Toyota Racing – Christopher Bell NASCAR Cup Series Quotes
CHARLOTTE (August 31, 2023) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell was made available to media as part of the NASCAR Playoff Media Day.
CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 Yahoo Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing
Did you do pit stop practice or anything with your new crew?
“I did go to pit practice yesterday to certainly get acclimated with the team and let them know I’m all in, and I didn’t want the first time that they worked with me whenever I rolled down pit road in Darlington. On this new team, we have Derrell (Edwards). I drove for Derrell in 2021. I believe he’s the only one that I’ve driven for in the past. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens, but I’m excited about working with such a talented group. Wish nothing but greatness for the former 20 group. Jackson (Gibbs), Nick (McBeath), KJ (Kevon Jackson) and all of those guys on the 20 group have been amazing people for me. I’m grateful to drive for them. They’ve done a really great job and I wish them nothing but success on the 54.”
Do you need to know your pit crew guys well and do you feel like you lose anything because you don’t know these guys as well as you know the other guys?
“I don’t know. From my standpoint, I don’t think it is as important as is – they’ve told me they’ve studied film of me getting in and out of the box and knowing my tendencies of whether I stop long, or if I stop short, or go towards the wall or outside the wall. From my standpoint, it really doesn’t change, but from their standpoint going from Ty (Gibbs) to myself is going to be a slight adjustment. I know that we have the best people in the business across all of the JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) pit crews and so I know that they will be able to make the adjustment.”
Is there anything from either wreck in Daytona that you liked or disliked what you saw?
“Honestly, I haven’t really learned much or know much about it from that aspect. I’m glad that everyone was okay, but I don’t know much about it.”
So, you are just focusing on the Playoffs and if there is any changes, you will wait for your team to inform you?
“Yeah, definitely. My job is to drive the car and that’s what I’m going to do. Try to drive it to the best of my abilities.”
Last year, you had to win twice to make the Championship 4. Assuming you don’t want to use that same playbook this year?
“That’s not a reliable playbook for sure. It starts at Darlington in a couple of days. The round of 16 went really well for us last year, so hopefully we are able to repeat that and then go to Texas and not have a DNF. That was kind of the downfall of our Playoffs. We were able to save it with a couple of wins at Charlotte and Martinsville, but just the DNFs. You can’t have DNFs. You’ve got to get through. Even if you don’t have a great car but be able to maximize your points and that was something we didn’t do last year and we are focused on this year.”
What did you learn about yourself last year in the Playoffs?
“That was really cool. I was really proud of the effort of the team. I don’t know if I necessarily learned anything else about myself, but just that Chris Sherwood, my car chief, Wes Lap, my mechanic, (Chris) Chase (mechanic), Tyler (Allen, engineer), William (Hartman, engineer), Adam (Stevens, crew chief), every one that works on this 20 car. When we were on the outside looking in, it would have been really easy to say that we are done, we are not going to put our full effort into this car, and they didn’t. Both times that we needed a win, they brought the best piece and a piece capable of doing it. Just very thankful to be able to drive for such a talented group of people.”
Did being able to pull of those wins in that moment give you a new confidence?
“I don’t know. My job as the driver is to maximize the equipment that’s given to me. At Martinsville, for example – Charlotte is a little bit different because we really didn’t have the best car there, but circumstances allowed us to win with the yellow flag coming out and taking tires, but at Martinsville, our car was super good and I was able to maximize that and didn’t screw up, which was good, but the team is the ones that who put me in that position, so I think the credit goes to them.”
How do you view the Playoff field this year?
“I would say that the points are definitely tighter than they normally are. We have about three guys, who I think have a pretty good advantage over the field, the rest of us are right there. I think it is going to be a matter of execution and that is kind of every year, but more so this year with the points being tighter. You can’t afford mistakes, and if you have a mistake, you are going to be behind quickly.”
How will you approach the Championship 4 race differently if you get there?
“I don’t think anything changes. Last year, certainly the morale was not good, down and everyone was very sad, but I think our preparation was not affected by that, and ultimately, our race was not affected by that either. We were one pit stop away from possibly being a championship holder, so hopefully I get another shot at it.”
Is it frustrating that race has been recently determined on pit road?
“That’s NASCAR racing.”
What did having to have the clutch wins do for your nerves?
“It definitely – I think it helped me be able to understand how to handle my nerves, but I say it a lot, but its more so on the team. They are the ones that have to build the race car, have to prepare the race car and make it fast enough to win. My job is to simply not screw it up. I’m just grateful that I drive for the best people in the business.”
Did it show you something?
“Yeah, and ultimately, I hope that we are never in that position again, but it is nice to know that they are not going to give up and throw the towel in before it’s over.”
Has there been a moment this year when you wish you had Kyle Busch’s wisdom around?
“I don’t know. It is hard to say. No time in the season where I can pinpoint and say that we missed him here, but our team is doing really good, and I would say we are thriving with all four of our drivers. Ty (Gibbs) has been doing an amazing job. The fact that he almost made the championship chase in his rookie year is a feat in itself. I think right now our Camrys are the fastest that they’ve ever been since that I’ve been in the Cup Series.”
Are you surprised Kyle Busch had as much success as he did this year?
“No, not one bit. I knew he would be a threat immediately.”
Are you underrated?
“I hope so, because I don’t feel like I’m rated very highly.”
Does that matter to you?
“That’s fine. It doesn’t really matter to me.”
How would you sum up your regular season?
“Not ideal. What is crazy is we finished fourth in the regular season standings, which is amazing. If you would have told me from February 1st, that you are going to finish fourth in the regular season standings, I would be like yeah, I’ll take that, but after living it, there were so many more opportunities on the table that got left there. That was very disappointing and encouraging at the same time, because I know that we have all of the pieces to not be underrated. Just have to put them all together, and if we do put them all together, I think greatness is ahead of us.”
You only have one less top-10 at this point than last year. Is it a shift in mindset because of what you were able to achieve last season in the Playoffs?
“I think it is just a matter of seeing the potential right in front of us and not being able to reach the potential on a weekly basis. I don’t even know how many top-10s or top-fives that I have but I know that there were many, many more out there that were right in front of us. Not only top-10s, but top-fives and race wins that were right in front of us, in the palm of our hands that we let slip away. I know that our success could be much greater.”
Is it just execution?
“Yes, absolutely. It was not experimenting at all. I can probably rattle off four or five races right now that were easy top-fives and potential race wins that we could just get to the end of the race. I think it certainly just comes down to execution.”
Is this team is Playoff ready?
“I think we are headed in the right direction. I’m glad that we were able to get through – Indy Road Course was a good stepping stone. We were able to get out there with a solid top-10, Watkins Glen was really good. I feel really good about that. I like the schedule in the Playoffs. It fits us really well. I think we are ready, yes.”
What is Adam Stevens like behind the scenes?
“He’s intense. Very intense. He wants one thing and that is to do well.”
Do you have much of a relationship outside of the race track?
“We’re pretty much business.”
Are you more calm about approaching this season’s Playoffs?
“I would say I feel pretty similar, maybe a little bit more comfortable knowing what it’s all about. Making the Final Four is a great experience, whether you win or lose, it is a great – you will be more prepared the next time you go. Hopefully, we will be able to put ourselves in position and if we execute, I think we are certainly capable of it.”
Do you go into this Playoff with a new mindset?
“Sitting here today, I would say that I have the same mindset, but just the ups and downs that we went through last year, I don’t want to go through that again. I would love to not have a DNF at Texas, the first of the round of 12, and not have a DNF at Vegas, the first of the round of 8. Consistency has been our Achilles heel for the 20 car, and hopefully we can do a better job of that and level it out a little more, instead of having these peaks and valleys.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 22 electrified options.
Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
Toyota Racing – Denny Hamlin NASCAR Cup Series Quotes
CHARLOTTE (August 31, 2023) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin was made available to media as part of the NASCAR Playoff Media Day.
DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing
Where do you feel like your team is positioned for the Playoffs this year?
“I think the team has got better all-around speed than what they’ve had in a while. I think that first year Next Gen we knew that we were good on the big tracks, we weren’t good on the short tracks and road courses were awful, right. We’ve shown we can win and have speed at all tracks this year so that’s something we haven’t had, even though we’ve made it to the final four so many years. We still have more overall speed at all types of race tracks where honestly you can get to the final four, but if you don’t have speed in Phoenix it doesn’t matter, and I think we will.”
Is this your year?
“It’s always my year.”
Do you like your chances this year with the field so wide open?
“I do. I think that we’re stronger than we’ve been. Road courses I’ve got speed now and short tracks our cars – if we get to the final four, I’m not worried about being at a deficit. I think the pit crew is better, they’re coming into its own. All the pieces of the puzzle are there. There’s no excuses for sure.”
Is your toughest competition within JGR?
