Home Blog Page 1286

GMS Racing NCTS Race Preview: Talladega Superspeedway

By
Official Release
-

Race Information

  • Round: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race no. 21 of 23 (Playoffs Round of 8)
  • Track Location: Talladega Superspeedway – Talladega, Alabama
  • Race Name: Love’s RV Stop 250
  • Broadcast: Saturday, September 30th at 1:00 PM ET live on FS1 (TV), MRN (Radio), and Sirius XM NASCAR Channel 90
  • Team Entrants:

No. 23 | Grant Enfinger & Jeff Hensley – Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet
No. 24 | Rajah Caruth & Chad Walter – Wendell Scott Foundation Chevrolet
No. 43 | Daniel Dye & Blake Bainbridge – Solar-Fit / LiftedTrucksForSale.com Chevrolet

Grant Enfinger, No. 23 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet Silverado RST

Talladega Superspeedway Stats

  • NCTS Starts: 9; Wins: 1 (2016); Best start: 2nd (2016); Top 5s: 2; Top 10s: 3; Laps led: 96
  • ARCA Starts: 6; Poles: 1 (2014); Best finish: 3rd (2009); Top 5s: 1; Top 10s: 3; Laps led: 89

2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Season Stats

  • Starts: 20; Wins: 3 (Kansas I, WWT Raceway, Milwaukee); Poles: 1 (Milwaukee); Stage wins: 3; Top 5s: 8; Top 10s: 11; Laps led: 232; Current points position: 4th (+14 to the cutline)
  • About Champion Power Equipment: Since 2003, Champion Power Equipment has earned a reputation for designing and producing the market’s finest power equipment. From our original headquarters in Santa Fe Springs, California, Champion has expanded its North American footprint to include facilities in Jackson, Tennessee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Toronto Canada. Today, Champion’s product line has expanded to include portable generators, home standby generators, inverter generators, engines, winches and log splitters. With over 2.5 million generators sold in North America, Champion is a market leader in the power equipment field. Visit ChampionPowerEquipment.com for more information.
  • Chassis History/Info: Enfinger and the No. 23 team will compete with GMS Racing chassis no. 146 in Talladega. This truck was purpose-built for the super speedways over the off season, only racing one time before in this year’s season opener. Grant qualified 16th and finished fifth with it in Daytona after scoring points in both stages.
  • Bristol Recap: Survive and advance was the keynote for the No. 23 team in the previous race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Starting from the 13th position in a race that was difficult to pull off many passes, Enfinger and crew utilized strategy to gain track position by only pitting once throughout the night. This call proved to be a great one, as it resulted in a fifth place run in stage two, and ultimately, a third place finish at the drop of the checkered flag.
  • Sweet Home Alabama: The pride of Fairhope, Alabama returns to his home racetrack this weekend, and has always considered Talladega as one of his favorite races of the season. The local fans have showed their support of Grant for years, usually receiving some of the most cheers during driver introductions. There will be no shortage of No. 23 flags flying high throughout the enormous campgrounds this weekend.
  • First Truck Series Start: Enfinger made his CRAFTSMAN Truck Series debut at Talladega back in 2010. Starting from the 12th position, the Alabama native would hang tough with the pack through his first race, until he was ultimately sidelined just four laps from the finish and credited with a 22nd place finish. 170 races later, Grant will make his 10th Truck Series start at Talladega on Saturday.
  • Past Talladega Winner: Running on a limited Truck Series schedule in 2016, Talladega was one of only eight races on Grant Enfinger’s radar. Knowing that he had something to prove to keep his name relevant in the sport, he gave it his all and put it all out on the line. Enfinger qualified on the front row and stayed up front all race long, leading 45 laps en route to his first-career victory. A special day for those who root for the home team, Enfinger was able to celebrate his first win with several close family members and friends that attended the race.
  • Hensley at Talladega: Jeff Hensley is one of the only crew chiefs that has contended in every single NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race ever held at Talladega. Making 17 starts since the inaugural race, his drivers have finished in the top-10 eight times including a pair of runner up finishes with Mike Skinner in 2006 and Spencer Gallagher in 2016. Hensley has also called 10 NASCAR Xfinity Series races at ‘Dega, holding one top-10 finish – a seventh place result in 2000.
  • GMS at ‘Dega: GMS Racing has won three races at Talladega Superspeedway across two national series. Enfinger was the team’s first Truck Series driver to score a victory at the track in 2016, and in 2018, it was Timothy Peters that ran away with the checkered flag. Earlier that year, GMS broke through to win their first, and only win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, won by Spencer Gallagher.
  • FearTheFinger Playoffs Profile: Currently fourth in CRAFTSMAN Truck Series points, Enfinger heads to Talladega with a slim 14 point buffer to the Round of 8 cut line. His three race wins at Kansas Speedway, WWT Raceway, and the Milwaukee Mile are tied for the most of any driver in the series, but strong finishes in the next two races will be crucial to determine his Championship 4 eligibility.
  • Roll Tide: A huge University of Alabama football fanatic, Grant has shared similar interests with iconic NASCAR personality and former crew chief, Larry McReynolds, over the Crimson Tide. In nearly every one of his interviews with McReynolds, the two always make it a point to give a big ole’ “Roll Tide” shoutout over the air.
  • Breast Cancer Awareness: As we enter the month of October, a team tradition that has taken place for many years will continue for the next two races at Talladega Superspeedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. All three GMS Racing trucks will carry pink ribbons onboard to honor family members of the respective truck’s crew members that have been affected by breast cancer.
  • From The Drivers Seat: You earned your first Truck Series win with GMS Racing here, how special would it be to cap off your time with the team with another win at home?

“Yeah, it was a huge day for my career back in 2016 when we were able to get the win at Talladega in front of the hometown and all the friends and family. There were a lot of people that were at that race that have been instrumental in my career and all the opportunities that I had to that point. So that will always be one of the most special moments that I’ve had in my career. To come back and do it again with our last opportunity to run in that race with GMS Racing would be special from a personal standpoint, but it would be pretty big career-wise to be able to lock ourselves into the Championship 4.

Obviously, that’s the goal for all of us; but there’s only one of the eight that can sleep well at night not having to stress out about this race, and that’s Corey [Heim]. I think our game plan is to try and be aggressive, and hopefully get some stage points. We want to be able to contend for the win. I think there’s some different strategies that teams are going to use; I think some guys are going to try and play it safe, and some guys that have nothing to lose are going to race for the win. We’re not one of those guys, but we’re definitely going to be aggressive. We’ve first got to have enough speed in our Champion Power Equipment Chevy, and hopefully the rest will all take care of itself.”

  • From The Pit Box (Jeff Hensley): Your team was able to capitalize on stage points and a good finish at Daytona to start the season off, but will your focus change for this superspeedway?

