Oklahoma racer also dipping into driver coaching in weekly Micro Sprint races at Millbridge Speedway

CONCORD, NC (March 22, 2024) – Cannon McIntosh’s climb back to the top of the points standings with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota has not been easy, considering where he was only six months ago.

The 21-year-old from Bixby, OK, watched his championship hopes evaporate in the final race of the season last October, suffering an early DNF while Jade Avedisian completed a comeback of her own to clinch the Series title with Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM).

Fast forward to March, and McIntosh has reunited with his former team at KKM – where he’d not raced in over three years – and has already been to Victory Lane. His Feature win last Saturday inside the Southern Illinois Center marked his first in 23 starts with the Xtreme Outlaw Series in his first weekend back in national Midget series competition with KKM.

After so much time apart, why was 2024 the year for his return to Midget racing’s most decorated team?

“I needed a change anyway; just a good reset,” McIntosh said. “I feel like this was the place to land. No better place to land when you need a good reset than with the best team.”

McIntosh admits that after such a dominant start to 2023 – winning four of the first seven races which led to leading the points standings for most of the year – the second half of the season fell short of his standards.

Coming into championship weekend in October, he had not won a Feature on tour since May and had only seven top-five finishes in the previous 16 races. Even after climbing into a CB Industries-backed operation for the final weekend of the season, McIntosh’s efforts to untangle his late-season struggles proved fruitless as he dropped back to a fourth-place finish in the Series standings.

“I don’t know what exactly I was struggling with,” McIntosh said. “Obviously, I had made a team transition in the middle of a championship battle. There was just a lot of factors, and it was really, really tough. It definitely made a mental struggle as well, just trying to stay super motivated and trying to keep your confidence up when there was nothing to show for it.

“That was definitely a big battle for a long time, I felt like. But I felt like I never really stopped working, training and doing all the things I could do, and just waiting for the right things to fall into place.”

But that’s all behind him now. McIntosh said KKM co-owners Keith Kunz and Pete Willoughby contacted him before the Chili Bowl Nationals in January and expressed their desire to have him return to the team for the marquee event and evaluate their options for regular season racing soon after.

They set up an agreement to race together in 2024 with numerous Xtreme and USAC events on the schedule, and McIntosh has never been more ready to take on the national scene.

“With the reset and going to Keith, I really had something to motivate me,” McIntosh said. “I know in the back of my head I have a whole team depending on me to go perform. So, when you have that, you want to push yourself whether it’s in the gym, whether it’s what you eat, what you watch… there’s plenty of factors.”

A fifth-place run on opening night in Du Quoin followed by a win the next night is a strong start for he and the team. But successful operations revolve around more than just results, and McIntosh has felt the communication, flow and comradery around the KKM pit already.

“Everyone showed up, worked hard and I feel like the chemistry was good all around,” McIntosh said. “From Beau [Binder] to Keith, to the tire guys, car chiefs, crew chiefs – it was good.”

To supplement his education as a driver, McIntosh has taken up crew chief and car ownership duties in 2024 as well with his all-new Cannon McIntosh Driver Development program. He and Robert Dalby – former crew chief at Dave Mac-Dalby Motorsports – have reunited to take-in and coach up-and-coming racers via Millbridge Speedway’s weekly Micro Sprint events with equipment of their own.

McIntosh already has multiple drivers lined-up to take seat time in his program, keeping him occupied with racing seven days a week – in the shop or at the track.

“It really can help develop your people skills too,” McIntosh said. “You work on communication skills with the driver; you can kinda pick up things too as the night goes on in the race night with the new driver and learn new things in yourself.”

McIntosh and KKM are back in action with the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets in two weeks for a doubleheader in Missouri – Friday, April 5, at US 36 Raceway and Saturday, April 6, at Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex.

Tickets for both events are on sale now at XtremeOutlawSeries.com and will also be available at the gate on race day. If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

Richard Childress Racing at Circuit of The Americas… RCR has six starts at the 3.410-mile, 20-turn road course in Austin, Texas with two top-five and four top-10 finishes led by Kyle Busch’s second-place finish in 2023. RCR has one pole position at COTA, with Tyler Reddick at the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race in 2021. RCR in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Circuit of The Americas… RCR has five starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Circuit of The Americas led by Austin Hill’s second-place finish in 2022. The Welcome, N.C., company has collected three other top-10 finishes. Catch Saturday’s Action… The Focused Health 250 at Circuit of The Americas will be televised live on Saturday, March 23 at 5 p.m. ET on FS1 and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.  Follow Sunday’s Action in Austin… The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix will be televised live on Sunday, March 24 beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX. The race will also be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Circuit of The Americas… Austin Dillon has made three previous NASCAR Cup Series starts at Circuit of The Americas, finishing 10th in 2022 and earning a 12th-place finish in 2021. Dillon showed speed, gained stage points, and had a strong race before a late-race incident in 2023.  Delivering Performance on the Track and For the Planet… Dillon will race the Get Bioethanol Chevy at the Circuit of The Americas, showcasing the performance benefits of racing with earth kind and engine-smart bioethanol blended fuel, Sunoco Green E15. Whether it’s delivering cleaner and cooler high-octane on the racetrack or a more affordable option for summer road trips, plant-based bioethanol makes a positive impact on our planet. NASCAR drivers have now officially raced 23 million NASCAR miles driven on Sunoco Green E15, a notable milestone for the environment as NASCAR’s partnership with Get Bioethanol has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent across its three national touring series while also increasing horsepower on the track. Learn more about bioethanol at getbioethanol.com. AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:What are your thoughts on Circuit of The Americas? “COTA is an exciting and technically challenging track to race on. There is a lot of havoc created in Turn One. The new restart rule should resolve some of these issues. At the end of the race last year, we were wiped out in Turn One after running very well inside the top 10. In several areas, there is new pavement, and several spots on the track have been patched. I feel like the key to the race will be having good pit stops and keeping our Get Bioethanol Chevy clean.”

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 Mark III Employee Benefits Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Circuit of The Americas… Kyle Busch scored a second-place finish one year ago at Circuit of The Americas, his best finish in three starts at the 3.410-mile road course and first top-five effort. The driver of the Mark III Employee Benefits Chevrolet has two top 10s and has completed all 198 possible laps. His best starting position entering this weekend is fourth-place, which came in the first-ever Cup event at the track located in Austin, Texas. Busch won from the pole position in his only NASCAR Xfinity Series race at COTA in 2021, leading 35 of 46 laps. The Las Vegas, Nev., native has two NASCAR Truck Series starts at Circuit of The Americas, highlighted by a second-place finish in 2023. Road Course Prowess… In 2023, Busch racked up three top-five finishes and finished with the fourth most points scored in road course races in the Cup Series. Busch has 52 career road course starts at NASCAR’s highest level and has racked up four wins (two at Sonoma Raceway and two at Watkins Glen International) plus 19 top-five and 28 top-10 finishes. About Mark III Employee Benefits… Mark III Employee Benefits is a family owned, operated, and licensed brokerage and consulting firm since 1973 and is the benefits provider for Richard Childress Racing. The company serves over 150 public sector clients and insure over 300,000 employees throughout Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Mark III Employee Benefits is qualified to evaluate, design, implement, manage, and enhance overall benefits program. Services and areas of expertise for the company include medical consulting, benefit administration, compliance updates, wellness programs and online enrollment platforms. For more information, log on to https://markiiieb.com/. KYLE BUSCH QUOTES:Have you seen where the track at Circuit of The Americas has been repaved and patched? How will that impact the race? “I don’t think it’s going to impact the race any. I think they got rid of a bump on the exit of turn one, and I think they did a little bit into the backstretch straightaway through 12 or 13, and then out of the carousel and into 19. I don’t foresee it changing a whole lot. Like you’ll have lack of grip probably through the carousel, and then you’ll pick up the grip on the exit and be able to go much faster through 19. But then out of 19, it’s back to the old asphalt and Turn 20 is very slow with old asphalt being as slick as it is. I don’t know that it really opens up any more opportunities of passing or anything like that, just smoother surface I would imagine.” Last year at Circuit of The Americas there were four cautions in the last 15 laps of the race. How mentally challenging is that for a driver? “I would say that last year’s caution periods towards the end of the race were a challenge because you kept having to go through the restarts so thinking about what line you wanted to line up in and where you needed to be in order to position yourself for the restart all the dive bombs and the disrespect that keeps happening getting into Turn 1 is always an issue so you’ve got to be ready for that, mindful that you know that’s going to be happening so from there you hope for the best.” Do you prefer stage cautions on road courses or had you rather the race stay green? “I do not prefer stage cautions on road courses and don’t think that they should be there because of the fact that people jump the stages or they stay out in order to steal points from those that jumped the stages knowing when the cautions are going to fall. I definitely feel like it throws off the strategy of the race for a lot of people but when we were at Watkins Glen last fall, we needed those stage cautions so we could put ourselves back in position when we got behind on our pit road issues.”

Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet Camaro SS at Circuit of The Americas… Jesse Love will make his inaugural Xfinity Series start at Circuit of The Americas this Saturday. Despite making his first road course start behind of the wheel of the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet, the 19-year-old has experience at the Austin, Texas circuit. Love competed in three endurance racing events at the 3.41-mile course in 2023.  Career-Best Finish… With a second-place effort at Phoenix Raceway, Love not only captured his first top-five result but his career-best Xfinity Series finish.  ROTY Leader… Through four races, Love continues to lead the Sunoco Rookie of the Year point standings. After a top-five finish in Arizona, the Menlo Park, California native extended his lead to 44 points over second-place Shane van Gisbergen.  About Whelen Engineering… Whelen Engineering is a family-owned company with a pioneering spirit and a passion to protect the lives of those who protect and serve others. The company mission is to provide industry-defining safety solutions around the world, while creating a community of problem-solvers who are inspired to push boundaries and continue our legacy of delivering ground-breaking innovation. As a global leader in the emergency warning industry, Whelen has been trusted to perform since 1952, when George Whelen III invented the first rotating aviation beacon. Whelen now encompasses two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire with over 750,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing space and the largest design staff in the industry. Every part of every Whelen product is proudly designed and manufactured in America. We embrace quality as our foundation, we celebrate innovative engineering in every product we produce. Meet Love… On Saturday, March 23 at 12:50 p.m. local time, Love is scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Trailer located in the Fan Zone at Circuit of The Americas. Stop by to meet the rookie driver and purchase new gear. JESSE LOVE QUOTES:What are your thoughts heading into your first road course race at Circuit of The Americas?“I enjoy road course racing and I think I’m pretty good at it. I enjoy racing at COTA and it’s probably my best road course. I have a decent amount of laps there compared to other road courses we’ll go to this season. With those laps under my belt, I know the intricacies of the place, so I know what needs to be done behind the wheel instead of guessing. Leading into this weekend, I’ve done a lot of sim time and work with Josh Wise and Scott Speed. I feel like it’s an easy way to set yourself apart when you know more than the guy next to you. It matters more on a road course compared to an oval.” Four races into the season. Assess how the year has started for the No. 2 team. “Up and down. With the exception of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, I feel like we have had a shot to run really well – whether that be competing for the win, or a top-five finish. At Phoenix Raceway, I tried to run 90-95% and have a smooth day without issues. Going into COTA, I’m going to be aggressive and drive hard. Now that we’ve had a good run, I want to go win and lock ourselves into the Playoffs.”

