Home Blog Page 1144

Does it Make Sense to Buy a New RV? What Are the Hidden Costs, and the Availability of Accessories?

By
SM
-
Photo by Kampus Production

Getting on a road trip across the vast and beautiful landscapes of Australia is a dream for many. Recreational Vehicles (RVs) offer an unparalleled opportunity to explore this dream with the comforts of home at your fingertips, making RV inspections essential to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey. The decision to buy a new RV is significant, involving numerous considerations from cost to convenience. This article delves into whether purchasing a new RV makes sense, the hidden costs involved, and the world of RV accessories that can enhance your travel experience.

The Appeal of a New RV

RVs have gained popularity in Australia as affordable vehicles catering to families and explorers’ adventurous spirit. Auto dealers often offer extra discounts for large families, acknowledging the RV as a means of fostering family bonds through travel. Moreover, financing options for RVs have never been more accommodating, with various installment plans and optimal financing solutions available to make ownership a reality for many. It is for the benefit of the Australian economy to support RVs and ensure that people get on vacation sooner and spend more days in different places to get the economy moving.

The Hidden Costs

While the initial price tag of a new RV might seem straightforward, potential buyers should be aware of hidden costs. Insurance, maintenance, storage, and fuel consumption are all ongoing expenses that can add up. RVs require regular maintenance to keep them running smoothly, sometimes involving specialized parts and services. Furthermore, storage fees during off-season months can be a significant additional cost, depending on where you live. However, there is no discouragement from the hidden costs that will give you a higher satisfaction when you finally get them and make it easier for you to move your family and spend quality time in nature.

The World of RV Accessories

The modern RV experience is significantly enhanced by a wide range of accessories designed to cover all the needs of a family on the road. The options are vast, from solar panels that provide power, allowing for off-grid camping, to portable kitchens and showers that ensure your family remains fed and clean.

RV Accessories Offering A New Level of Comfort

RV accessories have been modernized to enhance the travel experience significantly. Solar panels are a popular choice for those looking to harness the sun’s power, reducing reliance on traditional power sources and enabling longer stays in remote locations. Portable kitchens and showers bring the conveniences of home to the wilderness, ensuring that the adventure doesn’t compromise comfort.

Accessibility of Accessories

One of the great advantages of the current RV market is the accessibility of caravan accessories. Available online, these accessories come often at no extra shipping cost, offering a plethora of amenities that were once considered impossible for road travel. Platforms dedicated to RV Online shopping provide a convenient way to browse and purchase the latest in RV technology and comfort, ensuring that your vehicle is equipped to meet your family’s needs.

Investment and Resale Value

Purchasing a new RV is not only about acquiring a vehicle for vacationing; it’s also an investment. Unlike many other types of vehicles, RVs maintain a surprisingly resilient resale value, especially if well-maintained and equipped with desirable accessories. The yearly vacation savings for a family can be substantial, considering the alternative costs of flights, hotels, and dining out. Additionally, the RV market in Australia has seen a steady appreciation in the value of well-kept models, allowing owners the option to resell their RVs at a competitive price, making it a financially sound decision for many.

Making the Decision

Deciding to buy a new RV involves weighing the initial costs against the long-term benefits. The convenience and freedom offered by having your own RV can lead to countless unforgettable family adventures. The modern RV and the plethora of available accessories ensure that traveling doesn’t mean leaving the comforts of home behind.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, buying a new RV in Australia makes sense for many, thanks to the affordable pricing, favorable financing options, and the additional discounts available for families. While potential buyers should be mindful of the hidden costs associated with RV ownership, the benefits, from the flexibility of travel to the savings on traditional vacation expenses, are significant. The availability and convenience of modern RV accessories online further enhance the appeal, offering families the chance to customize their travel experience to suit their needs. Ultimately, an RV is more than a vehicle; it’s a ticket to freedom, adventure, and the creation of lasting memories with loved ones. Whether you’re drawn to the rugged outback, the serene coastlines, or the bustling cities, an RV offers the ultimate way to explore Australia’s endless treasures, making it a worthwhile investment for the adventurous at heart.

Essential Betting and Gambling Tips for Success

By
SM
-
Photo by Zak Chapman

If you want to dominate the betting and gambling scene, you need strategic insights. This article serves up essential tips for success.

From setting clear goals to mastering bankroll management, you’ll learn how to leverage odds and bonuses to your advantage. Embrace risk and enhance your game with proven techniques.

Get ready to level up your gambling game and reap the rewards of a smart, calculated approach.

Setting Clear Goals

When betting or gambling, setting clear goals is crucial for maximizing your chances of success. Before placing any bets, take the time to define what you aim to achieve. Whether it’s a specific profit target or a set number of successful outcomes, having well-defined objectives will guide your decisions and keep you focused.

Your goals should be realistic yet ambitious, pushing you to improve without setting unattainable expectations. By setting clear goals, you create a roadmap for your betting or gambling activities, enabling you to measure your progress and make adjustments as needed.

Understanding Odds and Probabilities

To improve your success in 1bet2u betting and gambling, it’s essential that you understand the relationship between odds and probabilities.

Odds represent the likelihood of a particular outcome happening and are typically presented in different formats such as decimal, fractional, or moneyline.

