NASCAR’s experiment with racing on a dirt surface at Bristol Motor Speedway seems to have run its course, and even some of the most ardent dirt-racing aficionados are happy to see this weekend’s Food City 500 contested on concrete.
“As much of a fan of dirt racing as I am, I have to say I’m excited to be back on the concrete at Bristol,” said Jeremy Bullins, crew chief of the No. 21 DEX Imaging Mustang Dark Horse driven by Harrison Burton.
Even when the spring races at Bristol were run on dirt in the past three seasons, the clay was removed for the night race later in the fall. Bullins plans to use his notes from last fall’s race to prepare for Sunday’s 500-lapper on the high-banked concrete short track.
“We found some speed in the middle portion of the race last fall before some steering issues caused us to have a poor finish,” he said. “I’m confident that we can build off what we learned in the fall and go have a competitive weekend with our DEX Imaging Ford.”
Practice for the Food City 500 is set for Saturday at 5 p.m. Eastern Time to be followed by qualifying at 5:50. FOX Sports 1 will carry the TV broadcast.
Sunday’s 500-lap, 266.5-mile race is expected to get the green flag just after 3:30 p.m., with TV coverage switching to FOX.
Stage breaks are planned for Laps 125 and 250.
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.
IT’S BRISTOL BABY: In 15 starts at Bristol Motor Speedway, Kyle Larson has one win (September of 2021), five top-five finishes and 10 top-10s. The 0.533-mile track is home to the second-most laps led (870) by Larson in the NASCAR Cup Series and that total is the fifth-highest among active drivers at Bristol. In his three starts with Hendrick Motorsports on the high-banked concrete oval, the Elk Grove, California, native has posted one win, a runner-up finish and a fifth-place result. Since the beginning of 2018, Larson has four top-two finishes in seven starts at Bristol. At this track, he has run the second-most laps in the top five (660) in the Next Gen car (since 2022).
LEADER OF THE PACK: Larson’s 205 laps led, two stage wins and seven playoff points accumulated through four races in 2024 are the best in the Cup Series. He is tied for first with three career stage wins at the Tennessee track.
SHORT-TRACK ACE: In the last seven Cup Series starts on short tracks, the 2021 Cup Series champion’s 5.14 average finish and two second-place finishes are best in class. During that span, Larson is tied for the most wins (two), pole positions (one), top-five finishes (five) and top-10s (six). The two wins came last season at Richmond Raceway and Martinsville Speedway. He was also victorious in last year’s All-Star Race on the short track of North Wilkesboro Speedway.
DOMINANT PERFORMANCE(S): At Las Vegas Motor Speedway earlier this month, the race marked the fifth time Larson has won for Hendrick Motorsports when leading more than 65% of the laps in an event. Based on the percentage of laps led, Larson has five of the eight most dominating wins in the Cup Series since the start of 2021.
TOP OF THE BOARD: Since joining Hendrick Motorsports at the beginning of 2021, the driver of the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet has visited victory lane a series-leading 18 times in points-paying events. Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron ranks second in that statistical category with 10. Larson also has two victories in the non-points All-Star Race within this timeframe.
CLIFF’S NOTES: No. 5 crew chief Cliff Daniels and Larson have teamed up for 17 wins since Larson joined Hendrick Motorsports in 2021 – the third-best total among active driver and crew chief pairings. Daniels and Larson have accomplished those wins in 104 races while the best active combination has posted 19 victories in 177 starts.
YOUR CAR NEEDS: Larson will drive the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this weekend. From the convenience of HENDRICKCARS.COM, customers can select the category, make, model and vehicle packages that are important to them from the nearly 30,000 new, high-quality pre-owned and certified cars, trucks and SUVs. The website also makes it easy for customers to find one of Hendrick Automotive Group’s 93 dealership locations nationwide.
WE’RE HIRING: Hendrick Automotive Group is hiring more than 300 technicians at its dealerships throughout the country. Positions are open for all skill levels and offer tuition and training reimbursement. Interested people can apply at HENDRICKCARS.COM.
9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 28 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 9th
No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
SEASON UPDATE: Through four races in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season, Chase Elliott has consistently remained inside the top 10 in the points standings. The six-time National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver Award winner sits ninth in points, just 28 markers behind the leader. Elliott and the No. 9 team have the sixth-best average running position this season (12.52) and the eighth-best average finish (15.00). They are also one of only four teams – along with Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron – to finish all four races on the lead lap.
LAST YEAR’S BATTLE: In the Cup Series’ most recent visit to Bristol Motor Speedway last September, Elliott qualified seventh and held the eighth-best average running position (10.34) in the field throughout the 500-lap race. The 28-year-old driver finished 10th in stage two before taking the checkered flag in seventh to score his seventh top-10 result at the track.
BRISTOL DEETS: Elliott will make his 14th Bristol Cup Series start on the track’s concrete surface. The 2020 premier series champion has four top-five finishes, seven top-10s and 439 laps led at “The Last Great Colosseum” – his third-most at active tracks on the Cup Series circuit, behind Martinsville Speedway (1,040) and Phoenix Raceway (546). Elliott has finished inside the top seven in four of the last six races on concrete at the 0.533-mile track, with a best effort of second coming in the fall of 2022. He also has an active streak of two consecutive top-10 finishes there, tied with two other drivers for the fourth most. In addition, Elliott has three stage wins at Bristol – tied with his teammate Kyle Larson and two others for the most among active drivers.
NO POINTS ABOUT IT: While Elliott has yet to win a points-paying race at Bristol, he and the No. 9 team captured the All-Star Race victory at this venue in 2020. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native won stages two and three before crossing the finish line first in the final stage to earn the $1 million prize. The event was the only All-Star Race held at this short track and on a Wednesday. Elliott was the third-youngest all-star winner at 24 years, five months and 17 days.
SHORT TRACK STATE OF MIND: The Bristol race marks Elliott’s 46th short-track start in the Cup Series. In his previous 45 races, he garnered one win (Martinsville in November of 2020), 14 top-five finishes, 23 top-10s, two poles and 1,574 laps led. In the Next Gen era (since 2022) on short tracks, he has the fourth-best average finish (9.78) and has scored the seventh-most points (311). Across the last eight short-track races, Elliott has six finishes inside the top 10.
AG IN TENNESSEE: Crew chief Alan Gustafson is set to call his 35th Bristol Cup Series race on Sunday. In his previous 34 starts with five different drivers – Kyle Busch, Casey Mears, Mark Martin, team vice chairman Jeff Gordon and Elliott – the Ormond Beach, Florida, native has one win (2007 with Busch), 10 top-five finishes, 18 top-10s and 1,039 laps led. In addition, he and Elliott captured the All-Star Race victory when it was held there in 2020, leading 60 of 140 laps.
FOUR TIRES FAST: Last weekend at Phoenix, the No. 9 pit crew was a force to be reckoned with. With an average four-tire stop of 10.318 seconds, the No. 9 crew ranked third on pit road in that statistical category at the 1-mile track. They gained six spots on pit road, which was tied for the third-most in the race with their teammates on the No. 48 pit crew. The five-person team is comprised of Chad Avrit (rear-tire changer), Jared Erspamer (tire carrier), John Gianninoto (fueler), Nick O’Dell (front-tire changer) and T.J. Semke (jackman).
GET UP AND GO: This weekend at Bristol, the blue and yellow colors of NAPA Auto Parts return to the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. This marks the seventh Cup Series race the Atlanta-based company has served as the primary partner for the 2020 Cup Series championship-winning team on the concrete oval. Get a look at all the angles of the 2024 scheme here.
24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 26 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 4th
No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
24 IN ’24: William Byron’s 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season is off to a strong start with a win in the prestigious DAYTONA 500 and two top-10 finishes. Through the four races this year, Byron has an average finish of 11.50 – fifth-best among drivers. The Charlotte, North Carolina, is one of only four drivers – including Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott – to finish on the lead lap of all four races this season. He sits fourth in the 2024 Cup Series points standings, just 17 points behind the leader. Byron has 11 career Cup Series wins, with 10 coming since the start of 2021 – second to teammate Kyle Larson (18).
