OSBORN, MO (March 7, 2024) – For one night only on April 5, Missouri fans will get to see the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota on the same night at US 36 Raceway. The event will be the first time the two Series visit the high-banked 3/8-mile track together and the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets’ debut there.Sheldon Haudenschild put on a show for fans last year, dueling with Carson Macedo and David Gravel for the win – scoring his second straight World of Outlaws victory at the track. They’ll be back to battle again against fellow Series stars like 10-time champion Donny Schatz, 2023 Rookie of the Year Gio Scelzi, Logan Schuchart, Buddy Kofoid and more. The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets will also have a star-studded field with 2022 Series champion Zach Daum back to score another title against an abundance of new contenders like Brayton Lynch, TJ Smith, Trevor Cline, Peter Smith and South Africa’s Luke Drotschie. It’ll be a true showcase of the open-wheel ladder system as many of the Midget drivers may find themselves as the future stars of the World of Outlaws tour, taking the same path as Kofoid. The event will also be the site of the World of Outlaws’ next documentary, which will air on CBS later this year, giving fans a chance to see themselves on the prime network. EVENT INFO: Date – Friday, April 5 Track – 3/8-mile oval Track Record (Sprint Cars) – 9.846 sec. by Paul McMahan on May 5, 2006 Tickets – WorldofOutlaws.com/tix How to Watch – DIRTVision.com / download the DIRTVision App Times (Central) 2PM Gates Open 5PM Grandstand Gates Open 6:30PM Hot Laps/Qualifying –Racing to follow Last Year’s Replay (Sprint Cars) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nxiKJAF1S4 Previous Winners (Sprint Cars): 2023 – Sheldon Haudenschild on April 7 2020 – Sheldon Haudenschild on Aug. 29 2016 – Joey Saldana on Sept. 17 2009 –Joey Saldana on June 26 2007 –Jason Meyers on May 11 2006 – Jac Haudenschild on May 5

March 7, 2024

This weekend’s Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway will offer Harrison Burton and the No. 21 Draiver team their first at-track experience with NASCAR’s new short-track aero package. The first three races of the 2024 season were held at different types of tracks, with Daytona and Atlanta offering superspeedway drafting, and Las Vegas Motor Speedway a more traditional intermediate-track race.

Phoenix’s one-mile oval is treated by race teams like a short track despite being longer than traditional shorter tracks such as the half-miles at Bristol and Martinsville.

Also new this week is the primary sponsor. The No. 21 Mustang Dark Horse will carry the colors and logos of Draiver, a technology-based company that connects independent drivers with companies needing to move vehicles.

“We’re excited to have a new sponsor on the car with Draiver this week,” said crew chief Jeremy Bullins.

“Our Mustang Dark Horse looks great in their colors, and we will get a longer practice this week to get the set-up dialed in.

“It’ll be interesting to see how the new short-track aero package affects the racing.

“Hopefully we can make the most of it.”

Burton told reporters that he too is anxious to try out the new package.

“The cars certainly might drive worse, which is going to be fun for us,” he said. “I don’t think it’s going to be crazy different, but it’s definitely going to be a little bit less grip and more to manage.”

He predicts the change will be appreciated by drivers and fans alike.

“It should make the racing a little bit better, so I’m excited for that,” he said. “I’m excited to get out there and feel what it’s like.

“I know there’s been some testing done with that package, and from what I saw it looked like a good time to drive it so I’m excited.”

Burton also said he’s anxious to visit the Arizona track and its surroundings.

“I love Phoenix,” he said. “It’s a cool area, cool race track, cool fan base, so its always fun to go out there.”

Practice for Sunday’s 500-kilometer race is set for Friday from 3:05 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. local time (5:05-5:55 p.m. Eastern Time).

Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday at 12:10 p.m. local time (2:10 p.m. Eastern).

Sunday’s 312-lap race is expected to get the green flag just after 12:30 p.m. local time (3:30 p.m. Eastern) with TV coverage on FOX.

Stage breaks are planned for Laps 60 and 185.

In 139 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Phoenix Raceway, Richard Childress Racing has scored six victories, led by Kevin Harvick with four wins (a sweep of both races in 2006 plus the fall races in 2012 and 2013). Ryan Newman was victorious in the 2017 Spring event. Dale Earnhardt won in 1990 to claim his ninth victory of the season enroute to his fourth of seven Cup Series championships. Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Phoenix Raceway… RCR has three NASCAR Xfinity Series wins by three different drivers at Phoenix Raceway: Elliott Sadler (2012), Clint Bowyer (2007) and Kevin Harvick (2006). The victory by Sadler ended a 91-race winless streak, while Bowyer led the most laps (120 of 200) on the way to the Winner’s Circle. The win by Harvick was one of nine victories he claimed on the way to his second Xfinity Series title with RCR.    Catch the Action on Saturday… The NASCAR Xfinity Series Call 811.com Every Dig. Every Time. 200 at Phoenix Raceway will be televised live on Saturday, March 9, beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.  Follow Sunday’s Action at Phoenix Raceway… The NASCAR Cup Series Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway will be televised live on Sunday, March 10, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Morgan & Morgan Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Phoenix Raceway… Austin Dillon has 20 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Phoenix Raceway to his credit, earning two top-10 finishes. He earned his best finish of eighth in November 2018. In his most recent appearances at the track, Dillon finished 16th (Spring) and 12th (Fall). He has 11 starts at the 1.0-mile oval in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, with a career-best finish of second in November 2016. Dillon has three top-10 finishes and one top-five finish in three starts in the NASCAR Truck Series at Phoenix Raceway. By The Numbers… According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Dillon ranks fifth among all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in Average Speed Late In A Run at Phoenix Raceway. He ranks ninth in Green-Flag Passes. Welcome Morgan & Morgan… As America’s largest injury law firm, Morgan & Morgan has recovered more than $15 billion for over 300,000 clients. Throughout the United States, our attorneys fulfill our “For The People” commitment in over 50 practice areas, including national mass torts and class actions, labor and employment, civil rights, and product liability, among many others. We co-counsel with hundreds of other law firms, who refer thousands of cases to us. Our firm has taken on some of the biggest corporations across the globe, including BP, Facebook, Google, Monsanto, and Lockheed Martin, and recovered billions in complex national litigation, including $1.8 billion in the Porter Ranch Gas Leak case in 2021. Learn more at www.forthepeople.com. AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:What are your thoughts on Phoenix Raceway?“Phoenix Raceway is a tough short track and one of those places where you hit it or don’t. In the last few years, Phoenix has seen changes and I think it’s made the track more challenging and that makes it fun for drivers. It could be a good place for the No. 3 Morgan & Morgan team.” Where do you see yourself now in the sport, and where do you see yourself in five years?“I feel like I’m at a place where I need to step up and take that next step, to try and get to a multi-win season and go further than I’ve ever gone in the NASCAR Playoffs. My ultimate goal since I’ve got to the Cup level is to be the first guy to win a championship at all three levels. That is still where my head is at. I’ve been able to see a lot of changes throughout my career, starting when Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Dale Jr. were in the NASCAR Cup Series and I got to race against those guys. Now, we’re experiencing a whole new car, a new racecar, new style of racing, so I’m going to try and do my best to put myself and my name back in that top tier of guys. Last year was one of those years where you just got kicked and kicked, and I was wondering when it was going to end. This year is a fresh start. Everybody is excited to go, my family, everybody being at the track to support us, so it’s going to be a good year. I just want to put myself where I feel I can be, and that’s in that top tier. I’ve been there before, and I want to be a multi-win guy at the Cup level.”

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 zone Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Phoenix Raceway…  Kyle Busch will be making his 38th career Phoenix Raceway start in the NASCAR Cup Series start this weekend. Busch has three wins (2005, 2018, and 2019) along with 12 top-five finishes. The Las Vegas, Nev., native is the youngest winner in track history (20 years, 6 months, and 11 days). He is tied with Ryan Newman for most pole positions all-time at Phoenix (4). Busch has 26 top-10 finishes, the most among active Cup drivers at the 1.0-mile desert oval. His average finish of 10.946 is best among active drivers and he has logged a top-10 in 70.27 percent of his starts. The driver of the zone Chevrolet is also the all-time lap leader at Phoenix (1,190).  Points Update…Busch is sixth in the NASCAR Cup Series driver standings, 23 points behind the leader.    Did You Know?… Busch has led at least one lap in all three Cup Series races this season (58 total laps) and is one of just seven drivers to complete all 727 laps.  Welcome zone™… the latest innovation from ITG Brands, zone is the next generation of nicotine pouches that delivers a superior tobacco-free experience and outperforms competitive products where it matters most. Available in 6mg and 9mg strengths and 7 flavors, zone pouches are made with top shelf ingredients and high-quality materials to provide extra soft comfort, longer-lasting flavor, and immediate nicotine intensity. zone’s pouches are carefully crafted and designed to meet the needs of adult nicotine consumers, providing the best experience from the first pouch to the last. For more information, visit zonepouches.com. KYLE BUSCH QUOTES:Is there a fine line at Phoenix between hitting the setup and running well versus being really off the mark?“Phoenix has always been a tricky track to hit the proper setup and making sure that you are fast. Kevin Harvick has had a really good time of being able to hit that ever since the repave at this track where I feel as though I might have been better at the old surface but have still seen success in Trucks, Xfinity and Cup winning races.”  How does having the practice session on Friday change your strategy for the weekend? “Anytime you’re able to get a little bit more practice should allow you time to dissect the car and make the necessary changes that you think you need as a driver to be able to have a good race car. I felt like we had a pretty decent race car there last fall when we had the added practice and if it weren’t for getting set behind on pit road, we would have had a pretty good race.”

Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet Camaro SS at Phoenix Raceway… Jesse Love will make his inaugural Xfinity Series start at Phoenix Raceway this Saturday. Despite making his maiden voyage at the Arizona speedway behind of the wheel of the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet, the 19-year-old has completed over 1,000 laps at the one-mile track. Love has one NASCAR Truck Series start at Phoenix Raceway, earning a fourth-place result (2023) in just his third series event. In addition, Love has seven starts in ARCA Menards Series competition at the facility, posting a best finish of second (2022) and three top-10 results.   ROTY Leader… Through three races, Love continues to lead the Sunoco Rookie of the Year point standings. After a competitive outing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Menlo Park, California native extended his lead to 36 points over second-place Shane van Gisbergen.   About Whelen Engineering… 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. Meet Love… On Friday, March 8 at 4 p.m. local time, Hill and his RCR teammate, Austin Hill, are scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Trailer located in the Midway at Phoenix Raceway. Stop by to meet the RCR Xfinity Series driver lineup and purchase new gear. JESSE LOVE QUOTE:Talk about your relationship with new crew chief, Danny Stockman. “I could talk about Danny Stockman for a long time. Anyone who knows him, knows how good he is. Anyone who knows him, knows how high strung he can be, because he’s so intense. I think his intensity has woken up part of the shop, and he focused on building a really great team around us on the No. 2 team. To start the season with the speed that our Whelen Chevrolets have had, it speaks to how good our cars are and how good Danny is at building fast race cars. There are small things that crew chiefs can do right now to make speed, and I still feel like it’s being conservative to a point. Danny has been awesome to work with so far, but so have all of the guys on this team. Everyone is working so hard. I’m looking forward to having a bad night one race to see how Danny and we as a team react to that, since we are pretty much the same.”

