The four-time champion holds off challenges from Giovanni Scelzi and David Gravel for Sharon victoryHARTFORD, OH (September 23, 2023) – The box score from Saturday’s Federated Auto Parts Showdown at Sharon Speedway will simply show Brad Sweet led flag to flag. But the 30 laps were far from an easy cruise for “The Big Cat.”The four-time and defending World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car champion took everything Giovanni Scelzi and David Gravel could throw at him. “The Big Cat” may have led every lap, but he had company challenging him for many of those trips around the Hartford, OH oval. Early in the main event, Scelzi searched every bit of racetrack real estate for speed. He found momentum multiple times, but Sweet fended off each challenge. Then in the second half of the race it was Sweet’s championship rival – Gravel – surging into second and looking to steal the win. Gravel showed Sweet a nose multiple times, but the Grass Valley, CA native kept the door closed. Ultimately, Sweet dodged every punch the two had as he went on to grab his ninth win of the year with The Greatest Show on Dirt.“I just didn’t know where to be sometimes. Lapped traffic was tough,” Sweet explained. “I was probably a little too free. I started off a little too good and got free pretty quick and was trying to use the wall on the (corner) exits to get me down the straightaways. I just was struggling a little bit, but we got into Victory Lane. That’s half the battle.”Sweet’s ninth victory of the year moved him up to 88 for his career. The 37-year-old also joined Steve Kinser and Danny Lasoski as the only competitors with multiple World of Outlaws wins at Sharon through 13 Series visits to the 3/8-mile.When the green flag dropped on the 30-lap Feature, Sweet led the way after topping the Toyota Racing Dash. The Napa Auto Parts #49 pulled ahead on the opening lap while Scelzi rocketed from fourth to second out of Turn 2 and down the back straightaway.Early on in clean air, Sweet put a solid gap between himself and Scelzi, but the Fresno, CA driver wouldn’t allow Sweet to escape. Scelzi kept him well within his sights as they began to near traffic. While Sweet preferred the cushion all the way around Sharon as the race worked through its first third, Scelzi found speed rolling the bottom in Turns 3 and 4. The gap between the two began to vanish, and Scelzi began to show Sweet a nose repeatedly as they neared the halfway point.After the cross flags were displayed, Scelzi ramped up the intensity in his pursuit of the lead. On Lap 19, Scelzi tried a slide job on Sweet in Turns 1 and 2 but came up slightly short as Sweet slipped back by on the outside. Two laps later, Scelzi hit the bottom perfectly in the same set of corners to nose ahead of Sweet as they hit the back straightaway. Sweet refused to go down, though, as he used the high side momentum to inch back in front heading into Turn 3 and protect the lead causing Scelzi to slip back.With Scelzi losing ground to Sweet, he fell right into the clutches of a fast-closing Gravel who snuck by on the bottom on Lap 23 to take over runner-up. Up ahead, Sweet began to question where he needed to be as he struggled to move by a lapped car.“I probably stayed up top a little too long, but I didn’t want to leave that lane open,” Sweet said. “With the lapped car there, I was just always kind of right off his right rear (tire)… Based off experiences kind of knowing how hard I was having to work to pass him on the top and what pace he was running. Once I got down to his pace, I knew someone would’ve had to really run the wall exceptionally well.”Before Sweet wound up deciding to move to the bottom, Gravel gathered enough steam for one bid at the lead. On the 25th lap, Gravel used a strong run on the inside of Turns 1 and 2 to pull alongside Sweet and looked as if he may snatch the top spot. But heading into the next turn, Sweet slammed the door shut to maintain the lead as Gravel slipped back.The move sealed the deal for Sweet who went on to cross the finish line with a half second advantage.“I’m excited to get the win,” Sweet said. “It was a tough battle for sure. I saw Gio multiple times, I think, off of (Turn 2), or it could’ve been David. I just saw orange. It was a great race. The bottom got cleaned off. Once I found it, I knew if I was just patient and didn’t overdrive the car it would be really hard for someone to get by me.”Gravel settled for second to net his 29th World of Outlaws podium of the season. While it was a strong run, he knows he needs to be finishing ahead of the Kasey Kahne Racing #49 if he wants a chance at running Sweet down in the title chase. Sweet’s victory grew the margin to 80 markers between the two.“It was a good weekend,” Gravel said. “I just wish I could take that start back. I thought Brad was going to go to the top and he went to the middle and kind of confused me and Gio got by me. I thought Gio was really good early, and it looked like Brad was searching and didn’t know where to go as well. I thought the bottom was kind of the best place to be, but we were just a little too free down there. Then it started cleaning up, and our car really came to life when that bottom came in and the grip picked up and made our car sit right. We were alongside Brad there, and I guess I just wish I ran in harder than him and banged wheels and pushed him out of the way if I could do it over again. Obviously, we’ve got to beat him every night here moving forward. Obviously, if he wins, the best we can do is run second.”After his early challenges for the lead, Giovanni Scelzi completed the podium aboard the KCP Racing #18. The World of Outlaws rookie knew he had a car capable of winning but simply came up short to two of the sport’s best at the top of their game.“It was really good all night. I’m really proud of my guys. I can’t say enough about them,” a grateful Scelzi said. “I’m going to replay that one a lot in my head tonight and the next couple days. Brad and David are really good. They’re the two top guys out here, and they’re the most consistent guys to race against. You learn every time you race against them what moves to make. I just kind of panicked there. I didn’t realize it was cleaning off that much around the bottom. I saw Gravel try the top in (Turns) 3 and 4, and that was my chance to get him. Brad was playing the right game just staying the bottom.”Tanner Holmes and Carson Macedo rounded out the top five.Brock Zearfoss snagged KSE Racing Hard Charger honors with a 20th to 13th effort.In Low-E Insulation Qualifying, Carson Macedo earned his 14th Simpson Performance Products QuickTime of the year and 33rd of his career.CASE No. 1 Engine Oil Heat One went to David Gravel (235th Heat Race win of career). NOS Energy Drink Heats Two through Four were topped by Sheldon Haudenschild (96th of career), James McFadden (50th of career), and Giovanni Scelzi (35th of career).Donny Schatz won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are Pennsylvania bound for one of the sport’s crown jewels. Mechanicsburg, PA’s Williams Grove Speedway is the destination next week (September 29-30) for the 61st Champion Racing Oil National Open. The winner of the finale will take home $75,000. For tickets, CLICK HERE.If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the action live on DIRTVision.RESULTS:NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 49-Brad Sweet[1]; 2. 2-David Gravel[2]; 3. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[4]; 4. 1T-Tanner Holmes[3]; 5. 41-Carson Macedo[8]; 6. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[6]; 7. 10-Dave Blaney[10]; 8. 32B-Dale Blaney[11]; 9. 5-Spencer Bayston[12]; 10. 22-Cole Duncan[9]; 11. 83-James McFadden[5]; 12. 1S-Logan Schuchart[17]; 13. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[20]; 14. 39M-Justin Sanders[7]; 15. 2F-AJ Flick[13]; 16. 15-Donny Schatz[21]; 17. 1M-Landon Myers[14]; 18. 13-Brandon Matus[16]; 19. 4-Danny Smith[23]; 20. 2X-Ricky Peterson[24]; 21. 5M-Jeremy Weaver[15]; 22. 11J-David Kalb[18]; 23. (DNF) 08-Danny Kuriger[22]; 24. (DNF) 6F-Bob Felmlee[19]

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 23, 2023) – Robert Hight and the Cornwell Tools / AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS team earned their fifth No. 1 qualifying position of the season Saturday at the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway. Brittany Force with the Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy dragster and John Force in the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevy Camaro SS are in the No. 4 positions while Austin Prock and the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist dragster are No. 10. After a fiery end to their first qualifying day, Robert Hight and the Cornwell Tools team jumped right back to the top half of the Funny Car field with a stout 3.849-second pass at 323.27 mph to land No. 3 heading into the final session. After a lengthy rain delay, Hight and the Cornwell Tools team threw down a 3.824-second pass at 330.15 mph to steal the No. 1 qualifying spot by one-thousandth of a second. “Sometimes when you push and try real hard, it doesn’t work out. There are a lot of moving parts and everything has to come together, there are a lot of variables. It’s a science but there is some luck to it too. We were pushing on that run. We wanted the No. 1 spot because of the bye. To get it by one-thousandth of a second, it just shows you how tough it is out here,” Hight said. “Honestly, I thought with Bob Tasca III and Matt Hagan running behind us, I could still be third after that but you’re going to see a lot of these close races. Really, hats off to the Cornwell Tools team for pulling through after what we went through last night. I’m just really proud of them for working hard all night. I wouldn’t want to jump back in the car after what happened last night with any other team than them.” Hight, the points leader, will enter race day with a first-round bye as he looks for his fourth win of the season and a chance to widen his points lead. It was Hight’s 82nd career No. 1 qualifying position and first at the Carolina Nationals. He’s qualified No. 1 at the spring Four-Wide event three times. Coming into the day sitting No. 6, John Force and the PEAK Chevy team improved with a 3.866-second run at 327.66 mph to jump to the No. 4 spot. In the final session Force stayed consistent with a 3.861 pass at 329.02 mph to keep No. 4. He will race Alex Laughlin in the first round of eliminations. “Good two days of qualifying for this PEAK Chevy team. We had some consistency and we just need to keep it going tomorrow,” Force said. “This Funny Car field is impressive. They’re out there running some big numbers but we’re right there in the mix. Danny Hood and Tim Fabrisi, all our guys, they’re working hard and it seems to be showing so we just need to keep it going and see what happens tomorrow.” Already qualified No. 2 from Friday night, Brittany Force and the Flav-R-Pac team ran quickest of the second qualifying session with a 3.673-second pass at 335.48 mph to earn three bonus qualifying points. To wrap up their qualifying efforts at the Carolina Nationals, the Flav-R-Pac dragster had a misstep, pushing too hard to smoke the tires near 100 feet for only 8.901 at 70.02. They’d finish in the No. 4 spot with a matchup against Clay Millican waiting for them in the first round. “We head into race day from the No. 4 position and face Clay Millican in round one of eliminations. In qualifying we ran a 3.686 and our best 3.673. On our last qualifying run we didn’t make it down the track. The conditions were great and this Flav-R-Pac team wanted to take advantage of that track but pushed a little too hard,” Force said. “Tomorrow will be a whole new day, with completely different conditions. It’s going to be tough to adjust but that’s the same boat everyone is in. It’s zMAX Dragway and race number two of the final six and this team is looking for four win lights.” Austin Prock and the Montana Brand team improved on their performance from Friday with a solid 3.725-second run at 325.53 mph but shifted into the No. 10 spot. In the last qualifying session, the Montana Brand dragster drove into tire smoke almost immediately to coast to a 9.810 pass at 117.69 but stayed No. 10. “We’re looking forward to a strong race day tomorrow. Conditions will be different than we’ve seen all weekend with warmer temperatures so it will be a fresh start for all of us,” said Prock who will race against Josh Hart in the first round. “We made some progress on this Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist car today and we will be ready to attack tomorrow morning.” Competition at the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals will continue with eliminations Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Television coverage of the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship will continue to air on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with a second qualifying show Sunday at 11:00 a.m. ET and eliminations at 2:00 p.m. ET. -30-

