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NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty honored with unique “King’s Hat” statue at Dover Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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  • Petty, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and seven-time Monster Mile winner, to make appearances before Würth 400 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, April 28.
  • Petty Family is celebrating its 75th anniversary in NASCAR this season.
  • LEGACY MOTOR CLUB co-owner Jimmie Johnson, an 11-time Dover winner, also to appear on the Monster Monument and race in the Würth 400.
  • Visit DoverMotorSpeedway.com to order NASCAR tickets and keep up with all track announcements.

DOVER, Del. (April 16, 2024) – Richard Petty, NASCAR’s undisputed “King,” will be honored at Dover Motor Speedway during its upcoming April 26-28 events as the celebration continues around the Petty Family’s 75th anniversary in NASCAR.

Throughout the weekend, the “King’s Hat” monument is sure to be a gathering place for families and a top photo opportunity. The six-foot tall, 1,000-pound fiberglass and concrete statue, to be placed near the Monster Monument, features a collection of photos of Richard Petty and his son Kyle at Dover, including from Richard’s 199th career NASCAR Cup Series victory in May 1984.

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (LEGACY M.C.), co-owned by Jimmie Johnson, is partnering with NASCAR tracks across the country to produce one-of-a-kind sculptures featuring “The King’s” famous cowboy hat. Richard serves as LEGACY M.C.’s Club Ambassador.

The design of each hat is unique to each facility and honors Petty’s family racing legacy, which began when Richard’s father Lee entered the June 1949 race in Charlotte – the first event sanctioned by NASCAR.

“This is really for the fans to enjoy something unique to our family, our history, and our contributions to the tracks and NASCAR,” Petty said. “It took a lot of people, time, and effort to make this happen and our family is honored by that.”

Petty, his longtime crew chief Dale Inman, and fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Donnie Allison are scheduled to make an appearance on the Monster Monument at noon on Sunday, April 28, and with Petty and Inman visiting the “King’s Hat” for a photo opportunity at 12:30 p.m.

Richard made an early mark at the Monster Mile in 1969, winning Dover’s inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race, the Mason-Dixon 300, by six laps, an event he later called “NASCAR’s invasion of the North.” Richard won seven NASCAR Cup Series races at Dover, with the last coming in 1984 for his 199th career victory.

Kyle’s last NASCAR Cup Series victory came in the Monster Mile’s debut weekend with a concrete surface in 1995 while Kyle’s son Adam made two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Dover in 1999. Inman was Richard’s crew chief for three decades, 198 race wins and seven NASCAR Cup Series titles. Inman earned his eighth title with Terry Labonte in 1984 and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2012.

“You can’t talk about the story of Dover Motor Speedway without mentioning Richard Petty and his family’s contributions,” said Mike Tatoian, Dover Motor Speedway’s president and general manager. “We are honored that “The King” is part of our free, fun festivities surrounding our NASCAR weekend and look forward to seeing his legion of fans honor his achievements.”

Meanwhile, 11-time Monster Mile winner Johnson will make his first Dover Motor Speedway Cup Series start since 2020 in the Würth 400 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, April 28 (2 p.m., FS1).

The newly inducted NASCAR Hall-of-Famer and seven-time NASCAR champion is driving the No. 84 Toyota part-time for LEGACY M.C. this season. Johnson’s 83rd and final Cup Series victory to date came at Dover in the AAA 400 Drive for Autism on June 4, 2017.

Johnson is scheduled to make an appearance on the Monster Monument at 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, April 28, along with defending Würth 400 champion Martin Truex Jr.

The King’s Hats are hand-crafted by TivoliToo, Inc., the same company that designed and built the Charles Schulz Peanuts® character tribute in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

Fans are encouraged to use #PETTY75 when they visit Dover’s statue and post photos socially. Visit www.LEGACYMOTORCLUB.com for more information.

A limited-capacity suite honoring Petty’s 75th anniversary, the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB FAN SUITE, which includes meet-and-greets with Petty and Johnson, sold out earlier this spring.

The Monster Mile’s full 2024 race schedule includes:

Friday, April 26: General Tire 150 ARCA Menards Series race (5 p.m., FS2)
Saturday, April 27: BetRivers 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash race (1:30 p.m., FS1, PRN, SiriusXM)
Sunday, April 28: Würth 400 NASCAR Cup Series race (2 p.m., FS1, PRN, SiriusXM)
Visit DoverMotorSpeedway.com to register for the Speedway’s email list to receive updates and announcements.

The Würth 400 is the Monster Mile’s 106th NASCAR Cup Series race. 2024 marks 55 consecutive years that Dover Motor Speedway has hosted a NASCAR Cup Series event. The Monster Mile is one of only 10 tracks in the country to host 100 or more NASCAR Cup Series races.

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Keep track of all of Dover Motor Speedway’s events by following on Facebook, X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok (@MonsterMile). Keep up with all the latest information on DoverMotorSpeedway.com and our mobile app.

Ford Performance NASCAR – 2024 Talladega 1 Advance

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Official Release
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TALLADEGA 1

Saturday, April 20 — NASCAR Xfinity Series, 4 p.m. ET (FOX)
Sunday, April 21 — NASCAR Cup Series, 3 p.m. ET (FOX)

Talladega Superspeedway has been good to Ford through the years with the manufacturer producing 32 NASCAR Cup Series victories, which includes at least one win in 11 of the last 12 seasons. Ford will be looking to extend that streak on Sunday after the NASCAR Xfinity Series competes one day earlier.

BLANEY GOING FOR FOURTH TALLADEGA WIN

Ryan Blaney has won three of the last nine NASCAR Cup Series races held at Talladega Superspeedway, including October’s playoff race in which he battled door-to-door for the entire final lap with Kevin Harvick before a photo finish decided the outcome. Blaney’s margin of victory was 0.012 seconds and clinched a spot in the Round of 8. Ford dominated the event, leading 121-of-188 laps after sweeping the top three spots in qualifying and eight of the top 11 positions. The win marked Ford’s 12th win at the superspeedway in the last 19 races, which included a seven-race winning streak from 2015-18.

DECADE OF EXCELLENCE

Team Penske has won 10 of the last 19 NCS races at Talladega Superspeedway. Brad Keselowski started this run by winning in 2014 and registered four victories at the track before joining Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing last season. Joey Logano won in back-to-back seasons (2015-16) while Ryan Blaney followed suit, winning twice in the last four years at Talladega.

