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Martinsville Up Next For Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team

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Official Release
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The No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team is headed home this weekend to compete in the Xfinity 500 at historic Martinsville Speedway.

The venerable half-mile oval, which hosted its first NASCAR Cup Series race in 1949, is the home track of the Wood Brothers, who are from nearby Stuart, Va.

The Woods, who made their Martinsville debut in 1953 with the late team founder Glenn Wood at the wheel of a Lincoln, will be making their 125th Cup start there this weekend.

Martinsville also is home turf for crew chief Jeremy Bullins, who is from Walnut Cove, a North Carolina town just south of the speedway.

Driver Harrison Burton is a North Carolina native but his parents are from South Boston, Va., which is about an hour’s drive east of Martinsville.

Bullins said there are few venues on the Cup circuit as near to his heart as Martinsville Speedway.

“To say I love racing at Martinsville is an understatement,” Bullins said. “I grew up near the track, just into North Carolina, so it’s my home track on the circuit, and my dad used to take me to races there when I was young.

“I look forward to it every time and can’t wait to be back there with the 21 car.”

Bullins said he’s encouraged about the team’s prospects this weekend, especially considering Burton’s past results at Martinsville. He won an Xfinity Series race there in the fall of 2020 and sat on the pole and finished seventh the following spring.

“Harrison has had some strong runs there and grew up with a lot of short track racing in his background,” Bullins said. “We have some new variables this week with Goodyear bringing a new tire since the spring race.

“Qualifying is going to be super important, so we will work hard to get a good starting spot and try to keep our Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford up front all day.”

Practice at Martinsville is set for Saturday at 12:35 p.m. Eastern Time and will be followed by qualifying at 1:20. USA Network will carry the TV broadcast.

Sunday’s 500-lap race is scheduled to get the green flag just after 2 p.m., with TV coverage on NBC.

Stage breaks are planned for Laps 130 and 260.

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

About Omnicraft®
Omnicraft is part of the Ford lineup of parts brands: Ford Parts, Motorcraft and Omnicraft. Omnicraft is the exclusive non-Ford/Lincoln parts brand of premium aftermarket parts. With over a century of parts heritage to build upon, Omnicraft provides excellent quality and fit and is a preferred choice of professional automotive technicians. To find out more about Omnicraft, visit www.omnicraftautoparts.com or contact your local Ford or Lincoln Dealership.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

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

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, as well as connected services. Additionally, Ford is establishing leadership positions in mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 176,000 people worldwide. More information about the company, its products and Ford Credit is available at corporate.ford.com.
*See seller for limited-warranty details.

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.

Interstate Batteries Racing: Christopher Bell Martinsville Advance

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Official Release
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Christopher Bell
Martinsville Advance
No. 20 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry TRD for Joe Gibbs Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Xfinity 500 (Round 35 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 29
● Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway
● Layout: .526-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 500 laps / 263 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 130 laps / Stage 2: 130 laps / Final Stage: 240 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Interstate Batteries – one of the most tenured team sponsors in NASCAR history – began its 32nd season as the founding sponsor of Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) with an expanded presence that featured the brand’s iconic green livery across all four of JGR’s NASCAR Cup Series entries. As the green colors will adorn Bell’s car one final time for 2003 this weekend at Martinsville, Interstate Batteries returns to the iconic Martsinville track for the first time since 2007 when JJ Yeley piloted the No. 18 Interstate Batteries machine.

● Captain Clutch: With a major deficit in the point standings heading to Martinsville one year ago, Bell’s likely only path was to win to make the Championship 4. With their backs against the wall, Bell and the No. 20 team led 150 laps to bring home the victory and lock him into his first Championship berth at Phoenix, where he went on to finish third the following week.

● Final Four Bound: For the second year in a row, Bell brought home a victory in the Round of 8 to lock himself into the Championship 4 in Nov. 5 at Phoenix Raceway, this time at Homestead-Miami Speedway last weekend. Suffering from an ill-handling car through the middle portion of the race, Bell, crew chief Adam Stevens and the No. 20 team never gave up. They took advantage of a caution that helped gain them track position. Bell then surged to the lead with 16 laps to go and sealed the deal with another clutch playoff performance and a berth in the Final 4 on the line.

● Battle-Tested Crew Chief: Bell’s crew chief Adam Stevens is as familiar with making it to the Championship 4 and winning championships as any other active crew chief. Thanks to the team’s win at Homestead-Miami Speedway this past weekend, Stevens will make his seventh Championship 4 appearance. His previous six have yielded two Cup Series championships with former JGR driver Kyle Busch. Busch and Stevens went to five Championship 4s in a row from 2015 to 2019.

●Well Above Average: Approaching the completion of the second season with the NASCAR NextGen Cup Series car, Bell has the third-best average finish in the playoffs with the current car through its 18 postseason races. Bell’s average playoff finish of 10.6 sits behind William Byron’s 7.4 and JGR teammate Denny Hamlin’s 9.9 over the past two seasons.

● Bell has one victory, one top-five and two top-10 finishes and has led a total of 159 laps in seven career Cup Series outings at Martinsville. Bell’s average Martinsville finish is 14.9.

Christopher Bell, Driver of the No. 20 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry TRD

What is your mindset for Martinsville this weekend now that you are locked into the Championship 4 in Phoenix two weekends from now?

“Your outlook for the race is completely different. So if the strategy presents itself, an opportunity to flip the stages and get track position, you take it because you’re not worried about points. Those guys have a lot more to race for than what I do now going into Martinsville with our Interstate Batteries Camry. The mentality is completely different for them than it is for me. You just have to be aware of that. Being able to focus on just winning the race and not having to score points definitely has its benefits. That’s where we’re at. I think we should be really competitive this week. Martinsville is obviously a good track for me. I look forward to going there and having a week with no pressure. We have Interstate Batteries on our car for the final time this year and we’ll do everything we can to win for those guys. It would be sweet to get them to victory lane and then get ready for Phoenix next week.”

Do you consider yourself this clutch guy, and do you look forward to having that opportunity to bring home a win in a clutch spot like you did at Homestead?

