Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Invades the Hawkeye State

May 17, 2023 ARP Trish

BATAVIA, Ohio (May 16, 2023) – The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series continues its May Midwest swing this weekend with a pair of events in the Hawkeye State. Friday, May 19 and Saturday, May 20 the elite drivers of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series return to 300 Raceway in Farley, Iowa and 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. A complete program for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is on the docket each night, which includes Dirt Draft Hot Laps, Allstar Performance Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and a 50-lap A-Main. 300 Raceway, formerly known as Farley Speedway, is a 3/8-mile oval located just off US-20 at Exit 300 in Farley, Iowa. The Simon’s Trucking You Call We Haul 50 boasts a $12,000 top prize for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. The Modifieds, Sport Modifieds, and Stock Cars are also on the racing card. The pit gate at 300 Raceway will open at 2:00PM CT, followed by general admission gates at 5:00PM CT. The on-track action will begin with Dirt Draft Hot Laps at 6:30PM CT. Tickets will be available at the gate on race day. For more information, please visit www.300raceway.com. On Saturday, the action will shift to southeast Iowa’s 34 Raceway in West Burlington. A $15,000 top prize is on the line for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series in the CRST, The Transportation Solution 50. Also in competition are Modifieds, Sport Modifieds, and Sport Compacts. At 34 Raceway the pit gate will open at 2:00PM CT with general admission gates opening at 4:00PM CT. Hot Laps are set to kick off at 6:15PM CT. To purchase tickets in advance, please visit https://www.myracepass.com/tracks/2697/tickets/1304748?rKey=1562. For more information about 34 Raceway, visit www.34raceway.com. The Hawkeye State double header will continue the Sunoco Road to Wheatland – the first bonus round where the top fifteen drivers in the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship presented by ARP will be determined. Those 15 drivers will receive a cash bonus based on their position in the championship standings. The current series point leader following the Show-Me 100 on May 27 will receive a $2,500 bonus from the total $16,000 being paid out. Hudson O’Neal leads the current Big River Steel Chase for the Championship presented by ARP standing – holding a 50-point advantage over Brandon Overton and Ricky Thornton Jr. who are tied for second. Jonathan Davenport and Tim McCreadie round out the top five in championship standings. For the latest news, results, championship standings and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, please visit www.lucasdirt.com. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Purses300 Raceway – May 19th1. $12,000, 2. $6,000, 3. $3,500, 4. $2,800, 5. $2,500, 6. $2,300, 7. $2,200, 8. $2,100, 9. $2,050, 10. $2,000, 11. $1,600, 12. $1,400, 13. $1,200, 14. $1,100, 15. $1,050, 16. $1,000, 17. $1,000, 18. $1,000, 19. $1,000, 20. $1,000, 21. $1,000, 22. $1,000, 23. $1,000, 24. $1,000 = Total $52,800 34 Raceway – May 20th1. $15,000, 2. $7,000, 3. $5,000, 4. $4,000, 5. $3,000, 6. $2,500, 7. $2,400, 8. $2,300, 9. $2,200, 10. $2,100, 11. $2,000, 12. $1,800, 13. $1,600, 14. $1,500, 15. $1,400, 16. $1,300, 17. $1,200, 18. $1,100, 19. $1,000, 20. $1,000, 21. $1,000, 22. $1,000, 23. $1,000, 24. $1,000, = Total $63,400 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Tire Rules:300 Raceway – May 19thLeft Rear/Fronts – Hoosier (90) NLMT3, (90) LM30sRight Rear – Hoosier (92) NLMT3, (92) LM30s, (92) NLMT4, (92) LM40 *Must use the same set of 4 tires for Time Trials, Heat Races, and B-Mains*For the A-Main, competitors may use 2 new tires.*Can cut and/or sipe any tire.*Flat tire must be replaced with a used tire of the same compound and construction to retain starting position. 34 Raceway – May 20thLeft Rear/Fronts – Hoosier (90) NLMT2, (90) LM20Right Rear – Hoosier (92) NLMT3, (92) LM30s, (92) NLMT4, (92) LM40 *Must use the same set of 4 tires for Time Trials, Heat Races, and B-Mains*For the A-Main, competitors may use 2 new tires.*Can cut and/or sipe any tire.*Flat tire must be replaced with a used tire of the same compound and construction to retain starting position.

Uncategorized

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: World of Outlaws Make First 2023 Trips to Attica, Sharon

May 17, 2023 ARP Trish

The World of Outlaws transition to the second quarter of the campaign in Ohio

ATTICA, OH (May 16, 2023) – For the first time this year, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are heading to a pair of northern Ohio ovals.

The always exciting Attica Raceway Park hosts The Greatest Show on Dirt on Friday, May 19. The following night, it’s a two-and-a-half-hour drive east to Hartford, OH’s Sharon Speedway – owned by 1995 World of Outlaws champion Dave Blaney. The World of Outlaws have made 21 appearances at Attica while Saturday at Sharon will be the 12th trip to the 3/8-mile track.

The weekend will mark the transition to the second quarter of the 2023 campaign. Temperatures will rise. And the action will heat up as drivers continue to jockey for positioning in the championship pursuit during a busy summer stretch.

BUY ATTICA TICKETS

BUY SHARON TICKETS

Let’s look at some of the weekend’s top storylines:

SWEET STRENGTH: Four-time and reigning champion Brad Sweet leads the championship charge into Ohio.

After a slight stumble out of the gate, the Grass Valley, CA native’s performance has been nearly impeccable with his Kasey Kahne Racing team. In the 14 starts since leaving Florida, Sweet has posted four wins, eight podiums, and a 3.9 average finish.

Sweet hopes to extend the advantage at a pair of tracks that he’s excelled at in recent years. While “The Big Cat” has never won at Attica, he hasn’t finished worse than fifth in his last four starts at the third mile. At Sharon, he’s the most recent winner – topping last September’s visit – and finished fifth in his one other Series start.

SUMMERTIME SCHATZ: Over the course of his career, Donny Schatz has consistently produced some of his best stretches during the summer. And while the seasonal change is still a month away on the calendar, early indicators are 2023 could continue the trend.

The 10-time champion has put together his best four-race stretch of the season over the past two weeks. At Eldora he picked up a pair of podiums including a season best second-place effort on the final night. Then, the Fargo, ND native followed that with another top three at Williams Grove.

Looking ahead to the weekend, Schatz is the winningest driver in Series history at Attica with four triumphs. He’s also only finished worse than eighth once in 15 starts. Schatz has competed in all 11 Series events at Sharon with a best finish of second on two occasions (2004 & 2022).

HAUD’S HOME: Any trip to Ohio is a welcome part of the schedule for Sheldon Haudenschild. The Wooster, OH native shaped his talents on state’s many ovals.

Before he even joined the World of Outlaws tour in 2017, Haudenschild topped a pair of All-Star Circuit of Champions races at Attica. At Sharon, he claimed the prestigious Lou Blaney Memorial in 2015. He’s yet to win at either track in World of Outlaws competition but has been close with a 2020 podium at Attica and podiums in the last two Series events at Sharon.

The 29-year-old heads into his home territory fifth in points.

BUCKEYE STATE BAYSTON: Spencer Bayston may call Indiana home, but he’s gotten quite comfortable at the racetracks located one state east of the Hoosier state over his career.

The first World of Outlaws win of Bayston’s career came at Attica in 2021, and he’s shown speed there no matter the car he’s been in. The World of Outlaws victory was behind the wheel of the Sam McGhee Motorsports #11. The Lebanon, IN native picked up an Attica All-Star win in 2017 wheeling the Swindell Speedlab #39. He’s also been in the top 10 aboard the Premier Motorsports #70.

At Sharon, it’s been a similar story for Bayston. He picked up an All-Star win with McGhee, a podium with Swindell, and a seventh-place effort with his current team – CJB Motorsports – at last year’s World of Outlaws race.

Bayston heads into Ohio hoping to add to his success in the state as he looks to climb from his current spot of seventh in points.

ATTICA-SHARON DOUBLE: Throughout their histories as tracks featured on the World of Outlaws tour, winning at both Attica and Sharon has been nearly impossible. Only Steve Kinser and Joey Saldana have pulled off the feat.

At Sharon, the only current full-time World of Outlaws driver with a victory is Brad Sweet, so a Friday win could add him to the list. The one other active driver with a Sharon triumph is Dave Blaney.

Over at Attica, Donny Schatz, David Gravel, and Spencer Bayston are the trio of current Series drivers that have visited Victory Lane. Other active drivers who’ve won at Attica are Kyle Larson and Dale Blaney.

Of course, a weekend sweep could be a shortcut to the feat for any driver yet to claim a checkered flag at either facility.

O-H! – I-O!: Ohio’s local competition may not have the same notoriety as other areas of the country, but their crop still features plenty of talent capable of contending with the World of Outlaws.

Gibsonburg, OH’s Craig Mintz already bested the All-Stars at Attica this season and would love to replicate that for his first World of Outlaws victory. Attica is home to Mintz’s one Series podium (2014).

Republic, OH native Cap Henry should be a threat at either track. A combined three of his eight career All-Star wins have occurred at Attica and Sharon. Attica is also home to one of his five career World of Outlaws top 10s.

Skylar Gee hails from Canada, but he spends plenty of time circling Ohio’s ovals. Gee is fresh off Attica-Fremont Championship Series win at Attica this past Friday.

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

THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCE

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday, May 19 at Attica Raceway Park in Attica, OH

Saturday, May 20 at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, OH

ON THE INTERNET

World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series
Twitter – @WorldofOutlaws
Instagram – @WoOSprint
Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsSprintCarSeries
YouTube – Youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws
DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com – Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/month

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (19/80 Races):

49 – Brad Sweet (2664PTS) 2. 2 – David Gravel (-36PTS) 3. 41 – Carson Macedo (-46PTS) 4. 1S – Logan Schuchart (-126PTS) 5. 17 – Sheldon Haudenschild (-184PTS) 6. 15 – Donny Schatz (-186PTS) 7. 5 – Spencer Bayston (-236PTS) 8. 18 – Gio Scelzi (-244PTS) 9. 3Z – Brock Zearfoss (-388PTS) 10. 1A – Jacob Allen (-420PTS)

NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (10 Drivers):

4 wins – David Gravel (Big Game Motorsports #2), Brad Sweet (Kasey Kahne Racing #49)
3 wins – Rico Abreu (Rico Abreu Racing #24)
2 wins – James McFadden (Roth Motorsports #83)
1 win – Carson Macedo (Jason Johnson Racing #41), Buddy Kofoid (CMS Racing #11), Sheldon Haudenschild (Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing #17), Brady Bacon (TKH Motorsports #21), Logan Schuchart (Shark Racing #1S), Anthony Macri (Macri Motorsports #39)

FEATURE LAPS LED (14 Drivers):

104 laps – Brad Sweet
92 laps – David Gravel
73 laps – Rico Abreu
63 laps – Carson Macedo
60 laps – James McFadden
46 laps – Buddy Kofoid
44 laps – Logan Schuchart
43 laps – Brent Marks
37 laps – Sheldon Haudenschild
11 laps – Anthony Macri
10 laps – Cory Eliason
9 laps – Gio Scelzi
3 laps – Brady Bacon
1 lap – Donny Schatz

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (9 Drivers):

5 QuickTimes – Carson Macedo
4 QuickTimes – David Gravel
3 QuickTimes – Logan Schuchart
2 QuickTimes – Anthony Macri
1 QuickTime – Brian Brown, Donny Schatz, Buddy Kofoid, Rico Abreu, Gio Scelzi

HEAT RACE WINNERS (21 Drivers):

10 Heat Wins – David Gravel, Carson Macedo
6 Heat Wins – Buddy Kofoid
5 Heat Wins – Brad Sweet, Logan Schuchart
4 Heat Wins – Brent Marks, Sheldon Haudenschild
3 Heat Wins – Gio Scelzi, Donny Schatz, Anthony Macri
2 Heat Wins – Spencer Bayston, Jacob Allen, Parker Price-Miller, Rico Abreu, Justin Peck
1 Heat Win – James McFadden, Brian Brown, Danny Dietrich, Freddie Rahmer, Brock Zearfoss, Cory Eliason

TOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (30 Drivers):

14 Dashes – Carson Macedo, David Gravel, Brad Sweet
11 Dashes – Logan Schuchart
8 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild
7 Dashes – Gio Scelzi, Rico Abreu, Donny Schatz
6 Dashes – Buddy Kofoid, Jacob Allen, Brent Marks
5 Dashes – Spencer Bayston
4 Dashes – Brock Zearfoss, Anthony Macri
3 Dashes – James McFadden, Justin Peck
2 Dashes – Brian Brown, Danny Dietrich, Cory Eliason, Parker Price-Miller, Robbie Price, Tyler Courtney
1 Dash – Kasey Kahne, Freddie Rahmer, Devon Borden, Garet Williamson, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Chad Trout, Dylan Norris

MICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (15 Drivers):

2 LCS Wins – Robbie Price, Sheldon Haudenschild
1 LCS Win – Brock Zearfoss, Parker Price-Miller, Gio Scelzi, Noah Gass, Hunter Schuerenberg, James McFadden, Wayne Johnson, Ryan Timms, Ayrton Gennetten, Spencer Bayston, Logan Schuchart, Kraig Kinser, Freddie Rahmer

KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (16 Drivers):

2 Hard Chargers – Brock Zearfoss, James McFadden, Tyler Courtney
1 Hard Charger – Donny Schatz, Gio Scelzi, Robbie Price, David Gravel, Logan Schuchart, Justin Peck, Blake Hahn, Buddy Kofoid, Joe B. Miller, Kyle Larson, Hunter Schuerenberg, Kyle Moody, Freddie Rahmer

PODIUM FINISHES (19 Drivers):

9 Podiums – Brad Sweet, David Gravel
5 Podiums – Carson Macedo
4 Podiums – Buddy Kofoid, Logan Schuchart, Rico Abreu
3 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild, Brent Marks, Donny Schatz
2 Podiums – Jacob Allen, James McFadden
1 Podium – Danny Dietrich, Brian Brown, Kasey Kahne, Devon Borden, Spencer Bayston, Parker Price-Miller, Brady Bacon, Anthony Macri

TOP 10 FINISHES (35 Drivers):

17 Top 10s – Carson Macedo, Brad Sweet
16 Top 10s – David Gravel
14 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart
11 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild, Gio Scelzi
10 Top 10s – Michael Kofoid, Spencer Bayston
9 Top 10s – Rico Abreu
8 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, Justin Peck
7 Top 10s – James McFadden
6 Top 10s – Jacob Allen, Brent Marks
5 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney
4 Top 10s – Kasey Kahne
3 Top 10s – Brian Brown, Cory Eliason, Danny Dietrich
2 Top 10s – Aaron Reutzel, Brock Zearfoss, Blake Hahn, Brady Bacon, Anthony Macri
1 Top 10 – Robbie Price, Zeb Wise, Devon Borden, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Parker Price-Miller, Joe B. Miller, Hunter Schuerenberg, Kyle Larson, Brandon Rahmer, Chad Trout, Lance Dewease

2023 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:

No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

Fri, Feb 10 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (1)
Fri, Feb 10 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (2)
Sat, Feb 11* / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / James McFadden (1)
Sun, March 5 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Carson Macedo (1)
Mon, March 6 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (3)
Sat, March 18 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / Rico Abreu (1)
Fri, March 24 / Talladega Short Track / Eastaboga, AL / Buddy Kofoid (1)
Sat, March 25 / Magnolia Motor Speedway / Columbus, MS / Brad Sweet (1)
Fri, March 31 / Devil’s Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, TX / Brad Sweet (2)
Sat, April 1 / Devil’s Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, TX / James McFadden (2)
Fri, April 7 / U.S. 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO / Sheldon Haudenschild (1)
Sat, April 8 / 81 Speedway / Wichita, KS / Rico Abreu (2)
Fri, April 14 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Brad Sweet (3)
Fri, April 28 / Tri-City Speedway / Granite City, IL / David Gravel (4)
Sat, April 29 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN / Brady Bacon (1)
Fri, May 5 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Logan Schuchart (1)
Sat, May 6 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Rico Abreu (3)
Wed, May 10 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / Anthony Macri (1)
Fri, May 12 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Brad Sweet (4)

Uncategorized

World of Outlaws Spices Things Up in Partnership With Jade City

May 17, 2023 ARP Trish

CONCORD, NC (May 16, 2023) – The World of Outlaws are turning up the heat this season, collaborating with Jade City for a World of Outlaws-themed line of hot sauces.

Five different heat selections have been produced for everyone to choose from.

The five bold new flavors range from a gentle Jalapeño sauce – fittingly named “Last Chance Showdown” – all the way to the screaming heat of the 7 Pot Primo “Open Wheel of Doom!” Other flavors include a cayenne pepper and garlic, strawberry habanero, and a reaper, scorpion, ghost mash up that is sure to cause some hot sweats.

“Collaborating with Jade City on a line of World of Outlaws hot sauces is an exciting opportunity to not only bring this line to our fans but introduce hot sauce lovers to the World of Outlaws,” World of Outlaws CEO Brian Carter said. “We can’t wait for everyone to try all five flavors while tailgating at the track or watching the races at home on DIRTVision.”

More than 80 races are scheduled this season for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars, spanning across tracks nationwide. You can find the full schedule HERE.

The new World of Outlaws hot sauce collection can be purchased here. Use promo code OUTLAW to get 15% off your purchase. Now through June 30, 2023.

Uncategorized

Cruz pedregon–chicago advance

May 17, 2023 ARP Trish

NHRA^® Team Report

NHRA Route 66 Nationals – Chicago

Pre-Race Report

Cruz Pedregon and team are ready to get the Snap-on^®“Makers and Fixers” Dodge^®SRT^®Hellcat^® back to the Route 66 Raceway to see all the great fans. Cruz calls his car “wild child” and he’s ready to see what it can do.

“We’ve been the 1 or 2 qualifier a couple of times already this season, and the car is loving the combination we’ve worked as a team to develop,” says Cruz. “As good as the tuning on the car has been, it wants to run a little too fast, so we’re working on pulling it back and keeping it in the groove this weekend. We really like the racing surface and facility in Chicago, so we have our eye on winning it for the first time as a team.”

The Snap-on Funny Car continues to highlight “Makers & Fixers.” Check out the Makers and Fixers among us on Instagram and share your stories at makersandfixers.com.

Uncategorized

Buddy Hull Looking to Turn Up Heat at Route 66 Nationals

May 17, 2023 ARP Trish

DALLAS, TX (May 16, 2023) — With two races under his belt in the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season Buddy Hull is looking to build on the positives. A solid qualifier at both Phoenix and Las Vegas races, Hull and his Renegade Fuel and Oils Top Fuel dragster team will be looking to make moves at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals this weekend. The track will be a new facility for the Top Fuel driver who also owns several companies in the Dallas area, but his 12,000-horsepower Top Fueler is tuned by crew chief Mike Guger who has considerable experience on the track located 25 minutes from downtown Chicago.

“Having Mike as our crew chief has been a game changer for our Renegade Fuel and Oils Top Fuel dragster,” said Hull. “His level of experience has been instrumental in our off-season preparation and improvements during the first two races. The guys on the team are so much more comfortable with the qualifying and race day routine. I think we will take another big step forward in Chicago.”

This season Hull has raced at the Arizona Nationals and the Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals and shown consistent performance improvements. Racing in his third season at this level on a limited schedule is a challenge for Hull but one he relishes. Traditionally, representing his company Vertex Roofing and General Contractors Hull will be racing this weekend with primary branding from Renegade Race Fuel and Oils. Hull’s team will also get support from Shorewood’s Tyson Motor in the form of a Dodge Ram Truck to tow the Renegade Fuel and Oils Top Fuel dragster from the pits to the starting line.

“I wouldn’t be able to be out here without the support of companies like Renegade Fuel and Oils,” said Hull. “They have been on my dragster all season, but they wanted to have the full Top Fueler for a race and Chicago was the perfect market for them. They supply a ton of products to NHRA tracks all over the country from traction compound to methanol. I am proud to be representing them this weekend.”

Since he took on twelve races during his rookie season in 2021 Hull has taken a strategic approach to building his Top Fuel operation. This season he will tackle eight NHRA national events with the goal of incrementally improving every race. He has new equipment and a trailer full of parts, which provides his crew chief Guger the confidence to be aggressive when the conditions are ripe for quick and fast runs.

“I have been building this team with the plan to eventually go full-time but that isn’t going to happen overnight,” said Hull. “We have quality parts and we have back-ups for our back-ups which you need in this sport. Mike does a great job giving me a quick and safe race car. The key for us is to get aggressive when the conditions are perfect and to race the racetrack when conditions might be a little tricky. Our goal is to capitalize on every opportunity.”

Coming into the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals Hull will be racing at the Chicago area super-track for the first time. The stadium environment is not new to the Dallas area racer who has participated in the Texas Motorplex Stampede of Speed and Texas Fall Nationals the past two seasons.

“It will be cool to roll through the tower in Chicago and be in a wraparound stadium, but the Texas Motorplex has a similar vibe,” said Hull. “They have packed fans in the past two Texas Fall Nationals and I know they will pack them in in Chicago since it has been a few years since they had an NHRA national event. There is nothing better than making a killer pass in front of thousands of fans who jump out of their seats. We are going over 330 mph in under 3.7 seconds which is amazing. I love the competition and we are looking to put on a good show starting Friday night under the lights.”

The return of NHRA drag racing will begin on Friday, May 19, with one round of Top Fuel qualifying along with the rest of the professional classes. Saturday will include two rounds of qualifying, the return of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and a specialty Pro Stock All-Star Callout race. The quickest 16 race cars and motorcycles will race on Sunday, May 21 beginning at 11 a.m. with FS1 televising the race nationally later that evening.

Uncategorized

Gordy Gundaker, Tanner English, Detail Sharon SpeedwayThe Series returns to the Hartford, OH track for the Battle at the Border May 25-27

May 17, 2023 ARP Trish

HARTFORD, OH – May 16, 2023 – A battle of epic proportions is on tap for the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models near the Pennsylvania-Ohio state line. The Series will spend Memorial Day weekend at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, OH, May 25-27, for the Battle at the Border. This year’s event at the 3/8-mile oval will bring the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models to 13 visits at the Dave Blaney-owned facility. It’s also a crucial part of the Series schedule, coming at the end of a six-race swing through the Northeast, potentially setting up the championship contenders as the Series moves into the summer. Defending Series champion Dennis Erb Jr., reigning Rookie of the Year Tanner English, and Gordy Gundaker will return to the track and described what makes Sharon, unique, fun and exciting. What makes Sharon different from any other track in the Pennsylvania-Ohio area? Erb: I’d say it’s flatter and a little smaller than most tracks out there. It’s also a little more racier than the big tracks they got out there. Gundaker: What’s crazy about Sharon is that it’s really get it on early, and then as soon as that place starts to shine up, that place is like an ice-skating rink. You’re searching for grip and its thin straightaways, and the corners race really good. It’s just tricky to get around, but it makes it fun because it’s a driver’s race track. You have to be up on the wheel the entire time. You can’t just show up there and expect to be upfront. You have to attack the racetrack. English: The size of it. It’s a nice medium-sized racetrack. It’s not like a Port Royal, where it’s big and gets kind of spaced out. It’s more like a bullring-style racetrack like where we’re from. That’s what I like about it. It’s not too big, not too small. It’s just a nice-sized racetrack. How would you describe your past experiences at Sharon? Erb: We’ve had some good runs over there. It’s a style of track that I like, so it fits my driving a little bit better. I’ve had some good runs over there. We’re looking forward to going over there. It’s a good facility. I like the track. Gundaker: My first time we were there, we actually weren’t bad, but we ended up breaking a chain limiter, and it kind of ruined our night. Last year we were just OK. We just didn’t time very well. That’s just the name of the game. It’s a technical place, so when you don’t time up front, it puts you behind. With the group of guys that you race with, you can’t be behind to start the night. I’m excited to be there for three because that’s going to give us more grasp on the racetrack and have some notes going back to it. English: The first time we went there, I felt like we were pretty good. It had a little character, and I could go around pretty much everywhere. Top, bottom, wherever. I was really good there. I came up through the field there. Don’t know where we finished, but we started way back. When we went back the second time, it was a little smoother, slicker, and hard to get a hold of, and I just needed to work on my car to get it better. I kind of learned both sides of the racetrack, and that’s always good when you’re trying to build a notebook on something to go back there. How do you approach racing there, knowing you’ll have to battle for three nights? Erb: I just go in there like any other race. You just have to take it one race at a time and go in there and hopefully have a good weekend when you leave. Gundaker: You just kind of have to go in confident. You can’t go in there dwelling on what’s happened in the past. Obviously, if we’d have won there, it’s a different story. You just go in and be confident. We’ve got some good momentum going right now, so if we just carry that into Sharon, I feel like we can be upfront and vying for some wins. English: I like that a lot because it gives you time to dial in your car. I usually run pretty decent in deals like that. Just staying in one place means a lot for us. The wear and tear on us is mainly up and down the road, so anytime we can stay at one track for three nights and make some pretty decent money is huge. How do you feel about your chances there? Erb: I feel pretty good. The car’s been running good, and I think if we can get qualified good and get a good starting position for the Feature, we’ll have a good shot at it. Gundaker: I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think we could go in and win. I don’t feel like we should be on the road if I don’t think that. We’ve been really building here lately. We’ve been upfront. Qualifying good on most of our nights. I wish we’d get some more nights in just because I felt like we’ve had a good racecar. We just have to go there, keep doing what we’re doing, and let the cards fall where they may, and we’ll see what happens by the end of the weekend. English: I feel pretty good about it. Like I said, we learned a lot last year about it and both sides of it, so I think we’re pretty prepared and know what to expect. We’re going there on different tires, so it kind of evens the playing field up for everybody. It’s more of a tire rule I’m used to. Hopefully, we can build on last year’s runs and run pretty good. The World of Outlaws CASE Late Models will spend Memorial Day Weekend at Sharon Speedway for the 2023 Battle at the Border—three days of action with a $25,000-to-win finale on Saturday, May 27. TICKETS: bit.ly/41pBmeZ If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action live on DIRTVision – either online on with the DIRTVision App. Before the racing begins on Thursday, May 25, fans are welcome to join the Battle at the Border Kickoff Party on Wednesday, May 24 at the Quaker Steak and Lube in Warren, OH from 4pm to 7pm. Fans can interact with points leader Chris Madden, Ryan Gustin, and Logan Martin before they go to battle throughout the weekend. They’ll also have the chance to meet their favorite driver on Saturday, May 27 as part of a V.I.P. Package, involving a luncheon and pit pass from 12pm-2pm. For More Information, including the ticket link: CLICK HERE.

