(10/28/24 – Ben Deatherage) Stockton, California … On Saturday, November 2nd, all roads for the NARC King of the West championship led to the 41st Annual Tribute to Gary Patterson at the Stockton Dirt Track. This highly anticipated event, marking the end of the 65th Anniversary season for the NARC 410 Sprint Car Series, is the last chance for fans to witness the awe-inspiring, fire breathing, 900+ horsepower machines that define the series.“We are always proud to host the NARC and SCCT sprint cars at the season finale,” said promoter Tony Noceti. “Not only are they bringing the best open wheel racing on the west coast, but their championships will be decided at the Stockton Dirt Track.”The Tribute to Gary Patterson is not just an event, it’s a cornerstone tradition of the NARC 410 Sprint Series. Gary Patterson, one of the original ‘true Outlaws,’ left an indelible mark on the sport, winning the Gold Cup at West Capital Speedway and the Turkey Night Grand Prix at Ascot, both in 1977 and Skagit Speedway’s storied Super Dirt Cup in 1973. His legacy lives on through this event, which honors his memory and contributions to sprint car racing.Since 1984, there has been a Tribute To GP, which began at Calistoga until 2007. Silver Dollar Speedway was honored to have the race from 2008 to 2012. The Stockton Dirt Track has been the home of the event since 2013 and, from 2017 to the present, has been the championship event for the NARC 410 Sprint Series. Steve Kent and Brent Kaeding have the most wins in the event, with four each.Roseville’s Justyn Cox who drives for the Bates-Hamilton Racing Team is one of many teams looking to get in victory lane.”I love Stockton, it’s close to home. It’s kind of a home track for me, and Tony Noceti works hard, and he is doing his best to make it a great racetrack. I appreciate that we have a promoter that’s willing to stick his neck out there like he does.”The companion division for the night will be the Sprint Car Challenge Tour 360 sprint cars and the Legends of Kearny Bowl.Championship ChaseThe battle for the King of the West championship has been nothing short of intense, with Justin Sanders and Cole Macedo locked in a nail-biting fight for the top spot throughout the season. The thrill of this competition is going to keep everyone on edge as a mere three points separate the two. That is the difference between winning and second place.Both drivers have won at the newly configured 1/4-mile clay oval on the two previous trips this season. Macedo won the Asparagus Cup in April, while Sanders was victorious at the Salute to LeRoy Van Connett in May.Driving the Mittry Motorsports #2X machine, Sanders, from Aromas, CA, won the Tribute to GP in 2022. He’s accumulated three wins in 11 career NARC starts at Stockton.Macedo, representing Lemoore, aboard the Tarlton Motorsports #21 entry, has yet to finish outside the top five in NARC action since the track was reshaped last winter, with his worst performance being a fifth in May.Sanders occupied the podium twice in the doubleheader last weekend, with a second at Kern County Raceway and a third at the Anthony Simone Classic in Hanford. Macedo was involved in a hard crash at Kern that forced him to bow out early and surrender the point lead only to rebound spectacularly by winning the Simone at Kings Speedway.Who To Watch2017 NARC champion Bud Kaeding wants to reenter Stockton’s legendary winner’s circle. The Campbell chauffeur has posted consistent results with sixth and seventh-place efforts on the smaller variety of the track. His most recent NARC win was at Stockton in August of 2019.Dylan Bloomfield hopes to grab his first-ever NARC victory for his car owners, Dave and Debbie Vertullo. The Oakley teenager was ninth in his last series appearance at “The Van Connett” in May.Shane Golobic has won twice on the old 3/8-mile of Stockton and hopes to add a “New Stockton Dirt Track” win to his impressive resume. The Fremont pilot of the Matt Wood Racing #17W has also won the Tribute to GP twice when he was triumphant in 2014 and 2019.Justyn Cox is happy to be back doing what he loves: racing Sprint Cars. Coming back from injury last weekend. The Roseville driver is hoping to deliver a strong finish after showing a lot of speed in the previous two trips to the track this year. The driver-team combination already has hit pay dirt this season with a victory at Oregon’s Cottage Grove Speedway during the Fastest Five Days in Motorsports.For Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi, this will be the first time he’s been to the new Stockton with NARC. The two-time NARC champ did log some laps when the World of Outlaws were in town on September 6th. Scelzi has historically excelled at the old track, winning three times and has been consistently quick the last few weeks with the tour.Tim Kaeding has been a major storyline in 2024 with NARC, as he’s shown he still possesses his jungle-cat quickness. The two-time series champion, hailing from San Jose, has cracked off a couple of wins in the last few shows with the Williams Motorsports #0 team. “TK” won the Tribute to GP in eight-year increments, 2008 and 2016. Will that trend continue?Not only is a series championship on the line but so is the title of Rookie of the Year. Easton’s Caeden Steele leads the charge of the trio of youngsters battling in the NARC top ten. He was eighth at the Asparagus Cup in April.Fellow Rookies, Gauge Garcia from Lemoore and Clovis’ Dominic Gorden will try their best to end the season on a solid note. In the Keller Motorsports #2K car, Garica has tenth and 11th place finishes at Stockton to his credit. Gorden was eighth the last time NARC was at Stockton, and it kicked off a positive trend of strong results for the young man.D.J. Netto of Hanford is another driver who has enjoyed a lot of success on the old configuration, with wins in 2021 and 2022, but is looking to score a win on the new one. The 2019 NARC champion was 16th at the Asparagus Cup in his only appearance at the track.In April, Nick Parker had a special moment when he managed to record his first career NARC top five. Finishing fifth at the Asparagus Cup, the Arizona transplant now residing in Chico is hopeful that another successful outing is in the cards.Journeying from Benicia, Billy Aton has some unfinished business at Stockton. Leading most of the first half of the Salute to LeRoy Van Connett, his engine stalled and caused a crash when it looked like another victory was in his grasp. Can he get on top of the podium to close out 2024? You will have to be there to find out.Fan & Competitor InfoThere will be a NARC champions autograph session taking place in front of the grandstands between 3:00 and 5:00.The Stockton Dirt Track is located at the San Joaquin Fairgrounds at 1658 S Airport Way in Stockton, California. Tickets are $30.00 for adults, $25.00 for Seniors (65+)/Military (with Valid ID)/Juniors (12-17), Kids (5-11) are $10.00, while fans 4 or younger are FREE. Please note there is a $10.00 CASH ONLY parking fee.Pit Gates will open at 3:00, Front Gates at 5:00, and Opening Ceremonies will kick off around 6:00, followed by racing.  Additional information can be found at www.stocktondirttrack.com.The NARC racing format includes qualifying, four 8-lap heat races, an exciting six-lap trophy dash, a 12-lap last chance race, and a 30-lap main event.The NARC 410 Sprint Series is the leading 410 Sprint Car tour west of the Rocky Mountains. Since 1960, it has enthralled countless thousands of fans from tracks up and down the Pacific Coast. For more information, visit its website at www.narc410.com or social media pages.All NARC racing events are live-streamed on Floracing.comFormer Tribute to Gary Patterson Winners
1984- Chuck Gurney
1985- Brent Kaeding
1986- Tim Green
1987- Jimmy Sills
1988- Jeff Swindell
1989- Jason McMillen
1990- Jimmy Sills
1991- Tim Green
1992- Tim Green
1993- Randy Tiner
1994- Brent Kaeding
1995- Paul McMahan
1996- Steve Kent
1997- Randy Tiner
1998- Randy Hannagan
1999- Brent Kaeding
2000- Steve Kent
2001- Brent Kaeding
2002- Jason Meyers
2003- Dennis Moore Jr.
2004- Sparky Howard
2005- Steve Kent
2006- Steve Kent
2007- Jonathan Allard
2008- Tim Kaeding
2009- Kyle Hirst
2010- Zack Zimmerly
2011- Peter Murphy
2012- Rico Abreu
2013- Rico Abreu
2014 – Shane Golobic
2015- Jonathan Allard
2016- Tim Kaeding
2017- Cory Eliason
2018- Rico Abreu
2019- Shane Golobic
2021- Corey Day
2022- Justin Sanders
2023- Buddy KofoidThe NARC 410 Sprint Car Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires and Floracing.com. Associate and product award sponsors include Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Beacon Wealth Strategies, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, Diversified Machine Inc., Jim Allen Promotions, Kaeding Performance Center, Kimo’s Tropical Car Wash, KSE Racing Enterprises, Lifeline LLC, Maxim Racing Products, Mettec Titanium, Pyrotect, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Scelzi Enterprises, SCI Racing Products, Starr Property Management, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Lite Brakes, Williams Roofing, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.NARC 410 SPRINT CARS SERIESCHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS
(AFTER 22 EVENTS IN 23-RACE SERIES – 10/28/24)

1. Justin Sanders, Aromas – 2865
2. Cole Macedo, Lemoore – 2862
3. Bud Kaeding, Campbell – 2772
4. Caeden Steele, Fresno (R) – 2760
5. Dylan Bloomfield, Oakley – 2751
6. Gauge Garcia, Lemoore (R) – 2718
7. Nick Parker, Chico – 2676
8. Dominic Gorden, Clovis (R) – 2586
9. Justyn Cox, Clarksburg – 2518
10. Billy Aton, Benicia – 2226
11. Chase Johnson, Penngrove – 1972
12. Tanner Carrick, Lincoln – 1944
13. Dominic Scelzi, Fresno – 1878
14. DJ Netto, Hanford – 1607
15. Shane Golobic, Fremont – 1607
16. John Clark, Windsor (R)- 1439
17. Sean Becker, Roseville – 1346
18. Tanner Holmes, Jacksonville, OR – 1320
19. Kaleb Montgomery, Templeton – 1304
20. Burt Foland Jr., San Jose – 1283

Upcoming Events:
November 3rd – Brookside County Club (Stockton) – Championship Celebration Awards Banquet

DALLAS (October 28, 2024) — Through the premier season of Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull, the first year Funny Car driver has enjoyed wide ranging conversations with multi-time world champions Ron Capps, Cruz Pedregon and Matt Hagan as well as up-and-coming drivers like Daniel Wilkerson and Austin Prock. The latest episode is set to air on the NHRA FAST Channel on Wednesday, October 30, at 8:00 p.m. EST and 8:00 p.m. PST, and features a lively conversation with 2018 NHRA Funny Car champion J.R. Todd, driver of the DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car.

“I was so excited to sit down with J.R. and talk about our Funny Car paths,” said Hull. “I have always admired J.R. for how he handles himself behind the wheel and in front of the camera. He’s done it all in drag racing and talking with him about racing for Kalitta Motorsports and legendary team owner Connie Kalitta was pretty cool. What J.R. has done behind the scenes to make improvements in the Funny Car class is impressive and we got a chance to dive into those topics as well as just how cool it is to drive a nitro Funny Car. I have enjoyed talking with all the Funny Car drivers during this first season of the show but the J.R. episode turned out to be one of my favorites.” 

Buddy Hull and guest J.R. Todd discuss some of the more exciting elements of driving nitro Funny Cars,
photo credit Werner Communications

Hull sat down with Todd before the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals in early September and the pair of drivers talked about how each of their careers got started in a unique fashion. During the conversation Todd talked about the significance of racing the DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car that bears the name of the late Scott Kalitta and how special this year’s Gatornationals win was for the entire Kalitta Motorsports organization. Todd also went behind the scenes on the input he was able to provide Toyota during the development process for the Toyota GR Supra Funny Car body and how he has been working to advance the development of a new steering wheel with former IndyCar driver Max Papis. 

“It was fun, and it was good to learn more about Buddy,” the 2018 NHRA Funny Car champion said. “It’s always great to sit down and talk about those things people don’t get to see on weekly racing shows during a standard NHRA race weekend. Anytime you can sit and talk with somebody and talk about past experiences or try to educate the fans on things they might not know, I think it’s always positive for our sport.”

The final two episodes of the inaugural season will include sit downs with PEAK Funny Car driver Jack Beckman and NHRA Hall of Fame Funny Car driver Billy Meyer. Each episode will be a free-for-all conversation with the one constant being the Funny Car Fast Five segment, a rapid-fire Q&A getting the thoughts and opinions from each guest in quick succession. The interview-style program, hosted by Funny Car driver Hull is the latest original series added to the NHRA’s 24/7 digital channel which is available on 13 platforms including the Roku Channel (USA & Canada), Tubi, Samsung TV Plus, Sling Freestream, and others. Interested viewers can search NHRA and select the LIVE option on any of these platforms. 

Following the original broadcast of each episode of Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull, the show will go into programming rotation on the NHRA FAST Channel. Future new episodes will air Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EST and 8 p.m. PST leading up to select NHRA national events for the rest of the 2024 season.  Past shows including the Ron Capps, Cruz Pedregon, Daniel Wilkerson, Austin Prock, and Paul Lee episodes are available on the Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull YouTube channel. 

