Home Blog Page 1118

RCR NXS Race Recap: Talladega Superspeedway

By
Official Release
-

Jesse Love Claims His First Career NASCAR Xfinity Series Win in the No. 2 WAT Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway

Finish: 1st
Start: 2nd
Points: 4th

“I have a great team of guys on my No. 2 Whelen/WAT Chevrolet. Man, this has been a long journey to get here. I have so many people to thank. First off, thank you and give all glory to God. An enormous thank you to Whelen Engineering and WAT for their support. Richard Childress, Danny Stockman, Danny Lawrence, and Torrey Galida – thank you guys so much for believing in me to drive this No. 2 Chevrolet. I experienced flashbacks from Atlanta when we ran out of fuel late while leading. ECR brought me a rocket today. To win a race with this team is awesome. We fought hard for this one though. I made some moves earlier and then questioned why I did those. My spotter, Brandon Benesch, did an amazing job and kept my focus on what lines I had to work with. Talladega Superspeedway is my favorite plate track, so to get my first NASCAR Xfinity Series win here is special. We made it to the Playoffs! I’m pumped and excited to celebrate this win.” – -Jesse Love

Multi-Car Wreck Collects Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway

Finish: 14th
Start: 1st
Points: 3rd

“Our Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet was super fast all day. We could get up into the lead whenever we wanted to. My spotter, Derek Kneeland, did an incredible job. He and I work great together. It’s superspeedway racing at the end of the day. No one is giving an inch, which I wouldn’t either. From the replay, it looks like the No. 48 slid across my nose. It was fine when he was pushing me on the right side when we were getting into the corner, but then as he slid across my nose, I couldn’t turn my steering wheel. That’s why I went up towards the wall. It was one of those racing deals that happens on these superspeedway tracks. You come here with the mindset of if you can be inside the top-five at the end of the race when the white flag flies, you have a chance at winning the race. There have been many times where I should have ended up in a wreck and haven’t. I seem to find the big ones when they happen here at Talladega Superspeedway though. Proud of everyone at Richard Childress Racing for the hard work. Congratulations to Jesse Love on his first career win in the Xfinity Series. It’s cool to see him get the first one and have both of our cars locked into the Playoffs this early into the season.” -Austin Hill

Kaulig Racing Race Recap | Ag-Pro 300

By
Official Release
-

AJ ALLMENDINGER
No. 16 Celsius Chevrolet Camaro

  • AJ Allmendinger qualified 14th for the Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway.
  • Allmendinger was quiet on the radio during the opening stage as he ran the third lane. When the first caution came out on the last lap of the stage, Allmendinger reported that the balance of his No. 16 Celsius Chevy was good, but he needed more rear security. Allmendinger finished the opening stage in fifth place and came to pit road for four tires, fuel and adjustments.
  • Allmendinger restarted the second stage in seventh place as the fourth car on the outside line. The No. 16 maintained position in the top lane until lap 49 when Allmendinger jumped from running eighth place, single file to build the second lane. Running two wide, Allmendinger led the middle lane and drove up to finish the second stage in third place.
  • Under the stage break, Allmendinger reported his car was free, but he was still able to make moves. The No. 16 came to pit road for tires, fuel and adjustments and went on to restart in 11th. On lap 67, Allmendinger was caught up in an incident and suffered damage to the nose, splitter and right rear. The team pitted multiple times under caution to make repairs and restarted in 32nd on lap 72. Debris that came off the No. 16 brought out the next caution, and the team came to pit road to make additional repairs. Allmendinger restarted in 30th place and was able to clear the Damaged Vehicle Policy on lap 80. Allmendinger battled to the end and finished in 19th place.

“The first two stages went really well today. We had good speed in the race car, and we made the right moves to get good stage points. Unfortunately, the third stage got shuffled there on the restart, which put us in the back when the wreck happened, and we got a lot of damage. I’m proud of my guys for piecing it back together to get us back out there. I thought we might steal the Dash 4 Cash, but it wasn’t meant to be. It’s part of racing here but I’m happy we were able to get stage points and make the day okay points wise.” – AJ Allmendinger

JOSH WILLIAMS
No. 11 Alloy Employer Services Chevrolet Camaro

  • Josh Williams qualified ninth for the Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway.
  • Williams attempted to run on the inside line at the start of the first stage, but most of the field ran against the wall, and Williams couldn’t find a hole before dropping back to the end of the lead pack. He finished stage one in 25th.
  • Williams took the stage two green flag in 20th on lap 31. He linked up on the high line with his Kaulig Racing teammates, Shane van Gisbergen and AJ Allmendinger, near the end of the middle stage on the cusp of the top 10. Williams peeled off the throttle coming to the line, finishing stage two in 17th.
  • Williams pitted for tires and fuel during the stage break and restarted in 35th on lap 56. With 48 laps to go, Williams avoided a big wreck at the front of the field, rolling through the grass in turn three to go mostly unscathed. Williams pitted under yellow for tires and fuel, and the Alloy Employer Services pit crew removed grass from the grille and applied bear bond to the nose of the No. 11 Chevy Camaro. Williams restarted in 19th with 41 laps to go. He quickly jumped into 11th, but the yellow flag flew for debris on lap 75. The No. 11 took the restart from 12th in the outside line and continued marching to the front, taking second place with three laps remaining. A wreck triggered a yellow flag that extended the race into overtime, but on the restart, Van Gisbergen, Williams’ pusher in the second row, ran out of fuel at the green. A crash ensued, bringing out the caution and collecting the No. 11 with it. Williams came down pit road for tires and fuel but had no damage, and he restarted 21st for the second overtime restart. Williams finished the race in 20th.

“I’m super excited because we have speed, but I’m just upset because we wanted to go to victory lane and had a shot. We’ll get there, and this will definitely keep our momentum flowing.” – Josh Williams  

SHANE van GISBERGEN
 No. 97 Wendy’s Chevrolet Camaro

  • Shane van Gisbergen qualified 18th for the Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway.
  • By lap seven, the field formed a single-file line on top of the 2.66-mile Speedway with Van Gisbergen scored in seventh. Stage one ended under caution on lap 25 with Van Gisbergen taking the green/white/checkered flag in seventh. Under the stage one caution, the Wendy’s team hit pit road for four tires, fuel and adjustments. Following the stop, SVG rejoined the field in ninth.
  • Van Gisbergen and the Wendy’s team started stage two from ninth on lap 31. Stage two would go green for its entire run with Van Gisbergen ending the stage in 13th on lap 50. Under the stage two caution, Van Gisbergen brought the Wendy’s Chevrolet down pit road for four tires, fuel and adjustments. Following the stop, the Wendy’s team was scored in 20th.
  • Van Gisbergen started the final stage in 20th on lap 56. After leading lap 63, Van Gisbergen was scored in eighth when the caution flag waved once again on lap 67. Hitting pit road once again for a quick splash of fuel under caution, SVG rejoined the field in sixth following the stop. Following a lap-75 caution, SVG restarted fourth on lap 79 and continued to run inside the top 10 through lap 90. Unfortunately, Van Gisbergen ran out of fuel on the first overtime attempt while running in fourth and crossed the finish line in 22nd.

