THE SHOW-ME SWING

Three Exciting Missouri Tracks on Deck for World of Outlaws Sprint CarsThe Greatest Show on Dirt Heads for US-36, Lake Ozark & I-55OSBORN, MO – March 3, 2021 – The Show-Me State has consistently shown us some of the best moments in the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series of late.In 2020 alone, we witnessed Kyle Larson’s new track record (9.995 seconds) at I-55, Sheldon Haudenschild’s miraculous last-corner pass at US-36, and James McFadden’s big win at Lake Ozark.To close out March and ring in April, we’re re-visiting all three of those Missouri venues with The Greatest Show on Dirt set to thrill race fans yet again.It all begins on Friday, March 26 with the sixth appearance in Series history at Osborn’s US-36 Raceway. One night later, it’s the $15,000/Win Jason Johnson Classic at Eldon’s Lake Ozark Speedway on Saturday, March 27. The following weekend on April 2-3 we’ve got back-to-back shows at Pevely’s Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55.US-36 TICKETS (3/26)
LAKE OZARK TICKETS (3/27)
I-55 TICKETS (4/2-3)Of the 15 full-time drivers, five of them have claimed a World of Outlaws victory at two of the three Missouri tracks.Included in that list is Sheldon Haudenschild (’19, ’20 I-55 & ’20 US-36), Brad Sweet (’19 Ozark & ’19, ’20 I-55), Donny Schatz (’06 I-55 & ’18, ’20 Ozark), David Gravel (’16 I-55 & ’19 Ozark), and Logan Schuchart (’18 I-55 & ’20 Ozark).Sheldon, a native of Wooster, OH, enters US-36 as the only active Outlaw with a victory at the Osborn, MO 3/8th-mile. The three other NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car winners at US-36 are his father Jac Haudenschild (’06), two-time Series champion Jason Meyers (’07), and 105-time winner Joey Saldana (’09, ’16).Oh, and the cherry on top, Haudenschild’s win at US-36 last August was one of the most memorable moments of the year. His Hail Mary run to complete a last-lap, last-corner pass on Series champion Brad Sweet will remain an instant classic for years to come.”All three of those tracks down there in Missouri are such a blast, man,” Lil’ Haud offered. “We’ve had great races and I’ve had great race cars at all of them over the last few years. Those smaller, bull-ring type joints always find a way to produce epic battles. I know this next trip will be just as awesome as the last.”Following US-36’s date on Friday, March 26, the World of Outlaws will head to Lake Ozark Speedway on Saturday, March 27 for the third annual Jason Johnson Classic.Promoted by Bobbi Johnson, this event at the Eldon, MO 3/8th-mile is all about honoring Jason’s legacy and paying tribute to The Ragin’ Cajun. As a father to Jaxx, owner of Jason Johnson Racing, and beloved competitor by all, Jason’s impact reached far beyond his 12 World of Outlaws wins and 2016 Knoxville Nationals title.Through eight previous events at Lake Ozark, Tony Stewart Racing’s Donny Schatz is the only driver with multiple victories. When it comes to the Jason Johnson Classic, though, those titles have gone to David Gravel in the JJR #41  in 2019 and Australia’s James McFadden aboard the Kasey Kahne Racing #9 last year.For Carson Macedo, who is in his first full-time year with Jason Johnson Racing, this race is extra special to him.”This race means a lot, especially for me driving Jason’s car with Bobbi & Jaxx [Johnson] and Phil [Dietz] all still involved,” Macedo noted. “Being the Jason Johnson Classic, all you want to do is deliver a win and get everyone to victory lane. You know David did that the first year when he was driving the #41, and hopefully we can put JJR back on top again when we go back.”With the 60th and 61st event coming up on April 2-3, Missouri’s I-55 will surpass California’s Calistoga Speedway to become the tenth-most visited track in World of Outlaws history.As it stands, Slammin’ Sammy Swindell is the winningest driver at the Pevely, MO 1/3rd-mile with six total wins to his name. Steve Kinser (5), Craig Dollansky (5), Jac Haudenschild (3), Daryn Pittman (3) and Joey Saldana (3) are next in line.Of late, the last six races have been split evenly with Brad Sweet, Sheldon Haudenschild, and Kyle Larson each claiming two wins apiece. Just last year, Larson shattered the track record with an astounding 9.995-second lap.”I remember the first time I came to Pevely probably back in 2010, and I was just in awe of the place,” Sweet said. “It’s just one of the most unique, most exciting tracks we go to all year.”Before the Missouri swing begins in late March, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series has three weeks of racing to get the year rolling again with a revised spring schedule.A Florida doubleheader at Volusia (3/5) and East Bay (3/6) leads into southern shows at Mississippi’s Magnolia (3/12) and Lousiana’s The Rev (3/13) before a Texas Two-Step at Cotton Bowl (3/19-20) caps the run ahead the a two-week Missouri stay. You can BUY TICKETS HERE.With two of 80+ races in the books, Shark Racing’s Logan Schuchart currently leads the early-season point standings with Kasey Kahne Racing’s Brad Sweet (-6), Big Game Motorsports’ Brad Sweet (-12), Jason Johnson Racing’s Carson Macedo (-18), and Rudeen Racing’s Cory Eliason (-24) behind him.Anyone unable to make it to the track can watch all of the action live on DIRTVision with the annual Platinum FAST PASS subscription for $299/year or the monthly FAST PASS subscription for $39/month.Winners at US-36 Raceway (5 Events):
2006 – Jac Haudenschild
2007 – Jason Meyers
2009 – Joey Saldana
2016 – Joey Saldana
2020 – Sheldon HaudenschildWinners at Lake Ozark Speedway (8 Events): 
2005 – Tim Shaffer
2007 – Craig Dollansky
2018 – Donny Schatz
2019 – Brad Sweet, David Gravel
2020 – Logan Schuchart, Donny Schatz, James McFaddenWinners at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 (59 Events):
1987 – Brad Doty, Steve Kinser
1988 – Sammy Swindell, Steve Kinser
1989 – Bobby Davis Jr., Doug Wolfgang, Doug Wolfgang
1990 – Sammy Swindell
1991 – Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell
1992 – Steve Kinser
1996 – Mark Kinser
1997 – Mark Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Sammy Swindell
1998 – Stevie Smith, Tyler Walker, Andy Hillenburg
1999 – Jac Haudenschild
2000 – Jac Haudenschild
2001 – Randy Hannagan, Stevie Smith
2002 – Jac Haudenschild, Daryn Pittman
2003 – Steve Kinser, Tyler Walker
2004 – Craig Dollansky, Danny Lasoski
2005 – Kraig Kinser, Chad Kemenah
2006 – Donny Schatz, Brooke Tatnell
2007 – Joey Saldana
2008 – Jason Meyers
2009 – Craig Dollansky, Joey Saldana
2010 – Joey Saldana, Tim Shaffer, Jason Meyers
2011 – Craig Dollansky
2012 – Jason Sides, Craig Dollansky
2013 – Craig Dollansky
2014 – Sammy Swindell, Paul McMahan, Kerry Madsen
2015 – Shane Stewart
2016 – David Gravel, Rico Abreu
2017 – Daryn Pittman
2018 – Daryn Pittman, Rico Abreu, Logan Schuchart
2019 – Brad Sweet, Sheldon Haudenschild
2020 – Brad Sweet, Kyle Larson, Sheldon Haudenschild, Kyle LarsonTrent Gower Photo
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink® Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider) and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include ARP (Automotive Racing Products), Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Award), MSD and Slick Woody’s (Quick Time Award); manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Intercomp, K1 Race Gear, and Racing Electronics.Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.

baggsy–New #GT86V8 Build

NEW 1000HP Pro spec competition car magic in the making.

SB Motorsport Owner, Steve ‘Baggsy’ Biagioni has just released his new competition build to the world!

A brand new chassis to the SB team, a Toyota GT86. The successor to the awesome, worldly acclaimed Japanese AE86.

Remember our latest newsletter announcing that we have four builds this year at SB? Yeah, that’s still correct!

As this new build is taking place in Ireland, at @MotorsportFifty6. With SB Motorsport team members Bob and Jimmy, working hard to get this machine ready.

Our aim is to get the build completed for the upcoming @DriftMasters.gp 2021 season later this year, which DMEC have recently released their full event calendar.

Round 1 – Austria – May 29/30

Round 2 – Norway – June 25/26

Round 3 – Poland – July 9/10

Round 4 – Latvia – July 30/31

Round 5 – Georgia – Sept 4/5

Hit the link below to check out our brand new build series on YouTube.

Alternatively, we’ve added the first two episodes right here.

We have to say a massive thank you to the team over in Ireland for all their hard work so far, and dealing with Baggsy on the phone!

More info coming soon.

