Home Blog Page 1023

Toyota Racing – NCS Darlington Quotes – 23XI Press Conference – 05.12.24

By
Official Release
-

Toyota Racing – 23XI Press Conference
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

DARLINGTON, S.C. (May 11, 2024) – 23XI Racing driver Corey Heim, 23XI president Steve Lauletta and TRD general manager Tyler Gibbs were made available to the media prior to the NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway on Sunday.

COREY HEIM, No. 50 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing

STEVE LAULETTA, president, 23XI Racing

TYLER GIBBS, general manager, TRD, USA

How did that announcement come together?

LAULETTA: “We are lucky enough to have a new relationship with ExxonMobil with Toyota’s help, across the Toyota teams. I tossed out an idea, late last year with them, knowing that they were going to celebrate their 50th anniversary – that we’d run a third car a couple of times last year. I told them that we could run it as the 50 car – I had no idea there was another car running the 50, which was some work for me to do. We agreed that we would do three races with three different types of storytelling opportunities, and the second one – which is Nashville – is with our young friend, Corey (Heim). We are thrilled to put him in one of our cars and have him run as a driver in his own car. It was good for him to get a couple of races with LEGACY, unfortunate for the circumstances, but we’ve been planning this for a while. He’s spent some time with us at our facility and we are thrilled to get him to hop in the 50 car with Mobil 1, and help continue to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

GIBBS: “We’ve had a long relationship with ExxonMobil – both on the technical side, as well as the partnership side. You see them in the GR Cup, and you see them with Jade (Avedisian) in the dirt and you see them with John Hunter (Nemechek) in Xfinity last year and a whole bunch of different places, so when Steve (Lauletta) presented this opportunity to us and to Mobil1 – it was a no brainer for us. Corey (Heim) is clearly ready, and we are really excited to see where this goes.”

What does this opportunity mean to you?

HEIM: “It means the world. It is such an unbelievable opportunity, first of all, with me being in my fifth year of developing with Toyota Racing, and just stepping through the ladder and to come all the way from ARCA to Cup with Toyota Racing and make my first start with my name on it with 23XI Racing. As Steve (Lauletta) mentioned, we’ve been planning this for a while previous to those two Cup races with LMC (LEGACY MOTOR CLUB), so to have my name on it and to celebrate with Mobil 1 and their 50th anniversary, and to have that on board is very special. I can’t wait for that.”

What was it about Corey Heim that said to you that he was ready for this opportunity?
LAULETTA: “What he is doing on the race track, number one. We do have the relationship with LEGACY, ourselves, with Corey (Heim) being our reserve driver for the moments, like what happened. He has spent time with our competition folks. He’s been at Airspeed with us. You’ve seen some of our posts of his history as a fan of Denny’s (Hamlin) – I can tell you Denny is a tremendous fan of his and what he’s doing on the race track. It was time to give him the opportunity to get him with a car like ours, and a team like ours and see what he could do in a race. We did a lot of conversations with him and Toyota to pick the right race and one that we will feel like will be a good one for him Nashville. Having Kamui (Kobayashi) run in COTA and following that with Corey, we feel like that is a nice storytelling opportunity for Mobil 1 and our team.”

When this opportunity came up, what did it mean to you?

HEIM: “Yeah, as you mentioned, I’m a pretty levelheaded person. I’m not overly emotional, but just to think about where I was at three or four years ago to step through this ladder and come to the Cup Series in the way that I have. It definitely got me pretty emotional. I’ve always dreamed of being a Cup driver, but I was never too sure of the opportunities that laid ahead, and to finally know I get my shot, I get my opportunity – of course, this was previous to knowing that I would be running the two Cup races for LMC (LEGACY MOTOR CLUB) – it definitely made me pretty emotional and really excited to say the least. But I’m ready to make the most of it. It is a tremendous opportunity. I have so many great people in my corner, supporting me – 23XI, Toyota Racing and Mobil 1 – to have them all in my corner is tremendous and I can’t wait.”

How do those two starts tie in to helping you prepare for Nashville?

HEIM: “Under harsh circumstances, I made the most of it. I think those two starts were pretty crucial with my experience to prepare Nashville. Of course, you never want to be thrown in at the last minute, but with the harsh circumstances, it is what my job is – to be a reserve driver for LMC (LEGACY MOTOR CLUB) and 23XI Racing. I think being a sim driver for LMC this year has prepared me for this opportunity to an extent, but nothing beats real sim time. Going out there and getting the laps and having a 400-lap race to settle in – figure it out in stage one, settle in, in stage two, and hopefully, close in on stage three, and that is sort of what I did. As you mentioned, concrete race track at Dover will translate to Nashville. All of the drivers in the Cup Series, and me included, have agreed that seat time trumps everything, so to have those two races is crucial for my experience going up to Nashville with 23XI and hopefully it pays off.”

What was about Corey that you knew he was ready for this opportunity?

GIBBS: “I think the first thing for the driver is that they need to be fast, but growing up in culture, he learned those things, but some of it is just Corey (Heim) and the person that he is, so from that perspective, the moment isn’t too big for him. We know that he has the talent – that is pretty clear. When you watch the way he races, even before he was racing with LEGACY. From that perspective, he was one of two or three choices that were pretty clear for us, and when you look at his relationship with Mobil 1, us, the 50th anniversary, the story of bringing him in the series this year – it was a clear choice.”

How close do you think you are to a third charter for 23XI?

LAULETTA: “We are not close because everything right now is what ifs and maybes and who knows until there is a charter agreement. That is the key. That is what needs to happen. That is what, I know, everyone is working hard and focused on doing, so at the end of this year, there are charters so that there is something we can then talk about and see what the future plays out to be.”

Does 23XI have the infrastructure to run a third car?

LAULETTA: “Look, when we moved to Airspeed – we are going to open that to the public at the end of the year – we didn’t build it to only run two cars. We are proving that. I’ve said that all along – we ran a third car twice last year, and we wanted to do it at least that many, and we are going to do it three times this year. We are building towards that. Whether or not that is in the immediate future of next year or beyond, that is something that we will have our eyes on.”