“I think so. I think Martin (Truex Jr.) is certainly — he’s a talented dude. He can sometimes put in about a quarter of the work I do and still outrun me. He’s just a gifted race car driver and he’s always tough. That’s why he’s a champion.”
How impressive were Christopher Bell’s walk-off wins in the Playoffs last year?
“Super impressive. He (Christopher Bell) needed to win I think twice to advance one round and then get to the final. One certainly came at my expense, but yeah, it was super impressive no doubt about it. And certainly, probably built some character for him for these Playoffs that he’s prepared for it now.”
How difficult is it for a driver to know they’re in that position but then pull it off?
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve been trying for a while. I have been in the win or go home situations. Phoenix in 2019 we had to win, and we did to get to the final four, but I don’t know. I think it’s so circumstantial. It’s just a race and you just never know what can happen in a race. You just hope to have a shot at it. Again, if I keep putting myself in the final four, I’m eventually going to have a really good shot at a championship. I just feel like all the – whether it be pit crew, whether it be speed of the cars is all put together a little bit more than in year’s past.”
What are you looking to do when you get to these tracks in the 10 final races?
“I guess what you’re saying is well then, what do I have to do? The way I see it is, I know specific little areas where I need to get better that has cost me opportunities. Late race restarts and things like that. Things I can work on to get better. Certainly, I look in the mirror as much as anyone. I’ve got all the pieces of the puzzle together to win a championship. My teammates have won championships in the past years, so I need to do better. I think that I’m more prepared now and more experienced. I feel like I’m honestly as fast as I’ve ever been. I’m confident.”
Do you believe that luck plays a role in this?
“I’m very vague with the word luck. I think a lot of it is things that are out of my control, right? Again, you guys have covered the Playoffs when my roof hatch has fell off, my ignition fails at Martinsville. Just a lot of little things that happen. I’m trying to drive the car to the best of my ability, but luck is not the right word. It’s controlling what I can control, and I honestly feel like the last three shots that I’ve had at a title I’ve done everything that I could do. There’s nothing more I could’ve done. We just didn’t have the speed or the execution. I need to make sure if I get to Phoenix that I’m prepared, I’m as good as I possibly can be and sometimes it might not be good enough. Maybe there’s just someone a little bit better on that day and that’s okay.”
Is there anything from the wrecks at Daytona that you think NASCAR needs to change?
“As far as the wrecks, talking to the drivers in the chats we have, (Ryan) Blaney has taken the brunt of some tough ones and (Ryan) Preece as well, but they both said that they feel okay so that’s a good sign that it’s heading in the right direction. Certainly, from what we’ve seen, the crushing of the front of the 12 car is certainly a gain in what we’ve had in the past. I’m pleased with it. NASCAR has got to continue to look at it, but I’m certainly pleased with the progress that has been made. And it seems like the drivers who have been involved in it are pleased as well.”
Have you been consumed with your contract negotiations?
“I’ve got a lot of irons in the fire.”
Is it as close to being done as Joe Gibbs thinks it is to being done?
“I mean, I don’t have anything new to announce. I’m not trying to leak one way or another, it’s on to Darlington.”
Are you dealing with the same things as you were that you mentioned at Watkins Glen?
“Yeah, it’s trying to get all of the contracts done.”
Do you want to stay at Joe Gibbs Racing?
“100%.”
Have you started exploring other options if you don’t return to Joe Gibbs Racing?
“See that’s a play on words. That’s not nice. Why would you do that? (laughter) I have a race team. I always have options. If you’re just a driver, you are at the mercy of whoever will hire you. I will hire me.”
Could 23XI run three full-time cars next year?
“I mean, if an apocalypse comes, yeah.”
Is FedEx renewed for next year or will you find a partial sponsorship like you had this year?
“The relationship with FedEx has continued to be strong and they’re definitely going to be on the car next year. On the 11 car. I don’t know the details of it, but certainly we’re going to continue that partnership that’s been 20 years strong. I’ve got a great relationship – the 11, Joe Gibbs and FedEx. I’ve got a great relationship with all of them.”
How is the mental game of the Playoffs different than the first 26 races?
“I think it’s different for everyone. I think that, am I a person concerned with making the Playoffs every year? No. I haven’t been a bubble guy, right? I’ve been very blessed to not be. What I feel about the regular season, if I have a bad day is probably different than someone in lesser equipment. They’re going to fight for that bubble position just about every year. They value probably the regular season a lot more in the sense of when they have a bad day and ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve lost points. I’m not going to make the Playoffs.’ We’re just looking at it as there’s seven available points each and every week to gain and add to my Playoff bonus. Did we leave with some or not? That’s kind of the way that I look at it week in and week out. And then is do I close in on the regular season? Where am I at and can I gain points that way? Did I have a solid day? I guess I’ll always give 100%, but in the Playoffs, there’s just a little bit of extra that you’ve got to give that you focus on and historically the finishes – we get better in the Playoffs. We’ve peaked at the right time and we’re really running well everywhere. Our finishes have been really good. We’re executing good. To answer your question, I do think of the Playoffs differently, but some people may not because they’re in a pressure situation every week. Hey, the only way that I’ve got to get into the Playoffs is I’ve got to win, and this is another week that you check off that you didn’t win. It’s just different.”
Does your pressure start now?
“My pressure starts now, for sure.”
How much did it mean to 23XI that Bubba Wallace made the Playoffs?
“For him (Bubba Wallace), you can only go up from here. There’s only positives. He drove into the Playoffs in the top 10 last year. He finished 10th in points with that 45 car as if he was in the Playoffs. He knows what he’s capable of so now go do it for yourself. He did it for the team last year, now he needs to go do it for himself.”
Is it an odd balance for you being an owner and a driver in the Playoffs?
“Our team still – we still have two cars that are in the Playoffs, right? We’re giving Bubba (Wallace) the best equipment we can for him to succeed and we want to see him succeed just as much as we do Tyler Reddick. It really doesn’t make that much of a difference to us.”
How big of a shot in the arm was it for the people that work at 23XI?
“It certainly was big. I mean, to have in our third full season both cars. I cannot emphasize enough — a team that started from zero – scratch. It is really hard to beat the Gibbs’ and the Hendrick’s. It’s just hard. It’s really, really hard. People don’t understand how hard it is and so to accomplish what our team has accomplished in three years, I’m very proud of.”
How is the 23XI shop coming along?
“Very good. We’re looking to be on time and hopefully to start moving stuff in in December.”
How important was it for Michael Jordan to get both cars and Bubba Wallace into the Playoffs?
“Bubba (Wallace) was the foundation driver who helped start this team with myself and MJ. I think it was a big deal for him. He’s a big race fan. As you know, he travels to these races and he’s rooting on as much as anyone. Anyone that’s ever been in a suite with him, he’s commentating half the time that he’s watching the races. It’s fun to have a partner that’s like that that’s so invested in the sport and how successful his race team is. For him, he feels like he’s got three shots to win every weekend between myself and the two drivers. We’re increasing his odds.”
What can you take from Michael Jordan to win a championship?
“He’s got such a ferocity. He’s a person that he’s not trying to be anyone’s friend out there. He’s trying to do what’s best for him and for his team. I think you’ve seen kind of with my driving style lately, I’ve shifted into the more selfish mode and that’s just what you’re going to have to be because I’ve had to adapt. You’ve got to be a reptile in this sport. You can’t just be stuck in your ways. You have to adapt to what your surroundings are, and I feel like I’ve had to change my style a little bit and hopefully that pays dividends.”
What kind of conversation did you have with MJ after Daytona?
“He assaulted me on pit road first of all (laughter). We didn’t talk much about the business side of it at that point. I went and congratulated Bubba (Wallace) and then I had to come back to stand at my car for 15 minutes to wait for you guys to come and ask us questions (laughter). I wasn’t able to be part of that whole corral. That was Bubba’s moment. I just wanted to go over there and quickly say thank you and let him be because it’s about Bubba and his accomplishment of making the Playoffs. Again, the light needed to be on him.”
Did he text or call you afterward?
“Yeah, we talk about business a lot on the daily. We talked last night. I was in the middle of something and got a call. We always talk and certainly his interest in this team has grown obviously since selling the Hornets.”
Do you feel safe now that the future of this sport is strong now that people like you and Brad Keselowski are team owners?
“Yes, I think that it was a little bit easier probably from my standpoint being partners with Michael (Jordan). He hadn’t already established a team and had been running it a certain way. He relied on me to run this team and hire the people that we needed to competition-wise to run it a certain way that I deemed would be successful. (Brad) Keselowski needed a buy in from his partners that let him have a little more of the reins on the decision making and let’s see if it bears fruit which it has. I think we were very fortunate to come in this sport when we both did. During Next Gen, I started a team from scratch, and I was able to form the organization different, like the way our teams work is dramatically different than the four-car or three-car teams. It’s just way different in how we run our organization, but that was because we didn’t have a legacy that we had been doing things for decades and decades. That was the advantage of coming in late like we have.”
