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Matt Mills – XPEL 225 Race Recap

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Official Release
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XPEL 225 | Circuit of the Americas

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

Start: 24th | Finish: 24th | Driver Point Standings: 28th

Matt Mills on Saturday’s Race at Circuit of the Americas: “It was for sure a learning day,” said Mills. “We didn’t feel like we had the exact speed we needed, but each lap we were getting faster and that’s on me learning the track and picking up on some of the situational things you don’t see as you do at ovals. Overall, it was a good day. We got what we could, and we were competing for the top-15 there at the end. I felt like I got a bump off the track through the esses at the end and ultimately got a penalty from that.”

Race Recap: Mills turned his first laps at Circuit of the Americas during Friday afternoon’s practice and qualifying session. Mills ended the afternoon with a 24th-place starting spot for Saturday’s race. Mills ran a clean race, learning the course and ticking off laps. As the laps wound down, Mills found himself competing for position inside the top-15, before a 30-second penalty at the end of the race left him with a 24th-place finish in the No. 42 J.F. Electric/Utilitra Chevrolet.

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

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

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

Ross Chastain – XPEL 225 Race Recap

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Official Release
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XPEL 225 | Circuit of the Americas

Team: No. 45 TXAPA Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Ross Chastain (Alva, Florida) | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Ross Chastain: Twitter: @RossChastain | Instagram: @rosschastain | Facebook: /RossChastainRacing | Web: www.rosschastain.com

Start: 5th | Finish: 5th | Owner Point Standings: 12th

Ross Chastain on Saturday’s Race at Circuit of the Americas: “It’s bucket-list stuff to come back and race with Al Niece and the whole Niece team here at Circuit of the Americas,” said Chastain. “Another fifth-place finish, but not the speed we wanted for sure. We struggled with rear grip the whole weekend and Phil Gould and the guys took some big swings at the truck and got it dialed in by the end. I couldn’t be prouder to work with the entire Niece organization and help wherever I can. This weekend was good to get back in the truck and there are some things we can look at to get better. Thank you to TXAPA and MG Machinery for joining us again this weekend and everyone that makes these Chevrolets fast.”

Race Recap: Chastain and the No. 45 team showed speed in Friday’s practice and qualifying session, earning a fifth-place starting spot for Saturday afternoon’s XPEL 225. Chastain battled a loose-handling race truck for the majority the race. A speeding penalty during green flag pit stops and a spin after contact to the bumper of the No. 45 made it tough for Chastain to work his way back through the field. Phil Gould and team made adjustments throughout the race, with Chastain battling in the top-five during the closing laps, ultimately crossing the line in fifth.

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

Bayley Currey – XPEL 225 Race Recap

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Official Release
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XPEL 225 | Circuit of the Americas

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

Start: 15th | Finish: 16th | Driver Point Standings: 16th

Bayley Currey on Saturday’s Race at Circuit of the Americas: “It was a disappointing day,” said Currey. “We had a brake issue yesterday and got that fixed, and then about lap five today we lost power steering. It was just a rough day afterwards. The truck had speed and I hate coming to my home track and to not have a good day. Everyone on my No. 41 team worked so hard all day to keep me in the fight and to finish in 16th after all that. We’ll take it and move along to Martinsville.”

Race Recap: Currey and the No. 41 team diagnosed a brake issue after Friday’s practice and qualifying session. The repairs forced Currey to start Saturday’s race at the tail-end of the field. Currey quickly began working his way through the pack when he lost power steering early in the race. Currey and the No. 41 team worked hard to maintain position in the top-20, battling a fuel pressure issue as well. Through all the adversity, Currey and team were able to bring home a 16th-place finish.

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

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

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

AI Knowledge Management, Commercial Truck Rentals, and Other Services for Businesses

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SM
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In today’s competitive business landscape, efficiency and innovation go hand in hand. Companies of all sizes are embracing advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences. Simultaneously, logistics and fleet management are transforming commercial truck rentals and additional supportive services. This article delves into the benefits and intricacies of these dynamic business solutions. Keep reading to understand how these tools can work in tandem to revolutionize the way businesses manage their daily operations and long-term strategies.

Understanding AI Knowledge Management and Its Impact on Business Efficiency

Artificial intelligence (AI) is altering the way we collect, manage, and utilize knowledge across various platforms and industries. AI knowledge management systems have the potential to significantly increase business efficiency by automating complex processes and providing insights derived from large data sets. These systems can categorize, analyze, and retrieve information with precision, leading to more informed decision-making.

