Past champions and rookies top the bill as prime contenders for the two-day event in South CarolinaGAFFNEY, SC – Feb. 26, 2021 – The World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series will visit Cherokee Speedway for a doubleheader weekend Friday and Saturday, March 26-27.It’ll be the Series’ fifth straight year of visiting the 3/8-mile track, which will mark the Series’ first visit to South Carolina this year.Brandon Overton, who picked up his 14th career World of Outlaws victory at Volusia Speedway Park, became the first repeat winner with the Series at Cherokee last year. He bested three-time defending champion Brandon Sheppard to claim the victory.A win at Cherokee for Sheppard would be his first at the track and put him on the path to try and secure a couple of historic milestones. He’s currently one win away from 70 career World of Outlaws wins, which would put him only seven victories away from tying Josh Richards’s all-time win record of 77 career wins. He’s also looking to tie Richards for the most championships in Series history this year, too. Richards has four. Sheppard is currently at three.There will be a hoard of competitive drivers for him to try and contend with, though. Two of them may even be a pair of Rookie of the Year contenders. South Carolina-native Ross Bailes earned his first career World of Outlaws victory at Cherokee in 2019. And Kyle Strickler picked up two wins in the first five races of the season. He’s also currently atop the championship points.Chris Madden, the 28-time World of Outlaws winner, of Gray Court, SC, has yet to pick up a Series win at Cherokee but has 26 victories at the track – most recently with the Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series – and finished third against the Outlaws there last year.The only other two drivers to have picked up a win with the World of Outlaws at Cherokee are 2018 Series champion Mike Marlar – in 2018 – and 2015 Series champion Shane Clanton – in 2017. Clanton has rejoined the tour full-time in 2021 and will be on the hunt for his first Series win since 2019.With the best Late Model drivers in the world set to gather at Cherokee for the two-day event, The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet are poised to give fans two more thrilling events in South Carolina.The doubleheader will also give a good preview for the Friday, Oct.1, Mike Duvall Memorial at Cherokee Speedway. For tickets to the Cherokee events, go to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix.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.

THEN & NOW: Shuman and Schatz Compare East Bay Ahead of Outlaws Return on March 6 TAMPA, FL – Feb. 25, 2021 – It’s been 38 years since the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series last ran on “The Clay By The Bay.”On March 6, the long-awaited and highly-anticipated return finally happens.The conclusion to a Florida doubleheader established by a revised spring schedule, The Greatest Show on Dirt will roll into Tampa’s East Bay Raceway Park on Saturday, March 6 following another go at Barberville’s Volusia Speedway Park on Friday, March 5.BUY EAST BAY TICKETS HEREIn four plus decades of World of Outlaws history, this 38-year period from February 15, 1983 to March 6, 2020 is the single-longest gap between events for any track in Series history. Over that span, the sport has changed drastically. One thing that has stayed the same, though, is East Bay’s uniqueness.We talked to Ron Shuman – a 24-time World of Outlaws winner and East Bay victor in 1979 – and Donny Schatz – a 10-time World of Outlaws champion and East Bay winner in February – to get their perspective on the Tampa, FL 1/3rd-mile.”Everybody has heard about East Bay Raceway Park,” Schatz said. “They’ve seen the videos and they’ve 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.”Heard about East Bay they had. Although only three of the current 15 full-time drivers had been born before 1983, almost all of them have raced at the track at some point, be it 360 sprint cars or with the All Stars Circuit of Champions. In fact, East Bay is where Schatz met fellow Outlaw and longtime friend Jason Sides back in the 1990’s.Shuman, of Tempe, AZ, and his gang of original Outlaws were accustomed to East Bay as a mainstay on the calendar each year. From 1979 to 1983, they ran 17 events at the track with multi-day programs each time. While modern day runners get their taste of Florida fun at Volusia, Shuman and his friends Kinser, Swindell, Wolfgang, and others soaked up the sun in Tampa.”The biggest difference for us back then was we ran without wings,” Shuman noted. “Being in ’79, we were still running wings at some tracks and without at others, and East Bay was a non-wing place. We raced at that place a lot back in the day too, I mean four days a time with qualifying and prelims before the main event. Each year, we loaded up and went to Florida in February. I drove for Kalb there, Stanton, the Ofixco Special, Weikert’s Livestock, lots of owners at East Bay. We always drew good car counts there too.”The uniqueness of East Bay’s location in Tampa is what has helped make it so special.”It’s in this tight little area around that industrial park and the bay is basically right there,” Schatz mentioned. “The track has a lot of character, and the surface itself is so unique. You think there’s grip here, but there’s not; then you come around the next lap and you’ve got it. It changes literally lap-by-lap being near the ocean. It’s a unique shape, unique surface and unique facility with a lot of history and heritage.””It was definitely funky at times being that close to the water,” Shuman agreed. “I remember some nights, maybe the night I won, it was freezing ass cold, but the next you’d have perfect weather. That stuff really changed the track up. We didn’t really do as much changing with the cars back then, so it was just about getting in and figuring it out behind the wheel.”A special place specifically for Shuman, his February 9, 1979 victory at East Bay marked the first of his World of Outlaws career. Driving the Mecom Kalb, Firestone #721, The Flyin’ Shu topped Steve Kinser, Johnny Anderson, Lee James and Bob East for the victory. The 2003 National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee eventually ended up with 24 Outlaw wins, currently tied with Logan Schuchart for 24th on the all-time wins list.”That was the year I started driving for [Gary] Stanton on the Outlaw tour, but we weren’t ready to leave that early in the year.” Shuman recalled. “Mecom Kalb had a new Stanton car and I remember we actually missed the show the first night at Volusia and then won that next Sunday at East Bay. From hero-to-zero.”For Schatz, who was an 18-month old baby when the Outlaws debuted at East Bay in ’79, his first Tampa triumph came just last month in All Stars action aboard the Tony Stewart Racing #15.”I don’t know that there’s anything specific we can take away,” Schatz noted on learning from last month. “It’s 2021. Everyone has phones, computers, and you can watch the races and see what’s going on. To me, you can have all those things but it doesn’t do you any good until you get on the track and see how your car reacts to the environment. It was a great opportunity to go out and see how the new Ford Performance motor stacked up on the short track. It went well obviously, and now we’ve had some extra time to work on it and hopefully make it that much better for next weekend.”Schatz will have his opportunity on next Saturday, March 6 to join an elite list of East Bay Outlaw winners which includes Doug Wolfgang (7), Sammy Swindell (3), Danny Smith (2), Rick Ferkel (1), Steve Kinser (1), Johnny Anderson (1), Keith Kauffman (1) and Ron Shuman (1).A winless night at Volusia could send the Fargo, ND native into the East Bay return with a chance to nail down his historic 300th career World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory at the Tampa, FL facility.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.

-Toyota Camry Funny Car team will be backed by ROKiT and Bandero Premium Tequila-

AUSTIN, TX (February 23, 2021) — NHRA Funny Car driver Alexis DeJoria is ready to begin her quest for her first NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series world championship as the season gets underway in less than a month. The accomplished driver will once again get behind the wheel of her new-look black and white Toyota Camry Funny Car with familiar sponsor ROKiT as well as a new sponsor Bandero Premium Tequila, as the 70^th NHRA season gets underway officially at the 52^nd annual NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida, March 12-14.

“I can’t wait to start this season with my ROKiT Toyota Camry and new sponsor Bandero Premium Tequila,” said DeJoria, a five-time Funny Car national event winner. “We finished last season with some strong performances and we are looking forward to picking up where we left on the performance side. (Crew Chiefs) Del (Worsham) and Nicky (Boninfante) will have this Camry Funny Car flying and I am ready to turn on some win lights this season.”

This season DeJoria is proud to represent ROKiT and Bandero Premium Tequila, two companies she has a vested interest in seeing succeed. This will be the second season for ROKiT to utilize NHRA as a marketing platform to promote the company’s phones, electric bikes and WiFi services. New to the team is Bandero, a smooth sipping tequila, handmade in small batches in Jalisco, Mexico, from the finest locally sourced, Blue Weber Agave.

“Being able to use a 330 mph race car to promote ROKiT products across the U.S. and having the best tequila on the market, Bandero, fuel this passion, is a match made in heaven,” said ROKiT co-founder, Jonathan Kendrick. “I know these race cars are incredibly powerful and the experience of seeing them in person or on TV makes incredible memories. We are excited to see Alexis chase her championship dreams.”

