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ABR Inches Closer to the Goal

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Two More Races On Tap This Weekend

Port Royal, PA – March 23, 2021

by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

While the first outing of 2021 the week before seemed to show some positives, the day was cut short and the team was left without enough evidence to really prove anything to themselves.  As they unloaded for their second weekend of action, of course the goal was to make the shows and record good finishes, but the unspoken hope among all in the ABR pit was simple:  run a complete weekend, make a lot of laps and find out how good their program was.  

 

The March 20th-21st weekend brought Austin Berry and the Berry’s Siding & Seamless Gutter, Locust Hill Custom Butcher Shop, Nathan Berry Beef Farm, MS Shock Therapy, A&C Racing Engines, Ontime Body & Graphic, Swift Springs, Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, VP Racing Fuels, Rocket Chassis XR1 No.86 back to Central Pennsylvania’s Port Royal Speedway for a pair of ULMS events.

 

3/20 Recap

Forty-eight teams signed in on the first day of Spring in Central Pennsylvania.  The field was divided into two groups of 24 for their 2-lap time-trial sessions.  Austin would be the 23rd car out in Group A.  Hot laps showed a high oil pressure issue for the team, which they quickly addressed before their turn under the clock.  

Going out late in a group is usually a bit of a disadvantage as a result of declining track conditions, however Berry was able to turn in the 15th quickest time in his group, giving the team a reasonable shot at transferring to the A-main through their heat race.  Four 8-lap, 12-car heat races were slated for the field, with Group A cars making up heats 1 & 2, and Group B cars making up heats 3 & 4.  The top 4 finishers in each heat would transfer directly to the A-main, with the remainder of the field getting a second chance to make it into the main event through a B-main.  

 

Austin would roll off 8th in the first heat, which meant he had to pass 4 cars to advance.  It was a tall order with names like Norris, Flinner, Robinson, Lee, Covert and Haus in the lineup.  Berry’s early laps were consumed by a heated three-car battle for the sixth position, which he eventually won with a slide job in turn one.  Once he cleared that slider, he was able to pull away and set his sights on the fifth place car of Jason Covert, who had been able to pull away by a dozen car lengths while the battle for sixth raged.  Austin would need a yellow to close the gap and have a shot, but it never came and he settled for a sixth place finish, holding off Haus in the closing laps.  While one could focus on the final result, closer examination showed some encouraging things thus far in the day.  Their time was slightly better than might have been expected given their late slot in their group and Austin moved forward (+2) in the short heat race.

 

Four more cars would transfer to the final event from each of two B-mains.  Berry started third in his consolation race but unfortunately, for the first time all day, went a little backwards and ended up sixth, two spots out of the show, bringing the team’s day to an end.

 

3/21 Recap

Between loading up Saturday evening and returning to Port Royal Speedway at lunch time the next day, Austin Berry and team had done their best to apply what they had learned Saturday, by making a couple changes.  They were one of forty-five ULMS late models signed in for action.  The format would be identical to the day before:  2 groups for timed qualifying that would set up 4 heats with 4 to qualify from each, followed by 2 B-mains with 4 to advance from those as well.

 

The team’s pill draw on day 2 would put them right in the middle of Group B qualifying, number 11 of 22.  They would be 34th overall to take time, so Berry and crew chief Josh Sheaffer would have to keep an eye on the daytime surface to see how it held up until Austin went under the clock.  While staged in the infield to make their qualifying run, teams don’t have the capabilities or time to make significant changes based on what they see, but they can make decisions about what line to run or how aggressively to approach the laps.  In the end, they recorded laps that were about what they expected under the circumstances, placing them 12th quickest in the group.

 

Berry’s time gave him the 6th starting spot in heat 4, joined by Zeigler, Norris, Rine, Miley and Cosner to name a few.  When the race went green, the field settled into order pretty much as they started and not a lot changed from there.  Austin was able to gain a little, finishing 5th, just missing the transfer by one spot.  On the bright side, the finish would put the ABR No.86 on the front row of their B-main.

