Bill McAnally Racing Shows Speed in Deegan’s Return
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By NAPA
Daison Pursley and the
link hidden, please login to view No. 9 team officially kicked off the 2026 High Limit Racing season over the past two weeks, competing in six races across Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Central Arizona Raceway. Following an offseason focused on building chemistry and speed, the Kasey Kahne Racing team entered the year with momentum and immediately showed promise against a strong field of competitors.
The High Limit season opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway marked the first points-paying events of the year, and the NAPA No. 9 ran consistently inside the top 10 throughout the three-night weekend.
On Thursday, Pursley qualified eighth in Flight A and advanced to a 12th-place finish in the feature after starting 15th. Friday brought one of the team’s strongest performances of the weekend, as Pursley qualified third, ran up front in the heat race, and drove from ninth to sixth in the A-Main.
The weekend concluded Saturday with another solid showing as the NAPA No. 9 qualified third once again and advanced from 13th to 10th in the feature. The consistent results to open the season positioned the team well in the early championship standings and reinforced the speed shown throughout the offseason.
The team carried that momentum into Central Arizona Raceway for the Cactus Classic, where Pursley delivered a standout performance on Thursday night. After qualifying 10th in a stout, 31-car field, Pursley advanced through his heat race and charged from 10th to a third-place finish in the A-Main, earning the first ever podium for the NAPA No. 9 team.
Friday and Saturday presented challenges, as the team continued to show speed but was ultimately sidelined by incidents in both feature events, resulting in a pair of DNFs. Despite the setbacks, the pace of the NAPA No. 9 remained evident throughout the weekend.
The NAPA No. 9 team now turns its focus to the next event at Vado Speedway Park in New Mexico on Tuesday as the 2026 High Limit Racing season continues.
Start / Finish:
Thursday, March 12, Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 15 / 12
Friday, March 13, Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 9 / 6
Saturday, March 14, Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 13 / 10
Thursday, March 19, Central Arizona Raceway: 10 / 3
Friday, March 20, Central Arizona Raceway: DNF
Saturday, March 21, Central Arizona Raceway: DNF
Points Standing / Total: 11th / 281 pts. (-125)
Next Race: Tuesday, March 24, Vado Speedway Park, Vado, NM
How to Watch or Listen:
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By NAPA
Christian Eckes’ “Revenge Tour” kicked off in exhilarating fashion as he scored a third-place finish in his reunion with MHR. The driver of the No. 91 Columbia Bank Chevrolet Silverado RST was a fixture near the front of the field in Friday night’s season opener at Daytona International Speedway and made a staggering 271 green flag passes throughout the night. Eckes collected 12 stage points, and 46 overall, which has him initially positioned second in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks Series standings.
Eckes and the Columbia Bank team narrowly missed the second round of qualifying on Friday afternoon and lined up 11th for the green flag. From the outset, Eckes made himself one of the most active drivers in the field, making moves and slicing in traffic to work his way forward. He cracked the top-10 in the opening five laps before making a furious charge to the front on lap 19. A massive swell of momentum on the bottom lane catapulted him from outside the top-15 to run third at the end of Stage 1 on lap 20.
The strategy by crew chief Dave Elenz to keep Eckes’ tank packed full of fuel was on display beginning with the first pit cycle. After taking left side tires and fuel, Elenz brough Eckes back to pit road to top-off with gas before the restart. Despite restarting 31st on lap 28, Eckes gave the fans in attendance full value for their ticket by cutting through the field to run seventh at the end of Stage 2 on lap 40.
Eckes pitted again for fuel, and another top-off prior to the restart under the second stage caution. He efficiently cut from 20th on the lap 46 to challenge for the lead by lap 58 when the yellow flag flew. Just outside the fuel window to make the finish, Eckes pitted for fuel only, and again for four tires under a caution at lap 80. After restarting 15th on lap 85, Eckes created a mammoth surge of momentum to challenge for the lead on lap 93. A late caution set up a green-white-checkered finish as he took the green from fifth position. Eckes’ precision moves helped him challenge for the lead of the final lap but crossed the line third in a four-wide finish at the checkered flag.
“It was fun, for sure,” Eckes remarked after the podium result. “I thought all night our truck was really solid and was able to do a lot of things. Just thanks to Columbia Bank,
link hidden, please login to view, Gates Hydraulics, Chevrolet, everybody involved. We weren’t very good [Friday] but the guys went to work and got it better…I’d have to go back and look at [the finish]. It’s kind of hard with no help out back. The situation that unfolded, we started fifth or sixth, it’s just hard to have a chance at it. Obviously, we want to win, but we’ll keep moving on.” Start / Finish: 11 / 3
Points Standing / Total: 2nd / 46 pts. (-19)
Next Race: Saturday, February 21st, EchoPark Speedway
How to Watch or Listen: 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1 or SiriusXM
NAPA:
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By Counterman
Transtar Aftermarket Solutions announced that its
link hidden, please login to view are available for passenger cars, light trucks and commercial vehicles. Each
link hidden, please login to view is built to meet or exceed OEM standards, delivering dependable performance, durability and value, the company said. Why Transtar Reman Transmissions?
