BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 19, 2022) – Top Fuel points leader Brittany Force in the Monster Energy / Flav-R-Pac dragster and Funny Car points leader Robert Hight in the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS sit in the No. 1 qualifying spots Friday at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway. In a hugely competitive Top Fuel field, Austin Prock has the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist dragster in 10th while John Force and the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevy are 11th. Brittany Force and the Monster Energy team drove into tire smoke in their first qualifying attempt at Brainerd International Raceway for only a 4.422-second pass at 174.19 mph. After a rain delay and under a Minnesota sunset, David Grubnic and Mac savage tuned Force to a blistering 3.685 at 333.49, putting the Monster Energy team one step closer to earning their sixth No. 1 of the season. “This Monster Energy team was very happy with that second run, especially after not making it down there in the first one. When the rain came we got a little nervous about getting it a second session in tonight, since there’s no lights. NHRA got it cleaned up quickly and Grubnic came in and said it was a great race track so our plan before the rain was a little different after the rain came in,” Force said. “I love night racing. Nothing cooler than watching drag racing at night. Seeing the header flames, it was my favorite thing as a kid in the grandstands. We saw what was capable ahead of us and we knew we could get it done. David Grubnic and Mac Savage, they wanted to get the car down there and run in the 60s and we ran exactly what we wanted. I love this race track, we always lay down good numbers and we’ve had success here before so we’re hoping to get it done again.” Robert Hight and the Auto Club Chevy had no problems coming out of the box to run 3.897-seconds at 328.22 mph, the second quickest run of the first qualifying session. Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham tuned the Auto Club Chevy to a 3.865 at 330.31 in the second session to rocket to the No. 1 spot. If it holds, Hight will earn his fourth No. 1 of the season, 75th of career. “First off, NHRA did an amazing job drying the track and giving us great conditions to make some great runs. This is a breath of fresh air after where we’ve been with the humidity and heat. This is great conditions, and it looks like we’re going to have it all weekend so the fans are in for a treat, there is going to be a lot of side-by-side close races,” said Hight who is chasing his third No. 1 qualifier at Brainerd International Raceway. “This Auto Club Chevy, we made two runs in the 3.80s today. You have to be happy about that. Our track specialist, Lanny MiGlizzi, he’s been telling us numbers that are good enough to run our best all year. The air just makes it hard, a little muggy. Great job to my guys. Two consistent runs, this is exactly what we need to be doing this time of year, making consistent runs, because we’re heading into crunch time. I’m excited where we’re at for this point in the season.” Austin Prock and the Montana Brand / RMT dragster experienced overall improvement during their Friday qualifying efforts. With two solid runs, the first a 3.760-second pass at 326.79 mph that was quickest of the first session and earned them three valuable bonus points and the second a 3.752 at 323.35 that has them nestled in the No. 10 spot, the Montana Brand / RMT team is heading in the right direction. “Good day in this Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist pit. We started out low of Q1 with a much needed clean quick run. I can’t tell you how great it felt to see a smile on all of my guys’ faces. It lit a fire inside all of us,” Prock said. “We followed up with another clean run. Was slower than we wanted but everything repeated. Parts look great and we can begin to lean on this thing. I’m excited for tomorrow.” John Force and the PEAK Chevy started Friday in Minnesota having to shutoff early going only 5.061-seconds at 148.30 mph in the first qualifying session. There was improvement in the second session with a 4.121 at 242.98 after Force lifted just before the finish stripe. “A little bit of a tough start for this PEAK Chevy. We didn’t quite make it down there today but there’s still tomorrow, two more runs and conditions all weekend are supposed to be good,” Force said. “I’m not worried. Danny Hood, Tim Fabrisi, they’ve gotten this car figured out and we’ll be good.” The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals will continue with qualifying Saturday at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. local time. Eliminations will begin Sunday at 11 a.m. Television coverage of the event continues with a second qualifying show Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Eliminations will air Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX Broadcasting Network. -30-

AUSTIN PROCK, 26, Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist DragsterQualifying:10th; 3.752-seconds; 323.35 mphBonus Qualifying Points:+3 (quickest Q1)BRITTANY FORCE, 36, Monster Energy / Flav-R-Pac DragsterQualifying:1sr; 3.685-seconds; 333.49 mphBonus Qualifying Points:+3 (quickest Q2)JOHN FORCE, 73, PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SSQualifying:11th; 4.121-seconds; 242.98 mphBonus Qualifying Points: 0ROBERT HIGHT, 52, Auto Club of Southern California Chevy Camaro SSQualifying:2nd; 3.931-seconds; 323.81 mphBonus Qualifying Points:+2 (2nd quickest Q1)

CHEVROLET RACING IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES BOMMARITO AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 500 WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY MADISON, ILLINOIS TEAM CHEVY QUALIFYING RECAP AUGUST 19, 2022 MADISON, ILLINOIS (August 19, 2022) – Friday was the day Will Power worked toward throughout his stellar NTT INDYCAR Series career.   The 2014 Series champion and 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner pulled up on to the track surface from pit lane with laser focus and laid down two monster laps to capture the NTT P1 Award at World Wide Technology Raceway.  With an average speed of the 182.727 mph, the driver of the No. 12 Verizon 5G Team Penske Chevrolet cemented his place in INDYCAR history by tying the legendary Mario Andretti with 67 career poles – the most in INDYCAR history. “I would never have ever been able to do this without Verizon and Penske,” an elated Power said. “I’ve had such a fantastic career and they’ve given me such a great opportunity and I cannot thank them enough. Of course Chevrolet too because a lot of those poles were with the Chevy engine.” To date, 42 of Power’s 67 pole positions have been in a Team Penske car powered by the Chevrolet 2.2-liter V6 INDYCAR engine. Friday’s pole was the fourth of the season for Power, his fourth at WWT Raceway and the 11th of the season for Chevrolet in 15 events. Marcus Ericsson (Honda) will share the front row with Power. Penske teammates Josef Newgarden, No. 2 PPG Chevrolet, and Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Odyssey Battery Chevrolet, will start from Row Two. The Bommarito Auto Group 500 is set to start at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT. USA Network and the broadcast from INDYCAR Radio are set to come on-air at 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT.