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation and Logistics Chevrolet Camaro SS at Circuit of The Americas… Austin Hill has two career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Circuit of The Americas, posting a best finish of second in 2022. Last season, Hill faced a mechanical problem that retired the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet early on lap 13. The Winston, Georgia native also has one NASCAR Truck Series start at the Austin, Texas facility, earning a ninth-place finish in 2021.  Bennett in the Lone Star State… McDonough, Georgia-based Bennett Transportation and Logistics is two-stepping into Texas with the support of three of their local companies. BOSS, RoadMasters, and American Eagle logos will adorn the decklid of the No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro, representing Bennett Family of Companies’ Texas footprint in the transportation and logistics industry. A quarter of the company’s employees live in the great state of Texas, handling freight with truckers coming in and out of the state every day, and over 30 Texas-based employees, drivers, customers, and freight agents will be on property to cheer on Hill. Did You Know? Hill is one of only two drivers who have finished inside the top-five in each of the first four Xfinity Series events. The 29-year-old has opened the 2024 campaign with two consecutive wins and two consecutive fourth-place results.   About Bennett Family of Companies… McDonough-Ga. based Bennett Family of Companies is a woman-owned, Women’s Enterprise Business Council (WBENC) certified, diversified transportation and logistics company. Through its 14 affiliated operating companies, the Bennett Family of Companies delivers integrated transportation and supply chain management solutions worldwide. Bennett has 4,625 drivers/owner-operators, over 1,000 employees and 600 agents located across the United States. For more information, visit www.bennettig.com. AUSTIN HILL QUOTE:How are you feeling heading into the first road course race of the season?“I feel confident in our road course package. Over the last two years, our No. 21 Richard Childress Racing team has continued to build a notebook of info for our road course package, and I think it’s in a good place. Last year at COTA, we had a shifting issue during the race, and we were only able to race a total of 13 laps. That issue was resolved quickly, so we should be able to have another strong run like our rookie season together. Our Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet has been consistent the first four races this season, so the top-five streak has a good chance of continuing. It’s not going to be easy though with the depth of good road course racers in the field.”

NASCAR SET FOR FIRST ROAD COURSE RACE OF 2024 SEASONNASCAR is set to make its fourth appearance at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) this weekend, with the 3.41-mile circuit hosting the series’ first road course race of the season. Arguably one of the most technical circuits on the schedule, the course lies within the rolling hills of Austin, Texas – featuring 20-turns and just over 130 feet of elevation change. COTA welcomed Formula One for the circuits’ inaugural event in November 2012, and the venue has since hosted some of the most pristine series in motorsports with NASCAR being the latest addition in 2021.  Chevrolet returns to COTA with a pair of victories in both the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS), with the manufacturer looking to continue its undefeated season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) by picking up its first win in the series at the circuit.

Chevrolet at Circuit of The Americas: Milestone MemoriesTeam Chevy’s Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain took Chevrolet on a pair of memorable trips to victory lane in the NASCAR Cup Series’ first two events at Circuit of The Americas.

In the series’ debut at the circuit in 2021, Elliott and the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 team gambled on fuel strategy in exchange for prime track position amid inclement weather conditions. Sitting at the top of the leaderboard when the event was red-flagged and ultimately deemed official, Elliott not only became the first-ever NCS winner at COTA, but also delivered Chevrolet its milestone 800th all-time NCS victory. The victory also brought Hendrick Motorsports to a tie with Petty Enterprises’ all-time win record in the series, with the organization going on to break the record the following week at Charlotte Motor Speedway. To date, Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports continue to hold the record as the winningest manufacturer and organization in NASCAR’s top division with 854 and 303 wins, respectively, in the series.

One year later, Chastain took the Bowtie brand back to victory lane at COTA. The triumph was a monumental victory for both Chastain and Trackhouse Racing – marking the first-ever win for both the driver and the organization in NASCAR’s top division. The victory also came with a playoff berth to give Chastain his first appearance in the series’ post-season championship battle, with the Team Chevy driver going on to lead the manufacturer in the final points standings with a runner-up finish.

CHEVROLET’S ROAD COURSE HISTORY Chevrolet’s first NASCAR Cup Series victory on a road course came with Buck Baker in the series’ debut at Watkins Glen International in 1957. To date, the Bowtie brand has tallied 64 all-time road course victories in NASCAR’s top division – seven of which have come since the Next Gen cars began competing in the series at the beginning of the 2022 season.  In recent years:

Chevrolet has earned 17 victories in the past 22 NCS road course events – starting with Chase Elliott’s victory at Watkins Glen International in August 2019, to AJ Allmendinger’s victory at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course in October 2023.  Within that time span, the manufacturer notched a streak of 11 consecutive road course wins in the series – beginning with Chase Elliott’s victory at Circuit of The Americas in May 2021.  Six drivers from four different Chevrolet teams contributed to the manufacturer’s streak of 11 consecutive NCS road course victories: Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet:(Circuit of The Americas; May 2021)(Road America; July 2021) Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet:(Sonoma; June 2021)(Watkins Glen; August 2021)(Charlotte ROVAL; October 2021)(Watkins Glen; August 2022) AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet:(Indianapolis Road Course; August 2021) Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet:(Circuit of The Americas; March 2022) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet:(Sonoma Raceway; June 2022) Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet:(Road America; July 2022)(Indianapolis; July 2022)

ZILISCH TAPS IN FOR NASCAR DEBUTTrackhouse Racing development driver Connor Zilisch is slated to make his much-anticipated NASCAR debut in Saturday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Circuit of The Americas. The 17-year-old driver will take over the reins of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Silverado RST – a ride that has already found victory lane this season with two-time NCS champion Kyle Busch (Atlanta Motor Speedway – Feb. 2024).  Zilisch grabbed the attention of the motorsports world in the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway when the young Team Chevy driver was a part of Era Motorsports’ LMP2 win – making him the second-youngest driver in history to win the event. The rising star made his first and only start in the ARCA Menards Series at Watkins Glen International last season – leading 34 of the event’s 42 laps en route to a runner-up finish.

ALLMENDINGER, CHEVROLET SETS SIGHTS ON COTA THREE-PEATChevrolet’s two NASCAR Xfinity Series wins at Circuit of The Americas have come with road course phenom AJ Allmendinger. The 42-year-old California native took his Kaulig Racing Camaro ZL1 to victory lane at the Austin circuit the past two seasons. Now returning to the series full-time, Allmendinger will have the opportunity to make it three-straight in Saturday’s Focused Health 250. Allmendinger will also pilot a third entry for Kaulig Racing in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event. The Team Chevy driver has earned one top-five finish at the circuit in NASCAR’s top division, which came in the series’ inaugural event in 2021.

Allmendinger’s win at COTA last season brought the Team Chevy driver to 11 NXS road course victories – extending his record as the only driver in series’ history to earn a double-digit win count on road courses. He also drove Kaulig Racing to victory lane in the NCS’ event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course last season – marking his 13th career road course victory at the NASCAR national level.

Doing Double-DutyAllmendinger’s Kaulig Racing teammate Shane van Gisbergen will also be pulling double-duty in the NCS and NXS at COTA this weekend. The 34-year-old New Zealand native has just two starts in NASCAR’s top division – recording a history-making win in the series’ inaugural street course race in Chicago, and a 10th-place finish at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course last season.  2021 NCS Champion Kyle Larson also adds to the list of Team Chevy drivers set to compete in NASCAR’s top two series this weekend. The 31-year-old California will get behind the wheel of the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro SS to mark his first of two starts in the organization’s NXS entry this season. Two of his four starts in the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro SS have come on a road course – tallying a runner-up finish at Road America in 2022, and a third-place finish at Sonoma Raceway in 2023.

ECKES CONTNIUES CHEVROLET’S UNDEFEATED RECORDMcAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Christian Eckes kept the Bowtie brand’s win streak alive at Bristol Motor Speedway – driving his No. 19 Silverado RST to a pole win, going on to lead a race-high 144 laps en route to his first victory of the season. The victory continued Chevrolet’s undefeated record in the NCTS this season, with Eckes becoming the fourth different driver to take the manufacturer to its fourth-straight NCTS victory lane appearance. This marks the seventh time in series’ history that a single manufacturer has won at least the first four races of a NCTS season. Chevrolet’s longest season-opening win streak came in the series’ inaugural season (1995) when the manufacturer tallied eight-straight victories.

BOWTIE BULLETS:·       With 13 races complete across NASCAR’s three national series this season, Chevrolet has a winning percentage of 69% with nine victories (NASCAR Cup Series – three wins; NASCAR Xfinity Series – two wins; NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – four wins). ·       Chevrolet has recorded four-straight victories to start the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season – marking the seventh time in series’ history that a single manufacturer has won at least the first four races of a NCTS season.  ·       Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Circuit of The Americas:   Ross Chastain: one win (2022)Chase Elliott: one win (2021) ·       Chevrolet has recorded wins in 17 of the past 22 NASCAR Cup Series road course races, including a streak of 11 consecutive wins that started with Chase Elliott’s victory at Circuit of The Americas in May 2021 ·       Chevrolet has 64 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins on road courses – starting with Buck Baker at Watkins Glen International in 1957. ·       Chase Elliott leads the series’ active drivers with seven road course wins in NASCAR’s premier series – ranking him third on the NCS all-time road course wins list behind Jeff Gordon (nine) and Tony Stewart (eight).  ·       Within the first three points-paying races of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series races season, each Chevrolet organization had already recorded at least one top-10 finish.  ·       With its 42 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 854 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

Manufacturer Points Standings Chevrolet: 184Toyota: 181 (-3)Ford: 166 (-18)

Manufacturer Points Standings Toyota: 150 Chevrolet: 148 (-2)Ford: 120 (-30)

Manufacturer Points Standings Chevrolet: 160Toyota: 134 (-26)Ford: 128 (-32)

TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup Series EchoPark Automotive Grand PrixSunday, March 24, at 3:30 p.m. ET(FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90) NASCAR Xfinity SeriesFocused Health 250Saturday, March 23, at 5 pm. ET(FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90) NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series XPEL 225Saturday, March 23, at 1:30 p.m. ET(FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

