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No. 10 IHOP Ford Racing: Aric Almirola Las Vegas Advance

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ARIC ALMIROLA
Las Vegas Advance
No. 10 IHOP Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

Event: SouthPoint 400 (Round 33 of 36)

Time/Date: 2:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 15

Location: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Layout: 1.5-mile oval

Laps/Miles: 267 laps / 400.5 miles

Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 80 laps / Stage 2: 85 laps / Final Stage: 102 laps

TV/Radio: NBC / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Aric Almirola at Las Vegas: In 20 career starts on the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway desert oval, Almirola has four top-10s, all coming since he joined Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) in 2018. Almirola has a best finish there of sixth (twice – September 2018 and March 2022) and a best start of fourth (twice – September 2019 and 2020).

● Almirola has four starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Las Vegas with a best finish of 11th in March 2015, and three starts in the NASCAR Truck Series (September 2006, 2009 and 2010), all top-10s.

● Driver Standings: Almirola arrives at Las Vegas 22nd in the driver standings.

● Almirola’s career: In 458 career NASCAR Cup Series starts, Almirola has three wins, 28 top-five finishes, 93 top-10s, six poles, and has led 1,081 laps.

● IHOP will be the primary sponsor on the No. 10 Ford Mustang for the second weekend in a row. For more than 65 years, IHOP has been a leader, innovator and expert in all things breakfast, lunch and dinner. The chain offers 65 different signature fresh, made-to-order breakfast options, a wide selection of popular lunch and dinner items, including Ultimate Steakburgers, Hand Crafted Melts, Burritos & Bowls and more. IHOP restaurants offer guests an affordable, everyday dining experience with warm and friendly service. As of June 30, there are 1,790 IHOP restaurants around the world, including restaurants in all 50 states, two U.S. territories and 13 countries outside the United States. IHOP restaurants are franchised by affiliates of Pasadena, Calif.-based Dine Brands Global, Inc. (NYSE: DIN).

● “Do a Pancake:” For too long, the popular circular burnout to celebrate a win has been called a “donut.” This season, IHOP is taking over the ultra-cool racecar move to make it its own by changing the name of a “donut” to its true inspiration – a “pancake.” The partnership includes Almirola’s IHOP-branded racecar at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend. In celebration, IHOP is giving International Bank of Pancakes rewards members a free PanCoin every time a winner does a “pancake” during a race featuring the IHOP car. Additionally, if Almirola wins at Las Vegas, one lucky loyalty member will be awarded 100,000 PanCoins.

● Beyond the 10 YouTube Series:In 2023, Almirola is continuing to share his life beyond the No. 10 Ford with season five of his award-winning YouTube series. Fans and media can subscribe on YouTube to see Almirola’s personality on and off the track. Episodes have already featured life as a dad, a husband and an athlete, and the show gives fans a unique perspective on what goes on in the life of a professional NASCAR driver. Fans can also follow Almirola’s social media channels: @Aric_Almirola on Twitter and Instagram, and @AricAlmirola on Facebook.

Aric Almirola, Driver of the No. 10 IHOP Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

Stewart-Haas and the No. 10 team have found more speed over the last few weeks. Do you feel that will carry over this weekend to Las Vegas?

“I think so. We found some things at Kansas and Texas that we didn’t have earlier in the year as an organization. There is a fine line to finding that balance, but Stewart-Haas Racing has come together more in the last month as a team to better each car and we’ve seen strides in speed ever since. We had two cars in the top-10 at Texas and have seen more consistent top-10 runs across the board, so I think we’ll see improvements from earlier this year at Vegas. Vegas is just such a tricky track to dial in each time we visit it, but I enjoy racing there and the challenge it always brings.”

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Aric Almirola

Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer

Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Jerry Cook

Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Lead Engineer: Lee Deese

Hometown: Rockingham, North Carolina

Engineer: James Kimbrough

Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Joel Edmonds

Hometown: Dobson, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Mulder

Hometown: Sioux Center, Iowa

Rear Tire Changer: Trevor White

Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard

Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotton

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: James “Ace” Keener

Hometown: Fortuna, California

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Chris Trickett

Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Jacob Cooksey

Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller

Hometown: Monroe, New York

Tire Specialist: Russel Simpson

Hometown: Medford, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Steven Casper

Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

Stewart-Haas Racing: Las Vegas NXS Advance (Cole Custer | Riley Herbst)

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Official Release
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COLE CUSTER | RILEY HERBST
Las Vegas NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance
NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview

  • Event: Alsco Uniforms 302 (Round 30 of 33)
  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 14
  • Location: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
  • Layout: 1.5-mile oval
  • Time/TV/Radio: 3:30 p.m. EDT on USA/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Cole Custer Notes of Interest

