J.D. Byrider

Knoxville Franchisee, Corporate Office Thank Community for Assistance after May Fire

On May 7, a fire caused major damage to the J.D. Byrider dealership at 8413 Kingston Pike in Knoxville. However, due to significant efforts by Knoxville-area fire personnel, there were no injuries to employees and the building was salvageable.

To thank the community for their assistance during and after the fire, Knoxville franchise owner Vince Keller donated $1,000 to local charitable organization FISH Hospitality Pantries, and J.D. Byrider’s corporate office is matching the gift for a total donation of $2,000.

Each month, FISH Hospitality Pantries – a non-profit, all-volunteer organization – provides food packages to more than 11,000 families in four Knoxville locations and more than 2,000 families from locations in Claiborne County and Knox County.

“The local community has been extremely helpful during the past month as we have worked to get back in business,” said Keller. “Donating to such a worthy organization is the least we could do to thank Knoxville and area fire personnel for the work they put into saving our store.”

“We are grateful no one was seriously injured during the fire and a portion of the dealership was saved,” said J.D. Byrider CEO Steve Wedding. “Knoxville has been a great community for business, and we are proud to give a donation to FISH Hospitality Pantries to thank the community for their assistance.”

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Kinser Collects Fifth Win, Schatz Earns A Pair of Podium Finishes

Winners

Wednesday      Joey Saldana of Kasey Kahne Racing

Thursday         Steve Kinser of Tony Stewart Racing

TSR Results  Wednesday

Donny Schatz (Started 2nd, Finished 3rd)

Steve Kinser (Started 8th, Finished 10th)

Tony Stewart (Started 11th, Finished 24th)

TSR Results Thursday

Steve Kinser (Started 2nd, Finished 1st)

Donny Schatz (Started 12th, Finished 3rd)

Tony Stewart (Started 14th, Finished 10th)

Luck has a way of finding you in Las Vegas. Tony Stewart Racing’s Steve Kinser entered this week’s two-night Las Vegas World of Outlaws (WoO) Nationals presented by J.D. Byrider hoping to continue his incredible start to the 2011 WoO campaign, while his TSR teammate, Donny Schatz, was seeking a change in fortune after struggling in the first five races. The cards turned out in the favor the TSR contingent was aiming for as Kinser raced to victory in Thursday night’s 30-lap A-Feature finale, while Schatz parlayed a strong third-place finish in Wednesday night’s opener with a charge for 12th to third on Thursday night. The wild card of the program was the results of two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Tony Stewart, who jumped in a third TSR entry and raced his way to 10th-place finish in Thursday night’s 30-lap A-Feature finale.

Kinser is off to one his best career starts in WoO competition, winning four of the first seven main events. In his second season driving the TSR No. 11 Bass Pro Shops/J.D. Byrider/ Chevy Maxim, “The King of the Outlaws” is setting a blistering pace. Following Wednesday night’s 10th-place finish, Kinser was determined to be a factor throughout the night on Thursday. He earned his first fast qualifier award of 2011 by turning a lap of 15.119 seconds around the half-mile dirt oval. He finished second in the dash and took advantage of his outside front row starting position in the 30-lap main event by grabbing the lead at the drop of the green. The 20-time WoO champion set a terrific pace in the race, which was only slowed by a pair of late caution flags. In the end, he fought a last lap challenge from Joey Saldana, Wednesday night’s winner, and Schatz, to score his seventh win at the Las Vegas oval and 566th career WoO A-Feature win.

“Any win is a good win, but you always like to be the guy standing here at the end of the night,” admitted Kinser, who added to his point lead with the triumph. “We didn’t have a very good night on Wednesday. We got involved in a couple of crashes and ended up hurting a car, so the Bass Pro Shops crew worked hard all day putting a new one together. It’s a really fast car and this is a great way to thank them. We also wanted to do well for everybody involved with this Tony Stewart Racing team. Tony’s been racing with us and we had some people from J.D. Byrider here. It’s always nice to do well when the people making this all possible are here to enjoy it with you.”

Schatz ventured to Las Vegas looking for a change of luck after scoring only one top-five finish in the season’s first five races. He quickly served notice that the TSR No. 15 STP/Armor All/Chevy J&J was going to be a factor. In Wednesday’s qualifying session, Schatz turned the fastest lap of the night to capture his first fast time award of the season. He would later finish second in the dash and challenged eventual winner Joey Saldana in Wednesday’s 30-lap A-Feature, before eventually finishing third.

Wednesday’s results were building blocks for a strong run on Thursday night for Schatz. An early qualifying slot hindered his chances at a second straight top qualifier award, and he ended up14th overall. The results of qualifying earned Schatz a mid-pack starting position in Thursday’s main event. The four-time WoO champion made one of his patented charges during the first 20 laps of the race. He worked his way up to third and made several bids for second. With three laps to go a caution bunched the field, Schatz restarted third and continued his battle for second with Saldana and Sammy Swindell. On the final restart, he made a final run at Saldana and Kinser, but couldn’t make the low groove work and he followed the duo to the finish line.

“We made some progress and will take a couple top-three runs,” said Schatz.  “I don’t know if we needed the late yellows either night. It seemed like we were closing in on Joey the first night, and tonight I was coming to Steve and Sammy. Maybe the lapped traffic would have played into our favor. It didn’t work out that way, so we’ll take what we got and keep working until we get that first win.”