QUOTABLE QUOTES:ROSS CHASTAIN, NO. 1 WORLDWIDE EXPRESS CAMARO ZL1Can you take me through a perfect lap at COTA as a previous race winner?“I’ve never done it. I can’t take you through it because I’ve never done it (laughs). There’s a lot of mistakes that happen with 20 turns. There’s a lot of mistakes that happen for every driver, every lap. I can’t even dream of the perfect lap at COTA. I just want to minimize the mistakes.” Where is the best place to pass at COTA?“There’s 20 brake zones and 20 acceleration zones on the other side of each corner. I can’t think of one spot that I get really excited about passing because they’re all high risk, very heavy braking. There are some new asphalt patches in some of the corners that are brake zones. So nothing is comfortable about passing at COTA because it’s really easy to slide through the apex and wipe another driver out, or get wiped out, or spin out.” AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 GET BIOETHANOL CAMARO ZL1What are your thoughts heading into COTA. It can be a difficult track for drivers …“COTA is a tough racetrack. It’s got a lot of different corners. Every corner connects to each other. COTA can be challenging because I feel like it has multiple road courses in one, and it’s one of the biggest tracks we’ve ever gone to. We’ve had some success recently on road courses so we’ll be heading to COTA with the goal of backing up some of the runs we’ve had on road courses of late. We’re really focused on being aggressive with the adjustments to the car and how I drive in the race.” KYLE BUSCH, NO. 8 MARK III EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CAMARO ZL1Have you seen where the track at COTA has been repaved and patched? How will that impact the race? “I don’t think it’s going to impact the race any. I have seen it, yeah. I think they got rid of a bump on the exit of turn one, and I think they did a little bit into the backstretch straightaway through 12 or 13, and then out of the carousel and into 19. I don’t foresee it changing a whole lot. Like you’ll have lack of grip probably through the carousel, and then you’ll pickup grip on the exit and be able to go much faster through 19. But then out of 19, it’s back to the old asphalt and turn 20 is very slow with old asphalt being as slick as it is. I don’t know that it really opens up any more opportunities of passing or anything like that, just smoother surface I would imagine.” Last year at COTA there were four cautions in the last 15 laps of the race. How mentally challenging is that for a driver? “I would say that last year’s caution periods towards the end of the race was a challenge because you kept having to go through the restarts so thinking about what line you wanted to line up in and where you needed to be in order to position yourself for the restart all the dive bombs and the disrespect that keeps happening getting into Turn 1 is always an issue so you’ve got to be ready for that, mindful that you know that’s going to be happening so from there you hope for the best.” Do you prefer stage cautions on road courses or had you rather the race stay green? “I do not prefer stage cautions on road courses and don’t think that they should be there because of the fact that people jump the stages or they stay out in order to steal points from those that jumped the stages knowing when the cautions are going to fall. I definitely feel like it throws off the strategy of the race for a lot of people but when we were at Watkins Glen last fall, we needed those stage cautions so we could put ourselves back in position when we got behind on our pit road issues.” DANIEL HEMRIC, NO. 31 CIRKUL CAMARO ZL1“COTA will be a challenge of its own. It will be my first time driving these Next Gen cars with sequential shifting, the brakes, and just the raw capability of the cars. It will be a brand-new experience for me, but I love any opportunity to grow as a driver and as a race team. Kaulig Racing has had solid, road-course success, so hopefully with this new package, we can adapt and learn quickly.” ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 Bowman on racing at Circuit of The Americas: “I’m excited to get to COTA (Circuit of the Americas) and unload to see what we have. With the aero package being different and the little bit of repave, it will be interesting to have to adapt to. They’ve patched COTA so many different times. It has lots of different kinds of surfaces through it and it can be pretty tricky.. and a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to this weekend- COTA has been a good place for us.” BLAKE HARRIS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1Harris on racing at Circuit of The Americas: “I think we’ve had really good runs at road courses and he (Alex Bowman) is statistically really strong at COTA (Circuit of the Americas). The No. 48 team is looking forward to getting there. There are a lot of questions about the new aero package and we get an extra practice session on Saturday, so hopefully we can dive in and get adjusted quickly. I think it (COTA) is probably one of Alex’s favorite road courses, and track in general, so we look forward to work to carry our momentum from Bristol to Texas.” DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 FREEWAY INSURANCE CAMARO ZL1What are your thoughts on COTA?“I feel like COTA owes me one or two. We have run well there since we started, but something has happened at the end of these races to disappoint us. But, we certainly go to COTA knowing we will run up front and that’s always a great feeling.” Does COTA’s proximity to Monterrey give you extra motivation?“Yes, I love going to COTA. I hear more cheers than normal when we go around in the pace car before the race. That’s a great feeling knowing we have the support. A win anywhere is great, but winning at COTA would be really cool.”

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics Manufacturers Championships:Total (1949-2023): 42First title for Chevrolet: 1958Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15) Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023 Drivers Championships:Total (1949-2021): 33First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)Most Recent: Kyle Larson (2021) Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021 Event Victories:Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)                2024 STATISTICS:                                                                                                    Wins: 3Poles: 0Laps Led: 390Top-five finishes: 9Top-10 finishes: 15Stage wins: 3·       Chase Elliott: 1 ·       Kyle Larson: 2  CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 854 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 743Laps led to date: 249,565Top-five finishes to date: 4,307Top-10 finishes to date: 8,876                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,188           Chevrolet: 854           Pontiac: 154           Oldsmobile: 115           Buick: 65            Ford: 828                                                                      Ford: 728           Mercury: 96           Lincoln: 4            Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467           Dodge: 217           Plymouth: 191           Chrysler: 59            Toyota: 182

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 20, 2024) – Chris Dyson has won four of the past six Trans Am by Pirelli races at Road Atlanta, three from the pole, including the past two years. The three-time defending series champion is looking to continue that winning streak as he looks to bounce back with his #16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang from a disappointing incident last month at the 2024 series opener at Sebring. A collision while going for the lead in the race’s first turn relegated Dyson to an eighth-place finish. “It was not the way we’d planned to start the season,” Dyson said. “But last year we finished 10th at Sebring and then came back to win the next two races, including Road Atlanta.” With those two wins, along with a pair of runner-up finishes at Lime Rock Park and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and then a third win at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Dyson established a strong lead in the point standing that he then expanded over the final five races of the season. Dyson is looking to duplicate that performance, but he predicts it will be even more challenging than last season. “The team had to dig hard the rest of the first half of the 2023 season,” Dyson said. “We had some tough competition; this season with Paul Menard and Wally Dallenbach finishing first and second at Sebring and looking like they will both be in the running the whole season, we’ve got out work cut out for us.  Last year our car was really quite good at Road Atlanta, and with some of the improvements we’ve made in the interim the whole team is excited to see a strong performance this weekend.” Road Atlanta Schedule Qualifying takes place Saturday, March 23, 5:45 p.m. — 6:00 p.m. ET The 100-mile race takes the green flag Sunday, March 24, at 12:10 p.m. ET Broadcast Schedule The race will be live-streamed on both the Trans Am and SpeedTour’s YouTube channels.  Additional Broadcast Coverage On MAVTV In addition to the livestream, 60-minute feature produced by Greenlight TV will be broadcast the following Thursday at 9:00 p.m. ET to MAVTV’s 22 million North American linear households and 175 million connected devices.

ellraizer Jacks Sponsoring Pit Crew Challenge at Show-Me 100

BATAVIA, Ohio (March 20, 2024) – Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series officials are excited to announce Hellraizer Jacks Inc. has joined the growing list of marketing partners for the 2024 season. The Hellraizer Jacks Pit Crew Challenge will take place at Lucas Oil Speedway during the Lucas Oil Show-Me 100 weekend. Race Teams that have perfect attendance with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and the Lucas Oil MLRA will be eligible to compete in the competition. The Pit Crew Challenge will be a timed event to see which driver and crew can enter the designated pit box, change two right side tires, and exit the pit box the fastest. Each crew will utilize a Hellraizer Jack during the competition. The winning team of the Hellraizer Pit Crew Challenge will receive $2,000 in cash plus a new Hellraizer Demon Jack valued at $1,515. The 2nd place crew will receive $1,000 in cash. There will also be a $1,000 cash award to the Best Appearing Crew, which will be judged based on their crew uniforms and overall team appearance.  Hellraizer Jacks Inc. owned by Tim Sheets is based in Mooresville, NC and builds Billet Aluminum Jacks that are used in various forms of motorsports including NASCAR, asphalt short track racing and in dirt racing divisions all across the country. Hellraizer Jacks can be found at various parts vendors including Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series partner Behrents Performance Warehouse. To learn more about Hellraiser Jacks Inc visit their website at https://www.hellraizerjacks.com or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100039680186132.  “We are thrilled to have Hellraizer Jacks Inc. sign on as a marketing partner and title sponsor of the Pit Crew Challenge during the Show-Me 100 weekend. Adding to the already mega Show-Me 100 weekend, the Pit Crew Challenge will showcase the pit crews and give them an opportunity to win some cash awards and a new jack for their race team. In addition, the Best Appearing Crew award should make for some interesting and good-looking pit crews as they display their talents in front of a huge audience. We appreciate Tim Sheets and his company coming on board with the series and adding another great program to the series for the race teams,” stated Wayne Castleberry, Sales and Marketing for Lucas Oil Motorsports. The 2024 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series season continues March 22-23 with trips to Atomic Speedway and Brownstown Speedway. For the latest news, results, championship standings and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, please visit www.lucasdirt.com.

LEAGUE PLAY A MASSIVE SUCCESS FOR DRBB FOLLOWING THE GATORNATIONALS DALLAS (March 20, 2024) — Any team will tell you that nothing sets the tone for a professional drag racing season, like a strong start at the Gatornationals. Drag Race Bracket Bonanza (DRBB), the first dynamic bracket competition for drag racing fans, is no different. In its inaugural event for its first ever full season of game play, DRBB set new records for sign-ups and brackets completed and launched many new features. The most talked about being league play.    “I am so fired up to see all the different Drag Race Bracket Bonanza leagues forming around the world,” said DRBB creator, Elon Werner. “The number one request we received from our players last year was they wanted leagues. We listened to them, and I am thrilled with the response. Drag Race Bracket Bonanza is about fan engagement and community. Seeing all the leagues form just shows how massive our drag racing community is.”   By the time that brackets closed at the start of Top Fuel eliminations during the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida, 115 leagues had been created by DRBB players across the world. Leagues ranged in source and size, from groups of friends who bonded over being drag racing fans in Australia, to coworkers – like the Texas Motorplex staff league, to larger leagues such as the CompetititonPlus.com league and WFO Radio Podcast league, created by Joe Castello.   “Drag Race Bracket Bonanza was the perfect way for me to engage my WFO Radio podcast audience,” said Castello, a long-time podcaster and NHRA announcer. “We filled out our brackets and discussed the Gatornationals winners afterwards. It makes the NHRA action much more personal. Now, listeners can win along with the race teams!”   Leading up to the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals this weekend, March 21-24, a total of 127 leagues have now been created. This includes a brand-new league created by Funny Car driver Bob Tasca III, with the promise that whoever wins his league at the end of the season will walk away with a Tasca Racing prize pack.   “It’s so awesome to see drivers continue to get involved with DRBB in various ways,” said Werner. “Every weekend we have teams like Erica Enders Racing shouting us out on social media, guys like Justin Ashley with our decal on their car and now Bob Tasca with this new league. Nothing makes me happier than seeing people talk about DRBB online and drivers engaging right back with them. It really emphasizes one of the best parts of our sport – how close fans can get to the drivers.”   DRBB’s lead developer, Aidan Lamkin, of Lamkin Software Solutions, describes how more players can set up leagues of their own, to join in on the fun.   “Players can create their own league by signing up, navigating to the “My Leagues” tab and clicking the join league button. They can then enter a name for their league and optionally a picture for it then invite their friends to their league by sending out the invite code,” said Lamkin. “I think leagues make Drag Race Bracket Bonanza a more personal competition. It is one thing to compete in a global competition and another to beat your best friend and have immediate bragging rights. It’s been so cool to see something we worked on over the off-season come to life, exactly how we envisioned it.”   Many DRBB players enjoyed sharing their brackets on social media, so they could compare with their friends, commiserate together about bracket busters and brag about earning more points than their family members. After the points were tallied up, five new event winners (Overall, Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle) were crowned, and they will each receive plaques signed by the race winners. All five DRBB winners came from a different state, and it was their first time winning. Top Fuel winner, Nikki C. from Indianapolis, Indiana, and Pro Stock Motorcycle winner, Christopher S. from Columbus, Ohio each had perfect brackets in their respective categories.   “I WON TOP FUEL!!!” Nikki C. shared on X. “Thank you [Drag Race Bracket Bonanza]! Can’t wait to play every race! … And I bet I won’t win another one this season.”   The Winternationals is the second race in The Majors series, which will wrap up at the beginning of September with the U.S. Nationals. Throughout the season there will be other series, like the Four-Wide Nationals Cup and the Countdown, to keep gameplay competitive for players all season long. Each series will come with its own unique prizes.   Brackets for the Winternationals will open at the end of qualifying on Saturday, March 23. DRBB players will then have until the first round of Top Fuel kicks off on Sunday, March 24 at 2 p.m. EST to fill out their brackets. Fans can watch the NHRA broadcast on FS1 or NHRA.TV.

