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Weekend schedule for Texas

By
Angie Campbell
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Tyler Reddick, driver of the #8 Lenovo/ThinkEdge Chevrolet, leads the field during the NASCAR Cup Series Auto Trader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on September 25, 2022 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

The NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series travel to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend as the Playoffs continue. It will be the first race in the Cup Series Round of 12 as William Byron, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, Ross Chastain, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney and Bubba Wallace continue their quest for the coveted 2023 Cup Series championship.

Following last week’s event at Bristol Motor Speedway, Cup Series drivers, Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Michael McDowell were eliminated from championship contention.

The Xfinity Series heads to Texas for the second race in the Round of 12 Playoffs. Justin Allgaier won the first event at Bristol Motor Speedway and secured his spot in the following round. Joining him in the bid for the championship are drivers John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, Austin Hill, Chandler Smith, Daniel Hemric, Sammy Smith, Sheldon Creed, Jeb Burton, Sam Mayer, Parker Kligerman and Josh Berry.

The CRAFTSMAN Truck Series is off but returns on Saturday, Sept. 30, at Talladega Superspeedway for the second race of the series Playoffs Round of 8.

NASCAR PressPass will be available throughout the weekend.

All times are Eastern.

Saturday, September 23

10:35 a.m.: Xfinity Series Practice – All entries – NBC Sports App
11:05 a.m.: Xfinity Qualifying – Impound/Single Vehicle/1Lap/All Entries – NBC Sports App
12:35 p.m.: Cup Series Practice – Group A & B
1:20 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying (Impound) Group A & B/Single Vehicle/1 Lap, 2 Rounds
USA/PRN/SiriusXM/ NBC Sports App

3:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series Andy’s Frozen Custard 300
Stages end on Laps 45/90/200 Laps = 300 miles
USA/PRN/SiriusXM/NBC Sports App
Purse: $1,377,593

Sunday, September 24

3:30 p.m.: AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400
Stages end on Laps 80/160/267 = 400.5 miles
USA/PRN/SiriusXM/NBC Sports App
Purse: $8,955,060

Tony Schumacher and More Stars Making Big Moves at betway NHRA Carolina Nationals

By
Official Release
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Tony Schumacher sits ninth in the points standings heading into this weekend’s betway NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway, determined to make a significant jump at the track. (CMS Photo)

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 20, 2023) – A regular season filled with struggles changed almost overnight for Tony Schumacher. The Top Fuel legend and eight-time world champ enjoyed a sizeable turnaround to open the Countdown to the Championship, advancing to the semifinals last weekend to kick off the playoffs.

He moved up to ninth in the points standings heading to this weekend’s betway NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway, determined to make another significant jump at a track that has served him well over the years in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.

Schumacher has won the Charlotte fall race at the zMax Dragway twice and is excited for another big weekend at the Bellagio of Dragstrips. Last weekend was Schumacher’s best performance in his 11,000-horsepower SCAG Power Equipment/JCM Racing dragster in three months and it couldn’t have happened at a better time as the 86-time event winner has his sights set on a big playoff push.

“I love Charlotte,” Schumacher said. “We’re getting down to cutthroat time with just five races left in the season. Right now, we’ve got to make moves, but our SCAG dragster performed so great last weekend in Reading. I’ve been saying all year long, that we’re going to get it figured out. It’s not a matter of if but when. We have a lot of confidence going into this weekend and we all feel really good about these last few races of the year.”

Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) claimed victories in 2022 at the fall race at zMax Dragway.

Funny Car’s Robert Hight, who won the spring race in Charlotte at zMax Dragway, moved into the points lead last weekend with a victory, but stands at just three points over back-to-back defending world champ Capps. Others to watch include Bob Tasca III, Matt Hagan, John Force, Chad Green and J.R. Todd.

Matt Hartford moved into the Pro Stock points lead for the first time in his career with his win in the playoff opener. He’ll try to keep it against the likes of reigning world champion Erica Enders, Dallas Glenn, Troy Coughlin Jr., defending event winner Stanfield and Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals winner Deric Kramer.

Also on track will be the Pro Stock Motorcycle division which will include the likes of points leader Matt Smith, who jumped Gaige Herrera with his win to start the Countdown. Hot on their heels are Hector Arana Jr., Eddie Krawiec and Angie Smith.

The betway NHRA Carolina Nationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, which includes some of the sport’s top drivers, as well as the new NHRA Factory X presented by Holley class, the ever-exciting Mountain Motor Pro Stock category and a Top Fuel Motorcycle exhibition. Fans can also look forward to special freestyle motocross exhibitions all weekend. The star riders will perform three times a day in the midway, adding another entertaining aspect to the weekend.

