Brittany Aiming to Become First to Win a Championship from No. 9 Starting Position
READING, Pa. (Sept. 11, 2024) – For two-time World Champion Brittany Force and the crew that maintains her Monster Energy Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster, starting the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship from the No. 9 position isn’t so much a challenge as it is an opportunity, one on which they hope to capitalize in this week’s 39th Pep Boys Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. In a season of struggle, punctuated by the 300 mile per hour crash that left her dad, 16-time Funny Car champion John Force, with a Traumatic Brain Injury from which he now is recovering, the 38-year-old had to reach deep just to make the starting field after failing to qualify for one race and missing another to be with family. Nevertheless, now that’s she’s in it, she knows she can win it. If that seems a little presumptuous, especially since no driver ever has won the championship from a No. 9 start, know that Force has watched two different John Force Racing teammates improve their standing by nine positions in playoffs. NHRA President Robert Hight, currently on medical leave, won the 2009 Funny Car championship from the No. 10 starting spot, the only driver ever to do so, and, before he climbed into Hight’s Cornwell Tools Chevy Camaro this season, Austin Prock advanced from 12th to third in Top Fuel points in 2022. Force could not start her pending uphill climb in a more favorable environment than the one at Maple Grove, the track on which she set the current NHRA national record (3.623 seconds), the track speed record (337.66 miles per hour) and on which she has won 66.6 percent of her two-car matches (18-9). “I’m thrilled to be heading into the first race of the Countdown,” said the 16-time tour winner. “The (Top Fuel) competition is the toughest I’ve experienced in my career (and) I’m proud of our team’s fight to clinch our position in Indy (where she was the No. 1 qualifier and a semifinalist in the 70th U.S. Nationals). “We made major progress throughout the season and the great thing about the Countdown is (that) everyone’s points reset,” said the 2013 NHRA Rookie-of-the-Year. “So, starting at Maple Grove, every (qualified) driver has an opportunity at chasing the championship. “I feel confident coming into a racetrack where we’ve previously won and set the national record – but we have no room for mistakes. The plan is to continue qualifying at the top and going rounds on race day.” The No. 1 qualifier in 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2022 (and the No. 2 starter a year ago), she won the Pep Boys Nationals in 2017 and has been runner-up on two other occasions. * * * * 39th Pep Boys Nationals SCHEDULEFriday, Sept. 13Nitro qualifying, 3:30 and 6 p.m., EDT.Saturday, Sept. 14Nitro qualifying, 1 and 3:30 p.m., EDTSunday, Sept. 15First round eliminations, 10:30 a.m., EDT JFR ON FS1 and FOX Broadcast NetworkFriday, Sept. 13Qualifying show #1, 7-8:30 p.m., EDT, on FS1Sunday, Sept. 15Qualifying show #2, 12:30-2, EDT on FS1Eliminations, 2-4 p.m., EDT, or 4:30-6:30 p.m., EDT, on FOX (Check local listings)
ORRVILLE, OH (Sept. 12, 2024) – Sprint Car drivers have been given an extra incentive to get after it at Wayne County Speedway in September with NOS® Energy Drink joining as the presenting sponsor of the World of Outlaws event.More than $10,000 was added to the overall purse for the World of Outlaws Buckeye Brawl presented by NOS® Energy Drink (Friday, Sept. 27), increasing the payout for every position. The event now pays $15,000 to win/$1,500 to start.“We’re excited to join the Buckeye Brawl at Wayne County Speedway and support Sheldon Haudenschild as the event is set to bring out Ohio’s most passionate race fans,” said Lauren Albano, NOS® Energy Drink marketing director. “Between the increased off-track activations for fans and increased purse for the drivers, there will be no shortage of energy throughout the night.”The Buckeye Brawl will be the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series’ first time back at the 3/8-mile Ohio dirt track since 2020. That race was won by Sheldon Haudenschild – who grew up 15 minutes from the track in Wooster, OH.“Obviously, excited to get another race back home, and to have NOS Energy Drink on board is pretty special for me,” Haudenschild said. “The race fans definitely show up when we get to Wayne County. Honestly, the track produces good racing. I feel like it’s probably the closest thing we have to a West Coast type of track. The track is always on point and puts on a good show.”The 2020 race was also the Series’ first time back at Wayne County since 1985. There have been five World of Outlaws races at the track, so far, and three different winners – Steve Kinser (1979, 1981, 1985), Bobby Davis Jr. (1984) and Haudenschild (2020).The NOS® Energy Drink sampling station will be on site at the Buckeye Brawl, providing fans with a complimentary NOS® Energy Drink. The World of Outlaws Fan Entertainment team will also be handing out NOS® Energy Drink giveaways throughout the night.Tickets for the World of Outlaws Buckeye Brawl presented by NOS® Energy Drink are on sale now HERE. Use code HAUDENSCHILD17 to get $5 off your ticket when purchasing online.If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision.ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/nos-energy-drink-boosts-buckeye-brawl-at-wayne-county-overall-purse-increased/EVENT INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/schedule/event-info/?event=6228 TRACK INFO: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/tracks/?track=Wayne+County+(OH)+SpeedwayFAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/
CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES BIG MACHINE MUSIC CITY GRAND PRIX NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY LEBANON, TENNESSEE TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE SEPT. 13-15, 2024 CHEVROLET READY FOR THE NTT INDYCAR SERIES SEASON FINALE AT THE RETURN OF NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY Team Chevy Enters the Weekend with Ninth Series’ Manufacturer Title Secured; Team Penske’s Will Power Looks to Fight for Career Third NTT INDYCAR SERIES ChampionshipRacing into Nashville Superspeedway this weekend for the final race of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, Chevrolet has clinched their ninth manufacturers’ title since 2012 in the 2.2-liter twin-turbo V6 era, the third consecutive title for the Bowtie brand.Team Penske and Chevrolet-powered driver Will Power enters the season finale second in the standings, by 33 points, and has the potential to capture a third championship adding to his 2014 and 2022 top honors.Chevrolet heads into the season finale looking to add to 11 wins so far this year, including the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500, as well as eight NTT P1 Pole Awards, 28 podium finishes, and three swept podiums.Returning to the 1.33-mile D-shaped oval at Nashville Superspeedway for the first time since 2008, the 14-degree banked Middle Tennessee track will provide ample challenge to competitors for the 206-lap, 267.8-mile Big Machine Music City Grand Prix.Overall, Team Chevy has amassed 122 wins and 135 earned NTT P1 Pole Awards in the V6 era since 2012, in addition to seven wins and five earned poles in eight races with hybrid technology.DETROIT (September 12, 2024)– Closing out the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, Chevrolet races to Nashville Superspeedway this weekend already securing their ninth Series’ Manufacturers title in the 2.2-liter twin turbo V6 era since 2012. Over that time, Team Chevy has captured 122 win and 135 earned NTT P1 Pole Awards, 11 of those victories and eight poles coming this year, including the prestigious 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500. The 1.33-mile D-shaped oval will provide a challenge for competitors in the season-finale event, featuring a high-intensity 14 degrees of banking and many in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES field seeing the track for the first time in their careers. While a few are returning since the last event in 2008, including championship contender Will Power, driver of the No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske Chevrolet, a new challenge awaits the drivers that includes a softer, alternate Firestone Firehawk tire in addition to the harder, black primary option. “Looking forward to returning to Nashville, and hoping we’ll have a good shot at the championship,” said Power. “I really liked the test, really liked the track. It has a consistent banking, so the car is quite predictable through the corner. I just hope we can open a second lane, and we’re fighting for a championship. Nashville, we’ve had a taste of it. Have some ideas on what will do for car changes and to improve. The No. 2 Team Penske Chevy was pretty good (in the test). The car was reasonable. I felt like (Scott) Dixon was very strong which means the Ganassi cars will be very good there. It put more emphasis on Milwaukee, and ultimately seeing how this plays out.” Over the season, Chevrolet has captured 11 victories including the prestigious 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 with one race remaining, totaling 122 wins so far in the V6 era since 2012, in addition to eight earned NTT P1 Pole Awards in 2024 that totals 135 earned top starting positions in the V6 era. Chevrolet additionally raced to three podium sweeps in 2024 at Road America, Iowa 1, and Milwaukee 1. “Heading to Nashville this weekend, we’ve achieved our goal of capturing the manufacturers championship, winning the Indianapolis 500 and we’re prepared to give Will and Team Penske all the support we can to give him a solid opportunity to capture the driver’s title,” said Chevrolet INDYCAR Program Manager Rob Buckner. “We’re looking forward to the event and working with our teams to cap the season with another successful weekend. It’s sure to be an exciting race. I am very proud of the hard work and dedication by our Chevrolet engineers, drivers, and teams this year.” The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix race weekend kicks off the two-day show with a stacked Saturday, including the first practice at 11 a.m. ET, followed by qualifications at 2:15 p.m. ET. High-line practice and final practice wrap on Saturday from 5:15 p.m. ET to 7 p.m. ET. Sunday’s season-finale 206-lap, 267.8-mile Music City Grand Prix from Nashville Superspeedway takes the green flag live on NBC at 3 p.m. ET. All practice and qualifying sessions are broadcast with Peacock, INDYCAR Radio, and SiriusXM Channel 218.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING (Quotes):Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet:“I feel like turn one of Phoenix is very similar to Nashville, but it’s gonna be weird being on a concrete track for us, as well as a series. So, I am excited about that. It can be more abrasive on the tires. Should have less grip. We’re also going with the kind of like a road course package instead of the speedway wings which I found quite interesting. It’s the same package as Iowa. A little different from Gateway and Milwaukee where we ran the full road course package. At Nashville we won’t run the upper element on the rear wing so it’s a little less downforce than what we had at Milwaukee or Gateway. Obviously, having as many top 10s as we’ve had, plus now a pair of top five has been huge. You know, the car has been really, really good this year to drive and so has the team as a whole. We really just stepped it up, everything from engineering to mechanics, even myself. You know, we’ve all kind of taken a massive step forward.” Sting Ray Robb, No. 41 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet:“I did a little bit of at home simulator using iRacing (in preparing for Nashville). Other than that, the experience is very limited. There are some trends and nuances that you can learn from this but it only gets you to about 90%. The last 10% (always the hardest to find) has to be done at the track; we are trying our best ahead of time to shorten the learning curve once we arrive in person. The closest experience I have is running at Texas Motor Speedway in 2023. The pressure is the same as it has been every other race. Our goal remains the same, and the preparation does not change. Our job is the same as it has been, it just so happens that it is the last one on the schedule. Trusting my instincts. It’s easy to overthink details sometimes but keeping it simple and trusting my experience and the team around me has gotten us a lot further at times than digging too deep in search for answers that sometimes reveal themselves.”Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:It’ll be my first time racing at Nashville Superspeedway at this weekend’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. I’m looking forward to closing out the season the right way. It’s been a rollercoaster, but we’ve had some great moments, so hopefully, we can create another one in Nashville.” Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“I’m excited to get going this weekend at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. We had a lot of speed and potential in Milwaukee, and I think we’ll be in a similar spot at the Nashville Superspeedway. I’m looking forward to putting it all together and producing a strong result in the season finale.” Alexander Rossi, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“It’s pretty crazy to think that this is the final race of the year. I feel like the season just started, but here we are. This will be the end of my journey in papaya, but I can’t wait to end the season on a high note here in Nashville. It’s going to be a new venue for all of us, but I think we have an opportunity to have a great weekend.” Gavin Ward, Team Principal at Arrow McLaren:“The finale is here as we head down to Nashville for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. We’re excited for what we expect to be some great racing on this short oval, but also for all of the partner activation we’ll have this weekend, both on Broadway and at Nashville Superspeedway. Not wanting to blow our own trumpet, but our oval cars have been fast this year, so we’re looking to close the season out on a high note.” Christian Rasmussen, No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet:“I am looking forward to racing at Nashville Superspeedway! It will be an interesting weekend with the majority of the grid having never been there. We’re going in with a tight points battle for Leaders Circle positions, so we’re fully focused on finishing the season off strong.” Rinus VeeKay, No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet:“I am very excited for one more NTT INDYCAR SERIES race this year! It has been a crazy season and will end with a crazy last race with neither Christian (Rasmussen) or I ever having turned a lap at Nashville Superspeedway. It will be interesting, we have a bit of practice but we’ll be figuring it out on the fly! We’ve progressed so much through the season and earned a lot of Top 10s in the second half. I am looking forward to adding to that, getting some good points and hopefully moving up a few positions in the standings!” Will Power, No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet:“Looking forward to returning to Nashville, and hoping we’ll have a good shot at the championship. I really liked the test, really liked the track. It has a consistent banking, so the car is quite predictable through the corner. I just hope we can open a second lane, and we’re fighting for a championship. Nashville, we’ve had a taste of it. Have some ideas on what will do for car changes and to improve. The No. 2 Team Penske Chevy was pretty good (in the test). The car was reasonable. I felt like (Scott) Dixon was very strong which means the Ganassi cars will be very good there. It put more emphasis on Milwaukee, and ultimately seeing how this plays out.”