DRIVER QUOTES: WILL POWER, NO. 12 VERIZON 5G TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET – POLE WINNEREARLIER THIS SEASON WILL POWER WAS SAYING ‘OH, I DON’T THINK I’M GONNA GET THERE TO TIE MARIO.’ YOU’RE THERE. YOU’VE GOT NUMBER 67.“Amazing. And I would never have ever been able to do this without Verizon and Penske. I’ve had such a fantastic career and they’ve given me such great opportunity and I cannot thank them enough. Of course Chevrolet too because a lot of those poles were with the Chevy engine.”DID BEING THE CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER AND BEING ABLE TO LEARN OFF YOUR TWO TEAMMATES’ RUN HELP YOU GET NUMBER 67 TODAY?“I think the only thing was to know the laptime to go for. I’m still kind of shaking because I tried to go wide open in (turns) Three and Four. It got halfway around wide open then it wasn’t gonna make it. So I downshifted and kind of floated out toward the wall but there was nothing left on the table, put it that way. On the second lap, I was loose in One and Two then tried to go again as much as I could in Three and Four. But man… just amazing, amazing year so far. And this is a this is a big victory in a way for me to reach the 67 number and equal such a legend of the sport in Mario Andretti. I just can’t believe that I’m right there with Mario because there’s been no one like him.”AND IT’S ANOTHER POINT ADDED TO YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP. YOU WERE RUNNING FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS EVERY YEAR FOR A DECADE EXCEPT LAST YEAR. DID YOU THINK YOU’D HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE AT THIS POINT IN YOUR CAREER TO GO FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP?“I did. I did because we had such potential in a lot of those years. I worked very hard this year and am really good mentally and I’ve got such a good group around me this year. I mean, I’m just I love the group, the crew that I have. They’re a really good, positive group and they’re great guys. So they’re as much to do with this championship as I am… more to it.”ON THE SUCCESS HE’S HAD THIS SEASON:“This year. Yeah, it’s definitely something I worked on in the offseason. Just understanding the potential that I had year after year is to try and harness that and not let them go. And that’s what we’ve done. Which means at times I settled for a second position, which isn’t my favorite thing, but it is what you have to do to win a championship.”YOU HAD A COUPLE OF WOW MOMENTS AND STILL GOT THE POLE:“Yeah, it was. It was it was on the edge because I thought I’m gonna have to go wide open in (turns) Three and Four, which I tried to get all the way to halfway through and then it kind of went around and then I kind of floated wide so then quickly downshift. And then I went into One and had a big moment in the middle but just kept after it knowing that if I can repeat that I could get a pole.” JOSEF NEWGARDEN, NO. 2 PPG TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET, QUALIFIED 3RD:“If I could have done a better first lap, I think for sure (it would have been pole). The car was really capable there as you saw on the second lap. I just did not get that first lap good enough. I wish I could have a redo, but you can’t. You have to go out and put your best foot forward when it’s time. I had a great car. PPG and Team Chevy… the speed was there. I wish I could have a redo. I’m excited. We have speed here this weekend. We just have to put that to best of use for tomorrow.“I wish I had maximized my car. I obviously didn’t do a very good first lap, and I knew it. We had a pole car in there again but not getting that first lap in there is what’s going to hurt us. I feel good for tomorrow. I think we have a great car. I just hate missing it. Man… we definitely had a good enough car to put it on pole. We’ll try do that better next time around, but I’m excited for tomorrow with PPG.” SCOTT McLAUGHLIN, NO. 3 ODYSSEY BATTERY TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET, QUALIFIED 4TH: “Josef is one of the best on ovals that I’ve ever seen, so as a teammate it’s difficult. When you go out first, you’re getting a balance for everything and feeling it out for the guys. At the end of the day, I felt like we did a really good job with the Odyssey Battery Chevy. I felt really strong. As long as we didn’t go backward in qualifying, we were going to have a good run. This sets us up well for tomorrow, so we’ll see how it goes.” PATO O’WARD, NO. 5 ARROW MCLAREN SP CHEVROLET, QUALIFIED 7TH: “I think I was a little too conservative on my run. We had maybe a couple more tenths of a mile an hour, but I don’t think we had one more like the guys at front. Seventh isn’t horrible. It’s a track position race. It will require good pit stops, good in- and out-laps and a good racecar, obviously. For the race, things will be different because it will be race running and there will be traffic. It’s quite different from the morning where you really don’t know what to expect. The problem is, as we saw with Felix, that if you get to greedy the track can bite. It was more important to put in those two laps solidly rather than taking a big risk.” CONOR DALY, NO. 20 BITNILE ED CARPENTER RACING CHEVROLET, QUALIFIED 16TH: “This is our first weekend here together as a team with Ed Carpenter Racing. It’s weird to think… I’ve been with this team for a long time, and this is our first race together here. It’s one of my favorite tracks without a doubt. From where we started our first practice session today to where we are now is a huge step forward. There’s a lot of positive there. It will be a tough battle. The race is going to be challenging, but we’ve made a huge step forward with our car. To pick up a couple of tenths from practice to qualifying is big. It’s not what we wanted, but if we can start inside the top-15 it gives us a decent chance for tomorrow.“We made a good step forward from practice. To pick up two tenths from practice to qualifying is a lot, the ECR guys have done a great job working with me. This is my first time here with this team, so it’s been a learning curve for all of us to get what I want out of it. We’re getting better and better every run and we did it again in qualifying. It’s obviously not where we want to be yet, but I do love this track. It’s one of my favorites. We can race forward!” KYLE KIRKWOOD, NO. 14 BOMMARITO AUTO GROUP AJ FOYT RACING CHEVROLET, QUALIFIED 20TH: “Decent qualifying. We showed up today after our test last week with pretty different track conditions. We don’t feel like we’re as strong as what we were at the test. But in general, I think we had a solid qualifying I think that should put us mid pack or thereabouts. There’s definitely more in it, but we’re just still working with the car to get it in its happy place like it was at the test last week, which has definitely taken some tuning. Unfortunately, on weekends like this, you don’t get a bunch of tires to really figure it all out and enough time and enough clean track to nail everything down. It takes a couple sessions to really pinpoint exactly what you need. So we’re still working with it, but I think we have a very good heading coming into tomorrow’s race. Historically, the Number 14 car has been better in race conditions than it has in qualifying so we have that going for us.“We were playing with the car a lot, and we don’t have enough tires to exactly figure it out in practice. It required me to definitely bang on my tools and rely on those for that second lap. The first lap was OK, the second lap was a little better. But if I had the confidence I think we should have been a little quicker. Bommarito stepped up and joined us for this weekend. It’s really cool because we have a home crowd here with St. Louis and Bommarito Automotive Group. They’ll have about 1,000 people up there in that Turn Four suite. It’s cool to have the primary sponsor on the side of our No. 14 AJ Foyt machine.” RINUS VEEKAY, NO. 21 BITCOIN RACING WITH BITNILE ED CARPENTER RACING CHEVROLET, QUALIFIED 23RD: “I expected a little more out of the car, but I really pushed as hard as I could. We were really at the edge of the tire, even more so than last year. We’ve been struggling a little bit today, but this is a track where you can pass a lot of cars. Especially on restarts, there are a lot of things happening. Last year, I came from 24th and was almost up to the Top 10. You can definitely pass and we can do work from the back.” DALTON KELLETT, NO. 4 K-LINE AJ FOYT RACING CHEVROLET, QUALIFIED 24TH: “Not exactly the qualifying that we were looking for today. This is a tough track to pass so I was hoping we were a little further up the grid. It seems we had a bit more understeer than expected going into the end of the run. Last year this was where we scored our best finish. Overall, we feel like the race platform that we have is better than where we were at the end of last year and at the start of the test a couple weeks ago. So optimistic for the race and just have to be smart on track and in pit lane, make some moves and move up from where we’re starting.” ED CARPENTER, NO. 33 ALZAMED NEURO ED CARPENTER RACING CHEVROLET, QUALIFIED 25TH: “I’m pretty frustrated that we haven’t been able to solve our issues. It gets exacerbated by being the first to qualify constantly because it goes off of entrant points, but that’s the rule. We’ll be starting pretty far back, but we’ll see if we can do something with it.” NTT INDYCAR SERIES News ConferenceWill Power THE MODERATOR: Will Power, you just happened to pick up career pole 67, Will Power. This is his fourth pole here, fourth of the season. A little history perspective: last time we saw an INDYCAR SERIES driver, Will, pick up 67, when Mario did, you go all the way back to August 1st, 1993. It’s a mark that has stood for some time.Watching you celebrate this thing, the smile…WILL POWER: Yeah, something I’ve had my eye on for a while. I think when I got to 60, I was like, This could be possible. Yep, it’s definitely a big box to tick.But, yeah, now focusing forward on the race. That’s really the big thing on my mind, is having a good day. Yeah, everyone’s at the front, so it’s just going to be…It’s pretty typical of INDYCAR, right? It’s just going to go down to the last race. The way I see it, even on points right now, it’s that close, it can just flip. It’s going to be about who can finish ahead of who. Simple as that.THE MODERATOR: Questions.Q. Will, there’s been times you and I have talked, back when you were at 60, 61 poles, you said, I don’t know if I’ll be able to get there. Did you honestly feel that way? Now that you’ve reached your goal, is it just a huge sense of relief?WILL POWER: When I got the double pole at Iowa, that’s when it became really realistic. The year before I had one pole. I think the year before that I had three. It was getting increasingly harder to get pole position. I was kind of thinking, This is going to be pretty hard to beat.But the double pole at Iowa was real key. Yep, great team, great engine, great crew. That’s what I’ve had. I’ve been lucky.Q. (No microphone.)WILL POWER: No, I’m not feeling any relief because I’m so focused on the race and the championship. I can think about that later and feel good about it. Right now it’s just so important to have a good car in the race and race well, yeah, have a solid day.Q. Will, how excited are you to come to St. Louis to compete in a race that means so much here in the city?WILL POWER: Yeah, I think this is a really good event for us. It’s promoted really well. Always get a big crowd. They do a really good job of presenting it.It races well also. Can be a bit mixed up with fuel races and so on. Yeah, it’s one of my favorite tracks, favorite ovals. I really enjoy it. I enjoy it a lot.Q. You’ve won the pole at Portland, coming up next. Can 68 happen there?WILL POWER: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, next two races after this, next two qualifying sessions, have to be very good qualifying sessions. Yeah, that totally is going to be the goal.But, yeah, not even thinking about that right now. Just thinking about tonight.Q. How do you expect the second lane to run?WILL POWER: Yeah, I’m really hoping that the second lane brings that in. I’m hoping that second lane practice brings the lane in.I think it will be a bit better than Texas because it hasn’t got the coating. Maybe it’s not enough cars. But, yeah, we’ll see. Man, the race would be so good if we could do that, people actually run there in the first 20 laps. It will just be a completely different race to what it was.Hoping it works.Q. How much of it is confidence driven, when drivers see guys going up, versus rubbering up the track up there?WILL POWER: Exactly that. They see people running reasonably fast on the outside lane, if that happens to be the case in the practice, it will give people confidence to go there and know it’s rubbered in. When they come into practice, yeah, hopefully it works.Q. How much of this race becomes a fuel conservation race as opposed to others?WILL POWER: Yeah, the second lane, it’s actually got more grip up there because it’s not polished. It just needs rubber. I think if we can get it in a bit, when the 30 minutes is up, everyone else comes out, people actually go up there.Yeah, the fuel race, if there is some yellows at the beginning, people will try to make it on a three-stop. That’s when it becomes a bit of a fuel stop. It really depends on when the yellows for that, otherwise it’s a four-stopper.Q. (No microphone.)WILL POWER: Not something I take note of or even look at those things.Q. If you go all the way to the inside of four, that is the points race. The top six guys are all up there battling. What does that really say about this points race that you’ve got everybody right up there at the top of the grid?WILL POWER: Yeah, it just shows no one’s letting up, no one will until the end.Yep, pretty tight battle to the end. It will be very interesting to see how it unfolds. All you can do is just do your best. Do your best. Can’t control some things, so see what happens.Q. Now that you’ve tied Mario, which you wanted to do, what do you want to do next?WILL POWER: I need to tie Michael in wins. That’s one win away.Q. Need to tie Helio in 500s.WILL POWER: I can almost guarantee that is not going to happen before I’m done. That’s a pretty good run if you could do that.THE MODERATOR: Congratulations, Will. Thank you. Enjoy the rest of the night.

Marcus Ericsson completes career-best INDYCAR qualifying run, will start on the outside of the front row in Saturday’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500
Teammates and championship contenders Alex Palou and Scott Dixon qualify fifth and sixth for Honda and Chip Ganassi Racing
Devlin DeFrancesco leads rookie field with 10th-place qualifying run

MADISON, Ill. (Aug. 19, 2022) – In the best qualifying performance of his nearly four-year NTT INDYCAR SERIES career, Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson qualified second today for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway and will start on the outside of the front row in the 260-lap twilight contest.

Third in the Drivers’ Championship standings, just 12 points out of first, Ericsson heads a Chip Ganassi Honda effort that saw teammates Alex Palou and Scott Dixon qualifying fifth and sixth, respectively. Dixon is currently second in the championship standings, just six points out of first with three races remaining; while defending champion Palou is fifth, 33 points back.

Takuma Sato, winner of the 2019 race here, will start eighth for Dale Coyne Racing, while Devlin DeFrancesco led the rookie contingent with a 10th-place qualifying effort as Andretti Autosport Hondas qualified ninth through 12th. In all, Honda drivers posted 11 of the top 15 qualifying speeds in the 25-car starting field.

Bommarito Automotive Group 500 Honda Qualifying Results
2nd Marcus Ericsson Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
5th Alex Palou Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
6th Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
8th Takuma Sato Dale Coyne Racing with RWR Honda
9th Romain Grosjean Andretti Autosport Honda*
10th Devlin DeFrancesco-R Andretti Autosport Honda
11th Alexander Rossi Andretti Autosport Honda
12th Colton Herta Andretti Autosport Honda
13th David Malukas-R Dale Coyne Racing with HMD Honda
14th Simon Pagenaud Meyer Shank Racing Honda
15th Jack Harvey Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda
17th Graham Rahal Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda
18th Helio Castroneves Meyer Shank Racing Honda
19th Christian Lundgaard-R Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda
21st Jimmie Johnson Chip Ganassi Racing Honda

R – Rookie
* qualified 9th, but will start 18th due to a penalty for an “unapproved engine change”

Quotes
Marcus Ericsson (#8 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) will start second, career-best INDYCAR start: “I’m feeling great! The #8 Bryant Heating & Cooling Honda was really good out there, the team has done a really good job all day really. We rolled off really strong in practice; then we tuned on it for qualifying and we did a really good run. It’s my best-ever qualifying result in my Indy car career so I’m happy about that! Of course, it would be nice to be on pole, but we’ll try again and I think we’ll have a really strong package in the race tomorrow.”

Alex Palou (#10 Chip Ganassi Honda) will start fifth: “I’m super happy. This is my [career] best oval qualifying that isn’t the Indy 500. Starting top five is always a good place, and we [Honda and Chip Ganassi Racing] have three cars in the top six to try and fight for a race win tomorrow. First of all, though, I need to finish the race. We didn’t finish the race last year and then I need to try and get as many points as possible. We’re in the championship fight and maybe it’s not my best place to gain points on the leaders, but starting up front we can make it happen tomorrow!”

Fast Facts
This weekend’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 will mark the 14th Indy car race to be held in the St. Louis area, and the seventh at the repaved and updated 1.25-mile World Wide Technology Raceway oval. The 260-lap event is the fifth and final oval race of the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.

World Wide Technology Raceway has been the scene of several significant Honda Racing INDYCAR milestones since it returned to the series schedule in 2017.

In 2018, a second-place finish for Alexander Rossi and third for Scott Dixon was enough for Honda to clinch the 2018 INDYCAR Manufacturers’ Championship, the first in an ongoing streak of four consecutive manufacturers’ titles for the company.

One year later, Takuma Sato won a thrilling night race, besting Ed Carpenter in a tense closing-lap battle. Honda went on to win a second consecutive Manufacturers’ Championship that season.

