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Seizing Opportunity in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs

By
SM
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This past weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs began at Darlington Raceway with a race full of twists, surprises, and at last, opportunity. The opportunities presented within the playoffs not only affect the drivers themselves but also the onlooking fans looking to benefit from the additional bracket in the form of Sportsbook bets and personal tournaments against one another. This includes using in-person bookies or using websites such as ThePuntersPage to identify the best places to bet on motorsports online.

For those that are not aware, the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs is a separate bracket formed in the last quarter of the race season where the top 16 contenders compete against each other to take an additional championship title. The current contenders for the NASCAR 2023 Cup Series are as follows from highest points to lowest following Sunday’s Race at Darlington Raceway:

  • Kyle Larson (Winner)
  • William Byron (+45)
  • Tyler Redick (+30)
  • Chris Buescher (+27)
  • Denny Hamlin (+27)
  • Martin Truex Jr. (+25)
  • Kyle Busch (+20)
  • Brad Keselowski (+18)
  • Ryan Blaney (+16)
  • Ross Chastain (+13)
  • Joey Logano (+3)
  • Christopher Bell (+1)
  • Bubba Wallace (-1)
  • Kevin Harvick (-2)
  • Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (-4)
  • Micheal McDowell (-19)

Every single race is a series of opportunities that can result in a win for any given driver. At the Darlington Raceway, Kyle Larson weathered the storm starting from back at the 18th position and needed to find opportunity even after brushing against the wall, damaging his car during the race.

Fortunately, Larson did manage to find the opportunity he needed to push to 1st with the help of avoiding a devastating five-car wreck, coupled with great pit-road planning, and determination. This race marks Kyle Larson’s 22nd career victory, and his 4th championship for the 2023 season.

Top contenders such as Denny Hamlin (2nd Position Starter) and Christopher Bell (1st Position Starter) began the race in great starting positions, however found themselves stricken with poor luck and mistakes. Hamlin was one of the five entrapped in the five-car wreck which destroyed his chances during this race.

Bell found himself in a similar situation as Larson hitting the wall, but unfortunately, he struck his car a touch too hard on the wall, damaging his suspension and resulting for the remainder of the race.

The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs will continue this coming week at the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, once again offering up the same opportunities to fans and drivers alike. Every race will become more and more important to the fans who are using the playoffs to financially profit with bets or social tournament brackets. The same will be true for the drivers as their performances and outcomes of the next two race weekends can decide whether they stay within the playoff standings.

For those looking for more racing between on race weekends or are just superfans of motorsport, the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) also offers a plethora of great races with close-to-home vehicles fans can easily relate to. While not as high-key as Formula 1, Moto GP, or NASCAR, it offers plenty of excitement to those watching, including plenty of online bookies.

How Long Does Ceramic Coating Last on a Car

By
SM
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Ceramic coatings have emerged as a game-changer in the world of automotive detailing. These coatings have gained significant popularity among car enthusiasts and everyday drivers alike, offering unparalleled protection and a stunning shine.

One of the most common questions that arise when considering a ceramic coating for your car is: How long does ceramic paint protection last?

In this article, we delve into the factors influencing the longevity of ceramic coatings on cars and provide insights into maximising their lifespan.

Understanding Ceramic Coatings

Ceramic coatings, often called nano-coatings, are liquid polymer solutions applied to a car’s exterior surfaces. These coatings chemically bond with the factory paint, creating a protective layer that is highly resistant to environmental contaminants, UV rays, chemicals, and even minor scratches.

Unlike traditional waxes or sealants that provide temporary protection, ceramic coatings are designed to offer a long-lasting defence.

How Long Does Ceramic Coating Last on a Car?

Ceramic coatings are known for their durability and longevity in providing protection to a car’s paintwork. A high-quality ceramic coating can last anywhere from 2 to 5 years.

The precise lifespan can be impacted by several considerations, including the quality of the coating applied, the maintenance routine, environmental conditions, and how frequently the car is driven and exposed to elements like UV rays, chemicals, and abrasive contaminants.

Proper preparation and application, along with regular maintenance such as gentle washing and avoiding harsh chemicals, can help extend the lifespan of the ceramic coating towards the longer end of the spectrum.

It’s important to note that while ceramic coatings offer substantial protection and hydrophobic properties, they are not permanent solutions. Over time, their effectiveness may gradually diminish, reducing water repellency and surface protection.

As the coating wears off, it’s recommended to consider reapplying the ceramic coating to maintain optimal protection for your car’s paintwork.

Factors Influencing Longevity of Ceramic Paint Protection on Cars

Several factors play a crucial role in determining how long a ceramic coating will last on a car:

1. Application Quality

The quality of the application significantly impacts the coating’s lifespan. A skilled application guarantees accurate bonding and even coverage, which contributes to the durability of the coating.

2. Coating Brand and Type

Different brands and types of ceramic coatings have varying formulations and durability. High-quality coatings tend to last longer due to their superior chemical composition.

3. Preparation

Proper preparation of the car’s paint surface before applying the ceramic coating is essential. Thoroughly cleaning, decontaminating, and polishing the paint removes impurities and allows the coating to bond effectively.

4. Environmental Conditions

The climate in which the car is driven and parked plays a role in the coating’s longevity. Harsh weather conditions, extreme temperatures, and exposure to elements can affect the coating over time.

5. Maintenance

Regular and correct maintenance practices significantly impact the lifespan of a ceramic coating. Using appropriate car wash products, avoiding abrasive cleaning methods, and maintaining a regular cleaning schedule prolongs the coating’s effectiveness.