  • Cole Custer heads to Saturday’s Alsco Uniforms 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway full of confidence as the Round of 8 begins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs. Custer locked himself into the Round of 8 on points with his sixth-place finish Sept. 23 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. With nothing to lose last weekend on the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval, Custer could focus on fighting for the victory and showing the strength of the No. 00 Haas Automation team. After starting seventh, Custer ran in the top-five for a majority of the race. Pit strategy helped him restart in the top-three during the final stage. He took the lead with seven laps to go after an incident involving the leaders before eventual race-winner Sam Mayer got by him. Custer finished second, .909 of a second behind Mayer. It was Custer’s best Roval finish in three starts.
  • The Alsco Uniforms 302 will be Custer’s seventh Xfinity Series start at Las Vegas and his 15th overall. He has seven NASCAR Cup Series starts at the track and a lone NASCAR Truck Series start. In his six previous Xfinity Series starts at the track, he’s never finished outside the top-12, and he qualified on the pole for three straight races there prior to his return to the Xfinity Series this season – September 2018, and the March and September races in 2019 – all of which resulted in top-10 finishes. His best finish at Las Vegas is third, earned in September 2018. Custer’s Truck Series outing at Las Vegas in October 2016 resulted in a third-place finish from the third starting position driving the No. 00 entry for JR Motorsports.
  • In Custer’s most recent Xfinity Series start at Las Vegas in March, the 25-year-old driver showed speed straight out of the gate after posting the fastest lap times in Friday’s practice. Despite qualifying third, he was forced to start at the rear of the field as the team had to go to a backup car. He wasted no time working his way up through the field, running eighth by the end of Stage 2. But his No. 00 Ford Mustang developed handling issues in the final stage, leaving him to persevere for a 12th-place finish.
  • Custer and the No. 00 Haas Automation team take on a pair of intermediate tracks and a short track in the Round of 8 before heading to the mile oval at Phoenix Raceway for the Championship 4 season finale. After this weekend, the Xfinity Series heads to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Oct. 21 Contender Boats 300, then concludes the Round of 8 on Oct. 28 at the half-mile Martinsville (Va.) Speedway paperclip. Intermediate tracks have been a strength for Custer in his Xfinity Series career. During his most recent fulltime Xfinity Series campaigns in 2017, 2018 and 2019, Custer scored six of his nine race wins on intermediate tracks – Nov. 18, 2017, at Homestead, Nov. 3, 2018, at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, June 29, 2019, at Chicagoland Speedway, July 12, 2019, at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Aug. 31, 2019, at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, and Oct. 5, 2019, at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway.

Riley Herbst Notes of Interest

  • Riley Herbst is heading home for Saturday’s Alsco Uniforms 302 Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 24-year-old Monster Energy driver grew up in the Entertainment Capital of the World before moving to North Carolina at the age of 17. The Herbst family name is well known in Las Vegas motorsports circle due to its competitiveness in another form of racing. His grandfather Jerry, uncles Tim and Ed, and father Troy are all Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame inductees as championship-winning off-road racers. While Herbst has been continuing to pursue his dream of racing fulltime in the NASCAR Cup Series like his West Coast childhood heroes, he’s made appearances in the off-road racing world – in the 2021 and 2022 Baja 1000 events. In his most recent outing last November, Herbst drove the third and final leg of the race and crossed the finish line first in the Trophy Truck Spec class. A time penalty dropped his team to third place in the highly competitive class.
  • Saturday’s Alsco Uniforms 302 will mark Herbst’s ninth career Xfinity Series start at Las Vegas. He has three top-10s in his eight previous starts at the 1.5-mile oval – and eighth-place finish when the series last visited in March, and a pair of back-to-back ninth-place outings in September 2019 and February 2020. Last year at Las Vegas, Herbst posted finishes of 14th in March and 18th in September.
  • While Herbst seeks victory lane for the first time at Las Vegas, his No. 98 team at Stewart-Haas Racing already knows the way. With Chase Briscoe behind the wheel, the No. 98 team swept both Xfinity Series races in 2020. Briscoe started second, led a race-high 89 laps, and beat runner-up Austin Cindric by 2.874 seconds in the February race. He backed up that victory in September by qualifying on the pole, leading a race-high 164 laps, and beating runner-up Noah Gragson by 1.370 seconds.
  • Prior to Saturday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Herbst will make a trip to the 1.5-mile oval Thursday for the track’s annual “Paint the Track” event in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Las Vegas native will help paint the start-finish line pink beginning at 11 a.m. local time with breast cancer survivors.
  • Last weekend on the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval, Herbst and the No. 98 Monster Energy team felt refreshed and ready to finish the year on a high note coming off the final Xfinity Series off weekend. He qualifed ninth, then ran in the top-10 for the majority of the race. In the final stage, he restarted third in his Ford Mustang thanks to a savvy pit strategy from crew chief Davin Restivo. Herbst ran in the top-four for the remainder of the race and even battled for a top-three on the final restart. Ultimately, he would finish fourth, his best in four Xfinity Series appearances on the Roval.

Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang

Las Vegas marks the first race of the Round of 8. The points are reset and you now sit fifth in the standings, just two points below the top-four cutline. What are your thoughts heading into these next three races, and what do you need to make it to the Championship 4?

“I mean, overall, I feel like we’ve been a Championship 4 car and capable of making that final round all year. It’s just a matter of doing what we’ve been doing and making sure we maximize everything going into these final few races. Then, we just have to make sure we’re staying consistent like we have been. I mean, some guys will try and get a little bit too much in the playoffs and get themselves in trouble. So, we just have to take what the races give us and go from there. I think we have a team that knows how to win races and championships. Some people might doubt us going into these next few races, but I think we’re going to surprise them. We’ve had good cars this past round, but I think the best is still to come.”

