Odds will be released and wagers will be accepted beginning with the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, which takes place June 7-9 at Bristol Dragway
INDIANAPOLIS (May 16, 2024) – NHRA announced today an exciting and landmark step forward for the company with the launch of PlayNHRA, an innovative new initiative that will provide fans opportunities to engage in fantasy games, gaming, and betting for NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series events.
As part of PlayNHRA, NHRA’s partnerships with leading sports books and fantasy sports providers will enable fans to sign up for free and legally wager on national events and other outcomes in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
Odds will be released and wagers will be accepted beginning with the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, which takes place June 7-9 at Bristol Dragway.
“PlayNHRA marks a huge and significant step forward for the NHRA and its fans,” NHRA Vice President and Chief Development Officer Brad Gerber said. “This initiative will provide a destination for fans to enjoy the safest and most regulated place to bet on NHRA drag racing, participate in fantasy games, and engage with our sport in so many new ways.”
As part of the PlayNHRA initiative, NHRA has partnered with an industry-leading firm, IC360, to educate employees, race teams and other stakeholders about sports betting and to maintain the integrity of the sport through data intelligence, fraud prevention and monitoring of wagering patterns.
“NHRA is committed to maintaining the integrity of our sport. By partnering with IC360, as well as licensed and regulated sportsbooks and fantasy operators, NHRA will help ensure everyone who engages with PlayNHRA will enjoy a safe and well-regulated betting and gaming environment,” NHRA Vice President and General Counsel Alen Cisija said. “This was a vital step in the creation and rollout of PlayNHRA.”
For more information on NHRA, including the 2024 schedule, please visit www.NHRA.com.
About IC360
Integrity Compliance 360 (IC360) is a global technology and consultancy powerhouse specializing in comprehensive integrity and compliance solutions for sports, sports betting, gaming, and iGaming. Leveraging the combined strengths of U.S. Integrity and Odds On Compliance, IC360’s mission is to set new standards by providing unparalleled services that ensure integrity, transparency, and compliance at the intersection of the rapidly evolving global sports betting market and sports integrity. For more information, visit ic360.io.
About Mission Foods
MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/
About NHRA
Headquartered in San Dimas, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 110 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
SONOMA, Calif. (May 16, 2023) – Sonoma Raceway will bring the punchline to the starting line as beloved comedian and TV Star James “Murr” Murray is announced as the Grand Marshal for the eagerly anticipated Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Cup Series race on June 9, 2024.
Murr will be promoting Impractical Jokers, the outrageous hidden camera hijinks series starring comedy trio Brian “Q” Quinn, James “Murr” Murray and Sal Vulcano, which moves to its new home on TBS with fresh episodes this summer. Previous episodes are available to catch up on Max.
As Grand Marshal for Sunday’s race, Murr will have the honor of speaking the four most famous words in motorsports, “Drivers, Start Your Engines!” Known for his wit, charm and ability to ignite laughter from audiences, Murr will be right at home with the sound of the engines lighting off upon his command.
“Murr bringing his exuberant style to the Toyota/Save Mart 350 as Grand Marshal is a great fit for our race,” said Brian Flynn, executive vice president and general manager of Sonoma Raceway. “Fans can expect the unexpected from both the racing and Murr himself, adding to the thrilling atmosphere of our race day experience.”
The Toyota/Save Mart 350 is one of the highlights of the NASCAR Cup Series racing calendar, being the only points race in California this season, and one of only a few road courses run throughout the year. Mirroring the unpredictable nature of road courses, Murr as Grand Marshal will add an additional layer of the unexpected, plus animated entertainment to the entire race day experience. Season tickets for 2024 Sonoma Raceway events are available now at SonomaRaceway.com
About TBS
TBS, a Warner Bros. Discovery brand, is a top-rated destination for television among young adults and known for escapist, good-time entertainment, featuring smart, imaginative characters with heart and comedic edge. From unscripted and scripted comedy series to game shows, and animated programming, TBS’ Originals slate is comprised of some of the most popular shows on cable — “AEW: Dynamite,” “American Dad!,” “Wipeout,” and “Stupid Pet Tricks.” Starting this summer, TBS will be the new home of “Impractical Jokers,” joining comedy hits like “Modern Family,” “The Big Bang Theory,” and “Young Sheldon,” alongside classic sitcom favorites such as “Friends,” blockbuster movies, and live event coverage of Major League Baseball and the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. Website: www.tbs.com
Sonoma Raceway is a 2.52-mile and 12-turn road course and quarter-mile drag strip located at Sears Point in Sonoma County, California. Built in 1968 the track is carved into rolling hills with 160 ft of total elevation change. It is host to one of the few NASCAR Cup Series races each year that are run on road courses. It is one of the world’s busiest racing facilities, with track activity scheduled an average of 340 days a year. A complete and versatile motorsports complex, it is home to one of the nation’s only high-performance automotive industrial parks with approximately 70 tenants.
JOLIET, Ill. (May 16, 2024) – Eight NHRA Pro Stock drivers will have more on the table at this weekend’s Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance as they will be competing in the GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago.
The specialty race will feature eight Pro Stock drivers in a unique callout format. Reigning champion Erica Enders sits atop the stacked group of drivers. Thanks to her qualifying effort from last season, Enders will have her pick of opponents. The other seven drivers in the Callout are, in order, points leader Greg Anderson, 2023 Chicago winner Dallas Glenn, Troy Coughlin Jr., Aaron Stanfield, Matt Hartford, Cristian Cuadra and Deric Kramer.
The must-see event kicks off on Friday at 12:30 p.m. CT when the drivers will make their picks, with Callout hitting the track on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. Enders will get the first selection, then the pick will go to Anderson, if he isn’t the first driver called out. The picks will continue based on position.
The longtime rivalry between the Elite Motorsports and the KB Titan Racing Pro Stock camps is always high on race day but with four drivers from each respective team seeded into the GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout, competition will be even more intense than usual for these drivers. Enders, the flagship driver of Elite Motorsports, is ready to make her selection in this unique event.
“The pick is going to come down to what we’re feeling that day,” Enders said, driver of the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/SCAG Power Equipment Pro Stock car. “I’ve always said it from the get-go but to be the best, you have to beat the best, so let’s come out swinging.
“It definitely is a very tight field in Pro Stock. We started off well this season in Gainesville after it alluded us for so long, but not having been back in the winner’s circle since, we’re definitely looking to continue the positive trek for Elite Motorsports. The Callout is going to be a lot of fun.”
