Home Blog Page 1121

Revolutionizing the Future of Transportation with Autonomous Driving

By
SM
-
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.

NASCAR Legend Tony Stewart Looks to “Smoke” The Competition in First Top Fuel Start at zMAX Dragway

By
Official Release
-
NASCAR Hall of Famer and three-time Cup Series champion, Tony Stewart is chasing his first NHRA Top Fuel Wally at zMAX Dragway when the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals return, April 26-28. (NHRA photo)
  • NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee and three-time Cup Series champion, racing legend Tony Stewart joins a talented pool of eager drivers looking for his first trip to victory lane at zMAX Dragway
  • NHRA 4-Wide Nationals returns to zMAX Dragway on April 26-28 for three nights of high-octane family fun; single-day tickets, available at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com, start at just $35 for adults.

CONCORD, NC (April 15, 2024) – NASCAR Hall of Famer and three-time Cup Series champion, Tony Stewart is no stranger to competing – or victory – at Charlotte Motor Speedway. From the road course to the dirt track, Stewart is one of the only drivers in history to have piloted an IndyCar, NASCAR Cup car, winged and non-winged Sprint Car and Top Alcohol dragster. Later this month, he’ll make his Charlotte debut in an 11,000-horsepower NHRA Top Fuel dragster at zMAX Dragway, just across the street from the famed 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway where he earned wins in the 2003 Bank of America 500 and 2009 NASCAR All-Star Race.

Now a rookie in the NHRA Top Fuel ranks, Stewart has been vocal about the stark differences between drag racing and the other classes of motorsports.

“There are no similarities,” he said. “Drag racing is off on Fantasy Island and Tattoo comes in the white tuxedo and tells the boss the plane is coming. It’s just that different.”

While the 2024 season marks his first full-time season in the class, Stewart and his team are already trending in the right direction. He picked up his first NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series round wins at the Arizona Nationals earlier this month, advancing to the semifinals before falling just short of a win.

After landing in NASCAR Victory Lane at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2003 and 2009, Stewart is excited about the chance to lift a Wally across the street at the zMAX Dragway.

“It would be an honor,” he said. “It’d be really cool to be able to check some boxes off and know that we’re one of the very few drivers in history that have run that many different types of cars (Xfinity, Sprint, IndyCar, Top Fuel) on all those tracks.”

To experience the thrill of victory, he’ll have to hold off a stout field of contenders, including six-time zMAX Dragway winner Antron Brown.

From a standout sprinter in high school to a three-time World Champion NHRA drag racer, Brown knows a thing or two about speed. He recalled the rush of lining up at zMAX for the very first time, and how it felt as though he was unleashing chaos on the Earth.

“You have to be first to leave,” he said. “If you’re not first, you’re definitely last, and you don’t wanna be behind the percussion of the other cars going down the strip – you can’t feel your car, you can’t hear it, you can’t sense it. You’re driving it like you’re blind.”

Brown is at the precipice of achieving his milestone 75th national event win. Given his six previous wins at the zMAX Dragway (including triumphs at the 2014 and 2015 Four-Wide Nationals), it would come as no surprise if he accomplished such a feat during the NHRA’s upcoming return to Concord.

The Funny Car season is off to a blazing start as well, with a talented lineup pulling up to the start line for each event.

Sixteen-time NHRA Funny Car champion and the winningest Funny Car driver of all time, John Force has been a decisive presence at the zMAX Dragway since its inception. Despite the unique challenge the four-wide format presents, Force speaks highly of both the dragway and the Smith family that founded the Bellagio of Drag Strips.

“You gotta love anything that people create that they put their life into, and he [Bruton Smith] did,” said Force, who won the inaugural race at zMAX 15 years ago. “It’s special.”

The 74-year-old raced to his record 156th NHRA victory – and first in two years – in Arizona earlier this month, and he’ll look to keep the victories coming at the nitro-fueled Four-Wide Nationals.