Can you add another car from the Toyota side?

GIBBS: “From our side, the key thing is going to be the timing. If decisions are made in October or November, that is a whole lot more difficult if they are made sooner. So from our perspective, we are working towards being ready to do that, if the opportunity arises.”

What stands out about Corey to you?

LAULETTA: “He does it with a great attitude and he fits right in. Personality wise, you guys have been around him, you can see what a genuine person he is – which is important – that is the kind of people and culture that we want to have at 23XI. He’s a sponge in terms of what he is learning. I get that from our competition guys. He’s asked to sit in some of our meetings already, and I think what he gets from that is really important as he builds his knowledge, and as I’ve said, Denny (Hamlin) is super impressed with him, and has been for a long time. It was not a big leap for us to say – we did the 67 in Daytona with Travis (Pastrana), but it was time to get on an oval – a mile-and-a-half – and see what we could do, and there was only one name that we talked about and he is sitting right here.”

You have a lot of a young talent with the team. Is that how you are trying to build 23XI?

LAULETTA: “Everything is opportunistic, and the pieces have to fit together at the right time, which did quickly with Bubba (Wallace) and we a little more time with Tyler (Reddick) and now we are going to take our time to see what the next move is. When those pieces fit together, I’m sure we are not going to do it unless it is the perfect fit because we don’t want to take any steps backwards from where we are today, so it is definitely with a super diligent mindset that we are going to do anything moving forward.”

How do you evaluate who gets these opportunities?

LAULETTA: “From as far as setting it up, there is a lot of conversations with a lot of partners involved. We talk to Toyota all of the time, obviously Mobil 1 in this instance, our internal competition staff and staff on how we want to position ourselves as a race team, so there are a million things that go into every decision that we make, this one was really important. There was a lot of things that really needed to line up to make it happen. There is a lot of parts and pieces – I mean, if I had to show you the spreadsheet on how we decided on Nashville, it is a lot of work to make sure we put our best foot forward as a team all the time, and that is what led us to Corey (Heim) and that is what led us to Nashville.”

What are you doing behind the scenes to prepare for this?

HEIM: “From my standpoint, this year, I’m really focused on trying to win a truck championship first of all. I’ve always been a person to take it a week-by-week basis. I’ve never really projected ahead into the year. I’ve never been a person to focus on a year, because for me it is just a week-by-week basis. This is an incredible opportunity with 23XI when the time comes and the moment is there, but I’m focused on winning the truck championship and being ready for that.”

How do you stay ready in a reserve driver role?

HEIM: “Luckily with the Truck Series, we follow the schedule for the most part, so I will have a general idea of what to look for on certain racetracks. Now when a week comes up, such as a Sonoma, that’s a couple of weeks ago – that is definitely tougher to be prepared, when you don’t have a lot of laps at a certain race track, but as I touched on earlier, I do all of the simulation and reserve driver kind of things for LMC (LEGACY MOTOR CLUB) and 23XI, so I do get laps during the week to get experience from a virtual side of things, which helps, but it is tougher when you don’t have that real life experience, but it is part of the learning process on my part.”

What is it like receiving praise from your Toyota teammates?

HEIM: “Over the years, I’ve gotten along great with my Toyota teammates. We all work out of the same buildings during the week, between the Toyota Performance Center in Mooresville, and TRD in Salisbury, North Carolina. We see each other in passing a lot between all of the Toyota teams, from late models all the way to Cup. I’ve gotten along great with all of my Toyota teammates, and John Hunter (Nemechek) is a guy that I’ve been fortunate enough to be teammates with all of the way back at KBM (Kyle Busch Motorsports) and now, somewhat, at LMC (LEGACY MOTOR CLUB). It has been great. He has been a great teammate; a great supporter and I love reaching out and picking his brain out about certain things. It definitely helps with those two Cup starts as well. Him as well as all of our other Toyota teammates that I’ve been fortunate enough to pick their brain throughout the years, has definitely been really good for me in my development.”

Does hearing from other Toyota drivers that they agree with decision make you feel even better about it?

LAULETTA: “For sure. Again, I don’t think anyone should have been surprised that we tapped him on the shoulder to give him his chance to run a Cup race. He’s earned it, and I think he proved with the two races with LMC (LEGACY MOTOR CLUB) that we made the right decision for sure.”

GIBBS: “I just think the work that Corey (Heim) has done as the reserve driver, in terms of some of the meetings he sat in, some of the work that he does during the week, just reinforces that. It is certainly nice to hear the other drivers say that, but to Steve’s (Lauletta) point, I don’t think anyone is really surprised just knowing the contribution that Corey puts in behind the scenes.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 26 electrified options.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Truth Behind Online Casino Games: Ensuring Fairness and Randomness

By
SM
-
Photo by Kvnga on Unsplash

Online casinos have exploded in popularity over the last decade. With millions of people playing casino games on their computers and mobile devices every day, it’s crucial that these games are fair. But how exactly do online casinos ensure that their games are truly random? In this article, we’ll explore the rigorous testing processes used to confirm game fairness and explain why players can trust that Evolve Casino games aren’t rigged.

Importance of Random Number Generators (RNGs)

At the core of any online casino game is the random number generator (RNG). This is a complex piece of software that continuously and randomly generates numbers. These randomly generated numbers determine everything from the cards dealt in blackjack to the symbols that appear on slot machine reels.

RNGs are designed to operate in an unpredictable manner and be impervious to outside influence. A quality RNG will produce billions of random outcomes per second and make it impossible for players or casinos to know what’s coming next. This ensures every spin, hand, or roll of the dice is fair.

Testing Processes to Confirm Fairness

All reputable online casinos have their games tested and certified by independent auditing companies. These auditors analyze the games to confirm that the RNGs are truly random and that the stated rules and payout percentages match the actual outcomes.

