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Newlin Grabs Broadcast Time and Attention Again

Reaches B-Main in Outlaw Competition at Port Royal

Port Royal, PA – October 12, 2020By Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

Newlin contemplates the night ahead at Port Royal
(photo credit: A2D)

Burke Motorsports and Zach Newlin sure don’t take the easy path. In the past three weeks they have competed in two All Star Circuit of Champions events and four World of Outlaws events. For a new team, that’s a tall order. For that matter, it’s quite a challenge for an established team.

None of that seems to matter to this driver and team who are both new to the 410 sprint car ranks. They’re not intimidated. They have the ‘stuff’, they just need to learn and build their combined knowledge, in the pits and in the seat, to be able to compete at the front of the field. That’s why they are here competing against the best. “There’s no better way to learn“, said car owner Shawn Burke with a very matter of fact delivery.

Their plan must be a good one because, for the second week in a row, Newlin had the legendary Johnny Gibson talking about him on DirtVision, the Outlaws live broadcast viewed by thousands around the world.

Newlin waits for his turn in time trials at Port Royal’s WoO Show on 10-9-2020 (photo credit: A2D)

Friday, October 9th Recap

The Grove Financial & Associates, Dillman Hauling, LLC., Kriner Racing Engines, Sander Engineering, Diversified Machine, Inc., Maxim Chassis, Walker Performance Filtration, Burke Motorsports #54 was one of 48 cars signed in for night one of the Nittany Showdown. The format for that car count called for time trials (2 flights of 24 cars each), 4 heat races, a C-main, B-main and A-main.

Prior to the event Newlin was asked what he focused on coming into an event like this. “Mostly it’s like any other night to me but the focus is definitely on time trials. They can make or break your entire night“, he shared. Zach was the third car to take time in Flight 2. He registered the 18th quickest time in his group. Certainly not a bad time at all for his first time qualifying under the clock at Port Royal Speedway. Each of the four heat races would start 12 cars and Newlin’s time earned him the 9th starting spot in the fourth heat.

A top five finish the heat race would provide a direct transfer to the A-main but that was probably a stretch to wish for against this field. A realistic goal was to hang on to his position or move forward a couple spots which would put him in the B-main, but the 8-lap heat race didn’t go as planned. He slid backward in the running order and finished 11th. The setup wasn’t what the car needed and the motor didn’t respond the way Newlin asked it to with his right foot.

Having run the fourth heat and now needing to run the C-main, the team had only a few minutes to discuss the situation, decide what to change and execute the changes. It was the first time the team had been put in this kind of situation. While everything didn’t go perfectly and there were lessons taken from those few minutes, the team managed to accomplish a lot under a great deal of pressure. Fuel nozzles were changed in hopes of curing the motor’s responsiveness, the wickerbill was changed to hopefully get a little more grip, a few twists of the suspension bolts were completed to get more balance and enough fuel was added to get through the upcoming 10-lap race.

Only the top two finishers would advance to the B-main, which would be quite an accomplishment from Newlin’s 8th starting spot. While he didn’t make the transfer spots and their night came to an end, there certainly was something positive to talk about as the team packed up. The car was much better and Zach was able to steadily move forward and finish 5th in the non-stop event. As a matter of fact, had there been even a single caution, he was good enough to have at least reached 4th and possibly 3rd.

Saturday, October 10th Recap

Night two of the final World of Outlaws venture into Pennsylvania for 2020 saw 51 cars sign in to go after the $15,000 winner’s prize. Under Outlaw rules, this car count meant a different, slightly more challenging format would be employed for the event. Once again the field would be divided into two flights of qualifying but after that things would be different. Unlike the night before when all cars ran heat races, tonight only the top 20 from each flight would go directly to heat races, while the remaining 11 cars would compete in a non-qualifiers race. The top four finishers from the non-qualifiers race would advance to the heat races and the remaining 7 cars would tag the back of the C-main starting lineup behind the eventual 10th and 11th places finishers from each heat race. Simply put, not transferring to a heat race would mean quite an uphill battle.

Newlin’s evening didn’t get off to a great start. He drew a pill that meant he would be the 15th car to take time out of a total of 25 in flight 2. The later a car goes onto the track, the more the track has changed and typically the slower times become. Zach timed 23rd in his group, relegating him to the non-qualifiers race. The team made some minor changes in the short turnaround time but things didn’t get any better. He started and finished 6th in that 8-lap event.

Saturday night’s event included a support division, the 305 RaceSaver sprint series, which allowed the 410 sprint car teams a little more time to work on their machines between events. The team huddled, Newlin shared his feedback and the team exchanged ideas about how to improve the car. Given how the track had changed throughout the night, they decided to try some things that had brought them success on the daytime surface one month earlier. It was a ‘big swing’ and maybe a little risky but what did they have to lose at this point.

Newlin was scheduled to start 8th in the 10-lap C-main with only the top two finishers transferring to the B-main. Once again, a steep hill to climb. A little luck fell his way before the green flag had dropped on the race. Two of the teams scheduled to start in front of Newlin’s Burke Motorsports entry had retired for the night due to issues. As a result, Zach took the green from the 6th position, immediately jumped to the top groove and drove all the way to 3rd position by the time lap one was in the books. He then proceeded to chip away at the gap in front of him and claim 2nd on lap 6. He held that spot, pulling away over the final four circuits and advanced to the B-main. It was during that C-main drive that Johnny Gibson focused on Newlin for nearly the entire event. His run to the front included five laps of exciting side by side racing with Kody Lehman for the transfer spot, during which the pair raced so close they nearly touched on a couple occasions. “Zach Daddy” had provided one of the most memorable battles of the night and earned quite a bit of broadcast time for it.

Newlin started 19th in the B-main, from which the top four would transfer to the night’s A-main. It was a typical Port Royal surface. It was wide and slick with multiple grooves but the fast way around turns one and two was on the wall. Zach was figuring out the nighttime surface at The Speed Palace and getting more and more comfortable. He raced the high groove through the east end of the speedway, inches from the wall, then dove to the low side where the moisture was at west end of the big half mile. Despite losing the brakes with five laps remaining due to a cut brake line, Zach was able to complete a couple quality passes and bring it home 17th to end the night.

Wrap Up

A week earlier at Williams Grove Speedway the team set the bar at the C-main, their highest achievement in their inaugural Outlaw weekend. In just their second Outlaw weekend, against a deep field, they raised the bar to the B-main. Let’s not forget this team has only put this combination on the track 9 times and has only been together for less than 7 weeks.

Newlin in line for time trials at Port Royal’s WoO Show
on 10-10-2020 (photo credit: A2D)

When asked to reflect on the team’s weekend, Zach Newlin was brief. “Learning and building“, he said. Brief for sure but accurate too. The evidence supports it.

The team is building a notebook. Newlin is learning what to expect from the feel of a 410 sprint car. They are all learning how to communicate with each other.

The last 48 days have been a solid jump start for the future. Stay tuned.

