Abilene Upstart ‘Randy Hill Racing’ Racing Into NASCAR

Young Team Owner Learning From Some Of Racing’s Biggest Legends

POSTED: 6:41 pm CDT July 19, 2011UPDATED: 7:08 pm CDT July 19, 2011

ABILENE, Texas — Abilene Business owner Randy Hill is only 43, and about to become the newest owner of a Nascar team.The owner of Randy Hill Racing has big goals as he makes the transition from the ARCA circuit to the Nationwide circuit next month.

“This was something that was a new adventure, and I see great potential in it,” said Hill.When Hill set out to become a racing team owner, he was quickly welcomed by the big wigs at Nascar.”We were invited to the Daytona 500 and meet with executives. When we walked in, they gave me an application to be a team owner. Nascar said, we’re always looking for new teams. And we’re also looking for young people interested in the sport,” Hill said.

After meeting with the organization, he set out to learn more about the sport, and came along one of the most famous faces in all of racing. Hill recently had the chance to meet Richard Petty, and walked away with a very powerful ally.”Why don’t you come across the street and meet Richard petty? And I walk over, and there’s the king,” Hill said. “About two hours later, I’m back at my hotel and I get a call, and this guy says, the king told me to call you and tell you. Anything you need, we’d be glad to help you.”

Since then, Hill decided to venture down the ownership road as sole financier. He says it costs roughly $60-thousand to fund a team every race week. His ambition to own a Sprint Cup team would require $30 Million a year.When it came to a driver, Hill didn’t have to look too far. Thanks to a friend with connections, he met Casey Roderick, a young driver with some chops behind the wheel.”Casey walks over and starts talking to me. Right then, when I first met him, I turned (to Ken) and said, that’s the guy right there.” Hill also spoke highly of the 18 year-old’s racing career. “Casey’s background has been everything from go-karts to Bandaleros, to Legend Cars. He’s won some championships in go-karts and Bandaleros,” Hill said.His team will spend three more races on the ARCA circuit before moving up to the Nationwide Series on August 13th at Watkins Glen. He expects to race Nationwide at the Pocono shortly after, and then hopefully at Texas Motor Speedway.

Click below to watch the video of last weekend’s press conference where Randy Hill Racing introduced its new driver, Casey Roderick:

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/16037397#utm_campaign=synclickback&source=http://www.iowaspeedway.com/aspx/FanZone/VideoAlbum.aspx&medium=16037397

NEWTON, Iowa (July 11, 2011) – - Officials from Randy Hill Racing (RHR) announced today that rising sensation Casey Roderick has been tapped to drive the team’s No. 08 entry.  Roderick will race this Saturday afternoon for the Prairie Meadows 200 at Iowa Speedway in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

Roderick who leaps over to RHR from a stint at Phoenix Racing in the ARCA Racing Series will look to guide the newly formed program into the spotlight in their inaugural debut with the aid of Spraker Racing Enterprises (SRE).

The Lawrenceville, Georgia native will make his first start at Iowa Speedway this weekend. But given his impressive short track resume, no one would be surprised if Roderick would soar the No. 08 Randy Hill Racing Chevrolet Impala into the top-five in the 11^th race of the 2011 ARCA season.

“I’m very appreciative and thankful for the opportunity presented to me by Randy Hill,” said 18-year old Casey Roderick. “I have to be honest: I wasn’t sure how much more racing I was going to be doing this year but the chance to prove myself with a new organization like Randy Hill Racing is a blessing. I don’t want to set our expectations too high, but I think with the people that are surrounding this team, we are definitely capable of going out there and running competitively in the top-10.”

When the former INEX Legend Car Series driver speaks of people around RHR, Jeff Spraker is one of the first to come to mind. The Motorsports veteran of 30 plus years will heed the role as crew chief on the No. 08 entry and is looking forward to the opportunity to work with a standout like Roderick.

“I’ve been around racing a long time and Casey Roderick has shown all the signs of being one of the next brightest stars in racing,” offered Spraker. “He is fast in everything he climbs in and he’s a winner. I’m looking forward to working with a driver that not only has a lot of confidence in himself but is eager to please, too.”

For Randy Hill, a Texas entrepreneur with experience in agribusiness and real estate, adding a talent like Roderick to his roster is the final touch.