TEAM PENSKE WINS

AT TALLADEGA SINCE 2014

2014 – Brad Keselowski (Talladega 2)

2015 – Joey Logano (Talladega 2)

2016 – Brad Keselowski (Talladega 1)

2016 – Joey Logano (Talladega 2)

2017 – Brad Keselowski (Talladega 2)

2018 – Joey Logano (Talladega 1)

2019 – Ryan Blaney (Talladega 2)

2020 – Ryan Blaney (Talladega 1)

2021 – Brad Keselowski (Talladega 1)

2023 – Ryan Blaney (Talladega 2)

KESELOWSKI CLIMBING ALL-TIME TALLADEGA WIN LIST

Brad Keselowski is the winningest active driver at Talladega with six NASCAR Cup Series victories and is tied for second on the all-time list with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon. The track’s all-time winner is Dale Earnhardt Sr., who won 10 times during his NASCAR Hall of Fame career.

RYAN BLANEY: “We have had good fortune over the years at Talladega. We have good teamwork, fast cars, and good engines and seem to excel at those places. We do a good job of being there for each other when we need to be and just finding ourselves there at the end of racing and giving ourselves a shot. I look at that when we go to Talladega: trying to give yourself a chance at the end and capitalize on it or not. We have done a good job of doing that and have a good mindset, which has worked out for us sometimes. Good teamwork and good cars go a long way. It would be a great little birthday gift for Ford to put a Mustang in victory lane just after the 60th birthday. Not many things have been around for 60 years, let alone a model of car. That is tough to do with times changing and people wanting new things. Ford has done a good job of always innovating while also sticking to its roots. Hopefully, we can put Mustang in victory lane a few days after the birthday; that would be a pretty cool present for sure.”

JOEY LOGANO: “Talladega has been a great track for Ford, Penske, and all of us. We have been in contention every time we go down there. Our superspeedway program is our strength right now. We have seen that in qualifying and have seen the performance at Atlanta and Daytona so far. I have a lot of confidence going there. A lot of things can happen at Talladega, as we have seen before, but if we can do our jobs perfectly, I am sure we can get one in victory lane, and it would be an added bonus to do it just a couple of days after Mustang celebrates its 60th birthday. That would be a really cool celebration.”

CHASE BRISCOE: “Getting a Mustang in victory lane at Talladega would be super cool. The Mustangs have been super good at superspeedway racetracks, so it would be no better time to get one than just after the 60th birthday of Mustang. That is what we are going to try to do. We are going to have really fast Fords, so hopefully, one of us can put Mustang in victory lane.”

BRAD KESELOWSKI: “Talladega has been a special track for me, and I look forward to going there. I think we will have cars that can compete for the win. There are a lot of peripheral circumstances that would add to how special that would be if we were able to do that. From Mustang’s 60th birthday to where we are as a company to where I am at in my career. So it would be special to be able to win.”

MARTIN LEFT HIS MARK

Mark Martin is the only Ford driver to have won in all three of the major series offered by NASCAR at Talladega. Martin won the Cup series race in 1995 and 1997, Xfinity in 1996 and lastly in the Truck series’ debut 2006 event. Joey Logano (2015 Xfinity) has won in both the Cup and Xfinity series while David Ragan is also a part of the list, having won a Cup race in 2013 and an Xfinity event in 2009.

ROBERT YATES RACING’S FINAL WIN

When Dale Jarrett won the UAW-Ford 500 on Oct. 2, 2005 it ended up being the final trip to Victory Lane for Robert Yates Racing. The race came down to a green-white-checker restart, where Jarrett was positioned fourth. He was still in that spot when they came around to start the final lap, but quickly moved to the outside as Tony Stewart grabbed the lead on the inside lane. The two drivers battled side-by-side down the backstretch before Jarrett powered his way in front. Seconds after getting the lead, Kyle Petty was involved in a single-car accident that brought out the caution as the cars entered turn three and Jarrett was declared the winner. The win was RYR’s 57th triumph in the NASCAR Cup Series, and came six years after the team won its only championship with Jarrett in 1999.

DAVEY ALLISON’S FIRST WIN

Ford has had many milestone moments at Talladega Superspeedway, including the first NASCAR Cup Series win for the late Davey Allison, who won the Winston 500 on May 3, 1987. The race came down to a restart with 10 laps to go in which Allison found himself behind Dale Earnhardt in the outside lane. Earnhardt bolted to the lead when the green flew and Allison tucked in right behind him through turns one and two. As they came off the second corner, Allison went to the inside and easily passed Earnhardt for what proved to be the winning pass. Terry Labonte ended up finishing second with Earnhardt third. Allison went on to win 19 NCS races, including three at Talladega.

BAKER PROVIDES MOORE SUCCESS

The first time Ford went to victory lane at Talladega Superspeedway was May 4, 1975 when Buddy Baker, driving for Hall of Fame car owner Bud Moore, held off David Pearson on the final lap. The win was Baker’s ninth career victory and came after he took the lead with 18 laps to go. One of the key decisions in getting Baker to the checkered flag first came when his team opted for two tires on its final pit stop of the day while Pearson and the Wood Brothers decided on gas only. Even though Pearson steadily gained ground on the final lap, Baker was able to hold on by half a car length to win. That started a streak which saw Baker and Moore win three straight Talladega races.

SIEG SO CLOSE

Ryan Sieg is coming off a runner-up finish last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway after leading 17 of the final 18 laps and getting nipped in a photo finish by Sam Mayer. That marked the third time in Sieg’s NASCAR Xfinity Series career he has ended up in second place, and as he heads to Talladega Superspeedway the opportunity to get that first victory is certainly there. That’s because Sieg enters this weekend having finished fifth or better at the track in four of the last six races and in 13 career series starts has five top-10 efforts.

FORD’S NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS

AT TALLADEGA

1975 – Buddy Baker (Sweep)

1976 – Buddy Baker (1)

1979 – Bobby Allison (1)

1983 – Dale Earnhardt (2)

1985 – Bill Elliott and Cale Yarborough

1987 – Dave Allison and Bill Elliott

1989 – Davey Allison and Terry Labonte

1992 – Davey Allison (1)

1994 – Jimmy Spencer (2)

1995 – Mark Martin (1)

1997 – Mark Martin (1)

1998 – Dale Jarrett (2)

2005 – Dale Jarrett (2)

2009 – Jamie McMurray (2)

2012 – Matt Kenseth (2)

2013 – David Ragan (1)

2014 – Brad Keselowski (2)

2015 – Joey Logano (2)

2016 – Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano

2017 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Brad Keselowski

2018 – Joey Logano and Aric Almirola

2019 – Ryan Blaney (2)

2020 – Ryan Blaney (1)

2021 – Brad Keselowski (1)

2023 – Ryan Blaney (2)

CORVETTE RACING AT IMOLA: Building on Qatar Performance

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Official Release
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TF Sport team buoyed by pre-race testing at Italian circuit ahead of Round 2

DETROIT (April 16, 2024) – Corvette Racing and TF Sport write their next chapter together this weekend as the team and its pair of Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs travel to Italy for the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Six Hours of Imola.