October 28, 2024

Harrison Burton and the No. 21 DEX Imaging team skirted potential damage from a Lap-Two incident and went on to finish 24th in Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead Miami Speedway.

It was Burton and the team’s 15th top-25 finish of 2024.

Burton started Sunday’s 400-miler from 34th place but soon found himself on pit road after the field stacked up behind the spinning car of Justin Haley. Burton made contact with the outside wall, so the DEX Imaging team put a new set of tires on the No. 21 Mustang Dark Horse but found no significant damage, so Burton rejoined the race in 34th place.

He made a regularly scheduled green-flag pit stop at Lap 50 and ended the first 80-lap Stage in 28th place.

In the second Stage he again finished 28th, but in the third and final segment of the race he began moving forward and ran most of that portion of the race inside the top 25.

Burton was 21st after his final stop at Lap 256 of 267, but the team was down a set of fresh tires at that point due to the early-race incident, and Burton dropped to 24th at the checkered flag.

Burton and the Wood Brothers team now head to the Woods’ home track, Martinsville Speedway, for next Sunday’s Xfinity 500, the next-to-last race of the 2024 Cup Series season.
 

Elliott Leads Chevrolet with Top-Five Finish at Homestead-Miami SpeedwayFive Camaro ZL1’s Claim Top-10 Finishes

TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-10:  POS.   DRIVER5th – Chase Elliott6th – William Byron7th – Alex Bowman8th – AJ Allmendinger9th – Carson HocevarWITH 34 NASCAR CUP SERIES RACES COMPLETE:Wins: 15Poles: 10Top-Five Finishes: 67Top-10 Finishes: 138Stage Wins: 22

UP NEXT: The NASCAR Cup Series will head to Martinsville Speedway next weekend, with the XFINITY 500 marking the elimination race for the Round of Eight. Coverage of the 500-lap event can be found on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

·       Looking to rebound from a tough start to the Round of Eight, Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1 quickly turned a top-10 qualifying effort into a fight for the lead in the early laps of Stage One. Reaching the third position near the midway point of the 80-lap opening stage, crew chief Alan Gustafson called Elliott to pit road for the first green-flag stop of the race. A quick stop by the No. 9 pit crew put the former champion in position to cycle to the front and fight for the top of the leaderboard with 37 laps remaining in the stage – ultimately taking the first green-white checkered flag in the third position. Putting together yet another strong points run in Stage Two, Elliott continued to be a contender throughout the race – going on to lead Chevrolet to the checkered flag with a fifth-place result. Elliott, a past winner at Martinsville Speedway, will take on the Round of Eight elimination race from the eighth position in the standings and 43-points below the elimination line.    ·       Despite a disappointing qualifying result, William Byron quickly started clicking off position towards the front of the field – driving his No. 24 Valvoline Camaro ZL1 from 25th to the top-15 in just 15 laps. Hitting pit road for two rounds of stops during the opening stage, Byron had a masterful restart following the second caution of the race – maneuvering his Chevrolet-powered machine into the top-10 before settling into an eighth place finish in the stage. Collecting another set of crucial points in Stage Two, Byron remained a steady fixture in the top-10 through the remainder of the race – going on to extend his top-six streak to five-straight with a sixth-place finish. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native leads Chevrolet’s playoff contenders into the Round of Eight elimination race from the fourth position in the playoff standings with a seven-point cushion over the cutline.   ·       Running second to his Hendrick Motorsports teammate in the opening stage, Kyle Larson suffered a flat right-rear tire on his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1, bringing out the caution at the 49-lap marker. Immediately going to work on their Chevrolet, the Cliff Daniels-led team made a set of trips to pit road for repairs but maintained a position on the lead lap. Battling an ill-handling car well into Stage Two, a turnaround came to fruition as Larson progressively climbed the leaderboard – entering the top-five on lap 185. Closing to the bumper of then-race leader Ryan Blaney, a three-wide move for the lead with just 12 laps remaining ended with a spin that ended the valiant comeback. After a rollercoaster day, Larson took the checkered flag in the 13th position – heading into the final race of the Round of Eight fifth in the playoff standings and just seven-points below the elimination line.

TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE QUOTES: KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1Finished: 13thYou were three-wide between the No. 12 and the No. 3 for the pass for the lead. What did you feel in the racecar when that happened?“Yeah, I mean you’re making split-second decisions. Austin (Dillon) did nothing wrong. I was just hoping that he would see me coming as the No. 12 (Ryan Blaney) got to his inside, and maybe he’d run a lane off the wall just to give me some clean air. He continued to run his line. I had a little bit of a hole and I was trying to shoot the gap to get in front of the No. 3 and get to the wall quickly to either hopefully stay on the outside of the No. 12 or build a run to have a shot at him in (turns) one and two. But yeah, it just didn’t work out. I was going as hard as I could. The No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevy team did a great job rebounding after the flat tire.” Next week, we head to Martinsville Speedway. What do you think about next Sunday? “Yeah, we’ve been strong at Martinsville (Speedway) at times, so we’ll see. It’s not my best track, but I’ve been a lot better there since I joined Hendrick Motorsports. We just need to qualify well and give it our best shot.”  CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1Finished: 5th You led the most laps that you’ve ever led at Homestead-Miami Speedway. What did you need to battle for the win.. were you fighting tight conditions there at the end?“I just got tighter and tighter as the day went on. I was just trying to manage that on the front side of a run, and ultimately I just didn’t do a great job of managing it. When the pace got quicker and everyone started pushing, I didn’t really have anything left to push.  It was a really solid couple of weeks for the No. 9 NAPA Chevy team, from a pace perspective. That’s encouraging as you move along in the playoffs.” You’ve run so well at Martinsville Speedway in the past. How confident are you going into the elimination race.“Very confident.” WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 VALVOLINE CAMARO ZL1Finished: 6thOn the last stop of the race, your team elected to pit first out of the playoff drivers. Was that the right move? “I don’t think it really mattered. We kind of had what we had today. We weren’t good enough, and we were just trying to get all we could. I feel like a sixth-place finish is good. If it had gone green there, we were going to end up top-five. I don’t know how that changes the points, but we just have to go to Martinsville Speedway and compete for a win.” Is Martinsville Speedway a place where you think you can get the job done? “Absolutely. We did it in the spring, so we should be able to.” Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Cirkul Camaro ZL1Finished: 29th “We started the weekend with so much speed and our best qualifying spot of the year. Unfortunately not being able to run the top was our biggest challenge. Trent [Owens] made some positive changes that helped get some movability in the No. 31 Cirkul Chevy and get us moving in the right direction towards the end.” DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 FREEWAYFRANCHISE.COM CAMARO ZL1Finished: 16th Suarez on his race at Homestead-Miami Speedway: “It was an OK day for the No. 99 FreewayFranchise.com Chevy team. It was a little bit difficult when you have top-15 speed. We had a couple things that didn’t go our way; a slow stop and then the strategy right there at the end. We finished close to what we deserved, so we’ll take it and move onto Martinsville (Speedway).”

(10/26/24 – Ben Deatherage) Hanford, CA … After crashing the night before at Kern Raceway, Cole Macedo and the Tarlton Motorsports team circled the wagons and bounced back to make a big statement with the NARC 410 Sprint Car Series scoring an Anthony Simone Classic victory at Kings Speedway.The driver of the Tarlton & Son #21 Maxim, who started the Hoosier Racing Tire feature fifth, powered his way to the point on the 24th circuit and fended off the frantic advances of all challengers to nail down his fifth victory of the season.Beacon Wealth Strategies Dash winner Dominic Scelzi wrestled control of the race lead from Justin Sanders on the opening green flag. Despite dealing with a pair of red-flag stoppages in the first ten laps, the two-time NARC champion created a healthy distance in his Whipple Superchargers #41 Maxim from the body of the field.While Scelzi took off, a thrilling three-car battle for second took place among Macedo, Sanders, and Tim Kaeding. Macedo put forth a formal challenge for the top spot on lap 13. Scelzi answered the call and denied the overtake and drove away once again. This set up an opportunity for Sanders, aboard the Mittry Motorsports-owned Farmers Brewing #2X KPC, to close in on the leaders.Macedo held back Sanders, reeled in Scelzi again, and made an effective pass at the line via the low side of the track. Macedo took the lead for good with six to go and held on for the much-needed victory.”This Tarlton Motorsports team needed this really bad!” stated a pleased Macedo in victory lane. “The last four nights we’ve been rebuilding race cars, so I got a little excited there because the last couple of races, I’ve ended up on my head. I’m just glad that Drew Warner (crew chief) and the guys never give up; they easily could be down on me or vice versa; we’re just a good group of guys and having a lot of fun.”Scelzi scored a very respectable second, successfully keeping back a determined Sanders.Sanders would complete the podium in third and enter the last leg of the 2024 NARC season with a slim three-point advantage over Macedo for the King of the West title.A pair of former NARC champions completed the top five with the Williams Motorsports-owned EMADCO Disposal #0 Maxim, piloted by Tim Kaeding, beating out hometown driver D.J. Netto in his Netto Ag Services #88N KPC.Ryan Timms, from Oklahoma, Washington driver Colby Thornhill, Ryan Bernal, Justyn Cox, and Spencer Bayston rounded out the top ten at the checkered.Dominic Gorden earned William Roofing Hardcharger honors going from 18th to 11th.The heat race winners were Sanders, Netto, and Bernal.Nick Parker, Gauge Garcia, and Ryan Rocha were involved in feature event red-flag crashes.  Luckily, there were no injuries.HOOSIER RACING TIRES A-FEATURE (30 LAPS):  1. 21T-Cole Macedo [5]; 2. 41-Dominic Scelzi [1]; 3. 2X-Justin Sanders [2]; 4. 0-Tim Kaeding [3]; 5. 88N-D.J. Netto [4]; 6. 83-Ryan Timms [9]; 7. 19-Colby Thornhill [10]; 8. 73-Ryan Bernal [6]; 9. 42X-Justyn Cox [15]; 10. 14-Spencer Bayston [7]; 11. 10X-Dominic Gorden [18]; 12. 121-Caeden Steele [8]; 13. 83V-Dylan Bloomfield [14]; 14. 29-Bud Kaeding [13]; 15. 76-Jennifer Osborne [19]; 16. 5-Cole Danell [20]; 17. 09S-Geoffrey Strole [17]; 18. 10-Mauro Simone [21]; 19. 2K-Gauge Garcia [16]; 20. 31-Kyle Beilman [22]; 21. 15-Nick Parker[12]; 22. 5R-Ryan Rocha [11]METTEC TITANIUM LAP LEADERS: Dominic Scelzi 1-21, 23, Cole Macedo 22, 24-30WILLIAMS ROOFING HARDCHARGER: Dominic Gorden +7 (18th to 11th)BROWN AND MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS HEAT ONE (8 LAPS): 1. 2X-Justin Sanders [1]; 2. 14-Spencer Bayston [2]; 3. 83-Ryan Timms [3]; 4. 21T-Cole Macedo [4]; 5. 29-Bud Kaeding [5]; 6. 2K-Gauge Garcia [6]; 7. 76-Jennifer Osborne [7]; 8. 31-Kyle Beilman [8]KIMO’S TROPICAL CAR WASH HEAT TWO (8 LAPS): 1. 88N-D.J. Netto [1]; 2. 41-Dominic Scelzi [4]; 3. 19-Colby Thornhill [3]; 4. 5R-Ryan Rocha [2]; 5. 83V-Dylan Bloomfield [6]; 6. 09S-Geoffrey Strole [7]; 7. 5-Cole Danell [5]WINTERS PERFORMANCE HEAT THREE (8 LAPS): 1. 73-Ryan Bernal [2]; 2. 121-Caeden Steele [1]; 3. 0-Tim Kaeding [4]; 4. 15-Nick Parker [3]; 5. 42X-Justyn Cox [6]; 6. 10X-Dominic Gorden [5]; 7. 10-Mauro Simone [7]BEACON WEALTH STRATEGIES DASH (6 LAPS): 1.  41-Dominic Scelzi [2]; 2. 2X-Justin Sanders [4]; 3. 0-Tim Kaeding [3]; 4. 88N-D.J. Netto [5]; 5. 21T-Cole Macedo [1]; 6. 73-Ryan Bernal [6]ARP QUALIFYING QUICK TIME: Cole Macedo, 13.351 (22 Cars)

CRANDALL, TX (October 26, 2024) – The last two months of Sam Hafertepe Jr.’s season on the American Sprint Car Series National Tour have been a series of one headache after another.

Crashes. Tire failures. Engine trouble. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong until Saturday night at RPM Speedway, when Hafertepe finally made his way back to Victory Lane on the National Tour. And while winning for the first time in a while is special under any circumstances, doing it just 30 miles from his Sunnyvale, TX home with his family in attendance made the occasion even sweeter.