Be sure to follow Newlin Racing on Facebook or Twitter to get the latest schedule updates & other news about Zach’s 358 & 410 sprint car teams!  Click here for all the info you need to stay informed!

Check out the photo gallery below AND don’t miss the special videos at the bottom!

SPECIAL THANKS:

We want to express our sincere appreciation to our sponsors and marketing partners!
Please support those who support racing!

Grove Financial and Associates, Chaz Scheaffer & Derek Fry
Dillman Hauling, LLC.
Kriner Racing Engines
Sander Engineering
DMI – Diversified Machine, Inc.

Maxim Chassis
Walker Performance Filtration

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Fans can follow Newlin Racing the 2020 season at:
(Facebook) www.facebook.com/NewlinRacing
(Twitter) @NewlinRacing

PUBLIC RELATIONS:

Follow or contact Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management at:
(Twitter) @Addicted2DirtPR #TeamA2D
(Facebook) http://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR
(Website) Addicted2DirtPR.com
(Email) [email protected]

Newlin Gains Confidence in Outlaw Debut

Quickly Making a Name for Himself in 410 Racing

Mechanicsburg, PA – October 5, 2020By Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

When Johnny Gibson, the long-time voice of the World of Outlaws (WoO), exclaims things like “…you don’t see that very often at Williams Grove!” with that recognizable elevated level of excitement in his voice as he describes a pass you just made on a veteran driver, you know you’re doing something right. Gibson and his co-broadcaster, the legendary writer and announcer, Bruce Ellis, both called Newlin’s name multiple times, noting moves that didn’t appear rookie-like. No, the results from the weekend won’t make the headlines in the racing papers, but Zach Newlin was clearly doing something right during the 58th Annual Champion Oil National Open on October 2nd-3rd in Mechanicsburg, PA.

Zach Newlin gets in the zone prior to World of Outlaws qualifying

41 days. That’s how long ago Zach Newlin strapped himself into a winged 410 sprint car for the first time ever. Already he had a few PA races and a few All Star Circuit of Champions races under his belt, now he found himself about to strap in for Williams Grove’s famous National Open and compete in his first World of Outlaws races. It was a life-long dream suddenly coming true for Newlin, his brother and the entire family. What a whirlwind 6 weeks. He possesses a racing career that has spanned over 20 years but he had only moved into 358 sprints earlier in this pandemic-shortened season. Burke Motorsports also has a long history competing successfully at various levels of open wheel motorsports. Both parties have recorded a lot of success over those years, but this weekend would be a new and memorable challenge for all.

Night one of the National Open was Newlin’s 6th career 410 sprint car start and only his 2nd at Williams Grove Speedway. The Burke Motorsports team did not have much 410 competition under their belt either prior to joining forces with Newlin a couple months ago, so team expectations were realistic coming into their first Outlaw competition. To add to the challenge, they would be racing against the toughest competition in the country with a new motor and new shock package that they had not had an opportunity to shake down yet.

Friday, October 2nd Recap

Friday night saw 57 cars sign in and it was evident early that the track was very fast, which would make passing difficult, unless the surface somehow managed to dry out and widen out by the latter part of the night. Time trials are always important in WoO competition but tonight they would likely be even more so. Zach was the 5th car to take time in flight 2. He ended up 28th in his flight but to put that in perspective, only 0.93 seconds separated him from a top ten time. Like I said, tough competition. There is zero room for error behind the wheel or when making setup decisions.

The qualifying result meant Newlin would need to run the non-qualifiers race. Under WoO rules for a car count of this number, the top 40 overall qualifiers transfer directly to the heat races, while the remaining teams must run a non-qualifiers race. The top 4 finishers from that event are then added to the heat races (1 to each of the 4 heats), while the remaining finishers transfer to the D-main.

Only having had a few hot laps and 2 qualifying laps under their belt in the orange #54 Grove Financial & Associates, Dillman Hauling, LLC., Kriner Racing Engines, Sander Engineering, DMI, Burke Motorsports, Maxim Chassis, it was hard to know what adjustments to make. The team made their best educated guess at improvements and Newlin rolled off 14th. He managed to move forward and finish 10th in the 8-lap event. It wasn’t enough to advance to a heat race of course, but it was a positive result for driver and team. Given his lack of laps in a 410 sprint car, it’s still hard to tell when the car needs changes or when he needs to adjust his style.

Next up was the 8-lap D-main from which only the top two finishers would advance to the back of the C-main starting lineup. Zach started and finished 6th in the event, bringing an end to the on track activities for the team Friday night. Back in the pits though, there was still plenty of activity. Shawn & Austin Burke, along with Zach Newlin, brother Lance and the rest of the crew discussed and analyzed the night, making notes and decisions they could leverage the following night.

Zach Newlin throws it hard into turn 3 at The Grove
(photo credit: Dan DeMarco)

Saturday, October 3rd Recap

Night number two of the highest paying sprint car race in the nation in 2020 started off with a similar circumstance for Newlin and the Burke Motorsports team. 54 cars entered competition and Newlin was slated to take his timed qualifying laps 3rd in flight 2. That’s where the similarities ended though. On this night, he recorded the 22nd quickest lap in his group, with a lap that was only 0.575 seconds off of a top ten time and only 0.863 seconds behind the fastest car in flight 2. It was a significant improvement from the prior night and a promising sign.

Still just outside the cutoff for the heat races despite the improvement, Zach lined up 4th for the 8-lap non-qualifiers race. Once again tonight, the top 4 finishers would advance to the heat race lineups. Newlin held that final transfer spot for a few laps, capturing the attention of the broadcast crew with strong moves and smart choices. Finally, Brian Montieth slipped by him and soon after Kyle Moody followed. With two laps remaining, the caution lights flashed on, giving Newlin a chance to collect himself and regroup. The ensuing restart is when the rookie 410 driver really grabbed the attention of Johnny Gibson and Bruce Ellis as they called the action. Zach powered around the high side of turns 1 and 2, overtaking Moody and Montieth and reclaiming the final transfer spot. One lap later the trio went three-wide off turn 2 in a heated battle to advance to a heat race. Ultimately Newlin lost the spot, blaming himself for a couple bad choices during the battle.

Newlin was determined to make the most of his 2nd starting spot in the 8-lap D-main. It had been a better night thus far for the team and it would only be right if the end result reflected it. He held the position throughout the event, never allowing Montieth to get close enough to challenge for the position, and transferred into the C-main. Newlin would start 13th in the C-main. It was another chance to test himself. That’s all he could ask for against such a tough field. It was another 10 laps of learning. Zach brought it home 12th, ending his night with a much more confident feeling than 24 hours earlier.

There were plenty of smiles around the Burke Motorsports pit when the weekend concluded. “Tonight was definitely a turn around. I just need to keep learning“, Newlin said. “We had a new shock package on the car this weekend, so we were learning that. We made changes to that program based on what we experienced last night. After hot laps tonight, my confidence was back. We still have to change some things on the car, but we will get there“, he concluded.

