Ian Porter and Caroline Candas Enter the Weekend Top Two in Cayman Pro-Am Points, with Rafael Martinez and Paige Morales Just Behind as the Team Continues to “Race As Family Always” in Front of IndyCar Crowd
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (April 25, 2024) – It’s been a seven-week break between the season opener at Sebring International Raceway and this weekend’s Porsche Sprint Challenge North America rounds at Barber Motorsports Park, but the four-car RAFA Racing Team by JDX has every reason to believe the momentum built in the opener will carry through the hiatus.
Drivers Ian Porter and Caroline Candas went one-two in both races of the opening doubleheader, while Rafael Martinez and Paige Morales found their own successes at Sebring. All four return to action this weekend, April 26-28, in support of the IndyCar Series event at Barber Motorsports Park. The pair of 35-minute sprint races will be run at 12:35 p.m. CDT on Saturday, April 27 and at 3:15 p.m. CDT on Sunday, April 28. Both races can be seen live on the Series YouTube page YouTube.com/@porschesprintchallengena.
The team put the motto of “Race As Family Always” to the test in the opening weekend when they made their U.S. debut as a full-fledged race team. Pulling together with both drivers and crew, the team capitalized on each of its opportunities.
RAFA Racing by JDX currently holds three of the top five positions in the Cayman Pro-Am class standings heading into the second weekend of the year, with Porter leading, followed by Candas and Martinez in fifth. All four drivers recognize the difference between the fast, long layout of Sebring International Raceway and the tight, twisty elevation changes prevalent in the 16-turn, 2.38-mile and the challenges that entails.
But all four also recognize the opportunity that presents for a strong drive, and the opportunity to place the RAFA Racing Club and its community in front of the stars of the IndyCar paddock and the fans in place to see both.
Porter enters the weekend in the No. 86 Grid Finder Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport as the championship leader, having gone two-for-two in his road racing debut. The three-time Call of Duty World Champion is used to pressure packed situations and handled the season-opener flawlessly. Porter was quickest in practice, qualified on pole, and led every lap of both races on his way to a pair of victories.
Right behind him the entire way, however, was Candas. The recently turned 21-year-old French racer made her American professional racing debut at Sebring and chased Porter to the checkered flag in her No. 84 8Twelve Wheels Porsche Cayman, finishing as runner-up each time. With a race under the belt, both she and Porter expect it to get even tighter up front between the two teammates. Like Porter, Candas has proven her ability to handle pressure, winning the RAFA Racing Shootout for up-and-coming female drivers last fall to earn her spot in this championship.
Martinez has been the busiest on the track since the season opener. Since a pair of fifth-place finishes at Sebring in the No. 85 RAFA Racing Club Porsche Cayman, Martinez has been in his SRO GT4 McLaren Arturo for testing and the SRO GT4 European Series Powered by RAFA Racing Club opener, adding four different race tracks, albeit in an entirely different car, to his seat time. And though the two seem to have entirely different characteristics, that should help his overall driving and race craft at Barber Motorsports Park and beyond.
Meanwhile, Morales has taken the RAFA Racing motto of “Race As Family Always” to a new level. In addition to off-track physical training and sim work to prepare for this weekend’s race, Morales attended the season-opener of the SRO GT4 European Series at Circuit Paul Ricard to support her family of teammates and soak in the atmosphere. Morales is making her racing debut this season as well in the highly competitive Porsche Sprint Challenge North America Cayman class, and drove the No. 87 RAFA Racing Club Cayman to a seventh and sixth place class finish at Sebring, the second best Porsche Junior driver (behind Candas) in each race.
All four drivers participated in a pre-season test session at Barber Motorsports Park to gain experience and have been working closely with driver coach Cameron Lawrence on the simulator to gain experience and hit the ground running during Friday’s opening practice. The Porsche Sprint Challenge North America Cayman class field will get just a total of one hour of practice on Friday, April 26, followed by qualifying at 7:45 a.m. CDT on Saturday. Saturday’s race begins at 12:35 p.m. CDT, with Sunday’s race at 3:15 p.m. CDT immediately following the IndyCar Series race.
RAFA Racing by JDX Quote Board
Caroline Candas, Driver, No. 84 Porsche Cayman: “I can’t wait to get back in the car! We did a test at Barber before the start of the season and I felt at ease. I really like the circuit, it’s very fast and very hilly. It’s going to be a big event this week. We’re sharing the meeting with IndyCar, which is great because it puts the series in the spotlight. I’ve got a number of objectives this weekend, but the first is to go for the overall championship lead by continuing my learning curve and gaining as much experience as I can. It promises to be a great weekend, and I can’t wait!”
Rafael Martinez, Driver, No. 85 Porsche Cayman: “It’s been a busy few weeks for me on the track, but I’m looking forward to getting back with this group and doing it all in front of the IndyCar paddock. I was so proud of how this team handled the opening weekend at Sebring, and if we continue to come together like that we’re all going to have a great season. All of us have our individual goals, but no matter the result we want to continue to grow as drivers and get better each weekend.”
Paige Morales, Driver, No. 87 Porsche Cayman: “It feels incredible to finally be back in the driver’s seat. Barber Motorsports Park is a challenging and technical track, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. The elevation changes and tight corners make it a true driver’s track, and I can’t wait to see how it plays out in the upcoming races. Being a part of the IndyCar weekend is really cool. The atmosphere and energy are electric, and I’m honored to be racing in front of such a passionate crowd. My goal for the weekend is to push myself to the limit and deliver the best possible results for my team. I’m confident in my abilities and can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”
Ian Porter, Driver, No. 86 Porsche Cayman: “It’s been the longest break that we’ll have during the season. We tested at Barber before the season but we haven’t really done any testing in this time frame. It was nice to go into the break with the wins at Sebring, but I’m itching to get back into the car. Going from Sebring to Barber, it’s probably the most drastic change in track layout, elevation, surface, it’s all different. Sebring is a large track, Barber feels small. It’s a track with a lot of short, micro straights but there’s not any time to relax or have a moment to get your bearings right. There’s no time to chill out. We’re going to be racing in front of a lot of people, which is cool. It’s something I’m used to from playing professional video games and I’m curious to see how it stacks up. But either way I probably won’t be looking out into the car much, I’ll be focused on the race track and the cars around me. The goal remains the same as Sebring, to drive as fast as possible, improve myself throughout the weekend, and to win.”
About RAFA Racing Club:
RAFA Racing, utilizing the motto “Race As Family Always,” is a motorsports club and race team founded by and made for high-performance auto drivers, supporters, and fans of all types. Started by Rafael Martinez, the Club aims to create a space for high-performance car enthusiasts to enjoy like-minded individuals, network and share ideas on and off the track, and bond as one team with a common interest. The RAFA Racing Team made its debut in 2023 with a runner-up finish in the McLaren Trophy Europe Series, and expands that footprint to include Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and SRO GT4 Europe in 2024. The Club’s off-track presence can be felt on social media and beyond, including YouTube, Instagram and Facebook and at RafaRacing.Club.
● Event: Dover 400 (Round 11 of 36) ● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, April 28 ● Location: Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway ● Layout: 1-mile, concrete oval ● Laps/Miles: 400 laps/400 miles ● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 120 laps / Stage 2: 130 laps / Final Stage: 150 laps ● TV/Radio: FS1 / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Justin Haley, Driver of the No. 51 Walmart Health & Wellness Ford Mustang Dark Horse
● Justin Haley, driver of the No. 51 Walmart Health & Wellness Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing (RWR), makes his third NASCAR Cup Series start at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway on Sunday.
● Haley made his first start at the 1-mile, concrete oval on May 2, 2022. He led 19 laps en route to an 11th-place finish, his best Cup Series result at Dover to date. In that same race, RWR earned its best result at Dover, a 25th-place finish with driver Ryan Preece.
● Outside of the Cup Series, Haley owns one top-five finish and two top-10s over four NASCAR Xfinity starts. He also competed in two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races at Dover with a best finish of third in May 2018.
● On September 20, 2016, Haley arrived at Dover just 200 laps away from claiming his first NASCAR championship. Leading the ARCA Menards Series East standings by 29 points, he needed only to finish 25th or better in the season finale. Until that point, the then-17-year-old had put together an astonishingly consistent season, finishing no worse than ninth in 13 starts. After leading the first 42 laps, Haley captured a fourth-place finish to clinch the championship.