Dixon scored his 50th career win in 2020 at World Wide Technology Raceway, in the opening race of a double-header weekend. He went on to claim his sixth NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship at the end of the season; with Honda winning a third consecutive Manufacturers’ title. Earlier this month, Dixon recorded his 53rd career victory in Nashville, moving him to sole possession of second on the all-time Indy car winners list.

CHEVROLET RACING IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES BOMMARITO AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 500 WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY MADISON, ILLINOIS TEAM CHEVY NTT P1 AWARD WINNER QUOTE – WILL POWER AUGUST 19, 2022

WILL POWER PUTS CHEVY ON POLE AT WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY TIES MARIO ANDRETTI FOR MOST POLES IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES HISTORY Team Penske’s Will Power, No. 12 Verizon 5G Chevrolet, had a historic run for the NTT Pole Award for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway by tying Mario Andretti for the most poles in NTT INDYCAR Series. Power now sits at 67 poles: EARLIER THIS SEASON WILL POWER WAS SAYING OH, I DON’T THINK I’M GONNA GET THERE TO TIE MARIO. YOU’RE THERE. YOU’VE GOT NUMBER 67. AMAZING, “Amazing. And I would never have ever been able to do this without Verizon and Penske just I’ve had such a fantastic career and they’ve given me such great opportunity and I cannot thank them enough and of course Chevrolet too because a lot of those polls were with the Chevy engine” DID BEING THE CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER AND BEING ABLE TO LEARN OFF YOUR TWO TEAMMATES RON DID THAT HELP YOU GET NUMBER 67 TODAY,“I think the only thing was to know the lap time to go for and I’m still kind of shaking because I tried to go wide open it 3 and 4.  I it got half way around wide open then I knew it wasn’t gonna make it. So I  downshifted and kind of floated out towards the wall but there was nothing left on the table. Put it that way on the second lap and it loosened in one and two and then try to go again as much as I could in three and four. But man just amazing, amazing year so far. And this is a this is a big victory in a way for me to reach the 67 number and equals such a legend of the sport and Mario Andretti so I just can’t believe that I’m right there with Mario because he’s a legend.” AND IT’S ANOTHER POINT ADDED TO YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP., YOU ARE RUNNING FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS EVERY YEAR FOR A DECADE EXCEPT LAST YEAR, NOT SO MUCH IT YOU THINK YOU’D HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE AT THIS POINT IN YOUR CAREER TO GO FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP?“I did I did because we had such potential and a lot of those years and worked very hard this year and really good mentally and I’ve got such a good group around me this year. I mean, I’m just I love the group, the crew that I have, they’re really good positive group and they’re great guys. So they’re as much to do with this championship as I am maybe more to do with I” ON THE SUCCESS HE’S HAD THIS SEASON:“This year. Yeah, it’s, it’s, it’s definitely something I worked on in the offseason, just understanding the potential that I had year after year is to try harness that and not let them go. And that’s what we’ve done. Which means at times I settled for a second position, which isn’t my favorite thing, but it is what you have to do to win a championship.” YOU HAD A COUPLE OF WOW MOMENTS AND STILL GOT THE POLE:“Yeah, it was. It was it was on the edge because I thought I’m gonna have to go wide open in three four, which I tried to get all the way to halfway through and then it roll bottomed and then I kind of floated wise so then quickly downshift. And then I went into one then had a big moment in the middle of one, but just kept after knowing that I’d done a six if I can repeat that. I couldn’t get a pole.

Hot Laps at 12pm CT on Saturday Afternoon, $25,000/Win Finale Begins 7pm CT on Saturday Night

JACKSON, MN – August 19, 2022 – More heavy rains hit the Jackson, MN area on Friday afternoon and prevented the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series from racing at the 44th annual AGCO Jackson Nationals once again.

Initially the second of two preliminary nights, that show is now postponed until Saturday afternoon to serve as the lone lead-up to the $25,000-to-win finale on Saturday night. It creates a doubleheader at the Jackson Motorplex with Hot Laps scheduled to begin at 12pm CT prior to the big nightcap at 7pm CT.

Saturday afternoon’s program will now utilize the standard World of Outlaws format, but the Jackson Nationals finale will still offer a unique format (appearance points only) that will be finalized shortly. The pits will open at 10am tomorrow with the grandstands opening at 11am. The grandstands and pits will be cleared following the completion of the first show.

For those with a three-day pit pass, you may bring it to the track tomorrow and receive a refund from Thursday/Friday’s rainout. Those with one-day passes will be good to go for Saturday’s afternoon show. If you purchased any online general admission tickets, those will automatically be refunded. Any buyers at the box office can mail in their tickets for a refund.

Following this weekend, The Greatest Show on Dirt completes The Second Leg of the Northern Tour at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, ND on Friday, August 26, and Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, ND on Saturday, August 27. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

SCANDINAVIAN SPEED STARS RETURN! FIA/FIM European FinalsSanta Pod RacewayThu.08 – Sun.11 September 2022  A renewed Scandinavian invasion spices up the entry list for Santa Pod Raceway’s European Finals, 8^th to 11^th September.   Typically, 16 or 17 countries would be represented at Santa Pod’s big European Championship races. Then Covid and Brexit conspired to strangle the inflow of overseas teams. Suspended for two years, the two- and four-wheeled championships were relaunched in 2022, only for some governments to attach exacting financial conditions to the temporary import/export licences now required for racing teams to haul their vast inventories back and forth between countries. This has stunted the resumption of travel, particularly from Britain’s north-eastern neighbours. Negotiations to solve those issues – which ultimately should benefit motorsport in all forms – have revived the influx of teams from drag racing’s Nordic hotbed.   A select trio of Top Fuel Dragsters headlines the show. Two Finns and a Swede will battle for 300mph supremacy in the world’s fastest, loudest racing cars. Finland’s Antti Horto clocked fresh career-bests (3.808sec, 318.75mph) over Top Fuel’s 1,000-foot course while winning Santa Pod’s opening European round in May. Sweden’s Susanne Callin first breached the 300mph barrier as a teenager 20 years ago and now drives Santa Pod’s own Slick Tricks machine. Facing them is 2022’s rookie Top Fuel sensation, Ida Zetterström, already the European elapsed-time record holder at 3.782sec and a race-winner this month at Tierp, Sweden. Like Horto and Callin, Zetterström began her racing life as a child driving Junior Dragsters, but unusually branched out on to two wheels to become Scandinavian champion on an ultra-hairy Super Street Bike.   Just as loud and almost as fast, a field of four Fuel Funny Cars will pit Sweden’s Patrik Pers against Britain’s Kevin Kent, Steve Ashdown and Jason Phelps. The Funnies share the same supercharged, injected, nitro-burning powerplants as the Top Fuelers, but cloak them in lightweight, one-piece bodies which once resembled road-going production models. A video of Jason Phelps shattering the peace at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2016 has accumulated 3.8 million Facebook views.   Twenty entrants from half-a-dozen countries are expected to contest Pro Modified, a race which combines rounds of the European championship and the Motorsport UK British Drag Racing Championship. Pro Mods compete over the classic quarter-mile and are drag racing’s fastest ‘doorslammers’ – full-bodied cars with functioning doors and sprung chassis – using three V8 engine types. Jan Ericsson’s Camaro from Sweden is a supercharged methanol-burner. The defending (2019) European champion set a European record (5.724sec) while winning Santa Pod’s May opening round. Seven-time British champion Andy Robinson is his UK equivalent. Estonian Andres Arnover’s Mustang is turbocharged and pipped Ericsson to the top speed honours (250.99mph) at the May race. Britain’s turbo leader Nick Davies is nearly as fast, at 249.05mph. Sweden’s Roger Johansson is the acknowledged master of the ‘atmo’ powerplant – unblown, petrol-burning, nitrous oxide-snorting, with colossal cubic capacities above 14 litres. Bobby Wallace is Britain’s young pretender to the ‘atmo’ throne. Racers from France, Switzerland and the Netherlands will join the action.   All-continental fields will contest the Pro Stock and Top Methanol categories, including A/Fuel nitro-burning dragsters.   On two wheels, Top Fuel Bike renews the rivalry between Europe’s two quickest, fastest wheel-driven motorcycles. British veteran Neil Midgley now campaigns the Puma machine which, under previous rider Fil Papafilippou, set the European ET mark at 5.662sec, while Sweden’s Rikard Gustafsson holds the speed record at 250.55mph.   Super Street Bike – the type of machine once ridden by Top Fuel Dragster’s Ida Zetterström – has produced breathtaking performances this year. The long reign of Britain’s Steve Venables as class leader has been rudely overturned by Hungarian Dániel Donát Lencés, whose 6.6sec/225mph performances have obliterated established standards. These machines ride on street-legal tyres, not drag racing slicks, and are not equipped with wheelie bars.   Pro Stock Bikes and ground-pounding nitro Super Twins complete the motorcycle programme.   The FIA/FIM European Finals takes place from Thursday 8^th to Sunday 11^th September at Santa Pod Raceway, near Wellingborough NN29 7XA. Full event information can be found at https://santapod.co.uk/european-finals.php and a variety of ticket options, starting at £35 per day, is available at https://santapodtickets.com/p/europeanfinals. Children aged 5-15 are £5 per day.  

Sportsman Chevy Performance 75 winner won SummerFAST opener at Weedsport, back in action Thursday at Land of Legends

OSWEGO, NY – Aug. 18, 2022 – DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series points runner-up. Second-most Feature wins of any driver in the division. Third-place in the Mr. Sportsman Modified Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly Championship. And ultimately, NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week champion.

Zach Sobotka had the biggest year of his career in 2021.

He soon backed it up with another headline trip to Victory Lane in the South of the Border Showdown at South Carolina’s Lake View Motor Speedway in February, and looked to be riding high on the momentum before the start of the 2022 regular season. The win was another shining moment for the 22-year-old from Parish, NY – one that was soon overshadowed by devastation.

On the evening of February 28, a large fire erupted at the back of Northern Coat & Blast – the Sobotka family business and race shop – destroying both sections of the building and much of its contents. He and the team were able to save both race cars, two air jacks, and his Super DIRT Week trophy, among others, but most everything else had been lost to the flames.

With only the cars and tools remaining on the pit box in the trailer, Sobotka and his family-run team were left with the remains of a charred building and their 2022 racing season in question.

When news of the incident appeared days later, an outpour of support from friends, family and the entire Northeast racing community immediately helped the team get a jumpstart on the road to recovery.

“There were so many people that helped us,” Sobotka said. “Nobody could even guess the number of people that helped donate to us or offered to donate their time or shop space. Anything you could think of – people offered to donate it.”

They were soon contacted by former DIRTcar Big Block Modified racer and current 360 Sprint Car pilot Jason Barney – proprietor of 87Speed in Brewerton, NY – who offered up the shop space to Sobotka that allowed he and the team to continue preparing for the regular season.

“It wasn’t perfect, but it kept us racing,” Sobotka said. “He was one of the main reasons that we were still able to keep going.”