“I don’t want to be put in those positions. It’s not like I sit here and try to be put in a pinch. It was very nice in the Round of 12 this year to have a good Texas and just be able to survive, right? Once I got that good finish at Texas, Talladega was, ‘OK, collect our points.’ Charlotte, same thing: ‘Collect our points.’ Certainly is a lot easier, but they’re not always like that. We’ve been really blessed and fortunate to be able to execute in these positions. I’m just proud of the effort from everybody around me because I’m just a small piece of what the success is.”

What does it mean to be part of this special sponsorship program with Interstate Batteries on your car this weekend?

“I think I’ve said this a few times before, but driving the Interstate Batteries car is kind of a right of passage at JGR – it’s like you are officially part of the club. It’s a big deal to everyone at Interstate Batteries and everyone at JGR – they are the team’s founding partner. It’s an honor to be able to drive that car and would be even more special to get a win for those guys.”

With your Championship 4 experience last season, does that help you when you get to Phoenix again this year?

“I think everything in your career and your life will help you further on down the road. Certainly, making the final four – it will be a big help now that we’re able to go back there. I know that from last year, my Round of 8 didn’t go well because I wrecked out at Las Vegas and didn’t have a good Miami, but I was still able to win at Martinsville. Even on the flip side, Denny Hamlin was in on points at Martinsville, all of the way to the last corner, so fortunately for me, it worked the other way where I was out, and then I was in, in the very end, but you are never safe until that checkered flag falls at Martinsville unless you are locked in like we are.”

What are some of the things your crew chief Adam Stevens has brought to you that has sharpened you?

“Adam has been able to instill confidence in me by giving me fast racecars and cars that I know are going to handle good enough for me. He’s probably the best leader that I’ve ever driven for. He knows how to manage the highs and lows of a season, and he definitely can bring out the best in me.”

No. 20 Interstate Batteries Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Christopher Bell

Hometown: Norman, Oklahoma

Crew Chief: Adam Stevens

Hometown: Portsmouth, Ohio

Car Chief: Chris Sherwood

Hometown: Portsmouth, Virginia

Spotter: Stevie Reeves

Hometown: Speedway, Indiana

Race Engineer: Tyler Allen

Hometown: Seattle, Washington

Race Engineer: William Hartman

Hometown: Laingsburg, Michigan

Road Crew Members

Truck Driver: Jamie Price

Hometown: Choteau, Montana

Mechanic: Wesley Lape Hometown: Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania

Ride and Handling Engineer: Chris Chase

Hometown: Nichole, New York

Truck Driver: Glenn Funderburk

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Mechanic/Tire Specialist: Bryce Bratton

Hometown: Maiden, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Crew Members

Gas Man: Peyton Moore

Hometown: Buford, Georgia

Jackman: Derrell Edwards

Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland

Tire Carrier: Jake Holmes

Hometown: Westborough, Massachusetts

Front Tire Changer: Blake Houston

Hometown: Enochville, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Mike Hicks

Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

NASCAR to Celebrate Champion’s Week in Music City

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Official Release
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Annual postseason celebration will honor NASCAR champions in Nashville during 2023 Awards

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 25, 2023) – NASCAR’s Diamond Anniversary culminates with the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series returning to Nashville on Nov. 29 and 30 to close out the 75th anniversary season and honor each series champion.

The 2023 NASCAR Awards will be held on Thursday, Nov. 30, at the Music City Center to formally honor the 2023 champions from all three NASCAR National Series. After a momentous season, drivers and industry personalities will embrace the city of Nashville to celebrate the 75th anniversary one final time. For the first time in Nashville, NASCAR will also recognize the champions from the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West and NASCAR International Series on Tuesday, Nov. 28.

“As we continue to commemorate our diamond anniversary, there is no other place we’d rather return for our end of the year celebration than Music City,” said Pete Jung, SVP, Chief Marketing Officer at NASCAR. “We are ecstatic to bring Champion’s Week back to Nashville for a fourth year. The energy of this city never goes unnoticed and the fans’ dedication for our sport never fails.”

On Wednesday, Nov. 29 NASCAR will initiate two new fan activations, NASCAR House and NASCAR Champion Car Parade. NASCAR House will take place in the city center on 5th and Broadway from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. CT. The NASCAR Champion Car Parade will take to the street of Broadway from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. CT. More details will become available on both activations in the coming weeks.

Last year, NASCAR honored Cup Series champion, Joey Logano, Xfinity Series champion, Ty Gibbs, and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion, Zane Smith. The formal postseason Awards is a tradition that stretches back to 1981, when the event was held in New York City. It relocated to Las Vegas in 2009 and then called Nashville its home for the first time in 2019. Over the last three years NASCAR has seen an astounding turnout from the Nashville fans not only at the racetrack, but for the celebration of Champion’s Week. NASCAR looks to continue the tradition and conclude the season at one of the most iconic cities in the country.

About NASCAR

Celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2023, 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 16 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 Mexico Series, NASCAR Pinty’s Series (Canada), 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 eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 12 countries and more than 30 U.S. states. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

CAMPING WORLD AND NHRA ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP EXTENSION THROUGH 2026

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Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN (Oct. 25, 2023) – The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and Camping World, the World’s Largest Recreational Vehicle Dealer, announced today a multi-year extension of their partnership, with Camping World becoming a premier partner for the 2024 race season.

The partnership continues a solid relationship between the NHRA and Camping World, which started during the 2020 season. As part of the new multi-year extension, Camping World will continue to be the Official RV, RV Dealer and Outdoor Supply company of the NHRA and will receive prominent media programming, including commercials and enhancements during the NHRA on FOX broadcasts, digital advertising, robust social media integration, and strategic on-site brand placement.

“We like the loyal and growing NHRA fanbase and their affinity to camping” said Marcus Lemonis, Chairman and CEO of Camping World. “NHRA recognizes the product it has in the sport of drag racing and its responsibility to serve its fans. We at Camping World look forward to continuing our relationship with the NHRA.”

“We are very happy and excited to announce that Camping World has extended its partnership with the NHRA. It is a perfect fit for our series,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said. “Camping during the NHRA events has grown tremendously during the last four years that Camping World has been a partner and while not at a NHRA drag race, the NHRA fan base indexes No. 1 of all major sports when it comes to camping, hunting and fishing, making this continued partnership a natural fit.”