His toughest competition could come from Ron Capps, the owner and driver of his namesake operation Ron Capps Motorsports, and the second-winningest Funny Car driver in NHRA history. A four-time winner at zMAX Dragway (including the 2017 4-Wide Nationals), Capps believes that part of the reason he competes so well in Charlotte is because of the area’s heavy ties to NASCAR.

“It’s such a NASCAR themed town,” he said. “And that tells me that our sport is welcome there for sure. To see our fans come out every year – we love racing at zMAX.”

The 2024 season marks Capps’ 30th year competing in the sport’s professional ranks, and after a rare first-round exit at the 2023 Carolina Nationals, Capps is looking for redemption this year.

TICKETS:

Fans can purchase tickets to the April 26-28 NHRA 4-Wide Nationals online at charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267), with single-day tickets starting at just $35. Every ticket is a pit pass, so come early to see your favorite drivers and their cars up-close before a festival of 44,000 horsepower ignites the excitement!

KEEP TRACK:

Stay on pace with what’s happening at Charlotte Motor Speedway by following on X and Instagram or becoming a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

Meyer Shank Racing Eager To Get Back to Work at Acura GP of Long Beach

By
Official Release
-
#66: Tom Blomqvist, Meyer Shank Racing Honda

Pataskala, Ohio (15 April 2024) – After a strong start to the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, Meyer Shank Racing is back in action on the streets of Long Beach after nearly a month between points-paying races.

Felix Rosenqvist started the season in St. Petersburg by earning the team’s first front-row starting spot since 2021 with a track-record setting run, and followed that with a podium at the exhibition race at Thermal. The team is also coming off of the the IMS Open Test which was reduced to one day of on track action due to weather in preparation for next month’s Indianapolis 500.

Now, MSR heads to Southern California for Sunday’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, which is the longest-running street course event on the series’ calendar (Sunday, 3:00pm ET, USA, SiriusXM Ch. 218).

Rosenqvist, who finished seventh in the season opener, will look to maintain the strong qualifying form he has shown in the No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda after earning front row starts in both St. Pete and Thermal. A repeat performance this week would give the Ohio-based team consecutive front-row starts in points-paying events for the first time since 2020.

Rosenqvist isn’t alone in showing qualifying speed for MSR this year as rookie Tom Blomqvist (No. 66 AutoNation / Arctic Wolf Honda) earned the first top-20 start of his young career in St. Pete on his way to a career-best 17th-place finish. This weekend’s event at Long Beach will be the first venue where Blomqvist has previous experience at, having competed at the 1.968-mile street course in 2022 and 2023 in IMSA competition with MSR.

MSR heads to the iconic event with eight previous INDYCAR Long Beach starts under its belt, including a solid 2021 effort where both its drivers (Jack Harvey and Helio Castroneves) led laps in the race, marking the first time that both MSR pilots paced the field in the same event. Rosenqvist also has a solid history with the race, finishing on the lead lap in each of his four starts, scoring a pair of top-10 results with a best result of seventh coming a year ago.

Sunday’s 85-lap Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will air on USA Network and Peacock starting at 3 p.m. ET. Saturday’s qualifying will be shown live on Peacock beginning at 2:25 p.m. ET. SiriusXM will also host live IndyCar Radio coverage of both sessions on XM Ch. 218.

Meyer Shank Racing Driver Quotes:

Felix Rosenqvist: “The whole team has done really well to kick off the season strongly, and now we’re finally back to a points scoring round and I feel like we are way more prepared than we were a month ago. We trust that we have a good package for Long Beach and have every chance to continue our strong form there.”

Tom Blomqvist: “I’m actually really excited for this one, it’s a track that I know really well from my years in IMSA. Every outing I’ve had in the INDYCAR I am slowly starting to become more comfortable in it. I’m pumped. I feel so much better going into Long Beach compared to how I felt going into St. Pete. Felix has also been doing incredibly well and we’re starting to prove that we have a competitive package. I’m excited and ready to go and feeling a lot more confident and eager to see how we get on.”