“It was a pretty awesome day. The Wendy’s Camaro was good. It was pretty exciting, and battling up front was cool. I felt more comfortable today and I’m looking forward to another crack at it tomorrow in the Cup car.” – Shane van Gisbergen
 

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 23 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries, with a part-time fourth entry at select events. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

Stewart-Haas Racing: Talladega 300 from Talladega Superspeedway

By
Official Release
-

STEWART-HAAS RACING
Talladega 300

Date: April 20, 2024
Event: Talladega 300 (Round 9 of 33)
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway (2.66-mile oval)
Format: 113 laps, broken into three stages (25 laps/25 laps/63 laps)
Note: Race extended 11 laps past its scheduled 113-lap distance due to a green-white-checkered finish.
Race Winner: Jesse Love of Richard Childress Racing (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: Jesse Love of Richard Childress Racing (Chevrolet)
Stage 2 Winner: Austin Hill of Richard Childress Racing (Chevrolet)

SHR Race Finish:

● Riley Herbst (Started 8th / Finished 2nd, Running, completed 124 of 124 laps)
● Cole Custer (Started 4th / Finished 10th, Running, completed 124 of 124 laps)

SHR Points:

● Cole Custer (2nd with 343 points, 14 out of first)
● Riley Herbst (6th with 272 points, 85 out of first)

SHR Notes:

● Herbst earned his second top-five of the season and his second top-five in eight career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Talladega.

● Herbst has only finished outside the top-15 twice at Talladega since joining SHR in 2021.

● Herbst’s runner-up finish bettered his previous best finish at Talladega – fourth, earned in April 2021.

● Herbst finished ninth in Stage 1 to earn two bonus points and eighth in Stage 2 to earn three more bonus points.

● Herbst led three times for 13 laps to increase his laps-led total at Talladega to 39.

● Custer earned his seventh top-10 of the season and his third top-10 in five career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Talladega.

● This was Custer’s second straight top-10 at Talladega. He finished fifth last April.

● This was Custer’s seventh straight top-10. He finished second March 2 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, fifth March 9 at Phoenix Raceway, fourth March 23 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin Texas, 10th March 30 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, eighth April 6 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, and fifth last Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

● Custer finished 10th in Stage 1 to earn one bonus point and 10th in Stage 2 to earn one more bonus point.

● Custer led two times for four laps – his first laps led at Talladega.

Race Notes:

● Jesse Love won the Talladega 300 to score his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory in nine starts. His margin over second-place Herbst was .141 of a second.

● There were six caution periods for a total of 28 laps.

● Twenty-two of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

● Chandler Smith remains the championship leader after Talladega with a 14-point advantage over second-place Custer.

Sound Bites:

“It was hectic, for sure, with a lot of people battling fuel mileage. I’m just really, really proud of everybody at Stewart-Haas Racing and Monster Energy. We kind of know that we have lacked a little bit on the superspeedways to the RCR cars, but I felt like we’re as good as them now. I felt like we could beat them, but it was a weird race. It’s kind of been an up and down start to the year, but I’m proud of everybody on this No. 98 team for sticking with me. I’m ready to go win $100,000 at Dover.” –Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang Dark Horse

“It was a solid day. We led some laps and I think the Fords worked pretty well together. That’s one of the fastest speedway cars I’ve ever had, so that was a lot to hang our hats on. We just need to find that last little bit. It was going to be within our reach to try and win, but we just started stumbling on gas. Overall, it was a really solid day, but it didn’t pan out how we needed it to. It was stumbling on gas and at that point you know you’re probably going to run out in the next two or three laps and we had to pit.” –Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule is the BetRivers 200 on Saturday, April 27 at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway. The race begins at 1:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Integrating Radar for Greener, Safer Autonomous Vehicles

By
SM
-
Photo by Vraj Shah

The journey toward fully autonomous vehicles is not just a quest for technological innovation but also an opportunity to enhance road safety and environmental sustainability. A critical player in this advancement is radar technology, with its potential to significantly improve how autonomous vehicles understand and interact with their surroundings. This article explores the integration of radar technology into autonomous vehicles, emphasizing its role in creating greener and safer transportation options.

The Evolution of Vehicle Radar Technology

Radar technology, which stands for Radio Detection and Ranging, has been utilized since the Second World War. However, its application in the automotive industry has seen significant advancements in recent years. Modern radar systems offer a combination of range, accuracy, and the ability to ‘see’ through adverse weather conditions, making them an indispensable tool for autonomous vehicles.

Why Radar?

Radar systems have distinct advantages over other sensors like LiDAR and cameras. They are less affected by light conditions and weather, can detect the speed and distance of objects with high precision, and are increasingly becoming more cost-effective. This unique set of capabilities makes radar an essential component of the sensor suite for autonomous vehicles.

Challenges in Radar Integration

Despite its advantages, incorporating radar into autonomous vehicles is not without challenges. These include managing the data deluge from multiple sensors, ensuring interference-free operation among numerous vehicles, and maintaining affordability. Overcoming these hurdles requires innovative solutions and collaborative efforts across the automotive industry.

For those looking to delve deeper into how radar technology underpins safety features and contributes to the efficacy of ADAS, exploring detailed information about automotive radars can offer insights into its operation, types, and the critical role it plays within autonomous and advanced driving vehicles.

Driving Toward Sustainability

Integrating radar technology not only bolsters safety but also promotes environmental sustainability. Autonomous vehicles equipped with radar can optimize route selection and driving behavior, leading to improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. Furthermore, the enhanced safety offered by radar can lead to lighter vehicles, as less protective structure is needed to safeguard against collisions, thereby further improving fuel economy.

The Future of Radar in Autonomous Vehicles

The potential of radar technology in autonomous vehicles is vast. As radar systems become more sophisticated, they could enable even higher levels of autonomy. Researchers are working on next-generation radar that can provide more detailed images of the environment, akin to optical cameras, which would represent a significant leap forward in autonomous vehicle technology.

Radar’s Role in Enhancing Safety

Safety is paramount when it comes to autonomous vehicles. Radar technology contributes to this by enabling vehicles to detect and respond to potential hazards with greater speed and accuracy. It supports advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection, and emergency braking, significantly reducing the likelihood of accidents.

New Developments in Radar Technology

Recent advancements in radar technology, such as MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) radars, are enhancing the capability to understand complex environments. These innovations allow for the tracking of multiple objects with greater accuracy and resolution, profoundly impacting the efficiency and safety of autonomous vehicles. Such technological improvements promise to overcome existing limitations and open new avenues for radar applications in the automotive sector.

