BOWTIE BACK FOR A REPEAT NASCAR will make its way back to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend with 2.66-mile Alabama venue set to host its second doubleheader of the season. This time, it will be the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) that will join the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) at the series’ longest and fastest oval to compete in the penultimate race of their respective playoff schedules.  A win in Sunday’s YellaWood 500 would mark the second consecutive season that Chevrolet swept the victories in NASCAR’s premier series at Talladega Superspeedway. Last season, Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain (April 2022) and Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott (October 2022) made the trip to victory lane. Most recently, it was Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch (April 2023) that carried the Bowtie brand to the win – bringing the manufacturer to a series-leading 44 NCS wins at Talladega Superspeedway.  Chevrolet has collected victories in six of the 18 NCTS races at Talladega Superspeedway, four of which have come in the series’ past five appearances at the track. Only one of the remaining NCTS playoff contenders has found victory lane in the series at Alabama venue, which was accomplished by the pairing of Grant Enfinger and GMS Racing (October 2016).

ROUND OF 12: PART TWOWilliam Byron’s career season continued at Texas Motor Speedway last weekend with the driver not only picking up Hendrick Motorsports’ milestone 300th NASCAR Cup Series win, but also the first ticket into the Round of Eight. The monumental triumph brought the 25-year-old North Carolina native to six wins on the season – doubling the next winningest driver with three. While he was eliminated in the Round of Eight last season, it’s projected to be his strongest trio of tracks in the post-season, having found victory lane at all three venues (Las Vegas Motor Speedway – March 2023; Homestead-Miami Speedway – Feb. 2021; Martinsville Speedway – April 2022). Despite a heartbreaking finish at the 1.5-mile Texas oval, Kyle Larson continues to prove to be another championship favorite. The 31-year-old California native recorded a stage win and a race-high 99 laps led before a battle for the lead ended in contact with the wall that forced a 31st place finish. The result doesn’t depict the speed Larson carried in his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 with the Team Chevy driver clocking-in the fast lap times for 42.93% of the laps ran in the event – the highest percentage achieved by a driver in a single race this season. The opening round saw the former champion post an average finish of 2.33 – earning a win and finishing no worse than fourth in the first three races of the postseason. Entering the Round of 12 on the outside looking in, Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain completed the Bowtie brand’s one-two finish at Texas Motor Speedway – moving the Team Chevy driver to the sixth position in the standings with a 12-point advantage over the playoff cutline. Early turmoil in Stage One put Kyle Busch in the 12th position in the standings, but the Richard Childress Racing driver holds a boost of confidence for the second race of the round – heading into Talladega Superspeedway as the track’s most recent winner. The two-time series champion has collected top-10 finishes in four of the five superspeedway-style races this season, highlighted by his win at Talladega Superspeedway (April) and a fifth-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway (July).

A look at Team Chevy’s playoff contenders heading into the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12 at Talladega Superspeedway:

William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 – 1st in Playoff Standings; clinched spot in Round of Eight with a win Victories: 6 (series-leading)Top-Fives: 11Top-10s: 16Laps Led: 883 Average Finish: 12.1Stage Wins: 8 (series-leading) At Talladega Superspeedway:  Top-Fives: 2Top-10s: 3Average Finish: 17.273 Of Note: ·       The 2023 season marks Byron’s fifth consecutive appearance in the NCS playoffs. ·       Byron’s career-best finish in the NCS playoffs came in 2022, finishing the season sixth in the final points standings.·       Among Byron’s 10 career wins in NASCAR’s premier series, five have come at tracks in the playoffs, including each of the final four races.·       While he was eliminated in the Round of Eight last season, it’s projected to be his strongest trio of tracks in the post-season – having found victory lane at all three venues (Las Vegas Motor Speedway – March 2023; Homestead-Miami Speedway – Feb. 2021; Martinsville Speedway – April 2022).

Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Camaro ZL1 – 6th in Playoff Standings; 12 points above the cutlineVictories: 1Top-Fives: 8Top-10s: 11Laps Led: 483Average Finish: 14.7Stage Wins: 5 At Talladega Superspeedway: Victories: 1Top-Fives: 2Top-10s: 2Average Finish: 18.111 Of Note: ·       The 2023 season marks Chastain’s second appearance in the NCS playoffs. ·       Chastain’s first time competing in the NCS playoffs came in 2022 – going on to advance to the Championship Four and ultimately leading Team Chevy with a runner-up finish in the final points standings.·       Chastain found his way to victory lane in one track in the Round of 12 – scoring his second win of the 2022 season in the series’ spring appearance at Talladega Superspeedway.

Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 – 8th in Playoff Standings; two points above the cutlineVictories: 3Top-Fives: 13 (series-leading)Top-10s: 15Laps Led: 897 (series-leading)Average Finish: 15.2Stage Wins: 5 At Talladega Superspeedway:   Top-Fives: 1Top-10s: 3Average Finish: 23.412 Of Note: ·       The 2023 season marks Larson’s seventh appearance in the NCS playoffs. ·       Larson has one NCS Regular Season Championship and one NCS Driver Championship title to his name – both coming in 2021. ·       The 31-year-old California native has made it to the Championship Four once – the season that delivered the Team Chevy driver his first championship title in NASCAR’s top series (2021). In his other playoff appearances, Larson reached the Round of Eight (2019), Round of 12 (2017, 2018 and 2022) and Round of 16 (2016).·       During the playoff era (2004-present), the 2021 season saw Larson earn a series-leading five post-season victories – tying the record set by NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart in 2011. ·       Larson has found victory lane in two of the three tracks in the Round of 12 – both coming in his title-winning season (Texas Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course). ·       In the first three races of the 2023 NCS playoffs, Larson finished no worse than fourth – earning an average finish of 2.33.

Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Camaro ZL1 – 12th in Playoff Standings; 17 points below the cutlineVictories: 3Top-Fives: 8Top-10s: 15Laps Led: 233Average Finish: 14.6Stage Wins: 2 At Talladega Superspeedway:   Wins: 2Top-Fives: 8Top-10s: 10Average Finish: 19.889 Of Note: ·       In his debut season with Richard Childress Racing and his return to the Bowtie brigade, 2023 marks Busch’s 16th appearance in the NCS playoffs. ·       Busch is one of only two active drivers with multiple championships to his name – taking the title in 2015 and 2019. ·       In Busch’s 63 career wins in NASCAR’s top series, eight of those triumphs have come in the post-season. ·       The 38-year-old Nevada native has made it to the Championship Four on five different occasions – most recently in 2019 en route to his second title. ·       Busch is the series’ most recent winner at one track in the Round of 12, with one of his three wins on the season coming at Talladega Superspeedway in April.

CELEBRATING A MILESTONEHendrick Motorsports made history last weekend with William Byron delivering the organization its 300th NASCAR Cup Series victory. This isn’t the only milestone victory the organization has accomplished in the 2023 playoffs. Just three weeks ago, Kyle Larson’s win at Darlington Raceway marked the Hendrick Motorsports Engine Department’s 500th all-time NASCAR national series win.  A partner with Rick Hendrick since the inception of the team, each of Hendrick Motorsports’ wins have come in a Chevrolet. Hendrick Motorsports’ first triumph in NASCAR’s premier series came in April 1984 with Geoff Bodine, and the organization has since won at least one race in all but one season since it was founded, including an active streak of 38 in a row (1986-2023). Hendrick Motorsports became the winningest organization in NCS history two years ago when Kyle Larson’s win in the 2021 Coca-Cola 600 took the organization to 269 victories – surpassing the all-time win record previously set by Petty Enterprises.“On behalf of everyone at Chevrolet, congratulations to Rick Hendrick and the entire Hendrick Motorsports organization on reaching 300 wins in the NASCAR Cup Series,” said Jim Campbell, General Motors U.S. Vice President of Performance and Motorsports. “This milestone victory is a testament to the dedication and teamwork by everyone who has contributed to Hendrick Motorsports. As a longtime partner of the winningest organization in NASCAR Cup Series history, we are proud that all 300 Hendrick Motorsports wins have been in partnership with Chevrolet. We look forward to continuing to race together for wins in the NASCAR Cup series.” The winningest manufacturer in series’ history, Chevrolet has accumulated 848 all-time NCS wins. Hendrick Motorsports is credited with a handful of milestone triumphs for the Bowtie brand, delivering the manufacturer its milestone 400th, 500th, 600th, 700th and 800th victories in NASCAR’s premier series – each recorded by a different driver:  ·       400th win: Sept. 9, 1994 – Terry Labonte (Richmond Raceway)·       500th win: Aug. 12, 2001 Jeff Gordon (Watkins Glen International)·       600th win: March 25, 2007 – Kyle Busch (Bristol Motor Speedway)·       700th win: Nov. 4, 2012 – Jimmie Johnson (Texas Motor Speedway)·       800th win: May 23, 2021 – Chase Elliott (Circuit of The Americas)

LOOKING FOR A TICKET TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP FOURThe NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series playoff contenders are on the horizon of race two of three in the series’ Round of Eight. Team Chevy’s Christian Eckes came just one spot short of a guaranteed ticket into the Championship Four at Bristol Motor Speedway, but a stage win sweep and his fourth-consecutive postseason podium finish put the 22-year-old New York native in the second position in the points standings with a 29-point cushion above the cutline. In only two superspeedway-style races for the series this season, Eckes has finished no worse than third, including his first of now three wins on the season (Atlanta Motor Speedway – March 2023).  Eckes led a trio of Team Chevy’s NCTS playoff contenders to top-fives in the Round of Eight opener at Bristol Motor Speedway with GMS Racing’s Grant Enfinger and Niece Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar finishing in the third and fourth-positions, respectively. Strong finishes at the Tennessee half-mile put Hocevar third (+18) and Enfinger fourth (+14) in the standings – giving Team Chevy three of the top-four drivers in the playoff rankings.  NCTS rookie Nick Sanchez will enter Talladega Superspeedway seventh in the points standings and 22-points below the cutline. But while on the outside looking in, the Rev Racing driver scored his career-best finish in the series’ last appearance on a superspeedway-style track – collecting a runner-up finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March.

BOWTIE BULLETS:·       Chevrolet will pace the field in the doubleheader race weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. The Silverado RST will lead the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in Saturday’s Love’s RV Stop 250; and the specially-themed pink ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ Camaro ZL1 will lead the NASCAR Cup Series in Sunday’s YellaWood 500.  ·       Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Talladega Superspeedway: Kyle Busch – 2 (2023 & 2008)Chase Elliott – 2 (2022 & 2019)Ross Chastain – 1 (2022) Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – (2017) ·       In 108 NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers in race wins (44) and pole wins (37). Of those wins includes a record streak of 13 consecutive trips to victory lane captured by five different drivers from April 1999 to May 2005. ·       Since the beginning of the 2022 season, Chevrolet was the only manufacturer to win at Talladega Superspeedway across all three NASCAR national touring series with NASCAR Cup Series wins by Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch; NASCAR Xfinity Series wins by Noah Gragson, AJ Allmendinger and Jeb Burton; and a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win by Matt DiBenedetto. ·       Chevrolet has won eight of the past 10 superspeedway-style races in NASCAR’s top series – recorded by six drivers from four different Chevrolet teams. ·       Since the debut of the 16-driver playoff field and elimination rounds to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2014, at least five Chevrolet drivers were represented in the playoffs each season. ·       In 30 points-paying NASCAR Cup Series race this season, Chevrolet continues to lead the series in wins (15), top-fives (64), top-10s (127), stage wins (21) and laps led (2,913). ·       Chevrolet leads the series in wins across all three NASCAR national series this season with 15 victories in 30 NASCAR Cup Series races, 14 victories in 28 NASCAR Xfinity Series races and 12 wins in 20 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races – all with a winning percentage of at least 50 percent.  ·       With William Byron’s win in the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12 opener at Texas Motor Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports now sits at 300 all-time victories in NASCAR’s premier series – all recorded with Chevrolet.  ·       Chevrolet’s series-leading 15 NASCAR Cup Series wins this season have been recorded by drivers from four different Chevrolet teams: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (JTG Daugherty Racing), Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing), William Byron and Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) and Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing).  ·       Chevrolet drivers have recorded 21 of the 60 NASCAR Cup Series stage wins this season: William Byron (eight; series-leading), Ross Chastain (five), Kyle Larson (five), Kyle Busch (two) and Chase Elliott (one).  ·       Chevrolet continues to sit atop the manufacturer points standings in all three NASCAR national series, leading by 68 points in the NASCAR Cup Series, 73 points in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and 67 points in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.  ·       Chevrolet has swept the Manufacturer Championships across all three NASCAR national series in a single season four different times (2012, 2005, 1998, 1996). ·       With its 41 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer’s Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver’s Championships, and 848 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title of winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

FOR THE FANS:·       Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Talladega Superspeedway. ·       Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles at the Team Chevy Racing Display including: Silverado 1500 Crew ZR2, 2024 Silverado 2500HD High Country Diesel, Tahoe RST, Traverse High Country, 2024 Equinox Premier, Colorado Crew Z71 2.7L, Corvette Coupe 3LT Z51, Camaro ZL1.·       Fans can also view Chase Elliott’s No. 9 Camaro ZL1 show car.  Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display:Sunday, October 1·       Corey LaJoie: 9:45 a.m.·       Kyle Busch: 10 a.m.·       Chase Elliott: 10:15 a.m.·       William Byron: 10:30 a.m. Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation: ·       Saturday, September 30: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  ·       Sunday, October 1: 8 a.m.- 1 p.m.