NEXT GEN DUO: Since the Next Gen Cup Series car was introduced in 2022, Byron and crew chief Rudy Fugle have a series-leading nine wins. The duo leads teammates Larson (eight wins) and crew chief Cliff Daniels (seven wins).
SHORT-TRACK SUCCESS: Byron’s short-track success ramped up once the Next Gen car was introduced. Since the start of 2022, Byron has scored the fourth-most points (331) on short tracks and is tied for the sixth-best average finish (11.50). He also has one short-track win in the Next Gen car (Martinsville Speedway in April of 2022).
BRISTOL BULLETS: Byron will start his 10th Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend. In his nine previous starts at the 0.533-mile track, he has four top-10 finishes in the last five races. With three top-10 finishes in a row, the driver of the No. 24 Chevy is tied for the longest active top-10 streak at Bristol with two others, including his teammate Larson. In fact, in last fall’s Bristol race, Byron held an average running position of 7.33 – fifth-best in the field – before finishing ninth.
FUGLE FILES: Sunday’s race will mark crew chief Fugle’s fourth Cup Series start on the pavement at “The Last Great Colosseum.” Fugle and the No. 24 team have collected two top-five finishes (consecutive third-place finishes in ’21 and ’22) and three top-10s in those three previous starts at the sport’s highest level. He has nine additional national series starts, with seven in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Fugle has one Truck Series win at the half-mile track coming in the spring of 2013 and his drivers have collected three top-five finishes and six top-10s.
PIT ROAD PROWESS: The No. 24 pit crew has continued their success from last season. Their season-best four-tire pit stop of 9.909 seconds came this past weekend at Phoenix Raceway and they were one of only two teams to post two four-tire pit stops under 10 seconds at the 1-mile track. The crew was credited with five spots gained on pit road – tied for fifth in Sunday’s field. The No. 24 pit crew consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer), Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer), Ryan Patton (tire carrier) and Landon Walker (fueler).
LIBERTY U IS BACK: For Sunday’s race at Bristol, Byron will sport Liberty University on board his No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Featuring a white base with navy flames and red accents, the No. 24 Liberty University Chevy will be sure to stand out on track. Liberty University has a long history with Byron starting in 2014 in the late model ranks. Liberty University has been Training Champions for Christ since it was founded in 1971. Located in the mountains of Central Virginia, Liberty is a liberal arts institution with 17 colleges and schools that offers more than 600 degree programs from the certificate to the doctoral level, on campus and online. Working on an undergraduate degree in strategic communication, Byron is in his junior year at Liberty University through its online program. For a better look at Byron’s Liberty University paint scheme, click here.
48 ALEX BOWMAN
Age: 30 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Resides: Concord, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Blake Harris
Standings: 13th
No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
FAMILIAR TERRITORY: Last weekend, the No. 48 Ally Best Friends Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 ran at Alex Bowman’s home track, Phoenix Raceway. This weekend, the Ally Racing team returns to their 2024 primary scheme at Bristol Motor Speedway. The 0.533-mile Tennessee short track sported a dirt surface the past three spring races but returns to a concrete layout.
BRISTOL BACKGROUND: Bowman has 13 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Bristol’s traditional track. In those starts, he has two top-five finishes and three top-10 finishes, with a pair of fifth-place runs as his top results. The 30-year-old driver has also completed 91.8% of his 6,514 laps attempted.
CONSISTENT ON CONCRETE: Last fall at “The Last Great Colosseum,” Bowman ranked ninth (11.23) in average running position and finished the race in 13th. In that race, all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers ranked amongst the top nine in average running position.
SUCCESS AT SHORT TRACKS: Two of the Tucson, Arizona, native’s seven Cup Series wins with Hendrick Motorsports have come at short tracks. Bowman drove the No. 48 Ally Chevy to victory lane at Richmond Raceway in April of 2021 and Martinsville Speedway in October of 2021.
SPEEDY SERVICE: The No. 48 Ally Racing pit crew delivered the fastest four-tire stop among all four Hendrick Motorsports teams at Phoenix. During the stage break before the final segment of the race, the team busted out a pit stop of 9.777 seconds on lap 190. In the race, they gained six spots on pit road, tied for the third-most with their teammates on the No. 9 pit crew. The five-person crew is composed of Andrew Bridgeforth (rear-tire changer), Jacob Conley (fueler), Brandon Grier (tire carrier), Allen Holman (jackman) and Donnie Tasser (front-tire changer).
WIN A SPECIAL EDITION CHEVY: Ally and Hendrick Automotive Group have teamed together to celebrate Hendrick Motorsports’ 40th anniversary by giving away a 40th Anniversary Edition Chevrolet Camaro through the Ally “Win Your Wheels fueled by HendrickCars.com” sweepstakes. NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports and No. 48 fans can enter to win at Ally.com/sweepstakes/nascar. The sweepstakes will end on Sept. 20, 2024.
OLD FRIENDS WITH BEST FRIENDS: Bowman and Ally are supporting Best Friends Animal Society and their vast network of partners for the fourth consecutive year. Since the beginning of the 2022 season, the pair has been committed to a combined weekly donation of $4,800 to a Best Friends network partner local to each weekend’s race. The beneficiary for Bristol is Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary located in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, on the outskirts of Nashville. Senior dogs, especially those with medical problems or disabilities, face a much greater chance of euthanasia at shelters than younger dogs because it is difficult to find adopters for them due to their shorter life expectancy. Most of these wonderful senior dogs are able to live happily with a good quality of life if given a chance.
Hendrick Motorsports
2024
All-Time
Bristol
Races
4
1,349
77
Wins
2*
303*
12
Poles
0
246*
12
Top 5
3
1,235*
67*
Top 10
4
2,116*
118*
Laps Led
240
79,997*
6,404
Stage Wins
3*
101
4
*Most **Most (tie)
FABULOUS 40: In 2024, Hendrick Motorsports is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Among the categories that the Rick Hendrick-owned organization holds the NASCAR Cup Series record for are all-time wins (303), poles (246) and championships (14). With William Byron’s victory in the 2024 DAYTONA 500, the organization has won at least one race in the last 39 seasons. Kyle Larson’s win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway marks the 37th season that the team has scored at least two victories and it is the record 31st consecutive season that the team has won at least two times.
LEADERS IN THE FIELD: Entering Sunday’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports is three laps led away from 80,000 circuits out front in the sport’s top series. To date, the organization’s 79,997 laps led equals a distance of 105,321 miles. The team’s first laps led by Geoff Bodine took place in the same race he went on to win at Martinsville Speedway on April 29, 1984. Across 35 different tracks, 29 drivers have led laps in team history with vice chairman Jeff Gordon atop the board at 24,936 laps led. Click here for a look at laps led and wins by track, year and driver.
EDGE OF SEVENTEEN: The organization’s second of 10 Xfinity races will take place next weekend at Circuit of The Americas. Larson will drive the No. 17 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro and 2014 Xfinity Series champion crew chief Greg Ives will be atop the pit box. In its history, Hendrick Motorsports has 26 victories in the series and won the 2003 championship.
NO SHORTAGE: Hendrick Motorsports leads all active Cup Series teams with 57 points-paying victories on short tracks. Gordon’s 17 short-track wins lead all drivers in team history. The active driver lineup has combined for seven short-track successes: Larson (three), Alex Bowman (two), Byron (one) and Chase Elliott (one).
COLOSSEUM CLOSERS: The organization has 12 wins at “The Last Great Colosseum.” Gordon (five wins) and Jimmie Johnson (two wins) are the only drivers in team history to win multiple times at the venue. Larson, Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne, Terry Labonte and Darrell Waltrip each have one triumph for the team.
