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Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 Presented by Westgate Resorts Spire Motorsports Race Advance

The Victoria’s Voice Foundation presented by Westgate Resorts will mark the first time Spire Motorsports will field a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) entry at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS).

Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados full time in the NCTS. An all-star driver lineup will rotate throughout the 2024 season in the No. 7 Chevy. Rajah Caruth will drive the No. 71 entry and Chase Purdy rounds out the team’s fleet of Chevrolets in the No. 77.

The Victoria’s Voice 200 presented by Westgate Resorts from Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be televised live on FS1 Friday, March 1, beginning at 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The third of 23 NCTS races on the 2024 schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Kyle Busch – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado

  • Kyle Busch, the defending winner of the Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200, will make his second of five starts for Spire Motorsports Friday night at LVMS. The Las Vegas native led a race-high 84 laps en route to his fourth career NCTS victory at the 1.5-mile tri-oval. Additionally, Busch has one Cup Series win and two NASCAR Xfinity Series triumphs at LVMS.
  • The 38-year-old driver opened his 2024 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series campaign last weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway by picking up his series-record extending 65th career victory in his Spire Motorsports debut. It was his first NCTS victory for a team other than his own since Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) originated in 2010.
  • KBM collected a series’ record 100 wins, seven owner’s championships and two driver’s championships (Erik Jones 2015 and Christopher Bell 2017), before selling its assets to Spire Motorsports at the end of the 2023 season.
  • Busch will get behind the wheel of the No. 7 Chevrolet for three additional races in 2024: Bristol Motor Speedway (3/16), Texas Motor Speedway (4/12) and Darlington Raceway (5/10).
  • Group 1001 will serve as the primary sponsor on Busch’s Chevy this weekend. Group 1001 is a collective that empowers companies to create positive growth. Our insurance and annuities are easy to understand and accessible to all. Our online investing platform gives individuals control over their savings. Our technology and innovation help companies succeed. And our strategic partnerships bring people together through education and sports. As of September 30, 2023, Group 1001 had combined assets under management of $59.8 billion. It comprises the following brands: Delaware Life, Gainbridge®, Clear Spring Health, Clear Spring Property and Casualty Group, Clear Spring Life and Annuity Company, and RVI Group.
  • In addition to being the winningest driver in NCTS history, Busch also leads the series all-time with an average finish of 6.4 and ranks second in laps led (7,820).
  • “Rowdy” has won 38 percent (65/171) of the Truck Series races he has entered going into the 2024 season and has finished first or second in 57.3 percent (98/171). Over his last 32 NCTS starts, he has posted an average finish of 3.03, while registering 17 wins and nine runner-up finishes.
  • With his win at Atlanta, he extended his series-best streak of winning at least one race to 12 consecutive seasons (2013-2024).
  • Busch will be pulling double duty this weekend, as he heads into his second season behind the wheel of the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • The No. 7 Silverado, which competed in 11 NCTS events in 2023, graduated to a full time-effort in 2024 with multiple drivers competing for an owner’s championship. Veteran crew chief Brian Pattie leads the team. Details regarding the rest of the No. 7 team’s driver lineup are forthcoming.
  • All three of Spire’s NCTS wins have been registered by the No. 7 team. In addition to Busch’s win last weekend, William Byron collected the organization’s first-ever Truck Series win at Martinsville Speedway in April of 2022 and Kyle Larson was victorious last May at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Kyle Busch Quotes
Coming off a win last weekend at Atlanta, what’s your outlook heading into Friday night’s race at Las Vegas?
“It’s always cool to be able to run in multiple series going back to my hometown track and having multiple shots to get to Victory Lane. Last year at KBM, the Las Vegas race was probably the best truck, handling-wise, that we had all year, so I’m confident that (Brian) Pattie and my team will be unloading another really fast Group 1001 Chevy Silverado Friday night. It’ll be a brand-new truck, so I’m sure after having a year of being in the Truck Series under his belt he has observed and learned a lot that he’s put into making this newest piece even faster than what we had last year. Obviously, my goal every year in the Truck Series is to go five-for-five with the races that I can run. You can’t be perfect if you don’t win the first one, so we’ve got that one under our belts, now it’s on to the next one,”

Rajah Caruth – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado

  • Rajah Caruth will make his second NCTS start at LVMS in Friday’s Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 where HENDRICKCARS.COM will be featured as the No. 71 team’s primary sponsor for the third consecutive week.
  • HENDRICKCARS.COM has extended its partnership of Caruth and Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 NCTS team to include the entire calendar of races on the 2024 schedule.
  • HENDRICKCARS.COM is the online home for everything Hendrick Automotive Group. Visitors can shop thousands of new or pre-owned vehicles, locate centers for service and collision repair, receive a value to sell or trade their car, chat online with customer service, discover career opportunities, learn more about vehicle protections programs, and explore how the company gives back to the community.
  • The Washington D.C. native opened the season with a third-place finish at Daytona International Speedway and backed it up with an eighth-place showing last weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
  • Caruth will be answering questions about his season in the LVMS Media Center Friday, March 1, at 1 p.m. local time.
  • Race fans can meet the 21-year-old on Friday at 3:30 p.m. while he signs autographs in the LVMS neon garage.
  • The rising star has one prior NCTS start and three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the 1.5-mile Las Vegas oval and looks to better his venue-best 20th-place effort in Friday night’s 200-miler.

Rajah Caruth Quotes
A top five and a top 10 to start the year. How do you keep the momentum going into Las Vegas?
“I don’t think we will do anything different, necessarily. I think we’ve had a solid start and we’ve got good chemistry flowing so we won’t change any of the ingredients. We’ll just adjust the process to a different racetrack but otherwise we keep doing the same things the same way and adjust accordingly. So, there’s no reason why we can’t go to Vegas and do a little bit better than what we’ve done so far this year.”
You mentioned how it’s a different racetrack, and you’ve had two superspeedways to begin the year. How do you feel heading into Vegas with a different track setup?
“I feel prepared. I know there’s a lot of things out of my control but honestly, I’m relieved to get out of two of the wildcard races so far with having a solid amount of points and being in a good position. Going into Vegas, the Spire Motorsports equipment is really good. You’ll see it on the racetrack this weekend.”
As the season progresses, are there any upcoming tracks that you’re particularly excited about or anticipate will be especially challenging?
“I think each one probably for different reasons. I think about the tracks where I had speed last year and then I think about the tracks where I needed to be a little bit better. Overall, I’m just excited to go racing with my team every week. I know we’re going to elevate each other.”