Probabilities, on the other hand, express the chance of an event occurring and are often closely linked to odds.

Understanding how odds and probabilities correlate can give you a strategic advantage when placing bets, as it allows you to assess the potential risks and rewards accurately.

Bankroll Management Strategies

Regularly assess your bankroll to ensure effective management of your funds while betting and gambling.

Understanding the importance of bankroll management is crucial for sustained success in betting and gambling activities. Start by setting clear limits on how much you’re willing to wager per bet or session based on your total bankroll. 

A common rule of thumb is to risk only a small percentage of your bankroll on each bet, typically around 1-5%. This conservative approach helps protect your funds from significant losses during inevitable downswings.

Additionally, consider keeping detailed records of your bets and expenses to track your progress accurately. By staying disciplined and mindful of your bankroll, you increase your chances of long-term profitability and enjoyment in the world of betting and gambling.

Leveraging Bonuses and Promotions

Utilize the available bonuses and promotions to maximize your betting and gambling potential. When seizing these opportunities, scrutinize the terms and conditions to ensure you fully understand how to extract the most value. Look for promotions that align with your preferred games or betting strategies.

Some bonuses may require specific wagering requirements or time constraints, so stay vigilant. Utilizing bonuses effectively can boost your initial bankroll, providing you with more ammunition for your betting endeavors. Remember, strategic use of promotions can tilt the odds slightly more in your favor.

Embracing Risk Management Techniques

When embracing risk management techniques in your betting and gambling endeavors, it’s vital to assess potential losses and gains with a calculated approach. Begin by setting a clear budget for your wagers to limit any possible financial risks.

Diversify your bets across different games or events to spread out uncertainties and minimize overall losses. Utilize stop-loss strategies to automatically exit a game when you reach predetermined loss thresholds, preventing emotional decision-making.

Additionally, consider employing strategies like the Kelly Criterion to determine optimal bet sizes based on the perceived edge. By implementing these risk management techniques consistently, you can safeguard your bankroll and increase your chances of long-term success https://www.1bet99.net/ in the unpredictable world of betting and gambling.

Conclusion

By setting clear goals, understanding odds, managing your bankroll, leveraging bonuses, and embracing risk management, you can increase your chances of success in betting and gambling.

Remember, success in this field requires a strategic approach and disciplined mindset.

By following these essential tips, you can improve your skills and make more informed decisions when it comes to placing bets.

Good luck and happy betting!

Sinkhole Unearths Rumored Moonshine Cave Underneath Frontstretch Grandstands at North Wilkesboro Speedway

By
Official Release
-
Photo Credit: North Wilkesboro Speedway

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (March 26, 2024) – For decades, rumors have circulated that historic North Wilkesboro Speedway was the site of a secret moonshine still. Now some Wilkes County locals may have more reason to say ‘I told you so,’ as a possible moonshine cave has been discovered underneath the concrete frontstretch grandstands.

During grandstand cleaning and inspection last week, operations staff discovered cracks in the original concrete in section N toward Turn 1. Crews began removing seats to inspect the extent of the damage and evaluate needs for repair. During the process, an open area of approximately 700-square-feet was discovered underneath the aging concrete.

“When we began renovating and restoring North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2022, we’d often hear stories of how an old moonshine still was operated here on the property under the grandstands,” said Steve Swift, senior vice president of operations and development at Speedway Motorsports. “Well, we haven’t found a still (yet), but we’ve found a small cave and an interior wall that would have been the perfect location to not only make illegal liquor, but to hide from the law as well. We don’t know how people would have gotten in and out, but as we uncover more, there’s no telling what we might find.”

So far, approximately 600 seats have been removed from sections N and O, and Speedway Motorsports staff are evaluating next steps for foundation repair and concrete replacement in advance of the upcoming May 14-19 NASCAR All-Star Race Week.

“Now we have a race before the race,” Swift commented. “The area that’s been affected by the sinkhole is a frontstretch grandstand area with some of the best views of the track. We’ll have a lot of work to get done before NASCAR All-Star Race Week.”

After opening in 1947, North Wilkesboro Speedway became one of NASCAR’s original race tracks when it hosted the season finale for the inaugural Strictly Stock (now Cup) Series in 1949. The .0625-mile short track hosted NASCAR races until it closed in 1996. Following an extensive restoration, North Wilkesboro Speedway returned to the NASCAR Cup schedule on May 21, 2023, hosting the NASCAR All-Star Race.

TICKETS:
NASCAR All-Star Race weekend ticket packages for all May 14-19 race week events are on sale now. Activities include Tuesday/Wednesday zMAX CARS Tour; All-Star Friday presented by Raymer Oil featuring NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Cup Series practice, the NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge presented by Mechanix Wear and a Neal McCoy concert; Saturday’s Wright Brand 250 and All-Star Heat Races; and Sunday’s Warren Zeiders pre-race concert, NASCAR All-Star Open and NASCAR All-Star Race. Five-day full race week ticket packages start at just $259 while three-day NASCAR All-Star Race weekend ticket packages start at $229.

MORE INFO:
Fans can connect with North Wilkesboro Speedway and get the latest news regarding NASCAR All-Star week and North Wilkesboro Speedway by following on Twitter and Instagram or becoming a Facebook fan.

