BATAVIA, Ohio (August 28, 2024) – The UNOH “Great Eight” were presented a cash bonus based on their position in the championship point standings for the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship Presented by ARP following the events at Port Royal Speedway. The UNOH Great Eight is the third of four bonus rounds in the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship presented by ARP. The UNOH Great Eight honors the top eight drivers in their pursuit of the record points fund of over $1,000,000. The series champion will receive $200,000, while the top four drivers in the final series point standings will earn a minimum of $100,000 each. Rick Thornton Jr. earned $7,500 from a total of $18,000 paid out to the top eight drivers in the championship standings. Second through eighth – each receiving $1,500 – in the championship standings were Jonathan Davenport, Devin Moran, Hudson O’Neal, Tim McCreadie, Garrett Alberson, Daulton Wilson, and Mike Marlar. UNOH Great Eight Bonus Payout: 1. $7,500, 2. $1,500, 3. $1,500, 4. $1,500, 5. $1,500, 6. $1,500, 7. $1,500, 8. $1,500 = Total $18,000 For the latest news, results, championship standings and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, please visit www.lucasdirt.com. About UNOH – University of Northwest Ohio:Founded in 1920, the University of Northwestern Ohio is an entrepreneurial, not for-profit, university located in Lima, Ohio, situated on 200 acres. In 2020 UNOH celebrated its 100th anniversary of educating students from around the world. There are five colleges within the university: College of Applied Technologies, College of Business, College of Health Professions, College of Occupational Professions, and the Graduate College. The University is known worldwide as a leader in the Automotive, Diesel, and High-Performance industries. UNOH also offers world class degree programs in Business, Health, Marketing, Information Technology, Robotics, and many other fields of study. UNOH is a co-ed campus and has taught students from all 50 states and 69 countries, and currently has nearly 4,000 students enrolled from 50 states and 36 countries. At UNOH there is no out-of-state tuition. UNOH awards Master’s, Bachelor, Associate, and Diploma programs to more than 1,000 students each year at graduation. The University of Northwestern Ohio also offers a variety of athletics including Men’s & Women’s Basketball, Tennis, Golf, Bowling, and Soccer, Women’s Volleyball, Men’s Baseball, Women’s Softball, and six Co-Ed Motorsports teams. For more information, visit www.unoh.edu.

CONCORD, NC (August 28, 2024) – It doesn’t matter if it’s on dirt or pavement: if it has open wheels and requires a push truck, Bryan Gossel has probably driven it.

In addition to the 360 Sprint Car he pilots full-time on the American Sprint Car Series National Tour, Gossel has also competed in 410 Sprint Cars with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars, pavement Sprint Cars in both Winged and Non-Wing configuration, as well as a Silver Crown car in 2024 alone.

But his driving career began in something a little less exhilarating: a Ford Torino.

“My stepmom would not let me drive a car until I was 16 years old,” Gossel said. “I was so determined that, when I turned 16, my Dad was working nights and couldn’t go, so my 14-year-old brother and I went to the track the week I turned 16 by ourselves.

“Literally building a car outside under tarps on an open trailer, we didn’t have a garage back then.”

From that point, it was only a matter of time until Gossel made his way into the family tradition: Sprint Car racing. His cousin is Marlon Jones, a member of the Huset’s Speedway Hall of Fame and a force to be reckoned with across the upper Midwest throughout his three-decade career.

“Marlon Jones was my racing hero,” Gossel said. “That’s what I wanted to do, worked my way to it and I got an opportunity to drive a Sprint Car for a guy in 1998. I was a hired driver, and it was freaking awesome. We won the second night we were out. He helped me get going and that just made me say ‘man, this is awesome,’ and I was hooked on Sprint Cars since then.”

In the years since, Gossel has raced across the nation, bouncing between nearly every open wheel oval series under the sun. For the past five seasons, his schedule has included the longest and most grueling event in all of Sprint Car racing: the Little 500 at Anderson Speedway.

The Memorial Day weekend tradition includes 33 cars battling it out for 500 laps around the paved ¼-mile, with a three-wide start and live pit stops only adding to the challenge.

“The Little 500, you are on kill for 500 laps, two and a half, three hours, however long it takes, because it is so short and there is always something happening,” said Gossel, who has a career-best of 11th from the 2021 edition. “Three years ago, I really committed to getting back into shape because I’m older than most doing this, getting close to 50. I’m not going to fall out of the seat and I’m going to work harder than anybody. Even if it’s just that I’m not going to physically beat them because they’re younger than me, I’m going to outwork them.”

That work ethic has benefitted Gossel in everything he drives, including dirt Sprint Cars. He planned to continue racing those on a pick-and-choose basis in 2024 – until one phone call got the ball rolling in a different direction.

“Wayne Johnson and I have been buddies for 20, 25 years, always talked and helped each other out here and there,” Gossel said. “He said ‘what are you doing next year?’ and I said ‘I don’t know,’ and he’s like ‘well, you should just send Austyn down here with me to Florida. I’ll help him and make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid.’ I was like ‘OK,’ and then I was like ‘well I want to go too.”

“My wife Cendi and [son] Austyn both like the dirt a whole lot better, so I was like ‘let’s just go and see how it plays out.’ We didn’t really have a true game plan. It was kind of like [360] stuff, some 410 stuff, just kind of figured it out. And then once World Racing Group decided to take over ASCS, it was like ‘man, this has got to be a way better deal, let’s get on it, try it and see how it goes.”

Nineteen races into their season as the National Tour’s only two-car team, both Bryan and Austyn have been making steady gains as of late. Austyn scored back-to-back top 10s for the first time at Dodge City Raceway Park and Lincoln County Raceway, while Bryan finished a season-best 13th on Friday night at Big Sky Speedway.

“We found a couple things with the cars, different parts that didn’t work well with our cars,” Gossel said. “Changed those out not that many races ago, and it just made it to where the cars worked better and I felt comfortable. I realized I haven’t been comfortable in the car. Even Dan [Musselman] from Maxim was looking at it and Wayne, they were trying to help me, and they were just like ‘it just don’t look right,’ and I’m like ‘it don’t feel right.’

“So we changed out the rear arms and birdcages, and that really made the cars feel better and get back to where they were more drivable. That definitely made strides there, and then I have to retrain myself to get comfortable in the car again.”

Gossel is currently in the process of doing just that, and his performance in Billings goes to show that he is headed in the right direction.

“Last weekend was the best I’ve felt in the car and it was the most drivable,” Gossel said. “I was actually passing cars and going forward and I was like ‘wow, this is pretty cool.”

Gossel’s debut season on the National Tour will resume this weekend at Electric City Speedway with the two-night Montana Roundup on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 30-31. Tickets are available for purchase in advance here, while those unable to make it to the track can watch all the action live on DIRTVision.

CHEVROLET IN NHRA2024 TOYOTA NHRA U.S. NATIONALS LUCAS OIL INDIANAPOLIS RACEWAY PARK CLERMONT, INDIANA TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE | NOTES & STATS AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 2, 2024 CHEVROLET LOOKS TO RACE TO THE HISTORIC NHRA U.S. NATIONALS WINNER’S CIRCLE WITH JOHN FORCE RACING AT INDIANAPOLIS

Team Chevy looks to race to the Winner’s Circle this weekend at the crown jewel event of the year, the 2024 Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Aug. 29-Sept. 1.Austin Prock, driver of the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, enters the Indianapolis race weekend with a stronghold on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car championship standings, leading Bob Tasca, III by 218 points in second and Matt Hagan by 230 in third.The first to clinch a spot in the Countdown to the Championship in Seattle, Prock has already raced his way to the Winner’s Circle in his debut Funny Car season four times, and a fifth at the season-opening PRO Super Star Shootout event at Bradenton.Racing on behalf of John Force, driver of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, Jack Beckman, a two-time U.S. Nationals winner (2015, 2020).Beckman, who is a decorated 33-time event winner and 2003 Funny Car champion, returns to the seat after a hiatus since 2020 and will accumulate points on behalf of the 16-time champion and is seeking a 17th championship title for Force.While still seeking her first victory since Las Vegas 2 in 2022 and her first U.S. Nationals Wally trophy, Brittany Force, driver of the Chevrolet Accessories Top Fuel dragster, looks to turn around her season at the “Big Go” and shift momentum through the Countdown to the Championship. She currently sits 10th in the points standings heading into the U.S. Nationals.Appropriately, a special Chevrolet Accessories paint scheme will be featured on Brittany’s Top Fuel dragster with John Force Racing, competing in the biggest event of the year.Featured on Force’s Top Fuel dragster for the biggest event of the year, Chevrolet Accessories will adorn her John Force Racing ride for the Indianapolis event.KB Titan Racing holds steady to the first and second positions in the Pro Stock championship standings, with Dallas Glenn leading Greg Anderson by 184 points, while Elite Motorsports’ Erica Enders sits third behind Glenn by 206 points.Additionally in competition this weekend, the FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown COPO Camaros as well as the Factory X Team Chevy teams, will compete for the season’s biggest prize, the prestigious U.S. Nationals Wally trophy.

Quotes:AUSTIN PROCK, DRIVER OF THE CORNWELL TOOLS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:“I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of my Cornwell Tools Chevy Camaro SS. It’s been good to reset after a tough weekend and ready to get back on track! We had a great test session and have been hard at it at JFR to make sure we’re prepared to win! We would love to put Team Chevy in the winner’s circle at our biggest event of the year.” JACK BECKMAN, DRIVER OF THE PEAK ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:“The last year that I raced, (in 2020), the world as falling apart. There were four National events at Indy…but only one U.S. Nationals, and I left with the trophy. Fast Forward four years, and now I am strapped into a Chevy Camaro that I think is the baddest racecar in the pits, driving for the coolest car owner, at the biggest race of the year. We have a realistic shot at winning ‘The Big Go’ for PEAK.” BRITTANY FORCE, DRIVER OF THE CHEVROLET ACCESSORIES TOP FUEL DRAGSTER:“We are at the final race before this countdown kicks off and the biggest of our season. It is going to be a fight for this Chevrolet Accessories team to stay in the top 10 and give ourselves the best shot at chasing down the title this season. We’ve been very successful over the last few seasons in Indy. We have been to the finals in recent years and hope to continue that tradition in 2024 and take home the Wally. “The U.S. Nationals race is the event that everybody wants to win. It is our most prestigious race on the circuit and it is the home to our JFR race team. I feel this team has put in such a great effort over the last two years. Winning this week would be redemption.”

How to Watch:The Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals from Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park airs first with qualifying on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 1 p.m. ET with FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Sunday additionally sees the Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car Callout at 5 p.m. on FOX followed by additional qualifying coverage at 6:30 p.m. ET on FS1. Race day Monday sees Finals airing at 12 p.m. ET on FS1 followed by coverage shifting to FOX at 2 p.m. ET. Coverage streams live throughout the weekend on NHRA.tv, and is available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.

TEAM CHEVY BY THE NUMBERS:1,461: Round wins for John Force (1st all-time). (One round win was captured by Jack Beckman in Brainerd, 2024 while racing on behalf of Force who is currently recovering from an on-track incident in Richmond, 2024).626: Round wins for Robert Hight; 13th all-time. Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), sits 12th, with 631.167: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for John Force (1st all-time).165: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins since 1967.84: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Robert Hight (6th all-time). Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel) is fifth with 88.85: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins with the Camaro SS body.47: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Brittany Force.28: Number of NHRA championships Chevrolet holds as a manufacturer since entering the first in 1966. This is the seventh-consecutive award and ninth in 11 seasons. No other manufacturer has won it more than Chevrolet.26: Wins by John Force in a Chevrolet-bodied Funny Car.20: Chevrolet career Top Fuel wins in NHRA.16: Number of Chevrolet career wins by Brittany Force.7: Number of Funny Car driver championships.2: Number of Top Fuel driver championships.

