Austin Wayne Self ready to ‘Checkoff’ a strong run at Texas Motor Speedway

FORT WORTH, Texas – Anytime that NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) driver Austin Wayne Self (@AustinWSelf) comes home to compete at Texas Motor Speedway, it’s a big deal.Much like the familiar phrase, “Everything is bigger in Texas” – Self, a native of Austin, Texas has high hopes for a big performance in Friday night’s JAG Metals 350.The 22-year-old driver for Niece Motorsports will make his sixth start at the iconic 1.5-mile race track and hopes to deliver his first top-10 finish at the track, in the penultimate intermediate race of the season.While aiming for his first top-10 finish at Texas, Self’s prior results have been firm, with three consecutive top-20 finishes, including a span of back-to-back top-15 finishes in 2017. The charismatic driver also hopes to improve on his 17^th place run from the spring, one of 16 top-20 finishes this season.“I always look forward to coming back to Texas,” said Self who sits 13^th in the championship standings with three races remaining. “The race will be action packed, and I’m really upbeat about the strength of my Niece Motorsports team right now. Whether it’s a short track, a speedway or a superspeedway, we seem to have a lot of momentum, and that’s a good trait to have heading to one of my favorite places of the season.”When Self comes to Texas, it’s more than just about him. It’s about his relationship with his Texas-based companies, including the United Sorghum Checkoff Program who will serve as the primary partner for Friday night’s race, elevating awareness of the benefits of American ethanol.Self, a native of Austin, Texas, began his relationship with the Sorghum Checkoff and Texas Grain Sorghum Board last fall. Since then, the partnership has pinnacled to new levels and will continue throughout the 2019 season, building on the successful partnership between Self’s managing partner AM Racing and GO TEXAN.Sorghum is the world’s fifth-most important grain crop and is grown on approximately 100 million acres worldwide, including approximately six million acres in the U.S. Currently, Texas and Kansas account for 80 percent of U.S. sorghum production.The Sorghum Checkoff focuses on developing direct awareness of the benefits of using sorghum as a fuel and feedstock in the ethanol industry. This serves as the foundation of demand for the sorghum industry, as ethanol producers typically use about one-third  of the sorghum crop to produce clean-burning, high octane fuel.“I’m proud of my relationship with the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, promoting the Sorghum: The Smart Choice™ brand,” added Self. “As we venture to provide a heathier environment, I’m proud to represent them in my home state and at Texas Motor Speedway.“Sorghum is such a smart choice for ethanol, a clean-burning, high octane fuel with a strong connection to NASCAR. It’s our goal to educate everyone about its benefits and a strong effort on Friday night will help our mission.”Tim Lust, United Sorghum Checkoff Program CEO, said the partnership with Self provides a platform to tell an important story about the value ethanol provides to the American consumer and rural communities.“Promoting E15 is one of the most important things we can do for America's farmers and agricultural interests,” he said. “NASCAR is a great platform as it enables us to reach the consumers making fuel purchase decisions while highlighting the fuel's inherent value. NASCAR drivers have traveled 15 million miles on E15, so there is no better avenue for telling a pro-ethanol, pro-farmer story.”After 20 races, Self sits 13th in the series’ standings. He carries an average finish of 16.6 entering Texas.GO TEXAN, Don’t mess with Texas, CForce Bottling Company, Flying Circle and Kreuz Market will serve as associate partners in the 21^st race of the year.In 60 NCWTS races, the 2015 ARCA Racing Series Rookie of the Year has one top-five (second at Daytona 2017) and four top-10 finishes. The Texan maintains an average finish of 18.1 during his three years of competition.For more on Austin Wayne Self, like his Facebook page (Austin Wayne Self) or follow him on Twitter @AustinWSelf.To learn about the United Sorghum Checkoff Program and sorghum’s benefits, please visit sorghumcheckoff.com.For additional information on CForce premium artesian water, please visit cforce.com.For more on Flying Circle, please visit flyingcirclegear.com, like them on Facebook (FlyingCircleGear) and follow them on Instagram (@flyingcirclegear) and Twitter (@flyingcircle_). Also connect with Flying Circle on Pinterest and YouTube.For more on Niece Motorsports, please visit niecemotorsports.com.The JAG Metals 350 (147 laps | 220.5 miles) is the 21^st of 23 races on the 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck schedule. Practice begins on Thurs. Nov. 1 from 3:05 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., while final practice is set for 5:05 p.m. – 5:55 p.m. Qualifying is set for race day, Fri., Nov. 2 beginning at 3:10 p.m. The 32-truck field will take the green flag shortly after 7:30 p.m. with live coverage on FS1, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Satellite Radio, Channel 90). All times are local (Central).