Chevrolet at Nashville (V6 era since 2012, pre-hybrid):Wins at Nashville: 0 Earned Pole Awards at Nashville: 0 Number of Team Chevy Podiums at Nashville: 0 Number of laps led by Team Chevy at Nashville (V6 era since 2018, pre-hybrid): 0Of note: The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is returning to the 1.33-mile D-shaped Nashville Superspeedway for the first time since 2008, and this is the first race with the 2.2-liter twin turbo V6 engine, along with hybrid technology.
2024 CHEVROLET BY THE NUMBERS:8: NTT INDYCAR SERIES race as V6 engine supplier with hybrid technology integration. 7: Wins in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES as V6 engine supplier with hybrid technology integration since mid-2024. 215: NTT INDYCAR SERIES races as V6 engine supplier since 2012 return to INDYCAR. 122: Wins in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES since 2012. 135: Earned poles since 2012. Chevrolet holds 140 pole awards in total, with five recorded based on points for weather. 5: Earned pole in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES as V6 engine supplier with hybrid technology integration. 9: 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. 35: 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 56 times since 2012. 29: 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 Po
Flemington, NJ (September 12, 2024) – Joe Morrison will continue his pursuit of Funny Car glory at the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals this weekend. The longtime Nostalgia Funny Car and Fuel Altered pilot from Flemington, NJ will make his second start of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series at the first race of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoff race. While Morrison will not be in contention for the Funny Car world championship the veteran driver is looking forward to his potential spoiler role and racing in the ultra-competitive NHRA Nitro Funny Car division, driving for legendary Funny Car driver, owner, and tuner Paul Smith. In his 2024 debut race in Norwalk, Ohio, Morrison qualified for the 16-car field and was ousted in the first round by No. 1 qualifier and Funny Car point leader Austin Prock.
“It was an amazing weekend for our Funny Car debut in Norwalk and I expect even better results at Maple Grove Raceway,” said Morrison, who views this facility as his home track. “We will have more data, and I will be much more comfortable in the race car. This class is so much fun, and I received a great welcome in Norwalk. This weekend we will be looking to make four great qualifying runs and then see what happens on Sunday. We have some amazing partners along for the ride.” Joe Morrison is eager to get back on track at Maple Grove Raceway, photo credit Ron LewisThe veteran Top Fuel racer turned Funny Car racer uses his race program to promote Right2Breathe.org and he is on a personal mission to help other people have more time with their loved ones. Morrison lost his father to COPD in 2016 and he has joined forces with a number of incredible organizations to bring the opportunity for early detection and treatment to the race track. Joining Morrison at the NHRA Reading Nationals, will be three instrumental companies and organizations: Right2Breathe, the Temple Lung Center and Chiesi USA. All three groups will have a specific mission at Maple Grove Raceway and Morrison will be the ambassador promoting their initiatives.
“I love racing at Maple Grove Raceway. I got my first wins here at an event called ‘Geezers at the Grove’ in my nostalgia altered in 2009. It’s my home track, and I always have a ton of friends and family around,” said Morrison, who made his Funny Car debut at the Norwalk Nationals in June of this season. “The fans here are some of the best anywhere. Every year, people who we have ‘Put Their Lungs on the Dyno’ at past events come by to tell us how their lives have improved. To know that we are making a positive impact in the lives of fans and racers is both humbling and gratifying.” Morrison along with Right2Breathe and additional partners will once again provide lung screening and information during NHRA national events, photo credit Ron LewisFor Morrison, partnering with Right2Breathe has been a life-changing experience for him and for NHRA fans. One ongoing example of this partnership is the free onsite lung health evaluations Right2Breathe has provided fans giving them the chance to ‘Put Their Lungs on the Dyno.” As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Right2 Breathe is celebrating their 10-year anniversary in 2024, and they have provided lung screenings and lung health education at the Reading NHRA Nationals five times since 2017. Their mission is to provide free lung screening for people at risk for lung disease as well as provide education and support for people already living with lung disease.
Morrison, who last competed in NHRA Top Fuel in 2022, wrapped up his NHRA license cross-grade process in July 2023 with Smith at Virginia Motorsports Park. This expanded his diverse NHRA competition license to an impressive 11th active class, ranging from Top Fuel & Nitro Funny Car to Super Comp and Super Gas.
Morrison will be ready to go on Friday night for two qualifying sessions following an afternoon of fan events including an autograph session at the Right2Breathe.org midway display. On Saturday Morrison will be the featured guest on the NHRA Stage for “10 questions with Joe Morrison” followed by two more qualifying sessions.
The New Jersey native will be competing at Maple Grove thanks to the support from recently added associate sponsor support from the Napp Brothers as well as PennGrade 1® High Performance Oils, Stoms Automotive, Dawn D’Agostino, and MarSchanMotorsports.com (Mar-Schan Motorsports).
“As a New Jersey guy who spent so much time at Englishtown getting support from the Napp brothers is really special,” said Morrison. “We are methodically building our program and every dollar or part deal helps us so much. We are thankful for all our partners.”
On Sunday Morrison should be one of the 16-quickest Funny Cars racing for the iconic Wally trophy in front of an expected sold-out crowd. The race will be broadcast on FOX and will be the lead-in programming for the NFL game on Sunday. Fans interested in buying tickets to the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at www.nhra.com.
LONG BEACH, CA (September 12, 2024) — It is a brand-new season for Funny Car rookie Buddy Hull, driver of the Lescure Funny Car owned by Jim Dunn Racing. After a 14-race regular season Hull’s consistency paid off and the team will be competing for the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car world championship during the six-race NHRA Countdown playoffs. Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing team are sitting at No. 12, just 145 points behind point leader Austin Prock. Entering the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals this weekend at famed Maple Grove Raceway Hull and the team are excited about the opportunity.
“We know we have a ways to go for a Funny Car championship but our first goal is to make the most out of the weekend at the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway,” said Hull. “We had our best race of the season at the biggest race, the Toyota U.S. Nationals. Racing to the quarterfinals and almost getting to the semis really was a huge boost for this Lescure Funny Car team.”
With the Countdown getting underway Jim Dunn Racing is continuing to add marketing partners including Sunshine Beverages for the Reading and Charlotte Countdown races. Sunshine is a refreshing, hydrating and functional energy drink. With just 70mg of caffeine, it offers the perfect ‘pick-me-up’ for sustained mental clarity, allowing fans to power through tasks with ease. Hull is excited to work with a company like Sunshine Beverages because he understands the benefits.
“You have to be so mentally sharp behind the wheel of this 11,000 horsepower Funny Car,” said Hull. “Sunshine Beverages gives you that boost without the crash. They are working with Jim Dunn Racing because they know we can get them in front of thousands of people and help them expand their presence. My goal is to do my best behind the wheel and then spend some time with the fans talking about all our great partners.”
Two weeks ago, Hull raced to the quarterfinals in Indianapolis upsetting Bob Tasca III in the first round. The round win was a long time coming for the young Top Fuel turned Funny Car driver, but the new father wants to prove the win was not a fluke. Hull and his wife Madi welcomed the birth of their son Maverick prior to the race.
“You look at the progress this Jim Dunn Racing team has made this season it doesn’t always show up on a time sheet,” said Hull. “Everyone has been working to fit me into this race car. They have been super supportive as I have learned how to drive this Funny Car. We have all kept a positive attitude thanks to the leadership of Jim and Jon Dunn. These last six races of the season will be our whole season. That is what we have been working towards.”
With the points reset Hull is 145 points out of first place. There are 100 points up for grabs at event NHRA national event plus qualifying bonus points and the final race of the season is for points and a half. The opportunity to race into the Top Ten or even higher is a realistic goal for the team.
“We have been grinding all season and we have added some new parts for the Countdown,” said Hull. “We want to keep working hard and we’ll see what happens. This has been a great year so far and these final six races will be a lot fun.”
Qualifying for the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals will begin on Friday with two sessions followed by two more qualifying runs on Saturday. The quickest 16 Funny Cars will race for the Wally trophy on Sunday morning with the first round of eliminations scheduled for 10:30 a.m. EST. The race will be televised nationally on FOX.
