This Week in Motorsports: August 5 – 11, 2024
NCS/NCTS: Richmond Raceway – August 10-11
PLANO, Texas (Aug. 7, 2024) – NASCAR returns from its Olympic break and is back at Richmond Raceway for the second time this season, with the Truck and Cup Series both competing this weekend. Saturday represents the Playoff cutoff race for Trucks, while Sunday marks four races remaining in the Cup Series regular season.
NASCAR National Series – NCS | NCTS
Camry XSEs in the thick of regular season points battle … With the NASCAR Cup Series back on track, here is where the Toyota Camry XSEs stack up in the series points standings. After a slew of solid performances, including a runner-up in the last race at Indianapolis, Tyler Reddick is the lead Camry XSE driver, currently sitting third in the regular season points standings, just 15 points behind the top spot. Denny Hamlin is directly behind Reddick in the fourth position, with Martin Truex Jr. (seventh) and Christopher Bell (eighth) also joining them inside the top-10. Bell and Hamlin also sit second and third in the Playoff standings heading into the weekend.
Hamlin seeks Richmond sweep … Hamlin returns to his home track, Richmond Raceway, seeking a sweep after claiming victory in March. The Chesterfield, Virginia, native is also looking for his sixth career win at Richmond and enters the weekend with 14 top-10s in the last 17 races around the 0.750-mile short oval.
Reddick’s impressive top-10 streak … With his runner-up finish in Indianapolis, Reddick went into the two-week break with five consecutive top-10 finishes and eight in the last nine races. He also has 15 on the season, the most in the Cup Series. Another such finish this weekend would mark the 23XI Racing driver’s second top-10 in his career at Richmond.
Toyota Tundra TRD Pros look to lock themselves into the Playoffs … Back in action for the first time since competing at Indianapolis Raceway Park, multiple Toyota Tundra TRD Pros find themselves in or near the Truck Series Playoffs with this weekend’s cutoff race. Corey Heim sits in the second position after capturing his fifth victory of the season at the “Tricky Triangle,” while also extending his Playoff points lead. Taylor Gray sits inside the Playoff field in eighth, while his brother, Tanner, sits in the 10th and cutoff position heading into the weekend. Stewart Friesen enters Richmond in 12th, just 16 points below the cutline.
Sawalich once again piloting the No. 1 Tundra TRD Pro … For the fourth time in 2024, and the 10th time in his career, William Sawalich will be behind the wheel of the No. 1 Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage this weekend in Richmond. The Minnesotan is coming off his best finish of the season where he finished 12th in Indianapolis a few weeks ago. This will be Sawalich’s second Truck Series start at Richmond, where he finished 10th a season ago.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and trucks at our 12 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 13th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 29 electrified options.
For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
