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From 15th to Podium: Wright Motorsports and Volt Lighting Porsche Shine at Chaotic Petit Le Mans

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BRASELTON, Ga., (October 16, 2023) – As Wright Motorsports prepared to say goodbye to Alan Brynjolfsson – who closes out his professional sports car racing career – the team persevered in a challenging race, earning a third place finish at the 26th Annual Motul Petit Le Mans. Brynjolfsson, with co-drivers Trent Hindman and Max Root celebrated a second podium of the year for the No. 77 VOLT Lighting Porsche, the top finishing Porsche at one of the most remarkable races of the season.

“This third-place result is a true testament to all of the effort put in by our drivers and team over the season,” said Team Owner John Wright. “We’re sad to see Alan, his wife Trish, and their VOLT Racing program leave the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, but performing so well in such an unpredictable race is a great way to close things out. We’re thankful for what we’ve been able to build together and to be a part of Alan’s growth as a driver over the years. It has been an honor.”

Alan Brynjolfsson took his final green flag on Saturday morning, from 15th position after a qualifying session that threw unexpected weather at the field on Friday morning, October 15. The Michelin Pilot Challenge champion drove one of the best stints of his career, climbing up to seventh place by the 40-minute mark. While other competitors suffered early contact or penalties, Brynjolfsson drove a clean opening segment of the race, even avoiding contact when facing heavy pressure from the GTD class champions. Instead of caving to the pressure, Brynjolfsson had a smooth pass on the No. 16 Wright entry in turn 10 A/B, and later expertly avoided a large multi-car crash in the same turns in the second hour of the race. He completed his minimum-required drive time and pitted from seventh place on lap 114 to give the VOLT Lighting machine over to Hindman. His clean and competitive triple stint around the 2.54-mile circuit closed his final on-track performance in the IMSA GTD class.

With three hours of the race complete, Hindman started his stint under caution, climbing up to sixth by passing Gunnar Jeannette’s Porsche and Bill Auberlen’s BMW, continuing the advance of the VOLT machine. He made another pass for fifth before closing out his opening stint and passing the car over to Max Root.

Root joined the race in ninth, focused on running consistent lap times and keeping the Porsche clean in what was unfolding to be an attrition-filled race for most of the field. As VOLT’s sister car took the class lead, Root continued the climb of his Porsche, sliding past the No. 66 and No. 27 to return to seventh place. An eighth full course caution assisted in closing the 5.6-second gap to the car ahead, and he pitted for Hindman to resume his driving duties with four hours remaining. Hindman rejoined and restarted from sixth place, and within an hour had cycled through to third place.

At this point in the race, various GTD cars were racing on different strategies, and nerves began to mount. Expecting there to be more cautions towards the end of the race, the Wright strategy wisely called for fuel saving with Root and Hindman alternating stints until the end of the race. The Porsche 911 race cars came alive in the cooler temperatures, and the strategy from the pit box positioned Hindman to restart from fifth place with 25 minutes remaining.

The biggest shakeup unfolded in the final 12 minutes when the No. 18 prototype stopped on track, bringing out yet another full-course caution. Jan Heylen, in the No. 16 entered by Wright Motorsports, ran second with Hindman in fourth, but on the restart, a GTD Pro car hit the No. 16 Wright Porsche in turns 10 A/B, causing a ripple effect of collisions that resulted the No. 16 and No. 80 losing their ability to fight for podium contention. The No. 96 of Robby Foley and the No. 77 of Hindman safely navigated through the scuffle as the crew watched with bated breath from pit lane.

The No. 77 VOLT Lighting Porsche finished in third place, earning the second podium of the season for drivers Alan Brynjolfsson and Trent Hindman as well as endurance addition Max Root. In a race with so many cautions that resulted in 25 percent of the GTD class retiring early, the Wright Motorsports trio took great pride in closing out the race and the season as the top-finishing Porsche.

DRIVER QUOTES

Alan Brynjolfsson

It’s great to end the season and my time in GTD with a podium finish. Everyone did such a great job, and it’s an honor to race with this group.

Trent Hindman

This was quite unexpected. Considering the year that we’ve had and the buildup to this moment, there was a lot of work being done to maximize what we can do in this race. I’m glad it all paid off. To close out the year, and end Alan’s GTD run, with a podium finish was a wish come true.

Max Root

I’m super excited for the VOLT team. We’ve definitely had our highs and lows; this high being the highest of them all. Trent and Alan did an incredible job today. Every man and woman on the team did such a great job. We got a little lucky this time and hard work paid off.

Wright Motorsports

Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series and international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy, and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013, and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team, and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. In 2020, the team captured the GT World Challenge America Am championship. In 2021, Wright Motorsports had a wildly successful season, capturing nine championships across their five racing efforts.

About VOLT® Lighting

Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, VOLT® Lighting manufactures and distributes quality indoor and outdoor lighting products and systems. VOLT® is the largest manufacturer of professional landscape lighting in the world. For more information, visit www.voltlighting.com or contact the company at customersupport@voltlighting.com or 813-978-3700.

About Adelie Technik

Founded in 2011 Adelie Technik, a Service Disabled Veteran Small Owned Business (SDVOB) deploys the highest caliber engineers and consultants for our customers needs. Adelie is focused on delivery of your solution to your customer on your schedule. Adelie can deliver solutions ranging from PC deployment up to full DataCentre builds and beyond. Our engineers can also migrate your environment to the cloud. For more information on Adelie Technik, see adelietechnik.com.

We represent the highest quality in racing safety with the intention of maintain our position at the top. With 50 years in the industry, Sabelt is the world’s premier safety equipment manufacturer. A result of intense research and development.

Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing Team WeatherTech Racing Wins GTD-Pro at Motul Petit Le Mans

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Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing Team WeatherTech Racing Wins GTD-Pro at Motul Petit Le Mans and Joins Korthoff Preston Motorsports in Sweeping the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD Championships at the Season-Ending Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta

BRASELTON, Georgia – Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams brought the curtain down on the 2023 North American racing season with a multiple-championship and race-winning performance Friday and Saturday at the 26th Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway. The No. 79 WeatherTech Racing/Proton Competition Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Jules Gounon, Daniel Juncadella and Maro Engel won the GT Daytona (GTD) Pro class race in Saturday’s 10-hour Petit Le Mans IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship finale and joined GTD team Korthoff Preston Motorsports in sweeping all six GTD/GTD Pro championships in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (IMEC). Saturday’s banner day followed Friday’s season-ending IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race that saw Mercedes-AMG GT4 teams secure the second straight Grand Sport (GS) class manufacturer championship and third in the last five seasons for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport. A repeat title was also won by Wilsports and team drivers Gary Ferrera and Kris Wilson who captured a second-straight Pilot Challenge GS Bronze Cup title Friday in the No. 11 Wilsports Mercedes-AMG GT4.

A championship within the overall IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the IMEC awards the top performers in the year’s long-distance races at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen and this weekend’s 10-hour Petit Le Mans.

Co-driving with Cooper MacNeil – who won in his final race – Gounon, Juncadella and Engel took an IMEC GTD Pro points lead they would hold all season after a victory in January’s season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona.
Going into Petit Le Mans with a three-point lead, WeatherTech clinched the IMEC driver, team and manufacturer titles for Mercedes-AMG at the eight-hour mark. Incredibly, WeatherTech went on to take the overall GTD Pro victory two hours later, one of the few teams in the history of the Endurance Cup to win that title while also taking a race victory in the season finale.

Gounon, Juncadella and Engel combined to lead a class-high 97 laps, including the final 41 circuits when Juncadella never faltered under pressure from the second-place finisher. The victory was the first for the Mercedes-AMG GT3 at Petit Le Mans in any class and a GTD Pro class-high fourth of the season for the WeatherTech team and drivers.