Chase Purdy – Driver, No.77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado

  • Chase Purdy will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Bama Buggies Chevrolet Silverado in Saturday’s NCTS Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200.
  • Purdy comes into Round 3 of the 2024 NCTS campaign 21st in points.
  • In five NCTS starts at LVMS, Purdy has earned an average starting position of 15.6 and a 17th-place average finish. The Meridian, Miss., driver has completed a total of 667 of 670 laps (99.6 percent) contested over that stretch.
  • Purdy started third and finished eighth in last season’s Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200.
  • Last weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Purdy started ninth, raced inside the top-10 for most of the event, but ultimately came home 15th after battling an ill-handling Chevrolet Silverado in the late stages of the race.
  • Purdy’s crew chief Jason Trinchere is looking to capitalize on his previous NASCAR Xfinity Series success at LVMS. In six previous Xfinity Series races, leading the effort for Kaulig Racing, Trinchere has called one win and six top-10 finishes with four different drivers. The Penn State University graduate led A.J. Allmendinger to the checkered flag in the 2021 Alsco Uniforms 300.

Chase Purdy Quotes
Las Vegas Motor Speedway presents a very different style of racing than Daytona and Atlanta. How do you prepare differently for a more traditional intermediate track?
“Going to Vegas is going to be a test for everyone. It’s the first non-speedway track, so I’m excited to get there and see how everything plays out. I love this track and have run well there in the past, so hopefully we can have a solid showing on Friday night.”
You’ve run well during the races but haven’t had the finishes to show it. How do you stay confident knowing that you can run well?
“I think the biggest thing is focusing on what I can control. I know that I have the ability, tools, and the right people around me. I will just stay working at it, doing the best I can. The stars will align for our team soon if we keep putting in the work.”
How do you rate your Atlanta race?
“I’d say my race at Atlanta was eventful. We started the weekend on a positive note with our qualifying effort, but we struggled during the race. My team really worked hard to fix the balance, so we’ll take the positives and use those to our advantage in Las Vegas.”

From the Top of the Box

Brian Pattie – Crew Chief, No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado

  • Brian Pattie comes to Spire Motorsports from Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM), where he earned two victories last year, both with team owner-driver Kyle Busch. The duo started off the 2024 campaign with a victory at Atlanta last weekend.
  • In addition to his three NCTS triumphs with Busch, he also won with Ron Fellows at Watkins Glen International in 1999.
  • Pattie was atop the pit box for six wins across 14 seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series and has 11 career victories as a crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
  • Pattie’s lone start at Las Vegas in the Truck Series resulted in a win with Busch in last year’s event.

Chad Walter – Crew Chief, No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado

  • Chad Walter has over two decades of experience and began his career with Hendrick Motorsports in 1996.
  • He comes to Spire Motorsports with Caruth after spending last season in the same role with GMS Racing.
  • Some of his most notable accomplishments include a pair of Daytona 500 victories (2001 & 2003) with Michael Waltrip, along with Cup Series wins with Steve Park and Terry Labonte.

Jason Trinchere – Crew Chief, No. 77 Chevrolet Silverado

  • Jason Trinchere earned his Bachelor of Science from Penn State University and began his professional career in 2005 as the race engineer for the iconic No. 75 Spears Manufacturing NCTS team, owned by series’ pioneers Wayne and Connie Spears.
  • Notable accomplishments include Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 wins with both Ganassi Racing and Penske Racing. He was a key member of the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series Championship team with driver Joey Logano.
  • He comes to Spire Motorsports from Kaulig Racing where he began as an engineer before being promoted to crew chief in 2021, ultimately serving in that capacity for all three of the organization’s NXS teams.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports is a NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2024, Spire Motorsports will campaign the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series with drivers Corey LaJoie, Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar, respectively. The team will also field the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados full time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. An all-star driver lineup will rotate throughout the 2024 season in the No. 7 Chevy. Rajah Caruth will drive the No. 71 entry and Chase Purdy rounds out the team’s fleet of Chevrolets in the No. 77.

Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on May 20, 2023, when Kyle Larson took the checkered flag in the Tyson 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Race Preview | Las Vegas I

CLUB ENTRY LIST

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
POINT STANDINGS: 13TH

ERIK JONES
POINT STANDINGS: 17TH

CLUB NOTES

Survivors of Atlanta: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB drivers John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones had an eventful race last weekend at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. After fighting handling woes in qualifying, the No. 42 and No. 43 Toyotas were both involved in a multi-car incident on lap two. Both teams repaired the cars and continued to race in the 400-mile event, but the damage sustained in the crash hindered forward progress. Nemechek would finish in the 21st position followed by Jones in 25th.

Checkout lane: Nemechek’s Toyota Camry XSE will debut a new paint scheme in Las Vegas with grocery store chains Safeway and Albertsons featured as the primary sponsors. The door panels on the No. 42 will showcase brands all, Dial ,Persil, Snuggle, Baja Vida Beef Jerky, Daisy Brand, Pete & Gerry’s, and RedBird Farms as associate partners

Hitting the jackpot: Both LEGACY M.C. drivers have claimed NASCAR Truck Series victories at Las Vegas Motor Speedway while driving Toyota Tundras fielded by Kyle Busch Motorsports. Jones went to victory lane first in the 2014 event, followed by Nemechek in 2021.

Vegas domination: LEGACY M.C.’s co-owner Jimmie Johnson and competition advisor Matt Kenseth completely dominated Las Vegas Motor Speedway throughout the 2000’s. During the five years between 2003 and 2007, Kenseth and Johnson were the only Cup Series drivers to win at the track. Johnson’s four wins (‘05, ‘06, ‘07, and ‘10) and Kenseth’s three (‘03, ‘04, and ‘13) account for nearly a quarter of all NCS races held at Vegas.

Doubling down in the desert: Nemechek will make his third NASCAR Xfinity Series start of the season behind the wheel of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing GR Supra on Saturday. Both of Nemechek’s cars this week will feature the same primary sponsors, Safeway and Albertsons.

Community ties: LEGACY M.C. co-owner, Maury Gallagher, has his roots firmly planted in Nevada. Gallagher, who also serves as chairman and CEO of Allegiant Travel Company, is a full-time resident of Las Vegas and oversees the airline from its headquarters located just over 20 miles from the track. Gallagher recently served as the Chairman of the Super Bowl Host Committee and Allegiant has been a national partner of the Make-A-Wish Foundation since 2012. Also in 2023, Allegiant Travel Company pledged $1 million to Boys & Girls Clubs of America to develop and launch a new program that will inspire children to choose future careers in aviation.

Remembering Spencer Clark: Gallagher’s introduction to the sport of NASCAR came from a partnership with a bright local racer who competed at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring, Spencer Clark. Sadly, as Clark’s career began to take shape in the NASCAR national ranks, he lost his life in a highway accident in 2006. Gallagher’s book, “Fueling a Legacy, The Long-Shot Success of GMS” details Gallagher’s relationship with Clark and the origins of GMS Racing (now LEGACY M.C.).