Wrap Up

By the time the 58th Annual Champion Oil National Open weekend had come to a close, two important things had happened. Number one: Zach Daddy had learned a lot in a short period of time by racing in an environment of elevated competition. Number two: fans had taken notice of Newlin. Sprint car fans are passionate and knowledgeable about their sport, especially those in Central PA, and they are seasoned enough to look beyond results to see things. Those fans saw something in Newlin. Social media contained comments like “Zach Newlin will be he next young driver to develop into a good 410 driver in a year or two“. Will the predictions come true? I suggest you follow along and find out.

You can follow Newlin Racing on Facebook or Twitter to get the latest schedule updates & other news about Zach’s 358 & 410 sprint car teams!  Click here for all the info you need to stay informed!

SPECIAL THANKS:

We want to express our sincere appreciation to our sponsors and marketing partners!
Please support those who support racing!

Grove Financial and Associates, Chaz Scheaffer & Derek Fry
Dillman Hauling, LLC.
Kriner Racing Engines
Sander Engineering
DMI – Diversified Machine, Inc.

Maxim Chassis

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Fans can follow Newlin Racing the 2020 season at:
(Facebook) www.facebook.com/NewlinRacing
(Twitter) @NewlinRacing

PUBLIC RELATIONS:

Follow or contact Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management at:
(Twitter) @Addicted2DirtPR #TeamA2D
(Facebook) http://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR
(Website) Addicted2DirtPR.com
(Email) [email protected]

“Zach Daddy” Will Make First World of Outlaws Start This Week

Zach Newlin’s 20+ Years in Racing are Full of Milestone Achievements

Millerstown, PA – September 30, 2020By Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

Zach Newlin may be the guy you’ve never heard of, but should have. He has amassed quite a resume of success in his racing career as he has steadily conquered one milestone after another through the racing ranks. He started racing go-karts in 1998 at the age of 10, stepped up to 600 micro sprints in 2005 and moved into 305 sprint cars in 2013. Zach enjoyed success at each level, including being nationally ranked in the IMCA RACEsaver 305 series for several years. It’s always easiest to stay where you are successful and comfortable, but for Newlin, as the calendar turned to 2020, it was time for a new challenge.

Sure, being able to field a 410 sprint car would’ve been great. That’s every sprint car driver’s holy grail. That just wasn’t in the cards though. So, the team’s focus turned to putting a 358 sprint car on the track. That goal was still going to require some things to align to achieve it. Good fortune was on their side and the pieces came together to move the family team, Newlin Racing, up another rung on the ladder, into the 358 sprint car ranks. Little did they know how quickly that small step would pay dividends and lead to a big step.

Despite a two-month racing hiatus earlier in 2020 due to the pandemic, by late summer Newlin had registered solid runs and showed his talent in the 358. In August, Shawn and Austin Burke came calling with an offer to drive their Burke Motorsports 410 sprint car at BAPS Motor Speedway on a Sunday night. It was just a chance to try it out, with no promises beyond that night. Newlin had been on their radar for a while but they were waiting for the right time. This seemed like it.

The night at BAPS went well for the Burke/Newlin combination. They made the show and enjoyed racing together, so they tried it again on Labor Day at Port Royal. Again things went well, with Zach making the show and earning the Hard Charger Award by advancing 10 positions on the tough daytime surface. By this time, the appetite for more had been established. The team decided to enter a few more events in mid-September, including three consecutive nights, with the latter two being All Star Circuit of Champions events.

Those nights in the Burke Motorsports entry not only seemed to be accomplishing the goal of gaining experience in a 410 sprint car but they were also building Newlin’s confidence and accumulating knowledge he could apply in the seat of his 358 sprint car. During 2020, Zach Newlin has conquered several more career milestones. Some he had hoped to achieve this season and some he couldn’t have imagined would happen, at least not this year. Newlin recorded his first career 358 sprint car victory, which was also his first career win at the famous Williams Grove Speedway, something that had been a goal for a long time. The achievements didn’t stop there. He was awarded the 358 sprint car Rookie of the Year at ‘The Grove’, competed in his first 410 sprint car race and competed in his first All Star Circuit of Champions events.

photo credit: Racer X Media

This weekend, the sprint car chauffer nicknamed “Zach Daddy” will reach another career milestone. He will strap himself into the orange #54 Grove Financial & Associates, Dillman Hauling, LLC., Kriner Racing Engines, Sander Engineering, DMI, Burke Motorsports, Maxim Chassis, 410 sprint car and go into battle as a rookie member of the PA Posse against the best in the world, the World of Outlaws, in the 58th Champion Racing Oil Williams Grove National Open.

2020 has been quite a year for Zach to say the least. You never know when opportunity will knock. You just have to keep working hard and be ready to make the most of it when it happens. It seems he has done that. What is Newlin thinking as his first Outlaw competition approaches? He had a very honest answer to that question. “Don’t suck!“, he replied with a laugh. Humor is never very far away during any conversation with Newlin, but he takes his racing seriously. His response only demonstrates he’s relaxed and ready for whatever the experience brings. His expectations are realistic but that doesn’t mean his goals aren’t high.

It’s been a long road to this milestone and there are no doubt more on the horizon. Below is a photo gallery that will give you a glimpse into Zach’s 20+ years in racing that led to his opportunity to compete against the top professional drivers in the world. Behind every photo are countless hours of work, numerous tough nights at the track, long hours at the shop and many great memories. All of them were necessary to get to this point. To see his full list of accomplishments and bio, click here to visit Zach’s driver page on Addicted2DirtPR.com

Given how 2020 unfolded in such an unpredictable fashion for Zach Newlin, what milestones might 2021 and beyond bring for the talented wheelman? Nobody knows for sure, but I would suggest you pay attention. It’s bound to be an interesting, entertaining and successful ride.

Be sure to follow Newlin Racing on Facebook or Twitter to get the latest schedule updates & other news about Zach’s 358 & 410 sprint car teams!  Click here for all the info you need to stay informed!

SPECIAL THANKS:

We want to express our sincere appreciation to our sponsors and marketing partners!
Please support those who support racing!

Grove Financial and Associates, Chaz Scheaffer & Derek Fry
Dillman Hauling, LLC.
Kriner Racing Engines
Sander Engineering
DMI

Maxim Chassis

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Fans can follow Newlin Racing the 2020 season at:
(Facebook) www.facebook.com/NewlinRacing
(Twitter) @NewlinRacing

PUBLIC RELATIONS:

Follow or contact Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management at:
(Twitter) @Addicted2DirtPR #TeamA2D
(Facebook) http://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR
(Website) Addicted2DirtPR.com
(Email) [email protected]

Zach Newlin’s second outing in a 410 sprint car earned him the Hard Charger Award in the 69th Annual Labor Day Classic at Port Royal Speedway.

