BRISTOL, Tenn. (Oct. 15, 2021) – Brittany Force and the Flav-R-Pac dragster team are sitting in the provisional No. 1 spot Friday night at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. Robert Hight with the Automobile Club of Southern California and John Force with the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaros are currently sitting No. 2 and 3, respectively, in Funny Car. After delays due to issues with the timing, Brittany Force and the David Grubnic and Mac Savage led Flav-R-Pac team found themselves making their first qualifying pass under the lights at Thunder Valley. Sitting No. 2 in points, the 2017 world champion would run in the final pair of nitro cars. The Flav-R-Pac team took full advantage laying down a track record 3.682-second pass at 328.94 mph. “We definitely made a few changes in that downtime, but I try to stay out of it, it gets my head in the wrong place and I start worrying about thins so I leave that to the team and David Grubnic and Mac Savage. They did a fantastic job with whatever adjustments they did make with the sun going down and the track cooling down,” said Force who has set five elapsed time and six speed track records this season. “We made it down there. I wasn’t sure if she was going to make, it was moving around and it felt like it was going to let go but we made it to that finish line.” Robert Hight and the Auto Club Chevy team built on some of the consistency found last weekend with a solid 3.968-second run at 323.50 mph, the top speed of the session. Their efforts put them No. 2 and gave them an extra two bonus points. “Good way to start the weekend out here in Bristol. There was probably more out there but it’s going to be cooler conditions tomorrow with the rain, hopefully we get both those runs in,” Hight said. “Just taking it one run at a time, making sure we’re getting down the track and having some fun while we do it. Getting a clean run like that, that’s what this Auto Club team knows how to do, and we just have to keep on building on it.” John Force and the PEAK Chevy were in the groove for the full pass clocking a 3.968-second run at 322.73 mph to be third quickest and earn one bonus point. “Pretty good start to the weekend out here in Thunder Valley. Getting the PEAK Chevy from A to B, picked up a bonus point. We’ll take it,” Force said. “There’s supposed to be some weather tomorrow, but we should get something in, be good for race day when it’s supposed to be real cool. We’ll see how it goes.” Qualifying at the NRHA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway continues Saturday with sessions at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Eliminations are slated for Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Television coverage continues with a second qualifying show Sunday at 1 p.m. followed by the finals at 2 p.m. ET all on FOX Sports 1 (FS1).

CHEVROLET AT BRISTOL  What: NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals When: Friday, Oct. 15-Sunday, Oct. 17Where: Bristol Dragway in Bristol, TennesseeTV: FS1 will telecast eliminations live at 2 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 17
Chevrolet drivers hope lightning strikes at Thunder ValleyJohn Force Racing trio seek to close points gap in Top Fuel, Funny Car

DETROIT (Oct. 14, 2021) – Brittany Force and the Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet dragster team have been making waves all season in the National Hot Rod Association’s (NHRA) Top Fuel category.
With three races left in the Countdown to the Championship, including this weekend’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, Force, the 2017 NHRA Top Fuel champion, will aim to reclaim the points lead. She is second in the standings.
Force, who has been the No. 1 qualifier in 13 of the past 19 Top Fuel events, is two top qualifiers from tying the category single-season record of 13 set by Tony Schumacher in 2006 and from tying the John Force Racing team record of 13 set by John Force in 1996.
“There’s just three races left in this Countdown to the Championship and we are still in the fight. We’ve had a tough few weeks, but plan to turn that around,” said Force, who advanced to the semifinals last week at Dallas. “I’m looking forward to getting to Bristol seeing what this Flav-R-Pac team can pull off.”
John Force remains in the hunt for his 17th NHRA Funny Car title, and he’ll be looking aiming to extend to 14 the number of seasons he’s won at least four races. He’ll also be seeking his fifth victory at the racetrack. 
“A bit of bad luck in Dallas. But we still went some rounds,” said Force, driver of the PEAK Antifreeze & Coolant Camaro SS. “We’ve had a good race car all season. We’re in the fight because they’ve given me a good hot rod and because I’ve held on and tried to do my job. Just have to keep on doing it.”
Teammate Robert Hight, the most recent Funny Car No. 1 qualifier, is seeking to have a say in the championship chase. The driver of the Automobile Club of Southern California Camaro SS is an unusually low seventh in the standings. He has one win at Thunder Valley.
FS1 will telecast eliminations live at 2 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 17. 
Pro Stock racers will next compete Oct. 29-31 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the penultimate event of the Countdown to the Championship. At Ennis, Texas, on Oct. 10, Greg Anderson extended his points lead to 81 over reigning champion Erica Enders (Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Camaro SS) with his fourth victory of the season and 98th of his career. 
The latter lifted Anderson, driver of the HendrickCars.com Camaro SS, past Warren Johnson as the class leader and second all time to John Force’s 154 wins.
“It’s the same for everybody, but I’m looking forward to the break where I can really dig in and try to find maybe a little something extra boost performance-wise for the final two events,” Anderson said. “Whoever uses the two-week break the best will probably be the champion this year. Hopefully, that will be us.”
CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT
TOP FUEL:
BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, FLAV-R-PAC CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (Second in points): ““There’s just three races left in this Countdown to the Championship and we are still in the fight. We’ve had a tough few weeks, but plan to turn that around. I’m looking forward to getting to Bristol seeing what this Flav-R-Pac team can pull off.”
FUNNY CAR:
JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (Fourth points): “Bristol is special, it usually falls on Father’s Day weekend and that’s something I enjoy because I have my girls out here racing with me, first Ashley, then Courtney and now Brittany. It truly is Thunder Valley. The fans are great and I’m looking forward to seeing it all in fall. Having an extra race in the Countdown, well it depends where you’re at, could help some, could hurt others, I’m hoping we’re on the helping side. We’re going to stay focused, go some rounds and hopefully get this PEAK Chevy in the winner’s circle.”
ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (Seventh in points): “This Auto Club team, we’re used to being up there in qualifying, going rounds on race day, and when we weren’t doing that consistently, we got really hard on ourselves. You know, there’s still a chance we could pull off a fourth championship this year, but we need to take it one run at a time, one round win at a time. We know how to race, how to win, Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham, all these Auto Club guys, we can put it all together and get wins and have fun doing it.”

Richard Childress Racing at Texas Motor Speedway… Richard Childress Racing has a storied history at Texas Motor Speedway that includes two NASCAR Cup Series wins with Jeff Burton (1997) and most recently with Austin Dillon (2020). The Welcome, NC organization has earned five NASCAR Xfinity Series wins with Kevin Harvick (2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2012) and two NASCAR Truck Series wins with Jay Sauter (1999) and Ty Dillon (2013). Catch the Action… The NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Andy’s Frozen Custard 335 at Texas Motor Speedway will be televised live Saturday, October 16, beginning at 3 p.m. ET on NBC and will be broadcast live on the Motor Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.  The NASCAR Cup Series’ Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas Motor Speedway will be televised live Sunday, October 17, beginning at 2 p.m. ET on NBC and will be broadcast live on the Motor Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

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Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Texas Motor Speedway… Dillon is an accomplished driver at Texas Motor Speedway with 32 starts spread out across NASCAR’s Cup, Xfinity and Truck Series. The Welcome, North Carolina driver has earned pole awards in all three of NASCAR’s national touring series while competing at Texas Motor Speedway and has led laps in four of his 15 Cup races there. He is a former winner at the track in the NASCAR Cup Series (2020). About Tracker Off Road… Dillon’s No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE prominently features TRACKER ATVs, a game-changing new line of all-terrain vehicles and side-by-sides offering breakthrough performance, service, and value in the off-road industry. TRACKER OFF ROAD was born out of a powerhouse partnership formed between Bass Pro Shops and TRACKER founder Johnny Morris and Textron Specialized Vehicles, bringing together the undisputed world leader in boating with a global leader in innovation and technology.  About Bass Pro Shops… Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.” Bass Pro Shops has a long relationship with NASCAR, dating back to 1998. For more information, visit http://www.basspro.com/. AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:Tell us about racing at Texas Motor Speedway and how it differs from other 1.5-mile tracks, such as Kansas Speedway?“Texas Motor Speedway is a bit different from Kansas Speedway in that it has two different ends. You have one end that’s very banked and has high speeds, and then you have a hard end where you have to get turned and get back on the gas. Texas Motor Speedway just has so much grip now. It’s quite a bit different, and the banking has changed a lot from the old track to the new track. I really like Texas and am looking forward to getting there. Our team is hungry to get back to Victory Lane, and I’m looking forward to debuting our Bass Pro Shops Flannel Fest paint scheme.”

Tyler Reddick and the No. 8 Clark Pipeline Services Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Texas Motor Speedway… Reddick has two previous NASCAR Cup Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway, recording a second-place finish in July 2020. The 25-year-old has competed in five NASCAR Xfinity Series events, posting consecutive second-place results in the fall of 2018 and spring of 2019. In addition, Reddick has six NASCAR Truck Series races under his belt at the Fort Worth track, earning four top-five finishes.  About Clark Pipeline Services… Clark Pipeline Services is a multi-million dollar company based in the heart of Eagleford Shale with over 10 years of experience in large and small diameter pipe with zero accidents. Clark Pipeline Services is a Civil Construction and Energy Construction Company dedicated to the service and safety of their clients. Clark Pipelines Services can provide superior quality, time savings, unmatched services and environment protection while completing successful projects. TYLER REDDICK QUOTE: What are your thoughts on Texas Motor Speedway? “I’ve come close to winning at Texas Motor Speedway a lot in my career, even finishing second behind my teammate Austin Dillon last July, so I’m excited at having another shot there. Our No. 8 team is bringing extremely fast Chevrolet Camaros to the track right now and I feel like our first win is right around the corner. Last weekend in Charlotte at the Roval showed what our team is capable of and we are looking forward to showing that again in Texas on Sunday. The Clark Pipeline Services Chevrolet is going to have speed and we’ll see if I can finally get one of those cowboy hats.”