 

Berry settled into second on the start of the last chance race and ‘held serve’ for a few laps until eventually slipping to third, and later to fourth as they reached the halfway point.  In the later stages, Austin held off a furious challenge by former track champion Mike Lupfer and eventually put four car lengths between himself and Ryan Scott who got by Lupfer with three laps remaining.  As the field passed under the white flag, it appeared certain Berry would put the team in the show.  Heartbreak struck in the form of Scott, who on the final lap got a big run off the high side of turn 2 and pulled along side Austin in turn 3.  Scott shaved 0.75 seconds off his previous best lap in the event, beating the Rocket XR1 of Berry to the line by less than a half of a second.  Missing the show by one spot, especially that way, really stung.  

 

Wrap Up

After having some time to replay that final lap in his head several times, wondering what he could have done differently, Berry tried to be positive about the team’s weekend.  “We’re all disappointed we just missed both ULMS shows this weekend against a really good field, but I’m extremely proud of how hard the team worked.  We were really close, so that gives me hope.”  The team also wanted to express their sincere thanks to a couple fellow racers who pitched in over the weekend to help them out.  He continued, “I’m also really encouraged by some of the things we were able to learn by being able to compete through both shows and not be sidelined by anything mechanical.  We are a step closer to the consistency in the car that we’re looking for.”  He is right to focus on that.  It doesn’t matter if you’re inching forward or leaping forward, as long as the direction is forward.    


ABR will be back in action two times this weekend.  Friday, March 26th, they will be at Williams Grove Speedway with the ULMS.  Saturday, March 27th, they will be back at Port Royal Speedway when the late models return as part of a regular show for The Speed Palace. 

AUSTIN BERRY RACING

Learn more about Austin Berry at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/drivers/austin-berry/

Follow ABR’s season at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/latest-news/

ABR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustinBerryRacing

ABR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustinBerryRacn

Want to buy some Austin Berry gear? https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/new-shop/shop/

SPECIAL THANKS

As always, thank you to all our sponsors and partners, including our silent partners who do everything they can to help but ask for nothing in return! 

 

Below are the businesses…the people…the families…that make what these teams do possible. PLEASE take the time to browse this information and help the teams by giving your business to these partners. Most importantly, tell them WHY you patronized them and thank them for being involved in racing!

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management provides affordable and personal dirt motorsports public relations that provides a professional public image to attract marketing partners and fans.  A2D can promote your sponsors and engage fans with your team’s story.  We are a central Pennsylvania based business with a love of and passion for dirt racing and the people who make the sport what it is.

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and follow along with the stories of our race teams!

https://addicted2dirtpr.com/

 

Follow A2D on Social Media!

We are @Addicted2DirtPR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

     https://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR

     https://twitter.com/Addicted2DirtPR  (hashtag #TeamA2D)

     https://www.instagram.com/addicted2dirtpr/

 

And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you are always notified of our latest video features, recaps and stories for #TeamA2D!  Just hit subscribe below this video or search for Addicted2Dirt PR on YouTube!

 

You can always contact us via Email at:  [email protected]

ABR Shows Glimpse of Capabilities

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Three Race Weekend Ahead with ULMS

Port Royal, PA – March 15, 2021

by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

Austin Berry Racing was feeling prepared for the 2021 season.  The team had put in a lot of hard work over the winter to refresh their equipment and improve their potential.  With one night remaining in their off-season, the team decided to participate in a test and tune session at Port Royal Speedway on Friday, March 12th.  They wanted to unload at the season opener the next night with as much confidence as they possibly could.  They wanted to know they had done all they could to be ready.  The test sessions went well.  They got quicker in each session and were near the top of the time charts in multiple sessions.  

 

The following night, the team unloaded once again at The Speed Palace, ready to get the competitive season rolling.  The pill-draw format called for four heats for the 38 super late models that had signed in for a shot at the $3,000 top prize.  Austin Berry would roll off from the 4th starting position of the second heat in the late afternoon sunshine.  The top five from each heat race would transfer to the night’s feature event, with the top three involved in a redraw for the overall top 12 starting spots in that main event.