NHRA has procured a new title partner for the 2024 race season that will be announced in the coming days.

For more information about Camping World, visit www.CampingWorld.com. For more information on NHRA, including the 2024 schedule, please visit www.NHRA.com.

About Camping World Holdings, Inc.

Camping World Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Lincolnshire, IL, (together with its subsidiaries) is the World’s largest retailer of RVs and related products and services. Our vision is to build a long-term legacy business that makes RVing fun and easy. Our Camping World and Good Sam brands have been serving RV consumers since 1966. We strive to build long-term value for our customers, employees, and shareholders by combining a unique and comprehensive assortment of RV products and services with a national network of RV dealerships, service centers and customer support centers along with the industry’s most extensive online presence and a highly trained and knowledgeable team of employees serving our customers, the RV lifestyle, and the communities in which we operate. We also believe that our Good Sam organization and family of programs and services uniquely enable us to connect with our customers as stewards of the RV enthusiast community and the RV lifestyle. With RV sales and service locations in 43 states, Camping World has grown to become the prime destination for everything RV. For more information, visit www.CampingWorld.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 21 national events featuring the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown™ and Top Fuel Harley Series. 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 120 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.

Mazda Unveils ‘MAZDA ICONIC SP’ Compact Sports Car Concept

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Official Release
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  • a new type of sports car, adapted to a new era, revealed for the first time at Japan Mobility Show 2023

HIROSHIMA, Japan, Oct 25, 2023 – (JCN Newswire) – Mazda Motor Corporation today unveiled the MAZDA ICONIC SP, a new concept car for the first time at Japan Mobility Show 2023.

MAZDA ICONIC SP is a new type of compact sports car concept, designed to adopt to the new era and respond to the emotions of customers who “love cars” and “desire a car that simply embodies the joy of driving”. This powertrain features Mazda’s unique two-rotor rotary EV system, which remains compact and thus offers a high degree of layout flexibility, enabling the concept model to have a low center of gravity to enhance driving performance. Batteries are charged by recyclable energy source and the two-rotor rotary engine, used for power generation, is powered by carbon-neutral fuel. The vibrant red color of Viola Red, is a concept color created by overlaying Mazda’s corporate philosophy of “enrich life-in-motion for those we serve” based on Mazda’s desire to “cherish the color red.”

Masahiro Moro, Mazda’s Representative Director, President and CEO made the following comment: “Mazda will always deliver vehicles that remind people that cars are pure joy and an indispensable part of their lives. As a car-loving company that mass-produces the inspiring mobility experience, we are committed to shaping the future with our partners sharing the same goal, as well as our fans, where everyone can proudly say, ‘we love cars.’ With such a strong will, Mazda is committed to enrich life-in-motion for those we serve.”

Mazda will continue to pursue the ‘Joy of Driving’ under its core value, “Human Centric”, and aim to deliver ‘Joy of Living’ by creating moving experiences in customers’ daily lives.

Summary of the MAZDA ICONIC SP

  • In creating the “framework” that forms the basis of the modeling, we aimed to achieve proportions with a low center of gravity that would give the impression of excellent driving performance. The concept of mounting the lightweight and compact rotary engine in the center of the car has resulted in a low hood.
  • The two-rotor rotary EV system, which utilizes a highly scalable rotary engine that can burn various fuels such as hydrogen, generates electricity with carbon-neutral fuel. In addition, when the battery is charged with electricity derived from renewable energy, it is possible to drive in a virtually carbon-neutral state.
  • The high output generated by the two-rotor rotary EV system, the proportions of the lower center of gravity, and the weight distribution of around 50:50 achieve excellent driving performance. In addition, although it is a sports car, it can supply power when enjoying outdoor leisure and in the time of a disaster.
  • The exterior body color “VIOLA RED” was created based on Mazda’s desire to “cherish the color red” and in conjunction with Mazda’s corporate philosophy of ” enriching life-in-motion for those we serve.” We focused on making a vivid color, while creating a sense of shade that accentuates the shape of the car.

(1) The Japan Mobility Show 2023 is organized by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association. Press days will be held on Wednesday, October 25 (8:00-18:00) and Thursday, October 26 (8:00-13:00). The event will be open to the public from Saturday, October 28 through to Sunday, November 5.

Mazda’s JAPAN MOBILITY SHOW 2023 website: www.mazda.co.jp/experience/event/japanmobilityshow2023/en/

Toyota Racing – NCTS Quotes – Corey Heim – 10.24.22

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Official Release
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Toyota Racing – Corey Heim
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Quotes

MOORESVILLE, NC (October 24, 2023) – TRICON Garage driver Corey Heim was made available to media on Tuesday:

COREY HEIM, No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage

What is your mindset heading into Phoenix?

“It’s been a good season for us for sure. There was a lot of question marks coming into 2023 with a new team, organization – and for me, a new crew chief and spotter. All new stuff, with a lot of question marks, but we really put together such a solid season and so much progress from start to finish. Super thankful for TRICON Garage and Toyota Racing for all the support. I wouldn’t be in this position without them. It has been such a cool year to see all of the progress and hard work people have put in from start to bottom in this organization and all of the support from TRD as well. We’ve got one more, hopefully we can keep it going – one more big one to win, and hopefully we complete a good year for us.”

Can you tell me more about you decision to stay in the Truck Series next year?

“I think for me TRICON was the best organization for me in 2024. I’m on a winning race team – my goal is to win races. I never want to be in a position where I’m not confident in my team and my organization. With TRICON, I’m super confident in them and their organization and the support with everybody. I’m not super focused on 2025 and beyond yet. For 2024, my goals are to win more races and just put together a solid season and up my resume for the future, but for now just focused on 2024 and of course on the last race of 2023, but as far as future plans, I’m focused on 2024. I think it was the best landing spot for me and my options. I’m excited to keep it going with TRICON in 2024.”

Do you envision that you can jump from Truck Series to the Cup Series or do you think you will run in the Xfinity Series in the future?

“I would just have to weigh my options, same at the end of this year. I really have no plans past 2024 as far as now. Depending on how the year goes, and how I feel and how confident I am in my abilities, I’ll kind of make that decision in the fall of next year. I could really see myself going anywhere. There is nothing saying that I can’t jump through the Xfinity Series or what not, but certainly I will just have to find out. It could go either way, really.”