DETROIT (September 12, 2024) – For the third consecutive year Chevrolet has won the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Manufacturer Championship. Winning the 2024 Manufacturer Championship marks the ninth time Chevrolet has captured the coveted award since its return to INDYCAR competition in 2012. “This is a proud moment for everyone at Chevrolet. The effort by GM Motorsports competition engineering and Propulsion engineers, along with our partners at Ilmor, to deliver power and reliability in the Chevy 2.2 liter V6 INDYCAR engine has been outstanding,” said Mark Reuss, GM President. “This Championship is truly a combined effort and could not have been accomplished without the teamwork, preparation, and execution of the five Chevrolet teams: Team Penske, Arrow McLaren, Ed Carpenter Racing, AJ Foyt Racing and Juncos Hollinger Racing. Congratulations to our teams and drivers, and thank you to INDYCAR for providing an incredibly competitive series.” In the 13 seasons of the Chevrolet 2.2-liter V6 twin turbocharged INDYCAR engine, Team Chevy drivers have amassed 122 wins of the 215 races to date – an impressive 56.7%. Six of those wins have been in the Indianapolis 500. All of Chevrolet’s full-time teams contributed valuable time and effort toward the ninth NICS Manufacturer Championship. Team Penske, with drivers Will Power, Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin; Ed Carpenter Racing, with drivers Rinus VeeKay, Christian Rasmussen and Ed Carpenter; Arrow McLaren, with drivers Pato O’Ward, Alexander Rossi, Callum Illot, Theo Pourchaire and Nolan Siegel; AJ Foyt Racing, with drivers Santino Ferrucci and Sting Ray Robb; and Juncos Hollinger Racing, with drivers Romain Grosjean, Agustin Canapino, and Conor Daly were instrumental in Team Chevy’s success. Although having less than half of the total car count, Chevy-powered drivers maximized all their available support, engineering tools and simulator time to enable performance growth that translated to consistency and strong results. In addition to the nine Manufacturer Championships, Chevrolet has won seven driver championships with Ryan Hunter-Reay (2012), Power (2014 and 2022), Scott Dixon (2015), Simon Pagenaud (2016) and Newgarden (2017 and 2019). The Chevrolet 2.2-liter V6 engine powered drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 with Tony Kanaan (2013), Juan Pablo Montoya (2015) Will Power (2018), Simon Pagenaud (2019) and Josef Newgarden (2023 and 2024). Previously, Chevrolet competed in Indy-style racing as a manufacturer of V8 engines from 1986-93 and 2002-05, powering 111 wins, one manufacturer championship in 2002, seven Indianapolis 500 wins and six driver championships.
Southern flair and World of Outlaws championship ramifications clash in Georgia, Alabama weekend
SENOIA, GA (September 11, 2024) – The World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models are set for a southern brawl in Georgia and Alabama to mark a pivotal mile on the road toward World of Outlaws World Finals.
Beginning the weekend of racing on Saturday, Sept. 14, Senoia Raceway welcomes the Series for the first time since 2021 in the 50-lap, $15,000-to-win, Billy Clanton Classic. Local divisions of Chargers, Modifieds, and 602 Late Models share the track with the “Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet.”
Then, the Series heads west to Eastaboga, AL for the completion of the Alabama Gang 100 at the Talladega Short Track on Sunday, Sept. 15.
With the race being a completion of the Feature that was originally scheduled for April, all other events leading up to the Feature will not be redone. The night begins with Hot Laps, then the field will battle for 75 laps around the high-banked track for a $35,000 payday to the winner.
Pierce’s Global Conquest: Bobby Pierce is riding the high of his biggest year in dirt Late Model racing in 2024 with crown jewel wins in the Illini 100, NAPA Gopher 50, Prairie Dirt Classic, USA Nationals, North/South 100, and most recently his second World 100.
Pivoting the focus towards completing a massive comeback to achieve his second consecutive World of Outlaws CASE Late Models title, the Oakwood, IL native is tied with Mooresville, NC driver Nick Hoffman for second place – 52 points away from Series leader Brandon Sheppard.
The 27-year-old gasser has four chances before the end of September to close the interval to Sheppard before the history-making title fight is decided in November at World Finals.
Reaper’s Late Charge: Through a meticulous learning process that included a share of growing pains, Ryan Gustin sits inside the top five in Series points for the first time in 2024 in his best career season with the World of Outlaws driving the No.19R Todd Cooney Racing Late Model.
The Marshalltown, IA native enjoyed the Fireball 50 weekend at Atomic Speedway with a podium on Friday and his fourth Series win of 2024 on Saturday. In his time off from the World of Outlaws, “The Reaper” won $50,000 at 300 Speedway, then visited Eldora Speedway Victory Lane for the first time in the opening World 100 prelim Feature.
With Gustin’s current fourth-place Series standing, he’s looking to finish the year with his fifth Feature win of 2024 to match the number of wins he accumulated with Tri Star Promotions over three seasons.
Senoia Stronghold: Georgia’s Senoia Raceway makes its awaited return to the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models schedule for the fourth time in history on Saturday night with the Billy Clanton Classic.
In the last three Series races held at the track in 2017, 2018, and 2021, Brandon Sheppard, Chris Madden, and Ashton Winger each left the facility as Feature winners.
MD3 Rookie of the Year contender Cody Overton calls Senoia his home track on the 2024 schedule, with one of the Evans, GA driver’s first big wins in a Crate Late Model coming at the 3/8-mile track in 2023.
Return of the Hornet’s Nest: Returning to the Talladega Short Track for the first time since April 20, the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models complete the Alabama Gang 100 weekend on Sunday.
When the Series last raced at the track, Lanett, AL driver Dylan Knowles won the Group A Feature, and Mooresville, NC rookie Max McLaughlin captured the Group B Feature. The two drivers are chasing their first Series points win.
Championship contenders Sheppard and Pierce won their Saturday Heat races in April to lock in respectively. Hoffman had to clinch a spot through the final position of the first Last Chance Showdown.
WHEN AND WHERE
Senoia Raceway in Senoia, GA
Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL
ABOUT THE TRACK
Senoia Raceway is a 0.375-mile banked, gumbo oval
Talladega Short Track is a 0.333-mile high-banked, red-clay oval
TRACK RECORDS
Senoia Raceway – 12.684 seconds by Brandon Overton on 7/20/2020
Talladega Short Track – 12.420 seconds by Jason Hiett on 3/28/2019
The World of Outlaws CASE Late Models battle in the South for one last time at the final two debuting tracks on the 2024 schedule, Greenwood, LA’s Boothill Speedway on Friday, Sept. 27, and Petty, TX’s Rocket Raceway Park for the Texas Torpedo 50 on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Penultimate Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Race Set for Maple Grove Raceway
READING, PA (September 11, 2024) — Heading into the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series competition will be closer than ever with three drivers battling for the world championship. Point leader David Janac holds a 22-point lead over Mark Pawuk and Stephen Bell sits in third place a mere 48-points behind Janac. The series features factory bodied and powered Chevrolet COPO Camaros, Dodge Drag Paks and Ford Mustang Cobra Jets in heads up racing with driver skill off the starting line a key component to victories in every event.
“This class has some of the toughest racers racing some of the coolest cars from Camaros to Cobra Jets to Dodges,” said Bell, a five-time finalist this season. “The competition is fierce, and we have had a great season. We came close to the championship last year and our goal this year has been to seal the deal. We have two races left to get the job done.”
Championship contender Stephen Bell has raced to five finals this season and is looking for his first Flexjet world championship, photo credit Auto Imagery
Bell picked up wins at the historic Winternationals, the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 Nationals in Chicago and the Norwalk Nationals outside of Cleveland. He has also tallied two additional runner-up finishes. Point leader Janac won for the first time in his career at the Thunder Valley Nationals, outrunning Bell in the final. Pawuk opened the season with a win at the Gatornationals and he was runner-up to Bell at the Norwalk national event. All three Flexjet competitors are looking for their first world championship in the factory stock class.
“Your goal at the beginning of every season is to compete for the championship,” said Pawuk, a former Pro Stock standout driver. “We have two races to go and we are in the thick of the points battle. These last two races starting with Reading will be critical. I am excited to get this Empaco Dodge on track in Maple Grove Raceway.”
Mark Pawuk is looking to pick up his second win of 2024 at the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals, photo credit Auto Imagery
The winner of the Toyota U.S. Nationals, Kevin Skinner, destroyed a motor on his winning run and will not attend the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals. The Flexjet $1,000 bounty will roll to event runner-up Raymond Nash. So far this season, six different drivers have collected the bounty and heading into the Reading Nationals the opportunity to pick up the extra cash is a great motivator.
“I have done a good job of getting the Flexjet bounty this season, but I haven’t been able to hold onto it,” said Bell, a three-time winner this season. “I hate it for Kevin that he won’t be able to get to this race but maybe I will match up with Raymond and get a shot at winning that $1,000. I think it is great Flexjet has the bounty program because we all keep track of it and like to try and get that extra payday.”
The quickest Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge competitors will race through four rounds of competition looking to collect the iconic Wally trophy at the ninth Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series national event of 2024. Qualifying for the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series will begin on Friday, September 13 with two sessions followed by a final session on Saturday afternoon. Eliminations will start on Saturday evening and carry over into Sunday. The race will be broadcast on FS1 and FOX throughout the weekend.
2024 Flexjet Bounty Program Gatornationals (Gainesville, Fla.) $1,000 bounty collected by Mark Pawuk, defeated Stephen Bell (Norwalk winner)
Winternationals (Pomona, Calif.) $1,000 bounty collected by David Davies II, defeated Mark Pawuk (Gatornationals winner)
Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals (Las Vegas, Nev.) $1,000 bounty collected by Mark Pawuk, defeated Stephen Bell (Winternationals winner)
Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals (Bristol, Tenn.) $1,000 bounty collected by David Janac, defeated Stephen Bell (Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 Nationals winner)
Summit Racing Equipment Nationals (Norwalk, Ohio) $1,000 bounty collected by Stephen Bell, defeated David Janac (Thunder Valley Nationals winner)
Lucas Oil Nationals (Brainerd, Minn.) $1,000 bounty collected by David Janac, defeated Stephen Bell (Summit Racing Equipment Nationals winner)
Toyota U.S. Nationals (Indianapolis, Ind.) $1,000 bounty collected by Kevin Skinner, defeated Scott Libersher (Lucas Oil Nationals)
2024 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Results Gainesville – Mark Pawuk, winner; Stephen Bell, runner-up Pomona – Stephen Bell, winner; David Davies II, runner-up Las Vegas1 – Ricky Hord, winner; David Janac, runner-up Chicago – Stephen Bell, winner; Lee Hartman, runner-up Bristol – David Janac, winner; Stephen Bell, runner-up Norwalk – Stephen Bell, winner; Mark Pawuk, runner-up Brainerd – Scott Libersher, winner; David Janac, runner-up Indianapolis – Kevin Skinner, winner; Raymond Nash, runner-up Reading – TBD St. Louis – TBD
2024 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Points 1. David Janac 624 2. Mark Pawuk 602 3. Stephen Bell 576 4. Scott Libersher 539 5. Ricky Hord 455 6. Tony Scott Jr. 351 7. Anthony Troyer 328 8. David Davies III 303 9. Raymond Nash 294 10. Lee Hartman 291
2024 FLEXJET NHRA FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN SCHEDULE Sept. 12-15 39th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals, Reading, Pa. Sept. 27-29 13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, St. Louis, Mo.
SPENCER, IA (September 10, 2024) – Aaron Reutzel may have shifted his focus to weekly racing at Knoxville Raceway in 2024, but that doesn’t mean he forgot how to get the job done with the American Sprint Car Series National Tour.
He proved that Tuesday night at Clay County Fair Speedway by topping the field in the Battle of the Blue Ribbon for his first National Tour win since a prelim victory at the 2023 360 Knoxville Nationals.
“All in all a great night,” said the 2015 Series champion. “After not even being able to Hot Lap, that was stressful. But luckily, everything was really close and didn’t really have to make too many changes tonight.”
Reutzel’s march to victory began from the inside of Row 2 thanks to a third-place finish in the Dash. An excellent start allowed him to move up in front of second-place starter Sam Hafertepe Jr. entering Turn 1 and ride the top line against polesitter Hank Davis on the bottom through the first set of corners.