TUNE IN:NASCAR Cup Series: YellaWood 500 Sunday, October 1, at 2 p.m. ET(NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90) NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Love’s RV Stop 250Saturday, September 30, at 1 p.m. ET(FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

QUOTABLE QUOTES:ROSS CHASTAIN, NO. 1 WORLDWIDE EXPRESS CAMARO ZL1What are the closing laps like at Talladega?“Superspeedway racing accelerates your age in dog years, it feels like. We were able to lead some laps last year and had a shot to win to try and back up our spring win. Surviving is the most important thing but we can just easily wreck on lap 30. Those last 40 laps are just about holding onto the track position you have, and if it’s your time to crash, it’s your time to crash.” Do you feel confident headed into the next two races?“I just want to run good at the track I’m at. When we go to Talladega and the Roval, we’ll just go try to perform like we did at Texas. If it’s not looking good, just what does the next lap take – what does the next breath take. Those races, they give out the same amount of points and we’ll go and race them the same way.” KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 VALVOLINE / HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1Larson on racing at Talladega Superspeedway:“I’m just trying to do good every weekend. Texas didn’t pan out the way the No. 5 team necessarily wanted, but our race cars have been crazy fast so I’m just trying to get through Talladega with some decent track position and hopefully we can get a win at Talladega (Superspeedway).” CLIFF DANIELS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 VALVOLINE / HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1Daniels on racing at Talladega Superspeedway:“We’ve had a very similar strategy at all of the Superspeedway races this year. We’re trying to do what’s right as far as keeping our car upfront. Obviously, we try to avoid trouble the best we can- which can certainly be tough to do at these plate races. I feel like we always have fast cars and Kyle always does a great job at trying to get our car upfront and in position. You certainly have to execute a good race. If we do all the things that we can control right and put us in position, with a healthy does of luck, hopefully we’ll have a good finish coming our way soon.” AJ ALLMENDINGER, NO. 16 ACTION INDUSTRIES CAMARO ZL1“Superspeedway racing is definitely not my favorite, but we’ve had speed at those tracks this year. At the end of the day, I think we can get upfront and give ourselves a shot to win the race. We had a shot in the spring going into turn one battling for the win and we had a really fast race car in Daytona. Like I always say, it’s one of those tracks I’m not looking forward to, but at the end of the day it is about going to win a race and this is one we can give ourselves a shot at the end of the race.” CARSON HOCEVAR, NO. 42 SUNSEEKER RESORTS CAMARO ZL1This week sees your first ever Cup Series race at a superspeedway type track, so how different are you expecting the racing to play out and will you be able to learn in the Truck Series race?“I am actually really looking forward to running my first superspeedway race in the Cup Series this weekend. The results might not show it, but I’ve had a blast racing at Talladega in the Truck Series. We’ve just had some unfortunate luck that’s kept us from finishing well. From everybody that I’ve talked to that’s driven both, I’m anticipating a bit of a different race to play out on Sunday. The Cup guys are so good at managing their cars and taking care of one another out there, that I don’t really feel all that much pressure not to put a foot wrong. Saturday will be a different feeling for sure, we’ve only got an 18 point gap to the cutoff line, and the Truck Series drivers always race aggressive. I feel like I can still learn and take some notes heading into Sunday, but there’s definitely going to be a different mindset. The LEGACY M.C. cars are always super-fast at these tracks, and Erik’s been close to winning on a few occasions, so I think if we can play our cards right, we’ll definitely have a shot at it. I can’t wait to try it out.” ERIK JONES, NO. 43 ALLEGIANT CAMARO ZL1“Talladega has been good to us for the last couple of years. I think with the next-gen car, we have had a ton of speed in the No. 43. I am hoping we can put it all together and have one go our way. We have been in contention to win a handful of them in the last few years, and we just need one to play out the right way for us to have a shot in the end. I am looking forward to getting out there and hopefully getting a win with the No. 43 team.” RICKY STENHOUSE JR., NO. 47 SARA LEE ARTESANO BAKERY BREAD CAMARO ZL1“We definitely want to go for the win at Talladega with our No. 47 Sara Lee Artesano / Country Crock Camaro. We’ll discuss our strategy going into the weekend and determine what we want to do for the race. You look back at the final regular season race at Daytona (International Speedway) and we got to the front. However, while running in the top 6, we got wrecked. We know stage points are important, but we would rather have the race win. I think when it comes down to it, we will see how the race plays out.” DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 TOOTSIES ORCHID LOUNGE CAMARO ZL1“We have been very strong at the drafting tracks this year. We know we can win there. Heck, anyone can win at Talladega, that’s what makes the race so much fun and why fans show up. But, we feel like our program can win there. We just have to prove it and that’s what we plan to do Sunday.” CHASE PURDY, NO. 4 BAMA BUGGIES SILVERADO RSTAfter leading laps there last year, how excited are you to get back to Talladega?“Absolutely. Obviously, it’s a home race for me. It was special last year to have my school, where I went to college, on the truck and have a good day. We hope to go back there this year and do the same, but this time be seven spots better. I feel like I always have my best foot forward going there since it’s my home track and I’ll have a lot of family and friends there. I’ll be staying there the whole weekend, so I have a lot of expectations for it.” The KBM trucks had great speed at Daytona. Do you feel like that will carry over to Talladega?“We were upset with how qualifying went earlier this year at Daytona after we felt like we were in great position to get the pole but cut a tire in the first round and weren’t able to make a lap in the second round. It would be a big deal for me to get the pole at Talladega and go up there and lead laps, being that I consider it my home track. The Daytona truck was probably the best speedway truck I’ve ever had. We will bring that same package on our Bama Buggies Silverado to Talladega so we should be really good.” How does the racing differ between Daytona and Talladega?“Talladega just seems to be wider. The second lane just works better for the trucks at Talladega than at Daytona. I think you will see more two and three-wide racing than what you saw at Daytona in February.” GRANT ENFINGER, NO. 23 CHAMPION POWER EQUIPMENT SILVERADO RSTYou earned your first Truck Series win with GMS Racing here, how special would it be to cap off your time with the team with another win at home?“Yeah, it was a huge day for my career back in 2016 when we were able to get the win at Talladega in front of the hometown and all the friends and family. There were a lot of people that were at that race that have been instrumental in my career and all the opportunities that I had to that point. So that will always be one of the most special moments that I’ve had in my career. To come back and do it again with our last opportunity to run in that race with GMS Racing would be special from a personal standpoint, but it would be pretty big career-wise to be able to lock ourselves into the Championship 4. Obviously, that’s the goal for all of us; but there’s only one of the eight that can sleep well at night not having to stress out about this race, and that’s Corey [Heim]. I think our game plan is to try and be aggressive, and hopefully get some stage points. We want to be able to contend for the win. I think there’s some different strategies that teams are going to use; I think some guys are going to try and play it safe, and some guys that have nothing to lose are going to race for the win. We’re not one of those guys, but we’re definitely going to be aggressive. We’ve first got to have enough speed in our Champion Power Equipment Chevy, and hopefully the rest will all take care of itself.” RAJAH CARUTH, NO. 24 WENDELL SCOTT FOUNDATION SILVERADO RSTYou’ve only had one prior superspeedway race under your belt in the Truck Series, so what was your biggest “learning moment” from Daytona?“Daytona feels like it was an eternity ago, but I was able to learn a lot in my first Truck Series race there back in February. I found out firsthand how much these trucks like to move around in the draft, as well as the decisiveness necessary to make moves and being able to chill for a second. You don’t need to lead every lap in these races, and I learned a lot of the importance of setting yourself up for the finish, because you need to be around for the end of the race. I feel like our Wendell Scott Foundation team proved that they can bring one of the fastest trucks to the racetrack at these plate-style races, and hopefully I have gained enough respect of the other drivers out there to give them confidence in working with me here this weekend.” DANIEL DYE, NO. 43 RACETOSTOPSUICIDE.COM SILVERADO RSTYou were so close on winning here last year in the ARCA Menards Series race, so does that give you any added confidence to return here in a truck?“I’m looking forward to getting back to Talladega in a different vehicle than I had there last time. We had good speed there with GMS last year and got towards the front of the pack. I was close to having a shot to win the race before I made a mistake that took us out of contention. But I definitely learned a lot in the two superspeedway races I ran last year in the ARCA car and the one at Daytona this year in a truck. I’m hoping to use all the things I learned in those three races and have ourselves a good finish. We are still looking for our first top-10 of the year, and Talladega presents itself as an opportunity to either have a great day or an awful day. Hopefully we’ll be on the great side this time.” JACK WOOD, NO. 51 TRUETIMBER SILVERADO RSTAfter having speed at Daytona and Atlanta, how excited are you for this race?“Obviously the KBM trucks were fast at Atlanta and Daytona. Talladega is a fun race, but it is a race for survival. I think it’s a good chance for the two KBM trucks and our alliance partner, Rev Racing, to work together and have ourselves a good finish. We should have strength in numbers and be able to qualify up front and be in control of the race. The truck races are so short that you don’t have time to drop to the back and try to avoid wrecks. You’ve got to be up front and be one of the five trucks or so in the first two rows to go win. It should be fun.” How does racing at Talladega compare to racing at Daytona?“I think the apron isn’t as aggressive at Talladega so you can race harder in the corners. Guys are willing to race a little harder than they are at Daytona. We don’t have another superspeedway race until next season now, so a lot of guys are going to be aggressive, especially the playoff drivers that need to win. It’s going to be hotter, and the surface is a little more worn out and the track is wider so it will be more aggressive racing than Daytona.”

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics Manufacturers Championships:Total (1949-2022): 41First title for Chevrolet: 1958Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15) Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022 Drivers Championships:Total (1949-2021): 33First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)Most Recent: Kyle Larson (2021) Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021 Event Victories:Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)                2023 STATISTICS:                                                                                                    Wins: 15Poles: 8Laps Led: 2,913Top-five finishes: 64Top-10 finishes: 127Stage wins: 21·       Ross Chastain – 5 (Daytona), (Auto Club x2), (Dover), (Darlington)·       William Byron – 8 (Las Vegas x2), (Phoenix), (COTA), (Richmond), (Dover), (Charlotte), (Watkins Glen)·       Kyle Larson – 5 (Phoenix), (Bristol Dirt), (Pocono), (Kansas), (Texas)·       Chase Elliott – 1 (Talladega)·       Kyle Busch – 2 (WWTR), (Sonoma)  CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 848 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 742Laps led to date: 248,457Top-five finishes to date: 4,285Top-10 finishes to date: 8,839                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,182           Chevrolet: 848           Pontiac: 154           Oldsmobile: 115           Buick: 65            Ford: 826                                                                      Ford: 726           Mercury: 96           Lincoln: 4            Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467           Dodge: 217           Plymouth: 191           Chrysler: 59            Toyota: 179

MADISON, Ill. (Sept. 27, 2023) – Brittany Force and the Monster Energy / Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet dragster team enter this weekend’s NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway sitting sixth in the championship points standings and are determined to make a splash through the last four races of the season. While Force and her Monster Energy team are still looking for their first win of the season, they have been on a hot streak qualifying in the top five for the last four consecutive races. While they’ve been consistent through qualifying, they haven’t been able to translate that performance to race day. In the first two races of the Countdown, they’ve had second-round exits. “The Midwest Nationals is race three of six in this Countdown. It’s easy to stay motivated when you’re coming right out of one event into another. We competed in Reading, Pennsylvania then Charlotte and now St. Louis for three back-to-back races. This Monster Energy / Flav-R-Pac team enters this event sitting sixth and we still have complete confidence we can make some big moves to get us closer to the top,” Force said. “Our qualifying has improved the last several weekends, we’ve been more consistent and earning bonus points to put us higher in the field. With three attempts this weekend, we want to take full avenge of those small points with some solid runs to put us at least in the top five. We need to go rounds on race day, we set the track record speed last year, but this year, we need to bring home a St. Louis win.” Although Force and the Monster Energy team have yet to pick up a win or No. 1 qualifying position at World Wide Technology Raceway they do hold the track speed record at 338.43 mph that they set last season. They finished the 2022 Midwest Nationals with a No. 5 qualifying position and second-round exit. The NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway starts with three qualifying sessions Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. Eliminations will begin Sunday at 11 a.m. Television coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with qualifying shows Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET. Eliminations will air Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET.

MADISON, Ill. (Sept. 27, 2023) – Austin Prock and the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster team are sitting eighth in points heading into the NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway. Just 154 points back, a continued boost in performance could put the young team right back in the championship conversation with four events left in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship Prock and the Montana Brand team picked up John Fore Racing’s only Top Fuel win so far this season at the spring Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway, the track they just came from for the Carolina Nationals. The Montana Brand dragster found momentum last weekend after qualifying only tenth, the Chris Cunningham and Joe Barlam-led team finished with a semifinal appearance. “We’re coming off a bit of momentum in Charlotte at the Carolina Nationals. I think we’re all looking forward to firing off strong in St. Louis at World Wide Technology Raceway,” Prock said. “We have all the pieces to the puzzle to succeed on this Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist team, we just need to utilize them efficiently. Once we do that, we will come out victorious.” In addition to their win at the Four-Wide event at zMAX in the spring, the Montana Brand team also made it to the finals of the Winternationals in Pomona, California and earned a No. 1 qualifying position at the Sonoma Nationals in July. Last season at the Midwest Nationals, Prock qualified 12th and came up short in the first round to teammate Brittany Force. The NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway starts with three qualifying sessions Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. Eliminations will begin Sunday at 11 a.m. Television coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with qualifying shows Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET. Eliminations will air Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET.

ROBERT HIGHT AND AAA CHEVY ON A ROLLHEADING TO NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS

MADISON, Ill. (Sept. 27, 2023) – Robert Hight and the AAA / Cornwell Tools team return to familiar AAA livery on their Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car for this weekend’s NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway. They will try to improve their 25-point lead at the third of six events in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship. Hight and the AAA team kept their points lead after finishing runner-up at last weekend’s Carolina Nationals. They had entered North Carolina with just a three-point gap after picking up a victory at Maple Grove Raceway to open the Countdown to the Championship. In addition to his win in Reading, Pennsylvania, Hight hoisted the Wally at the Four-Wide at zMAX Dragway and the Arizona Nationals, he also has a runner-up finish at Brainerd International Raceway. “We’ve hit our stride at the right time. This AAA team, we had a rough patch but we got through it. My crew chiefs, Jimmy and Thomas Prock and Nate Hildahl, and all our guys stuck through it. I don’t think any of us had any doubt we’d be right in the thick of things when it mattered most,” Hight said. “We’ve got to keep it going. It’s going to take wins to get this championship locked up, going rounds is good and we’ve done that so far, we just need more of it. Those small points in qualifying will be important too. We lost last year by three, we’re not going to let that happen again.” Last season at the Midwest Nationals, Hight qualified his AAA Chevy Camaro SS No. 1 and beat Ron Capps in the final round for his third win at St. Louis where he also prevailed in 2010 and 2018. Hight has started from the No. 1 qualifying position five times at World Wide Technology Raceway (2006, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022) and set the current track records of 3.830 seconds and 338.60 mph on Sept. 30, 2017.  The NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway starts with three qualifying sessions Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. Eliminations will begin Sunday at 11 a.m. Television coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with qualifying shows Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET. Eliminations will air Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET.