Myatt Snider and the No. 2 Crosley Furniture Chevrolet Camaro at Texas Motor Speedway… Snider has three career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway. In the most recent Xfinity Series race at the Fort Worth intermediate track, Snider was in pursuit of a top-10 result before receiving contact from behind. The Charlotte, N.C. native has also competed in four NASCAR Truck Series races, posting a best finish of 12th in 2017.  About Crosley Brands… For over 30 years, Crosley Brands has been a leader in the nostalgic electronics category. From their beginning in the premium incentive industry, Crosley Brands developed their own exclusive product lines and built solid relationships with some of the most well-known catalogers and retailers in the business. Today, Crosley Brands is known for two brands – Crosley Radio and Crosley Furniture. At the front lines of the Vinyl Revolution, Crosley Radio seeks to bring new life to a classic medium, with its revolutionary line of turntables to its new series of high-fidelity units. Building on a legacy of entrepreneurship, Crosley Furniture delivers quality products at competitive prices, without sacrificing style. From the patio to the kitchen, bath, entryway and beyond, Crosley Furniture offers over 1,800 indoor and outdoor furniture items in a variety of categories and designs. For more information, please visit www.crosleybrands.com.  MYATT SNIDER QUOTE:Texas Motor Speedway is an intermediate track that you’ve raced on a handful of times. What do you expect from Saturday?“The good thing about Texas Motor Speedway is that I have raced there three times in the Xfinity Series and four times in the Truck Series. Sometimes just having laps under your belt makes you more comfortable on one day shows when we don’t have practice and qualifying. When my Richard Childress Racing team came to Texas earlier this season, our Chevrolet Camaro was extremely fast. We had put together a solid race to finish inside the top-10, but I received contact from behind on the backstretch and that ultimately ended our day early. Our Playoff run might be over prematurely, but this No. 2 team will continue to push forward to finish these final four races as strong as possible.”

AUSTIN, TX (October 14, 2021) — It has been four years since the roars of Alexis DeJoria’s NHRA Nitro Funny Car have reverberated off the mountains surrounding Bristol Dragway. For DeJoria who is now behind the wheel of the Bandero Premium Tequila ROKiT Toyota Camry Funny Car that is four years too long. This weekend at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals DeJoria, a five-time Funny Car national event winner, will return to a track where in her rookie season she raced to her first professional final round.

In 2012 DeJoria bumped into the field as the No. 15 qualifier and then took out No. 2 qualifier Mike Neff in the first round before defeating Jeff Arend and Jack Beckman. In a final round showdown with Ron Capps, she was neck and neck with him before her race car overpowered the track handing the win to Capps. 

Since that first race, the veteran driver has raced to several quarterfinals and in 2016 raced to the semifinals from the No. 10 spot, upsetting Chad Head and current crew chief then driver Del Worsham in the first two rounds.

This season DeJoria and her Toyota Camry Funny Car have put up some amazing performance numbers and raced to the final round in Denver. They have gone rounds on race day and qualified top three seven times this season.

With three Countdown playoff races remaining DeJoria will be looking to finish the season strong at events where she has a strong track record. Last season in her first year back she raced to the semifinals in Vegas and throughout her career her home track of Pomona has been receptive to high performance.

“This season has been a challenge but that is what we are here for. If this was easy everyone would do it,” said DeJoria. “We are going to keep fighting and hopefully we will have a great weekend in Bristol and close out the season on a high note.”

Qualifying for the Thunder Valley Nationals will begin at 5:30 p.m. with Funny Cars and then Top Fuel vying for one of the top 16 spots in the field. Saturday will feature two more sessions at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. with Top Fuel and Funny Car. Final eliminations will begin on Sunday, October 17 at 11:30 a.m.

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE AUTOTRADER ECHOPARK AUTOMOTIVE 500 TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY FORT WORTH, TEXAS OCT. 17, 2021
RACE #33 – TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAYHendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott head into the opening race of the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Playoffs Round of 8 focused on moving one step closer to the coveted Driver Championship title.  
Sunday’s 334-lap Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas Motor Speedway is the first of three races on tap for the NCS Playoffs Round of 8. The 1.5-mile Texas oval was added to the Playoff schedule in 2005, but this season marks the first time that the venue will host the seventh race on the post-season schedule and the first race of the Round of 8. Texas Motor Speedway is now the fifth different track to host the seventh race of the Playoffs, alongside Atlanta Motor Speedway (2004-2008), Talladega Superspeedway (2009-2010), Martinsville Speedway (2011-2019) and Kansas Speedway (2020). 
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 1LE, reclaimed the top spot in the standings with his field-high seventh victory of the season at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course. In his fifth Playoff appearance, the 2021 season marks Larson’s first time advancing to the Round of 8. Joining Larson in the eight-driver Playoff field is Hendrick Motorsports teammate and reigning NCS Champion Chase Elliott. Behind the wheel of the No. 9 Kelley Blue Book Camaro ZL1 1LE, Elliott enters the 501-mile race sixth in points as he seeks a second consecutive NCS title.
Team Chevy has recorded 14 wins in 40 NASCAR Cup Series races on the high-banked Texas Motor Speedway track. Career Chevrolet driver Jimmie Johnson leads all drivers with seven wins at the racetrack, including five in the Playoffs.
A capsule look at Team Chevy in the title hunt: 
Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 1LE – 1st in Playoff Standings (+42 points above cutline)Victories: 7 (field-high)Top-Fives: 17; Top-10’s: 23; Poles: 1; Laps Led: 2,011Average Finish: 9.7Stage Wins: 15At Texas (13 career NCS starts): Top-Fives: 3; Top-10’s: 4; Average Finish: 19.769Of Note: Larson has captured two points-paying wins on 1.5-mile tracks this season (Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway), in addition to the non-points NASCAR All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway in June. His career-best finish at Texas of second was captured in the April 2017 after starting 32nd. 
Chase Elliott, No. 9 Kelley Blue Book Camaro ZL1 1LE – 6th in Playoff Standings (-2 points below cutline)Victories: 2Top-Fives: 13; Top-10’s: 18; Laps Led: 527; Average Finish: 11.8Stage Wins: 4At Texas (10 career NCS starts): Top-Fives: 2; Top-10’s: 5; Average Finish: 12.000; Of Note: Elliott has finishes of seventh or better in four races in a row on 1.5-mile tracks this season. His best finish at Texas of fourth came in the November 2016 race. Elliott has one NXS win at the track (April 2016), among three top-five finishes in the series. The 2021 NCS season marks Elliott’s sixth consecutive year of being part of the Playoff field. Six of his 13 career NCS wins have come in the Playoffs. 
FOUR TEAM CHEVY DRIVERS IN NXS ROUND OF 8NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) Regular Season Champion AJ Allmendinger, driver of the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Camaro SS, won for the third consecutive year on the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course to clinch a spot in the Round of 8. Team Chevy drivers also advancing were Justin Allgaier, Noah Gragson and Justin Haley. The Bowtie brigade made a strong showing in the series’ opening round of the Playoffs, with a Chevrolet driver capturing the victory in all three races of the Round of 12. 
The NXS Round of 8 gets underway Saturday, October 16, with the 200-lap/300-mile Andy’s Frozen Custard 335 at Texas Motor Speedway. Last weekend’s race winner, AJ Allmendinger, will lead the field to the green from the pole. Chevrolet, now with 15 wins, continues to sit atop of the Manufacturer Standings.
CHEVROLET CONTINUES ATOP STANDINGSChevrolet remains the leader in the NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Standings in pursuit of its 40th title. Team Chevy has recorded manufacturer highs of 15 victories, 137 top-10 finishes, 3,495 laps led and 28 stage wins through 32 races. The Bowtie Brand has already surpassed its totals for wins (9), top-10 finishes (120), laps led (2,399) and stage wins (21) from the 36-race 2020 season.
KING OF THE ROADChevrolet won five of the six NCS road course races this season: Chase Elliott (Circuit of The Americas, Road America), Kyle Larson (Watkins Glen, Sonoma, Charlotte ROVAL) and AJ Allmendinger (Indianapolis). The Bowtie Brand has led 324 of the 572 total laps and recorded 14 top-five finishes on road courses this season. 
CHEVROLET CONTINUES ‘MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER’ AT TEXASFor Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Chevrolet again supports the American Cancer Society by contributing to the cause $350 for every lap run under caution, with a maximum of $50,000, during three NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) races in October, including this weekend’s NCS race at Texas Motor Speedway. To also help raise awareness, a specially-themed pink “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will serve as the pace car for the 334-lap/501-mile NCS race at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, October 17. Chevrolet will also host a limited number of breast cancer survivors and guests at Texas, offering them a fun-filled afternoon at the track. 
“We are very proud to partner with the American Cancer Society and carry the ACS logo on the pace car during October races,” said Sean Finegan, Director, Chevrolet Motorsports Marketing and Activation. “The responses we receive at the tracks are always so positive, and we’re very humbled that we’re able to participate in this cause.”
ON THE WAY TO THE GREENWith no practice or qualifying for the 334-lap race, the starting lineup is determined by NASCAR’s metrics system that was introduced to the series last year and incorporates results from both individual races and season-long results. Team Chevy’s Top-20 starters:1st    Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 1LE 6th    Chase Elliott, No. 9 Kelley Blue Book Camaro ZL1 1LE 9th    Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Camaro ZL1 1LE12th  William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL1 1LE14th  Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1 1LE15th   Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Off Road Camaro ZL1 1LE17th  Kurt Busch, No. 1 Monster Energy Camaro ZL1 1LE19th  Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Freeway Insurance Camaro ZL1 1LE
BOWTIE BULLETS·      Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 15 wins, 137 top-10 finishes and 3,495 laps led of 7,786 total this season.·      Chevrolet’s next win will be the 25th with the Camaro ZL1 1LE over two seasons.·      In addition to its 14 wins, Chevrolet has amassed 71 top-five and 167 top-10 finishes in 40 races since 1997 at Texas Motor Speedway.·      Austin Dillon won the July 2020 race at Texas Motor Speedway and Richard Childress Racing teammate, Tyler Reddick, was runner-up. ·      Chevrolet has registered three consecutive wins at Texas Motor Speedway on two occasions: Nov. 5, 2006 (Tony Stewart), April 15, 2007 (Jeff Burton), Nov. 4, 2007 (Jimmie Johnson) and by Johnson on Nov. 2, 2014, April 11, 2015, and Nov. 8, 2015.·      Johnson leads all drivers with seven wins and 16 top-five finishes at Texas Motor Speedway.·      Kurt Busch is tied for most starts at Texas Motor Speedway with 36 and most top-10 finishes with 23. ·      Kyle Larson paces all drivers with 2,011 laps led this season.·      Larson will start on the pole for the ninth time this season.·      Hendrick Motorsports, which leads the Owner Standings, is tied for most wins at Texas Motor Speedway with nine.·      Five Team Chevy drivers have combined for 28 stage wins: Chase Elliott (Daytona RC, Michigan, Daytona2, Charlotte2); William Byron (Homestead, Pocono2, Road America); Tyler Reddick (Road America, Indianapolis road course x2); Kurt Busch (Nashville Superspeedway, Pocono1, Atlanta2); Kyle Larson (Las Vegas, Atlanta x2, Kansas, Dover x2, Charlotte x3, Sonoma x2, Nashville, Darlington2, Bristol2, Las Vegas2).
FOR THE FANS:

• Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Texas Motor Speedway. 
• Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles including: 2021 1500 Trail Boss, 2022 Camaro ZL1, 2021 Tahoe, 2022 Trailblazer RS, 2022 Silverado HD High Country, 2021 Colorado LT and 2020 Pink Corvette.  
• At the Chevrolet Display, fans can also view Chase Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE show car.  

TEAM CHEVY QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSIONS AT THE DISPLAY:Saturday, October 16·      Sam Mayer: 11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. ·      Joe Graf Jr: 11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. ·      Landon Cassill: 11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ·      Jeremy Clements: 12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m.  Sunday, October 17·      Ross Chastain: 10:05 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. ·      Erik Jones: 10:40 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. ·      Daniel Suarez: 11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.  Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation: 

• Saturday, October 16: 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 
• Sunday, October 17: 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

TUNE INNBC will telecast the 334-lap NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at 2 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 17. Live coverage is also on PRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. NBC will also telecast the 200-lap NASCAR Xfinity Series Andy’s Frozen Custard 335 at 3 p.m. ET Saturday, Oct. 16.
QUOTABLE QUOTESKYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 1st IN STANDINGSLARSON ON OUTLOOK FOR THIS ROUND: “We’ve been good on the intermediate tracks this year and we have two to start this round. We weren’t as good as I would have liked at Texas, but we were able to get the victory in the All-Star Race. And we led a lot of laps at Kansas, so we are looking forward to getting back there. We ran top five at Martinsville, and that is a track where I don’t have much success but feel positive about it because of how we ran there in the spring.”
CLIFF DANIELS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1 1LEDANIELS PREVIEWING ROUND OF 8: “We won the Texas All-Star Race, but we weren’t that good at the beginning and had to work on that car a lot. We learned a lot in that race. We led a lot of laps at Kansas but didn’t finish out that race like we wanted. Martinsville has not been one my or Kyle’s best tracks, but we had great notes from the (No.) 9 team from their win last year and we ran fifth earlier this year.”
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 KELLEY BLUE BOOK CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 6th IN STANDINGSELLIOTT ON KICKING OFF THE ROUND OF 8: “Texas, obviously, has been a real tough place for us. I feel like the good news is we had a really good run there at the All-Star Race for the first time since the repave, so that was really encouraging. Sometimes you’ve got to be careful about having a good run and going back because it doesn’t always work out. The way that we’ve performed at all three of the upcoming tracks earlier in the year, I feel like we can go and have a shot to win any of them, really. I hope we can lock ourselves in and go have another shot at a championship.”
ELLIOTT ON IF ANYTHING FEELS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS YEAR’S PLAYOFFS VS LAST YEAR’S PLAYOFFS: “Not a lot, to be honest. Other than just a little more experience of going through the rounds and what some of those challenges were down the stretch last year. I feel like that helps prepare us a little better. Some of the guys on our team, myself included, had never been in those situations, never been in the running at Phoenix and seen what that was like. I think that’s a good thing, but at the same time I don’t know that the message really changes a ton. The big thing for us last year was just trying to enjoy those big spots, having fun with them and trying to thrive in those big moments and I honestly don’t think that ever really changes. I really don’t feel a ton different; I am excited. Again, this is my favorite time of year and a part of the season that matters most so we are ready to get after it.”
WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 13th IN STANDINGSBYRON ON HIS MENTALITY FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON: “I have learned pretty quickly to put the past behind you and move forward. We have four more chances to win coming up before the season ends and we’re going to take every opportunity that we get. If we look at the last round, we probably had the best car in two of those races. We just had bad luck, and even then we almost overcame it all. Moving forward, these next tracks are strong for us, especially our mile-and-a-half program. I think we’re going to do good things in these last races. It sucks that we won’t be in the playoffs, but a win is a win, and that’s what we’re here to do still.”
RUDY FUGLE, CREW CHIEF, NO. 24 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1 1LEFUGLE ON CLOSING OUT THE 2021 SEASON STRONG: “I couldn’t be more proud of what William and the guys of the No. 24 team have done this season, especially in the playoffs. We controlled as much as we could have. And when things happened that we couldn’t control, we still worked as a group to overcome them as best as we could. Would we have loved to make it to the next round? Of course we would. That doesn’t mean our season is over, though, at this point. We’re going to go out there and try get as many wins as we can to close out the season and keep them still talking about us. We know what we’re capable of as a team, and we will continue to have the same goals – show up to the racetrack and execute the best race we can. First stop is winning a cowboy hat in Texas Sunday.”
ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 14th IN STANDINGSBOWMAN ON HIS MINDSET HEADING TO TEXAS: “Obviously being out of the playoffs isn’t what our team wanted, but a lot of things just didn’t go our way in Charlotte. We really wanted to go into the Round of 8 and on to compete for a championship for Ally, but we still have four more races to compete for wins and that is what we are going to do. Our mile-and-a-half program is really strong at Hendrick Motorsports and I know each time we unload we are going to have a good day.”
BOWMAN ON TESTING THE NEXT GEN CAR: “It’s a big change for sure. I think the car tends to make a lot more grip around the ROVAL, which I think we all expected that bring the NextGen to a road course. It is a lot of fun to drive and drives really well. You can slide it around and drive it pretty hard. The sequential transmission is pretty cool to work with as well. Anytime that you make significant changes to the airflow of a racecar, you are going to change how the car drives. Each change we made had its own characteristics that it brought to the racecar.”
GREG IVES, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE IVES ON OVERCOMING CHALLENGES AT THE CHARLOTTE ROVAL: “We needed to be about nine spots better on Sunday, but in the end we had to battle alternator issues and changing batteries, so all in all it was a race full of adversity. In the end, we struggled with the battery we had but thankful to get a top 10 out of it. The ROVAL lived up to its playoff-ending round event. We were still able to make passes and I feel like if we were able to get up front it would have been exciting.”
AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BASS PRO SHOPS/TRACKER OFF ROAD CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 17th IN STANDINGSTELL US ABOUT RACING AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY AND HOW IT DIFFERS FROM OTHER 1.5-MILE TRACKS, SUCH AS KANSAS SPEEDWAY? “Texas Motor Speedway is a bit different from Kansas Speedway in that it has two different ends. You have one end that’s very banked and has high speeds, and then you have a hard end where you have to get turned and get back on the gas. Texas Motor Speedway just has so much grip now. It’s quite a bit different, and the banking has changed a lot from the old track to the new track. I really like Texas and am looking forward to getting there. Our team is hungry to get back to Victory Lane, and I’m looking forward to debuting our Bass Pro Shops Flannel Fest paint scheme.”
ERIK JONES, NO. 43 MEDALLION BANK CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 24th IN STANDINGSTALK ABOUT RACING AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY AND HOW IT DIFFERS FROM OTHER 1.5-MILE TRACKS? “Texas (Motor Speedway) is kind of it’s own animal, as far as 1.5-mile tracks go. All four turns are just so different that it’s hard to get your car to handle well. You have to really have your car so high in the air, essentially, for (turns) 3 and 4, that it’s hard to get through (turns) 1 and 2 and have your car driving good. It’s a tough balance, but I like Texas. I enjoy racing there. Since the repave, it’s been a little bit narrow. But I think in the last year or so, it’s started to widen out a little bit. Hopefully it continues to go that way so we can start to move around a little bit more. I think that’s going to help the racing a lot.”“It is tough. It’s its own animal where you want to be really trimmed down and fast in 3 and 4; and in 1 and 2, you kind of need to be the total opposite. You need a lot of downforce and a lot of handling to get through there. It’s tough to get your car to do both.”
DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 FREEWAY INSURANCE CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 25th IN STANDINGSWHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT TESTING THE NEXT GEN CHEVROLET CAMARO AT CHARLOTTE ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY?         “That was a blast. Our new car was looking great and a lot of fun to drive. It’s a completely different race car. The transmission is amazing. The brakes are amazing and the aero is awesome. We have to keep working. learning and prepare for next year.
“That doesn’t mean we are giving up on this year. My focus is still on this season. I believe the best thing you can to for the future is do well in the present. We have lots of racing left this season and that’s my focus.”
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON TEXAS? “I have had some of my best finishes of my career at Texas so I am very optimistic about Sunday. We really didn’t get to race much in the All-Star Race (at Texas) because of a wreck in front of us that took us out of the race. We just need to keep working and getting better and I think that will happen in Texas.”
ARE YOU READY TO MEET FANS ON SATURDAY AT TEXAS? “Oh yes. That’s going to be a lot of fun. I am honored to be part of this event that I hope will make a lot of children happy, and will be a lot of fun for everyone who comes out. My friends at Freeway Insurance have a big day planned for us and I can’t wait to get to Texas. I want to have a good time Saturday with Freeway Insurance and win the race for the fans on Sunday.”
RYAN PREECE, NO. 37 LITTLE HUG CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 26th IN STANDINGSPREECE ON HAVING LITTLE HUG FRUIT BARRELS ON HIS CAMARO ZL1 1LE AND HIS OUTLOOK ON TEXAS: “I think all of us growing up had Little Hug Fruit Barrels. Whenever you took a break from playing outside, you ran inside and grabbed a Little Hug. My favorite flavor was grape. I would have a grape Little Hug and it was a good refresher.”
“I learned recently that Little Hug’s parent company is based in Connecticut not far from where I grew up. That makes me even more proud to have them on our Camaro at Texas.”
“We’re looking forward to Texas and we feel like we’ve been moving forward in the right direction. We learned a lot when we were there last time and feel good about having a strong finish for Little Hug.” 
Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series StatisticsManufacturers Championships:Total (1949-2020): 39First 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 Drivers Championships:Total (1949-2020): 32First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)Most Recent: Chase Elliott (2020) 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 Event Victories:Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)                2021 STATISTICS:                                                                                                    Wins: 15Poles: 5Laps Led: 3,495Top-five finishes: 64Top-10 finishes: 137Stage wins: 28 – Chase Elliott (Daytona RC, Michigan, Daytona, Charlotte RC), William Byron (Homestead, Pocono 2, Road America), Kyle Larson (Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Atlanta x2, Kansas, Dover x2, Charlotte x3, Sonoma x2, Nashville, Darlington, Bristol), Kurt Busch (Nashville, Pocono 1, Atlanta 2, Las Vegas 2), Tyler Reddick (Road America, Indy RC x2)  CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 810 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 722Laps led to date: 240,200Top-five finishes to date: 4,129Top-10 finishes to date: 8,539                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:           General Motors: 1,144           Chevrolet: 810           Pontiac: 154           Oldsmobile: 115           Buick: 65            Ford: 811                                                        Ford: 711           Mercury: 96           Lincoln: 4            Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467           Dodge: 217           Plymouth: 191           Chrysler: 59            Toyota: 162 

