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Empire Racing Group Ready to Move On from Eldora Disappointment

Truck #43 #82

ROSSBURG, OHIO – The amount of time and effort that goes into preparing for a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race is undeniable. For Empire Racing Group, not making the feature event at Eldora Speedway on Wednesday night left them disappointed, but they understand that’s just racing.With two trucks fielded by the Empire Racing Group/Richard Petty Motorsports Development Team, the team went to the Aspen Dental Eldora Derby at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio with high hopes of placing both trucks into the race. After a tough Tuesday evening in practice sessions, they knew their trucks would not be pretty for Wednesday’s event, but they would still be fast. Their long hours of putting blood, sweat and tears into getting each truck ready for the event had to pay off somehow.The No. 82 NESCO Chevrolet driven by Sean Corr initially qualified in the 35th position on Wednesday after suffering damage on Tuesday night. Corr wasn’t going to give up without a fight. Starting last in the final qualifying race, Corr was able to race up to the sixth position. Unable to move on to the feature race from there, he knew there was still work to be done. Starting fifth in the Last Chance Qualifier race, Corr rallied to the second position, ready to transfer to the feature race. It wasn’t until he spun halfway through his battle and the caution did not come out, that he was relegated to the ninth position. The No. 43 Petty’s Garage/Tilted Kilt Ford F-150 driven by Korbin Forrister unfortunately suffered a similar fate by the end of the day. Qualifying began what looked to be a hopeful evening at the half-mile dirt track, when Forrister qualified in the 17th position. Forrister started fourth in the third qualifying race, but finished the race in the seventh position. In the Last Chance Qualifier race, Forrister rallied from seventh to fifth, needing just a few more spots to lock him into the event. While both trucks showed the speed necessary to make it into the feature event, unfortunate circumstances and a lack of points due to not running full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series barred them from making the event.

 

Neither driver, nor the team, is prepared to give up. Wednesday night proved to be a struggle, but that’s what racing is all about. Stay tuned for updates on where you’ll catch the Empire Racing Group hitting the track next!

 

Dylan Martin To Drive In His Second ARCA Start

 

 

 

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Moorseville, NC – Dylan Martin heads to Indianapolis. Dylan will be racing on the flat track of Lucas Oil Raceway (formerly known as IRP) in his Blackwater Integration/Empire Racing Group/Grumpy’s Inc Ford Mustang in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Sioux Chief PowerPEX® 200 presented by Jive. This will be Dylan’s second start in the ARCA series.  His first was at the Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville in April.  The caution flags didn’t fly to his advantage in that race and tires proved to be a key.  Dylan is anxious to improve on his finishing spot in Friday’s race at LOR.  Dylan has been racing in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Late Model Stock series at various tracks (Hickory Motor Speedway, Caraway Speedway, Greenville-Pickens Speedway) and has gained insight and experience with driving these heavier cars, unlike the Super Late Models he had been driving in Florida.  Dylan said, “I am excited to get back in the driver’s seat of the #48.  Our team has worked hard to get the car ready for Friday night’s race.  I have learned a lot these last few months and I hope I can show that on the racetrack Friday night and bring home a good finish for the team.” There will be an ARCA driver autograph session on Friday at 6:30pm at LOR.  Dylan is anxious to meet the fans, sign autographs and hand out his custom coloring books to the kids.  While driving is a priority for Dylan, so are his fans.  Dylan appreciates their support and knows that without them, the sport of racing wouldn’t exist.  So come out to LOR, meet Dylan and support ARCA racing. As this week of racing starts on Wednesday with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series hitting the dirt at Eldora Speedway where Empire Racing Group/Grumpy’s Inc fields 2 trucks, #82 driven by one of ERG’s owners, Sean Corr and in partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports the #43 truck will be piloted by Korbin Forrister, Dylan Martin finds himself crewing at a track he once raced at as a youngster in his USAC Quarter Midget. In the past we would have to set our VCRs to capture our favorite race when we couldn’t attend them, now we just program our DVRs from our smartphones anywhere. While things have certainly changed around us over the years, other things have remained constant. Dylan may not be racing his USAC quarter midget in the parking lot of IMS in Indianapolis, instead he will be racing in the ERG’s Ford Mustang in the ARCA race at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. Program your DVRs to capture the ARCA race Friday night on Fox Sports 1 at 9pm and don’t miss Dylan’s second ARCA race of the season.

Forrister to Focus on Consistency as He Takes on Eldora

Korbin Forrister

Korbin Forrister

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Korbin Forrister looks to use his dirt racing talents to drive the Empire Racing Group/Richard Petty Motorsports Development Team No. 43 Tilted Kilt/The Center for Advanced Rehab at Parkside Ford F-150 to victory in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Aspen Dental Eldora Derby at Eldora Speedway on Wednesday, July 20. Sliding on dirt tracks comes naturally to Forrister, an experienced dirt racer who began racing at age 15, racking up over 100 starts in Limited Late Model, Crate Late Model and Sportsman division races. Forrister has accumulated dozens of starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR XFINITY Series and ARCA Racing Series combined, as he continues to build his racing career through the ranks.In two previous starts at Eldora Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Forrister has two top-25 finishes and hopes to improve in his third start on the half-mile dirt oval located in Rossburg, Ohio. 

“Having a background in racing on dirt gives you a feel for the track and the fundamentals of dirt racing,” Forrister said. “I’ve raced the truck race at Eldora Speedway the past two years and now I can take what I’ve learned to put it all together for this year.” 

This year, Forrister hopes to maintain good track position and remain consistent over the race, “Last year we were hit-or-miss. We started well, the middle wasn’t great, but we finished decent. This year I want to be more consistent every lap and try to improve over the course of the race to get a good finish for the team.” 

Making his first start with Empire Racing Group and Grumpy’s Performance in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Forrister’s years of experience on dirt tracks will bring a unique advantage to the Richard Petty Motorsports Development team. Forrister added, “We put this deal together about one-and-a-half to two weeks ago and everyone at Empire Racing Group has been thrashing to get this truck put together. We’ve got a good piece to go get a good finish at Eldora. This is a really great group of guys and I’m really thankful to have the opportunity to be with them.”Wednesday night’s race will be only the second start of the 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season for the No. 43 truck, bringing a heightened level of excitement for the Empire Racing Group and Richard Petty Motorsports teams. The iconic No. 43 piloted by NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Richard Petty now extends its legacy into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, allowing young drivers to carry the famed number as they race alongside some of the biggest names in motorsports.With only a couple of weeks of preparation time for Wednesday’s race, Forrister thanks the sponsors who have come on board and the team for their hard work. “They’re what made this possible. I’m not racing a full season this year, so I’m fortunate for every race I can get the opportunity to be in.” 

The No. 43 Empire Racing Group/Richard Petty Motorsports Development Team Ford F-150 hits the track on Wednesday, July 20 at 9 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 and MRN.