The World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: CASE Construction Equipment (Official Construction Equipment), CASE No.1 Engine Oil™ (Official Oil and Lubricant), DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Simpson Performance Products (Preferred Safety Gear Partner), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider), Toyota (Official Vehicle), and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include Arizona Sport Shirts/Gotta Race, ARP (Automotive Racing Products), Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, Fox Factory (Hard Charger Award), Low-E Insulation, MSD, Penske Racing Shocks, Quarter Master, Swift Springs, and Wieland Metal Services (Exclusive Racing Aluminum); along with manufacturer sponsors, including, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Capital Race Cars, FIREBULL, Germfree, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, Reliable Painting, Rocket Chassis, and Sea Foam.

Uncategorized

Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport To Run Second Acura ARX-06 GTP in 2024

May 17, 2023 ARP Trish

May 16, 2023 — SANTA CLARITA, CA

WTRAndretti adds second electrified Acura ARX-06 prototype to compete in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship
Second entry to debut in the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona

Acura Motorsports today confirmed Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport will run a second, electrified Acura ARX-06 prototype sports car in the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, starting with the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona in January.

Acura Motorsports and its performance arm, Honda Performance Development (HPD), developed the new Acura ARX-06 GTP effort for 2023, alongside the efforts of chassis constructor ORECA and a pair of IMSA championship-winning teams: Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport and Meyer Shank Racing.

Acura is a three-time series champion in the former Daytona Prototype International (DPi) category since joining the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2018, claiming the Manufacturers’, Drivers’ and Teams’ DPi titles in 2019, 2020 and again in 2022, the final season of the DPi era. Acura’s GTP debut in January 2023 resulted in an historic 1-2 finish for the manufacturer.

“The strength and depth of Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport, throughout their organization, has impressed us right from the start of our partnership in 2021,” said David Salters, HPD President and Technical Director. “That has continued through the development of the new, hybrid Acura ARX-06 GTP car. This is a very complex car, yet everyone at WTRAndretti has risen to the challenge. Our partnership with them has been very rewarding and we look forward to their continuing as a works factory Acura effort with the addition of a second IMSA entry in 2024.”

“It has always been our plan to go to a two-car program,” said Wayne Taylor, Team Owner, Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport. “There are so many advantages in being a two-car team and now, going up against all the other factory backed two-car efforts, it is vital. HPD and ORECA have built an amazing race car. When you look back at the season so far, we’ve proved to be quickest almost wherever we go and I believe we now have the car to beat. With the combination of HPD, ORECA, Andretti Autosport and all our corporate partners, we have a really strong organization.”

WTRAndretti’s impressive record includes two IMSA driver championships (2013, 2017), back-to-back IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Championships (2021, 2020), numerous endurance wins which has contributed to nine IMSA Manufacturer Championships for Acura and other manufacturers.

Driver line ups for the WTRAndretti GTP two-car program will be announced in the coming months. WTRAndretti also plans to continue to compete with the No. 93 Harrison Contracting Company Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 in the GTD class in 2024.

In addition to sweeping all three major IMSA prototype titles in 2019, 2020 and 2022 – for Manufacturers’, Drivers’ and Teams – Acura has won the last three Rolex 24s at Daytona, including a 1-2 finish for the manufacturer in both 2022 and 2023.

Uncategorized

Sheppard Charges to Farmer City 74 Triumph

May 17, 2023 ARP Trish

Sheppard Charges to Farmer City 74 Triumph

FARMER CITY, Ill. (May 15, 2023) – Brandon Sheppard worked forward from his 14th starting position to take the lead on lap 47 of the Farmer City 74 on Monday night. Sheppard then led the rest of the way for the $25,000 payday in the first-ever appearance at the track by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Sheppard became the 11th different winner in 16 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series races in 2023. The Illinois native crossed the finish line ahead Gordy Gundaker and 18th starting Brian Shirley. Gundaker had led the first 46 laps of the race from his outside pole starting position. Rounding out the top five were 21st starting Ricky Thornton Jr., and Hudson O’Neal, who recovered from a lap seven flat tire to race his way into the top five and back to the top of the Big River Steel Chase for Championship presented by ARP standings. For the first half of the race Gundaker ran virtually unchallenged as Shirley and Sheppard were making their way through the field. Sheppard was able to overtake Shirley for second and set his sights on the high-flying Gundaker. Sheppard closed the gap on Gundaker in traffic as he slipped by the Missouri driver with 27 laps remaining. Sheppard then pulled away to win by 1.251 seconds over Gundaker, who recorded his best career finish with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the 29th time in his career Sheppard was relishing the win in front of his home-state fans. “I don’t even know honestly how I did it. That was Farmer City at its best right there. That’s the Farmer City that I am used to. Put it up against the wall and it got slick where you can race all over it. It was right on, hats off to the track crew. Hats off to my team as well they have been working their tails off all year, we’ve been up-and-down a lot.” “This means the world to get to do this,” said the 30-year-old New Berlin, Illinois native. “Man, we have been working hard. It’s been a long year. I am just super-proud of everybody involved with the team. It’s been a really trying year for us and my team has no quit in them. We haven’t given up on anything. We just keep plugging away on this thing week in and week out.” Gundaker, who was looking for his first career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win and the biggest of his career came home in second. “I can’t hang my head on running second to Brandon and this group of cars. I got tight there for like five laps and just really screwed up. I am not much of a cushion banger as most of you know. I just made a few mistakes, and you can’t make mistakes against these guys. I saw Brandon down there creeping. I was just trying to fight him off and doing everything I could. Yes, I’m bummed, but you can’t hang your head running second.” Shirley, a former Knoxville Late Model Nationals winner, rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third. “The track started to give way a little bit. We probably didn’t have the setup good enough for 74 laps. I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight. It was good race.” The winner’s Sheppard-Riggs Racing-owned Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by True Timber Camo, Valvoline, Dennis G. Woodworth, Attorney at Law, Wyld Gear, Riggs Drilling Solutions, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bilstein Shocks, and Sheppard Auto Sales and Salvage. Completing the top ten were Jimmy Owens, Dennis Erb Jr., Daulton Wilson, Max Blair, and Devin Moran. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Farmer City 74Monday, May 15, 2023Farmer City Raceway – Farmer City, IL Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Bobby Pierce / 12.556 seconds Fast Time Group B: Gordy Gundaker / 12.472 seconds (overall) Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 20-Jimmy Owens[3]; 2. 42-Mckay Wenger[4]; 3. 18B-Shannon Babb[2]; 4. 25-Jason Feger[6]; 5. 58-Garrett Alberson[10]; 6. 4G-Bob Gardner[7]; 7. 1T-Tyler Erb[8]; 8. 7-Ross Robinson[9]; 9. 33H-Roben Huffman[11]; 10. 32-Bobby Pierce[1]; 11. 19R-Ryan Gustin[5]
Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[2]; 2. 18D-Daulton Wilson[1]; 3. 46-Earl Pearson Jr[5]; 4. B12-Kevin Weaver[4]; 5. 111B-Max Blair[8]; 6. 10-Garrett Smith[3]; 7. 16-Tyler Bruening[6]; 8. 18-Chase Junghans[9]; 9. 89M-Mike Spatola[7]; 10. 7W-JC Waller[10]
Simpson Race Products Heat Race #3 (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 11G-Gordy Gundaker[1]; 2. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[2]; 3. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[3]; 4. B5-Brandon Sheppard[6]; 5. 3S-Brian Shirley[5]; 6. 99-Devin Moran[7]; 7. 99B-Boom Briggs[9]; 8. 24-Ryan Unzicker[8]; 9. 80-Rich Dawson[10]; 10. 157-Mike Marlar[4] AP1 Insurance Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 1H-Hudson O’Neal[1]; 2. 76-Brandon Overton[4]; 3. 39-Tim McCreadie[2]; 4. 96V-Tanner English[3]; 5. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[5]; 6. 26H-Kyle Hammer[6]; 7. 11-Spencer Hughes[7]; 8. 89-Logan Roberson[9]; 9. 162-Logan Moody[8]; 10. 33 4-Billy Hough[10]
Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 111B-Max Blair[2]; 2. 58-Garrett Alberson[1]; 3. 10-Garrett Smith[4]; 4. 1T-Tyler Erb[5]; 5. 18-Chase Junghans[8]; 6. 32-Bobby Pierce[11]; 7. 16-Tyler Bruening[6]; 8. 89M-Mike Spatola[10]; 9. 19R-Ryan Gustin[13]; 10. 7-Ross Robinson[7]; 11. 33H-Roben Huffman[9]; 12. 7W-JC Waller[12]; 13. 4G-Bob Gardner[3] UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 3S-Brian Shirley[1]; 2. 99-Devin Moran[3]; 3. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[2]; 4. 99B-Boom Briggs[5]; 5. 11-Spencer Hughes[6]; 6. 26H-Kyle Hammer[4]; 7. 33 4-Billy Hough[12]; 8. (DNS) 24-Ryan Unzicker; 9. (DNS) 89-Logan Roberson; 10. (DNS) 80-Rich Dawson; 11. (DNS) 162-Logan Moody; 12. (DNS) 157-Mike Marlar
Farmer City 74 Feature Finish (74 Laps):

Race Statistics Entrants: 41Terminal Maintenance & Construction Pole Sitter: Jimmy OwensLap Leaders: Gordy Gundaker (Laps 1-46); Brandon Overton (Laps 47-74)Wieland Feature Winner: Brandon SheppardArizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup Feature Winner: n/aBrandon Ford TV Challenge Feature Winner: n/aMargin of Victory: 1.251 secondsGorsuch Performance Solutions Cautions: Hudson O’Neal (Lap 8); Tim McCreadie (Laps 28); Ross Robinson (Lap 34); Spencer Hughes (Lap 48); Tyler Erb (Lap 58); Debris (Lap 71) Series Provisionals: Spencer Hughes; Tyler BrueningFast Time Provisional: n/aSeries Emergency Provisionals: Ross Robinson; Boom BriggsTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Brandon Sheppard, Gordy Gundaker, Brian ShirleyPenske Shocks Top 5: Brandon Sheppard, Gordy Gundaker, Brian Shirley, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Hudson O’NealTodd Steel Buildings Hard Charger of the Race: Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Advanced 17 Positions)Wilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Dennis Erb, Jr.Deatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: Tim McCreadieEarnhardt Technologies Most Laps Led: Gordy Gundaker (42 Laps)Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Brandon SheppardMidwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Brandon OvertonO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Max BlairEtchberger Trucking Fastest Lap of the Race: Gordy Gundaker (Lap 2 – 13.166 seconds)MD3 Tough Break of the Race: Tyler ErbOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Corey Richman (Brandon Sheppard)ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Durham Racing EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Devin Moran (12.717 seconds)Time of Race: 36 minutes 37 seconds
The Big River Steel Chase for the Championship Presented by ARP Point Standings:

Uncategorized

NARC 410 SPRINT CARS INVADE PETALUMA SPEEDWAY FOR SALUTE TO FIRST RESPONDERS

May 17, 2023 ARP Trish

(5/16/23) Petaluma, CA … The 900-horsepower engines of the NARC 410 Sprint Car Series are about to roar at Petaluma Speedway as the traveling tour comes into town on Saturday, May 20th. The event will recognize local community heroes on the “Salute To First Responders Night.” All first responders will receive a discounted ticket of $10.00 with valid ID at the gate.

This marks the first of only two appearances at Petaluma this season and is the seventh event on the ultra-competitive 21-race NARC campaign which visits California, Oregon, and Washington.

The 3/8-mile adobe clay oval will undoubtedly feature a sensational bout of racing with heart-pounding and ground-shaking action. Sprint car teams are charged and ready to rip around the historic track. The weather forecast is predicted to be beautiful, with temperatures in the mid to low 70s.

“I’m looking forward to getting the job done at Petaluma again,” commented the most recent Petaluma winner Dominic Scelzi. “I was excellent there last time, and right now, we are in a good rhythm. But this series is tough, and the days of picking up easy wins are long gone.”

Companion divisions will include Dwarf Cars, Super Stocks, and Micro Sprints.

Championship Chase

Corey Day has been a titanic force to reckon with on tour, gaining both local and national attention. The Clovis teenager has been perfect in podium finishes and has three wins and three runner-up finishes on the current NARC campaign. Despite his success, Day holds a slim 16-point advantage (843-827) over Scelzi in the championship points race to become the next King of the West. He is a nine-time NARC winner, but has yet to win at Petaluma in his career with the series.