The Korthoff Preston team’s road to its first championship of any kind was a little tougher with the No. 32 Korthoff Preston Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 team and drivers Mikael Grenier, Mike Skeen and Kenton Koch coming into Saturday’s race one-point out of first place in the IMEC GTD battle.

Second place points in the first segment at Petit at the four-hour mark gave the No. 32 its first IMEC championship lead of the season and they all but sealed the driver, team and manufacturer titles at the end of the race’s eighth hour when they earned the maximum five points for leading GTD at that point. From there the team focused on a clean and controlled run to a sixth-place finish while making sure they stayed ahead of or matched the final IMEC segment points of their closest competitor.

The GTD/GTD Pro IMEC sweep is the first time Mercedes-AMG GT3 teams and Mercedes-AMG have won dual IMEC team, driver and manufacturer titles. WeatherTech’s strong day also saw them move up to second in the final full-season WeatherTech Championship GTD Pro team and driver championships.

The Korthoff Preston team led three times Saturday for 58 laps in GTD, but the main class pacesetter was the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Russell Ward, Philip Ellis and Indy Dontje. The team’s 142 laps at the front of the GTD field was the fourth highest lead lap total of the 52 cars in the race, trailing only three Prototype competitors, but the run was derailed from what appeared to be a certain race victory after contact with a lapped car in the race’s closing stages. Despite the damage, Ellis brought the damaged No. 57 across the finish line in ninth place for a lead lap finish.

Saturday’s haul of six championships was preceded by a pair of titles secured in Friday’s two-hour Michelin Pilot Challenge finale. A fifth place GS finish for Bryce Ward and Daniel Morad in the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 was enough to give Mercedes-AMG its second consecutive manufacturer championship and third in the six years the AMG GT4 customer racing program has been in operation in North America. The first Pilot Challenge GS manufacturer championship for Mercedes-AMG was won in 2019.

Every team competing in a Mercedes-AMG GT4 this season was a championship contributor. Winward also earned the manufacturer points with victories at Indianapolis and Detroit while Murillo Racing scored the first of three Mercedes-AMG GT4 wins this season at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in May in addition to a string of other top finishes.

Lone Star Racing delivered the GS championship points at Sebring and even part time and debuting team Thaze Competition helped in the title race by garnering the points at its home race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

Wilsports did its part by going a perfect two-for-two in Bronze Cup titles in the two-year history of the award that is championship within the overall GS series for “Am” or sportsman drivers. Ferrera and Wilson also won the inaugural Bronze Cup last year.

Christian Szymczak and Kenny Murillo led or challenged for the overall GS driver and team championship all season in the No. 72 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 and ultimately finished third in the final standings for the No. 72 team’s best GS season on record.

The inaugural VP Racing SportsCar Challenge season wrapped up at Petit Le Mans and Tim Probert ended the year on a high note. Probert finished second in the Bronze Cup class race in the No. 72 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 in Thursday’s opening race. He was in a position to battle for the lead in the closing stages of the 45-minute sprint only to have a late and race-ending caution period take away a shot at the victory. Probert came back with an equally strong showing in Friday’s finale for another second-place class finish to close the season with a double-podium showing.

Stefan Wendl, Head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing: “All in all, a great weekend for us. With the maiden win for Mercedes-AMG in Motul Petit Le Mans, our expectations were even exceeded. On top of that, there are driver, team and manufacturer titles both in GTD and GTD Pro in the Michelin Endurance Cup. We can be very, very happy with that. We extend our thanks to WeatherTech Racing, Winward Racing and Korthoff Preston Motorsports who have made this success possible and have delivered a fantastic season.”

Daniel Juncadella, Driver – No. 79 WeatherTech Racing/Proton Competition Mercedes-AMG GT3: “It was a great result for the whole WeatherTech Racing/Proton team. We had a tough middle of the season, but we had a great car for Petit. It made my life easy to bring it home for the win in my last stint. It was great to win the IMEC Championship, Rolex 24 and the two sprint races and then to finish with a big win today is amazing. Thanks to David and Cooper MacNeil for all of their support throughout the year and the WeatherTech Racing/Proton crew.”

Jules Gounon, Driver – No. 79 WeatherTech Racing/Proton Competition Mercedes-AMG GT3: “Amazing! We came into this race with big hopes and happy to have Maro back with us. I had a lot of fun with my teammates, and usually when you have a lot of fun, you get some good results. We started the year with the win at Daytona and then at Sebring we did our best and finished third. Petit Le Mans is an incredible race and one that every driver wants on their C.V. None of us had won here, for me it was my first time here, and to get a win is just great. I want to thank the MacNeil family, David and Cooper, for all of the effort to build this project around us. To win Daytona, Petit Le Mans and two sprint races was great. We are proud of the WeatherTech Racing/Proton team for all their hard work.”

Maro Engel, Driver – No. 79 WeatherTech Racing/Proton Competition Mercedes-AMG GT3: “It was a great race for us. For the three of us, it is all our first victories here at Petit Le Mans, and that is definitely one of those boxes you want to check in your career. Winning the GTD Pro class here means a lot. Big thanks to Mercedes-AMG, the WeatherTech/Proton team for giving us an amazing car and great strategy today, which brought us back into the game.”

Mikael Grenier, Driver – No. 32 Korthoff Preston Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3: “It was a good race. We led a good part of the race, running in the top three most of the race after starting P12, so it was a really good strategy from the team. My teammates drove amazing as well. In the end we had to sacrifice the race to win the championship. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 was good but it is always tricky because it was warm during the day, but you finish in the night. So, the conditions change, but the car was really good at the end. The team was great, not a mistake the entire race and the car doesn’t have a scratch on it after 10 hours.”

Mike Skeen, Driver – No. 32 Korthoff Preston Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3: “This goes to show the high level of performance these guys have and the great effort the Korthoff Preston team has put in all year. They called some great strategy to get us some track position early in the race, we ran up front, led a bunch of laps and scored points when it mattered. We kept the car clean and brought it home to the finish. It wasn’t a representative finish of our performance in the race, but we focused on getting the points we needed in the Endurance Cup, and I am super happy to bring it home and get this finish.”

Kenton Koch, Driver – No. 32 Korthoff Preston Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3: “It’s pretty cool to be part of a team that has the dedication and the manpower to do as well as we have. I am pretty honored to be included for the endurance races and I just did my part. It was a team effort to be able to be in this position to win the IMEC championships. It’s also a first for me.”

Bryce Ward, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “The good qualifying really helped and it’s really because what Daniel and I have been working on through the season on the simulator. Thanks to him and the ‘Moradness’ crew that have all been a great help and inspiration to me. A lot of restarts in my stint but I eventually got into a great rhythm and turned the car over to Daniel, I think in sixth place. The team did an amazing job on the strategy. We had a really strong end to our season, and we are already looking forward to Daytona. I am truly proud that we were able to earn the championship points for Mercedes-AMG in the year’s final races and earlier in the season. Mercedes-AMG has been a really great platform for us, and I am looking forward to continuing for many years to come.”

Kenny Murillo, Driver – No. 72 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “I am just so incredibly grateful to be racing in Michelin Pilot Challenge, especially in the Mercedes-AMG GT4. The car has done wonders for us all season long and put us in a position to fight for a championship. All credit goes to the Murillo Racing crew for an incredible effort all year. I am just a small piece in this giant puzzle.”

Tim Probert, Driver – No. 65 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “I was really looking forward to this last race of the season. Atlanta is a great place that I always enjoy, and the team always prepares me very well for this track. For me at least, the Mercedes-AMG GT4 works well here. I did a good job in qualifying, even in the damp conditions, and a lot of that comes down to the car itself. It does very well in the wet. I was absolutely going to make a move at the end of the first race. I was planning to do that, but we got a little cut short. But it has been a great season, two P2 results to finish and some respectable overall finishes too. I just love driving the Mercedes-AMG GT4 and Murillo Racing does a great job setting it up for us.”

