Two-Time Top Fuel World Champion Aiming to Improve Countdown Position

KENT, Wash. (July 16, 2024) – With dad John responding positively to treatment for the TBI he suffered in a June 23 crash in Virginia, Brittany Force will be back in the cockpit of her national record-holding Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster this week when the NHRA Mission Foods tour moves to Pacific Raceways for the 35th NHRA Northwest Nationals. ​Although she missed the most recent race at Norwalk, Ohio, the two-time Top Fuel World Champion managed to hold onto the No. 10 position in the driver standings and is anxious to get back in the hunt in a car that, before her dad’s accident, had begun to respond to changes in its set-up. “I’m glad to get back to the racetrack after a tough few weeks,” said the 38-year-old who last year set the Pacific Raceways speed record of 334.73 miles per hour. “It has been a rollercoaster of emotions for our family since Richmond, but my dad has made great progress and we are all so proud of him. He has transferred now to a rehabilitation center closer to home. “I want to thank (crew chief) David Grubnic, John Collins and my team for their patience and support of my decision to stay with my father while racing continued in Norwalk,” she said. “Missing a race was tough, but I needed to be with my dad and family.  “I’m proud to be running our Flav-R-Pac dragster this weekend to honor our longtime partner, Frank Tiegs. He always reminded me to make sure I was still having fun because that is when you perform at your best. We won a championship together in 2022 and I’m proud to carry him and his family on the car this weekend.  “Our team’s current focus is to improve our starting position in the Countdown,” said the 16-time tour winner. “We’ve made great strides in our last few races and I’m eager to take that next step and put our Flav-R-Pac dragster in the winners’ circle for the Tiegs family and my dad!” ​Runner-up to Tony Schumacher at the 2022 Northwest Nationals after qualifying No. 1, Force will start Friday 67 points behind No. 9 Tony Stewart and 104 behind No. 7 Billy Torrence with just four races remaining before the points are adjusted for the Countdown. “It’s going to be hard to not have my dad at the track with me this weekend,” Force said, “but I know he will be watching from his rehab facility. Watching him fight his way back is what now motivates me to get back into the winners’ circle.“ * * * * NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS SCHEDULE Friday, July 19Nitro qualifying, session #1 at 4:30 p.m., PDT; session #2 at 9:15 p.m., PDTSaturday, July 20Top Fuel qualifying session #3, 2:30 p.m., PDTFunny Car qualifying, session #3 and first round of Mission Foods 2Fast/2Tasty NHRA Challenge, 3 p.m., PDTTop Fuel qualifying, session #4, 4:45 p.m., PDTFunny Car qualifying, session #4 and final round of 2Fast/2Tasty Challenge, 5:15 p.m., PDTSunday, July 21 First round eliminations, 10:30 a.m., PDT JFR ON FS1 and FOX Broadcast Network  Friday, July 19Qualifying show, 10:30 p.m., EDT, on FS1Sunday, June 30Qualifying wrap-up show, 1 p.m., EDT, on FS1Sunday, June 30Race coverage, 4 p.m. EDT, on FOX

EAGLE, Neb. (July 15, 2024) – The first ever visit by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series to Eagle Raceway did not disappoint. The 1/3-mile’s first national touring late model event in 20 years saw Hudson O’Neal return to Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the first time since February 6. O’Neal, the reigning Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion, took the lead for good on lap 13 from Ricky Thornton Jr. to win the Malvern Bank High Bank Heist worth $10,000. Thornton finished in second followed by Jonathan Davenport, Devin Moran, and Tim McCreadie. O’Neal, who started third snared the lead on the opening lap as polesitter Garrett Alberson drifted high in turn two which opened the door for O’Neal. O’Neal held the point until Thornton charged around him to take over the top spot on lap five.Thornton, the current LOLMDS points leader, led the way for eight laps until O’Neal passed him back for the lead on lap 13. O’Neal led the rest of the way in a torrid battle amongst the top five drivers who were on the same straightaway at one point contesting for the lead. In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the 28th time in his career O’Neal stood atop the Big River Steel Podium for the first time since East Bay in February. “It feels awesome. I don’t know if I breathed the last 15 laps or so. It’s so awesome to be back up here again after everything that I have went through this year with the decisions I have made and other decisions or whatever. Man, it’s just awesome to be back up here and be able to represent all of my guys and SSI Motorsports. Hopefully we can continue to build on it. We will just do the best we can and go and try to win the next one.” Thornton, who leads the series with 11 wins this year was in the hunt the entire 40 laps falling 1.516 seconds short of his 40th career series win. “The car was really good. I want to thank everyone with Koehler Motorsports. My crew has been working their tails off. We weren’t exactly sure how this place was going to do. Heck, I thought it raced pretty good and hopefully we get to come back next year. I want to thank all of the fans for coming out to support us. This has been pretty awesome.” Davenport, who never ran outside of the top four during the race rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third. “My car was pretty good. It was a lot better than it has been. I haven’t had much racing luck lately. It was a race to get by the 58 car he was a little more on harder tires than us three was. Ricky picked the bottom, and I got him on the restart. I was running the top and then the caution came back out and we switched after the next caution. It just wasn’t our night as far as luck goes. At least we didn’t go backwards tonight.” O’Neal’s Todd and Vickie Burns, SSI Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Big River Steel, Wheeler Metals, Professional Concrete Cutting and Drilling, West Side Tractor Sales, Dyno One Inc., Merrill Bonding Company, Bobcat of Batesville, Bob and Tammy Burton, Indiana USSSA Fast Pitch Softball, Paragon Speedway, O’Neal’s Salvage and Recycling, and Sub-Surface of Indiana. Completing the top ten were Jimmy Owens, Max Blair, Ross Robinson, Drake Troutman, and Blair Nothdurft. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Malvern Bank Presents High Bank HeistMonday, July 15, 2024Eagle Raceway – Eagle, NE Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Garrett Alberson | 13.292 seconds (overall)Fast Time Group B: Boom Briggs | 13.609 seconds Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 6 Transfer): 1. 58-Garrett Alberson[1]; 2. 49-Jonathan Davenport[2]; 3. 99-Devin Moran[3]; 4. 157-Mike Marlar[5]; 5. 7D-Dusty Leonard[7]; 6. 35D-Dylan Sillman[6]; 7. 93F-Carson Ferguson[4]; 8. 17SS-Brenden Smith[8]; 9. 45D-Dan Battaglia[9] Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 6 Transfer): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[1]; 2. 99B-Boom Briggs[2]; 3. 20-Jimmy Owens[6]; 4. 43S-Derrick Stewart[3]; 5. 04-Tad Pospisil[7]; 6. 93-Cory Lawler[4]; 7. 51-Logan Seavey[5]; 8. 6-Clay Harris[9]; 9. 53-Andrew Kosiski[8] Earnhardt Technologies Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 6 Transfer): 1. 71-Hudson O’Neal[2]; 2. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[1]; 3. 18D-Daulton Wilson[5]; 4. 1-Tim McCreadie[3]; 5. 111-Max Blair[6]; 6. 7-Ross Robinson[4]; 7. 7T-Drake Troutman[9]; 8. 6H-Al Humphrey[7]; 9. 10-Junior Coover[8] Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 93F-Carson Ferguson[1]; 2. 7T-Drake Troutman[3]; 3. 51-Logan Seavey[2]; 4. 53-Andrew Kosiski[8]; 5. 6-Clay Harris[5]; 6. 10-Junior Coover[9]; 7. 45D-Dan Battaglia[7]; 8. 6H-Al Humphrey[6]; 9. 17SS-Brenden Smith[4] Malvern Bank Presents High Bank Heist Feature Finish (40 Laps):

Race Statistics  Entrants: 27Victory Fuel Pole Sitter: Garrett AlbersonLap Leaders: Hudson O’Neal (Laps 1-4); Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Laps 5-12); Hudson O’Neal (Laps 13-40)Wieland Feature Winner: Hudson O’NealArizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup Feature Winner: n/aBrandon Ford TV Challenge Feature Winner: n/aMargin of Victory: 1.516 seconds Dave Warren Powersports Cautions: Clay Harris (Lap 1); Daulton Wilson (Lap 21); Mike Marlar (Lap 21 restart); Dylan Sillman (Lap 34); Boom Briggs (Lap 34 restart)Series Provisionals: Clay Harris; Brenden SmithFast Time Provisional: n/aSeries Emergency Provisionals: n/aTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Hudson O’Neal, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Jonathan DavenportPenske Shocks Top 5: Hudson O’Neal, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Jonathan Davenport, Devin Moran, Tim McCreadieTodd Steel Buildings Hard Charger of the Race: Drake Troutman (Advanced 11 Positions) PEM 4th Place Feature: Devin MoranWilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Max BlairDeatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: Logan SeaveyMD3 Most Laps Led: Hudson O’Neal (32 Laps) Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Hudson O’NealMidwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Ricky Thornton, Jr.O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Drake TroutmanColtman Farms Fastest Lap of the Race: Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Lap 5 | 13.770 seconds) Slicker Graphics Slickest Move of the Race: Hudson O’NealMiller Welders Hard Luck Award: Daulton WilsonOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Anthony Burroughs (Hudson O’Neal)ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Racing EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Ricky Thornton, Jr. (14.1368 seconds)Time of Race: 23 minutes 06 seconds  Big River Steel Chase for the Championship Presented by ARP Point Standings:

Plenty of money and prestige are up for grabs this week at Attica and EldoraATTICA, OH (July 15, 2024) – One of the biggest weeks in Sprint Car Racing has arrived.All eyes are on Ohio this week as the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars roll into the “Buckeye State” for a trio of prestigious races.First up is the Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic presented by dac® Pet Products on Tuesday, July 16. The summertime staple of the World of Outlaws calendar takes place at Attica Raceway Park for the ninth consecutive year since shifting back to the northern Ohio facility in 2016. It’s not only about a race on Tuesday night, but it’s also about honoring a man who has dedicated so much of his life to Sprint Car Racing. Brad Doty starred behind the wheel in the 1980s, and ever since his career-ending injury in 1988, he’s stayed heavily involved through a variety of avenues helping elevate the sport.Then it’s time for a trip to the Kingdom of Eldora Speedway. All of Sprint Car racing’s top names will journey to the castle constructed by Earl Baltes before he passed the torch to Tony Stewart in 2004. The two nights (July 19-20) of action at “The Big E” begin with the Knight Before, dishing out $25,000 to the victor. Then on Saturday the 41st Kings Royal King will be crowned, cementing their name in Sprint Car history and taking $175,000 in riches to the bank.BUY BRAD DOTY CLASSIC TICKETS HERE BUY KNIGHT BEFORE TICKETS HERE BUY KINGS ROYAL TICKETS HEREWATCH LIVE ON DIRTVisionATTICA ACES: A handful of names stand out as potential favorites to claim the Brad Doty Classic based on their success at the Ohio oval.Donny Schatz leads the list of contenders with five Attica wins – the most through the World of Outlaws 24 visits to the track. He’s only missed the top 10 once in 18 Attica attempts. Schatz is already a four-time Brad Doty Classic winner (most all-time), splitting two victories apiece at Attica and Limaland.Kyle Larson intends to pursue a few pieces of history on Tuesday at Attica. Last year he became the first driver to ever top back-to-back Brad Doty Classics. The three-time winner of the event could equal Donny Schatz’s record tally of four. “Yung Money” owns four overall World of Outlaws wins at Attica, and a fifth would also equal Schatz for the most in that category.Michael “Buddy” Kofoid is always stout at Attica. He’s made 24 overall Feature starts and posted podiums in half of them, highlighted by a thrilling World of Outlaws win earlier this year aboard the Roth Motorsports No. 83 and a local victory in 2020.Brock Zearfoss added his name to the list of Brad Doty Classic winners in 2019 at Attica. That came with the All-Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC), and a World of Outlaws win on Tuesday would make him the sixth competitor with multiple Brad Doty Classic triumphs.Attica will also attract many of its talented regulars that compete at the track on a weekly basis including 2024 winners Cap Henry, Craig Mintz, Cale Thomas, and Bryce Lucius.KING OF KINGS: There’s only one king of Sprint Car Racing, and his name is Steve Kinser. But one current competitor has the opportunity to match one of “The King’s” royal records.Kinser topped seven Kings Royal during his illustrious career, which is the most through 40 runnings. Last year, Donny Schatz drove the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 to his sixth Kings Royal title, making this year the first chance he’ll have to equal Kinser’s crown collection.There’s no reason to think Schatz won’t be in contention for his seventh coronation. Eldora is home to 18 of the Fargo, ND native’s 314 career wins. The 10-time champion also topped the 2002 Historical Big One. Schatz has podiumed in seven of his last 11 Eldora races including both nights of #LetsRaceTwo back in May. He’ll enter the week fresh off his third win of 2024 after an impressive drive at Wilmot.CROWN CHASING: The list of Kings Royal champions is filled with legends of the sport. But there are a handful of future Hall of Famers and noteworthy names on the World of Outlaws roster still seeking to grace the throne for the first time.Logan Schuchart stands out among those eying their first Kings Royal victory. The Shark Racing pilot has won four times with the World of Outlaws at Eldora, making it tied for the winningest track on his Series résumé. He also claimed the first Sprint Car Eldora Million last year. The 2019 Kings Royal is Schuchart’s best showing to date when he started 12th and drove to the front and led 15 laps before finishing second.David Gravel already owns wins in the sport’s two other top crown jewels – Knoxville Nationals and National Open – but the Kings Royal has eluded the current Series point leader. Last year he equaled his best Kings Royal run with a third-place outing in the Big Game Motorsports No. 2. Six times Gravel has stood in Eldora Victory Lane including the final night of #LetsRaceTwo earlier this year.Carson Macedo has been rapping on the castle door through the last four Kings Royals. He’s finished no worse than eighth and grabbed a pair of third place runs in one of the two contested in 2021 and the 2022 editions. Macedo owns a trio of checkered flags at “The House that Earl Built” most recently in last year’s Knight Before in the Jason Johnson Racing ride.Sheldon Haudenschild is an Ohio native, and he’s still looking to top his home state’s most prestigious Sprint Car event. He’s been in the top five in four of the last five editions, peaking a second in 2021. Haudenschild won at Eldora earlier this season. A victory on Saturday would add him to this list alongside his father and three-time King Jac Haudenschild, and they’d become the first father-son duo to don the Crown. Giovanni Scelzi struggled at “The Big E” early in his career, but he’s found speed as of late at the historic half mile. Four of his last five Eldora starts have resulted in top fives including a trio of podiums. Back in May he posted his best career Eldora finish with a runner-up in the KCP Racing No. 18.RETURNING KINGS: The Eldora roster is expected to include more former Kings in addition to Donny Schatz looking to sit atop the throne once again.Brad Sweet is set to pursue his third crown in the Kasey Kahne Racing No. 49. The Grass Valley, CA native topped the 2013 edition for his second ever World of Outlaws victory. The five-time Series champ also earned the spoils of $175,000 when he won in 2019. He’ll look to join Steve Kinser, Donny Schatz, Jac Haudenschild, and Sammy Swindell as those with at least three Kings Royal titles.Two years ago, Myerstown, PA’s Brent Marks capped off an incredible week when he was crowned King. Marks also claimed the return of the Historical Big One two days before, totaling $275,000 in winnings between the two. He’ll attempt to become the ninth multi-time King.Tyler Courtney’s first ever World of Outlaws triumph came in the form of a Kings Royal crown in 2021. “Sunshine” is always a threat at Eldora no matter what he’s wheeling as he’s won 13 times at the half mile between a winged Sprint Car, non-wing Sprint Car, Midget, and a Silver Crown car. Kerry Madsen claimed the crown 10 years ago to become the first Australian Kings Royal champion. He’s expected to be behind the wheel of the Vermeer Motorsports No. 55 at Eldora this weekend.STAR-STUDDED: On top of the hugely talented collection of names already listed, many more Sprint Car stars are planning to be at one or both of the events on this week’s agenda.The nation’s winningest driver – Anthony Macri – intends to make the trip one state west from Pennsylvania to Ohio. Already in the month of July Macri has won three PA Speedweek races on his way to the event title.Rico Abreu will be in the Eldora pit area in search of his first Kings Royal. The St. Helena, CA native ran second in 2016. Of his nine total wins at the half mile, three were in World of Outlaws competition including a pair last year.Spencer Bayston has been to Victory Lane at both Attica and Eldora. He got his first ever World of Outlaws victory in the 2021 Brad Doty Classic, and he drove a Midget to an Eldora victory with USAC in 2017. These few will be joined be so many more as huge fields are expected to fill both the Attica and Eldora pit areas this week.THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCEWHEN AND WHERE Tuesday, July 16 at Attica Raceway Park in Attica, OH Friday-Saturday, July 19-20 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OHON THE INTERNETWorld of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series X – @WorldofOutlaws Instagram – @WoOSprint Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsSprintCarSeries YouTube – Youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com – Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/monthCURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (34/73 Races):1. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports No. 2 (4312 PTS) 2. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing No. 15 (-58 PTS) 3. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 (-64 PTS) 4. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing No. 18 (-98 PTS) 5. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports No. 83 (-136 PTS) 6. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing No. 1S (-194 PTS) 7. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing No. 17 (-250 PTS) 8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports No. 17B (-508 PTS) 9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing No. 3Z (-760 PTS) 10. Landon Crawley – Sides Motorsports No. 7S (-894 PTS)NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (13 Drivers): 9 Wins – David Gravel 7 Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild 3 Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Carson Macedo, Donny Schatz 2 Wins – Tyler Courtney 1 Win – Brad Sweet, Brent Marks, Rico Abreu, Brady Bacon, Michael Kofoid, Corey Day, Logan SchuchartFEATURE LAPS LED (20 Drivers):224 Laps – David Gravel 199 Laps – Carson Macedo 166 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild 120 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi 78 Laps – Donny Schatz 54 Laps – Rico Abreu 47 Laps – Logan Schuchart 34 Laps – Brady Bacon, Michael Kofoid 33 Laps – Kyle Larson 25 Laps – Brad Sweet 15 Laps – Ryan Timms 13 Laps – Anthony Macri 12 Laps – Emerson Axsom 11 Laps – Bill Balog 9 Laps – Parker Price-Miller, Corey Day, Tyler Courtney 3 Laps – Brent Marks 1 Lap – Kalib HenrySIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (14 Drivers):8 Quick Times – Carson Macedo 7 Quick Times – David Gravel 3 Quick Times – Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild, Michael Kofoid 2 Quick Times – Brent Marks 1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Aaron Reutzel, Brady Bacon, Donny Schatz, Daryn Pittman, Cory Eliason, Brock ZearfossHEAT RACE WINNERS (32 Drivers): 20 Heat Wins – David Gravel 15 Heat Wins – Carson Macedo, Sheldon Haudenschild 12 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi 9 Heat Wins – Michael Kofoid 7 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu, Brock Zearfoss 6 Heat Wins –Donny Schatz 4 Heat Wins – Brent Marks 3 Heat Wins –Bill Balog,Tyler Courtney, Logan Schuchart 2 Heat Wins – Brian Brown, Landon Crawley,Corey Day, Garet Williamson 1 Heat Win – Justin Peck, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, Danny Sams III, Kyle Larson, Emerson Axsom, Anthony Macri, Tim Shaffer, Nick Omdahl, Daryn Pittman, Scott Bogucki, Austin McCarl, Brad Sweet, Spencer Bayston, Brady BaconTOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (51 Drivers):27 Dashes – David Gravel 26 Dashes – Carson Macedo 23 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild 22 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi 19 Dashes – Michael Kofoid 16 Dashes – Donny Schatz 10 Dashes – Bill Balog 9 Dashes – Logan Schuchart 8 Dashes – Rico Abreu 7 Dashes – Landon Crawley, Brock Zearfoss 5 Dashes – Brent Marks, Tyler Courtney, Emerson Axsom 4 Dashes – Brian Brown, Brady Bacon 3 Dashes – Aaron Reutzel, Anthony Macri, Garet Williamson 2 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Cole Duncan, Cole Macedo, Kalib Henry, Corey Day, Daryn Pittman, Danny Sams III 1 Dash – Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Bill Rose, Ryan Timms, James McFadden, Logan McCandless, Ayrton Gennetten, Kyle Larson, Skylar Gee, Kody Hartlaub, Chase Dietz, Tim Shaffer, T.J. Michael, Craig Mintz, Brandon Spithaler, Sye Lynch, Cale Thomas, Kaleb Johnson, Nick Omdahl, Parker Price-Miller, Scott Bogucki, Austin McCarl, Christopher Thram, Kraig KinserMICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (26 Drivers):2 LCS Wins – Logan McCandless, Bill Balog, Brock Zearfoss, Garet Williamson, Landon Crawley 1 LCS Win – Austin McCarl, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne, Koty Adams, Jace Park, Anthony Macri, Landon Crawley, Kevin Newton, Brenham Crouch, Sheldon Haudenschild, Brandon Rahmer, David Gravel, Nate Dussel, Cole Macedo, Zeth Sabo, Brooke Tatnell, Donny Schatz, Brent Marks, Cory Eliason, Kerry Madsen, Creed KemenahKSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (21 Drivers):6 Hard Chargers – Logan Schuchart, Donny Schatz 2 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Aaron Reutzel, Michael Kofoid 1 Hard Charger –Jace Park, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Chase Randall, Chris Windom, Noah Gass, Austin McCarl, Giovanni Scelzi, Sheldon Haudenschild, Danny Dietrich, Landon Crawley, Sye Lynch, Bill Balog, Scotty Neitzel, Garet Williamson, Cale ThomasPODIUM FINISHES (20 Drivers):18 Podiums – David Gravel 16 Podiums – Carson Macedo 12 Podiums – Michael Kofoid 11 Podiums – Donny Schatz, Sheldon Haudenschild 7 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi 4 Podiums – Rico Abreu 3 Podiums – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney 2 Podiums – Brent Marks,Bill Balog, Kyle Larson, Aaron Reutzel 1 Podium – Justin Peck, Anthony Macri, Brady Bacon, Cole Macedo, Parker Price-Miller, Ryan Timms, Logan Schuchart, Emerson AxsomTOP 10 FINISHES (60 Drivers): 31 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi 30 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, David Gravel 29 Top 10s – Michael Kofoid 28 Top 10s – Carson Macedo 27 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart 22 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild 18 Top 10s – Bill Balog 10 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss 8 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu 6 Top 10s – Brad Sweet 5 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Anthony Macri, Aaron Reutzel, James McFadden 4 Top 10s – Cole Macedo, Landon Crawley, Corey Day, Brian Brown, Brady Bacon 3 Top 10s – Cole Duncan, Skylar Gee, Ryan Timms, Garet Williamson 2 Top 10s – Chase Randall, Kraig Kinser, Cale Thomas, Kyle Larson, Emerson Axsom 1 Top 10 – Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Zeb Wise, Cory Eliason, Jacob Allen, Chris Windom, Joe B. Miller, Ayrton Gennetten, Scotty Milan, Troy Wagaman Jr., Danny Dietrich, Chase Dietz, Brandon Spithaler, Kalib Henry, Tim Shaffer, Zane DeVault, Sye Lynch, Travis Philo, Trey Jacobs, Scotty Thiel, Mark Dobmeier, Kaleb Johnson, Parker Price-Miller, Daryn Pittman, Scott Bogucki, Austin McCarl, Tim Kaeding, Christopher Thram, Landon Brooks, Greg Wilson2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)1. Wed, Feb 7 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brad Sweet (1) 2. Thurs, Feb 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (1) 3. Fri, Feb 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Tyler Courtney (1) 4. Sat, Feb 10 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Sheldon Haudenschild (1) 5. Mon, March 4 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Donny Schatz (1) 6. Fri, March 15 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Brent Marks (1) 7. Sat, March 16 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Giovanni Scelzi (1) 8. Sat, March 23 / Kennedale Speedway Park / Kennedale, TX / Carson Macedo (1) 9. Sat, March 30 / 81 Speedway / Wichita, KS / Rico Abreu (1) 10. Fri, April 5 / US 36 Raceway / Osborn, MO / David Gravel (2) 11. Sat, April 6 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK / Sheldon Haudenschild (2) 12. Fri, April 12 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / David Gravel (3) 13. Sat, April 13 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Donny Schatz (2) 14. Fri, April 19 / Paducah International Raceway / Paducah, KY / Sheldon Haudenschild (3) 15. Sat, April 20 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN / Brady Bacon (1) 16. Wed, May 1 / Jacksonville Speedway / Jacksonville, IL / David Gravel (4) 17. Fri, May 3 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (4) 18. Sat, May 4 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / David Gravel (5) 19. Wed, May 8 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / David Gravel (6) 20. Fri, May 17 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Michael Kofoid (1) 21. Sat, May 18 / Sharon Speedway / Hartford, OH / David Gravel (7) 22. Fri, May 24 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / David Gravel (8) 23. Sat, May 25 / Atomic Speedway / Chillicothe, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (5) 24. Mon, May 27 / Fremont Speedway / Fremont, OH / Carson Macedo (2) 25. Fri, May 31 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (6) 26. Fri, June 7 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Giovanni Scelzi (2) 27. Sat, June 8 / Ogilvie Raceway / Ogilvie, MN / Sheldon Haudenschild (7) 28. Fri, June 14 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / David Gravel (9) 29. Sat, June 15 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Corey Day (1) 30. Wed, June 19 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Tyler Courtney (2) 31. Sat, June 29 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Logan Schuchart (1) 32. Wed, July 10 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Giovanni Scelzi (3) 33. Fri, July 12 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Carson Macedo (3) 34. Sat, July 13 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Donny Schatz (3)For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

Cruz Pedregon

NHRA Northwest Nationals – Seattle

Pre-Race Report

Quotes for the upcoming Seattle race – 

Cruz Pedregon, two-time Funny Car World Champion

“It’s close to the halfway point in our season, and we’ve spent the first half learning the team and getting the car dialed in for all the track conditions. So, we’re now looking ahead to a strong second half of the season. We’d love to get that started in Seattle after having a couple of weeks off from racing to regroup and get everyone’s batteries recharged. The goal is going rounds and even punching it in for the win there.”

“Seattle’s a great venue and it has a rich history for nitro cars. The western swing gives us time to get out of the real heat, but it will still be warm enough for good racing conditions. We enjoy coming out to the West Coast and showing the fans what we do. With Friday qualifying being moved to the evening, there should be some great night racing. For the first time at this race, fans can come out on Friday and experience seeing the header flames of the nitro cars.”

“Our primary sponsor, Snap-on, will have members of its leadership group coming out to Seattle to root us on. We love having them out to support us and would really love to race well for them.”

Name on the side of Cruz’s car – Snap-on Nitro Franchisee Blade Weibert

●        Check out the name of Blade Weibert on the side of Cruz’s Makers and Fixers Dodge. He’s the Snap-on Nitro Franchisee for the Northwest Nationals.

●        Blade was a mechanic in a coal mine before becoming a franchisee.

●        He’s hosting 10 of his customers in Cruz’s pit this weekend.

●        Members of the Snap-on leadership team will join him in the pit Saturday where they will be among the many Makers and Fixers at the track. As Cruz’s primary sponsor, Snap-on encourages professionals who make and fix the essentials, like vehicles and machinery, to follow Makers and Fixers on Instagram and submit their inspiring stories to makersandfixers.com.

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

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

LONG POND, PA – July 15, 2024 – Ryan Blaney won the Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway on Sunday marking his second win of the season, 12th of his career, and second at Pocono. Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer also won the Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 on Saturday in the Xfinity Series, completing a weekend sweep for the Ford Mustang Dark Horse.

“Congratulations to Ford Performance, Team Penske, and Stewart-Haas Racing on the wins at Pocono” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Pocono is a special track to Roush Yates Engines as we had our first win with the FR9 engine in 2010 with Greg Biffle. To see Ryan and Cole win these races showcases all the dedication and hard work by our Ford Performance teams.”

Sunday’s 160-lap race started with three Ford Performance drivers in the top-10: Stewart-Haas Racing’s Josh Berry in P5 along with Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney in P8 and Joey Logano in P10. After the first stage ended, Team Penske’s Joey Logano and RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski started on the front row in Stage 2. Prior to the end of Stage 2, Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney and RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher took fuel and fresh tires that lasted until the end of the race. As stage 3 began, Buescher took the lead with Blaney right behind him. With 40 laps remaining, Blaney took the lead and maintained it throughout multiple restarts. Blaney won over second place Denny Hamlin by 1.312 seconds.

“I think we are in a better spot at this time this year than where we were last year at this point. I feel like our speed is better. Our execution is great. We are doing everything as a 12 group the best that we can. We have had some other unforeseen circumstances that have hindered some finishes and possible wins. I am so proud of this Team Penske group. All the men and women at the race shop, they work their butts off to try to get better and deal with the drivers when they say we need to get a lot better. I appreciate them and Roush Yates Engines and all the work they do and continue to do. Go USA,” commented Blaney.

Team Penske’s Joey Logano finished in P5 and RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski finished in P7.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series also raced at Pocono on Saturday. Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer took the lead from Justin Allgaier on a restart with nine laps remaining and maintained the lead until the end of the race, beating Allgaier to the checkered flag by .670 seconds. The victory marked Custer’s first win of the 2024 season and second at Pocono. Custer becomes the first driver to win multiple Xfinity Series races at the track following his first win in 2019. The win also allowed Custer to extend his lead in the Xfinity Series point standings and now holds a 51-point advantage over second place Justin Allgaier.

