OCALA, FL (June 22, 2022) — Back-to-back races have many benefits for NHRA professional teams. Drivers get into a groove and teams can gel into a more cohesive working unit. For Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team getting back to the track for the NHRA Norwalk Nationals will afford them the opportunity to put a frustrating Thunder Valley Nationals in the figurative rearview mirror. Through two days of qualifying at Bristol Dragway Hart and his Ron Douglas tuned 11,000-horsepower R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster were making consistently quick runs and entered race day as the No. 3 qualifier, their best qualifying position of their young career. They made another solid run in the first round but surprisingly it was not enough to advance to the quarterfinals.

“We had our best qualifying position and we just had a tough first round match-up which shows how competitive this Top Fuel category is,” said Hart, who has two career national event Top Fuel wins. “The good news is we aren’t hurting parts on our R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster and we are making quick runs.”

Josh Hart and R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster, photo credit Auto Imagery

Throughout this season Hart and his young team have been chasing several issues breaking in a brand-new Top Fuel dragster. This learning curve has tested the entire team but in Hart’s opinion his team is rising to the occasion every race.

“We have made a lot of improvements throughout the season and I think we have a lot of issues behind us so we can focus on winning rounds and races,” said Hart. “We have a couple semifinal finishes and our qualifying efforts are getting better. We just need to put everything together on race day which I know we can do starting this weekend in Norwalk.”

Josh Hart with fans, photo credit Auto Imagery

Hart has already gotten his race week started with a daylong appearance to support primary sponsor R+L Carriers on Tuesday. The driver spent the day meeting R+L Carriers employees, posing for photos and signing autographs. The event was one of many Hart attended across the country in support of one of his biggest marketing partners.

“It is an honor to work with a company like R+L Carriers that treats all their employees like family,” said Hart. “They are a true family business that treats everyone with respect. It isn’t hard to get excited to meet and talk with these folks when everyone has a smile on their face. I could not be prouder to represent this company.”

During the Norwalk Nationals in addition to Hart’s race rig R+L Carriers will also have their Hometown Showcase display on the property.  The Hometown Showcase delivers inspiration, scholarships and career opportunities to students across America. The Showcase partners with interested schools and communities to offer support to booster clubs, scholarships and on-site visits to highlight the many careers available including technology, logistics, sales, mechanics, professional drivers and more information in available here: https://hometown.rlcarriers.com/

Hart has been an amazing ambassador on and off the track. In just over twenty professional races the driver from Ocala, Florida has raced to at least the semifinals in half of his races. He also has spent hours with fans and guests talking about the unique employment opportunities across the country with R+L Carriers. At every NHRA National event Hart’s team displays the very competitive compensation structure as well as wide variety of job opportunities available.

“There is nothing cooler than talking with a race fan and then getting them excited about possibly working with R+L Carriers,” said Hart. “Every race I get to talk with people about an opportunity that could change their life. The racing is a lot of fun and very challenging but the time with the fans is what really motivates not just me but the whole team. I am looking forward to seeing a packed house in Norwalk and making some really quick passes.”

The past four national events have seen three of Hart’s best qualifying efforts of the season. He has also advanced to a semifinal and quarterfinal. His two most recent events have seen the kind of race day results the team expects but the overall performance is something that will pay dividends as the season heats up. The Norwalk Nationals will be another warm weather event and July will wrap up with the famed Western Swing. The recent elapsed times posted by Hart’s R+L carriers Top Fuel dragster will give the team every opportunity to start racking up win lights.

“This sport is very unforgiving, but I am not the kind of person that is going to give up,” said Hart. “I have built a few businesses from nothing. This is the first full season for this team, so every race weekend is an opportunity for success. Anything is possible.”

The Norwalk Nationals will be one just a handful of national events to feature four qualifying sessions before eliminations commence on Sunday. The added qualifying run will give Hart’s team more data and put them in a position to succeed. The race will be broadcast nationally on FOX beginning at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.

NORWALK, Ohio (June 22, 2022) – Austin Prock and the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster team have something to prove as they head to the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park for the 10th of 22 events on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season. Although he lost a first-round match with Terry McMillen in his only Norwalk start with John Force Racing in 2019, Prock had the opportunity to fill-in for Clay Millican in last year’s event. Prock reached the semifinals where he lost to eventual event winner Steve Torrence. “I’m excited for Norwalk. I have some unfinished business there. I was able to fill in for Clay last year and made it to the semis. I feel like that opportunity put me back on the map from a driving aspect,” Prock said. “I’m looking to go all the way this year with my Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist team. To get a win there would be an awesome story. I think we have the team to do it and we’re going to come in swinging.” Prock is coming off two strong semifinal performances that included a career best elapsed time 3.672-second pass at the Virginia NHRA Nationals and despite a first-round loss last week at Bristol, Tenn., the third generation drag racer remains fifth in points. Prock will try to get back on track in a Montana Brand / RMT dragster prepared by crew chiefs Joe Barlam and Rahn Tobler. Prock is bidding for his second tour victory after winning at Seattle in 2019 and subsequently earning NHRA Rookie of the Year recognition.  Racing at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park begins with four qualifying sessions on Friday at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. and Saturday at 1:30 and 5:00 p.m. Eliminations are slated to begin at 11 a.m. Television coverage of the race weekend will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) beginning with qualifying shows Friday t 10:30 p.m. ET and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET. Eliminations will air Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET.

NORWALK, Ohio (June 22) – For the Buckeye State-proud members of Team JEGS, nothing compares to racing in their native Ohio, which is why this weekend’s NHRA national event in Norwalk is always circled on the racing calendar. Led by three-time Norwalk winner Troy Coughlin Jr., the driver of the JEGS.com Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro Pro Stocker, this event’s yellow-and-black attack will also feature three-time Division 3 champion Mike Coughlin in Top Alcohol Dragster and Mike’s teenaged son Clay, who is racing in Super Stock in his first NHRA national event. “I always love racing with family, I love racing in the great state of Ohio, and it’s great when you know you’ll have a ton of support in the stands with all the JEGS associates who are always on hand, so this weekend checks all the boxes for me,” Troy Jr. said. “To be here for my cousin Clay’s national-event debut is also really cool. It’s a very exciting weekend for all of us at JEGS. “We found some issues with the suspension and shocks on our racecar since the last race and everything has been corrected so we’re looking to have a strong rebound race. My thanks to Mark Ingersoll, Kyle Bates, Ricky Calloway, and Kelly Murphy for all the extra hours they’ve put in getting this new RJ Race Cars chassis up to speed.” Norwalk has been a great place for Team JEGS. Troy Jr.’s three victories at this facility came in 2014, 2018 and 2019, while his uncle Mike and father Troy Coughlin Sr. shared the winner’s circle here in 2014.

Troy Coughlin Jr.

Mike wasn’t originally scheduled to contest the Top Alcohol Dragster class at this event but a last-minute change of plans for fellow driver Robin Samsel opened up a seat in the Samsel family dragster and Mike was quick to fill-in for his friend. “Robin had to pull out of this race but his car was ready to race and he said I could drive it if I wanted to,” said Mike, a three-time Division 3 champion (Top Sportsman, 2007 and 2009, and Top Dragster, 2019). “It took me 0.0 seconds to say ‘yes.’ I really wanted to race this event in a Top Alcohol Dragster. “This year I’m splitting the driving duties in the McPhillips Racing dragster with my teammate Matt Cummings and he was assigned this race so I thought I’d be rooting for him instead of driving myself. Then we got a second chance and I couldn’t be happier. “Rich and Rich Jr. (of McPhillips Racing) already help Robin and his son Tony with some tuning advice so we’re very familiar with that group. It should be business as usual. We’ve also got Jasmine Salinas running her dragster this weekend so we’ll have a three-way attack of McPhillips-tuned cars. That’s more data for all of us.”

Mike Coughlin

When not racing the Samsel dragster, Mike will be watching his son Clay compete against the country’s best Super Stock drivers. World champion racer and friend Jeff Taylor will be coaching Clay along as he enjoys his first big race of the summer. “Clay’s very excited,” Mike said of his high school-aged son. “He’s competed at a handful of races now in the JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt and he’s doing really well. This will be another big step in his learning process, racing in front of that many fans.”

Clay Coughlin

Although he’s retired from drag racing, Jeg Coughlin Jr. will also be taking a special ride this week when he travels to Mogadore, Ohio, near Akron, for a VIP trip in the Goodyear Airship. “I am very appreciative of the offer to take a spin in the world-famous Goodyear Airship,” Jeg Jr. said. “Like most Americans, I’ve grown up seeing that thing flying over all the biggest sporting events and to think I’ll be going for a ride in it myself is a real thrill. It’s not every day you get a chance like this so I’ll be sure to enjoy every minute.” Throughout his years behind the wheel, where he managed to secure six world championships, Jeg Jr. has had many unique opportunities. He once flew with the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, piloted a bobsled belonging to the USA gold-medal winning bobsled team, and got behind the wheel of just about every type of racecar known to man. “It certainly gives you a different perspective on things when you get to experience these special moments,” Jeg Jr. said. “As I’m sure this ride in the airship will be.  “Goodyear is as much a part of motorsports as any company. We’ve partnered with them both through Team JEGS and here at JEGS Automotive, where we’ve always carried a complete line of Goodyear tires for our worldwide customer base. This makes me reminisce of the times with John Slickevere, Carolyn Ashbee, Bryce Jones, Rob Carter and Greg Stucker, our great friends at Goodyear through the years.”

NORWALK, Ohio (June 22, 2022) – Brittany Force and the Monster Energy / Flav-R-Pac Chevy dragster team will look to continue their domination of the Top Fuel class as they head to Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, the 10th event on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule. The points leader for a career best five straight events, Brittany Force is arguably on pace to claim her second NHRA Top Fuel championship at the helm of the Monster Energy / Flav-R-Pac dragster prepared by David Grubnic and Mac Savage. With three wins already under her belt this season, the 2017 World Champion will try to give JFR its first Top Fuel win at Norwalk after finishing runner-up to Steve Torrence by .014 of a second in 2021. “Heading into Norwalk, a quick turnaround from Bristol. Definitely okay with that. This Monster Energy / Flav-R-Pac team plans to pick up some points. We get four qualifying rounds before going into race day, which is awesome,” Force said. “We’re looking for a top three qualifying position and getting as many points as we can then going rounds on race day and getting into that winners circle.” In last year’s semifinals, she set the current track record of 3.696 seconds, becoming the first and, as yet, only driver to break the 3.70 second barrier at Norwalk and making Summit Motorsports Park one of the 10 tracks on which she is the current ET record holder. Her lone No. 1 start in the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals came in 2019, from which she advanced to the semifinals. Racing at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park begins with four qualifying sessions on Friday at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. and Saturday at 1:30 and 5:00 p.m. Eliminations are slated to begin at 11 a.m. Television coverage of the race weekend will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) beginning with qualifying shows Friday t 10:30 p.m. ET and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET. Eliminations will air Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET.

At this week’s NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, the JEGS Mail Order team will be well represented with Troy Coughlin Jr. racing in Pro Stock, his uncle Mike Coughlin, who is racing in Top Alcohol Dragster, and Mike’s son, Clay Coughlin, making his NHRA national event debut in Super Stock. Troy Jr. will once again be racing as a member of the Elite Motorsports team which includes world champions Erica Enders, Bo Butner, Aaron Stanfield, and the Cuadra family. Troy’s crew chief is Mark Ingersoll, who has extensive experience as a championship-winning tuner. Troy Jr. is in his second full season of Pro Stock competition. Last year, Troy Jr, finished No. 6 in the Camping World NHRA Pro Stock standings. In 17 events, Troy Jr. compiled an 18-17 record in elimination rounds with a runner-up finish in Gainesville to go with six semifinals. During qualifying for the Gainesville event in March, Troy Jr. made his best run in a Pro Stock car at 6.528 seconds with a career-best speed of 211.93 mph. After seven events this season, Troy Jr. is ranked No. 11 in the highly-competitive Pro Stock category. He is just 12 points behind No. 10 driver Fernando Cuadra Jr. and 14 points behind Deric Kramer, who is No. 8. Earlier this year in Las Vegas, Troy Jr. debuted a new Chevy Camaro built by RJ Race Cars. During its maiden voyage, Troy Jr. ran a 6.667 to qualify No. 5 in a tough field. Last season at the Norwalk event, Troy Jr. qualified No. 6 and dropped a tough Round 1 race against Comp Eliminator world champ Bruno Massel. The Coughlin family have enjoyed success at the Norwalk track, which is located just a couple hours from the team’s home base in Delaware, Ohio. Troy Jr. won the Norwalk Top Alcohol Dragster title in 2019 while in 2014, Troy Sr. won in Pro Mod while Mike claimed the win in the Top Sportsman class. Troy Sr. also earned three runner-up finishes in Pro Mod in Norwalk (2012, 2015, 2017) while Troy Jr. was a Top Alcohol Dragster finalist in 2018. Troy Jr. is an eight-time national event winner with victories in Top Alcohol Dragster (3), Super Gas (3), and Super Comp (2). He has also competed in Top Fuel and Pro Mod during his career. Since making his Pro Stock debut in 2020, Troy Jr., has competed in 32 events and qualified for 30 of them. He qualified No. 1 at last year’s Topeka event. Overall, Troy Jr. has a 27-30 record in Pro Stock elimination rounds. Troy Jr. is the first third-generation Coughlin to win a major event. Troy Jr. won the U.S. Nationals in Super Comp in 2010 and also won the Indy Super Gas title in 2014. His other wins have come in Las Vegas (2009), Gainesville (2013), Columbus (2014), Reading (2018), Norwalk (2019) and Reading (2019). Troy Jr. was crowned the 2018 and 2019 North Central Region Top Alcohol Dragster champion. He was also crowned the 2013 NHRA North Central Division Super Gas champion. In 2019, Troy Jr. appeared in 10 final rounds in Top Alcohol Dragster and earned five wins, including national event titles in Norwalk and Reading. Troy Jr. has also earned victories at regional events at Atco Dragway, Beech Bend Raceway Park, and Virginia Motorsports Park. In addition to his success in NHRA events, Troy Jr. also is regarded as one of the sport’s best E.T. bracket racers. He has accumulated several major victories including a $25,000 payday at the Atco Dragway Superbucks event and a $10,000 win at the Spring Buck Blast at South Georgia Motorsports Park. He also won a $20,000 race at the Powerball of Bracket Racing event in Darlington, S.C.