 DeJoria added, “Both of these brands represent my passion and dedication to perfection, innovation and being true to yourself. The diversity of the ROKiT brands is massive and we are continuing to find ways to integrate into the NHRA. I am especially excited about introducing Bandero to my NHRA fans because the meticulousness that goes into making this tequila gives it an amazing flavor.”

DeJoria’s success last season picked up after the historic U.S. Nationals Labor Day weekend, a race she won in 2014, and continued over the final five races of the season. She qualified in the top five each of the last five races and advanced to three semifinals in the last four races. Her first-year DC Motorsports team and ROKiT Funny Car earned the fourth-highest point total over the last half of the season. For the admittedly highly-competitive DeJoria those results only fueled her passion.

“We had a new team last year and it took some time to get squared away, but when we came together we were a very tough team,” added DeJoria, who will be looking to add to her 109 round win total in 2021. “This sport is about passion and pushing it to the limit. It is the perfect sport for me as well as my sponsors, ROKiT and Bandero Premium Tequila. When I get behind the wheel of this 330 mph Camry Funny Car I have to be totally committed and ready for anything. I have an amazing team behind me and I can’t imagine doing anything else. I have a feeling this is going to be a great year for us.”

The 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season will be DeJoria’s eight season of full-time professional racing. Prior to advancing to the highest level in drag racing DeJoria owned, managed and competed with her own Top Alcohol Funny Car team, winning the 2011 NHRA Northwest Nationals. DeJoria is the first woman to compete in 100 Funny Car national events and was the first female to break the four-second elapsed time barrier, 3.998 seconds, at Brainerd International Raceway in 2014. 

Inside Line Promotions – HANFORD, Calif. (Feb. 25, 2021) – Dominic Scelzi rallied for a top-five finish last Saturday during his first start in his home state this season.

Scelzi was efficient throughout the night at Keller Auto Speedway, where he qualified fourth quickest in his group. He gained a position in a heat race to place second, which was only one spot shy of making the dash.

“We were trying to get a little aggressive in qualifying and it didn’t work,” he said. “That slowed us down a bit from where we hot lapped. We went back to what we normally do and were really good in the heat race.”

Scelzi started the main event on the outside of the fifth row, but lost a few positions early to avoid a crash.

“Someone nearly spun out and everyone checked up going into the first corner,” he said. “I had to move way out of the way and fell to around 14 ^th. My car was really, really good. A lot of the guys at the beginning of the race were running around the bottom. I just sailed it around the top. I got back to 10^th in six or seven laps.”

As the race moved along so did Scelzi’s confidence as his sprint car improved lap by lap. He cracked the top five late in the race and made a last-lap move to secure a fourth-place showing.

“I ran the bottom a little in turns one and two and slid through the middle in turns three and four a bit, but for the most part I was running the top,” he said. “Toward the end, once I got into seventh or so, I was sliding guys. I felt like I had a car just as good as second or third.”

Scelzi will take this weekend off before heading to Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield, Calif., on March 5-6 for a Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour doubleheader.

QUICK RESULTS –

Feb. 20 – Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford, Calif. – Qualifying: 4; Heat race: 2 (3); Feature: 4 (10).

SEASON STATS –

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

UP NEXT –

March 5-6 at Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield, Calif., with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour

Richard Childress Racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway… Homestead-Miami Speedway is one of the few race tracks where team owner Richard Childress has yet to earn a NASCAR Cup Series victory. Richard Childress Racing entries have finished second on four occasions: 2003 (Kevin Harvick), 2008 (Harvick), 2009 (Jeff Burton) and 2014 (Ryan Newman). In 66 Cup Series starts, RCR has earned nine top-five and 25 top-10 finishes at the 1.5-mile, progressively-banked oval. The Welcome, N.C.-based organization has captured three NASCAR Xfinity Series wins, including 2019 when Tyler Reddick was crowned the 2019 Xfinity Series champion.   Catch the Action… The NASCAR Xfinity Series Xfinity 250 will be televised live Saturday, February 27, beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1 and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.  The NASCAR Cup Series Dixie Vodka 400 will be televised live Sunday, February 28, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops / TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Homestead-Miami Speedway… Dillon has seven previous NASCAR Cup Series starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, securing his best finish of seventh in June 2020 and a best starting position of 10th in November 2015. Homestead-Miami Memories… The Welcome, North Carolina driver has plenty of positive memories at the 1.5-mile, intermediate-style track. In 2013, he clinched the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway by finishing 12th in the Series’ season finale. He also clinched the NASCAR Truck Series title at the track in 2011. About TRACKER Off Road… Dillon’s No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE prominently features TRACKER ATVs, a game-changing new line of all-terrain vehicles and side-by-sides offering breakthrough performance, service and value in the off-road industry. TRACKER OFF ROAD was born out of a powerhouse partnership formed between Bass Pro Shops and TRACKER founder Johnny Morris and Textron Specialized Vehicles, bringing together the undisputed world leader in boating with a global leader in innovation and technology. About Bass Pro Shops… Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.” Bass Pro Shops has a long relationship with NASCAR, dating back to 1998. For more information, visit http://www.basspro.com/. AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:With an earlier start time at Homestead-Miami Speedway than what you are used to having in the past, do you expect any real changes to the way the track drives?“That’s a good point. It’s something we’ll be thinking about. We’ve been pretty solid in the nighttime the last couple of races at Homestead-Miami Speedway. During the day, the top groove gets pretty dominate so that fence will be important. Some guys can run it up high by the fence consistently. The darker it gets, I seem to move down the track and find more and more speed. I think the rubber, when it gets laid down too, creates a little more parody in the line that you can run. Finishing during the daylight will be different, but it’s also Florida. We might get a little rain and still finish at night with a weather delay.” What excites you most about Homestead-Miami Speedway?“First of all, it’s an oval. I’m excited about getting back on an oval that’s not a speedway. Everybody’s excited for the first 1.5-mile of the year because it allows you to see what kind of speed you’re going to have in your program and where you stack up. It can be a long year if you don’t have your stuff together. We ran well at Homestead-Miami Speedway last year. I think I got a tire outside the box penalty and we came from the tail-end of the longest line to the top-10. I think we finished seventh. It was fun; we had a really fast car, so I can’t wait to get there. And obviously Tyler Reddick is solid there and I think that’s pushed our program to another level when it comes to running at Homestead-Miami Speedway. People really put an emphasis on that track for him because they know it’s a place where he can show up and run really well. I feel like we’ve learned off of our cars the last couple of years.” Talk us through running the highline at Homestead-Miami Speedway and the challenges involved. “I think as the race starts, the track is pretty green, even though sometimes you have races before it. The higher you get, the cleaner the surface is and it seems to grip the tire better. So, you’re obviously working right there against the fence. And a lot of people believe that air gap between the wall gives you extra side force. I haven’t really done any research in that, as far as aerodynamics go, but I’ve been told to believe it. The grip makes the straightaways longer. The biggest thing you’re trying to accomplish is being in the throttle longer and the guys that are really good at it can carry some speed doing it at the beginning of the run. But when your tires are the freshest is when I feel like the most vulnerable for the people that run the fence because it’s the longest way around the track. That’s why you see guys that will run the whole race up there, lead laps and look like they’re going to be the winner. But if a caution comes out late, they’re in a vulnerable spot because they’ve set their car up to run one line. If somebody has just kind of got their car turning good enough to make a couple laps on the bottom before the tires really start wearing out, that outside line is in a vulnerable spot. The goal is to use it when you need it. For me, I try to use it when the track goes for long runs – I tend to move up there and start using the fence to take care of my tires. I’m also conscious of not driving the right rear off of it so I have something toward the end of the race. It only pays that last lap, obviously, and track position is key. But I think the only way to have a chance is to have the car in one piece and have it be a little more maneuverable. This time around, with it being in the daylight, I do think the top will be the dominate place to run, especially after a couple of laps. You see guys be able to make that ¾ mark work, as well. The seams are as important there as the wall sometimes.”

