Home Blog Page 1090

JR Motorsports — NXS Darlington Preview

By
Official Release
-

TRACK – Darlington Raceway (1.366 mile oval)
NXS RACE – Crown Royal Purple Bag Project 200 (147 laps / 200.802 miles)
TUNE IN – FS1, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90 at 1:30 p.m. (ET)

Sam Mayer
No. 1 RTIC Outdoors Chevrolet

Mayer 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 10

Wins: 1

Top 5s: 3

Top 10s: 4

Laps Led: 18

Avg. Finish: 20

Points: 14th

  • Sam Mayer heads to Darlington Raceway fresh off a solid third-place effort in the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Dover Motor Speedway two weeks ago.
  • In five NXS starts at the 1.366-mile asphalt oval, the Wisconsin native has scored one top-five and two top-10 efforts with his best of fifth coming at this event in the spring of 2022.
  • The young driver has tallied two wins on tracks measuring 1.5 miles or less in length, with his most recent win coming in April in a photo finish at Texas Motor Speedway.
  • Mayer will carry the exciting new blue colors of RTIC Outdoors as the new partner will ride along for its first race with the 20-year-old driver and JR Motorsports.

Sam Mayer

“I am ready to get back in the drivers seat after a relaxing off-week, especially heading to Darlington. We have had great runs there in the past but just have not been able to execute and get that finish we deserve and know we can achieve. I am also super-excited to have RTIC Outdoors with us this weekend for their first run with our No. 1 Chevrolet. I am confident that we can battle for a great finish and hopefully get this No. 1 RTIC Outdoors Chevy to Victory Lane.”

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 Brandt Professional Agriculture Heritage Chevrolet

Allgaier 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 10

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 2

Top 10s: 4

Laps Led: 268

Avg. Finish: 16.2

Points: 5th

  • Justin Allgaier is a two-time winner at “The Lady in Black,” having gone to Victory Lane in this event in both 2021 and 2022.
  • Overall, in 17 career starts at Darlington, Allgaier has amassed seven top fives and 13 top 10s to accompany the two victories.
  • Additionally, the Illinois native has placed no worse than seventh at the hallowed speedway dating back to his win in 2021.
  • This weekend marks the second consecutive year that Allgaier’s No. 7 Chevrolet will be paying homage to the heritage of BRANDT Professional Agriculture. Last year, Allgaier finished in the runner-up position in the platinum-and-red BRANDT Chevrolet.

Justin Allgaier

“Darlington has always been a really strong place for us and I feel extremely confident that we will be just as quick again this weekend. The last couple weeks didn’t go quite as we had planned, but I know that Jim(Pohlman, crew chief) and all the guys on this BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet are ready to go and get back to the track. Hopefully we can have a nice, smooth day and be up front when it matters at the end. We’re ready.”

Sammy Smith
No. 8 TMC Throwback Chevrolet

Smith 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 10

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 0

Top 10s: 6

Laps Led: 50

Avg. Finish: 16.4

Points: 11th

  • Sammy Smith has two races under his belt at Darlington, with a best finish of 11th coming in the Spring of 2023.
  • Smith has 18 starts on tracks measuring 1.366 miles in length or shorter with, 11 of those being top-10 finishes.
  • The No. 8 TMC Chevrolet is a throwback to honor the history of TMC’s first sponsorship in racing on Harold Annett’s “Mickow Sprinter” sprint car with the late Mike Brooks behind the wheel.

Sammy Smith

“After a rough time in Dover, I’m glad my No. 8 team and I had a week to relax but also dive into what we can do to turn our luck around. We’ve gone back to the drawing board with a few ideas and I know we’ll come out on top soon. I would love to be able to get our throwback No. 8 TMC Chevrolet in the winner’s circle this Saturday for such a special longtime partner.”

Brandon Jones
No. 9 Menards / Bali Blinds and Shades Throwback Chevrolet

Jones 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 10

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 0

Top 10s: 3

Laps Led: 20

Avg. Finish: 18.4

Points: 12th

  • Brandon Jones has made 12 starts in the NXS at “The Lady in Black” and has compiled one win, two top-five and five top-10 finishes. Jones’ win came during the 2020 season after taking the lead with two laps remaining.
  • In 137 career starts, on tracks measuring 1-2 miles in length, the 27-year-old has recorded four wins, 19 top fives and 61 top 10s.
  • This weekend, Jones’ No. 9 machine will be paying homage to Dale Earnhardt Jr’s 2018 Hellman’s paint scheme, that he ran to a fourth-place finish at Richmond Raceway.

Brandon Jones

“It was nice having a weekend off to reset, but now I am ready to get back on track at Darlington. I have had some success here in the past and this No. 9 team is committed to giving me a fast car every week, so I am hoping we can be in contention for the win at the end. Our results so far this season don’t reflect the hard work this team has been putting in every day so I am ready to give them the finish they deserve.”

Carson Kvapil
No. 88 Clarience Chevrolet

Kvapil 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 2

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 2

Top 10s: 2

Laps Led: 14

Avg. Finish: 3

Points: 31st

  • Carson Kvapil will travel to Darlington for his third NXS start this weekend, seeking a third straight finish in the top four. The 20-year-old driver was fourth at Martinsville Speedway in his debut and second at Dover last month.
  • Kvapil will make his maiden start at “The Track Too Tough to Tame” in the No. 88 Clarience Chevrolet. Saturday’s race will be his first in the NXS on a track measuring more than a mile in length.
  • The No. 88 team, led by crew chief Andrew Overstreet, is on a roll, posting sixth-, fourth- and second-place finishes in three starts this season. That’s an average finish of 4.0.

Carson Kvapil

“After Dover, I’m looking forward to making this start at Darlington. It’s one of NASCAR’s most historic tracks. This has been a whirlwind lately, with Martinsville and Dover, and I know that Andrew (Overstreet) and the No. 88 team will have our Clarience Chevrolet ready for me. It’s a big step up for me, and thanks to JR Motorsports, Clarience and Chevrolet for this opportunity.”

JRM Team Updates

JR Motorsports at Darlington Raceway: JR Motorsports has competed at Darlington Raceway a combined 67 times with the NXS since its first trip there in 2006. In those starts at the 1.366-mile-oval, the organization has recorded six wins, 21 top-fives and 42 top-10s, with an average finish of 11.5.

Souvenir Rig: JRM drivers Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith, Brandon Jones and Carson Kvapil will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports / Legacy MC souvenir rig on Saturday, May 11 from 10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. ET.