Mike Coughlin will be making his sixth start in the Top Alcohol Dragster class. This week, Mike is driving the injected nitro dragster run by veteran driver and team owner Robin Samsel. Mike will also have the assistance of his regular car owners and tuners, Rich McPhillips Sr. and Jr. Mike opened the season with a victory at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals in Pomona and was a runner-up at the recent NHRA Regional event held at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Earlier this season at the NHRA Spring Nationals in Houston, Mike recorded an elapsed time of 5.155-seconds and a top speed of 285.56 mph, both of them career bests. After previously racing in a variety of sportsman and professional classes including Pro Stock Truck, Super Gas, Super Comp, Top Dragster, and Top Sportsman, Mike successfully upgraded his NHRA competition license during a test session in late 2021 at zMax Dragway near Charlotte. Mike has won national events in five classes; Pro Stock Truck, Top Alcohol Dragster, Super Comp, Top Dragster, and Top Sportsman. Mike Coughlin is a two-time Division 3 champion in the Top Sportsman class (2007-2009) and the 2019 Division 3 Top Dragster champion. Mike is a 15-time NHRA national event winner. His first win came at the 1999 Englishtown event where he beat Tim Freeman in the Pro Stock Truck final. Mike is also a two-time U.S. Nationals winner, having claimed Pro Stock Truck titles there in 1999 and 2001. Mike began his career in the Super Gas and Super Comp classes in the 1980s and has extensive experience in the heads-up “super classes.”

High school student Clay Coughlin, 17, got his start in the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League and won his first race at the age of 8. Clay made his debut in the Super Stock class at the recent NHRA Lucas Oil Series event held in Norwalk. The third-generation racer reached the second round in his debut behind the wheel of his Chevy Cobalt. Last year, four-time world champion Jeff Taylor, a longtime associate of the JEGS team, helped set-up Clay’s Chevy Cobalt Super Stock entry. Taylor will be on hand this weekend to assist Clay. Overall, the Coughlin family, including John, Troy, Mike, Jeg Jr. and Troy Jr. have combined for 128 NHRA national event victories since 1990. The Coughlin’s have won in 11 different eliminators including Pro Stock, Pro Stock Truck, Pro Mod, Top Alcohol Dragster, Comp, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Top Sportsman and Top Dragster.

TEAM JEGS – By the Numbers 3: Wins for the Coughlin family in Norwalk 3: Team JEGS entries in action for this week’s event (Troy Jr., Mike, and Clay) 8: NHRA national event wins for Troy Jr. in 3 different classes (Top Alcohol Dragster, Super Comp, Super Gas). 11: Number of classes where the Coughlin family has earned an NHRA national event victory 15: National event victories for Mike Coughlin in five different classes 128: Combined NHRA national event victories for the Coughlin family 231: Combined NHRA national event final rounds for the Coughlin family

Garcia, Taylor hope to rebound from Le Mans with Six Hours repeat

DETROIT (June 22, 2022) – While their run at the 24 Hours of Le Mans ended with disappointment, Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor and the rest of Corvette Racing’s squad in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship are back stateside for another shot at a long-distance race victory. The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen is the first race in the U.S. since May 1 for Corvette Racing and the rest for the field of competitors in the new GT Daytona (GTD) PRO category. Through five races, Garcia and Taylor stand second in Drivers points as does Chevrolet in the Manufacturers standings on the strength of a class victory at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. The No. 3 Corvette also arrives at The Glen leading GTD PRO in the Michelin Endurance Cup – a championship made up of the WeatherTech Championship’s four long-distance races. Given recent success at The Glen, there’s a better than average chance that advantage remains going into the weekend.

Corvette Racing has three victories at Watkins Glen since 2014 – including two last year. Garcia and Taylor won in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) category in last year’s Sahlen’s Six Hours as well as the WeatherTech 240 sprint a race a week later. Garcia is one of nine drivers to win more than once in the Sahlen’s Six Hours and has five podium finishes in his last five races at The Glen, while Taylor won for the first time in the event a year ago.  Chevrolet has a strong history of success in the race with 18 victories – second among active manufacturers. The GTD PRO Corvette differs in several ways from the C8.R that ran at Watkins Glen in 2021. Chief among the differences are additional weight, restricted power and customer Michelin tires that are mandated for all GTD entries as opposed to Michelins specifically designed for the C8.R in GTLM trim.

CORVETTE RACING MEDIA INFORMATION Corvette Racing media information is updated and available ahead of this weekend’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen. Materials include: · IMSA race advance and quotes· Summary of changes to the GTD PRO Corvette C8.R· Corvette Racing Watkins Glen stats and figures· Corvette Racing Fast Facts· Driver biographies

Chevrolet Motorsports Display On-Site at The GlenIn addition to the many series and events on the racetrack at Watkins Glen, fans will have plenty to see and experience from Chevrolet. The Chevrolet Motorsports Display will be full of Chevy vehicles that spectators can learn more about throughout the weekend. The Chevrolet Motorsports Display opens at 8 a.m. Friday through Sunday and is located in the Fan Midway at Watkins Glen International. Numerous Chevrolet vehicles and other highlights include: • The 2023 Corvette Z06 convertible• Additional Chevrolet products such as Blazer RS, Silverado ZR2, Camaro 2SS 1LE and Colorado ZR2 • A Corvette Racing C8.R showcar and LT6.R engine• An opportunity to receive a 2022 Team Chevy t-shirt  Fans should also be on the lookout for an additional Corvette on the racetrack. A Corvette Stingray will serve as Official Pace Car for the two-hour Tioga Downs Casino race for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge starting at 3:45 p.m. ET on Saturday. The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen is scheduled for 10:40 a.m. ET on Sunday, June 26. The race will stream live on Peacock with USA’s live television coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ETIMSA Radio will air all on-track sessions beginning at IMSA.com along with XM 207 and SiriusXM Online 992.

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “I really, really like this race. I enjoy the track a lot. I believe it was my very first race in America in GRAND-AM. We’ve generally been strong there. Being a six-hour race, there always is something going on. It might be a super-hot race, there may be rain storms… you never know what’s a race at Watkins Glen is going to be like. That’s why experience is a good thing to have there. I think I’ve run in every different condition there so I’m looking forward to going back in this new class and see how this spec of the C8.R fits in there.”

JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “Winning last year’s race was a big deal. It was always on my dad’s bucket list of races to win as a driver. I think it was the only endurance race that he hadn’t won. He won Daytona, Sebring, Petit Le Mans and Le Mans, so the one he always talked about was the Six Hours. The same was happening for me. I had gone all these years without winning it. I finished second a couple of times, I think, and it was always something little. To finally have everything click and work out was pretty special. It really kicked off our season last year with a good run of success.”“Watkins Glen was always a cool race for me from obviously watching sports car racing but also being a fan of motorsport. It was one of the few natural-terrain road courses that Formula One used in America. Seeing old footage of Formula One cars around there and still having the classic blue guardrails to pay homage to the history is pretty special. To win at those types of tracks is really nice.”

2022 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – GTD PRO (After four of 11 Events)Driver Standings1. Mathieu Jaminet/Matt Campbell – 1,3452. Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 1,2953. Ben Barnicoat/Jack Hawksworth – 1,2654. Cooper MacNeil – 1,1125. Alex Riberas/Ross Gunn – 1,106 Team Standings1. No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports – 1,3452. No. 3 Corvette Racing – 1,2953. No. 14 VasserSullivan – 1,2654. No. 79 WeatherTech Racing – 1,1125. No. 23 Heart of Racing Team – 1,106 Manufacturer Standings1. Porsche – 1,3452. Chevrolet – 1,3053. Lexus – 1,2954. Mercedes-AMG – 1,2205. BMW – 1,180 CORVETTE RACING AT WATKINS GLEN: By the Numbers• 1: As in one team, one manufacturer and one model of car for 24 years of racing: Corvette Racing, Chevrolet and the Chevrolet Corvette• 2: Wins at Watkins Glen International in 2021 for Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor: the Sahlen’s Six Hours and the WeatherTech 240 in consecutive weeks• 2: Wins and pole positions in the Sahlen’s Six Hours for Antonio Garcia. He won GTLM in 2014 and 2021 and was the GTLM pole-sitter in 2019 and 2021• 3: Victories at Watkins Glen for Corvette Racing since its debut there in 2014: 2014 and 2021 Sahlen’s Six Hours, and 2021 WeatherTech 240• 5: Consecutive podium finishes for Antonio Garcia at Watkins Glen dating back to 2017• 14: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001• 18: Victories for Chevrolet in the Sahlen’s Six Hours, ranking second among all manufacturers• 23: Number of drivers to compete for Corvette Racing at Le Mans. That number grew in 2021 with Nick Tandy, Nicky Catsburg and Alexander Sims joining the lineup.• 25: 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, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Sonoma, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen• 121: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 113 in North America and eight at Le Mans• 257: Event starts by Corvette Racing since 1999• 8,476.20: Number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing in its eight previous trips to Watkins Glen. That represents 2,493 laps… or more than four full trips around the Earth at its equator. The two Corvettes combined to go over the 100,000 mile mark in the 2021 race.• 344,240.56: 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 Watkins Glen (wins in bold)2014No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 1st in GTLM (Team’s first race at Watkins Glen)No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 4th in GTLM 2015No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 4th in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 7th in GTLM (Ret., Accident) 2016No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 7th in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 4th in GTLM 2017No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 3rd in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 5th in GTLM 2018No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 2nd in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 5th in GTLM 2019No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 2nd in GTLM (Garcia pole, fastest race lap)No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 8th in GTLM (Accident on first lap) 2021No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 1st in GTLM (Garcia pole)No. 4 Corvette C8.R: Tommy Milner/Nick Tandy – 4th in GTLM (Tandy fastest race lap) 2021*No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 1st in GTLM (Taylor pole, fastest race lap)No. 4 Corvette C8.R: Tommy Milner/Nick Tandy – 2nd in GTLM* Two-hour, 40-minute sprint race

June 22, 2022

Like lots of working folks everywhere, Harrison Burton, crew chief Brian Wilson and the rest of the No. 21 DEX Imaging team are back at work after a week off, refreshed and ready to put maximum effort into the job at hand.

For the DEX team, the immediate task centers around this weekend’s Ally 400 at Nashville Speedway.

“Everyone on our team enjoyed the off week and used it to recharge for the second half of the season,” Wilson said. “With the progress we’ve made recently at intermediate-style tracks and including Gateway, we all look forward to continuing in that direction this weekend in Nashville. 

“The 1.33-mile track is a mix of those styles of tracks with some Dover mixed in being a concrete surface.”
 
Wilson said the schedule at Nashville works in the team’s favor.
 
“This weekend is one of our last extended-practice weekends with extra time and sets of tires,” he said. “Our focus is on unloading with the speed we had at Gateway and using the session to learn in ways we can’t with a normal practice.”
 
Wilson also said he’s expecting another strong effort from the over-the-wall members of the team on Sunday.
 
“At Sonoma our crew had great speed on pit road, so from practice through the race I look forward to executing a full weekend with competitive speed in all facets,” he said.
  
Practice at Nashville is set to begin Friday at 5:30 p.m. (6:30 Eastern Time) and run for about an hour. Qualifying starts just after noon (1 p.m. Eastern) on Saturday, and the Ally 400 is scheduled to get the green flag just after 4 p.m. (5 p.m. Eastern Time) on Sunday. Stage breaks are set for Laps 90 and 185.
 
Beginning this week, Cup Series coverages switches from FOX to NBC. NBC will broadcast the Nashville race, with USA covering practice and qualifying.
 

Five Cadillac DPi-V.R teams prepare for 6-hour event on challenging Watkins Glen course

DETROIT (June 22, 2022) – As Pipo Derani can attest, one strong race can change the fortunes of an IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship team. Last June, Derani co-drove the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R to a fourth-place finish in the six-hour race at Watkins Glen International and returned a week later to win the 2-hour, 40-minute race. That victory gave the team momentum, which translated into four consecutive podium finishes – including two wins – in the closing races on the way to earning the DPi championship.

Derani, along with co-drivers Olivier Pla and Mike Conway, will aim for a similar kickstart this weekend in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen. Four other Cadillac DPi entries will seek to secure the victory on the 3.45-mile, 11-turn road course and score maximum points in the third of four rounds of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup. “Coming into this race, it will be Olivier’s second race in the car. We believe he is going to be super strong,” Derani said. “This is an important race for the endurance championship; one that we are very much in the fight. That’s going to play a lot into the strategy as well. Having Mike coming back to the team is a great addition. I’m looking forward to going back into a long-distance race – six hours – which normally plays into our hands.”

Watkins Glen links * Media resource guide: Story ideas, notes, track statistics, driver profiles and more. * 2022 media guide: Historical statistics, tech transfer, why we race and more. * Back in No. 48 Ally Cadillac:Jimmie Johnson Zoom conference transcript. * What’s ahead for 2023: A look at the Cadillac Project GTP Hypercar that previews the third generation prototype.