“If you’re getting stage points, that means you are closer to the front, which hopefully means that you’re out of all the trouble. So, I think it kind of goes hand and hand – stage points and track position. We’re just going to have to play our strategy by ear. Things change during that race a lot from lap to lap, so we just have to see how everything plays out, honestly. We would like to score as many stage points as we can, maybe even win a stage, because that will help us out and set us up to where we can race for the win at the end, hopefully.”

Rajah Caruth, No. 24 Wendell Scott Foundation Chevrolet Silverado RST

Talladega Superspeedway Stats

  • Rajah Caruth will compete in his first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Talladega on Saturday.
  • ARCA Starts: 1; Best start: 19th (2022); Best finish: 6th (2022); Top 10s: 1; Laps led: 6

2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Season Stats

  • Starts: 20; Best start: 3rd (Nashville); Best finish: 6th (Darlington & Bristol); Top 10s: 3; Laps led: 1; Current points position: 17th
  • About the Wendell Scott Foundation: Founded in 2011, The Wendell Scott Foundation, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization inspired by Wendell Scott, Sr. and provides services such as job-skill training, STEM education opportunities, mentoring, and other supportive services to at-risk, underserved youth between the ages of 8-18 years in Danville, Virginia and surrounding areas.

The Foundation’s mission of using educational attainment to end racial disparities in education and health is vital in addressing economic inequality and improving future success in African-American communities. For more information, please visit www.wendellscott.org.

  • Chassis History/Info: Caruth and the No. 24 team will race with GMS chassis no. 129 at Talladega Superspeedway. This chassis has competed in 11 plate track races since 2017, and was driven to a victory at Daytona International Speedway in 2018 with Johnny Sauter. In six Talladega starts, the chassis has finished inside the top-10 three times including a best run of fourth with Brett Moffitt in 2019. Rajah drove this truck at Daytona this year, finishing in the 29th position after becoming involved in a late-race crash.
  • Bristol Recap: Rajah was quick all day in the last race held at Bristol Motor Speedway, starting out the event in fifth – which was his fourth top-five qualifying result of the season. Caruth ran inside the top-10 all race long, taking points in stage one (sixth) and stage two (ninth). Using the same strategy of Enfinger, Rajah would only pit once all night. Like his teammate, the call paid off, resulting in a sixth place finish. This tied Caruth’s best-career result, also finishing sixth earlier in the year at Darlington.
  • Closing in on the Top-15: The No. 24 team has quietly been making some serious ground in the points standings over the course of the past four Truck Series races. Following his sixth place finish in Bristol, Rajah Caruth is now only 20 points behind Taylor Gray in 16th and 22 behind Tyler Ankrum in 15th for the championship points. There are three solid chances to move the rookie up a couple of spots in the standings before the end of the year.
  • Walter at Talladega: Chad Walter has made two Truck Series starts at Talladega, finishing as high as 16th with Tyler Ankrum in 2020. He has also competed in nine Xfinity Series races held at this track, with highlights including two top-five runs. Walter’s drivers Kyle Busch and Casey Mears finished third in back-to-back seasons in 2006 and 2007.
  • Wendell Scott at Talladega: NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee, Wendell Scott, drove in five NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega in the early 1970’s. Scott finished in the top-20 twice, and his best finish at this track was a 19th place run in the spring of 1971. He made the penultimate start of his career in 1973 with what he said was the best car that he ever raced, but suffered a large crash early on that left him 55th in the running order.
  • STEM Activity: In the spirit of giving back and growing interest of the sport, Rajah Caruth and Chad Walter will meet with a group of local seventh grade students who are attending the race on behalf of NASCAR. Thanks to a program put together by First Bank of Alabama, these students will be able to engage and learn about the importance of STEM fields within the industry. The driver/crew chief duo will explain several key aspects regarding communication, team work, and execution that go into every race weekend.
  • From The Driver’s Seat: You’ve only had one prior super speedway race under your belt in the Truck Series, so what was your biggest “learning moment” from Daytona?

“Daytona feels like it was an eternity ago, but I was able to learn a lot in my first Truck Series race there back in February. I found out first hand how much these trucks like to move around in the draft, as well as the decisiveness necessary to make moves and being able to chill for a second. You don’t need to lead every lap in these races, and I learned a lot of the importance of setting yourself up for the finish, because you need to be around for the end of the race. I feel like our Wendell Scott Foundation team proved that they can bring one of the fastest trucks to the racetrack at these plate-style races, and hopefully I have gained enough respect of the other drivers out there to give them confidence in working with me here this weekend.”

Daniel Dye, No. 43 Solar-Fit / LiftedTrucksForSale.com Chevrolet Silverado RST

Talladega Superspeedway Stats

  • Daniel Dye will make his first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start at Talladega on Saturday.
  • ARCA Starts: 1; Best start: 17th (2022); Best finish: 12th (2022)