6. Driving Habits

How you drive your car also affects the coating’s longevity. Aggressive driving, exposure to road debris, and parking in high-traffic areas can subject the coating to more wear and tear.

Maximising Longevity

While external factors influence the lifespan of a ceramic coating, there are steps you can take to maximise its durability:

  • Proper Washing Techniques: Use a pH-neutral car wash soap and a soft microfiber wash mitt to avoid scratching the coating. Avoid automatic car washes with abrasive brushes.
  • Regular Maintenance: Periodically apply a ceramic booster or maintenance spray recommended by the coating manufacturer to enhance the protective layer.
  • Avoid Abrasive Compounds: Refrain from using abrasive polishes or compounds on the coated surface, as they can compromise the coating’s integrity.
  • Keep Away from Harsh Chemicals: Avoid harsh chemicals or aggressive cleaning agents that could break down the coating over time.
  • Parking Considerations: Whenever possible, park your car in a shaded area or a garage to reduce exposure to UV rays and environmental contaminants.
  • Professional Inspection: Schedule regular inspections to assess the coating’s condition and address potential issues.

Signs of Wear

Over time, even the most durable ceramic coatings will exhibit signs of wear. These include diminished water beading, reduced gloss, and decreased hydrophobic properties. When you notice these signs, it might indicate that the coating’s effectiveness is waning.

At this point, you can consider applying a ceramic coating booster or, depending on the severity of wear, having the coating professionally reapplied.

Conclusion

Investing in a ceramic coating for your car is a decision that promises to provide long-lasting protection and aesthetic benefits. While the exact duration a ceramic coating lasts depends on various factors, proper application, maintenance, and environmental considerations contribute to its lifespan.

By adhering to recommended care practices and staying attuned to signs of wear, you can enjoy the benefits of a ceramic coating for several years, keeping your car looking its best and protected from the elements.

Our expert advice? Visit Attention Detailing for a highly-regarded paint protection solution for your car!

Paintless Dent Repair: How Does It Work?

By
SM
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When it comes to maintaining the appearance and value of your vehicle, dents and dings can be a significant concern. However, the traditional methods of repairing dents often involve repainting the affected area, which can be time-consuming and expensive.  

Fortunately, a more efficient and cost-effective solution is available—paintless dent repair. This technique has gained popularity in the automotive industry for its ability to restore a vehicle’s surface without requiring extensive painting and refinishing. To learn more about paintless dent repair, it’s best to visit this website. 

Furthermore, here’s how it works its magic on your car’s exterior.

The Basics Of Paintless Dent Repair

Before learning the inner workings of paintless dent repair, it’s worth noting that this method is best suited for relatively minor dents where the paint has remained intact. Traditional bodywork repairs may still be necessary for larger and more severe dents that have caused paint damage.

That said, here’s how paintless dent repair works.

Step 1: Assessment And Inspection

The process typically begins with a skilled technician examining the dent to determine its size, location, and accessibility. This assessment helps the technician decide whether paintless dent repair is a suitable solution for the specific case.  

Keep in mind that not all dents can be repaired using this method. A more traditional repair approach might be required when the paint is cracked or chipped.

Step 2: Gaining Access

Once the technician identifies the dent as a candidate for paintless dent repair, the next step involves gaining access to the backside of the dent. This is where the technician’s expertise shines as they carefully disassemble parts of the vehicle. This includes removing interior panels or taillights to reach the back of the dent. This access is essential for the manipulation of the dent from behind.

Step 3: Manipulation Of The Dent

With access to the backside of the dent, the technician employs an array of specialized tools, each meticulously designed for different dent types. These tools are the technician’s extension, enabling them delicately massage and reshape the metal from the inside out. The dents are coaxed back to their original form through skill, precision, and patience. The gradual application of pressure is crucial, as it ensures that the metal conforms without causing any damage to the external paint.

Step 4: Reflecting Light And Fine-tuning

As the technician manipulates the dent, they harness the power of reflective light sources. These light sources cast strategic shadows and highlights on the dent’s surface, functioning like a diagnostic tool. This visual aid enables the technician to discern the subtlest irregularities in the surface.  

By analyzing the interplay of light and shadow, they can accurately gauge their progress and identify areas that require further attention. This process is akin to sculpting with light, helping them fine-tune the reshaping procedure to achieve a surface that seamlessly merges with the car’s original body contours.

Step 5: Quality Check

Once the dent has been skillfully manipulated and fine-tuned, the technician enters a critical phase—the quality check. This stage involves meticulous inspection from multiple perspectives.

The technician scrutinizes the repaired area with a discerning eye, ensuring that the dent has been successfully erased from view. Their examination isn’t limited to a single angle; they assess the repair from various vantage points to guarantee its invisibility.  

Additionally, the technician verifies that the paint, which was untouched throughout the process, remains fully intact. The process concludes only when they are satisfied that the repair meets the highest standards.

The Benefits Of Paintless Dent Repair

Paintless dent repair offers several significant advantages over traditional dent repair methods:

  • Cost-effectiveness: One of the standout benefits of paintless dent repair is its cost-effectiveness. Traditional dent repair often involves extensive steps like sanding, priming, and repainting. This can be expensive due to the materials, labor, and time involved. 

In contrast, paintless dent repair skips these resource-intensive steps, leading to reduced costs. By avoiding repainting or refinishing, paintless dent repair can be notably lighter on your wallet.

