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Slone, Presnell, Windham score World Short Track Hornet Friday Feature wins

CONCORD, NC (Oct. 28, 2022) – The first three DIRTVision Hornet Features for the seventh annual World Short Track Championship at The Dirt Track at Charlotte saw two repeat victors and a first-time winner.

With 55 Hornets entered for the division’s marquee event, the field was split into three 15-lap Features Friday night.

Zack Slone, in his first ever World Short Track Championship start, claimed his first event victory in the first Feature, while Newman Presnell and John Windham returned to Victory Lane in the proceeding two.

Here is how each Feature played out…

FEATURE #1
When the green flag flew for the first DIRTVision Hornet Feature of the night, Seth Smith earned the title as the first Hornet driver to lead a lap this weekend. However, his claim to the lead was short lived.

After a restart on Lap 4, Smith became prey to two starving hunters. Brad McManus and Zack Slone stayed within inches of Smith on the restart, making a tight three-way battle for the lead.

The trio dueled for multiple laps before McManus and Slone overpowered Smith for the top two spots.

Ripping the high side of the 4/10-mile track, about bicycling his car every lap with the left rear leaving the ground on corner entry, Slone found an opening to the outside of McManus and passed him for the lead by the halfway point of the race.

With four laps to go, Smith suffered an issue, bringing his car to a stop in Turn 4, and brought out a caution. On the restart, McManus looked low on Slone into Turn 1, but Slone had the better momentum up top and drove away with his first career World Short Track Championship victory.

“It feels amazing, man” Slone said, trying to catch his breath with every word. “Literally built this motor… had it built last week and blew it up in four laps, rushed to get it together for tonight and bring it out here and win in my first try. It feels great.

“I’m known for finishing second a lot. Leading the whole race and losing it on the last lap. I’m happy to finish it off this time.”

McManus settled for second, CJ LaVair finished third, Ricky Weaver fourth and Hunter Wallace rounded out the top five.

FULL RESULTS (Feature #1 – 15 laps):
1. 91Z-Zack Slone[9]; 2. 3B-Brad McManus[7]; 3. C4-CJ LaVair[16]; 4. 21-Ricky Weaver[15]; 5. 1X-Hunter Wallace[10]; 6. 4-Daniel Wright[18]; 7. 5H-Tyler Hopkins[2]; 8. 74N-Allen Wyatt[8]; 9. D2-Danny Tate[5]; 10. 12Y-Lonnie Laney[14]; 11. 04-Dustin Miller[3]; 12. 58-Ronnie Hall[12]; 13. A2-Carson Venable[6]; 14. 243-Seth Smith[1]; 15. 25X-Daniel McManus[17]; 16. 0H-Jacob Hayes[4]; 17. 0-Shawn Peche[13]; 18. 4M-Billy Mack; 19. 4X-Cookie Thompson[19]; 20. (DNS) 41-Parker Griffin

FEATURE #2
After crowning a first-time DIRTVision Hornet World Short Track Championship winner in first Feature, a multi-time winner reigned supreme at the conclusion of the second.

When the second Feature commenced, polesitter Wayne Taylor could barely get a step ahead before being pulled into a battle for the top spot by Cale Deese and Newman Presnell – who had already worked his way from fifth to third.

Deese edged ahead of them down the backstretch to claim the early lead. However, his moment of glory was also short lived. After stalking Deese for a couple laps, Presnell threw a slide job into Turn 3 and cleared Deese by the next turn.

From there, Presnell – who won both of his World Short Track Championship Hornet races last year – put his #48 car on cruise control and drove to his third straight Dirt Track at Charlotte victory.

“We had a pretty good car,” Presnell said. “We won here last year in both our races. I knew we had a good car and a good setup. Just stay smooth. Fifteen laps. That’s a lot of time to make it to the front. The track is big and wide. Just stay smooth. Stay consistent. Run my own race and it worked out good for us.”

Deese finished second with Taylor third, Justin Harris fourth and “Top-Five Ken” Kenneth Colf in fifth.

FULL RESULTS (Feature #2 – 15 laps)
1. 48-Newman Presnell[5]; 2. 35-Cale Deese[2]; 3. 14T-Wayne Taylor[1]; 4. 1H-Justin Harris[4]; 5. 15-Kenneth Colf[12]; 6. 05-Jammie Kelly[16]; 7. 359-Michael Lambert[13]; 8. H2-Alex Brooks[10]; 9. 12X-David Laney[17]; 10. 23-Eric Grant[18]; 11. 41JR-Kolten Saam[3]; 12. 0S-Tony Slack[7]; 13. 2020-James Harrelson[14]; 14. 7L-Marcus Locklear[6]; 15. (DNS) 5-Sean Vardell; 16. (DNS) 2D-Daniel Tate; 17. (DNS) A23-Andrew Rich; 18. (DNS) 4M-Billy Mack

FEATURE #3
The war for a World Short Track Championship win continued into the final DIRTVision Hornet Feature of the night, with John Windham and Dan Benson breaking out the boxing gloves in the opening laps.

When the cars exited Turn 4 and saw the green flag on the initial start, Windham dove underneath Benson into the first corner. Inches apart, and at times rubbing fenders, the two ran side by side the first lap, arguing over who would sit on the Victory Lane throne.

Windham got the advantage their second time around the track, pulling ahead of Benson for the lead in Turn 3. But keeping his foot in the throttle, Benson stayed on Windham’s rear bumper through the corner, nearly getting his rival out of shape.

“Heck, I thought he was about to take me out a couple of times,” Windham said. “I thought I was about to get wrecked.

Windham managed to keep control of his car and power away from Benson once he found clean air. Then, he continued to put seconds between them.

In the closing stages of the race, Benson, again, found himself in a side-by-side battle to defend his spot. Chris Harrell, who started 18th, had been on a charge all race. He found himself in the top 10 on the first lap and then methodically worked his way forward. He caught Benson by the halfway point and eventually stole second with five laps to go.

By that point, Windham was too far ahead for Harrell to try and catch.

While everyone dueled for positions, Windham was making qualifying laps and crossed the finish line with a more than four-second lead to claim his second World Short Championship victory.

“It felt good,” Windham said. “It wouldn’t get through the center real good. But it was fast. It felt good.”

Harrell settled for second, Benson was third, Kylee Laws finished fourth and Chris Baker rounded out the top five.

FULL RESULTS (Feature #3 – 15 laps)
1. 65-John Windham[8]; 2. 95-Chris Harrell[18]; 3. 21C-Dan Benson[2]; 4. 2-Kylee Laws[3]; 5. 5B-Chris Baker[13]; 6. 11-Jonathan Sarratt[17]; 7. 711-Kenneth Long Jr[7]; 8. 41K-Kelly Rash[12]; 9. 14-Jonathan Leophard[15]; 10. 13X-Ben Messer[1]; 11. 18E-William Estep[5]; 12. 5T-Reggie Twing[14]; 13. 64-Mike Budka Jr[10]; 14. 38-Rodney Grant[16]; 15. 25J-Josh Whitfield[6]; 16. 00-Michael Wallace[4]; 17. 77-Dallas Griggs[11]; 18. (DNS) 13B-Brandon Collins

UP NEXT: The DIRTVision Hornets will run three more Features on Saturday, Oct. 29, to conclude the seventh annual World Short Track Championship. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch the full day of racing, starting at 4pm (ET), live on DIRTVision – either at DIRTVision.com or by downloading the DIRTVision App.

FULL FRIDAY RESULTS:

Summit Racing Equipment DIRTcar UMP Modifieds
Last Chance Showdown 1
1. 44-Jeff Parsons[1]; 2. 18-Brandon Kinzer[4]; 3. 12R-Ty Rhoades[5]; 4. 99-Cole Hilton[2]; 5. 88-Matt Crafton[8]; 6. T2-Greg Hauger[3]; 7. 74-Mike Franklin[9]; 8. 12-Skylar Marlar[12]; 9. 4M-Tim Monroe[20]; 10. 9T-Mason Canter[19]; 11. 22-Donnie Levister[16]; 12. 814-Samuel Lamborgini[11]; 13. 55-Alyssa Rowe[14]; 14. 463-Daniel Sanchez[13]; 15. (DNS) 6-Ryan Ayers; 16. (DNS) 52-Colin Green; 17. (DNS) 72-Todd Neiheiser; 18. (DNS) 5CS-Curt Spalding; 19. (DNS) 35-David Stremme; 20. (DNS) 7T-Drake Troutman

Heat 1
1. 21-Taylor Cook[2]; 2. 00-Ethan Dotson[1]; 3. 5-Jonathan Taylor[4]; 4. 77-George Dixon[3]; 5. 44-Jeff Parsons[5]; 6. 12R-Ty Rhoades[6]; 7. 74-Mike Franklin[9]; 8. 463-Daniel Sanchez[8]; 9. (DNS) 7T-Drake Troutman

Heat 2
1. 8S-Kyle Strickler[2]; 2. 71D-Chris Madden[1]; 3. 21S-Kenny Shaw[4]; 4. 95J-Justin Cullum[9]; 5. 99-Cole Hilton[7]; 6. 72-Todd Neiheiser[6]; 7. 52-Colin Green[5]; 8. 55-Alyssa Rowe[8]; 9. (DNS) 5CS-Curt Spalding

Heat 3
1. 96M-Mike McKinney[5]; 2. 8-Austin Holcombe[2]; 3. 7-Evan Taylor[3]; 4. 79D-John DeMoss[6]; 5. T2-Greg Hauger[7]; 6. 35-David Stremme[1]; 7. 814-Samuel Lamborgini[9]; 8. 6-Ryan Ayers[4]; 9. 9T-Mason Canter[8]

Heat 4
1. 99H-Justin Haley[1]; 2. 99W-Chris Arnold[2]; 3. 11-Troy Loomis[3]; 4. 25-Jason Altiers[4]; 5. 18-Brandon Kinzer[5]; 6. 88-Matt Crafton[6]; 7. 12-Skylar Marlar[9]; 8. 22-Donnie Levister[8]; 9. 4M-Tim Monroe[7]

Hoosier Racing Tire Pro Modifieds
Heat 1
1. 42-Kevin Pangrazio[2]; 2. 25-Robert Poole[3]; 3. 23-Buck Stevens[7]; 4. 00-Preston Blalock[5]; 5. 09-Michael Leach[9]; 6. 18F-Jordan Fegter[4]; 7. 20-Blake Hedrick[6]; 8. 21A-Adam Favors[8]; 9. 66-Jamie Throckmorton[1]

Heat 2
1. 6-Ryan Ayers[1]; 2. 20S-Trey Stamper[3]; 3. 59-Grayson Wells[4]; 4. 20H-Brandon Hall[5]; 5. 16-Daniel Allen[8]; 6. 92-Larry Martin[6]; 7. 17-Case Daniels[7]; 8. 00B-JP Blalock[9]; 9. 42X-Michael Selig[2]

Heat 3
1. 11-Eric Bentley[1]; 2. 14-Jeff Robinson[6]; 3. 56-Justin Blevins[5]; 4. 18D-Phillip Benfield[2]; 5. 73-Chris Nickerson[9]; 6. 06-Sean Meeks[7]; 7. 15-Morgan Widener[8]; 8. 71-Dennis Kirk[3]; 9. 7D-JR Davis[4]

Heat 4
1. 83-Kevin Vanhorn[1]; 2. 23B-Spencer Boyd[9]; 3. 121-Chase Cardwell[7]; 4. 04-Cole Wagoner[5]; 5. 28-RK Dix[8]; 6. 89-Heath Martin[3]; 7. 69-Harley Stanley[6]; 8. 8P-Jason Powers[2]; 9. 27-Bryan Martin[4]

Heat 5
1. 44-Brian Nickerson[1]; 2. 2J-Jake Barneycastle[7]; 3. 8A-Austin Holcombe[8]; 4. 5W-Ethan Wilson[9]; 5. 19-Ryan Morgan[6]; 6. 50-Ronald Covey[2]; 7. 18-Ray Suman[5]; 8. 12-Jerry Reich[4]; 9. 58-Brady Pyrtle[3]

Heat 6
1. 2T-Ty Norder[2]; 2. 45-Cambridge Gann[3]; 3. 312-Greg Brown[4]; 4. 23A-Austin Self[6]; 5. 13-Quentin Haley[1]; 6. 1G-Grayson Keaton[7]; 7. 29-Brandon Bentley[9]; 8. 35-Ryan Dolan[5]; 9. 72-Patrick Field[8]

Fox Factory Pro Late Models
Last Chance Showdown 11. 08-Layton Sullivan[1]; 2. 00-Kendal Tucker[2]; 3. 7-Daniel Breuer[3]; 4. 615-Colton Trouille[5]; 5. T20-Taylor Wood[8]; 6. 17-Jeffrey Johnson[4]; 7. 15M-Gary Mabe[6]; 8. 17M-Billy Martin[7]; 9. 70-Roger Lankford[13]; 10. 25M-Marc Berzowski[12]; 11. 10E-Patrick Evatt[10]; 12. (DNS) 10-Matt Ashworth; 13. (DNS) 20G-Chub Gunter

Last Chance Showdown 21. 55H-Benji Hicks[1]; 2. 555-Brock Pinkerous[2]; 3. 74-Mike Franklin[7]; 4. 29-Dale Moore[5]; 5. 2-Shawn Martin[4]; 6. 89-Timmie Harrelson[3]; 7. 57-Keaton Smith[10]; 8. 143-Brian Ledbetter[6]; 9. 62-Jacob Lehn[9]; 10. 228-William Russell III[8]; 11. 15-Chuck Melton[12]; 12. 37-Tommy Eastridge[13]; 13. 12-Randy Pinnix[11]

Heat Race 1
1. 5Q-Colby Quick[1]; 2. 114-Jordan Koehler[2]; 3. 22-Jeremy Steele[6]; 4. 24-Jacob Brown[4]; 5. 08-Layton Sullivan[7]; 6. 7-Daniel Breuer[5]; 7. 615-Colton Trouille[11]; 8. 17M-Billy Martin[9]; 9. 10-Matt Ashworth[8]; 10. 20G-Chub Gunter[3]; 11. 70-Roger Lankford[10]

Heat Race 2
1. 18-Ricky Greene[1]; 2. 55-Matt Long[2]; 3. 7J-Dalton Jacobs[3]; 4. 136-David Pangrazio[5]; 5. 00-Kendal Tucker[4]; 6. 17-Jeffrey Johnson[7]; 7. 15M-Gary Mabe[8]; 8. T20-Taylor Wood[6]; 9. 10E-Patrick Evatt[10]; 10. 25M-Marc Berzowski[9]

Heat Race 3
1. 215-Jamison McBride[1]; 2. 66-Jody Knowles[7]; 3. 12C-Cody Cubbage[2]; 4. 27H-Justin Hudspeth[6]; 5. 55H-Benji Hicks[5]; 6. 89-Timmie Harrelson[3]; 7. 29-Dale Moore[4]; 8. 74-Mike Franklin[9]; 9. 62-Jacob Lehn[10]; 10. 12-Randy Pinnix[8]; 11. 37-Tommy Eastridge[11]

Heat Race 4
1. 6-Dillon Brown[1]; 2. G4-Trent Ivey[3]; 3. 31G-Stephen Pedulla[2]; 4. 5S-Joey Johnson[4]; 5. 555-Brock Pinkerous[6]; 6. 2-Shawn Martin[5]; 7. 143-Brian Ledbetter[10]; 8. 228-William Russell III[7]; 9. 57-Keaton Smith[8]; 10. 15-Chuck Melton[9]

Chevrolet Performance 602 Late Models
Heat Race 1
1. 149-Seth Speed[1]; 2. 114K-Jordan Koehler[6]; 3. 18D-Chuckie Duncan[4]; 4. 18M-Austin Mintz[10]; 5. JR1-Jake Jackson[5]; 6. 6C-Brian Carter[2]; 7. P4-John Price[12]; 8. 1-Morghan Johnson[7]; 9. 5S-Robbie Stevens[11]; 10. *1-Brad Rachels[8]; 11. 41-Mike Lemley[9]; 12. 7-Ronnie Long[3]

Heat Race 2
1. C10-Carl Currin[2]; 2. 17-Chris Joyce[3]; 3. 10P-Tyler Payne[5]; 4. 12-Justin Taylor[7]; 5. 18-Preston Blalock[12]; 6. 03W-Jason Welborn[4]; 7. 92-Tanner Fortune[6]; 8. 27-Mike Davidson[9]; 9. 22-Caleb Simmons[8]; 10. 22T-Steven Thompkins II[10]; 11. (DNS) U2-William Sullivan; 12. (DQ) 300-Bill Tesh[1]

Heat Race 3
1. 19-Gavin Cowan[8]; 2. 24-AJ Belanger[2]; 3. 9-Cole Hedrick[3]; 4. 2-Brady Cornett[5]; 5. 67-Bryan Mullis[7]; 6. T2-Travis Sharpe[9]; 7. 7J-Dalton Jacobs[10]; 8. 32W-Tony Whittier[6]; 9. 81-Keith Hart[1]; 10. 28-Keith Hawkins[4]; 11. 33-Jeremy Fowler[11]

Heat Race 4
1. 10-Daniel Parker[4]; 2. 114-Evan Koehler[1]; 3. 14M-Baron McDowell[9]; 4. 66-Preston Dimsdale[6]; 5. 15-Daniel Durham[2]; 6. 22W-Nathan Walker[3]; 7. 32K-Tyler Kussman[10]; 8. 57-Luke Cooper[11]; 9. 0-Olivia Gentry[7]; 10. LIL17-Jeremiah Johnson[5]; 11. 5-Robbie Gibson[8]

MSD Pro Stocks
Heat 1
1. 72G-Denis Gauvreau[1]; 2. 2-Pete Stefanski[4]; 3. 9S-Luke Horning[5]; 4. 17-Nick Hilt[3]; 5. 4M-Jordan Modiano[2]; 6. 33-Bruno Cyr[7]; 7. 14J-Johnny Rivers Jr[6]; 8. 09-Shawn Perez Sr[8]; 9. 63-Ryan Crellin[11]; 10. 11-Stéphane Larivière[9]; 11. 58-Roxanne Roy[10]

Heat 2
1. 8-Marc Lalonde[1]; 2. 32-Jonathan Levesque[4]; 3. 00X-Josh Coonradt[3]; 4. 8C-Sean Corr[2]; 5. 92-Sheldon Martin[6]; 6. 38JR-Justin Chaput[5]; 7. 6-Stephane Lebrun[11]; 8. 09J-Shawn Perez Jr[7]; 9. 35-Jonathan Lemay[9]; 10. 9-Eric Jean Louis[10]; 11. 6C-Brian Carter[8]

VP Racing Fuels Sportsman Modifieds
Heat 1
1. 89-Dylan Madsen[1]; 2. 5C-Ayden Cipriano[2]; 3. 20X-Kevin Ridley[3]; 4. 99-Jordan Millard[6]; 5. 26-Derrick McGrew[4]; 6. 44C-Dave Conant[5]; 7. 52-Jessica Power[8]; 8. 29-Tanner Forbes[9]; 9. 49-Chris Jakubiak[7]; 10. 23C-Tommy D’Angelo[11]; 11. 47-Walter Cook[10]

Heat 2
1. 01-Zachary Buff[1]; 2. 92-Andrew Buff[2]; 3. 410-Mike Fowler[4]; 4. 44-David Rogers[3]; 5. 78-Michael Wright[5]; 6. 18-Blayden Arquette[6]; 7. 7X-Chuck Miller[7]; 8. 23-Cole Perry[8]; 9. 1R-Ricky Thompson[10]; 10. 73G-Gordon Hermanson Jr[9]

COMP Cams Monster Mini-Stocks
Heat 1
1. 117-Matt Gilbert[10]; 2. 19-Travis Mosley[9]; 3. 98-Michael Webb[3]; 4. 44-Marcus Hughes[1]; 5. B03-Damien Bryant[8]; 6. 2-James Manning[5]; 7. X-Kevin Cooper[4]; 8. 56A-Ken Appleton[7]; 9. 21-JR Warren[6]; 10. 62-Jason Adams[2]