Through hard work and the generosity of his peers, the shop and family business have since been restored. They were able to recuperate their tools and parts supply over the past several months, which has translated into six Feature wins in local DIRTcar-sanctioned competition thus far, including a last-lap pass for the win in Monday night’s SummerFAST speedweek opener at Weedsport Speedway.

“Now that we’re working out of our shop, we’re getting our tools back and working on the car every night,” Sobotka said. “We’re able to have the proper maintenance, and it’s definitely starting to get better.”

Northeast dirt racing has officially passed the halfway point of the season, and only 47 days remain before the start of the 50th Running of NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week (Oct. 3-9). Sobotka will star in his first title defense against what is expected to be another 100-plus car field in the Sportsman Modified division, aiming to become only the third driver in event history to win the Sportsman Feature more than once.

“It would mean a lot to be able to recover from what we’ve been through over the winter,” Sobotka said. “To be able to come back like that from the first half of my season going the way it did.”

Last October, Sobotka made an incredible drive from 19th on the starting grid to win Northeast Sportsman immortality at Oswego Speedway. Though it seemed like a lofty goal to everyone including himself before the drop of the green, he defied the odds and passed his way to the front with laps to spare.

“When we went out for the Feature, my dad leaned into the car in staging and he goes, ‘Well, we’re probably not going to win this thing. But just get up there as far as you can and we’ll move on from it,’” Sobotka said with a smile.

Though his ultimate goal is the Sportsman Modified 50th Super DIRT Week trophy, Sobotka isn’t letting the pressure of going back-to-back on the Northeast’s biggest dirt racing stage get to him.

“No matter what ends up happening at Super DIRT Week this year, we know – me, my crew, my family – that we’ve definitely bounced back from that whole situation,” Sobotka said. “But to be able to win the 50th one, that’d be something special.”

Catch Sobotka and the rest of the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified field at Oswego Speedway for the 50th Running of NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week, Oct. 3-9. Get your tickets in advance at the link below or watch each of the five days live on DIRTVision.

Sportsman Chevy Performance 75 winner won SummerFAST opener at Weedsport, back in action Thursday at Land of Legends

OSWEGO, NY – Aug. 18, 2022 – DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series points runner-up. Second-most Feature wins of any driver in the division. Third-place in the Mr. Sportsman Modified Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly Championship. And ultimately, NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week champion.

Zach Sobotka had the biggest year of his career in 2021.

He soon backed it up with another headline trip to Victory Lane in the South of the Border Showdown at South Carolina’s Lake View Motor Speedway in February, and looked to be riding high on the momentum before the start of the 2022 regular season. The win was another shining moment for the 22-year-old from Parish, NY – one that was soon overshadowed by devastation.

On the evening of February 28, a large fire erupted at the back of Northern Coat & Blast – the Sobotka family business and race shop – destroying both sections of the building and much of its contents. He and the team were able to save both race cars, two air jacks, and his Super DIRT Week trophy, among others, but most everything else had been lost to the flames.

With only the cars and tools remaining on the pit box in the trailer, Sobotka and his family-run team were left with the remains of a charred building and their 2022 racing season in question.

When news of the incident appeared days later, an outpour of support from friends, family and the entire Northeast racing community immediately helped the team get a jumpstart on the road to recovery.

“There were so many people that helped us,” Sobotka said. “Nobody could even guess the number of people that helped donate to us or offered to donate their time or shop space. Anything you could think of – people offered to donate it.”

They were soon contacted by former DIRTcar Big Block Modified racer and current 360 Sprint Car pilot Jason Barney – proprietor of 87Speed in Brewerton, NY – who offered up the shop space to Sobotka that allowed he and the team to continue preparing for the regular season.

“It wasn’t perfect, but it kept us racing,” Sobotka said. “He was one of the main reasons that we were still able to keep going.”

Through hard work and the generosity of his peers, the shop and family business have since been restored. They were able to recuperate their tools and parts supply over the past several months, which has translated into six Feature wins in local DIRTcar-sanctioned competition thus far, including a last-lap pass for the win in Monday night’s SummerFAST speedweek opener at Weedsport Speedway.

“Now that we’re working out of our shop, we’re getting our tools back and working on the car every night,” Sobotka said. “We’re able to have the proper maintenance, and it’s definitely starting to get better.”

Northeast dirt racing has officially passed the halfway point of the season, and only 47 days remain before the start of the 50th Running of NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week (Oct. 3-9). Sobotka will star in his first title defense against what is expected to be another 100-plus car field in the Sportsman Modified division, aiming to become only the third driver in event history to win the Sportsman Feature more than once.

“It would mean a lot to be able to recover from what we’ve been through over the winter,” Sobotka said. “To be able to come back like that from the first half of my season going the way it did.”

Last October, Sobotka made an incredible drive from 19th on the starting grid to win Northeast Sportsman immortality at Oswego Speedway. Though it seemed like a lofty goal to everyone including himself before the drop of the green, he defied the odds and passed his way to the front with laps to spare.

“When we went out for the Feature, my dad leaned into the car in staging and he goes, ‘Well, we’re probably not going to win this thing. But just get up there as far as you can and we’ll move on from it,’” Sobotka said with a smile.

Though his ultimate goal is the Sportsman Modified 50th Super DIRT Week trophy, Sobotka isn’t letting the pressure of going back-to-back on the Northeast’s biggest dirt racing stage get to him.

“No matter what ends up happening at Super DIRT Week this year, we know – me, my crew, my family – that we’ve definitely bounced back from that whole situation,” Sobotka said. “But to be able to win the 50th one, that’d be something special.”

Catch Sobotka and the rest of the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified field at Oswego Speedway for the 50th Running of NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week, Oct. 3-9. Get your tickets in advance at the link below or watch each of the five days live on DIRTVision.

Watkins Glen International Watkins Glen, New YorkAugust 21, 2022  NASCAR CUP SERIES RACE #25 – WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONALTwo regular season races remain to determine the final driver that will complete the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series playoff field. NASCAR’s premier series shifts its attention from short track racing to the 2.45-mile, 7-turn road course of Watkins Glen International this weekend. Chevrolet looks to keep its road course success rolling at the multi-elevational upstate New York circuit, with the manufacturer eyeing its 11th consecutive NCS road course win.  NASCAR’s premier series first competed at Watkins Glen in August 1957, with Buck Baker driving Chevrolet to victory lane in the inaugural event. Since the series’ debut at the circuit, a Chevrolet-powered machine has recorded a series-leading 20 victories. While the bowtie brand looks to keep its NCS road course win streak alive, the manufacturer is also looking to go four-in-a-row at the New York circuit. Chevrolet’s three-peat at Watkins Glen started with Chase Elliott and his monumental first career NCS win in the August 2018 event. The 26-year-old Georgia native followed up that win when the series returned to the track in 2019, driving his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to back-to-back wins. Watkin Glen’s most recent NCS winner came from reigning champion Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team (August 2021), marking Larson’s second of three road course wins on the season.  ALL EYES ON THE BOWTIEChevrolet drivers and teams have proven to be the ones to beat when the NASCAR Cup Series takes on the left- and right-hand turns of the series’ road course circuits. Dating back to Chase Elliott’s Watkins Glen win in August 2019, Chevrolet has recorded wins in 14 of the past 15 NCS road course races, including a streak of the past 10. With road course circuits having a larger presence on the series’ schedule in recent years, the continued off track work and preparation that Chevrolet drivers and teams put in have paid dividends towards the manufacturer’s road course dominance.  “We are proud of the competitive performance that our drivers and teams have demonstrated to deliver Chevrolet 10 consecutive NASCAR Cup Series road-course victories,” said Dr. Eric Warren, Chevrolet Director of NASCAR Programs. “From time spent in the simulator to our partnership with the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School, Chevrolet strives to provide opportunities and resources for its drivers to continually improve their skills behind the wheel. With six drivers from four different Chevrolet teams contributing to this streak of victories, the on-track results are a testament to the work our drivers are putting in on and off the track to enhance their road racing abilities.” A look at Chevrolet’s road course success in NASCAR’s premier series:

·       Chevrolet has recorded wins in 14 of the last 15 NASCAR Cup Series road course races, including a streak of the past 10.        > The win streak dates back to May 2021 when Chase Elliott delivered Chevrolet its milestone 800th all-time win in NASCAR’s premier series at Circuit of The Americas.  ·       Six drivers from four different Chevrolet teams have contributed to the manufacturer’s 10 consecutive NCS road-course wins:

Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet:(Circuit of The Americas; May 2021)(Road America; July 2021) Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet:(Sonoma; June 2021)(Watkins Glen; August 2021)(Charlotte ROVAL; October 2021)

Chevrolet All-Time Wins Leadersat Watkins Glen International 4  Jeff Gordon (’97-’99, ’01)4  Tony Stewart (’04-’05, ’07, ’09)2  Chase Elliott (’18-’19) 1st Chevy Win @ WGI: Buck Baker, Aug. 4, 1957Most Recent Chevy Win @ WGI: Kyle Larson, Aug. 8, 2021

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet:(Indianapolis Road Course; August 2021) Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet:(Circuit of The Americas; March 2022) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet:(Sonoma Raceway; June 2022) Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet:(Road America; July 2022)(Indianapolis Road Course; July 2022) ·       Chevrolet has 61 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins on road courses – starting with Buck Baker at Watkins Glen International in 1957. There have been 154 road-course races in Cup history dating back to 1949. ·    Three of the five first-time NASCAR Cup Series winners in 2022 are Chevrolet drivers, with all three recording their first career NCS wins on a road course circuit:      Ross Chastain – Circuit of The Americas (March 2022)     Daniel Suarez – Sonoma Raceway (June 2022)     Tyler Reddick – Road America (July 2022) ·    All behind the wheel of a Chevrolet, Chase Elliott has recorded seven road-course victories in his NASCAR Cup Series career, the most of all active NCS drivers.   > Elliott ranks third on the NCS all-time road course wins list behind NASCAR Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon (nine wins, all with Chevrolet) and Tony Stewart (eight wins).   > Elliott’s victories have been recorded at five different road courses, a series record.

