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LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Race Recap: Darlington Raceway II

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Carson Hocevar, No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

START: 15TH

FINISH: 17TH

OWNERS POINTS: 32ND

Carson Hocevar’s Post-Race Thoughts: “Physically, I feel really good. I wish I could have got a spot or two more. The weak part of my game, for sure, was pit road. I felt like I lost four or five spots on each cycle, just trying to maximize lights. These guys nail it every time. But I felt like I was OK on the race track. I felt pretty good and just kept working at it. I passed a few of my heroes that win races on Sunday. I wasn’t expecting that and I think I exceeded my own expectations.”

Erik Jones, No. 43 Allegiant Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

START: 20TH

FINISH: 10TH

POINTS: 27TH

Erik Jones Post-Race Thoughts: “It was an up-and-down day, but a top-10 finish is obviously solid for us. It’s been awhile since we’ve done that. I feel like we had a better car at points there running in the top-three, top-five, and I was hoping we could hit it right on the adjustment to make it work there to challenge upfront. We just got a little off and couldn’t really get it reigned back in there for the end. Our No. 43 Allegiant Chevy was good, we just needed a little bit more.”

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB:

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

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

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

SOCIAL MEDIA:

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

Toyota Racing – NCS Darlington Post-Race Report – 09.03.23

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Official Release
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REDDICK FINISHES RUNNER-UP IN PLAYOFF OPENER
Two Top-10 Finishes for 23XI Drivers at Darlington

DARLINGTON, S.C. (September 3, 2023) – Tyler Reddick was the top-finishing Toyota driver with a second-place result in Sunday’s Southern 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway. Reddick and 23XI Racing teammate Bubba Wallace (seventh) both finished in the top-10 in the opening race of the 10-race NCS Playoffs.

Hamlin won the first two stages and led a race-high 199 laps however a loose wheel resulted in Hamlin falling a lap down and he was later involved in an on-track incident. Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Christopher Bell, who won the pole, and Martin Truex Jr. also experienced issues during the 500-mile race.

With the runner-up result, Reddick sits third in the Playoffs with Hamlin in fifth, Truex in sixth, Bell in 12th and Wallace in 13th.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Darlington Raceway
Race 27 of 36 – 501.3 miles, 367 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Kyle Larson*

2nd, TYLER REDDICK

3rd, Chris Buescher*

4th, William Byron*

5th, Ross Chastain*

7th, BUBBA WALLACE

18th, MARTIN TRUEX JR.

21st, TY GIBBS

23rd, CHRISTOPHER BELL

25th, DENNY HAMLIN

*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

TYLER REDDICK, No. 45 Jordan Brand Toyota Camry TRD, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 2nd

What more did you need at the end of the race to catch Kyle Larson?

“Man, I don’t know maybe just a little bit longer run. It had just gotten short enough to where you didn’t save a whole lot I don’t think. Kyle (Larson) and I were pretty close the majority of the day, honestly. He just got ahead of us there unfortunately on pit road, but all in all this is the day that we needed to have. I’m really just thankful for the hard work from the pit crew, the team, everyone at the shop. Days like this with a car like this we haven’t been able to get a second place finish out of it so I’m really glad we’re able to do that. We’re sitting pretty good. It was a pretty good points day on top of that as well.”

What was it like looking in your rear view trying to hold off Chris Buescher?

“It was a tough balance. I wanted to keep pushing to try and get Kyle (Larson), but I was just getting so loose. I about wrecked in the middle of (turns) one and two a few times. I don’t know. I was either going to catch Kyle or I was going to wreck in the middle of one and two and finish the last car out — 28th. It just didn’t make sense in my head, so we’ll take the second place. Hopefully one day in the future we come back and have another shot at the Southern 500.”

BUBBA WALLACE, No. 23 McDonald’s Toyota Camry TRD, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 7th

How was your race today?