Heat 2
1. 8J11-Ronnie Johnson[6]; 2. 04-Austin Brown[10]; 3. 28C-Brent Couch[9]; 4. 69-Billy Cline[2]; 5. 5-Bryan Harrelson[5]; 6. 37-Ben Burnett[7]; 7. 212-Greg Brew[4]; 8. 07G-Raylee Shatley[1]; 9. 56-Nick Fulcher[3]; 10. (DNS) 71-Bradley Southern

Heat 3
1. 96B-Stacy Brock[1]; 2. 84-Kyle Cooper[3]; 3. 2W-Dylan Warden[9]; 4. H3-Harley Holden[4]; 5. 12-Pete Brew[10]; 6. 8-Dustin Bolin[2]; 7. 72-Travis Harden[7]; 8. 95-Kevin Atwell[6]; 9. 15-Zach Lankford[5]; 10. 12M-Randy Melton[8]

Heat 4
1. 10-Logan Richey[6]; 2. 24-Josh Bryant[8]; 3. 7X-Jessie Richardson Jr[4]; 4. 96X-Tyler Riddle[7]; 5. 17-Nick Broome[9]; 6. 5C-Connor Keaton[1]; 7. 04W-Phillip Wilson[10]; 8. 99-Daniel Coffey[2]; 9. 96-Tanner Cook[3]; 10. 1G-Grayson Keaton[5]

ARP Street Stocks
Heat 1
1. 70-Mike Grady Jr[1]; 2. 26-Brandon White[6]; 3. 2-Bradley Weaver[4]; 4. 81-Justin Barber[7]; 5. 92-Tanner Fortune[9]; 6. 73-Timmy Smith[11]; 7. 7B-Mickey Barnes[5]; 8. 40B-Todd Bolin[2]; 9. 7-John Cagle[3]; 10. 83-Calob McLaughlin[8]; 11. 5N-Nick Evans[10]

Heat 2
1. 18D-MItchell Duvall[3]; 2. 96-Dalton Pannell[5]; 3. 01-Patrick Lyon[4]; 4. 51-Phoenix Lawter[9]; 5. 7DD-David Duke[10]; 6. 15-Rick Potter[8]; 7. 11-Robbie Mooneyham[6]; 8. 9S-Chris Steadman[2]; 9. 40-TJ Bolin[1]; 10. 1-Brandon Blair[11]; 11. 39-Steve Greene[7]

Heat 3
1. 78-Blake Pryor[3]; 2. 9P-Dalton Peavy[6]; 3. 17-Devon Morgan[7]; 4. 41-Mattison Hoots[9]; 5. 06-Andrew Durham[10]; 6. 91F-Chris Stowe[2]; 7. 14-Megan Erwin[5]; 8. BB2-Jesse Wall[8]; 9. 17D-Russell Douville[1]; 10. 17M-Cameron Martin[4]

Heat 4
1. 11L-Kade Langley[2]; 2. 9-Ronnie Mosley[7]; 3. Y44-Bailey Loftin[5]; 4. 18-Ricky Greene[10]; 5. 32-Garrett Killman[1]; 6. 00-Cody Ussery[9]; 7. 15L-Donovan Long[3]; 8. 53-Eric Grant[6]; 9. 11W-David Wells[4]; 10. (DNS) 5-Junior Johnson

SRI Performance Thunder Bombers
Heat 1
1. G1-Greg Carroll[2]; 2. 47-Tyler Guice[11]; 3. 12B-Blake Bentley[6]; 4. 19-Stetsen Todd[7]; 5. 75-Travis Jamieson[5]; 6. 40-Todd Bolin[3]; 7. 43-Jacob Funderburke[10]; 8. 08-Duce Miller[8]; 9. 32-Brandon Greene[4]; 10. 6-Dylan Montgomery[1]; 11. 54B-Brian Bentley[9]

Heat 2
1. 48-Grant Parr[10]; 2. 14-Jonathan Hinson[4]; 3. B4-Brandon Satterfield[1]; 4. 20-Isaiah Parker[3]; 5. T2-Tyler Abernathy[8]; 6. 54-Daniel Massey[11]; 7. 02-Lloyd Dean Burgess[6]; 8. 34-Joey Powell[7]; 9. 16-Benny Peeler[2]; 10. 28XI-Bailey Hipp[5]; 11. (DNS) 54A-Ashley Massey

Heat 3
1. 78-Hunter Funderburke[1]; 2. 12X-Benji Knight[7]; 3. 12-Rod Tucker[6]; 4. 97-Luke Doggett[8]; 5. 2F-Bradley Weaver[11]; 6. 2-Ricky Bogan[3]; 7. K10-Josh Ayers[4]; 8. 10W-Justin Watts[2]; 9. 14P-Tyler Parker[10]; 10. (DNS) 15-Garrison Krentz; 11. (DNS) 19F-Willie Fowler

Heat 4
1. 39-Steve Greene[5]; 2. 97T-Mark Towell[10]; 3. 04-Nate Jackson[4]; 4. 912-John Williams[11]; 5. 64-TJ Penfield[1]; 6. 75EC-James Gottlieb[3]; 7. 483-Hann

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Slone, Presnell, Windham score World Short Track Hornet Friday Feature wins

CONCORD, NC (Oct. 28, 2022) – The first three DIRTVision Hornet Features for the seventh annual World Short Track Championship at The Dirt Track at Charlotte saw two repeat victors and a first-time winner.

With 55 Hornets entered for the division’s marquee event, the field was split into three 15-lap Features Friday night.

Zack Slone, in his first ever World Short Track Championship start, claimed his first event victory in the first Feature, while Newman Presnell and John Windham returned to Victory Lane in the proceeding two.

Here is how each Feature played out…

FEATURE #1
When the green flag flew for the first DIRTVision Hornet Feature of the night, Seth Smith earned the title as the first Hornet driver to lead a lap this weekend. However, his claim to the lead was short lived.

After a restart on Lap 4, Smith became prey to two starving hunters. Brad McManus and Zack Slone stayed within inches of Smith on the restart, making a tight three-way battle for the lead.

The trio dueled for multiple laps before McManus and Slone overpowered Smith for the top two spots.

Ripping the high side of the 4/10-mile track, about bicycling his car every lap with the left rear leaving the ground on corner entry, Slone found an opening to the outside of McManus and passed him for the lead by the halfway point of the race.

With four laps to go, Smith suffered an issue, bringing his car to a stop in Turn 4, and brought out a caution. On the restart, McManus looked low on Slone into Turn 1, but Slone had the better momentum up top and drove away with his first career World Short Track Championship victory.

“It feels amazing, man” Slone said, trying to catch his breath with every word. “Literally built this motor… had it built last week and blew it up in four laps, rushed to get it together for tonight and bring it out here and win in my first try. It feels great.

“I’m known for finishing second a lot. Leading the whole race and losing it on the last lap. I’m happy to finish it off this time.”

McManus settled for second, CJ LaVair finished third, Ricky Weaver fourth and Hunter Wallace rounded out the top five.

FULL RESULTS (Feature #1 – 15 laps):
1. 91Z-Zack Slone[9]; 2. 3B-Brad McManus[7]; 3. C4-CJ LaVair[16]; 4. 21-Ricky Weaver[15]; 5. 1X-Hunter Wallace[10]; 6. 4-Daniel Wright[18]; 7. 5H-Tyler Hopkins[2]; 8. 74N-Allen Wyatt[8]; 9. D2-Danny Tate[5]; 10. 12Y-Lonnie Laney[14]; 11. 04-Dustin Miller[3]; 12. 58-Ronnie Hall[12]; 13. A2-Carson Venable[6]; 14. 243-Seth Smith[1]; 15. 25X-Daniel McManus[17]; 16. 0H-Jacob Hayes[4]; 17. 0-Shawn Peche[13]; 18. 4M-Billy Mack; 19. 4X-Cookie Thompson[19]; 20. (DNS) 41-Parker Griffin

FEATURE #2
After crowning a first-time DIRTVision Hornet World Short Track Championship winner in first Feature, a multi-time winner reigned supreme at the conclusion of the second.

When the second Feature commenced, polesitter Wayne Taylor could barely get a step ahead before being pulled into a battle for the top spot by Cale Deese and Newman Presnell – who had already worked his way from fifth to third.

Deese edged ahead of them down the backstretch to claim the early lead. However, his moment of glory was also short lived. After stalking Deese for a couple laps, Presnell threw a slide job into Turn 3 and cleared Deese by the next turn.

From there, Presnell – who won both of his World Short Track Championship Hornet races last year – put his #48 car on cruise control and drove to his third straight Dirt Track at Charlotte victory.

“We had a pretty good car,” Presnell said. “We won here last year in both our races. I knew we had a good car and a good setup. Just stay smooth. Fifteen laps. That’s a lot of time to make it to the front. The track is big and wide. Just stay smooth. Stay consistent. Run my own race and it worked out good for us.”

Deese finished second with Taylor third, Justin Harris fourth and “Top-Five Ken” Kenneth Colf in fifth.

FULL RESULTS (Feature #2 – 15 laps)
1. 48-Newman Presnell[5]; 2. 35-Cale Deese[2]; 3. 14T-Wayne Taylor[1]; 4. 1H-Justin Harris[4]; 5. 15-Kenneth Colf[12]; 6. 05-Jammie Kelly[16]; 7. 359-Michael Lambert[13]; 8. H2-Alex Brooks[10]; 9. 12X-David Laney[17]; 10. 23-Eric Grant[18]; 11. 41JR-Kolten Saam[3]; 12. 0S-Tony Slack[7]; 13. 2020-James Harrelson[14]; 14. 7L-Marcus Locklear[6]; 15. (DNS) 5-Sean Vardell; 16. (DNS) 2D-Daniel Tate; 17. (DNS) A23-Andrew Rich; 18. (DNS) 4M-Billy Mack

FEATURE #3
The war for a World Short Track Championship win continued into the final DIRTVision Hornet Feature of the night, with John Windham and Dan Benson breaking out the boxing gloves in the opening laps.

When the cars exited Turn 4 and saw the green flag on the initial start, Windham dove underneath Benson into the first corner. Inches apart, and at times rubbing fenders, the two ran side by side the first lap, arguing over who would sit on the Victory Lane throne.

Windham got the advantage their second time around the track, pulling ahead of Benson for the lead in Turn 3. But keeping his foot in the throttle, Benson stayed on Windham’s rear bumper through the corner, nearly getting his rival out of shape.

“Heck, I thought he was about to take me out a couple of times,” Windham said. “I thought I was about to get wrecked.

Windham managed to keep control of his car and power away from Benson once he found clean air. Then, he continued to put seconds between them.

In the closing stages of the race, Benson, again, found himself in a side-by-side battle to defend his spot. Chris Harrell, who started 18th, had been on a charge all race. He found himself in the top 10 on the first lap and then methodically worked his way forward. He caught Benson by the halfway point and eventually stole second with five laps to go.

By that point, Windham was too far ahead for Harrell to try and catch.

While everyone dueled for positions, Windham was making qualifying laps and crossed the finish line with a more than four-second lead to claim his second World Short Championship victory.

“It felt good,” Windham said. “It wouldn’t get through the center real good. But it was fast. It felt good.”

Harrell settled for second, Benson was third, Kylee Laws finished fourth and Chris Baker rounded out the top five.

FULL RESULTS (Feature #3 – 15 laps)
1. 65-John Windham[8]; 2. 95-Chris Harrell[18]; 3. 21C-Dan Benson[2]; 4. 2-Kylee Laws[3]; 5. 5B-Chris Baker[13]; 6. 11-Jonathan Sarratt[17]; 7. 711-Kenneth Long Jr[7]; 8. 41K-Kelly Rash[12]; 9. 14-Jonathan Leophard[15]; 10. 13X-Ben Messer[1]; 11. 18E-William Estep[5]; 12. 5T-Reggie Twing[14]; 13. 64-Mike Budka Jr[10]; 14. 38-Rodney Grant[16]; 15. 25J-Josh Whitfield[6]; 16. 00-Michael Wallace[4]; 17. 77-Dallas Griggs[11]; 18. (DNS) 13B-Brandon Collins

UP NEXT: The DIRTVision Hornets will run three more Features on Saturday, Oct. 29, to conclude the seventh annual World Short Track Championship. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch the full day of racing, starting at 4pm (ET), live on DIRTVision – either at DIRTVision.com or by downloading the DIRTVision App.

FULL FRIDAY RESULTS:

Summit Racing Equipment DIRTcar UMP Modifieds
Last Chance Showdown 1
1. 44-Jeff Parsons[1]; 2. 18-Brandon Kinzer[4]; 3. 12R-Ty Rhoades[5]; 4. 99-Cole Hilton[2]; 5. 88-Matt Crafton[8]; 6. T2-Greg Hauger[3]; 7. 74-Mike Franklin[9]; 8. 12-Skylar Marlar[12]; 9. 4M-Tim Monroe[20]; 10. 9T-Mason Canter[19]; 11. 22-Donnie Levister[16]; 12. 814-Samuel Lamborgini[11]; 13. 55-Alyssa Rowe[14]; 14. 463-Daniel Sanchez[13]; 15. (DNS) 6-Ryan Ayers; 16. (DNS) 52-Colin Green; 17. (DNS) 72-Todd Neiheiser; 18. (DNS) 5CS-Curt Spalding; 19. (DNS) 35-David Stremme; 20. (DNS) 7T-Drake Troutman

Heat 1
1. 21-Taylor Cook[2]; 2. 00-Ethan Dotson[1]; 3. 5-Jonathan Taylor[4]; 4. 77-George Dixon[3]; 5. 44-Jeff Parsons[5]; 6. 12R-Ty Rhoades[6]; 7. 74-Mike Franklin[9]; 8. 463-Daniel Sanchez[8]; 9. (DNS) 7T-Drake Troutman

Heat 2
1. 8S-Kyle Strickler[2]; 2. 71D-Chris Madden[1]; 3. 21S-Kenny Shaw[4]; 4. 95J-Justin Cullum[9]; 5. 99-Cole Hilton[7]; 6. 72-Todd Neiheiser[6]; 7. 52-Colin Green[5]; 8. 55-Alyssa Rowe[8]; 9. (DNS) 5CS-Curt Spalding

Heat 3
1. 96M-Mike McKinney[5]; 2. 8-Austin Holcombe[2]; 3. 7-Evan Taylor[3]; 4. 79D-John DeMoss[6]; 5. T2-Greg Hauger[7]; 6. 35-David Stremme[1]; 7. 814-Samuel Lamborgini[9]; 8. 6-Ryan Ayers[4]; 9. 9T-Mason Canter[8]

Heat 4
1. 99H-Justin Haley[1]; 2. 99W-Chris Arnold[2]; 3. 11-Troy Loomis[3]; 4. 25-Jason Altiers[4]; 5. 18-Brandon Kinzer[5]; 6. 88-Matt Crafton[6]; 7. 12-Skylar Marlar[9]; 8. 22-Donnie Levister[8]; 9. 4M-Tim Monroe[7]

Hoosier Racing Tire Pro Modifieds
Heat 1
1. 42-Kevin Pangrazio[2]; 2. 25-Robert Poole[3]; 3. 23-Buck Stevens[7]; 4. 00-Preston Blalock[5]; 5. 09-Michael Leach[9]; 6. 18F-Jordan Fegter[4]; 7. 20-Blake Hedrick[6]; 8. 21A-Adam Favors[8]; 9. 66-Jamie Throckmorton[1]

Heat 2
1. 6-Ryan Ayers[1]; 2. 20S-Trey Stamper[3]; 3. 59-Grayson Wells[4]; 4. 20H-Brandon Hall[5]; 5. 16-Daniel Allen[8]; 6. 92-Larry Martin[6]; 7. 17-Case Daniels[7]; 8. 00B-JP Blalock[9]; 9. 42X-Michael Selig[2]

Heat 3
1. 11-Eric Bentley[1]; 2. 14-Jeff Robinson[6]; 3. 56-Justin Blevins[5]; 4. 18D-Phillip Benfield[2]; 5. 73-Chris Nickerson[9]; 6. 06-Sean Meeks[7]; 7. 15-Morgan Widener[8]; 8. 71-Dennis Kirk[3]; 9. 7D-JR Davis[4]

Heat 4
1. 83-Kevin Vanhorn[1]; 2. 23B-Spencer Boyd[9]; 3. 121-Chase Cardwell[7]; 4. 04-Cole Wagoner[5]; 5. 28-RK Dix[8]; 6. 89-Heath Martin[3]; 7. 69-Harley Stanley[6]; 8. 8P-Jason Powers[2]; 9. 27-Bryan Martin[4]

Heat 5
1. 44-Brian Nickerson[1]; 2. 2J-Jake Barneycastle[7]; 3. 8A-Austin Holcombe[8]; 4. 5W-Ethan Wilson[9]; 5. 19-Ryan Morgan[6]; 6. 50-Ronald Covey[2]; 7. 18-Ray Suman[5]; 8. 12-Jerry Reich[4]; 9. 58-Brady Pyrtle[3]

Heat 6
1. 2T-Ty Norder[2]; 2. 45-Cambridge Gann[3]; 3. 312-Greg Brown[4]; 4. 23A-Austin Self[6]; 5. 13-Quentin Haley[1]; 6. 1G-Grayson Keaton[7]; 7. 29-Brandon Bentley[9]; 8. 35-Ryan Dolan[5]; 9. 72-Patrick Field[8]

Fox Factory Pro Late Models
Last Chance Showdown 11. 08-Layton Sullivan[1]; 2. 00-Kendal Tucker[2]; 3. 7-Daniel Breuer[3]; 4. 615-Colton Trouille[5]; 5. T20-Taylor Wood[8]; 6. 17-Jeffrey Johnson[4]; 7. 15M-Gary Mabe[6]; 8. 17M-Billy Martin[7]; 9. 70-Roger Lankford[13]; 10. 25M-Marc Berzowski[12]; 11. 10E-Patrick Evatt[10]; 12. (DNS) 10-Matt Ashworth; 13. (DNS) 20G-Chub Gunter

Last Chance Showdown 21. 55H-Benji Hicks[1]; 2. 555-Brock Pinkerous[2]; 3. 74-Mike Franklin[7]; 4. 29-Dale Moore[5]; 5. 2-Shawn Martin[4]; 6. 89-Timmie Harrelson[3]; 7. 57-Keaton Smith[10]; 8. 143-Brian Ledbetter[6]; 9. 62-Jacob Lehn[9]; 10. 228-William Russell III[8]; 11. 15-Chuck Melton[12]; 12. 37-Tommy Eastridge[13]; 13. 12-Randy Pinnix[11]

Heat Race 1
1. 5Q-Colby Quick[1]; 2. 114-Jordan Koehler[2]; 3. 22-Jeremy Steele[6]; 4. 24-Jacob Brown[4]; 5. 08-Layton Sullivan[7]; 6. 7-Daniel Breuer[5]; 7. 615-Colton Trouille[11]; 8. 17M-Billy Martin[9]; 9. 10-Matt Ashworth[8]; 10. 20G-Chub Gunter[3]; 11. 70-Roger Lankford[10]

Heat Race 2
1. 18-Ricky Greene[1]; 2. 55-Matt Long[2]; 3. 7J-Dalton Jacobs[3]; 4. 136-David Pangrazio[5]; 5. 00-Kendal Tucker[4]; 6. 17-Jeffrey Johnson[7]; 7. 15M-Gary Mabe[8]; 8. T20-Taylor Wood[6]; 9. 10E-Patrick Evatt[10]; 10. 25M-Marc Berzowski[9]

Heat Race 3
1. 215-Jamison McBride[1]; 2. 66-Jody Knowles[7]; 3. 12C-Cody Cubbage[2]; 4. 27H-Justin Hudspeth[6]; 5. 55H-Benji Hicks[5]; 6. 89-Timmie Harrelson[3]; 7. 29-Dale Moore[4]; 8. 74-Mike Franklin[9]; 9. 62-Jacob Lehn[10]; 10. 12-Randy Pinnix[8]; 11. 37-Tommy Eastridge[11]