AUSTIN PROCK, 28, Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist dragsterQualifying:10th; 3.725-seconds; 325.53 mphBonus Qualifying Points:0BRITTANY FORCE, 37, Monster Energy / Flav-R-Pac dragsterQualifying:4th; 3.673-seconds; 335.48 mphBonus Qualifying Points:+5 (quickest Q2; 2nd quickest Q1) JOHN FORCE, 74, PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SSQualifying:4th; 3.861-seconds; 329.02 mphBonus Qualifying Points: +1 (3rd quickest Q2) ROBERT HIGHT, 54, Cornwell Tools / AAA Chevrolet Camaro SSQualifying:1st; 3.824-seconds; 330.15 mph Bonus Qualifying Points:+4 (quickest Q3; 3rd quickest Q2)

Photo Credit: Gary Nastase, Auto Imagery

NASCAR CUP SERIES TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY AUTOTRADER ECHO PARK AUTOMOTIVE 400 TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT SEPTEMBER 23, 2023

KYLE BUSCH, NO. 8 3CHI CAMARO ZL1, met with the media prior to the NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying session at Texas Motor Speedway. Press Conference Quotes:  It’s been a great week for you because your son, Brexton, is racing over at little Texas. From a parent standpoint, how exciting is it to see him race against these competitive drivers? And secondly, given how Texas is such a tricky track, what are some of the keys in getting around here successfully? “Yeah, I mean it’s definitely been fun to come out to Texas a little early and have some dirt track action out on the backstretch there Thursday night and last night, as well. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a good night last night for Brexton – something in the engine quit running and shut him off. But we won the first night, so that gives us a decent starting spot for him for tonight, but it could have been a lot better. Wish we were able to finish yesterday.  And then, as far as Texas (Motor Speedway) goes with the new configuration a couple of years ago – it really changed the dynamic of Texas a lot with how you drive it and what you do to get around here and what makes it fast. It’s really tricky in turns one and two – knowing where to lift and knowing how much to arc out the corner. You’ve got to get down to the bottom, and then how soon do you get back to the throttle to drive up off the corner and clear the wall on exit. So there’s just a lot of different variables down there. But three and four is still old Texas, per say – just a little bit more action down there with the bumps and such, especially with this new car. You run lower to the ground anyways, you run stiffer, so it already kind of reacts to those bumps a lot more than the old car did. But yeah, just try to be as fast as you can. You want to try and make that turn two exit back to that turn one entry as long of a straightaway as you can and stay in the gas in three and four as much as you can.” Last Sunday, NASCAR announced that the Mexico Series is going to join you guys at the Clash next year. Just how important is it to have that crossover with an international series to showcase one of those series that you don’t really have that crossover with on a weekly basis? “Yeah, I think that’s cool. I think we had a little bit of that crossover a couple of years ago at Phoenix (Raceway), they were there. But other than that, we haven’t seen much of the Mexico series, so that will be cool. Daniel Suarez spent a lot of time there in that series. I know there’s a few other drivers that are coming up through the ranks that have been in that series. One of those guys at Rev Racing with Max Siegel’s team in the ARCA Series, and then also Max Gutierrez, I think is his name, is another one that’s there. So yeah, there’s some notable names that I’ve heard of that’s come through there. It would be nice to get them some more recognition on a bigger stage.” How do you feel about this round? You look at your stats – you won at Talladega Superspeedway, but plate races are plate races. Road courses, you’ve been up and down. Do you have any clue whether you’re going to be good in this round or not? “Realistically, I mean I have no clue. I have high confidence here, just based off of how the No. 8 Chevy was here last year, and how the No. 24 Chevy was here last year. So we based most of our stuff off of that – just kind of jump in and go, and hopefully it’s good, fast and it’s where we need it to be. And then with Talladega (Superspeedway), it’s a crap shoot.. it’s luck. Go read my post-race presser – I can’t tell you how many times I probably said ‘we just got lucky today’, you know what I mean. And then with the (Charlotte) ROVAL, last year, I ran third there. There was a tire strategy at the end – we took tires and we were able to make it work for us. I feel like our road course program this year has been strong. Our results at Watkins Glen (International) weren’t indicative of that because of coming to pit road, the light turning on, having to go back out, cycling to the back, not being able to pass as well as you want to come back up through. So yeah, just lots of stuff. I would like to think that normal races, normal circumstances, we can make it through this round.” Is there any different feeling for you in the playoffs, so far, compared to when you were at Joe Gibbs Racing? I think everybody expected you to challenge year in and year out, and here, there were a lot of questions going into the year. Is there any different – I don’t want to say pressure, but a different feeling about this playoff run versus others?“Yeah, to your point, the pressure is always there. As a JGR or an HMS guy, you’re expected to transfer through – make it through and be in contention for the final four spots. And so, probably where I’m at, I think the Round of 16, a lot of people had us out. And so the Round of 12, I’m sure there’s going to be a lot more that will probably have us out. Honestly, it’s just as simple as winning at Texas (Motor Speedway) and winning at Las Vegas (Motor Speedway) and you’re going to Phoenix (Raceway), you know what I mean. That’s all we can really focus on right now – what’s in front of us and this weekend is Texas. We’ll go out here with it being hot and sunny and go get the most we can.” Being at RCR and looking back on the season, did you expect the success and the things that have gone your way so far this year with the No. 8 team? “I would not have expected as good as we fired off – almost winning the Clash, almost winning the Daytona 500 and winning Fontana (Auto Club Speedway). I felt like that was a really, really good kick in the pants, and just an awesome feeling to be able to come over to a new team, a new organization, and have the opportunity to go out there and run that well and run that strong. There’s been a lot of ups and downs since then. We won, convincingly, at Gateway. We got lucky and won at Talladega. So we’ve got three wins on the year, which is great. But there’s been a lot of races where we’ve had top-five cars and something happened and not get a chance to show that. And then there’s been races where we haven’t had top-five cars and we finished top-five because we just stretched it out, made a pit call or something like that to get some spots. I feel like everybody is kind of that way though. There’s just so many variables and difference that you really don’t control your own destiny with this car as much as you used to. And so I think it’s a lot more equal, there’s a lot more parity. So when you do get drug down, it’s hard to make your way back up that ladder and it’s getting increasingly more difficult as guys figure this thing out.” Can you talk about Kurt’s retirement and how he’s been since making that announcement? “Yeah, I mean honestly, I haven’t seen him a lot. I feel like it was a burden kind of weighing on him, a lot of people always asking him. It’s like when you first get married – it’s like people asking you when you’re going to have kids, you know what I mean. So it’s like everybody asking Kurt – well when are you going to get back into the car.. when are you going to get back in the car. So you just kind of have to get it out there, make that announcement. I feel like it was a weight off of his shoulders. I feel like he’s a bit more relaxed now that he can try to figure out what his next steps are and what he wants to do. I think he talked about that.. going and running some different forms of racing and not long, 500 mile events, like the NASCAR Cup Series is. Also, his dedication to all the teams that he’s been with, and now being with 23XI – he works within there and does a lot of consulting stuff and whatnot. So it’s good for him to have something to do, but he’s got some sponsor stuff that he always takes care of, as well. He’s just busy.. living what he can right now. Probably just trying to collect a check (laughs).” Back in January at the COTA tire test, you were asked about your persona coming over to Richard Childress Racing. And if you recall, you said you wore the black hat for a reason.. there needs to be excitement on and off the track. This year, you’re hearing cheers. Denny Hamlin is now the villain. I’m just curious, is villainhood in your rear view? What do you make of all of this change?“I’m sure I can put myself right back into that category real easy (laughs). It only takes something spectacular to do. But yeah, I mean it’s different, right? I don’t know that I’ve ever been in this spot because when I first came into this sport, my brother had made a lot of enemies, both on and off the race track, and so I was kind of thrown into that right off the bat. But it’s been good to just kind of get a different light, be in a different light. And it’s been fun over at RCR. A lot of people have just kind of told me how much excitement there is around that, and me being a part of the No. 8 car, with RCR and everybody over there. Yeah, just keep rolling with it. When you’re in that spot like I was, and I guess Denny (Hamlin) is, you have to do what Denny is doing. It’s perfect.. you have to play with it, go with it, roll with it and egg them on. I mean I did it – there were so many quotes in the years past when I was talking about Jr. Nation and other stuff. Trust me, you’re never going to win those battles.. they’re hard, hard, hard to win. But I guess it makes you feel better inside.. it makes you feel bigger to say stuff like that. It’s fun to watch.” There’s some rumors that this race will go from its current date in September to April. Obviously the schedule has been delayed a little bit. Given this weekend, both days are going to be 100 degrees, do you feel like April would be more preferable to have a race, or are you fine with this current date? “Yeah, I mean for whatever reason, say it for what it is.. speak the truth – Texas (Motor Speedway) has been very lack-luster lately. So being a playoff race, I’m not sure that we’re indicative of that. I’ve actually seen a lot of people say that it shouldn’t be on the calendar, period. All of us drivers would highly, highly, highly not want it to be reconfigured again into an Atlanta-style race track, but I hear rumblings of that’s where it’s heading. So that wouldn’t be fun. But yeah, I think the heat – if you strictly talk about weather, the heat and stuff like that – look I give NASCAR fans all the credit in the world because they are a damn strong bunch. They are passionate and they are loving to our sport as much as we want them to be. But to be out in the 100 degree heat in aluminum grandstands, I’m not paying to do that. I’m getting paid to do that (laughs). So I give them credit where credit is due. That’s what it’s all about. You can talk about TV and everything else, but it’s all about putting people in the grandstands. If we have empty crowds, we’re not going to be on TV. Get people in the stands and make it easier for them.” Since drivers may not want this as a playoff date, are there certain tracks where like – this should be in playoffs.. this should not be, or is it relatively interchangeable with the tracks that are currently there?“No, I think it’s interchangeable. I think we’ve all kind of talked about how Phoenix (Raceway) needs to be moved around and not be the final race every year. So for me to say what race track should be in the final 10, I’m not going to pick because I really don’t care. I think it’s just a matter of what works; what tracks you kind of need and what mixture you need to be in there. You need some intermediates. You need a superspeedway, a road course, you need some of that stuff. You need variety, so yeah I wouldn’t pick, necessarily.” You first started racing at 13 years old and you look at how many more kids are racing at a younger age. What do you see in that sense? If you were starting at 13 now, could you have moved up the ranks like you did? Is there still that place for someone who comes in late, or is it if you’re not racing at seven, nine, 10 years old, you’re not going to be able to make it because you just don’t have the laps? “No, I think William Byron bunks that, right?”  I mean that was 10 years ago.. “Yeah, no I’m with you. He started at 13 years old, I believe, in legend cars or something like that. And so he was a late start, kind of like me.  You ask Joey Logano and he said he wouldn’t start his kid young. I think there was somebody that wrote something with what he said. But honestly, I think if your kids want to do it and just go out there and have fun and you don’t push them too hard early on, then let them go do it. That’s what we did with Brexton. I was pushy on him to get him better than what we were when we first started. But honestly, I think everything that we’ve done, he’s come so far and has been a really good listener and his growth of how fast he’s been in all the different things that he drives has been cool to watch. It’s only going to get tougher as you get older. Kids racing against kids – yeah, if your kid is really, really good, they’re going to win a lot like we do. But as we get older and as we get into other classes – right now, he’s eight years old and racing against 16 year olds, so it’s only going to get tougher as you get higher.. the competition, the cars, everything.  I think 10, 11, 12, you could probably get started around that age and still make it. I don’t see a problem in that. Obviously money and a name is going to take you there a lot faster than being a nobody with no money.. it’s just a fact. So I think there’s a lot of drivers out there that I get to see racing with Brexton that do have the potential and could make it someday. It’s just a matter of if they’ll ever get seen and picked up.” You referenced the heat earlier. Is there a point where it’s too hot to compete? Are there any other extra precautions you take for a weekend like this? “I don’t know how to answer that question. I don’t know if there’s ever ‘too hot’, but like Gateway this year, I think we saw a couple of people in the grandstands that had to be taken out of the grandstands because it was too hot.. had a heat stroke or something. I think we saw that the first year at Gateway. I think it was 98-99 degrees, the track was coming apart and everything else. People were falling out of the grandstands. Heat is sometimes a dangerous thing, right? These cars are really hot. We’re in 140-150 degree cockpit temperatures, so it gets warm out there, for sure. But you have to be conditioned for it, for us, to withstand that. And a lot of us are, so I feel like our bodies are more accustomed to that than some others.” How would perceive your career evolution in the past 20 years, in terms of what you experienced both as a person and as a driver?“Wait for my book.. I’m not writing a book (laughs). I don’t know, just everything, right? Just learning, growth and figuring things out – whether it’s in life, on the race track, working, work ethic, professionalism, all that sort of stuff. I’m not professional anyways at speaking, so hard for me to say exactly. I’ve done a lot of really cool things and been fortunate in the positions I’ve been in. I’ve had a lot of great experiences and have won a lot of races; won a lot of championships and it’s been amazing. To me, I feel like since having a family and things like that, it’s been really fun on that front to kind of learn, see perspective from a different set of eyes. That’s been really, really cool with my growth and who I’ve become the last few years. Just excited for the future.. still of what’s ahead. Like I said earlier, a lot of dumb stuff in the past. You learn from those and you try to better yourself forward, and I feel like a lot of that has happened.”