“This means so much. These guys have worked so hard this year and just haven’t gotten that final result. It is awesome to get it here at Pocono. This is such an awesome race track that is hard to win at. I can’t thank all of them enough. An unbelievable car. Doug Yates gave us awesome Roush Yates horsepower,” commented Custer.

Stewart-Haas Racing’s Riley Herbst finished Saturday’s race in P11 and RSS Racing’s Ryan Sieg finished in P12.  The NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series both compete this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana.

39 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 465 WINS – 432 POLES

BATAVIA, Ohio (July 15, 2024) – The busy Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series summer stretch continues with another exciting doubleheader to kickstart the week. The Series is bound for Nebraska’s Eagle Raceway on Monday, July 15, before returning to the Hawkeye State on Tuesday, July 16, for a stop at Shelby County Speedway. Both tracks are new to the circuit. The field will compete is a full program both nights, which includes Dirt Draft Hot Laps, Allstar Performance Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and their respective A-Mains.  Monday’s 40-lap Malvern Bank High Bank Heist at Eagle Raceway boasts a $10,000 grand prize. Shelby County Speedway pays tribute to the Kosiski Family, founders of the Silver Dollar Nationals, on Tuesday with a 53-lap, $10,053 to win feature event.  The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will be joined by IMCA Stock Cars at Eagle Raceway on Monday, then IMCA Late Models at Shelby County Speedway on Tuesday. At Eagle Raceway, the pit gate will open at 2:00 PM with the general admission gate opening at 5:00 PM. On track action will begin at 6:30 PM. The pit gate at Shelby County Speedway will open at 1:00 PM. The general admission gate will open at 4:00 PM. Hot Laps begin at 6:30 PM. Eagle Raceway is a 1/3-mile oval located just two miles east of Eagle, Nebraska on U.S. 34, often referred to as the “World’s Fastest Third Mile.” Additional information can be found by visiting www.eagleraceway.com.  Shelby County Speedway is also a 1/3-mile oval located on the Shelby County Fairgrounds in Harlan, Iowa. To find more information about Shelby County Speedway, visit www.racescs.com.   Ricky Thornton Jr. leads the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship presented by ARP. Jonathan Davenport is second, followed by Devin Moran, Tim McCreadie, and Hudson O’Neal rounding out the top five in the current championship standings. Clay Harris leads the O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Year chase by just 5 points over Drake Troutman. For the latest news, results, championship standings and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, please visit www.lucasdirt.com. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Purses:Eagle Raceway – July 15: 1. $10,000, 2. $5,500, 3. $3,500, 4. $2,700, 5. $2,500, 6. $2,300, 7. $2,200, 8. $2,100, 9. $2,050, 10. $2,000, 11. $1,600, 12. $1,400, 13. $1,200, 14. $1,000, 15. $950, 16. $925, 17. $900, 18. $875, 19. $850, 20. $825, 21. $800, 22. $800, 23. $800, 24. $800 = $48,575 Shelby County Speedway – July 16: 1. $10,053, 2. $5,500, 3. $3,500, 4. $2,700, 5. $2,500, 6. $2,300, 7. $2,200, 8. $2,100, 9. $2,050, 10. $2,000, 11. $1,600, 12. $1,400, 13. $1,200, 14. $1,000, 15. $950, 16. $925, 17. $900, 18. $875, 19. $850, 20. $825, 21. $800, 22. $800, 23. $800, 24. $800 = $48,628 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Tire Rule:Left Rear/Fronts – Hoosier (90) NLMT2, (90) NLMT3Right Rear – Hoosier (92) NLMT3, (92) NLMT4

CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES HY-VEE HOMEFRONT 250 & HY-VEE ONE STEP 250 IOWA SPEEDWAY NEWTON, IOWA TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE JULY 12-14, 2024 CHEVROLET SHIFTS GEARS TO IOWA SPEEDWAY FOR THE HY-VEE DOUBLE HEADER WEEKEND In the 2.2-liter twin-turbo V6 era since 2012, Chevrolet holds 11 wins in 14 events at the 0.875-mile Iowa Speedway.Since 2012, Team Chevy has also captured the NTT P1 Pole Award in 13 of 14 events.In the V6 era since 2012, Chevrolet has led 3,519 laps at Iowa Speedway of the 3,850 total laps, for 91.4%.Chevrolet additionally has swept the Iowa Speedway doubleheader weekend in the three events it has hosted, including 2020, 2022, and 2023.Team Chevy has swept the podium at Iowa Speedway in six of the 14 events, including 2012, 2013, 2016, 2022 Race 1, 2022 Race 2, and 2023 Race 1.Team owner and driver Ed Carpenter returns to the Team Chevy lineup, driving the No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet at Iowa Speedway this weekend. DETROIT (July 11, 2024) – With momentum gained from Pato O’Ward and Arrow McLaren’s victory in the 2.2-liter twin-turbo V6 with hybrid technology debut at Mid-Ohio this past weekend, Chevrolet looks next to the 0.875-mile tri-oval of Iowa Speedway to continue their hot streak in the first of two doubleheader weekends on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule. The 10th and 11th rounds on tap in the hunt for the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship, Chevrolet holds a stellar record at “The World’s Fastest Short Track,” with 11 wins in the 14 events held during the V6 era since 2012. Locking out the podium six times as well as qualifying on pole in 13 of the 14 events, Team Chevy has swept the previous three doubleheader weekends at Iowa, including 2020 (Simon Pagenaud and Josef Newgarden), 2022 (Josef Newgarden and Pato O’Ward), and 2023 (Josef Newgarden in both). Combined, Chevrolet has led 3,519 laps at Iowa of the 3,850 turned in competition during the V6 era since 2012, for 91.4%. “It was a successful start to the V6 hybrid era with Pato (O’Ward) and Arrow McLaren securing the first victory with the new technology on board in Mid-Ohio for Chevrolet,” said Mark Stielow, Director of Motorsports Competition Programs for General Motors. “Shifting forward to Iowa this weekend, it’s a demanding oval both mentally and physically on our Team Chevy drivers, and mixing in the July heat with the new hybrid technology during a doubleheader, it will be a challenge that we are ready for. Iowa has been a great proving ground for Chevrolet, a place to showcase our strong success, dedication, and hard work, and we’re looking forward to potentially adding a 12th and 13th win on the oval there this weekend.” After the successful Mid-Ohio debut of the V6 engine with hybrid technology, Iowa Speedway will be the first oval for the new tool in competition after extensive collaboration, research, and testing by the series and both manufacturers. Of the V6 era since 2012, including the hybrid technology debut, Chevrolet holds 116 wins since 2012 in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 208 race events, as well as 130 earned NTT P1 Pole Awards, eight manufacturer titles, and six Indianapolis 500 victories. The doubleheader weekend at Iowa Speedway kicks off with practice on Friday at 3:35 p.m. ET, transitioning then to Saturday with qualifying and Firestone Fast Six at 3:45 p.m. ET. The first 250-lap event of the weekend, the Hy-Vee Homefront 250, takes the green flag live on NBC at 8 p.m. ET. Sunday sees the second of the two races, with the Hy-Vee One Step 250, airs live at 12 p.m. ET Sunday on NBC. All practice and qualifying sessions broadcast with Peacock, INDYCAR Radio, and SiriusXM Channel 218.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING (Quotes):Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet:“It was really good to have both not only the Iowa hybrid test but the Milwaukee hybrid test as well because it gave us a head start on a car setup, and really figuring out what I like as a driver and what I don’t like, I think that that’s really important. Also, James (Schnabel) is still learning me as a driver, so getting the car comfortable for me to be fast is crucial. And we were able to do that at the hybrid test. “I think it’s definitely going to be a different experience using (the hybrid technology) in Iowa. I think that the hybrid is less effective on the short oval just because of the minimum speeds and how we carry the corners. So, I don’t think I’ll really using the hybrid much other than maybe for starting qualifying off and you know being able to play defense and offense but for normal running, I probably won’t be using much of it. I do enjoy racing at Iowa and I’ve had a lot of fun, fun races there. I love the fact that it’s normally two to three lanes. Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s going to be the case this year, but we’re gonna have our fingers crossed for the highline practice so we can make sure we have a two-lane racetrack.” Sting Ray Robb, No. 41 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet:“The repave completely changed the track. The increase in grip means less tire wear and more fatigue for the drivers. There will need be different demands on the car than we initially thought too. Making a “quali” [qualifying] car and a car to last the race will be interesting. “(Running two races so close together is physically) incredibly difficult. I expect this to be the most physical weekend of the year. This is due to the temperatures at the track, plus the increase in grip over past years here. Good sleep, lots of food, and lots of hydration I think will be some key points for the weekend. I think it could be a fun race with a good car where we are competitive. I know the race can be won and lost on pitlane on such a short oval like Iowa, so those will be one of the main focuses through the weekend to nail down. “ Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“We have a big doubleheader this weekend coming off the win at Mid-Ohio. This weekend at Iowa Speedway is probably going to be one of the most physical races weekends of the season. The hybrid system and repave should keep things interesting. I hope we come out of Iowa with better results than we did last year and keep some positive momentum rolling.” Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“It’s a big shift going into short track racing now, but I’m really excited. It’ll be the first oval race with the hybrid system, so there is still a lot to learn. Historically, Arrow McLaren has always been super strong on ovals, so I’m really excited to do my first oval with the team. We had a successful test there a couple weeks ago and I think we’re going to have a strong car and a solid shot at it this weekend. I’m excited to see what we can do and start building better results.” Alexander Rossi, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“I can’t wait to get back to Iowa for the first doubleheader of the year. It’s going to be a hot and intense weekend, but I think we’ll have strong cars and I can’t wait to get going.” Gavin Ward, Team Principal at Arrow McLaren:“The win last weekend in Mid-Ohio definitely provided a boost of confidence for the team heading into the second half of the season. We’ve been strong at Iowa Speedway in the past but, as we found at our recent test here, the repave has really changed the characteristics of the track. We’re hoping to pull together everything we learnt from the test and roll off the trucks with a competitive package for all three cars. The atmosphere at this race is so cool with the concerts and IndyCar short oval racing is hard to beat. As a team our focus remains one of continual improvement and enjoying the process of competing at the highest level. If we can keep doing that, the results will take care of themselves.” Ed Carpenter, No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet:“The Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend has become a highlight of the calendar for me. I have always really enjoyed racing at Iowa Speedway and it has turned into a really fun and unique event! For sure, it will be a challenge with the new surface and somewhat unknown tire and downforce package. The team has really been coming on strong the second half of the season. I am excited to pick up where Christian (Rasmussen) left off at Mid-Ohio and get more great results for the team!” Rinus VeeKay, No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet:“I am excited for Iowa, such a cool track! It will be interesting with the new surface to see how the racing will be, and there have been some changes made in downforce levels and tire compounds since the test. But we had good speed during the test! This is kind of the start of the oval season, so that’s pretty cool. Two races and one at night, which will be exciting. I love night races! I am just looking forward to bouncing back in a strong way this weekend and working back towards the Top 10 in points!” Romain Grosjean, No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet:“Iowa is a fun little racetrack where the races were awesome in the past. There has been a few changes made to the track so we will see how that plays out for us. We will try to start our oval season pretty well in Iowa with two races.” Agustin Canapino, No. 78 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet:“We arrived in Iowa, which is a very important weekend because it is double (race). It is an oval that last year we had very good potential, and we were satisfied with the tests carried out a few days ago. We are going to try to have a great weekend and take many points.”

Chevrolet in Iowa (since 2012, V6 era, pre-hybrid):Wins at Iowa: 112012: Ryan Hunter-Reay2013: James Hinchcliff2016: Josef Newgarden2017: Helio Castroneves2019: Josef Newgarden2020 (Race 1): Simon Pagenaud2020 (Race 2): Josef Newgarden2022 (Race 1): Josef Newgarden2022 (Race 2): Pato O’Ward2023 (Race 1): Josef Newgarden2023 (Race 2): Josef Newgarden Earned Pole Awards at Iowa: 132013: Helio Castroneves2014: Scott Dixon2015: Helio Castroneves2016: Simon Pagenaud2017: Will Power2018: Will Power2019: Simon Pagenaud2020 (Race 1): Conor Daly2020 (Race 2): Josef Newgarden2022 (Race 1): Will Power2022 (Race 2): Will Power2023 (Race 1): Will Power2023 (Race 2): Will Power Number of Team Chevy Podiums at Iowa (V6 era since 2012, pre-hybrid): 31*Chevrolet has also swept the podium six times, including 2012, 2013, 2016, 2022 Race 1, 2022 Race 2, and 2023 Race 1. Number of laps led by Team Chevy at Iowa (V6 era since 2012, pre-hybird): 3,519 of 3,580, or 91.4% of all laps in the V6 era since 2012.

2024 CHEVROLET BY THE NUMBERS:1: NTT INDYCAR SERIES race as V6 engine supplier with hybrid technology integration. 1: Wins in the NTT INDYCAR Series as V6 engine supplier with hybrid technology integration since mid-2024.  207: NTT INDYCAR Series races as V6 engine supplier since 2012 return to INDYCAR.  115: Wins in the NTT INDYCAR Series since 2012.  130: Earned poles since 2012. Chevrolet holds 135 pole awards in total, with five recorded based on points for weather. 8: Manufacturer Championships since 2012.  7: Driver/entrant champions since 2012.  13: Indianapolis 500 victories by Chevrolet at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 6: Indianapolis 500 wins by Chevrolet since 2012 in the V6 2.2-liter twin turbo direct injected era. 33: Number of times Chevrolet has swept the podium in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES since 2012 in the V6 2.2-liter twin turbo direct injected era. In total, a manufacturer has swept the podium 53 times since 2012. 27: Wins by Will Power since 2012 – all with Chevrolet power – most of any driver with the same manufacturer.   9: Wins from the pole by Will Power with Chevrolet power since 2012, most by any driver.  46: Pole starts by Will Power since 2012 in a Chevrolet-powered car, most of any driver.*Will Power’s career total of 70 poles makes him the all-time pole winner in INDYCAR.

