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NHRA AT INDIANAPOLIS: Team Chevy Race Recap

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Official Release
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CHEVROLET IN NHRA
2023 DODGE POWER BROKERS NHRA U.S. NATIONALS
LUCAS OIL INDIANAPOLIS RACEWAY PARK
CLERMONT, INDIANA
TEAM CHEVY RACE REPORT
SEPTEMBER 4, 2023

MATT HARTFORD CAPTURES CHEVROLET’S 376TH PRO STOCK WIN AT THE U.S. NATIONALS

  • Matt Hartford raced to the 2023 Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals victory, capturing his second win of the year and seventh of his career in his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro SS Pro Stock car.
  • Hartford’s win at Indianapolis is Chevrolet’s 376th Pro Stock victory and 257th in a Camaro.
  • Robert Hight (Funny Car) of John Force Racing raced to the U.S. Nationals semifinal after defeating Paul Lee and Tim Wilkerson.
  • Hight started the day from the top spot of the qualifying leaderboard, capturing his 81st Funny Car No. 1 Qualifier and fourth of the year.
  • Greg Stanfield captured the first Factory X presented by Holley Wally trophy by racing to victory in his Chevrolet COPO Camaro.
  • Chevrolet saw success with Hight and John Force of John Force Racing, winning the Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout (Hight), No. 1 Funny Car Qualifier (Hight), and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge (Force).

INDIANAPOLIS (September 4, 2023) – On drag racing’s biggest stage, the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Chevrolet prevailed in Pro Stock with Matt Hartford racing to victory in his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro SS Pro Stock over Fernando Cuadra Jr. With capturing the win light and Wally trophy, Hartford earns the Bowtie brand their 376th Pro Stock victory in NHRA and the 257th in a Camaro body. Additionally, Hartford raced to glory getting his second win this season and seventh of his NHRA career after earning his fourth No. 1 qualifier this season and of his career.

“We came so close a few years back and I lost by the narrowest of margins,” said Hartford. “Indy is a childhood dream. It’s everybody back at Total Seal that makes this happen for me. Everybody at CIP1, Rob’s, GETTRX, Rottler, ZMax, The Hose Connection, most importantly, my crew. I couldn’t do this without Eddie (Guarnaccia), and Chris Ingleson, Adam Bastian, my wife Amber. This is surreal. I proved I didn’t know how to do a burnout in the final, but at the end of the day the win light came on. I’m ecstatic.”

“My wife always tells me to smile. I told her if we win Indy, I’ll smile,” said Guarnaccia, Hartford’s Crew Chief. “I’m ecstatic for our team, for our program that Greg Anderson has put together and all their support. Matt (Hartford)’s done such a great job. Thank you so much.”

In Funny Car, Robert Hight, driver of the Cornwell Tools/AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car kicked off the weekend racing to his 81st career No. 1 qualifier and fourth of the season, taking on both Paul Lee and Tim Wilkerson to face reigning champion Ron Capps in the semifinal. Despite their best effort, Hight smoked the tires mid-track to fall to Capps and end his day in the third round of 2023’s U.S. Nationals.

An early end to race day for John Force, driver of the PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, the weekend was not without a win for the 16-time champion, taking home the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge victory over Capps.

Facing struggles in the first round, Brittany Force, driver of the Flav-R-Pack/Monster Energy Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster, saw an unexpected early end versus Antron Brown after seeing an explosion at the 660-foot mark. Additionally, Austin Prock, driver of the Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster, fell to Leah Pruett after leaving first but seeing Pruett pull away.

“This was really disappointing,” said B. Force. “This is Indy, the biggest race of our season and the last race before the points reset and we start over again for the Countdown. This was our best shot to get ahead of the game and we got beat first round. It’s unfortunate. I felt like we were out ahead. I didn’t see Antron (Brown) next to me, and then I just felt everything rock me forward and I had no power. There was no momentum and I was just coasting and I saw Antron get to that stripe first. (…) But this Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy team – we’re not done. We still have a shot at this thing and we’re going to chase it down for the last six.”

In FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown, it was Stephen Bell and Jesse Alexandra facing off in the U.S. Nationals finals, both in Chevrolet COPO Camaro machines. Alexandra prevailed over Bell in the all-Chevrolet final to capture the Wally trophy.

Facing off in the Factory X presented by Holley finals for the first time in competition, and at the U.S. Nationals, Greg Stanfield, in his Chevrolet COPO Camaro, defeated Chris Holbrook with his pass of 7.254 ET at 191.73 MPH to Holbrook’s 8.047 ET at 173.09 MPH to claim the first Wally trophy in the category in competition.

“This is extremely big for us. All the effort that went into this for creating this new class,” said Stanfield. “We’re happy and proud to be a part of it, and hope it gets big,” in discussing the first race held in competition of Factory X.