NASCAR CUP SERIES TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY AUTOTRADER ECHO PARK AUTOMOTIVE 400 TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT SEPTEMBER 23, 2023

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY CAMARO ZL1, met with the media prior to the NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying session at Texas Motor Speedway. Press Conference Quotes:  You started driving in a car at age 14, several years after a lot of other competitors. As more and more kids are racing at an earlier age, do you think that somebody could be in your position a decade later by not competing until the age 14 on the track? Is there still that path that you were able to do through iRacing? “I mean, I think you can still do it that way, just because I feel like it’s more of a maturity thing. I don’t think that me starting younger would have yielded the same results. I just feel like me starting when I did, I felt like I understood things. I watched racing for a long time and I had a little bit better idea of what I was looking to do. I feel like starting really young is fine, if that’s what you choose to do. But it’s easy to get burnt out, too. So you don’t want to be burnt out at 14 years old – have raced for so many years, so many weekends, that you don’t have much of a life outside of that. I feel like I’ve learned a lot of things by starting when I did and kind of going from there, and still having the desire and the drive now to do it every weekend.” Can maturity still overcome laps run? “Yeah, I think it’s quality of laps. I don’t think just any laps are good. I think I’ve spent plenty of time at go-cart tracks and going to race different things, and I can’t say that all of those laps were valuable to what I do on Sunday’s. I think some of them were. It’s more quality than quantity, I think, and getting yourself in competitive environments where it’s very difficult to compete and win. I think that’s really important because having that false sense of confidence that you’re going to win every race is not real. So you have to put your kid in different situations that he’s going to be challenged – see how they perform and see if they enjoy it. If they enjoy that challenge, that’s usually what it takes. When you get to this level, you’re only going to win maybe 10 to 20 percent of the time. So it’s very difficult – you go a lot of weeks losing.” The temperature Sunday is supposed to be around 100 degrees. Is there a point where it’s too hot to compete and what precautions are you taking? “Yeah, I mean it’s certainly going to be really hot. Last year was around 96 degrees.. I was looking at that, for reference. But I do think it’s going to be tough. These cars are really hot. We take a lot of measures to help cooling on our side, with the cool shirts and all those things. So hopefully all of that stuff works well and we can have a smooth day. It’s nice that it’s 100 miles shorter. It’s a bigger race track, so there’s a little bit more airflow and less work in the corners. I feel like if you were at Bristol (Motor Speedway) and it was 100 degrees, you’d have guys really falling out. But here, I think it will be a little bit easier.” I assume you watched last year’s race – what’s it like to watch and see all those tires blow, and you had your deal with (Denny) Hamlin that created drama for a couple of weeks. What are those feelings when you’re watching it – you’re trying to learn, but there was all this stuff going on? “Yeah, there was a lot of chaos last year. I think what I looked at is how fast our car was. What inspired me was how good we were last year – how we could pass through the field. We missed out on a couple of stage points here and there, I thought, during the race. Stage Two, just the way that it went at the end there, we probably missed out on two. And then Stage One, as well. I feel like we could have had even more points that day. So that’s kind of what I look at – how do we maximize that day a little bit better if we have the same speed this year, or hopefully a little bit better. I like this race track and I feel like I was able to navigate through traffic. I’m hopeful that tires aren’t an issue this year. They did a tire test here, so I’m trusting all of that stuff. And for us, just hopefully bring similar speed.” It’s been a great season for your team to this point. Looking back on what you’ve accomplished so far, personally, how does that make you feel to say – I’ve had a dominate season to this point? “Yeah, I haven’t really reflected on that too much. I thought about that over the last couple of weeks, or really the last week, in general, as we start the next round – trying to enjoy what we’ve accomplished if this doesn’t work for me. I haven’t thought about how good of a season it’s been or anything like that, so definitely not where my mind is. Maybe in November, I might look back and reflect and say it was a great year, but there’s still a lot to accomplish and I feel like we’re just starting to get into the meat of the season. This is an important time of the year and it’s hard to just reflect and look back.” Getting through this race and looking forward to Talladega Superspeedway and the ROVAL, being the two wild card races, so to speak for the next couple of races – that momentum, those points, are going to help you. But how do you tackle those two races to move onto the next round?“Yeah, I mean Talladega (Superspeedway) has been hit-or-miss for us in the last couple of years. We’ve had solid finishes. We’ve been good at avoiding crashes with my spotter and we’ve been good at managing our way to the front. I think we can get a little bit better at getting some stage points here and there. So I look at that – try to make better decisions. Definitely a lot of studying that’s going to go into this week to figure out what we need to do a little bit better for Talladega, based on Daytona (International Speedway) and Talladega in the spring. I’m a little nervous about that one. The (Charlotte) ROVAL, I’m confident in it. I think we’ve always been fast there. It’s always been a good track for me, and just winning Watkins Glen (International), I think we’ve got a good road course feel. We just have to get through Talladega, really.” With how difficult it is to pass here, typically, what is the importance of getting a good qualifying lap in and the importance of strategy? “Yeah, it is important, for sure. But last year, I saw a lot of passing. As crazy as that was to see, I thought there was a lot of passing throughout the field last year. I think this Next Gen car yields itself to have some of that. With it being hot out, I think you’re going to move around the track some within those two grooves that we have here. You’re going to be off the throttle and able to pass people. Not a huge deal to start in the teens, I would say, but you definitely don’t want to start in the 20s. And it is a short first stage, so you have to get a lot done quickly. So hopefully we start in the top-10 like we have been and hopefully on the front-row. But if not, your day’s not done.” I know you said you don’t really want to reflect on some of the accomplishments that you’ve had so far this year, however, you’ve improved every season, statistically. Do you feel like this year is the year that you legitimately can go for the championship? Do you have the expectation and confidence to possibly be able to do that?“I mean, I definitely think it’s my best chance that I’ve had, so far. I look at being 25 years old – I feel like I have a lot of opportunities at this, so this is a learning experience to see what the pressure is like getting to Phoenix (Raceway). So hopefully we make it past Martinsville (Speedway) this year. We were close last year and hopefully we just get a little bit closer. I feel like each year has been that steady progression, steady learning curve, so I just want to keep that going and try to make that next step.  Yeah, I think it’s a great opportunity. I think our team is probably as good as it’s ever been, so we’re definitely really capable.” You do have the most wins on the season and it’s your best year, so far. Is there one thing you can point to that’s made the difference between this year and years past? “I don’t know – I think we just came out of the off-season with a lot of hunger and a lot of drive to be better, and I think we prepared like that throughout the off-season. Rudy (Fugle, crew chief) was working on Christmas Eve, so I think it really never stopped, and I think that started with him and then trickled throughout the team. Myself, I never really took a break. I was racing throughout the off-season, so I think a lot of things were different. We didn’t really settle for what we did last year – having a couple of wins and getting close. I think we went at it full-steam and tried to get better, and it showed once we showed up at Las Vegas (Motor Speedway) for the third race of the year and we were really strong. I think it just continued throughout the year and we just have to keep improving.”