Pla, who joined the team for the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic on June 4, co-drove to victory in 2019 at Watkins Glen and has finished on the podium three times in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar competition. “It’s an amazing track with high-speed corners. It’s a very difficult race too with all the categories together,” he said. “Strategy is very important there. It’s about having good track position at the end. The last two hours, you need to be at the front. I’m really looking forward to the race and to give the maximum to get a strong result for the team.” The No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R is the endurance race pacesetter, with Tristan Vautier, Richard Westbrook and Loic Duval co-driving the JDC-Miller MotorSports entry, through two of the four events. The No. 02 Cadillac Accessories Cadillac DPi-V.R won the last endurance race – the Twelve Hours of Sebring – in March. The Cadillac Racing entry will be co-driven by Alex Lynn and Earl Bamber. The No. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R, which has claimed two victories and four pole starts, will be co-driven by Sebastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande. Co-drivers Mike Rockenfeller and Kamui Kobayashi will again join seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson in the No. 48 Ally Cadillac DPi-V.R. The team is competing in the four endurance races this season. “In one of these DPi Cadillacs, the pace and the effort you can drive around that racetrack is quite impressive – especially comparing it to my days in NASCAR,” said Johnson, who did not compete at Sebring International Raceway because of a scheduling conflict with INDYCAR. “Some of the braking zones, the Bus Stop in the back, and the Carousel, it’s just mind blowing how fast these cars can travel through those tight little areas. I’m very excited to get back and have that experience once again.” The Cadillac DPi entries received a 15kg weight reduction to 945kg for the race weekend as part of IMSA’s Balance of Performance adjustments. The Cadillac DPis will still be 15kg heavier than the Acura counterparts. The USA Network will telecast the closing hours of the race, starting at 2 p.m. ET June 26. Peacock will provide flag-to-flag streaming coverage, starting at 10:40 a.m. ET. IMSA Radio will broadcast all on-track sessions at IMSA.com along with XM 207 and SiriusXM Online 992. Following action at The Glen, Cadillac teams will venture north for the 2-hour, 40-minute Chevrolet Grand Prix on July 1-3 on the 2.459-mile, 10-turn Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. It’s the first back-to-back race weekend of the IMSA season and will be the first stop at the track in to Bowmanville, Ontario, since 2019.Cadillac DPi roster for Sahlen’s Six Hours of The GlenNo. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R (Cadillac Racing)Renger van der Zande, Sebastien BourdaisVan der Zande and Bourdais co-drove the No. 01 Cadillac DPi-V.R to the victory on the Belle Isle street circuit June 4 and the streets of Long Beach on April 9 – starting from the pole both times. … Belle Isle was the 17th IMSA victory for van der Zande and ninth for Bourdais. … Bourdais set the qualifying lap record time in both events. He also set the lap record time in earning the pole for the March 19 Twelve Hours of Sebring and for the May 15 Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio. … Bourdais is a four-time INDYCAR champion. … Bourdais and van der Zande competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans two weeks ago.Car chief-Phil BinksLead engineer-John HennekRace strategist-Peter BaronNo. 02 Cadillac Accessories Cadillac DPi-V.R (Cadillac Racing)Earl Bamber, Alex LynnFirst-year entry in expanded Cadillac Racing DPi program. … Bamber and Lynn co-drove to a runner-up finish on the streets of Long Beach on April 9 after starting second. They placed third June 4 on the Belle Isle street circuit… They, along with Neel Jani, co-drove to victory March 19 in the Twelve Hours of Sebring. … Bamber salutes his home country with a silver fern design on the sides of his helmet — a quasi-national emblem used for various official New Zealand symbols. … Lynn competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans two weeks ago. … Bamber drove the No. 02 Cadillac during a test day at The Glen earlier this month.Car chief-Jamie CoatesLead engineer-Danielle ShephardRace strategist-Michael Harvey

No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R (Action Express Racing)Pipo Derani, Olivier Pla, Mike ConwayPla made his debut in the No. 31 Cadillac on June 4 at Detroit. … Derani and Felipe Nasr won the 2-hour, 40-minute race in 2021 at Watkins Glen. … Derani and Tristan Nunez co-drove to third place on the Laguna Seca road course after starting sixth. They followed with a third-place finish May 15 at Mid-Ohio. … Derani and Nunez, joined by Conway, started second and finished third in the March 19 Twelve Hours of Sebring. … The three-driver team started seventh and finished fourth in the Rolex 24 At Daytona to open the season. … Derani and Felipe Nasr were the 2021 IMSA DPi Driver Champions and Whelen Engineering/Action Express Racing was the Team Champion. … Derani and Pla were teammates for the second consecutive year for the 24 Hours of Le Mans two weeks ago.Car chief-Bill KeulerTechnical director/lead engineer-Iain WattRace strategist-Tim KeeneNo. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R (JDC-Miller MotorSports)Tristan Vautier, Richard Westbrook, Loic DuvalVautier and Westbrook co-drove to third place on the streets of Long Beach on April 9 after starting fifth. Vautier and Westbrook, joined by Duval, drove to second place in the March 19 Twelve Hours of Sebring and opened the ’22 season by starting second and finishing third at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. … The team sits atop the Michelin Endurance Cup Championship standings. … Westbrook is a London-trained chef. … Vautier and Westbrook competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans two weeks ago. … Duval drove the No. 5 Cadillac on a test day at The Glen earlier this month.Car chief-Josh KerriganLead engineer-Rick CameronRace strategist-John ChurchNo. 48 Ally Cadillac DPi-V.R (Action Express Racing) Jimmie Johnson, Kamui Kobayashi, Mike RockenfellerTeam is running the four endurance races this season. … Team of Johnson, Kobayashi, Rockenfeller and Jose Maria Lopez opened the season by starting third in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Repairs in 13th hour necessitated by being bumped off course negated a strong showing, and team placed 11th overall. … Lopez was the third driver for the Sebring race, sitting in for Johnson, who had a conflicting INDYCAR race weekend. … The team started fifth and finished sixth at Sebring. … In May, Johnson competed in the Indianapolis 500 and was voted rookie of the year. … Kobayashi, co-driving with Mike Conway and Jose Maria Lopez, was runner-up in the 24 Hours of Le Mans two weeks ago.Car chief-Scott DarnellTechnical director/lead engineer-Iain WattRace strategist-Chad Knaus

Cadillac Racing DPi-V.R Watkins Glen results 2021-2017 2021 (2-hour, 40-minute race): First (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fourth – Pipo Derani, Felipe Nasr        Second (No. 01 Cadillac DPi-V.R) start third – Renger van der Zande, Kevin Magnussen        Fourth (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R) start sixth – Tristan Vautier, Loic Duval2021 (6-hour race):  Fourth (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fifth – Pipo Derani, Felipe Nasr, Mike Conway        Fifth (No. 48 Ally Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fourth – Jimmie Johnson, Simon Pagenaud, Kamui Kobayashi        Sixth (No. 01 Cadillac DPi-V.R) start third – Renger van der Zande, Kevin Magnussen        Seventh (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R) start sixth – Tristan Vautier, Loic Duval, Sebastien Bourdais2020: No race2019: Fourth (No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fifth – Renger van der Zande, Jordan Taylor         Sixth (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R) start sixth – Joao Barbosa, Filipe Albuquerque, Mike Conway         Seventh (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) start seventh – Pipo Derani, Felipe Nasr, Eric Curran        Eighth (No. 50 Juncos Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R) start 10th – Will Owen, Rene Binder        Ninth (No. 84 JDC-Miller Motorsports Cadillac DPi-V.R) start ninth – Simon Trummer, Stephen Simpson, Chris Miller        11th overall (No. 85 JDC-Miller Motorsports Cadillac DPi-V.R) start eighth – Tristan Vautier, Misha Goikhberg, Juan Piedrahita2018: Fifth (No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R) start sixth – Renger van der Zande, Jordan Taylor         Sixth (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R) start 12th – Gabby Chaves, Filipe Albuquerque, Christian Fittipladi         Seventh (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) start ninth – Felipe Nasr, Eric Curran, Mike Conway         11th overall (No. 90 Spirit of Daytona Cadillac DPi-V.R) start 10th – Tristan Vautier, Matthew McMurry2017: First (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R) start third – Christian Fittipaldi, Joao Barbosa, Filipe Albuquerque         Sixth (No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fourth – Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor         16th overall (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) start sixth – Dane Cameron, Eric Curran, Filipe Albuquerque See the Cadillac lineup Spectators can view an array of Cadillac vehicles, including the exciting CT5-V Blackwing, CT4-V Blackwing and the 2023 Escalade-V, at the Cadillac display in midway at The Glen. The display is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. each day. The 2023 Escalade-V — the industry’s most powerful full-size SUV that goes on sale late this summer – expands the V-Series lineup. Now in its fourth generation, Cadillac’s V-Series represents ultimate performance, the epitome of Cadillac’s engineering capability, with unrivaled sophistication and comfort for everyday driving. In adding Escalade-V to the lineup, the V-Series family continues to expand, while consistently combining power, luxury, thoughtful technology and athletic refinement for the discerning enthusiast.

Blair finishes third, notches third top-five in four starts

SPRINGFIELD, MO – June 21, 2022 – On a restart with three laps to go, leading the Feature for the second time in three days, Brian Shirley could feel something was amiss on his car.

As he rolled into DIRTcar Summer Nationals Victory Lane Tuesday night, the crew discovered the culprit immediately – a flat right-rear tire on the Bob Cullen Racing #3s.

“I didn’t know I had a flat tire, but I knew… something was wrong,” Shirley, of Chatham, IL, said. “For me to go [to the bottom line] and bend, it wasn’t good. I couldn’t bend with the tire being that flat.”

Though it was going flat in the final laps, it didn’t seem to bother the four-time Hell Tourchampion. The tire held just enough air in it for Shirley to motor across the finish line, holding off hungry challengers Bobby Pierce and Max Blair to record the 37th DIRTcar Summer Nationals win of his career and first at the big quarter-mile oval of Springfield Raceway.

Starting outside Row 2, Shirley had to work to get the lead in the first half of the race, working around Joe Godsey for second on Lap 8, and later getting past polesitter Payton Freeman for the lead on a Lap 18 restart.

“I was able to get a better drive there off of Turn 2 on that restart and was able to launch in front of [Freeman] in Turns 3-4,” Shirley said. “He wanted to be up top too, and that’s where I wanted to be.”

Once he got the lead, Shirley’s drive to the finish was peppered with yellow flags, putting him through several restarts with a field of relentless drivers behind him. At least five cautions were thrown in the final 20 laps of the 40-lap affair, forcing him to be extra sharp on the gas at the drop of the green.

“I was definitely nervous, I’m not gonna lie,” Shirley said. “I was hoping about two or three [restarts] before the final one that we could just go green for a little while and get some laps, because at that time, I could gap ‘em pretty good.”

Max Blair was his biggest threat for the lead in the closing laps. Using the bottom lane, the Centerville, PA-driver nearly pulled even with Shirley at various points but was unable to match Shirley’s speed on the top.

“He was definitely better; it would’ve taken a mistake for me to get by him,” Blair said of Shirley. “I thought, at one point, I hit the bottom pretty good there for a couple laps in-a-row, and I thought maybe there was a chance. But once he got that top off and got rolling, he was just too good up there.”

Shirley’s anti-kryptonite was the super-smooth top line in Turns 3-4, which he took almost the entire race.

“Tonight, they did a heck of a job,” Shirley said of the track preparation. “They had a mud ring around the bottom, had it to where we could run the top. Even down there, I felt like you could’ve run the top, it was just faster to run the bottom in Turns 1-2. Kudos to the track guys.”

Reigning tour champion Bobby Pierce, of Oakwood, IL, had a steady run from his seventh starting spot to come back and finish second. He trailed Blair for most of the second half of the Feature but was able to get by him with two-to-go, notching his third runner-up finish of the season thus far.

Blair crossed the stripe third for his third top-five finish in the last four races. With his normal World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series schedule on break until this Friday-Saturday at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 vs. the Summer Nationals regulars, he’s taken this past week to refine his Viper Risk Management #111v and work out the bugs before the big money goes on the line this weekend in Pevely.

“I need to steer better,” Blair said. “That’s the thing we’ve been fighting the last few nights. If we can get it to steer better, maybe we’ll have a little something more for them.”

UP NEXT

The DIRTcar Summer Nationals action continues with the second race of Missouri-Illinois Week on Wednesday, June 22, at Adams County Speedway in Quincy, IL. If you can’t be at the track, watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

ABBREVIATED RESULTS (view full results)

Feature 40 Laps | 00:36:11.338

1. 3S-Brian Shirley[4]; 2. 32-Bobby Pierce[7]; 3. 111V-Max Blair[5]; 4. 36-Logan Martin[8]; 5. 86-Kyle Beard[16]; 6. F1- Payton Freeman[1]; 7. 93-Mason Oberkramer[6]; 8. 24-Ryan Unzicker[3]; 9. 25-Jason Feger[11]; 10. 91-Rusty Schlenk[13]; 11. 14G-Joe Godsey[2]; 12. 77-Preston Luckman[9]; 13. 10-Garrett Smith[15]; 14. 0-Deshawn Gingerich[10]; 15. 50- Kaeden Cornell[12]; 16. 45-Kylan Garner[17]; 17. 30-Mark Voigt[19]; 18. 14R-Jeff Roth[22]; 19. 26M-Brent McKinnon[18]; 20. 4D-Doug Tye[20]; 21. 23NZ-Mick Quin[14]; 22. 31AUS-Kye Blight[21]

Batavia, OH (June 21, 2022) – With the first three of 13 Arizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup races in, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series regular, Ricky Thornton Jr leads this point category. The mini-series within the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series schedule consists of 13 events that pay $30,000 or more to the winner. The next event in this mini-series is the 16th Annual Firecracker 100 Presented by Big River Steel where drivers will compete for a record $50,000 top prize. First place winnings for all 13 crown jewel cup events in 2022 comes to an extraordinary $688,000. Drivers with perfect attendance with the series will earn points at these 13 events based on their respective finishes. The Arizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup Champion and the top five in Crown Jewel Cup points will receive bigger cash awards than in years past; this mini-series Champion will receive a $15,000 cash bonus at the year-end awards banquet. The drivers who finish second through fifth in the Crown Jewel Cup standings will earn $6,000, $4,000, $3,000, and $2,000 in cash, respectively for a total point’s fund of $30,000 for these 13 events. Just 25 points behind Ricky Thornton Jr in Arizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup points is the reigning series Champion Tim McCreadie, who has won or been in the hunt for the Cup several years in a row. Numerous tight battles between eligible drivers are ensuing throughout the rest of the points rundown with Earl Pearson Jr, Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Erb and Hudson O’Neal (tied), Garrett Alberson, Ashton Winger, Spencer Hughes, Ross Robinson, and Daulton Wilson. As part of the Arizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup, the Quest for Cash still includes a potential bonus of $50,000 or $100,000. These bonuses are also available to drivers that maintain perfect attendance with the series for the entire season. If a driver wins six (6) of the thirteen (13) Crown Jewel Cup events in 2022, that driver will receive a $50,000 bonus. A driver that wins eight (8) of thirteen (13) Crown Jewel Cup events will earn a $100,000 bonus.** Arizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup 2022 events (winner):May 28, 2022- Lucas Oil Speedway- Show-Me 100- $50,000 to win (Chris Ferguson)June 4, 2022- West Virginia Motor Speedway- Historic 100- $50,000 to win (Jonathan Davenport)June 18, 2022- Smoky Mountain Speedway- Mountain Moonshine Classic- $50,000 to win (Chris Madden)June 25, 2022- Lernerville Speedway- Firecracker 100- $50,000 to winJuly 3, 2022- Muskingum County Speedway- Freedom 60- $30,000 to winJuly 9, 2022- Deer Creek Speedway- Gopher 50- $50,000 to winJuly 23, 2022- I-80 Speedway- Silver Dollar Nationals- $53,000 to winAugust 13, 2022- Florence Speedway- North/South 100- $75,000 to winAugust 20, 2022- Batesville Motor Speedway- Topless 100- $50,000 to winAugust 27, 2022- Port Royal Speedway- Rumble by the River- $50,000 to winSeptember 4, 2022- Tyler County Speedway- 54th Annual Hillbilly 100- $30,000 to winSeptember 17, 2022- Knoxville Raceway- Late Model Nationals- $50,000 to winOctober 15, 2022- Portsmouth Raceway Park- Dirt Track World Championship- $100,000 to win **A minimum of 11 of the scheduled 13 Crown Jewel Cup races must be completed during the 2022 season with a minimum of 24 cars entered at each of those events. To be eligible, the driver must have perfect attendance in all Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series races in 2022.

