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Max Verstappen does the double – winning the Sprint and taking pole for the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix 2024

By
Official Release
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  • Verstappen secures Pole Position for tomorrow’s FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX
  • The Red Bull ace set the fastest lap in qualifying to beat the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz
  • Earlier in the day, Verstappen won an action-packed Sprint race from Leclerc and teammate Sergio Perez
  • Across the Miami International Autodrome, fans enjoyed an exciting day of entertainment on and off the track that included performances at the Hard Rock Beach Club from Ed Sheeran and Don Omar

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen scored a double success at the Miami International Autodrome today, winning the Sprint and securing Pole Position for tomorrow’s FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX. It was a dominant performance from the reigning World Champion who fended off the threat from Charles Leclerc — winning the 19-lap Sprint by over three seconds and setting a pole time with a 0.141 second advantage over the Ferrari driver.

Verstappen became the third different pole-sitter of the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX, but today’s achievement maintains his 100 percent record of starting from P1 at every Grand Prix so far this season. After qualifying the Dutch racer admitted he was much happier with his car’s balance in the afternoon session. “We definitely improved the car a bit as it was difficult to find consistency with the car and tyre,” said Verstappen. “It’s always about finding the best balance — but we’re on pole and that’s the most important thing.”

Held in sunny conditions, qualifying got underway at 4pm local time and as the clock ticked down, it looked as if Fort Lauderdale native Logan Sargeant was going to progress to Q2 but he unfortunately missed the cut by 0.03 seconds. After scoring an excellent fourth place in the Sprint earlier in the day, Daniel Ricciardo surprisingly didn’t advance to Q2. Meanwhile, in contrast to yesterday afternoon, the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell progressed to the top-ten shoot out.

At the start of Q3, the Mercedes drivers were the first to reach the top of the timesheets before Verstappen lapped the 3.36-mile track in 1:27.241s. Leclerc went second with a 1:27.382s and neither time was beaten on each driver’s second run of the session. Sainz slotted his Ferrari into third, ahead of Perez, the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri and the two Mercedes drivers.

Qualifying was the culmination of an exciting day of on-track action that started with an entertaining Sprint race. Starting from pole, Verstappen was challenged for the lead at Turn 1 by Leclerc but held on to beat the Ferrari man by over three seconds after 19 laps. After losing out to Ricciardo on the opening lap, Perez re-passed the Australian on lap five to secure third place, while the RB man held off Sainz to take an impressive fourth.

Behind the front runners, the Sprint provided plenty of drama and entertainment with a number of battles raging throughout the field. At the first corner, Alonso was squeezed by Hamilton on the inside and his Aston Martin team-mate Stroll on his outside and all three made contact. As a result of their coming-together, Stroll was pushed wide into the path of Norris causing the McLaren to spin around. Unable to restart, the Safety Car was briefly deployed to remove the British driver’s car, while the damage to Stroll’s wheel meant he was forced to retire.

One of the most exciting battles on-track was the duel between Hamilton and the Haas of Kevin Magnussen for the final points position. For lap after lap Magnussen defended his eighth place with great resilience, but managed to pick up a series of 10 second penalties for running off track. Five laps from the end of the Sprint, the pair of them both ran wide at Turn 11 which allowed the RB of Yuki Tsunoda to grab eighth. Hamilton was able to overtake the Japanese driver on the final lap, but Hamilton also picked-up a drive/through penalty (converted to a 20s time penalty) for speeding in the pit lane and fell from eighth to 16th in the final classification.

Those enjoying a full day of competitive track action included stars from the sporting world. Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler was on the grid supporting McLaren and was asked about the atmosphere around the Campus today. “I love the fans that come out and support this race, there is so much great energy and I love the competition,” said Butler. “Miami loves any sport and these fans love the competition here in Miami — in a city I adore. There are so many great drivers who are competitors, I feel like I fit right in.” After qualifying, Sainz also praised the spectators who had flocked to the Miami Gardens venue, saying: “It’s amazing and it’s like this in Miami every year. The fans have good energy, give us good vibes and we enjoy coming here a lot.”

Between both F1 sessions the Miami International Autodrome also played host to the second round of the F1 ACADEMY series with Abbi Pulling taking a dominant lights-to-flag victory in her Alpine-liveried car. Starting from pole the British driver took the lead at Turn 1 and stayed ahead of her points rival Doriane Pin all the way to the checkered flag. But the interest from the local crowd was focused on the strong performance of Haas’ Chloe Chambers. The American racer was engaged in a thrilling three-way battle for third and she managed to hold on to claim a popular podium finish. To round off the day’s events was a special Bonhams Car auction, held on the track in front of the rostrum. The sporting action continues tomorrow with the third edition of the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX and race two of the all-female F1 ACADEMY series.

About the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX

The FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX, established in 2022 on the FIA Formula 1 World Championship calendar, is the premier culmination of world-class racing, fan experience, entertainment and hospitality, located in the heart of Miami Gardens, Florida. Recognized as Best New Event of 2022 by Sports Business Journal and now entering its third year, the event is hosted by South Florida Motorsports (SFM) at the Miami International Autodrome, a 19-turn, 3.36-mile track within the complex of Hard Rock Stadium, the home of the legendary Miami Dolphins NFL team.

In its first two years, the race attracted more than 240,000 attendees across both weekends and provided an additional tourist boost and economic impact to local businesses in the greater Miami region totaling $798 million. SFM and Formula 1 have also worked closely to engage with and support the local Miami Gardens community, providing over 1,500 tickets for residents, creating a STEM education program through F1 in Schools, offering event internships for local students and featuring 14 local community restaurants on Campus during race weekend each year.

For more information please visit: https://media.f1miamigp.com/

About Formula 1®

The history of Formula 1® began in 1950 and is the world’s most prestigious motorsport competition and the world’s most popular annual sporting series. Formula One World Championship Limited is part of Formula 1 and holds the exclusive commercial rights to the FIA Formula One World Championship™.

Formula 1 is a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LSXMA, LSXMB, LSXMK, BATRA, BATRK, FWONA, FWONK) attributed to the Formula One Group shares.

The F1 FORMULA 1 logo, FORMULA 1, F1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX, PADDOCK CLUB and related marks are trademarks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula One company. All rights reserved.

For more information about Formula 1® visit: www.formula1.com

Elevate the Overall Experience of Any Event with Audio Visual Technology!

