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DANIIL KVYAT PARTNERS WITH GOTRAX AT COTA

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Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, NC, March 18, 2024 –Daniil Kvyat today announced he is partnering with GOTRAX for next weekend’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Circuit of the Americas.

GOTRAX is a leading producer of e-scooters, e-bikes and other personal electric vehicles. GOTRAX has been changing the game in electric transportation since 2017, providing rides that are fast, fun and reliable for riders of all kinds.

“GOTRAX is thrilled to partner with Daniil Kvyat for the very first time. We’re already huge fans of high speed, adrenaline pumping rides, so sponsoring this race was a no-brainer for us,” said Jeff Lawrence, Marketing Director at GOTRAX. “We hope fans of motorsports and racing can find a familiar feeling of exhilaration on one of our cutting edge and performance built electric bikes, scooters, or dirt bikes.”

“I’m grateful to GOTRAX for their support as I return to COTA, this time with the NASCAR Xfinity Series instead of Formula One. Their dedication to performance matches my own,” said Kvyat. “COTA is a challenging track, but it’s also enjoyable to run. I’m looking forward to getting back out there.”

Kvyat will also welcome Sonoma Aviation as an associate partner. Sonoma Aviation owns and operates two FBOs in California: Sonoma Jet Center in Santa Rosa and Carlsbad Jet Center in Carlsbad.

The Focused Health 250 at Circuit of the Americas starts at 5:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 23. It will air on FS1, PRN and SiriusXM.

For more information about GOTRAX, visit them online at https://gotrax.com/ or follow them on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/RideGOTRAX/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ridegotrax), YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/GOTRAX/videos) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@ridegotrax).

For more information on Daniil Kvyat, follow him on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/danydk1/) and X (https://twitter.com/kvyatofficial).

HUGE FUNNY CAR FIELD AWAITS POINTS LEADER J.R. TODD AT LUCAS OIL NHRA WINTERNATIONALS

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Official Release
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The 21-car Funny Car field is largest for the NHRA Winternationals since 2014

POMONA, Calif. (March 18, 2024) – After winning the NHRA Gatornationals to open the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, J.R. Todd heads to this weekend’s 64th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals with plenty of momentum.

But it certainly won’t get any easier for the former Funny Car world champion at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. Todd is one of 21 Funny Car entries for this weekend’s annual early-season race in Pomona, which makes it the largest Funny Car field for the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals since 2014.

It’s a huge and massively talented Funny Car category, but Todd is feeling the best of everyone heading into Pomona in his 11,000-horsepower DHL Toyota GR Supra. A season-opening win in Gainesville gives the team plenty of confidence and Todd knows his team will be ready for the challenge in Pomona. But Todd also knows there will be talented drivers at every turn this weekend at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.

“(The win) sets a good tone going into Pomona,” Todd said. “It’s not like these guys (on this team) lack confidence. When we were not running well, they still knew they had an opportunity to run well and win against these guys. I know I have to be on kill every time because when the car is on, I think it’s a tough combination. I try to hold up my end and I know they’re always working to give me a great car. As long as we can keep going to the semifinals, I think we can set up ourselves a run for the championship. But top-to-bottom, it’s tough in Funny Car and you can’t take anybody lightly. It’s a matter of survival on raceday.”

Last year, Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) took home top honors in their respective categories at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals. To repeat their titles, they’ll need to get past some of the biggest names in the sport at a race that will again be broadcasted on FS1, including eliminations coverage on Sunday, March 24 at 7 p.m. ET.

Todd is also part of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday in Pomona. The specialty race provides a bonus purse and bonus championship points in bringing competitive racing to the Saturday schedule, and Todd will take on Bob Tasca III, with Austin Prock meeting Chad Green. The winners will face off to close out qualifying, setting the stage for a monumental Sunday of eliminations.

Just making the field will be a feat, but Todd feels as though his team is on a good path, even while taking on the likes of defending world champion Hagan, Ron Capps, John Force, Cruz Pedregon and Alexis DeJoria. After struggles in recent seasons, Todd, who won in Sonoma last year, and his team have pushed forward and he’s ready for a big year in 2024 after starting so well at the Gatornationals.

“We show up to win every race,” Todd said. “Leaving Gainesville as the points leader, I don’t know when the last time I was able to say that was, but it’s a long season. You want to stay up there in the top five going into the Countdown to the Championship, which is a long time from now, but hopefully we can get a few more of these along the way and let it eat those last six races of the year.”

Fans can also witness 40-plus nitro cars in action this weekend in Pomona. Along with the 21-car field in Funny Car and a 17-car Top Fuel entry list, the Legends Nitro Funny Cars will be in action this weekend, pushing the number of nitro cars to well more than 40 at the second stop of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Top Fuel’s Ashley took home his first win of the season last year in Pomona. He went on to win six races and finished fourth in points. Ashley will be up against reigning champion and Top Fuel veteran Doug Kalitta, four-time champ Steve Torrence, Gainesville winner Shawn Langdon and Brittany Force. Also joining the Top Fuel ranks in 2024 is motorsports legend Tony Stewart.