  • Time efficiency: Time is of the essence, and paintless dent repair recognizes that. Traditional dent repair methods can be time-consuming, keeping your vehicle off the road and inconveniencing you. 

Paintless dent repair, on the other hand, is usually a quicker process. Skilled technicians can swiftly assess, manipulate, and restore the dent without the extended drying and curing times required by repainting. This means you’ll have your vehicle back on the road sooner.

  • Preservation of original finish: Your vehicle’s factory finish is a key contributor to its overall appearance and resale value. Regular ways of fixing dents usually need new paint on the fixed spot. But this can make the color and feel of that spot different, which affects how the whole thing looks.

However, paintless dent repair maintains the vehicle’s factory finish intact. By preserving the original paint, your car sustains its seamless appearance, which is crucial for maintaining or enhancing its resale value.

  • Environmentally friendly: In today’s world, environmental considerations are paramount. Traditional dent repair methods often involve the use of various chemicals, including paint solvents, primers, and clear coats. These chemicals can contribute to air and water pollution, making them less than ideal for the environment. 

Meanwhile, paintless dent repair eliminates the need for these harmful substances. Paintless dent repair is a more environmentally friendly option by avoiding the use of chemicals and minimizing waste.

Conclusion

Paintless dent repair is a remarkable solution for addressing minor dents and dings on your vehicle’s exterior. Through a careful assessment process, gaining access, manipulation, fine-tuning, and quality checks, skilled technicians can restore the original shape of your car without repainting. This cost-effective and efficient method has earned its place in the automotive industry as a go-to option for keeping vehicles looking their best.

CHEVROLET INDYCAR AT PORTLAND: FELIX ROSENQVIST PUTS CHEVY ON PODIUM

By
Official Release
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CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
BITNILE.COM GRAND PRIX OF PORTLAND
PORTLAND, ORGON
TEAM CHEVY POST RACE REPORT
SEPT 3, 2023

FELIX ROSENQVIST PUTS CHEVROLET ON PODIUM IN THE BITNILE.COM GRAND PRIX OF PORTLAND

o Felix Rosenqvist raced his No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet to a second-place

o finish in today’s BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland

o Chevrolet drivers have led 1,179 of 1,934 laps to date at since 2018

o return; total of 1,924 after today’s 11 lap race

o Five Team Chevy drivers finished in the top-10 including Rosenqvist:

o Pato O’Ward 4th

o Josef Newgarden 5rh

o Rinius VeeKay 6th

o Scott McLaughlin 9th

o Since INDYCAR and Chevrolet returned to Portland International Raceway, Team Chevy has captured two wins (Will Power – 2019, McLaughlin – 2022), two pole awards (Power – 2018, McLaughlin – 2022), three podium finishes, all while leading 224 laps around the 12-turn, 1.964-mile natural terrain road course in Portland, Ore.

o Chevy powered divers scored 306 podiums in V6 era to date and 23 podiums thus far in 2023

PORTLAND, OREGON (September 3, 2023) – After qualifing11th, Felix Rosenqvist marched forward through the 27 car field to battle for the win. With only two cautions, teams and drivers relied on strategy, pit stops and smooth performance on track. It is his first of the season.

Front row sitter Scott McLaughlin had very fast race car and high hopes for race, but strategy didn’t play out to weather conditions.

Josef Newgarden brought home a strong fifth place finish after missing a melee on lap one from his 12th place starting spot.

Alex Palou won the race and clinched his second NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship. Scott Dixon was also in top-5

The NTT INDYCAR Series 2023 season concludes at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seda near Monterey, California Sept. 8-10, 2023. The green flag waves live at

TEAM CHEVY TOP-10 RACE RESULTS:
Pos. Driver
2nd Felix Rosenqvist
4th Pato O’Ward
5th Josef Newgarden
6th Rinus VeeKay
9th Scott McLaughlin

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING (QUOTES)

Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Chevrolet at Team Penske:

“It was a tough day. I put us in a hole yesterday was my mistake in qualifying, and our car was clearly a lot quicker than starting 12. So, you know, I think at the start here, too, we definitely went even further back. This first time I’ve seen I felt like I was kind of getting into a wreck, so I just kind of bailed out. And then yeah, just took the escape road and probably didn’t even need to, but yeah, I just felt like I was about to get into one which is very possible here in Portland.

“So we fought back and the team did an amazing job. Like just so proud of the team, they were unbelievable in the pits, made the right calls all day and at a super fast car. So I you know, I’m just very thankful to the team for all their hard work and effort. And I think most importantly, today, just want to congratulate Alex and his team, very deserving champions. So, you know, tough year for us. But they did a great job super deserving, and we’ll come back next year. So that’s probably a good thing. I think so. It’s constant. You know, we’re always trying to evolve and you know, it’s trying to make a step this weekend, just evolution of how we’re going to approach things and you know, it’s always going to be the same game. It’s going to be one race at a time trying to maximize the weekend and by, you know, by far we did not maximize the weekend. No, thanks to me. So, you know, if we can clean stuff like that up, we get, you know, a little bit of the tide turn our way more so in the year than then I think we can definitely be in another championship run.”

Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Chevrolet at Team Penske:

“An unfortunate day for the Freightliner Chevy today at Portland. I thought we were very quick today, but we just started on the wrong tire. The primaries were the preferred tire with the red alternates really falling off over a stint. Once we had to pit earlier for tires and got overcut by the drivers that started on the primaries, you find yourself stuck in the back and your day is pretty much done. Those that started with the black tires really moved forward. It’s still another top 10 for this team. We’ll keep pushing forward and finish strong next weekend at Laguna Seca.”