The goal this time around for TF Sport and Chevrolet is to earn more points in the LM GT3 Drivers, Manufacturers and Teams championship standings. Both the No. 81 and No. 82 Corvettes came away from the season-opening event in Qatar with points and positives to take into the Italian round.

Tom Van Rompuy earned himself and his teammates one point with a pole-position run at Qatar and will continue teaming with Rui Andrade and Corvette factory driver Charlie Eastwood in the No. 81 Corvette – primarily yellow with black accents. The reverse colors are present on the No. 82 Z06 GT3.R with the trio of Hiro Koizumi, Sebastien Baud and Corvette factory pilot Daniel Juncadella together again after a 10th-place finish in Qatar – netting two valuable championship points, as well.

The second round of the championship is at a new venue for the Corvette brand, but not for TF Sport. Already, the team has undertaken a robust testing program at the 3.05-mile, 19-turn circuit in which the two Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs recorded more than 3,000 kilometers. TF Sport has raced just once at Monza but it was a stellar outing – a 1-2 finish in the European Le Mans Series’ GTE class and the LMP2 Pro-Am victory in 2022.

In addition, Corvette Racing has tasted success in Italy during the last two FIA WEC seasons: it won the GTE Pro class at Monza in 2022 with the Corvette C8.R, and the team wrapped up the GTE Am Drivers and Teams titles in 2023 also at Monza.

The FIA WEC’s Six Hours of Imola Prologue is set for 1 p.m. Central European Time / 7 a.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, April 21. MotorTrend and MotorTrend Plus will provide both live television and streaming coverage of the race and Friday’s qualifying, as will the FIA WEC app and the MAX app in the U.S. Radio Le Mans will stream audio coverage of the race plus Friday’s final practice and qualifying.

CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 81 TF SPORT CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I feel everyone is thinking the same thing in that it will be a super-tough race with traffic. As we know, Imola has the characteristics of one of the more old-school European tracks. With that, it makes passing between GT3 and Hypercar very difficult. We were testing at Imola a few weeks ago in the Corvette, and the delta of lap time between GT3 and Hypercar was significantly smaller than most circuits. The main reason for this is that at Imola in the GT3 cars, you can take a lot of curbs. There has been a completely new profile of the curbing around most of the circuit so that the GT3s can get right on top of the curbs, which the Corvette was handling very well at the test but the Hypercars cannot; they have to drive around them. So the laptime delta is going to be very small and I feel they are going to struggle to pass the GT cars very easily. So you’re going to see a lot of aggression into braking zones and things like that. It’s going to be an interesting race and hard to know how it’s fully going to pan out. But it will be action-packed and with a chance of some collisions between cars in different classes.

“I have raced at Imola in LMP2. That in itself was very difficult with the traffic. If anything, the Hypercars may struggle even more as they are a heavier car and can’t take the curbs as much as the P2s. We might find that some Hypercars may be stuck behind GT3s for half a lap or maybe a third of a lap, which is a significant laptime loss for those guys.”

DANI JUNCADELLA, NO. 82 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I did a race in 2022 with GT World Challenge at Imola where I finished second. It’s a pretty cool track, to be fair, with not much rest between corners; there aren’t many long straights so there is a lot of activity in your driving. The Corvette felt pretty good at the test. It was a positive session, and it was positive because my teammates did pretty well. Both Seb and Hiroshi… especially Hiro. He found a lot of speed during the two days, which is very encouraging. As I’ve said before, our result in the end ultimately depends a lot on their performance. They were both impressive, which is encouraging as a sort of driver coach.

“An interesting feature about Imola is that at most of the corners, there are very high curbs. It’s a quite unique driving style because you need to use as much as you can from the curbs. But on the other hand, it’s difficult to set up the cars to ride those curbs properly. In the test, we could see that it was quite upsetting when you were beating those big curbs. But there is a way to go through to maximize the car balance and performance.

“Also there is the atmosphere around the corner where Aryton Senna crashed. There is a statue of him, a lot of flowers and a lot of memories. It’s always special to be in such an environment. You can feel that vibe around the track.”

SEBASTIEN BAUD, NO. 82 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I am very much looking forward to participating in this second round of the World Endurance Championship. We have had good preparation with the team and my teammates. And above all, a good analysis of our performances after the first round in Qatar. I am very determined for this six-hour race and also to demonstrate the full potential of the Corvette Z06 GT3.R. Imola is going to be a tricky race with traffic. You will have to remain very attentive, while being quick.”

2024 FIA World Endurance Championship Points

LMGT3 Drivers Standings

  1. Aliaksandr Malykhin/Joel Sturm/Klaus Bachler – 38
  2. Alex Riberas/Daniel Mancinelli/Ian James – 27
  3. Clement Mateu/Erwan Bastard/Marco Sorensen – 23
  4. Ahmad Al Harthy/Maxime Martin/Valentino Rossi – 18
  5. David Rigon/Francesco/Castellacci/Thomas Flohr – 15
  6. Daniel Juncadella/Hiroshi Koizumi/Sebastien Baud – 2
  7. Charlie Eastwood/Rui Andrade/Tom Van Rompuy – 1

LMGT3 Teams Standings

  1. No. 92 Manthey PureRxcing – 38
  2. No. 27 Heart of Racing Team – 27
  3. No. 777 D’Station Racing – 23
  4. No. 46 Team WRT – 18
  5. No. 54 Vista AF Corse – 15
  6. No. 82 TF Sport – 2
  7. No. 81 TF Sport – 1