By
SM
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Photo by Pablo Heimplatz on Unsplash

In event production, audio visual is not just another element. It is the catalyst that can transform a lackluster gathering into a vibrant, unforgettable experience. In today’s landscape, incorporating audio-visual is not a choice but a strategic necessity. From captivating to connecting and ultimately entertaining, you can achieve all these by simply introducing the transformative power of audio and visuals to your event. 

  • Creating an awe-inspiring experience: Audio-visual technology is the key to creating a lasting impression that helps draw the attendees’ attention when they enter the event. Through the clever use of sound, light, music, and video, the AV company Orlando can transform any environment into an interesting one. Whether a corporate event or a college fest, using the right combination of AV can hype the entire experience into an awe-inspiring one. 
  • Enhanced way of storytelling and spreading the message: At the heart of any event, there is a message that has to be conveyed, whether political, social, or simply an entertaining message. The message must be communicated loud and clear. Using the latest sound systems in the event ensures that every word is audible even when one is far off from the stage. At the same time, since audio-visual technology is used, one can use images and videos in between the speech for a more long-lasting impact. 
  • Enhanced interaction and engagement: The potential of the audio-visual medium is limitless. Everything is possible, from an augmented reality experience to social media interactions and live polls. These help create a smooth flow of information and data exchange between all the parties. In short, the attendees become active participants. They can share their feedback and opinions right then and there. 

With the guidance of a reputable Orlando audiovisual company, you can transform a regular event into a memorable one. The experienced technicians will ensure that the light, sound, music, and visuals are of the highest quality, elevating the entire experience and leaving a lasting impression on your attendees.

When you contact the service provider, you need to give them a clear idea about the event, its purpose, and the demographics of the attendees. This will give the experts an idea of what they are dealing with. Accordingly, they will devise a strategy and action plan for incorporating the audio-visual experience into the event. The inclusion has to be subtle yet highly effective. It should not appear as an afterthought or a last-minute inclusion. 

Find out who the leading service providers in your city are. Contact several of them. Find out what they suggest and how much they charge. When interacting with the experts, do not hesitate to ask questions. If there is some issue bugging you, it is best to get it clarified by the experts before you go ahead and hire their service. Both of you must be on the same page. If there is any confusion, then it might lead to problems in the long run. Clarify all your doubts right at the start. What are you waiting for? Get in touch with the experts now!

Efficiency Unleashed: How Tire Changing Machines are Streamlining Auto Maintenance

By
SM
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Photo by Griffin Wooldridge on Unsplash

The automotive industry is no stranger to innovation. Over the years, advancements in technology have revolutionized the way vehicles are manufactured, serviced, and maintained. Among these innovations, tire changing machines stand out as a pivotal tool in streamlining auto maintenance processes. These machines, designed to swiftly and accurately replace tires on vehicles, have become indispensable assets in garages and workshops around the world.

Evolution of Tire Changing Machines

The evolution of tire changing machines mirrors the progress of the automotive industry itself. In the early days of automobile maintenance, changing tires was a labor-intensive task that required significant physical effort and time. Mechanics had to manually remove the lug nuts, lift the vehicle, remove the old tire, mount the new one, and tighten the lug nuts—all by hand. This process was not only time-consuming but also prone to human error.

As technology advanced, so did tire changing machines. The introduction of hydraulic systems and pneumatic tools enabled mechanized tire changing, reducing the reliance on manual labor and significantly speeding up the process. However, these early machines still had limitations, often requiring manual adjustment and supervision by skilled technicians.

The Modern Tire Changing Machine

Today, tire changing machines have reached new heights of efficiency and sophistication. Modern machines are equipped with advanced features such as automatic bead breaking, rim clamping, and tire inflation systems. These automated processes minimize the need for manual intervention, allowing mechanics to complete tire changes quickly and with greater precision.

One of the most significant advancements in tire changing technology is the integration of computerized systems. These systems utilize sensors and algorithms to detect tire dimensions, rim profiles, and optimal mounting positions, ensuring a perfect fit for each tire. Additionally, touchscreen interfaces and digital displays provide users with intuitive controls and real-time feedback, further enhancing efficiency and ease of use.

Benefits of Tire Changing Machines

The adoption of tire changing machines offers numerous benefits to both automotive service providers and vehicle owners alike.

Time Savings

By automating the tire changing process, machines can complete a tire swap in a fraction of the time it would take manually. This allows garages and workshops to serve more customers efficiently, reducing wait times and increasing overall productivity.

Improved Accuracy

The precision and consistency of tire changing machines minimize the risk of human error, ensuring that tires are mounted correctly and securely. This reduces the likelihood of issues such as uneven tire wear, vibrations, and wheel misalignment, ultimately prolonging the lifespan of tires and improving vehicle safety.

Enhanced Safety

Manual tire changing poses risks to the safety of mechanics, particularly when dealing with heavy or stubborn tires. Tire changing machines mitigate these risks by eliminating the need for manual lifting, pushing, and exertion, creating a safer working environment for technicians.

Versatility

Modern tire changing machines are designed to accommodate a wide range of tire sizes, from compact car tires to large truck tires. This versatility allows automotive service providers to cater to a diverse clientele without the need for multiple machines or specialized equipment.

Cost Efficiency

While the initial investment in a tire changing machine may seem significant, the long-term cost savings are substantial. By reducing labor costs, minimizing tire-related issues, and maximizing operational efficiency, tire changing machines offer a high return on investment over time.

Future Trends in Tire Changing Technology

Looking ahead, the future of tire changing technology promises even greater advancements and innovations. Emerging technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality are poised to revolutionize the way tires are serviced and maintained.

Robotics Integration

Robotic tire changing systems are already in development, offering fully automated solutions for tire replacement. These robots utilize advanced sensors and actuators to manipulate tires with precision and speed, further reducing the need for human intervention.

AI-powered Diagnostics

Artificial intelligence algorithms can analyze tire wear patterns, tread depth, and other factors to provide predictive maintenance recommendations. By identifying potential issues before they escalate, AI-powered diagnostics help prevent costly repairs and downtime.

Augmented Reality Assistance

Augmented reality (AR) technology can provide real-time guidance and instructions to technicians during tire changing procedures. AR-enabled headsets or displays overlay digital information onto the physical workspace, helping mechanics perform tasks more efficiently and accurately.

Conclusion

Tire changing machines have come a long way since their humble beginnings, evolving into sophisticated tools that streamline auto maintenance processes. From manual labor to fully automated systems, these machines have revolutionized the way tires are serviced and replaced, offering benefits such as time savings, improved accuracy, enhanced safety, versatility, and cost efficiency.

