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Beyond Ordinary: Elevate Your Ride with Exotic Car Rental Services

Photo by Dom J

Do you want to explore the allure of driving luxury vehicles and the convenience of renting them for special occasions or everyday indulgence? 

This article delves into the experience of stepping into the world of exotic cars, where power, prestige, and style converge to create unforgettable moments on the road. From sleek Ferraris to powerful Lamborghinis, exotic car rental services offer access to vehicles that go beyond the ordinary, allowing enthusiasts and thrill-seekers alike to experience the pinnacle of automotive engineering. 

Whether it’s for a wedding, a weekend getaway, or simply to make a statement, renting an exotic car provides an opportunity to elevate any journey from mundane to extraordinary. Discover the joys of driving a dream car and the freedom it brings to explore the open road with unparalleled sophistication and excitement.

Tailored to Your Itinerary

Unlike public transit options, you can design your itinerary with an exotic hire car. Having a rental car allows you to plan your trip however you see fit, whether stopping along the road to take in the scenery or looking for hidden jewels. 

Remarkable Impressions on Special Occasions 

In addition to being practical for daily transportation, luxury automobile rentals may be an excellent means to make special moments even more remarkable and to create lifelong memories. 

Imagine celebrating a significant birthday in a beautiful Lamborghini Aventador or appearing at a wedding in a luxurious Rolls-Royce Phantom. Luxury automobile rentals help you make a lasting impression on the people around you by adding a touch of opulence and exclusivity to your memorable events. 

Whether going on a lavish weekend getaway, a business trip, or a romantic date night, driving a suitable luxury car elevates the whole experience and makes special memories. 

Accessibility and Convenience 

Renting a car gives you the ultimate convenience to explore at your speed. Your elegant rental vehicle is available when you need it, so there’s no need to depend on ridesharing services or follow public transit timetables. This accessibility is particularly helpful for impromptu excursions and escapades off the usual path. 

Excellent Handling and Performance 

Another feature that distinguishes luxury vehicles from their more basic siblings is their performance. When it comes to handling, acceleration, and power, luxury cars are unrivaled in their ability to provide an exciting driving experience. 

Renting a premium vehicle is the ideal method to sate your need for performance and speed if you enjoy driving and the sense of power under the hood. 

Flexibility and Diversity 

A luxury car rental may accommodate several needs and tastes with its flexibility and variety. Luxury car rentals come in many alternatives from rental providers, so you can pick the ideal car for your needs. 

Luxury vehicle rental businesses may fulfill your desires, whether seeking an outstanding performance sports car for an exhilarating journey, an SUV to fit a larger group or a convertible for exploring the sun-drenched seaside roads. Furthermore, rental times range from a few hours to many days or weeks, giving you the freedom to hire a premium vehicle for as long as necessary. 

Coziness and Privacy 

Other modes of transportation might not offer the comfort and privacy that a rented car can. You and your traveling companions can enjoy a secluded area, and having authority over the music and temperature improves the trip experience as a whole. This is especially helpful on longer trips or when traveling with loved ones

Impressive Style and Aesthetics 

Photo by Liviu Gorincioi

The apparent aesthetic appeal of luxury cars is one of the key reasons people rent them. Luxury vehicles are made with a strong emphasis on style and attention to detail, making every part of the vehicle aesthetically pleasing. These cars are designed to leave an impression, whether they have delicate curves in a luxury sedan or sharp lines in a sports car. 

Cutting-Edge Features and Technology 

The cutting-edge amenities and technology typical of luxury car rentals are another exceptional benefit. 

The newest and finest developments in automobile technology are found in luxury cars, which contain everything from revolutionary entertainment systems and driver-aid technologies to sophisticated safety measures. Renters can thus take advantage of a luxurious, secure, and practical automobile rental. 

No Concerns Regarding Upkeep 

The ability to return your luxury vehicle rental at the end of the rental period is one of its loveliest features. What makes that so excellent? That means you won’t ever have to worry about or pay for car maintenance. 

That’s a big plus because maintaining a high-end luxury vehicle can become pricey. Luckily, all you have to pay for is the rental of a luxury vehicle for the afternoon. That’s awesome and, to put it mildly, a significant advantage. 

Cost-Effectiveness 

Despite what many people think, hiring a car is frequently a more affordable alternative, especially for those seeing places with poor public transportation systems. In cities where the countryside entices with its abundance of attractions, renting a car is more convenient and flexible than using other forms of transportation because it is less expensive. 

Renting a car becomes an inexpensive and sensible option for seeing the area because of the competitive rental prices and the flexibility to divide expenses among traveling companions. 

Time-Saving

Time is a valuable resource, particularly when you’re on holiday and want to savor every second. With the luxury of time efficiency provided by luxury car rental services, you may optimize the experience without being limited by outside schedules. 

Renting a car allows you to maximize your time and see more of the area in a single day, whether taking a quick tour of noteworthy attractions or taking a stroll through picturesque villages.

Maximizing Luxury Car Rental Services for Memorable Adventure

Photo by Mike Bird

Exploring the world of exotic car rentals offers more than just a means of transportation; it provides an escape into luxury, excitement, and unparalleled adventure. Whether you’re cruising through city streets or winding along scenic highways, the experience of driving an exotic car elevates every moment, leaving a lasting impression and memories to cherish. 

With a range of options to suit any taste and occasion, exotic car rental services open doors to a world of automotive excellence, inviting enthusiasts to indulge in the thrill of the extraordinary. So why settle for the ordinary when you can elevate your ride and make every journey an unforgettable one?

The Ultimate Guide to In-Home Dog Grooming in NYC

In New York City, our four-legged companions are like family. Maintaining their grooming regimen is vital for enhancing their health and well-being. However, managing in-home dog grooming in NYC can be a daunting task, especially with those wiggly monsters! This ultimate guide aims to steer you through the process, ensuring both you and your pet have a pleasant grooming experience.

Grooming Schedule: What to Do and When

Creating a consistent grooming schedule is a significant first step in ensuring your pet is well cared for. Depending on your dog’s breed, coat type, and overall health, the grooming frequency may differ. For short-haired breeds, once a month may suffice, while long-haired breeds may require weekly grooming. Brushing should be done more often, perhaps two to three times a week, to keep the coat tangle-free and to stimulate skin oils that keep the fur healthy. Bathing, on the other hand, should not be overly frequent as it can strip the skin of essential oils. Once a month is usually adequate, but again, this might vary depending on the breed and the dog’s activities. Nail trimming is another grooming aspect to schedule. If you hear your pet’s nails clicking on the floor, it’s time for a trim!

Addressing Specific Breed Needs in the Urban Environment

Different breeds have different grooming requirements. For instance, Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds have thick undercoats that require frequent brushing, especially during the shedding season. Breeds like Poodles or Shih Tzus have hair that grows continuously, requiring more frequent haircuts. Living in NYC can also affect your pet’s grooming needs. Urban grime, pollutants, and the changing seasons can all impact a dog’s coat and skin. Regular grooming can help mitigate these urban stressors, keeping your pet looking and feeling their best.

