MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Like any professional sports team, there are going to be days that will be easier to swallow than others.
On Saturday afternoon, AM Racing experienced one of those moments first hand when their No. 22 GO TEXAN / STAR Fund Toyota Tundra failed to qualify for the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
But like any professional sports team does in agonizing defeat, there’s a triumphant motivational moment and it came from team principal and owner Tim Self.
“At the end of the day, there are no bad days,” he said. “Yes, there are bad situations, but we’re out here doing what we love and representing first-class partners, but there’s no excuses. We will get better.
“I had mistakenly told the team that we were provisioned in and so they were more focused on race set up than qualifying. It was one of the reasons we opted not to make a mock-qualifying run during practice this past Friday at Martinsville Speedway. I had misunderstood a conversation that I had with NASCAR officials earlier in the week.
“I’m proud of my guys, my driver and our partners. Just like we’ve seen with the NCAA Basketball tournament, some of the best teams in the country saw their season come to an end for no simple reason than it just wasn’t their day. That’s what happened to us. It wasn’t our day, but it’s not the end of the road.
“Martinsville is over and done with and we’re already looking ahead out the windshield with no plans of turning back. I can’t wait to get back on the track with our team!”
With the heart and passion of AM Racing built around their founding origin of the Lone Star State, the team took a heavy approach to push insight about not only their ongoing Texas-based campaign, but recovery too.
On the hood of the team’s No. 22 Toyota Tundra sported the GO TEXAN logo.
GO TEXAN represents Texas agri-business on state, national and international levels by building recognition with the GO TEXAN mark.
Along with its signature mark in the shape of Texas, GO TEXAN celebrates, promotes and supports the business savvy and plainspoken grit Texas agriculture is known throughout the world.
On the quarter panels of their truck, AM Racing donated the space to bring awareness to the STAR Fund.
The State of Texas Agriculture Relief Fund was created solely with monetary donations from private individuals and companies, including Farm Credit, Valero and McCoy’s Building Supply. STAR Fund money may be used to assist farmers and ranchers in rebuilding fences, restoring operations and paying for other agricultural disaster relief.
While the team didn’t compete in the third NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race of the season, they did receive adequate exposure during the lone practice session on Friday aired live on FOX Sports 1.
“Even though we experienced hardship, I was super proud to represent the state of Texas in such a passionate way at Martinsville,” said driver Austin Wayne Self. “I’m not promised every race this season, so it’s important for me to make the best out of every opportunity presented.
“Martinsville didn’t go our way, but the past is in the past and we’re set on making new memories for the future.”
Looking ahead, the team has some testing on the docket ahead where Austin Wayne Self thinks it will be prove to be a benefit to his AM Racing team.
“With every minute on the track, it allows us the opportunity to add to our setup notebook and hopefully be better the next time we’re on the track for competition. I’m thankful to drive this No. 22 GO TEXAN / STAR Fund Toyota Tundra and look forward to the my next chance behind the wheel.”
Show your GO TEXAN pride: find Texas products, restaurants or enroll your business in GO TEXAN.
For more on the STAR Fund and its mission, please click here.
To learn more information on AM Racing please visit amracingteam.com.
For more on Austin Wayne Self and AM Racing, please visit awsracing.com, like his Facebook page (Austin Wayne Self) or follow him on Twitter @AustinWSelf.
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