As automotive technology continues to advance, one of the most significant improvements has been in vehicle lighting systems. Smart headlights, equipped with cutting-edge technology, have emerged as a promising feature for enhancing driving safety.
What Are Smart Headlights
Smart headlights, also known as adaptive headlights, are advanced lighting systems designed to improve visibility and safety while driving. Unlike traditional headlights, smart headlights can adjust their intensity and direction based on the driving conditions and the presence of other vehicles. There are several types of smart headlights, including adaptive headlights, matrix LED headlights and laser headlights. Each type offers unique features aimed at optimizing lighting and reducing glare for oncoming traffic.
How Smart Headlights Work
Smart headlights use advanced technology to enhance driving safety by automatically adjusting the headlight beam’s angle, intensity, and direction based on various driving conditions. Adaptive lighting systems, for instance, change the beam’s angle and intensity according to the vehicle’s speed, steering angle, and road conditions. When driving at high speeds, these headlights project further down the road to provide better long-distance visibility, while at lower speeds, they illuminate a wider area closer to the vehicle to improve short-range visibility.
Another key feature of smart headlights is automatic high-beam control, which employs sensors to detect the headlights of oncoming vehicles and automatically switches between high and low beams. This ensures optimal visibility without blinding other drivers. Additionally, curve-adaptive headlights pivot in the direction of the steering wheel, enhancing visibility around curves and corners by illuminating the road ahead as the vehicle turns.
Matrix LED technology is another significant advancement in smart headlight systems. This technology utilizes multiple individual LEDs that can be turned on or off independently. It allows the system to provide high-beam lighting without blinding other drivers by selectively dimming certain sections of the light beam. This sophisticated control of the light pattern ensures that the road is well-lit while minimizing glare for oncoming traffic and other road users.
The Benefits of Smart Headlights
Smart headlights offer several advantages over traditional lighting systems:
Improved Visibility in Different Driving Conditions
Automatically adjust to provide optimal lighting for varying conditions such as weather, road type, and driving speed.
Enhanced Reaction Time for Drivers
Better illumination helps drivers detect obstacles and hazards more quickly, giving them more time to react.
Reduction of Glare for Oncoming Traffic
Automatically dim high beams when detecting oncoming vehicles, reducing glare and improving safety for all drivers.
Better Illumination Around Curves and Corners
Adaptive and curve-adaptive systems ensure that the road ahead is well-lit, even when navigating turns.
Impact on Car Accident Prevention
Visibility is a critical factor in driving safety. Poor lighting conditions can significantly increase the risk of accidents, especially at night or in adverse weather conditions. Smart headlights address this issue by providing better illumination, which helps drivers see potential hazards sooner and react appropriately. Research has shown that vehicles equipped with smart headlight systems experience fewer accidents compared to those with traditional headlights.
For instance, a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that adaptive headlights can reduce property damage liability claims by up to 10%. Real-world examples further support these findings, with many drivers reporting fewer near-misses and collisions when using vehicles equipped with smart headlights.
Comparison with Traditional Headlights
When compared to traditional headlights, smart headlights offer several clear advantages. Traditional headlights provide a fixed beam of light that does not adapt to changing driving conditions, which can limit visibility and increase the risk of accidents. In contrast, smart headlights dynamically adjust their beam patterns and intensity, ensuring that the driver always has the best possible view of the road.
While smart headlights can be more expensive due to their advanced technology, the safety benefits they provide often justify the higher cost. Additionally, as the technology becomes more widespread, the cost is expected to decrease, making smart headlights more accessible to a broader range of consumers.
Practical Considerations for Consumers
For consumers considering vehicles with smart headlights, there are several practical considerations. When choosing a vehicle, look for models that offer advanced lighting systems as part of their safety features. It’s also worth considering the possibility of upgrading existing vehicles with aftermarket smart headlight systems. Various manufacturers offer different options, so research and compare the available features to find the best fit for your needs. Additionally, consulting with a Springfield car accident lawyer can provide insights into the legal and safety benefits of smart headlight technology, especially in areas where regulations and standards are continually evolving.
In conclusion, smart headlights represent a significant advancement in automotive safety. By providing better illumination and reducing glare, they enhance visibility and help prevent accidents. While there are some challenges and limitations, the benefits of smart headlights make them a valuable addition to modern vehicles. As technology continues to evolve, smart headlights are likely to become an increasingly common feature, contributing to safer driving conditions for all.
· Kurtz, Braun, Catsburg, James to seek Pro-Am victory in No. 04 CrowdStrike by Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3 · CrowdStrike’s second year as title sponsor of SRO Motorsports’ premier race · CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa sees return of international CXO events, additional activations
AUSTIN, Texas (May 15, 2024) – CrowdStrike by Riley has confirmed the four drivers that it hopes will pilot their way to a class victory in June’s CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa – the historic race’s centenary event.
CrowdStrike Racing’s George Kurtz and Colin Braun – teammates in CrowdStrike by Riley’s Fanatec GT World Challenge America entry – will race alongside Nicky Catsburg and Ian James behind the wheel of the No. 04 CrowdStrike Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the Pro-Am category.
With nine car manufacturers, at least 70 teams and over 200 drivers, the lineup in the world’s biggest GT3 race is certain to produce a formidable field. A year ago, the CrowdStrike by Riley team enjoyed a remarkable run and led the Pro-Am class during its Spa debut with Kurtz, Braun and James making up three-quarters of the lineup. In 2022, Kurtz was on the team that earned a Bronze Cup victory in a Mercedes-AMG GT3.
The addition of Catsburg, twice a winner of the 24 Hours of Spa, is a significant one, as he was part of the 2023 Pro-Am winning lineup in a Mercedes-AMG. He also is teaming with 2023 Le Mans winners Kurtz and Braun at the 2024 French race.
