by finishing runner-up in the 2014 championship battle, Ander Vilarino entered this season with a fresh outlook. The 2012 and 2013 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series champion had been looking to win three straight titles a year ago, but Anthony Kumpen’s rise left Vilarino with the second-place trophy. Redeeming himself, Vilarino earned his third stock car championship in 2015. Winning at Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Brands Hatch Circuit and Tours Speedway, the No. 2 team was on top of its game throughout the schedule. However, late in the going Alon Day stepped up his game. The rookie…

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20-Year-Old Garcia Jr. Claims First Crown

By Joseph Wolkin Coming off a runner-up finish in the 2014 championship standings, Ruben Garcia Jr. was determined to win it all this season. The NASCAR Next member had been a mere nine points from beating Abraham Calderon in last year’s title fight, but this season belonged to Garcia. Going winless in 2014, Garcia Jr. visited Victory Lane three times en route to the 2015 championship. Piloting his No. 88 Toyota, he was victorious at tracks in Chihuahua (twice) and Mexico City, giving him the advantage in the title hunt. Garcia Jr. led the most laps, pacing the circuit 523 times. He…

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NASCAR honors champion Kyle Busch and departing superstar Jeff Gordon

By Reid Spencer LAS VEGAS – Friday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards gala at the Wynn Las Vegas honored series champion Kyle Busch for one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of professional sports. But Busch, car owner Joe Gibbs and champion crew chief Adam Stevens had to share the stage and the limelight with retiring four-time champion Jeff Gordon, who bade a tearful farewell after 23 full-time seasons and 797 consecutive races in NASCAR’s premier series — complete with a surprise introduction by mega movie star Tom Cruise. The awards banquet capped an extraordinary year for Busch, who…

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