Abreu survives Gravel’s final corner slider notch yet another win at the historic half mileROSSBURG, OH (September 22, 2023) – Rico Abreu is on a roll at Eldora Speedway. The high banks and high speeds of “The Big E” seem to suit the Californian perfectly. And on Friday night, Abreu delivered the latest testament to his prowess at the historic facility.The 31-year-old took the lead on the opening circuit of the 30-lapper and never looked back. Abreu held off early challenges from Giovanni Scelzi and survived a Hail Mary slide job from David Gravel in the final corner to seal a win in the BeFour the Crowns Showdown as the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars kicked off Four Crown weekend.The victory moved Abreu up to six with The Greatest Show on Dirt in 2023. He’s now at four triumphs in his last 10 Sprint Car starts at the half mile. The other three are last year’s BeFour the Crowns Showdown, another World of Outlaws win this past May, and an Eldora Million prelim in July. As the World of Outlaws closed out their 2023 slate at Eldora, Abreu became the first and only to notch multiple Series victories at “The House that Earl Built.”“Just more seat time around this track,” Abreu said of his recent Eldora success. “Ricky Warner and these guys work so hard. They’re so passionate about racing. What I’ve understood in my career is just surround yourself with people that are passionate about this sport and want to see me do good, and that’s how we stand up here in Victory Lane. We all just believe in each other.”The pole position at the drop of the green flag belonged to Logan Schuchart courtesy of topping the Toyota Racing Dash. But it was Abreu blasting around the top side to lead down the back straightaway on Lap 1 and pace the first circuit.On the second lap, Gio Scelzi quickly began to flex his muscle as he cleared a perfect slide job on Schuchart to take over the runner-up spot in Turns 1 and 2. Right after snagging second, Scelzi went to work tracking down Abreu.While the pilot of the Rico Abreu Racing #24 ripped the thin cushion all around Eldora, Scelzi made up ground tip-toeing the low line in Turns 3 and 4. The Fresno, CA native rolled tightly along the inside fence to close in. On the seventh lap, Scelzi used a strong run out of Turn 4 to attack. He threw a massive slider at Abreu heading into Turn 1 in a bid for the lead. But Abreu kept the gas pedal mashed to the floor and motored around Scelzi as the two nearly touched exiting the second turn.Scelzi’s unsuccessful slider scrubbed momentum from the KCP Racing #18 as Abreu pulled ahead down the backstretch. The close call appeared to lift Abreu’s elbows up as he began to distance himself from Scelzi and the rest of the field.As the race neared the halfway point, Abreu opened up his advantage as the St. Helena, CA native expertly sliced through traffic. The gap between he and Scelzi eclipsed two seconds on Lap 16, and as the race dwindled to 10 laps to go, Abreu appeared headed to an easy win. But then the yellow lights flashed for the first time as James McFadden got into the fence and spun to a stop.The race was interrupted one last time as Spencer Bayston had an issue in Turns 1 and 2 to set up a six-lap dash to the checkered flag. On the late restart, Abreu inched ahead as a surging David Gravel began to challenge Scelzi for second. Gravel could comfortably move his Big Game Motorsports #2 around the surface, and he used a run to slide by Scelzi for the runner-up spot on Lap 27 before setting his sights on Abreu.Like Scelzi earlier in the race, Gravel found speed on the bottom of Turns 3 and 4, and he trimmed three tenths of a second off Abreu’s lead on the lap after he took over second. The next lap another three tenths were erased as they took the white flag. And as the lead duo rolled down the backstretch one last time, Gravel launched a Hail Mary slider into Turn 3 but barely missed clearing Abreu as the exited Turn 4.“I knew,” Abreu said of Gravel’s closing presence. “My pace slowed down on the top. There weren’t too many cars running all the way up on the wall and it was getting crumby. I knew I won a race here a couple years ago just cheating it into (Turns) 3 and 4. The sun bakes that end, so it’s the fastest corner to slicken up. You’ve just really got to pay attention. Racing with the Outlaws things happen really quickly.”Abreu surviving Gravel’s last gasp allowed him to reach the finish line first to lock up another Eldora victory to continue his recent tear at the Rossburg, OH facility.“That’s the best Eldora right there,” Abreu said. “It was just really maneuverable with our race car.”The slide job that came up a little short caused Gravel to settle for second as he narrowly missed making the trip to Victory Lane. The runner-up result marked Gravel’s Series-high 28th World of Outlaws podium of the season. Gravel left feeling satisfied with the strong run but also wished the Feature could’ve been slightly longer with how his machine came alive late.“We definitely needed a 40-lap race there,” Gravel said. “I felt like everybody was getting worse and we were either staying the same or getting better there at the end. I just kind of figured out (Turns) 3 and 4. And in (Turns) 1 and 2 Rico was leaning on the cushion really hard and hitting it and getting tight and wasn’t making a lot of corner speed where I felt like I was. If I was in clean air in front of him through (Turns) 1 and 2, we would’ve been really hauling ass through there, but still a solid run for us.”After challenging for the lead early on, Gio Scelzi brought his #18 machine home third to round out the top three. The finish marked his sixth podium of his rookie World of Outlaws campaign. Most importantly, the strong run suppled he and the team with a much needed confidence boost following a rough west coast swing.“We were fast all night from the drop of the green flag,” Scelzi said. “I felt like every move we made and every change we made really made the car a lot better. It’s been probably the crappiest three weeks I’ve had in my entire racing career. I don’t think people realize whether we suck or whether we win, the same amount of work goes in with my crew guys. This is 100% dedicated to them and all the sponsors that stay behind us.”Carson Macedo and Logan Schuchart completed the top five.With Brad Sweet finishing ninth, Gravel’s runner-up helped him trim Sweet’s point lead down from 90 markers to 76.Donny Schatz collected the KSE Racing Hard Charger with a 15th to 6th drive.David Gravel earned the Simpson Racing QuickTime Award for the 11th time in 2023 and 108th time in his career.CASE No.1 Engine Oil Heat One went to David Gravel (234th Heat Race win of career). NOS Energy Drink Heats Two through Four were topped by Giovanni Scelzi (34th of career), Logan Schuchart (119th of career), and Justin Peck (ninth of career).Kerry Madsen won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.After an incident with less than 10 laps to go ended a potential top 10 run, James McFadden was given the Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race.UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make their last appearance in the state of Ohio on Saturday, September 23 at Sharon Speedway for the Federated Auto Parts Showdown. For tickets, CLICK HERE.If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the action live on DIRTVision.RESULTS:NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 24-Rico Abreu[2]; 2. 2-David Gravel[4]; 3. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[9]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[1]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz[15]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[6]; 8. 13-Justin Peck[7]; 9. 49-Brad Sweet[11]; 10. 26-Zeb Wise[19]; 11. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[13]; 12. 8-Aaron Reutzel[8]; 13. 9R-Chase Randall[12]; 14. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[17]; 15. 21H-Brady Bacon[10]; 16. 11-Cory Eliason[24]; 17. 88-Austin McCarl[16]; 18. 42-Sye Lynch[22]; 19. 4-Chris Windom[23]; 20. 7S-Robbie Price[26]; 21. 9-Kasey Kahne[18]; 22. 1T-Tanner Holmes[25]; 23. (DNF) 5-Spencer Bayston[14]; 24. (DNF) 83-James McFadden[5]; 25. (DNF) 55-Kerry Madsen[21]; 26. (DNF) 9P-Parker Price Miller[20]

