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CHEVROLET INDYCAR AT INDIANAPOLIS: ROMAIN GROSJEAN Media Day Press Conference Transcript

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Official Release
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CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
108TH RUNNING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS 500
MEDIA DAY TRANSCRIPT
MAY 23, 2024

ROMAIN GROSJEAN, driver of the No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, met with the media on Indianapolis 500 Media Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Press Conference Transcript:

THE MODERATOR: Continuing on with Row 9 with the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500. Starting 26th, making his third Indy 500 start, driver of the No. 77, Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, Romain Grosjean.

Romain, how has your week gone?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: Sunny (laughter).

No, I mean, last week was not as good as we wanted in qualifying, but I think Monday we got to a better place with the car. Obviously I wish we were driving a little bit more rather than sitting around. I guess we have a last taste on Friday, then let’s see when we race actually. Let’s see what the weather does for us.

Q. Romain, when you first came to the series, I think you were not real keen on ovals. Where are you now? Why was it so daunting to turn left?

ROMAIN GROSJEAN: I came here after something that was pretty significant in my life and in my family’s and friends’ lives. The first year not doing ovals was a mark of respect to my family because ovals are dangerous. You can put it anywhere you want to put it, when you drive a car 230 miles an hour next to a wall, I have had two impacts here in the last two years. We do as much as we can in motorsports for safety, but they’re dangerous. Definitely on the high end out of that.

Out of respect, I think the first year was the right decision not to do them. As a competitor, I want to do them. I want to be here. I must admit that this week, even though qualifying we didn’t have the speed, which nothing you can do about as a driver, which is very, very annoying, qualifying is all an engineering race. It felt like in traffic the car has came alive over the last couple sessions, and I feel good.

I’m here doing the best we can for Juncos Hollinger Racing and myself. I think I’m very fortunate to be racing the Indy 500, and in a month’s time, I’ll be in Le Mans 24 Hours with Lamborghini in the Hypercar. On the résumé of a driver, that’s pretty bad ass.

Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

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.

CHEVROLET INDYCAR AT INDIANAPOLIS: CONOR DALY Media Day Press Conference Transcript

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Official Release
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CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
108TH RUNNING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS 500
MEDIA DAY TRANSCRIPT
MAY 23, 2024

CONOR DALY, driver of the No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing with Cusick Motorsports Chevrolet, met with the media on Indianapolis 500 Media Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Press Conference Transcript:

THE MODERATOR: Starting 29th, makes his 11th Indianapolis 500 start, driver of the No. 24 Polka Dot Chevrolet with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

What has your race week been like so far?

CONOR DALY: Great question. It’s been wonderful. Nice and warm, the weather’s beautiful, as I’m sure it will be continuing this weekend.

It’s been fun, a lot going on. Very busy. That must mean something great. A lot of good vibes. Vibes are good.

THE MODERATOR: You feel good going into tomorrow?

CONOR DALY: I do. I asked my engineer. He said we will get in Carb Day. I just want one or two more things to evaluate that we didn’t get to do on Monday because we couldn’t run the second half of the session just out of kind of a precautionary measure.

Yeah, just want a couple more things, couple more things out the car. Honestly, I think we’ve kind of been low-key pretty good and kind of sneaking under the radar, I hope. It feels good. Car’s fast. I mean, certainly one way to go, can’t go much further back, so we’re going to go forward.

Q. Conor, you seem to be just really friendly with everybody here. You have the podcast. You have a relationship with a lot of the drivers. You have experience at the 500. Have you talked to a lot of the first-time drivers this year telling them what to expect?

CONOR DALY: I mean, I don’t think as much this year only because I haven’t been around the paddock at all until this month. That’s obviously a little bit different.

I’m going to be honest with anybody, you know what I mean?

I’ve talked to Kyle a little bit, but not really only about racing. He asked me if I stole his scooter. I don’t know if anyone else is looking at me for advice or anything.

I had a great interview with Nolan Siegel yesterday. It was a tough weekend for him. I’ll talk to anyone. Obviously, I don’t mind. I just like talking about this event. This is the coolest thing in the world we get to do.

Not sharing too much with people is probably the goal. Like, Marcus Armstrong is a guy I’ve talked to a lot. Seeing his face, it’s kind of like, this is crazy what we’re doing. Yeah, man, welcome to the show. This is it, what we’re doing every year. It’s kind of wild. To see their reaction is actually kind of cool.

I remember having the same reaction many years ago now when I was a rookie. I remember having the same — I was like, Marco Andretti, when I was a rookie, I was like, dude, this is kind of nuts. And he was like, yeah, welcome to the game, this what is we do here. Kind of cool.

Q. You have a unique perspective with this being your only INDYCAR race of the year. How do you go about preparing for it from a mental and physical standpoint?

CONOR DALY: I mean, they say go big or go home. I’m literally going big and still going home afterwards. I have no other choice other than to leave it all on the table.

I love this event. It doesn’t really feel as much as if — when I showed up at St. Louis with the Rahal team, it was one practice session, then we’re racing. We’ve had a bit of time to get used to this team. We’ve had some practice sessions, couple days of qualifying, a lot of time to bond and get used to what I want. It’s definitely unique in that sense.

Monday practice, I’m just trying to run race stints because I haven’t done a race length yet this year. Physically you have to get yourself ready and more in tune with that. I wish we had more practice last week ’cause that would have been nice. Still, this event gives you more time than any other event to kind of get in the system again, get your body and mind kind of in tune with what you’re going to need for Sunday.

Q. Everybody talks about how much they love this event. Seems like you might have a greater appreciation for it because you’re from here. How do you go about not taking it for granted?

CONOR DALY: I mean, it never gets old. The butterflies every morning, wanting to stay here, the bus lot. Still that feeling is incredible.