The No. 87 machine slid up over the cushion exiting Turn 2, which allowed Davis to drive away to an early lead while Hafertepe was busy fending off his fellow No. 15 Andrew Deal for the third spot.
In the early stages, the inside groove was the preferred line through Turns 1 and 2 while most drivers opted to ride the wall in Turns 3 and 4. Reutzel was one of the first to buck that trend and try the bottom at both ends, resulting in several challenges for the lead in the first third of the race, but the No. 2C had enough speed on exit on the top side to hold onto the top spot.
The stalled car of Brandon Anderson paused the action for the first time on Lap 8. Reutzel went to the top on the restart and briefly held the lead before once again sliding off the track in Turn 2 which let Davis keep the lead down the backstretch. Reutzel wasn’t keen on letting Davis drive away though, as he threw a big slider in Turns 3 and 4 before Davis crossed him over exiting Turn 4 to maintain the lead.
At that point, Hafertepe decided to make it a three-way battle between the red-and-black cars and split the middle entering Turn 1 to make it three-wide for the lead. Reutzel prevailed on the bottom to take over the lead for the first time, with Davis trailing in second and Hafertepe in third after 10 laps.
Reutzel paced the field as the race stayed green through the middle portion while Hafertepe got around Davis for the second spot. Once Reutzel caught the tail of the field, Hafertepe began making inroads on the leader with his sights set on his 10th Series win of the year.
The No. 15H was within striking distance of Reutzel with five to go, but trouble for Hafertepe in getting past the slower car of Scott Winters gave Reutzel the chance to pull away once more.
What looked to be a solid points night for Hafertepe turned sour four laps later, as his left-rear tire went flat to bring out the caution with two laps to go. With Hafertepe in the work area and out of contention, Davis found himself in second once again with a chance to extend his win streak to three.
It was not meant to be though, as Reutzel went unchallenged in the final two laps to take his 24th National Tour win and first at Clay County.
“It was hard for me to get up to lap cars, so I figured as long as I kept a good pace, [Davis] wasn’t going to get up to me,” Reutzel said. “I was really just trying not to slide out of the rubber or do anything dumb. If a lap car screwed up in front of me and allowed me to get a run, I would pass them. If they didn’t, I just rode behind them. Just what you do in rubber.”
Although Davis came up one spot short of another triumph, his speed throughout the night showed that his weekend sweep at Electric City Speedway was far from a fluke.
“Most people probably think that the stomp and steer places are our honey holes, but we just showed here tonight that we can play around on these slick places,” Davis said. “I honestly feel like I got caught out there like a sitting duck. After that restart, didn’t know exactly where to be, and they could kind of search and move around and afford to and they just got me.”
Seth Bergman’s quiet night ended in the third spot, extending his lead atop the standings to 73 points due to Hafertepe finishing 14th after the tire failure. The late restart gave Bergman the opportunity to make a last-ditch move for the win, but the points situation turned him against the idea of taking any unnecessary risks.
“My midset was just having a solid finish,” Bergman said. “I knew the way the track was, you were going to have to do some dumb stuff if you were going to go win that race and I’m just not in a position to do that. We’re racing for a championship, and with Sam’s misfortune, I knew I was in a position where I just needed a solid finish.”
Deal crossed the line in fourth for his first top five on the National Tour since Lincoln County Raceway on Aug. 17, while Terry McCarl – the 2023 winner at Clay County – completed the top five.
Matt Covington had to go through the Last Chance Showdown to earn his spot in the Feature, but once he was in it, he advanced 12 spots from 21st to ninth to claim the Hard Charger Award.
UP NEXT: The ASCS National Tour will contest its second and third races of the year at Arrowhead Speedway on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 13-14 with the Green Country Clash, which wraps up with a $10,000-to-win Feature on Saturday night. Tickets are available online here, but if you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.
Sent on behalf of Sammy Halbert RacingDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 10, 2024) – Veteran Mission AFT SuperTwins rider Sammy Halbert will race at the highly anticipated Progressive American Flat Track season finale in Eldon, Missouri, on September 14th, aboard his personal Harley-Davidson XR750. This marks a significant moment in the sport, as it will be the final time the legendary XR750 competes in Progressive American Flat Track Grand National Championship competition. Halbert is reuniting with his trusted crew, including Larry Zumbrun (LZ Racing), Kings Kustoms, and his father, Willy Halbert, turning the wrenches. After a decade in hibernation, Halbert’s Harley-Davidson XR750 will roar back to life, giving fans a rare opportunity to see this storied machine in action one last time. “I’ve had this XR750 tucked away for about a decade and bringing it back for the finale feels like the perfect way to close this chapter,” said Halbert, who proudly runs the number 69 in honor of his late brother Jethro. “The XR750 has been such a huge part of my career, and getting to race it again with my original crew is something truly special. We’re going to give it everything we’ve got.” Supporting this historic effort is Boswell’s Harley-Davidson, a long-time partner in the flat track racing world who is backing Halbert and his crew as they prepare for the finale. Bubba Boswell, of Boswell’s Harley-Davidson, said, “We are honored to be part of this moment. The XR750 is one of the most iconic motorcycles in the history of flat track racing, and Sammy is one of the few riders who can still bring out its full potential. We’re proud to support him in what will undoubtedly be a memorable and emotional race for fans of the sport.” Halbert’s Harley-Davidson XR750, a machine deeply ingrained in flat track racing history, will be meticulously prepared for its final outing, with Halbert’s veteran team determined to make its last race count. Tony Dodge, team owner of Dodge Bros. Racing, shared his excitement. He said, “Sammy is a great rider, and to see him back on the XR750 with his original crew will be a true spectacle. The bike is ready, the team is ready, and we’re all hoping for a strong finish to this amazing chapter.” Sammy Halbert’s 2024 racing efforts are supported by a range of partners including OnlyFans, Castrol, Boswell’s Harley-Davidson, Dodge Bros. Racing, Cardo Systems, Martin Trucking, 6D Helmets, Kibblewhite, Penske, Shimano, Pro Plates, Mika, Enerlon, Saddlemen, RSRK10-J2Motorsports, Regina Chain, Oakley, CTI, MS, Hathaway Racing, Lightshoe, Motion Pro, Access Media Lab, and Fredericktown Cycles. Be sure to catch the action at Lake Ozark Speedway on September 14th, as Halbert and the XR750 take to the track for an unforgettable final showdown.
Randy Meyer Racing (RMR) continued their impressive streak in the 2024 NHRA season with a standout performance at the North Central Division’s Battle at the Beech, held at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, KY. With six Top Alcohol Dragster entries, the RMR team showcased their dominance throughout the weekend, securing their 107th NHRA win, the 6th victory of the season, and their 11th consecutive final round appearance.
In qualifying, RMR’s Scott Dean led the charge, clinching the number one spot with a blistering 5.223-second pass at 278.92 mph. New driver Zach Sackman, making his second race appearance with the team, qualified third with a solid 5.258 at 275.11 mph.
In the first round of eliminations, Scott Dean faced a tough match-up against Jared Dreher. Despite a strong effort, Scott’s 5.317 at 275.34 mph fell just short of Dreher’s 5.324 at 272.01 mph, ending Scott’s weekend early.
Zach Sackman, however, proved to be a formidable competitor. In the opening round, Zach delivered a near-perfect 0.036 reaction time and clocked in at 5.266 seconds at 274.55 mph, defeating Joe Maynard, who struggled to a 5.85-second pass. Zach’s momentum continued into the semi-finals, where he took on motorsports legend Tony Stewart. Despite the challenging hot and greasy track conditions, Zach’s 0.022 reaction time and 5.330 at 269.29 mph run outpaced Stewart, whose car lost traction at the start.
In the final round, Sackman faced off against Jared Dreher, the very driver who had eliminated his teammate earlier in the day. Zach showed his mettle with a 0.032 reaction time and a winning pass of 5.303 seconds at 275.17 mph, securing his first career Top Alcohol Dragster victory. Dreher’s 5.420 at 270.00 mph wasn’t enough to challenge the RMR machine.
“This win means the world to me,” said Zach Sackman. “To get my first Top Alcohol Dragster win with Randy Meyer Racing is an honor. I was kinda just going into the race not really expecting anything because I haven’t made too many runs in the car before and then after running the 5.25 in qualifying I felt pretty confident about race day and I was hitting the tree pretty good. I wasn’t really nervous or anything for the finals, just went up there and did what I had been doing all weekend and came out with the win.”
This victory marks Sackman’s seventh divisional Wally trophy and his first in the Top Alcohol Dragster category. Sackman, like his teammate Scott Dean, is no stranger to the winner’s circle, having previously earned championships in the Top Dragster class. His seamless transition between classes underscores his exceptional driving talent.
Randy Meyer Racing’s success at Beech Bend adds yet another chapter to their storied legacy, bringing their total NHRA wins to 107 and solidifying their place as one of the most successful teams in the sport.
The NASCAR Cup Series will conclude its 26-race regular season at Darlington Raceway this weekend with one of the sport’s oldest and most prestigious events – the Cook Out Southern 500. Two battles will lie within the crown jewel race. Team Chevy’s Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott are set to compete in a three-way battle for the series’ regular season title. For those drivers on the outside looking in, 500 grueling miles around “The Lady in Black” will fill the final three playoff positions and join Team Chevy’s Larson, Elliott, William Byron, Alex Bowman and Daniel Suarez in the chase for the championship title. The Darlington doubleheader weekend will get underway with the NASCAR Xfinity Series in Saturday’s Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200. Coming off yet another top-10 finish that earned him a spot at the top of the series’ points standings, Team Chevy’s Justin Allgaier will look to cap off a season sweep at the South Carolina circuit.
Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway: Sunday will mark the 75th running of the Cook Out Southern 500, with Chevrolet looking to go three-in-a-row in the crown jewel event. One year ago, former series champion Kyle Larson collected his first career Southern 500 victory – also delivering the Hendrick Motorsports engine department its milestone 500th all-time NASCAR national series victory. Prior to that, Petty GMS claimed its first victory in NASCAR’s top division with a playoff upset victory by Erik Jones (Sept. 2022). Undefeated in the Next Gen era, the Bowtie brand leads the series with 29 all-time Southern 500 victories – a record that holds a double-digit advantage over the next leading manufacturer, Ford, with 16. The Next Gen Camaro ZL1 has earned victories in three of its five appearances at Darlington Raceway, with Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, William Byron, collecting the victory in the series’ May 2023 event. Overall, 23 different drivers have recorded a combined 44 all-time Cup Series victories in a Chevrolet-powered machine at the historic South Carolina venue.
PLAYOFF PICTURE WITH ONE-TO-GOWith 25 races complete, just one opportunity lies ahead for the remaining playoff hopefuls to either win or point their way into the final three postseason positions. Among the 13 different drivers that have already solidified their title contentions includes five from the Chevrolet camp: Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, William Byron and Alex Bowman, and Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez.