CORVETTE RACING BY THE NUMBERS: Imola

  • 2: Starts for Corvette Racing in Italy – both at Monza in WEC (2022, 2023)
  • 3: Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs in competition this weekend – No. 13 of AWA at Long Beach, No. 81 and No. 82 of TF Sport at Imola
  • 4: Generations of Corvette ZR1 (C3, C4, C6 and C7). The eighth-generation Corvette ZR1 will be revealed this summer
  • 14: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001
  • 19: Number of street circuit victories for Corvette Racing – more than any other IMSA entrant at the circuit.
  • 27: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races – Baltimore, Charlotte Motor Speedway, COTA, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Daytona, Detroit, Houston, Laguna Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Miami, Mid-Ohio, Monza, Portimão, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Sonoma, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen
  • 45: Number of drivers in Corvette Racing entries since 1999. Rui Andrade, Sebastien Baud, Hiroshi Koizumi and Tom Van Rompuy joined the list at Qatar to open the WEC season
  • 71: Years since Corvette was introduced to the world on Jan. 17, 1953 in New York City. A total of 300 cars were produced that year
  • 127: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 115 in North America, nine at Le Mans and three in the FIA WEC
  • 287: Event starts by Corvette Racing since 1999
  • 4,225.27: Number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing in its 15 previous trips to Long Beach. That represents 2,147 laps around the 1.968-mile street circuit.
  • 371,612.71: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing entries since 1999. To put that in perspective, Corvette Racing is more than halfway to the distance traveled by Apollo 13 – the longest manned spaceflight in history: 622,268 miles

Corvette Racing in Italy (wins in bold)

2022

No. 64 Corvette C8.R: Tommy Milner/Nick Tandy (Monza) – 1st in GTE Pro

2023

No. 33 Corvette C8.R: Nicky Catsburg/Ben Keating/Nico Varrone (Monza) – 4th in GTE Am (clinched GTE Am championship)

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.

WTRAndretti Acura ARX-06 GTP Teams Sprint West forAcura Grand Prix of Long Beach

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Official Release
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LONG BEACH, California (April 16, 2024) – Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) duo of Acura ARX-06 GTPs head to the west coast for the prestigious Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. After completing the two longest endurance events to kick off the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the WTRAndretti team switch focus to the sprint portion of the schedule. WTRAndretti has a successful history around the 11-turn temporary street circuit with three wins, five podiums and three pole positions. All three victories tallied under the WTRAndretti banner came from both Ricky and Jordan Taylor (2015, 2016, 2017), but the brothers will compete separately in their respective Acura ARX-06s. As the Acura GTP factory effort, the WTRAndretti pair of Acura ARX-06 GTPs will be looking to bring home victory at the manufacturer’s home and namesake event.

For the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 team, the goal is to pick up from 2023’s momentum around the Long Beach street circuit. Full season drivers Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque started last year’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach from pole position after an impressive lap from Albuquerque. Although the finishing result didn’t end as anticipated, the blue and black machine displayed pace unlike any other throughout the 100-minute race. Between Taylor and Albuquerque, the pairing has won on the streets of Long Beach five times but are still aiming to accomplish that feat together as co-drivers in the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06.

Coming off a stellar victory at the Twelve Hours of Sebring, the No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 team with Jordan Taylor and Louis Delétraz will enter the sprint racing season for 2024 with the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach while simultaneously leading the championship standings. For Taylor, the Long Beach weekend marks his return to prototype racing at the 1.968-mile street course where along with his three wins, he has two pole positions (2021, GTLM; 2022 GTD PRO). As for Delétraz, this will be the first sprint race event in his IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship career and debut on the streets of Long Beach.

Action on the streets of Long Beach begins Friday, April 19, with practice at 12 p.m. ET (9 a.m. PT) and capping off the day with qualifying at 8:25 p.m. ET (5:25 p.m. ET) on Peacock. The field will see the green flag fly for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Saturday, April 20, at 4:35 p.m. ET (1:35 p.m. PT) with full broadcast on USA Network and Peacock.
Wayne Taylor, Team Principal, WTRAndretti: “We had a pretty good car in Long Beach last year; we thought we had the win, but unfortunately Ricky hit the wall on the last lap for the lead. I think the guys are very focused on this year because it’s so important for Acura and HRC being their event. I’m excited also as this is the first time we’re running two cars at Long Beach. We’re joint leaders in the championship with Penske. Strategy will be very important, and I feel good about our driver lineup, feel good about the team and ready to content for a win for Acura and HRC.”

No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 GTP Drivers
Ricky Taylor: “I expect the Long Beach weekend to be intense. After two very grueling endurance events, Long Beach is always the ultimate sprint, only being 100 minutes. So, the WTRAndretti team will be firing on all cylinders from first practice through the short race. The amazing thing about the IMSA schedule is how diverse the races and tracks are. I think the race itself reflects very little from the first two races of the season, so the main thing to take will be the lessons we’ve learned from a team standpoint on how we can best use the two cars along with all of the new combinations of team members and communication between everyone. Daytona and Sebring provided the team with plenty of pre-event testing and track time for us to try many combinations of setups. Long Beach is extremely limited with relevant track time, so utilizing the two cars to split the very short track time is going to be more premium than ever. We’re ready to pick up where we left off in 2023 and represent Konica Minolta and Acura and HRC at their home race.”

Filipe Albuquerque: “Long Beach, last year we had a great build up. We were super quick in free practice. Qualifying was a memorable lap that I did last year with a pole position; the car was brilliant. Unfortunately, the race did come our way, but again the speed was there so we expect to be competitive again. Hopefully, we can finish this bad luck against our No. 10 car – always something happening that takes us from fighting for the win. I just hope that Ricky and I can fight for the win again and see where we come from there. WTRAndretti had a great setup last year so let’s try it again. The team is coming from a win in Sebring, so the motivation is high from everybody and get the win for Acura, HRC and Konica Minolta.”

No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 GTP Drivers
Louis Delétraz: “I am very excited for Long Beach. It will be my first time at this track and from what I hear it’s an amazing event. It’s the first sprint race of 2024 and we will continue with the same approach as we started the year. The Acura ARX-06 looked strong in 2023 and I can’t wait to be back with the WTRAndretti boys and girls and our No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura GTP.”

Jordan Taylor: “Long Beach is always a classic IMSA street fight. It’s our shortest race of the year so the intensity is always high throughout the weekend. There’s no room for error and everyone has to be on it from the drivers to the crew to the engineers. The No. 10 car was very strong there last year, so hopefully we can pick up from where they left off last year. We are coming into the weekend with some great momentum after Sebring, so hopefully we can keep that going and leave with two Acuras on the podium at their home race.”