● #HaleYES! On Tuesday, Haley announced his candidacy for the NASCAR All-Star Race Fan Vote in conjunction with the May 19 event at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway. The 24-year-old racer from Winamac, Indiana, promises to rip down the wall, lower inflation and fight the establishment in the 200-lap race around the .625-mile oval. And the fans enable him to prevail, Haley promises that puppies will never age, every day will be 70 degrees and sunny, and the Jibbitz charms you put on your Crocs won’t ever fall off.
Kaz Grala, Driver of the No. 15 N29 Capital Partners Ford Mustang Dark Horse
● Boston native Kaz Grala returns to the No. 15 N29 Capital Partners Ford Mustang Dark Horse to make his first Cup Series start at Dover this weekend.
● In four Xfinity Series starts at Dover, Grala has two top-five finishes, both earned in 2018. Grala also has two Truck Series starts there with a best finish of second in 2017. His current RWR teammate Haley – and GMS Racing teammate at the time – finished eighth in the same 2017 Truck Series race.
● Grala has two ARCA Menards Series East races under his belt at Dover with a runner-up finish in the 2014 season finale.
Rick Ware Racing Notes
● NHRA Top Fuel driver Clay Millican and the Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series look for continued improvement at this weekend’s NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, North Carolina. In the previous round two weekends ago at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Parts Plus driver qualified fourth, then scored the victory in the first round of eliminations to advance to the semifinals.
● The Progressive American Flat Track (AFT) tour returns to action with RWR drivers Briar Bauman, Kody Kopp and Shayna Texter-Bauman taking on the half-mile dirt track at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Following three rounds, Kopp owns two wins and is on his way to claiming a third-straight championship. Texter-Bauman returns to Texas looking to add to her win tally at the track. The 450 rider scored victories at Fort Worth in 2017 and 2019. In the Mission SuperTwins class, Bauman looks for his first podium finish of the year after matching his season’s best result of fourth during the last round in Senoia, Georgia.
● Rick Ware has been a motorsports mainstay for more than 40 years. It began at age six when the third-generation racer began his driving career and has since spanned four wheels and two wheels on both asphalt and dirt. Competing in the SCCA Trans Am Series and other road-racing divisions led Ware to NASCAR in the early 1980s, where he finished third in his NASCAR debut – the 1983 Warner W. Hodgdon 300 NASCAR Grand American race at Riverside (Calif.) International Raceway. More than a decade later, injuries would force Ware out of the driver seat and into fulltime team ownership. In 1995, Rick Ware Racing was formed, and with wife Lisa by his side, Ware has since built his eponymous organization into an entity that fields two fulltime entries in the NASCAR Cup Series while simultaneously campaigning successful teams in the Top Fuel class of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, the LMP3 class of the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup, Progressive American Flat Track and FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX), where RWR won the 2022 SX2 championship with rider Shane McElrath.
Justin Haley, Driver Q&A
The No. 51 team performed really well at Talladega. Should we expect that to continue this weekend at Dover?
“I’ve always really enjoyed racing at Dover. I feel like I’ve done well there in the past and experience has been a huge help while we work to get things moving in the right direction. We’ve had really good speed and I think we’re showing how much things have changed at RWR, we just need a little bit of luck to get the finishes that match the effort.”
Why is it so tough to find success at Dover?
“I think everything has to go right. You aren’t going to come back from being two laps down and win. It takes a lot of commitment to driving harder into the corners than you may be used to, you’re going to have a pretty big drop in elevation coming off the corner, and if your car isn’t handling great, it’s going to be a really long race. You don’t have to be perfect from the start. The track is going to change a lot as it starts to take rubber, so everyone will have some work to do, but you’ve got to be close and I think we can get close in practice.”
Kaz Grala, Driver Q&A
You’re back in the No. 15 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Dover. Are you looking forward to taking on the Monster Mile?
“Dover has always been a really good track for me. I’ve finished well there in ARCA, Trucks and Xfinity, and I feel like we’re on the right track with the No. 15 team to come out with a good finish. This is a track where you have to do every little thing right, so if we can keep putting the pieces together, it’ll be a good day for RWR.”
What is it about Dover that suits your driving style?
“It’s a tricky track, but you have to be very precise and I feel like that’s where I do my best, but you also need to be able to commit to moving around to make something work. You carry so much speed and, if you’re off by the smallest amount, that’s when things tend to go wrong.”
COLE CUSTER | RILEY HERBST Dover NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview
Event: BetRivers 200 (Round 10 of 33)
Date: Saturday, April 27
Location: Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway
Layout: 1-mile oval
Time/TV/Radio: 1:30 p.m. EDT on FS1/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Cole Custer Notes of Interest
Cole Custer’s top-10 streak lived on with his 10th-place finish last Saturday at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. It was his seventh consecutive top-10 of the season, which tied him with Chandler Smith for longest top-10 streak in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season. Custer looks to make it eight in a row this weekend, ideally by way of a trip to victory lane, in Saturday’s BetRivers 200 at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway. Smith’s top-10 run started at the season-opening race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and came to an end two weekends ago with his 15th-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Custer hopes another strong run on the high-banked, concrete mile oval at Dover will give him sole possession of the season’s longest top-10 streak. Last weekend at Talladega, Custer’s solid victory bid was foiled by 11 laps of overtime, during which he was forced to pit for a splash of fuel to get him through the final green-white-checkered finish. The driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang Dark Horse has ridden his top-10 streak and 83 stage points earned this season to his second position in the driver standings, just 14 points behind leader Smith.
The Monster Mile has been the scene of some monster efforts by “Stone Cole” Custer. Saturday’s 200-lap race will mark his eighth Xfinity Series start on the Delmarva Peninsula. During his most recent start there last April, he earned a seventh-place finish after starting second and led 13 laps in the early part of the race. He also won the $100,000 Xfinity Dash 4 Cash prize as the highest finisher among his three competitors – Jeb Burton, Sheldon Creed, and Parker Kligerman. Custer was victorious in the October 2019 Xfinity Series race at Dover, leading 31 of the final 32 laps and taking the checkered flag one second ahead of runner-up Justin Allgaier. In the May 2019 race, Custer qualified on the pole and led a race-high 155 of 200 laps before finishing fourth. That came on the heels of his runner-up finish in the October 2018 race, when he led 38 laps and crossed the finish line .525 of a second behind Christopher Bell. Custer finished fourth in his Dover Xfinity Series debut in May 2017 and eighth in the October 2017 race. That all adds up to six top-10 finishes in seven starts at Dover, the lone outlier being his 13th-place finish in the May 2018 race, with 237 laps led, an average start of 9.9, and an average finish of 5.6.
Custer has nine starts at the Monster Mile outside of the Xfinity Series – four in the NASCAR Cup Series, three in the Truck Series, and two in the K&N Pro Series East. He never finished outside the top-15 at Dover in the Cup Series, earning best finishes of 10th in the May 2020 and 2021 races. In Truck Series competition, Custer has a best finish of fifth in the most recent of his three Dover outings, when he drove the No. 00 entry for JR Motorsports in the May 2016 race. He led a race-high 67 of 200 laps en route to a 13th-place finish in the May 2015 Truck Series race for JR Motorsports.
Riley Herbst Notes of Interest
Riley Herbst and Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway are an appropriate pairing as the driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing hunts for a win in Saturday’s BetRivers 200 at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway, affectionately known as The Monster Mile. It’s a high-banked, concrete track that can chew up and spit out even the most seasoned racers, but Herbst has acquitted himself quite well there in his six career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts there. He has three top-10 finishes with a best result of sixth in the August 2020 race there, and he’s never finished outside the top-25. Herbst’s solid runs at Dover aren’t confined to the Xfinity Series. He also has a pair of starts there in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, which produced finishes of eighth and seventh, respectively, in the 2016 and 2017 races. In addition, he’s driving for a two-time Dover Xfinity Series winner. Stewart-Haas scored its first victory at the track in October 2019 with Herbst’s teammate, Cole Custer, and its second in August 2020 with Chase Briscoe.