Tyler Reddick and the No. 8 Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Homestead-Miami Speedway… Reddick has one NASCAR Cup Series start at Homestead-Miami Speedway, finishing fourth at the 1.5-mile track last year. Reddick has two wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the Florida speedway, which clinched his back-to-back Xfinity Series championships in 2018 and 2019. He also has a fourth-place finish at the track from his part-time Xfinity Series schedule in 2017, as well as two pole awards (2017 and 2019). In addition, the sophomore driver has three NASCAR Truck Series starts at the track, starting and finishing in the top 10 for all three events. About Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen… Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is the homestyle casual dining restaurant where guests always Get a lot. For not a lot™. The restaurant offers a variety of scratch-made meals and generous portions served up in a warm, welcoming atmosphere – all at an unbelievable price. After being welcomed with a signature Honey Butter Croissant on the house, guests can enjoy signature entrées like hand-breaded Chicken Tenders, Homemade Chicken Pot Pie and Fall-off-the-Plate Baby Back Ribs. Cheddar’s operates more than 170 restaurants in 28 states and employs more than 15,000 friendly and passionate team members. For more information or to locate the nearest restaurant, visit Cheddars.com. Fans can like or follow Cheddar’s on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. When Tyler Wins, You Win Tenders!… Like Reddick, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is hungry for his first Cup Series win to come in 2021. So all season long, when Reddick takes the checkered flag in the Cup Series, all NASCAR fans will win a FREE No. 8 Special Chicken Tender Platter at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen the Monday following the race. Offer is valid both dine-in and To Go. See cheddars.com/offer/race-day for full details. TYLER REDDICK QUOTE: You’ve had a lot of success in your career at Homestead-Miami Speedway. What is it about this track that works for you?“I’ve been very fortunate to have some great vehicles at Homestead-Miami Speedway, whether it be in the trucks, Xfinity or Cup cars, so that helps a lot with just overall confidence and feeling comfortable there. Going there with such strong cars really has allowed me to play into my strengths around that track. Homestead-Miami Speedway is a place where you can move around and change up your line almost every lap to find more speed. So, I think just having a feel for that, the tire fall-off there, and how much you can move around suits my driving style. It’s just something that came rather quickly to me from the start. I had a rookie test there in the NASCAR Truck Series, so I’ve had a lot of on-track time there too. We need to go into the race on Sunday with that confidence and just maintain it during the entire day in order to hopefully get our No. 8 Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet into Victory Lane and win all race fans a free No. 8 Special on Monday.”

Myatt Snider and the No. 2 TaxSlayer Chevrolet Camaro at Homestead-Miami Speedway… Snider has two career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Homestead-Miami Speedway, both of which came in 2020. The 26-year-old earned his best finish of seventh in his second start. Also, Snider has competed in two NASCAR Truck Series races, posting two top-15 efforts.  About TaxSlayer… TaxSlayer makes online tax filing accessible for millions of Americans, with an easy-to-use platform and unlimited support at a fraction of the cost of the competition. Trusted for over 50 years, the Augusta-based tech company successfully completed more than 10 million federal and state e-filed tax returns in 2020 and processed $15 billion in refunds. TaxSlayer achieved a 4.5/5 TrustScore on consumer review site Trustpilot, with 87% of its customers rating the tax filing platform Great or Excellent. For more information, visit www.TaxSlayer.com. MYATT SNIDER QUOTE: What are your thoughts heading into Homestead-Miami Speedway? “Last year, I went to Homestead-Miami Speedway with the mentality of just learning and getting better at the track. It had been a place I’ve struggled at historically. Turns out though, all I needed to do was hop into an Xfinity car. I had a pair of my best finishes in the No. 93 last season at Homestead. Going back this year, with the same Richard Childress Racing race team that won the race in 2019, my expectations are high. Andy Street (crew chief) and I have been working hard on ironing out everything in preparation for this race. I think we are going to be in really good shape to slay it this Saturday with our TaxSlayer Chevrolet Camaro.”

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Madden prepares to defend title, Strickler looks to make up 25-point gap MODOC, SC – Feb. 24, 2021 – It’s time to settle a points battle and crown a champion. The Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series will put a cap on its 2020-21 campaign this Saturday night, Feb. 27, in the second Series visit to Modoc Raceway. A 40-lap, $7,000-to-win Feature event will precede a full championship celebration, broadcasted live on DIRTVision presented by Drydene. Two drivers are still mathematically in contention for the championship title, both battling for the $15,000 champion’s check. Each of the eight drivers with perfect attendance through all six races will get a cash bonus in addition to the points fund check they receive. Friday night’s open practice session will start the on-track activity, running from 7-10pm; gates will open at 5pm and grandstand admission is free. Race day activities get underway on Saturday with gates opening at 3pm, drivers meeting at 5:30 and Hot Laps at 6. Grandstand admission is $20 for adults, kids age 7-12 are $10 and 6-and-under are free. If you can’t make it to the track, be sure to tune into DIRTVision presented by Drydene to catch all the action LIVE from the comfort of your home! Here are the storylines to follow in this Saturday’s event: SHOW ME THE MONEY – Drydene Performance Products is giving back to the drivers who followed the tour in its entirety this season and will be presenting a $500 bonus check to each of the eight drivers with perfect attendance through the first five races when they sign-in on Saturday. Eligible drivers include Chris Madden, Kyle Strickler, Daulton Wilson, Anthony Sanders, Trent Ivey, Adam Yarbrough, Tim Vance and David Yandle. Those same drivers will also receive their points fund checks according to their position in the final points standings. The championship celebration will take place on DIRTVision, directly after the completion of the Feature. The champion will take home $15,000; the runner-up will collect $8,000 and third place will receive $5,000. All three podium finishers in points will also receive Drydene product/merchandise certificates (worth $2,000, $1,000 and $500, respectively) in addition to their Drydene oil barrel trophies. CHAMP EYES REPEAT – Chris Madden, of Gray Court, SC, comes into the weekend as the points leader, looking to defend his Series crown that he clinched in the finale at Modoc last year. Twenty-five points is all that separates him from nearest Kyle Strickler, meaning he will have to stay within five positions should Strickler win the Feature to clinch the title. Should the points standings be tied after the Feature, Madden will still be awarded the title on account of his greater Feature win count over the six-race Series. Madden’s scenario was much different in last year’s finale. He was piloting a Team Zero Race Cars chassis for Scott Bloomquist Racing, and was much farther ahead of runner-up Ross Bailes in the points standings due to the inaugural season’s points structure. Madden placed 12th in the Modoc finale, sealing his first Xtreme championship. TICKLER TIME – Kyle Strickler, of Mooresville, NC, sits just 25 points behind Chris Madden in the chase for the championship. With the standard, non-bonus DIRTcar points structure being implemented for this season, The Highside Tickler will have a challenge ahead of him as he aims to place enough spots higher than Madden come Saturday to dethrone him as champ and take place atop the Xtreme Series. Surprisingly, Strickler has yet to win an Xtreme Feature. He finished 7th after starting 14th at Modoc last year. WILSON’S GREAT RUN – It’s been a great first season following the Xtreme tour in its entirety for Fayetteville, NC’s Daulton Wilson, even with the sour ending to his Feature efforts in last Sunday’s Frostbite 40 at Cherokee Speedway. Wilson hadn’t finished outside of the top-10 through the first four races and was headed for his fifth-straight top-10 when he blew a tire while running third, ultimately settling for a 17th-place result. However, Wilson’s got a lot to be proud of as he continues to make a name for himself on the Southeastern Super Late Model circuit. He’s currently 16 points ahead of fourth-place Anthony Sanders in the standings, and provided he maintains that lead over Sanders, he’ll pick up a solid $5,000 points fund check. HORNS UP – Ross Bailes, of Clover, SC, scored the win last Saturday in the Series debut at Lake View Motor Speedway in a ride different from that of his primary 2021 chariot. Car owner Billy Hicks offered up the driver’s seat of his blue/black Longhorn Chassis #79 to Bailes for the remainder of the Xtreme tour, and he plans to finish it out this Saturday at Modoc. Bailes placed eighth in his Xtreme trip to Modoc last year behind the wheel of his self-owned Rocket Chassis #87, earning him a runner-up finish in the final points standings. This year, having only entered three races thus far, Bailes sits sixth in points, 105 back from Madden. RONDA ROCKET RISES – After a disappointing end to what would have been his first Xtreme Feature win last Saturday at Lake View, Matthew Nance, of Ronda, NC, is expected to saddle up and finish out the Xtreme tour at Modoc. He’ll be piloting the Rum Runner Racing Longhorn Chassis #2 – the same car that won the Xtreme tour finale at Modoc one year ago with Pearson Lee Williams behind the wheel. Nance showed very strong signs of his first Xtreme Feature win being right around the corner at Lake View, setting overall quick time, winning his Heat Race and leading most of the Feature.

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).