Giovanni Scelzi Tops Thrilling JB Memorial for Another Beaver Dam WinScelzi bests Kofoid and Axsom for second Beaver Dam score and a $20,000 paydayBEAVER DAM, WI (July 10, 2024) – Beaver Dam Raceway continues to be a special place for Giovanni Scelzi and the KCP Racing crew.Two years ago, it’s where current crew chief Adam Clark took the reins of the team to get his start calling the shots for a major Sprint Car operation. Then last year it’s where Clark got his first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car victory as a crew chief when Scelzi took the car to Victory Lane at the Wisconsin oval.And on Wednesday night Beaver Dam became the site of another noteworthy moment for the No. 18 team. Scelzi topped a thrilling three-way battle between himself, Michael “Buddy” Kofoid, and Emerson Axsom to make Beaver Dam the first track where the Californian owns multiple victories with The Greatest Show on Dirt. The Series sophomore snatched the lead on Lap 15 and held off a late charge from Kofoid with a slick move in traffic to top the Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial for a $20,000 payday.“Man, what an incredible racetrack, incredible crowd on a Wednesday night. I’m so glad the Outlaws decided to reschedule this one,” Scelzi said. “This is turning into one of my favorite racetracks, for sure. It’s so nicely worked, smooth, two lanes – a top and a bottom. It kind of developed a middle at both ends, too. I knew the lappers were damn near three-wide in front of me, so I kind of had to play it safe but make my own lane as well. Great job to my guys.”The win marked the third of 2024 for Scelzi and the ninth overall of “Hot Sauce’s” career with the World of Outlaws. Three victories are already a personal best in one season for the Fresno, CA native. Scelzi became the 10th different driver to top multiple World of Outlaws races at Beaver Dam through the Series’ 35 visits to the 1/3 mile.The 40-lap finale was brought to green by Kofoid and Axsom with Scelzi close behind in fourth. Kofoid jumped ahead to the early advantage as Scelzi rocketed from fourth to second in the opening set of corners. Axsom quickly drove back by Scelzi and went right to work on Kofoid.The door opened on Lap 3 as Axsom ducked under Kofoid and slid ahead of him to take over the lead in the Klaasmeyer/Petry No. 27.Axsom wasted no time building an advantage in pursuit of his first World of Outlaws win. Behind him the battle brewed for second as Scelzi locked his sights on the Roth Motorsports No. 83. Scelzi stole the spot from Kofoid on Lap 5 but surrendered it back the following lap.As the first quarter of the 40 laps came to a close Scelzi’s machine began to come to life. He used a big run down the back straightaway to slip under Kofoid and reclaim second on Lap 14. Then on the next circuit he got another strong head of steam heading into Turn 3 and used it to roll the bottom right by Axsom and take the lead.Scelzi began to build his advantage as he worked smoothly through lapped cars. Axsom chopped into the gap on a few different laps but couldn’t ever find the speed to close back in on Scelzi’s tail tank. And behind him Kofoid was starting to piece together some solid laps as he looked to rejoin the battle for the win.The contest for the runner-up spot reignited between Axsom and Kofoid with the Roth machine making its way back into second with seven laps remaining. The distance between Kofoid and Scelzi was more than a second when Kofoid got the spot, but it began to shrink right away as the laps clicked off. With only a few circuits remaining, Kofoid closed nearly to the tail tank of Scelzi.But one slight slip up from Kofoid was all Scelzi needed to seal the deal. As the duo exited Turn 4 coming to two laps remaining, Kofoid narrowly missed the lane of grip on the bottom as Scelzi stayed glued to it and powered away down the front straightaway. Scelzi cleared a couple more lapped cars for breathing room and rolled to the checkered flag. For Scelzi and company, the win served as a nice momentum boost with one of the biggest events in Sprint Car Racing on the horizon.“They all dropped to the bottom in Turn 1, and I got to second and then got passed back by Buddy and just kind of rode there for a little bit,” Scelzi said of his race. “I felt like I could really go anywhere I wanted. Kudos to Adam for getting the car really good. I feel like we learned some stuff testing at Knoxville. Great job to my guys. Kings Royal is coming up.”Kofoid settled for second after leading the opening two laps and making it close at the end. The Toyota Racing driver came away encouraged with the outing, especially with the speed of the No. 83 in the latter portion of the race.“We really came alive probably the last 10, 15 laps and started trucking through the middle at least in (Turns) 1 and 2 and was good on the top in (Turns) 3 and 4,” Kofoid explained. “I just needed it to probably be slicker longer, but I felt like we were there at the end. Dylan, Nate, and Gage did a really good job. We’ve been off a little bit I feel like this last month or so. But to contend for a win today is, I feel like, a step in the right direction.”Rounding out the top three was Emerson Axsom. The Franklin, IN native brought home his first career World of Outlaws podium in only his sixth Feature start with the Series. While happy with the result, it was a bit of a bittersweet moment for the 19-year-old as he felt a potential victory slipped away.“I’m really happy with our speed, but I’m a little disappointed with some of the mistakes I made,” Axsom admitted. “But you’ve got to race with these guys to learn and make mistakes and then pick yourself up from it and learn. Leading it’s tough to tell where to run. Obviously Gio was running through the hole in (Turn) 3 and got a big run of me carrying a lot more speed through (Turns) 3 and 4. After I moved up, I felt really good. I just made some mistakes and let some professionals get by me that have been doing it a while. Obviously, I’m happy with our speed, but I want to win.”Carson Macedo and Logan Schuchart completed the top five.A 24th to 14th drive earned Cale Thomas the KSE Racing Hard Charger.Carson Macedo earned a Series-leading eighth Simpson Quick Time of 2024 is Sea Foam Qualifying.NOS Energy Drink Heats One, Three and Four belonged to Giovanni Scelzi (49th Heat Race win of career), Garet Williamson (third of career), and David Gravel (260th of career). Milton Hershey School Heat Two went to Sheldon Haudenschild (113th of career).Buddy Kofoid topped the Toyota Racing Dash.Kerry Madsen won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Brock Zearfoss.UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to Wisconsin’s Wilmot Raceway on July 12-13 for the Federated Auto Parts Larry Hillerud Memorial Badger 40. 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 (40 Laps): 1. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[4]; 2. 83-Michael Kofoid[1]; 3. 27-Emerson Axsom[2]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[5]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[10]; 6. 2-David Gravel[3]; 7. 83SR-James McFadden[9]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz[7]; 9. 17B-Bill Balog[13]; 10. 23-Garet Williamson[6]; 11. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[8]; 12. 45-Landon Brooks[11]; 13. 24D-Danny Sams III[15]; 14. 17GP-Cale Thomas[24]; 15. 55-Kerry Madsen[21]; 16. 73-Scotty Thiel[22]; 17. 6-Kelby Watt[17]; 18. 7S-Landon Crawley[14]; 19. 70-Kraig Kinser[20]; 20. 14-Sean Rayhall[18]; 21. 2W-Scott Neitzel[19]; 22. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[16]; 23. 29-Logan McCandless[12]; 24. 24T-Christopher Thram[23]

July 10, 2024

Harrison Burton and the No. 21 DEX Imaging team are headed to Pocono Raceway hoping to build on their strong run a year ago on the 2.5-mile track known as the Tricky Triangle.

“I’ve had Pocono circled on the schedule after looking back at Harrison’s results from 2023,” said crew chief Jeremy Bullins. “He brought the 21 car home eighth last year at this race, and I’m hoping for more of the same this year.”

Pocono is a special place for Bullins as he got the first of his nine Cup wins as a crew chief at Pocono in 2017 with Ryan Blaney driving the No. 21 Ford.

Bullins pointed out that the No. 21 DEX Imaging team has had some promising runs in recent weeks, and he hopes that continues this weekend.

“We’ve had a couple of opportunities lately to bring home some good finishes, and hopefully this week we can do just that with our DEX Mustang,” he said.

Practice for The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VisitPa.com is set for Noon on Saturday (Eastern Time) to be followed by qualifying at 12:45 p.m.

Sunday’s 160-lap, 400-mile race is expected to get the green flag just after 2:30 p.m., with Stage breaks at Laps 30 and 95.

USA Network will carry the TV coverage all weekend.

“The Reaper” finished the Heartland Grand Tour with a Feature win and eight top-10 finishes in 10 races

BEDFORD, PA (July 10, 2024) – Ryan Gustin has gone to “infinity and beyond” since joining Cooney Motorsports for the 2024 season, currently riding a prosperous wave of momentum into one of his favorite weekends. 

Through the first half of the 2024 World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models season, the Marshalltown, IA driver has picked up two Feature wins – one at Mississippi Thunder Speedway and another at Deer Creek Speedway. He’s also finished inside the top-10 in 11 of the last 15 Series events. 

He’ll try to expand upon that during the Series’ second Pennsylvania-Ohio weekend of the season with stops at Bedford Speedway for the Billy Winn Classic on Thursday, July 11, and Sharon Speedway on Friday-Saturday, July 12-13. 

Bedford will be a new track for “The Reaper,” but Sharon has become one of his best tracks over the past two years. After a wheel-to-wheel duel with Kyle Larson resulted in a runner-up finish in 2021, Gustin has won a Series race at Sharon the past two years. 

“Sharon Speedway is one of my favorite tracks in the country,” Gustin said. “Anytime we go to Sharon, I got a lot of friends that make it feel like home. The promoter and the family out there welcome us with open arms. It makes you feel really good. On top of that, they have one of the best racetracks in the country, in my opinion. It’s always smooth, slick, you can race from top to bottom. Anytime I’ve been there, it’s never been one-lane. It’s one of the better tracks we go to, and I’ve only finished outside of the top three once since I’ve raced there. It’ll be fun to go back.” 

This year, however, he’ll have a new chassis that’s yet to run at the track. 

Gustin has driven three different dirt Late Model chassis since November 2023, most recently switching to the Wells Motorsports’ Infinity Chassis in April – the most successful of the three, so far. Since working with Eric Wells and Brandon Overton, who also runs an Infinity Chassis, Gustin has scored five wins with the new frame. 

“It’s been great to work with Eric Wells, Brandon Overton and all their guys,” Gustin said. “It’s been an open notebook between Brandon and I, we’re kind of opposites on a lot of things. What works for me doesn’t work for him. But I feel like we learn from each other about the car. With Eric, anything we want changed, he can do it the way he wants. So, it’s been working out well for us.” 

After a mixed bag of results in the first quarter of the season, he flexed the power of the Infinity Chassis during the Heartland Grand Tour by finishing inside the top five in half of the Tour’s races, including a 0.009 second win over Nick Hoffman at Deer Creek Speedway. 

“I feel like we’ve had a really fast car the last two months, we just haven’t had the results to show it,” Gustin said. “We’ve been battling some gremlins here and there, just stuff out of our control happening, but we’ve been in the hunt. The confidence is very high right now and I feel like we’ll be a force to be reckoned with to come.” 

Watch Gustin chase his third win of the season behind the wheel of his No.19R Late Model at Bedford Speedway on Thursday, July 11 before traveling to Sharon Speedway in Ohio on Friday-Saturday, July 12-13. For more information on the events and tickets, CLICK HERE. 

In addition to the on-track action, Sharon Speedway will feature several off-track activities for fans on Saturday, including a cornhole tournament at noon (ET), water games in the campground on 2 p.m. and an autograph session at 4:30 p.m. 

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE Pocono Raceway Long Pond, PennsylvaniaJuly 12-14, 2024

Returning from an idle weekend, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) will rejoin the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) at Pocono Raceway for the sport’s 10th tripleheader weekend of the 2024 season. One of the most unique venues on the NASCAR circuit, the 2.5-mile, three-turn track lying within the Pocono Mountains has over 50 years of experience hosting NASCAR’s premier series, with Sunday’s The Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VisitPA.commarking the series’ 91st appearance at the track. The NCTS will kick-off the “Tricky Triangle” tripleheader on Friday, July 12, with the CRC Brakleen 175, followed by the NXS in the Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 on Saturday, July 13.

Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono Raceway: In the NASCAR Cup Series’ 90-race history at Pocono Raceway, Chevrolet leads the series with 34 all-time victories – a double-digit advantage over the next leading manufacturer, Ford, with 24 victories. In over 50 years of competition at Pocono Raceway, 40 different drivers have earned a victory at the “Tricky Triangle” in NASCAR’s top division, with Benny Parsons becoming the first driver to win under the Chevrolet banner at the track in July 1977. With six career NCS victories to his name, NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon continues to share the top position of Pocono’s all-time wins list with Toyota’s Denny Hamlin. Among the drivers entered in Sunday’s event are 10 past Pocono winners, including Chevrolet’s two most recent winners at the track with Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott (2022) and Alex Bowman (2021). Team Chevy’s Kyle Busch has also found success at the 2.5-mile Pennsylvania venue – sitting second among the series’ active drivers with four victories at the track (2021, 2019, 2018, 2017).

BOWTIE BACK TO DEFEND IN THE TRUCK, XFINITY SERIESChevrolet will make its return to Pocono Raceway as the track’s defending winners in both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series. One year ago, Team Chevy’s Kyle Busch took Kyle Busch Motorsports on a monumental trip to victory lane at Pocono Raceway – collecting the organization’s 100th, and ultimately final, triumph in the NCTS. In the same afternoon, Busch’s Richard Childress Racing teammate, Austin Hill, also tallied a win in the NXS to give the Bowtie brand a sweep of the victories across the two series.

On top of being the most recent winning manufacturer in the NCTS and NXS at Pocono Raceway, Chevrolet also scored the inaugural race win at the “Tricky Triangle” in both series with victories courtesy of Elliott Sadler in the NCTS (July 2010) and Kyle Larson in the NXS (June 2016). Heading into the weekend, Chevrolet stands at six all-time NCTS wins and three all-time NXS wins at the 2.5-mile Pennsylvania venue. If Chevrolet successfully defends its race-winning title in both series this weekend, the Bowtie brand would tie the manufacturer-leading wins record at Pocono Raceway in each division.

HENDRICK TOPS “TRICKY TRIANGLE”Among the 26 different organizations that have won in NASCAR’s top division at Pocono Raceway, Hendrick Motorsports leads the way with 19 wins – all recorded in partnership with Chevrolet. There have been nine different drivers that have contributed to the organization’s series-leading feat at the “Tricky Triangle”, with Jeff Gordon sitting at a series-best six victories. Hendrick Motorsports’ two most recent trips to victory lane at the track have come with a pair of its current active drivers including Chase Elliott, who picked up the victory in the debut season of the Next Gen Camaro ZL1 (2022). Alex Bowman also contributed to the organization’s winning record with a victory during the 2021 season.

PACING IN THE PLAYOFF PICTUREIn just the series’ second-ever street course event, Alex Bowman and the No. 48 Camaro ZL1 team snapped an 80 race winless streak by taking the checkered flag at the Chicago Street Course. Of the now 12 different winners in the NASCAR Cup Series this season, Bowman is the fifth Team Chevy driver to earn a victory, with the 31-year-old Arizona native giving the Bowtie brand the most playoff berths, to-date, among its manufacturer competitors.  With Bowman’s victory, all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers have now clinched a position in the series’ 16-driver playoff field to compete for the championship title. This also marks the sixth season that all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers have won races in the same year, with the organization also accomplishing the feat in 2003, 2006, 2007, 2012 and 2021.

SVG SCORES SERIES-LEADING TRIUMPHReturning to the hallowed grounds of his history-making NASCAR Cup Series win, Shane van Gisbergen’s first career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at the Chicago Street Course ended in similar fashion – by taking his No. 97 Kaulig Racing Camaro SS to victory lane. The victory came after yet another stout performance by the 35-year-old New Zealander, with van Gisbergen earning the pole and a stage win en route to the victory. Despite competing in his rookie campaign, the victory marks van Gisbergen’s third victory this season – making him the series’ winningest driver heading into the Pocono race weekend.