The mid-week races provided Stewart, who is in town to compete in Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 400, the chance to join his TSR drivers in action with the World of Outlaws for the first time since last July. He was fast behind the wheel of the TSR No. 11 Bass Pro Shops/J.D. Byrider/ Chevy Maxim topping the speed charts in several practice sessions. In Wednesday’s program, he timed in sixth overall, but only completed four laps in the main event after a mechanical problem forced him to end his race prematurely. The following night, he went out extremely early and didn’t quite make the lap he hoped to and ended up 16th fastest. A fifth-place finish in the first heat earned the Columbus, Ind., native the 16th-starting spot in Thursday’s finale. He ran a smooth race, working his way forward to finish 10th.

The results of the Las Vegas World of Outlaws Nationals presented by J.D. Byrider improved Kinser’s lead in the 2011 WoO championship standings. He has 1018 points and leads Saldana by 35 markers. Schatz remains sixth in the standings and trails Kinser by 93 points. The TSR teams will return to action on Saturday, March 12 at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., for the Mini Gold Cup Race of Champions.

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Kraig Kinser, Tony Stewart Racing Outlaw Teams
Appeared at Tyler J.D. Byrider
World of Outlaws Star Met Fans on April 9

On April 3, 2009, Tony Stewart Racing’s (TSR) Kraig Kinser appeared at the J.D. Byrider in Tyler, Texas

Kinser was in the area for the World of Outlaws event at Lone Star Speedway in Kilgore on April 10.  Kinser was  joined at the J.D. Byrider store by the crew of his TSR No. 20 Bass Pro Shops/Chevy/J.D. Byrider Maxim as well as the crew of the TSR No. 15 Armor All/Chevy/ParkerStore J&J driven by three-time and defending WoO champion Donny Schatz.

Kinser signed autographs and took photos with customers during the visit. Both TSR race haulers were on location and open for public view allowing fans an up-close look at the 1375-pound/800-plus horsepower racecars.

Kinser and his TSR teammate, Donny Schatz, will lead the Outlaws in their first race at Lone Star Speedway since March 2004. In their last appearance at the track Kinser finished third and Schatz fourth at the half-mile dirt oval.

J.D. Byrider, the nation’s largest used car and finance franchise, will continue its 12-year relationship with TSR during the 2009 season.

J.D. Byrider is located at 3908 SSW Loop 323 in Tyler. For more information regarding JD Byrider, visit www.jdbyrider.com.
For more information regarding TSR, Kinser, or Schatz, visit www.tonystewartracing.com.

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Buying a used car can be a better bargain than new cars in many ways, particularly when it comes to price and depreciation. Used cars tend to be more affordable to insure as well. And, unlike in a new car showroom, it’s possible to buy a used car that’s fully loaded at a price comparable to a basic model.

But what about reliability? New cars aren’t perfect – some models have problems immediately upon release. But for many consumers, particularly those with no mechanical expertise, buying a new car feels safer because there’s a lower chance of needing costly repairs right away.

No car is completely worry-free, including new cars. However, you can take steps to ensure that you buy a used car that’s reliable. One important way is to find out what process your prospective used car dealer uses to select cars. Are the dealer’s buyers selective, or do they turn over trades from all customers, no matter the condition of the vehicle?

Another important indicator is whether or not the dealer offers a branded title check. This service can help you determine whether or not the vehicle has been damaged previously.

Does your dealer sell cars on an “as-is” basis, or do customers get a warranty when buying a used car? And does the dealer provide service? Generally, dealers who stand behind the cars they sell and offer vehicle service are selling a higher quality used car.

If you’re thinking of buying a used car, find out more about J.D. Byrider. We offer quality vehicles backed by a warranty. We can also service your car. Visit us online to find the dealer nearest you.

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Fall is in the air, and football season is in full swing. Halloween is right around the corner. That means it’s time to think about getting your vehicle ready for the winter. Whether you live in California or Massachusetts, Georgia or Indiana, it’s a good idea to winterize your car. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

• Check your wiper blades. Cold weather can be tough on windshield wipers. Freezing temperatures can cause the rubber wiper blades to crack and become less effective. Change your wiper blades if necessary, and make sure you have plenty of windshield fluid.
• Take a look at your tires. Depending on where you live, you may face more challenging road conditions during the winter, including snow and frozen rain. You’ll want to make sure your tires grip the road, so check for wear on the tire treads. In some climates, you may want to consider snow tires.
• Monitor antifreeze levels. It’s important to have the appropriate levels of antifreeze to protect your radiator. You can ask your auto service technician to check your antifreeze levels. Or you can purchase a tester at an auto parts store and check it yourself.
• Make sure you have the right oil. Some auto manufacturers recommend using a lower viscosity oil in very cold climates. Check your auto owner’s manual or ask your service technician if this applies to your car.
• Carry a cold weather kit. If it snows where you live, it’s important to make sure you carry an ice scraper in your car. A snow brush is also a good idea. Some savvy winter drivers also carry emergency supplies such as extra gloves, a heavy coat or blanket and sand or gravel to gain traction on icy roads.

No matter where you live, it’s important to get your car ready for the upcoming winter. These tips can help you get started.

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