On Saturday, fans can brush up on their NHRA knowledge and attend Nitro School to learn more about how the cars operate and reach their thrilling speeds. That takes place at the Nitro Alley Stage all weekend, which is the main entertainment hub in the pits when the Camping World Drag Racing Series competitors are not on the track, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets and much more.

Race fans at zMAX Dragway can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and include the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals event winners.

As always, fans also get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet at zMax Dragway in Charlotte. This unique opportunity gives fans a chance to see teams in action and service their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers, and more. Fans can also visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food, and fun for the entire family.

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature one round at 6:00 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 22, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 24. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 9:30 a.m. ET on Saturday and 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, and then eliminations on FS1 at 2:00 p.m. ET on Sunday.

To purchase tickets to betway NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway, please visit www.zmaxdragway.com or call 800-455-FANS (3267). For more information about NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.

Toyota Racing – Weekly Preview – 09.20.23

By
Official Release
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This Week in Motorsports: September 18-24, 2023

· NCS/NXS: Texas Motor Speedway – September 23-24
· NHRA: zMAX Dragway – September 22-24

PLANO, Texas (September 20, 2023) – NASCAR heads to Texas Motor Speedway for the first time this season, starting the Round of 12 of the Cup Series Playoffs. NHRA continues its Countdown to the Championship this weekend at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS

Round of 12 begins with strong Toyota presence … By the end of last weekend’s dramatic race at Bristol Motor Speedway, all five Toyota NASCAR Cup Series playoff drivers advanced to the Round of 12, highlighted by Denny Hamlin’s victory at the famed half-mile track. The Virginia native, inching closer to his 50th career Toyota Cup Series win, is joined in the next round by Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Martin Truex Jr. and Christopher Bell, along with 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace. Toyota has more cars than any other manufacturer remaining in the playoffs as the championship push continues.

Reddick goes for three straight wins in the Lone Star State … Tyler Reddick is looking to keep his hot streak in the state of Texas going. The driver of the 23XI Racing No. 45 Camry TRD was the victor at Texas Motor Speedway in 2022 and captured his first win of 2023 at Circuit of the Americas just outside of Austin, Texas. Getting his third straight win in the state would secure Reddick a spot in the Round of 8.

Bell aims for fourth consecutive pole position … Christopher Bell has been unmatched in NASCAR Cup Series qualifying over the past month, earning three straight pole positions (Darlington, Kansas and Bristol). The driver of the No. 20 Toyota Camry TRD for Joe Gibbs Racing, entering the Round of 12 seventh in points, has the most pole positions this season with five.

Toyota Xfinity playoff drivers atop the cutline going into Texas … John Hunter Nemechek and Sammy Smith both had successful outings at Bristol last weekend and are above the playoff cutline as the Xfinity Series playoffs continue in Texas. Nemechek is currently second in the playoff standings with a 65-point cushion, while Smith is five above the cutline with two races before the next elimination.

Nemechek returns to a favorable track … John Hunter Nemechek heads back to Texas Motor Speedway where he’s found success so far in his young career. The 26-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing driver, pushing for the Xfinity Series title, won the NXS race at Texas in 2021, along with the Truck Series race the night before. A win for Nemechek would be his seventh of the 2023 Xfinity Series season and secure him a spot in the Round of 8.

NHRA – Top Fuel | Funny Car

Kalitta earns milestone 50th career win … The extended event at Maple Grove Raceway last weekend finished with Doug Kalitta earning his 50th career victory, defeating Steve Torrence in an all-Toyota Top Fuel final. The win catapulted Kalitta up the Top Fuel standings as the Michigan-native aims for the season championship with five races to go in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship.

Toyota’s Top Fuel win-streak continues… Kalitta’s Top Fuel victory secured the sixth consecutive in the category for Toyota drivers, which dates back to the event at Pacific Raceways in Seattle in July. Kalitta, along with Torrence, Antron Brown and Justin Ashley have all been victors over the stretch. Teams and drivers go for an astounding seventh consecutive Toyota win this weekend in Charlotte.

Brown and Capps aim for repeats in Charlotte … Returning to zMAX Dragway, Brown (Top Fuel) and Ron Capps (Funny Car) will go for back-to-back wins in the Carolina Nationals to continue their championship pushes. Both have had success at the North Carolina drag strip over the course of their careers, whether it be the Carolina Nationals or Four-Wide Nationals, with Capps also claiming victories in Charlotte in 2017 and 2018, and Brown winning in 2016.

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.

