Truck: No. 04 Preferred Industrial Contractors, Inc. Ford F-150 for Roper Racing Crew chief: Shane Whitbeck
World of Westgate Las Vegas 200 Notes of Interest
- Owner and Driver, Cory Roper, and the #04 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Team are headed to Vegas Motor Speedway for the World of Westgate Las Vegas 200 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, Friday, September 13th, 2019. This will be Roper’s 16th start in the NGOTS.
- Cory and his wife Cherie, honeymooned in Vegas 22 years ago this year staying at The Plaza and The Tropicana.
- Last Race: The last race for Roper was his first time at Michigan International Speedway and he was still learning the track and the best line to run for passing trucks. At the start of the final stage, Roper was in 12thp and was able to pass some trucks on the outside. He ran as high as 9th during the race but with 47 laps remaining, Roper got loose coming out of turn 2 and hit the wall breaking a rear arm bar. Unfortunately, this was the end of the night for the #04 Ford F-150 truck, placing him in 28thposition. The crew traveled from Michigan to Bristol Motor Speedway where Roper failed to qualify for the first time in his Nascar career.
- The Team: Roper Racing headquarters are located on the outskirts of Houston, Texas in Mont Belvieu. Roper Racing fields the No. 04 Preferred Industrial Contractors, Inc. Ford F-150 and 2019 season marks the team’s second year into competing in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series. The team plans to run a full season for 2019 and Roper is in contention for Sunoco Rookie of the Year. As of now, the team is self-funded by Roper who is actively seeking sponsorship to continue to build this new and upcoming successful race team. Currently the team is comprised of family members and friends that work all hours of the night in addition to their day jobs.
- The Driver: Cory Roper is currently in contention for Sunoco’s Rookie of the Year for the 2019 NGOTS season. Roper is no stranger to racing. He grew up watching his dad, Kenny Roper, compete at local tracks. At the age of 14, Roper got his first racecar and started competing on a local and regional level at short tracks in Wichita Falls, Texas and Altus, Oklahoma, where he was Points and Track Champion at both tracks. The Vernon, Texas, native now resides in Mont Belvieu, Texas with his wife, Cherie and daughters Megan and Britney.
- The Crew Chief: NASCAR veteran Shane Whitbeck serves as crew chief for the No. 04 Preferred Industrial Contractors, Inc. Ford F-150. The Sarasota, Florida, native previously worked at Brad Keselowski Racing for 10 years. Whitbeck relocated to Texas at the end of 2018 season as a full time Crew Chief for Roper Racing.
- The Trucks: At the conclusion of the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, Roper Racing purchased several Ford F-150s and a number of additional assets from the Brad Keselowski Racing stable to build Roper Racing Team.
- About Preferred Industrial Contractors, Inc.: Preferred Industrial Contractors, Inc. is a global industrial construction, fabrication and maintenance company, headquartered in Baytown, Texas. The company executes turnkey construction projects from scope development, safety management, project controls,
- project management, procurement, staffing, fabrication and construction. Preferred Industrial Contractors, Inc. serves the power, chemical processing and refining industries
Cory Roper, driver of the No. 04 Preferred Industrial Contractors, Inc. Ford F-150
What are your goals for the Vegas?
“We had a run of bad luck lately so we are looking for a solid run in Vegas. Goals are to stay out of trouble on the track and run a smart race.”
Shane Whitbeck, crew chief of the No. 04 Preferred Industrial Contractors, Inc. Ford F-150
What are your goals for Vegas?
“Las Vegas has always been a good track for Cory and the Roper Racing Team. We are bringing a new truck to the track and I am looking forward to seeing how we unload. I am hoping to repeat our top 5 starting spot there and build that into a solid top 10 finish”.