Corey Heim Set to Return to TRICON in ’24

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Regular Season Champ Back for Another Full-Time Truck Effort

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (October 16, 2023) — TRICON Garage (TRICON) announced today that Toyota development driver and 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) Regular Season Champion Corey Heim will return to the organization for a second consecutive full-time campaign aboard the No. 11 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro.

The 21-year-old driver is in the midst of a deep playoff run, clinching his first career berth in the Championship 4 with a victory at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway on September 14. It has been a landmark season for the Georgian with three victories, three poles, 11 top-fives, 18 top-10s and a series-leading 507 laps led.

“I am super grateful to have the opportunity to return to TRICON in 2024,” said Heim. “We still have unfinished business this season, but I am excited to have my plans set for next year. We have continued to improve from top to bottom throughout this season, and I can’t wait to keep building this program with my No.11 team and the entire organization.”

As a member of the Toyota Driver Development program (TD2), Heim has continually impressed, amassing five career truck wins and nine ARCA Menards Series victories. The rising prospect has taken TRICON to new heights in 2023, helping guide the organization to its winningest season in team history.

“In his first full season in the NASCAR Truck Series, Corey has consistently shown maturity beyond his age, leading his team and winning the regular season championship. We are excited to watch him continue to grow next year in a second season with TRICON Garage,” said Tyler Gibbs, general manager, TRD. “Corey continues to demonstrate his desire, dedication and determination to drive at the highest levels of NASCAR. We are proud to have him in the TD2 family and look forward to watching him continue to grow and develop. Everyone at Toyota and TRD is excited to cheer on Corey in Phoenix as he pursues his first NASCAR title.”

The penultimate round of the 2023 Truck Series season will take place at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, October 21 with the finale two weeks later at Phoenix Raceway on Friday, November 3. Both events will be televised live on FOX Sports 1. Radio coverage will be provided by the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About TRICON Garage

TRICON Garage is Toyota Racing Development’s flagship NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series organization fielding five full-time Toyota Tundra TRD Pros. Under ownership by former NASCAR driver David Gilliland, businessman Johnny Gray and industry veteran Kevin Ray, TRICON is actively involved in three different industries – racing, fabrication and transportation. The team operates out of three buildings totaling 60,000 square feet in Mooresville, North Carolina.

RILEY HERBST SCORES FIRST XFINITY WIN AT LAS VEGAS

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*Photo courtesy of NASCAR Media & Getty Images

LAS VEGAS, NV – October 16, 2023 – Stewart-Haas Racing’s #98 Riley Herbst won Saturday’s Alsco Uniforms 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, marking his first win in the Xfinity Series. The win also marked Stewart-Haas Racing’s 24th Xfinity Series victory and 100th win overall.

“Congratulations to Tony, Gene, Davin, Riley, and everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing on the race win at Las Vegas,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Both Stewart-Haas cars were fast throughout the day. Riley raced his way from the back of the field and dominated at his hometown track for the win.”

“Oh my goodness. I love this town. I love this team. Davin Restivo believes in me, but I have to give a big shout out to Richard Boswell because I wouldn’t be the person I am or the race car driver without him. I can’t thank Monster Energy enough, Mitch Covington, Dave Gowan. Everybody said I couldn’t do it and those two people stuck behind my my whole career. You don’t even know what this means and what this takes off my chest. I can’t believe it. I love you Las Vegas. Let’s go,” commented Herbst.

Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer started Saturday’s race from P2 while Riley Herbst qualified in P8 but started the race at the rear of the field. With 10 of 45 laps remaining in Stage 1, Custer passed Chandler Smith to take the lead and win the stage by 0.392 seconds. A multi-car wreck at the beginning of the second stage red-flagged the race for nearly nine minutes to clean up the debris. Custer maintained the lead throughout the second stage until Riley Herbst made a last lap pass to win Stage 2. During the break before the final stage, all the cars on the lead lap pitted and Herbst won the race off pit road. With 75 laps remaining, Herbst held a 4-second lead over teammate Cole Custer. After a final round of green flag pit stops for new tires and fuel, Herbst cycled back to the lead with 56 laps to go and didn’t look back. Herbst took the checkered flag with a margin of 14.959 seconds over second place John Hunter Nemechek, leaving only 10 cars on the lead lap.

Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Cole Custer finished in P3.

The NASCAR Cup Series also raced at Las Vegas on Sunday. RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher finished in P4 and P10, Team Penske’s Joey Logano finished in P11, and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Aric Almirola and Kevin Harvick finished in P13 and P15.

Both the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series head to Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida this weekend.
35 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 456 WINS – 420 POLES

About Roush Yates Engines
Roush Yates Engines is a leading-edge engine development company based in Mooresville, NC consisting of two state-of-the-art facilities – Roush Yates Engines and Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions, a world class AS9100 Rev D/ISO 13485 certified CNC manufacturing facility. The company’s core business includes designing, building and testing purpose-built race engines.

Ford Performance in partnership with Roush Yates Engines is the exclusive engine builder of the NASCAR FR9 Ford V8 engine and Ford Mustang 5.2L V8 engine, used in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series.

With an unparalleled culture of winning and steeped in rich racing history, Roush Yates Engines continues to follow the company’s vision to lead performance engine innovation and staying true to the company’s mission, provide race winning engines through demonstrated power and performance.

PT Autosport looks to finish strong at COTA

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Alex Sedgwick aiming for first Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America win as a breakout 2023 season comes to a close

MILLVILLE, NJ (16 October 2023) – PT Autosport with JDX Racing and driver Alex Sedgwick scored their first Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America series podium at the Formula One Miami Grand Prix weekend last March.

The team now looks to capture that elusive first series victory at this weekend’s Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America season finale doubleheader, part of the 11th Formula One Lenovo United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Sedgwick aims to continue his solid run in the second half of the season, having scored three podiums in the last six races. The 24-year-old Warwickshire, UK native tested his No. 98 PT Autosport Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Car at COTA in September but since the 3.436-mile, 20-turn road course is much longer than any circuit on the series schedule, the track presents a unique set of challenges.

“There is so much to COTA and it’s all so varied,” said Sedgwick. “You can get a good run through the Esses in the first section but then you might struggle over the final section. It’s a massive compromise with car setup here – you have to choose how to apply your strengths then just basically deal with it everywhere else. It’s difficult to get consistently good exits out of tight corners with the GT3 Cup car, especially as the tires wear, and COTA has some long straights coming out of tight corners so it will be important to be super consistent and minimize mistakes. And of course, track limits come into play more at COTA than anywhere else.

“With just the one test day on a very long track, I might not feel quite as well prepared as I’ve been over the past few races, but I also feel that I get up to speed quite quickly,” continued Sedgwick. “We have just one practice session this weekend to find that balanced setup so figuring it out fast will be key. I’m definitely looking to continue the results we’ve had over the past few weekends and if we can finally get that race win, so much the better.”

For PT Autosport team principal Jason Myers, COTA represents a chance for the rookie team to make a statement – on one of the racing world’s biggest stages.

“COTA is such an epic track and to be there with F1 is just icing on the cake,” said PT Autosport team principal Jason Myers. “The testing here last month went well, and we’re looking forward to seeing that translate into some high place finishes while we continue to push for third in the championship. It’s an F1 track so every driver loves to drive it, but it’s made for cars with more speed and downforce than the Porsche GT3 Cup car, so it will be an interesting race.

“Our first F1 weekend was our first podium, so maybe our second F1 weekend will be our first victory!”

eSeries entry deadline Wednesday

PT Autosport has announced a new iRacing Sim-based winter series that offers a real-world prize to the winner: automatic entry into the finals at the team’s 2024 Aspiring Driver Shootout.