Global Opportunities for Radar in Autonomous Vehicles

The integration of radar technology offers opportunities for innovation not just in individual vehicles but across the entire transportation ecosystem. By enabling more efficient vehicle operation and improving traffic management, radar contributes to the development of smart cities and the reduction of global traffic congestion and pollution. The future of urban and interurban transportation systems could be reshaped significantly by the capabilities of advanced radar technology, paving the way for a more sustainable and efficient global mobility paradigm.

Regulatory Considerations for Radar Integration

As radar technology advances, regulatory standards need to evolve to ensure safety and efficacy in autonomous vehicles. Governments and international organizations are developing frameworks to standardize radar frequencies, capabilities, and interoperability requirements. These regulatory considerations are crucial for facilitating the widespread adoption of radar in the automotive industry, ensuring that vehicles not only meet safety standards but also operate harmoniously on a global scale.

Final Thoughts

The integration of radar technology into autonomous vehicles holds the promise of making this innovative mode of transportation safer and more environmentally friendly. As challenges are addressed and technology progresses, the future of autonomous driving looks both exciting and green. Radar, with its unique capabilities and potential for evolution, will undoubtedly play a crucial role in this journey.

The Latest Advances in Car Safety Technology

By
SM
-

Welcome to the fast lane of innovation where car safety technology accelerates beyond the imaginable limits of yesterday. As vehicles become smarter, so do the systems designed to protect us on the roads. In this exploration, we dive headfirst into the avant-garde safety features and groundbreaking advancements that are setting new benchmarks in automotive safety. Buckle up for a journey into a future where technology not only drives us but also protects us.

The Evolution of Safety: A Brief Overview

Once upon a time, seat belts and airbags were the pinnacle of car safety. Fast forward to today, and these features are just the baseline. The evolution of car safety technology has been marked by leaps and bounds, from the development of crumple zones and anti-lock braking systems to the sophisticated electronics and software that command today’s vehicles.

Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

The road to safety is paved with lane-integrity technologies. Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) gently nudges the steering wheel to keep you centered in your lane, while Lane Departure Warning (LDW) alerts you if you begin to drift. Together, they form a vigilant duo that keeps drivers aligned with their intended path, reducing the risk of side-swipe accidents and off-road mishaps. If you want to find a ride equipped with essential safety features, consulting with experts at DriveWise Cheyenne can make your search easier, particularly if you have bad credit.

Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)

At the heart of modern car safety technology lies the Autonomous Emergency Braking system. AEB is a superhero in disguise, equipped with sensors and cameras that monitor the road ahead. In the blink of an eye, it can apply the brakes faster than human reflexes, reducing the severity of crashes or avoiding them altogether.

Maintaining vehicle safety relies not just on innovative technology but also on regular maintenance and care. Ensuring your vehicle is regularly checked and serviced can prevent many issues before they arise. For reliable auto repair service, it’s important to choose a provider that emphasizes quality and customer satisfaction, helping to keep your vehicle running safely and efficiently.

Intelligent Headlights: Illuminating the Way Forward

Lighting the path to safety, intelligent headlights adjust their beam intensity and direction based on driving conditions. This innovation ensures better visibility during night drives and in adverse weather conditions, reducing the risk of accidents related to poor visibility.

Biometric Monitoring: The Next Frontier

Imagine a car that knows you better than you know yourself. Biometric monitoring systems in vehicles are on the verge of making this a reality. By monitoring vital signs, these systems can alert drivers when they show signs of fatigue or stress, suggesting breaks or even taking preventative measures to ensure safety.

Adaptive Cruise Control: A Step Towards Autonomous Driving

Gone are the days of manual adjustments to maintain safe following distances. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) seamlessly adjusts your speed to maintain a preset distance from the car ahead, merging convenience with safety. It’s like having an attentive co-pilot who’s always on the lookout for potential hazards.

Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) Communication

The conversation between cars and their environment is transforming road safety. V2V and V2I technologies enable vehicles to communicate with each other and with road infrastructure, sharing information about traffic conditions, road hazards, and other vital data. This interconnected web of data has the potential to dramatically reduce accidents and improve traffic flow.

Digital Key Technology: Secure and Convenient Access

The advent of digital key technology offers a new layer of convenience and security for vehicle access. With this technology, smartphones can lock, unlock, and even start a car through secure encryption, reducing the risk of car theft associated with traditional keys and enhancing user convenience. This innovation is a step towards more personalized and secure vehicle interaction.

Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS): The Ensemble of Safety

ADAS is the overarching term for the suite of technologies designed to enhance vehicle safety and driver comfort. This ensemble includes not just AEB, ACC, and LKAS, but also features like Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) and Pedestrian Detection systems. Each member plays a unique role in the symphony of automotive safety, creating a more secure and less stressful driving experience.

Augmented Reality Dashboards: The Future of Navigation

Augmented reality (AR) dashboards represent a significant leap forward in driver assistance. By overlaying critical navigation and hazard information directly onto the windshield, drivers can receive real-time data without taking their eyes off the road. This technology not only enhances safety but also enriches the driving experience by integrating virtual elements with the physical driving environment.

Electric Vehicle Safety: Addressing New Challenges

As the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) accelerates, safety technology adapts to address the unique challenges they present. From advanced battery protection systems to mitigate the risk of fires to specific crash-testing protocols for EVs, safety technology is evolving to ensure these new vehicles are as safe as their internal combustion counterparts. This focus on electric vehicle safety is vital for supporting the transition to a more sustainable automotive future.

Liability in the Age of Advanced Safety Features

Navigating liability in the era of advanced safety features presents unique challenges. The integration of technologies like advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving capabilities complicates fault determination in car accidents and requires the assistance of a top-rated car accident attorney. Assessing the performance of these systems and determining if they functioned as intended becomes essential. Car accident laws are evolving to address these complexities, emphasizing manufacturer accountability for safety technology defects and outlining drivers’ responsibilities in utilizing these features.

Conclusion

As we cruise into the future, car safety technology continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. From the integration of advanced driver-assistance systems to the development of biometric monitoring and V2V/V2I communication, the road ahead looks promisingly safe. These innovations not only enhance our protection but also reshape our driving experiences, steering us towards a horizon where the journey is as secure as the destination itself. The journey of car safety technology is far from over, but with each advance, we move closer to a world where road accidents become a thing of the past.

Specialized Services or Options Available at SGT Auto Transport

By
SM
-
Photo by Yuvraj Singh on Unsplash

SGT Car Transport offers a range of specialized services and options to meet the diverse needs of customers in the auto transport industry. From expedited shipping to enclosed transport and international shipping, SGT Car Transport provides tailored solutions to accommodate various vehicle types, timelines, and destinations. This article will explore the specialized services and options available at SGT Car Transport, highlighting the key features and benefits of each.