Within the realm of AI, knowledge management becomes a strategic asset, orchestrating data to support both employees and customers. Businesses can streamline internal communication, enhance training protocols, and optimize customer service with the help of smart AI algorithms. The integration of AI into knowledge management effectively reduces human errors and the time spent searching for information.

Infusing AI into knowledge management is a step towards a more agile, responsive business model. Companies utilizing AI knowledge management find themselves at an advantage, being able to harness and disseminate vital knowledge with unprecedented efficiency. This elevates the innovation potential and allows businesses to maintain a competitive edge in an ever-evolving market.

Navigating the World of Commercial Truck Rentals for Business Operations

Enterprises that rely heavily on transportation and logistics are increasingly turning to commercial truck rentals as a flexible and cost-effective solution. Renting trucks provides businesses the agility to adapt to seasonal demands and fluctuating market conditions without the hefty investment and maintenance costs of owning a fleet. This flexibility is vital for businesses that need to scale quickly or handle unexpected increases in delivery volumes.

Commercial truck rentals are not only about the physical vehicles but also about meeting compliance and regulatory standards. Businesses should be well-versed in the requirements to avoid legal complications. For detailed guidelines, check out Fluid Truck requirements, which provide necessary information on what’s expected before taking commercial vehicles on the road.

Exploring Additional Services That Enhance Business Logistics and Management

Apart from truck rentals, there are numerous services designed to augment business logistics and management. These include software solutions for route optimization, warehousing services, and third-party logistics providers that offer end-to-head supply chain management. Partnerships with these service providers enable businesses to focus on their core competencies while leaving logistics in expert hands.

Customer relationship management (CRM) tools also play a pivotal role in maintaining strong customer ties and managing sales leads. With advanced analytics and communication facilities, these tools help predict customer behavior, personalize service delivery, and improve overall customer satisfaction. This is particularly crucial in sectors where long-term customer relationships are key to business success.

Training and consultancy services round out the spectrum of offerings, empowering businesses to improve employee skills and adapt to new technologies and industry practices. Expert consultants can identify areas of improvement and implement strategies that optimize performance, ensuring the company’s operations are running as effectively as possible.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Improved Customer Service and Support

Artificial intelligence is transforming customer service by enabling personalized and efficient support. AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants handle routine inquiries without human intervention, allowing service teams to concentrate on more complex customer issues. This not only boosts efficiency but also ensures a consistent level of service at all hours.

Moreover, AI can analyze customer data to provide a more tailored experience. By understanding a customer’s previous interactions, preferences, and feedback, AI can assist in delivering targeted help and product recommendations. This results in increased customer engagement and satisfaction as services become more relevant and responsive to individual needs.

Overall, by harnessing the cutting-edge capabilities of AI knowledge management and commercial truck rentals, businesses can revolutionize their operations, customer service, and logistics. Adopting these comprehensive solutions equips companies with the tools to navigate the complexities of modern business, enhance performance, and pave the way for future growth in an ever-changing economic landscape.

Stewart-Haas Racing: Focused Health 250 from COTA

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Official Release
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STEWART-HAAS RACING
Focused Health 250

Date: March 23, 2024
Event: Focused Health 250 (Round 5 of 33)
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, TX (3.426-mile, 20-turn road course)
Format: 46 laps, broken into three stages (14 laps/16 laps/16 laps)
Note: Race extended four laps past its scheduled 46-lap distance due to a green-white-checkered finish.
Race Winner: Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: Parker Kligerman of Big Machine Racing (Chevrolet)
Stage 2 Winner: Riley Herbst of Stewart-Haas Racing (Ford)

SHR Race Finish:

● Cole Custer (Started 8th / Finished 4th, Running, completed 50 of 50 laps)
● Riley Herbst (Started 19th / Finished 34th, Accident, completed 45 of 50 laps)

SHR Points:

● Cole Custer (3rd with 192 points, 30 out of first)
● Riley Herbst (5th with 165 points, 57 out of first)

SHR Notes:

● Custer earned his third top-five of the season and his second top-five in four career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at COTA.
● This was Custer’s third straight top-five. He finished second on March 2 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and fifth on March 9 at Phoenix Raceway.
● Custer has only finished outside of the top-10 at COTA once in his Xfinity Series career.
● Custer finished second in Stage 2 to earn nine bonus points.
● Herbst finished fifth in Stage 1 to earn six bonus points and won Stage 2 to earn 10 more bonus points and one playoff point.
● Herbst led one time for two laps – his first laps led at COTA.