“I’m not happy with myself. Apologies to Joey (Logano), apologies to AJ (Allmendinger). I think the important thing to learn here is to not make enemies race one when you’re in the Playoffs because they make it hell, so I deserve everything I got throughout the night. Just did not execute. I’ve got to be better. I appreciate the team for sticking behind me through all of the mistakes that I caused them. They didn’t let us down and got us back to a top-10 finish. I was trying to hang on for a top-five, but you’re a double-edged sword. You go really hard at the beginning to try to get a gap or save and you’ve got Ross (Chastain) behind you, and you know he’s not going to let you have any breathing room. All in all, a decent day – a really good day for our team, but the driver’s got to go back to the drawing board and just take a step back, take a breath and regroup and go to Kansas and have a little one-year anniversary tour.”

CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 Yahoo! Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 23rd

What happened in the incident on track?

“Just got in the marbles in turn two and damaged the car really. That was pretty much the story of our night.”

What is your outlook for the upcoming Playoff races?

“We have speed. We’ve had speed a lot and I know that in Kansas we’re going to be fast again. That’s been a really good track for Toyota. I know that we have the speed to do it, we’ve just got to put it all together.”

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 25th

What happened to cause you to pit?

“It’s really tough to tell. It looked like the left rear was still tightening as we were gone. It’s close enough to where it didn’t matter. What I felt, I was in a crash. I had to bring it in and just turned the day upside down.”

Is this why getting Playoff points in the regular season matters so much?

“Yeah. It all matters for sure. All the work you put in, the stages, the regular season, it all matters. I don’t know what the points are, I really don’t care. Just I hate losing a race that we definitely should have won.”

Did your car have a lot of damage during the on-track incident?

“I didn’t think the damage was that bad, but the car drove significantly worse after that incident. Once you damage the splitter on these cars, they’re no good.”

Does the amount of speed you had today give you confidence for the rest of this round?

“We think we’re going to win every week. There’s not one week where I show up and I don’t think I’m going to win. But you’ve got to play the game and sometimes when you play the game it doesn’t work out the way you planned. I am happy about the speed the car had and the restarts that I had. The things I had to work on I felt like I really did well today. It’s part of the process. We move on and if we advance, all we really lost out on is points for the next round so we’ll see.”

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.

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes – NCS Southern 500 Post-Race Quotes (9.3.23)

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Official Release
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Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Cook Out Southern 500 | Sunday, September 3, 2023

Ford Finishing Results:

3rd – Chris Buescher

6th – Brad Keselowski

9th – Ryan Blaney

12th – Joey Logano

14th – Aric Almirola

15th – Chase Briscoe

19th – Kevin Harvick

26th – Todd Gilliland

27th – Ryan Newman

28th – Ryan Preece

30th – JJ Yeley

31st – Austin Cindric

32nd – Michael McDowell

35th – Harrison Burton

CHRIS BUESCHER, No. 17 BuildSubmarines.com Ford Mustang – “It was really good. This BuildSubmarines.com Ford Mustang was strong. I’m really proud of everybody on this team. This is the first time we’ve had Build Subs 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 hurts a little bit to be that close to a win. We had a little bit more speed a couple times there and then Byron was really fast and we had to start defending that and that actually checked us up a little bit i the process, but it was a really strong day for us. I’m really proud of that and a heck of a start.”

YOU WERE UP THERE ALL NIGHT AND WERE IN IT. “It feels good and it hurts a little bit at the same time. To be this close and watch it right there in front of us and to watch the 45 go up there and slap the fence over and over I’m like, ‘Man, surely we can get by.’ And the 5 car didn’t make any mistakes. It ended up being a hard day to pass, for sure. We definitely had big aero issues as we tried to get by cars. We worked hard on that and our team did a great job. 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.”

LARSON AND REDDICK WERE RIGHT UP AGAINST THE WALL. “Him and Reddick both are usually the first ones up there, so I had to just try to follow suit and got up there. We made a lot of really good time up there, but I felt like we were in a good spot. Even though we made speed up there, you really needed to go somewhere else to be able to pass and there at the end there just wasn’t any other options.”