There are several ways auditors test for randomness. Some methods include:

  • Chi-squared analysis: Comparing expected outcome frequencies to observed outcomes to check for statistical biases
  • Shuffle tracking: Checking that card sequences in games like blackjack contain no predictable patterns
  • Number correlation analysis: Looking for relationships between RNG outputs that could compromise randomness

Auditors also verify game return-to-player (RTP) percentages by simulating millions of spins or hands. If a slot claims a 95% RTP, auditors will check that it pays out 95 cents for every $1 wagered over billions of spins.

Understanding House Edge and How Casinos Profit

While casino games rely on randomness, the house still maintains an inherent mathematical advantage known as the house edge. This means that over many bets, the casino is likely to win more than it loses, allowing it to remain profitable.

Here are some typical house edges:

  • Slots: 4-10%
  • Blackjack: Under 1% with perfect play
  • Roulette: Around 5%

The house edge exists because of how games are structured, not because they are rigged. For example, slots are programmed to pay out less than the amount wagered over the long run. Blackjack gives the dealer an advantage if both dealer and player bust. Payouts on roulette bets are less than the true odds.

Casinos have a business incentive to operate fair games. If games are proven unfair, they get shut down and lose customers. The house edge alone allows them to maintain healthy profits over time.

Trusting in Reputable Online Casinos

While no system is perfect, reputable online casinos go to great lengths to ensure their games are truly fair through RNG testing and ongoing auditing. Players can have peace of mind that the cards, dice, wheels and reels have not been rigged in the casino’s favor as long as they stick to trustworthy, licensed sites.

However, players should be wary of unregulated casinos that have not had their games properly vetted. These sites should be avoided, as they may rig games or fail to pay out winnings. But major online casinos invest heavily in fairness testing to build player trust.

So next time you enjoy your favorite slots or blackjack game online, you can bet on a fair outcome knowing the site has taken steps to confirm the validity of their RNGs. While the house may hold an advantage, with the right controls in place, both you and the casino can benefit from truly random gameplay.

Power of Peer Validation: Why User Reviews Make or Break Online Casinos

By
SM
-
Photo by Kaysha on Unsplash

The online casino space grows more crowded by the day. With so many options to choose from, players tend to gravitate towards sites with positive reviews and testimonials. User feedback serves as social proof that validates a casino’s trustworthiness. This “peer validation” goes a long way in convincing signups and engendering loyalty.

In this article, we’ll explore why user reviews hold such sway in the online casino industry. We’ll also provide tips for operators, like Playfina, looking to leverage reviews and testimonials to stand out from the competition.

Reviews Build Trust in an Untrustworthy Space

The online casino industry suffers from an image problem. After years of rogue operators engaging in unethical practices, players have grown wary. Recent statistics paint a concerning picture:

  • 71% of players distrust online casinos without verifiable testimonials
  • 62% won’t create an account on sites with low or no reviews

Negative perceptions stem from past issues around game fairness, payment security, and problem gambling. But user reviews help assuage these concerns. Positive feedback from real players signals that a site is safe, secure, and trustworthy.

Essentially, user reviews serve as social validation that an online casino meets certain standards around safety and ethical operations. This “peer validation” means more than claims made by the operators themselves. As the saying goes, “actions speak louder than words.”

Reviews Attract Signups in a Competitive Market

Today’s online casino market grows more competitive by the day. In North America alone, the number of licensed gaming sites increased by 15% from 2020-2021. Players enjoy no shortage of options.

With so many sites vying for attention, user reviews give operators a vital edge:

  • 81% of players are more likely to sign up with a casino after reading positive reviews. Feedback indicates that real users have tried the site and recommend it. This vote of public confidence provides the social proof needed to drive conversions.
  • 78% of players consult review sites like Trustpilot when choosing a new casino. Many players head straight to third-party review aggregators to inform their decision. Strong feedback scores here make a powerful first impression.

Positive reviews attract signups by lending credibility amid a sea of unfamiliar options. They provide the validation players seek before handing over personal information and making a deposit.

Reviews Drive Loyalty Through Improved Experiences

User reviews attract new signups and drive loyalty through better experiences. The vast majority of players read feedback before signing up. As a result, they enter with clear expectations around things like:

  • Game libraries
  • Bonuses and promotions
  • Payment options
  • Customer support

When the actual experience aligns with expectations set by reviews, players enjoy a positive outcome. They’re more likely to return and become regular patrons.

But misaligned expectations often lead to frustration and churn. This is why sites with glowing feedback retain players longer. One survey found that casinos with “excellent” ratings enjoy:

  • 3x longer average player lifetime value (LTV)
  • 2x higher daily active users (DAUs)
  • 1.5x higher monthly player retention rates

In essence, user reviews create a self-fulfilling prophecy. Positive feedback sets accurate expectations that lead to positive outcomes and long-term loyalty.

Key Takeaways

In the fast-growing yet crowded online casino market, user reviews are hugely impactful. By validating site trustworthiness and managing player expectations, feedback delivers higher conversion rates, longer LTV, and better retention.

For operators, focusing on reputation should be a top priority. Proactively soliciting reviews builds social proof players seek when choosing a new site. Responsively addressing negative feedback prevents churn.

With the right review strategy, operators can stand out from the crowd and turn new signups into devoted, high-value customers.

Chase Sexton Wins Supercross Final, Jett Lawrence Takes Title in Rookie Year

By
Official Release
-

RJ Hampshire and Tom Vialle Win Regional Titles at Supercross Showdown

Salt Lake City, Utah, (May 11, 2024) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton took the win, his second of the season, at the final round of the 17-round 2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season.

Rice-Eccles Stadium hosted the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Final for the fifth straight year. A weather delay temporarily paused the racing, but the storm passed, and the track provided great racing to crown four Supercross championships. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper delivered his season-best performance in his rookie year and took second place inside Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb, riding injured yet with a mathematical chance at the championship, finished in third place, netting him second overall on the season. Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence, after racking up eight wins in his rookie 450SX Class Supercross season, rode near the front early, but appeared to back it down to finish a safe seventh place and secure his first Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in the 450SX Class. Lawrence became only the third rider in the sport’s history to take the title in his rookie season.

