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Here’s How to Level Up Your 4×4

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Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash

Driving a 4×4 sounds like a whole lot of fun – and it is! However, it also requires serious skill and the right equipment (yes, aside from the vehicle itself). 

Whether you’re a total novice looking to explore the off-roading world for the first time or a seasoned pro just looking for some tips to take things to the next level, here are a few helpful ideas to kick your 4×4 experience up a notch or two.


Know Your Vehicle Inside Out

Before setting off on any off-road adventure, it’s important that you’re intimately familiar with your 4×4’s inner workings. 

Take the time to master the fundamentals of your vehicle’s different off-road modes and traction control, as well as four-wheel drive systems, differential locks, ground clearance, approach and departure angles, and all the rest. Being able to use all of these tools (and how to deactivate them) will seriously impact your overall experience, as well as your safety on the road. 


Invest in High-Quality Equipment

It’s also important that any off-roading gear you buy to improve your vehicle’s performance or safety is of a super high quality, and the right fit – there’s a lot you could look into!

You can get specially designed tyres for a superior grip, crate axle kits for improved performance with better strength, and recovery ropes or winches to use when you’re in a bit of a pinch. Getting professional advice on which gear, brands, models, etc., to use is always a good idea, especially for more novice off-roaders. 


Optimize Tire Pressure for Terrain

Optimizing your vehicle is just as important as upgrading and maintaining it. Tyre pressure is one of those key factors that need to be monitored to ensure it’s just right at all times.

Based on the terrain you’re on, changing your tyre pressure can enhance the contact patch, leading to better traction and floatation on surfaces like sand, mud, or snow. However, you should also make sure to fill your tyres according to the suggested pressure for when you’re back on solid (and tarred) ground in your city to ensure proper stability and fuel efficiency. 

Master Advanced Techniques 

Beyond levelling up your vehicle, you can also level up your own skillset. Advanced off-roading tactics added to your existing driving abilities can be a game changer, and ultimately make your experience more fun. 

You can take courses to learn to modulate the throttle to keep better traction and control wheel spin, use engine braking and gear selection perfectly for controlled descents, and navigate anything in your way with the right line selection. Not only will this allow you to take on tougher challenges, but it’ll also be an all-round safer experience. 


Pick the Right Driving Lines

We’ve just mentioned the benefits of the right line selection, so you already know that it’s an important factor to focus on!

Always look ahead at the landscape to see where you’ll be able to get the best traction and avoid any obstacles that could cause damage to your vehicle or yourself. Be ready to make swift adjustments if things don’t go right, and use a spotter if you’re feeling uncertain. 

Race-Ready Repave Receives Rave Reviews At North Wilkesboro Speedway

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Official Release
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Teams make adjustments during the zMAX CARS Tour tire test at North Wilkesboro Speedway on April 24. (NWS Photo)

More than 50 zMAX CARS Tour race teams participated in an open test to prepare for the May 14 Reverend 100 (Pro Late Models) and May 15 Window World 125 (Late Model Stock Cars)

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (April 24, 2024) – More than 50 zMAX CARS Tour drivers made laps on the repaved North Wilkesboro Speedway Wednesday, as they tested Hoosier tire compounds for use in the May 14-15 late model events at the historic track. Drivers praised the new asphalt, saying the track retains character while also providing a smoother, faster racing surface.

Brenden “Butterbean” Queen won the Window World 125 Late Model Stock Car race at North Wilkesboro last May in his No. 03 Lee Pulliam Performance Toyota. He’ll be making his NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series debut in a TRICON Garage machine at NWS in the Wright Brand 250 on May 18, in addition to running this year’s Window World 125 CARS Tour race on May 15.

“The track looks great, first off, the pavement looks great,” said Queen. “It’s smooth. You still have those little bit of bump characteristics, the uphill down the back and the downhill down the front, you can still kind of notice all that. It’s still Wilkesboro. Obviously, I love the old pavement because I’m a dirt racer too and I like low-grip racing, but I also like high-grip racing. It’s definitely going to be a different type of race than we had the last two times we were here. I think the track, it’s still got character, but it looks great. And for the track to thrive, we understand it had to have the pavement and it’s going to only boost the status of this place moving forward and keep it around for a long time to come.”

Brandon Jones, driver of the No. 9 NASCAR Xfinity Series Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, also plans to compete in the Window World 125 in the No. 9 entry for Hawk McCall Motorsports.

“This is quite the experience coming to North Wilkesboro for the first time,” said Jones. I’ve never even been to this race track before. I watched some old films and old clips, it would have been so cool, I think, to come back and run the old pavement before they repaved it. I’m excited to see all the change come to this race track and see everything that they’re doing to revive these old tracks.

“It’s certainly got a bunch of grip, but if you walk it and really start looking, there’s still a lot of characteristics to this place. There’s a big bump in Turns 1 and 2, almost entry to [Turn] 1 that a lot of guys are trying to drive around. You can tell a lot of guys are trying to miss that. Then there’s a big patch in [Turns] 3 and 4 where there’s almost a grippy area down there. There’s a lot of little nuances about this track, it’s not an ice-smooth, glassy repave and I kind of like that it’s like this still. It makes you have to drive around areas still and drive around those bumps. Typically, when they repave tracks it’s just got a bunch of grip, it’s fast and you just run the bottom. This one is very unique still.”

Carson Kvapil, two-time CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car champion and winner of the Window World 125 in 2022 in the No. 8 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, said the new surface is faster than the old pavement.

“I think today we had a pretty good test here,” said Kvapil. “It’s good for all the guys to get out here and make some laps at this place since they repaved it. I think we all have to learn a little bit about the tire and how it’s going to react during the race.

“I feel like the speed is definitely up from whenever they had the old pavement. I believe it’s about a second or so for us or maybe a little faster. It definitely changes things a little bit, you’re just going a little faster and have a little more grip. I think it’s going to make the racing pretty good and I think we’ll be able to run side-by-side all day.”

Sammy Smith, who has been tabbed to drive a late model stock car entry for JR Motorsports in the Window World 125, and also pilots the No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, won the Super Late Model 75 in 2022.

“The new asphalt has a lot of grip and it’s going to make for some fun racing,” said Smith. “I’ve raced the past two years in late models on the old asphalt and this year by far, it has so much more grip and the fall off isn’t going to be much. It’s going to be hard to pass and qualifying is going to be important. It’ll be different for sure from what it used to be, but I’m looking forward to it.”

Dylon Wilson, driver of the No. 4 Chevrolet in the Late Model Stock Car division, has grown up around North Wilkesboro Speedway, and not only proposed to his wife, Allie, at the track, but also named his newborn son “Wilkes.”

“The racetrack surface being repaved is a huge thing for the future of this race track obviously, for years of racing here, is almost guaranteed now because of the work they’ve put into it,” said Wilson. “There’s a lot of character in this race track and there always has been. A lot of people were worried about how the racing product would be with the new asphalt on the race track and I get that. I’m definitely a purist when it comes to old asphalt, but after going and making 30 laps today that’s all it took to realize this place has a ton of character. Even though it’s a lot faster now, it shoots you out of the hole it feels like when you’re coming off Turn 4 and going downhill down into Turn 1, that same Wilkesboro feel that’s been here for the last two years. I still get goosebumps talking about it now. It’s a beautiful surface, I can’t wait to race on it.”

Kip Childress, executive director of the zMAX CARS Tour, was positive about the changes in the track and the performance of the tire compound.

“Everybody seemed really, really pleased with how their sessions went. I think they all learned a lot, which was kind of indicative with the times from when we started versus what they ended up with. I think the tire was really consistent, no issues with wear, which was one thing that Hoosier was really mindful of. To get that kind of feedback this early, I think our teams are really, really happy. I think the ones that weren’t able to come for whatever reason are probably kicking themselves right now.