Brandon Sheppard will claim his fourth Series championship on Nov. 4-6CONCORD, NC – October 14, 2021 – A season of thrills and compelling action for the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models has all led to the NGK NTK World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Nov. 4-6. The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet will battle on the red clay for three nights, starting with Qualifying on Thursday, Nov. 4, for Friday and Saturday’s Feature events.  The two nights of racing will each see 40-lap Features paying $12,000-to-win—capping off a 49-race season.  Joining the World of Outlaws Late Models at illustrious NGK NTK World Finals are the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and the Super DIRTcar Series.  Tickets: CLICK HERE. The mega-event is back after a one-year hiatus, and fans who attend this year’s edition will catch a glimpse at history.  Brandon Sheppard has mathematically secured his third consecutive Series championship and fourth overall—tying Josh Richards for most all-time. However, he won’t officially claim the momentous achievement until the conclusion of the Morton Buildings Feature on Nov. 6. When he does, he’ll also be the only driver to win the title three years in a row. The championship feats aren’t the only history he’ll be chasing, too. “The Rocket Shepp” is one victory away from tying Richards for the most World of Outlaws Late Model wins in Series history (78). A weekend sweep would put him at the top of the mountain with more wins than any other driver.  While Sheppard chases history, some of the best Late Model drivers in the country will try to deny him of it.   His year-long championship rival Chris Madden will get a chance at two more victories in front of his home fans. The Charlotte Dirt Track is only an hour from his Gray Court, SC dwelling. Madden has three World Finals wins and hopes to add another to his four-win season with the World of Outlaws. Dennis Erb Jr. is another driver hoping to find Victory Lane for the fourth time in 2021—along with a second World Finals triumph. The “One Man Band” last found Victory Lane at The Dirt Track in 2017.  A few of year’s top performers such as Brandon Overton, Tim McCreadie, and Jonathan Davenport hope to find Victory Lane throughout the weekend, as well. All three drivers have a World of Outlaws win this season, including Davenport’s $50,000 triumph at Cedar Lake in August. Overton and McCreadie are each having one of their best seasons in a Late Model. Overton has found Victory Lane 28 times in 2021, including five World of Outlaws wins, two Dirt Late Model Dreams, and a World 100 victory. “T-Mac” has nine wins in 2021, including a Series triumph at Richmond Raceway. The Watertown, NY driver also won a National touring series championship this season.  Overton and McCreadie are the last two World of Outlaws winners at The Dirt Track—each winning an event during 2020’s World of Outlaws Last Call. Those drivers, plus World of Outlaws standouts Tyler Bruening, Ricky Weiss, Ryan Gustin, Boom Briggs, and Brent Larson, hope to bring the house down on the biggest stage of the season.  If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision – either online or through the DIRTVision App.

The World of Outlaws Morton Buildings® Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider) VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors, including: Arizona Sport Shirts/Gotta Race, ARP (Automotive Racing Products), Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, MSD, Penske Racing Shocks, Quarter Master, Slick Woody’s (Quick Time Award), and Wrisco (Exclusive Racing Aluminum); along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Capital Race Cars, FireAde, Integra Shocks, Intercomp

Shark Racing #1A Driver Records Most Top-10 Finishes in World of Outlaws Career

CONCORD, NC – October 14, 2021 – Jacob Allen’s patient mindset is one of his greatest strengths, but he’ll be the first to admit it’s been challenging this year.

After breaking through for his long-awaited first career World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory last year, Allen wanted that winning feeling again in 2021, but he hasn’t found it yet.

It’s been tough without as many of those winning contending nights, but he’s picked up another area of consistency with his most top-10 results (19) in a season with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

“I would say it’s been alright,” Allen noted on his year. “It’s been different more than anything. Overall, it’s like another year on the Outlaw tour: you learn a little bit more and you evolve on different skills.”

With five races remaining, including the season-ending NGK/NTK World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Nov. 4-6, the Shark Racing pilot currently sits 10th in the championship standings. It took seven full years on tour for him to finish top-10 in the points, and now he’s done it in back-to-back seasons.

The Hanover, PA native surpassed 400 career starts with the Series this year and enjoyed several significant runs such as his podium finish at Huset’s in August and his hard-charging 24th to ninth bid at Eldora’s Kings Royal in July.

The most obvious difference in Allen’s 2020 and 2021 campaigns is his preliminary performances.

Last year, the Drydene Performance Products #1A averaged a 6.82 qualifying position with five Slick Woody’s QuickTimes. That’s compared to this year with an average qualifying position of 12.59 and only one QuickTime Award.

He also racked up 12 Team Drydene Heat Race wins last year, bumping his DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash appearances compared to only two heat wins this year.

The 27-year-old was on the front row of six NOS Energy Drink Features in 2020, whereas that has only happened twice in 2021.

All of these numbers are aware to Allen, and he’s focused on fixing them.

“I had so many chances to start up front and win races last year, but I’m not capitalizing early in the night anymore,” Allen said. “I haven’t been in those Dashes to put myself in the position I need to be in.”

“I feel better as a driver, though,” he added. “I feel like I make better moves, I’m more adept at changing lines, I’m keeping my momentum up. I feel more skilled in those areas as a driver, but we’ve had motor issues and just different things happen to prevent those feelings from translating to results.”

Racing with The Greatest Show on Dirt is no easy task, though, and Allen knows that. He’s remaining patient and looking forward to his next night out.

“It’s a process,” Allen said. “You’re never where you want to be, but that always gives you something to strive for. I just have to be patient and understand that where I came from in my Sprint Car career it will take me a bit longer to get where I want to be. I just have to stay focused on that path.”

Allen is fresh off a top-five finish at Port Royal Speedway and now heads for Kansas’ Lakeside Speedway next week on Friday, October 22. Then he’s got Oklahoma’s Lawton Speedway on Friday, October 29, and Texas’ Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Saturday, October 30.

Following that, the NGK/NTK World Finals consume The Dirt Track at Charlotte for a season-ending event of epic proportions on November 4-6. Fans can BUY TICKETS HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch Allen take on all remaining World of Outlaws events live on DIRTVision – either online or through the DIRTVision App.