2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Season Stats

  • Starts: 20; Best start: 5th (Milwaukee); Best finish: 11th (Gateway); Laps led: 5; Current points position: 18th
  • About Solar-Fit: Since 1975, Solar-Fit has been Florida’s first choice for solar energy. Serving customers in seven counties (Volusia, Flagler, St. Johns, Clay, Putnam, Nassau, and Duval), Solar-Fit solar systems help heat pools, power appliances, and generate the most energy for homes and businesses in our community. Solar-Fit is a Tesla Powerwall Certified Installer. We are ranked one of America’s Top Solar Contractors by Solar Power World. For more information, visit www.solar-fit.com.
  • About Race To Stop Suicide: Founded by Daniel and Randy Dye, this nationally recognized nonprofit focuses on raising awareness and breaking down the stigma surrounding suicide. The organization offers introductory educational material, including signs to watch for and guidelines for engaging with family and friends who may be at risk. One of its key initiatives is to make critical resources easily accessible, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the 988 emergency number. For further details, visit www.racetostopsuicide.com.
  • Chassis History/Info: Dye and the No. 43 team will compete with GMS Racing chassis no. 130 at Talladega. Used as the team’s backup truck earlier this year at Daytona, it has not seen any laps of competition yet. The truck’s first lap on any racetrack will be made in qualifying on Saturday morning.
  • Bristol Recap: After qualifying 16th in the last race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Daniel and the No. 43 Champion Container team finished in the 21st position. Citing the difficulty to pass, Dye appeared to be trapped deep in the pack despite the crew making adjustments to improve on his handling. Daniel currently is placed in 18th for the drivers points standings.
  • What If?: Last year, in the first time that Dye competed at Talladega Superspeedway, he came ever-so-close to scoring his second ARCA Menards Series victory. Having positioned himself in a great spot to make a move, it appeared that everything had lined up in his favor. On the white flag lap, Daniel took the lead of the race for a brief moment in turns 1-2, but an untimely block saw him spinning down the backstretch, resulting in a 17th place finish. He looks back on this race as one of the toughest moments of his 2022 championship run, where he finished runner up to Nick Sanchez by only 14 points. A good result in the Truck Series race has been high on his list of races that he would like to perform well at.
  • Crew Chief’s Home Race: Blake Bainbridge often looks forward to returning to Talladega because of how close the racetrack is to his hometown. Bainbridge was born in nearby Hueytown, Alabama, which is less than one hour away from the site of Saturday’s race. Hueytown has been well-known for its crop of NASCAR legends that call it home, including ‘Alabama Gang’ members Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Davey Allison, Neil Bonnett, and Red Farmer, among others.
  • Bainbridge at Talladega: Blake has called two races in his career as a crew chief, including one NASCAR Xfinity Series race in 2005 and more recently, an ARCA Menards Series race in 2020. The ARCA race resulted in the better finish of his two starts, where Taylor Gray started eighth and finished 13th. This weekend will be Bainbridge’s first Truck Series start at Talladega.
  • Xfinity Series Debut: Though the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series was off last weekend, Daniel Dye made the trek to Texas Motor Speedway where he made the first NASCAR Xfinity Series start of his young career. Driving the No. 44 Champion Container Chevrolet for Alpha Prime Racing, Dye first needed to qualify his way into the show, which he had no issues in doing so – starting in the 26th position. Having narrowly avoided several moments of chaos directly in front of him, Daniel kept his car clean all race long. Despite a late-race spin, Dye never put a foot wrong all day in Texas, bringing the car home in 17th place. His finish tied APR’s best result of the season, which was ironically delivered by his GMS teammate, Rajah Caruth.
  • From The Driver’s Seat: You were so close on winning here last year in the ARCA Menards Series race, so does that give you any added confidence to return here in a truck?

“I’m looking forward to getting back to Talladega in a different vehicle than I had there last time. We had good speed there with GMS last year and got towards the front of the pack. I was close to having a shot to win the race before I made a mistake that took us out of contention. But I definitely learned a lot in the two super speedway races I ran last year in the ARCA car and the one at Daytona this year in a truck. I’m hoping to use all the things I learned in those three races and have ourselves a good finish. We are still looking for our first top-10 of the year, and Talladega presents itself as an opportunity to either have a great day or an awful day. Hopefully we’ll be on the great side this time.”

ABOUT GMS RACING:

GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Truck Series operating the No. 23, No. 24, and No. 43 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs for drivers Grant Enfinger, Rajah Caruth, and Daniel Dye. Since the team was formed in 2012, GMS Racing has won five titles across multiple series, including the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Truck Series championship, the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship, as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA East championships. GMS has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. including operations for GMS Fabrication. The GMS Racing campus also houses operations for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, a team that competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

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

Wonder Bread and Old Spice Ready to Roll with Stewart-Haas Racing at Talladega Superspeedway

By
Official Release
-

Wonder Bread Joins Ryan Preece and Old Spice Partners with Chase Briscoe in Talladega Nights Tribute During YellaWood 500 NASCAR Cup Series Race

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Sept. 25, 2023) – Wonder Bread and Old Spice, two iconic brands made even more iconic when each was prominently featured in the 2006 sports comedy Talladega Nights, are back at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway this weekend for the YellaWood 500 NASCAR Cup Series race.

Life will imitate art at the 2.66-mile oval where Stewart-Haas Racing will field two Ford Mustangs in Wonder Bread and Old Spice liveries. The championship-winning NASCAR team co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart and Haas Automation founder Gene Haas will have Ryan Preece behind the wheel of the No. 41 Wonder Bread Ford Mustang while Chase Briscoe drives the No. 14 Old Spice Ford Mustang.

“This is an entertaining promotion that allows us to work with two innovative brands in Wonder Bread and Old Spice where we can stand out together amid a very busy fall sports schedule,” said Brian McKinley, Chief Revenue Officer, Stewart-Haas Racing. “Talladega Nights is a cult classic and Wonder Bread and Old Spice were savvy enough to be on board with the movie from the very beginning. For our sport, it’s the gift that keeps on giving, and it’s given Stewart-Haas Racing a great platform to have some fun and engage with our fans.”

The promotion will be amplified across all of Stewart-Haas Racing’s social media platforms – Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn – and augmented with merchandise that will be available onsite at Talladega and online at StewartHaasRacing.com.

Both Wonder Bread and Old Spice will activate inside the track at the Talladega Garage Experience with showcars emulating the actual racecars that will be driven by Preece and Briscoe in the YellaWood 500. Wonder Bread is already giving fans a sneak peek of the promotion with 2,000 in-store displays throughout Alabama, Georgia and Florida that feature Preece’s No. 41 Wonder Bread Ford Mustang.

“The Wonder team couldn’t be more excited to team up with Stewart-Haas Racing and Old Spice to give Talladega Nights fans a race to remember by recreating the beloved cars from the cult classic movie,” said John Steed, Senior Vice President of Legacy Brands at Flowers Foods. “We know our Wonder Bread fans love the movie and we can’t wait to share in their delight this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.”

“Old Spice is ready to bring 24/7 freshness to the track this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway with Stewart-Haas Racing and Wonder Bread,” said Kate DiCarlo, Old Spice Senior Director of Communications at Procter & Gamble. “After all, if you’re not first, you’re last, so we’re excited to have Chase Briscoe and Ryan Preece behind the wheels of the famed Old Spice and Wonder Bread cars. This is such a nostalgic moment for us and we’re thrilled to connect fans with more ridiculously fun experiences.”

For Preece and Briscoe, the promotion has allowed them to act out some of the movie’s many memorable moments.

“Talladega Nights is one movie that most people have seen and laughed with, and these really cool paint schemes will bring back those memories,” Preece said. “Getting to have my teammate, Chase Briscoe, in the Old Spice car makes it all come together. The movie remains relevant after all these years, and there’s no better track than Talladega to work with your teammates. We’re going to have a lot of fun this weekend and I hope we get the No. 41 Wonder Bread Ford Mustang in victory lane.”

“Talladega Nights is one of my all-time favorite movies, and I’m really glad that Old Spice was on board to come back to Stewart-Haas Racing,” said Briscoe, whose No. 14 car was once sponsored by Old Spice when it was driven by Stewart. “We couldn’t do this Talladega Nights deal without them, and as a Tony Stewart fan who has gone on to drive his car, it’s really special to be the one to bring it back for all the fans.”