In last Saturday’s mayhem at the end of the scheduled 300-mile race at Talladega, Herbst continued to show the speed he’s consistently carried for most of the 2024 season and finally left his recent spate of bad luck behind him. After qualifying eighth, Herbst ran in the top-10 for a majority of the race, leading three times for a total of 13 laps. An untimely pit stop near the end of the race to check for damage and a splash of fuel seemed to end Herbst’s bid for the win. Several overtime restarts, though, proved to work in Herbst’s favor, as he not only gained his spots back but avoided mayhem on the last lap to capture a second-place finish. It was his best finish at Talladega and his second top-10 of 2024. Since the season opener at Daytona, the Monster Energy driver has earned a total of 90 stage points and one playoff point via his stage win on March 23 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. He arrives at Dover sixth in the driver standings.
By virtue of his runner-up finish last Saturday, Herbst has successfully qualified himself for the fourth and final Xfinity Dash 4 Cash race of the season. He will now have a chance to race for the $100,000 prize by finishing ahead of his three fellow Xfinity Series drivers who also qualified last week – Ryan Sieg, Anthony Alfredo and Jesse Love. Custer won two of last year’s four Dash 4 Cash bonuses, including the final one last May at Dover.
Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Dover is a tricky track, where trouble can sneak up on you quickly. How do you stay out of the grasp of Miles the Monster and get out of that race cleanly with a win?
“When you’re going to Dover, you have to be really smart about different situations that happen, and being in traffic. The key is knowing when to be aggressive and when not to be aggressive. You can get yourself into a really bad bind getting into traffic or trying to pass people when you really shouldn’t. You can also have somebody on your bumper trying to pass you, and then you just get turned. This track can come out and bite you pretty fast if you’re not smart. The key to success at Dover is patience and knowing when to be aggressive and when to play it safe. That’s the key to making it to victory lane.”
You scored your seventh straight top-10 of the season at Talladega last Saturday, tying for the longest streak of the season with Chandler Smith. Yet, your first win of the season has been elusive. What more do you need to seal the deal this weekend at Dover?
“Man, we’ve been so fast but we just need that little bit more. We have seemed to have it all, but we’re searching for what else we need to be the best of the best. It’s more difficult than a lot of people realize because the Xfinity Series field is filled with a bunch of strong drivers. It’s not like it used to be where you had your big three drivers who were winning week after week. Now, there are a solid 12 to 15 cars that can compete for wins. It’s obviously exciting to be a part of that competition, but we’re trying to figure out what we’re missing so we can be the ones in victory lane. We’ve been trying new stuff every week, and I think we’re getting closer. Hopefully, it’ll be our weekend at Dover.”
Riley Herbst, Driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang Dark Horse
You’re going for the Dash 4 Cash prize this week after your runner-up finish at Talladega. How would it feel to win it at Dover, a track where you’ve had some strong runs?
“I’m pumped to be part of the Dash 4 Cash this year. We missed out on it last year due to some bad luck, but I’ve always thought this was a great initiative by Xfinity. They’ve been such a great partner for our series, and this is a program that a lot of teams look forward to during the season. Our runner-up finish last weekend seemed to be a turnaround point for us and I’m hoping that continues so that this weekend we can not only bring home the win, but also a $100,000 check for my No. 98 Monster Energy team, which has stuck it out with me during the rough times.”
The Monster Mile has been known to chew up even the most seasoned of drivers and spit them out. How do you avoid trouble at Dover to give yourself a chance to go for the win?
“Dover is such a difficult track to navigate, but for a driver, it can be fun. You have to stay out of trouble in order to be there at the end. Honestly, it’s about being patient, which I’ve struggled with in the past. It’s a good skill to learn at these difficult tracks because you have to know when to pass and when not to. You can’t be too aggressive or it’ll bite you. That’s a lesson that I’ve had to learn in my career, but I’ve had good people behind me to help me grow as a driver and teach me to take it lap by lap. I’m excited to head to Dover and not only race for a win, but also that Dash 4 Cash bonus check.”
Although springtime is one of the most beautiful seasons of the year, with flowers blooming and leaves beginning to grow, you may encounter a sticky residue on your vehicle’s exterior, especially if you have a habit of parking under pine trees.
This sticky stain is known as tree sap, and it can be tricky to deal with. While all trees exude sap, pine trees are notorious for their abundant production. This concoction of fluids and sugars forms a hard, resin-like layer on surfaces like windshields.
Unfortunately, typical washer fluids for cars don’t effectively remove sap, and attempting to use wipers may only smear it, complicating the cleanup. You might also need new windshield wiper blade refills if your current blades are worn out or malfunctioning.
Why It’s Important to Remove Sap Immediately
Due to the resin and sugar content in tree saps, it tends to adhere strongly to surfaces and can harden and bond firmly to your windshield, making it more difficult to remove the more time you wait.
Once the sap hardens on your windshield, traditional cleaning methods such as using your windshield wipers or washer fluid are less likely to work.
Over time, the acidic properties of sap can corrode the glass surface, potentially leaving behind permanent stains or harm. Additionally, when driving, sap residue can obstruct your view, creating a safety hazard.
How To Get Sap Off Windshield
There are two kinds of tree sap: hard and soft. Hard sap, thick and sticky, comes from coniferous trees like pines, while soft sap, thin and watery, is found in deciduous trees like maples.
How you remove the sap from your windshield may depend on the type, with hard sap being tougher to remove, but both can be tackled with proper tools and techniques.
How To Remove Hardened Tree Sap From Car Windshield
Due to the strong adhesive properties of hard tree sap, it tends to be less responsive to solvents and cleaning agents and may require specialized methods and techniques to effectively remove them from your windshield. Here are a few techniques you can try:
Rubbing Alcohol: Rubbing alcohol, or isopropyl alcohol, dissolves tree sap effectively. Simply apply it to a cloth and gently dab it onto the sap to break down its adhesive properties. It evaporates quickly, leaving a clean surface. Make sure the cloth is damp but not soaked to prevent excessive dripping.
Commercial Sap Remover: Automotive stores offer specialized sap removers designed to tackle tough stains. These products contain powerful solvents or surfactants that break down sap without causing damage. Follow manufacturer instructions for proper use.
Nail Polish Remover (Acetone): Nail polish remover has acetone, a strong solvent that breaks down tough tree sap. Apply a small amount to a cotton ball and gently dab onto the sap. Work in sections to prevent dripping onto car paint. Wipe off softened sap with a clean cloth.
WD-40: Another effective solution for removing stubborn, hardened sap from your windshield is WD-40. It’s a versatile solvent that can be sprayed onto the sap. Just wait for the solution to soften, and then wipe it clean with a soft cloth.
Vinegar: Mildly acidic white vinegar effectively softens and dissolves hardened tree sap. Apply the soaked cloth to the sap, wait, then wipe off the softened sap. Rinse the windshield to remove any vinegar residue.
How to Remove Soft Tree Sap From Your Windshield
Soft tree sap is relatively easier to remove from windshields. Unlike hard tree sap, which has hardened and become sticky, soft sap remains in a liquid or semi-liquid state.
Anmar from auto glass oshawa advised to immediately remove soft tree sap from your windshield within under 5 hours of discovering and also gave some simple yet effective ways to remove soft tree sap from your windshield:
Warm, Soapy Water: Soak a cloth in warm, soapy water and gently rub the sap-covered area. The soap helps break down the sap, while the warm water aids in loosening its grip on the windshield.
Microfiber Cloth and Water: Wet a microfiber cloth with water and gently rub the sap-covered area in circular motions. The soft texture of the microfiber cloth helps lift the sap without scratching the windshield.
Olive Oil: Apply a small amount of olive oil to the sap and let it sit for a few minutes. The oil helps loosen the sap, making it easier to wipe away with a cloth.
Baking Soda Paste: Mix baking soda with water to create a paste. Apply the paste to the sap and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing it away with a cloth or soft-bristled brush.
Commercial Glass Cleaner: Use a commercial glass cleaner specifically formulated to remove tough stains. Spray it onto the sap and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for best results.
How To Prevent Tree Sap On Your Car’s Windshield
There are plenty of ways you can safeguard your vehicle from tree sap. One of the most effective ways is to avoid parking under trees as much as possible. However, if you cannot avoid parking under trees, consider using a car cover or windshield protector to shield your vehicle from sap and debris.
Here are additional tips on how to prevent tree sap from getting on your car’s windshield:
Regular Cleaning Routine: Maintaining a consistent cleaning schedule for your windshield is essential to prevent sap buildup. By regularly washing your windshield with soap and water, you can remove any sap residue before it has a chance to harden, ensuring easier removal and preserving the clarity of your glass.