A NUMBER OF PLAYOFF CONTENDERS HAD ISSUES TODAY, BUT NOT YOU. “Absolutely. I don’t know who you’re talking about yet because I had my blinders on, but our team did a fantastic job. Our pit crew guys all stepped up. Our team brought a really fast BuildSubmarines.com Ford Mustang and I feel like we were in the hunt. I was really happy after practice. At the start of the race and in the daylight we were super tight and it took us a while to get this thing underneath us, but even with that being the case, we had good speed and kind of hung right around the top 10 and once we got this thing dialed in a little bit and the sun went down, it cooled off and certainly picked up a good amount of pace.”

BRAD KESELOWSKI, No. 6 Solomon Plumbing Ford Mustang – “It was one of those days where it was just up and down. We got up to I think fourth 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 but not all the way back up to where we were running. We just needed a few more cars to pit.”

ARE YOU SURPRISED BY THE UP-DOWN SWING TONIGHT? “Everybody is just so close and this car is just really finicky with small adjustments.

YOU DIDN’T DO ANYTHING TO HURT YOUR CHANCES OF ADVANCING IN THIS ROUND. “We were just solid. It was a solid day for us. We scored a lot of points and showed some strength from third to sixth with our two cars. We were just very solid.”

KEVIN HARVICK, No. 4 GEARWRENCH Ford Mustang – “The caution came out and the light was on, and I didn’t think I could turn right.”

FRUSTRATING NIGHT AFTER A GOOD STRONG EFFORT. “It was great.”

IS THIS A STEP FORWARD FOR YOU GUYS? “It’s the same stuff we’ve been doing.”

HOW DO YOU FEEL MOVING FORWARD? “We’ll just go and put the gas pedal down and do the exact same thing we’ve done for 23 years.”

RYAN BLANEY, No. 12 Advance Auto Parts Ford Mustang – “This race is such a weird race. It just goes through so many swings throughout the day and night. You start off the race in the full sun and it’s hot and by the end of the second stage it’s all night time and the track temp changes. This place is really tricky with how the track changes and it went the complete opposite way of what we thought it was gonna go, so that kind of threw us for a little bit of a loop. It was just a weird pit strategy race, too. You usually don’t get that here, but just the way the cautions fell. There was a group of people with two laps on their tires and then split and it was kind of a wacky race. Luckily, we were able to get back to ninth. It was a hard-fought battle, for sure. I’m proud of the effort and it was a decent day on points.”

YOU HAVEN’T SEEN IT SWING THAT MUCH BEFORE? “It kind of happened really quickly at the end of stage two. We adjusted for it a little bit, but didn’t think it was gonna be that drastic. It was just doing massive swings. It was such a big swing that I thought something was wrong. I’ll be curious to look at it because I’ve never had one like that where one run and, boom, you’re like a 10 tight, so that was kind of odd. It was good to overcome that. You throw the kitchen sink at it to try to get it to work somewhat reasonable and get an OK finish.”

JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang – “I got ran in the wall a third time and bent the toe link. The guys did a great job changing that and staying pretty much on the lead lap and then started to grind our way back through the field. I probably could have done a little better. I probably gave up overall 15 points on the day. I think we’re one point to the good right now, so those 15 would be nice.”

WHAT WERE YOUR MISTAKES? “I hit the wall. That was a mistake and then I hit the wall again just enough. It doesn’t take much to bend stuff and I just bent the toe link and that hurt us for a few laps.”

MICHAEL MCDOWELL, No. 34 StageFront VIP Ford Mustang – “We just didn’t execute tonight. We had one set of tires that just got us really far off. I’m not sure what happened. The car just went really loose and lost a lap there. It kind of spiraled from there. We hit pit road when the caution came out. That’s never good. I sped on pit road. That’s never good. It all came apart. It’s not how we wanted to start, but we still have two more and we’ll race hard, so we’ll see what we get.”

WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT LAST ACCIDENT? “I didn’t see what happened to Todd. I just saw the 11 start spinning in front of me. He checked up and then I ran into the back of him.”

HARRISON BURTON, No. 21 Motorcraft Ford Mustang – “I couldn’t tell. I saw all of that, I guess it was the 99 and somebody else got into each other and by the time I saw him coming down, he was in my lap. Darlington, the way in one and two is when you commit to entry, that’s all the speed you’ve got and that’s all the left turn you can get. I saw him coming down and tried to slow down, but at that point I was in trouble. It’s really unfortunate. I felt like we had a pretty good day going. We qualified poorly, but we were digging ourselves out of that hole all day. We finally got into the top 15 and felt like we were probably gonna be able to race there the rest of the race and just got caught up. I want to give a shout out to our guys. It was a really long, hard-fought race for us and to get up to where we were, I’m proud of that effort. This is stuff you can’t control and that’s part of racing, but we’ll just move on and be better next time.”

Kaulig Racing Post-Race Report | Darlington Raceway

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Cook Out Southern 500

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Action Industries Camaro ZL1

  • AJ Allmendinger qualified 16th for the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
  • Allmendinger reported early his No. 16 Action Industry Chevy was plowing tight. Running 16th on lap 18, spotter, Frank Deiny, relayed to Allmendinger he was running top-five lap times. On lap 33, the No. 16 came down pit road for this first scheduled green-flag stop of the race. The team made an air pressure adjustment to help with the handling of the car, and Allmendinger cycled out to 17th place. Allmendinger told crew chief, Matt Swiderski, on lap 56 the rear tires faded quicker this run, and that was his biggest struggle. The No. 16 Chevy came back down pit road on lap 67 for a scheduled green-flag stop. Once the pit-stop sequence cycled through, Allmendinger took over 14th on lap 74, and went on to finish the opening stage 13th.
  • Allmendinger came down pit road under the stage break for tires, fuel and an adjustment. The No. 16 team picked up two spots on pit road and restarted 11th on lap 122. Allmendinger took over 10th on lap 141 and maintained position until coming down pit road under green on lap 152. By lap 171, Allmendinger made it back up to 11th before the caution came out for a track lighting issue in turns three and four. The No. 16 team came down pit road for four tires and fuel before the red flag was displayed on lap 188 to fix the lighting issue. When the field took the green flag on lap 191, Allmendinger restarted 17th and took over 15th on lap 193. Allmendinger told his team track position was critical, and he was stuck in traffic sitting 16th. The caution flag came out on lap 216, and the team came down pit road for tires and fuel. After a slow stop, Allmendinger restarted 20th on lap 221 and made his way up to 17th before the caution came back out on lap 226. The No. 16 came back down pit road, and restarted 18th on lap 229, where he finished the second stage.
  • Allmendinger stayed out under the stage break and restarted 13th on lap 236 before reporting he was tight in traffic on lap 242. The team came back down pit road on lap 266 for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment to help with the handling of the car. Allmendinger cycled out to 11th where he ran until lap 289 when he fell to 12th place, reporting he needed more rear grip on the next stop. When the next caution came out on lap 310, the No. 16 was running 11th. The team came down pit road under caution for four tires, fuel and an air pressure to help the rear of the car. On the restart on lap 316, Allmendinger was 11th and had taken over 10th by lap 319 when maneuvered around wrecking cars in front of him that brought out another caution. The No. 16 stayed out under this caution to restart eighth on lap 327. Two laps later, the caution came out again while Allmendinger was running ninth, and the team came down pit road for fresh tires and fuel. Restarting in 17th with 31 to go, Allmendinger quickly made up ground, taking over 14th on lap 343 before going on to finish 13th in the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