Newlin Named 358 Sprint Car Rookie of The Year

Logs Another Top 10 Run in Williams Grove 2020 Finale

Mechanicsburg, PA – September 27, 2020By Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

Coming into the final race of the season at Williams Grove Speedway for the 358 sprint cars on September 25th, Zach Newlin and team must have wished there was more racing left at the famous half-mile in 2020. They had just recently started hitting their stride. After some early season nights where it seemed defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory, they had recently registered a top 5 and a victory.

A couple key DNF’s from early in the summer stood out in their mind. They had broken while leading on one occasion and then had a part failure after going 17th to 7th in the first 23 laps of a 25 lap feature event. The sting of those nights was long gone though as a result of their recent successes.

In reality, the season as a whole thus far had been a success for Newlin. As evidence of that, prior to action Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway, an official approached the Newlin Racing pits with a package in hand. As he spoke with the driver from Millerstown, PA, he pulled out a plaque and explained to Newlin that he had already clinched the 358 sprint car Rookie of the Year Award. His eyes widened and a smile quickly emerged. After a few quick photos though, his attention quickly turned toward the night at hand and continuing the team’s recent momentum.

Zach Newlin is presented the 2020 Rookie of the Year Award in the 358 sprint car division by a speedway official. Photo credit: A2D

The Smith Concrete & Construction / Heather Sims, Realtor / J.W. Smith Auto Body / T&M Homebuilders, Inc. / Ron’s RV Sales / Kirby Kitner Excavating / Hammaker Racing Engines / The Podium Awards / Advanced Septic Services / Walker Performance Filtration #11z was one of 28 cards signed in. The field would be divided into three 8-lap heats, with the top six from each transferring directly to the A-main. The remainder would run the B-main to vie for the final six qualifying spots in the feature event’s 24 car field. All qualifiers would start straight up in the feature based on their finishing position in the heat races.

Williams Grove used a handicapping system based on season earnings to line up the heat races, which meant Zach would line up 9th in the first heat. He would have his work cut out for him to not only qualify for the feature event but also improve his starting position in that event as much as possible. He was up to the task. He used the low groove during the first half of the heat race to advance to the 5th position. When that seemed to no longer reap any rewards, he switched to the high line in an attempt to garner more. He nearly accomplished it, getting alongside the 4th place car in the final corners, but he ultimately settled for 5th by a mere half car length.

The qualifying effort meant Newlin would start 13th in the feature event. As is always the case when trying to improve the car and keep up with the ever-changing conditions of a dirt track, the team discussed options and made decisions about the changes they felt the car would need to move toward the front. During the opening laps of the A-main, it appeared they had made the correct choices. Zach again used the low line to move forward into 12th by lap 2. After narrowly avoiding becoming part of a multi-car crash on lap 2, he picked up where he left off on the restart. By the completion of lap 4 he had moved into 10th. The newly-crowned 2020 358 sprint car Rookie of the Year continued to work the low groove over next dozen laps, with the brief exception of a 2-lap experiment in the high groove that quickly showed it wasn’t a quicker way around for him when the 11th place car showed his nose underneath Newlin.

When the field reached lap 17, Zach still found himself in 10th and not gaining any ground, so he tried the high line once again in hopes it had blown off more by now and would prove to be the quicker way around the legendary paper-clip shaped half-mile. Unfortunately the handling just wasn’t where it needed to be for the 11z and Newlin rode home in 10th.

After climbing from the car and having some time to digest the night, his assessment in a word was: “Disappointing”. Unsure what else to say at the moment, he paused for a minute. His expression said it all though. They were so close…but they had just missed the setup they really needed to achieve another top 5. Newlin finally added, “It really ran well on the straights. It had plenty of grip there. We just couldn’t get through the middle and off the corners the way we needed to.” The entire time he spoke it was clear the wheels were still turning in his head about how to be better next time. That’s the drive of a successful racer.

The 2020 season may not be entirely over for Newlin. There is another 358 show at the Lincoln Speedway in October that could find its way onto the team’s schedule or maybe if things work out he will get the opportunity to race another night or two in the 410 he recently dabbled in. Time will tell.

Be sure to check out the photo gallery below from Friday night!

Zach’s parents Jeff and Kelly Newlin reflected on the team’s 358 sprint car season. “We wrapped up the season with another top 10 and put it in the trailer in one piece, so we’re happy”, Kelly shared. She continued, ” A win, an 8th place finish in the points and Rookie of the Year at ‘The Grove’ in his first 358 season is incredible.”

Jeff, Kelly and the entire team also wanted to express their thanks to the many sponsors and partners who support the team. This wouldn’t be possible without those businesses and individuals. 2020 has been a challenging year for many of the small businesses who sponsor and support teams like Newlin Racing and several of them had to find creative ways to help the team this season. The team greatly appreciates all the help they received this season, no matter what the form. Please take time to read the list of those businesses below and patronize them if you are able.

You can also find links to many of them in the Sponsors and Partners section on this page: #Team A2D Driver Zach Newlin

Smith Concrete and Construction
Heather Sims, Realtor
J.W. Smith Auto Body
T&M Homebuilders, Inc.
Ron’s RV Sales
Kirby Kitner Excavating
Hammaker Racing Engines
The Podium Awards
Advanced Septic Services
Walker Performance Filtration
Strange Oval
Morgan Paving
Engler Injection
BDR Racing Products
River Bend Hop Farm & Brewery
Newport American Legion Post 177
HRF Heishman Racing Fuels
Safety-Kleen
34 Motorsports
Newlin Bar Service
Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Fans can follow Newlin Racing during the 2020 season at:
(Facebook) www.facebook.com/NewlinRacing
(Twitter) @NewlinRacing

PUBLIC RELATIONS:

Follow or contact Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management at:
(Twitter) @Addicted2DirtPR #TeamA2D
(Facebook) http://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR
(Website) Addicted2DirtPR.com
(Email) [email protected]

#TeamA2D Upcoming Weekend Outlook

The Latest Info on Newlin Racing and Austin Berry Racing

Harrisburg, PA – September 24, 2020By Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

Friday night, September 25th, will find the Newlin Racing 358 sprint car team at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA. The 358 Sprints will be in action for the final time in 2020 at the historic facility as part of the 410 Sprint Car Outlaw Tune-Up.

Zach Newlin will be looking for back-to-back wins in the Smith Concrete & Construction / Heather Sims, Realtor / J.W. Smith Auto Body / T&M Homebuilders, Inc. / Ron’s RV Sales / Kirby Kitner Excavating / Hammaker Racing Engines / The Podium Awards / Advanced Septic Services / Walker Performance Filtration #11z, having visited victory lane the last time the division was in action, back on September 4th at “The Grove”.

Newlin currently sits 7th in the standings, just 90 points out of 6th and 105 points out of 3rd. He is also the only driver other than Derek Locke and Kevin Nouse to reach victory lane in 2020 on the Mechanicsburg half-mile.

Unfortunately, Austin Berry Racing will not be in action this weekend as neither of the team’s motors are race-ready. Repairs to their primary motor have not been completed and the backup motor is ‘lapped-out’ and in need of a refresh.