Of the five winless drivers that remain mathematically in reach of pointing his way into the playoff includes Ross Chastain, who will enter the regular season finale in the 18th position and 27-points below the cutline. The 31-year-old Alva, Florida, native has a pair of top-five finishes in 10 career Cup Series starts at Darlington – one of which came last season in the series’ annual Labor Day event, where he brought home a fifth-place result. While facing a pressure-packed weekend, Chastain does have a boost of confidence on his side, with the Team Chevy driver making a recent trip to Darlington’s victory lane in the Truck Series with Niece Motorsports (May 2024). Six Team Chevy drivers will face a ‘must-win’ scenario this weekend to remain in title contention. Among that list includes Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch, who is one of just two drivers still in search of a playoff berth that has a Cup Series victory at Darlington on his resume. While having just one top-10 finish in the Next Gen era at the track, the 39-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada, native will head to Darlington with a strong wave of momentum since returning from the two-week Olympic break – recording back-to-back top-fives, including a runner-up finish at Daytona last weekend.
AND THE REGULAR SEASON TITLE GOES TO…Team Chevy’s Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott will compete in a three-way battle with Tyler Reddick for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Championship. While all three drivers endured a challenging race at Daytona last weekend, the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 team was able to collect points in both stages and salvage a 21st-place finish to jump back up into the second position in the standings and close the gap to the points lead to just 17 points. Despite suffering a race-ending accident in Stage Two, Elliott still sits third in the standings and 18 points from the lead heading into the regular season finale. The pair of Hendrick Motorsports teammates each have one regular season title to his name, with Larson earning the honors in his championship season (2021) and Elliott taking the title in 2022. Of those three drivers, Larson is the only one to have a Cup Series victory at Darlington on his resume – recorded in the series’ crown jewel event one year ago. In 13 career starts at “The Lady in Black”, the 32-year-old Elk Grove, California, native has accumulated three runner-up finishes and an average finish of 9.417 – stats that rank second-best among the series’ active drivers.
CHEVROLET’S CROWN JEWEL KINGSOn top of the already heightened playoff pressure comes the challenging task of nabbing a victory in a crown jewel event. Among the series’ active drivers includes 14 that have earned a victory in one of NASCAR’s four crown jewel events (Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500). Second on the list of active drivers sits Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch with four career crown jewel victories – one of which came in the Southern 500 in 2008. At a track that favors veteran experience, mixed with the stellar speed displayed by the No. 8 team since the Olympic break, Busch is a leading candidate to capitalize on his ‘must-win’ scenario to claim a playoff berth. Former crown jewel victors that also sit on the outside looking in on the playoffs includes Busch’s teammate, Austin Dillon, with two wins (2018 Daytona 500, 2017 Coca-Cola 600), and JTG Daugherty Racing’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2023 Daytona 500). While already securing a playoff berth this season, Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and William Byron have each earned a spot on the elite list of active crown jewel winners. Larson sits third with three victories – two of which have come over the last year (2023 Southern 500, 2024 Brickyard 400). Byron is one of the most recent drivers to accomplish a crown jewel feat with his victory in the 2024 Daytona 500.
ALLGAIER AT THE TOPNetting yet another stage sweep and his 14th top-10 finish of the season, JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier propelled himself into the top position of the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ points standings with four races remaining in the regular season. Looking to close in on his second career regular season title, Allgaier is carrying the momentum of seven-straight top-10 results to a track where he has found great success. In the series’ last seven appearances at Darlington Raceway, the 38-year-old Riverton, Illinois, native has posted finishes no worse than seventh, including three trips to victory lane (May 2021, May 2022, May 2024).
Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Darlington Raceway: In May, JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier added yet another victory to Chevrolet’s already series-leading win record at Darlington Raceway – delivering the manufacturer its 23rd all-time NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at “The Lady in Black”. The victory also marked Chevrolet’s sixth victory in the past seven Xfinity Series races at the South Carolina venue – a run that dates back to Allgaier’s first of now three career victories at the track in May 2021. Five of those victories have come with a JR Motorsports-prepared Camaro SS, with the pairing of Kyle Larson and Kaulig Racing taking the victory in May 2023.
ECKES’ PODIUM STREAK CONTINUESTo no surprise, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Christian Eckes found his way back to the top of the points standings following the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ playoff opener at the Milwaukee Mile Speedway. The 23-year-old Middletown, New York, native netted a 52-point day by driving his No. 19 Silverado RST to his sixth-straight podium finish and 16th top-10 result in 17 races. The result allowed Eckes to build a 16-point lead in the championship points standings, as well as a 60-point advantage over the playoff cutline. With the first of three races in the Round of 10 complete, five of Team Chevy’s six playoff contenders continue to sit above the cutline, with Eckes leading Nick Sanchez in fourth (+34), Tyler Ankrum in sixth (+13), Daniel Dye in seventh (+9) and Grant Enfinger in eight (+2). The series will remain idle for three weeks, with playoff competition returning under the lights at Bristol Motor Speedway with the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 8 p.m. ET.
BOWTIE BULLETS:· Chevrolet will pace the field for the doubleheader race weekend at Darlington Raceway. The Camaro SS will lead the NASCAR Xfinity Series in Saturday’s Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200; and the Camaro ZL1 will lead the NASCAR Cup Series in Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500. · With 65 races complete across NASCAR’s three national series this season, Chevrolet has earned a winning percentage of 49.2% with 32 victories (NASCAR Cup Series – 11 wins; NASCAR Xfinity Series – 12 wins; NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – nine wins). · Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Darlington Raceway: Kyle Larson – one win (2023 Southern 500)William Byron – one win (May 2023) Kyle Busch – one win (2008 Southern 500) · In 126 NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington Raceway, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 44 victories. In five events in the series’ Next Gen era, Chevrolet has earned three victories – recorded in consecutive events by Erik Jones (Sept. 2022), William Byron (May 2023) and Kyle Larson (Sept. 2023). · In 97 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 48 victories – a winning percentage of 49.5%. · With its 42 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 862 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.
TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 Sunday, Sept. 1, at 6 p.m. ET(USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)
NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200Saturday, August 31, at 3:30 p.m. ET(USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)
QUOTABLE QUOTES:ROSS CHASTAIN, NO. 1 BUSCH RETRO CAMARO ZL1Of the races remaining this season, which track do you look forward to the most?“Darlington is at the top of my list of all of the track we race at. I love driving down to Darlington. I like racing at the track in any series there. Obviously got the win in the truck there earlier this year. That was a huge a deal for me personally because I love Darlington so much.” What’s your outlook for Sunday?“We need to gather a lot of points Sunday night and win. The math is the math. If we have a fast car that will obviously increase our chances. I love Darlington so I can’t think of a better place to be going this weekend. We’ll all know Sunday night if I’m in the playoffs or not. No matter what though, we’re going to keep working hard and going for wins the rest of the season.”
COREY LAJOIE, NO. 7 CHILI’S CATCH-A-RITA CAMARO ZL1Darlington is one of NASCAR’s oldest tracks with a rich history of the sport’s roots. What does it mean to roll off the grid in this historic race?“This is a race I circle on the calendar every year. I have so many great memories here as a kid watching my dad race. I’m excited to give our Chili’s Camaro another great run in Darlington.”
KYLE BUSCH, NO. 8 MORGAN & MORGAN CAMARO ZL1Do you think you can win at Darlington this weekend? “We certainly want to. We ran good there the first time I ran with these RCR guys early last year, but we struggled mightily earlier this year. We’ll just have to go with hopefully a really good package that works and get our job done.” What were your first impressions about racing at Darlington as a Xfinity Series rookie in 2003? “I would say my first impressions of Darlington in 2003 were just how narrow the track was for how fast you were going around there and the lack of grip. It was pretty intimidating for an 18-year old to go into a place like that and run right up next to the wall but make sure you take care of your right side and not hit the wall hard enough to have damage.” Is Darlington a track where you benefit from running either a Truck or Xfinity Series car before the Cup race?“I do think that Darlington is a track that you can benefit from running the Trucks or the Xfinity race because you can get that extra seat time. You can feel out to where the wall is, the grip level, and just being able to anticipate how things will change throughout a run or the race and how to stay on top of it.”
DANIEL HEMRIC, NO. 31 CIRKUL CAMARO ZL1“The Southern 500 is one of those crown-jewel events that’s always a privilege to be a part of. I’m excited to be able to spend some time with my family and see a lot of great fans fill that racetrack for one of the biggest races of the year. I think we have a good opportunity to build off what we had in the spring, so hopefully we have the opportunity to showcase that.”
ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1Bowman on the race track characteristics and his goals at Darlington Raceway:“Darlington (Raceway) has always been one of the most challenging tracks on the circuit. It’s a very unique, tactical and demanding track for the driver. Being the last race remaining before the playoffs, our team would like to secure some additional playoff points and build strong momentum before Atlanta (Motor Speedway). Looking forward to kicking off the last month of the “Win Your Wheels” sweepstakes at the Ally Activation stage in the fan zone on race day as well.”
BLAKE HARRIS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1Harris on the final points-paying race at Darlington Raceway before the playoffs. “If we could win and have the opportunity to carry some bonus points into the playoffs that would be our number one priority. But really, we just need to put together a full race and bring home a decent finish. We’ve had really good race cars the past month or so and not a ton of great finishes to show for it. Some of it due to circumstances out of our control but hopefully we can put together a good race and carry some good momentum into Atlanta (Motor Speedway).”
ZANE SMITH, NO. 71 FOCUSED HEALTH CAMARO ZL1Now you have a Cup Series start at Darlington under your belt, how do you feel going into the weekend?“Darlington is a super tough track, hence its name, but it’s also such a historic place that means so much to this sport. I feel more prepared for the race on Sunday night with the experience from the May race. Looking forward to continue the momentum my No. 71 Spire Motorsports team has been carrying this second half of the season and I’m excited to see what we can accomplish this weekend.”
CARSON HOCEVAR, NO. 77 BON SECOURS/SWAMP RABBITS CAMARO ZL1You’re headed to Darlington this week while on a hot streak the past five races. You finished 26th in the spring, what needs to change to keep the hot streak alive?“I’m excited to go to Darlington. It’s a place I feel like we’re capable of running well. We struggled in the spring, but I’ve always been fast there. We had a good run last year in the Xfinity car and even in the No. 42 Cup car last year with Luke (Lambert). I know the team put in a lot of work to do better this fall, and so did I. We struggled in Richmond in the spring, and we just finished eighth so I know it’s possible to have improved results.”
DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 FREEWAY INSURANCE CAMARO ZL1Are You Ready for Darlington?“Oh yes. I think if you are a NASCAR driver you respect and want to do well at Darlington. It’s such a challenge. It’s a tough track, you have to respect it and race the track as much as you race the rest of the field. Running five hundred miles there isn’t just a mental challenge but a physical challenge as well. If you win there you know you have done something special. We want to win Sunday and get a stage point or two.” With the recent string of good runs, is the No. 99 peaking in time for the 2024 NASCAR Playoffs?“We hope so. That’s been our plan all along was to try some things early in the season and then be running well when the playoffs start. We aren’t exactly where we want to be at the moment, but we are running better. You always want to do better. Daytona wasn’t much fun but we were running well before we had the fire issue which was kind of freak occurrence. We are excited about our chances in the playoffs and can’t wait for Atlanta to get here. Right now, I’m focused on Darlington.”
Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series StatisticsManufacturers 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, 2023Drivers 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: 11Poles: 7Laps Led: 1,948Top-five finishes: 44Top-10 finishes: 96Stage wins: 14· Chase Elliott: 1 · Kyle Larson: 8· Ross Chastain: 1· William Byron: 1· Shane van Gisbergen: 1· Daniel Suarez: 1· Kyle Busch: 1 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 862 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 750Laps led to date: 251,103Top-five finishes to date: 4,342Top-10 finishes to date: 8,956 Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date: General Motors: 1,196 Chevrolet: 862 Pontiac: 154 Oldsmobile: 115 Buick: 65 Ford: 834 Ford: 734 Mercury: 96 Lincoln: 4 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467 Dodge: 217 Plymouth: 191 Chrysler: 59 Toyota: 188
BATAVIA, Ohio (August 28, 2024) – The UNOH “Great Eight” were presented a cash bonus based on their position in the championship point standings for the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship Presented by ARP following the events at Port Royal Speedway. The UNOH Great Eight is the third of four bonus rounds in the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship presented by ARP. The UNOH Great Eight honors the top eight drivers in their pursuit of the record points fund of over $1,000,000. The series champion will receive $200,000, while the top four drivers in the final series point standings will earn a minimum of $100,000 each. Rick Thornton Jr. earned $7,500 from a total of $18,000 paid out to the top eight drivers in the championship standings. Second through eighth – each receiving $1,500 – in the championship standings were Jonathan Davenport, Devin Moran, Hudson O’Neal, Tim McCreadie, Garrett Alberson, Daulton Wilson, and Mike Marlar. UNOH Great Eight Bonus Payout: 1. $7,500, 2. $1,500, 3. $1,500, 4. $1,500, 5. $1,500, 6. $1,500, 7. $1,500, 8. $1,500 = Total $18,000 For the latest news, results, championship standings and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, please visit www.lucasdirt.com. About UNOH – University of Northwest Ohio:Founded in 1920, the University of Northwestern Ohio is an entrepreneurial, not for-profit, university located in Lima, Ohio, situated on 200 acres. In 2020 UNOH celebrated its 100th anniversary of educating students from around the world. There are five colleges within the university: College of Applied Technologies, College of Business, College of Health Professions, College of Occupational Professions, and the Graduate College. The University is known worldwide as a leader in the Automotive, Diesel, and High-Performance industries. UNOH also offers world class degree programs in Business, Health, Marketing, Information Technology, Robotics, and many other fields of study. UNOH is a co-ed campus and has taught students from all 50 states and 69 countries, and currently has nearly 4,000 students enrolled from 50 states and 36 countries. At UNOH there is no out-of-state tuition. UNOH awards Master’s, Bachelor, Associate, and Diploma programs to more than 1,000 students each year at graduation. The University of Northwestern Ohio also offers a variety of athletics including Men’s & Women’s Basketball, Tennis, Golf, Bowling, and Soccer, Women’s Volleyball, Men’s Baseball, Women’s Softball, and six Co-Ed Motorsports teams. For more information, visit www.unoh.edu.
CONCORD, NC (August 28, 2024) – It doesn’t matter if it’s on dirt or pavement: if it has open wheels and requires a push truck, Bryan Gossel has probably driven it.
In addition to the 360 Sprint Car he pilots full-time on the American Sprint Car Series National Tour, Gossel has also competed in 410 Sprint Cars with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars, pavement Sprint Cars in both Winged and Non-Wing configuration, as well as a Silver Crown car in 2024 alone.
But his driving career began in something a little less exhilarating: a Ford Torino.
“My stepmom would not let me drive a car until I was 16 years old,” Gossel said. “I was so determined that, when I turned 16, my Dad was working nights and couldn’t go, so my 14-year-old brother and I went to the track the week I turned 16 by ourselves.
“Literally building a car outside under tarps on an open trailer, we didn’t have a garage back then.”
From that point, it was only a matter of time until Gossel made his way into the family tradition: Sprint Car racing. His cousin is Marlon Jones, a member of the Huset’s Speedway Hall of Fame and a force to be reckoned with across the upper Midwest throughout his three-decade career.
“Marlon Jones was my racing hero,” Gossel said. “That’s what I wanted to do, worked my way to it and I got an opportunity to drive a Sprint Car for a guy in 1998. I was a hired driver, and it was freaking awesome. We won the second night we were out. He helped me get going and that just made me say ‘man, this is awesome,’ and I was hooked on Sprint Cars since then.”
In the years since, Gossel has raced across the nation, bouncing between nearly every open wheel oval series under the sun. For the past five seasons, his schedule has included the longest and most grueling event in all of Sprint Car racing: the Little 500 at Anderson Speedway.
The Memorial Day weekend tradition includes 33 cars battling it out for 500 laps around the paved ¼-mile, with a three-wide start and live pit stops only adding to the challenge.
“The Little 500, you are on kill for 500 laps, two and a half, three hours, however long it takes, because it is so short and there is always something happening,” said Gossel, who has a career-best of 11th from the 2021 edition. “Three years ago, I really committed to getting back into shape because I’m older than most doing this, getting close to 50. I’m not going to fall out of the seat and I’m going to work harder than anybody. Even if it’s just that I’m not going to physically beat them because they’re younger than me, I’m going to outwork them.”
That work ethic has benefitted Gossel in everything he drives, including dirt Sprint Cars. He planned to continue racing those on a pick-and-choose basis in 2024 – until one phone call got the ball rolling in a different direction.
“Wayne Johnson and I have been buddies for 20, 25 years, always talked and helped each other out here and there,” Gossel said. “He said ‘what are you doing next year?’ and I said ‘I don’t know,’ and he’s like ‘well, you should just send Austyn down here with me to Florida. I’ll help him and make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid.’ I was like ‘OK,’ and then I was like ‘well I want to go too.”
“My wife Cendi and [son] Austyn both like the dirt a whole lot better, so I was like ‘let’s just go and see how it plays out.’ We didn’t really have a true game plan. It was kind of like [360] stuff, some 410 stuff, just kind of figured it out. And then once World Racing Group decided to take over ASCS, it was like ‘man, this has got to be a way better deal, let’s get on it, try it and see how it goes.”
Nineteen races into their season as the National Tour’s only two-car team, both Bryan and Austyn have been making steady gains as of late. Austyn scored back-to-back top 10s for the first time at Dodge City Raceway Park and Lincoln County Raceway, while Bryan finished a season-best 13th on Friday night at Big Sky Speedway.
“We found a couple things with the cars, different parts that didn’t work well with our cars,” Gossel said. “Changed those out not that many races ago, and it just made it to where the cars worked better and I felt comfortable. I realized I haven’t been comfortable in the car. Even Dan [Musselman] from Maxim was looking at it and Wayne, they were trying to help me, and they were just like ‘it just don’t look right,’ and I’m like ‘it don’t feel right.’
“So we changed out the rear arms and birdcages, and that really made the cars feel better and get back to where they were more drivable. That definitely made strides there, and then I have to retrain myself to get comfortable in the car again.”
Gossel is currently in the process of doing just that, and his performance in Billings goes to show that he is headed in the right direction.
“Last weekend was the best I’ve felt in the car and it was the most drivable,” Gossel said. “I was actually passing cars and going forward and I was like ‘wow, this is pretty cool.”
Gossel’s debut season on the National Tour will resume this weekend at Electric City Speedway with the two-night Montana Roundup on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 30-31. Tickets are available for purchase in advance here, while those unable to make it to the track can watch all the action live on DIRTVision.
CHEVROLET IN NHRA2024 TOYOTA NHRA U.S. NATIONALS LUCAS OIL INDIANAPOLIS RACEWAY PARK CLERMONT, INDIANA TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE | NOTES & STATS AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 2, 2024 CHEVROLET LOOKS TO RACE TO THE HISTORIC NHRA U.S. NATIONALS WINNER’S CIRCLE WITH JOHN FORCE RACING AT INDIANAPOLIS
Team Chevy looks to race to the Winner’s Circle this weekend at the crown jewel event of the year, the 2024 Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Aug. 29-Sept. 1.Austin Prock, driver of the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, enters the Indianapolis race weekend with a stronghold on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car championship standings, leading Bob Tasca, III by 218 points in second and Matt Hagan by 230 in third.The first to clinch a spot in the Countdown to the Championship in Seattle, Prock has already raced his way to the Winner’s Circle in his debut Funny Car season four times, and a fifth at the season-opening PRO Super Star Shootout event at Bradenton.Racing on behalf of John Force, driver of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, Jack Beckman, a two-time U.S. Nationals winner (2015, 2020).Beckman, who is a decorated 33-time event winner and 2003 Funny Car champion, returns to the seat after a hiatus since 2020 and will accumulate points on behalf of the 16-time champion and is seeking a 17th championship title for Force.While still seeking her first victory since Las Vegas 2 in 2022 and her first U.S. Nationals Wally trophy, Brittany Force, driver of the Chevrolet Accessories Top Fuel dragster, looks to turn around her season at the “Big Go” and shift momentum through the Countdown to the Championship. She currently sits 10th in the points standings heading into the U.S. Nationals.Appropriately, a special Chevrolet Accessories paint scheme will be featured on Brittany’s Top Fuel dragster with John Force Racing, competing in the biggest event of the year.Featured on Force’s Top Fuel dragster for the biggest event of the year, Chevrolet Accessories will adorn her John Force Racing ride for the Indianapolis event.KB Titan Racing holds steady to the first and second positions in the Pro Stock championship standings, with Dallas Glenn leading Greg Anderson by 184 points, while Elite Motorsports’ Erica Enders sits third behind Glenn by 206 points.Additionally in competition this weekend, the FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown COPO Camaros as well as the Factory X Team Chevy teams, will compete for the season’s biggest prize, the prestigious U.S. Nationals Wally trophy.
Quotes:AUSTIN PROCK, DRIVER OF THE CORNWELL TOOLS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:“I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of my Cornwell Tools Chevy Camaro SS. It’s been good to reset after a tough weekend and ready to get back on track! We had a great test session and have been hard at it at JFR to make sure we’re prepared to win! We would love to put Team Chevy in the winner’s circle at our biggest event of the year.”JACK BECKMAN, DRIVER OF THE PEAK ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:“The last year that I raced, (in 2020), the world as falling apart. There were four National events at Indy…but only one U.S. Nationals, and I left with the trophy. Fast Forward four years, and now I am strapped into a Chevy Camaro that I think is the baddest racecar in the pits, driving for the coolest car owner, at the biggest race of the year. We have a realistic shot at winning ‘The Big Go’ for PEAK.”BRITTANY FORCE, DRIVER OF THE CHEVROLET ACCESSORIES TOP FUEL DRAGSTER:“We are at the final race before this countdown kicks off and the biggest of our season. It is going to be a fight for this Chevrolet Accessories team to stay in the top 10 and give ourselves the best shot at chasing down the title this season. We’ve been very successful over the last few seasons in Indy. We have been to the finals in recent years and hope to continue that tradition in 2024 and take home the Wally. “The U.S. Nationals race is the event that everybody wants to win. It is our most prestigious race on the circuit and it is the home to our JFR race team. I feel this team has put in such a great effort over the last two years. Winning this week would be redemption.”