Get Immediate Windshield Repair: Acting swiftly to repair any windshield damage is crucial to prevent sap from penetrating the glass and causing further deterioration. By promptly addressing chips, cracks, or other damage, you can safeguard your windshield from the tree sap infiltrating through the cracks, affecting your visibility.
Prune Overhanging Branches: Trimming back overhanging branches that pose a risk of dripping sap onto your windshield is crucial for preventing damage. By regularly pruning these branches, you can mitigate the risk of sap accumulation and protect the clarity of your windshield.
Apply Protective Coating: Protecting your windshield with a layer of sealant or protective coating provides a barrier against sap and other environmental contaminants. By applying a protective coating, you can create a shield that makes sap removal easier and protects the glass from damage.
Closing Thoughts
Welcome spring with positive vibes and don’t let tree sap put a damper on your driving experience. By following these tips, you can keep your windshield clear and your car looking its best all season long.
Final Practice, Air Demonstrations, Music Acts Round Out Schedule
INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, April 25, 2024) – From on-track action and high-flying demonstrations to hip DJs and cool rock concerts, Miller Lite Carb Day on Friday, May 24 is the ultimate boost into the Greatest Weekend in Racing.
“Miller Lite Carb Day is the unofficial start to summer and the kickoff to race weekend,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said. “It’s a full day of fun, with something for everyone to enjoy. It’s a day like no other at the Racing Capital of the World.”
Gates will open at 8 a.m. at IMS, allowing fans ample time to explore and find the best seat before the stars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES take to the famed 2.5-mile oval for the final practice before the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.
After practice concludes, the action shifts to the sky with a Thunderbirds practice demonstration and the Red Bull Air Force.
The United States Air Force Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, will perform the flyover during pre-race ceremonies for the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 26. Fans in attendance on Miller Lite Carb Day will get a special treat as the Thunderbirds conduct a practice demonstration in preparation for Race Day.
The Red Bull Air Force are known for pushing the boundaries of flight and making the impossible possible. Featuring Mike Swanson and Jeff Provenzano, the expert team has completed tens of thousands of successful jumps between them, making them some of the most accomplished and experienced aviation squads on the planet.
The Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge has been a staple of the Indianapolis 500 since 1977. Pit crews compete head-to-head in single eliminations for the opening rounds, meeting for a best-of-three showdown in the final. During each round, the crews conduct a standard pit stop, which includes switching all four tires and simulating refueling, in the shortest possible time on a specially constructed dual pit lane.
Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing won his fourth Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge in 2023 by besting Team Penske’s Will Power in the best-of-three finals.
The 2024 Indy Pit Stop Challenge will feature the high-energy style and versatile genre range of DJ Mystro, who has been recognized as one of the Midwest’s most promising breakout DJs. Mystro, an Indianapolis native, is a party starter and a lifelong musician and drummer. He’s taken his music knowledge and transitioned those abilities to bring the heat to weddings, corporate events, clubs, concerts and festivals across the world. Mystro also performs as an official DJ for the Indiana Pacers and Indianapolis Colts.
Gates for the Miller Lite Carb Day Concert will open at 2 p.m. this year, allowing for more entertainment, including Indianapolis recording artist Kid Quill. Headliner George Thorogood & The Destroyers will be joined by special guest Gin Blossoms, which will open the show.
Miller Lite Carb Day Schedule
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Indy 500 Final Practice | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET
Trackside Intermission | 1-2:30 p.m.
U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Practice Demonstration
Red Bull Air Force
Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge with DJ Mystro | 2:30-4 p.m.
Miller Lite Carb Day Concert | 3-6 p.m. (gates open at 2 p.m.)
Warmup: Kid Quill
Opener: Gin Blossoms
Headliner: George Thorogood and The Destroyers
Miller Lite Carb Day general admission tickets start at just $45. All general admission, concert pit and VIP Deck concert tickets include admission to the concert and to on-track activities that day at IMS, which include the final practice for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and the Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge. Children 15 and under are free with a paying adult.
The 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 26. Tickets are on sale now at IMS.com, by calling 317-492-6700 or by visiting the IMS Ticket Office at the IMS Administration Building.
CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES CHILDREN’S OF ALABAMA INDY GRAND PRIX BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK LEEDS, ALABAMA TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE APRIL 26-28, 2024
CHEVROLET READY FOR THE CHALLENGE OF BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK IN THE CHILDREN’S OF ALABAMA INDY GRAND PRIX
DETROIT (April 25, 2024) – The third race of the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season sees Chevrolet drivers and teams facing a quick turnaround from Long Beach to head to Barber Motorsports Park for the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix.
Capturing victory eight times in 11 years at the 2.3-mile pavement road course also known as “The Augusta National of Motorsports” for its beauty and picturesque facility, Chevrolet also has nine poles in the 2.2-liter twin turbo direct injected V6 era since 2012. Additionally, Team Chevy has led 622 laps in the V6 era, while finishing on the podium 17 times.
Looking to the 90-lap, 207-mile Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix on the 17-turn course with 45 ft. of racing ribbon and 80 ft. in elevation change, Pato O’Ward, driver of the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, talks of his love of Barber Motorsports Park and how it holds a fond place in his heart.
“I’ve had a lot of success at Barber, not just in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES but pretty much every series that has taken me here, so this track holds a special place in my heart,” said O’Ward. “I always get super excited to go back there, so let’s get on the Barber rollercoaster and make it a good weekend for the team.”
The Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix from Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Ala. Kicks off with first practice on Friday, April 26, at 3:55 p.m. ET. Saturday sees the second practice at 12:15 p.m. ET, with qualifying and the Firestone Fast Six at 3:30 p.m. ET. A Final warm-up will kick off race day at 10:15 a.m. ET, with the 90-lap, 207-mile Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at 1 p.m. ET on NBC. All practice sessions and qualifications will be live on Peacock, INDYCAR Radio, and SiriusXM Channel 160.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet:
“The track is just very unique on its own, super elevated, very blind, very quick, a lot of the big braking zones, which was familiar to me as I was coming back from Europe, so I did quite well. And we had a test day there so I could understand the dynamics of the track. Last year we didn’t qualify because we had a mechanical issue. So, that kind of prevented us from doing anything. It’s very difficult to progress in the season now unless you qualify very well.”
Sting Ray Robb, No. 41 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet:
“Barber is one of my favorite tracks, even though it is quite different from any other track we go to. The elevation changes, varying radius corners, and track surface make it a great place to drive. There are some unique corners like the uphill section at Turns 12 and 13, that make the track physically challenging. It is high grip, fast, and hilly.”
Théo Pourchaire, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:
“I’m looking forward to racing at Barber and discovering another new track. I have a better understanding of the car and the team entering this weekend compared to last weekend in Long Beach, which should be good. Barber seems like a very different track with more high-speed corners, elevation changes and some blind corners. I think it’ll be a great track and I’m sure I’m going to love it. I hope we can perform better in qualifying this weekend, and I trust the team will put me in a position to do so. Arrow McLaren has done well here in the past, so I’m looking forward to learning from them so we can bring home a good result.”
Alexander Rossi, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:
“Back to back races make the pain of a difficult weekend disappear pretty quickly. We had a strong test at Barber earlier in the year, so we’ll look to take that positivity into this weekend and generate some positive momentum into the Month of May.”
Gavin Ward, Team Principal at Arrow McLaren:
“Going to Barber this weekend presents some great opportunities for us. It gives us the chance to move on quickly from a mixed race in Long Beach, and we get to compete at a track we’ve been quick at historically. Pato (O’Ward) has a win here and I’m confident we can fight for the win this weekend. Rossi topped the times on a very productive test day we had at Barber. And finally, we are all very excited to see what Théo (Pourchaire) can do in his 2nd race weekend in IndyCar after a strong debut last weekend.”
Christian Rasmussen, No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet:
“I am very excited to go back to the Alabama rollercoaster! There is no place quite like it, it is one of my favorites in the country! It’s also one of the few tracks I have already driven an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car on, so I think we are in for a good weekend!”
Rinus VeeKay, No. 21 Chevrolet at Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet:
“I’m very excited for Barber! It’s a cool track and it’s the venue of my last podium. We’ve showed good there in the past and I’m ready to get started on our first official road course race weekend! It should be a good weekend, it’s a track that Christian (Rasmussen) is familiar with and he also did his first test with ECR there. Let’s really get the season started now!”
Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet:
“Super excited to go to Barber. I feel like we’re going to have a fast cadence now, that started in Long Beach, and we’re going to go really quickly through May, June, and July. There’s a lot of work to do. We’re focused on the work. But Barber is one of my favorite tracks. It’s the track I had my first INDYCAR win at, so it’s always been special to me. It’s close to my home. It used to be my hometown race before we had a race in Nashville. Can’t wait to get there. I feel like Chevrolet has done a tremendous job in the offseason. I feel like as a complete team and unit, together with Chevrolet, we’re in a great spot to secure more results, and that’s where our focus is.”
Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet:
“Barber is one of my favorite road courses in America, and having won there last year, it’s instant confidence heading there. I think as a Team Chevy driver, we’ve improved so much in the offseason which not only is going to help us more at Barber. I think we punched above our weight there last year, so to win was great. I think we can certainly do it again.”
Will Power, No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet:
“I’m looking forward to going back to Barber. The last couple of years we’ve had a few issues. We’ve been really fast in race. Chevy has made some good ground, so I think we’re going to be pretty competitive everywhere.”
CHEVROLET IN BARBER:
Wins at Barber (since 2012): 8
2012: Will Power
2013: Ryan Hunter-Reay
2015: Josef Newgarden
2016: Simon Pagenaud
2017: Josef Newgarden
2018: Josef Newgarden
2022: Pato O’Ward
2023: Scott McLaughlin
Earned Pole Awards at Barber: 9
2012: Helio Castroneves
2013: Ryan Hunter-Reay
2014: Will Power
2015: Helio Castroneves
2016: Simon Pagenaud
2017: Will Power
2018: Josef Newgarden
2021: Pato O’Ward
2022: Rinus VeeKay
Number of Team Chevy Podiums at Barber Motorsports Park (since 2012): 17
Number of laps led by Team Chevy at Barber Motorsports Park (since 2012): 622
2024 CHEVROLET BY THE NUMBERS:
201: NTT INDYCAR Series races as V6 engine supplier since 2012 return to INDYCAR.
128: Earned poles since 2012. Chevrolet holds 133 pole awards in total, with five recorded based on points for weather.
8: Manufacturer Championships since 2012.
7: Driver/entrant champions since 2012.
12: Indianapolis 500 victories by Chevrolet at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
5: Indianapolis 500 wins by Chevrolet since 2012 in the V6 2.2-liter twin turbo direct injected era.
26: Wins by Will Power since 2012 – all with Chevrolet power – most of any driver with the same manufacturer.
9: Wins from the pole by Will Power with Chevrolet power since 2012, most by any driver.
46: Pole starts by Will Power since 2012 in a Chevrolet-powered car, most of any driver.
*Will Power’s career total of 70 poles makes him the all-time pole winner in INDYCAR.
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.
Richmond, Bristol, Martinsville added to 17-year-old Prodigy’s 2024 Calendar
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (April 25, 2024) – Spire Motorsports has partnered with Connor Zilisch and Silver Hare Racing to add three additional NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) races to the 17-year-old racing phenom’s ambitious 2024 plans.
All totaled, Zilisch will compete in five NCTS races for Spire Motorsports as part of the organization’s all-star lineup led by veteran crew chief Brian Pattie.
The Mooresville, N.C., native made his debut for Spire Motorsports earlier this season at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) where he qualified on the pole, subsequently setting a new track record. Despite an early race miscue, Zilisch was undeterred and raced his way to a spirited fourth-place finish in his first career NCTS start.
“It’s pretty hard not to be amped up when you get three more races with someone as talented as Connor Zilisch,” said Pattie. “He’s shaping to be up to be a generational talent and to say he was impressive at COTA would be an understatement, at best. He’s proven that he can drive anything on four wheels so we’re definitely looking forward to having him back in our truck at Richmond.”
It was previously announced Zilisch would drive the No. 7 Chevy Silverado at Talladega Superspeedway October 4 and that Spire Motorsports will coordinate a separate entry for him at the October 27 NCTS playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Since then, Spire Motorsports and Zilisch have agreed to races at Richmond Raceway (Aug. 10), Bristol Motor Speedway (Sept. 19) and Martinsville Speedway (Nov. 1). Silver Hare Racing will serve as Zilisch’s primary sponsor at Richmond, Bristol and Homestead and as an associate sponsor at Talladega and Martinsville.
The Austin Hatcher Foundation was originally scheduled to be Zilisch’s primary partner at Homestead but will now serve in that capacity at Martinsville.
Zilisch, 17, is an accomplished karting and road racer who, most notably, was part of Era Motorsport’s LMP2 class win at the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway, making him the second-youngest driver, ever, to win the iconic race. He is a six-time Trans-Am TA2 class race winner for Silver Hare Racing and a central component of Trackhouse Racing’s driver development program.
About Silver Hare Racing … Silver Hare Racing is a fulltime competitor in the TA2 division of the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli. The multicar team has won the TA2 masters class championship three times (2018, 2019 and 2020) with driver and team co-owner Maurice Hull. Under the leadership of Hull’s wife, co-owner and team manager Laura Hull, Silver Hare Racing provides a variety of services that includes private testing and arrive-and-drive programs. The team offers six, professionally built and maintained TA2 chassis from Howe Racing and operates from a state-of-the-art facility in High Point, North Carolina. For more information, please visit SilverHareRacing.com.
About Spire Motorsports … Spire Motorsports is a NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2024, Spire Motorsports will campaign the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series with drivers Corey LaJoie, Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar, respectively. The team will also field the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados full time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. An all-star driver lineup will rotate throughout the 2024 season in the No. 7 Chevy. Rajah Caruth will drive the No. 71 entry and Chase Purdy rounds out the team’s fleet of Chevrolets in the No. 77.
Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on April 12, 2024, when Kyle Busch took the took the checkered flag in the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway.
5 IN FIVE: Kyle Larson has run the most laps in the top five this season (1,532) and is in a six-way tie for the most top-five finishes (four), which includes Hendrick Motorsports teammates Alex Bowman and William Byron. The 31-year-old driver ranks second in average running position (9.47) and fifth in average finish (12.70) among NASCAR Cup Series full-time drivers. Larson has also been atop the point standings after five Cup Series races in 2024. Following the event at Talladega Superspeedway this past weekend, he became the first driver this year to lead the standings after three consecutive races.
OUT FRONT: Larson has led at least one lap in seven of the 10 races this season for a total of 531 – 132 more laps out front than the nearest competitor. His laps led in 2024 are the most ever by the Elk Grove, California, native through 10 races in a season. When he set the Cup Series record for most laps led during a 36-race schedule in 2021, Larson had paced the field only 379 times through 10 events.
I SECOND THAT: Larson holds the second-best average finish for drivers with two or more Cup Series starts at Dover Motor Speedway. His 8.60 average in 15 starts trails only David Pearson, who averaged 8.00 in 16 starts.
DOVER DOWNLOAD: The “Monster Mile” is the track where Larson has led the most laps (899) in his Cup Series career. In 15 starts at Dover, Larson has one win (2019), seven top-five finishes and 11 top-10s. He has led over 80 laps on five occasions at Dover and has never finished outside the top five in those races.
CONCRETE KING: Dover is one of three tracks—Bristol Motor Speedway and Nashville Superspeedway are the others—to utilize a concrete racing surface. Coincidentally, Larson has won at all three venues. While with Chip Ganassi Racing, he won at Dover in October of 2019. In his first season with Hendrick Motorsports, he was victorious in 2021 at both Nashville and Bristol as part of his 10-win championship season. Larson is the only active driver to win a points-paying Cup Series race at all three concrete facilities.
THROWING IT BACK TO TERRY: With the throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway fast approaching, the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Throwback Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was revealed on Wednesday’s broadcast of “NASCAR Race Hub.” Larson’s paint scheme for the May 12 race at the South Carolina track will pay tribute to Terry Labonte’s classic livery that he drove to the 1996 Cup Series championship, which marked the second of 14 premier series titles for team owner Rick Hendrick. Larson was the team’s most recent champion in 2021. Check out all angles of the throwback paint scheme here.
SUNDAY SIGNING: Larson will be at the Hendrick Motorsports merchandise hauler on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET to sign autographs for the first 100 people who purchase any No. 5 1:24 scale die-cast after the merch hauler opens on Friday afternoon. Those individuals who purchase a die-cast will receive a wristband to return for an autograph.
