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TOP FUEL’S SHAWN LANDGON LOOKS TO KEEP ROLLING AT LUCAS OIL NHRA WINTERNATIONALS AFTER SNAPPING DRY SPELL

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POMONA, Calif. (March 19, 2024) – In picking up his first win in nearly four years to open the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, Shawn Langdon also picked up a handful of significant milestones along the way.

Along with the first Gatornationals win for the former Top Fuel world champ, Langdon also helped Kalitta Motorsports pick up its first-ever double-up in the nitro categories, handing Brian Husen a victory in his first race since being name crew chief before the season. It also gave Langdon his first victory at a season-opening race since 2015, summing up the fact that things couldn’t have gone much better for the veteran.

That 2015 season-opening victory came in Pomona, where Langdon will be this weekend for the 64th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip. It’s still a very special race for the Mira Loma, Calif. native, especially since he’ll have the chance to continue his strong start at the second race of the 2024 season in his 11,000-horsepower Kalitta Air Careers Toyota dragster.

“A lot of this sport is results-driven, so when you go in a drought, you (see) the things online,” Langdon said. “But you take it with a grain of salt, keep your head down and keep working. But you’re with a great organization and we get the best of everything. Connie (Kalitta, team owner) is a great leader and sets a great example, so we really feel like we race as a family. It’s a great atmosphere over here. We’re going to get everything ready for Pomona and we consider it one of the majors. We’re going to keep working and try to progress as a team.”

Last year, Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) took home top honors in their respective categories at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals. To repeat their titles, they’ll need to get past some of the biggest names in the sport at a race that will again be broadcasted on FS1, including eliminations coverage on Sunday, March 24 at 7 p.m. ET.

It’s the second of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA season and Langdon couldn’t be happier with the start in Gainesville, which also included his first No. 1 qualifier since 2020. Things won’t get easier in a loaded Top Fuel lineup that includes teammate and defending world champion Doug Kalitta, Brittany Force, Ashley, Tony Schumacher and Top Fuel newcomer and racing legend Tony Stewart.

But with Husen calling the shots, things have clicked early and often for the team. Langdon also has the chance to come up big in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday. The specialty race offers a bonus purse and bonus championship points, bringing competitive racing to Saturday qualifying, and Langdon opens the Challenge against Antron Brown. The other pairing includes Steve and Billy Torrence, with the winners meeting up to close out qualifying.

“There’s just people that you click with and dating back to 2012, I always felt Brian and I clicked from day one,” Langdon said. “I say something and he gets it, and he says something and I understand it. We’ve just gotten along really well. I’ve always had great respect for him and I’m going to sing the praises for him. This new car is showing a lot of potential and I’m just so happy for Brian. He puts in so much time and effort behind the scenes, and he deserves every ounce of credit he gets. I’m so thankful to be his driver.”

Fans can also witness 45-plus nitro cars in action this weekend in Pomona. Along with the 21-car field in Funny Car and a 17-car Top Fuel entry list, the Legends Nitro Funny Cars will be in action this weekend, pushing the number of nitro cars to more nearly 50 at the second stop of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Hagan’s Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals victory gave him his second of six wins in 2023 and his seventh at the historic track en route to his world title. Hagan will face off against Bob Tasca III, three-time champ Ron Capps, Gatornationals winner J.R. Todd, NHRA legend John Force and Gainesville runner-up Austin Prock.

Glenn earned four race wins in 2023, including his win at Pomona. He also collected five runner-up finishes as well as two No. 1 qualifier positions. Glenn will be up against the likes of six-time and reigning Pro Stock champion Erica Enders, as well as Greg Anderson, Matt Hartford, Troy Coughlin Jr. and NHRA Finals winner Aaron Stanfield.

The Funny Car matchups in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge include Todd taking on Tasca, and a Prock-Green rematch. In Pro Stock, it will be Enders facing off with Anderson and Glenn racing against Cristian Cuadra.

Along with racing in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, fans can also see the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Legends Nitro Funny Cars and Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown, while the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department will hold a special racing exhibition. Following nitro qualifying on Friday and Saturday, the “Walking Tall” P.T. Cruiser Wheelstander driven by “NitroMike” Kunz will put on a can’t-miss show.

The Nitro Alley Stage is a huge attraction all weekend and is the main entertainment hub in the pits, hosting Nitro School, Total Seal Tech Talk, the NHRA Insider Live, meet and greets, and much more. As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. Fans can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their hot rods between rounds and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, food and fun.

Race fans at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the event winners.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying features one round at 4:30 p.m. PT on Friday, March 22, and the final two rounds on Saturday, March 23 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. The finals of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge take place at the end of final qualifying in each category. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. PT on Sunday, March 24. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 9:30 p.m. ET on Saturday and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, leading into eliminations at 7 p.m. ET.

To purchase tickets to the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information on NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

Headquartered in San Dimas, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 110 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Kaulig Racing Weekly Preview | Circuit of the Americas

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Official Release
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Weekly Preview | Circuit of the Americas

 Race Details

Circuit of the Americas (COTA)
EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Sunday, March 24 at 3:30PM EST
FOX | PRN | SiriusXM
Team Notes

  • Kaulig Racing has made five NCS starts at COTA and has earned one top five and three top-20 finishes
  • So far in the 2024 season, the team has earned one top 10, four top-20 finishes and has led 12 laps.

