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Tough day in choppy race at Road America

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Official Release
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Cadillac Racing GTP entries finish fourth, ninth in final sprint event of season

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (Aug. 4, 2024) – The No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R regrouped after an inauspicious start Sunday to the IMSA SportsCar Weekend at Road America to challenge for the victory and eventually finish fourth in the choppy 2-hour, 40-minute race.

The No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R also found itself the object of contact and an off-course excursion that required an unscheduled stop to change the nose assembly and front-right tire. Renger van der Zande and Sebastien Bourdais, who started third, finished ninth after a service stop for tires with 2 minutes left.

After qualifying fifth, Pipo Derani found himself sitting backward in Turn 6 on the initial race lap when the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R was bumped and spun, which dropped the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) entry to the rear of the 10-car field. Derani climbed to eighth and ceded the seat to Jack Aitken after 25 minutes of driving time.

Aitken, competing at Road America for the first time, continued to weave through the 47-car field covering four classes to be running third under yellow with 37 minutes left. He moved to second on the restart with 16 minutes, 20 seconds left and looked to challenge the leading No. 6 Porsche 963. Also on the green flag, Bourdais moved to fourth in the running order.

In the final 8 minutes, the No. 7 Porsche 963 overtook Aitken for second and the No. 10 Acura AXR-06 slipped past the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R in traffic on the white flag lap for the final podium spot.

Next up for GTP entries is the Tirerack.com Battle on the Bricks on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course that incorporates sections of the oval track. The event was a 2-hour, 40-minute race in 2023 and expands to six hours Sept. 22. NBC will telecast the final three hours of the race, with Peacock providing flag-to-flag streaming coverage from 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. ET.

Cadillac Racing photos from Road America for editorial use

No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R

Renger van der Zande: “I think today wasn’t our day. We were in a great position after the first stop. It was one of those days in IMSA where there’s a lot of yellows, and a big lottery. But, obviously, we had a crash, which hurt the car quite a bit and that put us at the back of the field. After that the recovery worked out pretty smoothly but there was a tire that didn’t hold on for the last five minutes to the end. I think P5 was going to be a good recovery from all the drama that we had on the way. But it’s not a good day, also hurts for the championship. The Porsche extended its lead with two of its cars. It’s one of those days that you want to forget quickly. And on top of it I think we had a really fast car. We didn’t have a car to fight with because we’re still struggling with top speed quite a lot, but at least we maximized the setup and performance out of our car, so I’m proud of the team.”

Sebastien Bourdais: “The GT Porsche making contact on the outlap with me, just gave me no chance. I was down on the inside, he knew I was going to go by him in the straight, and I understeered a tiny little bit, but he just turned in and turned me around. And after that I washed out pretty severely behind (Nick) Yelloly in the Carousel, and he was washing out behind the No. 10 really bad too and drove himself off the road. And I was going to run myself off the road a little bit, but I had backed off already and I was going to be fine. But then when I ended up in the cloud of dust I didn’t know where I was, and then I lost it. And then our fate was sealed at that point. The rear tires were squared, and the car was very difficult to drive. And then just went from bad to worse at that point. We delaminated a tire with three laps to go there. So, we just move on.”

No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R

Jack Aitken: “A tough Lap 1, but we did what we had to do to work our way back into it. The race came to us a little bit with the way the cautions played out. For most of the races played it simple and worked our way through the pack by picking people off and with good strategy and found ourselves in position to win the race at the end. It was an interesting race with fuel, different tire strategies. I tried to go for the lead and just had a bit of rubber and ended up wide in Canada Corner and that was the impetus to lose second place to the other Porsche. They were strong today, so take my hat off to them. Then I just couldn’t get back on terms with them through the traffic that quite intense. Then I made a small mistake and Ricky Taylor managed to get past as well. It was a bit frustrating that we came here to win and we put ourselves in that position, so that’s positive.”

Pipo Derani: “This race was all about strategy, getting the yellows right. We came back to put ourselves in position to fight for the win and it was tight at the end. It was really close in fighting for the win so that’s a positive today. Let’s see how it goes the last two races and more points in the bag today. The championship keeps getting harder and harder, but it’s part of the game. You give all you have and sometimes you come out with the win and sometimes you come out with P4.”

Essential Tips for Choosing the Right Funeral Vehicle

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SM
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Photo by Guy Basabose on Unsplash

Many dream of helping others. When a person passes, they cannot be helped anymore, but their loved ones may still require assistance. Funeral homes must cater to grieving loved ones and meet their needs at this challenging time. Every aspect of the service must be perfect, including the funeral car used to transport the loved one. How should a company go about selecting this car? 