Pierce, Hoffman top standings as St. Louis Firecracker Faceoff weekend vs. Outlaws approaches

SPRINGFIELD, MO – June 21, 2022 – The hot tempers and hotter temperatures continue on the trail of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals this week with five races scheduled for Missouri-Illinois Week.

Missouri-Illinois Week schedule

Tuesday, June 21 – Springfield Raceway (Springfield, MO)
Wednesday, June 22 – Adams County Speedway (Quincy, IL)
Thursday, June 23 – Spoon River Speedway (Lewistown, IL)
Friday-Saturday, June 24-25 – Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 (Pevely, MO)

If you can’t be at the track, tune into DIRTVision to watch every lap of action live from wherever you are with a FAST PASS subscription.

Here are the drivers to watch for and the storylines to follow this week…

HELL TOUR vs. OUTLAWS – For the first time since 2019, the DIRTcar Summer Nationals regulars go head-to-head with the World of Outlaws in the all-new St. Louis Firecracker Faceoff at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55.

Hell Tour regulars Bobby Pierce, Brian Shirley and Jason Feger will line-up beside World of Outlaws full-timers Dennis Erb Jr., Max Blair, Tanner English and more, shooting for a $20,000 grand prize on Saturday, June 25, succeeding a $10,000-to-win event on Friday, June 24. The Summit Modifieds and Xtreme Outlaw Sprint Car Series presented by Low-E Insulation are also on the card.

2017 World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year Devin Moran, of Dresden, OH, won the first-ever meeting of the two series at Terre Haute Action Track on June 29, 2018, before Brandon Sheppard, 2013 Hell Tour champion, beat the Summer Nationals drivers as an Outlaw the next night at I-55 in the second meeting. Sheppard again beat the Hell Tour ringers one year later at Terre Haute, piloting the Rocket1 Racing ride, in the most recent tour matchup.

RETURN OF THE NICK – Five starts, five wins for defending DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals champion Nick Hoffman. He’s been largely unchallenged thus far on tour, but this week, he takes on a different challenge; One he has not seen on the Hell Tour since 2018.

Hoffman is projected to be back behind the wheel of the Barry Wright Race Cars #2 Late Model this week, with three events scheduled. He’ll first take on the high banks of Spoon River Speedway in Lewistown, IL, on Thursday, June 23, before battling the World of Outlaws with the Summer Nationals regulars at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 on Friday-Saturday, June 24-25.

The four-time Modified champion contested a partial Summer Nationals schedule with a Late Model in 2018, piloting a Propane Direct/Jones Oil-sponsored Rocket Chassis #2.

CHAMP OUT FRONT – Four-time and defending Summer Nationals champion Bobby Pierce is off to a great start in his first week back on tour.

Pierce, of Oakwood, IL, finished all but two races on the podium with two wins, two runner-ups, a sixth and a DNF (17th). That 17th-place finish came at Davenport Speedway last Thursday, where he broke while leading the Feature.

Scheduled to attend every race in Missouri-Illinois Week, Pierce has a win at each of the four tracks on the docket.

LOCAL FLAVOR – Each track on tap for Missouri-Illinois Week features their own local heroes that are possible entries at various points throughout the week and could potentially give the Late Model and Modified regulars a run for their money come Feature time.

Springfield Raceway (Late Models only)

• Logan Martin has been a regular on tour through the first week, appearing in every Feature and collecting one top-five and three top-10 finishes thus far. Springfield is the closest track on the 2022 schedule to his home in West Plains, MO, and he’ll no-doubt be gunning for his first career victory with the tour at the 3/8-mile oval.

• Kyle Beard, of Trumann, AR, has made several starts before with the Summer Nationals, most notably driving from 17th to finish 8th in last year’s Feature at Springfield.

• Mason Oberkramer, of Broseley, MO, notched two top-10s last year with the Summer Nationals, and most memorably drove from 12th to finish runner-up in the 2020 Feature at Springfield.

• Other notable possible Springfield entries include Terry Phillips, Brennon Willard, Scott Crigler and Kaeden Cornell.

Adams County Speedway (IL)

• Austen Beccera, of Carthage, IL, tops the Adams County UMP Modified points standings through seven weeks with two wins and top-fives in all but one race. He’ll lead the charge against Nick Hoffman’s win streak as the Summit Modified Nationals comes back to the Quincy, IL-venue for the first time in three years.

• Dave Wietholder, of Liberty, IL, has identical stats to Beccera at Adams County this year with two wins and six top-fives in seven starts. He’s already run well with the tour so far, notably grabbing a runner-up to Hoffman at Peoria Speedway last Wednesday.

• Mike Vandriet Jr., Levi Long and Kenny Wallace all sit top-five in Modified track points and are projected to be in the field as well.

Spoon River Speedway

• Track UMP Modified points leader Josh Allen has two wins already this year at Spoon and will be the top weekly frontrunner to challenge Hoffman’s reign of terror on the Summit Modified tour thus far.

• Mike Brooks, Ray Bollinger, Kelly Kovski and Dave Wietholder make up the rest of the top-five in Spoon River Modified points and are potential entries into the Summit Modified field this Thursday.

Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55

• Daryn Klein, of Trenton, IL, has one win in two recorded starts at the high-banked, third-mile in local this year. Most notably, Klein led several laps in the 2020 Summer Nationals Feature before coughing up the lead to eventual winner Brandon Sheppard. He’s joined by Michael Kloos and Jordan Bauer as the only other weekly racers with wins at the track this season.

• Kenny Wallace, of Arnold, MO, and Mike Harrison, of Highland, IL, have been downright dominant at I-55 this season, each posting three victories apiece.

Wallace, the 2012 Summit Modified champion and current DIRTcar national points leader, is in his final full-time season of racing, and would love nothing more than a win against a tough STL field in his 1986 ASA Late Model throwback scheme.

Harrison, the six-time Summit Modified champion, is having another record book season with the most UMP Modified wins of any driver in the country this year, sitting second overall in the nation.

SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R with Jordan Taylor, met with members of the media during a Zoom conference call Tuesday to discuss this weekend’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, the team’s performance heading Watkins Glen and other topics. FULL GARCIA TRANSCRIPT: ON RETURNING TO IMSA GTD PRO COMPETITION AT WATKINS GLEN: “Going back to The Glen will be great. I’ve always loved the race there. It has been quite a long time since we’ve raced the GTD PRO Corvette. I’m happy to go back there and go for two races in two weeks. I feel we are prepared for it. Let’s see how we are and hopefully we can fight for a good result and a win. That’s the goal.”MINDSET OF THE TEAM AFTER THE RETIREMENT AT LE MANS: “It obviously was a shock. It’s been awhile since we’ve retired from such a big race like this. Le Mans is always tough for everyone, but I didn’t expect to retire going into the race. It’s disappointing in one hand, but in the other hand I was happy with the performance we were having. Unluckily the sister car had to retire as well. It’s time to bounce back. We’ll be back to the GTD spec so we need to get used to this car configuration. The Glen has always been a really good racetrack for us. It’s another new place for this car in this configuration, and we don’t know where are against the rest (of the GTD PRO field). Looking back at other races, we’ve been competitive so I hope everything stays the same and we’re able to fight for it.” REVIEWING THE SEASON SO FAR: “We’ve had good races so far. Even though we aren’t leading the championship, we’ve been near the top. We’re all looking forward to the next part of the season which is more important. Let’s see where the Corvette stands against the rest of the field.” ON THREE RACES IN 20 DAYS AND IMPORTANCE OF PREPARATION FOR AN INTENSE STRETCH: “The team has been flat-out since they got back from Le Mans. Luckily, the car we use in the States is a completely different one (than the Le Mans chassis) so they already had prepared the car for this part of the season right after Laguna. So on that part we are set. Now we need to get back in our mindset of IMSA racing, knowing the rules, pitlane sequence and how everything works in America. It’s been good to have both teams running either WEC or IMSA. As we showed, we were very prepared to run Le Mans. Now it’s time to get back to our normal season. Corvette Racing has always been prepared. We’re all looking forward to these two races and racing at two of my favorite tracks back-to-back – The Glen and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Let’s see if the Corvette is fast enough to be up front and if we can go for the win.”

HAVE YOU TESTED AT THE GLEN WITH THE GTD PRO CAR, OR DO YOU KNOW THE CAR WELL ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO RELATE AT A NEW CIRCUIT? “No, we didn’t test (at The Glen). I think there was some testing going on but we were fully focused on Le Mans. As we have at every other race track, we will correlate all the data we have from the GTLM car and translate everything we know up to now to what we think a baseline would be for this car. We don’t know how it will go yet, but I think we have a narrow path to know where the car should be. So far we’ve been pretty good off the bat in the first practices. I hope we are the same here at this new track for this car. It’s always a challenge learn on the new tire. Every racetrack is different, and The Glen was pretty tough on the GTLM tires. We don’t know yet what to expect, but the tire will be the main thing.” DESCRIBING WATKINS GLEN AND WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT THAN OTHER TRACKS: “First of all, it’s very fast. There are only a couple of slowish corners but everything else is mid- to high-speed cornering. That’s what makes it a little different. There also is the actual flow on the track with traffic. We are expecting quite a big field out there. Not only will it be a fight in our class, but it will also be tough with the interaction of the other classes. That’s the main thing. Now we are actually slower so in a way that makes it easier compared to GTLM where we were having to pass a lot of cars but also were kind of in the way of the prototypes. Now it’s more about fighting in our class and just getting passed instead of trying to get past some other classes. That may make it little easier but it’s still a question mark for Jordan and me to know how this car will feel. The track is definitely high-demand. Yes there are some straight lines but there also is a lot of action come the race.” FIGHT AMONG ALL THE MANUFACTURERS IN THE GTD PRO CLASS: “It will be a big challenge. Knowing there are seven cars out there (from seven manufacturers) and it being a longer race, we’ll have a few more really good drivers coming over to join the teams. That will make things more interesting. Even being in the mix of the GTD class, they will be running three drivers in those cars, and some pretty good guys will probably be in at the end (of the race). So not only will it be a GTD PRO fight but it will be a mix of GTD and GTD PRO all the way. It should be interesting. We need to be smart on strategy, don’t make any mistakes and be up front so not to get caught up in anything. It will be challenging.”

NORWALK, OH (June 21, 2022) — Fan favorite NHRA Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson will debut a Trick Flow Specialties Ford Mustang Funny Car at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals. The 22-time Funny Car national event winner, who most recently earned runner-up finish at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, will switch from his familiar green and black Levi, Ray & Shoup livery to Trick Flow’s dynamic blue and orange for this exciting race. Wilkerson will be chasing his second win at America’s Racetrack, Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. The veteran driver won the wildly popular NHRA national event in 2010, defeating John Force in the final.

“We are excited to be representing Trick Flow Specialties this weekend at Norwalk,” said Wilkerson, who has 47 career Funny Car final round appearances. “We have a great relationship with Summit Racing Equipment and Trick Flow Specialties is a great partner. This weekend will be a huge event and we will be looking to go some rounds and get back into the winner’s circle at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.”

So far this season Wilkerson has a semifinal finish at the NHRA Arizona Nationals and a final round appearance at last weekend’s Bristol Dragway. The team owner, driver and crew chief has guided his team to eight qualifying starts from the top half of the field through the first eight races. Wilkerson has enjoyed the support of Levi, Ray & Shoup and Summit Racing Equipment as he battles some of the toughest Funny Car drivers and teams in the modern era. The addition of Trick Flow Specialties for the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals will give the team an added boost this weekend.

Trick Flow Specialties manufactures aluminum cylinder heads, intake manifolds, top end kits, camshaft and valvetrain components, and other performance parts for Chevrolet, Ford, and Chrysler V8 engines. Located in Tallmadge, Ohio, Trick Flow does all product engineering, pattern-making, CNC machining, assembly, and dyno testing in-house to ensure customers get exceptional quality and Ultimate Bolt-On Performance™, right out of the box.

“We are thrilled to have Tim representing Trick Flow Specialties this weekend,” said Josh Cook, Trick Flow Manager. “Big thanks go to Summit Racing for helping us put this deal together. There is nothing more exciting than NHRA drag racing, and we’re proud to have our team, customers, and guests at the race to support Team Wilkerson.”