 

The initial start of his heat race saw Berry launch into second, right on the bumper of leader Dan Stone as the field exited turn two.  Berry pulled alongside Stone in turn 3 but settled back into line behind Stone off turn 4.  Austin later shared, “The car was good.  Really good.  I built up a lot of momentum on the opening lap and I know with the level of competition they have at Port Royal, you have to run hard, so I carried all of that speed into turn one pretty aggressively.  A little too much I guess.”  Berry was referring to what happened next.  The car over-rotated just past the apex of turns one and two, leaving him facing the wrong direction.  Fortunately there was no contact or damage from the unfortunate spin.

 

Rather than dwell on the frustration of the situation, Berry righted the car and rejoined the rear of the field.  It was early and there was still time to learn from the mistake, reach the top five and transfer to the feature event.  By lap three it appeared he would do just that, as Berry had moved up to the 7th position.  For the next few laps, he was engaged in a heated battle for the 6th position.  However, on lap six Berry noticed the motor start to push out water, forcing him to abort his battle and take his Rocket XR1 pit-side.

 

The crew was unable to determine the cause of the issue at the track and with the lineup calling for Austin to start 14th in the B-main, from which only the top four finishers would advance to the A-main, the team decided to call it a night rather than risk losing a motor.  

 

The good news is, back at the shop the next day, the team was able to get to the bottom of the problem (damage to the head) and will have it resolved in time to get back to the track next weekend.  While the unrealized potential of opening day is certainly frustrating, ABR has the mindset you have to have in this sport.  They are focused on the positives from their first weekend.  There is a blend of determination and optimism that’s hard to explain, but it will serve them well.  ABR is due and their day is coming.  

 

 

This weekend, the Berry’s Siding & Seamless Gutter, Locust Hill Custom Butcher Shop, MS Shock Therapy, Nathan Berry Beef Farm, A&C Racing Engines, Ontime Body & Graphic, Swift Springs, Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, VP Racing Fuels, Rocket Chassis XR1 No.86 will compete on three consecutive nights with the United Late Model Series (ULMS), March 19th-21st.  The 3-race stint kicks off Friday at Williams Grove, followed by two nights at Port Royal Speedway on Saturday and Sunday.  Come out to a race, stop by and say hello and cheer on the No.86!

AUSTIN BERRY RACING

Learn more about Austin Berry at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/drivers/austin-berry/

Follow ABR’s season at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/latest-news/

ABR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustinBerryRacing

ABR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustinBerryRacn

Want to buy some Austin Berry gear? https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/new-shop/shop/

SPECIAL THANKS

As always, thank you to all our sponsors and partners, including our silent partners who do everything they can to help but ask for nothing in return!  Below are the businesses…the people…the families…that make what these teams do possible. PLEASE take the time to browse this information and help the teams by giving your business to these partners. Most importantly, tell them WHY you patronized them and thank them for being involved in racing!

photo credit: BertWoJo Images

photo credit: Leister Photography/Ashlee Book

photo credit: BertWoJo Images

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management provides affordable and personal dirt motorsports public relations that provides a professional public image to attract marketing partners and fans.  A2D can promote your sponsors and engage fans with your team’s story.  We are a central Pennsylvania based business with a love of and passion for dirt racing and the people who make the sport what it is.

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and follow along with the stories of our race teams!

https://addicted2dirtpr.com/

 

Follow A2D on Social Media!

We are @Addicted2DirtPR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

     https://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR

     https://twitter.com/Addicted2DirtPR  (hashtag #TeamA2D)

     https://www.instagram.com/addicted2dirtpr/

 

And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you are always notified of our latest video features, recaps and stories for #TeamA2D!  Just hit subscribe below this video or search for Addicted2Dirt PR on YouTube!

 

You can always contact us via Email at:  [email protected]

2021 Season Provides Welcome Fresh Start for ABR

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New Partner Locust Hill Custom Butcher Shop Joins Team

Mifflin, PA – March 5, 2021

by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

To say the entire team at Austin Berry Racing is looking forward to the upcoming season would be a significant understatement.  2020 was a year pretty much everyone wants to put behind them for numerous reasons, and ABR is no different.  The struggles of last season are well documented.  