Will Power, No. 12 Chevrolet at Team Penske:

“Just a rough day for the Verizon 5G Chevy. I’m pretty disappointed in myself for making that mistake. I was just trying to keep (Alexander) Rossi behind me because he was on reds, and I expected them to fall off quickly. Just unacceptable because if we have a normal race we are likely fighting for a podium or top-five finish. Just have to try and move on and get a win at Laguna to finish the season.”

Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Chevrolet at Arrow McLaren INDYCAR:

“I wouldn’t have changed anything with the strategy. I was very happy and comfortable with the car, and I felt like I drove a really good race. It’s just frustrating; it’s the same story every time. As soon as we get to lapped cars, it’s always a race to get by them. They really destroy and diminish your chances to fight for a better position. In this case, it was a podium position. We had the pace for that, but when someone in front of you is doing everything in their power to block you, blowing their push to pass so you use yours, that shouldn’t be happening in a series like this. I hope to see the rules change in the future. But for now, we’ll settle for a P4. I’m bummed because the team deserved more today with the performance we had in pitlane, the strategy and lap times we were putting out.” just rolling our way, which it’s been awhile since it’s felt that way. The flow was just there throughout the race. That was good fun; I really enjoyed that.”

Felix Rosenqvist, No. 6 Chevrolet at Arrow McLaren INDYCAR:

“We didn’t get the win, but to me, that was kind of a comeback. We had a really good strategy. Team Chevy gave us really good power, and everything was just rolling our way, which it’s been awhile since it’s felt that way. The flow was just there throughout the race. That was good fun; I really enjoyed that.”

Alexander Rossi, No. 7 Chevrolet at Arrow McLaren INDYCAR:

”I think we were recovering from a bad first stop due to the sequence of cars coming in when we were trying to leave, and we were on for a fifth, sixth-place day. I was overtaking Marcus Ericsson when he moved in the straight, broke our front wing and that was our day. It’s a shame. We struggled this weekend to really get the balance right, but the race was probably the best part of the weekend, and it was going to be a pretty good day for the team. It still was, obviously, but it’s a shame we weren’t also able to get a result.”

Ryan Hunter-Reay, No. 20. Chevrolet at Ed Carpenter Racing:

: “It ended up being a tough day. It would have been nice to start where we qualified. Unfortunately, starting at the back with the engine penalty put us behind from the start. We tried an alternate strategy that ultimately did not work in our favor. The positive was we had good pace, but downside was we really couldn’t use it today because of how the race shook out.”

Rinus VeeKay, No. 21 Chevrolet at Ed Carpenter Racing:

“It was very nice to use our speed to move forward! Kudos to the No. 21 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet crew! The car felt really good and allowed me to drive aggressively. It really suited my driving style and allowed me to pass cars, which you have to be able to do here. We weren’t incredibly lucky today, we got to the front on pace. Everyone has seen it, we’ve had a very tough season. We’ve not been happy with our pace in general so to be able to make this kind of progress before the end of the season is very nice. A great big thank you to Ed Carpenter Racing! And, it’s great to have my best finish of the season so far at the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland!”

Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 Chevrolet at AJ Foyt Racing:

“Long race-Fighting a little bit of understeer here and there, but overall, pretty happy with the performance of the car. It’s a good step moving forward. I think we definitely could have had the top 15 had we not got spun on the final restart, but on to Laguna and just keep building.”

Benjamin Pedersen, No. 55 Chevrolet at AJ Foyt Racing:

“Honestly it was one of our best races We just got caught out by the yellow by literally a lap. We pitted and then two laps later the yellow came out.”I think a top 15 was looking very realistic,” he contined. “Just trying to have a really good day and it was looking really good. I think it was one of our best races from my point of view, and the team also, with pit stops. We just got a little unlucky with strategy. I would say the car has come a really long way from our road course setup, so that’s very promising. Crazy there’s only one race to go, so we’ll look to finish really strong.”positive energy and work as hard as I can. It just really sucks in the moment.”

Callum Ilott, “It was a tough race for us. We got pushed in turn seven of lap one. And then unfortunately, as I’m stuck on the curb dust everywhere another car hit me. I think there’s quite a bit of damage from that but able to continue. Luckily, we got away with it. To be honest, I struggled a lot on the first set of tires on the ultimate couldn’t really get anywhere, lost a lot of ground. First off, and then yeah, tried to make up a bit from there. We had good pace in the in the end, we improved the car on the pitstops and got it back into the window. It definitely wasn’t the easiest car to work with. But once we got it back and kind of figured out what we needed to do with it. Yeah, we had good pace to just unfortunately we didn’t really put everything together and stuff was starting in the top 10 You need to put everything together so kind of a race that could have been lots of learn from the weekend. Quite a few positives. Yeah, just need to put it together and Laguna next week.

Agustin Canapino, No. 78 Chevrolet at Juncos Hollinger Racing:

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. 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.

Kyle Larson wins Southern 500 Playoff race at Darlington and advances to next round

By
Angie Campbell
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Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Kyle Larson held off a hard-charging Tyler Reddick in the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway to claim the checkered flag at the historic track and advance to the Round of 12 in the Playoffs.

It was the third win of the season for the Hendrick Motorsports driver and 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion and the 22nd of his career. The victory was not without its struggles, however, including a brush with the wall and a transmission that was temporarily stuck in neutral.

