Rookie Nathan Russell Ready For Motor Mile

Pennsylvania Native Seeking First Rev-Oil Pro Cup Series Triumph

By Adam Fenwick – adam@carsprocup.com - Rev-Oil Pro Cup Series Public Relations Director

RADFORD, Va. – It has been a bit of an up and down season for Rev-Oil Pro Cup Series Rookie of the Year contender Nathan Russell.

The year started off on a high note when the 21-year-old from Curwensville, Pa., scored a second-place finish at South Carolina’s Anderson Motor Speedway. Since then, things haven’t exactly gone as planned.

“We started out real well at the beginning of the season,” Russell said. “Then we kind of just fought with engine problems until it finally gave out and blew up in practice at Orange County (on Sept. 1).”

Russell managed to start the race at Orange County Speedway, but he had to park after two laps. On the plus side, his No. 26 Chevrolet now has a freshly rebuilt engine in it that he hopes will pay dividends when the series heads to Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va., for the Heritage Truck Centers 250 this Saturday.

“Now the motor is completely rebuilt and updated so we should be ready to go for the Championship Series,” Russell said.

Russell enters the Rev-Oil Pro Cup Series Championship Series in fourth place and leading the Rookie of the Year standings. He hopes a good run this Saturday will help him in his pursuit of both honors.

“I just have to run competitive and keep my head up and never give up,” Russell said plainly.

Joining Russell at Motor Mile this weekend will be Rev-Oil Pro Cup Series Championship Series point-leader J.P. Morgan, a winner of six races so far this season. Also on the entry list are June’s Motor Mile winner Lucas Ransone, Hickory Motor Speedway winner Tyler Young, Ace Speedway winner Allen Purkhiser and rookie Gus Dean.

One special name will also be racing with the Rev-Oil Pro Cup Series at Motor Mile Speedway. Jeb Burton, son of 2002 Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton, will be making his series debut in the No. 33 Wes Gonder Racing Chevrolet this Saturday.

Others on the entry list include J.J. Pack, who will be making his first start with the series since 2007, as well as Ryan Heavner, Caleb Holman, Stacy Puryear, Cody McMahan and Rusty Skewes, among others.

Gates for Saturday’s Heritage Truck Centers open at 5 p.m. with qualifying scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m. An on-track driver autograph session is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. The Heritage Truck Centers 250, featuring 250 laps of intense racing action, will go green at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for Saturday’s event can be purchased online for $12 through Thursday by visiting www.revoilprocup.com. Tickets can be purchased for $15 at the track on the day of the event. Kids under the age of 12 are free.

For more information, please contact Public Relations Director Adam Fenwick at adam@carsprocup.com or 828-329-6050.