PREVIOUSLY AT BRISTOL: The last time the Cup Series visited the concrete layout of Bristol was in September of 2023. After starting last, Larson led 20 laps en route to a runner-up finish, while Elliott (seventh) and Byron (ninth) each earned top-10 results. All four of the team’s drivers were in the top nine in average running position for the race: Byron (fifth at 7.33), Larson (seventh at 8.27), Elliott (eighth at 10.34) and Bowman (ninth at 11.23).
THREE TIMES TWO: On seven occasions, a team has placed three of its drivers in the top five at Bristol. Hendrick Motorsports has achieved this twice at the track located on the Tennessee and Virginia border. The first came in September of 2021, with Larson winning, Byron finishing third and Bowman taking fifth. The second time occurred in September of 2022 when Elliott was the runner-up finisher, Byron took third again and Larson was fifth.
STREAKING THROUGH THE VALLEY: Larson and Byron are tied with one other competitor for the longest top-10 streak at Bristol with three. Elliott is tied with two others for the fourth-most consecutive top 10s at the 0.533-mile track with two.
NEXT GEN NUMBERS: The Rick Hendrick-owned team is tied for the Cup Series lead with victories on short tracks since the Next Gen car debuted in 2022. Last season, Larson won the spring races at Richmond Raceway and Martinsville. Byron triumphed at Martinsville in the spring of 2022. Larson is one of three drivers with multiple short-track wins in the Next Gen car. In the two races on the concrete Bristol layout in this generation of vehicle, Larson has scored the second-most points (86), Byron has the fourth-most markers (78) and Elliott has the sixth-most (73).
QUOTABLE /
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on having two races on the concrete surface of Bristol Motor Speedway: “I’m glad we’re back to two races on the concrete at Bristol (Motor Speedway). Even growing up on dirt, I prefer the high banks on the concrete. It’s one of the coolest places to race at and I have had a lot of success there. I’m hoping for another great result this weekend.”
Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the importance of Bristol: “It’s going to be exciting for us to head back to Bristol (Motor Speedway) and run on the concrete in the springtime again. It’s been a little while…the cooler temps are definitely going to provide a lot of speed and grip in the track. Hopefully, the weather is nice for the weekend. It’ll be great to learn a thing or two that we can apply to the fall and just work through executing a really good weekend. Kyle (Larson) loves the track, so I love Bristol and the whole team loves Bristol. In general, we’re looking forward to the weekend.”
Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on Bristol’s unique environment: “I enjoy going to Bristol (Motor Speedway) just as much today as I did 10 years ago. The racetrack is a lot of fun and it is something super different from the norm. I think the energy level that the stadium environment kind of brings to our world is just not something we see every week. I think for that reason alone, it makes it unique.”
Elliott, on the impact that attending races at Bristol had on him in his childhood: “When I was a kid, Bristol (Motor Speedway) was one of the main reasons I wanted to be a race car driver. That environment was unbelievable. I remember being a kid, going up there, watching the races and they had tickets sold out for like seven years. You couldn’t get a ticket. It was that big of a deal. I mean that’s as good as it gets.”
Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the team’s performance so far in 2024: “We’ve been competitive in each race. We’ve had opportunities. Atlanta (Motor Speedway) would be the one place that, you know, crashing on lap two certainly changed the complexion of that race. Even with that, we were able to compete and generate some opportunities. I feel like at Vegas and at Phoenix (Raceway) the same thing holds true. I hate that we haven’t capitalized on the running position or the speed of our Chevrolets, but I think there’s been some really positive things. Speed in the cars is one and the pit crew’s been really good. The team’s working well. I really like the effort, the positivity and the vibe the team has. So, you just have to trust the process. If you keep focusing on improving, the results will come.”
William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on returning to the concrete surface for the spring race at Bristol: “I’m excited to get back to racing on the concrete track in the spring. The dirt was cool, but I think it had its time. The concrete track always puts on a good race, and selfishly, we run better on the concrete. We have a good notebook setup-wise for the concrete track, but we’ll have to do some tweaking to it since we will be racing more in the day compared to the night race like the last few years. We’ve had a couple of weeks where we haven’t gotten the results we wanted, but I think this will be a good track for us to turn it around.”
Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the challenges of racing at Bristol: “I really look forward to racing at Bristol (Motor Speedway). You see a lot of two-wide and sometimes even three-wide racing and it brings a lot of challenges. It’s 500 laps around that place, which is just super tough for crew chiefs and teams to keep the car dialed in the whole time. We also haven’t raced in the daytime there in a few years, so that will change setups some as well. While the night race is a crown jewel, any time you can drive up on top of the media center and get a sword, it’s just special. I’m hoping we can do just that.”
Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Bristol: “I think this weekend may play out similar to the fall race even though it’s not a playoff race. It’s going to be exciting; Bristol (Motor Speedway) always is that. I’m looking forward to it. It would be an awesome place to win and hopefully, we can make that happen.”
Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the team’s outlook for Bristol: “The fall race at Bristol (Motor Speedway) was pretty strong for the No. 48 Ally team. We had a top-10 run going and sat in the sixth to eighth position most of the day. (We) didn’t have the speed to get in the top five. Track position is super important, so we need to go qualify well and I think we have pretty good baselines. A couple of teammates ran really well in that race and we were just outside the top five ourselves. With a few tweaks off of our notes, I feel good about where we are going.”
Proceeds from Laps for Charity, Live Auction and Fan Assistance Golf Cart Rides will benefit children in need in the Austin, Texas area through Speedway Children’s Charities.
Advanced registration is encouraged for Laps for Charity.
AUSTIN, Texas (March 14, 2024) – For the third year, Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC), the official charity of Speedway Motorsports, will encourage race fans to make a difference in the lives of Austin-area children while providing more fun ways to enjoy the March 22-24 NASCAR weekend at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) with their friends and family.
“NASCAR at COTA fans have been so generous the past two years allowing us to grant $40,000 to local children,” said Speedway Children’s Charities Texas Chapter Executive Director Marissa Chaney. “We are excited to bring these fundraising opportunities to Circuit of The Americas next weekend, allowing race fans to enhance their NASCAR experience while raising more money for Austin kids in need.”
Fans attending NASCAR at COTA can take part in any of the following events to benefit children in need in the Austin, Texas community:
Laps for Charity | Friday, March 22 from 8-10 a.m.
Enjoy the thrilling once-in-a-lifetime experience of driving your personal vehicle around the 20 turns that make up Circuit of The Americas! You and your passengers will experience the world-class circuit from behind the official COTA pace car.
Don’t miss your chance to bid on unique experiences and autographed memorabilia at the Live Auction, hosted by Jose Castillo with a special appearance from NASCAR Cup Series driver Corey LaJoie during the THOR Family of Companies Camper Appreciation Party in Lot N! Auction items include:
Meet-and-Greet with Multi-Platinum Country Music Superstar Riley Green
NASCAR VIP Passes
Cowboy Hat Autographed by Diamond-Certified Country Music Star Darius Rucker
Fan Assistance Golf Cart Rides | Friday, March 22 – Sunday, March 24
SCC will be accepting donations on all Fan Assistance Golf Carts during NASCAR at COTA. Fan Assistance Golf Carts will be running from 1-7 p.m. Friday, from 8 a.m. to one hour post-race Saturday and from 9 a.m. to one hour post-race Sunday.
More information: SpeedwayCharities.org/Events/#COTA
Funds raised from these events will be distributed in the form of grants to local organizations that focus on children’s services in the greater Austin area. Earlier this year, SCC distributed $25,000 to Dell Children’s Hospital’s Mental Health Family Fund. The grant resulted from fundraising efforts during the 2023 NASCAR at COTA event.
Fans can purchase tickets and camping for the 2024 NASCAR at COTA weekend by visiting NASCARatCOTA.com. Three-day weekend packages start at $79 for adults and just $10 for kids 12 and under. Further details can be found on the NASCAR at COTA website.
