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Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series Race Report – Bristol 1

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Food City 500 – Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol, Tenn. – March 17, 2024

Bristol Motor Speedway Oval Decal

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 DISCOUNT TIRE FORD MUSTANG

START: 21ST STAGE ONE: 29TH STAGE TWO: 29TH FINISH: 31ST POINTS: 21ST

RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric, driver of the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang, finished 31st in a chaotic Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway plagued by tire issues. Cindric rolled off the grid from the 21st position and reported under the first caution on Lap 23 that the car was free on entry and tight through the center. After pitting for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment and restarting 22nd, the field was immediately slowed with another caution. Cindric sustained minor damage and remained on track. On Lap 69, Cindric returned to pit road from the 15th position for fresh tires, fuel and another adjustment after he began to experience an issue with the right-front tire. The Team Penske driver marched on to the end of the segment, being scored in the 29th position. Expressing concern with the right-front tire again, Cindric headed back to the attention of the Discount Tire crew for service and lined up 30th for the restart. Tire wear and management continued to be a talking point throughout the remaining segments of the event while the No. 2 Ford Mustang also began to trend toward a tight condition by the conclusion of Stage 2 in which Cindric finished 29th. Throughout the final Stage, the 25-year-old driver made multiple more visits to pit road for fresh rubber and adjustments to aid the handling of the car. When the checkered flag flew, Cindric was scored in the 31st position.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “Unfortunately we struggled to keep the right-front tire on the Discount Tire Ford Mustang for anything longer than 30 laps. Past that, the race was plagued with tire issues and debris on the race track. The final stint was chaotic and wish we could have had a clean day for everyone on the No. 2 car. Looking forward to going to COTA and having a normal weekend.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 MENARDS/DUTCH BOY FORD MUSTANG

START: 1ST STAGE ONE: 7TH STAGE TWO: 25TH FINISH: 16TH POINTS: 4TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford Mustang led the field to green in Sunday’s Food City 500 before ultimately coming away with a 16th-place finish. Blaney battled for the lead throughout the opening stage and led five times for 14 laps as the No. 12 worked to manage tire wear that became a major factor in the race, but Blaney maintained top-10 speed to come away with a seventh-place finish in Stage 1. Following a four-tire stop under caution on lap 226, Blaney was penalized for speeding on pit road and forced to restart at the tail end of the field with 20 laps to go in Stage 2, resulting in a 23rd-place finish in the second segment. Blaney fought his way back into the top-10 during the initial run of the final stage and worked his way up to sixth in the running order by lap 365 as the overall balance settled in. Following the ensuing restart after a caution on lap 368, contact to the left rear on the exit of turn two sent Blaney up the track as he tried to collect himself in the middle lane, shuffling him back to 20th on the leaderboard. Blaney was one of the first to hit pit road during the green flag pit cycle on lap 436 as he had a right front tire go down but managed to fight through traffic to come away with a 16th-place finish.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “We got our Menards/Dutch Boy Ford Mustang in a pretty good spot before the last restart – got to sixth. Ultimately I got moved off the bottom lane and shuffled into the middle where it was a lot easier to use up our tires, especially at that point in the race. A little bit of a wild race overall.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG

START: 4TH STAGE ONE: 11TH STAGE TWO: 3RD FINISH: 22ND POINTS: 26TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano wheeled the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang to a 22nd-place finish Sunday afternoon at Bristol Motor Speedway. After battling a tight-handling condition in the early going, Logano and the No. 22 worked to manage tire wear that became increasingly prevalent throughout the field as the opening stage unfolded. Several of the leaders began to falter in the closing laps of Stage 1, but Logano prevailed to come away with an 11th-place finish in the opening segment. Logano raced his way back into the top-five by lap 204 and was running sixth at the time of the caution on lap 226 when the No. 22 team opted for right sides tires only under yellow, allowing Logano to restart fifth with 11 to go in the second stage. He took the lead with five to go in the segment, but ultimately settled for a third-place finish in Stage 2. As tire wear continued to be a key factor over the long runs, Logano was shuffled outside of the top-20 before the start of green flag stops and eventually hit pit road on lap 436 for the team’s final set of sticker tires. The 500-lap race remained green the rest of the way as Logano crossed the line 22nd when the checkered flag flew.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “Up and down day for our Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang team. Obviously tire wear played a huge factor we were doing everything we could to manage that and track position all day. It seemed like everyone was chasing different strategies on the fly which made this race what it was. Glad we were able to make it out of here with some stage points and we’ll keep moving forward.”

The NASCAR Cup Series takes on its first road course of the season on Sunday, March 24 for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Denny Hamlin wins Throwback Classic FOOD CITY 500 Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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BRISTOL, Tenn. (March 17, 2024) — Denny Hamlin won a true NASCAR Cup Series throwback classic Sunday in the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway as teams were presented with a challenging track that ultimately forced teams to pay close attention to their tire wear.