The four-round iRacing winter series will take place each Saturday from November 18 to December 16 at Noon EST, with a break for Thanksgiving weekend. But the series comes with a significant twist: the car and track combinations will be announced within an hour of the competition, removing the chance to test cars and setup in advance, which significantly levels the playing field. In addition, various secret twists will test drivers on their adaptability and determination, just like in real world scenarios.

Competitors can sign up for the series on the PT Autosport website – the deadline is Wednesday, October 18.

The Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America series will contest two races at the F1 Lenovo United States Grand Prix October 21 and 22. Race one takes the green flag Saturday at 3:10 p.m. EDT, with race two Sunday at 11:50 a.m. EDT. The race will be broadcast live in the U.S., on IMSA.tv, the NBC Peacock streaming app and PorscheCarreraCup.us.

PT Autosport would like to thank JDX Racing partners Byers/Porsche Columbus, and Renier Construction.

About PT Autosport

PT Autosport is a newly formed racing team currently based at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, NJ. The team campaigns rising star Alex Sedgwick (U.K.) in the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America series for the 2023 season with JDX Racing, 2022 Aspiring Driver Shootout winner Henry Drury (UK) in select PCA and SCCA races during the 2023 season, and 2023 Aspiring Driver Shootout winner Brenna Schubert in a to-be-announced series for the 2024 season.

PT Autosport is working towards bringing diversity and opportunity to the motorsport industry, hosting their annual Aspiring Driver Shootout, in which aspiring drivers aged 18-23 can compete for a $100,000 racing partnership with the team. Visit PTAutosport.com for more info.

Racing to End Alzheimer’s raising funds and awareness at COTA

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Joining Formula 1 in Texas, the team looks forward to adding to the season tally for its Houston-based beneficiary

LOS ANGELES (16 October 2023) – The Racing to End Alzheimer’s team heads to Circuit of the Americas this weekend for the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America season finale doubleheader with the goal of putting on a show for the Texas fans – and to help a nationally recognized, Texas-based Alzheimer’s research center make a difference in the fight to eradicate the disease.

One of the longtime beneficiaries of the Racing to End Alzheimer’s program is the Nantz National Alzheimer Center (NNAC), based in Houston. The NNAC was established by legendary sportscaster Jim Nantz in 2011, to honor his father, who passed away from the disease in 2008.

Racing to End Alzheimer’s mission is to increase awareness of this terrible disease while giving families a way to honor their loved ones in a very tangible way – and raising funds for research and treatment.

The team carries 186 names on the No. 43 Porsche 992 Cup Car driven by Mark Kvamme. For a $250 donation, a loved one’s name is placed on the car as it races across the United States (https://www.r2endalz.org), with 100% of the donations matched, and shared between the team’s two beneficiaries.

Since 2017, Racing to End Alzheimer’s has donated over $425,000 to the NNAC to assist vital research.

The NNAC has become a world-renowned research and referral center, dedicated to improving the quality of life for every patient by slowing memory-loss progression, and, one day, preventing the disease. The center is vigorously pursuing research and has made significant contributions toward identifying new medications aimed at delaying or stopping the progression of Alzheimer’s disease – which is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. The center’s work has contributed to the development of a new treatment regimen recently approved by the FDA.

“We need more and better cures for Alzheimer’s disease” says Dr. Joseph Masdeu, director of the Nantz National Alzheimer Center. “Even the one that was recently approved by the FDA only slows down the progressive worsening people with Alzheimer’s experience. We are looking at other approaches, such as building up a brain antioxidant and modifying brain inflammation. For people who are completely normal but at risk of getting Alzheimer because they have a family history of the disease, we are finding out whether they have a buildup of the beta amyloid protein and if so, giving them a medication already shown to reduce amyloid plaque.

“We could not do the groundbreaking research we do without the support of initiatives like Racing to End Alzheimer’s.”

With six Am class wins from 14 races so far this season – and podiums in all 14 – Kvamme heads to the season finale with a great deal of momentum. Kvamme is second in the points, and is determined to capture his second consecutive series championship title – and Frengs intends to spend every moment of this final race weekend of the year doing what he does best, with over 100,000 fans on hand.

“Being able to interact with Formula One fans is a very cool aspect of these race weekends,” said Racing to End Alzheimer’s founder Phil Frengs. “We’re thrilled to join the Carrera Cup series and to make this a record-breaking season in terms of donations to the Nantz Center and to UCLA.

“It’s going to add up over time and it’s going to make a difference in each of these organizations,” continued Frengs. “As a businessman and entrepreneur, I’m part of the group of people who thinks that we can always fix something. The truth of the matter is, when it comes to Alzheimer’s, there isn’t much you can do. For me, this foundation—this effort to raise awareness around Alzheimer’s and dementia—is something I can do.”

The Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America series will contest two races at the F1 Lenovo Grand Prix October 21 and 22. Race one takes the green flag Saturday at 3:10 p.m. EDT, with race two Sunday at 11:50 a.m. EDT. The race will be broadcast live in the U.S., on IMSA.tv, the NBC Peacock streaming app and PorscheCarreraCup.us.

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.

NHRA AT DALLAS: Team Chevy Race Recap

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Official Release
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CHEVROLET IN NHRA
2023 TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS STAMPEDE OF SPEED
TEXAS MOTORPLEX
ENNIS, TEXAS
TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE
OCTOBER 15, 2023

ERICA ENDERS RACES TO THE DALLAS WIN AND BECOMES THE WINNINGEST FEMALE IN NHRA HISTORY WHILE EARNING CHEVROLET THEIR 380TH VICTORY IN PRO STOCK

  • In her 350th NHRA start, Erica Enders captured her 47th drag racing victory to further solidify herself in the history books and become the winningest female in NHRA history.
  • Enders’ 47 NHRA wins came from behind the wheel of a Chevrolet, with 46 in Pro Stock and one in Super Gas.
  • Enders’ Dallas win Sunday captured Chevrolet their 380th Pro Stock win and 261st in the Camaro for the Bowtie brand.
  • Enders leaves the Texas NHRA FallNationals event the Pro Stock points leaders with two races, Las Vegas and Pomona, left in the Countdown to the Championship.
  • 16-time champion and veteran driver John Force raced to the final round to finish runner-up after defeating Jeff Diehl in Round 1, Cruz Pedregon in Round 2, and JR Todd in the semifinals.
  • Veteran driver Lottig, driver of the ITI Trailers and Truck Bodies Chevrolet COPO Camaro, captured his second career FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown No. 1 Qualifier Friday after three rounds of qualifying.
  • Chevrolet also captured victories in both Stock Eliminator and Super Stock, with Jerry Emmons and Tyler Wudarczyk racing to their respective national event win for the Bowtie brand.
  • Greg Anderson, driver of the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro SS Pro Stock, captured his second No. 1 Qualifier of the season and five bonus points toward the Countdown to the Championship with his run of 6.480 ET at 211.76 MPH.
  • Deric Kramer raced his way to a $7,500 payday bonus after his career-best Friday night pass of 6.486 ET as part of Texas Motorplex’s Friday Night Live program. The driver with the fastest ET of the evening in each category wins prize money as well as a pair of custom Corral Boots.

ENNIS, Texas (October 15, 2023) – Capturing her 47th NHRA victory, her 46th in Pro Stock and one in Super Gas, Erica Enders, driver of the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Chevrolet Camaro SS Pro Stock further solidified herself in the drag racing history books to become the winningest female in NHRA history.

Defeating KB Titan Racing’s Dallas Glenn in her 79th career final round with her pass of 6.469 ET at 211.55 MPH to Glenn’s 6.493 ET at 210.40 MPH, the native Texan leveraged her 350th race to capture her third win of the season and continue her strong march to a potential sixth championship.