Race Notes:

● Kyle Larson won the Focused Health 250 to score his 15th career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory, his first of the season and his first at COTA. His margin over second-place Austin Hill was 1.354 seconds.
● There were four caution periods for a total of nine laps.
● Twenty-nine of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.
● Hill leaves COTA as the championship leader with a nine-point advantage over second-place Chandler Smith.

Sound Bites:

“It was a trying day, for sure. Overall, we just struggled. We were probably a fifth to 10th-place car. Then we got spun. I don’t know what happened there. Our guys did a great job, our pit crew was killing it on pit road. We got some stage points and battled our way through. We tried to race smart. Everyone was beating and banging so much, it was a mess out there. We held our own though. I can’t thank Haas Automation and Gene Haas enough. We wanted the trophy today, but we are going to have to work on it a little bit more to try to get our stuff better. Just got to keep working at it. This weekend wasn’t what we expected but we will move on to the next one and get it better.” –Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang

“I mean it just wasn’t our day at the end. We struggled on the long run speed and handling of our No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang Dark Horse, but we used pit strategy to get the most points out of our day though. We looked to be heading to a decent finish after some handling issues in the final stage, but just got spun. Obviously not what we wanted, but we’ll learn from it and head to one of my favorite racetracks next weekend.” –Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule is the Richmond 250 on Saturday, March 30 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway. The race begins at 1:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Cooper Webb Wins Seattle Supercross in Closest Finish of the Year

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Official Release
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First place 450SX Class - Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Levi Kitchen Tops Field in 250SX Class

Seattle, Wash., (March 23, 2024) Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb took a thrilling win at Lumen Field in Seattle to nab his third win of the season at Round 11 of the 2024 Monster Energy Supercross season. The win marked the slimmest margin of victory so far this season as 58,342 fans cheered Webb and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton to the finish line.

The track at Lumen Field formed deep, peg-dragging ruts after rains earlier in the week saturated the dirt. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Chase Sexton led much of the race and put on an incredible final surge; he missed the win by less than one second to earn the runner-up spot. Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence pushed a strong pace early but a crash with Webb put him back; he finished in third place. In the Western Regional 250SX Class’ return to racing, Washington-native Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen ran away with a huge win in what is his hometown Supercross.

“This is probably – we keep saying it every weekend – but by far the gnarliest track I’ve ridden. And it was really tough; we were all trying to push the pace, but you had to watch out for all the changing lines, the ruts, the lappers… I got arm pump pretty bad there at the end and it was just [a matter of] surviving, but I was able to hold on. Chase rode great, obviously made a few mistakes, then I’d make mistakes, and we’d go back and forth so, man, I’m stoked. I just want to give it up to the good Lord, want to give it up to the team; man, we’ve been dealt some adversity and we’re fighting through it, and it just feels amazing to win. It’s crazy, you know, you see Jett do it over and over and you just, you want to get that feeling again… I’m pumped.” – Cooper Webb.

“To be honest I didn’t even look at the pit board, so I had no idea [Webb was jumping the wall after the sand section]. I had [a] line late in the race where I was doubling into the pocket, but I never even thought of going outside [in the sand], so that’s on me not looking at the pit board. But overall, minus a few mistakes, I rode a really good race, even through[out] the whole race. I came back towards the end. I felt like I had really good speed. We made a change going into the heat race with my bike and it showed. I was really comfortable the whole night on such a gnarly track. And I gotta give it up to the team; they put a lot of work in to get me happy and we’re climbing that ladder… [when asked about stalling the engine during the night’s racing] …I got actually clipped that hay bail on this rhythm over here and bent my rear brake out, and I think that’s what happened when I stalled it over there. I caught my rear brake. So, just a few small hiccups, but overall it was a lot better race from me. This is the most I’ve fought all year, as far as [battling] close to the front, so we’re getting better.” – Chase Sexton, when asked if he saw that his mechanic was signaling him to double out of the sand and over the wall.

“I had a good charge at the start [of the race], had a really good flow, and I think I just came in the sand here and was a little bit committed. I knew I was going to hit Cooper, I could have been mean and hit him harder and just committed to it, but I didn’t want to hit him, and then in that sand you don’t want to – it’s very hard to pull up. So yeah, I ended up kind of being nice and checking up, but I [ended up] clipping the back [of Cooper’s bike], got off balance [and crashed]. And then I stalled it here once, and also had a lapper stop on the wall jump in front of me [and hold me up]. So, I’m like, ‘You know, that’s enough signs that tonight’s not the night, so we’ll just try and bring it home in third.’”– Jett Lawrence

The Western Regional 250SX Class passed its season midpoint with Seattle marking Round 6 of 10 rounds. Levi Kitchen made the technical track look almost easy with a win margin of over twenty seconds. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire fought back from a mediocre start to claim second place. Team Honda HRC’s Jo Shimoda was blazing fast, recovering from a crash to lock down the third-place spot.