Glenn earned four race wins in 2023 including his win at Pomona. He also collected five runner-up finishes as well as two No. 1 qualifier positions. Glenn will be up against the likes of six-time and reigning Pro Stock champion Erica Enders, as well as Greg Anderson, Matt Hartford, Troy Coughlin Jr. and NHRA Finals winner Aaron Stanfield.

The Top Fuel matchups in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge include Langdon taking on Antron Brown, and a father-son matchup of Billy and Steve Torrence. In Pro Stock, it will be Enders against Anderson and Glenn racing against Cristian Cuadra.

Along with racing in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, fans can also see the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Legends Nitro Funny Cars and Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown, while the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department will hold a special racing exhibition. Following nitro qualifying on Friday and Saturday, the “Walking Tall” P.T. Cruiser Wheelstander driven by “NitroMike” Kunz will put on a can’t-miss show.

The Nitro Alley Stage is a huge attraction all weekend and is the main entertainment hub in the pits, hosting Nitro School, Total Seal Tech Talk, the NHRA Insider Live, meet and greets, and much more. As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. Fans can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their hot rods between rounds and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, food and fun.

Race fans at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the event winners.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying features one round at 4:30 p.m. PT on Friday, March 22, and the final two rounds on Saturday, March 23 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. The finals of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge take place at the end of final qualifying in each category. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. PT on Sunday, March 24. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 9:30 p.m. ET on Saturday and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, leading into eliminations at 7 p.m. ET.

To purchase tickets to the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information on NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.

About Mission Foods

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

About NHRA

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

Flying Lizard Celebrates Super Trofeo Successes at Sebring International Raceway

By
Official Release
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SEBRING, Fla., (March 18, 2024) – The 2024 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America season kicked off with a bang at Sebring International Raceway last weekend, and Flying Lizard Motorsports had much to celebrate with a series of successes throughout the event. Series newcomers Tim Pappas and Jeroen Bleekemolen emerged as championship points leaders following their stellar performance, clinching a third-place finish in race one and a victorious run in race two. Additionally, Slade Stewart and Andy Lee secured a pole position along with a commendable third-place finish, while Sam Shi showcased his talent with a pole position in only his second-ever qualifying session.

“We couldn’t have for much better results this past weekend to start the race season, with pole position in two different classes, a win and additional podiums,” said Program Manager Darren Law. “It was a great showing for our drivers and also a solid performance from the engineering side and the mechanical side as well. We will come back to the new shop at Apex in Arizona and get a few more test days in before we head to Laguna Seca for round two.”

Race One

The weekend began on a high note as Andy Lee claimed the overall pole position during the qualifying session for race one and set a new track record in the process. Piloting the distinctive pink unicorn Lamborghini, Lee maintained a dominant position throughout his stint, while Bleekemolen and Shi held strong from their starting positions of second place in Pro-Am and third in Am, respectively. The Lizards navigated past an early-race incident unscathed and executed perfectly-timed pit stops at the halfway mark during the mandatory pit window. During the second half of the race, Pro drivers made way for Am counterparts, with Pappas and Stewart taking over driving duties. Pappas battled throughout his stint and finished on the podium in third, with Stewart’s unicorn securing a fifth-place finish after engaging in tight on-track battles. Despite being a newcomer without prior professional race experience, Shi displayed remarkable skill and held third position most of the race but eventually claimed a fifth-place finish in the Am class.

Race Two

Boosted with the momentum of the previous day’s podium, Pappas commenced the final race from fifth place, followed by Stewart in sixth. Shi, starting from pole position, had a clean start and maintained a solid position amidst some intense racing moments. Bleekemolen and the No. 54 team delivered a strong performance in the second half, moving up from fifth place to seize the lead with just six minutes remaining. Meanwhile, Lee showcased his talents with a strong drive from eighth place, ultimately securing a well-deserved third-place finish alongside Stewart. Despite a promising podium run, Shi faced tough competition and settled for fifth place in a hard-fought second stint.

Pappas and Bleekemolen hold a one-point lead over Blake McDonald and Patrick Liddy in the Pro-Am driver standings, with Slade Stewart and Andy Lee coming up from fourth place. With his pole position and two top-five results, Sam Shi leaves the opening weekend in fifth place in the championship points, just three points shy of Dominic Starkweather in fourth. Flying Lizard Motorsports has a solid standing in fourth place in the overall team battle, just one point shy of being in the top three.

Up Next

The next two rounds of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America championship take place May 10-12 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in support of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Paul Nemschoff and Marc Miller will begin their Super Trofeo season at this event, joining their teammates for the remainder of the season.