How to Watch:The Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals from Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park airs first with qualifying on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 1 p.m. ET with FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Sunday additionally sees the Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car Callout at 5 p.m. on FOX followed by additional qualifying coverage at 6:30 p.m. ET on FS1. Race day Monday sees Finals airing at 12 p.m. ET on FS1 followed by coverage shifting to FOX at 2 p.m. ET. Coverage streams live throughout the weekend on NHRA.tv, and is available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.
TEAM CHEVY BY THE NUMBERS:1,461: Round wins for John Force (1st all-time). (One round win was captured by Jack Beckman in Brainerd, 2024 while racing on behalf of Force who is currently recovering from an on-track incident in Richmond, 2024).626: Round wins for Robert Hight; 13th all-time. Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), sits 12th, with 631.167: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for John Force (1st all-time).165: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins since 1967.84: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Robert Hight (6th all-time). Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel) is fifth with 88.85: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins with the Camaro SS body.47: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Brittany Force.28: Number of NHRA championships Chevrolet holds as a manufacturer since entering the first in 1966. This is the seventh-consecutive award and ninth in 11 seasons. No other manufacturer has won it more than Chevrolet.26: Wins by John Force in a Chevrolet-bodied Funny Car.20: Chevrolet career Top Fuel wins in NHRA.16: Number of Chevrolet career wins by Brittany Force.7: Number of Funny Car driver championships.2: Number of Top Fuel driver championships.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (August 27, 2024) – In a town in which his great grandfather raced in the Indy 500, in which his grandfather reached the Funny Car semifinals at the 1977 U.S. Nationals and in which his dad tuned Robert Hight to a trio of Labor Day victories, Austin Prock hopes to add to the family legacy this week at the wheel of the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS. The 29-year-old, who took a circular path to a straight-line career, already has clinched the No. 1 starting spot in the NHRA’s upcoming Countdown to the Championship and, as a result, will be the Funny Car favorite when pro qualifying begins Friday in the 70th renewal of the world’s biggest drag race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Nevertheless, the winner of the pre-season PRO Superstar Shootout is coming off what he characterized as the worst driving performance of his career during the Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd, Minn., where he suffered a rare starting line lapse that resulted in a .118 reaction time and a second round loss. Rivals don’t expect the former quarter midget, sprint car and Top Fuel driver to stumble in a such fashion moving forward, however. Statistically, he has been one of the best in the sport at the starting line. In 38 competitive rounds leading up to his Brainerd elimination, in fact, the professionally trained chef’s average reaction time was .064; his best was .043, his worst .090. “I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel,” Prock said. “It’s been good to reset after a tough weekend and I’m ready to get back on track. We had a great test session and have been hard at it to make sure we’re prepared to win! We would love to put Team Chevy (with Top Fuel teammate Brittany Force) in the winners’ circle at our biggest event of the year.” A four-time Mission Foods tour winner this year and the No. 1 qualifier in nine of 13 events, Prock is driving a Cornwell Camaro widely-known as the “Prock Rocket” insomuch as it is driven by a Prock and prepared by crew anchored by two others – dad Jimmy and brother Thomas. * * * * 70th U.S. NATIONALS SCHEDULEFriday, August 30Nitro qualifying, session #1, 8 p.m., EDT.Saturday, August 31Nitro qualifying session #2, 1 p.m., EDT; nitro qualifying session #3, 3:30 p.m., EDTSunday, Sept. 1Nitro qualifying session #4, 1:20 p.m., EDT; Nitro qualifying session #5, 3:30 p.m., EDTMonday, Sept. 2First round eliminations, 10:00 a.m., EDT JFR ON FS1 and FOX Broadcast Network
Racing on Force’s Behalf, Beckman Tries to ‘Repeat’ in 70th U.S. Nationals
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (August 27, 2024) – He’s not the defending champion at the U.S. Nationals, but Jack Beckman did win it the last time he was in it, which is a source of considerable optimism as the 2016 World Champion climbs back into the seat of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS to compete in this week’s 70th renewal of drag racing’s biggest single event. “The last year I raced, the world was falling apart,” Beckman said of a 2020 season heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “There were four national events at Indy (that year) but only one U.S. Nationals – and I left with the trophy.” A two-time U.S. Nationals champion and three-time runner-up, Beckman beat then teammate Tommy Johnson Jr. in the final round at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on Sept. 6, 2020. Two months later, both were out of a job, victimized by the bane of all big-time auto racers, loss of sponsorship. “Fast forward four years and now I am strapped into a Chevy Camaro that I think is the baddest race car in the pits,” said the 58-year-old who overcame cancer to become an NHRA World Champion in two different categories (he was the Super Comp champion in 2003). “I’m driving for the coolest car owner at the biggest race of the year (and) I think we have a realistic shot at winning ‘The Big Go’ for PEAK and John Force.” That he is back in an elite car at the most prestigious event on the planet is a bit surreal to the 33-time Funny Car winner who got an opportunity he never expected after Force, the 16-time World Champion and 157-time race winner, suffered a TBI (traumatic brain injury) in a June 23 crash at Richmond, Va. At the time of the accident, Beckman was working as an elevator repairman, the same job he left in 2006 to go racing full-time. It’s a day job to which he will return on Tuesday. In the meantime, he’ll focus all his attention on the little side hustle he’s been able to put together: earning Mission Foods championship points on Force’s behalf. In his first race in that capacity, the longtime driving instructor at Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School qualified a solid sixth, won his first round race and, in so doing, earned enough points to move Force from sixth to fifth in the driver standings. The challenge this week will be to maintain position, which could be significant when points are adjusted for the start of the six-race Countdown to the Championship. * * * * 70th U.S. NATIONALS SCHEDULE Friday, August 30Nitro qualifying, session #1, 8 p.m., EDT.Saturday, August 31Nitro qualifying session #2, 1 p.m., EDT; nitro qualifying session #3, 3:30 p.m., EDTSunday, Sept. 1Nitro qualifying session #4, 1:20 p.m., EDT; Nitro qualifying session #5, 3:30 p.m., EDTMonday, Sept. 2First round eliminations, 10:00 a.m., EDT JFR ON FS1 and FOX Broadcast NetworkSunday, Sept. 1Qualifying show #1, 1-3 p.m., EDT, on FS1Qualifying show #2, 6:30-8:30 p.m., EDT on FS1Monday, Sept. 2Opening rounds of eliminations, 12 noon-2 p.m., EDT, on FS1Coverage of final rounds, 2-5 p.m., EDT, on FOX
INDIANAPOLIS (August 28, 2024) — The most prestigious national event in drag racing, the 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals, will feature one of the biggest fields of Dodge Drag Paks, Chevrolet COP Camaros and Ford Cobra Jets competing in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series. Beginning with two rounds of qualifying on Friday, factory stock competitors from across the country will be racing to post the quickest elapsed times to position themselves for race day success on Monday, September 2. Through seven races this season five different drivers have stood in the winner’s circle including two first-time Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series winners, David Janac and Scott Libersher. As the most recent winner of the Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, Libersher won for the first time and will carry the $1,000 Flexjet bounty into Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
“The win in Brainerd was so special because we have been working so hard for so long,” said Libersher. “We have the bounty this race and there would be nothing more incredible than to hold onto that $1,000 because it would mean we won the biggest race of the season, the U.S. Nationals. I have won a few rounds at the U.S. Nationals, but it is a tough race to win. They are all tough, but Indy is especially tough.”
Scott Libersher heads to U.S. Nationals on heels of Lucas Oil Nationals Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown win, photo credit Auto Imagery
For Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown point leader Stephen Bell, a win this weekend at the Toyota U.S. Nationals would continue a magical season for the racer from Shreveport, La. Bell, who was the championship runner-up in 2023, has secured three wins and two runner-up finishes with the dazzling red COPO Camaro. He has also captured the Flexjet Bounty on one occasion. Bell has been runner-up twice at the U.S. Nationals narrowly missing the winner’s circle in 2017 and again last year.
“I think every racer has a love/hate relationship with the U.S. Nationals. We have had some success but also some heartbreak,” said Bell. “The competition between the Chevys, Dodges and Fords should be good and there are over a dozen drivers who have a serious shot of winning. The one thing about Indy is anything can happen. You will have to be on your game for four straight days with qualifying and eliminations. That is not easy. I love this race and I am excited to get there.”
Point leader Stephen Bell heads to U.S. Nationals with three Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown wins in 2024, photo credit Auto Imagery
Ohioan Mark Pawuk sits third in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown point standings and he is another two-time U.S. Nationals runner-up who would like to see the final win light of race day light up in his lane on Monday. Pawuk and his Dodge Drag Pak sponsored by Empaco finished second in 2018 and 2020 and he has his eyes on winning the biggest race of the season. In addition to Pawuk’s season-opening win at the Gatornationals, he has a runner-up finish at the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio and he collected the Flexjet bounty at the Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals.
“This is a race I have dreamt of winning,” said Pawuk, who was also runner-up as a Pro Stock competitor. “I had three races on my bucket list coming into this season. The Gatornationals which we won. The Summit Nationals in Norwalk, my home track, where we came close with a runner-up and the U.S. Nationals. Winning the U.S. Nationals is right up there with a world championship in my opinion.”
The U.S. Nationals will feature the 2024 Flexjet season debut of Lindsay Wheelock and her Dodge Drag Pak, Peter Gasko Jr., behind the wheel of his Chevrolet COPO Camaro and the Dodge Challenger of Alan Scruggs. This will be Scruggs’ second U.S. Nationals and the first time he has been back in action since the 2022 U.S. Nationals. Wheelock will be racing in her fifth U.S. Nationals and Gasko will be making his fifth start as well. The rest of the field is comprised of some of the best factory stock racers including Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals winner Ricky Hord, Thunder Valley Nationals winner David Janac and Chicago Nationals runner-up Lee Hartman to name a few drivers who have a legitimate shot at winning the race.
The quickest Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge competitors will race through five rounds of competition looking to collect the iconic Wally trophy at the eighth Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series national event of 2024. Qualifying for the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series will begin on Friday, August 30 with two sessions followed by a final session on Saturday evening. Two rounds of eliminations will be contested on Sunday with the final three rounds of eliminations culminating on Monday, September 2. The race will be broadcast on FS1 and FOX throughout the weekend.