Follow Us:
Keep track of all things NASCAR at COTA by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@NASCARatCOTA). Keep up with all the latest information on the NASCAR at COTA website and mobile app.
About Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC)
The mission of Speedway Children’s Charities is to care for children with educational, financial, social and medical needs to help them lead productive lives. Founded by Bruton Smith in 1982, Speedway Children’s Charities is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing funding for hundreds of non-profit organizations that meet the direct needs of children. Speedway Children’s Charities has distributed more than $69 million in grants. The goal is to ensure that every child in need be given the tools to build a better, brighter and healthier future.
Green Flag Flies on Ticket Renewals for the 2024 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto; Public Ticket Sales Begin April 5
TORONTO (March 14, 2024) – The Ontario Honda Dealers has been announced as the new title sponsor of the annual race weekend in downtown Toronto. Headlined by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto is the new name of the iconic event set for July 19-21, 2024, previously known as Honda Indy Toronto.
Starting immediately for the 2024 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto, returning ticket holders who purchased 2-Day Grandstand seats for the 2023 event will have the opportunity to secure their same seats through Monday, April 1 at 5 p.m. ET. All customers who renew their seats will receive free complimentary paddock access and have the chance to upgrade or adjust their seating location on Tuesday, April 2. General public sales will begin on Friday, April 5 at 10 a.m. ET.
The Ontario Honda Dealers has served as a premier partner for many years, notably supporting Your Ontario Honda Dealers Present Fan Friday, which annually grants spectators free general admission to the festival grounds on Friday with a voluntary charitable donation. With additional backing from the Honda Canada Foundation, this fan event has raised over $1 million since its inception in 2010.
“The Ontario Honda Dealers are excited to become an even bigger part of this Toronto tradition which spans nearly four decades,” said Chris Gauthier, president of the Ontario Honda Dealers Association. “We are grateful for the opportunity to continue to help grow and expand this landmark event for the province and we can’t wait for July to see all the great fans and race cars at Exhibition Place!”
Ontario Honda Dealers becomes the title sponsor of this legendary Toronto event which dates back to 1986 running at Exhibition Place. Honda Canada Inc. served as title sponsor 2009-2023.
“Honda Canada has been the proud title sponsor of the Honda Indy Toronto since 2009. The Toronto Indy has embodied the spirit of Honda’s racing pedigree and has allowed us the opportunity to engage closely with our associates, dealers, customers and their families,” said Dave Jamieson, senior vice president sales and marketing and chief operating officer of Honda Canada. “We are very proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and we will continue to cheer on our Ontario Honda Dealers with the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto, Honda racing teams and their drivers as they hit the streets of Toronto in 2024!”
“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with the Ontario Honda Dealers taking the title sponsor role. The organization’s ongoing support of Your Honda Ontario Dealers Present Fan Friday has been instrumental in transforming the event experience into a family-friendly festival,” said Jeff Atkinson, president of Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto. “We also want to thank Honda Canada for 15 years of tremendous support. This event would not be where it is today without Honda Canada, and we look forward to building on that success with the Ontario Honda Dealers into the future.”
The 2024 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto will add to a rich tradition dating back to the inaugural Molson Indy Toronto won by Bobby Rahal in 1986. With 37 races run over the past 35 race weekends, the event is INDYCAR’S second-longest running street race behind the Grand Prix of Long Beach. Michael Andretti holds the event record as a seven-time winner followed by six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon with four wins on the streets of Toronto, most recently in 2022. Christian Lundgaard of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing will be the defending winner in 2024 after taking the checkered flag in Toronto last year, notching his first career IndyCar win.
The 2024 race weekend will again see the stars and cars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES take on the 2.874-kilometre (1.786-mile), 11-turn temporary circuit on the streets surrounding Exhibition Place. Exciting sports car action from Sports Car Championship presented by Michelin and Emzone Radical Cup Canada presented by Michelin will add to the schedule. The Radical race will again feature a race-within-race format with the Blue Marble Radical Cup North America series. The next generation of open-wheel stars from USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire and USF2000 Presented by Continental Tire will also compete. Off track, fans can enjoy numerous interactive displays and diverse food and beverage options.
A downloadable logo kit is available for the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto on the Media page of hondaindy.com. Find event updates throughout the year at hondaindy.com or by following Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto on social media using #indyTO.
About Ontario Honda Dealers Association:
The Ontario Honda Dealers Association, which was founded in 1989, represents 82 Honda dealers in communities throughout Ontario, which is also home to the Honda of Canada Mfg. assembly plans that produce Civic and CR-V models. Honda dealerships in Ontario, which have a proven track record for providing maximum customer satisfaction, employ over 3,000 associates.
About Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto:
Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto is a world-class motorsports festival which takes place annually on a 2.874-kilometre (1.786-mile), 11-turn temporary circuit using the streets surrounding Exhibition Place near Lake Ontario in downtown Toronto. The event features many attractions, food trucks, interactive displays and activities, and supports local charities. Your Ontario Honda Dealers Present Honda Fan Friday offers general admission courtesy of the Ontario Honda Dealers Association through a voluntary donation. Since 2010, event fundraising has raised over $1 million for charity. As one of Ontario’s largest annual sporting events with the first race held in 1986 first known as the Molson Indy, it has become a prestigious meeting place for some of the world’s fastest race car drivers including past NTT INDYCAR SERIES champions like Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud and Will Power as well as Canadian racing greats Scott Goodyear, James Hinchcliffe, Greg Moore, Alex Tagliani, Paul Tracy, Jacques Villeneuve, Robert Wickens and more. Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto is owned and operated by Green Savoree Toronto, ULC, whose affiliates also promote three additional INDYCAR SERIES races: Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding (March 8-10, 2024), The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2025 Civic Hybrid (July 5-7, 2024) and BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland (Aug. 23-25, 2024).
For more information, visit hondaindy.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page @IndyToronto or follow the event on Twitter @HondaIndy and Instagram @HondaIndy using #indyTO.
Limited number of printed copies available at the track on race weekend while supplies lasts
BRISTOL, Tenn. (March 14, 2024) – To help race fans enjoy this weekend’s Food City 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, track officials are making the 64-page commemorative souvenir program available for free in both printed and digital formats.
The souvenir program will once again be available in the reformatted Broadway Play “Playbill” style size that is more convenient for fans to carry the program with them while they are at the track. A limited number of printed programs will be available to guests to pick up at a variety of locations on property during the event, including at BMS Guest Services locations, BMS souvenir stands, BMS operated camp grounds and BMS ticket booths, while supplies last.
The program features a special cover tribute design for the throwback theme around the Food City 500 weekend, as well as a tease to the retro red and white walls that fans will see inside the stadium for the first time since 1995.
The program also includes the weekend schedule, a Speed Reading section with lots of track news and information, driver rosters and hero pages for the Cup and Craftsman Truck Series teams, a story previewing each race of the weekend, track history, track stats and a track map.
To access the free digital version, please visit the Bristol Motor Speedway website or be on the lookout for email messages from Speedway team members as well as invitations to download the program on any one of the BMS social media channels. You can access the digital version by clicking this link.
The 2024 commemorative Food City 500 souvenir program was designed by Learfield-IMG College Publishing in Lexington, Ky.
The Bristol race weekend will feature action in the NASCAR Cup Series with the tradition-rich Food City 500 on Sunday afternoon, March 17 (3:30 p.m., FOX and PRN Radio) with current champ Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Daytona 500 winner William Byron, Joey Logano, Atlanta winner Daniel Suarez, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin leading the way.
Saturday afternoon’s (March 16) Bush’s Beans Practice and Bush’s Beans Qualifying for both the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will set the starting lineups for each race and precede Saturday night’s WEATHER GUARD® Truck Race. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series stars Ben Rhodes, Grant Enfinger, Nick Sanchez, Las Vegas winner Rajah Caruth, Corey Heim, Ty Dillon and Christian Eckes, among others, are scheduled to take the green flag at 8 p.m. ET for the 250-lap thriller (FS1, MRN Radio).