NHRA^® Team Report

NHRA Midwest Nationals – St. Louis

Pre-Race Report

Cruz Pedregon and his primary sponsor Snap-on are making the Countdown count by showcasing the work of the Pink Fund^® (U.S.) and Kelly Shires Foundation (Canada) with a new, pink “Socket to Breast Cancer” paint scheme for the Snap-on^® Dodge^® SRT^® Hellcat^®. NHRA fans have all eyes on this year’s competitive Countdown, so Cruz’s matte black and two-toned pink striped Funny Car will further awareness of these organizations during breast cancer awareness month and one of the most popular times of the NHRA season. 

“This cause is meaningful to me since our family, like most families, has someone we care about who has had breast cancer. Having Countdown-level attention on our car that’s sharing the news of real help for the other part of the fight for breast cancer patients is as important to me as is moving up in the Countdown points,” Cruz says. “Fans will see our pink funny car and hopefully find out more about the Pink Fund and Kelly Shires Foundation that help breast cancer patients meet non-medical expenses while they are undergoing treatment. They don’t do research…they provide grants when they’re needed most, during treatment, for things like transportation and help with bills if money gets tight. Plus, they’re a great source of information, one my sister Dora counted on when she was going through her successful treatment.” 

Snap-on and its franchisees who participated in sales promotions over the past eight years have donated more than $1 million to support these organizations and their important work…critical since almost 300,000 new breast cancer cases will be diagnosed this year alone.

The new pink design on the El Mero Mero body features the Snap-on Socket to Breast Cancer logo along with the Pink Fund and Kelly Shires Foundation logos. To learn more, check out PinkFund.org and KellyShiresFoundation.org.

Also on the side of Cruz’s car this week is the name of Nitro Franchisee Greg Skidmore. Greg’s had his Snap-on franchise for 37 years because he says he’s a “tool-aholic” who still loves buying tools. He will be on hand this weekend to see the pink Snap-on Funny Car along with 75 of his closest friends and customers he’s invited to the track.

MADISON, Ill. (Sept. 27, 2023) – John Force and the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS team enter this weekend’s NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway sitting ninth in the Camping World championship points standings and are looking to make up some ground at the third of six events in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship. Force and the PEAK team are on the hunt for their first win of the season. They’ve reached the finals once at the rain-delayed New England Nationals, but Force has made four trips to the semifinals and qualified inside the top half of the field at 11 of 17 events so far this season including picking up the No. 1 qualifying position at the Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways just outside of Seattle. Last weekend, at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte for the Carolina Nationals, Force had a consistent race car during qualifying securing the fourth spot but ran into trouble early on race day for a first-round exit.   “It’s been a tough season, we’ve struggled, but we’re not out of it yet. It’s competitive in Funny Car, maybe the most competitive it’s been, so no one is running away with it yet,” Force said. “We’ve had some consistency lately, figured some things out, so we just need to keep at it, keep our heads up. I think we’re all looking forward to St. Louis and hopefully ending these three back-to-back races on a good note.” Force has a total of three wins at World Wide Technology Raceway in 1999, 2002 and 2013 and three No. 1 starts at the facility in 2010, 2014, and most recently in 2019. Last year, after qualifying No. 2, he raced to the semifinals where he was bested by reigning world champion Ron Capps. The NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway starts with three qualifying sessions Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. Eliminations will begin Sunday at 11 a.m. Television coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with qualifying shows Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET. Eliminations will air Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET.

MONUMENTAL MILESTONE CONTINUES TO IMPRESS

Event: 

Midwest NHRA Nationals

            World Wide Technology Raceway; Madison, Illinois

Scrappers Racing Competitors:

            Mike Salinas, Top Fuel

            Jianna Evaristo, Pro Stock Motorcycle

MADISON, Ill. (Sept. 27, 2023) – There is no shortage of enthusiasm or excitement within the Scrappers Racing team a few days removed from that historic accomplishment at zMAX Dragway Saturday night. Mike Salinas made history when he became the first driver in NHRA to go 300 mph to the 1/8^th mile. The monumental milestone resulted in a $30,000 bonus from Phillips Connect and earned the Scrappers Racing team the No. 1 qualifier position for Sunday’s eliminations, but more importantly, Salinas and his team accomplished truly the last major milestone in NHRA competition to be seen in the modern era.

“As the days have passed following Saturday night’s run, it’s really become a little surreal at how big this milestone really is not only in the sport of drag racing, but across motorsports as a whole,” said Salinas. “I’ve said many times that I’m far from one of the veterans of this series and I’m still learning each weekend that I’m on the track. But my crew chiefs (Rob Flynn and Aaron Cave) are very talented and have been close to this accomplishment in testing several times. To be the team to hit this milestone is something I’m very proud of and shows just how capable we are as a team, especially as we set out to be a two-car team in 2024. Now we’re all hoping an achievement like this can continue to be celebrated and perhaps get the attention of corporations who want to team up with Scrappers Racing for next season.”

The momentum for the Scrappers Racing team didn’t stop on Saturday night as the team had their sights set on finishing the weekend hoisting the Wally. Salinas met Mike Bucher in round one, had a bye run in round two that took him to the semi-finals against Austin Prock. The win against Prock with a 3.898 run versus Prock’s 4.189 run would place Salinas in the finals against Doug Kalitta, the race winner from one week prior at Maple Grove Raceway. 

Salinas’ reaction time of .065 versus Kalitta’s of .076 gave him the jump off of the starting line, but as the Scrappers Racing Top Fuel dragster approached the finish line, two cylinders in the engine had gone out allowing Kalitta to get past him with a time of 3.696 to Salinas’ 3.718.

“Of course, we all wanted to finish the weekend off with a win after Saturday night being such an incredible moment for our team and the sport,” continued Salinas. “I got off the line good in that final round, but unfortunately, we put two holes out right before the finish line and Doug (Kalitta) was able to get around us for the win. Congratulations to Doug and his Kalitta Motorsports team on their second win in two weeks. We’re right there and we know we have a lot of speed in our car, and we were able to showcase that in Charlotte. The weather in St. Louis looks good so if we can continue to use what we were able to find in Charlotte, I think we’ll be in for another great race weekend.”

The Midwest NHRA Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway will kick off on Friday evening with the first round of pro stock qualifying at 6:00 PM CT followed by the first round of nitro qualifying at 7:00 PM CT.

CHICAGO, IL (September 27, 2023) — After a very rough outing at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in August Funny Car team owner and driver Chris King took a few weeks to evaluate his program and determine what the best course of action was for his Howards Cams/Competition Products Dodge Funny Car team. King made the tough decision not to compete at the Dodge Power Brokers U.S. Nationals, but the up-and-coming driver did attend the race and spent time with tuners and began conversations with additional crew members to improve his team’s manpower. Ultimately, King decided to forge ahead and with new parts, additional crew members and a positive attitude and the Chicago fireman and Funny Car driver is eager to get back into competition this weekend at the NHRA Midwest Nationals from World Wide Technology Raceway.

 Chris King and the Howards Cams/Competition Products Dodge Funny Car

“There were a lot of sleepless nights after Brainerd,” said King, who has competed in three events so far this season. “I asked myself why am I still doing this and how badly do I want this. At the end of the day, I want to be out here full time. I have some great sponsors supporting me and I feel like we made some great additions to the team after Brainerd. The amazing thing is how supportive the NHRA driver and crew chief community is. I talked to a lot of guys who gave me some suggestions and we also were able to pick up some parts that will keep us going.”
 
One main addition will be Bob Peck who will work as a consultant along with crew chief Terry Totten. Peck brings a wealth of experience from working with Terry McMillen Racing as well as John Force Racing, Joe Amato, and Bob Vandergriff. Since Brainerd King has also received assistance from Top Fuel team owner and driver Buddy Hull, Alex Conaway from Tony Stewart Racing, Sam Fabiano from John Force Racing, and support from Ron Capps’ NAPA Funny Car team. This weekend King’s crew will be led by Totten and Peck and will include Dave Lowe, Ray Worbel, Ryan Rosenmeir, Aaron Kelley, Brian Wilbert, Travis Rohrer, Anthony Schroeder, Ben Morgan, and Jim King.
 
“This is the most guys I have ever had working on my Funny Car and this is what it takes to be competitive and smart out here,” said King. “I can’t thank Buddy Hull, Alex at TSR, Sam from JFR and the entire NAPA team enough for the assistance, insight and help the past few weeks. I want to continue to grow my program the right way and get better every race. This is my dream and I am going to give it everything I have to make it happen.”
 
Heading into the NHRA Midwest Nationals King will be one of 18 Funny cars trying to get one of the 16 available spots. With three qualifying runs King and his Howards Cams/Competition Products Funny Car will have to be strategic about how they run their 11,000-horsepower Funny Car. The first session on Friday night should provide incredible conditions for the high horsepower teams but King’s operation will be looking to make a solid shakedown run. The key to King’s success will be the two qualifying runs on Saturday.
 
“We will have a fair amount of new equipment on our Funny Car for St. Louis, so we are not going to try and make a hero run right off the trailer,” said King. “Our goal will be to get some good data with our new parts and then try and take everything we can from the track conditions on Saturday. I want to get back to making career best runs back-to-back like we did in Denver and Topeka.”
 
During those two national events King had been making positive strides running multiple personal best times and speeds at the Mile High Nationals in Denver where he qualified No. 14. In Topeka at the Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor King narrowly missed the field qualifying No. 17 but additional personal best runs had the team hopeful for success heading to Brainerd.
 
“We were moving in the right direction after Denver and Topeka,” said King. “We just needed to keep improving and I felt we would get into the show. I don’t have a full-time crew so we can’t afford any major setbacks which is what happened in Brainerd. The biggest thing we took away from the race was we now have a better understanding of how we need to run the team. We made some mistakes, but we have corrected that moving forward.”
 
King made his debut in 2021 and took 2022 off to reset his program to compete in a handful of key NHRA national events this season that benefited his existing sponsors and showed opportunities to potential sponsors. Through the 2023 season King has participated in fan autograph sessions, pre-race sponsor events and a wide variety of media interviews. Well regarded by his fellow competitors King worked to put a quality product on the track as he was developing his program.
 
King and the Howards Cams/Competition Products Funny Car team will be on track for the first time on Friday night for the 7:00 p.m. nighttime qualifying session. They will have two more opportunities to qualify on Saturday with run times at 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday with the race being broadcast nationally on FS1.
 

MADISON, Ill. (September 27, 2023) – Things are clicking at the right time for the talented drivers of Elite Motorsports, the largest professional team in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. They have their sights set on turning on multiple win lights this weekend at the NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, just outside of St. Louis. As the Elite fleet rolls into the “Gateway To The West” this weekend for the third race of the Countdown, anticipation levels are at an all-time high, which is great considering that these drivers work best under pressure.  This is a pinnacle event in the Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s version of the playoffs and five-time world champion Erica Enders is only four points out from the lead as she returns to one of her winningest tracks on the circuit. The reigning world champion has six Wallys from this facility including victories from the past four consecutive events. In her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / SCAG Power Equipment Camaro, Enders has secured pole positions at every Countdown race so far, gathering valuable bonus points along the way. Her next win will make her the winningest woman in professional motorsports, an honor she would love to celebrate with the fans at World Wide Technology Raceway. Troy Coughlin Jr.’s JEGS / White Castle Camaro has been powerfully consistent and the talented driver is eager to make some big moves this weekend. His teammate Aaron Stanfield is right behind him, literally and figuratively, as the two are currently fifth and sixth in points, respectively. Both skilled drivers have consistent cars and fans should expect standout performances from each of them. Fan-favorite driver Bo Butner will not only be piloting his gorgeous Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Camaro at the NHRA Midwest Nationals but he will also be competing in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Butner made an impressive qualifying performance last week demonstrating that the horsepower is there to push things forward in St. Louis. Pro Stock rookie Jerry Tucker is enjoying every minute of his first time in the Countdown to the Championship behind the wheel of his Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer Camaro. After making some of the best passes of his burgeoning Pro Stock career two weeks ago in Reading, Pa., he’s feeling more confident with each run he makes.  The Cuadra Boys just celebrated their first family win as David Cuadra earned his first victory in the ultra-competitive Top Sportsman category last week in Charlotte. D. Cuadra was also the low qualifier of the event and he’s in a great position to ride that momentum into the winners circle again in St. Louis. His father, Fernando Cuadra Sr., and brothers, Fernando Jr. and Cristian, are determined to duplicate D. Cuadra’s success in the Pro Stock ranks. Their Corral Boots Pro Stock machines have been improving tremendously all season long. In the FuelTech Pro Mod category, Mason Wright is returning to action at the helm of his Elite Motorsports Camaro. The talented driver looks forward to competing at World Wide Technology Raceway for the first time. The entire Elite Motorsports team is making an appearance at the St. Louis Cardinals game on Saturday evening after they’ve finished qualifying for the day. NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature one round at 6:00 p.m. CT on Friday, September 29, and the final two qualifying rounds on Saturday, September 30 at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. CT on Sunday, October 1.***

Driver Quotes

Erica Enders“I’ve said it for years… everything changes in St. Louis. We are to the point of the season where things really start to shape up for championships. Right now, considering the start we had this year, we are in an amazing spot. There’s only one round separating the top three with me chasing Hartford and I love competing when our backs are against the wall. Our team has shown we have the horsepower with all of the qualifying points we’ve gained in the Countdown so far; we just need a little luck to put it together on race day. World Wide Technology Raceway is one of my most successful tracks (along with Las Vegas) and I’m confident we will handle business as necessary this weekend like we always do. I absolutely love this track and the fans. We can’t wait to put on a show. I’ll say it again – everything changes in St. Louis.”

Aaron Stanfield“We are bound and determined to park this hot rod in the winners circle this weekend! This crew has been working so hard and I know we can get it done. World Wide Technology Raceway is a fantastic facility and the Pro Stock fans here are incredible. Looking forward to a fast weekend.”