I’ve seen this event, it’s always been the same car for me technically, just different shapes of the car, but I feel like I’ve seen many different eras of this event. I’ve been part of the hundredth running of the Indy 500, coolest thing ever to say. I’ve been here when Alex Rossi won the hundredth, all this cool stuff. It’s been amazing and it never gets old. Something exciting and cool every year.

I want to make history here, too. That would be really awesome. I love it. Never gets old. I just hope I can keep doing this for a long time, maybe as long as my teammate, Ryan. He’s in his 40s, right? Hopefully I got that many years in me, too. That would be pretty cool.

Q. Compared to previous years, what is your level of confidence going into Carb Day and the race this year? How different is it compared to the past seasons?

CONOR DALY: Yeah, honestly, when we did Fast Friday, that was the first time in a week where I was like, Oh, we might have — something’s going on here. The car was definitely difficult to drive.

Usually there is a reason for that happening. What I felt turns out was accurate after we looked at the data that night. Saturday morning we go out, we’re right back in the window. When you’re in Fast Friday and the car is loose, physically sideways in the corner, you’re like, this is probably not great. The next morning when you go out and you can do four laps, cool, we’re back. It was the same all during qualifying day on Saturday.

We actually were behind because of how difficult Fast Friday was. You maybe don’t run it as trim. We hope we fixed the problem, but if we didn’t, we don’t want to make an irresponsible decision.

Thankfully we probably could have run a little bit more trim, more aggressive qualifying day. We obviously know what happened on qualifying day anyway, which prevented us from being a little bit further up.

Other than Fast Friday, we’ve been really confident every day. I’ve honestly been impressed with this Dreyer Reinbold Cusick team. Everyone from Chevrolet has been super helpful for us, as well. As a one-time entrant, it’s tough to show up to the big game here and be right in the gate. We have cars in the Fast 12, two cars that are really fast. That’s really impressive yet again from Dennis and everyone at the team.

I feel great. I feel very confident. I wouldn’t lie to everyone clearly. I’ve been very honest, probably too honest, in my life. We’re pretty stoked about this weekend.

Q. Larson’s scooter, has there not been any driver bus lot pranks at all this month?

CONOR DALY: It’s been quiet in there. I don’t know what’s going on. Maybe we’re all just focused. It’s kind of sad. I sleep better at night, though (smiling).

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.

RFK Announces Partnership with Lumafield as Part of RFK TeK Alliance

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Official Release
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Lumafield to Implement Industry-Leading Neptune Industrial X-Ray CT Scanner Technology

CONCORD, N.C. (May 23, 2024) – RFK Racing is excited to announce a new official partnership with Lumafield, which will join the RFK TeK Alliance family of partners. Lumafield will equip RFK Racing with its industry-leading Neptune Industrial X-Ray CT Scanner technology. This advanced technology will enable RFK Racing to gain a deeper understanding of part quality, proactively identifying potential issues and flaws before they impact performance on the racetrack.

Combined with Lumafield’s innovative Voyager software, this system provides RFK Racing’s engineers with unprecedented insight into blind assembly issues, material and manufacturing flaws, and many other aspects previously beyond the reach of existing technologies. Additionally, the introduction of Atlas, an AI co-pilot for engineers, will further enhance the sophistication and accuracy of these insights, marking a new era of innovation in motorsports.

“This partnership represents a monumental leap forward for RFK Racing as we strive to become the technological leaders in motorsports,” said Kevin Kidd, RFK’s Director of Software and Analytics. “Lumafield’s unparalleled products offer capabilities that are second to none, and access to these innovations gives us a significant advantage in the current era of NASCAR racing. We are thrilled to embark on this journey with Lumafield.”

“We are excited to partner with RFK Racing, a team that shares our dedication to speed, performance, and engineering excellence,” said Eduardo Torrealba, Co-Founder and CEO of Lumafield. “Lumafield exists to help engineers do their best work, faster than ever, and we look forward to helping RFK set new standards both on and off the track.”

About RFK Racing
RFK Racing, in its 37th season in 2024, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

U.S. AIR FORCE GENERAL MINIHAN NAMED GRAND MARSHAL FOR ENJOY ILLINOIS 300

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Official Release
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U.S. Air Force General Mike Minihan will provide the start command as Grand Marshal for the upcoming Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill. Photo credit: USAF.

USAF General Mike Minihan, Commander at Illinois’ Scott Air Force Base, will give the start command for the NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, June 2.

MADISON, Ill. (May 23, 2024) – U.S. Air Force (USAF) General Mike Minihan, Commander of the Air Mobility Command at Illinois’ Scott Air Force Base, has been named the Grand Marshal for the Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, June 2 at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Minihan will serve as the race dignitary who will deliver the command to the drivers to start their engines for the third running of the Enjoy Illinois 300 beginning at 2:30 p.m. CT (TV: FS1, Radio: MRN, SiriusXM).

“I am grateful for the opportunity to represent the Air Force as Grand Marshal during the NASCAR Cup Series race,” General Minihan said. “From the roar of the jets to the roar of the engines, both embody the spirit of teamwork, precision and unwavering dedication. It’s an honor to serve during this thrilling display of speed, skill and patriotism.”

Minihan leads the command at Scott Air Force Base that serves as U.S. Transportation Command’s air component, executing the air mobility mission in support of the joint force, allies and partners with a fleet of nearly 1,100 aircraft. The command encompasses Eighteenth Air Force, the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, the 618th Air Operations Center, 17 wings and two groups, which provide rapid global mobility from more than 100 locations worldwide.

Nearly 107,000 active-duty Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve Airmen and civilians comprise the air mobility Total Force, providing command and control of inter-theater and intra-theater airlift, air refueling, aeromedical evacuation, global air mobility support, and presidential and senior leader air transport in support of national interests.

Minihan has held several joint, combined and Air Force staff assignments, including Deputy Commander for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command prior to his current position.