To purchase tickets for the Food City 500 or the WEATHER GUARD® Truck Race, please visit the BMS website, or call the BMS Ticket Sales Center at (866) 415-4158.
About Bristol Motor Speedway Forged amid the scenic mountains of Northeast Tennessee near the Virginia state line, Bristol Motor Speedway is The Last Great Colosseum, a versatile multi-use venue that hosts major auto races, football games, concerts and many other captivating events. The facility features a 0.533-mile concrete oval race track with 28-degree corner banking and 650-feet straightaways that offers racing in several NASCAR touring series, highlighted by two major Cup Series weekends each year. In 2020, the track also served as host of the prestigious NASCAR All-Star Race, and from 2021-2023 converted to a temporary dirt track each spring to take the Cup Series back to its racing roots. While at the track, fans are offered a unique viewing experience courtesy of Colossus TV, the world’s largest outdoor center-hung four-sided video screen with a 540,000-watt audio system. The adjacent quarter-mile dragstrip, Bristol Dragway, offers more than 50 events annually, including the marquee NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. The Thunder Valley Amphitheatre presented by Ballad Health transforms Bristol Dragway into a premier outdoor concert venue for the world’s greatest music performers. Three football games have kicked-off inside the oval, most notably the 2016 Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol, where border rivals the University of Tennessee and Virginia Tech met before an NCAA-record crowd of 156,990. In existence since 1961, Bristol Motor Speedway was purchased in 1996 by Speedway Motorsports, a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States.
Becomes Team’s Official Performance Workwear, Apparel and Uniform Provider
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (March 14, 2024) –TRUEWERK, the direct-to-consumer performance workwear brand, has partnered with Stewart-Haas Racing, the championship-winning NASCAR team co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart and Haas Automation founder Gene Haas.
TRUEWERK is outfitting Stewart-Haas from head to toe, with team members wearing the company’s high-performance gear at the track, in the gym and in the office as the official performance workwear, apparel and uniform provider for Stewart-Haas.
TRUEWERK engineers the world’s highest-performance workwear and the company collaborated with Stewart-Haas to develop an all-new apparel collection, combining proven performers, such as the T1 WerkPants, redesigned classics like hoodies and polos, along with a new-to-market selection, specifically its S1 StormShell rain gear that saw action in the season-opening Daytona 500, which was postponed a day to due to rain.
“We’re proud to partner with Stewart-Haas Racing and outfit its team members in our most technically advanced uniform program to date,” said Brian Ciciora, founder and CEO, TRUEWERK. “Stewart-Haas is built from the same DNA as the TRUEWERK community – obsessed with innovation, progression and performance in everything we do. We’re thrilled to be a part of Stewart-Haas for years to come and to help them perform at the highest level.”
Stewart-Haas was in need of an apparel partner that could furnish superior workwear able to withstand the rigors its crew members endure while simultaneously providing comfort in a variety of weather conditions, all with a sharp and consistent style. For Stewart-Haas driver Ryan Preece, TRUEWERK successfully delivered the trifecta of function, comfort and style.
“From the moment I got all my TRUEWERK gear, I threw out all the other stuff I had because there was absolutely no comparison,” said Preece, who wheels the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the NASCAR Cup Series. “I’m in their T1 WerkPants everyday – at the shop and at the track. Their T-shirts, polos, half-zips, hoodies, jackets – I’ve got them all and I wear them all. When you see me at the track, you’ll see me decked out in TRUEWERK.”
TRUEWERK will be decked out on Preece’s No. 41 Ford Mustang during the Coke Zero Sugar 400 Aug. 24 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. The penultimate race of the NASCAR Cup Series’ regular season will serve as TRUEWERK’s debut as a primary sponsor, with the No. 41 TRUEWERK Ford Mustang getting prime-time exposure on NBC when the race goes green at 7:30 p.m. EDT.
“Ryan Preece embodies the ethic, teamwork and commitment to excellence that’s synonymous with the TRUEWERK community,” Ciciora said. “A mechanic at heart, Ryan understands that a crew’s skill, judgment and the honed execution creates speed on the track, just as much as driving performance. It’s his commitment to the entire program that makes us so proud to be a part of Stewart-Haas.”
Beyond the sponsorship of Preece’s No. 41 Ford, TRUEWERK secured naming rights for Stewart-Haas’ state-of-the-art campus training facility, known now as the TRUEWERK Performance Center.
NASCAR fans and industry personnel who want to experience the function, comfort and style of TRUEWERK can do so directly at TRUEWERK.com.
About TRUEWERK:
TRUEWERK, based in Colorado, is reimagining life and work in the trades by engineering the world’s most technically-advanced, high-performance workwear. Today’s trade professionals rely on workwear that keeps them safe, comfortable and capable of working at their best. By innovating technical fabrics that provide unmatched performance in hot weather or layer together in cold and inclement weather, TRUEWERK is proud to support the men and women across the trades who build tomorrow. TRUEWERK services customers in the U.S. and Canada on TRUEWERK.com and Amazon, and outfits businesses via its enterprise uniform program.
About Stewart-Haas Racing:
Stewart-Haas Racing is the title-winning NASCAR team co-owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation – the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America. The Kannapolis, North Carolina-based organization has won two NASCAR Cup Series titles, two NASCAR Xfinity Series championships and more than 100 NASCAR races, including such crown-jewel events as the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500. For more information, please visit us online at StewartHaasRacing.com and on social at Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.
Co-Drivers Shehan Chandrasoma and Nikko Reger Return For Second Season in Pro-Am with TPC Racing Aiming to Repeat Vallelunga Win
SEBRING, Florida (March 13, 2024) – TPC Racing co-drivers Shehan Chandrasoma and Nikko Reger return to Lamborghini Super Trofeo action this week to begin the hunt for the 2024 Pro-Am championship in the single-make series, March 13 – 15.
Chandrasoma’s and Reger’s last appearance in the famously gold-liveried Lamborghini Austin Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2 saw a victory in the World Finals last November at Autodromo Vallelunga in Italy. The duo hope that momentum carries over to the 2024 season-opening doubleheader at Sebring International Raceway, the first two of 12 races on the schedule.
The first green flag of the 2024 season is Thursday evening at 5:55 p.m. EDT for a 50-minute race, followed by the second of the week at 6:05 p.m. EDT on Friday. Both races can be seen live on IMSA.tv and for subscribers of the Peacock streaming network.
TPC Racing and their pair of drivers ended the 2023 season on a high note beyond just the World Finals victory. In addition to the team’s first-ever victory in international sports car racing competition, and the maiden win for Chandrasoma and Reger with the team, the gold medal capped a run of four-consecutive podium finishes. In addition to the win, the team also placed second in the previous race at Vallelunga, in what was officially the finale for the North American championship, and had previously secured a pair of podium finishes at Indianapolis Motor Speedway stateside before heading overseas.
The late surge enabled Chandrasoma to secure third in the final Pro-Am season standings, just one point behind the runner-up.
Though the No. 21 Lamborghini Austin Lamborghini Huracan for Chandrasoma and Reger will be a single-car effort at Sebring, TPC Racing will be joined later in the year for a partial season by Christopher Tasca in the Fly Alliance Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO. Tasca will drive solo in the LB Cup class.
The 2024 opener is the first visit for Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America to Sebring International Raceway since the pandemic-shuffled 2020 schedule. TPC Racing nearly swept the podium at each of those events, with Scott Schmidt and co-driver Trevor Andrusko scoring a second-place finish ahead of TPC Racing teammates Tom Kerr and Moritz Kranz in the opener, and the two cars swapping positions in the second race of that event.