“I’m really happy with the whole weekend our No. 16 team had in Darlington. We made significant improvement from the spring race. Our car had a good amount of speed, and we tried to fine tune the balance all night. This was the best I’ve ever felt in a Cup car and a career-best finish for me at this track. I’m satisfied with our end result.” – AJ Allmendinger

Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1

  • Justin Haley qualified 29th for the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
  • Haley struggled early with lack of grip but relayed that the No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevy handled well otherwise. By lap 26, Haley sat 27th and radioed that the No. 31 Chevy began handling a little free. He made his first green-flag pit stop eight laps later for four tires and fuel. Once the green flag stops cycled through, Haley maintained position and radioed that the No. 31 was getting very loose. He made his second green-flag stop on lap 70 for fresh tires and fuel. As the stops cycled through again, Haley moved up one position but fell back to 27th, radioing that his brake pedal was going to the floor. He finished the stage in 27th.
  • Haley made his third pit stop of the day under caution for fresh tires and multiple adjustments to tighten up the No. 31 Chevy. Crew chief, Trent Owens, remarked that the tire falloff on the No. 31 was not where it needed to be. He restarted 29th on lap 123. By lap 146, Haley reported more brake issues and made his fourth pit stop on lap 153 for more tires and fuel. The first caution came out on lap 179, as the lights in turns three and four would not turn on. Haley sat 27th two laps down. The team decided to gamble and take the wave around to gain back one lap in the hopes of a quick caution as the race resumed. Unfortunately, the caution did not fall, forcing Haley to pit under green on lap 196 for tires and fuel. The next caution came out on lap 217, and Haley took the wave around to gain one lap back before restarting with nine laps remaining in the stage. The next caution came out for a spin on lap 225, as Haley missed the lucky dog spot by one position. He pitted under caution for fresh tires to try and race for the lucky dog spot. Taking the green for a one-lap shootout, Haley finished the second stage in 30th, and was able to earn the lucky dog spot to put him back on the lead lap to start the final stage.
  • During the second stage break, Haley pitted for fresh tires and fuel and started the final stage in 30th on the lead lap. By lap 251, Haley radioed that his No. 31 Chevy was now tight handling. Haley made his next green-flag pit stop from 19th place, radioing he needed front grip. Cycling out to 29th, Haley’s No. 31 Chevy began trending free once again. The next caution came out on lap 311, and Haley pitted for four tires and fuel. The race went back to green only three laps before the next caution, allowing Haley to pit again under caution for tires and fuel. Haley restarted 27th on lap 327. The field went green for only two laps, as Haley avoided the spinning cars ahead of him. He stayed out under caution and restarted as the first car one lap down in 24th on lap 336. The race remained green until the end, and Haley finished 24th.

“Darlington was tough for us this time by. We lacked grip and fought really free from tire falloff during the first part of the race. We were kind of stuck sitting two laps down and in need of clean air and got really tight before we got free again. At the very end we were able to get the car close and find what we needed for the long runs, but unfortunately it was too late for us to make any gains. We will regroup for Kansas next week.” – Justin Haley  

Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200

Kyle Busch, No. 10 LA Golf Chevrolet Camaro

  • Kyle Busch qualified 14th for the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway.
  • Although Busch’s No. 10 LAGolf Chevy fired off loose, he gained three spots before the first caution came out on lap 13. He stayed out under caution and restarted 11th on lap 17. After the first restart, Busch worked his way to eighth, but reported his No. 10 Chevy had begun handling extremely tight. Busch finished the opening stage in eighth place, after a debris caution ended the stage early on lap 44.
  • Busch pitted during the first stage break for tires, fuel, and multiple adjustments to free up the No. 10 Chevy. When the first caution of the second stage came out on lap 56, Busch reported his tires were much better, but by lap 70, he reported his No. 10 Chevy was plowing tight. Busch dropped back to 12th place where he finished the second stage, as he battled an ill-handling race car.
  • During the second stage break, Busch pitted for more of the same adjustments to free him up and give him some front turn. He restarted the final stage in 11th place, but reported he was still battling a tight-handling racecar when the next caution came out on lap 104. Crew chief, Alex Yontz, made the call to pit again for fresh tires and more adjustments, as the team had two sets of tires remaining. Busch restarted 19th with 39 laps remaining. The next caution came out with 14 laps to go, and Busch pitted once again for his last set of sticker tires and an adjustment to continue freeing up the No. 10 Chevy. He restarted 12th with 10 laps remaining before the final caution came out on lap 142, sending the race into overtime. Busch restarted 12th and was able to work his way to ninth in the closing laps, earning a top 10 in his final race with Kaulig Racing.