“Because the track and the tire combination did have so much grip, they were able to pick the throttle up so much sooner in the corner. I think we saw that because of the line they’re running around here. I think they’re running considerably higher than when I saw some of the footage of the Cup teams and the Truck teams doing their tire test. We’re so much higher they are right now. To be able to come here and be on a surface that’s smooth as glass and have some grip on it, they were tickled.”

Completed last November, the resurfacing process included milling approximately two inches of the old track, repairing failing spots, sealing and adding a specially designed asphalt mixture in the same configuration as the original track, including the 13 degrees of banking in the corners. Similar to the process used for the most recent Atlanta Motor Speedway repave, Speedway Motorsports used a special mix that is expected to age faster than traditional asphalt, creating a more “worn-in” surface more quickly. Carl Rose & Sons Asphalt, the original paving contractor for North Wilkesboro Speedway, supplied nearly 2,000 tons of specialty asphalt for the project, while North Carolina-based Delta Contracting managed the milling process. Summers Taylor, a contractor from nearby Johnson City, Tennessee, used a process called echelon paving to lay a seamless surface across the roughly 50-foot-wide track.

On March 13, a trio of NASCAR Cup Series drivers participated in a Goodyear Tire Test at North Wilkesboro and also shared positive comments on the revitalized track.

JOEY LOGANO, NO. 22 TEAM PENSKE FORD: “They did a good job, there’s still some character, it’s still a unique shaped race track, which is all good. There’s a pretty big bump down in turn one, I think where the wall was out too long and they cut it, and it’s kind of an interesting area. There’s a huge bump leaving four, which really kind of upsets the cars. I don’t think that’s bad. I’m OK with that. That’s something that made this racetrack so cool in the past, was that it had a lot of character, it was bumpy, you were forced to move around on it because it was challenging. You can make the thing like glass, I don’t know if that really makes the racing better. I think the fact that it’s got a couple of bumps and some areas where your drivers can make mistakes and jump out of the groove and do different things is just going to promote passing so that’s a good thing.”

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET: “I would say that if it was a mile-and-a-half track, I think it being a short track it would probably be a lot like Richmond was when they repaved it, so I don’t know, I vividly have seen some of those races and I feel like it was pretty treacherous, a lot of guys would get in crashes or there would be a lot of restart wrecks, so I think the racing could actually be pretty exciting with a repave on a short track, but yeah you won’t have the style of comers and goers I don’t think. The guys who are up toward the front will be racing hard and there’s probably just going to be more wrecks.”

“I’ll be here, I’m excited. I’m excited that we’re in the race. You never take that for granted, right? You have to win to be in this race. As a driver that’s one of the first things that comes to mind when you win the first race of the year, is ‘great, you know, I’m in the All-Star Race.’ It’s an honor to be in the race and is something you want to win. It’s a big, it’s not a crown jewel, but it’s a big race to have on your resume.”

TY GIBBS, NO. 54 JOE GIBBS RACING TOYOTA: “The track is definitely a lot different with the repave, but I feel like they did a really great job with the repave. I’ve been to a lot of repaves and this is probably one of the best ones I’ve been to. And the way that they did it, they did a really great job. Just normal stuff for when we first come in here with the new repaves. It’s kind of a one-lane groove until it gets worn in. Testing, it’s really hard to get a good race feel for it, but I know that it’s gonna be pretty cool and we’ll see what happens.”

“For sure, it definitely has taken some rubber. You can visually go out there and look at it, right? You can look at how different the line looks. It’s definitely a lot better, I don’t know a lot better, I’m fine with racing the old way or the new way. You just look at the track, and you can just look at it. It’s not all, it doesn’t look like a puzzle. There are some tracks on the schedule that they did repaves at, that it just looks like a mess out there. They did such a great job here. Kudos to them.”

NASCAR All-Star Race week will include five days or nights of entertainment at North Wilkesboro Speedway including:

  • Tuesday, May 14: zMAX CARS Tour Pro Late Models Reverend 100
  • Wednesday, May 15: zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car Window World 125
  • Friday, May 17: All-Star Friday presented by Raymer Oil NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck and Cup Series practice; the NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge presented by Mechanix Wear; Neal McCoy concert
  • Saturday, May 18: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series qualifying and Wright Brand 250; NASCAR Cup Series qualifying heat races
  • Sunday, May 19: Warren Zeiders pre-race concert; NASCAR All-Star Open and NASCAR All-Star Race

TICKETS:

Single-day tickets, camping and parking for all NASCAR All-Star Race week events including the zMAX CARS Tour can be purchased online by visiting www.northwilkesborospeedway.com. Fans shopping for the best value can purchase a five-day, NASCAR All-Star Race week ticket package starting at just $229. The package includes all NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and zMAX CARS Tour races, qualifying and practice sessions, plus Neal McCoy and Warren Zeiders concerts and the NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge presented by Mechanix Wear.

MORE INFO:

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

TEAM CHEVY NASCAR RACE ADVANCE: Dover Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE: DOVER MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Dover, Delaware

April 27-28, 2024

DOVER DOUBLE

On deck for the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) is the series’ annual appearance at Dover Motor Speedway. The doubleheader in Delaware will kick off with the NXS BetRivers 200 on Saturday, followed by the NCS Würth 400 on Sunday. Chevrolet has a history of success in taming the “Monster Mile” – leading both of NASCAR’s top two series with 43 NCS victories and 33 NXS victories.

Chevrolet at Dover Motor Speedway: By the Numbers

Dover Motor Speedway is one of just 10 tracks that has hosted more than 100 NASCAR Cup Series events, with Sunday’s 400-mile race marking the series’ 106th appearance at the Delaware venue. Since the series’ debut at Dover Motor Speedway in 1969, the Bowtie brand has collected a series-leading 43 victories. Chevrolet’s most recent trip to victory lane at the “Monster Mile” came in the Next Gen car’s first appearance at the track with a win courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott (May 2022). Elliott’s victory was accompanied by a podium sweep by the Bowtie brand, with fellow Team Chevy drivers Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in second and Ross Chastain in third.

In the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ 77-race history at Dover Motor Speedway, Chevrolet leads the way with 33 all-time victories. The manufacturer’s most recent NXS victory at the track also came in the 2022 season with Josh Berry behind the wheel of a JR Motorsports Camaro SS. Nearly half of Chevrolet’s NXS triumphs at the “Monster Mile” came within the timespan of June 1993 to June 2001 when the manufacturer reeled-off 16 wins in 17 races – earned by an impressive 13 different drivers.

HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS: MASTERY AT THE “MONSTER MILE”

Hendrick Motorsports’ past and recent success at Dover Motor Speedway has made the Chevrolet organization an automatic frontrunner when the series returns to the “Monster Mile” each year. Hendrick Motorsports leads the series with 22 all-time NASCAR Cup Series victories at the Delaware venue – a record more than double the next leading organization, Joe Gibbs Racing, with 10 victories.

Seven different drivers have earned victories under the Hendrick Motorsports banner at Dover Motor Speedway – led by Jimmie Johnson with a series-leading 11 triumphs. In recent years, three of Chevrolet’s past four NCS victories at the track have come with Hendrick Motorsports including Chase Elliott (May 2022 and Oct. 2018) and Alex Bowman (May 2021).

The Delaware venue is also home to a history-making finish for Hendrick Motorsports when Bowman’s victory in 2021 was accompanied by an organizational top-four sweep (Larson – second; Elliott – third; William Byron – fourth). The feat marked the first time in Hendrick Motorsports’ storied NASCAR history that the organization accomplished a sweep of the top-four finishing positions in a NCS race.

Chase Elliott

No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Oct. 7, 2018

Alex Bowman

No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

May 16, 2021

Chase Elliott

No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

May 2, 2022

Bowman Set for Milestone Start

Sunday’s Würth 400 will mark Alex Bowman’s 300th career NASCAR Cup Series start. The 30-year-old Arizona native is coming off his fourth top-five finish of the 2024 season – moving the Team Chevy driver into the top-10 of the series’ points standings heading into the Dover race weekend.