Consider the Size

Size is important when looking at a used hearse for sale. These vehicles are longer than the average passenger car as they must transport individuals and their caskets. Ensure the driver can easily maneuver the car and that loading and unloading precious cargo will be easy. 

Furthermore, make sure it will be possible to park the hearse, as these vehicles take up additional space. Ask for the measurements of each used hearse being considered to ensure it will also fit in the selected storage spot. It would be very frustrating to buy a used hearse to save money, only to learn the funds saved on the purchase must be used to provide a suitable storage facility for the vehicle. 

Vehicle Condition

Buying a used hearse is the same as buying any other vehicle. The purchaser must make certain the vehicle is in good running condition. Always take the hearse to a reputable mechanic and have them inspect it bumper to bumper to make sure the seller is asking a fair price. 

If the mechanic finds issues with the vehicle, talk with the seller and see if they will drop the price to cover the required repairs. If the vehicle is otherwise in good condition, it wouldn’t hurt to meet the seller halfway in paying for the repairs. Finding an excellent used hearse isn’t easy, so be willing to make accommodations. 

In addition, learn how many companies have owned the vehicle and whether it has been involved in any accidents. The answer to this question will likely be no, but some owners use these vehicles as personal cars. Always ask these and other questions that would be standard when buying used. 

Vehicle Features

Determine what features are essential in a funeral car and prioritize them. Doing so will help narrow the choices when shopping. Wreath bars and urn holders are two features many wish to have in a hearse they are buying, but there are others. When making the list, look at new and used models for sale so nothing is overlooked. 

This list will look different when buying a hearse for use as a personal car. Consider different makes and models. Compare the mileage of each vehicle and learn how much parts cost and whether they are readily available. Nobody wants to buy a car only to find they cannot drive it because it broke down and parts won’t be available for an extended period. 

As with any new car, the buyer must do due diligence when purchasing a used hearse. Learn the history of the vehicle and ask to see service records. While finding the perfect car may not be easy, as the supply of used hearses is limited compared to many makes and models, keep looking until this vehicle is found. The right choice needs to be made, as the price is higher on these vehicles than on many others. The tips outlined above will help ensure it is. 

Lapcevich, McKee Reign Triumphant In zMAX CARS Tour Doubleheader At North Wilkesboro

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Official Release
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Treyten Lapcevich celebrates after winning the Window World 125 zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car race on Saturday at North Wilkesboro Speedway. (HHP/Chris Owens photo)


NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (Aug. 3, 2024) – The wait was well worth it. More than two months after its original May 15 date was rescheduled due to inclement weather, an action-packed doubleheader of zMAX CARS Tour action lit up the night on Saturday at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Treyten Lapcevich scored his first CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car win in a carnage-filled Window World 125, while Tristan McKee celebrated his 14th birthday with a nail-biting victory in The Reverend 100 Pro Late Model event.

Brenden “Butterbean” Queen dominated the early stages of the Window World 125 nightcap. A 14-car melee on a Lap 8 restart eliminated a slew of contenders, including NASCAR Xfinity Series regular Sammy Smith’s No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. The accident began when Lapcevich, who was in fourth at the time, struggled to get going as the green flag flew. Lapcevich’s brief pause in momentum caused a chain reaction that swept up championship leaders Connor Hall and Brent Crews, among numerous other front-runners.

When the smoke cleared and the red and yellow flags were lifted, Queen held serve out front, but his lead didn’t last.

Lapcevich took the lead with 57 laps to go after he passed Queen on the inside entering Turn 3, and withstood several challenges from Queen to pull away by more than two seconds over the next 50 circuits. A caution with four laps to go for fluid on the track didn’t help matters for Lapcevich, who narrowly avoided spinning into Brandon Pierce’s stopped car after the yellow flag flew.

Lapcevich didn’t put a wheel wrong over the final four circuits, speeding to victory by 1.071 seconds over Corey Heim. Mini Tyrrell was third with Carson Kvapil fourth and Queen fiffth.

“It’s unreal,” said Lapcevich, a Canadian who won the 2023 NASCAR Pinty’s Series title. “I’ve got to thank all the people who’ve gotten me to this point. These Chad Bryant Racing guys gave me a great car. I’m just so excited to be here.”

NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, a co-owner of the zMAX CARS Tour, finished 11th.

The Reverend 100

Tristan McKee wasted no time in clearing pole winner Nick Loden on the outside, as the driver of the No. 6 Setzer Racing & Development Chevrolet led the first 40 laps before a competition caution bunched up the field for the second time. Spencer Davis passed Loden for second on the restart and set after McKee.

Loden’s crash with 29 laps to go brought out a caution that afforded Davis and Corey Heim with a golden opportunity to find a way past McKee’s dominant Chevrolet.

Davis took advantage, passing McKee on the restart before McKee retook the point two laps later and sped to his second win of the season. Heim posted his first of two runner-up finishes on the night, after he overtook third-place finisher Davis on Lap 99. Dylan Fetcho and Matt Craig completed the top five.

“My car was getting tight there and I wanted (Heim and Davis) to keep battling at the end, and they did,” McKee said.

The zMAX CARS Tour returns for two days of grassroots racing featuring the CARS Tour Late Model Stock Cars and the CARS Tour Pro Late Models on Oct. 18-19. Short-track racing’s rising stars will compete for the ultimate bragging rights just two weeks after the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour tackles North Wilkesboro on Oct. 5.

TICKETS:

Tickets to upcoming speedway events, including the Oct. 5 NASCAR Whelen Modifieds and the Oct. 18-19 CARS Tour title-deciders, are available online at www.northwilkesborospeedway.com.

MORE INFO:

Fans can connect with North Wilkesboro Speedway and get the latest news regarding NASCAR All-Star week and North Wilkesboro Speedway by following on X and Instagram or becoming a Facebook fan.

No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 Secures Strong Sixth Place Start at Road America

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Official Release
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ELKHART LAKE, Wisconsin (August 3, 2024) – The Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) GTD team secured a solid starting position at Road America as the black and red team lines up in sixth in the GTD class for the IMSA SportsCar Weekend at Road America. This result comes as the WTRAndretti GTD team continue their streak of top six starting positions in sprint races.

With qualifying completed, the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 will take on Road America for the IMSA SportsCar Weekend, with the green flag flying for the two-hour and 40-minute race at 3:10 p.m. ET. Broadcast from Road America will be streamed for this event on Peacock.

TOP FIVE GTD STARTING GRID

  1. No. 32 Korthoff/Preston Motorsports (Mercedes-AMG GT3) M. Grenier, K. Koch (117.870 mph)
  2. No. 27 Heart of Racing Team (Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo) Z. Robichon, R. De Angelis (117.746 mph)
  3. No. 23 Triarsi Competizione (Ferrari 296 GT3) A. Rovera, O. Triarsi (117.673 mph)
  4. No. 96 Turner Motorsport (BMW M4 GT3) P. Gallagher, R. Foley (117.540 mph)
  5. No. 57 WINWARD RACING (Mercedes-AMG GT3) P. Ellis, R. Ward (117.380 mph
  6. No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 (Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2) D. Formal, S. Mitchell (117.261 mph)

Danny Formal, No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2: “Sixth place doesn’t really show our capability. The car was better than that. Even through traffic and issues on track, the car is good, and we were the fastest Lamborghini on the track so that makes us feel good. The car is in a good window, and I believe we can fight for a podium. The No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini GT3 team has done a fantastic job this weekend. Hopefully we can advance several positions in the race. Given the number of cautions already seen his weekend, it could be a strategy race. With Sandy Mitchell here to finish out the stints, I think we are in a great position.”

ABOUT WTRANDRETTI
Andretti Global and Wayne Taylor Racing announced a new, long-term partnership in 2023 that combines the resources of the two championship-caliber teams to compete in IMSA’s top classes. In 2024, Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) has expanded to a two-car GTP program as well as competes in the GTD class. Coming off its 2023 championship winning effort, WTRAndretti continues its Driver Development Program competing in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series with a full stable.

WTRAndretti’s global motorsports enterprise boasts two IMSA driver championships (2013 and 2017), and back-to-back IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Championships (2020, 2021) which contributed to nine IMSA manufacturer championships for Acura, Pontiac, Corvette and Cadillac. In its brief 17-year history, WTRAndretti has accumulated multiple victories in sportscar racing’s most iconic events: Rolex 24 At Daytona, Twelve Hours of Sebring, Petit Le Mans, Mid-Ohio, Road America and the Six Hours of The Glen. With its back-to-back PRO Class Championship wins (2022, 2023), WTR also has ten North America Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship titles and a Lamborghini World Finals title.

