After coming off a 23rd-place finish at Daytona, Ryan Roulette is looking to gain some momentum as he and the No. 12 team for Fast Track Racing head to the desert diamond of Phoenix Raceway for the General Tire 150 on Friday at 8 PM EST.
“We are excited to get back to the track. Daytona was our first Super Speedway, and it lived up to every expectation. We ran as low as 37th, and as high as 5th. Besides the mishap of our right rear tire going down in turn 1 on lap 50 and losing a few laps trying to get the car back on track, we had a great first run and met all our goals for the race,” the Minot, ND native said after the season opener.
As the team rolls west, it’s a special moment for the driver, as Phoenix is where he made his debut in the ARCA Menards Series platform.
“My first race in ARCA was the season finale for the West in 2021. Once we moved our organization out East last year, I wasn’t sure if I’d get the chance to come back to Phoenix. But low and behold we are taking on Phoenix Raceway again this year,” he said.
“When we build our schedule every year, Phoenix is always towards the top. The fans, environment, legacy, and challenging nature of racing that track always puts the track high on our list. This will be our 4th attempt at this track with our best finish being 22nd back in 2022.”
The 37-year-old United States Airforce Pilot will hop behind the wheel of No. 12 Ford once again with the partnership for the VFW. Joining the team for the weekend is also a special member.
VFW Post 1433 Jr. Vice Commander, John DuTemple will join with the No. 12 at the track. John served in the USMC from 1991 to 1995 as an artilleryman where he deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993.
“During his time in the service, he married his beautiful bride Cindy, and they have one son, Justin, and two granddaughters, Leah and Emma, to keep him busy when he isn’t spending time with fellow Veterans at his post. Fun fact, our VFW Veteran from the 2023 November Phoenix race, Stephen Franklin, served with John in Somalia, and now 30 years later their kids are engaged,” Roulette added.
You can catch the No. 12 and Roulette return to Phoenix this Friday live on FS1 at 8 P.M. EST.