With her 47 NHRA victories coming from behind the wheel of a Chevrolet, Enders said of her Wally trophies and wins, “We have a lot that mean an awful lot to us, but this one does a lot for self-confidence and for my team. As a little girl that eight years old with big dreams to be a professional driver one day in a junior dragster and working my way through the Lucas Oil Series, and now being here for 20 years, this one will sit proudly alongside some other ones. This has been quite the journey for us; it has not been easy. Way more valleys than peaks, but my team, man. Richard Freeman gave the opportunity ten years ago, and we’ve never looked back. This is quite the exciting weekend for us.”

“Congratulations to Erica Enders on becoming the winningest woman in NHRA history, said Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President for Performance and Motorsports. “Erica’s preparation, hard work, determination and focus on teamwork has been instrumental to her success. We are proud that Erica’s 47 wins and five championships have been in a Chevrolet.”

John Force, driver of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, carried the Chevrolet nitro teams to the final round, defeating Jeff Diehl in Round 1, Cruz Pedregon in Round 2, and JR Todd in explosive fashion in semifinals, with the car facing a “blow up” towards the finish line and splitting the body. While Force walked away and readied for the final round, his John Force Racing team readied his Chevrolet to face Matt Hagan. While Force smoked the tires early in the run, and Hagan was able to capture the victory, it was still a strong day for the 16-time champion and drag racing legend.

“I had a race car this weekend that was back in the hunt,” said Force. “(Crew chiefs) Daniel Hood and Tim Fabrisi and Mac Savage and the whole team ran this hot rod into 3.80s every run. Then it got in trouble in the semifinals when we had that explosion after it spun the tires. We got it back together thanks to all the teams joining in to help. I was in my moment because that’s how I lived and grew up in racing and I love being a part of it. It gets my energy up! I just couldn’t get the job done with Hagan. We wanted to help Robert (Hight) and cut a few points but he’s still only three rounds behind with two to go.”

Facing a tough day at a critical time, the Top Fuel pairing of Brittany Force, driver of the Flav-R-Pac/Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster, and Austin Prock, driver of the Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster, along with teammate Robert Hight, driver of the AAA/Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, saw their race days end prematurely in Round 1 after being defeated by their competitors.

After securing his second career FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown No.1. Qualifier, Lenny Lottig faced off in his ITI Trailers and Truck Bodies Chevrolet COPO Camaro against Doug Hamp in the finals, with Hamp getting lane choice in the finals. Seeing an all-Chevrolet semifinal and final round, Lottig nabbed the win for the Bowtie brand in the category at the FallNationals after Hamp lost traction at the start and Lottig running of 7.628 ET at 172.42 MPH. With Aaron Stanfield leaving Dallas still leading the points and also representing Chevrolet, the Bowtie brand occupies the top two spots in the Championship with Stanfield leading and Stephen Bell in second.

In Stock Eliminator, Jerry Emmons raced to the FallNationals win in his Chevrolet SS 396, defeating Jimmy Hildago with his run of 10.514 ET at 113.36 MPH to Hildago’s 10.892 ET at 107.05 MPH. Additionally, in Super Stock, Tyler Wudarczyk picked up his sixth national event win in his Camaro, defeating Victor Penrod for the Wally trophy.

With two races to go in the 2023 NHRA Countdown to the Championship, the penultimate event sees Team Chevy drivers and teams heading to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the NHRA Nevada Nationals October 26-29, 2023. In competition and representing the Bowtie brand, Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown take to the track that weekend to battle it out. Broadcast of Sunday’s eliminations air at 5 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Coverage streams live throughout the weekend on NHRA.tv, and is available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:

Brittany Force, driver of the Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster for John Force Racing:

“It was a tough Sunday for this Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy team. We qualified well. We had three killer runs and went into the show from the number four position and got beat first round. It’s hard to pack up and leave on that note (but) we head to Vegas next and we are looking to surprise everyone and come out and win it. This team can win! We’ve done it before, and we have two more races to get it accomplished this year.”

Austin Prock, driver of the Rocky Mountain Twist/Montana Brand Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster for John Force Racing:

“Not the way we wanted to end our weekend. We had a strong race car all weekend and just missed the set-up first round. The track was technical and got the best of us, but we will come out swinging again in Las Vegas, a win there would be a dream come true.”

Robert Hight, driver of the AAA/Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car for John Force Racing:

“Not the weekend that we hoped for. “This would have been a great opportunity to gain some points (but) this championship is far from over and the AAA/Cornwell team will bounce back in Vegas!”

Greg Anderson, driver of the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro SS Pro Stock for KB Titan Racing:

“Every matchup is tough out here. These guys are bad to the bone, and I said that before. Anybody can beat anybody right now. Obviously, (Aaron Stanfield) did a better job. So, my hat is off to him. It’s an absolute dog fight out here. There are so many cars that can win, so many drivers that can go low or double-o lights on you. The price of poker right now is so high. Just disappointed I didn’t get it done. It’s been a good run lately, but I didn’t get it done there and that’s going to cost. Now, I need a miracle.”

Troy Coughlin, Jr., driver of the JEGS.com Chevrolet Camaro SS Pro Stock for Elite Motorsports:

“It’s racing. You sign the waiver at the gate, and it’s a danger. That’s just part of the game. It’s definitely unfortunate for everybody at Elite Motorsports, for all of our sponsors – JEGS.com, White Castle, really everybody on the car. I can tell you that everybody at Elite Motorsports is going to work extremely hard. We’re going to get it together for Vegas. The effort that goes into getting these things ready is second to none – the best. Everybody bands together and works so hard, so it’s really exciting. It’s definitely my driving force to becoming a better driver. Really, I could’ve done a better job keeping it off the wall. I knew (Erica Enders) was probably around me where the motor started to expire. I probably should’ve steered a little bit more to the inside. Things happen so fast and in the moment. The cockpit was full of smoke, my helmet full of smoke. You’re struggling to breathe, you’re not breathing your normal air. A lot of things aren’t like they are. You get into a routine. A lot of things are so different, but we’ll be back in Vegas.

Have you had a chance to assess (the car)? Obviously, the motor expired and there’s some body damage, but do you have a lot of work to do?

“I would say there’s going to be some hours involved. I would say I’ll be getting a couple of pizzas and a few things for the fellas.”

ERICA ENDERS, driver of the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Chevrolet Camaro SS Pro Stock for Elite Motorsports – Texas NHRA FallNationals Winner’s Press Conference:

YOUR FIRST RACE AT TEXAS MOTORPLEX WAS IN A JUNIOR DRAGSTER, AND NOW YOU’RE LEAVING BOTH A PRO STOCK WINNER AND THE WINNINGEST FEMALE IN NHRA HISTORY. YOU ALSO HAVE THE POINT LEAD. THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT YOU BEING IN TEXAS…

“We definitely came in here on a mission. Greg (Anderson) was just a little bit over around behind me, Matt (Hartford) was on his heels. It’s just such a tight field, and then you see everybody qualify on Friday and Saturday, and the top half is separated by just a few thousandths of a second. It’s absolutely crazy, cutthroat competition. I love racing at the Motorplex. Great day. I’m super stoked. My guys are amazing. We didn’t feel like we performed super well in qualifying. Yes, we ran in the top of the pack and qualified No. 3, but we were just missing it. I’m really grateful.”

DID YOU EVER IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS IMAGINE DOING WHAT YOU JUST DID TODAY (RACING FROM JUNIOR DRAGSTERS TO BECOMING THE WINNINGEST FEMALE IN NHRA HISTORY)?

“I don’t think so, but I say this a lot – ‘The magic of being a kid is actually believing what you think to happen will happen,’ and it did just that. As little kids, my sister and I grew up watching our dad race in the Sportsman series, and we just wanted to follow in his footsteps. NHRA came out with the Junior Drag Racing League when I was eight years old, and I drove those cars for nine years. I raced in the Lucas Oil Series for five, and now I’ve been racing Pro Stock for 20. I kind of have to pinch myself, and check myself when I get mad about things that happen when they do because I’m so blessed to do what I get to do for a living with the people that matter the most to me.”