The CrowdStrike Riley effort also will benefit from the logistical and operational support of SPS automotive during this year’s Spa 24 Hours.
The historic Spa-Francorchamps circuit was the site of a ground-breaking announcement last year as SRO Motorsports confirmed CrowdStrike as the race title sponsor in a multi-year commercial agreement.
The news further entrenched CrowdStrike’s position as a leading brand in the motorsports industry. The company is the official internet and cloud security provider for SRO Motorsports’ global race championships. It regularly hosts premium experiential programs for CrowdStrike customers at SRO events, including its CXO summits.
An initiative developed by CrowdStrike, a CXO Summit is an invitation-only networking event around significant motorsports races where CrowdStrike executives have an opportunity to visit with VIP guests and to discuss trends and opportunities for cyber protection in a business-to-business environment.
CrowdStrike VIPs also will have the chance to enjoy top-level trackside hospitality, meet-and-greet sessions with the CrowdStrike by Riley team, a pre-event parade in the nearby town of Spa-Francorchamps and honorary roles in pre- and post-race festivities.
CrowdStrike by Riley Driver Quotes on CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa
George Kurtz: “It is always a tremendous honor to race at Spa. I’m excited to have the chance to do it again with great teammates in Colin, Ian and Nicky, plus a great team in CrowdStrike by Riley. With this being the centenary Spa 24 Hours and having CrowdStrike as the title sponsor, the race takes on that much more significance. I’m confident that our team and our Mercedes-AMG GT3 will have us in contention throughout all 24 hours.”
Colin Braun: “I’m very excited to get back to Spa with the CrowdStrike by Riley team. There’s something really special about driving the Mercedes-AMG GT3 around a track like Spa, especially since the competition is so intense. Returning with George and Ian brings a lot of continuity to the program, and they were both super-fast last year. Nicky’s resume speaks for itself, I know it will be a lot of fun to work with him. I believe we have all the pieces to win this race, we just need to execute and have a bit of luck on our side!”
Nicky Catsburg: “I’m really looking forward to joining CrowdStrike by Riley to fight for victory in our class at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. It is the centenary race, so this is one of the years that you really want to be part of it. I’m hoping to go for another victory after winning the Pro-Am class last year. It will be great to join Ian, George and Colin. I feel like we will have a strong lineup to fight for the victory. The Mercedes-AMG is a car that I have driven at the Spa 24 Hours twice, so I feel like this is a car that is pretty good on this track. I’m looking forward to giving it a good go once again and hopefully fighting for victory.”
Ian James: “I’m excited again to join CrowdStrike by Riley for the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. I enjoyed my experience with the team at last year’s race, and I’m hoping for big things out of our lineup this year. It seems to be a great one but we all know that a lot can happen in 24 hours around the Spa circuit. We are anticipating another large grid and Pro-Am class, so we will need to be on top of things from the very start of practice. I’m looking forward to it already.”
For more information, visit CrowdStrikeRacing.com. Follow #CrowdStrikeRacing on X, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for updates.
About CrowdStrike
CrowdStrike (Nasdaq: CRWD), a global cybersecurity leader, has redefined modern security with the world’s most advanced cloud-native platform for protecting critical areas of enterprise risk — endpoints and cloud workloads, identity and data.
Powered by the CrowdStrike Security Cloud and world-class AI, the CrowdStrike Falcon® platform leverages real-time indicators of attack, threat intelligence, evolving adversary tradecraft and enriched telemetry from across the enterprise to deliver hyper-accurate detections, automated protection and remediation, elite threat hunting and prioritized observability of vulnerabilities. Purpose-built in the cloud with a single lightweight-agent architecture, the Falcon platform delivers rapid and scalable deployment, superior protection and performance, reduced complexity and immediate time-to-value.
North Wilkesboro Speedway NASCAR All-Star Race NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Sunday, May 19 at 8:00PM EDT FOX | PRN | SiriusXM Team Notes
Kaulig Racing has competed in one NASCAR All-Star Race in 2022, following AJ Allmendinger’s win at the 2021 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard.
While Allmendinger is locked into the main event, Daniel Hemric will attempt to race his way in during the All-Star Open.
AJ ALLMENDINGER
“Really special to be able to go to North Wilkesboro and be locked in the All-Star Race after our victory last year. I don’t know what to expect with the new repave; it was really slick last year in the Cup car, but that will be completely different. More than anything, to be a part of the All-Star Race knowing that we earned it by winning last year means so much to me. Points obviously don’t matter, just a night to go out there and give ourselves a chance to win the race and a million dollars.” – AJ Allmendinger on North Wilkesboro Speedway
No. 16 LeafFilter / Campers Inn RV Camaro ZL1
AJ Allmendinger qualified for the NASCAR All-Star race after winning the 2023 Bank of America ROVAL 400 at the Charlotte ROVAL.
Allmendinger has made six starts in the NASCAR All-Star events; this will be his second with Kaulig Racing.
Allmendinger finished seventh in the 2022 All-Star race in Kaulig Racing’s No. 16 Camaro ZL1.
DANIEL HEMRIC
“Friday going into practice will be the first time I’ve even seen the track at North Wilkesboro. I’m definitely looking forward to having a chance at racing our way into the main event. Competing in the All-Star race is a huge honor, and I am grateful for the opportunity.” – Daniel Hemric on North Wilkesboro Speedway
No. 31 Poppy Bank Camaro ZL1
Daniel Hemric will make his second appearance in the NASCAR All-Star Open; his first was in 2019.
About Kaulig Racing
Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 23 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries, with a part-time fourth entry at select events. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.
With the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series regular-season stretch reaching its halfway mark upon a wild conclusion of Race No. 13 of 26 at Darlington Raceway, the premier series’ teams and competitors take a one-week break from competing for points and race victories to make the 2024 Cup Series Playoffs.