Thoroughly inspected and precision reconditioned for smooth operation Dyno- and road-tested to ensure reliable performance Environmentally responsible remanufacturing process Significant cost savings compared to new units Backed by comprehensive warranty coverage The post
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By NAPA
The new era of Kasey Kahne Racing officially began last week as Daison Pursley made his debut behind the wheel of the
link hidden, please login to view No. 9 at Volusia Speedway Park during the prestigious DIRTcar Nationals with the World of Outlaws. After an offseason dedicated to building KKR’s program around Pursley, the event marked the first opportunity for the newly assembled team to compete together. Team owner Kasey Kahne remains heavily involved in the pits alongside newly appointed crew chief Jarrett Martin, who stepped into the leadership role late last season. Returning for his third year with the organization, Tayte Williamson continues to serve as car chief and engine specialist, while Ryan Boyd joined the team as tire specialist following prior success working with Pursley.
The stacked field at Volusia featured 44 of the top sprint car drivers in the country, providing an early-season test for the NAPA team.
On Wednesday, Pursley qualified 11th in Group A among 22 in the group, placing the NAPA No. 9 sixth on the grid for the heat race. He maintained position to finish sixth, transferring to the Last Chance Showdown.
A strong run in the B-Main resulted in a fourth-place finish, locking Pursley into the 25-lap feature event with a 24th-place starting position.
The NAPA team delivered a fast race car. Pursley quickly charged through the field, advancing to 11th just 12 laps into the race before an ignition box failure forced him into the work area. The crew made rapid repairs and returned him to competition at the tail of the field.
Undeterred, Pursley again showcased impressive speed, climbing back through traffic to finish 13th — a great recovery that highlighted the team’s potential in its first outing together.
Thursday’s program was canceled due to inclement weather.
On Friday, Pursley timed in 15th in Group B, lining up eighth in the third heat race. He advanced two positions to finish sixth, narrowly missing an automatic transfer to the feature by one spot.
Starting fourth in the B-Main, the team elected to make adjustments to gather additional data on the new combination. The changes ultimately made the car more difficult to maneuver, resulting in a seventh-place finish and ending the night short of the feature event.
Armed with valuable notes from the previous nights, the NAPA No. 9 team responded on Saturday with speed in qualifying, posting the fifth-fastest lap in Group B out of 20 cars in that flight.
A fourth-place finish in the heat race secured a direct transfer into the feature, where Pursley started 14th. He maintained a strong pace throughout the event and advanced one position to bring the NAPA No. 9 home in 13th at the checkered flag.
Despite the challenges that come with launching the new program, the weekend proved productive for the Kasey Kahne Racing squad. The team showed consistent speed, gained valuable data, and continued building chemistry with each night on track.
With momentum already forming, the focus continues toward the High Limit Racing season opener, scheduled for March 12–14 at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. KKR plans to compete in additional World of Outlaws events in the coming weeks to further strengthen the program ahead of the High Limit championship campaign.
Start / Finish:
Wednesday, Feb. 4: 24 / 13
Friday, Feb. 6: 4 / 7 (B-Main)
Saturday, Feb. 7: 14 / 13
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By Counterman
The VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies announced Bill Nolan’s induction into the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Hall of Fame. Nolan serves as president and CEO of PBS Truck Parts and chairman of the board at
link hidden, please login to view. He received the honor on Jan. 20 during the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week General Session in Grapevine, Texas. From Family Business to Industry Leader at VIPAR
The company began in 1952 as the Power Brake and Spring Company. Nolan’s family acquired the business in 1973. Nolan joined immediately, working part time in labor, delivery and counter sales roles.
He became financial controller in 1984. He assumed the role of president in 1989, succeeding his father. Under his leadership, the company became PBS Truck Parts. The business modernized operations and expanded to seven locations in Indiana and Michigan. It also strengthened its reputation as a family-owned distributor.
VIPAR Heavy Duty Growth and Network Expansion
Nolan has served on the
link hidden, please login to view Board of Directors since 1994. He has held the chairman role since 2011. During his tenure, VIPAR Heavy Duty experienced significant growth and transformation. The organization acquired Power Heavy Duty. It launched the Global Parts Network. It also developed a digital ecosystem to support members. The network expanded to more than 1,000 locations. It extended its footprint into Central and South America.
Remarks at HDAW General Session
Nolan opened his remarks by thanking his wife, daughters and sons-in-law. He also recognized peers and mentors who supported his career.
“I would like to thank my family and friends at VIPAR. I’ve benefited from the cohesive teamwork that has made VIPAR Heavy Duty a success over the years,” he said, mentioning David Rex, Elmer Bower, Harvey Peterson, Steve Crowley, and current VIPAR Heavy Duty President and CEO Chris Baer. “VIPAR is the backstop that helped keep our company independent. It has kept us in the game, and made us more competitive. The future looks bright.”
“Bill’s leadership has been instrumental not only to PBS Truck Parts, but to the entire VIPAR Heavy Duty network,” said Baer. “His deep industry knowledge, unwavering integrity and passion for supporting independent distributors have helped strengthen and elevate the heavy-duty aftermarket. Bill embodies the values of our organization, and his induction into the Hall of Fame is a well deserved recognition of his decades of dedication and impact to the industry.”
A Message for the Next Generation
Nolan credited the PBS Truck Parts staff for meeting every challenge. He closed with remarks aimed at future industry leaders.
“For all of you young people, it’s up to you. It’s up to you to keep networking with your peers, to develop long-lasting relationships, to become leaders of your organizations. Give it all you’ve got. The time will pass in the blink of an eye, but the friendships will last a lifetime. To distributors, keep getting better. Work on your succession plans. Do everything you can to remain independent. After all, we are the foundation of the aftermarket.”
About the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Hall of Fame
The Heavy Duty Aftermarket Hall of Fame honors leaders who advanced the heavy-duty aftermarket industry. The annual ceremony takes place during the HDAW Conference. The Auto Care Association, CVSN and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers own and operate the event.
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