About Flying Lizard Motorsports

Flying Lizard Motorsports is a premier motorsport team known for its unwavering commitment to excellence and success on the racing circuit. With a rich history spanning over two decades, Flying Lizard Motorsports has earned a formidable reputation as a powerhouse in the world of motorsports, boasting 24 championship titles and a legacy of podium finishes across North America and at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Fueled by passion, expertise, and a relentless drive for perfection, the team continues to push boundaries and set new standards of performance in every competition it enters. Through strategic partnerships and a dedicated team of professionals, Flying Lizard Motorsports remains at the forefront of motorsport innovation, delivering thrilling racing experiences and unforgettable moments for fans worldwide.

AM Racing, Hailie Deegan and Multi-Platinum Award Winning Artist Cody Jinks Partner for Circuit of the Americas Xfinity Series Race

By
Official Release
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STATESVILLE, N.C.: Officials from AM Racing confirmed today that they have entered a partnership with Cody Jinks, a trailblazing independent musician and one of music’s most respected artists, for this weekend’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) on Saturday, March 23, 2024.

With their partnership, AM Racing, along with Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year candidate Hailie Deegan, will promote Jinks’ anticipated new album, Change The Game, on March 22 via his own label, Late August Records, which he recently launched in an unprecedented partnership with The Orchard.

Produced by Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers, ZZ Top) and Joshua Thompson, Jinks’ longtime bassist, Change The Game marks a new chapter for Jinks both personally and professionally. He is now self-managed with a completely independent team.

A multi-platinum and award-winning artist, Jinks has sold over 2 million tickets, released ten studio albums, sold more than 2 million equivalent units and garnered more than 4 billion streams across platforms with over 1 billion streams on Spotify and 1.7 billion streams on Pandora, earning him a Pandora Radio Billions Award.

He was also named Music Row’s 2023 Independent Artist of the Year after receiving the most radio spin for an independent artist last year—his second time receiving the award — and will continue to tour extensively through this fall, including headline shows at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater, Los Angeles’ Greek Theater and San Diego’s Rady Shell at Jacobs Park among many others.

Jinks will also join Luke Combs for select dates this year as part of his “Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old” stadium tour.

The Fort Worth, Texas native will also attend the Xfinity Series race on Saturday to support Deegan and the AM Racing team and serve in various pre-race responsibilities with Speedway Motorsports Inc. and Circuit of the Americas.

“I am beyond thrilled about this partnership with Cody Jinks this weekend at Circuit of the Americas,” offered Deegan, driver of the No. 15 AM Racing Ford Mustang. “Cody’s energy and growing popularity will undoubtedly bring us some attention for the race this weekend.

“I am honored to represent him, promote his new record, and earn him a great finish with our No. 15 Cody Jinks — Change The Game Ford Mustang on Saturday afternoon.”

Jinks, 43, proudly embraces his inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series experience with the Statesville, N.C.- based team.

“I’m proud to partner with AM Racing for the COTA Xfinity race this year,” offered Jinks. The timing couldn’t have been better for the release of my new record, Change The Game, on March 22. Thank you to Wade and Michail for their friendship over the past years. Our team is excited to be working with AM Racing now and, hopefully, in the future.

“AM Racing embodies the same standards as our company, with a “Work Hard, Do Right” friends-first approach. I don’t think it’s any surprise to see me and some of my crew around NASCAR. We’ve been friends with a lot of folks from various teams through the years, and it’s just been a matter of time before doing something like this.

“For me personally, it’s an honor to have my name on the No. 15 Ford Mustang driven by Hailie Deegan!”

Welcoming their second new partnership for the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season in the opening five races, AM Racing team president Wade Moore says the new relationship with Jinks at Circuit of the Americas is just starting.

“We are incredibly proud to host and promote Cody Jinks and his Change The Game album this weekend at Circuit of the Americas,” added Moore. “Walking around the AM Racing shop and hearing one of Cody’s songs playing on the radio is common.

“This is a special event for us. Cody and the band have created so many lifelong memories for our family that being able to put this partnership together was a natural culmination of a great friendship. We are proud to showcase the biggest independent country music artist on the planet and help share his music with the great fans of NASCAR.”

For more on AM Racing, please visit AMRacingteam.com, like their Facebook page (AM Racing), or follow them on Instagram and X | Twitter @AMRacingNASCAR.

For more on Hailie Deegan, please visit hailiedeegan.com, like her Facebook page (HailieDeegan4), or follow her on Instagram (@hailiedeegan), YouTube and X | Twitter (@hailiedeegan).

The Focused Health 250 (46 laps | 156.86 miles) is the fifth of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice will take place on Fri., March 22, 2024, from 4:30 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. Qualifying will immediately follow, beginning at 5:00 p.m. The field will take the green flag the next afternoon, Sat., March 23, shortly after 4:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. ET) with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.

About Cody Jinks:

Cody Jinks is a trailblazing independent musician and one of music’s most respected artists. Adding to an already groundbreaking career, Jinks will release his anticipated new album, Change The Game, on March 22 via his own label, Late August Records, which he recently launched in an unprecedented partnership with The Orchard.