Kicking off NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship, Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa. is next up for the Chevrolet drivers and teams as they march toward crowing the 2023 NHRA champion, Sept. 15-17, 2023. Broadcast of Sunday’s eliminations air at 2 p.m. ET on FOX. Coverage streaming live throughout the weekend can be found through NHRA.tv, and is available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:

Brittany Force, driver of the Flav-R-Pac/Monster Energy Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster for John Force Racing:

“This was really disappointing. This is Indy, the biggest race of our season and the last race before the points reset and we start over again for the Countdown. This was our best shot to get ahead of the game and we got beat first round. It’s unfortunate. I felt like we were out ahead. I didn’t see Antron (Brown) next to me, and then I just felt everything rock me forward and I had no power. There was no momentum, and I was just coasting and I saw Antron get to that stripe first. Congratulations to that team. But this Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy team – we’re not done. We still have a shot at this thing and we’re going to chase it down for the last six.”

Austin Prock, driver of the Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster for John Force Racing:

“Rough way to end the weekend here at the U.S. Nationals. This Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist team has been working hard. We’ve had some changes on the personnel side, but we’re pulling it together. If we do what we did last year, sitting where we’re sitting isn’t a bad thing. We just need to keep our heads down and put the work in.”

John Force, driver of the PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car for John Force Racing:

“Well, long weekend, long weekend for everybody. I’m disappointed. It was a great drag race, great match-up with Cruz, love running him. Just wish it had gone my way. We did win the Mission Foods deal, and that was cool, so that’s something. Time to reset, get ready for the Countdown to the Championship and see what we can do.”

Robert Hight, driver of the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car for John Force Racing:

“Not a bad weekend for this Cornwell Tools Chevy. Definitely not the results we wanted. We wanted that win, wanted to double up, but we’re really coming around. We are coming together at the right time and it’s definitely different than last year when we came in here with a huge lead and then Tuesday morning you woke up and looked at NHRA.com and you saw that you had nothing. It was all gone, down the toilet. So, I’m glad that’s happening to somebody else this year.”

Greg Stanfield, driver of the Chevrolet COPO Camaro Factory X presented by Holley car:

“This is extremely big for us. All the effort that went into this for creating this new class. Big thanks to NHRA for creating it. Big thanks to Jerry Haas and everybody at Jerry Haas race cars. We’re happy and proud to be a part of it, and hope it gets big.”

MATT HARTFORD, DRIVER OF THE TOTAL SEAL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS PRO STOCK CAR for KB Titan Racing – U.S. Nationals Winner’s Press Conference:

IN THE SEMIFINALS, YOU BEAT ERICA (ENDERS), YOUR ARCHRIVAL. ARE YOU HAPPY ABOUT THAT?

“Oh, yes. She’s a tough one to get. Beating (Erica Enders) is like winning Indy.”

TALKING WITH YOUR CREW CHIEF, HE MENTIONED YOU GUYS DIDN’T MAKE A GOOD RUN THIS WEEKEND, UNTIL NOW WHERE YOU’RE GOLDEN…

“I’ve got to correct you. He never said the car was crap. We never made a good run. The car is great. We didn’t set it up correctly or drive correctly. That’s all that came down to. If you watch the finals, I really screwed up the burnout.”

WHAT’S IN YOUR MIND AT THAT POINT (ON THE BURNOUT) WHEN YOU MESS UP LIKE THAT AND HAVE TO BACK UP?

“First of all, you back up into the water, get both tires wet, and pull forward. At that point, you just go through your normal routine. It’s done. Eddie says it all the time – that play is over, move on. Why think about it? Frank Hawley said the same thing. That play is over, move on.”

ON BEATING ERICA ENDERS…

“That was huge. I’m telling you, when we went up there, I said if we can beat her, we can win this race. We left on her, and we outran her. That’s hard to do with her. Sometimes you get both, or one or the other. Typically, you don’t get the two. Look, there’s six races coming up. Our focus is to qualify at the top of the sheet in all six and turn on four win lights every time. If we do that, this turns into a white (championship) hat.”

DO YOU HAVE A TEAM THAT’S CAPABLE OF WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP?

“We have the team, we have the car, and let me tell you, KB Titan power is as good as it gets right now. We’re going to have an incredible fresh piece going into the countdown. If I keep (my head) screwed on straight, watch out.”

FIRST U.S. NATIONALS WIN, THE SECOND WIN OF YOUR SEASON, AND FIRST TIME IN YOUR CAREER YOU’RE NOW A MULTI-RACE WINNER. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT?

“Look, we came in here Friday night that our goal was to qualify No. 1 Friday night. If we could do that, we felt that that would stick and we would have four really good test runs to try different stuff. What we ran in the final today is what we tested in one of the qualifying runs. The track conditions became basically what that was. Being able to be on the pole and have that test data played a huge role in the final.”

“Coming into race day, facing Mason (McGaha). He went to the finals in Gainesville, he’s killer on the tree. Sooner or later they will find their footing again, and when they do, there is going to be some people who say “oh my god, how did they get beat by him?” They’re a great team, good driver, and he’s hungry to win. We didn’t go up there soft. We went up there knowing we had to make a run. I was a bit tardy, got back, and knew I needed to work on that. We worked on a few things. He slow-played me really well, he waited forever to stage. Basically played the trick on me I play on Erica (Enders).”

ON STAGING WITH CAMRIE CARUSO IN THE SECOND ROUND…

“We got up there with Camrie (Caruso) and she’s basically putting on the second bulb as I’m pre-staging. I actually got it in a little deep, and that’s where are 60-foot was off and we were a little slower. We went .643, and I thought, man that’s not good because we didn’t have lane choice and we’d be the first pair out. I looked at the numbers and saw we did have lane choice and we were second pair out against Erica (Enders) so my whole attitude changed pretty quick.”

WAS THERE A TIME ON THE BURNOUT IN THE FINAL THAT YOU FELT YOU (DAMAGED) THE CLUTCH AND COULDN’T GO DOWN THE TRACK?

“Not at all. I have a lot of faith, and when I knew it didn’t spin the tires and I got the pedal back in, I tried it a second time, I wasn’t concerned at all. What I was concerned about is the fact that Cuadra, Jr. already did his burnout and backed up, and I didn’t want the starter to get out in front of me to shorten my burnout. I wasn’t going to, and I really didn’t want to have an issue with that. It’s Indy, I’m doing my full burnout and I’m backing up. We’re quick about it. It’s not like I’m going to hold anybody up. That was the only thing that went through my head was don’t make it to where they’ve got to shorten my burnout because that would be a detriment.”

WHEN YOU’RE AT THE TOP END, AND SEE THE EMOTION OF THE WIN, TALK ABOUT WHAT INDY MEANS TO YOU NOT JUST AS A DRIVER, BUT AS A FAN AS WELL OF THE SPORT?

“The first year I came here was in the early 80’s, and I sat in the stands and watched the cars around the pits, and it can resonate with everybody, there’s times you reflect upon your own childhood and think ‘how did I get here?’ I’m now the guy people are rooting for or against in the stands. I was the kid stands. I was very impressionable at that young age that I wanted to be in a Pro Stock car. So the emotions to come to Indy are extremely high. Winning Norwalk was awesome, but this is Indy, and regardless as how we look at it as another race you want to win, I’m telling you, Indy is known as you doing something. It hasn’t set in yet, but it will.”

DO YOU FEEL THIS WIN AT INDY WILL GIVE YOU A BOOST OF CONFIDENCE HEADING INTO THE NEXT RACES AND CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVE?

“We’ve had the car to beat all season long. If you look all the data and all the numbers, you’ll hear Dallas Glenn has the best car all year. He has not. We have. Dallas (Glenn) has been the best driver all year. That’s why he’s in the position he’s in. If I get my head screwed on straight, and stop making mistakes, Dallas has got a problem and so does everyone else in the class. Yes, we have confidence and yes, this is a boost. You win Round 1 at Indy, it’s a boost. You win the U.S. Nationals? It’s a dream come true.”

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Toyota Gazoo Racing North America NHRA Indianapolis Post-Race Report – 09.04.23

By
Official Release
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BROWN, CAPPS, TOYOTA SWEEP INDY FOR SECOND STRAIGHT SEASON
Team Toyota earns fifth straight Top Fuel win

CLERMONT, Ind. (September 4, 2023) – Antron Brown and Ron Caps completed the second straight Team Toyota U.S. Nationals double-up on Monday afternoon. It was an all-Team Toyota final round across the board, as Brown faced Steve Torrence and Capps ran against J.R. Todd.

For Toyota, it is the second consecutive nitro sweep (2022 – Antron Brown, Ron Capps) and fourth Top Fuel win at the U.S. Nationals in the last five races (2019, 2020, 2022, 2023). For this season, it is the fifth consecutive Top Fuel win for Team Toyota and second consecutive double-up. Toyota also advanced all eight teams out of the first round for the first time this season.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series
Indianapolis Raceway Park
Race 15 of 21

TOYOTA TOP FUEL FINISHING POSITIONS 

NameCarFinal ResultRound-by-Round
Antron BrownMatco Tools Toyota Top Fuel DragsterWinnerW. 3.749 v. 3.870(B. Force) W. 3.791 v. 3.919(C. Millican) W. 4.924 v. 6.569(J. Ashley) W. 3.779 v. 3.870(S. Torrence)
Steve TorrenceCapco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel DragsterFinalistW. 3.716 v. 3.830(W. Smith) W. 4.086 v. 4.266(S. Langdon) W. 4.158 v. 8.290(D. Kalitta) L. 3.870 v. 3.779(A. Brown)
Justin AshleyPhillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSemi-FinalsW. 3.719 v. 3.763(D. Foley) W. 3.753 v. 7.617(L. Pruett) L. 6.569 v. 4.924(A. Brown)
Doug KalittaMac Tools Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSemi-FinalsW. 3.692 v. 3.798(S. Massey) W. 3.888 v. 6.574(M. Salinas) L. 8.290 v. 4.158(S. Torrence)
Shawn LangdonKalitta Air Careers Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSecond RoundW. 3.809 v. 3.968(J. Hart) L. 4.266 v. 4.086(S. Torrence)

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR FINISHING POSITIONS 

NameCarFinal ResultRound-by-Round
Ron CappsHot Wheels/NAPA Toyota GR Supra Funny CarWinnerW. 3.894 v. 4.605(D. Creasy) W. 4.582 v. 5.146(M. Hagan) W. 4.029 v. 5.580(R. Hight) W. 3.986 v. 4.131(J. Todd)
J.R. ToddDHL Toyota GR Supra Funny CarFinalistW. 3.913 v. 3.972(B. Alexander) W. 3.974 v. 3.945(Holeshot Win – B. Tasca) W. 4.007 v. 5.557(C. Pedregon) L. 4.131 v. 3.986(R. Capps)
Alexis DeJoriaBandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny CarSecond RoundW. 3.889 v. 4.187(B. Bode) L. 3.973 v. 3.944(C. Pedregon)

TOYOTA QUOTES

ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, AB Motorsports

TF Final Result: Winner

From the 15th qualifier to the race win, can you talk about how you got here?

“We never stopped believing. All of the glory goes to God. You have to have faith. I love this team. They never quit. Matco Tools Test Drive – get you a dealership – but this is all about my team. Brian Corradi, Mark Oswald, all of the Matco boys. They worked so, so hard. To win the U.S. Nationals, the Big Go, twice in a row with RC (Ron Capps). Toyota, we love you. We are going places – the Countdown here we go.”

RON CAPPS, Hot Wheels/NAPA Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, Ron Capps Motorsports

FC Final Result: Winner

What does this mean to you to pick up this victory with Don Prudhomme on the line?

“This was going to be a NAPA Auto Care car, and they understood the legacy. They understood what was going on here. NAPA Auto Parts is going be 100 years old in a couple of years, and they wanted this car to be as authentic as possible. I can’t ask for anything more from a partner. Toyota, everybody at GEARWRENCH, Revchem. To have Don Prudhomme here, I could not let him waste a plane ticket. He didn’t want to lose after he flew all the way out here. This is an unbelievable thing. To win here, to win Indy with my brother Antron (Brown) again is massive.”

About Toyota

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

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

Kansasland Tire and American Racing partner to sponsor Ellis and the No.43 Chevy in Kansas

By
Official Release
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Ryan Ellis and Alpha Prime Racing are proud to announce that Kansasland Tire, American Racing Wheels will sponsor the No.43 Chevy Camaro in the NASCAR Xfinity Series regular-season finale, the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway. They’ll be joined by secondary sponsors, Dakota Riggers and Preferred Asphalt & Sealcoating.

Kansasland Tire has sponsored Ellis multiple times in NASCAR since 2019 and also has sponsored the 33-year-old NASCAR veteran at the Chili Bowl Nationals and other dirt events.

Kansasland Tire is your Kansas headquarters for tires and wheels, automotive services, and commercial/farm services. Their team keeps you rolling at 25 locations in Kansas, and 50 stores total across five states. They stock a large selection of tires from major brands like Goodyear, Michelin, Cooper, Armstrong, Kelly, and Mastercraft. Kansasland has you covered, from oil changes and brake repairs to wheel alignments and roadside assistance.

The partnership with the No.43 Alpha Prime team points to Kansasland’s relationship with American Racing Custom Wheels. American Racing’s line of custom semi-truck wheels is now available in all commercial service locations along with our sister locations, including Nebraskaland, Coloradoland, and McWhorter Tire locations in Texas.

“This is such a cool partnership. There’s so much to love about this car – from how it looks to the companies that tie it together. I’ve worked with Kansasland for many years now, and it’s been great to grow that relationship into a full primary sponsorship with Alpha Prime. Kansasland and their other brands, like Nebraskaland, Coloradoland, and McWhorter Tire, have been growing throughout the Midwest, and we’re proud to be a small part of their business,” said Ryan Ellis, driver of the No.43 Kansasland Tire Chevy Camaro.

“We are excited to partner with two iconic brands in the car industry – American Racing Wheels and Hoonigan on this unique paint scheme to sponsor Ryan Ellis at our home track,” said Josh Dowell, Head of Motorsports Marketing at Kansasland Tire.

American Racing Wheels are designed for the industry’s best, by the industry’s best. American Racing has earned the trust of some of the most discerning critics in the automotive industry. Since our industry-defining introduction in 1956, American Racing Wheels has been a leader in automotive performance, style, and culture. Forged custom semi-wheels that combine the best of both worlds, ultra-custom styling with industry-leading load capacity, all backed by a brand name. Their decades of heritage in American motorsports made them the household name customers know and trust.

The No.43 Chevy will also be sponsored by Dakota Riggers, who offers the widest selection of tools and fall protection equipment for your business. Dakota Riggers is a one-stop shop for all kinds of tools and rigging products. Established in 1982, Dakota Riggers always strives to provide our customers with top-notch customer service, great pricing, and the most complete selection of tools, rigging, and fall protection in the Midwest. Their team is constantly expanding their product lines, continually adding new products to meet their customer’s needs.

Preferred Asphalt & Sealcoating, another new sponsor to Ellis and the No.43 team, is a locally owned and operated asphalt and concrete company. Their team provides commercial and residential paving services, from tearouts to sealing and overlays. Preferred Asphalt & Sealcoating will help you save time and money. They serve homes and businesses throughout Grandview, MO, and the surrounding communities with projects of any size.

KANSAS TUNE-IN INFORMATION:
The action from Kansas kicks off Saturday, September 9th, 2023, with a full day of on-track action. Practice begins at 9:05 a.m. CT, with qualifying following at 9:35 a.m. CT. The green flag on the regular season finale, the Kansas Lottery 300, drops at 2:00 pm CT / 3:00 pm ET with coverage on NBC. Radio coverage can be found on MRN and SiriusXM

ABOUT KANSASLAND TIRE:
Kansasland Tire is your Kansas headquarters for tires and wheels, automotive services, and commercial/farm services. Their team keeps you rolling at 25 locations in Kansas, and 50 stores total across five states. They stock a large selection of tires from major brands like Goodyear, Michelin, Cooper, Armstrong, Kelly, and Mastercraft. They have you covered, from oil changes and brake repairs to wheel alignments and roadside assistance.

ABOUT ALPHA PRIME RACING:
Alpha Prime Racing is a NASCAR Xfinity Series team co-owned by NASCAR driver Tommy Joe Martins and Alpha Prime Sports Founder and CEO Caesar Bacarella. The team was initially founded in 2009 under the name Martins Racing and has since grown into a three-car Chevrolet team, adding the No. 43 Chevrolet in 2023, primarily piloted by Ryan Ellis.

It was just announced on August 4th, 2023, that Ellis will compete full-time in the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season in his first-ever full-time NASCAR season.

RFK Racing Kicks off NASCAR Playoffs with Strong Showing at Darlington

By
Official Release
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Buescher, Keselowski finish 3rd and 6th at Track Too Tough to Tame

Darlington, S.C. (September 3, 2023) – RFK Racing scored a pair of top-10 finishes to kick off the 2023 NASCAR Playoffs in grand fashion during Sunday Night’s Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Chris Buescher continued to ride his recent wave of speed and momentum, collecting his fifth finish of 7th or better in the last six races with a strong 3rd place effort.

RFK Racing driver/co-owner Brad Keselowski brought his Solomon Plumbing Ford home in the 6th position – his 12th top-10 finish of the season. The finishes marked the seventh time this season both RFK Fords have finished top-10, with both finishes placing Buescher and Keselowski in solid position to advance to the next round of the NASCAR Playoffs.

“It was really good,” said Buescher who ran just behind the top two finishers as the laps wound down in the 500-mile event. “This BuildSubmarines.com Ford Mustang was strong. I’m really proud of everybody on this team. This is the first time we’ve had BuildSubmarines.com on board. I know Brad has had it several times, but I’m proud to have a bunch of them out here with us and to get a good, solid day. It just goes to show that what we’ve been doing at RFK the last several months is doing a good job, working hard and getting the results.”

“It was a solid day for us,” said Keselowski, who powered his way through the field after pitting late in the race. “We scored a lot of points and showed some strength from 3rd to 6th with our two cars. We got up to I think 4th there with 30 to go when that yellow came out and we pitted and we thought a whole bunch of cars would pit and they didn’t. That dropped us back to 17th or 18th and we were able to get back up to sixth.”

Yesterday night also marked a career-high finish for Chris Buescher at Darlington, and his second straight top-10 at the famed track. Keselowski secured his 11th career top-10 finish at the Track Too Tough to Tame.

“We worked hard and our team did a great job,” added Buescher. “The pit crew really stepped up in the final half of this race and got us a bunch of spots that put us up front and put us in a great spot to fight for it at least. It hurts just a little bit to be that close and not be able to get it.”

With two races left in the first round of the playoffs (Kansas, Sept. 10th and Bristol, Sept. 16th), both RFK Racing cars currently sit above the cutoff line to advance into the Round of 12. Chris Buescher sits 4th in the playoff standings with a 27-point advantage over the cutoff line, while Brad Keselowski holds the 8th position, 18 points above.

Kansas Raceway plays host to the second race of the 2023 NASCAR Playoffs next weekend. Race coverage Sunday is set for 3 p.m. ET on USA Network, with radio coverage on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Darlington

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. William Byron: Byron finished fourth in the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington.

“‘Liberty University’ branding is back on my No. 24 Chevrolet,” Byron said. “And if you don’t think I’m good enough to be the Cup champion, do like Jerry Falwell, Jr. and ‘just watch.'”

2. Kyle Larson: Larson took advantage of Denny Hamlin’s loose wheel misfortune and powered late to win at Darlington and lock in his advance to the next playoff round.

“The race was red flagged on Lap 189 to repair the lighting in Turns 3 and 4,” Larson said. “That was unprecedented. Why? Show me another NASCAR night race where everything and everyone there weren’t ‘well lit.'”

3. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin won Stages 1 and 2 at Darlington, but a loose wheel late in the final stage cost him any chance of the victory.

“Sure I’m disappointed,” Hamlin said. “But I received a pep talk from my 23XI Racing partner Michael Jordan. He said it’s up to me to decide if I’m going to be the Michael Jordan of the Playoffs or the Karl Malone of the Playoffs. Wait a minute. I think I already am the Karl Malone of the Playoffs.”

4. Chris Buescher: Buescher finished a strong third at Darlington, getting his Playoffs off to a great start.

“My car featured the ‘BuildSubmarines.com’ paint scheme,” Buescher said. “Ironically, a third place will keep my championship hopes above water. And, if you were betting on how many laps I’d lead at Darlington, you should have taken the ‘under.'”

5. Joey Logano: Logano and Bubba Wallace made contact in Stage 1, sending Wallace spinning and leaving Logano’s No. 22 Penske Ford with a bent toe link. Logano still managed to limp home to a solid 12th-place finish.

“Anytime the car sponsored by McDonald’s is responsible for knocking me down in the standings,” Logano said, “there’s only one way to feel about that: ‘I’m not loving it.'”

6. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex’s hopes at Darlington were derailed by a loose wheel in Stage 2 that cost the No. 19 severely. Truex salvaged an 18th-place finish

“Darlington is already a grueling race,” Truex said. “Add to that temperatures near 100 degrees and high humidity, and you literally find yourself having to drive like ‘hell’ just to survive.'”

7. Ross Chastain: Chastain finished a solid fifth at Darlington.

“I’ve been in somewhat of a slump lately,” Chastain said. “I only have one top-10 finish in the last nine races before Darlington. If I’m going to make some noise in the Playoffs, I need to ride a wave of momentum like I rode the outside wall at Martinsville last year.”

8. Ryan Blaney: Blaney posted a solid start to his Playoffs with a ninth at Darlington.

“That crash I had at Daytona was really violent,” Blaney said. “That being said, I really hope I can make an impact in the Playoffs, and hope my championship hopes don’t hit a wall.”

9. Christopher Bell: Bell started on the pole at Darlington but was hindered by several mistakes, including a jack problem during an early pit stop, and later clash with the wall on his way to a 23rd-place finish in the Cook Out Southern 500.

“That just ruined the handling on my No. 20 Toyota,” Bell said. “And I’m not happy where we finished. But I’m not worried. I know I have the desire. I’m young and I’m hungry. And that calls for a shout-out to the guy that once drove the No. 20 car, Tony Stewart, because he’s old and hungry.”

10. Kevin Harvick: Harvick was headed to the pits on lap 310 when a caution just before he entered, meaning a closed pit road, resulting in a penalty that cost Harvick a likely top 5 finish. He finished 19th and is two points below the 12-driver cutoff for round 2 of the Playoffs.

“This is all Tyler Reddick’s fault,” Harvick said. “He braked suddenly when I pitted in an effort to duplicate what I was doing. That caused Ryan Newman to spin trying to avoid him. I shouldn’t have to say this to Tyler, but come on, man. This is the Playoffs, which is no time to take your foot off the gas.”

Crawford Shows Strong Pace once again at Monza

By
Official Release
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Monza (ITA) SEP 1-3 - Italian Grand Prix at the AutodrJak Crawford #9 Hitech GP, during round thirteen of the FIA Formula 2 Championship at Autodromo di Monza, on September 1-3, 2023.omo di Monza. Jak CRAWFORD #09 Hitech. © 2023 Sebastiaan Rozendaal / Dutch Photo Agency // Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202309020296 // Usage for editorial use only //

Consistently in the mix through the weekend but bad luck and contact prevent points

MONZA, Italy (3 September 2023) – Despite showing strong pace in practice, qualifying and both races at Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Jak Crawford’s Italian Grand Prix didn’t yield the results that the American Formula 1 hopeful had fought for in FIA Formula 2 competition. The visit to the hallowed Italian circuit came just one week after Crawford delivered a break-out weekend at Zandvoort, where he qualified on pole and brought home a Feature Race podium.

In Sunday’s Feature race, Crawford was once again right in the mix, making a dramatic three-wide pass to capture fifth place with 10 laps remaining. But a cut tire on the following lap saw him fall to 16th. He was able to race forward to up to 13th despite the ill-timed pit stop before wheel-to-wheel contact with two laps remaining resulted in damage that forced him out of the race. He was classified 16th.

“The Feature Race was very good,” Crawford said. “I made some good overtakes, and we fixed our car from Saturday, and I was quite happy with it up until that point. I think we would have ended up in third, because the car ahead still had to make a pit stop and I was a lot quicker than the driver right ahead of me.”

“I was just defending, and the driver behind me was closing and he decided to go for a move that wasn’t there and I got a puncture. Then, at the end, I got a broken left-rear, and that was that.”

On Saturday, Crawford started fourth but lost a position after contact at the start. He was sixth while involved in a spirited battle for position over the closing laps, but was penalized for going wide on the final lap.

“Saturday was a bit more of a struggle,” he said. “Attacking and defending is very different at this track than any other race. On the last lap, it was just a mistake on my part and I went off a little too much.”

For qualifying, Crawfords ability to set a quick time early once again paid dividends as he scored seventh-fastest overall despite not getting to run the final segment of the session.

Having set the sixth fastest lap early in the qualifying, Crawford encountered problems with an engine fire that prevented him from returning to the fray. Meanwhile, gamesmanship saw most of the other competitors run out of time as they stalled looking for spots in traffic for a fast final lap, with only one driver managing to post a quicker time. Last weekend at Zandvoort, Crawford’s early fast lap was good enough to stand up his first F2 pole as late red flags prevented the competition from gaining ground.

“Qualifying was weird again, getting our best lap on the first run,” Crawford said. “Then we had a fire in the fuel pump, so I was not able to go out again, because it would have been a safety risk. That was unfortunate for me, but luckily nobody else improved, and I only got jumped one spot. At the end of the day, we saved one set of tires.”

In contention all weekend, Crawford was seventh-fastest in Friday’s lone practice session for Hitech Pulse-Eight.

“We were quick straight away and practice was great,” he said. “I was feeling comfortable and I was happy with the setup from practice, even though we still had a bit of work to do.”

Crawford now gets a two-month break before the 2023 season comes to a close on Nov. 24-25 at Yas Marina Circuit in the United Arab Emirates.

“That’s where I did my first F2 test last year, and I’m looking forward to the end of the season,” Crawford said. “We’ll see what we can do to end it on a high. These past two weekends I thought we’ve done really well in the Feature Race, and I think we deserve another podium in the Feature Race, or even a win. I don’t have any plans for the upcoming weeks at the moment. Maybe I’ll go home for training and relaxing a bit, because the season’s basically over at this point. I’m still undecided on next year’s plans, but I’ll be back in F2.”

4DAVID THORNDYKE MAKES SUCCESSFUL RETURN AT CTMP

By
Official Release
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David Thorndyke racing the #67 Thorsons EVT Chevrolet Camaro at CTMP. Credit: Matthew Manor

September 4 2023. David Thorndyke marked his return to the driver’s seat of his #67 Thorsons EVT Chevrolet in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) on Sunday, September 3rd, 2023. After a two-year hiatus from the series, Thorndyke’s comeback was a success though the race day proved to be a rollercoaster of emotions for Thorndyke and his team.

The weekend began on a promising note as Thorndyke and his #67 Thorsons EVT Chevrolet showcased their competitive spirit during the Saturday practice session.

Thorndyke started the race from the 29th position. As the race progressed, Thorndyke faced a setback that ultimately forced an early retirement. A broken sway bar mount punctured a radiator hose, leading to overheating issues in his Chevrolet. Despite the best efforts of the team to rectify the problem, they were forced to retire from the race after 21 of the scheduled 51-laps.

Though disappointed by the premature end, it was a successful return to competition for Thorndyke and the #67 Thorsons EVT Chevrolet team according to the driver. “It was a long road back, but health wise, everything is good and we’re thankful for all the support we’ve received. We appreciate the support from Chill Out Motorsports for our return to racing. Now that we’ve gotten back in the game, we want to be better. We’ve got time now to assess where we are and time to get our new chassis ready to be back here in the Spring”.

TV & Live Streaming
All races are streamed live on TSN+ in Canada and through FloRacing in the United States. The WeatherTech 200 will air on TSN Saturday, September 9th at 12:30PM and on RDS2 on Saturday October 7th at 1PM.

Race fans can follow David Thorndyke and the #67 Thorsons EVT Chevrolet Camaro team on their official social media platforms:

Twitter www.twitter.com/promotiveracing
Instagram www.instagram.com/promotiveracing
Website https://www.promotiveracing.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PromotiveRacing

STRONG SHOWING FOR KENNINGTON IN CASTROL EDGE DODGE

By
Official Release
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DJ Kennington racing the #17 Super Clean Dodge at CTMP. Credit: Matthew Manor

September 4, 2023. Race fans were treated to a display of skill and determination as DJ Kennington, racing in the #17 Castrol EDGE Dodge, delivered an outstanding performance at the NASCAR Pinty’s Series event held at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) on Sunday, September 3rd.

Starting from the 10th position on the grid, Kennington wasted no time in showcasing his racing prowess, expertly navigated his #17 Castrol EDGE Dodge through the twists and turns of the challenging CTMP circuit and toward the front of the field.

The 51-lap race ran green for more than half distance from the start and Kennington moved steadily forward. In the closing stages Kennington had his #17 Castrol EDGE Dodge among the leaders, making his way up to third late in the competition.

Kennington displayed remarkable consistency, securing a well-deserved 4th place finish. This impressive result also moved him up to sixth place in the overall championship standings.

DJ Kennington Quotes:
“I knew we had a good car as soon as we rolled the Castrol EDGE Dodge off the truck for practice. There was a lot of good, hard racing and we were right there. I want to thank my team for their hard work and dedication. We picked up a spot in the championship standings today and put on a great show for the large group of Castrol folks in attendance. I couldn’t be more excited about the last race at Delaware Speedway”.

Next up:
DJ Kennington and the #17 Castrol EDGE Dodge team are back in action at the NASCAR Pinty’s Series finale, Sunday September 24th at Delaware Speedway near London, Ontario.

TV & Live Streaming
All races are streamed live on TSN+ in Canada and through FloRacing in the United States. The WeatherTech 200 will air on TSN Saturday, September 9th at 12:30PM and on RDS2 on Saturday October 7th at 1PM.

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

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

Late Wrecks Spoils Strong Darlington Run For Burton, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team

By
Official Release
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Harrison Burton and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team had an impressive Cook Out Southern 500 run come to a premature end as he was collected in a crash with just 49 of 367 laps remaining.

Burton, who had worked his way from a 32nd-place start to 12th place, saw his race come to an end when Alex Bowman and Daniel Suarez wrecked ahead of him just after a restart. Burton, running just behind the battling duo, slid into Suarez’s car, seriously damaging the No. 21 Mustang. Unable to continue, he was relegated to a 35th-place finish.

Burton said there was nothing he could do to avoid getting collected.

“By the time I saw [Suarez] coming down, he was in my lap,” Burton told reporters after being checked at the track’s care center.

The incident ended a remarkable comeback that saw Burton and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team, now being led by crew chief Jeremy Bullins, regain a lost lap and move to just outside the top 10 as the laps wound down in the Labor Day weekend marathon.

The first Stage of the race ran without a caution other than the yellow flag at the end of that segment. The No. 21 Mustang was scored in 26th place, but one lap down at the end of the Stage.

The second Stage saw the team utilize the wave around during a caution period in the closing laps of that segment to rejoin the lead lap.

Burton wound up 21st at the end of the second Stage and continued the march forward in the third and final segment of the race until the crash ended his run.

“It was really unfortunate,” he said. “I felt like we had a pretty good day going. We qualified poorly, and were digging ourselves out of that hole all day.

“We finally got into the top 15 and felt like we could race there for the rest of the race and got caught up.”

Burton also said he appreciated the efforts of his Motorcraft/Quick Lane teammates.

“It was a really long, hard-fought race for us to get up to where we were,” he said. “I was proud of that effort. We will move on and be better next time.”

Burton and the Wood Brothers team now begin preparing for Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.

About Motorcraft®
Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers, independent distributors and automotive-parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty* of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Omnicraft®
Omnicraft is part of the Ford lineup of parts brands: Ford Parts, Motorcraft and Omnicraft. Omnicraft is the exclusive non-Ford/Lincoln parts brand of premium aftermarket parts. With over a century of parts heritage to build upon, Omnicraft provides excellent quality and fit and is a preferred choice of professional automotive technicians. To find out more about Omnicraft, visit www.omnicraftautoparts.com or contact your local Ford or Lincoln Dealership.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Center
Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine maintenance, serving all vehicle makes and models. Quick Lane provides a full menu of automotive services, including tires, oil change and maintenance, brakes, batteries, alternator and electrical system, air conditioning system, cooling system, transmission service, suspension and steering, wheel alignment, belts and hoses, lamps and bulbs and wiper blades plus a thorough vehicle checkup report. Service is performed by expert technicians while you wait at any of nearly 800 locations in the U.S., with evening and weekend hours available and no appointment necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is 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 and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, as well as connected services. Additionally, Ford is establishing leadership positions in mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 176,000 people worldwide. More information about the company, its products and Ford Credit is available at corporate.ford.com.
*See seller for limited-warranty details.

Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.

JACKSON EXCITES THE CROWD AT CTMP IN O’NEIL ELECTRIC DODGE

By
Official Release
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Larry Jackson’s racing the #84 O’Neil Electric Dodge at Circuit ICAR. Photo Credit: Matthew Murnaghan

(September 4, 2023) Larry Jackson, behind the wheel of the #84 O’Neil Electric Dodge, delivered an exhilarating performance at the NASCAR Pinty’s Series event held at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) on Sunday, September 3rd. With the support of over 400 enthusiastic guests of O’Neil Electric, Jackson showcased his racing prowess running up front, leading a lap and scoring an 11th place finish.

Starting from the 19th position, Jackson and his dedicated team executed a well-planned race strategy that proved to be instrumental in his performance. Jackson’s determination and skill allowed him to steadily climb through the field and race his way into the top-five, running as high as second near the mid-point of the 51-lap race.

As teams cycled through pit stops Jackson would be scored the race leader on lap 34. Bringing the #84 O’Neil Electric Dodge to pit road for fuel and fresh tires a lap later he would relinquish the top spot.

Facing stiff competition and a challenging track in the closing laps, Jackson demonstrated resilience and laser focus, ultimately crossing the finish line in an impressive 11th place.

Quotes:
“The race played out exactly the way we needed it to for our strategy to work. We ran longer than everyone before stopping for fuel, then we came in for tires. It all came together for us. “Racing at CTMP in front of such an amazing group was a fantastic experience. The support from the O’Neil Electric group and the fans pushed me to give it my all, and I’m really pleased with the outcome today and that we could put on a good show for the O’Neil group”.
-Larry Jackson, Driver #84 O’Neil Electric Dodge

TV & Live Streaming
All races are streamed live on TSN+ in Canada and through FloRacing in the United States. The WeatherTech 200 will air on TSN Saturday, September 9th at 12:30PM and on RDS2 on Saturday October 7th at 1PM.

The 2023 NASCAR Pinty’s Series will consist of 14 total races in five provinces on a mixture of oval tracks along with road and street courses. Up next, Larry Jackson will return head to Delaware Speedway on Sunday, September 24th for the NASCAR Pinty’s Series season finale.

Race fans can get the latest information about Larry Jackson and the #84 O’Neil Electric team on these social channels.

Twitter: @larryjacksonvrm
Instagram: @larryjackson84

About O’Neil Electric Supply
Serving the electrical and construction industry since 1965, O’Neil Electric Supply is a proud Canadian owned, independent wholesale supplier of premium electrical products in the GTA and across Ontario. O’Neil Electric is also open to the public and supplies all premium brands from major manufacturers, in a complete range of electrical products in lighting, controls, power distribution equipment, conduit, wire, boxes, devices, heating & ventilation, tools and safety equipment and is well known as one of the largest stocking distributors in the GTA.
Learn more about O’Neil Electric Supply http://www.oneilelectric.com/about-us-2-about-us

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