ARCA Menards Series East at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville – Music City 150 Pre-race Notes & Stats Update

By
Official Release
-

ARCA Menards Series East

The Race: Music City 150
The Place: Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville, Nashville, Tenn.
The Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
The Time: 9:15 pm ET / 8:15 pm CT
TV: Live, FloRacing
Distance: 150 Laps / 89.4 Miles

  • The Music City 150 is the third race of the 2024 ARCA Menards Series East season and the sixth time the series has raced at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville in its history. It will be the 597th race in series history dating back to the series’ inception in 1987.
  • Previous ARCA Menards Series East winners at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville include Rogelio Lopez (2007), Matt Kobyluck (2008), Sammy Smith (2021, 2022), and Luke Fenhaus (2023).
  • Rogelio Lopez and Luke Fenhaus each earned their first career ARCA Menards Series East victory at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville.
  • Luke Fenhaus led only the final two laps en route to victory in 2023. He took the lead on an overtime restart to beat eventual ARCA Menards Series East champion William Sawalich to the finish line by 0.327 seconds. Fenhaus’ 2 laps led are the fewest by any East winner at Nashville; Matt Kobyluck led just 11 laps en route to the victory in 2008.
  • Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville hosted 42 NASCAR Cup Series races from 1958 through 1984, nine NASCAR Xfinity Series races from 1984 to 2000, and five NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races from 1995 through 2000. The ARCA Menards Series raced at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville 29 times from 1959 to 2019.
  • The East races in 2007 and 2008 were 150 laps; the races in 2021 through 2023 were 200 laps. The 2024 race returns to the event’s original 150-lap race distance.
  • Gio Ruggiero, who won the season opener at Five Flags Speedway, enters the Music City 150 with a three-point lead in the ARCA Menards Series East championship standings over Dover Motor Speedway winner Connor Zilisch. Reigning series champion William Sawalich is third, 15 points out of the lead.
  • Connor Zilisch enters the Music City 150 off his first career ARCA Menards Series East victory at Dover Motor Speedway. That race was a combination race with the ARCA Menards Series; his team, Pinnacle Racing Group, won its second consecutive ARCA Menards Series race last Saturday with Connor Mosack driving at Kansas Speedway. Pinnacle Racing Group is also the team Luke Fenhaus was driving for when he won at Nashville in 2023.
  • Isabella Robusto will make her ARCA Menards Series East debut driving for Venturini Motorsports; she finished sixth in her ARCA Menards Series West debut at Phoenix Raceway in March.
  • Two-time ARCA Menards Series West winner Tanner Reif will make his ARCA Menards Series East debut driving for Cook Racing Technologies. Reif won at Irwindale Speedway and the 1000th West race in series history at Evergreen Speedway in 2022.
  • Local Pro Late Model star Hunter Wright will make his second ARCA Menards Series East start driving for team owner Mark Noble. He finished fifth in his series debut at Five Flags Speedway. Noble will field a second car for Andrew Patterson, who will be making his East debut.
  • The 18-car entry list represents the most cars entered for an ARCA Menards Series East race at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville since 28 were entered in 2008.
  • William Sawalich holds the ARCA Menards Series East track qualifying record at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville, set in 2023, at 19.414 seconds/110.512 miles per hour.
  • Sammy Smith set the ARCA Menards Series East track race record in 2021, winning a 200-lap race with an average speed of 91.438 miles per hour.
  • There will be a 5-minute break at or near lap 75. Teams will have the opportunity to change tires, add fuel, and make adjustments and/or repairs.
  • The record for most lead changes in an ARCA Menards Series East race at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville is 12 set in 2008. The fewest number of lead changes is one set in 2022.
  • The record for the most cautions in an ARCA Menards Series East race at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville is 8; the record for most laps under caution is 44 in 2007. The fewest cautions is 3 set in 2021 and matched in 2022; the fewest laps run under caution, also set in 2021, is 12.
  • Only one ARCA Menards Series East race at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville has gone into overtime, 2023, won by Luke Fenhaus.
  • Should the race need to be extended into overtime, there will be unlimited attempts at a two-lap “green-white-checkered” finish. Should the caution be displayed after the white flag, there will be unlimited attempts at a one-lap “green and white together” finish.

Toyota Racing Weekly Preview 05.08.24

By
Official Release
-

This Week in Motorsports: May 6 – 12, 2024

· NCS/NXS/NCTS: Darlington Raceway – May 10-12
· ARCA EAST: Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway – May 11

PLANO, Texas (May 8, 2024) – NASCAR makes its first of two stops in 2024 at Darlington Raceway this weekend, with all three of its national series in action on Mother’s Day weekend. The ARCA Menards Series East heads to the Nashville Fairgrounds for the series second race of the 2024 season.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS | NCTS

Toyota drivers holding steady in Cup Series points … After Sunday’s wild race in Kansas, the Toyota Camry XSE contingent held steady in the Cup Series points standings. Barely missing out on the win in the four-wide finish, Martin Truex Jr. stays second in the standings, with Denny Hamlin (fourth), Tyler Reddick (fifth) and Ty Gibbs (eighth) joining him inside the top 10. Christopher Bell’s strong weekend showing, which included his 11th career pole, got him back inside the top 16 of the standings to 13th position, as he’s already locked into the Playoffs with his Phoenix win in March.

Jones returns to the No. 43 … After two weeks of recovery, Erik Jones is back behind the wheel of the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. Jones hops back in the cockpit at one of his favorite circuits in Darlington Raceway, where he has two career wins, including his most recent triumph in 2022. He has a top-10 finish in eight of his 12 previous starts at Darlington.

Wallace aims for continued Darlington success … Darlington Raceway has been a strong circuit of late for 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace. The 30-year-old comes back to the famed-South Carolina track with three consecutive top-10 finishes there. Another would provide a boost for he and the No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE team as they battle to be in the mix for a Playoff spot.

Smith leads Xfinity points with return to action … After a week off, the Xfinity Series is back on track at Darlington, with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chandler Smith holding the top spot in the series points standings. The Georgia native leads by a mere point heading into this weekend on the strength of six top-five finishes this season, including two wins. His teammate, Sheldon Creed, is now in eighth position after a fourth-place finish at Dover two weeks ago.

Nemechek back in Xfinity Series … John Hunter Nemechek returns to the Xfinity Series this weekend for his first start since Austin, this time with Sam Hunt Racing and the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra. The North Carolina native made eight starts for the team in 2022. This is Nemechek’s sixth Xfinity start at Darlington, where he’s been on pole the last two races at the ‘The Track Too Tough to Tame.’

Creed seeks another top-10 … Heading to Darlington, Creed has scored two consecutive top-10 finishes, which has helped him climb to eighth in the NXS points standings. Not only would another top-10 mark three in a row this season, it would also notch the fourth in five races at Darlington for the California native.

Heim regains points lead after Kansas win … Following his dominant victory Saturday night, Corey Heim took back the Truck Series points lead, currently holding a seven-point cushion. Heim is joined by his TRICON Garage teammates, Taylor Gray (seventh) and Tanner Gray (ninth) inside the top 10 of the standings with eight races remaining in the regular season.