YOU BROKE A TIE TODAY WITH ANGELLE (SAMPEY). YOU ARE THE WINNINGEST FEMALE IN NHRA HISTORY WITH 47 NATIONAL EVENT TROPHIES. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?

“That’s pretty cool, and in all of motorsports. I’m pretty stoked for that. When I first started racing Pro Stock, Shirley Muldowney had 18 wins, and Angelle (Sampey) had so many. It just seemed so far away and I felt I’m never going to race that long to be able to accomplish that many wins. To have Angelle (Sampey) here this weekend while we do it is pretty awesome. She had a great showing in her first outing in Top Alcohol Dragster, so I’m really proud of her.”

WHAT A RACE DAY YOU HAD. IT’S TREMENDOUS. WALK US THROUGH YOUR RACE DAY…

“It was an awesome day. Epic, really. In qualifying, we felt like we missed it a little bit. Even though we were running at the top of the field, we just weren’t hitting on what we wanted to and felt like there was so much more out of that car. Going up for first round, of course there’s those Sunday nerves, but it’s also the Countdown. Greg (Anderson) and Matt (Hartford) were right behind me. There’s just so much on the line, it’s hard to control your emotions up there. We went out there and went a 46 first round. The guys were excited that everything looked great on the graph when we got back, and we knew that we had a racecar. Then it was my turn to dig myself out of a ditch and get my reaction times back to normal. Progressively all day long, I got better. We had a tremendous racecar. My guys worked really hard.

“Again, when our backs are against a wall, we perform. When Aaron (Stanfield) beat Greg (Anderson), and (Troy Coughlin, Jr.) beat Matt (Hartford), I was the third pair behind them, and I was just so excited in the car just because of how everything was going. To have three Elite (Motorsports) cars in the final four is pretty substantial. Just thrilled for our entire performance today, and we parked it in the winner’s circle.”

YOU STARTED A LONG WAY BEHIND ANGELLE (SAMPEY), AND TO BECOME THE WINNINGEST FEMALE IN NHRA, YOU HAD A BIT OF CATCH UP THERE. TELL US ABOUT THAT JOURNEY…

“I guess I didn’t really realize how close we were until (NHRA) called me in the middle of the summer and said this is approaching, and these are the things we want to do when it happens. Jokingly, I was like ‘Man, I don’t want to talk about it because when we started talking about Greg’s (Anderson) 100th win, it took him a while to get there. Don’t talk about it. I don’t want jinx it. I just want it to come naturally.’

“As a little kid growing up, Angelle (Sampey) was one of my idols, one of my heroes. We had her t-shirts and her autographs and whatnot. For it to come full circle, and when we turned pro in 2004, making our pro debut in ’05, I only had one national event Wally, which was Super Gas. The first seven seasons of my pro career went winless. So, it took us a long time. I remember like it was yesterday tying Shirley Muldowney with 18 (wins), when we won the U.S. Nationals in 2015. Here we are at 47. It’s pretty crazy. To not have it for just drag racing, but for motorsports worldwide is, it’s pretty substantial. While, yes, I just want to be viewed as a driver, it is totally badass and I’m super thankful for the opportunity.

“I always thought, ‘I’m not going to race that long, to get that many wins.’ Here we are, and we’re not done yet. It’s been a long journey but it’s been really fun. It goes to show you, if you don’t ever give up, great things can happen.”

DALLAS IS A PLACE WHERE YOU COULD LOSE A CHAMPIONSHIP, NOT WIN IT, BUT LOSE IT. HEADING TO VEGAS NEXT WHERE YOU ARE KNOWN TO DO WELL, HOW IMPORTANT WAS THIS?

“To have things go right well here for us is huge. To spread the lead just a little (in the Countdown to the Championship), and as you mentioned going to Vegas, we’ve won nine or 10 nationals there. It’s no secret it’s my favorite place to race because it’s just so good to us. Coming off of a win here, and obviously we hope to carry the momentum through to Las Vegas, but then you have Pomona that’s points and a half, and it can throw a wrench in your spoke. You just have to put your head down and go to work. Again, I love racing here (in Dallas). They closed Houston, which was my home track, so this is my new home. I’ve raced here since the early ‘90’s with my family, so another huge thank you to the Meyer family for what they do for our sport, for loving it as much as we do, and making this so fun to win here.”

LAST YEAR WAS A BIT OF A DIFFERENT STORY THIS TIME THEN, AND YOU HAVE QUITE HAD THE SEASON LIKE THAT THIS YEAR…

“Lots of valleys and the start of the season was really not great at all. I don’t think we won a round for six races, which was just terrible and really painful, but it also makes me value my team that much more. We don’t get mad, we don’t have any less fun. Losing sucks, but winning is great. They put their heads down, and they went to work, and we figured out our problem even though week after week after week we were having the same issues. Being in June we were 15th in points, and we’re sitting here in the lead in points is absolutely unbelievable to me. Thankful for that, and yes, three semifinals in our first three Countdown races, and while we were slightly discouraged, my team owner was just like ‘We’ve got to semi out.’ Don’t lose before the (semifinals) and we’ll count it as a good day. So we keep our heads up and we keep going, and then we finally parked it in the winner’s circle here. But, it’s not over. It’s going to be a dog fight. I know that. These guys are really tough. We’re just going to do our best.”

Round 1 Recap:

Top Fuel:

No. 8 Austin Prock fell to No. 9 Antron Brown after losing traction on the start to Brown’s 3.682 ET at 329.0 MPH.
No. 4 Brittany Force fell to No. 13 Spencer Massey after she lost traction mid-track to Massey’s run of 3.719 ET at 327.58 MPH.

Funny Car:

No. 2 John Force defeated No. 15 Jeff Diehl on a blistering run of 3.839 ET at 331.74 MPH to Diehl losing traction mid-track.
No. 3 Robert Hight fell to No. 14 Terry Haddock after losing traction mid-track to Haddock’s 4.266 ET at 298.73 MPH.

Pro Stock:

No. 1 Greg Anderson defeated No. 16 Chris McGaha with Anderson running 6.481 ET at 211.83 MPH to McGaha’s 6.533 ET at 211.53 MPH.
No. 8 Kyle Koretsky falls to No. 9 Aaron Stanfield after smoking the tires mid-track as Stanfield ran 6.503 ET at 210.72 MPH.
No. 4 Jerry Tucker fell to No. 13 Camrie Caruso after Caruso ran 6.526 ET at 210.65 MPH to Tucker red-lighting on the start.
No. 5 Dallas Glenn defeated No. 12 Bo Butner, III after Butner took off to the left at the start of his run to Glenn getting a solid, straight run at 6.492 ET at 210.84 MPH.
No. 2 Troy Coughlin, Jr. defeated No. 15 Mason McGaha with his run of 6.476 ET at 212.56 MPH to McGaha’s 6.530 ET at 210.85 MPH.
No. 7 Matt Hartford defeated No. 10 Fernando Cuadra, Jr. with his 6.509 ET pass at 212.11 MPH to Cuadra, Jr.’s 6.518 ET at 211.56 MPH.
No. 3 Erica Enders defeated No. 14 Eric Latino in a close race with Enders running 6.467 ET at 212.23 MPH to Latino’s 6.530 ET at 210.95 MPH.
No. 6 Deric Kramer fell to No. 11 Christian Cuadra after Cuadra ran 6.508 ET at 211.34 MPH to Kramer smoking the tires and facing issues on the run.

Round 2:

Funny Car:

Force defeated Pedregon with a 3.845 ET at 327.68 MPH to Pedregon’s 3.889 ET at 328.59 MPH.

