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Perseverance pays, Crawford scores two top-10 finishes in Australia after rough start to F2 weekend

By
Official Release
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Jan CRAWFORD #7 Dams. © 2024 Dutch Photo Agency MELBOURNE (AU), 21 - 24 March 2024: Australian Grandprix at Albert Park Street Circuit.

MELBOURNE, Australia (25 March 2024) – Jak Crawford rebounded from a difficult qualifying session to run a pair of competitive FIA Formula 2 Championship races in his third weekend driving for DAMS Lucas Oil, finishing 10th in both the Sprint Race and Feature Race despite having to start 22nd in both events.

The 18-year-old Texan also scored the first fastest lap of his F2 career in the Feature, leading the race with two laps remaining before his mandatory pit stop.

The strong pace and impressive forward progress in the races followed a challenging start to the weekend.

On the first lap of qualifying, Crawford took a trip into the grass and subsequently cut a tire, forcing him to pit lane for a new set. His final qualifying run was truncated following contact with a barrier, leaving him without a representative time from the critical session.

“It was very unfortunate the way it started out,” Crawford said of the Australian weekend. “I had a technical issue in practice, which was no fault of the team, and then we didn’t get it right in qualifying. We struggled and I was off a little. That forced me to push the limits, and I ended up crashing. So instead of getting something, I wound up last. This weekend showed just how important qualifying is.”

Without a competitive lap, Crawford was slotted 22nd and last for both races. He gained five positions on the opening of the 23-lap Sprint Race, and went up to 13th after a pair of early cautions. Crawford battled to 14th over the opening nine laps, and worked his way to 11th with six laps remaining. He ended up strong, passing the current championship leader on the final lap to place 10th.

“Everyone was on the same tire, and it was a carnage, with a lot of safety car laps,” he said. “At the end, the speed was quite good. [On the last lap] it didn’t mean anything as far as the points, but it felt quite good to make the move and get the position.”

DAMS opted for an alternative strategy for the 33-lap Feature, one of the few teams to start on the medium compound tire that was used in the Sprint Race. Crawford went from starting 22nd to move up to 15th by the time a virtual safety car arrived on lap nine, and then went up to fifth when the competitors who started on the super-soft compound took their mandatory stop.

Unfortunately, another caution – this time involving a safety car – bunched the field up behind him. When racing resumed on lap 16, Crawford made a pass to take third, and then began running down second place with 12 laps remaining.

He set fast lap on the medium tire three times, taking second position with five laps remaining and then passing the race leader with two laps to go. He then made his mandatory stop, falling to 13th, but once again setting another fastest race lap on the softer compound as he raced into the final points paying spot with a 10th place result.

“It was very, very positive to set those fastest laps,” he said. “We were really fast on the medium compound after more than 20 laps. My tires were old, but I had more pace than the guys running on the other newer tires. I was working my way up the field but it was unfortunate the way it fell with the safety car. But we did really well, and we learned a lot. We had really good race pace. But on my side, I’m disappointed on how it went down in qualifying.”

The two points for 10th and fastest lap have him tied for seventh in the standings with 26 points.

After three race weekends in March, Crawford gets nearly a two-month break in F2 competition. He will have an official F2 test in Barcelona from April 23-25, with the next race at Imola May 18-19.

“We ended up with a lot of positives, so now we go back to Europe and really start the season.”

Ty Dillon Joins Kaulig Racing’s 2024 Cup Driver Lineup

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Official Release
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Dillon Set to Compete in Limited Schedule in the No. 16 Camaro ZL1

 Lexington, N.C. (March 25, 2024) – Kaulig Racing announces that Ty Dillon will make his first 2024 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) start in the No. 16 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Richmond Raceway on March 31.

Dillon, a 10-year NCS veteran with over 200 career starts, will compete in a limited schedule for Kaulig Racing.

“I’m excited to be back in the NASCAR Cup Series with Kaulig Racing,” said Dillon. “This is the highest level of our sport and allows me to go out and prove what I can do with great leaders in Matt Kaulig, Chris Rice, Travis Mack, and the entire team. Kaulig Racing gives me the best opportunity to showcase what I can do on the track.”

Dillon, grandson of Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress, is currently competing for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series title.

“We’re excited to have Ty Dillon compete for Kaulig Racing this season in the NASCAR Cup Series,” said Chris Rice, President of Kaulig Racing. “With our continued success in the sport and support from Richard Childress Racing, it made perfect sense to lean on a veteran driver to help pilot the No.16 NCS.”

In addition to Richmond, Dillon will run in the No. 16 Camaro ZL1 at the following races:

  • Texas Motor Speedway (April 14)
  • New Hampshire Motor Speedway (June 23)
  • Richmond (August 11)
  • Kansas Speedway (September 29)

About Kaulig Racing:

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started and has won back-to-back regular-season championships. Before becoming a full-time NCS team, Kaulig Racing made multiple starts in the 2021 NCS season and won in its seventh-ever start with AJ Allmendinger’s victory at “The Brickyard” for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team expanded to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and added a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. In 2024, the team will once again field two, full-time entries in the NCS and continue to field three, full-time NXS entries. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

King of the Road: Byron Completes Perfect Weekend At EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix

By
Official Release
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William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports celebrates his second win of the season in Victory Lane following Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas outside of Austin, Texas. Photo Credit: NASCAR at COTA/Harold Hinson Photography
  • After topping the charts in practice and earning the pole in qualifying, Byron outpaced the field in Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas.
  • Fans can renew tickets to the 2025 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix online at NASCARatCOTA.com.