The opening round of the NHRA Pro Stock All-Star Callout takes place at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, followed by the semifinals at 1:45 p.m. and the final round at 2:55 p.m. A special broadcast highlighting the Callout takes place from 7-8:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
The winning driver who makes the quickest run in the opening round will select their semifinal opponent, with a big purse and major bragging rights on the line in the finals. The drivers in the GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout are ready for their shot at the cash and bragging rights and here’s what each had to say going into the weekend.
Greg Anderson, driver of the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro: Momentum does a lot for an old guy like me. I’m excited. I didn’t get to be a part of the GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout last year. I had to sit on the sidelines and watch. It was tough to sit back, so I’m glad I’m back and glad to be involved this year.
Dallas Glenn, driver of the RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro: I feel really good. I came in (seeded) first last year and obviously I’m not going to be first this year but with Greg running as well as he is currently, and me being in that final quad (in Charlotte), I feel like KB Titan has some good momentum coming into this race. I’m definitely looking for some redemption from last year. I put down a really good lap first round but went red. So this year, if I can tame that down, I think we have a good shot at it.
Troy Coughlin Jr., driver of the JEGS.com/White Castle Pro Stock car: I think it would definitely get us started if we could turn a few win lights on, that’s for certain. Our JEGS.com/White Castle machine is off on the right foot and working fine. The driver just needs to focus and make a couple good laps and we’ll be good to go.
Aaron Stanfield, driver of the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/Janac Brothers Racing Pro Stock car: I enjoy being busy at the racetrack and getting those competitive juices following. When you get home, you’re exhausted but I love it. I think we had a really good weekend in Charlotte. We’re looking to build off of it and see if we can make some better runs and see if I can do my job and have some fun in Chicago.
Matt Hartford, driver of the GETTRX/Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro: KB Titan gives my team a lot of great power. We’ve failed to utilize it all year but we’re coming to this Callout and I think we have as good of a chance as anybody. A year ago, GETTRX asked me what they can do to help me, what can they do to help the sport. I said I think you need to do something with the Callout, so we worked really had last year to put this deal together. I’m really excited that it came together. It’s a three-year deal to have the GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout. There’s $40,000 on the line. Our goal is to get the GETTRX car in the final and take home the money.
Cristian Cuadra, driver of the Corral Boots/Cuadra/Columbia Impex car: Right now, I feel really confident. My car is running really well. Elite Motorsports is giving me a lot of power and they’re helping me a lot, so I think I have a really strong opportunity.
Deric Kramer, driver of the Get Biofuel Chevrolet Camaro: I think we made a step in the right direction in Charlotte. We made a really good lap in the first round to win the quad. I think we’ve made that corner and have really started to show what this team is capable of.
2024 GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout Final Standings
Erica Enders
Greg Anders
Dallas Glenn
Troy Coughlin Jr.
Aaron Stanfield
Matt Hartford
Cristian Cuadra
Deric Kramer
(Note: Enders will get the first selection for the opening round, followed by the next-highest seeded driver until matchups are set.)
Clay Millican (Top Fuel), Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) collected titles last season at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance and this year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1. It is the sixth of 20 events of the 2024 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and the weekend will also feature the #2Fast2Tasty Mission NHRA Challenge in both nitro classes and Pro Stock Motorcycle.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, someone will look to unseat Gaige Herrera after his perfect start to the season. Herrera, the dominant 2023 world champion, has won seven straight races dating back to last season and is also the defending event winner in Chicago. But he’ll face a talented field at Route 66 Raceway, including Charlotte runner-up John Hall, who put together a strong effort at zMAX Dragway.
He’ll look to continue that in Chicago, riding a wave of momentum while racing under the Matt Smith Racing banner in 2024. Hall has emerged as a strong contender through two events and he will attempt to unseat Herrera, who has won 27 straight rounds, in Chicago. Others two watch in the two-wheeled category include Matt Smith, Hector Arana Jr., Steve Johnson, Richard Gadson, LE Tonglet and Angie Smith.
Qualifying sessions take place at 2:30 and 5 p.m. CT on Friday, and 11:40 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday. Eliminations begin at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday.
To purchase tickets to the Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK Performance on May 17-19 at Route 66 Raceway, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult.
Tickets for the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance are on sale now at NHRA.com/tickets. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.
About Mission Foods
MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/
About NHRA
Headquartered in San Dimas, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 110 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
16 May 2024–After announcing its plan to enter the 2024 IMSA Mustang Challenge, Southern Paley Motorsports has revealed its driver lineup for the season opener at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and the following two rounds at Watkins Glen International. Experienced sportscar racers John Southern Jr. and Sam Paley will take turns on race duty behind the wheel as SPM prepares for its debut in the all-new Mustang series.
With a varied background that includes driving, coaching and team management, Southern and Paley are looking to grow SPM’s IMSA Mustang Challenge program by jumping behind the wheel and running at the front.
Southern (left) is a former Trans-Am TA2 Southern Cup Champion and Lamborghini-affiliated test driver with pole positions and podium finishes in ADAC GT4 Germany, DTM Trophy and ADAC GT Masters.
“I’m very excited to be racing in the inaugural round of the Mustang Challenge,” Southern said. “It’s a great opportunity for us as a team to show what we are about in the paddock and to be a part of something great with Ford’s new championship. We have some great people onboard, and Mid-Ohio is a favorite of mine, so anticipation is through the roof.”
After scoring numerous podiums in the F4 U.S. Championship, Paley (right) went on to become the 2021 Mazda MX-5 Cup Rookie of the Year with numerous podiums and pole positions. He is the team principal and managing director at TKG Motorsports which fields multiple cars in the Spec MX-5 Series.
“I’m thoroughly looking forward to making my debut in the IMSA Mustang Challenge in the No. 26 Southern Paley Motorsports DarkHorse car at Watkins Glen,” Paley said. “The IMSA Mustang Challenge represents a fantastic platform for drivers to develop their careers, and for us, as a team, to grow our program. We have high aspirations for both Mid-Ohio and Watkins Glen, and we expect to be competing at the front. I cannot wait to get started with JP at Mid-Ohio.”
The IMSA Mustang Challenge is a brand new, 10-race spec championship featuring the new Mustang® Dark Horse™ R. The series makes its debut at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, June 7 – 9, with two 45-minute races. Race One is scheduled for 2:20pm ET on Saturday, June 8, and Race 2 will take place Sunday, June 9, at 9:20am ET. Both races will be streamed live for free on the Ford Performance YouTube channel and IMSA.TV.