The YellaWood 500 begins at 1 p.m. CDT/2 p.m. EDT Sunday with live coverage on NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Wonder Bread:

Founded in 1921 in Indianapolis, Wonder Bread is named for the feeling that founder Elmer Cline experienced when watching a hot air balloon race. A century later, the brand is credited with the popularization of sliced bread and remains an iconic brand at barbeques, on store shelves, at picnics and in lunchboxes across the nation. Learn more at www.WonderBread.com.

About Old Spice:

Procter & Gamble’s Old Spice is the quintessential grooming brand. With more than 80 years as an American icon, Old Spice is the authority on grooming experience and has leveraged this heritage to become the No.1 selling anti-perspirant and deodorant brand for guys in the United States. Old Spice offers a complete product portfolio for today’s evolving needs, including anti-perspirants, deodorants, body washes, body sprays, shampoos and hair stylers. Check Old Spice out online at www.OldSpice.com and on social at TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook.

About Stewart-Haas Racing:

Stewart-Haas Racing is the title-winning NASCAR team co-owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation – the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America. The Kannapolis, North Carolina-based organization has won two NASCAR Cup Series titles, one NASCAR Xfinity Series championship and nearly 100 NASCAR races, including such crown-jewel events as the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500. For more information, please visit us online at StewartHaasRacing.com and on social at Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Speedway Children’s Charities ‘Fund-Racing’ Continues During Bank of America ROVAL™ Weekend

By
Official Release
-
Speedway Children’s Charities Charlotte chapter is “fund-racing” all weekend long, Oct. 6-8, as NASCAR’s finest descend on Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Bank of America ROVAL 400.
  • From the opportunity to ride the ROVAL with NASCAR’s Josh Williams or Myatt Snyder to the chance to purchase vintage memorabilia at an all-new legacy shop, Speedway Children’s Charities will offer fans an array of unique opportunities to support area children in need during the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 weekend, Oct. 6-8
  • To purchase tickets, camping and upgrades for the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 weekend, visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 800-455-FANS (3267)

CONCORD, NC (Sept. 25, 2023) – NASCAR’s finest will be racing for a pivotal win at the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 next weekend, but with the help of kind-hearted fans, Speedway Children’s Charities’ Charlotte chapter hopes area kids in need will be the real winners. The local nonprofit will host a bevy of “fund-racing” events throughout the weekend as part of its annual efforts to support local nonprofits across the greater Charlotte region.

Among the opportunities fans can look forward to:

  • Hot Laps with a Pro: Fans will have the chance to experience the exhilaration many NASCAR drivers feel racing around the innovative 2.28-mile ROVAL™. From 7:30-9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8, just hours before the green flag waves for the Bank of America ROVAL ™ 400, fans will be able to ride in an official Charlotte Motor Speedway pace vehicle with Xfinity Series driver Josh Williams or Joe Gibbs Racing driver Myatt Snider. For $125 per person, fans will have the chance to ride for two laps around the rigorous, 17-turn course. Fans can register for the ROVAL ™ Hot Laps event at www.speedwaycharities.org/events/charlotte/roval-hot-laps/. Spaces are limited, so pre-registration is strongly encouraged.
  • Legacy Shop: Rare vintage memorabilia will be available for fans to purchase at the all-new Legacy Shop. The amazing collectibles include driver-autographed memorabilia, historic pieces, souvenirs and keepsakes from the early Charlotte Motor Speedway years, notable collectors’ items and much more. The Legacy Shop will be located on the Ford Tower concourse throughout the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 weekend. Proceeds from the shop will benefit Speedway Children’s Charities.
  • Live Auction: Following Sunday’s Trackside Live in the fan zone, fans will have the opportunity to bid on a variety of unique race-themed items and experiences as part of a live auction to benefit Speedway Children’s Charities. Items available for auction include a signed Kevin Harvick firesuit, 2023 driver-signed helmets, a 2023 playoff driver-signed picture of Charlotte Motor Speedway and more. All proceeds benefit Speedway Children’s Charities.
  • 50/50 Raffle: Children and one lucky fan will win big with the Speedway Children’s Charities’ 50/50 raffle. Throughout the weekend, volunteers will be in the fan zone, along the concourse and in the grandstands collecting donations. Fifty percent of the overall jackpot goes to one lucky winner, while the other 50 percent goes to help local children with medical, social and educational needs.
  • Golf Cart Rides: Charity volunteers will assist fans around the property by giving golf cart rides. Guests can wave them down for a ride, and any tips collected for the rides will go directly toward helping the children in need here in the greater Charlotte community.
  • UP NEXT: Pit Road at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be transformed into a legendary pickleball arena where individuals can compete for the title of king or queen of the court. At 2:00 p.m. on Jan. 11, 2024, “stage” 1 of the pickleball tournament will begin for picklers to battle it out until a lucky pro is crowned. Registration for the tournament begins at 1 p.m. and for more information, visit www.speedwaycharities.org.

MORE INFO:

The Charlotte chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities is one of eight located at Speedway Motorsports racing facilities across the country. In 2022, Speedway Children’s Charities distributed more than $2.9 million in grants to charitable organizations across the country. Since its inception in 1982, Speedway Children’s Charities has awarded in excess of $65 million to nonprofit organizations throughout the nation.

For more information on Speedway Children’s Charities or to see how to volunteer or make a donation, visit www.speedwaycharities.org.

TICKETS:

Adult tickets for Saturday’s Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina start at just $25. Kids 12 and under get in free with an adult. Tickets to the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 start at just $49 for adults. Kids 12 and under get in for just $10 with an adult. For tickets, visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets.

KEEP TRACK:

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

Kaulig Racing and Morris-Shea Bridge Partnership for Talladega Superspeedway

By
Official Release
-

Justin Haley to drive the No. 31 Morris-Shea Bridge Co. Chevrolet ZL1

Lexington, N.C. (September 25, 2023) – Kaulig Racing and Morris-Shea Bridge Company are pleased to announce that they will team up for the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) race at Talladega Super Speedway with Justin Haley in the No. 31 Camaro ZL1.

Alabama-based Morris-Shea Bridge Company is a leading deep foundation contractor that installs deep foundation systems for critical-commercial and infrastructure projects throughout the United States, the Caribbean and South America.

“I am incredibly proud to sponsor the Kaulig Racing 31 cup car with Justin Haley at our home track here in Talladega. Our partnership signifies a shared commitment to excellence, performance, and dedication. It is an honor to support a team that embodies hard work and passion. We look forward to an exhilarating race and wish Justin and the entire Kaulig Racing team the best of luck on the track.” – Richard Shea, CEO of Morris-Shea Bridge Co / Shea Brothers LLC

With superspeedway ace, Justin Haley, behind the wheel Morris-Shea and Kaulig Racing are looking to dig deep for the Yellawood 500. Haley has earned three top-15 finishes in the NCS at Talladega, as well as two wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS).