March 20, 2024

The Motorcraft/Quick Lane team – and their peers on NASCAR’s Cup circuit – had to perform a West Coast-style turn-around this week in preparing the No. 21 Mustang Dark Horse for this weekend’s race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

The No. 21 hauler left North Carolina early Wednesday to make the 1,200-mile trek to the 20-turn, 3.426-mile track that will host Sunday’s fourth-annual EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix. 

That early departure meant lots of work had to be done in two days once the NASCAR caravan returned home following last Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Jeremy Bullins, crew chief of the No. 21 Mustang Dark Horse driven by Harrison Burton, said he’s hoping his team can build on Burton’s prior runs at COTA.

In 2022, Burton scored points in both Stages and finished 17^th. Last year he started 16^th and ran well before experiencing mechanical issues and finishing 22nd. Both of those races were run before Bullins took over as Burton’s crew chief. 

Bullins scored top-10 finishes at COTA in the past two seasons with Austin Cindric as his driver.
 
“If you look back at last season, Harrison seemed to get around COTA pretty well before having transaxle trouble and losing first gear,” Bullins said. “It’s a track that we have run well at in the past and have a good set-up to work from.
 
“Hopefully we can adapt it to Harrison’s liking and have a good weekend in our Motorcraft Ford.”
 
Practice for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix is set for Saturday at 9 a.m. Central Daylight Time (10 a.m. Eastern Time) to be followed by qualifying at 11:30 a.m. (Eastern Time).
 
Sunday’s 68-lap, 231.88-mile race is scheduled to get the green flag just after 2:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. Eastern) with Stage breaks at Laps 15 and 30.
 
FOX Sports 1 will carry the TV coverage of practice and qualifying, with FOX taking over the broadcast on Sunday.
 

OCALA, FL (March 20, 2024) — After a busy first race of the season that saw his team host a massive Fanfest at Burnyzz Speed Shop in Ocala in advance of the historic Gatornationals followed by racing in the Pep Boys Top Fuel Allstar Callout for the second year in a row and a quarterfinal finish in the race Josh Hart is ready to focus on more round wins at this weekend’s NHRA Winternationals. Bringing the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team to the West Coast is always a daunting task but Hart enjoys the location and the history of the famed racing facility in Southern California.

 Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster are looking for more win lights at the NHRA Winternationals, photo credit Auto Imagery/Gary Nastase

“There is a lot of history at this track and the Winternationals,” said Hart, a multi-time NHRA Top Fuel national event winner. “We start the season at two of the most famous facilities in our sport and I have won the Gatornationals so I would love to drive this R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster into the winner’s circle in Pomona this weekend. The team is moving in the right direction and we are getting more runs and data which is what we need.”
 
The month of March Hart is also focusing attention on his hometown of Huntington, Indiana through a challenge donation led by his wife Brittanie to give back to the community in a big way, through the “Race to Fill the Food Pantry” campaign. Donations made to the United with Love food pantry during the month of March will be matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000. Already donations have come in from races, fans and members of the Huntington community.
 
“We are so grateful to the Hart family, Brittanie, Josh, and their children for supporting our pantry in nourishing our neighbors. In 2023 we had over 8,950 individual visits to our food pantry and we cannot do this alone. This matching donation is critical at this time of the year when donations are down, but the need is unchanged,” said Erin Didion, Executive Director, United with Love of Huntington County.
 
Every dollar donated will make a difference. Donations can be made by cash or check at the food pantry, mailed to 715 Byron Street, Huntington, IN 46750 or online at https://www.osvhub.com/…/race-to-fill-the-food-pantry . United With Love partners with neighbors to address the barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential. Their longstanding goal is to lovingly serve all their Huntington and surrounding community neighbors in need and provide stability through Christ-centered services that meet individual needs.
 
At the end of last season Hart’s R+L Carriers team led by crew chief Ron Douglas was making positive strides after an up and down 2023 season. The infusion of new parts made a big difference that is continuing to pay off at the start of the season. In Gainesville Hart qualified No. 12 but got the upset win over No. 5 qualifier 8-time champion Tony Schumacher to start the season with a win light. It was the second consecutive win over Schumacher and gave Hart a 3-2 career head-to-head record.
 
“You have to get up for everyone in this class and I truly just focus on doing my job on the starting line,” said Hart. “You have to respect drivers like Schumacher because they have so much experience. I am racing in Top Fuel to take on the best of the best and we want to perform at our highest level when the stakes are high. There are so many talented teams and drivers there are no easy round wins.”
 
In Hart’s short career he has proven to be a worthy adversary, winning multiple Top Fuel national events and the 2023 Pep Boys Top Fuel Allstar Callout. He finished in the Top Ten last year with a solid end of season performance but simply finishing in the Top Ten is not a primary goal for Hart. The entrepreneur from Florida is building a team for championship runs and more Top Fuel wins.
 
“This whole team has a very positive attitude, and we understand what our goals are. We want to perform on the track for our sponsors and the fans and we want to represent our sponsors very well off the track,” said Hart. “It was great to host so many R+L Carriers guests in the pits and that gets everyone fired up to perform. Having new fans come to the race and get behind the scenes experience is a big plus. Having them see us win rounds on Sunday is huge too. This weekend is going to be a lot of fun and I can’t wait to get on the track.”
 
The R+L Carriers team and Josh Hart will get one qualifying run on Friday, March 22, followed by two more qualifying runs on Saturday. The quickest 16 Top Fuel dragsters will get to race for the Wally trophy and a specially designed Winternationals snowflake medallion from Indianapolis-based artist and fabricator Katie Buttera. The race will be broadcast nationally on Sunday night on FS1.
 

Josh Hart Eyes Continued Success at Winternationals

OCALA, FL (March 20, 2024) — After a busy first race of the season that saw his team host a massive Fanfest at Burnyzz Speed Shop in Ocala in advance of the historic Gatornationals followed by racing in the Pep Boys Top Fuel Allstar Callout for the second year in a row and a quarterfinal finish in the race Josh Hart is ready to focus on more round wins at this weekend’s NHRA Winternationals. Bringing the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team to the West Coast is always a daunting task but Hart enjoys the location and the history of the famed racing facility in Southern California.

 Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster are looking for more win lights at the NHRA Winternationals, photo credit Auto Imagery/Gary Nastase

“There is a lot of history at this track and the Winternationals,” said Hart, a multi-time NHRA Top Fuel national event winner. “We start the season at two of the most famous facilities in our sport and I have won the Gatornationals so I would love to drive this R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster into the winner’s circle in Pomona this weekend. The team is moving in the right direction and we are getting more runs and data which is what we need.”
 
The month of March Hart is also focusing attention on his hometown of Huntington, Indiana through a challenge donation led by his wife Brittanie to give back to the community in a big way, through the “Race to Fill the Food Pantry” campaign. Donations made to the United with Love food pantry during the month of March will be matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000. Already donations have come in from races, fans and members of the Huntington community.
 
“We are so grateful to the Hart family, Brittanie, Josh, and their children for supporting our pantry in nourishing our neighbors. In 2023 we had over 8,950 individual visits to our food pantry and we cannot do this alone. This matching donation is critical at this time of the year when donations are down, but the need is unchanged,” said Erin Didion, Executive Director, United with Love of Huntington County.
 
Every dollar donated will make a difference. Donations can be made by cash or check at the food pantry, mailed to 715 Byron Street, Huntington, IN 46750 or online at https://www.osvhub.com/…/race-to-fill-the-food-pantry . United With Love partners with neighbors to address the barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential. Their longstanding goal is to lovingly serve all their Huntington and surrounding community neighbors in need and provide stability through Christ-centered services that meet individual needs.
 
At the end of last season Hart’s R+L Carriers team led by crew chief Ron Douglas was making positive strides after an up and down 2023 season. The infusion of new parts made a big difference that is continuing to pay off at the start of the season. In Gainesville Hart qualified No. 12 but got the upset win over No. 5 qualifier 8-time champion Tony Schumacher to start the season with a win light. It was the second consecutive win over Schumacher and gave Hart a 3-2 career head-to-head record.
 
“You have to get up for everyone in this class and I truly just focus on doing my job on the starting line,” said Hart. “You have to respect drivers like Schumacher because they have so much experience. I am racing in Top Fuel to take on the best of the best and we want to perform at our highest level when the stakes are high. There are so many talented teams and drivers there are no easy round wins.”
 
In Hart’s short career he has proven to be a worthy adversary, winning multiple Top Fuel national events and the 2023 Pep Boys Top Fuel Allstar Callout. He finished in the Top Ten last year with a solid end of season performance but simply finishing in the Top Ten is not a primary goal for Hart. The entrepreneur from Florida is building a team for championship runs and more Top Fuel wins.
 
“This whole team has a very positive attitude, and we understand what our goals are. We want to perform on the track for our sponsors and the fans and we want to represent our sponsors very well off the track,” said Hart. “It was great to host so many R+L Carriers guests in the pits and that gets everyone fired up to perform. Having new fans come to the race and get behind the scenes experience is a big plus. Having them see us win rounds on Sunday is huge too. This weekend is going to be a lot of fun and I can’t wait to get on the track.”
 
The R+L Carriers team and Josh Hart will get one qualifying run on Friday, March 22, followed by two more qualifying runs on Saturday. The quickest 16 Top Fuel dragsters will get to race for the Wally trophy and a specially designed Winternationals snowflake medallion from Indianapolis-based artist and fabricator Katie Buttera. The race will be broadcast nationally on Sunday night on FS1.
 

CHEVROLET IN NHRA2024 LUCAS OIL NHRA WINTERNATIONALS IN-N-OUT BURGER POMONA DRAG STRIP POMONA, CALIFORNIA TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE | NOTES & QUOTES MARCH 22-24, 2024 CHEVROLET AND JOHN FORCE RACING CARRY GAINESVILLE MOMENTUM INTO POMONA FOR THE LUCAS OIL NHRA WINTERNATIONALS

Notes:Team Chevy next heads to the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip for the second round of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, March 22-24, 2024.With a strong start in two events of his Funny Car debut, Austin Prock and his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS teams head to Pomona after winning in Bradenton and finishing runner-up in Gainesville.Prock, in a Top Fuel dragster, claimed the 2022 victory at Pomona in the fall, while setting his career-best E.T. and mph run in the same event (3.636-seconds E.T. at 336.23 mph).John Force, legendary team owner of John Force Racing and driver of the PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, returns to his home track of Pomona in search of his 167th career No. 1 qualifier and 156th career victory.Searching for her first win since her 16th career victory at Las Vegas 2 in 2022, Brittany Force, driver of the Mark Christopher Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster, also looks to capture her 47th career No. 1 qualifier.B. Force remains the NHRA Top Fuel national record holder in both Elapsed Time (E.T.) and speed, setting E.T. at Reading in 2019 with her run at 3.623 seconds, and at Pomona in 2022 with a run of 338.94 mph.In Pro Stock, Camrie Caruso heads to Pomona looking to defend her spring No. 1 qualifier, while Dallas Glenn seeks to go back-to-back in victories after capturing the Wally trophy in 2023. Both achievements for Caruso and Glenn came from behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Camaro SS Pro Stock car.