“We were looking at a lot of drivers,” Hill said. “Casey stood out not only on the track with his success but off the track with his ability to bond with friends and fans alike. That’s an important factor as we build Randy Hill Racing into a successful empire. I know he is putting a lot on himself for this weekend at Iowa, but as a car owner, I just want to go out there and know that when we leave the track on Saturday, the team gave its very best.”

Roderick looks to make his eighth career ARCA start on Saturday afternoon. In his previous seven outings, Roderick has scored one win (New Jersey Motorsports Park), two top-fives and three top-10s. He also hoists a pole in his road racing debut at Palm Beach (Fla.) International Raceway in February 2010.

The Prairie Meadows 200 (200 laps / 175 miles) is the 11^th of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The sixth ever ARCA race at Iowa Speedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Friday, July 15^th with an hour and twenty minute practice session planned from 3:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m. A final fifty minute session has been etched in from 5:30 p.m. – 6:20 p.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated for race day, Saturday July 16^th set to begin at 12:10 p.m. The event will take the green flag shortly after 4:15 p.m. The event will air live on SPEED. Additional event coverage including live timing and scoring throughout the 1,323^rd race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards since it was formed in 1953 will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com presented by ARCANation.com. All times are local.

For more on Randy Hill Racing, please visit randyhillracing.com.

Join the team on Facebook by clicking here (Randy Hill Racing).

Tweet with us through Twitter at @RandyHillRacing.

PHOTO CAPTION: Casey Roderick, driver of the No. 08 Randy Hill Racing Chevrolet Impala in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

NAME: Chris Knight, Knight Motorsports Management

PHONE: 239.834.9797

EMAIL: chris@chrisknightpr.com

Spraker Racing Enterprises To Lead Randy Hill Racing

MOORESVILLE, North Carolina (July 8, 2011) – - Officials from Randy Hill Racing (RHR) proudly announced today that Mooresville, North Carolina-based Spraker Racing Enterprises (SRE) will lead the team’s inception in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards and NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2011.

Jeff Spraker, a former NASCAR and ARCA driver, will guide the rookie team as crew chief beginning next weekend at Iowa Speedway during their ARCA Racing Series debut in the Prairie Meadows 200. Spraker, a native of Latham, New York, has more than 30 years of experience in the Motorsports industry and has had the privilege to work with some of the sport’s most talented drivers in both divisions.

Spraker, also a car owner himself in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, will serve as a mentor for team owner Randy Hill, a Texas entrepreneur with experience in agribusiness and real estate who is making the leap to stock car ownership from the Lone Star State.

“I’m pleased to join forces with Spraker Racing Enterprises,” said Hill. “Jeff and his team have been an absolute pleasure to work with and we’re expecting a great relationship with them for many years to come. We knew in order to establish and grow our company that we needed to align ourselves with an organization that already has been established and has great credibility.”

Spraker is equally excited about working with Hill and his staff beginning with the 11^th ARCA Racing Series contest of the year next Saturday afternoon.  “We’ve carefully put this program together,” said Spraker. “We’re excited about our driver and the relationship with Mr. Hill and his group. Being new to the industry, he knew what he needed to do and after several months of talking, I’m exciting to be officially affiliated with Randy Hill Racing.”

While RHR has not chosen a primary manufacturer for its operation yet, the team will utilize Ford Fusions and Chevrolet Impalas.

Mike Bliss, Dexter Bean, Drew Brannon, Clay Campbell, Kerry Earnhardt, Joey Gase, Ron Hornaday Jr., P.J. Jones, Alex Kennedy, Brandon McReynolds, Steve Park, David Ragan, Scott Riggs, David Reutimann, Michelle Theriault, Darrell Waltrip and Smokey Yunick are just some of the drivers that Spraker, who also has starts for himself in the ARCA Racing Series (ARS), NASCAR K&N Pro Series (NKNPS), NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) and NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) has been affiliated with in one capacity or another through SRE.

The Prairie Meadows 200 (200 laps / 175 miles) is the 11^th of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The sixth ever ARCA race at Iowa Speedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Friday, July 15^th with an hour and twenty minute practice session planned from 3:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m. A final fifty minute session has been etched in from 5:30 p.m. – 6:20 p.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated for race day, Saturday July 16^th set to begin at 12:10 p.m. The event will take the green flag shortly after 4:15 p.m. The event will air live on SPEED. Additional event coverage including live timing and scoring throughout the 1,323^rd race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards since it was formed in 1953 will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com presented by ARCANation.com. All times are local.