“Definitely awesome to do it close to home,” Hafertepe said following his first Series win since Lincoln County Raceway on Aug. 17. “I drive 20, 30 minutes home and I get to sleep in my own bed tonight.”

Hafertepe began the Feature from the outside of Row 2 with Blake Hahn and Brenham Crouch leading the charge on the front row. Hahn took command early riding the top lane and held the top spot throughout the opening green flag run that ended when Bradley Fezard spun in Turn 1 just before halfway.

While the field was split fairly evenly between the top and bottom grooves in the first half of the Feature, the majority of the field migrated to the top following the caution – including the top three. That gave Hafertepe the opportunity to begin moving forward, and he did just that by riding the inside around Crouch shortly after the restart before setting his sights on Hank Davis, who had climbed up to second.

After two more quick cautions, Hafertepe went to work on Davis while Hahn led on the high lane, eventually sliding into second with 11 laps left to catch Hahn. However, a caution for Aydan Saunders colliding with an infield tractor tire in Turn 2 put Hafertepe right on Hahn’s rear bumper for the dash to the finish.

With three circuits remaining, Hafertepe pulled the same move he made on Davis earlier in the race, blew past Hahn on the bottom and set sail toward his 10th National Tour win of the season.

While the unmatchable speed of the No. 15H on the bottom lane looked to be his key to victory, Hafertepe said there was a little more to the story.

“I don’t think we were better than anybody on the bottom, I just think the patience it was going to take to get down on the bottom, a lot of guys didn’t realize how slow you had to go to hit it,” Hafertepe said. “I knew if I took the lead, if a guy went and tried to hit the bottom he would probably mess up for a couple laps trying to figure it out.”

While Hafertepe would need a miracle to make up his 156-point gap in the Drivers standings to Seth Bergman with four races remaining in the season, he’s only 50 points behind TwoC Racing in the race for the Owners title. That means Hafertepe still has plenty to compete for at Tulsa Speedway and Creek County Speedway on championship weekend, and he’ll do so with a car he’s still fine tuning to his liking.

“We’ve still got to do a little bit to this car, this is a car we brought down a couple weeks ago for Paducah,” Hafertepe said. “It’s lacking a few things, we’ve just got to get it back to the shop and keep working on a few things. We’ve been having to do some stuff that we shouldn’t have to do. We’ll get it back to the shop and hopefully get it tuned up for Tulsa and Creek here at the end of the year.”

Hahn looked to be on his way to his first National Tour win since last year at Boone County Raceway, but the two-time Series champion was forced to settle for second after he was unable to hold off Hafertepe’s late charge.

“We were just really good early and just kind of faded with the car toward the end of the race, where I think maybe Sam wasn’t the best early but really started to gain toward the end,” Hahn said. “Just one of those deals, maybe just a little too good early. But our car was good all night long, I still felt good even though Sam got by me, I just think he was a little bit better on the bottom, he was able to operate and move around a little more. Other than that, the car was good, made a lot of good improvements. We’re happy with that, obviously wanted to win but we’ll take second anytime.”

Davis held off late attacks from Bergman and Jason Martin to finish third and claim his second podium of the weekend and his 11th of the season, more than anyone not named Seth or Sam.

“Wayne [Johnson]’s the best coach in the pit area, the best crew chief in the pit area, and my guys just work hard,” Davis said. “We do pretty decent, and hopefully it’ll turn into something next year.”

Martin got back in the top five for the first time since Benton Speedway with his fourth-place finish, while Matt Covington came home fifth for his second-straight top-five effort.

Bergman faded back to seventh after briefly challenging for a spot on the podium, but the points leader still earned the Hard Charger Award thanks to his drive forward from 15th on the starting grid.

UP NEXT: The 2024 ASCS National Tour season concludes in three weeks with four races in three nights in the Tulsa area – beginning with a double-Feature program at Tulsa Speedway on Thursday, Nov. 14 before the two-night finale at Creek County Speedway on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15-16. Tickets will be available at the track on race day, but if you can’t make it, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[4]; 2. 52-Blake Hahn[1]; 3. 2C-Hank Davis[3]; 4. 36-Jason Martin[10]; 5. 95-Matt Covington[11]; 6. 1-Brenham Crouch[2]; 7. 23-Seth Bergman[15]; 8. 15D-Andrew Deal[8]; 9. 2J-Zach Blurton[13]; 10. 10-Landon Britt[5]; 11. 45X-Kyler Johnson[6]; 12. 71T-Channin Tankersley[18]; 13. 88-Terry Easum[17]; 14. 2-Brekton Crouch[9]; 15. 31-Casey Wills[22]; 16. 16G-Austyn Gossel[7]; 17. 88R-Ryder Laplante[20]; 18. 8-Aydan Saunders[12]; 19. B2-Carson Bolden[14]; 20. 938-Bradley Fezard[21]; 21. 71-Brady Baker[19]; 22. 2S-Colby Stubblefield[16]

CRANDALL, TX (October 25, 2024) – With a triple-digit lead atop the American Sprint Car Series National Tour standings, Seth Bergman has admittedly been playing the consistency game in the closing stages of the 2024 season.

But there’s no better way to build a points lead than to win, and he did just that on Friday night at RPM Speedway.

“I had hoped for it,” Bergman said after his sixth National Tour triumph of the year. “I set really high standards personally. You rattle off some stats there and it sounds great, but I think what propels us to those is that we take the losses hard. We want to win and we want to be competitive every night.”

The win comes one week after a disappointing weekend at Riverside International Speedway – where the No. 23 team finished 11th on Friday and missed the Feature on Saturday – making their rebound in Crandall all the more important.

“For us at West Memphis, it wasn’t great,” Bergman said. “We didn’t have a good run and we worked hard this week. Coming into this weekend, I was like ‘man, if I could just go win a couple races here, it’s going to really help us come down the stretch here.”

Bergman began the Feature from the inside of Row 2, with the front row occupied by his championship rival Sam Hafertepe Jr. alongside 14-year-old Carson Bolden, who was making his first start in a 360 Sprint Car.

Hafertepe’s experience prevailed over Bolden’s youth on the initial start, as the No. 15H jumped out to the early lead while Bolden fell back to fourth by the end of Lap 1 behind Bergman and Blake Hahn. The battle between the two dominant cars all season commenced immediately, with Bergman briefly making it side-by-side for the lead before slipping up on Hafertepe’s inside exiting Turn 4 and relinquishing the top spot.

The race was interrupted for the first time when Tyler Harris found the concrete in Turn 1. Less than a lap after action resumed, the yellow flew again after Andrew Deal went around while battling with Brenham Crouch in Turn 3 and collected Landon Britt and Bradley Fezard.

On the next restart, Bergman looked to the outside to try and get around Hafertepe down the backstretch before crossing him over exiting Turn 4 and diving to Hafertepe’s inside in Turn 1, but Hafertepe once again emerged with the lead. Before Bergman could set up another move, Brekton Crouch got upside down in Turn 4 to pause the field once more.

A handful of laps after holding the lead on the restart, Hafertepe’s streak of misfortune in recent weeks continued when engine issues brought his night to a fiery end at the top of Turn 2, marking an untimely conclusion to a head-to-head duel between the two top dogs of 360 Sprint Car racing.

“I felt like it was shaping up to be one hell of a race between [Hafertepe] and I in traffic,” Bergman said. “Looked like he had some engine problems, so that’s a bummer. Gave us the lead and then really, from there, I just kind of set a mediocre pace and just stayed out of trouble.”

The caution for Hafertepe was the final stoppage of the 30-lap Feature, which meant that one more solid restart was all Bergman needed to drive away to the checkered flag for the first time since Aug. 23 at Big Sky Speedway.

The win along with Hafertepe’s DNF puts Bergman up by 187 points with five races remaining in the season, and brought him one step closer to making his dream of becoming a National Tour champion a reality.

“This has been the most I’ve won in any one year on the National Tour, tonight’s six,” Bergman said. “Really happy to be able to bounce back and come back and get a win, gives us great momentum, it’s how we want to start this home stretch. Probably couldn’t find a happier guy in the pit area.”

Hank Davis looked to be in for a rough night after a seventh-place Heat Race finish sent him to the Last Chance Showdown, but after grabbing a transfer spot he put forth a remarkable effort, driving from 18th up to second to easily claim the Hard Charger Award along with his 10th podium of the year.

“We were just off early, just missed it,” Davis said. “Part of it, everyone does it. That was the first B-Feature we’ve run all year. I’m super proud of these guys. I don’t wish anything bad on anyone, but I would have liked to have gotten up there to Sam and just finished with him, just keep him close. Kind of got to take them how you can get them, and that’s a lot of points gained. Kind of the big picture here, I know we can’t win the Drivers championship, but I still want to win the Owners for Wayne.”

The third spot went to Brady Baker, who collected his third podium of the year while running a part-time schedule with the Series.

“It feels amazing, just wish I could race these guys more, it would make me a lot better,” Baker said. “That was a good race, started out a little tight, but about halfway through it just started coming and coming. I was able to rip the bottom, I don’t know if anybody else could hit it like I could, but we were ripping.”

Matt Covington maintained control of third in the standings with his fourth-place run, while Colby Stubblefield completed the top five to establish a new career best on the National Tour.

UP NEXT: The ASCS National Tour will be back for more at RPM Speedway on Saturday night with another full racing program. Tickets will be available at the track, while DIRTVision will stream every lap live for those unable to make it out.

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 23-Seth Bergman[3]; 2. 2C-Hank Davis[18]; 3. 71-Brady Baker[6]; 4. 95-Matt Covington[10]; 5. 2S-Colby Stubblefield[5]; 6. 1-Brenham Crouch[9]; 7. 36-Jason Martin[20]; 8. 52-Blake Hahn[4]; 9. 10-Landon Britt[16]; 10. 31-Casey Wills[11]; 11. 71T-Channin Tankersley[14]; 12. B2-Carson Bolden[2]; 13. 16G-Austyn Gossel[22]; 14. 2J-Zach Blurton[19]; 15. 938-Bradley Fezard; 16. 15D-Andrew Deal[7]; 17. 45X-Kyler Johnson[21]; 18. 88-Terry Easum[17]; 19. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[1]; 20. 2-Brekton Crouch[15]; 21. 24-Tyler Harris[8]; 22. 8-Aydan Saunders[12]; 23. 12W-Dale Wester[13]

The Californian equals his personal best for wins in a year by leading every lap at Riverside

WEST MEMPHIS, AR (October 25, 2024) – The championship odds might be against him, but Carson Macedo refuses to go down quietly.

It’s been an electric last couple months for he and the Jason Johnson Racing team. A magical run ignited when the pairing topped the opening night of the Jackson Nationals midway through August. Entering this weekend, Macedo had won seven of the last 18 races with the World of Outlaws.

And as the stage shifted to West Memphis, AR’s Riverside International Speedway, nothing was going to slow Macedo and company.

The Lemoore, CA native started on the pole and never looked back during the 30-lapper. An incident with a lapped car put the win in question briefly, but ultimately Macedo drove away from David Gravel to claim the first World of Outlaws race at “The Ditch” since 2018.

“I was nervous,” Macedo admitted. “A lot of those double-file restarts, I didn’t know where to be. The top was kind of where the grip was, but I didn’t want to be too high and miss it and not get off (Turn) 4 nice then him (David Gravel) beat me down into Turn 1.

“I want to say I’m sorry to that lapper. I could see David behind me on the big screen. He was breathing right down my back and knew I had to make moves, or I was going to get ate up. We were just going so slow down into Turn 3, and I was getting nervous. I saw the opening and drove it in there, and it was probably silly with the track being the way it was. I didn’t want to get complacent and end up getting passed, so I’m sorry to that team and feel back their stuff is tore up.

“Nevertheless, my guys did an incredible job. Philip Dietz, he just delivered all night. We went out late there in Qualifying, and we did a great job in the Heat Race that put us in a position. Then we drew a good front row spot in the Dash and executed from there.”

Macedo’s 11th victory of 2024 matches his personal best for a season, a mark he also reached in 2021 and 2022. He’s now at 46 for his career as he closes in on becoming the 18th different driver with 50 checkered flags. It was the 70th World of Outlaws trophy for Jason Johnson Racing.

A win in the Toyota Racing Dash put Macedo on the pole of the main event. He jumped out to an early lead when the green flag flew as the battles broke out behind him. Giovanni Scelzi and Logan Schuchart swapped the second spot. Then fourth-starting David Gravel rolled by both of them.

A red flag with 11 laps complete gave Macedo a break as it took him out of lapped traffic. Sheldon Haudenschild capitalized with a huge restart. The Wooster, OH native rolled the bottom to clear multiple cars and take third by the time the pack got to the back straightaway.