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation and Logistics Chevrolet Camaro SS at Phoenix Raceway… Austin Hill has four career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Phoenix Raceway, earning a best finish of seventh twice (both 2023 races) while piloting the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. In addition, Hill has five NASCAR Truck Series starts at the Arizona speedway, notching one pole (2019) and one top-10 result (2021).  Top of the Standings… Through three races, Hill remains the Xfinity Series driver championship points leader. The 29-year-old holds a 22-point lead over second-place Chandler Smith.   Did You Know? Hill is one of four drivers who currently hold the longest active streak (three races) for top-10 finishes at Phoenix Raceway.    About Bennett Family of Companies… McDonough-Ga. based Bennett Family of Companies is a woman-owned, Women’s Enterprise Business Council (WBENC) certified, diversified transportation and logistics company. Through its 14 affiliated operating companies, the Bennett Family of Companies delivers integrated transportation and supply chain management solutions worldwide. Bennett has 4,625 drivers/owner-operators, over 1,000 employees and 600 agents located across the United States. For more information, visit www.bennettig.com. Meet Hill… On Friday, March 8 at 4 p.m. local time, Hill and his RCR teammate, Jesse Love, are scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Trailer located in the Midway at Phoenix Raceway. Stop by to meet the RCR Xfinity Series driver lineup and purchase new gear. Following the autograph signing, on Friday, March 8 at 5 p.m. local time, the Winston, Georgia native is scheduled to participate in a question-and-answer session at the Fanshield Infield Stage located behind Victory Lane at Phoenix Raceway.  AUSTIN HILL QUOTE:You are returning to Phoenix Raceway, after what was one of your best runs at the track since joining RCR. What is the outlook heading into the race this weekend? “I thought we had improved on our package last fall when we went back to Phoenix Raceway for the season finale. That should allow us to have a solid starting point when we hit the track for practice on Saturday morning, and we can fine tune it from there. There isn’t a lot that we can take from these first three races and apply to Phoenix, but I do think there is some knowledge with the new slits in the rear glass that can be applied. Our Bennett Transportation & Logistics team has good momentum as a team with three straight top-five finishes, so hopefully, we can keep that rolling.”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 7, 2024) – The 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, kicks off this week with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II on Thursday, March 7, and Friday, March 8, in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Mission SuperTwins and Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER championship contenders prepare to open their season-long battles with the first practice scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m. ET (1:00 p.m. PT) on both days. For those that can’t catch the action from Daytona International Speedway, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action, starting with Practice and Qualifying and concluding with the Victory Podium, at http://flosports.link/aft. For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

6 March 2024 – Stalwart LMP2 sportscar squad DragonSpeed will continue its quest for the Michelin Endurance Cup at the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, second round of the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The classic enduro will see the return of regular Bronze driver Henrik Hedman alongside new teammates Malthe Jakobsen of Denmark and Swede Rasmus Lindh, with enhanced backing from long-time sponsor Flex-Box, a leading global producer of shipping containers.

20-year-old Jakobsen has stepped up to the World Endurance Championship as test and reserve driver for the factory Peugeot Hypercar program while continuing to race LMP2 in the European Le Mans Series. Lindh, age 22, has been a standout in the INDYCAR ladder classes while also establishing himself as a rising star in sportscars.

Henrik Hedman: “It will be a pleasure to be back in the 81 car for Sebring. I consider it my home track and number one target after winning Daytona and Le Mans. The LMP2 field is deeper than ever, but after some near misses at Sebring in my ten years with DragonSpeed, we are aiming for the top step with the help of our first all-Viking lineup of Flex-Box, Malthe, Rasmus, and myself!”

Malthe Jakobsen: “I’m really excited to join DragonSpeed for my return to Sebring, one of my favorite races. I have my LMP3 experience from 2022, DragonSpeed’s LMP2 record speaks for itself, and I’ll have great teammates in Henrik and Rasmus, so I can’t wait to get started.”

Rasmus Lindh: “I’m thrilled to be part of successful team like DragonSpeed for the rest of the Michelin Endurance Cup season. Thank you to all involved for this great opportunity – let’s go racing!”DragonSpeed Team Principal Elton Julian: “It’s fantastic to have Henrik back with us for Sebring. This is the one that’s gotten away from us – so far. With increased support from Flex-Box and the addition of two young chargers in Malthe and Rasmus, we have what we need to fight for the win. I personally love everything about this race, not least the fans, and can’t wait to get stuck in.”

6 March 2024 – Stalwart LMP2 sportscar squad DragonSpeed will continue its quest for the Michelin Endurance Cup at the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, second round of the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The classic enduro will see the return of regular Bronze driver Henrik Hedman alongside new teammates Malthe Jakobsen of Denmark and Swede Rasmus Lindh, with enhanced backing from long-time sponsor Flex-Box, a leading global producer of shipping containers.

20-year-old Jakobsen has stepped up to the World Endurance Championship as test and reserve driver for the factory Peugeot Hypercar program while continuing to race LMP2 in the European Le Mans Series. Lindh, age 22, has been a standout in the INDYCAR ladder classes while also establishing himself as a rising star in sportscars.

Henrik Hedman: “It will be a pleasure to be back in the 81 car for Sebring. I consider it my home track and number one target after winning Daytona and Le Mans. The LMP2 field is deeper than ever, but after some near misses at Sebring in my ten years with DragonSpeed, we are aiming for the top step with the help of our first all-Viking lineup of Flex-Box, Malthe, Rasmus, and myself!”

Malthe Jakobsen: “I’m really excited to join DragonSpeed for my return to Sebring, one of my favorite races. I have my LMP3 experience from 2022, DragonSpeed’s LMP2 record speaks for itself, and I’ll have great teammates in Henrik and Rasmus, so I can’t wait to get started.”

Rasmus Lindh: “I’m thrilled to be part of successful team like DragonSpeed for the rest of the Michelin Endurance Cup season. Thank you to all involved for this great opportunity – let’s go racing!”DragonSpeed Team Principal Elton Julian: “It’s fantastic to have Henrik back with us for Sebring. This is the one that’s gotten away from us – so far. With increased support from Flex-Box and the addition of two young chargers in Malthe and Rasmus, we have what we need to fight for the win. I personally love everything about this race, not least the fans, and can’t wait to get stuck in.”

Co-driver of No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R is four-time winner of the race

Reigning IMSA Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) champion Pipo Derani participated in a media Zoom call March 6 to preview the 72nd Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Cadillac on March 16. Derani, co-driver of the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R with Jack Aitken and Tom Blomqvist, is the defending and four-time winner of the endurance race at Sebring International Raceway. The Q&A with Derani:

What is it about Sebring that seems to resonate with you and how are you going to make it five (wins) next week?“Sebring has been very kind to me over the last few years. I won there in my debut in 2016, which was a very cool race win, and then had the luck to be involved with great teams and great lineups that allowed me to win a few more times. I think the GTP championship is extremely strong this year. We saw last year at Sebring that you have to be alive to try to win that race. Luckily, last year things turned toward the end. We weren’t meant to win but we won because we survived. The whole race we were there with the top five, fighting on the same lap, and after the final restart we all know what happened. Sebring is one of those places where you have to make sure you survive because it’s such a difficult race on man and machine. It’s a place that you can’t predict because you might have a strong pace during the day and it might differ at night when the temperature drops, so it’s a unique place to try to set up your car in the best possible way for the end but you don’t want to suffer for 11 hours and 30 minutes as well of the race. The GTP is extremely competitive. I think it’s going to take a lot this year to pull out a win. Focusing on trying to improve the last phase of the race will be crucial for us in such a competitive field if we want to go down a sprint the last 30 minutes of the race. You need to be on your toes and be very quick in this important part of the race if you want to achieve something. Looking forward to it. It’s perhaps physically harder than Daytona because it’s very warm, it’s very demanding. It’s not going to disappoint in terms of how tough the race is and how exciting it is for the fans.”

Media resources* Cadillac Racing results at Sebring since 2017 * 2024 IMSA statistics * Cadillac victories Race broadcastsFlag-to-flag streaming on Peacock plus IMSA Radio. USA joins at 4 p.m. ET.

After Daytona, does you motivation change any heading into Sebring?“I’ve been looking at Daytona with a very positive view. We put on a great show. We led a bunch of that race and came up just short because of a pit stop at the very end. We still had a fantastic showing through the week with pole position, led a lot of the race, the car was competitive from beginning to the end. The equipment ran flawlessly. If you look at all that, it’s very positive. Unfortunately, I didn’t take a Rolex home. It was a fantastic weekend and gives up great hope that we started the year strong. Sebring is a different animal. When you look at last year, we weren’t as quick as we wanted to be at night. With that race finishing at night, we were lucky to win but we had some things that we had to work on for this year. We have been working on those things and hopefully we have a stronger car at the end. In general, it’s been a positive start to the year. A lot of the boxes that we wanted to check from last year we’re already in the process of doing so. Last year was a very up and down year for everybody. On our side, we have been working hard on those points and hope it translates into a quicker car at the end of Sebring. On the other hand, the competition has been very strong and improving as well. I mentioned before the season that I believed Porsche Penske had some untapped potential from last year and it seems they are reaching that from last year. Their car was also quick from the beginning to the end of the race; very competitive, very reliable. We have to be on our toes and keep finding time. The stopwatch does not lie, and we need to be on our toes if we want to achieve a great result at Sebring. If we win, let’s say a proper way, we’ll feel a lot better than how we won last year. That’s our goal.”What have you been up to the five weeks since Daytona?“We’ve been doing some simulation work. With the GTP cars, it is quite demanding on the simulation side. There is quite a lot that you can learn. Been home with the family as well. I have a young daughter that demands quite a lot nowadays. The simulator has bene the biggest off-track thing that we’ve been doing between races. Sometimes before and after each race. That’s been the biggest workload since Daytona.” What do you think made this car so good around Sebring last year and will it be competitive knowing the strides the other manufacturers have taken?“I think last year was one of toughest races in terms of temperature changes at the track. I think it’s quite usual at Sebring that you get times of the day that the track is just so much quicker than others, and that was quite evident last year. For us, comparing to the DPi, I think we had in DPi a car that was stronger than the opposition at Sebring. I don’t that was the case last year, although I believe during the very warm period of the race – during the day – we were definitely stronger than the others. But I don’t think that’s the case when the night came, so it’s something to be seen. I really don’t know what to expect, but looking at last year’s event once the sun dropped the Acuras and Porsches were definitely quicker than us, which hurt because we led a lot of the race from the 01 to the 31 but knew at the end that we didn’t quite have the pace if it had gone through a green flag situation all the way through to the end. I think the car suited the heat but is one of the areas we as a team are working on to have a stronger car for the end of the race.”What’s your favorite part of the course to attack?“I think the hairpin is a nice area. It allows some overtaking to be done. Turn 1 as well is amazing with how quick it is and how bumpy it is and still how quickly you’re going through those bumps.” With the GTP and tools you have to work with, can you shrink that gap from day to night?“I wouldn’t say so. The tools that we have are not to compensate for temperature changes. It’s more about how you migrate brakes from the front to the rear and how you operate the hybrid system. It’s more about taking the car to a 7-post rig and trying to understand what you can do to the suspension and springs and suspension-wise that you could potentially find some pace toward the night. That’s what the team has been working hard on, and something that you have to be evolving and learning through the process of getting to know a new car. It’s still relatively new for us because it changed so much from the DPi in terms of how the car is built, how much heavier it is, how much fuel you carry through a stint, the tires have a different feeling. So, you have to balance the car not only on warm tires, but you have to find a compromise when you get out of the pits with them being cold. So, there is so much to this new GTP racecars that it’s not only about the tools we have in the car but understanding what’s the best way to operate this car.” Does going into Sebring as the defending champion give you more confidence in terms of the equipment, the engineering?“I think it certainly does give you a lot of confidence. Last year was very up and down and one of the goals for this year was be more consistent, more at the top throughout the whole season. Having Daytona be very positive for us also gives us great hope, even more so than winning the championship last year, that we will continue to be strong. There are many things that we need to improve on if we want to be at this level, but we believe we are on the right path and Daytona was a great result to prove to ourselves that we are working on the right things to be competitive. It’s details and experience that help you build and create a championship fight year. You can’t let yourself down once in a while because it will hurt you. Having the experience gives you even more confidence that you can achieve that year in and year out, so having gone through the ups and downs of last year it’s allowing us to be stronger this year and be more consistent at the front. If you are competitive and constantly putting yourself in that position to win without mistakes, without giving your adversaries a chance to do better than you, then I believe the year will be much better and wins will be a consequence and championships as well. It would be great for me to win the fifth, but I’m honestly not thinking of that. I’m just thinking of it as any other race to do your best. If we repeat the win, to be the only GTP car to win at Sebring would make it special.”Have you considered your legacy at Sebring and the racers who have raced there before?“I do sometimes think about how lucky I have been over the last few years, how lucky I’ve been to work with so many great teams and great people and great teammates that allowed me to have that much success. Not in my dreams would I have thought by the age of 30 I would have won four times at Sebring. When you look back over the years, it was only during the Audi dominance that someone was able to win as much as what I was lucky to win over the last few years. In itself, it’s quite nice, but it wouldn’t have happened without a great team and great people behind me. Come race week, you don’t allow yourself to think about that much because what happened is in the past. You want to do it all over again, like it was your first one. It’s nice to be able to walk into the track and see your name or walk into the hall fame and see how many great drivers have won Sebring. And to think you’ve done something nice in this very iconic and special race is nice, but I don’t look at it the same way once I retire. At the moment, I’m constantly trying to win more. Sebring will be up there with the best things I’ve achieved.” When you think back on 2016, do you look at Sebring and Daytona as what set you up for the career you now have?“Absolutely. I think more Sebring than Daytona. Daytona was a bit more shocking to many people because I was an unknown to most in America. But Sebring 2016 came in a different way because we weren’t leading in the last 30 minutes. We were I think P4 and I was able to overtake those guys and win in a very nice way. Some people, with truth, said we won Daytona only because the car was so good. That’s fair because you don’t get to win such a big race without a good car. Then, because we won Sebring because I did a very strong job at the end, I believe is what cemented myself as a new, young and perhaps up-and-coming star to the sport. It was for me a career-changing moment because up until that moment I was nobody. I was racing in Europe; I had done a year of WEC that went really well. It was my first two races in America and had been in a moment when I had just turned pro. So, I went from someone who had a dream of being a professional to then becoming a professional and immediately when that happened I managed to win two of the most prestigious races you have around the world. That helped cement my name and push me to where I am now. I would say Sebring ’16 was a very special one.”