Wilkerson will unveil the Trick Flow Specialties Ford Mustang at a special Meet and Greet and Cruise In at Summit Racing Equipment in Tallmadge, Ohio on Wednesday, June 22 from 4 pm to 8 pm. Wilkerson will begin his quest for a victory at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals during qualifying on Friday and Saturday with final eliminations scheduled for 11 am ET on Sunday morning. Fans will be able to tune in to FOX for live racing coverage Sunday beginning at 3 pm ET.

Jimmie Johnson, co-driver of the No. 48 Ally Cadillac DPi-V.R, met with the media June 21 via Zoom conference to preview this weekend’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen on the 3.45-mile, 11-turn Watkins Glen International road course. Johnson will team with Kamui Kobayashi and Mike Rockenfeller for the third round of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup. Cadillac Racing Watkins Glen media resource guide | 2022 Cadillac Racing media guide Transcript of IMSA-related questions:

WATKINS GLEN, TOUGH RACETRACK. WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING THIS WEEKEND FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE?“I’m happy to be back in the race car and happy to be back with everybody at Action Express Racing. Really excited to see Kamui and Mike – two great human beings and great guys to be around. All in all, I have a lot of excitement to come back to Watkins Glen. It’s a track and area that I really do enjoy. And to be on the track through the full loop – the Boot – I have not done that many times in all the trips that I’ve been there, so I’m excited to run the full-distance track. And in one of these DPi Cadillacs, the pace and effort you have to drive around that racetrack is quite impressive. Especially comparing it to my days in NASCAR. Some of the braking zones, the Bus Stop and the Carousel, it’s just mind-blowing how fast these cars can travel through those tight little areas. So very excited to get back and have that experience once again.” HOW BIG WOULD A WIN BE FOR YOU THIS WEEKEND?“It would be incredible to win at Watkins Glen. Incredible to win in another division and series. And then the way sports car racing and endurance racing works, the team atmosphere. I really feel like I’m part of the family at Action Express Racing, and to do so and to win as a race team and as a family in a sense would be really special, too.”

HOW MUCH MORE DO YOU THINK YOU ARE IN TUNE WITH THE TEAM AND THE CAR COMING BACK TO WATKINS GLEN?“I truly feel like I’m in a better place. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to drive the car at Sebring to see where I kind of fit in and get more time in the DPi car. Clearly, I’ve been a lot more busy in the IndyCar and have a lot more reps and I feel like I’m evolving and more on pace. I think the 24 and even Petit last year you can see that gap closing and I felt much more comfortable and competitive in the car. In a short race, a six-hour race, the importance of being on pace is even higher yet. I’m excited to get a few laps in practice, and I’m not sure I’ll get much more than that the way the practice sessions work out. Hopefully, the time I spend in the sim tomorrow actually will pay off and I can get a step closer to the pace I want to run.” DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH TIME YOU’RE EXPECTING TO SPEND IN THE CAR SUNDAY?“I think it’s how things play out in the race. A six-hour race with three drivers there’s not a lot of drive time period. But I think the time I spend in the car ultimately depends on my pace.” HAVE YOU HAD ANY MORE TALKS ABOUT LE MANS FOR NEXT YEAR?“I’m still eagerly awaiting the (INDYCAR) schedule. I’m pushing behind the scenes to Jay Fry (INDYCAR president) and others to try to understand what the schedule might be. I want to go to Le Mans. It would be an amazing experience to go with Hendrick and Action Express and the way this whole partnership works. But I think so much hinges on the schedule being released to understand if I can and from the team standpoint what drivers would be at the top of their list. So, I’m thankful to have had a few conversations with them and I know that there’s interest. I certainly have a ton of interest to do it. We’re just waiting for that first domino to fall.” IF THE INDYCAR SCHEDULE WORKS OUT, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE PRETTY HIGH ON THAT LIST?“I do. I feel like the interest is really high on both sides. We haven’t been able to talk anything more formal because the schedule is not out.” WHERE DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF IN IMSA NEXT YEAR?“I really think it’s schedule permitting and then the opportunity permitting. There’s such a shakeup next year within sports car racing. I’m not sure the dust is really settled yet to understand where opportunities might lie. I think in the next month or two there will be more clarity for myself and for a few others out there as well just as the series really comes together and cars and seats and opportunities are out there.” IS IT MORE A CASE OF CAR AVAILABILITY?“That’s definitely a big player in it.” FOR 2023, YOU WANT TO DO A FULL INDYCAR SCHEDULE AND ANYTHING THAT FITS?“Absolutely. What I’ve been doing has been so much fun and enjoyable. I continue to get better and certainly hope to do something similar next year.” SINCE YOU HAVEN’T BEEN IN THE CADILLAC DPI SINCE DAYTONA, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE TO GET UP TO SPEED?“I’m putting a lot of stock into the sim experience I’ll have tomorrow. I know last year I had a testing conflict with INDYCAR and I wasn’t able to drive the sim with Action. After the practice session took place, it was obvious that the sim session would have been very useful for me. The drivers that did participate in it were very pleased with how close reality and sim were for that given experience. So, I worked really hard to get in the sim this time knowing how few laps you get in practice prior to the race. But I think my senses, my eyes have really adjusted well to how fast an IndyCar gets around a racetrack and I think that experience will carry over for us in the DPi car. From a comfort standpoint, the DPi car I’ve been more comfortable in it than I have the IndyCar. The side force properties of the car, the aerodynamics and just the way it rides fits more of my background, if you will. There’s a lot more side force in the car, and it’s always brought me a lot of comfort. So, with all that being said, I’m excited about sim tomorrow and really plan to trust sim and the braking marks and the aggression to drive the track and carry that right to the track and looking forward to that applying.” WHAT DID YOU LEARN LAST YEAR THAT WILL HELP YOU GOING ALL OUT FOR THOSE BIG LAPS?“That was truly the eye-opening experience I had last year. I think I only got six laps of practice before the race, and I was nowhere near pace. And then my stint, towards the end of it, I think I had 20-25 laps in the car. At the end I was finally close on pace and ran my fastest lap. It took me 30 laps to find the aggression level, so that’s why I have so much focus on the sim session. The commitment level was just mind-blowingly high. One, it was an eye-opener but two it’s so much fun to rip around the track that fast, especially going through the Carousel with barely a slight lift and right back to the gas and wide open. What the other drivers said about the commitment level did catch me out when I was there last year, and I hope to do more on pace this year.”

IS THAT WHY YOU ENJOY THE EXPERIENCES IN THE CADILLAC DPI – WHEN YOU HIT IT RIGHT YOU REALLY ENJOY IT?“I do. It makes me feel like a kid again. The years I spent driving cars my senses and body has understood a certain level of grip and speed and braking marks and throttle marks. And when you just shatter everything you know, it just makes you laugh. Inside the car I’m literally laughing like I cannot believe I just did that in a race car. That’s the part I’m really enjoying.” LOOKING TO NEXT YEAR, DO OYOU HAVE A SENSE THAT KAMUI AND ROCKY COULD RETURN WITH YOU?“I really don’t have a good sense of things. I feel like Action has been able to help Kamui navigate through the Toyota conflict, and we’ve been able to do it for a few years. I feel confident if there’s an opportunity we would be able to figure it out. Rocky’s schedule is a little bit more open; he’s not running a race team like Kamui is at this point. I definitely know all of us want to stay together and I feel like behind the scenes and the political pieces of it we could get that organized. It’s just really about cars being available to drive. I think we’ll have a better idea in the next month or so what opportunities might be there.” AND THE ALLY SPONSORSHIP IS SOLID?“The relationship I have with them is rock solid. We’re still in this phase, whether it’s INDYCAR or sports car or any other ideas I have to go racing, people are just starting to talk about options. It’s usually end of summer, beginning of fall when paper starts moving around and people are looking to ink stuff and get it done. So, we’re early in the cycle and I’m certainly trying to keep my options open, and I know I have Ally’s support on and off the track whatever I choose to do. I certainly hope it involves more on track.” CAN YOU EXPOUND ON HOW HAVING TEAMMATES IN VARIOUS SERIES IS DIFFERENT?“I think sports car racing really takes the driver relationship to a deeper level. And in some respects, I think the team relationship, too. You all are working for a common goal at a deeper level than what I’ve experienced in NASCAR. Six days of the week in NASCAR we were that community, but Sundays was all about yourself and what you could do for yourself and your team. Adding that extra day – and especially the most important day of the week from racing terms – really takes those relationships to the next level.” GETTING TO ATTACK THESE HIGH-COMMITMENT TRACKS IN A CADILLAC DPI, HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM A CUP CAR?“I think whatever lane you’re in whether it’s sports cars, formula cars, big, heavy stock cars, at a young age your path is sort of chosen for you and you really start spending time on those tracks seeing the cars, the technology. It’s amazing all these little pieces you pick up along the way that help you be stronger in that given discipline. In the NASCAR space I clearly spent a career there, a lifetime there. I always wondered what it would be like to drive the other cars. I am realizing when I cross over all the things that I took for granted I’m now needing to relearn. Sometimes it’s the simplest of things of pit ins, pit outs, the little details on the track that after four or five braking zones those little details on those four or five braking zones add up to a second. It really is a specialized discipline. When you look at how strong the INDYCAR field is, the DPi field, the NASCAR field, they are very specialized skill sets for each one. I just think that’s a credit to motorsports and how strong the series are. I think generations back, certainly it was specialized, but I think there’s a bit more freedom for a driver to move around. This has certainly been an eye-opening experience for me to leave the top of one field and literally start over in these other fields.” COULD YOU EXPOUND ON HOW RACING THE CADILLAC DPI HAS SHATTERED YOUR EXPECTATIONS?“To use Watkins Glen and an area of the track as an example, qualifying coming to the Bus Stop, the brake markers start at 500. In qualifying, we’re at the 5 full brakes from fourth gear down to second towing through the Bus Stop in a NASCAR vehicle. In the DPi car, you’ll be in fifth gear, go down two gears with maybe a lift about the 75 mark – and it’s really just kind of a moderate braking zone. And off that brake wide open exiting the Bus Stop, upshifting with a slight lift through the Carousel. Just the braking zone alone is almost four times better than what we would have in the Cup car. That math really translates all the way around the track – the cornering speeds, the braking zones. The acceleration is less; the vehicle has less power than what a Cup car has so there is a tradeoff, especially in how a lap time is made. NASCAR vehicles really make up that lap time on the straightaways with all the power it has. Braking and cornering, these cars are just in a whole different level of performance.”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 21, 2022) – The 2022 Progressive American Flat Track tour will arrive at one of its most challenging and revered events this weekend with the Mission Lima Half-Mile at the Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, Ohio, on Saturday, June 25. The pea-gravel cushion Half-Mile pushes competitors to their physical limit while testing their strategic acumen as well, reliably offering a variety of line choices while delivering outstanding racing. Reigning Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) has proven himself a master of the demanding battleground time and again. The current points leader has reigned supreme at the Lima Half-Mile on five separate occasions, dating back to his very first premier-class victory way back in 2005. That sterling track record is fitting too, as Mees is not just one of the most successful riders in the event’s history, he and his wife Nichole also serve as the race’s promoters. However, that hasn’t prevented the track from biting even him on occasion, including the time Mees failed to make the Main Event in 2017, as well as last season when he mustered just an eighth-place finish while combating an early-season injury. While Mees struggled here a year ago, fellow Indian Wrecking Crew member Briar Bauman(No. 3 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) shined, earning his second victory of the ‘21 season. That wasn’t his first win at Lima, as Bauman actually earned his first win aboard a twin-cylinder at the track back in 2017. He’ll look to pull off a similar trick this year at a venue that’s well suited to his riding style and phenomenal fitness. While the Mees/Bauman rivalry has dominated headlines for the last three-plus seasons, they currently find themselves in the midst of an intense four-way battle for supremacy that also involves Estenson Racing Yamaha teammates Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) and JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), who currently ranked second and fourth in the points, respectively. Daniels and Beach have made history in recent weeks while claiming two of the last three races. If either rider manages to add another victory this weekend, it’ll be yet another milestone with Yamaha still seeking its first-ever win at the Lima Half-Mile regardless of category. Mission Roof Systems teammates Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) flanked Bauman on the box here a year ago. Robinson also happens to be a past winner of the race, while Ohio native Vanderkooi would love to earn his maiden premier-class victory in his home state. Another story to keep tabs on is the performance of Brandon Price (No. 92 Pro One Industries/Mission Foods KTM Duke 890). Price, who has raced an Indian and a Kawasaki already this season, will compete aboard a KTM Duke 890 less than a month after James Rispoli (No. 43 Wally Brown Racing/Haversack KTM 890 Duke) demonstrated the potential of the platform with a podium performance as a Mission Production Twins Challengeentrant at the Red Mile. Mission Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines Following the lightning fast start of Nick Armstrong (No. 60 Competitive Racing Frames/Lessley Brothers Yamaha MT-07), the Mission Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines title fight has trended in the direction of a two-rider showdown featuring defending champion Cory Texter (No. 1 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing Yamaha MT-07) and points leader Jesse Janisch (No. 33 Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XG750R). While those two have separated themselves from the pack in the points race, it’s been a different story in any given race. There have been five different winners in just six races this season, including last weekend’s debut winner, Billy Ross (No. 109 Mission Foods/Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R). One rider still looking for their first victory of 2022 is last year’s Lima Half-Mile winner, Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650). The Royal Enfield appears to be more potent than ever but misfortune has prevented Lewis from finishing on the podium yet this season. A return to Lima could be exactly what’s needed to get the program back on track. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Kody Kopp (No. 12 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-FFE) was in commanding form at the Laconia Short Track, building up his Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER title lead with a thoroughly dominating performance to claim his third win of the young season. Second-ranked Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R) and third-ranked Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-FFE) – who aims to return to action post-surgery in Lima – will need to strike back in a significant way and soon in order to keep Kopp in their sights. Fortunately for them, both riders were podium performers at Lima a year ago. 2019 Parts Unlimited AFT Singles champion Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R) is just a further two points adrift of Whale and has both the time and talent required to claw his way back into the championship chase. While the usual suspects lock down their positions at the top of the order, any number of riders have threatened to break through with a win of their own in ‘22, including the likes of Trent Lowe (No. 48 Mission Foods/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda CRF450R), Chase Saathoff (No. 106 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R), and Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F). And don’t count out Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Voodoo Ranger Honda CRF450R), who won the Mission Production Twins Main and podiumed in Parts Unlimited AFT Singles on a single evening at Lima in 2019. There will be plenty to keep fans entertained off the track as well, including the Mission Booth, Drag Specialties display, and numerous other vendors, a variety of food and beverage options, the Kids Zone, and a vintage bike show located behind the main grandstand. Visit https://store.americanflattrack.com/ebooking/ticket/view/id/3765 to reserve your tickets today. General Admission tickets are available for just $30 with kids 12 and under free when accompanied by an adult. Reserved Grandstand and Premium Reserved Grandstand ticketsare available for just $5 and $10 more, respectively. Paddock Access Upgrades are also available for purchase, 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 want an all-inclusive night of spectating can purchase the VIP Experience, which includes a Premium Reserved Grandstand ticket, Paddock Access Upgrade, food and beverage, and access to the VIP line for shirts and programs for $125. Gates will open for fans at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 6:10 p.m. ET/3:10 p.m. PT ahead of the day’s Main Event program. You can catch the livestream of all the weekend’s racing activities on FansChoice.tv. FansChoice.tvprovides free-to-view livestreaming of Practice and Qualifying. FansChoice.tv subscribers will then be able to watch the drama unfold from Opening Ceremonies through the Semis, Main Events, and podium celebrations. FansChoice.tv offers two subscription options, granting unlimited access to premium AFT content. Monthly subscriptions start at just $7.99, while a six-month subscription is available for $44.99. The Mission Lima Half-Mile will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, July 3, at 11:00 a.m. ET/8:00 a.m, PT, including exclusive features, cutting-edge aerial drone and onboard footage, and expert commentary. For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.To score the latest gear for the Progressive American Flat Track fan, visit our official merchandise store at https://store.americanflattrack.com. How to Watch: FOX Sports and FansChoice.tv are the official homes for coverage of Progressive American Flat Track. For the 2022 season, all races will premiere in one-hour telecasts on FS1 during highly desirable weekend time slots. The complete schedule can be viewed at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports. FansChoice.tv provides livestreaming coverage of every Progressive AFT round at http://www.FansChoice.tv.