Marathon Matt: Kenseth won’t be in Vegas this weekend but is competing in a race of his own – the 2024 Tokyo Marathon in Japan. Kenseth gained an interest in running in 2014, as his wife Katie has always been a runner, and his first 5k was ironically a Jimmie Johnson Foundation-sanctioned fitness event. Towards the end of his driving career, Kenseth gained interests in cycling, and running, and decided to train for marathons. Since 2019, Kenseth has competed in five of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors: Berlin (3:07:44), London (2:58:23), Chicago (3:09:08), Boston (3:01:40), and New York (3:11:33). Tokyo marks the final event for Kenseth to earn his “Six Star Medal” which is an elite award to honor the runners who compete in all six major marathons. Upon completion, he will be included in the “Six Star Hall of Fame”. The 26.2-mile event takes place on March 3 in Tokyo.

West Coast Hall of Fame, Class of 2024: The West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame named its Class of 2024 today, which includes LEGACY M.C.’s co-owner Johnson and chief executive officer Cal Wells III. Johnson and Wells III will be joined by Eric Holmes, Jimmy Vasser, and the late Dick Cobb. The Class of 2024 will be enshrined Thursday, June 6, during the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame’s induction gala, at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway’s Turn 11 Club VIP/Hospitality complex encircling the road course’s iconic Turn 11.

ICYMI: This week LEGACY M.C. announced a partnership with D3O®, (pronounced Dee – three- oh) the world’s leading protection brand. D3O develops unique products used to protect against impact and dampen vibration. The iconic orange D3O material is used by global brands in sports, electronics, motorcycle, mountain bike, defense, law enforcement, and industrial workwear.

CLUB QUOTES

John Hunter Nemechek, Driver of the No. 42 Safeway / Albertsons Toyota Camry XSE:

On the importance of managing patience throughout longer Cup Series races compared to the Xfinity Series: “I think the best mindset or approach is to go into these races without any expectation and just do the best you can as a team and the best I can do as a driver. If we’re fast, we’re fast, but if not, we’ll just have to keep working at it because we’re continuing to try and build our program at LEGACY M.C. It’ll be the first true test at a mile-and-a-half this year to see the speed we have in our Safeway / Albertsons Toyota Camry XSE, so we’ll see what we’ve got.”

Ben Beshore, Crew chief of the No. 42 Safeway / Albertsons Toyota Camry XSE:

From what you’ve seen in simulation, how well do you anticipate the new Camry XSE to handle aerodynamically on these intermediate tracks? “That’s tough to tell right now. I think we’ll have to get some laps under us in real-life conditions in traffic and around other cars to know what we’ve got there. Vegas is one of the first true intermediate tracks we go to with the new body style, so it’ll be a good learning experience and hopefully what we learn here can be carried over in some of the other tracks coming up like Texas, Charlotte, and Kansas. It’ll be a good proving ground for some of those upcoming intermediate tracks.”

Erik Jones, Driver of the No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE:

On what makes a driver successful at 1.5-mile tracks. “I think the 1.5-mile tracks now are so momentum-based that having a car where you can keep your momentum up and be able to move around in traffic is probably the most important thing. The 1.5-mile tracks have become pretty enjoyable with this car and this package, I feel like they are pretty ‘racy’ and they are challenging. Everyone is running close to the same speed and time, but I feel like you can move around and do a lot of different things on these 1.5-mile tracks like Vegas.”

Dave Elenz, Crew chief of the No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE:

“The core of our season is intermediate tracks, so it is important to have speed at all of these tracks and have good results. Last year, that (intermediate tracks) was a strength for us. To end the season, we had a lot of good runs at some 1.5-mile tracks. We look forward to seeing what we have this year with Toyota, seeing where our speed stacks up, and getting an understanding of what we have to work on moving forward.”

PETTY 75TH ANNIVERSARY

The 2024 season marks a significant milestone in the history of the Petty family as they have helped define stock car racing for 75 years. Their commitment to the sport and the people who make it possible – behind the wheel, under the hood, in the back office and beyond – has shaped the growth and success of NASCAR. Their LEGACY lives on with the countless fans, drivers, technicians and team members they touched. Throughout 2024, LEGACY M.C. will celebrate the Petty family and share countless memories with friends and fans at race tracks across the country.

Family affair in Vegas: The Petty family was well represented at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March of 2000 as the father-son duo of Kyle and Adam Petty shared the track for the race weekend. Adam Petty competed in the then-Busch Series finishing 17th. Father Kyle then raced in the NASCAR Cup Series event leading for six laps and finishing 29th.

CLUB PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Pre-race teammate pose with “The King’s Hat” in Atlanta.

(Photo courtesy of LEGACY M.C.)

BROADCAST INFO

LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

SUNDAY, MARCH 3RD | 3:30 PM ET

ABOUT OUR PARTNERS

ABOUT DOLLAR TREE, INC.: Dollar Tree, a Fortune 200 Company, operated 16,622 stores across 48 states and five Canadian provinces as of October 28, 2023. Stores operate under the brands of Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree Canada. To learn more about the Company, visit www.DollarTree.com.

ABOUT SAFEWAY: In 1915, M.B. Skaggs, an ambitious young man in the small Idaho town of American Falls, purchased a tiny grocery store from his father. M.B.’s business strategy, to give his customers value and to expand by keeping a narrow profit margin, proved spectacularly successful. By 1926 he had opened 428 Skaggs stores in 10 states. M.B. almost doubled the size of his business that year when he merged his company with 322 Safeway (formerly Selig) stores and incorporated as Safeway, Inc. Two years later, M.B. listed Safeway on the New York Stock Exchange. M.B. did not let the difficulties of the Great Depression dilute his pioneering focus on value for customers. In the 1930s, Safeway introduced produce pricing by the pound, added “sell by” dates on perishables to assure freshness, nutritional labeling and even created some of the first parking lots.

M.B. Skagg’s value vision still drives Safeway, though on a dramatically larger scale. Today, Safeway operates as a banner of Albertsons Companies, one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States. With both a strong local presence and national scale, the company operates stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia under 20 well-known banners. Albertsons Companies is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood. In 2017 alone, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the company gave nearly $300 million in food and financial support. These efforts helped millions of people in the areas of hunger relief, education, cancer research and treatment, programs for people with disabilities and veterans outreach.