AUSTIN, Texas (March 24, 2024) – William Byron had the car to beat all weekend at the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, but when the checkered flag fell, nobody could catch the Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 machine.

Byron held off a hard-charging Christopher Bell in the closing laps and managed to outpace the field to complete the perfect weekend, which included being fastest in practice and winning the pole. That pole was the 13th of his career and the first he converted into a victory.

Bell and his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Ty Gibbs finished second and third, respectively, with Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman finishing fourth and 23XI’s Tyler Reddick in fifth. The performance by Gibbs matched his career-best performance established this season at Phoenix.

“I feel like I made a lot of mistakes in the last 10 laps,” Byron said. “This sport is just so hard. Week in and week out to show up and have fast cars, I’m just thankful for the team I have around me. It’s a lot of fun to win races, but it’s really difficult too.

“It was a really challenging race. It was a really fast middle portion of the race. The 48 (Bowman) was coming on strong, and the 20 (Bell) at the end.”

Despite a late charge, which closed the final margin of victory to just 0.692 seconds, Bell said he would have had a difficult time making a pass for the win.

“It seems like another lap and I would have gotten (to him), for sure,” he said. “Passing him was going to be difficult. I needed him to make a mistake, and he didn’t.”

Byron’s pit crew came up big on the final stop of the day, getting the Charlotte native out three seconds faster than the next closest team and providing the cushion he needed to pull out the victory.

“When we’re on, we’re firing on all cylinders,” Byron said of his team following the race. “We prepared really well this week.”

Byron, who notched six wins in 2023, now has two just six races into his 2024 season. The other came in the season-opening Daytona 500.

Outside of two stage breaks, the 68-lap affair went caution-free.

Bell, already locked into the Playoffs by virtue of a win at Phoenix earlier this season, earned his first-ever stage win at Circuit of The Americas at the end of the first stage, while his teammate Denny Hamlin powered his No. 11 Toyota to victory in the second stage.

Tickets:

Fans can renew their tickets for the 2025 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix online at NASCARatCOTA.com. Those who renew in the next 30 days will receive a free pair of Shady Rays sunglasses.

Follow Us:

Keep track of all things NASCAR at COTA by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@NASCARatCOTA). Keep up with all the latest information on the NASCAR at COTA website and mobile app.

Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series Race Report – Circuit of the Americas

By
Official Release
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EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix
Austin, Texas – March 24, 2024

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 DISCOUNT TIRE FORD MUSTANG

START: 11TH STAGE ONE: 4TH STAGE TWO: 28TH FINISH: 18TH POINTS: 19TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric, driver of the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang, fought to an 18th-place finish in Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Cindric showcased the speed of his car right from the start, powering to the seventh position after starting 11th. The Discount Tire machine sustained heavy nose damage in the opening laps but remained on track through the end of Stage 1 to finish fourth as other drivers pitted early. Under the caution period, crew chief Brian Wilson called Cindric to pit road for the team to assess the damage and make repairs to the grille and fenders. With heavy damage to the duct work, the Team Penske driver restarted 39th for the launch of Stage 2, gradually elevating a few positions to conclude the segment in the 28th position. After pitting just prior to the Stage-end, Cindric remained on track during the break and fired off 18th for the third and final chunk. Cindric’s drive never faltered as he battled through to notch an 18th-place result.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “We made some progress at the start and then it all pretty much came to an end with a couple of guys getting spun off turn 11. I got a ton of damage and the guys had to pretty much take the air box out of it which makes the engine extremely inefficient and down on power. It was a fight from there, but we made some improvements in the car over the weekend and thought we had something to compete inside the top-10 today. It’s frustrating to not fully see our potential today.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 MENARDS/JACK LINK’S FORD MUSTANG

START: 28TH STAGE ONE: 23RD STAGE TWO: 2ND FINISH: 12TH POINTS: 3RD

RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Menards/Jack Link’s Ford Mustang team fought their way to a 12th-place finish Sunday at Circuit of the Americas in the NASCAR Cup Series’ first road course event of the 2024 season. After starting 28th, Blaney gained seven spots in the first five laps before making his first trip to pit road under green with four laps remaining in the opening stage, resulting in a 23rd-place finish in Stage 1. The No. 12 team’s strategy call to flip the stage saw Blaney line up 15th for the start of Stage 2 as he battled his way towards the top-10. As green flag pit stops began in the latter stages of the second segment, Blaney was scored second with two to go and got within two car lengths of the leader but ultimately settled for a second-place finish in Stage 2. Following a four-tire stop at the stage break, Blaney worked his way up to 18th during the opening laps of the final stage before going for a spin in turn 11 that saw him drop out of the top-20 in the running order. Despite the setback, Blaney worked his way back through the field and made his final pit stop with 17 laps to go and made up 11 positions over the course of the final run to come away with a 12-place finish.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “We didn’t start great. We got some stage points in Stage 2 and then the start of Stage 3 we were really good and drove up to the low teens and I spun out passing somebody into [turn] 11. That set us back. Then we drove back through the field to finish 12th. I thought we had pretty decent at the end, we just didn’t start up front. Spinning out didn’t help. We probably could have run seventh or eighth, but we still have some work to do.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG

START: 35TH STAGE ONE: 24TH STAGE TWO: 24TH FINISH: 11TH POINTS: 22ND

RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano and the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang team rallied for an 11th-place finish after starting 35th at Circuit of the Americas Sunday afternoon in the Cup Series’ first of five road course races on the 2024 schedule. Logano made up nine spots in the first four laps before the No. 22 team opted to flip the opening stage by bringing the Shell-Pennzoil Ford to pit road on lap 11 for a four-tire stop, resulting in a 24th-place finish in Stage 1. The strategy call allowed Logano to restart Stage 2 from 17th as the No. 22 team planned to go the rest of the way on only two more stops, prompting Logano to hit pit road with five laps remaining in Stage 2 as Logano was scored 24th at the conclusion of the second, 15-lap segment. Logano lined up to take the green flag from 14th at the start of the final stage and fought his way up to ninth on the leaderboard before hitting pit road for the final time – along with a handful of the leaders – with 24 laps to go. As the race stayed green the rest of the way, Logano worked his way through traffic over the course of the final run to secure an 11th-place finish.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “We passed a few cars and then we always flipped the stages. We were trying to go for a finish. 11th, the way our season has gone so far. We will take that and start scratching and clawing our way up in the points. We probably left a few out there with the stages but, overall, we had decent pace at the end. Nothing to win with but something we can run with in the top-10 if we were up there. On to Richmond. I am looking forward to that one.”

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Richmond Raceway for Round 7 of the 2024 season on Sunday, March 31 for the Toyota Owners 400. Coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Burton Finishes 31st at COTA

By
Official Release
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Harrison Burton and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang Dark Horse finished 31st in Sunday’s Echopark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Burton started Sunday’s 68-lap race over the 20-turn road course from 29th place. An early spin dropped him to 36th place. The team made its first pit stop at Lap 10 and ended the first 15-lap Stage in 33rd place.

After a pit stop on Lap 25, Burton ended Stage Two in 32nd place.

The third and final Stage initially looked much more promising for the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team as Burton, having made his stop before the end of the previous Stage, moved into the top 20 when racing resumed following the Stage break.

Burton pitted from 27th place at Lap 42 then moved into the top 25 just past the 50-lap mark and ran there until a pit stop for fuel at Lap 58 dropped him out of the top 30. There were no caution flags in the race other than for the Stage breaks.

Next up for Burton and the Wood Brothers team is a 400-lapper next Sunday at Richmond Raceway.

About Motorcraft®
Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to under hood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers, independent distributors and automotive-parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty* of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Center
Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine maintenance, serving all vehicle makes and models. Quick Lane provides a full menu of automotive services, including tires, oil change and maintenance, brakes, batteries, alternator and electrical system, air conditioning system, cooling system, transmission service, suspension and steering, wheel alignment, belts and hoses, lamps and bulbs and wiper blades plus a thorough vehicle checkup report. Service is performed by expert technicians while you wait at any of nearly 800 locations in the U.S., with evening and weekend hours available and no appointment necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.”

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The company does that through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough EVs along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Ford is pursuing mobility solutions through Ford Next, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 177,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.

About Ford Performance
Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with RedBull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.

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

Buescher Leads RFK with Top-10 Effort at COTA

By
Official Release
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No. 17 Team Earns Third Top-10 in Four Weeks; Keselowski Finishes 34th at Road Course

AUSTIN, Texas (March 24, 2024) – Chris Buescher drove to an impressive eighth-place finish at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) Sunday afternoon to lead all Ford drivers, while Brad Keselowski finished 34th in the Castrol Edge Ford.

The top-10 marks the third-straight for Buescher, who also now has three-straight top-10 efforts on road courses dating back to 2023. Keselowski earned a sixth-place finish in stage two, earning valuable stage points.

6 Recap
Keselowski had an up-and-down day in Austin after starting from the 34th position based on group qualifying Saturday. In a race that ran all green – minus the stage breaks – Keselowski and the Castrol Edge team employed strategy to flip track position by the end of the stage (lap 15). They did just that, finishing 12th by the end of the stage, and would line back up 22nd for stage two.

The team would do the same thing again in stage two, leaving Keselowski on track as a majority of the pack hit pit road by the stage end. The No. 6 would earn a sixth-place finish in the segment, setting him up with stage points and 20th to restart the final stage.

From there, Keselowski battled to a 34th-place result.

17 Recap
Buescher again drove his way through the field after going to the rear prior to the race for a mechanical change (steering rack). The Fastenal team used somewhat of an opposite strategy than the No. 6, pitting prior to the stage end in both race scenarios.

After starting from the tail end, Buescher drove to 26th by the time of his first stop at lap 12, finishing in the same spot to end the stage (lap 15). He restarted 22nd in the segment, and again hit pit road from the 14th position at lap 25. He went on to end the stage in 18th, which set him up for a top-10 position to begin the final run to the finish.

He fired off eighth at lap 33, and after his final pit stop at lap 44 under green, drove back into the top-10 and remained there to earn the eighth-place result.