North Wilkesboro Speedway Sunday, May 19, 2024 0.625-Mile Oval 8:00 PM ET Location: North Wilkesboro, North Carolina TV: Fox Event: NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race Radio: SiriusXM, PRN
5 KYLE LARSON Age: 31 (July 31, 1992) Hometown: Elk Grove, California Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels Standings: 1st
SEASON SUMMARY: Through the first half of the regular season, Kyle Larson leads the NASCAR Cup Series points standings by 30 markers. He is one of three drivers with multiple wins on the season – earning victories at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March and Kansas Speedway in May. The 31-year-old driver has series-best marks this year in top-five finishes (six), laps led (649) and stage wins (seven).
MONTH OF MAY: Larson began his attempt to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in earnest this week with multiple practice sessions at the 2.5-mile track. Arrow McLaren is fielding the No. 17 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet in partnership with Hendrick Motorsports and team owner Rick Hendrick is the car owner. Larson is looking to become the fifth driver to run “The Double” of the Indy 500 and the Cup Series’ Coca-Cola 600.
DEFENDING THE WIN: In last year’s NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Larson dominated the 200-lap event to win for the third time in his last four all-star starts. The Elk Grove, California, native led 145 of the final 146 laps and stomped the field by 4.54 seconds. In the past 11 All-Star Races, he is the only repeat winner. Should Larson win on Sunday, he will become the third driver to win consecutive All-Star Races, joining Davey Allison (1991 and 1992) and Jimmie Johnson (2012 and 2013) in that club.
RECORD SETTER: Larson’s three wins in the All-Star Race have come on three different tracks, making him the only driver to accomplish this in NASCAR history. His 2019 victory came at Charlotte Motor Speedway (after transferring from winning the All-Star Open), his 2021 win was at Texas Motor Speedway and his 2023 win was at North Wilkesboro. The driver of the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1’s wins at Texas and North Wilkesboro came in the first all-star events held by those tracks. The 2021 Cup Series champion’s all-star win at Texas was part of his title season and it was one of seven times that a Hendrick Motorsports driver won the All-Star Race and championship in the same season. The others are team vice chairman Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997 and 2001), Jimmie Johnson (2006 and 2013) and Chase Elliott (2020).
BY THE NUMBERS: In seven All-Star Race starts, Larson’s average finish of 7.43 is the third-best among active drivers and sixth-best all-time (among drivers with a minimum of four starts). His 239 laps led are the third-most in the event’s history. With three wins, he is tied with NASCAR Hall of Famers Gordon and Dale Earnhardt for second on the all-star victory list, trailing only Johnson (four wins).
STANDBY UPDATE: Kevin Harvick will practice and qualify (via the Pit Crew Challenge) the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM entry on Friday, May 17, at North Wilkesboro. Due to commitments with the Indianapolis 500, Larson is scheduled to miss Friday and Saturday’s on-track activity at the 0.625-mile track.
PUTTING IN WORK IN THE PITS: The No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM pit crew has this season’s fifth-best average four-tire pit stop time (10.966 seconds). The five-person crew is comprised of Blaine Anderson (front-tire changer), R.J. Barnette (tire carrier), Brandon Harder (fueler), Brandon Johnson (jackman) and Calvin Teague (rear-tire changer). The team will showcase its skills during Friday’s Pit Crew Challenge.
HENDRICKCARS.COM IS HOME: This Sunday is a home race for the HENDRICKCARS.COM team. The state of North Carolina is home to numerous Hendrick Automotive Group dealerships. Respectively, the No. 5 driver and crew can be found in their white firesuits this weekend. For every HENDRICKCARS.COM home race this season, there is a unique hat released the week of the race and only available for sale on the trackside merchandise haulers or available to win on HENDRICKCARS.COM. Less than 100 of each limited-edition hat will be available to the public. This week’s North Wilkesboro-themed hat will be revealed Thursday and can be seen here.
WE’RE HIRING: Hendrick Automotive Group is hiring more than 300 technicians at its dealerships throughout the country. Positions are open for all skill levels and offer tuition and training reimbursement. Interested people can apply at HENDRICKCARS.COM.
Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media in the North Wilkesboro Speedway media center on Friday, May 17, at 3:30 p.m. local time.
THE STARS ALIGNED: In 2020, Chase Elliott earned his first career NASCAR All-Star Race victory, claiming the checkered flag after dominating at Bristol Motor Speedway. Elliott won stages two and three before crossing the finish line first in the final stage to earn the $1 million prize. It marked the first time the All-Star Race was held on a short track and a Wednesday. The driver of the No. 9 is the third-youngest all-star winner at 24 years, seven months, 17 days. Elliott is also one of four Hendrick Motorsports drivers to win the exhibition race and the NASCAR Cup Series championship in the same year. The others are team vice chairman Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997 and 2001), Jimmie Johnson (2006 and 2013) and Kyle Larson (2021).
WINNING AT (NORTH) WILKESBORO: This weekend, the All-Star Race returns to North Wilkesboro Speedway for the second consecutive season. Outside of last year’s All-Star event – where he drove to a fifth-place finish – Elliott does have some additional experience at the track, racing in PASS late model races. When the driver was just 14 years old, he visited victory lane at the short track on September 4, 2010, in the first race the track had hosted since the mid-1990s.
HE’S AN ALL STAR: Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will make his ninth consecutive appearance in the All-Star Race this weekend. Elliott’s 2020 Cup Series championship and All-Star Race win locked him into the event for the remainder of his full-time Cup Series career under current rules. The 28-year-old driver finished in the top 10 in six of his eight All-Star Race appearances and led in three of the last five races for 74 laps. He has an average finish of 8.00 across his eight All-Star Race starts, fourth-best among active drivers with at least four starts.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: With Elliott’s 2020 victory, he and his father, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, joined NASCAR Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. as the only father-son combinations to win the All-Star Race. Bill won it driving the No. 9 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1986 when he led all but one of 83 laps. Only one other driver has won the All-Star Race in the No. 9 – which is in a five-way tie for second (along with the Nos. 24 and 5) on the list of most wins by car number in the exhibition race. Kasey Kahne also won the event in the No. 9 in 2008.
SEASON UPDATE: Through 13 points-paying Cup Series races in 2024, Elliott has one win (Texas Motor Speedway), five top-five results and six top-10s. He is the only driver to finish inside the top 20 in all 13 events and has the best average finish among full-time premier series drivers (9.85). The Hendrick Motorsports driver sits fourth in the Cup Series points standings, just 49 points behind the leader, teammate Larson.
FAST FIVE: The pit crews will take center stage for the Pit Crew Challenge during All-Star Race qualifying on Friday evening. Last month at Texas, the No. 9 pit crew laid down the fastest four-tire pit stop (9.076 seconds) of the 2024 season, according to data from Racing Insights. The over-the-wall squad has remained the same since 2018 and currently holds the fastest average four-tire pit stop time (10.643 seconds) this season. The 2021 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew award-winning group (and winners of the 2021 Pit Crew Challenge) is comprised of Chad Avrit (rear-tire changer), Jared Erspamer (tire carrier), John Gianninoto (fueler), Nick O’Dell (front-tire changer) and T.J. Semke (jackman).