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ is a professional auto racing club owned by businessman and entrepreneur Maurice “Maury” J. Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. The CLUB competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series fielding the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE of John Hunter Nemechek, the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE of Erik Jones, and the No. 84 limited schedule entry for Johnson. LEGACY M.C. also competes in the Extreme-E Series. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty “The King” serves as Club Ambassador. With a unique title signifying a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for all motorsport enthusiasts to celebrate the past and future legacies of its members, while competing for wins and championships at NASCAR’s elite level. To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ on Facebook, X, Instagram and at www.LEGACYMOTORCLUB.com.

Todd Gilliland Las Vegas Media Availability

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Pennzoil 400 Advance | Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Todd Gilliiland, driver of the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Front Row Motorsports, ranks first in the number of laps led after two NASCAR Cup Series races. GIlliland led a race-high 58 circuits in Sunday’s event at Atlanta Motor Speedway and has 73 overall going into this weekend’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Gilliland spoke about the start to his season during a Ford Performance media call this morning.

TODD GILLILAND, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford Mustang Dark Horse – HOW DO YOU FEEL GOING INTO VEGAS? “I think it’s definitely bittersweet. We definitely could have come out of here with absolutely no positives, so it’s still really nice to be leading laps led. Obviously, we need to start adding up the points, but this is speed like I’ve never had before in the Cup Series, regardless of the racetrack even though they’ve both been superspeedway type races. That’s still exciting for me and it’s definitely gonna be interesting to see where we stack up this weekend.”

HOW DO YOU MENTALLY AND STRATEGICALLY HANDLE THE FACT YOU’VE LED ALL THESE LAPS BUT ARE IN A POINTS HOLE? “There’s definitely no hiding it. We are in a hole in points, but at the same time I think Joey Logano is right behind me. I think Keselowski is right there and those are guys that you know are gonna be up there and probably most likely in the playoffs by the end of the season. Obviously, it’s bigger for us as maybe a smaller team to rack up the points as quickly as you can because you never know when the opportunities are gonna stop coming up. Overall, I’m just trying to take the positives out of it. I think this is definitely the most I’ve ever raced around the sport’s best drivers for the last couple of weeks, and hopefully I have a long career ahead of us. Obviously, we need to get points right now, but any of these high spots are obviously gonna help me moving forward also.”

POINTS WON’T MATTER IF YOU WIN. HOW MUCH CLOSER DO YOU FEEL YOU ARE TO CHALLENGING FOR A WIN COMPARED TO A FEW MONTHS AGO? “To me, this year has been miles closer to having the speed and the execution of a full race to potentially get the win. I think it’s still a very long road ahead. I think, truthfully, at Atlanta if everything went right, we could have had a really good chance at the win. To me, that’s definitely gonna be looked at as a missed opportunity. I think if we could have been up there, we could have at least gotten a good finish but, honestly, could have been battling for that win. That’s what we have to change our expectations to. I think we’re miles closer to potentially winning a race, but there’s also so much that goes into a full 400 or 500-mile race that we probably still need to get quite a bit better at.”

IS THIS A DAYTONA/ATLANTA/SUPERSPEEDWAY THING WITH THE SPEED YOU’VE SHOWN OR IS THIS A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME FOR THIS TEAM THE REST OF THE YEAR? “I think it’s probably a little bit of both. I think we have a lot of new exciting partnerships, whether it’s the Tier 1 program with Ford or our new alliance with Team Penske, I think all of that stuff has been helping us, pointing our team in the right direction to make these decisions, but at the same time I think it’s even past the speed of it. It’s the speed plus how good my car drove, even at Daytona. Taking pushes, I could lead a line and all of that stuff, whereas before I’ve been up in the mix but the cars I’ve had the last couple of weeks have just had a different feeling of having the potential speedwise, but also handling-wise, whereas before we would have had to pick one or the other. Let’s say we wanted to go qualify really well at Atlanta, we would probably have had to give up quite a bit of handling, so, to me, there’s more layers to it. I’m hopeful that we’re gonna show more speed here at Vegas, but on the same foot I think we finished 28th and 31st there last year, so we have tons to improve on, but I’m really excited and very hopeful that this weekend will at least be a couple of steps in the right direction.”

WHERE IS YOUR CONFIDENCE NOW WITH BEING ABLE TO RUN AT THE FRONT WITH A LOT OF THESE OTHER TOP DRIVERS? “It’s super exciting for me. As still a youngerish guy that is still trying to find my way and make a name for myself, racing against the best of the best is just a huge confidence booster for myself. I think I can do it and expect myself to be able to run well in those positions, but you never know what the other guys or the industry is gonna think of yourself when you’re up there, so, for me, it’s been really awesome and just have to put those experiences in the memory bank. This is a huge confidence sport. Like when we unload at Vegas, I’m gonna need to be very confident in my car to go almost wide-open around that place from lap one, so it definitely carries over and even if it’s not so much as the on-track results, I think even if it’s our race team we have mostly new mechanics, new car chief. I really think the expectation of our team this year, even if it’s through the first two races, we’ve seen the potential of what we can do at these type of racetracks and that needs to be the expectation going forward. It’s confidence inducing for me as well as my whole team.”

WHAT ARE YOU DOING DIFFERENTLY NOW THAN MAYBE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO? IS YOUR PREPARATION THE SAME? “My preparation, for the most part, is very similar, but you definitely learn stuff along the way and, honestly, from the past three years there was the first year of the Next Gen car. You didn’t even know what to prepare on and then me being a rookie and then now three years in I definitely as a whole that our race team and myself know what is important, maybe what’s not so important and all that stuff. But from a race team side of it, you prepare the same and my race cars have just been much faster the last couple weeks, and it’s been really nice to prepare and be able to take semi-advantage of the situations. We’ve been up front, so that’s the biggest thing, and just confidence. It’s my crew chief’s second year as a crew chief. This year, all of those things help of just showing up to the racetrack where we need to, in a spot where we can go race and race confidently. I think that’s the biggest thing.”

WHAT IS DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF RACING UP AT THE FRONT WITH THAT GROUP VERSUS THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK? “You hear everyone say it. I think at the front of the pack the guys just get single-filed out really quickly and everyone’s cars are driving fairly good for the most part. And then you get back in the pack and everyone is putting each other four-wide and everyone is out of control. It’s definitely more fun up front. For me, that was Atlanta. As soon as I got back in the pack it was fairly out of control. It’s just nice to be up front. You have way more confidence in your car when you’re obviously running up front. You have more grip and more speed. Those guys, for the most part, you just have more room to get single-filed out and more so running your own race.”