Has there been a moment this year where the team has really missed Kyle Busch?
“No, but that’s no disrespect to Kyle (Busch). Don’t twist it now to make it sound like I am, but the answer is no because I’m so focused on myself and 23XI sitting beside me in those Joe Gibbs Racing meetings. I feel like we’ve got some veteran presence in me and Martin (Truex Jr.) that we know what we’re looking for. And C. Bell kind of knows what he’s looking for now. Kind of the bringing along Tyler (Reddick) and Bubba’s (Wallace) is getting better, and Ty (Gibbs) is finding where he fits in and his information. No, because me and Martin are still there. I think if we both weren’t still there then probably. But, certainly from a results standpoint, he’s (Kyle Busch) has gone to another organization and won three races. He’s proving that he is Kyle Busch and one of the best this sport has ever seen.”
Why are we seeing three organizations being able to have significant turnarounds in such a short period of time?
“As much as I hate it, you’ve got to give a little credit to the Next Gen. The field is generally just tighter together. The advantage that the bigger teams had in aerodynamics, simulation, and all, it’s just not as big. So, there’s less to overcome than what there has been in year’s past. I’d say the Next Gen has made it easier to come in and compete.”
Is there more interest in what can happen here with people coming in from outside the sport?
“It can’t work unless you have significant sponsorships, and that model has not changed. We’re very fortunate to have the partners that we do at 23XI. That has allowed us to put in the resources that we have. If you’re a new team, you don’t stand a chance without sponsorship because the model has not changed.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 22 electrified options.
Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
NASCAR CUP SERIES PLAYOFF MEDIA DAY TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT AUGUST 31, 2023
RICKY STENHOUSE JR., NO. 47 JTG DAUGHERTY CAMARO ZL1, 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Media Day Press Conference Transcript:
“That’s one thing my team has been able to do this year is giving me cars capable of running well. That’s been a big confidence boost to myself but also a confidence boost to our team that they are doing the right things. Their setup philosophies are on the right track, so it’s been a great year for our whole team. I think that we’re continuing to build on that. I don’t think we’re at our ceiling yet. I think there is still a lot of room for improvement. We’re looking forward to that challenge. Hopefully we take another step forward here when the Playoffs start.”
YOU’RE AROUND 98 OR 99% OF LAPS RAN THIS YEAR… BEFORE THAT IT WAS 92%. THAT’S A BIG JUMP… LAST YEAR WAS A TOUGH YEAR FOR EVERYBODY TRYING TO GET THEIR HANDS AROUND THE NEW CAR. WHAT HAS HELPED YOU TO BE ABLE TO RUN ALL THESE LAPS?
“Until Daytona, dang it. I think the biggest thing for me is it all comes down to your racecar. I feel like my guys are doing a really good job of giving me cars that I’m comfortable with. I’m not trying to take a 25th place car and run 15th with. That is where a lot of finishing the laps and completing the races, just making our bad races less bad. We’ve had off weekends just trying to get the most out of that, not necessarily behind the wheel, but letting the team pick a different strategy, make more adjustments and things like that. It’s helped us, and it’s helped me and my mindset of just getting it to the finish line and see what happens. So, just better cars makes it easier for the driver.”
WHAT ABOUT HEADING TO DARLINGTON? ESPECIALLY WITH QUALIFYING. THE LAST TIME YOU QUALIFIED THIRD…
“It kind of compounded there. I think going into Darlington, yeah, I’m looking forward to getting there and laying down some laps. I feel like if we qualify well again, then we can run up front like we did. We gained a lot of points, and yeah, we blew a tire, sped on pit road and ended up two laps down, and spent the rest of the time trying to get back on the lead lap. The wrecks at the end helped gain some track position, but feeling like if we didn’t run something over, then we run in the top-eight all day. That’s what it’s going to take. Going this weekend, we’re going to have to be able to do that, and I feel like we’ve made improvements on our setup. Everybody else is working on their cars as well. I feel we should be able to do that really the next three weeks.”
YOU’VE KNOWN LONGER THAN ANYBODY YOU’RE GOING TO BE IN THE PLAYOFFS. DOES IT FEEL DIFFERENT?
“Kind of not really. Unless there’s too many winners or whatever. It feels good that they’re finally here. Like, a few weeks ago, once we were officially locked in, it felt good knowing that we started looking at Darlington then. Still trying to capitalize where we could throughout the rest of the regular season, but all in all, we’ve been focused on Darlington for a while. That’s been nice. My guys put a lot of good effort into it. Ready for the Playoffs to start, ready to get in the car.”
IT’S CLEAR THERE’S A CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE LINE. DO YOU FEEL THAT PRESSURE? IS THERE A DIFFERENT FEELING TO THIS FOR YOU?
“There is. There is a different feeling. If we do our job, I feel like we can transfer through rounds. Realistically, I don’t know if I’m just like “Hey we’re going to make the final four.” For me, that’s just thinking way too far ahead. We’ll take this series of races and focus on those, and figure it out. We’ll see where we end up after Bristol and figure out from there on out. But, for me, just because you get knocked out of the Playoffs in the first or second round, doesn’t mean that’s where you stop. You could make it to the third round and still technically finish 16th in points. 2017, we got knocked out the second round and we had the opportunity to finish ninth at the final race in points. We’re looking to string as many good races in these 10 as we can and make sure that we finish as high as we can in points.”
LOOKING FROM THE OUTSIDE IN, SOME WILL LABEL YOU AS AN UNDERDOG. DO YOU FEEL YOU GUYS ARE?
“We definitely are. Obviously, all the powerhouse teams we’re going up against are manufacturer teams. Definitely an underdog, but I think we like our role. All 40 of us at the team, we like where we are. We have great partners behind us, and great fans. I’ve seen a lot of fans that are pumped up about what they feel like we can do. Hopefully we can go prove all those people right.”
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL CONSTITUTE A SUCCESSFUL PLAYOFF RUN FOR THIS TEAM?
“I think we’ve got targets on how many points we want per race when it’s all said and done, when all ten are over. If we hit those goals, wherever that shakes out, it shakes out. We did that in the regular season. We had a goal of getting a certain amount of points throughout every single race, and we were able to accomplish that. We felt like we had a successful regular season. That’s something that us and the team, we put together. We had big meetings about it yesterday, and I like where we are, and I like the things we’re looking to accomplish. Wherever that shakes out, that shakes out.”
ALONG THAT LINE, HALF THE PLAYOFF FIELD IS COMPROMISED OF TEAMS WITH TWO CARS, AND THEN YOURS HAS ONE CAR. NONE OF THE BIG THREE- TO FOUR-CAR TEAMS GOT EVERYBODY IN THE PLAYOFFS. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT OCCURRED THIS YEAR?
“I think everybody is getting more of a handle on this racecar. This racecar last year, I feel like the bigger teams were really able to kind of advance their learning curve faster than, especially us. We hit on some things throughout last year that we were like “dang, we’ve got it figured out,” then we missed it for a long time. So I think those guys were able to evolve and learn a lot quicker. Now that this is our second season with this car, us, and Front Row and some other teams, you start figuring these cars out a little bit more. Everybody became more competitive. The whole field got tighter. You have different winners, and just a lot more competitive this year than last year.”
IT’S BEEN A FEW MONTHS SINCE THE PIT CREW CHANGE. WHAT’S THE FEELING? PIT CREWS ARE SO KEY IN THE PLAYOFFS…
“My guys, man, they started the season and have four wins now. They’re killing it. I think our guys have been doing a good job. We’ve obviously struggled at times, but not just my guys. I’ve struggled on pit road myself, whether it be getting on and off pit road, getting in the box, putting them in bad spots, just a lot to clean up for us. The last three weeks, I think they’ve got more confidence in where they are as a group. They’re ready for the Playoffs. We’re ready to go battle, and we’re all going to have to up our game just a little bit, including me, making sure we’re maximizing speeds, getting on and off pit road under green, getting in the pit box, so that I can help them out. I can’t put them in bad spots and expect them to excel. All those things are things we’ve been looking at over the last three or four weeks.”
IS THERE ANY BENEFIT TO HAVING THAT EXTRA AMOUNT OF TIME FOR YOU GUYS TO ALL WORK TOGETHER?
“Yeah, I’d much rather the switch happen when it did, versus a week before the Playoffs. I think we’ve got a group of guys that’s used to working with our whole team. There’s a lot that goes into pit crews on the road, not just going over the wall. Setting up pit boxes, getting stuff from the haulers, getting it to pit road – there’s a lot that goes into that. I think my guys are prepared and ready.”
IS THERE A PARTICULAR TRACK THAT YOU’VE CIRCLED OVER THE NEXT TEN WEEKS THAT YOU FEEL IS YOUR BEST OPPORTUNITY TO EXCEL?