Superior Essex Racing: Noah Gragson Richmond Advance

By
Official Release
-

NOAH GRAGSON
Richmond Advance
No. 10 Superior Essex Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: Richmond 400 (Round 7 of 36)
● Time/Date: 7 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 31
● Location: Richmond (Va.) Raceway
● Layout: .75-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 400 laps/300 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 70 laps / Stage 2: 160 laps / Final Stage: 170 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● After beginning 2024 with three finishes of 12th or better in the first four races of the season, NASCAR Cup Series driver Noah Gragson has endured back-to-back 34th-place results. Heading into round seven this Sunday at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, Gragson is looking to re-rack his Cup campaign on the .75-mile oval.

● Short-track racing is where Gragson’s career began. The Las Vegas native owns victories in two of the United States’ most prestigious Late Model races – the 2017 Winchester 400 at the half-mile Winchester (Ind.) Speedway, and the 2018 Snowball Derby at the half-mile Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida.

● Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond will mark Gragson’s fourth career Cup Series start at the track, with his best result being a 24th-place drive in his Cup Series debut there in August 2022.

● Gragson’s Richmond record in the NASCAR Xfinity Series is more comprehensive, with seven career starts between 2018 and 2022. It’s more robust, too, with three top-five finishes and five top-10s highlighted by a victory in September 2021. Gragson’s average start at Richmond in the Xfinity Series was seventh and his average finish was ninth.

● Gragson first turned laps at Richmond in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. It was Sept. 10, 2015, when he made his lone K&N Pro Series East start at the track. It began inauspiciously, with Gragson qualifying 32nd. But in the 70-lap race, he put on a show, picking up 22 positions to finish a solid 10th.

● Riding with Gragson this weekend at Richmond is Superior Essex Communications, the leading manufacturer and supplier of communications cable and accessory products in North America. The partnership allows Superior Essex Communications to leverage Stewart-Haas Racing and its NASCAR platform to generate B2B relationships while simultaneously building brand awareness. Richmond serves as a strategic venue for Superior Essex Communications, as the company played a large part in the track’s recent modernization, with its optical fiber cables sending data, graphics and video to the track’s massive infield scoreboard, in addition to a host of other communications needs throughout the venerable facility. Superior Essex Communications is focused on creating the future of smart and sustainable communications by developing technology that connects and respects the world. Government initiatives supported by the company to increase U.S. high-speed internet access for all Americans include the White House’s Internet for All program and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA’s) Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.

Noah Gragson, Driver of the No. 10 Superior Essex Ford Mustang Dark Horse

The tire wear we saw in the last short-track race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway – did you like it or dislike it?

“I liked it just because it was so much different, and I thought there was a lot of strategy from the driver’s input and how you paced your runs, so with the tires wearing out, it was definitely challenging. The cautions were a question on if they were going to throw a caution or not and we kind of had challenges there on how you needed to pace out the runs. But other than that, I thought it was a lot of fun just being able to manage your tires like a Late Model race.”

It seemed like a return to old-school racing, where tire management was the key to success. In all the racing that you’ve done in your career, was there a track or style of car where you had to manage your tires that you ended up relying on for that Bristol race?

“Growing up short-track racing, you’re always managing your tires at the worn-out racetracks – Pensacola, Tucson Speedway, Greenville-Pickens. You’re always losing grip throughout a run and the more you can save, the more speed you could have at the end of a run. Bristol was a little different – it was the same in a sense, but it was different because you would wear the tire all the way down to the cords where you just blow the tire, so you had to be patient and save your aggression at the beginning of a run and throughout a run just so you didn’t blow the tire all the way out and wear it all the way down compared to Late Model races where you just lose grip as the laps go on, the harder you push.”

How do you save your tires? You have to continue to race, but what is that balance between racing for the position you have now and the position you want to have later?

“You just keep the car a little straighter on exits and if you get to 100-percent throttle at some point, you knock it down maybe 20-percent throttle and you just wait on it, you pick the gas up, and instead of wide open, you might go to 50 percent for a little bit just so you’re not slipping that tire on the surface of the racetrack, not grinding through the front tires, overdriving your entries. It’s challenging, but it’s a lot of fun, too, to be able to out-save the guys in front of you. And then you could see the cords at Bristol on the guys in front of you. You could literally see a white ring around their tires and you’d be like, ‘Alright, I can get that guy easily.’ I mean, they fall off the pace so fast.”

Would you like to see that kind of tire fall-off at Richmond?

“I would like to see the tire pace slowed down as you run rather than the tire wearing out all the way to the cords. I think there are two different ways. At Bristol, the tread wore all the way off to where you didn’t have grip and that’s why you had to pace off your runs. Personally, I’d like it if they’d slow down on the grip loss the harder you push on a tire, just being able to lose grip rather than the tread depth of the tire.”

You only have three NASCAR Cup Series starts at Richmond, but you have seven NASCAR Xfinity Series starts there with a good bit of success – a win in 2021 along with three top-fives and five top-10s. What allowed you to achieve that success at Richmond?