Produced by Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers, ZZ Top) and Joshua Thompson, Jinks’ longtime bassist, Change The Game marks a new chapter for Jinks both personally and professionally. He is now self-managed with a completely independent team.

A multi-platinum and award-winning artist, Jinks has sold over 2 million tickets, released ten studio albums, sold more than 2 million equivalent units and garnered more than 4 billion streams across platforms with over 1 billion streams on Spotify and 1.7 billion streams on Pandora, earning him a Pandora Radio Billions Award.

He was also named Music Row’s 2023 Independent Artist of the Year after receiving the most radio spin for an independent artist last year—his second time receiving the award—and will continue to tour extensively through this fall, including headline shows at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater, Los Angeles’ Greek Theater and San Diego’s Rady Shell at Jacobs Park among many others.

Jinks will also join Luke Combs for select dates this year as part of his “Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old” stadium tour.

About AM Racing:

AM Racing is a multi-tiered, multi-faceted Motorsports program headquartered in Statesville, N.C.

Established in December 2015, AM Racing is prided on faith, honesty and intelligent performance.

The family-owned team will compete in the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and various Dirt Modified events in its eighth year of competition.

The team has named Hailie Deegan, Christian Rose, and Austin Wayne Self as their primary drivers for the 2024 Xfinity, ARCA Menards Series, and Dirt Modified seasons, respectively.

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Bristol

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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Photo by Chad Wells for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Kyle Larson: Larson suffered a late pit lane penalty, damaging his hopes for a high finish, but salvaged a strong fifth-place at Bristol.

“The Bristol surface really did a number on tires,” Larson said. “So, it’s all about conserving your tires, which is difficult for race car drivers who just want to go fast. We have to toe the fine line between burning rubber without burning too much rubber.”

2. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex battled to the end, but couldn’t quite catch Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin and settled for second in the Food City 500.

“I think we’re all glad we’re not racing on dirt at Bristol,” Truex said. “I think the exciting racing that took place on Sunday is concrete evidence of the surface we should race on going forward.”

3. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin led 163 laps, taking charge late and securing the win in the Food City 500, earning his first victory of the season.

“This race was all about tire management,” Hamlin said. “Luckily, I was able to manage mine best. That’s why, after the race, I requested that all queries for interviews be addressed as follows: ‘I’d like to speak to the manager.'”

4. Ryan Blaney: Blaney started on the pole and finished 16th in a wild Food City 500.

“I haven’t finished worse than 16th all year,” Blaney said. “I may be winless, but my consistency is unmatched. I guess that runs in the family because my father Dave also consistently did not win.”

5. Christopher Bell: Bell ran up front for most of the day at Bristol, but suffered a late flat tire and finished 10th in the Food City 500.

“Goodyear really had to stay busy to keep everyone supplied with tires,” Bell said. “There was a point in which every team was wondering if we would even get extra sets of tires. It went from ‘tire wear’ to ‘tire where?'”

6. Ross Chastain: Chastain finished 15th at Bristol.

“My car featured the Busch Light Fishing paint scheme,” Chastain said. “Busch Light would like to remind people to not overdo it if you’re out on the water fishing while enjoying your Busch Light, lest you get ‘fish fried.'”

7. Chris Buescher: Buescher posted his third top-10 finish with a seventh in the Food City 500.

“The No. 17 Build Submarines Ford was strong all day at Bristol,” Buescher said. “Like every other driver, I ran much of the race worrying about whether I’d blow a tire or tires. So, I don’t know what was the biggest theme of the race, stress on tires, or stress about tires.”

8. William Byron: Disaster struck early for Byron at Bristol, as contact between Christopher Bell and Joey Logano sent Byron into the wall on Lap 20, resulting in a broken toe link. Byron finished 35th, eight laps down.

“I’m not happy about what happened,” Byron said. “Now, if you ask me about it, I’d rather not talk about it, which is the opposite of what Jerry Falwell, Jr.’s pool boy did in the 2022 Netflix series ‘God Forbid.'”

9. Ty Gibbs: Gibbs swept Stages 1 and 2 at Bristol, but tire troubles late cost him a chance for the win. He still posted a solid ninth in the Food City 500.

“Toyotas dominated at Bristol,” Gibbs said. “I’m sure that doesn’t make Ford and Chevy drivers happy. Their cars were made in America, but the drivers were mad in America.”

10. Chase Elliott: Eliott finished eight at Bristol.

“Tire wear created a lot of what is known as ‘marbles’ on the track,” Elliott said. “When you can actually see the pieces of your tires coming off and ending up on the track, that can be very scary. But as professional drivers, we have to deal with it. And the only way to deal with marbles on the track is to have marbles in your sack.”

Nissan and Honda to start feasibility study of strategic partnership

By
Official Release
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Partnership aimed towards a future of electrified and intelligent mobility

TOKYO, Mar 18, 2024 – (JCN Newswire) – Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (Nissan) and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda) announced today that the two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding under which they will begin a feasibility study of a strategic partnership in the fields of vehicle electrification and intelligence.