You’ve had a strong career at Las Vegas and showed speed when the series last visited in March. How confident are you in the No. 00 Haas Automation team this weekend?

“I’m confident in our performance and this No. 00 Haas Automation team. I think we’ve made really big gains on our mile-and-a-half tracks this year, and it’s showed as the season has progressed. We were really good at Kansas until that tire carcass ruined our car, which relates to Vegas. I know the intermediate tracks weren’t our strength earlier in the year, but I think we’ve learned so much as a team throughout the season, so I’m really confident that we’ll have a fast car when we roll off the truck and onto the track this weekend. I’m proud of how far this team has come, and I hope we can maximize the weekend.”

Riley Herbst, Driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang

You’re heading home this weekend for the Alsco Uniforms 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. What are your thoughts heading into this weekend?

“I’m excited to go home. The two Las Vegas races are always fun for me because I’m heading back to the place where I grew up. I started chasing the NASCAR dream at the Bullring just across from Las Vegas Motor Speedway and, now, I’m going back to race there in the Xfinity Series. While the track itself has been a rollercoaster for me, I think we have been able to show speed there and on intermediates in general. Hopefully, we can show just that this weekend. Just ready to get home and put on a show for the home crowd.”

With only four races left in the season, you’ve mentioned that you’re going back to your original goals for the 2023 season, which were to focus on consistency and chasing a win. What would it mean to score your first Xfinity Series victory at your home track?

“It would mean a lot. Getting a win in the Xfinity Series is all that I’ve been chasing, but to get it at my home track would just make it that much more special. We have some work to do, but I think we have the speed to do it. We’ve brought some fast cars to intermediate tracks this year, so I think we can compete up front. It’s going to take a fast car, fast pit stops, and no mistakes to make it to victory lane, though. I think 2023 has thrown us a lot of bad luck, but I want to finish out this year strong. There are only four races to go. Four more chances to go for the win.”

JR Motorsports — NXS Las Vegas II Preview

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Official Release
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JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
RACE: Alsco Uniforms 302 (201 laps / 301.5 miles)
DATE: Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023

Broadcast Information – TV: 3:30 p.m. ET on USA / Radio: 3 p.m. ET on PRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Sam Mayer
No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet

  • Sam Mayer heads west to Las Vegas Motor Speedway coming off a dominant win at the Charlotte Roval that propelled him into the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs.
  • Heading into the first race of the Round of 8, the young driver currently sits fourth in the playoff point standings, two points above the cutline.
  • Mayer has four starts at the 1.5-mile speedway where he’s scored a pair of top 10s.
  • In 19 starts on tracks measuring 1.5 miles in length, the Wisconsin native has tallied four top-five and 11 top-ten efforts in his NXS career.

Josh Berry
No. 8 LubeZone Chevrolet

  • Las Vegas has been good to Josh Berry in his NXS career. In five starts, Berry has two wins, four top-five and five top10 finishes, an average finish of 3.6 and has led 105 laps.
  • The Hendersonville, Tenn. native has won the last two fall races on the 1.5-mile oval.
  • Berry has earned three of his five career NXS victories on 1.5-mile tracks, with a 2022 triumph at Charlotte Motor Speedway joining his two Las Vegas wins in 2021-22.
  • Berry has an enviable record on tracks measuring 1-2 miles in NXS competition. Of his 27 top-five finishes, 14 have come on such tracks, including a fifth-place earlier this year at LVMS.

Brandon Jones
No. 9 Menards/Jeld-Wen Windows Chevrolet

  • Brandon Jones has made 13 starts in the NXS at Las Vegas and has tallied two top-five and nine top-10 finishes with a best of third coming during the 2019 and 2021 seasons.
  • Additionally, Jones has made two starts at Las Vegas in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and scored one top-five and one top-10 finish coming during the 2015 season where he finished in the fifth position.
  • Jones’ average finish of 10.2 in “Sin City” is the fifth best on active tracks in the NXS for the 26-year-old.
  • On tracks measuring between 1-2 miles in length in the NXS, Jones has four wins, 19 top-five and 57 top-10 finishes in a combined 129 starts.

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet

  • Justin Allgaier enters the Round of 8 in the NXS Playoffs as the third seed, 15 points above the playoff cutline with three races remaining in the round.
  • In 18 career NXS starts at Las Vegas, Allgaier has scored 10 top fives and 15 top 10s, including four consecutive top fives dating back to 2021.
  • The Illinois native has additionally finished in the runnerup position on four different occasions in Las Vegas, including in two of the last four events at the 1.5-mile speedway.
  • Allgaier earned his way into the Round of 8 by virtue of his victory at Bristol Motor Speedway last month.

