Connor Mosack Dominates ARCA Race at Kansas

By

-

September 9, 2023

Driver of Mobil 1 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing Scores Career-First Stock-Car Win
Date: Friday, Sept. 8
Event: Sioux Chief Fast Track 150
Series: ARCA Menards Series
Location: Kansas Speedway in Kansas City (1.5-mile oval)
Length: 100 laps (150 miles)
Start/Finish: 4th / 1st (Running, completed 100 of 100 laps)
Race Winner: Connor Mosack of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

Overview:

Prior to the Sioux Chief Fast Track 150 ARCA Menards Series race Friday afternoon at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Connor Mosack had been knocking on the door of his first career victory. In his sixth and final start of 2023, Mosack kicked that door down. The 24-year-old racer from Charlotte, North Carolina, thoroughly dominated the 100-lap race around the 1.5-mile oval by leading twice for a race-high 64 laps and lapping all but one driver – second-place Carson Kvapil – before crossing the stripe in first place with a stout, 3.202-second margin of victory.

It was Mosack’s first stock-car win of any kind and it came in his 19th career ARCA start. Mosack’s previous victories had come in sports cars, specifically the TA2 division of the Trans Am Series. In two seasons of TA2 (2021-2022), Mosack won twice, earned five poles and never finished outside of the top-four in the championship standings.

Scoring a victory in stock cars – the discipline where Mosack has put all of his focus – was gratifying, especially after seeing a win in his prior ARCA start get upended by a late-race caution. On Aug. 4 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mosack was leading and well in command before the race went into overtime. A frantic, green-white-checkered finish ultimately left him third.

With that heartbreak in his rearview mirror, Mosack entered Kansas looking to punctuate his six-race ARCA campaign with a victory for JGR.

That drive was evident from the start. Mosack wheeled his No. 18 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry on the high side of the track’s high banks to go from his fourth-place starting spot to the lead on just the third lap. Mosack held the top spot for five laps before Dean Thompson grabbed the lead. And while Thompson held the point for 34 laps, Mosack bided his time, ultimately retaking the lead on lap 42 and never looking back, pacing the final 59 laps to take the coveted victory.

Connor Mosack driver of the No. 18 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing:

“It means a lot to see all the hard work pay off. All the guys at Joe Gibbs Racing did a great job. We brought a really fast car today and I’m just proud to be driving this No. 18 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry.

“We were just trying to keep the right rear (tire) on it those last 20 laps. We kind of burned it off a little bit in the first half, so just trying to manage that gap (to second place). I felt like we could push a little harder if we needed to, but it’s pretty easy to get up in the fence here if you push too hard. So, we just started managing that gap, and I think he (Carson Kvapil) started falling off there and we could kind of ride to the finish in case we had a restart.

“This just feels really good. I kind of feel I have a weight lifted off my shoulders. It’s been a long time coming. Definitely made plenty of mistakes this year and learned a lot, and had some bad luck as well, but it feels good to finally get it done, for sure. Today we had a great car and didn’t have any mistakes and we made it happen.”

Notes:

● Since making his first ARCA Menards Series start at Kansas with an 11th-place drive on Oct. 23, 2021, Mosack has improved his finishing position each time he has returned to 1.5-mile oval. He finished fifth in May 2022, improved it with a fourth-place result this past May, and then bettered that run with his victory in the Sioux Chief Fast Track 150.

● Mosack led twice for a race-high for 64 laps – his first laps led at Kansas.

● This was Mosack’s first career victory in 19 ARCA starts. It was his 15th career top-10.

● This was Mosack’s ninth career top-five in ARCA and his third straight top-three. He finished second July 21 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway and third in his prior start Aug. 4 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.

● This was Mosack’s seventh straight top-10 in ARCA, a streak that dates back to last September at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

● Mosack qualified fourth for the Sioux Chief Fast Track 150 with a lap of 31.031 seconds at 174.02 mph. He has qualified fifth or better in his last eight ARCA starts, a streak that began more than a year ago at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International when he qualified third.

● Mosack set fast time in the lone practice session for the Sioux Chief Fast Track 150. His lap of 31.176 seconds at 173.21 mph was .004 of a second better than the next quickest driver, Jesse Love.

Next Up:

Mosack is back in a racecar Saturday at Kansas. He will drive the No. 24 MKS Pipe and Valve Toyota GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing in the Kansas Lottery 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race, which goes live at 2 p.m. CDT/3 p.m. EDT on NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Eckes wins Playoff’s Round of 10 finale at Kansas in wild two-lap shootout

By

Andrew Kim

-

September 9, 2023

19 Mitchell Pavel — Photo by Mitchell Pavel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

After spending a majority of the evening trailing the front-runners, Christian Eckes benefitted through a pair of late-race cautions and a two-lap shootout to overtake Playoff rivals Corey Heim and Zane Smith on the final lap to win the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Kansas Lottery 200 at Kansas Speedway on Friday, September 8.

The 22-year-old Eckes from Greenville, New York, led the final two of 134-scheduled laps in an event where he qualified eighth, notched stage points during the event’s two stage periods and kept pace with the leaders with a locked-up berth to the Round of 8 in the 2023 Truck Series Playoffs already sealed prior to the event.

Then amid two late-race caution periods, starting with 17 laps remaining and a proceeding one with eight laps remaining that sent the event into a two-lap shootout, Eckes, who was running in the top five amid the late chaos, drew himself into a battle for the lead and win against Heim and Zane Smith prior to the final lap. Despite leading the final lap mark, Eckes briefly lost the lead to both Heim and Zane Smith. With the latter two dueling for the lead through the backstretch, Eckes seized an opportunity and crossed his No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet beneath Heim and Zane Smith before bolting past both through the backstretch and nearly sliding up the track in Turn 3 before muscling away and claiming his third Truck Series victory of the 2023 season as the Playoff’s Round of 10 came to a thrilling conclusion.

With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Friday, Chase Purdy notched his first Truck career pole position after posting a pole-winning lap at 176.292 mph in 30.631 seconds. Joining him on the front row was Playoff competitor and rookie Nick Sanchez, who posted the second-best qualifying lap at 176.200 mph in 30.647 seconds.

Prior to the event, Chase Janes, Spencer Davis Timy Hill and Lawless Alan dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments to their respective trucks. Playoff contender Matt Crafton and Colby Howard also dropped to the rear of the field as they started the main event in backup trucks.

When the green flag waved and the race started, Purdy and Sanchez dueled for the lead through the frontstretch and entering the first turn until Sanchez muscled his No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet Silverado RST ahead of Purdy on the inside lane and into the lead entering the backstretch. As the field fanned out through the backstretch, Sanchez rocketed away from the competition as he proceeded to lead the first lap. With Sanchez leading, Ben Rhodes challenged Purdy for the runner-up spot followed by Christian Eckes while Ty Majeski, who got loose and nearly clipped Purdy through the third turn, was back in fifth ahead of rookie Jake Garcia.

Through the second lap, Sanchez stretched his advantage to half a second over a side-by-side duel between Rhodes and Purdy while Eckes retained fourth. Behind, Majeski got loose again in Turn 3 as he nearly clipped Garcia while battling for fifth place. The mishap dropped Majeski to seventh as Garcia and Jake Drew moved up to fifth and sixth.

Through the first five scheduled laps, Sanchez was leading by six-tenths of a second over Rhodes followed by Purdy, Garcia and Eckes while Jake Drew, Majeski, Jack Wood, Grant Enfinger and Zane Smith were in the top 10. Behind, Corey Heim was in 11th ahead of rookie Taylor Gray, Hailie Deegan, Matt DiBenedetto and Tanner Gray while Carson Hocevar, Stewart Friesen, rookie Rajah Caruth, Dean Thompson and Jesse Love occupied the top 20 on the track. Meanwhile, Matt Crafton was the lowest-running Playoff contender on the track as he was in 22nd.

At the Lap 10 mark, Sanchez continued to lead by nine-tenths of a second over Rhodes while third-place Garcia trailed by more than a second. By then, Purdy fell back to fourth ahead of Eckes and Majeski while Drew, Heim, Zane Smith and Wood were mired in the top 10. Meanwhile, Enfinger, Hocevar, DiBenedetto and Crafton were the four Playoff competitors currently running outside the top 10 on the track.

Three laps later, the first caution of the event flew when Bayley Currey, who was running 23rd, spun his No. 41 Unishippers Chevrolet Silverado RST entering Turn 2. During the first caution period, some including Enfinger, Ankrum, Colby Howard, Spencer Boyd, Justin Carroll, Lawless Alan, Mason Maggio, Deegan and Chase Janes pitted while the rest led by Sanchez remained on the track.

When the race restarted under green on Lap 20, Sanchez, who spun the tires at the start, retained the lead as the field fanned out through the first turn. In the midst of Sanchez leading, Rhodes was being challenged by Purdy and Eckes for the runner-up spot as Heim and Zane Smith battled for fifth in front of Hocevar and Garcia, who slipped out of the top five.

Five laps later, Sanchez retained the lead by seven-tenths of a second over Purdy followed by Rhodes, Heim and Eckes while Zane Smith settled in sixth in front of Hocevar. Shortly after, Enfinger, who restarted outside the top 20, had carved his way back into the top 10 on fresh tires as he was in eighth behind Zane Smith and Jake Drew while Hocevar fell back to ninth.

Then on Lap 26, the second caution of the event flew when Kaden Honeycutt spun in between Turns 3 and 4 as his truck looped sideways from the top lane to the bottom lane with the leaders approaching and missing Honeycutt. Honeycutt’s incident was enough for the first stage period scheduled to conclude on Lap 30 to officially conclude under caution.

As a result, Sanchez, who came into the event three points above the top-eight cutline to advance to the Playoff’s Round of 8, captured his third Truck stage victory of the 2023 season. Purdy settled in second while Rhodes, Heim, Eckes, Zane Smith, Drew, Enfinger, Hocevar and Majeski were scored in the top 10. By then, DiBenedetto and Crafton were the two Playoff contenders who failed to collect a first round of stage points as they were scored in 11th and 13th on the track while Hocevar managed to clinch his way into the Round of 8 by points for the first time in his career.

Under the stage break, nearly the entire lead lap field led by Sanchez pitted while Enfinger, who pitted during the first caution period, remained on the track to inherit the lead.

The second stage started on Lap 35 as Enfinger and Sanchez occupied the front row. At the start, Sanchez managed to rocket ahead of Enfinger to reassume the lead on the inside lane as the field fanned out through the first two turns and entering the backstretch. With Rhodes challenging and overtaking Enfinger for the runner-up spot, he then proceeded to challenge Sanchez for the lead during the proceeding lap. Despite leading Laps 37 and 38 by a hair over Sanchez amid a heated duel, Sanchez would manage to slide in front of Rhodes’ No. 99 Kubota Ford F-150 through Turns 3 and 4 as he retained the lead with a clear racetrack by Lap 39. By then, Purdy made an unscheduled pit stop under green due to reports of a loose wheel to his pole-winning No. 4 Bama Buggies Chevrolet Silverado RST.

At the Lap 40 mark, Sanchez was leading by three-tenths of a second over a tight seven-truck battle for the lead that involved Hocevar, Rhodes, Eckes, Zane Smith, Enfinger and Heim, all of whom were separated by a second and were contending in the Playoffs, while DiBenedetto and Crafton trailed in the top nine. With nine of 10 Playoff contenders running first through ninth, Majeski, the 10th Playoff contender, was mired back in 20th while Taylor Gray was the highest-running non-playoff competitor running in 10th place on the track.

By Lap 50, Hocevar, who overtook Sanchez for the lead two laps earlier, was leading in his No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado RST by nine-tenths of a second over Sanchez while Zane Smith, Heim and Rhodes were in the top five ahead of Eckes, Enfinger and DiBenedetto. By then, Crafton fell back to 12th while teammate Majeski was still mired in 19th in between Jack Wood and Jesse Love.

When the second stage period concluded on Lap 60, Hocevar notched his third Truck stage victory of the 2023 season after muscling away from the field by more than two seconds. Sanchez trailed in second followed by Heim, Zane Smith and Enfinger while Eckes, Rhodes, Rajah Caruth, DiBenedetto and Taylor Gray were scored in the top 10. By then, the remaining Playoff competitors, Crafton and Majeski, were mired back in 12th and 17th, respectively.

During the stage break, the lead lap field led by Hocevar returned to pit road for service. Following the pit stops, Heim exited pit road first while Sanchez, Zane Smith, Hocevar and Eckes followed suit.

With 66 laps remaining, the final stage started as Heim and Sanchez occupied the front row. At the start, Heim took off with the lead from the inside lane as Sanchez engaged in a three-wide battle with Hocevar and Zane Smith for the runner-up spot through Turn 1. Smith and Hocevar then went three-wide on Heim for the lead through the backstretch as nearly the entire front-runners also fanned out in three tight-packed lanes. With Hocevar receiving no drafting help through the backstretch, however, Heim, who had Sanchez drafting help, managed to rocket his No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro ahead of Smith through Turns 3 and 4 to clear the field and retain the lead during the following lap.

Then with 63 laps remaining, Crafton’s Playoff hopes took a hit when he fell off the pace as a result of hitting the backstretch’s outside wall two laps earlier while battling in the top 12. Not long after, trouble struck for his teammate Rhodes, whom Crafton was battling for the final transfer spot to the Playoffs, as he was losing spots on the track amid reports of having a tire going down and making contact with the wall, but he continued to remain on the track as he plummeted to 26th while Crafton pitted his No. 88 Menards Ford F-150 and dropped out of the lead lap category. Amid the issues for both ThorSport Racing Playoff contenders, Heim retained the lead by two-tenths of a second over Hocevar and four-tenths of a second over Zane Smith with 60 laps remaining.

Then with 52 laps remaining, Hocevar, who spent the last few laps engaged in a fierce battle with Heim for the lead, overtook him to reassume the top spot. With Hocevar retaining the lead over Heim and Eckes with less than 50 laps remaining, the night went from bad to worse for Crafton, who pitted for a second time under green for repairs to his truck amid his late incident with the wall as he lost more laps from the leaders. By then, DiBenedetto, who was running eighth, was within close distance of racing his way into the Round of 8 over Rhodes, who still retained the final transfer spot to the next round but was mired back in 27th on the track.

As Rhodes, who went a lap down earlier, pitted for four fresh tires with 43 laps remaining, Hocevar found himself being intimidated for the lead by Heim, who trailed by two-tenths of a second, while third-place Zane Smith trailed by more than three seconds. By then, Eckes and Sanchez were in the top five while Taylor Gray, Enfinger, DiBenedetto, Majeski and Garcia were running in the top 10.

With 39 laps remaining, Heim pitted under green from the runner-up spot. A bevy of names that included the leader Hocevar, Taylor Gray, Stewart Friesen, Jake Drew, rookie Daniel Dye, Rajah Caruth, Hailie Deegan and Majeski pitted during the proceeding laps while Zane Smith, Sanchez, Eckes and Enfinger would pit during the next lap as DiBenedetto, who drew himself back into contention to still transfer to the Round of 8 but is still needing to make a pit stop, assumed the lead. DiBenedetto would then pit with 35 laps remaining as Tanner Gray assumed the lead.

Once the last wave of lead lap competitors pitted, among which included late leaders Tanner Gray, Jack Wood and Bret Holmes, Heim, who slid through his pit box during his green flag pit stop but managed to run ahead of Hocevar on the track, cycled back into the lead with 27 laps remaining. By then, Heim was leading by more than a second over Hocevar followed by Zane Smith, Eckes and Sanchez while Taylor Gray, DiBenedetto, Friesen, Caruth and Jake Drew were in the top 10. By then, Enfinger, who was penalized for speeding during his green flag pit stop, was back in 17th in front of Majeski while Rhodes and Crafton were mired in 26th and 35th, respectively.

Down to the final 20 laps of the event, Heim continued to lead by more than a second over Hocevar while Zane Smith, Sanchez and Eckes continued to run in the top five. By then, DiBenedetto, who was running seventh, was still scored eight points below the top-eight cutline behind Rhodes, who was still mired in 26th on the track while teammate Crafton was running 35th on the track and scored 12 points below the cutline.

Three laps later, the caution flew due to an accident involving Mason Maggio in Turn 3. During the caution period, the front-runners led by Heim remained on the track. With the event reaching its final 10-lap mark with the caution flag still displayed, some running in the middle of the pack, including Enfinger, Majeski and Rhodes, pitted for service while the rest led by Heim remained on the track.

When the race restarted under green with eight laps remaining, Heim received a strong push from Zane Smith’s No. 38 RTA Ford F-150 to boost ahead of Hocevar and retain the lead. Smith then made his move to Heim’s outside in a bid for the lead through the first two turns and through the backstretch while Hocevar tried to make it a three-way battle for the lead. Shortly after and amid the tight battle for the lead, the caution returned after Caruth and Tanner Gray wrecked across the frontstretch, with Caruth spinning across the frontstretch grass after getting turned by Gray while Gray spun back across the track and pounded the outside wall. At the moment of caution, Heim managed to retain the lead ahead of Zane Smith and Hocevar.

Down to the final two laps of the event, the race restarted under green. At the start, Heim and Zane Smith dueled for the lead through the first two turns and through the backstretch. Then exiting the backstretch, Eckes gained a massive run on the leaders as he bolted his No. 19 PEAK/NAPA Nightvision Chevrolet Silverado RST to the outside of Smith entering Turn 3. Eckes, Zane Smith and Heim then went three wide entering the frontstretch, with Heim nearly getting loose, as they battled for the lead and potential win.

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Eckes was out in front by a hair over both Zane Smith and Heim while Taylor Gray, DiBenedetto and Hocevar battled for fourth place behind. Through the first two turns, Heim and Zane Smith muscled ahead of Eckes to make it a tight two-truck battle for the lead between them entering the backstretch. Then through the backstretch, Eckes crossed over to the inside lane and managed to overtake both Zane Smith and Heim for the lead entering Turn 3 before he slid up the track and stalled Smith’s momentum, which caused Smith to get loose. With Smith losing his momentum, Eckes managed to keep his foot on the gas pedal and muscle away from the field to cross the checkered flag with the victory in dramatic fashion and by three-tenths of a second.

With the victory, Eckes, who had secured a spot for the Round of 8 in the 2023 Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs based on points prior to Friday night’s event at Kansas, scored his fourth career victory in the series, his third of the season and his first since winning at Darlington Raceway in May. Ironically, all three of Eckes’ Truck victories this season have occurred in two-lap shootouts, but tonight was the first where Eckes won under green flag conditions, as the New York native and his No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet team proceeded toward their quest to win this year’s Truck Series championship.

“That was wild,” Eckes said on FS1. “I didn’t know if I was gonna win it or not. We had like a sixth-place truck all day, but that caution coming out, I knew we’d have a shot at it. Here we are. We haven’t won in a really long time, so [I] wanted to kind of set the tone and went a hell of a way to the Round of 10. [Finishes of] Second, third and first. Can’t beat that. Proud of all of these guys. Man, it’s awesome to be back in Victory Lane, for sure.”

Behind Eckes, Taylor Gray notched a career-best runner-up result in his 29th Truck career start followed by Matt DiBenedetto, who made a strong rally to finish third for his second top-five result of the season. The result, however, was not enough for DiBenedetto and the No. 25 Rackley W.A.R. team to advance to the Round of 8 as their Playoff run came to an end.

“Honestly this team fought so hard, worked their tail off to give me a good-looking truck and a good-handling truck all night,” DiBenedetto, who will be departing Rackley W.A.R. at the conclusion of the 2023 season, said. “Man, we made the most of it, for sure. Just so thankful for these guys, Rackley Roofing…I hate we missed [advancing to the Round of 8], man. It stinks we had an issue at Milwaukee and it took us out of it. We could be in that next round, but this team, they deserve to hold their heads high, for sure.”

Like DiBenedetto, Matt Crafton’s hopes for a fourth championship came to an end amid his late contact with the wall and series of unscheduled pit stops that resulted in him finishing in 33rd in the final running order and below the top-eight cutline. This season marks the second in a row where Crafton and his No. 88 ThorSport Racing Ford team have failed to transfer past the Round of 10.

“It is what it is,” Crafton said. “The cards were dealt. It folded really crappy for us, but at the end of the day, we had some speed. When [the truck] jumped sideways off of [Turn] 2, it hadn’t done that all night. Just caught me off guard. I gotta thank [my crew]. They worked their butts off today just from practice, wrecking that truck in practice and then, wrecking during the race. It wasn’t meant to be. We’ll go on and do it again next year.”

Amid the disappointment for DiBenedetto and Crafton, good fortune came for Ben Rhodes, who ended up 25th and managed to secure the eighth and final transfer spot to the Round of 8 by a mere margin. As a result, he and his No. 99 ThorSport Racing Ford team will continue their quest for a second Truck Series title.

“We were edgy all day long ever since we unloaded,” Rhodes said. “We kind of were predicting that it was gonna come to us in the race and it kind of went the opposite way. We ended up having a tire going down that caused me to hit the wall, it was just a mistake on myself. Mixed emotions tonight for this Kubota Ford F-150 team. The expectation is to make it to the next round, so just meeting the expectation isn’t necessarily a cause for celebration. We’re happy to advance, but at the same time, we’ve got to smoothen out some rough edges and make sure that bringing less mistakes and faster, more comfortable trucks.”

Heim, who led 40 laps, finished fourth while Zane Smtih fell back to fifth. Hocevar, Friesen, Sanchez, Tyler Ankrum and Jake Drew completed the top 10 on the track.

Corey Heim, Christian Eckes, Grant Enfinger, Carson Hocevar, Zane Smith, Ty Majeski, Ben Rhodes and rookie Nick Sanchez have officially transferred to the Round of 8 and will continue their quests to win this year’s Truck Series championship while Matt DiBenedetto and Matt Crafton have been eliminated from the Playoffs.

There were 18 lead changes for 11 different leaders. The race featured five cautions for 34 laps. In addition, 13 of 36 starters finished on the lead lap.

Results.

1. Christian Eckes, two laps led

2. Taylor Gray

3. Matt DiBenedetto, two laps led

4. Corey Heim, 40 laps led

5. Zane Smith, one lap led

6. Carson Hocevar, 32 laps led, Stage 2 winner

7. Stewart Friesen

8. Nick Sanchez, 43 laps led, Stage 1 winner

9. Tyler Ankrum

10. Jake Drew

11. Jake Garcia

12. Rajah Caruth

13. Jesse Love

14. Chase Purdy, one lap down

15. Dean Thompson, one lap down

16. Jack Wood, one lap down, two laps led

17. Grant Enfinger, one lap down, four laps led

18. Ty Majeski, one lap down

19. Colby Howard, one lap down

20. Bret Holmes, one lap down, two laps led

21. Bayley Currey, two laps down

22. Lawless Alan, two laps down

23. Daniel Dye, two laps down

24. Timmy Hill, two laps down

25. Ben Rhodes, two laps down, two laps led

26. Tanner Gray, three laps down, four laps led

27. Kaden Honeycutt, three laps down

28. Chase Janes, three laps down

29. Justin Carroll, four laps down

30. Hailie Deegan, four laps down

31. Spencer Boyd, five laps down

32. Greg Van Alst, five laps down

33. Matt Crafton, nine laps down

34. Jennifer Jo Cobb, nine laps down

35. Mason Maggio – OUT, Accident

36. Spencer Davis – OUT, Suspension

*Bold indicates Playoff contenders

Playoff standings

1. Corey Heim – Advanced

2. Christian Eckes – Advanced

3. Grant Enfinger – Advanced

4. Carson Hocevar – Advanced

5. Zane Smith – Advanced

6. Ty Majeski – Advanced

7. Ben Rhodes – Advanced

8. Nick Sanchez – Advanced

9. Matt DiBenedetto – Eliminated

10. Matt Crafton – Eliminated

The Round of 8 in the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs is set to commence next Thursday, September 14, at Bristol Motor Speedway. Coverage of the event is set to occur at 9 p.m. ET on FS1.

Malukas joins Arrow McLaren on multiyear basis, beginning in 2024 IndyCar season

By

Andrew Kim

-

September 8, 2023

Photo by Joe Skibinski (Penske Entertainment).

A new beginning is in the making for David Malukas as he will be joining Arrow McLaren on a multiyear basis, beginning in the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series season.

The move comes as the 21-year-old Malukas from Chicago, Illinois, is currently wrapping up his second full-time season in the IndyCar circuit for Dale Coyne Racing with HMD Motorsports, where he has achieved a podium in the form of a third-place finish at World Wide Technology Raceway in August. He has also racked up six top-10 results through 16-scheduled events as he is currently ranked in 16th place in this year’s driver’s standings.

“I can’t wait to race in papaya next season,” Malukas said in a released statement. “Arrow McLaren has been a threat to the top contenders all season long, and I’m excited to join the team and see what their Chevrolets can do. Pato [O’Ward] and Alexander [Rossi] both know what it takes to win, so it will be fun racing alongside them and learning from them as well.”

A former race winner across the Pro Mazda Championship and Indy Lights, Malukas made his inaugural presence in the IndyCar circuit in 2022, where he piloted the No. 18 Dallara-Honda for Dale Coyne Racing with HMD Motorsports on a full-time basis. Finishing 26th in his series debut at the Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, Malukas finished no higher than 11th twice during the first eight events on the schedule before notching his first top-10 career finish with a ninth-place run at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Despite achieving only a single top-10 result during his next five starts, which was an eighth-place run at Iowa Speedway in July, the Chicago native delivered with his maiden podium in IndyCar competition by finishing in the runner-up spot behind Josef Newgarden at World Wide Technology Raceway after making a late rally to overtake Scott McLaughlin on the final lap. Ultimately, Malukas would end up 16th in the final championship standings with 305 points and fall short in claiming the 2022 IndyCar Rookie-of-the-Year title to Christian Lundgaard.

Through 33 career starts in IndyCar, Malukas has recorded two podiums, 12 laps led and an average-finishing result of 15.0 as he aims to elevate his IndyCar status and performance within the McLaren organization, where he will be replacing Felix Rosenqvist as Rosenqvist will be departing the McLaren organization following a three-year run for Meyer Shank Racing in 2024.

“We’ve been extremely impressed with how quickly David has gotten up to speed in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,” Gavin Ward, Arrow McLaren Racing Director, said. “At 21, he’s already one of the strongest oval racers in the field and his competitiveness on road and street courses has been steadily improving. That speed combined with an excellent attitude and work ethic makes us thrilled to have him join the team.”

“David is an up and comer in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and based on what we’ve seen from him so far in his first two seasons, I’m confident there’s a lot of talent we can extract from him through the resources we have at Arrow McLaren,” Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, added. “Beyond what he can do on a racetrack, he’s got a great personality and we’re excited to welcome him to the McLaren Racing family.”

The addition of Malukas completes Arrow McLaren’s 2024 IndyCar lineup as the Chicago native will be teammates to Pato O’Ward and Alexander Rossi, both of whom return for their fourth and second year, respectively, with the McLaren team. Arrow McLaren is also set to run four cars in the 2024 Indianapolis 500 as the 2021 NASCAR champion Kyle Larson will attempt to qualify for the event while piloting the organization’s No. 17 entry.

With his future plans set, Malukas aims to conclude the 2023 INDYCAR season on a strong note by competing in this weekend’s season finale Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. The event’s coverage is scheduled to occur on Sunday, September 10, at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

Brett Moffitt | AM Racing Kansas Speedway September NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Preview

By

Official Release

-

September 8, 2023

AM Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Kansas Speedway | Kansas Lottery 300

Fast Facts
No. 25 AM Racing Team:
Driver: Brett Moffitt
Primary Partner(s): Concrete Supply | Destiny Homes
Manufacturer: Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Joe Williams Jr.
Spotter: Tony Raines
Chassis Intel: AMR Chassis No. 006
Engine: Roush-Yates Engines
Driver Championship Point Standings: 15th
Team Championship Point Standings: 17th

Notes of Interest:

Fitting In: After spending the past several seasons as a full-time team in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series, AM Racing will embark on its inaugural journey in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season with driver Brett Moffitt for the entire 33-race tour continuing with Saturday afternoon’s Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway.

The race signifies the eighth race of the second half of the 2023 Xfinity Series season for the Statesville, N.C.-based organization.

Future Focused: With AM’s inaugural Xfinity journey set to continue in the Sunflower State, the team has chosen veteran driver Brett Moffitt to lead the team’s campaign from the driver’s seat aboard the No. 25 Ford Mustang.

Moffitt, a native of Grimes, Iowa, hails numerous starts across all three of NASCAR’s National Series, including the 2018 Truck Series championship with Hattori Racing Enterprises.

Moffitt, 30, arrived on the scene at AM Racing after a stint at Our Motorsports.

Partner Intel: The Statesville, N.C.-based team welcomes The Rasmussen Group as a co-primary partner for Saturday afternoon’s race.

The Rasmussen Group is an Iowa-based company with over a century of construction experience and expertise. Based in Des Moines, Iowa, the Rasmussen Group represents a variety of multi-faceted construction companies. With companies specializing in bridge construction, marine contracts, concrete and asphalt supply, paving, heavy hauling, dump trucks, crane operations, and fabricating steel, the Rasmussen Group can provide excellent, complete customer service with one phone call.

The Rasmussen Group’s Concrete Supply will be the anchor co-primary partner this weekend.

Right At Home: Joining Concrete Supply as a co-primary partner for the Kansas Lottery 300 is Destiny Homes.

At Destiny Homes, there is no shortage of dedicated and experienced professionals ready to serve the families who put their trust in them to build a new home. The hard-working staff at Destiny Homes has over 150 years of combined experience in helping families achieve homeownership.

Destiny Homes’ passion is that every essential worker in the current economy has the opportunity to own a new home. It goes beyond sticks and bricks; it’s about helping customers achieve homeownership which in turn keeps the economy strong.

Destiny Homes is proud of their focused effort in helping families achieve affordable homeownership and how that process strengthens the communities where we live, work and play.

AM Minute: Last weekend was another busy summer weekend for AM Racing.

In addition to the NASCAR Xfinity Series team being in action at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, the ARCA Menards Series, was competing in their 16th race of the season from the DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds.

Driver Christian Rose banked his ninth top-10 finish of the 2023 season with a competitive seventh-place finish in the Southern Illinois 100 on Sunday, September 3, 2023.

This weekend, the ARCA Menards Series joins the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Kansas Speedway for their final intermediate race of the 2023 season.

Thanks For Your Support: With more than 78 percent of the 2023 season complete, AM Racing and Brett Moffitt would like to thank their associate marketing partners for their support: AIRBOX Air Purifier, CForce Bottling Company, Flying Circle, Kreuz Market, Lane Frost Brand, Mechanix Wear and Mobil 1.

Honoring Cancer Heroes: Moffitt will have David L’Heureux riding with him Saturday afternoon in Kansas through the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation “Honor a Cancer Hero” fundraiser with The NASCAR Foundation.

L’Heureux of Browns Mills, N.J., has been battling squamous cell carcinoma for the past five years and recently completed six weeks of proton radiation in hopes of becoming cancer-free.

Jennifer Haas recently nominated him to ride along with Moffitt for the 26th Xfinity Series race of the season.

Catch Him On The Dial: Before Brett Moffitt straps into his No. 25 Concrete Supply | Destiny Homes Ford Mustang on Saturday, the AM Racing driver will be featured on “The Frontstretch” on SiriusXM Satellite Radio Channel 90 with host Pat Patterson on Saturday morning, September 9, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. ET.

Brett Moffitt Xfinity Series Kansas Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Kansas Lottery 300 will mark Moffitt’s fifth Xfinity Series start at the Midwest 1.5-mile speedway.

Moffitt is aiming for his fourth consecutive top-10 finish at Kansas Speedway since the 2020 Xfinity Series season.

In his previous four efforts, he has delivered three top-10 finishes. His track-best result occurred during the 2021 Kansas Lottery 300 when Moffitt steered to a sixth-place finish after starting 16th for Our Motorsports.

In addition to Xfinity, Moffitt also has three NASCAR Cup Series and seven NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts, including a popular 2020 Truck Series win at Kansas.

Brett Moffitt Xfinity Series Speedway Stats: At NASCAR Xfinity Series tracks classified as a speedway, Moffitt has made 53 starts throughout his career, earning one pole and 17 top-10 finishes. He also holds an average finishing position of 15.7.

Brett Moffitt NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: In 109 career Xfinity Series starts, Moffitt has earned three top-five and 30 top-10 finishes, including a second-place outing at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February 2021. During that tenure, he also holds an average finishing position of 17.6.

He earned a career-best Xfinity Series qualifying effort of fourth earlier this year at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway with AM Racing.

In addition to 109 Xfinity Series starts, he has achieved 45 NASCAR Cup Series and 92 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts to his credit.

Darlington (S.C.) Raceway | Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Darlington Raceway, Brett Moffitt and the AM Racing team chased their seventh top-10 finish of the season.

Following practice, Moffitt and the No. 25 AM Technical Solutions Ford Mustang qualified 18th in the 38-car field, and despite the team’s best effort, they struggled with the balance of their race car and finished 25th at the track dubbed Too Tough To Tame.

In 25 races this season, Moffit has delivered one top-five, seven top-10s, 14 top-15s, 17 top-20s and an average finish of 17.0.

From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Joe Williams is Brett Moffit’s crew chief.

He will be crew chief for his 124th NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday afternoon and his fifth race at Kansas Speedway.

In his previous 123 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected one win (Auto Club Speedway | February 2022), eight top-five and 28 top-10 finishes.

Follow on Social Media: For more on AM Racing, please visit AMRacingteam.com, like their Facebook page (AM Racing), or follow them on Instagram and Twitter @AMRacingNASCAR.

For more on Brett Moffitt, please visit BrettMoffitt.com, like his Facebook page (Brett Moffitt Racing), or follow him on Instagram (@brett_moffitt_racing) and Twitter (@brett_moffitt).

Brett Moffitt Quoteboard:

On Kansas Speedway: “Overall, Kansas Speedway has been a good track for me, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue to showcase that with my AM Racing team on Saturday afternoon.

“This weekend is our last opportunity to make it into the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs, and believe me, we are not going down without a fight.

“I know that we are coming to Kansas prepared to the best of our ability and hoping to deliver in a big way on Saturday afternoon.

“I’ve won at Kansas Speedway before, and I’m eager to do it again and bring AM Racing home their first career win!

“I cannot thank my longtime partners, The Rasmussen Group, Concrete Supply and Destiny Homes, for their support of partnering with us this weekend. The car looks great, and I am ready to get after it.”

On 2023 Season: “We are quickly approaching the homestretch of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, and I feel we have much to be proud of. Our team has strengthened as the season has marched on, and I believe the results have showcased that.

“We have been on a little bit of a roller coaster, but that will end soon. We have some excellent tracks coming up for our AM Racing team. Despite our tough finish at Darlington, we are focused as ever and ready to go to Kansas and put our team back in the top-10.

“With the Playoffs on deck starting next weekend at Bristol, Kansas, is our one shot to throw a Hail Mary and take up one of the coveted 12 spots and bring some attention to our AM Racing team.”

Race Information:

The Kansas Lottery 300 (200 laps | 300 miles) is the 26th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Saturday, September 9, from 10:05 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Qualifying immediately follows at 10:35 a.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag shortly after 3:00 p.m. with live coverage on NBC, the Motor Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are Eastern.

About AM Racing:

AM Racing is a multi-tiered, multi-faceted Motorsports program headquartered in Statesville, N.C.

Established in December 2015, AM Racing is prided on faith, honesty and intelligent performance.

The family-owned team will compete in the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and various Dirt Modified events in its seventh year of competition.

The team has named Brett Moffitt, Christian Rose and Austin Wayne Self as their primary drivers for the 2023 Xfinity, ARCA Menards Series and Dirt Modified seasons respectively.

Frankie Muniz and Rette Jones Racing Ready to Right the Ship at Kansas Speedway

By

Official Release

-

September 8, 2023

KANSAS CITY, Kan: After enduring a choppy six-week stretch of ARCA Menards Series competition, Frankie Muniz and his Rette Jones Racing return to Kansas Speedway for Friday night’s Sioux Chief Fast Track 150, looking to right the ship with just four races remaining in his inaugural rookie season.

Muniz appeared headed towards his 10th top-10 of the 2023 ARCA Menards Series season this past Sunday night at the DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds, but a divebomb move by another competitor didn’t pan out and instead wiped out three cars in the process and left Muniz and the Rette Jones Racing team with a frustrating 12th-place result.

Hoping to return to the top-10 for the first time since finishing seventh three races ago at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Muniz, for the first time in his ARCA Menards Series career, will return to a track he has competed on before.

Earlier this season, in his intermediate ARCA debut at Kansas, Muniz qualified his No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford Mustang sixth and earned his then-third top-10 finish of the season with an eighth-place result.

Inhaling 16 ARCA Menards Series races so far this season, Muniz, the former Malcom in the Middle television icon, has certainly padded his racing resume and looks to utilize some of that experience on the intermediate tracks this season and apply it towards earning his second career top-five finish in Friday night’s 100-lap race.

“I am certainly ready to get this monkey off our back,” said Muniz. “It’s been a little bit of a rough four or five weeks. Our finishes haven’t been terrible, but we have certainly had things happen that have taken us out of the hunt for a stronger finish and the opportunity to gain some crucial points.

“With all that being said, I am excited to return to Kansas Speedway this weekend and put our Rette Jones Racing team back in the top-10. I like Kansas. It’s a fast track with plenty of room to race.”

Muniz explained how the fundamentals of learning how to race on a mile-and-a-half track and larger this season should pay dividends in the final speedway race of the 2023 ARCA Menards Series season.

“I have learned so much about the draft and aerodynamically how to race these ARCA cars since Kansas in May,” explained Muniz. “I have learned how to utilize the draft to my advantage and how the air works when trying to pass another competitor, as well as how to wrestle our No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford Mustang when it comes to being aero loose or aero tight.

“I think all of the factors will come into play again on Friday night, so it’s just making sure I execute on what I learn and use a patient approach to ensure we can capitalize on any opportunity during the second half of the race.”

For the seventh time this season, Muniz and Rette Jones Racing will display the Ford colors for the 17th ARCA Menards Series race of the season.

“It’s great to have Ford back on board as a partner this weekend at Kansas Speedway,” sounded Muniz. “Our race in the spring was the debut of our on-track partnership, and we had a competitive run with an eighth-place result.

“This week, I’m looking for more than another top-10. I’m looking to put our No. 30 Ford | Rette Jones Racing Ford Mustang inside the top-10 and contend for our second top-five finish since Michigan International Speedway last month. It’s a competitive field for Friday night’s race, but I believe Mark (Rette) and the rest of the Rette Jones Racing team will have me tuned up and ready for battle.”

Former ARCA championship-winning crew chief and co-owner Mark Rette has been highly impressed with Muniz’s performances in the first 16 races of the year. He looks forward to seeing him strengthen his craft in his Kansas Speedway return on September 8.

“The last five or six races for us have been tough because we certainly have had the speed but lacked the results we know we were capable of. “Frankie has stepped up to the plate and continued to give more than 100 percent behind the wheel – but we’ve just had racing circumstances that have hindered us a little.

“We all have been looking forward to returning to Kanas knowing how fast and comfortable Frankie was in the spring, and we feel like he will be even faster when on-track activity gets underway on Friday.

“It should be a good night for us.”

Entering Kansas, Muniz sits third in the ARCA Menards Series championship standings, 21 points behind second-place runner Andrés Pérez de Lara. He sits 149 markers behind championship leader Jesse Love with four races remaining.

Rette Jones Racing stands a respectable sixth in the ARCA Menards Series championship owner standings.

Since 2023, Muniz has 16 ARCA Menards Series starts to his credit, with a career-best finish of fifth at Michigan International Speedway in August 2023. In all, Muniz has delivered one top-five and nine top-10 finishes. He also maintains an average finishing position of 10.7 in his inaugural year of stock car competition.

For more on Frankie Muniz, please visit munizracing.com, like him on Facebook (FrankieMuniz4) and follow him on Instagram (@frankiemuniz4) and Twitter (@frankiemuniz).

For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing), or follow them on Instagram (@RetteJones30) and Twitter (@RetteJones30).

The Sioux Chief Fast Track 150 (100 laps | 150 miles) is the 17th of 20 races on the 2023 ARCA Menards Series schedule in the 71st consecutive ARCA season Practice begins Friday, September 8 from 12:40 p.m. – 1:25 p.m. General Tire pole qualifying in a timed session will begin a short time later at 1:40 p.m. The race is set to take the green flag shortly after 5:00 p.m. CT (6:00 p.m. ET). The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio (XM channel 391 | online channel 981) handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.

About Rette Jones Racing:

Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the intent of building a successful racing operation built around the fundamentals of hard work and a never-give-up attitude.

Owned by racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, RJR plans to field a full-time entry in 2023 in the ARCA Menards Series, while also planning to field vehicles in the ARCA Menards Series East respectively.

The winning ARCA team also offers technical and setup intel as part of its technical alliance partnership program.

Benefits of a Hazmat Endorsement: Its Role in a Driver’s Career

By

SM

-

September 8, 2023

Have you decided to take your driving career to the next level, but weren’t sure how to go about it? Then listen up. Getting a Hazmat license could be the solution you’ve been looking for. As a truck driver, this certificate opens up a whole new world of opportunities for you. You’ll gain access to specialized, high-paying hauling jobs that were previously unavailable. You’ll strengthen your job security and be able to advance your career in an ever-evolving industry. Not to mention, you’ll replenish your wallet through the possibility of higher wages and bonuses.

HMD Trucking Knows All about What a Dangerous Goods Transportation License Is and Why Get One?

A Hazmat endorsement allows you to haul hazardous materials as a commercial driver. Why get this endorsement? For starters, it opens you up to more job opportunities and higher pay.

Increased Job Security and Options

With a Hazmat endorsement, you’ll have access to specialized hauling work that many drivers can’t do. This makes you a valuable asset, less susceptible to layoffs or downturns. You’ll also have more choices for work, from local chemical transport to over-the-road fuel hauling. The variety means you can find something suited to your needs and interests.

Higher Earning Potential

Hazmat drivers are in high demand and short supply. Companies often offer premium pay and benefits to attract and retain endorsed drivers. You can negotiate a higher base pay, performance bonuses, and benefits like paid time off or tuition reimbursement. Over time, your experience and safe driving record can lead to pay increases and promotions. For many drivers, a Hazmat endorsement translates into significantly higher lifetime earnings.

Career Growth Opportunities

With additional training and experience, Hazmat drivers can advance into leadership roles like instructor, safety officer, or dispatcher. Some drivers go on to start their own trucking company, build a fleet of Hazmat trucks, and hire other endorsed drivers. The opportunities for career and business growth are abundant for those willing to invest in this specialized field.

A Hazmat endorsement requires commitment but rewards drivers in lasting ways. Unlock your career potential and open the door to more pay, stability, choices, and advancement. The road to success starts with this single endorsement.

Elevated Earnings: Financial Benefits

A Hazmat Endorsement opens the door to higher pay. As a hazardous materials certified driver, you can haul specialized, high-value loads that command premium rates. You’ll have access to jobs that offer salaries 10-30% higher than non-Hazmat positions.

Expanded Opportunities: With Hazmat certification, you’ll have a wider range of driving jobs available to you. You can transport a variety of hazardous cargo for chemical companies, waste management services, and manufacturing plants. This exposes you to more industry contacts and a greater diversity of hauls.
Job Security: Hazmat drivers are always in demand. These certifications are not easy to obtain, so if you have one, you’ll be a desirable candidate. Companies are willing to pay more for drivers who can handle their hazardous shipments. This demand translates into increased job stability and security.
Advancement Potential: Gaining valuable Hazmat experience can lead to higher positions like equipment operator, dispatcher, and manager roles. As you become an expert in transporting hazardous materials, more senior positions within a company may open up to you.
A Rewarding Career: While the financial and job-related benefits of a Hazmat Endorsement are compelling, for many the most fulfilling aspect is providing an essential service. Delivering important chemicals and materials that power our society and economy can be deeply rewarding work.

A Hazmat Endorsement is a career-changing certification that provides significant benefits.

Safety and Professionalism Enhancement: Market Relevance

A Hazmat Endorsement opens up more job opportunities and higher pay potential. As a truck driver, obtaining this endorsement demonstrates your commitment to safety and professionalism.

Expanded Career Options

With a Hazmat Endorsement, you’ll have access to specialized hauling jobs transporting hazardous materials. This allows you to transport goods like industrial chemicals, waste, and other volatile substances. These kinds of hauls often pay more due to the risks and additional training involved. You’ll also be eligible for local and long-haul jobs in areas like the chemical, manufacturing, and energy industries.

Increased Job Security and Advancement

Hazmat certified drivers are in high demand. This means more job security and opportunities for career advancement. You may be able to move into supervisory roles overseeing Hazmat fleets and training other drivers. You could also transition into teaching at trucking schools, helping the next generation of drivers start their careers. The additional certification and experience may open the door to jobs at large carriers with excellent benefits and pay.

Professional Credibility

Obtaining a Hazmat Endorsement requires intensive training, background checks, and a strict testing process. This helps ensure you operate safely and legally when transporting hazardous cargo. The time and effort involved demonstrate your professionalism and credibility to employers. You’ll be seen as a highly qualified driver, positioned to take on more responsibility.

With the job growth in the trucking industry, now is an excellent time to pursue additional certifications and open up more career possibilities.

Conclusion

You have seen the benefits of Hazmat certification. It opens the door to higher wages and more stable employment. It gives you an edge in an increasingly competitive environment and an opportunity to take your career to the next level. Take the first step towards earning this credential and watch new roads open up in front of you. New opportunities will open up in front of you.

Top Benefits of Playing Baccarat Online You Need to Know

By

SM

-

September 8, 2023

If you are a fan of baccarat in land-based casinos, then you are most likely to enjoy it online. The game is one of the favorites of many online gamblers because there are many amazing benefits associated with playing it online.

If you want to have a taste of online baccarat, you shouldn’t have any second thoughts about it.

It’s Convenient

Playing online baccarat is convenient because you can do it from wherever you are. In fact, on top of the PC, you can also enjoy the games on your smartphone and tablet. This is because most of the online baccarat games are designed with excellent compatibility with various mobile devices.

The only thing you have to do is to connect the device to a stable internet connection. Then use the WYNN Casino 888 app or website to join and play the games. So even if you are on the go, you can still enjoy various baccarat games on mobile.

You Receive Great Offers

Unlike some land-based casinos that rarely give out promotions to new and existing customers, online casinos are packed with many of them. When you decide to enjoy your baccarat game online, you will receive many great offers.

As a matter of fact, most online casinos welcome you with jaw-dropping offers and continue rewarding you on each visit. Your task is to visit the promotions area from time to time to check out the latest offers since the bonuses are updated with time.

Play a Wide Variety of Games

Online baccarat is available in many different variants. You get a golden opportunity to try out different games and have varied tastes. This means you won’t get bored in the casino since you have a wide variety of titles to play.

Best of all, online casinos don’t only have baccarat, but also other games like slots, blackjack, and roulette. You can also enjoy them if you want to try others that aren’t baccarat. The best thing is to first check the game collection to confirm that the platform has many of them for your gaming adventures.

Is 24/7 Available

Another top benefit of playing baccarat online is that you can do so 24/7 without limitations. Online casino websites and apps like WYNN Casino 888 are open all the time, unlike some land-based casinos that have to close at the end of the day.

Any time you feel like playing the games, you just log into your casino account and play. This means you can have unlimited gaming action day and night. But it is advisable to cool off for some time if you have played for too long to save you from addiction.

Enjoy Online Baccarat

Boost your gaming adventures by enjoying online baccarat. You have to identify and join a trusted and reputable platform for excellent experiences. This is because it has top-notch games, a reliable banking system, and timely customer support services.

Factors to Consider When Playing Online Slots

By

SM

-

September 8, 2023

pexels-darya-sannikova-3021120 — Photo by Darya Sannikova

Nothing excites a casino player more than seeing their spin turn into a win. The fun is topped off by being able to play online slots from anywhere in the world, anytime. However, there are many factors to consider before you start spinning those reels. Let’s look at what you should know about playing online slots to enhance your gaming experience and increase your chances of hitting the jackpot.

Check the Casino’s Reputation and Trustworthiness

Knowing a casino’s reputation should always be your priority when playing online slots, especially for the first time. An excellent place to start is to confirm their legitimacy. A casino licensed and regulated by recognized authorities in the industry is mostly trustworthy. However, don’t settle on the legitimacy alone. It’s good to check customer reviews and ratings to confirm the casino has a good track record.

Play What You Like

The fun of any game is playing what you like, right? That’s why browsing the game selection before starting any online slot game is crucial. Playing a game you enjoy benefits your mental health and overall well-being. So, choose a casino that has a wide selection of slot games. If you feel the game is not the right one for you, go ahead and pick what will make your adrenaline rush.

Understand the Game Rules

Familiarize yourself with the PG SOFT Slot Games rules before you play. This also includes the game’s features, symbols, bonuses, and other important aspects. While a hands-on experience is the best way to understand some rules, never start a slot game without understanding the basic rules. You can start by playing the game in demo mode to get a feel for the mechanics and better understand the rules.

Can You Keep Your Emotions in Check?

Online slots can easily make you overly excited after a win or disappointed when you lose. Try to keep calm, whether you win or lose, and know when to take a breather and when to stop. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t celebrate your wins, but ensure not to go overboard.

Consider Your Bankroll

Online casinos can be addictive; knowing where to draw the line takes discipline. Ensure the slots you choose meet your budget, and divide your bankroll into smaller portions to allocate to different sessions. Learn to stop when a portion of the money for the session is used up, and if you’ve been losing, don’t try to recoup your losses through more gaming.

Manage Your Gaming Time

It’s easy to lose track of time when playing online slot games. This happens not only in casino games. Any game, especially one you enjoy playing, can make you spend too much time there, forgetting about other essential things you need to do. So, setting the time you need for each session is important. Most players manage their time by setting a timer to remind them that it’s time to stop.

Take Away

Online PG SOFT Slot Games can give you a thrilling and lasting experience. However, this comes with understanding the rules of the game. Some factors to consider when playing include ensuring the casino is trustworthy and playing your favorite game. In addition, managing your bankroll, emotions, and time will go a long way if you want to play responsibly and still enjoy every bit of your game.

Meyer Shank Racing Prepares For Laguna Seca Trip To End 2023 INDYCAR Season

By

Official Release

-

September 7, 2023

#60: Tom Blomqvist, Meyer Shank Racing Honda

Monterey, Calif. – (6 September 2023) –Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) will wave the checkered flag on the 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar Sunday, as a trying season reaches its conclusion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey (2:30pm ET, NBC, SiriusXM Ch. 160).

The season comes to an end on one of the most fabled tracks on the 17-race schedule as the Ohio-based squad will visit the newly repaved 2.238-mile Laguna Seca layout, which has hosted world-class open-wheel and motorcycle racing for more than 65 years.

The event will be the last for veteran Helio Castroneves (No. 06 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda) as a full-time INDYCAR SERIES driver, although the popular Brazilian has already inked a deal with MSR that will allow him another chance at becoming the only five-time Indianapolis 500 winner in history next season.

As he has done all year, Castroneves will draw from his deep well of experience to help himself and teammate Tom Blomqvist (No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda) navigate the tricky 11-turn course which features the Corkscrew turn (turns 8 and 8A) that is one of the most well-known corner complexes in motorsports.

Laguna Seca was the site of Castroneves’ third-ever series victory as he led 81 of 83 laps on his way to the win in the 2000 season. Last year, the MSR duo of Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud qualified both cars in the top 12 for the race.

Although making just his third INDYCAR SERIES start, Blomqvist has experience of his own on the Monterey layout. The Englishman has three starts there in IMSA competition including a 2022 event with MSR’s Acura DPi where he would both start and finish second in the Acura ARX-05.

The 95-lap event will get underway Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Eastern and can be seen live on NBC, Universo and Peacock. The grid for the season finale will be set by Saturday’s qualifying, which can be seen on Peacock and heard on SiriusXM Channel 160 with the start coming at 5 p.m. Eastern.

Driver Quotes:

Helio Castroneves:

“Laguna Seca is a track where I still hold the track record at. However, they did do a little bit of a resurfacing, so my track record might be in jeopardy, but hopefully it will be in jeopardy from me. I am going to try to beat my own record. It’s going to be a lot of fun and we are looking forward to closing out the season.”

Tom Blomqvist:
“Once again. it’s going to be another experience-gaining weekend for me at Laguna Seca. It was great to get a full race distance under my belt in Portland and I come into this round with more understanding and knowledge to lean on. Laguna Seca is a legendary circuit, especially within INDYCAR, so I’m extremely excited to take to the track. Unlike Toronto and Portland, I’ve actually raced here before so that gives me some bearing to work with. Obviously, stepping into an INDYCAR is a different challenge compared to the DPi, but it’s nice to have some experience to lean on.

I’m confident I can do Mike, Jim and the entire team proud this week and continue to make progress with every session so I can go into winter break with more knowledge on the series ahead of 2024!”

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Kansas

By

Official Release

-

September 7, 2023

5 KYLE LARSON

Age: 31 (July 31, 1992)

Hometown: Elk Grove, California

Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels

Standings: 2nd

No. 5 HendrickCars.com Patriotic Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

DARLINGTON DUB: Kyle Larson started last Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway from the 18th position in the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and wasted no time moving up through the field. He was in the top 10 by lap 27, finished the opening 115-lap stage in third and came in second in stage two. Prior to a caution on lap 311, Larson was maintaining a top-five position. Following a 10.110-second stop from the No. 5 pit crew, he earned the lead off pit road. From there, he led the final 55 laps and held off challenges on multiple restarts to earn the 299th Cup Series victory for Hendrick Motorsports.

EXTRA SPECIAL: Larson’s success in the opening race of the 2023 Cup Series playoffs locked him into the Round of 12 and earned the Hendrick Motorsports engine department its 500th NASCAR national series win. The victory is Larson and crew chief Cliff Daniels’ first Cup Series win at the prestigious South Carolina track. The 31-year-old’s victory at the track “Too Tough to Tame” tied him with Terry Labonte with 22 Cup Series career wins. Labonte’s 22nd win came 20 years ago at Darlington and was also in the Southern 500 in the No. 5.

PLAYOFF STANDINGS: With the win at Darlington, the Elk Grove, California, native gained five playoff points to give him 22 to carry into the next round. In the driver point standings, Larson ranks second (2,074), just one point behind leader and teammate William Byron (2,075).

SEASON STATS: In 2023, Larson has scored the most top-five finishes (11) and holds the series’ best average starting position (9.93). He is the second-best driver on restarts, according to data from Racing Insights. In addition, Larson has the third-most laps led (679), is tied for the fourth-most top-10 finishes (13) and holds the fourth-best average running position (11.99). The driver of the No. 5 ranks fourth in both laps run in the top five (2,473) and top 10 (3,851).

100 WITH HENDRICK: Larson’s start on Sunday at Kansas Speedway will be his 100th Cup Series race with Hendrick Motorsports. He has a 16% winning percentage (16 wins in 99 starts) with the Rick Hendrick-owned organization. The 2021 Cup Series champion has the most wins before his 100th start for the storied organization and he ranks fourth on the team’s overall win list.

COMING BACK TO KANSAS: During this year’s spring race at Kansas, Larson was leading with one lap to go in the 400-mile race when contact with another competitor on the back straightaway sent the No. 5 entry into the outside wall. Despite that, Larson was still able to post a second-place finish. The 1.5-mile intermediate oval has historically been a strong track for Larson. In his 17 starts at the Sunflower state track, he has one win (in 2021), six top-five finishes, nine top-10s and 540 laps led. Three of those top-five finishes have come in Larson’s five starts at the track with Hendrick Motorsports.

LEADING LAPS: Since the start of 2021, only five drivers have led at least 100 laps at the Kansas City venue. Larson leads the pack, pacing the field for 376 laps. When ranking his most laps led by track, Kansas stands fourth on the list (540) behind Dover Motor Speedway (899), Bristol Motor Speedway (850) and Darlington (770).

HOT AT 1.5-MILE TRACKS: In 19 starts on 1.5-mile tracks with Hendrick Motorsports, Larson leads the series in wins (five), runner-up finishes (five), top-fives (11), stage wins (13), laps led (1,791) and average finish (8.26). His 15 top-10 finishes are tied for the best mark in the series. In the Next Gen era (since 2022), Larson has scored the third-most points (366). Note: Races at Atlanta Motor Speedway since 2022 are excluded in this count of 1.5-mile tracks.

FOUR TIRES FAST: The No. 5 HendrickCars.com pit crew has the fourth-fastest average four-tire stop time of 11.244 seconds. Their four-tire stop of 9.281 seconds on lap 93 in June’s race at Nashville Superspeedway is the fourth-fastest four-tire stop of the season. The team’s five-man over-the-wall crew consists of Blaine Anderson (front-tire changer), R.J. Barnette (tire carrier), Brandon Harder (fueler), Brandon Johnson (jackman) and Calvin Teague (rear-tire changer).

HENDRICKCARS.COM IS HOME: The Kansas playoff race marks the 11th home race for the HendrickCars.com team this season. Kansas is home to five Hendrick Automotive Group dealerships. Respectively, the No. 5 driver and crew can be found in their white fire suits this weekend. For every HendrickCars.com home race this season (15 total) there is a unique hat, released the week of the race and only available for sale at the trackside merchandise haulers or available to win on HENDRICKCARS.COM. Less than 100 of each limited-edition hat will be made available to the public. This week’s Kansas hat will be revealed Thursday and can be viewed here.

RECOGNIZING A CANCER HERO: This weekend, the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation and The NASCAR Foundation Honor a Cancer Hero initiative will take place at Kansas. Last year’s program generated over $110,000 for the cause. The No. 5 team is honoring Stephanie Kearns, a breast cancer survivor, wife, mother of two and Anaheim, California, native. Kearns’ favorite NASCAR driver is Larson and she is a long-time fan of Hendrick Motorsports. Kearns’ name will be displayed over the driver-side door in place of Larson’s to honor her brave battle.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT

Age: 27 (Nov. 28, 1995)

Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia

Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia

Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson

Standings: 19th

No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

DARLINGTON DOWNLOAD: Last weekend at Darlington Raceway, Chase Elliott qualified 13th for the Southern 500. Over the course of the 367-lap NASCAR Cup Series race, the 27-year-old driver improved his position to seventh to end stage one and finished 11th in the second stage. After being mired deep in the field to start the final stage due to differing pit strategies, Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team rallied to earn an eighth-place result for his 11th top-10 finish of the season.

PLAYOFF UPDATE: While Elliott did not make the driver playoffs this season, he and the No. 9 team are part of the 16-team playoff field for the owner championship. After the Darlington race, the No. 9 is now 11th in the owner playoff standings, three points above the elimination line with two races left until the owner playoff field gets narrowed down to 12.

LOOKING BACK: This weekend, the Cup Series heads back to Kansas Speedway. Earlier this season on the 1.5-mile track, Elliott qualified 21st and made gains throughout the race, finishing the first two stages in 13th. He powered his way to the lead in the final stage and remained out front for five laps before ultimately taking the checkered flag in seventh.

KANSAS RUNDOWN: Elliott has one career Cup Series victory at Kansas, coming in the 2018 fall race. He led 44 laps en route to the win. This Sunday, Elliott is set to make his 16th Kansas start at the sport’s top level. Accompanying his victory are six top-five finishes, nine top-10s and 202 laps led. He’s finished seventh or better in seven of his last 10 starts at the 1.5-mile venue. Elliott’s six top-five results are his second-most at a track on the Cup circuit, only trailing Dover Motor Speedway (nine).

1.5-MILE PERFORMANCE: Across 74 career Cup Series starts on mile-and-a-half tracks, the Dawsonville, Georgia, native has notched two victories (Kansas in 2018 and Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2020), collected 22 top-five finishes – eight of which are runner-up results – and 37 top-10s. He’s paced the field for nearly 1,000 laps (993) on that track length in his Cup career.

GUSTAFSON AT KANSAS: On Sunday, No. 9 team crew chief Alan Gustafson is set to call his 32nd Kansas Cup Series race. In his previous 31 starts at the track with five different drivers (Kyle Busch, Casey Mears, Elliott and NASCAR Hall of Famers Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon), Gustafson has accumulated two wins – one with Gordon (2014) and one with Elliott (2018) – 10 top-five finishes, 17 top-10s and 320 laps led.

BACK HOME: No. 9 team jackman T.J. Semke hails from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, less than 40 miles from Kansas Speedway. Before stepping on the football field at the University of Kansas in 2012, Semke was a part-time bounty hunter. The 30-year-old was a defensive lineman for the Jayhawks for three years. Semke signed with Hendrick Motorsports in October 2016.

GET UP AND GO: NAPA Auto Parts is back as the primary partner on the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this weekend at Kansas. The Atlanta-based company’s colors have been onboard Elliott’s ride for 10 of his 15 Cup Series starts in “The Sunflower State.” Get a look at all the angles of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet here.

HONORING A SURVIVOR: Elliott and the No. 9 team will honor cancer survivor Bill Roberts as part of the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation and The NASCAR Foundation’s Honor a Cancer Hero program this Sunday at Kansas. Roberts, who was nominated by his wife Buffy, served 10 years in the United States Navy during Desert Shield and Desert Storm as a Seabee Electrician. The native of Thomaston, Georgia, who is now cancer-free, likes to give back by supporting community centers, cancer foundations, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Speedway Children’s Charities, The NASCAR Foundation and many others. Roberts’ name will replace Elliott’s above the driver-side door this weekend.

24 WILLIAM BYRON

Age: 25 (Nov. 29, 1997)

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle

Standings: 1st

No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

KEEP IT ROLLIN’: After a fourth-place result at Darlington Raceway, Willliam Byron maintained his points lead as the NASCAR Cup Series heads to the second playoff race in the Round of 16. Now 45 points above the elimination line for the Round of 12, Byron is looking to make a run for the championship in his career-best season. After 27 races this year, he leads the series in wins (five), stage wins (eight) and laps run in the top five (3,015). The 25-year-old driver’s series-leading 877 laps led are also a single-season career-best. He is second in top-five finishes (10, behind only teammate Kyle Larson), average running position (10.387) and laps run in the top 10 (3,996).

1.5-MILE MOMENTUM: Byron is no stranger to success on mile-and-a-half tracks during his Cup Series career. Since the start of 2021 (not counting races at Atlanta Motor Speedway since its reconfiguration in 2022), he has two wins (Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2021 and Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2023), two runner-up finishes, seven top-fives, and 13 top-10s on 1.5-mile tracks. In fact, in the three races on 1.5-mile tracks this season, Byron has finished no worse than third and has a 2.00 average finish – best of the field and only the 17th driver in history to hold that low of an average finish on that track length. Since the inception of the Next Gen car in 2022, he has collected 383 points at mile-and-a-half tracks, trailing the leader by only one point.

MIDWEST MOJO: Byron has 11 Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway. In his last eight starts at the 1.5-mile track, Byron has collected one pole award, two top-five finishes and seven top-10s. It is also the track where Byron has the most top-10 finishes in his Cup Series career (seven) ahead of Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix Raceway (six each). In the last five races at Kansas, Byron has led 101 laps – fifth-most in the series. In this year’s May race, Byron earned the pole position and finished third.

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE KANSAS: Sunday’s race will be Rudy Fugle’s sixth start as a Cup Series crew chief at Kansas. His first five Cup Series races at the Midwest track have resulted in one pole award, one top-five finish, four top-10s and 101 laps led with the No. 24 team. Aside from those five Cup Series starts, the Livonia, New York, native has 12 previous starts at the 1.5-mile oval, with 10 coming in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. In the Truck Series, Fugle’s drivers have started from the top spot in the field on four occasions, collected two wins (2016 and 2018), five top-five finishes, six top-10s and 391 laps led. His 2016 win came with Byron, who captured his first Truck Series win in just their fifth start together.

PIT ROAD PROWESS: After 27 races in the 2023 season, the No. 24 pit crew remains in the top spot with the fastest average four-tire pit stop time of 11.071 seconds. The No. 24 pit crew consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer), Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer), Ryan Patton (tire carrier) and Landon Walker (fueler).

RAPTOR® TOUGH: At Kansas, Byron will climb behind the wheel of the No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. RAPTOR® is a durable protective coating that is designed to tolerate the toughest climatic conditions and can be applied to a wide range of items, including truck beds, lawnmowers, outdoor furniture and more. With 16 pre-mixed colors available, it’s easy to personalize anything you want to protect. RAPTOR® is available at local paint distributors, auto parts stores and online retailers. For a better look at Byron’s No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, click here.

HONORING DANETTE KETCHER: The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation and The NASCAR Foundation have partnered together for the fourth time to recognize those who have battled cancer by auctioning off the space above the driver-side door to honor a cancer hero. For this weekend, Byron will have Danette Ketcher, who was nominated by her sister, Debra Halter, riding on board his No. 24 Chevy. As a manager of a small business and her work with rental properties, Ketcher was classified as the epitome of a hero who devoted every ounce of her time and energy to giving selflessly. Her family chose to honor Ketcher on the No. 24 as it is her nephew’s favorite driver and her nomination was suggested by him.

48 Alex Bowman

Age: 30 (April 25, 1993)

Hometown: Tucson, Arizona

Resides: Concord, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Blake Harris

Standings: 21st

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

EYES FORWARD: With just nine races left in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, Alex Bowman heads to his favorite track. The driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has three top-five finishes, seven top-10s and 183 laps led in 15 starts at Kansas Speedway. In his last start there (in 2022), Bowman finished fourth and scored a stage win. His 107 laps led in the last five Kansas races are the third-most in that span.

BOWMAN ON 1.5-MILERS: Bowman has 76 starts at tracks that are 1.5 miles in length through his Cup Series career. During those races, the 30-year-old driver has tallied two wins (Chicagoland Speedway in 2019 and Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2022), 12 top-five finishes, 24 top-10s and 588 laps led.

BEST IN SHOW: Bowman has the fourth-best average finish on 1.5-mile tracks this season. In his two starts on that track length, the Tucson, Arizona, native has an average of 7.50 after notching a third-place finish at Las Vegas in March and a 12th-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. He missed the spring Kansas race with a fractured vertebra.

SET FOR THE RESTART: The 31-year-old driver ranks fifth-best on restarts in 2023, according to data from Racing Insights. That mark is second-best among the Hendrick Motorsports quartet, as teammate Kyle Larson is second in this statistical category.

HONORING A CANCER HERO: This Sunday, the No. 48 Ally Chevy will have a special guest riding along for the 400-mile event. For this year’s Honor a Cancer Hero initiative, Kenneth Chase – who was nominated by his grandson Brendon Harmon – will have his name above the door. Chase was an avid Hendrick Motorsports fan who was described as someone who “worked his tail off to provide for his family.” Chase, who passed away in August 2020 from cancer, was a Bowman fan and enjoyed watching the driver each year at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

DAY ‘N’ NITE: The No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will adorn two versions of its primary scheme during the 2023 Cup Series season. The No. 48 Ally Chevy “day” scheme will host a white base with bright plum, grapefruit, and seafoam stripes down the side. This version of the primary scheme will appear at races that take place during the day. When the lights come on over the racetrack, the black-based No. 48 Ally Chevy “night” scheme will sport a similar design to its daytime counterpart. This weekend, the No. 48 machine will have the white-based “day” scheme. Check out all the angles of the new look here.

SAVE THEM ALL: Bowman and primary partner Ally are teaming up this year to bring back the Best Friends Animal Society donation effort. This week, the duo will make charitable contributions to Leavenworth County Humane Society Inc., which serves Lansing, Kansas. Bowman and Ally will donate $4,800 to Best Friends and Leavenworth County Humane Society. Ally will increase its donation to $10,000 if the No. 48 team wins.

HENDRICK
MOTORSPORTS /

2023	All-Time	Kansas
Races	27	1,336	35
Wins	8*	299*	8**
Poles	6	245*	6*
Top 5	33*	1,223*	43*
Top 10	49*	2,094*	79*
Laps Led	1,685	79,002*	1,970*
Stage Wins	12	91	6

*Most **Most (tie)

CLOSING IN ON 300: Following Kyle Larson’s win at Darlington Raceway, Hendrick Motorsports is just one points-paying victory away from its milestone 300th win in the NASCAR Cup Series. Twenty drivers have combined to reach the organization’s current total of 299, which is the most Cup Series wins by any team. With eight points-paying victories in 2023, the team has posted its 36th multi-win season in the Cup Series while maintaining a streak of at least two per season for the past 30 years. The organization has gone to victory lane at more racetracks (31) than any other active team.

MILESTONE MOMENTS HERE AND ON THE HORIZON: Larson’s win also marked the 500th national series victory for the Hendrick Motorsports engine shop. Another milestone is within reach for the company. At 245 pole awards, the team is just five away from 250 at the Cup level.

PLAYOFF LOWDOWN: The 2023 season marks the 20th year with playoffs in NASCAR. Including this year, Hendrick Motorsports has had at least two drivers compete in the postseason in 18 straight seasons and in 19 of the 20 postseason years. Both marks are the most of all teams. William Byron (five wins) and Larson (three wins) are in the 16-driver field. In addition, the Nos. 5, 9 and 24 teams are battling for the owner championship. Larson and the No. 5 team are locked into the Round of 12 with his Darlington triumph.

CHAMPIONSHIP COUNT: The Rick Hendrick-owned team has a series-best 14 Cup Series championships. NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2024 inductee Jimmie Johnson accounts for half of those with seven (2006-10, 2013 and 2016). NASCAR Hall of Famer and team vice chairman Jeff Gordon racked up four titles (1995, 1997-98 and 2001). NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte (1996), Chase Elliott (2020) and Larson (2021) each have one championship for the team. Nine of those titles have come in the playoff era (2004-present).

RECORD SETTERS: Hendrick Motorsports has posted a series-best 56 wins in the playoffs. Johnson has the most with 29 victories. Among the current driver lineup, Elliott and Larson top the board with seven wins apiece in the playoffs followed by Alex Bowman with one.

POWER IN THE PLAINS: With eight wins, the team is tied for the most victories among all Cup Series organizations at Kansas Speedway. Gordon won the first race at the track in 2001 and earned three in total at the 1.5-mile oval. Johnson also posted three wins at the Kansas City, Kansas, venue. Elliott and Larson each have one triumph as well. The team’s 1,970 laps out front at the facility are also the best among all teams in the series.

HEY HEY HEY: Each of Hendrick Motorsports’ four full-time drivers are in the top nine for laps led in the past five races at Kansas. Larson’s mark of 376 laps is the best in the series over that time, while Bowman (107) ranks third, Byron (101) is fifth and Elliott (57) has the ninth-most.

SPRING REWIND: In this year’s spring race at Kansas, Larson led a race-high 85 laps and was leading on the final lap before contact took him out of the top spot. He finished second in the 267-lap race. Byron won the pole position and finished third. Elliott notched a seventh-place finish, while Bowman missed the race due to injury.

NEXT GEN NUMBERS: In the Next Gen car on 1.5-mile tracks, Hendrick Motorsports has three wins. The most recent of those victories came in March with Byron at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Since the start of the 2022 season, Byron (383) and Larson (366) rank second and third in points scored on 1.5-mile tracks.

MILE-AND-A-HALF MUSCLE: So far in 2023, there have been three races on 1.5-mile tracks (Las Vegas, Kansas and Charlotte Motor Speedway), Byron (2.00) has the best average finish in those events and Bowman has the fourth best (7.50), although he has only ran in two of those races. Across those three races, the team has one win, six top-five finishes, seven top-10s, one pole and 439 laps led.

QUOTABLE /

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his focus for the rest of the Round of 12: “I would say leading into the playoffs I had really no confidence in myself. I think having a good run at Darlington (Raceway) helps but it’s only one weekend. I’m not going to get too far ahead of myself. I want to focus on putting some solid weeks together. I know we are capable of it. We’ve done it before. I just want to remind myself that I can do it consistently and I know that we can do it consistently. There are some good tracks for us coming up and hopefully we can get that confidence up and build some momentum. We got off to a good start. I hope we can keep it rolling here at Kansas (Speedway).”

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the No. 5 team’s task for the rest of the Round of 12: “It was such a special moment to get the win (at Darlington Raceway). I think all of us would want to spend a little more time enjoying it. As grateful as we are to have had the day that we did (last) Sunday, that’s the nature of the playoffs and we are really eyes forward to making sure we take advantage of the next nine weeks. Our work is not done. We still have a few points in Kansas and (at) Bristol (Motor Speedway) that we need to go get. We need to put our best foot forward and we’ve got to keep doing that for the next nine weeks. The job is far from complete.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the strength of the No. 9 team: “Being together as long as we have is a big deal. Because of that time together, there’s been a wide range of achievements but also disappointments. I think that you grow together through both of them, maybe even more through the disappointing days than you do through the good ones. That is a huge strength in my opinion. Just having that time together, going through those ups and downs and being able to ride that wave as middle of the road as possible is setting yourself up for success.”

Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on this weekend’s race at Kansas Speedway: “Much like Darlington (Raceway), this is another track that Chase (Elliott) was able to run at in the spring, so it’s extremely helpful to have those notes as we approach this weekend. It puts us in a better position to be able to perform at a high level and execute a good race on Sunday. It’s been a challenging year, but we’re getting closer to where we need to be and we’re still in the fight for the owner championship, so that’s top of mind right now for everyone on this team.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his outlook for Kansas: “We had a solid race last weekend at Darlington (Raceway) and it was a good showing for Hendrick Motorsports as a whole. I think we have the potential to have another solid race this weekend. Kansas (Speedway) has always been a strong track for me and Rudy (Fugle, crew chief). I think our mile-and-a-half program has been really good this season. It’s been a while since we’ve raced on that style of track, though, so it’ll be interesting to see if any of the other teams have caught up with their setups. Hopefully, we can go in there have a solid Saturday and execute on Sunday.”

Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what he expects for this weekend’s race at Kansas: “It’s going to be a tough one. Since they’ve moved this race at Kansas (Speedway) up a couple weeks, you never know what you’re going to get with the weather. Right now, it looks like it’s going to be hot and we don’t get a lot of sets of tires. Last year’s race, and even the race in the spring, it was a tire-heavy race. If there was another caution, most of us didn’t have another set of tires to get. I’m thinking we’re going to have the same thing this weekend which is fun and adds another element. I think there will be a lot of guys sliding around and a lot of guys rim-riding and hitting the wall. It probably won’t be that much different than Darlington (Raceway), just a little bit faster.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his outlook for Kansas: “I really like Kansas (Speedway). It’s one of the mile-and-a-half tracks that has multiple grooves and the repave aged really well. I have always had good speed going there and statistically it’s one of my best tracks, so we are definitely looking forward to that track. Our notebook is good there and the No. 48 team has been building really fast race cars. I am excited to get there and try to get our first win there.”

Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on preparing for Kansas with Bowman: “This Sunday is another weekend where Alex (Bowman) and I are getting our first look at a track together, but that isn’t something that discourages us. We faced the same situation at Darlington (Raceway) and had a tough night but were able to put together a really good plan to bounce back from some tough situations. This weekend, we get to go to his best track and take a swing at a place he feels really good at, which is exciting. The notebook Hendrick Motorsports has for this weekend has been good. If we just keep our same routine and execute where we know we can, there is no reason we can’t go fight for a win this Sunday.”

SpeedwayMedia.comOnline Resource for Motorsports Information

SpeedwayMedia.comOnline Resource for Motorsports Information

Connor Mosack Dominates ARCA Race at Kansas

Eckes wins Playoff’s Round of 10 finale at Kansas in wild two-lap shootout

Malukas joins Arrow McLaren on multiyear basis, beginning in 2024 IndyCar season

Brett Moffitt | AM Racing Kansas Speedway September NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Preview

Frankie Muniz and Rette Jones Racing Ready to Right the Ship at Kansas Speedway

Benefits of a Hazmat Endorsement: Its Role in a Driver’s Career

HMD Trucking Knows All about What a Dangerous Goods Transportation License Is and Why Get One?

Increased Job Security and Options

Higher Earning Potential

Career Growth Opportunities

Elevated Earnings: Financial Benefits

Safety and Professionalism Enhancement: Market Relevance

Expanded Career Options

Increased Job Security and Advancement

Professional Credibility

Conclusion

Top Benefits of Playing Baccarat Online You Need to Know

Factors to Consider When Playing Online Slots

Meyer Shank Racing Prepares For Laguna Seca Trip To End 2023 INDYCAR Season

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Kansas

SpeedwayMedia.comOnline Resource for Motorsports Information

Site Map

Archives

Popular Category