Heat Race 4
1. 6-Dillon Brown[1]; 2. G4-Trent Ivey[3]; 3. 31G-Stephen Pedulla[2]; 4. 5S-Joey Johnson[4]; 5. 555-Brock Pinkerous[6]; 6. 2-Shawn Martin[5]; 7. 143-Brian Ledbetter[10]; 8. 228-William Russell III[7]; 9. 57-Keaton Smith[8]; 10. 15-Chuck Melton[9]

Chevrolet Performance 602 Late Models
Heat Race 1
1. 149-Seth Speed[1]; 2. 114K-Jordan Koehler[6]; 3. 18D-Chuckie Duncan[4]; 4. 18M-Austin Mintz[10]; 5. JR1-Jake Jackson[5]; 6. 6C-Brian Carter[2]; 7. P4-John Price[12]; 8. 1-Morghan Johnson[7]; 9. 5S-Robbie Stevens[11]; 10. *1-Brad Rachels[8]; 11. 41-Mike Lemley[9]; 12. 7-Ronnie Long[3]

Heat Race 2
1. C10-Carl Currin[2]; 2. 17-Chris Joyce[3]; 3. 10P-Tyler Payne[5]; 4. 12-Justin Taylor[7]; 5. 18-Preston Blalock[12]; 6. 03W-Jason Welborn[4]; 7. 92-Tanner Fortune[6]; 8. 27-Mike Davidson[9]; 9. 22-Caleb Simmons[8]; 10. 22T-Steven Thompkins II[10]; 11. (DNS) U2-William Sullivan; 12. (DQ) 300-Bill Tesh[1]

Heat Race 3
1. 19-Gavin Cowan[8]; 2. 24-AJ Belanger[2]; 3. 9-Cole Hedrick[3]; 4. 2-Brady Cornett[5]; 5. 67-Bryan Mullis[7]; 6. T2-Travis Sharpe[9]; 7. 7J-Dalton Jacobs[10]; 8. 32W-Tony Whittier[6]; 9. 81-Keith Hart[1]; 10. 28-Keith Hawkins[4]; 11. 33-Jeremy Fowler[11]

Heat Race 4
1. 10-Daniel Parker[4]; 2. 114-Evan Koehler[1]; 3. 14M-Baron McDowell[9]; 4. 66-Preston Dimsdale[6]; 5. 15-Daniel Durham[2]; 6. 22W-Nathan Walker[3]; 7. 32K-Tyler Kussman[10]; 8. 57-Luke Cooper[11]; 9. 0-Olivia Gentry[7]; 10. LIL17-Jeremiah Johnson[5]; 11. 5-Robbie Gibson[8]

MSD Pro Stocks
Heat 1
1. 72G-Denis Gauvreau[1]; 2. 2-Pete Stefanski[4]; 3. 9S-Luke Horning[5]; 4. 17-Nick Hilt[3]; 5. 4M-Jordan Modiano[2]; 6. 33-Bruno Cyr[7]; 7. 14J-Johnny Rivers Jr[6]; 8. 09-Shawn Perez Sr[8]; 9. 63-Ryan Crellin[11]; 10. 11-Stéphane Larivière[9]; 11. 58-Roxanne Roy[10]

Heat 2
1. 8-Marc Lalonde[1]; 2. 32-Jonathan Levesque[4]; 3. 00X-Josh Coonradt[3]; 4. 8C-Sean Corr[2]; 5. 92-Sheldon Martin[6]; 6. 38JR-Justin Chaput[5]; 7. 6-Stephane Lebrun[11]; 8. 09J-Shawn Perez Jr[7]; 9. 35-Jonathan Lemay[9]; 10. 9-Eric Jean Louis[10]; 11. 6C-Brian Carter[8]

VP Racing Fuels Sportsman Modifieds
Heat 1
1. 89-Dylan Madsen[1]; 2. 5C-Ayden Cipriano[2]; 3. 20X-Kevin Ridley[3]; 4. 99-Jordan Millard[6]; 5. 26-Derrick McGrew[4]; 6. 44C-Dave Conant[5]; 7. 52-Jessica Power[8]; 8. 29-Tanner Forbes[9]; 9. 49-Chris Jakubiak[7]; 10. 23C-Tommy D’Angelo[11]; 11. 47-Walter Cook[10]

Heat 2
1. 01-Zachary Buff[1]; 2. 92-Andrew Buff[2]; 3. 410-Mike Fowler[4]; 4. 44-David Rogers[3]; 5. 78-Michael Wright[5]; 6. 18-Blayden Arquette[6]; 7. 7X-Chuck Miller[7]; 8. 23-Cole Perry[8]; 9. 1R-Ricky Thompson[10]; 10. 73G-Gordon Hermanson Jr[9]

COMP Cams Monster Mini-Stocks
Heat 1
1. 117-Matt Gilbert[10]; 2. 19-Travis Mosley[9]; 3. 98-Michael Webb[3]; 4. 44-Marcus Hughes[1]; 5. B03-Damien Bryant[8]; 6. 2-James Manning[5]; 7. X-Kevin Cooper[4]; 8. 56A-Ken Appleton[7]; 9. 21-JR Warren[6]; 10. 62-Jason Adams[2]

Heat 2
1. 8J11-Ronnie Johnson[6]; 2. 04-Austin Brown[10]; 3. 28C-Brent Couch[9]; 4. 69-Billy Cline[2]; 5. 5-Bryan Harrelson[5]; 6. 37-Ben Burnett[7]; 7. 212-Greg Brew[4]; 8. 07G-Raylee Shatley[1]; 9. 56-Nick Fulcher[3]; 10. (DNS) 71-Bradley Southern

Heat 3
1. 96B-Stacy Brock[1]; 2. 84-Kyle Cooper[3]; 3. 2W-Dylan Warden[9]; 4. H3-Harley Holden[4]; 5. 12-Pete Brew[10]; 6. 8-Dustin Bolin[2]; 7. 72-Travis Harden[7]; 8. 95-Kevin Atwell[6]; 9. 15-Zach Lankford[5]; 10. 12M-Randy Melton[8]

Heat 4
1. 10-Logan Richey[6]; 2. 24-Josh Bryant[8]; 3. 7X-Jessie Richardson Jr[4]; 4. 96X-Tyler Riddle[7]; 5. 17-Nick Broome[9]; 6. 5C-Connor Keaton[1]; 7. 04W-Phillip Wilson[10]; 8. 99-Daniel Coffey[2]; 9. 96-Tanner Cook[3]; 10. 1G-Grayson Keaton[5]

ARP Street Stocks
Heat 1
1. 70-Mike Grady Jr[1]; 2. 26-Brandon White[6]; 3. 2-Bradley Weaver[4]; 4. 81-Justin Barber[7]; 5. 92-Tanner Fortune[9]; 6. 73-Timmy Smith[11]; 7. 7B-Mickey Barnes[5]; 8. 40B-Todd Bolin[2]; 9. 7-John Cagle[3]; 10. 83-Calob McLaughlin[8]; 11. 5N-Nick Evans[10]

Heat 2
1. 18D-MItchell Duvall[3]; 2. 96-Dalton Pannell[5]; 3. 01-Patrick Lyon[4]; 4. 51-Phoenix Lawter[9]; 5. 7DD-David Duke[10]; 6. 15-Rick Potter[8]; 7. 11-Robbie Mooneyham[6]; 8. 9S-Chris Steadman[2]; 9. 40-TJ Bolin[1]; 10. 1-Brandon Blair[11]; 11. 39-Steve Greene[7]

Heat 3
1. 78-Blake Pryor[3]; 2. 9P-Dalton Peavy[6]; 3. 17-Devon Morgan[7]; 4. 41-Mattison Hoots[9]; 5. 06-Andrew Durham[10]; 6. 91F-Chris Stowe[2]; 7. 14-Megan Erwin[5]; 8. BB2-Jesse Wall[8]; 9. 17D-Russell Douville[1]; 10. 17M-Cameron Martin[4]

Heat 4
1. 11L-Kade Langley[2]; 2. 9-Ronnie Mosley[7]; 3. Y44-Bailey Loftin[5]; 4. 18-Ricky Greene[10]; 5. 32-Garrett Killman[1]; 6. 00-Cody Ussery[9]; 7. 15L-Donovan Long[3]; 8. 53-Eric Grant[6]; 9. 11W-David Wells[4]; 10. (DNS) 5-Junior Johnson

SRI Performance Thunder Bombers
Heat 1
1. G1-Greg Carroll[2]; 2. 47-Tyler Guice[11]; 3. 12B-Blake Bentley[6]; 4. 19-Stetsen Todd[7]; 5. 75-Travis Jamieson[5]; 6. 40-Todd Bolin[3]; 7. 43-Jacob Funderburke[10]; 8. 08-Duce Miller[8]; 9. 32-Brandon Greene[4]; 10. 6-Dylan Montgomery[1]; 11. 54B-Brian Bentley[9]

Heat 2
1. 48-Grant Parr[10]; 2. 14-Jonathan Hinson[4]; 3. B4-Brandon Satterfield[1]; 4. 20-Isaiah Parker[3]; 5. T2-Tyler Abernathy[8]; 6. 54-Daniel Massey[11]; 7. 02-Lloyd Dean Burgess[6]; 8. 34-Joey Powell[7]; 9. 16-Benny Peeler[2]; 10. 28XI-Bailey Hipp[5]; 11. (DNS) 54A-Ashley Massey

Heat 3
1. 78-Hunter Funderburke[1]; 2. 12X-Benji Knight[7]; 3. 12-Rod Tucker[6]; 4. 97-Luke Doggett[8]; 5. 2F-Bradley Weaver[11]; 6. 2-Ricky Bogan[3]; 7. K10-Josh Ayers[4]; 8. 10W-Justin Watts[2]; 9. 14P-Tyler Parker[10]; 10. (DNS) 15-Garrison Krentz; 11. (DNS) 19F-Willie Fowler

Uncategorized

ROBERT HIGHT AND BRITTANY FORCE LOW QUALIFIERS FRIDAY AT NHRA NEVADA NATIONALS

ROBERT HIGHT AND BRITTANY FORCE LOW QUALIFIERSFRIDAY AT NHRA NEVADA NATIONALS
LAS VEGAS (Oct. 28, 2022) – Brittany Force and Robert Hight put Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy dragster and Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS in the provisional No. 1 qualifying positions Friday at the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Austin Prock has the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist dragster sitting in the No. 5 spot and John Force with PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant is No. 15.
Brittany Force and the Flav-R-Pac dragster made some ground on their points deficit Friday. Force would first take the Flav-R-Pac hot rod on a 3.711-second pass at 332.43 mph to be quickest of the session and pick up three bonus points. In the second session, the David Grubnic and Mac Savage tuned dragster would lay down an impressive 3.665-second pass at 337.24 mph, securing another three points and sitting top of the ladder.
“Today has been awesome, exactly what this Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy team wanted to come in here and do. We need to grab points where we can. We’re already starting off good this weekend with two solid runs and picking up bonus points that was our goal, so we’re right on track,” Force said. “Coming into The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a track like this, you’re already motivated because we’ve had success here in the past. We won in 2019 and in the spring this season in the four-wide. We’ve done really well here and that gives you confidence coming in, you’ve done well here before and you can do it again.”
Robert Hight and the Auto Club team stayed on script going low of both qualifying sessions. On the first pass, Hight would handle the Auto Club Camaro to a 3.857-second pass at 331.77 mph. The second pass would be almost identical at 3.857-seconds and 331.45. Hight would capture six valuable bonus points for being quickest of each session.
“Those two runs, those were huge. We need every point we can get. The way I look at it, we let Ron Capps back in in Dallas, we’re even, 10 points is nothing,” Hight said. “Having that week off between races was brutal, but I know Jimmy Prock spent that week and a half thinking about this race car. He made some changes and I was even surprised we ran so well first session, we wanted something a little quicker that second pass but we ran 3.85-seconds two different ways. The guys have a handle on this Chevrolet. Picking up those six points today, that was big for us. We need to get six more tomorrow.”
Coming off a runner-up finish in Dallas, Austin Prock and the Montana Brand, RMT dragster started qualifying with a solid 3.731-second pass at 328.30 mph that ended with an engine explosion. Prock would come back in the second session and the Montana Brand dragster would run into tires smoke for only a 5.941 pass at 118.96 mph. the 2019 Rookie of the Year would stay in the top half at No. 5.
“Good start to the weekend for this Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist team. We came out of the box and made a good run,” Prock said. “We pushed on the second lap, and it was a bit much. We’re looking forward to two nice laps tomorrow.”
John Force and the PEAK Chevy ran into tire smoke their first qualifying run to cross the finish line at 6.671-seconds and only 107.04 mph. In the second session, the PEAK Camaro made it a little further down track before heading into tire smoke for a 4.589 at 178.35.
“Little bit of a rough start to the weekend, but it’s okay, we’ll be oaky,” Force said. “This PEAK Chevrolet, it’s been consistent and fast, we just need to find it again this weekend and we will. We have two more tomorrow to get it together, and we will. We’re all chasing Robert up there. He’s running good and Brittany
Competition at the NHRA Nevada Nationals continues with qualifying Saturday at 1:00 and 4:30 p.m. Eliminations are slated to begin Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Television coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) on Sunday beginning with qualifying at 2:00 p.m. ET and eliminations at 4 p.m. ET
-30-
AUSTIN PROCK, 27, Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist DragsterQualifying:5th; 3.731-seconds; 328.30 mphBonus Qualifying Points:0BRITTANY FORCE, 36, Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy DragsterQualifying:1st; 3.665-seconds; 337.24 mphBonus Qualifying Points:+6 (quickest Q1 & Q2) JOHN FORCE, 73, PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SSQualifying:15th; 4.589-seconds; 178.35 mphBonus Qualifying Points: 0ROBERT HIGHT, 53, AAA Missouri Chevy Camaro SSQualifying:1st; 3.857-seconds; 331.77 mphBonus Qualifying Points:+6 (quickest Q1 & Q2)
Uncategorized

chevy racing–nhra–las vegas wrapup

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION NHRA NEVADA NATIONALS THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY OCT. 30, 2022
Chevrolet drivers hold winning hands at Las Vegas• Erica Enders wraps up fifth career Pro Stock world championship in Camaro SS• Brittany Force regains Top Fuel points lead with fifth win of season in Chevrolet dragster• Robert Hight extends Funny Car advantage with runner-up finish in Camaro SS• Leo Glasbrenner picks up third Stock Eliminator victory in Chevrolet COPO Camaro
LAS VEGAS (Oct. 30, 2022) — Chevrolet drivers were big winners in Las Vegas.
One Chevrolet driver was crowned an NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series champion and two others took large steps at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to winning world titles.
Erica Enders earned a hat trick in the NHRA Nevada Nationals – yellow hat as the No. 1 qualifier, green hat as the race winner and for the fifth time in her career the white hat signifying the Pro Stock world champion.
Enders, driving the Melling Performance Chevrolet Camaro SS, picked up a personal-best 10th victory of the season by defeating Elite Motorsports teammate Troy Coughlin Jr. in the final. She wrapped up the title with a semifinal win over Kyle Koretsky’s Lucas Oil Camaro SS.
Enders joined Greg Anderson and Jeg Coughlin Jr. as five-time Pro Stock champions. Bob Glidden is the all-time class leader with 10. It is the 18th Pro Stock championship for Chevrolet.Enders’ titlesAll with Chevrolet:
2022 – 18 races*, 10 wins, 52-8 round record2020 – 10 races, 4 wins, 25-6 round record2019 – 18 races, 2 wins, 32-16 round record2015 – 24 races, 9 wins, 58-15 round record2014 – 22 races, 6 wins, 45-16 round record* one race remaining
“It’s a huge blessing. We came out here ready for battle this year because of the fashion that we lost the championship last year, so hats off to my guys. It’s them that stand behind me. I could not be more proud the be their driver,” said Enders, who has also won Pro Stock titles in 2014, ’15. ’19 and 2020. “This is a testament – not only this championship but all the others as well – that you don’t ever give up. You dig deep, play with all the heart that you have when the cards are stacked against you. It’s like David and Goliath. You go to battle and you have not fear, you have the faith.”
John Force Racing teammates Brittany Force and Robert Hight head into the season finale Nov. 13 with faith in their talents and teams – and with the points lead in their respective classes.
Force earned her career-best fifth Top Fuel win of the season. The No. 1 qualifier for the ninth time this season in the Flav-R-Pac/Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster, Force turned an 82-point disadvantage in the standings into a seven-point advantage over Justin Ashley as she aims for her second world championship.“I’ve been saying all season long one weekend at a time. Coming into this weekend, not looking at Pomona until we leave here. Right now, we got the win, we got the points lead and we’re going to get right back on track,” said Force, who reached her 35th career final.
“To come out here and win on a holeshot, it’s giving it back to my guys for all the times they carried me. It’s a thank you to them. We wanted to win today, we chased it down and we got it done. We’ll keep our focus and worry about what we can control as we head into Pomona. I wouldn’t want to go into this battle with anyone else but this Flav-R-Pac/Monster Energy team.”
Funny Car No. 1 qualifier Hight, who entered the penultimate event of the 22-race season with a 10-point lead, ran to a runner-up finish in the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS to leave Las Vegas with a healthier margin over reigning world champ Ron Capps.
It was the third time this season that Chevrolet swept the top qualifier honors –Richmond (Force and Hight) and Reading (Austin Prock and Hight). Hight, advancing to his 96th career Funny Car trophy dash, was the top qualifier for the sixth time this season and 77th of his career.
The Auto Club Finals will feature 30 points per round win (points and a half). FS1 will telecast eliminations from Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California, live at 4 p.m. ET. 
John Force, the No. 5 qualifier in the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Camaro SS, fell in the quarterfinals. He remains fourth in the Funny Car standings.
Austin Prock advanced to the Top Fuel semifinals in the Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster. Prock, the No. 2 qualifier, moved to sixth in the standings.
Enders advanced to her 12th final in 18 races this season and 73rd of her career, making a pass of 6.640 seconds for her 10th win.
“We won nine events in 2015 when we won the world championship and we were fortunate enough to lock it up here,” she said. “As a personal goal, I wanted to win one more that than so we were able to do that today by securing our 10th victory on the season. We don’t plan on letting up going to Pomona.
“This whole season has been a dream come true for our whole team. This season, like every season, we set out to win races and win a championship and we did just that. We spent the whole season with a No. 2 on the car and that didn’t set well with any of us. It lit a fire under our team to become champs again.”
Leo Glasbrenner of Murrieta, California, drove his Chevrolet COPO Camaro to victory for the third time this season in Stock Eliminator. He also won at Pomona and Phoenix.
“Fortunately, I got the good side of the ladder. I had a single, made some adjustments for the semis and when I let go of the footbrake in the final, I thought it was red and it came up green and the win light turn on for the third time this year,” Glasbrenner said.
An interview with Pro Stock champion ERICA ENDERS, MELLING PERFORMANCE/ELITE MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS:
THAT WAS QUITE A DAY FOR YOU.“What an incredible day. We came in and wanted to just semi out so we could keep the points lead and win the championship and my crew chief, Mark Ingersoll, said (no way) we’re going for it. I just had to drive it. I did a marginal job today and we were able to park the Melling Performance car in the winner’s circle.”
TWELVE FINAL ROUNDS AND TEN WINS THIS YEAR AND NOT DONE YET. YOU’VE HAD PRO STOCK DREAMS THAT DIDN’T GO THAT GOOD.“We won nine events in 2015 when we won the world championship and we were fortunate enough to lock it up here. As a personal goal, I wanted to win one more that than so we were able to do that today by securing our 10th victory on the season. We don’t plan on letting up going to Pomona.”
HOW DOES THIS CHAMPIONSHIP STACK UP WITH THE OTHERS?“It’s a huge blessing. We came out here ready for battle this year because of the fashion that we lost the championship last year, so hats off to my guys. It’s them that stand behind me. This is a testament – not only this championship but all the others as well – that you don’t ever give up. You dig deep, play with all the heart that you have when the cards are stacked against you. It’s like David and Goliath. You go to battle and you have not fear, you have the faith. I could not be more proud the be their driver.”
YOU WANTED TO BEAT YOUR SEASON-BEST WIN TOTAL AND YOU’VE DONE THAT. WHAT IS THIS FEELING FOR YOU?“The sky is the limit. We’ll keep on going. What a great day. We did what we call a hat trick – we got the No. 1 qualifier, we got the winner’s hat and we got the white one, which means world champion. To be able to do it five times and join the list of people like Bob Glidden and Jeg Coughlin, couldn’t mean anything more to me. We’re happy to park this Melling Performance Chevy Camaro in the winner’s circle. At the beginning of this year, I though five wins would be sufficient; that’s how tough this class is. When we got to the middle of the season we thought why not ten. Well, now why not 11?”
WHEN WILL YOU BE SATISFIED?“I don’t know; you just keep going. I drive a really badass Chevy Camaro that Rick Jones built and I’m thrilled. I don’t know if that fire will ever get put out. I’m going to enjoy the ride while it lasts.”
An interview with Top Fuel winner BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, FLAV-R-PAC/MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET DRAGSTER:
YOUR TEAM WAS SLUGGING IT OUT THIS DEEP INTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP COUNTDOWN.“We’ve really come a long way this season. We’ve had a great season. We carried No. 1 and then we lost it right when it mattered and we got lost for the first three races of the Countdown. Somehow we still hung in there at that No. 2 spot, and then today our goal coming in was let’s do what we do best. Let’s go for low of every session, let’s grab as many points as we can, go No. 1 and try to win this thing.”
JUSTIN ASHLEY GOES OUT EARLY AND YOU’VE GOT TO BE THINKING OPPORTUNITY. WE CANNOT LET THIS GET AWAY.“I actually didn’t know that he went out until we were back (at the hauler). My focus is once I’m in that car, once I’m in the staging lane, once I’m at the starting line it’s only that. I don’t look around me because it’s another distraction, and you don’t need distractions when you’re trying to cut a light and turn a win light on.”
IN THE FINAL, HOW GOOD IS IT TO HEAR BRITTANY WINS ON A HOLESHOT?“It feels fantastic. I struggled today, all weekend. We’re closing in on the championship and there is a lot of pressure. There’s a lot on our shoulders, our entire team. I pulled up to that final and I wasn’t proud of my lights all day. I knew I could do better than that, so pulling up to that final round I said let’s get this together because we’ve got to win this race and leave as the points leader.”
ONE RACE LEFT AND YOU’VE GOT A LEGITIMATE SHOT TO BE A TWO-TIME TOP FUEL CHAMPION.“I’ve been saying all season long one weekend at a time. Coming into this weekend, not looking at Pomona until we leave here. Right now, we got the win, we got the points lead and we’re going to get right back on track.”
CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPITTOP FUELAUSTIN PROCK, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONTANA BRAND/ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST CHEVROLET DRAGSTER: “Awesome weekend for our Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist team. We backed out No. 1 qualifier from Dallas with a No. 2 and then had a semifinal appearance. We managed to move up in the points again and we’ll be looking for another strong weekend in Pomona.”
FUNNY CARROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “That wasn’t quite the way we scripted the weekend ending. Still, not a bad weekend for our Auto Club team we were able to grow our points lead which was important, we went rounds and qualified well, every point matters right now. We’re still in control of our own destiny, if we go out and win Pomona, we win the championship. This team knows how to get the job done, eight wins so far this season, one more and we know we have the title. The competition is so intense right now, it’s going to be a fight but this Auto Club team is ready for it.”
JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “Not a bad weekend, not the way we wanted it to end, but we qualified well, went a couple rounds. Overall, it was a good weekend. Brittany with Flav-R-Pac getting the win and the points lead back and then Robert with Auto Club going to the finals and gaining points, making sure we’re all still chasing him. Even Austin Prock over there with Montana Brand, he went some rounds. So, we’re in a good spot. Pomona is going to be exciting, going to be an exciting end to the season.”
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PRO STOCK STAR ERICA ENDERS CLINCHES FIFTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AND WINS NHRA NEVADA NATIONALS