 

The team is determined to return to the more consistent level of performance they had reached in 2019, when they finished 6th in Port Royal Speedways season championship standings.  Two keys to ABR’s fresh start for the upcoming season are a new partner and a new engine program.

 

Shade Gap, PA business Locust Hill Custom Butcher Shop, who provides custom butchering and packaging for beef, pork, and venison, has joined the team as a key new partner.  This new partnership will help the team freshen some equipment for the new campaign.  

 

In an effort to stabilize one of the most important pieces of their program, the team has joined with Hagerstown, MD based A&C Racing Engines to manage their engines.  In business for over 20 years, A&C is a complete automotive machine shop, specializing in performance engines and offering dyno services.  

 

Returning for the 2021 season are several long-time supporters as well.  Berry’s Siding and Seamless Gutter,  MS Shock Therapy, Nathan Berry Beef Farm, Ontime Body and Graphic, and Swift Springs all return for the new season.

 

“The goal is to race a smart schedule that provides us with an opportunity to grow, improve and get the most out of our equipment.“, stated Austin Berry in a recent phone conversation about the team’s plans.  Exactly how the year will unfold in terms of schedule isn’t crystal clear yet, but ABR has laid out plans that include following the ULMS Racing Series South Region schedule, numerous Port Royal Speedway events and several other notable shows in the region.  They will evaluate where they are at performance-wise around the end of April or early May and adjust the schedule from there, if necessary.

 

Look for the Berry’s Siding & Seamless Gutter, Locust Hill Custom Butcher Shop, MS Shock Therapy, Nathan Berry Beef Farm, A&C Racing Engines,  Ontime Body & Graphic, Swift Springs, Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, VP Racing Fuels, Rocket Chassis XR1 No.86 to kick off their season Saturday, March 13th at Port Royal Speedway.  The following week they will kick off the ULMS South season back at The Speed Palace. 

SPECIAL THANKS

As always, thank you to all our sponsors and partners, including our silent partners who do everything they can to help but ask for nothing in return!  Below are the businesses…the people…the families…that make what we do possible.  PLEASE take the time to browse this information and help us by giving your business to our partners.  Most importantly, tell them WHY you patronized them and thank them for being involved in racing!

AUSTIN BERRY RACING

Learn more about Austin Berry at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/drivers/austin-berry/

Follow ABR’s season at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/latest-news/

ABR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustinBerryRacing

ABR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustinBerryRacn

Want to buy some Austin Berry gear? https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/new-shop/shop/

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management provides affordable and personal dirt motorsports public relations that provides a professional public image to attract marketing partners and fans.  A2D can promote your sponsors and engage fans with your team’s story.  We are a central Pennsylvania based business with a love of and passion for dirt racing and the people who make the sport what it is.

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and follow along with the stories of our race teams!

https://addicted2dirtpr.com/

 

Follow A2D on Social Media!

We are @Addicted2DirtPR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

     https://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR

     https://twitter.com/Addicted2DirtPR  (hashtag #TeamA2D)

     https://www.instagram.com/addicted2dirtpr/

 

And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you are always notified of our latest video features, recaps and stories for #TeamA2D!  Just hit subscribe below this video or search for Addicted2Dirt PR on YouTube!

 

You can always contact us via Email at:  [email protected]

[VIDEO] 2020: The Rise of Zach Daddy

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Millerstown, PA – February 21, 2021

by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

Zach Newlin has been racing for over 20 years. Like many, the dream was to keep moving up and reach the pinnacle of sprint car racing, the 410 division.  Things seemed to be moving along as hoped, with Zach going from go-karts to 600 micros in 2005, then on to 305 sprints in 2013.  He wasn’t just putting in his time either.  He was winning races and championships.  You know you’re doing ok when you earn a nickname along the way.  Suddenly, Zach Daddy was born.  That’s a story for another day though.

 

The dream seemed to be growing closer, but in today’s expensive sport of sprint car racing, nothing comes easy.  A driver can accomplish all that can be expected of them but still never get a chance to wheel a 410 sprint car.