Cornwell Tools Chevy Camaro Seeks Tenth No. 1 Start, Fifth Tour Victory

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (August 27, 2024) – In a town in which his great grandfather raced in the Indy 500, in which his grandfather reached the Funny Car semifinals at the 1977 U.S. Nationals and in which his dad tuned Robert Hight to a trio of Labor Day victories, Austin Prock hopes to add to the family legacy this week at the wheel of the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS. The 29-year-old, who took a circular path to a straight-line career, already has clinched the No. 1 starting spot in the NHRA’s upcoming Countdown to the Championship and, as a result, will be the Funny Car favorite when pro qualifying begins Friday in the 70th renewal of the world’s biggest drag race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Nevertheless, the winner of the pre-season PRO Superstar Shootout is coming off what he characterized as the worst driving performance of his career during the Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd, Minn., where he suffered a rare starting line lapse that resulted in a .118 reaction time and a second round loss. Rivals don’t expect the former quarter midget, sprint car and Top Fuel driver to stumble in a such fashion moving forward, however. Statistically, he has been one of the best in the sport at the starting line. In 38 competitive rounds leading up to his Brainerd elimination, in fact, the professionally trained chef’s average reaction time was .064; his best was .043, his worst .090.  “I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel,” Prock said. “It’s been good to reset after a tough weekend and I’m ready to get back on track. We had a great test session and have been hard at it to make sure we’re prepared to win! We would love to put Team Chevy (with Top Fuel teammate Brittany Force) in the winners’ circle at our biggest event of the year.” A four-time Mission Foods tour winner this year and the No. 1 qualifier in nine of 13 events, Prock is driving a Cornwell Camaro widely-known as the “Prock Rocket” insomuch as it is driven by a Prock and prepared by crew anchored by two others – dad Jimmy and brother Thomas. * * * * 70th U.S. NATIONALS SCHEDULE Friday, August 30Nitro qualifying, session #1, 8 p.m., EDT.Saturday, August 31Nitro qualifying session #2, 1 p.m., EDT; nitro qualifying session #3, 3:30 p.m., EDTSunday, Sept. 1Nitro qualifying session #4, 1:20 p.m., EDT; Nitro qualifying session #5, 3:30 p.m., EDTMonday, Sept. 2First round eliminations, 10:00 a.m., EDT JFR ON FS1 and FOX Broadcast Network

Racing on Force’s Behalf, Beckman Tries to ‘Repeat’ in 70th U.S. Nationals

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (August 27, 2024) – He’s not the defending champion at the U.S. Nationals, but Jack Beckman did win it the last time he was in it, which is a source of considerable optimism as the 2016 World Champion climbs back into the seat of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS to compete in this week’s 70th renewal of drag racing’s biggest single event. “The last year I raced, the world was falling apart,” Beckman said of a 2020 season heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “There were four national events at Indy (that year) but only one U.S. Nationals – and I left with the trophy.” A two-time U.S. Nationals champion and three-time runner-up, Beckman beat then teammate Tommy Johnson Jr. in the final round at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on Sept. 6, 2020. Two months later, both were out of a job, victimized by the bane of all big-time auto racers, loss of sponsorship. “Fast forward four years and now I am strapped into a Chevy Camaro that I think is the baddest race car in the pits,” said the 58-year-old who overcame cancer to become an NHRA World Champion in two different categories (he was the Super Comp champion in 2003). “I’m driving for the coolest car owner at the biggest race of the year (and) I think we have a realistic shot at winning ‘The Big Go’ for PEAK and John Force.” That he is back in an elite car at the most prestigious event on the planet is a bit surreal to the 33-time Funny Car winner who got an opportunity he never expected after Force, the 16-time World Champion and 157-time race winner, suffered a TBI (traumatic brain injury) in a June 23 crash at Richmond, Va. At the time of the accident, Beckman was working as an elevator repairman, the same job he left in 2006 to go racing full-time. It’s a day job to which he will return on Tuesday. In the meantime, he’ll focus all his attention on the little side hustle he’s been able to put together: earning Mission Foods championship points on Force’s behalf. In his first race in that capacity, the longtime driving instructor at Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School qualified a solid sixth, won his first round race and, in so doing, earned enough points to move Force from sixth to fifth in the driver standings. The challenge this week will be to maintain position, which could be significant when points are adjusted for the start of the six-race Countdown to the Championship. * * * * 70th U.S. NATIONALS SCHEDULE Friday, August 30Nitro qualifying, session #1, 8 p.m., EDT.Saturday, August 31Nitro qualifying session #2, 1 p.m., EDT; nitro qualifying session #3, 3:30 p.m., EDTSunday, Sept. 1Nitro qualifying session #4, 1:20 p.m., EDT; Nitro qualifying session #5, 3:30 p.m., EDTMonday, Sept. 2First round eliminations, 10:00 a.m., EDT JFR ON FS1 and FOX Broadcast Network Sunday, Sept. 1Qualifying show #1, 1-3 p.m., EDT, on FS1Qualifying show #2, 6:30-8:30 p.m., EDT on FS1Monday, Sept. 2Opening rounds of eliminations, 12 noon-2 p.m., EDT, on FS1Coverage of final rounds, 2-5 p.m., EDT, on FOX

 

INDIANAPOLIS (August 28, 2024) — The most prestigious national event in drag racing, the 70^th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals, will feature one of the biggest fields of Dodge Drag Paks, Chevrolet COP Camaros and Ford Cobra Jets competing in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series. Beginning with two rounds of qualifying on Friday, factory stock competitors from across the country will be racing to post the quickest elapsed times to position themselves for race day success on Monday, September 2. Through seven races this season five different drivers have stood in the winner’s circle including two first-time Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series winners, David Janac and Scott Libersher. As the most recent winner of the Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, Libersher won for the first time and will carry the $1,000 Flexjet bounty into Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
 
“The win in Brainerd was so special because we have been working so hard for so long,” said Libersher. “We have the bounty this race and there would be nothing more incredible than to hold onto that $1,000 because it would mean we won the biggest race of the season, the U.S. Nationals. I have won a few rounds at the U.S. Nationals, but it is a tough race to win. They are all tough, but Indy is especially tough.”

 Scott Libersher heads to U.S. Nationals on heels of Lucas Oil Nationals Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown win, photo credit Auto Imagery

For Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown point leader Stephen Bell, a win this weekend at the Toyota U.S. Nationals would continue a magical season for the racer from Shreveport, La. Bell, who was the championship runner-up in 2023, has secured three wins and two runner-up finishes with the dazzling red COPO Camaro. He has also captured the Flexjet Bounty on one occasion. Bell has been runner-up twice at the U.S. Nationals narrowly missing the winner’s circle in 2017 and again last year.
 
“I think every racer has a love/hate relationship with the U.S. Nationals. We have had some success but also some heartbreak,” said Bell. “The competition between the Chevys, Dodges and Fords should be good and there are over a dozen drivers who have a serious shot of winning. The one thing about Indy is anything can happen. You will have to be on your game for four straight days with qualifying and eliminations. That is not easy. I love this race and I am excited to get there.”

 Point leader Stephen Bell heads to U.S. Nationals with three Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown wins in 2024, photo credit Auto Imagery

Ohioan Mark Pawuk sits third in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown point standings and he is another two-time U.S. Nationals runner-up who would like to see the final win light of race day light up in his lane on Monday. Pawuk and his Dodge Drag Pak sponsored by Empaco finished second in 2018 and 2020 and he has his eyes on winning the biggest race of the season. In addition to Pawuk’s season-opening win at the Gatornationals, he has a runner-up finish at the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio and he collected the Flexjet bounty at the Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals.
 
“This is a race I have dreamt of winning,” said Pawuk, who was also runner-up as a Pro Stock competitor. “I had three races on my bucket list coming into this season. The Gatornationals which we won. The Summit Nationals in Norwalk, my home track, where we came close with a runner-up and the U.S. Nationals. Winning the U.S. Nationals is right up there with a world championship in my opinion.”
 
The U.S. Nationals will feature the 2024 Flexjet season debut of Lindsay Wheelock and her Dodge Drag Pak, Peter Gasko Jr., behind the wheel of his Chevrolet COPO Camaro and the Dodge Challenger of Alan Scruggs. This will be Scruggs’ second U.S. Nationals and the first time he has been back in action since the 2022 U.S. Nationals. Wheelock will be racing in her fifth U.S. Nationals and Gasko will be making his fifth start as well. The rest of the field is comprised of some of the best factory stock racers including Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals winner Ricky Hord, Thunder Valley Nationals winner David Janac and Chicago Nationals runner-up Lee Hartman to name a few drivers who have a legitimate shot at winning the race.
 
The quickest Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge competitors will race through five rounds of competition looking to collect the iconic Wally trophy at the eighth Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series national event of 2024. Qualifying for the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series will begin on Friday, August 30 with two sessions followed by a final session on Saturday evening. Two rounds of eliminations will be contested on Sunday with the final three rounds of eliminations culminating on Monday, September 2. The race will be broadcast on FS1 and FOX throughout the weekend.
 
2024 Flexjet Bounty Program
Gatornationals (Gainesville, Fla.)
$1,000 bounty collected by Mark Pawuk, defeated Stephen Bell (Norwalk winner)
 
Winternationals (Pomona, Calif.)
$1,000 bounty collected by David Davies II, defeated Mark Pawuk (Gatornationals winner)
 
Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals (Las Vegas, Nev.)
$1,000 bounty collected by Mark Pawuk, defeated Stephen Bell (Winternationals winner)
 
Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 Nationals (Chicago, Ill.)
$1,000 bounty collected by Lee Hartmand, defeated Ricky Hord (Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals winner)
 
Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals (Bristol, Tenn.)
$1,000 bounty collected by David Janac, defeated Stephen Bell (Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 Nationals winner)
 
Summit Racing Equipment Nationals (Norwalk, Ohio)
$1,000 bounty collected by Stephen Bell, defeated David Janac (Thunder Valley Nationals winner)
 
Lucas Oil Nationals (Brainerd, Minn.)
$1,000 bounty collected by David Janac, defeated Stephen Bell (Summit Racing Equipment Nationals winner)
 
Toyota U.S. Nationals (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Scott Libersher has $1,000 bounty
 
2024 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Results
Gainesville – Mark Pawuk, winner; Stephen Bell, runner-up
Pomona – Stephen Bell, winner; David Davies II, runner-up
Las Vegas1 – Ricky Hord, winner; David Janac, runner-up
Chicago – Stephen Bell, winner; Lee Hartman, runner-up
Bristol – David Janac, winner; Stephen Bell, runner-up
Norwalk – Stephen Bell, winner; Mark Pawuk, runner-up
Brainerd – Scott Libersher, winner; David Janac, runner-up
Indianapolis – TBD
Reading – TBD
St. Louis – TBD
 
2024 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Points 

1. Stephen Bell           588
2. Mark Pawuk            492
3. David Janac            475
4. Ricky Hord              366
5. Scott Libersher        334
6. Lee Hartman           326
7. Tony Scott Jr.         279
8. David Davies III      273
9. Doug Hamp            257
10. Anthony Troyer       240

 
2024 FLEXJET NHRA FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN SCHEDULE
Sept. 12-15             39th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals, Reading, Pa.
Sept. 27-29             13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, St. Louis, Mo.

MOORESVILLE, NC – August 27, 2024 – Today, the NC Chamber announced that Roush Yates Engines’ V6 Twin-Turbo EcoBoost Engine for Limited Edition Ford GT Mk IV has been nominated for the “Coolest Thing Made in NC” competition. The contest spotlights North Carolina’s cutting-edge manufacturing industry—an industry that generates more than 17% of the gross state product and employs more than 10% of the state’s workforce.

“Thanks to the NC Chamber for this recognition, this Twin-Turbo EcoBoost pushes the limits of technology and engine development,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Our team spent countless hours on the design and development of this engine, and to see these engines built in Mooresville, NC is testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff!”

This engine was engineered, validated and built by Roush Yates Engines in partnership with Ford Performance to maximize performance and durability in a track day application. The V6 Twin-Turbo EcoBoost Engine has a larger bore and stroke, making it the largest displacement EcoBoost V6 ever, along with 12% larger turbochargers, plus Le Mans race winning inspired billet crank, forged titanium rods and billet pistons.   This engine is the heart and soul of the new Ford GT Mk IV ($1,700,000 Supercar) that nods to the year that the original Mk IV won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with just sixty-seven of these hand-built supercars to be produced. This specially engineered twin-turbo engine produces 800+ horsepower and over 680 LB-FT peak torque on 93 pump gasoline. For more about the V6 Twin-Turbo EcoBoost Engine, click here.

Inside Ford GT MK IV – 1:58.77 COTA GT lap record

Inside Ford GT MK IV – 1:58.77 COTA GT lap record

Earlier this year, Multimatic and driver Benjamin Sloss recorded a lap of 1:58:77 with the Ford GT Mk IV, unofficially making it the fastest GT car to lap COTA!

The public voting for this statewide contest has just opened, and we need your support to advance. The competition highlights North Carolina’s dynamic manufacturing sector, and our engine is one of the standout nominees among 145 incredible products this year. Click here to cast your vote for Roush Yates Engines’ V6 Twin-turbo EcoBoost Engine. Voting is now open and will continue through August 29th @ 9:00 PM. Limit one entry per day. Please vote daily!