The team’s goal is to get their Rocket Chassis XR1, Swift Springs, MS Shock Therapy, Hershey Racing Engines, Berry’s Siding & Seamless Gutter, Nathan Berry Beef Farm #86 to the track at least one or two more times before the 2020 season ends.

For schedule updates, race results and other news on #TeamA2D teams, follow us and the teams on social media. You can find all our social media information below. 

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Fans can follow Austin Berry Racing during the 2020 season on:
(Facebook) www.facebook.com/AustinBerryRacing
(Twitter) @AustinBerryRacn

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Fans can follow Newlin Racing during the 2020 season at:
(Facebook) www.facebook.com/NewlinRacing
(Twitter) @NewlinRacing

Follow or contact Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management at:
(Twitter) @Addicted2DirtPR #TeamA2D
(Facebook) http://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR
(Website) Addicted2DirtPR.com
(Email) [email protected]

Newlin Rapidly Gaining 410 Sprint Car Experience

Three Race Weekend Served as a Classroom for the 410 Rookie

Harrisburg, PA – September 21, 2020By Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

Things tend to happen fast in the racing world, not just on the track but off. For Zach Newlin, September has been a whirlwind of activity and excitement.

Back in late August, thanks to Shawn and Austin Burke, Newlin had the chance to try out a 410 at BAPS Motor Speedway. He made the show that night and there were definitely positive vibes in his pit when the night was over. There was hope for more 410 opportunities, but nothing was guaranteed. Next came his September 4th victory at Williams Grove in his family’s 358 sprint car. It was his first career 358 checkered flag and his first Williams Grove win, all in his first season in the 358 division. Before that could fully sink in, Zach found himself strapping into the Burke Motorsports 410 sprint car again on Labor Day afternoon, September 7th, at Port Royal Speedway, where he earned the Hard Charger award for a 23rd to 13th run on a tough daytime surface.

Just one week later, a new sponsor contacted Newlin and Burke Motorsports and signed on with the team. At that point, the team decided to race for three consecutive nights later that week at BAPS Motor Speedway, Williams Grove Speedway and Lincoln Speedway. The latter two shows would be sanctioned by the All Star Circuit of Champions and many of those teams would be in competition at the BAPS show as well. Talk about diving into the deep end of the pool to learn how to swim. They were about to do it. Team owner Shawn Burke shared his perspective. “That’s how you get better, you race against the best, so that’s what we will do.”, he said with no hesitation.

Setting it into turn 3 at BAPS. Photo credit: Garry Ferguson

BAPS RecapThursday, September 17th

The team kicked off their 3-night learning session at BAPS Motor Speedway in York Haven, PA. BAPS is a track where Newlin has logged many laps and has had much success over the years in the 305 sprint car division. It was also the track where he had made his 410 sprint car debut just a couple weeks earlier.

27 cars were signed in. Following time trials, they would be divided into three heat races. The top 6 from each would transfer to the A-main, with the top 4 going into a redraw for the top 12 starting positions. Zach rolled out 3rd for time trials and recorded the 20th fastest lap of the 27 cars to take time. It’s worth noting, he did so with a motor that is at a slight horsepower disadvantage to the power the top teams have under the hood. It’s not an excuse, it’s a reality, and it’s a part of their program the team hopes to someday be able to upgrade. A change of the wickerbill, a gear and a shock didn’t produce the desired results in the heat race. Newlin moved into 8th briefly but finished in 9th when the checkers flew.

Following additional adjustments, Zach would line up 24th for the A-main. He used the low line in the early going to move forward through the field. A couple cautions during the first half of the event bunched the field and provided opportunity for more advancement. Zach was up to 17th place when the caution lights flashed on once again on lap 14. He was +7 so far and poised for more, especially given the race was not yet quite half over. Unfortunately a chain reaction incident on the ensuing restart caused another car to get into the right front of his machine, which resulted in several front end suspension components being bent and forcing Newlin to the pits, ending his night. The A-main was won by Kyle Larson.

Newlin would later share, “We definitely learned things tonight but I just didn’t have a good feel all night. I’m still figuring out some of the differences between these cars and the 358 but we are making great progress together. There’s good communication among the group of us in the pits. We’re having fun working on this challenge together.“.

Williams Grove Recap – Friday, September 18th

As the team prepared to take on the All Star Circuit of Champions at the historic Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA in the midst of the three race stint, yet another sponsor, Dillman Hauling, LLC., signed on to help further the opportunity for Newlin. It was more than just a financial boost. It was another subtle confidence boost because someone else out there believed in him enough to see this advertising opportunity as a good one.

The Burke Motorsports, Grove Financial & Associates, Dillman Hauling, LLC., Kriner Racing Engines, Sander Engineering, DMI, Maxim Chassis #54 was one of 33 cars registered for action Friday night. Newlin would record the 29th quickest lap of the 33 cars during time trials. Zach started 8th in heat 2 and would challenge for 7th in the early laps but settled for an 8th place finish. Searching for more drive (i.e. forward bite) in the car, the team made shock and wickerbill changes prior to the B-main. Newlin started 11th in that event and went on to finish 10th. He climbed from the car and discussing the night with the team while it was all fresh in their minds. After they discussed what worked, what didn’t work and what alternatives they would try in the same situation next time, Zach simply said, “I’m happy tonight.” Fans may judge a night only by a team’s results and may not understand that comment, but drivers and teams know they must measure their night by much more than the end result. There are different goals and smaller victories to gauge performance, especially as you build a program. Austin Burke, who turns the wrenches on the #54, shared Newlin’s positivity saying, “I had more fun tonight!“. The feature event that night was won by Aaron Reutzel.

Zach Newlin has plenty of bite as he lifts the right front while passing under the famous Williams Grove bridge during All Star competition on 9/18/20. Photo credit: Ashley Book

Earlier in the evening, moments after hot laps, still sitting in the car staged for time trials in the front pit at Williams Grove as the sun set behind him off turn four, Newlin was asked how it felt compared to his 358. His response in that moment wasn’t analytical. He didn’t talk about handling or power differences. The raw emotion of the moment was too great for that. His visor was flipped up and his huge smile couldn’t be contained by his helmet. He instantly exclaimed in response, “Dude, I’m racing a 410 at Williams Grove!”. Ok, to be honest, there might have been an expletive in there somewhere too, but who can blame him? That moment and those words demonstrated what the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice by Newlin and his family meant to him. To finally realize a dream they have all shared together for a long time…well…that energy just couldn’t be kept inside.

Racing a 410 at “The Grove” was a dream they all shared, but especially Zach and his brother (and crew chief) Lance. Zach’s mom shared, “They have worked so hard for it and never thought it would happen. His dad and I are so happy and thankful for the opportunity Shawn and Austin Burke have given Zach, Lance and the whole team. This kid is living a dream right now, along with the rest of us.”.

Brothers Zach & Lance Newlin.. Photo Credit: A2D

Lincoln Recap – Saturday, September 19th

For night three, the team made a short trip down the road to Abbottstown, PA to race in the Dirt Classic VII at Lincoln Speedway, once again versus the All Star Circuit of Champions.