Can you confirm your last championship – 2017 Thunder Pro division in Atlanta and the 2016 Young Lions?

“I believe so, yes. For me personally, I’ve really only had one full time season in something since then really. I’ve run some CARS Tour here-and-there, I was competing for the ARCA championship in 2021, but my career has been made of a lot of par time stuff, so it is really cool to finally get the opportunity to run for a championship and have a solid full-time season behind me. Of course, we were going for the owners championship last year, but for a driver, it is a lot more motivating to go for that driver’s championship. Definitely fortunate to be able to chase that this year.”

Is there anything from those 2016 or 2017 point championships that you can remember and relate to this?

“It’s funny that you say that because at Atlanta Motor Speedway we had a Playoff format very similar to this, for whatever reason, I thought it was really weird at the time for the 10 drivers that were running full time in the series, but yeah, we had a Championship 4 or whatever, when I was battling for that championship, so hopefully, we can run it back.”

What does a driver do when you have so much time to prepare for this championship race?

“I feel like the last five or six weeks have been really good for me. Phoenix isn’t particularly my greatest track that I’ve been too. Fortunately, I do have experience there – I have a couple of ARCA races under my belt that I’m able to look back and see what I could have done better in those races to apply to this race. Phoenix is a really interesting race track. It is not super technical, but there is definitely a lot of studying opportunities to sit back and kind of observe it and progressively get better. Luckily, I’ve had a lot of time to do that and I’m a pretty analytical person just as far as my studying and what I do to prepare. I remember, last year in 2022 and in 2021 as well, running part-time with KBM (Kyle Busch Motorsports) I had so much time in between races – just because I was part-time – I feel like races that I had three or four more weeks to prepare, I did really well in, and I felt really prepared when I showed up to the race track. I don’t personally believe in over preparing. I think you can over think it but if you can’t over prepare. I’ve really been focused on preparing the right way and using sim times with Toyota Racing to the best of my abilities, and I really think I’m really confident I’m prepared for Phoenix.”

Can you tell me something that Toyota has provided you that 15-year-old Corey wouldn’t have thought of?

“I think just when I was growing up, I didn’t realize how important it is to prepare during the week as far as just taking care of yourself and being physically prepared, as well as mentally prepared. Having the Toyota Performance Center in Mooresville is really useful for us to be able to keep ourselves in physical shape, but they have so many other resources as far as nutritionists, and physical therapists and sports psychologists – you name it. I guess that is not something I really expected to need in the future. I’ve always trusted the process with Toyota Racing and trusted their resources, and for me, it has always been something that I can use as long as I’ve been a part of the program. I’ve always had faith that they would put me in the best position possible to succeed, and ever since I’ve been a part of them in 2020 – they’ve done just that. Definitely grateful for everyone at Toyota Racing and TRD, from the Salisbury location, to the Mooresville, to everyone from outside locations that helps with other things as well. Very grateful for them.”

How would you assess your three competitors for the championship?

“Throughout the year, I feel like they’ve all been really competitive. I’ve finished second to each one of them at some point. I feel like we’ve really been the best truck consistently throughout the year, but with the Playoff format and it being a one race scenario. You just show up, and you have the best truck, and you are the most prepared and you have the best driver, you are going to win the race. It really doesn’t matter how the rest of your season has gone. For me, it is just focusing on the one race and focusing on myself – not really looking at the other competitors too much, but they are all great drivers. As you mentioned, a former champion and the other two have won at least three races a piece this year, so definitely not any slouches there. I think it is going to be really competitive and I’m just going to focus on myself and show up and do the best of my abilities.”

When you prepare, do you focus on your run at Phoenix last season or similar tracks that you ran this year?

“For me, it is all Phoenix. I don’t really look into similar tracks too much. The truck package hasn’t changed much in a long time, so that gives us the ability to kind of read back into last year. I know the track changes here and there, but configuration wise, the track hasn’t changed much, and as far as the truck, it hasn’t changed much either. I definitely look at previous years – I’ve raced there the last year for the finale as well, and throughout we were relatively good, but I’ve learned a lot since then – I feel like just being able to improve on the last performances from Truck and ARCA there is big for me, but yeah, I just read into Phoenix for the most part.”

About Toyota

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

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

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

United Rentals Racing: Ryan Preece Martinsville Advance

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Official Release
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RYAN PREECE
Martinsville Advance
No. 41 United Rentals Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Xfinity 500 (Round 35 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 29
● Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway
● Layout: .526-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 500 laps/263 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 130 laps / Stage 2: 130 laps / Final Stage: 240 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Virginia is for Racing: With only two races left in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series campaign, Ryan Preece and the No. 41 United Rentals Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) are returning to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway for the second time this season for Sunday’s Xfinity 500. The 263-mile, 500-lap event will begin at 2 p.m. EDT with live coverage on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

● By the Numbers: Sunday’s race will mark Preece’s eighth Cup Series career start on the .526-mile, paperclip-shaped oval. When the series last visited Martinsville in April, Preece had a career-best weekend. He won his first career Cup Series pole and led a race-high and career-high 135 laps. A mishap on pit road forced Preece and his No. 41 Ford Mustang to restart from the rear and he ultimately finished 15th. Aside from Preece’s experience at the track in the Cup Series, he also has quite the resume there in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Preece has six Modified Tour starts at the track, the first coming in 2007. He has one win (2008), two top-fives, two top-10s, 423 total laps led, an average start of 7.8 and an average finish of 13.5 in those six races.

● Back to His Modified Roots: Preece, who is celebrating his 33rd birthday on Wednesday, will return to his roots this week at Martinsville in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s season finale, the Virginia Is For Racing Lovers 200. The race is set for 8 p.m. EDT Thursday and kicks off the weekend’s festivities at the track. The Modified Tour is NASCAR’s oldest division and is the only open-wheel series sanctioned by NASCAR. Compared to a Cup Series car, a Modified Tour car is 11 inches shorter in height and approximately 23 inches wider, weighing nearly 800 pounds less. Preece is the 2013 Modified Tour champion and the series is where he made a name for himself. The first win of his Modified career came at Martinsville on Sept. 20, 2008, when he led 265 of the race’s 300 laps. Preece built his No. 40 Modified in his personal race shop based out of Kannapolis, North Carolina with the help of his father, Jeff Preece, who will take on the role of crew chief Thursday. The Preeces and members of the No. 41 SHR team will be assisting him on race day in various crew member roles, including the pit crew. The 200-lap, 105.2-mile race will be streamed live on FloRacing beginning at 8 p.m. EDT.