Bowman’s milestone start will come at a venue where the Team Chevy driver has found remarkable success in NASCAR’s top division. In 12 NCS starts at Dover Motor Speedway, Bowman has recorded one victory and five top-five finishes – all of which have come in his last six starts at the track.

TALLYING TOP-10S

For the second consecutive race, and third time overall this season, Chevrolet has owned at least 50 percent of the top-10 results in a single NASCAR Cup Series race – each recorded by drivers from four different Chevrolet organizations. The Bowtie brand has accomplished this feat on three completely different racetrack configurations including a road course circuit (Circuit of The Americas); an intermediate oval (Texas Motor Speedway); and a superspeedway (Talladega Superspeedway).

Among those three events, seven different Chevrolet organizations contributed at least one top-10 result towards the feat – including all six organizations that compete with the manufacturer full-time in NASCAR’s top series:

Circuit of The Americas

1. William Byron: Hendrick Motorsports

  1. Alex Bowman: Hendrick Motorsports
  2. AJ Allmendinger: Kaulig Racing
  3. Ross Chastain: Trackhouse Racing
  4. Kyle Busch: Richard Childress Racing

Texas Motor Speedway

  1. Chase Elliott: Hendrick Motorsports
  2. William Byron: Hendrick Motorsports
  3. Daniel Suarez: Trackhouse Racing
  4. Austin Dillon: Richard Childress Racing
  5. Kyle Busch: Richard Childress Racing
  6. Carson Hocevar: Spire Motorsports

Talladega Superspeedway

  1. Ricky Stenhouse Jr: JTG Daugherty
  2. Alex Bowman: Hendrick Motorsports
  3. Anthony Alfredo: Beard Motorsports
  4. William Byron: Hendrick Motorsports
  5. Daniel Hemric: Kaulig Racing

RCR TEAMMATES CARRY MOMENTUM TO “MONSTER MILE”

Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love became Chevrolet’s fourth different winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series last weekend – driving the Bowtie brand to its fifth win of the season at Talladega Superspeedway. The 19-year-old California native joined the Bowtie brigade at the beginning of season for his rookie campaign in the series. In just nine starts, Love has driven his No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Camaro SS to one victory, six top-10s, three top-fives and three poles.

The pair of Richard Childress Racing teammates, Love and Austin Hill, topped nearly all of the major statistical categories at Talladega Superspeedway last weekend. In addition to the victory, the teammates posted the top-two times in qualifying to sweep the front-row starting positions. The pair swept the stage wins, with Love taking Stage One and Hill taking Stage Two. Hill and Love, combined, led over 50 percent of the event’s 124 laps, with Hill pacing the field a race-high 41 laps and Love tallying the second-most laps led at 28.

Kvapil Rejoins JRM After Strong NXS Debut

Carson Kvapil’s first career NASCAR Xfinity Series start saw the 20-year-old second-generation driver take the No. 88 JR Motorsports Camaro SS to an impressive fourth-place finish at Martinsville Speedway. The debut started with a 12th-place qualifying effort and early pit strategy paid dividends for track position – setting Kvapil up for a fourth-place finish in the second stage. Utilizing a combination of learnings from both stages, as well as his experience in short-track racing, the young driver maneuvered through the wild closing laps to take the checkered-flag in fourth. Kvapil will return to the seat of the No. 88 JR Motorsports Camaro SS this weekend, carrying the Chevy Truck Season livery in Saturday’s 200-mile NXS race for his second career start.

BOWTIE BULLETS:

· With 26 races complete across NASCAR’s three national series this season, Chevrolet has a winning percentage of 65.4% with 17 victories (NASCAR Cup Series – six wins; NASCAR Xfinity Series – five wins; NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – six wins).

· Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Dover Motor Speedway:

Kyle Busch – three wins (2017, 2010, 2008)

Chase Elliott – two wins (2022, 2018)

Alex Bowman – one win (2021)

Kyle Larson – one win (2019)

· In 105 NASCAR Cup Series races at Dover Motor Speedway, Chevrolet has recorded a series-leading 43 victories – two of which came in the series’ last three races at the track (Chase Elliott – 2022; Alex Bowman – 2021).

· Chevrolet is the only manufacturer to accomplish a tripleheader weekend sweep in the NASCAR national ranks this season, with the Bowtie brand earning its third tripleheader sweep at Texas Motor Speedway.

· In three NASCAR Cup Series races this season, Chevrolet has earned at least 50 percent of the top-10 finishing results – recorded on three completely different racetrack configurations (Circuit of The Americas, Texas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway). In each of those events, four different Chevrolet organizations were represented in the top-10.

· Team Chevy’s William Byron is the only driver to have a double-digit win record in the NASCAR Cup Series’ Next Gen era – with his victory at Martinsville Speedway marking his 11th all-time victory in the Next Gen Camaro ZL1.

· In 82 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 43 victories – a winning percentage of 52.4%.

· Within the first three points-paying races of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series races season, each Chevrolet organization had already recorded at least one top-10 finish.

· With its 42 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 857 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

Manufacturer Points Standings

Chevrolet: 371
Toyota: 362 (-9)
Ford: 332 (-39)

Manufacturer Points Standings

Chevrolet: 335
Toyota: 325 (-10)
Ford: 279 (-56)

Manufacturer Points Standings

Chevrolet: 273
Toyota: 240 (-33)
Ford: 224 (-49)
 
TUNE-IN:

NASCAR Cup Series

Würth 400

Sunday, April 28, at 2 p.m. ET

(FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

NASCAR Xfinity Series

BetRivers 200

Saturday, April 27, at 1:30 pm. ET

(FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

 
QUOTABLE QUOTES:

ROSS CHASTAIN, NO. 1 MOOSE FRATERNITY CAMARO ZL1

What do you think about Dover?

“I ran my very first Cup race at Dover in the spring (2017) and I also raced the fall race there. Those were the only two Cup races I ran all year. I remember being scared to death because I didn’t think I was ready. I had a lot of encouragement to go ahead and do my first Cup race and sort of get it out of the way. I’m so glad I did it. Dover is like a third home to me after Florida and North Carolina. I’ve spent more time in Delaware than almost any other state.”

What has made you so good at Dover recently?

“Phil Surgen and my No. 1 team. I feel like concrete tracks have been really, really strong for us – Nashville and Dover. We’ve been fortunate to have super-fast cars at concrete tracks.”

Is a win in the future because you’ve been so close the last couple of times at Dover?

“I have that level of confidence every time I go to the track. It’s cool to experience this level of competition with Trackhouse. I’m trying to soak up every moment and every race because it’s really cool to be in the position I’m in. I’ve been in the sport so long and so many people have helped me get here. To be fast at Dover is great. I remember watching the guys who were fast, (Matt) Kenseth in turn 4 sideways in qualifying and I never thought I would get there and be able to do that in a Cup car.”

AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BREZTRI CAMARO ZL1

What does the sensation of speed at Dover Motor Speedway feel like?

“Racing at Dover Motor Speedway is like a rollercoaster ride with no tracks. There isn’t another track like it. You carry a lot of pace there. When you drive down into the corner to get to the bottom of the track, it feels like you’re coming off a four-story building with the banking. You just try to catch your breath and get back on the gas to drive off the corner. We do that for 400 laps. Once you get into the race, you get into a rhythm, and you start to feel comfortable. The first couple of laps are always hard on you though. It’s a hard concrete track. We have to make sure our shock package is good, and hopefully, the No. 3 Chevrolet handles well. Maybe the line will move around, but it’s usually right around the bottom. As the rubber lays down, it gets harder to do more with the car. Dover is a Monster, but my team is up for the challenge.”

KYLE BUSCH, NO. 8 FICO CAMARO ZL1

Last year rain cut short Cup practice at Dover and you started the race on a green track. How big of a challenge is that?

“Track conditions at Dover are challenging because they’re always changing. When you’re on a green racetrack you really fight tire wear and you’re wearing out the tires quite rapidly. As the weekend progresses and as the race progresses, rubber gets put down on the track and that makes tire life better.”

Is racing at Dover physically demanding for a driver?