Safety Measures: Protecting Your Pet During Grooming Sessions

In-home dog grooming in NYC implies taking every precaution to protect your pet. Use gentle, dog-specific grooming products to avoid skin irritation. Always check the water temperature before bathing, and be careful around sensitive areas like the eyes and ears. When it comes to trimming nails, be cautious not to cut them quickly. It might be helpful to have a styptic powder on hand in case of accidental bleeding. Remember that grooming sessions should be a positive experience for your pet. Never rush or force your dog, as this can cause stress and fear.

Enhancing Bonding Through Regular Grooming Practices

Regular grooming can strengthen the bond between you and your pet. It’s a time to interact, build trust, and show affection. Your pup will learn to associate grooming with positive experiences, making it easier for both of you. The key here is patience and consistency. Start grooming practices when your dog is still a puppy, and maintain a regular schedule as they grow.

Troubleshooting Tips for DIY Grooming Success

Even with the best intentions, in-home dog grooming in NYC can present challenges. If your fur baby is resistant to grooming, try breaking the tasks into smaller, more manageable sessions. Using treats and positive reinforcement can also make the experience more enjoyable for your pup. And, if certain tasks, like nail trimming, prove too difficult or stressful, don’t hesitate to seek help from a professional groomer. Remember, the goal is to keep your pet healthy and comfortable. With patience, consistency, and care, you can make in-home dog grooming a success, even with the wiggly monsters of NYC!

Entering the Dynamic Universe of Sports Betting

Dive into a world where every competition transcends simple viewing. Sports betting introduces a layer of exhilaration and potential gain to every match, race, or game. This activity has evolved from the days of conventional bookmakers to the modern era of online betting platforms. This shift has not only made betting more accessible but has also diversified the experience, enriching the sports fandom.

A Primer for Beginners

For newcomers, the introduction to sports betting might appear overwhelming. Yet, beginning is less complicated than you might think. Grasping the basics – understanding different bet types and odds – lays the foundation for a successful journey. This foundational knowledge empowers bettors to make informed choices, setting the stage for an engaging experience of predictions and strategic bets.

Selecting a reliable and easy-to-use betting platform like the Hollywood Bet app is a crucial first step. Platforms offer an intuitive interface, competitive odds, and a wide variety of sports and events to bet on. As a beginner, focus on familiar sports and start with simple bets like moneyline or point spreads. Gradually, explore more complex options like parlays and prop bets as you gain confidence.

Another important aspect for beginners is understanding value betting. This involves identifying bets where the probability of an outcome is higher than the odds suggest. A bettor can make profits in the long run, even if not every bet wins by consistently placing value bets. Learning to calculate implied probability from odds and comparing it to your assessment of the outcome is a valuable skill.

Advanced Tactics: Analysis and Strategy

Through experience, bettors realize the significance of strategy and in-depth analysis. Keeping up-to-date with sports news, recognizing team dynamics and evaluating player conditions become crucial routines. Here, sports betting evolves from a game of chance to one requiring skill and detailed insight. Equally critical is mastering bankroll management, ensuring bets are placed within financial limits to maintain the fun of sports betting without leading to financial stress.

Advanced bettors often utilize statistical models to find good betting opportunities. They analyze historical data, examining team and player performance under various conditions. Staying disciplined and avoiding chasing losses is key to long-term success. Setting clear betting goals and continuously evaluating and adjusting strategies based on results are hallmarks of successful advanced bettors.

The Excitement of Motorsport Betting

Betting on motorsports brings an extra level of excitement. The unpredictability of races, influenced by elements like weather and team tactics, introduces unique considerations. From individual driver performance to the mechanical condition of the vehicles, motorsports betting demands a unique approach to pre-race analysis and live betting. For newcomers, focus on experienced drivers in top-performing vehicles, also taking into account team track records.

In-play betting is particularly thrilling in motorsports, as race dynamics can change in an instant. A well-timed pit stop, a safety car, or a sudden change in weather can dramatically alter the outcome. Bettors who can understand these events and adjust their bets accordingly stand to make significant gains. Additionally, considering factors such as a driver’s historical performance at a particular track or their qualifying position can provide valuable insights.

Responsible Betting: A Crucial Commitment

Sports betting can be a fun and engaging way to add another dimension to your fandom. However, it’s vital to approach it responsibly. Always bet with money you can afford to lose, set clear limits before placing a bet and never chase losses. Remember, sports betting should be treated as entertainment, not a guaranteed path to riches. There are many resources available to help you gamble responsibly, so don’t hesitate to seek them out if needed.

Looking Ahead

The future of sports betting is bright. Virtual sports betting offers the chance to bet on simulated games and races, ensuring action is always available. Furthermore, the adoption of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies is set to revolutionize security and transparency, attracting tech-savvy enthusiasts. As regulations evolve, the domain of sports betting will continue to grow, offering the exhilarating essence of gameplay that has fascinated humanity for ages.

TOP FUEL’S TONY STEWART FEELING SURGE OF MOMENTUM HEADING INTO VEGAS’ NHRA 4-WIDE NATIONALS

LAS VEGAS (April 8, 2024) – Returning to the site of his first victory as an NHRA competitor, racing legend and Top Fuel rookie Tony Stewart also enters this weekend’s NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with some newfound momentum.

The motorsports Hall of Famer picked up his first NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series round win on Sunday in Phoenix and then added another, advancing to the semifinals for the first time in Top Fuel.

It was a strong improvement for Stewart in his 11,000-horsepower Rayce Rudeen Foundation Dodge//SRT dragster ahead of this weekend’s race at Las Vegas, which is a motorsports facility that has treated him very well over his storied championship career. That includes on the drag racing side as well, where Stewart won in Top Alcohol Dragster last year at the four-wide event. The unique spectacle of four-wide drag racing is also something Stewart has quickly embraced.

“Vegas has been pretty good to us,” Stewart said. “I really enjoy the four-wide races at Vegas and Charlotte. Having the opportunity to do it with the Top Fuel car is something I’m really looking forward to. I really looked forward to it last year. I feel like it’s an equalizer a little bit. I feel like that closes the gap a bit.”

The 2023 event saw Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) take home the coveted NHRA Wally trophies and this season’s race will again be broadcasted on FS1, including eliminations coverage at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 14, showcasing all the entertainment from Las Vegas.

This weekend’s NHRA 4-Wide Nationals also marks the first four-wide event for the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge. The bonus race debuted last year and takes place on Saturday, putting a bonus purse and championship points on the line. It happens in Vegas for the first time this season, as two quads will face off during the third round of qualifying on Saturday. The top four advance to the final quad to close out qualifying, with the winner getting a chance to double-up in Vegas.

Stewart’s quad in the Challenge includes Billy Torrence, Doug Kalitta and Justin Ashley, while the other foursome features Steve Torrence, Shawn Reed, defending event winner Brown and Phoenix winner Shawn Langdon. It also puts a premium on staying locked in for the challenge that is four-wide racing.

“If you pay attention, it works just fine,” Stewart said.” Last year with the Top Alcohol team, they’d put a piece of tape with a number on there inside the car, so if for any reason I got distracted on which light I needed to look at, I could check that as a reference. I think if you’re doing your job and paying attention, you don’t necessarily need that help. I know the routine tends to be a little longer, since you’re trying to get four teams organized and their cadence right.”