“We are so pumped to welcome Morris-Shea to the Kaulig Racing family,” said team president, Chris Rice. We always bring fast cars to superspeedways, and Justin Haley is the perfect guy to represent Morris-Shea at its home track of Talladega Superspeedway.”

The No. 31 Morris-Shea Chevrolet will hit the high-banks of Talladega Superspeedway on October 1st for the Yellawood 500. Tune in to all 500 action-packed miles at 2pm ET on NBC.


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.

About Morris-Shea:

Morris-Shea, a leading deep foundation contractor, installs deep foundation systems for critical commercial and infrastructure projects throughout the United States, the Caribbean and South America. Our team of experienced geotechnical professionals has constructed deep foundations under many of the world’s largest energy, manufacturing and industrial projects. Our family-owned company is well-established as a leader for deep foundation installation in heavy civil, commercial, industrial and marine construction markets. We maintain our position at the cutting edge of the U.S. geotechnical industry by engineering significant cost-savings into innovative designs and deep foundation installation techniques. To this end, Morris-Shea controls the installation rights for DeWaal piles across the entire Western Hemisphere. These unique piles provide the same capacity benefits as driven piling without the expense, noise, pollution and vibration associated with pile driving. The DeWaal Pile System is ideal for deep foundation installation in sensitive wetlands, dense urban areas or occupied industrial facilities.

Chandler Smith joins Rackley W.A.R. for Truck Playoff event at Talladega

By
Andrew Kim
-
Photo by Chad Wells for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Chandler Smith will be spending the upcoming off-weekend period from NASCAR Xfinity Series competition by competing in this weekend’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoff event at Talladega Superspeedway for Rackley W.A.R.

The news comes nearly a week after Rackley W.A.R. parted ways from Matt DiBenedetto for the remaining three Truck Series events of the 2023 season. Prior to this news, DiBenedetto had announced that he would not remain with the organization for the 2024 season. The news also comes as the 21-year-old Smith from Talking Rock, Georgia, is currently campaigning in his first full-time season in the Xfinity Series for Kaulig Racing, where he is vying for both the rookie and driver’s titles in a season where he has achieved one victory at Richmond Raceway in April, three poles, seven top-five results, 11 top-10 results, 295 laps led and an average-finishing result of 15.0 through 28 starts.

“I’m super-grateful for Rackley W.A.R. giving me the opportunity to run their truck this weekend at Talladega [Superspeedway],” Smith said. “Being able to represent Rackley Roofing, W.A.R. Shocks, and this entire organization, is extremely cool. I’m definitely proud of and looking forward to the opportunity.”

Smith is no stranger to the Truck Series. After making a combined 16 starts from 2019-20 for Kyle Busch Motorsports, Smith competed in the Truck Series on a full-time basis for KBM in 2021. During the season, he made the Playoffs based on points and notched his first two career victories (Bristol Motor Speedway in September and Phoenix Raceway in November) before finishing in eighth place in the final standings and capturing the Rookie-of-the-Year title. The 2022 Truck season was a breakout year for Smith, who achieved three victories throughout the 23-race schedule (Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March, Pocono Raceway in July and Richmond Raceway in August). Coupled with nine top-five results and 16 top-10 results, Smith made the 2022 Playoffs, transferred to the Championship 4 round and was in contention for the series’ title before finishing in third place in the final standings.

Through 61 career starts in the Truck Series, Smith has achieved five victories, one pole, 23 top-five results, 34 top-10 results, 755 laps led and an average-finishing result of 12.6.

The driver change for Rackley W.A.R. for the upcoming event at Talladega comes at a pivotal weekend for the team, which achieved its first victory at Talladega a year ago with Matt DiBenedetto and is currently situated in ninth place in this year’s owner’s standings. DiBenedetto made the 2023 Truck Playoffs based on points, but was eliminated from title contention following the Round of 10. Nonetheless, he had recorded two top-five results, 12 top-10 results, 16 laps led and an average-finishing result of 14.0 prior to his release from Rackley W.A.R.

Overall, Smith is set to become the eighth different competitor to compete in at least one Truck Series event for Rackley W.A.R., joining a list that includes Willie Allen, Josh Berry, William Byron, Matt DiBenedetto, Tate Fogleman, Brett Moffitt and Timothy Peters.

“We are really excited to have Chandler in the truck this weekend at Talladega,” Willie Allen, co-owner of Rackley W.A.R., said. “I’ve known Chandler and his family pretty much his whole life. They’re really good people and Chandler is a great driver. We’re looking forward to the weekend.”

In addition to the 2024 season, the team’s driver plans for the final two Truck events of this season at Homestead-Miami Speedway and at Phoenix Raceway remain to be determined.

Smith is scheduled to make his Truck Series return with Rackley W.A.R. at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, September 30. The event’s broadcast time is slated to occur at 1 p.m. ET on FS1.

Familiar Colors for Boyd at Dega with Primary Sponsorship from Alabama Roofing Professionals

By
Official Release
-

Mooresville, NC (September 25, 2023) – Spencer Boyd proudly announced that Alabama Roofing Professionals, the leading residential and commercial roofer in the state, will be the primary sponsor for the No. 12 Silverado at the Love’s Travel Stop 250 at Talladega Speedway this weekend.

Spencer Boyd reflected on the continued support from Alabama Roofing Professionals. “There’s obviously a special place in my heart for Alabama Roofing Professionals. They were there for my first win and they’ve been there every year since. I’m happy to see their growth into Texas and Florida and delighted to have them on my truck again at Dega.”

This year, Alabama Roofing Professionals expanded with locations in Texas and Florida under the name American Roofing Professionals.

“It’s been a very busy year,” commented Mike Parlier, owner of Alabama Roofing Professionals. “We’ve seen great growth in Alabama, and we were extra excited the first time we had roofs going on in three states. Spencer has been an important part of our company so supporting him is important to us. On top of that, we love sports so being supporters of local high school teams to the Crimson Tide says to our customers that we care about what they care about.”

Alabama Roofing Professionals is the Official Roofer of the University of Alabama Athletics.

“We’ve got some redemption on the menu this week. I love plate racing so with a terrible dad joke intended here, I am ready to eat after the past few servings at the big tracks,” said Boyd.

The Love’s Travel Stop 250 at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, September 30, 2023 airs live on FS1 at 1:00pm ET and marks Alabama Roofing Professionals fourth primary race with Spencer Boyd and Young’s Motorsports.