By comparison, Scelzi. the two-time defending NARC champion, is in top form with two wins in his last three starts. The Fresno pilot has yet to finish out of the top ten in main event competition this season. Dominic is hoping to add his 22nd NARC win to his trophy case and gain ground on the point leader

Who to Watch

Another driver to be on the lookout for is Chase Johnson. The Penngrove driver hopes to make a successful home track stand. He has already picked off a pair of NARC events at Petaluma (2017-2019.) He also has a couple of non-wing victories to his credit in 2023, and hopes to get his first NARC win on the year.

Sebastopol teenager Joel Myers Jr. is anxious to get back into his California racing routine. The newly-minted War Of The Wings Sprint Car Series title winner in New Zealand is looking to pick up his first top-ten finish of the season with NARC since getting back stateside in late April.

Auburn driver Andy Forsberg, who has more than 200 feature event victories and multiple track championships to his credit, is looking to score another NARC win in his illustrious career. He has four to his credit and Petaluma is one of his favorite venues.

A few other Bay Area racers hoping to perform well this Saturday, including Dylan Bloomfield of Oakley and Benicia’s Billy Aton. Also, catch Campbell veteran Bud Kaeding, Justin Sanders of Aromas, Tucson native Nick Parker, Justyn Cox and Shane Golobic from Roseville, and many more!

Fan & Competitor Info

Petaluma Speedway is located at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds on 100 Fairgrounds Road in Petaluma, California. Tickets are priced at $25.00 for Adults and $22.00 for Juniors/Military/Seniors (65+), $10.00 for Children, and Children 5 And Under are FREE. Online ticket purchases can be made at www.myracepass.com. For more information, log on to https://www.petaluma-speedway.com/.

The Pit Gates open at Noon. The drivers meeting will be held at 3:45 p.m. ARP Qualifying is set to begin at 5:00 p.m. with racing at 6:00 p.m.

NOTE: Race teams and fans traveling to the Petaluma area should be aware that there is road construction on Highway 37, which will force detours to other routes. Please check for alternative routes.

The NARC 410 Sprint Series is the leading 410 Sprint Car tour west of the Rocky Mountains. Since 1960, they have enthralled countless thousands of fans at tracks up and down the Pacific Coast. For more information, visit their website at www.narc410.com or social media pages.

The Salute To First Responders event at Petaluma Speedway can be viewed live on Floracing.com, along with every NARC 410 Sprint Car Series race.

The NARC 410 Sprint Car Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires, Floracing.com, and NAPA Auto Parts. Associate and product award sponsors include Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Beacon Wealth Strategies-Raymond James Financial, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, D & D Roofing, Diversified Machine Inc., Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, Kimo’s Tropical Car Wash, KSE Racing Enterprises, Lifeline LLC, Maxim Racing Products, Mettec Titanium, Pyrotect, Safecraft Safety Equipment, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Scelzi Enterprises, SCI Racing Products, Starr Property Management, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Lite Brakes, Williams Roofing, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.

NARC 410 SPRINT CAR SERIES
CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS
(AFTER SIX EVENTS IN 21-RACE SERIES – 5/15/23)

Corey Day, Clovis – 843
Dominic Scelzi, Fresno – 827
Justin Sanders, Aromas – 812
Shane Golobic, Fremont – 800
Justyn Cox, Roseville – 799
Chase Johnson, Penngrove – 794
Bud Kaeding, Campbell – 785
Joey Ancona, Concord (R) – 773
Dylan Bloomfield, Oakley – 762
Kaleb Montgomery, Templeton (R) – 741
Nick Parker, Tucson, AZ (R) – 607
Billy Aton, Benicia – 698
Ryan Bernal, Roseville – 656
Tanner Holmes, Central Point, OR – 641
DJ Netto, Hanford – 499
Colby Copeland, Roseville – 530
Craig Stidham, Fresno – 607
Cole Macedo, Hanford – 513
Dawson Faria, Tipton – 493
Michael Pombo, Easton – 490

UPCOMING EVENTS:
June 3rd – Placerville Speedway – Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial Race
Fastest Four Days in Motorsports
June 15 – Southern Oregon Speedway (Central Point, OR) – Thursday Night Thunder
June 16 – Douglas County Dirt Track (Roseburg, OR) – Friday Night Frenzy
June 17 – Willamette Speedway (Lebanon, OR) – Sprint Car Invasion
June 18 – Grays Harbor Raceway (Elma, WA) – Timber Cup

Uncategorized

Tickets Now on Sale for DuQuoin Mile

May 15, 2023 ARP Trish

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 15, 2023) – Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is pleased to announce that tickets are officially on sale for the series’ epic return to the DuQuoin Mile at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds on June 17 in DuQuoin, Illinois. The event, promoted by Track Enterprises, is destined to be one of the genuine highlights of the season as the world’s greatest motorcycle dirt trackers will share the spotlight with the future stars of the sport with the 2023 Mission Foods AMA Flat Track Grand Championship, sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association, determining this year’s amateur national champions at the venue from June 14-20. The “Magic Mile” has lived up to its moniker time and time again, playing witness to some of the most memorable races in the history of the Grand National Championship. That was certainly true the last time the heroes of the Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle did battle in a Main Event at the famously fast venue. On that day in 2015, three of the best-ever Milers went bar-to-bar to the checkered flag, with “Mile Master” Bryan Smith getting the nod in a 0.000-second photo finish ahead of current champion Jared Mees with AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Kenny Coolbeth just 0.013 seconds back. This year’s edition promises similar excitement and star power with the next generation of Progressive AFT heroes in attendance and taking notes. “I can’t imagine a better way to spend Father’s Day weekend,” said Bob Sargent, President of Track Enterprises. “The DuQuoin Mile is an amazing spectacle, and one that can be enjoyed in a family-friendly environment. This ranks as among the series’ most celebrated races with a history that stretches all the way back to 1955. It’s our pleasure to bring the eyes of the motorsports’ world back to the Magic Mile.” General Admission tickets are just $30 (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult GA ticket) if purchased in advance, $40 on the day of the race. Reserved Grandstand tickets,which provide spacious seating accommodations on the top two sections of the covered grandstands, are $40 if purchased in advance, $45 on race day. Pit Pass Upgrades are also available for purchase for $40 ($20 for kids 12 and under), which provide all-day access to the pits where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/trackenterprises/events/duquoin-mile-70363 to reserve your seats today. For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FansChoice.tv is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://www.fanschoice.tv. For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

Uncategorized

JOSH HART BLOWS INTO CHICAGO EYEING VICTORY

May 15, 2023 ARP Trish

OCALA, FL (May 15, 2023) — Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team are ready to get to Chicago and the Gerber Collision and Glass Rt. 66 NHRA Nationals. The return of the NHRA to the super-track located in Joliet, Illinois, just 20 minutes from downtown Chicago has the Florida-based driver and team owner focused on building on the momentum from the past month. Opening the season with three straight early exits followed by two final quad appearances in Las Vegas and Charlotte four-wide national events has Hart ready to get back to traditional side-by-side racing.

“I am ready to get back to racing one driver at a time,” said Hart. “We got our race car figured out in Las Vegas and Charlotte, but with four-wide racing there is a lot going on. I am comfortable in the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster now and I think we will start seeing results in Chicago. I raced there in Top Alcohol Dragster, so it isn’t quite a new facility for me.”

Josh Hart and R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster, photo by Gary Nastase/Auto Imagery

Prior to Hart’s move to Top Fuel, he raced at the Chicago NHRA national events from 2016-2018 with his best effort coming in 2017 when he raced to a semifinal finish. Since his Top Fuel career started Hart has picked up two national event wins and finished in the Top Ten last season, his first full year competing at the highest level.

“The Chicago track is a great facility and it feels like a major league stadium,” said Hart. “When I was racing Top Alcohol Dragster we had some good and no so good races in Chicago. The competition was tough then and it is tough now. You look around the pits and staging lanes and there are 14-15 drivers that can win every race. I love that level of competition and I think I have a team that can compete with anyone.”

Hart has experienced several highlight moments this season even though he is off to a self-described slow start. He opened the season winning the Pep Boys Top Fuel Allstar Callout at his home track. Three weeks ago, he earned his first provisional No. 1 qualifier leading the Top Fuel field after the Friday qualifying sessions at zMax Dragway. His R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster was the only race car to dip into the 3.6s on a very competitive racetrack on Friday.

“We made a great pass on Friday night in Charlotte and I really think that opened some people’s eyes,” said Hart. “I am confident in (crew chief) Ron Douglas and my crew guys and that run on Friday night showed everyone we have a solid team. I am looking forward to getting into the summer races because I think we have a racecar that can run in the heat as well as the cooler conditions. This weekend in Chicago will be a great race for us to start moving up in the points.”

Hart has steadily been reeling in his competitors over the past three races. He moved into the Top Ten in points leaving Las Vegas and after Charlotte he was less than a round out of eighth place and a move to sixth place is just three rounds away. The season is approaching the halfway point and Hart is not counting points by any stretch, but he is looking to level the performance playing field.

“No one is winning the championship in Chicago or during the Western Swing, but you want to be going rounds and earning qualifying bonus points to keep everyone sharp for the U.S. Nationals and the Countdown,” said Hart. “I would like to start getting to those semifinal rounds so we can have a shot at the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge races on Saturday. We have a car that can get the job done and as long as I do my job, we will be a great shape later this season.”

Hart just made his 40th Top Fuel start at the Circle K Four-Wide Nationals so his career is still in the early stages. This is his second full season on tour with a brand-new race car and a team that is learning every race. The entrepreneur looks at his race team like he looks at his successful business ventures. Everyone plays a role, and everyone needs to focus on the task at hand. They also need to have fun and feel appreciated.

“At the last race someone walked by our pits and mentioned that all my guys were smiling and looked like they were having a good time,” said Hart. “I take a lot of pride in creating that environment. This is a serious business, but I want to have fun and win races. My guys are busting their butts and I am doing everything I can to get every win light. We win together and we lose together.”

The R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster and Hart will get one qualifying run on Friday May 19 and two qualifying runs on Saturday, May 20. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday with the race being broadcast nationally on FS1.

Uncategorized

JUSTIN ASHLEY EXCITED FOR RETURN TO CHICAGO

May 15, 2023 ARP Trish

PLAINVIEW, NY (May 15, 2023) — Top Fuel standout Justin Ashley is ready to return to Chicago with his Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel dragster and the rest of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Ashley competed in two national events in the Top Alcohol Dragster category at the stadium style facility located in Joliet, Illinois when he was getting his career started. A lot has happened to Ashley since he buckled up for those high-speed passes down Route 66 Raceway in 2017 and 2018. He’s made the jump to Top Fuel, earned rookie of the year honors in 2020 and is a championship contender for the second consecutive season. With two wins already in 2023 Ashley and his Phillips Connect Toyota team are ready to reintroduce themselves to the Chicago area fans and two wide racing.

“I am definitely looking forward to getting back into the rhythm of traditional two-ride racing,” said Ashley, a seven-time Top Fuel winner. “Four-Wide racing certainly has its place and I have the utmost respect and appreciation for the level of excitement it brings to our sport. But we’ve now shifted our focus to Chicago and the traditional two-wide style of racing that comes with it. Our Phillips Connect Toyota team can’t wait for our return to Route 66 Raceway.

Justin Ashley and Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel dragster, photo by Gary Nastase/Auto Imagery

In addition to his Top Fuel responsibilities Ashley will be participating in a Toyota Supra race against Funny Car world champion Ron Capps on Friday. On Saturday by virtue of his win at the Winternationals Ashley along with the three other Winternationals semifinals will be racing for $10,000 and up to three championship points during the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. Ashley faces a rematch with Toyota teammate Antron Brown who he outran in Pomona during Saturday’s first round of qualifying. In Pomona Ashley took the #2Fast2Tasty win outrunning Steve Torrent and Leah Pruett and he will be looking to make it two specialty wins in a row.

“It’s going to be a busy weekend on and off the racetrack. The Toyota Supra race is something that I have been looking forward to since the first go-around in Pomona. The Supras are comfortable, fast and provide excellent entertainment for the fans. The Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge is a great opportunity to pick up valuable championship points early in the season. But our approach will remain the same. We will be focused on ourselves regardless of the opponent in the other lane.”

Since the start of the season Ashley and his Phillips Connect Top Fuel team that also receives major support from Mac Tools, Strutmasters.com, Lucas Oil and KATO Fastening Systems has been one of the toughest race cars on tour. At the top of the class in reaction time advantage and having a Mike Green and Tommy DeLago tuned 12,000-horsepower land rocket has made Ashley a tough out on race day. Heading into the summer months Ashley is looking to keep the pressure on the competition.

“We have a great team,” said Ashley. “It’s cliché. But we are only focused on being the best version of ourselves that we can be. We aren’t even halfway through the regular season yet, but we know runs we make now could pay off in the Countdown. Whether that’s during the Mission Challenge, qualifying, or on raceday, they all add up the same.”

The last time NHRA hosted a national event at Route 66 Raceway Steve Torrence took the Top Fuel title and Tony Schumacher is the winningest Top Fuel driver in Chicago with five wins. There are a handful of Ashley’s competitors with Top Fuel experience, but the driver and team owner is ready to take on the challenge.

“I think it is great we are going back to Chicago and racing at a venue that has a long history with NHRA,” said Ashley. “Mike, Tommy and the rest of our team have plenty of experience at this track. I love the stadium style racing and want to keep our momentum going into the summer.”