Nearly 50 Entries Expected for Inaugural Running of $100,000-to-win Event

BRANDON, SD – June 21, 2022 – The biggest motorsports event in South Dakota history consumes Huset’s Speedway this week.

Scheduled for four consecutive nights, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will bring nearly 50 entries to the Brandon, SD 1/3-mile oval from Wednesday to Saturday. It begins with a standard makeup show, continues with preliminary programs on Thursday & Friday, and concludes with a mega $100,000-to-win High Bank Nationals finale.

BUY TICKETS HERE (Wed-Sat)

Let’s look at what to watch for this weekend on DIRTVision.com:

HUMAN HORSEPOWER: At the right time, Sheldon Haudenschild and Stenhouse Jr. / Marshall Racing are the hottest team on tour. The NOS Energy Drink #17 has won five of the last nine races and swept Wisconsin’s Beaver Dam Raceway last weekend for a $30,000 performance. In two swift shows, the Wooster, OH native jumped from fourth to second in the championship standings and cut his deficit from Brad Sweet down from -74 points to -42 points.

The 29-year-old star has been a contender in each of his five appearances at Huset’s with the World of Outlaws, including a victory on September 5, 2020. Last year, Haudenschild finished sixth, fourth, and ninth in three shows at the Brandon, SD 1/3-mile. This week, with momentum on his side, the son of “The Wild Child” pursues the richest payday of his life.

HOME GAME HERO: David Gravel may hail from Watertown, CT, and car/track owner Tod Quiring may claim Windom, MN, but the Big Game Motorsports #2 dons the Huset’s Speedway sponsorship and colors, making this week’s trip to Brandon, SD a big one for the team. The second-year pairing currently sits third (-48) in the championship standings, but rides an unusual 18-race winless streak, the longest for Gravel in World of Outlaws competition since 2019.

The good news for Gravel and company is that Huset’s has transformed into one of his best tracks since climbing in the #2 with crew chief Cody Jacobs on the wrenches. The duo won three times in four starts at the track last year, and look to use that success to get back to their winning ways this weekend with a big $100,000 of their own boss’s money on the line.

PROVEN WINNERS: Along with Haudenschild and Gravel, another six previous World of Outlaws winners at Huset’s are expected to compete at the High Bank Nationals this weekend. Headlining that list are Series champions Donny Schatz in the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #15 and Brad Sweet in the Kasey Kahne Racing #49.

Schatz leads all active drivers with four Outlaw wins at Huset’s coming in 2001, 2007, 2015, and 2016. The North Dakota native has kept his prowess alive at the South Dakota track with nine-straight top-10 finishes highlighted by results of second, third, and fourth last year.

Sweet was a 2016 winner at the 1/3-mile and has remained as consistent as ever with runs of fourth, second, and eighth last year at the track. The Big Cat and his NAPA Auto Parts #49 pride themselves on success come money time, and success is something the championship leader could certainly use this weekend as he rides a 17-race dry spell.

Other winners include two-time victor Mark Dobmeier, last year’s Huset’s 50 champ Aaron Reutzel, and wily veterans Brooke Tatnell and Terry McCarl.

HUSET’S HITTERS: Four Huset’s Speedway winners from this season will be ready to do it again this week with $100,000 on the line. The venerable Brooke Tatnell & Lynton Jeffrey, along with up-and-coming racers Parker Price-Miller (McGhee #11) and Giovanni Scelzi (KCP #18) have each found victory lane at the track this year.

Through six shows in May & June, Justin Henderson (Tea, SD) leads the points over Matt Juhl (Tea, SD) and Austin McCarl (Altoona, IA). All three are proven winners at Huset’s and all three have finished in the top-five with the World of Outlaws, waiting for their elusive breakthrough with the Series.

Additional names with Huset’s success to watch for this weekend include Ayrton Gennetten, Dusty Zomer, Riley Goodno, Kaleb Johnson, Brendan Mullen, Carson McCarl, and Jack Dover, among others.

STREAKING WHEN IT COUNTS: Haudenschild may have all the headlines at the moment, but a trio of other World of Outlaws stars are amid their own impressive runs entering the High Bank Nationals and will be chasing their first wins at Huset’s.

Logan Schuchart rides the longest active streak of consecutive top-10 finishes (10) with the Series entering this week. The Shark Racing #1S has yet to win since his initial triumph of 2022 at Bristol (TN) in April but has been wildly consistent over this stretch with seven top-fives and an average finish of 4.4 lately. He’ll have four chances at trying to top his Huset’s career-best of seventh this week.

Carson Macedo has the best average finish (4.0) with the Series over the last five races within June. The Jason Johnson Racing #41 is up to five total wins on the season and currently sits fourth (-52) in the championship standings ahead of the first big payday. The Lemoore, CA native has noticeably struggled at Huset’s of late, finishing 15th-15th-14th-18th in his last four starts, but still has frontrunning experience from a second-place in his 2020 debut to rely on.

Spencer Bayston is the most consistent driver over the last three races, nearly putting the CJB Motorsports #5 on the podium each night with runs of third, fourth, and fourth. He’ll be making his third appearance at Huset’s with a lot left to desire after debuting with finishes of 16th-17th in the McGhee #11. Before hitting the track, he and the Carlisle, PA-based operation will unveil a new look and new major sponsor on Wednesday.

BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK: Four consecutive nights of World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car racing is a rarity, but it happens this week. Huset’s will become the sixth track in Series history – East Bay, Eldora, Florida State Fairgrounds, Memphis, Knoxville – to host a quadruple-header.

The unique instance is thanks to a June 5 postponement which will be made up on Wednesday night. That show will be run as a standard World of Outlaws program with the traditional format before Thursday’s preliminary

ALL ABOUT POINTS: When the High Bank Nationals officially begin on Thursday, a special format will be used, similar to the Jackson Nationals in August. Accumulative points are the name of the name with heat race inversions adding some extra excitement, and Saturday’s lineups being set by preliminary performance. You can read the full details on Thursday-Saturday’s format HERE.

SIX-FIGURE PAYDAY: Tod Quiring and Huset’s Speedway will enter another elite club this weekend, becoming only the sixth event throughout the history of Sprint Car Racing to offer a six-figure payday. The Brandon, SD facility will join Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway, Ohio’s Eldora Speedway, and Ohio’s Mansfield Motorsports Park as the only four tracks to offer that rich of a check.

• Historical Big One at Eldora (OH) from 1993-2003, revived in 2022
• Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) from 1995-present, highest WoO payday at $176K
• Mopar Million at Eldora (OH) in 2003, richest overall payday at $200K
• Sprint Car World Championship at Mansfield (OH) in 2018
• Kings Royal at Eldora (OH) from 2019-present
• High Bank Nationals at Huset’s (SD), scheduled for this weekend

Through 42 contested six-figure showings, Donny Schatz stands out far and above the rest with 11 such victories. Next closest to the eventual Hall of Famer is the tremendous trio of Steve Kinser, Mark Kinser & Danny Lasoski all at four mega triumphs. Active drivers with a big $100,000+ win include Kyle Larson (2), Brad Sweet (2), Tim Shaffer (2), Tyler Courtney (1), David Gravel (1), and Kraig Kinser (1).

BIG BUCKS: Saturday’s $100,000-to-win finale isn’t the only highlight of the week at Huset’s as a nearly half-million-dollar purse is spread all throughout the week. The stakes only get higher with each passing night as the winning increase from $10K to $15K to $20K to $100K over four consecutive nights.

In Saturday’s grand finale, behind the $100K payday is the top-five finishers cashing in at $30,000 for second, $20,000 for third, $15,000 for fourth, and $10,000 for fifth. Additionally, it pays $5,000 just for 10th-place and spreads down to $3,000-to-start.

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

Wednesday-Saturday, June 22-25 at Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, SD

ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series
Twitter – @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/month

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (28/77 Races):
1. 49-Brad Sweet (3,880 PTS); 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild (-42 PTS); 3. 2-David Gravel (-48 PTS); 4. 41-Carson Macedo (-52 PTS); 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart (-72 PTS); 6. 15-Donny Schatz (-148 PTS); 7. 5-Spencer Bayston (-178 PTS); 8. 83-James McFadden (-240 PTS); 9. 1A-Jacob Allen (-340 PTS); 10. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss (-462 PTS).

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (12 Drivers):
7 wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Stenhouse Jr. / Marshall Racing #17
5 wins – Carson Macedo, Jason Johnson Racing #41
3 wins – Brent Marks, Murray-Marks Motorsports #19
2 wins – David Gravel, Big Game Motorsports #2
2 wins – Jacob Allen, Shark Racing #1A
2 wins – Kyle Larson, Kevin Kozlowski/Paul Silva #57
2 wins – Giovanni Scelzi, KCP Racing #18
1 win – Brad Sweet, Kasey Kahne Racing #49
1 win – Logan Schuchart, Shark Racing #1S
1 win – Donny Schatz, Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #15
1 win – Spencer Bayston, CJB Motorsports #5
1 win – Brian Brown, Brian Brown Racing #21

FEATURE LAPS LED (22 Drivers):
143 laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
107 laps – Carson Macedo
95 laps – Brad Sweet
71 laps – David Gravel
64 laps – Jacob Allen
61 laps – Spencer Bayston, Kyle Larson
55 laps – Giovanni Scelzi
54 laps – Brent Marks
41 laps – Logan Schuchart
26 laps – Sam Hafertepe Jr.
25 laps – Donny Schatz
15 laps – Justin Peck
14 laps – Brian Brown
13 laps – Cory Eliason
9 laps – Dominic Scelzi, Brady Bacon
8 laps – James McFadden, Anthony Macri
3 laps – Brock Zearfoss
1 lap – Corey Day, Aaron Reutzel

SLICK WOODY’S QUICKTIME AWARDS (16 Drivers):
5 QuickTimes – Carson Macedo
4 QuickTimes – David Gravel
4 QuickTimes – Sheldon Haudenschild*
2 QuickTimes – Jacob Allen, Rico Abreu, Giovanni Scelzi*
1 QuickTime – Brad Sweet, Logan Schuchart, Spencer Bayston, James McFadden, Aaron Reutzel, Cory Eliason, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Justin Peck, Buddy Kofoid, Brent Marks
* Denotes New Track Record

HEAT RACE WINNERS (29 Drivers):
12 Heat Wins – David Gravel
10 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
9 Heat Wins – Brad Sweet
8 Heat Wins – Jacob Allen
7 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Logan Schuchart
5 Heat Wins – James McFadden, Rico Abreu, Giovanni Scelzi
4 Heat Wins – Aaron Reutzel
3 Heat Wins – Donny Schatz, Spencer Bayston, Kraig Kinser
2 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss, Tyler Courtney, Cory Eliason, Kerry Madsen, Brian Brown
1 Heat Win – Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Dominic Scelzi, Corey Day, Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Justin Whittall, Ian Madsen, Parker Price-Miller, Brent Marks, Austin McCarl

DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH APPEARANCES (37 Drivers):
19 Dashes – David Gravel
17 Dashes – Spencer Bayston
16 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Carson Macedo
15 Dashes – Jacob Allen
14 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild, Logan Schuchart,
9 Dashes – Donny Schatz, Rico Abreu
8 Dashes – James McFadden
7 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
6 Dashes – Kraig Kinser
5 Dashes – Kyle Larson, Cory Eliason, Aaron Reutzel
4 Dashes – Brock Zearfoss, Brent Marks,
3 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Kerry Madsen, Anthony Macri, Brian Brown
2 Dashes – Kasey Kahne, Dominic Scelzi, Corey Day
1 Dash – Sam Hafertepe Jr, Colby Copeland, Tanner Carrick, DJ Netto, Brady Bacon, Justin Peck, Matt Campbell, Justin Whittall, Ian Madsen, Cole Duncan, Parker Price-Miller, Austin McCarl, Matt Juhl

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (17 Drivers):
3 LCS Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, James McFadden, Ayrton Gennetten
2 LCS Wins – Logan Schuchart, Kerry Madsen
1 LCS Win – Spencer Bayston, Donny Schatz, Brock Zearfoss, Noah Gass, Anthony Macri, Mitchell Faccinto, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Brent Marks, DJ Foos, Christopher Bell, Austin Pierce, Jake Blackhurst