About Alabama Roofing Professionals
It’s in our name, Alabama Roofing Professionals: we consider ourselves roofing pros. If it involves your roof, we’re the guys that you can trust to get the job done. We offer new roofs, roof inspections, roofing repairs, and a variety of other services to cater to the needs of every customer in the area. If you need the job done, our experts have you covered. Give us a call at 205-722-ROOF (7663) and speak to one of our highly-trained professionals about your roofing needs or to request your free estimate. We’d love to hear from you. Visit us on the web at www.alroofpros.com.

Front Row Motorsports to Enter Second Truck at Talladega Superspeedway

By
Official Release
-

Brett Moffitt to Race No. 34 FR8 Racing/Fr8Auctions.com Ford F-150 Throwback Scheme

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (September 25, 2023) – A 12-time winner and the 2018 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Champion will join the 2022 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Champion Zane Smith at the Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway this Saturday. Front Row Motorsports (FRM), FR8 Racing and Fr8Auctions.com will enter Brett Moffit in the No. 34 Ford F-150. Seth Barbour will be the crew chief for the team.

It will be a reunion for Moffitt and FRM. Moffitt raced in the NASCAR Cup Series for FRM and now returns to debut the No. 34 Ford F-150 in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. It also continues the partnership between Moffitt and FRM, Fr8Auctions.com and now FR8 Racing.

The No. 34 FR8 Racing/Fr8Auctions.com scheme is a throwback to the first look that FRM, Fr8 and Moffitt raced together in 2015 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. The red, black and silver scheme mirrors that of the Cup car that weekend.

“I really want to thank Bob Jenkins, Marcus Barela at Fr8Auctions.com and FR8 Racing for this opportunity,” said Moffitt. “It’s really cool to have this opportunity in the truck series again, especially with a championship team. I always loved my time at FRM and now we’re back together again with the same scheme that we all raced together- all the credit goes to the people at Fr8 for making that idea come together. I can’t wait to go race for a win and help Zane in his title defense.”

Moffitt comes to Talladega with three previous truck series starts at the track. He has one top-five and two top-10 finishes at the superspeedway. His best finish is fourth.

The FR8 Racing logo will be on the hood of the No. 34 Ford F-150 with Fr8Auctions.com on the sides of the truck.

“There is no better track than Talladega for all of us to reunite and go for the win,” said Marcus Barela, Owner, Fr8Auctions and FR8Racing. “Brett is a champion driver and FRM is a championship team. We’re excited to partner for this race and debut the No. 34 truck for Front Row Motorsports. The throwback scheme looks great and it brings back a lot of great memories. We’re ready to make more on Saturday.”

The No. 34 FR8 Racing and Fr8Auctions.com Ford F-150 is scheduled to debut Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

INDYCAR Announces 17-Race2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Schedule

By
Official Release
-

Return of Historic Milwaukee Mile, Saturday Night Racing Highlight Action-Packed Calendar, 12 Broadcasts on NBC

INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, Sept. 25, 2023) – INDYCAR has announced a 17-race schedule for the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, which will take the world’s most competitive motorsport series into several fan-favorite markets, including a much-anticipated return to the Milwaukee Mile.

The schedule is also highlighted by two Saturday night races, a new and unique made-for-TV exhibition in Southern California, a global entertainment destination as the new host city for the season finale, and 12 NBC broadcast network showcases bolstered by the rising popularity of live streaming on Peacock.

Milwaukee Mile lands on the INDYCAR SERIES schedule for the first time since 2015. With the return set for Labor Day weekend, the iconic facility began hosting INDYCAR SERIES racing in 1939 and has featured wins by legendary drivers such as Rodger Ward (seven), Michael Andretti (five), Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Gordon Johncock, Johnny Rutherford, Tom Sneva, Paul Tracy, Al Unser and Bobby Unser (four each).

The fabled 1-mile oval in West Allis, Wisconsin, also will showcase the NTT INDYCAR SERIES racing with a doubleheader weekend for the first time in the track’s history, providing two crucial races during the homestretch of the 2024 championship.

“There is such a great tradition and history of INDYCAR racing at the Milwaukee Mile, and we are excited to build on that legacy with a Labor Day weekend NTT INDYCAR SERIES doubleheader beginning in 2024,” said Roger Penske, chairman of Penske Corporation. “We appreciate all the loyal and passionate INDYCAR fans in Milwaukee and across the state of Wisconsin, and thanks to our partnership with the Wisconsin State Fair Park, we can’t wait to return to the Mile next season.”

The 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season opens Sunday, March 10 on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, for the 20th Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. North America’s premier open-wheel series will crisscross the United States, including a stop for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 26, before all roads lead to Nashville for an unforgettable championship finale Sunday, Sept. 15 down the heart of the city’s entertainment district and honky tonk row, where the 2024 champion will be crowned for the first time.

“The upward trajectory of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is reflected through the 2024 schedule,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “With stops at premier and global entertainment districts, classic American road courses and thrilling, high-speed ovals, the 2024 season will be exhilarating and highly competitive from beginning to end.

“The growth of INDYCAR is palpable. Combined with the efforts of our teams and partners, the 2024 championship will be the perfect showcase for our drivers as we continue to build on our reach and popularity.”

For the sixth consecutive season, NBC Sports will be the exclusive home for INDYCAR coverage in the United States. NBC will provide network coverage 12 times during the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. It is the first time in 20 years the INDYCAR SERIES schedule has featured three consecutive years of double-digit events on network television.

Peacock remains the streaming home of INDYCAR. In a first for the streaming destination, Peacock will be the exclusive home of two races in a season – Toronto for the third year in a row and Milwaukee (Race 1) for the first time. In addition to the exclusive races, Peacock will once again simulstream all races airing on TV and will be the home to all practices, qualifying and INDY NXT by Firestone races.

The 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season proved to be NBC Sports’ most-watched INDYCAR SERIES season on record, averaging a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 1.32 million viewers. It also marked the third consecutive year of viewership growth across NBC Sports platforms, including a record audience streaming the NTT INDYCAR SERIES on Peacock.

The Road to Indianapolis

Two street circuits and two road courses will entertain NTT INDYCAR SERIES fans and set the stage for the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. After the 2024 season opens Sunday, March 10 for the 14th time on the sun-splashed Streets of St. Petersburg, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns to The Thermal Club for the first $1 Million Challenge Sunday, March 24.

Serving as an Open Test and a non-points NBC showcase, the event will take place at the world-class facility located just outside of Palm Springs, California – a short drive from Los Angeles and the world’s top entertainment market. The $1 Million Challenge weekend format will include a qualifying session and two heat races. With members of The Thermal Club embedded with race teams and drivers, the top six finishers from the two heat races will advance to a showcase of stars, where they’ll compete for a $1 million prize.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule resumes Sunday, April 21 on the palm tree-lined Streets of Long Beach, with a telecast on USA Network. It will be the 40th time the INDYCAR SERIES has raced on the iconic Southern California streets, in the shadows of Hollywood.