● About United Rentals: United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE: URI), the largest equipment rental company in the world, is back on the No. 41 SHR Ford Mustang, serving as the primary sponsor for the remainder of the 2023 season. The partnership began with the non-points Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum, Feb. 4-5 in Los Angeles. United Rentals has an integrated network of 1,449 rental locations in North America, 13 in Europe, 27 in Australia and 19 in New Zealand. In North America, the company operates in 49 states and every Canadian province. The company’s approximately 24,700 employees serve construction and industrial customers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners and others. The company offers approximately 4,700 classes of equipment for rent with a total original cost of $19.3 billion. United Rentals is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, the Barron’s 400 Index and the Russell 3000 Index®. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. Additional information about United Rentals is available at UnitedRentals.com.

● Turns for Troops – Making Every Lap a Lap of Honor: Join United Rentals in supporting military veterans and families through the Turns for Troops program. United Rentals will donate $50 for each lap that one of its three sponsored drivers completes for specific races throughout the season. So far this season, Preece has completed all 869 laps possible during the campaign in 2023, raising $43,450. This weekend, Preece has the opportunity to raise $25,000 if he completes every lap of the 500-lap race at Martinsville. This weekend’s race and Championship 4 weekend at Phoenix Raceway are both Turns for Troops events. Funds from the Turns for Troops program go to SoldierStrong and Operation Homefront. Click here to learn more.

● Last Weekend: The Cup Series competed for 400.5 miles on the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway oval, where Preece and the No. 41 SHR Ford Mustang rallied for a 13th-place finish from their 29th spot on the starting grid. It was his 11th top-15 finish this season.

● Where He Stands: Preece heads to Martinsville 24th in the driver standings with 590 points.

Ryan Preece, Driver of the No. 41 United Rentals Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

You’re back at Martinsville Speedway this weekend for some short-track action. You won the pole there in April. What will it take to do that again?

“We’re once again putting a huge emphasis on qualifying this weekend. The focus will be on practice and seeing where our car stacks up. I think we’re going to be fast right out the gate and, from there, we’ve got to be strong in qualifying so we can start up front again. At a track like Martinsville – we’ve seen it at the other similar tracks this season – you don’t want to start in the back. That’s obvious from what happened to us in April. We started on the pole, led a ton of laps but when we had to restart at the rear, it was just so hard to get back to the front. It’s so hard to pass and move up front when you’re back there at these smaller tracks. So, we just want to qualify up front and stay there for the entire race this time. I like Martinsville a lot and I’ve got a Grandfather clock from a Modified race, so I’m looking forward to adding another one on Sunday.”

You’re going back to your roots this week and running in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Martinsville on Thursday. When you go back to that series, do you feel like you’re back home?

“To be honest with you, it is well-received. They want me to come back and race with them. They enjoy it, I enjoy it. I’m really good friends with Doug Coby and Justin Bonsignore and many of the other racers that compete in that series. Even though we’re competitors, we’re really good friends. They’ve known me since I was a little kid and we’ve grown up over the past 15-plus years racing together. When they saw that I was going to race at Martinsville, I got a few text messages from them and they told me not to screw up their championship chase and I’ll do my best not to. But, I’m definitely looking forward to it. This will be my first Modified race since the beginning of the Cup Series season and it’s also extra track time for Sunday’s race.”

What is the racing like at Martinsville?

“To me, Martinsville is a big Coliseum and there are things we can take from that race and the other short-track races we’ve had this season. These short tracks have been our sweet spot this season. We showed speed earlier at Martinsville, same thing with Richmond and Bristol, too. I feel like our short-track stuff has been really good and we’ve shown a lot of promise, so I’m excited to get another shot at it this weeend. The racing at Martinsville is always very aggressive, you have to be aggressive to stay in it. You also have to be smart so you don’t get wrecked in the corners. I’m feeling confident heading into the race and I’ve got a lot of momentum on my side right now. I’m ready to get out there and get the finishes this 41 team deserves.”

Why do you continue to go back to the Modified Tour and run races?

“My passion for open-wheel racing and for Modifieds, when you go into that pit area, everybody there is pretty much a volunteer, we all have a passion for it and love it. It’s not like some of the other racing deals where it’s their source of income and living. They do this because it’s fun to them, so I would say the passion that the series has and that the people in it have, that’s the reason why I continue wanting to do it. I enjoy working on those racecars, I grew up doing it and I love it. Any time that there’s an opportunity to go do that, I’m going to. With the Cup Series season coming to a close, this was a good time to come back.”

You’re a guy who builds and works on your own racecars, and you built your Modified for Thursday in your own shop. Was there someone specific in your life who taught you how to do it and motivated you to keep at it?

“I think I have a whole lot of role models and not just national stars. You know, as a kid, my era was your Kevin Harvicks, your Tony Stewarts, your Mark Martins, Rusty Wallaces. I gravitated toward those guys. From a racing standpoint, throughout the years, I’ve had many different role models. There’s one guy named Dave Steele – and I’ll never forget this – he was a USAC racer and I was out in Indianapolis racing and he showed up. It was pretty much just him, and he went out and won that night. He was doing everything himself. I watched him that whole time do it all himself and it was impactful for me. In that moment, remembering that and seeing that, it helped me as I got older to realize that no matter how good you may be, if your car is not fast, you’re only going to go so fast. That was when I really figured things out and started to take a more hands-on approach in racing for myself. If I wasn’t getting what I needed, I felt that I could start taking more control and giving myself what I needed at the Modified level. And, there’s my father. There were times where if I was sitting at the end of the trailer doing nothing – kind of like many young kids do, right? – you’re just there, you’re the driver and you hold the steering wheel. My father would make me do things, and if there wasn’t anything to do, he’d make me pick up trash. He wouldn’t let me sit around. That’s a true story and that’s part of why I am where I am. I am always doing something and that’s who I am. Most people would have given up, they probably wouldn’t have chased sponsors, they wouldn’t have chased opportunities. A lot of those moments in life have made me who I am. Like, if you want something bad enough and you love something enough, you’ve got to just go make it happen. You can’t wait around for it to happen. That’s how racing is for me.”