HONORING THOSE WHO SACRIFICED: On Tuesday, NAPA Auto Parts unveiled a special scheme for next weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will don a grayscale digital camouflage livery for the Memorial Day weekend race. Get a look at all the angles of the patriotic scheme here.
24 WILLIAM BYRON Age: 26 (Nov. 29, 1997) Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle Standings: 5th
No. 24 RAPTOR Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
WHAT’S IN A NUMBER: With his three wins in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season, William Byron continues to extend the history and legacy of the No. 24. The iconic car number is third on the all-time list with 106 Cup Series wins, trailing only the No. 43 (200 wins) and the No. 11 (234 wins). Byron’s 13 premier series wins have come in the No. 24, while Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman Jeff Gordon accounts for 93 wins. Heading into this weekend’s NASCAR All-Star Race, the No. 24 has won this race three times – tied for the second-most wins by a car number in the exhibition event, all coming with Gordon. If Byron were to end up in victory lane on Sunday, the No. 24 would be tied for the most wins in all-star history with the No. 48 (four).
NEXT GEN DUO: Since the Next Gen Cup Series car was introduced in 2022, Byron and crew chief Rudy Fugle have a series-leading 11 wins. The duo is ahead of teammates Kyle Larson (nine wins) and crew chief Cliff Daniels (eight wins). Fugle and Byron rank fourth for the most wins by an active driver and crew chief pairing with 12 victories.
LOCKED IT IN: Sunday will mark Byron’s sixth start in the All-Star Race, but for the fourth time in his Cup Series career, Byron heads into the event already locked in thanks to his three wins this season. In the past, when he had to race his way into the main event, Byron has gotten the job done in the Open qualifier races in 2019 and 2020. Across his five All-Star Race starts, Byron has two top-10 finishes. His best showing came in 2021 at Texas Motor Speedway when he led the most laps (30), had the lowest cumulative finishing position across the first four rounds and scored his best finish of seventh after being shuffled from the front row for the final 10-lap dash.
PIT ROAD PROWESS: After 13 races in the 2024 season, the No. 24 pit crew continues their success from last year. The five-person crew ranks third for the fastest average four-tire pit stop (10.849 seconds). The No. 24 pit crew consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer), Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer), Ryan Patton (tire carrier) and Landon Walker (fueler). The team will be in the spotlight in Friday’s Pit Crew Challenge during qualifying.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: While this may be the second time for many racing at North Wilkesboro Speedway, a member of the No. 24 team calls it home – Walker. The fueler of the No. 24 hails from North Wilkesboro, North Carolina and grew up there before playing football at Clemson University. The former college offensive tackle earned a scholarship to Clemson in 2007 after being named an All-American offensive lineman in his hometown at East Wilkes High School. While playing at Clemson, Walker recorded 3,131 snaps with 49 starts at tackle through four seasons at the University. In 2011, Walker was named team captain, the same season Clemson won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship. The college football standout was recruited by Hendrick Motorsports in 2012 and earned a position as the starting fueler for the former No. 5 (now No. 24) team in 2015.
RAPTOR® TOUGH: In this weekend’s event at North Wilkesboro, Byron will sport his RAPTOR paint scheme that will run the majority of the season on the No. 24 Chevy. RAPTOR® is a durable protective coating designed to tolerate the weekend’s climatic conditions and can be applied to a wide range of items, including truck beds, lawnmowers, outdoor furniture and more. With 16 pre-mixed colors available, it’s easy to personalize anything you want to protect. RAPTOR® is available at local paint distributors, auto parts stores and online retailers. For a better look at Byron’s No. 24 RAPTOR Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, click here.
TOP-10 STREAK EXTENDED: Alex Bowman’s eighth-place finish in the No. 48 Ally Throwback Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Darlington Raceway marked his fourth consecutive top-10 finish of the season. Bowman has had six streaks of four top-10s in a row in his NASCAR Cup Series career but has yet to extend the mark to five. At the midpoint of the regular season, Bowman is tied for the Cup Series lead in top-10 finishes (eight) with Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron. That matches his high mark for the most top-10s through 13 races, set in 2022.
SEASON SUMMARY: After 13 points-paying races this season, Bowman and the No. 48 team are ninth in the Cup Series points standings, 121 points behind the leader, teammate Kyle Larson. The 31-year-old driver ranks sixth in average finish among series regulars at 12.69 and is part of a six-way tie for fifth in top-five finishes (four). Those top-five results occurred in the DAYTONA 500 (second), at Bristol Motor Speedway (fourth), at Circuit of The Americas (fourth) and Talladega Superspeedway (fifth).
APPROACHING THE ALL STAR: Bowman will look to race his way into the NASCAR All-Star Race on Sunday, May 19, at North Wilkesboro Speedway. He can do this by finishing in the top-two positions of the All-Star Open on Sunday or by winning the All-Star Fan Vote. Due to an injury last season, Bowman did not run at North Wilkesboro last year, but his No. 48 Ally Racing team won the Open with Josh Berry behind the wheel. This advanced the Ally Racing team into the main event, where they finished 15th.
ADVANCING IN: On two previous occasions, Bowman has made his way into the All-Star Race via a stage win in the Open (2018) or through the Fan Vote (2019). In five All-Star Race starts, he has four top-10 finishes, with a pair of sixth-place runs at Texas Motor Speedway (in 2021 and 2022) serving as his best results.
DON’T WAIT, VOTE FOR 48: Want to see Bowman in the All-Star Race this Sunday? #Rally48 by casting your vote for the driver of the No. 48 in NASCAR’s Fan Vote. In the latest voting update released by NASCAR, he was among the drivers in the top five. Individuals can vote up to five times a day. Voting concludes at 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday. The official rules can be found here.
PIT CREW POWER: The No. 48 Ally Racing pit crew has the fourth-fastest average four-tire stop on the season (10.958 seconds). The No. 48 five-person crew is composed of Andrew Bridgeforth (rear-tire changer), Jacob Conley (fueler), Brandon Grier (tire carrier), Allen Holman (jackman) and Donnie Tasser (front-tire changer).
ADOPT FROM WATAUGA: Bowman and Ally are in their fourth consecutive year supporting Best Friends Animal Society and its vast network of partners. This weekend’s beneficiary of the pair’s $4,800 donation is Watauga Humane Society, located about 35 miles west of North Wilkesboro Speedway. So far, in 2024, the shelter has facilitated 370 pet adoptions and returned 40 fluffy friends to their homes. Visit the shelter this race weekend or view their dogs and cats available for adoption.