Blaney to make 300th Cup career start at Texas

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Mike Biskupski for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Competing in his eighth full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series, Ryan Blaney is poised to achieve a milestone start. By taking the green flag in this weekend’s Playoff event at Texas Motor Speedway, the driver of the No. 12 Team Penske Ford Mustang will achieve career start No. 300 in NASCAR’s premier series.

A native of High Point, North Carolina, Blaney made his inaugural presence in NASCAR’s premier series at Kansas Speedway in May 2014. By then, he was competing in his second full-time season in the NASCAR Truck Series with Brad Keselowski Racing and had accumulated two victories in the series along with his first Xfinity Series win at Kentucky Speedway in September 2013. Driving the No. 12 Ford Fusion for Team Penske, Blaney started 21st and finished 27th in his Cup debut. He then made his second series start at Talladega Superspeedway five months later, where he finished 22nd despite starting fourth.

The following season, Blaney competed on a part-time basis in the Cup Series for the Wood Brothers Racing, where he piloted the iconic No. 21 Ford Fusion. He entered in 16 of the 36-race schedule and went on to achieve a season-best fourth-place result at Talladega Superspeedway in May along with a total of two top-10 results and an average-finishing result of 25.3.

In 2016, Blaney was named a full-time Cup Series competitor in the No. 21 Ford Fusion for Wood Brothers Racing, which embarked on its first full-time campaign since 2008. Commencing his rookie campaign with a 19th-place result in the 58th running of the Daytona 500, Blaney’s highlights throughout the regular-season stretch included a fourth-place run at Michigan International Speedway in August, a fifth-place finish at Kansas Speedway in May and a sixth-place result at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March.

Despite notching seven top-10 results throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, he did not qualify for the 2016 Cup Playoffs. He rallied by finishing fourth at Chicagoland Speedway in September after utilizing a late pit strategy to remain out on the track on old tires for a two-lap shootout and inherit the lead until being overtaken by Martin Truex Jr. during the restart.

Finishing no higher than eighth for the final nine scheduled events, Blaney capped off his first full-time Cup season in 20th place in the final standings and in the runner-up spot behind Chase Elliott for the rookie title on the strength of three top-five results, nine top-10 results and an average-finishing result of 18.5.

Remaining with the Wood Brothers organization for the 2017 Cup season, Blaney kickstarted the season on a strong note by finishing in second place in the 59th running of the Daytona 500 behind Kurt Busch. He then endured an up-and-down voyage through the following 12 events by posting three results in the top 10. The highlight during this stretch was achieving his first Cup career pole at Kansas in May, where he went on to lead 83 of 267 laps and battle Truex for the victory until settling in fourth place in the final running order.

Then at Pocono Raceway in June, Blaney withstood a fierce duel against Kyle Busch to assume the lead with 10 laps remaining before holding off Kevin Harvick to score his first Cup career victory in his 68th career start. By then, Blaney recorded the 99th Cup victory for Wood Brothers Racing as he also became the third first-time winner of the 2017 season and the 189th different competitor to win in NASCAR’s premier series.

After achieving an additional four top-10 results for the remaining 12 scheduled events, where he surpassed 100 Cup career starts, the Pocono victory guaranteed Blaney and the No. 21 Wood Brothers team a spot in the Cup Playoffs for the first time. With four top-11 runs throughout the Rounds of 16 and 12, Blaney transferred all the way to the Round of 8, where his title hopes came to an end with respective finishes of eighth, sixth and 17th. With a 29th-place result at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November, Blaney concluded his sophomore Cup campaign in ninth place in the final standings. Overall, he achieved a victory, his first two poles, four top-five results, 14 top-10 results, 301 laps led and an average-finishing result of 17.3 throughout the 36-race schedule.

In July 2017, Blaney was announced to be rejoining Team Penske to pilot the No. 12 Ford Fusion while Paul Menard would be taking over the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford Fusion for the 2018 Cup season. Blaney started the 2018 season with early momentum after winning the first of two Daytona Duel events at Daytona in February, which awarded him the third-place starting spot for the 60th running of the Daytona 500. During the 500, he led a race-high 118 laps and was in contention until he was involved in a late multi-car wreck, an incident that relegated him back to seventh place in the final scoreboard.

Throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, Blaney and the No. 12 team achieved five top-five results and 12 top-10 results with their highest on-track result occurring at Kentucky Speedway in July, as they made the 2018 Cup Playoffs. By then, he surpassed 100 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series. During the first two events in the Round of 16, Blaney finished fifth and 19th, respectively. Then during the inaugural Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course event, he notched his first elusive victory of the season and transferred to the Round of 12 after dodging a final lap incident involving Truex and Jimmie Johnson.