Heim’s incredible streak continues … With his win at Kansas, Heim has now finished inside the top-10 in all eight Truck Series races this season. Additionally, the Georgia native has scored a top-10 finish in 23 of the last 24 Truck Series races.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA Menards Series East

Toyota Development Drivers take on Nashville Fairgrounds … The ARCA Menards Series East is back on track this weekend at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, with a few Toyota Development Drivers in the hunt for a victory. Isabella Robusto and Gio Ruggiero will pilot Toyota Camrys for Venturini Motorsports, while William Sawalich will be racing a Joe Gibbs Racing Camry. Ruggiero looks to hold his series points lead, which is at a mere two points heading into the weekend.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 49,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 34 million cars and trucks at our nine manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 10th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 28 electrified options.

Through its Driving Possibilities initiative, the Toyota USA Foundation has committed to creating innovative educational programs within, and in partnership with, historically underserved and diverse communities near the company’s U.S. operating sites.

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

Front Row Motorsports Statement Regarding Michael McDowell

By
Official Release
-

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 8, 2024) – After seven seasons with Front Row Motorsports (FRM), Michael McDowell has announced he will leave FRM at the end of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.

The organization’s NASCAR Cup Series leader in wins, starts, and top-5 finishes, McDowell has been an important part in the growth and success of FRM, including winning the 2021 Daytona 500, the 2023 Verizon 200 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and two appearances in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

A statement from FRM Owner, Bob Jenkins:

“We thank Michael for all he has done during his time as a driver at Front Row Motorsports. His 2021 Daytona 500 victory, a dominant win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and two appearances in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs set a new standard for our organization. He became the leader of his team and the organization. Outside the car, he was the model for a driver we want to represent us and our partners.”

“We’re sad to see Michael leave, but wish him, Jami and his family nothing but the best as he moves on to another chapter of what is already an incredible racing career.”

McDowell and the No. 34 team are focused on competing for wins and returning to the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs throughout the rest of the season.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Resumes Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

By
Official Release
-

MONTEREY, California (May 8, 2024) — The Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) Lamborghini Super Trofeo (LST) team returns to the action at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the second round of the LST North America Championship. The WTRAndretti stable for Laguna Seca consists of four entries across the PRO, PRO|AM and AM classes. The doubleheader at Laguna Seca will mark one of the largest fields for a Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America event featuring 41 Lamborghini Huracán LST entries.

Danny Formal and Ryan Norman will return to pilot the No. 1 WTRAndretti Lamborghini Huracán LST in the PRO class. After two top-five results in Sebring and a strong showing of pace, the driver duo will be looking to capitalize on their past success at Laguna Seca to step onto the podium for Rounds 3 and 4 of the season. As Laguna Seca was the site of the season opener for the 2023 LST Championship, Formal took both overall wins with current GTD co-driver, Kyle Marcelli, while Norman also collected two podium finishes. Laguna Seca will also represent a return to double duty for Formal as he will be piloting the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 in the GTD class for the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship (IWSC) in addition to the No. 1 WTRAndretti LST.

After securing victory in the PRO|AM class for the season opener, Nate Stacy and Nick Persing will look to return to the top step and their winning ways in the No. 8 WTRAndretti LST after a mechanical issue forced the veteran duo to retire early from the second race at Sebring International Raceway. The PRO|AM pairing are hopeful their strong pace at the opening rounds will translate over to the Laguna Seca weekend. Stacy competed in the PRO class at the 2023 rounds at Laguna Seca and finished in the top five, while for Persing this may be his first LST weekend at the 2.238-mile road course, he has previous experience – including where he captured his 2023 Radical Cup Pro 1500 Championship.

The AM class defending champions Anthony McIntosh and Glenn McGee were able to secure two podium finishes in the Florida heat in the No. 69 Global Power Components Huracán LST. The driver duo will look to secure a top finish as they showed incredible pace in both qualifying and race trim. Returning to a familiar track as co-drivers, McIntosh and McGee are the hunt for victory after scoring a pair of podiums together at Laguna Seca in 2023.

In the No. 10 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán LST, Graham Doyle will be joined by Ashton Harrison in the AM class. Doyle and Harrison were teammates behind the wheel of the 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 for the 24 Hours of Daytona. Harrison is no stranger to the Lamborghini Super Trofeo series after competing for four years and earning honors as the first female to win a LST World Finals race in 2019. For Doyle, the return to Laguna Seca marks the anniversary start of his racing career. With a milestone weekend and new co-driver, the 18-year-old will be looking for a pair of strong results come this weekend.

On track action for the WTRAndretti LST team at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca weekend begins at 12:25 p.m. ET (9:25 a.m. PT) on Friday, May 10. Qualifying and the first race of the doubleheader commence at 2:05 p.m. ET (11:05 a.m. PT) and 8:40 p.m. ET (5:40 p.m. PT), respectively, on Saturday, May 11, with the second race taking place at 12:40 p.m. ET (9:40 a.m. PT) on Sunday, May 12. Rounds 3 and 4 of the LST Championship from Laguna Seca will be broadcast live on Peacock.

Ryan Norman, No. 1 WTRAndretti LST (PRO): “Fully prepared and ready for the Laguna Seca race weekend. The team has been working hard in preparation and I can’t wait to get back into the car. The new track surface will be exciting and Danny was able to do some testing in the GTD car there after his Long Beach race so that will be a benefit to us for sure. I have no doubt we will be right back to where we belong in fighting for both wins and we are all focused on that task!”

Danny Formal, No. 1 WTRAndretti LST (PRO): “Well, second weekend, Round 3 and 4 of Lamborghini Super Trofeo. Super excited to get back to Laguna Seca. That car is such a beast on this new asphalt. It should be incredible, going to go over 160 miles per hour. It’s just phenomenal. Super excited to be back with Ryan Norman my new teammate for this year. We didn’t get off to the greatest start at Sebring, but our team has been working overtime to get that Lamborghini Super Trofeo back to the speed as it was in 2023, so super excited to get back there and hopefully get our championship hunt started again.”

Nate Stacy, No. 8 WTRAndretti LST (PRO|AM): “After getting Sebring behind us and taking a win in the first race, it has me looking forward to returning to Laguna this year with some wins in mind. I think the team is really hitting a good stride coming into the weekend, the communication is getting really good and I think it will show come race time. Keeping our minds focused on getting solid consistent finishes will be pivotal to finishing well in this championship and we have just the team for the job!”