Minihan, a 35-year USAF veteran, has earned numerous Joint and Air Force decorations including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, three Legions of Merit, six Air Medals, and seven Aerial Achievement Medals. His Joint and Air Force organizational awards recognizing team excellence include the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Republic of Korea Cheonsu Medal and Order of Saint Maurice.

The Enjoy Illinois 300 highlights a NASCAR doubleheader weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway. The Cup Series race will be paired with the Toyota 200 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race scheduled for Saturday, June 1 at 12:30 p.m. On-track action begins Friday, May 31 with practice and qualifying for the Toyota 200. Cup Series practice and qualifying will take place on Saturday. Click HERE for the full weekend schedule. For tickets and more information, please visit www.wwtraceway.com.

Wings Etc. is all systems go to sponsor Jeremy Clements Racing in NASCAR® Xfinity® Series for fourth year

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Official Release
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Clements’ friendship with Wings Etc. franchisee fuels winning partnership

FORT WAYNE, Ind.—Wings Etc. is thrilled to power NASCAR® Xfinity® Series driver Jeremy Clements and his #51 Chevy Camaro SS again this year at the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis on July 20, and the Cabo Wabo 250 at Michigan International Speedway on August 17.

This marks the fourth year that #51 has sported the Wings Etc. logo as it takes to the track.

The dynamic partnership sprang from a real-life connection between Spartanburg, S.C., native Clements and Boiling Springs, S.C., franchisee Scott McFalls.

McFalls says Clements and his brother would often dine at his restaurant. One night the pair was there listening to a band; McFalls went up to the front of the packed room to watch, and the Clements brothers offered him a seat. During intermission, talk turned to sponsorship opportunities.

McFalls wasn’t sure that he could participate as a single-store franchisee. “I said, you know, I don’t know that I want to pay X amount of dollars and get this little three-inch sticker put right behind the tire,” McFalls said.

But Clements is as driven off the track as he is behind the wheel. “I said, let’s just talk. I feel like it’s not as bad as you think it is.

“It didn’t take much, to be honest,” Clements said of persuading McFalls. “In the store he’s got pictures of all the baseball teams and all the different people he’s helped. So he loves to help people. He’s a good guy. It made a good-looking race car too, for sure.”

Clements is grateful to have a national brand like the 80-unit Wings Etc. on #51. “It means the world — that’s how I make a living and how that 51 goes fast,” he says. “It’s very special to me. So I want to make it special for them.”

The feeling is mutual. Now the Indianapolis and Michigan race days are a regular celebration at McFalls’ Wings Etc. location. At the start of the season, they even served a custom beer, 51 Racing Fuel, a lager brewed by Spartanburg, South Carolina-based RJ Rockers Brewing Company, before it sold out.

And while the Wings Etc. corporate brand backs Clements at the Indy and Michigan tracks, McFalls also sponsors a third race, this year kicking off the Jeremy Clements Racing Xfinity® Series season at Phoenix Raceway. Without a track nearby to provide an influx of fans at his restaurant on race day, McFalls hosts a watch party for all the hometown fans.

When he’s in town, Clements still frequents the Boiling Springs Wings Etc. “I like the wrap for lunch,” he says. “And if I’m gonna go in there for dinner, watch the game or something with the boys, we’re going to drink some ice cold beer and eat some wings. I like spicy!”

Jeremy Clements Racing is a small, family run team carrying on the tradition established by Jeremy’s grandfather, famed NASCAR owner and renowned engine builder Crawford Clements. Jeremy’s uncle, Louis Clements, was a Championship Crew Chief with Rex White. And Jeremy’s dad, Tony Clements, continues to run Clements Automotive, a leader in racing and performance engine building. Jeremy’s sister books the hotels and travel, and his mom cleans the pit crew suits every week.

“We’re all digging away to make it work for 33 weeks out of the year,” Clements says. “It’s a long, grueling season for sure.”
Wings Etc. is happy to back the effort. “We’re very excited to be on board with Jeremy Clements for a fourth year,” says Wings Etc. CEO Rob Hensmann. “Supporting the people in our communities is an important value for Wings Etc., and we love sharing our fans’ enthusiasm for the energy that Jeremy brings to NASCAR Xfinity races.”

“Being a part of the Wings Etc. family is special,” Clements says. “They work their tails off and do a phenomenal job of bringing a fun atmosphere to a great restaurant. I just love them, and they love racing. So it’s a win-win for everybody. It’s way more than just a sponsorship. It’s a friendship.”

Wings cookout raises funds for St. Jude

Fans are invited to join Wings Etc. in the infield of Michigan International Speedway on August 16–17 where, starting around 7 p.m., Wings Etc. leadership will be cooking the brand’s famous award-winning boneless wings. The wings are free; fans can make a donation for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in return. The event continues each evening until the wings are gone.

About Wings Etc. Grill & Pub

Wings Etc. is proud to celebrate 30 years of growth and good times this year. Founded in 1994 by Jim Weaver in northern Indiana, Wings Etc. is a family-friendly grill and pub featuring award-winning jumbo Buffalo wings, 21 signature sauces and rubs, dozens of TVs tuned to sports programming and a casual, non-corporate-y, laid-back vibe that makes people want to just come in and hang out. See wingsetc.com.
With 80 corporate and franchise locations, Wings Etc. has been listed among Entrepreneur magazine’s “Top 500 Franchises” every year since 2021 and was included in the magazine’s “Top Five Best Sports Bars” in 2021. It has been named one of Franchise Business Review’s “Top Food Franchises” every year since 2020 and a “Top 200 Franchise” every year since 2019. Wings Etc. has been included in Franchise Gator’s “Top 100 Franchises” seven times since 2014 and its “Fastest Growing Franchises” seven times since 2016; it was among the “Top Emerging Franchises” in 2023. It has been named a “Top 400 Franchise” by Franchise Times every year since 2021 and a “Top 500 Franchise” by Nation’s Restaurant News every year since 2021. See www.wingsetcfranchise.com.