BROWNSTOWN, IN (September 22, 2023) – Mike Marlar and the late C.J. Rayburn were long time friends and on Friday Night he paid the best tribute he could to one of his racing mentors – winning the 40-lap 2nd Annual C.J. Rayburn Memorial at Brownstown Speedway. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned event drew 45 cars to the historic Southern Indiana venue. Marlar grabbed the lead from Nick Hoffman on lap nine when Hoffman slipped off the frontstretch. Marlar then went on to take the $10,000 victory ahead of Ricky Thornton Jr., Devin Moran, Jonathan Davenport, and Hoffman. The race went green to checkers without any caution flags. Hoffman jumped to the lead at the start of the race and held the top spot for the first eight circuits until he got off the track on the frontstretch allowing Marlar to take over. Hoffman held the second spot behind Marlar for several laps with Brandon Overton, Thornton, and Moran all in the hunt. Thornton outdueled Overton moving to third and then passed Hoffman for second. Thornton then caught Marlar bringing Moran and later Davenport into the fray. At one point the top four were separated by mere seconds as Marlar would fight off challenges for the win – the 21st Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of his career.  Marlar’s third win this season with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series was arguably the most emotional of his racing career. “I will try to keep it together, C.J.’s special to us and when he passed away, I took it as hard as when my granddad or anybody. I fought hard there, I didn’t have the best car, but he [C.J.] was up there helping me out. I was just making it happen. I am just glad that C.J.’s family and all of these supporters of Brownstown Speedway were here. He [C.J.] means so much to all of us and we hated to lose him, but nobody ever lived as good as he did. So, I just really miss him, and miss him everyday honestly and I was glad to get this race won. It’s definitely one of the biggest ones for sure.” Thornton looking for his series-leading 21st win of the season pulled alongside Marlar on several occasions but settled for second. “He [Marlar] was good we had a couple of shots and just got ran off the racetrack. But we’ll try again tomorrow congrats to him [Marlar] he had a really good car. I was watching him at the beginning, and he could just fire off better than any of us. But I felt like in the longer race our race will be pretty good tomorrow, overall, the track was pretty good I am glad they did something to it.”  Moran, who was in the thick of things in the waning laps rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third. “They finally widened the track out enough and you could get on the bottom. The track was really good. We could race all over it. Congrats to Mikey I know him and C.J. were pretty tight, so it was cool to see him win.”  The winner’s Ronnie Delk-owned Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Can-Am Auto Salvage, Delk Equipment, Petroff Towing, Bilstein Shocks, Paulson-Stussy Construction, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Midwest Sheet Metal, Capital Race Decals, Delk-Marlar Racing Development. Completing the top ten were Brandon Overton, Tim McCreadie, Jason Jameson, Josh Rice, and Daulton Wilson. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary 2nd Annual CJ Rayburn MemorialFriday, September 22, 2023Brownstown Speedway | Brownstown, IN Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Brandon Overton | 13.465 seconds (overall)Fast Time Group B: Nick Hoffman | 13.990 seconds Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[1]; 2. 11R-Josh Rice[3]; 3. 46-Earl Pearson Jr[5]; 4. 97-Michael Chilton[6]; 5. 96V-Tanner English[4]; 6. 10-Garrett Smith[2]; 7. 29J-Jordan Wever[8]; 8. 23-Cory Hedgecock[7]; 9. 76M-Shelby Miles[9]; 10. 18B-Chase Burda[10]; 11. 33M-Dallas Miller[12]; 12. 14-Quentin White[11] Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[1]; 2. 39-Tim McCreadie[2]; 3. 12-Jason Jameson[3]; 4. 20TC-Tristan Chamberlain[4]; 5. 15-James Rice[5]; 6. 11-Spencer Hughes[7]; 7. 1T-Tyler Erb[6]; 8. 42-Terry Casey[8]; 9. 68-Adam Stricker[9]; 10. 22-Skyller Lewis[11]; 11. 93-Zak Blackwood[10] Simpson Race Products Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 9H-Nick Hoffman[1]; 2. 99-Devin Moran[3]; 3. 58-Garrett Alberson[2]; 4. 111B-Max Blair[4]; 5. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[5]; 6. 88-Greg Johnson[6]; 7. 24-Jared Bailey[8]; 8. 13W-David Webb[7]; 9. 71R-Rod Conley[9]; 10. 23K-Keegan Cox[10]; 11. 11J-Jarod Fleetwood[11] AP1 Insurance Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 157-Mike Marlar[1]; 2. 49-Jonathan Davenport[3]; 3. 18D-Daulton Wilson[2]; 4. 7-Ross Robinson[4]; 5. 1H-Hudson O’Neal[6]; 6. 32-Chad Stapleton[5]; 7. 18-Trevor Landrum[7]; 8. 1CJ-Justin Shaw[11]; 9. 1G-Devin Gilpin[9]; 10. 99B-Boom Briggs[8]; 11. 28S-Jeffrey Shackelford[10] Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 15-James Rice[2]; 2. 11-Spencer Hughes[4]; 3. 96V-Tanner English[1]; 4. 1T-Tyler Erb[6]; 5. 29J-Jordan Wever[5]; 6. 10-Garrett Smith[3]; 7. 68-Adam Stricker[10]; 8. 76M-Shelby Miles[9]; 9. 22-Skyller Lewis[12]; 10. 93-Zak Blackwood[14]; 11. 18B-Chase Burda[11]; 12. 33M-Dallas Miller[13]; 13. 14-Quentin White[15]; 14. 23-Cory Hedgecock[7]; 15. 42-Terry Casey[8] UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 1H-Hudson O’Neal[2]; 2. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[1]; 3. 32-Chad Stapleton[4]; 4. 1CJ-Justin Shaw[8]; 5. 88-Greg Johnson[3]; 6. 24-Jared Bailey[5]; 7. 18-Trevor Landrum[6]; 8. 71R-Rod Conley[9]; 9. 23K-Keegan Cox[11]; 10. 99B-Boom Briggs[12]; 11. 11J-Jarod Fleetwood[13]; 12. 28S-Jeffrey Shackelford[14]; 13. (DNS) 13W-David Webb; 14. (DNS) 1G-Devin Gilpin 2nd Annual CJ Rayburn Memorial Feature Finish (40 Laps):

Race Statistics  Entrants: 45Terminal Maintenance & Construction Pole Sitter: Brandon OvertonLap Leaders: Nick Hoffman (Laps 1-8); Mike Marlar (Laps 9-40) Wieland Feature Winner: Mike MarlarArizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup Feature Winner: n/aBrandon Ford TV Challenge Feature Winner: n/aMargin of Victory: 0.803 seconds Gorsuch Performance Solutions Cautions: n/aSeries Provisionals: Tyler Erb; Boom BriggsFast Time Provisional: n/aSeries Emergency Provisionals: n/aTrack Provisional: Skyller LewisBrownstown Hall of Fame Race Provisional: Devin GilpinBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Mike Marlar, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Devin MoranPenske Shocks Top 5: Mike Marlar, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Devin Moran, Jonathan Davenport, Nick HoffmanTodd Steel Buildings Hard Charger of the Race: Hudson O’Neal (Advanced 7 Positions) Wilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Tim McCreadieDeatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: Garrett AlbersonEarnhardt Technologies Most Laps Led: Mike Marlar (32 Laps) Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Ricky Thornton, Jr. O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Max Blair Etchberger Trucking Fastest Lap of the Race: Nick Hoffman (Lap 2 – 14.480 seconds) MD3 Tough Break of the Race: Boom BriggsOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Josh Davis (Mike Marlar) ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Race EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Hudson O’Neal (13.244 seconds)Time of Race: 10 minutes 39 seconds The Big River Steel Chase for the Championship Presented by ARP Point Standings:

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 22, 2032) – Brittany Force and the Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster team earned the provisional No. 2 qualifying spot Friday at the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway. John Force in the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS are sitting No. 6 with Austin Prock in the Montanan Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist dragster is No. 9. Robert Hight and the Cornwell Tools / AAA Chevy Camaro SS team had an engine explosion and didn’t record a time. Force and the Flav-R-Pac team, who are looking for their third No. 1 qualifying position at the Carolina Nationals, laid down a stout 3.686-second pass at 332.75 mph in the first qualifying session. Their performance would be the second quickest of the night earning two bonus qualifying points for the reigning world champions. “We are in the second race of the Countdown to the Champions and we currently sitting No. 2 after our 3.686 run. It’s a great start for this Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy team,” Force said. “We need to grab as many bonus points as we can and we grabbed two in our first pass. We hopefully get two more tries tomorrow under cool conditions. So, we are going to see if we can push it a little bit and take advantage of points and qualifying.” John Force and the PEAK Chevy team got off to a solid start Friday night running a 3.915-second pass at 325.30 mph. Force will start day two of qualifying from the No. 6 spot. Austin Prock and the Montana Brand team, who are looking to double up victories at zMAX Dragway after winning the four-wide in the spring, had a clean pass at 3.742 seconds and 328.30 mph to start the Carolina Nationals and put them in the No. 9 qualifying spot. Robert Hight and the Cornwell Tools Chevy team had an eventful first qualifying session. Sitting 15th with no time, the Camaro Funny Car was up in flames right at the hit with an engine explosion. “I’m all good. Maybe some hurt feelings. We were trying to go out there and make a good run. I don’t think we had anything for the No. 1 spot. Maybe something in the 3.85 range which would have been respectable,” Hight said. “Right after we did the burnout, and put the body on it, I heard it, it sounded like it had a hot cylinder. I told myself I’d drive it and lift if I had to, but I didn’t think it would be something like that, to blow up like that, that fast. We found out there was an oiling issue. Putting a new body on it and we’ll be ready for tomorrow.” Competition at the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals will continue with qualifying Saturday at 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. Eliminations will be run Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Television coverage of the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship will air on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) and include two qualifying shows on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. ET and Sunday at 11:00 a.m. ET. Eliminations coverage will be on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET. -30-

AUSTIN PROCK, 28, Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist dragsterQualifying:9th; 3.742-seconds; 328.30 mphBonus Qualifying Points:0BRITTANY FORCE, 37, Monster Energy / Flav-R-Pac dragsterQualifying:2nd; 3.686-seconds; 332.75 mphBonus Qualifying Points:+2 (2nd quickest Q1) JOHN FORCE, 74, PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SSQualifying:6th; 3.915-seconds; 325.30 mphBonus Qualifying Points: 0 ROBERT HIGHT, 54, Cornwell Tools / AAA Chevrolet Camaro SSQualifying:15th; N/ABonus Qualifying Points:0

‘UNBELIEVABLE’: Jose Parga Headlines DIRTcar Fall Nationals After Near-Perfect, 19-Win Season

LINCOLN, IL (Sept. 22, 2023) – Can you imagine a 90 percent win record in a season? How about racing from April to October, on different track, against the best around, and only losing twice?

To most, those are video game-like numbers. For Jose Parga, it’s reality.

The 26-year-old DIRTcar Pro Late Model standout from New Berlin, IL, has won 19 of the 21 DIRTcar-sanctioned events he’s entered this year. When asked to how to describe this dream season, Parga paused… trying grasp its enormity.

“It’s unbelievable, really,” he said.

Now, the hunt for win #20 of the season continues during the 2023 DIRTcar Fall Nationals – Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 28-30 – where he’ll also wrap up his fourth career DIRTcar national points championship. Parga will take on the quarter-mile Lincoln Speedway in Lincoln, IL, going for a season-milestone victory at a track he’s won four times at this year.

“I’m really hoping we can get that 20th win so we can get it out of the way and be done,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to getting there Thursday and trying a few things that we’ve been wanting to try all year in a little test session there.”

Parga had not lost a single race all season until two weeks ago when flat tires ruined his winning streak for two straight nights. Prior, he’d put together a streak of 19 victories in 19 starts – a division record, one the DIRTcar world may never see the likes of again.

“I’ve always been [taught] that if you work hard at something, you get what you want,” Parga said. “Obviously, you want to win every race, but it’s kind of crazy – I would have never thought I would have come close to winning as much races as I’ve raced.

“I’ve only lost twice this year. I would have never thought of that.”

Now 19-for-21 on the season, the big question remains – how did he do it?

“I’ve had a good car, and I feel like it’s a lot of me and the car [meshing] together – my driving style and how this car likes to be driven,” Parga said. “It works so good together, and we’re tough to beat right now.”

Over the winter, the team made a switch in chassis manufacturer. Parga’s cousin, Brandon Sheppard, had made the jump from Rocket to Longhorn Chassis, and Parga considered following suit. That was until Tennessee Super Late Model racer Cory Hedgecock – Parga’s Crate engine builder – offered him a deal on a frame from his new brand – BMF Race Cars.

Right out of the gate, the JLP Concrete, BMF/Eagle #6P was fast, notching five wins in five races in April. From there on out, the hours put in the shop carried them to an incredible win streak.

“We just made sure we were 100 percent ready each and every week,” Parga said. “We don’t half-ass our operation. If we’re not 100 percent ready and know that we’re ready and have no excuses, we just won’t go. That’s really kind of been the main thing – our preparation.”

Looking back, Parga and his team never once imagined this would be their reality. It’s a streak and season other drivers only dream about. And It’s not over yet. He still wants more.

“Sitting down at the beginning of the year, we had expectations to just win some races and see what we could do,” Parga said. “We didn’t know if we were going to struggle or not.

“To win like we’ve been doing is unbelievable.”