CAN YOU DISCUSS THE LAP TWO SITUATION WHERE IT LOOKED LIKE YOU WERE MAYBE TRYING TO LET MICHAEL IN? THAT SEEMED TO BOTTLENECK THINGS BEHIND YOU. “It’s been a couple days since then and I’ve seen all of the replays of it. It’s lap one or two and we were working together with Michael and I was definitely trying to let him back in line, trying to make a little bit of a hole for him. There’s kind of one already there. I don’t think I really slowed down as much as it looks like as the 2 is kind of hitting the 12 and then everyone is kind of getting a run back to each other, and then obviously it just gets jammed up like 15 rows back and everybody is jammed together. Obviously, I hate that maybe we caused that in some sort of way, but, at the same time, we qualified well. We were trying to work together up at the front and just let a teammate in. People do it all the time, so I don’t know. I hate that it didn’t work out for a lot of guys, but I don’t think it was as bad as it looked just as everyone was kind of tightening up naturally at that point also.”

DO YOU HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING TO SOME OF THE OTHER DRIVERS WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS? “I think all of that stuff is still stuff that I’m trying to go through and learn through, but from this one in particular I haven’t heard anything from anyone. As a younger guy, in general in this sport, you need to get ahead of any situation. I feel like this one is a little bit different. I think there’s a little bit more shared blame everywhere. If it was something where I just wrecked a veteran guy, that’s definitely a situation where I would want to get ahead of it and reach out as a younger guy, for sure.”

HOW HAVE YOU BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH SOME OF THE VETERAN DRIVERS AND DOES THAT HELP YOU ON THE RACETRACK? “It is really nice. My first year I came in and I was just really trying to get to know everybody on the highest level of just knowing their names. Obviously, I know everybody, but being confident enough to walk up and just start a conversation. All of that stuff has gotten much easier. I think everyone has learned me on the racetrack, probably a little bit off the racetrack just here and there seeing stuff on social media. I think all of that stuff just gets easier with time. It’s just like any co-worker. The more you’re around them for years and years you guys eventually talk here and there, whether it’s just crossing paths randomly. All of that stuff has gotten a lot easier, but it definitely helps once you’re on the racetrack, whether that gives you something to talk about the next week and it just leads to a little bit deeper relationship over time as you guys race together.”

WHAT ARE YOU CURIOUS ABOUT THIS WEEKEND AT LAS VEGAS WITH THE NEW CAR? “I am very curious about everything. I think there’s tons of stuff that is very unknown, whether it’s the other manufacturer’s body. Obviously, the Dark Horse Mustang has been super fast the first couple of weeks, so I feel confident about where we’re at, but it’s just about where we stack up with everybody else. I think that goes for everyone in the field, honestly. Everyone feels good about where they’re at, so we’ll see. From our side, the team side, I’m excited to see where our preparation is at, where we unload and our potential speed is at. There’s lots of unknowns. Even our pit crew. It’s been kind of easy the first couple weeks as far as a lot of fuel only, a lot of two tires, where this is really gonna be something that separates the field also is pit crews going from here on out, so there’s tons of different layers that are gonna be exposed, so I’m just excited to see where it all kind of stacks up.”

HOW DO YOU DEBRIEF OR KEEP NOTES AFTER EACH RACE? “I do a debrief. I usually do it on the plane back home and usually try to knock it out, and also I have a bad memory, so I just need to get it out of the way in general. That stuff is super important. I think our team takes really good notes during the race. In the Cup Series, I think that’s one thing that’s different than other series in NASCAR is how much information you have to look at after the race, too. We have our post race meetings on Tuesday mornings, which kind of gives us a day on Monday and take it all in, take in the weekend of general what it was. Also, even going back to practice and qualifying day there’s gonna be a ton of stuff to look at from that night – seeing where everyone stacks up, seeing what we need to do quite a bit better, whether it’s stuff that we can implant for Las Vegas weekend or going forward for the rest of the season. There’s definitely a lot of data and a lot of stuff to look at, but as far as my debrief we fill it out after the race and then talk about it all with the team on Tuesday.”

Jimmie Johnson and Cal Wells, III Named to West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame Class of 2024

BAKERSFIELD, Calif., February 28, 2024 – Jimmie Johnson, the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and co-owner of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, is among this year’s five inductees into the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame.

The El Cajon, Calif. competitor, winner of 83 NASCAR Cup Series events in 16 consecutive seasons and recent inductee into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, will be joined for enshrinement by the late Dick Cobb, Las Vegas, Nev., winner of eight track championships over a 45-year racing career in Nevada and California; Eric Holmes, Escalon, Calif., winner of three NASCAR West (now ARCA Menards Series West) titles; Jimmy Vasser, Canoga Park, Calif., 10-time Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) winner, Indianapolis 500 co-owner champion and 2023 IMSA GTD championship co-owner; and Calvin (Cal) Wells III, NASCAR Cup Series race-winning team owner, Off-Road Hall of Fame inductee and current chief executive officer of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB.

“I’m so honored to be inducted into the West Coast Stock Car/ Motorsports Hall of Fame,” said Johnson.”As I look back on my career, I was so proud to be from the West Coast, and early on there weren’t many of us competing in NASCAR at the time. I always have carried so much pride when being announced ‘from El Cajon, California”. Starting with Jeff Gordon, a group from the West Coast started to emerge in NASCAR. Jeff and a few others really opened the door in what was typically a Southern sport. I was able to win at California Speedway in my 13th start which just made everything come full circle for me. Winning in Fontana, six times was just so incredible, I had so many fans out there, it was always a homecoming of sorts. Winning at Sonoma Raceway was special too – the West Coast has a special place in my heart.”

Wells shared a similar sentiment. “I’m honored to be inducted into the West Coast Motorsports Hall of Fame with such an esteemed group of professionals. Growing up in Southern California, I, like Jimmie, was focused on off-road racing. I was blessed to partner with Toyota so early on and they carried me through many disciplines of motorsports. To be inducted with my longtime friend Jimmie Johnson is truly rewarding and again, such an honor.”

The Class of 2024 – the hall’s 21st – will be enshrined Thursday, June 6, during the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame’s induction gala, presented by World Wide Technology Raceway, at Sonoma Raceway’s Turn 11 Club VIP/Hospitality complex encircling the road course’s iconic Turn 11.

“Our Class of 2024 is second to none in diversity of competition,” said Ken Clapp, Chairman and CEO of the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame. “Jimmie Johnson, Eric Holmes and Dick Cobb mastered three different levels of NASCAR competition. Jimmy Vasser, a Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) champion and Cal Wells, an off-road racing Hall of Famer and team executive add two more racing disciplines to this year’s Class.

The organization also will induct its seventh Heritage class, comprised of individuals whose careers largely ended prior to 1971. The 2024 Heritage inductees will be named in March. Also to be named is the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame’s Pioneers of Speed, whose careers preceded or spanned the World War II era.

Televised highlights of the 2024 induction ceremonies will be broadcast later this summer; network, air dates and times to be announced.