As technology continues to advance, the future of tire changing technology looks promising, with robotics, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality poised to further enhance efficiency and effectiveness. By embracing these innovations, automotive service providers can stay ahead of the curve and deliver exceptional service to their customers, ensuring smooth rides and safe travels for years to come. Additionally, tire changing machines equipped with remote diagnostic capabilities are becoming increasingly popular, allowing technicians to troubleshoot issues and perform maintenance tasks from a distance, maximizing efficiency and minimizing downtime.

Corey Heim records dominant Truck victory at Kansas

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Ron Olds for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Corey Heim settled his score with Kansas Speedway by notching a dominant NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory in the Heart Of America 200 in the Heartland state on Saturday, May 4, after fending off Cup Series rookie Zane Smith for the top prize. 

The 21-year-old Heim from Marietta, Georgia, led four times for a race-high 79 of 134 scheduled laps in an event where he started in 13th place but quickly carved his way to the front as he led for the first time on Lap 12. Following an early battle with Zane Smith, Heim would proceed to win the first stage period before he would battle Christian Eckes and Smith for the lead during the second stage period. After regaining the lead from Nick Sanchez on the track with 65 laps remaining, Heim would have to re-cycle back into the lead with 32 laps remaining during a late cycle of green flag pit stops.

Amid a late charge from Smith, Heim managed to maintain his ground and racing line along with navigating through lapped traffic to remain ahead of Smith and prevail for his second Truck Series victory of the 2024 season and his first at Kansas.

With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Saturday, Chase Purdy notched his third Truck career pole position after posting a pole-winning lap at 175.735 mph in 30.728 seconds. Joining him on the front row was Ty Majeski, who clocked in the second-fastest qualifying lap at 175.713 mph in 30.732 seconds. 

Prior to the event, the following names that included Jake Garcia, Mason Massey and Timmy Hill dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments to their respective trucks. Nick Sanchez also started at the rear of the field due to his Rev Racing entry failing the inspection process three times which prevented him from posting a qualifying lap. 

When the green flag waved and the race started, Chase Purdy muscled his No. 77 Bama Buggies Chevrolet Silverado RST ahead from the field through the first two turns with the lead as teammate Connor Mosack and Ty Dillon took Ty Majeski three wide to assume second and third place on the track. With the field fanned out as far as four wide exiting the backstretch and back towards the frontstretch, Purdy proceeded to lead the first lap while teammate Mosack, who won the ARCA Menards Series event at Kansas earlier in the day, followed suit in second place. 

A lap later, the event’s first caution flew when Majeski, who started on the front row but was losing a bevy of spots through the frontstretch, scraped the outside wall in Turn 1 after cutting a left-front tire. The incident pinned Majeski two laps behind the leaders as his pit crew attempted to keep Majeski’s No. 98 Road Ranger Ford F-150 raceable. 

As the event restarted under green on the sixth lap, Purdy retained the lead ahead of Zane Smith, Christian Eckes, Mosack and Ben Rhodes while the rest of the field behind started to fan out through the first two turns and through the backstretch. Purdy would lead the proceeding lap until Smith made a move beneath Purdy through Turns 3 and 4 to assume the lead. With Smith leading the race, Purdy was pressured by a hard-charging Corey Heim, who would claim the runner-up spot by the ninth lap, as Eckes tried to follow suit.  

Through the first 10 scheduled laps, Zane Smith was leading by a tenth of a second ahead of a hard-charging Heim followed by Purdy, Eckes and Rhodes while Daniel Dye, Ty Dillon, Mosack, Kaden Honeycutt and Taylor Gray were scored in the top 10. Behind, Rajah Caruth was in 11th ahead of Stewart Friesen, Brett Moffitt, Tyler Ankrum and Matt Crafton while Bayley Currey, Grant Enfinger, Tanner Gray, Dean Thompson and Matt Mills were running in the top 20. 

Two laps later, Heim ignited a side-by-side challenge against Smith for the lead, where Heim led the Lap 12 mark through the frontstretch before Smith led the following lap as both remained dead even for the lead. As Stewart Friesen pitted his No. 52 Halmar Toyota Tundra TRD Pro under green after getting into the wall a few laps earlier, Heim managed to muscle his No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro ahead and clear Smith’s No. 91 Instacoat Premium Products Chevrolet Silverado RST to assume the lead with both lanes to his control by Lap 14. 

At the Lap 20 mark, Heim was leading by half a second over Smith as Purdy, Eckes and Rhodes continued to follow suit in the top five. Behind, Honeycutt was up to sixth place ahead of Ty Dillon and Daniel Dye while Mosack and Taylor Gray were racing in the top 10. 

When the first stage period concluded on Lap 30, Heim notched his second Truck stage victory of the 2024 season. Zane Smith settled in second followed by Eckes, Purdy and Kaden Honeycutt while Rhodes, Mosack, Tyler Ankrum, Ty Dillon and Daniel Dye were scored in the top 10. By then, Majeski, who lost several laps since the restart following his opening lap incident, took his truck to the garage as he retired in 33rd place, dead last. 

Under the stage break, the lead lap field led by Heim pitted for service for the first time in the event. Following the pit stops, Eckes emerged as the new leader after exiting pit road first followed by Honeycutt, Smith and Heim. Amid the pit stops, Dean Thompson, Daniel Dye and rookie Thad Moffitt were penalized for speeding on pit road. In addition, Jake Garcia was penalized for a pit box interference while Cam Waters, who was making his second Truck career start, was also penalized for an uncontrolled tire violation.  

During the pit stops, Lawless Alan overshot his pit box and hit his front tire changer Brandon Henry. As a result, Henry, who survived the incident, was taken to the infield care center while a new tire changer took over to complete the pit service. 

The second stage period started on Lap 37 as Eckes and Honeycutt occupied the front row. At the start, Eckes rocketed his No. 19 Adaptive One Calipers Chevrolet Silverado RST ahead with the lead from the inside lane as the field fanned out through the first two turns and the backstretch. Amid the battles, Smith claimed the runner-up spot from Honeycutt while Nick Sanchez, who carved his way towards the front from the rear of the field and restarted in the top 10, was losing a bevy of spots as he was being pinned in the middle of a bevy of three-wide battles. Smith would then waste little time overtaking teammate Eckes to reassume the lead on Lap 39, but Eckes would pressure Smith on the track during the proceeding laps as he tried to reclaim the lead. 