Quotes:BRITTANY FORCE, DRIVER OF MARK CHRISTOPHER CHEVROLET TOP FUEL DRAGSTER:“There’s nothing like (Pomona). It’s one of my favorite racetracks because it is my home track. The support that comes when racing at Pomona is like no other event you have. You’re surrounded by family and friends and it’s just this support system that pours in, and it makes the weekend very special.” What’s your mindset heading into a race like Pomona that’s special to you?“Going into Pomona, we need to see better results on race day, and in order to do that we need to make more consistent runs. We need to qualify top five and go some rounds on race day. We’d like to win this thing. It’s Pomona and I’ve won there in the past. This David Grubnic-led team set the national mph record back in 2022 at 338.94 mph at Pomona, so we have been successful on this track. We just need to kind of regroup and get back on track after a tough season.” “A win there would be more elevated. It means something more because it’s a home track that I grew up on. It’s right in my neighborhood, and I’m surrounded by friends and family and this extra support. I’ve raced Super Comp there, I’ve raced A Fuel, I’ve raced Top Fuel, and I won a (Top Fuel) championship there. There are so many memories built around there during my career and then before my career as a kid, so it just has this very home comfort feeling that I love about it.” AUSTIN PROCK, DRIVER OF THE CORNWELL TOOLS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:“It still feels surreal, being able to drive this Funny Car and race with my family. I’m looking forward to Pomona. I’ve always loved that racetrack. It’s always been my favorite one to hit on the map. The dragster is a lot more elegant, I would call it. (With) the longer wheelbase you’re accelerating quicker, but the car is moving left to right, slower. I would call it the Cadillac of NHRA drag racing. The way it moves around is a lot more slow and lazy. You can be a lot smoother on the wheel, where the Funny Car, when it takes off it, it really wants to hunt, it wants to go in whatever direction it wants to go. It’s going there in a hurry and you better be two steps ahead of it. So yeah, it’s just figuring out. I love driving both of them (Funny Cars and Top Fuelers). It’s just figuring out the tendencies and when to get on the wheel and when not to get on the wheel.” On winning at Bradenton, going runner-up at Gainesville, and competing with his father and brother by his side…“It hasn’t really sunk in yet. It’s one of those deals where things are just happening and so much is coming at me at once right now. I feel like I’m just kind of like, holding on to the wheel, but I’m definitely enjoying it. It still feels surreal, being able to drive this Funny Car and race with my family. I’m looking forward to Pomona. I’ve always loved that racetrack. It’s always been my favorite one to hit on the map.” JOHN FORCE, DRIVER OF THE PEAK ANTIFREEZE & COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:“Pomona is personal to me. My love for Pomona goes back to the 60s, when I was driving a truck. I went out and looked through the fence to watch the starting line and watching the people racing. Then, in 1974-75, I started running the local tracks, but Pomona was the big ball field. That was our Dodger Stadium. That’s where we wanted to be. And now here I am. So coming home to it, there’s a lot of memories. I won a lot of races and won championships. I’m looking for another win and I’m going to try to get it done here. Every race counts, but I’m excited to be back home and be racing with family.” John Force on 2024…“We’re in the championship run for the title. And I want number 17 (championship). I may not yell and scream it, and I’ve won so many, but I want to keep winning. I want to I want to win with (crew chief) Daniel Hood and with my team. (Pomona is) just the place to be. We’re coming here now, we’ll kick off the second race of the season and we’ll come back at the end of the year. And hopefully, if not me, one of us will run for the title, Brittany (Force) or (Austin) Prock. That’s what we do.”

How to Watch:The 2024 Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip kicks off with Friday’s qualifying airing Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 9:30 p.m. ET from Pomona, Calif. Saturday’s qualifying session will air Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET with Sunday’s Finals following at 7 p.m. ET. All sessions from In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip air with NHRA on FOX on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Coverage streams live throughout the weekend on NHRA.tv, and is available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.

TEAM CHEVY BY THE NUMBERS:1,443: Round wins for John Force (1st all-time).626: Round wins for Robert Hight; 13th all-time. Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), sits 12th, with 628.383: Number of wins in Pro Stock since 1970; 264 won in the Chevrolet Camaro body.166: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for John Force (1st all-time).159: 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 88.79: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins with the Camaro SS body.46: 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.24: Wins by John Force in a Chevrolet-bodied Funny Car.20: Chevrolet career Top Fuel wins in NHRA.19: Number of Pro Stock championships.16: Number of Chevrolet career wins by Brittany Force.7: Number of Funny Car driver championships.2: Number of Top Fuel driver championships.

Sent on behalf of 1st Impressions Racing Team JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (March 20, 2024) – 1st Impressions Racing Team confirmed its plans for the 2024 Progression American Flat Track season, in which it will focus its efforts on a one-rider team built around rising talent James Ott. On the heels of a breakthrough two-pole, three-podium campaign with the team in ‘23, Ott will again pilot a Husqvarna FC 450 in the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER class with support from Husqvarna Motorcycles/Husqvarna Germany. Further strengthening the team is the return of crew chief Paul Ott and lead mechanic Ashley Kruppenbacker. Ott, who finished ninth in last year’s championship standings, is off to a promising start in ‘24. He’s currently ranked eighth in the points following the doubleheader season opener and Daytona and primed to climb up the charts as the series now arrives at the Senoia Short Track, where the Simi Valley, California, native finished as runner-up a year ago. Eric Hoyt, 1st Impressions Team Owner: “Entering our fourth year in Progressive AFT, we are still relatively new to this. But already, we have proved we belong, and that we’re a team capable of winning. Last year was our first with Husqvarna, and James showed a ton of potential with the new bikes. This year, with a concentrated one-rider effort and support from Husqvarna, we are confident of attaining even greater success. 2024 is shaping up to be our best year yet” James Ott #19: “Eric believes in me, and that means a lot. For sure, I want to finish even higher in the championship this year, and I know we can accomplish that. This year, the team is going to have really strong bikes everywhere we go, so I’m doing my part to make sure I’m able to match that. Obviously, winning is the first goal, but I’m also aiming to finish the year ranked in the championship top three.” Follow 1st Impressions @Facebook: 1st Impressions Race TeamInstagram: 1stimpressions_raceteam Team Sponsors Husqvarna – Husqvarna Germany, 1st Impressions Contractors Inc, Floridian plumbing, Media HT inc., Floridian Heating and Air, 1st Impressions Services of Florida, Motul, Hinson, Bell Helmets, Fredericktown Cycles, Solid Performance, Hbd Graphics, Elite Properties Inc, Light Shoe, Dunlop Tires, Pro Taper Bars, Kully Co.

POMONA, CA (March 20, 2024) – Veteran driver and team owner Mark Pawuk opened the season with an emotional win at the NHRA Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals racing to his second career Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series victory. The win was sweeter because he was driving a Dodge Drag Pak designed to honor long-time friend and NHRA Hall of Famer Don Schumacher, who passed away over the off-season. For Pawuk, a long-time NHRA Pro Stock competitor turned Flexjet Factory Stock racer, the win was meaningful on a variety of fronts. He will get his chance to continue his win streak as the fan-favorite series makes its debut on the West Cost at the NHRA Winternationals, at In-N-Out Dragway in Pomona, Calif., March 22-24.
 
“The Gatornationals is one of the biggest races in the NHRA and I have always wanted to win in Gainesville,” said Pawuk, from the Gatornationals winner’s circle. “To get that win and to have Don’s name on the race car was special. Don was a great friend and competitor. This class has a lot of tough drivers and cars, so anytime you can turn on a win light that’s a big deal. Racing Stephen (Bell) in the final was tough. I knew I would need to get off the line quick and hopefully hold him off. I can’t wait to get to Pomona and show off for the California fans who have never seen this class.”

 Mark Pawuk poses with signature NHRA “Wally” trophy in the Gatornationals winner’s circle following his Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown victory,
photo credit Auto Imagery/Gary Nastase

In that final against Bell, Pawuk posted low ET of the event – a masterful 7.745 seconds at 177.23 mph. Both Pawuk and Bell got good jumps off the starting line, but Bell’s Chevrolet COPO Camaro spun the tires and Pawuk pulled away for the victory and the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series bounty. Bell held off three opponents throughout the race day, but Pawuk was able to get the win light and the $1,000.
 
“I was excited to get the win and then I knew I got the bounty on top of that which is pretty cool,” said Pawuk. “I love the Flexjet bounty program because it just makes the racing a little more exciting. I know I will have the bounty for the Winternationals and I want to hang onto it for as long as possible.”

 Mark Pawuk (foreground) takes off versus Stephen Bell in the final round of the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown during the NHRA Gatornationals,
photo credit Auto Imagery/Gary Nastase

With the absence of Aaron Stanfield and David Barton, the two previous Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown world champions, the field is wide open in 2024. Pawuk has the points lead after the first race, but 2023 championship runner-up Bell is right behind him. The top five in points is rounded out by David Janac, Doug Hamp, and Scott Libersher. Janac escaped a scary top end incident during the second round of the Gatornationals when his Ford Mustang Cobra Jet spun at the top end and contacted the guardwall. He is on the entry list for the Winternationals and a strong performance this weekend would be an impressive feat. Every driver will be looking to get the first Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown win at the historic In-N-Out Dragstrip at Pomona.
 
Qualifying for the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown begins Friday, March 22 with sessions at 1:30 and 4:00 p.m. (PST). A final qualifying session will take place on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. (PST) with elimination rounds in the afternoon and carrying over into Sunday with final eliminations scheduled for 3:50 p.m. (PST).
 
2024 FLEXJET NHRA FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN TOP TEN
1. Mark Pawuk, Dodge                       116
2. Stephen Bell, Chevrolet                  94
3. David Janac, Ford                            77
4. Doug Hamp, Chevrolet                   73
5. Scott Libersher, Chevrolet              55
6. Anthony Troyer, Chevrolet             54
7. David Davies II, Dodge                    52
8. Mike Clark, Dodge                          48
9. Jason Dietsch, Ford                         33
10T. Ricky Hord, Chevrolet                 32
10T. Tony Scott Jr., Chevrolet             32       
10T. Raymond Nash, Dodge               32
 
2024 FLEXJET NHRA FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN SCHEDULE
April 12-14                  24th annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Las Vegas, Nev.
May 17-19                   24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals, Chicago, Ill.
June 7-9                      23rd annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol, Tenn.
June 27-30                  18th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Norwalk, Ohio
Aug. 15-18                   42nd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Brainerd, Minn.
Aug. 28-Sept. 2           70th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals, Indianapolis, Ind.
Sept. 12-15                  39th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals, Reading, Pa.
Sept. 27-29                  13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, St. Louis, Mo.