During the Round of 12, however, Blaney’s title hopes evaporated with respective finishes of 11th, 29th, and seventh. Managing a strong runner-up result at Texas Motor Speedway in November and through the final four scheduled events, he capped off the season in 10th place in the final standings. By then, Blaney doubled his top-five results (eight), recorded two additional top-10 results (16 total) and a pole (three total), increased his laps led (660 total) and improved his average-finishing result (14.8) from his previous Cup season.

For the 2019 Cup season, Blaney clinched a spot in the Playoffs for a third consecutive season on the strength of seven top-five results and 12 top-10 results throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch. After notching two top-10 results during the Round of 16 and transferring to the Round of 12, he captured his first Cup victory of the season at Talladega in October after edging Ryan Newman at the finish line by 0.007 seconds and during a two-lap shootout. With an automatic pass to the Round of 8, Blaney finished no lower than eighth throughout the round but fell short of transferring to the Championship 4 finale by two spots in the Playoff standings. With an 11th-place finish at Homestead, he capped off his junior Cup season with 11 top-five results, 18 top-10 results, 422 laps led and an average-finishing result of 13.7.

In 2020, Blaney commenced the season by being edged by Denny Hamlin by 0.014 seconds in the 62nd running of the Daytona 500 amid a harrowing final lap accident involving Newman, whom Blaney bumped and sent into the outside wall and upside-down while battling for the victory. He rallied 12 races later by edging Ricky Stenhouse Jr. by 0.007 seconds to win at Talladega for a second consecutive time and for his fourth career victory in NASCAR’s premier series. The Talladega victory along with a total of eight top-five results and 11 top-10 results ensured Blaney a spot for the 2020 Cup Playoffs.

His title hopes, however, came to an early end after finishing no higher than 13th during the Round of 16. Nonetheless, he capped off the season with momentum and with six top-10 results during the final seven scheduled events before finishing in ninth place in the final standings. While he tied his accumulated top-five results (11) and led more laps than his previous season (668 total), he earned one less top-10 result from his previous season (17) and with an average-finishing result of 13.8.

The 2021 season was a career year for Blaney, who finished no higher than fifth during the first five scheduled events before notching his first victory of the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March after overtaking Kyle Larson under the final 10 laps. By then, he surpassed 200 Cup career starts. He proceeded to finish in the top 10 nine times during the following 18 events before capping off the regular-season stretch with back-to-back victories at Michigan and Daytona in August. Making his fifth consecutive appearance in the Cup Playoffs, Blaney transferred all the way from the Round of 16 to 8 on the strength of four top-10 results. He, however, did not transfer to the Championship 4 round due to respective finishes of sixth, 37th and 11th during the Round of 8 as he went on to finish fourth in the finale at Phoenix Raceway in November and seventh in the final standings. In addition to achieving his first multi-victory season, Blaney also recorded a total of 11 top-five results for a third consecutive season, a career-high 20 top-10 results and a career-best average-finishing result of 11.9.

This past season, Blaney endured his first winless season in the Cup circuit for the first time since 2016 despite achieving three poles, eight top-five and 12 top-10 results throughout the regular season. Mired within the results was his first All-Star victory at Texas in May, where he fended off Hamlin during a two-lap shootout. With a 15th-place result in the regular-season finale at Daytona in August, Blaney claimed the final transfer spot to the 2022 Cup Playoffs by a mere margin over Truex. Despite transferring all the way from the Round of 16 to 8 with three top-10 results, he missed the cutline to make the Championship 4 despite finishing as high as third during the Round of 8.

Blaney ended up finishing in second place in the finale at Phoenix, which marked his second runner-up result of the season, and in seventh place in the final standings. Despite recording three less top-10 results compared to his previous season (17 total) and with an average-finishing result of 13.6, he achieved a career-high 12 top-five runs.

Blaney commenced the 2023 Cup season with an eighth-place finish in the 65th running of the Daytona 500 despite being in two separate multi-car wrecks. He then proceeded to notch six additional top-10 results during the following 12 events, including two runner-up results. At Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600 in May, Blaney made a triumphant return to Victory Lane after leading a race-high 163 of 400 laps and beating William Byron by six-tenths of a second to notch his eighth career victory in NASCAR’s premier series and first since winning at Daytona in August 2021. With a guaranteed spot for the 2023 Cup Playoffs based on his Charlotte win, Blaney secured four additional top-10 results during the remaining 12 regular-season events before the Playoffs commenced. Despite recording respective finishes of ninth, 12th and 22nd during the Round of 16, Blaney was one of 12 competitors to advance into the Round of 12. He is currently ranked in 11th place in the Playoff standings with 3,008 points as he prepares to tackle the Round of 12 and continue his quest to contend for his first Cup Series championship.