Up front Gravel kept the pressure on Macedo, but a yellow at the halfway point again eliminated the concern of traffic.

The next restart saw Gravel maintain pace with Macedo as the second half of the race clicked away. It was near disaster for Macedo with seven laps remaining as he made a move to lap Ayden Gatewood in Turns 3 and 4. Macedo’s slider didn’t quite clear, and the result was hard contact. Macedo managed to keep rolling, but Gatewood wound up on his lid.

With only seven laps to go when the green lights came back on, Macedo never had to worry about traffic again as he aced the restart and drove away to yet another victory with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

“Winning Outlaw races is not easy to do,” Macedo said. “It’s a tough thing, and it’s really tough to do on a consistent basis. I’ve got a really good race team behind me in Jason Johnson Racing. We’re racing in memory of Jason Johnson and everything he stood for, so to be winning races like this is awesome.”

While Macedo might’ve gotten the win, David Gravel didn’t let him gain many points in the battle for the title. Gravel brought the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 home second for his third consecutive podium. The advantage sits at 74 markers with four races to go. The Watertown, CT native wanted the victory, but he also had the big picture in mind.

“Good night for us,” Gravel said. “Didn’t get a great Dash draw and was able to gain a row there in the Dash. Felt good there early on and was searching, and then on Lap 10 or 11, and I kind of just got in line. Little bit of a bummer there. Wish I had a shot to win that.”

The third spot belonged to Sheldon Haudenschild as he charged from ninth to continue a recent strong stretch. The Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink No. 17 has strung together six top fives in the last eight races including four podiums. The major move on a restart helped lead Haudenschild to another good finish.

“The one restart really just made my race,” Haudenschild explained. “I was able to get under Gio (Scelzi) and three other guys and roll the bottom in (Turns) 1 and 2 really nice. I just got back in line after that. I was a little nervous when I got stuck on the top of that restart, but hats off to (Kyle) Ripper and the guys.”

Logan Schuchart and Bill Balog completed the top five.

An 18th to sixth drive earned Donny Schatz the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

Bryce Lucius claimed his first career Simpson Quick Time in Sea Foam Qualifying.

NOS Energy Drink Heat One, Three, and Four belonged to Logan Schuchart, Buddy Kofoid, and Joe B. Miller. Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to David Gravel.

Carson Macedo topped the Toyota Racing Dash.

Skylar Gee won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Dylan Cisney.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars complete the Bull Ring Blitz at West Memphis, AR’s Riverside International Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 26. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 2. 2-David Gravel[4]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[9]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart[3]; 5. 17B-Bill Balog[12]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz[18]; 7. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[2]; 8. 55C-Chris Windom[11]; 9. 83-Michael Kofoid[6]; 10. 1-Sammy Swindell[5]; 11. 44-Derek Hagar[15]; 12. 23-Garet Williamson[10]; 13. 51B-Joe B Miller[8]; 14. 7S-Landon Crawley[7]; 15. 27-Emerson Axsom[19]; 16. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[20]; 17. 23B-Brian Bell[23]; 18. 99-Skylar Gee[21]; 19. 7C-Brad Bowden[14]; 20. 37-Ayden Gatewood[17]; 21. 32-Bryce Lucius[13]; 22. 6-Dylan Cisney[22]; 23. 20G-Noah Gass[24]; 24. 55-Kerry Madsen[16]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

(10/25/24 – Ben Deatherage) Bakersfield, CA … Taking advantage of his front-row starting spot, Tim Kaeding led all 30-laps of the NARC 410 Sprint Car Series October Classic at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway to park it in winner’s circle.The pilot of the EMADCO Disposal #0 Maxim for Williams Motorsports was brilliant in traffic and in open racetrack to secure his 74th career series victory, second all-time on the win list, and his second triumph with the group in 2024.”This is a testament to everyone associated with this #0 car, and they’ve given me a bad fast race car all year long,” said an elated Kaeding in victory lane. “We’re inching our way to my old man’s (all-time NARC winner Brent Kaeding) number, so hopefully we can do it in the next couple of years.”At the drop of the initial green, Kaeding beat back the initial advances of a charging Justin Sanders to obtain the lead on the opening start. As the race stayed green, the two-time NARC champion pulled away from the Mittry Motorsports sprint car driven by Justin Sanders.However, several stoppages kept the field close, including a massive crash on lap 13, which involved Billy Aton, Burt Foland Jr., and NARC point leader Cole Macedo. All were done for the night.Despite lapped traffic, Kaeding was able to have the fortune of stoppages happening at the right times, which took away opportunities for anyone to challenge him for the lead. He went on to score a two-car length victory over Sanders.Sanders, with the misfortune of Macedo, regained the point lead and now possesses a nine-point lead entering the next event.Two-time NARC champion Dominic Scelzi put the Whipple Supercharges #41 Maxim on the podium at Kern for the first time since 2021 with his third-place effort.The last seven laps of the race saw an incredible battle for fourth place, highlighting the determination and resilience of a pair of young talents, Dominic Gorden and Ryan Timms. In the end, it would be the Oklahoman Timms in the Roth Motorsports #83 Maxim, outdueling the Gary Silva Ranches #10 KPC of Gorden for the position. It was Timms’ first career NARC Top 5 finish.Dylan Bloomfield and ARP Quick Qualifier Caeden Steele were sixth and seventh at the wire. Justyn Cox, finished eighth and earned the Williams Roofing Hardcharger honors after starting 19th.  Spencer Bayton and Bud Kaeding rounded out the top ten.The heat race winners were Billy Aton, Kaleb Montgomery, and Gauge Garcia.HOOSIER RACING TIRES A-FEATURE (30 LAPS):  1. 0-Tim Kaeding [1]; 2. 2X-Justin Sanders [2]; 3. 41-Dominic Scelzi [8]; 4. 83-Ryan Timms [11]; 5. 10-Dominic Gorden [14]; 6. 83V-Dylan Bloomfield [7]; 7. 121-Caeden Steele [6]; 8. 42X-Justyn Cox [19]; 9. 14-Spencer Bayston [9]; 10. 29-Bud Kaeding [10]; 11. 15-Nick Parker [15]; 12. 19-Colby Thornhill [16]; 13. 2K-Gauge Garcia [3]; 14. 5R-Ryan Rocha [13]; 15. 76-Jennifer Osborne [18]; 16. 5-Cole Danell [17]; 17. 09S-Geoffrey Strole [22]; 18. 3-Kaleb Montgomery [5]; 19. 31-Kyle Beilman [20]; 20. 26-Billy Aton [4]; 21. 21-Cole Macedo [12]; 22. 4-Burt Foland Jr. [21]METTEC TITANIUM LAP LEADERS: Tim Kaeding 1-30WILLIAMS ROOFING HARDCHARGER: Justyn Cox +11 (19th to 8th)BROWN AND MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS HEAT ONE (8 LAPS): 1. 26-Billy Aton [1]; 2. 83V-Dylan Bloomfield [2]; 3. 29-Bud Kaeding [3]; 4. 5R-Ryan Rocha [7]; 5. 121-Caeden Steele [4]; 6. 19-Colby Thornhill [6]; 7. 42X-Justyn Cox [5]; 8. 09S-Geoffrey Strole [8]KIMO’S TROPICAL CAR WASH HEAT TWO (8 LAPS): 1. 3-Kaleb Montgomery [2]; 2. 2X-Justin Sanders [4]; 3. 14-Spencer Bayston [1]; 4. 21-Cole Macedo [3]; 5. 15-Nick Parker [6]; 6. 76-Jennifer Osborne [7]; 7. 31-Kyle Beilman [5]WINTERS PERFORMANCE HEAT THREE (8 LAPS): 1. 2K-Gauge Garcia [1]; 2. 41-Dominic Scelzi [3]; 3. 0-Tim Kaeding [4]; 4. 83-Ryan Timms [2]; 5. 10-Dominic Gorden [5]; 6. 5-Cole Danell [6]; 7. 4-Burt Foland Jr. [7]BEACON WEALTH STRATEGIES TROPHY DASH (6 LAPS): 1. 0-Tim Kaeding [2]; 2. 2X-Justin Sanders [3]; 3. 2K-Gauge Garcia [5]; 4. 26-Billy Aton [1]; 5. 3-Kaleb Montgomery [6]; 6. 121-Caeden Steele [4]ARP QUALIFYING QUICK TIME: Caeden Steele, 12.621 (22 Cars)

Second-half improvements have the veterans preparing for a strong finish to their season at The Dirt Track at Charlotte 

CONCORD, NC (October 25, 2024) – Brian Shirley, Tyler Bruening, and Brent Larson enter the World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte with a chance to end the season on a high note. 

While out of contention to win the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series title, the three drivers can pick up vital points to make moves in the standings within the final trio of points races at Charlotte, Nov. 6-9. 

Shirley is still within reach of a top-five finish in points, sitting 46 points behind fifth-place Kyle Bronson – which is a $30,000 difference between fifth and seventh. Bruening is a little further out, sitting 124 points behind Bronson, but is 78 points behind Shirley for seventh. And Larson is 40 points behind Max McLaughlin for 11th in points, which pays $4,000 more than 12th. 

Since Shirley’s change to Longhorn Chassis during the Heartland Grand Tour, the Chatham, IL driver has finished outside of the top-10 four times and has picked up a career-best five Series Feature wins in 2024 – so far. 

“At the end of the year, it’s been a complete testament to this crew to start 2025, right?” Shirley said. “We’ve been consistent enough to finish in the top five in the last month and a half of racing. So that’s super positive because being consistent like what Bobby Pierce is showing, is what’s gonna win the championship. Even (Brandon) Sheppard’s consistency has put him in position to be leading the points. So, that’s the goal is to hopefully take what we can get to be ready for 2025.” 

Bruening, of Decorah, IA, had a season of growth in his return to the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models in 2024, earning six top-five finishes and two podiums that came at the Beat the Heat 40 at Highland Speedway and the Hawkeye 100 opening night at Maquoketa Speedway. 

“It’s been a process more than anything,” Bruening said. “The beginning of the year, we were really trying to get our team put together and get Mike Marlar’s team going, and you like to think that you’re ready to go at the beginning of the year, but we were still working pretty hard to get stuff ready and in order. 

“I think it’s actually taken this long to get settled in and get comfortable with everything that’s going on to be able to concentrate, work on the car and make it better. We’ve been hitting our stride as of late, it feels good to end the year strong and consistent to build that momentum for next year.” 

Since Larson’s podium drive with the World of Outlaws at Thunderhill Speedway, the Lake Elmo, MN native picked up all six of his top-10 finishes in the second half of the season. While there have been areas of growth, there have been obstacles in Larson’s way that he’s had to overcome in 2024. 

“There’s been some growth in areas, but not really the season I was hoping for,” Larson said. “We had some good takeaways and stayed out of trouble for a lot of it to get decent runs to keep learning and growing. It’s a way to set ourselves up for the future, but overall, I wish we could’ve shown more of what this car is capable of, but we got what we got from 2024.” 

World Finals is unlike other events on the Series calendar, as “The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet” share the track with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and the Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds. This once-in-a-year event presents a new challenge of track conditions when the cars touch the Charlotte surface. 

“Yeah, it’s tough there because with Sprint Cars and Big Blocks,” Shirley said. “They have big tires, so the track goes away faster. Sometimes, when we go race with Hobby Stocks or UMP Mods, their tires create a little character in the racetrack. Most of the time at World Finals, the hardest thing is to keep up with how fast the track goes away, depending on what Heat you’re in, where we’re placed in the order of events, and other variables like that. 

“It’s very tough, very difficult to race with Sprint Cars and Big Blocks. I feel like it’s probably the toughest as far as keeping up with the racetrack compared to when we normally have local classes. They just present something new for us to figure out.” 

Bruening said he enjoys sharing the track with the Sprint Cars and Big Blocks, as their big tires give his No.16 Skyline Motorsports Late Model a good surface to compete around The Dirt Track at Charlotte. 

“Yeah, it really comes down to the tires personally,” Bruening said. “Sprint Cars can use those big tires to not necessarily dig into the dirt, but more or less slide across it and slick it off. I actually like racing with the Sprint Cars. I think they do a nice job with the track when we race with them. Everybody complains about no starters (in Sprint Cars) and taking forever, but they put on a good show for everyone to watch and a good racing surface for us to follow throughout the night. I’m looking forward to it. They’ll put on a hell of a show like we will.” 

Larson echoed much of Shirley’s statement about how the track changes faster than other facilities the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models raced around this year. 

“The track changes are a lot quicker, especially in the daytime,” Larson said. “It changes so much, and you gotta keep an eye on where the track is going, and what they’re going to do with prep before us or the other divisions race. It depends when they do it because Charlotte’s unpredictable with the fast track changes. It’s one thing you’ve really got to stay on top of a bit more closely. We do go to tracks where they change quickly through the season, but all the horsepower put down between the three classes makes it act different to others.” 

