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Kyle Larson wins Xfinity race in chaotic double-overtime finish at COTA

Kyle Larson, driver of the #17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 at Circuit of The Americas on March 23, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Kyle Larson was in the right place at the right time in the final laps of the Xfinity Series race to capture the win at Circuit of The Americas amid the late race chaos.

The Focused Health 250 finished in double overtime as Shane van Gisbergen battled with Austin Hill for the top spot. As the two drivers made contact, Larson made his move and passed them both to lead the final lap in his No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and collect the checkered flag for his 15th Xfinity Series career win.

“It feels really special because seems like every time we’ve run the 17 car, any of us four drivers, we’re always fast on track and somehow give it away,” Larson said. “Today I was definitely not the fastest, but we were patient. I knew the 21 (Hill) had shoved SVG through (Turn) 1 and if he got to him it could get dicey.

“I was just trying to be patient. I was thinking when to make my move and when I saw him shoving him through 15 and 16, I thought this could get good and thankfully I cleared them off in that corner. Pretty crazy. Just wild there, really cool, just awesome to win here at COTA.”

Van Gisbergen led 20 laps in the No. 97 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet and finished second but was assessed a 30-second post-race penalty for shortcutting the course on the final laps, relegating him to 27th place.

“It was a crazy race and the car got better and better,” van Gisbergen said. “On that last restart, he (Hill) just drove through me in (turn) one. I guess I stood up for myself. But it was pretty awesome racing with (teammate) AJ (Allmendinger) and in the end just turned into a mess. That’s how it is.”

Allmendinger led 20 laps during the race but was caught up in a crash during a battle for the lead and finished in 10th place.

“Not the ending we wanted,” Allmendinger said. “We had a really solid day, I’m proud of everyone on the 16 car for digging and trying to make it better after practice and qualifying yesterday. I was really happy with the speed we had, we missed the last run there by a little bit which was going to cost us winning the race, but we were going to finish second and it was going to be a Kaulig one-two.

“With these late race restarts, you have to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. We came out on the wrong end, but we fought hard and happy to restart at the back on the last restart and come back to a 10th-place finish.”

John Hunter Nemechek finished third, followed by Cole Custer in fourth and Parker Kligerman in fifth place. Jesse Love, Austin Green, Chandler Smith, Sam Mayer and Allmendinger rounded out the top 10.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to Richmond Raceway next Saturday for the ToyotaCare 250 at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1 with radio coverage provided by MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Results:

Heim wins the XPEL 225 at Circuit of The Americas

Corey Heim, driver of the #11 Safelite Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series XPEL 225 at Circuit of The Americas on March 23, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Corey Heim has enough fuel to capture his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) win of the season on Saturday in the XPEL 225 at Circuit of The Americas (COTA).  Heim and the Tricon Garage No. 11 Toyota led a race-high of 31 laps for his win at the 3.41-mile road course and the sixth of his NCTS career.

“On the last lap of the last restart, I stuttered a little bit on the right-handers because the fuel pick up is on the other side. The whole fuel load would go to the other side. I thought I was going to be out by the time I came around, but luckily I had a couple of left-handers at the end of the course, and I had fuel, but regardless of that, I’m super thankful for everyone at TRICON Garage, Toyota Racing.” Heim said. 

“I worked my butt off for this one. With the one (road course) race a year for the Truck Series, I felt like it was just so important for me to prove my road course ability. I knew I needed to capitalize on today, and I did. After it was done with all of the late cautions, I was glad it was over, and it was time to celebrate. It definitely means a lot,” Heim added.

Teammate Taylor Gray recovered from an early penalty and stretched his fuel mileage to finish second in the Tricon’s No. 17 Toyota.  The second-place finish ties his career-best with a runner-up finish and also gives TRICON Garage their first 1-2 finish.

“I can’t thank everyone at TRICON Garage enough for bringing me a really good JBL Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. I thought I ruined our race at the beginning of the race by getting that penalty, but just can’t thank all of our guys enough. We put ourselves in position and Jeff (Hensley, crew chief) did a great job with the strategy, just couldn’t attack on those last couple of laps. Something to figure out on how to give him a little bit of a tougher race at the end, but those guys executed all day long, and we have to keep executing ourselves,” said Gray.

Ty Majeski finished third. Polesitter and rookie Connor Zilisch recovered from a lap down and finished fourth after overshooting the first turn on the first lap, and NASCAR Cup Series regular Ross Chastain rounded out the top five.