AJ ALLMENDINGER

“We’re going into the Cup race without really having any expectations. Hopefully we’ll unload with speed for practice, that is something we have struggled with in the past. Being the third car, we don’t have to worry about points, and we can use strategy to our advantage. I’m looking forward to running both races in COTA and hopefully we can put together a solid weekend.” – AJ Allmendinger on Circuit of the Americas  

No. 13 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1

  • AJ Allmendinger has made three NCS starts at COTA and has led two laps and earned one top-five finish.
  • So far in the 2024 season, Allmendinger has made two NCS starts and earned one top-10 finish.

SHANE van GISBERGEN

“I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of a Cup car at COTA this weekend. I know the guys at Kaulig and Trackhouse Racing will bring a fast WeatherTech Chevrolet to the track. I’m looking forward to the challenge of running double duty and hopefully going out and putting on a good show for the fans on Sunday afternoon.” – Shane van Gisbergen on Circuit of the Americas  

No. 16 WeatherTech Camaro ZL1

  • Shane van Gisbergen will make his first NCS start at COTA in the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix.
  • Van Gisbergen will make eight total starts in the No. 16 Camaro ZL1 in 2024.
  • He has secured one win and one top-10 finish in two-career NCS starts.

DANIEL HEMRIC

“COTA will be a challenge of its own. It will be my first time driving these NEXTGen cars with sequential shifting, the brakes, and just the raw capability of the cars. It will be a brand-new experience for me, but I love any opportunity to grow as a driver and as a race team. Kaulig Racing has had solid, road-course success, so hopefully with this new package, we can adapt and learn quickly.” – Daniel Hemric on Circuit of the Americas  

No. 31 Cirkul Camaro ZL1

  • Daniel Hemric will make his first NCS start at COTA in the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix.
  • Hemric made three NXS starts at COTA with Kaulig Racing and earned a best finish of sixth in 2023.
  • So far in the 2024 NCS season, Hemric has earned three top-20 finishes.

 
 
Race Details

Circuit of the Americas (COTA)
Focused Health 250
NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS)
Saturday, March 23 at 5:00PM EST
FS1 | PRN | SiriusXM
Team Notes

  • Kaulig Racing has made nine NXS starts at COTA.
  • The team has earned two wins, three top five and six top-10 finishes. Kaulig Racing has led a total of 61 laps at COTA.

JOSH WILLIAMS

“I haven’t been able to race COTA yet due to different circumstances over the last few years. Having teammates like AJ and SVG is going to be a huge help for me on road courses, especially ones I haven’t run yet.”

Josh Williams on Circuit of the Americas  
No. 11 Alloy Employer Services Chevrolet Camaro

  • Josh Williams will make his first-ever start at COTA for the Focused Health 250.
  • His best finish on a road course in the NXS came in 2021 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, where he finished 10th.

AJ ALLMENDINGER

“We’ve had success at COTA in the Xfinity car. It’s a racetrack that I really enjoy and it’s fun to drive. We need something to get the momentum rolling to get going in the season. This is perfect timing for us to get back there and hopefully do what we did last year: qualify on the pole, run up front all day and be there at the end.” – AJ Allmendinger on Circuit of the Americas  

No. 16 Celsius Chevrolet Camaro

  • AJ Allmendinger has made three NXS starts at COTA and has led 58 laps, earning two wins and a runner-up finish.
  • So far in the 2024 season, Allmendinger has led 11 laps and earned two top-10 finishes. Allmendinger currently sits seventh in driver points.

SHANE van GISBERGEN

“I’m excited to make my first Xfinity Series start at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) this weekend. While I’ve raced at COTA before, this will be a completely different experience in a stock car. I’m looking forward to the competition this weekend and going out on Saturday and having fun in our WeatherTech Chevrolet.” – Shane van Gisbergen on Circuit of the Americas  

No. 97 WeatherTech Chevrolet Camaro

  • Shane Van Gisbergen will make his first-career start at COTA in the NXS this weekend.
  • So far in the 2024 season, van Gisbergen has earned two top-10 finishes and currently sits 14th in the driver standings heading to COTA.

 

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.

ONCHAIN STUDIOS REVS UP A MULTI-YEAR CRYPTOYS PARTNERSHIP WITH NASCAR

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Official Release
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NASCAR Digital Toys and Collectibles to Delight Racing Fans of All Ages

MIAMI – March 19, 2024 – OnChain Studios announced a multi-year partnership with NASCAR to create an exciting line of playable and collectible digital toys to be sold and featured on Cryptoys, the revolutionary new digital toy company that combines toys, gaming and entertainment.

The partnership will bring NASCAR’s iconic brand into a fun and interactive world where fans of the wildly popular sport can collect, trade and play with digital toy race cars.

The collaboration will take NASCAR fans from the racetrack into an exciting digital world where collectors will be able to unbox their digital toys and take them out for a test drive in the expansive and playable Cryptoys universe.

Follow Cryptoys on Instagram, Youtube, and X for the latest updates.