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE Phoenix Raceway Avondale, Arizona March 9-10, 2024

CHEVROLET REMAINS UNDEFEATED IN NASCAR CUP SERIES, TRUCK SERIESWith three consecutive tripleheader weekends complete, Chevrolet’s drivers and teams have made a strong and early statement across NASCAR’s three national series. The Bowtie brand has earned victories in eight of the nine points-paying events in the NASCAR national ranks this season – remaining undefeated in both the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS).

In the Cup Series: Kyle Larson became the third Team Chevy driver to reach victory lane this season – posting a near dominate performance in his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 en route to the win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 31-year-old California native swept the stage wins and led an impressive 181 laps in the 267-lap event to extend Chevrolet’s win streak to three-straight in NASCAR’s premier series. Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron and fellow Team Chevy driver Daniel Suarez have also each earned a victory and a playoff berth this season.  A victory in Sunday’s Shriners Children’s 500 would not only extend Chevrolet’s win streak to four-straight this season, but also match its season-opening win record from 2023. In NASCAR’s Modern Era (1972-2024), a manufacturer has swept a season’s first four races on five different occasions with Chevrolet owning four of those feats (1995, 2001, 2010, 2023).    In the Truck Series: Rev Racing and Spire Motorsports have proved to be a force to be reckoned with this season – driving Chevrolet to three-straight trips to victory lane in the NCTS. Most recently, Team Chevy’s Rajah Caruth earned his first career NCTS victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – just two days after landing full-season support from HendrickCars.com. Team Chevy’s Nick Sanchez and Kyle Busch have also each earned a NCTS win this season to keep Chevrolet undefeated as the series heads into its first off-weekend of the season.  This year marks the second time in Chevrolet’s history in the NCTS to win the first three races of a season – last accomplishing the feat in the series’ inaugural season (1995) when the manufacturer claimed eight consecutive victories.

BOWTIE BRIGADE BOOSTING IN EARLY-SEASON SUCCESSWhile three-for-three in NASCAR’s top division, Chevrolet’s undefeated win record is also accompanied by strong results across the Chevrolet camp this season. In just three points-paying races, Chevrolet’s six full-time organizations have already earned at least one top-10 finish – further proving the continued growth and strength within each organization under the Chevrolet banner. “It’s been a solid start to the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season with three consecutive wins,” said Jim Campbell, General Motors U.S. Vice President of Performance and Motorsports. “In addition, each Chevrolet team has already earned a top-10 finish in the first three Cup Series races. The early on-track performance is a result of the preparation and execution by our drivers and teams, while working closely with Chevrolet’s NASCAR Competition Engineering group.” Two Chevrolet teams have claimed victories in the series’ first three events, including Hendrick Motorsports with two (William Byron and Kyle Larson) and Trackhouse Racing with one (Daniel Suarez). Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch has been a stout contender each weekend – highlighted by a third-place result in the photo-finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway. JTG Daugherty Racing’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr. recorded his season-best finish of sixth at Atlanta Motor Speedway, while also scoring valuable stage points in two of the series’ three races this season. In similar fashion, AJ Allmendinger put Kaulig Racing’s No. 16 Camaro ZL1 in prime track position in Stage Two of the Daytona 500 – scoring top-10 stage points en route to a sixth-place finish in the ‘Great American Race’. Spire Motorsports also recorded its season-best finish at Daytona International Speedway courtesy of Corey LaJoie’s fourth-place result. The No. 7 Camaro ZL1 driver has also collected stage points in two events, including Daytona and Las Vegas.

DEFENDING IN THE DESERTChevrolet returns to Phoenix Racing with a series-leading 27 NASCAR Cup Series victories – two of which came after a Team Chevy sweep last season courtesy of wins by William Byron (March) and Ross Chastain (November).

The series’ first stop at the one-mile Arizona oval in 2023 saw Byron drive his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 to the victory – the second of his series-leading, and career-best, six wins on the season. The 26-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina, native returned to Phoenix Raceway for his first-career appearance in the series’ Championship Four – ultimately ending the season with a fourth-place finish in the race and a third-place finish in the final points standings. Despite narrowly missing a spot in the NCS Championship Four, Chastain still left Phoenix Raceway with a trophy after taking the win in the series’ season-finale. The victory – his second of the season and fourth all-time in NASCAR’s premier series – made Chastain the first non-championship contender to win the season-finale race since the inception of the current playoff format in 2014.

CAREER WEEKEND FOR CARUTHRajah Caruth had a weekend to remember at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – driving his No. 71 Spire Motorsports Silverado RST to his first career pole win before ultimately claiming the victory to become a first-time winner in the NASCAR national ranks. Caruth – a former graduate of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program – has been behind the wheel of a Chevrolet-powered machine throughout the entirety of his racing career. The 21-year-old Atlanta, Georgia, native previously competed with Rev Racing in the ARCA Menards Series (2022) before making the jump to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2023 – completing his rookie season with GMS Racing.   Since joining forces with Spire Motorsports this season, Caruth has finished in the top-eight of each race – including a third-place finish at Daytona International Speedway. The victory also delivered Caruth a guaranteed spot in the series’ 10-driver playoff field for the first time in his career.

Drive for Diversity Graduates Finding Success with Team Chevy in NASCAR National Ranks: The 2024 season marks the 20th anniversary of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program. With just three races complete for NASCAR’s three national series, four graduates of the program have already earned victories in their respective series this season – all of which come from the Chevrolet camp. 

Nick Sanchez claimed the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win in the series’ season-opener at Daytona International Speedway – marking his first career victory in the NASCAR national ranks. The 22-year-old Miami, Florida, native participated in the Drive for Diversity Program from 2017 to 2022 – winning the 2022 ARCA Menards Series Championship with Rev Racing before making the jump to the NCTS with the Chevrolet organization. Sanchez’s rookie campaign in the series concluded with an impressive sixth-place finish in the final points standings and the title as the 2023 NCTS Rookie of the Year.

One week later, Daniel Suarez came out victorious in the iconic three-wide finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Suarez, who was a part of the Drive for Diversity’s Class of 2013, is now a two-time NASCAR Cup Series winner – both of which were recorded under the Chevrolet banner. His history-making first NCS victory came at Sonoma Raceway in 2022 – a win that made Suarez the first Mexican-born driver to win in NASCAR’s premier series.

Rajah Caruth added his name to the list at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend after driving his No. 71 Spire Motorsports Silverado RST to his first-career NCTS victory. Caruth joined the Drive for Diversity Program in 2018 – competing full-time in the ARCA Menards Series in 2022 before joining GMS Racing to complete his rookie campaign in the NCTS last season. The victory made Caruth the third Black driver to win at the NASCAR national level, joining Wendell Scott and Bubba Wallace.

Kyle Larson became the fourth Drive for Diversity Program graduate to tally a win this season with his victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. A member of the Class of 2012, Larson made history as the first graduate of the Drive for Diversity Program to win a NCS Championship title. The 31-year-old Elk Grove, California, native has only competed with Chevrolet throughout his career in the NASCAR national ranks – building a resume of 24 NCS victories, 14 NXS victories and three NCTS victories.

TEAM CHEVY TOPS IN ALL STANDINGSHeading into the Phoenix race weekend, Chevrolet holds the top position in both the driver and manufacturer points standings in all three NASCAR national series. Earning wins in eight of the nine races thus far, the Bowtie brand leads its manufacturer competitors by 19-points in the NASCAR Cup Series, three-points in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and 17-points in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.  In each series’ driver points standings, six Team Chevy drivers hold a spot in the top-10. Former champion Kyle Larson took over the top position of the NCS points standings following his Las Vegas victory – leading fellow Team Chevy drivers William Byron, Ross Chastain, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott and Daniel Suarez in the fourth through eighth positions, respectively.  Austin Hill’s phenomenal start to the season – including two wins and a fourth-place finish – has put the Team Chevy driver at the top of the NXS standings with a 22-point lead. Drivers from three different Chevrolet organizations sit in the top-10, with Kaulig Racing’s AJ Allmendinger in fourth; Hill’s Richard Childress Racing teammate Jesse Love in seventh; and JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith and Brandon Jones in the eighth through 10th positions, respectively.  Making his return to the Chevrolet camp this season, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Tyler Ankrum has shown early speed this season, earning two top-10 finishes – including a runner-up finish at Las Vegas – to take the top position in the NCTS points standings. Ankrum leads 2024 race winners Rajah Caruth (fourth) and Nick Sanchez (fifth); and fellow Team Chevy drivers Bret Holmes, Christian Eckes and Grant Enfinger in the eighth through 10th positions, respectively – giving five different Chevrolet organizations representation in the top-10 of the standings heading into the series’ off-weekend.

BOWTIE BULLETS:·       Chevrolet will pace the field in the doubleheader race weekend at Phoenix Raceway. The Camaro SS will lead the NASCAR Xfinity Series in Saturday’s ‘Call 811.com Every Dig. Every Time. 200’; and the Camaro ZL1 will lead the NASCAR Cup Series in Sunday’s Shriners Children’s 500.  ·       Chevrolet has recorded wins in eight of the nine points-paying races in NASCAR’s three national series this season – remaining undefeated in both the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.  ·       Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Phoenix Raceway:   Kyle Busch – three wins (2019, 2018, 2005)Ross Chastain – one win (2023)William Byron – one win (2023)Kyle Larson – one win (2021)Chase Elliott – one win (2020) ·       In 55 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Phoenix Raceway, Chevrolet has recorded a series-leading 27 victories – including a sweep of last season’s races with William Byron (March) and Ross Chastain (November).  ·       Hendrick Motorsports leads the series with 13 NASCAR Cup Series wins at Phoenix Raceway – all of which have been recorded with Chevrolet. Nine different drivers have contributed wins to the record including: Terry Labonte (1994), Kyle Busch (2005), Jeff Gordon (2007, 2011), Jimmie Johnson (2007, 2008 sweep, 2009), Mark Martin (2009), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2015), Chase Elliott (2020), Kyle Larson (2021) and William Byron (2023). ·       With just three NASCAR Cup Series races complete, each Chevrolet organization has recorded at least one top-10 finish. ·       With its victories at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend, Chevrolet continues the streak of earning at least one win in the NASCAR national ranks each race weekend since the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course events in October 2023. ·       With its 42 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 854 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

Manufacturer Points Standings Chevrolet: 120Toyota: 101 (-19)Ford: 97 (-23)

Manufacturer Points Standings Chevrolet: 113Toyota: 110 (-3)Ford: 88 (-25)

Manufacturer Points Standings Chevrolet: 120Toyota: 103 (-17)Ford: 95 (-25)

TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup Series Shriners Children’s 500Sunday, March 10, at 3:30 p.m. ET(FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90) NASCAR Xfinity SeriesCall 811.com Every Dig. Every Time. 200Saturday, March 9, at 4:30 p.m. ET(FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