It does not mean, however, that the teams and competitors will be taking a one-week break from on-track competition as the next event on the schedule is the Cup Series’ return to North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, for the 40th annual running of the All-Star Race that is set to occur this upcoming Sunday, May 19. With the return of the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro for a second consecutive season, so too does the event’s grand prize of $1 million that awaits the race-winning team and competitor following a weekend-long host of on-track activities prior to and during the main event.
Before the battle for the million-dollar prize along with epic-bragging rights begins, however, the teams and competitors will be tested cohesively and against one another live on mainstream media through the event’s two-day qualifying format that would enable them to obtain a starting spot as high as possible over one another and be a step closer to achieving victory…and the million dollar prize.
The 2024 All-Star’s qualifying procedure commences with all competitors set to compete in the All-Star Open to generate two qualifying laps through the sport’s traditional single-vehicle round on Friday, May 17, where the competitor who posts the fastest two-lap average qualifying lap will achieve the pole position for the Open event. The Open event is designated for competitors who are not eligible to compete in the All-Star Race due to not meeting the event’s criteria but equally gives all participants a final path to the main event that will be explained later below (Paragraph 9).
At the conclusion of the All-Star Open qualifying procedure, the All-Star Race qualifying procedure follows suit, where each competitor registered for the main event will perform three qualifying laps individually. Infused within the on-track qualifying procedure for this year’s All-Star event is the return of the Pit Crew Challenge that will occur after each All-Star competitor takes the green flag to commence the qualifying run and cycles once around the North Wilkesboro circuit.
Then during the second qualifying lap run, the competitors will peel off the track to pit road and park their respective entries within one of two designated pit stalls before their respective pit crews perform a four-tire pit service along with a mock fuel delivery to the cars. After the pit stops conclude, the competitors will return to the track and race back to the checkered flag, which will halt the qualifying clock session.
The competitor who generates the highest qualifying time from start to finish, including the pit stops, will be awarded the pole position for both Heat Race No. 1 and the All-Star event. In addition, the pit crew that generates the fastest pit service with no penalties will be named winners of the Pit Crew Challenge. The results of the Pit Crew Challenge will also determine the order selection of pit stall selections. As an additional note, all teams will receive two practice sessions: one for pit road entry and one for a qualifying session and a second standard session, both of which will also occur on Friday, beginning at 4 p.m. ET and air on FS1.
Photo by Andrew Boyd for SpeedwayMedia.com.
The qualifying action continues on Saturday, May 18, following the conclusion of the Craftsman Truck Series’ Wright Brand 250 at North Wilkesboro, where two 60-lap Heat races will occur and determine the full lineup of the All-Star Race for the competitors already guaranteed into the main event. Each Heat event will include a scheduled caution period on Lap 30, where the teams will perform a mandatory four-time pit stop. The results of Heat Race No. 1 will determine the starting lineup of the inside lane while the results of Heat Race No. 2 will determine the lineup of the outside lane.
On Sunday, May 19, the All-Star Open will take action that will enable all entered participants an opportunity to grab three final transfer spots into the All-Star Race. Comprised of 100 laps and including an intermission caution period on Lap 50, where all teams must perform a four-tire pit stop, the top two finishers of the Open will automatically transfer into the All-Star Race. In addition, one lucky competitor who garners the most electronic votes by race fans will be named the Fan Vote winner and will be awarded the 20th and final starting spot in the main event.
The Open will then be followed by the highly anticipated All-Star event on the same day. Like the previous season, the 2024 All-Star Race will be comprised of 200 laps and feature an All-Star caution period at the halfway mark on Lap 100, where all teams will perform a mandatory four-tire pit stop. This season, however, generates a twist as a second All-Star caution period will occur on Lap 150 prior to a final leg shootout to the finish. For the duration of the event, all laps under green and caution flag scenarios will count and the overtime rules will also be enforced.
With this year’s All-Star Race also centering its focus on tire options, all entered teams will be given nine sets of tires for the duration of the weekend. Five sets of tires will be prime tires marked with yellow letterings and the remaining four sets will be option tires marked with red letterings. Each team will be given three sets of prime tires and two sets of option tires to use for the practice, qualifying, Heat Races and Open events while the teams competing in the All-Star Race will receive two sets of each tire choice (prime and option). While the practice, Heat Races and Open events will enable the teams the option to start on any tire type, all teams are required to use the prime tires during all qualifying sessions (All-Star and Open) and start on the option tire for the All-Star Race. Lastly, all four tires of each car must include the same type of tire selection.
The 2024 All-Star Race entry list features 17 competitors who are set to compete in the main event based on meeting the event’s eligibility criteria, which include winning at least one points event between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, being a former All-Star Race winner or a former Cup Series champion and are full-time competitors.
These 17 eligible competitors feature AJ Allmendinger, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, William Byron, Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Michael McDowell, Tyler Reddick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Daniel Suarez and Martin Truex Jr.
The competitor who headlines this year’s All-Star Race’s entry list is Kyle Larson, the reigning three-time All-Star Race winner who became the first competitor to win the All-Star event on three distinct venues (North Wilkesboro, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway) and tied both Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon for the second-most All-Star wins at three. Larson’s 2024 bid for another million-dollar check will add a unique twist to his schedule this upcoming weekend as he is also set to qualify for this year’s 108 running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Arrow McLaren in preparation for his Memorial Day Double Duty effort that will include flying back to Charlotte Motor Speedway in time to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 on May 26.
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images.
With Larson qualifying at Indianapolis, Kevin Harvick, the 2014 Cup Series champion and two-time All-Star Race winner, will briefly step out of full-time NASCAR competition and his new role as an analyst for FOX Sports by practicing Larson’s No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry for the All-Star event. Harvick will also serve as a standby competitor for Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 5 Chevrolet team throughout the weekend in the event Larson does not return on time for Saturday’s Heat events.