Qualifying will begin on Friday May 19 with one session at 6 p.m. followed by two rounds of qualifying on Saturday at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. The quickest 16 Top Fuel dragster will take to the Route 66 Raceway track at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The race will be televised nationally on F

Uncategorized

Pro Stock’s Camrie Caruso Looks to Double Up in Chicago Debut

May 15, 2023 ARP Trish

Pro Stock’s Camrie Caruso Looks to Double Up in Chicago Debut

MOORESVILLE, NC (May 15, 2023) — Camrie Caruso packed a lot of success into her rookie season last year. The reigning NHRA rookie of the year took another huge step forward over the first five races of the 2023 season picking up her first Pro Stock win, her second No. 1 qualifier and qualifying for the first ever NHRA Pro Stock All-Star Callout this weekend during the Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals. Caruso will have a new look for this race and the next ten this season as the team switches to the Tequila Comisario Chevrolet Camaro. The combination of a specialty race and an NHRA national event will make for a busy weekend, but thankfully not a new experience for the young NHRA rising star.

“I am glad we raced in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge during the Winternationals because that was like a warm-up for this Pro Stock All-Star Callout,” said Caruso, who has never competed in a big money Pro Stock race before. “This Saturday race will be a lot of fun and I can’t wait to see who gets called out on Friday. If I get called out I will be ready to take on any of these drivers. I am glad I have three KB Titan Racing teammates in this race with me. This will be a jam-packed weekend for the fans for sure.”

Caruso has never competed at Route 66 Raceway so the wrap around stadium look will be a new visual for the second-year professional. Last year Caruso took on over a dozen new tracks as she cut her teeth in one of the most competitive classes while also figuring out facility and track layouts. As a new member of KB Titan Racing Caruso has more time to focus on her driving and sponsors.

“Last year we were figuring out so many things every time we went to a new track,” said Caruso, who also managed most of the team responsibilities last season. “I have heard a lot about Chicago and I can’t wait to start making passes there. The NHRA hasn’t raced there in a few years, so I hope the fans turn out. We have heard they are expecting big crowds.”

The Pro Stock All-Star Callout festivities will begin on Friday for Caruso and the other seven competitors with a made for TV callout event in the pits followed by an autograph session. Saturday the drivers will be paired up for the first qualifying run of the day and following that run the winning driver with the quickest elapsed time will get to pick his or her second round opponent. The last qualifying session will set up an end of the day final round race that will not count towards qualifying but will hand the winner $28,000.

“It would be so great to win the first Pro Stock All-Star Callout race,” said Caruso. “These are some of the toughest drivers in the category so whoever wins will have some good bragging rights for the rest of the season. I like my chances in the Tequila Comisario Chevrolet Camaro.”

Three weeks ago, Caruso clinched her spot in the specialty race behind the wheel of the Big Jeff Audio Chevrolet Camaro and she picked up her first win driving the Powerbuilt Chevrolet Camaro. The marketing relationships Caruso has established this season have given her the stability and promotional support to focus on driving and fan interaction. Throughout the season she has participated in the “Just the Basics” Q&A with NHRA announcer Jason Galvin and that stage show will pick up again in Bristol at the Thunder Valley Nationals, June 9-11.

“I have enjoyed talking with the fans at events about when the best times to get autographs are or where they can get the best concession food,” said Caruso. “The whole idea with Just the Basics is to give fans some inside info on how the races work and how they can have the best time at the track. Jason and I have had a good time getting to know each other as well.”

Once qualifying wraps up and the quickest 16 cars are set Caruso will be looking to pick up her second win of the season. Currently sitting No. 5 in the point standings the young driver knows that every point is valuable even this early in the season.

“Our goal every race is to get qualified and then win the race,” said Caruso. “With the Mission Challenge there is a positive return if you can at least get to the semifinals because at the next race we could win some extra money and possibly those championship points. This Tequila Comisario Camaro will be ready to go and I have been working to stay focused on the driving.”

Qualifying for Caruso and the Pro Stock class will begin with one session on Friday followed by two more sessions on Saturday. Final eliminations will begin with Top Fuel and Funny Car at 11 a.m. followed by Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle. The race will be televised nationally on FS1.

Uncategorized

38th Season of DIRTcar Summer Nationals Set For June 14 Start

May 15, 2023 ARP Trish

PEORIA, IL (May 15, 2023) – The 38th edition of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals will kick off in June for a five-week Hell Tourrunning through nine states for the DIRTcar Late Models and DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modifieds.

The best DIRTcar Late Model drivers in the country will contest 28 races in 33 days, and the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals is set for 25 races in that same time frame – both starting the 2023 season at Peoria Speedway on Wednesday, June 14.

While the competition and grind will be the same, fans and drivers will see several new and exciting aspects to the tour this year as DIRTcar Racing celebrates its 40th year in operation.

FAMILIAR FORMAT: In a schedule arrangement not seen since 2019, the DIRTcar Summer Nationals Late Models return to its five-week format, spread out over a month (June 14 to July 16). In that time frame, the Late Models will visit 27 different tracks – five to six tracks a week.

The DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modifieds will continue to race alongside the DIRTcar Late Models throughout the month-long journey, but unlike the Late Models, they’ll conclude their championship battle (taking drivers’ 12-best finishes of the tour) at the 33rd annual Prairie Dirt Classic at Fairbury Speedway, July 28-29.

NEW LATE MODEL POINTS FORMAT: In 2023, DIRTcar Late Model drivers will see a new points format that rewards them for their week-to-week commitment on the Hell Tour.

At the end of each week of racing, the top-10 drivers in that week’s points standings will be awarded points fund checks – $10,000 to first place, $5,000 to second, $3,000 for third, and so on according to the scale below.

MORE: NEW POINTS FUND FORMAT ESTABLISHED FOR 38TH DIRTCAR SUMMER NATIONALS

Once a week is complete, it’s onto the next. All drivers will start from zero points at the beginning of each week and contest all events scheduled for that week.

The sum of $125,500 will be paid out in total, awarded to the top-10 finishers in each individual week’s points standings – giving one driver the chance to walk away with $50,000 if they win the points battle all five weeks.

An overall point standing will still be kept throughout the five weeks with an overall 2023 DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion still being crowned at the end of the season.

MARQUEE EVENTS: The DIRTcar Summer Nationals Late Model and DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified tours will visit some of the biggest Late Model and Modified events again this year. Among them include the 43rd running of the Herald & Review 100, the Birthday Race and Prairie Dirt Classic.

The Herald & Review 100 at Macon Speedway, on Thursday, July 6, is one of the most prestigious Late Model events in Midwest motorsports history. It ranks as one of the most prized events, along with the Prairie Dirt Classic, dirt Late Model Dream and the World 100. Last year, Bobby Pierce won the event for the third time – one away from tying his father’s four victories at the event.

The Birthday Race at Oakshade Raceway celebrates its silver anniversary on Saturday, July 15 with both tours. Donnie Moran won the inaugural event in 1999 and his son, Devin, won his first race at the event last year.

The DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modifieds return to Fairbury Speedway, Friday-Saturday, July 28-29, for the prestigious Prairie Dirt Classic, joining the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models. The special, invite-only, event awards $5,000 to the winner and will see the 2023 champion crowned there.

NEW TRACKS: The DIRTcar Summer Nationals tour will visit five new tracks this season – Randolph County Raceway (Moberly, MO), Benton Speedway (Benton, MO), Lake Cumberland Speedway (Burnside, KY), Hartford Motor Speedway (Hartford, MI) and Wayne County Speedway (Orrville, OH).

Of the five tracks, the Late Models and Modified tours will make their debut at Lake Cumberland Speedway, July 2, and at Wayne County Speedway, July 16 – which will be the final race on the schedule for the DIRTcar Late Models.

The Late Models will make their first appearance at Benton Speedway since 1997, while the Modifieds will make their debut the track.

If you can’t make it to the tracks, you can watch every race on the DIRTcar Summer Nationals Late Model and DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified schedules live on DIRTVision.

33rd annual Prairie Dirt Classic (Modifieds only)
Friday, July 28 | Fairbury Speedway | Fairbury, IL
Saturday, July 29 | Fairbury Speedway | Fairbury, IL

Uncategorized

Burton Finishes a Season-Best Sixth at Darlington

May 15, 2023 ARP Trish

May 14, 2023

A strong effort from the start to finish of Sunday’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway delivered a season-best sixth-place finish for Harrison Burton and the No. 21 DEX Imaging team.

Burton, running a throwback paint scheme honoring the No. 99 Ford his dad Jeff Burton raced in 1999, took the green flag from 14^th place, his best start of the season.

He quickly moved forward and ran in the top 10 for a time before ending the first 90-lap Stage in 11^th place.

He fell back a bit in the second Stage after a slow pit stop and ended that 90-lap segment in 18^th place, but was back in the top 15 by Lap 210.

Burton had dropped back out of the top 15 as the laps wound down, but a series of late caution periods offered him a chance to capitalize on the speed of his DEX Imaging Mustang.

He drove past a multi-car crash on a restart following a spin by Ryan Newman, and that put him in eighth place for the next restart, with six laps remaining.

Another restart crash paved the way for Burton to move into the top five headed into an Overtime run to the finish, where he came away with a sixth-place finish, his first top-10 of the season.

Burton told reporters at the track that the Darlington performance adds to the optimism that’s building for him and the DEX Imaging team.

“Things are starting to click,” he said, adding that as gets well into his sophomore season in the Cup Series he’s becoming more comfortable behind the wheel. “Things are coming easier… We’ve just got to keep this going.”

He said the strong Darlington run came at a good time and is something he and the team can build on in the near future.

“We really needed it,” Burton said. “The last few weeks we’ve kind of been on the other side of it, where we’ve been fast and didn’t have anything to show for it.

“This week was kind of the opposite. We were probably a 10th-place car and finished sixth. That was just about execution at the end, restarts at the end and getting a decent finish.”

Burton and the No. 21 team now turn their attention to the NASCAR All-Star Race next Sunday at the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Uncategorized

NASCAR CUP SERIES DARLINGTON RACEWAY GOODYEAR 400 TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE REPORT MAY 14, 2023

May 15, 2023 ARP Trish

William Byron Caps off Chevrolet’s Weekend Sweep with Win at DarlingtonChevrolet’s Series-Leading Eighth NCS Win of the 2023 Season

·       The win is Byron’s third NASCAR Cup Series win of the 2023 season – a series-leading feat – and his seventh career win in NASCAR’s premier series.
·       Byron’s triumph marked the 100th all-time win for the iconic No. 24 – all captured with Chevrolet.
·       The victory extended Chevrolet’s series-leading NASCAR Cup Series win record at Darlington Racing to 43 all-time victories at the 1.366-mile South Carolina oval.
·       The winningest manufacturer in NASCAR Cup Series history, Chevrolet now sits at 841 all-time wins in NASCAR’s premier series. ·       Chevrolet swept the NASCAR tripleheader race weekend at Darlington Raceway, with Christian Eckes and the No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Silverado RST team taking the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win, and Kyle Larson and the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Camaro SS team taking the NASCAR Xfinity Series win.