QUOTABLE QUOTES:ROSS CHASTAIN, NO. 1 KUBOTA CAMARO ZL1How did the Phoenix win at the end of the season carry you through the off season?“It made a lot of things in the off season a lot easier than they have ever been. I’ve spent so many off seasons just trying to set my ride up, set my team up, sponsorships up, it’s a total 180 from that. It’s almost indescribable.” What kind of flipped the switch for you at Phoenix last year?“I don’t think it was a switch, it felt like it was a progression of what we had been working on and we were getting better at the end of the year. We had a few chances to win earlier than that and to finally put it all together there was big.” You were one of the first people to Rajah Caruth in victory lane, what made you want to congratulate him?“I’ve seen the work he’s put into it and it was cool to see him get a win. From his entry into the Chevy program and seeing him showing up – he’s one of the early ones there – he hasn’t wavered through all of the losing, and we lose way more at this stuff than we win. I was happy for him and went to see him in person in victory lane because a text wouldn’t have been enough.” AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 MORGAN & MORGAN CAMARO ZL1What are your thoughts on Phoenix Raceway?“Phoenix Raceway is a tough short track and one of those places where you hit it, or you don’t. This track is challenging. I’m looking forward to it though because it’s such a fun track for drivers. It could be a good place for the No. 3 Morgan & Morgan team.” COREY LAJOIE, NO. 7 GROUP 1001 CAMARO ZL1“We’ve had a pretty good run to start out the season. We’ve been competitive everywhere, so that definitely says a lot about all of our off-season preparation. Our Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro has been fast every time we unload. Ryan Sparks and all my guys are working hard and they’ve hit on the right things early in the year. Confidence is high. I’m looking forward to getting to Phoenix this weekend and seeing what we have. We tested there in December and learned a lot so we expect to put that effort to good use this weekend. I’m proud to have Group 1001 on board this weekend, to recognize Women’s History Month and carry the names of all the women they’re honoring.” KYLE BUSCH, NO. 8 ZONE CAMARO ZL1Is there a fine line at Phoenix between hitting the setup and running well versus being really off the mark?“Phoenix has always been a tricky track to hit the proper setup and making sure that you are fast. Kevin Harvick has had a really good time of being able to hit that ever since the repave at this track where I feel as though I might have been better at the old surface but have still seen success in Trucks, Xfinity and Cup winning races.” How does having the practice session on Friday change your strategy for the weekend? “Anytime you’re able to get a little bit more practice should allow you time to dissect the car and make the necessary changes that you think you need as a driver to be able to have a good race car. I felt like we had a pretty decent race car there last fall when we had the added practice and if it weren’t for getting set behind on pit road, we would have had a pretty good race.” ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY BEST FRIENDS CAMARO ZL1Bowman on racing at Phoenix Raceway:“We are super excited to have Best Friends back at Phoenix (Raceway). It’s always exciting to run the pet themed schemes and it will definitely be a busy weekend with Ally and their activation in the fan zone. I look forward to trying to go for a good run there (Phoenix Raceway), it’s been awhile since we had a great day at Phoenix (Raceway). Hopefully we can change that this weekend.” BLAKE HARRIS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY BEST FRIENDS CAMARO ZL1Harris on racing at Phoenix Raceway:“I think most teams and manufacturers have a lot of questions heading into this weekend at Phoenix (Raceway) with the new aerodynamics package. The (Hendrick Motorsports) No. 5 team tested there (Phoenix Raceway) late last year so we have some decent data to look at. Really, having that 50-minuite practice will be key for us to have a shot to tune the car in relative to our normal short practice weekend. We look forward to that and Alex (Bowman) has had some good runs there (Phoenix Raceway) earlier in his career. For us, any change in package is a new opportunity to help exploit that.” DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 FREEWAY INSURANCE CAMARO ZL1You and (Friday’s Craftsman Truck Series race winner) Rajah Caruth both have unconventional paths to get into NASCAR. You can share in the difficulties it takes just to get to this level. Can you speak on his victory?“You have no idea how happy I was for him. He’s a great young man. Not just a very talented race car driver, but also very dedicated. We get to see each other almost every week, training or doing different things, and I like him a lot. I consider him a friend. He knows this, and will know this, but the first win is always the most difficult one to get. I’m sure he’s going to win at least a few times this year. He’s very disciplined and he works hard. He’s been strong the last few weeks. I’m very happy for him. Obviously he made history being the third African American driver to win in the NASCAR national series, and he’s very special. He’s also a graduate of the Drive for Diversity program, just like myself, Bubba Wallace and many others. So very happy that we’re seeing good talent from the Drive for Diversity program coming to a national series and being successful.” Back-to-back examples of the Drive for Diversity program working?“Of course. I mentioned this a week or two ago, that the Drive for Diversity program has changed quite a bit since Bubba Wallace and myself were there 10 years ago. 10 years ago it was very good, we had a good opportunity. It was a good program. But today, it’s a great program, and I’m very happy to see that. 10 years ago, it was a great program to give you an opportunity for the K&N Series and the ARCA series. But to make the jump to a national series, it was very difficult. You had to be lucky and you have to be very, very good to get an opportunity. Today, the Drive for Diversity program is so involved in the Truck Series and that’s very special, very special because giving an opportunity to these young guys like Rajah (Caruth) and Nick Sanchez to get an opportunity in the Truck Series and perform at a very competitive level. We didn’t have that 10 years ago, so I’m very happy for them. I’m very happy that the Drive for Diversity program continues to grow and continues to get better.” At Phoenix Raceway, they’re going to have the “Viva La Fiesta”. Just curious to hear your overall excitement for that event and the importance of that cultural presence and impact over there.“Yeah, of course. I think that every time that I come to the west coast to Las Vegas, Sonoma, Auto Club Speedway was very, very big.. Phoenix and Los Angeles – it’s amazing to feel an incredible amount of support from the Latino community, and I feel very, very proud to be the face of this community in the Cup Series. We embrace it and I’m very happy that the race tracks embrace it with us, as well. The “Viva La Fiesta” in Phoenix is just a small example of that. We’re going to be having a great time in Phoenix.”

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics Manufacturers Championships:Total (1949-2023): 42First 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, 2023 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)                2024 STATISTICS:                                                                                                    Wins: 3Poles: 0Laps Led: 354Top-five finishes: 7Top-10 finishes: 11Stage wins: 3·       Chase Elliott: 1 ·       Kyle Larson: 2  CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 854 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 743Laps led to date: 249,529Top-five finishes to date: 4,305Top-10 finishes to date: 8,872                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,188           Chevrolet: 854           Pontiac: 154           Oldsmobile: 115           Buick: 65            Ford: 828                                                                      Ford: 728           Mercury: 96           Lincoln: 4            Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467           Dodge: 217           Plymouth: 191           Chrysler: 59            Toyota: 180

CONCORD, NC (March 6, 2024) – Living and racing around South Africa for most of his life, Luke Drotschie longed for an opportunity to race consistently on the dirt and take his motorsports career to the next level.

In 2024, the 20-year-old is cashing in on an opportunity to race for Keith Kunz Motorsports and chase the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota, joining full-time teammates Ryan Timms and Gavin Miller for his national Midget rookie campaign.

“It’s definitely a huge undertaking,” Drotschie said. “I’m pretty nervous going into this, but also at the same time, I have a lot of confidence going into this with a team like KKM, knowing I’ve got some of the best guys guiding me and some of the best cars on the track.”

Hailing from the city of Cape Town – South Africa’s legislative capital – Drotschie is a third-generation racer who spent much of his youth as a kart racer on both asphalt and dirt around his homeland. After some time in his late teens piloting Outlaw Karts and even a brief stint in a Super Late Model, he came to the US in 2022 for his first test session in a Micro Sprint with renown champion Frank Flud before landing a ride with Mooresville, NC-based Micro team Dave Mac-Barnhill Motorsports in July 2023.

Right away, Drotschie noticed the differences in the car, track and the flow of the race program as he competed in weekly events at nearby Millbridge Speedway.

“It was definitely quite a learning experience,” Drotschie said. “It’s quite a lot, just getting into a Micro from an asphalt kart is quite a big difference. All the suspension, the way the car reacts, the way it drives.

“Also, the way the racing works here. The racing format that we run back home is a little different, so just getting used to all of that was definitely a big learning experience. But I also felt like it gave me a good base to work off of for this year for the Midget season.”

Luke’s father, Gunter Drotschie, lit the flame early on in his son’s career and helped pave the way for it to blossom in the U.S. As owner of Cape Town-based G+A Motorsport – an international fire suit manufacturing and racing parts retailer – Gunter has been a frequent visitor to the States over the last 15 years. In his travels, he met American open-wheel racing industry professionals like Flud, Dave McIntosh, Bundy Mitchell and Keith Kunz, who Luke will receive tutelage from this season.

“The goal has always been to race Midgets and to be running half-decently or up front in the Midget,” Luke said. “I think what we’re doing this year, partnering up with Keith and everything, we’re doing the best thing to achieve that.”

While nearly every track on the 2024 Series schedule will be new to him, Luke is embracing the challenge with confidence. He’s come to the US to chase a dream and said it’s about time to make it reality.

“One thing is the age thing,” Luke said. “I’m getting a little older, I’m not super young anymore. I think there’s no time like the present to jump on the bandwagon, pull the trigger and make it happen.”

Watch Luke Drotschie and the Keith Kunz Motorsports team take on the entire Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota schedule in 2024, starting with the season opener Mach 15-16 at the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, IL.

Tickets will be on sale at the gate on race day. If you can’t be there in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