“TRICKY TRIANGLE” MARKS THREE-TO-GO FOR THE NCTSThe NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ most recent event at Nashville Superspeedway saw McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Christian Eckes post a perfect performance in his No. 19 Silverado RST – leading every lap of the event en route to his third victory of the 2024 season. The dominant execution by the 23-year-old New York native marked the first time in 12 years that a driver led every lap of a single event in the series. Adding yet another victory to his resume, Eckes continues to build his points lead with the Team Chevy driver sitting at a 40-point advantage over second-place Corey Heim with three races remaining in the series’ regular season.  Among the four drivers that have already solidified a playoff berth by virtue of a win, three come from the Chevrolet camp, including McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Christian Eckes (three wins), Rev Racing’s Nick Sanchez (two wins) and Spire Motorsports’ Rajah Caruth (one win). Of the six positions that remain up for grabs in the series’ 10-driver playoff field, Team Chevy’s Tyler Ankrum and Grant Efinger will enter the Pocono race weekend above the cutline, with Ankrum in the sixth position (+47) and Enfinger in the ninth position (+33).

BOWTIE BULLETS:·       Chevrolet will pace the field in the tripleheader race weekend at Pocono Raceway. The Silverado RST will lead the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in Friday’s CRC Brakleen 175; the Camaro SS will lead the NASCAR Xfinity Series in Saturday’s Explore The Pocono Mountains 225; and the Camaro ZL1 will lead the NASCAR Cup Series in Sunday’s The Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VisitPA.com.   ·       With 52 races complete across NASCAR’s three national series this season, Chevrolet has a winning percentage of 55.8% with 29 victories (NASCAR Cup Series – nine wins; NASCAR Xfinity Series – 11 wins; NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – nine wins). ·       NASCAR Cup Series victories by active Chevrolet drivers at Pocono Raceway:  Kyle Busch – four wins (2021, 2019, 2018, 2017)Chase Elliott – one win (2022)Alex Bowman – one win (2021)  ·       In 90 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Pocono Raceway, Chevrolet has recorded 34 victories and 35 poles – both of which are series-leading records.   ·       In nine tripleheader weekends this season, Chevrolet is the only manufacturer to earn a weekend sweep – accomplishing the feat three times (Daytona International Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway).  ·       In 92 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 46 victories – a winning percentage of 50%.  ·       With his victory at Sonoma Raceway, Kyle Larson is the second driver to hit a double-digit win record in the NASCAR Cup Series’ Next Gen era with 10 triumphs. Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, William Byron, leads the series’ all-time win record in the Next Gen era with 11 victories.  ·       With its 42 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 860 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 the Pocono Raceway.   ·       Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles including: Blazer EV, Silverado EV, Silverado ZR2, Corvette Z06, Equinox RS, Trax 2RS, Traverse Z71, Colorado Trail Boss. ·       Fans can also view William Byron’s No. 24 Camaro ZL1 show car.  Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display: Friday, July 12·       Ty Dillon: 4 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Saturday, July 13·       Josh Williams: 12 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. ·       Anthony Alfredo: 12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. ·       Jeb Burton & Parker Retzlaff: 1 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.  Sunday, July 14·       Zane Smith: 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. ·       Daniel Suarez & Ross Chastain: 10:45 a.m. – 11 a.m. ·       Alex Bowman: 11:05 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. ·       Kyle Busch & Austin Dillon: 11:20 a.m. – 11:35 a.m.  Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation: ·       Friday, July 12: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. ·       Saturday, July 13: 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.  ·       Sunday, July 14: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Manufacturer Points Standings Chevrolet: 725Toyota: 716 (-9)Ford: 696 (-29)

Manufacturer Points Standings Chevrolet: 677Toyota: 641 (-36)Ford: 564 (-113)

Manufacturer Points Standings Chevrolet: 498Toyota: 459 (-39)Ford: 414 (-84)

TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup SeriesThe Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VisitPA.comSunday, July 14, at 2:30 p.m. ET(USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90) NASCAR Xfinity Series Explore The Pocono Mountains 225 Saturday, July 13, at 3 p.m. ET(USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90) NASCAR Craftsman Truck SeriesCRC Brakleen 175Friday, July 12, at 5:30 p.m. ET(FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

QUOTABLE QUOTES:Ross Chastain, No. 1 Busch Light Peach Camaro ZL1What is difficult about racing at Pocono?“Pocono is a challenging track because all three turns are different and you have to figure out which turn you’re going to sacrifice some handling in to make up for it at another turn. We’ve had some good runs there the last couple of races and I’m confident we’ll have good Busch Light Peach Chevy this weekend and get a solid result.” Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Parity in Paris Camaro ZL1What are your thoughts heading to Pocono in the final push before the break?“Pocono is one of the most unique tracks in the world and a great weekend on the schedule. We’ve had some good runs there in past years, but our results haven’t matched our speed the last few trips. We will change that this weekend. The next two weeks are very similar in character, so we’ll also use this weekend as an opportunity to tune in our Brickyard package.” Kyle Busch, No. 8 Zone Camaro ZL1Which end of the racetrack in Pocono is most critical for a good lap?“Pocono has three very distinct corners and you need to be fast in each one in order to have a fast race car and to have a good day. I would say the biggest compromise between turns is between Turn 1 and Turn 3.” Last year at Pocono the track had a huge crowd. Do you think that’s because the facility has just one race a year?“I was pleasantly surprised to see such a good crowd at Pocono last year. I do believe it has to do with us only going there once a year. When we go to some of these tracks twice a year, fans will decide which one they want to go to Instead of just knowing that they only have one chance to go so they better get their tickets as soon as they can.” There’s a lot of shifting at Pocono. Would you be in favor of NASCAR making a rules change to limit that or is that something that you enjoy?“I think at Pocono, since the track is so big and with the three corners being as different as they are, it needs shifting. I think shifting at Pocono is an okay thing. What I don’t agree with is when we have to shift when we go to a short track.” Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Poppy Bank Camaro ZL1“Pocono can be rewarding with good fuel strategies and good straightaway speed. The key is getting off turn three and ride quality over the bumps in track. I feel like we are better on this aero-package than the short-track package, so hopefully we can keep the momentum going that we’ve had the last couple weeks.” Zane Smith, No. 71 Focused Health Camaro ZL1Back-to-back solid weekends for you and your team. Can you say that the momentum is building.“I think the momentum is building. We have been competing up front the last two weeks, even leading a few laps last weekend in Chicago. It’s crazy how much cleaner the air is up front. My No. 71 Spire Motorsports team has been working hard every day in the shop and at the track, so it feels good to be able to show what we are capable of. Chicago was a super cool event but I’m looking forward to this weekend. I’ve never raced the cup car at Pocono but have had some success in the truck series there. It definitely fits its nickname, it’s a tricky track.” Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Delaware Life Camaro ZL1You’ve performed well at Pocono in Truck Series competition, but it’s your first time at the track in a Cup car. How confident are you feeling heading into this weekend’s race given your previous experience at Pocono?“Pocono is a very difficult racetrack. I’ve put in a lot of extra time with the team and will be getting in last minute simulator time right up until I fly out. It’s nice because we have similar set ups for Indianapolis, so the goal the next two weeks is to run really well. We can go into Pocono this weekend with a mindset to do well, but to also learn a lot for the following week.” In the five races leading up to Chicago, you averaged a 14th-place finishing position. Racing is a momentum sport, and with the Olympic break coming up in a couple weeks, how do you look to ride that wave of momentum into the break?“We’ve also had the opportunity to finish in the top-10 in the last two weeks. From getting caught behind someone running out of gas, to getting caught in the middle of an incident with nowhere to go, the results do not show how fast these cars are right now. My team is doing everything right, and I am excited for luck to finally go our way, show how well we’re running and how fast these cars are.” Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Worldwide Express Camaro ZL1What are your thoughts with six races left in the regular season?“We are improving each week. We were very fast at Chicago. We got blocked there when Bubba (Wallace) and (Alex) Bowman got together and took us out of the top 10. My team rebounded really well. We made a great call to switch to dry tires and passed a lot of cars. We are learning a lot each week. We will be ready for the playoffs.” What do you think of Pocono Raceway?“It was cool to get the pole there in 2018 and then we finished second in the race that weekend. At Pocono, it always helps to have a good starting spot. Pocono is a track where you can’t make mistakes on the track, and you can’t have mistakes on pit road. Everyone has to do their part to execute perfectly.” What do you feel is most important to be successful at Pocono?“Track position is extremely important every weekend, but it’s especially important at Pocono. If you make a mistake, it takes so much longer and is so much harder to recover from. It’s a tough place for sure.” Connor Mosack, No. 7 Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Silverado RSTAll three corners at Pocono are modeled differently and require a different approach. How much do you rely on your road racing background to tackle the track?“Pocono has similarities to a road course in the sense that all three corners are very different. How you look at the optimal way to go through each corner is similar to how you would look at values on a road course. But the track definitely races more like a normal oval when you look at momentum and dirty air.” You were having a great day in the Xfinity Series race last year before a mechanical problem knocked you out. Are you eager to get back to Pocono and build on your success?“The Xfinity race was going well for us last year before the rotor issue. I certainly learned a lot about how to keep my momentum going in traffic and completing passes. The speed was definitely there, so I’m excited to go back in a fast truck with Spire this year and build on that momentum.” Bayley Currey, No. 41 DQS Silverado RSTYou made your first start for the team here five years ago. What do you remember about that experience compared to how it is today?“It’s been really cool seeing this whole group grow together, honestly. I remember where the team was before my first start for them in 2019, starting in the shop where they were at with only two trucks. Now, we’re in a way bigger shop and have three full-time trucks. There’s a lot of stuff that we do in-house where it wasn’t like that when I first got here. It’s been great to see all the progression that Al (Niece) and Cody (Efaw) have made over those five years, and I’m excited to go back to Pocono this week with that group.” Matt Mills, No. 42 J.F. Electric / Utilitra Silverado RSTThis is one of the shortest races all year in terms of laps, so does that raise your intensity level?“Yeah, I’ve never really been able to run a truck here before, but it’s all going to be about track position. The straightaways are so long and the trucks punch such a big hole in the air, so that’s going to be tough to learn and figure out how to time your runs and keep momentum. It’s another good track for us at Niece Motorsports, so I’m going to go there with a good mindset to learn as much as I can from my guys.” Ross Chastain, No. 45 Mar-Del Watermelon Association Silverado RSTWith there being only two starts left in the Truck Series for you, how bad do you want to go back to victory lane before your season ends?“Everyone on the crew wants to make it back to victory lane, but I think for us on the No. 45 team, the most important thing we need to do is execute in both of these races to get as many points as we can. We all love winning, but for me, what would feel just as good would be to keep Al (Niece) in the fight for the owner’s championship. I’m not able to run any truck races during the Playoffs, so my goal is to help with some good runs before I pass the baton off to Kaden (Honeycutt) and Connor (Mosack) as they finish out the year.” Rajah Caruth, No. 71 HendrickCars.com Silverado RSTPocono is a much different racetrack than anything else on the schedule. What technique and experience at other tracks can you utilize to prepare?“Pocono is a very unique racetrack in its own right. Turn One is a traditional corner at a majority of the racetracks we go to. Turn Two isn’t really applicable to anything we go to in terms of its character and its angle. Turn Three is super similar to Milwaukee, where I’ve run at a few times between ARCA and the truck race last year. You just have to do your due diligence in preparation before getting to the race track.” Last time out, you earned a much-needed top-five at Nashville. How do you look to build on that with three races remaining before the playoffs?“I’m trying to get my mind right and get into it mentally with the playoffs right around the corner. I’m really excited for the last few months of the season and to have a chance to compete for the big trophy come November. With that said, I prepare one race at a time. For right now, all focus is on Pocono. The momentum is there, and I hope we can parlay the successes from Nashville into this weekend and end of the regular season as a whole. Fourth in the regular season standings is still within reach and I think we have the speed to make it happen.” Chase Purdy, No. 77 Bama Buggies Silverado RSTHow are you feeling heading to Pocono, a track in which you have ran well in the past.“I feel confident for this weekend! This place is always one of my favorites to go to. I’m looking forward to this one and I think we have the opportunity for a great run.”

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: 9Poles: 7Laps Led: 1,627Top-five finishes: 36Top-10 finishes: 76Stage wins: 12·       Chase Elliott: 1 ·       Kyle Larson: 8·       Ross Chastain: 1·       William Byron: 1·       Shane van Gisbergen: 1 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 860 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 750Laps led to date: 250,802Top-five finishes to date: 4,334Top-10 finishes to date: 8,936                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,194           Chevrolet: 860           Pontiac: 154           Oldsmobile: 115           Buick: 65            Ford: 832                                                                      Ford: 732           Mercury: 96           Lincoln: 4            Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467           Dodge: 217           Plymouth: 191           Chrysler: 59            Toyota: 187

BUTLER, MI (July 10, 2024) – For the fifth and final full week of competition in the 39th edition of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals, the Hell Tour championship battle will turn north to Michigan and Ohio.

Following the rain-related cancelations of the first two races – July 9 at Shadyhill Speedway and July 10 at Hartford Speedway – Butler Motor Speedway in Butler, MI, will be the site of the week’s first race for both the Late Models and DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals. From there, both tours travel to Crystal Motor Speedway on Friday and Oakshade Raceway on Saturday before wrapping up Sunday at Wayne County (OH) Speedway.

Tyler Erb is the current overall Summer Nationals points leader, holding a 19-point gap over second place Dillon McCowan. Both drivers are projected to compete during Week 5 against the Michigan and Ohio locals, where the overall points championship could be decided in the week’s final race at Wayne County.

If an overall Late Model champion has not been decided at the conclusion of Sunday’s main event, the battle will shift to the final race on the 2024 calendar – Thursday, July 18 at Sycamore Speedway.

Tickets for all five events on the Week 5 schedule will be on sale at the gate on race day. If you can’t be at the track to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

Here are the drivers to watch and storylines to follow this week:

UNCLE T RETURNS – Tyler Erb is committed to finish what he started on the Hell Tour in 2024 and will compete for both the Week 5 and the overall Summer Nationals championship.

Erb, 27, of New Waverly, TX, has won eight of the 15 Features he’s started on tour this summer, the most recent of which came Sunday night when he led all 30 laps of the main event at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, IN – the site of his first-ever Hell Tour win in 2017.

He and the Ohio-based Best Performance Motorsports team will compete twice in their home state this week with a potential $20,000 in points fund money on the line – $10,000 should they win the Week 5 points championship and an additional $10,000 if Erb can earn enough points to clinch the overall Summer Nationals championship.