Nick Persing, No. 8 WTRAndretti LST (PRO|AM): “After coming off a strong showing in Round 1 of the season the expectation is still to try and win. Being that Laguna Seca is my home race, I feel I will be able to get to terms with the car a lot better than I did at Sebring as well. I have a fair number of laps here, so I should be able to hop in the car and go. I think the key for us this weekend is to qualify well. This track can be harder to pass on and also getting out the midfield jungle is massively important at this track. So, if we do that and just race for the best result possible the points will take care of themself.”

Graham Doyle, No. 10 DEX Imaging WTRAndretti LST (AM): “I’m eagerly anticipating the upcoming race weekend at Laguna Seca, feeling confident and excited to get back behind the wheel. Returning to a familiar track, where I began my racing career, holds special significance for me. Having worked closely with the team since Sebring, I believe we are in a strong position to contend for podiums and look forward to showcasing our progress.”

Ashton Harrison, No. 10 DEX Imaging WTRAndretti LST (AM): “I’m super excited to be back with WTRAndretti and driving again with Graham for the rest of the Super Trofeo season. I’m excited to be back in AM and to be back with Graham after Rolex. I’m just really happy with the progress that he’s making in his career and being able to be back with him and starting our season at Laguna is going to be great. I’ve had past success and wins there in PRO|AM, so I have high expectations for us, but I’m excited to kick it off and to be back with everyone in sunny California.”

Anthony McIntosh, No. 69 Global Power Components WTRAndretti LST (AM): “The WTRAndretti team is amazing. The No. 69 Global Power Components car has been amazing, and the new livery looks amazing…the only thing left is for me to do is drive amazing come Laguna Seca!”

ABOUT WTRANDRETTI’S DRIVER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Wayne Taylor Racing, now with Andretti Global (#WTRAndretti), is a leader in sportscar racing, recognized worldwide for fielding championship winning racing efforts since 2007. WTRAndretti has run a stable of championship winning cars and drivers in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series for over half a decade, forming the basis of its Driver Development Program. Since its inception in 2015, the team has clinched eight North American PRO Driver, Team and Dealer Championship titles, fielded the first woman World Finals race winner and became the overall 2017 Champions at the World Finals in Imola, Italy. In addition to its Lamborghini Super Trofeo stable, WTRAndretti fields a two-car GTP program with it Championship winning No 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 and No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 effort as well as GTD program with the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2.

AO Racing to Make Le Mans Return with Spike the Dragon, Partners with TF Sport

By
Official Release
-

Hyett, Delétraz, and Quinn to Pilot No. 14 LMP2

ST. CHARLES, Ill., (May 8, 2024) — The 92nd running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans takes center stage next month, and AO Racing is poised to return to the iconic event. The Chicago-area-based team will partner with two-time Le Mans winning entrant TF Sport to race Spike, the dragon LMP2 Oreca. PJ Hyett, Louis Delétraz, and Alex Quinn will pilot the purple and orange AO by TF LMP2 car at the sport’s crown jewel event.

“Rexy Racing at Le Mans for the 100th anniversary was an incredible experience, but we have some unfinished business at the Circuit de la Sarthe,” said Hyett, AO Racing Team Owner and Driver. “We’re coming back this year with Spike, our LMP2 dragon, to delight fans on the way to the top spot! Allons-y (Let’s go)!”

Last year, AO Racing won the hearts of motorsport enthusiasts worldwide when the team brought the fan-favorite Rexy Porsche 911 RSR to the 24-hour endurance race. Driven by PJ Hyett, Gunnar Jeannette, and Matteo Cairoli, the team had a strong performance and was in contention in the final hours until a mechanical issue hampered their impressive debut.

This year, AO by TF will seek redemption with Spike, hoping to fly up front in the world’s most prestigious sports car race, June 15-16, 2024.

“We are hugely excited to bring our partnership with AO racing to Le Mans,” said Tom Ferrier, Owner of TF Sport. “It’s such a fantastic event and we have a brilliant line up. PJ is one of the best bronze drivers in the world and with Alex and Louis we have the drivers to back him up. A 24-hour race is always hard but we plan to be there at the end and fighting for the win.”

The race will bring back Hyett and Quinn, who have raced Spike together in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring. The combination has three more endurance races together slated to follow Le Mans.

“I’m really happy to be a part of this team effort for Le Mans,” said Quinn. “It was a pleasure to race with AO and PJ in Daytona at the start of the season. PJ is really fast, so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve. It’ll be great to team up with both Louis and the TF side of the program for the first time and get to work to achieve a strong result at Le Mans. There is clearly only one target and that is to win.”

AO and TF have a current partnership in the European Le Mans Series, where they most recently earned a third-place finish at Circuit Paul Ricard with Delétraz, the current World Endurance Champion.

“I’m very excited to take part in my fifth Le Mans with AO by TF,” said Delétraz. “It’s great to share the car with PJ and Alex. I feel like we have a strong crew between the teams and the drivers’ experiences. Le Mans is a very special event. The prep has started months ago and, of course, we want to do well so the motivation is high!”

The team will launch Le Mans-specific merchandise in the coming weeks.

Grand Prix of Indianapolis Up Next for Turn 3 Motorsport

By
Official Release
-

Team readies for another three race weekend at the iconic Indiana speedway

Indianapolis, Ind. (May 8, 2024) – Turn 3 Motorsport is set to take on the customary Month of May, kicking things off with the VP Racing Grand Prix of Indianapolis this weekend at the world famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The USF Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Continental Tire will exhibit another triple header event as it takes on the 2.439-mile road course at IMS in support of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

Turn 3 Motorsport will run five cars in the USF Pro 2000 class with drivers Adam Fitzgerald (#2), Danny Dyszelski (#3), Tyke Durst (#33), Lochie Hughes (#44), and Ethan Ho (#68) representing the team.

2 Adam Fitzgerald // USF Pro 2000

Galway Hooker

“I’m excited to get the month of May started with the Indy GP this weekend,” said Fitzgerald. “It’s an incredible track with so much history, and it’s a track I’m familiar with from pre-season testing as well. With that in mind, I’m optimistic that we can deliver good results throughout the triple header weekend.”

3 Danny Dyszelski // USF Pro 2000

Vera Guitars / Formula Imports / Charlotte Mechanical

“I’m looking forward to racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” said Dyszelski. “It’s an iconic venue, and we had good pace testing here with Turn 3 Motorsport. I’m hoping we can continue producing good results here and have some solid results in the three races over the weekend.”

33 Tyke Durst // USF Pro 2000

FHI / Relay Payments / Drive Toward a Cure

“We left NOLA with a lot of motivation to improve,” said Durst. “This month, I am fully committed to bringing my best to this team. I have moved to Indianapolis for the month and wrapped up my second year at college. I have adjusted how I train and prepare for events and can’t wait to see how that affects my racing. I’m looking forward to kicking this month off at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and seeing where May takes us.”