Stewart and his team made plenty of positive steps in Phoenix, advancing to the semifinals before falling just short in a great race against Winternationals winner Ashley. Stewart was thrilled with the turnaround, praising a team that continues to work well together.

“These guys really rallied (on Sunday), so by having the opportunity to make three runs, you feel like we’re finally starting to get a base and then can work from there,” Stewart said. “I never thought just winning one round would take such a weight off your shoulders. It’s kind of like when we made the first run at Gainesville. I kind of relaxed and settled in. It was the same way (Sunday) getting through the first round and after we did that, I started to get that rhythm again. It’s good for all of us as a team. We’ll just keep digging. I’m looking forward to (this) week.”

In the Funny Car category, Hagan picked up his fifth Las Vegas win last year. He’s after his first victory in 2024 against the likes of first-year Funny Car driver Austin Prock, who won in Phoenix, Winternationals winner John Force, points leader J.R. Todd, Ron Capps, Bob Tasca III, Alexis DeJoria and Daniel Wilkerson.

Pro Stock points leader Glenn took home his second Las Vegas win last season and is rolling in 2024 thanks to his Winternationals win. He’ll look to keep up his hot streak against Phoenix winner Greg Anderson, defending world champ Erica Enders, who has dominated in Vegas, Jeg Coughlin Jr., Matt Hartford and Cristian Cuadra.

In the Funny Car Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, one quad includes Prock, Wilkerson, Force and Todd, with the other featuring DeJoria, Cruz Pedregon, Paul Lee and Blake Alexander. The Pro Stock matchups have J. Coughlin, Jerry Tucker, Anderson and T. Coughlin in one quad, and Enders, Aaron Stanfield, Glenn and Cuadra in the other.

The NHRA 4-Wide Nationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, featuring some of the top racers in the country. Also on deck will be Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown and the 2024 debut of the new Holley EFI Factory X category, while a special jet car exhibition featuring the “Muy Caliente” and the “Iceman” jet dragsters will follow the conclusion of nitro qualifying each day as well.

Fans will also be invited all weekend long to the Nitro Alley Stage, which will help create a festive atmosphere leading into the nitro pits. The Nitro Alley Stage will be the main entertainment hub in the pits when the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series competitors are not on the track, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets, music and much more. Race fans in Vegas can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk.

As always, fans also get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet in Las Vegas. This opportunity gives fans a unique chance to see teams in action and service their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers, and more. Fans can also visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food, and fun for the entire family.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. PT on Friday, April 12, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, April 13 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Eliminations will begin at 12 p.m. PT on Sunday, April 14. Television coverage includes qualifying action at 11:00 p.m. ET on both Friday and Saturday on Fox Sports 1 (FS1), leading into eliminations coverage at 7:00 p.m. ET on Sunday at FS1.

To purchase tickets to the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. For more information on NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.


About Mission Foods

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

About NHRA

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

TPC Racing Team With Dream Racing Sweeps Season-Opening GT America GT2 Race Weekend at Sonoma Raceway

  • Aaron Farhadi Doubles Up on GT America GT2 Victories in His Sonoma Debut in the No. 127 TPC Racing Team With Dream Racing Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2
  • Alan Grossberg Sets Fastest GT2 Lap Sunday in the No. 102 TPC Racing Team With Dream Racing Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 and Finishes Second for TPC Racing’s First Career Top-Two Sweep

SONOMA, California (April 8, 2024) – Building on Saturday’s season-opening SRO GT America powered by AWS GT2-class victory, the TPC Racing Team with Dream Racing turned up the performance even more for Sunday’s final race of the weekend at Sonoma Raceway. Debuting Sonoma Raceway driver Aaron Farhadi swept the weekend with his second victory in the No. 127 Dream Racing/TPC Racing Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo on Sunday and was joined on the podium by his resurgent teammate Alan Grossberg who set the fastest GT2 race lap.

The pair of victories extended to three races TPC Racing’s undefeated career win streak in the emerging GT2 category even though the three-peat of victories came a full three years apart. At Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in 2021, a TPC Racing Lamborghini Super Trofeo went into the record books as the first GT2-spec car to compete in GT America. Scott Schmidt drove the Lamborghini to an uncontested GT2 victory while finishing in the top-10 overall.

Starting second on the GT2 grid on Sunday, Farhadi stayed close to polesitter early race leader Brent Holden from the drop of the green flag. Farhadi poured on the heavy pressure as the race approached 10 minutes into the 40-minute sprint and made what turned out to be the winning pass for the lead with just under 27 minutes to go.

With Farhadi’s rapid run to the lead and eventual victory complete, Grossberg stepped up to stage a charge of his own in the second half of the race in the No. 102 Dream Racing/TPC Racing Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo. Shaking off a contact incident with Holden in Saturday’s first race, Grossberg gradually improved his pace throughout Sunday’s race and was even presented with the CrowdStrike Fastest Lap Award for setting the fastest GT2 lap time on his way to the second-place finish.

The one-two GT2 finish was the first top-two podium sweep in TPC Racing’s accomplished sports car racing history.

Grossberg and Farhadi are back with TPC Racing following successful late-season runs with the team a year ago in partnership with Dream Racing that brings both of the race-winning and high-end motorsports entities together on track. The weekend sweep marked the first victories for the TPC/Dream collaboration in just their third race weekend together.

Next up for the TPC Racing Team with Dream Racing and Farhadi and Grossberg is Round 3 and 4 of the 2024 GT America powered by AWS championship at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 19 – 21.

Harris Levitas, Director of Race Operations: “You couldn’t have asked for a better start to the 2024 SRO GT America season. Our TPC Racing Lamborghini Super Trofeo GT2 cars were just absolutely amazing and reliable all weekend long. Alan Grossberg and Aaron Farhadi did an absolutely amazing job. I can’t say enough about how great they did in their driving and improvement. Today, Aaron took a few laps to settle in and then stepped up to battle and passed for the lead. It was really nice, clean racing and he got up front and just took off from there to sweep the weekend’s race wins. Alan Grossberg then came alive in his car and then set the fastest lap in the race in the GT2 category. Huge congratulations for that achievement, and that’s really great progress for him. We’re looking forward to the remainder of the season and going in with a strong points advantage to Long Beach. Today was our first one-two finish and Long Beach will be our debut at that famous street race. It’s all really awesome. None of this would be possible without our partnership with Dream Racing. It’s a really great relationship. Ado De Micheli and Enrico Bertaggia from Dream Racing are really wonderful people. They have the same views and goals we have at TPC Racing, which is to prepare the best cars and win races. We proved this weekend we are off to a strong start with what we’ve put together for the SRO championship this year and we are definitely looking forward to more victories, podiums and strong finishes together.”