ABOUT WTRANDRETTI
Andretti Global and Wayne Taylor Racing announced a new, long-term partnership in 2023 that combines the resources of the two championship-caliber teams to compete in IMSA’s top classes. In 2024, Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) has expanded to a two-car GTP program as well as competes in the GTD class. Coming off its 2023 championship winning effort, WTRAndretti continues its Driver Development Program competing in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series with a full stable.

WTRAndretti’s global motorsports enterprise boasts two IMSA driver championships (2013 and 2017), and back-to-back IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Championships (2020, 2021) which contributed to nine IMSA manufacturer championships for Acura, Pontiac, Corvette and Cadillac. In its brief 17-year history, WTRAndretti has accumulated multiple victories in sportscar racing’s most iconic events: Rolex 24 At Daytona, Twelve Hours of Sebring, Petit Le Mans, Mid-Ohio, Road America and the Six Hours of The Glen. With its back-to-back PRO Class Championship wins (2022, 2023), WTR also has ten North America Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship titles and a Lamborghini World Finals title.

Andretti Global, a Championship-winning motorsports organization, competes in additional racing categories worldwide, including the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Extreme E, Australian Supercars and the Mexico SuperCopa Championship. Additionally, the racing enterprise commits to driver development through competition in INDY NXT by Firestone and through support of Sebastian and Oliver Wheldon’s racing careers.

WTRAndretti’s long term partnerships include Acura, Honda Racing Corporation US (HRC), Konica Minolta Business Solutions USA, DEX Imaging, Harrison Contracting Company and Gainbridge.

The NASCAR Foundation to Host Second-Annual NASCAR Day Giveathon

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Official Release
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The 37-hour online giving event begins May 14, 2024
Nonprofits are encouraged to register as participants now at NASCARdaygiveathon.org

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 16, 2024) – NASCAR and The NASCAR Foundation, are teaming up to host a 37-hour online giving event to raise funds for nonprofits across the country.

The Giveathon will begin Tuesday, May 14 at 8:00 a.m. ET and go until 9:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 15. Officially known as “the NASCAR Day Giveathon,” the entire giving period will feature a multitude of bonus grants and matching gift donations for nonprofit organizations as well as commemorative prizes/memorabilia for donors. Nonprofit registration is still available until May 1, 2024, at NASCARdaygiveathon.org.

The NASCAR Foundation will work with organizations in the weeks approaching the Giveathon to increase awareness of this national movement across the extensive network of passionate NASCAR fans.

“We are thrilled to bring the NASCAR Day Giveathon back for a second year,” said Nichole Krieger, Vice President and Executive Director of The NASCAR Foundation. “It’s always heartwarming to see what our NASCAR industry can accomplish when we all come together for the greater good. We’re excited to build upon the success of last year’s campaign to make an even greater impact on the communities where we live, work and race.”

Contributions will be accepted online throughout the entire 37-hour window, with donors designating their funds towards their charities of choice from the list of participating organizations. The Giveathon will also feature bonus grants and matching gift donations for nonprofit organizations as well as T-shirts and memorabilia items as incentives for donors.   

  • NASCAR and Kaulig Giving, will randomly award two (2) $500 bonus grants every hour during the 37-hour window to charities who receive at least one $25 donation during that hour. Kaulig Giving is the philanthropic arm of Kaulig Companies and focuses on the wellbeing of children and families through charitable giving, community involvement, and partnerships with like-minded nonprofits.  
  • Matching gift donations are made possible by the generosity of Giveathon sponsors, including NASCAR, Kaulig Giving, Jeep Beach, First Nation Group and Borkan Skahill. Matching donations will be matched up to $500 per gift on May 15 during the following hours.
8:00 AMNASCAR$10,000 Match
9:00 AMKaulig Giving$10,000 Match
10:00 AMJeep Beach$10,000 Match
11:00 AMFirst Nation Group
(veterans/military charities)		$10,000 Match
12:00 PMBorkan Skahill$10,000 Match
1:00 PMNASCAR$15,000 Match
2:00 PMKaulig Giving$15,000 Match
3:00 PMJeep Beach$15,000 Match
4:00 PMFirst Nation Group
(veterans/military charities)		$15,000 Match
7:00 PMKaulig Giving$10,000 Match
8:00 PMNASCAR$10,000 Match
  • Donor incentives include the opportunity to be listed on the bed of the Rev Racing Gainbridge No 2. Chevrolet Silverado driven by Nick Sanchez in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at North Wilkesboro on Saturday, May 18; a commemorative Helmet for first 100 donors who contribute $750 or more; a commemorative coin for the first 300 donors of $50 or more; and a commemorative t-shirt for the first 1,500 donors of $75 or more.

To learn more about the NASCAR Day Giveathon, or to register your nonprofit for the event, please visit NASCARDaygiveathon.org.Nonprofit registration closes Monday, May 1.

About The NASCAR Foundation

The NASCAR Foundation is a leading charity that works to improve the lives of children who need it most in NASCAR racing communities through the Speediatrics Children’s Fund and the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. The NASCAR Foundation, designated as a 4-Star Charity by Charity Navigator for its strong financial health and ongoing accountability and transparency, has contributed more than $46 Million to impact the lives of more than 1.7 million children across the country since 2006.

Common Causes of Rear-End Accidents

By
SM
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Photo by Chikinbun

According to a study conducted by the National Safety Council (NSC), there were over 13 million motor vehicle incidents in 2021 alone, almost 42% of which were categorized as rear-end collisions. A rear-end accident, also known as “rear-ending” occurs when a vehicle crashes into the back of the vehicle in front of it. These types of accidents can cause severe injury and even death, depending on a number of factors such as vehicle speed. In this article, we will explore some of the most common causes of rear-end accidents.

Distracted Driving

The most common reason that rear-end accidents occur is distracted driving. Distracted driving describes any activity that diverts your attention from the road while driving. An alarming 3,308 people lost their lives to distracted driving in the year 2022. Distracted driving can include:

  • Texting
  • Fixing your radio or navigation
  • Talking on the phone
  • Eating or drinking  
  • Obnoxious and distracting passengers
  • Tending to your pet
  • Assisting your young child(ren)

Driver Fatigue

Driver fatigue is another common cause of rear-end collisions. If you are driving while fatigued, your ability to make split-second decisions and react is greatly hindered. This impaired judgment makes it very likely that you may collide with the vehicle in front of you. Furthermore, if you are fatigued, you should avoid driving and pull over immediately, as the repercussions can be life-altering for you and others on the road.