For this year’s All-Star Race, Larson is one of six former All-Star winners entered, including Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano. That leaves nearly 65% of the remaining participants for this year’s All-Star Race field who have yet to claim the big million-dollar check for the first time, including last weekend’s Darlington winner Brad Keselowski and last year’s All-Star pole winner Daniel Suarez. All entered competitors, however, have made at least one previous start in the All-Star event.
A notable name who is absent from this list is Shane van Gisbergen, who won the series’ inaugural Chicago Street Course event for his first Cup Series career victory in his debut this past July despite competing as a part-time competitor. van Gisbergen, who currently competes on a full-time basis in this year’s Xfinity Series season and on a part-time basis in the Cup circuit, will not compete in the event due to not having a ride set between a collaborative effort between his two teams: Kaulig Racing and Trackhouse Racing.
The remaining competitors that include Austin Cindric, Austin Dillon, rookie Josh Berry, Corey LaJoie, Noah Gragson, Chase Briscoe, Harrison Burton, Bubba Wallace, Daniel Hemric, Todd Gilliland, Ryan Preece, John Hunter Nemechek, Erik Jones, Alex Bowman, Justin Haley, Ty Gibbs, rookie Zane Smith, rookie Carson Hocevar, Kaz Grala and JJ Yeley will all battle amongst one other to claim the final three transfer spots into the All-Star Race: two through the All-Star Open and one through the Fan Vote.
Last season, Josh Berry, who was competing as a relief competitor for Alex Bowman and Hendrick Motorsports, won the All-Star Open after leading the final 22 laps as he transferred into his first All-Star event. Ty Gibbs, whose No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota pit crew won the 2023 Pit Crew Challenge with a pit time of 13.012 seconds that enabled Gibbs to start on the pole position for the Open, also transferred into the main event after finishing second. In addition, Noah Gragson, who competed last season for Legacy Motor Club and now competes for Stewart-Haas Racing, claimed the final starting spot in the All-Star Race after being named the Fan Vote winner despite finishing seventh in the Open.
Ironically, the trio of Berry, Gibbs and Gragson return to the All-Star Open as they will square off against one another and against 17 names for additional bids to make the All-Star Race. All three, though, are coming off strong runs at Darlington, where Gragson racked up his eighth top-15 result of the 2024 season by finishing 14th while Gibbs and Berry notched second and third-place finishes, respectively.
Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.
Of the 20 entered competitors for this year’s All-Star Open, half have made at least one start in the All-Star Race, among which include Austin Cindric, Austin Dillon, Josh Berry, Noah Gragson, Chase Briscoe, Bubba Wallace, Erik Jones, Alex Bowman, Justin Haley and Ty Gibbs. The remaining half that includes Corey LaJoie, Kaz Grala, Harrison Burton, Daniel Hemric, Todd Gilliland, Ryan Preece, John Hunter Nemechek, Timmy Hill, Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar are all looking to make the starting grid for the All-Star Race for the first time ever.
As of this past Thursday, May 9, the top-10 competitors in the Fan Vote’s poll category in alphabetical order are Berry, Bowman, Briscoe, Gibbs, Gragson, Haley, Hocevar, Jones, LaJoie and Wallace. The 2024 Fan Vote winner will be announced at the conclusion of the All-Star Open.
The 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race weekend at North Wilkesboro Speedway is set to commence with the All-Star Open Qualifying session that will occur this upcoming Friday, May 17, and air at 5:40 p.m. ET on FS1 followed by the All-Star Race’s Qualifying and Pit Crew Challenge sessions that will follow suit and air at 6:20 p.m. ET on FS1. On Saturday, May 18, the two All-Star Race Heat events will occur, with the first heat’s coverage commencing at 5:20 p.m. ET while the second heat event will follow suit at 6:15 p.m. ET, both airing on FS2. Lastly, the All-Star Open will air on Sunday, May 19, at 5:30 p.m. ET on FS1 before the main event, the All-Star Race, will conclude the weekend by occurring at 8 p.m. ET on FS1.
North Wilkesboro (All-Star Race) Event Info: Date: Sunday, May 19 Time: 8 p.m. ET Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Location: North Wilkesboro, N.C. Format: Heat Races (Two) Saturday; All-Star Race: 200 Laps Sunday TV: FS1 Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)
Weekend Schedule: Friday: 4:35 p.m. ET, Practice (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) Friday: 6:20 p.m. ET, Qualifying – Pit Crew Challenge (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) Saturday: 5:20 p.m. ET, Heat Races Begin (FS2, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) Sunday: 8 p.m. ET, Race (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Pace Laps:
The annual All-Star Race returns to the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway for just the second time, as last season NWB hosted NASCAR for the first time since 1996.
The pit crew challenge again returns to the format this season, set for Friday night which will determine the starting lineups for Saturday night’s heat races.
Each heat race Saturday spans 60 laps, with the results of Heat Race 1 setting the All-Star Race inside row, and the results of Heat Race 2 setting the All-Star Race outside row.
6 Team Info: Crew Chief: Matt McCall Partner: NEXLIZET
17 Team Info: Crew Chief: Scott Graves Partner: Fastenal
Keselowski in the All-Star Race Starts: 15 Wins: — Top-10s: 9 Poles: —
Keselowski makes his 16th start in the All-Star Race this weekend. He has three second-place finishes in the exhibition event, first in 2012, then in 2016 and most recently in 2021.
A season ago he finished fourth in his heat and went on to finish 19th in the All-Star event.
Overall he has nine top-10s, four inside the top five, in the All-Star event.
Buescher in the All-Star Race Starts: 3 Wins: — Top-10s: 1 Poles: —
Buescher makes his fourth start in the All-Star Race this weekend, and is automatically locked in via his multiple wins in 2023.