The first of four new tracks on the schedule brings the tour to a Texas bullringKENNEDALE, TX (March 6, 2024) – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are trucking to Texas.Five nights of Florida racing opened the 2024 campaign, and now the tour is bound for the “Lone Star State” where a new track awaits. The Greatest Show on Dirt is set to invade Kennedale Speedway Park for the first time in Series history this weekend (March 8-9).The 1/4-mile track, located just south of Fort Worth, joins the state’s rich history of Sprint Car Racing as the 12th Texas track to welcome the World of Outlaws. The state has hosted 206 World of Outlaws races (fifth most all-time) including the first in 1978.The two nights will ignite the Lonestar Sooner Stampede for the World of Outlaws – a three week stretch of racing in Texas and Oklahoma that also includes stops at Cotton Bowl Speedway (March 15-16), Big O Speedway (March 22), and Lawton Speedway (March 23).A new track means empty notebook pages, no data to pull from, and no on-paper favorites to win. It’s the opportunity to watch the nation’s best Sprint Car drivers battle to forever cement their name as the first World of Outlaws winner at Kennedale. Throw in the fact that the oval is a racy bullring, and it’s bound to be a thrilling debut.BUY TWO-DAY KENNEDALE TICKET PACKAGE HEREBUY FRIDAY KENNEDALE TICKETS HEREBUY SATURDAY KENNEDALE TICKETS HEREWATCH LIVE ON DIRTVisionLet’s look at the weekend’s top storylines:CLEAN SLATE: One of the most interesting aspects of venturing to a new facility is the lack of statistics. There’s no driver to highlight as a clear-cut favorite due to an impressive résumé. Many of the group of full-time World of Outlaws drivers for 2024 will be laying eyes on Kennedale for the first time.Even looking at the latest drivers to win at a new track doesn’t lend any insight as to who a favorite might be. There hasn’t been a repeat winner at the last five tracks where the World of Outlaws have debuted.The most recent driver to claim the debut at a new track is Carson Macedo. The Lemoore, CA native won the inaugural visit to Minnesota’s Ogilvie Raceway last June. The four prior to Macedo are Brad Sweet (Vado Speedway Park), Donny Schatz (Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway), David Gravel (Dirt on the Rev), and Sheldon Haudenschild (Magnolia Motor Speedway).TEXAS TITANS: None of the current World of Outlaws drivers may have had the chance to conquer Kennedale yet, but a handful of them have experienced success when visiting Texas.Donny Schatz has topped seven races in the state. The 10-time Series champion has made a trio of Victory Lane visits at Devil’s Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX), twice came out on top at Royal Purple Raceway (Baytown, TX), and won once apiece at Battleground Speedway (Highlands, TX) and Lone Star Speedway (Kilgore, TX). Schatz’s seven Texas wins are tied for the sixth most.Series veterans David Gravel and Logan Schuchart both own three Texas victories. Gravel’s first two came at Gator Motorplex (Willis, TX) and Cotton Bowl Speedway (Paige, TX). Then, most recently, the Big Game Motorsports pilot claimed the final race in Devil’s Bowl Speedway history last October. And speaking of Devil’s Bowl, that’s where all three of Schuchart’s victories occurred. The Hanover, PA native took the Shark Racing #1S on three consecutive trips to Victory Lane (2019-2021) at the birthplace of the Series.Two-time Texas winners include Sheldon Haudenschild and Carson Macedo. Haudenschild’s both came at Cotton Bowl Speedway in 2021 and 2022. Macedo has won in Texas once in each of the last two seasons, topping a Cotton Bowl Feature in 2022 and the penultimate Devil’s Bowl race last year.FIVE RACES, FIVE WINNERS: Parity has been the name of the game so far in 2024 for the World of Outlaws. The first five races have failed to produce a repeat winner with Brad Sweet, David Gravel, Tyler Courtney, Sheldon Haudenschild, and Donny Schatz claiming checkered flags.It’s only the 10th time in 47 seasons of racing that the first five Features didn’t see anyone pick up multiple wins. If another different name parks in Victory Lane on Friday at Kennedale, it will mark just the sixth time the season has started with six different winners.Looking a little further ahead, the record for different winners to start the season is eight in 2015. New winners would be needed both nights and Kennedale and both nights at Cotton bowl next weekend to establish a new mark.LONE STAR LOCALS: Texas may not be a Sprint Car hotbed in the realm of Pennsylvania or California, but the “Lone Star State” has produced its fair share of talent. A handful of notable names come from Texas and will be looking to top the World of Outlaws at Kennedale.Sam Hafertepe Jr. headlines the local contingent entering the weekend. The Sunnyvale, TX native is fresh off topping this past weekend’s American Sprint Car Series Elite Outlaw race at Kennedale. That win came against a tough field, and this weekend he aims for his first World of Outlaws triumph since 2011.Another top Texan heading to Kennedale is Chase Randall with TKS Motorsports. He may make most of his laps in the Knoxville region these days, but he comes from Waco and has Kennedale success in his past. Back in 2021 Randall won a 410 race at Kennedale when he was only 16 years old.Aaron Reutzel plans to make his way to Kennedale aboard the Ridge & Sons Racing #87. The Clute, TX driver has competed at Kennedale with ASCS in the past but is yet to pick up a win at the bullring.INVADERS: Along with the stars of the World of Outlaws and the healthy crop of locals, drivers from many states plan to partake in the Series debut at Kennedale.Oklahoma is sending plenty of talent capable of winning in Texas for the “Sooner State.” Oklahoma City’s Ryan Timms is yet to miss a World of Outlaws race in 2024 and will continue that trend. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) plans to make his first Series appearance of the season driving the TKH Motorsports #21H. Blake Hahn (Sapulpa, OK) also intends to join the cast of Sooners.Pennsylvania will have some representation in the form of Brent Marks (Myerstown, PA) and Jacob Allen (Hanover, PA). Both are proven winners at the highest level of the sport and could be threats to take the Series debut at Kennedale.Outside of the trio of Californians full-time on the tour, the “Golden State” will be represented by Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi. He’s brought the Scelzi Motorsports #41 out for a five-week stretch with the World of Outlaws beginning at Kennedale. This past weekend he finished third at Kennedale’s ASCS Elite Outlaw race.Many more are expected to be among a healthy group of invaders filling the Kennedale pit area.THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCEWHEN AND WHEREFriday-Saturday, March 8-9 at Kennedale Speedway Park in Kennedale, TXON THE INTERNETWorld of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series X – @WorldofOutlaws Instagram – @WoOSprint Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsSprintCarSeries YouTube – Youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com – Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/monthCURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (4/86 Races):1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports #2 (572 PTS)2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 (-12 PTS)3. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing #18 (-12 PTS)4. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing #1S (-36 PTS)5. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing #41 (-82 PTS)6. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 (-86 PTS)7. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports #83 (-106 PTS)8. Corey Day – Jason Meyers Racing #14 (-110 PTS)9. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports #17B (-128 PTS)10. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing #3Z (-132 PTS)NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (5 Drivers):1 Win – Brad Sweet, David Gravel, Tyler Courtney, Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny SchatzFEATURE LAPS LED (9 Drivers):25 Laps – Brad Sweet, David Gravel24 Laps – Rico Abreu13 Laps – Anthony Macri, Michael Kofoid12 Laps – Donny Schatz10 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi7 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild1 Lap – Tyler CourtneySIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (4 Drivers):2 Quick Times – Brent Marks1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Michael KofoidHEAT RACE WINNERS (10 Drivers):3 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu2 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Tyler Courtney, David Gravel, Brent Marks, Michael Kofoid, Sheldon Haudenschild1 Heat Win – Corey Day, Justin Peck, Brian Brown, TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (17 Drivers):5 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi4 Dashes – David Gravel, Rico Abreu3 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Brent Marks, Brian Brown, Landon Crawley2 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Sheldon Haudenschild, Buddy Kofoid1 Dash – Anthony Macri, Bill Balog, Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Donny Schatz, Carson MacedoMICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (4 Drivers):1 LCS – Austin McCarl, Bill Balog, Corey Day, Kasey KahneKSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (3 Drivers):2 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart1 Hard Charger – Donny SchatzPODIUM FINISHES (9 Drivers):3 Podiums – Brad Sweet2 Podiums – David Gravel, Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu, Sheldon Haudenschild1 Podium – Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Donny Schatz, Carson MacedoTOP 10 FINISHES (21 Drivers):5 Top 10s – David Gravel, Donny Schatz, Gio Scelzi4 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney, Logan Schuchart3 Top 10s – Anthony Macri, Brad Sweet, Rico Abreu2 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Brian Brown, Buddy Kofoid, Bill Balog, Sheldon Haudenschild1 Top 10 – Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Zeb Wise, Carson Macedo, Corey Day, Cory Eliason, Landon Crawley2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)1. Wed, Feb 7 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brad Sweet (1)2. Thurs, Feb 8/ Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (1)3. Fri, Feb 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Tyler Courtney (1)4. Sat, Feb 10 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Sheldon Haudenschild (1)5. Mon, March 4 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Donny Schatz (1)For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

OCALA, FL (March 6, 2024) — Starting the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series at the historic Gatornationals this weekend 2021 winner Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team are eager to get on track. Heading into his fourth season as a Top Fuel team owner and driver Hart will be looking to win the Gatornationals for the second time and defend his Pep Boys Allstar Callout title in the specialty race that will be contested Saturday during the final day of qualifying. The tuning decisions will continue to be handled by veteran crew chief Ron Douglas and Hart’s team remains intact from the 2023 campaign.

 Josh Hart and R+L Carriers Top Fuel team in Pep Boys Allstar Callout winner’s circle, photo by Auto Imagery/Gary Nastase

“We have been building a great team since we started in 2021 and went full-time in 2022,” said Hart, a multi-time Top Fuel winner. “We win and lose as a team and we are all ready for this season. I am excited to have R+L Carriers and TechNet back with the team.”
 
Last year Hart opened the season with the biggest payday of the year winning the Pep Boys Allstar Callout from the No. 8 position. Hart defeated Austin Prock, Brittany Force and Mike Salinas to take the top prize. Unfortunately, the team was not able to double up and Hart was ousted in the first round proving how tough the Top Fuel season would be for the driver from Ocala, Florida.
 
“I mentioned in the media room after we won the Pep Boys race that this sport will humble you so you can’t get too high and you can’t let yourself get too low,” said Hart. “The next day we got humbled when I wasn’t on my game. We spent the rest of the season having some highs and some lows, but we never gave up. This year we have more parts and a great attitude so I am looking forward to winning the Pep Boys Callout again and getting another Gatornationals win.”
 
In his rookie season Hart, debuted at his home track Gainesville Raceway and took the Top Fuel title outrunning Shawn Langdon in the final. It was Hart’s first Top Fuel national event and the first win for a Burnyzz Speed Shop livery in Hart’s career. Hart has owned and expanded the business of Burnyzz Speed Shop for years and while it is has been a constant presence on all his race cars had never driven the brand into the winner’s circle before the 2021 Gatornationals.
 
“Burnyzz has been a huge part of my life and we never got into the winner’s circle with a Burnyzz Speed Shop race car until that Gatornationals win which made it extra special,” said Hart. “That rookie season was great and we have built on that success and in 2024 we want to take it to the next level. My focus is on the race car and the R+L Carriers team. The competition continues to get better and better and I love that. I want to race and compete against the best drivers in the world and we have that in the NHRA.”
 
Hart and the R+L Carrier Top Fuel team will be on track Friday, March 8 for two qualifying runs getting ready for the Pep Boys Allstar Callout on Saturday. The second day of professional qualifying at the Gatornationals will be packed for Hart with the Pep Boys Allstar Callout event in the TEC at the track followed by two rounds of qualifying with the possibility of a third round for $80,000. Final eliminations on Sunday will feature the quickest 16 Top Fuel dragsters hitting the track at 10:30 a.m. ET with the first two rounds of racing live on FS1.
 