“I’ve been waiting for a night like this for a long time… I just finally rode like myself and, you know, to do that in front of the hometown is awesome. Man, I just felt good on my dirt bike, like finally completely myself… it wasn’t a pretty race, actually, if you were me; I got really frustrated a few times and just tried to stay with it and I just kept telling myself, ‘stay with it,’ and I find myself again. It was crazy, but yeah I can’t give it up [enough] to all my friends and family for coming out, and shout out to my sister and my newborn nephew and niece, and just everybody, man, I’m going to really enjoy this one. Yeah, I’m stoked, extending the points a little bit.” – Levi Kitchen

“I said in the beginning of the day [to] just kind of take what the night gives me. I had nothing for Levi all day, I mean, you’ve seen in the heat race – like, that was embarrassing… I didn’t have the speed, that’s just what it was. I had to settle down and then, I don’t know what happened off the start there; I felt like I had a really good jump, and [then] I must have spun or something. And those first couple laps are hectic. I made some good passes but, man, the track is brutal. I rode Indy a few times [but] I don’t think I rode a track like this. So coming from the East Coast, it’s definitely technical tonight… We said we want to be solid tonight, and that’s all we had, so we’ll take a second on the night and look forward to St. Louis.” – RJ Hampshire

“Oh my God, it was the gnarliest track I ever rode. Honestly, like, from the heat race, I just kept dragging my foot pegs, and that threw me off. I actually crashed on the rhythm [section in the Main Event] – same thing, just [coming] out of the rut [it] caught my peg and it threw me off to the side…. I just needed to really, really focus, I guess. But I’m stoked to be on the podium, and I just want to shout out my mechanic [and team]. Thank you so much, and it was tough one.” – Jo Shimoda

The series moves east for Round 12, which kicks off next Saturday inside The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The round also pays points toward the SuperMotocross World Championship, seeding top racers from both Supercross and Pro Motocross into two Playoff races and a World Championship Final. zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, and The Strip at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway will host the 2024 post-season rounds.

Every Monster Energy AMA Supercross and SuperMotocross League event is available live and on-demand at PeacockTV. Select rounds can also be found on NBC, USA Network, CNBC, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app. CNBC airs next-day encore presentations of all 31 rounds of 2024 racing. For international coverage the SuperMotocross Video Pass (supermotocross.tv) provides live and on-demand coverage, in both English and Spanish.

The Seattle round continued to celebrate Supercross’ long-standing partnership with St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Fans are encouraged to support this great cause and wear their Love Moto Stop Cancer t-shirt, which is available with a donation. For more information go to stjude.org/supercross to text “SUPER” to 785-833.

Tickets are available for the remaining Monster Energy Supercross events. For tickets, video highlights, points standings, feature stories, and more information on streaming and broadcast airtimes please go to SupercrossLIVE.com.

Facebook: facebook.com/supercrosslive
X: twitter.com/supercrosslive
Instagram: instagram.com/supercrosslive
YouTube: youtube.com/supercrosslive
TikTok: tiktok.com/supercrossliveofficial
Official Merch: SupercrossSuperstore.com

About Feld Motor Sports:

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and the SuperMotocross World Championship. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, Inc. Visit monsterjam.com, SupercrossLIVE.com, and feldentertainment.com for more information.

About Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship:

Monster Energy AMA Supercross is the most competitive and highest-profile off-road motorcycle racing championship on the planet. Founded in America and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) since 1974. Over 17 weeks, Supercross attracts some of the largest and most impressive crowds inside the most recognizable and prestigious stadiums in North America to race in front of nearly one million live fans and broadcast to millions more worldwide. For more information, visit SupercrossLIVE.com.

About the SuperMotocross World Championship:

The SuperMotocross World Championship™ is the premier off-road motorcycle racing series that combines the technical precision of stadium racing with the all-out speed and endurance of outdoor racing. Created in 2022, the SuperMotocross World Championship combines the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the AMA Pro Motocross Championship into a 31-event series that culminates in a season-ending two round playoff and SuperMotocross World Championship Final. Visit SuperMotocross.com for more information.