The rear-end housing broke off the No. 04 Roper Racing Chevrolet driven by Marco Andretti, bringing out the red flag and extending the race by four laps.

Heim leads the series standings by 10 points over Majeski, Tyler Ankrum is third, Gray fourth, and Rajah Caruth rounds out the top-5 in the standings after five races.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series heads to Martinsville Speedway for the Long John Silver’s 200 on April 5th for the sixth race of the season at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race – XPEL 225
Circuit of The Americas
Austin, Texas
Saturday, March 23, 2024

(Pos, Driver, Make, Laps)

  1. Corey Heim, Toyota, 46.
  2. Taylor Gray, Toyota, 46.
  3. Ty Majeski, Ford, 46.
  4. Connor Zilisch, Chevrolet, 46.
  5. Ross Chastain(i), Chevrolet, 46.
  6. Jack Hawksworth, Toyota, 46.
  7. Ben Rhodes, Ford, 46.
  8. Christian Eckes, Chevrolet, 46.
  9. Dean Thompson, Toyota, 46.
  10. Tanner Gray, Toyota, 46.
  11. Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 46.
  12. Grant Enfinger, Chevrolet, 46.
  13. Jack Wood, Chevrolet, 46.
  14. Jake Garcia, Ford, 46.
  15. Rajah Caruth, Chevrolet, 46.
  16. Bayley Currey, Chevrolet, 46.
  17. Timmy Hill, Toyota, 46.
  18. Nick Sanchez, Chevrolet, 46.
  19. Stefan Parsons, Chevrolet, 46.
  20. Stewart Friesen, Toyota, 46.
  21. Carter Fartuch, Ford, 46.
  22. Chase Purdy, Chevrolet, 46.
  23. Matt Crafton, Ford, 46.
  24. Matt Mills, Chevrolet, 46.
  25. Tyler Ankrum, Chevrolet, 46.
  26. Dale Quarterley, Toyota, 45.
  27. Layne Riggs #, Ford, 43.
  28. Daniel Dye, Chevrolet, 42.
  29. Bret Holmes, Chevrolet, 42.
  30. Spencer Boyd, Chevrolet, 42.
  31. Marco Andretti, Chevrolet, Suspension, 40.
  32. Thad Moffitt #, Chevrolet, 39.
  33. Lawless Alan, Ford, Rear Gear, 34.
  34. Vicente Salas, Chevrolet, Transmission, 33.
  35. Mason Massey, Chevrolet, Brakes, 32.

Prime Heim: Corey Heim Bests Field in Overtime Thriller to Earn First Win of the Season at XPEL 225

TRICON Garage driver Corey Heim celebrates winning the XPEL 225 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Circuit of The Americas outside of Austin, Texas on Saturday. Photo Credit: NASCAR at COTA/Harold Hinson Photography
  • TRICON Garage driver Corey Heim ends recent Front Row Motorsports COTA dominance with XPEL 225 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win at Circuit of The Americas.
  • Tickets to Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix are available at NASCARatCOTA.com.

AUSTIN, Texas (March 23, 2024) – The opening act of Saturday’s doubleheader at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) saw Corey Heim dominate the field, lead a race-high 31 laps and survive a hectic overtime finish to win the XPEL 225 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) showdown.

“I knew I was capable of getting it done,” Heim said. “I worked hard for this one. It was just so important to prove our road course ability. It definitely means a lot.

“It’s a big statement for us. I feel like we’ve been able to win every week. To come here, be fast from the start. We have big goals this year, so to get a start like that is really special.”

Despite having the truck to beat, the win didn’t come without some drama. Marco Andretti brought out a caution as the leaders were coming to the white flag when the rear end housing broke loose from his Roper Racing Chevrolet. The incident led to a red flag that evaporated a comfortable lead by Heim and bunched up the contenders for a two-lap overtime shootout.

As he had multiple times earlier in the day, Heim pulled away from the field on the restart to take the checkered flag 1.625 seconds ahead of teammate Taylor Gray. Ty Majeski of ThorSport Racing finished third and polesitter Connor Zilisch was fourth in his NCTS debut with Spire Motorsports. NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) regular Ross Chastain, driving for Niece Motorsports, rounded out the top five.

“I definitely think I got all the rookie mistakes out of the way,” Zilisch said after the race. “I know where I’ve got to learn. It’s bittersweet.”

The victory was Heim’s first of the season, sixth of his career and third top-three finish through the first five races. He also ended Front Row Motorsports’ NCTS dominance at COTA, where the organization had claimed victory in each of the three previous XPEL 225 races.