Virginia native Hamlin led 13 times for 163 laps to take his first Food City 500 win and fourth victory at Bristol. It is his second win in a row at The Last Great Colosseum, as he won here last September in the opening round of the Playoffs.

The thrilling race set a NASCAR short track record for lead changes at 54 with 16 different drivers holding the lead at some point. The previous record at Bristol for lead changes was 40 in 1991. Only five cars finished on the lead lap.

The race also set the social media world abuzz as racing experts across the media spectrum, including NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr., as well as thousands of vocal fans and others weighed in talking about how exciting the racing was. Earnhardt tweeted that this race was the “…most exciting short track race we’ve had with the Next Gen.”

“That’s what I grew up doing at short tracks all around the mid-Atlantic, once it became a tire-management race, I liked our chances,” said Hamlin of his 52nd career Cup Series victory and first of the season. “This feels so good to win again at Bristol.”

In a return to concrete for the Food City 500 from three consecutive years of dirt racing as NASCAR returned to its roots, the teams were faced with tire management and that fell right into the strengths for Hamlin and his crew chief Chris Gabehart.

Goodyear used the same tire that ran without issue in the Night Race last season but this weekend with 15-degree cooler temps and a new tacky substance on the track, marbles (tiny rubber debris from wearing tires) accumulated all around the track and made racing at the top extremely difficult. With the uncommon wear becoming a factor, Goodyear did issue the teams one more set of tires near mid-race.

“It was challenging, but a different kind of challenge,” Hamlin said. “I ran a certain pace and line and then made adjustments and Chris (Gabehart, crew chief) kept making the car better and giving me info and it allowed me to do my job better. You learned on the fly and just had to keep making adjustments and we kept getting better. It was a lot of fun for me.”

Hamlin led all but one lap over the final 48 laps as he dueled with teammate Martin Truex Jr. through heavy lapped traffic. Truex ultimately finished second, tying his best-career Cup Series finish at Bristol in 34 career starts (also second at 2011 Night Race).

“Apparently, that’s what I need to have happen here at Bristol to have a shot at winning,” Truex said. “I guess this tire management thing fit into my wheelhouse at Bristol. The key was coming out of the pits so close to Denny. We gave it a hell of an effort, but congrats to them. I had a lot of fun tonight.”

Hamlin also had to overcome a hot start from his other teammate, Ty Gibbs, who led 137 laps and won the first two stages of the race. Many had predicted Gibbs as a top contender to win this race and he looked like he was on his way to his first career Cup win this afternoon in his No. 54 Gibbs Racing machine. Ultimately, though, experience proved to be the overriding factor.

“This is the first time the driver played a huge role in a long, long time,” Hamlin said. “It’s a different philosophy than we are used to. Mostly cars on the bottom are running hard all the way around and then today there was driver technique that had to be a major part of it.

“I’m so proud. I feel like I played a huge factor in the result. It’s one of the more-proud races I’ve had in my career.”

Brad Keselowski finished third, followed by Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson in the top five. Last year’s dirt winner Christopher Bell finished 10th.

Pole winner Ryan Blaney finished 16th. The highest finishing rookie was Josh Berry, who posted a 12th place finish in his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing machine.

In a note of interesting track history, Hamlin joins David Pearson (1968), Cale Yarborough (1974) and Kasey Kahne (2013) as winners who have all won at Bristol on St. Patrick’s Day.

NASCAR Cup Series Race – Food City 500
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol, Tennessee
Sunday, March 17, 2024