Second Straight Top-10 for TeamSLR Rookie at NOLA

By
Official Release
-

Gavan Boschele Finishes Seventh, Julian DaCosta 11th in TA2 Debut;
Cut Tire on First Lap, Mechanical Issue End Barry Boes’ Pro-Am Win Streak

Overview:
Date: April 14, 2024
Event: NOLA SpeedTour (Round 3 of 12)
Series: Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli
Division: Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series
Location: Nola Motorsports Park in Avondale, Louisiana
Layout: 2.75-mile, 16-turn road course
Format: 37 laps or 75 minutes
Weather: Partly cloudy, upper-70s
Winner: Rafa Matos of Nitro Motorsports

TeamSLR:

● Gavan Boschele – Started 13th, Finished 7th (Running, completed 37/37 laps)
● Julian DaCosta – Started 9th, Finished 11th (Running, completed 37/37 laps)
● Barry Boes – Started 12th, Finished 18th (Steering, completed 6/37 laps

Gavan Boschele, Driver No. 28 SLR-M1 Racecars Entry:

“It was alright. At the start, everybody was just not being smart and started wrecking each other, so I kind of laid back. I ended up getting (Connor) Mosack on the last lap there, which was pretty good. It wasn’t a bad weekend, just need to work on getting a little bit faster. I can’t thank these TeamSLR guys enough for the opportunity, and we’ll go full steam ahead to the next one.”

Julian DaCosta, Driver No. 17 SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro:

“The race today didn’t go completely as planned, but we kept the car in one piece, finished the race, and I think it’s still a really good showing for us, being our first TA2 race. I think TeamSLR did a great job putting the car together for this weekend and keeping it fast and keeping everything together. It’s unfortunate what happened in the beginning of the race, but I think moving forward we’ll be doing better and we can learn from it. I’m not sure what happened on that first lap, we just ended up getting shoved off the track. We had some really good practice pace during the weekend, we were aiming for a top-10, top-five range. I think it was do-able. Like I said, it was unfortunate, but we can learn from it.”

Barry Boes, Driver No. 27 Accio Data/SLR-M1 Racecars Ford Mustang:

“I was really hoping to be on the podium a third time, at the top, but it wasn’t going to be this race. Came into turn one and we were four or five cars wide, fairly slow and under control. And then I got hit from behind in the right rear. At the same time my teammate outside of me was getting a little bit loose, so after I got hit in the right rear, then we tapped – Julian and I tapped. And then as we were coming into turn three, I hit the brakes, the car just didn’t slow down like it should have and I realized something wasn’t right. I limped it around, turns out we had a flat tire. Got back on the track, the car handling was a little bit off but I was making decent lap times. Then I hit a curb and the power steering completely went out.”

Next Up:

Round four of the 2024 Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series takes TeamSLR to World Wide Technology Raceway on the outskirts of St. Louis for the WWTR SpeedTour May 10-11. The two-day weekend kicks off with a pair of 30-minute TA2 test sessions Friday, May 10, at 8 and 10:20 a.m. CDT. A pair of official TA2 practice sessions are set for 1:40 and 4:20 p.m. to conclude Friday’s activities. TA2 qualifying takes place at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 11, with the 63-lap, 75-minute race around the 1.6-mile, eight-turn road course set for 1:05 p.m. Series partner MAVTV will provide live television coverage augmented via live video stream on the Trans Am channel on YouTube.

About TeamSLR:

TeamSLR (Scott Lagasse Racing) competes fulltime in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s newly renamed Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series in a multifaceted effort that includes dedicated entries in the TA2 division, customer programs, driver coaching and car construction. Its history dates back to 1985 and covers a wide spectrum of motorsports, including NASCAR, IMSA, SCCA, ARCA and ASA. TeamSLR is a family-owned organization run by Scott Lagasse Sr., and Scott Lagasse Jr., The father-and-son duo have combined to win more than 120 races and seven championships across a variety of series and styles of racecars, from paved ovals to road courses to dirt tracks. For more information, please visit us online at www.TeamSLR.com, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram and on LinkedIn.