Nick Sanchez took the green-and-white checkered flag to win Stage One, while Heim powered his Toyota Tundra to the front of the field to win Stage Two.

The weekend wraps up Sunday with the fourth running of the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix. Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron will start on the pole.

Tickets:

Fans can purchase tickets for Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix online at NASCARatCOTA.com.

Follow Us:

Keep track of all things NASCAR at COTA by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@NASCARatCOTA). Keep up with all the latest information on the NASCAR at COTA website and mobile app.

Toyota Racing – NCTS COTA Post-Race Report – 03.23.24

COREY HEIM DELIVERS FIRST WIN OF SEASON IN DOMINATING FASHION AT COTA
First five-truck top-10 finish for TRICON Garage

AUSTIN, TEXAS (March 23, 2024) – Corey Heim dominated the afternoon at Circuit of the Americas and battled through multiple late race restarts to take his first Truck Series win of the season and sixth victory of his career. The Toyota development driver continued his streak of strong performances – delivering his 20th top-10 in the last 21 Truck races. Heim led 31 of the 46 laps.

It was a day of firsts for TRICON Garage as they earned their first 1-2 finish and the first time with five top-10 finishes in the same race. Taylor Gray tied his career-best with a runner-up finish, while reigning IMSA GTD Pro champion Jack Hawksworth finished sixth in his Truck Series debut. Dean Thompson (ninth) and Tanner Gray (10th) closed out the top-10 success for TRICON Garage in Austin.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Circuit of the Americas
Race 5 of 23 – 42 Laps, 144.32 Miles

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, COREY HEIM
2nd, TAYLOR GRAY
3rd, Ty Majeski*
4th, Connor Zilisch*
5th, Ross Chastain*
6th, JACK HAWKSWORTH
9th, DEAN THOMPSON
10th, TANNER GRAY
17th, TIMMY HILL
20th, STEWART FRIESEN
26th, DALE QUARTERLEY
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

COREY HEIM, No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage

Finishing Position: 1st

Everyone was wondering if you were going to be good there on fuel. Can you take us through those last few laps? Were you nervous?

“Yeah, I was super nervous. On the last lap of the last restart, I stuttered a little bit on the right handers, because the fuel pick up is on the other side. The whole fuel load would go to the other side. I thought I was going to be out by the time I came around, but luckily I had a couple of left handers at the end of course – and I had fuel, but regardless of that, I’m super thankful for everyone at TRICON Garage, Toyota Racing. This Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro was just kickass all day long. We put a beating on them, so that is that a pretty good feeling. To do that at Mid-Ohio last year, and to come back here and do the same thing with better equipment, was really special. I can’t wait to see what the year has in store for us.”

Did this have a special meaning to you?

“I worked my butt off for this one. With the one (road course) race a year for the Truck Series, I felt like it was just so important for me to prove my road course ability. I knew I need to capitalize on today, and I did. After it was done with all of the late cautions, I was glad it was over and it was time to celebrate. It defintiely means a lot.”

TAYLOR GRAY, No. 17 Factory Canopies Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage

Finishing Position: 2nd

So close to your first win. Can you tell us about your race?

“I can’t thank everyone at TRICON Garage enough for bringing me a really good JBL Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. I thought I ruined our race at the beginning of the race by getting that penalty, but just can’t thank all of our guys enough. We put ourselves in position and Jeff (Hensley, crew chief) did a great job with the strategy, just couldn’t attack on those last couple of laps. Something to figure out on how to give him a little bit of a tougher race at the end, but those guys executed all day long and we have to keep executing ourselves.”

JACK HAWKSWORTH, No. 1 Mobil 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage

Finishing Position: 6th

Can you talk about your experience today?

“It was a lot of fun. The race was going well. The first two stints I was feeling pretty good. I definitely wasn’t the fastest but I had reasonable pace, and was able to keep in touch with everybody. Just in that last stint, I was trying to pass the 98 (Ty Majeski) and I smoked my right front tire, and I had a massive flat spot in that last stint. That made it pretty difficult. I was just hanging on there in the end, but it was a lot fun and I was glad to bring it home with a decent result in the Mobil 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. It was fun, and Corey (Heim) won – so good day all around for TRICON Garage.”