“This has been one of my favorite tracks my whole career, and I’ve been really, really fast here my whole career. I just usually get in the wall,” Larson said. “And finally we have the Next Gen car that’s tough enough to allow me to hit the wall. So I was able to make some mistakes and get a win. Adding this trophy to the collection is gonna be amazing.

“I messed up once and it (the transmission) got hung in neutral, and I slid and hit the wall, and I think bent the toe link a little bit, so it was kind of a struggle from there. Definitely had to fight it more than I was earlier, but we kept our heads in the game. That was really important. This race is all about keeping your head in it.”

Reddick, after leading 90 laps in his 23XI Racing Toyota, had to settle for second place.
“Kyle and I were pretty close the majority of the day, honestly, and he just got ahead of us there on pit road,” Reddick said, “but all in all, this is the day that we needed to have.

“Really just thankful for the hard work from my pit crew, from the team, everyone at the shop,” he continued. “Days like this, with a car like this, we haven’t been able to get a second-place finish out of it, so really glad we were able to do that, and it was a really good points day on top of that, as well.”

It was a good day for half of the Playoff drivers as eight of them finished in the top 10 with Chris Buescher in third, followed by William Byron (fourth), Ross Chastain (fifth), Brad Keselowski (sixth), Bubba Wallace (seventh) and Ryan Blaney (ninth). Non-Playoff drivers, Chase Elliott and Erik Jones finished eighth and 10th, respectively.

But several of the playoff drivers had disappointing finishes.

Denny Hamlin was dominant early, leading 177 laps and sweeping Stages 1 and 2 but made a green flag pit stop on Lap 274, thinking he had a loose wheel. This caused him to lose a lap, and then, on Lap 331, he was collected in a five-car crash that also included Michael McDowell and Christopher Bell, and Hamlin finished the race one lap down.

Kevin Harvick was another victim of circumstance. While heading to pit road a caution was brought out by Newman after he spun in Turn 4 just as Harvick was attempting to pit. But the red light came on, closing pit road and Harvick was assessed with a penalty and was sent to the back of the field for the restart, relegating him to a 19th-place finish.

Martin Truex Jr. lost four spots after contact with the wall in Stage 1 and in Stage 2 his day went from bad to worse as he had to make an unscheduled pit stop due to a loose wheel, losing two laps.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was caught speeding on pit road and had to serve a pass-through penalty on his first green-flag pit stop.

The remaining Playoff drivers finished as follows:

Kyle Busch-11
Joey Logano -12
Stenhouse -16
Truex-18
Harvick-19
Bell-23
Hamlin – 25
McDowell-32

William Byron currently leads the point standings by 1 point over Kyle Larson.

The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs continue next week on Sunday, Sept. 10 at Kansas Speedway on USA with radio coverage on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Palou Clinches Championship with Decisive Portland Victory

By
Official Release
-

PORTLAND, Ore. (Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023) – Alex Palou put a decisive stamp of authority on a dream season, winning the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland on Sunday at Portland International Raceway to clinch the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship.

Palou, from Barcelona, Spain, earned his second series title in the No. 10 The American Legion Honda fielded by Chip Ganassi Racing after claiming his first championship in 2021 with the team. He became the first driver to seal the INDYCAR SERIES title with one race to spare since Sebastien Bourdais claimed Champ Car honors in 2007 in the penultimate race.

“That’s what we wanted,” Palou said. “It was an amazing weekend overall. We had really fast cars. We knew we had to go for it, and we just raced how we’ve been doing all season. Super proud to be here in victory lane and super proud of the second championship.

“I never thought that I would be an INDYCAR champion, and to be a two-time INDYCAR champion feels amazing, like a dream.”

Chip Ganassi Racing won its 15th INDYCAR SERIES championship, second only to Team Penske’s 17 titles in the history of the sport. Ganassi also clinched its first 1-2 finish in the driver point standings since 2009, as six-time series champion Scott Dixon secured second with his third-place finish in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

This was Palou’s series-leading fifth victory of the season, and he has finished eighth or better in all 16 races this season. Palou, 26, leads Dixon in the standings, 618-527, with one race remaining, the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey on Sunday, Sept. 10 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Palou won the race by 5.4353 seconds over runner-up Felix Rosenqvist in the No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Dixon was 8.0669 seconds behind the winner.

Pato O’Ward placed fourth in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, and two-time series champion Josef Newgarden rounded out the top five in the No. 2 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet.

Palou, who started fifth, led 69 of 110 laps. He paved the way for eventual victory at the start when he darted around Dixon and Colton Herta in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda in the precarious first turn to take third place.

Running on Firestone primary tires at the start, Palou first took the lead on Lap 22 when NTT P1 Award winner Graham Rahal and fellow front-row starter Scott McLaughlin stopped for fuel and swapped their Firestone alternate tires for primary rubber. The CGR team decided on an “overcut” strategy for Palou and Dixon on primary tires, running long on the more durable rubber to build a gap on the 12-turn, 1.964-mile road course.

That strategy worked perfectly. Palou made his first stop on Lap 31, switching to Firestone alternate tires. Dixon stopped a lap later as the last driver to enter the pits for his first service, staying on primary tires.

Palou cycled to the front on Lap 34 when David Malukas pitted from the lead in the No. 18 HMD Trucking Honda fielded by Dale Coyne Racing with HMD.