“Racing at Dover is physically demanding. You’re in the corner around that track longer than you are going straight on the straightaways which means the time in which you’re doing the most work is the longest. It’s also very physically taxing just because of the roughness of the concrete surface and the constant beating that the driver takes in the seat from going over all the joints in the track.”

How easy is it for a driver to get into trouble at Dover?

“I would say it’s pretty easy for drivers to find trouble at Dover. Typically, the looser you are, the faster you are, but when you get too loose, it’s really easy to spin. If you spin it at Dover, more than likely you are going to hit both the outside and inside walls. As crashes happen, you’re going so fast that sometimes you can’t get checked up fast enough.”

DANIEL HEMRIC, NO. 31 POPPY BANK CAMARO ZL1

“Dover is a place I have had circled on my calendar. The track has high grip, high speed and a lot of loading, so I’m curious to see what that feels like in this car. That track evolves and changes a lot, and Kaulig Racing has had speed there in the past, so I’m excited to see what we can do there.”

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1

Bowman on racing at Dover Motor Speedway:

“I’m super excited to get to Dover (Motor Speedway). It’s my favorite race track and running my 300th start (in the Cup Series) there this weekend is pretty special. That milestone is certainly something that, say 10 years ago, I wouldn’t have thought I’d be able to achieve. Race weekend in Dover was something that I was going to be excited about regardless of how Talladega (Superspeedway) went, but Talladega was good to us and our No. 48 Ally Racing team has been trending in the right direction. I’m looking forward to it and we should be in contention for a win this Sunday.”

BLAKE HARRIS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1

Harris on racing at Dover Motor Speedway:

“The team was really bummed to not have him (Alex Bowman) at Dover (Motor Speedway) last year. This year will be Bowman and I’s first trip there (to Dover Motor Speedway) together. Alex won there in 2021 and runs statistically really strong there. Dover is probably one of his favorite tracks so we look forward to getting on track there together. We saw some good data points there last year from teammates, even when he didn’t get to run. It would be great to pick up a win in Dover this weekend.”

CARSON HOCEVAR, NO. 77 PREMIER SECURITY CAMARO ZL1

“I’m pretty excited about this weekend at Dover. It was fun when I got to run there a handful of years ago, so I am excited to go back and even more excited to run in a cup car. I feel like we should be pretty solid and sporty in our Premier Security Chevy. We seem to have speed at these types of tracks and Luke (Lambert) feels very confident. I also feel confident in our race cars and what we can bring to the track so just hoping we can have another good solid day and just continue to rack up the points and better our finishes as we’ve continued to this season.”

DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 JOCKEY CAMARO ZL1

What do think about racing at Dover?

“Dover is an amazing racetrack and in my opinion one of the best just because it is so tense and fast. It is very unique. There is nothing similar to Dover – except maybe Bristol, a little bit but it is still quite different. I am excited for this weekend. The feeling you get inside the car there is pretty incredible.”

What do you think of your paint scheme?

“It is an honor for me to drive a car carrying the American flag. I came to America to chase my dream and live it. Representing Jockey is quite an honor and I hope NASCAR fans see our car out front a lot this Sunday. You won’t be able to miss us.”

Are you happy where your team is at in 2024?

“We have work to do, but until we are winning consistently we will always have work to do. We have a great bunch of people, and we have high expectations for the rest of the season.”

 
Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturers Championships:

Total (1949-2023): 42

First title for Chevrolet: 1958

Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)

Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023

Drivers Championships:

Total (1949-2021): 33

First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)

Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)

Most Recent: Kyle Larson (2021)

Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021

Event Victories:

Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)

2024 STATISTICS:

Wins: 6

Poles: 4

Laps Led: 1,028

Top-five finishes: 21

Top-10 finishes: 38

Stage wins: 7

· Chase Elliott: 1

· Kyle Larson: 5

· Ross Chastain: 1

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:

Total Chevrolet race wins: 857 (1949 to date)

Poles won to date: 747

Laps led to date: 250,203

Top-five finishes to date: 4,319

Top-10 finishes to date: 8,899

Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:

       General Motors: 1,191

       Chevrolet: 857

       Pontiac: 154

       Oldsmobile: 115

       Buick: 65



       Ford: 828                                                           

       Ford: 728

       Mercury: 96

       Lincoln: 4



       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467

       Dodge: 217

       Plymouth: 191

       Chrysler: 59



       Toyota: 184

 

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.

MATT SMITH LOOKS FOR HOMETOWN WIN AT ZMAX DRAGWAY, DERIC KRAMER AIMS TO REPEAT HIS 2023 4-WIDE NATIONALS WIN

By
Official Release
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CONCORD, N.C. (April 24, 2024) – After a six-week hiatus from the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule, the competitive Pro Stock Motorcycle class returns to action at this weekend’s NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway. Atop the list of riders ready to hit the track is six-time champion Matt Smith.

Smith, a North Carolina native, is two-time zMAX Dragway winner and wants nothing more than to return to the winner’s circle on his Denso Spark Plugs Buell. With a runner-up finish in Gainesville under his belt, he’ll be ready to return to competition on this weekend in Charlotte.

“We won the first ever four-wide race in Charlotte,” Smith said. “Our goal is to try to win the four-wide this weekend. We need to get back to winning races and need give Gaige (Herrera) a run for his money. Hopefully one of our Denso bikes or Scrappers Racing bike can win this weekend.”

Austin Prock (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Deric Kramer (Pro Stock) and Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all took home victories in 2023 at the 4-Wide Nationals. This year’s event will again be broadcast on FS1, including eliminations at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, and is the second of 15 races in Pro Stock Motorcycle during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

After a long break from competition since the Gatornationals in March, Smith and the other Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors will jump into four-wide competition at this weekend’s race. The added challenge has been a hiccup for many riders over the years, but Smith has confidence thanks to his past success at zMAX Dragway.

“I don’t do anything differently for a four-wide race. I like the challenge of it,” said Smith, who has 38 career wins. “I think it’s different. I try to tell people it’s like NASCAR. They have road course races, and everyone can’t just go in a circle all the time. We have to prepare ourselves to go four-wide racing and that’s what I like about it.”

Smith finished runner-up earlier this season in Gainesville to the reigning champion Herrera. After a record-breaking 2023 from Herrera, the Pro Stock Motorcycle class is ready to dethrone the standout. Smith leads that charge followed by his wife Angie, three-time Charlotte winner Steve Johnson, former champ LE Tonglet and Hector Arana Jr.

“To get ready for Charlotte, we’ve done a lot of testing since Gainesville. Testing, testing, testing,” Smith said. “We’ve done some dyno work, but the main thing is we’ve just tested a lot. We’ve been working on our 60-foot times and our 330-foot times, and we’ve found some stuff and I think we should be better.”

New this season is the addition of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals. Smith will be entered into the Challenge in a quad where he’ll face off against Tonglet, Marc Ingwersen and Richard Gadson. The other side of the ladder will see Herrera taking on John Hall, as well as A. Smith and Johnson. The two top finishers in each quad will advance and the final Challenge round will feature a quad of racers running for the bonus purse and championship points.

In the Pro Stock ranks, Kramer heads into Charlotte as the defending event winner of the 4-Wide Nationals. It was part of an impressive final-round streak for the veteran and he’s hoping a return to zMAX Dragway will jumpstart what has been a difficult start to his 2024 campaign.

The five-time event winner is still looking for his first round win of the 2024 season, losing in the first round three times and not qualifying in Pomona in his Get Biofuel Chevrolet Camaro. It’s certainly not been ideal in the loaded Pro Stock ranks, but Kramer has time to turn things around.

Still, he’s after a productive weekend in Charlotte and he did qualify 10th at the four-wide race in Las Vegas, showing signs of improvement. But nothing comes easy in the loaded category, a group that includes reigning world champion Erica Enders, Greg Anderson, Las Vegas winner Jeg Coughlin Jr., Brandon Foster, Dallas Glenn and Matt Hartford.