For more on Randy Hill Racing, please visit randyhillracing.com.

Join the team on Facebook by clicking here (Randy Hill Racing).

Tweet with us through Twitter at @RandyHillRacing.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

NAME: Chris Knight, Knight Motorsports Management

PHONE: 239.834.9797

EMAIL: chris@chrisknightpr.com

Randy Hill Racing To Execute Missions In NASCAR, ARCA

ABILENE, Texas (June 30, 2011) – - In a time where the economic climate is still on shaky grounds, Randy Hill Racing (RHR) is set to invade the circuits of NASCAR and the ARCA Racing Series in time to set a foundation that will propel it to accomplish goals, gain a new level edge of support and most importantly, win races.

Set to begin with the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards contest at Iowa Speedway on July 16, 2011, for the Prairie Meadows 200, the team will then compete in two additional ARCA races and then make the leap to the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.

Owned by Texas entrepreneur, Randy Hill, the team is diving into the sport in a time where new teams are few and scarce. Hill plans to build his team around the fundamentals of success and determination while strategically aligning his new operation with the right people.

“This is a very exciting time for me,” said Hill. “I’ve been thinking about doing this for a while now. I’ve taken my time and done my homework to make sure this is something I’m prepared to embrace. I’ve set a strategy outline for myself and my team that we plan to stand by and execute 100 percent.”

Hill, a businessman with experience in agribusiness and real estate, added, “I felt it was best to start my team in the ARCA Racing Series, because it’s a great stepping stone not only for drivers but car owners as well. It’s been done in the past and even though we don’t plan a long stay in ARCA, we’re excited to be starting in that development series. Our heart is set on NASCAR. Our partners want to be there and I see a long-time presence there. I realize it’s going to take some time, but I’m ready for the uphill climb on and off the track.”

Randy Hill Racing will make additional announcements including driver, manufacturer and marketing partner(s) in the coming weeks.

For more on Randy Hill Racing, please visit randyhillracing.com.

Join the team on Facebook by clicking here (Randy Hill Racing).

Tweet with us through Twitter at @RandyHillRacing.

Is there any sport that gives back more to the community than NASCAR?

http://www.looktothestars.org/news/6522-nascar-legends-wife-auctions-dress-for-charity

Here is what Jeff Gordon and his wife are doing:

“Vandebosch chose this gown for the annual 2011 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala. Proceeds from this auction will benefit the research and treatment of childhood cancer initiatives through the work of The Promise Circle, a fund of the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation. Ms. Vandebosch is a founding and active member of The Promise Circle.”

This dress will raise needed money to fight childhood cancer. That’s just one example of all the good that NASCAR drivers do for the community…and just one more reason why this is the greatest sport in the world.

Is there any sport that offers more confrontation than NASCAR?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/23/SP021K08JH.DTL

Check out some of the feuds that have taken place this year:

“Even an owner has gotten physical. Richard Childress, 65, was fined $150,000, but he wasn’t suspended after he put Kyle Busch, 26, in a headlock and punched him several times. He was furious at Busch for bumping into one of Childress’ drivers on a cool-down lap in a truck series race. At Darlington, S.C., this year, Ryan Newman reportedly punched Juan Pablo Montoya in the NASCAR hauler. Then the heavy hitting started. Busch spun out Kevin Harvick’s Chevrolet, Harvick tried to punch Busch through the window of his Toyota, and Busch used his bumper to push Harvick’s abandoned car into the pit lane wall. Both drivers were fined $25,000 and placed on probation.”

Conflict makes for good entertainment. And NASCAR offers plenty of it. It’s another reason why NASCAR is America’s real national pastime.

Are you kidding me?

http://www.sbnation.com/nascar/2011/6/21/2235502/congresswoman-nascar-military-funding-2011

Let me make sure I have this right: a Member of Congress is complaining about the military’s involvement with NASCAR?

“Minnesota Democratic Representative Betty McCollum has stepped up her campaign to end military sponsorship in NASCAR. Rep. McCollum has failed twice to stop federal funding of NASCAR, professional fishing and professional wrestling, but is working on ways to continue her fight against what she sees as wasteful spending.”

Does Congresswoman McCollum not realize that spending money on marketing in NASCAR is a perfect way to advertise to potential recruits? Fortunately, the military understands this and so does the rest of Congress. I’m proud that our military supports NASCAR. It’s a perfect match.