Baggsy – “I’m so hyped to step into a brand new vehicle for the 2021 Drift Masters season! Something I’ve never driven before and for it to be a pro level competition spec’d car it’s going to be awesome”

“Massive thanks to Bob and the guys over in Ireland at MotorsportFifty6 for building my new GT86”

“I can’t wait to get out and have some fun in a new toy”

www.baggsyboy.com

www.sbmotorsport.com

Three-time D3 champion Mike Coughlin kicking off 2021 season at ‘Baby Gators’

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 3) — Three-time Division 3 champion Mike Coughlin will bring his 38-years of drag racing experience to this weekend’s “Baby Gators” event at Gainesville Raceway with hopes of securing a 30th career victory. If he doesn’t score this weekend, then he’ll quickly get another chance at next weekend’s regular Gatornationals event.
Coughlin will be competing in Top Dragster, a class he dominated and won in 2019 in the North Central Division. He’ll be joined in the JEGS pit by the decorated duo of Jeff Taylor and Danny Nelson, who are helping the team shakedown two hot rods for Mike’s sons Clay and Jack.
“It’s a new year and a very exciting one for me as we prepare to add my boys to the team,” said Coughlin, who also captured D3 championships in Top Sportsman in 2007 and 2009. “They’re caught up in school at the moment, which gave us a great opportunity to break-in their cars with a couple of true pros in Jeff and Danny. I’m very appreciative of their help and it’ll be fun racing with them.
“We’re kind of in test mode and racing at the same time. There’s some new stuff on Jack’s dragster so the more runs we can put on it the better. Jeff’s already been making runs in Clay’s Cobalt and the guys are making sure it’s perfect. My dragster is pretty much the same with the exception of a new gear ratio we’re trying to gain more speed. There’s a lot of new stuff happening and we’re ready to see how it all works out.”
One of the most prolific Sportsman racers of all-time with three championships and 48 event titles, Taylor will pilot the B&B-built JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt he’s been testing recently by contesting the Super Stock category at the Gatornationals. The car is being prepped for Clay’s debut. 
For his part, chassis-builder/racer Nelson will captain the JEGS.com Super Comp Dragster at the Baby Gators, and possibly the Gatornationals as well. The team has installed a new ComSync fuel-injection combination to feed the motor and asked Nelson to make some competitive passes before he hands the car off to Jack. Like Taylor, Nelson is a proven winner with one title and five victories to his credit.
As for Coughlin, who will be supported by longtime crewmen Greg Cody, Tony Collier and Justin Beaver, as well as EFI specialist Ryan Micke, getting a little extra sunshine on his face after a long, cold Ohio winter, makes an extended trip to Florida a double treat.
“I had given some thought to not racing myself so I could concentrate on helping Clay and Jack but we had a really good shot at making the JEGS Allstars team last year only to end up second because they took some races off the schedule,” Coughlin said. “This year’s Allstars team hasn’t been decided yet so we thought we’d give it our best effort.
“The plan is to get after it as hard as we can early on so we’re happy to be here for two races in a row at a track that’s one of my favorites. Plus, I really like the Top Dragster class, the people that race in it, the speed of the cars, and the driving aspect. It’s quite a challenge. And let’s face it, any time you can come to Florida it’s worth it.”
The Baby Gators will feature competition in 10 different classes. Racing roars to life at noon Thursday and continues through Sunday. NHRA.tv will live stream all the action.

DiBenedetto Excited About Return to Las Vegas


March 3, 2021


With a mostly disappointing month of February behind them, Matt DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team are anxious to move into the month of March, beginning with this weekend’s Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“Even before the season started I was looking forward to March,” DiBenedetto said. “This is the start of a good stretch of tracks for us.”

The 1.5-mile Las Vegas track has been particularly good for DiBenedetto and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team in recent seasons. Last year, he was runner-up in both races at Vegas, and in the six races before he joined the No. 21 team, the Wood Brothers posted four top-10s and no finishes outside the top 15.

“We had a shot to win both races at Las Vegas last year and we still had room for improvement,” DiBenedetto said. “I can’t wait to get there and see how we stack up against the competition. We were strong there last year, and I’m hoping we have the same speed this year.”

But he cautioned that past results are no guarantee of future performance.

“There are a lot of tough teams out there right now,” he said. “A lot of folks are running good.”

DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Mustang will be starting 30th on Sunday. With no qualifying scheduled, the line-up will be set based on recent performances, which have been disappointing for his team. And that’s a big disadvantage, he said.

“It hurts,” he said. “It really does. It messes up your early-race strategy as far as going for Stage points.

“Sometimes it’s well into the second or even the third Stage before you can work your way to the front.

“The [line-up] system puts you behind the Eight Ball, so you just have to go to work and overcome it.”
 
The 267-lap Pennzoil 400, which will have Stage breaks at Laps 80 and 160, is set to get the green flag just after 12:30 p.m. on Sunday (3:30 p.m. Eastern Time). FOX will carry the TV broadcast.

 

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Returns to Action at Atomic and Brownstown

Batavia, OH (March 3, 2021) – The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will return to action Friday, March 19th and Saturday, March 20th, as teams make their annual trek to Atomic Speedway in Chillicothe, Ohio and Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, Indiana.
Both events are expected to attract a powerful field of entries as drivers battle in a complete program of: Allstar Performance Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and a 50-lap main event for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.
Friday’s event at Atomic Speedway, the 7th Annual Buckeye Spring 50, will pay $12,000-to-win and include an $800-to-win event for the Sport Modifieds. The pit gates will close and re-open at 2:00pm ET, followed by general admission gates at 4:00pm ET. Hot laps will begin at 6:00pm, followed by action-packed racing. 

Tickets for this event are also available on the Atomic Speedway website. Each pre-sale ticket purchaser will get one hour early entrance before the gates open on race day and can choose seats anywhere there isn’t a season reserved seat tag. For more information and pre-sale tickets, visit: www.atomicspeedway.net.
Brownstown Speedway, located on the Jackson County Fairgrounds, will kick off its 2021 racing season on Saturday, March 20. In addition to the pulse-pounding action of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, the 24th Annual Indiana Icebreaker paying $15,000-to-win, the event will also include Modifieds and Pure Stocks.
Both the pit gate and general admission gates at Brownstown Speedway will open at noon. On-track action will begin at 6:00pm ET. To purchase advance tickets or find more information, visit: www.brownstownspeedway.com.

The 7th Annual Buckeye 50 from Atomic Speedway and the 24th Annual Indiana Icebreaker at Brownstown Speedway will also be streamed live on MAVTVPlus.com starting at 6pm ET for monthly and yearly subscribers.  
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series resumes competition, following a spectacular Speedweeks, averaging nearly 67 super late models per night during the nine completed nights of racing. Eight different drivers have graced Victory Lane thus far, in 2021. Tyler Erb is the only repeat winner thus far, while Kyle Larson, Hudson O’Neal, Josh Richards, Stormy Scott, Brandon Overton, Ricky Thornton Jr., and Shane Clanton each have one win.
Overton leads the current standings by 65-points over O’Neal. Devin Moran, while having five top-five finishes but no wins yet, is third, followed by Tim McCreadie, and Brandon Sheppard.  Lucas Oil Championship Standings:

PosCar #CompetitorHometownPointsPay
176Brandon OvertonEvans, GA1155$28,700
271Hudson O’NealMartinsville, IN1090$17,125
39Devin MoranDresden, OH1065$20,925
439Tim McCreadieWatertown, NY1050$17,675
51sBrandon SheppardNew Berlin, IL1045$15,050
640BKyle BronsonBrandon, FL1015$15,050
720RTRicky Thornton JrAdel, IA1005$16,300
8157Mike MarlarWinfield, TN1000$14,500
914Josh RichardsShinnston, WV990$17,475
103sBrian ShirleyChatham, IL985$9,725
1181ETanner EnglishBenton, KY980$13,800
1225Shane ClantonZebulon, GA960$19,300
131TTyler ErbNew Waverly, TX955$29,050
1449Jonathan DavenportBlairsville, GA925$16,400
1520Jimmy OwensNewport, TN920$13,875
1699JRFrank Heckenast JrFrankfort, IL870$6,500
171Earl Pearson JrJacksonville, FL865$9,275
1816Tyler BrueningDecorah, IA860$9,775
1956JRTony Jackson JrLebanon, MO820$4,675
2021Billy Moyer JrBatesville, AR795$8,325

Atomic SpeedwayPhone Number: 740-703-9749Location: 2535 Blain Hwy, Waverly, OH 45690Website: www.atomicspeedway.net
Tire Rule: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.
Purse: $12,000-to-win- 1. $12,000, 2. $6,000, 3. $3,500, 4. $2,800, 5. $2,500, 6. $2,300, 7. $2,200, 8. $2,100, 9. $2,050, 10. $2,000, 11. $1,600, 12. $1,400, 13. $1,200, 14. $1,100, 15. $1,050, 16. $1,000, 17. $1,000, 18. $1,000, 19. $1,000, 20. $1,000, 21. $1,000, 22. $1,000, 23. $1,000, 24. $1,000.

Brownstown SpeedwayPhone Number: 812-358-5332Location: 476 East CR 100, Brownstown, IN 47220Website: www.brownstownspeedway.com
Tire Rule:Left Rear/Fronts – Hoosier Rib (28.5) 1350Right Rear – Hoosier (29.0) 1350 NRM, (29.0) 1350 NRMW, (92) LM40*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.

Purse: $15,000-to-win – 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. 