In the 250SX Class, both Regional Championships battled in the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Showdown. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan grabbed the holeshot and defended the lead against several challenges to take the win, the third of his career and his first East/West Showdown victory.

“It definitely means a lot. I had to kind of claw myself back to where I felt like I was riding good. It’s been a tough journey. The team and I have put a lot of work in. It’s taken us about, I don’t know, 16 rounds to get it good, but we’re in a good spot now. Today was a big day for me. I feel like I had really good speed and a really good start in that Main Event. I tried second gear [on the gate] for the first time all day and it paid off. I needed a good start and just rode a solid race. But overall, I’m looking forward to outdoors. I’ve been doing a lot of outdoor riding and testing and [I’m] ready to start a new championship. It’s a good way to end this one and head into that new season.” – Chase Sexton

“I was looking for this podium all year and it just happened to come at the last round. We saved the best for last. I just have to give it up to the whole team. Yamaha, they gave me a chance this year and really took me under their wing and worked hard with me. I had some great teammates this year and they pushed me the whole way. I’m glad to end on a high note. I just gotta give it up to the whole Star Racing Yamaha crew, Monster Energy, Alpinestars, Oakley, Dunlop, Toyota of Escondido – we lost a great one there, Damian, this one’s for him.” – Justin Cooper

“It’s been a great year. Second in the championship’s not what you want, but as we can see Jett’s a once-in-a-generation guy and he’s the real deal. I’m proud of my year, I’m proud of my team, I’m proud of my family. I truly know what we’ve been dealing with these last few races and rounds, I don’t know if there’s many guys that would’ve finished this season, so I can hang my head high on that. And I know I’ll be back stronger next year, and with some fight, and we know what we need to work on. Congrats to Jett and [that] whole team, they killed it this year. I just want to give it up to my team; they really invested a lot into me this whole year and they believed in me from the start, and I got back to championship form this year and probably the best version of myself. So, I’m super proud of that, super proud of the way I held myself in there all year. And it’s going to be a great thing, we’ll get surgery Monday on this thumb and enjoy my second baby coming and some down time. So yeah, we’ll be back next year, I know that’s for damn sure.” – Cooper Webb, referencing his torn UCL thumb injury.

“I think it hasn’t fully sunk in yet, but, I mean, we had times when we sucked really bad this year then also times when we weren’t too bad, so, nah, [I’m] super happy for the team and doing it for them. They’ve been awesome. They’re family now and to give them another title is just the biggest ‘thank you’ to them, I feel like. So thank you to them, to everyone around me… I couldn’t do it without the team around me, I’m just super happy… [when asked to look back on what it took to get to this point] There’s so many hard moments that we’ve had that you can’t even put it in an interview, it’s just so long. No, I’m just super happy just for my family and the team and yeah, I’m just going to leave it at that because it’s too much.” – Jett Lawrence

The Western Regional 250SX Class and Eastern Regional 250SX Class each wrapped up their seasons with the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Showdown. Haiden Deegan grabbed the Holeshot and led every lap to end the season with his third win. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire crossed the line in second and secured his first Supercross Championship by taking the Western Regional 250SX Class title. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith crashed late in the race attempting to take the lead, but he remounted and landed on the Utah podium in third. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen took fifth place after going into Utah tied for the lead in the West. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle, entering the race with a 15-point lead, cruised to eighth to take his first Supercross championship with the title in the Eastern Regional 250SX Class.

“That was sick. That was my first East/West Shootout win. I came into this race, I’m like, ‘You know what, I’ve got nothing to lose. I’m just going to go out there and execute what I do,’ and that’s what I did today. I was top of the board all day long, so that was perfect. I kinda feel like I’ve come around now. At the beginning of the season, obviously [there were] a few things [an injury], no excuses though, congrats to Tom, congrats to RJ, that’s dope. And yeah, got the Dub, that’s awesome.” – Haiden Deegan

“Man, [I’m] just so thankful. From the beginning, like my dad, the Grondahls, Kevin Keen, just so many people have helped me get to this point right here and just believed in me. So [I’m] thankful to my wife, my daughters, it’s truly special. This whole Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing team from Nate to Murph to my mechanic Amos, Aldon, Throttle, all the guys back home. They know how much I put into this, so it’s truly special. Just a massive thank you to Salt Lake. Man, you guys are going to be one I’m always going to remember. It’s truly special tonight. Thank you.” – RJ Hampshire

“It was a bummer how it went down [with the crash]. I felt good all night, felt like I had the speed to win, and yeah, we [Deegan and I] started playing games there about halfway through. I was just trying to be smart. I kind of backed off for a couple laps. I knew I was faster in the whoops, and kinda of catching him a little bit everywhere, so I was just trying to be smart and got a run on him in the whoops. [I was] just trying to stay low [in the following corner] and he came across and I think my fork guard got caught on his bike. It almost pulled us both down. It was a bummer, [I’m] not very pumped about how that went down, but we live to fight another day. Happy to be back on the box. Shout out to the whole Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team. Toyota of Escondido, a big shout out to those guys. We lost Damian this past week. He’s been a huge supporter of this sport and of us racers for a long time and this podium’s dedicated to him…” – Jordon Smith

“I had a bad Heat race. I mean, the day was really hard. Actually, [before the Main Event] I was like, ‘Okay, this is the moment I need to do the start.’ I had a great start, actually. The last five laps I was really nervous, but I made it. I’m really happy. You know: coming from Europe, moving here to the U.S., and I’ve already got the Supercross title in my second year. It’s amazing, so I’m very happy. I want to thank everyone on the team who believed in me, my family, and I’m really happy about the day. Thank you.” – Tom Vialle

After four qualifying rounds throughout the season that did not pay points, the Supercross Futures AMA National Championship wrapped up with one race in Utah. Troy Lee Designs GASGAS’s Cole Davies, who won the opening SX Futures round, took the win in Utah and the title. After leading for the majority of the race, Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Drew Adams crashed exiting a turn. He remounted but had to settle for second place in the championship. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Gavin Towers rounded out the season’s podium with a third-place finish inside Rice-Eccles Stadium.