44 Lochie Hughes // USF Pro 2000

The McGinley Group / Private Wealth Planning / Grip Auto Timepieces

“I’m looking forward to racing this weekend in Indianapolis,” said Hughes. “The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a historic track and probably one of my favorite races of the year. With it being another triple header event, it’s especially important to do well here, so let’s see what we can do.”

68 Ethan Ho // USF Pro 2000

Fubon Bank / Triple S / KRC / Molecule / JiuZhou

“I’m excited to go racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” said Ho. “In Qualifying 1 at the last event in NOLA, we showed we have the pace to run up at the front. One of our goals needs to be able to consistently put down those kinds of results and clean up any possible mistakes during the races. I’m determined to meet that goal this weekend here in Indy.”
Up first for the USF Pro 2000 series and Turn 3 Motorsport is pre-event testing and official practice tomorrow followed by qualifying and the first of three races on Friday. Two more races will take place on Saturday to round out the weekend in Indianapolis.

Live video coverage will be available on the USF Pro Championships app and YouTube channels throughout the weekend.
To stay up to date on Turn 3 Motorsport, follow the team on social media using the handle @turn3motorsport.

For more information or images, please contact Mandy Dempsey at turn3motorsport@gmail.com.

Thursday, May 9
1:10-2:10pm – USF Pro 2000 Test 1
3:30-4:30pm – USF Pro 2000 Test 2
5:50-6:20pm – USF Pro 2000 Practice

Friday, May 10
8:40-9:10am – USF Pro 2000 Qualifying
3:15-4:00pm – USF Pro 2000 Race 1

Saturday, May 11
7:55-8:40am – USF Pro 2000 Race 2
12:00-12:45pm – USF Pro 2000 Race 3

All times EST.
About Turn 3 Motorsport: Turn 3 Motorsport is a full-service operation specializing in racecar preparation, engineering, and driver development. Founded and managed by racecar driver and coach Peter Dempsey, T3M is focused on professional service, team member growth, and high-level performance across multiple racing series.

In 2019, the team secured the Blue Marble Cocktails Radical Cup North America championship titles in the 1340cc, 1500cc, and overall classes. Later that year, Peter and Turn 3 Motorsport achieved a record-breaking win at the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race, piloting the #10 Eastern Racing / Turn 3 Motorsport Radical SR3 RSX 1340 to a dominating win, leading 638 out of 672 laps, and becoming the first car under two liters to achieve the overall win.

In the team’s rookie season, Turn 3 Motorsport attracted attention out of the gate by winning the season opener of the 2020 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires in a sweeping performance with Singaporean driver Danial Frost. Frost and the team went on to achieve a pole position, six podium finishes, and third overall in the championship in 2020.

In 2021, T3M expanded its presence in the Road to Indy by introducing a two-car program into the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship alongside its Indy Pro 2000 Championship campaign. In its debut USF2000 season, the team found victory at the season finale with American driver Josh Green as well as earning an additional podium and fifth overall in the championship. The team earned further accolades in the Indy Pro 2000 series with a race win at the season finale by Irish driver James Roe as well as a pole position at World Wide Technology Raceway and seventh overall in the championship.

In 2022, T3M showed its strength and teamwork by achieving a podium, win, and/or pole at 7 of the 9 events on the Road to Indy calendar with rookie drivers Josh Green, Jonathan Browne, and Christian Weir each earning the aforementioned results across two different series (USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000).

In 2023, T3M tied for the most amount of wins in the USF Pro 2000 season with drivers Michael d’Orlando and Christian Brooks earning a total of five wins for the team. The team also earned seven pole positions, the most of any other team, and finished second overall in the Team Championship.

CORVETTE RACING AT LAGUNA SECA: Together Again!

By
Official Release
-

Trio of Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs seek to deliver first wins of the IMSA season

DETROIT (May 8, 2024) – Following GTD-only round last month just down the California coast, the Corvette Z06 GT3.R program in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is back in full this weekend just off the Monterey coast.

Scenic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca plays host Sunday to the Motul Corse de Monterey and the first standard-length race on the IMSA calendar – two hours and 40 minutes. The event also is the first for IMSA on a track surface that was repaved last summer and has received rave reviews from Corvette drivers and their competitors.

The three Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs in IMSA – the No. 3 and No. 4 GTD PRO entries from Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports and the No. 13 GTD entry from AWA – spent two days testing at the 2.238-mile, 11-turn circuit in April to get a head start on car setup and understanding tire degradation levels with the increased grip level in the new blacktop.

The goal is twofold – to give each team the best chance of scoring their first victories with the first-year Corvette Z06 GT3.R and to extend the Corvette brand’s record of success at the circuit. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is one of three tracks – Sebring and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta later this year are the others – to play host to Corvette Racing entries every season since the program’s debut in 1999.

The track record in Monterey is impressive: eight class victories for Corvette Racing since 2004 and 12 total manufacturer wins for Chevrolet.

The AWA and Pratt Miller teams have differing levels of experience at Laguna Seca. The GTD PRO squad will race there for the 26thh consecutive year – and its drivers have a combined six victories at the circuit including Antonio Garcia and Tommy Milner with multiple wins.

On the AWA side of the paddock, the first-year Corvette team has never raced in Monterey, and only Orey Fidani has previous race experience there – 2021 in the Michelin Pilot Challenge series.

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

CORVETTE RACING BY PRATT MILLER MOTORSPORTS

PRE-EVENT DRIVER QUOTES

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I always enjoy going to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and it’s a pleasure to drive. We had a good test there with the Z06 GT3.R and experienced the new asphalt on the track. There is a ton more grip in the track but it is unknown how the race will play out with the combination of the grip level and tire degradation. We have had strong runs there the last two years so hopefully this is the year we can break through for another win.”

ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It’s been several years since my last GT race at Laguna Seca, although I had a good experience racing the Cadillac there last year in GTP. I always enjoyed competing there as the track presents a massive challenge with grip and tire degradation, even with a new surface. The Monterey area is fantastic and is always enjoyable. I’m looking forward to going back there, this time with the Corvette. We’re right on the cusp of breaking through with this new Z06 GT3.R. Hopefully this is the weekend.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I’m happy to go back to Laguna Seca. I’ve been away from the Monterey area for a couple of years so it will be nice to get familiar with the track and that part of the world again. There have been some positive changes to the facility since the last time I was there, including the new track surface, which looks pretty good based on what I’ve heard from both Antonio and Nicky. That’s always nice for us as competitors and it makes for good racing for the fans, as well. The last time I raced there, we came away with a win in the No. 4 Corvette. I’m hoping it’s our turn again this weekend.”