Driver Quotes

“Las Vegas is one of my favorite 1.5-mile tracks that we go to and I’m ready to get there with the momentum we have coming off a win at the Roval and transferring to the next round of the playoffs. I am so proud of this No. 1 JR Motorsports team for not giving up and building such fast Chevrolets for me to go out and perform at the highest level.” – Sam Mayer

“We are ready to go in this Round of 8 with our BRANDT Professional Agriculture team. We know what lies ahead for us and I know that we are plenty capable of doing what we need to do to get to Phoenix. I have always enjoyed racing at Las Vegas and we have been really strong there over the past couple of seasons. Hopefully, we will have that same speed that we had in the spring and be up front in contention for the win when it counts. I know that Jim (Pohlman, crew chief) and everyone on this No. 7 team will give me a great car, we just need to go out and execute the same way we have been and we should be right where we want to be.” – Justin Allgaier

“Las Vegas just seems to suit my driving style, and we’ve had a lot of success there over the past couple of seasons. We ran fifth there earlier this year and had a shot at an even better result. Having LubeZone back with us this week is really special, and we’ll go out there with all intentions of getting a victory. We want to finish out the season on a high note and doing that would be a great start.” – Josh Berry

“In our last few mile-and-a-half races, we have had a lot of speed and have had great finishes and this weekend in Vegas should be more of the same. This team has been really good at Vegas in the past and I am hoping we can be just as good this weekend, if not just a little bit better. We have a couple more races to go and I’d enjoy nothing more than to put this team in Victory Lane after everything that has happened this season.” – Brandon Jones

JRM Team Updates

  • JR Motorsports at Las Vegas: JR Motorsports has made a combined 72 starts in “Sin City”. Over the course of those starts at the 1.5-mile oval, the organization has recorded three wins, 32 top-five and 48 top-10 finishes. Las Vegas is the site of JR Motorsports’ first career organizational win as a NASCAR Xfinity Series team with Mark Martin taking the checkered flag in 2008. Josh Berry has won two straight fall races at Las Vegas and the organization also finished 1-2-3 in the two aforementioned events.
  • Souvenir Rig: JRM drivers Justin Allgaier, Brandon Jones and Sam Mayer will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports / Legacy MC souvenir rig on Saturday, Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. local time.

Toyota Racing – Weekly Preview – 10.11.23

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This Week in Motorsports: October 9 – 15, 2023

· NCS/NXS: Las Vegas Motor Speedway – October 14-15
· ARCA WEST: The Bullring at Las Vegas – October 13
· NHRA: Texas Motorplex – October 13-15

PLANO, Texas (October 11, 2023) – NASCAR opens the Round of 8 for the Cup and Xfinity Series Playoffs at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, while ARCA West races at the Bullring at Las Vegas. NHRA heads to Texas as the back half of the Countdown begins.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS

Four Toyota drivers advance to Round of 8 … After a chaotic and action-packed race at the Charlotte ROVAL, four of the five Toyota Cup Series playoff drivers advanced to the Round of 8. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex, Jr., Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell, along with 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick, are still alive for the championship. Truex and Hamlin start the round above the cutline, while Bell and Reddick are below.

Inching closer to 500 … With Reddick’s pole at the ROVAL last weekend, Toyota is now two poles away from 500 in NASCAR competition. Toyota has also captured five of the last six poles in the Cup Series and leads all manufacturers with 13 this season.

Opportunity for Truex Jr. at a favorite track … Truex has many favorable tracks across the Cup Series schedule, which includes Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 20-year Cup veteran has 11 top-10s in the last 12 races in Las Vegas, including two wins in 2017 and 2019. Another top-10 would provide a major boost to his chances at a second championship.

Nemechek and Smith continue in the Playoffs … Both Toyota Xfinity Series playoff drivers, John Hunter Nemechek and Sammy Smith, made it through to the Round of 8 after last weekend’s Charlotte ROVAL race. Nemechek leads the points standings and starts the round 37 points above the cutline, while Smith is 14 below heading into Las Vegas.

Nemechek happy to return to Las Vegas … Heading back to Las Vegas Motor Speedway puts a smile on Nemechek’s face. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has three top-fives in five Xfinity Series starts and has completed 99% of the laps run in those races. The 26-year-old is also on a five-race top-10 streak, gaining momentum at the right time with four races remaining.

Grala looking to continue hot streak … After a fifth-place finish at the ROVAL last weekend, Sam Hunt Racing’s Kaz Grala has three top-10s in the last four races. Another top-10 this weekend would be Grala’s best finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA West

Hingorani looks to further championship lead … With three races remaining in the 2023 NASCAR ARCA West season, Toyota’s Sean Hingorani is currently 37 points ahead in the championship standings going into the Las Vegas Bullring. This is Hingorani’s second start at the Bullring as he looks for his fifth win of the season, and third in the last four races.

NHRA – Top Fuel | Funny Car

Toyota leading Top Fuel with three races to go … Beginning the final three races of NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship, Toyota drivers make up four of the top five in the Top Fuel points standings. Doug Kalitta currently leads the standings by 47 points, followed by Steve Torrence in third, Justin Ashley in fourth and Antron Brown in fifth.

Everything’s bigger in Texas, including Toyota’s Top Fuel performances … Texas Motorplex has been a second home for Toyota Top Fuel drivers, who are looking for a fourth consecutive triumph this weekend and the seventh win in nine races. Ashley has won the last two seasons (2022, 2021); Texas native Torrence won at the Ennis, Texas, drag strip in 2020 and 2018; and Brown topped in 2016.

Texas is also a favorable track for Capps … While Toyota’s Top Fuel teams have dominated Texas, so has Ron Capps in Funny Car. The 2022 Funny Car champion is going for his third straight at Texas Motorplex as he tries to reel in the leaders for another season title. Currently, he sits in fourth position, 33 points behind.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 24 electrified options.