Troy Coughlin Jr. ready to defend Team JEGS’ World Doorslammer Nationals title

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 2) — Troy Coughlin Jr.’s first duty as the primary driver of the JEGS.com Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro is defending the title of the second annual CTech Manufacturing World Doorslammer Nationals presented by JEGS, which takes place this weekend at Orlando Speed World Raceway. 
At last year’s inaugural event, Coughlin’s uncle Jeg Coughlin Jr. emerged victorious from a stacked field of Pro Stock superstars to claim the trophy. But Jeg Jr. has since retired, handing the steering wheel of the headline-grabbing JEGS.com hot rod to his talented nephew.
“It’s an absolute honor to take Uncle Jeg’s place in this car and as the defending champs of this really cool event,” Troy Jr. said. “He’s a legend in this sport and one of my all-time heroes and he left us in great shape to contend for round wins and race wins right out of the trailer.
“There’s a huge excitement level for this race. It’s the very best of the NHRA going up against all the top door-slammer drivers from across the country. Whenever you have a race where the winner takes home $75,000, you’re gonna bring out all the big hitters. It feels like a huge bracket race with a healthy dose of the outlaw culture. It’s a different kind of spark, and I’m enjoying it.”
Troy Jr. and team will be making several test runs Wednesday and Thursday to dial-in the tune-up. Official qualifying for the event begins with one round of action Friday evening followed by two more sessions Saturday. The elimination bracket will be set by a random draw just before Sunday’s opening round of racing.
“We hope to make as many runs as possible to gain as much data as we can,” Troy Jr. said. “These will be our first runs of the year so it’ll feel great to let out the clutch, knock that rust off, and take this JEGS Chevy through the gears. The car’s basically the same as when Uncle Jeg got out of it last year. We just inserted my seat and clutch pedal.
“I have a real desire to start off strong with this group. The best way to show my appreciation for all the hard work they put in is to win that big paycheck on Sunday so we can spread the love around. I’m so excited to get started.”
This is the second year the World Doorslammer Nationals will be presented by JEGS, the mail-order high-performance parts giant that has supported the sport of drag racing since its inception 60-plus years ago. Fans wishing to watch the action can do so via the live streaming on FloRacing.com.

World of Outlaws Late Models back in action at Smoky Mountain

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
Kyle Strickler, Brandon Sheppard, Scott Bloomquist and more aim for $12K payday in TennesseeMARYVILLE, TN – March 2, 2021 – Tennessee will welcome the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models for the first time in 2021 on Saturday, March 6, at the 4/10-mile Smoky Mountain Speedway.The Series spent the last two months playing with gators in Florida but will now keep the season rolling through the South and Midwest, starting with this weekend’s $12,000-to-win Tennessee Tipoff.There have been four different winners in the first five races, so far, and Smoky Mountain may see another new winner. The track has produced six different winners in its last six World of Outlaws events and has had eight different winners in the Series’ nine events there.If you’re unable to make it to the track can watch all of the action live on DIRTVision with the annual Platinum FAST PASS subscription for $299/year or the monthly FAST PASS subscription for $39/month.Here are the top stories to follow this weekend:ROOKIE LEADER: Rookie of the Year contender Kyle Strickler, of Sinking Spring, PA, enters Smoky Mountain with the current Series points lead – 68 points ahead of Kyle Bronson. He had an exceptional start to the season in Florida, leading him to join the World of Outlaws full-time in 2021. Strickler claimed his first two career wins in the first five races of the year and has yet to finish outside the top-10 – the only driver with that feat.He’s yet to run with the World of Outlaws at Smoky Mountain but has made a handful of starts at the 4/10-mile track in his short Late Model career. His best finish there, so far, is eighth.LOOKING TO TAKE OFF: The spark is lit and the Rocket1 Racing team with three-time defending Series champion Brandon Sheppard, of New Berlin, IL, will be poised to take off at Smoky Mountain Speedway. They were unable to claim a top-five finish during the first five races of the season at Volusia Speedway Park. And while Sheppard has yet to earn a Series win at Smoky Mounty, he’s had success at the track.He won with the Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series in 2017 and hasn’t finished worse than fourth in the last three World of Outlaws events at the track. A win this weekend would also be his 70th career World of Outlaws win.BOSS LEVEL: The first five races of the World of Outlaws season didn’t go as well as Ross “The Boss” Bailes, of Clover, SC, would’ve liked. But since then, he went on a run of one win and two second-place finishes with the Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series. He’s hoping to carry that momentum into the Smoky Mountain event, as he’s also racing for the Rookie of the Year honors against the likes of Kyle Strickler.He’s made trips to the Tennessee track before but has yet to make that trip with the World of Outlaws. So far, this season, Bailes has claimed one top-10 finish and currently sits 10th in Series points.THREE, TWO, ONE?: In Ricky Weiss’s last two visits to Smoky Mountain with the World of Outlaws he finished third and second, respectively. Could a win be on tap this year? If so, it would be his first behind the wheel of his own Sniper Chassis. In its first four races at Volusia, the new chassis helped Weiss earn three top-10 finishes – his one top-five finish came in a Team Zero car after he wrecked his Sniper.Aside from his World of Outlaws success at Smoky Mountain, Weiss, of Headingly, MB, has earned two victories at the track in 2019 with the All Star Dirt Racing Series.TENNESSEE SUNSHINE: In the World of Outlaws’ nine previous visits to Smoky Mountain, only one driver has visited Victory Lane multiple times – Tennessee’s Scott Bloomquist. Black Sunshine won two consecutive events at the track in 2015 and 2016. A win in his home state this weekend, behind the wheel of his Drydene machine, would be his 34th career World of Outlaws victory. He finished 16th at the track last year.Bloomquist earned a second-place finish during the second race of the season but was unable to crack the top-10 during the DIRTcar Nationals.THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE:
WHEN & WHERE
Saturday, March 6, at Smoky Mountain Speedway for the Tennessee Tipoff | EVENT INFOABOUT THE TRACK
Smoky Mountain Speedway is a high-banked 4/10-mile track
Online – SmokyMountainSpeedway.com
Track Record – 14.860 sec. set by Billy Ogle, Jr. in November 2013SMOKY MOUNTAIN SPEEDWAY PREVIOUS WINNERS
2020 – Mike Marlar on March 7
2019 – Jimmy Owens on March 23
2018 – Chris Madden on Apr. 27; Dale McDowell on Apr. 28
2017 – Brandon Overton on May 16
2016 – Scott Bloomquist on May 7
2015 – Scott Bloomquist on May 9
2013 – Shane Clanton on April 26
2004 – Rick Eckert on April 3ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models Series
Twitter – Twitter.com/WoOLateModels – @WoOLateModels
Instagram – Instagram.com/WoOLateModels – @woolatemodels
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsLateModelSeries
YouTube – Youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com – Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/monthAROUND THE TURN: The World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models on Friday and Saturday, March 26-27, will return to Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, SC. Click HERE for event info.2021 STATS
There has been five World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Features this year.FEATURE WINNERS (4 drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Kyle Strickler, Sinking Spring, PA – 2
2 – Kyle Bronson, Brandon, FL – 1
– Devin Moran, Dresden, OH – 1
– Brandon Overton, Evans, GA – 1DRYDENE HEAT WINNERS (16 drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Kyle Bronson, Brandon, FL – 3
2 – Kyle Strickler, Sinking Spring, PA – 2
– Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY – 2
– Devin Moran, Dresden, OH – 2
– Tyler Bruening, Decorah, IA – 2
– Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, IL – 2
3 – Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, GA – 1
– Darrell Lanigan, Union, KY – 1
– Scott Bloomquist, Moorseburg, TN – 1
– Parker Martin, Milledgeville, GA – 1
– Ross Bailes, Clover, SC – 1
– Chris Madden, Gray Court, SC – 1
– Cade Dillard, Robeline, LA – 1
– Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, GA – 1
– Brandon Overton, Evans, GA ­­­– 1
– Brent Larson, Lake Elmo, MN – 1LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (6 drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1 – Ricky Weiss, Headingly, MB – 2
2 – Ross Robinson, Clover, SC – 1
– Boom Briggs, Bear Lake, PA – 1
– Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, GA – 1
– Brent Larson, Lake Elmo, MN – 1
– Scott Bloomquist, Moorseburg, TN – 1
– Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS – 1
– Brandon Overton, Evans, GA – 1
– Dennis Erb, Jr., Carpentersville, IL – 1
– Mike Norris, Sarver, PA – 1 PODIUM FINISHES (11 drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – Podiums
1 – Kyle Strickler, Sinking Spring, PA – 3
2 – Devin Moran, Dresden, OH – 2
– Kyle Bronson, Brandon, FL – 2
3 – Cade Dillard, Robeline, LA – 1
– Scott Bloomquist, Moorseburg, TN – 1
– Darrell Lanigan, Union, KY – 1
– Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, IN – 1
– Ricky Thornton, Jr., Chandler, AZ – 1
– Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, IL – 1
– Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, GA – 1
– Brandon Overton, Evans, GA – 1HARD CHARGER AWARD (4 drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards
1 – Ricky Weiss, Headingly, MB – 2
2 – Boom Briggs, Bear Lake, PA – 1
– Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, IL – 1
– Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS – 1SLICK WOODY’S QUICK TIME Award (5 drivers)
Rank – Driver, Hometown – QTs
1 – Kyle Bronson, Brandon, FL – 1
– Kyle Strickler, Sinking Spring, PA – 1
– Brandon Overton, Evans, GA – 1
– Devin Moran, Dresden, OH – 1
– Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, IL – 12021 World of Outlaws Late Model Schedule & Winners
No./ Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Thursday, Jan. 14 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Kyle Bronson (1)
2. Saturday, Jan. 16 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Kyle Strickler (1)
3. Wednesday, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Kyle Strickler (2)
4. Thursday, Feb. 11 / Voluisa Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Devin Moran (1)
5. Friday, Feb. 12 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brandon Overton (1)
The World of Outlaws Morton Buildings® Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider) VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors, including: Arizona Sport Shirts/Gotta Race, ARP (Automotive Racing Products), Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, MSD, Penske Racing Shocks, Quarter Master, Slick Woody’s (Quick Time Award), and Wrisco (Exclusive Racing Aluminum); along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Capital Race Cars, FireAde, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, K1 Race Gear, Racing Electronics, Reliable Painting, and Rocket Chassis.Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings® Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.