Expedited Shipping:

SGT Car Transport provides accelerated shipping services to clients who need their automobiles to be delivered in a reasonable amount of time and in a timely manner. With accelerated shipping, automobiles are given priority for collection and delivery, which cuts down on the amount of time it takes for them to travel and ensures that they get to their destination on time. It doesn’t matter whether you have to meet stringent deadlines, react to urgent circumstances, or just want a speedier delivery alternative; accelerated shipping offers a solution that is both easy and dependable. Individuals who are transferring for employment, acquiring automobiles from out of state, or participating in time-sensitive events such as auctions or exhibits are great candidates for the accelerated shipping services offered by SGT Car Transport.

Enclosed Transport:

For customers seeking maximum protection and security for their vehicles, SGT Auto Transport offers enclosed transport services. Enclosed transport involves transporting vehicles in fully enclosed trailers, shielding them from external elements such as weather, road debris, and vandalism. This premium service is ideal for luxury cars, classic cars, exotic vehicles, and high-value collections that require extra care and attention during transit. With enclosed transport, customers can have peace of mind knowing that their vehicles are protected throughout the shipping process, from pickup to delivery. SGT Car Transport’s enclosed transport services provide a safe, secure, and stress-free shipping experience for valuable and sensitive vehicles.

International Shipping:

SGT Car Transport is a company that specializes in providing international shipping services to clients that need the transportation of automobiles across international boundaries and internationally. Whether you are moving to a new country, acquiring a car from another country, or taking part in foreign events, SGT Car Transport is able to make the transfer of your automobile to any location in the globe as smooth and trouble-free as possible. In addition to ensuring compliance with international rules, the firm is responsible for handling all elements of international shipment, including customs clearance and paperwork duties. SGT Car Transport is able to guarantee that automobiles are carried across international borders securely and expediently, regardless of the distance or destination, thanks to their considerable experience and competence in international logistics.

Door-to-Door Delivery:

SGT Car Transport offers door-to-door delivery services for added convenience and peace of mind. With door-to-door delivery, customers can have their vehicles picked up from their location and delivered directly to their desired destination, whether it’s a residence, business, or another specified location. This eliminates the need for customers to drop off or pick up their vehicles at terminals or depots, saving time and effort in the shipping process. SGT Car Transport’s door-to-door delivery services provide a hassle-free and personalized shipping experience, allowing customers to focus on other aspects of their move or project.

Exotic and High-Value Vehicle Transport:

For customers with exotic cars, high-value vehicles, or unique transportation requirements, SGT Car Transport offers specialized services tailored to meet their needs. The company has experience transporting a wide range of exotic and high-value vehicles, including luxury cars, sports cars, vintage cars, and custom-built vehicles. SGT Car Transport’s team of experts understands the unique challenges and considerations involved in transporting exotic and high-value vehicles, such as delicate finishes, low ground clearance, and specific handling requirements. With specialized equipment, training, and expertise, SGT Car Transport ensures that every vehicle is transported safely, securely, and with the utmost care and attention to detail.

Conclusion:

SGT Car Transport offers a range of specialized services and options to meet the diverse needs of customers in the auto transport industry. From expedited shipping to enclosed transport, international shipping, door-to-door delivery, and specialized transport for exotic and high-value vehicles, SGT Car Transport provides tailored solutions to accommodate various vehicle types, timelines, and destinations. With a commitment to excellence, reliability, and customer satisfaction, SGT Car Transport sets the standard for specialized auto transport services, ensuring that every vehicle is transported safely, securely, and efficiently to its destination, regardless of the requirements or challenges involved.

Sources

Jesse Love outlasts two overtime shootouts for first Xfinity career win at Talladega

By
Andrew Kim
-
TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 20: Jesse Love, driver of the #2 WAT Chevrolet, and RCR team owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer, Richard Childress pose for photos in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 20, 2024 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images).

After generating an impressive start to his first NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign, rookie Jesse Love sealed the deal by notching his first career victory in the Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, April 20, amid two overtime shootouts. 

The 19-year-old Love from Menlo Park, California, led five times for 28 of 124 over-scheduled laps in an event where he started on the front row alongside teammate and pole-sitter Austin Hill. After spending nearly the entire first stage period running behind Hill amid the draft, Love overtook him on the final lap prior to Justin Allgaier wrecking out of the event to capture the stage victory. 

Love then spent the remainder of the event battling within the draft and towards the front while avoiding a handful of late on-track calamities that sent the event into overtime twice. After sneaking his way back into the lead for the start of the second overtime shootout, Love survived on a low tank of fuel and fended off late challenges from Leland Honeyman and Brennan Poole to score his first Xfinity Series career victory in his ninth series start. 

With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Friday, April 19, Austin Hill notched his fifth Xfinity career pole position, his first of the 2024 season and his third straight at Talladega after posting a pole-winning lap at 181.629 mph in 52.723 seconds. Joining him on the front row was teammate and rookie Jesse Love, who clocked in the second-fastest qualifying lap at 181.120 mph in 52.871 seconds. 

Prior to the event, the following names that included Jeb Burton, Sheldon Creed and Taylor Gray dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments made to their respective entries. 

When the green flag waved and the race started, Austin Hill received a push from Cole Custer on the outside lane to muscle ahead before he then transitioned to the inside lane and moved in front of teammate Jesse Love through the first two turns. As the field fanned out to three lanes through the backstretch, Hill would manage to fend off the early challenges and maintain control of both lanes to return to the tri-oval with the lead and lead the first lap.  

On the second lap, Sammy Smith would challenge Hill for the lead from the backstretch through the frontstretch amid the draft as the field fully fanned out to three packed lanes. Smith, however, would lose ground during the following lap as he had no drafting help on the inside lane as Hill, who continued to have both lanes under his control, maintained the top spot ahead of teammate Love, Parker Kligerman, Ryan Truex and AJ Allmendinger through the fifth lap mark. 

Through the first 10 scheduled laps and with a majority of the field migrating to a long line on the outside lane, Hill was leading ahead of teammate Love, Kligerman, Truex and Chandler Smith, who was trying to ignite a drafting run from the inside lane, while Cole Custer, AJ Allmendinger, Riley Herbst, Justin Allgaier and Ryan Sieg trailed in the top 10 ahead of rookie Shane van Gisbergen, Anthony Alfredo, Kyle Weatherman, Jeremy Clements and Sheldon Creed.  

A lap later, Custer, who was drafting Chandler Smith on the inside lane, made a bold move beneath Smith to assume the runner-up spot before he then made a move beneath Hill in a bid for the lead through the frontstretch. Despite drawing even against Hill through the first two turns and the backstretch, Hill quickly fought back on the inside lane as he had teammate Love drafting him while Custer was trying to keep pace amid the draft. 

By Lap 15, Hill was leading by a tenth of a second over teammate Love followed by Chandler Smith, Kligerman and Truex while Allmendinger, Justin Allgaier, van Gisbergen, Kyle Weatherman, Clements and the rest of the field followed suit, with the top 29 of 38 starters trailing within three seconds. 