Drunk Driving

Another common reason that rear-end accidents occur is drunk driving. Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious legal offense and can have severe legal repercussions. Any individual who is driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 or higher is subject to receiving a DUI, which is punishable by law. Driving under the influence is incredibly dangerous and, like driving fatigue, it greatly interferes with your ability to react and make quick judgments.

Adverse Weather Conditions

One last common cause of rear-end accidents is adverse weather conditions. Conditions such as heavy snow, thick fog, or intense rain can greatly reduce a driver’s visibility on the road. When driving in these conditions, it is paramount that you keep an increased distance between you and the car in front of you. Keeping an extra distance will provide you with ample opportunity to react in case the car in front of you loses control or slams on their brakes unexpectedly.

What To Do if You Are in a Rear-End AccidentAs you can see, rear-end accidents can be very serious and can result in a myriad of negative outcomes. If you are in a rear-end collision, the first thing you should do is seek medical assistance and call the police. Then, if you can, you will want to document the accident scene by taking pictures and videos of the aftermath. Afterwards, gather the personal contact information of any individuals involved, as well as any witnesses to the crash. Finally, you should seek legal support from a Kent car accident attorney who can help support your legal claim, gather the necessary paperwork, protect your rights, and ensure that you recover the compensation you might be entitled to. Securing legal assistance from an experienced lawyer will help ease the legal burden, allowing you to focus on your road to recovery.

RFK Advance | Talladega I

By
Official Release
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Talladega Event Info:
Date: Sunday, April 21
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Talladega, Alabama
Format: 188 Laps, 500.8 miles, Stages: 60-60-68
TV: FOX
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 10:30 a.m., Qualifying (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 3 p.m. ET, Race (FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

  • Talladega hosts its first of two race dates this weekend as the Cup Series embarks on its third Superspeedway race of the 2024 season.
  • Chris Buescher carries the team’s best Speedway finish of the season thus far – a ninth-place result back in Atlanta in race No. 2 of 2024.
  • In the Talladega spring race a year ago, both RFK cars finished inside the top five with Buescher coming home third and Keselowski fifth.
  • Overall Jack Roush has eight wins at Talladega including five in the Cup Series.

6 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Matt McCall
Partner: Castrol Edge

  • ‘Month of the Military Child,’ an initiative run through Brad’s Checkered Flag Foundation, continues this weekend in Texas. Katherine Kinard will ride along on the No. 6 on the passenger side name rail as part of the campaign meant to recognize a military child’s name during each race in April.
  • Katherine – daughter of Lt. Col. Jonathan Kinard – was born into the Air Force in 2005 and is now on her sixth duty station and seventh school. She spent five of hear 18-year life overseas and will soon enroll at Mississippi State University to study bioengineering.

17 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Partner: Fastenal

Keselowski at Talladega
Starts: 30
Wins: 6 (2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021)
Top-10s: 14
Poles: —

  • Keselowski enters the weekend as the winningest active driver at Talladega with six wins in the NCS, tied for second all-time with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon.
  • Since 2014 Keselowski has four wins – two each in the spring race (2016, 2021) and two each in the fall race (2014, 2017). He’s coming off a fifth-place finish last spring, and crashed in last fall’s event.
  • Keselowski won his first-ever start at Talladega back in 2009 in the No. 09 car, and again won the spring race three years later in 2012.
  • He has an average starting position of 12.1 with 14 starts inside the top-10.
  • Keselowski also made five Xfinity Series starts at Talladega with one win (2010).

Buescher at Talladega
Starts: 17
Wins: —
Top-10s: 3
Poles: —

  • Buescher makes his 18th Cup start on the high banks of Talladega this weekend where he has three top-10s. He’s coming off his best finish to date at Talladega, a P3 result last spring. He finished sixth twice, first in the 2020 spring race, and again in the 2021 fall event.
  • Buescher has an average starting position of 25.5 with a career-best 10th starting spot in this race a year ago.
  • He also made a pair of NXS starts in the No. 60 with finishes of second (2014) and sixth (2015).

RFK Historically at Talladega
Cup Wins: 5 (Mark Martin, 1995, 1997; Jamie McMurray, 2009; Matt Kenseth, 2012; Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 2017)

  • Running Clear Across Alabama: RFK has seen its fair share of success at the Alabama track, amassing 285 starts, eight wins, 46 top-fives and 97 top-10s across NASCAR’s three major touring series. Roush machines have also tallied seven poles, including three in cup action, and have led more than 1500 laps.
  • Winning in Greenbow: RFK has won in all three of NASCAR’s major series at Talladega. The team won its first race at Talladega in the NCS event in the spring of 1995. Former RFK driver Mark Martin won for the organization in all three series at the 2.66-mile oval. Most recently, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. piloted his Fifth Third Bank Ford to victory lane four years ago when the NCS rolled through Talladega for the organization’s eighth win at the historic track.
  • Fastest Chicken in the South: Former RFK driver Mark Martin won the fastest Cup race ever recorded on May 10, 1997 at Talladega piloting the No. 6 Ford. Martin, who held off NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt, started from the 18th position and led 47 laps en route to the victory. The race saw 26 lead changes and had an average speed of 188.354 mph.
  • Tale of the Tape: RFK has started 226 NCS races at Talladega with 80 top-10 and 39 top-five finishes along with three poles. Former drivers Mark Martin (1995, 1997), Jamie McMurray (2009), Matt Kenseth (2012) and Stenhouse are responsible for RFK’s combined five Cup wins and overall a Jack Roush Ford has led 1537 laps at the 2.66-mile track.

RFK Talladega Wins

1995-1 Martin Cup
1997-1 Martin Cup
1997 Martin NXS
2006 Martin Truck
2009 Ragan NXS
2009-2 McMurray Cup
2012-2 Kenseth Cup
2017-1 Stenhouse Cup

Last Time Out & Where They Stand
Texas: Keselowski earned a P2 finish in Fort Worth after driving into the top-5 late, while Buescher finished 15th – his sixth-straight top-15 result.

Points Standings (17: 13th, 6: 17th): Buescher remains P13 through nine races, while Keselowski jumped one position to 17th.

Cadillac Racing looking to move up one step

By
Official Release
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Runner-up in two races, teams seek to continue strong efforts at Long Beach

DETROIT (April 16, 2024) – After two races totaling 36 hours, the 100-minute IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race in Long Beach, California, will feel like a Saturday stroll on a city beach.