Through the Lap 45 mark, Smith retained the lead by a tenth of a second over teammate Eckes, who continued to intimidate his McAnally-Hilgemann Racing teammate for the top spot, while Heim, Honeycutt and Purdy followed suit in the top five. Behind, Nick Sanchez was up to sixth place as Moffitt, Mosack, Rhodes and Dillon were running in the top 10 ahead of Caruth, Tanner Gray, Bayley Currey, Taylor Gray and Ankrum. 

Five laps later, Smith continued to lead by six-tenths of a second over Heim as third-place/teammate Eckes trailed by a second. By then, Honeycutt and Purdy continued to run in the top five as Moffitt overtook Sanchez for sixth place. In addition, Caruth was up to 10th place as he trailed teammate Mosack and Rhodes on the track while Dillon dropped to 13th. Amid the on-track battles, Smith stabilized his advantage to six-tenths of a second over Heim by the Lap 55 mark. 

When the second stage period ended on Lap 60, Smith cruised to his first Truck stage victory of the 2024 season. Heim followed suit in second along with Eckes, Honeycutt and Purdy while Moffitt, Sanchez, Caruth, Mosack and Rhodes were scored in the top 10. By then, 27 of 33 starters were scored on the lead lap. 

During the stage break, the lead lap field led by Smith returned to pit road for service. Following the pit stops, Eckes reassumed the lead after exiting pit road first for the second time of the event followed by Heim, Honeycutt, Sanchez, Moffitt and Mosack while Smith exited out of pit road in eighth place. Amid the pit stops, Ankrum was assessed a safety violation penalty that sent him to the rear of the field from a top-15 running spot. 

With 67 laps remaining, which marked the halfway mark of the event, the final stage commenced as Eckes and Heim occupied the front row. At the start, Eckes received a push from Sanchez on the inside lane to storm ahead with the lead through the first two turns as the field fanned out. Amid the field fanning out during the following lap, Sanchez cycled his No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet Silverado RST into the lead before Heim used a crossover move on Sanchez through the frontstretch to reassume the lead. Honeycutt would muscle his No. 45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST into the runner-up spot while Sanchez tried to fend off Eckes and Smith for third place. 

With less than 60 laps remaining, Heim was leading by two-tenths of a second over Honeycutt followed by Smith, Eckes and Moffitt as Tanner Gray, Currey, Sanchez, Taylor Gray and Matt Crafton trailed in the top 10 ahead of Purdy, Rhodes, Dye, Mosack, Jake Garcia, Caruth, Thompson, Dillon, Bret Holmes and Enfinger. Meanwhile, rookie Layne Riggs was mired in 23rd ahead of Ankrum and Cam Waters. 

Down to the final 50 laps of the event, Heim retained the lead by over two-tenths of a second over a hard-charging Honeycutt as Smith, Eckes and Moffitt continued to run in the top five. Behind, brothers Tanner and Taylor Gray were running sixth and eighth while Currey was placed in the middle of the Gray brothers as Sanchez and Crafton continued to trail in the top 10. 

Ten laps later, Heim extended his advantage to a second over Honeycutt, who closed in on Heim for the lead earlier before losing ground, as Smith, Eckes and Moffitt continued to trail in the top five. 

Shortly after, a cycle of green flag pit stops commenced as Heim led Smith and a bevy of competitors to pit road for service before Honeycutt led another group of leaders, including Eckes and Moffitt, to pit road with 39 laps remaining. By then, Rajah Caruth pitted under green two laps earlier as more pitted during the proceeding laps while Daniel Dye, who has yet to pit, was leading. Mason Massey, who also has yet to pit, would then assume the lead with 34 laps remaining as Dye pitted under green. Amid the pit stops, Purdy lost multiple laps due to a loose wheel during his green flag pit service. 

Then with 32 laps remaining, Heim cycled back into the lead after Massey pitted under green. Smith would cycle into second place followed by Eckes and Honeycutt as Heim was scored the leader by three seconds with 30 laps remaining. 

With 25 laps remaining, Heim retained the lead by nearly three seconds over Smith while Eckes, Honeycutt and Moffitt were racing in the top five. Behind, Tanner Gray, Sanchez, Taylor Gray, Timmy Hill and Currey were in the top 10. Hill would then pit during the following lap before Taylor Gray slapped the outside wall in Turn 2 after sustaining a flat right-front tire to his No. 17 JBL Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. Amid Gray’s incident, where he pitted, the race remained under green flag conditions as Heim stabilized his advantage to two seconds over Smith with 20 laps remaining. 

Down to the final 15 laps of the event, Heim continued to lead by two seconds over Smith while Eckes trailed in third place. As Honeycutt and Moffitt trailed in the top five, the following names that included Sanchez, Tanner Gray, Currey, Thompson and Crafton were racing in the top 10 as Dye, Enfinger, Caruth, Bret Holmes and Dillon followed suit in the top 15. 

Five laps later, Heim’s advantage decreased to just over a second over Smith, who was trying to narrow the deficit between himself and the leader, while third-place Eckes trailed by four seconds. Honeycutt and Moffitt continued to run in the top five and sixth-place Sanchez trailed the lead by 16 seconds while Heim stabilized his advantage to two seconds over Smith with five laps remaining. 

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Heim remained as the leader by a second over a hard-charging Smith. As Smith tried to narrow the gap while Heim was mired in lapped traffic through the backstretch, the latter was able to stabilize his advantage to perfection and cruise his No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro back to the frontstretch victorious for his second checkered flag of the 2024 Truck Series season. 

With the victory, Heim notched his seventh career win in the Craftsman Truck Series, his first since winning at Circuit of the Americas this past March and his first at Kansas after finishing within the top four during both Truck Kansas events in 2023. Heim also joins Eckes as the only two series regulars to achieve multiple victories thus far into the 2024 Truck Series season while also delivering the second victory of the season for both TRICON Garage and the Toyota nameplate.

Heim’s Kansas victory also extends his strong start to the 2024 season as he has finished in the top 10 through the first eight events on the schedule while he also continues his pursuit for his first Truck Series championship. The Georgia native will also be making his second Cup Series career start as a relief competitor for Legacy Motor Club and the injured Erik Jones on Sunday. 

“[I] Can’t say enough about these guys at TRICON Garage,” Heim said on FS1. “Top to bottom, we executed so well today. Pit crew, everyone back at the shop at TRICON Garage. What a truck. Definitely struggled with being free for most of the race, so I can’t say it was easy, but even with the balance I had, this truck has so much more potential to get better. [I] Really wanted this one today and drove my butt off for it.” 