John Force: “I want No. 17 (Funny Car championships). I may not yell and scream it, I’ve won so many, but I want to keep winning.”

POMONA, Calif. (March 19, 2024) – If John Force Racing ever needed a perfect song theme for this weekend’s Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, it might be one of the late John Denver’s biggest hits: “(It’s Good To Be) Back Home Again!” No location on the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series means more to team patriarch John Force – as well as fellow drivers Brittany Force and Austin Prock – as the dragstrip on the grounds of the Los Angeles County Fairplex. “Pomona is personal to me,” said Force, the winningest driver in drag racing history with 16 NHRA Funny Car championships and 155 national event wins. “My love for Pomona goes back to the ‘60s, when I was driving a truck. I went out and looked through the fence to watch the starting line and watch the people racing. “Then in 1974-75, I started running the local tracks. But Pomona was the big ball field. That was our Dodger Stadium, that’s where we wanted to be. And now here I am. So coming home to it, there’s a lot of memories, I won a lot of races and won championships. You walked away from some bad crashes, but it’s just personal. I’m looking for another win and I’m going to try to get it done here. Every race counts, but I’m excited to be back home and be racing with family.” Ironically, Pomona initially wasn’t very welcoming to Force: he failed to qualify in three of his first five races at the famed quarter-mile in the late ‘70s. But once he figured out the tricky track, Force would become its winningest driver there, with 16 overall victories (7 in the Winternationals, 8 in the World Finals and one in the NHRA 50th Anniversary Nationals in 2001). Collectively, JFR has an outstanding winning record in the Winternationals (all in Funny Car): John Force (7 wins), Robert Hight (5), Tony Pedregon (2) and Courtney Force (1). Extrapolated even more, JFR drivers have won 30 races at Pomona between the winter and fall events, with 29 coming in either Top Fuel or Funny Car. The only non-nitro win there came from JFR vice president Ashley Force Hood, driving a Top Alcohol Dragster in 2004. The Winternationals is the second race on the 20-race NHRA national event schedule. JFR got off to a promising start in the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., two weeks ago when Prock was No. 1 qualifier and finished runner-up in Funny Car, defeating John Force along the way in the quarterfinals. And while Brittany Force lost in the first round of Top Fuel eliminations, she took some consolation in finishing runner-up in the Pep Boys Top Fuel NHRA All-Star Callout exhibition event on Saturday, March 9. As for their respective liveries this weekend, fans will see John Force in the PEAK Antifreeze & Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, Brittany Force will pilot the Mark Christopher Auto Center Chevrolet/Monster Energy Top Fuel Dragster, and Austin Prock will drive the Auto Club of Southern California/Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car. Here’s a preview of all three JFR drivers heading into Pomona: ********************************** Austin Prock comes into Pomona with the greatest momentum of the three JFR drivers after the season opener. In addition to being No. 1 qualifier and finishing runner-up at Gainesville, Prock also won a special exhibition race in Bradenton, Fla., last month in his first-ever start in a Funny Car. Sitting a close No. 2 in the Funny Car standings, the Lansing, Mich., native almost has to pinch himself to make sure he’s not dreaming. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Prock said. “It’s one of those deals where things are just happening and so much is coming at me at once right now. I feel like I’m just kind of holding on to the wheel, but I’m definitely enjoying it.” Prock is filling in for three-time NHRA Funny Car champion Robert Hight, who is on a temporary leave of absence from racing for personal medical reasons. Prock has a strong supporting cast that led Hight to a runner-up finish in Funny Car last season, including his father Jimmy Prock (Hight’s long-time crew chief), and brother Thomas Prock (Hight’s assistant crew chief). “It still feels surreal, being able to drive this Funny Car and race with my family,” Prock said. “I’m looking forward to Pomona. I’ve always loved that racetrack. It’s always been my favorite one to hit on the map.” In seven career appearances at Pomona (all in a dragster), Prock has reached the final round of the Winternationals three times (2020, 2022 and 2023) and also won the 2022 season-ending World Finals race. “We’ve had some success there,” Prock said. “So hopefully that can carry over to Funny Car and maybe we’ll roll out of there with my first Funny Car Wally (trophy).” Prock’s car has an outstanding legacy: Hight still holds both ends of the NHRA Funny Car records for elapsed time (3.793 seconds on 8/18/2017 at Brainerd, Minn.) and speed (339.87 mph on 7/29/2017 at Sonoma, Calif.). Prock knows he has some big shoes to fill. “Any time I get in a race car, I just want to do the absolute best job I can,” he said. “And more or less, it’s not about proving myself to everyone else, it’s proving myself to myself. I want to be able to get in the car and know I can do a good job and get the result I want.” Prock will also be taking part in Saturday’s race-within-a-race, the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge. Introduced last season, it pits semifinalists from the previous race against each other in a rematch during Saturday’s two qualifying sessions. Prock qualified because he finished runner-up in the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals two weeks ago in Gainesville, Fla. Points are awarded that are then added to a driver’s points total heading into the NHRA’s six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs. **********************************John Force has been a dynamo in the Winternationals. In 45 previous starts, Force has seven wins, has been No. 1 qualifier 10 times and owns a career Winternationals round-by-round record of 66-36. Overall, between the Winternationals and World Finals, Force has won a record 140 rounds of racing at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip. To put that in perspective, Prock has won 73 rounds in all the events he’s run in his entireNHRA pro career to date. And yet the soon-to-be 75-year-old Force is bound and determined to win more races en route to a 17th Funny Car championship. “We’re in the championship run for the title and I want No. 17,” Force said. “I may not yell and scream it, I’ve won so many, but I want to keep winning.” Force comes into Pomona ranked seventh in the NHRA Funny Car standings after Gainesville. “I want to win with (crew chief) Daniel Hood and with my team,” Force said. “(Pomona is) just the place to be. We’ll kick off the second race of the season and we’ll come back the end of the year. And hopefully, if not me, one of us will run for the title, Brittany or Prock. That’s what we do.” ********************************** Brittany Force hopes a return to one of her favorite tracks will help power her and her dragster into the winner’s circle. “There’s nothing like Pomona,” the younger Force said. “Not only is it my home track, the support that comes when racing at Pomona is like no other event we have. You’re surrounded by family and friends and the support system that pours in makes the weekend very special. “In the past I’ve had teachers show up that I haven’t seen since high school, or just random people that I haven’t seen in a long time, who knew the drag races were in town, came out and then found me signing autographs at the ropes and said ‘hi.’ Being reunited with people from my past is awesome.” Currently 14th in the Top Fuel standings after a tough first round loss at Gainesville, Force is determined to bounce back in a big way. “We need to see better results on race day, and in order to do that we need to make more consistent runs, we need to qualify top five and go some rounds on race day,” Force said. “We’d like to win this thing. It’s Pomona and I’ve won there in the past. This David Grubnic (crew chief) team set the national mph record back in 2022 at 338.94 mph. So we have been successful on this track. We just need to kind of regroup and get back on track.” Force remains the national record holder in NHRA Top Fuel competition in both elapsed time (3.623 seconds set on 9/14/2019 in Reading, Pa.) and speed (338.94, set on 11/11/2022 in Pomona). “I’ve raced Super Comp there, A Fuel, Top Fuel, won two Top Fuel championships there,” Force said of Pomona. “There’s so many memories built around there during my career and then before my career as a kid. It just has this very home comfort feeling that I love about it.” ********************************** The 2024 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals runs from March 21-24 at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, Calif. FS1 will televise Qualifying Show No. 1 on Saturday, March 23, from 9:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET. Qualifying Show No. 2 is Sunday, March 24, from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET, and the Finals will also air on Sunday, March 24, from 7 to 10 p.m. ET. #2024ORCE

Batavia, OH (March 19, 2024) – The Sunoco Road to Wheatland program continues with Atomic Speedway and Brownstown Speedway on March 22 and March 23.  The Sunoco Road to Wheatland has been a long-standing incentive program that rewards drivers following the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. The Sunoco Road to Wheatland program will pay bonuses to the top 15 drivers in the championship standings with perfect attendance at the Lucas Oil Show-Me 100 at Lucas Oil Speedway in May. The championship point leader will receive $2,500, with 2nd through 15th in the standings also receiving a bonus. Today, Sunoco Race Fuels has expanded the reach of its racing fuels line around the world to include all types of professional motor sports and other activities where premium race fuels like DXP 116 make the difference. With its unsurpassed innovations and years of experience, it is easy to understand why more and more engine builders, racers, tracks, and sanctioning bodies choose Sunoco Race Fuels over all other racing gasoline combined. As the largest manufacturer of racing gasoline in the world, Sunoco has a 40-year track record of winning performances. To learn more about DXP 116 visit https://www.sunocoracefuels.com/fuels/fuel/dxp. “We are very grateful for what Sunoco Race Fuels does to support the series and giving generously to the racers that follow the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series,” stated Wayne Castleberry, Sales and Marketing for Lucas Oil Motorsports. For the latest news, results, championship standings and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, please visit www.lucasdirt.com.

About Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt SeriesFounded in 2005, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series showcases the talents of the top dirt late model drivers from across the country. In 2024, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will sanction 63 events across 16 states, including some of the biggest marquee events in the industry, providing dirt slinging, sideways, door-to-door racing action lap after lap.  The series receives national exposure through a television package streamed live via FloRacing, with select broadcasts on MAVTV Motorsports Network.   The in your face excitement of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is second to none in motorsports. For more information, including the latest news, tour schedule, driver information, and more, visit the official website at: www.LucasDirt.com.2024 Official Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Marketing Partners

PADUCAH, KY (March 19, 2024) – The World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models will return to Paducah International Raceway for the first time since 2012 on Friday, April 19. It’ll also be the Series’ lone stop to the Bluegrass State in 2024, making for a can’t-miss night with The Greatest Show on Dirt.Of all active drivers on tour, none have won at the Kentucy track yet. And in seven previous visits to the 3/8-mile facility, there have been seven different winners. Joey Saldana won the last World of Outlaws event there in 2012.EVENT INFO Date – Friday, April 19 Location – Paducah, KY Track Record – 12.825 sec. by Joey Saldana on April 17, 2009 Times –  Pit Gates Open 2pm Grandstands Open 5pm Hot Laps/Qualifying 6:30pm -Racing to Follow Tickets – WorldofOutlaws.com/tix How to Watch – Every lap live on DIRTVision Previous World of Outlaws Winners at Paducah – 2012 – Joey Saldana on April 13 2010 – Jac Haudenschild on April 16 2009 – Jason Meyers on April 17 2008 – Craig Dollansky on July 28 2007 – Danny Lasoski on April 6 2001 – Andy Hillenburg on June 12 1998 – Jeff Swindell on April 17

Cruz Pedregon

NHRA^® Winternationals – Pomona, CA

Pre-Race Report

News of note: 

ICYM first race news: Fresh paint scheme for the Snap-on^® “Makers and Fixers” Dodge^® SRT^® Hellcat^® and haulers. The Snap-on car and Cruz are paying tribute to the Makers and Fixers among us to continue to recognize the value of their work. As Cruz’s primary sponsor, Snap-on is asking NHRA fans to follow @MakersandFixers on Instagram and invitingMakers and Fixers to submit their stories to makersandfixers.com.