Just past the Lap 20 mark, Hill continued to lead just ahead of teammate Love as Chandler Smith, Kligerman, Truex, Allmendinger, Allgaier, van Gisbergen, Weatherman and Clements were running in the top 10 ahead of Brandon Jones, Jeb Burton, Alfredo, Perkins, Taylor Gray, Creed, Herbst, Custer, Ryan Sieg and Josh Williams, all of whom were running under two seconds. 

On the final lap of the first stage period, the event’s first caution period flew after Allgaier, who was running in the top 10, got loose entering the backstretch and made contact with Herbst that sent Allgaier spinning before the Illinois veteran T-boned the inside wall hard at full pace as his No. 7 BRANDT Chevrolet Camaro then came to a halt back across the track, with Allgaier managing to emerge uninjured. Allgaier’s incident not only spoiled his chances of achieving the third Xfinity Dash 4 Cash bonus of the season, but it was also enough for the first stage period scheduled to conclude on Lap 25 to conclude under caution as Jesse Love, who overtook teammate Hill for the lead on the frontstretch and prior to Allgaier’s wreck, captured his fourth Xfinity stage victory of the 2024 season. Kligerman ended up second followed by Hill, Chandler Smith and Allmendinger while Truex, van Gisbergen, Brandon Jones, Riley Herbst and Custer were scored in the top 10. 

Under the stage break, a majority of the field led by Love pitted for service while the rest led by Matt DiBenedetto and including Joey Gase, Caesar Bacarella, Leland Honeyman, Jordan Anderson, Dawson Cram, Mason Massey and Hailie Deegan remained on the track. All including Josh Bilicki, who exited pit road first the lap prior, pitted during the following lap, which allowed Love to cycle back into the lead. Kligerman, who slid through his pit box earlier, also returned to pit road for another pit service. 

The second stage period started on Lap 30 as teammates Love and Hil occupied the front row. At the start, Love and Hill battled dead even for the lead through the first two turns and entering the backstretch until Hill muscled back ahead with the lead exiting the backstretch as Ryan Truex followed suit in second. With the field fanning out to three tight-packed lanes during the following lap, Hill maintained control of both lanes amid the draft.  

On Lap 34, a three-wide battle for the lead ensued as Custer, Truex and Hill battled dead even for the lead through the frontstretch until Custer muscled his No. 00 Haas Ford Mustang into the lead. Hill then fought back during the following two turns and the backstretch before Custer moved in front of Hill to stall his momentum. This allowed Ryan Sieg to move into the lead despite drawing dead even with Truex through the first two turns before Custer fought back and battled Sieg for the lead through the backstretch and the frontstretch. With the field tight-packed amid three lanes, Sieg fended off Custer to maintain the lead on the inside lane while Hill was trying to regain momentum on the outside lane by Lap 37. 

Just past the Lap 40 mark, Sieg continued to lead ahead of Hill, who surged his way back towards the front, along with Herbst while Love followed suit in fourth, though he would be overtaken by Chandler Smith, Custer and Taylor Gray amid the draft. Chandler Smith would then challenge Sieg in a side-by-side battle for the lead from the inside lane by Lap 42 before he assumed the top spot by the following lap as he had Hill following suit. Another lap later, teammate Truex challenged Smith for the lead before he got shuffled out of the draft. This enabled Smith to retain the top spot ahead of Hill and Love while Brandon Jones was trying to ignite a charge from the inside lane. 

When the second stage period concluded on Lap 50, Hill, who reassumed the lead four laps earlier, captured his second Xfinity stage victory of the 2024 season after fending off a last-lap charge from Allmendinger. Love edged Allmendinger to claim second followed by Sieg and Brandon Jones while Chandler Smith, Kligerman, Herbst, Jeb Burton and Truex were scored in the top 10. 

During the stage break, a majority of the field led by Hill pitted for service while the rest led by Jordan Anderson remained on the track. The remaining competitors who elected not to pit led by Anderson would pit shortly after as Love, who only opted for fuel to his entry, reassumed the lead.  

With 58 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Love and Brandon Jones occupied the front row. At the start, Love muscled ahead from the outside lane to retain the lead as he had Chandler Smith following him in the draft while Jones was trying to keep pace from the inside lane. With Hill trying to fight his way back to the front in ninth place and as the field fanned out amid the draft, Jones would assume the lead just past the halfway mark on Lap 57. With Jones leading, Kligerman followed suit along with Hill while Love was left to fend off Sieg for fourth place. 

With 52 laps remaining, Ryan Sieg muscled ahead from Jones on the inside lane entering the frontstretch to assume the lead. Sammy Smith would then rocket his way into a side-by-side challenge against Sieg for the lead entering Turn 3 as Smith had Shane van Gisbergen following him. With more battles at the front ensuing and more names carving their way to the front, van Gisbergen then led a lap for himself in his No. 97 Wendy’s Chevrolet Camaro with 50 laps remaining until Hill drafted Sammy Smith back to the lead ahead of a tight three-wide pack. 

A few laps later, the caution returned after Kligerman, who was running fourth, turned across the right-front fender of Sieg, where he then turned and sent Jones’ No. 9 Menards Chevrolet Camaro head-on into the outside wall in the frontstretch. This triggered a multi-car wreck that involved Allmendinger, Clements, Truex, Sam Mayer, Josh Williams, Jeb Burton, DiBenedetto, Leland Honeyman and Kyle Weatherman. At the moment of caution, Hill had reassumed the lead over Sammy Smith. 

During the caution period, a majority of the field led by Hill pitted for service while the rest led by David Starr remained on the track. As the rest of the field, including Starr and DiBenedetto pitted during the following few laps, Hill, who only opted for fuel to his entry, cycled back into the lead. 

As the event restarted under green with 41 laps remaining, Sieg received a push from Custer to maintain the lead on the inside lane as Herbst tried to follow suit in third place. Hill, however, would fight back on the outside before Custer moved in front of Hill to stall his momentum. Amid the field fanning out through the frontstretch, Herbst would assume the lead with 40 laps remaining. Then as Herbst was trying to fend off Love for the lead, the caution returned after Allmendinger’s rear bumper cover split, came off of the car and fell on the backstretch. 

During the following restart period with 35 laps remaining, Herbst muscled his No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang ahead from the inside lane to retain the lead through the first two turns before he transitioned up to the outside lane to block Sieg and retain the lead. With the field fanning out to three lanes and charging hard to the front, Hill challenged Herbst for the lead during the following lap, but Herbst received a strong push from Sieg, Custer and Kligerman amid the draft to maintain the lead from the outside lane, which dropped Hill out of the top five as he was trying to regain momentum with drafting help from Alfredo and Love.  