A stout field of 53 cars were in the pits for the 7th annual edition of the Dirt Classic paying $20,000 to the winner. The unique format for the event includes time trials (half the field in group A, the other half in group B) in which points are earned and two sets of heat races for each car, in which points are also earned. Given the large car count, there would be a total of 12 heat races. The first six would be lined up by time trial results and the second six would be a complete inversion of the starting lineups from heats 1-6. Upon completion of time trails and heat races, the points earned are tallied. The top 20 teams in points transfer directly to the A-main. The next highest 18 teams in points go to the B-main and the remaining cars must race the C-main. The top 2 finishers in the C-main advance to start at the back of the B-main and the top 4 finishers in the B-main advance to start at the back of the A-main.

Zach time trialed 11th of 27 cars in group B, which was the 38th car overall to hit the track. His best time of the 2 laps he received landed him 25th in his group. That translated into the 8th starting spot in heat #6. He was unable to advance during the heat race and finished where he started. Later in the evening, Newlin would start from the pole in heat #12. The results of that race were very encouraging. He held the lead of the event for a few laps until veteran Ryan Smith was finally able to power past him. Zach remained unrattled and smooth and brought the Burke Motorsports entry home in 2nd place!

Based on his accumulated points, Newlin would start 5th in the 12-car, 10-lap C-main. The inside row would be directed to slide up one spot prior to the green flag when the 3rd place starter did not make the call. This meant Zach would take the green just one spot out of a transfer position. He got off to a great start at the drop of the green and claimed the second spot, which he held for a few laps before giving way to Tanner Thorson. Newlin would hold down third until the closing laps when Tyler Ross slipped by, relegating Zach to a 4th place finish and ending his first career night at Lincoln Speedway in a 410 sprint car. Kyle Larson would go on to win the big $20k prize later that night.

Weekend Wrap-Up

Newlin reflected on the weekend. “We learned a lot every time we hit the track. We progressed together as a team each night from start to finish and we had fun doing it together. Our night at Williams Grove was a huge boost for me. I got to race with the All Stars and realized we were not far off. That’s a confidence boost for sure.” He grinned and said, “Hey, I ran three time trial races and wasn’t last in any of them!” Attitude is half the battle and Zach definitely has that part right.

Be sure to keep scrolling below and check out the numerous photos and videos from all three nights of action!

As the 2020 season winds down, the team isn’t sure what’s next but when that decision is made, you’ll be the first to know if you follow Newlin Racing on Facebook or Twitter to get the latest schedule updates and other news! Their social media info is listed at the bottom of this release.

BAPS Motor Speedway Gallery (9-17-2020)

Williams Grove Speedway Gallery (9-18-2020)

Zach Newlin hustles the Burke Motorsports 410 into turn 1 during time trials at Williams Grove on 9-18-20

Lincoln Speedway Gallery (9-19-2020)

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Fans can follow Newlin Racing the 2020 season at:
(Facebook) www.facebook.com/NewlinRacing
(Twitter) @NewlinRacing

PUBLIC RELATIONS:

Follow or contact Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management at:
(Twitter) @Addicted2DirtPR #TeamA2D
(Facebook) http://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR
(Website) Addicted2DirtPR.com
(Email) [email protected]

Dillman Hauling, LLC. joins Zach Newlin/Burke Motorsports 410 Sprint Car Program

Potential Continues to Grow for Zach Newlin with Addition of Another Sponsor

Harrisburg, PA – September 20, 2020By Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

Dillman Hauling, LLC. has been offering clients throughout Perry County and the surrounding area quality transportation of materials since 2018. They offer Tri-Axle hauling for stone, shale, sand, topsoil, fill, etc.

When Zach Newlin and Burke Motorsports recently joined forces to run select 410 sprint car events, it drew interest from several folks who have followed Zach’s career. First the team was joined by sponsor Grove Financial Services & Associates, then through a connection there, the combination landed on the radar of Dillman Hauling, LLC of New Bloomfield, PA. Dillman Hauling also wanted to join the team and help Zach make the most of what is a pretty rare opportunity these days: the chance to race a 410 sprint car in Central PA.

Many want that chance. Few get it. So many things have to align to make it happen. Many talented drivers never get the chance to prove their ability because those pieces (car owner, crew chief, sponsors, financial support) never come together. Sometimes car owners find the crew chief, sponsors and financial support but never find the right driver.

Get more information about Dillman Hauling, LLC. by clicking here.

Newlin has showed promise quickly in a 410, earning the Hard Charger award at Port Royal’s Labor Day Classic and improving each night out, including qualifying for the first three features he attempted in a 410 sprint car. The additional support will allow the team to have the Kriner Racing Engines, Grove Financial & Associates, Dillman Hauling, Sander Engineering, DMI, Maxim Chassis #54 even better prepared for the remaining events this season.

As the 2020 season winds down, Burke Motorsports and Zach Newlin are starting to bring the pieces together. The recent additions of sponsors are a tremendous help, but for the pairing to think about putting together any weekly plans for 2021, there is still a need for more help. If you are interested in joining the team, please contact them to talk. Every little bit helps.

Be sure to follow Zach, Newlin Racing and A2D on Facebook or Twitter to get the latest schedule updates and other news! Their social media info is listed below the video and photo gallery.

Dillman Hauling, LLC’s logo is applied to the front wing prior to action at Williams Grove Speedway

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Fans can follow Newlin Racing the 2020 season at:
(Facebook) www.facebook.com/NewlinRacing
(Twitter) @NewlinRacing

PUBLIC RELATIONS:

Follow or contact Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management at:
(Twitter) @Addicted2DirtPR #TeamA2D
(Facebook) http://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR
(Website) Addicted2DirtPR.com
(Email) [email protected]

Burke Motorsports Welcomes New Sponsor for 410 Sprint Program

Grove Financial & Associates Joins Burke/Newlin 410 Effort

Harrisburg, PA – September 16, 2020By Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

Grove Financial & Associates is a full service independent broker for all forms of insurance: home, auto, business, life, renters, motorcycle, etc. They have been a successful business for over 25 years, committed to providing clients with exceptional service and professional advice. Now they, along with their associates Chaz Sheaffer and Derek Fry, can add racing supporter to their resume as well. The story of how their most recent partnership and involvement in 410 sprint car racing came to be is quite interesting.

The first two 410 sprint car outings for the Burke Motorsports / Zach Newlin pairing showed promise for the wheel-man from Millerstown, PA. The team qualified for both shows they attempted, at BAPS Motor Speedway and Port Royal Speedway respectively. The latter effort even yielded Newlin the Hard Charger award at Port’s Labor Day Classic.