Ado De Micheli, President, Dream Racing: “Certainly, it’s a great accomplishment this weekend. I’m extremely proud of both Alan and Aaron who both did an amazing job. At Dream Racing, we love to develop drivers and help them accomplish what they want. They are different ages, have different experiences and different goals overall, but they both delivered great results. The main results are the first and second place finishes today, but they also had great lap times, no mistakes and managed the traffic. There’s lots of challenges when you look at GT2 at this level of motorsports without the proper experience. There are a lot of things you need to take into consideration, such as the extra effort sometimes needed to keep the cars competitive. TPC Racing did so much more work last night to make today happen. A shoutout to how they stood behind the issues they faced. They are an incredible organization and proved this weekend they want to do well.”

Aaron Farhadi, Driver, No. 127 Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo: “It’s been amazing this weekend. The guys are awesome. They gave me the equipment I needed to perform the best and the rest just came down to me. The equipment is there and that’s what I love about it. Harris Levitas is an amazing guy and my mechanic Trevor Griffin did a great job. Everybody just put in an incredible effort this weekend. I wasn’t mentally prepared for yesterday. Today, I was way better and I didn’t fall off nearly as much, or even at all, and just stayed consistent throughout the race. It’s just a mental effort. This whole sport is mental. Physically, I was able to keep myself intact and today my head was in the right space. I looked at this really as a learning weekend. With our competitor, Brent Holden, there’s an immense amount of respect. I really love to see it, be a part of it, it’s great for the sport. He is a fantastic driver. There was a lot of respect with that battle at the start and I enjoyed it quite a bit.”

Alan Grossberg, Driver, No. 102 Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo: “It’s good to have a nice finish. I learned a lot about the series, and certainly getting some track time yesterday helped me a lot. It’s also the coaching that makes you better. I go into this blind without that guidance. My team sits me down and says, ‘hey, you’ve got to work on this, you’ve got to work on that and these are the areas where you will pick up time.’ It makes a big difference. It was an easier drive today than it was Saturday, getting some coaching and debriefing after we had a chance to get some laps in yesterday. We had a strategy, some planned places to push, and on the third or fourth lap it suddenly all started to settle in. I found a good line and was able to put it together with the coaching and it was like ‘ah-ha! I was getting some confidence and focused on a faster laps after faster laps and then even better laps. I started settling down and driving my race. All credit to the team for having the car ready every minute we were here. When we got on track we had a contact issue in Saturday’s race, but what I love about these guys is that they know the car well and they ‘humpty dumptied’ it and put it back together to get me back on track with confidence. I knew I would have a good race car.”

About TPC Racing: TPC Racing is the Mid-Atlantic’s premier maintenance, service, tuning and modification center dedicated solely to Porsche sportscars. TPC Racing specializes in R&D and sales of high-performance modifications for Porsche sports cars and race cars, offering a wide range of vehicle upgrades. Best known for a line of forced induction solutions for the Porsche 911, Cayman and Boxster, a long-time focus on only one make, Porsche, has enabled TPC Racing to become experts in Porsche service, tuning, and racing. In 2000, TPC Racing began entering races under its own banner, scoring an SGS-class Championship in 2004 in the Grand-American Rolex Series and was a class winner in the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona, and captured the 2013 and 2016 IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA Gold Cup Championships. More information can be found at www.TPCRacing.com.

HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS, JOE GIBBS RACING DOMINATION LEADS ‘FAST FIVE’ STORYLINES FOR SUNDAY’S AUTOTRADER ECHOPARK AUTOMOTIVE 400

Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron is the defending winner of the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. Photo credit: Getty Images for NASCAR.
  • Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing have combined to win seven of the first eight NASCAR Cup Series races of the season.
  • Prosper’s Chris Buescher looking for his first top-10 finish at his home track.
  • Penske duo of Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney hopeful recent successes at TMS will translate into victory.

FORT WORTH, Texas (April 8, 2024) – Texas Motor Speedway returns to its popular spring date with the NASCAR Cup Series arriving this weekend for the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400.

Sunday’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 (2:30 p.m. CT, TV: FS1, Radio: PRN, SiriusXM, Lone Star 92.5 FM locally) will be Texas Motor Speedway’s first points race in the spring since 2019 when Denny Hamlin was victorious for Joe Gibbs Racing.

The Cup Series opens its on-track action Saturday with a pair of 20-minute, split-field practice sessions beginning at 9:35 a.m. The practice will be immediately followed by pole qualifying at 10:20 a.m. It will be a single-lap, two-round format to set the field.

The Cup Series has completed eight of its 36 championship points races and plenty of storylines have developed in the early portion of the season.

Here’s the “Fast Five” storylines to watch during the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400:

1) Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing have been dominant since the outset of the season as the two organizations have combined for seven wins in the first eight races.

Hendrick Motorsports owns four of those, with defending Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 winner William Byron powering the team with a series-leading three. Byron opened the season with a win in the Daytona 500, followed with another in late March at Circuit of The Americas and secured his third Sunday at Martinsville when he led Hendrick Motorsports to a 1-2-3 finish. The other victory for the organization came at Las Vegas in early March by Kyle Larson.

“I just feel like I trust myself a little bit more,” said Byron when asked after the Martinsville win about going on this recent tear. “I know during the week that the preparation and the things going on are going to equate to the results. When you’ve had those things happen in the past, you start getting into a rhythm of it, it just starts stacking.

“But the sport is really competitive. It’s not like football. You don’t win third quarters of the games. I watch a lot of hockey. They win a lot or tie or go to overtime. We don’t. We don’t win a lot in this sport. It’s very similar to golf. There’s a lot of elements that have to go right. I just feel like it’s trying to chip away and be mentally strong.”

Hendrick Motorsports also has all of its four drivers situated among the top 10, with Larson first in the points standings and followed by Byron (fourth), Chase Elliott (sixth) and Alex Bowman (10th).

Prior to Sunday’s win by Byron, Joe Gibbs Racing had won three of the last four races. Denny Hamlin has been the catalyst with wins at Bristol and Richmond, respectively, while Christopher Bell collected the other at Phoenix to start the run. Byron interrupted the JGR charge for a four-race sweep with his win at COTA.

Joe Gibbs Racing has its four drivers among the top 11 positions, giving the two organizations eight of those spots. Martin Truex Jr. paces JGR in second, Hamlin is third, Ty Gibbs seventh and Bell 11th.

The only team to break through the two-organization stranglehold on Victory Lane has been Trackhouse Racing, which won the second race of the season at Atlanta courtesy of Daniel Suarez.

2) RFK Racing driver Chris Buescher, who grew up in nearby Prosper, Texas, returns to his home track on a recent roll as he seeks his first top-10 finish at Texas Motor Speedway.

Buescher had his bid for a fifth consecutive top-10 finish end Sunday at Martinsville when he finished 15th. That recent tear, which includes a season-best second at Phoenix, gave him five top-10 efforts in the first eight races. That total is tied for the series lead with five other drivers.

Buescher is still seeking his first top 10 at TMS after 14 career starts, but he made progress in his last appearance. At September’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400, he earned his best starting position (2nd) and finish (14th) while also leading his first laps (2) at TMS.

3) Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano are winless at Texas Motor Speedway in their last 25 combined starts, but don’t sleep on the Team Penske duo.

Logano owns 15 of those starts and converted them into 11 top-10 finishes, including eight among the top five. During that stretch, he has a pair of runner-up finishes (2016, ’22) and has led laps in nine of those races.