“Richmond’s a worn-out racetrack and you have to be really disciplined to drive it low and straight off the corner. Ever since I went there in the K&N days, we had good pace there. It’s a really rhythm track, and being able to be disciplined is important. If you miss the yellow line by an inch, it’s a 30-percent grip loss, so it’s really important to get to the line there, which I like, having to be disciplined, kind of like an old Atlanta.”

How different is a lap around Richmond in a Cup Series car compared to an Xfinity Series car?

“It’s way different just because you’re shifting. A lot of the things that worked in Trucks and Xfinity and the old Cup cars and K&N, it’s a little bit different because you’re shifting and the tires are a lot wider, so you’re going naturally faster through the corner in the new Cup cars. But the same keys of getting down to the bottom are a big focus.”

No. 10 Superior Essex Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Noah Gragson

Hometown: Las Vegas

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer

Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Jerry Cook

Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Engineer: James Kimbrough

Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Andy Houston

Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Mulder

Hometown: Sioux Center, Iowa

Rear Tire Changer: Trevor White

Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard

Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotten

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: James “Ace” Keener

Hometown: Fortuna, California

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Chris Trickett

Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Beau Whitley

Hometown: Carmel, Indiana

Tire Specialist: Jacob Cooksey

Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller

Hometown: Monroe, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Steven Casper

Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

SUNNYD® Racing: Josh Berry Richmond Advance

By
Official Release
-

JOSH BERRY
Richmond Advance
No. 4 SUNNYD® Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: Richmond 400 (Round 7 of 36)
● Time/Date: 7 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 31
● Location: Richmond (Va.) Raceway
● Layout: .75-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 400 laps/300 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 70 laps / Stage 2: 160 laps / Final Stage: 170 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● The next race on the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule is Richmond (Va.) Raceway and the 33-year-old Cup Series rookie Josh Berry has turned laps there in the NextGen car. Making his Cup Series debut at .75-mile oval last year subbing for an injured Chase Elliott, Berry qualified 30th before driving through the field to take home a runner-up finish, leading 10 laps along the way. Coincidentally, Berry’s spotter this season is Eddie D’Hondt, Chase Elliott’s former spotter who helped him navigate the Richmond traffic to his runner-up finish last year.

● Berry has made four starts at Richmond in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports. In those starts, he’s earned one top-five (third in 2023) and three top-10s, finishing outside of the top-10 just once. Additionally, Berry has led 64 circuits in Xfinity Series competition with an average starting position of 14.3 and an average finish of 10.3.

● Berry first made a name for himself on short tracks, climbing the ranks to earn his seat in the Cup Series by dominating at the grassroots level. During his days driving for Dale Earnhardt Jr., as part of the JR Motorsports Late Model program, Berry amassed an impressive 95 victories in his 262 starts with the team, with 189 top-fives and 219 top-10s. He was also the NASCAR Weekly Series champion in 2020, finishing every race but one inside the top-10 that season.

● Crew chief Rodney Childers has 35 Cup Series starts at Richmond in his career atop the pit box. In those starts, Childers’ drivers have amassed six pole positions, one win (Kevin Harvick in August 2022), 12 top-five finishes, 18 top-10s, 319 laps led, an average starting position of 9.4 and an average finish of 14.4. Childers’ drivers have zero DNFs in those 35 starts.

Josh Berry, Driver of the No. 4 SUNNYD Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Richmond is another short track that you’ve called one of your favorites. What are your expectations of yourself this weekend?

“I think Richmond is one of the tracks that we expect to run well at. Stewart-Haas as a whole has been good on short tracks and has a good program, and I have had success there in the Xfinity Series, as well as in the Cup Series last year in the No. 9 car. I think it’s one of the places that we circle on our calendar knowing that I have a long history in short-track racing, and Rodney (Childers, crew chief) comes from that same background. I think it will be a strong showing, we just have to go execute to the best of our ability and there is no reason we can’t go run in the top-10.”

Bristol was an unusual race two weekends ago as tires were wearing out much more quickly than ever before there, creating chaos. What did the team learn from that race, and how will those lessons translate to this weekend in Richmond?

“Bristol was so unusual, but keeping the tires on it at Richmond will be important. It probably won’t be as dramatic as Bristol was, but all in all I thought we did a good job managing that race and adapting to those odd circumstances, and that gives me confidence heading to Richmond. The more unusual circumstances we face as a team and are able to work through them and overcome them, the better we will be in the long run.”

Richmond has a reputation of being a single-file race. Can you expand on why the style of racing at Richmond requires more than just cutting laps until the end?

“Richmond requires a lot of strategy to manage the tires. Once the field gets on different tire strategies, you will see a lot more passing and opportunities to gain or lose track position. For the most part, it’s challenging because everyone is running hard, but you have to still manage your tires so you have something at the end when you need to make those challenges to gain a couple of spots.”

Have your goals for the season changed now that the Cup Series has visited every style of track?

“Our goals haven’t changed; we are just so focused on getting better. I think we have a lot of good tracks coming up for the No. 4 team and we have made a lot of progress as a team. It’s just going to take some time to get more experience and clean a few things up, but I think we can get there.”

Looking ahead, the Cup Series heads to Martinsville next week. What do you look forward to these next two weekends, knowing you come from a short-track background?

“Both Richmond and Martinsville should be really good for us. More than anything, Stewart Haas as a company has been strong on the short tracks, so I think we can take the standard we have as an organization and apply what we learned at Phoenix and Bristol and apply those things to the next two weeks and put together two really strong runs.”