Pro Stock:

Anderson fell to Stanfield with his run of 6.488 ET at 210.69 MPH to Stanfield’s 6.498 ET at 210.50 MPH.
Caruso fell to Glenn with her run of 6.536 ET at 211.03 MPH to Glenn’s 6.515 ET at 209.29 MPH.
Coughlin, Jr. defeated Hartford with his run of 6.501 ET at 211.84 MPH to Hartford’s 6.509 ET at 210.74 MPH.
Enders defeated Cuadra with her run of 6.473 ET at 211.74 MPH to Cuadra’s 6.511 ET at 211.33 MPH.

Semifinals:

Funny Car:

Force defeated JR Todd, with Todd smoking the tires mid-track and Force facing an explosion and body split towards the end of the run. With Force okay and getting to the finish line first, he moves on the final round. Force took the winlight with a run of

Pro Stock:

Stanfield fell to Glenn after facing issues on the starting line, with Glenn running 6.500 ET at 210.40 MPH.
Enders defeated Coughlin, Jr. with her run of 6.476 ET at 211.88 MPH to Coughlin, Jr.’s 6.843 ET at 164.08 MPH.

Finals:

Pro Stock:

Enders defeated Glenn with her pass of 6.469 ET at 211.55 MPH to Glenn’s 6.493 ET at 210.40 MPH.

About Chevrolet

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

Cadillac celebrates GTP championship sweep

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Official Release
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Manufacturer, drivers and team recognized at IMSA event for season achievements

DETROIT (Oct. 15, 2023) – Cadillac swept top honors for the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, earning its fourth Manufacturer Championship and fifth IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup title in the prototype classification since 2017.

Participants were recognized and trophies presented Sunday during the IMSA WeatherTech Night of Champions at the Chateau Elan Winery & Resort in Braselton, Georgia.

Competing in the first-year Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) classification, Cadillac Racing registered two victories, six podiums overall and two pole starts in the nine-race season to clinch the GTP Manufacturer Championship. Cadillac also won Manufacturer Championships in 2017, 2018 and 2021 in the IMSA DPi era.

Cadillac added to its IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Manufacturer Championship total as the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R topped the standings in the four-race series that was capped Saturday in the 10-hour Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Cadillac previously won in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

“It’s been an incredible season,” said John Roth, vice president, Global Cadillac. “On behalf of everyone at Cadillac, I’d like to thank IMSA for the incredible work they’ve done to usher in the first year of hybrid sports car racing. It’s a great honor to win the inaugural IMSA GTP Manufacturer and IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup.”

Pipo Derani and Alexander Sims, drivers of the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R fielded by Action Express Racing, earned the GTP Driver and Team Championship. Derani received his second Bishop-France Trophy in the past three years with Cadillac Racing.

Derani, Sims and Jack Aitken also secured the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Driver and Team Championship. They won at Sebring International Raceway and were runner-up at Watkins Glen International.

Cadillac has used two decades of racing to develop the foundations of performance driving, most notably under its V-Series portfolio that is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The track-capable CT5-V Blackwing and CT4-V Blackwing, CT5-V, CT4-V and Escalade-V seamlessly incorporate learnings from the track to the road.

The 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season kicks off with the traditional Roar Before the 24 on Jan. 19-21 at Daytona International Speedway, followed Jan. 27-28 by the 62nd Rolex 24 At Daytona. A fifth IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup event – in September at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – and a June date on the streets of Detroit also highlight the season.

Cadillac Racing by the numbers

Cadillac Manufacturer Championships in all series: 9

IMSA GTP (2023)

IMSA DPi (2021, 2018, 2017)

Pirelli World Challenge GT (2014, 2013, 2012)

SPEED World Challenge GT (2007, 2005)

IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Manufacturer Championships: 2023, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017

IMSA GTP/DPi Driver Championships: 2023, 2021, 2018, 2017

IMSA GTP/DPi Team Championships: 2023, 2021, 2018, 2017

IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Driver Championships: 2023, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017

IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Team Championships: 2023, 2018, 2017

Kaulig Racing Post-Race Report | Las Vegas Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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South Point 400

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Nutrien Ag Solutions Camaro ZL1

  • AJ Allmendinger qualified 22nd for the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
  • Allmendinger battled a loose handling No. 16 Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevy from the start of the South Point 400. He reported early he was lacking rear grip. The team came to pit road for a scheduled green flag stop on lap 33 for four tires, fuel, an air pressure and wedge adjustment to help tighten up the car. When the first caution came out on lap 66, Allmendinger was running in 20th place. The No. 16 came back to pit road under caution for fuel, an air pressure adjustment and to put on qualifying tires. Allmendinger restarted in 19th and went on to finish the opening stage in 18th place.
  • Under the stage break, the team came back to pit road for four fresh tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. On the restart on lap 87, Allmendinger received a penalty for an improper restart. He served a pass-thru penalty and came off pit road in 35th place, one lap down. When the caution came out on lap 112, the No. 16 was in the lucky dog position. The team came down pit road for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment and Allmendinger restarted in 32nd on lap 118. Throughout the stage, Allmendinger continued to battle the handling of his Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevy and he went on to finish stage two in 24th.
  • Under the stage caution, Allmendinger reported he was better on entry that run. The team made another air pressure adjustment in the same direction and Allmendinger restarted in 24th on lap 172. Spotter, Frank Deiny, continued feeding Allmendinger information on where to run to make passes and the team made adjustments throughout the stage to help with the handling of the No. 16 Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevy. Allmendinger finished 21st in the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“We struggled this weekend with our No. 16 Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevy. We battled the handling of our car all day and just lacked speed. We’ll regroup and move on to Homestead.” – AJ Allmendinger

Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1

  • Justin Haley qualified 20th for the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
  • Haley’s No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1 fired off tight, forcing him to fall back to 25th. Haley worked his way back up to 21st as the No. 31 Chevy began freeing up and made his first green-flag pit stop on lap 32 for four tires and fuel. Haley made it up to 19th before the first caution of the day came out on lap 66. He pitted to put on his qualifying tires to finish out the stage. The green flag came out on lap 72, and Haley went on to finish the stage in 19th.
  • Haley pitted during the stage break to put on sticker tires. He told the team he felt his No. 31 Chevy was definitely a better long-run car. After starting the second stage in eighth place on lap 87, Haley fell as far as 27th and radioing he felt an issue with his right-rear tire. Fortunately, a caution fell on lap 112, and Haley pitted under yellow for four fresh tires and fuel. He restarted 25th with 48 laps remaining in stage two. The next caution came out on 146, and Haley pitted for four tires and fuel before restarting 23rd with 16 to go in the second stage. Haley reported another issue with his left-rear tire and was forced to nurse his No. 31 Chevy to the stage end, finishing 34th.
  • Haley took tires and fuel during the second stage break and started the final stage in 31st. The first caution of the stage came out on lap 210, and Haley radioed that his No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevy needed to be tightened up. He pitted under caution from 25th for tires and fuel and restarted 27th with 52 laps remaining. The caution flag came out right after the restart, and Haley stayed out. The green flag waved again with 45 laps to go, as Haley sat 26th. The race stayed green for the remainder of the race, and Haley went on to finish 22nd.