“NASCAR will be the first sports franchise in the Cryptoyverse, offering a new way for collectors and fans to engage with the exciting world of stock car racing,” said Will Weinraub, CEO and Co-Founder of Cryptoys’ parent company OnChain Studios. “We’re looking to build fun and new digital NASCAR experiences together.”

“Cryptoys builds amazing digital toys, has a passionate community and offers another high-quality experience for fans to engage with NASCAR,” said Mitch Rasmussen, NASCAR director, Web3. “Will has assembled an incredible team, and we are excited to help bring their vision for the future of play to life. This collaboration reinforces how NASCAR is tapping into emerging technology to reach new and existing fans in the spaces and places where they prefer to participate.”

ABOUT CRYPTOYS:

Cryptoys is a revolutionary new digital toy company that combines toys, gaming, and entertainment to create an expansive and playable universe. Cryptoys has created their own original characters, and most recently joined forces with Disney and Mattel to bring fan-favorite characters to the Cryptoyverse. Cryptoys are fully interactive 3D digital toys that can be unboxed, unwrapped, and played with across a variety of interactive, digital experiences.

Learn more at www.Cryptoys.com and follow Cryptoys on Instagram, Youtube, and X.

ABOUT ONCHAIN STUDIOS:

OnChain Studios was formed with a clear mission to engage, entertain and empower the next generation of digital toy collectors of all ages around the world. CEO Will Weinraub was inspired by his daughter’s obsession with collecting physical surprise pack toys when he co-founded OnChain Studios in 2018 with CTO Emilio Cueto, CXO Alfonso Martinez, CCO Freddy Oropeza, and COO Jhonathan Torres. Together the team is reimagining what a world-class toy company looks like in the future with the studio’s flagship digital product, Cryptoys.

ABOUT NASCAR:

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.

For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X and Snapchat.

HaasTooling.com Racing: Ryan Preece COTA Advance

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Official Release
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RYAN PREECE
COTA Advance
No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix (Round 6 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 24
● Location: Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas
● Layout: 3.426-mile, 20-turn road course
● Laps/Miles: 68 laps/231.88 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 15 laps / Stage 2: 15 laps / Final Stage: 38 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Ryan Preece and the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) are gearing up for a showdown in the Lone Star State as the NASCAR Cup Series takes on the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. It will be the first of five races on a road or street course in 2024. This season, proficiency on road courses carries heightened importance as NASCAR has integrated two road-course events into the 10-race playoff format for the first time.

● COTA marks a transition for Preece from the intense, close-quarters racing action last weekend on the high-banked, half-mile Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway concrete oval, where he produced the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse’s best finish of the season on a day extreme tire wear throughout the field became the prominent storyline. Preece surged from his 25th starting position to ninth by the end of the opening stage, securing two bonus points. Drawing from his experience in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, where tire management is paramount, Preece prevailed again in the second stage to earn a 10th-place finish and an additional bonus point. He took the checkered flag 14th to log his first top-15 of the season and fourth in seven career Cup Series starts at Bristol.

● Preece’s most recent road-course outing resulted in an 11th-place finish last October on the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval and he is poised to navigate both right and left turns again this weekend at COTA. His best road-course finish in the Cup Series was his ninth-place effort after qualifying sixth on the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway road course in February 2021, driving for JTG Daugherty Racing.

● In six starts on road courses in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Preece has two top-fives and three top-10s. Best of those finishes is fourth, which he achieved twice in 2018, the first at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International and the second on the Charlotte Roval.

● Last June, Preece claimed a road-course victory in the ARCA Menards Series West race at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway. Driving the No. 9 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas, he qualified on the pole, led a race-high 55 of 64 laps, and finished 9.675 seconds ahead of runner-up Sammy Smith.

● Back with Preece and the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse at COTA is HaasTooling.com, the cutting tool division of Haas Automation. HaasTooling.com allows CNC machinists to purchase high-quality cutting tools at great prices. Haas cutting tools are sold exclusively online at HaasTooling.com and shipped directly to end users. Haas Automation, founded in 1983, is America’s leading builder of CNC machine tools. The company manufactures a complete line of vertical and horizontal machining centers, turning centers, rotaries and indexers, and automation solutions.

Ryan Preece, Driver of the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse

You’ve had your share of success on road courses in your career. How do you approach learning and improving your performance on road courses, especially considering the unique challenges that this style of track creates?

“Road courses somewhat resemble short-track racing in terms of how you approach braking, so adapting to this style of racing has come with a baseline given my background. Channeling into that and utilizing the tools at your fingertips is what you have to do to be successful. I enjoy the challenges that this style of racing presents, and I’m certainly looking forward to COTA, as it’s a track where I enjoy racing.”

Will COTA offer a glimpse into what to expect from the quality of racing at road courses this season?

“I think COTA will offer an insight into a lot of things. It’s a heavy braking track and maximizing brake performance is an area that much of the field is currently looking to improve on. With the new package, COTA could show what road courses will potentially look like this season, but at the same time, it’s a track the field doesn’t have a lot of laps at.”

The NASCAR Cup Series season features a total of five road courses on the schedule, with three occurring in the regular season and two taking place during the playoffs for the first time in series history. How would you describe the importance of your road-course race craft, and what is your outlook of continued improvement as the season progresses?