This weekend NASCAR received some bad news:

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cup/columns/story?columnist=blount_terry&id=6687020

It seems that a key sponsor is leaving the sport:

“The difficult part of auto racing, the part that’s all about whether some company likes you enough to give you lots of money, showed its dark side last weekend. Red Bull is leaving NASCAR at the end of 2011, which AP first reported Monday morning before the Red Bull Racing Team confirmed it later in the day.”

But here is the part of the story that this article doesn’t mention: when one sponsor leaves, it creates an opportunity for a new sponsor. And with NASCAR being the most exciting sport around, it will be interesting to see who emerges to take Red Bull’s place.

This week the Army celebrates its birthday. And thanks to one driver, NASCAR celebrates the Army every week:

http://www.mlive.com/autoracing/index.ssf/2011/06/ryan_newman_proud_to_wear_us_a.html

Ryan Newman honors the Army every time he drives. But he also honors the Army when he isn’t driving:

“NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Ryan Newman does not take wearing the U.S. Army colors on race day lightly. Newman, a South Bend, Ind., native and driver of the No. 39 U.S. Army Bud Moore NASCAR Hall of Fame Chevrolet, enjoys the attention he gets from military personnel at the race tracks. He will be a part of the Army’s 236th birthday celebration that typically includes sharing a little birthday cake with servicemen and women at Michigan International Speedway.”

This is more proof that NASCAR really is the All-American sport!

I’ve always believed that NASCAR is about more than just racing. And here is more proof:

http://biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2011/06/13/nascar-converts-to-e15-ethanol-blends/

This season, NASCAR is experimenting with renewable energy:

“In Pennsylvania, the Sprint Cup Series competed yesterday using Sunoco Green E15 racing fuel. As promised in October when NASCAR announced that it would use ethanol in all three of its national series in 2011, this blend represents part of NASCAR’s initiative to ‘go green,’ which began about two and a half years ago.”

If NASCAR has success using renewable energy, it won’t be long before the car industry begins producing more cars that don’t use traditional oil. And that will be a great thing for our entire country.

This week we’re focusing on my favorite track in NASCAR–Texas:

http://www.whowon.com/Results.asp?TrackID=371&StoryID=309290

Part of what I love about Texas Motor Speedway is that Eddie Gossage knows how to mix it up and market his product:

“Starring on Season 11 of NBC’s hit show “The Biggest Loser,” Oklahoma City police officers Dan and Don Evans, 55, will have the honor of giving the command of “Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!” to the starting field for the opening race of the Firestone Twin 275s. For the first time in IndyCar Series history, Texas Motor Speedway will have the honor of hosting two races in the same night as well as a “halftime” between the twin 114-lap/275-kilometer events.”

So this weekend, Gossage will offer race fans not one but two Indy races on the same night. This is another great example of how NASCAR is able to adapt and adjust and offer fans new experiences and new excitement.

Here is the biggest proof yet that Indy racing is dying and NASCAR is only getting better:

http://www.independentmail.com/news/2011/jun/02/move-nascar-would-make-patricks-sponsor-very-happy/

Danica Patrick will join NASCAR full-time. I don’t know that. But I’m predicting it. Here is why:

“Yeah, the Indy 500 is still the Indy 500, but even what was once considered the greatest and grandest of motorsports events has lost its luster. Its TV ratings last year were the worst in history (and just 4.3 on Sunday), and not even the hype of the 100th anniversary of the race provided much of a boost.”

Danica knows that the future of racing is in NASCAR. And that’s why she’ll be there full-time. The question is not if, but when.

This past weekend the Indy series went up against NASCAR:

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/05/100_years_of_speed_at_indianap.html

Who do you think won? The numbers aren’t in for this year yet. But we can look at last year’s numbers to see if Indy 500 is America’s favorite race:

“American viewers don’t seem to think so. Only 5,793,000 watched the 2010 Indy 500, compared to 6,547,000 for NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 later that day, according to SportsBusiness Daily.”

This shouldn’t surprise anyone. Thanks to the vision of Bill France years ago, NASCAR has been the most fan-friendly racing sport around. And by racing stock cars rather than grand prix cars, NASCAR ensured that it would be able to connect with the average American. And as far as I can tell, it’s just the beginning of greater things to come!