TRAVELING MAN – Dillon McCowan is projected to contest every race of Week 5. Should he start all four Feature events and appear in the main event at the rescheduled race at Sycamore Speedway on July 18, he’ll bag the honor of being the only driver to start every Late Model Feature on the 2024 Hell Tour.

McCowan, 20, of Urbana, MO, has yet to reach Victory Lane but will have Week 5 and potentially the Sycamore makeup event to try and secure his first career Summer Nationals Feature win. This past week, he finished no worse than fifth in each of the five Summer Nationals Features contested during Week 4 and finished second in the weekly points standings to Tanner English.

Starting Thursday, McCowan will get his first true test of Super Late Model racing in Michigan and Ohio, going against the locals in an effort to get a win before his first venture on the Hell Tour is done.

SOUTH INVADES NORTH – Ashton Winger makes his home in Hampton, GA, but has made Michigan and Ohio a second home for winning on the DIRTcar Summer Nationals since his first full-time season on tour in 2021.

The 24-year-old reigning Summer Nationals champion has the Week 5 schedule in his sights and will go for his second win of the season after taking the checkers in his first appearance on tour at Springfield Raceway two weeks ago. Fortunately, Winger has a strong track record in both Michigan and Ohio.

Winger has three Summer Nationals wins in Michigan at Thunderbird Speedway, Tri-City Motor Speedway and Merritt Speedway – all in 2021 – and two in Ohio, both of which came at Oakshade in 2021 and 2023. A two-time champion of Oakshade’s prestigious Birthday Race, Winger is a perfect two-for-two at the Ohio oval and will be among the frontrunners to win against a large field of local Late Models on Saturday.

LOCAL LATE MODELS – The DIRTcar Late Model East Region is filled with weekly Super Late Model competitors of Michigan and Ohio that will take on DIRTcar’s national and regional stars on their home turf this week.

East Region points leader Travis Stemler will lead the charge for the locals. The 33-year-old from Ionia, MI, has three wins in DIRTcar-sanctioned competition this year. Piloting the Anklam Racing No. 4, Stemler has led laps in Summer Nationals Features in years past and has multiple top-five finishes – the most recent of which was a third-place run at Merritt Speedway in the 2021 season finale.

At Crystal, Hubbardson, MI-driver Garrett Wiles tops the weekly points standings with one Feature win while Six Lakes, MI-native Ryan Vanderveen tops the win column with three in six starts this season. Oakshade is ruled by points leader Carter Murday but headlined by three other drivers all with two Feature wins at the 3/8-mile – Colin Shipley, Steve Kester and Devin Shiels.

One year ago, Kyle Moore outdueled Hell Tour champion Ashton Winger to win his first career Summer Nationals Feature at Wayne County. He hasn’t slowed down any in local competition at the 3/8-mile oval in 2024, topping the points standings with and winning seven of the eight Late Model races held there so far this season.

NORTHERN MODS – The Michigan-Ohio region has its own UMP Modified contenders as well, several of which will try for their first career Summit Modified tour win this week.

Current UMP Modified Ohio-Indiana Region points leader Todd Sherman, of Churubusco, IN, also tops the weekly standings at Butler Motor Speedway with one win and five top-fives in seven races. The 59-year-old racer has won DIRTcar regional points championships in the past but has yet to reach Victory Lane on the Hell Tour.

At Wayne County, Ashland, OH-native Ryan Markham tops the weekly points standings with one win and five top-fives in eight starts. No driver other than Nate Young – last year’s Summit Modified winner at Wayne County – has won more than once at the track this year, providing ample competition for the Summit Modified invaders to race against.

CONCORD, NC (July 10, 2024) –
Kyler Johnson’s Sprint Car career began for the same reason as many other drivers: he wanted to be just like dad.

That goal evolved into to a full-time career with the American Sprint Car Series National Tour for the Quinter, KS native.

“My dad [Cody] ran Sprint Cars for years, that’s all I ever knew growing up,” Johnson said. “He ran 360s and 410s around the Midwest, and that’s basically all I’ve ever been around. So, whenever I was old enough to get into a Sprint Car, we took the chance at it.”

After a few seasons of competition in the karting world, Johnson made the move into a 305 Sprint Car in 2019 at age 15. While the entry-level division served as a good starting point for Johnson’s career, he wasted no time in taking the next step.

“You’re not going to go anywhere in a 305 Sprint Car,” Johnson said. “That’s just basically all we had around us was 305s, so it was just easiest to run those. And then once we got fed up with all the 305 stuff, we decided to move up to a 360.”

While most drivers opt to initially run a localized schedule to get their feet wet at the higher level, a lack of options close to home meant that option didn’t make sense for the team. Johnson’s alternative? Dive head-first into the National Tour.

“In 2022, there wasn’t any 360 racing around us at all,” Johnson said. “Our nearest track was 81 Speedway, which is still three hours from us, and they only had one show a year. So, we basically figured ‘Well, if we’re going to run 360s, we might as well tough it out and run the whole National deal.’

“We definitely learned a lot that first year, never even driving a 360 until that first show at Devil’s Bowl [Speedway].”

That first appearance resulted in a Last Chance Showdown exit on night one and a 20th-place Feature finish in the finale, but things began trending upward soon after.

Johnson’s rookie season with the Series ended with a ninth-place points finish and his first-career top five at Clay County Fair Speedway in September. Season two brought steady improvements for the No. 45X, as Johnson ended 2023 sixth in the standings after collecting his first National Tour podium at 81 Speedway along the way.

Entering 2024, the primary storyline surrounding ASCS was World Racing Group’s purchase of the Series in March. Midway through the inaugural year under the new ownership, Johnson spoke highly of the improvements he has seen as a competitor.

“I think the change was definitely much needed,” Johnson said. “This just gives a much better platform, definitely a lot more security as far as money and all that goes.”

The Series wasn’t the only one making changes over the winter, as Johnson elected to switch engine providers in hopes of finding more reliability in 2024. However, the move hasn’t gone to plan, as Johnson has still experienced engine issues on multiple occasions across the first 10 events of the season.

“We’ve already kind of steered away from that engine builder too, we’re looking to go to one of the big three engine builders, either Don Ott, Ryder or Fisher,” Johnson said. “We’re not sure what we’re going to do yet, we’re just trying to limp through this year. We’ve had a lot of engine problems already this year.”

On nights where the engine has held together, Johnson has been competitive all year long. He began the season with back-to-back top 10s at Super Bee Speedway and Red Dirt Raceway and picked up two more during Speedweek at Creek County Speedway and Tri-State Speedway. Johnson said finding more pace at the beginning of the night will be key to ending it toward the front on a regular basis.

“Each time we hit the track, we have to make the best of it,” Johnson said. “This is one of the stoutest groups we’ve had in the past three years. It’s hard night in night out, you’ve got to be on kill every second.

“If we could just qualify a little bit better, I feel like we would be much better off. Each night it seems like we go in and we don’t qualify very good, so that puts us behind the eight-ball right off the bat. We’re coming from the back of a Heat Race, fifth or sixth, and that puts us starting at least 15th in the Feature, and you’ve got a lot of work to do at that point.”

Next up on the National Tour calendar is a trip to Johnson’s home state, with a Kansas doubleheader on tap starting Friday, July 19, at Lakeside Speedway and wrapping up Saturday, July 20, at 81 Speedway. Johnson is still searching for his first Series win, and his past performances at both facilities put them on the shortlist of tracks where he could make his first appearance in Victory Lane.

“Lakeside, we seem like we’ve had really good speed there,” Johnson said. “I know our results don’t really show it because we’ve blown up two engines there, but we always seem to qualify good, we have really good speed there, so hopefully we can keep that speed up and keep our engine together.

“And then 81, that’s my favorite track. I’d consider that my home track even though we have tracks closer. My Dad has a lot of history there, he won a lot of races there, that was his home base whenever he was running 360 stuff. That was where my first 305 win was, my first podium with ASCS, we’ve had really good luck there every time. It’s a track that we’re pretty familiar with, and we seem to always run good.”

Fans planning to attend the 81 Speedway event can purchase tickets online in advance, while tickets for both races will be available at the track on race day. Can’t make it to the track? Watch every ASCS National Tour event live on DIRTVision.

BATAVIA, Ohio (July 9, 2024) – Ricky Thornton Jr. leads the charge for the Brandon Ford TV Challenge to Lucas Oil Speedway, July 13, for the 18th Annual CMH Diamond Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment. Thornton holds a 100-point advantage over Jonathan Davenport in the current Brandon Ford TV Challenge standings. Devin Moran is third, followed by Daulton Wilson and Garrett Alberson. The Brandon Ford TV Challenge is a mini-series within the 2024 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series schedule that will award points to drivers at the thirteen (13) tape-delayed events airing on MAVTV. The driver that earns the most Brandon Ford TV Challenge points and maintains perfect attendance on the tour will receive a $15,000 cash award at the year-end awards banquet. Second place will earn $5,000 and third place will receive $2,000. For the latest news, results, championship standings and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, please visit www.lucasdirt.com. To learn more about MAVTV visit https://www.mavtv.com. 2024 Brandon Ford TV Race Challenge Schedule:Date – Track – City, State – To Win – WinnerSat. Jan. 27 – Golden Isles Speedway – Waynesville, GA – $25,000 – Ricky Thornton Jr.Sat. Feb 10 – East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, FL – $15,000 – Daulton WilsonThur. May 23 – Lucas Oil Speedway- Wheatland, MO – $10,000 – Ricky Thornton Jr.Fri. May 24 – Lucas Oil Speedway- Wheatland, MO – $10,000 – Ricky Thornton Jr.Sat. May 25 – Lucas Oil Speedway – Wheatland, MO – $50,000 – Jonathan DavenportSat. Jun. 22 – Lernerville Speedway – Sarver, PA – $50,000 – Ricky Thornton Jr.Sat. Jul. 13 – Lucas Oil Speedway – Wheatland, MO – $20,000Sat. Jul. 20 – Huset’s Speedway – Brandon, SD – $53,000Sat. Aug. 10 – Florence Speedway – Union, KY – $75,000Sat. Aug. 24 – Port Royal Speedway – Port Royal, PA – $50,000Sat. Sep. 21 – Knoxville Raceway – Knoxville, IA – $50,000Sat. Oct 12 – East Bay Raceway Park- Tampa, FL- $50,000Sat. Oct. 21 – Eldora Speedway – Rossburg, OH – $100,000

Family Encouraged, but Tough Road Ahead for 16-Time NHRA Funny Car Champ

RICHMOND, Va. (July 9, 2024) – After spending 15 days in varying levels of intensive care at VCU Medical Center, drag racing champion John Force was released Tuesday in time to board an AirMed ambulance for a three-hour flight to a neurological rehab center at which treatment for the Traumatic Brain Injury he suffered in a June 23 crash will continue. The 16-time NHRA Funny Car Champion’s departure from the facility to which he was airlifted after crashing at more than 300 miles per hour was considered by family members to be a major step forward in the recovery process. However, medical staff cautioned that the road ahead still is a difficult one.  Force is dealing with cognitive and behavioral symptoms from the TBI and, while he has been able to converse with family and staff, enjoy the company of grandsons Jacob and Noah Hood and celebrate a Monday birthday with daughter Brittany, he still is prone to periods of confusion. Family members said that no timetable had been established for the length of Force’s stay at the new facility which was selected because of its success in treating other race car drivers with similar issues

Chevrolet Grand Prix offers up strong chance for Z06 GT3.R’s first IMSA win DETROIT (July 9, 2024) – The Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports and AWA teams are both back on familiar ground this weekend and will give the Corvette Z06 GT3.R its racing debut north of the border this weekend: the Chevrolet Grand Prix and the only Canadian stop for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Historic and challenging Canadian Tire Motorsport Park – the 2.459-mile, 10-turn road course circuit outside Toronto – has been a playground for Corvettes over the years. The program has recorded 12 class victories at the track formerly known as Mosport, including last year for returning Corvette star Antonio Garcia in a Corvette C8.R.

This year’s Chevrolet Grand Prix will feature three of the first-year Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs: No. 3 and No. 4 from factory-supported Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports in GTD PRO, and the No. 13 customer entry for AWA, which will contest its home race in a Corvette for the first time. The lineups are: · Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims in the No. 3 Corvette· Tommy Milner and Nicky Catsburg in the No. 4 Z06 GT3.R· Matt Bell and Ontario’s Orey Fidani in AWA’s No. 13 Corvette The Pratt Miller-crewed squad enters Canadian Tire Motorsport Park as defending GTD PRO winner with Garcia victorious a year ago in the No. 3 Corvette C8.R with Jordan Taylor. This time around, Garcia and Sims – also a past winner at the track – will arrive in Canada coming off a third-place finish at Watkins Glen for their first podium finish of the year.

CORVETTE RACING MEDIA INFO Corvette Racing media information is updated and available ahead of IMSA’s Chevrolet Grand Prix as well as the FIA WEC’s Six Hours of Sao Paulo. Materials include Corvette Racing event advance and quotes, Corvette Racing stats and figures, Corvette Z06 GT3.R racecar comparisons, Corvette Racing Fast Facts, factory driver biographies and Corvette Racing photography, among other items.

Milner and Catsburg hope to break through after nearly winning at The Glen. They were third in their Z06 GT3.R at Laguna Seca in May. Of note, this will be Catsburg’s first race at CTMP and Milner hasn’t raced there since 2018; he won there in 2013 in a Corvette C6.R. For AWA, there are two goals: one is a podium finish at its home track, which is realistic given a very positive recent test session at CTMP for Bell and Fidani. The second is to grow Fidani’s lead in the Bob Akin Award standings, with the highest points-scoring Bronze driver at the end of the year earning an automatic entry to the following year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. The AWA Corvette has finished in the GTD top-10 in three of the last four races going back to Sebring in March. Bell and Fidani were seventh in class at Watkins Glen to solidify the Akin Award lead. In addition to the extensive success and following at CTMP, Corvette Racing legend Ron Fellows is part-owner of the circuit and is largely responsible for operations at the facility. In his Corvette Racing driving career – spanning 1999-2008 – Fellows won 30 races (three times at CTMP) and three championships in the American Le Mans Series. He also was one of the founding members of the team and a key development driver starting in 1997. The Chevrolet Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is scheduled for 11:05 a.m. ET on Sunday, July 14. The race will air live on the USA Network plus stream live on Peacock inside the United States and IMSA.com outside the U.S. IMSA Radio will air all on-track sessions beginning with Friday afternoon’s opening practice at IMSA.com with the race call also on XM 206 and SiriusXM Online 996.

CORVETTE RACING BY PRATT MILLER MOTORSPORTS PRE-EVENT DRIVER QUOTESANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I’m hopeful for this weekend. We had the chance to test the Z06 GT3.R at CTMP just after Watkins Glen, and already the car is pretty amazing around there. I’m not surprised considering how well each of our past Corvettes have been at Mosport. Given the strengths of our car, we are confident but we still need to go there and execute the classic Corvette race with great strategy and good work by the crew and us as drivers. If we can do all those things, I think we can have a really good weekend and hopefully get the first IMSA win for the Z06 GT3.R.”

ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It’s always a pleasure to return to place where you’ve had success. It’s even better when it is a place like Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The track is very fast, very daunting and very old-school. It’s really one of the things I like about IMSA – the circuits and places where we race are phenomenal. The racing I had in the past in GTLM with the Corvettes around CTMP and Mosport were really hard, tough fights, and so was GTP last year. I suspect GTD PRO could be a level or two greater with the competition we have seen so far this year. It should make for a pretty spectacular weekend and hopefully a successful one for us. I’m looking forward to it.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “We’ve been close, we feel like, for many of the races this year. For one reason or not, we haven’t quite finished the job so we’re trying to make that happen this weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. It’s an awesome racetrack. I had to go back and look; I haven’t raced there since 2018 so it’s been quite awhile. I missed the 2019 race with a broken hand. It’s been a little bit for me to be at CTMP but I was just there recently for testing. It reminded me of how awesome the track is and how much fun it is to drive. Even in our GT cars, the rhythm there is like no other racetrack in the world. It’s super-fast and a lot of fun.”

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “Before the start of the season, there were a few tracks that I circled in my head because I have never experienced them. Canadian Tire Motorsport Park – or Mosport – was one of those. I’m really excited to race there after hearing so much from my teammates and friends about the track, how fast it is and how challenging it is. Knowing that the circuit hasn’t changed much in so many years makes me appreciate it even more. It’s a proper, historic and old-school track that hopefully is as good for our Corvette as I hope it will.”

AWA PRE-EVENT DRIVER QUOTESMATT BELL, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is on my list of top five circuits in the world. It’s only a short lap and looks like a tiny little place on a map. You see the grand circuits of the world like Le Mans and Spa, but you get to Mosport and it’s mega. The topography of the track, the commitment required, the bumps… it’s a recipe for an absolute addiction to racing. I’ve always found that one of my strengths is learning circuits and getting straight back on it when I get to a place where I haven’t been in awhile. But this is one of those places that just takes that little bit more respect and that little bit more time to get back in sync with the place. It takes a huge commitment, and I love the place.”This is a race every year that AWA targets. Standing on the podium would mean that much more with it being the home race for the team. There will be a lot of thought and lot of effort going into that one.”

OREY FIDANI, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is my home track. I honestly couldn’t tell you how many laps I’ve done here. I feel like I could probably drive it with my eyes closed. It’s high-speed, very technical, and requires all your concentration from start to finish. It’s a challenging layout, and no matter how many times I drive it, it never gets old. It’s so special to race in front of the home crowd, it just means so much to have that extra support. We want to do well at each event, but stepping on the podium here would be a dream come true for us all.”

2024 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship PointsGTD PRO Drivers Standings1. Laurin Heinrich/Seb Priaulx – 16322. Ben Barnicoat/Jack Hawksworth – 15833. Ross Gunn – 15724. Bryan Sellers/Madison Snow – 14235. Marvin Kirchhofer/Oliver Jarvis – 13946. Alexander Sims/Antonio Garcia – 13897. Nicky Catsburg/Tommy Milner – 1326 GTD PRO Teams Standings1. No. 77 AO Racing – 16322. No. 14 Vasser Sullivan – 15833. No. 23 Heart of Racing Team – 15724. No. 1 Paul Miller Racing – 14235. No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports – 13946. No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports – 13897. No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports – 1326 GTD PRO Manufacturers Standings1. Porsche – 16572. Lexus – 16073. Aston Martin – 15864. Chevrolet – 14745. McLaren – 1458 GTD Drivers Standings1. Philip Ellis/Russell Ward – 17452. Patrick Gallagher/Robby Foley – 14403. Parker Thompson – 13534. Albert Costa Balboa/Manny Franco – 12905. Mikael Grenier/Mike Skeen – 126313. Matthew Bell/Orey Fidani – 1083 GTD Teams Standings1. No. 57 Windward Racing – 17452. No. 96 Turner Motorsport – 14403. No. 34 Conquest Racing – 12904. No. 32 Korthoff/Preston Motorsport – 12635. No. 120 Wright Motorsports – 119810. No. 13 AWA – 1083 GTD Manufacturers Standings1. Mercedes-AMG – 18372. Lexus – 14933. Porsche – 14704. Lamborghini – 14545. Aston Martin – 13836. Chevrolet – 1296 CORVETTE RACING AT CTMP: By the Numbers• 4: Generations of Corvette Racing entries at CTMP since 2000 – Corvette C5-R (2004), Corvette C6.R (2005-13) and Corvette C7.R (2016-2019). The Corvette C8.R raced at the track for the first time in 2002• 7: Pole positions for Corvette Racing drivers at CTMP. Oliver Gavin leads with three with Antonio Garcia (2016) being the most recent• 8: Number of drivers who have won races at CTMP for Corvette Racing. Johnny O’Connell (six), Jan Magnussen (five), Oliver Gavin (four), Ron Fellows (three), and Antonio Garcia and Olivier Beretta (two) each have multiple wins there with the team• 12: Class victories at Corvette Racing at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park – all since 2001.• 14: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001• 27: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races – Baltimore, Charlotte Motor Speedway, COTA, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Daytona, Detroit, Houston, Laguna Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Miami, Mid-Ohio, Monza, Portimão, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Sonoma, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen• 48: Number of drivers in Corvette Racing entries since 1999 – DXDT Racing’s Alec Udell being the latest in GT World Challenge America at Circuit of The Americas• 71: Years since Corvette was introduced to the world on Jan. 17, 1953 in New York City. A total of 300 cars were produced that year• 129: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 115 in North America, nine at Le Mans, three in the FIA WEC and two in GT World Challenge America• 296: Event starts by Corvette Racing since 1999• 11,626.15: Number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing in its 20 previous trips to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. That represents 4,728 laps• 384,461.62: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing entries since 1999. To put that in perspective, Corvette Racing is more than halfway to the distance traveled by Apollo 13 – the longest manned spaceflight in history: 622,268 miles Corvette Racing at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (wins in bold)2000No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Andy Pilgrim – 2nd in GTS (Fellows pole, fastest race lap) 2001No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell – 1st in GTSNo. 4 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Kelly Collins – 3rd in GTS 2002No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell – 1st in GTSNo. 4 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Kelly Collins – 2nd in GTS (Pilgrim fastest race lap) 2003No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell – 1st in GTSNo. 4 Corvette C5-R: Oliver Gavin/Kelly Collins – 7th in GTS (Gavin pole) 2004No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell – 2nd in GTSNo. 4 Corvette C5-R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 1st in GTS (Gavin pole, fastest race lap) 2005No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell – 2nd in GT1No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 1st in GT1 2006No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell – 4th in GT1No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 2nd in GT1 2007No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell – 1st in GT1No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 2nd in GT1 (Gavin pole, fastest race lap)No. 33 Corvette C6.R: Ron Fellows/Andy Pilgrim – 3rd in GT1 2008No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Johnny O’Connell/Jan Magnussen – 1st in GT1 (O’Connell pole)No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 2nd in GT1 (Beretta fastest race lap) 2009No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell – 1st in GT2No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 3rd in GT2 2010No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Johnny O’Connell – 5th in GT2No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen – 4th in GT2 2011No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Tommy Milner – 6th in GTNo. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen – 1st in GT 2012No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 2nd in GT (Magnussen pole)No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 10th in GT 2013No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 4th in GTNo. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 1st in GT 2014No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 1st in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 7th in GTLM 2015No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 3rd in GTLM (Garcia fastest race lap)No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 5th in GTLM 2016No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 3rd in GTLM (Garcia pole)No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 2nd in GTLM 2017No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 4th in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 8th in GTLM 2018No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 2nd in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 3rd in GTLM 2019No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 7th in GTLMNo. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Marcel Fässler – 8th in GTLM 2022No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 2nd in GTD PRO 2023No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 1st in GTD PRO

CONCORD, NC (July 9, 2024) – The World of Outlaws World Finals championship weekend at The Dirt Track at Charlotte is bringing four nights of on-track action with three premier dirt racing series, endless fan activities and celebrations like no other.

Set for Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 6-9, the championship crowning event will again feature the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models and Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds. However, this time, the Late Models will utilize the popular “every lap matters” format.

All three series will qualify on Wednesday, setting up the Heat Race lineups for Thursday and Friday. For the Late Model’s “every lap matters” format, drivers will earn points for where they qualify, where they finish in their Heat Race, where they finish in the Last Chance Showdown (if they don’t make it to the Feature) and where they finish in the Feature – Thursday and Friday only.

That will determine which 16 Late Model drivers are locked into Saturday’s Feature (based on their best points finish between the two nights) and who will have to race their way in through Saturday’s Last Chance Showdowns. Two Dashes (one for positions first through eighth, and the second for positions ninth through 16th) will determine how the top 16 drivers start in Saturday’s Feature.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and Super DIRTcar Series will run their normal World Finals programs with points collected from Thursday and Friday setting up Saturday’s Heat Race lineups. All three series will crown their 2024 champion Saturday night with a confetti and fireworks filled celebration.

Along with the on-track action, fans will be treated to a plethora of activities and entertainment throughout the week.

Wednesday kicks off the fun with a Fan Fest party at noon in the midway. The Race Day Live show on the Sage Fruit Stage returns at noon all four days with driver interviews and music.

Friday will feature the one of the most unique visuals in all of motorsports with the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws Late Models and Big Block Modifieds on track together for the 3X4 parade lap.

The final two nights of the week will be enhanced by NOS Energy Drink with the addition of Freestyle Motocross shows throughout the program.

Opening ceremonies is schedule for 4:45 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday and then will start at 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. For the full World of Outlaws World Finals schedule, click here.

Last year’s World Finals saw milestone triumphs and a first-time champion. To follow the points battles for the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws Late Models and Super DIRTcar Series, click here, and follow the World of Outlaws World Finals’ Twitter (X) account.

Tickets are now on sale and available by clicking here. Make sure to purchase the four-day package by Aug. 31 to receive a free fan pit pass.

2024 Schedule Highlights
Wednesday, Nov. 6
• Fan Fest in midway (12 p.m.)

• Race Day Live on Sage Fruit Stage (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.)
• Qualifying for World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws Late Models, Super DIRTcar Series

Thursday, Nov. 7

• Race Day Live on Sage Fruit Stage (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.)
• Full race programs for World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws Late Models, Super DIRTcar Series

Friday, Nov. 8

• Race Day Live on Sage Fruit Stage (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.)
• 3X4 Parade Lap
• NOS Energy Drink Freestyle Motocross show during 3X4
• Full race programs for World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws Late Models, Super DIRTcar Series

Saturday, Nov. 9

• Race Day Live on Sage Fruit Stage (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.)
• National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Auction (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.)
• NOS Energy Drink Freestyle Motocross shows
• World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws Late Models, Super DIRTcar Series championship finales
• Championship Celebration

No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R takes Hyperpole momentum to Interlagos

DETROIT (July 9, 2024) – Capitalizing on speed displayed in qualifying and race pace is an objective for the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R this weekend in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) race in São Paulo, Brazil. The Cadillac Racing Hypercar has qualified second the past two races, with seventh place June 16 in the 24 Hours of Le Mans the best result. Additionally, Alex Lynn qualified seventh in Hyperpole in the season opener in Qatar. The team finished fourth, though the result was vacated because of a technical infraction.

The Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo – the fifth round of the WEC season – poses another opportunity for Lynn and Earl Bamber to score a podium spot after teaming with two-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou to lead 23 laps and finish in the top seven for the second consecutive year at Circuit de la Sarthe.

Point of viewYou’re riding along in the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R during the six-hour race. Watch live at 10:30 a.m. ET Sunday. Media resources* French version of preview* Cadillac WEC stats* Driver candid photos* Driver headshots* All-time Cadillac numbers* ‘No Perfect Formula’

It’s been 10 years since the WEC last competed at Autódromo José Carlos Pace, so the 2.677-mile (4.409 km), 15-turn circuit will be new to most of the drivers in the 37-car field. Car will also run counterclockwise on the hilly road course opened in 1940. “The WEC not having raced at Interlagos for a number of years it will be a clean sheet for almost everybody,” Lynn said. “We’re improving a lot, which we showed at Le Mans. The car has a lot of strong points, and we aim to utilize them on the Interlagos circuit.” Drivers and teams will attempt to quickly find their car’s balance on the variable terrain circuit that requires power combined with fast and slow corners that are traction dependent. A pair of 90-minute free practice sessions Friday will be followed by a 60-minute free practice Saturday that precedes qualifications and the 10-minute Hyperpole. MotorTrend TV will air the race live with streaming coverage on the FIA WEC app and the MAX app in the U.S. Radio Le Mans will broadcast coverage of Saturday’s final practice and qualifying plus the race.

That iconic sound What makes the Cadillac V-Series.R sound so incredible? The propulsion team behind the 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V8 explains what gives Cadillac Racing its roar. WATCH

What they’re saying

Alex Lynn: “The WEC not having raced at Interlagos for a number of years it will be a clean sheet for everybody. A new place, new race for us and excited to get there, explore a bit and have a great race. We’re improving a lot, which we showed at Le Mans. The car has a lot of strong points, and we aim to utilize them on the Interlagos circuit.” Earl Bamber: “Interlagos is a track that I always dreamed of going to, so I’m looking forward to it and the passionate fans. I think the track will race fantastically with these cars. How everyone’s cars will go, I don’t think anyone has a solid idea. It really is a blank slate, and I think with our two-driver strategy it will be to our benefit with the limited practice and everyone having to learn the track. (progress) “We were in the fight at Spa. We were in the fight at Qatar. We had an off weekend at Imola, but I think the learnings from Imola has made us understand our car even better, which has helped us go forward at Spa and Le Mans.”

Media interview transcript ahead of this weekend’s Chevrolet Grand Prix Corvette Racing factory driver Tommy Milner was part of a media Zoom today to talk about this week’s Chevrolet Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and the sixth round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. He will team with Nicky Catsburg in Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports’ No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R. This will be Milner’s first race at CTMP since 2018.