“I mean, really, any of the first three. I really like Darlington, Kansas and Bristol are the two I really enjoy. Bristol doesn’t owe us won, but I feel like we’re bound and determined to get a win there. I think we’re three or four second-place finishes there in Cup and a few in Xfinity as well. One that I’ve really wanted to win at a few times and have come up a bit short. It’d be awesome to get our first win at Bristol; Bristol night race in the Playoffs, it’s kind of hard to beat that.”
YOU TALK ABOUT BEING AN UNDERDOG IN THE PLAYOFFS. WHEN I SEE PEOPLE PICKING THEIR GRIDS, THEY’RE PICKING YOU FOR AN OBVIOUS FIRST ROUND EXIT. DO YOU FEEL THAT’S A MISTAKE?
“I feel that’s a mistake. I feel our team and I have a lot more confidence than probably a lot of people have in us, which is fine. I was at the shop yesterday, and my guys were saying so-and-so says we’re going to be out, and I’m like, let’s go prove them wrong. I’m not worried about proving people wrong, but I want to make sure I prove that to our guys and our supporters. There’s plenty of people that think we’re going to make the next round. It’s about proving those people right. I told them don’t worry about who didn’t pick us, let’s just do our job and let’s go perform the way we know we can perform. If we do that, I feel like we can make it out of the first round of the Playoffs. Obviously, it gets harder after that, but we’re going to take it race by race and hit the goals we’ve set out. If those goals are good enough, then we will be in.”
WHEN YOU’RE PREPARING FOR THE UPCOMING PLAYOFFS, AND LAST YEAR BEING SO WEIRD WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED, TIRE ISSUES AT TEXAS, MECHANICAL FAILURES AT DARLINGTON AND BRISTOL, ALL THESE PLACES, WHAT ARE THOSE DISCUSSIONS LIKE INSIDE YOUR TEAM? IS IT DOUBLE-CHECKING THE BOXES FOR TIRE PRESSURE AND THOSE THINGS?
“I mean, yeah. I will race a little more conservative at times, especially at Darlington this weekend. And then, I’m sure my guys on air pressures will be a little bit more conservative knowing that whether I hit the wall and I have to pit, or we blow a tire for too low air pressure, that can for sure take you right out of it. You can afford to be a little more conservative, I feel like, in the first round, and then obviously as the Playoffs go, you have to be a little less conservative and a little more aggressive. I think we will be a little cautious when it comes to things that might push us over the edge and make a mistake.”
DOES THAT HELP YOU KEEP FROM GETTING TOO FAR OVER YOUR SKIS?
“Yeah. I mean, we had great meetings yesterday, and I feel like I brought up a lot of good points for race strategies and things like that for this weekend at Darlington. That’s all we’re focused on right now is Darlington. Darlington can play out so many different ways. You’ve got a lot of tires that you’re going to want to use, but you can’t use them up too soon. There’s a lot of different strategies of when to pit, especially under green. We’ve been getting a lot of green flag runs where time can be made up or lost on those runs. I feel good about our game plan and where we are. I let them still handle that and I give my two cents, but at least on Wednesday. On Saturday and Sunday, I’ll generally let Mike (Kelley) handle that. I think he’s ready for that. We’ve been together through a lot of up and down. We believe both of us can get the job done we need to get done.”
ARE YOU WORRIED WITH IT BEING THE TIGHEST PLAYOFF FIELD WITH NOT GETTING PLAYOFF POINTS SINCE YOUR DAYTONA VICTORY?
“I mean, we wanted to obviously have more Playoff points to start with, but we just didn’t really have any opportunities where we… You’ve got to be the fastest car at that point of the race in order to get stage wins or win the race. So, we had some opportunities with some speedways and stuff like that, but we’re more worried about trying to collect stage points throughout these first three races than we are the stage wins that carry over in the Playoffs. But, yeah, it’s tight. The further you go into the Playoffs, the more of those Playoff points you’ll need to start with. All in all, I still like the position we are in. I think we can get a decent job done with what we’ve got.”
ARE YOU WORRIED ONE RACETRACK DURING THE PLAYOFFS?
“I think the two races that probably aren’t our best in the Playoffs is the Roval and Martinsville. Those aren’t until later on after the first round, so we’ll get through the first round. We’re not worried about those yet. The biggest thing is getting through the first round, but we haven’t talked yet about the second round yet. I would imagine if we make it through the first round, I think we go to Texas, and then Talladega, then Charlotte. So after Texas, we will probably see where we shake out points-wise, but my assumption is we would play Talladega safe first and second stage, and make sure you’re around to go win.”
TAKE ME THROUGH THE FIRST ROUND, AND WHERE YOU THINK YOUR BEST SHOT IS TO KEEP YOURSELF IN THE GAME…
“I think all three. I think Darlington, Kansas, and Bristol are all three good racetracks for us that I feel we’re capable of running inside the top-10 at all three of those. I think they would go in order the way they are. Darlington is probably the least of the best tracks for us, but I feel strong about all three of them. Bristol, being my favorite by far. I feel really good about the first round.”
ARE YOU AT A DISADVANTAGE BEING A ONE CAR TEAM?
“I would say, yeah, overall. I think the more info you have as the bigger teams have, you can learn more at a quicker rate whether that be in the season or the race weekend. If we’re struggling in practice, We do have some ties with Hendrick we can get some help. But as far as full-on teammate help, it’s tough. When you have 20 minutes of practice and qualifying, it would be nice to have some of that information whether you’re in the second group and your teammates are in the first group, and they find something. We don’t have that luxury. Maybe a little of a disadvantage, but I don’t think it will slow us down any.”
YOU SEEMED A LITTLE BEAT DOWN AFTER LAST YEAR, AND I’M WONDERING TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO HAVE YOUR BACK LIKE MIKE KELLEY COME IN AND LET YOU KNOW OF HIS SUPPORT, HOW DOES THAT CHANGE YOUR DEMEANOR AND HELP REBUILD CONFIDENCE AFTER A YEAR LIKE THAT?
“It needed rebuilt for sure. I think what Mike (Kelley) has been also able to do is bring confidence not only for me and myself and what I can do behind the wheel, but also my confidence in what them and the race team are capable of doing. And vice versa, I feel like he’s got all of our team and people at the shop believe in him and what he and I can do as well. I think it’s just lifted the whole team up. If I had someone else come in crew chief and experience elsewhere, I think they’ve had good success, I don’t know that you’d get that same feeling out of it, right? Mike (Kelley) and I have been through the ups and downs of this sport and been on the top and been on the bottom. I think that goes a long ways especially when you’ve done that with that individual. So, yeah, I think for me he brought a lot of confidence in this offseason, but then after we started going through the season week in and week out, they’re giving me cars capable of running in the top-10 and top-15. That gives me more confidence as we go weekly. Running in the top-15 at road courses that we struggled on throughout my career at points, so this season has been really good for that whole landscape of things of being confidence in what we’re able to do as a race team.”
WHEN YOU HAVE ONLY ONE WAY YOU KNOW WHICH IS GO, AND MIKE (KELLEY) TELLS YOU HAVE A 15TH-PLACE CAR, AND TO BRING IT HOME 15TH, HOW HARD IS IT TO RETHINK YOURSELF OR RETRAIN?
“I don’t feel like it’s retraining because I feel like I know we’re a single car team with 40 employees. I know if we’re running 15th, that’s a good day. That’s not a bad day. So, for me, if he tells me we have a 15th place car and let’s run 15th, that’s easier for me to do. I would always get in trouble when we had a 28th place car and I tried to finish 20th with it because I just didn’t want to finish 28th. I felt like that’s where we were last year. I feel like we’re ahead of that now, and I feel like we’ve been able to do that throughout this whole year.”
About Chevrolet
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Toyota Racing – Martin Truex Jr. NASCAR Cup Series Quotes
CHARLOTTE (August 31, 2023) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Martin Truex Jr. was made available to media as part of the NASCAR Playoff Media Day.
MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing
Where do you think you and James are for this and does it help that you’ve been there before?
“Yeah, I feel really good about where we are at as a team. We have had a lot of experience in the Playoffs, and kind of understand that things turn up a few notches here in Darlington. The first round has some good tracks in it, and we are ready to roll.”
Do you feel as strong as ever?
“I don’t know. It’s really hard to think about it and compare, but I feel really good about our team, where we are at and what we’ve been able to do the past few months. We are ready to go and see what we can do. Darlington is a great place for us to kick it off.”
Is your toughest competition within Joe Gibbs Racing?
“I think it is too early to tell. A lot can happen in the Playoffs, which we have seen in the past, we just have to worry about ourselves and be consistent and try to execute and we will be fine. The other guys – the 11 (Denny Hamlin) and 20 (Christopher Bell) are fast. It is always tough to race with your teammates, because you all have the same thing and you share everything during the week, so how to you find that extra little bit. I think James (Small) has done a really good job of that this year, and we will look to keep it going.”