Elite Motorsports Leaves Las Vegas With Top Three Drivers In The Countdown
Elite Motorsports Weekend Recap
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series
LAS VEGAS (October 30, 2022) – Erica Enders earned her fifth NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Pro Stock world championship today at the 22nd annual NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The standout driver clinched the championship by winning the semifinal round of competition but that did not deter the fan-favorite driver. She went on to win the entire event, marking her tenth win of the season and surpassing her previous career best of nine event wins in one season. 
Enders began the year with a renewed fire and drive to win. She proclaimed throughout the season that she was playing for keeps and would not rest until the championship was hers. That laser focus served her well as she racked up win after win in her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Camaro, including first-time victories at three tracks that had previously eluded her.
“As a kid with big dreams, this makes me want to pinch myself,” said Enders. “We have worked really hard to get here and we’ve sacrificed a lot. It’s nice to see all of those sacrifices paid off. It’s really unbelievable. I’m a blessed girl.”
Only four other Pro Stock drivers have earned five or more world championship titles in the 71-year history of the sport. Enders shares this distinction with Jeg Coughlin, Greg Anderson, Warren Johnson and Bob Glidden. Enders took over the points lead early in the season after her third win of the year in Houston. She held onto that lead for the rest of the season.
Today’s win in Las Vegas is the 15th win for the Elite Motorsports Pro Stock team. Enders faced her teammate Troy Coughlin Jr. in the final round today to secure her ninth victory at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Leaving the prestigious track, Elite Motorsports holds the first (Enders), second (Coughlin), and third (Aaron Stanfield) positions in the points standings.
Enders started race day from the No. 1 qualifier position for the sixth time this season thanks to a blistering run of 6.579-seconds at 208.75 mph. 
The only Elite Motorsports Pro Stock drivers to make a Round One exit were those who were facing another Elite machine in the opposite lane. Bringing back his blue Corral Boots Mustang, Fernando Cuadra Jr. defeated Bo Butner in his “Cars”-themed Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Camaro. Aaron Stanfield took out his Elite teammate Fernando Cuadra Sr. when the Cuadra Boys patriarch cut a -.002 red light. Cristian Cuadra outpaced Matt Hartford on a holeshot while Troy Coughlin Jr. advanced his JEGS.comCamaro into the quarterfinal round by beating Rookie of the Year candidate Camrie Caruso. In the final pair of the first round, Enders defeated Pro Stock veteran Kenny Delco and laid down the fastest pass of the day, running a 6.604 at 207.21.
In the quarterfinals, Kyle Koretsky defeated Cuadra Jr. while Coughlin’s JEGS.comCamaro outpaced Deric Kramer. Stanfield’s Janac Brothers/JC3 Energy lined up against C. Cuadra’s Corral Boots Mustang. C. Cuadra got the starting line advantage and held onto it for the round win. Enders defeated Dallas Glenn despite his slight starting line advantage.
Because Stanfield lost in the second round of competition, Enders would need to advance through the semifinals and into the finals in order to clinch the championship at the penultimate event of the season. 
All four of the drivers who advanced to the semifinal round of Pro Stock competition are second-generation drag racers and the anticipation was palpable as C. Cuadra and Coughlin prepared to face each other first, followed by Enders and Koretsky. By making it to the semifinal round today, C. Cuadra leapfrogged several competitors in the points standings moving from No. 12 to No. 8. Although he made a stout pass of 6.691 at 205.07, it couldn’t beat Coughlin’s 6.657 206.29. Enders defeated Koretsky to advance to yet another all-Elite final round against Coughlin. 
There’s only one race left for the season and Elite Motorsports plans to continue dominating the Pro Stock field as they travel to the Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif. ***
Photos
Erica Enders celebrates her fifth NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Pro Stock world championship. Erica Enders poses for a photo with young fans. Photo credit: Auto Imagery
Erica Enders makes a picture perfect launch in her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Camaro. Photo credit: Auto ImageryErica Enders proudly wears the sixth No. 1 qualifier hat she’s earned this season. Photo credit: Auto Imagery
Aaron Stanfield launches his Janac Brothers/JC3 Energy Camaro at the NHRA Nevada Nationals. Photo credit: Auto ImageryTroy Coughlin Jr. does a crowd-pleasing burnout in his JEGS.com / Elite Motorsports Camaro. Photo credit: Auto Imagery
Bo Butner gives the fans a powerful burnout in his “Cars”-themed Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Camaro. Photo credit: Auto ImageryBo Butner and crew showed their Halloween spirit with costumes based on the hit movie, “Cars”. Photo credit: Auto Imagery
Fernando Cuadra Jr. went back to blue with his refreshed Corral Boots Mustang. Photo credit: Auto ImageryFernando Cuadra Sr. launches his Cuadra Camaro off the starting line. Photo credit: Auto Imagery
Cristian Cuadra had a standout performance at the NHRA Nevada Nationals. Photo credit: Auto Imagery
Unofficial Pro Stock Points Standings For The Countdown To The Championship
1. Erica Enders 2,6842. Aaron Stanfield 2,4603. Troy Coughlin Jr. 2,4404.  Kyle Koretsky 2,4065. Greg Anderson 2,3966. Dallas Glenn 2,3197. Matt Hartford 2,3188. Cristian Cuadra 2,2169. Deric Kramer 2,20510. Mason McGaha 2,18811. Bo Butner 2,18312. Camrie Caruso 2,18113. Fernando Cuadra Jr. 2,17814. Chris McGaha 2,11615. Fernando Cuadra Sr. 2,106
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PRO STOCK STAR ERICA ENDERS CLINCHES FIFTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AND WINS NHRA NEVADA NATIONALS

Elite Motorsports Leaves Las Vegas With Top Three Drivers In The Countdown
Elite Motorsports Weekend Recap
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series
LAS VEGAS (October 30, 2022) – Erica Enders earned her fifth NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Pro Stock world championship today at the 22nd annual NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The standout driver clinched the championship by winning the semifinal round of competition but that did not deter the fan-favorite driver. She went on to win the entire event, marking her tenth win of the season and surpassing her previous career best of nine event wins in one season. 
Enders began the year with a renewed fire and drive to win. She proclaimed throughout the season that she was playing for keeps and would not rest until the championship was hers. That laser focus served her well as she racked up win after win in her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Camaro, including first-time victories at three tracks that had previously eluded her.
“As a kid with big dreams, this makes me want to pinch myself,” said Enders. “We have worked really hard to get here and we’ve sacrificed a lot. It’s nice to see all of those sacrifices paid off. It’s really unbelievable. I’m a blessed girl.”
Only four other Pro Stock drivers have earned five or more world championship titles in the 71-year history of the sport. Enders shares this distinction with Jeg Coughlin, Greg Anderson, Warren Johnson and Bob Glidden. Enders took over the points lead early in the season after her third win of the year in Houston. She held onto that lead for the rest of the season.
Today’s win in Las Vegas is the 15th win for the Elite Motorsports Pro Stock team. Enders faced her teammate Troy Coughlin Jr. in the final round today to secure her ninth victory at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Leaving the prestigious track, Elite Motorsports holds the first (Enders), second (Coughlin), and third (Aaron Stanfield) positions in the points standings.
Enders started race day from the No. 1 qualifier position for the sixth time this season thanks to a blistering run of 6.579-seconds at 208.75 mph. 
The only Elite Motorsports Pro Stock drivers to make a Round One exit were those who were facing another Elite machine in the opposite lane. Bringing back his blue Corral Boots Mustang, Fernando Cuadra Jr. defeated Bo Butner in his “Cars”-themed Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Camaro. Aaron Stanfield took out his Elite teammate Fernando Cuadra Sr. when the Cuadra Boys patriarch cut a -.002 red light. Cristian Cuadra outpaced Matt Hartford on a holeshot while Troy Coughlin Jr. advanced his JEGS.comCamaro into the quarterfinal round by beating Rookie of the Year candidate Camrie Caruso. In the final pair of the first round, Enders defeated Pro Stock veteran Kenny Delco and laid down the fastest pass of the day, running a 6.604 at 207.21.
In the quarterfinals, Kyle Koretsky defeated Cuadra Jr. while Coughlin’s JEGS.comCamaro outpaced Deric Kramer. Stanfield’s Janac Brothers/JC3 Energy lined up against C. Cuadra’s Corral Boots Mustang. C. Cuadra got the starting line advantage and held onto it for the round win. Enders defeated Dallas Glenn despite his slight starting line advantage.
Because Stanfield lost in the second round of competition, Enders would need to advance through the semifinals and into the finals in order to clinch the championship at the penultimate event of the season. 
All four of the drivers who advanced to the semifinal round of Pro Stock competition are second-generation drag racers and the anticipation was palpable as C. Cuadra and Coughlin prepared to face each other first, followed by Enders and Koretsky. By making it to the semifinal round today, C. Cuadra leapfrogged several competitors in the points standings moving from No. 12 to No. 8. Although he made a stout pass of 6.691 at 205.07, it couldn’t beat Coughlin’s 6.657 206.29. Enders defeated Koretsky to advance to yet another all-Elite final round against Coughlin. 
There’s only one race left for the season and Elite Motorsports plans to continue dominating the Pro Stock field as they travel to the Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif. ***
Photos
Erica Enders celebrates her fifth NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Pro Stock world championship. Erica Enders poses for a photo with young fans. Photo credit: Auto Imagery
Erica Enders makes a picture perfect launch in her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Camaro. Photo credit: Auto ImageryErica Enders proudly wears the sixth No. 1 qualifier hat she’s earned this season. Photo credit: Auto Imagery
Aaron Stanfield launches his Janac Brothers/JC3 Energy Camaro at the NHRA Nevada Nationals. Photo credit: Auto ImageryTroy Coughlin Jr. does a crowd-pleasing burnout in his JEGS.com / Elite Motorsports Camaro. Photo credit: Auto Imagery
Bo Butner gives the fans a powerful burnout in his “Cars”-themed Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Camaro. Photo credit: Auto ImageryBo Butner and crew showed their Halloween spirit with costumes based on the hit movie, “Cars”. Photo credit: Auto Imagery
Fernando Cuadra Jr. went back to blue with his refreshed Corral Boots Mustang. Photo credit: Auto ImageryFernando Cuadra Sr. launches his Cuadra Camaro off the starting line. Photo credit: Auto Imagery
Cristian Cuadra had a standout performance at the NHRA Nevada Nationals. Photo credit: Auto Imagery
Unofficial Pro Stock Points Standings For The Countdown To The Championship
1. Erica Enders 2,6842. Aaron Stanfield 2,4603. Troy Coughlin Jr. 2,4404.  Kyle Koretsky 2,4065. Greg Anderson 2,3966. Dallas Glenn 2,3197. Matt Hartford 2,3188. Cristian Cuadra 2,2169. Deric Kramer 2,20510. Mason McGaha 2,18811. Bo Butner 2,18312. Camrie Caruso 2,18113. Fernando Cuadra Jr. 2,17814. Chris McGaha 2,11615. Fernando Cuadra Sr. 2,106
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BRITTANY FORCE TAKES POINTS LEAD WITH DOMINANT WIN ATTHE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 30, 2022) – Brittany Force and the Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy team picked up their fifth win of the season Sunday at the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and with it took back the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series points lead with just one race left in the 2022 season. Robert Hight and the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS team grew their points lead with a runner-up finish while Austin Prock took the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist team to the semifinals and John Force with PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant had a second-round exit.
Brittany Force and the Flav-R-Pac dragster earned a first-round bye coming into race day as the No. 1 qualifiers. With the test run they would lay down a 3.671-second pass at 336.91 mph to earn lane choice over Antron Brown in the second round. Force would take the quarterfinal win with a 3.732 pass at 327.98 after Brown hazed the tires and shut off early for a 4.156 pass at 211.06.
The semifinals would match Force with eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher. Nearly identical on the tree, Force would take the lead early and never trail for a 3.712-second run at 331.85 mph to send Schumacher and his 4.075 at 216.55 packing.
In her seventh final round of the season and 35th of her career, Force would take on Mike Salinas. With a .034-second reaction time and 3.705-second pass at 332.34 mph, Force would pick up the win on a holeshot with Salinas going .066 on the tree with a 3.702 at 324.90. It was Force’s 16th career victory, third at The Strip at LVMS.
“This shows you; Pomona is going to be exciting, going to be a thrill for everyone. This Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy team, we feel good. We dominated all weekend, picked up qualifying points, went rounds and got the job down. You know we struggled through the whole Countdown and we started to turn it around that last weekend in Dallas, but then I screwed it up. So, to come out here and win on a holeshot, it’s giving it back to my guys for all the times they carried me. It’s a thank you to them,” Force said. “We wanted to win today, we chased it down and we got it done. We’ll keep our focus and worry about what we can control as we head into Pomona. I wouldn’t want to go into this battle with anyone else but this Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy team.”
Robert Hight, who came into the race as the No. 1 qualifier for the sixth time this year and 77th time in his career, would face Jeff Arend in the first round after Terry Haddock’s qualifying run was disqualified on Saturday evening. Hight would have a clean pass going 3.881-seconds at 331.04 mph for the win over Arend’s 4.161 at 285.35. The second round would be a tight side-by-side drag race with Alexis DeJoria. Hight would get off the line first and slowly pull away for a 3.894-second pass at 327.03 mph bettering DeJoria’s 3.907 at 326.24 for a .013 margin of victory.
In the semifinals, Hight and the Auto Club team would concede lane choice to J.R. Todd but keep up their performance going 3.878 at 330.15 mph to end Todd’s run at a win when he went 3.898 at 324.05. In the finals, the Auto Club Chevy would have a rare stumble against Matt Hagan. The tires on Hight’s Camaro shook loose early forcing Hight to watch Hagan drive around for a win. Hight’s official run would be a 6.157 at 111.12 to Hagan’s 3.896 at 330.23.
“That wasn’t quite the way we scripted the weekend ending. Still not a bad weekend for our Auto Club team we were able to grow our points lead which was important, we went rounds and qualified well, every point matters right now,” said Hight, who had made his 96th career final round appearance. “We’re still in control of our own destiny, if we go out and win Pomona, we win the championship. This team knows how to get the job done, eight wins so far this season, one more and we know we have the title. The competition is so intense right now, it’s going to be a fight but this Auto Club team is ready for it.”
Qualified No. 2, Austin Prock and the Montana Brand / RMT dragster team started eliminations with a victory over Cameron Ferre. Prock would handle his hot rod to 3.744-seconds at 324.28 mph to defeat Ferre’s best pass of the weekend at 4.040 and 261.72. In the second round, Prock would find himself lined up with four-time and reigning world champion Steve Torrence. Prock would have the starting line advantage and never let up going 3.732 at 327.19 mph defeating Torrence’s 3.733 at 321.81.
In the semifinals, Prock would have to take on championship hopeful Mike Salinas. Prock would have the starting line advantage but lose the fight mid-track with an engine explosion to go 3.806-seconds at only 313.88 mph. Salinas would take the win with a 3.726 at 328.62.
“Awesome weekend for our Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist team. We backed out No. 1 qualifier from Dallas with a No. 2 and then had a semifinal appearance,” Prock said. “We managed to move up in the points again and we’ll be looking for another strong weekend in Pomona.”
John Force and the PEAK Auto team started race day form the No. 5 qualifying position and raced Blake Alexander in the first round. Force would have a clean 3.915-second pass at 326.56 mph while Alexander would smoke the tires and shut off for 5.715 at 123.79. Force would have lane choice in the second round over J.R. Todd. Despite leaving the starting line first, Force would have to watch Todd drive around the PEAK Chevy for a 3.889-second pass at 329.83 mph that would send Force and the PEAK team’s 3.957 at 328.06 home.
“Not a bad weekend, not the way we wanted it to end, but we qualified well, went a couple rounds,” Force said. “Overall, it was a good weekend. Brittany with Flav-R-Pac getting the win and the points lead back and then Robert with Auto Club going to the finals and gaining points, making sure we’re all still chasing him. Even Austin Prock over there with Montana Brand, he went some rounds. So we’re in a good spot. Pomona is going to be exciting, going to be an exciting end to the season.”
The conclusion of the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season take place Nov. 11-13 with the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Pomona, California.
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AUSTIN PROCK, 27, Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist DragsterQualifying:2nd; 3.685-seconds; 334.32 mphBonus Qualifying Points:+3 (quickest Q4)Race Results: Beat Cameron Ferre, Steve Torrence; Lost to Mike SalinasBRITTANY FORCE, 36, Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy DragsterQualifying:1st; 3.665-seconds; 337.24 mphBonus Qualifying Points:+6 (quickest Q1, Q2; 3rd quickest Q4) Race Results:Beat Bye, Antron Brown, Tony Schumacher, Mike SalinasJOHN FORCE, 73, PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SSQualifying:5th; 3.873-seconds; 324.28 mphBonus Qualifying Points: +3 (quickest Q3)Race Results:Beat Blake Alexander; Lost to J.R. ToddROBERT HIGHT, 53, Aut Club of Southern California Chevy Camaro SSQualifying:1st; 3.857-seconds; 331.77 mphBonus Qualifying Points:+8 (quickest Q1, Q2; 2nd quickest Q4)Race Results:Beat Jeff Arend, Alexis DeJoria, J.R. Todd; Lost to Matt Hagan
Photo Credit: Gary Nastase, Auto Imagery
Unofficial NHRA Countdown to the Championship Points Standings
TOP FUEL – 1. Brittany Force, Monster Energy/FLAV-R-PAC dragster, 2468; 2. Justin Ashley, 2461; 3. Mike Salinas, 2402; 4. Antron Brown, 2390; 5. Steve Torrence, 2381; 6. Austin Prock, Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster, 2342; 7. Josh Hart, 2307; 8. Shawn Langdon, 2290; 9. Doug Kalitta, 2284; 10. Clay Millican, 2269; 11. Tony Schumacher, 2224  2244/2264; 12. Leah Pruett, 2211. FUNNY CAR – 1. Robert Hight, Auto Club of Southern California Chevy Camaro SS, 2592; 2. Ron Capps, 2531; 3. Matt Hagan, 2529; 4. John Force, PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevy Camaro SS, 2406; 5. Bob Tasca III, 2391; 6. J.R. Todd, 2295; 7. Tim Wilkerson, 2261; 8. Alexis DeJoria, 2259; 9. Cruz Pedregon, 2222; 10. Blake Alexander, 2150; 11. Jim Campbell, 2149.
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Hagan Muscles Dodge Power Brokers Funny Car to Nevada Nationals Win;