From there, Palou and Dixon alternated the lead during pit cycles until Rosenqvist grabbed the top spot on Lap 81 when Palou made his final stop. But Palou took the lead for good on Lap 84 when Rosenqvist pitted a lap before the caution flew for the No. 78 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet of rookie Agustin Canapino, who spun off track in Turn 12.

That caution period allowed Rosenqvist to get heat into his new, cold Firestone alternate tires at slow speed behind the Honda pace car, avoiding a probable attack by Dixon on warmer, grippier tires if the race was under green-flag conditions.

Palou eased away from Rosenqvist and Dixon on the restart on Lap 88. But Rosenqvist stayed within one second for the next five laps before Palou began his inexorable drive away from any threats and into victory lane as Rosenqvist’s alternate tires lost grip toward the end of the race.

“I was kind of lucky in the end, first off with the yellow that we just managed to do our stop before,” Rosenqvist said. “And then also at the end, we kind of had a buffer with lapped cars that gave us a little bit of a cushion to Scott at the end. It kind of worked out our way for the first time in a while, so I was enjoying the race a lot.”

Palou will split $10,000 with Chip Ganassi Racing and his chosen charity, The American Legion, for his victory as part of the PeopleReady Force For Good Challenge.

BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland Results

  1. (5) Alex Palou, Honda, 110, Running
  2. (11) Felix Rosenqvist, Chevrolet, 110, Running
  3. (4) Scott Dixon, Honda, 110, Running
  4. (6) Pato O’Ward, Chevrolet, 110, Running
  5. (12) Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 110, Running
  6. (13) Rinus VeeKay, Chevrolet, 110, Running
  7. (10) Marcus Ericsson, Honda, 110, Running
  8. (23) David Malukas, Honda, 110, Running
  9. (2) Scott McLaughlin, Chevrolet, 110, Running
  10. (16) Kyle Kirkwood, Honda, 110, Running
  11. (17) Christian Lundgaard, Honda, 110, Running
  12. (1) Graham Rahal, Honda, 110, Running
  13. (3) Colton Herta, Honda, 110, Running
  14. (21) Helio Castroneves, Honda, 110, Running
  15. (8) Callum Ilott, Chevrolet, 110, Running
  16. (22) Santino Ferrucci, Chevrolet, 110, Running
  17. (20) Devlin DeFrancesco, Honda, 110, Running
  18. (18) Juri Vips, Honda, 109, Running
  19. (14) Marcus Armstrong, Honda, 109, Running
  20. (9) Alexander Rossi, Chevrolet, 109, Running
  21. (25) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Chevrolet, 109, Running
  22. (26) Benjamin Pedersen, Chevrolet, 109, Running
  23. (24) Sting Ray Robb, Honda, 109, Running
  24. (27) Tom Blomqvist, Honda, 109, Running
  25. (7) Will Power, Chevrolet, 108, Running
  26. (19) Agustin Canapino, Chevrolet, 82, Mechanical
  27. (15) Romain Grosjean, Honda, 31, Contact

Race Statistics
Winner’s average speed: 110.758 mph
Time of Race: 01:57:01.9814
Margin of victory: 5.4353 seconds
Cautions: 2 for 6 laps
Lead changes: 9 among 5 drivers

Lap Leaders:
Rahal, Graham 1 – 21
Palou, Alex 22 – 30
Dixon, Scott 31
Malukas, David 32 – 33
Palou, Alex 34 – 47
Dixon, Scott 48 – 59
Palou, Alex 60 – 78
Dixon, Scott 79 – 80
Rosenqvist, Felix 81 – 83
Palou, Alex 84 – 110

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Point Standings:
Palou 618, Dixon 527, Newgarden 470, O’Ward 461, McLaughlin 448, Ericsson 423, Power 393, Lundgaard 362, Rossi 349, Herta 348, Kirkwood 347, Rosenqvist 311, Grosjean 276, Rahal 271, VeeKay 265, Malukas 255, Ilott 236, Ferrucci 201, Castroneves 200, Armstrong 190, DeFrancesco 169, Canapino 164, Jack Harvey 146, Conor Daly 134, Robb 129, Pedersen 115, Hunter-Reay 111, Simon Pagenaud 88, Takuma Sato 70, Ed Carpenter 46, Linus Lundqvist 35, Tony Kanaan 18, Marco Andretti 13, Vips 12, Blomqvist 11, RC Enerson 5, Katherine Legge 5

Foster Steers Clear To Win at Portland; Rasmussen Closer to Title

By
Official Release
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PORTLAND, Ore. (Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023) – Louis Foster avoided a Lap 1 pileup and led all 35 laps to win the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Portland on Sunday at Portland International Raceway.

Rookie Foster, from England, started from the pole and earned his second victory of the season in the No. 26 Copart/USF Pro Championship car fielded by Andretti Autosport. He captured his first career victory in the INDYCAR development series in early July at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Foster won by 7.8583 seconds over fellow rookie Nolan Siegel in the No. 39 HMD Motorsports with DCR car. Siegel earned his best finish since winning in June at Road America. Danial Frost placed third in the No. 68 HMD Motorsports with DCR machine, his best result since winning the season opener in March at St. Petersburg.

“The boys gave me an amazing car,” Foster said. “I can’t thank them enough. I was just turning laps out there, to be honest. Once I had a comfortable gap that I knew I couldn’t be closed down from, I was just saving my tires, to be honest. I’m really looking forward to Laguna next weekend now.”

Christian Bogle finished fourth in the No. 7 HMD Motorsports with DCR car, tying his career best set last season at Detroit. Championship leader Christian Rasmussen finished fifth in a damaged No. 6 HMD Motorsports with DCR machine after a strong recovery from being collected in the first-lap fracas.