“We didn’t get the finish I feel like we could have had. We fired off way too tight today, but the car freed up as we ran. We definitely had a great, long-run car today. Unfortunately, a couple tire issues set us back, and we had to play catch-up and gain back some track position in the final stage. It’s disappointing, but we had good speed in our No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, so we will take everything we learned today and move on.” – Justin Haley  

Alsco Uniforms 302

Chandler Smith, No. 16 Quick Tie Products Chevrolet Camaro

  • Chandler Smith qualified fourth for the Alsco Uniforms 302.
  • Smith moved up two positions on the opening lap and ran in second before a caution came out for fluids on track on lap five. He restarted on lap 11 from second but moved into the lead thanks to a strong shove from teammate, Daniel Hemric, coming to the green. Another yellow flew on lap 14, and Smith restarted from first place on the outside row on lap 19. With 11 laps remaining, the No. 00 passed Smith for the lead, dropping him to second, where he’d finish stage one.
  • Smith came into the pits during the stage caution for tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment and restarted on lap 53 in fourth. After jumping into third on the restart, another caution came out, which led to a red flag that stopped the race momentarily on lap 55. The race restarted on lap 59 with Smith choosing the outside line in the second row to take the green. He fell back to sixth after getting pushed high on the restart lap, and he stayed there until the green-white-checkered flew at the end of the second stage.
  • Smith came down during the second stage caution for tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. He restarted in sixth on lap 97 but quickly passed two cars to move into fourth on lap 102. He pitted for the final time on lap 142 for tires, fuel and a front packer adjustment and cycled into third after a quick stop by the No. 16 Quick Tie Products pit crew. With 34 laps to go, Smith passed the No. 00 for second but lost the spot three laps later to the No. 20 car after being held up by lapped traffic. With eight laps remaining, the No. 00 re-passed Smith, pushing him back into fourth place, where he finished the race.

“At the very end of the race, we got the car to be pretty solid. We’re going to have to go back to the shop to get a bit more speed out of the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevy for Homestead-Miami next weekend, but it was overall a decent day even if we dropped some points to the cutline.” Chandler Smith

Daniel Hemric, No. 10 Cirkul Chevrolet Camaro

  • Daniel Hemric qualified sixth for the Alsco Uniforms 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
  • Hemric was up to fourth before the caution came out on lap five. He reported under the caution laps that his car had good stability. The team stayed out under caution and restarted as the second car on the inside on lap 10. Hemric was running fourth when the caution came out again on lap 14. He restarted from fourth on lap 18 and maintained his track position to finish the opening stage in fourth position.
  • Hemric came down pit road at the stage break for four tires and fuel. After gaining one position off pit road, he restarted as the first car on the inside on lap 52. Hemric had nearly been pushed to the lead by teammate Chandler Smith when the caution came out on lap 55, which then turned into a red flag. He restarted as the first car on the inside on lap 59 but slipped back to fifth on the restart. Hemric went on to finish the second stage in fifth position.
  • The team came down pit road under the stage break for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. After gaining two positions off pit road, Hemric restarted in third on lap 97. After Hemric had fallen back to eighth by lap 122, the No.10 Chevy was the first car to start the green flag pit cycles, as the team gave him four tires and fuel with 61 laps to go. While running 10th, Hemric reported that he was struggling with rear grip. He went on to finish the race in ninth place.

“We had a promising weekend going with the No. 10 Cirkul Chevrolet. We thought we had the ability to run solid inside the top five the first two stages of the race, but we just lost the balance there the last 100 laps of the race. I’m glad we were able to salvage a top 10 out of it. We look forward to trying to be better next week in Homestead.” – Daniel Hemric

Layne Riggs, No. 11 Infinity Communications Group Chevrolet Camaro

  • Layne Riggs qualified ninth for the Alsco Uniforms 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
  • Under caution on lap five, Riggs reported he needed to be freed up on the first pit stop. The team stayed out under caution and restarted in 10th on lap 10. The caution came out on lap 14 while Riggs was running 11th. He told his team he learned something on that run of where he needed to make moves and block on the track. Riggs restarted from 11th on lap 18 and continued to fall back as the stage went on while battling a tight-handling race car. Riggs finished the opening stage in 16th place and reported his race car felt unstable. The team came to pit road under the stage break for four tires, fuel, an air pressure and chassis adjustment to help with the stability of the car.
  • Riggs restarted in 13th on lap 52. When the caution came out on lap 55, the No. 11 Infinity Communications Chevy had taken over 12th place and Riggs reported he was happy with how the car fired off following the previous adjustments made. The field took the green on lap 59 and by lap 67, Riggs had fallen to 14th reporting he was too free and was lacking security. Riggs went on to finish the second stage in 15th place.
  • The team came down pit road under the stage break for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. Riggs exited pit road in 12th place where he restarted on lap 97. On lap 128, Riggs took over 10th place telling his team he was too free, especially in turns three and four. The No. 11 Chevy came to pit road on lap 141 for a scheduled green-flag pit stop, and Riggs cycled back to 11th place, just behind teammate, Daniel Hemric. on lap 156, Riggs took over 10th place where he went on to finish in the Alsco Uniforms 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, earning a career-best NXS finish.

“We finished the race, we had no damage, and we stayed on the lead lap. All of our goals were accomplished today and a little bit more. I couldn’t be more thankful to Infinity Communications, Kaulig Racing, Chris Rice and Matt Kaulig for giving me this opportunity. I had so much fun out there being able to not only race, but race hard and really get comfortable with the car while racing around a lot of competitive guys. I couldn’t be more happy with our weekend with the No. 11 Infinity Communications team, and I’m excited to be back with the team for Martinsville.” – Layne Riggs  

 
About Kaulig Racing™

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started and has won back-to-back regular-season championships. Before becoming a full-time NCS team, Kaulig Racing made multiple starts in the 2021 NCS season and won in its seventh-ever start with AJ Allmendinger’s victory at “The Brickyard” for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team expanded to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 with Justin Haley piloting the No. 31 Camaro ZL1, and an all-star lineup featured in the No. 16 Camaro ZL1. Haley will continue to drive the No. 31 full-time in 2023, alongside AJ Allmendinger, who will drive the No. 16 Camaro ZL1. The team will continue to field three, full-time NXS entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by Daniel Hemric, the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by an all-star lineup, and the No. 16 Chevrolet driven by Chandler Smith. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Race Recap: Las Vegas Motor Speedway II

By
Official Release
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Carson Hocevar, No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

START: 25TH
FINISH: 35TH
OWNERS POINTS: 32ND

Another tire goes down… was it a hard hit?

“It really wasn’t that hard, at least from the inside, but maybe it looked hard. Honestly, I thought I could have kept going, if anything, but it was a little more killed than I thought. It was a tough day. For as fast as we were, we got up to 14th at the end of the stage. I probably should have known something was going on. It was vibrating a little bit, but just thought I picked up some rubber. It’s part of it. Both of our cars were fast, it’s just unfortunate.”

Erik Jones, No. 43 Allegiant Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

START: 23RD
FINISH: 27TH
DRIVER POINTS: 27TH

Erik Jones’ Post-Race Thoughts: “We just blew a tire early and didn’t really have much after that for the No. 43 Allegiant Chevy. Not really sure what we had, but we just did some damage there with the blown tire and we were just off the pace after that. We tried to get it better, but just never really found anything. We’ll go to Homestead-Miami Speedway and hopefully put it together.”

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB:

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB is a professional auto racing club owned by businessman and entrepreneur Maurice J. Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (NCS) Jimmie Johnson. The club competes full-time in the NCS fielding the Nos. 42 and 43 Chevrolet Camaro entries, respectively, along with the No. 84 part-time entry for Johnson in 2023. Richard Petty “The King” serves as team ambassador.

In 2021, Gallagher acquired Richard Petty Motorsports and renamed the team to Petty GMS. With the addition of Johnson to the ownership structure in 2023, the organization rebranded to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (LEGACY M.C.). With a unique title signifying a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for all motorsport enthusiasts to celebrate the past and future legacies of its members, while competing for wins and championships at NASCAR’s elite level.

Based in Statesville, N.C., LEGACY M.C. operates alongside GMS Racing (GMS), which currently fields three full-time entries in the NASCAR Truck Series. Since the formation of GMS in 2012, Gallagher and Mike Beam, team president, have shared incredible success. GMS Racing captured the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship, the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Truck Series championships and the 2019 and 2020 ARCA East championships, accumulating over 65 wins across six national racing circuits.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow LEGACY MOTOR CLUB on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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