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS /
2024
All-Time
All-Star Stats
Races
13
1,358
39
Wins
6*
307*
11*
Poles
4*
250*
4
Top 5
19*
1,251*
43*
Top 10
28*
2,140*
71*
Laps Led
973
80,730*
990*
Stage Wins
8
106
N/A
*Most **Most (tie)
FABULOUS 40: In 2024, Hendrick Motorsports is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Among the categories that the organization holds the NASCAR Cup Series record for are all-time wins (307), poles (250), laps led (80,730) and championships (14).
HENDRICK HOMECOMING: On May 24 and 25, Hendrick Motorsports will hold “Hendrick Homecoming.” The free fan event, taking place over the same weekend as the Coca-Cola 600 and Indianapolis 500, will celebrate the organization’s 40th anniversary and feature autograph sessions with past and present drivers, games, displays, giveaways and more. For more information on the schedule of appearances, click here.
WINNING TRIO: William Byron (three wins), Kyle Larson (two wins) and Chase Elliott (one win) have tallied six wins through the first 13 races of the 2024 season for Hendrick Motorsports. The Concord, North Carolina, based squad has won at least six races in a year in 19 of the last 24 seasons. The six-victory start to this year matches the team’s second-best mark (along with 1996 and 1997) at this point in a season, with 2007’s nine wins through 13 races as the best start to a campaign in organizational history.
PIT CREWS TAKE CENTER STAGE: This weekend will highlight the pit road athletes of Hendrick Motorsports. During Friday’s All-Star Race qualifying (6:20 p.m. ET on FS1) at North Wilkesboro Speedway, the Pit Crew Challenge will take place. During the second lap of qualifying, teams will proceed to one of the two NASCAR designated pit stalls for a four-tire stop and mock fuel input (the fueler must engage the fuel can, but the car won’t be fueled). The fastest stop during qualifying (without penalties) will be the winner of the Pit Crew Challenge.
FORMAT FOCUS: Friday’s qualifying will set which heats the NASCAR All-Star Race drivers will be assigned. The heats will occur on Saturday night (starting at 5:20 p.m. ET on FS2) with two races of 60 laps each and a caution scheduled for lap 30. The results of Heat 1 will set the inside row for the All-Star Race and the results of Heat 2 will set the outside row for the All-Star Race. Alex Bowman will race in Sunday’s All-Star Open (5:30 p.m. ET on FS1), which is a 100-lap race with a caution at lap 50 and will look to be one of the top-two finishers to transfer into the main event (or win the Fan Vote to advance). The All-Star Race on Sunday night (8 p.m. ET on FS1) will be 200 laps with cautions at laps 100 and 150. This will be the first race with multiple sets of tire options available. The winner of the event will take home $1 million prize. For more information about the format, the tire options, tire rules and more, click here.
CHAD TO GIVE THE COMMAND: NASCAR Hall of Famer and Hendrick Motorsports vice president of competition Chad Knaus was named the grand marshal for Sunday’s All-Star Race. Knaus, who won seven Cup Series championships and a series-best four All-Star Races as the crew chief for Jimmie Johnson, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in January. His seven championships rank second among crew chiefs and his 82 wins are the third-most among those who spent time atop the box.
WILKESBORO REWIND: Last year’s return to North Wilkesboro saw Larson dominate the race. The driver of the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 led 145 laps, including all but one of the last 146 circuits. Elliott came in fifth in the 200-lap event. The race was the first Cup Series event at the 0.625-mile track in 27 years. In points-paying events, Hendrick Motorsports recorded four wins at the facility. Team vice chairman Jeff Gordon won the last Cup Series points race there on Sept. 29, 1996. Terry Labonte won the spring races in 1994 and 1996 and Geoff Bodine won the fall race in 1989.
HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR WINNER: Hendrick Motorsports has won the All-Star Race 11 times, which leads all organizations and is more than double all the teams tied for second (at four wins). Five drivers have accounted for Hendrick Motorsports’ all-star victories, which is also the most among all teams. Johnson leads the way with four wins (2003, 2006, 2012 and 2013), the most among all drivers in all-star history. Gordon is next with three wins (1995, 1997 and 2001) and is the event’s youngest winner at 23 years, nine months and 16 days. Larson has two All-Star wins for the squad (2021 and 2023). Labonte (1999) and Elliott (2020) have won the event once with the organization. The Johnson, Gordon and Labonte victories all came at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Elliott won at Bristol Motor Speedway and Larson won at Texas Motor Speedway in ’21 and North Wilkesboro in ’23.
STAR-FILLED STREAK: Counting this year’s event, the Rick Hendrick-owned organization has now had at least three cars in the All-Star Race field for 25 consecutive years. That streak is more than double that of the next closest team, which sits at 12 straight years. The team has had four entries in the All-Star Race on 21 occasions.
TRANSFERRING TO THE BIG SHOW: The organization has had a driver transfer from the All-Star Open into the main event on eight occasions. Gordon (1994), Ricky Craven (1997), Brian Vickers (2005), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2012) and Josh Berry (2023) all won the All-Star Open to advance. Bowman (2018) and Byron (2019 and 2020) won a stage in the Open to transfer into the main event.
EXHIBITION KINGS: Hendrick Motorsports has 39 wins in non-points-paying events. Sixteen victories have come in the Daytona Duels, 11 in the All-Star Race, seven in the Clash and five in the All-Star Open.
QUOTABLE /
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his NASCAR All-Star Race win last year in NASCAR’s return to North Wilkesboro Speedway: “For the (NASCAR) Cup (Series) race last year at North Wilkesboro (Speedway), I think it was extra special just to win there. With how our weekend was before the race made it even more special because we were not competitive, We didn’t practice well. We didn’t do well in the Pit Crew Challenge. In the heat race, we fell back and really were frustrated with how the weekend was going. The team was working hard, recognized that we were really bad and threw a bunch of changes to it for Sunday’s race. I could feel pretty early on that we had a competitive car. And then yeah, cruised up through the field and dominated the race. To win was great; winning a million bucks was awesome. To win at a historic racetrack that I never envisioned myself racing at was pretty neat. To sweep that weekend (by also winning the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race) was cool.”
Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the team’s preparations for this weekend with Kevin Harvick practicing and qualifying the car while Kyle Larson is in Indianapolis: “Our week this week is a bit strung out for Kyle’s (Larson) schedule. We haven’t had our (North) Wilkesboro (Speedway) briefing with Kyle yet. That is not going to happen until late Saturday, or early Sunday. The things that we would prepare for Kyle, we have prepared and have ready for Kevin (Harvick). It is going to be fun to go through all that with him, get his thoughts and share in where we are. Obviously, with it being a repave, it is going to be a bit of an unknown for everyone going into the weekend, but we’ll adjust along the way.”
Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the atmosphere of the All-Star Race: “The All-Star Race is always a cool atmosphere and I think having it a North Wilkesboro (Speedway) only adds to that. Last year, the fans really got really into this event. This year, the racing will be a little different with the repave and the tire option, but hopefully, we can put on a good show for them. That is what is most important.”
Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the intrigue of the option tire: “I think everybody’s super intrigued about the option tire. We did this before at Charlotte (Motor Speedway) and there really wasn’t much difference. I don’t know if the aero impacts of Charlotte kind of outweighed the tire impact, but it’s certainly interesting to try it at North Wilkesboro (Speedway). I think that’s going to be an interesting component of the All-Star Race for sure and the pit crew competition is always fun. They get an opportunity to go and basically earn their own pit stall, which is cool. The format’s fairly straightforward, so I think it’s going be about having a good car, what impact the option tire has and can you hit the strategy right.”
William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the importance of the All-Star Race: “This race is just as competitive. It’s a chance to win a million dollars. It’s a stat that people talk about even after your career is over. It’s ‘how many championships do you have, how many DAYTONA 500 wins and how many All-Star wins?’ It matters. The difference is you know that there’s no points on the line, so it’s a bit more aggressive. We were lucky enough to do the tire test this year but that was before we knew about the option tire. We ran about 600 laps that test, so we feel pretty good about our setup.”
Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what he expects for the All-Star Race: “I’m really not sure what to expect for the All-Star Race. I think there’s an opportunity with the option tires that they’re going to be quite a bit quicker. The question is how much longer are they going to be quicker for and will they be quick enough that you can get underneath somebody and get in a position to make the pass. It’s going to be tough with some trial and error. I think the heat races are going to be the best time to try to answer some of those unknowns. It looks like we’re going to get some rain this weekend, which may eliminate some of that track time and could make for a great race if we’re all going into it guessing like we are now.”
Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on having to race his way into the All-Star Race: “It (North Wilkesboro Speedway) is a cool place for sure. I didn’t get to run there last year due to my injury so I’m excited to go to North Wilkesboro and get to hit the track. We’ve obviously got to race our way into the main event, so hopefully we can do that for Ally and Hendrick Motorsports. Our pit crew has been strong all year so I’ve got faith in them, too. Hopefully, we can put all the pieces together and race for a shot at one million dollars this Sunday.”
Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the team’s approach for this weekend: “This weekend looks a little different for us as we have to put our car in the show. We are not taking this week off by any means. Fortunately for us, though, the No. 24 (William Byron) had a strong tire test there (North Wilkesboro Speedway) and those guys always come back with phenomenal feedback for us. We are really happy with some of the direction that that set us up with on our short-track program in general. We look forward to trying to execute a good weekend and see if we can roll off and get locked into the All-Star Race.”
TEMPERANCE, Mich. (May 16, 2024) – The ARCA Menards Series’ annual visit to Elko Speedway will carry the entitlement sponsorship from two long-time series partners, Shore Lunch and Dutch Boy® Paints. The Shore Lunch 250 Presented by Dutch Boy® Paints is set for Saturday, August 3 at the tight 0.375-mile oval located just outside of Minneapolis/St. Paul.
The ARCA Menards Series first raced at Elko Speedway in 2012, with current NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Brennan Poole scoring the victory. Other winners include the series’ all-time leading winner Frank Kimmel in 2013, current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver and 2015 ARCA Menards Series champion Grant Enfinger in 2014, Austin Theriault in his 2017 championship season, 2024 ARCA Menards Series winner at Daytona International Speedway Gus Dean in 2018, five-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series winner and two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series winner Chandler Smith in 2019, six-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series winner Corey Heim won in 2021, current NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Sammy Smith, who scored his first career series win last season at Phoenix Raceway, won in 2022, and reigning ARCA Menards Series champion Jesse Love won in 2023.
“Elko Speedway is known for the full contact fender-to-fender racing that has been the hallmark of the ARCA Menards Series for more than 70 years,” said ARCA president Ron Drager. “Every former winner at Elko is either a former series champion or has gone on to race and be successful in one of the three NASCAR national series. We look forward to seeing which one of our current drivers joins that exclusive list in 2024.”
Shore Lunch soups, breading, and batters first partnered with ARCA series sponsor Menards in 2016. The business-to-business relationship between Menards, the country’s third-largest home improvement retailer, and Homegrown Family Foods, a leading food company with brands such as Kentucky Kernal, Southern Biscuit, Southeastern Mills, Crockery Gourmet along with Shore Lunch, brings opportunities to showcase the entire line of the company’s brands to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area’s Menards customer base and racing community.
“The 2023 Shore Lunch 200 was one of the most exciting races of the season,” said Keith Vines COO for Homegrown Family Foods. “The fans saw a great race and we anticipate the Shore Lunch 250 at the Elko Speedway in August will be very exciting and look forward to being part of the race. Homegrown Family Foods is proud to be continuing our sponsorship under our Shore Lunch brand for this race.”
“We are proud to showcase our partnership with Shore Lunch as sponsors for the upcoming ARCA Menards Series entitlement race at Elko,” said Michelle Bangs, senior brand manager, Dutch Boy® Paints. “Motorsports is a celebration of performance, resilience and innovation—values that resonate deeply with our brand. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to supporting events that generate excitement, and we look forward to creating memorable experiences for the fans and further strengthening our connection with the motorsports community.”
Ticket information for the Shore Lunch 250 Presented by Dutch Boy® Paints can be found at TrackEnterprises.com; for complete event information, including live timing & scoring of all on track activities, the complete weekend schedule, and broadcast updates, please visit ARCARacing.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, please follow @ARCA_Racing on Twitter.
About ARCA
The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly racing all across the country, the organization administers more than 100 events annually, including the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit www.arcaracing.com, or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing).
About Menards
A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 236 stores in 15 states. Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building. You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more. To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!
Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture. Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries. And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more.
Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too! For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.
About Homegrown Family Foods
Homegrown Family Foods is a privately held, and operated company who is proud to sell the finest flour, cornmeal, coating mixes, gravies, soups and several varieties of baking mixes. Homegrown Family Foods brands include Crockery Gourmet, Kentucky Kernal, Shore Lunch, Southern Biscuit, Southeastern Mills and Tenda-Bake. Homegrown Family Foods prides themselves on delivering consistent, high-quality products the whole family can enjoy year-round. For more information, visit homegrownfamilyfood.com.
