Greg Van Alst, driver of the #35 Vern’s Concrete-CB Fab-Sam Pierce Chevrolet Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the ARCA Daytona 200 for the ARCA Menards Series at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida on February 18, 2023. (Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)
(Photo: Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)

Greg Van Alst racing in honor of his father Saturday at Kansas Speedway

Greg Van Alst Motorsports May 4, 2023

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – In a matter of two months, Greg Van Alst embraced one of the best days of his life when he captured his first career ARCA Menards Series victory at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February.

A little more than eight weeks later, Van Alst suffered one of the worst days of his life, when his father and hero, Bruce Van Alst courageously lost his battle with cancer.

Removed from his father’s funeral on Wednesday, somehow Van Alst and his all-volunteer-based team will make the trek to Kansas Speedway to partake in Friday’s open test session at the 1.5-mile while looking to Saturday afternoon’s Dawn 150 as an opportunity to race in Bruce’s honor.

“I cannot begin to describe the emotions,” said Van Alst. “My dad was my best friend, my hero, my everything. I can’t believe he is gone but his memory and his spirit live on. I don’t know how we are picking up the pieces to move on, but that is what he would want us to do.”

Van Alst returns to the Kansas City, Kan.-based track, the site of his first career top-10 ARCA Menards Series finish in 2021 hoping to rebound from a disappointing Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway finish – but also having the opportunity to win his second race in his fifth start at an intermediate race track.

“It is going to be hard to put that helmet on this weekend knowing my Dad isn’t at the track with us or watching from, but I’ll say a prayer before the race knowing he will be listening.

“Winning on Saturday would probably trump our unbelievable win at Daytona because as we have showcased since our return to the ARCA Menards Series two years ago, nothing beats family.”

The Anderson, Ind., native is hopeful the open practice session on Friday will allow his Jim Long-led team the opportunity to dial in his No. 35 Greg Van Alst Motorsports | CB Fabricating Ford Fusion and collect his third top-10 finish of the season.

“I love racing at Kansas Speedway, I feel like it is one of my better race tracks,” added Van Alst. “The track has developed some bumps over the past few years which has added to its characteristics, but as we have seen time and time again – the track produces some good racing and I do not expect anything different on Saturday afternoon.

“We are hoping the test on Friday will get us that much closer for race day. We have a few things we want to try with the setup. It is all about finding a good comfort zone and finding a rhythm that we can quickly pick up on for Saturday’s events.”

Chris Barkdull’s CB Fabricating, a longtime partner with Greg Van Alst Motorsports has boosted its commitment to the team for his 35th career ARCA start and will serve as the primary marketing partner of Van Alst’s No. 35 Ford.

Headquartered in Anderson, Ind., CB Fabricating offers a complete list of fabricating from design, laser cutting, CNC punching, forming, welding, powder coating, and assembly.

Their 26,000-square-foot facility allows them to service the needs of many different industries. Everything from the Automotive, agricultural, aquatic, medical, transportation, electrical enclosures, and much more.

“Chris has been there every step of the way and has been incredibly supportive and a great friend since learning of my dad’s passing,” added Van Alst. “In our moment of mourning, he stepped up to the plate to make sure that we were fine to go racing at Kansas Speedway this weekend and that means so much to me and my family.

“He is an incredible person whose love and passion for Motorsports is undeniable. His support has meant so much to our team and I’d love nothing more than take him back to Victory Lane on Saturday.”

Entering Kansas, Van Alst sits third in the ARCA Menards Series championship standings, 13 markers in the arrears to championship leader Frankie Muniz with 17 races remaining.