WOMEN IN MOTORSPORTS NORTH AMERICA ANNOUNCES SECOND YEAR OF CONTINGENCY FUND PROGRAM OPEN TO 21+ WOMEN NASCAR DRIVERS

By
Official Release
-
The 2023 "Accelerate Her" winners, pictured with WIMNA's Cindy Sisson and Lyn St. James include: (L to R) Julie Jorgenson, Taylor Goldman and Jennifer Hall

20 Drivers have registered thus far for the highly successful “Accelerate Her” program that expands racing opportunities for women drivers through significant financial assistance

April 15, 2024 – Phoenix, AZ … Coming off the record-setting payouts of the 2023 racing season, Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA) is excited to once again offer $200,000 in contingency money supporting women pursuing racing careers in NASCAR-sanctioned racing series. The program utilizes a points system for women drivers 21 years and older with monetary rewards based on race results throughout the 2024 racing season.

In 2024, the points system will continue rewarding women drivers based on merit and race results throughout the season. The system incorporates several factors, including the different lengths of races, the size of the fields, the level of competition, and the cost of competing in NASCAR-sanctioned races. Eligible participants in the program will accumulate points during the 2024 season, commencing January 1, 2024. The program is designed to celebrate their success within the sport and to help fuel opportunities for even more women pursuing careers in NASCAR. At the end of the year, the top three-point earners will be rewarded $125,000, $50,000, and $25,000, respectively, based on their best 14 races. In 2023, these awards were won respectively by Julie Jorgenson of Lakeville, Minnesota, Taylor Goldman of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, and Jennifer Hall of Tucson, Arizona.

“Working to reward women racers competing in the many NASCAR-sanctioned series is thrilling. And it is so gratifying to have these 20 women registered thus far competing for prizes at the end of this year like Julie, Taylor, and Jennifer collected at our Women with Drive Summit driven by Mobil 1 last November in Phoenix,” said Cindy Sisson, WIMNA’s Executive Director. “I can’t wait to see who will be handed the big checks in Indianapolis come December at our 2024 Women with Drive Summit – Driven by Mobil 1.”.

Details on the 2024 CONTINGENCY FUND PROGRAM, including participating women drivers as of press time, can be found on the WIMNA website at www.womeninmotorsportsna.com/AH.

About Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA)

Women in Motorsports North America is a community of professional women and men devoted to enabling opportunities for women across all motorsport disciplines. Founded as a 501c3 in April 2022, WIMNA is quickly establishing its positive impact on motorsports, supporting and creating resources that enable women drivers, technicians, engineers, operations staff, business-related, media, and more to thrive in the industry. Best known for its Women with Drive Summit, held this year on December 9 – 11 in Indianapolis, WIMNA also provides resources, mentorship, coaching, career connections, and more. For more information, visit www.womeninmotorsportsna.com and follow WIMNA on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin.

Burton Leads Laps At Texas But Late-Race Incident Leaves Him With 28th-Place Finish

By
Official Release
-

Harrison Burton and the No. 21 Freightliner Mustang Dark Horse had an encouraging run in Sunday’s AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway, leading the race at one point and putting themselves in position for a good finish before being collected in a crash during the first attempt at an Overtime finish. Their 28th place finish did not accurately reflect Burton’s and the Freightliner team’s performance in a race that saw the yellow flag fly on 16 occasions for 72 laps.

Burton started 29th and ended the first 80-lap Stage in 34th place, one lap behind the leaders.

In the second Stage, Burton and the team worked their way back onto the lead lap following a caution period at Lap 102 for a multi-car crash.

The Freightliner team made a pit stop during a caution period at Lap 114 and joined the top 25 by Lap 130.

When another caution flag flew for a crash by Josh Berry, Burton stayed on the track while others made pit stops and lined up seventh for the ensuing restart, at Lap 143.