39 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 467 WINS – 434 POLES

BATAVIA, Ohio (August 27, 2024) – The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series dives into the Labor Day weekend with a Saturday-Sunday doubleheader at Portsmouth Raceway Park and Tyler County Speedway on August 31 and September 1. The action kicks off on Saturday, August 31 when the tour returns to Portsmouth Raceway Park for the River Days Rumble. The event features a complete show of: Dirt Draft Hot Laps, Allstar Performance Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and a 50-lap, $15,000-to-win main event. Saturday’s racing action at Portsmouth Raceway Park will also include a full program for the Sport Modified division. The pit gate at Portsmouth Raceway Park will open at 2:00 PM with the general admission gate opening at 4:00 PM. Hot Laps will begin at 6:30 PM with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Portsmouth Raceway Park is a 3/8-mile oval located approximately 1 mile west of Downtown Portsmouth, Ohio at 25648 State Route 73. For more information on Portsmouth Raceway Park, please visit www.portsraceway.com. On Sunday, September 1 teams will travel to Tyler County Speedway for the 56th Annual Hillbilly Hundred – Presented by Arizona Sport Shirts. America’s oldest running dirt late model crown jewel event includes a complete program of: Dirt Draft Hot Laps, Allstar Performance Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and a 100-lap, $30,000-to-win main event. The Ohio Valley Legend Car Series, RUSH Dirt Late Model Series, and SCDRA 4-Cylinders will also be in competition on Sunday, September 1 at Tyler County Speedway. The pit gate will close at 1:30 PM and reopen at 2:00 PM. The general admission gates will open at 2:00 PM. On-track racing action will begin at 6:00 PM with Hot Laps for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Tyler County Speedway, better known as “America’s Baddest Bullring” is a 1/4-mile bullring located 3 miles south of Middlebourne, W. Va. at the Tyler County Fairgrounds on State Route 18. A mere 18 miles east of the Ohio River, halfway between Parkersburg in the south and Wheeling in the North. To learn more about Tyler County Speedway and the 56th Hillbilly Hundred, or to purchase tickets, please visit www.tylercountyspeedwayonline.com. Following the UNOH Great Eight bonus round, Ricky Thornton Jr. maintains his lead in the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship, presented by ARP. Jonathan Davenport now holds second place, followed by Devin Moran, Hudson O’Neal, and Tim McCreadie. Drake Troutman leads the O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Year chase. For the latest news, results, championship standings, and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, please visit www.lucasdirt.com. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Purses:Portsmouth Raceway Park – August 31: 1. $15,000, 2. $7,000, 3. $5,000, 4. $4,000, 5. $3,000, 6. $2,500, 7. $2,400, 8. $2,300, 9. $2,200, 10. $2,100, 11. $2,000, 12. $1,800, 13. $1,600, 14. $1,500, 15. $1,400, 16. $1,300, 17. $1,200, 18. $1,100, 19. $1,000, 20. $1,000, 21. $1,000, 22. $1,000, 23. $1,000, 24. $1,000 = $63,400 Tyler County Speedway – September 1: 1. $30,000, 2. $15,000, 3. $7,000, 4. $5,500, 5. $4,500, 6. $3,500, 7. $3,000, 8. $2,500, 9. $2,400, 10. $2,300, 11. $2,200, 12. $2,100, 13. $2,000, 14. $1,900, 15. $1,800, 16. $1,750, 17. $1,700, 18. $1,650, 19. $1,600, 20. $1,550, 21. $1,550, 22. $1,500, 23. $1,500, 24. $1,500, 25. $1,500, 26. $1,500 = $103,000 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Tire Rule:Left Rear/Fronts – Hoosier (90) NLMT2, (90) NLMT3 Right Rear – Hoosier (92) NLMT2, (92) NLMT3, (92) NLMT4 Hillbilly Hundred Past Winners:2023 – Jonathan Davenport2022 – Kyle Larson2021 – Rained Out2020 – Covid-192019 – Josh Richards2018 – Brandon Overton2017 – Jonathan Davenport2016 – Scott Bloomquist2015 – Scott Bloomquist2014 – Don O’Neal2013 – Jimmy Owens2012 – Mike Marlar2011 – Rained Out2010 – Scott Bloomquist2009 – Ray Cook2008 – Jimmy Owens2007 – Eddie Carrier Jr.2006 – Earl Pearson Jr.2005 – Clint Smith2004 – Mike Marlar2003 – Chub Frank2002 – Billy Moyer2001 – Donnie Moran2000 – Davey Johnson1999 – Davey Johnson1998 – Steve Shaver1997 – Rod Conley1996 – Todd Andrews1995 – Bart Hartman1994 – Bill Frye1993 – Davey Johnson1992 – Rodney Combs1991 – Rodney Combs1990 – Buck Simmons1989 – Donnie Moran1988 – Donnie Moran1987 – Jack Boggs1986 – Jack Boggs1985 – Jack Boggs1984 – Larry Moore1983 – Freddy Smith1982 – Charlie Swartz1981 – Freddy Smith1980 – Rodney Combs1979 – Danny Dean1978 – Gene McNeely1977 – Rained Out1976 – Bob Wearing, Sr.1975 – Bob Wearing, Sr.1974 – Bob Wearing, Sr.1973 – Bob Wearing, Sr.1972 – Dorus Wisecarver1971 – Danny Dean1970 – Clate Husted1969 – Rained Out1968 – Ray Neece1967 – Don Gregory

GREAT FALLS, MT (August 27, 2024) – The American Sprint Car Series National Tour heads to another historic Montana dirt track this weekend to wrap up the two-week Montana swing.

Electric City Speedway in Great Falls will play host to the two-night Montana Roundup on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 30-31. The event will be the National Tour’s first visit to the track in nearly a decade with Aaron Reutzel taking the most recent Electric City checkered flag in 2015.

The weekend will begin on Friday with a standard $4,000-to-win, $400-to-start race, while Saturday will feature an increased $5,000-to-win, $400-to-start payout. The Sprint Cars will be joined on the card by WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds on Friday and IMCA Modifieds and WISSOTA Street Stocks on Saturday.

Tickets can be purchased online in advance here or at the track on race day. If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Here are the top storylines entering the weekend:

MOMENTUM SHIFT: Entering last weekend’s stop at Big Sky Speedway, point leader Seth Bergman had finished behind Sam Hafertepe Jr. in six-straight full-points events, resulting in his lead atop the standings dropping from 172 points to 83 during that span.

Bergman decided it was time to end that streak on Friday, as he parked his No. 23 machine in Victory Lane for the first time since Tri-State Speedway on June 15. While he fell two spots short of a double-up on Saturday, he came home one spot ahead of Hafertepe to extend his advantage to 103 points entering Electric City.

Bergman’s quest for his first Series title will bring him to another track he has found success at in the past. The Snohomish, WA native collected three top fives in four National Tour starts at the track between 2012 and 2015 to go along with a pair of top 10s with the ASCS Northwest Region in 2010.

QUICK TIME: This is the first year in which the National Tour has utilized Qualifying as part of its nightly format, and no one has taken advantage of that change more than Hafertepe.

After topping the charts Friday night at Big Sky, the five-time Series champion has accumulated 10 overall Quick Time Awards in 2024. No other driver has more than one.

Luckily for Hafertepe, the Series format is designed to reward single-lap speed by sending the quickest transferring car from Qualifying in each Heat Race to the Dash along with the Heat Race winner. Those frequent Dash visits have paid off late in the night, as Hafertepe has the best average Feature starting spot of any full-timer at 4.7.

If Bergman or anyone else wants to keep Hafertepe out of Victory Lane for another week, beating him in Qualifying and Heat Race competition could be the key to doing it. All eight of his full-points wins this season have come after making the Dash earlier in the night, while he hasn’t finished higher than fourth on nights he missed the Dash.

FEELING ELECTRIC: In the nine years since the last National Tour event at Electric City, the track has not been lacking in ASCS competition, as it has been a regular stop on the Frontier Region circuit since the tour’s inaugural season in 2013.

The most recent event came just over a month ago on July 13 when Rich Bailey took the victory. The Helena, MT driver made his National Tour debut last weekend at Big Sky with finishes of 18th on Friday and 12th on Saturday, and he’ll have his sights set on his first National Tour top 10 when he returns to the site of his inaugural Frontier Region triumph.

Other local stars to watch include Kelly Miller, who has finished top five in 23 of his last 25 starts at the track including five victories, as well as Phil Dietz, who is a two-time Frontier Region winner at Electric City and finished second at the last National Tour race there in 2015.

RIVETING ROOKIE RACE: The ASCS has long been known as the place where Sprint Car stars are born, and there’s no better evidence of that than this season’s rookie class.

The battle for the Rookie of the Year Award is likely to go down to the final weekend of the year at Tulsa Speedway and Creek County Speedway, with Andrew Deal currently leading the way over Hank Davis by eight points.

Davis has been playing catch-up all year after joining TwoC Racing prior to the third race of the season at Rush County Speedway. He has been a contender ever since though, racking up 10 top fives in 15 starts with the Todd Carlile-owned, Wayne Johnson-led team. Deal has been close to his first Series victory as well, picking up a pair of podiums at Super Bee Speedway and Arrowhead Speedway.

The pair of Quinter, KS natives on tour in Zach Blurton and Kyler Johnson are still in contention, sitting 68 and 79 points behind Deal respectively. Both drivers have been finding their stride as of late, with Blurton finishing on the podium twice in the last three races and Johnson scoring his first top five since Super Bee on Saturday at Big Sky.

WHEN AND WHERE:
Friday and Saturday, Aug. 30-31, at Electric City Speedway in Black Eagle, MT

AROUND THE TURN:
The American Sprint Car Series National Tour will kick off September with a Tuesday night clash at the Clay County Fair Speedway on Sept. 10 before traveling south to Oklahoma’s Arrowhead Speedway for a two-night duel on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 13-14.

CURRENT POINT STANDINGS (TOP 10):

1. Seth Bergman (2412 points)
2. Sam Hafertepe Jr. (-103)
3. Matt Covington (-229)
4. Andrew Deal (-433)
5. Hank Davis (-441)
6. Landon Britt (-469)
7. Zach Blurton (-501)
8. Jason Martin (-502)
9. Kyler Johnson (-512)
10. Terry Easum (-603)

FEATURE WINNERS (7):
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 9
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 5
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 1
Kaleb Johnson – Sioux Falls, SD – 1
Tyler Courtney – Indianapolis, IN – 1
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 1

QUICK TIME AWARDS (9):
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 10
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 1
Josh McCord – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Alex Sewell – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 1
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 1
Tyler Groenendyk – Oskaloosa, IA – 1
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 1

HEAT RACE WINS (36):
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 6
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 6
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 5
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 4
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 3
Whit Gastineau – Moore, OK – 3
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 2
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 2
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, OK – 2
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 2
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 2
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Lane Whittington – Denham Springs, LA – 1
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 1
Koty Adams – Haughton, LA – 1
Bradley Fezard – Bonnerdale, AR – 1
Brekton Crouch – Lubbock, TX – 1
Jeremy Campbell – Wichita, KS – 1
Cody Gardner – Benton, AR – 1
Austyn Gossel – Windsor, CO – 1
Kyle Clark – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Matt Juhl – Tea, SD – 1
Garet Williamson – Columbia, MO – 1
Emerson Axsom – Franklin, IN – 1
Hunter Schuerenberg – Sikeston, MO – 1
Tanner Holmes – Jacksonville, OR – 1
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 1
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Tyler Groenendyk – Oskaloosa, IA – 1
Parker Price-Miller – Kokomo, IN – 1
Colton Hardy – Phoenix, AZ – 1
Tanner Thorson – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Brian Brown – Hugginsville, MO – 1
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 1
Phil Dietz – Laurel, MT – 1
Joe Perry – Billings, MT – 1

DASH APPEARANCES (33):
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 15
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 14
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 11
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 8
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 7
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 4
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 4
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 4
Whit Gastineau – Moore, OK – 4
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, OK – 3
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 3
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 3
Alex Sewell – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 2
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 1
Lane Whittington – Denham Springs, LA – 1
Koty Adams – Haughton, LA – 1
Ryder Laplante – Calera, OK – 1
Bradley Fezard – Bonnerdale, AR – 1
Brekton Crouch – Lubbock, TX – 1
Jeremy Campbell – Wichita, KS – 1
Elijah Gile – Phoenix, AZ – 1
Cody Gardner – Benton, AR – 1
Austyn Gossel – Windsor, CO – 1
Kyle Clark – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Harli White – Lindsay, OK – 1
Austin McCarl – Altoona, IA – 1
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 1
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 1
DJ Brink – Rapid City, SD – 1
Phil Dietz – Laurel, MT – 1
Joe Perry – Billings, MT – 1

LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (11):
Rees Moran – Tulsa, OK – 2
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 1
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 1
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, OK – 1
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 1
Chase Porter – St. Joseph, MO – 1
Kerry Madsen – Knoxville, IA – 1
Chase Randall – Waco, TX – 1
Rich Bailey – Helena, MT – 1
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 1

PODIUM FINISHERS (23):
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 12
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 11
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 6
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 4
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 2
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 2
Austin McCarl – Altoona, IA – 2
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 2
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 2
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 1
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Tanner Conn – Oklahoma City, OK – 1
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 1
Ryder Laplante – Calera, OK – 1
Kyle Clark – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Kaleb Johnson – Sioux Falls, SD – 1
Chase Randall – Waco, TX – 1
Kade Higday – Knoxville, IA – 1
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Cory Eliason – Visalia, CA – 1
Brian Brown – Higginsville, MO – 1
Tyler Courtney – Indianapolis, IN – 1
Emerson Axsom – Franklin, IN – 1