Media Contact for West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame:

Owen A. Kearns okearns@bak.rr.com

About the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame: The West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame was conceived in 2001 as a means of recognizing significant contributors and contributions to the sport of stock car/motorsports competition. The mission of the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame is founded to preserve history and heritage of the important role west coast stock car and motorsports figures have played in the sport’s development and continuation and to recognize, through annual enshrinement, of outstanding individuals and groups within the sport such as, but not limited to, designers, engineers, mechanics, drivers, race track owners, promoters, publicists and members of the motorsports media. The Hall is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, dedicated to supporting a variety of organizations and groups from coast to coast. The Hall has raised more than $800,000 during the past six years for youth, health and safety, hospitals, animal rescue, military and other charitable causes.

About LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ is a professional auto racing club owned by businessman and entrepreneur Maurice “Maury” J. Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. The CLUB competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series fielding the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE of John Hunter Nemechek, the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE of Erik Jones, and the No. 84 limited schedule entry for Johnson. LEGACY M.C. also competes in the Extreme-E Series. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty “The King” serves as Club Ambassador. With a unique title signifying a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for all motorsport enthusiasts to celebrate the past and future legacies of its members, while competing for wins and championships at NASCAR’s elite level. To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ on Facebook, X, Instagram and at www.LEGACYMOTORCLUB.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow LEGACY MOTOR CLUB on Facebook, X, and Instagram and at www.LEGACYMOTORCLUB.com.

PATRICK EMERLING PARTNERS WITH FIRST RESPONDER COMPANIES AT LAS VEGAS

MOORESVILLE, NC, February 28, 2024 – NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Patrick Emerling announced today his partnership with three companies aimed at supporting first responders when he hits the track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend: Frontline Optics, American Fire Brigade and Williams Key.

Frontline Optics is a retired firefighter-owned sunglasses brand based out of San Diego. They manufacture durable, affordable sunglasses for first responders and supporters of the first responder community. A portion of each sale is donated to the First Responders Children’s Foundation, which provides assistance to the children and families of first responders killed or injured in the line of duty. Order your “Sunglasses Designed with the Frontline in Mind” at https://frontline-optics.com/ and follow Frontline Optics on Instagram (@frontlineoptics) or Facebook (@frontlineopticseyewear).

“We are excited for the opportunity to sponsor Patrick and the SS-GreenLight Racing team on a national stage and hope to raise some awareness for our brand and the mission behind our products to the NASCAR community,” said Frontline Optics founder Mike Ettenberg.

American Fire Brigade was created by an American Navy Veteran and current firefighter to entertain the fire front and share the humor that embodies all first responders. The brand sells real deal off-duty fire slayer apparel for all, even those who “almost” signed up for the job. Apparel that tells a story, even if it’s bull. Get your “Smart Ass Fire Apparel” at https://americanfirebrigade.com/ and follow them on Instagram (@americanfirebrigade).

The Williams Key is an emergency entry tool that was developed by a firefighter in Los Angeles to gain quick access to doors on the scene of emergency calls. It’s fast, efficient and causes no damage. It works well on gates with anti-vandal plates, elevator control rooms, commercial utility doors, and many other outward swinging metal and wood doors. There is also a heavy-duty shove-knife built in to allow for the piercing of wood trim on the frame of a residential inward swinging door. Learn more at https://williamskey.com and https://www.facebook.com/thewilliamskey.

“Williams Key, Inc is grateful to be a part of supporting Patrick’s team and the NASCAR vision of uncompromising American spirit,” said creator and founder Trevor Williams.

“First responders are a special breed. They sacrifice a lot to keep our communities safe no matter the risk, yet they manage to keep a sense of humor and humility,” said Emerling. “I am proud to partner with Frontline Optics, American Fire Brigade and Williams Key. I can’t wait to have them out to the track!”

Additionally, Emerling will welcome back season-long partners Southern Tier Security (https://www.southerntiersecurity.net/), a watch patrol company based in Olean, NY, and SimForge (https://simforge.in/), which sells sim racing equipment and accessories.

Emerling finished 17th in the United Rentals 300 race at Daytona International Speedway on February 19 after several lengthy rain delays. Handling issues contributed to a frustrating 33rd place finish in the RAPTOR King of Tough 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 24. Emerling is hopeful that Lady Luck will be on his side in Las Vegas.

In addition to his duties with SS-GreenLight, Emerling will be competing full-time in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour with car owner Rich Gautreau. He finished fourth in the Tour’s season opener at New Smyrna Speedway on February 10.

The green flag drops for the The LiUNA! at 5:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, March 2. You can watch the race on FS1 or listen live on PRN or SiriusXM.

For more information on Patrick Emerling, visit https://www.patrickemerlingracing.com/ or follow him on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PatrickEmerling07), X (https://twitter.com/PatrickEmerling) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/patrickemerling/).

Connor Mosack – Victoria’s Voice 200 Race Advance

Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway (134 laps / 201 miles)
Friday, March 1 | Las Vegas, Nev. | 9:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Team: No. 45 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Connor Mosack (Charlotte, N.C.) | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Connor: Twitter: @ConnorMosack | Instagram: @ConnorMosack | Facebook: /ConnorMosackRacing | Web: connormosackracing.com

Connor Mosack on Friday’s at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: “I’m very much looking forward to getting on track with this Niece Motorsports group this week in Vegas,” said Mosack. “They’ve brought fast trucks to the track the past two weeks, and I know they’re working hard to do the same this weekend. I know we’ll have a strong Chevy Accessories Silverado. We’re going to do our best to run a clean race and put ourselves in contention when it counts.”

By The Numbers: Saturday’s race marks Mosack’s first start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The start will be his third overall in the Truck Series. Mosack has one NASCAR Xfinity Series start at the 1.5-mile Las Vegas track, which came last season.

On the Truck: Mosack’s No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado will race with support from Chevy Accessories. Visit chevy.com/accessories to browse the latest accessories to personalize and enhance your vehicle.

In addition, the No. 45 will carry the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation colors. The organization’s mission is to improve the quality of life for children battling pediatric brain tumors and other childhood cancers and to raise awareness through their Adopt-A-Child, Safe on the Sidelines and Guardian Angel Programs.

Recapping the Last Race: With no practice, Kaden Honeycutt’s first laps of the weekend were turned during qualifying. Honeycutt and the No. 45 Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety team ended up with a 25th-place starting position for Saturday afternoon’s race. Honeycutt ran a clean race and gradually worked his way through traffic, making his way into the top-10 by the final stage. Honeycutt would cross the finish line sixth in his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start of the 2024 season.