            1. (3)  Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 500. 
            2. (11)  Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 500. 
            3. (17)  Brad Keselowski, Ford, 500. 
            4. (29)  Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 500. 
            5. (10)  Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 500. 
            6. (26)  John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 499. 
            7. (34)  Chris Buescher, Ford, 499. 
            8. (5)  Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 499. 
            9. (19)  Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 499. 
            10. (12)  Christopher Bell, Toyota, 499. 
            11. (7)  Michael McDowell, Ford, 499. 
            12. (2)  Josh Berry #, Ford, 499. 
            13. (6)  Chase Briscoe, Ford, 498. 
            14. (25)  Ryan Preece, Ford, 498. 
            15. (36)  Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 498. 
            16. (1)  Ryan Blaney, Ford, 498. 
            17. (32)  Justin Haley, Ford, 498. 
            18. (28)  Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 498. 
            19. (33)  Kaz Grala #, Ford, 498. 
            20. (15)  Erik Jones, Toyota, 498. 
            21. (18)  Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 498. 
            22. (4)  Joey Logano, Ford, 498. 
            23. (30)  AJ Allmendinger(i), Chevrolet, 498. 
            24. (31)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 498. 
            25. (14)  Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 498. 
            26. (24)  Todd Gilliland, Ford, 497. 
            27. (35)  Carson Hocevar #, Chevrolet, 497. 
            28. (20)  Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet, 496. 
            29. (9)  Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 496. 
            30. (23)  Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 495. 
            31. (21)  Austin Cindric, Ford, 495. 
            32. (13)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 495. 
            33. (27)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 495. 
            34. (22)  Noah Gragson, Ford, 494. 
            35. (8)  William Byron, Chevrolet, 492. 
            36. (16)  Zane Smith #, Chevrolet, Engine, 192.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 79.678 mph.
Time of Race: 3 Hrs, 20 Mins, 41 Secs. Margin of Victory: 1.083 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 9 for 98 laps.
Lead Changes: 54 among 16 drivers.
Lap Leaders: R. Blaney 1-2;J. Berry # 3-20;D. Hamlin 21-25;C. Elliott 26;T. Reddick 27-30;B. Wallace 31-40;J. Berry # 41-47;B. Wallace 48-52;D. Hamlin 53-60;C. Elliott 61-64;R. Blaney 65-68;K. Busch 69-73;R. Blaney 74;D. Hamlin 75-82;R. Blaney 83-88;D. Hamlin 89-119;T. Gibbs 120-130;R. Blaney 131;K. Larson 132-140;T. Gibbs 141-145;M. Truex Jr. 146-149;T. Gibbs 150-153;K. Larson 154-156;T. Gibbs 157-158;D. Hamlin 159-162;K. Larson 163-165;D. Hamlin 166;K. Larson 167-170;T. Gibbs 171-181;M. Truex Jr. 182;C. Buescher 183-199;C. Bell 200-223;M. Truex Jr. 224-235;C. LaJoie 236-239;C. Bell 240-243;J. Logano 244-248;T. Gibbs 249-256;M. Truex Jr. 257;T. Gibbs 258-284;M. Truex Jr. 285-317;D. Hamlin 318-322;T. Gibbs 323-364;D. Hamlin 365-372;M. Truex Jr. 373;D. Hamlin 374-379;C. Bell 380;D. Hamlin 381-398;T. Gibbs 399-425;D. Hamlin 426-447;M. Truex Jr. 448;B. Keselowski 449;A. Bowman 450-452;D. Hamlin 453-482;M. Truex Jr. 483;D. Hamlin 484-500.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Denny Hamlin 13 times for 163 laps; Ty Gibbs 9 times for 137 laps; Martin Truex Jr. 8 times for 54 laps; Christopher Bell 3 times for 29 laps; Josh Berry # 2 times for 25 laps; Kyle Larson 4 times for 19 laps; Chris Buescher 1 time for 17 laps; Bubba Wallace 2 times for 15 laps; Ryan Blaney 5 times for 14 laps; Joey Logano 1 time for 5 laps; Kyle Busch 1 time for 5 laps; Chase Elliott 2 times for 5 laps; Corey LaJoie 1 time for 4 laps; Tyler Reddick 1 time for 4 laps; Alex Bowman 1 time for 3 laps; Brad Keselowski 1 time for 1 lap.
Stage #1 Top Ten: 54,5,17,6,42,12,19,20,41,4
Stage #2 Top Ten: 54,6,22,42,20,19,11,5,23,41

Tire Issues Leave Burton 32nd at Bristol

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Official Release
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A promising start to Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway for Harrison Burton and the No. 21 DEX Imaging team took a disappointing turn just 67 laps into the 500-lapper as Burton made an unscheduled green-flag stop for fresh rubber. Although he and the team managed to work their way back onto the lead lap, the tire issues continued to plague them and they wound up 32nd at the finish.

Burton started the race from 13th place and drove into the top 10 by Lap 44. He was running just outside the top 15 at Lap 60 when tire issues surfaced, necessitating a green-flag stop that left him two laps in arrears.

Burton and the DEX Imaging team worked their way into the free pass position and rejoined the lead lap when the caution flag was displayed at Lap 175 for a multi-car crash.

He was back among the top 20 in the latter portions of the second Stage, and ended that segment in 19th place.

The DEX Imaging crew called for a two-tire stop at the end of the Stage and moved back into the top 15 only to experience another tire issue and another unscheduled green-flag stop at Lap 306 that cost them three laps.

With few strategy options at the team’s disposal, Burton was unable to advance.

Burton and the No. 21 team return to the track next week for a road-course race at Circuit of the Americas.

About DEX Imaging
DEX Imaging is the digital document imaging division of Staples, the world’s largest business solutions provider. DEX sells and services the broadest selection of copiers, printers and data management solutions, such as HP, Konica Minolta, Canon, Kyocera and numerous others.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES:
Reducing Operating Costs
Reducing Paper Consumption
Increasing Productivity

DEX Imaging has been the recipient of virtually every industry award since the company’s inception, including the JD Power & Associates Award for Best Customer Experience, the prestigious ProTech Service award by Konica Minolta, the Diamond Premier Dealer Award by Kyocera, and the Elite DEALER Award by ‘ENX’ magazine. Other accolades include being named ‘Best Place to Work’ by numerous business journals in the markets DEX serves.