Chloe Chambers Selected as F4 U.S. PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship Winner

INDIANAPOLIS (March 2, 2021)- The PMH Powering Diversity movement is kicking off Women’s History Month with the announcement of its final Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda scholarship recipient- Chloe Chambers.

Chambers will make F4 U.S. history as the inaugural PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship winner for F4 U.S. The New York native will embark on an immersive year of learning as she transitions from karts to cars with a full season campaign in the F4 U.S. Championship 2021 season.

As part of the scholarship program, Chambers will have an all-star lineup of coaches and advisors backing the 16-year-old’s single-seater debut. Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr., and SFHR Development co-owner and former IndyCar driver Sarah Fisher will oversee Chambers’ development.

“We were really excited to meet Chloe (Chambers) and hear her story,” said Parella Motorsports Holdings President and CEO Tony Parella. “She is doing great things for the sport on and off the race track, making her a great candidate for the PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship. We are looking forward to having her race with us in F4 U.S. this season.”

Chambers will pilot the red, white and blue No. 8 JS Ligier F4 for the newly formed Future Star Racing team. Launched by Mark and Alora McAlister, the same investors who supported Fisher through her open-wheel career, Future Star Racing supports drivers who have the talent to compete but are lacking budget to move forward in their racing careers. Already gaining momentum for the season, Chambers has logged laps, testing with the team to prepare for her season debut March 26-28 in Atlanta.

“What an incredible opportunity the McAlisters are creating through FSR,” said Fisher, who was the first female driver to win pole position in a major American open-wheel race and has the most Indianapolis 500 starts of any other female competitor in history of the race. “And for these drivers to work with Al [Unser, Jr.] is a great addition to their program. He and his dad helped me immensely with driving techniques in IndyCar, so our team’s alliance with FSR is coming full circle. Al is an expert on road courses which Chloe will benefit greatly from him as her coach.”

Racing since she was eight years old, Chambers has garnered numerous wins and championships at every level of her karting career- most notably her performance at the SKUSA Super Nationals in Las Vegas, where she placed third out of 80 of the world’s best drivers.  In 2020, she finished on the podium at the Florida Winter Tour, and moved up to the top class in karting. She won her first national race in the senior class, making her the WKA Grand National Champion in ROK Senior

In the same year, the Asian-American female driver made waves in the racing community after going viral when she set the Guinness World Record for fastest vehicle slalom. The record-breaking run saw Chambers take a Porsche 718 Spyder through the 50-cone course in just 47.45 seconds, beating the former record set in China in 2018.

Chambers’ off-track activities are just as impressive as what she is accomplishing on track. Chambers acts as an ambassador for the Gift of Adoption Fund, a foundation very close to the Chambers family, as Chloe and both her siblings were adopted.

Chambers is also the youngest Shift Up Now ambassador. Co-founded by IndyCar driver Pippa Mann, Shift Up Now is a collective group of female racers using motorsports to inspire confidence and courage.

“I am super excited to race in the F4 U.S. Championship with Future Star Racing,” Chambers said. “I am incredibly grateful to Mark and Alora McAlister for this opportunity, along with Tony Parella for awarding me the PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship. It is an honor to represent Gift of Adoption Fund – a cause that is so dear to my family.”

The scholarship program, initiated by Parella Motorsports Holdings with the goal to create a more diverse field of formula drivers at the grassroots level, includes entry fees to all series test days and 18 championship races from PMH, a season-long fuel stipend from Sunoco Race Fuels and a parts voucher from Ligier Automotive North America.

Chambers is the final PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship winner to be announced for the 2021 season. She joins Ernie Francis Jr. (FR Americas Championship Presented by Honda) and Emily Linscott (F4 U.S. Championship) for the inaugural scholarship lineup. 

The 2021 F4 U.S. season kicks off at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta as part of the Atlanta SpeedTour March 26-28.

JOHN FORCE TO OPEN 2021 CAMPING WORLD NHRA SEASON WITH BLUEDEF PLATINUM LIVERY

YORBA LINDA, Calif. (March 02, 2021) – To begin the 2021 NHRA Camping World Series season, BlueDEF PLATINUM™ will be emblazoned on the side of 16-time Funny Car world champion John Force’s Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car. In coordination with Old World Industries, the parent company of the PEAK and BlueDEF brands that have been the title sponsor on the legend’s car since 2015, Force will be in slightly different colors when he makes his Camping World Series debut in Gainesville. Swapping the lime green for dark blue and black featuring OWI’s newest product, BlueDEF PLATINUM, Force’s Chevy Camaro will match the promotional materials used by Chevy and BlueDEF’s collaborative BlueDEF Chevy Silverado Diesel sweepstakes from 2020. “I’ve been looking forward to getting back to the racetrack and to be doing it with BlueDEF PLATINUM and PEAK Performance makes it even better. BlueDEF worked with Chevy and gave away a Silverado last year and now I finally get to the race the car that goes with it.” said Force, winner of 151 national event titles, the most in NHRA history. “They’ve stuck with me while we worked promotions away from the track, now it’s time to bring this car out and get back to business. My car may look just a little different and this season out at the track may look a little different but it’s the same old John Force with PEAK / BlueDEF and Old World Industries supporting me.” “I think I speak for everyone at Old World Industries when I say that we are excited to have the John Force Racing team back in 2021. Last year we partnered with Chevrolet for the BlueDEF Chevy Silverado Diesel sweepstakes and we’ll start the season with John running that paint scheme to match,” said Brian Bohlander, Director of Marketing – Sports and Partnership. “It’ll be great to finally see John and his team on track in this BlueDEF PLATINUM car which was originally scheduled to debut last year at the Gainesville event.”
BlueDEF PLATINUM features new ADVANCED SYSTEM SHIELD™ TECHNOLOGY, which significantly reduces harmful deposits that commonly build up in modern diesel exhaust systems with SCR. With regular use, these harmful deposits are significantly reduced, providing optimum fuel economy, saving money on costly repairs, and sustaining the life of the system. BlueDEF PLATINUM is manufactured under ISO 22241 guidelines to ensure the highest product quality and is API registered, meeting or exceeding OEM specifications for diesel exhaust fluid. To learn more about this exciting innovation, go to www.BlueDEFPlatinum.com.

World of Outlaws Get Back on Track at Volusia & East Bay80+

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: World of Outlaws Get Back on Track at Volusia & East Bay80+ Race Season Resumes on Friday & Saturday in Sunshine StateBARBERVILLE, FL – March 1, 2021 – After almost a month on the sidelines, The Greatest Show on Dirt is set to roar back to life this weekend.A heap of cancellations due to weather, COVID-19 restrictions, and even State of Emergencies marred the February slate, but a new revised schedule has been released and we’re re-kicking off the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season with a Florida doubleheader.It all begins this Friday, March 5 with another race at Volusia Speedway Park, followed by a return to East Bay Raceway Park for the first time since 1983 on Saturday, March 6.VOLUSIA TICKETS / / / EAST BAY TICKETSLet’s catch up on some of the storylines entering this weekend:SCHATZ STILL CHASING 300: We haven’t hit the track since February 7, the night that an ignition box failure devastatingly ripped Donny Schatz’s 300th career World of Outlaws win away from him with only two laps remaining. Heading into this weekend, the Tony Stewart Racing #15 driver has two solid shots to finally nail down that elusive milestone mark. The ten-time World of Outlaws champion is the winningest driver in Series history at Volusia (13 wins), and he just won at East Bay last month in All Star Circuit of Champions action. Is this the weekend for win #300?CONSISTENCY IS KEY: With 80+ races on the schedule, it takes a whole lot of consistency to stay at the top of the standings with the World of Outlaws. Through the opening two races at Volusia, three drivers scored a top five finish both nights and six drivers earned a top ten in each show. Leading the charge in that group is the current top three in points of Shark Racing’s Logan Schuchart (2nd, 1st), Kasey Kahne Racing’s Brad Sweet (1st, 5th) and Big Game Motorsports’ David Gravel (4th, 4th).Earning top ten efforts each night at Volusia was Carson Macedo of Lemoore, CA (5th, 6th), Jacob Allen of Hanover, PA (7th, 8th), and Aaron Reutzel of Clute, TX (6th, 10th).BACK & FORTH: Sweet then Schuchart then Sweet then Schuchart. That’s just the way it goes at Volusia Speedway Park of late. Over the last four races at The World’s Fastest Half-Mile, those two championship contenders have traded victories Mano a Mano. Sweet, who is vying for his third consecutive World of Outlaws championship this year, owns eight total career wins at Volusia with six in Outlaws competition including the 2021 season opener.Schuchart, last year’s championship runner-up, has turned a corner at Volusia and suddenly became one of the track’s most successful stars of late. From 2013-20, Schuchart admittedly struggled at the half-mile with a bleak average finish of 14.1 in 20 starts. Then, with the flip of a switch, he became almost unstoppable. In his last seven starts at Volusia, Schuchart has finished 2nd-5th-1st-1st-2nd-2nd-1st.FLORIDA IN… MARCH: Dating back to 1981, the World of Outlaws have contested 46 events at Volusia Speedway Park with all 46 happening in February. So, this Friday’s show at the Barberville, FL half-mile will mark the first occurrence in Series history of a March race at Volusia. With high’s in the upper 70’s and lows only down to the 50’s, fans and drivers alike can expect beautiful weather at Volusia. Being a non-DIRTcar Nationals event, the dynamic of the track changes without 100 modifieds as the support division like in February. It’s also only a one-night show, whereas drivers are used to a five-day program at DIRTcar Nationals with a practice night. This Friday, though, it’s just Hot Laps, Slick Woody’s QualifyingDrydene Heat Races, Last Chance Showdown, and a $10,000/Win NOS Energy Drink Feature.LONG TIME, NO SEE: It’s been 38 long years since the World of Outlaws last raced at East Bay Raceway Park. To be exact, Saturday marks 13,900 days since Steve Kinser won the most recent show on February 15, 1983. Since then, an entirely new generation of Outlaws have taken control of carrying the torch. Of the current 15 full-time drivers, only three of them (Johnson born in ’71, Sides born in ’73, Schatz born in ’77) were even alive when that last race happened. However, East Bay’s iconic beachside location and unique track surface has kept the Tampa, FL 1/3rd-mile more than relevant in sprint car circles over the last four decades. Donny Schatz happily noted “Everyone has wondered why the Outlaws don’t go there when we come to Florida, and now we don’t have to answer that question because we’re going.”FRESH START: For seven Outlaws, the 50th DIRTcar Nationals last month didn’t exactly offer the dream start to the season that they imagined. The likes of Sheldon Haudenschild (13th in PTS), Brock Zearfoss (16th), Jason Sides (17th), Kraig Kinser (20th), Wayne Johnson (22nd), Parker Price-Miller (23rd), and Mason Daniel (24th) left Florida in February without a top ten result. They’ll all return this weekend with their sights set on a fresh start to get their season heading in the right direction.Anyone unable to make it to the track can watch all of the action live on DIRTVision with the annual Platinum FAST PASS subscription for $299/year or the monthly FAST PASS subscription for $39/month.
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink® Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider) and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include ARP (Automotive Racing Products), Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Award), MSD and Slick Woody’s (Quick Time Award); manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Intercomp, K1 Race Gear, and Racing Electronics.Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.