In the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in Pro Stock, one quad features Jerry Tucker, Foster, Glenn and Eric Latino in one group, with Enders, Coughlin, Anderson and David Cuadra in the other.

The Top Fuel Challenge features Tony Stewart, Justin Ashley, Clay Millican and Antron Brown, with Doug Kalitta, Steve Torrence, Brittany Force and Josh Hart making up the other foursome. Funny Car will see Las Vegas winner Bob Tasca III taking on Prock, Alexis DeJoria and Chad Green while Ron Capps, Matt Hagan, J.R. Todd and Paul Lee will complete the other side of the ladder. Each competitor will also try to make it a double-up on Sunday with an event win, ensuring the 4-Wide Nationals are loaded with action the entire weekend.

The NHRA 4-Wide Nationals will also feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, which features some of the sport’s top drivers, as well as the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Mountain Motor Pro Stock and the new Holley EFI Factory X category. The Summit Racing Equipment Jr. Drag Racing League Shootout will also take place in Charlotte. Fans can also look forward to the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Autograph Session at the Mission Foods Display and the Toyota Autograph Display, both of which take place on Saturday morning.

All weekend long, fans are invited to the Nitro Alley Stage at zMAX Dragway. The Nitro Alley Stage will be the main entertainment hub in the pits, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets, music and much more. Race fans can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the SealMaster Track Walk. The final experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the event winners of the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals.

As always, fans also get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity gives fans a chance to see teams in action and service their hot rods between rounds, get autographs and more. Fans can also visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4:30 and 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday, April 26 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, April 27 at 12 and 2:15 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 28. Television coverage includes qualifying on FS1 at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday and then eliminations action at 6 p.m. ET to follow.

To purchase tickets to the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, please visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 800-455-3267. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

Headquartered in San Dimas, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 110 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Race Preview | Dover Motor Speedway

By
Official Release
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CLUB ENTRY LIST

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
POINT STANDINGS: 22nd

COREY HEIM for ERIK JONES
OWNER POINT STANDINGS: 20th

JIMMIE JOHNSON

CLUB NOTES

Speedy recovery: As announced earlier this week, Erik Jones will not compete in this weekend’s race at Dover Motor Speedway. Jones suffered a compression fracture during an accident at Talladega so LEGACY M.C.’s reserve driver Corey Heim will be the substitute driver in the No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE.

Dollar Tree x Petty 75: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB and primary partner Dollar Tree will honor the 75th anniversary of the Petty family with a special edition Toyota Camry XSE. The paint scheme on the No. 42 for Dover is going to be nostalgic for Petty fans, as Dollar Tree vendor STP Fuel Additives is featured in the familiar Petty Blue and Day-Glo Red colors.

JJ’s concrete playground: Jimmie Johnson is an 11-time winner at Dover. In 2017, Johnson’s 83rd trip to victory lane as a full-time series competitor came at Dover. This weekend will be the seven-time champions’ first trip back to one of his most successful racetracks since stepping away from full-time competition after the 2020 season

Laps led: In addition to holding the record for most wins at Dover, Johnson is the all-time Dover leader in laps led with 3,113.

Heim Time: Heim is off to a blistering start in the Truck Series this year with TRICON Garage. He currently sits second in the points standings, only trailing the leader Christian Ekes by two points. This season, Heim won at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), has earned five top-fives, and has not finished a race outside of the top-10 to date. Heim has an average finish of 3.9 this season with 49 laps led.

Moving up: Heim also runs part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Sam Hunt Racing and the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra, where he has competed in five races this season. Heim earned one top-five and one top-10 finish in those five starts, including 15 laps led.

Xfinity success: Nemechek has made seven attempts at the one-mile track of Dover Motor Speedway, earning one top-five and four top-10s. His best finish came at his most recent attempt last year when he qualified 22nd and drove his Toyota GR Supra to a 5th-place finish, which was his only top-five finish at the track.

Ben’s best: Crew chief Ben Beshore had success at Dover with driver Kyle Busch in 2021 and 2022. Beshore coached Busch to a seventh-place finish in 2022 with 103 laps led. Notably, a Beshore-led team has never started outside of the top 10 with an average start of eighth.

Burdett at Dover: Crew chief Jason Burdett has three wins at the Monster Mile during his stint in the Xfinity Series. He has one win with Regan Smith and two with Justin Allgaier. Additionally, Burdett has 12 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes. Across 15 starts, a car Burdett has been the crew chief on has never finished worse than 11th.

To the lead: Last weekend at Talladega, Nemechek led the field for 20 laps marking the most laps led by a LEGACY M.C. driver in a race since the team’s debut in 2023. Before Talladega, Nemechek had only led one lap in the Cup Series, at Charlotte Motor Speedway during his rookie year in 2020.

Clays for Causes: The Erik Jones Foundation will host its annual Clays for Causes fundraiser on Tuesday, May 21st, in Polkton, N.C. The event will feature various sports, a silent auction, and other fun activities. Event details and tickets can be found here, and proceeds will be reinvested into the mission of the Erik Jones Foundation.

CLUB QUOTES

John Hunter Nemechek, Driver of the No. 42 ACME Toyota Camry XSE:

“Going to Dover for the first time in a NextGen car – I know there will be a lot to learn in a short period of time to get better every single lap and try to be there at the end to contend in the No. 42 ACME Toyota Camry.”

Ben Beshore, Crew chief of the No. 42 ACME Toyota Camry XSE:

“Dover is one of those tough ones where you go there one time with a good setup and go back again with the same setup and it isn’t as good. It’s a constantly evolving track. We will rely on our tools to get the car as close as we can from a setup standpoint and then take some time during practice to get it to where John Hunter is comfortable with it. We will have some different adjustments ready to go so we can.

Corey Heim, Driver of the No. 43 Dollar Tree x Petty75 Toyota Camry XSE:

“First of all, I want to wish Erik a fast recovery while he works through the rehabilitation process. Second, I want to thank LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, Jimmie (Johnson), and Maury Gallagher for considering me through these unforeseen circumstances and giving me the opportunity this weekend at Dover. I hadn’t ever anticipated making my Cup Series debut through a harsh situation like this, but I’m ready to make the most out of it.”

Jimmie Johnson

Driver of the No. 84 Dollar Tree / Family Dollar Toyota Camry XSE:

“As a co-owner, it’s been a tough week for the CLUB, with Erik (Jones) getting injured. I’m glad Corey (Heim) is able to work with us and we want to give Erik all the time he needs to recover 100%. As far as getting to the track, I am truly excited to get back to my favorite track of all time – Dover. I got to pick where I wanted to race this year and so of course one of them I picked had to be Dover. It’s a different car, a different time in NASCAR so I know it will be a different experience going back, but I am certainly hopeful that the 11 wins and all the success will cross over and show up in our performance. I can’t wait to get on track in the No. 84 Dollar Tree Family Dollar Toyota Camry XSE.”

Jason Burdett

Crew chief of the No. 84 Dollar Tree / Family Dollar Toyota Camry XSE:

What are your team goals for the weekend, and what does a successful race look like?

“Our team goal for the weekend is to have a solid day. Dover is a challenging track in general, so if we can go there and get the balance close for him, he can be comfortable and make all of the laps. I think he will generally get better and better as the weekend goes on; he is obviously really good at Dover and has had a lot of success there. From our standpoint, if we can give him a car that drives good and he feels comfortable with so he can drive it the way he is accustomed to driving it, I think that will be a good spot for us. Our goals for the race, as far as a finish, I think we will need to see how that plays out, get through practice, and have a good solid practice. Then, depending on how qualifying goes that will give us an indication of different things that we have for Sunday. Pit strategy and everything else is a part of that, but I think if we can get out of there with a top-15 solid day and have everyone execute on pit road and on the track, it will be a really good day for us.”