YOUR CAR NEEDS: Larson will drive the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this weekend. From the convenience of home, customers can select the category, make, model and vehicle packages that are important to them from the nearly 30,000 new, high-quality pre-owned and certified cars, trucks and SUVs available at HENDRICKCARS.COM. The website also makes it easy for customers to find one of Hendrick Automotive Group’s dealership locations nationwide.
WE’RE HIRING: Hendrick Automotive Group is hiring more than 300 technicians at its dealerships throughout the country. Positions are open for all skill levels and offer tuition and training reimbursement. Interested people can apply at HENDRICKCARS.COM.
9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 28 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 3rd
No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
RUNNING STRONG: Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team remain among the frontrunners during the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season. After 10 races, he is a season-high third in the points standings. Elliott has secured one win (Texas Motor Speedway) and ranks seventh in laps led (131) thus far. Additionally, he ranks fourth in laps run in the top five (899) and top 10 (1,568). Elliott holds the third-best average finish (10.80) and the fourth-best average running position (10.95).
DOVER DOMINANCE: Elliott has 13 premier series starts at Dover Motor Speedway, recording two wins (2018 and 2022), one pole, one runner-up finish, nine top-fives – a track best for the driver – and nine top-10s. His 394 laps led at the 1-mile venue are his fourth-most on active tracks and his average finish of 9.85 is the fifth-best all-time (minimum two starts) in the Cup Series. In the five races where Elliott has led laps at the Delaware track, he has never finished outside of the top five.
CONQUERED THE MONSTER: The Dawsonville, Georgia, native became the youngest Cup Series winner at the “Monster Mile” in October of 2018 at the age of 22 years, 10 months and nine days. Elliott’s other triumph at the Dover, Delaware, track came in May of 2022 – his first of five wins, propelling him to the Cup Series regular-season championship that year.
MILE(STONE) MOMENTS: Elliott is part of two distinct milestones for the organization at Dover. He is not only the youngest Cup Series winner at the track but also was part of Hendrick Motorsports’ top-four sweep in May of 2021, with the No. 9 team finishing third.
NEXT GEN NUMBERS: Since the introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022, Elliott has earned six wins, placing him in a three-way tie for the fourth-most victories. In that span, he holds the best average finish (12.48), ahead of Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron. In the Next Gen era at Dover, Elliott ranks sixth in laps run in the top five (304) and top 10 (539).
WINNER’S CIRCLE: Elliott leads his current teammates in wins at Hendrick Motorsports, tallying 19 victories. He ranks third on the organization’s all-time list, trailing team vice chairman Jeff Gordon (93 wins) and 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Jimmie Johnson (83 wins).
AG IN DE: No. 9 team crew chief Alan Gustafson will oversee his 36th Dover Cup Series race atop the pit box on Sunday afternoon. He has recorded three wins with two drivers on the 1-mile track, the first with Gordon in 2014 and the subsequent victories with Elliott in 2018 and 2022. In addition to Gustafson’s three victories, he has tallied 18 top-five finishes, 20 top-10s and 665 laps led.
FOUR TIRES FAST: On lap 84 at Texas, the No. 9 pit crew laid down the fastest four-tire pit stop (9.076 seconds) of the 2024 season, according to data from Racing Insights. The over-the-wall squad has remained the same since 2018 and currently holds the fastest average four-tire pit stop time (10.858 seconds) this season. The 2021 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew award-winning group is comprised of Chad Avrit (rear-tire changer), Jared Erspamer (tire carrier), John Gianninoto (fueler), Nick O’Dell (front-tire changer) and T.J. Semke (jackman).
GET UP AND GO: NAPA Auto Parts, the Atlanta-based company that has been a primary partner of Elliott in all nine of his full-time seasons at Hendrick Motorsports, will be on board the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this weekend at Dover. This will mark the 11th time the brand has been the primary sponsor at the “Monster Mile” in the Cup Series. NAPA was on board for both of Elliott’s Dover victories with the No. 9 team. Get a look at all the angles of the 2024 NAPA Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 here.
24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 26 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 4th
No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
STEADY STREAKING: Avoiding mayhem during Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, William Byron came home with stage points and a top-10 finish, crossing the line in seventh in the No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Sunday’s result marks his fifth consecutive top-10 finish this season – currently tied for the longest top-10 streak in the series.
24 IN ’24: Byron’s 2024 Cup Series season has been impressive. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native leads the series in wins (three), is in a six-way tie for first in top-five finishes that includes Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman (four) and in a two-way tie for the lead in top-10s (seven). Byron is also tied for first in average finish among series regulars (10.00) and has led the sixth-most laps (149). He sits fourth in the 2024 Cup Series points standings after 10 races.
NEXT GEN DUO: Since the Next Gen Cup Series car was introduced in 2022, Byron and crew chief Rudy Fugle have a series-leading 11 wins. The duo is ahead of teammates Larson (eight wins) and crew chief Cliff Daniels (seven wins). Byron also has the second-best average finish (12.87) in the Next Gen car behind teammate Chase Elliott. Fugle and Byron rank fourth for the most wins by an active driver and crew chief pairing with 12 victories.
SIMILAR IN SIZE: This Sunday’s race at Dover Motor Speedway will mark Byron’s 45th start on tracks 1 to 1.37 miles in length (Darlington Raceway, Dover, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Phoenix Raceway and WWT Raceway). In his previous 44 starts, the 26-year-old driver has collected two pole awards, two wins, 10 top-five finishes, 19 top-10s and 535 laps led.
DOVER DIGEST: With nine Cup Series starts under his belt at the Delaware track, Byron has three top-five finishes at Dover, all being fourth-place efforts over the last four races. Since the inception of the Next Gen car, Byron has spent 308 laps running in the top five—the fifth-most of any driver—and 555 laps in the top 10—fourth-most of the field.
MONSTER MILE MINUTES: This Sunday’s race will be Fugle’s fourth at the Cup Series level at the “Monster Mile,” finishing fourth in two of those three previous races, including last year’s 400-miler. The Livonia, New York, native has 11 other national series starts at the 1-mile track already under his belt, with eight in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Fugle captured one Truck Series win (in 2013) and one of those previous starts was with Byron (in 2016), where the duo started on the pole, led 80 laps and raced to an 11th-place result.
TWO-FOUR HISTORY: With Byron’s three wins thus far in 2024, he has extended the legacy of the No. 24 in the Cup Series. The No. 24 has five wins at Dover—all coming with team vice chairman and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon. If Byron visits victory lane on Sunday, it will propel the No. 24 into a tie with the No. 9 for the fourth-most wins by a car number at the “Monster Mile.”
PIT ROAD PROWESS: After 10 races in the 2024 season, the No. 24 pit crew continues their success from last year. The five-person crew ranks second for the fastest average four-tire pit stop (11.060 seconds). The No. 24 pit crew consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer), Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer), Ryan Patton (tire carrier) and Landon Walker (fueler).
LIBERTY U IS BACK: Byron will sport Liberty University on board his No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the third weekend in a row. Featuring a white base with navy flames and red accents, the Liberty University No. 24 will surely stand out on track. Liberty University has a long history with Byron, starting in 2014 in the late model ranks. Liberty University has been Training Champions for Christ since its founding in 1971. Located in the mountains of Central Virginia, Liberty is a liberal arts institution with 17 colleges and schools that offer more than 600 degree programs, from the certificate to the doctoral level, on campus and online. Working on an undergraduate degree in strategic communication, Byron is in his junior year at Liberty University through its online program. For a better look at Byron’s Liberty University paint scheme, click here.
48 ALEX BOWMAN
Age: 31 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Resides: Concord, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Blake Harris
Standings: 10th
No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media in the Dover Motor Speedway media center on Saturday, April 27, at 9:15 a.m. local time.
FOUR TOP FIVES: Alex Bowman led the way for Hendrick Motorsports at Talladega Superspeedway with a fifth-place finish. This marks his fourth top-five of the season and ties him for the NASCAR Cup Series lead with five others, including Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron and Kyle Larson. Bowman’s four top-fives are his most through 10 races in a season. In addition to Talladega, his top-fives have come in the prestigious DAYTONA 500 (finished second) at Bristol Motor Speedway (finished fourth) and at Circuit of The Americas (finished fourth).
RISING IN THE STANDINGS: Through 10 races in the 2024 Cup Series season, Bowman and the No. 48 Ally Racing team are 10th in the driver points standings. He is in a six-way tie for the third-most top-10s this year (five). Among drivers who have started in all the points-paying races this season, Bowman ranks eighth in average finish (14.20).