The Wings Etc. Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to improving children’s lives. See www.wingsetcfoundation.com.
©2024 Wings Etc., Inc. Franchises independently owned and operated.

INDYCAR ButtKicker iRacing Pro Series To Debut in September

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Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, May 23, 2024) – iRacing, INDYCAR and ButtKicker announced May 23 the creation of the inaugural INDYCAR ButtKicker iRacing Pro Series, set to debut in September.

With a total prize pool of $50,000, the top open-wheel sim racers in the world will compete starting Sept. 19 in a series that features many of the INDYCAR SERIES’ most exciting venues. Each race will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET Thursdays via iRacing social channels and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES YouTube channel and website.

“The INDYCAR ButtKicker iRacing Pro Series is the latest exciting development in iRacing’s renewed relationship with INDYCAR,” iRacing President Tony Gardner said. “For years, iRacers have clamored for a top INDYCAR eSports series, and with the support of ButtKicker, we’re putting together an awesome inaugural campaign for 2024. We expect fierce competition as top sim racers go for $50,000 in one of our most exciting series yet!”

The creation of the first INDYCAR-based eSports series for professional sim racers on iRacing comes after a new licensing agreement signed between the two companies earlier this year. The new series joins the iRacing INDY 500, one of iRacing’s most popular special events, as one of the most prominent partnerships between the two brands. It also becomes the latest professional iRacing eSports series to be managed in conjunction with one of the world’s premier racing series, joining efforts with NASCAR, Porsche, the World of Outlaws and more.

“INDYCAR is pleased to join forces with iRacing and ButtKicker for an all-new pro eSports series later this year, INDYCAR Senior Manager of Marketing Ben Hendricks said. “Kicking off just after the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion is crowned on track at Nashville, this new series will bring the excitement of INDYCAR into the virtual world and give our fans a new set of racing heroes to cheer for this fall.”

Qualifying for the INDYCAR ButtKicker iRacing Pro Series will commence in July and August. More information on the qualifying series and both series schedules will be released in the coming months. For more information on iRacing and for special offers, visit www.iRacing.com.

“We’re thrilled to partner with INDYCAR and iRacing to launch the inaugural INDYCAR ButtKicker iRacing Pro Series,” said Andrew Luden, head of gaming, The Guitammer Company. “INDYCAR is the pinnacle of open-wheel racing with drivers competing across high-speed ovals to technical street circuits all while driving at the limits of performance.

“ButtKicker products provide sim racers with true haptic feedback to push their limits, powered by iRacing’s world-class simulation platform. By partnering with INDYCAR and iRacing, the skill, grit and excitement of sim racing at the highest level will reach more fans than ever and highlight how everyone from pros to new sim racers can ‘Drive Better with ButtKicker.’”

About iRacing

The world leader in the online racing simulation and gaming market, iRacing was founded in 2003 by Dave Kaemmer, co-founder of Papyrus Design Group, and John Henry, principal owner of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool Football Club and co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing. iRacing has developed dozens of formal partnerships in the motorsport industry to help create the most authentic racing simulation in the world, including with NASCAR, INDYCAR, the FIA, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, and numerous other car manufacturers, tracks, and racing series. Alongside its PC simulation, iRacing owns two additional game studios and produces the official console games of NASCAR (beginning in 2025) and the World of Outlaws, as well as the fantasy off-road racing game ExoCross. Learn more at www.iRacing.com.

About The Guitammaer Company

For over 20 years The Guitammer Company’s’ ButtKicker® brand products have been trusted worldwide to provide innovative and immersive tactile feedback. The award-winning line of ButtKicker brand haptic transducers let users feel low-frequency sound (bass). ButtKicker products’ patented design makes them musically accurate, powerful, and virtually indestructible.ButtKicker products are used PC and Console Gamers, used and endorsed by professional race drivers, and sim racers worldwide. ButtKicker products are also used by entertainment and theater companies in movie theaters and attractions, by world-famous musicians, in home theaters, and more. Feel the immersion – it’s Better with ButtKicker.

Burton, DEX Imaging Team To Honor The Memory Of Navy SEAL Chris Campbell At Charlotte

By
Official Release
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During the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the NASCAR community through its 600 Miles of Remembrance program once again will honor the memory of those who laid down their lives in service to the United States of America.

Harrison Burton and the No. 21 DEX Imaging team has chosen to honor the memory of Navy SEAL Christopher George Campbell, who died on Aug. 6, 2011, when the Chinook helicopter carrying him and 29 others was shot down by insurgents as it was returning from a mission in Afghanistan.

There were no survivors, and the loss of life was the most ever in a single incident in Naval Special Warfare history.

The DEX Imaging Mustang Dark Horse will have Campbell’s name on the windshield and also will carry a patriotic red, white and blue paint scheme this weekend.

Crew chief Jeremy Bullins said he’s proud of the way the team is honoring Chief Petty Officer Campbell and those who died in service to their country.

“The design group knocked it out of the park this week with our red, white and blue DEX Mustang Dark Horse,” Bullins said. “It’s an honor every year for us to proudly display the name of a service member that gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect our nation.

“It certainly puts things in perspective for us as a race team, and I hope we can have a great race in their honor.”

According to news reports, Campbell grew up in Jacksonville, N.C., and was a 1993 graduate of White Oak High School.

Even at an early age, Campbell was known to have no fear and had an adventurous nature. Few were surprised when he became a Navy SEAL.

Campbell, who was a Special Operations Capability Specialist at the time of his death and had earned numerous medals for his actions, is survived by his wife Angelina and daughter Samantha, along with other relatives. He had told his family that if he died in the line of duty, he wanted them to request donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, which helps wounded service members recover from their service-related injuries.

Campbell was 36 years old at the time of his death. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Practice for the Coca-Cola 600 is set for Saturday at 5 p.m. Eastern Time to be followed by qualifying at 5:50.