“It’s definitely cool to win this race. The track is gnarly at the moment. I was able to get a pretty good start. I made some mistakes at the start there, but Drew [Adams] made a mistake, and I was able to capitalize on that and yeah, I’m stoked.” – Cole Davies

“The 2024 AMA Supercross season was one of the greatest in recent memory, with season-long battles for all three titles,” AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman said. “We at the AMA offer our congratulations to Jett Lawrence, R.J. Hampshire and Tom Vialle, and we’re inspired by the determination and tenacity they showed throughout the season. The AMA also appreciates the efforts of Feld Motor Sports, series partners, racers and teams who, along with the AMA, worked tirelessly to deliver incredible racing week after week.”

With the 17-round Monster Energy Supercross indoor stadium season concluded, the racers now start the 11-round outdoor season of Pro Motocross, Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. In August, combined points from the Monster Energy Supercross season and the Pro Motocross season will seed the top 20 riders into the SuperMotocross League’s post-season racing. Riders in positions 21-30 will gain a spot on the starting line of the Last Chance Qualifier for a chance to fill-out the 22-rider gate at each of the three post-season races. Riders who earned a Main Event win in Supercross or a Moto win in Motocross in 2024 will also earn a spot on the LCQ line. The SuperMotocross World Championship will consist of two Playoff Rounds and one Final to determine an overall SuperMotocross World Champion in the 450SMX and 250SMX classes.

All 31 SuperMotocross World Championship rounds are available live and on-demand through PeacockTV, with select rounds also broadcast or streamed domestically on NBC, USA Network, CNBC, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app. CNBC will air next-day encore presentations of all 31 rounds of 2024 racing. Live audio coverage for each Supercross race can be heard via NBC Sports Audio on SiriusXM Channel 85. For domestic coverage in Spanish language, the final rounds of the Supercross, Motocross, and SuperMotocross championships will be available on Telemudo Deportes’ YouTube channel as well as on the NBC Sports app. For international coverage, the racing can be found at the SuperMotocross Video Pass (supermotocross.tv) live and on-demand, in both English and Spanish.

The Love Moto Stop Cancer auction concludes this Monday, May 13th at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. Until then, fans can view and bid on incredible gear and bike parts from the sport’s top racers, as well as other great items. All proceeds help raise money for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s fight against childhood cancer. To participate in the auction or find other great ways to get involved, please go to SupercrossLIVE.com/St-Jude.

Tickets are on sale now for the Pro Motocross season as well as all three SuperMotocross World Championship rounds. For tickets, event information, race results, and more please go to SupercrossLIVE.com.

Facebook: facebook.com/supercrosslive
X: twitter.com/supercrosslive
Instagram: instagram.com/supercrosslive
YouTube: youtube.com/supercrosslive
TikTok: tiktok.com/supercrossliveofficial
Official Merch: SupercrossSuperstore.com

About Feld Motor Sports:

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and the SuperMotocross World Championship. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, Inc. Visit monsterjam.com, SupercrossLIVE.com, and feldentertainment.com for more information.

About Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship:

Monster Energy AMA Supercross is the most competitive and highest-profile off-road motorcycle racing championship on the planet. Founded in America and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) since 1974. Over 17 weeks, Supercross attracts some of the largest and most impressive crowds inside the most recognizable and prestigious stadiums in North America to race in front of nearly one million live fans and broadcast to millions more worldwide. For more information, visit SupercrossLIVE.com.

About the SuperMotocross World Championship:

The SuperMotocross World Championship™ is the premier off-road motorcycle racing series that combines the technical precision of stadium racing with the all-out speed and endurance of outdoor racing. Created in 2022, the SuperMotocross World Championship combines the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the AMA Pro Motocross Championship into a 31-event series that culminates in a season-ending two round playoff and SuperMotocross World Championship Final. Visit SuperMotocross.com for more information.

About the American Motorcyclist Association:

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.

A Top-10 Trifecta for Silver Hare at WWTR

By
Official Release
-

Connor Mosack Finishes Sixth, Boris Said Jr., Eighth, Jake Drew 10th

Overview:
Date: May 11, 2024
Event: WWTR SpeedTour (Round 4 of 12)
Series: Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli
Division: Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series
Location: World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois
Layout: 1.6-mile, eight-turn road course
Format: 63 laps or 75 minutes
Weather: Sunny, mid-70s
Winner: Ben Maier of Nitro Motorsports

Silver Hare Racing:

● Connor Mosack – Started 4th, Finished 6th (Running, completed 57/57 laps)
● Boris Said Jr. – Started 6th, Finished 8th (Running, completed 57/57 laps)
● Jake Drew – Started 12th, Finished 10th (Running, completed 57/57 laps

Connor Mosack, Driver, No. 77 Silver Hare Racing/PRG Chevrolet Camaro:

“It was a good weekend as a whole. I was looking forward to the race. I felt like we made some good changes from practice to qualifying. The car drove good in qualifying. I think the banking is where we were lacking a little bit of total grip. There are things we can still work on and do differently moving forward. It was a good effort by everybody, a little bit of a frustrating weekend, but we know what we can take to the next one.”

Boris Said Jr., Driver, No. 75 HendrickCars.com/Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro:

“It was definitely a good learning experience. I learned a lot. The finish was OK. Eighth was OK. Definitely learned a lot, got a lot better from yesterday to today and learned a lot about the track. I’m really excited to go to Lime Rock, a facility where I’m better at. But this was a good learning experience, for sure. I wanted to do better, but I’ll take it. It was better than last year.”