About the American Motorcyclist Association:

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.

B. FORCE, HAGAN AND GLENN TAKE TOP SPOTS AT LUCAS OIL NHRA WINTERNATIONALS

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Official Release
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POMONA, Calif. (March 22, 2024) – Brittany Force powered to the top spot to close out qualifying on Saturday at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, earning her first No. 1 qualifier of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season at the 64th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals.

Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) also qualified No. 1 at the second of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

After a lengthy rain delay, Force put together a run of 3.711-seconds at 335.73 mph in her 11,000-horsepower Mark Christopher Auto Center Chevrolet/Monster Energy dragster. It was the lone qualifying session due to weather and Force claimed her 47th career No. 1 qualifier with the standout run. She’ll open eliminations looking for her first victory since 2022 when she finished the year as world champion.

“That was a good, consistent run and that’s what we’re focused on,” Force said. “We’re in a good place and it’s pretty awesome to have 47 No. 1 qualifiers. That’s (crew chief) David Grubnic and this entire team. But our focus is on raceday and trying to get a win. We’re ready for tomorrow.”

Eight-time Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher took second with a 3.735 at 331.85, while Billy Torrence took third with a 3.745 at 330.47. Tony Stewart’s run of 3.737 at 328.30 during the second session was ruled invalid due to a timing system malfunction.

Reigning Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan, who won the Winternationals a year ago, made the most of his run on Saturday, going to No. 1 with a run of 3.893 at 330.15 in his 11,000-horsepower Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat for Tony Stewart Racing. It gives the four-time world champion 51 career No. 1 qualifiers and plenty of momentum going into raceday, where Hagan looks to pick up his milestone 50th career victory. He’ll open eliminations against Buddy Hull trying to pick up his first win of the season.

“To do a burnout and still have that many fans in the stands after the weather was pretty cool,” Hagan said. “The track was tricky, so we’ll take that run. All in all, I’m pretty happy with that. We’ve had a lot of success here and to make that run makes me feel confident going into tomorrow. We’ve won a lot of races because Dickie (Venables, crew chief) has been good on Sunday. It would be great to get that 50th (win) in Pomona. It’s such a special place and it’s really magical here. There’s so much history and when you show up here, you get chill bumps. It’s just a cool feeling.”

Ron Capps took the second spot with a 3.893 at 326.71 and Bobby Bode took third after going 3.972 at 292.96.

In Pro Stock, defending event winner Dallas Glenn racked up his fifth career No. 1 qualifier, closing out qualifying with a run of 6.536 at 209.75 in his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro. Glenn made a big move to close out the day after the team made wholesale changes leading into the day. They struggled on Friday, but the changes paid off heading into raceday, putting the young standout in a good spot to try and earn his first win of the season. He’ll open eliminations against KB Titan Racing teammate and rookie Sienna Wildgust.

“That was really satisfying,” Glenn said. “We basically rewired my entire car this morning. We changed so much stuff on it. We were not happy with it and it had been doing some crazy stuff. It at least worked for one run and we were pretty happy with it. The run felt amazing and we made a really killer run. Pomona has always been up there as one of my favorite tracks. I’ve always loved coming here and hopefully we have it turned around.”

Defending world champion Erica Enders qualified second with a 6.547 at 210.73 and Camrie Caruso jumped to third thanks with a 6.557 at 208.88.

Only one round of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge was completed on Saturday due to weather as well. Shawn Langdon and Steve Torrence both won the opening round in Top Fuel, while J.R. Todd and Austin Prock picked up the Funny Car victories. In Pro Stock, Glenn and Enders raced to Challenge wins.

Eliminations for the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals begin at 10 a.m. PT on Sunday at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.

POMONA, Calif. — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 64th annual NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip, the second of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.

Top Fuel — 1. Brittany Force, 3.711 seconds, 335.73 mph vs. Bye; 2. Tony Schumacher, 3.735, 331.85 vs. 15. Terry Totten, 6.636, 91.56; 3. Billy Torrence, 3.745, 330.47 vs. 14. Josh Hart, 6.118, 107.81; 4. Steve Torrence, 3.750, 328.30 vs. 13. Tony Stewart, 4.839, 148.95; 5. Justin Ashley, 3.753, 329.18 vs. 12. Shawn Reed, 4.755, 169.40; 6. Doug Kalitta, 3.785, 303.30 vs. 11. Jasmine Salinas, 4.033, 287.78; 7. Shawn Langdon, 3.788, 318.24 vs. 10. Krista Baldwin, 3.964, 243.94; 8. Antron Brown, 3.807, 322.11 vs. 9. Clay Millican, 3.902, 296.05.