“Road-course racing is certainly becoming something that we are doing more and more in the NASCAR Cup Series, so having the ability to adapt to driving on road courses is becoming increasingly important. A lot of drivers are focused on getting seat time to help speed up the learning curve with the changes that are coming our way. I think you see a lot of younger drivers coming through the ranks who are really good at road-course racing now because they’re getting that experience a lot earlier on in their careers.”

What are a few words of motivation for your team now that the season is well underway?

“The biggest thing for our team is to continue working on the details. We have to be sure that we’re doing all the little things right in order to maximize what we’re all capable of achieving.”

No. 41 HaasTooling.com Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Ryan Preece

Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Crew Chief: Chad Johnston

Hometown: Cayuga, Indiana

Car Chief: Jeremy West

Hometown: Gardena, California

Engineer: Marc Hendricksen

Hometown: Clinton, New Jersey

Spotter: Tony Raines

Hometown: LaPorte, Indiana

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Devin Lester

Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Rear Tire Changer: Kevin Teaf

Hometown: Tallahassee, Florida

Tire Carrier: Chad Emmons

Hometown: Tyler, Texas

Jack Man: Kapil Fletcher

Hometown: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Fuel Man: Dwayne Moore

Hometown: Griffin, Georgia

Road Crew Members

Front End Mechanic: Joe Zanolini

Hometown: Sybertsville, Pennsylvania

Interior Mechanic: Robert Dalby

Hometown: Anaheim, California

Tire Specialist: Matt Ridgeway

Hometown: Carrollton, Georgia

Engine Tuner: Jimmy Fife

Hometown: Orange County, California

Transporter Co-Driver: David Rodrigues

Hometown: Santa Clarita, California

Transporter Co-Driver: Charlie Schleyer

Hometown: Youngsville, Pennsylvania

Camping World Named AutoFair Presenting Sponsor For April 4-7 Extravaganza at Charlotte Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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  • In addition to naming rights for the AutoFair, Camping World will showcase a wide array of products and offer expert advice as it transforms part of the infield into the area’s largest RV show
  • Single-day tickets to AutoFair presented by Camping World start at just $10; kids 12 and under get in free all weekend; more information is available at charlottemotorspeedway.com

CONCORD, NC (March 19, 2024) – A national leader in RV sales and service, Camping World has been named presenting sponsor of AutoFair, a four-day automotive extravaganza that transforms Charlotte Motor Speedway into the ultimate playground for automotive enthusiasts.

“Since the late 1970s, AutoFair has brought together enthusiasts to celebrate all things car culture, so adding Camping World as a presenting sponsor just makes sense,” said Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Walter. “The RVing community shares the same sense of adventure, freedom and exploration, so bringing Camping World on board will help us elevate the new-look AutoFair and reach new audiences.”

Camping World, which operates a sales and service facility near Charlotte Motor Speedway, will set up the area’s largest RV show in the infield of the famed 1.5-mile superspeedway to showcase some of its many products. From luxurious motorhomes to versatile travel trailers, attendees can explore a wide selection of models and take advantage of exclusive deals and get expert advice throughout the four-day event.

MORE INFO:

The AutoFair will transform the famed 1.5-mile speedway throughout the weekend. The latest technology, trends, parts and products will fill the Manufacturer’s Midway. Guests can ride shotgun along the infield road course with Ford Performance Racing and explore the latest from the world of RVing in an all-new Camping World display. The reconfigured swap meet, hosted by the Hornet’s Nest Region AACA, will provide a wide array of hard-to-find parts and memorabilia.

TICKETS:

Single-day tickets start at $10 for adults. Admission is FREE for children 12 and under with an adult. Tickets are available online at CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com or at the gate. Attendees can upgrade their AutoFair experience to include high-end hospitality in the Champions Pavilion, featuring private appearances by industry leaders, food, VIP parking and more.

FOLLOW US:

Keep track of AutoFair attractions and events by following on Twitter and Instagram or become a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

ABOUT CAMPING WORLD

Since 1966, Camping World has proudly offered specialized products and accessories, expert advice and professional service to recreational vehicle owners and campers. The company grew from a single store in Bowling Green, Kentucky to the nation’s largest retailer of RVs, RV accessories and RV-related services. With over 185 Camping World SuperCenters nationwide, a full-service call center and comprehensive website featuring thousands of quality products for RVs, camping, towing and outdoor living, Camping World is the premier one-stop-shop for everything RV.

Along with RV parts and accessories, Camping World offers a full selection of new and used RVs for sale; service centers with over 2,500 bays and over 1,850 technicians on staff; over 100 collision centers; RV Spa detail and refurbishment centers; technical advice from knowledgeable experts, and hard-to-find parts.

As the RV industry leader, Camping World is always looking for new and better ways to enhance the RV and outdoor experience. Visit CampingWorld.com for more information.

Jeremy Clements Racing’s fleet of partners will grow again in 2024; Impel Union to make season premiere at COTA

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Photo Credit: Jeremy Clements Racing

Spartanburg, SC – Jeremy Clements Racing is revved up to announce that Impel Union, a Chicago-based company, will be the primary sponsor for six of their Xfinity racing events this season. The partnership will kick off with the highly anticipated Focused Health 250 at COTA this weekend and will continue at Martinsville, New Hampshire, Portland, Chicago, and Kansas later this year. This exciting collaboration will bring together two dynamic organizations and promises to be a thrilling season for fans of both Jeremy Clements Racing and Impel Union.