Last season at North Wilkesboro, Buescher won his heat race and went on to finish 16th.
RFK Historically in the All-Star Race Wins: 4 (Mark Martin, 1998, 2005; Matt Kenseth, 2004; Carl Edwards, 2011)
All-Star Victories: RFK has earned four victories in NASCAR’s All-Star Main Event with drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards. Martin, who is a two-time All-Star race winner, first went to Victory Lane in 1998 for RFK before taking the checkered flag again in 2005. Kenseth earned the victory in the 2004 running of the event and Edwards visited the winner’s circle in 2011.
RFK Historically at North Wilkesboro Cup Wins: 2 (Mark Martin, 1990, 1995)
Tale of the Tape: Back in the early days of racing at North Wilkesboro, Jack Roush entered 30 Cup races at the track with two wins – both from Mark Martin – with 14 overall top-10s as four drivers combined competed in Cup for Roush at the historic track.
Roush Wins One of the Last: Jack Roush shares a couple of pieces of history at the last time NASCAR competed at North Wilkesboro, as Ted Musgrave put the No. 16 on the pole for the last-ever race there in 1996. A day earlier, Martin won the Truck Series race there.
RFK All-Star Wins
1998 Martin 2004 Kenseth 2005 Martin 2011 Edwards
Last Time Out & Where They Stand Darlington: Keselowski snapped a 110-race winless streak Sunday at Darlington, winning his first race as co-owner/driver at RFK. Buescher led with less than 10 laps remaining, but was wrecked, which ultimately led to Keselowski re-gaining the lead.
Points Standings (6: 11th, 17: 12th): Keselowski locked himself into the playoffs with the win on Sunday. Buescher sits just one spot back though in 12th.
Agreement outlines intent to research and develop solutions to new challenges related to processing performance, power consumption, and design complexity
TOKYO, Japan / ARMONK, N.Y., U.S.A., May 15, 2024 – (JCN Newswire) – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda) today announced that Honda and IBM have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining their intent to collaborate on the long-term joint research and development of next-generation computing technologies(1) needed to overcome challenges related to processing capability, power consumption, and design complexity for the realization of the software-defined vehicles (SDV) of the future.
The application of intelligence/AI technologies is expected to accelerate widely in 2030 and beyond, creating new opportunities for the development of SDVs. Honda and IBM anticipate that SDVs will dramatically increase the design complexity, processing performance, and corresponding power consumption of semiconductors compared to conventional mobility products. In order to solve anticipated challenges and realize highly-competitive SDVs, it is critical to develop capabilities in the independent research and development of next-generation computing technologies. Based on this understanding, the two companies began considering long-term joint research and development opportunities.
In particular, the MOU outlines areas of potential joint research of specialized semiconductor technologies such as brain-inspired computing(2) and chiplet technologies, with the aim to dramatically improve processing performance while, simultaneously, decreasing power consumption. Hardware and software co-optimization is important to ensure high performance and fast time to market. To achieve such benefits and manage design complexity for future SDVs, the two companies also plan to explore open and flexible software solutions.
Through this collaboration, the two companies would strive to realize SDVs that feature the world’s top-level computing and power saving performance.
(1) Computing technology being developed with an aim to achieve both high processing performance and low power consumption in the 2030s and beyond. (2) Computer architecture and algorithms that mimic the brain’s structure and function while optimizing for silicon.
TikTok has taken the world by storm, emerging as one of the most popular social media platforms with over a billion users worldwide. Its unique algorithm and engaging format make it possible for anyone to go viral, but creating content that captures the attention of millions requires more than just luck. In this ultimate guide, we’ll explore key strategies for creating viral TikTok content and provide an extra tip on boosting your strategy by purchasing real TikTok followers from a trusted shop, Likefy.
Understanding TikTok’s Algorithm
Before diving into content creation, it’s essential to understand how TikTok’s algorithm works. The algorithm determines which videos appear on the For You Page (FYP), where users discover new content.
Key Factors Influencing the Algorithm:
User Interaction: Likes, comments, shares, and watch time are crucial. The more engagement your video gets, the more likely it is to be promoted.
Video Information: Hashtags, sounds, and captions help the algorithm categorize your content and match it with interested users.
Device and Account Settings: While not as influential, settings such as device type and language preferences also play a role.
Creating Engaging Content
Creating content that resonates with TikTok users is essential for going viral. Here are some tips to help you make engaging videos:
Hook Viewers Early: The first few seconds of your video are critical. Start with a strong, attention-grabbing element to captivate viewers immediately.
Keep It Short and Sweet: While TikTok allows videos up to 3 minutes, shorter videos (15-30 seconds) tend to perform better. Make every second count.
Tell a Story: Even in a short video, try to tell a compelling story. A clear beginning, middle, and end can keep viewers engaged.
Use Trending Sounds and Hashtags: Leveraging trending sounds and hashtags can increase your visibility and engagement. Check the Discover page regularly to stay updated on current trends.
Add Text and Captions: Including text overlays and captions can enhance your video’s message and make it more accessible to a broader audience.
Leveraging TikTok Features
TikTok offers various features that can enhance your content and boost its virality potential.
Effects and Filters: TikTok’s effects and filters can make your videos more visually appealing and engaging. Experiment with different options to find what works best for your content.
Duets and Stitch: These features allow you to collaborate with other creators or respond to their videos, which can increase your exposure and engagement.
Challenges: You can participate in trending challenges that boost your content’s visibility. Be very creative and put your own unique spin on the challenge to stand out.
Consistency and Authenticity
Authenticity and consistency are key to building a loyal following on TikTok.
Post Regularly: Consistency is crucial for maintaining and growing your audience. Make it a goal to post at least once a day to keep your followers engaged.