HOIST® to Serve as Official Hydration Partner of RFK Racing

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Official Release
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CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 11, 2023) – HOIST®, one of the fastest growing hydration beverages in the U.S., and NASCAR’s Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing have teamed up for a multi-year partnership launching in 2024, which will see the fast-moving brand serve as the official hydration partner of RFK.

“We’re excited to kick off this partnership with HOIST, a brand that is up and coming throughout the beverage industry,” said RFK driver Chris Buescher. “I have been drinking HOIST for a while now and it’s changed the game in my overall hydration and performance. We know their product will take us to the next level both on and off the track and we can’t wait to ‘hoist’ our bottles in victory lane.”

HOIST offers IV-level hydration across its product line of bottled beverages, powder sticks and liquid pouches. The HOIST formula is isotonic and made to absorb instantly, making this pairing ideal for extreme athletes like Chris Buescher of RFK Racing, to excel in races and outperform competitors. HOIST is clinically proven to replenish your body with the electrolytes, carbohydrates, and fluids your body needs without delay.

“This partnership is the perfect blend of speed, precision, and hydration as HOIST keeps Chris and his team fueled for success on and off the racetrack,” said Rachel Trotta, Director of Business Development for HOIST. “We are thrilled to align with a like-minded team who shares a passion for excellence, resilience and breaking boundaries.”

RFK Racing began competing in NASCAR in 1988, growing into one of the most successful teams in NASCAR – becoming the first team in the sport’s history to amass over 300 victories. RFK boasts 141 NASCAR Cup Series wins and continues to grow with the addition of NASCAR Champion Brad Keselowski in 2021. The team placed both drivers in the 2023 NASCAR Playoffs, with Buescher currently competing for the championship in the Round of 8.

For more information about HOIST, visit www.drinkhoist.com.

For more information about RFK Racing, visit www.rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

About HOIST
Founded in 2009, HOIST provides IV-level hydration in the form of a bottle alongside a military-grade powdered product for those looking to add an elevated hydration to their liquid. Born and built in the Midwest, HOIST’s Cincinnati-based team has developed a product that’s not only a trusted hydration for the U.S. Department of Defense, it’s also the go-to hydration among many who #LiveExhausted, pushing their physical and mental limits to achieve maximum performance. For more information please visit www.drinkhoist.com.

About RFK Racing
RFK Racing, in its 36th season in 2023, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, brings to the team a championship mindset himself having won the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Championship. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

Mazda MX-5 Cup Renews Partnership with IMSA and Andersen Promotions

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IMSA VIR 2023

The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires has extended its partnership with sanctioning body International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and series operations specialists Andersen Promotions. Both parties have taken the series to new heights of professionalism and popularity.

Mazda MX-5 Cup will continue to operate under the IMSA umbrella in 2024 and beyond. The relationship with IMSA began in 2021 and instantly captured the attention of sports car fans globally. The opportunity to compete at tracks including Daytona International Speedway and Sebring International Raceway, as part of some of North America’s most iconic events, has highlighted how competitive and entertaining the series can be.

“The MX-5 Cup series puts on some of the most entertaining races in all of motorsports,” said IMSA President John Doonan. “Since joining the IMSA family in 2021, the MX-5 Cup series has become quite a popular addition to IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship event weekends, with pulse-pounding action and photo finishes seemingly every time out. We are proud to confirm that the series will continue with IMSA sanctioning for at least the next three years and hopefully well into the future.”

Equally as important, the officiating and administrative services IMSA offers rival any professional racing syndicate and the AMR Safety Team is indispensable.

MX-5 Cup became part of the Andersen Promotions roster in 2016. With decades of operational experience in motorsports, Andersen Promotions brought a wealth of resources and knowledge to the table. Their staffing has brought the series to a higher level of professionalism and efficiency with a high priority placed on customer service for competitors.

“The Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship is not only the best value in motorsports, but it has awesome teams and drivers delivering fantastic racing event after event,” Andersen Promotions Owner & CEO Dan Andersen said. “It’s been a real pleasure for Andersen to be involved in series operations and work alongside the professionals at IMSA to produce something we are especially proud of. The future looks very strong thanks to Mazda.”

The continuity of these relationships ensures that MX-5 Cup is well situated for further growth as a star among spec racing series for years to come.

“IMSA and Andersen have been phenomenal partners,” Mazda Motorsports Senior Manager Jonathan Applegate said. “Andersen Promotions has streamlined the operations of the series and their staff bring a lot of experience. That’s especially helpful since our relationship with IMSA has increased our audience worldwide. I believe our competitors are equally pleased to know these top-tier services will continue.”

The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Cup season comes to a close October 11 – 13 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Watch Round 13 on Thursday, October 12 at 5:45pm ET and Round 14, Friday, October 12 at 10:30am ET, both streaming live on RACER.com.

About: The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires is the signature spec series for Mazda Motorsports. The series has been operated by Andersen Promotions since 2017 and is currently sanctioned by IMSA. Mazda-powered grassroots champions can earn Mazda scholarships for this pro-level series. The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup awards more than $1 million in prizes and scholarships.

Find out more at http://www.mx-5cup.com.