The atmosphere of World Finals is an event that brings both intensity and major ripple effects. In a high-stakes finale, every lap can make a difference between the standings and the amount of money a driver receives from the points fund payout. 

Along with being within striking distance of a top-five points finish, Shirley is also only 26 points away from Robeline, LA driver Cade Dillard in sixth – still a $10,000 payout difference between the two positions. 

“Once we left Florida, I think we were 18th in points and we had three DNFs right off the river,” Shirley said. “So, when you do that, you put yourself in such a hole and you’re not running good to try and come out of the hole you created in three weeks. 

“That was when Bob (Cullen) decided to switch chassis. When we got the car, we evaluated what the goals were for the rest of the year. Truthfully, that was the goal we kept to ourselves to see if we could get up to the top five (in points), which is not easy to overcome a couple of hundred points deficit. So, Charlotte is really the effort of what we want to accomplish next year with everybody, and how we can make the most out of a year of challenge to be better for the future.” 

Bruening has competed at World Finals once in 2021 – the year he won his Rookie of the Year title. “Fear The Beard” enjoys the season-ending atmosphere to add the cherry on top of the year as he’s on track for an eighth-place points finish. 

While Bruening has a bit of a hill to climb to move up in the points, he said he’s still excited about returning to World Finals. He’s only ran the event once in 2021, but the experience left a strong impression. 

“The environment, everybody that’s there from NASCAR celebrities, fans, the people that have supported you, sponsors, it’s a big deal for everybody,” Bruening said. “We’re pretty set on our points result this year but finishing strong (at Charlotte) lets everyone know that we mean business for next year, and we’re looking forward to that and get ready for what’s to come.” 

For Larson, there is still a lot of intensity to the week. Along with trying to gain spots in the points, he also needs to protect his current position, sitting 30 points ahead of rookie contender Cody Overton, of Evans, GA. 

“Even though it’s near the end, the week is still intense,” Larson said. “Last year, I was in a points battle with Gordy Gundaker and there was about a $25,000 or $30,000 difference between the two spots. That’s a lot of money to consider and even this year, I could move forward and get a few more thousand dollars or move back and lose a few thousand. There’s a lot on your mind while doing all you can each night. It’s focusing on what you do each night, a lot of emotion and intensity that goes into it. It’d be nice to finish strong to have momentum into next year because there’s a lot happening in those four days.” 

See Brian Shirley, Tyler Bruening, and Brent Larson close the book on their World of Outlaws CASE Late Models season at The Dirt Track at Charlotte for World of Outlaws World Finals, Nov. 6-9. 

If you are in the Charlotte area, you can meet Brent Larson and see his No.B1 Landa Late Model on Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (ET) at the CSC Industrial Sales & Service Open House in Indian Trail, NC. 

Tickets for World Finals can be found HERE. 

If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap of the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models season on DIRTVision – through your computer or mobile device. 

Second-half improvements have the veterans preparing for a strong finish to their season at The Dirt Track at Charlotte 

CONCORD, NC (October 25, 2024) – Brian Shirley, Tyler Bruening, and Brent Larson enter the World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte with a chance to end the season on a high note. 

While out of contention to win the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series title, the three drivers can pick up vital points to make moves in the standings within the final trio of points races at Charlotte, Nov. 6-9. 

Shirley is still within reach of a top-five finish in points, sitting 46 points behind fifth-place Kyle Bronson – which is a $30,000 difference between fifth and seventh. Bruening is a little further out, sitting 124 points behind Bronson, but is 78 points behind Shirley for seventh. And Larson is 40 points behind Max McLaughlin for 11th in points, which pays $4,000 more than 12th. 

Since Shirley’s change to Longhorn Chassis during the Heartland Grand Tour, the Chatham, IL driver has finished outside of the top-10 four times and has picked up a career-best five Series Feature wins in 2024 – so far. 

“At the end of the year, it’s been a complete testament to this crew to start 2025, right?” Shirley said. “We’ve been consistent enough to finish in the top five in the last month and a half of racing. So that’s super positive because being consistent like what Bobby Pierce is showing, is what’s gonna win the championship. Even (Brandon) Sheppard’s consistency has put him in position to be leading the points. So, that’s the goal is to hopefully take what we can get to be ready for 2025.” 

Bruening, of Decorah, IA, had a season of growth in his return to the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models in 2024, earning six top-five finishes and two podiums that came at the Beat the Heat 40 at Highland Speedway and the Hawkeye 100 opening night at Maquoketa Speedway. 

“It’s been a process more than anything,” Bruening said. “The beginning of the year, we were really trying to get our team put together and get Mike Marlar’s team going, and you like to think that you’re ready to go at the beginning of the year, but we were still working pretty hard to get stuff ready and in order. 

“I think it’s actually taken this long to get settled in and get comfortable with everything that’s going on to be able to concentrate, work on the car and make it better. We’ve been hitting our stride as of late, it feels good to end the year strong and consistent to build that momentum for next year.” 

Since Larson’s podium drive with the World of Outlaws at Thunderhill Speedway, the Lake Elmo, MN native picked up all six of his top-10 finishes in the second half of the season. While there have been areas of growth, there have been obstacles in Larson’s way that he’s had to overcome in 2024. 

“There’s been some growth in areas, but not really the season I was hoping for,” Larson said. “We had some good takeaways and stayed out of trouble for a lot of it to get decent runs to keep learning and growing. It’s a way to set ourselves up for the future, but overall, I wish we could’ve shown more of what this car is capable of, but we got what we got from 2024.” 

World Finals is unlike other events on the Series calendar, as “The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet” share the track with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and the Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds. This once-in-a-year event presents a new challenge of track conditions when the cars touch the Charlotte surface. 

“Yeah, it’s tough there because with Sprint Cars and Big Blocks,” Shirley said. “They have big tires, so the track goes away faster. Sometimes, when we go race with Hobby Stocks or UMP Mods, their tires create a little character in the racetrack. Most of the time at World Finals, the hardest thing is to keep up with how fast the track goes away, depending on what Heat you’re in, where we’re placed in the order of events, and other variables like that. 

“It’s very tough, very difficult to race with Sprint Cars and Big Blocks. I feel like it’s probably the toughest as far as keeping up with the racetrack compared to when we normally have local classes. They just present something new for us to figure out.” 

Bruening said he enjoys sharing the track with the Sprint Cars and Big Blocks, as their big tires give his No.16 Skyline Motorsports Late Model a good surface to compete around The Dirt Track at Charlotte. 

“Yeah, it really comes down to the tires personally,” Bruening said. “Sprint Cars can use those big tires to not necessarily dig into the dirt, but more or less slide across it and slick it off. I actually like racing with the Sprint Cars. I think they do a nice job with the track when we race with them. Everybody complains about no starters (in Sprint Cars) and taking forever, but they put on a good show for everyone to watch and a good racing surface for us to follow throughout the night. I’m looking forward to it. They’ll put on a hell of a show like we will.” 

Larson echoed much of Shirley’s statement about how the track changes faster than other facilities the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models raced around this year. 

“The track changes are a lot quicker, especially in the daytime,” Larson said. “It changes so much, and you gotta keep an eye on where the track is going, and what they’re going to do with prep before us or the other divisions race. It depends when they do it because Charlotte’s unpredictable with the fast track changes. It’s one thing you’ve really got to stay on top of a bit more closely. We do go to tracks where they change quickly through the season, but all the horsepower put down between the three classes makes it act different to others.” 

The atmosphere of World Finals is an event that brings both intensity and major ripple effects. In a high-stakes finale, every lap can make a difference between the standings and the amount of money a driver receives from the points fund payout. 

Along with being within striking distance of a top-five points finish, Shirley is also only 26 points away from Robeline, LA driver Cade Dillard in sixth – still a $10,000 payout difference between the two positions. 

“Once we left Florida, I think we were 18th in points and we had three DNFs right off the river,” Shirley said. “So, when you do that, you put yourself in such a hole and you’re not running good to try and come out of the hole you created in three weeks. 

“That was when Bob (Cullen) decided to switch chassis. When we got the car, we evaluated what the goals were for the rest of the year. Truthfully, that was the goal we kept to ourselves to see if we could get up to the top five (in points), which is not easy to overcome a couple of hundred points deficit. So, Charlotte is really the effort of what we want to accomplish next year with everybody, and how we can make the most out of a year of challenge to be better for the future.” 

Bruening has competed at World Finals once in 2021 – the year he won his Rookie of the Year title. “Fear The Beard” enjoys the season-ending atmosphere to add the cherry on top of the year as he’s on track for an eighth-place points finish. 

While Bruening has a bit of a hill to climb to move up in the points, he said he’s still excited about returning to World Finals. He’s only ran the event once in 2021, but the experience left a strong impression. 

“The environment, everybody that’s there from NASCAR celebrities, fans, the people that have supported you, sponsors, it’s a big deal for everybody,” Bruening said. “We’re pretty set on our points result this year but finishing strong (at Charlotte) lets everyone know that we mean business for next year, and we’re looking forward to that and get ready for what’s to come.” 

For Larson, there is still a lot of intensity to the week. Along with trying to gain spots in the points, he also needs to protect his current position, sitting 30 points ahead of rookie contender Cody Overton, of Evans, GA. 

“Even though it’s near the end, the week is still intense,” Larson said. “Last year, I was in a points battle with Gordy Gundaker and there was about a $25,000 or $30,000 difference between the two spots. That’s a lot of money to consider and even this year, I could move forward and get a few more thousand dollars or move back and lose a few thousand. There’s a lot on your mind while doing all you can each night. It’s focusing on what you do each night, a lot of emotion and intensity that goes into it. It’d be nice to finish strong to have momentum into next year because there’s a lot happening in those four days.” 

See Brian Shirley, Tyler Bruening, and Brent Larson close the book on their World of Outlaws CASE Late Models season at The Dirt Track at Charlotte for World of Outlaws World Finals, Nov. 6-9. 

If you are in the Charlotte area, you can meet Brent Larson and see his No.B1 Landa Late Model on Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (ET) at the CSC Industrial Sales & Service Open House in Indian Trail, NC. 

Tickets for World Finals can be found HERE. 

If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap of the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models season on DIRTVision – through your computer or mobile device. 

ARTICLE:https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/all-dirt-roads-brian-shirley-tyler-bruening-brent-larson-look-to-rely-on-charlotte-experience-to-leave-world-finals-with-strong-paydays/ 

 CONCORD, NC (October 24, 2024) – Of the nearly 60 drivers competing to make the 21-car field in the World Short Track Challenge at Riverside International Speedway, several star names found themselves watching from the stands – Seth Bergman, Matt Covington, Terry Gray and more.

One name not on that list? Austyn Gossel.

“If you were to choose anybody in the field, I was probably going to be the last one they would choose to make the Feature,” said Gossel, who finished 16th in the 40-lap, $10,000-to-win affair. “We just had a really good car all weekend.”

The event didn’t get off to an ideal start for him on Friday with a B-Main exit, but the No. 16G team kept working at it until late in the Saturday program when they found themselves right where they needed to be.

“I didn’t get timed in good enough [on Friday] to be higher up in points and I think that really screwed us in the end,” Gossel said. “Then, I had a really good Heat Race. I went sixth to third, that gave me good points. Then, the B-Main, I just missed the setup completely and got run over and messed up the nose wing, and that made it really hard to pass anybody.

“Going into the second night, we had a really good car. I had a bad start on the first start of the Heat Race, but then I was able to run them down, which I wasn’t really expecting. I had a really, really good car then and I probably just needed another lap or two and I probably could have got by them. It still set me up good in points. I started third in the B-Main and finished second, and then in the Feature it was just hard to pass.

“I haven’t really been good in slick lately, that’s one thing we’re really going to need to step up on is being good late in the race instead of early. Cause it don’t pay nothing in the Heat Race.”

It’s all part of the learning process for the Windsor, CO driver, who is nearing the end of his first full season on the American Sprint Car Series National Tour. He hasn’t had to learn the ropes alone though, as Gossel emphasized the importance of having fellow competitors on tour willing to lend a hand.

“Having Hank [Davis] is a big help, we’ve been really good buddies ever since he started driving [for TwoC Racing],” Gossel said. “We talk about where I’m doing good and where I’m doing bad. Having him has really helped me confidence-wise and be a better driver at the end. He tells me where I’m good at and where I’m not good at, where I need to be and where I shouldn’t be.

“Even me and Zach Blurton, we’ve become really good friends this year. We talk to each other basically after every time we hit the track. Like, ‘Well, we tried this, and this didn’t really work out, we did this, and we didn’t really like that.’ Getting all these good people around me has really helped us out a lot.”