Be Authentic: Authenticity resonates with TikTok users. Let your personality shine through your content by being yourself. Genuine content often performs better than overly polished videos.
Engaging with Your Audience
Building a community around your content is essential for long-term success on TikTok.
Respond to Comments: Engaging with your audience by responding to comments can build a sense of community and encourage more interaction.
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CHICAGO (May 14, 2024) – Legendary Funny Car racer John Force has enjoyed a terrific start to his 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. The 16-time world champion has already posted one victory this season and a pair of final-round appearances, giving the team plenty of momentum heading into this weekend’s Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway.
It’s a meaningful race for the sport’s winningest driver in his 11,000-horsepower PEAK Antifreeze & Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS, too, as Force knows the importance of doing well in his sponsor’s backyard.
Force has always found success in Chicago, winning three times at Route 66 Raceway, including the second-ever race at the famed facility in 2000. He’s eager to put on a show in front of another huge crowd this weekend, determined to keep his strong season going as the summer months approach.
“This is a very important race for us,” Force said. “It’s our home office, but Route 66 (Raceway), where NHRA puts on that national event, is unbelievable. It’s fun to race there, the access to it is great, the stands wrap around so that the fans can see everything. It’s just a great place to be. This is exciting. I love this race, the track and we’ve run good at it. We’re going in there with guns blazing.”
Clay Millican (Top Fuel), Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won in Chicago last year, while Justin Ashley, Ron Capps and Gaige Herrera secured Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge titles. Camrie Caruso won the first-ever Callout in Pro Stock a season ago. It is the sixth of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA season and this weekend’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, showcasing a jam-packed weekend that includes four qualifying sessions, the GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday.
Force has enjoyed a rejuvenation of sorts in 2024, winning his first race in two years with his NHRA Winternationals triumph. After advancing to the final quad in Charlotte at the most recent race, Force currently sits fifth in points in a stacked Funny Car field that included JFR teammate and points leader Austin Prock, J.R. Todd, reigning champ Matt Hagan, Bob Tasca III and Ron Capps. There’s also been five different winners at the first five races (Todd, Force, Prock, Tasca and Hagan), showcasing the impressive depth in the category.
Force gets a chance to double-up in Chicago as well, taking part in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday against a Funny Car field that also includes Hagan, Daniel Wilkerson and Todd. It adds up to a weekend filled with possibilities, and Force will look to take advantage at a facility that means a great deal to him and was thrilled to see it return to the NHRA schedule last year and in 2024.
“I love the concept of Route 66, from the old days of the highway (Route 66) that went from Chicago and across the country, all the way to California,” said Force, who has 156 career victories and 267 final-round appearances. “You never want to lose a race. But you especially don’t want to lose one that’s in a market that’s as huge as Chicago. We’re excited that we’re back in Chicago because that’s where my major sponsor is. That’s where we need to be.”
Top Fuel’s Millican will look to repeat his Chicago win against a loaded 22-car lineup that includes points leader Justin Ashley, Chicago native Tony Schumacher, Brittany Force, Antron Brown, four-time champ Steve Torrence and racing legend Tony Stewart, who is making his Chicago Top Fuel debut.
Pro Stock legend Greg Anderson has already won twice in 2024, taking the points lead into Chicago. He’s also participating in the Callout as he attempts for a double-up weekend taking on stars like defending world champ Erica Enders, who is the top seed in the GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout, defending event winner Dallas Glenn and Jeg Coughlin Jr. The full Callout fields features Enders, Anderson, Glenn, Troy Coughlin Jr., Aaron Stanfield, Matt Hartford, Cristian Cuadra and Deric Kramer.
Herrera dominated Chicago a year ago in Pro Stock Motorcycle, setting a host of track records. He’s won twice in 2024 and has seven straight wins dating back to last season. To continue that historic streak, he’ll have to topple six-time champion Matt Smith, former champ LE Tonglet, Angie Smith, Hector Arana Jr. and Steve Johnson.
Also slated in Chicago is the special Drag and Drive exhibition event. With star drivers like Alex Taylor and Tom Bailey, the standout street cars run in the 6-second range and quicker at speeds of more than 200 mph. The weekend also includes competition in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown division, the new Holley EFI Factory X category and the season debut of the Pingel Top Fuel Motorcycle class.
Fans will also be invited all weekend long to the Nitro Alley Stage, which is the main entertainment hub in the pits, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets, music and much more. Race fans at Route 66 Raceway can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the event winners.
As always, fans get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet in Chicago. Fans get a unique chance to see teams in action and service their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers, and more. They can also visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.
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
The first round of the GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout starts at 11:30 a.m. CT on Saturday, with the semifinals to follow at 1:45 p.m. and the finals at 2:55 p.m. Television coverage includes qualifying action at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday and 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, leading into eliminations coverage at 4:00-5:00 p.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET on Sunday on FS1. A special Callout broadcast airs at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday on FS1.
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.
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.
NIECE MOTORSPORTS NCTS RACE ADVANCE: NORTH WILKESBORO SPEEDWAY Race: Wright Brand 250 (250 laps / 156.25 miles) | Race 10 of 23 Track: North Wilkesboro Speedway Location: North Wilkesboro, North Carolina Date & Time: Friday, May 10th | 7:30 PM ET Tune-In: FOX Sports 1 | Motor Racing Network (MRN) | Sirius XM Ch. 90
No. 41 AutoVentive / Precision Vehicle Logistics Chevrolet Silverado RST Driver: Bayley Currey | Crew Chief: Mike Hillman, Jr. Bayley Currey @BayleyCurrey @BayleyCurrey05
Currey’s North Wilkesboro Stats: Bayley Currey will make his first-career start at North Wilkesboro Speedway in Saturday’s Wright Brand 250.