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It was very eye-opening to test at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. I hadn’t been to the track since 2019 in IGTC. But I was very happy to be back and to drive the Corvette again. This is a great track and is an example of why it’s fun to race in America. The elevation changes are massive and there are real penalties for going off-track. Everyone talks about the Corkscrew and while it is very iconic, there are a lot of sections of the track that you have to nail in order to put together a good lap. So I would say we are optimistic going into this weekend and hopeful for a first win for the Z06 GT3.R.”

AWA PRE-EVENT DRIVER QUOTES

MATT BELL, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It’ll be another new experience for me at Laguna as I’ve never raced there before, same as Long Beach. The Long Beach weekend was very strong for the team, and the car was really strong, so we’re aiming to take that momentum into this weekend. We want our first GTD podium!”

OREY FIDANI, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I think Laguna Seca is a track that every driver wants to race at and looks forward to driving on. I’m excited to be returning here. It’s a track I’m particularly fond of, and myself and Matt have been putting in a lot of work to make sure we’re coming into this round well prepared and ready to hit the ground running. We had a good result last time in Long Beach, and we’ve been steadily improving at each event, so our goal is to continue that progress and challenge for another top finish with our Corvette.”

2024 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Points

GTD PRO Drivers Standings

  1. Daniel Serra/Davide Rigon/James Calado – 722
  2. Bryan Sellers/Madison Snow/Neil Verhagen – 624
  3. Ben Barnicoat/Jack Hawksworth/Kyle Kirkwood – 617
  4. Laurin Heinrich/Michael Christensen/Seb Priaulx – 605
  5. Franck Perera/Jordan Peppe/Mirko Bortolotti – 596
  6. Alexander Sims/Antonio Garcia/Daniel Juncadella – 520
  7. Nicky Catsburg/Tommy Milner/Earl Bamber – 473

GTD PRO Teams Standings

  1. No. 62 Risi Competizione – 722
  2. No. 1 Paul Miller Racing – 624
  3. No. 14 Vasser Sullivan – 617
  4. No. 77 AO Racing – 605
  5. No. 19 Iron Lynx – 596
  6. No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports – 520
  7. No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports – 473

GTD PRO Manufacturers Standings

  1. Lexus – 637
  2. Porsche – 625
  3. Lamborghini – 596
  4. Aston Martin – 594
  5. Ford – 547
  6. Chevrolet – 542

GTD Drivers Standings

  1. Philip Ellis/Russell Ward – 987
  2. Patrick Gallagher/Robby Foley – 802
  3. Parker Thompson – 792
  4. Albert Costa Balboa/Manny Franco – 765
  5. Adam Adelson/Elliott Skeer – 740
  6. Matt Bell/Orey Fidani – 613

GTD Teams Standings

  1. No. 57 Windward Racing – 987
  2. No. 96 Turner Motorsport – 802
  3. No. 34 Conquest Racing – 765
  4. No. 120 Wright Motorsports – 740
  5. No. 32 KorthoffPreston Motorsport – 728
  6. No. 13 AWA – 613

GTD Manufacturers Standings

  1. Mercedes-AMG – 1,077
  2. Lexus – 912
  3. Porsche – 886
  4. Lamborghini – 884
  5. Chevrolet – 776

CORVETTE RACING BY THE NUMBERS: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

  • 3: Tracks where Corvette Racing has competed in each of its 25 previous years: Sebring, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (later this year).
  • 4: Generations of Corvette Racing entries at Laguna Seca since 1999 – Corvette C5-R (2000-04), Corvette C6.R (2005-13), Corvette C7.R (2014-2019) and Corvette C8.R/Z06 GT3.R (2020-present).
  • 5: Number of Corvettes competing this weekend across IMSA and WEC: Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports (two) and AWA (one) at Laguna Seca, and TF Sport (two) at Spa-Francorchamps
  • 6: Laguna Seca victories for the current Corvette Racing lineup – Antonio Garcia (three), Tommy Milner (two) and Alexander Sims (one)
  • 8: Number of Laguna Seca victories for Corvette Racing dating back to 2004
  • 12: Victories at Laguna Seca for Chevrolet in IMSA competition
  • 13: Drivers who have competed for Corvette Racing at Laguna Seca. Of those, eight went on to win at Monterey. Nicky Catsburg and Alexander Sims look to join the list this year
  • 14: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001.
  • 27: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races – Baltimore, Charlotte Motor Speedway, COTA, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Daytona, Detroit, Houston, Laguna Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Miami, Mid-Ohio, Monza, Portimão, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Sonoma, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen
  • 47: Number of drivers in Corvette Racing entries since 1999 – Bryan Sellers and Scott Smithson being the latest in GT World Challenge America
  • 71: Years since Corvette was introduced to the world on Jan. 17, 1953 in New York City. A total of 300 cars were produced that year
  • 127: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 115 in North America, nine at Le Mans and three in the FIA WEC
  • 290: Event starts by Corvette Racing since 1999
  • 13,746.81: Number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing in its 25 previous trips to Laguna Seca. That represents more than 792 trips around 17-Mile Drive
  • 376,569.57: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing entries since 1999. To put that in perspective, Corvette Racing is more than halfway to the distance traveled by Apollo 13 – the longest manned spaceflight in history: 622,268 miles

Corvette Racing at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (wins in bold)

1999

No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Chris Kneifel – 2nd in GTS

2000

No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Andy Pilgrim – 2nd in GTS (Fellows pole)

No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Justin Bell/Kelly Collins – 4th in GTS

2001

No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell – 2nd in GTS

No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Kelly Collins – 3rd in GTS

2002

No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell – 5th in GTS

No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Kelly Collins – 3rd in GTS

2003

No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell – 2nd in GTS

No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Oliver Gavin/Kelly Collins – 3rd in GTS

2004

No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell – 1st in GTS (O’Connell fastest race lap)

No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 2nd in GTS (Beretta pole)

2005

No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell – 2nd in GT1

No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 1st in GT1 (Gavin fastest race lap)

2006

No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell – 3rd in GT1

No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 2nd in GT1 (Beretta fastest race lap)

2007

No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell – 2nd in GT1 (Magnussen pole, fastest race lap)

No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 1st in GT1

2008

No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Johnny O’Connell/Jan Magnussen – 2nd in GT1 (Magnussen pole, fastest race lap)

No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 1st in GT1

2009

No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell – 2nd in GT2 (Magnussen pole, fastest race lap)

No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 10th in GT2

2010

No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell – 6th in GT2

No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen – 3rd in GT2

2011

No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Tommy Milner – 7th in GT

No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen – 5th in GT

2012

No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 2nd in GT

No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 1st in GT (Gavin fastest race lap)

2013

No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 1st in GT

No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 9th in GT

2014

No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 1st in GTLM

No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 5th in GTLM

2015

No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 7th in GTLM

No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 6th in GTLM

2016

No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 4th in GTLM

No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 7th in GTLM

2017

No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 4th in GTLM

No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 8th in GTLM

2018

No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 3rd in GTLM

No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 5th in GTLM (Gavin pole)

2019

No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 3rd in GTLM

No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 4th in GTLM (Milner fastest race lap)

2020

No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 2nd in GTLM (Taylor pole)

No. 4 Corvette C8.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 6th in GTLM (Milner fastest race lap)

2021

No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 2nd in GTLM (Taylor pole)

No. 4 Corvette C8.R: Tommy Milner/Nick Tandy – 1st in GTLM (Tandy fastest race lap)

2022

No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 4th in GTD PRO

2023

No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 4th in GTD PRO

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.