PETTY 75TH ANNIVERSARY

ABOUT PETTY 75th: The 2024 season marks a significant milestone in the history of the Petty family as they have helped define stock car racing for 75 years. Their commitment to the sport and the people who make it possible – behind the wheel, under the hood, in the back office, and beyond – has shaped the growth and success of NASCAR. Their LEGACY lives on with the countless fans, drivers, technicians, and team members they touched. Throughout 2024, LEGACY M.C. will celebrate the Petty family and share countless memories with friends and fans at race tracks across the country.

RP at Dover: Richard Petty has a dominant record at the “Monster Mile.” Petty won three of the first five races at the track (1969, 1970, and Fall 1971), including the inaugural race in 1969. Petty’s next four wins came across 10 years (1974-1984), winning in Fall 1974, Fall 1975, Fall 1979, and Spring 1984. “The King’s” seven wins and 2,206 laps led came with five different manufacturers, showing his dominance regardless of the engine.

KP at Dover: In 1995, Kyle Petty had one of his most dominant wins at Dover. Petty qualified 37th out of 42 cars and ran the No. 42 to a commanding 271 out of 500 possible laps led en route to his eighth and final win of his Cup Series career. This was his lowest career starting position that led to a win; his second lowest starting position was a 12th-place qualifying effort for his first win at Richmond in 1986.

The King’s Hat: This weekend, the monster-sized King’s Hat will be located just outside the fan zone, across from Miles the Monster.

BROADCAST INFO

DOVER MOTOR SPEEDWAY
SUNDAY APRIL 28th @ 2:00 PM ET

ABOUT OUR PARTNERS

ABOUT ACME: The origins of ACME Markets Inc. can be traced back to 1891, when friends Samuel Robinson and Robert Crawford decided to open a neighborhood grocery store at the intersection of South Philadelphia’s Second and Fernon Streets. In 1917, Robinson and Crawford merged with four other local Philadelphia area grocery chains to form the American Stores Company, or ASCO as it was known to shoppers. As the grocery industry began to change with the new found freedom of the family car, American Stores Company decided to create a full-service supermarket in 1937 – ultimately deciding to call the company ACME Markets after the ACME Tea Company which was the largest of the five original companies that became ASCO. Under the ACME Markets banner, the chain prospered, enjoying decades as the largest grocery retailer in the Delaware Valley.

Today, the core values of that market remain the same as envisioned by Robinson and Crawford back in 1891: a selection of quality products at competitive prices, where customers can always rely on friendly service. Over the 129 years that ACME Markets has been in operation, we’ve remained dedicated to providing our shoppers with the superior grocery experience they’ve come to expect.

In the years since we first opened our doors, ACME Markets has grown and expanded to operate 164 stores throughout its native Pennsylvania, as well as serving shoppers in nearby New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Connecticut, and Maryland. To date, we employ over 15,000 associates. We continue to offer consumers the freshest products, convenient supermarket locations, and handy additional services – such as ACME Sav-On® Pharmacies – all tailored to the specific needs of the neighborhoods we serve.

ABOUT DOLLAR TREE, INC.: Dollar Tree, a Fortune 200 Company, operated 16,622 stores across 48 states and five Canadian provinces as of October 28, 2023. Stores operate under the brands of Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree Canada. To learn more about the Company, visit www.DollarTree.com.

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ is a professional auto racing club owned by businessman and entrepreneur Maurice “Maury” J. Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. The CLUB competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series fielding the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE of John Hunter Nemechek, the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE of Erik Jones, and the No. 84 limited schedule entry for Johnson. LEGACY M.C. also competes in the Extreme E Series. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty “The King” serves as CLUB Ambassador. With a unique title signifying a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for all motorsport enthusiasts to celebrate the past and future legacies of its members, while competing for wins and championships at NASCAR’s elite level. To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ on Facebook, X, Instagram and at www.LEGACYMOTORCLUB.com.

Amazon Desert Rally. A race that doesn’t exist, for a problem that is already happening: the drying up of the rivers in the Amazon basin

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Official Release
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Stock Car project alerts to the point of no return in the Amazon Rainforest

The racing category and track heroes propose an initiative to illustrate the dire consequences of a crisis that, in 2023 alone, led to the loss of 130 million liters of water from Amazonian rivers.

In a bid to reinforce its commitment to ESG, the Stock Car Pro Series introduces the concept of the “Amazon Desert Rally.” Emblazoned with the slogan “Don’t sponsor this race,” prominently featured across all promotional materials, the initiative seeks to highlight the environmental crisis confronting the rivers of the Amazon Rainforest, which saw 130 million liters of water vanish in 2023 alone. It’s important to note that this rally is purely conceptual and does not actually exist.

The drought not only impacts water supply but also cripples fishing activities, leaving rafts and canoes stranded on dry riverbeds. Roraima leads the nation in heat spots in 2024, exacerbating forest fires that engulf vegetation, wildlife, and homes, while also blanketing the region in thick smoke.

Irreversible degradation – The Amazon Rainforest may be teetering on the brink of irreversible change due to the dual onslaught of deforestation and global warming. According to a study published in the prestigious journal Nature, nearly half (47%) of the forest is projected to undergo irreversible degradation by 2050.

Against this backdrop, the “Amazon Desert Rally” assumes paramount significance. Its promotional materials showcase a team comprising indigenous individuals placed in an extreme scenario of total drought, where we’re not quite sure if it’s past or future, the true stewards of the forest, tasked with raising global awareness about the rapid destruction of their ancestral home.

In the launch video, we witness the team’s preparation in their tribal community, showcasing their adeptness behind the wheel of 4×4 vehicles as they navigate the parched riverbeds of the Amazon Basin. Ultimately, the team delivers a poignant message: they do not wish for this rally to materialize, as its existence signifies the potential disappearance of the Amazon as they know it, a place that has been their ancestral homeland for millennia.

“Don’t sponsor” – The “Amazon Desert Rally” initiative serves as a clarion call for immediate action to preserve one of our planet’s most invaluable natural treasures. “Have you ever paused to contemplate the origin of the wood used in the furniture adorning your home, like the chair you’re currently seated on? Often, we fail to acknowledge our responsibility as consumers and as members of society at large. By eschewing Amazonian resources, even within our homes, we can contribute to forest preservation – hence our motto, ‘Don’t sponsor this race.’ That’s why all stages of the Stock Car have zero carbon emissions. And there’s much more on the horizon,” remarks Fernando Julianelli, CEO of Vicar, the category’s promoter.

“Devoid of water and devoid of forest, humanity will lack the vitality to rally,” asserts Almir Surui, president of the Paiter Surui territory and UN-appointed Forest Hero.

“A rally evokes a sense of adventure, where nature should reign supreme. Yet, without forests or flowing rivers, we face a future devoid of warmth, replaced by the coldness of steel,” reflects Paulo Moutinho, senior researcher at IPAM (Amazon Environmental Research Institute).

Utilizing data from Acre, Amazonas, Rondônia, and Roraima, the study published in Nature identified 142,000 hectares of illegal deforestation during the study period, representing 38% of the total. This means that the Amazon lost an area of forest equivalent to the city of São Paulo to illegal logging in just one year.

This rally is hypothetical. But the reality of dried-up rivers is not.

For more information, please visit the website: https://www.amazondesertrally.com/index.php

Zip Co. Charges Through the Pack as Sonoma Raceway’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Entitlement Sponsor

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Official Release
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Introducing the Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250

SONOMA, Calif. (April 24, 2024) – Zip, the innovative digital financial services company, has been named the official entitlement sponsor for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday, June 8. The race is part of a three-day lineup for one of the biggest sports weekends of the year in Northern California.

The sponsorship marks Zip’s entry into the automotive industry and includes naming rights for Saturday’s Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race, which fields NASCAR’s rising stars on one of the toughest road courses on the NASCAR circuit for a pivotal 156-mile battle. Both veteran and up-and-coming drivers will be learning the nuances of the freshly-repaved road course at Sonoma Raceway, so an exciting afternoon of racing is anticipated.