How big would it be to get the first IMSA win for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R?“It would certainly be big for the program, Pratt Miller and Corvette Racing. We’ve been close, we feel like, for many of the races this year. For one reason or not, we haven’t quite finished the job so we’re trying to make that happen this weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. It’s an awesome racetrack. I had to go back and look; I haven’t raced there since 2018 so it’s been quite awhile. I missed the 2019 race with a broken hand. It’s been a little bit for me to be at CTMP but I was just there recently for testing. It reminded me of how awesome the track is and how much fun it is to drive. Even in our GT cars, the rhythm there is like no other racetrack in the world. It’s super-fast and a lot of fun. We got a taste of some of the multi-class racing with some of the LMP2 cars that were there testing with us, so we have a feel for that already. It should be exciting. It’s definitely a difficult racetrack to pass in some situations. But we’re excited to get to CTMP and hopefully get over the hump to get a win for this Corvette Racing program.” Does the racing this weekend change at all without the GTP class there?“There will be small changes. The biggest difference for us is how the P2 cars make their speed over a lap versus the GTP cars. The GTP cars typically at the end of the straight-away are significantly quicker than we are. It’s more about the small adjustments as far as when to expect the P cars to be able to get by us. The P2 cars are significantly quicker in the corners than us. So we will be aware of that. What’s nice about CTMP is that the line seems to be wide enough, especially early in the race, where those guys are able to run around the outside of us in Turn Two and even potentially in Turn One in some situations. The places where they are able to get by, even so it can be difficult to race and pass certain cars within your class at CTMP. The interaction between the P2 cars isn’t too bad from my perspective. “It seems like there are some tracks that we go to where the passing between the classes can be difficult no matter what. CTMP seems to be a track where the speed differential is big enough in the corners where the P2 cars can separate themselves from us and we don’t hinder them too much. There’s obviously situations where that will happen, but just based on some of the testing from a few weeks ago, it didn’t seem to be a huge problem. The biggest thing is that GTP cars are typically a little slower than us in slow-speed corners where the P2 cars are quicker than us. It’s all these small differences that we need to get accustomed to early on in the weekend, understand where those cars are quicker, where we might be slightly quicker and letting us understand how we can let these guys get by us that doesn’t hinder them too much and doesn’t hinder us as well. Like any time, there will be situations where you don’t want to let the P2 cars pass because it’s a big problem for us. But again based on testing, the way that CTMP is allows us to race well together.” Mid-year through the first year of the Corvette Z06 GT3.R, how would you rate where the car is and how further along it is compared to the testing and development plan last year?“I think we’re in a good place right now. At the start of the year, it’s always tough to go to these long-distance races – Daytona and Sebring – with a brand new car. I would say we’ve had a little bit more lingering issues than we would have liked and as we’ve seen in the past from this team and program. I feel like at this point now that the ones that have lingering, we’ve gotten a handle on finally or we feel like we have. You never know until the results show it. Le Mans was good from the program, generally, as far as reliability goes. From that side, there’s been some minor updates to correct some of the problems. All our testing has been smooth sailing typically; that’s obviously a good sign. The car has been fast from the beginning. That’s been nice that we haven’t had to worry so much about trying to find speed in the car. Maybe right now we are a little too mismatched with some of the other cars in our class with how we make our speed versus them. We typically seem to be down on power to most cars. Some of the racing can be difficult at times. We can get stuck behind cars quite easily that might be slower than us over a lap but we can’t do much with it currently with the way things are right now. It changes obviously. At Laguna Seca we were fast. The way that we made our speed and our pace over a lap didn’t hinder us there. Watkins Glen was a little different in that regard. I feel the car is in a good place. The reliability has been quite a bit better. We’ve always been doing the fine-tuning stuff with the car setups as we can. A lot of the men and women at Corvette Racing, Pratt Miller and GM have been working hard to fix the small little things that become bigger things in races. We’re in a much better place there, now.” Influence of Ron Fellows in his Corvette Racing career.“Ron is amazing. We still see him quite often at the racetrack; he still has a capacity with GM as a brand ambassador. The first five or six years with Corvette Racing, he was much more present and a good person to have around for someone like me who was new to the program. At times if there were questions I had for him or if he saw something that he saw was worth speaking up… Ron is a quieter guy in general but when he does speak, it feels like those are words that you should take to heart. It’s great to have him around. He’s an amazing driver and an amazing ambassador for Corvette Racing with the success he had with the program.“Do I feel a little bit like him yet? Not quite… I still feel like I’m fairly young, but I have been with the team for a long time now. There are obviously ways in which guys like me and Antonio (Garcia) who have been with this team for so many years now… the things we can do within the team with some of the newer guys that have joined the program to help all of us navigate certain situations on the racetrack and off the racetrack, as well. We understand how the team operates and what has made this team successful based on past performances, knowledge and things like that we have learned from the guys who came before us. We’re trying to carry on the legacy of Corvette Racing as best we can.” On the level of competition in GTD PRO compared to years past even going back to ALMS GT.“From the outside and looking at the history of Corvette Racing, not having a win yet is in some ways surprising. But this class is super-competitive. You always have your usual suspects in the class but now there are eight or nine cars, and every car in the class has a chance to win, it seems like. We’ve seen that trend for as long as I’ve been in this class. Every year it keeps getting more and more difficult. The cars and drivers are exceptional. The teams are very, very good. In years past with us, there were races that we shouldn’t have won that we won because we did so many other things well. These days, you have to do everything just right. You have to be fast from the beginning of the weekend. You have to have a good qualifying session. You have to have two drivers that are on their game for the entire race. You have to make the right strategy calls whenever those opportunities arise. You have to do everything just right. If you have one little slip-up, one little hiccup, that’s the end of your race. We had a little bit of that at Laguna Seca; we had a little issue with our fueling and were plugged in for like three or four seconds too long. That was realistically the difference of maybe a win – I think the Porsche that weekend was a little too quick for us – but second-place should have been on the table. It’s those little things. You have to be perfect in these races to have success. Not to say that Corvette Racing was never perfect in the past, but it was the strength of this team for so many years… for so long, these teams were racing against top-level teams and drivers that it pushes them to be better. They go back and figure out how to be better. We’ve always done that as well, but now it gets harder and harder to be perfect on any weekend. It’s frustrating in some ways because getting those wins come fewer and farther between. But when you do have that success, you realize you’ve beaten the best teams and drivers in GT racing and racing in general, honestly. The expectations within Corvette are high. The expectations outside of Corvette Racing are high, as well. We understand that, we feel that and we have high expectations for ourselves. The third-place at Laguna was nice but in some ways felt empty. We were on pole and wanted to get that win. Watkins Glen was similar.” Do you have a preference between sprint and endurance racing?“Both are enjoyable. For me, sometimes with Daytona and Sebring you’re ready for a sprint race after those two. I’m excited about going racing hard for two hours and 40 minutes. But the endurance races are highlights of the calendar. The fan turnout is amazing at each. The atmosphere is a little bit different for those races. In that sense, those endurance races are special. But there’s nothing quite like racing for 100 minutes if it’s at Detroit or two hours, 40 minutes for most of the rest of the year where it’s all-out right from the get-go. Sometimes you have those first two long endurances races and then you’re excited to do something else besides the long ones. Then you do the short ones again for a little and then you’re excited about going back endurance racing again. So it’s a good balance in IMSA right now.” On Joey Hand’s performance in the NASCAR street race at Chicago.“It was awesome for Joey. I’ve known Joey since I was probably 14 or 15. He likes to say that he was my go-kart mechanic for a couple of events, but more than anything it was more just me messing around with go-karts in my dad’s shop. Obviously we’re competitors with Joey on the racetrack. We had some fun this year at Daytona when we kind of rubbed doors a little bit early on in the race. At Sebring, they’ve been a little bit off the pace this year, and I think he really enjoyed himself when he was able to keep me behind for an entire stint in the race. He made sure that I was aware that it was him driving. An awesome guy and excited for him to have that opportunity and to show what he’s capable of on a stage like that. No surprise to us in IMSA that he can do the job like that. So I was excited for him, and it was exciting racing, too. It was fun to watch. Good for (Alex) Bowman to get in and get that car in the playoffs, so that’s cool. But I was rooting for Joey there at the end.”

(7/8/24 – Ben Deatherage) Watsonville, California … The gorgeous and scenic Ocean Speedway is set to host the NARC 410 Sprint Car Series on Saturday, July 13th, for the 14th Annual Howard Kaeding Classic. Up for grabs will be one of the largest race purses of the season, including a huge $6,900 payday for the winner of the 30-lap feature event.”This event has gotten bigger and better each year, and it gains more and more momentum,” commented event organizer Bud Kaeding, Howard’s grandson. “The campground is full, and the afterparty Friday night has grown tremendously. It’s turned into a really fun event. I’ve been fortunate enough to have a bunch of support not just in the local area but across the country helping me raise money for the purse, and there have been guys that have been there since the first one, and it’s really cool to see the involvement and support.”The race pays homage to Howard Kaeding, the patriarch of the legendary Kaeding racing family.Kaeding was victorious in 136 main events at the now-defunct San Jose Speedway, which is an all-time record. He won track titles at San Jose in 1973 and 1974 and boasted an incredible streak of 17 consecutive wins, all while starting in the rear of the field.The event features multiple sponsors and contributors to enhance the purse. Companion divisions include the IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, and WMR Midgets.The track will open the weekend with a Friday night bout featuring the Ocean 360 Sprints, IMCA Northern Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, and WMR Midgets.Once the racing concludes on Friday, there will be an “afterparty” fully catered by the High Five Pizza Company. On Saturday at noon, the annual Howard Kaeding Luncheon will take place in the large tent in the pit area. Both events benefit the NARC Benevolent Fund and will feature live music. A suggested donation of a minimum of $20 would be appreciated for each function.Who To WatchCole Macedo has only participated in the Howard Kaeding Classic twice. The last time he raced with NARC at Ocean, he was seventh in 2019. The Lemoore racer, aboard the Tarlton Motorsports #21, has logged a ton of laps at the facility over his career and would love to add a NARC win at the Howard Kaeding Classic to his impressive resume.Runner-up last year, Justin Sanders has been the man at Ocean. The Aromas ace has managed to post four career Howard Kaeding Classic podiums, including winning in 2022. Overall, Watsonville has treated the driver of the Mittry Motorsports #2X rather nicely, with three wins and nine podium finishes in twenty-four starts.Macedo and Sanders are tied for the NARC championship point lead after 16 events of the 23-race campaign.Defending race winner Shane Golobic was ecstatic at the drop of the checkered flag in last year’s HK Classic. The Fremont racer had won four times at the facility with NARC but finally got the win at the Kaeding after finishing second in 2014, 2016, and 2019.Running for Bates-Hamilton Racing, Justyn Cox will look to click off a big payday for his team. Now calling Roseville home, Cox’s best run at Ocean with NARC was in 2016 when he finished fifth at the Pombo-Sargent Classic. His best performance at the Kaeding was twelfth in that same year. He already has garnered a big win with the series at a similarly shaped track at Cottage Grove earlier this season.Speaking of Kaeding, Bud will look to add another win of this sentimental event to his family to his name. The Campbell chauffeur won his grandfather’s race in 2019 and 2014 and was fourth in the 2023 edition. Also, the 2017 NARC champion has had the second-highest wins on the track since 2000, making five trips to victory lane.Speaking of Williams Motorsports, they have won this race an amazing five times: Jonathan Allard (2012 & 2013), the two times with Bud Kaeding mentioned above, and Kyle Hirst (2020).Hirst has an amazing record for this race as he has won it the most times, three, with three different car owners! This includes Roth Motorsports in 2015, Tarlton Motorsports in 2016, and with Williams in 2020.Tim Kaeding will be in the field with the Williams Motorsports team. Calling San Jose home, the 2002 and 2011 NARC title winner is the most winningest driver at Ocean with NARC since 2000, with seven visits to victory lane. However, he has yet to win the Howard Kaeding Classic. His career-best was second in 2011 and was third in last year’s race. Kaeding has only been outside the Top 10 four times in his previous 22 NARC starts at Ocean.Caeden Steele from Easton cut his teeth at Ocean over the last few seasons. With all his remarkable runs this season, it would be a big moment if he could break through and open his NARC-winning account at this event. In the last two seasons, he’s made the show and is looking for his first Top 10 at the HK Classic. Based on his 2024 performances, that seems to be an achievable goal.It’ll be a home game of sorts for Gilroy’s Jarrett Soares. Soares has ten feature starts at Ocean when NARC has been to town, and his best finish was tenth in 2016.Tanner Carrick of Lincoln will be in the house. He was 11th last year but had a masterclass run in 2021 when he was the runner-up.A shark to be on the lookout for at Ocean is 2005 NARC champion, Sean Becker. The driver of the Don Bjork owned entry from Roseville could become a two-time HK Classic winner backing up his first win in 2021.Other Rookie runners to watch this weekend are Clovis’ Dominic Gorden and Gauge Garcia from Lemoore. Both drivers have also run a lot of laps at this facility in their young careers and will look to put that to good use.Additional NARC regulars in attendance will be Dylan Bloomfield from Oakley, Penngrove’s Chase Johnson, Nick Parker of Chico, Benecia’s Billy Aton, DJ Netto of Hanford, John Clark of Windsor, Ryan Bernal of Roseville.Fan & Competitor InfoOcean Speedway is located on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds at 2601 E Lake Avenue in Watsonville. The Pit Gates will open at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday; Front Gates at 3:30 p.m., and qualifying will kick off at 5:00 p.m.The NARC 410 Sprint Series is the leading 410 Sprint Car tour west of the Rocky Mountains. Since 1960, they have enthralled countless thousands of fans at tracks up and down the Pacific Coast. For more information, visit their website at www.narc410.com or social media pages.The Howard Kaeding Classic at Ocean Speedway can be viewed live on Floracing.com.Former Howard Kaeding Classic Winners
2011- Evan Suggs
2012- Jonathan Allard
2013- Jonathan Allard (2)
2014- Bud Kaeding
2015- Kyle Hirst
2016- Kyle Hirst (2)
2017- Buddy Kofoid
2018- Colby Copeland
2019- Bud Kaeding (2)
2020- Kyle Hirst (3)
2021- Sean Becker
2022- Justin Sanders
2023- Shane GolobicThe 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 SERIES
CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS
(AFTER 16 EVENTS IN 23-RACE SERIES – 7/8/24)

1. Cole Macedo, Lemoore – 2056
2. Justin Sanders, Aromas – 2056
3. Justyn Cox, Clarksburg – 2000
4. Caeden Steele, Fresno (R) – 1987
5. Bud Kaeding, Campbell – 1973
6. Dylan Bloomfield, Oakley – 1963
7. Gauge Garcia, Lemoore (R) – 1944
8. Dominic Gorden, Clovis (R) – 1931
9. Nick Parker, Chico – 1911
10. Tanner Carrick, Lincoln – 1808
11. Chase Johnson, Penngrove – 1695
12. Billy Aton, Benicia – 1588
13. Dominic Scelzi, Fresno – 1327
14. John Clark, Windsor – 1318
15. Shane Golobic, Fremont – 1230
16. Tanner Holmes, Jacksonville, OR – 1200
17. Sean Becker, Roseville – 1071
18. Robbie Price, British Columbia – 1046
19. Jarrett Soares, Gilroy – 959
20. DJ Netto, Hanford – 950

 UPCOMING EVENTS:July 27 – Santa Maria Speedway