“We were behind the eight ball to get started there, having to drop to the rear,” Buescher said following the race. “We had a freak deal happen with a parts failure in practice and qualifying. That was unfortunate but I am proud of everybody on this Fastenal Ford Mustang team to pick ‘em off all day long.

“That was the name of the game. We knew we would be in a really tough spot all day and we knew we would need a handful of things to fall our way if we were going to compete for a win. I am proud of the top-10 finish. We had some big gains. We have some stuff that we learned and we will be better next time.”

Up Next
Richmond Raceway hosts the seventh race of the season next weekend, with a night race set for Easter Sunday. Race coverage is set for 7 p.m. ET on FOX, with radio coverage on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

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

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: COTA

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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William Byron, driver of the #24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet, and Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 The Beast Unleashed Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on March 24, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. William Byron: Byron assumed the lead on Lap 51 when Martin Truex Jr. pitted from the lead. Byron led the final 17 laps and cruised to the win in the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, his second win of the season.

“I started on the pole,” Byron said, “and my Chevy was clearly the best on the track all day. Therefore, the outcome of the race was a ‘24-gone conclusion.'”

2. Christopher Bell: Bell won Stage 1 at COTA and tried his best to chase down William Byron for the lead late, but couldn’t catch the Hendrick driver and settled for the runner-up spot.

“Congratulations to William,” Bell said. “His road course acumen really showed and he was clearly the best driver on the track on Sunday. So, at least for a day, he was the ‘GOAT-A’ at COTA.”

3. Ty Gibbs: Gibbs took third in the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit Of The Americas. Gibbs has top-10 or better finishes in five of six races this season.

“I can’t believe we went a whole race without a caution for cause,” Gibbs said. “What’s even more unbelievable is that NASCAR allowed it to happen. If there was ever the right time to throw a ‘phantom caution,’ the end of that race was the time. What this race lacked in excitement, it made up for in boredom.”

4. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex finished 10th in the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, posting his fourth top 10 of the season.

“I had to make a much too early pit stop for a tire situation,” Truex said. “It seemed I had a shattered tire rim. And that pit stop was punctuated by a ‘rim shot’ on the drums.”

5. Ryan Blaney: Blaney overcame a late spin to finish 12th in the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix.

“Road course racing may not be my cup of tea,” Blaney said. “But like most NASCAR fans, I don’t drink my tea from a cup, I drink it from a bong.

“I’m still winless this season, but I’m posting solid results on every type of track we race on. And I’m thinking big picture. In other words, the Playoffs, and everybody knows what happened in the Playoffs last year: ‘The Menards were separated from the boys.'”

6. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin led three laps and finished 14th at COTA.

“My car featured the colors and scheme of Interstate Batteries,” Hamlin said.”Interstate Battery” is also known as what Ross Chastain does when he goes state to state to NASCAR tracks and drives into various cars.

7. Ross Chastain: Chastain led 10 laps on his way to a seventh-place finish in the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix.

“Road course races are like buffets,” Chastain said. “That’s because they have an international flavor. And that’s what makes them so popular. Ask any NASCAR fan; they can definitely relate to a buffet.”

8. Tyler Reddick: Reddick was strong all day at Austin and finished fifth in the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix.

“I was lucky enough to be a part of Michael Waltrip’s ‘Grid Walk,'” Reddick said. “And, I am unlucky enough to be nearly a foot shorter than Waltrip and ‘Grid Walk’ guest, University Of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian.”

9. Kyle Larson: Larson finished 18th at COTA.

“I suffered a spin during Stage 2 that really cost me a lot of track position,” Larson said. “By ‘suffered,’ I mean ‘Christopher Bell did it.’ Bell also did the same to Kyle Busch. So that’s two of us he spun. That left us saying, ‘What the Hells, Bell?'”

10. Alex Bowman: Bowman took fourth at COTA as Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron snagged the win.

“The story of the day was the battle between Toyota and Chevrolet,” Bowman said. “So, I guess the only notable part of the Fords was the back seat.”

The Essential Guide to VIN Lookup Web Services

By
SM
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In an era where data acts as the linchpin of decision-making, understanding the lineage and intricacies of your vehicle is more than a matter of curiosity—it’s a crucial step in ensuring its reliability, safety, and legality. Enter the world of VIN lookup web services, a digital oracle designed to demystify the alphanumeric code stamped on your vehicle. This article embarks on an explorative journey into these services, unveiling their mechanics, benefits, and the unparalleled value they add to vehicle ownership and transactions.

The VIN: A Vehicle’s Unique DNA Sequence

Before diving into the digital realms of VIN lookup, let’s decipher the code itself. A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique 17-character identifier, assigned to every vehicle since 1981, acting as its genetic code. This sequence reveals essential details about the vehicle, including its manufacturer, model year, production number, and more. Understanding a vehicle’s VIN is akin to holding a key to its history, specifications, and originality.

VIN Lookup Web Services: The Digital Sleuths

VIN lookup web services are sophisticated platforms that offer a deep dive into a vehicle’s background with just a few clicks. By entering a vehicle’s VIN, users can unlock a treasure trove of information, from basic specifications to comprehensive history reports including previous ownership, accident history, maintenance records, and potential recalls. These services leverage vast databases and proprietary algorithms to compile detailed reports that are both insightful and easy to understand.