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.

CHEVROLET NCS AT BRISTOL 1: Post-Race Report

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Official Release
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NASCAR CUP SERIES
BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY
FOOD CITY 500
TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE REPORT
MARCH 17, 2024

 Bowman, Larson Lead Chevrolet with Top-Five Finishes at Bristol

  • Alex Bowman led Chevrolet to the checkered-flag in the NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway – driving his No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1 to a fourth-place finish.
  • Three Camaro ZL1’s earned top-10 results at the Tennessee short-track, with Bowman leading his Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson, No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Camaro ZL1, in fifth; and Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1, in eighth.
  • With his second top-five finish of the season, Larson took over the top position in the NASCAR Cup Series driver points standings.
  • The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season continues at Circuit of The Americas with the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix on Sunday, March 24, at 3:30 P.M. ET. Live coverage can be found on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-20:
POS. DRIVER

4th Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1
5th Kyle Larson, No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Camaro ZL1
8th Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1
15th Ross Chastain, No. 1 Busch Light Fishing Camaro ZL1
18th Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Jockey Outdoors by Luke Byran Camaro ZL1

 TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE QUOTES:
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1

Finished: 4th

Bowman on his fourth-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway:

“We just made our left-front tire last a little longer than some others there. I think it was a good, solid day for the No. 48 Ally Chevy team. I feel like we had a pretty good Chevy, but we just had to go roll around half-speed and try to make it last. It kind of reminded me of Greenville Pickens (Speedway), short-track racing in the East Series, or something like that. Just had to be really, really, really patient. Obviously that long green-flag run where we all pitted, I think our right-front probably lasted the longest. It got us some track position and we ended up with a fourth-place finish. I don’t really know where my race car could have ended up, straight-up, because we were never able to run hard, but it was pretty good.”

Kyle Larson, No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Camaro ZL1

Finished: 5th

How difficult was it to get into a rhythm in today’s race?

“Yeah, it was tough.. tough to get a rhythm. I felt like I was kind of in a rhythm when I could run around fourth to sixth behind the Gibbs cars and kind of pace myself. I felt like I was doing a good job of managing my stuff, we just never got a long run. And then the one time we get a long run is when we had the penalty and we had to go to the back, and abuse my tire to get back to the top-five.

It all just kind of weirdly worked out. I still don’t really know how we ended fifth, but we will take it and move on.

You’ll take a fifth. You don’t care how you got there, as long as you get to fifth, right?

“Yeah, for sure. Obviously, I would have loved to not get that penalty because I felt like I could pace the 11 (Denny Hamlin) well, and I thought I could manage my tires good. He would have been hard to beat, but we could have ended up a little bit better and we could have ended up worse. So, yeah, I think I will take the fifth and be happy with it.”

Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1

Finished: 8th

For short-tracks, is this a good thing?

“It’s a better race than we’ve had here. It was pretty fun from my seat.”

What made this race challenging?

“Normally, you could just bury the car into the corner so far and you don’t ever really get beat by guys with tires that bad. But you could just fall off a cliff there with the way that was. It was like racing at a really old, worn out short-track. It was a lot of fun. I think there was probably a little better balance somewhere up there, but I had a good time.”

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Mountain Dew/Doritos Camaro ZL1

Finished: 23rd

“We initially struggled to find balance in our No. 16 Mtn Dew Cheetos Chevy. Combined with the tire issues the field faced, we had our hands full. I’m proud of our team and Travis [Mack] on the pit box. The way our day started, it wasn’t looking good, but we refocused as a team and made the most out of our day.”

Austin Dillon, No. 3 BREZTRI Camaro ZL1

Finished: 24th

“We fought hard with the No. 3 BREZTRI Chevy. It didn’t matter what we did, we just kept losing tires. We were kind of in a box there trying to save and trying to go. Man, it was a weird race. Hate it that we couldn’t hold on because that would have been good run if we would have gotten ourselves into a better position. It was a good fight. We’ll go get a little bit more next week at COTA.”

Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Cirkul Camaro ZL1

Finished: 28th

“Lots of highs and lows during this long race. We had a solid second stage, but after making some contact with the wall, we just fought a really tight-handling No. 31 Cirkul Chevy. The right front would wear quickly, and the rear would start going away not long after. Hopefully we can come back in the fall for some redemption.”

 
Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Rick Ware Racing: Food City 500 from Bristol

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Official Release
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RICK WARE RACING
Food City 500

Date: March 17, 2024
Event: Food City 500 (Round 5 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway (.533-mile concrete oval)
Format: 500 laps, broken into three stages (125 laps/125 laps/250 laps)
Race Winner: Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage 1 Winner: Ty Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage 2 Winner: Ty Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

RWR Race Finish:

● Justin Haley (Started 32nd, Finished 17th/ Running, completed 498 of 500 laps)
● Kaz Grala (Started 33rd, Finished 19th/ Running, completed 498 of 500 laps)

RWR Points:

● Justin Haley (28th with 72 points, 113 out of first)
● Kaz Grala (33rd with 55 points, 130 out of first)

RWR Notes:

● This is the first time both RWR cars have scored top-20 finishes in the same race at Bristol.
● This was Haley’s fourth career start at Bristol. His best Bristol finish remains 12th, earned in September 2022.
● Haley’s 17th-place finish matched the previous team-best at Bristol earned by Cody Ware in September 2022.
● This was Grala’s first NASCAR Cup Series start at Bristol.