TWO RACES, ONE SPOT REMAINSPlayoff pressure continues to intensify as just two opportunities remain for drivers to either win or point their way into a playoff spot and the chance to compete for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Championship title. For the first time in the series’ history, 15 different drivers have made their way to victory lane this season; and with only 16 spots in the playoff field, the “win and you’re in” approach could potentially become irrelevant with two races remaining in the series’ regular season.  Items to note of Chevrolet drivers on the current playoff grid heading into Watkins Glen:  ·       Following last weekend’s race at Richmond Raceway, 10 drivers officially secured their spots into the 2022 NCS playoff field, with five coming from the bowtie brand. Drivers that have clinched met either of the two following requirements:         Any driver with multiple wins: Chase Elliott (4 wins), Ross Chastain (2), William Byron (2) and Tyler Reddick (2).      One-time winners that mathematically cannot be eliminated: Kyle Larson ·       A familiar face atop the NCS playoff grid throughout the season, Chevrolet’s Chase Elliott could potentially clinch the 2022 NCS Regular Season Championship at the track that gave him his first career NCS win. Elliott needs to leave Watkins Glen with a 61-point lead over second-place. With Elliott currently sitting at 116-points over second-place Ryan Blaney in the driver points standings, his first career NCS Regular Season Championship Title is at arms reach.  PROJECT91 READY FOR COMPETITION DEBUTTrackhouse Racing has taken the NASCAR world by storm, scoring its first win in NASCAR’s premier series in just the organization’s second season. Now sitting at three wins and both of its drivers currently in the NASCAR Cup Series playoff field, Trackhouse Racing will debut its latest venture at Watkins Glen this weekend: PROJECT91.  Trackhouse Racing’s Founder and Owner, Justin Marks, developed PROJECT91 with the ultimate goal of international reach through fielding a third entry – on a limited schedule – with renowned international drivers behind the wheel. 2007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen will be piloting the No. 91 Recogni/iLOQ Camaro ZL1 this weekend at Watkins Glen to become the first driver to join PROJECT91.  Räikkönen has one title (2007), 21 race wins and 103 podium finishes in his Formula One career, with 2021 being his final year of competition in the series. While this weekend will mark his first career start in NASCAR’s premier series, Räikkönen has previously competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, recording starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May 2011.  BACK TO WORK AT THE GLENComing off their final off weekend of the season, the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) gets back on the road, joining the NASCAR Cup Series for a doubleheader race weekend in upstate New York. Saturday’s Sunoco Go Rewards 200 at The Glen marks the fifth road course circuit of 2022 for the series.  In the four races featuring left- and right-hand turns for the NXS this season, Chevrolet has made its way to victory lane three times, all with the “King of the Road”, AJ Allmendinger, behind the wheel. Allmendinger’s most recent win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course marked his series-leading ninth career NXS road course victory. Scoring a double digit NXS road course win at Watkins Glen would be extra special for the 40-year-old Kaulig Racing driver as the New York circuit is also the place that delivered him his first career win in NASCAR’s premier series. That monumental feat came with the No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet team in 2014, which also gave Allmendinger his first appearance in the playoffs.  Of the 27 races that Watkins Glen has hosted for the NXS, Chevrolet has made its way to victory lane 10 times, including a streak of eight consecutive wins.. dating from a win by Terry Labonte in 1994 through Ron Fellow’s triumph in 2001.   CHEVROLET’S NCWTS PLAYOFF CONTENDERS LEAD THE CHARGE AT RICHMONDThe NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) playoffs are in full swing, with last weekend’s 250-lap race under the lights at Richmond Raceway marking race two of three in the Round of 10. Chevrolet’s two playoff contenders led the bowtie brigade to two top-10 finishes at the Virginia short track. GMS Racing’s Grant Enfinger led the charge for Chevrolet at Richmond, piloting his No. 23 Chevrolet Silverado RST to a fourth-place finish for the team’s fifth top-five finish of 2022. While Enfinger has already advanced to the NCWTS Round of Eight following his win in the playoff opener at the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Enfinger showcased consistency throughout the race, capturing valuable stage points following top-five finishes in both stages. Carson Hocevar rounded out the Team Chevy top-10, driving his No. 42 Niece Motorsports Silverado RST to the team’s 10th top-10 finish of the season. The finish didn’t come easy for the young Chevrolet driver, with Hocevar enduring a late-race incident before battling back to salvage a 10th-place finish. Hocevar will enter the NCWTS Round of 10 elimination race at Kansas Speedway below the cutline, but just three points out of the eighth position. The NCWTS will return to action at Kansas Speedway on September 9, where the 1.5-mile venue will host the series’ playoffs Round of 10 elimination race. The 134-lap, 201-mile race will reduce the playoff field from 10 drivers to 8 in the pursuit to the championship title. BOWTIE BULLETS·       Active Chevrolet drivers that have scored a win at Watkins Glen International: Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – 2 (2018, 2019)Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – 1 (2021)AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet – 1 (2014)  ·       Chevrolet has recorded wins in 14 of the last 15 NASCAR Cup Series road course races, including a streak of the past 10. In that timespan, six drivers from four different Chevrolet teams have contributed to those wins. ·       In 38 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Watkins Glen International, Chevrolet has recorded a manufacturer-leading 20 wins, including the past three. That streak started with Chase Elliott’s first career NCS win (2018), with the Georgia native going back-to-back in 2019. Elliott’s teammate, Kyle Larson, is heading to Watkins Glen as the most recent NCS winner at the circuit (2021). ·       Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins (eight) and pole wins (seven) at Watkins Glen International, all recorded behind the wheel of a Chevrolet.  ·       Chase Elliott has recorded seven road course victories in his NASCAR Cup Series career; the most of all active NCS drivers. Elliott ranks third on the NCS all-time road course wins list behind NASCAR Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon (nine wins) and Tony Stewart (eight wins). Elliott’s victories have been recorded at five different road courses, a record in series’ history. ·       Of the five first time NASCAR Cup Series winners in 2022, three have come from the bowtie brigade. The most recent is Richard Childress Racing’s Tyler Reddick, who drove his No. 8 Camaro ZL1 to the win at Road America. Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez also captured their first career win in NASCAR’s premier series this season, both of which were recorded on road course circuits (Chastain – COTA; Suarez – Sonoma).  ·       Chevrolet heads into the Watkins Glen race weekend with a manufacturer-leading 13 NASCAR Cup Series wins in 24 points-paying races. The bowtie brand also continues to lead its manufacturer competitors in NCS top-fives (55), top-10s (103), laps led (2,904) and stage wins (21). ·       Seven Team Chevy drivers have combined 21 NASCAR Cup Series stage wins: Tyler Reddick 2 – Fontana x2Alex Bowman 1 – Las VegasRoss Chastain 4 – Las Vegas, Darlington, Charlotte, Pocono, RichmondWilliam Byron 3 – Phoenix, Atlanta, TalladegaDaniel Suarez 2 – COTA, CharlotteChase Elliott 3 – Martinsville x2, Charlotte, Atlanta x2 Kyle Larson 3 – Bristol, Sonoma, Pocono ·       Chevrolet leads the driver points standing in both the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Chase Elliott remains in the top position in the NCS standings with a 116-point lead over second; and AJ Allmendinger continues to lead the NXS standings by 19 points. Chevrolet also remains atop both the NCS and NXS manufacturer points standings. ·       With its 40 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 827 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title of winningest brand in NASCAR.   FOR THE FANS·       Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Watkins Glen International. ·       Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles including: 2023 Corvette Stingray Convertible, 2020 Camaro LT1 Coupe, 2022 Equinox RS, 2022 Blazer RS, 2022 Traverse RS, 2022 Tahoe Z71, Silverado ZR2, 2022 Silverado 1500 Crew High Country.  TEAM CHEVY QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSIONS AT THE DISPLAY:Saturday, August 20·       Jeremy Clements: 9:00 a.m.·       Jeb Burton: 12:00 p.m. ·       Sheldon Creed and Austin Hill: 12:45 p.m. ·       Josh Berry & Sam Mayer: 1:00 p.m. Sunday, August 21·       Ross Chastain: 11:00 a.m. ·       Ty Dillon: 11:30 a.m. ·       Corey LaJoie: 11:45 a.m.  Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation:  Friday, August 19: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday, August 20: 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.  Sunday, August 21: 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. TUNE INUSA Network will broadcast the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 21. Live coverage can also be found on the NBCSports Gold App, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.  USA Network will broadcast the NASCAR Xfinity Series Race at Watkins Glen at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 20. Live coverage can also be found on the NBCSports Gold App, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. QUOTABLE QUOTESROSS CHASTAIN, NO. 1 WORLDWIDE EXPRESS CAMARO ZL1What makes Watkins Glen different from the other road courses?“Watkins Glen is higher in grip than most places. It seems simple, but it’s actually more technical because there is so much grip. It’s simple when it comes to the turns but that means all of the inputs are much more important. It will be hard to pass so there’s a high risk of contact when it comes to passing.”           What have your interactions with Kimi been like?“He’s talked more in the time I’ve met with him in person, than I’ve ever heard him in all of the interviews I’ve seen (laughs) and I’ve watched him for a very long time.”           What do you enjoy about Watkins Glen?“The history of the track carries it. You look back at how many drivers have driven there, not just in NASCAR, but all forms of motorsports. The beginnings of the Watkins Glen racing scene and where they used to race on the streets and over by the lake, that’s cool. Thinking about how many world class drivers went down the frontstretch, turned up through the esses and went through the bus stop. I hope one day to run the boot. I know we won’t do that in NASCAR, but I hope to do it one day and extract that last little bit of lap time out. The boot layout would be on my bucket list.” AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BASS PRO SHOPS / TRACKER OFF ROAD CAMARO ZL1How do you prepare for a racetrack like Watkins Glen International?“A lot of time in the simulator, going over notes and watching old races. We try to make sure we are putting in the work beforehand. We’ve been working really hard on our road course program the last few years. Watkins Glen is a really fast, aggressive track. You can gain a lot by getting after it on the braking zones and it’s just a high-speed place with all of the grip in the pavement.” Another road course race this weekend. Another wild card?“Yeah, for sure. The road courses have turned into wildcard races. Taking care of your stuff, trying to make it to the end of these things becomes a demo-derby out there. This is going to be one of those ones that if you stay on track, you’re going to have a pretty good run. I have a lot of optimism going into Watkins Glen this year, though, because our road course program has been solid and we’ve put a lot of work in during the off season.” KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1Larson on the difference going from the NASCAR Xfinity Series car to the NASCAR Cup Series car: “At Road America, the braking points were pretty similar, which was surprising. I thought the Cup car would brake much deeper. I hope it’s the same this weekend at Watkins Glen (International) because it would really, really help getting into a rhythm quickly for the entire weekend.” CLIFF DANIELS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1Daniels on the benefit of Larson running the Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen International: “I think him getting the track time is great – not really because of his skill and abilities, but for him to understand the grip level. I know he is going to be fast in the Xfinity car and I know he is going to be fast in our car, but having the extra time to understand the grip level and other nuances of the track that’s different from a year ago. We do have recent test data to go off of and feedback from those tests – but nothing replaces actual track time and the condition of the track and how we approach it.” CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 KELLEY BLUE BOOK CAMARO ZL1Elliott on racing at Watkins Glen: “Watkins Glen (International) was where I got my first win so it’s of course a place that holds some great memories for me. We’ve had a good amount of success there as a team and I feel like this year we’ve come a long way in our road course program with the new car. This is a track that I feel like we can really go and have a good run and get some momentum back heading into the playoffs.” ALAN GUSTAFSON, CREW CHIEF, NO. 9 KELLEY BLUE BOOK CAMARO ZL1Gustafson on this weekend’s race at Watkins Glen: “Certainly the last three years have been good for our team at Watkins Glen (International). We’ve been really competitive there and we feel like this is another opportunity for us to go out there and have a good race. Our focus will be winning and ultimately trying to get some more playoff points. That’s the key. This is a track we should be able to do that at. Hopefully that will come to fruition and put us in a good position for the playoffs.” WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 RAPTORTOUGH.COM CAMARO ZL1 Byron on why he enjoys racing at Watkins Glen:“Honestly Watkins Glen (international) is one of the most fun race tracks we go to as a driver because it’s so fast. It’s not like a lot of the other road courses we go to that have much slower zones and such aggressive braking. Watkins Glen almost really feels like a superspeedway for road courses. I got to test there earlier this year in the Next Gen car and I think it’s just as fun of a road course in these cars compared to last year’s. I’m excited that I get extra track time this weekend there too with being able to run Xfinity on Saturday. It will make for a full day, but I think it will be beneficial to get those extra laps before Sunday’s race in similar race conditions. Plus, I want to be able to get Mr. Hendrick a win in the No. 17, especially since they’ve been so close this year already.” RUDY FUGLE, CREW CHIEF, NO. 24 RAPTORTOUGH.COM CAMARO ZL1Fugle on the preparation by the No. 24 team for Watkins Glen: “I think our race last year at Watkins Glen (International) went well but I always think there’s room to improve. Since then, we have really worked on improving not only our road course racing notes but especially now with the Next Gen car and getting up to speed there. We’ll be utilizing the same tire Sunday that we have for most of the other road course races this year, so we have a good notebook built up on how they will react over a run. We also were able to test there earlier this year and had a lot of positive feedback while we were there. I think we’re more prepared for this race than we have been earlier this year on road courses. The main difference is how much faster this track is compared to the other road courses on the schedule. Downforce really plays a factor and so does handling, but I think that’s where our testing notes will really come into play.” TY DILLON, NO. 42 ALLEGIANT CAMARO ZL1With momentum on your side after two impressive runs in a row, what makes you believe you can carry this into Watkins Glen?“I personally enjoy road course racing and always see these types of tracks as an opportunity to put together some great runs at. Momentum is a real thing that can help serve as a big morale booster during this part of the season, and we are going to keep building on ours with everyone on my No. 42 Allegiant team.” RICKY STENHOUSE JR., NO. 47 SUGARLANDS / BALL PARK BUNS CAMARO ZL1“I feel like our chances at Watkins Glen may be better because it’s one of my better road courses I go to. We’ve had a decent trend on finishes at road courses and I feel good going there. It’s fun seeing all the fans that come out for this race all around the track. It’s getting to be the end of summer and they are enjoying the best weather. We’re focused on putting together a good race because we want to have a solid race to go into Daytona.” ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 Bowman on his expectations heading to Watkins Glen: “We have had good runs on road courses this season, but each track has its challenges, so I look at them one at a time. Hendrick Motorsports has had a lot of speed on road courses, and I have run a few extra races. Whether it was in the No. 7 Spire truck or the No. 17 Chevy Camaro in Xfinity, I had the opportunity to get more time on road courses, which I think has helped me this season. I will prepare like I have every week and make sure I give Greg (Ives, crew chief) all the feedback he needs to get the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the right place and we will go compete on Sunday.” GREG IVES, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1Ives on the strength of Hendrick Motorsports at road courses this season: “We have had speed every time we have raced at a road course this year and it goes to show how talented our team is back at the shop at building exceptional race cars. We had a No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 capable of winning at Circuit of The Americas and had a great car at Road America, so I know we will have another great car this weekend at Watkins Glen International. Alex (Bowman) continues to do his homework and our team is matching his effort as we get ready to head up to New York and try to get Hendrick Motorsports a win on a road course this year.” KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN, NO. 91 RECOGNI CAMARO ZL1 How did Justin Marks convince you to do this?“At first I wasn’t really looking into this in a serious way. Obviously, we had more talks about how it would work, where the race would be and all sorts of things. It was just one race so it made sense for all of us as a family. I enjoyed it when I had my few races there (2011). Hopefully I’ll have a good race and good fun. There are new cars there and I have never been at the track and things like that, but I am sure we can figure it out quickly.” Will your Formula One and road course experience be an advantage Sunday?“I don’t think so. It’s a new track for me and the cars are completely new. F1 cars are completely different. Looking at how these new cars are in NASCAR it compares more to Australian V8s. We will go and see how it is. I’m sure we will do fine.” DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 PRINCESS CRUISES CAMARO ZL1 How nice is it to be locked in the playoffs?“It is nice, but I am going to be honest, in my mind I am already in the playoffs. I have had that mindset over the last six weeks. I believe it is not possible to go into the playoffs and flip the switch and say, ‘okay, we are in the playoffs, now we have to push hard’. I don’t think it works like that and you kind of have to start building that up. And I feel like that is what we have been doing, especially with the 99 team. That shows on the track because the last two months we have had race cars capable of finishing in the top five every single week.” You should be one of the favorites on Sunday?“I agree. We have been really fast at every road course this year. Ross won at COTA and we won Sonoma, both of us were in the top five at Road America and we were second and third in overtime at Indy. I expect to be just as fast Sunday at Watkins Glen.” How will your new teammate Kimi Räikkönen do on Sunday?“I think he is going to be fast. The speed is there and the racing part is going to be a process because it doesn’t matter how much you practice in the simulator; doesn’t matter how many tests you do – the racing part is the racing part. It’s different and he doesn’t know all these drivers. He doesn’t know how they race, he doesn’t know how aggressive they are, so that part is going to take a little bit. You can bring the best driver in the world and it is going to take some time in the racing part. I think (as far as) the speed, I think he is going to be good.” Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics Manufacturers Championships:Total (1949-2021): 40First title for Chevrolet: 1958Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15) Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021 Drivers Championships:Total (1949-2021): 33First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)Most Recent: Kyle Larson (2021) Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021 Event Victories:Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)                2022 STATISTICS:                                                                                                    Wins: 13Poles: 6Laps Led: 2,904Top-five finishes: 55Top-10 finishes: 103Stage wins: 21Tyler Reddick (Fontanax2)Alex Bowman (Las Vegas)Ross Chastain (Las Vegas), (Darlington), (Charlotte), (Pocono), (Richmond)William Byron (Phoenix), (Atlanta), (Talladega)Daniel Suarez (COTA), (Charlotte)Chase Elliott (Martinsvillex2), (Charlotte), (Atlantax2)Kyle Larson (Bristol Dirt), (Sonoma), (Pocono) CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 827 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 729Laps led to date: 244,240Top-five finishes to date: 4,193Top-10 finishes to date: 8,658                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,161           Chevrolet: 827           Pontiac: 154           Oldsmobile: 115           Buick: 65            Ford: 817                                                                    Ford: 717           Mercury: 96           Lincoln: 4            Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467           Dodge: 217           Plymouth: 191           Chrysler: 59            Toyota: 167