Troy Coughlin Jr.“Mark and the boys have this car running awesome. I need to stay focused on the process and get up on the wheel and drive it! My wife Brenna and daughter Aubrey are coming with me this weekend, and there’s nothing that fires me up more than them being with me!”

Bo Butner“We qualified fourth in Charlotte, and we made a pretty good run. When you see moments like that, it gives you a good feeling. We know our JHG car has potential, and If everything works as it is supposed to work, we’ll qualify well again and maybe we’ll go some rounds on Sunday. That’s the goal. The other good thing is that Randi Lyn and I will be back in the Sportsman cars for St. Louis, both the national and the divisional the following weekend. We’re going to have some real good racing coming up, and you like to have it like that. You hope it gives you some momentum to end the season on a high note.”

Jerry Tucker“Last weekend less than eight-hundredths of a second separated the top of the Pro Stock ladder from the bottom. The competition is intense, but I’ve been learning from the best. This Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer Camaro is more powerful and consistent than it’s ever been before. I think we’re going to go some rounds this weekend.”

Fernando Cuadra Sr.“My son David won last weekend in Charlotte and I think that momentum is going to give us a big boost in St. Louis. Now we are all eager to get that first Pro Stock win for The Cuadra Boys!”

Fernando Cuadra Jr.“I’m confident that this car has more performance and power in it than we’ve seen so far. We just need to remain focused and motivated. This team is fantastic and we all want a win so badly we can taste it. Especially after seeing my brother David win in Charlotte. He inspired me to remember what’s possible. I know we can get it done!”

Cristian Cuadra“Now that my twin brother has won a Wally in the Lucas Oil series, I am more determined than ever to be the first in our family to bring home a Pro Stock victory. I feel really confident in the car – my team is working hard to give me a fast hot rod. If I can do my job on the starting line, I think we have a good chance of moving up in the Countdown.”

David Cuadra“Winning my first national event still feels a little like a dream. Getting that first win just makes me more hungry for another one. I’ve got two consecutive No. 1 qualifiers, so hopefully this weekend I can make it two consecutive wins as well!”

Mason Wright“It’s late in the season and we are still looking to go rounds and pushing for that first win! ”

Photos

The Elite Motorsports fleet will be competing in multiple categories at zMAX this weekend. (Photo credit: Auto Imagery)

David Cuadra celebrates his first national event win in Top Sportsman at the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals. (Photo credit: Auto Imagery)

Erica Enders in her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / SCAG Power Equipment Camaro. (Photo credit: Auto Imagery)

Troy Coughlin Jr. behind the wheel of the JEGS / White Castle Camaro. (Photo credit: Auto Imagery)

Aaron Stanfield in the Janac Bros. / Melling Engine Parts / JC3 Energy Service Camaro. (Photo credit: Auto Imagery)

Cristian Cuadra pilots the Corral Boots Mustang. (Photo credit: Auto Imagery)

Bo Butner competes in the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Camaro. (Photo credit: Auto Imagery)

Fernando Cuadra Jr. in his Corral Boots Camaro. (Photo credit: Auto Imagery)

Jerry Tucker drives the Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer Camaro. (Photo credit: Auto Imagery)

Fernando Cuadra Sr. pilots the Corral Boots Mustang. (Photo credit: Auto Imagery)

David Cuadra in his Corral Boots Top Sportsman machine. (Photo credit: Auto Imagery)

Mason Wright pilots the Elite Motorsports Pro Mod machine. (Photo credit: Auto Imagery)

Pre-Race Notes

Elite Motorsports: Pre-race notesNHRA Midwest NationalsWorld Wide Technology RacewayMadison, Ill. (Sept. 29 – Oct. 1) The Elite Motorsports team, the largest team in professional drag racing, has expanded for 2023 and will field a total of 10 entries for this weekend’s NHRA Midwest Nationals in Madison, Ill., just outside of St. Louis. At this event, the Elite Pro Stock team will feature eight Pro Stock drivers including reigning and five-time world champion Erica Enders, Aaron Stanfield, Troy Coughlin Jr., Bo Butner, Fernando Cuadra Sr. and his sons, Fernando Jr. and Cristian, as well as newcomer Jerry Tucker. The event will also feature the FuelTech Pro Mod class where Mason Wright will compete in his Elite-powered Chevrolet Camaro. David Cuadra will compete in Top Sportsman. In the 19 Pro Stock events contested last season, Team Elite won 15 times and appeared in 26 out of 38 possible rounds. In addition to Enders’ 10 wins, Stanfield collected three victories while Coughlin earned his first two professional victories. In 2022, Enders had the most dominant season of her career with ten wins in 13 final round appearances and an astounding 55-9 record in elimination rounds. This season, Enders’ impressive roster of supporters includes Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage, Melling Performance, SCAG Power Equipment, PeopleLease and Mark Stockseth. During her professional career, Enders has accumulated 45 wins in 76 final rounds and has a round-win record of 459-252 for a .645 win percentage. Enders also has a win in Super Gas (2004 Houston) bringing her career total to 46 national event victories. Enders won two events this season in Bristol and Topeka. She defeated Deric Kramer in the Bristol final and more recently, topped Greg Anderson in Topeka. She currently has a 20-12 record in elimination rounds this season. Enders reached the semifinals of last week’s event in Charlotte, and as a result, she’s currently second in the points standings, only four points behind the leader, Matt Hartford. All eight Elite drivers are eligible to win the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Pro Stock title. In addition to Enders, Coughlin is in fifth place and Stanfield is sixth, while C. Cuadra is tenth. Enders has won at least one Pro Stock event at 17 different NHRA venues including World Wide Technology Raceway. She has six wins here including consecutive victories at the last four events. She has a 20-0 record in elimination rounds here since 2019. In the previous two seasons, Enders defeated Dallas Glenn in the final round. Enders currently holds both the elapsed time and speed records for the NHRA Pro Stock class with bests of 6.450-seconds and 215.55 mph. The elapsed time record was set at the 2022 Gatornationals. If Enders wins one more event this season, she will surpass three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Angelle Sampey as the sport’s winningest female driver. Sampey currently has 46 wins while Enders has 45 professional wins and one sportsman win, tying her with Sampey. Following an impressive fourth-place finish in 2022, Troy Coughlin Jr. is in his fourth full season behind the wheel of the familiar yellow and black JEGS / White Castle Camaro. Coughlin enjoyed a breakout season last year with back-to-back victories in Seattle and Topeka. He also went to final rounds in Phoenix, Reading and Las Vegas. Coughlin heads to St. Louis as the No. 5 ranked driver in the championship points standings after posting wins at the season-opening Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals and the Dodge Power Brokers Mile-High Nationals in Denver to go with a runner-up at the Four-Wide event in Las Vegas. Coughlin, a semifinalist in Reading, has an 18-12 record in elimination rounds this season. He is just 64 points out of first place. Earlier this season at the NHRA Arizona Nationals near Phoenix, Coughlin became the first winner of the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge. He defeated Greg Anderson in the final with an elapsed time of 6.57, compared to Anderson’s 6.60, to capture the inaugural event victory. In addition to his four career Pro Stock victories, the multi-faceted Coughlin has additional wins in Top Alcohol Dragster, Super Comp and Super Gas. Coughlin’s father, Troy Sr., is a 15-time national event winner in Pro Stock, Pro Mod and Super Gas. Including his uncles, John, Mike, and Jeg Jr., the Coughlin family has combined to win 133 national event titles. Coughlin’s career bests in Pro Stock are 6.515-seconds and 212.29 mph, set earlier this year at the season opener in Gainesville. Aaron Stanfield has also returned to the Elite team for another season behind the wheel of the Janac Bros / Melling Engine Parts / JC3 Energy Service Camaro. Stanfield, the son of five-time Super Stock world champ Greg Stanfield, is coming off a season where he was the third-ranked driver in Pro Stock. Last season, Stanfield collected victories in Phoenix, Bristol, and this fall event in Charlotte to go with four runner-up finishes in Pomona, Epping, Norwalk and Denver. Stanfield finished the season with a 38-16 record in elimination rounds. So far this season, Stanfield has four semifinal and seven quarterfinal finishes to his credit and he’s the No. 6 ranked driver in the class, 85 points out of the lead. Stanfield has also qualified a season-best of No. 2 at the race in Bristol. Stanfield was recently named the overall season Pro Stock winner of the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty challenge, a specialty event that featured a rematch between the semifinalists from the previous event. Stanfield won back-to-back titles in the FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown class in 2020 and 2021, and he is the current championship leader in that class, following his most recent win at Maple Grove Raceway. All told Stanfield has 23 career wins in Pro Stock, Factory Stock, Super Stock, and Top Dragster. Stanfield’s career bests in Pro Stock are 6.457-seconds and 213.47 mph, both set in Gainesville 2022. Bo Butner is a two-time NHRA world champion in Pro Stock (2017) and Comp Eliminator (2006). He joined the Elite team last season as the driver of the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Jim Butner Auto Group / Summit Racing Equipment Camaro. Last season, Butner drove to a ninth-place finish in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series standings. He enters this race as the No. 11 ranked driver. Earlier this season in Phoenix, Butner drove to a runner-up finish in Pro Stock, reaching the final for the first time since the 2019 Richmond event. Butner defeated Erica Enders, Fernando Cuadra Jr. and Kyle Koretsky to reach his 26th career Pro Stock final. Butner recently won his 30th national event title when he claimed the Super Gas victory at the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals. Butner also won the Super Gas title at Indy in 2022. Butner has 30 career national event victories including 11 in Pro Stock. He also has wins in Comp, Super Stock, Stock, Super Gas, and Super Street. Additionally, Butner has enjoyed success as a big-money bracket racer with a victory at the K&N Spring Fling Million in Las Vegas in 2021. Butner has won at least one national event title at 14 different venues but has yet to win at World Wide Technology Raceway. He had runner-up finishes at this facility in Super Stock in 2013 and Pro Stock in 2016. Butner’s career bests in Pro Stock are 6.475-seconds and 214.28 mph, set in Dallas (2015) and Gainesville (2017), respectively. The Cuadra family includes Fernando Sr., and his sons Fernando Jr. and Cristian. The Cuadra family is backed by Corral Handcrafted Boots and the Cuadra brands. Fernando Sr. and Cristian will continue to race Ford Mustangs under the Elite banner while Fernando Jr. recently made the switch to a Chevy Camaro. Fernando Jr. is driving an Elite entry previously raced by five-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. Fernando Sr. is a two-time national event runner-up with final-round appearances at the 2019 races in Reading and Pomona. Fernando Jr. raced to the final round of the prestigious U.S. Nationals last month. Cuadra Jr. is the sport’s No. 12 ranked Pro Stock driver. Cristian Cuadra was also the runner-up to Enders at the 2022 four-wide event in Las Vegas and he was a semifinalist earlier this year at the Bristol race. He comes into this weekend as the No. 10 ranked driver in Pro Stock, facing a 146-point deficit. Earlier this season in Phoenix, Cristian Cuadra became the first Mexican-born NHRA racer to qualify No. 1 in a pro category when he drove his Elite-powered Corral Handcrafted Boots Mustang to a 6.552 pass. C. Cuadra is one of just 11 non-U.S.-born drivers to qualify No. 1 in a professional NHRA class and the only one to accomplish the feat in Pro Stock. The third Cuadra brother, David, recently claimed the first win for the family when he won the Right Trailers Top Sportsman title last week at the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals in Charlotte. He will once again be competing in the Top Sportsman class this weekend. The Cuadra family has career-best elapsed times of 6.515 (Fernando Jr.), 6.524 (Fernando Sr.), 6.527 (Cristian) and 6.578 (David). Their career-best speeds are 212.13 (Fernando Sr.), 211.43 (Cristian), 210.73 (Fernando Jr.) and 209.39 (David). New to the Elite Pro Stock team this year is Jerry Tucker, who enjoyed a memorable debut in Gainesville. Tucker qualified his Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer / Elite Motorsports Camaro in the No. 15 spot with a 6.573 and won the first round after teammate Enders encountered a mechanical issue. Tucker has a semifinal finish from Chicago and is No. 13 in the standings. Last week in Reading, Tucker made the quickest pass of his career when he went 6.535 at 210.14. Tucker, of Lindsay, Okla., has spent the last 30 years racing everything from Sprint cars to Midgets and has also enjoyed success in drag racing. Tucker previously raced in the Top Sportsman class. Tucker is one of the leading contenders for the NHRA Rookie of the Year award. Mason Wright will be in action this weekend in the FuelTech Pro Mod category presented by Type A Motorsports. Wright has qualified solidly at several events this season and successfully returned from an on-track incident earlier in Chicago. Wright, of Odessa, Texas, is also a graduate of the Top Sportsman class. Justin Elkes of Modern Racing is Wright’s crew chief this season. It was recently announced that Pro Mod will be a part of the NHRA on FOX Sports television broadcasts from each event. Collectively, the nine current team Elite drivers have combined to win 109 NHRA national event titles across all classes including 67 in the Pro Stock class.

This weekend, the Whipple Superchargers NMRA World Finals presented by Scott’s Trailer Sales + Holley Ford Fest is coming to Beech Bend Raceway Park! This is the biggest all-Ford motorsport event of the year!  Watch as the World’s Fastest Fords of NMRA race heads-up and wheels-up all weekend long! Other special features include drifting, Vaughn Gittin Jr & Chelsea DeNofa, BIGFOOT monster truck, autocross, House of Kolor jet cars, off-road racing, car show, burnout contests, Crown Vic circle track racing, manufacturers midway, swap meet, dyno shootouts & more!

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BATAVIA, Ohio (September 26, 2023) – As the 2023 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series season nears a close, another exciting doubleheader is on deck this weekend. The weekend kicks off on Friday, September 29 at Raceway 7 in Conneaut, Ohio with the running of the Great Lakes 50 – a complete program of Dirt Draft Hot Laps, Allstar Performance Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and a 50-lap, $12,000-to-win main event. The Econo Modifieds will join the program on Friday at Raceway 7, which kicks off with Hot Laps at 7:30 PM. The Pit Gates will open at 2:30 PM and General Admission Gates at 5:00 PM. All times are Eastern Time. For more information, please visit www.raceway7.com. Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway will close out the weekend with the 35th Annual Pittsburgher – Presented by Big River Steel on Saturday, September 30. Along with a complete program for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series – highlighted by a 75-lap, $30,000-to-win A-Main – the RUSH Dirt Late Model Series will also be in competition.