Through 299 previous Cup starts, Blaney has achieved eight victories, nine poles, 65 top-five results, 126 top-10 results, 3,489 laps led and an average-finishing result of 15.5.

Blaney is scheduled to make his 300th Cup Series career start at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, September 24, with the event’s coverage to occur at 3:30 p.m. ET on USA Network.

Kroger race-themed store event with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. upcoming in Ft. Worth race market

By
Official Release
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The 2023 DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION is appearing at a Kroger near Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday after on-track activity.

HARRISBURG, N.C. (September 20, 2023) – On Saturday after his work is done at Texas Motor Speedway, the No. 47 Kroger® / NOS® Energy Drink Camaro driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is appearing at Kroger located at 1653 Basswood Boulevard, Ft. Worth, Texas. The Olive Branch, Mississippi-native will be meeting fans and signing autographs starting at 3 PM Central, and there will be a parking lot filled full of fun activities for consumers to enjoy.

“I enjoy spending time in Texas, and I’ll be able to meet our fans at Kroger following qualifying on Saturday afternoon,” said Stenhouse Jr. “Thanks to Kroger and our Kroger Racing partners for making this possible for our fans.”

As mentioned earlier this season, the meaning behind these ongoing racing-themed parking lot events at The Kroger Co. store banners is to express gratitude to valued consumers who may also be NASCAR enthusiasts. This weekend, it’s a chance to celebrate our passionate NASCAR fans and foster a deeper connection with the racing community in and around Texas Motor Speedway.

“It’s about the consumers, but it’s also about recognizing Kroger associates’ hard work that goes into maintaining a top-notch store and the customer service behind it all,” said JTG Daugherty Racing co-owner Tad Geschickter.

During the Kroger Racing event, shoppers will receive ample-sized samples from Mrs. Bairds®, Cottonelle®, Drumstick® and Cheez-It®. Additionally, there will be samples from Blue Buffalo™ for your pets and more.

While grabbing samples, consumers can sign up for Boost where they can save with free delivery and 2X Fuel Points when signing up for membership. They can try Boost for 30 days!

To keep fans smiling, the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® mobile dental van will be at the Ft. Worth store too. There’s really something for everyone. Stay tuned for more store events with Stenhouse Jr. and Kroger Racing. Also, visit https://www.kroger.com/f/racing to shop our Kroger Racing brands and learn more about Boost by Kroger Plus.

Sweet Treat: Jelly Roll Named Grand Marshal for Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400

By
Official Release
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  • Chart-topping Performer with The Biggest Debut in Billboard Country Consumption Chart History Jelly Roll to give the start command for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race on Sunday, Sept. 24.
  • Texas Rangers Chief Jason Taylor to serve as Honorary Starter and wave the green flag for the opening Round of 12 race.
  • Television personality Sage Steele also set for honorary position

FORT WORTH, Texas (September 20, 2023) – Five-time CMA nominee, eight-time People’s Choice Country Award nominee and three-time CMT award winning artist Jelly Roll, the breakthrough singer/songwriter who burst upon the country music scene with his massive hit “Save Me” as well as back-to-back #1 singles “Son of a Sinner” and “Need A Favor,” will serve as the Grand Marshal for the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race on Sunday, Sept. 24, at Texas Motor Speedway.

Originally from Antioch, Tenn., Jelly Roll (Jason DeFord) earned numerous milestones this year including a 44-date sold-out Backroad Baptism Tour, multi-week, multi-platinum, multi-genre #1 singles, and the biggest Country album debut in Billboard Consumption chart history with the release of his album “Whitsitt Chapel” in June, which debuted Top 3 on the Billboard 200 chart.

In his honorary role, Jelly Roll will deliver the “Start your engines” command to the 36-driver field competing in the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 (TV: USA, Radio: PRN, SiriusXM and 95.9 The Ranch-locally).

In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Texas Ranger Division of the Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers, Chief Jason Taylor will serve as the Honorary Starter.

Taylor, who began the post in November 2022 after previously serving as Regional Director of DPS Region 2 in Houston since 2018, will have the opportunity to wave the green flag from the flag stand and officially start the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400.

Television personality Sage Steele will have an honorary position for the opening Round of 12 Cup Series Playoff race.

Steele is a former ESPN SportsCenter co-anchor who also hosted SportsCenter on the Road from marquee sporting events as well as NBA Countdown on ESPN and ABC for four seasons. She will drive one of the Chevrolet Camaro pace cars that will lead the field to the green flag for the start of the race.