About Toyota

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

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

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

Back-to-Back: Byron Wins Second Consecutive EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix Pole

William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports will start on the pole for the second year in a row at the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas outside of Austin, Texas. Photo Credit: NASCAR at COTA/Harold Hinson Photography
  • William Byron continues hot start to season, will lead the field to green in Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix alongside Joe Gibb Racing’s Ty Gibbs.
  • Tickets to Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix are available at NASCARatCOTA.com.

AUSTIN, Texas (March 23, 2024) – William Byron says he’s starting to find his rhythm. For the second time in as many tries, the Hendrick Motorsports hot shoe powered his No. 24 machine to the top of the leaderboard and claimed the pole for Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas (COTA).

Following his Daytona 500 win to open the 2024 campaign and six wins last season, Byron’s lap of 129.636 seconds at 94.696 mph, earned him his first pole position of the year and 13th of his career. In addition to a fast race car, the 26-year-old Charlotte, N.C. native attributed some of his success in Saturday’s qualifying to finally settling into a routine after a chaotic yet rewarding start to the season.

“Honestly, this has been my first normal week since the 500, just being able to be back home and be in my rhythm and be able to focus on driving my race car,” said Byron, who will look to build off last season’s fifth-place finish. “I feel really happy with how the week’s gone and feel very fresh going into the race.”

Byron will be joined on the front row by Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs, who was edged for the pole position by a mere 0.015 of a second on the 20-turn, 3.41-mile permanent road course layout. Gibbs was able to fend off his fellow Toyota-powered drivers Tyler Reddick and Christopher Bell as the three were separated by just 0.279 of a second. Reddick, of 23XI Racing, will start third while Gibbs’ JGR teammate Bell will start fourth. Corey Lajoie of Spire Motorsports landed Chevrolet the final top-five position in the starting lineup.

It was a banner day overall for Joe Gibbs Racing as the four-car organization secured half of the top-eight qualifying positions. In addition to Gibbs and Bell, Martin Truex Jr. qualified seventh and Denny Hamlin eighth.

Green flag is scheduled for 2:49 p.m. CT Sunday.

Tickets:

Fans can purchase tickets for Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix online at NASCARatCOTA.com.

Follow Us:

Keep track of all things NASCAR at COTA by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@NASCARatCOTA). Keep up with all the latest information on the NASCAR at COTA website and mobile app.

William Byron captures Cup Series Pole at Circuit of the Americas

William Byron, driver of the #24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet, poses for photos after winning the pole award during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on March 23, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

William Byron won the Busch Light Pole at Circuit of the Americas and will lead the field to green Sunday afternoon in the Cup Series EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix. It’s his first pole this season, his 13th career pole and his second-straight pole at the 3.426-mile track.

“I feel really happy with the way the week’s gone and I feel very fresh going into this race,” Byron said. “We’ve just got to go through the process of the race. Just manage the runs, have enough long-run speed. I feel we got a good balance with our car. We’ve been struggling to have smooth races, so this is a good start.”

The Hendrick Motorsports driver was fastest overall in his No. 24 Chevrolet during practice Saturday and he carried that momentum over to earn the top spot in the qualifying session with a lap of 94.696 mph.

Ty Gibbs will join him on the front row in the No. 54 Toyota as 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick will start third in the No. 45 Toyota. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell (No. 20 Toyota) and Spire Motorsports’ Corey LaJoie (No. 7 Chevrolet) claimed the remaining top five starting spots. It will be LaJoie’s best Cup Series career starting position.

Ross Chastain, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace rounded out the top 10.

The highest qualifying Ford was the No. 2 Team Penske Ford driven by Austin Cindric who will start 11th. Rookie Shane van Gisbergen will start 12th in the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet.
You can tune into the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX with radio coverage provided by PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Notes:

Kyle Larson was late to the qualifying session as the Hendrick Motorsports team had to change a rotor. Larson will start Sunday’s race in 15th.

Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi, who will be making his second NASCAR start, qualified 25th in the No. 50 23XI Racing Toyota.

  1.   William Byron
  2.   Ty Gibbs
  3.   Tyler Reddick
  4.   Christopher Bell
  5.   Corey LaJoie
  6.   Ross Chastain
  7.   Martin Truex Jr.
  8.   Denny Hamlin
  9.   Chase Elliott
  10. Bubba Wallace
  11. Austin Cindric
  12. Shane Van Gisbergen
  13. Justin Haley
  14. A.J. Allmendinger
  15. Kyle Larson
  16. Kyle Busch
  17. Alex Bowman
  18. Carson Hocevar (R)
  19. Daniel Suarez
  20. Chris Buescher
  21. Austin Dillon
  22. John Hunter Nemechek
  23. Kaz Grala (R)
  24. Ryan Preece
  25. Kamui Kobayashi
  26. Todd Gilliland
  27. Michael McDowell
  28. Ryan Blaney
  29. Harrison Burton
  30. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
  31. Josh Berry (R)
  32. Chase Briscoe
  33. Daniel Hemric
  34. Zane Smith (R)
  35. Joey Logano
  36. Brad Keselowski
  37. Timmy Hill
  38. Erik Jones
  39. Noah Gragson