TOP 10 FINISHERS (54):
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 16
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 15
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 14
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 11
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 10
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 9
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 9
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 7
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 6
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 6
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 5
Rees Moran – Tulsa, OK – 4
Brandon Anderson – Glenpool, OK – 4
Kyle Clark – Sapulpa, OK – 3
Whit Gastineau – Moore, OK – 3
Austyn Gossel – Windsor, CO – 3
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 3
Harli White – Lindsay, OK – 3
Alex Sewell – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 2
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, OK – 2
Tyler Courtney – Indianapolis, IN – 2
Emerson Axsom – Franklin, IN – 2
Austin McCarl – Altoona, IA – 2
Brian Brown – Higginsville, MO – 2
Cory Eliason – Visalia, CA – 2
Tasker Phillips – Pleasantville, IA – 2
Jamie Ball – Knoxville, IA – 2
Kaleb Johnson – Sioux Falls, SD – 2
Terry McCarl – Altoona, IA – 2
Jeremy Campbell – Wichita, KS – 2
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Kelly Miller – Stirling, AB – 2
Channin Tankersley – Arlington, TX – 1
Tanner Conn – Oklahoma City, OK – 1
Brekton Crouch – Lubbock, TX – 1
Jeremy Huish – Jetmore, KS – 1
Ryder Laplante – Calera, OK – 1
Bradley Fezard – Bonnerdale, AR – 1
Fred Mattox – Drumright, OK – 1
Dale Howard – Byhalia, MS – 1
Brad Bowden – Hernando, MS – 1
Michael Day – Farmersville, TX – 1
Chase Randall – Waco, TX – 1
Kade Higday – Knoxville, IA – 1
Justin Peck – Monrovia, IN – 1
Riley Goodno – Knoxville, IA – 1
Gunner Ramey – Sedalia, MO – 1
Miles Paulus – Marshall, MO – 1
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Kasey Kahne – Enumclaw, WA – 1
Ryan Giles – Grimes, IA – 1
Kerry Madsen – Knoxville, IA – 1
Alex Hill – Six Nations, ON – 1
Cole Macedo – Lemoore, CA – 1
DJ Brink – Rapid City, SD – 1
Blayne Brink – Gillette, WY – 1
Phil Dietz – Laurel, MT – 1

2024 AMERICAN SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE & WINNERS:
Friday, Apr. 19 / Super Bee Speedway / Chatham, LA / Seth Bergman (1)
Friday, May 10 / Red Dirt Raceway / Meeker, OK / Terry Easum (1)
Friday, May 31 / Rush County Speedway / La Crosse, KS / Seth Bergman (2)
Saturday, Jun. 1 / Dodge City Raceway Park / Dodge City, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (1)
Tuesday, Jun. 11 / Texarkana 67 Speedway / Texarkana, AR / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (2)
Thursday, Jun. 13 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (3)
Friday, Jun. 14 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK / Seth Bergman (3)
Saturday, Jun. 15 / Tri-State Speedway / Pocola, OK / Seth Bergman (4)
Saturday, Jun. 22 / Batesville Motor Speedway / Locust Grove, AR / Jordon Mallett (1)
Friday, Jun. 28 / Tulsa Speedway / Tulsa, OK / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (4)
Friday, Jul. 19 / Lakeside Speedway / Kansas City, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (5)
Saturday, Jul. 20 / 81 Speedway / Wichita, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (6)
Thursday, Aug. 1 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Kaleb Johnson (1)
Friday, Aug. 2 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (7)
Saturday, Aug. 3 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Tyler Courtney (1)
Friday, Aug. 16 / Dodge City Raceway Park / Dodge City, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (8)
Saturday, Aug. 17 / Lincoln County Raceway / North Platte, NE / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (9)
Friday, Aug. 23 / Big Sky Speedway / Shepherd, MT / Seth Bergman (5)
Saturday, Aug. 24 / Big Sky Speedway / Shepherd, MT / Jake Bubak (1)
Tuesday, Sept. 10 / Clay County Fair Speedway / Spencer, IA
Friday, Sept. 13 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK
Saturday, Sept. 14 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK
Friday, Sept. 27 / Riverside International Speedway / West Memphis, AR
Saturday, Sept. 28 / Riverside International Speedway / West Memphis, AR
Friday, Oct. 11 / Benton Speedway / Benton, MO
Saturday, Oct. 12 / Paducah International Raceway / Paducah, KY
Friday, Oct. 25 / RPM Speedway / Crandall, TX
Saturday, Oct. 26 / RPM Speedway / Crandall, TX
Thursday, Nov. 14 / Tulsa Speedway / Tulsa, OK
Friday, Nov. 15 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK
Saturday, Nov. 16 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK

INDIANAPOLIS (August 28, 2024) — The most prestigious national event in drag racing, the 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals, will feature one of the biggest fields of Dodge Drag Paks, Chevrolet COP Camaros and Ford Cobra Jets competing in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series. Beginning with two rounds of qualifying on Friday, factory stock competitors from across the country will be racing to post the quickest elapsed times to position themselves for race day success on Monday, September 2. Through seven races this season five different drivers have stood in the winner’s circle including two first-time Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series winners, David Janac and Scott Libersher. As the most recent winner of the Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, Libersher won for the first time and will carry the $1,000 Flexjet bounty into Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.   “The win in Brainerd was so special because we have been working so hard for so long,” said Libersher. “We have the bounty this race and there would be nothing more incredible than to hold onto that $1,000 because it would mean we won the biggest race of the season, the U.S. Nationals. I have won a few rounds at the U.S. Nationals, but it is a tough race to win. They are all tough, but Indy is especially tough.”  Scott Libersher heads to U.S. Nationals on heels of Lucas Oil Nationals Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown win, photo credit Auto ImageryFor Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown point leader Stephen Bell, a win this weekend at the Toyota U.S. Nationals would continue a magical season for the racer from Shreveport, La. Bell, who was the championship runner-up in 2023, has secured three wins and two runner-up finishes with the dazzling red COPO Camaro. He has also captured the Flexjet Bounty on one occasion. Bell has been runner-up twice at the U.S. Nationals narrowly missing the winner’s circle in 2017 and again last year.   “I think every racer has a love/hate relationship with the U.S. Nationals. We have had some success but also some heartbreak,” said Bell. “The competition between the Chevys, Dodges and Fords should be good and there are over a dozen drivers who have a serious shot of winning. The one thing about Indy is anything can happen. You will have to be on your game for four straight days with qualifying and eliminations. That is not easy. I love this race and I am excited to get there.”  Point leader Stephen Bell heads to U.S. Nationals with three Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown wins in 2024, photo credit Auto ImageryOhioan Mark Pawuk sits third in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown point standings and he is another two-time U.S. Nationals runner-up who would like to see the final win light of race day light up in his lane on Monday. Pawuk and his Dodge Drag Pak sponsored by Empaco finished second in 2018 and 2020 and he has his eyes on winning the biggest race of the season. In addition to Pawuk’s season-opening win at the Gatornationals, he has a runner-up finish at the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio and he collected the Flexjet bounty at the Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals.   “This is a race I have dreamt of winning,” said Pawuk, who was also runner-up as a Pro Stock competitor. “I had three races on my bucket list coming into this season. The Gatornationals which we won. The Summit Nationals in Norwalk, my home track, where we came close with a runner-up and the U.S. Nationals. Winning the U.S. Nationals is right up there with a world championship in my opinion.”   The U.S. Nationals will feature the 2024 Flexjet season debut of Lindsay Wheelock and her Dodge Drag Pak, Peter Gasko Jr., behind the wheel of his Chevrolet COPO Camaro and the Dodge Challenger of Alan Scruggs. This will be Scruggs’ second U.S. Nationals and the first time he has been back in action since the 2022 U.S. Nationals. Wheelock will be racing in her fifth U.S. Nationals and Gasko will be making his fifth start as well. The rest of the field is comprised of some of the best factory stock racers including Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals winner Ricky Hord, Thunder Valley Nationals winner David Janac and Chicago Nationals runner-up Lee Hartman to name a few drivers who have a legitimate shot at winning the race.   The quickest Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge competitors will race through five rounds of competition looking to collect the iconic Wally trophy at the eighth Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series national event of 2024. Qualifying for the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series will begin on Friday, August 30 with two sessions followed by a final session on Saturday evening. Two rounds of eliminations will be contested on Sunday with the final three rounds of eliminations culminating on Monday, September 2. The race will be broadcast on FS1 and FOX throughout the weekend.   2024 Flexjet Bounty Program Gatornationals (Gainesville, Fla.) $1,000 bounty collected by Mark Pawuk, defeated Stephen Bell (Norwalk winner)   Winternationals (Pomona, Calif.) $1,000 bounty collected by David Davies II, defeated Mark Pawuk (Gatornationals winner)   Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals (Las Vegas, Nev.) $1,000 bounty collected by Mark Pawuk, defeated Stephen Bell (Winternationals winner)   Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 Nationals (Chicago, Ill.) $1,000 bounty collected by Lee Hartmand, defeated Ricky Hord (Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals winner)   Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals (Bristol, Tenn.) $1,000 bounty collected by David Janac, defeated Stephen Bell (Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 Nationals winner)   Summit Racing Equipment Nationals (Norwalk, Ohio) $1,000 bounty collected by Stephen Bell, defeated David Janac (Thunder Valley Nationals winner)   Lucas Oil Nationals (Brainerd, Minn.) $1,000 bounty collected by David Janac, defeated Stephen Bell (Summit Racing Equipment Nationals winner)   Toyota U.S. Nationals (Indianapolis, Ind.) Scott Libersher has $1,000 bounty   2024 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Results Gainesville – Mark Pawuk, winner; Stephen Bell, runner-up Pomona – Stephen Bell, winner; David Davies II, runner-up Las Vegas1 – Ricky Hord, winner; David Janac, runner-up Chicago – Stephen Bell, winner; Lee Hartman, runner-up Bristol – David Janac, winner; Stephen Bell, runner-up Norwalk – Stephen Bell, winner; Mark Pawuk, runner-up Brainerd – Scott Libersher, winner; David Janac, runner-up Indianapolis – TBD Reading – TBD St. Louis – TBD   2024 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Points Stephen Bell           588Mark Pawuk            492David Janac            475Ricky Hord              366Scott Libersher        334Lee Hartman           326Tony Scott Jr.         279David Davies III      273Doug Hamp            257Anthony Troyer       240  2024 FLEXJET NHRA FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN SCHEDULE Sept. 12-15             39th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals, Reading, Pa. Sept. 27-29             13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, St. Louis, Mo.