 

When the calendar flipped to 2020, Zach Newlin wasn’t sure what the season would bring. The family team, Newlin Racing, wanted a new challenge and was eyeing a move to 358 sprint car racing. Things weren’t coming together just yet though, so a return to the 305 division, where he had been very successful for several years, seemed likely.  The dream of 410 racing was still in the back of his mind, but seemed quite far off.

 

Fortunately the stars aligned and the pieces came together to go 358 racing in the family’s familiar 11z with their long time partners 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, and Walker Performance Filtration.  At the time, Newlin and his family were extremely happy, but had no idea just how much that step would ultimately mean a few short months later.

 

Despite the pandemic interrupting the early part of the season, Zach was able to quickly show speed and run near the front.  Shawn Burke was familiar with Newlin’s success in the 305 sprint cars.  His team had competed against Newlin on a regular basis.  By mid-summer of the 2020 season, what he had seen from Zach behind the wheel of the 358 was enough to cause him to walk into Newlin’s trailer and ask him if he was interested in driving the Burke Motorsports 410 sprint car.  Once Newlin processed it all, the choice seemed clear.

 

He would quietly make his 410 debut August 23rd at BAPS Motor Speedway and days later would win his first 358 sprint car race at Williams Grove Speedway.  Just two weeks later, Newlin made his Port Royal Speedway 410 debut in the 69th Annual Labor Day Classic.  He earned the Hard Charger award in that event, quickly proving he has what it takes to perform at the top level.  Zach Daddy wrapped up the season competing against the All Stars and World of Outlaws in the orange #54 Grove Financial & Associates, Dillman Hauling, LLC., Kriner Racing Engines, Sander Engineering, DMI, Burke Motorsports, Maxim Chassis, Walker Performance Filtration, 410 sprint car, gaining as much experience as possible to be ready for what comes next.

 

What a year 2020 turned out to be.  The dream is alive and has a strong heartbeat.  

 

Before we turn our attention to the upcoming 2021 season, let’s take a look back at some of Zach Daddy’s journey with a trip down memory lane in the video below.  

 

Please like, share and comment if you enjoy it!

SPECIAL THANKS

Below are the businesses…the people…the families…that make what these teams do
possible. PLEASE take the time to browse this information and help the teams by
giving your business to these partners. Most importantly, tell them WHY you
patronized them and thank them for being involved in racing!

Please LIKE and SHARE this video if you enjoyed it!  Thank you!

Learn more about Zach Newlin at:  https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/drivers/zachnewlin/  

Follow Burke Motorsports season at:  https://addicted2dirtpr.com/latest-news/

Burke Motorsports on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Burke54Racing

Burke Motorsports on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Burke54Racing

Music in this video: Higher by Eminem, Thunderstruck by 2 Cellos

Photo credits: Racer X Media, Ashley Book, Brian, B Lenhart Photo, Kevin Quirk Motorsports Grafix, Rich Watts (A2D) and the Newlin Family

Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management provides affordable and personal dirt motorsports public relations that provides a professional public image to attract marketing partners and fans.  A2D can promote your sponsors and engage fans with your team’s story.  We are a central Pennsylvania based business with a love of and passion for dirt racing and the people who make the sport what it is.

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and follow along with the stories of our race teams!

https://addicted2dirtpr.com/

 

Follow A2D on Social Media!

We are @Addicted2DirtPR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

     https://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR

     https://twitter.com/Addicted2DirtPR  (hashtag #TeamA2D)

     https://www.instagram.com/addicted2dirtpr/

 

And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel (Addicted2Dirt PR) so you are always notified of our latest video features, recaps and stories for #TeamA2D!  Just hit subscribe below this video!

 

Contact us via Email at: [email protected]

ABR’s 2020: The kind of year a team must overcome to savor eventual success.

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Mifflin, PA – February 15, 2021 – By Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

2020 was a challenging year in many ways for everyone. ABR’s season was no different.

 

After a successful 2019 campaign that saw them finish 6th in Port Royal Speedway’s season championship points and earn the Most Improved Driver award, the team worked hard in the offseason to make more improvements and seize on their momentum.