Hennessey’s 1,000-HP EXORCIST Camaro ZL1 ‘Final Edition’ Challenges Demon 170

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  • Hennessey introduces its EXORCIST Camaro ZL1 ‘Final Edition,’ celebrating the end of Chevrolet’s high-performance combustion-only pony car
  • The supercharged LT4 V8 is comprehensively upgraded to 1,000 horsepower – placing the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 in its crosshairs
  • Production is limited to 57 exclusive examples, commemorating 57 years since the iconic Chevrolet Camaro first entered production
  • Each EXORCIST ‘Final Edition’ is backed by Hennessey’s comprehensive 3-year / 36,000-mile limited warranty

SEALY, Texas, Oct. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hennessey Performance, the world-renowned Texas-based hypercar manufacturer and high-performance vehicle creator, has announced an end-of-production limited ‘Final Edition’ series of the company’s famed EXORCIST Camaro ZL1 upgrades.

In stock form, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has a 6.2-liter supercharged LT4 V8 rated at 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. Hennessey’s expert technicians, who have been ‘making fast cars faster’ for more than 32 years, fit the Camaro’s pushrod V8 with a larger high-flow supercharger, high-flow air induction system and upgrade the auxiliary fuel system, fuel injectors, and fuel pump. Turning to the V8 powerplant, the cylinder heads are ported, custom HPE camshafts are fitted, and the intake valves, exhaust valves, valve springs, retainers, lifters, and pushrods are upgraded. An oversized heat exchanger is fitted for enhanced cooling, while long-tube stainless steel headers and high-flow catalytic converters improve breathing.

Following years of R&D and refinement, the EXORCIST ‘Final Edition’ is calibrated with a finely tuned HPE Engine Management software upgrade. This enhancement, along with the comprehensive overhaul of the engine, results in the LT4 engine achieving an output of 1,000 horsepower and 966 lb-ft of torque – a 54 percent increase in power and a 49 percent boost in torque. Performance is jaw-dropping, as the EXORCIST ‘Final Edition’ boasts a 2.1 second 0-60 mph time, 9.57 second ¼ mile, and a top speed of 217 mph.

The original EXORCIST, introduced in 2017 on the Camaro’s sixth-generation Alpha platform, was created by Hennessey to ‘slay the Dodge Demon,’ a reference to the rival supercharged Challenger – its 840 hp output paled in comparison to Hennessey’s 1,000 hp EXORCIST. Today, Dodge has announced its dragstrip-tuned Challenger SRT Demon 170 with an E85-fueled 1,025 hp. Despite the Challenger’s boost in power, the Hennessey’s EXORCIST Camaro ZL1 ‘Final Edition’ – tuned for the racing circuit and day-to-day driving – isn’t backing down.

John Hennessey, company founder and CEO: “Our comprehensive upgrade to the Camaro ZL1 is one of my all-time favorites. The chassis, suspension, and powerplant work seamlessly together, so all the driver experiences is raw, unbridled horsepower. There’s nothing else like our EXORCIST, so we’re eager to share this special limited edition with fans of this iconic car before it’s gone forever.”

Complementing the upgraded powerplant – each engine is embellished with a unique ‘Final Edition X of 57’ serial-numbered engine bay plaque, commemorating 57 years since the iconic Camaro first entered production. The engine badging is accompanied by EXORCIST ‘Final Edition’ graphics on the exterior.

Hennessey’s EXORCIST ‘Final Edition’ upgrade is backed by the company’s comprehensive 3-year / 36,000-mile limited warranty. Production of the model is underway. Interested parties are encouraged to contact authorized Ford retailers or Hennessey directly through HennesseyPerformance.com; or by calling +1 979.885.1300.

About Hennessey
Based in Sealy, Texas, the Hennessey business comprises Hennessey Special Vehicles, Hennessey Performance (HPE), Tuner School, and the Lonestar Motorsports Park. The company has re-engineered more than 12,000 vehicles for performance enthusiasts worldwide to deliver unparalleled driving thrills. Alongside modifying a diverse range of sports and muscle cars since 1991, the company also applies its high-performance expertise to trucks and SUVs – and boasts its own hypercars – the Venom GT and the Venom F5.

Every Hennessey product is dyno-proven, fully track-tested, street-legal, and warrantied. Customers can choose from road-ready performance-enhanced cars by Hennessey from various brands, including Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, and Jeep, all benefitting from a host of high-performance upgrades.

With its own test track, engineering curriculum for aspiring tuners, more than 100 team members, and capacity to simultaneously work on 40-50 vehicles, Hennessey Performance is one of the world’s leading specialist vehicle engineering companies. HennesseyPerformance.com

About Hennessey Special Vehicles
The Hennessey Special Vehicles team was formed to create the world-record-breaking hypercars, the Hennessey Venom GT (270.49 mph in 2014) and the current world-record-holding ‘fastest convertible’ the Hennessey Venom GT Roadster (265.5 mph in 2016).

