Cornelius, N.C. (May 17, 2011) – Rising Star Management Group is pleased to announce a partnership between Joy Mining Machinery, Josh Richards and Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) for select NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) races for the 2011 season. Entering the sport with the reigning NCWTS owners’ champions, Joy Mining Machinery is excited to have 2009 and 2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series (WoO LMS) champion Richards at the helm of their Joy Mining Machinery Toyota Tundra. Adding another esteemed brand to their already impressive list of sponsors, KBM is looking forward to partnering with Joy Mining Machinery in their highly successful NCWTS program.
“We are honored that Josh Richards and Joy Mining Machinery have chosen to partner with Kyle Busch Motorsports for their first endeavor into NASCAR. Knowing that an up-and-coming driver and a highly successful global company trust in KBM to assist in their transition to NASCAR reinforces the fact that in just a short period of time we have established ourselves as one of the most respected teams in the sport. We look forward to providing Josh Richards and Joy Mining Machinery with all the tools necessary to develop from NASCAR rookies into household names,” stated team owner Kyle Busch.
Slated to compete in select NCWTS events throughout the remainder of the 2011 season, 23-year-old Richards will make his debut in NASCAR’s Truck Series at Kentucky Speedway in a KBM Toyota Tundra on Thursday, July 7.
A former dirt track racer himself and record holder for most wins as a crew chief in NCWTS history, KBM general manager Rick Ren noted, “Kyle Busch Motorsports is in this business to win races and championships, so we’re excited to be adding a young driver in Josh Richards who has already proven he can do that. The biggest thing I took from my conversations with Josh is that he has the heart of a champion. He is determined to do whatever it takes to be successful. That is something that you can’t teach somebody, it has to come from within. Now, it is our job to teach Josh how to parlay his success on dirt tracks into a successful career on pavement. We have an experienced staff in place that will provide him with all the resources and knowledge necessary to make that transition go as smooth as possible. I’m very confident that Josh will not only excel in this series but experience continued success as he climbs the ladder in NASCAR.”
Representing a brand that fuels an industry essential to his home state of West Virginia, Richards is excited about launching the Joy Mining Machinery brand into NASCAR while driving for one of the most respected names in the garage.
“I couldn’t be happier with this opportunity with Joy Mining Machinery and Kyle Busch Motorsports. The partnership with Joy Mining Machinery and KBM has great potential both on and off the track, and getting the chance to enter NASCAR with one of the best teams in the sport is a dream come true. KBM’s mission to win matches the approach I have when it comes to racing, and whether it’s on dirt or pavement, that mentality is the same,” said Richards, “I’m really looking forward to getting in a KBM Toyota Tundra at our first race under the Joy Mining Machinery banner at Kentucky Speedway in July.”
Joy Mining Machinery’s Vice President Americas, Keith Richardson, echoes the excitement of both Richards and KBM, “Joy Mining Machinery is proud to partner with driver Josh Richards and Kyle Bush Motorsports to participate in the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. There has always been a strong connection between the men and women who work in the mining industry and racing, and none stronger than with NASCAR. We also believe there is a natural fit between a race team’s drive to win and our employees’ drive to be the very best mining equipment supplier in the world.”
Richards will continue to race the full season in the prestigious WoO LMS in an effort to win an unprecedented third consecutive championship, while at the same time contending as part of KBM’s drive to win the first ever back-to-back championship in the NCWTS.
About Joy Mining Machinery:
Joy Mining Machinery has over 90 years of experience as a global leader in the development, manufacture, distribution and service of underground mining machinery for the extraction of coal and other bedded materials. Headquartered in Warrendale, Pennsylvania, Joy Mining Machinery employs over 8,000 employees worldwide. For additional information, visit www.joy.com.
About Kyle Busch Motorsports:
NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch added a second career within NASCAR in December 2009 when he announced his Kyle Busch Motorsports team would compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2010. KBM is a leader on and off the track in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, becoming the first team since the series originated in 1995 to capture the owners’ championship in their inaugural season. In October of 2010, the team moved into a brand new 77,000-square-foot facility in Mooresville, N.C., which boasts state-of-the-art equipment and its pending LEED certification make it unmatched among its peers. Fans can stay up-to-date with all the latest KBM news online at www.kylebuschmotorsports.com, by liking the team on facebook (www.facebook.com/KyleBuschMS) and following the team on twitter (@KyleBuschMS).