“[I] Just keep getting better, keeping that gap ahead of the second place guy’s the main thing,” Heim added. “I feel like we were so due on this place and I really wanted this one today, so I knew we were gonna be capable of winning today. It’s about putting some more consistency together for the rest of the year and going after that championship.” 

Smith, a Cup Series Rookie-of-the-Year candidate who led three times for 29 laps, settled in second place in his fourth and final Truck Series start of the 2024 season, all while piloting the No. 91 entry for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing. Amid his strong run, Smith expressed his disappointment in losing a bevy of spots from the lead on pit road prior to the final stage period.

“I was surprised with how much we caught [Heim] there at the very end,” Smith said. “[You] Can’t lose eight spots on pit road. I let that [race] got away there.” 

Teammate Christian Eckes, who led 11 laps, came home in third place followed by Kaden Honeycutt, who notched his first top-five career result after finishing fourth, while Brett Moffitt finished in fifth place in his first of select starts driving for TRICON Garage. 

“It definitely sucks to come that close and not finish the job, but still a great run,” Honeycutt said. “You got to crawl before you walk, so this is the start of something of our part-time schedule.” 

“It was a good night,” Moffitt added. “[I] learned a lot and we’ll move onto the next one and hopefully, be a little bit better.”  

Nick Sanchez rallied from starting at the rear of the field to finish sixth while Tanner Gray, Dean Thompson, Daniel Dye and Matt Crafton finished in the top 10. 

Notably, Rajah Caruth finished 13th, Rhodes ended up 16th behind Ty Dillon, Ankrum ended up 20th, Taylor Gray was mired in 27th, and pole winner Chase Purdy concluded his event in 28th place. In addition, rookie Layne Riggs and Cam Waters, both of whom made contact on the frontstretch prior to the event’s conclusion and had a heated post-race discussion on pit road, finished 18th and 19th, respectively.   

There were 13 lead changes for six different leaders. The race featured three cautions for 16 laps. In addition, 14 of 33 starters finished on the lead lap. 

Following the eighth event of the 2024 Craftsman Truck Series season, which marks the halfway mark of this year’s regular-season stretch, Corey Heim leads the regular-season standings by seven points over Christian Eckes, 49 over Nick Sanchez, 65 over Ty Majeski and 80 over Tyler Ankrum. 

Results. 

1. Corey Heim, 79 laps led, Stage 1 winner 

2. Zane Smith, 29 laps led, Stage 2 winner 

3. Christian Eckes, 11 laps led 

4. Kaden Honeycutt, one lap led 

5. Brett Moffitt 

6. Nick Sanchez, one lap led 

7. Tanner Gray 

8. Dean Thompson 

9. Daniel Dye, four laps led 

10. Matt Crafton 

11. Bayley Currey 

12. Grant Enfinger 

13. Rajah Caruth 

14. Bret Holmes 

15. Ty Dillon, one lap down 

16. Ben Rhodes, one lap down 

17. Jake Garcia, one lap down 

18. Layne Riggs, one lap down 

19. Cam Waters, one lap down 

20. Tyler Ankrum, one lap down 

21. Mason Massey, one lap down, two laps led 

22. Timmy Hill, two laps down 

23. Matt Mills, two laps down 

24. Thad Moffitt, two laps down 

25. Stewart Friesen, two laps down 

26. Lawless Alan, two laps down 

27. Taylor Gray, three laps down 

28. Chase Purdy, three laps down, seven laps led 

29. Mason Maggio, three laps down 

30. Connor Mosack, three laps down 

31. Spencer Boyd, five laps down 

32. Jennifer Jo Cobb, six laps down 

33. Ty Majeski – OUT, DVP 

Next on the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule is Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, for the Buckle Up South Carolina 200. The event is scheduled to occur next Friday, May 10, and air at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1. 

Christopher Bell is back on top after earning Busch Light Pole Award at Kansas

By
Angie Campbell
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Photo by Mitchell Pavel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

After a disappointing stretch of mediocre finishes, Christopher Bell is on top again after claiming the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Pole Award at Kansas Speedway. It’s his 11th Cup Series career pole and his first in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota this season.

While Bell was pleased with his qualifying effort, he’s focused on what comes next.

“It’s nice to have success,” he said, “but what happens on Saturday has no dictation on what happens Sunday. We’ve got a great starting spot and we’re in prime position to win some stage points. But 267 laps is a long time and I fully believe that we can have a great race tomorrow and definitely believe I can be talking to all of you guys in 24 hours after the race too.

“It just all has to come together and honestly at this point, I’m not looking for a race win, guys. I’m literally looking to see the checkered flag. And I know my car has great capabilities. If I just see the checkered flag with a clean car, we’re going to have a solid day and that’s what we’re after tomorrow.”

Ross Chastain qualified second-fastest in the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet with a qualifying lap of 182.704 mph and will start beside Bell on the front row for Sunday’s AdventHealth 400.

Stewart-Hass Racing’s Noah Gragson (182.451 mph) qualified third in the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, Kyle Larson was fourth fastest in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet at 182.383 mph, as Kyle Busch (182.070 mph) rounded out the top-five in the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.

Ty Gibbs, Austin Cindric, Michael McDowell, Chase Elliott and Chase Briscoe completed the top-10 fastest drivers in the qualifying session.

The NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 is scheduled for Sunday, May 5, at 3 p.m. ET and will be televised on FS1 with radio coverage provided by MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Toyota Racing – NCS Kansas Quotes – Christopher Bell – 05.04.24

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Official Release
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Toyota Racing – Christopher Bell
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (May 4, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell was made available to media after earning the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Kansas Speedway.

This is Christopher’s 11th career pole, third at Kansas Speedway, and his first of 2024. Bell has the most pole positions in the Next Gen car era.

CHRISTOPHER BELL., No. 20 Yahoo! Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

How critical is starting up front for tomorrow’s race?

”Well, it’s incredibly nice to have some success. And my name’s Christopher for those who have forgotten (laughs). But yes, it’s nice to have success, but what happens on Saturday has no dictation on what happens Sunday. We’ve got a great starting spot and we’re in prime position to win some stage points. But 267 laps is a long time and I fully believe that we can have a great race tomorrow and definitely believe I can be talking to all of you guys in 24 hours after the race too. It just all has to come together and honestly at this point, I’m not looking for a race win, guys. I’m literally looking to see the checkered flag. And I know my car has great capabilities. If I just see the checkered flag with a clean car, we’re going to have a solid day and that’s what we’re after tomorrow.”