Preparing for the Labor Day Classic at Port Royal Speedway

The success didn’t go unnoticed. Following the successful Labor Day outing, Zach received a text from long time friend Chaz Sheaffer congratulating him. He complimented Newlin on what he had seen, not only in a 410 but also his recent 358 success and long track record in a 305. He encouraged Zach to continue his pursuit of his dream of running a 410 sprint car on a regular basis. The conversation turned to possibilities and when Sheaffer learned that with a little help, Newlin would be able to run more races for Burke Motorsports in 2020. Chaz told Newlin, “You’re a hell of a driver. I would like to help you pursue that dream”. The wheels (pun intended) began turning in his head about how he may be able to help.

Sheaffer contacted Grove Financial colleague Derek Fry who was supportive and also wanted to create a partnership. They both agreed it was a good opportunity, so the pair put a proposal on the table they felt would bring benefit to all parties involved: Burke Motorsports, Zach Newlin and Grove Financial & Associates. It didn’t take long for the partnership to be agreed upon.

Shawn and Austin Burke want to express their sincere appreciation to Chaz Sheaffer, Derek Fry and Grove Financial & Associates for coming on board to help further their opportunity to put Zach in the seat of their 410 sprint car. Shawn shared, “We definitely wanted to race more with Zach but racing is expensive. It takes help from partners like these to put the car on the track and be competitive. We are thrilled to welcome Chaz, Derek and Grove Financial aboard!”.

Please consider contacting Chaz or Derek for your insurance needs by clicking their link below. @InsurancefromSheaffer
@DFRYinsurance

With the new sponsorship in place, Burke Motorsports can now make plans to run a few more 410 races in 2020, which will gain Newlin more seat time and valuable experience. Their third outing together and first with their new partner will be to take the Kriner Racing Engines, Grove Financial & Associates, DMI, Sander Engineering, Maxim Chassis #54 to BAPS Motor Speedway on Thursday, September 17th for the Kevin Gobrecht Memorial race.

The involvement of Grove Financial & Associates that Chaz and Derek have provided is a great start that allows the team to take the next step. For Zach Newlin and Burke Motorsports to think about putting together any weekly plans for 2021, there is still a need for more help. If you are inspired as Chaz was to get involved with an up and coming pairing, don’t be afraid to contact the team.

Be sure to follow Zach, Newlin Racing and A2D on Facebook or Twitter to get the latest schedule updates and other news! Their social media info is listed below.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Fans can follow Newlin Racing the 2020 season at:
(Facebook) www.facebook.com/NewlinRacing
(Twitter) @NewlinRacing

PUBLIC RELATIONS:

Follow or contact Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management at:
(Twitter) @Addicted2DirtPR #TeamA2D
(Facebook) http://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR
(Website) Addicted2DirtPR.com
(Email) [email protected]

Highly Successful Port Royal 410 Debut for Zach Newlin

Second Career 410 Outing Yields Hard Charger Award

Port Royal, PA – September 8, 2020By Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

After making the show in his maiden voyage aboard a 410 sprint car two weeks earlier, Zach Newlin and Burke Motorsports decided to give it another whirl, this time at Port Royal Speedway for the 69th Annual Labor Day Classic.

That first night, which came at BAPS Motor Speedway on August 23rd, saw Newlin improve significantly throughout the evening as the team made changes to make him more comfortable. It was a productive and fun night for all on a track where Zach had logged many laps in a 305 sprint car with much success. Port Royal Speedway is also a place where Newlin has logged many laps with success in a 305 but tackling the tricky daytime surface in a 410 would bring a new challenge.

Zach Newlin prepares for his 2nd career 410 sprint car start aboard the Burke Motorsports entry.

The Burke Motorsports, Kriner Racing Engines, DMI, Sander Engineering, Maxim Chassis #54 signed in as one of 36 entries for the afternoon show. The field was divided into 4 heats, which were lined up by a random pill draw. Five cars would qualify from each heat race, with the top 3 going into the redraw for the top 12 starting spots in the A-main. Non-qualifiers would compete in a B-main from which the top 6 would transfer to the A-main, filling starting spots 21-26.

Newlin started outside row three in the 6th position in the first heat of the day. The majority of the event saw Zach mix it up as part of a three car battle for the 7th-9th positions. Following a red flag that appeared with two laps remaining, he restarted 7th and would go on to finish 6th, missing the transfer by one spot. On the bright side, the finish would put Newlin on the pole of the B-main last chance qualifying race later in the afternoon.

After a quick team meeting to hear Newlin’s feedback and make decisions, the team began making setup and engine tuning changes to prepare for their final shot to make the show.

Along with car owner Shawn Burke, crew members Lance and Harvey make adjustments prior to the B-main.

Zach’s partner on the front row of the 10-lap B-main was Jared Esh, while Justin Whittal and Kyle Smith would make up the second row. Lining up 9th was the current All Star Circuit of Champions points leader, Aaron Reutzel of Clute, Texas. On the opening lap, Newlin chose the low side of the speedway and settled into 2nd position. He then moved up to a higher groove, about one lane below the cushion, where he ran about 8 car lengths behind leader Esh for several circuits. By lap 4 Reutzel had moved into 3rd and by lap 6 he was close enough to pull a slide job on Newlin in turns 1 and 2, but Newlin wasn’t giving up so quickly against the veteran. He turned left using a crossover move to speed back by Reutzel on the low side. The #87 of the All Star point leader was strong though and he reclaimed 2nd the following lap. Newlin held solidly onto 3rd from that point and transferred into the Labor Day Classic feature event.

Zach was officially 2-for-2 in making main events in his 410 sprint car career. That alone was an accomplishment but it also meant an opportunity for 25 more laps to continue learning. Nothing beats seat time when you’re a racer.

The qualifying effort meant the Burke Motorsports entry would start 23rd on the grid. From the drop of the green flag, Newlin methodically worked the low side of the speedway, maintaining car control and slipping by other cars that were either missing their line or experimenting with other grooves early in the going. During the first 10 laps he would advance 7 positions. Following each of two caution flags, the first with 14 laps remaining and the latter with 13 remaining, Newlin restarted 16th.

By that stage of the race, all teams had realized the bottom was the best line as the track began to take rubber in the hot afternoon sun. After a caution with 8 to go, once again Newlin would restart 16th. Being precise and hitting his marks, he was able to take 15th from Esh with 6 to go. In the closing laps, one of the front runners suffered a flat right rear tire and Newlin was able to execute one more low line pass, resulting in a 13th place finish for the 410 rookie.

There were plenty of smiles around the Burke Motorsports pit area following the race. Advancing 10 spots on the tricky daytime surface is quite an accomplishment for any driver but especially for a guy who was only strapping himself into one of the most powerful race cars on the planet for only the second time in his career. Those smiles got even bigger when the news came minutes later that Newlin’s +10 effort had earned him the Hard Charger Award and a $400 bonus to the team!

Newlin’s first two outings have been encouraging to say the least. Asked about his first start at The Speed Palace occurring on a daytime surface, Zach said “I have enough laps around this place, especially running the bottom, so I knew what I was doing.” He continued, “It was definitely slick but I could keep up with the car. It was underneath me all the time. I just had to learn to ease back onto the throttle off the corners. Had we made those same changes earlier today, we would have qualified through our heat race.” Newlin concluded, “I really have to thank Shawn and Austin Burke for the opportunity and for giving me a really good car today. That was fun.” It must have been. Hours later, he still had that same big smile on his face.