The military will round out the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 dignitaries with three roles.

Ret. Lt. Col. Caroline “Blaze” Jensen, a former combat fighter pilot who became the first female reservist to be selected for the elite USAF Thunderbirds demonstration squadron, will provide the invocation. Fort Worth resident Don Graves, a 98-year-old U.S. Marine and one of a special group of living American heroes who made the successful assault on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima during World War II, will sing God Bless America. The Fort Cavazos 1st Cavalry Band will perform the National Anthem.

Complete dignitaries list for Sunday’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400:

  • Grand Marshal: Three-time CMT Music Awards winner Jelly Roll.
  • Honorary Starter: Texas Rangers Chief Jason Taylor.
  • Official Pace Car Driver: Sports entertainment TV personality Sage Steele.
  • National Anthem: Fort Cavazos 1st Calvary Band.
  • God Bless America: U.S. Marine veteran Don Graves.
  • Invocation: Ret. Lt. Col. Caroline “Blaze” Jensen.
  • Flyover: USAF C-5M Super Galaxy – 433rd Airlift Wing from Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Complete dignitaries list for Saturday’s Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 Xfinity Series Playoff race:

  • Grand Marshal: Andy’s Frozen Custard Chief Executive Officer Andy Kuntz accompanied by his wife, Dana.
  • Honorary Starter: Andy’s Frozen Custard’s newest franchisee from Iowa, Brandon Pratt.
  • National Anthem: Country music singer Alex Hall.
  • Flyover: one CH-47 Chinook and two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, Fort Cavazos, Texas.

NASCAR Playoffs weekend will be highlighted by the NASCAR Xfinity Series Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 on Saturday, Sept. 23 (2:30 p.m. CT on USA Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90, and PRN), and the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 on Sunday, Sept. 24 (2:30 p.m. CT on USA Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90, PRN, and 95.9 The Ranch-local).

Texas Motor Speedway’s always-busy events schedule is well under way. Upcoming events in 2023 include: Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 NASCAR Playoffs weekend (Sept. 23-24), 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 ticket information for the September 23-24 NASCAR Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 weekend, 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.

JR Motorsports — NXS Texas Preview

By
Official Release
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JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Texas Motor Speedway
RACE: Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 (200 laps / 300 miles)
DATE: Saturday, Sept. 23, 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 Texas Motor Speedway for his fourth start at the 1.5-mile track and the second race of the Round of 12 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs.
  • The Franklin, Wis. native has scored one top-five and two top-10 efforts at the quad-oval with his best of third coming in the spring of 2022.
  • Mayer’s average finish at the Fort Worth facility is 8.0. He currently sits 10th in points, a mere 14 markers out of the cutoff spot with two races remaining.
  • Mayer’s Chevrolet will be carrying the blue and black colors of Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions on the No. 1 entry.

Josh Berry
No. 8 JARRETT Chevrolet

  • Josh Berry heads to Texas needing to gain 24 points on the line for advancement with two races yet to run in the Round of 12.
  • In three previous starts on the 1.5-mile quad-oval, Berry’s best finish is sixth, coming in this race last season. He has a pair of top-10 results in three starts and has led 46 laps there.
  • On race tracks measuring 1.5 miles in NXS competition, Berry has three of his five victories, six top-five and 13 top10 finishes and has led a combined 293 laps in 23 total starts. He is a previous winner at Las Vegas (twice) and Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Brandon Jones
No. 9 Menards/Pelonis Chevrolet

  • Brandon Jones qualified on the pole in this event at Texas last season. The effort marked his seventh of eight career poles in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
  • At tracks measuring 1-2 miles in length in the NXS, Jones has recorded four wins, 19 top fives and 56 top 10s, while leading the field for a total of 377 laps .
  • Jones has notched a pair of top 10s and an average finish of 7.5 when carrying Pelonis branding on the hood of the Menards Chevrolet in 2023.
  • JRM’s No. 9 team is the defending winner of this event. Last year the team qualified second and led 85 laps en route to its second overall victory in the Lonestar State.

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 Reese’s Ice Cream/Sam’s Club Chevrolet

  • By virtue of last weekend’s victory at Bristol Motor Speedway, Justin Allgaier has advanced into the Round of 8 in the NXS Playoffs for the eighth consecutive season.
  • The Illinois native has gone to Victory Lane in two of the last four races (Daytona and Bristol).
  • In 25 NXS starts at Texas, Allgaier has scored five top fives and 13 top 10s.
  • Allgaier has placed fourth or better in three of the last four starts at the 1.5-mile quad-oval, equating to a 3.3 average finish in those three events. His best effort was a runner-up finish in 2021.