Northeast Paving & Sealcoat has introduced the Front Row Challenge for Saturday’s Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series A-Main at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Northeast Paving & Sealcoat will present a $1,000 cash bonus to the two drivers starting on the front row of the 30th Annual Pittsburgher – Presented by Big River Steel. The Pit Gates will open at 12:00 PM (noon), followed by General Admission Gates at 3:00 PM. A driver autograph session will take place from 4:40 PM to 5:15 PM. The on-track action at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway is set to begin at 6:00 PM. All times are Eastern Time. To purchase tickets or find more information, visit: www.ppms.com. Ricky Thornton Jr. padded his lead in the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship – Presented by ARP and has clinched his spot in the final four. Hudson O’Neal remains second, with Jonathan Davenport and Brandon Overton completing the top four. Devin Moran, Tim McCreadie, Daulton Wilson, and Tyler Erb round out the top eight in the current standings. The 35th Annual Pittsburgher will be the final bonus round in the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship – Presented by ARP. The Big River Steel Big Four drivers – who will each have an equal opportunity to with the 2023 National Championship – will be determined following Saturday’s main event at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. For the latest news, results, championship standings and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, please visit www.lucasdirt.com. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Purses:Great Lakes 50 (Friday): 1. $12,000, 2. $6,000, 3. $3,500, 4. $2,800, 5. $2,500, 6. $2,300, 7. $2,200, 8. $2,100, 9. $2,050, 10. $2,000, 11. $1,600, 12. $1,400, 13. $1,200, 14. $1,100, 15. $1,050, 16. $1,000, 17. $1,000, 18. $1,000, 19. $1,000, 20. $1,000, 21. $1,000, 22. $1,000, 23. $1,000, 24. $1,000 = Total $52,800 35th Annual Pittsburgher – Presented by Big River Steel (Saturday): 1. $30,000, 2. $15,000, 3. $7,000, 4. $5,500, 5. $4,500, 6. $3,500, 7. $3,000, 8. $2,500, 9. $2,400, 10. $2,300, 11. $2,200, 12. $2,100, 13. $2,000, 14. $1,900, 15. $1,800, 16. $1,750, 17. $1,700, 18. $1,650, 19. $1,600, 20. $1,550, 21. $1,550, 22. $1,500, 23. $1,500, 24. $1,500 = Total $100,000 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Tire Rule:Left Rear/Fronts – Hoosier (90) NLMT2, (90) NLMT3Right Rear – Hoosier (92) NLMT2, (92) NLMT3, (92) NLMT4*Must use the same set of 4 tires for Time Trials and Heat Races About Big River Steel a U.S. Steel Company:Big River Steel started in 2014 in an area of northeast Arkansas that has been called “steel mill heaven.” They’ve we’ve always been about more than just building a steel mill. In fact, they’ve always been about more than just building a steel company. Big River takes a visionary, entrepreneurial approach to the ever-changing American manufacturing industry. They’re reimagining what it means to be a steel company in the global marketplace. To keep pace with evolving and emerging industries, they’ve attracted and trained the best steel technicians in the business. They’ve equipped them with the most advanced technology to make the steels customers need today and a decade from now. All while creating minimal impact on the environment. From their Flex Mill® equipment to AI technology to their partnerships with academic research institutes, they’re daring to be more than what you’d expect from a steel company.

MOORESVILLE (September 26, 2023) — Heading into the third race in three weekends as well as the third playoff race has Camrie Caruso and her Tequila Comisario Chevrolet Camaro Stock team feeling good and solidly in a positive racing groove. The Mooresville, North Carolina team had the advantage of not travelling last weekend for the Carolina Nationals to the KB Titan Racing powered group will be fresh and eager to go rounds when they roll into World Wide Technology Raceway for the NHRA Midwest Nationals, September 29-October 1. Riding the positive momentum of two solid quarterfinal finishes the previous two weekends has Caruso focused on more round wins.

Camrie Caruso and Tequila Comisario Camaro, photo by Innovation Creative Experts

 
“I feel so much better in this Tequila Comisario Chevrolet Camaro at this point of the season than when we started,” said Caruso. “There wasn’t anything wrong, but it was a new car and I was still getting adjusted to it. Now I love rolling up to the starting line. I know I have good power from KB Titan Racing and this team is awesome. We have started winning rounds in the Countdown and now we just need to make a move up the points.”
 
Last year in Caruso’s first run through the Countdown the rookie driver had to dig deep to finish the longest season of her career. She admittedly struggled but has used that experience to better prepare for this year’s Countdown. The results have shown, with solid efforts in Reading, Pennsylvania and Charlotte, North Carolina races.
 
“Last year during the Countdown I was worn out mentally and physically,” said Caruso. “I had a better idea of what to expect this year and I think we can keep improving these last four Countdown races. I am looking forward to getting to St. Louis because I know I have a race car that can win. I am working on making sure I do everything correctly and three races in a row help keep me in a groove.”

Camrie Caruso Pro Stock driver, photo by Innovation Creative Experts

 
Caruso will be lolling for her first round win at World Wide Technology Raceway this weekend. Last year at the Midwest Nationals the first-year driver, who went on to win Rookie of the Year honors, qualified No. 10 and dropped her first round race to Matt Hartford. Already this season Caruso has improved in the Countdown both in qualifying and race day performances.
 
“I am still figuring a lot of things out in my second year but after getting that first win at the Arizona Nationals and then the Pro Stock All-Star Callout win, I definitely feel like I belong,” said Caruso. “Winning and running well helps with confidence but you still have to drive the car and get more experience. I am looking forward to getting that first qualifying run Friday night in St. Louis and then building on it on Saturday.”
 
Last year Caruso tallied nine round wins, one runner-up finish and a No. 1 qualifier. Already this season with four races to go she has 13 round wins, a Pro Stock victory from the Arizona Nationals, another No. 1 qualifier, and the specialty race win. The improvement from year one to year two is not lost on the third generation drag racer and she knows the move to KB Titan Racing was a big component to the positive direction.
 
“Working with KB Titan Racing has been incredible every way you look at it,” said Caruso. “The power we have under the hoods is great and the team of people we have is incredible. My teammates are awesome drivers and when you look at how well Greg (Anderson), Dallas (Glenn), Matt Hartford, and Kyle (Koretsky) are doing I have a lot of confidence when I go to the races. I want to do my part for the team and for everyone at Tequila Comisario, DENSO, Big Jeff Audio, Powerbuilt Tools, and VP Racing Lubricants.”
 
Pro Stock qualifying for the NHRA Midwest Nationals will begin Friday, September 29 at 6:00 p.m. CT and will continue Saturday with two sessions at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Final eliminations for the third race of the NHRA Countdown will start at 11 a.m. with the nitro classes followed by Pro Stock eliminations at noon. The race will be broadcast nationally on FS1.

One driver could walk away with $25,000 if they sweep the Outlaw Invasion

CHILLICOTHE, OH – September 26, 2023 – An Ohio doubleheader awaits the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series as they head to Atomic Speedway for the Outlaw Invasion.

The two-night weekend starts on Friday, Sept. 29, with a 40-lap, $10,000-to-win Feature. Then, the Series returns on Saturday, battling for $15,000 in a 50-lap finale.

Modifieds and Legend Cars will join the Series on Friday, while Sport Mods and RaceSaver 305 Sprint Cars are on Saturday’s racing card.

FOR TICKETS: CLICK HERE

If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action live on DIRTVision – either online on with the DIRTVision App.

Here are some of the storylines to keep an eye on at Atomic:

All Dirt Roads: The Road to the World of Outlaws World Finals (Nov. 1-4) continues for the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models, with Bobby Pierce leading the field into Atomic.

Pierce enters the weekend with a 136-point lead over Brandon Sheppard and Chris Madden, who are tied for second.

The Oakwood, IL driver has won 30 times in 2023, including 11 with the Series. With nine races remaining, Pierce can break the single-season wins record currently held by Sheppard and four-time champion Josh Richards (18).

He’s succeeded at Atomic before, scoring a victory at the track last season. He’s also succeeded on 3/8-mile tracks this year, racking up four wins.

The “Smooth Operator” hasn’t finished outside the top 10 in his last 12 World of Outlaws CASE Late Models races and has won seven of them.

The Battle for 2nd: Sheppard and Madden have battled for years with the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models. And in 2023, the two are doing it again as they enter the weekend tied for second in the standings.

Sheppard has won two out of the last three races on tour, scoring wins at Mississippi Thunder Speedway and Davenport Speedway. Those wins are backed up by a summer of consistency, as he’s only finished outside the top 10 once in the last 16 Features.

The New Berlin, IL driver is also on a streak of podium finishes, earning a top-three in his last five World of Outlaws starts. He hopes to keep that momentum rolling at Atomic, where he won last season with the Series.

Madden, meanwhile, has found a ton of success at tracks like Atomic in 2023. All the Gray Court, SC driver’s wins this season have come at 3/8-mile tracks (Sharon Speedway, Cedar Lake Speedway).

“Smokey” is also on a streak, earning seven straight top 10s. A win at Atomic would be his fourth Series win of 2023 and the 37th of his career.

A Friendly War: Usually, when you see Brian Shirley at a World of Outlaws CASE Late Models race, Kyle Bronson isn’t far behind. That’s also the case in the Series standings, as Shirley holds a 12-point advantage over Bronson for fifth.

Shirley has consistently earned four top-fives over the last five races. However, Bronson has been better in that stretch, with five straight top 10s and three top fives. 

Both are searching for their second World of Outlaws win of the season—each winning on a 3/8-mile track like Atomic.

On tracks that size in 2023, their numbers have been similar, with Bronson having a slight advantage. The Brandon, FL driver has a win, seven top fives and 10 top 10s, while Shirley has a win, five top fives and 10 top 10s.

Striding Forward: When the Series raced at Atomic in 2022, only one driver earned a top-five finish on both nights—defending Series champion Dennis Erb Jr. The Carpentersville, IL driver earned a fourth and second in those two races and has momentum after three top fives in the last five races.

Other drivers looking to take a stride forward after success at the track in 2022 are Gordy Gundaker and reigning Series Rookie of the Year Tanner English. Both scored a top-five finish at the track last year and are looking for their first World of Outlaws win of 2023.

WHEN AND WHERE  

Atomic Speedway (3/8-mile) in Chillicothe, OH Sept. 29-30 

ONLINE    

Atomic Speedway: www.atomicspeedway.net

TRACK RECORD 

Atomic Speedway: 12.748 by Jimmy Owens in 2015

On the Internet    
World of Outlaws CASE Late Models Series    
Twitter – Twitter.com/WoOLateModels – @WoOLateModels    
Instagram – Instagram.com/WoOLateModels – @woolatemodels    
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsLateModelSeries    
YouTube – Youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws    
DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com – Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month    

FEATURE WINNERS: (14 Drivers)
Rank- Driver- Hometown-Wins

1. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, IL-11
2. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, IA-3
   Chris Madden, Gray Court, SC-3
3. Devin Moran, Dresden, OH-2
   Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN-2
   Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL-2
4. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, IN-1
   Cory Hedgecock, Loudon, TN-1
   Brandon Overton, Evans, GA-1
   Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, NC-1
   Kyle Bronson, Brandon, FL-1
   Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL-1
   Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, IL-1
   Ricky Thornton Jr., Martinsville, IN-1

HEAT RACE WINNERS (36 Drivers)
Rank- Driver- Hometown-Wins

1. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, IL-17
2. Chris Madden, Gray Court, SC-14
3. Cade Dillard, Robeline, LA-9
4. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, IA-7
5. Kyle Bronson, Brandon, FL-6
   Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL-6
   Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL-6
6. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, NC-5
7. Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN-4
   Ricky Thornton Jr, Martinsville, IN-4
   Shane Clanton, Zebulon, GA-4
   Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, IL-4
8. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY-3
   Drake Troutman, Hyndman, PA-3
   Tanner English, Benton, KY-3
9. Devin Moran, Dresden, OH-2
   Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, GA-2
   Gordy Gundaker, St. Charles, MO-2
   Max Blair, Centerville, PA-2
   Gregg Satterlee, Indiana, PA-2
   Todd Cooney, Des Moines, IA-2
   Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, GA-2
   Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, IN-2
10. Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, NC-1
    Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS-1
    Brandon Overton, Evans, GA-1
    Jensen Ford, Johnson City, TN-1
    Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA-1
    Chris Ferguson, Mt. Holly, NC-1
    Mike Norris, Sarver, PA-1
    Doug Drown, Wooster, OH-1
    Ryan Montgomery, Fairmont, WV-1
    Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, NM-1
    Daniel Hilsabeck, Earlham, IA-1
    Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, NC-1
    Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, IL-1
    Jake Timm, Winona, MN-1

LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (38 Drivers)
Rank- Driver- Hometown-Wins

1. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, IA-5
2. Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, NM-3
   Brent Larson, Lake Elmo, MN-3
   Tyler Bruening, Decorah, IA-3
3. Mark Whitener, Middleburg, FL-2
   Chub Frank, Bear Lake, PA-2
   Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL-2
   Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, NM-2
   Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, NC-2
   Frank Heckenast Jr., Frankfort, IL-2
   Kyle Bronson, Brandon, FL-2
   Chad Simpson, Mt. Vernon, IA-2
4. Jimmy Owens, Newport, TN-1
   Tanner English, Benton, KY-1
   Mike Norris, Sarver, PA-1
   Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, GA-1
   Ricky Thornton, Jr, Martinsville, IN-1
   Mike Spatola, Manhattan, IL-1
   Carson Ferguson, Concord, NC-1
   Garrett Smith, Eatonton, GA-1
   Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, NM-1
   Gregg Satterlee, Indiana, PA-1
   Alex Ferree, Saxonburg, PA-1
   Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, IL-1
   Dan Stone, Thompson, PA-1
   Jason Feger, Bloomington, IL-1
   Kip Hughes, Enid, OK-1
   Daniel Hilsabeck- Earlham, IA-1
   Tad Pospisil, Norfolk, NE-1
   Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND-1
   Shane Edginton, East St. Paul, MB-1
   Dustin Sorensen, Rochester, MN-1
   James Rice, Verona, KY-1
   Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, NC-1
   Jake Timm, Winona, MN-1
   Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, CA-1
   Dustin Sorensen, Rochester, MN-1
   Dillon McCowan, Urbana, MO-1
   Matt Lux, Franklin, PA-1
   Cody Laney, Torrance, CA-1
   Gordy Gundaker, St. Charles, MO-1

PODIUM FINISHES (20 Drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Podiums

1. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, IL-18
2. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL-12
3. Tanner English, Benton, KY-9
   Kyle Bronson, Brandon, FL-7
   Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, IA-7
4. Ricky Thornton Jr., Martinsville, IN-6
   Chris Madden, Gray Court, SC-6
   Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN-4
5. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY-3
   Devin Moran, Dresden, OH-3
   Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, NC-3
   Shane Clanton, Zebulon, GA-3
   Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, IN-3
6. Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL-2
   Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, IL-2
7. Brandon Overton, Evans, GA-1
   Cory Hedgecock, Loudon, TN-1
   Brandon Overton, Evans, GA-1
   Max Blair, Centerville, PA-1
   Dustin Sorensen, Rochester, MN-1

FOX FACTORY HARD CHARGER (14 Drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C.