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 AXALTA THROWBACK CAMARO ZL1, and RUDY FUGLE, CREW CHIEF, NO. 24 AXALTA THROWBACK CAMARO ZL1 – Race Win Press Conference Transcript
THE MODERATOR: At the start of this press conference I shared an interesting stat with Jeff and Rick that I want to share with you guys, as well. This is the 100th win for the No. 24. Your reaction to that?
WILLIAM BYRON: Yeah, we were well aware on the team. It’s kind of that hump we wanted to get over pretty quick. I think I was a little bit anxious about it. Getting those two wins early in the year and then trying to get a third is tough. In this sport everyone is so competitive, as we saw today. You had four or five cars within a chance for the lead.
Yeah, just good to get over that hump and get to get that monumental win for the No. 24. It’s been a really special number to me already.
RUDY FUGLE: Yeah, for sure. Like he said, we were well aware. Been working on it since Phoenix.That number is iconic, and sitting next to the two that just left here, still got to pinch yourself to know you’re working for them, with them, and winning races in the 24. Just proud to get win No. 100.
Q. For both of you, what is it about each other that has you finding where you are now, three wins this year? What do you see in each other that encourages the other, and how does all that work?WILLIAM BYRON: I think that we just at our core, we trust each other in the decisions that we make. I think that goes a long way in this sport because a lot of times even if we don’t make the right decision, the right choice on a restart or the right adjustment or whatever, like we finally — we get back to where we need to be because of that trust. I think that’s what it takes.
RUDY FUGLE: Yeah, the trust and then I think each one of us has picked each other up at different times. Each part of the team has picked each other up all year long, so you prove that it’s a team. We’ve known that. We’ve tried to build that culture in year three, but it’s getting there for sure.
Q. William, were you aware that Harvick’s car was somewhat wounded there before the final restart, and did that factor into how you raced at all?WILLIAM BYRON: No, but I was aware that the guys behind me had some damage, so I was kind of picking a little bit based on that, but also the history of how each person races. Every restart is different. You’ve got to understand the characters around you, and I felt like we went with the decision that obviously put a little bit in the hands of the people around us, but also was — I would say in my head, coming to the restart was 75 percent the right choice.
I spent a lot of time debating in my head. You have a lot of time to figure it out. But I felt like I made the decision that made the most sense.
Q. You had a really good view of all the crazy stuff happening at the front there over the last 20 laps or so. It seemed at the green flag you really took off to get away from Harvick, which is obviously what you want to do, but were you concerned that he might attempt something that the other guys had racing for first over those last laps?WILLIAM BYRON: No, because I feel like — he’s going to do whatever he can to win, obviously, but it does matter in this sport how you race others. I think with the 1, like he had done that move early in the race, and it had come back his way, and then on that restart with them lined up in front of me, I kind of knew what to expect. That was part of our decision making there.
Then coming to that final restart, you kind of have to put that in the memory bank and think about, okay, who are the people I’m up against in this situation, and we tried to make the best decision based on that.
Q. William, that’s what I wanted to ask you about. Were you prepared before that next to last restart that Kyle and Ross were probably could get into a situation like that, and so you were prepared to just avoid whatever situation they were in?WILLIAM BYRON: Yeah, we talked about it. All those things — like emotions, if they factor into decisions are important for us. We talked as soon as the caution came out about what we thought was going to happen, and Rudy did a great job filling me in. Obviously I can’t listen but I can assume based on all the information.
We try to make the best decisions, and today I felt like we grinded our way through this race. It was a tough race for us, but we kept our heads in it, and that’s what made us make good calls at the end to get us in a position — I don’t think we really thought we could win in the first restart when there was that big wreck. Then we started to get a glimmer of hope and then we started to go to work on what are the things we need to do to win it.
Q. How much did last year’s finish here affect you coming in this year? Did you think about it a lot this weekend, or did you just put it out of your hand?WILLIAM BYRON: No, no, I don’t — I think — I came here being excited to race at Darlington. I felt like it would be a tough weekend because of some of our falloff the previous weeks, so I was hopeful that we worked on it, and we did, and we had a good long run car. I was just kind of thinking about those things, just really the things that matter to us and our team.
We went out and put together a great day. It wasn’t going to be the day we hoped for, but that’s how it goes sometimes. That’s kind of what we said on the radio. We’re like, man, we surprised ourselves.
Q. When you first got out of the car and they were asking you about win No. 100 for the 24, you said you were thankful to get the opportunity to drive that car, but you also said it felt like maybe you were too young at the time. I was just wondering, what is it years later now that has made you come to the realization that maybe that was the case?WILLIAM BYRON: Yeah, I think I’m just honest with myself and reflective, and I felt like — I feel like I’m a different person than I was when I stepped in the car. It was a lot of pressure driving the 24, no matter what way you slice it. It’s a big number and has a lot of meaning and being with a team like this.Yeah, I feel like that growth process happened, and I don’t really look back and say — I don’t compare myself to then. I have different people around me that really know me.
It’s great what we’ve built, and yeah, it’s different.
Q. Last year I want to say you won two in the first eight races and then didn’t win again. I’m curious —WILLIAM BYRON: Thanks for the reminder.
Q. I’m curious if those thoughts started going through your head after two early wins this year. I don’t want to say 10 races or nine races is a long winless streak, but did you feel that this year was going any different than after your two wins last year?WILLIAM BYRON: For sure. I think we had kind of a chip and a little bit of just trying not to let that happen again. So we’ve been probably overexerting ourselves a little bit just to make sure that we don’t repeat.
Now I think we’re safely in a groove here where we’ve got to continue our processes, continue what got us here, but it definitely feels different than what we had last year where I felt like after we won those couple races we were kind of — we had just kind of a false confidence, I think.We’ve learned from that. I have. I don’t intend on doing that again.
Q. You look at the stats this year, laps led, average running position, that kind of thing, stage wins, do you guys feel like you should have more wins than you have right now?RUDY FUGLE: I mean, this is the hardest form of motorsports in North America. It’s hard. We run up front and we lead a lot of laps and put ourselves in position, but you don’t always win. We’d like to win more, but to me it’s the process. It’s how do you put yourself in a spot to practice well and then qualify well and then race well and lead laps. That’s what we’re doing week in and week out, no matter the type of track. That’s what we didn’t have last year. We kind of — Atlanta is a win, was what it was, and Martinsville is on its own and a night race that was 40 degrees.
We weren’t dominating being in the top 3 or 4, but we consistently have the best running position of anybody in the series, and that’s what we’re doing. You don’t always win those races, unfortunately.I just want to know how to do — that our team can compete like that, because if you do that and you put yourself in position to win, you’re going to win the races like today where we weren’t the best car but we were close.
WILLIAM BYRON: I mean, Richmond was hard to swallow because I think our MO together is get the best finish that we can, and at Richmond, we went from battling Martin for the win, probably going to finish — maybe going to finish second and then go to 24th. So that one was the hardest year to go back on Monday and be like, what happened.
Yeah, other than that, I don’t know, races can go any way I feel like, but certainly the statistics show, which I’m a big stats guy, I look at our running position, like he said, and stage points and it looks pretty good. We’ve just got to keep the process that we have going because it’s obviously working.
Q. You look at the last few years, Harvick in ’20, Larson in ’21, you could throw Hamlin in that mix, as well. There’s basically a group of guys that have dominated, asserted themselves way clear of anyone else. Do you guys feel you’re capable of that and that’s your ceiling?WILLIAM BYRON: I think we’ll look back at today and think about the things we could do better, and I think that’s how we’re going to get better. I think when we come back here in the fall if we apply all those things — yeah, I think we’re on a good trajectory, but I don’t really look at potential as much as I look at, okay, how can we improve. There’s still a lot to do, but think about North Wilkesboro. I’ve got a late model race on Tuesday, so I’m going to think about that.
THE MODERATOR: Rudy, thanks so much for joining us, and congratulations.
Q. You’re going to Wilkesboro Tuesday night to race in the late model races. What do you think the fans’ reaction is going to be to being back in that place and watching you and a bunch of other Cup drivers Tuesday and Wednesday, and what do you expect out of the weekend leading into the All-Star Race?WILLIAM BYRON: Yeah, the track looks juror I couldn’t say. It really looks nice. The whole layout of the place has that feel of kind of a Wrigley Field or just a historic place that has a newness to it. I’m excited for it. I think the late model race will get me ready, running the truck race after that and running the Cup race on Sunday. Lots to do, and feel like we don’t really know what we’re getting into yet. I think I practice at 1:00 on Tuesday, so I’ll tell you after that.
Q. We touched on this maybe a little bit the other day, kind of talked about the fighting and stuff, but you look at with Ross and everything today, what would it take for you to maybe want to confront him and send a message that this isn’t how you want to be raced?WILLIAM BYRON: I mean, I’ve got to preface it with honestly, Ross and I race pretty good. I think he was a little bit better than me at times today, and we kind of traded positions here and there. But I do think some of the things I’ve seen feel like they’re a little bit over the line, and I feel like whatever that line is has to kind of come back down just a little bit. There’s a certain point when wrecking is just not the answer.
I don’t know what that would entail, but yeah, there’s a line. Like we all have pedals and a steering wheel, so there’s a way to give it back.
I saw a lot of wrecking today, so I didn’t really like that. I thought we had some really good cars out there and could have maybe settled it out that way.
Q. Did you anticipate Ross trying to pinch Kyle up high, so were you thinking, okay, I’m going to stay promptly as low as I can and keep momentum on that restart?WILLIAM BYRON: Yeah, we talked about it under the caution. We talked about just what was going on and whether we felt like that was going to come into play again.
I was surprised that Ross got the lead on the restart. I guess they were really close side by side. So he got the lead, and when he chose the bottom, I wasn’t surprised, so I chose the bottom, too. But I felt like what I really felt like was going to happen was somebody on the top was going to lose momentum because he was going to take that line away. I didn’t think they would wreck, but obviously it happened, and we rolled on by. I was kind of hopeful that they’d get choked up and I’d just go to the bottom three wide and clear them all.
Q. You said you’re a stats guy, so you know where you stack up against the competition, but do you feel like this team gets the respect or gets recognized as it should for what you guys are doing and where you should stack up in this garage?WILLIAM BYRON: I mean, I’ve heard a lot of different opinions. But I think as a team, I think — and statistically, I feel like we’re right where we need to be. There’s a couple other guys that are really close or even a little bit better in some categories. Kyle has been really strong. I feel like he’s really fast on some of the bigger tracks. Ross has good stats.
Yeah, I look at all that stuff, laps led, average running position, all those things.I feel like most of the things I’ve looked at, I feel like we’re pretty good. I do have a couple areas where I feel like we could improve and we’ll keep working on.
Q. You feel like you’re a top-5 driver in this garage right now?WILLIAM BYRON: Yeah, for sure, definitely that. It’s just really hard to separate at the top. I feel like there’s a few guys that could win every week. Being in that little bit is tough, but sometimes they go your way, and you just try to stay up there and in contention.
Q. What about winning at Darlington? This is a place that gets a lot of recognition for how tough it is and there’s always talk coming into every Darlington weekend that experience is going to win out. You’re a relatively younger guy. What does winning at Darlington say or what does it mean?WILLIAM BYRON: Yeah, it’s a track that takes a lot of patience, but also aggression. Like you can’t run at 90 percent. You’ve got to run at 98 or 99. But that edge is really close, and I feel like that’s what catches young guys out is, at least for me, I made mistakes and then try to back off and drive easier and it just doesn’t work.
It’s one of those places you have to be kind of on that edge and just have to really cut it close. But that’s what makes speed. But also being patient enough to not overstep that edge because you really can’t — you can maybe do it a couple times, but it’s tough.
Q. Where does it stack up for you?WILLIAM BYRON: It’s up there for sure. Probably not the win that sticks out just dominating the race or anything like that. But being up front, being in contention, and based on the past history we’ve had here, I think it definitely — it stacks up pretty high.

Uncategorized

William Byron Caps off Chevrolet’s Weekend Sweep with Win at Darlington

May 15, 2023 ARP Trish

NASCAR CUP SERIES DARLINGTON RACEWAY GOODYEAR 400

Chevrolet’s Series-Leading Eighth NCS Win of the 2023 Season

·       The win is Byron’s third NASCAR Cup Series win of the 2023 season – a series-leading feat – and his seventh career win in NASCAR’s premier series.
·       Byron’s triumph marked the 100th all-time win for the iconic No. 24 – all captured with Chevrolet.
·       The victory extended Chevrolet’s series-leading NASCAR Cup Series win record at Darlington Racing to 44 all-time victories at the 1.366-mile South Carolina oval.
·       The winningest manufacturer in NASCAR Cup Series history, Chevrolet now sits at 841 all-time wins in NASCAR’s premier series. ·       Chevrolet swept the NASCAR tripleheader race weekend at Darlington Raceway, with Christian Eckes and the No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Silverado RST team taking the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win, and Kyle Larson and the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Camaro SS team taking the NASCAR Xfinity Series win.

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 AXALTA THROWBACK CAMARO ZL1 – Race Winner QuotesOne year ago the frustration, the fire, that we saw in you of being wrecked from the lead with two to go. Now you come back here a year later, a little bit of redemption. Put into words what this one means.“Yeah, it’s pretty amazing. My granddad passed away on Thursday, and just man, I wish my family could be here. Just things have a way of working out, honestly. It just worked out that way today. We didn’t have the best third stage. We just kept battling, and things just kind of came back around. Want to wish happy Mother’s Day to my mom. My sister just graduated school, so big day. Definitely didn’t expect this. But just thankful for a great team. Just things have a way of working out, and to come back here to Darlington and have it go exactly the other way.” There’s a lot to celebrate, obviously. It’s NASCAR’s 75th anniversary. You do it at the second oldest track at Darlington. I just heard your team say win No. 100 for the No. 24. What can you say about this team and the process that you guys have gone through this year?“Yeah, I’m just thankful that I was able to get in this No. 24 car. I was too young at the time I feel like, but growing up, maturing and just having a great team around me and being able to build the core that we have. I have a great group of guys – Rudy (Fugle, crew chief), Brandon McSwain, Tyler (Jones, car chief), everybody on the team does a great job preparing good cars, and we work hard at it. It’s nice to see it go our way once.” TOP TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-10 RESULTS:POS. DRIVER1st William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Throwback Camaro ZL13rd Chase Elliott, No. 9 LLumar Throwback Camaro ZL17th Kyle Busch, No. 8 Lucas Oil Camaro ZL18th Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1 TOP-FIVE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS: POS. DRIVER1st William Byron (Chevrolet)2nd Kevin Harvick (Ford)3rd Chase Elliott (Chevrolet)4th Brad Keselowski (Ford)5th Bubba Wallace (Toyota)

The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season continues at North Wilkesboro Speedway with the NASCAR All-Star Race on Sunday, May 21, at 8 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE QUOTES:Ross Chastain, No. 1 Worldwide Express/UPS Camaro ZL1Finished: 29th The second-to-last restart, what happened in turn one? “Full commit into (turn) one. I got really tight, drove up and turned myself. I wanted to squeeze him, I wanted to push him up. We had been trading positions back-and-forth all day and I wanted to push him up, for sure, but definitely didn’t want to turn myself into the wall.”
How frustrated do you think Kyle Larson is going to be with you after this one? “I’m the one standing here talking to you (at the infield care center). For everyone at Worldwide Express, Unishippers, GlobalTranz and to drive the big brown truck today with UPS on the hood was a dream come true. We had a shot and that’s all we could ask for.”
You had one of the dominant cars today, but Kyle Larson also had a dominant car. Take us through what happened.“Just fully committed into turn one and got way tighter than I thought. For our Worldwide Express Chevy and driving the big brown truck with UPS on the hood today – definitely wanted to squeeze him (Kyle Larson) up, but didn’t want to turn myself and ultimately took ourselves out of the race.”