With 30 laps remaining, Hill, who led the previous lap by a hair, over Herbst, was leading by a mere margin over Herbst amid a side-by-side battle while Alfredo, Sieg, Custer, Love, Kligerman, Sheldon Creed, Jordan Anderson and Chandler Smith were running in the top 10 ahead of van Gisbergen, Jeb Burton, Sammy Smith, Parker Retzlaff and Taylor Gray. By the following lap, the top-29 competitors were separated by two seconds as Herbst rocketed back into the lead ahead of Ford teammates Sieg and Custer while Kligerman, Creed and Hill followed suit. 

Five laps later, Kligerman, who led the previous lap, was leading ahead of Hill followed by Herbst, Sieg and Custer while Creed, Alfredo, van Gisbergen, Love and Jeb Burton were scored in the top 10 within the bevy of cars battling in the pack.  

Two laps later, Sieg, who was battling for the lead, lost pace and pitted under green to address a flat right-rear tire to his No. 39 Sci Aps Ford Mustang after he made contact with the frontstretch’s outside wall earlier. The move pinned Sieg a lap down and currently out of contention to claim the third Dash 4 Cash prize while allowing Allmendinger, who was racing in the middle of the pack, to draw himself back into contention for the prize. Amid Sieg’s late-race issue, Anthony Alfredo cycled into the lead as he was trying to fend off Kligerman, Chandler Smith and a bevy of competitors towards the front and in the draft. 

Down to the final 20 laps of the event and with a majority of the field migrating to a long single-file line towards the outside wall, Alfredo was leading ahead of Kligerman, Hill, Creed and van Gisbergen while Burton, Josh Williams, Retzlaff, Custer and David Starr were racing in the top 10. Behind, Love, Weatherman, Herbst, DiBenedetto and Patrick Emerling occupied the top-15 spots ahead of Blaine Perkins, Sammy Smith, Taylor Gray, Chandler Smith and Anderson. 

Five laps later, Custer, who assumed the lead the previous lap, was leading ahead of teammate Herbst while Alfredo, who nearly wrecked amid contact with Creed, had drifted out of lead contention. Custer would then get stuck in the middle of a three-wide packed competition that resulted with him losing the lead and a handful of spots as Herbst assumed a brief lead before Love assumed the lead back to the frontstretch. 

Down to the final 10 laps of the event, Love was leading both the race and a long line of competitors running towards the outside wall, with Kligerman, Hill, Herbst, Creed, Williams, van Gisbergen, Alfredo, Retzlaff and Perkins following suit in the top 10. By then, the top-19 competitors were running within two seconds of one another. 

With five laps remaining, Love continued to lead ahead of Kligerman, Hill, Herbst, Creed and a long line of competitors within the lead-lap draft, with some including Jeb Burton, Custer and Chandler Smith starting to fan out of the line and attempt to mount a charge from the inside lane. 

Two laps later, the front-runners started to scatter and fan out as Hill made a move underneath Kligerman through the first two turns to settle behind the leader and teammate Love, with Creed also mounting a charge from the outside lane amid the draft. Entering the frontstretch, Kligerman ran towards the outside wall to overtake Creed for position as Hill overtook teammate Love for the lead with two laps remaining.  

Then with two laps remaining, Hill got loose exiting the backstretch after he received a tap from Kligerman within the draft that resulted with Hill spinning his No. 21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet Camaro across the front nose of Alfredo’s No. 5 Dude Wipes Chevrolet Camaro while Weatherman, Gray, Anderson, Starr, Burton, Herbst and Emerling also wrecked in an attempt to avoid Hill’s carnage as the rest of the front-runners scattered. The incident was enough to send the event into overtime as Kligerman escaped with the lead followed by Williams, Love, Perkins, van Gisbergen and Creed. 

The start of the first overtime attempt did not last long after Creed, who was running fourth, got bumped by Sammy Smith exiting the frontstretch that resulted with Creed running into the side of Williams and sending Williams sideways before he spun and clipped Kligerman’s No. 48 Spiked Lite Coolers Chevrolet Camaro as Kligerman hit the outside wall head-on and was taken out of contention for his first victory. The incident occurred as van Gisbergen, who restarted on the second row, fell off the pace after he ran out of fuel. Amid the carnage and fuel concerns amongst the leaders, Love escaped with the lead followed by Sammy Smith while Leland Honeyman, Hailie Deegan, Joey Gase, Caesar Bacarella, Brennan Poole and Ryan Ellis followed suit in the top eight. During the caution period, however, Smith fell off the pace after he ran out of fuel, where he then needed a wrecker to push his No. 8 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet Camaro back to his pit stall. 

The start of the second overtime attempt generated a different outcome as Love rocketed his No. 2 WAT Chevrolet Camaro away from a side-by-side battle involving Honeyman and Deegan through the first two turns. With Ryan Ellis slipping sideways and coming to a halt towards the bottom of the track while the race remained under green flag conditions, Love was left to defend a stacked three-wide charge behind through the following two turns. 

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Love remained as the leader as he had Honeyman drafting him just past the start/finish line. With Love leading a scattered field through the backstretch, he then threw two blocks on Honeyman before Brennan Poole mounted a charge entering Turns 3 and 4 followed by Alfredo. Poole then drew even with Love and tried to take the lead entering the tri-oval, but his momentum stalled as Love muscled back ahead. With the field fanned out to four lanes and as Joey Gase wrecked through the tri-oval while charging to the front, Love had enough momentum, motor and gas to drive across the finish line first for his first ever checkered flag in the Xfinity circuit. 

With the victory, Love, the reigning ARCA Menards Series champion, became the 177th competitor overall to win in the Xfinity Series and the seventh to do so at Talladega. He also became the seventh winner through the first nine events of the 2024 Xfinity schedule. 

In addition, Love recorded the 95th Xfinity career win for Richard Childress Racing and the first for RCR’s No. 2 entry since Myatt Snider won at Homestead-Miami Speedway in February 2021. The victory was the first in eight years in the Xfinity circuit for veteran Danny Stockman Jr., who returned to RCR as a crew chief for the California rookie. 

“Man, it’s been just a journey to get to this point,” Love said on FOX. “I got so many people to thank. Man, I wanted [this win] so bad. I had PTSD flashbacks from Atlanta and burned [the car] to the ground. It’s awesome. I love Talladega, my favorite speedway. I love the fans. My team did a phenomenal job. I was just going back and forth to if I thought I was doing a good job and then, I was making dumb decisions. Towards the end, the bottom [lane] started rolling. I don’t even remember what happened. I’d be lying if I told you I remembered what happened. Just a phenomenal car. Just ready to go celebrate with my family. A lot of people that I love very much that sacrificed a lot for me to get to this point.” 

Behind Love, Herbst mounted a late rally to finish second while Alfredo, Leland Honeyman and Brennan Poole finished in the top five. 