 

There were high hopes for the Rocket Chassis XR1, Swift Springs, MS Shock Therapy, Berry’s Siding & Seamless Gutter, Nathan Berry Beef Farm No.86 heading into 2020. The season wasn’t easy. It seemed everything that could go wrong did. It was the kind of year a team must overcome to savor eventual success.

 

Despite all of that, there were high points and positives. There were small victories some nights, there were supportive fans, and there were the kids. The young fans always brought a reason to smile and to keep working hard.

 

Before we turn our attention to the upcoming 2021 season, let’s take a look back at 2020 and fuel the fire inside by remembering why we started this whole thing in the first place.

Please LIKE and SHARE this video if you enjoyed it and SUBSCRIBE to A2D’s channel so you don’t miss anything this season! Thank you!

 

Learn more about Austin Berry at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/drivers/austin-berry/

Follow ABR’s season at: https://addicted2dirtpr.com/latest-news/

ABR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustinBerryRacing

ABR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustinBerryRacn

Want to buy some Austin Berry gear? https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/new-shop/shop/

Music in this video: Legends Are Made by Sam Tinnesz

Photo credits: Garry Ferguson, Brian Rhoad, Joe Durian, Mac McPherson, Chasity Berry, Ken Berry, Rich Watts (A2D)

SPECIAL THANKS

As always, thank you to all our sponsors and partners, including our silent partners who do everything they can to help but ask for nothing in return! 

 

Below are the businesses…the people…the families…that make what these teams do possible. PLEASE take the time to browse this information and help the teams by giving your business to these partners. Most importantly, tell them WHY you patronized them and thank them for being involved in racing!

Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management provides affordable and personal dirt motorsports public relations that provides a professional public image to attract marketing partners and fans.

 

A2D can promote your sponsors and engage fans with your team’s story. We are a central Pennsylvania based business with a love of and passion for dirt racing and the people who make the sport what it is.

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and follow along with the stories of our race teams!

https://addicted2dirtpr.com/

 

Follow A2D on Social Media! We are @Addicted2DirtPR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. https://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR 

https://twitter.com/Addicted2DirtPR (hashtag #TeamA2D) https://www.instagram.com/addicted2dirtpr/

 

And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you are always notified of our latest video features, recaps and stories for #TeamA2D!

 

Contact us via Email at: [email protected]

Newlin Caps Successful Year Full of New Challenges

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Closes Season with 410 Outing in Sprint Showdown at BAPS Motor Speedway

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

When the calendar flipped to 2020, Zach Newlin wasn’t sure what the season would bring. The family team wanted a new challenge and was eyeing a move to 358 sprint car racing. Things weren’t coming together just yet though, so a return to the 305 sprint car division where he had been very successful for several years was still a possibility. The dream of 410 sprint car racing was still in the back of his mind, but seemed quite far off. Fortunately some stars aligned and the pieces came together to go 358 racing in 2020. At the time, Newlin and his family were extremely happy but had no idea just how much that step would ultimately mean. Despite the pandemic interrupting the early part of the season, Zach was able to quickly show speed in his family’s familiar 11z, now with a 358 under the hood. That step up was all it took for Shawn Burke to walk into Newlin’s trailer one summer night, ask him if he was interested in driving his 410 sprint car and tell Zach to give him a call. Once Newlin processed it all, the choice seemed clear. He would make his 410 debut August 23rd and just days later would win his first 358 sprint car race at Williams Grove Speedway. What a year this was turning out to be.

Fast forward to mid-November. Once again, as she often seems to do, Mother Nature blessed BAPS Motor Speedway with terrific Central Pennsylvania autumn weather for their annual season-ending Capitol Renegade Sprint Showdown on Saturday, November 14th. The sunshine was enough to lure Burke Motorsports, wheelman Zach Newlin and the Grove Financial & Associates, Dillman Hauling, LLC., Kriner Racing Engines, Sander Engineering, DMI, Maxim Chassis, Walker Performance Filtration to the track one last time in 2020.