Sebring’s unique schedule, where Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America runs in conjunction with IMSA’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, began today with a pair of practice sessions. Qualifying begins at 11:55 a.m. on Thursday, March 14, followed by the 5:55 p.m. green flag later that evening and Friday’s 6:05 p.m. start.
Harris Levitas, TPC Racing Director of Race Operations: “The TPC Racing team is thrilled to be back in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo paddock, working with the team at Lamborghini Squadra Corse and with IMSA. We’re happy to have Shehan and Nikko back for a full season run at the championship. Lamborghini Austin has been a great supporter of our program that we’ve put together with the Chandrasoma family, and we’re really looking forward to what we have in mind for some really cool events. It’ll be even more exciting when Christopher joins us later this year in his Fly Alliance Lamborghini. We’re really looking forward to being out there for our fourth season in the paddock.”
Nikko Reger, Driver, No. 21 Lamborghini Huracan: “2024 is going to be an incredible season! we have some of the best tracks in the world on the schedule, so I can’t wait to get rolling off in Sebring. We had some tough moments last year but ended the season on a high with our first win in Pro-Am. I’m hoping to capitalize on that, keep digging hard, and fight for the championship this year.”
About TPC Racing: TPC Racing is the Mid-Atlantic’s premier maintenance, service, tuning and modification center dedicated solely to Porsche sportscars. TPC Racing specializes in R&D and sales of high-performance modifications for Porsche sports cars and race cars, offering a wide range of vehicle upgrades. Best known for a line of forced induction solutions for the Porsche 911, Cayman and Boxster, a long-time focus on only one make, Porsche, has enabled TPC Racing to become experts in Porsche service, tuning, and racing. In 2000, TPC Racing began entering races under its own banner, scoring an SGS-class Championship in 2004 in the Grand-American Rolex Series and was a class winner in the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona, and captured the 2013 and 2016 IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA Gold Cup Championships. More information can be found at www.TPCRacing.com.
William Byron works in the new asphalt as part of a Goodyear Tire Test on Wednesday at North Wilkesboro Speedway ahead of the May 19 NASCAR All-Star Race. (NWS/HHP photo)
NASCAR Cup Series drivers Joey Logano, William Byron and Ty Gibbs participated in a Goodyear Tire Test on Wednesday at North Wilkesboro Speedway, in preparation for the NASCAR All-Star Race on Sunday, May 19
Last November, Speedway Motorsports completed the first resurfacing of the historic 0.625-mile track since 1981
NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (March 13, 2024) – Joey Logano, William Byron and Ty Gibbs got a look at the brand new asphalt on North Wilkesboro Speedway Wednesday, as they participated in a Goodyear Tire Test leading into the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 19.
Logano’s No. 22 Team Penske Ford, Byron’s No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and Gibbs’ No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota shook down the 0.625-mile track and tried different tire compounds to test tire wear and grip around Wilkesboro’s fresh, new surface.
Completed last November, the resurfacing process included milling approximately two inches of the old track, repairing failing spots, sealing and adding a specially designed asphalt mixture in the same configuration as the original track, including the 13 degrees of banking in the corners. Similar to the process used for the most recent Atlanta Motor Speedway repave, Speedway Motorsports used a special mix that is expected to age faster than traditional asphalt, creating a more “worn-in” surface more quickly. Carl Rose & Sons Asphalt, the original paving contractor for North Wilkesboro Speedway, supplied nearly 2,000 tons of specialty asphalt for the project, while North Carolina-based Delta Contracting managed the milling process. Summers Taylor, a contractor from nearby Johnson City, Tennessee, used a process called echelon paving to lay a seamless surface across the roughly 50-foot-wide track.
Select quotes from today’s test:
JOEY LOGANO, NO. 22 TEAM PENSKE FORD: “They did a good job, there’s still some character, it’s still a unique shaped race track, which is all good. There’s a pretty big bump down in turn one, I think where the wall was out too long and they cut it, and it’s kind of an interesting area. There’s a huge bump leaving four, which really kind of upsets the cars. I don’t think that’s bad. I’m OK with that. That’s something that made this racetrack so cool in the past, was that it had a lot of character, it was bumpy, you were forced to move around on it because it was challenging. You can make the thing like glass, I don’t know if that really makes the racing better. I think the fact that it’s got a couple of bumps and some areas where your drivers can make mistakes and jump out of the groove and do different things is just going to promote passing so that’s a good thing.”
“I mean this place is cool. I remember coming here, I guess it was five or six years ago, when it was shut down and we shot a couple videos here and it was a ghost town. Graffiti everywhere, there was weeds growing through the race track. It was crazy. It was like the world ended and nobody had been here since the last race. You walked in the infield care center, which was… right here, there were stretchers in here still. It was kind of creepy. It was kind of crazy to see all that and what Marcus and SMI have done I think to restore the race track, but keep the feel, they did a tremendous job. I know they had to repave, I think every driver doesn’t ever want to see a repave, but it was coming apart. You got to do something, we patched it, we got through last year. I don’t think you can get lucky that many times before you just got to bite the bullet and do it. I do think when you come up here it’s just a, I don’t know, it’s a different vibe than any other race track you go to. When you pull up to it, it’s just cool, and where you’re at, you’re in the mountains, and it’s a unique facility. I think last year the fans showed up and appreciated it and thought it was really cool and I would expect this year you’re probably going to have a similar crowd and hopefully we’re able to deliver again and keep that hype.”
WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET: “We just needed to work on the balance and grip of our car and I felt like the track probably was coming in as well, even though the trucks were out there (yesterday), the different rubber that we have probably took a little bit to transition for our cars. And then just started doing those tire runs and felt pretty good about our car and thought we made some improvements through probably the middle of the day, eleven-thirty to one, and then just kind of stuck with that. Made a lot of progress through the afternoon so I thought it was probably one of our best test days of just progress and being able to just get to a spot where I felt like we were a lot better than where we started.”
“I would say that if it was a mile-and-a-half track, I think it being a short track it would probably be a lot like Richmond was when they repaved it, so I don’t know, I vividly have seen some of those races and I feel like it was pretty treacherous, a lot of guys would get in crashes or there would be a lot of restart wrecks, so I think the racing could actually be pretty exciting with a repave on a short track, but yeah you won’t have the style of comers and goers I don’t think. The guys who are up toward the front will be racing hard and there’s probably just going to be more wrecks.”
“I’ll be here, I’m excited. I’m excited that we’re in the race. You never take that for granted, right? You have to win to be in this race. As a driver that’s one of the first things that comes to mind when you win the first race of the year, is ‘great, you know, I’m in the All-Star Race.’ It’s an honor to be in the race and is something you want to win. It’s a big, it’s not a crown jewel, but it’s a big race to have on your resume.”
TY GIBBS, NO. 54 JOE GIBBS RACING TOYOTA: “The track is definitely a lot different with the repave, but I feel like they did a really great job with the repave. I’ve been to a lot of repaves and this is probably one of the best ones I’ve been to. And the way that they did it, they did a really great job. Just normal stuff for when we first come in here with the new repaves. It’s kind of a one-lane groove until it gets worn in. Testing, it’s really hard to get a good race feel for it, but I know that it’s gonna be pretty cool and we’ll see what happens.”
“For sure, it definitely has taken some rubber. You can visually go out there and look at it, right? You can look at how different the line looks. It’s definitely a lot better, I don’t know a lot better, I’m fine with racing the old way or the new way. You just look at the track, and you can just look at it. It’s not all, it doesn’t look like a puzzle. There are some tracks on the schedule that they did repaves at, that it just looks like a mess out there. They did such a great job here. Kudos to them.”
“It’s really cool, of course, I wasn’t really alive when this place was rolling, rolling steam, so it’s cool to come back and check it out. I came here probably 2017 when it didn’t have anything going on so to see how much it has progressed is really cool. They did a great job with this track. It’s cool to be racing here, I really respect it and it’s cool.”