Race Notes:

● Denny Hamlin won the Food City 500 to score his 52nd career NASCAR Cup Series victory and his fourth at Bristol. His margin of victory over second-place Martin Truex Jr. was 1.083 seconds.

● There were nine caution periods for a total of 98 laps.

● Only five of the 36 drivers in the Food City 500 finished on the lead lap.

● Kyle Larson is tied with Truex for the championship lead with a seven-point advantage over third-place Ty Gibbs.

Sound Bites:

“We had a fast Ohanafy Ford Mustang Dark Horse. At the end the tires just fell off, but we ran in the top-10 almost all day and that’s awesome to establish that because it put a lot of smiles on a lot of people’s faces. I’m excited to keep digging. I feel like the cars have speed, we just need to keep running like that and we’ll be OK. I love this type of racing. I don’t know what social media says, but as a driver I thought it was fun because you had to manage it. You weren’t all-out the whole time, so it was fun to have a major part in how the car ran.” – Justin Haley, driver of the No. 51 Ohanafy Ford Mustang Dark Horse

“We had great speed in our Ford Mustang Dark Horse. I’m proud of everyone at Rick Ware Racing. Both of our cars were fast. We were just straight-up top-15, top-12 cars today, which was really cool. Unfortunately, we got behind on the very last run there tire cycling-wise. I got shoved to the top and that wore out our right-front a little early, so we ended up 19th, but we had a strong day. That’s cool to see. It gives us a lot of encouragement going forward. We’re upset with 19th because we ran better than that today, but it’s not a bad position to be in when you’re mad about that.”– Kaz Grala, driver of the No. 15 N29 Capital Partners Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix on Sunday, March 24 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin. The race begins at 3:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FOX and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

RFK Caps Wild Day in Bristol with Pair of Top-10s

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Keselowski Finishes Third in King’s Hawaiian Ford, Buescher Seventh in BuildSubmarines.com Ford

BRISTOL, Tenn. (March 17, 2024) – For the second week in a row, RFK again came away with a pair of top-10 finishes as Brad Keselowski finished third in Bristol, and Chris Buescher seventh in the BuildSubmarines.com Ford.

Tire management was the storyline in arguably one of the more notable short-track races in recent memory. Both RFK Fords spent time inside the top five, and both maintained top-10 position for much of the afternoon.

6 Recap
Keselowski had one of the faster cars of the day, earning the second-most stage points of any driver (16), combined with the podium finish.

“It was a pretty good day for us with RFK and the 6 car here,” Keselowski said after the race. “We just kind of ran top five pretty much the whole race and kept them honest. I got ran into on one of those pit caution cycles. That did a little damage to the front end, otherwise I think I could have had a shot to win it today, but still solid to come home third. It was a really good week.”

After starting 17th, Keselowski quickly put the field on notice with the King’s Hawaiian Ford. He was in the top-10 just 20 laps into the afternoon, and after a pair of cautions and restarts, he drove into the top five by lap 60. From there, he effectively never left, earning a fourth-place finish in stage one.

He began the second stage in third, and drove to P2 by the end of stage two (lap 250). The final 250 laps were broken up just twice – first at lap 311, and for the final time at lap 369 – as teams thrashed with tire management, often times putting on scuffed tires. Eventually, NASCAR granted teams an extra set of Goodyears as the laps counted down.

Around lap 430 – still with a pit cycle remaining – cars in the lead pack began falling off, forcing a wide range of green-flag pit stops. Crew chief Matt McCall kept the veteran on track longer than most anyone on track, ultimately giving the No. 6 a shorter run on tires to the end. Following his pit stop at lap 450 – where he inherited the lead for a lap – Keselowski ultimately cycled back to the top five, and eventually the top three.

Despite the fall off, the field managed the closing laps with no cautions as Keselowski finished third, the second-straight week with an RFK top five.

17 Recap
Buescher had an eventful, but productive, afternoon climbing through the field in the BuildSubmarines.com Ford. After rolling off 34th, crew chief Scott Graves quickly employed a strategy play in the first caution, putting right-side tires on the No. 17 just 20 laps in.

He restarted 18th and quickly improved to 13th just 10 laps later. The No. 17 team put him out 10th for a restart at lap 79, and from there cycled to third as stage one concluded at lap 125.

He restarted sixth for stage two as that green-flag run lasted 35 laps until lap 175 when Buescher ran fifth. After another stop for right-side tires, Buescher restarted on the point at lap 190. He took scuff tires in the next break at lap 234 and restarted 18th, before going on to finish the stage 24th.