Cadillac Racing will seek its sixth victory in seven races this week on the 1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit and manufacturer-leading 30th win in IMSA prototype competition since 2017.

A Cadillac DPi won five consecutive races through 2022 (no event in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic), including podium sweeps in ‘22 and ’21, to extend GM’s victory streak to seven in the event. A Chevrolet Corvette DP won the 2015 and ’16 races.

Following runner-up finishes by both the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R and No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R, in addition to front-row qualifying lockouts, in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) races this season, teams and drivers are primed to occupy the top step in Victory Circle.

“It’s a straightforward race with one pit stop and one driver change, but you have to get it right,” said Sebastien Bourdais, who will share time in the seat with Renger van der Zande.

“Hopefully we can keep the strong performance we had in Sebring and particularly in Daytona where we didn’t get the result but were awfully strong.”

Following runner-up finishes by both the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R and No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R, in addition to front-row qualifying lockouts, in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) races this season, teams and drivers are primed to occupy the top step in Victory Circle.

“It’s a straightforward race with one pit stop and one driver change, but you have to get it right,” said Sebastien Bourdais, who will share time in the seat with Renger van der Zande. “Hopefully we can keep the strong performance we had in Sebring and particularly in Daytona where we didn’t get the result but were awfully strong.”

Bourdais and van der Zande won in 2022 and Bourdais – a 2019 Long Beach Walk of Fame inductee – is a four-time winner on the street circuit. They teamed with Scott Dixon to start and finish second March 16 at Sebring International Raceway.

Cadillac has earned three poles and an additional five front row starts at Long Beach since 2017.

The No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R, co-driven by reigning IMSA GTP champion Pipo Derani and Jack Aitken, has earned the pole in both races and started the season with second place in the 24-hour race at Daytona International Speedway. The hybrid Cadillac racecar was running strong in the first half of the 12-hour race at Sebring before an on-track incident forced its retirement.

“As usual, with any street circuit, qualifying is important if you want to have a good chance to win the race because it’s one of the two shortest races we have in the season. You can help yourself a lot by starting up front,” said Derani, who won at Long Beach in 2021.

USA and Peacock will have flag-to-flag action starting at 4:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, April 20. Peacock and IMSA.TV will stream qualifications at 8 p.m. ET, Saturday, April 19. All sessions will be broadcast on IMSA.com and RadioLeMans.com. SiriusXM will also broadcast the race (Sirius 211, XM 206, Web/App 996).

What they’re saying

No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R

Sebastien Bourdais: “Long Beach is a place that’s been very good to me. I’m always happy to go to Long Beach and be part of that historic event. 2022 was really special, probably one of my top performances although it was created a bit by anger and that little miscue in traffic. I definitely put on a fun race to watch. Last year we struggled to bring the medium tire to temperature, got caught out at the first braking zone and unfortunately having to retire on the spot. That was definitely not a high, but we’ve learned a ton of things over the year now with the GTP. It will be a different tire this year; we’ll be on the soft tire this time so if it gets hot it will be quite a bit of tire management. If it’s overcast and on the cooler side it should be fine. Very different equation tire-wise than last year. Looking forward to the challenge. It’s a straightforward race with one pit stop and one driver change, but you have to get it right. Hopefully we can keep the strong performance we had in Sebring and particularly in Daytona where we didn’t get the result but were awfully strong. Hopefully we can close the gap to the leaders of the championship and get ourselves firmly in the fight.”

Renger van der Zande: “Long Beach is a special one. It has so much of a classic feeling with Formula 1 being there, IndyCar history and great sports car racing. Cadillac has been strong there. If you look at track position, it’s super important. Normally, it’s not easy to overtake on street tracks but Sebastien (Bourdais) has proven that wrong in 2022. He handed me the car in the lead and I was able to win it from there. And we were second the year before. What is very important is the strategy. With cold tires being not easy in this class we need to take that into consideration. I think the team has been on a high level since last year at Petit Le Mans and I think we have a strong package to fight for wins this season. I think you have to take it step by step, focus on the process in each race. I feel very good about it and see what we can do at Long Beach.”

No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R

Pipo Derani: “As usual, with any street circuit, qualifying is important if you want to have a good chance to win the race because it’s one of the two shortest races we have in the season. You can help yourself a lot by starting up front. Hopefully, we can continue our success in qualifying that we’ve had so far this year that will help us in the race. It’s also a race that can flip upside down quickly with yellows, so you need to be on top of your game if you want to maximize your chances. So, hopefully, we can do just that to recover from a difficult race at Sebring and try to do better than we did last year, which was a bit of a risky strategy that did not play out.”

Jack Aitken: “Definitely looking forward to Long Beach. It’s one on the calendar that I picked out at the start of the year as quite a cool challenge. Cadillac being strong there adds to that as well. Being a shorter format race, I’m interested to see if there’s much of a change of the view of traffic and how aggressive people are. With it being a shorter race, it’s about making sure you don’t make any mistakes because time to recover from those is at a premium. I enjoy street circuits, so really looking forward to it.”

Giti Tire is recognized by Walmart as a Giga-Guru

By
SM
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In a recent development, Walmart, known as one of the world’s largest revenue-generating companies, has designated Giti Tire as a “Giga-Guru” in its 2023 Gigaton Survey. This recognition places Giti Tire in the top echelon of Walmart’s suppliers, highlighting its significant contributions towards environmental sustainability and carbon neutrality efforts.

The Gigaton Survey is a part of Walmart’s ambitious Project Gigaton, an initiative aimed at mobilizing its vast network of suppliers towards achieving a collective goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the global value chain by one gigaton — equivalent to one billion metric tons — by the year 2030. Through a detailed questionnaire, Walmart evaluates the sustainability efforts of its suppliers, emphasizing the importance of each contributor’s role in this global environmental campaign.

Giti Tire, a renowned player in the global tire industry, has distinguished itself through its commitment to sustainable practices. The company has established specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals to monitor and integrate sustainable operations actively. These efforts have led to significant reductions in its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, underscoring its proactive approach to environmental stewardship.

One of the notable achievements of Giti Tire in its sustainability journey is its ability to prevent the production of more than 80,000 metric tons of Carbon Dioxide equivalents (CO2e). This has been accomplished by implementing innovative recycling strategies and repurposing waste materials generated during its operational processes. Additionally, the company has been actively searching for more sustainable sources of natural rubber, a critical component of its passenger car tires, which further amplifies its commitment to reducing its environmental impact.