This will also mark Impel Union’s second full season of being an integral part of JCR’s outstanding team of partners. Additionally, Alliance Driveaway Solutions will serve as an associate sponsor of their fourth race of this young 2024 Xfinity Season. The Focused Health 250 is scheduled for Saturday, March 23rd at the 3.426–mile Circuit of the Americas road course in Austin, TX.

“It was great to have a weekend off after returning from the West Coast swing. I would love to race every week, if possible, but this break allowed Mark (Setzer) and the guys at the shop to dial in our Impel Union Chevy for COTA,” said Clements.

“Jason (Kemner) from Impel has been a tremendous addition to our family of partners, and he and his team are dedicated to helping JCR succeed. So, don’t forget to catch the #51 Impel Union machine this weekend at COTA,” Clements went on to say.

The No. 51 Chevy Camaro SS will feature the logos of various generous supporters, such as Spartan Waste, Workforce OHSS, Elite Towing, Whitetail Smokeless, Matman Designs, Carolina Driveline, Nordic Logistics and Dynamic Paintware.

RACE PREVIEW
Track: Circuit of the Americas
Date: Saturday, March 23rd, 2024
Broadcast Information: TV: 5:00 pm EST on FS1

FAST FACTS
Best Start 25th – 2023
Best Finish 14th – 2023
4th career start at COTA

ABOUT IMPEL UNION:

At Impel Union, we’re not just about providing top-tier trucks and trailers; we’re your co-driver in the thrilling race to trucking prosperity, with precision and enthusiasm reminiscent of a NASCAR pit crew. Our mission is to turbocharge your business, ensuring it doesn’t just move, but sprints forward, marking each milestone with the exhilarating echo of victory.

In the fast lane with Jeremy Clements Racing, our partnership exemplifies our dedication to peak performance and unwavering reliability. Every truck, trailer, and service is a green flag, ushering you into an accelerated journey in the trucking circuit. With Impel Union, each mile and delivery is a victory lap, a sprint closer to the winner’s circle. Together, let’s speed to unparalleled success!

Ford Performance NASCAR – 2024 Circuit of the Americas Advance

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CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS

Saturday, March 23 — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, 1:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
Saturday, March 23 — NASCAR Xfinity Series, 5 p.m. ET (FS1)
Sunday, March 24 — NASCAR Cup Series, 3:30 p.m. ET (FOX)

After alternating weeks off, the NASCAR Xfinity and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will once again join the NASCAR Cup Series circuit for a tripleheader this weekend at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX. This marks the fourth consecutive season NASCAR has traveled to COTA and will feature two races on Saturday with the Cup event scheduled for Sunday.

A NASCAR FIRST

Todd Gilliland became the first NASCAR driver to win a national series event at Circuit of the Americas when he captured the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in 2021. In a weekend that was hampered by rain, Gilliland was able to manage the mixed conditions of dry and wet pavement to win by nearly eight seconds. Gilliland, who registered his second series win that day, continues to look for his first NASCAR Cup Series victory this weekend in his third season driving for Front Row Motorsports.

FORD’S ACTIVE ROAD COURSE CUP WINNERS

There are three current drivers who have won a NASCAR Cup Series race on a road course with Ford. The most recent winner was Michael McDowell, who clinched a playoff spot last year after winning on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Ryan Blaney got his first road course win in the inaugural event on the Charlotte Roval in 2018 while Joey Logano scored his Cup victory at Watkins Glen International in 2015, which completed a weekend sweep after he won the NASCAR Xfinity Series race one day earlier.

OTHER FORD ROAD COURSE WINNERS

Besides the drivers mentioned above, Ford has six other active Cup competitors who have won on a road course in either the NASCAR Xfinity or NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Brad Keselowski (Watkins Glen NXS with Ford, 2013); Chris Buescher (Mid-Ohio NXS with Ford, 2014); Austin Cindric (NXS wins with Ford at Watkins Glen, 2019; Mid-Ohio, 2019; Road America, 2020, Daytona Road Course, 2020; and Indianapolis Road Course, 2021); Chase Briscoe (NXS wins with Ford at Charlotte Roval, 2018; and Indianapolis Road Course, 2020); Todd Gilliland (Circuit of the Americas NCTS with Ford, 2021) and Justin Haley (CTMP, 2018).

FORD ROAD COURSE WINS IN THE MODERN ERA (1972-Present)

Circuit of the Americas is one of eight road courses the NASCAR Cup Series has competed on in the modern era, joining Riverside International Raceway (1958-88), Watkins Glen International (1957-Present), Sonoma Raceway (1989-Present), Charlotte Motor Speedway (2018-Present), Daytona International Speedway (2020-2021), Road America (2021-2022) and Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2021-Present). Ford has produced a total of 19 combined wins at those facilities from 1972-Present. Mark Martin leads the way with four victories, including three straight years at Watkins Glen, while Ricky Rudd, Marcos Ambrose and Geoffrey Bodine have two each.