Buescher ran 21st with 200 laps remaining, and slowly progressed to 18th by lap 379. As the tire fall off began and the green-flag cycle ensued at lap 430, Buescher ran sixth before pitting for the final time at lap 446. He held on for the seventh-place result as the final 121 laps ran caution-free, securing the No. 17 team’s second-straight top-10.

Up Next
Circuit of the Americas (COTA) hosts the first road course race of the season next weekend. Race coverage next Sunday is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, with radio coverage on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

About RFK Racing
RFK Racing, entering 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.

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Race Recap: Bristol Motor Speedway

By
Official Release
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JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK

No. 42 DOLLAR TREE TOYOTA CAMRY XSE

START: 26TH

FINISH: 6TH

POINT STANDINGS: 15TH

John Hunter Nemechek had a strong day throughout the evening in his LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota Camry XSE – with top-five finishes in both stages and a sixth-place finish – which gives the North Carolina-native a new career-best NASCAR Cup Series finish.

Nemechek’s Post-Race Thoughts: “The car is in one piece, and finished sixth. Solid day and we needed that. We finished top-five in both stages. I was joking with the guys that it’s just an oversized Pensacola with tire wear. I grew up short-track late-model racing – places where you had to manage tire wear till the end of the run. We were able to do so. My guys gave me a great Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE all day, and everyone at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB worked hard. We were able to finish top-five in both stages and finish sixth overall. Great points day. We definitely needed that as a team.”

ERIK JONES

No. 43 ADVENTHEALTH TOYOTA CAMRY XSE

START: 15TH

FINISH: 20TH

POINT STANDINGS: 20TH

Erik Jones’ Post-Race Thoughts: “Bad tire, bad race, behind at the end, and that was kind of it. Not really anything great about the day. We will get our AdventHealth Camry better for next time and try to get them at the night race.”

ABOUT OUR PARTNERS

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

ABOUT ADVENTHEALTH: With a sacred mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ, AdventHealth is a connected system of care for every stage of life and health. More than 90,000 team members across hundreds of care sites including physician practices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, home health agencies and hospice centers provide individualized, wholistic care. A shared vision, common values, focus on whole-person health and commitment to making communities healthier unify the system’s more than 50 hospital campuses in diverse markets throughout nine states. For more information about AdventHealth, visit AdventHealth.com/news.

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

RCR NCS Race Recap: Bristol Motor Speedway

By
Official Release
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Hard Fight By Austin Dillon and The No. 3 BREZTRI AEROSPHERE® (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Team at Bristol Motor Speedway

Finish: 24th
Start: 31st
Points: 30th

“We fought hard today in the No. 3 BREZTRI AEROSPHERE® (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Bristol Motor Speedway. No matter what we did, we kept losing tires. It put us in a box with managing when to save tires and when to race hard. It was a very different race than what we’ve had in the past here. I hate that we couldn’t hold on there at the end. We had ourselves in a better position late in the race and I feel we could have had a really good finish. It was a good fight. We’ll go get a little bit more next week at Circuit of the Americas.” -Austin Dillon

Kyle Busch Leads Laps, Overcomes Many Hurdles in FICO Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway

Finish: 25th
Start: 14th
Points: 16th

“Today was one of those days where you just try to survive and get the best finish you can. Our FICO Chevrolet was good at the beginning of the race and we were able to work our way into the lead. The right-side tire wear was a huge factor and unfortunately led to me spinning out a couple of times. We were able to make up that lost time by taking the wave around during a caution just past halfway and catching a yellow flag about 50 laps later that put us back on the lead lap. Crew chief Randall Burnett and the guys worked hard on the car all day but the balance was just too tight. At the end of the race, we stretched out tire wear as far as we could go before pitting but unfortunately had to stop under green. It was a tough day overall but we’ll rebound next week at the Circuit of the Americas.” -Kyle Busch

Tips for Navigating Windy Roads

By
SM
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Photo by Joel & Jasmin Førestbird on Unsplash

Many people find driving to be an enjoyable pastime, but it can be incredibly stressful to encounter windy roads for the first time as a new driver. Roads with complex twists, turns, and elevation changes require a slightly different approach to driving compared to the straight roads and freeways you may be more accustomed to. In this article, we discuss how you can take on windy roads like a pro, keeping yourself and your passengers safe in the meantime.

What Makes Windy Roads Challenging to Navigate?

Windy roads often feature sharp bends, blind corners, and elevation changes. It becomes more challenging to stay in control of your vehicle, particularly if traveling at an unsafe rate of speed. To help familiarize yourself with a windy road you haven’t driven on before, consider studying a map or using a navigation system with upcoming curve warnings. Doing so will help you prepare for your drive and ensure you aren’t caught off guard by sudden elevation changes or curves in the road.