Andretti Global, a Championship-winning motorsports organization, competes in additional racing categories worldwide, including the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Extreme E, Australian Supercars and the Mexico SuperCopa Championship. Additionally, the racing enterprise commits to driver development through competition in INDY NXT by Firestone and through support of Sebastian and Oliver Wheldon’s racing careers.

WTRAndretti’s long term partnerships include Lamborghini Squadra Corse, DEX Imaging, Harrison Contracting Company and Gainbridge.

No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 Lead WTRAndretti to Front Row Sweep in Road America Qualifying

By
Official Release
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ELKHART LAKE, Wisconsin (August 3, 2024) – Filipe Albuquerque led the Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) team to pole position for Sunday’s IMSA SportsCar Weekend at Road America. Saturday’s qualifying also marked a historic moment for the WTRAndretti team to earn their first ever front row lockout since expanding to two full-time entries. Albuquerque piloted the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 around the 4.048-mile road course and charted a best lap time of 01:48.601, just ahead of teammate Jordan Taylor in the No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 in second.

Jordan Taylor and the No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 team opted for a similar qualifying strategy to their No. 10 teammates and the clear track allowed for Taylor to post a best time of 01:48.863, securing the front row starting position.

Albuquerque and the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 will lead the field to the green for Sunday’s two-hour, 40-minute sprint race at Road America. Broadcast of the IMSA SportsCar Weekend will be streamed on Peacock.

TOP FIVE GTP STARTING GRID

  1. No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 (Acura ARX-06) R. Taylor, F. Albuquerque (134.186 mph)
  2. No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 (Acura ARX-06) J. Taylor, L. Delétraz (133.863 mph)
  3. No. 01 Cadillac Racing (Cadillac V-Series.R) R. van der Zande, S. Bourdais (133.793 mph)
  4. No. 5 Proton Competition Mustang Sampling (Porsche 963) B. Viscaal, G. Bruni (133.215 mph)
  5. No. 31 Whelen Cadillac Racing (Cadillac V-Series.R) P. Derani, J. Aitken (133.196 mph)

Filipe Albuquerque, No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06: “It’s a great day for Acura and WTRAndretti with a front row lockout. The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 felt great. We made some decisions on what to do, and it panned out. It felt a lot like it did in 2022; the balance was the same even though it was a DPi. Within the first few laps I could tell it the balance was good, so I knew I couldn’t make a mistake. But to put a lap together with 14 corners is not easy, and when I did the lap, I felt really good because I could not have gone faster. Again, it’s great for Acura, and it’s good for the ego, especially after a hard season for us. So tomorrow we’ll try to go for the win and see how it goes.”

Jordan Taylor, No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06: “It was an okay session for us, but it’s great to have a one-two for the team. We did a test here a couple weeks ago, so I think we came in with a pretty strong car, but I think we all know the race will be a different story. This year it seems like it’s been so hard to pass, so strategy has been pretty crucial. I think we can be pretty happy with qualifying up front in the No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06, and now we just need to make sure we have a strong race car over the long run as well. But we’re definitely off to a good start.”

ABOUT WTRANDRETTI
Andretti Global and Wayne Taylor Racing announced a new, long-term partnership in 2023 that combines the resources of the two championship-caliber teams to compete in IMSA’s top classes. In 2024, Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) has expanded to a two-car GTP program as well as competes in the GTD class. Coming off its 2023 championship winning effort, WTRAndretti continues its Driver Development Program competing in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series with a full stable.

WTRAndretti’s global motorsports enterprise boasts two IMSA driver championships (2013 and 2017), and back-to-back IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Championships (2020, 2021) which contributed to nine IMSA manufacturer championships for Acura, Pontiac, Corvette and Cadillac. In its brief 17-year history, WTRAndretti has accumulated multiple victories in sportscar racing’s most iconic events: Rolex 24 At Daytona, Twelve Hours of Sebring, Petit Le Mans, Mid-Ohio, Road America and the Six Hours of The Glen. With its back-to-back PRO Class Championship wins (2022, 2023), WTR also has ten North America Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship titles and a Lamborghini World Finals title.

Andretti Global, a Championship-winning motorsports organization, competes in additional racing categories worldwide, including the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Extreme E, Australian Supercars and the Mexico SuperCopa Championship. Additionally, the racing enterprise commits to driver development through competition in INDY NXT by Firestone and through support of Sebastian and Oliver Wheldon’s racing careers.