Blaney has posted eight top-10 finishes in 10 starts for an 80 percent clip in that span. His best effort came in the 2018 fall race when he earned the pole and finished runner-up. While Blaney is still chasing his first win at Texas, Logano collected his first and only victory in the 2014 spring race.

4) It’s difficult to believe that 2020 Cup Series champion Chase Elliott is winless in his last 42 starts, dating to his victory at Talladega on Oct. 2, 2022.

He has been on a strong run of late, with consecutive top-five performances and finishing among the top eight in three of his last four. Elliott followed up a fifth at Richmond with a season-best third Sunday at Martinsville. He also has been qualifying well, starting among the top five in four of his last five races and among the top 11 in all but one on the season.

“Nice to have a couple solid weeks, to be in contention there for a win,” Elliott said post-race at Martinsville. “Haven’t been in contention to win one in a while. It was fun to kind of get to that last restart and it actually mattered. Enjoyed that aspect. Certainly hungry for more.”

5) This will be the 44th Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, but first points-paying spring event since 2019 when Denny Hamlin won by 2.743 seconds over Clint Bowyer. It was the third career win at Texas for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver.

The following season was affected by the COVID pandemic that forced the spring race to move to July, which was won by Austin Dillon of Richard Childress Racing.

In 2021 and ’22, the spring event was replaced by the NASCAR All-Star Race that was held in June and May, respectively. Last season, the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 served as the Round of 12 opener for the NASCAR Playoffs in late September.

Tickets are on sale now for the 2024 Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 NASCAR tripleheader weekend April 12-14. The race weekend begins April 12 with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series SpeedyCash.com 250 (7:30 p.m. CT on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90), continues with the April 13 NASCAR Xfinity Series Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 (12:30 p.m. CT on FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90) and concludes with the April 14 NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 (2:30 p.m. CT on FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90 and Lone Star 92.5 – local).

Tickets are on sale now at www.texasmotorspeedway.com.

Texas Motor Speedway’s major event season also includes the High Limit Sprint Car Series (April 13), Fuel Fest (April 20), the Goodguys Rod & Custom/American Flat Track/Pate Swap Meet tripleheader weekend (April 25-28), C-10 Nationals (May 10-12), LS Fest (May 18), Bandas y Trocas (May 25), Solar Car Challenge (July 11-17), SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff 2 (Sept. 14), Goodguys Rod & Custom (Sept. 27-29), American Sprint Car Series (Oct. 4-5), the High Limit Sprint Car Series inaugural season finale (Oct. 11-12) and the Gordy’s Hwy 30 Fest Texas (Oct. 17-20).

ABOUT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Texas Motor Speedway is among the largest sports and entertainment venues in the United States and features an array of amenities such as the largest single LED screen of any sports facility in North America, making it one of the premier venues in the world of sports. The 1.5-mile superspeedway located in Fort Worth hosts all three NASCAR national series among its various races and specialty events throughout the year. Texas Motor Speedway is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, LLC, a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. For more information, please visit texasmotorspeedway.com.

TICKETS:

For ticket information about Texas Motor Speedway’s 2024 events schedule, please visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com.

MORE INFO:

Keep track of all of Texas Motor Speedway’s busy schedule by following on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Keep up with all the latest news and information on the speedway website and TMS mobile app.

Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series Race Report – Martinsville 1

Cook Out 400 – Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville, Va. – April 7, 2024

NASCAR TRACKS – MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY – NASCAR 101

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 MENARDS/LIBMAN FORD MUSTANG

START: 14TH STAGE ONE: 15TH STAGE TWO: 15TH FINISH: 23RD POINTS: 21ST

RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric, driver of the No. 2 Menards/Libman Ford Mustang, was in contention for a top-15 finish in the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway until an incident in the closing laps relegated the driver to a 23rd-place result. Cindric started the 400-lap race from the 14th position and reported early on that he was struggling with drive. The 25-year-old NASCAR Cup Series driver made his first trip to pit road at the conclusion of Stage 1 for fresh tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. After restarting 16th for the launch of the second segment, Cindric radioed in to his team on Lap 105 to communicate an improvement in the car on exit. When a caution slowed the field a handful of laps later on Lap 113 for debris, the No. 2 stayed out and restarted 15th, and remained there through the end of Stage 2. After paying a visit to the Menards/Libman pit crew for a four-tire service stop, Cindric lined up 15th for the restart, but dropped down the scoring pylon a few positions after the green flag waved. He made his final trek to pit road with just under 90 laps to go and was in contention for a top-15 result in overtime, but was involved in accident that dropped the Team Penske driver back to 23rd when the checkered flag flew.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “We had solid speed in the Menards/Libman Ford Mustang, but the strategy didn’t quite pan out and I lost us a couple spots with the choose. It’s just so hard to make up track position. We have some areas to improve on and we’ll regroup this week and get ready for Texas.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 ADVANCE AUTO PARTS FORD MUSTANG

START: 9TH STAGE ONE: 12TH STAGE TWO: 20TH FINISH: 5TH POINTS: 5TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Advance Auto Parts Ford Mustang team paired strategy and late-race speed to rally for a fifth-place finish Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, marking Blaney’s fourth top-five finish in his last five starts at the Virginia short track. Following a 12th-place finish in Stage 1, Blaney had to make an additional trip to pit road during the stage break to tighten a loose wheel, sending him back to 24th for the ensuing restart. The handling began to settle in for the Advance Auto Parts Ford over the course of the second stage, but passing was at a premium throughout the afternoon as Blaney settled for a 20th-place finish in Stage 2. Crew chief Jonathan Hassler made the call for right side tires only as the field hit pit road during the stage break, gaining the 12-team a dozen positions with the strategy play and allowing Blaney to restart from eighth for the final run of the day. Blaney settled into 10th in the running order over the course of the longest green flag run of afternoon before being called to pit road on lap 297 for four tires and a round of adjustments. He cycled to seventh in the running order after a majority of the field completed the green flag pit cycle when Blaney began to make his charge to the front, climbing to fifth on the leaderboard with 55 laps to go. The caution flag flew with three laps remaining to set up a green-white-checkered finish for the second-consecutive week and Blaney took the green flag from the outside of row two, but the top lane was unable to gain any momentum in the final two laps resulting in a fifth-place finish.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “We got good at the end. It was an uphill battle for sure. We had the issue on pit road and had to restart in the back and nobody could pass anybody. [Crew chief] Jonathan [Hassler] made a good call to put two on it at the start of the third stage and we kind of established ourselves a little bit back in the top-10. We were able to work on our car again once we got a little clean air and seeing what the car was doing and how to get it better. After the green flag stop I was really fast. I passed a handful of guys. I was kind of shocked. I held on pretty good but stalled out when I got to the 11. Overall, I am proud of the fight back from our group. Obviously not the first half of the race we wanted and we didn’t get any stage points, but I am proud of the fight and perseverance of the Advance Auto Parts Ford Mustang 12-team. We will go on to Texas.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG

START: 6TH STAGE ONE: 6TH STAGE TWO: 5TH FINISH: 6TH POINTS: 14TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano wheeled the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang to a sixth-place finish Sunday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway, marking an even 10-straight races with a top-10 result at the Virginia short track. Logano started from sixth and maintained his track position throughout the 80-lap first stage before crew chief Paul Wolfe made the call for right side tires only during the stage break as the 22-team won the race off pit road to restart Stage 2 from the point. Logano was able to keep the field in his mirror for almost the entirety of the second stage before the left side tires began to wear out as he lost the battle for the lead with 11 laps left in the segment before ultimately coming away with a fifth-place finish in Stage 2. After restarting the final stage from seventh, Logano settled in on four fresh tires as a long, green flag run ensued before the pit cycle began with just over 100 laps to go. Wolfe called Logano to pit road on lap 299 for four tires and fuel and the No. 22 cycled to eighth in the running order as the laps began to wind down. With three laps to go, the caution flag flew for a single-car incident to set up a green-white-checkered finish for the second-consecutive week. Logano took the green flag from the inside of row four and carried the momentum from the low line to cross the line sixth. Logano led a season-high 84 laps on the afternoon while gaining five spots in the driver points standings with the result.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “It was a solid day. I think we got fifth or sixth place points in each stage, somewhere around there. We led a bunch of laps. We got out front, but the tire came apart at the end of that stage there, which cost us a stage win, unfortunately. We took that risk to do it and ended up in the same spot that we were going to be, so really no risk there. After that, we kind of lost control of the race, and once that happened, once you lost the lead, nobody was going to pass anybody. The only car I saw passing was the 12. That was pretty impressive. The rest of us just followed each other all day.”

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Texas Motor Speedway for Round 9 of the 2024 season on Sunday, April 14 for the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400. Coverage begins at 3:00 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Buescher Leads RFK with Top-15 at Martinsville

No. 17 Charges Through Field for Solid P15; Keselowski 24th

RIDGEWAY, Va. (April 7, 2024) – Chris Buescher led the RFK contingent with a 15th-place finish in the BuildSubmarines.com Ford Sunday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway, in a 400-lap race that featured just three non-stage cautions.

Brad Keselowski finished 24th in the Body Guard Ford, and was caught up in an incident with two laps remaining in NASCAR Overtime.

6 Recap
Keselowski had the better of the two RFK qualifying efforts in Saturday’s single-car session, putting the No. 6 car 13th-quickest among the field. Track position reigned early on with no cautions in the opening stage, as the two-time Martinsville winner crossed the line 14th at lap 80.

The No. 6 crew gained two spots on pit road in the first stop of the day, putting Keselowski 12th on the restart for stage two. A debris caution was displayed 20 laps later with Keselowski in 16th, and he restarted there after staying out in that caution break. From there, he finished stage two 25th.

Just two cautions occurred over the final 200 laps, including one with three laps to go with Keselowski in 22nd. He would pit for right side tires in the last opportunity of the day, and apparently sustained left-front damage in the final two laps to finish 24th.

17 Recap
Buescher had ground to make up throughout the race after starting from 30th. He slowly worked his way forward, up to 26th to end the first stage, before firing off 23rd to begin stage two. He took right side tires at lap 115 and went on to end the stage in 22nd (lap 180).

After restarting the stage in 22nd, Buescher’s final pit stop of the day came at lap 299 from 20th, and from there he slowly picked off positions and into the top-15 with 50 laps remaining. Despite the late-race restart, he held on for the 15th-place result, his third-straight at ‘The Paperclip.’

Up Next
Texas Motor Speedway hosts race No. 9 on the season next weekend. Race coverage on Sunday is set for 3:30 p.m. 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.

KEVIN RIVENBARK WINS FIRST CONGRUITY NHRA PRO MOD RACE AT CATEGORY’S DEBUT IN PHOENIX

PHOENIX (April 7, 2024) – In the first-ever appearance for the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ at Firebird Motorsports Park in Phoenix, Kevin Rivenbark picked up his first career victory in front a sellout crowd as part of this weekend’s 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals.

It was the second of 10 races during the 2024 season and this weekend’s event was powered by LAT Racing Oils. Rivenbark knocked off Ken Quartuccio in a matchup of first-time finalists, going 5.746-seconds at 249.76 mph in his Culp Lumber Ford Mustang, grabbing a memorable first victory at NHRA Pro Mod’s debut in Phoenix.

“This is unreal,” Rivenbark said. “It hasn’t set in yet. We’ve run in this class off and on, and we’ve tried to be consistent the last few years, but this year we’re going to make a run for a championship. To get a win at the second race, it’s just remarkable.”

To reach the final round, Rivenbark defeated defending world champion Mike Castellana, Justin Bond and Mason Wright, going a weekend-best 5.738 at 251.02 to reach the finals.

Quartuccio, who qualified second with a 5.678 at 249.72, got to the final for the first time thanks to round wins against Chip King, Lyle Barnett and Billy Banaka.

The Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ returns to action May 17-19 as part of the Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago.


CHANDLER, Ariz. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park. The second of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+.

PRO MODIFIED:

  1. Kevin Rivenbark; 2. Ken Quartuccio; 3. Billy Banaka; 4. Mason Wright; 5. Lyle Barnett; 6. JR Gray; 7. Jose Gonzalez; 8. Justin Bond; 9. Khalid alBalooshi; 10. Mike Stavrinos; 11. Jason Lee; 12. Stan Shelton; 13. Mike Castellana; 14. Mike Thielen; 15. Dmitry Samorukov; 16. Chip King.

CHANDLER, Ariz. — Sunday’s final results from the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park. The second of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+.

Pro Modified — Kevin Rivenbark, Ford Mustang, 5.746, 249.76 def. Ken Quartuccio, Chevy Camaro, 5.828, 238.47.

CHANDLER, Ariz. — Final round-by-round results from the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park, the second of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+.

PRO MODIFIED:

ROUND ONE — Kevin Rivenbark, Ford Mustang, 5.776, 250.23 def. Mike Castellana, Chevy Camaro, 8.600, 105.46; Jose Gonzalez, Camaro, 6.676, 147.44 def. Mike Thielen, Camaro, 9.901, 81.52; Ken Quartuccio, Camaro, 5.731, 249.86 def. Chip King, Dodge Charger, Broke; Billy Banaka, Camaro, 5.738, 252.00 def. Mike Stavrinos, Camaro, 5.895, 242.50; Mason Wright, Camaro, 5.749, 248.84 def. Dmitry Samorukov, Camaro, 11.337, 77.00; JR Gray, Camaro, 6.167, 242.23 def. Stan Shelton, Mustang, 6.296, 234.33; Justin Bond, Camaro, 5.681, 251.11 def. Jason Lee, Camaro, 5.929, 235.06; Lyle Barnett, Camaro, 5.774, 248.66 def. Khalid alBalooshi, Camaro, 5.716, 252.85;

QUARTERFINALS — Wright, 5.766, 247.93 def. Gonzalez, 7.675, 123.71; Quartuccio, 5.756, 249.44 def. Barnett, 5.816, 248.57; Rivenbark, 10.048, 85.60 def. Bond, 31.055, 98.64; Banaka, 5.761, 251.53 def. Gray, 6.238, 219.97;

SEMIFINALS — Rivenbark, 5.738, 251.02 def. Wright, 6.235, 210.70; Quartuccio, 5.748, 248.98 def. Banaka, 5.998, 192.47;

FINAL — Rivenbark, 5.746, 249.76 def. Quartuccio, 5.828, 238.47.