What is the thrill like running a lap like that?

”I mean, I love the high-speed places where you’re right on the verge of being wide open and not being wide open. The intermediates have been good for us. My team has done a really good job giving me the balance that I need in the car to be able to commit at the high-speed places. It’s a thrill like no other and I live for those qualifying moments.”

You took a different line than others on that lap. Is that correct?

”I honestly don’t know. I just did what I’ve done here in the past and it’s worked out.”

Who’s kept you confident over the last few weeks with the adversity you’ve faced?

“I don’t know, I feel like I’ve been pumping up everyone around me. We’ve all just been in the dumps, man. After Martinsville, we had a tire issue that lost us multiple laps. Then we go to Texas, and I spin out. Then at Talladega, we get caught up in a crash. Then at Dover, I spin out in qualifying, get caught up in a crash in the race. It’s just been one thing after another. We have debriefs every Monday, right? And after Martinsville, it was like ‘ah, it’s fine, we’ll get them next week.’ And then after Texas, it was like ‘man, this stinks. We’re two in a row, but we’re still alright.’ We go to Talladega and have a wreck, and it’s like we’re on this snowballing, downhill and this one was bottom of the barrel after Dover. It was bad. But the good news and positive out of it was every single time we go to the race track, we know that our cars are going to be fast and we’re going to have capability in our team. So we knew going into Dover, that could’ve been the week that it turned around. Obviously, it wasn’t, but it could be this week. We don’t know what’s going to happen in 267 laps, but whatever happens in 267 laps, I know that when we go to Darlington, we have another opportunity and I’m going to have a fast car underneath me.”

What are your thoughts about Darlington next weekend? Do you like that track?

“I love Darlington. I love the challenge of getting the car around the track. But with the time we’re in, the situation we’re in, passing has become extremely difficult and honestly, at Darlington, it’s become a place where after the restarts, where you land, it can be pretty hard to pass cars in front of you or get passed. So, I love the challenge of getting around the race track. I hate the challenge of making passes, and if you have a problem, it’s pretty tough to overcome. Yeah, qualifying is going to be important to start up front and then limiting mistakes and not losing track position is at an all-time high, especially at a place like Darlington.”

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.

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes – NCS Kansas Qualifying

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Official Release
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Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Advent Health 400 Qualifying | Saturday, May 4, 2024
Kansas Speedway

Ford Performance Results:
3rd – Noah Gragson
7th – Austin Cindric
8th – Michael McDowell
10th – Chase Briscoe
11th – Joey Logano
12th – Chris Buescher
17th – Josh Berry
25th – Todd Gilliland
26th – Ryan Blaney
30th – Brad Keselowski
31st – Harrison Burton
32nd – Ryan Preece
35th – Justin Haley
37th – Riley Herbst

NOAH GRAGSON, No. 10 Bass Pro Shops Winchester Ford Mustang Dark Horse (Qualified 3rd)

“I feel like our Bass Pro Shops Mustang Dark Horse is really good in race trim and we have good speed in qualifying we just missed it a little bit to get the pole. I can’t say enough about our pickup from the first round to the second round and the hard work from all these guys. A lot of Dark Horses in the second round, so that is cool to see. Now we are ready to go attack it tomorrow.”

YOU SEEM TO BE BUILDING A LOT OF MOMENTUM: “I feel like we keep on stacking chips every weekend. We are enjoying learning with this group of guys and bonding and getting better each and every race. It is a lot of fun. Drew Blickensderfer, my crew chief, really challenges me to get better each week, and we keep growing on those processes and steps. I am trying to fine tune that right now and just keep building each and every week. I am extremely grateful for Johnny Morris of Bass Pro Shops who has been a big supporter of mince. We have a fast Bass Pro Mustang this weekend.”

AUSTIN CINDRIC, No. 2 Snap-On Ford Mustang Dark Horse (Qualified 7th)

“The guys did a really good job between practice and qualifying. We didn’t quite have the speed we wanted there in practice and have a lot to look at before tomorrow. I am proud of the speed of our Ford Mustang in qualifying. High commitment here but the car looks great for this weekend with this new Snap-On Tools paint scheme and hopefully we will have good pit seleciton and get us on the right foot for Sunday.”

MICHAEL MCDOWELL, No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford Mustang Dark Horse (Qualified 8th)

“It was a good effort. We hoped for more right there. Anytime you make it into the final round, you want a shot at the pole. I am proud of everyone on the team. We had good speed. That last run just got a little bit tight and we missed 1 and 2 a little bit. It was a good effort and will be a good starting spot. We will see if we can keep a Ford up front.”

Connor Mosack Wins Tide 150 at Kansas Speedway

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Official Release
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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (MAY 4, 2024) – Connor Mosack (No. 28 Chevrolet Performance Chevrolet) outdueled a dominant Tanner Gray (No. 18 PlaceofHope.com Toyota) to earn his second career ARCA Menards Series victory in Saturday’s Tide 150 at Kansas Speedway. Mosack took the lead from Gray, who had led every lap after starting from the General Tire Pole, for a single lap on a restart following the third and final caution of the day and then retook the lead from Gray with a dozen laps remaining to give his Pinnacle Racing Group team its second consecutive series victory.

Gray was dominant in the early stages of the 100-lap event. He jumped out to an early lead and by the race’s midway point had lapped up to the fourth position. After pit stops at lap 54, under the scheduled caution at the race’s midway point, Gray picked up where he left off and was able to maintain a comfortable advantage over Mosack, who had worked his way into a position to battle from the lead from his eighth starting position.

When the third and final yellow flag of the day was displayed for Ryan Roulette’s spin in turn two, all of the lead lap cars came down pit road for their second set of fresh tires. Mosack was able to snatch the lead at the line as the field completed the first green flag lap after the restart, but Gray was able to retake the lead as the field completed lap 83.

Mosack stayed in Gray’s tire tracks and finally worked his way underneath Gray to complete lap 88. He would lead the rest of the way. Mosack won last year’s fall race at Kansas driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, and in that race defeated Carson Kvapil who was driving for Pinnacle Racing Group. It also marks the second consecutive ARCA Menards Series victory for Pinnacle Racing Group; the team won at Dover Motor Speedway last week with Connor Zilisch driving.