Jake Drew, Driver, No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro:

“Not the best of my first three finishes, but looking at the positives, there were three Silver Hare cars in the top-10 and they all came home fairly clean, from what I can tell. That’s a good thing. I guys worked hard all weekend and I know we’ll keep working and try again at the next one.”

Laura Hull, Co-Owner, Team Manager, Silver Hare Racing:

“As always, I’m so incredibly proud of our entire crew at Silver Hare Racing. These guys work very hard to put honest, clean cars on the track. Our drivers never give up, they never quit, and I am very pleased with the fact that all three cars finished in the top-10 and came home clean, no damage. We’ll just be better prepared for Lime Rock and keep moving forward, never give up.”

Next Up:

Round five of the 2024 Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series takes Silver Hare Racing to Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut, for the Lime Rock SpeedTour May 24-25. The two-day weekend kicks off with a TA2 test session Friday, May 24, at 11:25 a.m. EDT, followed by official practice at 2:25 p.m., and qualifying at 5:35 p.m. Race time Saturday, May 25, is 1:15 p.m. for the 68-lap, 75-minute race with series partner MAVTV providing live television coverage augmented via live video stream on the Trans Am channel on YouTube.

About Silver Hare Racing:

Silver Hare Racing is a fulltime competitor in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s newly renamed Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series. The multicar team has won the TA2 Masters class championship three times (2018, 2019 and 2020) with driver and team co-owner Maurice Hull. Under the leadership of Hull’s wife, co-owner and team manager Laura Hull, Silver Hare Racing provides a variety of services that includes private testing and arrive-and-drive programs. The team offers six professionally built and maintained TA2 chassis from Howe Racing and operates from a state-of-the-art facility in High Point, North Carolina. For more information, visit SilverHareRacing.com.

Tough Luck for TeamSLR on Outskirts of St. Louis

By
Official Release
-

Early Mechanical Issue Foils Pro-Am Victory Bid for Barry Boes; Bizarre End to Jake Finch’s TA2 Debut as Loose Tire Barrier Rolls Into His Path

Overview:

Date: May 12, 2024
Event: WWTR SpeedTour (Round 4 of 12)
Series: Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli
Division: Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series
Location: World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois
Layout: 1.6-mile, eight-turn road course
Format: 63 laps or 75 minutes
Weather: Sunny, mid-70s
Winner: Ben Maier of Nitro Motorsports

TeamSLR:

● Jake Finch – Started 7th, Finished 17th (Contact, completed 44/57 laps)
● Barry Boes – Started 14th, Finished 19th (Oil line, completed 5/57 laps

Jake Finch, Driver No. 17 Phoenix Construction/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro:

“I just went off into (turn) one and they started wrecking and I didn’t really see where they went. I thought I had it all missed and just had a tire barrier come out there and make it a bad day. It was a learning experience, learning about all the rules in this series that are a little bit different than what we’re used to, it was a little bit of a struggle with that. Overall, I think it was a solid weekend. Qualifying seventh I felt like was pretty good. Through practice we got better and better, just did a terrible job in the race, so that’s something that needs to be cleaned up and hopefully we’ll be better next time.”

Barry Boes, Driver No. 27 Accio Data/SLR-M1 Racecars Ford Mustang:

“It’s been a rough stretch of bad luck. Not related to this weekend’s effort, but had a blowout at Sonoma in the Western Championship race a few weeks ago, and then lost a motor at Laguna Seca in another Western Championship race last weekend. Then, the oil line that let go today likely was the result of me going off into the tire barrier during practice yesterday. At the start of the race, it was really loose, which might have been the result of having to replace a right-front tire that went flat in qualifying, so I don’t know if it was that or just the fact that we had a full load of fuel. Looking ahead to better days, for sure, starting at Lime Rock.”

Next Up:

Round five of the 2024 Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series takes TeamSLR to Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut, for the Lime Rock SpeedTour May 24-25. The two-day weekend kicks off with a TA2 test session Friday, May 24, at 11:25 a.m. EDT, followed by official practice at 2:25 p.m., and qualifying at 5:35 p.m. Race time Saturday, May 25, is 1:15 p.m. for the 68-lap, 75-minute race with series partner MAVTV providing live television coverage augmented via live video stream on the Trans Am channel on YouTube.

About TeamSLR:

TeamSLR (Scott Lagasse Racing) competes fulltime in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s newly renamed Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series in a multifaceted effort that includes dedicated entries in the TA2 division, customer programs, driver coaching and car construction. Its history dates back to 1985 and covers a wide spectrum of motorsports, including NASCAR, IMSA, SCCA, ARCA and ASA. TeamSLR is a family-owned organization run by Scott Lagasse Sr., and Scott Lagasse Jr., The father-and-son duo have combined to win more than 120 races and seven championships across a variety of series and styles of racecars, from paved ovals to road courses to dirt tracks. For more information, please visit us online at www.TeamSLR.com, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram and on LinkedIn.

No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 Earn GTD Pole Position for MOTUL Course de Monterey

By
Official Release
-

MONTEREY, California (May 11, 2024) — Danny Formal in the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 soared to the top of the GTD Class time charts and will start from pole position at the MOTUL Course de Monterey. Formal’s impressive lap time of 1:20.866 handed Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) its’ first GTD pole position in their inaugural full season IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD campaign.

The No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 team will see the green flag fly for Sunday’s MOTUL Course de Monterey at 3:10 p.m. ET (12:10 p.m. PT) from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. NBC will serve host the broadcast of the 2-hour, 40-minute sprint race beginning at 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT).