Dominic Scelzi Anticipating Return to Kern County Raceway Park

Inside Line Promotions – FRESNO, Calif. (March 1, 2021) – Dominic Scelzi is gearing up for a two-day 360ci winged sprint car event at Kern County Raceway Park this weekend.

The dirt oval in Bakersfield, Calif., had been slated to host the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour this Friday and Saturday. Series officials recently pulled out from the weekend in concern over the pandemic. Meanwhile track officials said the show will go on.

“I think it’s going to be a good deal,” Scelzi said. “I feel like I made 1,000 calls yesterday talking to who was going to be there.

“I love the race track. It’s the perfect size and shape to create exciting events. We don’t get to race there very much, but it’s been exciting every single time we’ve raced there. I’m excited for them to do their first winged 360 event.”

Scelzi has visited the track four times – all with the King of the West-NARC Fujitsu Series. He placed third during his inaugural race in 2018 before ending seventh later that season. Scelzi swept two trips to the track in 2019.

“The first time we went there we were solid and fought to possibly win the race,” he said. “The second time we went there I wasn’t going to win it, but we were pretty good and a second-place car. I got together with a guy and ended up not finishing. We were super, super good. Then we swept the season there in 2019. I feel like the worst I should have finished was third so I feel really good going back there.

“It’s been different almost every time I’ve been there. Sometimes the track is slick and they rework it. Sometimes it’s wet to start with and gets slick and wide. Hopefully it will be slick, wide and racy. I feel confident no matter what the surface is like.”

SEASON STATS –

4 races, 0 wins, 2 top fives, 4 top 10s, 4 top 15s, 4 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Friday and Saturday at Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield, Calif., with the King of the Thunder Series

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.GaryScelziMotorsports.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DominicScelzi41

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

THE FOURTH ANNUAL PENNZOIL 400 PRESENTED BY JIFFY LUBE WILL IMMERSE FANS IN A LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE

Fans are invited to the Pennzoil Virtual Proving Grounds to engage in track weekend activities

Houston, TX – March 1, 2021. Pennzoil® is back at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to host the fourth annual Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube as part of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) race season. Continuing this season’s heart-pounding racing, the Pennzoil 400 will once again headline an action-packed, triple-header motorsports weekend, with a virtual experience for fans and on-track excitement. The green flag will wave at the Pennzoil 400 on Sunday, March 7th at 12:30 PM PST and will be broadcast live on FOX. 

“We at Shell-Pennzoil are eager to see what the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series race season has in store for both the fans and motorsport’s most entertaining drivers,” said Machteld de Haan, CEO, Pennzoil Quaker State Company and Vice President, Shell Lubricants Americas. “The Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube has been held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway since 2018 and is always one of the most anticipated, premiere races to drivers. Our team is proud to be a part of such winning history with Team Penske and its drivers at this event, and we hope to continue to make history at this year’s race as well. In lieu of physical attendance at the track, we are hosting fans from far and wide to join us virtually through the Pennzoil Virtual Proving Grounds and experience the track like never before. While our virtual experience will be unforgettable, we are certain that the on-track action will be another race to remember.”

The Pennzoil Virtual Proving Grounds allows fans to experience the Pennzoil 400 and Las Vegas Motor Speedway in ways not possible before, with more than a dozen virtual ‘hotspots’ available for race fans around the world to experience from the comfort of their homes. Fans can access the Pennzoil Virtual Proving Grounds through the link below, also located on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway website in their Virtual Fan Zone and on Pennzoil.com. It is recommended to access the Pennzoil Virtual Proving Grounds via a desktop computer using Chrome as the web browser. 

Pennzoil Virtual Proving Grounds: pennzoil400.pixelhublive.com

2021 Pennzoil Virtual Proving Grounds Hotspot Highlights:

  • Virtual Las Vegas Show: Fans can tune in to watch a previously-recorded live show with many familiar Las Vegas faces! The variety show will include a performance from Shin Lim, a two-time America’s Got Talent champion and star of his own show at The Mirage in Las Vegas! Also headlining is Max Major, named Washington D.C.’s Best Performance Artist four years in a row and much more. Fans can view the show within the Pennzoil Virtual Proving Grounds on Friday, March 5th.
  • NASCAR Cup Series Car Walkaround with Larry McReynolds: America’s Crew Chief takes fans on a virtual walkaround of Joey Logano’s NASCAR Cup Series car, demonstrating the important components of a car and its team.
  • Shell Racing App: Fans can race incredible cars including the Shell Motorsports Collection on a variety of custom tracks! Users can race against one another or try and beat Joey’s game time. The app is available for download now in the App Store and Play Store and is free to users.
  • Create Your Own Track: Fans can design their own Pennzoil-branded racetrack inside the Shell Racing app. Customization includes the choice to build an extreme ‘Arcade’ track or speedy and smooth ‘Motorsport’ track. After designing, fans can then race around their newly created track!
  • Planet Fitness® Workout: Fans can experience the desert heat and work up a sweat by participating in a Joey Logano-led Planet Fitness workout. Tune in to the live workout on Tuesday, March 2nd at 7:00 PM EST. The workout will be available to access for fans at its designated hotspot after the workout concludes on Tuesday.
  • Hauler Experience: Larry McReynolds will take fans on a virtual tour inside a Team Penske hauler to see how teams can bring their garage with them to every racetrack. Fans can see where the racecars are stored, the various storage for spare parts, the mobile office for the crews, even the kitchen for meals on the road!
  • Pennzoil National Promotion: Within the Pennzoil Virtual Proving Grounds, fans can choose to participate in the brand’s national promotion, where purchasers of Pennzoil Platinum® Full Synthetic motor oil are eligible to receive a $22 Shell Gift Card. The offer is valid through March 14, 2021 at participating locations. For more details on the promotion, please visit www.Pennzoil.com/oilchangeoffer.

Team Penske driver and current back-to-back Pennzoil 400 champion, Joey Logano, will return to Las Vegas Motor Speedway in his No. 22 Pennzoil Ford Mustang sporting a Pennzoil primary paint scheme while attempting to capture his third straight Pennzoil 400 victory. Meanwhile, teammate Ryan Blaney will pilot his No. 12 Ford Mustang Pennzoil/Menards co-primary paint scheme as the two look to punch their ticket to the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Team Penske drivers will have the cutting-edge technology of Pennzoil, the first synthetic motor oil made from natural gas, under their hood for unbeatable engine protection[1] as the green flag waves for a 267-lap sprint to the finish line in the Nevada desert. Pennzoil engineers continuously work on the motor oil that goes into the race cars on the track. The Pennzoil 400 is just one example of how Pennzoil is able to innovate and support winning teams and drivers like Joey Logano and Team Penske. The on track performance and data serve as a laboratory for the motor oil Pennzoil introduces for passenger cars, helping make sure that drivers get the most out of their vehicle.

“Jiffy Lube is proud to continue its presenting sponsorship of the Pennzoil 400,” said Edward Hymes, President, Jiffy Lube International, Inc. “While the race and its surrounding events will look different this year, the virtual nature of the weekend allows us to significantly extend our reach and connect with our audience in a new and interactive way.  We are able to engage with race fans on their own terms, whether they are streaming content on their digital device or watching the action live on FOX. There truly will be something for everyone.”

The relationship with Speedway Motorsports Incorporated (SMI), owner and operator of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, provides Pennzoil a stage to cultivate relationships with fans, partners and customers and put the spotlight on a shared appreciation for motorsports.

“We are excited for the Pennzoil 400 to be the first race on the west coast in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series,” said Las Vegas Motor Speedway President, Chris Powell. “Shell and Pennzoil strive to be the standard in motorsports and we are thrilled to help set that standard by helping Pennzoil host one of the most exciting races of the season at our world-class facility.”