Batavia, OH (October 13, 2021) – It pays to win, and in 2022 winners will be paid more than at any time in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series history. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is proud to announce the 2022 schedule, with a groundbreaking lineup that includes 65 feature events, at 35 different venues, across 18 states. Of those, 17 events will boast a top prize of more than $20,000 – including 11 marquee events that pay $50,000 or more to the winner. In addition to the generous number of high-paying events in 2022, next year’s Lucas Oil National Champion will receive a monumental $150,000. Second-place in the championship standings will earn $75,000, while third-place garners $50,000. The year-end points fund for the Top-12 in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will total more than $500,000 in 2022. “The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series would like to thank our team owners, drivers and crew members, our event promoters, our loyal fans, and our tremendous marketing partners for their continued support,” said Rick Schwallie, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Director. “It is because of each of you, along with the hard work and determination of series officials and the unwavering support of Lucas Oil Products, that the series had another successful season that left promoters wanting to host bigger events than ever before in 2022.” The Series will head to a quartette of new venues in 2022, including Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, PA on June 23-25 for the 16th Annual Firecracker 100 presented by Big River Steel; Davenport, Iowa’s quarter-mile oval on Wednesday, July 6; I-70 Motorsports Park in Odessa, MO on Thursday, July 14; and Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, SD on Tuesday, July 19. For the first time since 2013, the stars of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series return to West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells, WV, Friday-Saturday, June 3-4. The extensive list of events on the tour’s schedule that boast a $20,000 or greater payday include: 411 Motor Speedway’s Tennessean ($20,000); Tyler County Speedway’s 53rd Hillbilly Hundred ($30,000); Lucas Oil Speedway’s Show-Me 100 ($50,000); West Virginia Motor Speedway’s Historic 100 ($50,000); Smoky Mountain Speedway’s Mountain Moonshine Classic ($50,000); Lernerville Speedway’s Firecracker 100 Presented by Big River Steel ($50,000); Muskingum County Speedway ($30,000); Deer Creek Speedway’s NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50 ($50,000); I-80 Speedway’s Silver Dollar Nationals ($53,000); Florence Speedway’s North/South 100 ($75,000); Batesville Motor Speedway’s Topless 100 ($50,000); Port Royal Speedway’s The Rumble by the River ($50,000); Tyler County Speedway’s 54th Hillbilly Hundred ($30,000); Knoxville Raceway’s Late Model Nationals ($50,000); Brownstown Speedway’s Jackson 100 ($20,000); Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway’s Pittsburgher ($20,000); and Portsmouth Raceway Park’s Dirt Track World Championship ($100,000). 2022 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Points Fund:1. $150,0002. $75,0003. $50,0004. $40,0005. $35,0006. $32,0007. $30,0008. $26,0009. $25,00010. $24,00011. $23,00012. $20,000 2022 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Schedule:

About Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt SeriesFounded in 2005, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series showcases the talents of the top dirt late model drivers from across the country. In 2021, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will sanction 59 events across 18 states, including some of the biggest marquee events in the industry, providing dirt slinging, sideways, door-to-door racing action lap after lap.  The series receives national exposure through a television package filmed, produced and edited by Lucas Oil Production Studios. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events will broadcast on four networks including CBS, NBC Sports, CBS Sports Network and the MAVTV Motorsports Network.   The in your face excitement of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is second to none in motorsports. For more information, including the latest news, tour schedule, driver information, and more, visit the official website at: www.LucasDirt.com.

2021 Official Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Marketing Partners

2021 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Partners Include:Advanced Powder Coating, Allstar Performance, Arizona Sport Shirts, Automotive Racing Products, Big River Steel, Bilstein, Black Diamond Chassis, Boyd Bilt Fabrication, Brandon Ford, Brodix, Capital Race Cars, Cornett Racing Engines, CP Carrillo Pistons, DirtonDirt.com, DirtCarLift.com, Dirt Draft, Dirty Girl Racewear, Dixie Chopper, E3 Spark Plugs, Earnhardt Technologies Group, Eibach Springs, Etchberger Trucking, Fast Shafts, General Tire, Heath Lawson Photography, Holmatro, Hoosier Tire, Hot Rod Processing, Keyser Manufacturing, K&N Engineering, LINE-X, Longhorn Chassis, Lucas Oil Products, MAVTV Motorsports Network, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, Midwest Sheet Metal, Miller Welders, MSD Performance, MyRacePass, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Öhlins Shocks, OPTIMA Batteries, Outerwears, Penske Racing Shocks, Performance Bodies, Pit Stop USA, Pro Power Racing Engines, ProtectTheHarvest.com, Rocket Chassis, Rugged Radios, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson Race Products, Slicker Graphics, Stop Tech Brakes, Sunoco Race Fuels, Super Clean, Swift Springs, Summit Racing Equipment, Thermo-Tec Automotive Products, UNOH – University of Northwestern Ohio, Vahlco Wheels, Vic Hill Race Engines, Whelen Engineering Company Inc, Wrisco Aluminum, 5150 Race Trailers

BRISTOL, Tenn. (Oct. 13, 2021) – With only three races left in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship, John Force and the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS team will be taking advantage of every opportunity to close their 115 points gap with the Funny Car leader at this weekend’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The PEAK Chevy team have kept their chances for a 17th championship alive with five final round appearances that included three wins first at the Charlotte Four-Wide, then New England Nationals and sharing the winners circle with daughter Brittany in Topeka at Heartland Motorsports Park and three No. 1 qualifying positions (Charlotte Four-Wide, U.S. Nationals and Carolina Nationals). A win at Bristol Dragway will not only keep them in the championship conversation but could extend to 14 the number of seasons Force has won at least four races. “A bit of bad luck in Dallas. But we still went some rounds and the way things shook out on race day were okay for us,” said Force referring to Ron Capps beating points leader Matt Hagan in the finals. “We’ve had a good race car all season long, I’ve changed some things just to end up changing them back, I know I’ve probably driven Danny Hood and Tim Fabrisi and Joe Barlam a little mad but we’re in it. We’re in the fight because they’ve give me a good hot rod and because I’ve held on and tried to do my job. Just have to keep on doing it.” Force has a rich racing history at Bristol where he has won four times in his career most recently in 2013. Two of Force’s wins at Bristol came en route to his two most recent championships in 2010 and 2013. He’s been to a total of six finals and been the No. 1 qualifier on two occasions ,2015 and his most recent appearance in 2019 when was the No. 1 qualifier and eventual runner-up to Bob Tasca III. “Bristol is special, it usually falls on Father’s Day weekend and that’s something I enjoy because I have my girls out here racing with me, first Ashley, then Courtney and now Brittany. It truly is Thunder Valley. The fans are great and I’m looking forward to seeing it all in fall,” Force said. “Having an extra race in the Countdown, well it depends where you’re at, could help some, could hurt others, I’m hoping we’re on the helping side. We’re going to stay focused, go some rounds and hopefully get this PEAK Chevy in the winners circle.” Qualifying at the NRHA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway begins Friday with the first session at 5:30 p.m. and continues Saturday with sessions at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Eliminations are slated for Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Television coverage of the weekend starts with the first qualifying show Friday night at 7 p.m. and continues with a second qualifying show Sunday at 1 p.m. followed by the finals at 2 p.m. ET all on FOX Sports 1 (FS1).

BRISTOL, Tenn. (Oct. 13, 2021) – Three-time world champion Robert Hight and his Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS team are hoping to start a strong end to an unpredictable 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season at this weekend’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. Hight and his Auto Club team are coming off a No. 1 qualifying position that earned them an extra $15,000 at the Texas Motorplex’s Stampede of Speed at the NHRA FallNaitonals last weekend. It was there second No. 1 of the season, the first was at the Las Vegas Four-Wide event. Seventh in the Funny Car points standings, the Auto Club Chevy has two victories in 2021 at the SpringNationals in Houston and Sonoma Raceway’s NHRA Sonoma Nationals as well as two runner-up finishes at the season opening Gatornationals and the New England Nationals. Pressure has been high for the championship team and consistency has been hard to find. They’ll look to change that this weekend. “There was a lot of pressure, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves. This Auto Club team, we’re used to being up there in qualifying, going rounds on race day, and when we weren’t doing that consistently, we got really hard on ourselves,” Hight said. “You know, there’s still a chance we could pull off a fourth championship this year, but we need to take it one run at a time, one round win at a time. We know how to race, how to win, Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham, all these Auto Club guys, we can put it all together and get wins and have fun doing it.” Success at Bristol Dragway would be big for Hight and the Auto Club team not only in their championship hunt but for their overall statistics at the facility. It is one of only two tacks in the series (the other is Richmond) where Hight has yet to qualify No. 1. He does have one win at the Thunder Valley Nationals back in 2011 when he entered race day from the No. 6 spot. “We normally race at Bristol Dragway in June for Father’s Day. I always liked it because I’d have Autumn with me. I’m glad we are still getting the race in, having it in the Countdown adds a bit of excitement, maybe a bit of hope, especially with the Auto Club Finals having points and a half,” Hight said. “Weather is supposed to be cool so it should be exciting, should have some quick times and big speeds. We’ll just see what happens.” Qualifying at the NRHA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway begins Friday with the first session at 5:30 p.m. and continues Saturday with sessions at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Eliminations are slated for Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Television coverage of the weekend starts with the first qualifying show Friday night at 7 p.m. and continues with a second qualifying show Sunday at 1 p.m. followed by the finals at 2 p.m. ET all on FOX Sports 1 (FS1).

Oct 13, 2021 | Featured, Julie Nataas, Race Results, Rachel Meyer

It was an uncharacteristically early exit for both Randy Meyer Racing drivers Rachel Meyer and Julie Nataas this weekend at the Texas NHRA FallNationals. 

Coming into raceday, Rachel Meyer was qualified No. 2 with a 5.160, 283.49 mph in her NTK Sensor Specialist dragster and Julie Nataas was right behind her in the No. 3 spot with a 5.180, 270.81 mph in the OTG dragster. 

First round, both women faced racers for the first time in competition. In Rachel’s pairing, she used a 5.236, 277.20 to overcome Chase Copeland’s slight starting line advantage and 5.357, 266.64. In Julie’s pairing against Steve Collier, she clocked in with a 5.253, 265.22 to defeat Collier’s tire-smoking 12.074, 78.32. https://www.youtube.com/embed/zPqyBfi7EpU

Second round, Rachel’s performance remained consistent with a 5.247, 279.50 but she was barely edged out by Jackie Fricke’s 5.222, 278.75. Two pairs later, Julie gained a sizeable starting line advantage over opponent Madison Payne, but her dragster lost traction and shook, causing Julie to ease off the throttle and slow to a 5.413, 268.65, giving Payne’s 5.327, 273.16 the win.