No. 4 SUNNYD Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Josh Berry

Hometown: Hendersonville, Tennessee

Crew Chief: Rodney Childers

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Car Chief: Robert “Cheddar” Smith

Hometown: Whitewater, Wisconsin

Engineer: Dax Gerringer

Hometown: Gibsonville, North Carolina

Engineer: Billy Kuebler

Hometown: Saline, Michigan

Spotter: Eddie D’Hondt

Hometown: Levittown, New York

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Daniel Coffey

Hometown: Granite Falls, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Daniel Smith

Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Mason Flynt

Hometown: High Point, North Carolina

Jack Man: Brandon Banks

Hometown: High Point, North Carolina

Fuel Man: Evan Marchal

Hometown: Westfield, Indiana

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Tyler Trosper

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Mechanic: Chris Capaldi

Hometown: Armada, Michigan

Tire Specialist: Zac Lupien

Hometown: Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Engine Tuner: Robert Brandt

Hometown: Mobile, Alabama

Transporter Co-Driver: Jake Zierhoffer

Hometown: Billerica, Massachusetts

Transporter Co-Driver: Stephen Mitchell

Hometown: Woodville, Ohio

ACTION-PACKED 2024 NHRA SUMMIT RACING SERIES SEASON CULMINATES WITH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN LAS VEGAS

By
Official Release
-

INDIANAPOLIS (March 21, 2024) – A chance to race for a national championship in Las Vegas is again on the line for competitors in the NHRA Summit Racing Series, the world’s largest motorsports program when it comes to racer participation, as the 2024 Summit E.T. Series scheduled was announced today. 

Drivers will compete at NHRA member tracks across the seven divisions in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, Motorcycle, and Street Legal EV categories, all with the hopes of advancing to the NHRA Summit Racing Series National Championship, which takes place Oct. 31-Nov. 3 as part of the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

The more than 75,000 drivers will race for event wins, divisional titles, and, ultimately, the chance to race for national glory on the “Road to Vegas.” The Summit E.T. Finals in the seven NHRA divisions, plus an eighth E.T. event in Canada, take place during late August, September and October, with the winners advancing to compete for a national championship. 

There will also be three first-time locations for the Summit E.T. Finals, as racers in Division 5 will compete on Sept. 14-15 at the new Flying H Dragstrip outside Kansas City. In Division 3, racers will head to the standout Summit Motorsports Park facility in Norwalk, Ohio on Sept. 13-15. 

Plus, an Eastern Canadian E.T. Finals takes place for the first time in NHRA history in 2024 as well, with the race taking place Sept. 6-8 at Napierville Dragway in Quebec. The E.T. Finals will be a championship-level event mirroring the seven NHRA Divisional E.T. Finals currently contested.

Summit Racing Equipment, an industry leader in the distribution of auto racing parts and equipment through catalogs and the Internet, continues to be a strong supporter of the program, boasting a partnership of more than 20 years.  

“The NHRA Summit Racing Series continues to be such a great program and we’re thrilled to continue to offer our support of these amazing sportsman racers,” said Jim Greenleaf, Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports & Events Manager. “The racers get a unique opportunity to compete on a national level without a travel commitment, and there’s huge stakes on the line.  

“Just winning a divisional championship is a terrific accomplishment, but the chance to compete in Las Vegas for a national championship is a huge honor. We’ve loved the overwhelmingly positive response from the racers competing at the Summit Racing Finals in Las Vegas and we can’t wait to watch all the action this year.” 

At the national championship in Las Vegas, a special Wild Card entry will fill the eighth spot in each category, joining the champions from the seven division Summit Racing Series E.T. Finals. Previously, five Wild Card entry recipients have also gone on to win a world championship over the years. 

These five lucky divisions will also have an extra chance to take the “Road to Vegas” 

Super Pro                            Division 1 
Pro ET                                  Division 7 
Sportsman                          Division 2 
Motorcycle                          Division 5 
Street Legal EV                  Division 3 

The national champions in 2023 included Billy Boyko (Division 1) in Super Pro, Mike LaRose (Division 1) in Pro ET, Jake Biscay (Division 6) in Sportsman, Patrick Roetto (Division 5) in Motorcycle, and Josh Rogers (Division 3) in Street Legal EV. 

The division champion in the NHRA Summit Series receives an impressive prize package, including a Wally trophy, jacket, and purse, along with $3,000 bonus money to attend the national championship in Las Vegas. There, the experience is second-to-none for each competitor. The weekend begins with the champions’ welcome dinner and each driver gets a major spotlight throughout the national event. They are introduced on stage during the official pre-race ceremonies and then compete for a championship in front of a huge crowd in Las Vegas. 

The championship competitors will be competing for a huge purse of more than $145,000 that is paid out to the 40 competitors attending the finals, plus contingency bonuses, a national championship Wally trophy, a championship jacket, and more. In all, there is over $400,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs at the seven divisional ET finals and the national championship. 

The event in Las Vegas marks the culmination of outstanding racing that takes place throughout the year with some of the top bracket racers across seven divisions. The popular Summit ET Series allows drivers to campaign several types of vehicles, including dragsters, roadsters, sedans, coupes, motorcycles, and electric cars, to compete in the different categories, bringing together an impressive list of standout competitors racing for bragging rights, trophies, and an impressive purse.  