For more information about technical relationships between Pennzoil and motorsports teams, visitwww.Pennzoil.com/en_us/performance. To stay up-to-date on the latest activities, be sure to ‘like’ the official Pennzoil Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/Pennzoil) and follow @Pennzoil on Twitter (www.twitter.com/Pennzoil) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/Pennzoil) using #Pennzoil400.

Brandon Ford To Sponsor TV Points Challenge

Batavia, OH (March 1, 2021) – Officials of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series are proud to announce that Brandon Ford, World’s Largest Volume Ford Dealer, is the new sponsor of the TV Race Challenge.
The Brandon Ford TV Race Challenge will award points to drivers at the 33 televised events broadcasted on Network TV within the series schedule. The winner of the Brandon Ford TV Race Challenge points category will receive a $10,000 bonus, while second and third will receive $3,000 and $2,000 respectively at the year-end awards banquet.

The talent of the nation’s top dirt late model drivers will be put on display along the way, not only at each facility during the live streams, but also during the 33 broadcasted events on the MAVTV Motorsports Network, 15 events on CBS Sports Network, 5 events on CBS, and 13 events on NBC Sports Network.
“Having Brandon Ford sponsor this category adds to the excitement of our TV package in 2021. The drivers always want to perform at their best when the TV cameras are on, but also have added cash incentives to compete for during TV races. We want to thank Wayne Hammond and everyone at Brandon Ford for all their support of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series,” stated Wayne Castleberry, Corporate Motorsports Sales and Marketing for Lucas Oil Products. After nine TV events completed during Speedweeks, Brandon Overton leads Hudson O’Neal, Devin Moran, Brandon Sheppard and Kyle Bronson in the Brandon Ford TV Points category. Brandon Ford, located in Tampa, FL, has won Ford’s prestigious President’s Award 17 years in a row, saluting the top-performing Ford and Lincoln dealerships that pursue excellence in the highest levels of customer satisfaction in both sales and service. Brandon Ford has one of the largest inventories of new and pre-owned vehicles in the nation. Brandon Ford is centrally located just minutes away from the Crosstown, I-75 and I-4. They are located at the corners of State Roads 301 and 60, with entrances at both sides. Their hours are posted on their website for your convenience, as well as contact phone numbers for each of their departments. 

To learn more about Brandon Ford or if you are interested in purchasing a vehicle, visit: www.brandonford.com.

Brandon Ford TV Race Challenge Points (as of 2/2/21)
 PosCar #CompetitorHometownPoints176Brandon OvertonEvans, GA1825271Hudson O’NealMartinsville, IN171539Devin MoranDresden, OH168541sBrandon SheppardNew Berlin, IL1645540BKyle BronsonBrandon, FL1580639Tim McCreadieWatertown, NY1575781ETanner EnglishBenton, KY155081TTyler ErbNew Waverly, TX1540914Josh RichardsShinnston, WV152510157Mike MarlarWinfield, TN1505113sBrian ShirleyChatham, IL14751249Jonathan DavenportBlairsville, GA14301320Jimmy OwensNewport, TN1410141Earl Pearson JrJacksonville, FL13851525Shane ClantonZebulon, GA13251620RTRicky Thornton JrAdel, IA12951721Billy Moyer JrBatesville, AR12951899JRFrank Heckenast JrFrankfort, IL12451916Tyler BrueningDecorah, IA111020385Mark WhitenerMiddleburg, FL1030  2021 Brandon Ford TV Race Challenge Events
 DateTrackEventLocationTo WinLaps23-JanAll-Tech RacewayGeneral Tire Winter Nationals Presented By LINE-XLake City, FL$15,0005025-JanEast Bay Raceway Park45th Annual Wrisco Winternationals Presented By Lucas OilTampa, FL$5,0003026-JanEast Bay Raceway Park45th Annual Wrisco Winternationals Presented By Lucas OilTampa, FL$5,0003027-JanEast Bay Raceway Park45th Annual Wrisco Winternationals Presented By Lucas OilTampa, FL$7,0004028-JanEast Bay Raceway Park45th Annual Wrisco Winternationals Presented By Lucas OilTampa, FL$7,0004029-JanEast Bay Raceway Park45th Annual Wrisco Winternationals Presented By Lucas OilTampa, FL$12,0005030-JanEast Bay Raceway Park45th Annual Wrisco Winternationals Presented By Lucas OilTampa, FL$15,000501-FebBubba Raceway ParkK&N Filters Winter Nationals Presented By OPTIMA BatteriesOcala, FL$10,000402-FebBubba Raceway ParkK&N Filters Winter Nationals Presented By OPTIMA BatteriesOcala, FL$10,0004023-AprTri-City SpeedwayBullet Race Engines 50Granite City, IL$12,0005024-AprMacon SpeedwayMacon, IL$15,00010027-MayLucas Oil Speedway8th Annual Cowboy Classic Wheatland, MO$6,0004528-MayLucas Oil SpeedwayThe Tribute to Don and Billie Gibson Wheatland, MO$6,0004029-MayLucas Oil Speedway29th Annual Lucas Oil Show-Me 100 Wheatland, MO$30,00010017-JunMagnolia Motor SpeedwayClash at the Mag presented by Big River SteelColumbus, MS$5,0002518-JunMagnolia Motor SpeedwayClash at the Mag presented by Big River SteelColumbus, MS$5,0002519-JunMagnolia Motor SpeedwayClash at the Mag presented by Big River SteelColumbus, MS$15,0006016-JulTri-City SpeedwayNAPA Know How 50Granite City, IL$12,0005017-JulLucas Oil Speedway15th Annual Diamond NationalsWheatland, MO$15,0005022-JulI-80 SpeedwayDirt Track Bank Go 50Greenwood, NE$12,0005024-JulI-80 SpeedwayImperial Tile Silver Dollar NationalsGreenwood, NE$53,0008012-AugFlorence SpeedwaySunoco North/South ShootoutUnion, KY$10,0005014-AugFlorence Speedway39th Annual Sunoco North/South 100Union, KY$50,00010019-AugBatesville Motor Speedway29th Annual COMP Cams Topless 100 Presented by Nutrien Ag SolutionsBatesville, AR$5,0003020-AugBatesville Motor Speedway29th Annual COMP Cams Topless 100 Presented by Nutrien Ag SolutionsBatesville, AR$5,0003021-AugBatesville Motor Speedway29th Annual COMP Cams Topless 100 Presented by Nutrien Ag SolutionsBatesville, AR$40,00010026-AugPort Royal SpeedwayThe Rumble by the River #1Port Royal, PA$10,0003027-AugPort Royal SpeedwayThe Rumble by the River #2 Port Royal, PA$12,0004028-AugPort Royal SpeedwayThe Rumble by the River #3Port Royal, PA$30,0005016-SepKnoxville RacewayLucas Oil Late Model NationalsKnoxville, IA$7,0002517-SepKnoxville RacewayLucas Oil Late Model NationalsKnoxville, IA$7,0002518-SepKnoxville RacewayLucas Oil Late Model NationalsKnoxville, IA$40,00010016-OctPortsmouth Raceway Park41st Annual Dirt Track World ChampionshipPortsmouth, OH$100,000100

####
About Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Founded 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.

Persistent rainstorms force cancellation of Duck River Raceway Park Late Mode

l eventLEWISBURG, TN – March 1, 2021 – With saturated grounds at Duck River Raceway Park and more rainstorms projected throughout the week, World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model and track officials have been forced to cancel the Friday, March 5, event at the raceway.The Saturday, March 6, Tennessee Tipoff event at Smoky Mountain Speedway is still on as scheduled with $12,000 to win on the line.For Duck River Raceway Park ticket information contact the track at 931-685-1009.For tickets to more upcoming World of Outlaws Late Model events, CLICK HERE.If you’re unable to make it to the track can watch all of the action live on DIRTVision with the annual Platinum FAST PASS subscription for $299/year or the monthly FAST PASS subscription for $39/month.
The World of Outlaws Morton Buildings® Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider) VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors, including: Arizona Sport Shirts/Gotta Race, ARP (Automotive Racing Products), Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, MSD, Penske Racing Shocks, Quarter Master, Slick Woody’s (Quick Time Award), and Wrisco (Exclusive Racing Aluminum); along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Capital Race Cars, FireAde, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, K1 Race Gear, Racing Electronics, Reliable Painting, and Rocket Chassis.Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings® Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.

DiBenedetto Finishes 28th at Homestead


February 28, 2021


A frustrating start to the 2021 season for Matt DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Menards/Moen team continued on Sunday with a 28th-place finish in the Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Poor finishes in the first two races of the season – both at Daytona International Speedway – relegated DiBenedetto to a starting position of 37th on Sunday, as the field was set based on results of the first two races.

For a time early in the race, it appeared that DiBenedetto and the Menards/Moen team were on their way to putting the disappointments of February behind them. After just five laps, he had driven into the top 20, gaining a few of those spots when drivers scheduled to start ahead of him had to drop to the rear and motoring by the rest.

By Lap 16 of 167 he broke into the top 15 but lost three spots by the time the Competition Caution flew at Lap 25.

DiBenedetto finished the first 80-lap Stage in 14th place. Stage Two was more of a challenge. Although crew chief Greg Erwin and the Menards/Moen crew made adjustments intended to improve the handling of the car, the changes didn’t produce the intended results, and the No. 21 Mustang was outside the top 20 at the end of the second Stage.