FOX Sports 1 will televise practice and qualifying.

Sunday’s 600-mile, 400-lap race is scheduled to get the green flag just after 6 p.m., with TV coverage on FOX.

Stage breaks are planned for Laps 100, 200 and 300.

About DEX Imaging
DEX Imaging is the digital document imaging division of Staples, the world’s largest business solutions provider. DEX sells and services the broadest selection of copiers, printers and data management solutions, such as HP, Konica Minolta, Canon, Kyocera and numerous others.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES:
Reducing Operating Costs
Reducing Paper Consumption
Increasing Productivity

DEX Imaging has been the recipient of virtually every industry award since the company’s inception, including the JD Power & Associates Award for Best Customer Experience, the prestigious ProTech Service award by Konica Minolta, the Diamond Premier Dealer Award by Kyocera, and the Elite DEALER Award by ‘ENX’ magazine. Other accolades include being named ‘Best Place to Work’ by numerous business journals in the markets DEX serves.

Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.

Weekend Schedule for Charlotte Coca-Cola 600

By
Angie Campbell
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Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

NASCAR is set to race Memorial Day Weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway headlined by the 65th running of the Coca-Cola 600 Sunday night. Once again NASCAR will pay tribute to the Armed Forces with the NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola program.

As part of the program, every NASCAR Cup Series car participating in the Coca-Cola 600 will feature the name of a fallen service member on the windshield and Goodyear tires will feature a special “Honor and Remember” sidewall design. NASCAR and Coca-Cola will also host Gold Star Families who have lost family members as a result of serving.

Team Penske driver, Ryan Blaney, is the defending race winner.

The ARCA Menards Series and the Craftsman Truck Series will compete Friday night as the Xfinity Series takes to the track Saturday afternoon.

Friday, May 24
11:40 a.m.: ARCA Menards Series Practice (Al Entries) Race Center
12:40 p.m.: ARCA Menard Series Qualifying (Impound, Timed, All Entries) Race Center

1:35 p.m.: Truck Series Practice (Timed, All Entries, 20 Minutes) FS1
2:05 p.m.: Truck Series Qualifying (Impound, All Entries, Single Vehicle -1 Lap) FS1

3:35 p.m.: Xfinity Series Practice (Timed, All Entries, 20 Minutes) FS1
4:05 p.m.: Xfinity Series Qualifying (Impound, All Entries, Single Vehicle – 1 Lap) FS1

6 p.m.: ARCA General Tire 150 (100 Laps-150 Miles) FS1/MRN

8:30 p.m.: Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200
Stages 30/60/134 Laps = 201 Miles – FS1/MRN/SiriusXM
Purse: $782,014
NASCAR Press Pass: Post Race

Saturday, May 25
1 p.m.: Xfinity Series BetMGM 300
Stages 45/90/200 Laps = 300 Miles – FOX/PRN/SiriusXM
Purse: $1,383,384
NASCAR Press Pass: Post Race

5:05 p.m.: Cup Series Practice (Groups A & B, 20 Minutes each)
FS1/PRN/SiriusXM
5:50 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying (Impound, Groups A & B, Single Vehicle – 1 Lap/2 Rounds)
FS1/PRN/SiriusXM
NASCAR Press Pass: Post Qualifying

Sunday, May 26
6 p.m.: Cup Series Coca-Cola 600
Stages 100/200/300/400 Laps = 600 Miles
FOX/PRN/SiriusXM
Purse: $9,874,821
NASCAR Press Pass: Post Race

Rick Ware Racing: Justin Haley/Kaz Grala Charlotte Race Advance

By
Official Release
-

JUSTIN HALEY | KAZ GRALA
Charlotte Advance
Event Overview

● Event: Coca-Cola 600 (Round 14 of 36)
● Time/Date: 6 p.m. EDT on Sunday, May 26
● Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway
● Layout: 1.5-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 400 laps/600 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 100 laps / Stage 2: 100 laps / Stage 3: 100 laps / Final Stage: 100 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Justin Haley, Driver of the No. 51 The Cleaning Authority Ford Mustang Dark Horse

● Justin Haley, driver of the No. 51 The Cleaning Authority Ford Mustang Dark Horse, is riding a wave of momentum into the longest race of the year – the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. The 25-year-old earned his best finish of the season two weeks ago at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, a ninth-place result that was also the best finish for Rick Ware Racing (RWR) on a non-superspeedway-type track. He then placed his Ford Mustang Dark Horse on the front row during qualifying for last weekend’s non-points All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway before rain began to fall with the final two cars on track, forcing officials to set the starting grid per the NASCAR rulebook. After starting 16th, Haley powered through the field to finish fourth.

● Sunday’s race will mark Haley’s fourth NASCAR Cup Series start on Charlotte’s 1.5-mile oval. He recorded his best Charlotte Cup Series finish of 15th last year in a Monday of racing that, due to weather Saturday and Sunday, turned out to be round two of a 900-mile Memorial Day doubleheader. Prior to the Cup Series race, Haley started sixth in the 200-lap, 300-mile NASCAR Xfinity Series race and finished 12th.

● Haley has made four total NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Charlotte with a best finish of fifth earned in 2019. He also made two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts on the intermediate oval, earning a best finish of 14th in 2018.

● With 13 Cup Series races complete this season, Haley ranks seventh in the series – and first among Ford drivers – in percentage of laps completed this year at 99.6 percent. He’s run all but 15 of the 3,854 available laps this season.