Dean Thompson (No. 55 Thompson Pipe Group Toyota) finished third, his Venturini Motorsports teammate Kris Wright (No. 15 FNB Corporation Toyota) was fourth, and Talladega winner Jake Finch (No. 20 Phoenix Construction Toyota) rounded out the top five.

Sixth-place finisher Andres Perez (No. 2 Max Siegel Inc. Chevrolet) unofficially leads the ARCA Menards Series championship standings by six points over Greg Van Alst (No. 35 CB Fabrication Ford), who finished 12th.

The next race for the ARCA Menards Series is the General Tire 150 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday, May 24. The race will be televised live on FS1 starting at 6 pm ET; it will also be broadcast live on select affiliates of the MRN Radio network nationwide. ARCARacing.com will have complete event information including live timing & scoring; follow @ARCA_Racing on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates.

About ARCA

The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit www.arcaracing.com, or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing).

About Menards

A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 236 stores in 15 states. Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building. You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more. To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!

Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture. Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries. And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more.

Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too! For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.

Toyota Racing – NCS Kansas Quotes – Denny Hamlin – 05.04.24

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Official Release
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Toyota Racing – Denny Hamlin
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (May 4, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin was made available to the media prior to practice for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway on Saturday.

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Have you reflected on your win here a year ago and your battle with Kyle Larson?

”I haven’t reflected on it much this week other than highlights. Yeah, it was a fierce battle. The best two guys. He got out to a lead there and I was just chasing him down there towards the end when I saw he was getting loose. It’s so race-to-race, I can’t just go back. We got a different car, especially a different Camry these days and certainly, we have a new tire coming into this race, so there’s not much I can really put together besides thinking ‘how can I attack this track to get speed?’”

In holding longevity over the course of your career, is the key staying healthy throughout each season?

”Yeah it certainly is the biggest obstacle to longevity of my career for sure. But I feel like I’m in a decent spot, for sure. Even when I don’t feel great out of the car, I do in the car which is the most important thing to keeping this thing going. Age stinks like all of us in this room know, so it’s just part of it. Sometimes, you just need to suck it up. But otherwise, I’ve put in a lot of work to keep this thing going as long as I can.

As far as Chris Gabehart (crew chief, Joe Gibbs Racing), what would you say is the reason you guys have had so much success?

”Yeah, I think constant communication is part of it. He does a really good job, in my opinion, of asking the right questions and thought-provoking questions that maybe I can bounce back off of him. So I think we’re asking each other the right things and that’s equaling working on the right stuff because of that. I think it’s really easy nowadays to kind of get off track and next thing you know, you’ve kind of lost the ball if you don’t find it. Once we get a home base of where we feel comfortable at a certain track, we stay pretty close to that and we make sure we continue to prepare the way we prepare each and every week. Chris (Gabehart) does a great job going to get the next bit of speed, wherever it might be. And then, for me personally, it’s continuing to work on all of the flaws I got.”

Are you calling your shot again this weekend like you did for Dover?

”I thought Chris (Gabehart) gave me the task of winning one of the next three races before we had the All Star break, and we got the first week. Now, from here on out, I think we can be in a good mood once we get to the All Star break. Certainly, these next two tracks, are set up really nicely for us. So, I’m certainly encouraged by it. You don’t want to use up all of your promises too early on in the season, so I’ll try to save a few.”

How do the owners stay united through the charter negotiations?

”I feel like we have been. I think it’s just a tough situation. Every team does want a little different things here and there. There’s four basics we all feel like we deserve. But, each team, and how they prioritize those top four, might be different. But the four things really encapsulate what all the teams want and what would make all the teams happy. But I think, you know why this is such an important thing is we’ve had 11 teams go out of business since 2016. That’s not good. And certainly, if we continue on the trend on a couple stakeholders doing really well and one not, that will continue and that’s not good for our sport.”

Where would you say is NASCAR’s most difficult oval?

”Darlington is probably the most difficult oval. Just because of how much focus it takes to run fast there and the conditions are always changing. The grip level and track changes, how close you need to run to the wall to make you car run quick. Just all those things. The difference between turns one and two to three and four. All those things are just really difficult to wrap your head around. That’s why it takes some guys a long time to be good there.”

Carl Edwards is a finalist for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. What makes him worthy of a selection?

”Yeah, I think what makes him a Hall of Famer is his results, statistics, the amount of wins he has across multiple series. He was a champion in the Xfinity Series. He was just always fast. When I think of Carl (Edwards), I think of Kurt Busch. Someone who got to the next level, just performed really well really quickly. It didn’t take them time to get it, they just got it right away. So I just think he was one of the most gifted drivers that you could put in any type of car and he would adapt ultra quick. As far as talent level, I think his talent level far exceeds what his win total was. In my mind, I regard him really high.”

Speaking of Darlington, what makes you so good there?

”I think it suits my style. I think typically how I approach a race weekend at that track, it fits how I finesse a car around a track. It’s hard to place it into words, but it’s a track where I can manipulate the car by taking a different line, I feel good at the track. And that’s a track where if you move down a lane, you move up a lane or two, you really car change the way your car reacts and I like the task of those conditions. Every lap, those conditions are changing, the heat is changing and how fast can you adapt to that to make the lap time. I think it’s just something I’ve been good at for a while.”

Can you see 23XI Racing expanding or are you comfortable as a two-car team?

”I think it would have to align perfectly, but certainly with the climate that ownership is in right now, with the uncertainties of what Jim (France, chairman & CEO, NASCAR) decides to do, it’s way too early for that.”

Regarding Erik Jones’ injury, and with your back injury in the past, are there any tracks it hurts worse than others?

”Yeah, I think we went through the toughest one at Dover. That one seems to be the one where the driver goes through a serious amount of load. But each injury seems to be a little different between mine, Alex (Bowman)’s and his and some others that have had that type of injury. Looks like Erik (Jones) is going to be back quicker than what I was. I think they’re all different, but I just really fought the feel of the race car for quite some time. Obviously if I was out for a longer period of time, mine probably was a little more extensive than his, so hopefully he’s able to come back and have that same feel he had a few weeks ago.”

With shorter weekends, would you want them to make starts in feeder series on weekends like this?