The championship is still open for the taking between Rachel and Jackie Fricke. Rachel has decided to compete in the upcoming Las Vegas national event to defend her hopes of becoming the 2021 Top Alcohol Dragster world champion.

October 13, 2021

As the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season enters the homestretch, with just four races left to run, Matt DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Menards/Atlas/Mohawk team continue to put fast Ford Mustangs on the race tracks and come away with good results more often than not.

DiBenedetto and the team, having posted nine top-12 finishes in the past 13 races, hope to keep that momentum rolling in Sunday’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.
 
The team heads to the 1.5-mile track in Ft. Worth coming off a sixth-place finish on the ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway. That was his and the team’s ninth top-10 finish of the season, and they’re hoping to move into double digits this weekend at Texas, where they finished eighth last fall in their most recent appearance there.
 
DiBenedetto said his and the team, now 19^th in the points standings, are more focused on the checkered flag than statistics and the standings as the season winds down. 
 
“Our Menards Mustangs have been fast at Texas,” DiBenedetto said. “It’s crazy to think the season is almost over, but Texas is a track where we have had excellent speed in the past.
 
“Our only goal is to go for the win.”
 
There will be no practice or qualifying prior to the start of Sunday’s 501-miler. DiBenedetto will start 13th as the line-up was set based on metrics from the most recent race, at Charlotte, with the eight remaining Playoff contenders starting in front of all others.
 
The green flag is set to fly just after 1 p.m. (2 p.m. Eastern Time) with Stage breaks at Laps 105 and 210. NBC will carry the live TV broadcast.
 

BRISTOL, Tenn. (Oct. 13, 2021) – With three races left in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship and currently No. 2 by just 52 points, Brittany Force and the Flav-R-Pac dragster team enter this weekend’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway looking to make some serious gains on the Top Fuel lead. Force and her David Grubnic and Mac Savage led team have been making waves all season. They are just two No. 1 starts away from tying the Top Fuel category record of 13 in a season set by Tony Schumacher in 2006 and from tying the JFR team record of 13 set by John Force in 1996. Brittany Force has been the No. 1 qualifier in 13 of her last 19 starts dating back to the 2020 season and is on an active streak of eight consecutive races in which she has posted both the quickest time and fastest speed of the meet and is on a streak of 11 straight races in which her car has been the quickest on the property. Force’s average qualifying time for the last 12 races is 3.690 seconds and she is coming off a 3.637 second run at Dallas that was the fifth quickest in history. Along with her high performance and qualifying success, Force also has a win at Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka, Kan., where Brittany went onto share a historic winners circle with legendary father John Force. It was the first time in NHRA history that a parent-child duo had won together in the pro categories. The Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy team also has been to the finals five times in the 2021 Camping World Drag Racing Series season, most recently finishing runner-up at the Carolina Nationals “There’s just three races left in this Countdown to the Championship, and we are still in the fight. We’ve had a tough few weeks, but plan to turn that around,” said Force referring to her runner-up finish in Charlotte and semi-final loss in Dallas that came down to reaction time. “I’m looking forward to getting to Bristol seeing what this Flav-R-Pac team can pull off.” Force has qualified No. 1 at Bristol Dragway once, in 2014, and in her career has never qualified outside of the top 10 at the Thunder Valley Nationals. She’ll be chasing her first win at the facility en route to taking over the Top Fuel points lead. Qualifying at the NRHA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway begins Friday with the first session at 5:30 p.m. and continues Saturday with sessions at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Eliminations are slated for Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Television coverage of the weekend starts with the first qualifying show Friday night at 7 p.m. and continues with a second qualifying show Sunday at 1 p.m. followed by the finals at 2 p.m. ET all on FOX Sports 1 (FS1).

Wayne Johnson’s Sophomore Surge ContinuesTwo-C Racing Enjoys Successful Second-Half of 2021 with World of OutlawsCONCORD, NC – October 13, 2021 – There’s no denying the progression of Wayne Johnson. The proof is in the pudding.Although he earned Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year honors in 2020, it was an admittedly slow season of transition for the former ASCS National 360 Sprint Car champion. He made 54 appearances with The Greatest Show on Dirt, but only qualified for 29 Features (53%) and scored one top-10 finish.Those numbers are drastically different in 2021, specifically the second half of the season, as the Two-C Racing team hits new highs with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.Not once, not twice, not thrice, but on more than four occasions has Johnson found himself contending for wins against the likes of Brad Sweet, Donny Schatz, and David Gravel this season.The Oklahoma City native has racked up 10 top-10 finishes and led multiple races, putting him 11th in the championship standings with another five races left in his sophomore campaign.”It’s been better definitely, but we’re still not where we want to be,” Johnson admitted. “The biggest difference from last year to this year is going back to these places two, three times. Our notes are getting better and bigger, and honestly, it’s not knowing what to do, but what not to do because it didn’t work out.””I say it over and over again, look at the Shark Racing guys,” Johnson continued. “It took them about four years to really get it going, now they’re seven years in and threatening to win almost every race. This deal isn’t a one-year option, it’s a grinding commitment and pays off over time.”One of the biggest variables in Johnson’s turnaround is the off-season changes in his program.The team shuffled between four different engine builders last year and unknowingly ran with an issue on their Jacobs Ladders mounts almost all season. The chassis was fixed and Two-C committed entirely to Kistler Engines. Most of their 2020 notes became obsolete, but the crew knew exactly what they had each night now.”I don’t think we can really count last year with all of the issues we had,” Johnson noted. “Starting this year in Volusia we had speed right away and I think that showed from the changes we made. Then Brian Kemenah came to Eldora and he got us even better.”The 50-year-old driver has a diligent crew including John Ivey, Darin Robinson, and Zach Patterson carrying the #2C up and down the road. “I love my guys to death, they work their asses for me,” he added on his crew. “I’ve realized when somebody makes all the calls and I just worry about driving, it makes my job easier. It makes me better.”Among Johnson’s significant milestones this year is his 200th World of Outlaws Feature start at Sharon Speedway. Unbelievably enough, he drew the pole position in all four DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash appearances. Four Team Drydene Heat Race wins and two MicroLite Last Chance Showdown victories are also on his resume.His greatest races included Huset’s in August, when he started pole position and led 13 laps, and Lernerville in September, when outdrove Gravel on Lap 1 and led the initial 12 laps.The road to Charlotte first leads Johnson through Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, all to tracks closer to home and familiar to him.He’ll head for Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, KS on Friday, October 22, then he’s extra excited for a doubleheader on Halloween weekend which takes the Series to Lawton Speedway in Lawton, OK on Friday, October 29 and Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, TX on Saturday, October 30.Oklahoma’s Lawton’s date is the Outlaws’ lone appearance in the Sooner State this year. Johnson has won countless races at the 1/4-mile bullring, which sits only 70 miles from his house.”Even when we were no good last year, we were better at those because I have confidence,” he said on racing near home. “I’ve won a lot at both of those tracks. It’s like the PA Posse, you know it’s my home. I’m pumped to go back.”Johnson’s sophomore season will officially conclude on November 4-6 when #AllDirtRoads lead to the NGK/NTK World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. Fans can BUY TICKETS HERE.If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch Johnson take on all remaining World of Outlaws events live on DIRTVision – either online or through the DIRTVision App.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink® Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider) and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include ARP (Automotive Racing Products), Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Award), MSD and Slick Wood

NHRA^® Team Report

NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals – Bristol

Pre-Race Report

Cruz Pedregon and the Snap-on^® Dodge^® Hellcat^® Funny Car are heading to Bristol in the #3 spot in the NHRA Countdown, moving up a rankings spot by having a career-first five bonus points from the Dallas race. 

“Hats off to our Crew Chief JC (John Collins) and Assistant Crew Chief Rip (Reynolds) and the team. They are on their game…really doing a great job of preparing me and giving me a really good car,” says Cruz. “It will be interesting to race Thunder Valley at this time of year. We’re used to being here in the late spring, but no matter what the weather holds, the Snap-on Dodge doesn’t mind where it is. We’ve been running well in all temperatures and altitudes, and we plan to do so again this weekend.”

Cruz calls Bristol a “cool track” and says it’s one of the premier venues on the NHRA circuit with all the bells and whistles of the modern stadium look and feel.

Cruz’s car will once again be decked out in the Snap-on Tools Socket to Breast Cancer paint scheme through the Breast Cancer Awareness month of October in support of raising funds for The Pink Fund^® in the U.S. and Kelly Shires Foundation in Canada. Both organizations help breast cancer patients in their time of need, including providing valuable support for Cruz’s sister Dora who is a cancer survivor. For more information on these organizations, check out ThePinkFund.org and KellyShiresFoundation.org.

Plainview, NY (October 13, 2021) — Competing in his first NHRA Countdown second-year driver Justin Ashley is not shying away from the biggest stage in drag racing. Through four playoff races the 2020 Rookie of the Year has a runner-up finish, a semifinal and most recently a win at the historic Texas Motorplex during their epic Stampede of Speed Texas NHRA Fall Nationals. The win moved him to third in the points and on the way to victory he defeated Billy Torrence, Brittany Force and Steve Torrence, all competitors in front of him in the points at the time and all representatives of multi-car operations. Ashley, racing for Davis Motorsports, driving the Smart Sanitizer Top Fuel dragster powered by Vita C Shot, is one of the few independent teams battling for the NHRA Camping World NHRA Championship.