To further accelerate efforts toward carbon neutrality and zero traffic-accident fatalities, it will be essential to strengthen environmental and electrification technologies as well as software development. The two companies have reached the understanding based on the belief that it is necessary to combine their strengths and explore the possibility of future collaboration.

The scope of the feasibility study includes automotive software platforms, core components related to EVs, and complementary products.

Makoto Uchida, president and CEO, said: “It is important to prepare for the increasing pace of transformation in mobility in the mid-to-long-term, and it is significant that we have reached this agreement based on a mutual understanding that Honda and Nissan face common challenges. We look forward to further discussions and aim to find win-wins for sustainable growth.”

Toshihiro Mibe, Honda director, president and representative executive officer, said: “In this period of once-in-a-century transformation in the automotive industry, we will examine the potential for partnership between Nissan and Honda. Our study criteria will be whether the synergy of the technologies and knowledge that our companies have cultivated will enable us to become industry leaders by creating new value for the automotive industry.”

News URL: https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/89603/

URL: https://plus.google.com/110355594819754396833 | Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/HondaJP | Twitter : https://twitter.com/HondaJP | Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/user/HondaJPPR | Linkedin : https://jp.linkedin.com/company/honda |

Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series Race Report – Bristol 1

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Official Release
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Food City 500 – Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol, Tenn. – March 17, 2024

Bristol Motor Speedway Oval Decal

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 DISCOUNT TIRE FORD MUSTANG

START: 21ST STAGE ONE: 29TH STAGE TWO: 29TH FINISH: 31ST POINTS: 21ST

RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric, driver of the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang, finished 31st in a chaotic Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway plagued by tire issues. Cindric rolled off the grid from the 21st position and reported under the first caution on Lap 23 that the car was free on entry and tight through the center. After pitting for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment and restarting 22nd, the field was immediately slowed with another caution. Cindric sustained minor damage and remained on track. On Lap 69, Cindric returned to pit road from the 15th position for fresh tires, fuel and another adjustment after he began to experience an issue with the right-front tire. The Team Penske driver marched on to the end of the segment, being scored in the 29th position. Expressing concern with the right-front tire again, Cindric headed back to the attention of the Discount Tire crew for service and lined up 30th for the restart. Tire wear and management continued to be a talking point throughout the remaining segments of the event while the No. 2 Ford Mustang also began to trend toward a tight condition by the conclusion of Stage 2 in which Cindric finished 29th. Throughout the final Stage, the 25-year-old driver made multiple more visits to pit road for fresh rubber and adjustments to aid the handling of the car. When the checkered flag flew, Cindric was scored in the 31st position.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “Unfortunately we struggled to keep the right-front tire on the Discount Tire Ford Mustang for anything longer than 30 laps. Past that, the race was plagued with tire issues and debris on the race track. The final stint was chaotic and wish we could have had a clean day for everyone on the No. 2 car. Looking forward to going to COTA and having a normal weekend.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 MENARDS/DUTCH BOY FORD MUSTANG

START: 1ST STAGE ONE: 7TH STAGE TWO: 25TH FINISH: 16TH POINTS: 4TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford Mustang led the field to green in Sunday’s Food City 500 before ultimately coming away with a 16th-place finish. Blaney battled for the lead throughout the opening stage and led five times for 14 laps as the No. 12 worked to manage tire wear that became a major factor in the race, but Blaney maintained top-10 speed to come away with a seventh-place finish in Stage 1. Following a four-tire stop under caution on lap 226, Blaney was penalized for speeding on pit road and forced to restart at the tail end of the field with 20 laps to go in Stage 2, resulting in a 23rd-place finish in the second segment. Blaney fought his way back into the top-10 during the initial run of the final stage and worked his way up to sixth in the running order by lap 365 as the overall balance settled in. Following the ensuing restart after a caution on lap 368, contact to the left rear on the exit of turn two sent Blaney up the track as he tried to collect himself in the middle lane, shuffling him back to 20th on the leaderboard. Blaney was one of the first to hit pit road during the green flag pit cycle on lap 436 as he had a right front tire go down but managed to fight through traffic to come away with a 16th-place finish.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “We got our Menards/Dutch Boy Ford Mustang in a pretty good spot before the last restart – got to sixth. Ultimately I got moved off the bottom lane and shuffled into the middle where it was a lot easier to use up our tires, especially at that point in the race. A little bit of a wild race overall.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG

START: 4TH STAGE ONE: 11TH STAGE TWO: 3RD FINISH: 22ND POINTS: 26TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano wheeled the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang to a 22nd-place finish Sunday afternoon at Bristol Motor Speedway. After battling a tight-handling condition in the early going, Logano and the No. 22 worked to manage tire wear that became increasingly prevalent throughout the field as the opening stage unfolded. Several of the leaders began to falter in the closing laps of Stage 1, but Logano prevailed to come away with an 11th-place finish in the opening segment. Logano raced his way back into the top-five by lap 204 and was running sixth at the time of the caution on lap 226 when the No. 22 team opted for right sides tires only under yellow, allowing Logano to restart fifth with 11 to go in the second stage. He took the lead with five to go in the segment, but ultimately settled for a third-place finish in Stage 2. As tire wear continued to be a key factor over the long runs, Logano was shuffled outside of the top-20 before the start of green flag stops and eventually hit pit road on lap 436 for the team’s final set of sticker tires. The 500-lap race remained green the rest of the way as Logano crossed the line 22nd when the checkered flag flew.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “Up and down day for our Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang team. Obviously tire wear played a huge factor we were doing everything we could to manage that and track position all day. It seemed like everyone was chasing different strategies on the fly which made this race what it was. Glad we were able to make it out of here with some stage points and we’ll keep moving forward.”

The NASCAR Cup Series takes on its first road course of the season on Sunday, March 24 for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Denny Hamlin wins Throwback Classic FOOD CITY 500 Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway

By
Official Release
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BRISTOL, Tenn. (March 17, 2024) — Denny Hamlin won a true NASCAR Cup Series throwback classic Sunday in the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway as teams were presented with a challenging track that ultimately forced teams to pay close attention to their tire wear.

Virginia native Hamlin led 13 times for 163 laps to take his first Food City 500 win and fourth victory at Bristol. It is his second win in a row at The Last Great Colosseum, as he won here last September in the opening round of the Playoffs.

The thrilling race set a NASCAR short track record for lead changes at 54 with 16 different drivers holding the lead at some point. The previous record at Bristol for lead changes was 40 in 1991. Only five cars finished on the lead lap.

The race also set the social media world abuzz as racing experts across the media spectrum, including NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr., as well as thousands of vocal fans and others weighed in talking about how exciting the racing was. Earnhardt tweeted that this race was the “…most exciting short track race we’ve had with the Next Gen.”

“That’s what I grew up doing at short tracks all around the mid-Atlantic, once it became a tire-management race, I liked our chances,” said Hamlin of his 52nd career Cup Series victory and first of the season. “This feels so good to win again at Bristol.”

In a return to concrete for the Food City 500 from three consecutive years of dirt racing as NASCAR returned to its roots, the teams were faced with tire management and that fell right into the strengths for Hamlin and his crew chief Chris Gabehart.

Goodyear used the same tire that ran without issue in the Night Race last season but this weekend with 15-degree cooler temps and a new tacky substance on the track, marbles (tiny rubber debris from wearing tires) accumulated all around the track and made racing at the top extremely difficult. With the uncommon wear becoming a factor, Goodyear did issue the teams one more set of tires near mid-race.

“It was challenging, but a different kind of challenge,” Hamlin said. “I ran a certain pace and line and then made adjustments and Chris (Gabehart, crew chief) kept making the car better and giving me info and it allowed me to do my job better. You learned on the fly and just had to keep making adjustments and we kept getting better. It was a lot of fun for me.”

Hamlin led all but one lap over the final 48 laps as he dueled with teammate Martin Truex Jr. through heavy lapped traffic. Truex ultimately finished second, tying his best-career Cup Series finish at Bristol in 34 career starts (also second at 2011 Night Race).

“Apparently, that’s what I need to have happen here at Bristol to have a shot at winning,” Truex said. “I guess this tire management thing fit into my wheelhouse at Bristol. The key was coming out of the pits so close to Denny. We gave it a hell of an effort, but congrats to them. I had a lot of fun tonight.”

Hamlin also had to overcome a hot start from his other teammate, Ty Gibbs, who led 137 laps and won the first two stages of the race. Many had predicted Gibbs as a top contender to win this race and he looked like he was on his way to his first career Cup win this afternoon in his No. 54 Gibbs Racing machine. Ultimately, though, experience proved to be the overriding factor.

“This is the first time the driver played a huge role in a long, long time,” Hamlin said. “It’s a different philosophy than we are used to. Mostly cars on the bottom are running hard all the way around and then today there was driver technique that had to be a major part of it.

“I’m so proud. I feel like I played a huge factor in the result. It’s one of the more-proud races I’ve had in my career.”

Brad Keselowski finished third, followed by Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson in the top five. Last year’s dirt winner Christopher Bell finished 10th.

Pole winner Ryan Blaney finished 16th. The highest finishing rookie was Josh Berry, who posted a 12th place finish in his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing machine.

In a note of interesting track history, Hamlin joins David Pearson (1968), Cale Yarborough (1974) and Kasey Kahne (2013) as winners who have all won at Bristol on St. Patrick’s Day.