What: Lucas Oil NHRA NationalsWhen: Friday, Aug. 19-Sunday, Aug. 21Where: Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, MinnesotaTV: FOX will telecast eliminations live at 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday, Aug. 21                                                                       Chevrolet nitro teams aim to fine-tune performance levelTeam Chevy drivers lead Top Fuel, Funny Car standings heading into Brainerd

DETROIT (Aug. 18, 2022) – Entering the penultimate race of the regular season – the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minnesota – the John Force Racing drivers are hitting their stride.

In the past four National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) races, the Chevrolet Funny Car contingent of John Force and Robert Hight has recorded two wins, two runner-up finishes and four semifinal appearances. That stretch included the teammates facing each other four times in the semifinals. Hight, who has tied a career high with six victories through 14 races, is the runaway Funny Car points leader in the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS and clinched a spot in the six-race Countdown to the Championship. Force is only six points out of third place in the regular-season standings and has locked up a Countdown berth to chase his 17th world championship.

Team Chevy   points leaders Top Fuel – Brittany Force (4 wins; 1 runner-up finish; 5 top qualifiers) Funny Car – Robert Hight (6 wins; 2 runner-up finishes; 3 top qualifiers) Pro Stock – Erica Enders (6 wins; 2 runner-up finishes; 3 top qualifiers)

As Force, 73, has said numerous times, “I’m not finished yet.” While the Chevrolet drivers in Funny Car and Top Fuel will compete at Brainerd International Raceway this weekend, Team Chevy Pro Stock teams will rejoin the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule Sept. 2-5 in Indianapolis for the U.S. Nationals for the final event before the Countdown.“I’ve got a lot of history at Brainerd, done well there,” said Force, who has 11 wins and eight No. 1 qualifier honors at the racetrack. “Last weekend, we came in second, had some luck and made some mistakes, but we’re in a good spot. This PEAK team, we’ve got our spot to chase a championship, that’s what it’s all about.” Brittany Force, driving the Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet dragster, has also enjoyed success over the past four events that included the Western Swing with a split decision in the final rounds at Sonoma and Seattle and two top qualifier honors. Force, with a career-high tying four wins in the 14 races, continues to reside atop the Top Fuel standings. She holds the track Top Fuel speed record of 334.9 mph, set in August 2021. FOX will telecast eliminations live at 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday, Aug. 21.CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPITTOP FUELBRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONSTER ENERGY/FLAV-R-PAC CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (four-time winner this season; points leader; clinched Countdown berth; holds track Top Fuel speed record): “Our Monster Energy team heads to Brainerd this weekend and we plan to get back on track after a tough weekend in Topeka. We’ve had success at Brainerd International Raceway in the past with track records, a No. 1 qualifier and a win. We have two races until the Countdown begins and this weekend, we are making sure we’ll be ready when it all kicks off.” AUSTIN PROCK, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONTANA BRAND/ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (runner-up at Pomona): “After a few tough weekends, I’m really looking forward to Brainerd. We have hit the reset button in our pits and are going to conditions we are most familiar with. The brain trust at JFR have been putting their heads together to make the Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster a real threat this week and I believe it’s going to pay off. I’m going to be on my game and drive with heart like I know how to do and we are going to see how we fair. We have all the parts of the puzzle to end up with a Wally. We owe it to our crew that has been busting their tails week after week and would love to celebrate in a big way this weekend.” FUNNY CARJOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 1 qualifier and Charlotte four-wide winner; runner-up at Sonoma and Topeka; fourth in points; 11-time winner at track; clinched Countdown berth): “I’ve got a lot of history at Brainerd, done well there. Last weekend, we came in second, had some luck and made some mistakes, but we’re in a good spot. This PEAK team, we’ve got our spot to chase a championship, that’s what it’s all about. Can’t win a championship without winning some races. We’ve come close the last couple weeks, time to capitalize, get the job done. We’ll be good.” ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (six-time winner this season; points leader; clinched Countdown berth; holds both ends of track Funny Car records, set in 2017): “This Auto Club team is staying strong. We know the competition is tough out here, one weekend can change a lot. We’ve stayed consistent, and we know we need a couple more wins to win the championship this year. I want the (career) 60th (win) but I know it’s going to take win number 62 or 63 to really get the job done. We’re on track and we just need to get keep at it. I haven’t won much in Brainerd, so I think I’m due to visit the winner’s circle there this weekend.”

BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 18, 2022) – Brittany Force and the Monster Energy / Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet dragster have made a habit of outpacing the rest of the pack in the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season. With just two races before points reset for the Countdown to the Championship, Force is hoping for a win at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway to help seal her regular season championship. Force and the Monster Energy team come into the Lucas Oil Nationals as the Top Fuel point leader, on the strength of four 2022 wins. If she maintains her position through the next two events, she will become the first driver other than Steve Torrence to win the regular season championship since 2016. “Our Monster Energy team heads to Brainerd this weekend and we plan to get back on track after a tough weekend in Topeka,” said Force who had a rare first-round exit last weekend, her first since the Gatornationals in March. “We’ve had success at Brainerd International Raceway in the past with track records, a No. 1 qualifier and a win. We have two races until the Countdown begins and this weekend, we are making sure we’ll be ready when it all kicks off.” A victory at Brainerd International Raceway this weekend will give the 2017 champion her second at the facility, she celebrated in the winners circle in 2016. Force has also captured the Top Fuel No. 1 qualifying spot more recently in 2019 and set the track speed record at 334.90 mph in 2021. The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals will begin with four qualifying sessions Friday at 2:15 and 6:00 p.m. and Saturday at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. local time. Eliminations will begin Sunday at 11 a.m. Television coverage of the event begins with two qualifying shows, Friday at 8:00 p.m. E.T. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Eliminations will air Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX Broadcasting Network.

BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 18, 2022) – Robert Hight and the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS are hoping to add to a career best season as they head to the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, the 14th of 22 events on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season. Bidding to become just the fourth driver to win as many as four NHRA Funny Car championships (after John Force, Kenny Bernstein and Don Prudhomme), Hight is the Camping World points leader on the strength of six wins this year in the Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham prepared Auto Club Chevy Camaro SS. Hight is poised to become just the sixth Funny Car driver to win as many as seven races in a single season. Force has done so on seven different occasions while the others, Don Prudhomme, Kenny Bernstein, Ron Capps and Jack Beckman have done it only once. “This Auto Club team is staying strong. We know the competition is touch out here, one weekend can change a lot,” Hight said. “We’ve stayed consistent, and we know we need a couple more wins to win the championship this year. I want the 60th but I know it’s going to take win number 62 or 63 to really get the job done. We’re on track and we just need to get keep at it. I haven’t won much in Brainerd, so I think I’m due to visit the winner’s circle there this weekend.” Hight, the current track record holder at 3.793 seconds and a national record 338.00 mph (Aug. 18, 2017), has raised the trophy just once at Brainerd International Raceway in 2015. He hopes to celebrate his birthday (Saturday) by adding a second which would boost his career total to 60, third among Funny Car drivers behind only John Force and Ron Capps. The three-time champion has started from the No.1. spot twice in Brainerd, 2017 and 2018. The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals will begin with four qualifying sessions Friday at 2:15 and 6:00 p.m. and Saturday at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. local time. Eliminations will begin Sunday at 11 a.m. Television coverage of the event begins with two qualifying shows, Friday at 8:00 p.m. E.T. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Eliminations will air Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX Broadcasting Network.

BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 18, 2022) – Austin Prock and the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster head to the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway at the beginning of a revitalization for young team. A breakthrough first win at Seattle in 2019 propelled the third generation drag racer to NHRA Rookie-of-the-Year honors before the COVID-19 pandemic briefly sidetracked his pro career. He is racing a full schedule in the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist dragster for the first time in three years and started the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series off strong with a runner-up finish at the season-opening Winternationals. He has since had a No. 2 qualifying spot at the Virginia Nationals where he also reached the semifinals. He followed up his Virginia performance with another semifinal finish at the New England Nationals, but a series of early race day exits, and poor qualifying performances has dropped the Top Fuel star to 12th in the points standings. “After a few tough weekends, I’m really looking forward to Brainerd. We have hit the reset button in our pits and are going to conditions we are most familiar with. The brain trust at JFR have been putting their heads together to make the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist dragster a real threat this week and I believe it’s going to pay off,” Prock said. “I’m going to be on my game and drive with heart like I know how to do and we are going to see how we fair. We have all the parts of the puzzle to end up with a Wally. We owe it to our crew that has been busting their tails week after week and would love to celebrate in a big way this weekend.” Prock will have his birthday on August 21 and is hoping to celebrate with his second tour victory. In 2019, Prock qualified No. 8 and made it past Scott Palmer and teammate Brittany Force before losing in the semifinals to eventual event winner Leah Pruett. The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals will begin with four qualifying sessions Friday at 2:15 and 6:00 p.m. and Saturday at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. local time. Eliminations will begin Sunday at 11 a.m. Television coverage of the event begins with two qualifying shows, Friday at 8:00 p.m. E.T. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Eliminations will air Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX Broadcasting Network.

BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 18, 2022) – John Force and the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car team enter this weekend’s Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway sitting No. 4 in the points standings. Just six points back from the top three, Force and the PEAK team have been knocking on the door of victory. Off the efforts of a No. 1 qualifying position and victory at the Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, a runner-up finish at Sonoma Raceway, and a runner-up finish just last weekend in Topeka, Kansas at Heartland Motorsports Park, Force has clinched his spot in the Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s six race playoffs, and a run at his 17th series championship. With just two races until the Countdown begins, a win at Brainerd International Raceway would only help his efforts. “I’ve got a lot of history at Brainerd, done well there. Last weekend, we came in second, had some luck and made some mistakes, but we’re in a good spot. This PEAK team, we’ve got our spot to chase a championship, that’s what it’s all about,” Force said. “Can’t win a championship without winning some races, we’ve come close the last couple weeks, time to capitalize, get the job done. We’ll be good.” John Force has driven to victory at Brainerd International Raceway 11 times in his career, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994-97, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2007 making him the winningest driver at any one event at a single venue (Bob Glidden won the World Finals 11 times but at two different tracks). Force most recently visited the final round in 2012 and 2014. He has started from the No. 1 qualifying position eight times (1990, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2006 and 2014). When he has qualified at the front, he’s gone to the final round in all but one start and won six times. The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals will begin with four qualifying sessions Friday at 2:15 and 6:00 p.m. and Saturday at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. local time. Eliminations will begin Sunday at 11 a.m. Television coverage of the event begins with two qualifying shows, Friday at 8:00 p.m. E.T. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Eliminations will air Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX Broadcasting Network.

OCALA, FL (August 17, 2022) — For the last two and a half months Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster have been posting positive performance results at a championship level. They have moved up from eighth place to fifth place in the Camping World Top Fuel point standings and over the past five races they have avoided first round losses advancing to a final round, a semifinal and three quarterfinal finishes. The second-year driver and team owner is positioned to make a hard push to finish in the top four when the regular season concludes following this weekend’s Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals and the U.S. Nationals Labor Day weekend.

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

“We want to compete and win against the best of the best, which is why we are racing in the Camping World NHRA Drag Racing Series,” said Hart, a two-time Top Fuel national event winner. “Every race we feel like we have a racecar that can qualify at the top of the field and win the race on Sunday. We have come close this season and I know we can get the job done. Our next chance is this weekend in Brainerd which will be another brand-new track for me.”

This season racing on the full NHRA tour for the first time Hart has covered more miles from his homebase in Ocala, Florida, than many of the centrally located teams and drivers cover in multiple seasons. The race in Seattle took him nearly 3,000 miles from Florida and this weekend at Brainerd International Raceway it will be over 1,600 miles from his main business, Burnyzz Speed Shop. The different venues and cities have only motivated Hart to impress new fans and enhance the opportunities for his main sponsor R+L Carriers.

“Every race we are meeting with fans and talking about the great career opportunities R+L Carriers offers across the country,” said Hart. “There several career paths for a wide variety of skill sets and there is on the job training as well. R+L Carriers is a family owned and operated company that I have been blessed to be a part of. The chance to go across the country racing and competing is thanks in large part to R+L Carriers and Technet.”

R+L Carriers guests enjoying Josh Hart hospitality, photo by Auto Imagery

In Hart’s rookie season last year, the former Top Alcohol Dragster driver showed he has the skill and team to race with the best in the business. Hart captured two Top Fuel wins including a win in Charlotte during the NHRA Countdown and in the off-season Hart made a long-term investment in his team to improve and be able to compete for 22 races this season. With the investment came hurdles as the team broke in a new 11,000 horsepower Top Fuel dragster at the beginning of the season.

“We spent a few races chasing some gremlins and we are still a young team overall,” said Hart. “My crew chief Ron Douglas, who is also my business partner, and I have worked together to really keep everyone positive and moving in the right direction. This is a team sport and I might be the one hitting the throttle, but there are ten guys on the starting line that contributed to every win light this R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster turns on.”

This weekend’s Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals will feature four qualifying runs leading up to Sunday’s eliminations. The team will utilize each pass to put together the best tune-up for success on race day. The qualifying sessions are also an opportunity to earn qualifying bonus points. As the regular season winds down every point will be critical especially with points and half on the line at the U.S. Nationals.

“We want to come off the hauler on Friday and start posting quick runs. The cooler temperatures will be more favorable in Brainerd for sure,” said Hart. “We want to come out strong and keep the pressure on the other teams to keep up with us. This sport is very unforgiving and you can get behind the eight ball pretty quickly. We are moving the right direction and I can’t wait to get back in my racecar.”

The first round of qualifying will begin on Friday afternoon at Brainerd International Raceway and final eliminations will begin on Sunday at 11 a.m. CT.

Gravel and Big Game Motorsports target their first AGCO Jackson Nationals win together this weekend, Aug. 18-20By Nick GrazianoJACKSON, MN (Aug. 17, 2022) – David Gravel had his second Knoxville Nationals win in sight with five laps to go. Then came Donny Schatz.While he had to watch the 10-time World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champion drive away for his 11th Knoxville Nationals title, Gravel didn’t let finishing second diminish his confidence.“You know, it’s one of those things where we’ve had a good past month and a half,” said Gravel, who is on a streak of 17 top-10 finishes in the last 19 races, including three wins. “Our confidence is high. We’re going to hang our heads high, obviously.”Now in his second full year driving the Huset’s Speedway/Jackson Motorplex #2 car for Big Game Motorsports, and working with 2021 World of Outlaws Crew Chief of the Year Cody Jacobs, he and the team have found their stride in time for the stretch of multiple crown jewel events – including the 44th annual AGCO Jackson Nationals, Aug. 18-20.“There’s another big race (Thursday through Saturday for the AGCO Jackson Nationals) at Jackson (Motorplex), then there’s another decent sized race at Skagit (Speedway with the Skagit Nationals) and Gold Cup (at Silver Dollar Speedway) is growing. Then we have the Nationals Open (at Williams Grove Speedway),” Gravel said. “So, there’s still a lot to look forward to in the season. A lot of money to be won.”Gravel has yet to win the Jackson Nationals or a Series event at Jackson Motorplex – owned by his car-owner Tod Quiring and about 30 minutes from the team shop – but still holds an impressive record at the Minnesota track. He hasn’t finished outside the top five in the last six events there, including his second-place finish in the Jackson Nationals last year.Along with targeting marquee wins, he and his team are in the hunt for the championship for the second straight year. He currently sits 68 points behind points leader Brad Sweet entering the Jackson Nationals. Compared to Sweet’s current record this year, Gravel has two more wins, one less top five and is tied for most top 10s this year (41). Where Sweet has been better is consistency.Gravel has had three finishes outside the top 15 this year, while Sweet has had one – at the first race of the season. But with momentum behind him and the boast of a strong Knoxville Nationals run, Gravel and Big Game Motorsports have put themselves in a position to keep the fight going until the championship determining World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte (Nov. 2-5).“Like I said, we’re confident and we’re pretty happy with where we’re at right now,” Gravel said. “We’re in the championship battle so we have to finish off the season strong and we have a lot to race for.”For tickets to the 44th AGCO Jackson Nationals, CLICK HERE.If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision – either online or by downloading the DIRTVision App.