MICHAEL MCDOWELL: “COTA was one of those races that we struggled at for the road courses, mostly because of a mistake I made in qualifying. I spun out in qualifying in turn 19 and flat-spotted the tires and started last. That kind of made a long day for myself getting back to the front and then when we got into the top five we got spun with like two laps to go and had come from the back to the front. I don’t think it was a racetrack that we struggled for speed, we just didn’t execute very well, so I’m looking forward to getting back there with a lot of the things that we learned throughout the season of making our road course program better. We should have a shot at winning the race and hopefully we can.”

CHASE BRISCOE: “I’m really excited to go there. I’ve probably spent 15-16 hours on the sim there over the offseason and I feel like what we have, if it’s anything like it is in the sim, then we’re gonna be really, really good. I’m hoping that will correlate. Last year, our road course stuff was not very good, so we have a lot of work to do and hopefully some of that progress that we did over the offseason will show.”

NOAH GRAGSON: “COTA is super fun. That was the best qualifying result I had last year which was 10th at COTA, so that was pretty cool getting into the second round. It’s fun. I always loved to road course race in Legends cars, K&N, Trucks, Xfinity. It’s fun. I’ve never won in a top three series on a road course, but in K&N we had a lot of success on the road courses. I wouldn’t say I’m the best at it, but I don’t think I’m the worst either. I’m just always working harder to be better. I’m getting a lot of sim time and it’s fun to mix it up, so I’m excited for COTA.”

STEWART-HAAS DUO READY FOR COTA

Cole Custer has made three series starts at Circuit of the America, qualifying in the top 10 on each occasion. He has a pair of top-10 finishes with his best run coming in 2022 when he finished third driving for Bobby Dotter. Riley Herbst had his best COTA performance one year ago when he finished 10th. Both drivers are currently in the top five of the series point standings with Custer sitting third and Herbst fourth.

FORD AND FRONT ROW GOING FOR FOUR STRAIGHT AT COTA

The Ford F-150 is undefeated on the Circuit of Americas course in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series after Todd Gilliland won the inaugural event in 2021 and Zane Smith took the checkered flag in each of the last two seasons. Layne Riggs will look to make it four straight for Front Row Motorsports as he comes off his best performance of the season after posting a 10th-place finish last week at Bristol Motor Speedway. He faces a much different challenge on Saturday, however, because this will be his first series road course event in what will be his 11th career start.

FORD’S ALL-TIME CUP

ROAD COURSE WINNERS

5 – Dan Gurney

4 – Mark Martin

2 – Fireball Roberts, Marvin Panch, Parnelli Jones, Ricky Rudd, Marcos Ambrose

1 – Chuck Stevenson, Eddie Gray, Richard Petty, A.J. Foyt, Bobby Allison, Bill Elliott, Davey Allison, Geoffrey Bodine, Ernie Irvan, Rusty Wallace, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Blaney, Michael McDowell

FORD’S COTA CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES

WINNERS

2021 – Todd Gilliland

2022 – Zane Smith

2023 — Zane Smith

Shipping Logistics Expert, FR8 Factory Begins Anchor Sponsorship with Boyd in Austin

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Official Release
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Mooresville, NC (March 19, 2024) – Spencer Boyd’s fourth anchor sponsor for the season, FR8 Factory will make its debut at The Circuit of the Americas on March 23, 2024. FR8 Factory, while new to Freedom Racing Enterprises, is a seasoned expert in the shipping industry handling much of the logistics for many large companies including Monster Energy across the United States.

“I grew up racing a lot of road courses in my karting days,” remarked Spencer Boyd about the upcoming race at COTA. “This track, in particular, is a great course having been purpose built for F1. I’m always excited to race there because of that awesome turn 1 and the speeds on that long back stretch. And you’ll never hear me complain about going to Austin, that city is vibrant beyond belief!”

NASCAR’s visit to The Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX will be the Craftsman Truck Series’ one and only road course race of the 2024 season.

Boyd continued, “Now that I’m a team owner, one of the things that keeps me up at night is wondering if our hauler will get to where it needs to be safely and securely. I can’t even imagine how the team over at FR8 Factory ever sleeps! We’ve got a great new truck design for them to put on the race track, not on the highways…they’ve got speed limits on the highways.”

This is the first of at least two primary races for FR8 Factory and Boyd’s Freedom Racing Enterprises No. 76 Chevrolet Silverado.

“It’s our technology that makes the difference,” said Josh Sowell, owner of FR8 Factory. “There are lot of logistics companies out there so we invested heavily in our own technology in order to differentiate ourselves and exceed our clients expectations. As far as racing goes, marketing with a NASCAR team and driver is not only a great platform to get our name out there, it is also a shared passion.”

Sowell competes in Offroad Racing, driving for SoCalX Motorsports. He recently competed in Ultra4’s King of the Hammers, the toughest one day Offroad race in the world, and finished 15th out of 127 competitors.

It is the comradery and shared purpose that racers share that makes motorsports beloved worldwide. When the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races the esteemed pavement of Circuit of the Americas on March 23, 2024 fans will be able to watch live on FS1 starting at 12:30 CT. Spencer and Josh both want you to tune in.