Three nights of South Dakota racing will culminate in a $100,000-to-win finale on SundayBRANDON, SD (August 27, 2024) – Another huge stop on the Summer of Money awaits the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars this weekend.The rescheduled BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by Menards invites The Greatest Show on Dirt back to Huset’s Speedway for three nights (Aug. 30-Sept. 1) of action with major money up for grabs.It kicks off with Friday’s $25,000-to-win Huset’s Hustle presented by Folkens Brothers Trucking. Then a $15,000-to-win High Bank Nationals prelim on Saturday sets the stage for Sunday’s finale with $100,000 being deposited in the winner’s bank account.With so much money on the line, the weekend is expected to bring a healthy roster of the country’s best Sprint Car drivers to the pit area. Huset’s Speedway is the place to be over Labor Day weekend.BUY THREE-DAY HUSET’S TICKET PACKAGE HERE BUY FRIDAY HUSET’S TICKETS HERE BUY SATURDAY HUSET’S TICKETS HERE BUY SUNDAY HUSET’S TICKETS HEREWATCH LIVE ON DIRTVisionLet’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:MONEY MAN: When the large bags of cash are up for grabs, it’s been hard to stop David Gravel in 2024. His earnings this year with the Big Game Motorsports team have already eclipsed $600,000, roughly $160,000 more than the sport’s second highest earner this season.The biggest contributor toward Gravel’s lucrative year was a nearly $300,000 week at Eldora Speedway in July that included his first Kings Royal crown worth $175,000. He also made history during that stretch as the first Sprint Car driver to take home six-digit paychecks from three different racetracks with Knoxville Raceway and Huset’s Speedway being the other two.And speaking of that Huset’s payday, it came in the form of last year’s High Bank Nationals title. Gravel heads into the weekend looking to make the boss proud once again as his car owner Tod Quiring also owns Huset’s and has invested so much into making the 1/3 mile one of the country’s premier facilities. Overall, the Watertown, CT native has topped a trio of Huset’s races with the World of Outlaws. His résumé suggests a high chance of success this weekend as he continues the march toward a potential million-dollar season.HAUD’S HUNGRY: There’s one driver on the World of Outlaws tour that may be hungrier to break into Victory Lane than any other, and his name is Sheldon Haudenschild.After topping seven of the first 27 races this year, he’s gone winless over the last 21. The speed has been there, but Victory Lane has simply eluded the Wooster, OH driver. Since his last win, Haudenschild has podiumed nine times including the last four races. Five of those have been second place finishes.Haudenschild has stated he and the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing team’s goal of reaching double-digit wins for the first time, and Huset’s serves up a prime opportunity for them to not only end the slump, but also pad their wallets. Back in 2020 Haudenschild won when the Series returned to the South Dakota oval for the first time in four years. Then in 2022 he made an unbelievable charge from sixth to victory in the final five laps to top the inaugural High Bank Nationals for $100,000.$CHATZ: While Gravel’s bank account may be the one most growing in 2024, Donny Schatz has been the biggest earner in the history of the sport when it comes to six-figure paydays.The Fargo, ND legend has won 13 of the sport’s 54 races that paid at least $100,000. Schatz first cashed in at Eldora’s Historical Big One in 2002, broke the bank with 11 Knoxville Nationals, and added to his riches with the 2023 Kings Royal. Add it all up, and Schatz has totaled $1,775,000 in those 13 events alone.Huset’s presents Schatz an opportunity to replicate the feat Gravel accomplished earlier this year. A victory on Sunday would make the 10-time champion the second driver to collect six-figure paydays at three different dirt tracks. Schatz is already a four-time Feature winner at Huset’s, topping visits in 2001, 2007, 2015, and 2016. ROTH REDEMPTION: Last year left Michael “Buddy” Kofoid and Roth Motorsports wondering what could’ve been. Mechanical woes with less than 10 laps remaining knocked them from the lead and a potential High Bank Nationals title to a heartbreaking DNF.It’s all about redemption heading into the event this year as Kofoid now rolls in as a World of Outlaws rookie. After coming so close last year, his sights will be squarely on a redemptive victory.Huset’s is home to Kofoid’s first career World of Outlaws win back in 2022. The Penngrove, CA gasser also topped a pair of USAC National Midget races at Huset’s that same year. He’s been overall consistent in a Sprint Car at the 1/3 mile with podiums in half of his 10 starts.HIGH BANK HOPEFULS: The four listed above aren’t the only current Series competitors who’ve experienced Huset’s success and will be in search of some serious coin this weekend.Carson Macedo topped a Huset’s visit in 2022 during a High Bank Nationals prelim with Jason Johnson Racing. He’s missed the top 10 just once in his last nine visits to the South Dakota oval. Macedo is fresh off a North Dakota weekend sweep, and he’s won three of the last four races.Last year Logan Schuchart grabbed his first Huset’s win by topping the final High Bank Nationals prelim. He’s been in the top 10 in 11 of his last 14 tries at the facility with Shark Racing. Schuchart is no stranger to big paydays having topped the richest race in the sport’s history at last year’s Eldora Million.HUSET’S HEROES: Along with the full-time stars on the World of Outlaws tour, a hefty batch of competitors is expected to join and chase the big money. Among them are plenty with Huset’s success under their belt.Ryan Timms enters the weekend as the track’s most recent 410 Sprint Car winner. He took Guy Forbrook’s car to Victory Lane in Sunday’s Bull Haulers Brawl for $7,000. The Oklahoman will be teamed with Forbrook again this weekend but only for Friday and Saturday as a prior commitment requires his presence on Sunday.Garet Williamson and the Fischer Motorsports team have won in their two most recent visits to Huset’s (July 7 and July 28). The Columbia, MO native is fresh off recovering from a Heat Race flip to a top 10 at Red River Valley with the World of Outlaws. He’ll continue an eight-week stretch with the World of Outlaws this weekend at Huset’s.Tim Kaeding plans to be in Dave Lunstra’s ride for the weekend. The pairing already topped a local Huset’s show this year on May 27. “TK” has also been to World of Outlaws Victory Lane at Huset’s, winning with Roth Motorsports back in 2013.Kerry Madsen has been a frequent visitor to Huset’s all year with Vermeer Motorsports. The “Mad Man” has been close to a World of Outlaws win at the facility no matter what car he’s in as he’s run third with both Keneric Racing (2014) and Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing (2021) and grabbed a fourth in Dave Helm’s Selma Shell No. 11H in 2007.These four will be joined by many more for three nights of South Dakota Sprint Car racing.THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCEWHEN AND WHERE Friday-Sunday, Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, SDON THE INTERNETWorld of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series X – @WorldofOutlaws Instagram – @WoOSprint Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsSprintCarSeries YouTube – Youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com – Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/monthCURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (48/70 Races):1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (6636 PTS) 2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 (-110 PTS) 3. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-114 PTS) 4. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing No. 18 (-222 PTS) 5. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-282 PTS) 6. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 (-332 PTS) 7. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-340 PTS) 8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports No. 17B (-812 PTS) 9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing No. 3Z (-1062 PTS) 10. Kraig Kinser – Premier Motorsports No. 70 (-1346 PTS)NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (16 Drivers): 13 Wins – David Gravel 7 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild 6 Wins – Carson Macedo 4 Wins – Donny Schatz 3 Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Kyle Larson 2 Wins – Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu  1 Win – Brad Sweet, Brent Marks, Brady Bacon, Michael Kofoid, Corey Day, Logan Schuchart, James McFadden, T.J. StuttsFEATURE LAPS LED (22 Drivers):317 Laps – David Gravel 308 Laps – Carson Macedo 178 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi 166 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild 132 Laps – Donny Schatz 97 Laps – Kyle Larson 75 Laps – Rico Abreu 53 Laps – Michael Kofoid 49 Laps – Logan Schuchart 44 Laps – James McFadden 34 Laps – Brady Bacon 25 Laps – Brad Sweet, T.J. Stutts 15 Laps – Ryan Timms, Tyler Courtney 13 Laps – Anthony Macri 12 Laps – Emerson Axsom 11 Laps – Bill Balog 9 Laps – Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day 3 Laps – Brent Marks 1 Lap – Kalib HenrySIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (16 Drivers):10 Quick Times – Carson Macedo 9 Quick Times – David Gravel 6 Quick Times – Sheldon Haudenschild 4 Quick Times – Giovanni Scelzi, Michael Kofoid 3 Quick Times – Brent Marks 2 Quick Times – Daryn Pittman, Donny Schatz, Landon Crawley 1 Quick Time – Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Cory Eliason, Brock Zearfoss, Rico Abreu, Chase Dietz, Matt JuhlHEAT RACE WINNERS (49 Drivers): 26 Heat Wins – David Gravel 24 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo  23 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild 16 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi 13 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid 9 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu 8 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart  7 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss, Donny Schatz5 Heat Wins – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Bill Balog 3 Heat Wins –Daryn Pittman 2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Landon Crawley,Corey Day, Garet Williamson, Kyle Larson, Anthony Macri, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Austin McCarl, Aaron Reutzel 1 Heat Win – Justin Peck, Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Danny Sams III, Emerson Axsom, Tim Shaffer, Nick Omdahl, Scott Bogucki, Brad Sweet, Spencer Bayston, Brady Bacon, Parker Price-Miller, Chase Dietz, T.J. Stutts, Kelby Watt, Jamie Ball, Chase Randall, Hunter Schuerenberg, Tasker Phillips, Ayrton Gennetten, Tanner Holmes, Kaleb Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Cole Macedo, Cale Thomas, Dusty Zomer, Andy PakeTOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (60 Drivers):36 Dashes – David Gravel 35 Dashes – Carson Macedo 32 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild 31 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi 24 Dashes – Michael Kofoid 20 Dashes – Donny Schatz 18 Dashes – Logan Schuchart 13 Dashes – Bill Balog 10 Dashes – Brock Zearfoss 9 Dashes – Rico Abreu 7 Dashes – Landon Crawley, Brent Marks 6 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Emerson Axsom 5 Dashes – Corey Day, Aaron Reutzel, Garet Williamson 4 Dashes – Brian Brown, Brady Bacon, Anthony Macri 3 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Daryn Pittman, Justin Peck, James McFadden 2 Dashes – Cole Duncan, Cole Macedo, Kalib Henry, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Parker Price-Miller, Chase Dietz, Ayrton Gennetten, Scott Bogucki 1 Dash – Zeb Wise, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Logan McCandless, Skylar Gee, Kody Hartlaub, Tim Shaffer, T.J. Michael, Craig Mintz, Brandon Spithaler, Sye Lynch, Cale Thomas, Kaleb Johnson, Nick Omdahl, Austin McCarl, Christopher Thram, Kraig Kinser, Troy Wagaman Jr., T.J. Stutts, Freddie Rahmer, Jacob Allen, Lance Dewease, Kelby Watt, Will Armitage, Dusty Zomer, Andy PakeMICRO-LITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (38 Drivers):3 LCS Wins – Bill Balog, Anthony Macri, Landon Crawley, Garet Williamson 2 LCS Wins – Logan McCandless, Brock Zearfoss 1 LCS Win – Austin McCarl, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne, Koty Adams, Jace Park, Kevin Newton, Brenham Crouch, Sheldon Haudenschild, Brandon Rahmer, David Gravel, Nate Dussel, Cole Macedo, Zeth Sabo, Brooke Tatnell, Donny Schatz, Brent Marks, Cory Eliason, Kerry Madsen, Creed Kemenah, Joel Myers Jr., Hunter Schuerenberg, Kody Hartlaub, Lucas Wolfe, Larry Wight, Kyle Larson, Jesse Attard, Dusty Zomer, Chris Windom, Ayrton Gennetten, Brad Sweet, Kelby Watt, Scott BoguckiKSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (30 Drivers):8 Hard Chargers – Donny Schatz 6 Hard Chargers – Logan Schuchart 3 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo 2 Hard Chargers – Aaron Reutzel, Michael Kofoid, Cale Thomas, Danny Dietrich, Garet Williamson 1 Hard Charger –Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Chase Randall, Chris Windom, Noah Gass, Austin McCarl, Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild, Landon Crawley, Sye Lynch, Bill Balog, Scotty Neitzel, Brent Marks, Larry Wight, Anthony Macri, James McFadden, Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day, Emerson Axsom, Tim Kaeding, Tim EstensonPODIUM FINISHES (24 Drivers):27 Podiums – David Gravel 22 Podiums – Carson Macedo 18 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild 16 Podiums – Donny Schatz 14 Podiums – Michael Kofoid 8 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi 6 Podiums – Kyle Larson 5 Podiums – Rico Abreu 3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks 2 Podiums –Bill Balog, Aaron Reutzel, Logan Schuchart, Justin Peck, James McFadden, Corey Day 1 Podium – Anthony Macri, Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Parker Price-Miller, Ryan Timms, Emerson Axsom, T.J. StuttsTOP 10 FINISHES (72 Drivers): 43 Top 10s – David Gravel 41 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, Giovanni Scelzi 38 Top 10s – Michael Kofoid, Carson Macedo 37 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart 34 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild 22 Top 10s – Bill Balog 14 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss 10 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney  9 Top 10s – Rico Abreu 8 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Brad Sweet, James McFadden, Anthony Macri 7 Top 10s – Aaron Reutzel 6 Top 10s – Kyle Larson, Corey Day, Garet Williamson  5 Top 10s – Brian Brown 4 Top 10s – Cole Macedo, Landon Crawley, Brady Bacon, Justin Peck, Emerson Axsom, Ryan Timms 3 Top 10s – Cole Duncan, Skylar Gee, Zeb Wise, Danny Dietrich, Jacob Allen 2 Top 10s – Chase Randall, Kraig Kinser, Cale Thomas, Parker Price-Miller, Cory Eliason, Chase Dietz, Troy Wagaman Jr., Daryn Pittman, Ayrton Gennetten, Scott Bogucki 1 Top 10 – Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Chris Windom, Joe B. Miller, Scotty Milan, Brandon Spithaler, Kalib Henry, Tim Shaffer, Zane DeVault, Sye Lynch, Travis Philo, Trey Jacobs, Scotty Thiel, Mark Dobmeier, Kaleb Johnson, Austin McCarl, Tim Kaeding, Christopher Thram, Landon Brooks, Greg Wilson, Spencer Bayston, Daison Pursley, Devon Borden, T.J. Stutts, Freddie Rahmer, Lance Dewease, Stewart Friesen, Jordan Poirier, Larry Wight, Kerry Madsen, Andy Pake2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)1. Wed, Feb 7 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brad Sweet (1) 2. Thurs, Feb 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (1) 3. Fri, Feb 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Tyler Courtney (1) 4. Sat, Feb 10 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Sheldon Haudenschild (1) 5. Mon, March 4 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Donny Schatz (1) 6. Fri, March 15 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Brent Marks (1) 7. Sat, March 16 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Giovanni Scelzi (1) 8. Sat, March 23 / Kennedale Speedway Park / Kennedale, TX / Carson Macedo (1) 9. Sat, March 30 / 81 Speedway / Wichita, KS / Rico Abreu (1) 10. Fri, April 5 / US 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO / David Gravel (2) 11. Sat, April 6 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK / Sheldon Haudenschild (2) 12. Fri, April 12 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / David Gravel (3) 13. Sat, April 13 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Donny Schatz (2) 14. Fri, April 19 / Paducah International Raceway / Paducah, KY / Sheldon Haudenschild (3) 15. Sat, April 20 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN / Brady Bacon (1) 16. Wed, May 1 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, IL / David Gravel (4) 17. Fri, May 3 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (4) 18. Sat, May 4 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / David Gravel (5) 19. Wed, May 8 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / David Gravel (6) 20. Fri, May 17 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Michael Kofoid (1) 21. Sat, May 18 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH / David Gravel (7) 22. Fri, May 24 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / David Gravel (8) 23. Sat, May 25 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (5) 24. Mon, May 27 / Fremont Speedway / Fremont, OH / Carson Macedo (2) 25. Fri, May 31 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (6) 26. Fri, June 7 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Giovanni Scelzi (2) 27. Sat, June 8 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN / Sheldon Haudenschild (7) 28. Fri, June 14 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / David Gravel (9) 29. Sat, June 15 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Corey Day (1) 30. Wed, June 19 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Tyler Courtney (2) 31. Sat, June 29 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Logan Schuchart (1) 32. Wed, July 10 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Giovanni Scelzi (3) 33. Fri, July 12 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Carson Macedo (3) 34. Sat, July 13 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Donny Schatz (3) 35. Tues, July 16 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / David Gravel (10) 36. Fri, July 19 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Rico Abreu (2) 37. Sat, July 20 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / David Gravel (11) 38. Wed, July 24 / BAPS Motor Speedway / York Haven, PA / James McFadden (1) 39. Fri, July 26 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / T.J. Stutts (1) 40. Sat, July 27 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / David Gravel (12) 41. Sun, July 28 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY / David Gravel (13) 42. Fri, August 2 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Kyle Larson (1) 43. Sat, August 3 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Kyle Larson (2) 44. Sat, August 10 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Kyle Larson (3) 45. Fri, August 16 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Carson Macedo (4) 46. Sat, August 17 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Donny Schatz (4) 47. Fri, August 23 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Carson Macedo (5) 48. Sat, August 24 / Red River Valley Speedway / West Fargo, ND / Carson Macedo (6)For the remaining 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