1. Brent Larson, Lake Elmo, MN-6
2. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, IA-5
3. Chris Madden, Gray Court, SC-3
4. Gordy Gundaker, St. Charles, MO-2
   Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL-2
5. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL-1
   Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, IN-1
   Ricky Thornton Jr., Martinsville, IN-1
   Wil Herrington, Hawkinsville, GA-1
   Tanner English, Benton, KY-1
   Boom Briggs, Bear Lake, PA-1
   Jason Feger, Bloomington, IL-1
   Shane Clanton, Zebulon, GA-1
   Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN-1
   Kyle Bronson, Brandon, FL-1
   Todd Cooney, Des Moines, IA-1
   Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, IL-1

SIMPSON RACING PRODUCTS QUICK TIMES (14 Drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – QTs

1. Cade Dillard, Robeline, LA-5
   Brandon Overton, Evans, GA-4
   Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, IL-4
2. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, IL-3
3. Chris Madden, Gray Court, SC-2
   Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL-2
4. Devin Moran, Dresden, OH-1
   Drake Troutman, Hyndman, PA-1
   Jake Timm, Winona, MN-1
   Mike Norris, Sarver, PA-1
   Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN-1
   Kyle Bronson, Brandon FL-1
   Daniel Hilsabeck, Earlham, IA-1
   Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, NC-1
   Shane Clanton, Zebulon, GA-1
   Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, IL-1

CASE FEATURE LAP LEADERS (24 Drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps Led

1. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, IL-473
2. Chris Madden, Gray Court, SC-139
3. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, IA-134
4. Tanner English, Benton, KY-82
5. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL-79
6. Kyle Bronson, Brandon, FL-77
7. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, NC-72
8. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY-60
9. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, IL-55
10. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, IN-40
11. Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL-34
12. Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN-33
13. Brandon Overton, Evans, GA-29
14. Devin Moran, Dresden, OH-28
15. Ricky Thornton Jr., Martinsville, IN-25
16. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, GA-15
    Brandon Overton, Evans, GA-15
17. Gregg Satterlee, Indiana, PA-14
18. Cory Hedgecock, Loudon, TN-10
19. Ryan Montgomery, Fairmont, WV-6
    Cade Dillard, Robeline, LA-6
20. Shane Clanton, Zebulon, GA-4
21. Gordy Gundaker, St. Charles, MO-1
    Dustin Sorensen, Rochester, MN-1

2023 World of Outlaws Late Model Schedule & Winners

1. Thursday, Jan. 19 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Devin Moran (1)
2. Friday, Jan. 20/ Volusia Speedway Park/ Barberville, FL/ Devin Moran (2)
3. Thursday, Feb. 16/Volusia Speedway Park/Barberville, FL/Bobby Pierce (1)
4. Saturday, Feb. 18/Volusia Speedway Park/Barberville, FL/Hudson O’Neal (1)
5. Thursday, April 20/ 411 Motor Speedway/ Seymour, TN/ Cory Hedgcock (1)
6. Friday, April 21/ Talladega Short Track/ Eastaboga, AL/ Tanner English, Kyle Bronson/Brandon Overton*
7. Saturday, April 22/ Talladega Short Track/ Eastaboga, AL/ Brandon Overton (1)
8. Thursday, May 4/Mississippi Thunder Speedway/Fountain City, WI/Brandon Sheppard, Cade Dillard*
9. Friday, May 19/Marion Center Raceway/Marion Center, PA/Ryan Gustin(1)
10. Tuesday, May 23/ Stateline Speedway/Busti, NY/ Nick Hoffman (1)
11. Thursday, May 25/ Sharon Speedway/ Hartford, OH/Chris Madden (1)
12. Friday, May 26/Sharon Speedway/Hartford, OH/Ryan Gustin (2)
13. Saturday, May 27/Sharon Speedway/Hartford, OH/Chris Madden (2)
14. Thursday, June 1/ Farmer City Raceway/Farmer City, IL/Bobby Pierce (2)
15. Friday, June 2/ Tri-City Speedway/Granite City, IL/Kyle Bronson (1)
16. Saturday, June 3/ Paducah International Raceway/Paducah, KY/Brian Shirley (1)
17. Friday, June 23/81 Speedway/Wichita, KS/ Brandon Sheppard, Bobby Pierce*
18. Saturday, June 24/81 Speedway/ Wichita, KS/ Dennis Erb Jr. (1)
19. Sunday, June 25/ Off Road Speedway/ Norfolk, NE/ Bobby Pierce (3)
20. Tuesday, June 27/ Mason City Motor Speedway/Mason City, IA/ Bobby Pierce (4)
21. Thursday, June 29/ Red River Valley Speedway/West Fargo, ND/ Mike Marlar (1)
22. Friday, June 30/ River Cities Speedway/Grand Forks, ND/ Ryan Gustin (3)
23. Saturday, July 1/ I-94 emr Speedway/ Fergus Falls, MN/ Bobby Pierce (5)
24. Friday, July 14/ Ponderosa Speedway/ Junction City, KY/ Mike Marlar (2)
25. Saturday, July 29/ Fairbury Speedway/ Fairbury, IL/ Ricky Thornton Jr. (1)
26. Tuesday, Aug. 1/Boone Speedway/Boone, IA/Bobby Pierce (6)
27. Thursday, Aug. 3/Cedar Lake Speedway, New Richmond, WI/Bobby Pierce (7)
28. Friday, Aug. 4/Cedar Lake Speedway/ New Richmond, WI/Chris Madden (3)
29. Saturday, Aug. 5/Cedar Lake Speedway/New Richmond, WI/Bobby Pierce (8)
30. Thursday, Aug. 24, Davenport Speedway/ Davenport, IA/Bobby Pierce (9)
31. Friday, Aug. 25, Davenport Speedway/Davenport, IA/Bobby Pierce (10)
32. Saturday, Aug. 26, Davenport Speedway/Davenport, IA/Brandon Sheppard (1)
33. Friday, Sept. 1, Mississippi Thunder Speedway/Fountain City, WI/Brandon Sheppard (2)
34. Saturday, Sept. 2, Deer Creek Speedway/ Spring Valley, MN/Bobby Pierce (11)