Catch Parga in the DIRTcar Pro Late Model division at the DIRTcar Fall Nationals at Lincoln Speedway next Thu-Sat night, Sept. 28-30. Tickets will be on sale at the gate. For more information, visit DIRTcar.com/Events/DIRTcar-Fall-Nationals.

July & August 2023

We are little behind on our updates. So bare with me while I catch you up.

We kicked July of with 3 events, a parade & and display. First stop was Lonesome Pine Speedway for a sold out night monster truck racing, 2 wheels and freestyle. RJ drove War Wizard in to the winners circle in racing and freestyle.

Next stop would be Site Worx Construction for customer appreciation day. With great hospitality, food, and great fans we signed autographs for better part of the day. This was a warm up to leading into the Warsaw Fair kick off parade. Sunday we loaded up and greeted all the wonderful town folks sitting on the side of the road as the parade to the fair started.

Once the parade was over we geared up for a night of fun at the fair with 7 of the baddest monsters in the industry. With true grace RJ drove

The ole Wizard into the winner circle yet again, and splitting the freestyle win with Overkill Evolution. We sent both trucks out for a dual freestyle making the fans the real winners of the event.

The final stop for July was Evansville, IN. Where we hand our hands full with 14 monster trucks to battle for the winners title. Out of 14 trucks we managed to land in the top 5 trucks in the competitions.

Next up August! First stop Little Valley, NY for 2 days of high energy monster truck action. Day one our team won racing and yet again split the freestyle win with Overkill Evolution. Day 2 was a little rougher but we managed to make all the fans happy with all the trucks putting on a great show. Next stop was a small town of Mannington, WV. Two days of exhibition freestyle for the community during the fair. Then we rounded out the month at the Appalachian Fair in Tennessee. Two fun filled nights of great family fun.

5006 General Stuart CT. Sharpsburg, MD 21782 Office: 407-314-6936 wwr@warwizardracing.com

Being the original hometown track for War Wizard, RJ was on a mission to win everything. He was nudge out of the 2 wheel skill by Overkill Evolution but brought home the wins in racing and freestyle both nights. It was a great way to round out the month.

5006 General Stuart CT. Sharpsburg, MD 21782 Office: 407-314-6936 wwr@warwizardracing.com

September 21, 2023

Harrison Burton and the No. 21 DEX Imaging team are headed into this weekend’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway with an eye on the future.

Crew chief Jeremy Bullins said the DEX Imaging team plans to spend the remainder of the 2023 season putting themselves in position to dramatically improve their performance next year.
 
“For our team headed to Texas, we are just trying to learn and look ahead to next year as we continue to work with Harrison and understand what he’s looking for from our cars to find speed,” Bullins said. “Obviously, a year from now we want to be in the Playoffs, so we need to approach this week as an opportunity to learn as much as we can and have some good notes to work from.”
 
Bullins said that while the results don’t reflect it, he and Burton have made significant gains since Bullins returned to the Wood Brothers No. 21 team where he started his Cup Series career. 
 
Burton has qualified near the back all three weeks, but the team has found speed as the races unfolded, allowing him to work his way into the upper half of the field only to lose positions due to crashes and other issues before the conclusion of the races.
 
“Bristol was our third race working with Harrison, and while the starting positions or finishing positions won’t show it, we have made a ton of progress during the races,” he said. “We feel like some good finishes are right around the corner if we can get some momentum going before the season ends.”
 
Practice for the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 is set for Saturday at 11:35 a.m. Central Daylight Time (12:35 Eastern) and will be followed immediately by qualifying.
 
Sunday’s 267-lap race is scheduled to start just after 2:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. Eastern) with TV coverage by USA Network.
 
Stage breaks are planned for Laps 80 and 160.

 

CHEVROLET IN NHRA 2023 BETWAY NHRA CAROLINA NATIONALS zMAX DRAGWAY CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE SEPTEMBER 22-24, 2023 CHEVROLET TEAMS CONTINUE COUNTDOWN CHASE AT ZMAX DRAGWAY NEAR CHARLOTTE DETROIT (September 21, 2023) – Racing into the second 2023 NHRA Countdown to the Championship event, the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte, Chevrolet drivers and teams of Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock look to the wrap the weekend in the winner’s circle as the Bowtie brand marches toward a 28th Manufacturers Cup. Aaron Stanfield enters the event having his sights set on defending last year’s Pro Stock win while coming off of his FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown victory in Reading this past weekend. Additionally in the Pro Stock pits, Erica Enders looks to capture a back-to-back No. 1 qualifier at Charlotte after her 2022 qualifying run of 6.510 ET at 212.46 MPH. Seeking the winner’s circle at the end of the weekend, Enders additionally stands to achieve the major milestone of becoming the winningest woman in NHRA history near Charlotte. On the nitro side of the NHRA pits, John Force Racing team owner and Funny Car pilot John Force, driver of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS, also enters the weekend defending a No. 1 qualifier from 2022’s event. Setting the field at the top of the leaderboard last year with a qualifying run of 3.854 ET at 330.47 MPH, With eyes set on Charlotte, Force said of this weekend’s race, “We’re in the Countdown now. One race down. This weekend will be important. We all know it and we’re ready. It will be exciting. Exciting for the racers, teams, and sponsors but exciting for the fans who get to see it all happen, too.” Coming off a back-to-back victory most recently this week at Maple Grove Raceway, Force’s teammate Robert Hight, driver of the Cornwell Tools/AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, leads the Countdown to the Championship and looks to Charlotte to continue preservation of the points lead. “We’re on a good roll right now. But we have to stay humble,” said Hight. “Last weekend was great, but it could have easily gone another way. This Cornwell Tools Chevrolet team has to keep working hard. This is the toughest Funny Car has ever been and it’s going to take major, major work to win this championship. I said it before, but I think we’ll need three or four wins to win the championship. We have one down, and I’d give us an A+ for last weekend, but we’ve got five to go and we have to put last weekend behind us to get ready for Charlotte.” With an impressive 335.65 MPH run at 3.668 ET last year, Brittany Force, driver of the Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster at John Force Racing, qualified No. 2 at zMAX Dragway. Also still seeking her first win of the season, it could be the momentum swing needed at a critical time with just five races left in the Countdown to the Championship. “This Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy Chevrolet team is looking forward to getting to Charlotte,” said B. Force. “We’ve been making progress and I know we’re all eager to keep it going. Having these three races back-to-back to start the Countdown allows you to build momentum and that’s exactly what we’re looking to do. We’ve had success at zMAX, a couple wins and setting the track record earlier this year, we’re hoping to add to that.” Currently idle, the FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown COPO Camaro competitors return to the track at World Wide Technology Raceway for the upcoming NHRA Midwest Nationals Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2023. The 2023 betway NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C. kicks off Friday with qualifying, airing Saturday, Sept. 23 at 9:30 a.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Saturday’s qualifying broadcasts Sunday, Sept. 24 at 11 a.m. ET on FS1, with Eliminations following at 2 p.m. ET on FS1. Coverage streams live throughout the weekend via NHRA.tv, and is available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:Brittany Force, driver of the Monster Energy / Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster for John Force Racing:“This Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy Chevrolet team is looking forward to getting to Charlotte. We’ve been making progress and I know we’re all eager to keep it going. Having these three races back-to-back to start the Countdown allows you to build momentum and that’s exactly what we’re looking to do. We’ve had success at zMAX, a couple wins and setting the track record earlier this year, we’re hoping to add to that. Nothing has changed in our game plan, we need to qualify well, get some of those small bonus points and then go rounds on Sunday. A lot can change with one good weekend. Excited to see what this Flav-R-Pac team can do.” Austin Prock, driver of the Rocky Mountain Twist / Montana Brands Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster for John Force Racing:“We’re ready to start our rebound this weekend at zMAX Dragway. I believe this Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist team has all the tools we need to succeed, we just need to put them to work. I’m hoping we put on just as good of a show as we did in the spring. Can’t wait to get started.” John Force, driver of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS for John Force Racing:“I love coming to Charlotte, zMAX Dragway, the Bellagio of drag strips. It’s Bruton Smith’s legacy. Now his son, Marcus, is carrying it over. It’s something else getting to race there. We’re in the Countdown now. One race down. This weekend will be important. We all know it and we’re ready. It will be exciting. Exciting for the racers, teams, and sponsors but exciting for the fans who get to see it all happen, too.”  Camrie Caruso, driver of the Tequila Comisario Chevrolet Camaro Pro Stock car for KB Titan Racing:“I felt really good going into race day in Reading and I have a race car that can go rounds. This class is crazy competitive, but this Tequila Comisario Camaro make some great runs on Sunday and I think we can step it up in Charlotte. I love racing at zMax Dragway and I know we’ll have a ton of support in the stands. The all-star callout win was big for our team and KB Titan Racing. Going into the semifinals it was me and three Elite Motorsports Pro Stock cars. I knew I needed to step up for KB Titan Racing and was really glad to get that win. There is a great rivalry between these two teams and we want to do our part to keep turning on win lights for KB Titan Racing.” “I was bummed we didn’t get that second-round win in Reading. I was out in front most of the race and then I just started drifting to the centerline and when that happens you have to lift. At over 200-mph you have to check your ego sometimes and live to race another day. We will be ready for Charlotte and I can’t wait to get on the track on Friday night.”

TEAM CHEVY BY THE NUMBERS:1,437: Round wins for John Force (1st all-time).617: Round wins for Robert Hight; 13th all-time. Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), sits 12th, with 624.377: Number of wins in Pro Stock since 1970; 258 won in the Chevrolet Camaro body.166: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for John Force (1st all-time).158: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins since 1967.81: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Robert Hight (6th all-time).78: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins with the Camaro body.46: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Brittany Force.27: Number of NHRA championships Chevrolet holds as a manufacturer since entering the first in 1966. No other manufacturer has won it more than Chevrolet.24: Wins by John Force in a Chevrolet-bodied Funny Car.18: Number of Pro Stock championships.20: Chevrolet career Top Fuel wins in NHRA.16: Number of Chevrolet career wins by Brittany Force.7: Number of Funny Car driver championships.2: Number of Top Fuel driver championships.