Gossel’s situation is different than the other rookies on tour as he and father, Bryan Gossel, make up the only two-car team on the National Tour.

“It has its pros and cons,” Gossel said. “We have our own way of doing things, me and Ryan have ours set up differently. Me and my dad run two different setups. He likes his a little tighter. I like mine a little looser.

“We weren’t going to be running two cars out of one rig like we had been the past three years, so [Bryan] decided to venture in and get himself a different setup, which has helped out a lot, stress level-wise.”

However, Gossel Racing has dropped down to a single-car effort after Bryan stepped out of the car due to injuries suffered in a crash at Arrowhead Speedway in September. While Austyn certainly misses having his dad on track with him, it has allowed the team to focus 100% of their efforts on the No. 16G, which has paid dividends toward Austyn’s performance.

“[Bryan’s] pretty good at reading the car,” Gossel said. “We talk about it every time the car’s off the track. What I should have done better, what I think the car needs. Having him just be able to focus on that has really helped me confidence-wise and performance-wise.”

Having his dad as his full-time crew chief hasn’t been the only factor in Gossel’s uptick in speed though. His engine program has also taken a turn for the better after a trying season filled with trouble.

“We’ve got this new motor program going out for us, I’m really liking this new piece we’ve got,” Gossel said. “I think it’s stepped up our program. I went through a spurt where I went through three motors in six weeks. I was out of motors, so this was our last-ditch effort to finish out the year.”

Entering the season, Gossel had a goal in mind of finishing top 10 in the final standings. Seven months later, he finds himself in the 11th spot, 111 points behind Terry Easum with six races left to make his original goal a reality.

“My expectations for this year were really not much, but I kind of had a goal, 10th in points would be reasonable for us,” Gossel said. “And we’re just right outside of 10th. We’ve been battling with Terry Easum quite a bit. Hopefully, if these next couple of weekends go good, I think we might have a shot.”

Gossel’s next stop on his rookie tour will take place at RPM Speedway in Crandall, TX, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25-26. Tickets will be available at the track, but if you can’t make it, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

The teenager has faced challenges but is happy with his debut seasonWEST MEMPHIS, AR (October 24, 2024) – Not many 16-year-olds can say they traveled the country competing with the best Sprint Car drivers in the world on a weekly basis. But that’s Landon Crawley’s story.A couple races in the Sides Motorsports No. 7S near the end of 2023 evolved into Crawley joining forces with Jason Sides to compete full-time on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series tour in 2024, traveling coast-to-coast for 80-plus races – including a home visit this weekend at Riverside International Speedway, Oct. 25-26.The teenager had a few years of 360 Sprint Car experience but minimal 410 starts under his belt entering the season. Despite the challenges of acclimating to an entirely new lifestyle, Crawley has adapted well and gelled comfortably with Sides.“The first three or four months, I’m not going to lie, it was hard,” Crawley admitted. “You leave every single thing you have at home. It’s full commitment. If you’re not fully committed, you get the results that aren’t fully committed. It’s tough. You miss kind of everything at home. You miss birthdays and all of the events, but it’s still been fun. I’ve learned more about adulting and life in the past year than I have ever.”His growing maturity hasn’t been lost on Sides either.“It’s been really good. He’s 16 but really mature for his age. It’s never like ‘Let’s go play some arcade games,’ or nothing like that,” Sides said with a laugh. “It’s mainly about the race cars and stuff. Everywhere we went for the first time I know it was a struggle for him a lot. But sometimes he caught on really quick. Sometimes it wasn’t as good as we wanted, but we’d go back there the second time and make the shows.”The season started with a bang for Crawley. The Volusia Speedway Park season opener was also his Series debut, and Crawley promptly went out and set Simpson Quick Time to announce his presence and lift a little weight off his shoulders.“It helped a lot going into it knowing that I can qualify, and I can race halfway decent against the guys I’m racing with,” Crawley said. “They’re the best in the country, and they run with the Outlaws for a reason. It was a big confidence booster.”Another major highlight of Crawley’s first season is visiting Eldora Speedway. In May, he came home with a top 10 during his debut at the intimidating 1/2-mile dirt track, but he wasn’t done there. Fast forward two months, and Crawley made the Feature at Eldora’s crown jewel – the Kings Royal.“That was honestly one of the coolest parts of the year,” Crawley said of racing at Eldora. “That was one of the tracks I’d been looking forward to since February. Right when the season started, I wanted to race there, and I’ve always wanted to race there. Racing there in general was really cool, let alone being somewhat fast. It was pretty awesome. Everything about that place is pretty special to me.This season has so often been about visiting new tracks for Crawley, but this weekend he finally gets to head home. Two nights at Crawley’s home track, West Memphis, AR’s Riverside International Speedway, are on the agenda. “The Ditch” is home to many firsts for the Benton, AR native.First race in a Micro. First Sprint Car win. And now he gets to head back to race in front of friends and family as a full-time World of Outlaws driver.It’s not only a home race for Crawley. Sides’ hometown of Bartlett, TN is right across the Mississippi River. It’s a weekend the team has had circled on their calendar all year.“I’m really looking forward to this race,” Crawley said. “I’m not going to lie, I’m kind of nervous about it just because I feel like there’s so much pressure for this race compared to any other race I’ve ran this year. Even the first race at Volusia, there was literally no pressure. I go into this week, and you kind of have that feeling like you have to perform. It’s going to be tough. It’s a really tricky racetrack. It’s not super noticed, but the local guys are really good. (Derek) Hagar can run anywhere in the country and run pretty good, especially once the track gets slick. He has an All-Star win. It’s going to be a tough race, but I think it’s going to be a good one. I’m really looking forward to it.”“For both of us to be able to come run it, and then everybody goes home to their own bed, it’ll be pretty nice,” Sides said. “Being home and racing and seeing the people that have supported us for all of these years. We’ll get to see everybody and hoot and holler and hang out with them.”For tickets to this weekend’s racing at Riverside, CLICK HERE.If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/full-commitment-crawley-reflects-on-rookie-world-of-outlaws-campaign-with-home-race-ahead-at-riverside/EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6236 TRACK INFO: https://riversideinternationalspeedway.com/FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/

October 24, 2024

Harrison Burton and the No. 21 DEX Imaging Mustang Dark Horse turned some impressive laps in the latter portion of last Sunday’s South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Wood Brothers co-owner Eddie Wood is hoping the No. 21 team can pick up where they left off at Vegas as they take on a similar intermediate-length track, Homestead-Miami Speedway, in this weekend’s Straight Talk Wireless 400.

Burton was able to turn some impressive laps at Las Vegas using the outside groove, and up next to the wall has proven over the years to be the fastest way around Homestead as well.

“We are out of the running for the championship at this point, but it’s still important to finish the season on a high note,” Wood said. “Any time you go to the race track you want to run well, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Harrison and the team will perform on Sunday.

Practice for the Straight Talk Wireless 400 is set for Saturday at 9:05 a.m. Eastern Time to be followed by qualifying at 9:50.

Sunday’s 400.5-mile, 267-lap race is scheduled to get the green flag just after 2:30 p.m. with TV coverage on NBC.

Stage breaks are planned for Laps 80 and 165.
 

16-Time Champ Traveling to Las Vegas to Support His Teams

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (Oct. 30, 2024) – With two of his race teams battling for the NHRA Mission Foods Funny Car championship and daughter Brittany showing flashes of the form that carried her to a pair of Top Fuel titles, drag racing icon John Force has secured clearance from doctors treating him for a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) to attend the 24th NHRA Nevada Nationals, Nov. 1-3, at The Strip in Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “Vegas is close enough to home that (my wife) Laurie and I can drive over,” Force said. “I want to show my support for our race teams, the fans and all our sponsors. They’ve stuck with me during a hard time, and I want them to know that I haven’t forgotten them and I haven’t gone anywhere. I’ve just been doing my rehab, trying to stay strong.” The 75-year-old resident of Yorba Linda, Calif., an inductee into all the major auto racing Halls of Fame, acknowledged that doctors have been treating him not only for the injury he suffered in the June 23rd crash in Richmond, Va., but for the cumulative effect of the multitude of hard hits he has absorbed in a 50-year career during which he has collected 157 tour victories and 16 championships. Before the crash, Force already had won twice this year and his PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet team was solidly in contention for the championship. After missing two races, that team returned at Brainerd, Minn., with former World Champion Jack Beckman in the seat of the PEAK Camaro. Beckman won the NHRA Midwest Nationals at St. Louis on Sept. 30 and, entering the LVMS event, the next to last race in the Countdown to the Championship, trails only teammate Austin Prock, a seven-time winner in the Cornwell Tools and AAA Chevrolet, in the Mission driver standings. “I’m still a work in progress,” Force said. “I have good days and bad days, but I’m motivated. Beckman’s been doing a good job working with Dan Hood, (Chris) Cunningham and (Tim) Fabrisi. He tells me it’s still my car but he’s driving it like it’s his. It’s been exciting to watch him and (Austin) Prock on Fox but watching on TV is not the same as being there. “I want to be there for Brittany and that team with (David) Grubnic and John Collins. They’re gonna win a race with Monster and HendrickCars.com and Chevrolet and I want to be there when they do, and I really can’t wait to see all my guys. I love them and I’ve missed them and can’t wait to be with them again.”

CONCORD, NC (Oct. 23, 2024) — The World Short Track Championship has grown to become the East Coast’s largest and most prestigious dirt track racing event on the fall calendar with over 500 cars racing in 10 different divisions last year.

But what is it about this supersized event at The Dirt Track at Charlotte — now only nine years old — that creates such a turnout?

“Because it’s Charlotte,” said Jason Walls, Series Director of the Mid-East Racing Association, which sanctions four divisions at the event. “On the local short track dirt racer, The Dirt Track at Charlotte is Daytona, it’s Indianapolis.

“It just means so much for everybody because a lot of the racing that goes on in this region is because of what goes on at Charlotte Motor Speedway — all the connections it has to the outside racing world. It’s so big of a stage for everybody.”

The ninth edition of the event hits the 4/10-mile, red dirt oval of Charlotte next Thursday–Saturday, Oct. 31–Nov. 2. Walls is one of many series directors bringing their regular competitors to the event, including Adam Stewart of Crate Racin’ USA (CRUSA), Scott Morgan of the Monster Mini Stock / Thunder Bomber Association (MMSA), and multiple other Southeast-based organizations.

While their car types are all different, the drivers that race them all share a common motive in making their trip out to Concord, NC, every October.

“Of course everybody wants to race there — it’s Charlotte,” Stewart said. “You’re in the shadows of the Speedway there. It’s got the name ‘America’s Home for Racing,’ so I think it gives these guys that are on a stage a bigger stage to get themselves some visibility and be able to run at a facility like that as well.”

“These guys that run here — they run with local dirt track racers; they don’t get a chance to shine on a big stage like a lot of these Late Model drivers do week-in and week-out,” Morgan said. “This is their big stage, a good chance to go and just have fun. A lot of people make a vacation out of the weekend. It’s just an overall good weekend to have fun.”

Stewart has served as the Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series director since 2013 and has seen the Chevrolet Performance 604 Crate engine-powered Late Model division’s car count increase every year at the World Short Track Championship, reaching 60 cars last year for the first time since 2017.

But this year, Stewart and the CRUSA officials have added in a new element for their trip to Charlotte. Saturday’s main event will be a points race for all drivers, which could have major implications in the championship standings as their season nears its conclusion. Unlike years past, all points championship chasers will be required to compete, including some of the Southeast’s top Crate racers like Jimmy Thomas, Matt Dooley and Matt Henderson.

“Everybody wants to beat the best, and you’ve got a bunch of cars,” Stewart said. “If you’re gonna be a champion, you’ve got to fight the heavyweights. So, I think it’s being able to outrun that number of cars — those guys that are good.

“For my core group — coming from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee — to come to the Carolinas, it sort of gives them a measuring stick to see how they measure up to the guys from over that way that come from DIRTcar world as well.”

Like the regional touring stars, the local heroes of the Southeast’s weekly dirt tracks flock to Charlotte every October as well. Morgan purchased South Carolina-based MMSA for the four-cylinder-powered Mini Stocks in 2017, and in 2023 brought in the Monster Thunder Bombers brand for the V8-powered Street Stock-type cars, which debuted at Charlotte in 2022.

Both divisions compete regularly around the weekly Carolina dirt tracks and attend Morgan’s series races throughout the year. But to the drivers, Charlotte is special — enough to force some to make extra preparations.

“They’ll actually sit out the whole month of October if they have to just to go get their motors freshened, make sure they got new tires, and go over the car — front bumper to back bumper — just to make sure that everything’s gonna be top-notch and ready to go before they get to Charlotte because it is such a big stage for them,” Morgan said.