Remains in the Hunt for the Funny Car Championship Heading into NHRA Finals

  • Matt Hagan drove his No. 2 qualified Dodge Power Brokers Funny Car to the Nevada Nationals Winner’s Circle at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to keep his Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) team in the hunt for the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) World Championship with one playoff event remaining
  • Two holeshot wins were key in sending Hagan to an important final elimination round with important championship implications against the Funny Car championship leader and No. 1 qualifier Robert Hight.
  • The three-time Funny Car world champion earned his fourth win of the season and 43rd of his career by defeating the class leader Hight whom he now trails by 63 points heading into the points-and-a-half NHRA Finals at Pomona
  • TSR pilot Leah Pruett qualified her Dodge Power Brokers Top Fuel dragster 11th but had loss of traction at half-track in the opening round resulted in an early exit

October 30, 2022, Las Vegas, Nevada – From the No. 2 position on the eliminations ladder at the Nevada Nationals, Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) driver Matt Hagan muscled his Dodge Power Brokers Funny Car to the winner’s circle at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to earn a fourth win this season and his first of the playoffs to keep his first-year team in the hunt for the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) World Championship.

“Congratulations to Matt Hagan for capturing an important win at the Nevada Nationals,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge Brand Chief Executive Officer – Stellantis. “It was another outstanding effort by Matt and his Tony Stewart Racing crew to get the most performance out of their Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat and take home their fourth victory this season. What a great representation of what performance enthusiasts can expect from the Dodge lineup of vehicles and Direct Connection performance parts.”

Hagan started his race day from second place spot on the eliminations ladder and with a little Vegas luck on his side against No. 15 seed Steven Densham. After his Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat had the advantage on the start, it dropped some cylinders early but Hagan kept on the throttle until he lost power and coasted across the finish line with a slim 0.0032-second margin of victory to move on to the quarterfinals.

He then took advantage of the opportunity to advance with a good side-by-side drag race against No. 10 seed Chad Green and drove the Dodge Power Brokers machine to a strong 3.909-second lap at 331.77 mph for the round win ahead of his competitor’s 3.940 sec./ 320.20 mph effort.

That set up a semifinal matchup against No. 3 seed Bob Tasca III that provided an exciting battle that began with the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat launching first with a 0.040-sec. reaction time (RT) and running a 3.924 sec/330.07 mph to beat a 0.063-sec RT and 3.904 sec./328.86 mph lap.

Hagan’s two holeshot wins were key in sending him to an important final elimination round with important championship implications against the Funny Car championship points leader and No. 1 qualifier Robert Hight. The Dodge Power Brokers Funny Car launched first and its driver never looked back on the way to turning on the win light with a 3.896 sec./330.23 mph to earn his 43rd career victory and take home a fourth Wally trophy from the Nevada Nationals in six years.

Hagan’s win comes on the heels of a playoff performance through five of the Countdown’s six events that includes three semifinal performances and two back-to-back final rounds appearances to keep his championship hopes alive.

While the three-time Funny Car world champion remains third in the playoff standings, the win over Hight cuts his deficit to 63 points from the leader heading into the points-and-a-half NHRA Finals at Pomona and two markers from fellow contender Ron Capps in second place.

In Top Fuel action, TSR’s Leah Pruett and the Dodge Power Brokers dragster qualified with a solid 3.716 sec./ 331.69 mph effort that put them in the 11th position for eliminations to set up an opening round match-up with No. 6 seed Mike Salinas. Pruett had a good run going to the dragstrip’s halfway point until the tires lost traction and she tried to pedal it to regain control. A flash of fire ended any chance of catching Salinas and extending her race day. 

Sitting just outside the Top Fuel top-ten, Pruett and her crew will head to the NHRA finals looking for a good result to close out their first season together in which they earned a win at the Dodge Power Brokers Mile-High Nationals in Denver and No. 1 qualifier honors at Sonoma. 

Defending Funny Car Nevada Nationals winner Cruz Pedregon came into race day at Las Vegas ninth in points and qualified 13th with his Snap-on Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. After an early exit in the first round against J.R. Todd, the Cruz Pedregon Racing team is already focused on making performance gains and preparing for next season after not being involved in this year’s championship battle. 

The NHRA Finals, the last of six NHRA “Countdown to the Championship” playoff events, will take place Nov. 11-13 at Fairplex in Pomona, California. FS1 will broadcast a qualifying highlights show on Sunday, Nov. 13, at 2 p.m. ET and then begin race day coverage at 4 p.m. ET to conclude with the crowning of 2022 NHRA World Champions.

ADDITIONAL NOTES and QUOTES: 

Leah Pruett, Tony Stewart Racing Dodge Power Brokers Top Fuel Dragster  

(No. 11  Qualifier – 3.716 seconds at 331.69 mph) 

Round 1: (0.117-second reaction time, 4.375 seconds at 173.18 mph) loss to No. 6 Mike Salinas (0.062/3.723/329.58)

“I always get amped up for Mike (Salinas). I didn’t to a stellar job on the line today and almost double-stepped it up there. Sometimes, bad things happen to good people and that’s exactly what we are. Our Dodge Power Brokers team is going to figure this out and keep going and focus on what we can do in Pomona. It felt like two race days for Tony (Stewart) and I. For him to go two rounds on Saturday was phenomenal. The NHRA is a very challenging sport and he understands that and appreciates it. All of the competitors have been so supportive of him being out here and he is just as supportive of us, no matter what is happening.” 

Matt Hagan, Tony Stewart Racing Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car  

(No. 2 Qualifier – 3.862 seconds at 330.23 mph)

Round 1: (0.089-second reaction time, 4.123 seconds at 254.62 mph) defeated No. 15 Steven Densham (0.094/4.121/275.00)

Round 2: (0.075/3.909/331.77) defeats No. 10 Chad Green (0.063/3.940/320.20)

Round 3: (0.040/3.924/330.07) defeats No. 3 Bob Tasca III (0.063/3.904/328.86)

Round 4: (0.049/3.896/330.23) defeats No. 1 Robert Hight (0.054/6.157/111.12)

“(Crew Chief) Dickie Venables, Mike Nnutson and Alex Conaway, those guys are making some real power with this Dodge Power Brokers cars. It’s running strong. They’re putting a great hot rod underneath me. It’s kind of cool to come out here on Sunday and win on two holeshots and give my team that little extra bump of what we needed to keep going. Sometimes you gotta be a little lucky and sometimes you gotta be a little good.”

“We just gotta keep digging and working hard. Robert (Hight) is a tough customer. We’re gonna give all we got. We’ve had two good races going to the final in Dallas and then the win here.  We actually have a new combo that we’re working with that they threw in there last night for the last run. I’m excited about what we found and how the car’s running and what we’re doing. I do feel the momentum building back up. I feel like these are our type of races, our type of conditions. I’ve done really, really well and won at Pomona a bunch. We don’t have anything to lose. We have to throw down and we have to scoop up as many points as we can and we have to be aggressive.

Cruz Pedregon, Cruz Pedregon Racing Snap-on® Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

(No. 13 Qualifier – 3.945 seconds at 318.77 mph)

Round 1: (0.115-second reaction time, 3.992 seconds at 281.54 mph) loss to No. 4 J.R. Todd (0.058/3.944/328.54)

“What happened today was a prime example of what happens when you qualify 13th; You go up against a car that you know you’re gonna have to have your best stuff to compete and we just got it handed to us. The car moved over on me a little bit, I saw the DHL car (J.R. Todd) out ahead so I didn’t run it all the way to the end because we got the data we needed. I think this weekend was just growing pains for us. We made just one out of four qualifying runs and we need to be on the other side of that. We’re just gonna take our lumps and, and move on to Pomona.

“We’re in the development stages for 2023, so the good news is that our car went down the track and it was a competitive run. We’re still very optimistic and we’re really changing everything about the car like the clutch and the way we run the motor. We’re gonna test Monday and just get ready for Pomona. we’re gonna roll out at Pomona really ready to go. It’s my home track and we want to end the year on a high note for Snap-on, Dodge and all the partners that support us. 

“I think we have a good shot at six or seven (in the championship) still with points-and-a-half at Pomona. It gives us an opportunity to right some of the wrongs we’ve had this year. We’re all about trying to finish as high as we can in the points.”

NHRA CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS:

Following the Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

FUNNY CAR (season wins in parentheses)

1.  Robert Hight 2592 (8)

2.  Ron Capps: 2531 (5)

3.  Matt Hagan (Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat): 2529 (4)

4.  John Force: 2406 (1)

5.  Bob Tasca III: 2391(3)

6.  J.R. Todd: 2295

7. Tim Wilkerson: 2261

8. Alexis DeJoria: 2259 (1)

9. Cruz Pedregon (Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat): 2222

10. Blake Alexander: 2150

11. Jim Campbell: 2149

TOP FUEL (season wins in parentheses)

1.  Brittany Force: 2468 (5)

2.  Justin Ashley: 2461 (3)

3.  Mike Salinas: 2402 (4)

4.  Antron Brown 2390 (3)

5. Steve Torrence: 2381 (2)

6. Austin Prock: 2342 (1)

7. Josh Hart: 2307 (1)

8. Shawn Langdon: 2290

9.  Doug Kalitta: 2284

10. Clay Millican: 2269

11. Tony Schumacher: 2224(1)

12. Leah Pruett (Dodge Power Brokers): 2211 (1)

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DYSON LOOKS TO END CHAMPIONSHIP TRANS AM SEASON ON WINNING NOTE; CD RACING ALSO FIELDS ENTRIES FOR BRABHAM & MASAOOD

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 31, 2022) – Chris Dyson, already crowned the 2022 Trans Am by Pirelli champion, is looking this weekend for his sixth win in the series’ 11th and final race of the season. Joining him under the CD Racing banner are Matthew Brabham and Humaid Masaood.

It looked like Dyson was on his way to that sixth win last month in the penultimate round of the series at Virginia International Raceway. After a dominating qualifying performance in the debut of his new #16 ALTWELL CBD Riley Technologies-designed Ford Mustang, Dyson comfortably led the field until the halfway point, when a car being lapped for the third time in the 100-mile sprint knocked Dyson off the road and out of the race.

“It was really unfortunate,” Dyson admitted. “It would have been great to win first time out in our new car. But all we can do in racing is look forward and not back.”

Dyson’s VIR disappointment was eased with Brabham’s victory there in Dyson’s former mount, the #20 Concord American Flagpole Ford Mustang. In his two previous starts for the team this season Brabham had also won at Mid-Ohio and finished second at Lime Rock Park.

“It will be great having Matty back in our championship-winning car,” Dyson said. “This weekend should give us a good head-to-head comparison with our old car, which we’ve continuously developed over the past five seasons, and our new one, which we believe has great potential.”

Humaid Masaood will be back in his #21 allgram Ford Mustang for COTA, his first start since the series’ West Coast swing, where he scored a pair of strong finishes at Laguna Seca and Sonoma.

Dyson noted that the 29-car field at COTA is an indicator of the gathering overall strength of the series and the promise of increasing competitiveness in 2023. “Some of our strongest competitors this season just had runs of bad fortune. I had my share, too, but they had more. I don’t expect that to be the case next year.”

Circuit Of The Americas Schedule

Official practice at COTA is Friday. A 15-minute qualifying session begins Saturday at 4:20 p.m. CT (5:20 p.m. ET).

The 100-mile race will be live-streamed on Trans Am’s You Tube channel. The green flag waves Sunday at 9:30 a.m., CT (10:30 a.m. ET).
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Inaugural Xtreme Outlaw Sprint Car Season Concludes; Shane Cockrum Deemed Champion

CONCORD, NC (Oct. 31, 2022) – The inaugural season for the Xtreme Outlaw Sprint Car Series presented by Low-E Insulation has officially ended with no suitable reschedule date for the season finale available.

Points leader Shane Cockrum, and the Amati Racing team, have been deemed the 2022 champions, claiming the inaugural $20,000 title check.

“This is obviously not how we wanted to end the inaugural season for the Xtreme Outlaw Sprint Cars,” said Xtreme Outlaw Series Director Casey Shuman. “I want to thank all the drivers and teams that supported the Series this year and congratulate Shane Cockrum and Shane Wade on winning the inaugural championship. I look forward to bigger and better things for the Series in the future.”

The season finale at Devil’s Bowl Speedway was canceled due to rain. Series officials searched for a suitable replacement but with none available were forced to conclude the season at its current standings.

That left Cockrum, of Benton, IL, as the historic first Xtreme Outlaw Sprint Car Series champion with Alex Bright, in second, and Jake Swanson, in third, rounding out the podium.

FULL POINTS: CLICK HERE

In eight races this year, the Series saw five different winners. CJ Leary won the inaugural race at Volusia Speedway Park in February, followed by Thomas Meseraull picking up the win on the second night in Florida. Leary then became the Series’ first multi-time winner with his victory at Lake Ozark Speedway

Brady Bacon picked up the win during the Series’ second visit to Lake Ozark. Then, Alex Bright and Jake Swanson also became first-time winners with the Series during the St. Louis Firecracker Faceoff at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55.

Swanson went on to make history winning the next two events and becoming the Series’ first three-time winner.

The Xtreme Outlaw Sprint Car Series presented by Low-E Insulation is scheduled to commence its 2023 season during DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park, Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 13-14. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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North Carolina’s Stephen Pedulla Opens World Short Track Championship with Pro Late Model Championship Feature Win

CONCORD, NC – Oct. 27, 2022 – Stephen Pedulla will never forget The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

After a year of frustration, the Kannapolis, NC driver finally had everything go his way, leading all 20 laps to win the Fox Factory Pro Late Model Championship Feature Thursday night at the seventh annual World Short Track Championship.

Pedulla grabbed the lead from the pole position while trying to pull away from challengers Ricky Greene and Jeremy Steele.

Greene hounded Pedulla for the first 14 laps until a yellow flag flew on Lap 15 for Timmie Harrelson, who slowed in Turns 3 and 4.

From there, Pedulla held off a final stand from Steele on the restart to earn the 20-lap triumph—the first Late Model win of his career.

“Man, I’ll tell you what, we’ve struggled so much this year, and to get it up here, I can’t say enough,” Pedulla said. “I’m thankful to my parents. Fox shocks, they support me, DEI, they support me, everyone that supports me. I can’t say enough.

“To get this up here is just phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal. The best of the best are up here. We were junk the other day, and we threw the kitchen sink at it, and here we stand.”

Despite leading the entire race, Pedulla knew a challenge was coming on the restart. However, he scouted his opponents well and stated he knew what to do to keep the field behind him.

“Jeremy Steele’s been tough all year,” Pedulla said. “I saw Jeremy go to the high side, and Jeremy is usually really good on the high side. So, I knew I had to go up high since we got a Dover, Delaware, start. I knew I had to get up high and block his start because I was scared he was going to get around me on the top side.

“But they told me he wasn’t as good as I was anyway, so I knew if I beat Jeremy, I had it won.”

Steele settled for second, while Greene finished third. Cody Cubbage crossed the line fourth, and Dillon Brown rounded out the top five.

UP NEXT: The Fox Factory Pro Late Models return to action on Friday, Oct. 28, for day two of the World Short Track Championship at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

RESULTS: Championship Feature- 20 Laps- 1. 31G-Stephen Pedulla[1]; 2. 22-Jeremy Steele[4]; 3. 18-Ricky Greene[3]; 4. 12C-Cody Cubbage[5]; 5. 6-Dillon Brown[12]; 6. 114-Jordan Koehler[7]; 7. 55H-Benji Hicks[13]; 8. 00-Kendal Tucker[2]; 9. G4-Trent Ivey[20]; 10. 615-Colton Trouille[9]; 11. 27H-Justin Hudspeth[6]; 12. 66-Jody Knowles[18]; 13. 74-Mike Franklin[10]; 14. 5Q-Colby Quick[11]; 15. 08-Layton Sullivan[14]; 16. 20G-Chub Gunter[15]; 17. 29-Dale Moore[17]; 18. 89-Timmie Harrelson[8]; 19. 55-Matt Long[16]; 20. 215-Jamison McBride[19]


David Rogers clinches Sportsman win on opening night of World Short Track Championship
Rogers picked up where he left off at the World Short Track Championship last year, winning another VP Racing Fuels DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Feature

David Rogers kicked off the seventh annual World Short Track Championship with another VP Racing Fuels DIRTcar Sportsman Modified victory Thursday night at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

The southern trip for the New York native still saw him face off against several of his DIRTcar Northeast Series regulars, such as Andrew Buff and Mike Fowler, for the victory.

Rogers started eighth on the grid but quickly made his way through the field, finding his way to fourth in the opening lap.

Andrew Buff held the lead until Rogers passed him on Lap 9. He battled to stay within striking distance of Rogers, but it was the LaFargeville, NY native’s night to shine, steadily pulling away from the pack.

“The car was good,” Rogers said. “We were a little bit tight. Every restart and on the initial start it felt tight, but once I got some heat in the tires I was really good. The car freed up and I could turn. Man, this thing was incredible.”

Rogers is no stranger to the event, winning the second Sportsman Modified Feature last year.

“I won the big one last year,” Rogers said. “So, to come back and do this, it’s incredible. We just gotta take the next one.”

Waterloo, NY driver Kevin Ridley wanted a piece of the action as well, steadily charging forward from a 10th place starting position. With a consistent pace, he made his way to fifth by the halfway point of the race and eventually worked his by by Ayden Cipriano on Lap 18 to secure a podium finish.