“Not where we wanted to finish in our last race together. We were super-loose in practice and qualifying and tried to get ahead of it, thinking that’s how our No. 10 LA Golf Chevy would be during the race, but we ended up plowing tight. Alex [Yontz] and the guys had some good stops and kept trying to free us up as much as they could without losing the rear, but unfortunately, we still fought super-tight. I wish we could have had a better outcome today.” – Kyle Busch

Daniel Hemric, No. 11 Cirkul Chevrolet Camaro

  • Daniel Hemric qualified sixth for the Sports Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway.
  • Hemric’s No. 11 No.11 Cirkul Chevrolet fired off free, and made contact with the No. 8 car on lap eight before recovering. The first caution came out on lap 13, and Hemric stayed out, restarting seventh. Still fighting a loose-handling No. 11 Chevy, Hemric fell a few positions, but worked his way back to seventh, where he finished the opening stage.
  • At the stage break, Hemric pitted for four tires, fuel, and an air pressure adjustment to help tighten the car. On the restart, Hemric restarted 10th where he maintained position until the next caution came out on lap 55. He restarted 10th where he went on to finish the second stage.
  • Hemric came down pit road at the stage break for four tires, fuel and another air pressure adjustment. On the restart with 51 to go, Hemric restarted seventh after gaining three spots off pit road. The caution flag flew again on lap 103, and Hemric pitted again for four tires and fuel, gaining two more spots on pit road. On the restart with 39 to go, Hemric restarted 15th and worked his way back into the top 10 before the next caution came out with 14 to go. Under caution, Hemric came down pit road for four tires and fuel. On the restart with 10 to go, Hemric restarted ninth before the next caution came out on lap 143, sending the race into overtime. Hemric restarted 10th, where he went on to finish the race.

“Darlington has always been a place that has been tough on me over the years, especially with my time here at Kaulig Racing. We’re not satisfied with 10th, but we are content with the day we had. It was just a solid day, and we ran between seventh and 10th all day. I’m proud of the grind and of the way we were able to bounce back. It was a good day for us, and I look forward going to Kansas.” – Daniel Hemric

Chandler Smith, No. 16 Quick Tie Products Chevrolet Camaro

  • Chandler Smith qualified 10th for the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway.
  • The No. 16 fired off tight, but maintained position as the first caution came out on lap 12. Bruce Schlicker, the No. 16’s crew chief, radioed to Smith that he was losing time exiting each corner and to be more patient on the throttle. The race restarted on lap 17 with Smith still in 10th. He gained one spot just before the final caution of stage one came out on lap 43 and finished in ninth.
  • Smith came in for an air pressure adjustment, fresh tires and fuel during the stage break. The No. 16 gained two positions on pit road and restarted in seventh on lap 51. Smith fired off decently but suffered lack of lateral grip, losing two spots before debris brought out a caution on lap 55. Smith restarted ninth on lap 60 and gained two positions over the next 31 laps. He finished stage two in seventh.
  • Another fast full-service stop by the pit crew helped the No. 16 restart in fifth on lap 97 for the final stage. Smith was running in sixth when the next caution came out on lap 103, and he came back down into the pits for fresh tires and to top off on fuel. He restarted in 16th due to pit strategy on lap 109 and took advantage of cars on older tires over the next 24 laps to move into seventh. After another caution came out on lap 132, Smith came back down for another air pressure adjustment, more tires and fuel. The No. 16 restarted seventh on lap 138 and moved back to eighth by the time the final yellow came out to force overtime on lap 142. Smith lost four spots during the final two laps and finished the race in 12th.