Why Use a VIN Lookup Service?

The applications of VIN lookup services are manifold, each providing a lens through which prospective buyers, sellers, and owners can view a vehicle’s past and present, thereby influencing its future. Here are several compelling reasons to use a VIN lookup service:

  • Informed Purchasing Decisions: For those in the market for a used vehicle, a VIN lookup can reveal if the car has a salvage title, has been involved in any major accidents, or has had numerous owners, which might affect its value and safety.
  • Maintenance and Recalls: Vehicle owners can stay informed about any recalls issued for their vehicle model, as well as track maintenance history, ensuring their vehicle is both safe and up-to-date.
  • Verification and Security: VIN lookups help in verifying the authenticity of a vehicle’s details as advertised by sellers, protecting buyers from fraud and ensuring the legality of the transaction.
  • Insurance and Value Assessment: Insurance companies often rely on VIN reports to assess a vehicle’s history and current condition, influencing insurance premiums and coverage.

Choosing the Right VIN Lookup Service

The market teems with VIN lookup services, each promising a gateway to your vehicle’s secrets. However, selecting the right service hinges on several factors: comprehensiveness of the report, user interface simplicity, accuracy of information, and cost. Some services offer basic information for free, while others charge a fee for detailed reports. When choosing a service, consider what information is most crucial for your needs and whether the service covers that ground effectively.

A Case Study in Clarity: Unveiling a Vehicle’s Hidden Past

Imagine discovering a classic car for sale, its price tempting and condition seemingly impeccable. A VIN lookup could reveal a hidden history of flood damage, a salvaged title, or undisclosed accidents, steering you away from a potentially perilous investment. Conversely, a clean report can provide peace of mind, confirming the vehicle’s pristine condition and clear history, thereby justifying its purchase.

The Future of VIN Lookup Services

As technology evolves, so too do VIN lookup services, with advancements in data analytics and AI offering more detailed and predictive insights into a vehicle’s condition and potential issues. Future services may even integrate real-time data tracking, offering updates on a vehicle’s condition, maintenance needs, and value depreciation, transforming the way we view and manage vehicle ownership.

Navigating Legal and Ethical Considerations

While VIN lookup services offer invaluable insights, they also navigate a tightrope of legal and ethical considerations. Data privacy and protection are paramount, with services adhering to stringent regulations regarding the handling and sharing of personal and vehicle-related information. Users must also be discerning in how they use this information, especially in transactions, to ensure fairness and legality. VIN lookup web services stand as sentinels in the automotive world, empowering users with knowledge that transcends superficial details. Whether you’re a buyer seeking to make an informed decision, a seller aiming to provide transparency, or an owner looking to maintain your vehicle’s health and value, these services offer a window into the soul of your vehicle.

Byron dominates for second Cup victory of 2024 at COTA

By
Andrew Kim
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AUSTIN, TEXAS - MARCH 24: William Byron, driver of the #24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on March 24, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images).

From starting on the pole position to racing his way to Victory Lane, William Byron rebounded from a four-race streak of not finishing in the top five to claiming his second NASCAR Cup Series victory of the 2024 season in the fourth annual EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas on Sunday, March 24. 

“I feel like I made a lot of mistakes in the last 10 laps, just little micro errors and Christopher [Bell] was really fast there on the longer run,’’ Byron said on FOX. “This sport is just so hard and it’s so difficult week in and week out to show up and have fast cars. We’ve had a little bit of a rough stretch the last few weeks, but just put a lot of preparation in this past week and just thankful for the team I have around me and all the people back home as well. Just super thankful to have this opportunity. It’s just a lot of fun to win races and it’s really difficult, too. We’re gonna enjoy this one.’’ 

The 2024 Daytona 500 champion from Charlotte, North Carolina, led five times for a race-high 42 of 68 scheduled laps in an event where he led the field to the green flag from pole position. After leading the first 12 laps before surrendering the top spot to pit under green as part of a strategic move, Byron would cycle back to the lead on three additional occasions throughout the event, with his latest occurring on Lap 44 after he overtook Ross Chastain for the top spot.

Then after both pitting and beating Chastain off of pit road first in what would be the start of the final cycle of green flag pit stops with 24 laps remaining, Byron returned to the lead with 17 laps remaining. He would then fend off a late charge from Christopher Bell to become the first repeat winner of the 2024 season with his first victory at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Saturday, March 23, Byron secured his first Cup pole position of the 2024 season after posting a pole-winning lap at 129.636 mph in 94.696 seconds. Joining him on the front row was Ty Gibbs, who clocked in the second-fastest qualifying lap at 129.651 mph in 94.685 seconds. 

Prior to the event, the following names that included Chris Buescher, Timmy Hill and Ryan Preece dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments made to their respective entries. 

When the green flag waved and the event commenced, Byron and Gibbs battled for the lead as the field fanned out entering the first uphill turn. With Byron retaining the lead despite nearly missing the first turn, Tyler Reddick moved into the runner-up spot as he settled behind Byron while Gibbs battled teammate Christopher Bell and Corey LaJoie to retain third place. Byron would lead through a series of left and right-hand turns from Turns 2 to 9 as the field continued to fan out and jostle for early positions.  