How do you handle that?
“You just go race hard, and obviously fair. We don’t hold anything back as far as meetings and sharing things, but just once you get to the track on Saturday’s it is every team for itself. I feel like we do a good job working together and keeping it professional and racing well with each other on the race track as well, so it is nice to have great teammates.”
How miraculous was it what Christopher Bell did last year?
“It was very impressive, clutch moments for him and his career and their season, and I think in a time where I think we were not where we wanted to be as an organization. They really figured it out at the ROVAL and then again at Martinsville. We struggled at both of those tracks last year, so to see how they were able to do that was really impressive.”
How does starting at the top change how you prepare for the first round?
“None, none at all. You just have a little bit more of a safety net with those bonus points. So just thinking back to the last time that we had that amount, things were just more relaxed. You weren’t so nervous about every single point. You had a little bit of a cushion, and you could be smart about things.”
Why do you think that has happened?
“I think it is just parity. The field is the closest it has ever been. It’s difficult to do that with all four. I think we were really close obviously, with Ty (Gibbs) not getting but being the first guy out. Certainly, I think for a rookie season, I think he did a great job. It’s just parity. Everything is so close now, there is just no room for error. If you have bad races, you are out. That is what we’ve seen.”
How do you feel about your chances?
“I feel good. I feel as good as I ever have going into the Playoffs. It’s been a really strong year for us, consistently up at the front, and doing what we need to do. Certainly, let a few wins slip away, which is always disappointing but to have three and the Clash win is a pretty good regular season, so you just have to keep putting yourself in the right position.”
What do you think about starting in Darlington?
“I love Darlington, so I’m always excited to go there. I look forward to that track and that race. It is a long race – the Southern 500 – but I’m excited. Last year, I felt like we had that race won and then had some issues late, so I’m looking for a little redemption.”
Does this feel similar to your championship year?
“I think just the feeling every week when we go to the track, we are going to have a shot to win, and just confidence in my team and what they are doing. I ask for things in practice, and they always find a way to make the car better when I need it. Whether we have a good or bad practice, I always feel like we race well. They are just doing a good job of pushing the right buttons and giving me what I need, which is really what this is all about.”
Has the makeup of your team changed over the years, and do they know what the Playoffs are like?
“I feel like our team is very experienced Playoff wise. The core group has been together and has the same mindset that we had in 2017. It feels the same. That is always good, and it gives me a lot of confidence. They are doing a great job and pushing all of the right buttons, so we just have to keep doing that.”
What do you think the difference is from last year and this year?
“If you look across JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) and Toyota as a whole, I feel like we are stronger this year. Everybody did a really good job in the off season of making the right changes and working on the right things, and I think for us – just understanding the car. We took a lot of gambles last year and tested a lot of things, and we found a lot of things that didn’t work and that is part of the process of figuring these things out. I think we were really aggressive last year and that was maybe not great at times but this year, I think is just helped speed up that learning process. Better cars, better understanding of those cars and just being able to put it all together is the difference.”
Did last year missing the Playoffs stick with you guys?
“100%. The day after Phoenix last year it was like alright, we are getting to work. It really lit a fire under everybody to just show how bad they wanted it and go to work on it. I think our whole group across the board really, right after Phoenix, got to work on things and it definitely was a big inspiration for us this year.”
Is there anything that you are worried about?
“Not really worried. Ever since we went to the Next Gen car, everything has been closer and that is just another example of that. It is harder to find an advantage, it’s harder to run at the front every week consistently. Everything is tighter, closer together, less room for error – and you really have to be on top of things. The points situation is the same as every other race. It’s really, really hard to be at the front all of the time.”
Do you have any race tracks that you are worried about?
“I think the only one that really ever makes me nervous is Talladega because that type of racing, it is just hard to control your own destiny sometimes. Otherwise, I think all of the tracks are a lot of different types of tracks, but good variety. Good tracks that we are looking forward to the challenge with.”
About Toyota
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Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 22 electrified options.
Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
REGULAR SEASON RUNDOWN: During the NASCAR Cup Series regular season, Kyle Larson won two points-paying races (Richmond Raceway and Martinsville Speedway) and the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Through 26 races, he leads the series in both top-five finishes (10) and average starting position (9.62). Larson also has 12 top-10 finishes, three stage wins, led the third-most laps (624) and run the fourth-most laps in the top five (2,184) and top 10 (3,523). In addition, he ranks as the second-best driver on restarts (per data from Racing Insights) and has the fifth-best average running position (12.432).
PLAYOFFS BEGIN: For the third straight season, Larson and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com team are in the playoffs. This also marks the seventh postseason appearance for the 31-year-old driver. Larson enters the 2023 playoffs seeded sixth at 2,017 points, 10 points above the elimination line to reach the Round of 12. In 2021, he was crowned the Cup Series champion at Phoenix Raceway. In past playoffs, Larson reached the Round of 8 (2019), Round of 12 (2017, 2018 and 2022) and Round of 16 (2016). This year, he is on the hunt to become a multi-time Cup champion and his numbers at the six playoff tracks previously visited this season are strong. In those races, Larson has earned the second-most points (221), trailing only teammate William Byron (261).
DUE IN DARLINGTON: Darlington Raceway has the nickname “Too Tough To Tame” for its unique egg shape, differentiating racing surface and preferred racing line that runs close to the track’s retaining wall. Larson’s three Cup Series runner-up finishes without a win at this venue are the second-most in track history. Among all drivers (with more than two starts) at Darlington, he has the third-best average finish (10.18). With 715 laps led, Larson ranks third in circuits out front prior to a win at the 1.366-mile facility. That total of laps led is also his third-best at any track on the schedule, behind Dover Motor Speedway (899) and Bristol Motor Speedway (850). Larson’s three stage wins at Darlington are the second-most of all drivers.
PIT CREW POWER: The No. 5 HendrickCars.com pit crew has the fifth-fastest average four-tire pit stop time for the season at 11.277 seconds. The team’s four-tire stop of 9.281 seconds on lap 93 in June’s race at Nashville Superspeedway is the fourth-fastest four-tire stop of the season. Comprising the five-man pit crew are Blaine Anderson (front-tire changer), R.J. Barnette (tire carrier), Brandon Harder (fueler), Brandon Johnson (jackman) and Calvin Teague (rear-tire changer). Teague returned last weekend after recovering from a knee injury.
GOOD CAUSE IN THE DESERT: On Tuesday, Larson served as a special guest of NASCAR’s Championship Ignition Luncheon in Phoenix, Arizona. The event was hosted to raise money and awareness for the Phoenix Children’s Hope Fund. Larson was part of a panel discussion with NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series driver Nick Sanchez and ARCA Menards Series and Truck Series driver Toni Breidinger.
LOOKING FOR A NO. 17 WIN: Larson will drive the NASCAR Xfinity Series No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevy this Saturday. In six NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Darlington, Larson has one win, three top-five finishes, six top-10s and an average finish of 4.83. In May, he got the victory in one of the best finishes of the season in the No. 10 HendrickCars.com Chevy for Kaulig Racing. Last September, Larson nearly won at the 1.366-mile track in the No. 17 Chevy. He rallied from two laps down to hold the lead coming to the white flag, but last-lap contact saw him finish fifth. In his Xfinity career, Larson has 14 wins.
LABOR DAY WITH THE LAZZAROS: This Labor Day weekend, the No. 5 team is running two names on the right-side door as part of NASCAR’s Workforce Appreciation “Honorary Crew Member” program: Robert and Myles Lazzaro. Robert Lazzaro is a Master Certified Technician at Lexus of Charleston and has been with Hendrick Automotive Group for over 20 years. Myles followed suit, beginning as a technician at the same Lexus dealership until he was diagnosed with cancer. Myles just completed his final cancer treatment and the automotive group wanted to honor him and his dad. Master Technicians have achieved a level of training and experience that puts them at the top of the industry. Join 10,000+ others nationwide in working at Hendrick Automotive Group. Positions are open for all skill levels and offer tuition and training reimbursement. Individuals who are interested can apply at HendrickCars.com.
VISIT HENDRICKCARS.COM: This weekend, Larson will drive the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaros but you can pick up your own keys from any one of Hendrick Automotive Group’s 95 dealerships nationwide. Customers can also shop from the convenience of their home selecting the category, make, model and vehicle packages that are important to them from the nearly 30,000 new, high-quality pre-owned and certified cars, trucks and SUVs available at HendrickCars.com.
9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 27 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 20th
No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
OWNING IT: While Chase Elliott will not be battling for a second NASCAR Cup Series driver championship this season, he and the No. 9 team are part of the 16-car playoff field for the owner championship. The owner standings are based off the car number’s season-long performance, so this includes points earned when Josh Berry, Corey LaJoie and Jordan Taylor made their starts in the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Entering the first race of the Round of 16 at Darlington Raceway, the No. 9 entry is seven points below the elimination line to advance to the Round of 12.