“We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Speedway Motorsports, a pivotal move in Zip’s expansion into the entertainment & automotive industry,” said Zip Co-Founder and U.S. CEO Larry Diamond. “The next generation of consumers are choosing buy now, pay later as a more flexible payment alternative, and Zip is leading the charge. This sponsorship will not only enhance access to essential automotive components and services but also deliver unforgettable experiences to racing fans across the nation.”

“We eagerly look forward to working with Zip Co. as the new entitlement sponsor for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Sonoma Raceway,” said Sonoma Raceway Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Flynn. “Zip Co.’s vision to expand its customer base through motorsports mirrors our own dedication to attracting diverse audiences to the thrilling world of racing.”

The Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 isn’t just about the exhilarating racing action, it’s about creating unforgettable memories for fans of all ages. With pulse-pounding action on the track and interactive experiences throughout, the Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 promises something for everyone.

Weekend packages for three full days of racing, music and entertainment at Sonoma Raceway start at just $105. Adult tickets for the Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 on Saturday, June 8, start at just $40, while kids 12 and under get in free. Visit www.sonomaraceway.com for complete details, schedules and ticket information. Call 800-870-7223 [RACE] for ticket information.

About Zip

ASX-listed Zip Co Limited (ASX: ZIP) is a digital financial services company offering innovative, people-centered products that bring customers and merchants together. Operating in two core markets – Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) and the Americas, Zip offers point-of-sale digital payment services connecting millions of customers with its global network of tens of thousands of merchants.

Founded in Australia in 2013, Zip provides access to fair, flexible and transparent payment options, helping customers to take control of their financial future and helping merchants to grow their businesses. Zip is also a licensed and regulated credit provider and is committed to responsible lending. For more information, visit: www.zip.co. US loans through the Zip app and Zip Checkout are originated by WebBank, except for Zip-originated loans in CO, NV, MA, and MD.

Sonoma Raceway is a 2.52-mile and 12-turn road course and quarter-mile drag strip located at Sears Point in Sonoma County, California. Built in 1968 the track is carved into rolling hills with 160 ft of total elevation change. It is host to one of the few NASCAR Cup Series races each year that are run on road courses. It is one of the world’s busiest racing facilities, with track activity scheduled an average of 340 days a year. A complete and versatile motorsports complex, it is home to one of the nation’s only high-performance automotive industrial parks with approximately 70 tenants.

PATRICK EMERLING PARTNERS WITH GOONTAPE AT DOVER

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Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, NC, April 24, 2024 – NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Patrick Emerling announced today that Goontape will join him as primary marketing partner for this weekend’s BetRivers 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Dover Motor Speedway.

“Goontape is absolutely fired up to be sponsoring Patrick Emerling and his number 07 SS-GreenLight Racing Ford Mustang this weekend at Dover International Raceway for the NASCAR Xfinity Series BetRivers 200! Patrick and his team are huge supporters of Goontape and what we stand for, and we cannot be more excited to cheer him on as he battles for the checkered flag,” said Goontape president Adam Totter. “Give ‘em hell, Pat!”

If you’re a tactical athlete looking for an edge, Goontape’s moisture activated Raid Tape has you covered. It’s made from an ultra soft blend of natural and synthetic fibers to help keep you on-target and in the fight, even when the work gets wet. It’s also made proudly in America so you know it won’t quit until the job is done – just like you. It’s Soft Tape for Rough Work! Raid Responsibly…

Feebs Distilling will join Goontape as an associate sponsor for the BetRivers 200. Feebs Distilling is a craft distillery that produces fine brandies (apple, blueberry, blackberry, peach and strawberry), as well as Unaged Korn Whiskey, Aged Whiskey and Bourbon, using the freshest local ingredients. Samples, bottles and merchandise are available for purchase in their tasting room in Milford, DE. Bottles are available in many area stores.

“Huge thanks to Goontape and Feebs Distilling for coming on board this weekend! Those guys are a lot of fun, and they both offer high-quality products that I’m proud to represent,” said Emerling. “I had a strong run last weekend until I was caught up in Big One. I’m looking to build on that momentum this weekend and earn a strong finish that matches how hard my team at SS-GreenLight Racing and I have been working.”

Additionally, Emerling will welcome back season-long partners SimForge (https://simforge.in/), which sells sim racing equipment and accessories; and Frontline Optics, a San Diego sunglasses brand owned by a retired firefighter.

The green flag drops for the BetRivers 200 at Dover Motor Speedway at 1:30 p.m. EST. You can catch the race on FS1, PRN and SiriusXM.

For more information on Patrick Emerling, visit https://www.patrickemerlingracing.com/ or follow him on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PatrickEmerling07), X (https://twitter.com/PatrickEmerling) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/patrickemerling/).

To learn more about Goontape, visit them online at https://goontape.com/.

Spire Motorsports Wurth 400 Race Advance

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Official Release
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  • In 10 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) races at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway, Spire Motorsports has logged one top-15 and two top-20 finishes. Corey LaJoie, driver of the No. 7 Gainbridge Chevy Camaro earned a team-best 14th-place finish last May at the Monster Mile. The Mooresville, N.C., team fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NCS with LaJoie, and fellow drivers Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar, respectively.
  • The Würth 400 from Dover Motor Speedway will be televised live on FS1 Sunday, April 28, beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The 11th of 36 races on the 2024 NCS schedule will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. NASCAR RaceDay’s pre-race coverage on FS1 will take the green flag at 1 p.m. EDT.

Corey LaJoie – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Corey LaJoie heads to Dover Motor Speedway behind the wheel of the No. 7 Gainbridge Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.
  • Lajoie started 31st and finished 18th last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.
  • LaJoie is a former Dover winner in ARCA Menards Series East (formerly K&N Pro Series East) competition. The third-generation racer started on the outside pole in the American Real TV 150, led 42 laps and went on to collect his sixth win of the 2012 season behind the wheel of his family-owned No. 07 entry. He made five ARCA Menards East starts at the Monster Mile from 2009-2015 and recorded one win, three top-five and four top top-10 finishes.
  • Gainbridge Insurance Agency, LLC (“Gainbridge”), a Group 1001 company, is an insurtech which strives to offer products that are simple, intuitive, and backed by smart technology with no complexity or hidden fees. Gainbridge empowers consumers to take control of their financial future with solutions that are accessible to everyone no matter their budget or financial knowledge. Gainbridge’s digital-first distribution model underpins its mission to reach all communities, including those that have been historically underserved by the national financial system.
  • Sunday’s Würth 400 will mark LaJoie’s 11th NCS start at Dover Motor Speedway and 247th career NCS start.
  • In 10 previous NCS starts at Dover Motor Speedway, LaJoie has logged one top-15 and two top-20 finishes, The Concord, N.C. native has recorded a 29.8 average start, a 26.9 average finish and completed 3.389 of 3,826 laps contested (88.6 percent).
  • Last May, LaJoie started 27th and raced his way to a 14th-place finish in the No. 7 Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE) Chevrolet Camaro.

Corey LaJoie Quotes
Talladega didn’t turn out exactly as planned but you’re heading to Dover this weekend where you had a solid finish last season and a win in 2012. What’s your outlook?
“I’ve had some success at Dover Motor Speedway in the past and having a Miles the Monster trophy on the shelf gives me a little extra boost of confidence. We need to start putting some points on the board to make up for these disappointing results over the last few weeks, so our plan is to put together a respectable finish in our Gainbridge Chevy Camaro and work our way back up the standings.”

Zane Smith – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Zane Smith will make his first NCS start Sunday on the concrete high banks of Dover Motor Speedway driving the No. 71 Focused Health Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports.
  • The one-mile oval is a favorite venue for the 24-year-old Cup Series rookie who took the checkered flag when the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) held its last race at Dover in 2020. He also owns three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts scoring two top-10 finishes at the “Monster Mile.”
  • Smith arrives in Dover after running well at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway last Sunday moving from 30th to 15th in the first 10 laps, then racing in the top-10 for more than 25 laps. He was collected in a late-race incident that left him with a 29th-place finish.
  • Focused Health will serve as the primary sponsor for Smith’s No. 71 Chevrolet. The blue and orange paint scheme represents a health insurance agency that assists consumers and employers in navigating the myriad of health insurance options in the government programs space.
  • Focused Health is a National Health Insurance agency founded by industry veterans with over 60 years combined industry experience. Primarily focused on the government programs space, Focused Health partners with payors and employers to deliver health insurance solutions for individuals and families. For more information visit AtFocusedHealth.com.
  • Race fans can join Smith for a 15-minute Q&A at the pre-race stage on the frontstretch Sunday at 11 a.m.