About FR8 Factory
Relationships are at the center of everything we do at FR8factory. Our mission is simple, we serve our clients, carriers, and partners with expertise and integrity. Our values focus on delivering what we promise and being your first choice for transportation. No matter the industry, no matter the freight, streamlining transportation management is our commitment. Visit us at FR8Factory.com.

Kyle Washington Caps GMG Racing’s Winning and Podium Weekend with Porsche Carrera Cup Third-Place Masters Class Finish Friday at Sebring

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Official Release
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Washington Completes Competitive Sebring International Raceway Career Debut with Third-Place Masters Class Finish in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup on Friday

SEBRING, Florida (March 19, 2024) – In his career debut at Sebring International Raceway, Kyle Washington capped a race-winning and podium week for GMG Racing with a third-place IMSA Porsche Carrera Cup Masters Class finish Friday in his No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Building on a top-five result in his first ever race on the legendary 3.74-mile airport road course in Thursday’s opening sprint of the Carrera Cup doubleheader, Washington ran with the leaders from the drop of the green flag in a competitive but hard-fought finale last Friday.

“It was a great start for the season,” Washington said. “I did put it off a couple of times into the dirt tonight but somehow kept it straight. GMG Racing is amazing, we’re working with a lot of the same guys we have been, and we keep refining. I like Sebring, I even like the bumps and feel ready to come back.”

Washington’s podium success followed a Pro-Am class race win by GMG Racing President and Founder and longtime team driver James Sofronas in Thursday’s opening 40-minute race at Sebring. The victory was a third-straight Carrera Cup triumph after Sofronas swept the Pro-Am class in his career Carrera Cup debut in the 2023 season-ending doubleheader at Circuit of The Americas (COTA).

Sofronas was well positioned, starting third on the grid, to build the win streak to four victories in Friday’s finale but was knocked from contention after getting caught up in an opening lap contact incident. He rebounded in the damaged No. 14 to a commendable eighth place Pro-Am finish.

“I’m a little disappointed in my race, but as soon as I heard Kyle was on the podium my mood completely changed,” Sofronas said. “I ran straight down to the podium to congratulate him. I’m just super excited about his result. For someone who has never been to Sebring, never even tested here, I’m am very proud. We came in here trying to maximize his seat time and prepare for the Sebring SRO GT World Challenge race, so for him to come out of here with a third against some really tough competition in Masters is something to be proud of. He’s putting in the extra work and working with Tom Sargent, who he will co-drive with in World Challenge. It’s all paying off. As a team owner and his teammate, I’m mega proud.”

Sofronas had a great start in Friday’s race only to have a competitor on cold tires spin right in front of him just seconds after the green flag flew.

“I checked up and then got walloped in the rear and that sent me off the track,” Sofronas said. “I pretty much went to the back, but the toe was knocked out and then I just survived to the finish.”

Washington has been competing regularly in a variety of single-make Porsche and GT racing series for the last four years, but he also enjoys desert off-road racing. Earlier this month he participated in several events that were part of the famous Mint 400, a dirt extravaganza run in the foothills just outside of Las Vegas known as “The Great American Off-Road Race.”

“Maybe it was the training at the Mint, and all of the Vegas stuff in the dirt that helped, but I actually liked the bumpy Sebring surface,” Washington said. “I felt right at home out there, and I also have a new coach with Tom Sargent. He was one of the fastest guys last year, he’s going to be a great addition and will be with me all year.”

Washington started Friday’s final race eighth on the Masters grid and 36th overall. He improved five class positions and even put several Pro-Am cars in his mirrors as he charged to the class podium result and 25th overall at the checkered flag.

Next up for GMG Racing in IMSA Carrera Cup is another doubleheader weekend at the Grand Prix of Miami Formula 1 race, May 3 – 5, at the Miami International Autodrome. Sofronas and Washington will be joined Carrera Cup debuting driver Ofir Levy for a three-car GMG Racing entry.

About GMG Racing: Founded in 2001, GMG Racing quickly established itself as North America’s premier performance tuning facility. What began as a small 1,200 sq. ft. shop, maintaining two race cars, has grown into a 30,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art performance tuning, racing and service facility located in Santa Ana, California in Orange County and with a trackside motorsports facility at 28,000 sq. ft. currently being built at The Thermal Club. The staff, attention to detail, and passion are what make GMG the choice of professionals and enthusiasts worldwide. GMG, in its early years, was located directly across the street from Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA). This close proximity allowed GMG to build a strong relationship with the legendary racing brand which has helped us support our customers to the highest level possible. From club racing to Sebring, Daytona and Spa, GMG can take you as far as you want to go. More information can be found at www.gmgracing.com.

Bass Pro Shops Racing: Martin Truex Jr. Circuit of Americas Advance

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Official Release
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Martin Truex Jr.
Circuit of Americas Advance
No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing

Event Overview

● Event: EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix (Round 6 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 24
● Location: Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas
● Layout: 3.426-mile, 20-turn road course
● Laps/Miles: 68 laps/231.88 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 15 laps / Stage 2: 15 laps / Final Stage: 38 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Truex is coming off his first top-five finish of the season with his runner-up result last weekend at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, where he led eight times for a total of 54 laps. On the season, Truex has two other top-10 finishes in the five points-paying races contested.

● Truex has one top-10 finish in his first three races at Circuit of Americas (COTA) – a seventh-place finish in 2022.