The EV category in the NHRA Summit Racing Series is reserved for only foreign and domestic OEM production electric vehicle automobiles and trucks. All vehicles must be street driven and must be able to pass all state highway safety requirements and retain all OEM safety features. 

“Summit Racing Equipment continues to provide incredible support for the Summit Series, which is the grassroots foundation of NHRA’s sportsman program,” NHRA Sportsman Racing Manager Sara Walker said.  

“From the ‘Road to Vegas’ starting at our local NHRA member tracks to the divisional championships to the national championship in Las Vegas, this journey is so exciting and always so rewarding for everyone involved. We’re all looking forward to a great season in the NHRA Summit Series, seeing the passion of all the competitors and finishing it off with a spectacular weekend in Las Vegas.” 

For more information on the NHRA Summit Racing Series, visit www.nhra.com/sportsman.  

2024 NHRA Summit Racing Series Finals Schedule 

Division 1 – Lebanon Valley Dragway, West Lebanon, N.Y., Sept. 20-21 

Division 2 – South Georgia Motorsports Park, Cecil, Ga., Sept. 12-14 

Division 3 – Summit Motorsports Park, Norwalk, Ohio, Sept. 13-15 

Division 4 – Ardmore Dragway, Ardmore, Okla., Sept. 6-8 

Division 5 – Flying H Dragstrip, Odessa, Mo., Sept. 14-15 

Division 6 – Pacific Raceways, Seattle, Aug. 29-Sept. 2 

Division 7 – The Strip at Las Vegas Motorsport Speedway, Las Vegas, Oct. 9-13 

Eastern Canadian E.T. Finals, Napierville Dragway, Quebec, Sept. 6-8 

NHRA Summit Racing Series National Championship 

The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Oct. 31-Nov. 3 

***

About Summit Racing Equipment

Summit Racing Equipment has been the World’s Speed Shop® for over 50 years! Summit Racing is the world’s largest e-commerce, mail order, and retailer of performance automotive parts and accessories. Summit Racing offers a huge selection of parts in stock from over 1,500 manufacturers for all forms of racing, street performance, off-roading, restoration, tools, and yes, diesel. It also offers fast ground service shipping to most areas of the country and same-day shipping on in-stock items. Summit Racing has the industry’s top-rated customer service and a full-time technical department to answer your questions. With headquarters in Tallmadge, Ohio, Summit operates distribution and retail stores in Tallmadge, Sparks, NV, McDonough, GA, and Arlington, TX.

Summit Racing Equipment

www.summitracing.com

1-800-230-3030

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.

Michael McDowell and the No. 34 Long John Silver’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse

By
Official Release
-

Richmond (Va.) Competition Notes

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 26, 2024) – Michael McDowell and the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse head up to the Richmond Raceway for an Easter weekend, short-track night race.

After earning valuable stage points and looking to bounce back after Circuit of the Americas, McDowell returns to the 0.75-mile track with hopes of adding to his top-10 totals on the year. The No. 34 team finished sixth place in the 2023 spring race, his best finish ever at Richmond.

Long John Silver’s, a long-time Front Row Motorsports partner, returns its iconic colors on the No. 34 this weekend.

Track activity will begin with practice and qualifying on Saturday, March 30th at 10:30 a.m. ET. The 400-lap event will take place Sunday, March 31st at 7:00 p.m. ET and will be televised live on FOX. Fans can also listen in on the action live from Sirius XM and the Motor Racing Network.

No. 34 Long John Silver’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse:

DRIVER MICHAEL MCDOWELL:

“We just need to continue to execute properly and keep showing the speed with our Ford Mustang Dark Horse. There is a lot of potential with this group, and everyone is working hard. We will see the top-10 and top-five finishes come to us if we keep it up.”

CREW CHIEF TRAVIS PETERSON:

“We have a totally different attitude towards the short tracks this year with the new Mustang. We’ve made a lot of great gains and it has shown. I think we need a little more speed, but I think we can compete in the top-10 again and have a good day. Michael and everyone on the team are doing a good job and these better finishes will come to us.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Cole Custer Richmond 1 Media Availability

By
Official Release
-

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Richmond Advance | Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 Stewart-Haas Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, is the defending series champion who comes into this weekend’s event at Richmond Raceway with a streak of three straight top-five finishes overall and three straight at the Virginia short track.

COLE CUSTER, No. 00 Stewart-Haas Ford Mustang Dark Horse – HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE GOING TO A TRACK LIKE RICHMOND WHEN YOU’RE ON A ROLL? “Yeah, we’ve definitely had a solid streak here. Talking with JT and all of our guys after the race we’re hungry for that little bit more. We’ve really been running solid, but I feel like we’ve been maximizing days really good. Our pit crew has been really good. They’ve been on it. Our guys have been really good about adjustments through the race and trying to maximize our day, but we want that little bit more that can lead to winning races. I feel like we’re doing a good job right now, it’s just how we finish the thing off.”

