BATAVIA, OH (September 3, 2021) – The stars of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series are gearing up for a Labor Day weekend doubleheader in Portsmouth, Ohio and Middlebourne, West Virginia.  The action will kick off Saturday, September 4th when the tour returns to Portsmouth Raceway Park for the River Days Rumble – Presented by Pepsi. The event features a complete show of: Allstar Performance Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and a 50-lap, $15,000-to-win main event. Saturday’s racing action at Portsmouth Raceway Park will also include full shows for the Modified and Sport Modified divisions. The pit gate will close at 1:30 PM ET and reopen at 2:00 PM ET with the general admission gate opening at 4:00 PM ET. Hot laps will begin at 7:00 PM ET with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. On Sunday, September 5th teams will return to Tyler County Speedway for the 53rd Annual Hillbilly Hundred – Presented by Arizona Sport Shirts, America’s oldest running dirt late model event. There will be a complete program for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, with a 100-lap, $30,000-to-win main event. The Legend Car Series and the Crate Late Models will also be in action on Sunday, September 5th. Other Hillbilly Hundred shenanigans will be taking place throughout the day with a “Best Hillbilly Themed Campsite” judging at 1:00 PM ET and a “Best Dressed Hillbilly” contest at 5:30 PM ET, to be judged by spectators in attendance. The pit gate will close at 1:30 PM ET and reopen at 2:00 PM ET, the general admission gates will also open at 2:00 PM with on track racing action beginning at 6:15 PM ET with hot laps.  Track and Event Information:Portsmouth Raceway ParkPhone Number: 740-354-3278Location: 25648 State Route 73, West Portsmouth, OH 45663Directions: 0.5 mile south of US 52 on SR 73, then right just before bridgeWebsite: www.portsraceway.com Tyler County SpeedwayPhone Number: 304-758-2660Location: 1 Boreman School Road, Middlebourne, WV 26149Directions: 3 miles south of Middlebourne, WV on SR 18Website: www.tylercountyspeedwayonline.com Tire Rules:Portsmouth Raceway Park:Left Rear/Fronts – Hoosier Rib (28.5) 1300Right Rear – Hoosier (29.0) 1300 NRM, (29.0) 1300 NRMW, (29.0) 1425 NRM, (29.0) 1425 NRMW*Must use the same set of 4 tires for Time Trials, Heat Races, and B-Mains.*For the A-Main, competitors may use 2 new rear tires.*Flat tire must be replaced with a used tire of the same compound and construction to retain starting position. Tyler County Speedway: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*Must use the same set of 4 tires for Time Trials, Heat Races, and B-Mains.*For the A-Main, competitors may use 3 new tires.*Flat tire must be replaced with a used tire of the same compound and construction to retain starting position. Event Purses:River Days Rumble Purse (50 Laps): 1. $15,000, 2. $6,500, 3. $3,500, 4. $3,000, 5. $2,500, 6. $2,400, 7. $2,300, 8. $2,200, 9. $2,100, 10. $2,000, 11. $1,600, 12. $1,400, 13. $1,300, 14. $1,200, 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. = $57,050 Hillbilly Hundred Purse (100 Laps): 1. $30,000, 2. $12,000, 3. $7,500, 4. $5,000, 5. $4,000, 6. $3,000, 7. $2,500, 8. $2,100, 9. $2,050, 10. $2,000, 11. $1,600, 12. $1,450, 13. $1,425, 14. $1,400, 15. $1,375, 16. $1,350, 17. $1,325, 18. $1,300, 19. $1,275, 20. $1,250, 21. $1,225, 22. $1,200, 23. $1,200, 24. $1,200, 25. $1,200, 26. $1,200. = $91,125

NASCAR CUP SERIES DARLINGTON RACEWAY COOK OUT SOUTHERN 500 TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT SEPTEMBER 3, 2021
ALAN GUSTAFSON, CREW CHIEF, NO. 9 NAPA/CHILDREN’S CAMARO ZL1 1LE, met with media via teleconference in advance of this weekend’s Cook Out Southern 500 Darlington Raceway, where Gustafson will be calling his 600th career NASCAR Cup Series race. Press Conference Transcript:  MODERATOR: IN ADVANCE OF THIS WEEKEND’S RACE AT DARLINGTON, IT WILL BE YOUR 600TH START ATOP THE BOX. AS A CREW CHIEF, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES IN THAT ROLE THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER?“Yeah, I think you remember the wins, obviously. But I think for me, when I reflect back, it’s the different drivers, situations with the different drivers and the personalities, pit crew members. All those different things. I guess some of my favorites – obviously, the first win with Kyle (Busch) was a big one. The Chicago win with Mark (Martin) really stands out to me. The Brickyard with Jeff (Gordon). And then certainly Phoenix with Chase (Elliott). Those are, if I had to say the ones that I reflect on the most, probably stand out the most.” 
WHEN YOU HAD START NUMBER ONE, DID YOU EVER THINK YOU’D EVER GET TO 600?“No (laughs). I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t know I was even approaching 600 and then Morgan said something to me a couple months ago – ‘yeah, Darlington will be your 600th start’. I’m like, wow that’s crazy. I think when you start at one, you’re just hoping to get to two. And then you’re maybe kind of hoping to get to get to 30 and then you’re trying to make it two years. As you go, you’re just really trying to survive. This sport is obviously super competitive and a lot of times it’s more bad news than good news. So, you’re trying to do the best you can to prosper and survive.”
I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT DARLINGTON AND THE UNCERTAINTY OF THIS REPAVE IN TURN TWO. WITH THE XFINITY RACE BEFORE YOUR GARAGE EVEN OPENS, WILL YOU ALL BE IN A PARKING LOT SOMEWHERE MAKING ANY ADJUSTMENTS OR WILL YOU MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AT THE SHOP AND THE HAULER NOT EVEN LEAVE UNTIL SATURDAY NIGHT?“No – I don’t think we can make any significant adjustments based on the Xfinity race. I think we can make some minor adjustments. I don’t really feel like even if they run something way outside of what we expect – which I certainly don’t think that’s going to happen – it’s a difficult correlation. There’s not a direct correlation between the Xfinity cars are starting with this and we need to do that. It’s still a bit different. I think just in generalities, you’ll learn some things from the Xfinity race. That is a big unknown over there, but I don’t know that we can fix it based on their experience.”
GOING BACK TO YOUR 600TH START THIS WEEKEND, WHAT’S CHANGED FROM START ONE TO START 600 FROM ATOP THE PIT BOX? “It’s changed a lot in 600 starts. I was kind of reflecting on this the other day; just thinking about it. It’s something I usually haven’t thought about. When I first started, it was really the crew chief and the team, and man, you did everything. You did everything – spec the chassis builds; where you wanted your front clips; where you wanted your rear clips; where you wanted your frame rails; where you wanted to install the engine; what this car was going to run and the body specification when we just had the templates; how far you wanted to offset your tail; and what do you want to do with your roof. Not only did you have a vast amount of options, you had very little information to make those decisions with. I just remember back then, there was a lot of freedom and room to run; and certainly, a lot of uncertainty that came with that. Now, it’s much more granular. It’s very small stuff and we do it collaboratively.”
“What I’ve kind of seen transition through my career is racing was very team-oriented to start. Then, it became very organization-oriented. And now it’s kind of becoming very manufacturer-oriented. So, it’s just moving that direction to where it’s a much bigger concerted effort.”
I WANTED TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHERE THIS TEAM IS GOING INTO THE PLAYOFFS AS THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS. CHASE (ELLIOTT) SAID THIS WEEK THAT NOTHING IS REALLY DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF MINDSET. HE SAID HE FEELS YOU ALL ARE IN A GOOD PLACE AND READY TO GO. YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?“Yeah, I agree. We’re ready to go; we’re ready to race. This is our favorite time of year and this is when you have to make it happen. I think we’re in a good position to do that. I’m excited to get going and execute. If we do that, we certainly all feel like it’s under our control. We’ve got the ingredients in place and the opportunity there to do it. We’re certainly excited to go do that and feel good about it. I think we’ve got a great opportunity to win races and be there at Phoenix.”
THERE’S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS COULD AND OBVIOUSLY SHOOT TO HAVE ALL FOUR CARS IN AT PHOENIX. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT GETS TALKED ABOUT AMONGST YOU ALL OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT JUST DOESN’T NEED TO BE SPOKEN ABOUT? IT’S OBVIOUSLY A GOAL FOR EVERYBODY.“Yeah, I think it’s just the goal for everybody. We’re certainly all going to do everything we can to make that happen. That’s just kind of a given. It’s what we try to do every year. It’s certainly never been done and it would be extremely, extremely difficult. But that’s our goal.”
BACK WHEN THE PLAYOFFS WOULD START AT LAS VEGAS OR CHICAGO, SOMEBODY WOULD DO REALLY WELL AND OF COURSE WE’D ALL BE LIKE ‘THAT’S THE CHAMPIONSHIP FAVORITE’ BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF 1.5-MILE TRACKS AND HOMESTEAD IS 1.5-MILE. NOW, THE FIRST THREE RACES ARE ALL 750 RACES. HOW MUCH SHOULD I READ INTO DARLINGTON AND/OR RICHMOND ON TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO’S GOING TO WIN THE TITLE.“That’s a great question. That is interesting because that’s another huge thing that’s changed throughout my career is the Playoffs. It used to be 10 cars. I can remember when it was 10, that was tough. It wasn’t 10 and a win. It was 10 on points and everything had to.. (inaudible).” “Yeah, it’s changed. The first rounds are maybe not the greatest indicator on who’s going to win. I think you have to be competitive at those rounds; certainly, you have to be really good. But the guy that’s strongest in the first round, I wouldn’t say would necessarily be the odds-on favorite to win the Championship, in my opinion. So, it’s hard to say. Richmond certainly configures like Phoenix, but races way different. So, I don’t know that you can draw a correlation there. You look at the Kansas, Texas, Martinsville round – you really can’t draw a whole lot of conclusions based on what we’re going to do in this first round. I would say more than the first round, probably just the whole body of work of the season would be a better indicator than the first round.”
YOU KNOW THE MEDIA; WE WANT TO PICK A FAVORITE RIGHT AFTER THE FIRST ROUND. DO YOU DO THAT IN-HOUSE OR DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ‘THAT’S JUST ONE RACE’ OR ‘THAT’S JUST THE FIRST TWO RACES – WE’VE GOT EIGHT TO GO’. “Yeah, 10 races is a long time. To me, every race brings an opportunity. Every race brings an opportunity to score stage points, win points and bonus points. Throughout these 10 weeks, you’re going to position yourself at every race to either improve your position, decrease your position or hold neutral. That’s the way I look at it. So, every race you’re trying to better position yourself throughout the standings and throughout the playoffs. It’s very individualistic. We go to win.. (inaudible). If we go win at Darlington, the only thing I’m going to take away is A) we have more bonus points and a better position for the next round. But past that, when we go and reset at Vegas, it doesn’t really matter. All that’s going to matter about Darlington is what bonus points we scored there. I mean there are lessons learned, but that’s every day. But I think in general, when you’re talking about the playoffs, it’s very individual per race.”

Richard Childress Racing at Darlington Raceway… In 133 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Darlington Raceway, Richard Childress Racing has found success at the ‘Lady In Black’ with eights victories, 24 top-five, and 43 top-10 finishes. The Welcome N.C. organization has yet to find victory lane in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the historic South Carolina speedway, but has accumulated 10 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes. Catch the Action… The NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway will be televised live Saturday, September 4, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and will be broadcast live on the Motor Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.  The NASCAR Cup Series’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway will be televised live Sunday, September 5, beginning at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN 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 Darlington Raceway… Dillon has made 10 career starts in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway, posting a career-best second-place finish in September 2020, missing Victory Lane by a narrow margin over Kevin Harvick. Dillon also has a fourth-place finish in 2017. He finished 16th at the track earlier this year. Dillon has made three appearances at “The Lady in Black” in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, securing his best finish of fifth in 2012. The 2011 NASCAR Truck Series champion has two starts at the track in the Truck Series, earning his best finish of fifth in August 2010. 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 www.basspro.com. AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:How does Darlington Raceway suit your driving style?“I think long races in the past have fit my racing style. There is plenty of time to make the car better during a long race, and all of our wins have come in races 500 miles or more. So, I think that bodes well for Darlington. We learned a lot in the Southern 500 last year that we can translate to this weekend. Darlington is a place that falls off, so tire management becomes important and I really like that. It’s nice that we’re going to place that long run speed matters a bit.”