About Dutch Boy® Group
Founded in 1907, Dutch Boy® Paints continues to be an industry leader in delivering innovative and high-quality products and packaging solutions and is one of the most recognizable brands in the market over 100 years later. In recent years, a new vitality, youthfulness and the promise of Simple Solutions have continued to shape the brand. Heritage and trust have been brought to life with energy and empowerment, inspiring DIYers and paint enthusiasts for generations to come. For more information, visit dutchboy.com.
Sox Designated as Primary Sponsor for Michael McDowell’s No. 34
CHICAGO (May 16, 2024) – The Chicago White Sox and Front Row Motorsports (FRM) announce a partnership designating the White Sox as the primary sponsor of Michael McDowell’s No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for the NASCAR Chicago Street Race’s Grant Park 165 NASCAR Cup Series race in Grant Park, July 6-7.
The partnership will showcase White Sox branding on both the car’s custom design and McDowell’s No. 34 fire suit. As part of the agreement, McDowell’s White Sox-themed Mustang and FRM show car will be on display at Guaranteed Rate Field for NASCAR Day, presented by SKIL, on Sunday, June 30 vs. Colorado.
Fans excited to enjoy White Sox NASCAR Day’s fully-charged, race-day atmosphere also are invited for a specialty group sales offer, which includes a limited-edition No. 34 White Sox Michael McDowell t-shirt, exclusively available at the ballpark on June 30. The ticket offer for racing fans and baseball enthusiasts alike is live now at whitesox.com/nascar.
“This partnership with Front Row Motorsports presents another incredible opportunity to amplify the White Sox brand in the heart of Chicago’s racing scene,” said Mike Downey, White Sox Director of Marketing and Promotions. “We were impressed by the exciting atmosphere and overwhelmingly positive fan reaction to last year’s Street Race. Teaming up with FRM, Michael McDowell and the team at SKIL, we’re ready to make this year’s ballpark celebration and race weekend even more unforgettable for fans.”
SKIL, an innovative electric power tool brand founded in Chicago in 1924, will be featured as an associate sponsor aboard McDowell’s No. 34 entry. Celebrating 100 years of innovation including the original worm drive Saw that Built America and current lineup of cordless power tools and outdoor power equipment, SKIL’s presenting sponsorship of White Sox NASCAR Day further highlights the brand’s deep community roots while revving up excitement for the two-day racing event.
“This is an exciting opportunity to have the Chicago White Sox on the No. 34 car and with the team for the NASCAR Chicago Street Race,” said McDowell. “Having family from the Chicago area, baseball always has been a part of my life. This partnership is great for fans of Front Row Motorsports and the White Sox and is a way to celebrate Chicago sports culture together.”
The 39-year-old McDowell joined Front Row Motorsports in 2018. Through seven seasons and more than 200 career Cup starts with the organization, including winning the 2021 DAYTONA 500, the 2023 Verizon 200 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and two appearances in the Cup Series Playoffs, he has been a force in the racing world. This season, McDowell won the pole at Atlanta and Talladega and started on the front row for the Daytona 500. He has had back-to-back, Top-10 finishes in his past two races.
Returning for its second consecutive year, NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend attendees will be treated to two days of action-packed racing, top-tier musical performances, family-friendly activities, and more throughout Chicago’s iconic Grant Park. The Cup Series will be joined by the NASCAR Xfinity Series as part of the sports and entertainment festival. The Cup Series race, the Grant Park 165, will be held on Sunday, July 7 at 3:30 p.m., with the Xfinity Series race, The Loop 110, scheduled for Saturday, July 6 at 1:30 p.m.
To purchase two-day general admission or reserved tickets for the Chicago Street Race, fans can visit NASCARChicago.com or call 1-888-629-7223.
ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.
INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, May 16, 2024) – American musician and singer-songwriter Phillip Phillips will perform “God Bless America” during pre-race ceremonies for the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 26.
“The performance of ‘God Bless America,’ on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, is one of the most important tributes to our country and is an often-heard tradition of the pre-race ceremonies,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “Adding Phillip and his voice to the pre-race festivities will round out his weekend of participating in the ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ after having been in the 500 Festival parade and performing at The Vogue the night before the race.”
A former “American Idol” winner, Phillips is best known for his melodic radio hit, “Home,” which launched him to fame in 2012 and marked the most successful coronation hit of any “American Idol” winner to date. Shortly after “Home” climbed the charts, Phillips released his first full length album, “The World From The Side Of The Moon,” followed by “Behind The Light” and brought together by his third release, “Collateral.”
When the pandemic hit in 2020, Phillips, like many others, had to take a hard look at his life and career. After welcoming his son, Patch, in 2019, he found a new inspiration for writing music. Four years after his last release, Phillips brought us “Love Like That,” a song dedicated to the unconditional love he has for his wife and child. As he reintroduced himself to the world with his latest single, Phillips hopes to reconnect with his fanbase and get back on tour.
Phillips also will perform as part of the opening production of the 2024 AES 500 Festival Parade on Saturday, May 25 in downtown Indianapolis. Performing on stage to his music will be the Indianapolis Colts cheerleaders and the Indiana Pacemates. Following the parade, Phillips has a show at The Vogue Theatre in Indianapolis presented by the 500 Festival and Forty5 on Saturday, May 25. Doors open at 8 p.m., and ticket information is available at thevogue.com.
“We are so excited to feature Phillip Phillips’ talent and energy at the opening of the AES 500 Festival Parade,” 500 Festival President & CEO Bob Bryant said. “The partnership with The Vogue and Forty5 to enhance the parade production and provide for an encore performance with a full concert later that night is a meaningful addition to the Month of May. We look forward to showing Phillip the full scale of Hoosier Hospitality in May as he rides the parade route along with the 33 starting drivers in the Indy 500.”
Live coverage of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge pre-race starts at 11 a.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Visit ims.com to purchase tickets for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 26 and for more information on the complete Month of May schedule at IMS.
NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (May 16, 2024) – A strong core of regulars have had some thrilling races so far this season in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and more side-by-side, door-banging action is expected at the Wright Brand 250 on Saturday at historic North Wilkesboro Speedway.
This is only the fourth NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race to be held at the .625-mile North Wilkesboro Speedway in NASCAR history, and its most recent winner – Kyle Larson – isn’t entered this year, so the elevated Victory Lane ceremony will go to a fourth different winner to join Larson and the other two past winners from the 1990s, Mark Martin and Mike Bliss.
Several young guns have quickly established themselves as the 2024 front-runners in the series, including two-time season winners Christian Eckes and Corey Heim. Both of those rivals lead the current points standings and are being pursued by several other tough competitors, including recent Las Vegas winner Rajah Caruth and season-opening Daytona winner Nick Sanchez.