Sheldon Creed, Caesar Bacarella, Matt DiBenedetto, Jeb Burton and Custer completed the top 10 on the track. 

Meanwhile, Ryan Sieg finished 17th and claimed the third Dash 4 Cash bonus of the 2024 season and his first overall by two positions over AJ Allmendinger, who ended up 19th. Sieg, Jesse Love, Riley Herbst and Anthony Alfredo will square off against one another for the fourth and final Dash 4 Cash bonus of the 2024 season next weekend at Dover Motor Speedway.

There were 34 lead changes for 16 different leaders. The race featured six cautions for 28 laps. In addition, 22 of 38 starters finished on the lead lap. 

Following the ninth event of the 2024 Xfinity Series season, Chandler Smith leads the regular-season standings by 14 points over Cole Custer, 16 over Austin Hill, 41 over Jesse Love, 79 over Justin Allgaier and 85 over Riley Herbst. 

Results. 

1. Jesse Love, 28 laps led, Stage 1 winner 

2. Riley Herbst, 13 laps led 

3. Anthony Alfredo, six laps led 

4. Leland Honeyman 

5. Brennan Poole 

6. Sheldon Creed 

7. Caesar Bacarella 

8. Matt DiBenedetto, one lap led 

9. Jeb Burton 

10. Cole Custer, four laps led 

11. Mason Massey 

12. Hailie Deegan 

13. Kyle Sieg 

14. Austin Hill, 41 laps led, Stage 2 winner 

15. Taylor Gray, one lap led 

16. Josh Bilicki 

17. Ryan Sieg, seven laps led 

18. Joey Gase 

19. AJ Allmendinger 

20. Josh Williams 

21. Sammy Smith, two laps led 

22. Shane van Gisbergen, one lap led 

23. Blaine Perkins, one lap down 

24. David Starr, one lap down, one lap led 

25. Chandler Smith, one lap down, three laps led 

26. Ryan Ellis, one lap down 

27. Kyle Weatherman – OUT, DVP 

28. Dawson Cram, four laps down

29. Parker Kligerman – OUT, Accident, 10 laps led 

30. Parker Retzlaff – OUT, Ignition 

31. Jordan Anderson – OUT, Accident, one lap led 

32. Patrick Emerling – OUT, Accident 

33. Brandon Jones – OUT, Accident, four laps led 

34. Ryan Truex – OUT, Accident, one lap led 

35. Jeremy Clements – OUT, Accident 

36. Sam Mayer – OUT, Accident 

37. Jeffrey Earnhardt – OUT, Engine 

38. Justin Allgaier – OUT, Accident 

Next on the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule is the BetRivers 200 at Dover Motor Speedway in Dover, Delaware. The event is scheduled to occur next Saturday, April 27, and air at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1. 

CORVETTE RACING AT LONG BEACH: Strong Drive Forward for AWA

By
Official Release
-

Fidani, Bell advance nine spots to finish season-best sixth in wild GTD battle

LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 20, 2024) – AWA’s Orey Fidani and Matt Bell continued their upward momentum in the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R with their best finish of the season – a sixth-place GT Daytona (GTD) finish Saturday in the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

The pairing advanced from 15th in class at the start of the third round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship to knocking on the door of a top-five finish in a frantic and fraught 100-minute race around the Long Beach Street Circuit – the team’s first trip to the historic California circuit.

The gain of nine positions put a bow on a strong weekend for the AWA duo with Bell setting the fastest GTD time in Friday’s opening practice – the first for the first-year AWA and Corvette partnership.

Fidani began Saturday 15th in class and drove the first 40 minutes for his first career action at Long Beach. He gained a position at the start and two more by the race’s first full-course yellow with just 12 minutes running. Despite falling back a couple of spots, Fidani’s laptimes continued to drop once the race went green again.

The Corvette picked up another spot on the restart, and Fidani made AWA’s first pit stop just shy of the 40-minute mark. Bell rejoined in 14th and was immediately in the thick of a fight. He was hit from behind on his out-lap but managed to carry on and advance to 11th only a couple of laps later.

Heads-up driving by Bell got the AWA Corvette firmly into the top-10 as the final turn on the Long Beach circuit was blocked by traffic and stalled cars. He came to a stop momentarily but drove through the chaos and into ninth place. Bell picked up three more spots to sixth before the race’s third and final full-course yellow with 15 minutes remaining bunched up the GTD field.

The lead pack of six cars were single-file during the final eight minutes with the Corvette on the tail of the top-five. Bell and the Z06 GT3.R made solid gains through the corners and twisty parts of the circuit, which is notoriously difficult to make a pass. Nevertheless, the end result of sixth adds to the momentum heading into the team’s next race.

AWA and the Corvette Z06 GT3.R program – including the two GTD PRO entries from Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports – will compete next in the Motul Course de Monterey from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sunday, May 12.

OREY FIDANI, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “The race went really well based from where we started. The car was mega and easy to drive. We got up to sixth, and we’ll take that. I’m really happy with the finish from where we started from.”

MATT BELL, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I’m really happy with that result. Our first effort at Long Beach as a team and pulling a top-six out of the bag is pretty strong. It was a great effort by the team. We executed the pit stop really well and jumped some cars. Unfortunately on cold tires on the out-lap, I gave a couple of those up. There was some rough racing from competitors but fair in the end, and I managed to get them back later on. The Corvette was absolutely glued to the track. I think we were the best car around the corners. We were lacking just a little bit of straight-line speed to challenge those top-five guys. But I’m really proud of the effort this week. It’s definitely our cleanest and best week in the AWA Corvette era. A big thanks to the team, big thanks to Corvette, General Motors and Pratt Miller. We’ll keep rolling into Laguna Seca.”

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.

No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 Secures Top-Ten Finish in Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach

By
Official Release
-

LONG BEACH, California (April 20, 2024) – The Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 team took on the challenge of the 100-minute sprint race on the streets of Long Beach. Starting the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach from fifth in a competitive 17-car GTD class, Danny Formal gained two positions on the opening lap to move into podium contention. Formal was able to maintain the third position throughout the remainder of his 35-minute stint before coming into the pits.

A well-executed pitstop by the No. 45 DEX Imaging crew and a driver change to Kyle Marcelli entered the second stint looking to continue the momentum that co-driver Formal had to open the race. Marcelli was able to hold the strong pace shown earlier in the race within the top ten of the GTD class. A late incident in Turn 11 saw Marcelli trapped behind a multi-car blockage with minimal room proceed forward, resulting in the loss of four places. Marcelli was able to regain two of those positions awarding the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 team their best result of the season, finishing in eighth.

“It was a good outing for the GTD program, and I am really proud of these guys,” said Wayne Taylor, Team Principal, WTRAndretti. “They were quick all through practice, and in the race, they were running in third before their luck changed. Nevertheless, this team is continually improving and pushing. We are happy with their first top-ten finish.”