Zach Newlin at BAPS Motor Speedway 11/14/20
(photo credit Tyler Barr @TylerCoolGuy88)

The field of 34 entries would run 2-lap time trials in the afternoon sun to set up the four 10-lap heat races. The top 5 in each heat would transfer to the A-main, with the top 2 from each taking part in a redraw. The top 2 fastest qualifiers who qualified but finished outside of the top 2 would also join the redraw. With the redraw setting the top 10 starting spots, the remaining qualified drivers would fill starting positions 11-20. Non-qualifiers from the heat races would take part in the B-main, from which the top 4 would fill out positions 21-24 in the starting field.

Newlin was the 14th car out for his timed qualifying run. His best lap of 16.183 placed him 27th overall, which meant he would start 7th in the third heat. As the field lined up for that heat race, Zach was moved up to the 6th starting spot when the 19m of Landon Myers unable to make the call. At the drop of the green, Newlin took to the high side and moved his way up to 5th. On the following circuit he switched to the low side of the speedway and began to challenge Lucas Wolfe for 4th. Unfortunately the caution lights flashed on when the leader got into the wall and rolled to a stop. With two laps complete and the leader sidelined, Zach restarted 4th on the outside of row 2. Over the final eight laps, Newlin tried the high side, the middle and the low side. He was able to briefly move alongside Matt Campbell for the 3rd position but ultimately settled for 4th. It was a solid run that put the team directly into the A-main. It seemed the team had made the right calls for the daytime surface, now they would need to figure out how to keep up with the track and the competition as the sun set.

Rolling off 15th for the 30 lap A-main, Newlin liked his low side starting spot. Often times, ground can be gained on the low side while the field sorts itself out early in the going. Unfortunately that wasn’t to be the case on this night. You know that feeling when you get in the wrong line at the grocery story? Zach Daddy can relate. As the green flag flew, a car in front of him got out of shape, causing the inside line to check up while the outside line zipped by. Those few seconds relegated Newlin to 20th place, where he settled in and tried to get into a rhythm and build up momentum. Over the course of the first 16 laps, through a couple cautions, he did manage to recover some but generally wasn’t moving forward enough to gain anything at the payout window. When the red lights flashed on for a crash on the 17th lap, the team made the decision to call it a night and park their Kriner powered Maxim chassis. In this day and age of sprint car racing, financially smart decisions have to be made to make sure you have the resources to race again the next time.

When the dust finally settled Saturday night, Newlin was officially credited with 19th, a couple more lessons had been recorded in the ever-growing notebook and the car was in one piece. For a team trying to build a foundation, that’s a successful night…and a successful 12 weeks.

2020 is a wrap and she’s in the box in one piece. (photo credit: A2D)

For the Burke/Newlin pairing, which formed just 12 weeks ago, each and every outing in the back half of 2020 has been about track time and learning, so why pass up one more opportunity. There were no lofty expectations when they joined forces, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t optimism. They made not have made the headlines in their 11 races, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t highlights.

In just over 2 months, using a challenging but smart approach, the Burke Motorsports/Zach Newlin combination managed to build a base notebook by logging 4 races at BAPS, 3 at Port Royal Speedway, 3 at Williams Grove Speedway and 1 at Lincoln Speedway. They didn’t shy away from competition either. Over half of their outings were against traveling series: 4 vs. the World of Outlaws and 2 vs. the All Star Circuit of Champions. The remaining 5 races were against the always tough PA Posse. There’s nothing like jumping into the deep end of the pool, right? Along the way there were small victories, worthwhile discoveries and experience gained. And there were notable achievements, such as Newlin garnering the Hard Charger Award at Port Royal’s Labor Day Classic and making moves that caught the attention of Johnny Gibson, the long-time voice of the World of Outlaws, during a broadcast.

Although it may have felt like it just started for Burke and Newlin, the reality is 2020 is a wrap. Will this season’s learning sessions pay off in 2021? I think you will want to stay tuned. This is a young team with a lot of potential. Zach Daddy and Burke Motorsports are likely to make waves in Central PA, especially if all the pieces fall into place. If you happen to be one of those businesses out there looking to step into the sprint car world, this team is worth a look. They might earn their partners a lot of attention in the coming years.

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!