Ross Chastain to make 200th Cup career start at Darlington

By
Andrew Kim
-
Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Competing in his fourth consecutive full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series, Ross Chastain is within reach of a milestone start. By competing in this weekend’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway, the driver of the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will achieve 200 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series. 

A native of Alva, Florida, Chastain made his inaugural presence in the Cup Series at Dover Motor Speedway in June 2017. By then, he was campaigning in his third full-time season in the Xfinity Series, all with JD Motorsports. Driving the No. 15 Chevrolet entry for Premium Motorsports, Chastain started 36th and finished 20th in his Cup debut. Four months later, he made his second Cup career start with Premium at Dover during the 2017 Playoffs, where he finished 38th. 

In 2018, Chastain, who remained a full-time Xfinity competitor, also competed in all but two of the 36-race Cup schedule. Making his first start of the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway in February, where he finished 30th, the Floridian achieved a season-best 18th-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway in April, a single-lap lead at Talladega Superspeedway in October and an average-finishing result of 28.4, all while competing for Premium Motorsports. 

The following season, Chastain, who made 77 career starts across NASCAR’s top three national touring series and contended for the Truck Series title, also competed in all but one of the 36-race Cup schedule with Premium Motorsports. He commenced the season by notching his first top-10 career finish during the 61st running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway by finishing 10th. He would then notch a 12th-place finish at Talladega in October while tallying a total of 11 laps led and an average-finishing result of 28.2 before the 2019 season’s conclusion. 

In 2020, Chastain, who became a full-time Xfinity competitor for Kaulig Racing, made his first Cup start of the season during the 62nd running of the Daytona 500 with Spire Motorsports, where he ended up 25th after being involved in a late multi-car wreck. He then competed in the following three events as an interim competitor for Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 6 Ford Mustang team as veteran Ryan Newman was recovering from a harrowing final lap wreck during the Daytona 500. In Chastain’s three-race stint with Roush, his highest-finishing result was a 17th-place run at Auto Club Speedway in March. Chastain would then make four additional Cup starts for the rest of the season with Spire Motorsports, where he achieved a season-best 16th-place result at Daytona in August. 

In September 2020, Chastain was announced as a full-time Cup Series competitor for Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry for the 2021 season. He commenced the season by finishing seventh during the 63rd running of the Daytona 500 despite being involved in a final lap multi-car wreck before finishing no higher than 14th during his next 12 starts. After notching his first top-five career result during the series’ inaugural event at Circuit of the Americas in May, Chastain rallied from finishing 37th during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway to finish seventh at Sonoma Raceway and a career-best second place behind Kyle Larson during the series’ inaugural event at Nashville Superspeedway in June. Despite recording two additional top-10 results during the final nine regular-season events on the schedule, Chastain fell short of making the 2021 Cup Playoffs.

Nonetheless, Chastain achieved a third-place finish during the Playoffs opener at Darlington Raceway followed by a seventh-place run at Richmond Raceway in September. He then managed to secure three top-15 results during the final eight events on the schedule before ending up in 20th place in the final standings. By then, Chastain boosted his average finishing result to 18.6 and tallied three top-five results, eight top-10 results and 62 laps led throughout the 36-race schedule. He had also surpassed 100 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series. 

In early August 2021, Chastain, who was initially labeled a free agent after Trackhouse Racing purchased Chip Ganassi Racing’s NASCAR operations for the 2022 season, was hired by Trackhouse to pilot the team’s No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in 2022. Despite finishing 40th and 29th, respectively, during the season’s first two-scheduled events, he rebounded by finishing in the top three, including two runner-up results, during his next three starts. Then at Circuit of the Americas in March, Chastain outlasted an overtime battle against AJ Allmendinger and Alex Bowman, where he bumped and sent Allmendinger into Bowman before the former spun with two corners remaining, to notch the first Cup Series career victory for himself and for Trackhouse Racing, with the victory occurring in Chastain’s 121st Cup career start.

Four races later, he overtook both Kyle Larson and Erik Jones through the tri-oval on the final lap to score his second career win at Talladega Superspeedway in April, where he only led the final lap. The pair of regular-season victories along with a total of 10 top-five results and 14 top-10 results in 26 starts were enough for Chastain to qualify for his first Cup Series Playoffs.

After recording three top-10 results during the 2022 Playoff’s first six events, he was able to transfer from the Round of 16 to 8. Then after recording back-to-back runner-up results during the Round of 8’s first two events and entering the Round of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway above the top-four cutline to make the Championship 4 round, Chastain achieved an incredible feat on the final lap by sending his car at full speed against the outside wall through the final two turns to go from 10th to fifth before taking the checkered flag.

As a result, Chastain, who was initially scored two points below the cutline, ended up making the Championship 4 cutline by four points over rival Denny Hamlin, who Chastain also managed to edge at the finish line. Eventually, Chastain would be credited with a fourth-place result after initial fourth-place finisher Brad Keselowski was disqualified for failing post-race inspection. During the season finale at Phoenix Raceway, Chastain finished in third place on the track and in a career-best second place in the final standings behind Joey Logano. Despite falling one position short of winning his first Cup title, the 2022 season was a career year for the Floridian, who nabbed his first two career victories and achieved career-high stats in top fives (15), top 10s (21) and laps led (692) along with a career-best average-finishing result of 13.3.   

Returning to Trackhouse Racing while under a new multiyear deal in 2023, Chastain commenced the season by finishing ninth during the 65th running of the Daytona 500. He then finished in the top five a total of five times during his next 11 starts before finishing no higher than 10th during the next four. Then at Nashville Superspeedway in June, Chastain secured his spot for the 2023 Cup Series Playoffs after scoring the first victory of the season for himself and Trackhouse Racing, where the Floridian led a race-high 99 laps and started on pole position for the first time in his career. After recording only a single top-10 result for the remaining nine regular-season events, Chastain then finished fifth, 13th and 23rd, respectively, throughout the Round of 16, which were enough for him to transfer into the Round of 12.