● As part of #NASCARSalutes and the 600 Miles of Remembrance initiative during the Coca-Cola 600, the No. 51 The Cleaning Authority team is honoring United States Army Sargeant First Class Jeanne Balcombe. Balcombe enlisted in 1982 as a parachute rigger and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. She made countless jumps over her first four years of service until she sustained a knee injury on her final jump and was reclassified into the Military Police Corps. After serving in the U.S. for 10 years, Balcombe served as part of the 55th MP Company, charged with running the protection and security of the entire base alongside South Korean troops. In Balcombe’s final selfless act, she placed herself, unarmed, between an armed drunken soldier and another soldier during a dispute. She was shot and killed. For this action she was awarded The Soldier’s Medal – the highest peace time award. Additionally, Fort Knox honored Balcombe by naming a barracks complex after her. She is also represented on the police memorial in Washington, D.C., and Camp Humphrey in Korea named its new Law Enforcement Complex in her honor. In 2000, the MANSCEN NCO Academy at Fort Leonard Wood announced the naming of the Military Police ANCOC Leadership Award, the “Sergeant First Class Jeanne M. Balcombe Leadership Award.”

Kaz Grala, Driver of the No. 15 N29 Capital Partners Ford Mustang Dark Horse

● Boston native Kaz Grala will make his second start in the Coca-Cola 600 following an 11th-place finish in the non-points All-Star Open last weekend at North Wilkesboro and an 18th-place performance the previous weekend at Darlington – a finish that bested the previous best result for RWR at the 1.336-mile egg-shaped oval. It was Grala’s third top-20 finish of the year and the fifth race in 10 events run for RWR in which he finished on the lead lap.

● Grala finished 23rd in his first Cup Series start on the 1.5-mile Charlotte oval. He also has two Xfinity Series starts at Charlotte with a best finish of 10th in 2018. He finished 30th with only 70 laps complete in his one and only Truck Series start at the track.

● As part of #NASCARSalutes and the 600 Miles of Remembrance initiative during the Coca-Cola 600, the No. 15 N29 Capital Partners team is honoring United States Army Staff Sargeant Ryan Knauss. Knauss was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on April 7, 1998, and his parents, Greg and Paula, raised him and his older brother, Tyler, on land in the Gibbs area of Corryton, Tennessee. It was quite evident from birth that Knauss was strong, funny, smart, driven, and brave. All his life, Knauss prepared himself to become a military soldier for our country. Playing paintball and air soft for many years in the fields with his brother and friends, countless hours of war video games, rigid eating regimens, and intense workouts helped prepare Knauss for his greatest life mission. After five years of service with the 82nd Airborne and 9th PSYOP Special Operations Battalion, Knauss was prepared for his second overseas deployment to Afghanistan in what was supposed to be a humanitarian relief effort at the end of the 20-year war that began as a result of the events on Sept. 11, 2001. Unfortunately, the enemy did not cease to cause chaos as a bomb exploded only a week and half after Knauss’ five-man Special Operations PSYOPS team arrived. As the last United States military member killed in the 20-year war, the family moves forward with Knauss’ foundation, The Respect and Remember Foundation, also known as The R2Factor, honoring the sacrifices of heroes like Knauss, who willingly laid down his life for our country. Amidst the hills of Arlington National Cemetery, in Section 60, lies a hero who laid down his arms and rests.

Rick Ware Racing Notes

● In last week’s Progressive American Flat Track (AFT) event at Silver Dollar Short Track in Chico, California, AFT Singles rider Kody Kopp picked up his third win of the year. The defending, back-to-back champion leads the standings by 22 points after six events.

● Rick Ware has been a motorsports mainstay for more than 40 years. It began at age six when the third-generation racer began his driving career and has since spanned four wheels and two wheels on both asphalt and dirt. Competing in the SCCA Trans Am Series and other road-racing divisions led Ware to NASCAR in the early 1980s, where he finished third in his NASCAR debut – the 1983 Warner W. Hodgdon 300 NASCAR Grand American race at Riverside (Calif.) International Raceway. More than a decade later, injuries would force Ware out of the driver seat and into fulltime team ownership. In 1995, Rick Ware Racing was formed, and with wife Lisa by his side, Ware has since built his eponymous organization into an entity that fields two fulltime entries in the NASCAR Cup Series while simultaneously campaigning successful teams in the Top Fuel class of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, Progressive American Flat Track and FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX), where RWR won the 2022 SX2 championship with rider Shane McElrath.

Justin Haley, Driver Q&A

A lot of people questioned your move to Rick Ware Racing. Do you feel any satisfaction from the runs the team is producing now and how that backs up your decision?

“I’ve said time and time again why I made the decision. The picture might start to be more clear now to the general public than it was when I first made the decision. I went off internal knowledge I had at the time. Rick Ware and Robby Benton gave me this opportunity and wanted me to come in and drive to the best of my ability and try to improve the race team, and I feel like the work we’re all putting in is starting to show. For the most part, this is still the same RWR team from years past. There’s not much difference at all. We haven’t added too many new people, maybe one or two including Chris Lawson (No. 51 crew chief). The team is still in the same shop and we’re still working with the same parts and pieces, but it comes down to how you assemble everything. We’ve had some great runs, but it’s a learning process every week.”

Are you reaching the point you feel you should be at after 13 races with RWR?

“I think the mountain we’re climbing was probably a little bigger than I anticipated, but the Cup Series is harder at this moment than it’s ever been. I’m not trying to take away from the past and guys who came before us, but there’s not really a slow car out there anymore. It’s pretty tough, so we’re just continuing to improve each and every week and focus on ourselves . We’ve cleaned up a lot of the issues we had at the start of the year. We’re trying to get our stuff faster and get the crew working more efficiently. Besides some pit-road stuff we need to work on, I feel like we’re doing well. We just go out each week and do the best we can.”

What is your outlook for the Coca-Cola 600 after strong runs the last few weeks?

“I’m really looking forward to Charlotte. I’m really confident in our car. We had good runs at Kansas, Darlington and North Wilkesboro. I think like Kansas, Charlotte’s surface starts to wear down a little more each year and obviously that changes the racing. The Coca-Cola 600 is such a big race and it’s a big purse race, which is something that can go a long way for a team like ours. Maybe some people don’t look forward to the long race, but I’m blessed to be here, to be at this stage in my career, and I’m just having fun and enjoying the good runs as they come.”