A Quick Guide to Wheel Automotive Maintenance

Photo by riis riiiis on Unsplash

Does your car make strange noises when you brake? Are you hearing metal churning noises when you turn? Aside from the engine, your car’s wheels are subject to a massive amount of wear and tear and will require regular maintenance. From worn-out tires to noisy brake pads and worn rotors, your wheels can have a plethora of problems. Continue reading this guide to learn more about how to maintain your wheels for your vehicle.

Brake Rotors

Brake rotors are attached to every wheel and it’s what brake pads press into to provide friction to slow and stop your car. Understandably this friction causes significant wear.

To maintain your brake rotors, you must first inspect them to the best of your ability. Signs of wear include grooves, scores, and discoloration. Any of the previous could mean that your rotors need resurfacing or replacement.

Resurfacing a brake rotor is done by machining the grooves and scores into a new flat surface for the brake pads to contact.

Brake rotors are replaced when they are too heavily worn to be resurfaced or have suffered sufficient damage. It is essential to match the specifications of the original rotors, which you can find a list of replacement rotors at websites such as https://www.allrotors.com.

Brake Pads

As mentioned before, brake pads are what provide the friction to slow your car. Ensuring proper maintenance of your brake pads is essential for avoiding spontaneous collisions and hazards.

An indicator of worn brake pads can be squealing or grinding noises when applying the brakes or turning. Additionally, they can be inspected manually for damage, but it can be difficult to spot.

Unlike brake rotors, brake pads cannot be resurfaced and must be replaced when they reach the end of life. Your vehicle’s brake pads have a specified thickness of when they need to be replaced which you can find in your car’s manual or by looking it up online.

Tires

Lastly, and the most replaced are your actual rubber tires. Driving along road surfaces will slowly wear and erode your tire’s treads and they must be replaced as it can be a huge risk while driving.

You can identify when your tires need replacement by visually inspecting for the following:

  • Tread Depth
  • Uneven Wear
  • Cracks
  • Bulges
  • Foreign Objects

Each of the above can be addressed in many ways depending on severity. Tread depth for example can be measured to know if you need to have your wheels replaced.

Foreign objects and punctures can be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and can be plugged without needing to replace the tire. However, it is still critical that you replace the wheel whenever you can.

Lastly, ensure that you get the proper tires for your car and its use case. If your car is primarily used in snowy and stormy weather, getting tires that are favorable in those conditions can improve handling and safety.

Bottom Line

For those with a quick wit after reading this, you will have understood that a lot of car maintenance is dealt with by visual inspection. If a part of your wheels fails a visual inspection, you can then dive into addressing the specific problem before it becomes a bigger problem.

We recommend you have a set day where you spend a few minutes inspecting your vehicle every 2-3 weeks. By staying on top of your car’s needs you can extend the lifespan of your car significantly.

CHEVROLET NCS: Byron Claims Pole Position at Circuit of The Americas

William Byron, driver of the #24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet, poses for photos after winning the pole award during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on March 23, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

NASCAR CUP SERIES
CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS
ECHOPARK AUTOMOTIVE GRAND PRIX
TEAM CHEVY QUALIFYING REPORT
MARCH 23, 2024

 Byron Claims Pole Position at Circuit of The Americas
Four Camaro ZL1’s Qualify in Top-10

  • William Byron drove Chevrolet to its first NASCAR Cup Series pole of the season at Circuit of The Americas – posting a best-lap of 129.636 seconds, at 94.696 mph, in his No. 24 RaptorTough.com Camaro ZL1 in the final round of qualifying.
  • The pole marks Byron’s second NASCAR Cup Series pole at Circuit of The Americas, and his 13th career pole in 222 starts in NASCAR’s top division.
  • Byron’s pole marked Chevrolet’s third pole win in the NASCAR Cup Series’ four races at Circuit of The Americas.
  • The feat marked Chevrolet’s first NASCAR Cup Series pole win of the 2024 season, and the manufacturer’s 744th all-time pole win in NASCAR’s top division.
  • Four drivers from three different Chevrolet organizations posted a top-10 qualifying effort, with Byron leading Spire Motorsports’ Corey LaJoie in fifth, Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain in sixth and Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott in ninth.
  • FOX will broadcast the NASCAR Cup Series EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on Sunday, March 23, at 3:30 p.m. ET. Live coverage can also be found on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-10 STARTING LINEUP:
POS. DRIVER
1st William Byron, No. 24 RaptorTough.com Camaro ZL1
5th Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Gainbridge Camaro ZL1
6th Ross Chastain, No. 1 Worldwide Express Camaro ZL1
9th Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1