Funny Car — 1. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.893, 330.15 vs. 16. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.823, 173.38; 2. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.893, 326.71 vs. 15. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 4.758, 229.31; 3. Bobby Bode, Ford Mustang, 3.972, 292.96 vs. 14. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.502, 205.44; 4. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.982, 309.27 vs. 13. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 4.207, 223.80; 5. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.992, 321.42 vs. 12. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.201, 247.93; 6. John Force, Camaro, 3.996, 318.99 vs. 11. Jim Campbell, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.162, 275.45; 7. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 3.999, 308.50 vs. 10. Chad Green, Mustang, 4.110, 302.96; 8. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.014, 314.31 vs. 9. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, 4.050, 306.81.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Alexis DeJoria, 5.477, 185.77; 18. Jason Rupert, 6.283, 106.46; 19. Chris Morel, 6.717, 98.65; 20. Steven Densham, 7.130, 93.50.

Pro Stock — 1. Dallas Glenn, Chevy Camaro, 6.536, 209.75 vs. 16. Sienna Wildgust, Camaro, 6.625, 201.91; 2. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.547, 210.73 vs. 15. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.620, 206.54; 3. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.557, 208.88 vs. 14. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.613, 209.56; 4. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.565, 210.14 vs. 13. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.607, 209.20; 5. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.568, 210.31 vs. 12. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.603, 208.68; 6. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.570, 209.26 vs. 11. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.595, 210.87; 7. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.575, 209.95 vs. 10. Brandon Foster, Camaro, 6.583, 208.81; 8. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.581, 209.33 vs. 9. David Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.583, 209.59.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Joey Grose, 6.648, 208.39; 18. Jerry Tucker, 6.670, 209.01; 19. Cristian Cuadra, 9.401, 99.27; 20. Deric Kramer, 18.780, 79.62.

POMONA, Calif. — Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge round-by-round results from the 64th annual NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip, the second of 21 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

MISSION #2FAST2TASTY NHRA TOP FUEL CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE — Shawn Langdon, 4.038, 226.85 def. Antron Brown, 5.508, 128.05; Steve Torrence, 4.098, 207.02 def. Billy Torrence, 4.245, 195.42;

MISSION #2FAST2TASTY NHRA FUNNY CAR CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE — J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 4.207, 223.80 def. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 6.366, 104.40; Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 5.466, 182.97 def. Chad Green, Mustang, 6.565, 97.79;

MISSION #2FAST2TASTY NHRA PRO STOCK CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE — Dallas Glenn, Chevy Camaro, 6.536, 209.75 def. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, Broke; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.547, 210.73 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.570, 209.26;

Kaulig Racing Race Recap | COTA – Focused Health 250

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Official Release
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JOSH WILLIAMS

No. 11 Alloy Employer Services Chevrolet Camaro

  • With Josh Williams on baby watch, teammate Daniel Hemric jumped in the No. 11 Chevy Camaro and qualified ninth for the Focused Health 250.
  • Williams dropped to the rear of the field for the start of the race due to the driver swap. He quickly moved into 29th before pitting three laps prior to the end of stage one for tires and fuel, taking the green-white-checkered while running 36th.
  • Williams restarted in 15th on lap 18. After falling to 21st on the restart, he received a pass-through penalty for cutting the course midway through the second stage. He received another pass through for speeding while serving the initial penalty, but before Williams could serve it, the No. 11 Alloy Employer Services machine started overheating. He came into the box to cool down the car, but the engine eventually expired, forcing Williams to retire. He finished the race in 38th.

“I’m not even sure what to say anymore. I’m not sure what we need to do for our luck to turn around, but I’m glad we’ve got a couple short tracks coming up next.” – Josh Williams  