The Pennsylvania crown jewel puts $75,000 and bragging rights up for grabs at Williams GroveMECHANICSBURG, PA (September 26, 2023) – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars vs. Pennsylvania Posse rivalry is back in a big way this week.The 61st Champion Racing Oil National Open brings the stars of The Greatest Show on Dirt, plenty of potent Pennsylvanians, and more of the country’s top talent to Mechanicsburg, PA where Williams Grove Speedway awaits.The historic crown jewel is one of the most coveted crowns in Sprint Car racing. Not only does it hold high prestige in the minds of all within the sport, it also offers a healthy payday. The two nights (September 29-30) conclude with Saturday’s $75,000 to win, 40-lap finale, making it the fourth highest paying event on the World of Outlaws circuit.With the power of the World of Outlaws, the PA Posse hoping to win for the home state, and a slew of invaders aiming to steal the glory, the 61st edition of the National Open promises to deliver a pair of can’t miss nights of racing.BUY NATIONAL OPEN TICKETSLet’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:DONNY’S DOMINANCE: Williams Grove has been extremely kind to Donny Schatz over the years. Schatz has racked up 21 World of Outlaws checkered flags at the historic facility, ranking second only to Steve Kinser’s whopping tally of 38. While “The King” has Schatz beat in that category, no competitor can equal Schatz’s six National Open titles. The Fargo, ND native has topped the Pennsylvania crown jewel in three different decades (2000s, 2010s, 2020s).On top of his winning ways, Schatz has been plenty consistent at the “Natty O.” In 24 Feature starts, Schatz has landed on the podium in more than half with 13 top threes. He’s also earned 56 overall podiums at Williams Grove in World of Outlaws competition.A CHANCE AT HISTORY: Last year, it was Lance Dewease winning a fifth National Open much to the Posse fans’ delight. And this year the Fayetteville, PA native has a historic opportunity ahead of him.Only Schatz’s six triumphs outrank Dewease’s tally, meaning the man that owns countless Williams Grove records could add another to the list with a win on Saturday to tie Schatz. If he were able to pull it off, he would also become the first since Schatz in 2004-2005 to go back-to-back.Dewease enters the weekend as the most recent Williams Grove winner, topping his 114th Feature at the half mile this past Friday. That victory came aboard the Macri Motorsports #39M, the car he’ll be piloting this weekend.GROOVIN’ AT THE GROVE: While his Williams Grove résumé may not be as robust as Schatz or Dewease, David Gravel has to be factored in among the favorites this weekend.The two-time (2014 & 2017) National Open champion can become only the eighth driver to claim three titles in the coveted event. The Watertown, CT native has won the event with Roth Motorsports and CJB Motorsports, and on Saturday he could make it three victories with three different teams if he takes the Big Game Motorsports #2 to Victory Lane.This weekend could also prove pivotal for Gravel with the ongoing points battle. He trimmed Brad Sweet’s lead down to 80 last weekend. This week serves as another strong opportunity to make up some ground as Williams Grove is the winningest track on Gravel’s World of Outlaws record. He’s topped eight Features at the Mechanicsburg oval. LOGAN’S TIME?: Two months ago, in his 57th attempt, Hanover, PA native Logan Schuchart topped a Williams Grove World of Outlaws Feature for the first time. The Shark Racing driver snuck by Brad Sweet coming to the line in a thrilling finish.With that victory under his belt, Schuchart has his sights on his home state’s most coveted race this weekend as he looks to join his grandfather – Bobby Allen – on the list of winners.The 30-year-old has made 10 starts in the National Open finale and been banging on the door to Victory Lane. Three times Schuchart has wound up on the podium including a 2021 runner-up. Only the top step of the podium remains for Schuchart to stand atop.CA IN PA: For many years, Williams wasn’t the most welcoming Pennsylvania track for California invaders. But recently, the “Golden State” drivers have begun to flex their muscle at the unique facility. Californians have claimed half of the most recent 10 World of Outlaws races at Williams Grove including two of three this season.Grass Valley, CA’s Brad Sweet snagged his first Williams Grove victory last July and then got another earlier this year in May. During the most recent visit, it was Rico Abreu coming out on top. The duo will be in action this weekend with a chance to become the third California-born National Open title. Also among the recent California success at Williams Grove is Carson Macedo. The Lemoore, CA native topped the 2021 National Open to join Jason Meyers as CA drivers with a win in the event. BACK IN THE SADDLE: A potent driver-team pairing is expected to pull in the pit area that will attract plenty of attention this weekend.Former World of Outlaws champion – Daryn Pittman – has partnered with the famed Kreitz Racing team to take on the 61st National Open. The owner of the iconic powder blue #69K enters as the defending team champion after topping the 2022 edition with Lance Dewease. Pittman got acquainted with the team at last Friday’s local race and brought home a podium finish. Now, Pittman will seek his first National Open title. The Owasso, OK native has been remarkably close with five runner-ups in the crown jewel, most recently in 2019.POSSE POWER: Along with Dewease going for a record tying win, the PA Posse will have plenty of names joining him looking to make the home fans proud by beating the World of Outlaws.Brent Marks is a former National Open champion (2019) who could become the 13th driver with multiple titles. The “Myerstown Missile” has already topped four races at “The Grove” in 2023. Marks has been on the podium in five of his last eight Williams Grove starts with the World of Outlaws.Danny Dietrich is another Posse representative with a National Open victory (2016) to his credit. Dietrich ranks 18th on Williams Grove’s all-time win list with 29 triumphs, most recently coming out on top of an Aug. 18 local show. Freddie Rahmer is always a name to watch in Pennsylvania and could join his father – Fred Rahmer – on the list of winners this week. Two of Rahmer’s nation leading 17 victories in 2023 have occurred at Williams Grove.This trio will be joined by many more Pennsylvania natives in the hunt for National Open glory.If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the action live on DIRTVision.THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCEWHEN AND WHEREFriday and Saturday, September 29-30 at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PAON THE INTERNETWorld of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Twitter – @WorldofOutlaws Instagram – @WoOSprint Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsSprintCarSeries YouTube – Youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com – Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/monthCURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (61/72 Races):1. 49 – Brad Sweet (8246PTS) 2. 2 – David Gravel (-80PTS) 3. 41 – Carson Macedo (-98PTS) 4. 1S – Logan Schuchart (-386PTS) 5. 18 – Gio Scelzi (-394PTS) 6. 15 – Donny Schatz (-416PTS) 7. 17 – Sheldon Haudenschild (-472PTS) 8. 5 – Spencer Bayston (-656PTS) 9. 3Z – Brock Zearfoss (-1142PTS) 10. 7S – Robbie Price (-1586PTS)NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (16 Drivers):10 wins – David Gravel (Big Game Motorsports #2)9 wins – Brad Sweet (Kasey Kahne Racing #49)6 wins – James McFadden (Roth Motorsports #83), Carson Macedo (Jason Johnson Racing #41), Logan Schuchart (Shark Racing #1S), Rico Abreu (Rico Abreu Racing #24)4 wins – Kyle Larson (Silva Motorsports #57)3 wins – Donny Schatz (Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15), Sheldon Haudenschild (Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17)2 wins – Buddy Kofoid (CMS Racing #11, Roth Motorsports #83JR)1 win – Brady Bacon (TKH Motorsports #21), Anthony Macri (Macri Motorsports #39), Brian Brown (Brian Brown Racing #21), Gio Scelzi (KCP Racing #18), Spencer Bayston (CJB Motorsports #5), Corey Day (Jason Meyers Racing #14)FEATURE LAPS LED (20 Drivers):315 laps – Brad Sweet228 laps – James McFadden234 laps – Rico Abreu195 laps – Carson Macedo193 laps – David Gravel172 laps – Logan Schuchart118 laps – Kyle Larson114 laps – Buddy Kofoid108 laps – Sheldon Haudenschild102 laps – Donny Schatz57 laps – Gio Scelzi43 laps – Brent Marks40 laps – Spencer Bayston, Corey Day24 laps – Brian Brown15 laps – Cole Macedo11 laps – Anthony Macri10 laps – Cory Eliason3 laps – Brady Bacon, Danny Varin1 lap – Austin McCarlSIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (17 Drivers):14 QuickTimes – Carson Macedo11 QuickTimes – David Gravel5 QuickTimes – Logan Schuchart4 QuickTimes – Rico Abreu3 QuickTimes – Sheldon Haudenschild, Buddy Kofoid2 QuickTimes – Anthony Macri, Bill Balog, Justin Peck, Gio Scelzi, Brad Sweet, Tanner Holmes1 QuickTime – Brian Brown, Donny Schatz, James McFadden, Jacob Allen, Kyle LarsonHEAT RACE WINNERS (43 Drivers):29 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo25 Heat Wins – David Gravel16 Heat Wins – Brad Sweet14 Heat Wins – Donny Schatz, James McFadden13 Heat Wins – Buddy Kofoid, Logan Schuchart12 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Gio Scelzi10 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu7 Heat Wins – Spencer Bayston5 Heat Wins – Jacob Allen, Justin Peck4 Heat Wins – Brent Marks, Cory Eliason3 Heat Wins – Anthony Macri, Brian Brown, Bill Balog, Parker Price-Miller2 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss, Noah Gass, Kerry Madsen, Robbie Price, Tim Kaeding, Sam Hafertepe Jr.1 Heat Win – Danny Dietrich, Freddie Rahmer, Mark Dobmeier, Kasey Kahne, Austin McCarl, Lachlan McHugh, Ryan Timms, Tim Estenson, Kyle Larson, Shane Stewart, Lance Dewease, Cole Macedo, Chase Randall, Ian Madsen, Tanner Holmes, Dominic Scelzi, Kalib Henry, Dylan Bloomfield, Justin SandersTOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (47 Drivers):41 Dashes – Carson Macedo39 Dashes – David Gravel36 Dashes – Brad Sweet28 Dashes – Logan Schuchart27 Dashes – Gio Scelzi24 Dashes – James McFadden23 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild22 Dashes – Donny Schatz20 Dashes – Rico Abreu18 Dashes – Spencer Bayston17 Dashes – Buddy Kofoid8 Dashes – Jacob Allen, Brent Marks, Cory Eliason, Brock Zearfoss6 Dashes – Justin Peck5 Dashes – Anthony Macri, Robbie Price, Kasey Kahne, Corey Day4 Dashes – Brian Brown, Justin Sanders3 Dashes – Danny Dietrich, Parker Price-Miller, Tyler Courtney, Kyle Larson, Cole Macedo, Tanner Holmes2 Dashes – Garet Williamson, Austin McCarl, Bill Balog, Dominic Scelzi, Aaron Reutzel1 Dash – Freddie Rahmer, Devon Borden, Brady Bacon, Chad Trout, Dylan Norris, Cap Henry, Stuart Brubaker, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Shane Stewart, Danny Varin, Ian Madsen, Shane Golobic, Kalib Henry, Dylan BloomfieldMICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (33 Drivers):4 LCS Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Spencer Bayston, Robbie Price3 LCS Wins – Noah Gass2 LCS Wins – Parker Price-Miller, Logan Schuchart, Carson Macedo, Brock Zearfoss, Tim Estenson, James McFadden, Gio Scelzi, Donny Schatz, Kerry Madsen1 LCS Win – Hunter Schuerenberg, Wayne Johnson, Ryan Timms, Ayrton Gennetten, Kraig Kinser, Freddie Rahmer, Henry Malcuit, Cole Macedo, Aaron Reutzel, Sye Lynch, Cory Eliason, Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu, Jacob Allen, Daryn Pittman, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Jamie Veal, Kaleb Johnson, Lachlan McHugh, Tanner Holmes, Austen WheatleyKSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (35 Drivers):6 Hard Chargers – Sheldon Haudenschild5 Hard Chargers – James McFadden4 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz, Brock Zearfoss3 Hard Chargers – Tyler Courtney, Brad Sweet, Logan Schuchart, Rico Abreu2 Hard Chargers – Danny Dietrich, Justin Peck, David Gravel, Spencer Bayston, Corey Day, Robbie Price1 Hard Charger – Gio Scelzi, Blake Hahn, Buddy Kofoid, Joe B. Miller, Kyle Larson, Hunter Schuerenberg, Kyle Moody, Freddie Rahmer, Skylar Gee, Cole Duncan, Austin Pierce, Brenham Crouch, Tim Kaeding, Jacob Allen, Caden Englehart, Zeb Wise, Carson Macedo, Dale Blaney, Tasker Phillips, Brent Marks, Kaleb Johnson, Tanner HolmesPODIUM FINISHES (27 Drivers):29 Podiums – David Gravel26 Podiums – Brad Sweet17 Podiums – Carson Macedo14 Podiums – Rico Abreu13 Podiums – Donny Schatz, Logan Schuchart10 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild9 Podiums – James McFadden, Buddy Kofoid7 Podiums – Gio Scelzi6 Podiums – Kyle Larson5 Podiums – Brent Marks4 Podiums – Spencer Bayston3 Podiums – Brian Brown, Jacob Allen, Corey Day1 Podium – Danny Dietrich, Kasey Kahne, Devon Borden, Parker Price-Miller, Brady Bacon, Anthony Macri, Garet Williamson, Dave Blaney, Tanner Holmes, Justin Sanders, Dominic ScelziTOP 10 FINISHES (60 Drivers):54 Top 10s – Brad Sweet52 Top 10s – Carson Macedo50 Top 10s – David Gravel42 Top 10s – Gio Scelzi40 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart, Sheldon Haudenschild37 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, Spencer Bayston34 Top 10s – James McFadden30 Top 10s – Rico Abreu25 Top 10s – Buddy Kofoid14 Top 10s – Jacob Allen12 Top 10s – Justin Peck11 Top 10s – Brent Marks10 Top 10s – Kasey Kahne9 Top 10s – Cory Eliason8 Top 10s – Kyle Larson7 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney, Brock Zearfoss6 Top 10s – Brian Brown, Danny Dietrich, Corey Day5 Top 10s – Dominic Scelzi, Justin Sanders, Tanner Holmes3 Top 10s – Anthony Macri, Bill Balog, Cole Macedo, Chase Randall, Zeb Wise2 Top 10s – Aaron Reutzel, Blake Hahn, Brady Bacon, Parker Price-Miller, Robbie Price, Freddie Rahmer, Tim Kaeding, Shane Golobic, Dave Blaney, Dale Blaney, Cole Duncan1 Top 10 – Devon Borden, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Joe B. Miller, Hunter Schuerenberg, Brandon Rahmer, Chad Trout, Lance Dewease, Cap Henry, Stuart Brubaker, Skylar Gee, Austin McCarl, Garet Williamson, Shane Stewart, Larry Wight, Noah Gass, Rusty Hickman, Kerry Madsen, Jason Solwold, Chase Johnson2023 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)1. Fri, Feb 10 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (1)2. Fri, Feb 10 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (2)3. Sat, Feb 11* / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / James McFadden (1)4. Sun, March 5 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Carson Macedo (1)5. Mon, March 6 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (3)6. Sat, March 18 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / Rico Abreu (1)7. Fri, March 24 / Talladega Short Track / Eastaboga, AL / Buddy Kofoid (1)8. Sat, March 25 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS / Brad Sweet (1)9. Fri, March 31 / Devil’s Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, TX / Brad Sweet (2)10. Sat, April 1 / Devil’s Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, TX / James McFadden (2)11. Fri, April 7 / U.S. 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO / Sheldon Haudenschild (1)12. Sat, April 8 / 81 Speedway / Wichita, KS / Rico Abreu (2)13. Fri, April 14 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Brad Sweet (3)14. Fri, April 28 / Tri-City Speedway / Granite City, IL / David Gravel (4)15. Sat, April 29 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN / Brady Bacon (1)16. Fri, May 5 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Logan Schuchart (1)17. Sat, May 6 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Rico Abreu (3)18. Wed, May 10 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / Anthony Macri (1)19. Fri, May 12 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Brad Sweet (4)20. Fri, May 19 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Donny Schatz (1)21. Sat, May 20 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH / Donny Schatz (2) 22. Fri, May 26 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / Brad Sweet (5)23. Sat, May 27 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / Carson Macedo (2)24. Mon, May 29 / Lawrenceburg Speedway / Lawrenceburg, IN / James McFadden (3)25. Fri, June 2 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / David Gravel (5)26. Sat, June 3 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN / Carson Macedo (3)27. Fri, June 9 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brian Brown (1)28. Sat, June 10 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / David Gravel (6)29. Fri, June 16 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Gio Scelzi (1)30. Sat, June 17 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (2)31. Wed, June 21 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Kyle Larson (1)32. Thurs, June 22 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / James McFadden (4)33. Fri, June 23 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Logan Schuchart (2)34. Sat, June 24 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / David Gravel (7)35. Fri, June 30 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Brad Sweet (6)36. Sat, July 1 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / David Gravel (8)37. Sat, July 8 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Carson Macedo (4)38. Tues, July 11 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Kyle Larson (2)39. Fri, July 14 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Carson Macedo (5)40. Sat, July 15 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Donny Schatz (3)41. Thurs, July 20 / BAPS Motor Speedway / York Haven, PA / David Gravel (9)42. Fri, July 21 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Logan Schuchart (3)43. Sat, July 22 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Rico Abreu (4)44. Sun, July 30 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY / David Gravel (10)45. Fri, Aug 4 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Spencer Bayston (1)46. Sat, Aug 5 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Kyle Larson (3)47. Sat, Aug 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Kyle Larson (4)48. Thurs, Aug 17 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / James McFadden (5)49. Fri, Aug 18 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / James McFadden (6)50. Sat, Aug 19 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Carson Macedo (6)51. Fri, Aug 25 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Logan Schuchart (4)52. Sat, Aug 26 / Red River Valley Speedway / West Fargo, ND / Logan Schuchart (5)53. Thurs, Aug 31 / Skagit Speedway / Burlington, WA / Sheldon Haudenschild (3)54. Fri, Sept 1 / Skagit Speedway / Burlington, WA / Rico Abreu (5)55. Sat, Sept 2 / Skagit Speedway / Burlington, WA / Brad Sweet (7)56. Mon, Sept 4 / Grays Harbor Raceway / Elma, WA / Logan Schuchart (6)57. Sat, Sept 9 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, CA / Corey Day (1)58. Fri, Sept 15 / Kings Speedway / Hanford, CA / Brad Sweet (8)59. Sat, Sept 16 / Placerville Speedway / Placerville, CA / Buddy Kofoid (2)60. Fri, Sept 22 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Rico Abreu (6)61. Sat, Sept 23 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH / Brad Sweet (9)

Dominic Scelzi Set for Double Duty at Kings Speedway This Weekend

Inside Line Promotions – FRESNO, Calif. (Sept. 26, 2023) – Dominic Scelzi is bound for Kings Speedway this weekend to compete in both 410ci and 360ci winged sprint car action during the Cotton Classic.

Scelzi invades the dirt oval in Hanford, Calif., on Friday with the Sprint Car Challenge Tour before capping the weekend on Saturday when the track hosts the Morrie Williams Twin 20s Memorial for the NARC 410 Sprint Car Series.

“I’m excited to get back to Hanford this weekend,” he said. “We’ve enjoyed a lot of success there the last few years and have had some good runs there this season. Hopefully we can keep that up and be in contention in each feature.”

Scelzi has finished inside the top five during all four 410ci winged sprint car main events at the track this season. He has one victory, two third-place runs and a fifth-place result.

Scelzi has posted results of third, fourth and 19 ^th during a trio of 360 starts.

“We’re focused on wins the rest of the season,” he said. “We’re going into each race with the only goal being to win. I feel confident Jimmy (Carr) and the guys will continue to give me a car capable of doing that.”

Scelzi has earned a trio of Sprint Car Challenge Tour triumphs this season – the most of any driver.

He enters Saturday’s NARC 410 Sprint Car Series race ranked third in the championship standings – only two points out of second place and 49 points behind the leader. Scelzi sits second in feature victories with three.