Amid the battles, Byron would continue to lead from Turn 10 to 19 as he navigated his way to Turn 20 and returned to the frontstretch to lead the first lap. By then, Bubba Wallace and Martin Truex Jr. pitted under green after both made contact with Corey LaJoie off Turn 11.  

With the field remaining under green flag conditions, Byron would retain the lead by more than a second over Reddick and continue to lead by the fifth lap mark. Behind, Ty Gibbs trailed in third place ahead of teammate Bell and Ross Chastain while Austin Cindric, Denny Hamlin, AJ Allmendinger, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott were scored in the top 10. By then, Harrison Burton had plummeted below the leaderboard after he got bumped and sent for a spin by Ryan Preece in Turn 1. 

Through the first 10 scheduled laps, Byron extended his advantage to more than two seconds over Ty Gibbs followed by teammate Bell while Reddick dropped to fourth place ahead of Chastain. By then, Allmendinger was in sixth ahead of Kyle Busch and Hamlin while Kyle Larson and Daniel Suarez were in the top 10. 

A few laps later, green flag pit stops commenced as Reddick, Justin Haley, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Chris Buescher, Preece and Harrison Burton pitted. Amid the pit stops, Chase Briscoe served a pass-through penalty for cutting the corners in Turn 4. A multitude of names including Hamlin, Busch, Elliott and Shane van Gisbergen would pit during the proceeding laps before Byron surrendered the lead to pit on Lap 13. With Byron leading, Bell, who had yet to pit, cycled into the lead. 

When the first stage period concluded on Lap 15, Bell captured his second Cup stage victory of the 2024 season. Suarez trailed in second followed by Michael McDowell, Cindric, Austin Dillon and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., all of whom have yet to pit, while Byron, Gibbs, Reddick and Chastain ended up in the top 10. 

Under the stage break, select names that included Suarez, Dillon, Stenhouse, Daniel Hemric, Brad Keselowski and Kaz Grala pitted while the rest led by Bell and McDowell remained on the track. 

The second stage period started on Lap 18 as Bell and McDowell occupied the front row. Bell and McDowell battled for the lead through the first uphill turn as the field fanned out. With Byron nearly making contact with Bell through the turn, the latter retained the lead entering Turn 2. Byron overtook McDowell for the runner-up spot as McDowell went wide through the first turn while Gibbs and Reddick battled for fourth place,

Bell continued to lead through a series of left and right-hand turns from Turns 2 to 9 before he navigated through a hard braking, left-hand turn in Turn 11. With Bell leading the field back to the frontstretch, Byron retained second ahead of Reddick and Gibbs while Chastain occupied fifth place in front of Larson, Busch, Elliott, McDowell and Alex Bowman. 

Two laps later, Byron battled and cycled past Bell from Turns 12 to 19 to reassume the lead. By then, Wallace was trying to rally from being spun by Brad Keselowski in Turn 15. More on-track carnage would ensue during the proceeding laps as rookie Josh Berry spun in Turn 11 while Larson would then get turned in Turn 11 after he got hit by Bell just past Lap 21.  

Nearing the Lap 25, Byron was leading by more than two seconds over Reddick as Gibbs, Chastain and Bell trailed in the top five. Meanwhile, Kyle Busch occupied sixth place ahead of Allmendinger, Elliott, Bowman and Shane van Gisbergen while Hamlin, Justin Haley, rookie Carson Hocevar, Buescher and Joey Logano were battling in the top 15. By then, a bevy of names including Bell and Suarez pitted while Kamui Kobayashi spun in Turn 8 after getting bumped by Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who also spun amid the on-track contact with Kobayashi. 

During the proceeding laps, more green flag pit stops ensued as the leader Byron and a host of names pitted, with Denny Hamlin remaining on the track to inherit the lead in his No. 11 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry XSE. 

When the second stage period concluded on Lap 30, Hamlin, who remained on the track, captured his first Cup stage victory of the 2024 season. Blaney settled in second ahead of Martin Truex Jr., Todd Gilliland, Preece and Keselowski while John Hunter Nemechek, Byron, Hemric and Berry ended up in the top 10. 

During the stage break, some, including the leader Hamlin, pitted while the rest led by Byron remained on the track. 

With 35 laps remaining, the final stage commenced as Byron and Chastain occupied the front row. At the start, Byron and Chastain battled for the lead as the field fanned out entering the first uphill turn. Through the first turn, Byron locked his tires and went wide, allowing Chastain to overtake both Byron and Gibbs and move into the lead through the series of right and left-hand turns from Turns 2 to 9. Chastain managed to retain the lead through the final 12 turns as he led the following lap while Byron battled and overtook Gibbs for the runner-up spot.  

Five laps later, Chastain stabilized his advantage to within a second over Byron and nearly two seconds over Gibbs while Bowman was running fourth ahead of a battle between Elliott, Busch and Reddick for fifth. Soon after, however, Elliott was assessed a pass-through penalty for cutting the course in Turn 4. In addition, Busch spun in Turn 1 after getting hit by Bell’s No. 20 DeWalt Toyota Camry XSE. 