YORBA LINDA, Calif. (Mar. 6, 2024) –John Force Racing, one of the winningest organizations in National Hot Rod Association history with a record 22 championships and more than 225 national event wins, enters the 2024 NHRA season with a new Force-ful theme that highlights the organization’s overall efforts, as well as offers a vision for JFR’s future. That theme, #2024ORCE (a metaphor for twenty-twenty-Force), is centered around the leadership of team patriarch and 16-time Funny Car champion John Force, along with daughter and two-time Top Fuel champion Brittany Force, plus Austin Prock, filling in for sidelined three-time Funny Car champ Robert Hight. All three drivers hope to make 2024 one of their best years yet, and to cap things off with the championship in their respective classes for JFR. Hence, the #2024ORCE theme. “John Force Racing is ready to turn it around this season in 2024. We are calling it 2024ORCE,” Brittany Force said. “We have the most championships in NHRA history and our goal is to get right back on top, where we belong.” Added John Force, “Well, it’s 2024, but we’re looking at it like 24s (meaning JFR could win its 23rd and 24th championships). “My daughter is in this, and of course, our new kid, (Austin) Prock, replacing Robert Hight while he gets through some personal stuff. But it’s exciting. A new major series sponsor with Mission Foods is coming on board. We’re already out promoting it.” Prock previously drove a Top Fuel dragster for JFR before being tabbed to fill in for Hight, who finished second in the Funny Car class last season. Prock has been licensed for Funny Car for the last several years. Prock also embraces the #2024ORCE theme. “Races are won and lost as a team,” Prock said. “The structure of JFR has been built off of the ‘one team’ mentality, meaning all teams have each other’s back and share information. I believe the countless race wins and championships is derived from this approach.” After Prock won his first-ever start in a Funny Car last month in Bradenton, Fla., he and John and Brittany, as well as their teams, are looking forward to getting off to a strong showing in this weekend’s 2024 season-opening Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. Force, who earned his NHRA Funny Car license in 1974, turns 75 years old this May and is closing in on 50 years of full-time competition in NHRA. But the driver of the PEAK Antifreeze & Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS is not retiring or slowing down. Rather, he still hopes to capture several more Funny Car national event wins and championships.But Force, who is the winningest individual driver in NHRA history with 155 national event victories, is also looking ahead to growing JFR’s future as an organization and brand in the coming years, both before and after he closes out his legendary racing career. Among the initiatives Force hopes to eventually bring to fruition include a book and a movie deal about his incredible life and career, possibly another reality TV show (following the breakthrough A&E real life series “Driving Force” that debuted in 2006), an in-studio TV show similar to Jay Leno’s tenure with “The Tonight Show,” and possibly a regular podcast. Force also has hopes to essentially one-up Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who has said he will delay retirement so as to get the chance to play in the NBA with his son Bronny. After spending several years of racing with three of his daughters – Ashley, Brittany and Courtney – Force is now looking forward to see his grandchildren move up in the NHRA ranks, including granddaughter Autumn Hight, and grandsons Jacob and Noah Hood. Autumn Hight is the daughter of JFR President Robert Hight, while her mother is Force’s oldest daughter, JFR Chief Financial Officer Adria Hight. Autumn is currently 19 years old and is expected to race in the NHRA Super Comp class this season. Jacob and Noah Hood, meanwhile, are the sons of John Force’s crew chief, Danny Hood, and JFR Vice President and Creative Director Ashley Force Hood. Others who also play vital roles in JFR’s overall operation include Director of Business Operations Bob McAleer, Director of Public Relations Jerry Bonkowski, the team’s new Social Media Manager Cole Wilgus, Communications Coordinator A.J. England, Social Media Assistant Darin Williams Jr., Graphic Designer Armando Villa, and veteran drag racing consultant Dave Densmore. “We’re getting ready to head for Gainesville and I’m ready,” John Force said. “I feel really good physically, and am looking forward to winning and going after number 17 (a record-breaking 17th championship).” Given the organization’s new theme for 2024 and all the plans he has for the future, while retirement is inevitable, Force still has plenty more to accomplish in his life. Or as he emphatically says with a smile, “It ain’t over till I say it’s over.”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 6, 2024) – Progressive American Flat Track is proud to announce a new multi-year agreement with FOX Sports and unveil the broadcast schedule for the 2024 Progressive AFT season.  All races will air in one-hour telecasts on FS1 during highly desirable weekend time slots. The sole exception is the Spirit of Sturgis TT, which will be featured in a one-hour telecast on the FOXbroadcast network. This event will mark the first occasion a Progressive AFT race has aired on a major broadcast network in three decades. “FOX Sports has been a tremendous broadcaster, allowing us to showcase the incredible action, captivating storylines, and compelling personalities of the sport to millions of viewers,” said Gene Crouch, CEO of AMA Pro Racing. “This renewal is an exciting step forward, one which provides us an amazing opportunity to put Progressive American Flat Track and the Spirit of Sturgis TT in front of FOX’s massive network audience.” FOX Sports coverage of the 2024 Progressive AFT season will deliver in-depth coverage from all 16 events, starting with the season opening doubleheader at Daytona International Speedway on March 7 and 8. For tickets and more information, please visit https://www.americanflattrack.com. 2024 Television Schedule for Progressive AFT: Saturday, March 16 – Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I – 9:30 a.m. ET (6:30 a.m. PT)Sunday, March 17 – Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA II – 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT)Saturday, March 31 – Yamaha Senoia Short Track – 12:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. PT)Sunday, May 5 – Mission Texas Half-Mile – 11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT)Sunday, May 12 – Silver Dollar Short Track – 12:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. PT)Sunday, May 19 – Ventura Short Track – 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT)Sunday, June 23 – Orange County Half-Mile – 11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT)Saturday, June 29 – Bridgeport Half-Mile – 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT)Saturday, July 6 – Lima Half-Mile – 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT)Sunday, July 14 – DuQuoin Mile – 10:30 a.m. ET (7:30 a.m. PT)Sunday, August 4 – Peoria TT – 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT)Sunday, August 11 – Black Hills Half-Mile – 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT)Saturday, August 17 – Spirit of Sturgis TT – 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT)Sunday, September 8 – Springfield Mile I – 7:00 a.m. ET (4:00 a.m. PT)Sunday, September 8 – Springfield Mile II – 11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT)Sunday, September 15 – TBA Season Finale – 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT)How to Watch: FOX Sports and FloRacing are home to Progressive American Flat Track programming. For the 2024 season, all races will premiere in one-hour telecasts on FS1 or FOX during highly desirable weekend time slots. The complete schedule can be viewed athttps://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports. FloRacing provides livestreaming coverage of every Progressive AFT round at https://flosports.link/aft.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 5, 2024) — The Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown will begin its season at historic Gainesville Raceway, March 7-10, for the 55th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. The heated competition between Chevrolet COPO Camaros, Ford Mustang Cobra Jets and Dodge Mopar Challenger Drag Paks will be front and center at a total of 10 NHRA national events in 2024.   After an off-season of change, the look of the field will change dramatically as previous series champions have moved on to new challenges. Last season Aaron Stanfield took top honors, but the multi-time champion is stepping away from full-time competition in the class along with 2022 champion David Barton, who will focus on his engine development business. Both former champions will be around the class, but their full-time absence will open the door for other drivers.   “Aaron has been dominant in this class for a lot of years, and he is a great friend. We had a fun battle last year for the championship,” said Stephen Bell, the 2023 Flexjet championship runner-up. “I think this year we are going to see a lot of new faces in the winner’s circle and the championship will be up for grabs. I can’t wait to get to the Gatornationals and get the season started. We have done some testing but until you get into competition you don’t really know what you have.”  Norwalk winner and championship runner-up Stephen Bell will have the Flexjet Bounty for Gatornationals, photo courtesy of Gary Nastase/Auto ImageryWith the Gatornationals absence of Barton, the winner of the Nevada Nationals Factory Stock Showdown title, the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Bounty of $1,000 shifts to the reigning champion but Stanfield is also not on the entry list, so championship runner-up Bell will carry the added pressure of starting his championship chase with a figurative bullets-eye on his COPO Camaro.   “I love the Flexjet bounty program and I think it adds a lot to the class,” said Bell. “I had the bounty last year after I won the Norwalk national event and it was pretty cool. This class has so many tough drivers and good cars I think you’ll see the bounty on a lot of drivers this season.”   Last year Joe Welch took home the win at the Gatornationals, his third Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown national event win, running low ET and Top Speed of the race. The win was special for the racer from Stevensville, Michigan. Turning on five win lights and outrunning Stanfield for the win was quite an accomplishment.   “I get to the finals so few times, you have to give it all you got,” recalled Welch after the victory. “That last run – it was straight as an arrow. Aaron’s a good friend of mine and a great competitor. I just knew I had to give him my best. The chips were going to fall where they may and this time the win light came on for me.”   This season with ten races spread across the country the competitors in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series will have their hands full chasing the championship. In 2023 the series saw seven different drivers hoist the infamous Wally trophy for winning an NHRA national event. Lenny Lottig took home three national event wins to lead the class. Veteran racer Mark Pawuk picked up his first win in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown era and Jesse Alexandra won the U.S. Nationals for the second time in the hyper competitive class. Pawuk and Alexandra will be back in action in 2024 and each is looking to pick up more wins and possibly the Flexjet championship trophy.   “Winning the U.S. Nationals again was great. The field was huge in the Flexjet Factory Showdown with lots of real heavy hitting competitors. There were a lot of guys that could have done this job. The Lord was with me, and it is just crazy how it all came together,” said Alexandra, after the Indy win. “Winning out here against these kinds of competitors. Stephen Bell is like, ‘The Guy,’ for me. He’s so good all around. He’s so good on the tree. He’s such a good competitor. He drives so well. We have gone back and forth. I mean when I can race with him just to be on the same track with him is an honor. I tell him that all the time. He’s a great, great competitor.”   Qualifying for the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown season opening Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals begins Friday, March 8 with sessions at 1:30 and 4:00 p.m. Elimination rounds will take off on Saturday and Sunday with final eliminations scheduled for 3:50 p.m. on Sunday, March 10.   2024 FLEXJET NHRA FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN SCHEDULE March 7-10                 55th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, Gainesville, Fl. March 21-24               64th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, Pomona, Calif. April 12-14                  24th annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Las Vegas May 17-19                   24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals, Chicago June 7-9                      23rd annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol, Tenn. June 27-30                  18th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Norwalk, Ohio Aug. 15-18                   42nd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Brainerd, Minn. Aug. 28-Sept. 2           70th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals, Indianapolis Sept. 12-15                  39th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals, Reading, Pa. Sept. 27-29                  13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, St. Louis About Flexjet   If maintaining performance vehicles is your passion – translate those skills into becoming a Flexjet aircraft maintenance technician (AMT). Explore a career with the world-class Flexjet Maintenance group today.   Flexjet, Inc., a global leader in subscription-based private aviation, first entered the fractional jet ownership market in 1995. Flexjet offers fractional jet ownership and leasing and is the first in the world to be recognized as achieving the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s Industry Audit Standard, is the first and only company to be honored with 25 FAA Diamond Awards for Excellence, upholds an ARG/US Platinum Safety Rating, a 4AIR Bronze Sustainable Rating and is IS-BAO compliant at Level 2. Red Label by Flexjet™, a market differentiator, which features the most modern fleet in the industry, flight crews dedicated to a single aircraft and the LXi Cabin Collection of interiors. To date there are more than 40 different interior designs across its fleet, which includes the Embraer Phenom 300 and Praetor 500, Bombardier Challenger 350, the Gulfstream G450 and G650. Flexjet’s European fleet includes the Embraer Praetor 600 and the Gulfstream G650. Flexjet’s helicopter division sells fractional, lease, and on-demand charter access to its fleet of owned, operated and maintained Sikorsky S-76 helicopters which boast 55,000 hours of safe flying certified by Wyvern and ARG/US and serving locations throughout the northeastern United States, United Kingdom and southern Florida. Flexjet is a member of the Directional Aviation family of companies. For more details on innovative programs and flexible offerings, visit www.flexjet.com or follow us on Instagram @FlexjetInc.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 5, 2024) – Following months of training, preparation, and anticipation, the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is now just two days away. And in Daytona Bike Week tradition, the season will kick off in spectacular doubleheader fashion under the lights of the Flat Track at Daytona International Speedway with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II on Thursday, March 7, and Friday, March 8, in Daytona Beach, Florida. With decades of heroics in its record books dating back to 1954, each new battle for the fabled Grand National Championship is historic by definition. 2024 has the potential to go down as one of the most significant as reigning Mission SuperTwins king Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) attempts to upgrade his already lofty status from legendary to immortal. Mees has an unprecedented tenth Championship squarely in his sights, needing just one more title triumph to reset one of the sport’s foundational records once thought unbreakable. However, it’ll likely prove one of the most difficult of his remarkable career, a fact that could very well be underlined in the Daytona opener. Despite his lengthy list of accomplishments, Mees has yet to conquer the DAYTONA Short Track. That reality is in sharp contrast to rising title challenger Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), who dominated the event last year, a feat that served as a springboard to a spectacular sophomore season in which he very nearly toppled Mees in his quest for a ninth Grand National Championship. And Daniels only figures to be that much more formidable in ‘24 as he continues to gain confidence and experience. Another rival standing in the path of Mees is two-time Mission SuperTwins champion Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke), who toiled in ‘23 with the expectation of being rewarded for those efforts in ‘24. Bauman managed to win a pair of races last season even as he tamed a KTM 790 Duke that was still early in its development. The hard-earned knowledge gleaned last season should allow him to once again emerge a full-blown championship contender. The obstacles Mees will need to overcome do not end with Daniels and Bauman. The 2024 field is loaded with the greatest motorcycle dirt trackers on the planet, including premier-class Main Event winners Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750), Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing Mission Foods KTM 790 Duke), and Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650). And while Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Dodge Bros. Racing/Castrol Harley-Davidson XR750) is not a threat for the crown, he is a threat to run up front whenever he lines up during his limited schedule. That’s especially true at the DAYTONA Short Track where he stands as the event’s winningest rider, boasting four prior victories. The Mission SuperTwins field only increases in strength this season with a number of big-name talents stepping up to full-time premier-class duty, including Max Whale (No. 18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R), Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing KTM 790 Duke), Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750), and Morgen Mischler (No. 13 Big Red Super Twins Honda XL750R), who joins Dan Bromley (No. 62 Big Red Super Twins Honda XL750R) on the newly announced Honda-powered Big Red Super Twins squad. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER It’s something of a similar story in the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER class, where reigning champ Kody Kopp (No. 1 Latus Motors/BMC KTM 450 SX-F) is in position to become the most decorated rider in the history of the category, both in terms of championship triumphs and race victories. Kopp projects as Mission SuperTwins superstar in the near future; if everything goes to plan, this could very easily prove to be his last opportunity to leave his mark in the extraordinarily competitive and entertaining Parts Unlimited AFT Singles class. His presence is also an opportunity for other up-and-coming riders looking to make their own impression. The list of potential usupers to Kopp’s throne is headlined by the Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R), and Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R). Once fully up to speed, Drane was effectively Kopp’s equal over the ‘23 season’s second half and should only be that much better in his second full season. Saathoff has been on the verge of a breakthrough maiden win for two seasons now, the first of which could come at any time and open the floodgates to many more. Lowe managed to break down that same wall a year ago and now looks to transform that speed into legitimate title contention. The class is never in short supply of talent, also boating the likes of Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Certified/Vance & Hines KTM 450 SX-F), Shayna Texter-Bauman (No. 52 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 450 SX-F), and James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) among its ranks. It’s also a battleground where newcomers can establish themselves as frontrunners with little delay. Could 2023 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award winner Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) become the latest rookie sensation to set the Progressive AFT alight? Additionally, Royal Enfield will showcase its enormously successful and popular Build. Train. Race. (BTR) program on both days at the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA. Since its introduction, BTR has injected new talent and excitement into the series as highlights, celebrates, and encourages the involvement of women in flat track racing. There will be plenty to keep fans entertained off the track as well, including numerous vendors, plenty of food and beverage options, music courtesy of international famed and Daytona-based DJ Shea Michaels, fireworks displays at the conclusion of both night’s Main Event programs, Monster Energy and Mission Foods sampling activations, and extensive motorcycle parking. General Admission Grandstand tickets are just $30 (kids 12 and under $5) each day, while Reserved Grandstand tickets are only $10 more (all ages) per day. The Pit Pass Upgrade provides all-day access to the pit area where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport. Pit access is included with Reserved Pit Grandstand tickets, which are $75 per day.New for 2024 is the Opening Ceremonies Trackside Fan Experience ($150 all ages). This ticket option provides reserved seating with pit pass access, a guided tour of, and photo opportunities at, the infield podium and start/finish line, infield viewing of Opening Ceremonies and the heat races, and a track talk and photo opportunity with 2016 Grand National Champion Bryan Smith. Fans can save $10 by purchasing Thursday and Friday tickets together via the Multi-Day Discount. To purchase Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I tickets, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/daytona-short-track-i-86846. To purchase Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA II tickets, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/daytona-short-track-ii-86992. And to take advantage of the Multi-Day Discount for the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/daytona-short-track-i-and-ii-86845. Gates will open for fans at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT on both days. For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2024. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/aft or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast. For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com. To score the latest gear for the Progressive American Flat Track fan, visit our official merchandise store at https://store.americanflattrack.com.