The Rookie of the Year contender is aiming to gain as much experience as he can for a top-five run in pointsLEWISBURG, TN – Feb. 24, 2021 – Ross Bailes got a needed boost of confidence before continuing his rookie season with the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series next weekend.While it came with the Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series in a different car versus his regular #58 World of Outlaws ride, he outran several drivers he knows he’s going to have to try and beat on a regular basis with the World of Outlaws, such as current Series points leader, and fellow Rookie of the Year contender, Kyle Strickler and 28-time Series winner Chris Madden.“It’s big,” Bailes said about getting his second Xtreme DIRTcar win at Lake View Motor Speedway. “There were a lot of heavy hitters there. You’ve got Madden and Strickler and other guys that are really good. Any time you can stick a win in there, it is a little bit of a confidence booster.”Bailes, from Slover, SC, already has a World of Outlaws win under his belt at South Carolina’s Cherokee Speedway in 2019. However, with years of experience and several wins at tracks around the Carolinas, he already knows he can be competitive in that region. It’s everywhere else he knows he needs to gain experience to be a competitive full-time World of Outlaws driver.While he currently sits 10th in the championship standings after the first five races of the season with one top-10 finish, Bailes said, overall, he’s disappointed with his performance in the season-opening events at Volusia Speedway Park.In his debut at the half-mile track during the Sunshine Nationals, he finished 26th after having to use a provisional to start the race. The next night, he put himself in contention to win throughout the Feature before hitting the wall while running second in the closing laps and fell to 12th. Then, during the DIRTcar Nationals, he finished seventh, 12th (after coming from 28th) and 15th, respectively.“We raced pretty good,” he said. “But we had to use a provisional two or three nights. I wasn’t satisfied with that. We did make some ground up in the Feature. We went forward. So, that’s always good. I had never been to Volusia before so that was new territory. I mean, I didn’t know what to expect but I was hoping to run a little bit better. I was a little disappointed.”Running with the Xtreme DIRTcar Series was a good way for him to forget Volusia and build momentum for when the World of Outlaws season continues in Tennessee on Friday, March 5, at Duck River Raceway Park and Saturday, March 6, at Smoky Mountain Speedway. With the couple-week gap for the Series between Volusia and Duck River, Bailes said running with the Xtreme DIRTcar Series also helps keep him “tuned” during the off time.He’ll visit Duck River for the first time next month and while he’s made laps around Smoky Mountain before, it will be his first visit to the track with the World of Outlaws.“I’m looking forward to Duck River,” Bailes said. “I’ve heard good things about it, so I’m looking forward to it. I’ve been to Smoky Mountain before. It’s fun. I’ve run good there before and I’ve not run good there. I think the main thing is you’ve got to qualify good there and start up front.”Coming into his rookie season with Big Frog Motorsports, Bailes said his main goal is to gain as much knowledge as he can as quickly as he can at each event. Volusia humbled him and his team, he added, showing them where some of their weaknesses are. It’s a lesson he’ll take to the next weekend as he looks for another win. But this time, in Victory Lane with the World of Outlaws. If he can put together strings of good runs, to him, a top-five finish in points by the end of the year is a realistic goal.“Main thing is just go out there and win races,” Bailes said.For tickets to Duck River Raceway Park and Smoky Mountain Speedway, go to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix.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 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.

Richard Childress Racing at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course… With the inaugural event at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course taking place last August, Richard Childress Racing has four NASCAR Cup Series and one NASCAR Xfinity Series start at the 14-turn, 3.61-mile circuit. Kaz Grala, who substituted for Austin Dillon after a positive COVID-19 diagnosis in 2020, earned a top-10 finish in the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. Dillon and Tyler Reddick both competed on the road course last week during the Busch Clash, where the No. 8 team posted a fourth-place result. Richard Childress at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course… Richard Childress competed at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course as a driver in 1969 when he drove his 1968 Camaro to a 13th-place finish in the Citrus 250. Childress went on to compete on the Florida road course a total of five times, racing in the NASCAR Grand Touring Division and NASCAR Grand American Series. He finished in the top-10 in three out of the five races, with a best result of eighth in 1970.  Catch the Action… The NASCAR Xfinity Series Super Start Batteries 188 at Daytona Presented by O’Reilly will be televised live Saturday, February 20, beginning at 5 p.m. ET on FS1 and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.  The NASCAR Cup Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 at Daytona will be televised live Sunday, February 21, beginning at 3 p.m. ET on FOX and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Dow MobilityScience™ Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course… Dillon missed the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course last year due to a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, but has already been in two races on the course in 2021. In the Busch Clash, Dillon started 11th and battled in the top-five before being punted and shuffled to the back of the field on a late-race restart, ultimately finishing 19th. He also competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona in January, finishing 10th overall and fourth in the LMP2 class. Points Leader… Dillon enters this weekend’s race the Daytona International Speedway Road Course race as the NASCAR Cup Series points leader. Last week at Daytona, Dillon earned 10 points by winning his Duel, followed by 14 Stage Points and 34 points for finishing third in the DAYTONA 500. Dow brings a science and engineering crew who is driven by limitless curiosity to the RCR Team… Dillon and the RCR team are again supported by Dow’s materials science expertise and technologies this season. Backed by the power of data analysis and virtual modeling, Dow develops and manufactures high-performance components and materials custom-made for the No. 3 car. Dow and RCR’s partnership has expedited innovation and shortened testing time in the automotive industry by recreating in the lab one of the most extreme environments – the racetrack. After eight years of collaboration, Dow scientists and RCR engineers are continuing to work together to make the No. 3 car faster, safer and more precise. Stay up to date with Dow’s exciting developments at www.dow.com/sports and follow us on Twitter @DowSports & @DowNewsroom. Welcome, Dow MobilityScience™… Dow’s MobilityScience™ platform is designed to enhance the customer experience by tailoring technologies, products, and services from across Dow businesses to the transportation industry. The platform is pursuing accelerated growth by addressing Mobility mega-trends – where lighter weight, longer range, greater comfort, enhanced safety, and lower carbon footprint are the ultimate objectives. That is where Dow science, innovation, and people step in – working closely with customers to create the materials that bring the possibilities to life. AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:What are your thoughts heading into the Daytona International Speedway Road Course race this weekend?“I can’t wait to get back down to Daytona Beach to compete at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course this weekend. We had a fun night in the Busch Clash last week. Unfortunately, we didn’t come out where we wanted to. We got thrown through the grass, so I’m going to try to keep all four tires on the track this coming weekend. The goal is to try and gain on our points. We’ve done a good job through the DAYTONA 500. Let’s keep that streak going.” You were able to get some experience on the Daytona International Speedway Road Course by competing in the Rolex 24 this year. Did anything jump out at you about the track?“It’s not so much of a technical track like some of the tracks that we go to that are road courses. It’s pretty self-explanatory. I like the fact that the tires seem to wear quite a bit at the track. I enjoyed it and I think the experience I got in the 24 was great. We’ll see how it all plays out in the end.”

Tyler Reddick and the No. 8 Cat Rental Store Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course… Reddick has two NASCAR Cup Series starts on the Daytona International Speedway Road Course, with his best finish of fourth coming during last week’s Clash event. About Caterpillar… Since 1925, Caterpillar Inc. has been helping our customers build a better world – making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. With 2020 sales and revenues of $41.7 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. Services offered throughout the product life cycle, cutting-edge technology and decades of product expertise set Caterpillar apart, providing exceptional value to help our customers succeed. The company principally operates through three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation – and provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment. About Cat Rental Store… A combined global network of more than 1,300 dealer-owned locations makes The Cat® Rental Store a convenient source for the largest construction equipment rental fleet in the world. From our well-known Cat earthmoving machines, excavators, skid steer loaders, backhoes, pavers and compactors, work tools and power generators to equipment from more than 70 other top-tier brands including aerial work platforms, compressors, concrete equipment, HVAC and dumpers, we have the equipment customers need to get the job done. Since 1997 the team knows how hard customers work, and they are always ready to prove they will work just as hard. At every store, customers have access to an extensive offer of short-term rentals, leasing options, technology, training and a complete team of equipment experts committed to their success. For more information visit: CatRentalStore.com. TYLER REDDICK QUOTE: Your team had speed in the Clash at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course during Speedweek. How does that help you prepare for your return to the road course this weekend?“We put in a lot of work over the off-season at RCR to get better at road courses, so to have a solid run during the Clash does make us feel more confident about this weekend. I truly feel based on our Clash performance that we have a shot at winning this weekend. I made a couple mistakes in the Clash that I was able to learn from, but my team was also able to do a couple things with strategy while staying out on old tires and still make it to where I could drive away from guys on new tires. We had a good car at the Clash, but what is more exciting is the fact that we didn’t even take our best road course car down there. We have another car at the shop that we like even more than our Clash car. When you already have a really fast car at a track but know the No. 8 Cat Rental Store Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE we’re going to bring back is even better, that is a great feeling to go into the weekend with.”