Then with 27 laps remaining, Byron made his move beneath Chastain’s No. 1 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Turn 20 and battled dead even with him through the frontstretch to reclaim the lead. Another three laps later, Byron led Chastain to pit road for pit service under green, where the former managed to exit ahead of the latter following the service.  

As the laps dwindled and with each of the front-runners and the field diving to pit road for green flag service, Byron cycled back as the leader with 17 laps remaining after initial leader Truex pitted. With Byron leading, teammate Alex Bowman moved into second while Gibbs cycled to third place. 

Down to the final 15 laps of the event, Byron was leading by more than two seconds over teammate Bowman while Gibbs, Reddick and Bell trailed in the top five. Byron would extend his advantage to more than three seconds over teammate Bowman with 10 laps remaining as Gibbs started to gain ground on Bowman for second place.  

With five laps remaining, Byron continued to lead in his No. 24 RAPTOR Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 by more than three seconds over Gibbs. Meanwhile, Bell was running in third place while Bowman dropped to fourth ahead of Reddick, Allmendinger, Chastain, Buescher, Busch and Chase Briscoe. 

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Byron remained as the leader by more than a second over Bell, who overtook teammate Gibbs for the runner-up spot two laps earlier. Despite Bell mounting a late charge to keep Byron close within his sights, Byron hit his marks on all 20 turns smoothly for a final time as he returned to the frontstretch victorious to claim his second checkered flag of the 2024 Cup Series season. 

With the victory, Byron achieved his 12th career win in the NASCAR Cup Series, his second of the season, his first since winning the 2024 Daytona 500 and his second on a road-course venue after winning at Watkins Glen International last August. He also became the first competitor to achieve multiple Cup victories in the 2024 campaign and the fourth competitor to win a Cup event at Circuit of the Americas in the series’ four-year run at the circuit.

Byron’s Circuit of the Americas victory was also the second ever for Hendrick Motorsports and the second NASCAR win of the weekend for the organization after teammate Kyle Larson won Saturday’s Xfinity event in Austin.

Bell, who led nine laps, settled in the runner-up spot despite having a heated post-race conversation with Kyle Busch who expressed his displeasure to Bell over the contact that sent Busch for a spin.  

“Obviously once I got to [Byron], it was going to be tough to pass him,” Bell said. “I just needed a couple mistakes. William has been really, really good on the road courses and he was flawless when it mattered today. Obviously, [Kyle Busch]’s very upset, which he ended up turned around. I had no intentions of turning him. I’m sure we’ll talk it out before the next race.” 

Ty Gibbs tied his career-best result in third place while Alex Bowman and Tyler Reddick finished in the top five. AJ Allmendinger, Chastain, Buescher, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. ended up in the top 10 in the final running order. 

*Following the post-race inspection process, Justin Haley, who initially finished 17th, was demoted to 39th, dead last, due to his Rick Ware Racing entry not meeting minimum post-race weights. 

There were 11 lead changes for seven different leaders. The race featured two cautions for four laps, both for stage break periods. In addition, 33 of 39 starters finished on the lead lap. 

Following the sixth event of the 2024 Cup Series season, Martin Truex Jr. leads the regular-season standings by five points over Ty Gibbs, nine over Ryan Blaney, 14 over Denny Hamlin and 15 over Kyle Larson. 

Results. 

1. William Byron, 42 laps led 

2. Christopher Bell, nine laps led, Stage 1 winner 

3. Ty Gibbs, one lap led 

4. Alex Bowman 

5. Tyler Reddick, one lap led 

6. AJ Allmendinger 

7. Ross Chastain, 10 laps led 

8. Chris Buescher 

9. Kyle Busch 

10. Martin Truex Jr., two laps led 

11. Joey Logano 

12. Ryan Blaney 

13. Chase Briscoe 

14. Denny Hamlin, three laps led, Stage 2 winner 

15. Bubba Wallace 

16. Chase Elliott 

17. Kyle Larson 

18. Austin Cindric 

19. Zane Smith 

20. Shane van Gisbergen 

21. John Hunter Nemechek 

22. Carson Hocevar 

23. Ryan Preece 

24. Corey LaJoie  

25. Austin Dillon 

26. Todd Gilliland 

27. Kaz Grala 

28. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 

29. Kamui Kobayashi 

30. Harrison Burton  

31. Daniel Suarez 

32. Erik Jones 

33. Brad Keselowski  

34. Noah Gragson, one lap down 

35. Josh Berry, one lap down 

36. Timmy Hill, two laps down 

37. Daniel Hemric, two laps down 

38. Michael McDowell – OUT, Steering 

39. Justin Haley – Disqualified 

Next on the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. The event is scheduled to occur next weekend on Easter Sunday, March 31, at 7 p.m. ET on FOX. 

Toyota Gazoo Racing North America NHRA Pomona Report – 03.24.24

By
Official Release
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JUSTIN ASHLEY REACHES FINALS OF POSTPONED WINTERNATIONALS AT POMONA
Final round to take place at NHRA Arizona Nationals in Phoenix

POMONA, Calif. (March 24, 2024) – Starting the day as the No. 5 seed in the Top Fuel eliminations, Justin Ashley powered his Toyota Top Fuel Dragster to the final round of the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. Due to inclement weather late Sunday afternoon, however, the final round of the event will take place in two weeks during the NHRA Arizona Nationals in Phoenix where Ashley will take on Tony Schumacher for the Wally Trophy.