In 2020, Hennessey Special Vehicles launched the 100% bespoke, twin-turbocharged, 6.6-liter V8 Venom F5 Coupe, which sold out in 2021. An open-top Roadster and track-focused Revolution variant joined the F5 Coupe in 2022 and 2023, boasting the F5’s prodigious 1,817 bhp ‘Fury’ engine. In mid-2023, the Texas-based company revealed the Venom F5 Revolution Roadster, which combines visceral open-air motoring with a racing circuit focus. The company is delivering like never before on its mission of ‘making fast cars faster.’ HennesseySpecialVehicles.com

Social media
Instagram: HennesseySpecialVehicles / HennesseyPerformance | YouTube: HennesseyPerformanceF5 | Facebook: @hennesseype | X: @HennesseyPerf

HaasTooling.com Racing: Ryan Preece Las Vegas Advance

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Official Release
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RYAN PREECE
Las Vegas Advance
No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: South Point 400 (Round 33 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 15
● Location: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
● Layout: 1.5-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 267 laps/400.5 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 80 laps / Stage 2: 85 laps / Final Stage: 102 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Viva Las Vegas: The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Sin City this weekend for the South Point 400 on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway 1.5-mile oval. Sunday’s 267-lap race will be at 2:30 p.m. ET with live coverage by NBC, PRN and SiriusX NASCAR Radio. Ryan Preece will pilot the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) for the second time this season at the Nevada desert track. Preece and the No. 41 team have been making positive strides over the last few weeks, looking to close out the season with solid results. In the last four races, Preece has three top-12 finishes and hopes to keep that momentum going this weekend.

● By The Numbers: Preece will make his eighth career Las Vegas start this weekend. His first was in 2019 for JTG-Daugherty Racing. In March 2021, Preece tallied his best Las Vegas finish of 15th. In his last visit in March, Preece started 31st and finished 23rd in his outing there with SHR and his first in a Ford Mustang.

● About HaasTooling.com: Back on the No. 41 Ford Mustang this weekend is HaasTooling.com, the cutting tool division of Haas Automation led by SHR co-owner Gene Haas. HaasTooling.com was launched as a way for CNC machinists to purchase high-quality cutting tools at great prices. Haas cutting tools are sold exclusively online at HaasTooling.com and shipped directly to end users. HaasTooling.com products became available nationally in July 2020. Haas Automation, founded in 1983, is America’s leading builder of CNC machine tools. The company manufactures a complete line of vertical and horizontal machining centers, turning centers, rotaries and indexers, and automation solutions.

● HaasTooling.com Winner’s Circle: The focal point of the No. 41 Ford Mustang’s red, white and black paint scheme this weekend is the HaasTooling.com Winner’s Circle logo. The online tooling division of the U.S. machine tool builder Haas Automation, Inc. introduced the Haas Tooling Winner’s Circle this year, a membership program that offers customers free next-day delivery, discounted pricing on all products, and a lower threshold for free shipping. HaasTooling.com already offers industry-leading pricing and fast delivery on an expansive selection of cutting tools, toolholders, and workholding products. Now, Haas Tooling Winner’s Circle members will get the added benefits of free shipping on all orders over $49, free next-day delivery anywhere in the contiguous United States (on most orders), and 5% off every tooling purchase. For even greater savings, the 5% discount may be combined with other promotions, and a single membership may be used by an entire company.

● Last Weekend: The Cup Series competed close to home last weekend, taking on the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval on Sunday. Preece and the No. 41 team qualified 18th Saturday afternoon. In Sunday’s race, Preece’s Ford Mustang lacked forward drive and grip to start out but, with the team’s adjustments and focus on pit strategy, Preece was able to race into the top-10 during the final stage of the race. He took home an 11th-place finish.

● Where He Stands: Preece heads to the Las Vegas 24th in the driver standings with 555 points.

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

Whenever you’ve been asked about the goal for the remainder of the season, you’ve said it’s all about consistency. You’ve had three top-12 finishes in the last four races. Do you feel like that consistency is showing?
“I do, for sure. This team has what it takes to run up front and have top-10, top-five finishes every week. From the beginning of the season, we have worked so hard on being a team that is consistent the entire weekend. It all counts, not just the laps during the race. It’s showing and we are proving that we can be up there and in the mix. I’m proud of these guys and I’m excited to see what this team can do as we end the season and prepare for next year, too.”

You’re heading back to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the second time this season. Can you take anything from this year’s first race there and implement it this weekend?
“Yeah, I mean, I think our mile-and-a-half program has gotten better and better as a whole at SHR and I know it has for us on the 41 team. Las Vegas has always been a place that I’ve typically liked and looked forward to going to. In March, it was my first time there in the NextGen car but I was able to learn a lot and take in a lot from that race. Speed hasn’t been an issue for us this season. The speed is there, so we’ve just got to keep bringing fast racecars, executing in qualifying and performing on Sundays. We were really decent at Texas a few weeks ago, and having two solid finishes in the last two weeks is exactly what our team needed. I know we can keep that going this weekend at Las Vegas.”

No. 41 HaasTooling.com 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

Mitsubishi Motors to Premiere an Electrified Crossover MPV Concept Car at the Japan Mobility Show 2023

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Official Release
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Concept car

TOKYO, Oct 11, 2023 – (JCN Newswire) – Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (hereafter, Mitsubishi Motors) heads to the Japan Mobility Show 20231 to premiere an electrified crossover MPV concept car that will awaken the adventurous spirit of drivers and expand their horizons. In addition, the company will debut the all-new Triton2 pickup truck in Japan, as well as displaying the Last 1 mile Mobility, a small mobility vehicle developed in collaboration with a start-up company.