Points leader Eckes has shined at the short tracks this season in his No. 19 Chevy, scoring wins at the high-banked Bristol Motor Speedway and the paper-clip shaped Martinsville Speedway. He would love to add the interesting layout at North Wilkesboro to his collection, where the front stretch is downhill and the backstretch is uphill, and like Bristol and Martinsville, has seen so many NASCAR legends race to victory.
“Just the history of this place coming in here and knowing the legends that have raced here, is pretty cool,” Eckes said. “I think it’s going to be a lot of passing compared to last year, but I really like what they’ve done (with the repave) so far.”
Heim, who won the pole and finished sixth here last year in his No. 11 Toyota and is currently second in points with wins at COTA and Kansas, also has a lot of respect for this historic venue, which opened its doors in 1947.
“Just to look around here in the media center and see all the history that they have painted on the walls here, and all the videos that NASCAR came out with the history behind this place, and all the awesome finishes that this place has provided,” said Heim, who also noted the repave changes everything.
“It’s got a lot of grip, it’s certainly a lot different than last year,” Heim said. “It’s going to be tough to see how the race goes.”
Meanwhile, defending and two-time series champion Ben Rhodes is always a threat to win, as are several other veterans in the class, including Grant Enfinger, former champion Matt Crafton, Ty Majeski, Tyler Ankrum and Stewart Friesen. Several rising stars are also making an impact this year, including Daniel Dye, who won the pole at Atlanta, and Taylor Gray, who has posted some strong finishes lately in his TRICON Toyota, including three top-fives and seven top-10s.
Three Cup Series experienced drivers – Ross Chastain, the recently retired Aric Almirola and resurgent Ty Dillon – along with Xfinity standout Sammy Smith, are also entered. Chastain won the most recent event at Darlington Raceway in the Niece Motorsports No. 45 and will certainly be one of the pre-race favorites to win the Wright Bacon 250. Almirola, who will drive another Toyota entry for Hattori Racing Enterprises, has been busy in his retirement as he claimed a victory earlier this year in the Xfinity Series at Martinsville Speedway.
Dillon has returned to full-time status in the Truck Series this year at the controls of the No. 25 Rackley WAR Chevy, and Smith will pilot the No. 7 Chevy fielded by Spire Motorsports that Larson took to Victory Lane one year ago.
Several drivers are planning to make their NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series debuts in the race, including last year’s Window World 125 zMAX CARS Tour winner Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, who is driving the No. 1 Toyota; veteran Pro Late Model racer Clayton Green in the No. 04 Chevy for Roper Racing; and Dawson Sutton, son of Rackley Roofing president Curtis Sutton, who will be driving a second Rackley WAR Chevy, the No. 26 machine.
TICKETS: Single-day tickets, camping and parking for all NASCAR All-Star Race week events can be purchased online by visiting 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 Twitter and Instagram or becoming a Facebook fan.
Mooresville, NC (May 16, 2024) – The fastest-growing and highest-rated roofing company in North Carolina, A&M Premier Roofing and Construction will be the primary sponsor for Spencer Boyd at the upcoming NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. With the race centered around Memorial Day weekend and a highlight of the ‘NASCAR Salutes’ campaign, A&M Premier will be gifting a new roof to a deserving Veteran through its free roofing program, NC Roofs for Veterans.
Spencer Boyd, known as the most patriotic driver in NASCAR, commented on the new partnership, “I like to partner with like-minded people. The team over at A&M Premier believes in taking care of the Veteran community – as I have my entire career. The award-winning roofing company is Veteran-owned and operated and is committed to hiring Veterans and helping local Veterans in need. They know firsthand how much it means to give back to the men and women that fight for our freedom. I want to applaud their efforts with the NC Roofs for Veterans program and hope I can help bring more awareness about what they are doing with a NASCAR marketing campaign.”
A&M Premier awards a local Veteran in need of a full roof replacement through an open nomination process on their website amprco.com. At the end of May 2024, A&M Premier will provide its 3rd free roof to decorated Vietnam Veteran, Johnie Deans of Selma, NC. The company will fully replace Mr. Deans’ roof which has been severely damaged by weather over the years. A&M Premier will cover 100% of the costs for materials and labor in partnership with GAF®, the leader in roofing materials.
A&M Premier, Co-owner, Stephen Mull shares, “Having a high-quality, properly-installed roof is essential to protecting your home. As a Marine Veteran, I’m proud to help fellow Veterans sleep well at night knowing their homes are protected from outside elements. It’s one of the best things we do at A&M Premier, and we hope to gain more nominations for the program throughout the year with Spencer’s help.”
Helping is a core mission at A&M Premier. Their team has been all-in on helping their neighbors in the Rock Hill, SC community after the devasting storm that hit in April. “It’s about people helping people,” said Leonardo Almeida, the other co-owner of A&M Premier. “We see first-hand what damaging hail does to people’s lives. Our job is to relieve some of the stress associated with fixing their home and dealing with insurance companies. We believe in being 100% transparent so people can trust us in getting the job done right.”
You can catch A&M Premier’s truck designed in partnership with Spencer Boyd at the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday, May 24, 2024m at 8:30pm and on FS1. The race is a crown jewel weekend for NASCAR and the highlight of the NASCAR Salutes campaign.
The truck features three names of the North Carolina Veterans who’ve received roofs from the NC Roofs for Veterans program so far. A&M Premier’s Chief Marketing Officer, Del Scheitler adds, “It’s been wonderful working with the Spencer Boyd Racing team. When Spencer offered to place the names of our Veterans on the truck, it showed his genuine commitment to honoring those who served our country and helping us get the word out about the program. With his help, we are excited to connect with the large NASCAR Truck Series fan base and gain more deserving nominations.”
ABOUT A&M PREMIER: ABOUT A&M PREMIER ROOFING & CONSTRUCTION – A Veteran-owned and operated roofing company in Raleigh, NC, specializing in roofing, siding, solar, and gutter systems installation. The company has achieved many accolades that set them apart from other roofing companies. Currently the #1 residential roofing company in Raleigh/Durham, recognized by regional and national media, like Forbes Home as the Top Roofing Company with more than 350 5-Star reviews on Google and over 250 5-Star reviews through the Better Business Bureau. A&M Premier is not only a “Master Elite” builder, recognized through GAF®, the largest shingle manufacturer in the U.S., but the company achieved that designation faster than any company in the history of North Carolina. Master Elite status means that A&M Premier is regarded as the most qualified installers of shingles – a designation that less than 1% of roofers in the nation possess. It also allows A&M Premier to offer the highest warranties available, which other roofing companies cannot offer. More information can be found at https://amprco.com.
