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02-10-11 ThorSport Racing "Charges Towards a Championship" in 2012 with Nos. 13, 88 and 98 and Partners ThorSport Racing, the longest-tenured team in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, announced today its 2012 lineup of drivers and sponsorships on their "charge towards a championship." Returning for an unprecedented 12th year is Matt Crafton, who will pilot the No. 88 Menards Toyota Tundra in 2012; the relationship is one of the longest-running sponsorship partnerships in NCWTS history between a sponsor and driver. Johnny Sauter, 2011 driver champion runner-up and a ThorSport Racing driver since 2009, returns to the seat for a fourth season with the No. 13 Hot Honeys/Curb Records Toyota Tundra. Rookie Dakoda Armstrong rounds out the stout lineup, actively racing for the Rookie of the Year title in the No. 98 EverFi/Drive for Savings Toyota Tundra for a full season. "We're excited to take on this year from all fronts," said Matt LaNeve, Vice President of Motorsports Partnerships for ThorSport Racing. "With such a great arsenal of really dedicated partners and sponsors, as well as the support from Toyota and Toyota Racing Development (TRD), we are ready to get to the racetrack. It's going to be a very successful year!" Crafton, after a win in Iowa in 2011, returns to the track at Daytona with a renewed focus on a championship trophy, as well as a new crew chief. Longtime friend and member of the No. 88 team, Carl Joiner, takes to the top of the pit box as crew chief of the No. 88 Ideal Door/Menards Toyota Tundra team. "There's always something special in the air when a new season approaches, particularly when at such a special place like Daytona," said Jeff Abbott, Promotions Manager & Spokesperson for Menards. "We can't wait to see the familiar neon-yellow #88 on the track and look forward to another outstanding season with Matt Crafton." Sauter takes to the track in Daytona with more than just Victory Lane on his mind - he wants that championship trophy. After two visits to Victory Lane in 2011 and a narrow miss by six points of the championship, he's got nothing but positive vibes in his corner about the 2012 season. And he's ready to take it on by the horns. He returns with longtime crew chief and best friend, Joe Shear, Jr. atop the pit box. A sponsor and partner of both Johnny's and ThorSport Racing for their fourth year, Curb Records returns with the No. 13 for the season. "Johnny and I have a long history together in racing and many years of a great friendship and mentorship," said Mike Curb, President of Curb Records. "It has been amazing to watch his progress in the NCWTS in the last few years with ThorSport Racing, and we're ready to support him this year on a championship hunt." Sauter also brings a partner on board with a little "buzz" - the Hot Honeys Honey Roasted Chipotle-flavored peanuts. In a partnership with The Peanut Roaster, the No. 13 will rotate race hoods throughout the season, focusing on a variety of peanut brands and products. "The Peanut Roaster is thrilled to have Hot Honeys on the hood of the number 13 this year. Nothing could be finer than to see Johnny Sauter drive that yellow honeycomb truck to Victory Lane at Daytona- what an awesome paint scheme," said John S. Monahan, President of The Peanut Roaster. "Grab a bag or can of our deliciously different Honey Roasted Chipotle peanuts today and enjoy while watching the race. We're excited to start engaging NASCAR fans in the Peanut Roaster brand in a variety of ways this year. They're all available at Peanut.com." Rookie Dakoda Armstrong, earning his first top 10 finish in 2011, returns to ThorSport Racing in 2012 ready to tackle the chase for a Rookie of the Year trophy. The stiff competition doesn't phase him, as the former Rookie of the Year in ARCA Racing knows how to compete under pressure. He brings with him his 2011 crew chief, Dan Stillman, and his No. 98 EverFi/Drive for Savings Toyota Tundra team. "We're thrilled to bring EverFi and our learning platforms to NASCAR," said EverFi Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer Jon Chapman. "We share NASCAR's passion for speed in our urgency to bring critical life skills to schools across the US. It's going to be a fun and exciting 2012 season with Dakoda and ThorSport Racing." Armstrong also returns with Drive for Savings, a strong supporter of his racing efforts in 2011. "Drive for Savings (DFS) is very excited to sponsor Dakoda Armstrong in the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series," said Andrew Racer, Vice President of Sales for Drive for Savings. "The race season is about to kick off in Daytona, and we are ecstatic. We are so proud to take part in Dakoda's wonderful career in racing. He is a champion both on and off the track, so we are proud to play a part of his success. Let's all have a safe and exciting 2012 season and good luck to everyone, especially our driver!"
11-20-11 ThorSport Racing Celebrates Successful 2011; Pursues 2012 Series Championships with Toyota and TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) During an Active Growth Phase Longest-tenured NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Team Announces Expansion Plans & Employment Opportunities within Two Series ThorSport Racing, the longest-tenured NASCAR Camping World Trucks (NCWTS) team with entries since 1996, announced today their 2012 expansion plans – to include a partnership with TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development). After a successful 2011 season in the NCWTS, with three wins and four poles between two veteran drivers – Johnny Sauter and Matt Crafton – and debut of rookie Dakoda Armstrong; the organization is hiring in its state of the art facility in Sandusky, Ohio for the No. 44 ARCA Racing Series team of Frank Kimmel. “We’d like to thank everyone at Chevrolet for all the support over the last 16 years,” said Matt LaNeve, vice president of motorsports partnerships for ThorSport Racing. “ThorSport Racing, along with dedicated owners Duke and Rhonda Thorson, have a long-standing history and commitment to conservative, steady growth within NASCAR. Toyota’s business and competitive philosophies are in line with our 2012 goals for both Frank Kimmel, as he pursues his 10th ARCA Racing Series Championship; and our NCWTS teams of the 13, 88 and 98, as we further look to increase competition. We are aggressively chasing not only wins in our two respective series, but championship trophies for our drivers and sponsors.” ThorSport Racing currently operates three NCWTS teams – the No. 13 of Johnny Sauter; the No. 88 of Matt Crafton; and the No. 98 of Dakoda Armstrong. The organization will also field the No. 44 Ansell/Menards Toyota Camry during the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season. The No. 13 Safe Auto/Curb Records entry finished second in driver championship points in 2011, matching the organization’s highest previous finish by the No. 88 Menards entry and Matt Crafton in 2009 – narrowly missing the championship by six points but capping the year off with a win at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18th; adding to driver Sauter’s win list, shared with a trophy clock at Martinsville earlier in the year. The No. 88 Menards entry, piloted by Matt Crafton, finished 8th in overall driver championship points, earned two poles and wheeled into Victory Lane at Iowa Speedway during the 2011 season. “ThorSport Racing is a first-class organization and a championship-caliber race team, as well as one of the most respected teams in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series,” said Lee White, president and general manager of TRD, U.S.A.(Toyota Racing Development). “We look forward to working together with the entire ThorSport race team and are confident that it will raise the level of our entire Toyota Tundra racing program.” “We’re always on the forefront of competition in whatever series we are competing in,” said David Pepper, Director of Competition and Team Manager for ThorSport Racing. “We’re looking forward to forging ahead with Toyota in the competition arena in 2012. We’re actively hiring top talent to our existing crew members on our championship-caliber teams. We’re encouraged, during a down economy in both the country and in racing, to be hiring and adding jobs back into our industry.”
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