Rasmussen leads second-place Hunter McElrea, who also was involved in the early collision, by 65 points with just the season-ending doubleheader Sept. 9-10 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca remaining. Rasmussen can clinch his first title if he leads by 54 points or more Saturday after the race.

“Wow – good recovery,” Rasmussen said. “That’s all I can ask for today, extending the championship lead going into Laguna. Very happy about that. We just basically have to finish the races at Laguna, and we’re champions.”

Qualifying on pole always has its advantages, but perhaps nowhere greater than Portland. The 12-turn, 1.964-mile road course features a tight chicane in the front straightaway as Turn 1, the site of numerous flashpoints on starts in the past.

Mayhem unfolded again in Calamity Corner at Portland on Lap 1, as the cars of Reece Gold, Josh Pierson, Kyffin Simpson, McElrea, Jacob Abel and Victor Franzoni were involved in a chain-reaction collision. Rasmussen’s machine was hit from behind in the incident, damaging its floor and punting it into a spin in Turn 1, but Rasmussen was able to continue.

That incident triggered the only full-course caution of the race, and Foster had no trouble pulling away on the restart on Lap 5.

Foster expanded his gap over Frost to 2.4788 seconds by Lap 10 and 5.3202 seconds by Lap 20.

While Foster ran away out front, there was a spirited joust for second on the final lap. Siegel stayed close to Frost in the closing laps before pouncing with an outside move in the Turn 1 chicane on the final lap to take second place.

INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Portland Results

  1. (1) Louis Foster, 35, Running
  2. (7) Nolan Siegel, 35, Running
  3. (8) Danial Frost, 35, Running
  4. (11) Christian Bogle, 35, Running
  5. (3) Christian Rasmussen, 35, Running
  6. (16) Jamie Chadwick, 35, Running
  7. (14) Ernie Francis Jr., 35, Running
  8. (12) James Roe, 35, Running
  9. (17) Matthew Brabham, 35, Running
  10. (10) Yuven Sundaramoorthy, 34, Running
  11. (6) Victor Franzoni, 34, Running
  12. (13) Jagger Jones, 33, Running
  13. (4) Kyffin Simpson, 33, Running
  14. (5) Reece Gold, 33, Running
  15. (2) Hunter McElrea, 29, Contact
  16. (9) Jacob Abel, 0, Contact
  17. (15) Josh Pierson, 0, Contact

Race Statistics
Winner’s average speed: 102.593 mph
Time of Race: 00:40:12.0978
Margin of victory: 7.8583 seconds
Cautions: 1 for 4 laps
Lead changes: 0

Lap Leaders:
Foster, Louis 1 – 35

Stewart-Haas Racing: NXS Race Report from Darlington

By
Official Release
-

STEWART-HAAS RACING
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200

Date: Sept. 2, 2023
Event: Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 (Round 25 of 33)
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Darlington (S.C.) Raceway (1.366-mile oval)
Format: 147 laps, broken into three stages (45 laps/45 laps/57 laps)
Note: Race extended one lap past its scheduled 147-lap distance due to a green-white-checkered finish.
Race Winner: Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage 1 Winner: John Hunter Nemechek of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage 2 Winner: John Hunter Nemechek of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

SHR Race Finish:

● Cole Custer (Started 4th / Finished 4th, completed 148 of 148 laps)
● Riley Herbst (Started 15th / Finished 6th, completed 148 of 148 laps)

SHR Points:

● Cole Custer (4th with 861 points, 107 out of first)
● Riley Herbst (10th with 657 points, 311 out of first)

SHR Notes:

● Custer earned his 10th top-five of the season and his fourth top-five in five career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Darlington.
● Custer has never finished outside the top-10 at Darlington in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
● This was Custer’s fourth straight top-five at Darlington. He finished third in May.
● This was Custer’s fourth straight top-10. He finished sixth Aug. 12 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, seventh Aug. 19 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, and fifth last Friday night at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
● Custer finished fifth in Stage 1 to earn six bonus points and sixth in Stage 2 to earn five more bonus points.
● Herbst earned his 11th top-10 of the season and his third top-10 in eight career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Darlington.
● Herbst finished 10th in Stage 1 to earn one bonus point and ninth in Stage 2 to earn two more bonus points.

Race Notes:

● Denny Hamlin won the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 to score his 18th career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory, his first of the season and his sixth at Darlington. His margin over second-place Austin Hill was .657 of a second.
● There were seven caution periods for a total of 34 laps.
● Thirty-two of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.
● Austin leaves Darlington as the championship leader with a 23-point advantage over second-place John Hunter Nemechek.

Sound Bites:

“There at the end, I was just hoping that the three of them in front of me would battle it out and I could get around them. Our No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang was just so tight all day. I couldn’t get it to turn. We kept trying different adjustments, but we just couldn’t get on the other side of it. Overall, I feel like we did pretty good, and it shows that even on an off day, this team can run in the top-five. That will go well for us as we head into the playoffs.” – Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang

“Obviously, we wanted to come here and get a win today at Darlington. That’s always the goal for this No. 98 Monster Energy team. The fact that we’re back in the playoffs at the moment is cool, but ultimately a win is what we’re hunting. We have some work to do, but I know that this team can do it. We’ll take this Ford Mustang and head to Kansas to try to execute a win.” – Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule is the regular season finale Kansas Lottery 300 on Saturday, Sept. 9 at Kansas Motor Speedway in Kansas City. The race begins at 3 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Foster Wins Portland Pole To Lead Andretti Front-Row Lockout

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Official Release
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PORTLAND, Ore. (Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023) – Louis Foster led an Andretti Autosport sweep of the front row for the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Portland during qualifying Saturday at Portland International Raceway, earning his series-leading fourth pole of the season.