Driver Quotes

“Texas is another one of my better tracks and I’m looking forward to having a chance to get our momentum going in the right direction. We have had really fast cars these past few weeks but not a whole lot of luck, so hopefully we can turn that around this weekend in Texas and make some gains.” – Sam Mayer

“We have been really strong at Texas the past couple of seasons, and I know that we will have that same speed again this weekend. Having already advanced into the next round of the playoffs is a great feeling and it really gives us an opportunity to take some chances that some of the other guys are not able to. Hopefully we will be able to execute the same way we have been and be up front going for the win and those extra playoff points when it counts on Saturday with our Reese’s Ice Cream / Sam’s Club Chevrolet.” – Justin Allgaier

“We’ve run well at Texas in the past and there’s no reason we can’t continue that this weekend. This JARRETT team isworking hard to make sure we unload with the speed we are capable of having. With the resin on the track, the line is going to change and we need to be ready for that to happen in order to put ourselves in a situation to score stage points throughout the day. I’m confident that we will be in contention Saturday as long as we put it all together.” – Josh Berry

“We have had a lot of speed as of late and I know this team is making sure that speed carries over to this weekend. I thought we had a car capable of winning last week and this No. 9 bunch has run up front at Texas more than not, so I’m confident that we will be near the front this weekend and hopefully battling for the win.” – Brandon Jones

JRM Team Updates’

  • JR Motorsports at Texas: JR Motorsports heads to Texas Motor Speedway as the defending race winner and will make its 100th start at the 1.5-mile quad-oval. Over the course of the previous 98 starts at the 1.5-mile track in Fort Worth, the organization has tallied two wins, 28 top fives and 62 top 10s. Texas stands as the second track where JRM has surpassed the century mark in starts; the other being Daytona Int’l Speedway.
  • 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, Sept. 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. local time.

Keselowski to Appear on FOX & Friends Thursday Morning

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Official Release
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Keselowski and Family in New York Thursday to Promote King’s Hawaiian

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 20, 2023) – As the 2023 NASCAR Playoffs moves into the second round, RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski will make an appearance Thursday morning on FOX & Friends promoting King’s Hawaiian’s popular Slider Sunday campaign.

As part of its ongoing partnership with the iconic brand King’s Hawaiian, Keselowski – along with wife, Paige, and daughter, Scarlett – will be in New York to take part in a pair of segments on the daily morning news and talk program that airs on FOX News.

The first segment is slated to air at 7:50 a.m. ET, which will feature the Keselowski’s assembling a pair of family-favorite recipes in the Hawaiian Ham and Swiss Slider and the Pizza Slider.

America’s Weather First and FOX Weather will also feature the Keselowski’s and King’s Hawaiian around 8:15 a.m. ET, as Keselowski will give a sneak peek of how he spends his weekends at the race track, and speak to how weather plays a factor in racing. The segment will kick off FOX Weather Weekend Watch, which will feature King’s Hawaiian promotion throughout the weekend across the network.

The Round of 12 in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs opens this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway (Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET, USA), where Keselowski has four-straight top-10 finishes.

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.

Rev Up Your Engines: Hutch Games Teams Up with NASCAR to Unleash a New Standalone Mobile Game

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Official Release
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Hutch brings the spectacle, tactics and drama of NASCAR to a global mobile audience

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – September 20th, 2023 – Hutch, the renowned automotive mobile game developer behind hit titles such as F1 Clash and Top Drives, has announced a new partnership with NASCAR. The partnership will see Hutch develop a new standalone title for mobile, combining the studio’s expertise in creating automotive games with NASCAR’s world-renowned brand.

NASCAR, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, is the sanctioning body for the No.1 form of motorsports in the United States and one of the most recognized motorsports organizations in the world. Offering fans high-speed, side-by-side racing with thrilling passing and aggressive strategy, NASCAR has reached a diverse global audience. With millions of fans worldwide and a rich history of high-octane racing, NASCAR is a perfect match for Hutch’s game development pedigree.

Hutch will lead development of the new title in collaboration with NASCAR, working closely to build the ultimate mobile experience for fans around the globe. The new game, due to be fully revealed in due course, will leverage Hutch’s extensive development experience with licensed IPs to bring fans their dream game on mobile.

Peter Stott, Game Director at Hutch says: “The NASCAR brand is an ideal fit for Hutch. Our passion for motorsports and drive to create-genre-defining experiences for mobile will enable us to deliver for the many global fans of the sport. That same passion forms the foundation of our relationship with NASCAR, which will fuel our ability to make another hit Hutch title. We’re proud to be able to work with another key automotive licensor, continuing our rich history of partnered game development.”

Nick Rend, Managing Director, Gaming and Esports at NASCAR says: “At NASCAR, our number one priority is engaging our fans and bringing them the best experiences possible whether they’re at the track or in digital spaces where they like to spend time. We want to deliver our fans around the world a unique, immersive mobile gaming experience. Hutch, with its expertise in the automotive genre and track record of creating fun and popular games, is the perfect partner to make this happen.”

Find out more about Hutch and NASCAR here:

About Hutch

Since its inception in 2011, Hutch has entertained over 350 million mobile players across game titles including Rebel Racing, F1® Clash and Top Drives. Hutch is dedicated to growing the racing genre on mobile and enabling communities of players worldwide to celebrate their passion for cars. Hutch has created an award-winning culture for their 120+ world-class team members, housed in their main studio in Shoreditch, London, with wider studios situated in Dundee and Canada. In December 2020 Hutch joined MTG to further accelerate opportunities to build highly diverse automotive experiences on mobile. For more information visit www.hutch.io.

About MTG

MTG (Modern Times Group MTG AB (publ.)) (www.mtg.com) is an international gaming group that owns and operates gaming studios with popular global IPs across a wide range of casual and mid-core genres. The group is focused on accelerating portfolio company growth and supporting founders and entrepreneurs. MTG is also an active driver of gaming industry consolidation and a strategic acquirer of gaming companies around the world. MTG’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (‘MTGA’ and ‘MTGB’).

About NASCAR

Celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2023, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Pinty’s Series (Canada), NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 12 countries and more than 30 U.S. states. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

MotoAmerica: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Here We Come

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Official Release
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Photo by Brian J. Nelson

For The First Time Since 2014, MotoAmerica Brings Superbikes Back To Mid-Ohio

IRVINE, Calif. (Sept. 20, 2023) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is thrilled to announce that it will bring a round of the MotoAmerica Championship to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, August 16-18, for what will be the eighth round of the 2024 Medallia Superbike Championship.

The legendary Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, a fan favorite since the first AMA Superbike Championship round was held there in 1983, hosted the AMA championship for 32 consecutive years. The venue first opened its doors in 1962.

The last time the AMA Superbike Championship visited Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course was in 2014 with then-21-year-old Cameron Beaubier winning race one with his then-39-year-old teammate Josh Hayes emerging victorious in race two. Beaubier is now a five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion and Hayes, a four-time Superbike Champion, recently became the all-time win leader across all classes in AMA road racing.

“Since we started MotoAmerica in 2015, the one thing we consistently heard from our fans is ‘When is MotoAmerica coming to Mid-Ohio?’” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “It makes us extremely happy to be able to say that we will be bringing our series to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course next year and we’re looking forward to seeing all those people at the track.”

“We are thrilled to announce the return of MotoAmerica and Superbike racing back to Mid-Ohio in 2024,” said Craig Rust, president of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. “The series has long been a fan favorite in Ohio, and its return has been much anticipated since they last ran in 2014. I know all the avid motorcycle fans throughout the Midwest will join me in welcoming the high-speed bikes back to Mid-Ohio next summer.”

Hayes, who has seven AMA Superbike wins at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, is excited to see the series return to the track located just outside the village of Lexington, 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland.

“From the time that I started racing, Mid-Ohio has been an iconic and regular stop on the calendar,” Hayes said. “All of us were sad to see such a cool racetrack not be a part of the series after 2014. The opportunity to bring that racetrack back into the fold is exciting and with any luck I will be back next year to so some more laps around the place myself.”

Tickets for the 2024 Mid-Ohio event will be available for purchase online at midohio.com and motoamerica.com at a later date.

The entire 2024 MotoAmerica Championship calendar will be released shortly.

About MotoAmerica:

MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.

About Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course:

A comprehensive motorsports facility in Lexington, Ohio, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course sits on 380 acres and features a permanent road-racing circuit with two primary race track configurations: 2.4-mile, 15-turn or 2.258-mile, 13-turn layout. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the natural terrain road course is commonly referred to as the “Most Competitive in the U.S.” and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally-sanctioned race events for amateur, club and professional drivers and riders. It is also home to The Mid-Ohio School, featuring over 20 driving and riding courses, for teenagers to professional racers using Honda vehicles. Opened in 1962, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has been owned and operated by Green Savoree Mid-Ohio, LLC since 2011, just the raceway’s third private ownership group in its history.

For more information, visit midohio.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page @MidOhioSportsCarCourse or follow updates on Twitter @Mid_Ohio and Instagram @officialmidohio.

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