NASCAR Driver Secured Career-Best Fifth Place Finish During Last Daytona Race
FLAGLER BEACH, Fla. (February 15, 2016) – It has been a busy offseason for NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) driver Ray Black Jr., but the Flagler Beach, Fla. local is ready to get back on track with another breakout finish at Daytona International Speedway. Black, who will be piloting the No. 07 ScubaLife.com Chevrolet Camaro for SS Green Light Racing, grabbed the attention of the racing industry with a fifth place finish at Daytona last year. He now looks to back that finish up with a trip to Victory Lane in the Powershares QQQ 300.
“I’m tired of the offseason and ready to get back to racing!” said Black. “This year we are going to be on a much bigger stage being in the XFINITY Series, so the team and I really want to back up our success from last year’s race at Daytona. It would be a huge accomplishment to secure a finish like that in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, and it would provide the team with a lot of traction and momentum right from the start of the season. I know we can repeat it with hard work and dedication all weekend long.”
Last year during his debut season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Black expertly avoided late-race cautions and made a daring move on the final lap to grab a fifth place finish at Daytona International Speedway. With that finish and a whole year’s worth of experience in NASCAR, Black is more confident than ever in his superspeedway racing abilities, even with the step up to the XFINITY Series.
“I was able to learn a lot of patience during last year’s race,” he explained. “You can’t be too greedy too early in these types of races or your day will be over before the race even starts heating up. We were able to get into some good spots last year, so that’s something we will look to do this time around. It’s definitely easier to come into such a challenging race like this having competed at a couple superspeedways last year. We can take what we learned during those races and really apply it to our efforts this time around. Of course, you have to have a little luck at these races too!”
“I do expect some changes from last year,” Black continued. “Being in a car and not a truck, the drafting will be a little different with tighter packs out on the track. We’re going to have to see how the car does out there, how it sucks up to other cars, and then make a game plan from there. I’d like to run towards the front. Most wrecks seem to happen around 11th place, so I’d really like to get in front of that if we can.”
While most drivers are just excited to kick off the season with the big race at Daytona, the first race of the year has a little more meaning to Black. The 24-year-old driver calls Flagler Beach, Fla. home and will have the support of many friends, family and sponsor guests at the race track.
“It’s always so special to race at somewhere like Daytona because it’s a home race for me,” stated Black. “I’ll have my dad, sister, her husband and my nephew out at the track along with a bunch of my friends and guests of ScubaLife. It’s going to be a fun time. We will all gather at the Daytona Ale House after the race with the fans like we did last year and hopefully be celebrating another great finish!”
Black’s 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series campaign kicks off on Saturday, February 20 at 3:30pm EST in the Powershares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway. FOX Sports 1 will be broadcasting the big event and MRN Radio will provide live radio coverage.
Fans are invited to join Black on race day at the Daytona Ale House across from Daytona International Speedway from 1:15-2:00 p.m. for an autograph signing and a chance to get up close and personal with his show car. They can also stop by the Ale House after the race for a second chance to meet Black and grab a picture with him.
Additionally, fans both at the track and across the country can find all the action associated with Black’s return to Daytona by following him and his sponsor, ScubaLife, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @TeamScubaRacing and @RayBlackJr.