CONCORD, NC (Aug. 27, 2024) – There’s a new rising star on the national Midget circuit. His name: Karter Sarff.

Six career Feature wins with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota ranks the 21-year-old racer from Mason City, IL, fourth on the Series’ all-time wins list, following his sweep of the Ironman 55 weekend at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in early August.

Each of those wins have come in the last 12 months, all built on the hard work he and his father put into their operation. No hired crew members, no major corporate sponsors — just father and son both at the track and in their home shop, as it’s been since Sarff began his racing career at five years old.

“It’s been pretty surreal, and it’s been a lot of fun, obviously,” Sarff said. “Our team I feel like has come a long way from when we first started. I’m just happy to see where it’s come.”

For two consecutive nights at I-55, Sarff was the fastest driver in the national Midget world. He led 39 of 60 contested Feature laps, won a Heat Race and garnered his third Whitz Racing Products Quick Time Award of the season. When the weekend was over, he had collected a grand total of $11,500, including a $7,500 check as victor of the richest race in Series history Saturday night and his fourth win of the season — second only to championship points leader Cannon McIntosh.

Looking back, Sarff said he’s proud of the feat and knows the weight of what he was able to accomplish that weekend, but that hasn’t changed his mindset going forward.

“I still feel like I’m just a little kid racing Quarter Midgets; I don’t feel any more special than I did back when I was a little kid,” Sarff said. “I’m just hoping to keep growing and stay humble just to show kids that are coming up that you don’t have to change when you start winning races. Just keep being you.”

In keeping his sharp skills and humble personality, Sarff has gained the respect of his competitors — most notably fellow Illinoisan and inaugural Xtreme Outlaw Series champion, Zach Daum.

“Karter Sarff – you’ll never have an issue racing with him, and he’s still a kid,” Daum said. “He’s only 21. I remember when Karter started racing Quarter Midgets.

“Karter’s just a good kid and his results are showing it right now. For not being a full-time guy, he’s won just as many races as anybody else has. He does it cleanly. He doesn’t tear nobody up, he doesn’t crash nobody, he races hard.”

“I’ve always been a big fan of Zach’s; I have his Midget diecast here at the house,” Sarff said. “He was always someone I watched when I was real young and wanted to run Midgets. It’s really cool to have the respect from him and be able to race with him every weekend.”

In his time watching the veterans of Midget racing like Daum, Sarff has picked up on their techniques and applied them to his own style, which he said keeps him going fast and out of trouble.

“Maybe it’s the way I was raised, but I always wanted to gain the respect of everyone I was racing,” Sarff said. “Especially racing adults being a young kid, I didn’t want to be one of those kids that just went out there and drove like an idiot and crashed everyone.

“That’s just the way I was raised; it’s the way I want to win races.”

His surge of success in the Midget, which began after his first two Xtreme Outlaw Series wins in 2023 afforded him several new opportunities in 2024 with Chase Briscoe Racing (CBR). The NASCAR Cup Series star and former dirt track racer tapped Sarff to drive a second CBR entry at the Chili Bowl Nationals in January, where he qualified for his first career A-Main in the marquee Midget event.

His crew chief during the event was Paul May — the former Winged Sprint Car racer from Terre Haute, IN, and Briscoe’s Sprint Car crew chief before he made his move to full-time NASCAR competition in the late 2010s. Together, May helped Sarff punch his ticket into the Chili Bowl main event via transfer spot in the final B-Main and finished 18th in his first A-Main start.

Since then, May has continued to provide Sarff with his Midget and Sprint Car expertise throughout the season, resulting in four Xtreme Outlaw Series wins and his first career Sprint Car victory with the Midwest Open Wheel Association (MOWA) in April.

“I work on all my own stuff here at my house, and Paul usually just texts me what he wants on it,” Sarff said. “We scale it and go through it over the phone. Paul never gets to come to our shop because he’s in Indiana and I’m in Illinois. So, we just have a package that we go through, scale the car, show up to the track and that’s what we got. It seems to be working good so far.”

That Sprint Car win also came driving for CBR — one month after Briscoe announced Sarff would be in the driver’s seat for the reopening of his Sprint Car team.

“Once I started the NASCAR journey, I always knew I wanted to stay a part of the sport as an owner give back to drivers I felt like deserved opportunities because I wouldn’t be where I am today without the same thing,” Briscoe said in a team press release in March. “I’m super excited this year to have Karter Sarff try wing Sprint Car racing, he did an amazing job in our midget at Chili Bowl and he has a bright future ahead. It will be a lot of fun for me to be able to race a few races this year with my dad again and then watch him and Karter go run as well.”

Sarff started on the pole and led all 25 laps around the 4/10-mile of Red Hill Raceway in his first race out with the CBR Sprint Car team, led by Briscoe’s father, Kevin.

“With Kevin, he’s just real knowledgeable with everything as well,” Sarff said. “Listening to what he says about things, how things work, I’ve been able to build a pretty good notebook in my head of how things work and how things should work.

“They’ve been a lot of help to get my knowledge to where I want it to be. Obviously, I still have a lot to learn, and I’m just happy to be around a good, smart group of guys.”

As the Midget season winds down, Sarff has reflected on what’s brought his career to this point. Thirteen months ago, he was a regional Midget racer still looking for his first major breakthrough. Now, he’s a budding open-wheel talent racing for a NASCAR star’s team and a threat to win any national Midget series event he competes in.

“I’m not sure what clicked for me, but I think the Sprint Cars helped a lot,” Sarff said. “Just slowing the Midget down, and I think my racecraft has improved a lot for whatever reason. I guess just watching, paying attention and learning from my mistakes.”

Sarff will be back in action with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota — Sept. 13-15 for a three-race swing through his home state at Southern Illinois Raceway, Highland Speedway and Adams County (IL) Speedway. Advance sale tickets are available at the link below.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS RACEWAY TICKETS ($5 off with advanced purchased)

If you can’t be at the track to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

Cruz Pedregon

NHRA U.S. Nationals – Indianapolis

Pre-Race Report

News of Note: Cruz is one of the few Funny Car drivers to win the U.S. Nationals three times, and he’s looking to make it four at this year’s “Big Go.”

Cruz Pedregon Racing will hold its annual Open House at the team’s headquarters at 462 Southpoint Cir. #A, in Brownsburg, IN before the U.S. Nationals. Some 2,000 fans are expected to attend the event from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, August 29. Autographs will begin at 7 p.m. (The event is open to media.)

Quotes for the upcoming U.S. Nationals – 

Cruz Pedregon, two-time Funny Car World Champion

“Our motto for The Big Go weekend is ‘Go big or go home.’ So, we’re planning to throw it down and see who’s standing at the end. We like our chances, we feel good, and the team is ready to go.”

“We tested after the Brainerd race with great results. We got the car to leave the starting line really hard and fast and made two great runs there. We’re bringing that knowledge and results to the U.S. Nationals, our biggest race of the year.”

“There are technically seven-and-a-half races this weekend if you count the Pep Boys call-out race we’re a part of on Sunday. It will include the eight top qualifying cars from throughout the year. We’re looking forward to getting in three good runs to prepare for race day on Monday.” 

“I’m one of the few drivers to win Indy three times. We would love to win it a fourth. The car, team, and work we’ve done are lining up for a good solid run towards The Countdown and a strong finish for the Snap-on^Ⓡ Dodge^Ⓡ Hellcat.”

“We are going to have our annual open house here at our headquarters from 5 – 8:30 p.m. Thursday before the race weekend, and we’re expecting upwards of 2,000 fans to attend. It’s been a tradition before Indy for fans to come out to see the shop and a car show, experience the live music and food trucks, and support some of the charitable work we do. We’re looking forward to opening the headquarters and welcoming NHRA fans.”

On the side of Cruz’s car:

●      With more than 16,000 professional automotive jobs in Indiana, there’s sure to be a host of Makers and Fixers who visit Cruz’s shop and attend the U.S. Nationals this weekend. Cruz’s primary sponsor Snap-on, recognizes these Makers and Fixers with their tribute Funny Car paint scheme and encourages everyone to follow Makers and Fixers on Instagram and submit their own inspiring stories to makersandfixers.com.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 27, 2024) – An unexpectedly tight Grand National Championship battle arrives at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois for the Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties on August 31-September 1, the penultimate weekend of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. Reigning Mission AFT SuperTwins champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) entered the preceding Arrowhead Brass Sturgis TT eying a realistic pathway to clinching an unprecedented tenth Grand National Championship this weekend at the iconic event he co-promotes with his wife, Nichole. However, an incident that took place while Mees was attempting to charge his way up through the field resulted in a disqualification in Sturgis along with a significantly closer points chase. Mees now leads second-ranked Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) by just six points and third-placed Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) by just 12. Further complicating Mees’ march to history is the fact that both Robinson and Bauman have stood atop the podium at Springfield – Robinson in doubleheader fashion on August 31 and September 1 of 2013 and Bauman the last time the Mission AFT SuperTwins lined up at the venue less than a year ago. However, the champ is far from defenseless in his mission to retain the #1 plate. One of the sport’s all-time great milers, Mees has repeatedly proven himself up to the task when under pressure, as evidenced by his record-tying nine championships, and at Springfield specifically, where he boasts an incredible eight victories. Of course, Mees, Robinson, and Bauman won’t be on track alone. Several potential spoilers could play an outsized role in swaying the championship standings one way or the other at a track that lends itself to incredibly close and unpredictable racing. Ten of the most recent twelve Springfield Miles have been decided by under a second. And of those twelve, half have seen three riders finish within a second of victory, four with four riders in contention, two with seven or more, and one that featured ten riders crossing the stripe at the checkered flag separated by less than a second. During that span, Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) and Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing Mission Foods KTM 790 Duke) have finished on the podium and within a second of victory at Springfield, while Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Sody Ent/OTBR Yamaha MT-07) and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) have finished within a second of the win. Meanwhile, rookies Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing Indian FTR750), Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750), and Max Whale (No. 18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R) are primed to join that list as they return to Springfield armed with the experience of engaging in last year’s huge pack war for victory aboard 450s. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER By scoring his sixth win of the ‘24 season, Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) has put himself in strong position to clinch the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER title early for the third year in succession. To do so, he need only end the weekend with 25 points in hand (perhaps 26 depending on how tiebreakers continue to shake out). At the moment, his advantage stands at 34 points over Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) and 40 over Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F). While the margin separating first from second and third in the championship chase is considerable, that doesn’t reflect the recent reality on track, where Kopp, Saathoff, and Drane have taken two wins apiece over the last six races. Expect that same sort of competitiveness to continue at Springfield with the likes of Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Tarren Santero (No. 75 Vinson Construction/P&M Motorcycles Honda CRF450R), Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Tyler Raggio(No. 55 Raggio Racing/Sluggo Racing KTM 450 SX-F), and Jared Lowe (No. 63 BigR/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R) liable to turn this into a ten-rider barnburner for the top step on the podium. There will also be plenty of off-track activities for fans to enjoy throughout the weekend, including the CAT Command Trailer, numerous vendors, expansive food and beverage options, and dedicated motorcycle parking. All tickets are $10 off if purchased prior to Wednesday. If you act fast, Infield Standing RoomOnly tickets remain just $20 (kids 12 and under $5), Reserved Grandstand tickets are $35, and Premium Reserved Grandstand are $45. Fans also have the opportunity to enjoy a VIP Experience by selecting a special ticket option that provides access to a premier reserved seat in front of the start/finish line and includes food, beverage, and a Pit Pass for $150. Pit Pass Upgrades are also available for purchase for non-VIP tickets, which provide all-day access to the pits where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport. Fans who purchase Saturday and Sunday tickets will receive a $5 discount at checkout. To reserve your tickets today, visit: Mission Springfield Mile I & II: https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/springfield-i-and-ii-89223Mission Springfield Mile I: https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/springfield-mile-i-89224Mission Springfield Mile II:https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/springfield-mile-ii-89225 Gates will open for fans at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT) both days, with Opening Ceremonies set to begin at 2:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. PT) on Saturday and Sunday. You can catch the livestream of all the weekend’s racing activities on FloRacing. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2024. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/aftor by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast. FOX Sports coverage of the Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, September 8. The Springfield Mile I will air at 7:00 a.m. ET (4:00 a.m. PT) with the Springfield Mile II scheduled for 11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT). For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

GREENWOOD, LA (Aug. 27, 2024) – Before the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models conclude their 2024 season at the World of Outlaws World Finals, they’ll set the stage for the final war of stars with two high-paying debuts.