YOU’VE GONE FROM 11TH TO 3RD IN THE STANDINGS DURING THIS THREE WEEK STREAK. WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR A TEAM? “It builds some confidence just because I feel like even on our not best days recently we’ve been able to run top five and have good points and be able to really maximize as good as we could. I feel like when we do have the days that we want and the speed that we want, we’re gonna really be able to make it happen. It’s just trying to get that on a consistent basis, but I feel like all the guys in the shop are working extremely hard right now and I think we have some good stuff coming right now, it’s just a matter of putting it all together.”

HOW HAS THE CHAMPIONSHIP IMPACTED YOUR MINDSET GOING INTO THE SEASON AND HOW HAS THE SEASON GONE BECAUSE OF THAT? “I think the biggest thing was just how you’ve got to keep intensity up to try and go win races. We did such a good job last year and ended on such a high note, but at the end of the day that doesn’t mean anything or pay anything for this year, so we have to really dig deep to figure out what we need to keep grinding. We’ve done a great job of maximizing our days and making the most of it, but we’re gonna keep working and trying to get that little bit better to get back to Victory Lane.”

ARE ANY TEAMS TALKING TO YOU ABOUT RUNNING ONE-OFF RACES OR FOR NEXT YEAR YET? “We’ll take that as it comes. I feel like I love where I’m at right now with my group of guys. We go and compete for wins and championships every year. That’s a dream come true in any top three series of NASCAR, so to run for great owners like Gene Haas and Tony Stewart and be able to compete for wins and championships is a dream come true. I’m definitely really happy. Obviously, I’m hungry for that next opportunity in Cup. I feel like I have a little bit of unfinished business in the Cup Series maybe, but at the end of the day I feel like you just make the most of what’s in front of you at the moment. I feel like we have a great group of people who can go win races.”

HOW IMPORTANT HAS TIRE MANAGEMENT BECOME AT RICHMOND? “Huge. I mean, Richmond is probably the most similar to being on ice without ice skates. That’s what it feels like after about five laps, so you’re just slipping and sliding around and you have to just manage your tires the most that you can to try and have something at the end of the run because there will be guys that don’t have that long run car and you’ll just eat them up on the long runs, especially with it being a day race for Xfinity. It’s all you can to keep the tires on it. I mean, it will kill them after five laps, so you definitely have to have the car balance good to keep the tires on it, but then you have your job as a driver to try and make sure you don’t overslip the tires and kill them.”

IS A HOT DOG A SANDWICH AND WHAT TOPPINGS DO YOU PUT ON IT? “A hot dog is not a sandwich. I don’t know who came up with that, but I don’t think of a sandwich whenever I eat a hot dog. And then for topping I’m usually pretty simple – usually ketchup, mustard and relish – but when you go to Martinsville I usually get the classic, but I don’t like the slaw. The only thing I don’t like is the slaw on the Martinsville hot dog.”

WHAT HAS BEEN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WAY LAST YEAR STARTED TO THIS YEAR? “I feel like from the start of last year, I mean it’s just such a different ballgame for us from a notebook standpoint. There were so many things that we were trying to figure out at that point of what to bring to the racetrack from a setup standpoint and I feel like we just really built a great notebook throughout the year and now we’ve been able to really unload exactly where we need to be for the most part and have solid top five cars where we want them. I think there’s been a couple of little changes with tires and rule changes with the aero side a little bit in the Xfinity Series from last year, so just trying to adapt to that a little bit, just what we maybe need to do a little bit, but at the end of the day I think we’re right there in the mix and just have to put it all together.”

BUBBA POLLARD IS MAKING HIS DEBUT. DO YOU PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO THAT? “I think it’s exciting. It’s awesome that he’s getting that opportunity running NASCAR in one of the top three series. Obviously, he’s one of the best race car drivers to ever do it I feel like. At the short track level, I think that’s no easy task to go win the amount of races that he’s won, so the only thing he’s gonna struggle with is the obvious – there’s not much practice, he’s never been in the cars before, so even though he’s obviously a talented race car driver that can probably do it, just trying to adapt and get the balance of the car how he wants it – just go through the weekend how he needs to and get every step of the way right is gonna be difficult for him, but I think he definitely had the potential to go out there and run good for sure.”

IT’S BEEN SIX WEEKS SINCE THE BABY ANNOUNCEMENT. HOW ARE THINGS GOING? ARE YOU READING BOOKS OR WAITING UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE? “We’ll probably start getting on all that stuff soon. We actually just moved houses over the off weekend a couple weeks ago. We just needed a little bit more room for the baby and everything, so that kept us busy, but I think now we’ll start probably putting together the baby room and start getting on things a little bit. My wife, Kari, she’s doing good. She’s definitely been a champ through the whole thing and we’re just really excited. We’re excited to bring another Custer into the world and can’t wait for August.”

CAN YOU GIVE A SENSE WITH HAVING THE CUP AND XFINITY EXPERIENCE HOW YOU KEEP YOUR SKILLS SHARP FOR BOTH BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT? “I think you just have to keep pushing yourself to find ways to make yourself better. I think it can be easy to get complacent even when you’re running top five and top 10 in Xfinity and winning some races, but you have to keep pushing yourself to figure out, ‘OK, how can I do this move a little bit different in the race’ or try to get ahead on what the track is doing or try and be aggressive on restarts, keeping up with what different moves people are coming up with to try and work on restarts and be aggressive because you just don’t want to get complacent. I think that’s the biggest thing. You have to keep working on different little things that you can try to make yourself better because in the Cup Series everything moves so fast and evolves that it pushes you to keep evolving as a driver, whereas Xfinity I feel like it’s maybe not evolving quite as fast but you can still keep up with it and try to push yourself to be that Cup level driver.”