WTRAndretti’s long term partnerships include Acura, Honda Racing Corporation US (HRC), Konica Minolta Business Solutions USA, DEX Imaging, Harrison Contracting Company and Gainbridge.

CORVETTE RACING AT ROAD AMERICA: Catsburg Leads Corvette 1-2

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Official Release
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Pair of Z06 GT3.Rs sweep GTD PRO front row in try for second straight race win

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (August 3, 2024) – Nicky Catsburg led a 1-2 effort in GTD PRO qualifying Saturday for Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports at Road America with the team going for its second straight victory in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Catsburg qualified the No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R on pole position and bested teammate Alexander Sims as the pair of first-year cars swept the front row for the second race in a row. It’s the season’s second pole position for Catsburg, who will team with Tommy Milner in Sunday’s two-hour, 40-minute sprint race.

Five GTD PRO cars, including both Corvettes, went under the previous class track record as Catsburg posted a best lap of 2:02.198 (119.255 mph). He was 0.194 seconds quicker than the No. 3 Corvette and Sims, who claimed pole position and the race win with teammate Antonio Garcia the last time out at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park three weeks ago.

It’s the fourth pole position of the IMSA season for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R and its eighth globally in its debut season. Catsburg previously was on pole at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, where he and Milner finished third in class.

A victory Sunday would be Corvette Racing’s ninth class victory at Road America and would come in the program’s 300th all-time start – 255 of them coming in IMSA.

In GTD, the No. 13 AWA Corvette Z06 GT3.R of Orey Fidani and Matt Bell will start 15th in class after Saturday’s qualifying. Bell and Fidani – who leads the IMSA Aiken Award standings for Bronze-rated drivers in GTD – will look to rebound from a DNF in the last race at CTMP when Fidani was knocked off-track.

The IMSA SportsCar Weekend race at Road America is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. CT on Sunday, August 4. The race will air on CNBC from 6-9 p.m. ET with live streaming on Peacock inside the United States and IMSA.com outside the U.S. IMSA Radio also will stream the call of the race at IMSA.com, XM 206 and SiriusXM Online 996.

CORVETTE RACING BY PRATT MILLER MOTORSPORTS POST-QUALIFYING DRIVER QUOTES

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – GTD PRO POLE-WINNER: “That was all I had! I have Sims as a teammate and the guy is crazy quick! So I really have to push hard. I feel

like we really nailed the setup. Tyler (Neff) my engineer did a great job and made some suggestions right before qualifying. The car was mega. I only had to drive it around here, and it was a good lap. We got everything together and I’m super, super glad.

“Road America is super challenging. I haven’t raced here but I did test here. So I know the track. It’s awesome and very old-school… one of the best in America. I’m super-happy to learn from my teammates. They are bringing me up to speed, so I’m very happy to be on pole.

“I hope it’s our turn for a win! It was an awesome lap. The Corvette was really dialed in perfectly. Our team did a great job with the setup. This was a very nice lap and I’m very pleased. It’s super-cool that we have a 1-2 again. We had a 1-2 finish in Canada a couple of weeks ago, so it’s great to build on that and hopefully we can do it again here. It’s been a new car for us and we are continuing to learn. It’s getting better and better. We found something in Canada that is working well for us, so we’ve brought it here and it’s gone very well.”

ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – QUALIFIED SECOND IN GTD PRO: “I’m very happy. The session was good fun and the car was working really, really well. I made a mistake on my first proper push lap and went wide coming out of the Carousel. The tires were dirty starting the next lap so that compromised me a little bit. The lap after that was my best, but Nicky’s lap was absolutely brilliant. That’s a special lap from him. Well done to the whole team. It’s great to be alongside our teammates on the front row. It’s a perfect way to start the race, and I think we have sensible race pace as well.”

Cadillac at Road America: Strong qualifying efforts

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Official Release
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Cadillac at Road America: Streak extended
Cadillac Racing GTP entries qualify third, fifth for 2-hour, 40-minute race

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (Aug. 3, 2024) – Cadillac Racing continued its run of strong Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) qualifying in the IMSA SportsCar Weekend at Road America.

The No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R, with Renger van der Zande behind the wheel in the 15-minute session for the second consecutive event, recorded a best lap of 1 minute, 48.920 seconds on the sweeping 4.048-mile, 14-turn circuit to qualify third.

The No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R, with van der Zande sharing driving duties with Sebastien Bourdais in the 2-hour, 40-minute race Sunday, has not qualified lower than third in each of the six IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races.

