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● Talladega Roar: AM Racing is set to welcome back Lake Oswego, Oregon native Kole Raz for Saturday morning’s ARCA Menards Series event — the General Tire 200 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
The 2.66-mile track will host the third of 20 scheduled races on the 2025 ARCA Menards Series calendar, a key development platform for the top three NASCAR divisions.
This weekend’s race will mark Raz’s sixth start with the Statesville, N.C.-based organization. He last competed for AM Racing in the ARCA Menards Series East race last weekend at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway, where he secured a top-10 finish in the Rockingham ARCA 150.
Raz has opened the 2025 season on a strong note, delivering consecutive top-six finishes in national ARCA competition at Daytona International Speedway and Phoenix, followed by a runner-up finish in the East Series opener at Five Flags Speedway last month.
● About Kole: Kole Raz is a 21-year-old first-generation Lake Oswego, Oregon, driver. He enters the ARCA Menards Series platform after competing in various Super Late Model divisions along the West Coast.
Raz is a 22-time Super Late Model winner, with victories last season, including the 2024 Chilly Willy 150 winner, the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Salted Metals 150, and the Star Nursery Classic at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Last year, Raz also scored his first ARCA Menards Series West victory in a thrilling finish at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County (Calif.) Raceway.
In addition to his many Late Model wins, Raz is a two-time NASCAR Arizona state champion.
● He’s Back Too!: To help guide Kole Raz and the AM Racing team toward victory at Talladega, veteran crew chief Ryan “Pickle” London will return to call the shots atop the pit box for the No. 76 Ford Mustang.
A seasoned NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series crew chief, London rejoined AM Racing in early 2023 after previously serving as truck chief during the team’s 2020 Truck Series campaign.
London brings a wealth of ARCA Menards Series experience, having led drivers such as Tom Hessert and Frank Kimmel to pole positions and guiding Grant Enfinger to victories at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway and the DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds in 2014.
Most recently, he served as crew chief for West Virginia native Christian Rose in 2023 and 2024. Under London’s leadership, Rose collected five top-five and 23 top-10 finishes in 40 ARCA starts, while finishing third and fifth in the overall ARCA Menards Series standings over the past two seasons.
Alongside his two ARCA victories, London has amassed numerous top-five and top-10 finishes in the series, further cementing his reputation as a trusted and accomplished leader atop the box.
● Partner Support: Cyclum NextGen Travel Centers will serve as the primary marketing partner on Raz’s No. 76 Ford Mustang in Saturday’s General Tire 200.
Founded in 2019, Cyclum NextGen Travel Centers embarked on a mission to revolutionize the trucking industry.
Cyclum NextGen Travel Centers is building a next-generation network of 400 truck stops across the US, offering a comprehensive suite of transitional and traditional fueling options alongside all available renewable fuels, such as hydrogen and EV charging.
● Cyclum Fast Fact: Cyclum NextGen Travel Centers will offer a wide range of fuel options to meet the evolving needs of today’s travelers — including Traditional, Transitional and Renewable fuels — making them a one-stop destination for all types of vehicles, drivers and commercial fleets on the road.
Cyclum NextGen Travel Centers are 100% off-grid — meaning their locations remain fully operational and capable of fueling even during power outages, ensuring travelers’ reliability regardless of the conditions.
● Kole Raz ARCA Talladega Superspeedway Stats: Saturday morning’s General Tire 200 will mark Kole Raz’s first career start at Talladega Superspeedway in ARCA Menards Series competition.
The iconic 2.66-mile oval, located in the heart of Alabama’s National Forest, presents another new challenge for the Oregon native as he continues his early-season momentum, despite competing at new venues.
● Kole Raz Career ARCA National Series Stats: Saturday’s 76-lap race at Talladega will mark Raz’s third career ARCA Menards Series start.
In his previous two starts, he delivered two sixth-place finishes at Daytona International Speedway and, most recently, at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway.
So far in 2025, the Oregon native has already added new tracks to his resume, including Daytona International Speedway, Five Flags Speedway and Rockingham Speedway.
Talladega will be Raz’s fourth unfamiliar venue this season as he continues to develop his versatility across ARCA platforms.
In 12 career ARCA platform starts, Raz has delivered one win, four top-five and 11 top-10 finishes.
● All About Them Points: Entering Talladega, Kole Raz sits third in the ARCA Menards Series championship standings with 76 points.
He trails second-place Lavar Scott by four points and is only 15 markers behind current points leader Brenden Queen, with 18 races remaining in the 2025 season.
On the owner side, AM Racing also holds third place in the ARCA Menards Series owner standings following a strong showing at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway.
● AM Minute: It’s a busy weekend for AM Racing, with both their ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series teams in action.
At Talladega, Harrison Burton will continue his campaign in the No. 25 DEX Imaging Ford Mustang, aiming for his fifth top-10 finish of the 2025 Xfinity Series season.
Burton is set to make his fifth Xfinity Series debut at Talladega Superspeedway, taking the green flag shortly after the conclusion of the General Tire 200.
● Thanks For Your Support: With 10 percent of the 2025 ARCA Menards Series season complete, AM Racing and Kole Raz would like to thank their associate marketing partners for their support: AIRBOX Air Purifier, Auto Bank RV Sales & Service, Blue Wolf, Eagle Rentals, Flying Circle, Phillips 66 Lubricants, Racing Radios and WIX Filters.
● Follow on Social Media: For more on AM Racing, please visit AMRacingteam.com, like their Facebook page (AM Racing), or follow them on Instagram and X | Twitter @AMRacingNASCAR.
For more on Kole Raz like him on Facebook (Kole Raz Racing) and follow him on Instagram (@koleraz) and X | Twitter (@koleraz27). |