2024 Flexjet Bounty Program Gatornationals (Gainesville, Fla.) $1,000 bounty collected by Mark Pawuk, defeated Stephen Bell (Norwalk winner)
Winternationals (Pomona, Calif.) $1,000 bounty collected by David Davies II, defeated Mark Pawuk (Gatornationals winner)
Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals (Las Vegas, Nev.) $1,000 bounty collected by Mark Pawuk, defeated Stephen Bell (Winternationals winner)
Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals (Bristol, Tenn.) $1,000 bounty collected by David Janac, defeated Stephen Bell (Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 Nationals winner)
Summit Racing Equipment Nationals (Norwalk, Ohio) $1,000 bounty collected by Stephen Bell, defeated David Janac (Thunder Valley Nationals winner)
Lucas Oil Nationals (Brainerd, Minn.) $1,000 bounty collected by David Janac, defeated Stephen Bell (Summit Racing Equipment Nationals winner)
Toyota U.S. Nationals (Indianapolis, Ind.) Scott Libersher has $1,000 bounty
2024 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Results Gainesville – Mark Pawuk, winner; Stephen Bell, runner-up Pomona – Stephen Bell, winner; David Davies II, runner-up Las Vegas1 – Ricky Hord, winner; David Janac, runner-up Chicago – Stephen Bell, winner; Lee Hartman, runner-up Bristol – David Janac, winner; Stephen Bell, runner-up Norwalk – Stephen Bell, winner; Mark Pawuk, runner-up Brainerd – Scott Libersher, winner; David Janac, runner-up Indianapolis – TBD Reading – TBD St. Louis – TBD
2024 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Points
Stephen Bell 588
Mark Pawuk 492
David Janac 475
Ricky Hord 366
Scott Libersher 334
Lee Hartman 326
Tony Scott Jr. 279
David Davies III 273
Doug Hamp 257
Anthony Troyer 240
2024 FLEXJET NHRA FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN SCHEDULE Sept. 12-15 39th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals, Reading, Pa. Sept. 27-29 13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, St. Louis, Mo.
MOORESVILLE, NC – August 27, 2024 – Today, the NC Chamber announced that Roush Yates Engines’ V6 Twin-Turbo EcoBoost Engine for Limited Edition Ford GT Mk IV has been nominated for the “Coolest Thing Made in NC” competition. The contest spotlights North Carolina’s cutting-edge manufacturing industry—an industry that generates more than 17% of the gross state product and employs more than 10% of the state’s workforce.
“Thanks to the NC Chamber for this recognition, this Twin-Turbo EcoBoost pushes the limits of technology and engine development,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Our team spent countless hours on the design and development of this engine, and to see these engines built in Mooresville, NC is testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff!”
This engine was engineered, validated and built by Roush Yates Engines in partnership with Ford Performance to maximize performance and durability in a track day application. The V6 Twin-Turbo EcoBoost Engine has a larger bore and stroke, making it the largest displacement EcoBoost V6 ever, along with 12% larger turbochargers, plus Le Mans race winning inspired billet crank, forged titanium rods and billet pistons.
This engine is the heart and soul of the new Ford GT Mk IV ($1,700,000 Supercar) that nods to the year that the original Mk IV won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with just sixty-seven of these hand-built supercars to be produced. This specially engineered twin-turbo engine produces 800+ horsepower and over 680 LB-FT peak torque on 93 pump gasoline. For more about the V6 Twin-Turbo EcoBoost Engine, click here.
Inside Ford GT MK IV – 1:58.77 COTA GT lap record
Inside Ford GT MK IV – 1:58.77 COTA GT lap record
Earlier this year, Multimatic and driver Benjamin Sloss recorded a lap of 1:58:77 with the Ford GT Mk IV, unofficially making it the fastest GT car to lap COTA!
The public voting for this statewide contest has just opened, and we need your support to advance. The competition highlights North Carolina’s dynamic manufacturing sector, and our engine is one of the standout nominees among 145 incredible products this year.
Click here to cast your vote for Roush Yates Engines’ V6 Twin-turbo EcoBoost Engine. Voting is now open and will continue through August 29th @ 9:00 PM. Limit one entry per day. Please vote daily!
BATAVIA, Ohio (August 27, 2024) – The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series dives into the Labor Day weekend with a Saturday-Sunday doubleheader at Portsmouth Raceway Park and Tyler County Speedway on August 31 and September 1. The action kicks off on Saturday, August 31 when the tour returns to Portsmouth Raceway Park for the River Days Rumble. The event features a complete show of: Dirt Draft Hot Laps, Allstar Performance Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and a 50-lap, $15,000-to-win main event. Saturday’s racing action at Portsmouth Raceway Park will also include a full program for the Sport Modified division. The pit gate at Portsmouth Raceway Park will open at 2:00 PM with the general admission gate opening at 4:00 PM. Hot Laps will begin at 6:30 PM with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Portsmouth Raceway Park is a 3/8-mile oval located approximately 1 mile west of Downtown Portsmouth, Ohio at 25648 State Route 73. For more information on Portsmouth Raceway Park, please visit www.portsraceway.com. On Sunday, September 1 teams will travel to Tyler County Speedway for the 56th Annual Hillbilly Hundred – Presented by Arizona Sport Shirts. America’s oldest running dirt late model crown jewel event includes a complete program of: Dirt Draft Hot Laps, Allstar Performance Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and a 100-lap, $30,000-to-win main event. The Ohio Valley Legend Car Series, RUSH Dirt Late Model Series, and SCDRA 4-Cylinders will also be in competition on Sunday, September 1 at Tyler County Speedway. The pit gate will close at 1:30 PM and reopen at 2:00 PM. The general admission gates will open at 2:00 PM. On-track racing action will begin at 6:00 PM with Hot Laps for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Tyler County Speedway, better known as “America’s Baddest Bullring” is a 1/4-mile bullring located 3 miles south of Middlebourne, W. Va. at the Tyler County Fairgrounds on State Route 18. A mere 18 miles east of the Ohio River, halfway between Parkersburg in the south and Wheeling in the North. To learn more about Tyler County Speedway and the 56th Hillbilly Hundred, or to purchase tickets, please visit www.tylercountyspeedwayonline.com. Following the UNOH Great Eight bonus round, Ricky Thornton Jr. maintains his lead in the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship, presented by ARP. Jonathan Davenport now holds second place, followed by Devin Moran, Hudson O’Neal, and Tim McCreadie. Drake Troutman leads the O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Year chase. 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:Portsmouth Raceway Park – August 31: 1. $15,000, 2. $7,000, 3. $5,000, 4. $4,000, 5. $3,000, 6. $2,500, 7. $2,400, 8. $2,300, 9. $2,200, 10. $2,100, 11. $2,000, 12. $1,800, 13. $1,600, 14. $1,500, 15. $1,400, 16. $1,300, 17. $1,200, 18. $1,100, 19. $1,000, 20. $1,000, 21. $1,000, 22. $1,000, 23. $1,000, 24. $1,000 = $63,400 Tyler County Speedway – September 1: 1. $30,000, 2. $15,000, 3. $7,000, 4. $5,500, 5. $4,500, 6. $3,500, 7. $3,000, 8. $2,500, 9. $2,400, 10. $2,300, 11. $2,200, 12. $2,100, 13. $2,000, 14. $1,900, 15. $1,800, 16. $1,750, 17. $1,700, 18. $1,650, 19. $1,600, 20. $1,550, 21. $1,550, 22. $1,500, 23. $1,500, 24. $1,500, 25. $1,500, 26. $1,500 = $103,000 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Tire Rule:Left Rear/Fronts – Hoosier (90) NLMT2, (90) NLMT3 Right Rear – Hoosier (92) NLMT2, (92) NLMT3, (92) NLMT4 Hillbilly Hundred Past Winners:2023 – Jonathan Davenport2022 – Kyle Larson2021 – Rained Out2020 – Covid-192019 – Josh Richards2018 – Brandon Overton2017 – Jonathan Davenport2016 – Scott Bloomquist2015 – Scott Bloomquist2014 – Don O’Neal2013 – Jimmy Owens2012 – Mike Marlar2011 – Rained Out2010 – Scott Bloomquist2009 – Ray Cook2008 – Jimmy Owens2007 – Eddie Carrier Jr.2006 – Earl Pearson Jr.2005 – Clint Smith2004 – Mike Marlar2003 – Chub Frank2002 – Billy Moyer2001 – Donnie Moran2000 – Davey Johnson1999 – Davey Johnson1998 – Steve Shaver1997 – Rod Conley1996 – Todd Andrews1995 – Bart Hartman1994 – Bill Frye1993 – Davey Johnson1992 – Rodney Combs1991 – Rodney Combs1990 – Buck Simmons1989 – Donnie Moran1988 – Donnie Moran1987 – Jack Boggs1986 – Jack Boggs1985 – Jack Boggs1984 – Larry Moore1983 – Freddy Smith1982 – Charlie Swartz1981 – Freddy Smith1980 – Rodney Combs1979 – Danny Dean1978 – Gene McNeely1977 – Rained Out1976 – Bob Wearing, Sr.1975 – Bob Wearing, Sr.1974 – Bob Wearing, Sr.1973 – Bob Wearing, Sr.1972 – Dorus Wisecarver1971 – Danny Dean1970 – Clate Husted1969 – Rained Out1968 – Ray Neece1967 – Don Gregory
Of the five winless drivers that remain mathematically in reach of pointing his way into the playoff includes Ross Chastain, who will enter the regular season finale in the 18th position and 27-points below the cutline. The 31-year-old Alva, Florida, native has a pair of top-five finishes in 10 career Cup Series starts at Darlington – one of which came last season in the series’ annual Labor Day event, where he brought home a fifth-place result. While facing a pressure-packed weekend, Chastain does have a boost of confidence on his side, with the Team Chevy driver making a recent trip to Darlington’s victory lane in the Truck Series with Niece Motorsports (May 2024). 
Six Team Chevy drivers will face a ‘must-win’ scenario this weekend to remain in title contention. Among that list includes Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch, who is one of just two drivers still in search of a playoff berth that has a Cup Series victory at Darlington on his resume. While having just one top-10 finish in the Next Gen era at the track, the 39-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada, native will head to Darlington with a strong wave of momentum since returning from the two-week Olympic break – recording back-to-back top-fives, including a runner-up finish at Daytona last weekend. 
ALLGAIER AT THE TOPNetting yet another stage sweep and his 14th top-10 finish of the season, JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier propelled himself into the top position of the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ points standings with four races remaining in the regular season. Looking to close in on his second career regular season title, Allgaier is carrying the momentum of seven-straight top-10 results to a track where he has found great success. In the series’ last seven appearances at Darlington Raceway, the 38-year-old Riverton, Illinois, native has posted finishes no worse than seventh, including three trips to victory lane (May 2021, May 2022, May 2024). 
ECKES’ PODIUM STREAK CONTINUESTo no surprise, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Christian Eckes found his way back to the top of the points standings following the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ playoff opener at the Milwaukee Mile Speedway. The 23-year-old Middletown, New York, native netted a 52-point day by driving his No. 19 Silverado RST to his sixth-straight podium finish and 16th top-10 result in 17 races. The result allowed Eckes to build a 16-point lead in the championship points standings, as well as a 60-point advantage over the playoff cutline. With the first of three races in the Round of 10 complete, five of Team Chevy’s six playoff contenders continue to sit above the cutline, with Eckes leading Nick Sanchez in fourth (+34), Tyler Ankrum in sixth (+13), Daniel Dye in seventh (+9) and Grant Enfinger in eight (+2). The series will remain idle for three weeks, with playoff competition returning under the lights at Bristol Motor Speedway with the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 8 p.m. ET. 
Manufacturer Points Standings
Manufacturer Points Standings
Manufacturer Points Standings