TOP FIVE GTD STARTING GRID

  1. No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 (Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2) K. Marcelli, D. Formal (99.631 mph)
  2. No. 557 Turner Motorsport (BMW M4 GT3) R. Foley, P. Gallagher (99.472 mph)
  3. No. 57 WINWARD Racing (Mercedes-AMG GT3) R. Ward, P. Ellis (99.443 mph)
  4. No. 27 Heart of Racing Team (Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO) R. De Angelis, S. Pumpelly (99.403 mph)
  5. No. 12 Vasser Sullivan (Lexus RC F GT3) F. Montecalvo, J. Hawksworth (99.375 mph)

Danny Formal, No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2: “First of all, I’m so grateful to be part of this organization, WTRAndretti. I’ve been part of the family since 2021 in Lamborghini Super Trofeo, so today was a great day. In Practice 2 we prepared for this qualifying; we decided I was going to qualify the car. The No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 car felt extremely good. It was a little cooler out, which benefited our car. I had difficulties getting a good lap in during qualifying. It was quite dusty, and I just couldn’t get the rear tires activated. The last lap it cooled off, and I pushed pretty hard in the last sector to start the lap, and I saw my tire pressure was an ideal number, so I was able to get two tenths in the last lap and get that pole position that my team truly deserves. We’ve been working so hard. It’s a new program, only our fourth race ever, and to be close to these guys in GTD PRO and get our first GTD Championship pole position in four races is just incredible.”

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

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

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

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

WTRAndretti Acura ARX-06 GTP Teams Secure Starting Positions for MOTUL Course de Monterey

By
Official Release
-

MONTEREY, California (May 11, 2024) —Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti’s (WTRAndretti) pair of Acura ARX-06 GTP teams tackled qualifying for the MOTUL Course de Monterey at the historic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. For the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 GTP, it was Ricky Taylor piloting the blue and black machine for the 15-minute qualifying session while Louis Delétraz climbed behind the No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06. Utilizing a split strategy to conquer the competitive GTP class, Taylor came to pit lane after an install lap to open the session and the WTRAndretti crew changed tires while Delétraz ran just over five minutes before pitting. As the checkered flag flew, Taylor qualified the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 in seventh position on the GTP grid with a best time of 1:12.905. Delétraz’s fastest lap time around the 2.238-mile road course of 1:13.084 earned the eighth starting position alongside teammate Taylor.

Sunday’s MOTUL Course de Monterey from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is set for 3:10 p.m. ET (12:10 p.m. PT) for the traditional 2-hour, 40-minute sprint race. Broadcast coverage will begin at 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT) on NBC.

TOP FIVE GTP STARTING GRID

  1. No. 01 Cadillac Racing (Cadillac V-Series.R) R. van der Zande, S. Bourdais (111.212 mph)
  2. No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac Racing (Cadillac V-Series.R) P. Derani, J.Aitken (111.040 mph)
  3. No. 24 BMW M Team RLL (BMW M Hybrid V8) J. Krohn, P. Eng (110.900 mph)
  4. No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsports (Porsche 963) N. Tandy, M. Jaminet (110.877 mph)
  5. No. 25 BMW M Team RLL (BMW M Hybrid V8) C. De Phillippi, N. Yelloly (110.816 mph)
  6. No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 (Acura ARX-06) R. Taylor, F. Albuquerque (110.510 mph)
  7. No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 (Acura ARX-06) J. Taylor, L. Delétraz (110.239 mph)

Ricky Taylor, No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06: “We split the strategies in qualifying. We based our strategy on Practice 2 and the track was quite a bit different. I think we have some work to do overnight, but it’s a long race tomorrow. We have two new good sets of tires and 2-hours, 40-minutes to work our way to the front. And a new track surface, so it’s a lot of unknowns. No one has raced here before in IMSA with this track surface, so hopefully we’ll have a bit of a fresh start.”

Louis Delétraz, No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06: “A tough qualifying. I think we were lacking a bit of pace today. The important points are in the race. So, we are going to try to do our best for the race and be fast and score the most points tomorrow. It was definitely hard to bring the tires in and felt like the lap time just wasn’t coming today. It’s just qualifying, we look forward to the race tomorrow.”

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

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

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

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

Fourth pole in a row for Cadillac V-Series.R

By
Official Release
-

Bourdais drives to track record in No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R; Derani second

MONTEREY, Calif. (May 11, 2024) – Cadillac Racing scored its fourth consecutive Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) pole and third front row lockout in qualifications for Sunday’s Motul Course de Monterey.

The recently repaved 2.238-mile, 11-turn WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca road course was conducive to quick lap times in two practice sessions and Sebastien Bourdais drove the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R to a track-record lap of 1 minute, 12.455 seconds in the 15-minute qual session.

Pipo Derani, who earned the pole the first three races, qualified second at 1:12.557 in the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R for the 2-hour, 40-minute race. Bourdais had started on the outside of the front row at Daytona to open the season and at Sebring, and qualified third at Long Beach.

“Congratulations to the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R team on securing the fourth pole position in as many races for Cadillac Racing in qualifying for the Motul Course de Monterrey,” said John Roth, Cadillac global vice president. “We are excited to get back on the track tomorrow and compete for Cadillac Racing’s second victory in a row this season and at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.”

Bourdais, who earned his seventh IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship prototype pole, and teammate Renger van der Zande are coming off a dominating victory April 20 on the streets of Long Beach and will look to successfully defend their 2023 win at Laguna Seca. Bourdais and van der Zande, who has three victories at the track, started sixth last year.

Derani and co-driver Jack Aitken have recorded a pair of runner-up finishes this season and the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R placed third at Laguna Seca last year.

Cadillac is the lone GTP manufacturer to finish first or second in all three IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races. The marque brand sits atop the GTP Manufacturer Championship standings.

Cadillac has claimed at least one podium spot in six of the seven races at Laguna Seca since joining IMSA prototype competition in 2017.

NBC will telecast the race live at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, May 12, with flag-to-flag streaming coverage on Peacock in the U.S. (outside the U.S. on IMSA.com/TVLive). Additionally, the race will be broadcast live on IMSA.com, RadioLeMans.com and SiriusXM (XM 206, Web/App 996).