UPCOMING NHRA MILESTONES:950: Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) is second all-time with 925 elimination round wins. He could reach 950 round wins with a decent run in the 18-race schedule. 624: Robert Hight achieved 617 Funny Car elimination wins in Chicago to rank 13th on the all-time NHRA list; Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car) sits 12th with 624. 449: By qualifying for his next race, Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) will extend his NHRA record from 448 to 449 consecutive race day appearances. His first appearance came in 2002 at Pomona 2, and he holds the longest career qualifying streak in NHRA. 138: Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) ranks third on the NHRA all-time list with 122 No. 1 qualifiers. He will tie Warren Johnson (Pro Stock, 138) for second to John Force (Funny Car, 166) on the list. 274: By qualifying for his next race, Robert Hight will extend his NHRA record to 274 consecutive race day appearances. His first appearance came in 2010 at Pomona 2, and he currently sits seventh in career qualifying streaks in NHRA (Doug Kalitta is sixth at 283). 65: Robert Hight moved into the top-10 in 10th on the all-time NHRA victory list with his win in Reading with 64. Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock, retired) is next ninth on list with 65. 47: Erica Enders has 46 career NHRA victories (45 Pro Stock, one Super Gas; all with Chevrolet). Her first win in Pro Stock came at Chicago, 2012, and her last win at Topeka, 2023 in Pro Stock. Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle, Top Alcohol Dragster) and Enders are tied as the all-time NHRA female leader with 46.  18: Brittany Force (16 Top Fuel career wins) will move past Shirley Muldowney (18 wins) into third on the NHRA all-time victory list for females. Erica Enders (Pro Stock, 46) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle, 46) are ahead. 6: Erica Enders (Pro Stock) could tie Warren Johnson (6 Pro Stock championships) for second on the class list. The same holds for Greg Anderson. Bob Glidden is the leader with 10. Enders currently holds five Pro Stock championships, the most of any female in NHRA. 3: Brittany Force (Top Fuel, two championships) would tie Shirley Muldowney (Top Fuel) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) for second on the NHRA all-time championship list by females with another title in 2023. Erica Enders (Pro Stock, five) is the leader.

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 21, 2023) – Brittany Force and the Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster team sit only 71 points back from the points lead as they head to the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway looking for a win to set them up for a run at their third Top Fuel championship. Force and the Flav-R-Pac team have reached the Carolina Nationals finals twice in 2018 and 2021 both times they were also the No 1 qualifiers for the event. The two-time championship team has qualified no worse than third in their last four starts at the fall event at zMAX and they also have three No. 1 starts at the Four-Wide spring event. Last year, as the No. 2 qualifiers for the Carolina Nationals, Force had a quarterfinal exit. “This Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy team is looking forward to getting to Charlotte. We’ve been making progress and I know we’re all eager to keep it going. Having these three races back-to-back to start the Countdown allows you to build momentum and that’s exactly what we’re looking to do,” Force said. “We’ve had success at zMAX, a couple wins and setting the track record earlier this year, we’re hoping to add to that. Nothing has changed in our game plan, we need to qualify well, get some of those small bonus points and then go rounds on Sunday. A lot can change with one good weekend. Excited to see what this Flav-R-Pac team can do.” The Flav-R-Pac team is looking for their first win of the season despite not falling below seventh in the point standings and sitting as high as third for four weekends. The performance has been there for the reigning world champions with four No. 1 qualifying positions at Gainesville Raceway, both Four-Wide events in Las Vegas and Charlotte and Bandimere Speedway in Denver, a recent final-round appearance at the event in Topeka, Kansas and four semifinal finishes. They’ll look to capitalize on that performance this weekend for Force’s 17th career victory. Competition at the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals will begin with three rounds of qualifying Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. Eliminations will be run Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Television coverage of the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship will air on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) and include two qualifying shows on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. ET and Sunday at 11:00 a.m. ET. Eliminations coverage will be on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Sep 14, 2023 | Featured, Megan Meyer, Special Announcements

Lucas Oil, a leading manufacturer of high-performance engine oils and lubricants, has partnered with two-time NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster world champion Megan Meyer and Shop Squad to reward the next generation of auto repair technicians. Lucas Oil will contribute Slick Mist detailing kits that will join the list of prizes going to winners of Shop Squad’s monthly giveaway, which student technicians can enter now through December 2023. 

Shop Squad is a community created by NGK Spark Plugs to advance the auto repair industry through training, resources, dialogue, and more. The Shop Squad online portal offers on-demand educational materials, as well as live webinars, all at no cost.  

“We recognized the potential to reach the automotive technician student base and recognize them through Megan’s platform,” said Jacklyn Donahue, Group Marketing Manager, Niterra North America. “We are so excited for Lucas Oil, another brand powerhouse, to join us in this effort. We believe, undoubtedly that working together, all of the brands, including our NHRA world champion, Megan Meyer, will help us all achieve this common goal.”

One of the Shop Squad programs is this year’s Student Tech Appreciation Contest. Each month, Meyer selects a winning student technician to win a prize pack, which includes VIP tickets to Randy Meyer Racing’s races, a Shop Squad and NGK kit, a BOXO Tools 21-piece socket set, a set of GUNK degreasing wipes, and now a Lucas Oil Slick Mist detailing kit. 

“We’ve been able to reach multiple colleges nationwide this year to share the Shop Squad’s free platform and private community for tech students,” Meyer said, “but my favorite part is hearing the reaction of the winners I get to pick each month and then seeing them come out to the races. Most of our winners so far have never been to a drag race before, so it brings a new perspective to us who’ve been doing it for decades. We love sharing our world with them and we wouldn’t get that opportunity if it wasn’t for Shop Squad.”

Lucas Oil has been a longtime partner of Meyer and the Randy Meyer Racing team going back to the beginning of her racing career in the Jr. Dragster ranks. The brand supported her as she pursued multiple Top Alcohol Dragster world championships before stepping away from full-time competition to start a family. She’s back this season as the driver of the GUNK/Shop Squad A/Fuel dragster in the Nitro Chaos championship series. Lucas Oil is once again represented on the side of Meyer’s dragster, and the company was quick to get involved with the Shop Squad Student Tech Appreciation Contest. 

“Lucas Oil is proud to be a part of the Shop Squad student tech contest. We feel this program aligns with us and the future students in the industry,” said Brandon Bernstein, Director of Partnership Marketing at Lucas Oil.

The Student Tech Appreciation Contest has already awarded prize packages to students from Lincoln Tech (NADC) in Nashville, UNOH, Pittsburg State University, Fayetteville Technical Community College, and more. Students can enter the giveaway by filling out the form on the Student Tech Appreciation Giveway landing page here >>> https://ngksparkplugs63323.ac-page.com/student-tech-contest 

Kevin Root watches as his son, Nicholas, follows in his racing footsteps of dirt Modified racing

OSWEGO, NY (SEPT. 21, 2023) – Kevin Root doesn’t have to search far for opportunities to spend time with his 15-year-old son Nicholas.

While Kevin is in the garage working on his Big Block Modified, Nicholas is a step away wrenching on his own Sportsman.

Kevin rose through the dirt Modified ranks, earning back-to-back DIRTcar Sportsman titles in 2018 and 2019, before making the jump to Big Block Modifieds. Now, he’s helping his son do the same.

The father-son duo, of Geneva, NY, compete weekly at Land of Legends Raceway, while also dappling in Series events. Kevin – a former full-time Super DIRTcar Series competitor – has made three starts with the premier Big Block Modified series this year and Nicholas has competed with the DIRTcar Sportsman Series. Both will also compete at Super DIRT Week 51 (Oct. 2-8).

Nicholas started his career in go-karts about five years ago, but it didn’t last long. The younger Root ultimately preferred to work on the cars, rather than drive them. However, that changed in 2021.

When Kevin brought his Sportsman to Paradise Speedway in Geneva, NY – down the road from their house – for practice laps, the younger Root asked if he could give it a try.

“Nicholas asked to jump in it and once he jumped in it, that was the end of it,” Kevin said. “He wanted to race.”

It almost felt like second nature to the high schooler.

“I’ve always been around it and I liked watching,” Nicholas said. “I didn’t really know how to drive a car. But after I got in it, I was feeling pretty confident, and I really wanted to do it. My father gave me the opportunity and put me in the car.”

Kevin decided to try his hand in a Big Block Modified on the Super DIRTcar Series tour in 2022, leaving his Sportsman open for use. Nicholas took the challenge to pilot his dad’s car and ran his first full season at Land of Legends Raceway the same season, finishing 11th in points.

This season, he showed significant improvement, finishing fourth in track points with one win, four top fives and 10 top 10s in 14 starts. He also scored a win at Brewerton Speedway.

“We definitely did good,” Nicholas said. “We got our first win (at Land of Legends), and another one at Brewerton. We had one DNF so that didn’t really help us in points, but we stayed in the top-five and that was our main goal this year.”

The success does not come without taking on a relentless schedule. Kevin works full-time as the manager of Scott Jeffrey’s Performance Store, and his son goes to school during the day followed by his part-time job after school. The two end their day by spending long nights in their shop, working on their respective vehicles.

“It’s long and tiring,” Kevin said. “We’re exhausted but we keep going and we don’t give up…We find a way to get everything done and get it done the right way. We go the extra mile if we have to. We’ll deal with being tired and get some sleep when we can.”

The father-son tandem is hoping their long nights in the shop will pay off when they make their trip north to Oswego Speedway for Super DIRT Week 51. Kevin will be back behind the wheel of his #34 Big Block, looking to make the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 for the third straight year. Nicholas qualified for the Chevrolet Performance 75 in his first attempt last year and finished 17th.

“Our goals, first of all, is to get in the shows,” Kevin said. “We would love to get a top 10 in the Big Block. As far as [Nicholas], I think he can win Oswego. With his capability, and the car, and him as a driver, I think he could win. My expectations for him are high. Not to put anything on his shoulders, but I think he knows that he has a good enough car that he could go out and win some races.”

For tickets to Super DIRT Week 51 at Oswego Speedway, CLICK HERE.

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 21, 2023) – Austin Prock and the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster team enter this weekend’s betway NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway sitting eighth in the NHRA points standings, just 131 points back from the lead with five races left in the Countdown to the Championship. Prock and the Montana Brand team came up with the only Top Fuel win for JFR so far this season at zMAX Dragway in April, doubling up with teammate Robert Hight in Funny Car. After qualifying seventh, the Chris Cunningham and Joe Barlam led Montana Brand team outran Leah Pruett, Josh Hart and Steve Torrence in the final quad. Last year at the Carolina Nationals, Prock qualified 10th but lost in the first round. The result didn’t stop the young team’s momentum, jumping from 12th in the points to finish the season third. “We’re ready to start our rebound this weekend at zMAX Dragway. I believe this Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist team has all the tools we need to succeed, we just need to put them to work,” Prock said. “I’m hoping we put on just as good of a show as we did in the spring. Can’t wait to get started.” In addition to their win at the Four-Wide event at zMAX in the spring, the Montana Brand team also made it to the finals of the Winternationals in Pomona, California and earned a No. 1 qualifying position at the Sonoma Nationals in July. Competition at the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals will begin with three rounds of qualifying Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. Eliminations will be run Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Television coverage of the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship will air on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) and include two qualifying shows on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. ET and Sunday at 11:00 a.m. ET. Eliminations coverage will be on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET.