Cipriano finished fourth and Dylan Madsen finished fifth.

UP NEXT: The DIRTcar Northeast Sportsman Modifieds will return Friday night for eight-lap Heat Races and 10-lap Last Chance Showdowns before Saturday’s 30-lap Feature.

RESULTS: Championship Feature – 20 laps
1. 44-David Rogers[8]; 2. 92-Andrew Buff[2]; 3. 20X-Kevin Ridley[10]; 4. 5C-Ayden Cipriano[5]; 5. 89-Dylan Madsen[7]; 6. 01-Zachary Buff[16]; 7. 26-Derrick McGrew[18]; 8. 410-Mike Fowler[19]; 9. 78-Michael Wright[12]; 10. 52-Jessica Power[4]; 11. 99-Jordan Millard[15]; 12. 18-Blayden Arquette[3]; 13. 7X-Chuck Miller[17]; 14. 1R-Ricky Thompson[21]; 15. 49-Chris Jakubiak[13]; 16. 29-Tanner Forbes[9]; 17. 44C-Dave Conant[11]; 18. 73G-Gordon Hermanson Jr[6]; 19. 23-Cole Perry[20]; 20. 23C-Tommy D’Angelo[14]; 21. 47-Walter Cook[1]

CALIFORNIA KID: Dotson Wins UMP Modified All-Star Invitational at Charlotte

Thirty-five division entrants checked-in for seventh annual World Short Track Championship

In a stacked field of 35 Summit Racing Equipment DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, Ethan Dotson was first to strike on the weekend, dominating the All-Star Invitational Feature Thursday night and claiming the division’s first race win of the seventh annual World Short Track Championship.

Dotson, the 23-year-old UMP Modified breakout star from Bakersfield, CA, led all 20 trips around The Dirt Track at Charlotte, picking up a $600 preliminary event check and his first career victory at the famed 4/10-mile oval.

“It’s probably the best we’ve been so far,” Dotson said. “We could move anywhere, and it just was really, really good.”

Dotson was introduced to The Dirt Track one year ago in his World Short Track debut, piloting a second Longhorn Chassis entry for team owner/driver Steve Arpin. He turned some heads that weekend, consistently running up front and finishing sixth in the Championship Feature.

He’s back for more again this year with an even bigger bat to swing as the hand-picked driver for Longhorn’s UMP Modified house car program. So far, he’s rarely been flat, scoring multiple high-profile wins at various tracks since the start of the season. Now, he’s focused his attention on The Dirt Track, and has already shown his prowess with the nearly uncontested victory to kick off the weekend.

“I got to come here last year, and I really like this place,” Dotson said. “The track kinda fits my driving style. It’s a lot of fun.

“I’m loving the UMP stuff. The big motor and the better tires – it’s just a lot of fun to be able to do that. I come from Crate racing, so it’s really cool to be able to do this stuff.”

After timing fastest in his Qualifying group, Dotson redrew second-best of all 21 Feature starters, setting him outside the front row for the drop of the green. He jumped out to the lead immediately and hit the jets, blasting around the high side and stretching his lead out to over four seconds at one point before cruising to the checkers.

Dotson gave kudos to top Longhorn engineer Kevin Rumley for his assistance in the team’s recent testing sessions at the track. He said the team’s urge to win the division Championship Feature on Saturday is huge with the company’s headquarters being only a short drive away from The Dirt Track in China Grove, NC.

“We got to spend a lot of time with Kevin Rumley this week; he really helped us out,” Dotson said. “We played with stuff, and he spent a whole day going through this thing and really helped us get a lot of speed.”

He and the Longhorn team will face the deep field of competitors again in Friday’s Heat Races and Saturday’s lower mains and Championship Feature as they shoot for the $4,000 grand prize and their fourth title in event history.

Don’t miss a moment of the action as the seventh annual World Short Track Championship continues Friday and Saturday at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. Buy a ticket at the gate, or stream every lap from all 10 divisions live on DIRTVision.

RESULTS: All-Star Feature 20 Laps – 1. 00-Ethan Dotson[2]; 2. 7-Evan Taylor[3]; 3. 8-Austin Holcombe[6]; 4. 8S-Kyle Strickler[9]; 5. 5-Jonathan Taylor[8]; 6. 99W-Chris Arnold[4]; 7. -Kenny Shaw; 8. 21S-Kenny Shaw[1]; 9. 25-Jason Altiers[12]; 10. 77-George Dixon[21]; 11. 79D-John DeMoss[13]; 12. 21-Taylor Cook[19]; 13. 52-Colin Green[16]; 14. 95J-Justin Cullum[7]; 15. 71D-Chris Madden[5]; 16. 35-David Stremme[20]; 17. 55-Alyssa Rowe[11]; 18. 96M-Mike McKinney[18]; 19. 99H-Justin Haley[17]; 20. 6-Ryan Ayers[15]; 21. 72-Todd Neiheiser[10]; 22. T2-Greg Hauger[14]

Pete Stefanski wins first World Short Track Championship Pro Stock Feature
Wheatfield, NY’s Pete Stefanski won Thursday’s MSD DIRTcar Pro Stock Championship Feature at The Dirt Track at Charlotte

When Pete Stefanski took the green flag in Thursday night’s World Short Track Championship MSD DIRTcar Pro Stock Feature, it commenced only his fifth race in 2022 with his new car.

However, in the opening stage of the 20-lap race, it looked as though he had a full season with it under his belt. Stefanski went from fifth to third in the opening lap. Third to second by Lap 4, and then took the lead on Lap 9.

From there, he ran away with the victory – his first at the World Short Track Championship in his fifth Feature start.

While he was confident in his car, he didn’t expect to move forward at that rate.

“I thought if I was patient enough, we would be able to get there and run with those guys,” Stefanski said. “I kept getting my nose underneath [Shawn Perez Sr.] there and I didn’t think I was going to clear him and he just kind of bobbled the corner and I said, ‘I just have to drive it in all the way and do a little bit of a slide job on him.’ And it worked through (Turns) three and four.”

Shawn Perez Sr. started on the pole for the Feature, after the entire field drew for their starting positions. From there, he jumped ahead of the field on the initial start, leaving a three-way battle for second behind him.

Johnny Rivers Jr. found himself under attack from Stefanski and Denis Gauvreau in the opening laps and eventually lost the battle to both drivers by Lap 7, falling to fourth – and eventually fading further until he landed in eighth at the end of the race.

Once Stefanski and Gauvreau found their way into the top-three, it became a three-way battle for the lead. Running low, Stefanski worked his way under Perez, creating a side-by-side race for the lead, which allowed Gauvreau join the duel.

When Perez bobbled through Turns 3 and 4, Stefanski had a clean run around the bottom and launched to the lead down the front stretch. Gauvreau also worked his way by Perez for second.

“It was nice to be three-wide, no contact, because the track is just great top to bottom,” Stefanski said. “That’s what made the racing so good.”

The race looked to be in Stefanski’s control until a caution on Lap 14 for a car stopped in Turn 2. When the race resumed, Gauvreau kept the pressure on the New Yorker, staying close enough for Stefanski to hear he was within striking distance.

However, that wasn’t enough to rattle the four-time DIRTcar Pro Stock champion. Stefanski maintained a car-length lead and capped off the opening night of the seventh annual World Short Track Championship with his first event win – which now locks him into Saturday’s main show.

“It’s huge for me,” Stefanski said. “I’ve only been in the car five times this year with the new setup and coils and everything. So, to be as close as we’ve been in the four races we’ve been in and to come here and win against the guys that we ran against here, I’m pretty proud of myself.”

Gauvreau settled for second and along with Stefanski’s impressive drive, Marc Lalonde had the best climb of the race, charging from 20th to finish third.

UP NEXT: The MSD DIRTcar Pro Stocks will run their Heat Races and Last Chance Showdowns Friday (Oct. 28) at The Dirt Track at Charlotte for the second night of the seventh annual World Short Track Championship before Saturday’s main event.

RESULTS: Championship Feature – 20 laps
1. 2-Pete Stefanski[5]; 2. 72G-Denis Gauvreau[10]; 3. 8-Marc Lalonde[20]; 4. 09-Shawn Perez Sr[1]; 5. 00X-Josh Coonradt[16]; 6. 11-Stéphane Larivière[2]; 7. 8C-Sean Corr[12]; 8. 14J-Johnny Rivers Jr[3]; 9. 32-Jonathan Levesque[15]; 10. 35-Jonathan Lemay[4]; 11. 33-Bruno Cyr[9]; 12. 17-Nick Hilt[11]; 13. 92-Sheldon Martin[8]; 14. 9S-Luke Horning[17]; 15. 6-Stephane Lebrun[7]; 16. 09J-Shawn Perez Jr[14]; 17. 4M-Jordan Modiano[19]; 18. 9-Eric Jean Louis[21]; 19. 38JR-Justin Chaput[13]; 20. 6C-Brian Carter[6]; 21. 63-Ryan Crellin[22]; 22. 58-Roxanne Roy[18]

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TUNE-IN ALERT! Mission Volusia Half-Mile Finale II on FS1 Sunday!

 
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 28, 2022) – Don’t miss the televised premiere of Round 18 of the 2022 Progressive American Flat Track season. The Mission Volusia Half-Mile Finale II presented by Daytona Dodge and Zo CBD at Volusia Speedway Park will air Sunday at 10:30 a.m. ET (7:30 a.m. PT) only on FS1. For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com. 
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General Motors’ Keith Rodden to Join Richard Childress Racing as Crew Chief of the No. 3 Chevrolet in 2023

Rodden’s pairing with Austin Dillon Highlights Strength of Chevy Racing Program: Justin Alexander Named RCR’s Director of Vehicle Performance
 WELCOME, North Carolina (October 28, 2022) — Keith Rodden will join Richard Childress Racing as crew chief of the No. 3 Chevrolet driven by Austin Dillon in 2023. Rodden, an experienced crew chief and race engineer, most recently worked on the Motorsports Competition NASCAR strategy group at General Motors. In that role, Rodden focused on working with Chevy race teams on how to best approach track tests, practice sessions, and race events to optimize race results. He also worked as the General Motors WFT project lead, serving as test team crew chief.  A North Carolina State University grad and Denver, North Carolina native, Rodden began his professional motorsports career in 2003 with owner Andy Petree. He worked as either a crew chief or engineer with top-tier NASCAR teams such as Hendrick Motorsports, Evernham Motorsports, Richard Petty Motorsports, Team Red Bull, and Chip Ganassi Racing. Notably, Rodden worked for over a decade with Kasey Kahne, including as crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet at Hendrick Motorsports. “The addition of Keith Rodden to the Richard Childress Racing team highlights the ‘One Team’ approach to our race program and the commitment that our manufacturer partner has made to elevating all of the Chevy NASCAR teams with a shared approach to data gathering and technical development,” said Andy Petree, vice president of competition for Richard Childress Racing. “I’ve known and worked with Keith Rodden since the beginning of his NASCAR career, and I can confidently say that he will be a great match for Austin Dillon and our team at Richard Childress Racing. We’d like to thank Justin Alexander for his contributions to the No. 3 team and know that he will do a great job continuing to support RCR in his new role.” Rodden assumes crew chief duties from Justin Alexander, who has been named the director of vehicle performance for Richard Childress Racing. Alexander guided Dillon to all four of his NASCAR Cup Series wins as crew chief of the No. 3 Chevrolet.  “In working with Richard Childress Racing, and in particular the No. 3 team, over the years, I’ve been really impressed with their competitive nature, dedication to hard work and emphasis on partner relationships,” said Rodden. “I’m looking forward to getting back into a team crew chief role and doing so with one of the strongest teams in the Team Chevy family. “ 
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Franklin Road Apparel Enters Season Finale at Austin Trans Am Looking for High Notes

Austin, TEXAS – October 28, 2022 – Former XGT Champion and Franklin Road Apparel Showtime Motorsports Team Principal Ken Thwaits can surely be satisfied as the 2022 draws to a close with the annual finale at Circuit of The Americas. Ken himself has been on the podium four times in TA Class events – at Sebring, Road Atlanta, Sonoma and Lime Rock Park. He goes into the final weekend of the season with 208 points in the TA Class Drivers Championship. That puts him in P4 overall, just five points behind Amy Ruman and 11 behind Tomy Drissi and in range with a shot at championship podium places.

2022 also saw the team score their first wins in the TA Class with Paul Menard triumphant at Charlotte and Justin Marks taking the checkered flag at Watkins Glen. To those stellar results we can add podium finishes for Paul Menard who finished in P2 at Road America and Keith Grant filling the same position at Virginia International Raceway, giving the Franklin Road Apparel team a hugely impressive total of 353 points in the TA Class alone.

Meanwhile over in TA2, former Champion Cameron Lawrence has made the podium at Road Atlanta and Lime Rock Park. Cameron currently sits in P9 overall with 153 championship points, while others to have contributed include Carl Rydquist, Ken himself and the exciting young talent Dylan Archer, whose partnership with Food Processing Equipment Company takes him through 2023.

Cameron and Dylan are flying the flag for Showtime Motorsports at COTA having both finished in the top ten at VIR in the previous round. Ken meanwhile will be looking to outscore Tomy Drissi and Amy Ruman, both former champions, and see where he finishes up in the TA Driver Championship on the season.

We spoke to Ken ahead of the near 900-mile trip southwest from his Tennessee base to Austin and the Formula One Circuit which saw Max Verstappen claim the honors in the United States Grand Prix just a few days ago.

“It’s been a great year,” said Ken as he prepared the team for the final weekend of the season. “As a team, we’ve won a couple of races and had numerous podium finishes in both classes. We’ve established ourselves as major players and there isn’t anyone in Trans Am who doesn’t know the Franklin Road name now.”

“The thing with success is, you always want more. So, the goal is to build on what we’ve done this season and look to do as well – if not better – next year. We’re still relatively new to Trans Am and we’re learning all the time. The cars require so much work and effort and that’s thanks to the whole team that we grow and succeed.”

Circuit of The Americas (COTA) is a grade 1 FIA-specification 3.427-mile motor racing track and the current home of the Formula One United States Grand Prix. Billed as The Mission Foods Austin SpeedTour, the spectator experience at an SVRA event is like no other motorsport. The paddock area is always open to spectators, offering an up-close level of access to cars and drivers. Attendees can check out the garages and see real vintage race cars getting prepped for the track. Racegoers will see why the vintage racing community is one of the most friendly and knowledgeable groups of people in the car world. Additionally, vendors on site offer everything from classic car memorabilia to auto detailing products. Fans can get a bite to eat and enjoy the historic racing backdrop to what always ends up being a fantastic weekend of motorsports.

Qualifying for both TA races this weekend is from 4:45pm on Saturday with the TA Class race bright and early at 9:30am on Sunday morning and the TA2 race at 11:45 am. Both races are over 34 laps of the track. The racing broadcast will be on CBS Sports Network in the coming weeks. Check local listings for details.
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RCR Event Preview – Martinsville Speedway

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway … In 182 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Martinsville Speedway, RCR has seven victories, including five by Dale Earnhardt (1985-fall, 1987-spring, 1988-spring, 1991-spring, and 1995-fall). Ricky Rudd won the fall race at Martinsville in 1983, which was RCR’s first Cup Series win on an oval. Kevin Harvick won the 2011 spring race at Martinsville, his first victory at the .526-mile paved speedway. The team owns 31 top-five and 65 top-10 finishes entering Sunday afternoon’s race. Team owner Richard Childress made his first start at Martinsville Speedway on April 10, 1972, and reeled off four top-10 finishes sprinkled across the 1976-1978 seasons.   Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Martinsville Speedway … RCR has one NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at Martinsville Speedway. Kevin Harvick captured the 2006 event in dominating fashion, leading 149 of 250 laps. Clint Bowyer, Harvick’s teammate, finished a close second, crossing the finish line .271 seconds behind. Harvick and Bowyer combined to lead 207 of the event’s 250 laps enroute to a 1-2 finish. In seven NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Martinsville, the Welcome, N.C., based team has one win, one pole and three top-five finishes.  Introducing the Carolina Cowboys … Driven by the same passion for performance that guides his race team, Richard Childress’ latest endeavor brings Professional Bull Riding to the Carolinas. The Carolina Cowboys represent Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in the PBR Team Series, an elite new league featuring the world’s top bull riders in games that began in July 2022. The team is operated by Richard Childress Racing with 2018 Daytona 500 Champion Austin Dillon serving as General Manager.  Catch the Action … The NASCAR Xfinity Series Dead On Tools 250 at the Martinsville Speedway will be televised live on Saturday, October 29, beginning at 3 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.  Follow Sunday’s Action at Martinsville … The NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at the Martinsville Speedway will be televised live on Sunday, October 30, beginning at 2 p.m. ET on NBC. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
       