The electrified crossover MPV concept car combines the road handling of an SUV with the comfort and user-friendliness of an MPV, with a view toward achieving a carbon-neutral society. Based on the concept of Borderless Adventure, it features a vastly spacious cabin with a sense of openness, and offers the cruising range and driving performance to handle all kinds of adventures. Driver can enjoy the exhilarating driving experience of an electrified vehicle, and with the ability to switch driving modes as the situation demands, there are no limits to the destinations it can reach.

With a high ground clearance and an electric four-wheel drive system that allows the large-diameter tires to grip the ground and perform exactly as the driver intends, this electrified crossover MPV will be a reliable partner that provides a pleasant driving experience with peace of mind regardless of weather or road conditions, giving drivers the confidence to go one step further than before.

Last 1 mile Mobility

The Last 1 mile Mobility is a small mobility vehicle developed in collaboration with LIFEHUB Inc.3, a start-up company that is working on the development and commercialization of next-generation mobility chairs. This buggy-type compact mobility system powered by used batteries from electrified vehicles enables further adventures after the car reaches its destination.

All-new Triton (prototype)

Developed under the product concept of Power for Adventure, the all-new Triton is a one-ton pickup truck with a completely revamped interior and exterior design, frame, chassis, body and engine. The new model is scheduled for launch in Japan early next year, which will mark its first entry into the Japanese market in about 12 years.

Key features:

The newly-developed ladder frame has been honed to achieve the utmost in durability and reliability, and the new 2.4L clean diesel turbo engine balances higher power output and enhanced environmental performance.
The newly developed suspension provides excellent ride comfort and steering stability, while the Super Select 4WD-II and upgraded drive modes deliver superior road performance.
The exterior features a commanding front-end design and a wide profile with robust styling, while the interior is classy yet highly functional and easy to operate.
Improvements in collision safety performance, driver assist features, and comfortability make it suitable for a wide range of applications from business to personal use.

  1. The Japan Mobility Show 2023 is organized by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. October 25 and 26 are press days, October 27 is a special invitation day, and October 28 to November 5 are general public days. Tokyo Big Sight is the main venue.
  2. Sold as L200 in some markets
  3. LIFEHUB Inc. is a start-up company engaged in the research and development of mobility products. It aims at delivering freedom of mobility to all people by developing products that utilize robotics, AI and other cutting-edge technologies. Website: https://www.lifehub.co.jp/home-en.html
  4. Pronounced “eK ‘cross’ EV”

About Mitsubishi Motors

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (TSE:7211) —a member of the Alliance with Renault and Nissan—, is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has about 30,000 employees and a global footprint with production facilities around the world. Mitsubishi Motors has a competitive edge in SUVs, pickup trucks and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and appeals to ambitious drivers willing to challenge convention and embrace innovation. Since the production of our first vehicle more than a century ago, Mitsubishi Motors has been a leader in electrification—launched the i-MiEV –the world’s first mass-produced electric vehicle in 2009, followed by the Outlander PHEV –the world’s first plug-in hybrid electric SUV in 2013.For more information on Mitsubishi Motors, please visit the company’s website at https://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/

TOYOTA Unveils Details of JAPAN MOBILITY SHOW 2023 Booth

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Official Release
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Presenting the mobility society of tomorrow under the theme “Let’s Change the Future of Cars – Find Your Future”

Toyota City, Japan, Oct 11, 2023 – (JCN Newswire) – TOYOTA will be exhibiting at the JAPAN MOBILITY SHOW 2023, to be held from Thursday, October 26 to Sunday, November 5(1), with a booth themed “Let’s Change the Future of Cars―Find Your Future.”

At the TOYOTA booth, visitors can enjoy stage performances throughout the entire area, which include music and dance. Another feature is the chance to experience life in the mobility society of the future through attractions that can be enjoyable by all, such as a chance to customize mobility vehicles and racing games with fully hand-operated controls.

The vehicle exhibits will embody Toyota’s “Mobility for All” spirit, including the new model of the Century and the Crown series―displayed alongside the machines that will evolve into the one-of-a-kind cherished cars of tomorrow. A photo spot with Toyota’s lunar buggy and various other surprises scattered throughout will provide take-home mementos of the future experience. TOYOTA’s booth will offer a taste of the future mobility society that we are creating together.

Main interactive content

CAPSULE BAR

The rear of a vehicle will be custom outfitted as a Capsule Bar, where visitors can answer simple questions to receive a toy gift: a capsule containing one of nine different miniature cars and fun secret items.

NEO Steer(2) Driving Experience

Toyota is developing new technologies that enable drivers to control vehicles without gas or brake pedals, including in a standing position or from a wheelchair. These new driving experiences will be available to visitors through the realistic driving simulator “Gran Turismo 7” (software for PlayStation 5/PlayStation 4)(3).

Details on specific exhibit vehicles will be released in upcoming announcements. Come see, experience, and enjoy the mobility society of the future.

(1) Held at Tokyo Big Sight (Koto-ku, Tokyo) October 25-26: press, October 26-27: special invitation, etc. October 28-November 5: general public
(2) Official name: New Era Operating Steering
(3) “Gran Turismo” and “PlayStation” are registered trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

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