Hillman’s North Wilkesboro Stats: Mike Hillman, Jr. has one prior start at North Wilkesboro which came last year working with Ross Chastain. The No. 41 team started the event in 12th, got stage points with an eighth-place run in stage two, and finished the race in ninth.
On the Truck: Currey’s No. 41 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from AutoVentive and Precision Vehicle Logistics.
Guest Speaker: Currey traveled to Waco, Texas during the week to appear as a keynote speaker in front of a large crowd at the Texas Asphalt Pavement Association (TXAPA) MAPS Conference. TXAPA has had a relationship with Niece Motorsports team owner, Al Niece, for several decades, and appeared as the primary sponsor on Ross Chastain’s No. 45 entry earlier this year at COTA.
Recapping Darlington: Close to securing their first top-10 of the season, Bayley Currey and the No. 41 AutoVentive / Precision Vehicle Logistics team would be relegated down the finishing order after a flat right front tire forced a green flag pit stop. Currey started the Buckle Up South Carolina 200 from 17th, dropped to 20th at the conclusion of stage one, and made ground up to 16th in stage two. By virtue of the flat right front tire issue, the team would ultimately be scored with a 22nd-place finish as their final result.
Points Rundown: Due to the poor finish caused by the flat tire in Darlington, Currey lost one position in the points standings. Now scored in 14th, Currey is three points behind Stewart Friesen in 13th and 41 points below Ben Rhodes at the Playoffs cutline.
Quoting Currey: Without having any laps here on the new surface, how valuable is your experience in the simulator going to be?
“It’s everything. I feel like sim time is huge, especially at the races where we only have a 20-minute practice. We’ll have a full-length practice here this time, so that will help us, but definitely going to be leaning off that. Sim time is important everywhere, but especially at a new track like what we have this week.”
Quoting Hillman: Do you see track position as the most important factor with the repave?
“I think track position is going to be very important, that’s my guess. It seems to be like that at most of the repaves. Looking at some of the lap times from the CARS Tour test, it looks like it’s going to be that way. We just have to make sure that we do everything we can to maintain the track position throughout the race to have a shot at a good finish.”
About AutoVentive: AutoVentive is an industry-leading Software as a Service (SaaS) applications developer providing customized solutions to the automotive logistics industry. The company is part of Liberty Hill Equity Partners, LLC, a Cincinnati-based private equity firm.
About Precision Vehicle Logistics: Precision Vehicle Logistics is a customer-focused group of professionals committed to service excellence in finished vehicle logistics. Precision offers a unique combination of talented experience, industry-leading software and systems, and a network of partners and resources to deliver customized solutions to the world’s leading automakers.
No. 42 J.F. Electric / Utilitra Chevrolet Silverado RST Driver: Matt Mills | Crew Chief: Jon Leonard Matt Mills Racing @MattMillsRacing @MattMillsRacing
Mills’ North Wilkesboro Stats: Matt Mills will make his first-career start at North Wilkesboro Speedway in Saturday’s Wright Brand 250.
Leonard’s North Wilkesboro Stats: Jon Leonard’s lone start at North Wilkesboro came last year while working with NASCAR Cup Series driver, Christopher Bell. Bell qualified ninth in the race and showed flashes of speed, even finishing third in stage one. He would go on to finish the race in the 16th position.
On the Truck: Mills’ No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from longtime partners J.F. Electric and Utilitra.
Recapping Darlington: Mills and the No. 42 J.F. Electric / Utilitra team fought hard to secure their best finish of the season at Darlington. Qualifying in 25th, Mills and the team would hold steady throughout the first two stages. However, with late-race carnage, Mills navigated through several crashes to pick up track position. Skillful driving would lead his team home with an 11th-place finish, just one spot shy of their first top-10 result.
Points Rundown: Following race nine on the NCTS calendar, Matt Mills gained a spot in the points standings. Mills now sits 26th, chasing Spencer Boyd from four points back of 25th place. He has been on an upward-trend since Kansas, gaining one spot in each race over the past couple of weeks.
Quoting Mills: With your short track racing background, how fun is it to go back to your roots and race at a track like North Wilkesboro?
“This track will be really cool for me; I’ve had this race circled on my calendar. I haven’t ever been there before, but I’ve always wanted to race there because of all the nostalgia and history that the place has. I didn’t get to run last year on the original pavement, but seeing how fast everything looks to be here now on the new pavement through testing, I think it’s going to be pretty cool. I think short tracks are definitely more in my wheelhouse than other tracks.”
Quoting Leonard: How aggressive do you anticipate this race will be compared to the other short tracks on the schedule?
“I think this race is going to be a bit of a mix between a Richmond and a Martinsville. The drivers were running about two seconds faster this year at the tire test than where they were last year. With the repave, it’s a lot smoother. I think a lot of the truck races lean on the aggressive side so this probably won’t be much different. We aren’t expecting a huge amount of tire falloff, but I think that the aggression level is definitely going to be on the high side.”
About J.F. Electric: J.F. Electric is an electrical contractor that provides engineering expertise, backed by construction and installation know-how in a diverse range of service offerings, from utilities and commercial projects, to industrial and telecommunications customers. When having a long family history in an industry, a company not only builds on its knowledge and experience, it takes pride in cultivating a solid understanding of client needs, all the while nurturing strong relationships with its employees. Evolving through five generations of the Fowler family, J.F. Electric has matured into a well-managed and thoughtfully diversified electrical contractor which is poised to continue its growth and expansion into the future.
About Utilitra: Utilitra is a woman-owned firm specializing in utility and technology solutions with a diverse team of specialized professionals. Utilitra is committed to solving their client’s unique challenges, whether one expert or a team of experts is needed. By adapting to the needs of their respective industries, Utilitra has built a range of services for their utility and technology partners.
