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Mix
of Newer Faces in Hopes of Adding to Super Cup Competition in 2015
Skyland,
North Carolina (April 14, 2015) – The bulk of veterans have
already committed to returning for another season, continuing a
sturdy foundation in the Super Cup Stock Car Series.
As an added bonus, fans will see a fresh look with several
drivers announcing their intentions to join in on the fun starting
with the upcoming season opener at CNB Bank Raceway Park in
Clearfield, Pennsylvania.
Hometown driver Dan
Bainey comes in with the goal of keeping up with the front runners
and maybe putting a trophy on the shelf.
Debuting at the end of last season with a strong fourth place
finish gives him high hopes going into 2015.
"It helps with
my confidence as a driver, since for 15 years I have always been the
one wrenching on the cars,” said Bainey.
Most
of those years were spent as crew chief for his older brother Tim
Bainey Jr. during his racing endeavors.
Dan also spent a small amount of time behind the wheel at CNB
several years ago in a Semi-Late Model and finished second in points
in a division called the “Detroit Irons” in a 1977 Chrysler
Cordoba. After having a
blast in the past and when everything went well getting back in the
seat, Dan is ready for more.
“It is good,
hard, fun racing,” remarked Bainey.
“Everybody in the series has a good attitude.”
Over the winter the
team freshened their motor and will have their No. 00 DelGrosso
Foods / Rock and Ruthless Tattoo Parlor Ford ready to go for the
season as well as perhaps fielding a second car for selected races.
Mike Forbes had
hoped to compete at the end of 2014, but will instead make his first
foray into the series in a few short weeks.
“I’m all ready
to go and signed up,” said Forbes.
The driver from
Wysox, Pennsylvania up near the New York border returns to
competition with past experience in Late Models at the former Tioga
Motorsports Park as well as starts in dirt cars at Dunn Hill
Speedway. He purchased
an unfinished 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Cup car and assembled the 
motor,
suspension, and other parts all out of the machine shop he owns.
“Hopefully finish
the race would be the first step,” replied Forbes about his
realistic goals going into his first career Super Cup start.
Another Keystone
State competitor entering the Super Cup ranks will be Mars,
Pennsylvania racer Al Minjock. The
multi-time race winning Street Stock and Charger owner and driver at
Jennerstown and Motordrome Speedways will be adding a full-bodied
stock car to the fleet for some races in 2015.
“I was helping
with some Pro Cup guys for a number of years, and my wife and I ran
a driving experience at Motordrome and Jennerstown for six years,”
Minjock explained about what factored into joining the series.
“I also have perimeter car experience since it is what we
used for the driving experience.”
Minjock Racing,
which was formed in 1952 by Al’s dad and uncles, would like to
draw on its long heritage; however, Al realizes that they most
likely will not be setting the world on fire from the get go when he
brings his Seagrave Fire Apparatus / J. Marcoz Emergency Vehicle
sponsored car to the track for the first time.
“It’s a long
race compared to what we are used to,” said Minjock.
“We want to finish and be competitive.
To be mid-pack is definitely a goal.
There are a lot of people helping us to get it done.”
Josh Ebbert is not
entirely new to the series, originally intending to run the full
schedule in 2014 with the Don Gnat Racing team.
Unfortunately, there were many ups and downs of the
mechanical kind that prevented them from making the long trip from
Indiana on a few occasions. However,
they will be giving it another try and Ebbert feels like they will
be ready for 2015.
“The
biggest thing I was able to learn was that we have to prepare better
in the garage,” admitted Ebbert with a laugh.
“I learned a lot about the car so I think my comfort level
is a lot better. My goal
is to have top five runs all year.
Qualifying is going to be important.”
2014 did include
some strong showings; including a top five qualifying run last July
at Jennerstown Speedway before an issue with the bell housing
sidelined them on lap one. Ebbert
also had his best finish of eighth at CNB in June.
Ebbert previously
raced and helped out with Street Stocks over a 15 year period,
setting fast times and winning heat races at his local tracks of
Mount Lawn and Anderson Speedway.
He drove for his current car owner in the CRA Street Stock
Series in 2008. Gnat moved to the Super Cup Stock Car Series in 2012
and won races with veteran driver Jim Crabtree Jr., and that
experience has aided Ebbert along the way.
“Don has given me
the opportunity and I’m learning as I go,” said Ebbert.
“I’ve gotten more help from him on how these events work.
The best thing about it is racing with good people.
I just enjoy being involved.”
News, photos,
previews, and more will continue to surface leading up to the first
race of the season and as it all becomes available stay tuned to the
official web site www.supercupstockcarseries.com,
Facebook at www.facebook.com/SCSCSRacing,
and Twitter @SCSCSRacing to see all of the latest information.
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