Foster, a rookie from England, set a track record with a best lap of 1 minute, 2.6302 seconds in the No. 26 Copart/USF Pro Championship car. He broke the previous record of 1:02.8074 set by current NTT INDYCAR SERIES star Pato O’Ward in qualifying in 2018.

“We waited a bit longer than the others,” Foster said of managing traffic. “Everyone else got a lap more than me or two laps, I think, maybe. We made it work. Andretti gave me an amazing car.

“It was quite difficult. I was struggling throughout the session. I made a few mistakes but managed to just put in one lap at the end that was good enough. We’ll take it.”

Teammate Hunter McElrea will join Foster on the front row for the 35-lap race Sunday (1:10 p.m. ET, Peacock, INDYCAR Radio Network) after his best lap of 1:02.7924 in the No. 27 Smart Motors car.

Championship leader Christian Rasmussen qualified third at 1:02.9115 in the No. 6 HMD Motorsports with DCR machine. Rasmussen, who has won three of the last four races, leads McElrea by 50 points in the standings with three races remaining.

Rasmussen can’t clinch the title this weekend, but he can go a long way toward getting his hands on the championship trophy during the season-ending doubleheader Sept. 9-10 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

“When you’re not pole, it’s never good enough,” Rasmussen said. “But I think that’s what we had today. Figuring out the traffic out there was a little bit of an issue. P3 is OK. We were right there.

“With the gap that I have, I don’t have to win every race for the rest of the season. So, I’m just kind of focusing on getting the most out of it.”

Kyffin Simpson will join Rasmussen in Row 2 after qualifying fourth at 1:03.0048 in the No. 21 HMD Motorsports with CGR car.

Reece Gold qualified fifth at 1:03.0057 in the No. 10 HMD Motorsports with DCR car. Victor Franzoni fills out Row 3 after qualifying sixth at 1:03.2201 in the No. 75 Juncos Hollinger Racing machine.

Toyota Racing – NXS Darlington Post-Race Report – 09.02.23

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Official Release
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HAMLIN EARNS SIXTH XFINITY SERIES WIN AT DARLINGTON

DARLINGTON, S.C. (September 2, 2023) – Denny Hamlin was victorious at Darlington Raceway on Saturday to give Toyota its 199th win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Hamlin led 14 laps, including the final three, to score his sixth Xfinity Series win at Darlington.

Xfinity Series regular John Hunter Nemechek earned the pole for Saturday’s race in the No. 20 Toyota GR Supra and won the first two stages of the race. Nemechek led 99 laps and battled down the stretch to finish third.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Darlington Raceway
Race 25 of 33 – 200.8 miles, 147 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, DENNY HAMLIN
2nd, Austin Hill*
3rd, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
4th, Cole Custer*
5th, Josh Berry*
15th, COREY HEIM
17th, SAMMY SMITH
27th, MATT MILLS
28th, KAZ GRALA
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 19 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 1st

What are your thoughts on earning your sixth Xfinity win at Darlington today?

“Yeah, I’m just proud to do this for Gordon Logan and everyone at Sports Clips. He’s been such a supporter of my career for such a long time. Thank you to Sport Clips and Help a Hero. Appreciate everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing for the opportunity to come and do one Xfinity race per year and it’s great to have a win.”

How long did it take to find a rhythm in the car today?

“It took a while. I really needed some long runs, but I really didn’t want to show everything we had until the very end of the race there. We really did a good job of maintaining what we had and man, it was going to be cool to see that race play out, but still it was a great win.”

How were you able to get the win today?

“These cars just drive so different than the Next Gen does. Really, I just maintained my pace and kept them within shouting distance and then pounced when I really needed to.”

What is it about Darlington Raceway that you love?

“First, I’ve got to thank our sponsors in Sport Clips, Toyota, TRD, FedEx, Coca-Cola, Interstate Batteries, Jordan brand, Logitech, Shady Rays. Man, it just suits my driving style really. I don’t know how else to explain it than I feel like you can manipulate the car to do the things you really need it to if it’s not perfect. And, a driver, when he feels like he can make a difference, you like the race track.”

How much confidence does this give you for tomorrow’s Southern 500?

“I thought our car was pretty good over on the Cup side. I’ll go and work on it tonight. I feel like there’s some things we can improve on, and we’ll work with the team to get it there. I’m obviously very confident.”

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK, No. 20 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 3rd

Are you disappointed with the finish today?

“I’m just frustrated with myself. I didn’t make the right adjustment the last stop and it’s on me. I said I didn’t need an adjustment and probably did. It sucks coming up short here twice with such fast Toyota GR Supras both times. We’ll keep plugging. Solid points day for us. Gained some points back on the 21 (Austin Hill), I think that puts us back to second in points as well. Go to Kansas next week to finish out the regular season and hope to go win all three stages instead of two.”

What is your outlook going into Kansas?

“I think for us, it’s just continuing to push as hard as we can. We’re here to win every single week and we’re going to try and do that. That’s it. I wish I would’ve been in Denny’s (Hamlin) seat and him pushing me instead of me pushing him, but that’s how it works sometimes.”

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.

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