Van der Zande missed securing the team’s fifth front-row spot by .057 of a second.

Pipo Derani drove the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R to fifth in the 10-car GTP field with a best of 1:49.408 of his eight laps. Derani earned the pole in the 2023 race at Road America.

Cadillac Racing GTP qualifying statistics | Road America photos for editorial use

The No. 10 Acura ARX-06 earned the pole with a lap of 1:48.601. Nine of the 10 cars took laps in the GTP session.

The No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R, which has claimed podium finishes in four of the past five races, sits second in the GTP team/driver standing, and qualified higher than the title-leading No. 7 Porsche 963.

“I think the car was fantastic, the lap was really good and the team nailed the setup,” said van der Zande, who recorded three consecutive podium finishes (2020-2022) with Cadillac Racing at Road America. “P3 is better than P2 on the grid because you’re on the inside and can follow the lead car into the tight Turn 1.”

Peacock will stream the race live at 3 p.m. ET Sunday for U.S. viewers, while IMSA.TV and the IMSA YouTube Channel (youtube.com/IMSAOfficial) will stream the race live for the global audience. The race will be broadcast on IMSA.com, RadioLeMans.com and SiriusXM (XM 206, Web/App 996).

Renger van der Zande, No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R (qualified third; 1:48.920 on lap 6 of 7): “I think the car was fantastic, the lap was really good and the team nailed the setup. Altogether, we should be happy where we are to start the race. P3 is better than P2 on the grid because you’re on the inside and can follow the lead car into the tight Turn 1. I think tomorrow is going to be a tough day in terms of raceability. You’ll have to be very clever and hang in there. So far, so good and proud to make a lap happen in qualifying.”

Pipo Derani, No.. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R (qualified fifth; 1:49.408 on lap 5 of 6): “I think we have improved the car over the weekend. We were struggling a bit to get the tires to work properly. Overall, I thought it was a clean qualifying and thought my lap was pretty good. I didn’t leave much out there, but unfortunately it was not enough to be in the top three at least. We’ll take the positives that we improved over the weekend and keep improving in the race.”

Dempsey-Wright Motorsports Welcomes Partners with Dream Drives for Kids and RAFA Racing Club

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Official Release
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BATAVIA, Ohio. (August 2, 2024) – As Dempsey-Wright Motorsports heads into the second race weekend of the Porsche Endurance Challenge North America, the team proudly welcomes its newest partners, Dream Drives for Kids and RAFA Racing Club. With Patrick Dempsey and Patrick Long continuing their 2024 race season, the team will compete next weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, bringing exposure to the newest members of the Dempsey-Wright family.

The partnership with Dream Drives for Kids aligns perfectly with Patrick Dempsey’s own Dempsey Center and its commitment to combating childhood cancer. Dream Drives for Kids partners with hospitals and care organizations in the Pacific Northwest to provide kids the unique opportunity to get out of the hospital, away from treatment for a day, and into a car, giving them an experience unlike any other. This comes at no cost to children and their families. Dream Drives for Kids is expanding nationally across the United States.

“We are hugely excited to blend our work at Dream Drives for Kids with Mr. Dempsey’s commitment to helping treat cancer via The Dempsey Center,” said Eric Peterson, President and Co-Founder of Dream Drives for Kids. “We are longtime fans of Porsche, Mr. Long, and Mr. Dempsey, and we are excited to bring our small team to Austin at the end of the season and watch Wright Motorsports race for the win! We are working with two Austin, Texas organizations — JoyRx and Dell Children’s — to identify three children and their families who will join us at Circuit of the Americas on November 22nd to meet the Wright Motorsports team and see what real racing is like, up close and personal.”

The latest partner to join Dempsey-Wright Motorsports is RAFA Racing Club, a group of racing diehards on a mission to create unprecedented access, community, and experiences in the world of motorsports. With the first of many global clubhouse locations opening in Houston and Austin, TX this year, the RAFA Racing Club is building exclusive destinations for passionate fans and seasoned drivers alike to experience the thrill and camaraderie of racing together and get access to premium driver development and performance programs. Additionally, RAFA Racing Club is leading a series of initiatives around supporting and promoting women in motorsports.

“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with the Wright-Dempsey motorsport team on the Porsche Endurance Challenge,” said Rafa Martinez, Founder of RAFA Racing Club. “We share a passion for the sport and a commitment to bringing it to a wider audience. We are proud to sponsor such amazing talent and cannot wait to see what they do on the track.”