Burton held his own in the top 10 for the remainder of Stage Two, finishing seventh and earning four Stage points.

The team elected to stay on the track during the caution period following the end of the Stage and moved up to third place for the Lap 173 restart.

Burton made a move to the inside and took the lead on the opening lap and held it for seven circuits.

As drivers with fresher tires overtook him, Burton continued to run in the top 10 until Lap 192, and he was in 12th place when he made a green-flag stop at Lap 199.

He returned to the track in 33rd place and began reclaiming spots. After another stop he was in 24th place for a restart with eight of the scheduled 267 laps left to run.

When yet another wreck sent the race into Overtime, Burton was in 21st place for the restart but was involved in an incident with Kaz Grala that brought out yet another yellow flag.

After a pit stop for tires and fuel, Burton returned to the track in 32nd place and drove up to 28th by the time a wreck by Ross Chastain on the second attempt at an Overtime finish froze the field on the white-flag lap.

Burton and the team now head to Talladega Superspeedway for next Sunday’s GEICO 500.

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

Cadillac at Imola: Seeking prize in heart of Italy

By
Official Release
-

No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R team confident heading into Round 2 of the WEC season

DETROIT (April 15, 2024) – Earl Bamber is certain that memories will wash over him this week at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo and Dino Ferrari.

The racecourse in Imola, Italy, that will host the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season is a substantive notation on Bamber’s motorsports CV.

“Imola actually was my first-ever European race,” said Bamber, who will co-drive the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R with Alex Lynn in the 6 Hours of Imola. “It was 2008 and I won. I have fond memories of Imola because it was my first time racing on a European track and winning made it extra fun.”

The New Zealander, who had raced to that point in Formula BMW Asia, Formula V6 Asia, the Toyota Racing Series, among others, joined ADM Motorsport for the two rounds of the International Formula Master series (aka Formula Super 2000) in September 2008 at Imola. Driving a spec Formula 2000, Bamber placed seventh in the first race and won the second.

“It was an eye-opening event, a great weekend at Imola,” Bamber added. “I’m looking forward to going back with Cadillac Racing and compete for another win there.”

Cadillac Racing tested for two days in mixed conditions in September 2023 on the 3-mile (4.9 km), 21-turn (12 left) Imola course. The facility, which hosted its first race in 1953 and last Intercontinental Le Mans Cup — precursor of the WEC — race in 2011, replaced Monza on the WEC calendar this year as the latter is undergoing scheduled work.

“As a team, we’re excited to go racing again. Now the season really starts to ramp up in preparation for Le Mans,” said Lynn, who will also compete at Imola in July as he seeks to successfully defend his European Le Mans Series LMP2 championship.

Cadillac Racing and the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R opened their second season of WEC competition as Bamber, Lynn and Sebastien Bourdais drove to a fourth-place finish in the 19-car Hypercar field March 2 at the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar. On March 27, the FIA issued a report that disqualified the Cadillac Racing entry because of a post-race technical inspection infraction.

Cadillac issued the statement: During the FIA World Endurance Championship race in Qatar on March 2, the rear diffuser strakes on the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R were unintentionally out of specification relative to the homologated height. We have cooperated with the FIA and ACO and accept their findings.

Bourdais co-drove with Anthony Davidson to victory in the No. 7 Peugeot 908 entry in the six-hour Intercontinental Le Mans Cup race July 3, 2011, at the Imola circuit. Davidson earned the pole and Bourdais set the LMP1 race lap record of 1 minute, 33.112 seconds.

The 6 Hours of Imola is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET, Sunday, April 21. Max and discovery+ will provide live streaming coverage in the U.S. along with the FIA WEC app. RadioLeMans.co will have flag-to-flag coverage. Viewers can also ride along in the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R during the race HERE.