Myatt Snider and the No. 2 TaxSlayer Chevrolet Camaro at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course… Snider has one career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course. In his first start at the Florida road course last season, Snider gained 17 positions to post a top-10 finish.  About TaxSlayer… TaxSlayer makes online tax filing accessible for millions of Americans, with an easy-to-use platform and unlimited support at a fraction of the cost of the competition. Trusted for over 50 years, the Augusta-based tech company successfully completed more than 10 million federal and state e-filed tax returns in 2020 and processed $15 billion in refunds. TaxSlayer achieved a 4.5/5 TrustScore on consumer review site Trustpilot, with 87% of its customers rating the tax filing platform Great or Excellent. For more information, visit www.TaxSlayer.com. MYATT SNIDER QUOTES: What is your expectation for the first road course race of 2021? “I think our TaxSlayer Chevrolet Camaro is going to be really fast this weekend on the Daytona International Speedway Road Course. Andy Street (crew chief) and our No. 2 team have been working really hard over the offseason to improve our road course cars and I’ve been working really hard to improve my driving abilities on a road course. I feel like I did well overall on all of the road course events last season, especially the Daytona Road Course, so we should do really well this Saturday. Also, starting up towards the front after our solid start to the season last week, will definitely help our chances at a good showing.”  What have you done to prepare for this Saturday’s race at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course? “Earlier this week, Andy and I sat down to watch some film from the last Daytona race. Being able to watch the race again is a good way to prepare, so you can see what worked last season and what didn’t. Since we didn’t work together during this race last year, I was able to tell him some things from my perspective, he was able to tell me his perspective, and then we were able to compare and brainstorm some ideas together. I also have spent some time on the simulator to prepare and make sure we are running our best.”  What do you like and dislike about the Daytona International Speedway Road Course? “I like the fact that it’s a really high wear race track on the inside. I don’t think the infield has been repaved since the 70s, so to me that is really cool. It makes tire wear a huge factor, so you have to be mindful about where you are pushing, where you are not pushing as a driver, and how you will make sure your car is there for the end of the race. To me, it’s one of the most fun, technical road courses that we go to.”

February 24, 2021

After a couple of disappointing outcomes at Daytona International Speedway, Matt DiBenedetto and the Menards/Moen team are hoping the third race of the 2021 Cup Series season – on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway – will be the charm.

DiBenedetto, who was involved in an early crash in the season-opening Daytona 500 and had a damaging flat tire in the opening laps of last Sunday’s race on the road course at Daytona, said he’s ready to put all that bad luck behind him in Sunday’s Dixie Vodka 400 on the 1.5-mile track at Homestead.

Last year at Homestead, DiBenedetto and the Menards/Moen team rallied from a collision on pit road early in the race to finish 14^th.
 
“We had real good potential there last year and had trouble on pit road,” DiBenedetto said. “I’m looking forward to seeing where we stack up on Homestead and the rest of the intermediate tracks.
 
“I think they’ll be good for us, and we should be able to get in our rhythm.”
 
DiBenedetto, who will start near the rear of the pack on Sunday in a line-up based on the results of the first two races of the season, said he’s looking forward to some better finishes that will allow him and the team to move up in the standings and have better starting positions in races where there is no qualifying or practice.
  
As it is now, his task is daunting.
 
 “There will be a lot of cars to pass,” he said. “It makes the day a lot longer.” 
 
DiBenedetto said that at some tracks, the disadvantage of starting in the rear can be overcome by pit strategy. But he doesn’t foresee too many opportunities for that at Homestead due to the tire wear there.

 “At Homestead, every time the caution comes out you’re going to want four fresh tires,” he said. “There’s not much strategy to it. You just have to be smart and come through the field the hard way.”
  
DiBenedetto pointed out that a strong finish at Homestead can generate some positive momentum for the Menards/Moen team.
 
 “We can start racking up points and contending for wins, which we know we can do,” he said.
 
The Dixie Vodka 400, which will have Stage breaks at Laps 80 and 160, is scheduled to start just after 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday with TV coverage on FOX.  
 

SPARTANBURG, SC (February 23, 2021) — CompetitionPlus.com in conjunction with Drag Racer TV will be hosting a free livestream of the PRO Winter Warmup scheduled for March 5-7 at Palm Beach International Raceway. In addition to the live stream CompetitionPlus.com, one of the first internet magazines devoted exclusively to drag racing, will be posting daily updates in their Event Notebook section presented by GuardLab.com. For over 21 year CompetitionPlus.com has been the go-to independent voice and broadcaster for drag racing and their coverage of the PRO Winter Warmup continues their longstanding tradition of bringing drag racing coverage to race fans across the country and around the world.

“We are excited to provide live streaming for the third year in a row for the event,” said Bobby Bennett, Competitionplus.com founder and publisher. “It’s important for the sport for its fans to watch their favorite NHRA teams prepare for the upcoming NHRA Gatornationals. This is event is part NFL combine, private test session and behind the scenes racing action. We will have our CompetitionPlusTV team also gathering daily recaps and news stories.”

Fans interested in watching full-day coverage can simply subscribe to the CompetitionPlusTV’s YouTube page to be notified and watch all of the action. There are no fees or sign-up steps other than having a YouTube account. Visit https://www.youtube.com/CompetitionPlusTV and click on the subscribe button.

This is the only South Florida appearance for the stars and cars of the NHRA Drag Racing Series. Over a dozen of the top professional NHRA teams, including nine current or former world champions will be on-track March 5-7. Limited tickets will be available for fans and currently Don Schumacher Racing, Kalitta Motorsports, Torrence Racing, John Force Racing will be represented with all their teams. Additionally, Cruz Pedregon Racing (Cruz Pedregon), Alexis DeJoria/Del Worsham (Alexis DeJoria), Justin Ashley Racing (Justin Ashley), Scrappers Racing (Mike Salinas), Tasca Racing (Bob Tasca III), Paul Lee Racing (Paul Lee) and Head Racing/Blake Alexander Racing (Blake Alexander) will also be in attendance. 

REVISED SCHEDULE: New events added, postponed races find dates in March-April The Series returns to East Bay Raceway Park for the first time in 38 years before venturing through the South and MidwestCONCORD, NC – Feb. 23, 2021 – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars will return to action at the beginning of March with the addition of eight new events and four postponed events finding new dates.The Greatest Show on Dirt will pick up where it left off in Florida with a weekend doubleheader, including a return to East Bay Raceway Park for the first time since 1983, before trekking through the south and Midwest to fill out a full slate of racing throughout March into April. Those events include:-Friday, March 5 – Volusia Speedway Park -Saturday, March 6 – East Bay Raceway Park -Friday, March 12 – Magnolia Motor Speedway -Saturday, March 13 – The Rev -Friday & Saturday, March 19-20 – Cotton Bowl Speedway -Friday, March 26 – U.S. 36 Raceway -Saturday, March 27 – Lake Ozark Speedway -Friday & Saturday, April 2-3 – Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 -Friday, April 9 – Kokomo Speedway -Saturday, April 10 – Tri-State Speedway“A lot of work has gone into putting this revised schedule together, and I’m grateful to all the tracks that have graciously worked with us throughout this process,” World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Director Carlton Reimers said. “While we’re disappointed in not being able to get the Spring West Coast Swing in this year, I’m excited for the fans and drivers that we’re still able to present them with a full schedule of racing at great venues.”The best Sprint Car drivers in the world will converge at Volusia Speedway Park for the third time this year when the season resumes – current points leader Logan Schuchart and defending champion Brad Sweet took home the trophies in the first two races there. On the following day, the Series will return to East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL for the first time in 38 years. Steve Kinser was the last driver to win at the track in 1983.Then, the next two weekends will host new dates for previously postponed events. The new additions to the schedule this year, Magnolia Motor Speedway, in Columbus, MS, will run on March 12, and The Rev in Monroe, LA will run on March 13. A doubleheader at Cotton Bowl Speedway will be the following weekend, March 19-20, with the Drydene Texas Two Step presented by American Lube. It’ll be the Series’ first time back at the track since 2018 – won by David Gravel.The following three weekends will feature new events, leading to the originally scheduled April 16 event at Lawton Speedway and April 17 event at Devil’s Bowl Speedway.Missouri will host a doubleheader weekend, March 26-27, with the return of U.S. 36 Raceway and Lake Ozark Speedway.The March 27 event at Lake Ozark will be the third annual Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends with $15,000-to-win on the line. James McFadden, a friend of the late Jason Johnson, earned an emotional win at the event last year and will go for another this year as he runs for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year title with Kasey Kahne Racing.Always a source of excitement, the 1/3-mile Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 returns for a spring doubleheader, April 2-3, giving the track two more dates in 2021 before the Aug. 6-7 Ironman 55 weekend.Then, fan-favorites Kokomo Speedway and Tri-State Speedway return to the schedule for an Indiana doubleheader weekend, April 9-10. Both tracks brought fans to their feet last year with Sheldon Haudenschild executing spectacular passes to claim the win and Carson Macedo edging Sweet by inches to win at Tri-State.“I’m just excited we have found some great racetracks to fill in the dates of the West Coast Swing,” said two-time defending champion Brad Sweet. “I was looking forward to racing in front of my friends and family in California but just still too many restrictions to race in front of full crowds. It’s always tough this time of year with weather and other factors to get races in so thanks to the Outlaws and the promoters for taking these shows on such short notice. I hope to see many fans and I’m excited to get the NAPA Auto Parts #49 back on track.”Tickets for each new event will go on sale Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 9 a.m. (ET).If you already have tickets to the events at Magnolia Motor Speedway, The Rev and Cotton Bowl Speedway and can’t make it to the rescheduled dates, you have until March 25 to request a refund through this link CLICK HERE.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.