Chase Elliott, No. 9 LLumar Throwback Camaro ZL1Finished: 3rdI know you wanted to win, but you had a solid race.“It was a solid finish, for sure. I felt like our No. 9 LLumar Chevy was plenty good enough to go up there and battle with those guys to win. I just struggled so bad in traffic; way worse than other guys do driving this caliber of a car. I just feel like from that standpoint, I’ve got a lot of work to do on my end. Alan (Gustafson, crew chief) and our team has done a really good job preparing good racecars. Our pit stops really kept us in the game all day. Obviously we got really fortunate and lucky with those cautions coming out.”
Chase, your best finish since returning from the injury. I know it wasn’t easy. You had to start mid-pack. Take us through the race and how you felt at the end.“Yeah, I feel like our car was plenty good, really, throughout the whole day. I just do such a terrible job getting up through traffic. I get stalled out behind guys, and I just feel like people driving cars like mine don’t do that. They tend to get up through there and get to where they belong.
I feel like everything on the other side of the wall and the car that I was driving was really, really good, so I need to just try to improve and keep going to work on the areas that I’m struggling in and try to build on the improvements we’ve made. But I certainly have a long ways to go.
Really proud of our No. 9 LLumar Chevy team’s effort to keep us in the fight. Pit stops were unreal, and obviously got really lucky there at the end with those guys crashing, and then the caution coming out quick for myself and guys like Brad (Keselowski) to keep our spots like that.I’ll certainly take third, and appreciate all the effort this weekend. We’re making some small gains here and there, just got to get some more.”

Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1Finished: 8th “Overall we had a good day. We found a good package in practice that we utilized to get a pretty decent qualifying spot compared to where we’ve been. We just kept our heads in the game all day, made some good changes and caught a few lucky breaks. We’re happy with today’s finish as a team. “

Noah Gragson, No. 42 Sunseeker Resorts Camaro ZL1Finished: 26th“Great day overall for our No. 42 Sunseeker Resorts Chevy team. I thought everybody at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB did a great job. I know it’s not the finish we want, but I think that’s the best race we’ve put together throughout the year. Not being so result-orientated, but more on just building the process and getting better as a team. This process is the most important thing to me right now. It’s been tough this year. I thought we put together a really good race, even with damage. We’re getting better – from practice, to qualifying, to the race. Those improvements, it’s going to take more weeks of it, but we need strong weeks like this. The pit crew did an unbelievable job day long. We picked up spots on pit road it felt like every time. I think this team is going to start getting into a rhythm now. These tracks coming up – a few of them I’ve ran, but it’s a little different running with a different organization. But once we get through these early summer months and start going to tracks for a second time, I really think we’re going to build on this program. Really happy with our day. Grateful for the process, improving and all the guys’ hard work.”

TEAM CHEVY RACE HIGHLIGHTS:
Stage One·       Team Chevy drivers took the third through seventh-place starting positions in today’s NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway, led by the reigning Daytona 500 Champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and the No. 47 Kroger / Country Crock Camaro ZL1 team.
·       The only caution in Stage One fell on lap 37 for fluid on the track, allowing the field to come down pit road for the race’s first round of pit stops. Daniel Suarez was issued a pit road speeding penalty, forcing the No. 99 Quaker State Camaro ZL1 team to restart the race from the rear of the field.
·       Kyle Larson also had an issue during his pit stop under caution, putting the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 team back in the 23rd position for the restart with 47 laps to go.
·       The remaining portion of the 90-lap opening stage went caution-free, with William Byron and the No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL1 team leading the Bowtie brigade in the runner-up position.
·       Four drivers from four different Chevrolet teams recorded stage points with a top-10 finish in Stage One: 2nd      William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL14th      Ross Chastain, No. 1 Worldwide Express / UPS Camaro ZL15th      Kyle Busch, No. 8 Lucas Oil Camaro ZL17th      Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Kroger / Country Crock Camaro ZL1

Stage Two·       During a round of pit stops during the stage break, Kyle Larson’s No. 5 HendrickCars.comCamaro ZL1 pit crew laid down a quick stop to gain Larson four positions on pit road – the most positions gained among the top-10 cars.
·       A strong contingency of Team Chevy drivers were represented in the top-10 of the running order mid-way through Stage One with William Byron – running in second – leading the manufacturer to five of top-eight positions at the lap 123 marker.
·       With green-flag pit stops taking place at the mid-way point of the stage, Byron regained the second position as the field cycled through.
·       In the closing laps of Stage Two, Chastain closed in on then-race leader Martin Truex Jr., ultimately taking the lead on lap 151.
·       The battle for the stage win continued all the way to the green-white checkered flag, with Chastain ultimately taking the stage win – his fifth stage win of the season.
·       Chastain led Team Chevy to five top-10 finishes in Stage Two, including a sweep of the top-four positions: 1st      Ross Chastain, No. 1 Worldwide Express / UPS Camaro ZL1 2nd      Kyle Busch, No. 8 Lucas Oil Camaro ZL13rd      Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL14th      William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL19th      Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Kroger / Country Crock Camaro ZL1

Final Stage / Post-Race Notes·       Continuing a strong performance on pit road, the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 pit crew powered off another fast stop during the stage break, getting Larson off first on pit road for a front-row starting spot for the green flag of the final stage.
·       Running only a handful of laps at the start of the final stage, a caution flew on lap 193 for a multi-car accident involving Team Chevy drivers Erik Jones, Noah Gragson, Austin Dillon and Daniel Suarez. Dillon and Suarez’s teams were unable to make repairs, forcing an early departure from the race for both teams.
·       After posting top-10 finishes in both stages, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. brought out the fifth caution of the day after spinning in turn three. Minimal damage to his Camaro ZL1 allowed the team to make repairs and continue in the race.
·       Team Chevy drivers occupied the top-four running positions when another green-flag pit cycle began with 45 laps remaining in the race. As the green-flag stops cycled through, Larson regained the lead on lap 263.
·       Larson and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 team was pacing the field when a spin by Ryan Newman with 18 laps to go brought out the sixth caution of the race. With the lead pack hitting pit road, race leader Larson pit for four tires and fuel, ultimately winning the race off pit road. Larson took the bottom lane at the choose cone to lead the field to the green with 13 laps to go.
·       The final caution of the race involved the race’s top-two drivers – Larson and Chastain – ultimately setting up a green-white-checkered flag for the finish. ·       Taking the final restart of the race from the front-row, Byron powered his No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL1 to the lead, leading the final two laps en route to his series-best third NASCAR Cup Series win of the 2023 season.

Uncategorized

CORVETTE RACING AT LAGUNA SECA: What Might Have Been

May 15, 2023 ARP Trish

Fourth-place finish in team’s 25th race on Monterey Peninsula MONTEREY, Calif. (May 14, 2023) – Corvette Racing’s 25th start at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca didn’t end the way the team had hoped as the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R finished fourth in GTD PRO in Sunday’s MOTUL Course de Monterey.

Both Jordan Taylor and Antonio Garcia led in class during the fourth round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, but a costly late-race penalty ended any chances of the team’s ninth class victory at Laguna Seca.
As it did a year ago when it led early, Corvette Racing played to its strength Sunday with a pit stop near the 30-minute mark under full-course yellow. Taylor had moved up to fourth in class at the start and brought the C8.R to the pit lane for four tires and fuel. A quick stop gained Taylor two spots to second, which became three to first when the then-leading No. 9 Porsche was penalized for leaving pitlane with pit exit closed.
Taylor continued to lead to the one-hour mark when Corvette Racing engineers brought him in again under another full-course yellow for fuel, tires and a driver change to Garcia. Another quick stop got Garcia out second in class – only because the No. 23 Aston Martin took less fuel and no tires to leave the pitlane first.
The order remained unchanged when the final scheduled GTD PRO stops began with 67 minutes to go. The No. 3 was the next-to-last car to pit for fuel and four more tires as Garcia rejoined second and 3.8 seconds behind the Aston Martin.
Disaster struck during the race’s final full-course yellow inside the final hour when Garcia inadvertently followed the GTD PRO leader around the safety car, which resulted in the penalty.
Corvette Racing’s next event in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen on Sunday, June 25 from Watkins Glen International.

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – FINISHED FOURTH IN GTD PRO: “It’s a situation where when it’s green, you’re fighting all the GTDs. But when it comes to the safety car, we aren’t the same category. So we need to figure that out. The safety car split the GTD field. The GTD leader was the real GT leader, so that’s why everyone behind us moved to the right to get a pass-around, and the 23 moved to the right, as well. But because we were the GTD PRO leaders, we should have stayed where we were. But that’s the way the rules are. I just made a mistake and went to follow the 23 when they were wrong. I had a big queue of GTDs behind me, and all I could see behind me were GT cars moving to the right. So that’s what confused me. If I could have seen the Mercedes or Lexus GTD PRO cars behind me staying to the left, I would have figured it out. But there were a ton of cars between us. It’s a mistake that shouldn’t happen. On race pace, we had a car to win. We did everything right on strategy to be in the lead. As we showed at the end, I think we had a little more on tire degradation. We’ll review what happened, do a full analysis of the situation, and I know this won’t happen again.”

JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – FINISHED FOURTH IN GTD PRO: “With how the weekend started, we were definitely behind the eight-ball with our issues in practice. It was a good bounce-back to be closer to the front in qualifying than a year ago, and our race pace today seemed pretty strong. We were able to get to the lead with a great pit stop after the second yellow. Once we were in clean air, the car was strong and we could kind of control the race. We definitely didn’t have the fastest car. But we had track position, and around here that’s so important. The guys did a good job. All our stops were smooth and clean. It’s one of those things where one little thing where can really impact a race. It’s one of those things that happen, and I can guarantee you it won’t happen again. This will be a big learning lesson.”

Uncategorized

Cadillac Racing finishes first, third at Laguna Seca

May 15, 2023 ARP Trish

Bourdais, van der Zande drive No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R to victory

MONTEREY, Calif. (May 14, 2023) — Sebastien Bourdais joined the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R crew on the pit wall to cheer Renger van der Zande to the checkered flag Sunday in the MOTUL Course de Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
The celebration continued in an emotional Victory Circle as the team recorded its initial win in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Grand Touring Prototype class and its first since July 2022.“With the two months we’ve had lately, this feels really good,” said Bourdais, who earned his 11th IMSA victory. “I’m really, really happy for the boys. You can see it. Emotions run high, and it’s not because of a race win. We had to dig ourselves out of a big hole. It’s really good for the whole group and for Cadillac. Renger did awesome as always. I couldn’t be happier for everyone involved here.”
The victory was the first for Cadillac Racing in prototype competition at the racetrack and the second overall. Max Papis drove a Cadillac CTS-V to the win in the 2005 Speed World Challenge GT race. Cadillac, which has won two of the four GTP races this season, increased its prototype win total to 29 since 2017 and 68 in all classes since 2004.

The No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R, co-driven by Pipo Derani and Alexander Sims, earned third place after starting fourth and reclaimed the GTP driver and team championship points lead.
“It was a great weekend for Cadillac Racing with the No. 01 Cadillac leading the field home at Laguna Seca and the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac also getting a podium,” Cadillac Global Vice President Rory Harvey said.
High resolution photos from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for editorial use
Bourdais and van der Zande won three races in 2022 in the No. 01 Cadillac in the final season of DPi competition. Disappointment overrode prospects in the first three races of the IMSA season and in an FIA World Endurance Championship appearance two weeks earlier at Spa-Francorchamps. Even this weekend, a shunt in the first free practice session and an off-track adventure in the sand/gravel negated a proper qualifying simulation and Bourdais qualified sixth in the nine-car GTP field.

“This team has been pushing really hard, long hours, dealing with the ups and downs of racing, so congratulations on a great race victory,” GM sports car racing program manager Laura Wontrop Klauser said. “I hope they enjoy every second of this win and they take a minute to relax because we have to get ready for the next race.”
That is the centenary 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 10-11. The IMSA race-winning car will be prepped and shipped to France for the classic endurance race in which Bourdais and van der Zande will be joined by endurance driver Scott Dixon.
Bourdais handed off the wheel to van der Zande during a full-service stop under caution with 1 hour, 36 minutes left in the 2-hour, 40-minute race on the 2.238-mile, 11-turn road course and rejoined the field in seventh position. With 1 hour, 22 minutes left, Derani bolted to the lead and set the quickest lap of the race at 1 minute, 16.421 seconds in increasing the margin over the No. 10 Acura.Van der Zande overtook the No. 10 for second with 1 hour, 11 minutes left and retained the spot until Derani brought the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R onto pit lane for fuel, tires and the mandatory driver change to Sims. Van der Zande made his final pit stop two minutes later and the Cadillacs ran 1-2 when another full-course caution slowed the field.
On the restart with 41 minutes left, van der Zande got a run on Sims and completed the pass for the lead that he did not relinquish. Van der Zande, competing in his 100th North American sports car race since 2013, picked up his 19th victory.
Derani and Sims will be joined by endurance driver Jack Aitken for Le Mans. The Cadillac Racing trio of Hypercar entries will also include the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R, co-driven by Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn and Richard Westbrook, that is the full-time FIA World Endurance Championship entrant.
The next IMSA race is June 23-25 at Watkins Glen International in New York.