The third and final segment of the race saw DiBenedetto and the team continue their search for speed, and while he was able to gain spots just after restarts, as the runs went on he fell back.

An incident with the No. 42 of Ross Chastain left the Menards/Moen Mustang with what appeared to be minor damage, but when the team made repairs on a subsequent pit stop, DiBenedetto reported the repairs made his car drive better.
 
As the laps wound down, DiBenedetto was poised to finish just outside the top 20 but a tire problem with six laps remaining led to an unscheduled pit stop, a lost lap and a drop to 28th place at the finish.
 
“We were just off all night,” DiBenedetto said. “Then we got damage in the nose from the 42, and that set us back more.
 
“We have some work to do.”
 
Eddie Wood said his team did its best to make the most of a difficult situation.
 
“The car was too tight for much of the race,” he said. “The crew made adjustments, but the changes made the car worse instead of better, which meant they had to go back the other way on the next stop just to get back to where they were to start with.  
 
“That was frustrating.”
 
Wood said that while the Menards/Moen team is off to a rough start to the season, he’s not overly concerned at this point.
 
“I’ve been through stretches like this many times in my years in racing,” he said. “You just have to keep working hard, and eventually things will turn around.
 
“And your competitors who have had things going good for them will have their fortunes go the other way.
 
“It’s racing.”
 
The No. 21 team will be looking for that change of fortune next Sunday in the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where DiBenedetto and the team scored runner-up finishes in both Cup Series races hosted by the track in 2020.
 

RCR Post Race Report – Dixie Vodka 400

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops / TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE Team Show Speed at Homstead-Miami Speedway

  
12th 
 22nd

11th
“All-in-all not a bad night for the Bass Pro Shops / TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. We really had a strong car early. We drove to the front and we were going to finish fifth in Stage 2 but the caution came out. We restarted on the bottom and just made the wrong move going into Turn 1 and lost a bunch of spots. We lost some Stage Points there, so that was disappointing. We were able to get a Stage Point at the end of Stage 1. I thought we were going to be pretty good. We just never got going again like we needed to. We kind of got jumbled on some restarts. Man, Homestead-Miami Speedway is such a fun track. I got a little too tight in and loose off at the end. We just missed it when it got darker outside. We were really good early. We were doing a good job of keeping up with the track, but it changed drastically. It was really cool to see Tyler Reddick drive up to second and show us what we’ve got. It’s on to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for us.”
-Austin Dillon
Tyler Reddick and the No. 8 Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Team Impress With Second-Place Finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway
  
2nd 
 35th
23rd
“Well, finishing second is a good night considering how the first two weekends of the season have gone, but I hate that I didn’t get this Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevy into Victory Lane because if I would have then I would have gotten a lot of people in America free chicken tenders on Monday night. Once I really saw how fast we were in clean air at the end of the race, and I saw how fast we were catching everybody it became beyond frustrating because I know just two or three different decisions on a restart would have put me miles ahead. I knew that we were going to have to have a well-executed restart. We didn’t do that, and it takes time to get around all of those cars who pass you on a restart because they are all really good drivers. That’s the difference. I thought we would be better in the day and everyone would catch up at night, but it was the opposite of that. We tried to work on our Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevy throughout the night. We learned a lot. You have to win these races by being very consistent and making the right calls as a driver and as a team. I’m proud of how fast we were at the end of the race.”
-Tyler Reddick

NARC Newsline – March 1, 2021

NARC NEWSLINE – MARCH 1, 2021, By Jim Allen … Wouldn’t you know it?  The more things change, the more they remain the same.  Everybody opened their 2021 sprint car calendar with promise and hope, desperate to sit in the main grandstands and watch some dirt track racing in California.  Next thing you know, the World of Outlaws drop the Golden State portion of their schedule faster than a prom date with a STD, and the ASCS national events slip away faster than our tax dollars in California.  Not exactly the start we were looking for but it will get better.  Just remember that promise and hope thing you had back in January … because … I promise things will get better, so do not give up on the second thing.

In the meantime, let’s take the opportunity to clear up a few things about the upcoming season.  In some cases, statements are being made, and questions are being asked, that seemingly make no sense.  Let’s take a few minutes and let me verify and clarify a few of them for you:

“What do you mean the main grandstands are the pits?” … Okay race fans, this one has been confusing for some people, so get out your decoder ring and I’ll help you understand the big picture.  Every time we post on social media about an event, the first five responses almost always are … “Are the main grandstands open?” or “are tickets being sold?”

Until you see the 49ers, Kings, Lakers, Rams, Warriors and Clippers sell “tickets” to their events, the California baseline has been set.  But look at this way (in code):  Most dirt track pit areas have less than desirable seating and sight lines for the loyal teams, sponsors, fans, and crew members who drive and power the sport.  To provide a solution, promoters statewide have done us a huge favor.  As a customer service feature, they have graciously opened their main grandstands as an extension of the pit area to enhance the open wheel experience.  Extra seating?  Problem solved!  Improved sightlines?  Mission accomplished!  So, if you want to watch sprint car racing in person – something we highly encourage you to do – buy a pit pass and mosey over to the grandstands to enhance your entertainment pleasure.

“Do I get a hot pass or a cold pass?”  Think of it this way, the hot pass represents the pits working around hot race cars.  The cold pass represents a cold beer in the grandstands.  Enough said.

“Did the world fall off its axis?  Are you telling me that the Vermeil is in Chico?  The next thing you are going to say is the Bradway is in Placerville?”  Yes, that is exactly what we are saying and that is good news.  With Calistoga Speedway overall ownership/lease situation stumbling around like a bad scene from some zombie flick, promoter Tommy Hunt made a smart business decision to move the Louie Vermeil Classic to another venue.  He knew that his great two-day event would lose some serious momentum or collapse entirely if it went dark two years in a row.  Dick Vermeil and several other key event supporters agreed with this fact and now the open wheel battles of the NARC King of the West and USAC/CRA sprint cars will be fought on the quarter-miler at Chico, rather than the half-mile at Calistoga.  Considering that the Dave Bradway Jr race moved after 29-years at Silver Dollar to Placerville Speedway, it was a great way to get the NARC sprint cars back to Chico.  And while we will lose the “flat out HammerDown” aspect of Calistoga, the wheel-to-wheel battles at Silver Dollar are typically epic.

By the way, camping spots at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds are going fast, so don’t delay in getting yours. This show promises to have an old-school Gold Cup Race of Champions feel to it. There will be six racing events over an eight-day span at the track.   I think we will call that … “Dreamweek.”

And I almost forgot this one, “the Peter Murphy Classis is now at Tulare AND Hanford?”  Yes!  It will be a great weekend.

Are our tracks under attack?  While that question may sound like something reserved for a video game, the answer is YES!  We all know about Calistoga and Petaluma, but now we should probably throw Santa Maria Raceway into the mix.  A housing development and homeowner association is creeping up on the backside of the track and has engaged lawyers in an attempt to shut the place down. They are claiming that SMR must have an EPA study performed in order to grade any dirt on the property; something that has happened every year since 1964.  It reminds me of the people who buy a home next to an airport and then complain about the noise after they move in.  If that isn’t the biggest pile of lawyer spew you’ve ever seen, nothing is!  With that move they passed politicians as the most hated profession.

San Luis Obispo County is also doing little to help the Santa Maria Raceway operate with super restrictive COVID-19 rules, making it more likely they will score a million-dollar lottery ticket than be able to hold a practice day at the facility.  Yes, we are being attacked.

The Outlaws aren’t coming … again?  You got it!  Hopefully in the Fall.  Next question!

How do you defend a 2019 title in 2021 when the series crowns a champion every year?  As you are aware, we only ran 120 feature event laps in 2020 (four events). It has been established that the series stage a minimum of 10-races to legitimately crown a champion.  In reality, even that is not even fair.  Anything less diminishes the accomplishments of hardworking NARC champions of the past, who had to grind their way through extensive racing campaigns to log their spot in the history books.  As it sits, DJ Netto has been able to bask in the glory of being the defending King of the West champ for an extra 12-months or so.  Nothing wrong with that – he earned it.

Will (favorite driver name here) be running for 2021 points and the NARC King of the West championship?  The answer is more than likely.  There are a ton of drivers and teams who have expressed their support to the NARC King of the West series and have their equipment dialed in and ready to go.  However, if California continues to stay in super lock down mode and the Outlaws, All Stars and other states continue to flaunt their full-house racing events on PPV, expect several CA teams to hit the road.  That traveling shortlist would probably include the likes of Justin Sanders, Austin McCarl, DJ Netto, Shane Golobic, Tim Kaeding and Dominic Scelzi.  These boys just want to race!

There you go!  Hopefully, I have managed to clear up a few things for you!