Jet Cars and family fun highlight Santa Pod’s Festival of PowerTHE FESTIVAL OF POWERSanta Pod RacewayFri.29-Sun.31 March 2024  Fire-breathing Jet Cars and nitro-burning Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars join an array of family-friendly off-track entertainments to give Easter weekend’s Festival of Power its special season-opening flavour at Santa Pod Raceway.   Get ready for a mind-blowing experience with the awe-inspiring Jets—these fire-breathing marvels traditionally take the Festival of Power spotlight, unleashing their one-of-a-kind, smoke-flame-thunder extravaganzas all weekend long. While officially they are in exhibition mode, don’t be fooled—the competitive spirit between these Jet teams rivals that of their wheel-driven counterparts, turning the track into an inferno for a fierce and unforgettable showdown.   Jets apart, the Festival launches 2024’s UK championship drag racing season and the variety of classes on show range from production saloon cars to the most powerful racing machines on earth. It’s the same story among the motorcycle racers, and of course there are age 8-18 classes on two and four wheels for upcoming youngsters.   A Top Fuel Dragster match race pits Sweden’s Susanne Callin against Malta’s Duncan Micallef. At present Callin is the quicker and faster of the two, at 3.840 seconds and 320.20mph. Micallef’s career-best figures are a ‘mere’ 3.896sec, 312.18mph. On the other hand, Micallef has 2017’s FIA European Championship to his credit while Callin’s best-placed finish is second, earned twice in 2022 and 2023. On an unusual side-note, as President of the Malta Motorsport Federation, Micallef is undoubtedly the world’s fastest-driving head of a national motorsport authority.   At the fast-and-loud end of the spectrum, Top Fuelers are not the only ground-shakers on the bill. Five brutal fuel Funny Cars are due to kick off the European Funny Car Cup series while, one rung down, a field of colourful Nostalgia Funny Cars, harking back to the class’s origins decades ago, begin their own annual battle for competitive honours.   Motorsport UK British Drag Racing Champion Bobby Wallace, from nearby Bedford, launches the defence of the title he achieved last year among the spectacular Pro Modifieds, saloon cars in silhouette but ferocious, 240mph racers under the skin. Beneath that level, all manner of cars and motorcycles compete for national supremacy in their individual classes. Access to the pits is free and open, so wander at will to view the work going on to fettle these mechanical marvels.   Away from the track, the Live Action Arena features Monster Trucks and stunt driving and riding displays, and for those of all ages fancying a detour indoors, the award-winning John Lawson’s Circus presents four shows a day throughout the weekend. For the grown-ups there are historic aero engine displays and night-time live music while children’s entertainments include dinosaurs, Transformers and mini-Land Rovers.   The Festival of Power takes place over Easter weekend, 29^th to 31^st March 2024 (not Easter Monday) at Santa Pod Raceway, near Wellingborough, NN29 7XA. For further information and to buy tickets, visit www.

The 10-time champion earns his 500th overall Sprint Car win at the Bike Week Jamboree

BARBERVILLE, FL (March 4, 2024) – At one point in time Donny Schatz was a North Dakota kid in the stands watching races as Sprint Car dreams bloomed within his mind. Now, he’s a 500-time Sprint Car Feature winner.

He fought through early struggles that every driver combats. He began to collect some checkered flags in the 1990s. He ascended to the highest level of the sport with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and eventually became the most dominant force with the Series for a stretch. Wins on the sport’s biggest stages at the Knoxville Nationals, Kings Royal, National Open piled up along with so many more. And on Monday at Volusia Speedway Park, he made his 500th trip to Victory Lane and 312th with the World of Outlaws.

The 10-time Series champion lined up fourth on the grid, got a strong start, and was at the right place at the right time when misfortune struck a leading Michael Kofoid. A shredded tire gifted Schatz the lead, and he never looked back on his way to win number 500. 

Volusia has been a helpful racetrack for Schatz on his path to 500. Monday’s Bike Week Jamboree marked his 24th overall Sprint Car victory at “The World’s Fastest Half Mile.” The driver of the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 has earned 15 of those with The Greatest Show on Dirt. Volusia is the fourth winningest track on Schatz’s World of Outlaws résumé, trailing only Williams Grove Speedway, Knoxville Raceway, and Eldora Speedway.

But even with the enormous magnitude of the achievement, it was business as usual for Schatz when the race concluded. He’s not focused on any milestones. He’s focused on getting the next win and the many more that will surely follow.

“I really don’t want to think about it,” Schatz said. “I feel like I’ve got a lot of years left in me. I’ve got a lot of good racing left in me because I still love to race. That’s the important part. Numbers are numbers. That’s the stuff that I’m probably going to roll over to Steve Kinser’s bus someday when we’re sitting here at Volusia watching our kids or our kids’ kids and we’ll have talks about it. But for now, it’s just a number you don’t even want to think about. I’ve been very fortunate to race with a lot of great people and have great partners behind us.”

The front row consisting of Sheldon Haudenschild and Buddy Kofoid brought the field to green for the 25-lapper. The outside line proved to be the place to be as Kofoid blasted by Haudenschild for the lead while Schatz ripped ahead of both Giovanni Scelzi and Haudenschild to take second from the fourth starting spot.

As the opening laps clicked away Kofoid set a torrid pace in the Roth Motorsports #83. He remained glued to the high side and on rails. Behind him, Schatz tested different lines as he’s known to do and didn’t let Kofoid build too much of an advantage.

When the lead duo entered traffic, Kofoid managed to extend his lead at first as the gap grew to just over a second on Lap 9. But Schatz began to regain his footing and cut away at the margin as the race neared the halfway mark. Only two laps later, he had sliced Kofoid’s one second advantage in half.

Right when it looked as if a battle may be brewing between the rising star and the living legend, heartbreak hit Kofoid. The left-rear tire on his machine let go entering Turn 1, sending him spinning and backing into the fence. Adding salt to the wound, the incident occurred a lap after the halfway point meaning no guaranteed time in the Federated Car Care Work Zone. His team wasn’t able to make repairs in time for the restart, leaving him trapped in the Work Zone as the field came back to green.

Kofoid’s misfortune was Schatz’s benefit as the Carquest #15 inherited the top spot with 12 laps remaining. The Fargo, ND driver wasted no time pulling ahead when the green lights flashed. In two laps he held more than a one second lead. Even when he made his way back into traffic, no lapped cars slowed him.

A late caution for Jacob Allen set up the potential for a dramatic finish with only three laps to go. But Schatz had no intentions of allowing any drama to intervene between himself and the finish line. Schatz powered ahead on the final restart and cruised to a comfortable win and joined the 500 club.

“I wasn’t really worried about what was behind me,” Schatz said. “As long as I could focus on out in front of me and do what I was doing we were going to be alright. You know somebody is going to maybe try the slider, but there isn’t anything you can do about what other people are doing. He (Haudenschild) must’ve spun his tires on the start. Man, we got a hell of a run and went right to second, and I can’t ever remember running a car that hard that long. It’s hard on tires and hard on wheels. It’s hard on everything. 

“We kind of capitalized on the misfortune of the #83. We were getting to the point where we were having a lot of wheel spin. When your right side is up against something, the left side is the one that spins, and that’s generally where a problem happens. And obviously, that’s what happened there and we capitalized on that. Hats off to my guys. They just keep digging and digging and digging.”

Haudenschild claimed the runner-up spot for his second consecutive strong run at Volusia. The pilot of the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink #17 capped DIRTcar Nationals with a win last month and came up one spot short of back-to-back wins. The result marked his 95th career World of Outlaws podium. The Wooster, OH native noted that track position might’ve prevented him from grabbing the win.

“The outside just seemed like you could kind of keep your speed up a little bit better,” Haudenschild said. “Definitely in (Turns) 1 and 2 you could roll it way faster at the start of the race. Don’t think there’s much I could’ve changed there. I feel like my car was really good, and whoever was out front was going to be really fast and hard to catch. The #83 was scooting pretty good, and so was Donny when he got out front.”

Rounding out the top three was Carson Macedo aboard the Jason Johnson Racing #41. The result served as a revitalizing boost for Macedo who struggled to start the season last month. He and the team put in plenty of work throughout the three off weeks, and their efforts immediately paid off with their first podium of the year and the 88th of Macedo’s career.

“We worked really hard,” Macedo said. “I think we were as good as the other two here in the Feature. It’s just once we get strung out at this place it’s crazy. You kind of hit that air barrier and you can’t go any faster. All in all, we took those three weeks to do all we could. Luckily, Tim Engler and Paul Kistler, we were able to meet them at the chassis dyno and kind of do some work on our engine package. I feel like we’re getting closer and closer.”

David Gravel and Giovanni Scelzi completed the top five.

The fourth place result allowed Gravel to maintain his early season points lead. Schatz and Scelzi sit in a tie for second, 12 markers behind Gravel.

Logan Schuchart picked up his second KSE Racing Hard Charger of the season.

Buddy Kofoid claimed his first Simpson Quick Time of the year and the sixth of his career.

Sheldon Haudenschild won the Toyota Racing Dash.

NOS Energy Drink Heat One belonged to Kofoid (16th Heat Race win of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Sheldon Haudenschild (100th of career).