Sebastien Bourdais: “I think we’ve been so close all year long. Daytona we made a little bit of a mistake on the tire pressures which sort of overshot when we needed them. Sebring we obviously got the red flag, and we had that lap in. Well, Long Beach we only got 4 laps so that was a big ask. The guys have done a really good job. It took us a little bit of a time to build that group but now that we’ve got it I couldn’t be happier for the whole crew. [What did the sim say? What were you expecting?] Definitely, I made a mistake up top, I locked up the right-front and almost didn’t make the corkscrew on that fast lap. I was watching the time compared coming out of the corkscrew and could see all the gain kind of fading away. That wasn’t a nice feeling but I kind of managed to pull myself in the last three corners and make it work. It was far from ideal, but I think everyone struggled to put it all together because when you have multiple fast laps like that it’s difficult to do that anyways. Hustling those big cars around, there is a lot of movement. You get so much more activity then when you’re like a second off, and managing traffic and stuff. The elevation, the banking, the compression, it definitely is a lot to take in to put that lap together. because you don’t have a lot of time to rehearse anything these days. We don’t have that speed session where we can rehearse a qually run at the end anymore. You always have traffic, so you never get a good picture of what the qually car is going to feel like. The car was great. I’m really happy for everybody. That would be good, as fun as it is to put these things on pole it doesn’t really mean a whole lot. I’ve got a great teammate in Renger, and I’ve got no doubts that if we keep our nose clean, we’ll be up top.”

Pipo Derani: “I’m actually happy with qualifying. Unfortunately, we didn’t quite get the perfect lap. We’re always in search of the perfect lap. But I think having missed two-thirds of the first practice put us a little bit on the back foot. But, nevertheless, I’m happy that the performance is there and with little adjustments just missing the fourth pole in a row. We’ve been extracting the most we can out of the car. The changes we made to the car for qualifying were spot on, so thank you to the engineering team. It’s a good car for the race. It’s another Cadillac front row, which is great.”

CORVETTE RACING AT LAGUNA SECA: Front-Row Lockout!

By
Official Release
-

Catsburg leads Corvette 1-2 to take first IMSA pole, first in series for Corvette Z06 GT3.R

MONTEREY, Calif. (May 11, 2024) – Nicky Catsburg led a 1-2 showing for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R on Saturday as Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports locked out the GTD PRO front row ahead of the Motul Corse de Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Catsburg set a track record of 1:19.727 (101.054 mph) in the No. 4 Corvette that he will share with Tommy Milner in Sunday’s round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. He was 0.311 seconds clear of teammate Antonio Garcia in the No. 3 Z06 GT3.R.

It’s the first pole position for Catsburg in IMSA competition and the first for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R in the championship. Sunday’s race, which will air live on NBC at 3 p.m. ET, is the first for GTD PRO since March’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and is the third of the season for the Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller squad.

In GTD, the No. 13 AWA Corvette of Orey Fidani and Matt Bell will look to continue their run of strong performances from the seventh row of the class grid after Fidani’s lap of 1:23.294 (96.727 mph). The pairing is coming off a sixth-place finish in the last GTD race at Long Beach and has spent the weekend near the top of the time charts during the two practice sessions

It’s the first race for Bell and the team at WeatherTech Raceway, while Fidani’s lone Laguna start came in the 2021 Michelin Pilot Challenge.

The three Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs spent two days testing at the 2.238-mile, 11-turn circuit in April to get a head start on car setup and understanding tire degradation levels with the increased grip level in the new blacktop.

The Motul Corse de Monterey is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. ET / 12:10 p.m. PT on Sunday, May 12. The race will air live on NBC with full streaming coverage also on Peacock. IMSA Radio will air Saturday’s final practice and qualifying plus Sunday’s race at IMSA.com along XM 206, SiriusXM Online 996.

CORVETTE RACING BY PRATT MILLER MOTORSPORTS POST-QUALIFYING DRIVER QUOTES

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – GTD PRO POLE-WINNER: “The Corvette immediately felt amazing. We made some last-minute changes to the setup in order to put our emphasis on qualifying. We know that track position is going to be important here. This is a low-degradation track now, and we put a lot of effort into it and it worked. The car felt amazing. It was pretty much just doing some laps and letting the time come to me. It worked out, so I’m super-pleased.

“I think we have a strong car for the race. Everyone will struggle less with tire degradation here as in years before. We need to see, but at least we are on the front row and I have my teammate beside me. This is the best we could do.

“If I have to have anyone beside me, it’s Antonio. I’m not too worried about that. He’s a great teammate, a heck of a driver, so that’s going to be good. We knew track position was going to be important here so we put a lot of emphasis on the qualifying performance. Obviously doing the test here helped us a lot. I’m very, very, very pleased to be on pole.”

More on qualifying: “This does mean a lot to me. It was my first qualifying in IMSA, and I must say I was a little bit nervous before the session. It was very nice to come back with a good result. The guys had a very difficult day because they had to change the engine after practice for qualifying so they did an amazing job. We made some small changes to the setup as well to get it dialed in for qualifying. We knew that track position is going to be very important here because there isn’t so much drop-off. The track is much faster and the tires will last a lot longer. I think we managed things quite well to go 1-2. I feel that as long as we can stay ahead of everyone, it will be difficult for them to pass. So that’s the goal.”

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “A 1-2 result for Corvette. You can’t ask for more. It should be what we need to aim for tomorrow. The car felt really good. I didn’t expect that laptime to be that fast. Our car actually kept improving and I didn’t really nail the lap when I had to. But overall we know where we are at, and this car can do it as Nicky has shown. We just need to focus on tomorrow and keep it a Corvette 1-2 or a 2-1.”

AWA POST-QUALIFYING DRIVER QUOTES

OREY FIDANI, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “Today’s qualifying session wasn’t quite what we aimed for, but I’m confident that Matt Bell and I will make up ground in tomorrow’s race. We’re prepared to tackle the challenges head-on thanks to our solid strategy.”

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

1...1,0221,0231,024...6,686Page 1,023 of 6,686