The series’ next five events will be featured on NBC broadcast television and Peacock.

Barber Motorsports Park will host the INDYCAR SERIES for the 14th time, with the Sunday, April 28 race marking the final NTT INDYCAR SERIES event before moving into the traditional Month of May calendar at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. May at IMS begins with a race on the road course Saturday, May 11 before attention shifts to the famed 2.5-mile oval for two days of qualifying Saturday-Sunday, May 18-19 building toward the 108th edition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” – the world’s largest single-day sporting event – on Sunday, May 26.

Ticket sales for the “500” are at a pace exceeding 2023, when well over 300,000 attended the largest single-day sporting event in the world. It was the second-largest Indy 500 crowd in more than two decades.

Summer Heat

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will feature an adrenaline-filled stretch of action on five consecutive weekends leading into the months of June and July. It begins with the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear on Sunday, June 2 on USA Network, with racing on the 1.7-mile downtown street circuit for the second straight year. The new layout on the city’s vibrant and challenging streets featured as much passing as any street circuit in 2023.

The intense competition continues a week later on NBC and Peacock at historic Road America on Sunday, June 9. The newly repaved, picturesque circuit in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, witnessed the most on-track passing for an INDYCAR SERIES race at the facility in 2023.

The 2024 season continues Sunday, June 23 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on USA Network. Known for its iconic and breathtaking Corkscrew turn complex, the Northern California facility will host an INDYCAR SERIES race in June for the first time in 21 years.

The summer heat is turned up in July with four races in three weeks – beginning with three consecutive broadcast showcases on NBC and Peacock.

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course will continue the country’s Fourth of July celebration by hosting the NTT INDYCAR SERIES on Sunday, July 7 on NBC. Mid-Ohio matches Long Beach as it hosts INDYCAR SERIES racing for the 40th year in 2024.

The annual Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend doubleheader at Iowa Speedway is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, July 13-14, again on NBC. The 2024 edition will include the return of a Saturday night race to the jam-packed weekend. With support from Hy-Vee, the weekend combines exhilarating, wheel-to-wheel action with world-class music at the “Fastest Short Track on the Planet.”

The final race before the Summer Olympics break takes the NTT INDYCAR SERIES back to the Streets of Toronto on Sunday, July 21. Peacock again will provide exclusive coverage of the fan-favorite event as the INDYCAR SERIES races around Exhibition Place and Princes’ Gates for the 38th time in Canada’s largest city.

Fast, Fantastic Finish

The 2024 season finishes with a flurry as it features five races – including three on ovals – in five weeks. Beginning on the World Wide Technology Raceway oval, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES homestretch races out of the gates Saturday night, Aug. 17 on USA Network. The expected start time will take the brash and bold INDYCAR SERIES stars under the lights on the 1.25-mile track.

A week later on USA Network, INDYCAR returns to the West Coast and races Sunday, Aug. 25 at Portland International Raceway for the 30th time. In 2023, races at both WWT Raceway and PIR featured the most on-track passes on record at those facilities.

The new Labor Day weekend doubleheader at the Milwaukee Mile will air on Peacock on Saturday Aug. 31 and USA Network on Sunday, Sept. 1 before the spotlight shifts to the Streets of Nashville for the season finale Sunday, Sept. 15 on NBC and Peacock.

The new 2.17-mile, seven-turn circuit in Nashville still incorporates the iconic Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge but adds views of the Country Music Hall of Fame and world-famous honky tonk row. For the first time, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion will be crowned and celebrated as part of the marquee Big Machine Music City Grand Prix weekend, which will include a massive Broadway street party that only Nashville can throw.

Previously announced, the 2024 season awards ceremony will also take place in the Music City, on Monday, Sept. 16 at the beautiful Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

“2023 was a record-breaking season for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,” INDYCAR President Jay Frye said. “For the first time, 27 starters competed at each event, and on-track passing records were broken at six racetracks. INDYCAR remains the most diverse and competitive championship in motorsports. We cannot wait to see how the 2024 season plays out beginning on the Streets of St. Pete.”

The INDYCAR Radio Network again will provide audio coverage of all NTT INDYCAR SERIES sessions via SiriusXM Channel 160 and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

Start times for the 2024 events will be announced at a later date.

2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES SCHEDULE

DateVenueTelevision
Sunday, March 10Streets of St. PetersburgNBC, Peacock
Sunday, March 24The Thermal Club $1 Million Challenge*NBC, Peacock
Sunday, April 21Streets of Long BeachUSA Network, Peacock
Sunday, April 28Barber Motorsports ParkNBC, Peacock
Saturday, May 11Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course)NBC, Peacock
Saturday, May 18Indianapolis 500 Qualifying Day 1NBC, Peacock
Sunday, May 19Indianapolis 500 Qualifying Day 2NBC, Peacock
Sunday, May 26Indianapolis Motor Speedway (oval)NBC, Peacock
Sunday, June 2Streets of DetroitUSA Network, Peacock
Sunday, June 9Road AmericaNBC, Peacock
Sunday, June 23WeatherTech Raceway Laguna SecaUSA Network, Peacock
Sunday, July 7Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseNBC, Peacock
Saturday, July 13Iowa Speedway Race 1NBC, Peacock
Sunday, July 14Iowa Speedway Race 2NBC, Peacock
Sunday, July 21Streets of TorontoPeacock
Saturday, Aug. 17World Wide Technology RacewayUSA Network, Peacock
Sunday, Aug. 25Portland International RacewayUSA Network, Peacock
Saturday, Aug. 31Milwaukee Mile Race 1Peacock
Sunday, Sept. 1Milwaukee Mile Race 2USA Network, Peacock
Sunday, Sept. 15Streets of NashvilleNBC, Peacock

*Non-points event

KENNINGTON SCORES ANOTHER PODIUM IN CASTROL EDGE DODGE

By
Official Release
-
DJ Kennington racing the #17 Castrol EDGE Dodge at Delaware Speedway - Credit: Matthew Manor

September 25, 2023. In a thrilling climax to the 2023 NASCAR Pinty’s Series season, DJ Kennington once again showcased his racing prowess by securing a remarkable 3rd place finish in his #17 Castrol EDGE Dodge at Delaware Speedway near London, Ontario. The seasoned Canadian racer had a stellar performance throughout the 250-lap race earning his eighth podium finish in 11 series races held at the historic track.

Starting from the fifth position on the grid, Kennington immediately showed his intentions to close out the season on a high note in his #17 Castrol EDGE Dodge. As the laps unfolded, Kennington’s experience and racing acumen came to the forefront.

Throughout the race, he demonstrated exceptional consistency and skill, holding his ground against the attacks by other racers. The #17 Castrol EDGE Dodge was quick and handled smoothly allowing Kennington to remain near the front of the field throughout the race.