AJ ALLMENDINGER

No. 16 Celsius Chevrolet Camaro

  • AJ Allmendinger qualified fifth for the Focused Health 250 at COTA.
  • After two cars were sent to the rear, Allmendinger started on the front row along side his teammate, Shane van Gisbergen. The No. 16 fell back on the initial start but quickly regained second position. Allmendinger ran in second to his teammate until lap 10 when the No. 16 took the lead. The team pit on lap 12 for four tires and fuel. Allmendinger came off pit road in eighth, where he finished the opening stage.
  • Allmendinger restarted the second stage in first place and maintained the lead, battling with the No. 17 and No. 97, until lap 28 when he came to pit road. The No. 16 came off pit road in fourth place where he finished the second stage.
  • Allmendinger restarted in first place with 13 laps remaining. He battled with his teammate in the No. 97 before falling to second on lap 38. The caution came out with four laps to go, Allmendinger was running second, reporting he was lacking grip. On the first NASCAR overtime attempt, Allmendinger restarted in second on the inside line behind the No. 97. In turn one, the No. 16 was shuffled back to sixth but made it back up to third before the caution came out again. Allmendinger received a course penalty and would start at the tail end of the longest line for the second overtime attempt. The team came down pit road for four tires and fuel before restarting in 26th. Allmendinger drove back through the field to finish 10th in the Focus Health 250 at COTA.

“Not the ending we wanted. We had a really solid day, I’m proud of everyone on the 16 car for digging and trying to make it better after practice and qualifying yesterday. I was really happy with the speed we had, we missed the last run there by a little bit which was going to cost us winning the race, but we were going to finish second and it was going to be a Kaulig one-two. With these late race restarts, you have to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. We came out on the wrong end, but we fought hard and happy to restart at the back on the last restart and come back to a 10th place finish.” – AJ Allmendinger  

SHANE van GISBERGEN

No. 97 WeatherTech Chevrolet Camaro

  • Shane van Gisbergen qualified second for the Focused Health 250 at COTA.
  • Van Gisbergen grabbed the lead on lap one and maintained his position until lap 10, where he slipped to second. Van Gisbergen hit pit road on lap 13 from second for four tires, fuel and adjustments. Following the stop, Van Gisbergen rejoined the field in 10th and maintained his position, ending stage one in 10th on lap 15.
  • The WeatherTech team started stage two from the second position on lap 18. Struggling with grip in traffic, Van Gisbergen was scored in third on lap 21. Continuing to battle, Van Gisbergen worked his way back to second on lap 26 and hit pit road on lap 28 for a scheduled green-flag pit stop. Following a four tire stop, Van Gisbergen rejoined the field in seventh and ended the stage in sixth on lap 30.
  • Van Gisbergen started the final stage in second with 12 laps remaining in the race. Van Gisbergen took over the race lead on lap 38 and was scored as the race leader when the final caution flag came out in NASCAR overtime. Following the final restart, Van Gisbergen slipped to third and crossed the finished line in second. However, Van Gisbergen was assessed a 30-second penalty, which relegated him to a 27th-place finish.


 
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.

Toyota Gazoo Racing North America NHRA Pomona Post-Race Report – 03.23.24

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Official Release
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CAPPS AND TORRENCE LEAD TOYOTA AFTER SHORTENED POMONA QUALIFYING
Toyota seeking Top Fuel three-peat on Sunday

POMONA, Calif. (March 23, 2024) – After a rain-shortened qualifying at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, Ron Capps was the highest-qualifying Toyota driver by claiming the second qualifying spot in Funny Car for the NHRA Winternationals. Capps and Matt Hagan had identical 3.893 elapsed times during Saturday evening’s session, but Hagan’s 330 mph speed resulted in him capturing the top position. With his strong run, Capps is in an ideal position to claim his fifth career Winternationals victory tomorrow, his first at the annual event since 2021. 

In Top Fuel, Billy Torrence led the Toyota contingent with the third position heading into Sunday’s elimination rounds. The Texan was atop the Top Fuel leaderboard after the lone Friday session, but his 3.745 elapsed time was eclipsed by Brittany Force thanks to improved track conditions Saturday evening. Torrence’s son, Steve, was the next highest Top Fuel racer with the fourth position.

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

TOYOTA TOP FUEL QUALIFYING POSITIONS 

NameCarQualifying PositionFirst Round Opponent
B. ForceMonster Energy Top Fuel Dragster1st*Bye
Billy TorrenceCAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster3rdJ. Hart
Steve TorrenceCAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster4thT. Stewart
Justin AshleySCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel Dragster5thS. Reed
Doug KalittaMac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster6thJ. Salinas
Shawn LangdonKalitta Air Careers Toyota Top Fuel Dragster7thK. Baldwin
Antron BrownMatco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster8thC. Millican

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING POSITIONS 

NameCarQualifying PositionFirst Round Opponent
M. HaganJHG Dodge Funny Car1st*B. Hull
Ron CappsNAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car2ndA. Prock
J.R. ToddDHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car13thC. Pedregon
Alexis DeJoriaBandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny CarDNQN/A

*= Non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

RON CAPPS, NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car

FC Qualifying Result: 2nd

Can you take us through qualifying and what you’re looking forward to tomorrow?