NARC NOTES:  2021 Membership forms can be downloaded at NARC410.com.  There are no changes to the 2020 rulebook. That can also be downloaded off the club website.  … Chase Johnson is looking for a full-time 410-winged ride! … Kyle Offill and Blake Carrick would be the early frontrunners for rookie-of-the-year. …  Something tells me that Iowa driver Austin McCarl will be a tough man to beat with Paul Baines turning the wrenches in the Tarlton Motorsports KPC. … News from Kalib Henry’s camp is that he plans to be a frequent NARC competitor this season. … All of our events will be available on FloRacing.com. … Keep in mind that the 2021 schedule is heavily “backloaded” with 15 of our 20-events taking place after July 1st.  Some things are worth waiting for! …

… Sunnyvalley Bacon is back to sponsor the only trophy dash in the nation that is “Powered by Bacon.” … It’s been fun to see the transformation of the track and pit area at Peter Murphy’s Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford.  Mr. Murphy is on a mission and has a vision that he is chasing hard. …  Look for the NARC King of the West sprint cars to invade the Pacific Northwest in 2022. … Predictions for 2021 include Blake Carrick, Kyle Offill and Austin McCarl winning their first NARC-KWS race; Sean Watts picking off his second; DJ Netto winning at least three features, including his first since June 2017; and 2005 series champ Sean Becker hitting a dozen for his KWS career.  The Kaeding’s will win a handful. … Can you believe it has already been 11-years since Kyle Larson won the 2010 King of the West title? …

… Our condolences go out to the friends and family of “Mr. Excitement” Anthony Simone and the “Flying Frenchman” Bill Deschamps.  Both were classic old school racers who had no fear behind the wheel of a race car.  Simone seemed invincible with some of his exploits on and off the track, many which earned him “legend” status.  Deschamps had more of a workmanlike effort in his winning approach and was a friend to all.  Deschamps also contributed his time as a NARC Board Member for 13-years, including President for four. More importantly, once both drivers hung up their helmets, they helped future generations cut their teeth in their race cars. They will be missed.

It’s hard not to notice that the racing family is losing way too many people these days.

THE 2021 SEASON OPENER:  The good news is NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car season is so close you can almost smell the racing fuel in the air.  The bad news is … if you cannot smell it, you might want to get tested for COVID-19.  But seriously, the March 20th Stockton Dirt Track will take place, barring a hurricane-force rain out or major earthquake centered in the San Joaquin Valley.  This event salutes the one and only Northern Auto Racing Club driving legend LeRoy Van Conett.  We will see you in the pit area around hot race cars or in the grandstands with a cold beer.  Either way, you should be there because promoter Tony Noceti is excited to get the 410’s back on his reconfigured racetrack.

Coming to you live from Auburn, CA.  See ya!

RCR Post Race Report – Xfinity 250

Myatt Snider and the No. 2 TaxSlayer Chevrolet Team Slay It with Thrilling Victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway

  
1st 
 10th
2nd
“Wow! What a win! I guess I learned my lesson on that first restart. I spun the wheels, and then I saw Tyler Reddick spin the wheels on the second restart and I knew I might have a chance. One thing I’ve always noticed about myself is that I’m always better when I have a rabbit to chase. I knew that if I could just get as much power as I could and lay out ahead of everyone else I would have a pretty good chance, and with Tyler restarting the race he had a better chance of spinning the tires himself. Tyler is tough to beat because he has a lot of experience as a NASCAR Cup Series driver. But luckily, we did it. We slayed it! I have to thank all of these RCR guys, TaxSlayer and everyone who has helped me my entire career. It’s been a rough journey but we’re leaving here with a win and I can’t complain. The first thing I am going to do is celebrate with my team. These guys have such experience and they have guided me so much. This win puts us in a really good position for the rest of the year.”
-Myatt Snider

EVERY RACE COUNTS

Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly Championship Keeps Expanded $45,000 PurseTop-20 drivers in all four DIRTcar Northeast divisions paid out for their top sixteen finishes, VP Fuels adds special bonuses WEEDSPORT, NY – DIRTcar Racing and Hoosier Tire will retain the expanded overall $45,000 purse for 2021 and beyond.With the $8,000 overall purse increase last year across the four DIRTcar Northeast divisions — Big Blocks, 358 Modifieds, Sportsman Modifieds and Pro Stocks — the top-20 drivers in each division will continue to be recognized and awarded in November during the banquet.“When we knew last year that there weren’t going to be Series events and Series point funds, we shifted our focus to the Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly to help out the tracks that did open up during the pandemic,” said DIRTcar Northeast Director Dean Reynolds. “Then it was decided to expand the number of competitors that will receive a cash payout.The Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly Championship points cover all four DIRTcar Northeast divisions: DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, 358 Modifieds, Sportsman Modifieds, and Pro Stocks. Each drivers’ top-16 finishes in DIRTcar sanctioned Feature are calculated for points. Stewart Friesen received $5,000 for being on top of the points for Big Blocks while Mat Williamson visited every track he could in Canada to come out on top of the DIRTcar 358 Modified points to take home $3,000. Kevin Root just nipped Andrew Buff to receive his $1,000 while “Cousin” Luke Horning was king in the Pro Stocks to receive his $1,000.VP Fuels also has many special bonuses for the top point-getters in the weekly point championship, last year they handed out more than $7,500 in fuel certificates to more than 30 different drivers to make it more lucrative.  While DIRTcar sanctioned weekly racing is the main focus of the championship, it is notable that all Series races in all divisions also count towards drivers’ top-16 finishes as well. This creates an inviting environment for drivers to race for track championships but also travel to other DIRTcar events when possible. Despite COVID-19 restrictions throughout the Northeast and Canada, there was still an impressive number of sanctioned races in all four divisions. In 2020, there were 69 DIRTcar Big Block, 66 358 Modified, 177 Sportsman Modified, and 83 Pro Stock Features completed in 2020 which raced for the first time under the top-20 pay structure. With a robust weekly championship points fund in place and a common rule set spanning most of the Northeast, DIRTcar Racing is primed for another successful year of premier dirt track racing.  Keep up with the Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly Championship points standings and the latest news on FacebookTwitterDIRTcar.com, and via the newsletter which can be signed up for on the website.PHOTO: Brent Smith 

DIRTcar Racing is brought to fans by many important sponsors and partners, including: DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider), VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel), Chevy Performance Parts, iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Arizona Sport Shirts/Gotta Race, and NAPA Auto Parts (SDS). Contingency sponsors include: ARP (Automotive Racing Products), ASI Race Wear (SDS), Bassett, Bicknell Racing Products, Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux (SDS), Cometic Gasket (SDS), COMP Cams, Drydene, Fast Shafts, Fox Factory (SDS), Arizona Sport Shirts/Gotta Race, Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service, KSE Racing Products, MSD, Quarter Master, Schoenfeld Headers, Summit Racing Equipment, and Wrisco (Exclusive Racing Aluminum) (SDS); along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Beyea Headers, FireAde, Intercomp, K1 Race Gear, Racing Electronics and Velocita USA.

FOR THE WIN: Strickler Ready to Settle Points Battle in Xtreme Finale at Modoc

Madden leads by 25 points in chase for $15,000 championship MODOC, SC – Feb. 26, 2021 – It’s been a great start to Kyle Strickler’s second full-time season in a Late Model. After signing on to the full-time roster with the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series, earning his first two Outlaw Feature wins and topping the points standings after the first five races, The Highside Tickler now finds himself in the hunt of his first Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series championship with only one race left. The battle will be settled in the season finale this Saturday night, Feb. 27, at Modoc Raceway. Twenty-five points is all that separates the two in the standings, leaving plenty room for Strickler to make up the gap and go for the $15,000 top prize. All he has to do is finish enough spots ahead of current points leader Chris Madden – the South Carolina racing veteran, four-time Xtreme DIRTcar Feature winner and defending Series champion. That task is easier said than done, but Strickler’s up for the challenge. “We’re gonna go for the win. It still pays $8,000 for second in points. So, we’ll go [to Modoc] and try to win the race. The points will take care of themselves,” Strickler said. Strickler beat Madden by one spot last Saturday at Lake View Motor Speedway, bringing him to within 15 points of the points lead. But his third-place run Sunday at Cherokee Speedway brought the deficit back to 25 after Madden scored his second victory of the season by leading every lap of the Feature. “Chris – he’s been doing this and coming to Cherokee for so long, that if you put him on the front row, he’s gonna be really hard to beat,” Strickler said. Strickler will need a Feature win with Madden finishing seventh or worse to overtake him in the standings and clinch his first Xtreme DIRTcar championship. If he doesn’t win, Madden will need to finish even further down the running order for Strickler to make up the difference in points. Strickler’s maintained a solid gap in points over third-place Daulton Wilson throughout the Series, one which widened to 35 after Wilson placed 17th at Cherokee after blowing a tire while running third. Like many other drivers, Strickler prefers to focus on his driving rather than points-watching, but it’s still in the back of his mind. “[At Lake View and Cherokee], I was kinda playing the points game some. Especially with the racing conditions and the track conditions, you had to put yourself in a good position,” he said. A longtime driver of Longhorn Chassis in the DIRTcar UMP Modified ranks, Strickler credits a lot of his success with the Late Model as of late to the switch he and the PCC Motorsports team recently made to a Longhorn. “The car switch was huge for me, confidence-wise and for my team,” he said. “We know what we’re doing when it comes to the Longhorn cars. I just have so much confidence to drive them and I can make moves on the racetrack that I wouldn’t think about making in the Rocket [Chassis], just because I didn’t feel comfortable in it.” To be contending for a championship so early on in the year goes to show just how well Strickler and his new team have meshed in the opening races of the racing season. The big Drydene oil barrel champion’s trophy would just be icing on the cake. “The car’s fast, and that’s the important thing. When we have a fast racecar and the guys are doing their job, nothing’s falling off of it, I’m happy at the end of the day,” Strickler said. Catch the epic season finale for the Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series from Modoc Raceway this Saturday night at the track or LIVE on DIRTVision!
The Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series is brought to fans by many important sponsors and partners, including: Drydene Performance Products (Official Motor Oil), ARP [Automotive Racing Products], Chevy Performance Parts, COMP Cams, DART, DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), FireAde, Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), Intercomp, iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), MSD, Racing Electronics, SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider) and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel).

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