CHANDLER, Ariz. — Point standings (top 10) following the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park, the second of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+.

Pro Modified

  1. Jose Gonzalez, 167; 2. Ken Quartuccio, 150; 3. Kevin Rivenbark, 138; 4. Mason Wright, 132; 5. Justin Bond, 117; 6. Mike Thielen, 111; 7. Billy Banaka, 106; 8. Kris Thorne, 94; 9. (tie) JR Gray, 87; Jason Scruggs, 87.

PROCK, LANGDON AND ANDERSON WIN NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS IN FRONT OF SELLOUT CROWD

PHOENIX (April 7, 2024) – Austin Prock powered to his first career Funny Car win on Sunday at Firebird Motorsports Park for John Force Racing, driving past Alexis DeJoria in the final round in front of a sellout crowd at the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals.

Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) each won at the third of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Sunday also marked the second straight sellout crowd this weekend.

Prock, who was also the No. 1 qualifier, went 3.952-seconds at 320.74 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS to get past DeJoria in his second final round this season. After defeating Buddy Hull, Daniel Wilkerson and points leader J.R. Todd to reach the finals, Prock led wire-to-wire against DeJoria, becoming just the 19th driver in NHRA history to win in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.

It marked a memorable moment for Prock, especially winning with his father, Jimmy, as the crew chief, and his brother, Thomas, as the car chief.

“This is a huge win,” Prock said. “This car has been running great and we started the year out strong and struggled a little bit last week in Pomona. We had to get some revenge this weekend and we definitely did that. That was a great run in the final round there. That’s a run we were trying to do that all weekend long and just couldn’t piece it all together. For it all to finally come together to get my first Funny Car win means a lot.

“To enter that league (of winning in Top Fuel and Funny Car) with the Don Prudhommes, the Shawn Langdons, the J.R. Todds, the Kenny Bernsteins, who are legends and Hall of Famers, it’s pretty cool to be a part of that. To do it with my family makes it even more special. It was a beautiful day, a packed house and we’re rolling out of here with some gold. What more could you ask for?”

DeJoria reached the finals for the first time this season thanks to round wins against Bob Tasca III, Paul Lee and Blake Alexander.

Shawn Langdon picked up his second Top Fuel win in three races to open the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, this time knocking off Justin Ashley in the final round on Sunday with a run of 3.760 at 318.69 in his 11,000-horsepower Kalitta Air Careers/Toyota dragster. It’s the first career Top Fuel win at Firebird Motorsports Park for Langdon, who also denied Ashley a double-up victory this weekend in Phoenix. Langdon defeated Josh Hart, Antron Brown and No. 1 qualifier Steve Torrence to reach the final round and then posted a brilliant .050 reaction time against Ashley to pick up his 19th career victory.

It’s the first time Langdon has led the points three races in a row since the 2015 campaign as he continues to roll early in the year, again crediting the job first-year crew chief Brian Husen has done.

“When you run a Justin in the final, you know what he’s capable of. He’s the best leaver in the class bar none, so my only focus was just leave with him. and then leave it up to Brian because I have that much confidence in Brian and my guys,” Langdon said. “So when I hit the gas, we left with him, I said, ‘Well, we’ve got a shot,’ and so I just tried to hold it straight and saw the win light and the rest is history.

“It feels great, obviously. I’m just really proud of everybody and all the hard work that went into the offseason. It’s been hard for the last couple of years to struggle. but you just keep your head down, just keep working hard, and eventually, the tide’s going to roll the other way. At some point, you don’t know how long that will be but it’s paying dividends right now.”

Ashley reached his second straight final and 21st overall on the strength of round wins against Tony Schumacher, Doug Kalitta and Tony Stewart, who won his first rounds in Top Fuel on Sunday.

In Pro Stock, Greg Anderson grabbed his first victory of the season in impressive fashion, taking down teammate Dallas Glenn in the final round with a 6.582 at 208.97 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. It’s also the 104th career victory for Anderson and his third career win in Phoenix, winning at Firebird Motorsports Park for the first time since 2017. Anderson defeated Eric Latino, Troy Coughlin Jr. and then No. 1 qualifier and longtime rival Jeg Coughlin Jr. to reach the championship round, posting an impressive .022 reaction time to lead wire-to-wire against his KB Titan Racing teammate.

The early-season win is also a breath of fresh air for Anderson, who remains focused on winning a sixth career world championship. He didn’t pick up a victory last year until late in the season but made sure that didn’t happen again on Sunday in Phoenix.

“This feels great and, honestly, it feels as good as the first,” Anderson said. “It’s just so hard to win in this class anymore and to have the day I had, the weekend I had, I actually a good job behind the wheel. I’m really thrilled with that, but that’s what it takes to win in this class anymore. You have to have the whole total package, you have to have the best car, you have to have the best crew and you have to drive it well.

“We were able to put all three together today on a very, very tricky racetrack. It’s a tough one, but I love those challenges. My crew loves those challenges. You had to be on your toes, so now we’re going to Vegas with a little bit of momentum.”

Glenn, who won the postponed Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals on Saturday in Phoenix, reached the finals for the 19th time in his career and second time this season thanks to round wins against Mason McGaha, Cristian Cuadra and Aaron Stanfield.

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action April 12-14 with the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.


CHANDLER, Ariz. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park. The race is the third of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:

  1. Shawn Langdon; 2. Justin Ashley; 3. Steve Torrence; 4. Tony Stewart; 5. Doug Kalitta; 6. Shawn Reed; 7. Billy Torrence; 8. Antron Brown; 9. Tony Schumacher; 10. Clay Millican; 11. Terry Totten; 12. Josh Hart; 13. Travis Shumake; 14. Brittany Force; 15. Jasmine Salinas; 16. Krista Baldwin.

FUNNY CAR:

  1. Austin Prock; 2. Alexis DeJoria; 3. J.R. Todd; 4. Blake Alexander; 5. John Force; 6. Daniel Wilkerson; 7. Bobby Bode; 8. Paul Lee; 9. Cruz Pedregon; 10. Matt Hagan; 11. Chad Green; 12. Buddy Hull; 13. Ron Capps; 14. Jim Campbell; 15. Bob Tasca III; 16. Jeff Diehl.

PRO STOCK:

  1. Greg Anderson; 2. Dallas Glenn; 3. Aaron Stanfield; 4. Jeg Coughlin; 5. Erica Enders; 6. Jerry Tucker; 7. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 8. Cristian Cuadra; 9. Deric Kramer; 10. Chris McGaha; 11. Eric Latino; 12. Brandon Foster; 13. Mason McGaha; 14. Matt Hartford; 15. Kenny Delco; 16. David Cuadra.

CHANDLER, Ariz. — Sunday’s final results from the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park. The race is the third of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel — Shawn Langdon, 3.760 seconds, 318.69 mph def. Justin Ashley, 3.849 seconds, 324.98 mph.