CAKE AND CONFETTI: Bowman has multiple occasions to celebrate heading into this weekend at Dover Motor Speedway. On Thursday, he turns 31 years old. Bowman will start his 300th career Cup Series race on Sunday at one of his favorite tracks. Seven drivers have been victorious in their 300th premier series start. During Bowman’s eight seasons with Hendrick Motorsports (2016 and 2018-present), he has tallied seven wins, 36 top-five finishes, 84 top-10s, four pole positions and 1,307 laps led.
LEADING THE SWEEP: In 2021, Bowman drove the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet to victory lane at Dover. His win established a historic day for Hendrick Motorsports, with the team becoming the third organization (and fourth occurrence) in Cup Series history to finish 1-2-3-4 in a single event. Bowman took the checkered flag ahead of teammates Larson (second), Chase Elliott (third) and Byron (fourth). It was the first time that the organization had a four-car sweep atop the scoreboard. The victory also marked the No. 48’s series-best 12th win at the “Monster Mile.”
DOVER DATA: In Bowman’s 12 Cup Series starts at Dover, he has scored one win, five top-fives finishes (his most at any track) and 142 laps led. He has finished in the top five in all three of his most recent starts at the 1-mile track in “The First State.” The driver of the No. 48 has run the 10th-most laps in the top five (133) in the Next Gen era (since 2022) at Dover. Bowman missed last year’s race due to a back injury.
FINANCE FUN: April is Financial Literacy Month. The No. 48 team’s primary partner and online banking company, Ally, knows that financial behaviors are learned early. Earlier this month, Bowman joined Ally in its largest single-day “Adventures with Money” reading event. Together, they visited Clara Love Elementary School near Texas Motor Speedway with over 70 volunteers to reach over 900 students. Last week, Bowman, his five-person pit crew and Ally volunteers visited University Meadows Elementary School in Charlotte, North Carolina, to read books and play Jeopardy games about financial literacy with kids in the team’s local community. These readings are two of many that Ally will lead nationwide this year, educating thousands of students on the importance of financial knowledge.
PIT ROAD REPORT: The No. 48 Ally Racing pit crew ranks seventh on pit road for the fastest average four-tire stop (11.331 seconds). The five-person crew is composed of Andrew Bridgeforth (rear-tire changer), Jacob Conley (fueler), Brandon Grier (tire carrier), Allen Holman (jackman) and Donnie Tasser (front-tire changer).
AUTOGRAPHS WITH ALEX: Bowman will be active in the fan zone this weekend in Dover. He will be at the Hendrick Motorsports merchandise hauler on Sunday at 10:35 a.m. ET to sign autographs for the first 100 people to purchase a No. 48 1:24 scale die-cast this weekend. Fans can buy these die-casts on Friday, Saturday and/or Sunday until his signing (or until 100 have sold). These individuals will receive a wristband to come back for the designated autograph session time.
RESCUE A DOG IN DOVER: Looking to rescue a furry friend? Visit Brandywine Valley SPCA this weekend in Dover, Delaware. This shelter is located just 15 minutes from the track and is the beneficiary of Ally and Bowman’s donation to a Best Friends Animal Society shelter in this weekend’s race market. The 2024 season marks the fourth consecutive year in which Bowman and Ally are supporting Best Friends and their vast network of partners. Since the start of the 2022 season, the pair has been committed to a combined weekly donation of $4,800 to a Best Friends network partner local to each weekend’s race.
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS /
2024
All-Time
Dover
Races
10
1,355
77
Wins
5*
306*
22*
Poles
4*
250*
10
Top 5
15*
1,247*
79*
Top 10
20*
2,132*
124*
Laps Led
817
80,574*
7,549*
Stage Wins
6
104
3
*Most **Most (tie)
FABULOUS 40: In 2024, Hendrick Motorsports is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Among the categories that the organization holds the NASCAR Cup Series record for are all-time wins (306), poles (250), laps led (80,574) and championships (14).
DORTON NOMINATED: Engine builder Randy Dorton was named one of 15 nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Dorton served as the director of engine operations for Hendrick Motorsports up until his passing in an Oct. 24, 2004, plane accident. His development, leadership and management of the engine program had a tremendous impact on Hendrick Motorsports – both in the organization’s rise to prominence as the team to beat in the Cup Series ranks and its innovation. The Hendrick Motorsports engine department has earned 513 NASCAR national series wins. Three-time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion Jack Sprague, crew chief Harry Hyde and driver Ricky Rudd are the other nominees with Hendrick Motorsports ties on the ballot. Click here to learn more about the nominee list.
HENDRICK HOMECOMING: On May 24 and 25, Hendrick Motorsports will hold “Hendrick Homecoming.” The free fan event, taking place over the same weekend as the Coca-Cola 600 and Indianapolis 500, will celebrate the organization’s 40th anniversary and feature autograph sessions with past and present drivers, games, displays, giveaways and more. For more information on the schedule of appearances (as they are announced) and how fans can register to enter the raffle for autograph sessions, click here.
WINNING TRIO: In 2024, William Byron (three wins), Chase Elliott (one win) and Kyle Larson (one win) have combined to tally five wins through the first 10 races of the season. The Concord, North Carolina, based squad has won at least five races in a year in 22 of the last 24 seasons. The five-victory start to this year is the team’s second-best start, with 2007’s seven wins through 10 races as the best start to a campaign in organizational history.
PIT POWER: Based on Racing Insights data, all four Hendrick Motorsports pit crews rank in the top seven among Cup Series teams for the fastest average four-tire pit stop. The No. 9 pit crew tops the board (10.858 seconds), followed by the No. 24 pit crew in second (11.060 seconds) and the No. 5 pit crew in third (11.088 seconds). The No. 48 pit crew is seventh (11.331 seconds).
THE FIRST STATE: Dover Motor Speedway is one of three racetracks where Hendrick Motorsports has posted more than 20 points-paying wins. The team’s 22 victories at the Delaware venue is one more than its total at Charlotte Motor Speedway and surpassed only by its 29 at Martinsville Speedway, which represents the record for wins by any team at a track. The team has won 28.57% (22 of 77) of the Cup Series races at Dover and led 7,549 laps (second only to its total at Martinsville). No other team has won more than 10 Cup Series races at the 1-mile track.
MAGNIFICENT SEVEN: Seven different drivers have contributed to Hendrick Motorsports’ Dover win total: Jimmie Johnson (11 victories), team vice chairman Jeff Gordon (five), Elliott (two), Bowman, Rudd, Geoff Bodine and Ken Schrader (one each).
MONSTER MOMENT: The “Monster Mile” is home to Hendrick Motorsports’ only sweep of the top-four finishing positions in a race. In 2021, Bowman, Larson, Elliott and Byron placed first, second, third and fourth, respectively. It marked only the fourth time in Cup Series history that any team accomplished this feat. At Titusville-Cocoa Speedway in December of 1956, Peter DePaolo Racing’s five-car effort became the first to record a top-four sweep and repeated the achievement in April of 1957 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Forty-eight years later, Roush Fenway Racing did it in November of 2005 with four of its five entries at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In this race, Hendrick Motorsports’ percentage of laps led (95.50%; 382 of 400 laps led) is the second-most for a single event in team history. The top-four sweep is one of four times that the group has held at least the top-three spots of the final running order, with the most recent coming earlier this month at Martinsville in their 40th anniversary race.
DOVER DETAILS: Since the start of 2019, all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers are among the six active drivers with at least three top-five finishes at Dover. Bowman shares the lead in this statistical category with five top-five finishes, Elliott has four top-fives and Byron and Larson have three top-fives.
GOING STREAKING: The 14-time Cup Series championship-winning organization has two win streaks of at least three races at the concrete track in Dover, Delaware. There was a four-race win streak from September of 2013 to May of 2015 and a three-race run from September of 1995 to September of 1996. The Rick Hendrick-owned team has had a driver finish in the top 10 at this track in 24 straight races, the longest top-10 streak at the track by one organization.
QUOTABLE /
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Dover Motor Speedway: “I love going to Dover (Motor Speedway)—it’s a track where I have led a lot of laps, have a win and a lot of good finishes. Similar to Bristol (Motor Speedway), I like the concrete surface and it seems Hendrick Motorsports always has fast cars there.”
Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the challenges of Dover for a race team: “The No. 5 team really loves Dover (Motor Speedway). Kyle (Larson) does a great job there—the track is a much bigger version of a Bristol (Motor Speedway) with high-banked concrete. A lot of bumps and the track changes a lot from sunlight to cloudy days and higher temps to cooler temps. It’s just a lot of fun to have to keep up with it—definitely a big challenge from the character of the track surface itself. You know it’s a lot of fun to go there and embrace the challenge, know that Kyle is going to be really fast and then just work on getting the car dialed in. We focus on executing a solid weekend. The team has been doing a great job. If we can just go have a smooth weekend, make the right adjustments and be there during the race, hopefully we have a great, great Sunday.”
Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on how well the No. 9 has gelled together: “I think we work really well together. Everybody is driven to work for and with each other and push one another to be better. That’s a special thing and it’s really fun to be a part of. I hope that we can all stay together for a long time, but unfortunately, that’s just not how it works. We do have a really good group right now and I think we’re all really driven to make the very most of that while things are clicking.”
Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the keys to success at Dover: “At Dover (Motor Speedway), the entries of the corners are pretty challenging. So, comfort on entry is really the biggest thing—it kind of all starts there. Having some comfort on entry where you can carry a good bit speed and then after you land, you can turn good and put the throttle down. It’s a really fast track. So, not only having a good balance, but having some comfort in the car to where you don’t feel on edge all the time is pretty critical.”
William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what he likes about racing at Dover: “I love this race track (Dover Motor Speedway). It’s really fast and puts on a good race. You get good restarts with short runs and side-by-side racing. Then, there are times you get long runs where your car has to handle and adapt to the track taking rubber. As good as the racing is, it can be treacherous in practice and qualifying. You tend to see accidents and tire failures happen on Saturday because everyone’s car is so on edge. Last year, we had a really good car and I’m looking forward to improving on that this weekend.”
Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on where the No. 24 team can improve: “This year we haven’t really led as many laps and collected as many stage points or stage wins. In past years, we usually qualified up front and that set us up to really control things early on in the race. We sometimes would have troubles, though, in the second half of the race and fall back. We have really worked on our consistency to get better throughout races, but I would really like to get some more stage points, wins and to lead more laps. That’s what we think the next step is. We’ll keep grinding and work on being more complete as a team.”
Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Dover: “I’m super excited to get to Dover (Motor Speedway). It’s my favorite race track and running my 300th (NASCAR Cup Series) start there this weekend is pretty special. That milestone is certainly something that, say 10 years ago, I wouldn’t have thought I’d be able to achieve. This race weekend in Dover was something that I was going to be excited about regardless of how Talladega (Superspeedway) went, but Talladega was good to us and our No. 48 Ally Racing team has been trending in the right direction. I’m looking forward to it and we should be in contention for a win this Sunday.”
Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on preparing to run Dover for the first time with Bowman: “The team was really bummed to not have Alex (Bowman) at Dover (Motor Speedway) last year. This year will be Alex and I’s first trip there together. Alex won there in 2021 and statistically runs really strong there. Dover is probably one of his favorite tracks, so we look forward to getting on track there. We saw some good data points last year from teammates, even when he didn’t get to run. It would be great to pick up a win in Dover this weekend.”
The NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series travel to Dover Motor Speedway this weekend as the ARCA Menards Series jump starts the action Friday night. Martin Truex Jr. is the defending Cup Series race winner and has four previous victories at Dover. Truex, however, is winless this year and will be looking to repeat for his first victory of the season.
Legacy Motor Club owner/driver Jimmie Johnson holds the record for the most Cup Series wins at Dover (11) and will attempt to add one more to his resume at the one-mile concrete track.
Dover will be the final race of the Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash incentive program with drivers Ryan Sieg, Jesse Love, Riley Herbst and Anthony Alfredo competing for the $100,000 bonus.
The CRAFTSMAN Truck Series is off but returns to competition on Saturday, May 4 at 8 p.m. ET for the Heart Of America 200.
NASCAR PressPass will be available throughout the weekend post-qualifying and post-race for the Cup and Xfinity Series. You can also follow all of the ARCA Menards Series action on the ARCA Race Center page.
All times are Eastern.
Friday, April 26 12:40 p.m.: ARCA Practice (All Entries) 1:40 p.m.: ARCA Qualifying (Impound) Timed, All Entries 3 p.m.: Xfinity Practice (Timed) All Entries, 20 Minutes – FS2 3:30 p.m.: Xfinity Qualifying (Impound) All Entries, Single Vehicle, 2 Laps – FS2 8 p.m.: ARCA General Tire 150 – FS2
Saturday, April 27 10:30 a.m.: Cup Series Practice (Timed) Groups A & B – 20 Minutes each group 11:20 a.m.: Cup Series Qualifying (Impound) Groups A & B, Single Vehicle, 2 Laps, 2 Rounds 1:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series BetRivers 200 Distance: 200 miles (200 Laps) Stages end on Lap 45, Lap 90, Lap 200 FS1/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Purse: $1,420,381
Sunday, April 28 2 p.m.: NASCAR Cup Series Würth 400 FS1/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Distance: 400 miles (400 laps) Stages end on Lap 120, Lap 250, Lap 400 Purse: $7,992,801
Dongfeng Honda will Begin Sales of All-new e:NS2 in June –
BEIJING, CHINA, Apr 25, 2024 – (JCN Newswire) – Honda today exhibited and announced new information about the second set of Honda e:N Series electric vehicle (EV) models, the all-new e:NP2 and e:NS2, at the 18th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China 2024), which began today in Beijing, China (Press days: April 25-26, Trade days: April 27-28, Public days: April 29-May 5, 2024).
The all-new e:NP2 goes on sale today from GAC Honda Automobile Co., Ltd. (GAC Honda), a Honda automobile production and sales joint venture in China. The all-new e:NS2 will go on sale from Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., Ltd. (Dongfeng Honda), another Honda automobile production and sales joint venture in China, in June 2024.
Starting from the 2022 introduction of the e:NS1 and e:NP1 models, Honda is planning to introduce a total of 10 Honda-brand EV models in China by 2027, striving to make EVs represent 100% of its automobile sales in China by 2035.
Striving to create EVs that offer new value to the customer, Honda further refined the e:N Series concept of “Dynamics, Intelligence and Beauty” for the development of the all-new e:NP2 and e:NS2. The development team strived to offer customers an exhilarating mobility experience by combining a cabin space that conveys clean feeling and sense of intelligence, with a driving experience in which the driver enjoys a sense of oneness with the vehicle.
The e:NP2 features a linear and clear design, whereas the e:NS2 features an emotional design that stimulates people who see the vehicle, each expressing a different smart image and vision for the future.
Key features of the e:NP2 and e:NS2
Dynamics:The e:N Architecture F, one of the dedicated platforms for the e:N Series, was combined with dynamics technologies that Honda has amassed to date to realize an exhilarating driving experience in which the driver enjoys a sense of oneness with the vehicle. Moreover, with the adoption of a high-capacity battery for the IPU (Intelligent Power Unit), the further advancement of battery control technology and a reduction of driving resistance, the all-new e:NP2 realized a range of 545 km (based on the CLTC [China Light Duty Vehicle Test Cycle] standards).
Intelligence:The all-new e:NP2 and e:NS2 feature an advanced and highly functional human-machine interface (HMI), including a large-sized Honda Head-Up Display and the light emission patterns of the interior lights that change in conjunction with vehicle functions. Through further advancement of the large-sized 12.8-inch Display Audio and Honda CONNECT 4.0, the latest version of connectivity technologies designed exclusively for Honda EVs in China, convenience and comfort for all occupants were further enhanced.
Moreover, to improve driving comfort during the winter, the all-new e:NP2 and e:NS2 feature the Intelligent Heating System which minimizes power consumption through various measures such as a cooperative control of the air conditioning unit and other onboard heating features. The all-new e:NP2 and e:NS2 are first among all Honda models to adopt this system.
Beauty:The all-new e:NP2 and e:NS2 feature sophisticated and futuristic exterior designs that combine the excellent utility of SUVs with the sleek form of sedans. The interior design team strived to create a clean horizontal design theme for the instrument panel and a comfortable cabin space that envelopes occupants with high-quality materials.
Moreover, the all-new e:NP2 and e:NS2 will be the first Honda models to adopt an aroma system that enables the occupants to use the large-sized Display Audio or the available smartphone app to select their favorite fragrance and diffuse it throughout the vehicle.