“It was a solid day for the No. 16 team and the Quick Tie Products Chevy. We had great pit stops all day long and continued to make handling gains throughout.” – Chandler Smith  
 
About Kaulig Racing™

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started and has won back-to-back regular-season championships. Before becoming a full-time NCS team, Kaulig Racing made multiple starts in the 2021 NCS season and won in its seventh-ever start with AJ Allmendinger’s victory at “The Brickyard” for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team expanded to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 with Justin Haley piloting the No. 31 Camaro ZL1, and an all-star lineup featured in the No. 16 Camaro ZL1. Haley will continue to drive the No. 31 full-time in 2023, alongside AJ Allmendinger, who will drive the No. 16 Camaro ZL1. The team will continue to field three, full-time NXS entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by an all-star lineup, the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Daniel Hemric, and the No. 16 Chevrolet driven by Chandler Smith. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

Unveiling the World of Car Sensors: Enhancing Performance, Safety, and Efficiency

By
SM
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In the ever-evolving landscape of automotive technology, car sensors emerge as the unsung heroes that revolutionize driving experiences. These remarkable devices serve as the vigilant eyes and ears of a vehicle, enabling it to comprehend its surroundings, monitor crucial components, and make informed decisions that optimize performance, safety, and efficiency. That being said, it’s essential to delve into the intricacies of car sensors, their significance, functionality, and the diverse range of sensor types that shape modern vehicles.

The Significance of Car Sensors

Car sensors bridge the gap between drivers and their vehicles, emerging as a vital conduit through which information flows. In a world where road safety and environmental concerns take centre stage, these sensors stand as silent sentinels, consistently gathering data from the vehicle’s external environment and internal mechanisms. This constant vigilance empowers contemporary cars to adapt, respond, and circumvent potential hazards with remarkable precision.

One of the most compelling reasons behind the importance of automotive sensors is their substantial contribution to road safety. Through cutting-edge technologies such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), sensors facilitate features like lane departure warnings, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking. By enhancing the driver’s situational awareness and responsiveness, these functions significantly diminish the likelihood of accidents, aligning closely with the safety-conscious audience.

Moreover, auto sensors play a pivotal role in optimizing fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. By continually monitoring parameters like air-fuel ratios, exhaust gas composition, and engine temperature, these sensors empower the engine control unit to fine-tune operations. This results in improved combustion efficiency, reduced fuel consumption, and diminished emissions – factors that resonate profoundly with a market that values environmental sustainability.

Decoding the Mechanism of Auto Sensors

At the heart of every car sensor lies a complex fusion of physics, electronics, and software. These sensors operate by converting physical phenomena, such as light, pressure, temperature, or magnetic fields, into electrical signals that can be processed by the vehicle’s onboard computers.

For instance, consider the oxygen sensor (O2 sensor). This sensor monitors the oxygen level in a vehicle’s exhaust gases. It comprises a ceramic element coated with platinum and zirconium oxides. When exposed to exhaust gases, the sensor generates a voltage due to the difference in oxygen concentration between the exhaust gas and the ambient air. The resulting voltage is then interpreted by the engine control unit to regulate the air-fuel mixture, optimizing combustion efficiency.

In-Depth Exploration: Types of Car Sensors

Automotive sensors manifest in a diverse array of types, each tailored to monitor specific parameters and contribute uniquely to a vehicle’s functionality. Let’s delve into some of the key sensor types, unraveling their intricate roles:

ABS Wheel Speed Sensor:

The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) wheel speed sensor monitors the rotational speed of each wheel. By detecting variations in speed, the ABS system prevents wheel lock-up during braking, enhancing traction and steering control. On UK’s diverse terrains, this sensor is a pivotal safety feature.