Like the weekly racers of the Carolinas, the World Short Track Championship also brings together drivers from the Northern regions of the United States as well — including the DIRTcar Pro Stocks and Sportsman Modifieds from the Northeast, and four of Mid-East’s divisions, which operate around both Carolinas and Virginia.

As the Series Director, Walls originally got involved with the event because of the big stage it presents to his racers, but also because of the high level of weekly competition that converges on The Dirt Track at Charlotte and brings out the best his organization has to offer.

“Mid-East breaks our racing into regions — we have a north, a south, a coastal region — which keeps everybody in their own little area,” Walls said. “Through the year, we all race at different places and [World Short Track Championship] just brings everybody together at one time.

“To win this event, it means so much because you’ve beat the best of the best in this region.”

See all 10 divisions of racing in action at the ninth annual World Short Track Championship at The Dirt Track at Charlotte — Thursday–Saturday, Oct. 31–Nov. 2. Tickets are on sale and registration is now open at DIRTcar.com/WorldShortTrack.

If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

BARBERVILLE, FL (Oct. 23, 2024) – The best DIRTcar UMP Modified drivers in the country will return to Volusia Speedway Park to honor one of the division’s most legendary families in November.

“The World’s Fastest Half Mile” will host the 11th edition of the Emil & Dale Reutimann Memorial, Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 21-23, with $10,000 and the icon tractor trophy on the line for Saturday’s winner.

The event is held in memory of Emil Reutimann Jr., Dale Reutimann and family friend Gordon Stone, who were victims of a drunk driving crash while traveling to a race in September 1973.

About 50 drivers challenged for the prestigious triumph last year. But no one could stop Nick Hoffman, who became the second driver to win the event multiple times. Of the 10 editions of the Reutimann Memorial, there have been eight different winners. Only Hoffman and David Reutimann have taken won it multiple times.

Several local stars will be in attendance, including Hall of Famer and Volusia Speedway Park track champion Buzzie Reutimann, of Zephyrhills, FL. 2017 Reutimann Memorial champion Jeff Mathews, of Brandon, FL, will be on the hunt for his second win at the event after finishing third last year.

There will be practice on Thursday and then Showdown Features on Friday. That’ll set up Saturday’s grand finale with the 50-lap, $10,000-to-win, Feature.

The DIRTcar UMP Modifieds will be joined by 3/4 Modifieds and 604 Late Models.

EVENT INFO
Date – Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 21-23
Location – Volusia Speedway Park (1500 FL-40, De Leon Springs, FL 32130)

Tickets – Available HERE.
Driver Register – Click HERE.

Times (ET) –
Thursday:
Gates Open – 4:00 PM
Practice – 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Friday:
Pit Gate Open – 2:00 PM
Drivers Meeting – 5:30 PM
Hot Laps – 6:00 PM

Saturday:
Pit Gate Open – 3:00 PM
Drivers Meeting – 5:15 PM
Hot Laps – 5:45 PM

Previous Reutimann Memorial Winners –

• 2014 – Austin Sanders
• 2015 – David Reutimann
• 2016 – David Reutimann
• 2017 – Jeff Mathews
• 2018 – Kyle Strickler
• 2019 – David Stremme
• 2020 – Tyler Nicely
• 2021 – Nick Hoffman
• 2022 – Ethan Dotson
• 2023 – Nick Hoffman

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every lap of racing from the Emil & Dale Reutimann Memorial live on DIRTVision.

With the playoff schedule finally aligned across all three divisions, the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series will convene and head south to Homestead-Miami Speedway, where the 1.5-mile Florida venue is set to host the second race of the Round of Eight. The weekend will get underway with a doubleheader on Saturday featuring the Craftsman Truck Series and Xfinity Series, where Chevrolet’s playoff contenders will look to join their manufacturer teammates – Grant Enfinger and AJ Allmendinger – in the Championship Four. The Cup Series will take center stage on Sunday as Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson, William Byron, and Chase Elliott vie for the second guaranteed spot in the title race.

Chevrolet at Homestead-Miami Speedway: In 25 all-time NASCAR Cup Series races at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Chevrolet has earned seven trips to victory lane – each recorded with a different driver. Among those includes two Team Chevy playoff contenders, William Byron and Kyle Larson, who took their Hendrick Motorsports-prepared Chevrolet’s to the win in back-to-back seasons (Byron – Feb. 2021; Larson – Oct. 2022). This season marks the 19th year that Homestead-Miami Speedway has hosted a playoff race, with its most notable stint coming between 2004 – 2019 when the venue hosted the series’ season finale race. Over that time span, three drivers took Chevrolet to the victory and a driver’s championship including Tony Stewart (2011), Kevin Harvick (2014) and Jimmie Johnson (2016).In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Chevrolet leads the way with 14 all-time triumphs at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Among those victories includes an active streak of three-straight, with JR Motorsports’ Sam Mayer returning as the series’ defending winner at the track (Oct. 2023). Other recent notable wins at the south Florida oval came in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, when Tyler Reddick and Richard Childress Racing drove their Chevrolet-powered machine to back-to-back victories and championship titles.

One year ago, Carson Hocevar and Niece Motorsports put Chevrolet back in victory lane in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the first time in 10 years. The victory – Chevrolet’s sixth all-time at the track – also delivered the Chevrolet driver his first career appearance in the series’ Championship Four.

ALLMENDINGER, ENFINGER SET FOR TITLE FIGHT

Entering the second race of the Round of Eight, Chevrolet is the only manufacturer with a driver already locked into the title-deciding race for both the NASCAR Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series. Most recently, it was Kaulig Racing’s AJ Allmendinger that drove his No. 16 Camaro SS to its first victory of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – skyrocketing from seventh in the playoff standings and a double-digit points deficit to a guaranteed ticket into Xfinity Series’ Championship Four. In similar fashion, Grant Enfinger opened the Craftsman Truck Series’ final round with a trip to victory lane at Talladega Superspeedway with his first win this season, as well as the first-ever triumph in the series for team owner Codie Rohrbaugh and CR7 Motorsports.

NASCAR CUP SERIES PLAYOFF PICTURE: TWO-TO-GO

The trend of dramatic round opening races continued at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend. Chevrolet’s William Byron was one of just a handful of remaining title contenders that put together a strong day at the 1.5-mile Nevada venue – accumulating 48 points en route to his fourth-straight top-four finish. Despite still sitting fourth in the playoff standings, Byron was able to build a double-digit points cushion, with the Rudy Fugle-led team heading to Homestead-Miami Speedway with a 27-point advantage over the elimination line.  The opportunity to drive to a season sweep at Las Vegas Motor Speedway quickly turned into an uphill battle for Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team. A set of issues in Stage Two soon found the team two laps down near the midway point of the race. To no surprise, the Cliff Daniels-led team progressively found their way back to the lead lap – ultimately entering the top-15 with 60 laps remaining in the race. Salvaging an 11th place result, Larson was still able to add a few points onto his already double-digit cushion, with the former series champion now ranked third in the playoff standings and 35-points above the cutline.  Among those playoff drivers with a dismal day in the Round of Eight opener included Chase Elliott, who was an innocent bystander in a wreck early in Stage Two. Falling to a 53-point deficit to the elimination line, the 28-year-old Dawsonville, Georgia, is no stranger to capitalizing on ‘must-win’ situations. A career moment for Elliott came in 2020 when the Hendrick Motorsports driver turned a 25-point deficit into a ticket to his first appearance in the Championship Four with a victory at Martinsville Speedway – ultimately leading to his first championship title. When it comes to Homestead-Miami Speedway, consistency is key for Elliott and the No. 9 Chevrolet team. In his eight career starts at the 1.5-mile Florida venue, Elliott has earned results no worse than 15th, with his best finish of second also coming in his title-earning season.  Five of the remaining title contenders have found victory lane at Homestead-Miami Speedway, including Chevrolet’s William Byron and Kyle Larson, who took Hendrick Motorsports on back-to-back trips to victory lane in 2021-2022.

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES PLAYOFF PICTURE: TWO-TO-GO

With already one position clinched in the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Championship Four, Chevrolet moves on to Homestead-Miami Speedway with five playoff contenders left vying for an early berth into the title-deciding race. Joining fellow Chevrolet driver, AJ Allmendinger, in the top-four of the playoff rankings includes JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier. Despite a challenging start to postseason competition, the No. 7 Chevrolet team had a much-needed turnaround performance to open the Round of Eight. Allgaier tallied a 53-point day – the second-highest among the playoff drivers – en route to a podium finish. The 38-year-old Riverton, Illinois, native now sits second in the playoff standings and 32 points above the cutline – a cushion exactly double the next ranking driver. Just two remaining title contenders are past Homestead-Miami Speedway winners, one of which includes JR Motorsports Sam Mayer, who returns to the track as the series’ defending winner.

Mayer’s History of Walk-Off WinsIn his young career, Mayer has been no stranger to making the most out of playoff pressure. For back-to-back seasons, the 21-year-old Franklin, Wisconsin, native earned his ticket into the Round of Eight with a walk-off win at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course. In 2023, Mayer made his first career appearance in the Championship Four, which also came after a momentous win. As the series ventured to Homestead-Miami Speedway one year ago, Mayer entered the second race of the round ranked sixth in the standings with a double-digit deficit to the playoff cutline. The Chevrolet driver proceeded to add onto an already career season by collecting his first oval victory and his first shot at the series’ title. Returning to the track as the defending winner, Mayer and the No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet team have found themselves in a similar position – currently sitting seventh in the playoff standings and 23-points below the elimination line.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES PLAYOFF PICTURE: TWO-TO-GO

Sitting idle for two weeks, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns to playoff competition at Homestead-Miami Speedway with Saturday’s Baptist Health 200 marking the penultimate race of the Round of Eight. Chevrolet’s Grant Enfinger is the only playoff driver that will head to the 1.5-mile Florida oval with a sense of relief after already earning his spot in the Championship Four with his win at Talladega Superspeedway. Regular Season Champion, Christian Eckes, has finished no worse than sixth in postseason competition thus far, with the 23-year-old Middletown, New York, native heading to Homestead-Miami Speedway ranked third in the playoff standings and 29-points above the elimination line. While on the outside looking in, a trio of Chevrolet drivers still have the opportunity to point their way into the title-deciding race with Spire Motorsports’ Rajah Caruth in fifth (-5 points); Rev Racing’s Nick Sanchez in seventh (-20 points); and McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Tyler Ankrum rounding out the top-eight (-23 points).

Eckes Seeks Redemption at Homestead Christian Eckes returns to Homestead-Miami Speedway looking for redemption after a heartbreaking end to his championship title run last season. In 2024, the 23-year-old Middletown, New York, native has put together a career year – earning three trips to victory lane en route to his first career regular season championship title. Eckes has tallied top-10 results in all but one of the 20 Truck Series races this season. The Chevrolet driver is riding the momentum of nine straight top-six finishes, seven of which have been podium results. In four career starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Eckes has earned three top-eight finishes.