With respective finishes of second, 37th and 10th during the Round of 12, however, he was eliminated from title contention. Nonetheless, Chastain proceeded to finish fifth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during the Round of 8 opener in October before concluding the season with a dominant win in the season-finale event at Phoenix Raceway in November. The finale victory at Phoenix was enough for Chastain to end up in ninth place in the final standings in a season where he notched two victories, a pole, 10 top-five results, 14 top-10 results, 640 laps led and an average-finishing result of 15.0. 

Chastain commenced the 2024 campaign by nearly winning the 66th running of the Daytona 500 until he and Austin Cindric wrecked through the frontstretch on the final lap, which relegated the Floridian to a 21st-place finish in the final running order. He has since recorded a total of four top-10 results through his next 11 starts and is currently ranked in 10th place in the 2024 driver’s standings while trailing the points lead by 136 points.

Through 199 previous Cup starts, Chastain has achieved four victories, one pole, 29 top-five results, 48 top-10 results, 1,515 laps led and an average-finishing result of 20.3 as he continues his pursuit for his first Cup Series championship. 

Ross Chastain is scheduled to make his 200th Cup Series career start at Darlington Raceway for the Goodyear 400 on Sunday, May 12, with the event’s coverage to commence at 3 p.m. ET on FS1. 

Parker Kligerman to make 100th Xfinity career start at Darlington

By
Andrew Kim
-
Photo by Kirk Schroll for SpeedwayMedia.com.

In his third full-time season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Parker Kligerman is primed to achieve a milestone start. By competing in this weekend’s Xfinity event at Darlington Raceway, the driver of the No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet Camaro will make his 100th career start in the Xfinity circuit. 

A native of Westport, Connecticut, Kligerman made his inaugural presence in the Xfinity Series at Kansas Speedway in October 2009. By then, he was competing on a full-time basis in the ARCA Racing Series for Cunningham Motorsports, where he would achieve nine victories and a runner-up result in the final standings, and was a development competitor for Team Penske. Driving the No. 22 Penske Dodge, Kligerman notched his first career pole position after posting a pole-winning lap at 172.778 mph in 31.254 seconds and would lead the first seven laps before settling in 16th place in the final running order. He returned for the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November, where he piloted the No. 42 Team 42 Racing Dodge to a 25th-place finish. 

In 2010, Kligerman made a total of 12 starts in the Xfinity Series between Team Penske and Team 42, with his first start occurring at Auto Club Speedway in February and finishing 22nd despite failing to qualify for the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. After notching his first career top-10 result at Bristol Motor Speedway in August by finishing ninth, the Connecticut native then notched a season-best eighth-place result at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal during the following event. Ultimately, he recorded a total of six top-15 results between his two part-time rides. He would make a total of four Xfinity starts for Team Penske between 2011 and 2012, where he would notch three top-10 results and finish as high as seventh, which occurred at Chicagoland Speedway in July 2012. 

In 2013, Kligerman, who had scored his first Craftsman Truck Series victory at Talladega in October 2012 while driving for Red Horse Racing, joined Kyle Busch Motorsports to pilot the No. 77 Toyota Camry on a full-time basis. Commencing the season by finishing fifth at Daytona while dodging a harrowing multi-car wreck on the frontstretch, Kligerman would record a total of three top-five results, 13 top-10 results, 45 laps led and an average-finishing result of 14.1 throughout the 33-race schedule before settling in ninth place in the final standings. By then, he notched a career-best third-place result at Road America in June and a fourth-place finish at Auto Club Speedway in March. At Michigan International Speedway in June, Kligerman led 13 laps and was in the position of achieving his first career victory amid a late pit strategy and gamble before pitting for fuel with 14 laps remaining and ending up in 25th place while two laps down. 

With Kyle Busch Motorsports ceasing its Xfinity Series program after the 2013 season, Kligerman would move up to the NASCAR Cup Series to compete for Swan Racing and contend for the 2014 Rookie-of-the-Year title. The driver, however, would be released by Swan Racing after the team sold its operations to Xxxtreme Motorsport following the first eight scheduled events. A year later and after he joined NBC Sports Network as an analyst, he made a single Xfinity start for Obaika Racing at Darlington Raceway, where he finished 21st. Another two years later, he competed at Road America for Precision Performance Motorsports, where he finished 10th. 

In 2022, Kligerman made a total of three starts in the Xfinity Series, with his first start occurring at Circuit of the Americas for Emerling-Gase Motorsports, where he finished 12th. He remained with the team as he competed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, where he ended up 37th after being eliminated in an early incident. His third and final start of the season occurred at Talladega Superspeedway during the Xfinity Series Playoffs, where he piloted the No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet Camaro to a sixth-place finish. 

In late October 2022, Big Machine Racing announced that Kligerman will be driving the team’s No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro on a full-time basis for the 2023 Xfinity season. He commenced the season with a 23rd-place finish at Daytona after being involved in a final lap wreck amid an overtime shootout. After finishing 10th, 11th and 15th, respectively, during his next three starts, Kligerman was in contention of achieving his first victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway until he got turned approaching the finish line and wrecked, but managing a fourth-place finish. Kligerman and the No. 48 Big Machine Racing team would proceed to notch six top-five results and 12 top-10 results during the remaining 21 regular-season events, with their best result being a runner-up finish at Road America in late July.

By virtue of the results and the consistency, including a seven-race consecutive streak of top-nine results between July and August and a fourth-place finish during the regular-season finale at Kansas Speedway in September, Kligerman managed to claim the 12th and final berth to the 2023 Xfinity Series Playoffs over Stewart-Haas Racing’s Riley Herbst.

Commencing the 2023 Playoffs with a 31st-place result at Bristol Motor Speedway, Kligerman rallied during the following two events at Texas Motor Speedway and at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course by finishing second and sixth, respectively. The results, however, were enough for the Connecticut native to not transfer into the Round of 8 by four points. Nabbing two top-10 results during the final four events on the schedule, Kligerman settled in a career-best 10th place in the final driver’s standings. By then, he had achieved career-high stats in top fives (8), top 10s (18) and an average-finishing result of 13.2 as a full-time competitor. 

Remaining at Big Machine Racing for the 2024 season, Kligerman has achieved three top-10 results through the first 10 events on the schedule. He is currently ranked in ninth place in the current 2024 driver’s standings and trails the series points lead by 133 points. 

Through 99 previous starts in the Xfinity Series, Kligerman has achieved one pole, 12 top-five results, 41 top-10 results, 107 laps led and an average-finishing result of 14.9 as he continues his pursuit for both his first Xfinity race victory and championship. 

Parker Kligerman is scheduled to make his 100th Xfinity Series career start at Darlington Raceway for the Crown Royal Purple Bag Project 200 on Saturday, May 11, with the event’s broadcast time to commence at 1 p.m. ET on FS1.  

1...1,0891,0901,091...6,745Page 1,090 of 6,745