Mass Airflow Sensor (MAF):

The MAF sensor gauges the volume of air entering the engine’s intake manifold. This data empowers the engine control unit to calculate the precise fuel requirement for optimal combustion. Given UK’s varying driving conditions, the MAF sensor is instrumental in delivering responsive acceleration and efficient performance.

Throttle Position Sensor (TPS):

The TPS monitors the throttle valve’s position, providing real-time feedback to the engine control unit. This information regulates engine power and optimizes fuel efficiency. For UK drivers seeking both power and economy, the TPS plays a vital role.

Parking Distance Sensors:

Navigating congested urban streets and tight parking spaces is a daily reality for many Brits. Parking distance sensors employ ultrasonic technology to detect nearby objects, issuing alerts to prevent collisions while maneuvering.

Tire Pressure Monitoring Sensor (TPMS):

The UK’s diverse climates impact tire pressure due to varying temperatures and road conditions. The TPMS continuously monitors tire pressure, notifying drivers if it falls below safe levels. This sensor enhances safety, fuel efficiency, and tire longevity.

Rain and Light Sensors:

Given the UK’s unpredictable weather patterns, rain and light sensors automatically activate windshield wipers and adjust headlight intensity according to external conditions. This ensures optimal visibility and safety, especially in rapidly changing weather.

The Best in the Business: Car Sensor Brands

When discussing auto sensors, it’s imperative to mention some of the industry’s top-notch brands that have earned a reputation for excellence. These brands have a profound impact on the reliability and effectiveness of automotive sensors:

Bosch:

Bosch, a global leader in automotive technology, has a stellar reputation for producing high-quality car sensors. Their extensive range of sensors spans from engine management sensors to safety and comfort sensors. With their commitment to innovation, Bosch sensors contribute significantly to the overall performance and safety of vehicles on UK roads.

Delphi:

Delphi, renowned for its cutting-edge automotive solutions, is another player that stands out in the world of auto sensors. Delphi sensors are known for their precision and reliability, contributing to advanced vehicle systems that enhance efficiency and safety. UK drivers can trust Delphi sensors to deliver optimal performance in various driving conditions.

Denso:

Denso, a prominent Japanese brand, has a strong presence in the car sensor market. Their sensors are widely recognized for their accuracy and durability. Denso’s comprehensive range of sensors, from temperature sensors to air quality sensors, plays a pivotal role in ensuring seamless vehicle operation and environmental sustainability.

Hitachi:

Hitachi’s reputation for quality extends to its car sensors, which play a crucial role in enhancing vehicle performance and efficiency. Hitachi sensors are known for their robustness and accuracy, making them a reliable choice for UK drivers who demand excellence in their driving experience.

Conclusion

Within the realm of automotive innovation, automotive sensors emerge as the unspoken heroes that redefine driving. From elevating safety through Advanced Driver Assistance Systems to refining fuel efficiency and emission control, these unassuming devices stand at the forefront of technological progress. By skillfully blending the realms of physics, electronics, and software, auto sensors enable vehicles to navigate UK’s varied landscapes with precision and confidence.

As you traverse the picturesque landscapes of the UK – from coastal highways to rugged terrains – take a moment to appreciate the hidden marvels that ensure your journey is not only smooth and efficient but also secure and enjoyable. Automotive sensors, with their steadfast commitment to excellence, underscore the symbiotic connection between cutting-edge technology and the art of driving. So, embrace the road ahead, knowing that an intricate network of sensors is tirelessly working to make every driving moment an unforgettable experience. And remember, brands like Bosch, Delphi, Denso, and Hitachi are pivotal in ensuring the reliability and effectiveness of these vital auto sensors that enhance your driving journey.

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.

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