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (11 Drivers):
4 Hard Chargers – Sheldon Haudenschild, Logan Schuchart
2 Hard Chargers – David Gravel, Carson Macedo, Donny Schatz, James McFadden
1 Hard Chargers – Brock Zearfoss, Noah Gass, Jason Sides, Rico Abreu, Tanner Thorson, Alan Krimes, Devon Borden, Anthony Macri, Greg Wilson, Travis Philo, Kyle Larson, Russell Borland

PODIUM FINISHES (20 Drivers):
10 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Sheldon Haudenschild
9 Podiums – Carson Macedo
7 Podiums – David Gravel, Logan Schuchart, Kyle Larson
6 Podiums – Donny Schatz
4 Podiums – Brent Marks
3 Podiums – Spencer Bayston, James McFadden, Jacob Allen, Giovanni Scelzi, Brian Brown
2 Podiums – Aaron Reutzel, Corey Day
1 Podium – Kraig Kinser, Cory Eliason, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Justin Peck, Rico Abreu

TOP 10 FINISHES (39 Drivers):
25 Top 10s – Brad Sweet
24 Top 10s – David Gravel
22 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
21 Top 10s – Carson Macedo, Sheldon Haudenschild
20 Top 10s – Donny Schatz
19 Top 10s – Spencer Bayston
15 Top 10s – James McFadden
14 Top 10s – Jacob Allen, Giovanni Scelzi
12 Top 10s – Rico Abreu
8 Top 10s – Kyle Larson
7 Top 10s – Cory Eliason, Aaron Reutzel
6 Top 10s – Brent Marks
5 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss, Anthony Macri
4 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney
3 Top 10s – Kerry Madsen, Brian Brown
2 Top 10s – Kraig Kinser, Kasey Kahne, Dominic Scelzi, Corey Day, Justin Peck, Sam Hafertepe Jr.
1 Top 10 – Noah Gass, Shane Golobic, DJ Netto, Hunter Schuerenberg, Carson Short, Tanner Thorson, Danny Dietrich, Lance Dewease, Greg Wilson, Cole Duncan, Cale Thomas, Cole Macedo, Mark Dobmeier

2022 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:
No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Thur, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Donny Schatz (1)
2. Fri, Feb. 11 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Sheldon Haudenschild (1)
3. Sat, Feb. 12 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (1)
4. Fri, March 4 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Sheldon Haudenschild (2)
5. Sat, March 5 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Carson Macedo (1)
6. Fri, March 11 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, CA / Giovanni Scelzi (1)
7. Sat, March 12 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, CA / Kyle Larson (1)
8. Fri, March 18 / Merced Speedway / Merced, CA / Carson Macedo (2)
9. Fri, March 25 / Bakersfield Speedway / Bakersfield, CA / Giovanni Scelzi (2)
10. Sat, March 26 / Perris Auto Speedway / Perris, CA / David Gravel (2)
11. Tues, March 29 / Vado Speedway Park / Vado, NM / Brad Sweet (1)
12. Sat, April 2 / Devil’s Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, TX / Brent Marks (1)
13. Sat, April 9 / Lake Ozark Speedway / Eldon, MO / Jacob Allen (1)
14. Fri, April 15 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Carson Macedo (3)
15. Sat, April 23 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN / Carson Macedo (4)
16. Fri, April 29 / Bristol Motor Speedway / Bristol, TN / Logan Schuchart (1)
17. Sat, April 30 / Bristol Motor Speedway / Bristol, TN / Spencer Bayston (1)
18. Wed, May 11 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / Jacob Allen (2)
19. Sat, May 14 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Brent Marks (2)
20. Tues, May 17 / Bridgeport Motorsports Park / Swedesboro, NJ / Sheldon Haudenschild (3)
21. Fri, May 20 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Kyle Larson (2)
22. Sat, May 28 / Atomic Speedway / Waverly, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (4)
23. Mon, May 30 / Lawrenceburg Speedway / Lawrenceburg, IN / Sheldon Haudenschild (5)
24. Fri, June 3 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Carson Macedo (5)
25. Fri, June 10 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brent Marks (3)
26. Sat, June 11 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brian Brown (1)
27. Fri, June 17 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (6)
28. Sat, June 18 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (7)

Nearly 50 Entries Expected for Inaugural Running of $100,000-to-win Event

BRANDON, SD – June 21, 2022 – The biggest motorsports event in South Dakota history consumes Huset’s Speedway this week.

Scheduled for four consecutive nights, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will bring nearly 50 entries to the Brandon, SD 1/3-mile oval from Wednesday to Saturday. It begins with a standard makeup show, continues with preliminary programs on Thursday & Friday, and concludes with a mega $100,000-to-win High Bank Nationals finale.

BUY TICKETS HERE (Wed-Sat)

Let’s look at what to watch for this weekend on DIRTVision.com:

HUMAN HORSEPOWER: At the right time, Sheldon Haudenschild and Stenhouse Jr. / Marshall Racing are the hottest team on tour. The NOS Energy Drink #17 has won five of the last nine races and swept Wisconsin’s Beaver Dam Raceway last weekend for a $30,000 performance. In two swift shows, the Wooster, OH native jumped from fourth to second in the championship standings and cut his deficit from Brad Sweet down from -74 points to -42 points.

The 29-year-old star has been a contender in each of his five appearances at Huset’s with the World of Outlaws, including a victory on September 5, 2020. Last year, Haudenschild finished sixth, fourth, and ninth in three shows at the Brandon, SD 1/3-mile. This week, with momentum on his side, the son of “The Wild Child” pursues the richest payday of his life.

HOME GAME HERO: David Gravel may hail from Watertown, CT, and car/track owner Tod Quiring may claim Windom, MN, but the Big Game Motorsports #2 dons the Huset’s Speedway sponsorship and colors, making this week’s trip to Brandon, SD a big one for the team. The second-year pairing currently sits third (-48) in the championship standings, but rides an unusual 18-race winless streak, the longest for Gravel in World of Outlaws competition since 2019.

The good news for Gravel and company is that Huset’s has transformed into one of his best tracks since climbing in the #2 with crew chief Cody Jacobs on the wrenches. The duo won three times in four starts at the track last year, and look to use that success to get back to their winning ways this weekend with a big $100,000 of their own boss’s money on the line.

PROVEN WINNERS: Along with Haudenschild and Gravel, another six previous World of Outlaws winners at Huset’s are expected to compete at the High Bank Nationals this weekend. Headlining that list are Series champions Donny Schatz in the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #15 and Brad Sweet in the Kasey Kahne Racing #49.

Schatz leads all active drivers with four Outlaw wins at Huset’s coming in 2001, 2007, 2015, and 2016. The North Dakota native has kept his prowess alive at the South Dakota track with nine-straight top-10 finishes highlighted by results of second, third, and fourth last year.

Sweet was a 2016 winner at the 1/3-mile and has remained as consistent as ever with runs of fourth, second, and eighth last year at the track. The Big Cat and his NAPA Auto Parts #49 pride themselves on success come money time, and success is something the championship leader could certainly use this weekend as he rides a 17-race dry spell.

Other winners include two-time victor Mark Dobmeier, last year’s Huset’s 50 champ Aaron Reutzel, and wily veterans Brooke Tatnell and Terry McCarl.

HUSET’S HITTERS: Four Huset’s Speedway winners from this season will be ready to do it again this week with $100,000 on the line. The venerable Brooke Tatnell & Lynton Jeffrey, along with up-and-coming racers Parker Price-Miller (McGhee #11) and Giovanni Scelzi (KCP #18) have each found victory lane at the track this year.

Through six shows in May & June, Justin Henderson (Tea, SD) leads the points over Matt Juhl (Tea, SD) and Austin McCarl (Altoona, IA). All three are proven winners at Huset’s and all three have finished in the top-five with the World of Outlaws, waiting for their elusive breakthrough with the Series.

Additional names with Huset’s success to watch for this weekend include Ayrton Gennetten, Dusty Zomer, Riley Goodno, Kaleb Johnson, Brendan Mullen, Carson McCarl, and Jack Dover, among others.

STREAKING WHEN IT COUNTS: Haudenschild may have all the headlines at the moment, but a trio of other World of Outlaws stars are amid their own impressive runs entering the High Bank Nationals and will be chasing their first wins at Huset’s.

Logan Schuchart rides the longest active streak of consecutive top-10 finishes (10) with the Series entering this week. The Shark Racing #1S has yet to win since his initial triumph of 2022 at Bristol (TN) in April but has been wildly consistent over this stretch with seven top-fives and an average finish of 4.4 lately. He’ll have four chances at trying to top his Huset’s career-best of seventh this week.

Carson Macedo has the best average finish (4.0) with the Series over the last five races within June. The Jason Johnson Racing #41 is up to five total wins on the season and currently sits fourth (-52) in the championship standings ahead of the first big payday. The Lemoore, CA native has noticeably struggled at Huset’s of late, finishing 15th-15th-14th-18th in his last four starts, but still has frontrunning experience from a second-place in his 2020 debut to rely on.

Spencer Bayston is the most consistent driver over the last three races, nearly putting the CJB Motorsports #5 on the podium each night with runs of third, fourth, and fourth. He’ll be making his third appearance at Huset’s with a lot left to desire after debuting with finishes of 16th-17th in the McGhee #11. Before hitting the track, he and the Carlisle, PA-based operation will unveil a new look and new major sponsor on Wednesday.

BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK: Four consecutive nights of World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car racing is a rarity, but it happens this week. Huset’s will become the sixth track in Series history – East Bay, Eldora, Florida State Fairgrounds, Memphis, Knoxville – to host a quadruple-header.

The unique instance is thanks to a June 5 postponement which will be made up on Wednesday night. That show will be run as a standard World of Outlaws program with the traditional format before Thursday’s preliminary

ALL ABOUT POINTS: When the High Bank Nationals officially begin on Thursday, a special format will be used, similar to the Jackson Nationals in August. Accumulative points are the name of the name with heat race inversions adding some extra excitement, and Saturday’s lineups being set by preliminary performance. You can read the full details on Thursday-Saturday’s format HERE.

SIX-FIGURE PAYDAY: Tod Quiring and Huset’s Speedway will enter another elite club this weekend, becoming only the sixth event throughout the history of Sprint Car Racing to offer a six-figure payday. The Brandon, SD facility will join Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway, Ohio’s Eldora Speedway, and Ohio’s Mansfield Motorsports Park as the only four tracks to offer that rich of a check.

• Historical Big One at Eldora (OH) from 1993-2003, revived in 2022
• Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) from 1995-present, highest WoO payday at $176K
• Mopar Million at Eldora (OH) in 2003, richest overall payday at $200K
• Sprint Car World Championship at Mansfield (OH) in 2018
• Kings Royal at Eldora (OH) from 2019-present
• High Bank Nationals at Huset’s (SD), scheduled for this weekend

Through 42 contested six-figure showings, Donny Schatz stands out far and above the rest with 11 such victories. Next closest to the eventual Hall of Famer is the tremendous trio of Steve Kinser, Mark Kinser & Danny Lasoski all at four mega triumphs. Active drivers with a big $100,000+ win include Kyle Larson (2), Brad Sweet (2), Tim Shaffer (2), Tyler Courtney (1), David Gravel (1), and Kraig Kinser (1).

BIG BUCKS: Saturday’s $100,000-to-win finale isn’t the only highlight of the week at Huset’s as a nearly half-million-dollar purse is spread all throughout the week. The stakes only get higher with each passing night as the winning increase from $10K to $15K to $20K to $100K over four consecutive nights.

In Saturday’s grand finale, behind the $100K payday is the top-five finishers cashing in at $30,000 for second, $20,000 for third, $15,000 for fourth, and $10,000 for fifth. Additionally, it pays $5,000 just for 10th-place and spreads down to $3,000-to-start.

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

Wednesday-Saturday, June 22-25 at Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, SD

ON THE INTERNET
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series
Twitter – @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/month

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (28/77 Races):
1. 49-Brad Sweet (3,880 PTS); 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild (-42 PTS); 3. 2-David Gravel (-48 PTS); 4. 41-Carson Macedo (-52 PTS); 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart (-72 PTS); 6. 15-Donny Schatz (-148 PTS); 7. 5-Spencer Bayston (-178 PTS); 8. 83-James McFadden (-240 PTS); 9. 1A-Jacob Allen (-340 PTS); 10. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss (-462 PTS).