First, the Series will visit Boothill Speedway in Greenwood, IL, for the first time on Friday, Sept. 27, and then venture to Rocket Raceway Park in Petty, TX, on Saturday, Sept. 28. Both events will pay $15,000 to win and feature a $65,000 overall purse.

Along with the Series debuting at both tracks, it’ll also be the first time the two tracks host a national Late Model series. However, some of the full-time World of Outlaws drivers do have experience at Boothill and Rocket.

Reigning Series champion Bobby Pierce won at Boothill with the Comp Cams Super Dirt Series in March and Louisiana native Cade Dillard has four wins at the track, most recently in September 2023.

During the March Comp Cams event, 2024 World of Outlaws MD3 Rookie of the Year contender Tristan Chamberlain also competed in the race and finished 10th.

Dillard and Dustin Sorensen – current MD3 Rookie of the Year leader – are the only current full-time Series drivers with a win at Rocket Raceway Park. However, their wins came in a Modified.

The last major Late Model race at Rocket was the Comp Cams Super Dirt Series event last year, which Dillard finished second in.

If you can’t make it to the tracks, you can watch both races live on DIRTVision.

EVENT INFO
Date – Friday, Sept. 27
Location – Greenwood, LA

Times (CT) –
Pit Gate Opens: 4 p.m.
Grandstands Open: 5 p.m.

Tickets – Available at track.

EVENT INFO
Date – Saturday, Sept. 28
Location – Petty, TX

Times (CT) –
Pit Gate Opens: 5 p.m.
Grandstands Open: 6 p.m.

ORRVILLE, OH (Aug. 27, 2024) – Ohio will welcome the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series for the final time this year with a doubleheader weekend to conclude September.The Series will make its highly anticipated return to Wayne County Speedway, in Orrville, on Friday, Sept. 27, and then venture back to Dave Blaney’s Sharon Speedway, in Hartford, on Saturday, Sept. 28.Wayne County Speedway becomes a prime stop on the tour again for the first time since 2020. Sheldon Haudenschild, who grew up about 15 minutes from the track in Wooster, won that event – his first Series win at his home track.The World of Outlaws Buckeye Brawl event will see the World of Outlaws stars go up against Ohio’s best local talent, such as Brandon Spithaler, Trey Jacobs, Leyton Wagner – the current 410 Sprint Car points leader at the track – and more.Then, the World of Outlaws return to Sharon Speedway for the Federated Auto Parts Showdown – the Series’ second visit to the 3/8-mile dirt track this year. During the Series’ last visit in May, David Gravel held off 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz and Carson Macedo to score his first Series win at the track.The weekend will also start the road to the World of Outlaws World Finals (Nov. 6-9) as there will only be 10 races left until the championship determining weekend.If you can’t make it to the tracks, you can watch all the action from both races live on DIRTVision.EVENT INFO Date – Friday, Sept. 27 Location – Orrville, OH Track Record – 13.808 sec. by Spencer Bayston on April 21, 2018Times (ET) – Pit Gates Open: 2 p.m. Grandstands Open: 4 p.m. Hot Laps & Qualifying: 6:30 p.m.Tickets – Available HERE.Last Race Video Recap (Sept. 25, 2020) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKUtGve0F8YPrevious World of Outlaws winners at Wayne County – 2020 –Sheldon Haudenschild on Sept. 25 1985 – Steve Kinser on Aug. 6 1984 – Bobby Davis, Jr. on June 9 1981 – Steve Kinser on June 14 1979 – Steve Kinser on July 29EVENT INFO Date – Saturday, Sept. 28 Location – Hartford, OH Track Record – 12.704 sec. by Danny Holtgraver on Aug. 20, 2013Times (ET) – Pit Gates Open: 2 p.m. Grandstands Open: 4 p.m. Hot Laps & Qualifying: 6:30 p.m.Tickets – Available HERE.Last Race Video Recap (May 18, 2024) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ2whoFW-T0Previous World of Outlaws winners at Sharon – 2024 – David Gravel on May 18 2023 – Donny Schatz on May 20, Brad Sweet on Sept. 23 2022 – Brad Sweet on Sept. 24 2021 – Dave Blaney on May 22 2007 –Steve Kinser on June 1 2006 – Jac Haudenschild on May 20 2005 – Jason Meyers on June 3 2004 – Danny Lasoski on June 4, Steve Kinser on July 28 2003 – Steve Kinser on July 30, Steve Kinser on July 30 2002 – Danny Lasoski on May 31, Joey Saldana on July 31

TF Sport looking for season’s best FIA WEC result in series’ lone American stop DETROIT (August 27, 2024) – TF Sport and the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R program come full-circle this weekend as the FIA World Endurance Championship returns to Circuit of The Americas for the first time since 2020 at the six-hour Lone Star Le Mans.

Two of the TF Sport-run Corvettes are set for Sunday’s race around the 21-turn, 3.4-mile circuit in Austin. It’s the lone visit to the U.S. for the FIA WEC and the pair of first-year GT3.Rs that are part of the LMGT3 class.  However, it isn’t the first race for the Corvettes at COTA this season as the Corvette swept both rounds of GT World Challenge America.  Despite a difference in weather conditions – May vs. September and tires – Pirelli vs. Goodyear – there are significant lessons that can carry over to the WEC round.  From an engineering perspective, suspension and other points in chassis setup – with validations from Chevrolet’s Driver in the Loop simulator – should provide a solid baseline for when TF Sport arrives at COTA and hits the track for Friday’s first practice.

CORVETTE RACING MEDIA INFO Corvette Racing media information is updated and available ahead of the Lone Star Le Mans for the FIA World Endurance Championship. Materials include Corvette Racing event advance and quotes, Corvette Racing stats and figures, Corvette Z06 GT3.R racecar comparisons, Corvette Racing Fast Facts, factory driver biographies and Corvette Racing photography, among other items.

The squad has previous success at COTA with a GTE-Am class win in the last FIA WEC event at the track in 2020. Corvette factory driver Charlie Eastwood was part of the winning lineup and was part of the program’s first test with the Corvette Z06 GT3.R roughly a year ago. Eastwood will continue in the No. 81 Corvette alongside full-season teammates Tom Van Rompuy and Rui Andrade – each of which will compete at COTA for the first time. So will all three members of the No. 82 Z06 GT3.R lineup: while Hiroshi Koizumi, Sebastien Baud and factory driver Daniel Juncadella, who also tested the Corvette for the first at COTA last August. The Lone Star Le Mans is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on Sunday, September 1. MotorTrend TV will air live television coverage with streaming coverage on the FIA WEC app and the MAX app in the U.S. Radio Le Mans also will stream audio coverage of Saturday’s final practice and qualifying, plus Sunday’s race.

TF SPORT PRE-EVENT DRIVER QUOTESCHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “In general it’s a fantastic track. It’s undergone some repaving so it will be interesting to see what happens with that. I have fond memories of COTA. The last time we were there in WEC we won the race, which was a great result. It also was the very first place I got to drive the Z06 GT3.R a year ago in the heat of the summer, which is what we’re going to have. I think it will suit the car very well. Degradation will be a key – in the middle of summer in Austin it’s not going to be cool at all – so managing that from the outset will be important. I’m looking forward to it. Brazil wasn’t a great result but we showed some strong pace, which at the minute is what we need to show. We’ve got a bit of confidence going in.”The three sectors are three different racetracks, for sure. The first is super-high speed. You really have to have a good aero platform to get through. It’s still seven corners but they’re almost all high-speed so you need a good car under you. The middle sector is super-tricky with really long apexes and really late apexes. Then going to the final sector you still need a really good car under you. There is a lot of speed so the deg will be high. It’s a really tricky track to get it fully hooked up. It’s a super-long lap with a lot of high-speed corners with a lot of corners… it’ll test both the car and the drivers. Hopefully we can put everything together for a good result.”

RUI ANDRADE, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I’m very excited to race in COTA for the first time. The track is incredible and to race a Corvette in the USA is such an amazing opportunity. The season hasn’t been easy for us but we are taking steps forward, and in Brazil we saw some good steps in performance. I can’t wait to hit the track and give it our all to try and chase some trophies.”

DANIEL JUNCADELLA, NO. 82 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “COTA will be quite a special event for me. I’ve never raced at COTA but I did my first test there in a Corvette GT3 last August. So it’s cool to close out my first proper year of driving Corvettes at COTA. With it being the home WEC race for the Corvette should be a good event. The track is cool. Watching on TV, you always think it’s not super-exciting because there is so much asphalt runoffs there. But when I drove there last year, I was quite impressed by the combination of high-speed corners, the fast changes of direction and elevation. It’s quite interesting and I really enjoyed it, even though I only drove maybe 20 or 25 laps. So it should be cool. It will be difficult to manage the heat so that will play a big role in terms of strategy and how we manage the tires. These are a couple of good ingredients to make the race quite exciting for everybody. Hopefully we can navigate those and get our best result for the season.”

2024 FIA World Endurance Championship PointsLMGT3 Drivers Standings1. Aliaksandr Malykhin/Joel Sturm/Klaus Bachler – 1002. Morris Schuring/Richard Lietz/Yasser Shahin – 753. Augusto Farfus/Darren Leung/Sean Gelael – 744. Alex Riberas/Daniel Mancinelli/Ian James – 555. Alessio Rovera/Francois Heriau/Simon Mann – 4920. Charlie Eastwood/Rui Andrade/Tom Van Rompuy – 1122. Daniel Juncadella/Hiroshi Koizumi/Sebastien Baud – 10 LMGT3 Teams Standings1. No. 92 Manthey PureRxcing – 1002. No. 91 Manthey EMA – 753. No. 31 Team WRT – 744. No. 27 Heart of Racing Team – 555. No. 55 Vista AF Corse – 4915. No. 81 TF Sport – 1117. No. 82 TF Sport – 10 CORVETTE RACING AT COTA: By the Numbers• 3: Generations of Corvette Racing entries at COTA since 2013 – Corvette C6.R (2013), Corvette C7.R (2014-2019) and the mid-engine Corvette C8.R – which raced at COTA for the first time in WEC competition in 2020 – and Z06 GT3.R, both of which are eighth-gen Corvettes• 4: Class wins at COTA for Corvette Racing entries in two championships: IMSA and GT World Challenge America. Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen won twice in ALMS GT/WeatherTech Championship GTLM. Tommy Milner and Alec Udell won in GT World Challenge America earlier this year in the first wins for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R• 8: Wins this year for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R including two earlier this year at Circuit of The Americas• 14: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001• 27: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races – Baltimore, Charlotte Motor Speedway, COTA, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Daytona, Detroit, Houston, Laguna Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Miami, Mid-Ohio, Monza, Portimão, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Sonoma, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen• 51: Number of drivers in Corvette Racing entries since 1999. DXDT Racing’s Bryson Morris joined the list at Road America in GT World Challenge America• 71: Years since Corvette was introduced to the world on Jan. 17, 1953 in New York City. A total of 300 cars were produced that year• 135: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 116 in IMSA, nine at Le Mans, three in the FIA WEC and seven in GT World Challenge America• 302: Event starts by Corvette Racing entries since 1999, starting with that year’s Rolex 24 At Daytona. No. 300 came in early August at Road America in IMSA• 3845.40: Number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing in its eight previous events at Circuit of The Americas. That represents 24 trips across the Texas Panhandle.• 387,712.20: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing since its inception. To put that in perspective, Corvette Racing is more than halfway to the distance traveled by Apollo 13 – the longest manned spaceflight in history: 622,268 miles. That means Corvette Racing has raced to the moon and more than halfway back! Corvette Racing at Circuit of The Americas2013 – IMSANo. 3 Corvette C6.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 1st in GTNo. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 11th in GT 2014 – IMSANo. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 9th in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 10th in GTLM 2014 – FIA WECNo. 65 Corvette C7.R: Tommy Milner/Jordan Taylor/Ricky Taylor – 7th in GTE Pro (FIA WEC entry) 2015 – IMSANo. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen: 6th in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner: 8th in GTLM 2016 – IMSANo. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen: 3rd in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner: 5th in GTLM 2017 – IMSANo. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen: 1st in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner: 7th in GTLM 2020 – FIA WECNo. 63 Corvette C8.R: Jan Magnussen/Mike Rockenfeller: 6th in GTE Pro 2024 – GT World ChallengeNo. 63 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Tommy Milner/Alec Udell – 1st,1st in ProNo. 08 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Bryan Sellers/Scott Smithson – 6th, 11th in Pro-Am

Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

DAYTONA, FL – August 26, 2024 – Harrison Burton won the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, marking his first win in the NASCAR Cup Series and 100th win for Wood Brothers Racing.