Zach Daddy gets his game face on (photo credit: A2D)
Fans observe Burke Motorsports’ pre-race prep from their top row vantage point. (photo credit: A2D)
The Burke Motorsports, Grove Financial & Associates, Dillman Hauling #54 soakin’
up the mid-November PA sunshine at BAPS Motor Speedway (photo credit: A2D)
The Burke Motorsports Kriner powered Maxim survived 2020 with minimal battle scars. (photo credit: A2D)

SPECIAL THANKS:

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

Be sure to tell them you give them your business because they support Zach!
It helps the team tremendously if our partners know helping us helps them!

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’s Day Cut Short by Part Failure

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Bad Luck Bookends to the Day for Zach Daddy

Harrisburg, PA – October 26, 2020 – By Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

@mikevleone
The Burke Motorsports #54 of Zach Newlin (photo credit: Mike Leone)

The beautiful Central Pennsylvania autumn weather lured 38 cars to BAPS Motor Speedway on Saturday, October 24th for the Wintermyer’s Auto Salvage Night. Among them was the sharp looking Grove Financial & Associates, Dillman Hauling, LLC., Kriner Racing Engines, Sander Engineering, DMI, Maxim Chassis, Walker Performance Filtration, Burke Motorsports #54 piloted by Zach Newlin.

The field was divided into four 10-lap heat races via random pill draw. The format for this show would only advance the top 4 finishers to the A-main, while the non-qualifiers would take part in one of two B-mains, from which the top 4 would fill out the starting field for the main event.

Maybe the way Newlin’s day started should’ve been a sign. His draw placed him 8th in the starting lineup for heat two. As close as the competition is in the 410 sprint car division, passing four cars in a heat race can be quite a challenge. Zach’s Kriner powered Maxim was quick though and he managed to move forward in the race. He finished 6th, which may not have put him in the feature event but it did improve his starting spot in the 10-lap B-main he would now have to run.

Be sure to check out all the photos below from this week’s featured photographer, Caleb Newlin!

As is common when a team must compete in a B-main, the turn-around time to prepare the car isn’t as much as they would like to have. The car was pretty good in the heat but the Burke Motorsports/Newlin team still made adjustments to keep up with the ever-changing track surface. Newlin rolled off 4th for his final shot to put his team in the show.

The good news is the adjustments were enough for Newlin to hold off Kody Lehman for the final transfer spot into the show. The bad news is the team discovered a water pump bolt had broken during the consolation event and the failure was not something they could repair at the track in the time available.

It was a day with bad luck bookends. First the pill draw, now a part failure. A failure that was going to take away the opportunity to race in the event they had worked hard to qualify for. Not to mention valuable seat time for the 410 rookie. To reap what reward they could for their efforts, the team would need to take the green flag in the feature event, so the only option was to ‘start and park’.

Newlin could do nothing but shake his head and shrug. He summarized the day with two brief thoughts: “We were fast. My pill draw ability sucks.” Part failures happen. He has been racing long enough to know you just have to smile and focus on what you can control. It went in the books as a 24th place finish but that’s not what bothered Zach and the team. What disappointed them was not having the chance to get more seat time, learn more together and prove they could move forward.

There will be another chance down the road. Sure is ironic that a sport with sprint in the name actually requires a lot of patience over the long haul.

(left to right) Lance Newlin, Zach Newlin and Austin Burke prior to action at BAPS Motor Speedway on 10/24/2020.
(photo credit: Caleb Newlin)
Making adjustments.
(photo credit: Caleb Newlin)
Thanks Chaz & Derek at GF&A!
(photo credit: Caleb Newlin)

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!

Lance Newlin thinks things over.
(photo credit: Caleb Newlin)
Thanks Dillman Hauling, LLC!
(photo credit: Caleb Newlin)

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]

Zach Newlin has had plenty of reasons to smile in 2020. (photo credit: Caleb Newlin)

Newlin Grabs Broadcast Time and Attention Again

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Reaches B-Main in Outlaw Competition at Port Royal

Port Royal, PA – October 12, 2020 – By 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

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Quickly Making a Name for Himself in 410 Racing

Mechanicsburg, PA – October 5, 2020 – By 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

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

Millerstown, PA – September 30, 2020 – By 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:
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(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.