SEASON STATS –

46 races, 11 wins, 31 top fives, 37 top 10s, 41 top 15s, 44 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Friday and Saturday at Kings Speedway in Hanford, Calif., for the Cotton Classic and Morrie Williams Twin 20s Memorial with the Sprint Car Challenge Tour and the NARC 410 Sprint Car Series

CHICAGO, IL (September 26, 2023) — The Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster is set to continue its surge toward success at the NHRA Midwest Nationals, scheduled from September 29 to October 1 at the iconic Wide World Technology Raceway. TJ Zizzo, the second-generation driver, is poised for a triumphant return to this storied event, powered by an unwavering commitment to excellence.  TJ Zizzo and Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster, photo by Auto ImageryNow elevated to the status of NHRA countdown playoff race, the Midwest Nationals attracts the finest talents from across the nation, all competing for the NHRA Camping World Top Fuel world championship. For Zizzo and his team, this year’s race is an opportunity to sustain their upward momentum.   “This season our mantra has been simple: put your heads down and work hard,” said Zizzo, a seven-time NHRA Midwest National event contender. “In our four races this year, we’ve consistently raised the bar. The NHRA Midwest Nationals holds a special place in our hearts, and this year will be no different.”   Zizzo’s legacy at the NHRA Midwest Nationals, nestled in the historic shadow of St. Louis’ Gateway Arch, traces back to his debut in 2004. Since then, he has maintained a perfect qualification record. The fan-favorite’s best performance was in St. Louis in 2020, when he secured the No. 4 qualifying spot and progressed to the quarterfinals, defeating Luigi Novelli in the opening round.   Zizzo and his team’s confidence this season stems from an impressive season debut, despite being out of the competition since 2021. He attributes their success to their new equipment and the unparalleled quality of their Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster’s components. Backed by his family, loyal teammates, and steadfast partners, with Rust-Oleum at the forefront, Zizzo and his team have assembled a race crew that maximizes their competitive edge.   “This season’s extraordinary progress relies on our team’s commitment to maintaining a winning formula,” said Zizzo, who is a proud Chicago resident. “The exceptional dedication and relentless effort displayed by my teammates have not only fueled our journey thus far but have also inspired us to aim for new heights.”   Zizzo and the Rust-Oleum Top Fuel team will make their first qualifying run Friday at 7:00 p.m., with two more qualifying runs slated for Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Final eliminations for the quickest 16 Top Fuel dragster will begin on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. The contested race will be broadcasted nationally on FS1.

DALLAS, TX (September 26, 2023) —- Never one to rest on their laurels Buddy Hull and Buddy Hull Racing will be back in action this weekend for the NHRA Midwest Nationals from World Wide Technology Raceway, racing one of the most unique cars to hit the NHRA scene in recent memory. Hull rebranded his Methanol Moonshine and Vertex Roofing Top Fuel dragster to a kid friendly HULL’K design that drew rave reviews at the Dodge Power Brokers U.S. National at the beginning of the month. Getting this green machine back on track for another NHRA national event is a labor of love for Hull, a Dallas-based business owner and Top Fuel competitor.

 Buddy Hull and the HULL’K Top Fuel dragster, photo by Ron Lewis Photography

“I just wanted to do something cool to get kids excited about NHRA drag racing,” said Hull, when asked about the redesign. “We have great marketing partners and growing the sport is one of our big goals. We want to perform on the track of course but getting kids excited and interested is also so important. I also really love the Incredible Hulk, so it is an awesome car to get to race.”
 
Hull and his Mike Guger tuned Top Fuel team have been working their way through the naturally challenging ups and downs of racing Top Fuel dragsters at the highest level. The stakes will be even higher this weekend at the NHRA Midwest Nationals, the third NHRA Countdown playoff race. While Hull is not in the mix this season for a Top Fuel world championship his participation could easily tip the balance of power as the championship points tighten up down the stretch. The impact he could have on the championship is not lost on the former power lifter and competitive racer.
 
“We are going to be racing at least three Countdown races starting in St. Louis and we are not coming out to just be a filler team,” said Hull. “We have a race car that can go up and down the track with solid elapsed times and high speeds. I am not looking to be a spoiler or a blocker, but I would love to be a guy that adds an element of excitement to the Countdown. The competition is already at an all-time high with 12 teams really in the championship hunt. I want the fans to see 16 top quality cars on race day duking it out for the win in St. Louis.”
 
This season Hull has raced from coast to coast and his results have been hit or miss after the team battled some serious tune-up issues over the first three races. Following the Chicago National event Hull and Guger went through the entire race car and found some issues which they have been correcting over the past few races. The results have been slow and tedious but creating a consistent tune-up for an 11,000-horsepower land rocket is one of the toughest mechanical endeavors in motorsports.
 
“You can’t make wholesale changes in these race cars overnight even when you find the root of the issue,” said Hull. “Everything about making these cars run 3.70s at 330 mph is interconnected and when you make a change in one area it triggers changes across the board. Luckily Mike Guger is a smart dude, and I can’t thank my crew guys enough for all the hard work that have put into our team. This HULL’K Top Fuel dragster will be ready to roll in St. Louis and it will be a stacked field for sure.”
 
The entry list for the Midwest Nationals is shaping up to be one of the most competitive of the season with 19 teams vying for 16 spots in the field. The teams will have three qualifying runs over Friday and Saturday to post times quick enough to race on Sunday in front of a packed house of fans. The third race of the Countdown has traditionally become one of the signature races of the playoffs. Hull and his HULL’K team are focused and excited to get back into a racing groove that will see them compete in three races over the next five weeks.
 
“This is really the start of our own Countdown,” said Hull, of the three race stretch from St. Louis to Dallas to Las Vegas at the end of October. “We have been working so hard all season that starting this weekend we want to have killer runs and make some noise in St. Louis, then build on it in Dallas where we have another cool announcement and then Las Vegas. I love being out here and competing with the other teams but just as important is the time with the fans.”
 
The HULL’K Top Fuel team will be on track Friday night under the lights at 7 p.m. followed by two qualifying runs on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. The final eliminations will start and 11:00 a.m. on Sunday and Hull hopes fans watching the race on FS1 will see a lot of the purple and green Top Fuel dragster on their TV screens.

PLAINVIEW, NY (September 26, 2023) — Throughout the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season Justin Ashley and the Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel team have been singularly focused on consistency and excellence. That focus has not changed after two unusually early exits for the team that led the points most of the season and won a class leading six races in the regular season. There was a stretch in the first half of the season when the team was experiencing some up and down results, but they never lost faith and finished the final nine races of the regular season with four wins, a runner-up and two semifinal finishes to secure the No. 1 seed for the Countdown.

 Justin Ashley and the Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel dragster, photo by Auto Imagery

“We faced some adversity in the early part of the season when we would either win or get knocked out of a race early,” said Ashley, an 11-time Top Fuel winner. “We worked through that by simply trusting the process and trusting one another. The same principles apply now. We are a championship team that is facing a small bit of adversity. These tests are good and it’s how we respond that will make all the difference. We are focused on St. Louis and the first qualifying session on Friday night. A quick run to start the Midwest Nationals will set the tone for the rest of the weekend.”
 
After two races of the Countdown Ashley holds down the No. 3 spot just five points behind Toyota and Mac Tools teammate Steve Torrence.  Sitting in the No. 1 spot for now is another Toyota and Mac Tools teammate Doug Kalitta, who like Ashley is chasing his first Top Fuel world championship. He is a little over three rounds in front of Ashley and Torrence. The unpredictable nature of the Countdown has played out over the first two races and Ashley knows there are plenty of rounds left to win before a driver is handed the trophy.
 
“We knew it was not going to be easy when the Countdown started,” said Ashley, who only had three first round losses in the regular season. “This is now a four-race playoff. The first two races are in the past and we are focused on the present. Putting ourselves in positions to win and being the best version of ourselves that we can be is what matters most at this point in time.”
 
The leadership of crew chiefs Mike Green and Tommy DeLago has been evident all season with the Phillips Connect Toyota team posting some of the most consistent and quick runs every race. Heading into the race at World Wide Technology Raceway the duo will use all their expertise to put Ashley in the quickest race car possible. The team secured three No. 1 qualifiers this season and has accumulated a decent amount of qualifying bonus points.
 
“We have been coming off the trailer ready to race throughout the season, so I am looking forward to that first Friday night session,” said Ashley. “We will get three runs to learn and position ourselves for raceday. There will be a lot of quality Top Fuel dragsters at this race each with a chance to qualify and turn on four Sunday win lights. But that’s to be expected and our Phillips Connect Toyota team is looking forward to the competition.”
 
The Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel dragster will be on track on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. for the first qualifier under the lights of World Wide Technology Raceway. On Saturday Ashley and 18 additional Top Fuel teams will make two more qualifying runs trying to secure one of the 16 spots in the field with runs at 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11:00 a.m. and the race will be broadcast on FS1.
 

DALLAS (September 26, 2023) — Top Fuel team owner and driver Buddy Hull will be racing to raise awareness and donations for the Down Syndrome Partnership of North Texas during the Stampede of Speed and the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex, October 6-15. The wildly popular driver on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series has a history of high-speed philanthropy and joining forces with the Down Syndrome Partnership of North Texas is another effort by the big-hearted Texan to support those in need. Hull will be participating in several fan events and racing activities throughout the 10-day Stampede of Speed. The ultimate goal is to raise $50,000 for the organization through corporate and fan donations. Hull is confident that the support and funds will make an immediate difference.


 
“I met with the folks from Down Syndrome Partnership of North Texas and I immediately knew we needed to get involved with them,” said Hull, who has also supported breast cancer charities as well as anti-bully initiatives. “This organization has been working with families and caregivers for almost two decades and I just really felt the need to get involved. Fans that make a donation through the Buddy Hull Racing Fund Raising landing page will get their name on my race car for the Stampede of Speed and I would love to see the car covered.”
 
The Buddy Hull Racing Fund Raising page can be found here and a number of groups and companies have come together to make this possible. Fralicks Warehouse Solutions and Chick-Fil-A Mansfield have been instrumental in designing the look of Hull’s Top Fuel dragster as well as outfitting the team in Down Syndrome Partnership of North Texas uniforms. Team sponsor Brushy Creek Aussies a Red Oak, Texas company owner by Andy and Jeanne Carter is also donating a service dog to Down Syndrome Partnership of North Texas as part of this program.

 
The Down Syndrome Partnership of North Texas supports individuals with Down syndrome, their families and caregivers in achieving the universally desired goals of self-fulfillment, pride in one’s achievements, inclusion in the community, and reaching one’s fullest potential through social and educational activities.
DSPNT has been serving families in North Texas (Tarrant, Johnson, Hood, Parker, and Wise counties) since 1995.  Their programs serve families and individuals with Down syndrome through all stages of life – from diagnosis through adulthood.
 
“With October being Down Syndrome Awareness Month, we were thrilled when Buddy approached us about this partnership,” said Kim Rocha, Executive Director, Down Syndrome Partnership of North Texas. “Beyond raising money that supports our programs, this is going to raise awareness about the Down syndrome community.  Our goal is to educate the community about what it means to have Down syndrome and the potential of all people with Down syndrome and this collaboration will do that.  We are just honored to partner with someone who has spent so much of his own time and resources supporting our community.”
 
Hull and the Down Syndrome Partnership of North Texas will be on track during the opening weekend of the Stampede of Speed, October 7-8, as part of the Texas Invitational match race contested on Saturday and Sunday during the Stars of Texas music festival. Hull will be one of the featured drivers at the Texas Fall Nationals free Fanfest driver autograph event at Railway Park in Waxahachie on October 12 from 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. The team will be on track competing in the Texas Fall Nationals Friday-Sunday, October 13-15. For more information on the race fans can visit www.stampedeofspeed.com and for more information on Buddy Hull check out www.buddyhullracing.com.

OCALA, FL (September 26, 2023) — The NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway could be just the race and race track Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers team is looking for to accelerate their pursuit of their first NHRA Camping World Top Fuel world championship. Hart will be making his third appearance at the state-of-the-art multi-use facility located just across the river from downtown St. Louis. His previous two races saw the entrepreneur from Ocala, Florida, race to a semifinal and runner-up finish in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
 
“We have had some good races at St. Louis and if I can just avoid Steve Torrence, I feel like we could be a great shape this weekend,” joked Hart, about the only driver to have defeated him at the Midwest Nationals. “Two years ago we made a good run from the No. 10 spot and last year we qualified No. 2 and raced all the way to the final just like it says on paper. This year I want that fourth win light on Sunday.”

Josh Hart and R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster, photo credit Auto Imagery

 
The Countdown has not been kind to Hart and the R+L Carriers team as two first round exits have seen the two-time Top Fuel national event winner slip to twelfth place, but with four races left in the playoffs and a reshuffling of the points leaders, the field is tightening up. Hart started the Countdown 121 points out of first and now after two races he has slipped to 218 points back. With two Countdown race wins, new point leader Doug Kalitta made up a 75-point deficit on the point leader to start the Countdown and now has a 63-point lead of the No. 2 driver, for a net improvement of 138 points. A strong move by Hart in St. Louis could easily propel him back into the mix with three races remaining including the season finale in Pomona with points and a half on the line.
 
“We have definitely made our road to the championship a lot harder with these past two races but there is no one giving up over here in the R+L Carriers pit,” said Hart. “I know I might sound like a broken record but ‘Anything’s Possible’ is a saying I truly believe in. I take my hat off to Doug and his team. They struggled for two years and now have two wins in a row and some momentum. There is no reason my team with our talent can’t do the same thing.”
 
The competition level in the Top Fuel ranks has been the talk of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series all season. Hart started the year with the Pep Boys Allstar Callout win followed with a runner-up finish in Chicago. Justin Ashley has a category leading six race wins and Mike Salinas just joined the Phillips Connect First to 300 mph at the 1/8 Mile Club at the Carolina Nationals. There are four multi-time Top Fuel world champions in the mix as well as first time championship hopefuls Hart, Clay Millican, Austin Prock and Leah Pruett. The strength of the field could play into Hart’s advantage as he is trying to reel in the leaders.
 
“There just a little under 600 points left to win over these next four races when you look at qualifying bonus points, qualifying position points and round wins,” said Hart. “We need the teams in the bottom half of the top ten to start gobbling up those points and close the gap on the leaders. I want to head into Pomona with 10 teams within 60 points of each other for the championship. It is possible, and if that happens as long as we are one of those 10 teams, we have a shot at the world championship. Will it be easy? Absolutely not, but don’t count me out.”
 
Hart has a lifetime of experience in overcoming adversity riding with him to get to this point. He and his wife Brittanie started their first business with $300 in their bank account. The couple now own and operate multiple businesses with almost 100 employees in Ocala, Florida. Hart recently went back to his hometown of Huntington, Indiana, where he had a tough start growing up to donate funds to a local park for children with special needs as well as the local Police Athletic League football program. Giving back through philanthropy is something Hart has done throughout his personal and professional career.
 
“I try and boost people up whenever I can, whether it is a donation to a cause or a sponsorship for a junior dragster driver,” said Hart. “I have been very blessed and I don’t ever want to take that for granted. I didn’t get here by myself, and I want to encourage people to follow their dreams and work hard to achieve them like Brittanie and I did. We are a family-owned team, and I don’t want to lose sight of that. St. Louis will be an important race for us but there are three more after that. Until the math doesn’t add up in our favor we are going to keep believing.”