This Week’s Dow Camaro ZL1 at Martinsville Speedway … In 17 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Martinsville Speedway, Dillon earned his best finish of third in April 2022 at the half-mile short track after starting from the 23rd spot. He also has a fifth-place finish at the track (April 2017). He has made five appearances at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Truck Series, earning his best finish of third in October 2011.
Dow brings a science and engineering crew who is driven by limitless curiosity to the RCR Team … Austin Dillon and the RCR team are again supported by Dow’s materials science expertise and technologies this season. Backed by the power of data analysis and virtual modeling, Dow develops and manufactures high-performance components and materials custom-made for the No. 3 car. Dow and RCR’s partnership has expedited innovation and shortened testing time in the automotive industry by recreating in the lab one of the most extreme environments – the racetrack. After eight years of collaboration, Dow scientists and RCR engineers are continuing to work together to make the No. 3 car faster, safer and more precise. Stay up to date with Dow’s exciting developments at www.dow.com/sports and follow us on Twitter @DowSports & @DowNewsroom.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:How do you feel about short tracks like Martinsville Speedway?“Martinsville Speedway is a place where you get in there and can really race hard, so I’m really excited to get there this weekend. It’s a short little paper clip, with hard-braking corners. We’ve had some solid runs there, including a third-place finish in the Spring race. I think that we can go back and do it again. We have Dow back on the car, and we’ll be pumped when we get there with all of their customers from DAP. I haven’t gotten that Martinsville clock yet, but we’ve had good runs on all of the short tracks this year..”
This Week’s 3CHI Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Martinsville Speedway …Tyler Reddick will be making his sixth NASCAR Cup Series start at Martinsville Speedway this weekend. The driver of the 3CHI Chevrolet has a best finish of eighth in the 2021 spring event and has been running at the finish in all five events he has competed in. Reddick has an identical average starting and finishing position at the .526-mile Virginia speedway (16.80). He enters this weekend’s race at Martinsville 12th in the Cup Series drivers standings.   3CHI Blazed the Trail for Another Industry First … 3CHI and Richard Childress Racing created another first with their partnership for the 2022 NASCAR season. 3CHI began with roots as a CBD producer and quickly became a pioneer in science-based hemp and cannabis innovation. The company was the first to commercially develop and market Delta 8 THC, and today, 3CHI is an industry leader with unsurpassed product quality and purity as verified by top independent labs and benchmark organizations. 3CHI products are sold in a majority of the United States, and the company produces and markets a variety of gummies, tinctures, lotions, edibles and vape products. All 3CHI products meet federal requirements for full legal compliance, with a commitment to promoting responsible adult use. See 3CHI.com for more information.  TYLER REDDICK QUOTE:A lot of things have changed with the Next Gen car since the first Martinsville race earlier this season. “The teams are a lot closer after our first race at Martinsville. Looking at this weekend for us, finishing solid at Homestead-Miami Speedway would have been very important because it gets us toward the end of either Group A. In the spring we were like the third car on the racetrack for qualifying and track still had a bunch of rubber on it from practice and the track just doesn’t have the speed. We’ve seen that at Richmond and a number of tracks so you want to go out toward the end of your group. Unfortunately for us our DNF is going to put us at the front of Group A. Hopefully our 3CHI Chevrolet has good race balance when we get there and we’re able to get a decent pit stall, but more than likely we’ll have to claw our way to the front. I know I don’t sound very optimistic but that’s just the reality of how qualifying has been with this car. I’ve got two more chances to finish this year on a high note. From here on out I want to get a couple more spots in the points if I can but it got a lot harder after Homestead.”
This Week’s Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Camaro SS at Martinsville Speedway…Sheldon Creed will make his second NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday afternoon. Creed qualified fifth and led six laps in his first Martinsville start in April before mechanical problems derailed his solid run. He led 34 laps in the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series short track event in Bristol, Tenn., before he was involved in an accident. Creed has two top-10 finishes in five Truck Series starts at Martinsville with a best finish of eighth-place in 2020. The driver of the Whelen Engineering Chevrolet enters Martinsville 14th in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver standings.     
About Whelen … Whelen Engineering is a family-owned company with a pioneering spirit and a passion to protect the lives of those who protect and serve others. The company mission is to provide industry-defining safety solutions around the world, while creating a community of problem-solvers who are inspired to push boundaries and continue our legacy of delivering ground-breaking innovation. As a global leader in the emergency warning industry, Whelen has been trusted to perform since 1952, when George Whelen III invented the first rotating aviation beacon. Whelen now encompasses two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire with over 750,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing space and the largest design staff in the industry. Every part of every Whelen product is proudly designed and manufactured in America. We embrace quality as our foundation, we celebrate innovative engineering in every product we produce.
SHELDON CREED QUOTES:You ran well at Martinsville Speedway earlier this season so you must be looking forward to going back there this weekend …“I was able to qualify inside the top-five and ran top-five a lot of the day at Martinsville Speedway in the the Spring, plus we led some laps. I feel good going back. We have some short tracks under our belts and we’ve learned some more and have gotten better. Hopefully we can go back and run up front again.”  How big of a factor are brakes at Martinsville Speedway? “I don’t think it will be as big of a factor when we go back. You do have to take care of the brakes and honestly the balance of the car can play a big role in how much brake we’re using. If you’re really tight or really loose you might use more brake just to keep it turning or keep the rear tires underneath you. I don’t see brakes being an issue. Hopefully we can have speed in general.”
This Week’s Global Industrial Chevrolet Camaro SS at Martinsville Speedway … Austin Hill enters this weekend’s race at Martinsville Speedway fifth in the NASCAR Xfinity Series standings, two points below the fourth-place cutline and a spot in the Championship 4. Hill grabbed a fourth-place finish in his first Martinsville Speedway start in the Xfinity Series earlier this season, one of 11 top-fives he has racked up. Hill made 11 NASCAR Truck Series starts at the paperclip shaped oval, scoring three top-10 finishes including a second-place finish in 2021.  About Global Industrial Company … Global Industrial Company (NYSE:GIC), through its operating subsidiaries, is a value-added industrial distributor. For more than 70 years, Global Industrial has gone the extra mile for its customers and offers more than a million industrial and MRO products, including its own Global Industrial exclusive brands. With extensive product knowledge and a solutions-based approach, Global Industrial helps customers solve problems and be more successful. At Global Industrial, “We can supply that®.”
AUSTIN HILL QUOTES:How much did you learn at the spring race at Martinsville Speedway that will help you this weekend? “I think the biggest thing over the season, racing on all different types of racetracks, is just being a little more vocal on what I need in the Global Industrial Chevrolet. I felt like our car was tight and we needed to be better at Martinsville. I don’t think I was vocal enough of voicing my opinion on wanting the car freed up as much as I needed it. I’ve learned that over the season, to be able to trust my instincts and what I need to be better if I am really tight and to make the car better on pit stops so we’re not always one adjustment behind. I think we’ve done a really good job at that throughout the year and that’s one reason you see us run a lot better even if we aren’t that great at the start of the run. We get a lot better at the end of the run because I’m a lot more aggressive on my calls on what I need in the racecar. At Martinsville you have to be aggressive. You have to stay up front all day, try to get stage points, and stay inside the top-10 and if the melee happens you’re out of the way.” If you lose track position at Martinsville, can you make it back up? “If you lose it early in the race and your car is very, very good, I think you can make it up. If you get past halfway your car has to be really, really fast to even have a chance. It’s so tough in this series especially at a place like Martinsville because everybody is so close on lap times. When you go out to qualify, half a tenth can put you qualifying fifth or back to 15th. It’s so close and if you have to go to the back I just don’t see you recovering. You can’t get caught up in someone else’s mess but still be aggressive at the same time. You have to keep that track position. Restarts are crucial. You don’t want to lose two or three spots because it’s hard to get those spots back especially when you’re running inside the top-10.”  
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JOHN FORCE AND PEAK CHEVY GOING ALL IN FOR A WIN AT THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 27, 2022) – John Force and the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS team are 137 points shy of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series lead as they enter the second-to-last event, the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. There are still plenty of points left on the table for the 16-time champion to land a historic 17th title.  Force and the PEAK Camaro come into the weekend from the No. 4 spot after three final round appearances that included a victory at the Charlotte Four-Wide event marking the 34th season in which he has won at least one tour event. The PEAK Chevy has also made nine semifinal appearances, including the recent streak of four-in-a-row, and had two No. 1 qualifiers (both at zMAX Dragway). “I love racing in Vegas, another Bruton Smith track. It’s a real show. People love the excitement and this championship battle this year, it’s exciting. We’re still in it, this PEAK Chevrolet, but we’re all chasing Robert Hight and that Auto Club car,” Force said. “We do well this weekend and points and a half at the Auto Club Final in Pomona, we could have a shot at it. I know my guys will give me a good hot rod, I just need to do my job and keep up with all these young guys and we’ll see what happens.” Force shares with Ron Capps the record for victories in the Nevada Nationals with four (2002, 2010, 2013, 2016). Last season, he qualified his PEAK Chevy Camaro SS second, but had an upset exit in the first round. Force has started No. 1 at the fall event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway just once in 2013. Competition at the NHRA Nevada Nationals, the second to last event on the NRHA Camping World Drag Racing Series season, begins with qualifying Friday at 1:00 and 4:15 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 and 4:00 p.m. Eliminations are slated to begin Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Television coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) on Sunday beginning with qualifying at 2:00 p.m. ET and eliminations at 4 p.m. ET.
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ALL DIRT ROADS: Brad Sweet prepared for ‘extremely intense battle’ with David Gravel at World Finals

ALL DIRT ROADS: Brad Sweet prepared for ‘extremely intense battle’ with David Gravel at World Finals
Sweet, the three-time and defending champion, leads Gravel, looking for his first title, by 16 points entering the championship weekend

CONCORD, NC (Oct. 27, 2022) – You may see a 16-point difference between Brad Sweet and David Gravel in the 2022 championship battle, but to Sweet they’re “essentially tied.”

With that mindset, Sweet’s focus for the World of Outlaws World Finals (Nov. 2-5) season finale at The Dirt Track at Charlotte has changed. Rather than “milking” a healthy points gap, he’s now taking a more aggressive approach for the three nights of racing.

“If you’re going in there looking for a top five, you’re going to lose,” Sweet said. “You have to go in there, putting all the cards on the table and try to win each night. If you have a (large) point lead, I think, you don’t take the risks, or roll the dice. But when someone, basically, essentially, we’re pretty much tied going into a three-race weekend. We know [Gravel and his Big Game Motorsports team are] going to be hungry. They’re going to be good. They have been. Especially for the last eight to 10 races they’ve been on a good stretch. That’s what’s put them in this position.”

For Sweet, of Grass Valley, CA, and his NAPA Auto Parts Kasey Kahne Racing team, a fourth consecutive World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series title is on the line. For Gravel and his Big Game Motorsports team, it would be their first.

The two have battled all year, mirroring their season stats. While Sweet has been more consistent throughout the year, Gravel has been on a hot streak recently. The Watertown, CT driver has scored seven top-five finishes in the last seven races, including at win at I-80 Speedway, versus Sweet’s three top fives – one being a win at Sharon Speedway – and five top 10s in the last seven.

That’s helped Gravel close the points gap and take advantage of Sweet’s rare DNF at Williams Grove Speedway – where he suffered a broken rear end. Before then, Sweet and his KKR team were on a streak of 5,481 laps completed and 166 straight races without a DNF.

To ease the heartbreak of the situation, Sweet said he’s put all his focus on winning at Charlotte.

“Everybody probably handles emotion differently,” Sweet said. “For me, obviously, with doing this for so long, when something happens my mind just moves to the next thing… But I don’t want to dwell on any negativity or what could have been or what should have been. When you go down that path and spend time on the negative stuff, you’re not putting the time where it needs to be. Right now, that’s in preparation and studying where the car needs to be. What I need to do as a driver to get the job done and that’s the task in front of us.

“Williams Grove is done and dusted. Charlotte is ahead of us. It is what it is. I always tell the guys, ‘It could always be worse.’ We’re still ahead in points. We worked hard to get to this point. It’s going to be a great battle. It’s great for the Series. Great for the sport. Now there is going to be a lot of eyes on us. I’m just happy that I’m involved in that conversation.”

While Sweet is focused on the tasks ahead, he also admitted the intensity of the week is still high. He’s averaged a fifth-place finish at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in the last six races there – since winning his first title in 2019. But Charlotte is one of Gravel’s best tracks, averaging a 1.8 finish in the last six races – sweeping the doubleheader in 2019 and picking up a win there the last two years.

“The intensity level is more like when we went there only a couple of points ahead of (10-time Series champion) Donny (Schatz) in 2019, chasing our first championship,” Sweet said. “I guess the difference is we have three more (championships) than we did the situation before. I don’t know that I feel the same pressure. Getting that first one is always the most difficult.

“Pretty comfortable with our accomplishments as a team, where we’re at as a team. Obviously, you can’t help part failures. Things happen. I think at this point I’m looking at it one race at a time. Going in trying to win each race. If you do that, the points are going to fall into your favor. It just comes down to being as prepared as possible. Trying to execute the best that you possibly can.”

The biggest difference this time, he said, is he has a better control of his nerves.

“When you’ve been in the situation, you know the feeling that you get,” Sweet said. “I think that helps for me. It calms me down a little. I don’t think… that year (in 2019), there were just a lot of emotions. It was really hard to control but it was really intense with the team. We worked extremely hard to be as prepared as we possibly could. We have that knowledge and we’ve been in that situation. We’re not treating it any different.”

If Sweet can hold on for his fourth consecutive title, he’ll join Steve Kinser and Schatz as the only three drivers in Series history to have won four straight World of Outlaws championships, and four titles in general. If Gravel finds his way to the top, he’ll become the 11th different World of Outlaws champion.

“All I do is plan on running the best I can every night and hopefully running up front and just keep applying that pressure,” Gravel said. “You never know what could happen.”

With Sweet’s view on the championship battle situation entering World Finals, his only goal is to win.

“I think we need to win a race [at World Finals],” Sweet said. “I think it is important for us to finish strong and for the points, as well. If you’re winning, no one can win points on you.”

Fans can meet Sweet and Gravel, along with the rest of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series stars on Thursday, Nov. 3, during the World Finals Fan Fest, from 2-4pm, along the front stretch – open to all ticketed fans. The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Features will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 2, Friday, Nov. 4, and Saturday, Nov. 5.

For tickets to the World of Outlaws World Finals, CLICK HERE.

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CHEVROLET AT LAS VEGAS


What: NHRA Nevada NationalsWhen: Friday, Oct. 28-Sunday, Oct. 30Where: The Strip at Las Vegas Motor SpeedwayTV: FS1 will telecast eliminations at 5 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 30
Chevrolet drivers roll into Vegas aiming for big pointsEnders placing her bet on red Camaro SS to lock up fifth Pro Stock championship
DETROIT (Oct. 27, 2022) – Erica Enders is betting on red — her red Melling Performance Chevrolet Camaro SS — in the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Enders takes a whopping 165-point advantage over Elite Motorsports teammate Aaron Stanfield into the weekend – the penultimate NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series event of the season — and has the opportunity to wrap up her fifth NHRA Pro Stock world championship.
With three wins in four NHRA Countdown to the Championship races and a history of success at the racetrack, the odds are in her favor. 
“We have had a ton of success at The Strip and we are looking forward to what could potentially be an amazing weekend,” said Enders, who won the four-wide race in April to extend her streak with a victory at the track to four years. “This has been a tremendous season for us and we are going to do our best to finish strong.
“With just two races remaining, we have no plans on letting up on our competition. We will keep our eyes on the prize and let the others worry about the rest.”
A personal-best 10th victory of the season and sweeping the spring and fall races at The Strip for the third time are additional motivation. Enders earned her first victory with Elite Motorsports in 2014 at Las Vegas.
“A personal goal coming into the year was the most wins we’ve ever had in one season. There’s still room to accomplish that goal,” said Enders, whose 42 career victories is second to Angelle Sampey on the all-time list among females in all categories.		Enders’ drive for fiveErica Enders will move into a tie for third with five NHRA Pro Stock championships. She has won in 2014, ’15, 2019 and ’20:
10: Bob Glidden (1974-75, ’78-80, ’85-89)6: Warren Johnson (1992-93, ’95, ’98-99, ’01)5: Greg Anderson (2003-05, ’10, ’21)5: Jeg Coughlin Jr. (2000, ’02, ’07-08, ’13)
She enters the race with the momentum of back-to-back Countdown victories, most recently defeating reigning and five-time Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson in the final at Dallas. Enders was runner-up to Dallas Glenn’s Camaro SS in the 2021 fall race at Las Vegas.
Brittany Force, who won the four-wide Top Fuel race at The Strip in spring, is also in a title hunt. The driver of the Flav-R-Pac/Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster, who owns both ends of the track Top Fuel records, is second in the standings. She was the No. 1 qualifier for the 2021 fall race at the track.
“We need four solid passes during qualifying and need to land back in the winner’s circle. We won this event in the spring and are confident we can do it again,” the 2017 Top Fuel champion said.
John Force Racing teammate Robert Hight, who has won a class-high eight races this season, sits atop the Funny Car standings. The driver of the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS is a five-time winner at The Strip. John Force remains in contention for his record-extending 17th NHRA Funny Car championship. The driver of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Camaro SS is fourth in points.
FOX Sports 1 will telecast eliminations at 5 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 30.
CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPITTOP FUELBRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, FLAV-R-PAC/MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (four-time winner this season; second in points): “Two races left in the season and our Flav-R-Pac/Monster Energy team heads to Sin City this weekend. We are currently sitting in second position and still have a shot at getting back the points lead. We need four solid passes during qualifying and need to land back in the winner’s circle. We won this event in the spring and are confident we can do it again.”
AUSTIN PROCK, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONTANA BRAND/ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (won at Reading, runner-up at Dallas): “This car has been running really well and we have been moving up in the points. I just hope we can keep it going these last two and try to sneak into the two three or top five in the points. I’ve put my heart and soul into this and I know how hard everybody else works.”
FUNNY CARROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (eight-time winner this season; points leader):  “We knew this championship hunt was going to come down to the end. We still have the lead but this Auto Club team needs to keep up their hard work, keep their focus and go and get every point we can. We don’t need to change anything, we just need to keep doing what we’ve been doing, it’s what got us here, now is not the time to switch things up. I have all the confidence in this Auto Club Chevy team. Jimmy Prock, Chris Cunningham and every crew member, they are truly the best group of guys I could have in my corner. We’re looking forward to getting to Vegas and putting on a good show. This competition really is exciting.”
JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (Charlotte four-wide winner in spring; fourth in points): “I’m going to head into Vegas to win. I never give up. This PEAK Chevy team doesn’t give up. We just don’t have a mindset like that. We never give up and it’s not over until we say it’s over.”
PRO STOCKERICA ENDERS, ELITE MOTORSPORTS, MELLING PERFORMANCE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (nine-time winner this season; points leader): “I want to go to Vegas and I want to lock it up there. I don’t think there’s a (point) cushion. I don’t want to have that mentality because I don’t want to let off the pedal. I want to go to battle like we’re coming from behind. I enjoyed being a driver that needed to come from the back. I’m not really sure what it about Las Vegas. The guys have a really great tune-up. Everything changes out here. It is a little bit of altitude, and it is definitely dry and crazy air, so you have to have your tune-up right. You don’t want to be too lean, or you will burn your motor up. I have to give a lot of the credit to my crew chiefs because they have a ton of data her and they do a great job.”
AARON STANFIELD, ELITE MOTORSPORTS, JANAC BROTHERS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (three-time winner and seven-time finalist this season; second in points): “I love racing in Vegas, it’s a great racetrack and we would love to get a win. I’m feeling confident about my hot rod. The guys have been working hard to make sure we finish the season strong, I just need to focus and do the job. As the season is coming to a close I think as a whole, the Elite team has been very strong and I am thankful to be part of it.”
GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, HENDRICKCARS.COM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (reigning Pro Stock champion; third in standings): “No. 1 is probably out of reach. That’s what we were competing for, and it looks like we didn’t get it done this year. But we go to the next two races to win. I put just as much weight on race wins as I do a championship – that’s what I go for, to win races, and there are still two great days to be had this year. By the time we get to Vegas, hopefully we have a chance to win.”
TROY COUGHLIN JR., ELITE MOTORSPORTS, JEGS.COM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (two-time winner this season; fourth in standings): “The fall Vegas race is always one of the coolest races for me. I won my first national event in Super Comp at this race when I was 19 in 2009. The boys have been hard at it on the dyno pretty much seven days a week, so I have all the confidence in the world. I’m as proud as ever to wear the Elite Motorsports and JEGS colors and we’re ready to finish strong.”
KYLE KORETSKY, KB RACING, LUCAS OIL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (fifth in standings): “The last few races haven’t played out in our favor, but the KB Racing group keeps giving me a fast hot rod. I’m looking forward to returning to Vegas for the second time this season and get in the winner’s circle.”
DALLAS GLENN, KB RACING, RAD TORQUE SYSTEMS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (Gainesville winner; runner-up at Indianapolis and St. Louis; 2021 fall race winner at track): “We’re coming into Vegas as the defending event champion and that’s just the boost we need right now. We’re not in contention for the championship this year but we’ve still got a great car that can win these last two races.”
CAMRIE CARUSO, CARUSO FAMILY RACING, POWERBUILT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (first season in Pro Stock; No. 1 qualifier and runner-up at Houston; rookie of the year award candidate): “I love Las Vegas and I am glad we are coming back to a track like this for the Countdown. The four-wide nationals was a new experience so I am looking forward to traditional side-by-side racing this weekend. My crew chief Jim Yates has been working his tail off on our tune-up and I think we have a car that can go rounds. I have been trying to be super aggressive on the starting line. We just need a few things to go our way and we could have a long day on Sunday. This is Las Vegas so anything can happen.”
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ROBERT HIGHT AND AUTO CLUB CHEVY LOOKING FOR POINTS JACKPOT AT NHRA NEVADA NATIONALS

LAS VEGAS (October 27, 2022) – Robert Hight and the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS team have the Funny Car points lead heading into the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but they’ll need a strong showing at the second-to-last event of the season to give them a boost in confidence as the title chase reaches the finish line. Hight has won a total of five times at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, two of those wins coming in the fall of 2009, when he won his first championship and 2015. Just last year, Hight qualified his Auto Club Chevy Camaro SS fifth and advanced to the semifinals before losing to Ron Capps, his closest pursuer for the 2022 championship.  “We knew this championship hunt was going to come down to the end. We still have the lead but this Auto Club team needs to keep up their hard work, keep their focus and go and get every point we can,” Hight said. “We don’t need to change anything, we just need to keep doing what we’ve been doing, it’s what got us here, now is not the time to switch things up. I have all the confidence in this Auto Club Chevy team. Jimmy Prock, Chris Cunningham and every crew member, they are truly the best group of guys I could have in my corner. We’re looking forward to getting to Vegas and putting on a good show. This competition really is exciting.” Hight has won eight times this season, a career best, but his lead over Ron Capps in second is only 10 points. Hight has history on his side as he continues his bid to become just the fourth driver in NHRA Funny Car history (after John Force, Kenny Bernstein and Don Prudhomme) to win as many as four series championships. He already is one of only three Funny Car drivers to have won as many as eight races in a single season and his 14 career Countdown races are the most in the Funny Car division and fourth most overall. Hight and Auto Club will look to add to those numbers this weekend. Competition at the NHRA Nevada Nationals, the second to last event on the NRHA Camping World Drag Racing Series season, begins with qualifying Friday at 1:00 and 4:15 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 and 4:00 p.m. Eliminations are slated to begin Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Television coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) on Sunday beginning with qualifying at 2:00 p.m. ET and eliminations at 4 p.m. ET
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TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE Xfinity 500 Martinsville Speedway Martinsville, Virginia October 30, 2022



ROUND OF 8 ELIMINATION: MARTINSVILLEOne final opportunity lies ahead for the remaining NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) playoff hopefuls to secure a berth into the Championship 4. For the third consecutive season, Martinsville Speedway will host the penultimate race of the playoffs for both series.   The .526-mile Virginia venue took over the post-season position as the Round of 8 elimination race in 2020. Entering the 2020 event below the cutline, Chase Elliott powered his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to victory lane, taking the prestigious grandfather clock and a ticket to the Championship 4 that ultimately led him to his first career championship title in NASCAR’s premier series.  Chevrolet has amassed a series-leading 59 NCS victories at Martinsville, most recently by Chevrolet playoff contender William Byron (April 2022), who lead a race-high 212 laps en route to the triumph to become the series’ first repeat winner of the season. The 24-year-old North Carolina native visited victory lane twice that weekend, also capturing the win in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race behind the wheel of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Silverado RST. Byron is heading into the playoff elimination race weekend looking to not only make it back-to-back trips to victory lane at Martinsville, but to grab a bid to the Championship 4 for the first time in his NCS career.  Heading into the final race of the Round of 8, all three of Chevrolet’s playoff drivers sit above the playoff cutline. After back-to-back runner-up finishes, Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain maintained the second position in the standings, now with a 19-point advantage over the cutline. Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott and William Byron collected top-10 finishes in both stages at Homestead, earning valuable stage points to help put them above the cutline in the third- and fourth-positions, respectively, in the standings.  A look at where the Team Chevy NCS playoff drivers stand heading into the Round of 8 elimination race, including season numbers and career stats at Martinsville Speedway:    
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Camaro ZL1 – 2nd in Playoff Standings (19-points above cutline)Victories: 2Top-Fives: 13 (series-leading)Top-10s: 19 (series-leading)Laps Led: 692Stage Wins: 6Average Finish: 13.8
At Martinsville Speedway:  Top-Fives: 1; Top-10s: 1Average Finish: 24.286Of Note: – The 2022 season marks Chastain’s first career appearance in the NCS playoffs. – Chastain posted top-five finishes earlier this season at two tracks in the Round of Eight, including Martinsville Speedway (5th). – In seven of the eight 2022 NCS playoff races thus far, Chastain has finished in the top-13, including back-to-back runner-up finishes in the Round of 8.
 
Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 – 3rd in Playoff Standings (11-points above cutline)2022 NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season ChampionVictories: 5 (series-leading)Top-Fives: 12; Top-10s: 19; (series-leading)Laps Led: 803Stage Wins: 6Average Finish: 12.1
At Martinsville Speedway:   Victories: 1Pole Wins: 1Top-Fives: 5; Top-10s: 8Average Finish: 13.429Of Note: – The 2022 season marks Elliott’s seventh consecutive appearance in the NCS playoffs. – Elliott has advanced to the Championship 4 the past two seasons, winning his first career NCS Driver Championship in 2020. – Elliott is one of just two former NCS champions that makeup the 2022 NCS Playoffs Round of 8. – Elliott’s one career NCS victory at Martinsville Speedway came in the series’ Round of 8 elimination race in 2020; a victory that led to his first career NCS championship title. 
 
William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 – 4th in Playoff Standings (5-points above the cutline)Victories: 2Top-Fives: 5Top-10s: 9Laps Led: 746Stage Wins: 4Average Finish: 16.1
At Martinsville Speedway:   Victories: 1Top-Fives: 4; Top-10s: 5Average Finish: 15.111Of Note: – The 2022 season marks Byron’s fourth consecutive appearance in the NCS playoffs. – Bryon’s career-best finish in the NCS playoffs came in 2021, finishing the season 10th in the final points standings. – Byron is the series’ most recent winner at Martinsville Speedway (April 2022), while also having collected three consecutive top-five finishes at the Virginia short track.  
 
LARSON SET TO RACE FOR OWNER’S CHAMPIONSHIPWhile he may not be contending for a back-to-back NASCAR Cup Series Driver’s Championship, Kyle Larson piloted his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 to the victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway, ultimately locking-in the team’s spot to compete for the owner’s championship title. Team owner, Rick Hendrick, has collected 14 owner’s championship titles in NASCAR’s premier series, all of which have been recorded behind the wheel of a Chevrolet.
Larson’s third win of the 2022 season came after a dominating performance at the 1.5-mile South Florida oval; sweeping the stage wins and leading a race-high 199 of 267 laps on his way to the victory. His triumph extended Chevrolet’s series-leading win record to 19 wins in 34 NCS races, matching the manufacturer’s win count from the previous season with still two races remaining.Larson led a string of Chevrolet drivers to the checkered flag at Homestead, with Ross Chastain (2nd), AJ Allmendinger (3rd) and Austin Dillon (4th) giving the Bowtie brand a sweep of the top-four finishing positions.. a feat that was performed from drivers from four different Chevrolet teams. This accomplishment marks Chevrolet’s third time sweeping the top-four finishing positions this season (Auto Club Speedway, Road America and Homestead-Miami Speedway); and the manufacturer’s 10th time placing four drivers in the top-five in a single race in 2022.
GRAGSON ONTO NXS CHAMPIONSHIP 4JR Motorsports’ Noah Gragson added onto an already career-season, collecting his series-leading eighth NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of 2022 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In dominating fashion, the 24-year-old driver powered his No. 9 Camaro SS to a sweep of the stage wins and led a race-high 127 of 200 laps en route to an automatic berth into the series’ Championship 4 for the second consecutive season. Gragson’s victory marked Chevrolet’s 24th win in 31 NCS races, while also extending the manufacturer’s current win streak to 10 in a row.  
Gragson is the second Chevrolet driver to lock-in a spot in the Championship 4. Gragson’s JR Motorsports teammate, Josh Berry, already punched his ticket into the Championship 4 after driving his No. 8 Camaro SS to the victory in the series’ opening race of the Round of 8 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Berry’s victory – Chevrolet’s 500th all-time NXS win – also clinched Chevrolet’s series-leading 24th NXS Manufacturer’s Championship. 
ONE RACE, TWO SPOTS REMAINSaturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Dead On Tools 250 will determine the final two drivers that will join Noah Gragson and Josh Berry in the battle for the 2022 NXS Driver’s Championship.
Entering the playoff elimination race weekend at Martinsville, the series’ regular-season champion, AJ Allmendinger, is ranked fourth in the standings and five-points above the cutline. Justin Allgaier, Austin Hill and Sam Mayer sit in the fifth- through seventh-positions in the standings, respectively, but still within reach of the opportunity to either point or win their way into a spot in the Championship 4.
Chevrolet’s most recent NXS victory at the .526-mile Virginia venue came in last season’s Round of 8 elimination race. Entering the race weekend in a “must-win” scenario, Gragson was able to power his No. 9 Camaro SS team to a walk-off win in an overtime finish to clinch a spot in the Championship 4.  
CHEVROLET CONTINUES ‘MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER’ AT MARTINSVILLEChevrolet’s partnership with the American Cancer Society (ACS) and its “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” initiative marks its 12th consecutive year in 2022. Proudly carrying the ACS logo, for every lap the specialty-themed pink Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE pace car leads NASCAR’s premier series under caution during three select races in October, Chevrolet will donate $350 to the American Cancer Society to honor “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.” The second of three NASCAR Cup Series events that are part of the initiative took place at Homestead-Miami Speedway this past weekend. With the pink Camaro pace car leading the NCS for 30 laps under caution during Sunday’s Dixie Vodka 400, Chevrolet will contribute $10,500 towards the campaign, bringing the total to $19,250 with one race remaining in the campaign.  The pink Camaro pace car will return to the track this weekend, serving as the pace car for the 500-lap/263-mile NCS playoff race at Martinsville Speedway as the third and final race of this year’s campaign.  
BOWTIE BULLETS·       Victories by active Chevrolet drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway:     William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (2022)    Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (2021)    Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (2020) ·       In 147 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Martinsville Speedway, Chevrolet has recorded a series-leading 59 victories, including the series’ most recent appearance at the .526-mile Virginia short track in April 2022, recorded by Chevrolet playoff contender William Byron.
·       Chase Elliott recorded the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 elimination race win at Martinsville Speedway in 2020.. a victory that led to his first career championship title.
·       Ross Chastain has recorded runner-up finishes in both of the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 races. Chastain will enter the elimination race weekend second in points, 19-points above the cutline, in his first career NCS playoff appearance.
·       Kyle Larson’s victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway delivered Chevrolet its 19th NASCAR Cup Series win in 34 points-paying races this season, more than its manufacturer competitors combined. The Bowtie brand also continues to lead its manufacturer competitors in top-fives (80), top-10s (150), laps led (4,084) and stage wins (28).  ·       Chevrolet drivers swept the top-four finishing positions in the NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway; a feat recorded by drivers from four different Chevrolet teams. This marks the third time the Bowtie brand has swept the top-four finishing positions this season; and the 10th time Chevrolet has placed four drivers in the top-five in a single race in 2022.  ·       Seven Team Chevy drivers have combined 28 NASCAR Cup Series stage wins:     Tyler Reddick 2 – Fontana x2    Alex Bowman 1 – Las Vegas, Kansas    Ross Chastain 6 – Las Vegas, Darlington, Charlotte, Pocono, Richmond, ROVAL    William Byron 4 – Phoenix, Atlanta, Talladega, Darlington    Daniel Suarez 2 – COTA, Charlotte    Chase Elliott 6 – Martinsville x2, Charlotte, Atlanta x2, Talladega     Kyle Larson 6 – Bristol, Sonoma, Pocono, Texas, Homesteadx2 ·       JR Motorsports has gone two-for-two in race wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Round of 8, with Noah Gragson recording his series-leading eighth NXS win of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Gragson joins teammate, Josh Berry, as the second Chevrolet driver to already clinch a spot in the Championship 4.  ·       Following Josh Berry’s win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Chevrolet’s 500th all-time NXS victory – Chevrolet clinched its series-leading 24th NXS Manufacturer’s Championship. This marks the eighth title for the Camaro SS since becoming Chevrolet’s flagship vehicle in the series in 2013, including the past six consecutive years.  
 
FOR THE FANS·       Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Martinsville Speedway. ·       Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles including: Tahoe Z71, Silverado 2500HD LTZ Diesel, Silverado Crew ZR2, Blazer RS, Corvette Z51, Camaro ZL1, Pink Silverado 1500 Crew High Country Diesel. ·       At the Chevrolet Display, fans can also view Kyle Larson’s No. 5 Camaro ZL1 show car. Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display: Sunday, October 30·       Erik Jones: 10:25 a.m. ·       William Byron: 11:00 a.m. ·       Daniel Suarez: 11:15 a.m.·       Noah Gragson : 11:50 a.m.  Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation:  Friday, October 28: 12 pm – 5:30pmSaturday, October 29: 9 am – 3:30pmSunday, October 30: 9 am – 2:30pm Tune In: NBC will broadcast the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 30. Live coverage can also be found on the NBCSports Gold App, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.  NBC will broadcast the NASCAR Xfinity Series Dead On Tools 250 at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 29. Live coverage can also be found on the NBCSports Gold App, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
QUOTABLE QUOTESROSS CHASTAIN, NO. 1 MOOSE FRATERNITY CAMARO ZL1What are your thoughts on Martinsville being the final race before the Championship race?“When NASCAR decided on the schedule, it was no accident that Martinsville was going to be the race to get into the Championship 4. We’ve seen year over year, it produces some crazy races. I don’t expect anything different. It’s another place that I am looking for a little bit of speed at. It was challenging to pass in the spring, but we were a car that went from around 27th and drove to fifth, but it took me all race to get there. It’s been high on my list to be better there. We tested there and I am still looking for more speed.”
What do you think about Martinsville this weekend?“I want to qualify better there this weekend than I did last time. I had us starting pretty deep in the field and it takes a long time to get towards the front of the field there.”
It seems you’re getting everything you can out of the racecar right now and really maximizing its potential.“Yeah, I’m so proud of the effort of this team and the execution of pit stops. The guys are doing a great job on pit road. We’re checking the boxes and doing what you need to do to run in the Cup Series and put ourselves in contention for wins. The points will stack as up they do.”
KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1Larson on the team’s test at Martinsville Speedway in August: “It’s always good when you can get track time and can work on your car. Martinsville (Speedway) is my worst race track – I just don’t have a good feel for it. Anytime I can get more laps it helps me get into a better rhythm. For me and the type of racing I did growing up, the speed in the middle of the corner at Martinsville is so slow. I am used to trying to roll a corner as fast as possible in a sprint car or a midget or even now a dirt late model. That’s not the case at Martinsville. Usually, the driver going the slowest in the corner is turning the quick laps.”
CLIFF DANIELS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1Daniels on the August test and what he expects this weekend: “Martinsville (Speedway) is certainly its own beast and a unique track. I grew up a couple hours away from it and I love the track. I’ve raced there (as a driver) in a late model and I’ve always enjoyed going there with a Cup (Series) car. We had a good test (in August). Kyle says he doesn’t have a lot of confidence in himself at Martinsville, but we’ve run really well with him and I have seen a lot of good things from him there. I’m cautiously optimistic about this weekend. It should be fun and exciting.”
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1Elliott on racing at Martinsville this weekend: “The Martinsville (Speedway) race in the spring was different than any Martinsville race I’ve ever really been a part of in the past. It was the craziest thing. You couldn’t pass. It was wild to be going that slow and to have a track position race like that. I’m sure it’s going to be more of that (this weekend), and look, that’s fine. It is what it is, right? As competitors, you have to figure out how to be successful in whatever environment is thrown at you, and I think that’s what we’re going to have there. I think a good qualifying effort is going to be really important in how your day’s going to unfold and how much opportunity you’re going to have. Hopefully we can just get it right all weekend because you’re going to have to be on from the beginning. There’s going to be no catching up.”
ALAN GUSTAFSON, CREW CHIEF, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1Gustafson on heading into the final race of the Round of 8: “The strategy, ultimately, is no different than any other week. You try to score as many points as you can and you try to win the race, but obviously the sense of urgency is going to be much higher because you need to advance through this race. That means it’s all or nothing. So yeah, the strategy won’t be any different, but the sense of urgency will be really elevated and it will be the same for everybody besides Joey (Logano). No one else is in a really safe spot, so I think that is really going to generate some interesting situations.”
WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY CAMARO ZL1 Byron on how he will approach Sunday’s race at Martinsville: “I think there’s a little we can apply this weekend from our win there in April. We had a good test at Martinsville (Speedway) a couple months ago that helped us be able to refine some things since we’ve raced there last. This weekend is going to be a bigger challenge, though, than usual given it’s the final playoff cutoff race. Everyone will be bringing their ‘A game’ and everything they’ve got. We just need to approach it how we have been so far. You can’t go in thinking about points because that (the points situation) changes every lap. You have to go in with the mindset of needing to win, and that’s what we will do this weekend to hopefully ensure our spot in the final four.”
RUDY FUGLE, CREW CHIEF, NO. 24 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY CAMARO ZL1Fugle on preparing for Martinsville: “A lot has changed since the last time we raced at Martinsville (Speedway) but having the test a few months ago is really going to help us prepare for this weekend. We’re using a new tire than we did in the April race. We tested with it, so at least we have some idea of what falloff will look like, but there’s still some unknowns until you’re running 80 to 90 laps at a time in race conditions. This race is longer than the spring was as well, so that changes your strategy some. We saw in April that track position was a major key, and I think that will be the same this time. We need to have a good Saturday to really set us up well for Sunday and to hopefully maximize points and contend for the win.”
TY DILLON, NO. 42 U.S. SPACE FORCE CAMARO ZL1“Every driver loves coming up to Martinsville! Growing up about an hour away from there, I have plenty of vivid memories going to the races with my family as a kid. We had a great run with our No. 42 team at Richmond, and I feel like our short track program continues to improve every time we hit the track. This weekend will be so cool for us to represent all the cadets in the US Space Force on our Camaro, I love the design and am very thankful for the opportunity. Hopefully we can avoid the typical short track carnage and come away with a solid finishing result that our guys deserve!”
ERIK JONES, NO. 43 U.S. AIR FORCE CAMARO ZL1“Martinsville is another place that we tested a month or two ago and I felt like we learned a ton at that test that got ourselves and our car a lot better there than we were for the Spring race. I’m excited, Martinsville is always a place I’m trying to improve on. It’s definitely been, I’d say as far as tracks we go to in the Cup Series or any NASCAR Series, it’s probably been my toughest track. Just trying to continue to get better there as a driver and continuing to try to learn. I think overall what we learned at the test will pay off. Hopefully we have made the right changes and can go into it with a good race car and can have a good run. We ran top 10 last fall, which was really strong for us, so hopefully we can have a similar, if not a little better, run.”
GREG IVES, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1Ives on heading to Martinsville as the defending the race winners: “Martinsville Speedway is a place where we have had success in the past. We won the fall race last year, and this season we are in a very different position but with the same goal – go maximize our race and compete for a win. Noah (Gragson) is still in the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Sunday’s race, and we will support him this weekend like we have since he stepped up to fill in for Alex (Bowman). We just have to stay focused on what’s in front of us and right now, and that’s Martinsville.”
DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 WORLDWIDE EXPRESS CAMARO ZL1How would you rank the success this year and did you see this coming last year?“I think that the season has been good. It’s tough, because as a race car driver, I am very greedy. If I don’t win the championship, I wouldn’t say that it is a perfect season. With that being said, I feel that it was a huge step from the first year of Trackhouse to the second year of Trackhouse. Right now, I feel like we are working hard to build up our house, and we have done that. I feel like the 99 team has a lot of things still to prove. And for me, with how we are running, I know that there is potential for more, and that is very exciting.I am very happy with where I am, I am very happy with Trackhouse, and the 99 team. I have an amazing team and we are going to continue to fight. I wish I was still in the playoffs and fighting for a championship, but it just wasn’t in the cards for us. But we have the speed and honestly everything to give these guys a fight. We are going to continue to do that and close this season as strong as possible so we can start building momentum for next year.”
 
Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics Manufacturers Championships:Total (1949-2022): 41First title for Chevrolet: 1958Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15) Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022 Drivers Championships:Total (1949-2021): 33First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)Most Recent: Kyle Larson (2021) Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021 Event Victories:Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)                2022 STATISTICS:                                                                                                    Wins: 19Poles: 10Laps Led: 4,084Top-five finishes: 80Top-10 finishes: 150Stage wins: 28Tyler Reddick (Fontanax2)Alex Bowman (Las Vegas), (Kansas)Ross Chastain (Las Vegas), (Darlington), (Charlotte), (Pocono), (Richmond), (Charlotte ROVAL)William Byron (Phoenix), (Atlanta), (Talladega), (Darlington)Daniel Suarez (COTA), (Charlotte)Chase Elliott (Martinsvillex2), (Charlotte), (Atlantax2), (Talladega)Kyle Larson (Bristol Dirt), (Sonoma), (Pocono), (Texas), (Homesteadx2) CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 833 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 733Laps led to date: 245,420Top-five finishes to date: 4,218Top-10 finishes to date: 8,705                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,167           Chevrolet: 833           Pontiac: 154           Oldsmobile: 115           Buick: 65            Ford: 819                                                                      Ford: 719           Mercury: 96           Lincoln: 4            Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467           Dodge: 217           Plymouth: 191           Chrysler: 59            Toyota: 169