”I would say that I lean more towards it doesn’t matter, although I feel like the Trucks are a better indication of what the Cup car is like than what the Xfinity car would. And then the dynamic is just so different now. The Xfinity races were filled with 20-some Cup guys at one point. I think it’s really hard to evaluate talent nowadays in the lower series because it’s just really hard to tell until they really make the jump into Cup. But all the track time you can get is certainly going to be an advantage, especially if you’re green and don’t have a whole lot of NASCAR starts in general. So, certainly learning how to race craft in whatever series it might be is a valuable tool before you get to Cup for sure.”

What are some of the things you’ve learned with the new Toyota Camry XSE?

”I think that it’s adapted well. I’m really encouraged by the new Toyota so far this year. It’s been good at all types of race tracks. Speedways is the one where we haven’t qualified well. That’s the only thing that, I wouldn’t even say worrisome, as I was like dead last in Daytona qualifying and thought I had a race-winning car. So, I’m really happy with overall performance of it for sure. It’s doing everything we hoped it would do for sure and a lot of that is because this is the first time we’ve been able to design a Camry around a rules package we knew was not going to be changing in the offseason. When we designed the Camry for the first Next Gen, it was designed for a big spoiler on the back, then in the offseason, they cut the spoiler down. That really changed the characteristics of the car. We knew that the package we had this year, we designed the car around that and we’re seeing optimized results around that.”

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.

Toyota Racing – NCS Kansas Quotes – Tyler Reddick – 05.04.24

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Official Release
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Toyota Racing – Tyler Reddick
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (May 4, 2024) – 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick was made available to the media prior to practice for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway on Saturday.

TYLER REDDICK, No. 45 Monster Energy Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing

What have you learned racing with 23XI Racing here compared to years prior?

”I think, guess the biggest thing is just staying in the hunt. You know, those two races we had here last year, I wasn’t thrilled with the overall speed we had, necessarily. But, we just stayed in the mix and get good finishes out of them. Certainly, like last fall for example, we were pretty solid, but the 11 (Denny Hamlin) was a little bit better. Was nice to be that close, but yeah, the situation ended up unfolding and we had an opportunity to pit, and we were able to execute that late race caution and come away with a win. So it was nice to go win a race like that. Typically, they’ve been pretty straightforward so that was one of the first times on a mile and a half that I was able to take away.”

What makes Toyota so good at Kansas?

”I think it’s our boss (Hamlin). He’s just really great. We hear Freddie Kraft (spotter, 23XI Racing) talk about it all the time. I think that’s just a big part of it. Denny’s (Hamlin) just great, so we’re great too.”

What do you feel like you’ll take away from today’s practice and qualifying?

”I think places like Kansas that do have some fall off, you get an idea of what your race car is going to do over 10, 20, 30 laps if you have the opportunity to run that long, which you should unless you’re making a lot of adjustments or experiencing some sort of issues. Yeah, a place like this, you get a good feel of what you got, I think, for the most part, you can see where the field stacks up as well. This is normally one of the more beneficial practice sessions we have. Outside of that, the weather will be a little bit different tomorrow than it is today. I know that’s been changing, a couple days ago, it was supposed to be raining right now, so good that it’s clearing up a bit. Yeah, certainly, day-to-day the weather being a little bit different can determine how much you take away from it. But a place like this, with the fall off you experience for example, it does become very beneficial. Last weekend at Dover, I mean, there wasn’t anything to take away as we weren’t laying any rubber and going so fast compared to what we were running the next day with higher temperatures.”

How much confidence does it give you being the most recent winner here?

”It certainly helps. I think for me, it’s always in a good place going to a mile and a half. I think so far this year, at the mile and a halfs, we’ve been really strong. Atlanta is a little bit different, but Texas, Las Vegas, we were very fast. I didn’t lead a lot of laps at Las Vegas, but we were right there with (Kyle) Larson. Yeah, looking at the last two, and again, we were able to steal one away last year, but I know there were some things we didn’t really like in our race car that we were able to learn from and make some better changes coming back. I know that we can always be better and know we can be better than what we were, so confidence from that last fall and the other mile and a halfs certainly has me in a good spot.”

Looking forward to Darlington next weekend, what are your thoughts and feelings?

”I love Darlington. It’s certainly one of my favorites. You know, when I was coming into the Cup Series, it was when we started having more than the one race there, and I think during the COVID year, we ran there like three times or something, so I was eating that up and really enjoyed it. Yeah for me, it’s a track I’ve always really enjoyed. As it’s changed, I still love it a lot, but when we had to redo turn two, I was a little sour about that. But, it’s still a very difficult race track and a lot of fun to race. You’re racing your competitors out there, but you have to battle the race track every lap. I’m really excited for Kansas, but Darlington always gets me really excited. Throwback weekend makes it one of the most fun weekends of the year, seeing all the different schemes the teams come up with and how elaborate they get with putting them all together. And then, we get to go to North Wilkesboro and Charlotte, so it’s really fun stretch of the year for our team.”

Where would you say is NASCAR’s most difficult oval?

”Texas is really tricky. But, from just racing the track to how narrow it is and how hard you have to fight to make passes and stay out of trouble, I feel like Darlington is one of the most difficult. You can get yourself into the wall in almost every part of the race track, honestly. In turns one and two with the shape and the approach you have to have in those corners, you kind of have to thread the needle by the wall every lap to have a good arc and angle for your exit of turn 2 and then just how turns 3 and 4 are shaped. And the wall, it’s a bit wavy. If you go into the corner really chasing the wall, you’re going to end up hitting it about a third of the way around. So it really, some of the nature it has the first time you go there can really throw you off. You think ‘oh I can just run up by the wall and run it,” and boom, you hit it. Darlington is another one of those tracks, turn four can really sneak up on you in any race there. It’s easy to think you’re good there, until you get a push off of turn four and you hit the wall right where it comes in. So to me, I think Darlington takes that.”

What’s the experience like racing at North Wilkesboro?

”It was amazing. Being there the multiple days that we were getting to see what the late model guys were doing, the Truck race, and just being there for multiple days. Being close to home is also really nice. But yeah, I can’t tell you I’ve passed it on the way to Bristol Motor Speedway and just get a little sad, right? It’s just sitting there every time I go by it and nature taking its course with it, right? But, it’s really cool to get back and race there. I’ve obviously never got to see a race there, I was alive, but I’ve gotten to back and watch a few races, even before I knew we were going to go back and race there, it was just really cool. There were some big moments that have happened there and yeah, the track has a lot of character. We talk about a place like Darlington, right? North Wilkesboro is one of those that you know, it’s not perfectly flat, the corners aren’t perfectly round. It’s just got character and really glad we’re back racing there honestly.”

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.

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