NASCAR All-Star Race week will include five days or nights of entertainment at North Wilkesboro Speedway including:
Tuesday, May 14: zMAX CARS Tour
Wednesday, May 15: zMAX CARS Tour
Friday, May 17: All-Star Friday presented by Raymer Oil NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck and Cup Series practice; the NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge presented by Mechanix Wear; Neal McCoy concert
Saturday, May 18: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series qualifying and Wright Brand 250; NASCAR Cup Series qualifying heat races
Sunday, May 19: Warren Zeiders pre-race concert; NASCAR All-Star Open and NASCAR All-Star Race
Schedules are tentative and subject to change. Specific on-track schedules will be released at a later date.
TICKETS: Ticket packages can be purchased online by visiting www.NorthWilkesboroSpeedway.com. Fans who purchase a five-day, NASCAR All-Star Race week ticket package including all NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and zMAX CARS Tour races, qualifying and practice sessions plus Neal McCoy and Warren Zeiders concerts and the NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge presented by Mechanix Wear before April 1 will receive a free, limited edition 1/24-scale Dale Earnhardt Jr. No. 3 zMAX CARS Tour diecast.
MORE INFO: Fans can connect with North Wilkesboro Speedway and get the latest news regarding NASCAR All-Star week and North Wilkesboro Speedway by following on X and Instagram or becoming a Facebook fan.
Being involved in a road accident, especially one involving a truck, can be an overwhelming and traumatic experience. It is crucial not only for your well-being but also for any future legal proceedings, to know what steps to take immediately following an incident. This guide aims to outline essential actions you should consider to protect yourself physically, legally, and financially after a truck-related road crash. By understanding your rights and responsibilities, you can ensure a smoother recovery process and safeguard your interests.
Safety First
Before anything else, prioritize your safety and the safety of others involved and if you are able to, move to a safe location away from traffic to prevent further accidents. It’s also essential to check if anyone is injured and requires immediate medical attention. Calling for emergency services should be your first step if there are any injuries, no matter how minor they may seem. This not only ensures everyone’s safety but also officially documents the incident, which can be crucial for insurance and legal purposes.
Remember, shock can mask injury symptoms, so even if you feel fine, it’s wise to seek medical attention as soon as possible after the accident. Getting a thorough medical examination will provide a record of your condition following the crash, which is invaluable for insurance claims and potential legal actions.
Consult with a Legal Expert
Considering the complexity of truck-related accidents and the potential for significant legal and financial ramifications, consulting with an attorney who specializes in this area can be a wise decision. They can provide guidance on your rights and the best course of action, whether it’s negotiating with insurance companies or pursuing legal claims for damages. A qualified lawyer will also help you understand the intricacies of the law, including deadlines for filing claims (statute of limitations) and how comparative negligence might affect your case.
This step is not about immediately launching into a lawsuit, but ensuring that you are fully informed and protected throughout the recovery and claim process. Also, a truck accident attorney can handle negotiations and communications with insurance companies, taking some of the stress and burden off of you. Keep in mind, that most attorneys offer free consultations, so it’s worth taking advantage of this resource.
Document the Scene
In the digital age, most of us carry smartphones that can serve as powerful tools for documenting accident scenes. Take clear photos and videos of the vehicles, any visible damages, the surrounding area, and relevant road signs or signals. This visual evidence can be pivotal when filing insurance claims or during legal proceedings.
Additionally, if there are any witnesses, gently ask for their contact information. Independent accounts of the incident can significantly bolster your case in disputes. Remember to also exchange information with the truck driver, including names, contact details, insurance information, and license numbers, but refrain from discussing fault or liability at the scene.
Notify the Authorities
Even if it seems minor, it is crucial to report the accident to the police. The official report from the authorities serves as an essential document when dealing with insurance companies and legal matters. The police will document the scene, take statements, and help determine who is at fault based on the evidence and witness accounts.
Do not leave the scene before the police arrive, and make sure to get a copy of the report for your records. This document will include the officer’s observations and may contain information about potential violations of law, which could substantially impact your case.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Informing your insurance company about the accident as soon as possible is crucial. Provide them with all the gathered information without admitting fault or making definitive statements about the accident. Your insurer will guide you through the process of filing a claim and can advise on whether you should contact the truck driver’s insurance company directly or if they will handle communications on your behalf.
Be honest and factual about the events. Misrepresentation can lead to the denial of your claim. Keep detailed records of all conversations and correspondences with your insurance, including dates, names, and what was discussed.
In conclusion, navigating the aftermath of a truck-related road crash can be daunting, but taking the right steps can significantly impact your physical, legal, and financial recovery. Prioritize your safety, seek medical attention, consult with a legal expert, diligently document the scene, and communicate effectively with the authorities and your insurance company.
By following this guide, you can protect your rights and interests, ensuring a more favorable outcome. Remember, you’re not alone in this process, and there are resources and professionals ready to assist you every step of the way.
TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, Tennessee March 16-17, 2024
BRISTOL DOUBLEHEADER
After a three-year stint on dirt, Bristol Motor Speedway will return to its traditional concrete surface for the track’s spring event as the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) will hit the track’s famed half-mile high banks for a doubleheader race weekend. This weekend will mark the first of two appearances for both series at Bristol Motor Speedway, with all three NASCAR national series returning to “The Last Great Colosseum” for the annual night race tripleheader in September.
Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway:
Sunday’s Food City 500 will mark the NCS’ 124th appearance on Bristol Motor Speedway’s concrete configuration. Chevrolet has earned a winning percentage of 37.4 percent in NASCAR’s top division at the Tennessee half-mile with a series-leading 46 victories. Charlie Glotzbach recorded Chevrolet’s first win at Bristol – and the first for the Monte Carlo – in July 1971, which started a run of seven consecutive victories at the track for the Bowtie brand. Kyle Larson is credited with Chevrolet’s most recent NCS triumph at the track (Sept. 2021) – a victory that took the Team Chevy driver one step closer to his first career championship title.
The NCTS made its debut at Bristol Motor Speedway in June 1995, with Saturday’s Weather Guard Truck Race marking the series’ 27th race at the Tennessee half-mile. Rick Carelli drove Chevrolet to its first NCTS victory at the track in June 1996, with Team Chevy’s Sam Mayer earning the manufacturer its 10th – and most recent – NCTS triumph in September 2020.
LARSON’S STRETCH OF SHORT-TRACK SUCCESS
Team Chevy’s Kyle Larson is undoubtedly a favorite heading into the Bristol Motor Speedway race weekend. The former series champion put on a stellar performance on the series’ short-tracks last season. In six points-paying races on tracks measuring less than one-mile, Larson finished no worse than sixth in four of those events – including two victories (Richmond and Martinsville) and a runner-up finish at the Bristol night race. In addition, the 31-year-old California native posted a near dominate weekend in NASCAR’s return to North Wilkesboro Speedway – collecting the victories in both the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event.
Larson’s one career NCS win at Bristol Motor Speedway came in September 2021. The victory was the start of an impressive stretch of success for the Hendrick Motorsports driver at the Tennessee half-mile, with Larson becoming the only driver to tally a top-five result in each of the series’ last three events on the track’s concrete configuration.
REMEMBERING A MILESTONE
On March 25, 2007, Kyle Busch drove Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports to a history-making victory at Bristol Motor Speedway. In a side-by-side overtime finish, Busch edged out Jeff Burton at the line by a mere 0.064-seconds to take the win – a record that still stands as the closest margin of victory in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol. The win was a milestone feat for both Chevrolet and car owner Rick Hendrick – marking the manufacturer’s 600th all-time NCS win and 200th overall win for Hendrick.
Making it even more special, the victory came in the competition debut of NASCAR’s fifth-generation race car – also known as the “Car of Tomorrow”. The new-generation race car marked the return of the Impala SS to NASCAR competition, with the legendary nameplate previously competing in the series from 1959 to 1964. Throughout its time on the track in NASCAR’s top division, the Impala/Impala SS collected 152 victories before retiring from competition following the 2012 season.