Kaz Grala, Driver Q&A

How does your preparation change, if at all, for the longest race of the year?

“No doubt, the driver’s preparation for the Coca-Cola 600 is more important than any other race of the year. You have to be more intentional with your hydration and nutrition, and make sure your workouts throughout the week push you hard but give you enough time to recover for the weekend. We’ll have to make sure our in-race plan is in place, as well, for drink bottle exchanges and snacks during pit stops.”

This race having four stages provides a unique opportunity for a big points day. Do you go for stage points early in the race, or are you focusing on getting comfortable and getting your car right for a decent finish at the end of the night?

“I did the 2022 Coca-Cola 600, which was the first year of NextGen, so I have an idea of how challenging a race this long is. It’s our only four-stage race of the year, which I personally like a lot because, as a young, inexperienced driver, it gives me more time to figure these cars out before the end of the race. Hopefully by the time the pay window opens at the end, we’ll be ready to capitalize on a great finish.”

What kind of impact does Kyle Larson running the Indy 500 have for NASCAR?

“I love that Larson is doing the Double this year. The last time it was done by Kurt Busch, I actually went to both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in person and got to see him race in both. It will be cool this time around to be in one of the races while a driver attempts the same feat. The Sunday before Memorial Day has always been my favorite day of the year. Since I was a little kid, I’ve watched Monaco, the Indy 500, and the Coca-Cola 600 in a row, and this year will be no exception. I’ll certainly be watching Larson a little more closely in the Indy 500 and rooting for him to carry the flag for NASCAR over there. I think it will be great for the sport in general to have that storyline to follow throughout the day.”

Spire Motorsports NC Education Lottery 200 Race Advance

By
Official Release
-
  • The North Carolina Education Lottery 200 will mark the first time Spire Motorsports will field a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) entry at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados full time in the NCTS. 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.
  • The North Carolina Education Lottery 200 will be televised live on FS1 Friday, May 24, beginning at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The 11th of 23 NCTS races on the 2024 schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. NASCAR RaceDay’s pre-race coverage on FS1 will take the green flag at 8 p.m. EDT.

Connor Mosack – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado

  • Connor Mosack will make his second start of 2024 for Spire Motorsports driving the No. 7 Pinnacle Racing Group/Chevrolet Accessories Chevrolet Silverado Friday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS). Mosack will be pulling double duty Friday and pilot the No. 28 Chevrolet in the ARCA Menards Series for Pinnacle Racing Group.
  • The Charlotte native started his racing career in 2017 shortly after taking part in an on-track racing experience at CMS when he was 18. He went on to capture a Winter Heat Pro Championship on the track’s quarter-mile oval.
  • Friday night’s 134-lap event will mark his first time tackling the 1.5-mile North Carolina quad-oval in a truck. He boasts four career NCTS starts with a best finish of 19th coming earlier this year at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mosack qualified fifth at Kansas Speedway earlier this month and finished inside the top 10 in the opening two stages before ultimately ending the event with an undeserving 30th-place result, after a couple of racing incidents in the final stage led to a pair of flat tires.
  • The 25-year-old driver has made two prior starts in the ARCA Menards Series at CMS, finishing fourth in 2022 and ninth last year. He also finished 23rd in last year’s NASCAR Xfinity Series event.
  • Mosack has been victorious in two of his last three ARCA contests, bringing home his first career victory at Kansas Speedway last September and repeating the feat in the Sunflower State earlier this month. He competed in select ARCA Menards Series events in 2023 and put the competition on notice with a 3.5 average finish over six races, including his Kansas win last September. He is a veteran of 26 Xfinity Series races with his best results coming at Watkins Glen International (fifth) and Portland (Ore.) International Raceway (eighth).
  • The July 12 event at Pocono Raceway will be his next start in the No. 7 Silverado. He’ll also be back in the seat during the NCTS playoffs when the division returns to Kansas Speedway September 27 and again at Homestead-Miami Speedway on October 26.
  • Pinnacle Racing Group (PRG) will adorn the hood of Mosack’s Silverado on Friday night. PRG is a professional multifaceted motorsports team specializing in providing productive and fulfilling careers for team members, while also being a leader in on-track performance and driver development primarily in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Series (NAAPWS), zMAX CARS Tour Series and the ARCA Menards Series (AMS).
  • The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation will be an associate sponsor for this weekend’s race. The Foundation aims to improve the quality of life for children battling pediatric brain tumors and other childhood cancers by pairing them with local teams, clubs and community groups. For more information, please log on to Friendsofjaclyn.org.
  • After 10 races, the No. 7 team sits fifth in the 2024 NCTS owner point standings. The No. 7 team has compiled two wins with an average starting position of 7.6 and an average finish of 11.8 thus far this season. Kyle Busch led a race-high 33 laps en route the team’s first victory of 2024 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in February and a race-high 112 laps in the team’s most recent triumph in Texas. In its most recent outing, the team finished fifth with Sammy Smith at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
  • In his first season at Spire Motorsports, crew chief Brian Pattie has led the No. 7 team to two victories across the first 10 events this season, both with Kyle Busch (Atlanta Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway). The duo also won twice across five races last year with Kyle Busch Motorsports.
  • Jack Wood finished 18th in Pattie’s lone race calling the shots in Truck Series action at Charlotte Motor Speedway last May. He was victorious in Cup Series action at the track in 2012 with Clint Bowyer in the fall event.

Connor Mosack Quotes
Being from Charlotte, how special is racing at your hometown track?
“It’s always special for me racing at Charlotte. It was the place I ran my first ever laps in a race car and had a lot of success there in Legends Cars on the quarter-mile track. It would mean a lot to get a win on the big track, especially with all the friends and family that will be coming out to support me.”