What they’re saying

Earl Bamber: “I think Qatar was a good start to the season considering our limited preparation. I think the whole team did a fantastic job to sort of pull us out of a hole on strategy and really on the fuel strategy place us on the right pit stop cycle rotation. It’s a credit to the whole team and just the whole progression that the Cadillac program is coming toward. We’re getting stronger and stronger with each race. It was a good race of execution and now shows we have good footing and I think where we are car-wise we’re excited going to Imola. We drove there once already and it was phenomenal. I think it’s going to be really difficult with traffic management and I think it will be a spectacular race for the fans. With Ferrari and Lamborghini on the grid, I think the fans are going to be out in full force. It should be a real festive feeling.”

Alex Lynn: “I’m looking forward to Imola. It’s a great track, a historic place and I think it’s a great place to host the second round of WEC in 2024. I think the fans will bring some big atmosphere, which is always fun when we get to European WEC races. As a team, we’re excited to go racing again. Now the season really starts to ramp up in preparation for Le Mans. Imola is a twisty circuit, a lot of stop, start, which we seem to be very agile with our car so I’m quite optimistic for a successful event.”

Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series Race Report – Texas

By
Official Release
-

Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 – Texas Motor Speedway
Fort Worth, TX. – April 14, 2024

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 DISCOUNT TIRE FORD MUSTANG

START: 8TH STAGE ONE: 14TH STAGE TWO: 23RD FINISH: 25TH POINTS: 21ST

RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric, driver of the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang, was left with a 25th-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway in what was a chaotic Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400. After firing off strong from the eighth position, Cindric faced stability issues in the opening stint and reported early that the car needed to be tighter. Cindric made his first trip down pit road under green on lap 36 for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. He was scored as high as sixth but slipped to the 14th position where he finished Stage 1. Cindric returned to pit road under the break for a two-tire stop as varying strategies played out and he restarted 10th. A tight condition plagued the No. 2 car early in the second segment as a plethora of cautions slowed the field over the course of Stage 2, in which Cindric finished 23rd. He managed to gain track position by taking two tires and restarted 13th on lap 173. Cindric would get close to breaking back into the top 10 before pitting under green on lap 205 for scheduled service. Unfortunately, several drivers, including Cindric would be forced to take the wave-around as a caution would come out during the cycle of pit stops. He would battle a tight race car in traffic and managed to bring home a lead lap finish of 25th at the end of 400-plus miles of racing.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “A bit frustrating to have the result considering the speed we had on Saturday with the Discount Tire Ford Mustang. We struggled to get back through the field as strategies were all over the place as the cautions fell. We got trapped a lap-down at the end of the race and had to take the wave around. It certainly was another week of showing signs of speed, but not the result to match. We’ll keep working and I feel good about some of the progress we’ve made.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 MENARDS/KNAUF INSULATION FORD MUSTANG

START: 7TH STAGE ONE: 6TH STAGE TWO: 3RD FINISH: 33RD POINTS: 7TH

RACE RUNDOWN: A promising day for Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Menards/Knauf Insulation Ford Mustang ended with misfortune and a 33rd-place finish in Sunday’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. Blaney would roll his Ford Mustang from the seventh starting spot after a strong practice and qualifying on Saturday. Prior to the first pit stop on lap 38, Blaney would drive his way into the top-five. The first caution would wave on lap 51, which would see the Menards Ford return to pit road for additional service. Restarting eighth, Blaney would make his way back to sixth by the end of Stage 1. During the stage break crew chief Jonathan Hassler called for right side tires on the Menards Ford to gain much-coveted track position and restart as the leader. Blaney would take control of the race, before eventually settling into second place. The caution would wave with around 30 laps to go in Stage 2 and the Menards crew opted for four new Goodyear tires to reset the balance for the run to the Stage 2 finish. The remainder of the stage proved to be plagued with cautions as the tricky Texas track demonstrated to be a challenge for the drivers; regardless Blaney rallied late to finish third in Stage 2 and bring home even more valuable stage points. Unfortunately, Blaney’s day unraveled on lap 182, when he received contact from another car heading into turn 1, which caused the Menards/Knauf Insulation Ford Mustang to make hard contact with the outside wall. The crew managed to make repairs and Blaney soldiered home under power to cross the line in the 33rd position.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “Not the result we wanted with our Menards/Knauf Insulation Ford Mustang. Glad we got good stage points, but bummed we didn’t have a chance to battle for the win today. Excited to get to Talladega next week.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 AAA INSURANCE FORD MUSTANG