This week I’m in Charlotte to catch the NASCAR races this weekend. Guess what else is in Charlotte? The NASCAR Hall of Fame:

http://www.nascarhall.com/contact

Here is the great thing about this Hall of Fame:

“The NASCAR Hall of Fame wasn’t only built to honor the sport’s history, its moments and its best drivers… it was built as a tribute to its passionate fans and offer a full-throttle experience for newcomers.”

This is the ultimate museum for fans:

“The Hall is fueled with more than 50 interactive experiences like tire-changing stations, realistic race simulators, a broadcast booth and even a Kids Zone where children can be wide open. We guarantee to get your adrenaline racing. And after you work up an appetite, grab a bite to eat at the Pit Stop Café or a souvenir to help remember it all at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop. You’ll find it all at the Hall.”

So the next time you’re in Charlotte, check out the NASCAR Hall of Fame!

Here is yet another reason why NASCAR history is so fascinating:

http://www.cio.com/article/17142/A_Brief_History_of_Nascar_From_Moonshine_Runners_to_Dale_Earnhardt_Jr.

Simply put, no other sport has produced so many spectacular moments in so short a period of time:

“On the way to becoming America’s biggest spectator sport, Nascar has seen more than its share of dramatic races and unforgettable finishes and faces. Lee Petty was declared the winner of the first-ever Daytona 500 in 1959, 61 hours after the race finished. (Big Bill France spent the time examining news footage of the race; it was that close.) Seventeen years later, Lee’s son Richard duked it out on the track against David Pearson. The two drivers crashed just before the finish line, and Pearson won the race by sputtering to the checkered flag. Richard Petty came back to win Daytona three years later. ”

What other sport offers this? Where else can you see close finishes every week? Only at NASCAR!

Today our series continues on the amazing history of NASCAR:

http://www.nascar.com/news/features/history/

Within a few short decades of its creation, NASCAR had revolutionized motor sports:

“In 1976, NASCAR’s premier division took the lead in worldwide motorsports attendance for the first time with more than 1.4 million spectators making their way to events, according to figures from the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. That lead never has been relinquished. Television exposure grew as well. The 1979 Daytona 500 became the first 500-mile race in history to be telecast live in its entirety. In 1981, NASCAR moved it’s annual awards ceremony to New York City from Daytona Beach for the first time. By the mid 1980s, Fortune 500 companies not only were involved in sponsoring NASCAR, but individual races and teams as well.”

NASCAR is one of the most succesfully marketed sports in history. Early on, it learned the power of television and sponsorships. This helped make it the greatest sport in the world. All of us can learn important marketing lessons by studying NASCAR’s example.

Today we continue our series on the history of NASCAR:

http://www.decadesofracing.net/TheBeginning.htm

Today we focus on a momentous decision that changed racing forever. After World War II, Bill France started NASCAR and began racing. But he soon had a profound insight about his young sport:

“After the war was over the big automakers had to switch production from Tanks and Jeeps back to their makes of cars. This got France to thinking that the fans would want to purchase cars when they see them winning at the races and he knew that productions were going to be slow for a while. He decided that NASCAR would run pre ’40s Fords and Chevrolets plus a handful of new Buick’s were allowed. The 1948 NASCAR schedule covered 52 dirt-track races for modified’s and Red Byron was the national champion that year.”

And so NASCAR was destined from the beginning to surpass Grand Prix racing because it knew people wanted to watch the kinds of cars that they drive. That was a great insight from a great leader.

For the next few days, we’re going to talk about one of the greatest stories in sports history–the story of NASCAR:

http://www.decadesofracing.net/TheBeginning.htm

How did it all get started? Before NASCAR, automobile speed trials had been conducted at Daytona since 1902:

“In the spring of 1935 Sir Malcolm Campbell was taking his Bluebird rocket car to Daytona Beach in hopes of running at 300 miles per hour for yet another land-speed-record. Along with this and the weather and the smaller hospitable and more affordable area maybe this is the reason behind the Frances staying in Daytona Beach. Campbell never did get his record of 300 mph at Daytona, instead his best he could do was 276.82mph and on March 7, 1935 Campbell announced that he was moving the speed trials to Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. It was the shifting winds and changing tides that made Campbell realize that he would not reach his goal of 300mph if he kept working out of Daytona Beach. Campbell did beat the 300mph speed at Bonneville in late 1935.”

But after Campbell left, Bill France soon arrived and the NASCAR era was born.