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (12 Drivers):
7 wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Stenhouse Jr. / Marshall Racing #17
5 wins – Carson Macedo, Jason Johnson Racing #41
3 wins – Brent Marks, Murray-Marks Motorsports #19
2 wins – David Gravel, Big Game Motorsports #2
2 wins – Jacob Allen, Shark Racing #1A
2 wins – Kyle Larson, Kevin Kozlowski/Paul Silva #57
2 wins – Giovanni Scelzi, KCP Racing #18
1 win – Brad Sweet, Kasey Kahne Racing #49
1 win – Logan Schuchart, Shark Racing #1S
1 win – Donny Schatz, Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #15
1 win – Spencer Bayston, CJB Motorsports #5
1 win – Brian Brown, Brian Brown Racing #21

FEATURE LAPS LED (22 Drivers):
143 laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
107 laps – Carson Macedo
95 laps – Brad Sweet
71 laps – David Gravel
64 laps – Jacob Allen
61 laps – Spencer Bayston, Kyle Larson
55 laps – Giovanni Scelzi
54 laps – Brent Marks
41 laps – Logan Schuchart
26 laps – Sam Hafertepe Jr.
25 laps – Donny Schatz
15 laps – Justin Peck
14 laps – Brian Brown
13 laps – Cory Eliason
9 laps – Dominic Scelzi, Brady Bacon
8 laps – James McFadden, Anthony Macri
3 laps – Brock Zearfoss
1 lap – Corey Day, Aaron Reutzel

SLICK WOODY’S QUICKTIME AWARDS (16 Drivers):
5 QuickTimes – Carson Macedo
4 QuickTimes – David Gravel
4 QuickTimes – Sheldon Haudenschild*
2 QuickTimes – Jacob Allen, Rico Abreu, Giovanni Scelzi*
1 QuickTime – Brad Sweet, Logan Schuchart, Spencer Bayston, James McFadden, Aaron Reutzel, Cory Eliason, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Justin Peck, Buddy Kofoid, Brent Marks
* Denotes New Track Record

HEAT RACE WINNERS (29 Drivers):
12 Heat Wins – David Gravel
10 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo
9 Heat Wins – Brad Sweet
8 Heat Wins – Jacob Allen
7 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Logan Schuchart
5 Heat Wins – James McFadden, Rico Abreu, Giovanni Scelzi
4 Heat Wins – Aaron Reutzel
3 Heat Wins – Donny Schatz, Spencer Bayston, Kraig Kinser
2 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss, Tyler Courtney, Cory Eliason, Kerry Madsen, Brian Brown
1 Heat Win – Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Dominic Scelzi, Corey Day, Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Justin Whittall, Ian Madsen, Parker Price-Miller, Brent Marks, Austin McCarl

DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH APPEARANCES (37 Drivers):
19 Dashes – David Gravel
17 Dashes – Spencer Bayston
16 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Carson Macedo
15 Dashes – Jacob Allen
14 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild, Logan Schuchart,
9 Dashes – Donny Schatz, Rico Abreu
8 Dashes – James McFadden
7 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi
6 Dashes – Kraig Kinser
5 Dashes – Kyle Larson, Cory Eliason, Aaron Reutzel
4 Dashes – Brock Zearfoss, Brent Marks,
3 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Kerry Madsen, Anthony Macri, Brian Brown
2 Dashes – Kasey Kahne, Dominic Scelzi, Corey Day
1 Dash – Sam Hafertepe Jr, Colby Copeland, Tanner Carrick, DJ Netto, Brady Bacon, Justin Peck, Matt Campbell, Justin Whittall, Ian Madsen, Cole Duncan, Parker Price-Miller, Austin McCarl, Matt Juhl

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (17 Drivers):
3 LCS Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, James McFadden, Ayrton Gennetten
2 LCS Wins – Logan Schuchart, Kerry Madsen
1 LCS Win – Spencer Bayston, Donny Schatz, Brock Zearfoss, Noah Gass, Anthony Macri, Mitchell Faccinto, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Brent Marks, DJ Foos, Christopher Bell, Austin Pierce, Jake Blackhurst

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (11 Drivers):
4 Hard Chargers – Sheldon Haudenschild, Logan Schuchart
2 Hard Chargers – David Gravel, Carson Macedo, Donny Schatz, James McFadden
1 Hard Chargers – Brock Zearfoss, Noah Gass, Jason Sides, Rico Abreu, Tanner Thorson, Alan Krimes, Devon Borden, Anthony Macri, Greg Wilson, Travis Philo, Kyle Larson, Russell Borland

PODIUM FINISHES (20 Drivers):
10 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Sheldon Haudenschild
9 Podiums – Carson Macedo
7 Podiums – David Gravel, Logan Schuchart, Kyle Larson
6 Podiums – Donny Schatz
4 Podiums – Brent Marks
3 Podiums – Spencer Bayston, James McFadden, Jacob Allen, Giovanni Scelzi, Brian Brown
2 Podiums – Aaron Reutzel, Corey Day
1 Podium – Kraig Kinser, Cory Eliason, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Justin Peck, Rico Abreu

TOP 10 FINISHES (39 Drivers):
25 Top 10s – Brad Sweet
24 Top 10s – David Gravel
22 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
21 Top 10s – Carson Macedo, Sheldon Haudenschild
20 Top 10s – Donny Schatz
19 Top 10s – Spencer Bayston
15 Top 10s – James McFadden
14 Top 10s – Jacob Allen, Giovanni Scelzi
12 Top 10s – Rico Abreu
8 Top 10s – Kyle Larson
7 Top 10s – Cory Eliason, Aaron Reutzel
6 Top 10s – Brent Marks
5 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss, Anthony Macri
4 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney
3 Top 10s – Kerry Madsen, Brian Brown
2 Top 10s – Kraig Kinser, Kasey Kahne, Dominic Scelzi, Corey Day, Justin Peck, Sam Hafertepe Jr.
1 Top 10 – Noah Gass, Shane Golobic, DJ Netto, Hunter Schuerenberg, Carson Short, Tanner Thorson, Danny Dietrich, Lance Dewease, Greg Wilson, Cole Duncan, Cale Thomas, Cole Macedo, Mark Dobmeier

2022 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:
No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)
1. Thur, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Donny Schatz (1)
2. Fri, Feb. 11 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Sheldon Haudenschild (1)
3. Sat, Feb. 12 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (1)
4. Fri, March 4 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Sheldon Haudenschild (2)
5. Sat, March 5 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Carson Macedo (1)
6. Fri, March 11 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, CA / Giovanni Scelzi (1)
7. Sat, March 12 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, CA / Kyle Larson (1)
8. Fri, March 18 / Merced Speedway / Merced, CA / Carson Macedo (2)
9. Fri, March 25 / Bakersfield Speedway / Bakersfield, CA / Giovanni Scelzi (2)
10. Sat, March 26 / Perris Auto Speedway / Perris, CA / David Gravel (2)
11. Tues, March 29 / Vado Speedway Park / Vado, NM / Brad Sweet (1)
12. Sat, April 2 / Devil’s Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, TX / Brent Marks (1)
13. Sat, April 9 / Lake Ozark Speedway / Eldon, MO / Jacob Allen (1)
14. Fri, April 15 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Carson Macedo (3)
15. Sat, April 23 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN / Carson Macedo (4)
16. Fri, April 29 / Bristol Motor Speedway / Bristol, TN / Logan Schuchart (1)
17. Sat, April 30 / Bristol Motor Speedway / Bristol, TN / Spencer Bayston (1)
18. Wed, May 11 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / Jacob Allen (2)
19. Sat, May 14 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Brent Marks (2)
20. Tues, May 17 / Bridgeport Motorsports Park / Swedesboro, NJ / Sheldon Haudenschild (3)
21. Fri, May 20 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Kyle Larson (2)
22. Sat, May 28 / Atomic Speedway / Waverly, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (4)
23. Mon, May 30 / Lawrenceburg Speedway / Lawrenceburg, IN / Sheldon Haudenschild (5)
24. Fri, June 3 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Carson Macedo (5)
25. Fri, June 10 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brent Marks (3)
26. Sat, June 11 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brian Brown (1)
27. Fri, June 17 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (6)
28. Sat, June 18 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (7)

BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 15, 2022) – John Force and the PEAK / BlueDEF PLATINUM Chevrolet Camaro SS team are no strangers to success at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. They’ll look to recreate some of their past accomplishments as they head to Bristol Dragway this Father’s Day weekend for the ninth of 22 events on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule.  John Force has won the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals a total of four times. Starting in 2004, Force won every three years through 2013 (2004, 2007, 2010, 2013). In addition, the 16-time champion has had two runner-up finishes in 2006 to reigning champion Ron Capps and in 2019 after he qualified No. 1 but came up short to longtime rival Bob Tasca III. Force’s only other No. 1 start at Bristol came in 2015. “I love racing at Bristol Dragway. It’s Thunder Valley, its beautiful. Another Bruton Smith track you know it’s going to be a top-of-the-line facility,” Force said. “It’s tradition being there on Father’s Day weekend, it’s how I’ve celebrated with my girls for years now. This PEAK team, we’ll get out there and look to go some rounds, qualify well. We’re okay, we’re in it and we’ve been fast. I just need to do my job out there on track and I know my son-in-law Danny Hood and Tim Fabrisi, they’ll have this Chevy running right.” After winning earlier this year at the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, Force extended to 34 the number of seasons he’s won at least on NHRA national event. Heading into the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway currently sitting fourth in points, Force will be trying to win multiple events for the 27th season in his career. Racing at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway begins with qualifying Friday night at 8 p.m. and continues with Saturday with sessions at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. Eliminations will begin Father’s Day Sunday at noon. Television coverage of qualifying will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) beginning Friday at 8 p.m. ET and continues Saturday at 11 p.m. ET. Eliminations will be on FOX Broadcasting Network Sunday at 3 p.m. ET

BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 15, 2022) – Austin Prock and the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist dragster team head to the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway on Father’s Day weekend confident that a win is within their grasp after making steady progress through the first eight events on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule.  Austin Prock is coming off two strong semifinal performances that included his a career best elapsed time 3.672-second pass at the Virginia NHRA Nationals and a 3.686-second pass that was quickest time of eliminations at the most recent event, the NHRA New England Nationals. Prock currently sits fifth in points in a Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist dragster prepared by crew chiefs Joe Barlam and Rahn Tobler.  “We’re coming off two semi-final appearances, just knocking on the door for our first win of this season. It’s going to be soon that my Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist team are hoisting a Wally and it may just be this weekend,” Prock said. “I remember racing with my dad on Father’s Day my whole life, so Bristol Dragway always has a special place in my heart. Nothing better than racing with family.” Prock is bidding for his second tour victory (he won at Seattle in 2019) and his second trip to the final round this season. In just one other appearance at Bristol Dragway in his 2019 rookie season, Prock made only a first-round appearance. The third generation drag racer, son of Auto Club crew chief Jimmy Prock and grandson of former touring pro Funny Car driver Tom Prock, won’t take for granted the significance of getting a win on Father’s Day weekend. Racing at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway begins with qualifying Friday night at 8 p.m. and continues with Saturday with sessions at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. Eliminations will begin Father’s Day Sunday at noon. Television coverage of qualifying will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) beginning Friday at 8 p.m. ET and continues Saturday at 11 p.m. ET. Eliminations will be on FOX Broadcasting Network Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.

DENVER, NC (June 15, 2022) — Six races into her rookie season behind the wheel of the Sand Haulers of America Chevrolet Camaro Camrie Caruso has established herself as not just the front-runner for NHRA rookie of the year but as a legitimate threat in the NHRA Countdown. The third-generation driver who currently resides in Denver, North Carolina, has raced to a final round, qualified No. 1, defeated world champions and qualified for every race she has entered. Anyone one of these accomplishments alone would be impressive but the 24-year-old driver has taken her early season success in stride and continues to pursue her dream.

“Even before the season started, I said my goals were to win races and win the Pro Stock world championship,” said Caruso. “I know people thought I was crazy but that is what I believe. I have a great team with Jim Yates, Titan Racing Engines and so many sponsors. This team is all I think about and work on. I have a lot of support from my family especially, my dad and Papa Joe (grandfather) so racing on Father’s Day weekend will be really cool.”

Camrie Caruso and Sand Haulers of America Chevrolet Camaro, photo by Auto Imagery

Caruso started the season qualifying for the Winternationals and in just her second career Pro Stock race she picked up her first round win. Three races later at the SpringNationals in Houston Caruso turned every head in the NHRA when she raced to her first career No. 1 qualifier and then proceeded to take out two former world champions Bo Butner and Greg Anderson on the way to her first final round against Erica Enders. It was a historic match-up pitting two female Pro Stock drivers together for the first time. The weight of the moment did not phase Caruso who despite losing fifth gear nearly upset the multi-time champion.

“This whole season has been a whirlwind, but Houston was a totally different level,” said Caruso, who has won in a variety of other categories including Top Alcohol Dragster. “We were No. 1 all weekend and then we had a tough ladder to get to the final round. Racing Erica was great, but I don’t really care who is in the other lane on Sunday. I know I have to do my routine and hit the tree as hard as I can.”

Throughout the season Caruso has had a consistent race car thanks to the power under the hood from Titan Racing Engines in North Carolina. Crew chief Jim Yates has also been an excellent mentor, coach and tuner for the young team. The multi-time world champion Pro Stock driver has seen it all and provides Caruso with a wealth of knowledge.

“Jim has been amazing,” said Caruso. “We have butted heads a little, but I know he is trying to make me the best driver I can be. After every run we are going over all the data. I am feeling more and more comfortable every race. These next two months will be huge for us.”

In addition to her on-track success Caruso has been incredibly active with sponsors showcasing the benefits of racing in the NHRA and with the Caruso Family Racing operation. Sand Haulers of America will be primary sponsor this weekend once again and will be on Caruso’s Pro Stock Camaro later in the season as well. At the beginning of the season GESI, Right Trailers, Powerbuilt Tools, NGK Spark Plugs and VP Racing Lubricants all jumped on board with the rookie team. All these relationships and sponsorships were brokered by Caruso herself who is hands on with all business matters when it comes to her Pro Stock race car.

“I want to be involved from top to bottom with this team,” said Caruso. “I get a lot of help from my dad and papa but at the end of the day I want to be the one writing the check and then delivering on the racetrack. I have great sponsors that I want to have for many, many seasons. The best way to do that is to show them how we can grow their business through the NHRA and Caruso Family Racing. I want to do as many appearances and interviews as I can to make this program successful. I know that turning on win lights helps, and we have aggressive goals for this season.”

Caruso will get her first pass at Bristol Dragway on Friday night followed by two qualifying sessions on Saturday. Pro Stock final eliminations will begin on Sunday at approximately noon ET. Caruso sits seventh in points just over two rounds out of fifth place.

About Camrie Caruso/Caruso Family Racing
Camrie Caruso is a third-generation driver with Caruso Family Racing. The 24-year-old Pro Stock rookie is following the career path of her father, former Pro Mod racer Marc Caruso and her grandfather, “Papa Joe” Caruso, who competed in Super Gas, Top Sportsman, and Pro Mod. Racing a Chevrolet Camaro with power provided by Titan Racing Engines Caruso will race the full NHRA Camping World Series schedule as she chases Rookie of the Year honors and her first world championship. She first got behind the wheel of a race car when she was eight years old competing in the NHRA Junior Dragster League. She has continued to move up through the NHRA competition classes for over a decade rising to Top Alcohol Dragster as well as Elite Top Dragster and Pro Outlaw 632 in the PDRA. Caruso has a Finance degree as well as a Marketing degree from SUNY Empire State College. In 2018 she was recognized by Drag Illustrated magazine as a 30 Under 30, drag racing personality. When she is not at the track, she is handling the marketing for Titan Racing Engines.