Funny Car — Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.952, 320.74 def. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota GR Supra, 4.049, 316.90.

Pro Stock — Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.582, 208.97 def. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.618, 208.91.

Super Stock — Ryan McClanahan, Chevy Cobalt, 8.471, 154.86 def. Brad Burton, Pontiac Firebird, 9.340, 135.27.

Stock Eliminator — Tony Marconi, Plymouth Demon, 10.927, 116.44 def. Mike Cotten,Plymouth Duster, 11.042, 118.72.

Super Comp — Madison Payne, Dragster, 10.840, 88.24 def. Tim Parker, Dragster, Broke.

Super Gas — Evan Kowalski, Chevy Corvette, 9.926, 156.34 def. John Dexter, Corvette, 9.966, 144.97.

Super Street — Keith Manogue, ChevyNova, 10.892, 140.23 def. Matthew Bong, Ford ustang, 10.856, 134.28.

Top Sportsman — Allen Firestone, Chevy Camaro, 6.420, 207.98 def. Bryan Warr, Camaro, 6.755, 203.65.

Top Dragster — Thomas Bayer, Dragster, 6.151, 211.89 def. Dylon Hough, Dragster, 6.662, 199.17.

Pro Modified — Kevin Rivenbark, Ford Mustang, 5.746, 249.76 def. Ken Quartuccio, Chevy Camaro, 5.828, 238.47.

Legends Nostalgia Funny Car presented by Modern Warriors — Geoff Monise, Pontiac Firebird, 4.755, 238.68 def. Bobby Cottrell, Chevy Camaro, 4.810, 230.02.

CHANDLER, Ariz. — Final round-by-round results from the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park, the third of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE — Billy Torrence, 4.733, 160.79 def. Krista Baldwin, 10.331, 75.81; Shawn Reed, 3.791, 324.36 def. Jasmine Salinas, 6.880, 83.16; Justin Ashley, 3.804, 328.22 def. Tony Schumacher, 3.791, 325.69; Tony Stewart, 4.163, 260.56 def. Brittany Force, 6.396, 94.92; Doug Kalitta, 3.993, 247.25 def. Terry Totten, 3.978, 285.53; Steve Torrence, 3.829, 327.90 def. Travis Shumake, 4.504, 191.73; Antron Brown, 3.804, 327.35 def. Clay Millican, 3.898, 271.35; Shawn Langdon, 18.546, 53.50 def. Josh Hart, Foul – Red Light;

QUARTERFINALS — Stewart, 3.978, 250.46 def. B. Torrence, 7.844, 67.89; S. Torrence, 3.835, 322.04 def. Reed, 4.867, 158.26; Langdon, 3.823, 322.88 def. Brown, 9.059, 85.10; Ashley, 3.825, 326.00 def. Kalitta, 3.866, 307.37;

SEMIFINALS — Ashley, 3.844, 323.74 def. Stewart, 3.885, 316.45; Langdon, 3.870, 316.52 def. S. Torrence, 3.851, 324.90;

FINAL — Langdon, 3.760, 318.69 def. Ashley, 3.849, 324.98.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE — Alexis DeJoria, Toyota GR Supra, 4.108, 286.44 def. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 8.310, 86.16; Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 3.973, 320.97 def. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, Foul – Red Light; Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 4.398, 277.83 def. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.673, 184.80; John Force, Camaro, 3.991, 314.75 def. Jim Campbell, Chevy Monte Carlo, 6.551, 97.64; J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.936, 324.05 def. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.023, 314.83; Blake Alexander, Mustang, 4.525, 293.15 def. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 5.055, 182.33; Bobby Bode, Mustang, 4.027, 315.19 def. Chad Green, Mustang, 4.141, 276.01; Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.949, 324.28 def. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.043, 310.48;

QUARTERFINALS — DeJoria, 4.043, 309.20 def. Bode, 9.485, 81.25; Alexander, 7.874, 73.62 def. Lee, Broke; Prock, 4.053, 280.54 def. Wilkerson, 7.514, 98.44; Todd, 4.003, 319.90 def. Force, 4.036, 317.64;

SEMIFINALS — DeJoria, 4.060, 313.44 def. Alexander, 8.463, 85.30; Prock, 3.999, 315.34 def. Todd, 4.010, 320.97;

FINAL — Prock, 3.952, 320.74 def. DeJoria, 4.049, 316.90.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE — Jerry Tucker, Chevy Camaro, 6.652, 209.26 def. David Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 18.511, 43.37; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.620, 209.52 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 14.598, 70.91; Cristian Cuadra, Mustang, 6.607, 208.62 def. Brandon Foster, Camaro, 6.626, 207.34; Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.587, 209.59 def. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.586, 208.81; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.569, 209.56 def. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.621, 209.14; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.572, 209.23 def. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 7.041, 157.71; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.558, 209.69 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.619, 208.71; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.552, 210.11 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 7.538, 157.28;

QUARTERFINALS — Glenn, 9.668, 148.28 def. C. Cuadra, Foul – Red Light; Anderson, 6.586, 209.33 def. Coughlin Jr., 17.087, 48.43; Stanfield, 6.877, 197.94 def. Enders, 7.076, 207.05; Coughlin, 6.619, 209.20 def. Tucker, 9.417, 101.81;

SEMIFINALS — Glenn, 6.635, 208.42 def. Stanfield, 6.798, 208.39; Anderson, 6.612, 208.78 def. Coughlin, 10.928, 103.10;

FINAL — Anderson, 6.582, 208.97 def. Glenn, 6.618, 208.91.

CHANDLER, Ariz. — Point standings (top 10) following the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park, the third of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series –

Top Fuel

  1. Shawn Langdon, 295; 2. Justin Ashley, 259; 3. Steve Torrence, 225; 4. Billy Torrence, 212; 5. Antron Brown, 167; 6. Doug Kalitta, 166; 7. Tony Schumacher, 165; 8. Brittany Force, 146; 9. Tony Stewart, 134; 10. (tie) Josh Hart, 116.

Shawn Reed, 116.

Funny Car

  1. J.R. Todd, 262; 2. Austin Prock, 260; 3. John Force, 211; 4. Matt Hagan, 189; 5. Ron Capps, 170; 6. Bob Tasca III, 155; 7. Paul Lee, 146; 8. Alexis DeJoria, 144; 9. Chad Green, 140; 10. Daniel Wilkerson, 120.

Pro Stock

  1. Dallas Glenn, 295; 2. Erica Enders, 291; 3. Greg Anderson, 267; 4. Jeg Coughlin, 175; 5. Cristian Cuadra, 168; 6. Aaron Stanfield, 159; 7. David Cuadra, 136; 8. Brandon Foster, 131; 9. Troy Coughlin Jr., 122; 10. Matt Hartford, 121.

Pro Modified

  1. Jose Gonzalez, 167; 2. Ken Quartuccio, 150; 3. Kevin Rivenbark, 138; 4. Mason Wright, 132; 5. Justin Bond, 117; 6. Mike Thielen, 111; 7. Billy Banaka, 106; 8. Kris Thorne, 94; 9. (tie) JR Gray, 87; Jason Scruggs, 87.