You’ll be running double duty Friday as you did in Kansas. How beneficial is that extra track time for you?
“Running the ARCA race beforehand is beneficial for me to continue learning the racetrack, how quickly the resin comes in and which lanes will have the momentum. A good run will also help with confidence and in the grip levels of the track.”

Despite not having a lot of Truck Series starts this year, both of your starts came on mile-and-a-half tracks. How beneficial will that be in preparing for Friday night’s race at Charlotte?
“I feel like I learned a lot at Vegas this year, and then Kansas, it was good to run near the front and get experience with how those guys race. I feel comfortable with where the truck needs to be, to be fast on this style of track, and where the limit of the tire is. That will definitely be helpful going into Charlotte.”

Rajah Caruth – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado

  • Rajah Caruth will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Silverado in Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  • Caruth started 24th and finished 14th in last week’s Wright Brand 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
  • HENDRICKCARS.COM is the online home for everything Hendrick Automotive Group. Visitors can shop thousands of new or pre-owned vehicles, locate centers for service and collision repair, receive a value to sell or trade their car, chat online with customer service, discover career opportunities, learn more about vehicle protections programs, and explore how the company gives back to the community.
  • The Winston-Salem (N.C.) State University senior has one prior NCTS start, one additional NASCAR Xfinity Series start and a sole ARCA Menards Series start at the 1.5 mile quad-oval and looks to better his venue-best third place finish.
  • Caruth will have his own cheering section Friday night when Winston-Salem State University hosts current students and Alumni for a WSSU Alumni tailgate before heading inside the speedway to watch him mix it up with his fellow NCTS competitors in the North Carolina Education Lottery 200. Caruth will enter his final semester at WSSU in September and is slated to graduate in December 2024.
  • The 21-year-old is currently seventh in the NCTS championship point standings after 10 races. He has logged one pole, one win, five top-10’s and nine top-15 finishes. He’s recorded a 13.0 average start, a 11.1 average finish and completed 96.6 percent of the laps contested this season.
  • With his first career NCTS win and pole position earlier this season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Caruth became the third African American driver, alongside NASCAR Hall of Famer, Wendell Scott and current NASCAR Cup Series regular Bubba Wallace, to win a NASCAR National Touring Series race.
  • Caruth raced his first full season in NCTS in 2023, earning four top-10 finishes and coming home 16th in the division’s championship point standings.
  • Race fans can meet Caruth for an autograph session at the Camping World in Concord, N.C., on Friday at 10 a.m.
  • Fans at the track can also meet Caruth at the Chevrolet display for an autograph session Friday at 3:45 p.m.

Rajah Caruth Quotes
You raced at Charlotte in both the Truck Series and Xfinity Series last year, along with a great run in the 2022 ARCA race. Does that prior track experience give you a confidence boost for this weekend’s race? And, how do you translate that confidence into a strong finish?
“It absolutely helps my confidence this weekend having great runs at Charlotte. I’ve got a good Xfinity race under my belt along with almost winning an ARCA race in 2022, so definitely a good amount of experience at this track. I think we just need to execute a weekend – from me behind the wheel, to the top of the box, to over the wall. Everybody’s doing what they need to do back at the shop so there’s no reason why we can’t go and win this weekend. I know we’re strong overall and we have it in us.”
How do you adapt to this weekend’s race back at a 1.5-mile track after a short-track race last week at North Wilkesboro?
“Mile-and-a-half tracks are my comfort zone since I started racing. It’s been a journey to continue to improve on them especially when there’s so many short-track racers in the Truck Series. Hopefully, we can get back on the right track and get a top-10 this weekend or even something better.”

Chase Purdy – Driver, No.77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado

  • Chase Purdy will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No.77 Bama Buggies Chevrolet Silverado in Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200.
  • Purdy heads to Charlotte 16th in the NCTS driver point standings. He started in seventh and finished 24th last week at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
  • In his three starts at CMS, Purdy has an 18.0 average starting position and an average finish of 21st. He has completed 336 of 411 laps in his Bama Buggies Chevrolet Silverado over those three starts.
  • On mile-and-a-half tracks this season, Purdy has one pole and one top-10 finish.
  • The North Carolina Education Lottery 200 will mark Purdy’s 86th NCTS start and his 11th behind the wheel of the No.77 Bama Buggies Spire Motorsports Chevrolet.
  • Purdy’s Crew Chief Jason Trinchere has three NASCAR Xfinity Series under his belt on the oval at CMS.

Chase Purdy Quotes
Mile and half-tracks have been your strong suit this season. How do you feel going into Charlotte?
“I feel confident. I feel like we can have a good day here this weekend. We just have to be smart and keep our nose clean. If we do that we’ll come home with a great finish!”
From the Top of the Box

Brian Pattie – Crew Chief, No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado

  • In his first season at Spire Motorsports, Brian Pattie has led the No. 7 team to two victories, both with Kyle Busch. The duo also won twice across five races last year at KBM.
  • Pattie also collected a victory with Ron Fellows at Watkins Glen International in 1999 to give him five career NCTS wins.
  • Pattie was atop the pit box for six wins across 14 seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series and has 11 career victories as a crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Chad Walter – Crew Chief, No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado

  • Chad Walter has over two decades of experience and began his career with Hendrick Motorsports in 1996.
  • Walter guided Caruth to his first NCTS win March 1, 2024 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
  • Some of his most notable accomplishments include a pair of Daytona 500 victories (2001 & 2003) with Michael Waltrip, along with Cup Series wins with Steve Park and Terry Labonte.

Jason Trinchere – Crew Chief, No. 77 Chevrolet Silverado

  • Jason Trinchere earned his Bachelor of Science from Penn State University and began his professional career in 2005 as the race engineer for the iconic No. 75 Spears Manufacturing NCTS team, owned by series’ pioneers Wayne and Connie Spears.
  • Notable accomplishments include Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 wins with both Ganassi Racing and Penske Racing. He was a key member of the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series Championship team with driver Joey Logano.

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.

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