-Top Fuel Dragster and Nitro Funny Car Teams to Test March 5-7-

JUPITER, Fla.(February 22, 2021) — Palm Beach International Raceway will host the Pro Winter Warm-Up for the first time since 2015 featuring earth-shaking NHRA Drag Racing Series Top Fuel Dragsters and Nitro Funny Cars . Over a dozen of the top professional NHRA teams, including nine current or former world champions will be on-track March 5-7. 

NHRA teams will use the test session, which is open to the public with limited tickets available each day, to prepare for their 2021 season-opening event in Gainesville, Florida.

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series teams* scheduled to participate in the March 5-7 pre-season test session include: 

– Don Schumacher Racing (Ron Capps, Antron Brown, Leah Pruett and Matt Hagan)

– Torrence Racing (Steve Torrence, Billy Torrence)

– Kalitta Motorsports (Doug Kalitta, J.R. Todd and Shawn Langdon)

– John Force Racing (John Force, Robert Hight and Brittany Force)

Along with Cruz Pedregon Racing (Cruz Pedregon); Alexis DeJoria/Del Worsham (Alexis DeJoria); Justin Ashley Racing (Justin Ashley); Scrappers Racing (Mike Salinas); Tasca Racing (Bob Tasca III); Paul Lee Racing (Paul Lee); and Head Racing / Blake Alexander Racing (Blake Alexander).  

This is the only South Florida appearance for the stars and cars of the NHRA Drag Racing Series.

Adult General Admission Tickets are $25 Friday, $35 Saturday, and $35 Sunday. A Saturday/Sunday Combo ticket is $60. Children 12 and under are free. Parking is $10. 

Every ticket is a pit pass giving you unparalleled access to the teams and drivers. This family friendly three-day test session provides guests the opportunity to get up close to the top teams in the NHRA.  

Click here to purchase advance tickets to the Pro Winter-Warm Up. Seating capacity controls are in place. For updated information about the Pro Winter Warm-Up visit www.RacePBIR.com or call (561) 622-1400. 

*Teams participation is TBD and on-track test time will vary throughout the day. 

4 FOR 44: Madden Stays Strong at Cherokee for Fourth Career Xtreme WinMadden-Strickler points gap now sits at 25 with one race left; Friesen makes it back-to-back top-fives GAFFNEY, SC – Feb. 21, 2021 – Chris Madden was one green-white-checkered restart away from redemption at Cherokee Speedway. His last visit to the 3/8-mile oval, a home track to the Gray Court, SC-native, ended in shreds after a tire expired while leading in the closing laps of the 30th Blue Gray 100 in November. He was not about to let that happen again. Smokey started Sunday’s Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series Feature on the front row, got the jump on polesitter Ross Bailes out of Turn 2 and had led every lap before the caution flag was displayed three separate times in the final five laps for blown tires on Dennis Franklin, and top-five contenders Trent Ivey and Zack Mitchell with two laps remaining. As Madden paced around under yellow, the intensity was building as those watching from the track and on DIRTVision wondered if he could make it two more times around under green on his own tires. But inside the cockpit of his Drydene Rocket Chassis #44, Madden was cool as ice. When asked if he had recalled the unfortunate ending to his run at the Blue Gray 100 under caution, his answer was pleasantly straightforward. “No, because it was 40 laps this time,” Madden said with a smile after the race. Turns out, he really did have no reason to worry. Madden’s Hoosier Racing Tires had plenty of tread left on them as he picked up the throttle on the final restart and cruised to the $5,000 victory in the track’s first running of the Frostbite 40. “My car was extremely good tonight. Not too tight, not too loose, we were pretty well-balanced,” Madden said. While the better part of his cruise through the first 35 laps was mostly uneventful, Madden did have one scare when a lapped car spun around right in front of him heading into Turn 1, forcing him to take sudden evasive action to avoid major contact on Lap 7. “He was going one direction at one moment and came back across the racetrack in front of me. It was kind of a sketchy moment there for a minute. It wasn’t that close, but it was too close for comfort,” Madden said. After scoring the victory on Saturday night in the Series debut at Lake View Motor Speedway, Ross Bailes, of Clover, SC, ran another solid race aboard the Billy Hicks-owned #79 Longhorn Chassis to cross the stripe second. He chased Madden all race long but was unable to make up any ground on him, even after multiple restarts in the home stretch. “Tonight, I had a second-place car; I didn’t have anything for Chris [Madden],” Bailes said. “He was way better than we were. I didn’t think we were bad; he was just that much better.” At one point, Bailes was running over four seconds behind Madden in traffic before the caution flew with four laps remaining. Even Bailes himself noted Madden’s strength in traffic. “[Madden] got through lapped traffic way better than I did,” Bailes said. “It’s like he’d get up to a lapped car and was able to get underneath them and get by. It took me five or ten laps to get by one car. “ Madden came into the weekend 17 points over nearest Kyle Strickler, who crossed the stripe Sunday in third. Madden now goes into the final round at Modoc Raceway next Saturday night 25 points ahead in the standings, looking for his second Xtreme championship in the first two seasons of activity. “We go to some of those places like [Modoc], and I’m not really good at those places,” Madden said. “I needed a little bit of comfort before I went. Kyle [Strickler’s] running extremely well right now.” Another notable finish Sunday night was Stewart Friesen, the Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified and NASCAR Truck Series star, who placed fifth again after having to come out of the Last Chance Showdown. He won the 10-lap affair to punch his ticket into the main event, and starting 16th, advanced 11 spots of position to grabs his second-straight top-five in his first two starts with the tour. Don’t miss the epic championship finale next Saturday night, Feb. 27, at Modoc Raceway in Modoc, SC, where the battle between Madden and Strickler will be decided, live on DIRTVision! Feature (40 Laps) 1. 44-Chris Madden [2][$5,000]; 2. 79-Ross Bailes [1][$2,500]; 3. 8-Kyle Strickler [5][$1,700]; 4. 57-Adam Yarbrough [7][$1,400]; 5. 44F-Stewart Friesen [16][$1,200]; 6. 52-Josh Richeson [10][$1,000]; 7. 42K-Cla Knight [15][$800]; 8. 421-Anthony Sanders [13][$700]; 9. 17-Billy Franklin [11][$600]; 10. 2-Matthew Nance [23][$550]; 11. 17V-Tim Vance [21][$500]; 12. 88-Trent Ivey [4][$500]; 13. 57M-Zack Mitchell [6][$500]; 14. 24D-Michael Brown [14][$500]; 15. 29-Larry Grube [24][$500]; 16. 23-Michael Rouse [9][$500]; 17. 18D-Daulton Wilson [3][$500]; 18. 2F-Dennis Franklin [19][$500]; 19. O3-David Yandle [22][$500]; 20. 9-Johnny Pursley [20][$500]; 21. F1-Payton Freeman [18][$500]; 22. 18-Brett Hamm [8][$500]; 23. 6-Dillon Brown [12][]; 24. 48-Kenny Collins [17][] Hard Charger: 2-Matthew Nance[+13]Categories

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).