Road America will host round two of the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama. August 9 – 11. The event will not be open to the public, but fans can find session times and watch the races live via www.porschesprint.com. Additional resources for Dream Drives for Kids can be found at dreamdrivesforkids.com and on Instagram at @dreamdrivesforkids, and for RAFA Racing Club at rafaracing.club.

Wright Motorsports
Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series and international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy, and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013, and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team, and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. In 2020, the team captured the GT World Challenge America Am championship. In 2021, Wright Motorsports had a wildly successful season, capturing nine championships across their five racing efforts.

Paving Begins on Reconfigured ROVAL Ahead of Bank of America ROVAL 400

By
Official Release
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Paving is underway on a section of the infield between Turn 6 and Turn 7, designed to create a longer infield straightway for this year's reconfigured Bank of America ROVAL™ 400. (CMS Photo)
  • In advance of NASCAR’s Playoff wildcard weekend Oct. 11-13, paving has begun on a section of the infield road course designed to create more passing zones
  • Once paving of the infield section is complete, officials will begin reconfiguring the frontstretch chicane before the pivotal playoff cutoff race weekend
  • Tickets for the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 weekend are available online at charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling 800-455-FANS (3267); Kids 12 and under get in the entire weekend for just $10 with an adult

CONCORD, N.C. (Aug. 2, 2024) – With NASCAR still in the midst of a competition break for the Paris 2024 Olympics, officials at Charlotte Motor Speedway are hard at work preparing for the pivotal Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 Playoff wildcard weekend, including reconfiguring portions of the innovative 2.28-mile circuit to create more passing zones and white-knuckled excitement.

New paving is underway on a section of the infield between Turn 6 and Turn 7, designed to create a longer infield straightway leading into a tight, hairpin corner. Additional work is scheduled later this summer on the frontstretch chicane, which will be reshaped to create a harder braking zone in the final corners of the challenging 17-turn course.

“In just six short years, the ROVAL™ has created many unforgettable moments, from Ryan Blaney’s miraculous victory in the inaugural event and Chase Elliott’s unforgettable burnout in Heartburn Turn to AJ Allmendinger’s dramatic triumph for Kaulig Racing last season,” said Charlotte Motor Speedway President and General Manager Greg Walter. “These enhancements are designed to challenge drivers to further push their limits and race for the win in an event that will make or break the championship hopes of several Playoff contenders.”

Combined, the two enhancement projects will require 600 tons of asphalt, 23,000 square feet of cement-stabilized base and 1,000 cubic yards of dirt, with nearly all of the material utilized in the new portion of the course between Turns 6 and 7. The projects are expected to be complete by the end of August.

Fans will get their first glimpse of the all-new ROVAL™ during the pivotal NASCAR Playoffs Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 weekend, Oct. 11-13, when both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Cup Series take the track in crucial cutoff events, with drivers battling to secure a spot in the Round of 8.

TICKETS:
Weekend packages for the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 start at just $99. Kids 12 and under get in all weekend for just $10 with an adult. Visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call the ticket office at 800-455-FANS (3267) for tickets, upgrades and camping details.

KEEP TRACK:

Fans can connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway by following on X and Instagram or becoming a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

Juan Pablo Montoya Returns to NASCAR in the No. 50 Mobil 1™ Toyota Camry XSE with 23XI Racing at Watkins Glen

By
Official Release
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Colombian Racing Legend Caps Final NASCAR Race Celebrating Mobil 1’s 50th Anniversary with dedicated paint scheme at Watkins Glen International

Huntersville, N.C. (Aug. 2, 2024) – 23XI Racing, in collaboration with the Mobil 1 brand, announced today that Juan Pablo Montoya, a decorated and championship-winning driver in multiple series, will compete in the No. 50 Mobil 1™ Toyota Camry XSE in the NASCAR Cup Series event at Watkins Glen International on September 15. The race will serve as the third and final event for the No. 50 Camry, which has competed at two previous races this season as part of a larger global celebration for the Mobil 1 brand to commemorate its 50th anniversary and as a third entry for 23XI.