“Boy, another crazy, crazy day! I mean anytime we have weather, there’s a lot of standing around, a lot of anticipation. We have the most loyal fans. I’m sure any driver tells you that in any series, but it’s unbelievable how long our fans stayed around to see what we got at Pomona dragstrip – a historic dragstrip, an epic 64th annual race. To get one more shot at qualifying like we did, when the sun was going down, there’s nothing like driving this GR Supra down Pomona dragway on a Saturday night like that and running a 3.893 to the number one spot. We did get bumped on speed, that was probably me shutting the car off a little early down there. But we know we have a great race car and I’m excited about tomorrow. This is obviously a home track for me. A lot of friends and family are here. But we sure want to see if we can double up with my Toyota teammates there in COTA (Circuit of the Americas) and celebrate with Toyota Sunday night.”

BILLY TORRENCE, CAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Torrence Racing

TF Qualifying Result: 3rd

How would you describe your qualifying effort over the two rounds?

“Yeah, we made a good pass there yesterday, trying a new setup in the car. Then, we tried something else today, and it just didn’t hang on. It was running well, but we just overpowered the track a little bit. I think we’ll have a good race car for tomorrow, though.”

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).

Larson-y: Hendrick Motorsports Star Steals Show, Wins Double-Overtime NXS Thriller in Focused Health 250

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Official Release
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Kyle Larson celebrates in Victory Lane after a wild, double-overtime finish in Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 race at Circuit of The Americas outside of Austin, Texas. Photo Credit: NASCAR at COTA/Harold Hinson Photography
  • Kyle Larson rallies late, benefits from Shane van Gisbergen and Austin Hill contact in closing lap to take home the NASCAR Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 trophy.
  • Tickets to Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix are available at NASCARatCOTA.com.

AUSTIN, Texas (March 23, 2024) – Calamity at COTA! What looked, for most of the race, like a battle between road course aces Shane van Gisbergen and AJ Allmendinger, turned into a hard-fought NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) victory for Kyle Larson in a thrilling double-overtime finish at the Focused Health 250 at Circuit of The Americas (COTA).

Kaulig Racing teammates van Gisbergen and Allmendinger battled at the front for most of the race, leading a combined 40 of the race’s 50 laps, before Allmendinger – the two-time, defending winner – got shuffled back in the pack on a late restart.

On the final restart, Austin Hill of Richard Childress Racing made contact with van Gisbergen heading into Turn One and took the lead. The three-time Supercars champion from New Zealand returned the favor in the closing corners. That contact opened the door for Larson, on fresher tires, to sneak past for his 15th career NXS win by a margin of 1.354 seconds over Hill. Van Gisbergen was assessed a 30-second penalty for cutting the course short on the final lap and was scored in 27th position when the checkered flag fell.

After the race, Larson had high praise for the talented Kiwi.

“He’s just better than us,” Larson said. “AJ’s a level up from me and he’s a level up from AJ. He kind of surprised me when he got to my right side; he kind of surprised me because I didn’t know he was there. Then when he got to my left side, he surprised me again because I thought he was still on my right. It was fun racing. He’s just way better. It’s a lot of fun when you can race around a guy who’s that good because you can learn a lot of things.”

Van Gisbergen, making just his fifth NXS start as a full-time driver, said he learned a lot throughout the race.

“We got better and better,” said van Gisbergen, who was in line to top his season-best finish of third at Atlanta. “That last restart, he (Hill) just drove through me. I guess that’s how it is here. I just stood up for myself.”

While frustrated by the finish, Hill said his team has plenty to hang their hats on.

“Obviously, I’m frustrated,” said Hill, who posted his fifth consecutive top-five finish on the season. “We’re firing on all cylinders right now. It doesn’t matter where we go. We’ve got to hold our heads up for that, but it’s really frustrating. I wanted to get my first road course win.”

Parker Kligerman of Big Machine Racing led the way at the end of Stage One, while JR Motorsports driver Brandon Jones took the green-and-white checkers to win the second stage.

Larson will look to double down Sunday with a win in the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix NASCAR Cup Series showdown, where his teammate, William Byron, will start on the pole. Green flag waves at 2:49 p.m. CT (TV: FOX, Radio: PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90).

Tickets:

Fans can purchase tickets for Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix online at NASCARatCOTA.com.

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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.

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