DARLINGTON DATA: Sunday marks Elliott’s 14th start at Darlington in the Cup Series. In his previous 13 races at the 1.366-mile oval, he has collected four top-five finishes, six top-10s and led 151 laps. His best finish of third came in the series’ most recent event at the South Carolina track in May. Outside of the Cup Series, the five-time National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver Award winner has made three Darlington starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, earning a win at the track during his rookie season in 2014.
SIMILAR TRACK STATS: In 54 Cup starts on tracks measuring 1 to 1.366 miles in length (Darlington, Dover Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Phoenix Raceway and WWT Raceway), Elliott has four wins. His first came at Dover in 2018 and was followed by his championship-winning performance at Phoenix in 2020. His two most recent victories on a track in this length range came last season at Dover and Nashville. Accompanying his four wins are 22 top-five finishes, 28 top-10s and 1,246 laps led across those starts on this track type.
BUILDING BACK MOMENTUM: Elliott and his No. 9 crew are hitting their stride in the latter part of the season. In the last three races, Elliott leads the series with two top-five results – placing second at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course and fourth last weekend at Daytona International Speedway – and has the fourth-most points earned (95). Teammate William Byron has earned the most points (117) in that three-race stretch.
AG IN SC: On Sunday, No. 9 team crew chief Alan Gustafson is set to call his 24th Darlington race in the Cup Series. In his previous 23 starts at the track with five different drivers (Kyle Busch, Casey Mears, Elliott and NASCAR Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin), Gustafson has accumulated one win (2009 with Martin), six top-five finishes, 10 top-10s and 222 laps led.
THE CREW: The No. 9 pit crew currently holds the ninth-fastest average four-tire pit stop time (11.462 seconds) and had the fastest four-tire pit stop of the race earlier this season at the Chicago Street Course (11.877 seconds). The 2021 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew award-winning group is comprised of Chad Avrit (rear-tire changer), Jared Erspamer (tire carrier), John Gianninoto (fueler), Nick O’Dell (front-tire changer) and T.J. Semke (jackman).
GET UP AND GO: NAPA Auto Parts is back onboard the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this weekend at Darlington. The Atlanta-based company has been the primary partner for 11 of Elliott’s 13 Cup Series starts at the track “Too Tough to Tame,” as well as adorning his Chevrolet for his 2014 Xfinity Series victory there. Get a look at all the angles of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet here.
WORKFORCE HONOREE: This weekend, as part of NASCAR’s Labor Day Workforce Appreciation initiative, Elliott, the No. 9 team and NAPA Auto Parts will honor Preston Hartsog, owner of Preston’s Automotive Repair in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Hartsog opened Preston’s Automotive Repair in 2017 and is a top NAPA AutoCare dealer, consistently increasing his annual sales. Hartsog’s name will replace Elliott’s above the passenger side of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet at Darlington.
24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 25 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 1st
No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media at the Darlington Raceway media center on Saturday, Sept. 2, at 11:45 a.m. local time.
REGULAR SEASON INFO: Darlington Raceway marks the first race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. With the points reset after the regular-season finale, William Byron is currently the top seed with 36 playoff points and sits 29 points above the elimination line to reach the Round of 12. This year, Byron leads the series in wins (five), stage wins (eight) and laps run in the top five (2,789). His series-leading 877 laps led are also a single-season career-best for the 25-year-old driver. Byron’s nine top-five finishes are tied for the second-most in the sport’s top division. In addition, he ranks third in average running position (10.468), top-10 finishes (13) and laps run in the top 10 (3,744), respectively. Byron’s five victories in the No. 24 this season are tied for the eighth-most wins in a single season by the iconic car number.
CHAMPION-LIKE STATS: Making his fifth consecutive Cup Series playoff appearance, Byron looks poised to make a run for the 2023 title. Among his nine total wins at the top level, five have come at tracks in the playoffs, including each of the final four races. In fact, six of the upcoming 10 tracks have already hosted events this season and Byron has won at three of them (Darlington, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Phoenix Raceway). He also leads all drivers in points earned (261) in those six races by 40 markers over teammate Kyle Larson. Breaking it down further, there are four traditional 1.5-mile tracks in the run to the season finale and Byron leads all drivers in points earned (149) on that length of track in 2023. And with only one road course left, Byron is the most recent winner on left-and-right turn tracks and leads all playoff drivers in laps led (80) at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL.
NEXT GEN DUO: Since the introduction of the Next Gen Cup Series car in 2022, Byron and Rudy Fugle have collected seven wins together. Not only is that the most by a driver but it is also the most by a crew chief in the same time period.
SIMILAR IN SIZE: Sunday’s race at Darlington will mark Byron’s 42nd start on tracks 1 to 1.366 miles in length (Darlington, Dover Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Phoenix and WWT Raceway). In his previous 41 starts, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native has collected one pole award, two wins, eight top-five finishes, 17 top-10s with 440 laps led.
DARLINGTON DEETS: With 10 previous Cup Series starts at Darlington, Byron is looking to continue his success at the venue. Earlier this year, he took home the victory at “The Lady in Black,” after starting fourth and leading seven laps. In the last six races at the South Carolina track, Byron has only finished outside the top 10 twice, with the driver of the No. 24 poised for good finishes before misfortune struck. In the three Next Gen races (since 2022) at Darlington, he has collected the most points (136), 19 more than the next highest point total by a driver.
THE FUGLE FILES: The playoff opener marks the sixth trip to Darlington for crew chief Fugle at the top level of NASCAR. In his past five Cup Series starts, Fugle and the No. 24 team have collected one win, two top-five finishes, three top-10s and 81 laps led. Prior to his Cup Series career, Fugle had only three previous starts at Darlington – two in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and one in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
PIT ROAD PROWESS: After 26 races in the 2023 season, the No. 24 pit crew remains in the top spot with the fastest average four-tire pit stop time of 11.127 seconds. The No. 24 pit crew consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer), Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer), Ryan Patton (tire carrier) and Landon Walker (fueler).
LIBERTY U IS BACK: For Sunday’s race, Byron will sport his Liberty University paint scheme. Featuring a white base with navy flames and red accents, the Liberty University No. 24 will be sure to stand out on track. Liberty University has a long history with Byron starting back in 2014 in the late model ranks. Liberty University has been Training Champions for Christ since it was founded in 1971. Located in the mountains of Central Virginia, Liberty is a liberal arts institution with 17 colleges and schools that offers more than 600 degree programs from the certificate to the doctoral level, on campus and online. Working on an undergraduate degree in strategic communication, Byron is now in his junior year at Liberty University through its online program. See every angle of the No. 24 Liberty University Chevy here.
WORKFORCE APPRECIATION: Over the passenger side window of Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this weekend will be the name Steve Manwarren. He is the Project Manager for Design Renovations at Liberty University and he is being honored during Darlington’s Workforce Appreciation event. Described as a very positive force, Manwarren has been at the university for 10 years and is willing to take on projects that require a lot of work, dedication, and attention to detail.
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE OF MIND: While the fueler on the No. 24 team hails from North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, Walker also has significant ties to the southernmost Carolina state, having played football at Clemson University. The former college offensive tackle earned a scholarship to Clemson in 2007 after being named an All-American offensive lineman in his hometown at East Wilkes High School. While playing at Clemson, Walker recorded 3,131 snaps with 49 starts at tackle over four seasons. In 2011, Walker was named team captain, the same season Clemson went on to win the Atlantic Coast Conference championship. The college football standout was then recruited by Hendrick Motorsports in 2012 and earned a position as the starting fueler for the former No. 5 (now No. 24) team in 2015.
48 Alex Bowman
Age: 30 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Resides: Concord, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Blake Harris
Standings: 19th
No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
BEACH BATTLE: Last Saturday, Alex Bowman contended for a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs in the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway. Needing a win to reach the postseason, he finished sixth for his eighth top-10 finish of the year. While Bowman missed the playoffs for the first time in his career with Hendrick Motorsports, he garnered his second-best result at the “World Center of Racing.”
PURPLE IS THE NEW BLACK: This Sunday, Bowman will head to Darlington Raceway, making his 12th start at “The Lady in Black.” This will be his first start this season at the 1.366-mile venue as he missed the first race at Darlington with a back injury. In his last appearance at the South Carolina track, Bowman took home a top-10 result in the 2022 playoff race. His best result at this track came in May 2020, with a runner-up finish in NASCAR’s return to racing following a shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
SHOT CALLER: Crew chief Blake Harris has been successful at the track “Too Tough to Tame.” In two of his three Cup Series starts atop the pit box at the egg-shaped venue, Harris’ driver earned top-10 results. He has also been part of three wins at the venue as a team member, including Regan Smith’s 2011 victory, which was the first victory for Furniture Row Racing. This Sunday will mark Bowman and Harris’ first start together at Darlington.
