LOUISVILLE – Crosley Brands Chairman & CEO Bo LeMastus is doing his best to get ahead of the curve, all 10 of them. The Louisville, Ky. businessman and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver tested Tuesday and Wednesday at the 2.495-mile, 10-turn Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) road course in preparation for this Sunday’s Chevrolet Silverado 250, the 17th stop on the NASCAR Truck Series tour. LeMastus is entered in the No. 54 Crosley Brands/DGR-Crosley Toyota Tundra.
But first, it was 50 laps or so in an X-Bow KTM car at CTMP, followed by another 50 rounds in a heavier, high-performance Chevy Camaro.
“The advantage will be the fact that, come Saturday when the Trucks go on the track in the first sessions, I won’t have to be out there hunting and pecking to get to know the course,” said LeMastus, whose been running the full NASCAR Truck circuit in 2018 for the DGR-Crosley team he co-owns with Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series veteran driver David Gilliland.
“The first thing I did was walk the course in the rain to familiarize myself with the layout and get my exercise in. Then I went out with an instructor in a rental car to show me how this place works. The gentleman I’m using is Dr. Matt DiStefano. He’s one of the guys who jump out of helicopters on the weekends at ski lodges to assist with injured people. Amazing guy…really knows his way around this place.
“It’s not all about speed; it’s about perfect timing, entry and exit. There’ll be no on-track after today (Wednesday) until the Trucks go out Saturday. But I’ll be here at 7 a.m. the next couple days to run my four miles for fitness; that doesn’t hurt.”
Not bad for a 56-year-old guy who also heads-up the busy Louisville-based Crosley Brands company.
“I always have my laptop with me. I’ll work from the clubhouse here Thursday and Friday. They have a beautiful clubhouse here where I can sit and work.”
As much as LeMastus loves to race, as the guy at the helm of the iconic Crosley brand, he knows he’s got to keep pressing ahead on the business side to help keep up with the racing side.
“It’s what I do all week. I gotta sell jukeboxes and radios to help make all these outside things go.”
And speaking of going, LeMastus will be headed overseas to Hungary next week to compete in the KTM X-Bow Rookies Challenge. KTM X-Bow cars make 245 horsepower with a 2.0 turbo Audi engine. The KTM cars, at 1,700 pounds, are much lighter than the 3,400-pound NASCAR Trucks, but a great starting point for LeMastus who will compete at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Clarington, Ontario for the first time this Sunday.
“I can’t wait to get out here with the Truck. These last few days have been all about learning. I’m doing everything possible to get ahead of the curve. The KTM cars are much lighter, but a great place to start for me. The Camaro, weight-wise, is the closest thing to a Truck as I can get for now. Each day builds off the one before. In the Truck, it’s all about getting it to set, and then getting it to turn…getting the drive on the rear wheels and keeping it off the nose. You wanna drive the Truck off the rear.
“I’m just here to learn. You don’t want to overdrive these Trucks; you’ll wear out your stuff. The biggest challenge for me is to slow down and learn how to use the horsepower to get the power to the ground. This is all about going to school for me. I come with the mindset that I know nothing. I’m here to learn, period.”
If LeMastus is learning how to slow down on the track to go faster, there is no slowing down off the track. In addition to racing in Hungary next week, LeMastus plans to keep up with the full NASCAR Truck Series schedule for the remainder of the year. And oh by the way, he’s off to Misano in Italy next month for more KTM X-Bow action.
Practice for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is Saturday, August 25 from 9:30 – 10:25 a.m., followed by final practice from 11:35 a.m. – 12:55 p.m. Qualifying is at 6 Saturday afternoon. The Chevrolet Silverado 250 is live on FS1 Sunday, August 26 at 2:30 p.m. All times are Eastern.
ABOUT DGR-CROSLEY
A Mooresville, N.C.-based organization operating under the leadership of former Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver David Gilliland and Crosley Brands Chairman & CEO Bo LeMastus, DGR-CROSLEY is a driver development team competing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, ARCA Racing Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
ABOUT CROSLEY BRANDS
From indoor and outdoor furniture to retro radios, turntables and jukeboxes, Crosley Brands has something for everyone. Ever mindful of the legacy of Crosley Radio Corporation founders Powel and Lewis Crosley, today the Crosley name lives on with superbly detailed electronic replicas that truly transcend time. Reintroductions of original vintage radios and turntables feature the newest technologies graced by unforgettable Crosley stylings. The Crosley Collection includes AM/FM radios, styled record players and turntables, record changers, multi-functional audio cassette/compact disc players, jukeboxes, music boxes, telephones and more. Rich lines, retro designs and authentic crafting have made Crosley today’s premier vintage electronics manufacturer. True to the Crosley tradition, these replicas are as fabulous as they are functional, providing a delightful dose of nostalgia.
Crosley has also expanded its branding to indoor and outdoor furniture. Known for its extraordinary craftsmanship, graceful design and lasting beauty, Crosley’s collection embodies a clean, timeless style and is built for both residential and commercial environments. Over the years, Crosley has expanded its line of outdoor furniture to include materials known for their outdoor resilience, such as powder coated aluminum and resin wicker. Though still rooted in classic, traditional design, Crosley’s latest collections have taken a unique contemporary direction. Crosley’s outdoor furniture requires minimal maintenance and is built to withstand the elements. Created to last and offered at an affordable price, experience the timeless luxury of Crosley Furniture.
For more on Crosley Brands, visit CrosleyBrands.com, CrosleyRadio.com and CrosleyFurniture.com.
Source: Crosley Brands