William Byron, No. 24 RaptorTough.com Camaro ZL1 – Pole Win Media Availability Quotes

You had the track record last year. I think there were 28 drivers in qualifying this year that broke it. You held onto it in the first round and then won the pole. Can you describe the differences between running the qualifying laps this year with the new pavement compared to last year?

“Yeah, so the areas that they repaved have quite a bit more grip as we got the tire rubber kind of rubbered in and got the race track to where it was kind of peak grip level. I feel like it took probably the first five to eight laps for everyone to make for the track to keep getting faster, and probably for us to understand where the grip level is on the race track to push. I feel like we got to a spot where we understood the race track more. I think my biggest thing, or my biggest concern, is just turn eight and how the dirt is there. It’s definitely difficult to get through that corner. Wish that was a little bit better to make the race track flow a little bit nicer, but I feel like the added grip in some areas was nice and a little bit smoother. I don’t think it will really change the race any. I think the braking zones and the passing zones will be the same. It should be a pretty exciting race.”

Is there anything you feel like should change.. should they put curb in overnight in that area, or say what they’re going to do with track limits in that area?

“I would like to see a curb, maybe where the grass starts there.. just maybe right there on that edge. That would probably be the best solution. I think we should do something. Like track limits.. I don’t know, it’s really tough to police through there. It’s very difficult to see that area, so I think kind of having something that can not allow us to go there and risking damage.”

Talking about track limits, in general.. how do you balance the line of pushing through the esses to maximize your laps times, while also not ending up with that penalty where you end up having to make a pass through? How do you balance where that aggression is?

“Yeah, I feel like through the esses, the track limits is very appropriate because it’s easy to understand through there. Obviously, you have a lot of paint inside the curbing, but you can really kind of tell where you are on the race track there. So I feel like track limits through the esses is great. We’ve gotten used to it. The rules have been the same now for three years, I think.

I think we’re doing a good job with the rules and everything to police that, and everyone has kind of stayed within the box. I didn’t ever get any laps disallowed, and hopefully don’t get any tomorrow.”

What’s been the best advice you’ve gotten from Max Papis, who’s coached you in the past when it comes to racing at the road courses?

“Yeah, I mean it’s just an evolution over time. Going out to the carting track this week, and just honestly, it’s been my first normal week since the Daytona 500.. just being able to be back home; be in my rhythm and kind of my cocoon and be able to focus on driving the race car. I feel really happy with how the week has gone. I feel very fresh going into this race, so I’m excited for that.

Yeah, our preparation is kind of the same that we normally do for road courses.”

We saw a lot of guys locking-up going into turn one. Some said it was tires, some said they might have been pushing too hard. Is that something that you foresee being an issue on race day?

“I don’t know. It seemed like once we understood that was the limit, it seemed like things got better there. I don’t know.. I haven’t looked at my turn one’s to see if I was giving up time, but I wasn’t locking up as I went through the rounds there. So I feel like at first, it was really prevalent because the bump there and the subsequent bumps, kind of as you get to the apex, is definitely rough. If there’s anywhere that I thought they would repave, I thought it would be there because turn one is very rough, but it creates some character. And on the restarts, it’s very tricky. We’ll see how that all plays out, for sure.”


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.

Cindric Paces Ford in COTA Cup Series Qualifying

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix | Saturday, March 23, 2024

Ford Performance Qualifying Results:
11th – Austin Cindric
13th – Justin Haley
20th – Chris Buescher
23rd – Kaz Grala
24th – Ryan Preece
26th – Todd Gilliland
27th – Michael McDowell
28th – Ryan Blaney
29th – Harrison Burton
31st – Josh Berry
32nd – Chase Briscoe
35th – Joey Logano
36th – Brad Keselowski

39th – Noah Gragson

AUSTIN CINDRIC, No. 2 Discount Tired Ford Mustang Dark Horse (Qualified 11th)

HOW DIFFERENT IS IT OUT THERE WITH THE REPAVE SECTIONS? “Not a whole lot different to be honest. I mean they’ve repaved, probably like the third or fourth time they’ve done some paving updates here. I think each time it hasn’t been a whole lot different. So, yeah, not too bad.”