BOWTIE BULLETS:·       Chevrolet will pace the field in the tripleheader race weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.The Silverado RST will lead the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in Saturday’s Baptist Health 200; The Camaro ZL1 will lead the NASCAR Xfinity Series in Saturday’s Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300; and The specially-themed pink ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ Camaro SS will lead the NASCAR Cup Series in Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 400.  ·       With 84 races complete across NASCAR’s three national series this season, Chevrolet has earned a winning percentage of 50% with 42 victories (NASCAR Cup Series – 15 wins; NASCAR Xfinity Series – 17 wins; NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – 10 wins). ·       In 15 tripleheader weekends this season, Chevrolet is the only manufacturer to earn a weekend sweep – accomplishing the feat four times (Daytona International Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway).  ·       Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Homestead-Miami Speedway:  Kyle Busch – two wins (2015, 2019)Kyle Larson – one win (2022)William Byron – one win (2021) ·       On NASCAR’s current non-drafting intermediate ovals, ranging from 1.25 to 1.5 miles in length, Chevrolet owns a winning percentage of 50 percent in the Next Gen era with 16 victories in 32 races. ·       In 105 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 52 victories – a winning percentage of 49.5%.  ·       With its 42 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 866 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

FOR THE FANS·       Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where they can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles.  Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display: Saturday, October 26Team Chevy Truck Series Drivers: ·       Rajah Caruth: 9:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. ·       Christian Eckes: 9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. ·       Grant Enfinger: 9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. ·       Nick Sanchez: 10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. ·       Corey Day: 10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Team Chevy Xfinity Series Drivers: ·       AJ Allmendinger: 12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. ·       Justin Allgaier: 12:30 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. ·       Sam Mayer: 12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ·       Sammy Smith: 1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. ·       Brandon Jones: 1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ·       Josh Williams: 1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. ·       Shane van Gisbergen: 2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Sunday, October 27·       Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: 10:40 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. ·       Justin Haley: 10:55 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. ·       Daniel Suarez: 11:10 a.m. – 11:25 a.m. ·       Carson Hocevar: 11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. ·       William Byron: 12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation: Friday, October 25: 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.   Saturday, October 26: 9 a.m. – end of Xfinity Series RaceSunday, October 27: 10 a.m. – end of Cup Series Race

Manufacturer Points Standings Chevrolet: 1208Ford: 1160 (-48)Toyota: 1155 (-53)

Manufacturer Points Standings Chevrolet: 1118Toyota: 1064 (-54)Ford: 964 (-154)

Manufacturer Points Standings Chevrolet: 745Toyota: 703 (-42)Ford: 670 (-75)

TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup SeriesRound of Eight: Race TwoStraight Talk Wireless 400 Sunday, Oct. 27, at 2:30 p.m. ET(NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90) NASCAR Xfinity SeriesRound of Eight: Race TwoCredit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300Saturday, Oct. 26, at 4 p.m. ET(CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90) NASCAR Craftsman Truck SeriesRound of Eight: Race TwoBaptist Health 200Saturday, Oct. 26, at 12 p.m. ET(FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

CHEVROLET IN THE NASCAR CUP SERIES: QUOTABLE QUOTES AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BASS PRO SHOPS / TRACKER BOATS CAMARO ZL1What are your thoughts on Homestead-Miami Speedway?“I love racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It’s my favorite track that we race at. Homestead-Miami Speedway is a driver’s racetrack. It’s so much fun to run right up against the fence. You have to be disciplined in how you drive and save your tires. It’s an epic race. It’s always intense. We can move around in the corners to find the best line and it’s a track that’s been good to me in my career. We ran well at Homestead-Miami Speedway last year and finished fourth in 2022. The Miami atmosphere is just one of the things I love about this time of year, and I can’t wait to get on track in the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet.” KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1Larson on Homestead-Miami Speedway: “I look forward to racing at Homestead-Miami – I just really love that track. We only get to go there once a year, whereas a lot of intermediates we go to twice a year. I wish we could go there twice because I just love the track. So yeah, I look forward to going there because, one, I love it, and we’re really, really fast there. And yeah, it’s just a good track for us.” JUSTIN HALEY, NO. 7 CHILI’S CATCH-A-RITA CAMARO ZL1Across the garage, Homestead is one of the most-endeared tracks to race at. Why is that?“Homestead is a fun place to race. The tire falloff is severe, which makes for lap time variability. The various grooves allow you to make time, no matter how your car drives. I haven’t gotten the results I’ve hoped for there, but I think we can turn that around this weekend. It is really cool to have Chili’s aboard, and I hope I can put on a show for them.” KYLE BUSCH, NO. 8 REBEL BOURBON CAMARO ZL1How challenging is practice at Homestead? There are so many different lines you can use to improve the balance of the car but you only have 20-minutes of track time.“You have to go into practice at Homestead with a gameplan. There are so many different lines you can run at Homestead and we have such a short time frame that it can certainly be challenging for sure. The line that you’re going to use for the race is going to be significantly different that the line you use for qualifying so figuring out both of those with the short amount of time you have is very, very difficult.” How different is racing in the daylight at Homestead compared with track conditions at night?“Track conditions at Homestead in the daytime are significantly different than what the conditions will be at night. I have always been much stronger at Homestead racing at night than during the day.” CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1Elliott on the team’s outlook following Las Vegas: “Going into the Round of 8, our mindset was we’re going to have to win to have a shot in Phoenix, so what happened at Las Vegas doesn’t really change that. It was unfortunate because our NAPA Chevy was really, really good and I think we would have potentially had a shot at it there at the end if we hadn’t got caught up in that incident. The fact that we had speed though gives me confidence heading into Homestead this weekend. Our team is fully capable of winning. We just need to go and execute.” WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 VALVOLINE CAMARO ZL1Byron on racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway: “We’re always really good at Homestead. It’s just trying to be the best car. We’ve focused a lot on that in the Chevy simulator this week. I feel like we’re in a really good spot as a team. Hopefully we can go in there with a good baseline setup and we can work through and build off of it through the weekend to be that best car.” DANIEL HEMRIC, NO. 31 CIRKUL CAMARO ZL1“We’re feeling confident heading to Homestead this weekend. I have not been there in the Next Gen car, but it’s a track I have always enjoyed. We’ve really been working on our intermediate track package, and the speed has shown.” ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1Bowman on racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway: “With a top five at (Las) Vegas (Motor Speedway), our Ally Racing No. 48 team is still pushing hard for a strong finish to the season. Homestead is a place I’ve been working hard at in the simulator to improve. I’ve had a couple better finishes for myself in that last handful of races there but certainly nowhere near where I want to be yet. Hopefully that practice will pay off and we can execute a solid race on Sunday as a team.” ZANE SMITH, NO. 71 WELLCARE CAMARO ZL1How are you feeling about your first Cup Series start at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend?“I’ve always looked forward to going to Homestead. It’s a unique mile-and-a-half, and even though we haven’t gotten the best results at the intermediates this year, we’re coming off a top 10 at Kansas. That definitely gives us some positive momentum heading into the weekend. I’m excited to have Wellcare on board my Chevrolet and to go 400 miles on Sunday! Still a lot to accomplish in the final three races this year.” CARSON HOCEVAR, NO. 77 ZEIGLER AUTO GROUP / LOJACK CAMARO ZL1You have had success at Homestead in the past. How does that help your confidence heading into the weekend.“I’m excited to get back to Homestead. I’ve ran really well at Miami in the trucks and it is a fun track overall. I didn’t get to run the Cup Series race there last year, but was able to watch and learn some things. Winning a race at a track helps build your confidence. Luke (Lambert) and everybody at Spire likes this racetrack, and Luke even won the XFINITY race a couple years ago with Noah (Gragson). So yeah, we’re pretty excited.” The high line has been the preferred line at Homestead. Do you still see that as the case, or has the Next Gen car allowed the other lines to make just as much ground?“I don’t know if running against the fence is the end all be all. I feel like with this car, you can move around a bit more. With the old car, you had to bang it against the fence. I think the best line is probably going to be around the fence, but at the same time, it’s super easy to knock a toe link out or bend up the suspension. I’m ready to get to practice and figure out what the best lines are going to be for me and my No.77 Zeigler Auto Group Chevy.”

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics Manufacturers Championships:Total (1949-2023): 42First title for Chevrolet: 1958Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15) Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023 Drivers Championships:Total (1949-2021): 33First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)Most Recent: Kyle Larson (2021) Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021 Event Victories:Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)                2024 STATISTICS:                                                                                                    Wins: 15Poles: 10Laps Led: 3,177Top-Five Finishes: 66Top-10 Finishes: 133Stage Wins: 22·       Chase Elliott: 1 ·       Kyle Larson: 12·       Ross Chastain: 2·       William Byron: 2·       Shane van Gisbergen: 1·       Daniel Suarez: 1·       Kyle Busch: 1·       Alex Bowman: 1·       AJ Allmendinger: 1 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 866 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 753Laps led to date: 252,332Top-five finishes to date: 4,364Top-10 finishes to date: 8,993                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,200           Chevrolet: 866           Pontiac: 154           Oldsmobile: 115           Buick: 65            Ford: 838                                                                      Ford: 738           Mercury: 96           Lincoln: 4            Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467           Dodge: 217           Plymouth: 191           Chrysler: 59            Toyota: 188

Cruz Pedregon

Ford Performance NHRA Nationals – Las Vegas 2

Pre-Race Report

News of Note:

Cruz Pedregon and primary sponsor Snap-on are debuting a new “Own It” paint scheme in Las Vegas, bringing a fresh, bold look to the track while celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit behind the Snap-on franchise opportunity. The new scheme represents the pride, freedom, and independence franchisees experience as they serve skilled professionals on-site, embodying the spirit of “Own It” on and off the track.

Quotes for the upcoming Vegas race –

Cruz Pedregon, two-time Funny Car World Champion

“This time around, we’re aiming to keep it on all fours and punch the Snap-on car into the winner’s circle. We’ve been knocking on the door, especially after our strongest event in Dallas, with a season-best 3.87 time. We’re hoping to carry that momentum into Vegas and Pomona.”

“The Las Vegas Strip holds many great memories for me, but none bigger than the 2016 wheelstand. The car took flight and stayed up on two wheels for half a quarter mile at close to 290 MPH. It’s been one of the most iconic runs of my career.”

“People ask me all the time what I was thinking during that run. All I can say is it was scary—I was staring at the clear blue sky the whole time, not fully understanding how I got there. Luckily, it landed back on all fours, and I lived to talk about it.”

“We’re debuting our freshly wrapped Snap-on Franchisee car—an annual design I look forward to every year, especially since I ride with franchisees before events along the racing route and often host them in the pit. We’re looking forward to hitting the track with the ‘Own It’ message.”

Experienced, championship-winning roster to lead three-car GTP factory program

DETROIT (Oct. 23, 2024) – Cadillac Racing’s driver roster for the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season includes a lineup of experienced and championship-winning drivers. Is 2025, Cadillac Racing expands its factory program from two to three cars for the third year of Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) competition that starts January 25-26 with the Rolex 24 At Daytona at Daytona International Speedway. Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing will run two cars, while Action Express Racing will run one car as Cadillac Whelen.

Drivers who will contest all nine rounds of the IMSA GTP schedule in Cadillac V-Series.Rs — powered by the purpose-built Cadillac 5.5L DOHC V8 engine — and endurance race drivers:

Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing (No. 10)* Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque (full season; photo)* Will Stevens (Daytona, Sebring, Road Atlanta)* Brendon Hartley (Daytona) Media resources* Driver biographies* Full-season drivers photo | All drivers* Team quotes about 2025 with Cadillac Racing

Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing (No. 40)* Jordan Taylor, Louis Deletraz (full season; photo)* Alex Lynn (Daytona, Sebring, Road Atlanta)* Kamui Kobayashi (Daytona) Media resources* Driver biographies* Full-season drivers photo | All drivers* Team quotes about 2025 with Cadillac Racing

Cadillac Whelen (No. 31)* Earl Bamber, Jack Aitken (full season; photo)* Frederik Vesti (endurance races) Media resources* Driver biographies* Full-season drivers photo | All drivers* Team quotes about 2025 with Cadillac Racing

The lineup represents seven FIA World Endurance Championship LMP1/Hypercar championships, eight Rolex 24 At Daytona overall victories (six with Cadillac Racing) and 11 24 Hours of Le Mans overall/class victories among other significant accomplishments. The Nos. 10 and 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing full-time roster is unchanged from the 2024 season in which the team posted two victories and two other podium finishes with another manufacturer. Deletraz and Jordan Taylor teamed for victory in the 12-hour race at Sebring while Albuquerque and Ricky Taylor won the 100-minute sprint on the streets of Detroit. Additional media resources* Who has won what and when* Cadillac Racing 2024 IMSA GTP statistics* Cadillac Racing all-time victories, championships* Cadillac Racing 2017-2024 Rolex 24 At Daytona results

By the numbers:’25 roster notables* WEC LMP1/Hypercar championships: 7* WEC LMP2 championships: 2* Grand-Am Rolex/IMSA prototype championships: 3* Rolex 24 At Daytona overall victories: 8 (6 with Cadillac)* Twelve Hours of Sebring overall victories: 6 (4 with Cadillac)* Motul Petit Le Mans overall victories: 4* 24 Hours of Le Mans overall/class victories: 11

FIA WEC 2024 full-season Hypercar drivers Bamber, Lynn, Hartley, Stevens and Kobayashi will compete in the season finale November 2 at the Bahrain International Circuit. Kobayashi returns to Cadillac Racing for the Daytona season opener after a two-year absence. Aitken returns for his second full season and third overall in the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R run by Action Express Racing, which recorded four pole starts and three runner-up finishes this past season. Bamber, who has driven the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R the past two seasons in the WEC, is no stranger to IMSA competition. The 2019 IMSA GTLM champion co-drove a Cadillac DPi-V.R to victory in 2022 at Sebring and this past season drove a Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette Z06 GT3.R in GTD Pro class endurance races. Vesti, the 2023 FIA Formula 2 Championship vice-champion, will make his IMSA GTP debut at Daytona.

Cadillac, which closed the 2024 IMSA season with an overall victory in the Motul Petit Le Mans, has earned nine Manufacturer Championships in sports car racing since 2005 and five IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Manufacturer Championships since 2017. The Cadillac V-Series.R marks the third generation Cadillac prototype racecar and first with an electric motor component. The car – co-developed by Cadillac Design, Cadillac Racing and chassis constructor Dallara – incorporates key Cadillac V-Series production car design elements, such as vertical lighting and floating blades.