Weather conditions can also make windy roads particularly hard to navigate. Strong winds can affect vehicle stability, particularly for lighter cars. Headwinds can require you to speed up to keep your vehicle moving at a safe rate of travel, while crosswinds can push your car to one side or the other. Rain or fog can reduce visibility, making it harder to see curves or significant elevation changes. 

Keeping Your Car Under Control on Windy Roads

It’s essential to maintain a constant speed on a road with sharp curves or drops. Do your best to avoid sudden braking or acceleration, as these can disrupt your control of the car. At the same time, you don’t want to take turns too quickly, as this can cause you to spin out. Maintain a reasonable rate of speed and ease off the accelerator gently as needed.

During turns, you need to maneuver your car as smoothly as possible. You should use the hand-over-hand steering technique and ensure you maintain a firm grip at all times. Avoid jerky movements or overcorrection, as this can lead to loss of control. These strategies significantly reduce your risk of spinning out or getting into a collision. If a crash does occur, a car accident lawyer in Atlanta may be able to help.

Practicing the Principles of Defensive Driving 

Defensive driving can help keep you safe under any road conditions but becomes particularly invaluable when dealing with windy roads. You should be constantly scanning the road ahead for hazards, from rockfall on a mountain road to an oncoming vehicle drifting over into your lane. Be extra vigilant for potential hazards that might be obscured by blind corners, such as oncoming traffic, stopped vehicles, debris, or wildlife. Anticipate these possibilities and be sure to maintain a safe speed so you can come to a stop if needed. 

Maintaining a safe following distance is always vital, but this trait becomes even more critical on windy roads. Leaving extra space between your vehicle and the car in front allows you to come to a stop or evade unexpected hazards. On windy roads, you should have a following distance of at least 3 to 4 seconds. If visibility is poor or the weather is bad, increase your following distance accordingly. 

Building Confidence Through Practice 

Driving on windy roads can understandably cause anxiety, especially for new drivers. The more practice you get, the better prepared you’ll be to handle windy roads when you encounter them. Start by driving on more forgiving windy roads initially, and progress to more challenging drivers as you gain confidence. It may be worth doing a driving course with an experienced trainer to gain some valuable tips and tricks and improve your skills. 

Navigating Windy Roads Like a Pro

Windy roads may seem daunting when you first start driving on them, but with the right knowledge, proper techniques, and a focus on safety, you’ll be able to navigate them with confidence. We hope this article helps you take on your next drive through the mountains or valleys!

The Essential Guide to Choosing a Lamborghini Mechanic

By
SM
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Owning a Lamborghini is not just about luxury and speed. It’s about being part of an exclusive world where excellence is standard. That’s why, for maintenance and repairs, picking the right Lamborghini mechanic is crucial. This guide aims to give you insights. They will help you choose the best specialist for your Lamborghini. We will cover the details of technical qualifications and experience. We will also cover the importance of using genuine parts.

Choosing a specialized mechanic for your Lamborghini goes beyond ordinary car care. It’s about trusting your prized possession to someone who gets its value. It’s also about its complexity. In this guide, we explore the key factors. Consider them when making this choice. Every detail matters. They ensure your Lamborghini gets the care it deserves. This care needs specific qualifications, tools, and diagnostics.

Why choose a specialized mechanic for your Lamborghini, you may ask? The answer lies in the mix of tech, design, and performance. These cars represent it uniquely. A generic approach to maintenance won’t suffice. Let’s look at why a specialized mechanic is not just a preference. It’s a necessity for Lamborghini owners.

Why Choose a Specialized Mechanic for Your Lamborghini?

Lamborghini are not ordinary vehicles. They are masterpieces of engineering and design. As such, they require a level of care that matches their prestige. A specialised Lamborghini mechanic understands the nuances of these vehicles. They can provide the meticulous attention your car needs.

A Lamborghini mechanic brings more to the table than just technical expertise. They have a passion for these cars that translates into superior service. This dedication keeps your Lamborghini in peak condition. It preserves its performance and value.

Choosing a specialist means accessing a wealth of knowledge about Lamborghini models. This expertise is crucial for diagnosing and fixing issues swiftly. It ensures your vehicle spends less time in the shop and more time on the road.

Understanding Lamborghini’s Technical Complexity

Lamborghinis are marvels of automotive technology. Their engines, aerodynamics, and electronics are cutting-edge. This complexity requires a mechanic with a deep understanding of high-performance vehicles.

Each Lamborghini model boasts unique features and systems. A specialized mechanic stays updated on these advancements. This knowledge is vital for effective maintenance and repairs.

Dealing with Lamborghini’s technical complexity isn’t just about fixing problems. It’s about foreseeing potential issues before they arise. A skilled mechanic can find and fix minor issues. This stops big future repairs.

Qualifications & Certifications to Look For

When selecting a Lamborghini mechanic, check their qualifications and certifications. These credentials indicate a professional’s expertise and commitment to excellence. Look for certifications from reputable automotive institutions. They demonstrate a mechanic’s proficiency in handling high-performance vehicles.