Giovanni Scelzi topped the Micro-Lite Qualifier.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to Texas for The Greatest Show on Dirt’s debut at Kennedale Speedway Park on March 8-9. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz[4]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[1]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[6]; 4. 2-David Gravel[7]; 5. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart[11]; 7. 14-Corey Day[12]; 8. 7S-Landon Crawley[5]; 9. 8-Cory Eliason[9]; 10. 17B-Bill Balog[8]; 11. 24D-Danny Sams III[15]; 12. 70-Kraig Kinser[14]; 13. 15K-Creed Kemenah[16]; 14. 97UK-Ryan Harrison[17]; 15. 1A-Jacob Allen[10]; 16. 83-Michael Kofoid[2]; 17. 6-Bill Rose[19]; 18. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[13]; 19. 5T-Ryan Timms[18]

DALLAS (March 4, 2024) — The 2024 professional drag racing season launches this weekend at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. on March 7-10, with an epic return of the fan bracket game Drag Race Bracket Bonanza (DRBB). For the first time ever, DRBB will be up and running for the entire NHRA season, including the two four-wide races in Las Vegas and Charlotte.   “Last year we got off to a great start with thousands of people playing during the U.S. Nationals and throughout the Countdown,” said Werner. “We are excited to have DRBB up and running for the full season. We will have some shorter series like The Majors, the Four-Wide Nationals Cup and the Countdown, as well as an overall season champion. Our goal is to create a fun and engaging game for anyone interested in following professional drag racing.”  By the end of the 2023 season, with only seven races in play, prizes were sent to 18 states across the U.S. and three countries. DRBB players surveyed during the off-season frequently mentioned that they loved having even more of a reason to tune in on race day, to follow their brackets and root on their picks.   “I think Drag Race Bracket Bonanza is great because it opens up the opportunity for fans to have a vested interest in the outcome of each race,” said Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley. “It’s a fun, engaging and competitive way to increase fan involvement and add to their overall experience.”  Throughout the off-season, the DRBB team worked tirelessly on completely revamping the website to make it even better on both mobile and desktop. Returning players can expect a drastically improved website and new features. The main comment from beta testers of the updated site was that it is much faster and user-friendly to make their picks.   “The entire DRBB development team has been working all off-season to improve the gameplay and user experience,” said Werner. “The look is much cleaner, and we have added driver photos and stats to make playing easier for fans of every experience level. Overall, the new and improved version of DRBB takes the drag racing experience to the next level for fans who want to feel more invested in their favorite driver or category.”   One of the most requested features after the 2023 season was the chance for league play. Players didn’t want to just compete worldwide, but also have the chance to directly challenge their friends and family, to make it a more localized experience.   “We have added league play for players that would like to compete against their friends and family in a closed group,” said Werner. “Everyone will still play in the DRBB main league but fans can share their bracket inside their private league or create a unique bracket for league play. We have also added a randomizer option, similar to a lottery ticket quick pick, for people who want to play but may not know every class or just don’t have time to fill out a bracket for all four categories.”   As a continuation from 2023, players will have the opportunity to fill out their brackets for all four professional classes. They will earn points based off their correct picks, and at the end of every race, DRBB will award prizes to the overall winner and each class winner (Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle), signed by the race winners. There will be five prizes given out every race, with additional specialty prizes given out throughout the season for the individual series.   “Drag Race Bracket Bonanza couldn’t have come at a more perfect time,” said Funny Car driver Buddy Hull. “Fans are looking for more interaction and ways to make NHRA drag racing more exciting between their friends and family. I can tell you this, I certainly enjoy playing and I work to get as many of my friends and fellow racers to play as well.”   Fans can find both drivers and fellow DRBB competitors talking about the popular game on social media. Funny Car driver Bob Tasca III recently tweeted that he is “Hoping to sign plenty of the @dragracebb plaques in 2024.” You can follow Drag Race Bracket Bonanza on social media for cool stats, prize updates and info on Twitter/X at @dragracebb or Instagram and Facebook, @DragRaceBracketBonanza. DRBB also just launched a new YouTube channel, at @DragRaceBracketBonanza.   DRBB players will have the opportunity to fill out their brackets for the first time this year during the Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway when qualifying ends on Saturday, March 9. They will then have until the first round of eliminations begins on Sunday, March 10 at 10:30 a.m. ET to submit their picks. Fans can watch the NHRA broadcast on FS1.   For additional information and to sign up anytime fans can visit www.dragracebracketbonanza.com.

MILTON, DELAWARE (March 4, 2024) — Continuing to build one of the most dynamic and fan-centric marketing programs on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour, El Bandido Yankee Tequila will once again sponsor standout Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Flyin’ Ryan Oehler for the entire 2024 NHRA season. In addition to a new-look Buell Pro Stock Motorcycle, El Bandido Tequila will have several at-track marketing initiatives, including being named the Official Tequila of Indianapolis Raceway Park and Texas Motorplex. The horsepower of Oehler on the track and El Bandido Tequila off the track will be a potent marketing combination.

“We have been building a strong marketing presence the past few seasons with El Bandido Tequila across the country with our Pro Stock Motorcycle team,” said Ryan Oehler, the 2020 U.S. Nationals Pro Stock Motorcycle champion. “Through at-track events and marketing tie-ins at off-site fanfests we have been working towards this season of dynamic El Bandido activations and introducing this delicious tequila to even more NHRA fans.”

Throughout the season, Oehler and El Bandido Tequila will promote monthly giveaways that will  include Burromax electric minibikes. The season will kick off on March 7-10th at the Gatornationals, providing fans with the opportunity to enjoy El Bandido Yankee Tequila for the first time at this historic event. Fans will be able to sample and even purchase the product while they enjoy watching Oehler battle for his first Gatornationals victory.

“We have been working with the NHRA as well as a number of other track operators to provide fans the chance to sample El Bandido Tequila. I know once fans taste El Bandido Yankee Tequila it will become their tequila of choice,” added Oehler, the 2021 Gatornationals runner-up.

Oehler’s El Bandido Pro Stock Motorcycle team tested over the off-season and recently made back-to-back career best runs. With a new look and new horsepower Oehler is looking to make the 2024 season one of the best of his career. Since his professional debut in 2017, Oehler has always been a threat to win. This season with the backing of longstanding sponsors El Bandido Yankee Tequila, Burromax electric minibikes, High Performance Lubricants, NGK NTK Performance, World Wide Bearings, Silver Star Painting, Limelite Graphics, McCoy Motorsports, Liberty’s Gears, Nut Scentz, Line2Line Coatings, Smith Systems, Mullaney Cycle Works, Capitol Group, Tampa Bay Race Rentals, Fast Lane Classic Cars, Mickey Thompson, Psycho Speed, The Vault Bar & Grill, DHR, Boom Boom Paints, Manley, MRE, Birch Family, Wicks & Sons, The Nevco Group, The Detail Specialist, Miller Janitor Supply, September’s Taproom and Eatery, Precision Plastics, B&K Cylinder Heads, AirTec Heating and Cooling, Cycle Drag, and CP Pistons the team is looking to make a serious run for the Pro Stock World Championship.
 

The El Bandido Yankee Tequila Pro Stock Motorcycle team will be competing on the track for the first time this season Friday, March 8, for two qualifying runs at Gainesville Raceway. Oehler will have two more qualifying runs on Saturday before the top 16 Pro Stock Motorcycles lock in to race for the Gatornationals title live on FS1 Sunday morning. For tickets or more race information fans can visit www.nhra.com/ 

Cruz Pedregon 

NHRA^® Gatornationals – Gainesville, FL

Pre-Race Report

News of note: 

Fresh paint scheme for the Snap-on^® “Makers and Fixers” Dodge^® SRT^® Hellcat^® and haulers. The Snap-on car and Cruz are paying tribute to the Makers and Fixers among us as recognition of the value of their work. As Cruz’s primary sponsor, Snap-on is asking NHRA fans to follow Makers and Fixers on Instagram and hoping Makers and Fixers will submit their own stories to makersandfixers.com.

Images here: 

CruzPedregonSnap-onDodge2024_1.jpg

CruzPedregonSnap-onDodge2024_2.jpg

Team additions:

Jason Bunker – Crew Chief

Johnny West – Assistant Crew Chief

Andrew Moore – Car Chief

Chris Balance – Clutch Specialist

Aiden Campos – Cylinder Head Specialist

Caleb Krueger – Super Chargers

Jonathan Whitley – Bottom End

John Rios – Tire & Body

Quotes – Cruz Pedregon, two-time Funny Car World Champion

“I’m very enthusiastic about the team. We’re not changing a lot, just some smaller things on the engine. Making it breathe better, it has more power than we had last year, and it goes down the track nice and smooth. So, I’m looking forward to a good winning season.”

“I feel like the Snap-on car will be one of the surprises of the season, I really do. I feel like we’re flying under the radar right now, based on our preseason testing and my conversations with Jason (Bunker), he has a really good handle on this setup.”

“We have a great group of guys we’ve assembled, headed by Jason Bunker, a younger up-and-coming crew chief who has a lot of enthusiasm. Then I’ve paired him with veteran Johnny West who has nearly 60 years of experience. So, I think it’s going to be a good 1-2 combination heading up the team. A lot of young guys, too, that are very excited to be on the team and part of the Snap-on Dodge crew.”

“We did quite a bit of testing down in Bradenton a few weeks ago. It went very well, and the car responded nicely to the changes we’ve made so we’re excited to get to Gainesville. I love the Gainesville track. It’s one of my favorite tracks on the circuit. Lot of fans and such a big event on the NHRA schedule.”

Favorite memories of Gainesville:

“I was born and raised in Southern California, so I’ve never really been around alligators or knew much about them other than that there was once one on the racetrack. They spotted the gator and showed it to everyone. There were pictures of it, and that scared the heck out of me. We get out of the car at the finish line and I’m thinking man, I’ve got to start looking around here because I don’t want one of these gators sneaking up on me.”

“I remember one time the throttle hung open on the car, this was back in ’08 one of our championship years, and I remember thinking I’m going to go for a ride and I’m going to wind up in water because there was a body of water at the finish line, way beyond the catch net area. I’m thinking to myself, if I survive this and I make it to the end then I’m going to be in this water, trying to swim out of there and dodging gators. So that scared the heck out of me because like I said, I’ve never really been around gators being from California, that was something that was not even in the equation.”

Name on the side of Cruz’s car – Snap-on Nitro Franchisee: Kenny Cholewinski

·        Kenny’s in his 29^th year of operating a Snap-on Franchise, and he’s been coming to the Gatornationals the past 25 of those.

·        He likes the freedom of “calling his own shots” running his franchise business.

·     His best drag racing story goes back to the 70’s when he was helping a friend who ran Super Stock. He was watching other classes from the sidelines when a race team member ran over and asked him to step in to help push a driver’s car back to the water box after the burnout. When he grabbed onto the roll cage and looked into the window at the driver, it was none other than “Big Daddy” Don Garlits’s dragster.

Follow Cruz and Snap-on on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

To see the latest Cruz news, like his Facebook page, on Twitter, and Instagram.

For Immediate Release

Veteran Writer Jerry Bonkowski to Lead PR Effort During ‘An Exciting Time”

YORBA LINDA, Calif. – (March 4th, 2024)

With the acknowledgement that his almost 50-year career as a full-time professional Funny Car driver is nearing an end, John Force has announced the hiring of author, award-winning journalist and motorsports podcast host Jerry Bonkowski to manage the public relations and publicity effort for John Force Racing, Inc., as the company moves forward.

“I still love to drive my hot rod and I still believe I can win,” said the man who this year will climb back into the cockpit of the PEAK Coolant and Antifreeze Chevrolet Camaro SS to pursue an unprecedented 17th NHRA championship, “but I’m going to be 75 years old and there are some things I want to do down the road that I can’t (do) if I’m racing every week.

“I’ve always talked about a book, which basically is already done, about a studio TV show, maybe another reality show (following the breakthrough A&E real life series “Driving Force” that debuted in 2006) and a movie (for which a script already has been written),” said the 155-time Mission Foods tour winner, “and I really want to race with my grandkids.”

Although Bonkowski will lead the public relations effort moving forward, he will benefit from a framework already in place at JFR that includes Vice President and Creative Director Ashley Hood, Armando Villa, A.J. England, Darin Williams Jr. and a soon-to-be-named social media director. 

“Bonkowski has the contacts to help make everything happen for PEAK, Chevrolet, Monster, Cornwell Tools, AAA and all our other sponsors, but it’s always a team effort,” Force said, adding that Dave Densmore also will continue to contribute as a consultant. “He has all the stats, he knows where the bodies are buried and he’s the only one who’ll still laugh at my jokes.” 

A Chicago native, Bonkowski for more than 35 years has covered all forms of auto racing as a senior-level writer and columnist for some of the largest publications and digital outlets in the world including USA Today, for which he was senior motorsports writer for 15 years, AutoWeek, Sports Illustrated’s Auto Racing Digest, ESPN.com, Yahoo Sports and NBCSports.com.

He also has extensive broadcast experience, having contributed content and commentary to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 for the last 20 years while also hosting his own podcast, “The Racing Beat.” In 2010, he expanded his resume as author of the book “Trading Paint: 101 Great NASCAR Debates.”

A graduate of Chicago’s Columbia College, from which he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications, Bonkowski also earned a Master’s degree in Sports Administration with an emphasis on Sports Communications from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio

In addition to his racing credentials, Bonkowski has covered Major League Baseball, the NFL, the NBA and the NHL while at USA Today and worked all six Chicago Bulls NBA championships, the 1985 Chicago Bears’ race to the Super Bowl and Tiger Woods’ 1996 PGA debut. His extensive freelance resume includes articles on such diverse topics as Southeast Asia, the military and Medicare.

He and his wife, Cyndee, reside in Chicago. They share three children, daughters Heather (Hartmann) and Sarah (Shaw), and son Bradley.