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 21, 2023) – Entering as the points leaders by three, Robert Hight and the Cornwell Tools / AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS team will look to carry over the momentum and consistency they’ve built into this weekend’s betway NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway. Hight’s chances of building his points lead are favorable at zMAX Dragway. Hight has won at the facility a career-high seven times, four in the Carolina Nationals (2009, 2013, 2017, 2019), and three in the spring Four-Wide event. Despite his success at the Carolina Nationals, it is the only event in the series where he has not started race day from No. 1. He has started from No. 1 in the spring event three times, but his best starting position in the fall has been No. 2. After winning the Four-Wide in April this year, Hight will attempt to win both North Carolina races in the same season for the first time. Hight earned his three-point lead in the standings with a victory at last weekend’s event at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania where he knocked off heavy hitters Matt Hagan and Ron Capps. In addition to a victory at the opening event of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship and the Four-Wide at zMAX in the spring, Hight also has a win at the Arizona Nationals and a runner-up finish at Brainerd International Raceway. “We’re on a good roll right now. But we have to stay humble. Last weekend was great, but it could have easily gone another way,” Hight said. “This Cornwell Tools team has to keep working hard. This is the toughest Funny Car has ever been and it’s going to take major, major work to win this championship. I said it before, but I think we’ll need three or four wins to win the championship. We have one down, and I’d give us an A+ for last weekend, but we’ve got five to go and we have to put last weekend behind us to get ready for Charlotte.” Competition at the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals will begin with three rounds of qualifying Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. Eliminations will be run Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Television coverage of the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship will air on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) and include two qualifying shows on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. ET and Sunday at 11:00 a.m. ET. Eliminations coverage will be on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET.

JOHN FORCE AND PEAK CHEVY LOOKING FORA TURNAROUND AT CAROLINA NATIONALS

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 21, 2023) – John Force and the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS team are only 129 points out of the Funny Car points lead. With five races still left in the Countdown to the Championship, the gap could easily be closed with a solid weekend at the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway just outside of Charlotte. Force will be competing on a track where he has had recent success, qualifying No. 1 in four of his last five starts including two straight No. 1s in the Carolina Nationals. In addition to his recent dominance in qualifying, he is the track record holder at 3.850 seconds (April 29, 2022) as well as the event record holder (3.854 on Sept. 23, 2022). Force won the Carolina Nationals in 2016 but he has won the companion event, the Four-Wide Nationals in the spring, three times (2010, 2021 and 2022). In 2022 at the Carolina Nationals, after qualifying No. 1, Force went on to a semifinal finish, losing to eventual race winner and reigning world champ Ron Capps. “I love coming to Charlotte, zMAX Dragway, the Bellagio of drag strips. It’s Bruton Smith’s legacy. Now his son, Marcus, is carrying it over. It’s something else getting to race there,” Force said. “We’re in the Countdown now. One race down. This weekend will be important. We all know it and we’re ready. It will be exciting. Exciting for the racers, teams, and sponsors but exciting for the fans who get to see it all happen, too.”   Force is looking for his first win of the season as he enters the weekend sitting No. 9 in the Countdown to the Championship. His best performances so far in 2023 were a No. 1 start at the Northwest Nationals near Seattle and a runner-up finish to Bob Tasca III in the New England Nationals, which began in Epping, New Hampshire but finished in Bristol, Tennessee. Competition at the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals will begin with three rounds of qualifying Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. Eliminations will be run Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Television coverage of the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship will air on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) and include two qualifying shows on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. ET and Sunday at 11:00 a.m. ET. Eliminations coverage will be on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET.

September 21, 2023 — SAKURA, JAPAN & SANTA CLARITA, CA

• HPD becomes HRC US to play integral role in Honda’s global motorsports programs
• HRC Japan & US will collaborate to strengthen Honda’s global motorsports competitiveness

Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) in Sakura, Japan, and Honda Performance Development (HPD) in Santa Clarita, CA, jointly announced today that HPD will formally become Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) starting with the 2024 motorsports season. With this change, HRC US will play an integral role in Honda’s global motorsports activities, which includes contributing to the company’s Formula One (F1) program.

Collaborating as one global HRC entity, the two independent racing arms of Honda will combine their unique expertise and resources to strengthen Honda’s overall motorsports capabilities.

HRC was established in Japan in 1982 as Honda’s motorcycle racing arm, and is recognized for more than 40 years of championship racing heritage in pinnacle global racing categories such as WGP/MotoGP, Superbike, Motocross, World Trial and the Paris Dakar rally.  In 2022, HRC added auto racing including Honda’s F1 program to its responsibilities, with the Sakura Center dedicated for auto racing and Asaka Center focused on motorcycle racing.

HPD was established by American Honda Motor Co., Inc. in 1993, as a separate racing arm to compete in the IndyCar series. For 30 years, HPD has competed in various racing series including IndyCar, IMSA, Baja Off-Road, Touring Cars, and Formula Regional America. Through HPD, Honda has 280 wins from 510 races in IndyCar competition, including 180 wins from 410 events with multi-manufacturer competitions. At the Indianapolis 500, Honda has won 15 times, nine with multi-manufacturer competition. Honda has won 13 Drivers’ Championships and 10 Manufacturers’ Championships in years with multi-manufacturer competition. HPD also has led the Acura brand to three consecutive wins in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and three IMSA Manufacturers’, Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships since 2018.

HRC’s auto racing development center in Japan currently supports Red Bull Powertrains for F1 power units and contribute to world championship victories. Starting in 2026, HRC will partner with the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 team as the official engine supplier. With three F1 races now in the U.S. (Austin, Miami, Las Vegas), the new HRC US will be involved in Formula One power unit development and race support starting in 2026.

“Our goal is to increase the HRC brand and sustain the success of our racing activities and we believe that uniting Honda motorsports globally as one racing organization will help achieve that,” said Koji Watanabe, the president of HRC Japan. “Our race engineers in the U.S. and Japan will be stronger together and I am so happy to welcome our U.S. associates to the HRC team.”

“Honda’s racing heritage is unparalleled and over the last 30 years and the talented men and women of HPD have contributed to that success in the U.S.,” said David Salters, president of HPD, who will become president of the new HRC US. “We are thrilled and very proud to join forces with our friends and colleagues in HRC Japan and represent Honda Racing as a global racing organization. We will continue to challenge ourselves in U.S. motorsports activities even as we develop our people and technology to compete on a rapidly changing global motorsports stage.”

The 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona, scheduled for January 27-28, will mark the inaugural race for the new HRC US, with the defending champion Acura ARX-06 prototypes to sport HRC logos on their racing liveries.

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 21, 2023) – John Force and the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS team are only 129 points out of the Funny Car points lead. With five races still left in the Countdown to the Championship, the gap could easily be closed with a solid weekend at the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway just outside of Charlotte. Force will be competing on a track where he has had recent success, qualifying No. 1 in four of his last five starts including two straight No. 1s in the Carolina Nationals. In addition to his recent dominance in qualifying, he is the track record holder at 3.850 seconds (April 29, 2022) as well as the event record holder (3.854 on Sept. 23, 2022). Force won the Carolina Nationals in 2016 but he has won the companion event, the Four-Wide Nationals in the spring, three times (2010, 2021 and 2022). In 2022 at the Carolina Nationals, after qualifying No. 1, Force went on to a semifinal finish, losing to eventual race winner and reigning world champ Ron Capps. “I love coming to Charlotte, zMAX Dragway, the Bellagio of drag strips. It’s Bruton Smith’s legacy. Now his son, Marcus, is carrying it over. It’s something else getting to race there,” Force said. “We’re in the Countdown now. One race down. This weekend will be important. We all know it and we’re ready. It will be exciting. Exciting for the racers, teams, and sponsors but exciting for the fans who get to see it all happen, too.”   Force is looking for his first win of the season as he enters the weekend sitting No. 9 in the Countdown to the Championship. His best performances so far in 2023 were a No. 1 start at the Northwest Nationals near Seattle and a runner-up finish to Bob Tasca III in the New England Nationals, which began in Epping, New Hampshire but finished in Bristol, Tennessee. Competition at the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals will begin with three rounds of qualifying Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. Eliminations will be run Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Television coverage of the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship will air on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) and include two qualifying shows on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. ET and Sunday at 11:00 a.m. ET. Eliminations coverage will be on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET.

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 21, 2023) – John Force and the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS team are only 129 points out of the Funny Car points lead. With five races still left in the Countdown to the Championship, the gap could easily be closed with a solid weekend at the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway just outside of Charlotte. Force will be competing on a track where he has had recent success, qualifying No. 1 in four of his last five starts including two straight No. 1s in the Carolina Nationals. In addition to his recent dominance in qualifying, he is the track record holder at 3.850 seconds (April 29, 2022) as well as the event record holder (3.854 on Sept. 23, 2022). Force won the Carolina Nationals in 2016 but he has won the companion event, the Four-Wide Nationals in the spring, three times (2010, 2021 and 2022). In 2022 at the Carolina Nationals, after qualifying No. 1, Force went on to a semifinal finish, losing to eventual race winner and reigning world champ Ron Capps. “I love coming to Charlotte, zMAX Dragway, the Bellagio of drag strips. It’s Bruton Smith’s legacy. Now his son, Marcus, is carrying it over. It’s something else getting to race there,” Force said. “We’re in the Countdown now. One race down. This weekend will be important. We all know it and we’re ready. It will be exciting. Exciting for the racers, teams, and sponsors but exciting for the fans who get to see it all happen, too.”   Force is looking for his first win of the season as he enters the weekend sitting No. 9 in the Countdown to the Championship. His best performances so far in 2023 were a No. 1 start at the Northwest Nationals near Seattle and a runner-up finish to Bob Tasca III in the New England Nationals, which began in Epping, New Hampshire but finished in Bristol, Tennessee. Competition at the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals will begin with three rounds of qualifying Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. Eliminations will be run Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Television coverage of the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship will air on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) and include two qualifying shows on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. ET and Sunday at 11:00 a.m. ET. Eliminations coverage will be on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET.