Home Blog Page 1305

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Race Preview: Bristol Motor Speedway

Race Information

  • Round: NASCAR Cup Series race no. 29 of 36 (Playoffs Round of 16)
  • Track Location: Bristol Motor Speedway – Bristol, Tennessee
  • Race Name: Bass Pro Shops Night Race
  • Broadcast: Saturday, September 16th at 7:30 PM ET live on USA Network (TV), PRN (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90
  • Team Entrants:

No. 42 | Carson Hocevar & Luke Lambert – Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
No. 43 | Erik Jones & Dave Elenz – U.S. Air Force Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Carson Hocevar, No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Bristol Motor Speedway Stats

-Carson Hocevar will make his first NASCAR Cup Series start at Bristol on Saturday night

-NCTS: Starts: 3; Best Start: 8th (2021), Best Finish: 6th (2021); Top 10s: 1; Laps Led: 6

2023 NASCAR Cup Series Season Stats

-Starts: 3; Best Start: 15th (Darlington, Fall); Best Finish: 17th (Darlington, Fall)

2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Season Stats

-Starts: 19; Wins: 3 (Texas, Nashville, Richmond); Best Start: 2nd (North Wilkesboro); Top 5s: 9; Top 10s: 11; Laps led: 255; Current Points Position: 4th

About Sunseeker Resort: Opening in 2023, Florida’s newest luxury resort located in Charlotte Harbor is the first resort property of Sunseeker Resorts, a wholly owned subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Company. Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor occupies over 22 waterfront acres with 785 guest rooms, including 189 Signature Sunsuites™. Set upon the Peace River and Florida Gulf Coast, this premier resort offers 20 original food and beverage concepts; including seven stand-alone restaurants, eleven bars and lounges, two poolside offerings and a 25,000-square-foot multi-dining experience. Additional hotel amenities include a waterfront promenade, two unique rooftop and waterfront pool experiences, 60,000-square-feet of combined convention space, full-service spa and salon, a 7,100-square-foot state-of-the-art fitness center with four group exercise studios with specialty instructor lead classes, three retail and market shops, and an 18-hole championship level golf club exclusive to hotel guests only. The resort is conveniently located within a short drive of Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, Sarasota, St. Petersburg-Clearwater, and Tampa airports. For more information, visit www.sunseekerresorts.com. Follow us on Instagram: @sunseekerresorts and like us on Facebook: @sunseekerresorts.

Kansas Recap: Carson Hocevar made his third NASCAR Cup Series start in last Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, and was fast right off the bat. The No. 42 Chevy was 18th quick in practice, and despite some contact with the wall in qualifying, he was still able to start from the 21st position. Carson stayed in tow with the leaders sticking around on the lead lap for the most part of the day, climbing to as high as 15th at the end of stage two. On the final pit stop, a costly uncontrolled tire penalty dropped him to the tail end of the lead lap, however he was able to pass a couple of cars to come home in 20th place.

Solid on Sundays: Hocevar has impressed in his two NASCAR Cup Series starts with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. Last Sunday’s finish makes it two top-20 results in two starts, notably finishing both races on the lead lap. As he continues to learn the ropes in the Cup Series, he joked that these past few weekends have been ‘surreal’, recalling that just a few short years ago, he was a fan of many of the drivers that he now races door-to-door with, collecting their die-cast cars and playing as them in NASCAR video games. No doubt, Hocevar has a great future ahead of him in the sport.

Double Duty: Before he takes the green flag for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, Hocevar will embark on his primary position competing for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series title on Thursday night. Hocevar secured his spot in the Round of 8, and hopes to continue his dream season by advancing to the Championship 4 in Phoenix. So far this year, he’s won three times (Texas Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, and Richmond Raceway), and enters the start of this round positioned fourth in points, currently tied with the driver directly below the cutline. Tune-in to FOX Sports 1 on Thursday, Sept. 14th at 9:00 PM ET to watch the Truck Series drivers go to battle for 200 laps.

Back in Green: Hocevar’s No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet will revert back to the sea foam green version of the paint scheme as he runs under the lights in on Saturday. The white version of the Sunseeker scheme, which was most recently ran at Kansas last weekend, will return for the remainder of the season in the “day” races, starting next week at Texas Motor Speedway.

2024 and Beyond: On Wednesday of last week, the Club announced that John Hunter Nemechek will join to drive the No. 42 entry beginning in 2024 when the team makes its manufacturer change from Chevrolet to Toyota. The Xfinity Series driver has had a break-through year in 2023, posting a series-high six wins (Auto Club Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, and Kansas Speedway), two poles (sweeping at Darlington Raceway), along with 13 top-fives and 19 top-10 finishes. Following his most recent win at Kansas, Nemechek enters the start of the NXS Playoffs seeded as the championship leader heading into Friday night’s race in Bristol. He’ll assume his new role following the season finale at Phoenix Raceway, but until then, his focus will be purely on competing for the coveted NXS title. Read the exciting news here.

Lambert at Bristol: Luke Lambert has called the shots for 18 points-paying NASCAR Cup Series races at Bristol Motor Speedway, along with one All-Star race. Making his first start in 2011, Lambert’s Cup drivers have finished inside the top-10 six times, with Ryan Newman finishing as high as fifth in 2015. Lambert has been great in the Xfinity Series at Bristol, winning twice in the three races that he has served as crew chief. His first win came in 2012 while working with Elliott Sadler, and in his return to the series last year, he was able to win for a second time in a stretch of four race victories in a row.

Quoting Carson Hocevar: You’ve had two top-20 finishes in two weeks with the Club, so what has been the biggest factor in acclimating yourself with the NextGen car? Do you think the Truck Series race will help you prepare for 500 laps on Saturday?

“The last two weeks has been a lot of fun, being able to now race a Cup car and truck on the same weekend have just helped myself become better and more in the rhythm lately. Super excited to run a lot of laps at Bristol, the truck isn’t too far away from the Cup car in terms of throttle points and the track stays the same, so looking for a good showing on Friday to get me as up to speed as I can for 500 laps on Saturday night with my No. 42 LEGACY M.C. group.”

Erik Jones, No. 43 U.S. Air Force Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Bristol Motor Speedway Stats

-NCS Starts: 10; Poles: 1 (Fall, 2017); Best finish: 2nd (Fall, 2017); Top-5s: 4; Top-10s: 5; Laps Led: 293

-NXS Starts: 6; Poles: 3 (Spring, 2015, Spring, 2016, and Fall, 2016); Wins: 2 (Spring, 2016 and Spring, 2017), Top-5s: 3; Top-10s: 4; Laps Led: 120

-NCTS Starts: 1; Best start: 4th (2015); Best finish: 6th (2015); Top-10s: 1

2023 NASCAR Cup Series Season Stats

Starts: 28; Best start: 8th (COTA); Best finish: 3rd (Kansas II); Top-5’s: 1; Top-10’s: 7; Laps Led: 17; Current points position: 25th

About the United States Air Force: The mission of the United States Air Force is to fly, fight and win – airpower anytime, anywhere. Whether full time, part time, in or out of uniform, everyone who serves plays a critical role in helping us achieve mission success. For 2023, the Air Force Recruiting Service is hiring over 26,000 new Airmen. An emphasis is on recruiting people with no prior military service into one of over 130 enlisted career opportunities. The Air Force recruits to retain, to recruit the brightest candidates possible, and provide them with tough, highly technical training that gives them the right skills to sustain the combat capability of America’s Air Force. For more information, visit AirForce.com.

Kansas in the Rearview: Erik Jones earned his best finish of the season on a two-lap shootout in overtime at Kansas Speedway. Jones started in the 20th position and quickly moved to the front, earning stage points in the second stage. After a caution came out with seven laps to go, Dave Elenz called Jones in to pit and made the gutsy decision to take two tires. After a well-rounded stop from the pit crew, Jones restarted on the front row with just two to go. Jones had a great restart, but the checkered flag was just out of reach, finishing third on the day. This marks his best finish of the season and the first top-five for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB.

Back in Bristol Baby!: Earlier this year, the NASCAR Cup Series took on the dirt-filled Colosseum of Bristol Motor Speedway where Jones started out 18th on the day. Throughout the race, Jones moved up and down the scoring pylon, running as high as 12th and as low as 34th. Despite this, the No. 43 kept its pace, earning a 14th-place finish when the checkered flag waved. Jones’ best finish on the Bristol dirt track came in his first attempt in 2021 where he worked around the competition, starting in 24th and ending with a noteworthy ninth place finish.

First Xfinity Win in Bristol: Jones took the victory by a narrow margin in 2016, winning the spring Xfinity Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Jones held off Kyle Larson and his mentor, Kyle Busch, for the checkered flag, leading for an impressive 62 laps after holding the pole position at the start of the race. Jones also capped off the day by winning the “Dash for Cash,” pocketing an extra $100,000 bonus.

Second W at the World’s Fastest Half Mile: Erik Jones showed some real speed by winning the spring Xfinity Series race the following year in 2017. After starting fourth, Jones was running a consistent day until receiving a speeding penalty on lap 230. With 70 laps to go, Jones fought the odds and climbed back into contention, beating out Ryan Blaney for the checkered flag. Jones led 27 laps on his way to the victory.

Three of a Kind: Jones holds three pole positions in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Bristol Motor Speedway, and all three of these came consecutively. Jones held the pole in all three of his starts from 2015-2016, including both races during the 2016 season. Jones also won the pole in the 2017 Cup Series race, making it nearly three full years in a row on the pole in Thunder Valley.

Meet Erik: On Saturday, September 16th, Jones will sign autographs for approximately 100 fans at the United States Air Force activation display in the Bristol Motor Speedway Fan Zone at 2:50 pm local time.

Quoting Erik Jones: “Bristol has always been fun for me. I’ve come so close there a couple of times to winning that night race and really would love to close that one out. It is always one of my favorite races. The Bristol night race is one that I tell people all the time, ‘If you haven’t been to a NASCAR race, try and make it out to that one.’ It is one of my favorites of the year and one that I have been really close to winning before, so hoping we can close it out.”

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB:

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

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

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

SOCIAL MEDIA:

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

BMW, Ford and Honda Agree to Create ChargeScape, a New Company Focused on Optimizing Electric Vehicle Grid Services

  • ChargeScape will aim to unlock the full potential of electric vehicle (EV) technology through conveniently managed energy services never before possible with gasoline-powered vehicles – benefiting EV customers, electric utilities and automakers.
  • BMW Group, Ford and Honda will leverage years of cross-industry research around the Open Vehicle-Grid Integration Platform (OVGIP) to create a single platform that will seamlessly connect electric utilities, automakers and their interested EV customers to manage energy usage for a broad pool of EVs.
  • ChargeScape will aim to provide EV customers financial benefits through EV-enabled grid services, as well as reduce EV customers’ personal carbon footprints while supporting grid resiliency.

Torrance, Calif., Sept 13, 2023 – (JCN Newswire) – BMW Group, Ford Motor Company and American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today announced that they have entered into an agreement to create ChargeScape, LLC, a new equally-owned company that will create a single, cost-effective platform connecting electric utilities, automakers and interested electric vehicle customers. Benefiting both EV customers and the electric utility industry in the U.S. and Canada, ChargeScape will unlock entirely new value that EVs can provide to the electric grid, while enabling EV customers to earn financial benefits through a variety of managed charging and energy-sharing services never before possible with traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. The closing of the transaction and subsequent formation of ChargeScape is pending regulatory approvals, with the company expected to be operational early next year.

Building on years of OVGIP cross-industry collaboration, ChargeScape’s single platform will eliminate the need for individual integrations between each automotive brand and each electric utility. ChargeScape’s platform will give electric utilities access to EV battery energy across a wide pool of EVs. Participating EV customers will have the potential to earn financial benefits by charging at “grid-friendly” times through flexible and managed schedules. Electric vehicle customers will also eventually have the opportunity for even more significant impact by sharing the energy stored in their EV batteries with the grid during times of peak demand through vehicle-to-grid (V2G) applications.

ChargeScape will enable the smart use of plugged-in EV batteries by securely providing energy data to electric utilities and system operators like aggregated demand response, alignment of charging and EV battery utilization with off-peak, low-cost hours and the availability of high renewable energy. Due to the efficient integration with participating automakers and the anticipation of high levels of EV customer enrollment, these energy services are expected to be a cost-efficient, operational benefit for electric utilities.

Transformational Opportunity for EV Customers and Electric Utilities

The development of this project comes at a time when electric vehicle sales and infrastructure growth are ramping up quickly, bringing new opportunities to address challenges for the electric grid. More EVs on the road means increased electricity demand on utilities to charge them. ChargeScape aims to provide energy management services to help support grid resiliency while looking ahead to the future of V2G capabilities that will benefit both EV customers and electric utilities.

Additionally, ChargeScape will play a role in helping to decarbonize the grid. The company’s efforts will reduce EV customers’ personal carbon footprints by utilizing electricity that comes from more readily available renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar. While seamless integration between EV customers and utilities will be key to energy management success, participating EV customers will always remain in control of their charging and energy decisions.

“Electric grid reliability and sustainability are the foundation for an EV powered future,” said Thomas Ruemenapp, Vice President, Engineering, BMW of North America, LLC. “ChargeScape aims to accelerate the expansion of smart charging and vehicle-to-everything solutions all over the country, while increasing customer benefits, supporting the stability of the grid and helping to maximize renewable energy usage. We’re proud to be a founding member of ChargeScape and are looking forward to the opportunities this collaboration will create.”

“Electric vehicles are unlocking entirely new benefits for customers that can save them money while supporting grid resiliency and increase the use of clean, renewable energy,” said Bill Crider, global head of charging and energy services, Ford Motor Company. “ChargeScape will help accelerate the true potential of the EV revolution by providing significant benefits to both utilities and EV customers through smart vehicle-to-grid services.”

“As Honda seeks to achieve our global goal of carbon neutrality, we are counting on this platform to create new value for our customers by connecting EVs to electric utilities, strengthening grid resources and reducing CO2 emissions,” said Jay Joseph, vice president of Sustainability & Business Development, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “With automakers accelerating toward the electrified future, we must find solutions like ChargeScape that enable all stakeholders to work together for the good of our customers, society and our industry by enabling greater use of renewable energy for and from mobility.”

Benefits of Working Together

ChargeScape, along with the work done to date through OVGIP, will bring managed charging benefits to more EV customers and can eliminate marketing and outreach costs for utilities trying to reach their individual customer bases. BMW Group, Ford Motor Company and American Honda have direct, multi-channel communication with their EV customers, solving a central problem for utilities that typically do not know or have an easy and cost-effective way to identify the EV customers in their service territory.

Additionally, by leveraging automaker telematics, ChargeScape intends to provide managed charge scheduling through vehicle connectivity without requiring Wi-Fi-enabled charging stations. This will support the many EV customers who do not use “smart” chargers at home, as their EVs would otherwise be unreachable for grid services.

The three founding members welcome other automakers to join in and fully unlock opportunities provided by ChargeScape’s grid service offerings once the company is fully operational.

About BMW Group In America

BMW (US) Holding, Corp. is the shareholder of BMW of North America, LLC, which has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; DesignWorks/USA.Inc, a strategic design consultancy based in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is the BMW Group global center of competence for BMW X models and manufactures the X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7 Sports Activity Vehicles as well as the BMW XM. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 349 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers,147 BMW motorcycle retailers, 104 MINI passenger car dealers, and 38 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The company does that through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough EVs along with embedded software that defines always-on digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Ford is pursuing mobility solutions through Ford Next, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 173,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.

About Honda’s Commitment to the Environment

Honda is working toward its global goal of zero environmental impact by 2050 through its “Triple Action to Zero” approach, including achieving carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities, 100% utilization of renewable energy, and resource circulation, utilizing 100% sustainable materials by reprocessing products back to raw materials and reusing those materials in the creation of new products. Toward this goal, Honda will strive to make battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles represent 100% of auto sales in the U.S. and globally by 2040.

To reduce the environmental impact of its business operations, Honda also is offsetting CO2 emissions from its North American manufacturing operations through long-term virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs) for renewable wind and solar power that seek to cover more than 60% of the electricity Honda uses in North America. Honda also promotes environmentally responsible business practices with its suppliers and retail dealer partners across North America. Learn more at https://csr.honda.com/environment/na-environmental-report/.

Over the Wall with Joey Meier 

Joey Meier is best known today as the pilot for Dale Earnhardt Jr. but his journey into the NASCAR world began as a child. He was raised in a racing family in Marathon, Florida, where his dad, Freddy, raced on the beaches of Daytona and then famously qualified for the final race held on Daytona Beach in 1958. 

Growing up, Meier used to work on cars and quite often went to Hialeah Speedway and Punta Gorda Speedway in the West Hollywood Florida area in Lee County. Racing was always in his life but flying wasn’t. He even raced street stocks and won a race but always thought he would be a better mechanic than a driver. Later in his career, he utilized that skill to help a driver and crew chief with feedback during a race.  

MW: How did you get into flying?

JM: I graduated high school on a Wednesday and the following Saturday after I graduated, my mom was in an airplane accident. She was with her boyfriend at the time in some type of general aviation – amphibious type airplane, and they were messing around, and they were involved in a very bad wreck. She survived but was never the same. She had broken her neck in several spots but she regained some mobility. I was at the speedway and I got called to go to the hospital. 

But because of that accident, and I didn’t even know what kind of airplane she crashed in, it immediately sucked me into aviation. But I never thought I was smart enough to be a doctor, a lawyer, or a pilot. And so it was never in my reach. That was my thought process. 

But at the end of her recovery, I found myself very invested in the aviation world. I took pilot lessons and got my initial pilot’s license and I didn’t have a direction on the aviation side.

So, I actually went back to aviation maintenance for two and a half years. I still really didn’t have a direction but my great uncle was an airline pilot and he allowed me to pursue a part of the flying side as far as being a mechanic. I was still young, not quite twenty years old. So once I realized that I could take my love and passion for racing and pursue it via an aviation entrance, that’s where it all began. 

And ever since then I’ve gone on to fly charter cargo maintenance and went to work in the airlines for five years. But the entire time I was doing that, I was pursuing a job with Dale Earnhardt. 

So my future boss at the time, Mike Collier, it just happened to work out that in 1997 when they expanded their flight department with Dale, they called one day and asked, ‘Are you still interested?’ I said, ‘Yep’ and I was in his office two weeks later and started at DEI.

MW: After your final season, with Brad Keselowski, how and when did you have this conversation with Dale Jr. about becoming his pilot, the opportunities it would bring, and what it would require?

JM:  Midway through 2018 as drivers do, they were looking to make a change. Brad wanted to take me off the roof to pursue a different direction in his flight department and in his spotting department. So after multiple conversations in which I didn’t want to come off the roof, we agreed to step away from the spotting and flying side at the end of 2018.

But he needed somebody to fill in flying in 2019. So I actually went and I stayed at Penske from a spotter standpoint and spotted the Wood Brothers car in 2019 and did a little bit of flying for Brad. But then also flew for Victory Air which is another race organization that just does aviation for race teams that don’t have their own flight department. So I spotted the Wood Brothers and flew for Brad, a little bit and Victory Air a little bit and that got me through the end of August in 2019.

Dale had an event occur in Bristol in 2019 that changed the direction of his flight department and opened up an opportunity for employment right away, and as they were searching for someone to take a place that was opening. I was involved in those conversations of if I knew of anybody and it was a perfect opportunity for me to change directions and what I felt was a better course in my life and I went to work for him in December of 2019.

MW: I’ve talked to a couple of people that have actually flown with you and they’ve said that you have kind of like a signature move? 

JM: What we used to do and I don’t do it anymore because we haven’t really experienced the opportunity to, but, back in the day, whenever we went to race, we would do a victory lap before we took off. And what that consisted of was on the ground before you took off, you would actually ask (and most of your Towers would allow it) to simply do a Victory 360 on the runway and make an announcement, “Hey congratulations,” kind of like what you would do with the race car. You go around in circles with your hand out in the air. 

So that’s what we’re doing with the airplane and it seems to be what all the guys are now doing. So, if you have an opportunity to get on a flight where the team has won, a lot of the pilots will still do the 360, but it’s on the ground. I don’t know if it’s a signature move but, I definitely was one of the first that did it to celebrate whenever we’d win a race. 

MW: What’s the difference between your communication while flying and while spotting?

JM: The difference with me from a flying standpoint as you got to remember in flying, you only have one radio and there might be 20 aircraft on the same radio, so I don’t want to say a lot of words. But I want to be very concise with what word I say. That one word will convey a very large message. So I want to be on the radio as short as I can and I transferred that over to the spotting so we could get in these different styles of techniques years ago.

Plate racing is where the word energy came from and it was very successful at the time. And now that word has gone. It’s taken on its own little life but, I never wanted to spot as much as I like talking clearly, I always wanted to try to keep my words in my messages as short as possible, while trying to convey, a very large message with the least amount of words possible

MW: I was going to ask if you ever watch from the roof, and if so, has it ever made you want to get back into spotting?

JM: This year I’m going to have an opportunity to spot for my current boss as he runs a couple of Xfinity races. He’ll be running at Bristol and Homestead. Also, I’ll be spotting for Carson Kvapil during his truck debut at Bristol and I’m looking forward to that immensely. (Meier also filled in for T.J Majors while he was out sick recently).

Also, I was fortunate enough last year as a lot of the truck teams were looking for spotters and I was fortunate enough that the KVM Truck team with John Hunter called and I was able to spot in Knoxville with him. We had an amazing amount of fun. And then at the same time, Ryan Blaney’s spotter, Josh Williams had a chance to run a modified race at Caraway, and I went up and spotted him and we had a really good time.

And that made me realize that I do miss it. I enjoy it thoroughly. I’ll also travel with Dale on The Late Model side whenever he does a Late Model race. It’s kind of a volunteer group of guys because we don’t race full-time. We’ve raced in North Wilkesboro and Florence. And we did that a couple of times this year. 

I’ll also travel with Dale on The Late Model side whenever he does away a Late Model race. It’s kind of a volunteer group of guys because we don’t race full-time. We’ve raced in North Wilkesboro and Florence. And we did that a couple of times this year.

MW: Is there anything that you and Dale do together, particularly outside of racing? 

JM: No, it’s definitely a working relationship and that’s fantastic. We text quite a bit back and forth when we’re not working together, relative to whatever it might be, you know. As long as it continues that way because we have a good working relationship, I hope I can keep doing that. 

MW: With you having all of this valuable knowledge and experience, has it ever crossed your mind to enter the booth or be a Pit Road commentator at any point?

JM: You know, back in 2013 MRN was gracious enough to put myself and the team up with Woody Cain and we had our own podcast. It ran for nine years. I thought we had a lot of good times. We were under the MRN Banner in which we had some guidelines. If an opportunity presents itself, I’ll tell you who does a really good job nowadays and I would love to do it and wish I could have been in that spot but Coleman Presley has been approached by Fox and does some TV from the roof from the spotter’s viewpoint.

I think that’s wonderful. I’ve always said that I thought that in the future and I was clearly wrong, but I always thought there’d be crew chiefs from the roof because you see a much bigger picture. Now, one of the reasons I’m wrong is because technology has brought all that information to the computer tables in their pit boxes. So they don’t need to be on the roof anymore to see what the spotter sees. But it’s still a good viewpoint.

Visually obviously, the spotters will always stay on the roof. But Coleman does a really good job. And if that opportunity ever presented itself, I’d love to do it. I do miss being at the racetrack. Now, I’m not going to risk or entertain moving on from the position I’m in now, because this is something I hope I can stay for the next 10, or 20 years doing. As I know, it sounds, a long way away but. my health is virtually perfect.

MW: What do you do while Dale’s working?

JM: Melissa, that’s a good question because now that I’m not involved in racing, there’s no need for us to stay with the race team, right? So the flight department has its own budget and our requirements are to try to be as efficient as possible. If you’re traveling as much as I do; you know that the closer to the racetrack/airport, you get, the more expensive your hotels are. All right, so we don’t need to be there. I don’t need to be close to a racetrack or close to the airport. I land and I can drive. For instance: I can go north from Daytona or north from Homestead or wherever I have to go to get what’s a little more efficient for our hotel needs. So I do that and we’ll get in a car and we’ll drive

40, 50 miles up north. This is also allowing me to enjoy one of my greater hobbies that I enjoy away from racing and that’s bowling. And what I do is – I carry a set of bowling balls with me in the airplane. Actually, I carry three with me wherever I go. And I do a lot of tournaments on the road, or I just do some open bowling and practicing or some tournaments. And I’ve had the luck to run into some good people around the U.S., and I’ve actually taken some instruction which I did down in Daytona in March, which was really cool, but allows me to bowl because I’m a bowling fool. I work to support my bowling habit.

MW: Is there anything on your bucket list you have yet to achieve?

JM: Professionally, all I’ve ever wanted to do is my job. Hopefully, I can carry this off into the sunset. My bucket list is to able to finish that out. Personally, I’ve got two wonderful kids. One’s in the Navy and one’s a manager at Celsius Manufacturing. They’re just now starting their lives right there just getting into their 30s. Believe it or not, I’ve got two wonderful grandkids, and as a grandfather supporting them is a very unique experience and I’m looking forward to continually experiencing things in life with my wife, kids, grandkid, and our dogs. I don’t really have a bucket list, I just want this ride to continue on.

I’d like to personally thank my friend, Joey Meier for this interview as I’m grateful for the many opportunities we’ve had over the years to chat about racing and flying. 

Joey Meier hands Dale Earnhardt Jr. the American Flag at Dover Motor Speedway after 9/11.

QuestBridge Scholarship Essay Secrets Revealed – Top Strategies for Success

QuestBridge is a national non-profit organisation in Palo Alto, California, servicing a high-level educational funding scheme for the previous 30 years. Their main goal is to facilitate high-achieving students who belong to lower-class families and are facing financial issues to proceed with their educational careers. 

Regardless of academic qualification, 30,000 students can not get admission to any school each year. QuestBridge continuously strives to assist such students and is considering a top-tier academic funding program. 

According to QuestBridge’s Press Release  on December 1, 2022:

Usually, 5,613 finalists are considered for the Match scholarship out of 17,900 applicants who apply for scholarships each year. In 2022, there were QuestBridge’s 48 college partners matched with 1,755 Finalists, who are recognised as Match Scholarship Recipients.

They are providing opportunities for finalists with high education to research their goals and destinations for bright futures. 

What is the QuestBridge Scholarship? 

The QuestBridge College Match Scholarship is a full-ride scholarship which covers every academic expense of a student, including books, accessories, tuition and fees, room or hostel dues and travel expenses. 

Hundreds of students received quested scholarships in the previous year, and thousands of students are shortlisted to offer QuestBridge academic funding.

According to the latest updates on Graig Press, May 4, 2023.

There are more than 15,000 students who apply for scholarships and get guaranteed full-ride scholarships for four years. In 2023, 1755 members were selected for Quest Bridge’s full four-year academic funding. To apply for the QuestBridge scholarship, you have to write a winning scholarship essay. 

Students cannot write their own Questbridge College Prep scholarship essay perfectly. They make a lot of mistakes, including major and minor errors, which distract the focus of the reader from the story that students try to convey to them. Students can go towards essay writing services UK to get a perfect and winning scholarship essay. 

Top-Secret Strategies for Writing Questbridge Scholarship Essay

You can also follow our top-secret strategies for sure success that we are going to discuss below: 

1. Read carefully the Eligible Criteria.

Understanding the eligibility criteria is very important to know whether you are eligible to apply for scholarship or not. So, you have to address all the key terms in written criteria that are used by the scholarship judgment committee to check the applicant’s essays. The criteria of the QuestBridge Scholarship are as follows. 

  • Students expected with usually As, but a few with Bs. 
  • Candidate should be in the top 5 to 10 % of the students of a class.
  • Their household income should be under $65,000.
  • With this income, students should have a minimum of assets like investments or property. 
  • Students’ test scores should be 1260+ for the SAT and 27+ for the ACT.
  • Candidates should be active in all the co-curricular activities in school. 
  • The student’s character should indicate that you are interested in learning, have a passion for big things, strives to accomplish great achievements in life and display leadership. 

If you match all the above criteria guidelines, then you are able to apply for the QuestBridge Scholarship to meet your academic expenses. 

2. Start with an Engaging Introduction 

If you do not know how you can start your essay impressive by writing something more engaging. Then you should follow these tips as 

  • Mention your accomplishments
  • Demonstrate your aptitude for your subject or degree. 
  • Include a quote or a famous statement of others which is relevant to your subject matter. 
  • Start writing scholarship essays with a brief story of your personal experience to attract judges’ attention. 
  • State your needs and financial crises that you are facing on the way to your higher education. 

Adding these things at the start gives you more chances to impress your judgmental committee for considering your application. 

3. Organise your Ideas and Thoughts 

While writing a Questbridge Scholarship Essay, there are many questions that you need to answer that question. That is why you first organise your thoughts by considering the following questions in your mind. 

  • Who are you?
  • Why do you want a scholarship?
  • Which thing makes you distinctive from others?
  • What financial crises you are facing in your life?
  • How are you willing to continue higher education? 

When you organise all these questions in order, it will be easy to write your essay by telling your story with a natural flow. 

4. Outline your Questbridge Scholarship Essay

After organising all the key questions, the next step is to make an outline which includes:

  • Introduction 
  • Educational and career objectives 
  • Background study 
  • Obligation 
  • Conclusion 

Introduction 

Your introductory sentence includes the student’s name and which quieter you are at in your college. 

Educational and career objectives 

State your educational goals and career objectives, and tell what you want to become in your life through education by giving answers to these questions. 

  • Identify your primary goals in life. 
  • Why are you doing a degree in that field?
  • What is your future career pathway?

Briefly describe your background.

Describe the factors, including your family background and what you achieved in your previous educational career, for example, your GPA in the last semester. Tell about your hobbies, passions, and curricular interests and mention things that make you stand out from the other candidates. 

Why do you need a Scholarship?

Fill out this part of your Questbridge Scholarship Essay application carefully, and try your best to convince your judges of your financial need. For example, you can explain your family’s financial condition and how you manage your educational expenses. 

Explain how receiving a scholarship will help you have a complete focus on your studies and a big pressure and stress in your life.  All these key points will demonstrate how important scholarship is for you to move further in your educational and professional field. 

Conclusion

Wrap your Questbridge Scholarship Essay with one or two concluding sentences. These sentences should be simple and concise with a clear message. Always end with a “Thank You” note as you are very thankful to them for allowing you to apply to avail yourself of this opportunity. 

Nut Shell 

Writing a Questbridge Scholarship Essay requires in-depth research about how you can create a winning scholarship essay with an impressive writing style. An average person needs help to write a well-organised, error-free essay to convince the scholarship committee. 

Students need a proper guide, as we have mentioned some top-secret strategies to help students in writing their Questbridge Scholarship Essay. But if you are still struggling with a problem, you can avail of a scholarship essay writing service to enhance your chances of getting a scholarship. 

What You Need to Know About Holding a Commercial Driver’s License

Photo by Zetong Li on Unsplash

Millions of miles of American roads are traversed daily by an array of vehicles, from the personal cars of everyday commuters to large commercial trucks tasked with transporting goods from coast to coast. At the helm of these larger vehicles are individuals with specialized licenses, known as commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). These CDL holders are trained to navigate the unique challenges of driving heavier vehicles. Hence, they face a set of responsibilities and regulations that differ considerably from regular drivers.

What is a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)?

A CDL is a specialized driver’s license required in the United States for individuals operating commercial vehicles. These can range from large tractor-trailers to buses and vehicles transporting hazardous materials. Acquiring a CDL demands rigorous training and testing, ensuring that drivers are equipped with the skills to safely operate such vehicles. The licensing process involves written exams, skills tests, and often specialized endorsements depending on the type of vehicle or cargo.

Traffic Violations and Penalties

Stricter Penalties: Serious violations, such as driving under the influence or committing a felony using a vehicle, can permanently revoke a CDL. The stakes are higher, especially when considering the potential danger posed by a larger, heavier commercial vehicle operated irresponsibly.

Notification Requirements: If a CDL holder is convicted of a traffic violation (excluding parking violations), they must notify their employer within 30 days, regardless of the type of vehicle they were driving at the time of the offense. This transparency ensures that employers are aware of any potential risks associated with a driver.

Out-of-Service Violations: In certain situations, especially involving substance use or other severe violations, a CDL driver may be immediately placed “out-of-service” for specific periods, prohibiting them from operating any commercial vehicle.

Impact on Employment: A traffic ticket is not just a financial inconvenience for CDL drivers—it can directly impact their livelihood. Given the reliance on a clean driving record in the transport industry, some employers might terminate drivers with specific infractions or if they accumulate too many penalty points.

The consequences of traffic violations for CDL holders can be much more significant than for other drivers. Hence, many CDL holders choose to contest their traffic tickets with attorneys such as https://missouritraffictickets.com.

Unique Regulations and Standards

CDL holders are responsible for their safety, the safety of other motorists, and the cargo they transport. Because of this, they are held to a higher standard than regular drivers.

Medical Requirements: Unlike regular drivers, CDL applicants often need to pass a physical examination. This ensures they can handle the physical demands of long hours on the road and managing large vehicles. CDL holders must also meet stricter vision and hearing standards than non-commercial drivers.

Hours of Service Regulations: To prevent accidents resulting from fatigue, federal rules govern how many hours CDL drivers can be on the road without breaks or rest periods. Typically, CDL drivers cannot drive more than 11 hours following 10 consecutive off-duty hours. Non-compliance can lead to hefty fines and potential license suspension.

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Limits: While the standard BAC limit for non-commercial drivers is 0.08% in many states, CDL drivers face stricter limits, often set at 0.04%. Some employers and states may adopt even stricter rules, pushing for a zero-tolerance policy on alcohol consumption before driving.

Distracted Driving Regulations: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has stringent regulations prohibiting CDL drivers from texting or holding a mobile device while driving. While solutions like Bluetooth are encouraged, drivers must ensure that they remain focused on the road.

Special Endorsements and Requirements

The diverse commercial transportation world means that certain cargo and vehicles require additional skills and knowledge. Beyond the standard CDL, these endorsements signal a driver’s ability to tackle specialized jobs safely.

Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Endorsement: Hazardous materials can be a potential risk to public safety if not properly handled. Drivers must undergo a background check by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), pass a written exam, and demonstrate knowledge about safely handling and transporting hazardous materials.

Tank Vehicle (N) Endorsement: To operate tank vehicles designed to transport liquid or gaseous materials, drivers must understand the movement of liquid cargoes, the potential for surge, and the increased risk of rollovers. They must pass a knowledge test that covers the special handling characteristics of liquid bulk tank trucks.

Passenger (P) Endorsement: People are precious cargo too! A passenger endorsement authorizes the driver to operate vehicles, such as buses, that are designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver. Study topics often include safe boarding procedures, emergency exit protocols, and considerations for disabled passengers.

Conclusion

The role of a CDL holder is pivotal in America’s logistics and transportation infrastructure. While the allure of the open road and the freedom of trucking life attract many, it is essential to recognize the weight of responsibility these drivers shoulder. The stringent regulations and potential repercussions of violations highlight that a CDL is not merely a license—it is a commitment to safety and professionalism. To protect their careers and the safety of other road users, drivers must engage in continuous education and refresher courses to remain at the forefront of safe driving practices.

Bitcoin Crash Gambling and the Rise of Cardano Casino

Cryptocurrency gambling has become a thrilling and rapidly expanding industry in this 21st century, attracting both seasoned investors and casual gamers. In this 1,000-word article, we will analyze the exciting world of Bitcoin Crash Gambling while alleviating the crucial points on the emerging trend of Cardano Casino. We will delve into the challenges these platforms face, their respective advantages, and the conceivable hereafter of cryptocurrency gaming. 

Part 1: Bitcoin Crash Gambling

Bitcoin Crash Gambling, often called “Bitcoin Crash” or “Bitcoin Crash Game,” has achieved immense favor as a unique blend of cryptocurrency trading and gambling. This section will provide a detailed overview of this exciting gaming phenomenon.

Comprehending Bitcoin Crash Gambling

Bitcoin crash gambling is a high-stakes game with huge winnings. It allows participants to speculate on the future price of Bitcoin, foreshadowing whether it will “crash” or continue its upward trajectory. Here’s how it works:

  • Player’s place bets by selecting an amount they wish to bet on and predicting whether the Bitcoin price will crash at a predetermined time.
  • Participants can cash out their bets anytime, locking in their winnings or limiting their losses. It could be done with some extreme pieces of knowledge.
  • The game’s excitement lies in the multiplier effect, where the longer a player waits before cashing out, the higher the potential multiplier becomes. However, this also increases the risk of losing the bet if the Bitcoin price crashes.

Pull of Bitcoin Crash Gambling

Bitcoin Crash Gambling has garnered a dedicated following due to several key factors:

  • Accessibility: It is open to anyone with access to the internet and some cryptocurrency holdings, requiring no specialized knowledge.
  • Thrill of Speculation: Gamblers may make intelligent wagers using their understanding of Bitcoin patterns and market research.
  • Fast-paced action: The game provides immediate results, creating an exciting and adrenaline-pumping experience.
  • Anonymity: Many platforms provide anonymity, which appeals to individuals who value privacy.

Community Support 

Innovation: As the communities evolve, they may drive further innovation in game design, security features, and user experience, keeping these platforms competitive.

Regulatory Compliance: Engaged communities can assist in advocating for responsible gambling practices and compliance with evolving regulatory requirements.

Integration of New Cryptocurrencies: With the rise of new cryptocurrencies, communities may influence the integration of additional digital assets into Bitcoin Crash Gambling and Cardano Casino.

Global Expansion: Global Expansion: Communities may help these platforms expand globally by crossing linguistic and cultural barriers to attract a broad player base.

Regulatory Difficulties in Bitcoin Crash Gambling

Despite its popularity, Bitcoin Crash Gambling works in legal limbo, raising problems such as:

Participants may be subject to fraud, unfair practices, and unscrupulous operators without defined regulatory frameworks.

Inadequate consumer protection procedures might result in conflicts and financial losses for participants.

Funds Laundering: Without sufficient regulation, cryptocurrency gaming places may be used for laundering and illicit shiftings.

Taxation: The tax developments of bitcoin gaming may be complicated and vary depending on location. There are some geographical conflicts, too.

Please verify your age: Because cryptocurrencies are pseudonymous, it is difficult to ensure that participants are of legal gambling age.

Part 2: Best Cardano Casino

Best Cardano casino, famed for its superior blockchain technology and rapidly increasing community, has begun to establish itself in the realm of cryptocurrency gaming. This section delves into the emergence of Cardano Casino and its distinct advantages.

Cardano Casino Is Emerging

Cardano Casino is a new online gaming service breed that only conducts transactions on the Cardano (ADA) blockchain. They are gaining popularity owing to numerous paramount benefits:

Cardano’s network is built for efficiency and scalability, with brisker transaction speeds and cheaper expenditures than Bitcoin.

Cardano’s proof-of-stake harmony process is more energy-efficient than Bitcoin’s proof-of-work system, which aligns with environmental concerns.

Cardano’s blockchain allows smart contracts, allowing for the innovation of novel and provably fair games.

Cardano Casino Advantages

Cardano Casino provide a variety of advantages to players, including:

Lower Transaction Costs: Lower transaction costs make gaming more affordable for gamers.

Faster Transactions: Shorter confirmation times imply more immediate access to wins.

Environmental Concerns: Cardano’s eco-friendly strategy appeals to gamers worried about cryptocurrency’s ecological impact.

Transparency: Smart contracts guarantee fair games, fostering confidence between casinos and players.

Cardano Casino Regulatory Considerations

Cardano Casino has regulatory problems as it grows in popularity:

Regulatory Adaptation: As governments begin to scrutinize cryptocurrency gaming, these platforms must adapt to changing regulatory contexts.

Geographical limitations: Cardano Casino must manage several worldwide regulations and online gaming limitations.

Cardano Casino believes encouraging ethical gaming practices and addressing addiction disorders is critical.

Community Support in Cardano Casino

Cardano Casino, powered by the Cardano blockchain, also benefit from strong community support. Here’s how this support is contributing to the growth and success of Cardano Casino:

Cardano’s community is developing decentralized apps (Apps) for blockchain gaming. These decentralized apps, frequently housed on Cardano’s innovative contract platform, introduce fresh and unique games to Cardano Casino.

Auditing and Fairness: Community members often audited Cardano Casino’s intelligent contracts and games to ensure transparency and fairness. This self-regulation fosters trust among participants.

Feedback and Improvement: Player feedback is critical to the ongoing improvement of Cardano Casino platforms. The usage of community-driven development guarantees that user demands and preferences are met as soon as possible.

Community members fiercely advocate for Cardano Casino, broadening their reach and attracting new players. Their activism frequently spreads to social media, internet forums, and other venues.

Part 3: Cryptocurrency Gaming in the Future

The final section of this study investigates the probable future of cryptocurrency gambling, considering the regulatory problems and rewards related to Bitcoin Crash Gambling and Cardano Casino.

Regulatory Evolution: Regulatory frameworks are expected to change to handle the particular issues cryptocurrency gaming offers. More explicit restrictions may give gamers a safer and more secure environment.

Diversification of Cryptocurrencies: As new cryptocurrencies emerge, such as Cardano, users will have a more fabulous selection of platforms and gaming possibilities.

Responsible Gaming: Industry stakeholders must prioritize accountable gaming practices, such as assisting addicts and guaranteeing fair play.

Conclusion:

Bitcoin Crash gambles and Cardano Casino represent exciting innovations in cryptocurrency gaming. While they offer unique advantages, regulatory challenges remain a key concern. It is an enjoyable experience for all participants.

Several NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Drivers Can Claim Playoff Momentum Heading Into Unoh 200 Presented by Ohio Logistics At Bristol Motor Speedway

Bush’s Beans 200 ARCA Menard Series race with championship implications on the line kicks off thrilling Thursday night doubleheader under the lights on the all-concrete high banks

BRISTOL, Tenn. (Sept. 12, 2023) – Eight drivers in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will get a brand-new start in their Playoff run when they visit challenging Bristol Motor Speedway on Thursday, Sept. 14, for the nightcap of what promises to be a thrilling doubleheader of racing that also will feature the ARCA Menards Series Bush’s Beans 200.

The Craftsman Truck Series Round of 8 opens on the famed concrete high banks of Bristol and there’s several drivers who are chasing the championship crown who could claim that they have the momentum.

The circuit’s most recent winner, Christian Eckes, is certainly riding high after winning dramatically at Kansas to extend his Playoff run. He will be one of the contenders to watch when the green flag drops at the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics (9 p.m., FS1 and MRN Radio). The New York native literally stole the win from challengers Corey Heim and Zane Smith, leading the final two laps on the 1.5-mile track in his No. 19 Chevy Silverado.

Eckes’ third victory of the season eliminated rivals Matt DiBenedetto and Matt Crafton from championship contention and it thrust the McAnally-Hilgemann Racing driver into the second position to start the Round of 8, right behind regular season champ Heim and in front of fellow three-time season winner Grant Enfinger.

“It’s exciting, but you know at the same time the job is not finished,” Eckes said during an interview this week on Sirius XM NASCAR radio. “I came here to win a championship and that’s what I want to do. So we have a lot more work to do to get there, but the job’s not finished.”

The other drivers who have a claim to momentum include the current points leader Heim, a two-time winner who has been solid all season in his No. 11 truck with a class leading 16 top 10 finishes. Heim has been so good in 2023 that he has only finished outside the top 10 twice, at Atlanta in March (34th) and a 15th place finish on the Bristol dirt.

The UNOH 200 defending winner Ty Majeski could also make a strong case for momentum, given the strong performance he put on here last September to take the victory. He has ran well this season at short tracks and posted a dominating performance at the Playoff opener at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Certainly, no one can discount the current rise of Carson Hocevar. Another three-time winner this season, Hocevar will be dangerous and a strong contender in his No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevy. Incidentally, Hocevar will be pulling double-duty during the weekend as he will also drive the No. 42 Chevy for the Legacy Motor Club in Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race.

The two past Truck series champions, Zane Smith and Ben Rhodes, will also be tough to beat at Bristol as Playoff contenders, as both have plenty of experience navigating the high banks and have posted strong finishes at the track in the past.

Finally, rookie Nick Sanchez may not have the momentum, but he is still a threat to claim the pole and the victory. He is holding down the eighth position to start the Round of 8 Playoffs, but has had a very fast truck all season long at the controls of his No. 2 Chevy.

Thursday night’s double-header opens with stock car racing’s future stars putting on a show in the Bush’s Beans 200 (6 p.m, FS1, MRN Radio) in the ARCA Menards Series. There are championship scenarios aplenty in this race as Jesse Love could clinch the national title, while talented William Sawalich and top challenger Luke Fenhaus are battling to decide the ARCA East Series crown. Sawalich will also compete in the UNOH 200, driving the No. 1 Truck for the TRICON Garage.

In the national series, Love holds a 129-point lead over second-place Andres Peres De Lara and former Malcom in the Middle star Frankie Muniz is holding down third place in the standings with nine top 10 finishes. Former NCAA Div. 1 baseball player Christian Rose is fourth in the points. The 6-foot-4 West Virginia native, who was an effective relief pitcher for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore before switching to a career in motorsports, has amassed 10 top 10s this season in his No. 32 machine.

In addition to the thrilling action in the Thursday night doubleheader, the Bass Pro Shops Night Race weekend also features Saturday night’s Cup Playoff race, the Bass Pro Shops Night Race (7:30 p.m., USA Network, PRN Radio), as well as the return of Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Bristol’s high banks in the Food City 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Friday night, Sept. 15 (7:30 p.m., USA Network and PRN Radio).

Off the track there’s tons to do during your Bristol visit with lots of activities available in the BMS Fan Zone and BMS Fan Midway. Kenny Wallace and John Roberts will host Trackside Live at the Food City Fan Zone Stage on Saturday at 4 p.m. where drivers and other newsmakers will be interviewed. Country music band Midland will perform the pre-race concert Saturday at 5:30 p.m. to get the fans revved up for the traditional driver introductions, where each driver enters to a favorite song or music. There will be post-race entertainment on Thursday and Friday, as DJ Sterl the Pearl will host the world-famous Foam Party after the Thursday night double-header, and country music singer Tim Dugger will perform after Friday night’s Food City 300.

To purchase tickets, visit the Bristol Motor Speedway website or call (866) 415-4158.

About Bristol Motor Speedway
Forged amid the scenic mountains of Northeast Tennessee near the Virginia state line, Bristol Motor Speedway is The Last Great Colosseum, a versatile multi-use venue that hosts major auto races, football games, concerts and many other captivating events. The facility features a 0.533-mile concrete oval race track with 28-degree corner banking and 650-feet straightaways that offers racing in several NASCAR touring series, highlighted by two major Cup Series weekends each year. In 2020, the track also served as host of the prestigious NASCAR All-Star Race, and in 2021 began converting to a temporary dirt track each spring to take the Cup Series back to its racing roots. While at the track, fans are offered a unique viewing experience courtesy of Colossus TV, the world’s largest outdoor center-hung four-sided video screen with a 540,000-watt audio system. The adjacent quarter-mile dragstrip, Bristol Dragway, offers more than 50 events annually, including the marquee NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. The Thunder Valley Amphitheatre presented by Ballad Health transforms Bristol Dragway into a premier outdoor concert venue for the world’s greatest music performers. Three football games have kicked-off inside the oval, most notably the 2016 Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol, where border rivals the University of Tennessee and Virginia Tech met before an NCAA-record crowd of 156,990. In existence since 1961, Bristol Motor Speedway was purchased in 1996 by Speedway Motorsports. For more information, please visit www.bristolmotorspeedway.com.

Expanded Entry of Four Mercedes-AMG GT3 Teams Across Two IMSA Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) Classes Set for Sunday’s Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

INDIANAPOLIS – An expanded entry of four Mercedes-AMG GT3 teams across two IMSA Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) classes competes on the 2.439-mile road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) this weekend in Sunday’s Battle on the Bricks IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race. The penultimate event of the IMSA 2023 season, the two-hour and 40-minute race is scheduled to go green at 1:10 p.m. EDT this Sunday, September 17, with live coverage on the flagship NBC Network beginning at 1 p.m. EDT. The Battle on the Bricks follows Saturday’s four-hour Indianapolis Motor Speedway 240 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race that will see four Mercedes-AMG GT4 teams compete in a twilight race critical to the outcome of the 2023 Grand Sport (GS) team, driver and manufacturer championships.

The No. 79 WeatherTech Racing/Proton Competition Mercedes-AMG GT3 and co-drivers Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella compete in the GTD Pro division while a trio of GTD-class competitors complete the Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing lineup at Indy. The four Mercedes-AMG GT3 teams at Indianapolis are an IMSA season-high for 2023, matching the four Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing GT3 entries that competed in the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona last January.

The WeatherTech team, two-time GTD Pro race winners this season at the Rolex 24 and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, look to build some momentum at Indy to take with them to next month’s season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans 10-hour race. Gounon, Juncadella and the No. 79 team have a three-point lead in the GTD Pro division standings in the Michelin Endurance Cup, a battle within the overall WeatherTech Championship to be decided at Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta that awards the year’s top performers in the season’s four endurance races.

WeatherTech drivers have been successful on the 14-turn IMS road course in recent years. Juncadella co-drove a Mercedes-AMG GT3 to the overall victory in last October’s Indianapolis 8 Hour while Gounon was on the pole for that race in a Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3.

Winward competes this weekend in the GTD class in the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 with co-drivers Russell Ward and Philip Ellis. The Winward team and drivers bring the momentum of a season-best third-place finish one race ago at Virginia to the Brickyard.

Winward has combined with Korthoff Preston Motorsports – the new name for Team Korthoff Motorsports – to secure three Mercedes-AMG GT3 podium finishes in the last four IMSA WeatherTech Championship races ahead of Indy.
Mike Skeen and Mikael Grenier co-drove the newly renamed No. 32 Korthoff Preston Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 to season-best third-place showings this summer at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) and Road America.

Similar to WeatherTech, the Korthoff Preston team and drivers hope a strong showing this weekend paves the way for Michelin Endurance Cup success at Road Atlanta. Skeen, Grenier and the No. 32 team are second in the Endurance Cup GTD championship standings, just one point out of first place.

The fourth Mercedes-AMG GT3 entry at the Brickyard is the debuting No. 15 Lone Star Racing/Bluff City Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Pilot Challenge regulars Anton Dias Perera and Scott Andrews. They also continue their full-season GS campaign in Saturday’s four-hour race in the No. 27 Lone Star Racing/Bluff City Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4.

The No. 15/No. 27 team and drivers are set for the double in both series this weekend as Lone Star returns to an IMS road course on which they have had recent and winning Mercedes-AMG GT3 success.

Lone Star is joined on the double-duty front at Indy by Winward that fields for the full season both its No. 57 GTD entry and a sister No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 for co-drivers Bryce Ward and Daniel Morad. The GS team was victorious at the Detroit Grand Prix in June and Morad was among Juncadella’s co-drivers last year for the Indy 8 Hour Mercedes-AMG GT3 victory.

Saturday’s four hour is crucial for the GS championship-leading No. 72 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 Kenny Murillo and Christian Szymczak. The No. 72 team and drivers have led the GS championship standings since securing their first IMSA win together last May at Laguna Seca and bring a 10-point lead over the nearest competitors, 1,980 – 1,970, to Indy with only the Road Atlanta finale following Saturday’s twilight race.

Mercedes-AMG also leads the GS manufacturer championship standings coming to Indianapolis by 10 points over the nearest competitor, 2,420 – 2,410.

The No. 72 team and drivers compete alongside longtime teammates Eric Foss and Justin Piscitell who co-drive the No. 56 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4. For the second straight race, Piscitell fills in for the No. 56 team’s primary driver Jeff Mosing who is recovering from a back injury from an incident in a single-make series race in late July at Road America.

A full three-day weekend, the Battle on the Bricks schedule at IMS begins with practice sessions for both the WeatherTech Championship and Pilot Challenge this Friday, September 15.

The WeatherTech Championship runs final practice Saturday morning before GTD Pro/GTD qualifying that afternoon at 1 p.m. EDT. Pilot Challenge GS qualifying takes place Saturday morning at 11:20 a.m. EDT to set the starting field for that afternoon’s four-hour Indianapolis Motor Speedway 240 that races into the early-evening darkness after a 4:30 p.m. EDT start.

Battle on the Bricks race-day begins Sunday with a 20-minute warmup session at 8 a.m. EDT prior to that afternoon’s race-start time at 1:10 p.m. EDT.

Jules Gounon, Driver – No. 79 WeatherTech Racing/Proton Competition Mercedes-AMG GT3: “Last year I took pole position for the eight-hour race and Dani won. My favorite sector is the small esses and running by the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course section. We got help with some of the weight off of the WeatherTech Mercedes-AMG GT3 this weekend, which will help getting off the turns. Let’s see what we can do with just two more races left in the season.”

Daniel Juncadella, Driver – No. 79 WeatherTech Racing/Proton Competition Mercedes-AMG GT3: “I like Indy. I have good memories from the eight-hour last year, when we won. The track is pretty flat, and simple to drive. It has a lot of history and is such a big facility that it is fun to race there. Going across the start/finish line with the bricks is cool. We received a pretty good weight reduction on the Mercedes-AMG GT3 for this weekend. I feel good going into the race with the WeatherTech Racing/Proton team and Jules.”

Mike Skeen, Driver – No. 32 Korthoff Preston Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3: “Indianapolis is such a special place because of all the history. It will be a pleasure to race there again. I had the chance to drive there in GRAND-AM Street Touring (ST) and in IMSA GT right after the merger, then most recently in a NASCAR Xfinity series car, but have not raced there in quite a while. We did have a successful test there a few weeks ago, so hopefully we can start off strong. It’s also exciting that the team name is changing to Korthoff Preston Motorsports to highlight the efforts of Walt Preston to grow this program to the level that it is.”

Anton Dias Perera, Driver – No. 15 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3; No. 27 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “I think it will be an amazing experience to be at Indy. We have been strong all season, and despite not winning races, I think the team has made great progress. We are ready to step up. Lone Star Racing also has a long pedigree in GT3 racing. So, this is a great opportunity for the team and also for Scott Andrews to showcase his talent. Of course, for me, it will be a baptism of fire. It will be a busy schedule. It is always a challenge to jump between platforms, but we have been testing both cars for a while now and I think I am ready. Mercedes-AMGs have broad similarities in terms of cockpits ergonomics between the GT4 and GT3 platforms, which helps a lot. I just have to learn to switch back and forth between the downforce levels between the cars.”

Scott Andrews, Driver – No. 15 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3; No. 27 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “I have raced with Anton and some others in dual-series races before, but this will be my first time competing in Mercedes-AMG GT3 and GT4 cars on the same weekend. I am really excited, and we are just going to focus on checking all the boxes and trying to do all the right things. Obviously, it is a big step for everybody to move to GTD, but everybody is ready and AJ Petersen and Lone Star Racing always prepare an amazing car. We should have really good cars, and the team has been working really, really hard. It’s going to be very exhausting, as a smaller team, to run both programs efficiently, but everybody has been training. It’s going to be a lot of work, but I am really looking forward to the challenge of competing in both classes. We definitely have a shot at winning in the Pilot Challenge GS race. We’ve been unlucky this year to not secure at least one win and podiums, but hopefully the luck turns around this weekend. In GTD we want to just have a good, clean race in our debut with Bluff City Racing. We would like to come home with the car in one piece and keep everyone motivated and moving in what direction for what is in the future.”

Daniel Morad, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “On paper, the Indy road course doesn’t look that interesting, but when you drive it, it actually has some really good rhythm. You have three distinct sectors of the track, rhythm sections, with Turns 1 through basically 6, the chicane. Then you have the next complex of corners, Turns 7 through 11, and then it is Turns 12, 13 and 14 in the last section, all looped together. It’s interesting and nice to drive but pretty physical actually. There is not much ‘brake’ at Indy.”

Toyota Racing – NXS Playoff Media Day Quotes – Sammy Smith – 09.12.23

Toyota Racing – Sammy Smith
NASCAR Xfinity Series Quotes

CHARLOTTE (September 12, 2023) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Sammy Smith was made available to media as part of the NASCAR Playoff Media Day.

SAMMY SMITH, No. 18 Pilot Flying J Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing

What’s kind of been going wrong these last couple of months?

“I think it has just wrong place, wrong time. I feel like we’ve been in good positions, where we were running, and got wrecked. I think we have had a lot of speed and brought speed to the track every week. I just think it’s been a rough couple of weeks to where we’ve had speed, and running up front and we just get taken out. I don’t believe in luck, I don’t believe in any of that stuff, so I don’t know what to call it, but we have just kind of have to reset – like we did – we had a good solid reset in Kansas. We were really fast there. We had a good practice, good qualifying, good first two stages, just got taken out there with nothing I could do about it. I think just try to reset and have a strong mental side of things and try to go into the Playoffs with a good mindset. I know have the team and the cars to do it, we just have to go execute.”

Do you embrace the Playoff format?

“For sure. I saw something about a week ago, that if it was like they used to do with the 33 races, we would be like 13th in points, so yeah, it is definitely exciting to get the Playoffs started this weekend. At the end of the day, it doesn’t change anything on what we are doing, it doesn’t change my mindset, it doesn’t change anything. I think it is just another reset where we can run up front, and we can be there. We just have to execute, and I think we can make it to the final four.”

How close are you to finalizing your plans for next year?

“I think we are close. Still figuring out some things. I have a good management team, and hopefully we have some stuff to announce soon.”

What percent chance do you give it that you return to Joe Gibbs Racing?

“Yeah, I’m not going to talk about that stuff today, I’m here to focus on the Playoffs. I know you have a job to do. I’m still working on things.”

How much is it a confidence booster knowing the championship race was in Phoenix?

“I think that’s one of the positives of only winning once this year – it’s the track that the final four’s race is at. I thought we were really, really fast. We were very dominate. We just have to make it to that final four, and I think it’s all about execution. JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) has been awesome with everyone, to my teammate John Hunter (Nemechek), to my crew and team. The whole 18 team has taught me a lot and I think we just have to go execute that and just have a solid three races this round and take the second round as it comes. I don’t think we need to look too far ahead of ourselves. We just need to take one race at a time.”

Does it give you confidence that you can get the job done if you make the Championship 4?

“That’s definitely a confidence booster in a way. I’m sure the other three cars that would be in the Championship 4, if we make it there, are going to be equally as good. They are going to get better. We are going to have to get better too. We are not going to be able to go back to the track with the same package. That would be foolish of us to do that and think that we are going to go dominate again, because that would not be the case. I think it gives us confidence that we can go there and think we have a shot. I know we will be good. I think that every weekend. I think we’ve shown some speed everywhere. We just have to get the Playoffs started right, and get the stuff turned around that’s not going right.”

What do you think are your biggest strengths heading into the Playoffs?

“As a team, we have a lot of speed. We have a good team around us. I think being mentally strong going into the Playoffs is a good thing. Knowing you have to reset your mind if something happens on track, resetting it right away and not letting it bother you. I think we a lot of strengths. I think we have the capability to be running up there with Austin Hill, John Hunter (Nemechek) and Justin Allgaier. I think those are the three other guys I can see making the final four. I think we are right there with them. I feel that way about me and my team. I don’t know how everyone else feels. We just have to go out there and prove it to everyone else and prove it to ourselves that we can do it.”

Does the last few races worry you at all?

“I just try to take every race as it comes and not let the past ruin the future. I’m not a driver that really drives off motivation or momentum. I love to race. It’s a passion that I love to race. I think the last eight weeks have been frustrating, but we just have to reset like we do after every race, whether we have a good race or a bad race. We just have to reset. Reset our minds, reset our team, and for me, it’s just trying to be a good leader for the 18 team and trying to be that leader that takes us to the Championship 4.”

What was it like the first time you went to Bristol?

“I actually ran there in a Super Late Model first. I think I was 14, 15 years old, which is very fast. I think we were running faster than the old Cup cars were. I think moving up to ARCA and then Xfinity, I think running the Super Late Model helped getting that super-fast feeling out of the way. The ARCA cars were almost wide open in qualifying with the tires super gripped up with the resin, you can’t pass with how low horsepower they are and a lot of downforce. ARCA cars are fairly easy to get around there and then the Xfinity car last year was tough. A lot less downforce, a lot more power – felt a lot more free. You can kind of move off the bottom. Hopefully, it’s the same way this year. It seems to be a track that you have to hold on and remember to breathe.”

What memories do you have the first time you saw it?

“It was super cool. I’ve been watching races there since I was a younger kid. I was always waiting to race there. It’s one of my favorite tracks, so I think there is some fun keys that make it what it is – the high speeds, the banking, the tight racing. Hopefully, it will be a good track this weekend. I think they are putting resin down, hopefully, they get it kind of wore in during the Truck and ARCA race that we can move up in the Xfinity race.”

What are the memories that stand out early in your career?

“There is a lot of special moments. I started racing when I was eight years old. For the first two years, kind of just did it for fun – and after that, it was something that I had a real passion for and something I wanted to do. I’ve been doing it with my dad, and then the last couple of years been with other people. There has been a lot of great memories of my mom and dad coming to the track. I’ve done online school since I was in sixth grade, just traveling around the country doing racing – doing what I love. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Has there been a learning curve on the intermediates this season?

“Yeah, I think so. I never really ran any races in ARCA on mile-and-a-halves or intermediates, so I think that was the biggest thing for me was going from short tracks to intermediates in a Xfinity car. A lot of guys do ARCA and have that experience or do Trucks, so it’s been a challenge that way – just the jump – I feel really comfortable. The more experience is better for me, so I think we continue to do that. We have three intermediates in the Playoffs, so we just have to go out and have a solid races.”

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 48,000 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 22 electrified options.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Toyota Racing – NXS Playoff Media Day Quotes – John Hunter Nemechek – 09.12.23

Toyota Racing – John Hunter Nemechek
NASCAR Xfinity Series Quotes

CHARLOTTE (September 12, 2023) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver John Hunter Nemechek was made available to media as part of the NASCAR Playoff Media Day.

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK, No. 20 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing

You come into the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs as a huge favorite. Does that excite you or cause some extra stress?

“To be honest, that’s just extra noise to us. We’re not focused on being the favorite to win the championship or not. We’re focused on running every race how we do and going out and race every single racetrack every single week. Putting an emphasis on trying to win, but also coming out with good weeks to not let bad ones affect your playoff run. I don’t think the standpoint of being a favorite or not really affects us or the mental side of things.”

With the successful season you’ve had thus far this year, is anything less than making the Championship 4 a disappointment in your eyes?

“I think so. I think the way we’ve run this year and with the speed we’ve had, we want to make the final four and definitely feel we have a shot to do so. We just can’t beat ourselves to get there.”

Looking ahead to next year a little bit, have you already started integrating yourself at Legacy Motor Club?

“No, I’m focused on this year. Once we signed with Legacy, it’s full focus back for me on the Xfinity Series, Joe Gibbs Racing and trying to go to win this 2023 Xfinity Series championship.”

When you look at the way champions are now crowned compared to what it used to be, is that something you still value or is it a matter of winning races and whatever happens, happens?

“I think that winning a championship is winning a championship, no matter which way you do it. No matter how good you are or how it works out, you’re still a champion. That’s what the record books say. For us, times have changed, and a lot has changed since my father (Joe Nemechek) won the Xfinity Series in 1992. If you base it off points, we got our butts beat by Austin Hill for the regular season championship. Our strong point has been to have speed and win races this year, and we’re looking forward to doing so here in the playoffs.”

Big picture Xfinity Series question, you’ve had the good fortune to drive a lot of different race cars the last decade. Where does the Xfinity Series car rank?

“I enjoy the Xfinity car. It’s a lot of fun to drive with the low downforce package. You’re slipping and sliding around, always searching for grip, able to run a bunch of different grooves at different racetracks, and the aerodynamic effects of being behind another car aren’t as big as some of the other series I’ve run in. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Xfinity Series racing.”

You know what you’re doing next year, but Joe Gibbs Racing hasn’t announced a replacement yet for you. Do you feel any angst from your team on that uncertainty?

“No, I don’t think so. I think all the guys are focused on this year and a lot of them are set to be at JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) for the future. I think for them, it’s about being a part of a great organization and working for some great people and putting a lot of wins together over the years with a lot of great drivers. I wouldn’t say there’s anxiety about next year. It’s all focused on this year so we can go out and achieve a solid playoff and championship run.

Last year, you went into the playoffs not exactly knowing what you’d be doing the following year. This year, you do. Is there a difference in mindset?

“No distractions, you’re 100% focused on the task at hand and you don’t really have to think about anything else with your future. If anyone tells you they’re not worried about their future, I feel like they’re lying to you. They always have that thought at the back of their head of what they may do. Knowing the plan and having everything set provides more time and availability to focus on what you need to be focusing on.”

What would it mean to you to be the first father-son duo to win the Xfinity Series championship if you were to match your father’s feat?

“I didn’t know we’d be the first, but that’s a super cool stat. It’s neat to see the father-son drivers that have been able to race against each other or at the same level throughout their careers. For me to win an Xfinity Series championship would mean a lot, and to be the first father-son duo to accomplish that would be special. Hopefully we can do it. That’s what we’re here for.”

With the news this morning about the return of stage breaks at the Charlotte ROVAL, what are your thoughts and how does that change strategy?

“It’ll change strategy, it always does. You’re not just pushing the entire time, you’re able to work on your car, and you’re not pitting under green. I don’t think it matters if you have stage breaks or not. You have to race the race and race the racetrack, focusing on the best possible outcome. It does eliminate a little bit of strategy on when you could jump stages beforehand with cautions and what not. All in all, it’s still the same hard racing.”

Your lone season in the Cup Series was in 2020, where there was little-to-no practice time. How do you think that affected you and how much do you think having that track time next year will help further your development?

“It was hard without any practice, coming into a new car and package I’ve never run — a lot of unknown factors. I feel like we had some good runs and some okay runs. But I think looking forward to next year, getting into the NextGen car again and going to work to figure out this car with practice is helpful to try to learn.”

You had some experience with the NextGen car driving it last year at Homestead. What have you learned about driving the car and how does it differ from what you’re used to with the Xfinity car?

“It’s way different, all different. You can take a lot of things from racing in the past and still apply them. But the way the car handles and how you set it up is all different. It’ll be a learning experience for me for sure, but hopefully we can tackle it well and hit the ground running.”

You talked about your strong points earlier, where do you feel this team needs to improve so you can win the championship?

“Just execute. Road courses haven’t been our greatest strength, but they’re not our worst race tracks. We’ve had some really good runs and some not so great runs, but execution. Not beating ourselves, not getting ahead of ourselves, and staying in contention every single week.”

How has having children changed your life?

“(Laughs) It’s changed my life a lot. The things that you focus on, the things you used to think were important aren’t as much anymore. For me, it’s been a lot of growing in a very short period of time. It definitely makes you think about different situations and the thoughts you have toward situations like dwelling on a bad race, like one we had at Daytona where we wrecked — I was very frustrated. First thing that happens when I get back to the bus, Aspen (daughter) comes up and says ‘I love you.’ That puts a smile on your face and helps you move onto the next week.”

Do you carry anything from your kids in the car?

“Aspen hasn’t given me anything yet. Our pre-race ritual is that she always gives me a hug and kiss, and she has her fist bump. She loves giving fist bumps. Just chatting with her before I get in the car, with her saying ‘Go Fast!’ That kind of sticks with you. When she says to go fast or go win, you better go do it! She won’t forget it.”

Where did the fist bump come from?

“I don’t know. When she was young, Taylor (wife) and I taught her how to high-five, fist bump, and how to shake hands. The first time she was at the track, and we won, we taught her how to hold up the number one sign. We’ve taught her a lot from then, but ever since, she leans to the fist bump. She loves it.”

You’ve been a part of the sport forever. When’s the first time you remember going to Bristol and what was your reaction/any memories?

“Going there as a kid, I was probably 4 or 5 years old the first time, and one of the first memories was that we raced scooters around the motorhome lot. There were a few of us drivers’ kids that grew up together and went to Motor Racing Outreach (MRO) and such. We also always got to sing the National Anthem at the fall race, which was iconic. To have that tradition still happening today is unique. As far as racing there, I started at 16 or 17-years-old. Walking into that place, it’s amazing. You don’t really know what to think the first time you go in there with the stands filling up, the energy inside the place, and racing under the lights. It’s super unique and special, and probably one of the coolest venues we go to in terms of energy standpoint. It’s not your typical short track, that’s for sure.”

What was doing the National Anthem at Bristol at a young age like with Motor Racing Outreach?

“I always remember that rehearsals went great as no one was afraid of anything, but once we got out there to go sing, everyone got real quiet. It was a very fun thing to be a part of and something as a tradition that MRO, NASCAR, and Bristol have kept going. And to have kids who will be a part of it in the future is unique and special as well.

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 48,000 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 22 electrified options.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.