Batavia, OH (February 19, 2021) – Originally scheduled for April 9th and 10th, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and track officials at both 411 Motor Speedway and Talladega Short Track have decided to reschedule due to conflicting scheduling in the area. The series will now visit 411 on May 14th and Talladega on May 15th, 2021.  Teams will be competing for $12,000-to-win during Tennessee’s Action Track 50 at 411, and $15,000-to-win at the E-Z-GO 50 at Talladega. The reigning Series champion, Jimmy Owens extended his points lead last year during these two races, after leading all 50 laps in both events.  Track & Event Information:411 Motor SpeedwayPhone Number: 865-888-5901Location: 632 Maryville Hwy., Seymour, TN 37865Directions: Located just 13 miles south of Knoxville, 13 miles North of Sevierville, and just 13 miles East of Maryville. 1 mile south of U.S. Highway 441 (Chapman Highway) on Highway 411 intersection.Website: www.411motorspeedway.net Talladega Short TrackPhone Number: 256-831-1413Location: 4343 Speedway Blvd Eastaboga, AL 36260Directions: I-20 to exit 173 toward Eastaboga, turn south onto John N Wills Ave, continue 0.3 miles to the speedway.Website: www.talladegashorttrack.com Tire Rules:411 Motor Speedway – May 14th,  2021Left Rear/Fronts – Hoosier Rib (28.5) 1350Right Rear – Hoosier (29.0) 1350 NRM, (29.0) 1350 NRMW, (29.0) White Dot 1600 NRM, (29.0) White Dot 1600 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. Talladega Short Track – May 15th, 2021Left Rear/Fronts – Hoosier Rib (28.5) 1350Right Rear – Hoosier (29.0) 1350 NRM, (29.0) 1350 NRMW, (29.0) White Dot 1600 NRM, (29.0) White Dot 1600 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.

February 21, 2021

A cut tire early and a brake-line failure late added up to a disappointing afternoon at Daytona International Speedway for Matt DiBenedetto and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team.

DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Mustang lined up 32nd for the start of Sunday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 on Daytona’s road course.
 
After one lap, DiBenedetto had jumped up to 21^st place and was inside the top 20 after five laps. Six laps later, his right-rear tire punctured and, in the process, wiped out all of the sheet metal on the right rear of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang.

DiBenedetto drove to pit road, and the Motorcraft crew patched up the damage as best they could. He rejoined the race in 37^th place but still on the lead lap.

Despite the damage, he was able to run decent lap times and was running 25^th at the end of the second stage.

He stayed on the track during the ensuing caution flag and restarted the race from second place. Even with seven laps of wear on his tires coupled with the aerodynamic disadvantage from the earlier body damage, he was able to remain in the top 15 for four laps.

His team, led by crew chief Greg Erwin, was executing a pit strategy that would have left the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team with an extra set of fresh tires for the finish, but that was all for naught after a right-rear brake line failure – likely due to the earlier incident – sent the No. 21 Mustang to the garage for repairs with 15 laps remaining. 
 
The No. 21 Mustang returned to the race five laps behind the leaders and wound up 37^th at the finish.
 
DiBenedetto said the team’s misfortunes on Sunday were strictly due to bad luck.
 
“At the start of the race, we were just trying to cruise up through the field,” he said. “Everything was fine. The car was OK. The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang was probably not a race winner, but it was going to be fun to get up there and run competitively.
 
“Then out of nowhere, I ran over something and blew the right-rear tire to pieces. It took the whole right side off the car.”
 
He said he was surprised at his car’s performance considering the damage.
 
“Speed-wise, we could still hang in there,” he said. “I thought we could have made something out it, and then we had the problem with the brake-line.
 
“Everything that happened was out of our control. It was just bad luck.” 
 
The No. 21 team will return to the state of Florida for a third-straight weekend, and will run the Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Feb. 28.
 

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Dow MobilityScience Chevrolet Team Earn Stage Points and Show Speed at Daytona International Speedway Road Course Before Late-Race Mayhem

34th   3rd 9th

“We had a really strong Dow MobilityScience Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. We were able to earn a few Stage Points in Stage 1 and probably would have finished the race around eighth if it weren’t for problems at the end. That’s how these races are, though. You can’t control everything. I had a run but we got caught up in somebody else’s fighting match. The No. 17 and No. 18 got into it through the chicane. The No. 17 jumped the last curb so I tried to go low. I don’t know if he got blocked down there or what, but I just got into the grass. We ended up with damage but we fought to get it back out there. We had to make a couple of unscheduled pit stops for tires and to make repairs. It’s a shame but we can’t control the things that happen in front of us. This Richard Childress Racing team worked so hard all day. I really didn’t want that outcome but we did learn a lot today that we can build off of for the rest of the road course races on the schedule.” -Austin Dillon

Tyler Reddick and the No. 8 Cat Rental Stores Team’s Hard-Fought Day Ends Early at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course

38th   24th 33rd

“We headed into this weekend with high hopes for our No. 8 Cat Rental Stores Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, given how well we ran in the Clash last week. Unfortunately, today was a little bit more of a roller coaster, but we kept fighting as long as we could out there. There was definitely speed in our Chevy today, so that is promising. I was able to drive into the top 15 on the initial start but then had to fight my way back through the field a couple times after that. Unfortunately on one of the late-race restarts, the field got bottled up and I got shoved off-track on the restart, which ended our day. We’ll study this race to prepare better for the other road courses later this season, but in the meantime, I’m looking forward to Homestead-Miami Speedway next weekend and our chances there.” -Tyler Reddick

Myatt Snider and the No. 2 TaxSlayer Chevrolet Team Rebound from Late Race Flat Tire to Finish 13th at the Daytona Road Course

13th   8th 5th

“Man, what a race. Our TaxSlayer Chevrolet Camaro was better than the end result shows, but overall, it was a strong night for our No. 2 team. Despite barely sneaking through the leaders wrecking at the end of stage one to battling a tight handling condition on the right handers, we put ourselves in striking position all day, earned a good amount of stage points, and definitely were a top-five car at the very least. Unfortunately, a left front flat tire during the first green-white-checkered hurt our chances at the end and took away an even better finish. The final two laps were crazy, but to restart from 31st and gain 18 spots to finish 13th is a great rebound for the TaxSlayer team. We definitely are going to be able to win a road course race this year and we are still off to a great start to the season.”  -Myatt Snider

A near-podium finish at Volusia Speedway Park has Larson excited for the season to come

LEWISBURG, TN – Feb. 18, 2021 – While lining up to start eighth in the fourth Feature of the 2021 season, Brent Larson questioned himself. “Man, I’m not sure I’m competent enough to start up here,” he thought.

One race later he abandoned that mindset.

During the latest World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model event at Volusia Speedway Park, Larson turned heads and widened eyes throughout the night. He outran current points leader Kyle Strickler and Chris Madden to win the Drydene Heat Race. Then, in the 40-lap Feature, he ran within the podium for the majority of the race, even passing eventual Big Gator champion Devin Moran back for third after losing the position.

He was on track for his first podium finish with the Series until his left rear tire became the villain of the night, blowing with five laps to go. A simultaneous moan of disappointment from the crowd echoed around the half-mile track. They all knew the significance of that performance by Larson, who’s run full-time with the Series for the past three years and made more than 140 starts.

While fans hung their heads for Larson, his was still held high back at his trailer. Even with having to settle for a 16th-place finish. A shot of confidence was the medicine he’d been looking for.

“Strickler is leading the points and undoubtedly, probably the star here (at Volusia) the last couple of weeks. Just to be able to beat him going into (turn) one and beating him and Madden in that Heat Race is a big confidence builder,” Larson said. “After winning that Heat Race, we were so busy all day long, which is probably good for my head, not thinking about it, but I felt good starting up there (in the Feature) and hanging in third for a while and then getting passed by Moran and passing him back, that was a confidence builder for sure. That makes me feel like I deserve to be running with the World of Outlaws.”

In his 142 Series starts, Larson, 44, of Lake Elmo, MN, has collected two top-five finishes – earning a career-best finish of fourth in 2019 – and 20 top-10 finishes.

This year, Larson said he’s in a good place. He has a fleet of Rocket XR-1 Chassis with Vic Hill Racing Engines power. He has a new primary sponsor with Motul. And he has a new crew, made up of his wife Melanie Larson, his 15-year-old son Matthew Larson and a first-time crew member. Combined, they’re helping him to work at his own pace to find the confidence and comfortability he’s been looking for.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure on us,” Larson said. “I’m in a nice spot this year where I don’t have a lot of pressure from my sponsors. I don’t have a lot of pressure from veteran crew guys who are used to winning races. We’re going to try and keep this fun and race as well as we can. But confidence is a big part of success. And I do have that going for me right now. I’m looking forward to having some success but not putting any expectations on ourselves either.”