A mechanic’s training in Lamborghini-specific courses is invaluable. It shows they have invested time and resources in understanding these unique cars. This specialized training is a sign of a mechanic’s dedication to their craft.

Qualifications alone aren’t enough. They must be current. The automotive industry evolves rapidly, and so do Lamborghini’s models and technologies. Ensure your mechanic’s certifications are up-to-date, reflecting their ongoing commitment to learning.

Experience with Specific Lamborghini Models

Not all Lamborghinis are the same. Different models have their idiosyncrasies. Experience with your specific model is crucial. It ensures the mechanic knows your car inside and out.

A mechanic’s experience extends beyond just technical knowledge. It includes understanding the car’s behaviour on the road. This insight is critical for fine-tuning performance and handling.

The more a mechanic has worked with Lamborghinis, the better. It means they’ve encountered a wide range of issues and know how to solve them efficiently. This experience can be the difference between a quick fix and a lengthy, costly repair.

Access to Specialized Tools & Diagnostics

Lamborghini maintenance requires more than just a wrench and screwdriver. It demands specialized tools and diagnostic equipment. These tools are designed specifically for Lamborghini’s complex systems. They allow for precise adjustments and accurate fault diagnosis.

A mechanic’s access to official Lamborghini diagnostic software is a game-changer. This software provides detailed insights into the car’s performance and health. It’s essential for identifying issues that aren’t immediately apparent.

The right tools and diagnostics do more than just fix problems. They help optimize your Lamborghini’s performance. This precision ensures your car operates at its best. It delivers the thrilling driving experience you expect.

Genuine Lamborghini Parts vs. Aftermarket Options

The debate between genuine Lamborghini parts and aftermarket options is significant. Genuine parts are designed specifically for your vehicle. They guarantee a perfect fit and optimal performance.

Aftermarket parts may offer a cost saving. However, they can’t always match the quality and compatibility of genuine Lamborghini parts. Using genuine parts preserves your car’s integrity and value.

A specialized Lamborghini mechanic will always recommend genuine parts. They understand the importance of maintaining the car’s performance and resale value. Trust their advice to keep your Lamborghini authentic.

Reputation & Customer Reviews

A mechanic’s reputation is a key indicator of their quality and reliability. Look for mechanics with positive reviews from Lamborghini owners. These testimonials provide insights into their expertise and customer service.

Customer reviews often highlight a mechanic’s attention to detail and dedication. These qualities are crucial for dealing with high-performance vehicles like Lamborghini. Positive feedback is a good sign you’ve found a reliable specialist.

Don’t just rely on online reviews. Ask fellow Lamborghini owners for recommendations. Your experiences can guide you to a mechanic. They truly understand these special vehicles.

Facility & Service Environment

The quality of a mechanic’s facility reflects their professionalism. It shows the care they provide. A clean, well-organized workspace is a good sign. It indicates the mechanic takes pride in their work and respects the cars they service.

The facility should be equipped with the latest tools and technologies. This setup is essential for performing precise diagnostics and repairs. A state-of-the-art service environment shows the mechanic’s commitment to maintaining high standards.

A welcoming service environment is also important. It should make you feel comfortable. You should feel confident in the care your Lamborghini will get. A professional and friendly atmosphere says a lot. It shows the mechanic’s approach to customer service.

Warranty & Guarantee Policies on Repairs

Warranty and guarantee policies are crucial. They give peace of mind. You can trust the repairs and maintenance on your Lamborghini. A mechanic confident in their work will offer solid warranty terms. This confidence reassures you of the quality and durability of the repairs.

The specifics of warranty policies can vary. Look for coverage that is comprehensive and lasts a reasonable amount of time. It should cover both parts and labour. A generous warranty is a sign of a mechanic’s trust in their skills and the parts they use.

Always clarify the warranty details before agreeing to any repairs. Understanding these policies helps avoid surprises if an issue arises post-repair. It ensures you know what’s covered and for how long.

Communication & Transparency

Effective communication is the foundation of any good relationship with a Lamborghini mechanic. They should explain issues clearly and in terms you understand. This transparency builds trust and ensures you’re informed about your car’s care.

A good mechanic will discuss all repair options with you. They’ll provide recommendations but also respect your decisions. Respectful communication is crucial. It is needed to keep control of caring for your Lamborghini.

Transparency extends to pricing as well. Expect a detailed breakdown of costs before any work begins. There should be no hidden fees or surprises. Clear, upfront communication about expenses is essential for a positive experience.

Choosing the right Lamborghini mechanic is about more than just expertise. It’s about finding a specialist. They must respect and understand the value of your Lamborghini. Consider the factors in this guide. They will ensure your vehicle gets the best care. Remember, a Lamborghini is not just a car—it’s a statement. Choose a mechanic who will treat it with the reverence it deserves.

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