“In my opinion, as a relatively newly formed and independent team, this Davis Motorsports team is doing something extraordinary,” said Ashley. “When you have a crew chief like Mike Green in your corner and the leadership of Dustin Davis we have experience, passion and a desire to be successful on and off the racetrack. This Smart Sanitizer crew has been terrific and as a result put us in a position to compete for a world championship.”

Justin Ashley in Smart Sanitizer Top Fuel dragster powered by Vita C Shot (photo credit Ron Lewis)

This season Ashley has been in the championship mix of Top Fuel teams since they raced to the semifinals at the season opening Gatornationals. They have been a consistently strong qualifier and Ashley’s skill on the starting line has won a number of rounds for the team. They raced to the finals at the Winternationals in late July and then the team really started to hit their stride at the perfect time when the Countdown began. Entering the playoffs in seventh place they raced to a runner-up finish in Reading, Pennsylvania, then the semifinals in Charlotte, they stumbled in St. Louis with an early exit but bounced back in Dallas with a win in dominant fashion.

“We have always had an elite team and now the results are there to provide tangible proof,” said Ashley, who picked up his first win at the 2020 Summernationals. “This is a complete team effort. You look at how we won in Dallas on Sunday. Mike Green gave me an amazing Top Fuel dragster that ran like a bracket car and the team did an amazing job servicing so everything would operate flawlessly. That was an excellent team performance all the way around, and we are going to try and improve on that for the rest of the season starting at Bristol Dragway.”

For the young team heading to the famed Thunder Valley Dragway will be a new experience but one they feel confident they can handle. Veteran crew chief Green has experience tuning drivers to victory at the Thunder Valley Nationals and the Smart Sanitizer Vita C Shot crew is experienced enough now to handle just about any challenge thrown their way.

“We are definitely still a young team, but our guys get great direction and support from Mike and Dustin,” said Ashley. “I love driving this race car with these guys. We are third in the points with only a few races remaining. We must take care of business in Bristol first. This is a great facility, and the key will be getting a good run Friday night. It sounds basic but if you can get that good first run it will set you up for success on Saturday and Sunday.”

In addition to his driving duties Ashley is constantly working to add sponsors and marketing partners to the Top Fuel operation. With season-long support from companies like KATO Fastening Systems and Auto Shocker along with a host of associate sponsors Ashley has been an incredible marketing machine. Vita C Shot came on board two races ago and is committed to the team throughout the 2022 season and Ashley continues to talk with potential businesses about the advantages of joining his operation.

“We have one of the most accessible and exciting sports on the planet,” said Ashley. “Our focus is working with our marketing partners and helping to put them in a position to grow their business, entertain their customers or employees and have a lot of fun while they are doing it. Everyone who comes to an NHRA national event wants to come back as soon as they can. We are entertaining fans and corporate guests across the country. I am always excited to talk with new companies about the benefits of being on our team.”

Qualifying for the Thunder Valley Nationals will begin at 5:30 p.m. ET on Friday, October 15 and there will be two more qualifying sessions on Saturday, October 16. Final eliminations will begin on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET.

OSWEGO, NY – October 11, 2021 – Following a post-race technical inspection, Chad Jeseo has been officially declared the winner of Sunday’s NAPA Super DIRT Week DIRTcar Pro Stock 50 at Oswego Speedway. The Averill Park, NY driver, has also claimed the 2021 DIRTcar Pro Stock Championship.  “The Pro Stock of Chad Jeseo was taken to a controlled inspection area for further evaluation,” said DIRTcar Northeast Series Director Dean Reynolds. “The car was inspected to make sure it was within GM OEM specifications. “The car was inspected by DIRTcar technicians Mark Hitchcock and Mike Welch, Nick Stone of Stone Motorsports, and Andy Rider of JACR Chassis. Representatives from Chad Jeseo as well as Albany-Saratoga and Lebanon Valley Speedway were present. “After measurements were taken, it was determined that Chad Jeseo’s Pro Stock conformed to the specifications and deemed the official winner of the DIRTcar Pro Stock 50.”  DIRTcar Pro Stock 50 (Official Results) — 1. 25-Chad Jeseo[2]; 2. 324-Jason Casey[4]; 3. 7-Rob Yetman[11]; 4. 1X-Mike White[25]; 5. 23-Scott Towslee[15]; 6. 51-Jason Meltz[8]; 7. 413-Tommy Dean[26]; 8. 2-Pete Stefanski[17]; 9. 28-Burton Ward[21]; 10. 14J-Johnny Rivers[24]; 11. 17-Nick Hilt[31]; 12. 7D-Chucky Dumblewski[7]; 13. 91-Ian Bressette[27]; 14. 75S-Gary Silkey[20]; 15. 6C-Brian Carter[23]; 16. 178-Steve LaRochelle[13]; 17. 09-Shawn Perez[29]; 18. 56-Jay Fitzgerald[22]; 19. 69-Chris Crane[9]; 20. 6-Shane Playford[19]; 21. 711-Rich Crane[5]; 22. 8N-Nick Stone[3]; 23. 70X-Josh Coonradt[6]; 24. 322-Jay Casey[14]; 25. 54S-Zachary Sorrentino[18]; 26. 75-Eli Gilbert[28]; 27. 4-Dean Charbonneau[16]; 28. 2H-Luke Horning[1]; 29. 14-Kim Duell[10]; 30. X15-Tyler Bushey[30]; 31. 57K-Kevin Fetterly Jr[12].

NAPA Super DIRT Week is brought to fans by many important sponsors and partners, including: NAPA Auto Parts, DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Billy Whittaker Cars and Trux, Chevrolet Performance and SIS Insurance. Other Super DIRT Week sponsors include: ARP (Automotive Racing Products), A-Verdi, Area Auto Racing News, ASI Race Wear, Bart Contracting Inc, Best Western Plus-Oswego, Beyea Custom Headers, Bicknell Racing Products, City of Oswego, C&S Companies, Clarion Hotel – Oswego, Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams,  Drydene, Fast Line Performance, Fast Shafts, FireAde, Fox Factory, Gypsum Express, Hoosier Racing Tire, Integra Racing Shocks, Intercomp, iRacing, K1 Race Gear, Low-E Insulation, MSD, Penske Shocks, PJC Spray Foam, Racing Electronics, SRI Performance, Tracey Road Equipment, VP Racing Fuels, and Wrisco Aluminum.  Special thanks to New York State. The Super DIRTcar Series is brought to fans by many important sponsors and partners, including: DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider), VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel), Chevy Performance Parts, iRacing (Official Online Racing Game) and NAPA Auto Parts. Contingency sponsors include: ARP (Automotive Racing Products), ASI Race Wear, Bicknell Racing Products, Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux, Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, Drydene, Fox Factory, MSD, and Wrisco (Exclusive Racing Aluminum); along with manufacturer sponsors, including: FireAde, Intercomp, and Racing Electronics.

BATAVIA, Ohio (October 11, 2021) – The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is set to finish up the 2021 season with one of the most anticipated events of the year. The 41st Annual General Tire Dirt Track World Championship – Presented by Optima Batteries – will take place October 14th-16th, at Portsmouth Raceway Park in Portsmouth, Ohio. The weekend will get started on Thursday night with preliminary events for the Open Wheel Modifieds. On Friday, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series teams will have Hot Laps, Allstar Performance Time Trials, and compete in a single set of 12-lap Heat Races. Additionally, the Limited Late Models will have their preliminary events, along with the main event for the Open Wheel Modifieds. A complete program for the Legend Cars is also on tap for Friday night. Saturday’s program kicks off with a Dirt Racing Outreach Service at 3:30 PM ET. Hot Laps will begin at 6:00 PM ET, followed by the awards presentations for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion and Eibach Springs Rookie of the Year. Consolation events for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series are set to begin at 7:00 PM ET, followed by the 100-lap, $100,000-to-win Dirt Track World Championship. After that, the Limited Late Models will compete in their 25-lap feature event, followed by the 25-lap, $3,000-to-win Jim Dunn Memorial Non-Qualifiers Race for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Jonathan Davenport is just as eager as anyone to get to Portsmouth Raceway Park this weekend for a chance at $100,000 in a race that he has yet to add his name to. “Confidence is high as ever going into the Dirt Track World Championship weekend after winning two of the Lucas Oil events in a row and having decent runs in the prior two series events at Portsmouth this year.” The pit gates will close on Friday and Saturday at 12:00 PM ET (noon) and re-open at 1:00 PM ET; the general admission gate will also open at 1:00 PM ET both days. For more information on the 41st Annual General Tire Dirt Track World Championship – Presented by Optima Batteries, visit: www.thedtwc.com; www.portsraceway.com; or call (740) 354-3278.  Track Information:Portsmouth Raceway ParkPhone Number: (740) 354-3278Location: 25648 State Route 73, West Portsmouth, OH 45663GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 38.76585 – Longitude: -83.01739Directions: 0.5 mile south of US 52 on SR 73, then right just before bridgeWebsite: www.portsraceway.com Dirt Track World Championship Tire Rule:Left Rear/Fronts – Hoosier Rib (28.5) 1300, (28.5) 1425Right Rear – Hoosier (29.0) 1300 NRM, (29.0) 1300 NRMW, (29.0) 1425 NRM, (29.0) 1425 NRMW, (92) LM40*Must use the same set of 4 tires for Time Trials and Heat Races Friday night.*For the B-Mains, competitors may use 4 new tires.*For the Non-Qualifiers Race, competitors may use 4 new tires.*For the A-Main, competitors may use 4 new tires.*Flat tire must be replaced with a used tire of the same compound and construction to retain starting position. Dirt Track World Championship Purse:1. $100,000, 2. $20,000, 3. $10,000, 4. $7,000, 5. $5,000, 6. $3,500, 7. $3,200, 8. $3,000, 9. $2,800, 10. $2,500, 11. $2,450, 12. $2,400, 13. $2,350, 14. $2,300, 15. $2,250, 16. $2,200, 17. $2,150, 18. $2,100, 19. $2,075, 20. $2,060, 21. $2,050, 22. $2,040, 23. $2,030, 24. $2,020, 25. $2,010, 26. $2,000. = $191,485 Jim Dunn Memorial Non-Qualifiers Race:1. $3,000, 2. $1,500, 3. $1,250, 4. $1,000, 5. $900, 6. $800, 7. $750, 8. $700, 9. $650, 10. $600, 11. 500, 12. $400, 13. $350, 14. $300, 15. $250, 16. $200, 17. $200, 18. $200, 19. $200, 20. $200, 21. $200, 22. $200, 23. $200, 24. $200, 25. $200, 26. $200. = $15,150 Previous Dirt Track World Championship Winners:1981 – Jim Dunn1982 – Charlie Swartz1983 – Freddy Smith1984 – Jack Boggs1985 – Freddy Smith1986 – Billy Moyer1987 – Larry Moore1988 – Donnie Moran1989 – John Mason1990 – Jack Boggs1991 – Freddy Smith1992 – Ronnie Johnson1993 – Freddy Smith1994 – Ronnie Johnson1995 – Jack Boggs1996 – Billy Moyer1997 – Marshall Green1998 – Freddy Smith1999 – Steve Francis2000 – Wendell Wallace2001 – Bart Hartman2002 – Shannon Babb2003 – Darrell Lanigan2004 – Rick Eckert2005 – Scott Bloomquist2006 – Shannon Babb2007 – Chub Frank2008 – Brian Birkhofer2009 – Jimmy Mars2010 – Earl Pearson Jr.2011 – Don O’Neal2012 – Jimmy Owens2013 – Brandon Sheppard2014 – Scott Bloomquist2015 – Scott Bloomquist2016 – Brandon Sheppard2017 – Josh Richards2018 – Josh Richards2019 – Brandon Sheppard2020 – Brandon Sheppard About General Tire:General Tire for over 100 years has offered a complete quality line of ultra-high performance, passenger, light truck, off-road, and commercial tires to meet all your needs. To learn more about General Tire, visit: www.generaltire.com About Optima Batteries:With a 40-year history of technological innovation and engineering, Optima products offer unstoppable power for extreme enthusiasts and others who require “The Ultimate Power Source.” In the past decade, Optima has revolutionized the industry with the introduction of its unique Spiralcell Technology, as well as developing the first digital battery charger and maintainer. Additional information can be obtained by visiting: www.optimabatteries.com.