● Road-Course Ace: Truex has a total of four wins, 14 top-five finishes, and 18 top-10s at the three permanent road-course venues on the Cup Series schedule – COTA, Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, and Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. Three of those wins came at Sonoma and the other at Watkins Glen.

● Joe Gibbs Racing Dominance at Bristol: Led by Denny Hamlin’s first win of the season, all four Joe Gibbs Racing drivers had impressive outings at Bristol Sunday afternoon. In fact, JGR drivers led 383 of the 500 laps Sunday, with Hamlin pacing the field for 163 laps, Ty Gibbs leading 137 laps, Truex at the point for 54 laps, and Christopher Bell leading 29 laps. Hamlin and Truex finished first and second with the other two JGR drivers joining them in the top-10 – Gibbs ninth and Bell 10th.

● Up Front: JGR Toyota Camry XSE’s have dominated the competition in each of the last two Cup Series races with back-to-back victories. Bell won at Phoenix Raceway two weekends ago in lead-up to Hamlin’s victory Sunday at Bristol. Like Bristol, JGR drivers dominated the laps-led category at Phoenix, as well – a combined 230 of the 312 laps led. Combined with their 383 of the 500 laps led at Bristol, JGR drivers have led a whopping 613 of the 812 laps available at the last two events.

● Looking for 35: Truex’s win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon last July was his most recent Cup Series win, the 34th of his career, tying him with 2004 Cup Series champion Kurt Busch for 25th on the all-time Cup Series win list.

● Ahead at this Stage: Truex has accumulated 61 stage wins since the beginning of the stage era in 2017. He is the only driver with 10 or more stage sweeps, with his latest sweep coming at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn last August.

● With his runner-up finish at Bristol last weekend, Truex heads to COTA technically second in the driver standings with 185 points, the same point total as Kyle Larson, who occupies the top spot by virtue of his win earlier this month at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Martin Truex Jr., Driver of the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE

What are your thoughts headed to Austin this weekend based on what you had there last year, and what are you expecting for the first road course race of the year?

“COTA is a place that’s pretty fun for us, but last year we got up front there and got cleaned out, so our finish didn’t really show the effort and progress we made over the course of the weekend. I was definitely worried after practice – I was not feeling too good. Your hands are so tied to these things with these short practices. I’m looking forward to the extra track time on Saturday this weekend, even though we won’t be able to work on it after practice with anything drastic. We’ve learned so much over the last couple of years about this car and what it likes and what it doesn’t, so hoping we can come with a lot more knowledge than we had this time last year and get the car where we need it to have a shot to win and run up front all day long. Our new Camry has been strong so far this year and hoping we can continue what we’ve been doing at the road courses, as well. Looking forward to this weekend with our Bass Pro Shops Toyota team.”

What type of track causes the most chaos in the Cup Series these days?

“The obvious answer to most is the superspeedways and how things happen and how it can take out a lot of cars quickly. However, road-course restarts have become the next-craziest part of what we do. Looking back at last year, we crashed on one of the restarts with guys going five- and six-wide and guys trying to make up eight to 10 spots in one corner. I think that’s the biggest change in our sport the last few years.”

How has the level of parity changed?

“I think it has changed a lot since I’ve been here. I think the last few years with the NextGen car has been the biggest change, I would say. It has constantly evolved since I came into the sport as far as trying to tighten things up, but the NextGen car just has taken it to a new level. You are talking about everybody having the same parts and pieces, that’s never been a part of this sport. That’s definitely been the game changer.”

How has your preparation changed for this race through the years?

“It used to be we were on track a lot, practicing, and trying things with our car and changing parts and pieces, and now you go out there and kind of have what you have without a lot of practice. So, you look at a lot of analytics and studies of things that have been done, and aerodynamics and video, but it’s all kind of hands-off as far as driving the car and figuring things out that way. It’s changed a lot, for sure. This weekend, we have a bit more practice to work with at COTA, so anything we can get on track to help make our car better there, or for a future race, we’ll pore through any and all data we can to help make us better.”

No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Martin Truex Jr.

Hometown: Mayetta, New Jersey

Crew Chief: James Small

Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

Car Chief: Chris Jones

Hometown: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

Race Engineer: Jaik Halpainy

Hometown: Blockville, New York

Engineer: Jeff Curtis

Hometown: Fairfax Station, Virginia

Spotter: Drew Herring

Hometown: Benson, North Carolina

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Ryan Martin

Hometown: Mechanicsburg, Virgina

Mechanic: Todd Carmichael

Hometown: Redding, California

Interior/Tire Specialist: Tommy DiBlasi

Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Engine Tuner: Beau Morton

Hometown: Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Transporter Driver: Kyle Bazzell

Hometown: Fairbury, Illinois

Transporter Driver: Eddie DeGroot

Hometown: Baldwinsville, New York

Over-The-Wall Crew Members

Gas Man: Matt Tyrrell

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Jackman: Caleb Dirks

Hometown: Riverside, California

Tire Carrier: CJ Bailey

Hometown: Outer Banks, North Carolina

Front Tire Changer: Lee Cunningham

Hometown: Leaf River, Illinois

Rear Tire Changer: Marquill Osborne

Hometown: Cornelius, NC

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