Images here: 

CruzPedregonSnap-onDodge2024_1.jpg

CruzPedregonSnap-onDodge2024_2.jpg

Quotes – Cruz Pedregon, two-time Funny Car World Champion

Looking forward to the second race of the 2024 season. Pomona is a great track. We’ve won some big races there in the past. 

I’m also looking forward to having the fans check out the new look on the Snap-on Dodge Hellcat. It’s got the flat black, and it’s looking good. 

We had some good runs at Gainesville, so we’re looking forward to improving our position there and going some rounds…always with the goal to win another race. 

Pomona is definitely a place I look forward to every year. It has a Southern California feel. It has all the cool places to go eat…namely In-N-Out Burger. And I’m glad to see them sponsoring the track. 

Favorite memories of Winternationals

I always look forward to this event. We grew up down the street in Chino, so, you know, it’s definitely a home game for us.

I remember winning the ‘89 Winternationals in an Alcohol Dragster, then came back the very next year and won the 1990 Winternationals in an Alcohol Funny Car. I’ve also competed in Top Fuel there, so it’s one of the few tracks I’ve competed in all four different categories.

Name on the side of Cruz’s car – Snap-on Nitro Franchisee: Garrett Maxon

·        Garrett Maxon’s been a part of the Snap-on team since 2018 and has owned his own franchise for a couple of years now.

·        He’s been to the Winternationals before, but this will be his first time meeting Cruz, and the team has something special planned for Garrett and the customers he’s bringing out to the track Friday evening. 

·        They’re having dinner in Cruz’s pit. It’s decked out with lots of new features to show off the car to the franchisees, Makers and Fixers, and fans who visit the pit area during the upcoming season.

·        When he’s not at the track or busy running a business on his Snap-on truck, you’ll likely find Garrett playing golf or at a concert. 

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

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

Hart Family Gives Back with “Race to Fill the Food Pantry” Campaign in Huntington HUNTINGTON, IN (March 19, 2024) — Huntington native Brittanie Hart, wife of professional NHRA Top Fuel racer, Josh Hart, also a Huntington native, is giving back to the community this month in a big way, through the “Race to Fill the Food Pantry” campaign. Donations made to the United with Love food pantry during the month of March will be matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000. Already donations have come in from races, fans and members of the Huntington community.  Josh and Brittanie Hart at the recent Burnyzz Speed Shop NHRA Gatornationals FanFest, photo courtesy of Josh Hart Racing“We are so grateful to the Hart family, Brittanie, Josh, and their children for supporting our pantry in nourishing our neighbors. In 2023 we had over 8,950 individual visits to our food pantry and we cannot do this alone. This matching donation is critical at this time of the year when donations are down, but the need is unchanged,” said Erin Didion, Executive Director, United with Love of Huntington County.   Every dollar donated will make a difference. Donations can be made by cash or check at the food pantry, mailed to 715 Byron Street, Huntington, IN 46750 or online at https://www.osvhub.com/…/race-to-fill-the-food-pantry . United With Love partners with neighbors to address the barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential. Their longstanding goal is to lovingly serve all their Huntington and surrounding community neighbors in need and provide stability through Christ-centered services that meet individual needs.   “There was a time when we needed help and we know that places like United with Love and people like Erin and their volunteers are making a difference in people’s lives every day,” said Brittanie Hart. “The Race to Fill the Food Pantry is something we can do this month, but they need assistance and support every month and we want to encourage everyone to get involved if they are able.”

The Texas trip concludes with two new tracks for The Greatest Show on Dirt.ENNIS, TX (March 19, 2024) – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are heading from one Texas weekend to another.After a thrilling two nights at Cotton Bowl Speedway, a pair of new tracks await The Greatest Show on Dirt. A Big O Speedway (Ennis, TX) visit is slated for Friday, March 22, and Kennedale Speedway Park (Kennedale, TX) takes center stage on Saturday, March 23. The two will become the 12th and 13th Texas tracks visited by The Greatest Show on Dirt as the rich Sprint Car Racing tradition of the “Lone Star State” grows.This weekend will mark the first time since March of 2021 that the World of Outlaws have checked off two new facilities on the same weekend when Sheldon Haudenschild topped the first trip to Magnolia Motor Speedway and David Gravel triumphed at Dirt on the Rev.Big O and Kennedale will also be the final Texas appearances of 2024 for the World of Outlaws before the Series begins to invade the Midwest. BUY BIG O TICKETS HERE BUY KENNEDALE TICKETS HEREWATCH LIVE ON DIRTVisionLet’s look at the top stories to watch:LEADER IN THE CLUBHOUSE: A new driver arose atop the standings after Cotton Bowl, and his name is Giovanni Scelzi. The Fresno, CA native continued his early season hot streak with KCP Racing by posting a third and a victory. He entered the weekend 12 markers behind Gravel for the top spot and left 16 markers ahead. It’s the first time in his career that the 22-year-old has led the Series standings. Scelzi has made every Toyota Racing Dash this season, finished seventh or better in every race, and owns an average finish of fourth. He and Donny Schatz are the only drivers with top 10s in all seven races to this point.Like many others in the field, Scelzi will be getting his first look at Big O and Kennedale this weekend. He’ll look for solid debuts at both Texas tracks to maintain his early points lead. BACK ON TRACK: After some struggles to start 2024, Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing crew are beginning to resemble the powerhouse team that they established themselves as upon partnering in 2021.They kicked off the campaign with four straight finishes of 12th or worse. Since then it’s been an entirely different story. The last three races have seen the JJR #41 finish third, second, and eighth along with leading 20 Feature laps on the night Macedo finished second. The team continues to be led by owner/crew chief Philip Dietz and added Robby McQuinn and Adam Zimmerman to fill voids left by Clyde Knipp and Nate Repetz. And the new nucleus looks to be gelling.Macedo will make his first laps at both Big O and Kennedale this weekend. The Lemoore, CA driver is the most recent to top a World of Outlaws debut at a new track. He claimed the Series inaugural visit to Minnesota’s Ogilvie Raceway last June. 7 RACES, 7 WINNERS: The early season parity pattern continued over the weekend at Cotton Bowl. Brent Marks and Gio Scelzi gave us seven different winners in the first seven races of 2024. The stretch has put the World of Outlaws on the brink of history. This year is only the second time the season has started with seven different winners, and the record to begin the season is eight in 2015. It’s a mark that could be reached this weekend and even potentially passed. Two drivers that stand out as favorites to continue the trend are Logan Schuchart and Carson Macedo. The two have combined for 76 career World of Outlaws wins but each is still in search of their first of 2024.Other full-time Series drivers that are former winners with the Series – Buddy Kofoid, Brock Zearfoss, Bill Balog, and Kraig Kinser – are still seeking their first wins of the season, too. And with a strong crop of locals and invaders expected this weekend, many competitors on the roster could add their name to the list of 2024 winners.ROOKIE ROLL: It hasn’t taken long for Bill Balog to get comfortable on the World of Outlaws tour. The “North Pole Nightmare” started the year with a top 10 before experiencing engine troubles at DIRTcar Nationals but has since started to piece together a solid stretch.Balog heads to Big O and Kennedale carrying the momentum of three consecutive top 10 finishes. Two weeks ago he came home 10th at Volusia. At Cotton Bowl, qualifying toward the front led to Dash births both nights resulting in finishes of eighth and seventh. It’s the first time in Balog’s career he’s strung together three straight top-10s with The Greatest Show on Dirt.Big O and Kennedale are set to be the second and third new tracks that Balog will visit with the World of Outlaws this year. He’s already proven he can quickly adapt to new facilities. This past weekend was his first time laying eyes on Cotton Bowl.TEXAN TIME?: The last 2024 weekend in Texas for the World of Outlaws means the last opportunity for the “Lone Star State” contingent to top The Greatest Show on Dirt. Like last weekend, the locals will be led by Sam Hafertepe Jr. and Aaron Reutzel.Hafertepe has already been to Kennedale Victory Lane in 2024, topping an American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) Elite Outlaw 410 race in early March. He showed speed on night one at Cotton Bowl last Friday, but a crash ended his weekend early.Reutzel looked as if he may contend for Friday’s victory at Cotton Bowl after setting Simpson Quick Time, but a troublesome Heat Race derailed his night. Even with the problematic Heat, the Clute, TX native still rallied with a 22nd to fifth drive in the Feature. Reutzel doesn’t have any Big O laps, but he’s competed at Kennedale with ASCS.They’re expected to be joined by plenty more Texas talents including Brenham Crouch (Lubbock, TX), Chase Randall (Waco, TX), John Ricketts (Burleson, TX), Blaine Baxter (Liberty Hill, TX), and more.THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCEWHEN AND WHERE Friday, March 22 at Big O Speedway in Ennis, TX Saturday, March 23 at Kennedale Speedway Park in Kennedale, TXON THE INTERNETWorld of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series X – @WorldofOutlaws Instagram – @WoOSprint Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsSprintCarSeries YouTube – Youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com – Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/monthCURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (7/84 Races):1. Giovanni Scelzi – KCP Racing #18 (996 PTS) 2. David Gravel – Big Game Motorsports #2 (-16 PTS) 3. Donny Schatz – Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing #15 (-18 PTS) 4. Logan Schuchart – Shark Racing #1S (-34 PTS) 5. Carson Macedo – Jason Johnson Racing #41 (-84 PTS) 6. Sheldon Haudenschild – Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing #17 (-94 PTS) 7. Michael Kofoid – Roth Motorsports #83 (-126 PTS) 8. Bill Balog – B Squared Motorsports #17B (-140 PTS) 9. Brock Zearfoss – Brock Zearfoss Racing #3Z (-168 PTS) 10. Brent Marks – Murray Marks Motorsports #19 (-176 PTS)NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (7 Drivers): 1 Win – Brad Sweet, David Gravel, Tyler Courtney, Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny Schatz, Brent Marks, Giovanni Scelzi FEATURE LAPS LED (11 Drivers):40 Laps – Giovanni Scelzi 25 Laps – Brad Sweet, David Gravel 24 Laps – Rico Abreu 20 Laps – Carson Macedo 14 Laps – Sheldon Haudenschild 13 Laps – Anthony Macri, Michael Kofoid 12 Laps – Donny Schatz 3 Laps – Brent Marks 1 Lap – Tyler Courtney SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS QUICKTIME AWARDS (6 Drivers):2 Quick Times – Brent Marks 1 Quick Time – Landon Crawley, Brian Brown, Michael Kofoid, Aaron Reutzel, Giovanni Scelzi HEAT RACE WINNERS (14 Drivers): 3 Heat Wins – Rico Abreu, Sheldon Haudenschild, Brent Marks 2 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi, Tyler Courtney, David Gravel, Michael Kofoid 1 Heat Win – Corey Day, Justin Peck, Brian Brown, Bill Balog, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss, Logan SchuchartTOYOTA DASH APPEARANCES (20 Drivers):7 Dashes – Giovanni Scelzi 4 Dashes – David Gravel, Rico Abreu, Brent Marks 3 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Brian Brown, Landon Crawley, Sheldon Haudenschild 2 Dashes – Brad Sweet, Buddy Kofoid, Bill Balog, Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart 1 Dash – Anthony Macri, Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock ZearfossMICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (4 Drivers):1 LCS – Austin McCarl, Bill Balog, Corey Day, Kasey Kahne KSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (5 Drivers):2 Hard Chargers – Carson Macedo, Logan Schuchart 1 Hard Charger – Donny Schatz, Aaron Reutzel, Jace ParkPODIUM FINISHES (11 Drivers):3 Podiums – Brad Sweet 2 Podiums – David Gravel, Tyler Courtney, Rico Abreu, Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo, Giovanni Scelzi, Brent Marks 1 Podium – Justin Peck, Anthony MacriTOP 10 FINISHES (24 Drivers): 7 Top 10s – Donny Schatz, Gio Scelzi 6 Top 10s – David Gravel, Logan Schuchart 4 Top 10s – Tyler Courtney, Bill Balog, Brent Marks, Buddy Kofoid, Sheldon Haudenschild 3 Top 10s – Anthony Macri, Brad Sweet, Rico Abreu, Carson Macedo 2 Top 10s – Brian Brown 1 Top 10 – Justin Peck, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Zeb Wise, Corey Day, Cory Eliason, Landon Crawley, Aaron Reutzel, Brock Zearfoss, Jacob Allen2024 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS:No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)1. Wed, Feb 7 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Brad Sweet (1) 2. Thurs, Feb 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (1) 3. Fri, Feb 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Tyler Courtney (1) 4. Sat, Feb 10 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Sheldon Haudenschild (1) 5. Mon, March 4 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Donny Schatz (1) 6. Fri, March 15 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Brent Marks (1) 7. Sat, March 16 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Giovanni Scelzi (1)For the full 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car schedule, CLICK HERE.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 19, 2024) – Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, returns to action with the second-ever Yamaha Senoia Short Track at Senoia Raceway in Senoia, Georgia on Saturday, March 23. Last year’s inaugural visit proved to be a stunner, and this year’s rematch promises to be yet another as the stage is set with the series’ major players arranged in similar positions. A year ago, reigning Mission SuperTwins champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) rebounded in Senoia following a podium-less double opener in Daytona with a virtuoso performance to defeat points leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) at the stripe by 0.174 seconds. That kickstarted a season-long duel between the two, ultimately won by Mees who used the Senoia triumph as a springboard to his nine–win, 15-podium season that culminated in a historic ninth Grand National Championship. Now Mees finds himself equally in need of a bounce back after opening his quest for an unprecedented tenth premier-class crown with sixth- and fifth-place finishes in Daytona. By contrast, Daniels grabbed a share of the points lead with a double-podium opener, highlighted by a victory in the season’s first Main Event. Mees and Daniels are far from the full story, however, as there is genuine hope that this year’s title fight will not only match last year’s incredible showdown but surpass it with the inclusion of additional contenders. Chief among the prospective championship hopefuls are two-time Mission SuperTwins king Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) and co-points leader Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750). Bauman is in his second season aboard the Rick Ware Racing KTM 790 Duke, although he’s working with a new crew and operating a racebike was heavily overhauled during the offseason. That said, even with those changes, he showed impressive speed in the opener and has the skills to fight up front in any and every given outing. Robinson, meanwhile, enjoyed a welcome return to form after going winless and finishing outside the championship top five for the first time since 2018 on both counts. His DAYTONA ST win provided clear evidence that he’s primed for a huge year in ‘24. At least six brands of motorcycles have a legitimate shot to be in the mix for the top five this weekend considering their respective rider/team representation, which include the likes of Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTBR Yamaha MT-07), Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750), Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), and Dan Bromley (No. 62 Big Red Super Twins/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Transalp), along with rookies Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing KTM 790 Duke) and Max Whale (No. 18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R). Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Preseason Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER title favorites Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) and Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) opened their ‘24 campaigns with one win apiece. Double defending champion Kopp holds down the familiar position of points leader by backing up his win with a third, while Drane finds himself with some work to do after crashing on the final lap of the opener and being credited with 15th prior to his victorious rebound the following night. While the two will have another opportunity to square off in Senoia, neither enjoyed their finest evening in last year’s inaugural stop at the circuit. Kopp finished fifth despite his usual Short Track supremacy, while Drane could only manage 13th – albeit it’s worth noting the result came before the Australian truly got up to speed and demonstrated his true caliber over the season’s final two-thirds. While last year’s winner, Max Whale, has since graduated to Mission SuperTwins duty, ‘23 Senoia ST podium finishers James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions/Media HT Husqvarna FC450) and Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F) are back and desperate to finish atop the box this time around. The class traditionally offers up a bevy of potential race winners. This year is no exception in that respect with Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R), Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), and Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Hannum’s Harley-Davidson KTM 450 SX-F) only but a few of the entrants with the skill and determination to factor up front. There will be plenty to keep fans entertained off the track as well, starting with a family-oriented pre-race party in the Fan Zone from 2:00 p.m. ET (11.00 a.m. PT) – 6:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m. PT) the day of the race. Other features include numerous vendors, plenty of food and beverage options, the Kids Zone, music, extensive motorcycle parking, and fireworks display at the end of the evening. General Admission Grandstand tickets are just $40 (kids 12 and under $5), and Reserved Grandstand tickets start at $50 (all ages) with an option to add a Pit Pass at a reduced rate. The Pit Pass grants access to the General Admission areas and the Pit area for $60. Reserved Trackside Parking and Multi-Day Camping Passes are also available to purchase. New for 2024 is the Opening Ceremonies Trackside Fan Experience ($150 all ages). This ticket option provides reserved seating with pit pass access, a guided tour of, and photo opportunities at, the infield podium and start/finish line, infield viewing of Opening Ceremonies and the heat races, and a track talk and photo opportunity with 2016 Grand National Champion Bryan Smith.  Visit https://www.americanflattrack.com/events/2024/view/senoia-short-track-2024 to reserve your seats today. Gates will open for fans at 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT) with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT). You can catch the livestream of all the weekend’s racing activities on FloRacing. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2024. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/aft or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast. FOX Sports coverage of the Yamaha Senoia Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, March 31, at 12:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. PT). For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