Honeycutt on Saturday’s Race at Atlanta Motor Speedway: “It was a good day,” said Honeycutt. “We were tight from the green flag, and did the best we could with it. I want to thank Phil Gould and everyone on the team for the hard work. I’m looking forward to building off of this performance with my team at Bristol in a few weeks. I think at a place like Bristol this team will shine. Thank you to everyone at the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety/ ‘Protect Your Melon’, Niece, and Chevrolet.”

About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2024, Niece Motorsports enters its ninth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as X @NieceMotorsport.

Matt Mills – Victoria’s Voice 200 Race Advance

Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway (134 laps / 201 miles)
Friday, March 1 | Las Vegas, Nev. | 9:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Team: No. 42 J.F. Electric/Utilitra Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Matt Mills (New Philadelphia, Ohio) | Crew Chief: Jon Leonard
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Matt Mills: Twitter: @MattMillsRacing | Instagram: @MattMillsRacing | Facebook: /OfficialMattMillsRacing | Web: mattmillsracing.com

Matt Mills on Friday’s Race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: “We’ve started the year with two really fast J.F. Electric/Utilitra Silverados, so I’m excited to get back to the track this week,” said Mills. “We don’t have the finishes yet to show that speed, but we are looking to turn our luck around this weekend. I really like racing at Las Vegas and have a lot of laps on this track in the Truck Series and Xfinity Series. We’re going to do our best to run a clean race and put our truck in contention at the end.”

By The Numbers: Friday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway marks Mills’ fourth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start at the track. His best finish of 15th came in 2022.

Mills also has nine NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the 1.5-mile track.

On the Truck: Mills’ No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado will race with support from longtime partners J.F. Electric and Utilitra.

Public Appearances: Mills will participate in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series autograph session on Friday, March 1 at 3:30 pm, located in the Neon Garage.

Recapping the Last Race: With no practice before qualifying Matt Mills and the No. 42 J.F. Electric/Utilitra team turned the first laps of the weekend during qualifying on Friday. With trucks impounded after qualifying, the team opted for a setup that would race well, ending up with a 21st-place starting spot. Mills and team showed speed in the race, battling to the front of the pack by the beginning of the final stage. A pit road penalty late in the race forced the No. 42 to restart at the tail end of the field. Contact with the wall ultimately left the team with a 27th-place finish.

Mills on Last Race at Atlanta Motor Speedway: “We knew our J.F. Electric/Utilitra Chevrolet was fast and am looking forward to Vegas,” said Mills. “Everything was going well. We were trying to have a smart race and that’s what we did in the first two stages. In the final stage we got to lead a few laps. Ultimately, we had to serve a pit road penalty and from there I made a mistake trying to get back to the front when I shouldn’t have pushed for a position.”

About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2024, Niece Motorsports enters its ninth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as X @NieceMotorsport.

Media Inquiries: media@niecemotorsports.com www.niecemotorsports.com

About J.F. Electric
J.F. Electric is an electrical contractor that provides engineering expertise, backed by construction and installation know-how in a diverse range of service offerings, from utilities and commercial projects, to industrial and telecommunications customers. When having a long family history in an industry, a company not only builds on its knowledge and experience, it takes pride in cultivating a solid understanding of client needs, all the while nurturing strong relationships with its employees. Evolving through five generations of the Fowler family, J.F. Electric has matured into a well-managed and thoughtfully diversified electrical contractor which is poised to continue its growth and expansion into the future.

About Utilitra:
Utilitra is a woman-owned firm specializing in utility and technology solutions with a diverse team of specialized professionals. Utilitra is committed to solving their client’s unique challenges, whether one expert or a team of experts is needed. By adapting to the needs of their respective industries, Utilitra has built a range of services for their utility and technology partners.

Bayley Currey – Victoria’s Voice 200 Race Advance

Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway (134 laps / 201 miles)
Friday, March 1 | Las Vegas, Nev. | 9:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Team: No. 41 Niece Equipment Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Bayley Currey (Driftwood, Texas) | Crew Chief: Mike Hillman Jr.
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Bayley Currey: Twitter: @BayleyCurrey | Instagram: @bayleycurrey05 | Facebook: /bayleycurrey05 | Web: www.bcurrey.com/

Bayley Currey on Friday’s Race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: “The last two weeks we’ve had trucks that were capable of winning, but just didn’t have luck on our side,” said Currey. “I feel confident if we keep brining trucks that fast to the track, we’ll be able to get the job done. I enjoy racing at Las Vegas and have a decent amount of experience here that should help us Friday night.”

By The Numbers: Friday’s race marks Currey’s third NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, both coming in 2018, and resulting in top-20 finishes.

Currey has eight NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the 1.5-mile track, with a best finish of 13th coming in the fall of 2021.

On the Truck: Currey’s No. 41 Chevrolet Silverado will race with support from Niece Equipment.

Public Appearances: Currey will participate in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series autograph session on Friday, March 1 at 3:30 pm, located in the Neon Garage.

Recapping the Last Race: Bayley Currey and the No. 41 AutoVentive/DealBadger team lined up 20th for Saturday afternoon’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. From the drop of the green flag, Currey began working his way to the front of the field, closing out Stage One in the top-10. With varying pit strategies playing out in the second stage, Currey once again earned stage points before entering the final stage. As the laps wound down, Currey was battling for position in the top-five before damage to the No. 41 ended his day.

Currey on Last Race at Atlanta Motor Speedway: “We had another really, really good truck this weekend,” said Currey. “Our AutoVentive/DealBadger Chevrolet, I think, was a race winning truck. It was an unfortunate end to our day, but I’m looking forward to Vegas. We brought two fast trucks to both Daytona, and Atlanta and hope we can get it done next week.”

About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2024, Niece Motorsports enters its ninth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as X @NieceMotorsport.

Media Inquiries: media@niecemotorsports.com www.niecemotorsports.com

About AutoVentive:
AutoVentive is an industry-leading Software as a Service (SaaS) applications developer providing customized solutions to the automotive logistics industry. The company is part of Liberty Hill Equity Partners, LLC, a Cincinnati-based private equity firm.

About Precision Vehicle Logistics:
Precision Vehicle Logistics is a customer-focused group of professionals committed to service excellence in finished vehicle logistics. Precision offers a unique combination of talented experience, industry-leading software and systems, and a network of partners and resources to deliver customized solutions to the world’s leading automakers.

XPEL Sponsors Road America NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race

XPEL Grand Prix at Road America is Scheduled for June 9

ELKHART LAKE, Wis., Feb. 28, 2024 – INDYCAR is excited to announce its partnership with XPEL, the industry leader in paint protection film, ceramic coatings, window tint films, and more, as the title sponsor of the annual NTT INDYCAR SERIES event at historic Road America.