NASCAR Cup Series Race – Food City 500
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol, Tennessee
Sunday, March 17, 2024

            1. (3)  Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 500. 
            2. (11)  Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 500. 
            3. (17)  Brad Keselowski, Ford, 500. 
            4. (29)  Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 500. 
            5. (10)  Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 500. 
            6. (26)  John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 499. 
            7. (34)  Chris Buescher, Ford, 499. 
            8. (5)  Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 499. 
            9. (19)  Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 499. 
            10. (12)  Christopher Bell, Toyota, 499. 
            11. (7)  Michael McDowell, Ford, 499. 
            12. (2)  Josh Berry #, Ford, 499. 
            13. (6)  Chase Briscoe, Ford, 498. 
            14. (25)  Ryan Preece, Ford, 498. 
            15. (36)  Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 498. 
            16. (1)  Ryan Blaney, Ford, 498. 
            17. (32)  Justin Haley, Ford, 498. 
            18. (28)  Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 498. 
            19. (33)  Kaz Grala #, Ford, 498. 
            20. (15)  Erik Jones, Toyota, 498. 
            21. (18)  Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 498. 
            22. (4)  Joey Logano, Ford, 498. 
            23. (30)  AJ Allmendinger(i), Chevrolet, 498. 
            24. (31)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 498. 
            25. (14)  Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 498. 
            26. (24)  Todd Gilliland, Ford, 497. 
            27. (35)  Carson Hocevar #, Chevrolet, 497. 
            28. (20)  Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet, 496. 
            29. (9)  Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 496. 
            30. (23)  Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 495. 
            31. (21)  Austin Cindric, Ford, 495. 
            32. (13)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 495. 
            33. (27)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 495. 
            34. (22)  Noah Gragson, Ford, 494. 
            35. (8)  William Byron, Chevrolet, 492. 
            36. (16)  Zane Smith #, Chevrolet, Engine, 192.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 79.678 mph.
Time of Race: 3 Hrs, 20 Mins, 41 Secs. Margin of Victory: 1.083 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 9 for 98 laps.
Lead Changes: 54 among 16 drivers.
Lap Leaders: R. Blaney 1-2;J. Berry # 3-20;D. Hamlin 21-25;C. Elliott 26;T. Reddick 27-30;B. Wallace 31-40;J. Berry # 41-47;B. Wallace 48-52;D. Hamlin 53-60;C. Elliott 61-64;R. Blaney 65-68;K. Busch 69-73;R. Blaney 74;D. Hamlin 75-82;R. Blaney 83-88;D. Hamlin 89-119;T. Gibbs 120-130;R. Blaney 131;K. Larson 132-140;T. Gibbs 141-145;M. Truex Jr. 146-149;T. Gibbs 150-153;K. Larson 154-156;T. Gibbs 157-158;D. Hamlin 159-162;K. Larson 163-165;D. Hamlin 166;K. Larson 167-170;T. Gibbs 171-181;M. Truex Jr. 182;C. Buescher 183-199;C. Bell 200-223;M. Truex Jr. 224-235;C. LaJoie 236-239;C. Bell 240-243;J. Logano 244-248;T. Gibbs 249-256;M. Truex Jr. 257;T. Gibbs 258-284;M. Truex Jr. 285-317;D. Hamlin 318-322;T. Gibbs 323-364;D. Hamlin 365-372;M. Truex Jr. 373;D. Hamlin 374-379;C. Bell 380;D. Hamlin 381-398;T. Gibbs 399-425;D. Hamlin 426-447;M. Truex Jr. 448;B. Keselowski 449;A. Bowman 450-452;D. Hamlin 453-482;M. Truex Jr. 483;D. Hamlin 484-500.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Denny Hamlin 13 times for 163 laps; Ty Gibbs 9 times for 137 laps; Martin Truex Jr. 8 times for 54 laps; Christopher Bell 3 times for 29 laps; Josh Berry # 2 times for 25 laps; Kyle Larson 4 times for 19 laps; Chris Buescher 1 time for 17 laps; Bubba Wallace 2 times for 15 laps; Ryan Blaney 5 times for 14 laps; Joey Logano 1 time for 5 laps; Kyle Busch 1 time for 5 laps; Chase Elliott 2 times for 5 laps; Corey LaJoie 1 time for 4 laps; Tyler Reddick 1 time for 4 laps; Alex Bowman 1 time for 3 laps; Brad Keselowski 1 time for 1 lap.
Stage #1 Top Ten: 54,5,17,6,42,12,19,20,41,4
Stage #2 Top Ten: 54,6,22,42,20,19,11,5,23,41

Tire Issues Leave Burton 32nd at Bristol

By
Official Release
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A promising start to Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway for Harrison Burton and the No. 21 DEX Imaging team took a disappointing turn just 67 laps into the 500-lapper as Burton made an unscheduled green-flag stop for fresh rubber. Although he and the team managed to work their way back onto the lead lap, the tire issues continued to plague them and they wound up 32nd at the finish.

Burton started the race from 13th place and drove into the top 10 by Lap 44. He was running just outside the top 15 at Lap 60 when tire issues surfaced, necessitating a green-flag stop that left him two laps in arrears.