SAME RULES AS LAST YEAR WHEN IT COMES TO TRACK LIMITS. ARE YOU GOOD WITH THE WAY NASCAR IS DOING IT? “I think for the esses it makes complete sense. I don’t see a better way of going about it in the esses. I think hindsight 2020, I think we could have probably discussed some better options for turn eight. Obviously we don’t have a lot of time to do much else, but there’s dirt everywhere. I feel like you don’t see cars in the second round go faster, or rerunning and going faster because it’s so dirty through there. And why that’s different from last year is hard to say. It could be the same dirt, could be different dirt, it looked really soft. I think we just need like a Martinsville style curb there and then that just completely eliminates that. I think the rest of it makes complete sense.”

OR JUST MAYBE MORE GUYS RUNNING THAT AREA BECAUSE THERE’S OBVIOUSLY SPEED THERE IF YOU’RE RUNNING THERE AND KICKING DIRT UP? “There’s more speed to go through the dirt than there is to actually miss the racing line. So you might as well just drive through the dirt and not care about anybody else. That’s the reality of trying to make quick lap times. It’s going to be worse tomorrow because you’re not going to be able to see very well behind other cars.

We had a caution for it last year, which is why I know they had concerns about it. I’m sure we all watched last year’s race and went, ‘oh everybody’s doing it so I need to be doing it too’.

THE LAST COUPLE RACES HAVE BEEN A STRUGGLE COMING TO COTA. IS IT A RELIEF COMING TO A ROAD COURSE? “I take that kind of as an insult to be honest but it’s nice to have a race weekend right after a bad weekend that’s the beauty of this sport. You get to go again. From having tire issues last week and getting wrecked out on the fourth lap of the race I don’t think it’s very representative of what we’re capable of as a team and it certainly hurt us in points and I’m certainly looking forward to tomorrow.”

HOW WOULD YOU SUM UP TODAY OVERALL WITH THE 2 CAR? “I should be driving right now if I’m being honest. I’m frustrated not to be in the second round. I felt like we had the car capable. Obviously we missed it by like two hundredths or whatever. Both laps I had guys screw up in turn one, go off in front of me and have to re-merge. Yeah, its just unfortunate. We had top ten speed, still plenty of speed and plenty of opportunity to execute a good race tomorrow. That’s really what we need. Obviously there’s some cars that are extremely competitive right now and I feel like we can be one of them in the mix at race pace.”

WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD DAY FOR THIS TWO TEAM TOMORROW? IS IT MAXIMIZING STAGE POINTS OR IS IT MAXIMIZING FINISH? “I don’t think you can do both. You know, with the stages back, I don’t think you can run competitively and expect to win or expect to get a good top ten finish without crazy wrecks on restarts, without flipping stages. That game is definitely in play again as far as having a good finish and not having good points. It falls down to what’s important to you and I think those decisions will be made some people make their bed pretty early in stage one.

THE RESTART ZONE WAS PUSHED BACK THIS YEAR. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT? “I think it’s a good move. I think honestly it could be even further back just because if the leader did wait all the way to the end, I think you can get six or seven rows clear. And if I’m being honest, the top six or seven rows were the ones usually making the moves to try to advance their position and then it just creates a massive stack, and the car is out of line, and the back half of the field just wrecks into it. So my hope is that everyone realizes the leader just needs to go early to create that separation, which is why they moved the restart zone back. It should be interesting to see how it plays out tomorrow.”

Car Wash At Your Doorstep: The Ultimate Convenience

Photo by Brad Starkey on Unsplash

In the buzzing about present day life, setting aside the opportunity to offer your car the consideration it merits can be a test. Fortunately, doorstep car wash administrations have arisen as a helpful arrangement, offering proficient cleaning extremely close to home. This article investigates the idea of doorstep car washes, their advantages, and how they are changing the game for car proprietors all over.

The Need for Doorstep Car Wash Services

Customary car washes frequently include huge delays, badly designed areas, and restricted help choices. Besides, they may not necessarily in all cases convey the degree of tidiness and care that your car merits. Doorstep car wash administrations address these trouble spots by bringing the cleaning right to your doorstep.