No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R
Sebastien Bourdais: “Everyone knows how challenging the last couple of months have been since our Sebring retirement. It’s never fun to go through those phases, but it’s part of racing. It’s something you have to pull through. I think the whole group was starting to lose a little bit spirits, I’d say. So it’s really good that we’ve gotten our head out of it with a win today. The weekend started really bad again with a crash on Friday that compromised the amount of testing we had and data we got for long runs. It trickled down to Saturday because we didn’t get a qualifying sim, so the effort wasn’t that great to get sixth. The start was kind of chaotic and we ended up buried in seventh or eighth. The guys did a really good call on strategy and cycled us to third. Things were starting to look up at that point. The car was starting to come alive and the track gripped up. It felt good and I could start to push and run the two leaders down. Then the yellow came out and it put us all the way back to seventh. Renger came out and did it again! I couldn’t ask for a better teammate. When he’s put in those positions, I don’t think there is anybody better than him. He made some pretty critical passes to get us to the front and managed from there. I’m super happy for Cadillac. You could see the emotions running through everyone, and this sets up as best as possible going to Le Mans. We’ll try to carry that momentum.”
Renger van der Zande: “Thanks to Seb for the nice words. We are a good team and are fantastic teammates with everyone. Chip Ganassi Racing and Cadillac with all the effort they are putting in, it’s days and nights of work. They aren’t sleeping much. So it’s amazing to pay it off with a win like this. Like Seb said, we cycled a few times to the front and the back. I love this place. Laguna Seca is one of the best racetracks. It’s a very interesting track for setup. The tire wear is high, and you need to set up the car for it. From a driver’s perspective, you need to manage it as well. Coming from a big shunt at Spa to win this race is what you call lows and highs! This is our Le Mans car. It’s going to Le Mans and it’s a winner. It’s a winning car that will get flown over to Le Mans and fight for the big one. Today, we’re going to celebrate a bit. There’s not much time to Le Mans to put everything in perspective that we learned today about the car, the engine, the hybrid, the braking and all the systems that in there. It’s so nice when we get a win like this. One of the tricks they gave me in the car gave me this win with braking. I’m really proud of the whole team. I was testing Tuesday at Portimao and then Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Laguna Seca. It’s been a good day and a good week.”No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R
Pipo Derani: “It was a good race. Happy for Cadillac with a win and on our side happy with my stint. IMSA racing is so unpredictable and there are so many things that can go into account. It was a good points day for us with the Whelen Engineering Cadillac. The whole team did a fantastic job and happy to go away with a podium. We continue to push this fight forward.”
Alexander Sims: “Pipo was doing a fantastic job and had really good pace. I was given everything I could have been given to do the job, but ultimately I didn’t have the same pace as Pipo and I made two costly errors in terms of the restart and getting my tires up to temperature properly and Renger driving on the outside of me and then just being too cautious in traffic and Nick (Tandy) got around me. Good points day and nice to be on the podium.”

Uncategorized

chevy racing–nascar–darlington–alex bowman

May 15, 2023 ARP Trish

NASCAR CUP SERIES

DARLINGTON RACEWAY

GOODYEAR 400

TEAM CHEVY MEDIA AVAILABILITY TRANSCRIPT

MAY 14, 2023

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1, addressed the media at Darlington Raceway regarding an update on his back injury. Media Availability Quotes:

BOWMAN ON THE STATUS OF HIS BACK INJURY:

“I don’t have a time for an estimated return. I have a doctor’s appointment this week to get some more x-rays to see how it’s healing and we’ll go from there. I’m obviously mobile. Super fortunate that the injury wasn’t any worse than it was. Obviously a lot of people have had that flat landing in a sprint car and have been hurt much worse than I was. I’ll heal up and come back when I can.”

IS THE ALL-STAR RACE ON THE TABLE STILL?

“I don’t know.. it’s hard to answer that without seeing what the x-ray says this week. Really – I’m not a doctor, so I don’t have a clue what I’m talking about right – but I haven’t have an x-ray since the injury. So until we do that and see how it’s healing, I just don’t know.”

DO YOU LOOK AT HOW YOU’RE FEELING AND IF YOU’RE IN A LOT OF PAIN OR NOT? ARE YOU WATCHING THE RACES AND ARE YOU DOING THINGS TO PUSH YOURSELF TO SEE HOW YOUR BODY IS READY?

“Yeah, I would say the most painful thing for me is laughing, coughing, sneezing or trying to sleep. Like laying down hurts pretty bad. Standing up and walking around isn’t so bad. I’ve been able to walk the whole time, so that’s been nice. I’ve kind of kept myself busy. This week, I was able to get back into the gym a little bit, which was really good because not working out for a couple weeks is like the worst thing in the world for me. They have these air bands that kind of pump up around your muscles so you can work out with really light weights and still get a good workout from it. I was doing curls with five-pound weights. Typically I do 10’s, so five’s was a good workout for me.”

WHAT’S THE MENTAL SIDE FOR YOU? HOW ARE YOU DEALING WITH IT MENTALLY BEING OUT OF YOUR RACECAR?

“It sucks. It sucks really bad, but it’s pretty self-inflicted. It was my choice to go sprint car racing and I knew what I was signing up for. Yeah, it really sucks being out outside of the racecar. But everybody at Hendrick Motorsports has been super supportive, as well as everybody at Ally. I got to spend some time with the people from Ally this week. Definitely sucks not being in the car though.”

WILL YOU BE CONTINUING TO DO SPRINT CAR RACING ONCE YOU GET HEALTHY?

“I don’t know.. that’s a tough decision. For me, at some point, yes. I just don’t know when that point will be. Obviously sitting out of the car again when I was really recently out of the car last year isn’t good for me. It’s not the money or anything.. I want to win Cup races and I don’t like sitting out. At some point, yeah I will get back into a sprint car and a midget, for sure. I just don’t know when that point will be.”

HAVE YOU BEEN IN A SIMULATOR OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT AT THIS POINT, OR CAN YOU NOT SIT DOWN IN THAT POSITION THAT LONG?

“I could probably be in a simulator fine. I would say that pulling my belts tight would probably hurt. Like if I had to drive a racecar today – every time they dropped the jack, like that’s what would hurt. Sitting, I can do… it’s the impact stuff. Like driving down the road, you hit a bump and it sucks. Coughing or sneezing, kind of like that jarring movement, is what hurts for me.”

IF THE SCAN COMES BACK AND THE DOCTOR SAYS ‘WE THINK YOU CAN RACE’, ARE YOU FOR SURE GOING TO RACE OR IS THERE ANY SORT OF PAIN TOLERANCE OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD DETERMINE IF YOU RACE OR NOT?

“I don’t know until I talk to the doctor. But if the doctor is like ‘yeah, you’re healthy enough to race’, I think for me, I just have to go get in a car; probably do some pit stops, maybe drive around a parking lot and go from there.”

WHEN ARE YOU MEETING WITH THE DOCTOR?

“I think my appointment is Wednesday of this week. So, we’ll see from there, but hopefully it’s good news.”

HAVE YOU TALKED TO ARIC ALMIROLA AT ALL ABOUT HIS PROCESS AND WHAT HE WENT THROUGH?

“I really haven’t. I feel like anybody that I have talked to that has broken their back, it’s all been way more serious than me. So for me, I fractured T-3. It’s really high and I haven’t been in a brace because it’s so high. They could brace my neck, but then I’d probably be in more pain from the neck brace than anything. I’m in pain, but I can still do everything. Just super fortunate. I haven’t talked to Aric (Almirola), but I watched his Race Hub interview and it sounded like he was in quite a bit worse shape than me, as far as pain-wise. Just fortunate that I’m not that bad.”

OBVIOUSLY, YOUR HEALTH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, BUT HOW MUCH DOES NOT BEING IN THE RACE, WATCHING THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN RACES AND PLAYOFF RACES GO AWAY, DO FOR YOU COME PLAYOFF TIME?

“Yeah, you look at the races I missed the first two weeks. Statistically, Dover and Kansas are the best places for me by a mile, so it’s a huge bummer. Mentally to sit there and just watch – I mean how good the No. 48 ran at Dover, just knowing that I feel like I’m really good there, that’s my best race track and how good we could have been. And then kind of the same at Kansas. I love that race track, as well.

So yeah, missed out on a lot of points, but that’s on me. I decided to go sprint car racing. I’m a big boy.. it’s on me. There’s nobody to blame. Just have to get healthy and makeup for it when I can come back.”

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’VE KIND OF THROWN AWAY YOUR SEASON?

“I don’t think so. We’re still in the playoffs right now in points where we sit. You look at what Kyle Busch has done and what other guys have done post-injury. It sucks, right? It’s not where I want to be, especially with the season that we were having. But I know we can be as strong as we were before I got hurt when I come back.”

JEFF ANDREWS SAID THAT THEY WOULD KIND OF RE-EVALUATE THEIR POLICIES ON WHAT YOU CAN DO OUTSIDE OF THE TRACK. IF THEY SAID YOU CAN’T GO SPRINT CAR RACING, WOULD YOU TRY TO FIGHT THAT?

“Nobody has really said anything to me. I’m super appreciative to be at Hendrick Motorsports. I’m going to do whatever they are comfortable with and supportive on. Obviously I’ve really enjoyed sprint car racing in the last year. INAUDIBLE…

I don’t know.. we’ll just have to wait and see, and cross that bridge once we come to it.”

HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO DO ANYTHING THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT HASN’T HURT?

“Yeah, I’ve done a lot of things that hasn’t hurt. Getting back into the gym last week was really good. Those bands are crazy. Like I guess it cuts off all the circulation and kind of gives you a workout with really light weights from that. That, to me, that’s kind of what I’m doing for therapy. It’s not technically physical therapy, but just kind of getting back moving.

Yeah, it’s been good. For the most part of the day, I’m not in that much pain, honestly. Laying down is probably the worst pain.”

WHAT WAS THAT PHONE CALL LIKE FOR YOU TO MAKE AND WHO DID YOU TALK TO?

“Yeah, I talked to about everybody while I was laying in the hospital in Iowa. I thought I was fixing to get yelled at, but I think the sympathy of the pain that I was in helped out (laughs). Everybody has been super supportive, so just appreciative of that because they had every opportunity to be pretty mad at me. Glad they weren’t and glad they’ve been nothing but supportive. You never want to make that call and let your team down like that. But at that point, there was nothing I could do. It had happened, it’s done. Just have to move forward from it.”

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO GET TIME IN A VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS ERA NOW WHERE YOU DON’T GET MUCH TRACK TIME IN A CUP CAR?

“Yeah, it’s super important. For me, it was also a lot of fun and kind of a way to unplug and go do something fun. I think it’s a pretty well-known fact how stressful the Cup garage is, right? Every mistake you make is highly publicized. You get to hear about it from everybody. Everybody expects perfection. You can go race other stuff and it’s low pressure. It’s kind of like it was growing up, so I enjoy that aspect of it and just to be able to go have fun. I do feel like it helped me in the Cup car. It slowed things down. Obviously it’s hard to say if we were having such a good year because I was racing so much, but we had the best average finish of anybody at the time I got hurt. Without a penalty, we would have been one-point out of the (points) lead at the time. We had a really good season going and hopefully we can pick up where we left off.”

ARP Racing News

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Invades the Hawkeye State

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: World of Outlaws Make First 2023 Trips to Attica, Sharon

World of Outlaws Spices Things Up in Partnership With Jade City

Cruz pedregon–chicago advance

Buddy Hull Looking to Turn Up Heat at Route 66 Nationals

Gordy Gundaker, Tanner English, Detail Sharon SpeedwayThe Series returns to the Hartford, OH track for the Battle at the Border May 25-27

Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport To Run Second Acura ARX-06 GTP in 2024

Sheppard Charges to Farmer City 74 Triumph

NARC 410 SPRINT CARS INVADE PETALUMA SPEEDWAY FOR SALUTE TO FIRST RESPONDERS

Tickets Now on Sale for DuQuoin Mile

JOSH HART BLOWS INTO CHICAGO EYEING VICTORY

JUSTIN ASHLEY EXCITED FOR RETURN TO CHICAGO

Pro Stock’s Camrie Caruso Looks to Double Up in Chicago Debut

38th Season of DIRTcar Summer Nationals Set For June 14 Start

Burton Finishes a Season-Best Sixth at Darlington

May 14, 2023

NASCAR CUP SERIES DARLINGTON RACEWAY GOODYEAR 400 TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE REPORT MAY 14, 2023

William Byron Caps off Chevrolet’s Weekend Sweep with Win at Darlington

CORVETTE RACING AT LAGUNA SECA: What Might Have Been

Cadillac Racing finishes first, third at Laguna Seca

chevy racing–nascar–darlington–alex bowman

Racer News and Results