Tyler Reddick and the No. 8 Childress Vineyards Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Darlington Raceway… Reddick has four NASCAR Cup Series starts at Darlington Raceway, with his best finish of seventh coming last year at NASCAR’s first race back after the season paused out of COVID-19 concerns. Reddick also has three starts at the ‘Lady in Black’ in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, collecting two top-five finishes. Time for the NASCAR Playoffs… Reddick punched his ticket into the 2021 NASCAR post season after a tight battle with his RCR teammate Austin Dillon at Daytona International Speedway last weekend. It marks the sophomore NASCAR Cup Series driver’s first appearance into the NASCAR Playoffs. About Childress Vineyards… Childress Vineyards is a premier winery located at the southern gateway of the Yadkin Valley in Lexington, North Carolina. Owned by Richard Childress, NASCAR team owner and Hall of Fame member, Childress Vineyards has been producing award-winning wines with the expertise of Winemaker Mark Frizsolowski. Open daily for tours, tastings, and lunch in the Bistro. Information about Childress Vineyards can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/childresswines/, on Twitter at @ChildressWines and on Instagram at Instagram.com/childresswines. TYLER REDDICK QUOTES:These first three tracks are ones where you’ve consistently fought for top 10s, top 5s. What is your confidence level heading into your first Playoffs? “It’s good. The nice thing is that we’re going back to a venue that we’ve been to earlier this season. The speed we had early at this race at Darlington in the beginning of summer was really promising. I’m excited for sure going into Darlington. But even more exciting, after all the chaos and everything at Daytona, our fifth-place finish at Daytona is going to help our starting position at Darlington. There’s only 13 points between myself and sixth right now, and with that tight of a spread I think we’re going to see a lot of shake up right away. We’re going to try to take advantage of that.”   Does the intensity level raise up?“Yes and no. I think I experienced this level of intensity for sure when we ran the Southern 500 last year. We at times were racing around a lot of Playoff cars all night long at Darlington, and Bristol especially once we were up in the top five. We weren’t racing for what those guys were, but we were still racing to try and have a good finish. So, I think the intensity’s there whether you’re in the Playoffs or not. When you’re a Playoff driver, you’re racing really hard with those other Playoff drivers. It seemed like the guys outside of the Playoffs understand what is going on, but they’re still going to race hard for their season. The give-and-take, the mark has moved a little bit from where it is in the regular season up until that point.  But I’d say either way you have it. It’s just shaped a little bit differently whether you’re in the Playoffs or not. Last year when I wasn’t, I felt like the Playoff drivers – as they should – were racing hard for every single spot. Essentially, this one or two points at the end of the year ultimately doesn’t dictate whether I make the next round or not. So, it is different, but I wouldn’t say it’s more intense. It’s just the intensity level is with a certain group of drivers on one side and another in the Playoffs.”

Myatt Snider and the No. 2 Crosley Brands Chevrolet Camaro at Darlington Raceway… Snider has three career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Darlington Raceway, the most recent coming earlier this season in the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. The 26-year-old earned a 10th-place finish in the fall race last season. 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:With three weeks remaining before the Playoffs begin for the NASCAR Xfinity Series, what are you looking forward to? Where is your opportunity? “Darlington Raceway is one we have circled for sure. That place owes me one. Our No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro was really fast there in the spring earlier this season, but I made a rookie mistake and didn’t give myself enough room off the corner. I didn’t quite get a Darlington stripe, but I got a Daniel Hemric stripe because I ran right into his left rear without getting clear. I thought I was going to clear him, but the track narrows up fast off turn two in Darlington.”

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 04, 2021) – John Force and the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro and Brittany Force and the Monster Energy dragster will start race day at the Dodge//SRT U.S. Nationals from the No. 1 qualifying spots in their respective categories. Robert Hight and the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevy will start race day from the No. 3 spot. After making every attempt to overcome the inclement weather, NHRA officials had no choice but to cancel the final two qualifying sessions Saturday at Lucas Oil Raceway. On Friday night, John Force took the PEAK Camaro to a stellar 3.877-second pass at 330.72 mph to earn his 12th No. 1 qualifying position at the historic facility, his first since 2006. Force will be racing Sunday for his sixth win at the prestigious event. “Well, we were all watching the weather, even yesterday. This PEAK Chevy, we’re in the show, we knew that when we made the run last night at the end of the Funny Car field,” said Force who will race Dave Richards in the first round. “This is Indy so it’s still exciting. It’s still the race you want to win. Tomorrow will be beautiful, I can’t wait to see the fans in the stands and put on a show for them.” Brittany Force and the Monster Energy team landed their sixth consecutive and eighth overall No. 1 this season off a stunning 3.684-second pass at 334.57 mph. They’ll be chasing their second win of the season, first at the U.S. Nationals and 12th in Force’s career. “It’s the U.S. Nationals, there’s so much history behind this race. It’s always been the biggest race on our circuit and it’s the one race every team wants to come out and win,” said Force who faces Shawn Langdon first round. “I’ve heard people say a hundred times, ‘You have to win Indy. You can’t retire until you’ve done that.’ I’ve been chasing the Indy win, it’s the big one. We want to come out here and do it this weekend. We haven’t had luck here in the past but hoping to turn things around and end up in that winners circle.” Three-time world champion Robert Hight handled the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevy to a 3.889-second run at 329.67 mph to put him in the No. 3 qualifying spot and set them up to chase their fourth U.S. Nationals win. “Really wish we could have had at least one more run but we knew there was a possibility of weather coming in to today,” said Hight who will go head-to-head with Dale Creasy Jr. “Coming from testing at Brainerd to Indy and making that first run, that felt good. I’m not worried about tomorrow.

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION DODGE/SRT NHRA U.S. NATIONALS LUCAS OIL RACEWAY AT INDIANAPOLIS, BROWNSBURG, INDIANA SEPT. 4, 2021                                                                                                    Chevrolet sweeps No. 1 qualifiers at U.S. NationalsBrittany Force (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car), Kyle Koretsky (Pro Stock) lead way BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 4, 2021) – Big performances by Team Chevy drivers on a clear Friday night at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis were crucial as the two remaining rounds of qualifications for the 67th U.S. Nationals were canceled Saturday, Sept. 4, because of persistent rain.
Chevrolet drivers earned No. 1 qualifier honors in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock for the third time in 11 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Camping World Drag Racing Series events this season.
Brittany and John Force, who shared the winner’s stage for the first time three weeks ago, roared to the top of qualifying for the second time this season in their respective professional classes.
Brittany Force raced to her seventh consecutive No. 1 Top Fuel qualifier honor – and eighth in 13 races – with a 3.684-second pass at 334.57 mph in the Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet dragster.
Tony Schumacher in 2005 was the last Top Fuel racer to earn six top qualifiers in a row and he owns the record for most No. 1s in a season with 13. Force will aim for her second victory of the season, which would give her 200 career round wins, and secure the second seed for the seven-race Countdown to the Championship that begins next week.
“Eight No. 1 qualifiers, that says a lot about this team, ” said Force, who was the top qualifier in the 2019 U.S. Nationals. “We want No. 1 qualifiers, but we also want to win on race day. I’ve been chasing the Indy win. It’s the big one and we want to come out here and do it this week. We haven’t had luck here in the past but hoping to turn things around.
“I think we’re in a really good place. We’re No. 2 in points and our goal coming into this season was to be top three for the Countdown, where everything resets. It’s been a long season and we’ve put a lot of hard work into getting that No. 2 spot.”
Her father, John, has five Funny Car wins at the U.S. Nationals – tied for the most with Ed McCulloch – and took a step toward his sixth victory and the top seed for the Countdown by securing his second top qualifier of the season.Force, driving the PEAK Antifreeze & Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS, turned in a 3.871-second pass. He last won the U.S. Nationals in 2019 for his 150th career victory, and all John Force Racing drivers did not compete in the 2020 event because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’ve always loved this. Go out here in Indy at night, go down that racetrack, header fire on both sides, driving around weaving,” said Force, who claimed the 162nd top qualifier of his career. “Our teams are doing well. This PEAK Chevy, that Monster Energy dragster and Auto Club Camaro, we’re all running well, I’m proud of us.”
Teammate Robert Hight, a three-time winner of the event, qualified third with a pass of 3.889 seconds in the Automobile Club of Southern California Camaro SS. 
“This was a good start to the weekend,” Hight said. “This Auto Club team put in some extra work after Brainerd, figured some things out and left testing really excited for what we think we can do. We’ll go some rounds on Sunday and make up a couple of spots in the points to start the NHRA Countdown in a prime position for another championship.”
Koretsky, runner-up at the most recent Pro Stock race at Topeka, Kansas, three weeks ago, picked up his initial No. 1 qualifier with a 6.572-second pass in the Lucas Oil/NitroFish Camaro SS.
“It’s huge for my self-confidence. It felt good when I made the run, and to come back and find out I’m No. 1 is great,” he said. “KB Racing supplies me with the best power out here. Who doesn’t want to be No. 1 at the U.S. Nationals? Our goal is to leave Indy top five and I’m confident we can do it.”
Elite Motorsports teammates Troy Coughlin Jr. and Erica Enders were Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, in the Camaro SS. KB Racing’s Greg Anderson, driver of the HendrickCars.com Camaro SS, qualified seventh as he seeks to tie Warren Johnson’s class record of 97 career wins. Koretsky’s father, Kenny, was runner-up to Anderson at the 2004 U.S. Nationals.

•  No.1 qualifier Steve Comella drove his 1968 Plymouth Barracuda to the winner’s circle after a dominant performance in the 20th anniversary edition of the Dodge HEMI® Challenge at Lucas Oil Raceway during the 2021 Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals
• Comella followed up his runner-up finish at last year’s event with his first career win in the longest running, continuous, specialty race in NHRA history showcasing HEMI-powered Super Stock 1968 Dodge Darts and Plymouth Barracudas in head-to-head battles
• Comella defeated Jim Daniels Jr., a four-time Dodge HEMI Challenge winner, in an exciting final elimination battle to earn the uniquely crafted 42.5 lb. Dodge HEMI Challenge trophy and $15,000 winner’s prize
• Defending winner Stephen Yantus III earned the NHRA’s special award for “Best Appearing Car” at the 67th annual the Dodge//SRT U.S. Nationals

Indianapolis, Indiana, Sept. 4, 2021– The 20th anniversary edition of the Dodge HEMI® Challenge saw a new winner crowned at Lucas Oil Raceway as a determined Steve Comella drove his 1968 Plymouth Barracuda from a runner-up finish in last year’s event to earn his first victory at longest running, continuous, specialty race in National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) history. 

Comella earned the victory at the fan-favorite classic muscle car competition from the No. 1 qualifier position with a dominant performance through eliminations to advance to an exciting final where he defeated Jim Daniels Jr., four-time (2016-2019) Dodge HEMI Challenge winner. He drove his iconic Super Stock ’68 Cuda to an elapsed timed (E.T.) run of 8.364 seconds at 161.17 mph to beat his opponent’s 8.423 sec/ 158.02 mph pass under the lights at Lucas Oil Raceway in a late night showdown during the 67^th annual Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals on Friday. 

On his drive to the winner’s circle, Comella battled head-to-head against Steve Kent and inaugural event winner Bucky Hess, and had a semifinal solo run when defending event winner Stephen Yantus III wasn’t able to make the start due to a mechanical issue. In the final against Daniels and his vintage ’68 Dodge Dart, Comella overcame his opponent’s early lead by chasing him down and turning on the win lights with a 0.0202-second margin of victory.

Highlights of Comella’s performance through five elimination rounds included a lightning 0.001-second reaction time and a trio of 8.3-second runs, the last of which gave him low E.T. and top speed of the event. His efforts were rewarded with the coveted custom-made 42.6-lb. trophy crafted from a 426 HEMI cylinder head, a $15,000 award, and the immense satisfaction that comes with a first career win.

“At the moment I’m exhausted, but this means a lot,” said Comella, who finished runner-up to Yantus in last year’s edition of the Dodge HEMI Challenge and has previously earned two runner-up finishes in overall NHRA Super Stock competition. “We’ve been chasing this for a while. Last year kind of felt like a stone in the shoe all year, so we decided to really kind of put everything into [this race] this year. It was a lot of work and here it (the trophy) is.”

While last year’s winner Yantus saw his efforts to defend his title come to an end in the semifinals, his ’68 Barracuda came away from the Dodge//SRT U.S. Nationals as a winner after being presented with NHRA’s special award for “Best Appearing Car”.

Myatt Snider and the No. 2 Crosley Brands Team Earn Solid Top-10 Finish at Darlington Raceway

9th

9th

12th

“Today was a solid ninth-place finish for our Crosley Brands Chevrolet team. I thought our Camaro had really good speed, but I lacked the stability in the center of the corners to keep the momentum going. We consistently ran inside the top-10 and if the last cautions would have fallen a little differently, I think we would have had a shot at a top-five. A consistent finish like this is exactly what our Richard Childress Racing team needs to keep doing leading up to the Playoffs. I’m proud of this group for battling all day, in the heat, and we will continue to chip away at building a solid foundation over the next two weeks.”  -Myatt Snider

Richard Childress Racing at Darlington Raceway… In 133 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Darlington Raceway, Richard Childress Racing has found success at the ‘Lady In Black’ with eights victories, 24 top-five, and 43 top-10 finishes. The Welcome N.C. organization has yet to find victory lane in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the historic South Carolina speedway, but has accumulated 10 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes. Catch the Action… The NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway will be televised live Saturday, September 4, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and will be broadcast live on the Motor Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.  The NASCAR Cup Series’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway will be televised live Sunday, September 5, beginning at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN 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 Darlington Raceway… Dillon has made 10 career starts in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway, posting a career-best second-place finish in September 2020, missing Victory Lane by a narrow margin over Kevin Harvick. Dillon also has a fourth-place finish in 2017. He finished 16th at the track earlier this year. Dillon has made three appearances at “The Lady in Black” in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, securing his best finish of fifth in 2012. The 2011 NASCAR Truck Series champion has two starts at the track in the Truck Series, earning his best finish of fifth in August 2010. 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 www.basspro.com. AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:How does Darlington Raceway suit your driving style?“I think long races in the past have fit my racing style. There is plenty of time to make the car better during a long race, and all of our wins have come in races 500 miles or more. So, I think that bodes well for Darlington. We learned a lot in the Southern 500 last year that we can translate to this weekend. Darlington is a place that falls off, so tire management becomes important and I really like that. It’s nice that we’re going to place that long run speed matters a bit.”

Tyler Reddick and the No. 8 Childress Vineyards Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Darlington Raceway… Reddick has four NASCAR Cup Series starts at Darlington Raceway, with his best finish of seventh coming last year at NASCAR’s first race back after the season paused out of COVID-19 concerns. Reddick also has three starts at the ‘Lady in Black’ in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, collecting two top-five finishes. Time for the NASCAR Playoffs… Reddick punched his ticket into the 2021 NASCAR post season after a tight battle with his RCR teammate Austin Dillon at Daytona International Speedway last weekend. It marks the sophomore NASCAR Cup Series driver’s first appearance into the NASCAR Playoffs. About Childress Vineyards… Childress Vineyards is a premier winery located at the southern gateway of the Yadkin Valley in Lexington, North Carolina. Owned by Richard Childress, NASCAR team owner and Hall of Fame member, Childress Vineyards has been producing award-winning wines with the expertise of Winemaker Mark Frizsolowski. Open daily for tours, tastings, and lunch in the Bistro. Information about Childress Vineyards can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/childresswines/, on Twitter at @ChildressWines and on Instagram at Instagram.com/childresswines. TYLER REDDICK QUOTES:These first three tracks are ones where you’ve consistently fought for top 10s, top 5s. What is your confidence level heading into your first Playoffs? “It’s good. The nice thing is that we’re going back to a venue that we’ve been to earlier this season. The speed we had early at this race at Darlington in the beginning of summer was really promising. I’m excited for sure going into Darlington. But even more exciting, after all the chaos and everything at Daytona, our fifth-place finish at Daytona is going to help our starting position at Darlington. There’s only 13 points between myself and sixth right now, and with that tight of a spread I think we’re going to see a lot of shake up right away. We’re going to try to take advantage of that.”   Does the intensity level raise up?“Yes and no. I think I experienced this level of intensity for sure when we ran the Southern 500 last year. We at times were racing around a lot of Playoff cars all night long at Darlington, and Bristol especially once we were up in the top five. We weren’t racing for what those guys were, but we were still racing to try and have a good finish. So, I think the intensity’s there whether you’re in the Playoffs or not. When you’re a Playoff driver, you’re racing really hard with those other Playoff drivers. It seemed like the guys outside of the Playoffs understand what is going on, but they’re still going to race hard for their season. The give-and-take, the mark has moved a little bit from where it is in the regular season up until that point.  But I’d say either way you have it. It’s just shaped a little bit differently whether you’re in the Playoffs or not. Last year when I wasn’t, I felt like the Playoff drivers – as they should – were racing hard for every single spot. Essentially, this one or two points at the end of the year ultimately doesn’t dictate whether I make the next round or not. So, it is different, but I wouldn’t say it’s more intense. It’s just the intensity level is with a certain group of drivers on one side and another in the Playoffs.”

Myatt Snider and the No. 2 Crosley Brands Chevrolet Camaro at Darlington Raceway… Snider has three career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Darlington Raceway, the most recent coming earlier this season in the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. The 26-year-old earned a 10th-place finish in the fall race last season. 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:With three weeks remaining before the Playoffs begin for the NASCAR Xfinity Series, what are you looking forward to? Where is your opportunity? “Darlington Raceway is one we have circled for sure. That place owes me one. Our No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro was really fast there in the spring earlier this season, but I made a rookie mistake and didn’t give myself enough room off the corner. I didn’t quite get a Darlington stripe, but I got a Daniel Hemric stripe because I ran right into his left rear without getting clear. I thought I was going to clear him, but the track narrows up fast off turn two in Darlington.”

The Evans, GA driver powered past the likes of Kyle Larson and Jonathan Davenport for his fourth World of Outlaws win of the season

GAFFNEY, SC – September 2, 2021 – Brandon Overton had one thing on his mind as the laps dwindled Thursday night at Cherokee Speedway. He replayed an old race at the South Carolina venue. One he lost on the final corner because he mismanaged his tires.

This time, he wouldn’t let it happen again. The Evans, GA driver, played the tire game perfectly, holding on to win the inaugural Rock Gault Memorial—worth $40,000. 

While “Big Sexy” saved his tires enough for the end of the race, worry still sank in the last few laps. Especially when he saw Jonathan Davenport and Chris Ferguson, who were in the top-five, go to the pits. 

“I was behind [Jonathan Davenport] the whole time, and I was like he really wasn’t that sideways,” Overton said. “That worried me, so I just slowed down as much as I could and was just trying to baby it to the end.

“I lost a race over here for 10 grand coming to the checkered, so that was playing back through my mind, and I was like, slow down and don’t blow the tire off.” 

Before Davenport’s tire blew, the start of the race saw Kyle Larson take the early lead with “Superman” in his tire tracks and Overton lurking behind them. When Larson eventually slipped off the bottom in Turn 1, Davenport darted under the #6 car to steal the lead and brought Overton with him.

Then, Davenport and Overton waged an epic war for the lead. Overton took several peeks to the outside of Davenport for the top spot before making his move on a Lap 48 restart. 

“Big Sexy” rolled to the outside of Davenport in Turn 3, using his momentum to pull even. He flexed his muscles even more in Turn 4, propelling his Longhorn Chassis past Davenport and into the race lead. 

“It was latched good on that restart, and I said man, I ain’t got nothing to lose,” Overton said. “I just blasted her in there, and I got me a good run, and as soon as I cleared him, I got back down.” 

The win is Overton’s fourth World of Outlaws triumph of the season and the 17th Series win of his career. The $40,000 check adds to Overton’s list of high-paying wins in 2021, including more than $300,000 between the Dirt Late Model Dreams and Firecracker 100. 

Davenport, whose chance at a podium finish ended with tire problems, finished 19th. The tire wear in the Feature surprised the Blairsville, GA driver, throwing him a curveball. 

“I never really thought tire wear would be an issue after the Heat Race, so we probably cut ours up too much,” Davenport said. “I was just not really balanced enough to drive off the right front like I needed to because I tightened my car up a little bit, thinking we didn’t need to worry about tire wear issues.”

Chris Madden finished second, grabbing a podium finish in front of his home state fans. The Gray Court, SC driver stated tire wear affected his ability to make a run at Overton in the last few laps. 

“We had to use a little bit of tire to get there, and we just didn’t have enough tire there at the end to put on a charge,” Madden said.  

Jimmy Owens crossed the line third after starting ninth. The Newport, TN driver bided his time working through the field, knowing he’d have to save his equipment for the end. 

“We just took our time early in the race because we knew we had to have a lot of tire left at the end there,” Owens said. “We had a pretty decent car; we made a whole lot of adjustments, and it was a whole lot better there for the Feature than it was in the Heat Race.”

Trent Ivey finished fourth and Larson finished fifth—his third top five with the World of Outlaws in four starts this season.

Brandon Overton’s experience at Cherokee and what to do when his tires were going away paid off, leading to the $40,000 Victory. It’s that experience that helps him add to accolades in 2021, especially when there’s big money on the line.

UP NEXT: The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet head to Lavonia Speedway, in Lavonia, GA for its only trip to the Peach State this season. 

Morton Buildings Feature (60 Laps)-1. 76-Brandon Overton [4][$40,000]; 2. 44-Chris Madden [5][$15,000]; 3. 20-Jimmy Owens [9][$10,000]; 4. 88-Trent Ivey [6][$4,000]; 5. 6-Kyle Larson [1][$3,500]; 6. 18D-Daulton Wilson [12][$3,000]; 7. 79-Ross Bailes [17][$2,800]; 8. 17M-Dale McDowell [11][$2,700]; 9. 16-Tyler Bruening [20][$2,600]; 10. 1-Brandon Sheppard [23][$2,500]; 11. 28-Dennis Erb [24][$2,000]; 12. 6B-Dillon Brown [13][$1,800]; 13. 7-Ricky Weiss [25][$400]; 14. 39-Tim McCreadie [10][$1,500]; 15. 22-Chris Ferguson [2][$1,400]; 16. 19R-Ryan Gustin [16][$1,300]; 17. 0-Nick Hoffman [19][$1,200]; 18. 24D-Michael Brown [8][$1,200]; 19. 49-Jonathan Davenport [3][$1,200]; 20. 14-Josh Richards [22][$1,200]; 21. 1D-Brent Dixon [18][$1,200]; 22. 57-Zack Mitchell [15][$1,200]; 23. 42-Cla Knight [14][$1,200]; 24. 70-Jeff Smith [7][$1,200]; 25. 20H-Bryson Harper [21][$1,200] Hard Charger: 1-Brandon Sheppard[+13]

Qualifying Flight-A –1. 1-Brandon Sheppard, 15.376; 2. 76-Brandon Overton, 15.424; 3. 49-Jonathan Davenport, 15.484; 4. 57-Zack Mitchell, 15.51; 5. 88-Trent Ivey, 15.571; 6. 17M-Dale McDowell, 15.613; 7. 6B-Dillon Brown, 15.637; 8. 70-Jeff Smith, 15.644; 9. 20-Jimmy Owens, 15.673; 10. 0-Nick Hoffman, 15.675; 11. 79-Ross Bailes, 15.775; 12. 26JR-Jimmy Sharpe, 15.859; 13. 28-Dennis Erb, 15.86; 14. 91-Derrick Ramey, 15.928; 15. 99B-Boom Briggs, 15.946; 16. 20H-Bryson Harper, 15.988; 17. 23-Ahnna Parkhurst, 16.123

Qualifying Flight-B-1. 22-Chris Ferguson, 15.266; 2. 24D-Michael Brown, 15.318; 3. 39-Tim McCreadie, 15.378; 4. 6-Kyle Larson, 15.422; 5. 44-Chris Madden, 15.604; 6. 18D-Daulton Wilson, 15.624; 7. 42-Cla Knight, 15.662; 8. 19R-Ryan Gustin, 15.716; 9. 16-Tyler Bruening, 15.734; 10. 14-Josh Richards, 15.785; 11. B1-Brent Larson, 15.799; 12. 1D-Brent Dixon, 15.823; 13. 16W-Ben Watkins, 15.83

Enumclaw, WA Native Eyes First-Career World of Outlaws Win on Home Turf

ALGER, WA – September 2, 2021 – Kasey Kahne’s roots at Skagit Speedway can be traced all the way back to 1985.

“I loved this place so much growing up,” Kahne said. “It was always the coolest place to me whether I was watching the World of Outlaws or Dirt Cup. I remember sitting up in the grandstands with my mom like it was yesterday.”

Since that five-year-old little boy fell in love with racing at the Alger, WA track, he grew up to become a NASCAR Cup Series superstar and the champion owner of a World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series dynasty.

The year is now 2021 and Kahne is a “full-time” Outlaw, a childhood dream of his, as he completes the remainder of the World of Outlaws season aboard the Roth Motorsports, Beef Packers #83. This weekend, the schedule takes Kahne back home where it all started for the Enumclaw, WA native.

The Greatest Show on Dirt will race in Washington for four consecutive nights, expecting near sold-out crowds for the Sage Fruit Skagit Nationals on Friday-Sunday, September 3-5 and Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, WA on Monday, September 6.

For Kahne, it’s a chance to reconnect with some of his most passionate and loyal fans, and arguably his best shot yet at achieving his first-career World of Outlaws win.

“I haven’t been here in a long time, but I definitely have a lot more laps here vs. anywhere else we go on the Outlaw tour,” Kahne noted. “I remember these places pretty well, though. I’d expect to have good runs in all four shows this weekend. Each night in the Roth #83 we’re getting better. I’m really looking forward to the entire west coast swing, but especially starting it in Washington.”

Thrown into the Dennis and Teresa Roth owned entry last month, Kahne took the wheel of the #83 in early August following the suspension and ultimate dismissal of former pilot Aaron Reutzel. Over that span, Kahne has contested eight events highlighted by his performance at The Granddaddy of ‘Em All, the 60th Knoxville Nationals.

Kahne earned his first-career Nationals QuickTime on his preliminary night, locked in for his second-career Nationals A-Main, and eventually finished a career-best eighth in the 50-lap Knoxville Nationals finale. Since then, the Roth #83 has continued to show immense speed in qualifying as Kahne and his Crew Chief Grant Boyum continue to work on their Feature package.

As a car owner, Kahne has enjoyed World of Outlaws wins at Skagit with drivers Joey Saldana and Daryn Pittman taking the #9 to victory lane at his home track. For Kahne himself, he hasn’t raced in his home state with the Outlaws since August of 1998 at Grays Harbor, where he’ll head for a Labor Day special on Monday.

Kahne is a two-time Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup champion (2002, 2003), along with many other accomplishments at the Skagit 3/10-mile oval. The next achievement he wants most is simple: World of Outlaws win.

A scattered career with The Greatest Show on Dirt has seen Kahne start 122 Features with 21 top-10 finishes and most notably two top-five results at the 2002 Kings Royal and Mississippi’s Magnolia Motor Speedway earlier this year in the KKR #9.

The three-time World of Outlaws owner champion (2013 with Pittman, 2019-20 with Brad Sweet) has made it clear that one thing he desires more than most before he calls it a career is a win for himself against the World of Outlaws, something he has a good chance for this weekend in Washington.

“I learned a lot as a kid watching the Outlaws at Skagit,” Kahne mentioned. “To be racing with them now and back at home is pretty exciting. I’m thrilled to be a part of the races this weekend at the tracks where I really learned the most early on in my career.”

Along with championship leader Brad Sweet in the NAPA Auto Parts #49 and Rookie of the Year contender James McFadden in the Karavan Trailers #9, Kahne in the Roth #83 will try to keep it in the KKR family this weekend.

The four-race Washington weekend begins on Friday at Skagit Speedway in Alger, WA, and continues through Sunday’s $25,000/Win Sage Fruit Skagit Nationals finale. A Labor Day special then brings some Monday Night DIRTVision to the table as the Outlaws head south to Elma, WA’s Grays Harbor Raceway on September 6.

Following this weekend, the NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars will head for California to wrap up the west coast swing at Silver Dollar Speedway (Sept. 10-11), Keller Auto Speedway (Sept. 17), and Placerville Speedway (Sept. 18).

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch Kahne in his home state and all remaining World of Outlaws events live on DIRTVision – either online or through the DIRTVision App.

Demetrios Drellos draws on experience and hard lessons to conquer Lebanon Valley Speedway

WEST LEBANON, NY – Big speed, big brakes, and big-time bravery are what the Super DIRTcar Series stars will need if they want to take home the $25,500 grand prize at Lebanon Valley Speedway on Saturday (Sept. 4).

Lebanon Valley Speedway’s Mr. DIRT Track USA is one of the most highly anticipated events on the Series schedule. Its long straightaways and high-banked paperclip turns require a very different approach and setup that drivers need to be extra prepared for.

The Series is looking to complete its 16th race of the season with an exciting September-November run on tap, featuring some of the biggest events of the year.

Stewart Friesen currently leads the points standings with seven-time Series champion Matt Sheppard on his heels. Meanwhile, third through seventh in the points standings are only separated by a mere 20 points. Those drivers are Peter Britten, Mat Williamson, Mike Mahaney, Max McLaughlin, and Billy Decker. 

Get your tickets for Mr. DIRT Track USA here. 

ON THE DRAWING BOARD WITH DRELLOS

Demetrios Drellos, from Queensbury, NY, is running 14th in points but he feels the season starting to turn around. Double D hasn’t found the rhythm he’s looking for yet, but his qualifying results have improved, putting him in a better position to find consistency. 

Drellos’ last visit to Lebanon Valley ended early after heavy contact with the outside retaining wall in Turn 1. However, he felt he had a fast car and is now anxious to come back and get more laps with his Big Block. 

“To go to Lebanon Valley, it takes more preparation than 95% of the places we go to,” Drellos said. “Everything is different. As much as people want to say it’s not. It is. And that’s a good thing. Every track has its own personality but to go to Lebanon it takes different tires, a different setup, and a different mentality. It’s treated me well other than that last time. That was just an unfortunate circumstance. It was a lack of judgment on my part. Just don’t go to the outside of some people I guess.”

Drellos raced there weekly and in 43 starts collected four wins in the Small Block Modified division. He conceded the Big Block is a whole new ballgame, though.

“I haven’t been there in a few years other than Mr. DIRT Track USA,” Drellos said. “I like the place. It’s been good to me. It has character. You are racing the closest and the fastest of anywhere. There are similar speeds but here you are racing side by side a lot at those speeds. I have a lot of 358 (Modified) laps there. The track gets a lot smaller in a Big Block. You wouldn’t believe how much faster the Big Block is. I’ve only run it like five or six times and that’s not a lot of laps compared to most of these guys.”

The #111 competes against the biggest teams in Big Block racing at every tour event and he does so with a limited budget and crew. He knows it takes some extra time to get ready to race at The Valley of Speed.

He’s thankful for the laps he has there because there is nothing like it on the schedule. 

“As much throttle time you give at Lebanon, you spend just as much time braking,” Drellos described. “It’s the only racetrack that you have to care what the car is doing under braking. On most tracks, you are on the brakes for just a split second where yes you do give it thought but at The Valley, you actually have to worry about what the car is doing when you are slowing down for the corner.

“The cars handle very uniquely there. The setup and driving style is just totally different. If you don’t race it weekly, you aren’t used to it. Look at the fast guys like Kenny Tremont Jr., Andy Bachetti, and Eddie Marshall. All those local guys have a chance to win, absolutely.”

TREMONT DOMINANT 

No one knows how to turn laps at The Valley of Speed like Kenny Tremont Jr. It’s been his home track since the 1970s. Tremont has 10 Series wins at Lebanon Valley with his first coming in 1985. Only Brett Hearn (15) has more Series wins there than the 59-year-old driver from West Sand Lake, NY. 

Before Sheppard’s win at The Valley earlier this year, Tremont had won the last two Series visits to the ⅝-mile behemoth. Notably, those back-to-back wins in 2018 and 2019 broke a drought that went back to 2005. 

Tremont has 140 wins at Lebanon Valley including one earlier this year in Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly championship competition. 

HOME TURF

The high banks are tough on outsiders and many of The Valley faithful are looking to defend their home turf. Andy Bachetti is a past Mr. DIRT Track USA champion and currently leads the track points by a very slim margin over Marc Johnson and Brett Haas, who both finished in the top-five when Mr. DIRT Track was run.  

Mr. DIRT Track USA is a points-paying race for the Lebanon Valley Speedway weekly racers. And with it only paying show-up points, Bachetti will be crowned the champion of The Valley of Speed. 

Living legend Eddie Marshall picked up a win this year, ending his winless drought at the West Lebanon, NY speedway. The driver of the #98 will be looking for the podium against the premier Super DIRTcar Series drivers this Saturday. 

HARD CHARGERS 

It’s always exciting to pick out a fast driver in the back of the pack and watch him work his way through the field to the front. These are the last four drivers to be named the hard charger of the race:

Rookie driver Tim Sears Jr. in the yellow #83X picked up 18 positions finishing sixth from 24th at the Orange County Fairground Speedway on Aug. 12. That bodes well for Sears as Lebanon Valley and Orange County are both ⅝-mile tracks. 

Jack Lehner and Mike Mahaney were the hard chargers in the Twin 60s at Land of Legends Raceway on Aug. 4. Lehner made up an incredible 20 positions in race one and Mahaney went one step further, grabbing a whopping 28 spots in race two and making his way onto the podium. 

Erick Rudolph was +20 at the last visit to Weedsport Speedway. Rudolph is a perennial hard charger. The Ransomville, NY driver passed 15 cars at Lebanon Valley on May 31 for the honors, further proving the #25R is a potential threat even if forced to start in the back. 

NAPA Super DIRT Week qualifier

Stewart Friesen, Demetrios Drellos, Tim Fuller, Matt Sheppard, Max McLaughlin, and Chris Hile have all secured their guaranteed start for the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 at NAPA Super DIRT Week (Oct. 6-10). Along with Mr. DIRT Track USA paying $25,500 to the winner, it will also award a guaranteed starting position at Oswego Speedway. It’s one of only five chances remaining for drivers to secure the prestigious starting spot in the historic $50,000-to-win 200-lap race.

HOW TO WATCH

If you can’t make it to the track, don’t forget to watch live on DIRTvision with either the Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month. Download the app today. 

On The Internet

Twitter – @SuperDIRTcar

Instagram – @SuperDIRTcar

Facebook – Facebook.com/SuperDIRTcarSeries

YouTube – Youtube.com/DIRTCarRacing

DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com – Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month

Around The Turn: The Super DIRTcar Series will return to Weedsport Speedway for the two-day Cavalcade Weekend, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 11-12.

Schatz, Dewease, Gravel, Marks & Dietrich Eye Another Title at Williams Grove

MECHANICSBURG, PA – September 2, 2021 – Established in 1963, the Champion Racing Oil National Open at Williams Grove Speedway is simply the biggest Sprint Car race on the East Coast.

Slated to consume Mechanicsburg, PA on October 1-2, the “Beer Hill Gang” will be raucous and rowdy as their beloved PA Posse locals face the superstars of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series with $75,000 – the fourth-highest payday for Sprint Cars in the world this year – up for grabs to the winner of the 40-lapper.

The Cumberland County crown jewel is considered the final leg of the “triple crown,” which includes the three most prestigious Sprint Car races on the calendar. As they call it, the “Natty O” has the pleasure of sharing that honor with iconic events like the Knoxville Nationals and the Kings Royal.

NATIONAL OPEN TICKETS (Oct. 1-2)

For Outlaws and Posse alike, it’s a chance at not only the big bucks but the glory and bragging rights of conquering the famed 1/2-mile too. The list of National Open winners ranges from eventual Indianapolis 500 champion Gordon Johncock to the King of the Outlaws Steve Kinser to Posse faithful Fred Rahmer, Greg Hodnett, and many, many more.

At the 59th edition of the race next month, five former champions will return seeking additional hardware.

Headlining that list is the winningest driver in event history, Donny Schatz. He scored his sixth title over Kyle Larson last October and left the fans with this mic drop in victory lane: “They [fans in turn three] told me that I suck before the race started, so I wanted to remind them that before that race I was the only five-time National Open champion, and now I’m the only six-time.”

The timing of the National Open is perfect for Schatz, who is on a red-hot streak of six straight top-four finishes since his Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #15 switched to a new Ford Performance 410. The Fargo, ND native will be chasing his 22nd win at Williams Grove, which is the winningest track of his World of Outlaws career.

Leading the charge for the PA Posse is Lance Dewease of Fayetteville, PA, a four-time master of the National Open. He earned his most recent title in 2018, which marked his first driving the iconic Kreitz #69K with the legendary Davey Brown on the wrenches.

This season alone, Dewease and the baby blue bullet have won four races at Williams Grove, including his historic 100th win. He never finished outside the top five in four World of Outlaws shows at the 1/2-mile this year, finishing 2nd, 2nd, 3rd & 5th. Another National Open crown would break a tie with Steve Kinser (4) and make him the second-winningest driver in event history just shy of his 56th birthday.

Back to the Outlaw front, David Gravel is the only other full-time driver with multiple National Open titles. The Watertown, CT native topped the 40-lapper in controversial fashion over Stevie Smith in 2014 when he drove for Roth Motorsports, but added a second score in dominating fashion in 2017 with CJB Motorsports.

This time he’ll rip around Williams Grove in the Big Game Motorsports #2, his new team which he’s won eight races with this year and propelled to second in the World of Outlaws championship chase. The 29-year-old is trying to join elites like Doug Wolfgang, Kenny Weld, Steve Smith, and Stevie Smith with three National Open trophies.

Although Brent Marks of Myerstown, PA was a card-carrying full-time Outlaw when he won $65,000 at the 2019 National Open, he’ll return to “part-time Posse” status this year when his family-owned #19 operation chases a second title as they continue a banner year.

The sixth and final returning winner is Danny Dietrich of Gettysburg, PA, who earned the biggest win of his life at the 2016 National Open. He’s fourth in points at Williams Grove this year, although winless at the track. Along with Marks, the 33-year-old veteran is attempting to become the 13th multi-time champion of the National Open.

Outside of those six, there’s a whole fleet of true contenders aiming to become the 35th champion in 59 years of the National Open.

Earlier this year, Sheldon Haudenschild of Wooster, OH, and Carson Macedo of Lemoore, CA both won their first-career Williams Grove Speedway Features, and they did it in World of Outlaws competition. Haudenschild’s NOS Energy Drink #17 and Macedo’s Jason Johnson Racing #41 will be ones to watch as they try to track down their first-career crown jewel title.

Former full-time Outlaw Aaron Reutzel, who ran fourth at the 2019 National Open, topped the Morgan Cup in May at Williams Grove and is expected to return next month now that his 30-day suspension for violating technical procedures has ended. He’s landed a new gig driving the RSR #83 based out of Knoxville, IA.

At the moment, seven other Williams Grove winners this year are expected to throw their name into the ring to defend PA Posse turf. The likes of Anthony Macri, Freddie Rahmer, Lucas Wolfe, Justin Whitall, Devon Borden, Matt Campbell, and Justin Peck will all be worth watching at the Mechanicsburg oval.

Extra Outlaws to watch include Hanover, PA’s Shark Racing duo of Logan Schuchart and Jacob Allen, newly-welcomed Roth #83 pilot Kasey Kahne, and his KKR squad including championship leader Brad Sweet and rookie of the year contender James McFadden.

With the All Star Circuit of Champions sidelined that weekend, it’s likely you’ll see King Sunshine Tyler Courtney in his Clauson-Marshall Racing #7BC, Cory Eliason in his Rudeen Racing #26, Hunter Schuerenberg in the Tony Vermeer #55, Spencer Bayston in the Sam McGhee #11, and potentially Paul McMahan in the CJB Motorsports #5, among other possible entrants.

The bottom line is this: the National Open is can’t miss.

On October 1-2, 2021, the tight, technical 1/2-mile at Williams Grove will bring the best Sprint Car drivers in the country in front of a possibly sold-out and wild crowd. We’ll crown a National Open champion, make some history, and have a whole lot of fun in Cumberland County.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every World of Outlaws race live on DIRTVision – either online or through the DIRTVision App.

National Open Titles:
6 – Donny Schatz (’20 – ’12 – ’07 – ’05 – ’04 – ’00)
4 – Lance Dewease (’18 – ‘02 – ’01 – ’96)
4 – Steve Kinser (’03 – ‘94 – ’92 – ’90)
3 – Stevie Smith (’15 – ’92 – ’89)
3 – Doug Wolfgang (’86 – ’85 – ’84)
3 – Steve Smith (’81 – ’76 – ’74)
3 – Kenny Weld (’73 – ’72 – ’71)
2 – David Gravel (’17 – ’14)
2 – Sammy Swindell (’10 – ’97)
2 – Mark Kinser (’99 – ’95)
2 – Lynn Paxton (’83 – ’82)
2 – Bobbie Adamson (’68 – ’67)
1 – Brent Marks (’19)
1 – Danny Dietrich (’16)
1 – Fred Rahmer (’13)
1 – Jason Meyers (’11)
1 – Greg Hodnett (’09)
1 – Cody Darrah (’08)
1 – Doug Esh (’06)
1 – Billy Pauch (’98)
1 – Don Kreitz Jr. (’93)
1 – Kenny Jacobs (’88)
1 – Joey Allen (’87)
1 – Allen Klinger (’80)
1 – Smokey Snellbaker (’79)
1 – Kramer Williamson (’78)
1 – Van May (’77)
1 – Bobby Allen (’75)
1 – Johnny Grum (’70)
1 – Gene Varner (’69)
1 – Lou Blaney (’66)
1 – Henry Jacoby (’65)
1 – Larry Dickson (’64)
1 – Gordon Johncock (’63)

Photo – Paul Arch

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 02, 2021) – John Force and the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS team are currently fourth in the NHRA Camping World Funny Car points standings. Don’t let the position fool you, the 16-time champion is only 16 points out of the lead and only nine races away from a possible 17th championship. This weekend’s Dodge//SRT U.S. Nationals marks the final event of the regular season and rewards points and a half, allowing more than enough opportunity for the legend to claim the regular season championship and enter the Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s seven race playoffs, with a 30-point lead over No. 2. Force and his Daniel Hood and Tim Fabrisi led PEAK Antifreeze team put their name in as championship contenders early in the 2021 season. Force now has 154 career wins after claiming four victories (Charlotte Four-Wide, New England Nationals and the event in Topeka at Heartland Motorsports Park where he shared the winners circle with daughter Brittany Force for the first time), 161 No. 1 qualifying positions (he earned the top spot with Brittany at the Charlotte Four-Wide event) and is trying to win as many as four races in a season for the 14th time in his career. “This is Indy, and you really want to put your head in the car. I’ve been here for a week going over things that I might have done in the cockpit that was wrong and we corrected those things,” said Force who had a rare first round exit at Brainerd International Raceway that prompted a test session on Monday following the event. “Testing went well after Brainerd, we figured things out. Heck we ran in the 3.80s every run.” The solid day of testing and time spent with the team this week has Force, who won the U.S. Nationals in 2019 when he last competed at the event, confident in their chances this weekend. The Funny Car great also has a bit of history on his side. Force is currently tied for most Funny Car wins at the U.S. Nationals with Ed McCulloch at five, which is seventh overall at Indy behind Tony Schumacher (10), Bob Glidden (9), Don Garlits (8) and Greg Anderson, Warren Johnson and David Schultz (6 each). Force has qualified No. 1 at Indy 11 times, more than at any other event in the series although he hasn’t done so since 2006. He was the No. 3 qualifier in his last appearance. “You want to win Indy. You have to put business aside and really focus going into the race. I’m really excited about it, this PEAK team, we’re really excited. My guys, they’ve been working hard,” Force said. “I’ve said it to the fans ‘This is Indy, come here. We want to entertain you.’ That’s our job. We need you to fill those stands, to motivate us.” Qualifying at the Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals begins Friday with a session at 7:35 a.m. and continue Saturday with sessions at 2 and 5:45 p.m. Eliminations are slated for 10 a.m. on Sunday. Television coverage for the weekend begins Friday at 7 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) that will include live coverage of the first qualifying run. A second qualifying show will air Sunday at 9 a.m. ET on FS1. Eliminations television coverage will be live but split with a show at 11 a.m. ET on FS1 and a second show at 1 p.m. ET on FOX Broadcast Network.

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCECOOK OUT SOUTHERN 500DARLINGTON RACEWAYDARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINASEPTEMBER 5, 2021
RACE #27 – DARLINGTON RACEWAYWith the end of the 26-race NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Regular Season in the books, six Chevrolet drivers have now secured their spot in the 16-driver Playoff field. Over the next 10 weeks, their focus is on the prize of the coveted championship.  
There are three rounds (3 races per round) in the NCS Playoff format, plus one final championship-crowning season finale. Four drivers will be eliminated following each three-race round. The 367-lap Cook Out Southern 500 on Sunday, September 5, on the 1.33-mile Darlington Raceway oval kicks off the first of three races in the Round of 16. 
A capsule look at Team Chevy in the NASCAR Cup Series title hunt:
Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 1LE – 1st in Standings; NCS Regular Season Champion (2052 Points) Victories: 5 (field-high)Leads the series in: Top-Fives: 14; Top-10’s: 18; Laps Led: 1,566Average Finish: 9.7Stage Wins: 12At Darlington: Top-Fives: 4; Top-10’s: 6; Average Finish: 6.0 (series-best). Of Note: The 2021 season marks Larson’s fifth Playoff appearance. 
Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA/Children’s Camaro ZL1 1LE – 5th in Standings (2021 Points)Victories: 2Top-Fives: 11; Top-10’s: 16; Laps Led: 337; Average Finish: 11.0Stage Wins: 3At Darlington: Top-Fives: 2; Top-10’s: 4Of Note: 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.
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1 1LE – 6th in Standings (2015 points)Victories: 3Top-Fives: 6; Top-10’s 13; Pole Wins: 1; Laps Led: 151; Average Finish: 14.1At Darlington: Top-Fives: 1; Top-10’s: 2Of Note: The 2021 NCS season marks Bowman’s fourth-career Playoffs appearance. Bowman has raced his way into the Round of 12 for the last three years. 
William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL1 1LE – 8th in Standings (2014 points)Victories: 1 Top-Fives: 9; Top-10’s: 16; Pole Wins: 2; Laps Led: 276; Average Finish: 13.1Stage Wins: 3At Darlington: Top-Fives: 2; Top-10’s: 2; Pole Wins: 1Of Note: The 2021 NCS season marks Byron’s third-career Playoffs appearance. In 26 of 36 races, these are the most top-fives, top-10’s, laps led and stage wins that Byron has earned in a single season of his Cup career. 
Kurt Busch, No. 1 Monster Energy Camaro ZL1 1LE – 11th in Standings (2008 Points)Victories: 1Top-Fives: 4; Top-10’s: 9; Laps Led: 175; Average Finish: 16.0Stage Wins: 3At Darlington: Top-Fives: 4; Top-10’s: 11; Pole Wins: 2Of Note: This is Busch’s 15th NCS post-season appearance, tying career Chevrolet driver Jimmie Johnson and two others for most. 
Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Camaro ZL1 1LE – 15th in Standings (2003 Points)Top-Fives: 2; Top-10’s: 13; Pole Wins: 1; Laps Led: 26; Average Finish: 14.6Stage Wins: 3At Darlington: Top-10’s: 1; Average Finish: 13.750Of Note: Reddick earned the final spot in the NCS Playoff field with a fifth-place finish in the regular season finale at Daytona, marking his first Playoffs appearance. He has completed 99.44% of the race laps thus far this season (5,992 of 6,026). 
The push to the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) Playoffs continues with the 147-lap Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 at 3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, September 4. Justin Haley held off Kaulig Racing teammate AJ Allmendinger to win at Daytona last week as Chevrolet swept the top four finishers. Allmendinger moved to the top of the Driver Standings with three races left in the NXS regular season.Chevrolet remains first in the Manufacturer Standings. Allmendinger will start on the outside of the front row at Darlington.
Darlington hosts Race 2 of the first round of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Playoffs – the 147-lap In It To Win It 200 – at 1:30 p.m. ET, September 5. Sheldon Creed, the 2020 NCWTS Champion, drove his No. 2 GMS Racing Chevrolet Silverado to victory in the Playoff opener at World Wide Technology Raceway. The victory secured his spot into the Round of 8 and his chance at defending the championship title. 
SOUTH CAROLINA FOR THE CHEVY WINThe Cook Out Southern 500 will mark the 121st NCS race at Darlington Raceway since 1950. Chevrolet’s first entries were in the September 7, 1953, race. Herb Thomas delivered Chevrolet’s first victory at the track on September 5, 1955, after starting eighth in the No. 92 Bel Air in the 60-car field. He led 76 of the 366 laps in the Southern 500. Jim Reed was runner-up and Hubert Westmoreland finished fifth in their Chevrolets.
In March of 1955, also in South Carolina, Fonty Flock scored the first NCS win for Chevrolet, leading 66 of 200 laps on the half-mile Columbia Speedway oval.
CHEVROLET CONTINUES TO PACE MANUFACTURERS Chevrolet remains the leader in the NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Standings in pursuit of its 40th title. Team Chevy has recorded field highs of 13 victories, 117 top-10 finishes and 2,749 laps led through 26 races. The Bowtie Brand has already surpassed its win total (9) from 2020.
QUITE A SEASON FOR LARSONKyle Larson, in his first season driving the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 1LE, was crowned the NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Champion, the first in his NCS career. “Congratulations to Kyle Larson, Cliff Daniels and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team on clinching the NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Championship,” said Jim Campbell, GM U.S. Vice President of Performance and Motorsports. “It was quite a battle right to the end, but the combination of the most wins, top-five’s, top-10 finishes, stage wins and laps led made the difference to secure this Regular Season Championship. The team has momentum going into the Playoffs.”
The top-10 driver standings earned Playoff points on a sliding scale, starting with 15 points for the champion to one point for 10th place. Larson has topped the standings since his fifth win of the season, captured at Watkins Glen International in early August. 
ON THE WAY TO THE GREENWith no practice or qualifying for the 367-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:3rd      Kurt Busch, No. 1 Monster Energy Camaro ZL1 1LE 4th      Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA/Children’s Camaro ZL1 1LE5th      Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1 1LE 6th      Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 1LE7th      Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Camaro ZL1 1LE14th    William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL1 1LE 18th    Ryan Preece, No. 37 Kroger/Hershey’s Camaro ZL1 1LE20th    Justin Haley, No. 77 Bon Secours/Swamp Rabbits Camaro ZL1 1LE
BOWTIE BULLETS·       Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 117 top-10 finishes and 2,749 laps led of 6,026 total this season.·       In addition to its 41 wins, Chevrolet has amassed 192 top-five and 402 top-10 finishes at Darlington Raceway.·       Kyle Larson paces all drivers with 1,566 laps led.·       Tyler Reddick is second among drivers with 99.44% of laps completed (5,992 of 6,026).·       Hendrick Motorsports has recorded 14 wins at Darlington, the most of all teams.·       Erik Jones, who drives the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Camaro ZL1 1LE, won the September 1, 2019, race at Darlington. He has an average finish of 7.0 in seven NCS starts. In the same race, William Byron earned the pole in his Chevrolet to become the youngest to start on the pole at the track in NCS competition.·       Five Team Chevy drivers have combined for 24 stage wins – three more than in 36 races in 2020: Chase Elliott (Daytona RC, Michigan, Daytona2); 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).
FOR THE FANS:

• Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Darlington Raceway.   
• Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles including: 2021 Silverado 1500 RST, 2021 Silverado 2500 LTZ, 2021 Blazer, 2021 Trailblazer, 2021 Camaro ZL1, 2021 Corvette Convertible 3LT.  
• At the Chevrolet Display, fans can also view Chase Elliott’s No. 9 Camaro ZL1 1LE show car. 

TEAM CHEVY QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSIONS AT THE DISPLAY:Saturday, September 4

• Brandon Brown: 12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.  
• Jeremy Clements: 1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. 
• Jade Buford: 1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.  

 Sunday, September 5 

• Carson Hocevar & Ryan Truex: 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. 
• Sheldon Creed, Zane Smith & Jack Wood: 11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. 
• Erik Jones: 3:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 
• William Byron: 4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. 

 Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation: 

• Saturday, September 4: 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 
• Sunday, September 5: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.  

TUNE INNBCSN will telecast the 367-lap NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at 6 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 5. Live coverage is also on the MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. FS1 will telecast the 147-lap NASCAR Camping World Truck Series In It To Win It 200 at 1:30 p.m. ET, Sept. 5. NBCSN will telecast the 147-lap NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 at 3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Sept. 4.
QUOTABLE QUOTESKYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 1st IN STANDINGSLARSON ON DARLINGTON AND THE START OF THE PLAYOFFS:“This is the best opportunity I’ve had to win a championship. There’s nothing easy about Darlington. It’s tough because we run so close to the wall and it’s so tough getting to pit road. It’s a crown jewel that we all want to win, and it means even more since it starts off the playoffs.”
CLIFF DANIELS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1 1LEDANIELS ON POINT STANDINGS AFFECTING RACE STRATEGY: “I have not looked at points (during the races) all year – I did not look at the points even once (last) Saturday night at Daytona. If we do our jobs correctly, the points should take care of themselves.”
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA/CHILDREN’S CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 5th IN STANDINGSELLIOTT LOOKING AT DARLINGTON: “We are super excited for Darlington this weekend. These next three weeks are exciting races. Three, I feel like, really cool racetracks with fun environments for us. It’s getting to be that time of year. Fall is an exciting time of year for a lot of things around sports and our season is getting down to it, as well. We are just excited to get going. It’s hard to believe we are 26 weeks in. It doesn’t really seem like it, but here we are starting another playoffs and heading into the final 10 of the year. It goes by fast, but over two months of racing is still a long time. They will click off and you’ll get in certain moments that you might like, some you might not like, and we’ll make the most of them all.”
ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 6th IN STANDINGS“Last year, we had some rough weeks during the summer but showed up in the playoffs strong each and every week. I believe we have the ability to repeat that and go further in the playoffs this year. Hendrick Motorsports has a lot of momentum right now as an organization and the No. 48 team is bringing some fast Ally Camaros to the track every week. Darlington is a place where we have had good results in the past and I think it is one of three or four in the playoffs that suits our program.
GREG IVES, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE  “I feel like having three wins in the first 26 races is definitely marked for a good season. You can check off some boxes like getting a win, getting a pole and making the playoffs. Obviously, there are a couple of races that we would want to take back and think we could have run better at. Most teams, if not all teams, find the one or two things that didn’t go right during certain races and focus on improving those going into the playoffs. We had a great playoff run last year and we are going to try to pull from that experience going into the playoffs this year.” 
“The repave at Darlington in Turn 2 is going to provide some challenges for teams, just because we don’t know how it will affect the tire wear. Going to a track that has been repaved typically doesn’t wear tires as much and has a tendency to run edgy free versus more of a slidable free. You also tend to run a little faster for sure. It is going to be fun and exciting to figure out on Sunday. There are some things that we can look at doing differently as a team with the set up, but ultimately the teams and drivers that adapt quickly will be successful with it.”
WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 8th IN STANDINGSBYRON ON RACING AT DARLINGTON FOR THE FIRST RACE OF THE PLAYOFFS: “Darlington is a track that has a lot of character. I feel like you really have to drive your car to its limit all while understanding the grip and limit of your tires. You can’t exceed that level every lap. You have to stay within a certain limit. I think that is a factor at just about every track, but it’s really magnified at Darlington. Any time the drivers are challenged like they are at Darlington, it brings out the desire and passion within all of us. It just makes it that more intense when it’s kicking off the most intense part of our season with the playoffs. It’s definitely a cool race if you can win it track-wise but also because it sets the tone for how the next nine races go.”
RUDY FUGLE, CREW CHIEF, NO. 24 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1 1LEFUGLE ON WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE PLAYOFFS: “Daytona was a tough one for us, just because we had a car that could have won and the extra playoff points would have been nice. Unfortunately, preparation doesn’t always equal results, but you can’t get results without the preparation. While we’ve been preparing every week like we’ve already started the playoffs, we’re resetting for the start of the Round of 16 this weekend. The playoffs are a long, hard-fought war, but it starts with small battles. Our team has had the speed all year; we just need to execute and put ourselves in the best position to keep moving forward and get through the rounds. Obviously, the goal is to make it to the final four at Phoenix, but we need to win the small battles along the way to ensure we get there. This team is fully capable of doing that and it starts this weekend at Darlington.”
KURT BUSCH, NO. 1 MONSTER ENERGY CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 11th IN STANDINGS“The first thing I think of with kicking-off the Playoffs at Darlington, is that it is a crown jewel event. That is the perfect stage that we could have start the 2021 Playoffs, and we are starting it at one of the coolest tracks. We are also going into some unknowns with the repaved or repaired surface in turn two. it is really going to improve the lap times with the grip level. Turn two is where your lap time is made and if you get through there good, it’s really going to help with that. Now with the extra grip, there is going to be a ton of speed down the back straightaway, into turn three, and there could be a question if we are up against the rev chip. So, you might have to back off the throttle to preserve the engine.  With this being the second longest race of the year, that could be a huge factor at the end of the race as far as durability. But for the most part it’s still the same old Darlington. There is a ton of stuff that the driver has to compartmentalize at Darlington, plus the emotions of kicking-off the Playoffs. A lot of things that we have to juggle when we get there.”
TYLER REDDICK, NO. 8 RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 15th IN STANDINGSTHESE FIRST THREE TRACKS ARE ONES WHERE YOU’VE CONSISTENTLY FOUGHT FOR TOP-10’S AND TOP-FIVE’S. WHAT IS YOUR CONFIDENCE LEVEL HEADING INTO YOUR FIRST PLAYOFFS? “It’s good. The nice thing is that we’re going back to a venue that we’ve been to earlier this season. The speed we had early at this race at Darlington in the beginning of summer was really promising. I’m excited for sure going into Darlington. But even more exciting, after all the chaos and everything at Daytona, our fifth-place finish at Daytona is going to help our starting position at Darlington. There’s only 13 points between myself and sixth right now, and with that tight of a spread I think we’re going to see a lot of shake up right away. We’re going to try to take advantage of that.”  
AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BASS PRO SHOPS/TRACKER OFF ROAD CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 17th IN STANDINGSHOW DOES DARLINGTON RACEWAY SUIT YOUR DRIVING STYLE? “I think long races in the past have fit my racing style. There is plenty of time to make the car better during a long race, and all of our wins have come in races 500 miles or more. So, I think that bodes well for Darlington. We learned a lot in the Southern 500 last year that we can translate to this weekend. Darlington is a place that falls off, so tire management becomes important and I really like that. It’s nice that we’re going to place that long run speed matters a bit.” ERIK JONES, NO. 43 PETTY’S GARAGE CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 24th IN STANDINGSHOW DOES DARLINGTON SUIT YOUR RACING STYLE?“I love Darlington (Raceway). It reminds me a lot of the tracks that I grew up racing on. Some of the stuff I did growing up in Late Models, like managing and conserving your tires, is what Darlington is all about. I really enjoy that style of racing. It is not just all out from the start. You have to manage your stuff and be good at the end of a run. I feel like I just have a good feel for that place; I can what the car needs to do and how you need your car to drive at the end of the run, not necessarily at the beginning of a run. Darlington is one of my favorite tracks, for sure. The Southern 500 race – is pretty hard to beat.”
DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 GOOD SAM CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 25th IN STANDINGSWHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE SEASON SO FAR? “I think it has been good. It hasn’t been great but it hasn’t been bad. We have had some spikes of good performance, but the last month or so has been difficult. We have had a few mechanical issues here and there and that has put us behind. The way we race right now, if you have an issue one week that carries over to the next week when it comes to time on the track, where you start, where you pick pits, things like that. We have to get back in the routine of running up front. I think we can run in the top 12-14 every week. If we can do that I think we will get even better. I believe we will have a shot to get a win this year.”
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE REST OF THE SEASON? “My goal all year long has been to get a win – playoffs or no playoffs. I feel like with this Trackhouse team we are building something very, very amazing for the present and for the future. I keep pushing myself and the team and hopefully very soon we will get that victory.”
DO YOU HAVE A PRE-RACE ROUTINE? “One hour before the race, I try to just be in my mind, relax and have fun. I remind myself why I am here. I am here not because I have to be here, but because I love racing and I love the competition. That puts a smile on my face.” RYAN PREECE, NO. 37 KROGER/HERSHEY’S CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 27th IN STANDINGS“I’m happy we are going to Darlington this weekend because it has been a better track for us as far as speed goes. We’ll be searching around to find the most speed. We also have Hershey’s on the car along with Kroger, which is pretty awesome. I know on our side Trent (Owens) and the 37 team continues to get better week in and week out. You know people look at the end result, but the past four to five weeks we’ve had better running days. We just haven’t got the finishes, whether due to a mechanical failure, a loose lugnut/loose wheel and just things that stop you from having that good finishing result. Hopefully, at Daytona we were able to get the monkey off our back and we can go have a solid day at Darlington and build some momentum to keep us moving throughout the season.” 

with Sights Set on Second Win

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (September 2, 2021) — In 2014 Alexis DeJoria captured the biggest win of her young career winning the 60^th annual U.S. Nationals. This year DeJoria will bring even more experience and another strong team led by crew chief Del Worsham to Indianapolis looking to become a multiple time winner of the biggest race of the season. The Bandero Premium Tequila/ROKiT Toyota Camry Funny Car has been one of the quickest race cars all season and DeJoria knows it is just a matter of time before all the pieces fall into place on race day.

“We have been running really well all season in qualifying and we just need to string together four solid runs on race day,” said DeJoria, a five-time Funny Car national event winner. “Indy is the biggest stage for our sport. There will be a big field of Funny Cars and I am pumped to get to the track and see what this Bandero Tequila/ROKiT Toyota team can do.”

This season DeJoria has qualified in the top three at seven events and she has used that qualifying advantage to race to a final round at the Mile-High Nationals and multiple semifinal finishes, most recently at the Sonoma Nationals. Over the past six races, leading up to the all-important U.S. Nationals and start of the NHRA Countdown, DeJoria has advanced to the quarterfinals five times.

Alexis DeJoria, Bandero Premium Tequila ROKiT Toyota Camry Funny Car, photo credit TFPR

 “We are going rounds on Sunday and we really just need to have everything come together at the same time,” said DeJoria. “The team is giving me a strong Toyota Funny Car. This class is tough and unforgiving. Most of the time one small mistake on race day is all it takes to cost you a win light.”

With her spot in the 2021 NHRA Countdown secured DeJoria will be able to focus 100 percent of her energy on winning the U.S. Nationals for the second time. Sitting in the No. 7 spot in the Funny Car point standings with the opportunity to move up to sixth is another opportunity she does not want to pass up with the seven-race playoffs starting the week after the Indianapolis race.

“Our focus is on winning Indy and if we can move up a spot in the points that would be great,” said DeJoria. “I would love to try and get that winning feeling back this year and go into the Countdown with momentum.”

CHEVROLET AT INDIANAPOLIS What: Dodge/SRT NHRA U.S. NationalsWhen: Friday, Sept. 3-Sunday, Sept. 5Where: Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, Brownsburg, IndianaTV: FOX will telecast eliminations live at 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 5                                                                                                     Team Chevy seeks to close out regular season with a bang       Chevrolet drivers in six categories aim to add to U.S. Nationals success

DETROIT (Sept. 2, 2021) – To many competitors and spectators alike, the U.S. Nationals is not only the final race before National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) playoffs.
Count four-time Pro Stock champion and current points leader Greg Anderson and 16-time Funny Car champion John Force, who has five victories in “The Big Go” at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, among the lot. The prestige and sense of accomplishment from standing in Victory Circle for the U.S. Nationals last long after the season’s final race.
“I can honestly say that when you drive through the gate in the morning it’s a different feeling,” said Anderson, who has held a U.S. Nationals Wally six times. “It’s a special place and there’s way more to it. It’s more important than all the other races. Some people don’t buy into that but I do, and I think that’s why I’ve had success there.”
Added Force: “You want to win Indy; that’s what it’s all about.”
Chevrolet competitors in professional classes of Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock will be joined by drivers of the Chevrolet COPO Camaro in the Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown, Super Stock and Stock Eliminator this weekend.
Countdown to the Championship seedings are on the line for Chevrolet drivers.
Brittany Force will aim to record her sixth consecutive Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier and her second victory of the season in the Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet dragster. Force, who is second in the standings, would reach 200 career round wins with a victory (196-167 elimination round record). Tony Schumacher in 2005 is the last Top Fuel racer to earn six top qualifier honors in a row.
“We are finally heading into the U.S. Nationals and the final race before the NHRA Countdown begins,” said Force, who claimed the No. 1 qualifier and track elapsed time record of 3.645 seconds in 2019. “This Monster Energy/ Flav-R-Pac team is second in points and in a great spot. Our goal going into the Countdown was a top three position and we hit our expectation.”
Teammate and team owner John Force, driving the PEAK/BlueDEF Platinum Camaro SS, is only 16 points out of first place in the Funny Car standings. He would reach 2,000 Funny Car career elimination rounds (a first in NHRA’s 70-year history) if he advances to the semifinals. His record stands at 1,376-621.Robert Hight, a three-time winner of the event, is sixth in the Funny Car standings in the Automobile Club of Southern California Camaro SS. Hight and Force remained at Brainerd International to test last week.
“Honestly, I think we found some consistency,” Hight said. “As far as confidence leaving Brainerd, all of our teams were pretty stoked. You don’t want to look back on a career and say I never won Indy. I’ve been fortunate to win it a few times.”
Competition in Pro Stock is equally as tight, with five different drivers of the Chevrolet Camaro SS having won at least once through 10 races. KB Racing’s Anderson, driver of the HendrickCars.com Camaro SS, is the points leader as he seeks to tie Warren Johnson’s class record of 97 wins. 
Reigning and four-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders, driver of the Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Camaro SS, won the Pro Stock race at the 2020 U.S. Nationals.
Aaron Stanfield, driver of the Janac Brothers Camaro SS, has a field-high three wins and is second in the standings in his first full season in the class. His father, Greg, won the Pro Stock title at the U.S. Nationals in 2010.
The younger Stanfield, who drove the Janac Brothers COPO Camaro to victory in the 2020 Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown event at the U.S. Nationals on the way to the series championship, returns to the competition this weekend. A COPO Camaro driver has won four of the five Factory Stock Showdown races this season. 
FOX will telecast eliminations live at 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 5. 
CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT
TOP FUEL:
BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, FLAV-R-PAC CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (seven-time No. 1 qualifier in 12 races; winner at Topeka; track ET record-holder; second in points): “The Indianapolis U.S. Nationals, The Big Go, is our biggest race of the season. It’s a prestigious race and one I’m still looking to win. Our plan is to take it all home and win at one of the most nostalgic tracks on our circuit.”
FUNNY CAR:JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (three-time winner this season; five-time winner in U.S. Nationals; fourth in points): “You want to win Indy; that’s what it’s all about.”
ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (two-time winner and two-time runner-up; three-time winner in U.S. Nationals; sixth in points): ““You don’t want to look back a career and say you never won Indy. I’ve been fortunate enough to say I’ve won it a couple times and I’m looking forward to winning it a couple more. There are full fields at this event. That Friday night run is going to be important; you can’t go and throw-down and if it doesn’t work expect you’ll get in the show on Saturday like a lot have done the rest of this season. We’re going to go out, make our run, get in the show and use Saturday to try and get as much data and build consistency for Sunday.”
PRO STOCK:
GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, HENDRICKCARS.COM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (two-time winner; No. 1 qualifier in eight of 10 races; six-time winner in U.S. Nationals; points leader): “This is the one I always look to. There’s more points involved, there’s more money involved, so I guess I like that extra pressure and that extra meaning to it. To me, there’s no place like that place for Victory Circle. All those wins I’ve had there have been absolutely some of the most special I’ve had. I’ve had a lot of wins there, but it’s been too long since the last one.”
AARON STANFIELD, ELITE MOTORSPORTS, JANAC BROTHERS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (three-time winner this season; second in points; first Pro Stock appearance at track): “We’ve really run good the past several races. I’m very grateful for the opportunities and grateful for the success we’ve had. I’m in the best equipment I can have and it’s up to me to show up and do my job. From an engine building standpoint, it’s definitely not just another race. Things get a lot busier this time of year getting ready for the Big Go. To me, this is the Holy Grail of drag racing. This is the one you’ve got to win.”
DALLAS GLENN, KB RACING, RAD TORQUE SYSTEMS CAMARO SS (first-year full-time driver; two-time winner): “I’ve dreamt my whole life about racing at the U.S. Nationals and getting to do it in my rookie year of Pro Stock is really cool. Our RAD Torque/KB Racing Chevrolet Camaro has already had such a crazy year so far and I don’t see why we can’t keep that trend going to finish out the season.”
KYLE KORETSKY, KB RACING, LUCAS OIL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (first-year full-time driver; runner-up at Topeka; first Pro Stock appearance at track): “I’m hungry for my first win. It’s what everyone comes out here to do. I’m hungry to get that first one for my family. A Koretsky winning it is incredibly huge for me and it’s been my main goal from when I started. I’m confident in my driving, I’m confident in the team. There’s not reason why we can’t win. I feel like we have a winning car every weekend. As long as I do my job, I’ve got a shot to win. Runner-up is nice and I’m grateful, but if you’re not first you’re last.”  
TROY COUGHLIN JR., ELITE MOTORSPORTS, JEGS MAIL ORDER CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (runner-up in season opener; transferred to final quad at Charlotte; semifinalist at Sonoma; first Pro Stock appearance at track): “This is the final race before the playoffs so we’re looking to continue the momentum we’ve gained and make a great run at the championship. If I can get off the pedal when I’m supposed to then I know we can contend because Mark Ingersoll (crew chief), Kelly Murphy, Steven Hurley, Eric Luzinski, and Kyle Bates always give me a great race car. They are so efficient and professional, it’s exciting to be around them.”

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 02, 2021) – Robert Hight and the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro team enter this weekend’s Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway, the final regular season event before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship begins, with the Funny Car lead in sight. Hight and the Auto Club team are trying to climb to the top of the Funny Car standings for the 14th time in the 16 seasons in which they have contested the championship. If they are successful this weekend, Hight would earn a 30-point advantage over No. 2 when the points reset for the NHRA Countdown to the Championship. Already with two victories at the NHRA SpringNationals in Houston and Sonoma Raceway’s NHRA Sonoma Nationals marking the 53rd win of his career, two runner-up finishes at the season opening Gatornationals and the New England Nationals and a No. 1 qualifier at the Las Vegas Four-Wide event, Hight and the Auto Club team have proven themselves to be contenders for the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series championship. The Funny Car field is competitive though, making every point matter. After missteps at the event in Topeka and the most recent race at Brainerd International Raceway, the three-time championship team took a day in Brainerd, Minn. to test and the results were exactly what they wanted. “This Auto Club Chevy, we’ve either been good, or we’ve been bad, there hasn’t been any in between,” Hight said. “Honestly, I think we found some consistency during Brainerd testing, we ran well, every pass. As far as confidence leaving Brainerd both John and my team, we were pretty stoked.” Hight is seeking his fourth win at the U.S. Nationals, drag racing’s biggest event in the world. He previously won in 2006, 2008 and 2013. If successful in securing his fourth victory at the historic facility, Hight would tie Don Prudhomme for third most Funny Car victories at the US Nationals. In addition to his three wins, he also has been runner-up three times, most recently in 2015. “You don’t want to look back a career and say you never won Indy. I’ve been fortunate enough to say I’ve won it a couple times and I’m looking forward to winning it a couple more. There are full fields at this event. That Friday night run is going to be important, you can’t go and throw-down and if it doesn’t work expect you’ll get in the show on Saturday like a lot have done the rest of this season. We’re going to go out, make our run, get in the show and use Saturday to try and get as much data and build consistency for Sunday.” Qualifying at the Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals begins Friday with a session at 7:35 a.m. and continue Saturday with sessions at 2 and 5:45 p.m. Eliminations are slated for 10 a.m. on Sunday. Television coverage for the weekend begins Friday at 7 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) that will include live coverage of the first qualifying run. A second qualifying show will air Sunday at 9 a.m. ET on FS1. Eliminations television coverage will be live but split with a show at 11 a.m. ET on FS1 and a second show at 1 p.m. ET on FOX Broadcast Network.

Dodge HEMI® Challenge Celebrates 20th Anniversary at the “Big Go”

·        The Dodge HEMI® Challenge celebrates its 20th anniversary during the 2021 Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis Sept. 2-3
·        The longest running, continuous, specialty race in NHRA history showcases Super Stock 1968 Dodge Darts and Plymouth Barracudas in head-to-head battles for an iconic custom-made Dodge HEMI Challenge trophy and $15,000 winner’s prize
·        Dodge HEMI Challenge Grand Marshal and legendary Mopar Stock and Pro Stock racer Herb “Mr. 4 Speed” McCandless will lead the iconic muscle cars in a parade for fans prior to elimination rounds
·        Defending winner Stephen Yantus III, four-time winner Jim Daniels Jr. and inaugural winner Bucky Hess II return to vie for the uniquely crafted trophy and bragging rights

Indianapolis, Indiana, Sept. 2, 2021– The ever popular Dodge HEMI® Challenge celebrates its 20th anniversary at the National Hot Rod Association’s (NHRA) prestigious Dodge//SRT U.S. Nationals, affectionately known as the “Big Go,” at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis this weekend. The longest running, continuous, specialty race in NHRA history features heads-up, wheel standing, side-by-side racing of vintage HEMI-powered 1968 Dodge Dart and Plymouth Barracuda “package cars” that have dominated the NHRA Super Stock (SS/AH) class for more than five decades.

In celebration of the classic muscle cars that contributed to the Dodge and Mopar brands’ legendary reputation and success at the drag strip, Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals Grand Marshal Herb “Mr. 4 Speed” McCandless will also serve in the same role for the Dodge HEMI Challenge and lead the field of qualified Darts and Barracudas down the Indianapolis track’s fabled return road in a parade prior to Friday’s eliminations rounds aboard his own original 1968 Super Stock HEMI Dart. 

The winner of the Dodge HEMI Challenge takes home the uniquely crafted 42.6-lb. trophy, made from a 426 HEMI cylinder head. All 16 drivers who reach the elimination rounds will receive cash rewards, with the winner earning an extra $15,000 prize.

Among the participants vying for the iconic custom-made trophy and bragging rights will be driver Bucky Hess II, winner of the inaugural edition of the (then Mopar) Dodge HEMI Challenge that took place in 2001.

“It was the best HEMI Challenge ever and to be able to share that with my wife and son made it so special,” said Hess. “When we came up the return road at Indy, the stands were full and the whole crowd stood and gave us a standing ovation as we drove by in my HEMI Barracuda. It looked like the wave at a football game. They (NHRA) were running a Pro Stock qualifying session and they stopped them to let us drive through to the front of the tower. Like they say, the first is the one they will always remember and I’ll never forget that evening at the 2001 NHRA U.S. Nationals.” 

Other previous winners of the fan-favorite event that relives the amazing history of factory-supported drag racing include Richard Beshore (2002), Jerry Jenkins (2003) and five-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. (2004), Charlie Westcott Sr. (2009), Jim Daniels Sr. (2010) and Rick Houser (2007 and 2013). Charlie Westcott Jr. is the winningest HEMI Challenge driver with six titles (2005, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2014).

Jim Daniels Jr. returns in his vintage HEMI-powered ’68 Dodge Dart as a four-time winner (2016-2019) after seeing his record four-year, 19-round consecutive win streak come to an end last year with a first round loss.

“The success that we have had in the Dodge HEMI Challenge feels like you’re on cloud nine,” said the 25-year-old Daniels, who remains a favorite as a front runner at this year’s event. “Having the opportunity to win one Dodge HEMI Challenge is an absolute dream come true, but being able to win four consecutive events was out of this world. This is a race we prepare for all year so when you are victorious at the end of the day, it’s all a big dream come true.

“The competition is definitely going to be tough at this year’s event,” added Daniels. “You are going to have a handful of cars that are more than capable of winning the event. You can’t take any of these guys lightly as they are all gunning for that awesome HEMI cylinder head trophy and the $15,000 check. The competition will be tough, so you must be prepared. The Dodge HEMI Challenge is extremely important to me. This is the one race we put a ton of time and resources into each and every year and it is by far one of my greatest achievements in my racing career.”

A new winner was crowned last year when Stephen Yantus III drove a ’68 Barracuda from the No. 1 qualifier position through eliminations, where he set the low elapsed time and top speed of the event with an 8.410-second, 158.65-mph run to earn the victory and coveted trophy.

“The 2020 event was the fourth time we ran at the Dodge HEMI Challenge and the first three times didn’t treat us very well,” said Yantus. “We started off very green and had to learn a bunch as quick as we could learn it. These elephants (426 HEMI engine) are very difficult to understand and master how to best get them down the track. Not too many people were stepping up to the plate to help us. This class is very competitive and secrets stay secrets. You have to earn your stripes and take your licks in the SS/AH class. But there isn’t another class out there like it. Racing these iconic HEMI package cars has always been my dream and they’re amazing to watch.”

Yantus is among 23 entrants for the 20th anniversary HEMI spectacle.

“It should be a great show for the fans,” added Yantus, “and to have that many cars I think that’s great to show Dodge that there still is a want and need for these cars and by showing up is telling Dodge thank you for doing this for us.”

The Dodge HEMI Challenge will be streamed online via NHRA.TV with subscription-based video-on-demand coverage of live qualifying and elimination rounds at Lucas OIl Raceway on Sept. 2-3.

The final elimination round of the Dodge HEMI Challenge, as well as highlights from the parade of participating 1968 Dodge Darts and Plymouth Barracudas, will be broadcast on FS1 during the qualifying show on Friday, Sept. 3 from 7-9 p.m. Eastern. Fans can also look for HEMI Challenge highlights during the NHRA coverage of the Dodge//SRT U.S. Nationals on Sunday Sept. 5, on FS1 from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. and then on the FOX national broadcast network from 1 – 4 p.m. EDT.

DodgeGarage: Digital Hub for Drag Racing News
Fans can follow all the NHRA action this season at DodgeGarage, the one-stop portal for Dodge//SRT and Mopar drag-racing news. The site includes daily updates and access to an online racing HQ, news, events, galleries, available downloads and merchandise. For more information, visit www.dodgegarage.com. 

@DodgeMoparMotorsports on Instagram
The @DodgeMoparMotorsports Instagram channel continues to share content capturing Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers on the track. Fans can see action from the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series and NHRA Sportsman grassroots racers, competing in classes such as Factory Stock Showdown, Stock and Super Stock, as well as additional motorsports series.

Mopar
Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) offers exceptional service, parts and customer care. Born in 1937 as the name of a line of antifreeze products, the Mopar brand has evolved over more than 80 years to represent both complete vehicle care and authentic performance for owners and enthusiasts worldwide.

Mopar made its mark in the 1960s during the muscle-car era with performance parts to enhance speed and handling for both on-road and racing use. Later, the brand expanded to include technical service and customer support. Today, Mopar integrates service, parts and customer-care operations in order to enhance customer and dealer support worldwide.

Mopar is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com. 

Follow Mopar and company news and video on:
Company blog: blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Media website: media.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Mopar brand: www.mopar.com
Mopar blog: blog.mopar.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mopar
Instagram: www.instagram.com/officialmopar
Twitter: @OfficialMOPAR
YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/mopar and www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

One driver could collect $30,000 if they sweep the weekend

Monroe, LA – September 2,  2021 – The Pelican State is due for an experience like no other, as the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models prepare for a trip to the deep South. 

The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet will stop at The Rev in Monroe, LA, for two nights of jam-packed action.  

On Friday, Sept 24, the Series will run a 40-lap Feature, paying $10,000-to-win. Then, on Saturday, Sept. 25, the drivers will return for a 60-lap finale, with $20,000 going to the winner – meaning one driver could collect $30,000 if they win both. 

Fans in Louisiana will get a front-row seat to three-time and defending champion Brandon Sheppard’s quest for history. The New Berlin, IL driver has 76 career World of Outlaws victories, two wins shy of tying Josh Richards for most all-time (78).

They’ll also catch a glimpse of Sheppard’s run for a fourth Series title, which also ties Richards if the “Rocket Shepp” holds on to the points lead. 

Sheppard will face a group of hungry competitors trying to keep him from the top of the mountain, including his championship rival and two-time DIRTcar Drydene Xtreme Series champion Chris Madden. The Gray Court, SC driver has four wins this season and hopes to use his knowledge of tracks in the Southeast to his advantage at The Rev. 

The list of stout competitors doesn’t stop there either. Veteran Dennis Erb, Jr. will be aiming to end the season with a career-high win total. Rookie contenders Tyler Bruening and Ryan Gustin will continue their war for the Rookie of the Year title. And Series stars Ricky Weiss, Brent Larson and Boom Briggs will be on the hunt for their first win of the season.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series put on a barnburner of a show at The Rev earlier in the year, so strap in for an exciting ride with the World of Outlaws Late Models as they’ll flex their muscles in the Bayou.

TICKETS: https://bit.ly/2XLHy5J

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.

KNOXVILLE, IA (September 2, 2021) – Knoxville Raceway has increased the purse for the 17th Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals presented by BRANDT Professional Agriculture to more than $287,000. For the first time, the winner of the 100-lap finale on Saturday, September 18th will earn $50,000, while the runner-up will take home $25,000. “We may be the Sprint Car Capital of the World, but our Late Model Nationals has grown into a premier event at Knoxville Raceway and deserves a bigger purse,” said John McCoy, Race Director at Knoxville Raceway. “The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series puts on a great show here year-after-year. We enjoy working with the Lucas Oil team to put on a great show and appreciate how well they work with other series to make this a truly special event. This event is a great way for Knoxville Raceway to end its season each year.” “For over a decade, the Late Model Knoxville Nationals has stood out as one of the most lucrative in Dirt Late Model racing,” said Rick Schwallie, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Director. “As the prestige of the Late Model Knoxville Nationals grows, the stakes continue to rise. A huge thanks to Knoxville Raceway for continuing to invest in what has become one of the most coveted events in Dirt Late Model racing. Lucas Oil Products is proud to have been a partner of Knoxville Raceway since 2005 and we look forward to continuing our great working relationship for years to come.”  The three-day event is Knoxville Raceway’s sole late model event each season. The race dates back to 2004 when Iowa native Brian Birkhofer took home the win in the inaugural Late Model Knoxville Nationals. In 16 events, there have been 12 different winners. Only Jimmy Owens, Mike Marlar, and Scott Bloomquist have recorded multiple wins. Teams look forward to returning to the famed 1/2-mile black clay oval that sits in the middle of town after the 2020 Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals were postponed until this year due to COVID. Three-day ticket packages and single-night tickets are available at knoxvilleraceway.com or by calling the ticket office at 641-842-5431. All three nights will be broadcast on MAVTVPLUS.com. The September 18th finale will also air live on MAVTV Motorsports Network at 9:00 PM CT/10:00 PM ET. For more information on the September 16th-18th Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals presented by BRANDT Professional Agriculture, visit www.knoxvilleraceway.com, follow @KnoxvilleRaces on Twitter and like the track on Facebook and Instagram. Previous Late Model Knoxville Nationals Winners:2019 – Jimmy Owens2018 – Jimmy Owens2017 – Mike Marlar2016 – Mike Marlar2015 – Jared Landers2014 – Brian Birkhofer2013 – Darrell Lanigan2012 – Steve Francis2011 – Don O’Neal2010 – Billy Moyer2009 – Scott Bloomquist2008 – Tim McCreadie2007 – Brady Smith2006 – Brian Shirley2005 – Scott Bloomquist2004 – Brian Birkhofer Knoxville Late Model Nationals Purse Information:Thursday-Friday A-Main Purse: 1. $7,000, 2. $4,000, 3. $3,000, 4. $2,000, 5. $1,500, 6. $1,000, 7. $900, 8. $800, 9. $700, 10. $600, 11. $580, 12. $560, 13. $540, 14. $520, 15. $500, 16. $490, 17. $480, 18. $470, 19. $460, 20. $450, 21. $440, 22. $430, 23. $410, 24. $400 Saturday A-Main Purse: 1. $50,000, 2. $25,000, 3. $10,000, 4. $8,750, 5. $7,500, 6. $7,000, 7. $6,500, 8. $6,000, 9. $5,500, 10. $5,000, 11. $4,500, 12. $4,000, 13. $3,500, 14. $3,400, 15. $3,300, 16. $3,200, 17. $3,100, 18. $3,000, 19. $3,000, 20. $3,000, 21. $3,000, 22. $3,000, 23. $2,500, 24. $2,500, 25. $2,500, 26. $2,500, 27. $2,500, 28. $2,500, 29. $2,500, 30. $2,500, 31. $2,500, 32. $2,500 About Knoxville Raceway: Located on the Marion County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Iowa, Knoxville Raceway is a 1/2-mile dirt track that hosts winged CT525, 360 and 410 sprint car racing nearly every Saturday night from April to September. The “Sprint Car Capital of the World” also hosts the Knoxville Nationals, sprint car racing’s most prestigious event, every August, as well as the Late Model Knoxville Nationals, 360 Knoxville Nationals and Corn Belt Clash featuring non-wing sprint cars. In 2021, Knoxville Raceway also hosted the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Superstar Racing Experience (SRX). Knoxville Raceway is the third-largest outdoor stadium in Iowa with 20,322 seats and 33 suites.

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.