START: 20TH STAGE ONE: 19TH STAGE TWO: 20TH FINISH: 11TH POINTS: 15TH

RACE RUNDOWN: It was a day of adversity for Joey Logano and the No. 22 AAA Insurance team who rallied to an 11th-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway to complete the ninth race of the NASCAR Cup Series season. The 276-lap event around the 1.5-mile Lone Star State circuit began with a nearly caution-free first Stage, although was followed by two segments filled with yellow flags and resulted in three consecutive NASCAR overtime finishes. The AAA Insurance Ford lined up on the outside row in 20th-place to begin the 400-mile quest to the finish with Logano and the No. 22 crew prioritizing their Ford Mustang’s handling in the opening sequence. Stage two shifted focus to the front, with the team capitalizing on right-side tire and fuel stops to stay competitive within the field. The segment continued with tight three-wide battles, but Logano persevered to pick up multiple positions, advancing all the way within the top 10 as varying strategies played out. The No. 22 team was to a race-high ninth place when a caution appeared with 23 laps remaining in the stage. Logano visited pit lane for service with the No. 22 crew doing quick work to replace the right-side tires and refresh the car with fuel, although an untimely pit stop from a competitor in the stall ahead of Logano resulted in interference, and a collision, causing a delay on pit road and right-side damage. The result adversely affected the AAA Insurance Ford, still it powered through to finish the caution-plagued stage in 20th. Logano was a man on a mission as the race headed toward its conclusion, he drove to 13th before green flag pit stops began. Crew chief Paul Wolfe opted to keep the AAA Insurance Ford on-track running the stage long in the hopes of catching a caution. The move paid dividends when the caution waved on lap 228. With the best track position he had all day, Logano managed to bring home an 11th place finish after a chaotic final few laps of racing.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “It was a decent day all things considering. Great call by Paul [Wolfe] to run long and gain some track position back. Certainly, we want to be up there contending for wins, but you have to take what the day gives you and considering how crazy the end was, I think we did that.”

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Talladega Superspeedway for Round 10 of the 2024 season on Sunday, April 21. Coverage begins at 3:00 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Rick Ware Racing: AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 from Texas

By
Official Release
-

RICK WARE RACING
AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400
Date: April 14, 2024
Event: AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 (Round 9 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth (1.5-mile oval)
Format: 267 laps, broken into three stages (80 laps/85 laps/102 laps)
Note: Race extended nine laps past its scheduled 267-lap distance due to a green-white-checkered finish.
Race Winner: Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 2 Winner: Ross Chastain of Trackhouse Racing (Chevrolet)

RWR Race Finish:

● Justin Haley (Started 32nd, Finished 24th/ Running, completed 276 of 276 laps)
● Kaz Grala (Started 33rd, Finished 27th/ Running, completed 276 of 276 laps)

RWR Points:

● Justin Haley (32nd with 98 points)
● Kaz Grala (33rd with 92 points)

RWR Notes:

● This was Haley’s fourth career start at Texas. His best finish remains third, earned in November 2022.
● This was Grala’s first start at Texas.

Race Notes:

● Chase Elliott won the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 to score his 19th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his first of the season and his first at Texas.
● There were 16 caution periods for a total of 72 laps.
● All but seven drivers finished on the lead lap.
● Kyle Larson remains the championship leader after Texas with an 18-point advantage over second-place Martin Truex Jr.