Having his family by his side this season, working on the #B1 machine with him, has provided an extra level of comfortability and joy on race days.

“It’s much better than being gone for three weeks and not seeing your family,” he said. “I love getting that fist bump from my kid before we pull on the track. And having him run do this or run do that. Just having him a part of what’s going on. And I have my wife on tires. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

His newfound speed at Volusia stemmed from finding comfort in his new cars, which has Larson excited for the upcoming Tennessee doubleheader at Duck River Raceway Park on March 5 and Smoky Mountain Speedway on March 6.

In the first five races, he’s been working to get the feel in his brakes right, his steering right, and to find the overall balance of the car’s handling.

“I’ve just been focused these first few races with trying to get more and more comfortable in the car so I know what it’s going to do and feel right about it,” Larson said. “Then, that allows me to go out there and race hard and put the car where I want it. And not tail or not push and not look stupid out there. A lot of it is just being comfortable. Adding what I felt helped me the night before. Adding a little bit of that, so I give it a little bit more. I’ve had a lot of good people helping me go in the right direction and I’ve been growing with it.”

He’ll look to try and bring that momentum into the quarter-mile Duck River Raceway Park and 4/10-mile Smoky Mountain Speedway. Larson’s best finish at Duck River is 18th in 2019 and his best finish at Smoky Mountain is 13th the same year. Last season, he finished 25th at Duck River and 19th at Smoky Mountain.

This year, he’s entering the doubleheader weekend with his highest level of confidence, yet. No matter where he lines up for each Feature, he won’t be questioning himself anymore.

“I feel confident in my ability to stay up front,” Larson said. “I showed that [at Volusia]. I showed it to myself and I showed it to everybody that was watching.”

Sportscar driver Ernie Francis Jr transitions into single seaters with FR Americas

INDIANAPOLIS (February 18, 2021)- Ernie Francis Jr., of Southwest Ranches, Florida, was announced as the inauguralPMH Powering Diversity Scholarship winner today. The seven-time sportscar champion will transition into single-seater racing with a full season campaign in Formula Regional Americas Championship Powered by Honda for the 2021 season.

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.

Francis Jr. will identify his team and unveil his new No. 98 Ligier JS F3 in the upcoming weeks.

“Being accepted as the PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship winner is humbling,” said Francis Jr. “It’s been awhile since I’ve really been a rookie in something, so it feels nice going into the season with a challenge. I am looking forward to the new style of racing and entering a series where I’m the new guy.”

At just 23 years old, Francis Jr.’s racing resume exceeds that of most veteran drivers, winning seven consecutive championships in the ultra-competitive Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli. In his seven-year Trans Am career, Francis Jr. amassed 46 victories and 47 poles- the most of any driver in Trans Am history in both categories.

Willy T. Ribbs- the first African American driver to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and test a Formula One car- identified Francis Jr. as a ‘talent that could not be ignored’ after watching Francis Jr. rise through the ranks of Trans Am, the series that also kickstarted Ribbs racing career before entering open wheel.

As part of the scholarship program, Ribbs will mentor Francis Jr. through his transition from sports cars to single seaters. The pair will also compete against each other this season in the new SRX series started by Ray Evernham and Tony Stewart. 

In addition, the Florida native has one start in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and as a member of the Drive for Diversity program, Francis Jr. also made two K&N Series appearances in 2018, starting on pole and finishing second at New Jersey Motorsports Park. 

“We are proud to have Ernie Francis Jr. be the first PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship representative for FR Americas,” said PMH President Tony Parella. “Ernie has already proven himself in Trans Am and he will bring that same great work ethic and professionalism that helped him win multiple championships to FR Americas.”

Last week, PMH identified Emily Linscott as the scholarship runner-up for the F4 U.S. Championship Powered by Honda. The F4 U.S. finalist has been selected and will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

The FR Americas Championship official season kicks off at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta with the Atlanta SpeedTourMarch 26-28. For more information visit FRAmericas.com

A near-podium finish at Volusia Speedway Park has Larson excited for the season to comeLEWISBURG, TN – Feb. 18, 2021 – While lining up to start eighth in the fourth Feature of the 2021 season, Brent Larson questioned himself. “Man, I’m not sure I’m competent enough to start up here,” he thought.One race later he abandoned that mindset.During the latest World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model event at Volusia Speedway Park, Larson turned heads and widened eyes throughout the night. He outran current points leader Kyle Strickler and Chris Madden to win the Drydene Heat Race. Then, in the 40-lap Feature, he ran within the podium for the majority of the race, even passing eventual Big Gator champion Devin Moran back for third after losing the position.He was on track for his first podium finish with the Series until his left rear tire became the villain of the night, blowing with five laps to go. A simultaneous moan of disappointment from the crowd echoed around the half-mile track. They all knew the significance of that performance by Larson, who’s run full-time with the Series for the past three years and made more than 140 starts.While fans hung their heads for Larson, his was still held high back at his trailer. Even with having to settle for a 16th-place finish. A shot of confidence was the medicine he’d been looking for.“Strickler is leading the points and undoubtedly, probably the star here (at Volusia) the last couple of weeks. Just to be able to beat him going into (turn) one and beating him and Madden in that Heat Race is a big confidence builder,” Larson said. “After winning that Heat Race, we were so busy all day long, which is probably good for my head, not thinking about it, but I felt good starting up there (in the Feature) and hanging in third for a while and then getting passed by Moran and passing him back, that was a confidence builder for sure. That makes me feel like I deserve to be running with the World of Outlaws.”In his 142 Series starts, Larson, 44, of Lake Elmo, MN, has collected two top-five finishes – earning a career-best finish of fourth in 2019 – and 20 top-10 finishes.This year, Larson said he’s in a good place. He has a fleet of Rocket XR-1 Chassis with Vic Hill Racing Engines power. He has a new primary sponsor with Motul. And he has a new crew, made up of his wife Melanie Larson, his 15-year-old son Matthew Larson and a first-time crew member. Combined, they’re helping him to work at his own pace to find the confidence and comfortability he’s been looking for.“I don’t want to put too much pressure on us,” Larson said. “I’m in a nice spot this year where I don’t have a lot of pressure from my sponsors. I don’t have a lot of pressure from veteran crew guys who are used to winning races. We’re going to try and keep this fun and race as well as we can. But confidence is a big part of success. And I do have that going for me right now. I’m looking forward to having some success but not putting any expectations on ourselves either.”Having his family by his side this season, working on the #B1 machine with him, has provided an extra level of comfortability and joy on race days.“It’s much better than being gone for three weeks and not seeing your family,” he said. “I love getting that fist bump from my kid before we pull on the track. And having him run do this or run do that. Just having him a part of what’s going on. And I have my wife on tires. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”His newfound speed at Volusia stemmed from finding comfort in his new cars, which has Larson excited for the upcoming Tennessee doubleheader at Duck River Raceway Park on March 5 and Smoky Mountain Speedway on March 6.In the first five races, he’s been working to get the feel in his brakes right, his steering right, and to find the overall balance of the car’s handling.“I’ve just been focused these first few races with trying to get more and more comfortable in the car so I know what it’s going to do and feel right about it,” Larson said. “Then, that allows me to go out there and race hard and put the car where I want it. And not tail or not push and not look stupid out there. A lot of it is just being comfortable. Adding what I felt helped me the night before. Adding a little bit of that, so I give it a little bit more. I’ve had a lot of good people helping me go in the right direction and I’ve been growing with it.”He’ll look to try and bring that momentum into the quarter-mile Duck River Raceway Park and 4/10-mile Smoky Mountain Speedway. Larson’s best finish at Duck River is 18th in 2019 and his best finish at Smoky Mountain is 13th the same year. Last season, he finished 25th at Duck River and 19th at Smoky Mountain.This year, he’s entering the doubleheader weekend with his highest level of confidence, yet. No matter where he lines up for each Feature, he won’t be questioning himself anymore.“I feel confident in my ability to stay up front,” Larson said. “I showed that [at Volusia]. I showed it to myself and I showed it to everybody that was watching.”For tickets to the events at Duck River Raceway Park and Smoky Mountain Speedway, go to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix.If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all 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.