No. 45 N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program Chevrolet Silverado RST Driver: Ross Chastain | Crew Chief: Phil Gould Ross Chastain @RossChastain @RossChastain
Chastain Returns: Ross Chastain will make his third of five planned NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts for Niece Motorsports in Saturday’s event at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Tracks remaining on his Truck Series schedule include Pocono Raceway on Friday, July 12th and Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on Friday, July 19th.
Chastain’s North Wilkesboro Stats: Chastain competed in last year’s NCTS race at North Wilkesboro where he pocketed a ninth-place finish. Having qualified for the Cup Series All-Star race as well, Chastain capped off the weekend with an 11th-place run in that exhibition event.
Gould’s North Wilkesboro Stats: Gould’s lone start at North Wilkesboro Speedway resulted in a fourth-place finish with Carson Hocevar behind the wheel. Hocevar started on the outside pole and led 16 laps in last year’s event.
On the Truck: Chastain’s No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program promoting the ‘Click It or Ticket’ campaign. He will carry the familiar ‘Protect Your Melon’ colors he’s been associated with for years, including the signature watermelon stripes down the side of his truck.
Recapping Darlington: Five years to the date of Niece Motorsports’ first race win, Ross Chastain delivered the team its ninth NASCAR Truck Series victory at Darlington Raceway. Chastain, who has driven for the team in some capacity since 2018, was emotional following the finish of the race which ended just past midnight. Team Owner, Al Niece, was in attendance to witness the victory, making it a special night of many reasons for the organization.
Owner Points Outlook: Following Chastain’s victory in Darlington, the No. 45 team jumped up to seventh place in the owner points standings. The win solidified their spot in the owner Playoffs, and they are now only 10 points behind TRICON Garage’s No. 17 team in sixth.
Honeycutt’s Double Duty Weekend: Though he might not be competing in the Truck Series event at North Wilkesboro on Saturday, Kaden Honeycutt will be running in both the CARS Tour Pro Late Model and Late Model Stock races held on Wednesday night. Honeycutt is chasing after the Pro Late Model championship – currently tied for the points lead through four races held so far, and will return to the seat of the No. 45 Chevrolet at the next race in Charlotte.
Quoting Chastain: How big of a benefactor will it be to get these extra reps in on the repave before the All-Star race?
“Track time on any given weekend is always important, but especially here with it being the first race held on the repave. Last year was fun getting to race at North Wilkesboro for the first time, but the conditions are obviously going to be different. For me, that makes running the truck race that much more important. We’ve got some good momentum after last weekend and I think our guys will have another good shot to contend again.”
Quoting Gould: Before last year’s race, your team was able to run the tire test, but this year you weren’t. Is there anything you can take away from that test or are you viewing this as a brand-new track?
“I mean, yes and no. You just have to recognize the differences that are there. To me, I think this track is going to be pretty similar to Richmond, so we’ll start out by bringing a similar setup to what we ran last year. At least we get a normal, full-length practice, but we basically will have to take everything we learned there last year with a grain of salt and adapt when we unload.”
About the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program: Dedicated to reducing the numbers of traffic crashes and fatalities in North Carolina, the Governor’s Highway Safety Program promotes efforts to reduce traffic crashes in North Carolina and promotes highway safety awareness through a variety of grants and safe-driving initiatives.
These grants as well as initiatives – like Click It or Ticket, Booze It & Lose It, BikeSafe NC, Watch For Me NC and Speed a Little. Lose a Lot. – help address issues such as impaired driving, seat belt use, speeding, distracted driving, motorcycle safety, bicycle safety, pedestrian safety and other aspects of highway safety.
GHSP also helps fund North Carolina’s Vision Zero initiative, which is working to meet the goal of zero deaths on the state’s roadways through community involvement and data-driven safety interventions.
About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2024, Niece Motorsports enters its ninth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as X @NieceMotorsport.
Indianapolis, IN - during the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Photo by Joe Skibinski | IMS Photo)
INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, May 14, 2024) – Short, but still speedy.
Persistent rain curtailed the opening day of practice May 14 for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as the 2.5-mile oval was open for just 23 minutes, until 9:26 a.m. ET. Showers intensified during the afternoon, preventing any more laps.
Speeds were impressive despite the brief session. Six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon led at 229.107 mph in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. 2020 “500” pole sitter Marco Andretti was second at 228.399 in the No. 98 MAPEI/Curb Honda fielded by Andretti Herta w/Marco & Curb-Agajanian. Both Dixon and Andretti benefited from aerodynamic tows as morning traffic was brisk while teams eyed the leaden skies.
Two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato was third at 225.551 in the No. 75 AMADA Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Pato O’Ward was fourth – and the fastest Chevrolet-powered driver – at 224.993 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.
Christian Lundgaard ended up fifth at 223.844 in the No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda, as Rahal Letterman Lanigan was the only team with multiple cars in the top five.
Just 219 total laps were turned before the rain arrived, with 29 of the 34 entries on track and no driver exceeding 13 laps.
2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson managed just two laps in the No. 17 Hendrickcars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet before the rain. Larson, racing for Arrow McLaren/Rick Hendrick, is attempting to become the fifth driver to complete the “double” of racing in the Indianapolis 500 and the NASCAR Cup Series’ Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the same day. Kurt Busch was the last to achieve the feat, in 2014.
“It’s good to finally have the Indy 500 here,” Larson said. “I’ve known about this (double attempt) for a couple of years now, so it’s been a lot of waiting. Just happy to get this experience underway. The weather is getting in the middle of things today, but once we get through today, it should be good.”
This is the second consecutive year rain hampered the first day of practice. Last year’s opening day was a washout, with no laps turned.
Practice is scheduled to resume from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET Wednesday. PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying is this Saturday and Sunday, with Race Day on Sunday, May 26.