Sound Bites:

“I put us in a hole early on pit road, unfortunately. Rookie mistake for a rookie. But after that we fought hard, we did everything we could and made some gains on the handling. I think all in all, we put up a good fight today. We did what we could, and we tried to hold serve, and I’m not even sure yet where we officially finished, but we got what we put out of it. I’m proud of everybody at Rick Ware Racing. They stuck with me all day even after that early mistake and we made at least a little something out of the day.” – Kaz Grala, driver of the No. 15 N29 Capital Partners Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the GEICO 500 on Sunday, April 21 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Th

Keselowski Finishes P2 in Chaotic Ending to Texas Race

By
Official Release
-

BuildSubmarines.com Ford Leads RFK, Buescher Finishes 15th in Fort Worth

FORT WORTH (April 14, 2024) – Brad Keselowski had arguably the best turnaround performance of the day Sunday afternoon at Texas Motor Speedway, driving from the tail of the field to a second-place finish in a chaotic NASCAR Overtime ending.

Chris Buescher stayed the course all day, utilized strategy to run inside the top-10 and even top five at one point, and ultimately finished 15th in the Fifth Third Bank Ford. The 400-mile race was extended twice as it took two NASCAR Overtime restarts to settle the finish, and in all 16 cautions flew for 72 laps in a back-and-forth afternoon.

6 Recap
Keselowski experienced and up-and-down day that fortunately ended on the upswing, as the BuildSubmarines.com Ford began the day from the 22nd spot. He finished 28th in the opening stage that saw just one yellow, before the flurry of cautions started from there.

“Honestly, I am more frustrated than anything because I feel like we have a great team and we don’t have the speed to go with it,” Keselowski said following the race. “We are doing all we can do to overcome that. The driver in me is frustrated because I feel like these are races I am good enough to win but don’t have the speed enough to do it. The owner in me is mad as hell because it is my fault for not making the cars faster.

“I am still proud of the team that we have with the pit stops and strategy and execution to put ourselves in position to get a finish we probably didn’t deserve but earned with some never-give-up spirit. It was a good job of executing with what we had. It is frustrating. You can still get good finishes by running good smart days, executing on pit road, and having great strategy and I am proud of our team for doing that today.”

Stage two had six different cautions – three of which were in a 20-lap span – as Keselowski ultimately used pit strategy to regain track position. He stayed out under yellow at lap 137 and restarted fifth with 23 to go in the segment, before going on to finish sixth.

After beginning the final stage in 19th, Keselowski eventually worked his way back to the top-10 by lap 234 and never looked back. In all, five cautions flew in the final 40 laps as Keselowski suddenly picked off positions by lap 250, advancing to third with 13 to go. He was challenging for P2 at the time of the yellow, and flipped between third and fourth as the flurry of cautions were displayed forcing NASCAR Overtime.

In the final overtime restart attempt, Keselowski put the No. 6 third and was initially credited with a third-place finish. However, after reviewing the finish, NASCAR deemed he did in fact pass the No. 24, crediting him with second.

It marks Keselowski’s third top five of the season, and best finish to date through nine races.

17 Recap
Buescher finished 17th to end the opening stage, then flipped his track position to begin stage two. He fired off third at lap 88 to begin that segment, but was hit with a pit road penalty at lap 100 under yellow.

He worked back to overcome it though, driving back to 18th to end stage two. After rolling 12th on the stage three start, he worked back into the top-10 by lap 173 and stayed there for the next 40 laps. He would pit under green at lap 208 from 12th, but was caught a lap down when the yellow was displayed at lap 227 in the midst of the pit cycle.

He worked back in the top-20 with 20 to go, and over the course of the final five cautions, slowly picked off positions to earn the top-15. He was initially scored 18th, but was later credited with 15th in the Fifth Third Ford.

Up Next
The NASCAR Cup Series returns to the high banks of Talladega Superspeedway next weekend. Race coverage on Sunday is set for 3 p.m. ET on FS1, with radio coverage on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

About RFK Racing
RFK Racing, in its 37th season in 2024, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

1...1,1201,1211,122...6,736Page 1,121 of 6,736