MECHANICSBURG, PA– AUGUST 17, 2022 – Boom Briggs has seen many scenarios in his Late Model career. However, 2022 brought him a new challenge—owning two cars on the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series.  

As The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet return to Pennsylvania and Ohio with trips to Williams Grove Speedway (Aug. 19), Sharon Speedway (Aug. 20), and Tri-City Raceway Park (Aug. 21), he’s still fighting through adversity. 

Last December, Josh Richards joined Briggs as the second car of the Briggs Transport stable. It’s a last-minute deal that’s had them playing catchup ever since.

“It was kind of a last minute put together deal,” Briggs said. “I think we’re struggling with how fast we put it together. Honestly, we still don’t truly have enough help along with [Josh Richards] going through a camper fire to broken nose to [COVID-19]; it’s not been a very good year.”

Despite the struggles, Boom and his team can find solace in racing close to home this weekend. He’s found success at both Sharon and Tri-City and hopes for a successful show as the Series returns to the Franklin, PA venue for the first time since 2010.

“Back in the day, it used to race really good,” Briggs said. “I did hear they’re bringing somebody else in to do track prep this weekend to make sure we get a good racetrack and a good show. As long as they can get the track slowed down a little bit, I think it’ll be a good race.

“Anytime you got back to a venue you haven’t been to in 10 years, you want to put on a good show and see the track do well with attendance.”

Briggs has more than 300 starts in his World of Outlaws CASE Late Models career, but a trip to Victory Lane has eluded the 51-year-old driver. 

This weekend, he has the chance to bring hometown fans to their feet as Sharon and Tri-City are less than two hours from his Bear Lake, PA home. Briggs realizes what a win at either of those tracks would mean to him. 

“I always said give me one national win, and I’d be happy,” Briggs said. “To do it at home would mean more than anything, especially at Sharon, which is one of the nicest racetracks in the country.

“I have a lot of history at Tri-City; I passed Robbie Blair there one time to win a race with a couple of laps to go. I love racing there; they just don’t run Late Models there anymore. Either one of those two tracks would be a pretty awesome deal.”

A trip home also means he’ll get to race against his cousin and original Dirty Dozen member Chub Frank. Briggs looks forward to taking on the Series legend and hopes he comes to future events on the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models schedule. 

“Me and Chub race hard together,” Briggs said. “Last Friday night, we went up to [Freedom Motorsports Park] in New York and ran fourth and fifth or whatever and raced together the whole night. 

“It’s a cool deal. We grew up together; we worked together, raced together, and hopefully, I’m trying to get him to go to Davenport next weekend.”

As Briggs and his team battle through another scenario, it only fuels their fire for success. They’ll continue to push for that elusive first win, whether it’s the first national triumph of Boom’s career or Richard’s return to Victory Lane.

. 

Their search for Victory continues as part of a Pennsylvania-Ohio tripleheader this weekend with the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models at Williams Grove, Sharon, and Tri-City.

TICKETS:

Williams Grove (Aug. 19): bit.ly/3dkXyTW
Sharon (Aug. 20): bit.ly/3QeZJqX
Tri-City (Aug. 21): bit.ly/3pektTY

Aug 16, 2022 | Featured, Julie Nataas, Race Results

Randy Meyer Racing’s Julie Nataas scored her first national event win of 2022 and third of her career this weekend at the 33rd annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by PetArmor after defeating Shane Conway, Jasmine Salinas, James Stevens, and Mike Coughlin. Newcomer Travis Shumake qualified for the field as well and proved himself to be a force behind the wheel of his dragster.

Coming into eliminations, Nataas was qualified No. 10 with a 5.392-second pass at 277.60 mph while Shumake qualified No. 11 with a 5.418, 269.13. 

First round, Travis lined up against Jasmine Salinas for his first round of national event competition. With a .041-second reaction time at the hit, Travis had .039-second advantage over Salinas at the hit. Travis clocked in with a solid 5.456, 263.41 but couldn’t turn on the win light against Salinas’ 5.341, 263.41. Following in the next pair, Julie and competitor Shane Conway had identical reaction times and then it was a battle of who’s horsepower would cross the finish line first. Julie took the win with a 5.326, 276.41 over Conway’s 5.345, 264.03; the margin of victory for Julie being seven feet.

Second round, the heat on track was starting to heat up as it reached almost 130 degrees on the racing surface. Julie had an outstanding .009-second reaction time and used that major starting line advantage to secure a holeshot victory over Jasmine Salinas. Nataas crossed the finish line with a 5.402, 267.59 to Salinas’ 5.382, 265.48.

In the semifinals, Julie used her quickest pass of the weekend to secure a win (5.311, 275.51) over James Stevens’ 5.510, 229.20 and advance herself to her 12th career national event final round.

For the finals, Julie staged up against Mike Coughlin for the first time in eliminations. At the starting line, Julie grabbed .063-seconds advantage over Coughlin and drove it all the way to another holeshot win with a 5.343, 274.61 over Coughlin’s 5.326, 268.76. This victory was her third national event win of her career in Top Alcohol Dragster and her first of the 2022 season.

Chevrolet going for fifth win at World Wide Technology Raceway since 2012

DETROIT (August 17, 2022) – Chevrolet drivers and the rest of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will close the oval-racing season this weekend at one of the Bowtie Brand’s most successful venues on the schedule: World Wide Technology Raceway for Saturday’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500.

The 1.25-mile, egg-shaped oval is a favorite of drivers throughout the series, and especially those in the Chevrolet camp. Chevy-powered teams have won four of the six races at WWTR since INDYCAR returned to the track – formerly known as Gateway Motorsports Park – in 2017 after a 13-year absence.

Chevrolet leads in Engine Manufacturer points on the strength of nine wins and 10 pole positions in 14 races. Two of those wins came in the last short-oval event – the Iowa doubleheader in late July.

“Racing at World Wide Technology Raceway is always a great challenge from the standpoints of both drivers and engineers,” said Rob Buckner, Chevrolet Program Manager for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. “The differences in banking and degree of turn-in on opposite ends of the track is unique from any ovals we’ve run in IndyCar in the V6 era. Although it’s not as short as Iowa, we absolutely can take some of the lessons we learned in our two strong showings there and apply them to this weekend. 

“We’re at that spot in the season where every lap and every point becomes critical in the Engine Manufacturer and Driver championships,” Buckner added. “Any amount of improvement or progress over the course of an event weekend can make the difference between winning and losing a championship. We want to do everything we can to make sure we remain in good position heading to the final two races.”

Will Power, driver of Team Penske’s No. 12 Verizon 5G Chevrolet, leads a crowded Drivers Championship race by six points over Scott Dixon. Another Team Penske driver – Josef Newgarden in the No. 2 PPG Chevrolet, is fourth in points with a series-high four victories this season.

Newgarden (three wins) and Power (one win) have combined for Chevrolet’s four triumphs at WWTR since 2017. The two have finished on the podium each of the last two rounds at the circuit with Arrow McLaren SP’s Pato O’Ward, No. 5 McLaren Chevrolet, finishing second to Newgarden in the previous two World Wide Technology Raceway events.

Ed Carpenter Racing team owner Ed Carpenter, driving the No. 33 Alzamend Neuro Chevrolet, also has a strong history at the track with a runner-up finish in 2019.

Chevrolet and the NTT INDYCAR Series wind down the 2022 season with the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at 6:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 20. The race will air live starting at 6 p.m. ET on USA, the Peacock streaming service, IndyCar Radio Network affiliates and SiriusXM IndyCar Nation (Channel 160). Live timing and scoring will be available at racecontrol.indycar.com.

BY THE NUMBERS: Chevrolet in INDYCAR

· 1: Chevrolet’s position in the INDYCAR Engine Manufacturer standings after 14 races

· 2: Consecutive front-row starts in the Indianapolis 500 for Rinus Veekay of Ed Carpenter Racing

· 2: Consecutive podium sweeps for Team Chevy at World Wide Technology Raceway – each with the same drivers and finishing order – Josef Newgarden, Pato O’Ward and Will Power

· 3: Victories at WWTR for Team Penkse’s Josef Newgarden including each of the last two years

· 4: Wins at World Wide Technology Raceway for Chevrolet since IndyCar’s return in 2017 – Josef Newgarden (2017, 2020, 2021) and Will Power (2018)

· 4: Consecutive victories by Chevrolet to open the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin won the pole and race at St. Petersburg. Penske teammate Josef Newgarden won at Texas and Long Beach, and Pato O’Ward was victorious at Barber Motorsport Park for Arrow McLaren SP

· 6: Different Chevrolet drivers to win races dating to the start of 2020. Scott McLaughlin was the most recent at St. Petersburg

· 6: Number of Manufacturer Championships in the NTT INDYCAR Series since 2012

· 6: Number of Team Chevy Driver/Entrant championships since 2012

· 14: Consecutive seasons with at least one win by Will Power, including past 11 with Chevrolet. He won at Belle Isle in 2022

· 26: Wins by Will Power since 2012. All have come with Chevrolet, giving him the most of any driver with same manufacturer

· 41: Pole starts by Will Power since 2012 in a Chevrolet-powered car, most of any driver

· 104: Chevrolet victories in NTT INDYCAR SERIES since 2012

· 114: Earned poles by Chevrolet since 2012

· 179: NTT INDYCAR SERIES races as V6 engine supplier since 2012 return to INDYCAR

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 17, 2022) – Progressive American Flat Track announced today the addition of the Mission Volusia Half-Mile Finale presented by Daytona Dodge to the Progressive Triple Crown.

The Progressive Triple Crown is a unique multi-race challenge that rewards mastery over the sport’s three oval disciplines by paying the Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle rider who collects the most points at three designated event weekends a $25,000 prize.

The Progressive Triple Crown was originally slated to consist of the Progressive Laconia Short Track at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire on June 11, the Progressive Black Hills Half-Mile at Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City, South Dakota on August 6, and the Mission Springfield Mile Doubleheader at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois on September 3-4.

However, since the premier-class Main Event at the Progressive Black Hills Half-Mile was called complete shortly after its start and every rider who qualified for the race awarded a single point due to inclement weather, it was decided to designate the Mission Volusia Half-Mile Finale at Volusia Speedway Park in De Leon Springs, Florida on October 15, to stand in as the Progressive Triple Crown’s test of Half-Mile supremacy.

As a result, the already high-profile event will now serve as both the finale to the Progressive AFT season and Progressive Triple Crown, only upping the stakes in what’s taken shape as an incredibly competitive championship fight.

That fight continues this weekend at Cal Expo, in Sacramento, California, with the Mission Legendary Sacramento Mile powered by Law Tigers on Saturday, August 20. Click here to reserve your tickets today.

The Mission Sacramento Mile will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, August 27, at 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT, including exclusive features, cutting-edge aerial drone and onboard footage, and expert commentary.

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

To score the latest gear for the Progressive American Flat Track fan, visit our official merchandise store at https://store.americanflattrack.com.