What’s your favorite track to run at in the Modified Tour?

“New Smyrna. It’s the beginning of the year in Feburary during Speedweeks, it’s just a whole different level of racing. You’re with your guys and, most of the time when I go Modified racing, my team is my friends. You’re with each other, whether it’s 10 days or two weeks, we’re having fun. Even if it’s going out after the races for a few beers or getting up early to get the car ready, every day is another chance to get out there and win a race together. So not only is the racetrack really fun to race at because it’s really fast, but as a driver it’s also a good time to be with all your people. It’s what we all kind of live for. The reason our fans come out to the race is for that experience and to camp out.”

No. 41 United Rentals Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Ryan Preece
Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Crew Chief: Chad Johnston

Hometown: Cayuga, Indiana

Car Chief: Tony Cardamone

Hometown: Bristol, Virginia

Engineer: Marc Hendricksen

Hometown: Clinton, New Jersey

Engineer: Scott Bingham

Hometown: Lawrenceville, Georgia

Spotter: Andy Houston

Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

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

Mechanic: Joe Zanolini

Hometown: Sybertsville, Pennsylvania

Underneath & Interior Mechanic: Clint Leatherwood

Hometown: Rockmart, Georgia

Shock Specialist: Aaron Kuehn

Hometown: Kensington, Connecticut

Tire Specialist: Matt Ridgway

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

HSR Prototype Challenge presented by IMSA Set to Launch in 2024

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Official Release
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Six-Event Season of Endurance Races for LMP3 Cars Debuts in March 2024 at Sebring

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (October 24, 2023) – Officials from Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) today confirmed plans for a new, six-event series for current and previous-generation Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3) race cars beginning in 2024.

The series will be known as the HSR Prototype Challenge presented by IMSA. Events will be operated by HSR with oversight from IMSA – the license rights-holder for LMP3 racing in the United States and Canada.

“LMP3 continues to be a valuable IMSA platform for a variety of reasons,” said IMSA President John Doonan. “It provides an entry-level opportunity to prototype racing for drivers, teams and crew members and can be a catalyst for a career in endurance sports car racing. As part of the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, which utilizes current-generation LMP3 machines, competitors are able to hone their racecraft in single-driver, 45-minute sprint races.

“Continuing to provide an endurance racing format is important to IMSA and also LMP3 competitors and stakeholders. It is a logical progression to incorporate LMP3 endurance races into our HSR platform, where many previous-generation LMP3 cars already compete. We believe the HSR Prototype Challenge presented by IMSA will be a popular addition to HSR event weekends in 2024 and beyond.”

Each event will have an endurance racing format, ranging in length from 90 minutes to three hours, with two classes of competition. LMP3-1 will include current EVO cars, with the LMP3-2 class using previous-generation LMP3 cars. A minimum field target size of 20 cars will be required for standalone races, and if not achieved, LMP3 cars will be integrated into the existing HSR Group 6 (prototype) races as they have been in recent years.

The six-event calendar opens with a two-hour race on the weekend of March 8 – 10 at Sebring International Raceway as part of the HSR Spring Fling event, followed by a two-hour event at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta as part of The Mitty event weekend on April 25 – 28. The first half of the season concludes with a 90-minute race as part of the HSR’s Classic 6 Hour at Watkins Glen International on the weekend of June 6 – 9.

The series returns to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta to open the second half of the season with a two-hour race during the Fall Historics on Sept. 19 – 22, followed by the penultimate round – another 90-minute race – as part of the Classic 24 Hour at Daytona on Oct. 30 – Nov. 3. The season concludes at Sebring with a three-hour event as part of the Classic 12 Hour on Dec. 4 – 8.

“The addition of the HSR Prototype Challenge presented by IMSA feels right on schedule as a logical next step in IMSA’s ownership of HSR,” said HSR President David Hinton. “Today’s news builds on the initial offering of four LMP3 events on HSR weekends that were unveiled in IMSA’s annual schedule announcement in August, and that is in direct response to competitors in both the IMSA and HSR paddocks looking for additional and longer races.

“At the same time, adding LMP3 to HSR events will not take away any track time or alter the schedule for our existing HSR classes and championships. It is actually a benefit as all of the on-track competing series on these six weekends fall under the IMSA and HSR umbrella. We are all working together as opposed to sharing a weekend with an outside group monopolizing the race schedule and available track time.”

All cars in the HSR Prototype Challenge presented by IMSA will ride on Michelin tires and use VP Racing Fuels. Ligier and Duqueine plan to have representatives onsite for technical support at each event.

Each race will feature a timed pit stop. Teams will have the option of one- or two-driver lineups with no minimum drive times.

About HSR: An International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) property, Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) was formed in the mid-1970s with an event at Road Atlanta. There was one goal then and it remains true today: to celebrate the race cars from the past. As a “time machine” of sights and sounds, HSR provides a venue for competitors and spectators alike to share in the wonderful history and excitement created by the cars that competed at race tracks around the world. HSR currently sanctions eight vintage and historic racing events at some of the world’s most renowned race tracks, including Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway, Daytona International Speedway and more. The complete schedule and full event information can be found on HSR’s website at www.HSRRace.com. Look for the HSR Channel on YouTube and follow HSR on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HSRrace/ and on Twitter and Instagram at @HSR_race. A dedicated website for the Classic 24 Hour at Daytona presented by IMSA is available at www.Classic24hour.com.

Racing to End Alzheimer’s sweeps COTA finale to capture championship

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Official Release
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Mark Kvamme’s eighth Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America victory overcomes point deficit to take second consecutive Am class title

AUSTIN, Texas (24 Oct. 2023) – The Racing to End Alzheimer’s with MDK Motorsports team swept the season-ending Circuit of The Americas weekend, giving Mark Kvamme his second consecutive Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America Am championship with his seventh and eighth victories of the campaign.