Kennington’s sixth place finish in the overall championship standings again shows his unwavering determination and ability to compete at the highest level in the #17 Castrol EDGE Dodge.

DJ Kennington Quotes:
“Really nice to finish with another strong run here at Delaware in front of so many fans and supporters. We had a couple of tough breaks go against us this year, but this Castrol team really dug in and kept working and we made some significant gains in the second half of the year. I can’t thank Castrol and all our partners enough for their support and celebrating 30 years together is very special. Looking forward to another great year together in 2024”.

TV & Live Streaming
All races are streamed live on TSN+ in Canada and through FloRacing in the United States. The Pinty’s Fall Brawl will air on TSN Saturday, September 30th at 2:30PM and on RDS2, Saturday, October 21st at 4:15PM.

Race fans can follow DJ Kennington and the #17 Castrol EDGE Dodge team on their official social media platforms:

Twitter/”X” www.twitter.com/@djkracing
Instagram www.instagram.com/djkracing
Website www.djkracing.ca
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DJKenningtonRacing/

Byron Wins Autotrader EchoPark NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 12 Opener

By
Official Release
-
  • William Byron’s series-leading sixth victory gives the Hendrick Motorsports driver an automatic berth in the Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8.
  • Playoff drivers sweep the top-five finishing positions while a late-race accident ends a strong run by Byron’s teammate, Kyle Larson.

FORT WORTH, Texas (September 24, 2023) – Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron prevailed over a dominant Bubba Wallace in a late-race restart to capture Sunday’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 that opened the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 12 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Byron took advantage of Wallace, in the playoff hunt for 23XI Racing, and non-playoff driver Chase Briscoe battling side by side on a restart with six laps remaining to slip underneath and steal the lead on the backstretch. He was never threatened after that and rolled to a 1.863-second margin of victory over runner-up Ross Chastain of Trackhouse Racing.

The Cup win was a series-best sixth for Byron, his first at Texas Motor Speedway and a record milestone 300th for Hendrick Motorsports. More importantly, the victory provided him with an automatic berth in the Round of 8 and one step closer to securing his first Cup Series championship.

“I finally got a good restart at the end, and number 300 for Hendrick Motorsports, but [teammate] Kyle [Larson] really deserved this one, I’ve got to say, those guys were really fast all day and I hate it for them in the end,’’ said Byron, referring to Larson’s crash while battling for the lead with 20 laps remaining. “But man, it was awesome getting this car to the front. My car loved clean air. We just fought through traffic all day. My Liberty University Chevrolet was just tight back in traffic but had good pace. … It was a grind-it-out day, and our team was there at the end and I’m really proud of this one as hot as it was, it was tough. We’ll take it and go on to the next round.”

Byron and Chastain led playoff drivers to a sweep of the top five finishing positions with Wallace taking third and Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin in fourth and fifth, respectively. Retiring Kevin Harvick of Stewart-Haas Racing, making his track -record 39th and final Cup start at Texas, finished sixth.

Wallace, looking to become just the sixth pole sitter in 43 Cup races at Texas Motor Speedway to go wire to wire, led five times for a race-high – and career-high – 111 laps fought off one Hendrick Motorsports challenge but couldn’t do the same with Byron.

Hendrick’s Kyle Larson, who led four times for 99 laps, took control of the 267-lap race with a five-second lead over the field with 25 to go before a spin by JJ Yeley brought out a caution. On the restart with 21 to go and Wallace starting up front with Larson, the two playoff contenders had a door-to-door battle on the opening lap. Wallace then made a move high on Larson heading into Turn 1 on the next lap, which got Larson loose and into the wall.

“We just went in there side by side and I lost it,’’ Larson said. “Pretty bummed, but happy for William and Mr. H. (Hendrick) Three hundred Cup series wins is incredible and a great night overall for our organization.’’

It was a massive hit for Larson’s playoff hopes as he went from a possible automatic berth into the next round to finishing 31st. He fell from fourth in the playoff standings to eighth, which is the transfer spot for the next round.

Next up for Wallace was Byron, who started up front with him on the ensuing restart with 13 to go. Wallace had a great restart and jumped out to the lead, but it was short-lived as a multi-car accident a lap later brought out the 11th caution of the afternoon.

That set up the final restart showdown with Wallace and Briscoe on the front row and Byron along with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott in the next row. With Wallace and Briscoe battling for the lead on the backstretch on the restart, Byron shot low with a strong move to make the pass on both of them.

“Just choked,’’ Wallace said. “My worst re-start (of the day). Hate it for my team, hate it for [sponsor] McDonald’s. We deserved to be in Victory Lane, but nothing’s ever guaranteed. You have to go out and fight for it and not give it away and that’s what I did.”

With Byron’s victory, playoff drivers have won all four playoff races that have been run. In the Round of 16, Larson won at Darlington, Reddick at Kansas and Hamlin at Bristol.

Brad Keselowski of RFK Racing was the only other playoff driver outside of the top-five finishers to record a top-10 finish by taking seventh. RFK Racing teammate Chris Buescher (14th), a native of Prosper, Texas, and Martin Truex Jr. (17th) of Joe Gibbs Racing were the only other playoff contenders to crack the top 20.

It was a disastrous start to the Round of 12 for 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick (25th), Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney (28th), Larson and Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch (34th). Heading into next Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway, Reddick sits 10th in the playoff standings (-3 of Larson), Blaney 11th (-11) and Busch 12th (-17).

The three-race Round of 12 playoff set concludes Sunday, Oct. 8, at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s ROVAL.

Texas Motor Speedway’s always-busy events schedule is well under way. Upcoming events in 2023 include: Goodguys’ Summit Racing Lone Start Nationals (Sept. 29-Oct. 1), Speedway Children’s Charities Smoke Show (Oct. 11) and Gordy’s Hwy 30 Music Fest (Oct. 19-22). The year wraps up with the family-favorite and speedway tradition Gift of Lights holiday light show.

ABOUT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Texas Motor Speedway is among the largest sports stadiums in the United States and features an array of amenities such as one of the world’s largest TV’s that make it one of the premier venues in the world of sports. The 1.5-mile superspeedway located in Fort Worth hosts all three NASCAR national series as well as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES among its various races and specialty events throughout the year. Texas Motor Speedway is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, LLC, a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. For more information, please visit texasmotorspeedway.com.

TICKETS:

For 2024 season ticket information, please visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com.

MORE INFO:

Keep track of all of Texas Motor Speedway’s busy schedule by following on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Keep up with all the latest news and information on the speedway website and TMS mobile app.

1...1,2851,2861,287...6,661Page 1,286 of 6,661