CAN YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU HAVE GOTTEN BETTER SINCE THE MIDDLE OF LAST SEASON OR THE START OF THIS ONE? “I think it’s just every week the work that you put into studying restarts, passing, I mean you look at this weekend and it’s like that move Shane Van Gisbergen put on in the Xfinity race and Ross tried it in the Cup race into turn one, where he crossed him over. Staying up on things like that to push yourself to keep trying to be that aggressive and try to make those big moves because those things are huge for a driver to keep pushing yourself. I think also one of the big things for me is just how you work with your team to try to stay ahead of things and try and get the cars how you want them to drive because you’ve got to work weeks in advance to really go through all the details. I think being able to really work with your team how you need to and get the cars how you want to when you show up to the track is a huge part of it.”

THIS IS PART OF A LONG STRETCH GOING THROUGH THE END OF APRIL WITHOUT AN OFF WEEKEND. HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS PERIOD? “It’s huge just trying to get your bearings straight. You have to figure out your problems now and try to really address everything and using the off weekends to your advantage to try and get ahead on things because when it goes to that stretch it’s very easy to get behind, so you just have to try to keep up with it right now and really get ahead on what your problems are and try to fix them. I think that will set you up through the whole stretch.”

CAN YOU REMEMBER MUCH ABOUT THE MOVIE ‘CARS’ WHEN IT CAME OUT AND IF IT HAD AN IMPACT ON YOU? “I thought as a kid that it was one of the coolest things having a movie based kind of on NASCAR, so I was definitely a fan of it. Did it change how I looked at the sport or got me into it? No. I was already kind of into it before that, but I feel like as a kid that loved NASCAR it was cool to see other people really excited about it and be making that big of an impact. It was a really cool movie and I was a fan of it.”

Todd Gilliland and the No. 38 FARXIGA Ford Mustang Dark Horse

By
Official Release
-

Richmond (Va.) Raceway Competition Notes

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 26, 2024) – Todd Gilliland and the No. 38 team head to the Richmond (Va.) Raceway for NASCAR Cup Series on Easter Weekend.

Coming off of a 26th place finish at the Circuit of the Americas, Gilliland and the 38 team sit 26th in points and look to move up the standings this weekend.

Gilliland will be making his fifth start at Richmond, he finished 15th in the spring race last season and is looking to build on his 2024 results.

Track activity will begin with practice and qualifying on Saturday, March 30th at 10:30 a.m. ET. The 400-lap event will take place Sunday, March 31st at 7:00 p.m. ET and will be televised live on FOX. Fans can also listen in on the action live from Sirius XM and the Motor Racing Network.

No. 38 FARXIGA Ford Mustang Dark Horse:

DRIVER TODD GILLILAND:

“COTA didn’t play out like we wanted it to, but it’s a new week and a new track. We had a pretty solid run in last year’s spring race, so that’s the standard for this weekend. It’s cool to have a new partner on our Ford Mustang Dark Horse, hopefully we can give them a good showing.”

CREW CHIEF RYAN BERGENTY:

“COTA feels like a missed opportunity for sure, but you will have races like that. We just have to put it in the past and get our minds right for Richmond. We have a new partner this weekend we want to show them off, and the best way to do that is be up front.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Getting to know ARCA Menards Series driver, Alex Clubb

By
Michelle Lippold
-
Photo Credit: Ashlee Clubb

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Alex Clubb, owner and driver of the No. 03 Ford Fusion, and it offered me a glimpse of Clubb’s busy life.

I went all the way back to the beginning to find out what had inspired the 33-year-old to get into racing. Like so many drivers, it started with family. His grandfather and his father, Brian Clubb, raced at their local track in the late model division. Clubb got his start driving at the same track, and he quickly moved up until he was at the top level of late models.

When he was 22 years old, he discovered the ARCA Menards Series, where he has been racing since 2015. This is his first full-time year in the Series, although he seems like a seasoned veteran. Clubb is a throwback to the days of Alan Kulwicki, as he pretty much does it all. He hauls his own cars, works on them, and drives them too, while his father serves as his crew chief.

He competes with 1/10th of the budget that the other drivers have. And while he’s driving, he’s learning quite a bit on the track, including who may be loose, who to be leery of, and the experience that only time in the seat can give you.

Don’t think for a second that Clubb is just sitting around waiting for the next race. He is also dedicated to his community.

“If you want something changed,” he told me, “You be the change.“

He is the third ward Alderman in his hometown and is also running for Mayor, although he’s not sure he will win. He also runs and operates A.Clubb Lawn Care and Landscaping, Inc.

Much to my surprise Clubb’s wife, Ashlee, isn’t into racing, but his son, 3-year-old Parker, seems to have the racing gene too. As for Kennedy, his four-month-old daughter; we will have to wait and see.

1...1,1431,1441,145...6,728Page 1,144 of 6,728