Be sure to look at the bottom of this post for a video of Zach’s opening 4 laps of the 69th Annual Labor Day Classic at Port Royal Speedway!

The Burke Motorsports team and Newlin are tentatively planning his third career 410 sprint car start for Thursday, September 17th at BAPS Motor Speedway for the Kevin Gobrecht Classic. Meanwhile, Newlin Racing is targeting a September 25th return to Williams Grove Speedway to go for two wins in a row in the family’s 11z 358 sprint car. Be sure to follow Newlin Racing on Facebook or Twitter to get the latest schedule updates and other news! Their social media info is listed below.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Fans can follow Newlin Racing the 2020 season at:
(Facebook) www.facebook.com/NewlinRacing
(Twitter) @NewlinRacing

PUBLIC RELATIONS:

Follow or contact Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management at:
(Twitter) @Addicted2DirtPR #TeamA2D
(Facebook) http://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR
(Website) Addicted2DirtPR.com
(Email) [email protected]

Zach Newlin’s opening 4 laps of the 69th Annual Labor Day Classic at Port Royal Speedway

Zach Newlin Adds Elusive Trip to Williams Grove Victory Lane to Growing Resume

First 358 Sprint Win for Newlin Racing Comes in Impressive Fashion

Mechanicsburg, PA – September 5, 2020By Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

Zach Newlin in Victory Lane at Williams Grove
(Photo Credit: Williams Grove Speedway 9-4)

Zach Newlin has a remarkable racing resume. Friday night, September 4th, 2020 he added yet another impressive entry to his list of accomplishments: a victory at Williams Grove Speedway. Not only did he win at the legendary half mile, he won in a 358 sprint car in his first season in the division.

The HJ Towing and Recovery 358 Sprints were on hand as part of the Bob Stewart Tribute event Friday night. 32 cars signed in for competition and were divided into four 8-lap heats lined up based on a handicapping system, with the top 5 from each to transfer to the feature.

The Smith Concrete & Construction / J.W. Smith Auto Body / T&M Homebuilders, Inc. / Heather Sims, Realtor / Walker Performance Filtration / Newlin Bar Service #11z lined up outside row 2 in the fourth heat race. Using the high side on the start, Zach pulled side by side with Ashley Capetta for the lead. The pair battled side by side for two laps before Newlin used a strong move off turn two on the high side to power past Capetta down the backstretch to take sole command. By lap five, he had put about 8 car lengths between himself and second place and went on to win by that distance over Derek Locke, who moved into second from his 8th starting spot in the closing laps.

After the solid qualifying run, Newlin reflected back on what he learned from his first opportunity to run a 410 sprint car two weeks earlier. “It taught me I need to free my car up.”, he explained. He had factored that into the heat race setup and was thinking it would be part of the solution for the A-main as well.

The feature lineup was heads-up from the heat race finishes, which meant Zach would line up 4th. As the field took the green off turn four, the red flag quickly appeared when Doug Hammaker jumped the right rear of Newlin’s J&J Chassis 11z and collided with the outside fence, flipping back across the speedway and collecting a few other cars.

On the second attempt to start the feature event, Newlin ran the low side, tried to settle in and remained in 4th position at the completion of lap one. As the field began lap 3, Zach drove the 11z into turns 1 and 2 hard on the high side to build up momentum and made the pass for 3rd down the back chute under the famous bridge at “The Grove”.

The red flag appeared once again on lap 4 when the 48 car made contact with the outside wall near the flag stand and flipped down the front stretch. Following the incident cleanup, Newlin restarted 3rd with 4 laps complete. This time Zach took the low line through the first pair of turns and pulled alongside the 2nd place machine but the caution appeared before he could claim the position.

On yet another restart, this time with 5 laps complete, Newlin would restart 3rd and again charge the low side, while the rest of the field took to the top of the speedway. The move would propel the 11z into 2nd coming off turn 2. Over the next few laps Newlin would continue to stick to the low side of the speedway and gain ground on the leader, the 28 of Matt Findley, when yet again the caution would appear.

The feature event, which was struggling to find its rhythm and was turning into a bit of a marathon, would finally restart for the final time with 13 laps remaining. Findley led Newlin, Arnold and Locke back to the green. Once again Zach took the 11z to the low side and when the field emerged from turn 4, he was side by side with Findley for the lead. The pair continued their side by side battle for the lead until Newlin powered into the lead off turn 2 on lap 9. The low side was his friend and he didn’t give up on it the rest of the way. He stretched his lead to 8 car-lengths with 8 to go. Behind Zach, Findley and Locke engaged in a side by side battle for second for a few laps. While that battle raged, Newlin maintained a smooth rhythm on the low side and stretched his lead to 10 car-lengths as he closed on lapped traffic at the white flag. He passed under the checkered flag a straightaway ahead of Locke, who claimed 2nd in the closing laps.

When asked about his choice of the low line while most of the field was running the high line, Newlin explained “I was reading what the cars in front of me did. They went high and I went for the clean air. When my car dug off the corner, my mind was set to run the bottom.”.

Newlin was greeted in victory lane by a very happy family and crew, who were more than ready to celebrate the team’s first 358 sprint and first Williams Grove victory. Newlin, almost in disbelief they had finally accomplished the long time goal of winning at the historic facility, thanked his parents, grandparents, family and crew for everything they have sacrificed to build the race team into what it is. Unfortunately his usual crew chief, brother Lance, and his family and grandparents, were on vacation at the beach and not present for the memorable night. Newlin got a little emotional when mentioning the absent family members. This is a true family team and, win or lose, they want to be in the pits together.

Shawn Brouse interviews Zach Newlin at Williams Grove Speedway after his first career 358 Sprint win and first win at the legendary half mile.

SPECIAL THANKS:

We want to express our sincere appreciation to our sponsors and marketing partners!

Smith Concrete and Construction
J.W. Smith Auto Body
T&M Homebuilders, Inc.
Heather Sims, Realtor
Walker Performance Filtration
Newlin Bar Service
Advanced Septic Services
Hershman Racing Fuels
Morgan Paving
Kirby Kitner Excavating
BAPS Auto Paints & Supply
Beyea Headers
Engler Machine & Tool
AL Driveline
Safety-Kleen
River Bend Hop Farm & Brewery
BR Motorsports Ignitioneering
Strange Oval
Tamayo Contracting
American Legion Post 177 Newport
The Podium Awards
Fastner Specialties Motorsports

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Fans can follow Newlin Racing during the 2020 season at:
(Facebook) www.facebook.com/NewlinRacing
(Twitter) @NewlinRacing

PUBLIC RELATIONS:

Follow or contact Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management at:
(Twitter) @Addicted2DirtPR #TeamA2D
(Facebook) http://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR
(Website) Addicted2DirtPR.com
(Email) [email protected]