Giti Tire has also focused on optimizing the logistics of its supply chain, managing the load and distance of transportation to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. By doing so, the company has managed to reduce its CO2e emissions by approximately 31,000 metric tons, marking a significant step forward in its production line.

In response to the increasing popularity of electric vehicles and the global shift towards more energy-efficient transport solutions, Giti Tire has introduced a line of low rolling resistance tires, such as GSL229 FS and GSL633 FS. These tires, approved by SmartWay, help in reducing energy consumption during travel by minimizing rolling resistance, which enables drivers to use less fuel and emit fewer pollutants.

Giti Tire’s involvement extends beyond its sustainability initiatives into the realm of motorsports. The company has a robust presence in various racing formats and regions, including Asia, Europe, and the US. Particularly noteworthy is its performance in the 2017 24 Hours of Nürburgring Race in Germany, where Giti Tire made a remarkable debut. Following this, the company continued to achieve success, notably securing the top positions in the SP8 class during the Nürburgring races of 2019. Additionally, Giti Tire’s all-female team, known as “Giti’s Angels,” clinched the first place in the final VLN race of the year.

Beyond car racing, Giti Tire has also made significant contributions to truck and drifting competitions. Since 2022, it has been the exclusive tire supplier and sponsor of the British Truck Racing Championship and will continue in this role through 2023. Moreover, Giti Tire provides tires for the Volkswagen Beetle Fun Cup in the UK and supports well-known drifting competitors like Chris Forsberg in Formula D and Nobuhiro Tajima in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Championship.

In 2023, Giti Tire was appointed as the official tire supplier for the Formula Regional Middle East championship. The company’s involvement in motorsports has not only enhanced its brand visibility but also allowed it to develop high-performance tire solutions like the GitiSportS2 UHP and GitiSynergyH2 HP, which benefit from the technological advancements and experiences gained from motorsports.

Dr. Pang, the Chief Sustainability Officer at Giti Tire, expressed his gratitude for the recognition from Walmart and reiterated the company’s commitment to its sustainability goals. “Giti is honored to receive this award in recognition of our efforts and remains committed as a proactive supplier in Walmart’s Project Gigaton,” he stated. Dr. Pang further emphasized Giti’s dedication to achieving Net Zero by 2050 and a 30% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by 2030. He concluded by affirming the company’s ongoing collaboration with its suppliers and customers to minimize environmental impact across the entire tire value chain.

This acknowledgment from Walmart not only cements Giti Tire’s reputation as a leader in sustainable practices within the tire manufacturing industry but also sets a precedent for other companies to follow in contributing to global environmental goals.

Revolutionizing the Future of Transportation with Autonomous Driving

By
SM
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Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash

Our transportation system is grappling with substantial challenges. Cities are often plagued by traffic congestion, leading to delays, frustration, and environmental harm. Human errors continue to be a major cause of accidents, resulting in severe consequences. Moreover, not everyone has the means to drive themselves, restricting their mobility and independence.

Autonomous vehicles (AVs), or self-driving cars, present a potential solution to these issues. With advanced sensor technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and sophisticated software, AVs offer a glimpse into a future where these challenges are effectively addressed, revolutionizing the way we travel.

The Potential of Autonomous Driving

Safety is a top priority in transportation, as human error contributes to over 90% of traffic accidents. Autonomous vehicles (AVs) offer a promising solution, as they are programmed to adhere strictly to traffic laws and react faster than human drivers. Equipped with sensors like LiDAR, radar, and cameras, AVs have a comprehensive view of their surroundings, allowing them to detect obstacles and potential dangers accurately. AI algorithms process this sensory data in real-time, enabling AVs to make safe and efficient driving decisions.

Addressing traffic congestion is another significant challenge in transportation. AVs have the capability to communicate with each other and with infrastructure through vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication. This connectivity allows AVs to coordinate traffic flow more effectively. Picture a future where cars adjust their speed and maintain consistent gaps between each other, minimizing unnecessary braking and stop-and-go situations. This enhanced traffic flow can result in reduced congestion, shorter commute times, and a more enjoyable driving experience.

In addition to safety and efficiency improvements, AVs offer increased accessibility. People who are unable to drive due to age, disability, or other reasons can regain their independence with AVs. On-demand transportation services operated by AVs could become readily accessible, enabling individuals to travel independently without relying on others. This enhanced mobility has the potential to greatly improve people’s lives, fostering social inclusion and creating new economic opportunities.

The Challenges for Autonomous Driving

While the potential benefits of autonomous vehicles (AVs) are clear, several challenges must be overcome before widespread adoption can occur. Technological advancements are still ongoing, particularly in refining sensor capabilities, improving AI decision-making, and perfecting vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication. Robust cybersecurity measures are also essential to prevent hacking attempts that could compromise the safety and control of AVs.

The regulatory landscape for AVs is still evolving. According to a car accident lawyer in Denver, it is important to have clear and adaptable regulations as they are necessary to ensure the safe operation of these vehicles on our roads. Additionally, legal issues related to accidents and liability in a world with AVs need careful consideration. As the technology progresses, so too must the legal framework governing it.

Public perception of AVs presents another challenge. Safety concerns persist, and worries about job displacement in the transportation sector are valid. Public education campaigns are essential to build trust in AV technology and address these concerns. Open communication and transparency throughout the development and implementation process will be crucial to gaining public acceptance.

The Future of Driving

The timeline for widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is uncertain, but notable progress is underway. Industry experts predict that achieving Level 4 autonomy (high automation in most driving conditions) could be feasible within the next decade. As technology continues to advance and regulations are established, AVs are on track to become a mainstream reality.

The impact of AVs goes beyond individual transportation. A future dominated by self-driving vehicles could bring significant changes to urban planning and infrastructure. With fewer accidents and smoother traffic flow, the demand for wider roads and extensive parking lots may decrease. Cities might shift towards becoming more pedestrian-friendly and prioritize the creation of shared spaces.

The future of transportation with autonomous driving shows great promise. We anticipate safer roads, reduced congestion, and enhanced mobility for all. By tackling the associated challenges and building public trust, we can pave the way for a transportation revolution that benefits society as a whole.

The advancement and acceptance of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology requires collaboration from all of us. Each individual plays a part in shaping this future. We urge you to educate yourself about AVs and their potential effects. Advocate for the responsible development and implementation of this technology by actively engaging with policymakers and industry figures. Through collective effort, we can guarantee that autonomous driving brings about a new era of transportation that is safe, efficient, and accessible to all.

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