Zane Smith Quotes
Are you looking forward to racing at Dover again this weekend?
“Dover is one of my favorite tracks to race. I have a win there in the Truck Series and a couple top-10s in the Xfinity Series. It is a track that I know really well and had some success. I know my team is going to bring a fast car this week, just like they do every week. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish at Dover.”

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No.77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Carson Hocevar will make his first NCS start at Dover Motor Speedway in Sunday’s Würth 400 driving the No. 77 Premier Security Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports.
  • Hocevar started 35th and finished 17th in last Sunday’s Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. The top-20 effort marked Hocevar’s sixth top-20 finish of 2024.
  • Premier Security is a long-time supporter of Hocevar’s career. The Flint, Mich.-headquartered organization has been prominently featured alongside Hocevar dating to his time racing short tracks in the pavement late model ranks.
  • From the famous bricks of Saginaw Street in Flint, Mich., to industrial, residential, and commercial sites across North America, Premier Security Solutions has built an unmatched standard of security. Today, Premier has taken steps to advance technology and utilize new tools to combat theft and become an anti-crime organization. Premier’s Global Security Operations Center is a state-of-the-art facility, working around the clock to protect assets, corporations, schools, and families.
  • Premier deploys more than 1,000 guards around the country and protects homes, families, executive-level leaders, and major corporations. Premier’s team of retired law enforcement professionals protects more than 50 school buildings and high net-worth families, delivering an unparalleled level of service. Premier prides itself on a standard of service ensuring its customers receive the protection and peace of mind they deserve.
  • In his lone NCTS start at Dover Motor Speedway, Hocevar started 20th and finished 12th in 2020’s KDI Office Technology 200.
  • Hocevar leads the NCS Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings and is currently 21st in the division’s championship points. Over the course of the season’s first 10 races, the 21-year-old has notched one top-10 and three top-15 finishes.
  • The Portage, Mich., driver logged four NCTS wins in 2023 and finished third in the series’ championship point standings.
  • Hocevar is featured on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. ET following each race to discuss his NCS rookie season.

Carson Hocevar Quotes
We’re back at a mile track this week and you’ve only raced Dover Motor Speedway once before in your career. How are you feeling about this week?
“It was fun when I got to run there a handful of years ago so I am excited to go back and even more excited to run our Premier Security Chevrolet. I feel like we should be pretty sporty. We have speed at these types of tracks and (crew chief) Luke (Lambert) feels very confident. I also feel good about our race cars and what we bring to the track. I’m hoping we can have another solid day and just continue to rack up the points and better our finishes.”

From the Top of the Box

Ryan Sparks – Crew Chief, No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Ryan Sparks serves in a dual role as both Spire Motorsports competition director and crew chief for driver Corey LaJoie and the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro in the NCS.
  • Sparks, a Winston-Salem, N.C., native, has been paired with LaJoie since 2020.
  • Combined, Sparks and LaJoie have earned four top-five and seven top-10 finishes, including a fourth-place finish in the 2024 Daytona 500.

Stephen Doran – Crew Chief, No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Stephen Doran begins his first full season as a Cup Series crew chief leading Zane Smith and the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet team during the 2024 season.
  • In 2006, Doran got his start in NASCAR at Petty Enterprises.
  • Prior to his arrival at Spire Motorsports, Doran worked at Stewart-Haas Racing as an engineer, most recently on the No. 4 car driven by Kevin Harvick.

Luke Lambert – Crew Chief, No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Luke Lambert is the crew chief for Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 team with 2024 NCS Rookie of the Year candidate Carson Hocevar
  • The 2005 North Carolina State graduate has led the competition efforts for some of the sport’s most notable names including Jeff Burton, Ryan Newman, Elliott Sadler and Chris Buescher.
  • In 2014, Lambert led Newman to a berth in the Championship 4, and ultimately a runner-up finish in the NCS championship point standings.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports is a NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2024, Spire Motorsports will campaign the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series with drivers Corey LaJoie, Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar, respectively. The team will also field the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados full time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. An all-star driver lineup will rotate throughout the 2024 season in the No. 7 Chevy. Rajah Caruth will drive the No. 71 entry and Chase Purdy rounds out the team’s fleet of Chevrolets in the No. 77.

Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on April 12, 2024, when Kyle Busch took the took the checkered flag in the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Announces Nominees for NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2025

By
Official Release
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Biffle, Dorton, Sprague, Hendrick and Welborn join ballot for the first time

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 24, 2024) — NASCAR today announced the 15 nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 and the five nominees for the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.

Greg Biffle, the first driver to win both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship joins the Modern Era ballot alongside legendary engine builder Randy Dorton and three-time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion Jack Sprague. “Mr. Modified” Ray Hendrick and three-time Convertible Division champion Bob Welborn join the Pioneer ballot for the first time. In addition, Larry Phillips was nominated to the Pioneer ballot after appearing on the Modern Era ballot the maximum 10 times.

Two Modern Era candidates and one Pioneer candidate will be elected as the Class of 2025. The Pioneer ballot honors those whose careers began more than 60 years ago.

Dr. Dean Sickling, who invented the SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barrier which has saved countless lives, joins the Landmark Award ballot for the first time. The Landmark Award honors those who made significant contributions to the growth and esteem of NASCAR.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel will meet in person to discuss and vote for the Class of 2025 and Landmark Award on Tuesday, May 21. The winners of a NASCAR.com Fan Vote (www.nascar.com/halloffame) will comprise the final ballot tallied. The Fan Vote is currently open and will close on May 19 at 12 p.m. ET.

The Modern Era Ballot and Landmark Award nominees were selected by the Nomination Committee, which consists of representatives from NASCAR and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks. The Honors Committee, largely comprised of all living Hall of Famers, Landmark Award winners and Squier-Hall Award winners, selected the Pioneer Ballot.

Following are the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2025 nominees and Landmark Award nominees:

Modern Era Ballot

Greg Biffle, 2000 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion and 2002 Xfinity Series champion

Neil Bonnett, won 18 times in the NASCAR Cup Series including consecutive Coca-Cola 600 victories

Tim Brewer, two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief

Jeff Burton, won 21 times in the NASCAR Cup Series including the Southern 500 and two Coca-Cola 600s

Randy Dorton, built engines that won nine championships across NASCAR’s national series

Carl Edwards, winner of 28 NASCAR Cup Series races and 2007 Xfinity Series champion

Harry Gant, winner of 18 NASCAR Cup Series races, including two Southern 500 victories

Harry Hyde, 1970 NASCAR Cup Series championship crew chief

Ricky Rudd, won 23 times in NASCAR Cup Series, including the 1997 Brickyard 400

Jack Sprague, three-time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion

Pioneer Ballot

Ray Hendrick, won over 700 times in NASCAR Modified and Late Model Sportsman

Banjo Matthews, built cars that won more than 250 NASCAR Cup Series races and three championships

Ralph Moody, two-time NASCAR Cup Series owner champion as mechanical genius of Holman-Moody

Larry Phillips, first five-time NASCAR weekly series national champion

Bob Welborn, three-time Convertible Division champion

Landmark Award

Alvin Hawkins, NASCAR’s first flagman; established NASCAR racing at Bowman Gray Stadium with Bill France Sr.

Lesa France Kennedy, NASCAR Executive Vice Chair and one of the most influential women in sports

Dr. Joseph Mattioli, founder of Pocono Raceway

Dr. Dean Sicking, inventor of the SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barrier

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