The winning runs by Ashley on Sunday, which included defeating No. 1 qualifier Brittany Force in the semifinals, mark the 25th consecutive NHRA event Toyota has made the final round in either Top Fuel or Funny Car. When the final round commences in two weeks, Ashley will go for his third straight victory in the Winternationals.

In Funny Car, J.R. Todd followed up his win at Gainesville with a semi-finals appearance, only to fall to top qualifier, Matt Hagan. His Toyota Funny Car teammate, Ron Capps, was also a round away from the finals and a shot at his fifth Winternationals victory but was defeated by John Force.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series
Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals
In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip
Race 2 of 20

TOYOTA TOP FUEL FINISHING POSITIONS 

NameCarFinal ResultRound-by-Round
Justin AshleySCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel DragsterFinalsW (3.831) v. S. Reed (7.630) W (3.706) v. S. Torrence (7.359) W (4.190) v. B. Force (4.626) To face. T. Schumacher
Billy TorrenceCAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSemi-finalsW (3.716) v. J. Hart (3.903) W (3.736) v. D. Kalitta (5.792) L (3.786) v. T. Schumacher (3.742)
Shawn LangdonKalitta Air Careers Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSecond RoundW (3.680) v. K. Baldwin (4.370) L (4.589) v. T. Schumacher (3.774)
Steve TorrenceCAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSecond RoundW (3.695) v. T. Stewart (8.841) L (7.359) v. J. Ashley (3.706)
Doug KalittaMac Tools Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSecond RoundW (3.699) v. J. Salinas (No start) L (5.792) v. B. Torrence (3.736)
Antron BrownMatco Tools Toyota Top Fuel DragsterFirst RoundL (3.743) v. C. Millican (3.730)

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR FINISHING POSITIONS 

NameCarFinal ResultRound-by-Round
J.R. ToddDHL Toyota GR Supra Funny CarSemi-finalsW (4.278) v. C. Pedregon (4.349) W (3.920 – hole shot) v. P. Lee (3.910) L (6.147) v. M. Hagan (3.939)
Ron CappsNAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny CarSemi-finalsW (3.891) v. A. Prock (4.138) W (3.935) v. T. Haddock (12.194) L (8.390) v. J. Force (3.922)

*= Non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

JUSTIN ASHLEY, SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, SCAG Racing

TF Final Result: Finals

What are your thoughts about the day and now having to wait a few weeks for the finals against Tony Schumacher?

“We were looking forward to racing in the final round in front of all the great fans that stuck it out through the rain. I’m disappointed we couldn’t get it done, but grateful that we have an opportunity to finish things up in just a few short weeks.

I have a ton of respect for Tony (Schumacher). He’s a winner and a champion for a lot of different reasons. I have the utmost respect for him and Joe Maynard (Owner, JCM Racing) and that team over there. It will be a battle no matter where we get the race in. We have a huge responsibility to the BlueBird, Versatran, and SCAG dealers that came out and waited out this weather all weekend long. Not to mention, Pomona is a home event for Phillips, and Rob Phillips was here in the house. It won’t be raced in Pomona, but it’s still the finals of the Winternationals, so all chips are on the table. In the meantime, we’ll hop into our Toyota Sequoia and head back to the shop to make the most of our week off.”

J.R. TODD, DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car

FC Final Result: Semi-finals

How would you describe this weekend for you and the team?

“Yeah, I think our lucky streak finally ran out here in the semis. But all in all, I’m really proud of my guys for working hard and never giving up. All in all, can’t really complain about the weekend, we were in the semifinals.”

It must have been a challenging weekend with only two qualifying runs due to weather, right?

“Yeah, with the weather conditions and track conditions, it’s definitely tricky. Everybody’s in the same boat and there were some really good runs out there. Yeah, we got work to do and we’ll have our heads down and keep digging.”

RON CAPPS, NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car

FC Final Result: Semi-finals

Take me through your day today at Pomona.

“Yeah I mean, we knew all the manufacturers were in the semifinals. Obviously, you want to do well for Toyota and thought we had the advantage there with our GR Supra body. We found something right before we went up there. You know, I’m always bragging about my team that we have the ‘NAPA Know How’ and they caught something that could’ve been a bigger deal and they caught it right before we went up. So, we were a little rushed, me getting in the car and getting up there. It started sprinkling and we thought they were going to hold off but got up there last minute. I haven’t talked to Guido (Dean Antonelli, crew-chief) yet to see mechanically why it smoked the tires, but just something the car hasn’t done all weekend. We felt pretty comfortable, again like Gainesville, we had a great car. Felt like a car that could win the race. But good thing is, we have a couple weeks off and two more West Coast races, so let’s see if we can go out there and get a trophy.”

About Toyota 

Toyota (NYSE:TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands, and directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America (more than 49,000 in the U.S.).

Over the past 65 years, Toyota has assembled nearly 45 million cars and trucks in North America at the company’s 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, the company’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

Through our more than 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.), Toyota sold more than 2.4 million cars and trucks (more than 2.1 million in the U.S.) in 2022, of which, nearly one quarter were electrified vehicles (full battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell).

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