The No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 team will continue a stretch in California heading to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the traditional two-hour, 40-minute sprint race on May 10-12, 2024.

No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2
Kyle Marcelli: “Gutted for the team. All weekend we’ve just been checking the boxes through practice and qualifying. Everything has been going well and mistake free. The DEX Imaging GTD has been fast. We had high hopes for today’s race, certainly thought a podium was doable, starting P5. Danny had a great start, and we were up to P3 before the pitstop. We executed a flawless stop, and I thought we were in good shape, but we ended up losing two spots after the cycle went through. Then we were chugging along, and what hurt us the most was Turn 11. There was an ambitious move up ahead that turned a car around, and it became a traffic jam. I was blocked in the middle and lost four or five spots to cars that were able to drive around the outside. That sort of summed up our race. We got a few spots back, just through attrition and finished P8. I know we’re all deflated because we hoped for more. We are making small gains forward if you look at results from Daytona to Sebring to here, so we’ll take that as a positive and move on.”

Danny Formal: “Started off extremely well, but that’s racing at Long Beach. We went from fifth to third in my stint. We had great pace, one of the faster cars on the racetrack. I guess we burned a little bit more fuel than everyone else, so our pitstop was just a little bit longer. We went back to fifth leaving the pit lane, and Kyle was in a bad position at a bad time, kind of got shoved around. We went all the way back to eleventh, then came back to ninth, and Kyle got somebody near the end and went up to eighth. Extremely happy with the pace we had in the first stint. It really showed how hard the team has been working and how hard this championship is and how competitive it is. Extremely grateful for the partners: DEX Imaging, WTRAndretti, Lamborghini Squadra Corse and everyone involved in this team. Laguna Seca is in three weeks and we’ll show what we got there.”

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 Lamborghini Squadra Corse, DEX Imaging, Harrison Contracting Company and Gainbridge.

Cadillac Racing dominates at Long Beach

By
Official Release
-

Cadillac V-Series.Rs go 1-2 for Cadillac’s sixth win on the circuit since 2017

LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 20, 2024) – Does the expression third time’s a charm applies to motorsports?

Cadillac Racing, which came away with runner-up finishes after earning the pole in the two IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship marathon races, capitalized on a third pole start to win the sprint Saturday on the streets of Long Beach.

Renger van der Zande and Sebastien Bourdais, driving the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R, held off the sister No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R driven by pole-sitter Pipo Derani and Jack Aitken by 0.564 of a second to secure Cadillac Racing’s sixth victory at Long Beach and 30th overall since joining the IMSA prototype class in 2017.

The victory is the fifth for Bourdais at Long Beach, who teamed with van der Zande to win on the 1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit in 2022. Every Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) race winner this season has started from the third spot on the grid.

The No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R, which registered its second runner-up finish, has qualified on pole in all three races.

In addition to the race win, leading 60 of the 68 laps and pole position, Cadillac Racing hybrid racecars paced the GTP field in both practice sessions.

“Congratulations to the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R team and drivers Sebastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande for winning the hard-fought race on the streets of Long Beach. It was a strong effort all around with pole sitter Pipo Derani and Jack Aitken in the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R earning their second runner-up finish in three races. A great day for Cadillac Racing at Long Beach,” said Mark Stielow, GM director of motorsports competition.

Derani pitted from the lead for the lone time in the 100-minute race with 63 minutes left for energy and left-side tires and gave way to Aitken, who was making his debut on the circuit. Inheriting the lead from Derani, Bourdais brought in the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R a lap later for service and switch to van der Zande. The Chip Ganassi Racing team decided not to change Michelin tires, and van der Zande was able to get the advantage on the out-lap over Aitken. They ran 1-2 the final 48 minutes.

“Our tires were pretty old at the end. I was just hanging on at the end,” said van der Zande, who upped his IMSA victory total to 20 and has won at least one win in each of his 11 seasons. “This team is fantastic. Thanks to Chip, the guys, Mike O’Gara, my teammate Seb … this is how to win races, and I’m enjoying it.”

Bourdais and van der Zande, who teamed with six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon to finish second in the 12-hour race last month at Sebring, moved to 58 points out of the GTP points lead. The No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R is third in points.

A Cadillac DPi won five consecutive races at Long Beach 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.

Download: Cadillac Racing on-track photos for editorial use

Cadillac Racing will look to successfully defend its victory May 12 in the 2-hour, 40-minute race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca when Bourdais and van der Zande took the victory. Derani and Alexander Sims placed third.

No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R

Sebastien Bourdais: “It’s special. It’s win number five here for me at Long Beach. I’m super happy. We’ve had so many hardships and things just not working out. Our last win was Laguna Seca last year, so it’s been almost a year. I’m super happy for Cadillac, for Chip Ganassi Racing and for the boys. They work so hard and it feels like we deserve more than that a lot of the time. Hopefully this is the start of a new cycle for us. We had an excellent car, so I was a little frustrated that we were not able to get a better lap in during qualifying, but the strategy was perfect during our pit stop. The team did a great job to get us out front and Renger did the rest by holding the 31 off and bringing the car home to victory lane. It sure felt good to get this win for everyone in the shop and everyone from GM.”

Renger van der Zande: “We are very happy right now with the biggest trophy we could get — the first-place trophy. Chip Ganassi racing did a fantastic job again. Leading the race from the halfway point and making the right strategy call. We used only one set of tires and that was key to win this race. Our car has been fast all year so I am thrilled that we were finally able to bring home the win. The team deserves that. Our tires were pretty old at the end. Chip (Ganassi) asked me how were those tires, and I told him not so good. I was just hanging on at the end. This team is a fantastic team. Thanks to Chip, the guys, Mike O’Gara, my teammate Seb… this is how to win races, and I’m enjoying it.”

No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R

Pipo Derani: “If you look overall, this championship comes down to a little at the end. To be our second time on the podium, three pole positions so far… you try to accumulate as much points as you can and carry it all the way to the end. Obviously we would have liked to win, especially starting at the front here. It’s just one of those things here at Long Beach. If the guy behind does the complete opposite to you, he might come out ahead and that’s what happened today. We’re happy that it’s a Cadillac 1-2. We wish it was the other way around but we did the best we could. We’ll take the points and keep pushing forward.”

Jack Aitken: “It was a really tough one because once they have track position on the circuit, like any street circuit, it’s extremely difficult to pass without taking a huge amount of risk. I think the couple of yellows we did have during the second half of the race just helped Renger (van der Zande) take care of those tires and they lasted surprisingly well. Better than I think anybody expected from the start this weekend coming here with the soft. I think we had a great car all weekend. I think we’ve been really, really strong on pace since the start of the season, and it’s a bit frustrating to miss out on a win up to this point. But we had really good points, but at least if we’re going to get beat, at least it’s the other Cadillac. I enjoyed my fight.”

1...1,1171,1181,119...6,742Page 1,118 of 6,742