Advantages of Doorstep Car Wash

Envision never lining up at a car wash once more. Car wash at your door step services offer unmatched comfort, permitting you to plan a wash at an overall setting that suits you best. Moreover, a large number of these administrations focus on eco-benevolence, utilizing water-effective procedures and biodegradable items to limit natural effect. Besides, doorstep car washes frequently give customized regard for your car , guaranteeing that everywhere is flawless.

How Doorstep Car Wash Works

Booking a doorstep car wash is pretty much as simple as a couple of taps on your cell phone. When planned, a prepared expert will show up at your area furnished with every one of the fundamental devices and supplies. In the wake of setting up, they will continue with the cleaning system, taking consideration to address both the outside and inside of your car .

Types of Services Offered

Doorstep car wash benefits commonly offer a scope of cleaning choices to suit your requirements. From essential outside washes to thorough inside itemizing, these administrations can be custom fitted to your inclinations. Moreover, numerous suppliers offer extra administrations like waxing, cleaning, and smell evacuation for a really extensive cleaning experience.

Safety Measures and Precautions

While entrusting your car to a doorstep car wash administration, wellbeing is principal. Respectable suppliers go to lengths to guarantee the security of your car during the cleaning system, utilizing delicate yet viable methods to keep away from any harm. Additionally, many administrations focus on natural supportability, utilizing eco-accommodating items and limiting water utilization.

Cost and Pricing Structures

The expense of a doorstep car wash can change contingent upon elements, for example, the size of your car , the degree of administration picked, and your area. Nonetheless, numerous clients find that the comfort and nature of administration legitimize the expense. When contrasted with customary car washes, doorstep benefits frequently offer cutthroat evaluating, particularly taking into account the additional comfort.

Customer Reviews and Testimonials

A speedy look at client surveys uncovers the predominantly certain encounters that many have had with doorstep car wash administrations. Clients acclaim the accommodation, incredible skill, and meticulousness offered by these types of assistance. Also, suppliers are frequently receptive to input, tending to any worries or issues quickly.

Tips for Choosing a Doorstep Car Wash Service

While choosing a doorstep car wash administration, it’s fundamental to consider factors like standing, administration contributions, and client input. Search for suppliers with a strong history of dependability and consumer loyalty. Also, consider the scope of administrations offered and whether they line up with your necessities and inclinations. At long last, make sure to surveys and tributes from different clients to get a feeling of what’s in store.

The Future of Doorstep Car Wash

As innovation keeps on advancing, so too will doorstep car wash administrations. We can hope to see headways in regions, for example, mechanization, water-saving methods, and harmless ecosystem items. Besides, as additional individuals perceive the comfort and advantages of doorstep car washes, we can expect to proceed with development and extension in the business.

As the interest for comfort keeps on developing, doorstep car wash administrations are turning out to be progressively well known. With their capacity to save time, monitor water, and convey extraordinary outcomes, these administrations are ready to reform the manner in which we clean and keep up with our car .

Envision never stressing over setting aside the opportunity to wash your car once more. With doorstep car wash administrations, you can plan a cleaning whenever it might suit you, whether it’s during your mid-day break at work or while you’re loosening up at home toward the end of the week. This adaptability makes it simple to keep your car putting its best self forward without disturbing your bustling timetable.

Additionally, doorstep car wash administrations are advantageous as well as harmless to the ecosystem. By utilizing water-effective methods and biodegradable items, these administrations limit water squander and lessen their natural impression. This is particularly significant in regions confronting water shortage or where customary car wash strategies might add to contamination.

Notwithstanding their accommodation and eco-benevolence, doorstep car wash administrations offer customized consideration regarding your vehicle. Not at all like mechanized car washes, which can once in a while miss spots or cause harm, prepared specialists cautiously clean every last bit of your vehicle manually, guaranteeing a careful and compelling cleaning without fail.

Moreover, doorstep vehicle wash benefits frequently do an amazing job to surpass client assumptions. Whether it’s giving additional thoughtfulness regarding trouble spots or offering free administrations like tire sparkling or inside vacuuming, these administrations are devoted to giving a first class insight to their clients.

Conclusion

In conclusion, doorstep car wash administrations offer a helpful, eco-accommodating, and productive answer for keeping your car spotless and very much kept up with. By bringing the cleaning right to your doorstep, these administrations wipe out the problem and burden of customary vehicle washes. Whether you’re a bustling proficient, a parent in a hurry, or just somebody who esteems their time, doorstep car wash administrations are a distinct advantage for car proprietors all over.