Kvamme scored podium finishes in all 16 races this season, driving the No. 43 Porsche 911 (type 992) GT3 Cup car – including seven runner-up results. The season finale marked his third weekend sweep (along with Long Beach and Miami) and extended his podium streak to 22-straight dating back to last season.

But one of the weekend’s highlights happened off track. Kvamme is friends with F1 star Kevin Magnussen, who came by the tram transporter after Porsche qualifying to see his grandfather Hans Erik’s name on the car, near Kvamme’s grandfather Magnus.

“Kevin is a good friend and it was wonderful of him to come by. The work that Phil and the entire Racing to End Alzheimer’s program does means so much. It was a good, good, good day.”

The Racing to End Alzheimer’s team set a new record this season, with the names of 216 friends and family who have suffered from dementia or Alzheimer’s on the car. From program founder Phil Frengs:

“Our first year, in 2017, we had 65 names on the car. We’ve grown the program where we cover the car all season long. We had an appearance on the Austin ABC affiliate’s morning show Friday and we started getting names because of that.

“Every day, we’re moving people to consider their friend or family member. For us, that personal contact, that hearing the story about them, is very moving to me and it’s the fuel that runs our engine.”

But there was still on-track work to do. Kvamme entered Sunday’s finale trailing teammate Scott Noble by 10 points, with each driver’s two worst finishes not counting in the scoring. Noble was caught up in an incident early on the first lap, resulting in terminal suspension damage and a turnaround in the points.

The MDK Motorsport teammates were close in lap times all weekend. Kvamme led Friday’s lone practice by a slim margin, and led much of Saturday’s qualifying before Noble ended the session with a pair of fast laps to capture both weekend poles.

Kvamme got the hole shot to take the lead in Saturday’s opening 35-minute race. Noble regained the advantage in Turn 10 with 18 minutes remaining. Kvamme made his move in the same corner coming to the white flag, and then held off his teammate by 0.267-seconds in a side-by-side drag race to the checkered flag.

“It was a great race – it was a fabulous race,” Kvamme said after the opening sprint. “Scott raced really, really well. I was able to get him at the start going into turn one, when we got all bunched up. After the yellow, he got me in turn 10. I was right behind him the whole time. At the end of the race, I could tell that his tires were going away, and I took the advantage in turn 10 myself on the second to the last lap and was able to get him. It was a lot of fun.”

Kvamme rolled off the grid just behind Noble in Sunday’s season finale. But Noble’s race quickly came to an end, when he spun and was hit seconds after the green flag. Luck was with Kvamme on the second lap, as he barely missed running over debris that brought out the opening caution.

Kvamme led the remainder of a race that was slowed by three yellow flags and ended under caution. When he stopped on pit road, Kvamme hopped to the roof of his Porsche and raised his arms in victory. Moments later, he proudly took his place on the Formula 1 podium for the playing of the USA National anthem, though still thinking of his teammate.

“First of all, that’s not how I wanted it to end,” Kvamme said. “Scott has pushed me hard, and he’s a great guy. I knew there was going to be a lot of carnage. It was the last race of the season, and people are just going for it. You knew people were going to be aggressive, so I was just trying to be as safe as I could, watching everything around me. I knew the players around me are good folks, and I was able to stay safe.

“It was a great race, and I’m so happy for the Racing to End Alzheimer’s guys. We broke the record with 204 names and we raised $200,000, which is spectacular. It was an amazing season for Phil, Nick and the whole team. I can’t say enough about the work this program is doing.”

About Racing to End Alzheimer’s

In 2013, Phil Frengs’ wife Mimi was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Their experience with the disease led Frengs to a seminal moment: his company, Legistics, had long sponsored a team in IMSA sports car racing and he realized an opportunity to raise money and awareness for the fight against the disease. In 2017, he formed Racing to End Alzheimer’s, giving fans the opportunity to honor loved ones by putting their names on the race car via donation – with Legistics matching each donation. 100% of those donations go to the two organizations the team supports:

The Nantz National Alzheimer’s Center at Houston Methodist Hospital is exploring cutting-edge strategies in therapy, care and research to find a cure for these dementias. NNAC was founded by longtime CBS Sports broadcaster Jim Nantz III and his family in honor of his father, Jim, Jr., who passed away after a 13-year battle with Alzheimer’s. It is a world-class research, referral and care center that combines comprehensive patient services with the resolute pursuit of scientific breakthroughs in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s.

The UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program is a nationally-recognized grant-funded program designed to help patients and their families with the complex medical, behavioral and social needs associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. UCLA is renowned for its compassionate, personalized Alzheimer’s care; innovative social and psychological programs; and robust support services for patients, caregivers and families. Via webinars and on-site education, UCLA works with Alzheimer’s and dementia programs across the country to improve care for patients and families alike.

TONY STEWART RACING POINTS LEADERS LEAH PRUETT AND MATT HAGAN FOCUSED ON TASK AT HAND AT NHRA NEVADA NATIONALS

By
Official Release
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LAS VEGAS (Oct. 24, 2023) – After a first-time double up for the Tony Stewart Racing nitro teams of Leah Pruett and Matt Hagan, the duo heads into Las Vegas in a unique and exciting position: leading the points in both Top Fuel and Funny Car with two races remaining.

Pruett leads Doug Kalitta and Steve Torrence by just four and 13 points, respectively, heading into this weekend’s 23rd annual NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, while in Funny Car, Hagan holds an advantage of 36 points over Bob Tasca III, with Robert Hight 69 points behind.

It adds up to an exciting opportunity for both Pruett and Hagan, with Pruett trying to pick up her first Top Fuel world championship. But with two races left in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs and a loaded field well within striking distance, Pruett knows there is plenty of work still to be done in her 11,000-horsepower Dodge Direct Connection dragster.

“We are four points ahead. That means literally nothing,” said Pruett, who has 12 Top Fuel wins. “We were so happy as a team that Sunday night (in Dallas), but the next day were back in our race mode preparing for the Las Vegas event. I think Tony’s overall team atmosphere helps everyone here. The highest virtue that Tony has is treating people well. He helps me and our team with a racer’s mentally because he has been there and won in everything. It’s a huge help for everyone on the TSR team.”

Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Hagan (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won the 2022 NHRA Nevada Nationals. This season’s race will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 (FS1), including eliminations at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday. It is the 20th of 21 races during the 2023 season and the fifth of six races in the Countdown to the Championship.

Hagan brings plenty of confidence into Vegas, helped in part by last year’s win at the penultimate race of the year. That kept him in title contention, but Hagan and his team have been on point in 2023, winning six times and advancing to eight final rounds. Nothing is close to being decided, but Hagan likes where his team is at heading into Vegas in his 11,000-horsepower Dodge Direct Connection Charger SRT Hellcat. To add to the team’s momentum, Hagan, who is also a victory away from 50 career NHRA wins, has won the fall Vegas race three of the past four years.

“Having back-to-back wins (this season) rolling into Vegas gives us a lot of confidence,” Hagan said. “Funny Car racing is very humbling, so you never know what you’re going to get. When we’re in Vegas, we’re halfway to Denver’s altitude as far as making power goes. You have to change a lot on the car. I have faith in my crew and my job is to drive the wheels off of it. We have a lot of momentum, so we just have to keep it going. I’m proud of my team. They’re turning the car around really quick and that’s all you can ask for. I’ve won two of my championships with Dickie (Venables – crew chief), so we know what we need to do and what we’re capable of.”

Pruett has also made impressive strides this season. They’ve been in the top five for the bulk of the season, entering the playoffs in fourth. Since then, they’ve been remarkably consistent, advancing to the semifinals or better at all four playoff races, including back-to-back final rounds at the last two races. It’s propelled the standout into the points lead in the Countdown to the Championship for the first time in her career. But she also knows Kalitta and Torrence, a four-time champ, as well as the likes of Justin Ashley, Antron Brown, Mike Salinas and Force are lurking, which means she’ll need another big weekend in Vegas to stay in front.

“Honestly, our confidence is higher than it’s ever been,” Pruett said. “We experienced multiple moments of validation last week in Dallas. Being able to make small adjustments through race day with a power-balanced car brought on peak performance and consistency. That’s what we knew it would take to win that race, and that’s what it will take to stretch our lead.”

Thanks to two straight playoff wins, Hagan moved back into the points lead in Dallas over Tasca, who is seeking his first Funny Car world title. But Hight is capable of a late-season run as well and back-to-back world champ Ron Capps is within 99 points. For Hagan, that means there’s no opportunity to let up and he’s aiming for a big finish, one he knows will be necessary to clinch a fourth world championship.

“It’s still anybody’s ballgame out here,” Hagan said. “You can pat yourself on the back, but there is still a lot of work to be done. We have seen these things flip back and forth a lot. (But) I feel like we’ve had a great car all year long. We’ve won six races so far this season. We just need to keep doing what we do. We are in a fight for the championships, and we’ll use Tony’s experience in chasing a championship.”

Enders has been dominant in Las Vegas in recent years with nine wins from the facility, the most of any driver in NHRA history. A year ago, her Vegas win clinched a fifth championship for the star. She holds a commanding lead over Greg Anderson following her Dallas win this year, which also gave her the most wins by a female in NHRA history. Other contenders include Dallas Glenn, Aaron Stanfield and Matt Hartford.

Arana Jr., who has one win on the 2023 season, powered his way to victory last year by defeating Matt Smith in the final round. But this season has been dominated by Gaige Herrera, who has nine wins and will have the opportunity to clinch his first world championship in Las Vegas.

The NHRA Nevada Nationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, which includes some of the sport’s top drivers, and the Summit Racing Series ET Finals, where national champions will be crowned, including the first EV national championship in NHRA history. The weekend will also include action in the thrilling Nostalgia Funny Car class, while fans can watch a spectacular jet dragster exhibition from Team “Muy Caliente” after nitro qualifying on Friday and Saturday.

It’s also the final race of the season in Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown, the FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports and the new Factory X presented by Holley category. Fans can also enjoy the finale of the NHRA Summit Series, with drivers competing for a national championship.

As an added attraction, a special drag-and-drive exhibition will take place during the event, with participants in Sick The Magazine’s “Death Week” will be on display for fans interested in NHRA Street Legal Drag Racing. The cars will be paraded in front of the crowd, with fans getting to see the unique cars taking part in the drag-and-drive event.

Before the race weekend, the NHRA’s biggest stars will take over the Fremont St. Experience for the annual fan fest from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26. An autograph session takes place from 5:30-6:30, allowing fans to meet their favorite drivers as part of this great event leading into the race weekend.

On Saturday, the Las Vegas Golden Knights marching band will also perform. Race fans at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the 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 NHRA Nevada Nationals event winners.

Fans are invited to the Nitro Alley Stage all weekend, which will help create a festive atmosphere leading into Nitro Alley. The Nitro Alley Stage will be the main entertainment hub in the pits when the Camping World Drag Racing Series competitors are not on the track, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets, influencer interviews 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, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers, and more. 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.

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12:00 and 3:00 p.m. PT on Friday, Oct. 27, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 12:00 and 3:00 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. PT on Sunday, Oct. 29. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday with eliminations on FS1 at 5:00 p.m. ET on Sunday.

To purchase tickets to the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, call 800-644-4444 or visit www.lvms.com. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general admissions areas with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, visit www.nhra.com.

About Camping World Holdings, Inc.

Camping World Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Lincolnshire, IL, (together with its subsidiaries) is the World’s largest retailer of RVs and related products and services. Our vision is to build a long-term legacy business that makes RVing fun and easy. Our Camping World and Good Sam brands have been serving RV consumers since 1966. We strive to build long-term value for our customers, employees, and shareholders by combining a unique and comprehensive assortment of RV products and services with a national network of RV dealerships, service centers and customer support centers along with the industry’s most extensive online presence and a highly trained and knowledgeable team of employees serving our customers, the RV lifestyle, and the communities in which we operate. We also believe that our Good Sam organization and family of programs and services uniquely enable us to connect with our customers as stewards of the RV enthusiast community and the RV lifestyle. With RV sales and service locations in 43 states, Camping World has grown to become the prime destination for everything RV. For more information, visit www.campingworld.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 21 national events featuring the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports, Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown™ and Top Fuel Harley Series. 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 120 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.

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