The XPEL Grand Prix at Road America will take place on Sunday, June 9, on the famed 4.048-mile layout located in Wisconsin’s scenic Kettle Moraine, offering race fans the opportunity to witness history in the making. The brand will have activations and demonstrations at the race for attendees to enjoy.

“XPEL is a great fit for Road America,” said Mike Kertscher, Road America’s President and General Manager. “They have a unique cadre of offerings and services that have been instrumental in improving the automotive industry. We feel that XPEL will incorporate itself very well with Road America’s fan base, and we are very excited to have them on board in such a prominent capacity.”

XPEL is known to car fanatics and racing fans worldwide for its quality products and is used and trusted by OEMs, automotive dealers, high-end automobile collectors, and INDYCAR racers to protect their cars, homes, and other valuable assets. XPEL is also a partner of Team Penske and previously sponsored other NTT INDYCAR SERIES events.

“At XPEL, we’re passionate about racing and dedicated to protecting what we love,” said Michael Mejia, Senior Director of Marketing of XPEL. “That is why we’re excited to be a part of INDYCAR history and sponsor the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America. We’re looking forward to interacting with fans at XPEL’s on-site demonstrations and watching drivers battle it out on this legendary track. It should be an incredible weekend for racing fans”

The XPEL Grand Prix at Road America will be the seventh round of the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES and will air live on June 9 at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Audio coverage will be provided by the INDYCAR Radio Network, SiriusXM channel 218, and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA. The 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season begins Sunday, March 10, at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, presented by RP Funding.

Anyone 16 and under gets in FREE when accompanied by a paying adult at the gate. For full event details and information, visit www.roadamerica.com.

For more information about INDYCAR and the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America, please visit INDYCAR.com or www.roadamerica.com. Fans can learn more about XPEL and the company’s product offerings on their official website, XPEL.com.

About XPEL, Inc.

XPEL is a leading provider of protective films and coatings, including automotive paint protection film, surface protection film, automotive and architectural window films, and ceramic coatings. With a global footprint, a network of trained installers and proprietary DAP software, XPEL is dedicated to exceeding customer expectations by providing high-quality products, leading customer service, expert technical support and world-class training. XPEL, Inc. is publicly traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “XPEL”.

About Road America: Established in 1955, Road America is conveniently located between Milwaukee and Green Bay in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The world’s best racers have competed at this legendary four-mile, 14-turn road circuit for over 67 years. Along with over 500 events held seasonally at the 640-acre facility, several major weekends are open to the public, which include the INDYCAR Series, the MotoAmerica Series, three vintage racing events, numerous Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) events, and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Road America’s park-like grounds offer amazing viewing opportunities, numerous camping options, fantastic concessions, and high-speed excitement to hundreds of thousands of spectators each year. Fans can also stay and play in cabins conveniently on the grounds and find all sorts of souvenirs, collectibles, and apparel at the 7,500 sq. ft Paddock Shop. Affectionately known by many as America’s National Park of Speed, Road America can accommodate groups of all sizes, including weddings and corporate events in the Tufte Conference Center. In addition to public race weekends, Road America offers various group event programs, including geocaching, disc golf, and off-road adventure tours, karting, and the Road America Motorcycle and Driving Schools. For more information, visit www.roadamerica.com Follow Road America on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube or call 800-365-7223

Toyota Racing – Weekly Preview – 02.28.24

This Week in Motorsports: February 26 – March 3, 2024

· NCS/NXS/NCTS: Las Vegas Motor Speedway – March 1-3

PLANO, Texas (February 28, 2024) – NASCAR continues the opening swing of its 2024 season as all three national series travel to the West Coast to compete at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After two superspeedways to begin the year, the first mile-and-a-half track arrives on the schedule.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS | NCTS

Wallace off to strong start in 2024 … 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace has had a knack for superspeedway racing, which he showed in the first two races this season with back-to-back top-five finishes. Currently sitting fourth in the Cup Series point standings, the driver of the No. 23 Camry XSE looks forward to a mile-and-a-half this weekend, where he, 23XI Racing and Toyota have had strong runs since the introduction of the Next Gen race car.

Reddick returns to favorable Las Vegas … Wallace’s teammate, Tyler Reddick, will be happy to see Las Vegas Motor Speedway next on the Cup Series schedule. The California native has four top-10s in the last five races at the Nevada circuit, as well as a pole in the fall 2022 race. Reddick has also claimed victory in the Xfinity Series (2019) and Truck Series (2016) at Las Vegas.

Truex looks to keep strong Las Vegas form … Like Reddick, Joe Gibbs Racing’s, Martin Truex Jr., is a fan of Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 43-year-old has 12 top-10s in the last 13 Las Vegas Motor Speedway races, which includes wins in 2017 and 2019. Currently 10th in the Cup Series points standings, another top-10, or higher, for Truex would continue his solid start to 2024.

Creed, Smith towards top of points standings … Following back-to-back top-fives to start the season, Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, Sheldon Creed and Chandler Smith, sit second and fourth in the Xfinity Series point standings heading to Las Vegas. Smith will be making his third career start at Las Vegas, where he has two top-fives, while Creed is making his fifth career start here.

Heim makes first Xfinity start of 2024 … After making four Xfinity Series starts last season, Toyota Development Driver Corey Heim returns to Sam Hunt Racing and will make his first start in the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra this weekend. He captured a top-10 in his second start with the team last year at Darlington. Also continuing his full-time efforts in the Truck Series, the Georgia-native will look to build upon back-to-back top five finishes in his No. 11 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro with TRICON Garage in Friday night’s Truck race.

Almirola debuts in GR Supra … Long-time NASCAR Cup Series driver, now part-time Xfinity Series driver, Aric Almirola, makes his first start of the season with Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing this weekend piloting the No. 19 GR Supra. Almirola previously drove in the Xfinity Series for JGR in 2006 and 2007 and raced a Tundra in the Truck Series with Toyota (2009 – 2011). The 39-year-old is making his first Xfinity Series start since Sonoma last year, where he captured victory. Saturday will be his 29th overall start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Bell to pilot No. 1 Tundra TRD Pro … Christopher Bell makes his return to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series this weekend with TRICON Garage, taking the wheel of the No. 1 Mobil 1 Tundra TRD Pro. The Oklahoma-native will make his first Truck Series start since Pocono last season, where he finished fourth. Las Vegas has been favorable to Bell as he’s started on pole in all three NASCAR national series at the track, and he nearly captured victory in the Cup Series race last fall, coming home second by 0.082 seconds.

Friesen looks to add another Las Vegas top-10 … Canadian Stewart Friesen has found continued success at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The 40-year-old comes into the weekend with five top-10s in the last six races in Las Vegas. Keeping the streak alive would provide a boost of momentum early in the season for the No. 52 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro team.

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