Ricky Benton Racing Looking To Make MENCS Debut At Daytona With David Gilliland

by January 17, 2018 0 comments

CERRO GORDO, N.C. – Ricky Benton Racing (RBR) Enterprises announced today that the team will be jumping to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) for the season-opening Daytona 500 in February. David Gilliland has rejoined the team to pilot the No. 92 Black’s Tire and Auto Service/Carquest Auto Parts/Ford Fusion.

RBR has spent the past eight seasons competing in 79 races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) on a part-time basis. Gilliland drove for the team for seven races in 2015. Plans for the RBR’s 2018 NCWTS schedule have not been finalized.

Mike Hester will serve as crew chief in both series. The team will continue its long-running relationship with Roush Yates Engines to provide power plants for their Fords.

“After talking with our partners, we felt the time was right to make a move into the Cup Series,” said team owner Ricky Benton. “Getting David (Gilliland) back on board was also key. Having a veteran driver with his experience and success on restrictor-plate tracks – with whom Hester has familiarity – gives us a leg up as we try to make the race.

“I am thankful for Roush Yates, Carquest, Highland Construction and the entire Black’s Tire family (Benton owns Black’s Tire, which operates four BTS Tire & Wheel Distributors Wholesale Centers, servicing more than 200 BTS partner program dealers, Carolina Retreads and 46 retail/commercial locations in the Carolinas) for going racing with us.”

Based in Cerro Gordo, N.C. (pop. 199), RBR is bringing with it a history of success in stock car racing to the Daytona 500. At the 2.5-mile “World Center of Racing,” RBR has two third-place and two sixth-place finishes in six starts in the NCWTS. Prior to joining the truck series, RBR competed extensively in late models and other series, winning the 1998 NASCAR Winston Racing Series Atlantic Seaboard championship as well as the 2002 USAR Hooters ProCup title.

“Ricky is a great guy and a real racer,” said Gilliland. “I really appreciate the faith he has put in me to drive his first MENCS attempt. Having worked with (crew chief) Mike (Hester) before, I know he has done everything needed to give us a competitive car to go out and qualify and race well at Daytona.

“I think we have a chance to go out and surprise some people.”

About Black’s Tire and Auto Service

Black’s Tire and Auto Service, was formed as Black’s Service Station by W. Crowell Black in Whiteville, NC in 1929. Now, with 46 locations in both North and South Carolina, Black’s remains a locally family owned/operated tire sales and service and vehicle repair business. Addition to the retail and commercial locations, Black’s operates four warehouse/distribution centers, a commercial sales division operating out of those four locations and a tire-retreading business. The Black’s Tire family includes more than 700 highly skilled service-minded team members and ASE certified technicians.

To learn more about Black’s Tire or to find a location, visit www.blackstire.com.

About Carquest

Carquest is an American automotive parts distribution network owned and operated by Advance Auto Parts via independent retailers associated with the network. Advance operates over 5,200 stores, more than 100 Worldpac branches and serves approximately 1,300 independently owned Carquest branded stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. Advance employs approximately 74,000 team members.

To learn more, visit www.carquest.com

Partnerships Available

For more information or to learn how you can partner with RBR Enterprises in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series or the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2018, contact Rick Benton II at 910.840.6857 or by email at ricky@blackstire.com.

Source: Ricky Benton Racing

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