LONG BEACH, CA (March 19, 2024) — After an exciting Funny Car debut at the Gatornationals, driver Buddy Hull is ready to take on the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip on March 21-24. Hull, a driver for Jim Dunn Racing, will be showcasing an iconic Jim Dunn Mooneyes Funny Car body for the first time this year.

 
“I am over the moon to be competing at the Winternationals again,” said Hull. “This weekend we’re switching the body on the car to have a retro Mooneyes look. We’re super happy about it and can’t wait for the world to see it. It’s a cool race car, and to debut it in California, which is the homeland of drag racing, will just be an incredible experience. Mooneyes has been a sponsor for Jim Dunn Racing for a long time, and to show off this iconic car and represent Big Jim is a big deal to me.”
 
Moon Equipment Company, a California-based manufacturer of nostalgic hot rod products such as Moon tanks, discs and valve covers, will wrap its classic yellow Mooneyes graphics on the Jim Dunn Racing Funny Car for this year’s Winternationals. Jim Dunn Racing and Mooneyes have a relationship dating back over thirty years, and Hull is excited to share in this legacy.
 
“Relationships in this sport are everything,” said Hull. “The fact that Mooneyes has been a part  of the Jim Dunn Racing team for so long shows the talent and integrity of what the Jim Dunn name stands for. And I’ve always loved having really cool car bodies, like my Hull’k Top Fuel dragster that I debuted at the U.S. Nationals last year. It’s a great way to engage with fans and demonstrate one of the many reasons why drag racing is so much fun.”
 
Southern California has been the home of Jim Dunn Racing since 1949, so the Winternationals means a lot to the team as a whole. On Friday, Hull, Jim Dunn, and Jon Dunn will be part of Funny Car 101 at the Nitro Alley Stage at 1:30 p.m. PST. And on Sunday morning, Hull and the Dunns will lead the Sealmaster Track Walk before the start of eliminations.
 
“The Winternationals is one of the most iconic events in drag racing,” said Hull. “I’ve always loved racing here and have enjoyed some of my best success at this race. So now that I am part of the Jim Dunn Racing team, it’s incredible to have an even greater reason to want to succeed and make Big Jim proud. I know we will continue to get better and better over the course of the weekend.”
 
After making three qualifying runs in the Funny Car in Gainesville and one elimination round, in addition to testing done during the off-season, Hull is getting more and more confident in the car and himself as a driver, going into the Winternationals.
 
“Every run in the car you learn more, and the car teaches you something,” said Hull. “I’ve now made enough runs and been in the car enough time, that I’m not having to think about where anything is at. I’m just focusing on doing my job as the race car driver. The first three, four or five runs in a race car you have to think about ‘the lever is here’ and ‘this is how the pedal feels,’ but that’s over with, at this point. It’s simply just getting in there and doing my part as a good race car driver.”
 
One of many positive outcomes from the Gatornationals was the outpouring of support that Hull received from the Funny Car class about his transition from the Top Fuel field into Funny Car.
 
“It was great to get a warm welcome from the Funny Car guys at Gainesville,” said Hull. “They really welcomed me into the Funny Car class. It’s been so cool to make the crossover from Top Fuel to Funny Car and from part-time to full-time. I was able to spend some time talking to Ron Capps, Bob Tasca III and John Force during the Gatornationals, and they’ve all welcomed me in with open arms. They’re allowing me to fit in, in my own way. I can’t wait to see the impact I have on the field over the course of this year.”
 
In addition to Mooneyes, this weekend Hull will be representing sponsors Vertex Roofers and General Contractors, Solid Start/True Brand Products, Lescure Mechanical Services, Crow Safety, Blaze Exhaust Probes, Koppl  Pipeline Services, Good Vibrations Motorsports, KGC Construction, Powerbuilt Tools and Wiley X.
 
Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing team will be making one qualifying run on Friday, March 22 and two qualifying runs on Saturday, March 23 at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. The top 16 quickest Funny Cars in the field will have a chance to compete for a Winternationals Wally on Sunday, March 24. The first round of eliminations will begin on Sunday at 11 a.m. PST. Fans can watch the finals live on FS1. For tickets or more information on the NHRA Winternationals visit nhra.com.

EASTABOGA, AL (March 21, 2024) – After a successful debut at the Talladega Short Track last year, the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models return to the Alabama track for the two-day Alabama Gang 100.

Located across the road from the Talladega Superspeedway – which will be hosting the NASCAR Cup Series the same weekend – the Talladega Short Track will host the best Late Model drivers in the country for $4,000-to-win split shows on Friday, setting up the $35,000-to-win finale on Saturday.

Brandon Overton, Tanner English and Kyle Bronson opened the show last year with wins during the split Feature action. That set the stage for a thrilling 60-lap Saturday Feature, which saw multiple lead changes, close quarters racing, and Overton walking away with the grand prize.

The United Sprint Car Series will join the World of Outlaws Late Models again both nights. Last year’s USCS races were won by 2023 Daytona 500 champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

EVENT INFO:
Date – Friday-Saturday, April 19-20
Location – Eastaboga, AL
Track Record – 12.420 sec. by Jason Hiett on March 28, 2019

Times – 
12pm: Pit Gates open Fri. & Sat.
4pm: GA Gates Open Friday
3pm: GA Gates Open Saturday

Tickets – WorldofOutlaws.com/tix
How to Watch – If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Previous World of Outlaws Winners at Talladega –
2023 – Brandon Overton on April 22

Last Race Video Highlight (Talladega, April 22, 2023)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2ucBRvo7Yk