BUSCH BY THE NUMBERS AT BRISTOL
Kyle Busch’s storied NASCAR career has seen much success at Bristol Motor Speedway. In 34 NCS starts at the Tennessee half-mile, Busch has tallied a series-leading eight victories – more than double the next active driver, Brad Keselowski, with three. The 38-year-old Nevada native also leads the series’ active drivers in runner-up finishes (four), top-fives (14), top-10s (19) and laps led (2,593).
One of his most notable achievements in the NASCAR national ranks also came at “The Last Great Colosseum”. To date, Busch is the only driver in NASCAR history to win all three national series races in a single weekend – a feat he accomplished on two separate occasions at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2010 and 2017.
Busch will also be making his third NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start of the season at Bristol Motor Speedway – returning to the seat of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Silverado RST. The winningest driver in series’ history, Busch has recorded five of his 65 all-time NCTS victories at the Tennessee short-track.
NCTS BACK ON-TRACK; SILVERADO RST REMAINS UNDEFEATED
As the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns from its first off-weekend of the season, Chevrolet’s drivers and teams will look to power the manufacturer to its fourth-straight victory in Saturday’s Weather Guard Truck Race. The Silverado RST has been unbeatable thus far this season – courtesy of victories by Team Chevy’s Nick Sanchez, Kyle Busch and Rajah Caruth.
The Bowtie brand also remains steady at the top of both the NCTS’ driver and manufacturer points standings. Coming off a runner-up finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Tyler Ankrum maintained the lead in the driver points standings by five-markers over second-place. Six drivers from five different Chevrolet organizations have earned a top-10 position in the points standings, with Ankrum leading 2024 race winners Rajah Caruth (fourth) and Nick Sanchez (fifth); and fellow Team Chevy drivers Bret Holmes, Christian Eckes and Grant Enfinger in the eighth through 10th positions, respectively.
BOWTIE BULLETS:
· Chevrolet will pace the field in the doubleheader race weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. The Silverado RST will lead the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in Saturday’s Weather Guard Truck Race; and the Camaro ZL1 will lead the NASCAR Cup Series in Sunday’s Food City 500.
· Chevrolet has recorded wins in eight of the 11 points-paying races in NASCAR’s three national series this season – remaining undefeated in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
· Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Bristol Motor Speedway:
· In 123 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Bristol Motor Speedway, Chevrolet has recorded a series-leading 46 victories – a winning percentage of 37.4 percent.
· Within the first three points-paying races of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season, each Chevrolet organization had already recorded at least one top-10 finish.
· Within the season’s first three tripleheader race weekends for NASCAR’s three national series, four graduates of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Program have earned victories in their respective series this season – all of which come from the Chevrolet camp (Nick Sanchez, Daniel Suarez, Rajah Caruth, Kyle Larson).
· With its 42 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 854 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.
FOR THE FANS:
· Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Bristol Motor Speedway.
· Activation Hours:
Saturday, March 16: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 17: 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Manufacturer Points Standings
Chevrolet: 151 Toyota: 141 (-10) Ford: 132 (-19)
Manufacturer Points Standings
Toyota: 150 Chevrolet: 148 (-2) Ford: 120 (-30)
Manufacturer Points Standings
Chevrolet: 120 Toyota: 103 (-17) Ford: 95 (-25)
TUNE-IN:
NASCAR Cup Series
Food City 500
Sunday, March 17, at 3:30 p.m. ET
(FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Weather Guard Truck Race
Saturday, March 16, at 8 p.m. ET
(FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)
QUOTABLE QUOTES:
COREY LAJOIE, NO. 7 GAINBRIDGE CAMARO ZL1
“Looking forward for the opportunity to rebound at Bristol with the Gainbridge Camaro. We’ve had decent speed there the last couple of races, so we need to execute a solid day and try to walk away with a top-10.”
AJ ALLMENDINGER, NO. 16 MOUNTAIN DEW / CHEETOS CAMARO ZL1
“I’m looking forward to getting back in the Cup car at Bristol. Bristol is a racetrack we’ve had success at in 2022 so hopefully we can learn from the things we have done well. Last year we had speed in practice but had an incident early in the race. I’m excited to see what we can make happen.”
DANIEL HEMRIC, NO. 31 CIRKUL CAMARO ZL1
“I’ve always loved Bristol. The timing of the race is going to be fun seeing how the track changes and evolves from the beginning of the weekend and throughout the mid parts of the race. You go through such a big swing, so we’re going to build some versatility within our car. Hopefully we can give ourselves an opportunity to contend as the laps wind down. It’s a long event, but it’s one of the most fun ones we run.”
Are you looking forward to being back on concrete at Bristol even though you had success on the dirt surface?
“Yeah, we had two top-fives and felt like we had a really good shot of winning the first race on the dirt, but I feel like our cars are just not made for dirt racing. Bristol is by far my favorite race track so I’m really excited to go back to the concrete race track, the red and white painted walls are sick and I can’t wait to get there and rub up close to the wall with those things. I think Bristol puts on one of the best races that we have throughout the season and I’m looking forward to being on concrete for both races this season.”
What would a win at Bristol mean to you?
“We finished second quite a few times in Cup and in the Xfinity Series. Bristol is kind of that next one that I want to check off the list. Obviously, the Bristol night race is probably at the top of everybody’s Bristol races, but at this point I would take any Bristol win. Man, it would be huge and it would be a big boost for our season. We’ve been strong at times and I feel like Bristol we can maybe put everything together that we’ve been working on this offseason and looking forward to getting there this weekend.”
ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1
Bowman on racing at Bristol Motor Speedway:
“I think this weekend may play out similar to the fall race- even though it’s not a playoff race. It’s going to be exciting; Bristol (Motor Speedway) always is that. I’m looking forward to it. It would be an awesome place to win and hopefully we can make that happen.”
BLAKE HARRIS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1
Harris on racing at Bristol Motor Speedway:
“The fall race at Bristol (Motor Speedway) was pretty strong for the No. 48 Ally team. We had a top-10 run going and sat I think in the sixth to eighth position most of the day. (We) didn’t have the speed to get in the top five. Track position is super important, so we need to go qualify well and then I think we have pretty good baselines. A couple teammates ran really well in that race as well and we were just outside the top five ourselves so with a few tweaks off of our notes, I feel good about where we are going.”
ZANE SMITH, NO. 71 FOCUSED HEALTH CAMARO ZL1
Bristol is the first short track of the season, how are you feeling going into Sunday’s race?
“Our goal is to keep getting better each weekend. Bristol is definitely its own animal, but a fun track to race. The fans always provide a great atmosphere there and I am looking forward to being able to race on both Saturday and Sunday. It’s going to be a busy weekend but a lot of fun.”
You’ve secured two consecutive top-15 finishes to kick off your rookie year. How are you staying focused and motivated to maintain this momentum and build on your impressive start?
“I feel like we’ve been able to capitalize on a couple challenging races and finish in the top 15. Both races ended up being solid days for points. It all builds together. So, to keep momentum, we keep bringing fast race cars and capitalize, adapt and overcome any challenges that are thrown our way. That way you know when we have those good days, we’ll really let the results show.”
Last year, your best NCS finish was an 11th at Bristol, where you even reached fifth by the end of stage two. What strategies can you use to replicate that success and potentially achieve an even better result at Bristol this time around?
“You know, we got to fifth and had to hold on with a loose wheel and finished in 11th which really showed the strength of our racecar that week, to be able to hold on like that for 130 laps. So, I think Luke and I, having that notebook of confidence walking into this place with the help of our pit crew, we should be able to have a better finish than what we got in the fall.”
Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics
Manufacturers Championships:
Total (1949-2023): 42
First title for Chevrolet: 1958
Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)
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.