“Congratulations to Leonard, Len, Eddie, Jon, Jeremy, Harrison, and everyone at Wood Brothers Racing on the race win at Daytona,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Reaching 100 wins in the Cup Series is a monumental achievement for the Wood Brothers and a reflection of the passion, dedication, and talent this family has brought to our sport. It’s an honor to be a part of their journey and to see them reach such a significant milestone.”

“I cried for the whole cool down lap.  It’s just been the hardest three years of my life. There’s no denying. It’s just been rough and these guys have rallied behind me when it matters the most. Going to every single race with the same mentality of trying to win because we could get number 100. We kept saying that in our meetings that we had a chance to get No. 100 for the Wood Brothers and that’s something that you can’t take lightly. We as a group have that place in history now forever for the 100th win for the Wood Brothers and, to me, that just means the world,” commented Burton.

“This is beyond words,” remarked Eddie Wood, CEO and co-owner of Wood Brothers Racing. “This has been such a long time coming, the hundredth win. We’ve been with Motorcraft Quick Lane and Ford Performance for over twenty years and you just can’t put that into words. Edsel Ford, all his family, Jim Farley – there’s just so many people in our world to make this happen. It’s just unbelievable.” “Ford and Motorcraft Quick Lane have stuck behind us for over twenty years now,” said Len Wood, COO and co-owner of Wood Brothers Racing. “To get our 100th win is so special, and we couldn’t do it without those people. It’s great to get a win here at Daytona. This is the place you want to be, right here.”

“The Wood Brothers are family to us at Ford and to see them get their 100th win means so much to all of us who have followed them through the years,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “When you think of Ford and its NASCAR program, you think of the Wood Brothers. Their loyalty to us for the last 74 years is unmatched and we couldn’t be prouder.”

Seven Ford Performance drivers started Saturday night’s race from the top-10 with Front Row Motorsports teammates Michael McDowell and Todd Gilliland sweeping the front row, Team Penske’s Joey Logano in 3rd, Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Ryan Preece in 4th, Josh Berry in 5th, and Chase Briscoe in 6th, along with Team Penske’s Austin Cindric in 8th. The field remained 3-wide for the entire first stage with several drivers swapping the lead back and forth. Stewart-Haas Racing’s Josh Berry won Stage 1, earning his first stage win of the season. After pit stops during the stage break, Team Penske’s Joey Logano took the lead and didn’t look back, winning Stage 2. After several late-race cautions, the race went into overtime. Harrison Burton started on the outside of the front row alongside Kyle Busch. Burton was able to make the race-winning pass on the last lap, finishing 0.047 seconds ahead of second place Kyle Busch.

Four Ford Performance drivers finished in the top 10: Rick Ware Racing’s Cody Ware in P4, Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing’s Brad Keselowski in P8, and teammate Chris Buescher in P10.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series also raced at Daytona on Friday. Stewart-Haas Racing’s Riley Herbst finished in P4 and RSS Racing’s Ryan Sieg finished in P5.  The NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series both compete this weekend at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, SC.

39 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 467 WINS – 434 POLES

CHICAGO (August 26, 2024) — Funny Car driver Chris King grew up attending the Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals as a fan and then a crew member on Lucas Oil Series sportsman teams. The magnitude of participating in the “Big Go” for the first time as a nitro Funny Car driver with a competitive team is starting to sink in with the full-time Chicago firefighter as he prepares for his third race of the season. King will once again be behind the wheel of the Competition Products/Howards Cams Funny Car that he owns and is tuned by veteran crew chief Bob Peck, at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, August 30 – September 2.

Chris King is ready for historic US Nationals Labor Day Weekend

“I get goosebumps thinking about racing at the U.S. Nationals,” said King. “This is the biggest race of the season, it is the 70^th Toyota U.S. Nationals and I will be competing against the best of the best. I feel like I am in the best position heading into a race I have ever been in. When I got out of the race car in Norwalk, I couldn’t wait to get back into it for the U.S. Nationals.”

During the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals King qualified No. 15 and gave J.R. Todd and the DHL Toyota Funny Car team a solid race in the first round. The Competition Products/Howards Cams Funny Car has continued to improve throughout the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season in limited appearances. Between races King and Peck have been adding parts and working on a tune-up that will set them up for success at the U.S. Nationals and beyond.

“I am being realistic about our program, but we have a Funny Car that can run 4.10s and we will plan on doing that right out of the trailer in Indy,” said King, who started his Funny Car career in Denver in 2021. “We can chip away at that time over the next four sessions, and I feel like we can have a Funny Car that can make low four second or high three second runs. It is exciting to think about. Every driver wants to win the U.S. Nationals. I am not being cocky, but Indy is a place that if you can make the show, magic can happen on Monday.”

King has enjoyed long-time support from Competition Products and Howards Cams throughout his career and this year he added Fire Department Coffee to his marketing program, which only makes sense considering he is an active firefighter. The marketing relationships King has fostered combined with his growing status as a fan-favorite continue to motivate him to build a program that aspires to be on tour full-time.

“Every race we attend I try and make new fans and deliver for all our sponsors,” said King. “We will be doing two pre-event fanfests and I will be on the ropes signing autographs for anyone who wants to come by our pits. This event is so special, and I want to really make a good impression. This team works hard to look professional and compete on the track. We are going to throw down some good elapsed times and hopefully we will surprise some people. Drag racing is one sport where you really can work your butt off and see results because anything can happen when two 12,000-horsepower Funny Cars line up beside each other. I have been working on my lights and Bob has been working on the tune-up.”

In the 70-year history of the Toyota U.S. Nationals the list of winners includes dominant mega- teams and independent operations. This year King will be looking to make the field of 16 Funny Cars and see if he can capture some of the Indy magic that will write his name in to the history books.

Qualifying will begin on Friday night, August 30 and teams will have two more qualifying sessions each day on Saturday and Sunday. The quickest 16 Funny Cars will square off on Labor Day, Monday, September 2, looking to turn on four win lights and hoist the iconic Wally trophy at the end of the day. The race will be broadcast live throughout the weekend on FS1 and FOX. For additional event information visit www.nhra.com.

No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R seeking season-defining result in WEC ‘home’ race

DETROIT (Aug. 26, 2024) – Cadillac Racing returns to Circuit of The Americas this week, aiming to deliver a season-defining result in its FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) homecoming. The six-hour Lone Star Le Mans – the sixth round of the eight-race season — also marks the WEC’s return to the racecourse in Austin, Texas, after a three-year absence. The race was a fixture on the calendar from 2013-2017. Green flag is scheduled for 1 p.m. CDT Sunday.

Media resources* Preview in French* Cadillac event guide* Cadillac ’24 WEC stats* Driver candid photos* Pink Cadillac Day* That iconic engine sound GM COTA highlights* Cadillac DPi-V.R sweeps podium in 2017 IMSA race.* Chevrolet Corvette DP sweeps podium in 2016 IMSA race.* Chevrolet Corvette DP wins 2013 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series race.* Johnny O’Connell wins 2016 Pirelli World Challenge race in Cadillac ATS-V.R GT3 and the 2013 race in a Cadillac CTS-V.

Sebring International Raceway hosted the last WEC race in the U.S. in March 2023, which was also the debut of the Cadillac Racing Hypercar program. The No. 2 V-Series.R turned heads with a fourth-place finish. GM Motorsports has had successful runs at the 3.426-mile road course, including the Cadillac DPi-V.R sweeping the podium in the 2-hour, 40-minute (73 laps) IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race in 2017.This year, Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn will pilot the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R, which is the only Hypercar entry to qualify in the top four in each of the past three races (second at Spa-Francorchamps and Le Mans, fourth at Brazil). Eighteen Hypercars are entered.“I love the fact that we have such passionate fans in America, and I think they’ll enjoy seeing the WEC there again,” said Bamber, a New Zealand native who lives in Atlanta. “I think there is going to be a lot of America at the event. It’s some of the best racing in the world right now, especially in Hypercar and I think for fans going to COTA, seeing this field will be a great spectacle.”

Different vantage point Ride along in the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R during the Lone Star Le Mans at 1 p.m. CDT Sunday. WATCH

Bamber is a two-time winner at COTA, including co-driving to an LMP1 victory in 2017, and both drivers tested at COTA in July prior to completion of full-course resurfacing. Portions of the course that incorporates 113 feet of elevation change were repaved earlier this year. Cars will run counterclockwise on the 20-turn (11 left, 9 right) track that opened in 2012 and draws inspiration from some renown international circuits.

An uphill run into the hairpin Turn 1 is the venue’s signature corner. Turns 3 through 6 take cues from Silverstone’s high-speed Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel complex and Turns 12 through 15 are a nod to Hockenheim’s stadium section. “COTA is a very technical track, very difficult to get right,” Lynn said. “It really is amazing behind the wheel, and to watch from grandstands and viewing banks.” Race day is Pink Cadillac Day, which is celebrated annually on September 1 to honor the iconic 1950s car. Cadillac is embedded in pop culture, being featured in more than 400 movie scenes and referenced in more than 300 songs. A special pink Cadillac prototype racecar will complement the exciting lineup of Cadillac V-Series vehicles on display during the weekend.What they’re saying

Earl Bamber: “I love the fact that we have such passionate fans in America, and I think they’ll enjoy seeing the WEC there again. The fans make the American races. You go to Sebring you see them camping for a whole week. The same at Road Atlanta and Daytona. I think we’ll get a big turnout at COTA and Austin is a fantastic city to go to as well. I think there is going to be a lot of America at the event. Fans will see titanic battles. There is action all over the place all the time. I think it’s some of the best racing in the world right now, especially in the prototype class, and I think it will be a great spectacle for the fans. The teams are upping the level and it’s feeling more and more like a Formula One paddock when you walk through the paddock. (about the circuit) The track is super challenging and it’s going to be hot, so it will be a real endurance race for the cars and the drivers behind the wheel. After the test there, we’ll be well-prepared, and we’ll be able to lean on our American colleagues as well from what they know. I think it will be one of the highlights of the program. A lot of people talk about the climb leading into the first corner, but actually I like the last sector with a really fast, long right-hand corner and the other fast corner to finish the lap. Overall, I think it is going to be grueling, a challenge for the teams for strategy and I think it’s going to race really well so looking forward to it.”

Alex Lynn: “Being back in the U.S. is really cool and important for us as GM. We want to win one of these races and stand on the podium again and that’s our goal. Because it was so hot (during July 2023 test) the grip was so low that actually it was alright. I hope it is a bit higher grip this time with the resurface, but I think that’s the thing with COTA is that when it’s so hot the grip becomes super low, so that actually wasn’t that difficult. COTA is a very technical track, very difficult to get right. There is a lot of lap time to be found with drivers exploiting the curbs. We don’t drive there a lot, so it’s a tough track to nail. But it’s a challenge we all enjoy. Sector 1 is by far my favorite. You’ve got that huge hill to Turn 1, then the big downhill sweeping into what is really a recreation of Maggots and Becketts from Silverstone. It really is amazing behind the wheel, and to watch from grandstands and viewing banks. Austin in itself is such a cool place too. Racing in the U.S. is cool, but that city just adds to it. The people there are so welcoming and for that reason I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love going there.”(July test days) “The test in Austin went well. The circuit had not been repaved before we tested, though it has been repaved since with the new F1 tarmac. That won’t be too much of a surprise with how our car will react. I believe our car works well on European tarmac tracks like Qatar and Imola, which recently were repaved FIA-grade tracks.”