The 50th-anniversary commemoration began at Circuit of the Americas in March with Japanese racing star Kamui Kobayashi behind the wheel, followed by rising NASCAR star Corey Heim at Nashville Superspeedway in June. For the final race of the celebration, it’s only fitting to close out with another elite international racing legend. Montoya, a NASCAR regular from 2007 to 2013, will make his first NASCAR Cup Series start since the 2014 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In addition to NASCAR racing, the Colombian-born driver has competed full-time in Formula One, CART, IndyCar, and IMSA. He has won championships in CART (1999) and IMSA (2019) and is a two-time Indy 500 winner and three-time winner of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Montoya has 12 overall starts at Watkins Glen in four different series. He has one win (2010), a pole award, three top-five, and five top-10 finishes in his seven starts there in the Cup Series.

“I’m looking forward to getting back in a Cup car and racing at Watkins Glen – a track I really enjoy and had the chance to experience earlier in my career,” shared Montoya. “It’s an honor to celebrate the Mobil 1 team’s remarkable legacy in racing and be recognized for my contributions to motorsports. The Mobil 1 brand was one of my first sponsors when I started racing, so to represent the brand again as they celebrate this milestone will be so special. I’m also excited to work with 23XI and experience what the team is building.”

While Watkins Glen is the final on-track NASCAR Cup Series event to celebrate the 50th anniversary for the Mobil 1 brand, fans can get an inside look into each race through a content series that will be released later this year on Mobil 1 Racing’s social channels. The series will highlight Kobayashi, Heim, and Montoya as they prepare for and take on the NASCAR Cup Series events – while driving the No. 50 Mobil 1 Toyota.

“Being able to have such an iconic driver like Juan Pablo Montoya to race the No. 50 car is the perfect way to complete the run of our gold paint scheme with 23XI Racing,” explained Katy Howell, Director of Global Sponsorships and Marketing Services, on behalf of the Mobil 1 team. “We worked with Juan Pablo at the beginning of his career, so to partner with a legendary driver such as himself as he returns to NASCAR is truly a dream come true. It has been an exciting year for our brand globally as we celebrate a historic milestone, and we are thrilled to have an all-star line-up for the third entry of the No. 50 Camry. Each of the drivers and teams showcase our true passion for racing that we celebrate in everything we do as a brand. It has been a privilege to continue to showcase how our products can help race teams and consumers get the most out of their engines.”

“Juan Pablo Montoya is a world-class driver who has won in everything he’s driven, and he will be a great closer to the 50th-anniversary celebration we’ve had in NASCAR with the No. 50 Mobil 1 Toyota,” said Steve Lauletta, President of 23XI Racing. “The events have highlighted racing legends as well as what’s next in motorsports, and 23XI has been honored to have been a part of adding to the Mobil 1 legacy and celebrating such a momentous occasion.”

As the Mobil 1 team continues to elevate the sport of racing and create unique experiences for drivers and fans, the brand has unveiled special paint schemes, liveries, and decals to honor its 50-year legacy in a variety of motorsports series around the world including IMSA, Formula One, INDYCAR, NHRA, Moto GP and many more.

With the upcoming Watkins Glen International event concluding the three-race run for the No. 50 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry XSE and NASCAR Cup Series celebrations for the Mobil 1 brand, fans can tune in to cheer on Montoya as he makes his incredible return to the sport and as races towards another win.

About Mobil 1

For 50 years, Mobil 1 has been trusted by drivers to keep their engines running longer. Our products combine the latest technology and innovation to exceed the toughest standards of vehicle manufacturers and tuning shops—so consumers can get the most out of their time behind the wheel, both on the road and on the track. Turn every day into an adventure with Mobil 1, the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand. Learn more at www.mobil1.us or and follow @Mobil1Racing on Instagram and X. Join us. For the love of driving.

About 23XI Racing

23XI Racing – pronounced twenty-three eleven – was founded by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin in 2020. With rising NASCAR star Bubba Wallace selected to drive the No. 23 Toyota Camry, the team made its NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2021 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Wallace made history on October 4, 2021, when he captured his first career Cup Series win, becoming just the second African American to win in the Cup Series, and earning 23XI its first-ever victory. 23XI expanded to a two-car organization in 2022 with Cup Series Champion Kurt Busch driving the No. 45 Toyota Camry. With a win at Kansas Speedway in May of 2022, Busch earned 23XI the team’s first-ever playoff berth. 23XI currently features the lineup of Bubba Wallace in the No. 23 Toyota Camry and Tyler Reddick in the No. 45 Toyota Camry. In 2023, both Wallace and Reddick earned spots in the NASCAR Playoffs. The team operates out of Airspeed, a state-of-the-art facility in Huntersville, N.C. that opened in January of 2024.

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