Burton and the DEX Imaging team worked their way into the free pass position and rejoined the lead lap when the caution flag was displayed at Lap 175 for a multi-car crash.

He was back among the top 20 in the latter portions of the second Stage, and ended that segment in 19th place.

The DEX Imaging crew called for a two-tire stop at the end of the Stage and moved back into the top 15 only to experience another tire issue and another unscheduled green-flag stop at Lap 306 that cost them three laps.

With few strategy options at the team’s disposal, Burton was unable to advance.

Burton and the No. 21 team return to the track next week for a road-course race at Circuit of the Americas.

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

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES:
Reducing Operating Costs
Reducing Paper Consumption
Increasing Productivity

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

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

CHEVROLET NCS AT BRISTOL 1: Post-Race Report

By
Official Release
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NASCAR CUP SERIES
BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY
FOOD CITY 500
TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE REPORT
MARCH 17, 2024

 Bowman, Larson Lead Chevrolet with Top-Five Finishes at Bristol

  • Alex Bowman led Chevrolet to the checkered-flag in the NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway – driving his No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1 to a fourth-place finish.
  • Three Camaro ZL1’s earned top-10 results at the Tennessee short-track, with Bowman leading his Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson, No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Camaro ZL1, in fifth; and Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1, in eighth.
  • With his second top-five finish of the season, Larson took over the top position in the NASCAR Cup Series driver points standings.
  • The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season continues at Circuit of The Americas with the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix on Sunday, March 24, at 3:30 P.M. ET. Live coverage can be found on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-20:
POS. DRIVER

4th Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1
5th Kyle Larson, No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Camaro ZL1
8th Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1
15th Ross Chastain, No. 1 Busch Light Fishing Camaro ZL1
18th Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Jockey Outdoors by Luke Byran Camaro ZL1

 TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE QUOTES:
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1

Finished: 4th

Bowman on his fourth-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway:

“We just made our left-front tire last a little longer than some others there. I think it was a good, solid day for the No. 48 Ally Chevy team. I feel like we had a pretty good Chevy, but we just had to go roll around half-speed and try to make it last. It kind of reminded me of Greenville Pickens (Speedway), short-track racing in the East Series, or something like that. Just had to be really, really, really patient. Obviously that long green-flag run where we all pitted, I think our right-front probably lasted the longest. It got us some track position and we ended up with a fourth-place finish. I don’t really know where my race car could have ended up, straight-up, because we were never able to run hard, but it was pretty good.”

Kyle Larson, No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Camaro ZL1

Finished: 5th

How difficult was it to get into a rhythm in today’s race?

“Yeah, it was tough.. tough to get a rhythm. I felt like I was kind of in a rhythm when I could run around fourth to sixth behind the Gibbs cars and kind of pace myself. I felt like I was doing a good job of managing my stuff, we just never got a long run. And then the one time we get a long run is when we had the penalty and we had to go to the back, and abuse my tire to get back to the top-five.

It all just kind of weirdly worked out. I still don’t really know how we ended fifth, but we will take it and move on.

You’ll take a fifth. You don’t care how you got there, as long as you get to fifth, right?

“Yeah, for sure. Obviously, I would have loved to not get that penalty because I felt like I could pace the 11 (Denny Hamlin) well, and I thought I could manage my tires good. He would have been hard to beat, but we could have ended up a little bit better and we could have ended up worse. So, yeah, I think I will take the fifth and be happy with it.”

Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1

Finished: 8th

For short-tracks, is this a good thing?

“It’s a better race than we’ve had here. It was pretty fun from my seat.”

What made this race challenging?

“Normally, you could just bury the car into the corner so far and you don’t ever really get beat by guys with tires that bad. But you could just fall off a cliff there with the way that was. It was like racing at a really old, worn out short-track. It was a lot of fun. I think there was probably a little better balance somewhere up there, but I had a good time.”

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Mountain Dew/Doritos Camaro ZL1

Finished: 23rd

“We initially struggled to find balance in our No. 16 Mtn Dew Cheetos Chevy. Combined with the tire issues the field faced, we had our hands full. I’m proud of our team and Travis [Mack] on the pit box. The way our day started, it wasn’t looking good, but we refocused as a team and made the most out of our day.”

Austin Dillon, No. 3 BREZTRI Camaro ZL1

Finished: 24th

“We fought hard with the No. 3 BREZTRI Chevy. It didn’t matter what we did, we just kept losing tires. We were kind of in a box there trying to save and trying to go. Man, it was a weird race. Hate it that we couldn’t hold on because that would have been good run if we would have gotten ourselves into a better position. It was a good fight. We’ll go get a little bit more next week at COTA.”

Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Cirkul Camaro ZL1

Finished: 28th

“Lots of highs and lows during this long race. We had a solid second stage, but after making some contact with the wall, we just fought a really tight-handling No. 31 Cirkul Chevy. The right front would wear quickly, and the rear would start going away not long after. Hopefully we can come back in the fall for some redemption.”

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

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

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