Inside Line Promotions – HANFORD, Calif. (Oct. 11, 2021) – Dominic Scelzi soaked up the success of another stout weekend as he picked up a trio of feature victories during the 36^th annual Cotton Classic to push his season win total to 21 triumphs.

“I’m over the moon happy,” he said. “We had a great weekend and are closing in on 23 wins this season, which would give me 50 career. If I can hit 27 wins, which I know is a long shot, that would match the number of wins I earned in my first nine years of racing.”

Scelzi swept the night at Keller Auto Speedway on Friday, winning the Kings of Thunder 410ci winged sprint car feature as well as the Sprint Car Challenge Tour main event.

Scelzi qualified ninth quickest and placed fifth in a heat race to open the 410 action. That lined him up on the inside of the fifth row in the A Main.

“We didn’t qualify very good in the 410,” he said. “We were a little bit tight. Then in the heat race the track was fairly slick, but really dirty. We didn’t get a very good start and fell to sixth. We got back to fifth and finished there.

“In the feature we picked someone off every couple of laps. I got to fourth and then (D.J.) Netto and (Justin) Sanders hit each other. I was able to get to second. I felt good prior to that, but that helped out a ton. We restarted second and I felt like I tricked Bud (Kaeding). I got him to run the bottom in turns one and two. I ripped the top and hit the bottom in turns three and four to drive by him with a few laps remaining.”

Scelzi pulled away for the victory to add to his lead in the Kings of Thunder standings. He was just as efficient during 360 competition as he advanced from seventh to third place in a heat race and from fifth to win a qualifier. That started him on the outside of the front row in the main event.

“The scoring loop went out and they weren’t able to qualify us so they lined the heats up by pill draw,” he said. “We did really well and passed some guys. In the qualifier we methodically worked our way through there. That put us starting second in the feature. The race went green and the polesitter beat me into turn one. He missed the bottom into turns three and four and I got by him. We ran the top and bottom throughout the race. I got through traffic pretty good. I felt really, really good and we were able to lead all 30 laps to get the win.”

Saturday started with similar success for Scelzi, who timed in fourth quick in the King of the West-NARC Fujitsu Series qualifying. A heat race win was followed by a dash triumph, which put Scelzi on the pole for the feature.

“We went out 18^th in qualifying and the track had slowed down tremendously,” he said. “I was a little worried about getting a good time. I felt we had a hell of a lap. We got into the cushion perfectly and didn’t spin the tires where the cushion fell off the edge.

“In the heat race we passed Kyle (Hirst) around the top in turns one and two and then got to the bottom in turns three and four. We were around the bottom the rest of the heat race. For the dash we got put on the pole, which is awesome. We won that and started on the pole of the first feature.

“I ran the middle for most of the race, but I was able to run the top, the bottom, everywhere. The track was really slick and wide. There were three lanes of racing and we used all of them.”

Scelzi led the distance during the first of twin 20-lap main events. He was credited with 20^th in the second feature, which was completely inverted. Scelzi exited the weekend having virtually locked up the series championship.

Scelzi was also strong in the 360 portion of the night, setting quick time during qualifying, winning a heat race and finishing second in the dash. The main event wasn’t run because of a medical emergency in the pits.

This weekend will be dormant for Scelzi, whose next event is the Trophy Cup Oct. 21-23 at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif.

QUICK RESULTS –

Oct. 8 – Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford, Calif. (410 sprint car) – Qualifying: 9; Heat race: 5 (5); Feature: 1 (9).

Oct. 8 – Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford, Calif. (360 sprint car) – Heat race: 3 (7); Qualifier: 1 (5); Feature: 1 (2).

Oct. 9 – Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford, Calif. (410 sprint car) – Qualifying: 4; Heat race: 1 (2); Dash: 1 (1); Feature #1: 1 (1); Feature #2: 20 (27).

Oct. 9 – Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford, Calif. (360 sprint car) – Qualifying: 1; Heat race: 1 (4); Dash: 2 (2); Feature: Cancelled (2).

SEASON STATS –

63 races, 21 wins, 45 top fives, 53 top 10s, 58 top 15s, 60 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Oct. 21-23 at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., for the Trophy Cup

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.GaryScelziMotorsports.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DominicScelzi41

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Scelzi41

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Fuel Delivery Services, Inc. 

Based in Stockton, Calif., Fuel Delivery Services, Inc., is a premier bulk transporter of refined petroleum products. For more information, visit http://www.FuelDeliveryServices.net .

“Fuel Delivery Services, Inc., has been a partner of ours since the first year we began racing sprint cars,” Scelzi said. “They supply a lot of product for our family business as well. We’ve been fortunate to work with them for more than a decade.”

Scelzi would like to thank Scelzi Enterprises, Red Rose Transportation, Inc., Whipple Superchargers, Schoenfeld Headers, Roth Motorsports, Red Line Oil, NAPA Auto Parts, Todd Jorgensen, FK Rod Ends, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, K&N Filters, Sparco, Allstar Performance, Auto Meter, Meridian Steel, Kenny’s Components and Worldwide Bearings for their continued support.

Top Fuel — Justin Ashley, 3.759 seconds, 326.40 mph def. Steve Torrence, 3.764 seconds, 321.81 mph.

Funny Car — Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 3.930, 326.87 def. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.919, 328.78. B

Pro Stock — Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.624, 206.32 ARP Car def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — Matt Smith, EBR, 6.839, 199.08 ARP Bike def. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, Foul – Red Light.

Top Alcohol Dragster — Jackie Fricke, 5.204, 275.73 def. Matthew Cummings, 5.240, 271.79.ARP Car

Top Alcohol Funny Car — Doug Gordon, Chevy Camaro, 5.517, 267.22 def. Brian Hough, Camaro, 5.562, 262.69.

Competition Eliminator — Don Thomas, Dragster, 7.074, 178.19 def. Keith Mawhee, Chevy Cavalier, 7.777, 175.48.

Super Stock — Jimmy Hidalgo Jr., Pontiac Firebird, 9.787, 135.69 def. Harvey Emmons III, Chevy Cavalier, 9.724, 129.87.

Stock Eliminator — Brenda Grubbs, Chevy Camaro, 10.018, 131.52 def. Jerry Emmons, Camaro, 10.242, 128.59.

Super Comp — Steve Evans, Dragster, 9.777, 146.65 def. Jeromy Hefler, Dragster, Broke – No Show.

Super Gas — Austin Williams, Chevy Camaro, 9.937, 166.91 def. Jerry DeBusk, Ford Probe, 9.948, 164.83.

Super Street — Scooter Wilkins, Chevy Nova, 10.945, 141.22 def. John Leibham, Chevy Camaro, 10.903, 150.90.

Top Sportsman presented by Vortech Superchargers — Jimmy Lewis, Pontiac GXP, 6.529, 192.47 def. Darian Boesch, Chevy Camaro, 7.296, 183.52.

Top Dragster presented by Vortech Superchargers — Ross Laris, Dragster, 6.285, 183.64 def. Wayne Landry, Dragster, 6.397, 218.72.

Pro Modified — Lyle Barnett, Chevy Camaro, 5.894, 251.20 def. Justin Bond, Camaro, 5.829, 244.65.

Top Fuel Harley — Chris Smith, Weekend, 6.338, 221.63 def. David Larson, Harley, 12.460, 73.53