RESTART ME UP: Bowman is tied as the fifth-best driver on restarts in 2023, according to data from Racing Insights. That mark is the second-best among the Hendrick Motorsports quartet, as teammate Kyle Larson is second in this statistical category.
OUR BEST ALLY: This weekend, the No. 48 Ally Chevy will carry the name of a top-performing employee at Ally as part of NASCAR’s Workforce Appreciation initiative at Darlington. Rob Kirkland, general manager of a car dealership in Lillington, North Carolina, was selected by his teammates at Ally after 12 years of service with the dealership. Kirkland, a 43-year NASCAR fan, is a proud father of three and is also very active in his local community.
SAVE THEM ALL: Bowman and primary partner Ally are teaming up this year to bring back the Best Friends Animal Society donation effort. This week, the duo will make charitable contributions to Lost Mittens Rescue, which serves the local community in Sumter, South Carolina. Bowman and Ally will donate $4,800 to Best Friends and Lost Mittens Rescue. Ally will increase its donation to $10,000 if the No. 48 team wins.
GAME CHANGER: Bowman has been nominated for the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Pocono Spirit Award for the third quarter thanks to his continued support of the Best Friends Animal Society. He also overcame a fractured vertebra in April and returned to the track after missing four weeks. Bowman and Ally have teamed up to donate over $500,000 since the inception of the donation program in 2021, with the goal to help Best Friends end kill shelters by 2025. The NMPA Pocono Spirit Award is given quarterly, with an overall winner chosen at the end of the year. The award is designed to recognize character and achievement in the face of adversity, sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports. The last Hendrick Motorsports driver to receive the overall award was Jeff Gordon in 2011.
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS /
Hendrick Motorsports
2023
All-Time
Darlington
Races
26
1,335
65
Wins
7*
298*
15*
Poles
6
245*
8
Top 5
31*
1,221*
54*
Top 10
46
2,091*
89*
Laps Led
1,630*
78,947*
3,679*
Stage Wins
12
91
3
*Most **Most (tie)
CLOSING IN ON 300: Hendrick Motorsports is just two points-paying victories away from its milestone 300th win in the NASCAR Cup Series. Twenty drivers have combined to reach the organization’s current total of 298, which is the most Cup Series wins by any team. With seven points-paying victories in 2023, the team has posted its 36th multi-win season in the Cup Series while maintaining a streak of at least two per season for the past 30 years. The organization has gone to victory lane at more racetracks (31) than any other active team.
MILESTONE MOMENTS ON THE HORIZON: Hendrick Motorsports engines have recorded 499 NASCAR national series victories and need just one more to reach 500. With 245 pole awards, the team is just five away from 250 at the Cup level.
PLAYOFF LOWDOWN: The 2023 season marks the 20th year with playoffs in NASCAR. Including this year, Hendrick Motorsports has had at least two drivers compete in the postseason in 18 straight seasons and in 19 of the 20 postseason years. Both marks are the most of all teams. William Byron (five wins) and Kyle Larson (two wins) are in the 16-driver field. In addition, the Nos. 5, 9 and 24 teams will battle for the owner championship.
CHAMPIONSHIP COUNT: The Rick Hendrick-owned team has a series-best 14 Cup Series championships. NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2024 inductee Jimmie Johnson accounts for half of those with seven (2006-10, 2013 and 2016). NASCAR Hall of Famer and team vice chairman Jeff Gordon racked up four titles (1995, 1997-98 and 2001). NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte (1996), Chase Elliott (2020) and Larson (2021) each have one championship for the team. Nine of those titles have come in the playoff era (2004-present).
RECORD SETTERS: Hendrick Motorsports has posted a series-best 55 wins in the playoffs. Johnson has the most with 29 victories. Among the current driver lineup, Elliott tops the board with seven wins, followed by Larson with six and Alex Bowman has one.
ON TOP AT DARLINGTON: The company’s 15 Cup Series wins at Darlington Raceway are the most all-time by a team. Gordon’s seven wins account for nearly half of the total. Johnson posted three wins at the 1.366-mile track, including the organization’s 200th Cup Series win in 2012. Byron, Labonte, Mark Martin, Tim Richmond and Ricky Rudd each tallied one trip to victory lane for the team at the track “Too Tough to Tame.” On 11 occasions, Hendrick Motorsports has won the Southern 500.
SPRING REWIND: In this year’s spring race at Darlington, Byron won to notch the 100th victory for the iconic No. 24, while Elliott finished third. Larson was battling for the lead with less than 15 laps to go in regulation before contact with another competitor took him out of contention. Bowman missed this race due to injury.
NEXT GEN NUMBERS: With 18 wins in the Next Gen era (2022-present), Hendrick Motorsports tops the board for victories with this car. Byron’s seven wins are the most among all drivers, while Larson and Elliott are in a three-way tie for second with five victories.
XFINITY RIDES AGAIN: Hendrick Motorsports will make its fifth start of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season with Kyle Larson at the wheel for Saturday’s race at Darlington. Greg Ives will serve as the team’s crew chief. The team’s previous four Xfinity starts this season have resulted in finishes of second (Byron at Circuit of The Americas), third (Larson at Sonoma Raceway and Chase Elliott at Pocono Raceway) and ninth (Bowman at Watkins Glen International). The organization has one championship and 26 wins in the series, with Tony Stewart recording the last victory to date at Daytona International Speedway in 2009.
EDGE OF SEVENTEEN: For the Xfinity races, the Chevrolet Camaro will sport the No. 17 with sponsorship from HENDRICKCARS.COM. The No. 17 carries special significance to the Hendrick Motorsports family as it is the same number Ricky Hendrick drove and won with in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. That number has won 39 times in Xfinity Series history, and two of the four drivers to win in it – Darrell Waltrip and Terry Labonte – would go on to win in the Cup Series with Hendrick Motorsports.
QUOTABLE /
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Darlington Raceway: “Darlington (Raceway) is a great track for us. I’ve ran really well there, basically my whole career, but just haven’t gotten the win yet in the (NASCAR) Cup Series. Hopefully, this weekend is a little bit different and we can put together a solid 500 miles to get that first win at the track ‘Too Tough to Tame.'”
Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the team’s outlook heading into the playoffs: “Our goal for this weekend is to get our momentum going in the right direction. All year long we’ve had competitive cars and for one reason or another, we’ve had things that just haven’t always lucked out for us. We’ve made some mistakes as a team that I think we’ve learned from and improved on. We’ve been battle-tested. There’s been a lot of battles that we’ve had to fight from issues on track to issues mechanically and things just not going our way that we’ve had to recover from. Now is the time to put all that experience and all of that knowledge into play. I think we can. The team is in a really good spot going into the next 10 weeks. Now we just need to go out there, prove it to ourselves and have a solid day as a team. Hopefully, we’ll come out of Darlington (Raceway) with some momentum that we can use to get us kicked off for the playoffs.”
Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing for the owner title: “I’m glad the car got in. That’s a big deal and a testament to Alan (Gustafson) and our team for just continuing to fight while I was gone. There is a lot of opportunity on that side of things, and it is a really big deal. I would like to go and make some noise on that front.”
Elliott on learnings from previous playoffs: “The sample sets for the rounds are very short. It can work one of two ways, right? You have a bad race and very little time to make it back up, but also with it only being three races, it is not over until the end of that round is over. A lot can change in one race, a lot can change in one half of an event and a lot can change within the opening two stages. Three races is just a compact time period in the grand scheme of the season. I’m always reminded every year that there is something crazy that happens. It comes down to the last race and somebody that you thought would never make it through the round, somehow makes it through the round. Just goes to show you that things can change quickly.”
Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on preparing for this weekend’s race at Darlington: “The spring race was good and I thought we had a solid car. Not as good as we wanted to have, but it’s nice going back there. It’s the first non-restrictor plate track we’re going back to with Chase (Elliott), which is good. That’s made this week feel a little different too as far as preparation goes. Because we raced it with him, we have a little bit clearer direction on what we need to improve on. So, that’s really been the difference this week.”
William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his thoughts for the No. 24 team in the playoffs: “I think we have the potential to run well at all of the tracks in the playoffs. We’ve won at some of the tracks and others we have had good runs at before. We have a good notebook built for our team for the next 10 races. I don’t think you can go into any round too overly confident though. Anything can happen in these races and it’s about executing and minimizing your mistakes. The first few races will be continuing to do what we’ve been doing and doing our best to get to round after round. We obviously want to make it to Phoenix Raceway with a chance to run for the championship, and I think we have the team to do it. You don’t want to only focus on that and make mistakes early on that take you out of contention.”
Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the difference between the spring and summer races at Darlington: “It was super hot the first race this year at Darlington (Raceway) and it will be this weekend. You’ll have that transition from day to night to deal with. We have our notebook from last year on what happens with the car from day to night and we’ll use that for sure to see the trends. That will be the biggest difference though. The extra laps won’t be a big factor from 400 to 500 miles. We will take it stage by stage and we know how many sets of tires we have and will use them based on how the race is playing out. You’re always counting tires at Darlington, so that will be no different. It’s just a different vibe with it being the Southern 500 and it’s one everybody wants to win since it’s a crown jewel race to start the playoffs.”
Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his approach to the next 10 weeks: “We are going to treat the rest of the season as an opportunity. We will still show up to the track focused on winning races – that doesn’t ever stop. Our team is plenty capable every single week. Mr. Hendrick gives us all the resources we need, the team builds fast race cars, and the pit crew stays dialed in during the week, so there is no excuse for us to not go compete the same as we do every other week. Mr. Hendrick likes trophies and I want to get them for him.”
Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the mentality that the team has for the rest of the season: “It stings not being in the playoffs. At the same time, I think through the ups and downs of the season, we’ve always stayed focused on the next week. That won’t change our approach over the rest of the season. When we have executed, we have been able to be in contention. Even in the last six or seven weeks, we have had several races where we have been in the hunt and given ourselves a shot to capitalize. I don’t expect anything different and I am excited for some of these races we have coming up.”
Harris on his approach to the next few races: “Alex (Bowman) and I didn’t get to race together in the spring Darlington race, so this is an important race. Not only does it give us an opportunity to get our bearings together at Darlington (Raceway), but it helps us lay out the foundation for what we will need to bring back next year as well. Then, we go to Kansas (Speedway) where he has had some really strong runs. We are just going to focus on our strengths over the next 10 races just as we would if we were in the playoffs.”
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Darlington Raceway this weekend for the first race of the 2023 Playoffs. Sixteen drivers will be competing with hopes of advancing through the first round of the postseason in the hunt for the 2023 Championship trophy.
There are 10 races in the Playoffs consisting of three events in the Round of 16, the Round of 12 and the Round of 8. The championship title will be determined between the four drivers left standing for the final race of the season at Phoenix Raceway.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series will also compete at Darlington with only two races remaining in the regular season. Eight drivers (Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier, John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, Sam Mayer, Chandler Smith, Sammy Smith, Jeb Burton) have already secured their place in the postseason 12-driver field, leaving four available spots.
All times are Eastern.
NASCAR Press Pass is available throughout the weekend.
Saturday, September 2
10:35 a.m.: Xfinity Series Practice (All Entries) NBC Sports App
11:05 a.m.: Xfinity Series Qualifying (Impound) Groups A & B (Single Vehicle/1 Lap/2 Rounds) NBC Sports App
12:35 p.m.: Cup Series Practice (Groups A & B) USA/MRN/SiriusXM
1:20 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying (Impound) Groups A & B (Single Vehicle/1 Lap/2 Rounds) USA/MRN/SiriusXM
3:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 Stages 45/90/147 Laps = 200.8 Miles USA/MRN/SiriusXM/NBC Sports App Purse: $1,703,502
Sunday, September 3
6 p.m.: Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 Stages 115/230/367 Laps = 501.32 Miles ) USA/MRN/SiriusXM/NBC Sports App Purse: $8,260,258
CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES BITNILE.COM GRAND PRIX OF PORTLAND PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY PORTLAND, OREGON TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE SEPTEMBER 1-3, 2023
CHEVROLET SHIFTS TO THE PENULTIMATE EVENT OF THE 2023 NTT INDYCAR SEASON AT THE BITNILE.COM GRAND PRIX OF PORTLAND SEEKING A REPEAT VICTORY
DETROIT (August 31, 2023) – The penultimate event of the 2023 NTT INDYCAR season is here, and Chevrolet heads to the Pacific Northwest seeking a repeat victory from last year. Scott McLaughlin, driver of the No. 3 Freightliner Team Penske Chevrolet, raced to victory in 2022 in dominating fashion after capturing the NTT P1 Pole Award and leading 104 of the 110-lap event.
“Our win at Portland last year in the Freightliner Chevy was very satisfying because I felt like we controlled the entire weekend,” said McLaughlin. “In the NTT INDYCAR Series those don’t happen often. This series is too competitive to expect to have those happen regularly, but it does give us a lot of confidence that we can go there and get our second win of the season. We’ve had a solid year, pretty consistent. Getting a win at Portland or Laguna Seca to go with the Barber victory would give us a lot of momentum heading into the offseason.”
Since INDYCAR’s 2018 return 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 221 laps at the 12-turn, 1.964-mile natural terrain road course in Portland, Ore. With the Bowtie brand dominating in 2022, Chevrolet looks to go back-to-back with a repeat victory in the second to last race of the year.
Most recently finishing on the podium at World Wide Technology Raceway for Chevrolet in second, and finishing last year’s event in Portland fourth, Pato O’Ward, driver of the No. 5 Arrow McLaren INDYCAR Chevrolet said, “I’ve got some nice memories of Portland, mostly from five years ago when I won my INDY NXT championship. At this level in the NTT INDYCAR Series, it has been a bit of a rollercoaster for me,” reflected O’Ward. “We’ve had some good races and we’ve had some bad races, but I’ve always enjoyed going to that track. I think it’s one of the tracks with the most INDYCAR history that we go to in the year. It’s quite enjoyable to drive around there, so I’m pretty pumped to go back.”
The BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland from Portland International Raceway kicks off first with first practice on Friday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. ET. A second practice opens Saturday in the Pacific Northwest at 12 p.m. ET, with qualifications and the Firestone Fast Six following at 3:30 p.m. ET. Sunday’s 110-lap, 216.04-mile race takes the green flag live on NBC at 3 p.m. ET. All practice and qualifying will be live on Peacock, INDYCAR Radio, and SiriusXM Channel 160.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING (QUOTES):
Felix Rosenqvist, No. 6 Chevrolet at Arrow McLaren INDYCAR:
”Super pumped to be back on the West Coast. Portland is a place where I’ve had some success in the past, so hopefully we can get another positive result here this weekend.”
Alexander Rossi, No. 7 Chevrolet at Arrow McLaren INDYCAR:
”After securing consecutive top-five finishes, we’re definitely carrying some momentum into the penultimate race at Portland. I have a lot of good memories from this track, so while we’ve had our ups and downs this season, I’m looking forward to continuing the trend that we’re on. It’s going to be a beautiful weekend from a weather standpoint, so I hope to see a big turnout from the always knowledgeable Northwest fans.”
Gavin Ward, Race Director at Arrow McLaren INDYCAR:
“It’s a quick turnaround as we head to the West Coast for the final two races of the season. We want to keep tallying the championship points and get Pato (O’Ward), Felix (Rosenqvist) and Alexander (Rossi) a few spots higher in the standings. The road courses will be tough fights, and we expect the field to be tight, as it always is. Let’s hit the road and race.”
Ryan Hunter-Reay, No. 20 Chevrolet at Ed Carpenter Racing:
“I am looking forward to getting back on a classic road course! I’ve been racing at Portland International Raceway since 2003 and it remains basically the same. Portland is notorious for wild starts and restarts in the first corner chicane. Hopefully, we can take advantage of those situations and have a strong, clean weekend for BITNILE.COM in the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland!”
Rinus VeeKay, No. 21 Chevrolet at Ed Carpenter Racing:
“Happy BITNILE.COM Grand Prix race week! I am very excited, I love the race in Portland. It’s a cool track, it’s almost like a European road course I feel like. Talk about variables during a race though! The weekend last year went pretty well but the end result does not show that. This year, our sponsor BITNILE.COM is the sponsor of the race! It’s going to be a great weekend!”
Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 Chevrolet at AJ Foyt Racing:
“I think it’s cool just to be out on the west coast. Portland’s fans are always super nice and very much enjoy racing. I also just enjoy this track as a driver. It’s very satisfying to run laps here.”
Benjamin Pedersen, No. 55 Chevrolet at AJ Foyt Racing:
“With such a short lap, the drivers can make a huge difference from the driving perspective to try to find that tenth of a second throughout the whole lap. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the top six in qualifying within two or three tenths of a second, so it’s super tight. The key is really just putting a lap together and understanding how it flows and really being precise with every little detail.”
Callum Ilott, No. 77 Chevrolet at Juncos Hollinger Racing:
“I’m looking forward to going to Portland; it’s where I did my first race in INDYCAR. We’ve had a decent car there before, so it should be a race where we can make good progress and gain a positive result.
“I enjoy racing on the track as there’s quite a few overtaking places. Heading over to
the west coast is always a nice trip to finish the season off with.”
Agustin Canapino, No. 78 Chevrolet at Juncos Hollinger Racing:
“The team performed well in Portland last year, so I’m feeling really positive about our chances this weekend.
“It will be a long race where anything can happen in the 110-lap distance, so I will try
my best to take advantage of each outing and prepare well for Sunday.”
CHEVROLET AT PORTLAND (V6 2.2-liter twin turbo direct injected era):
Wins: 2
2019: Will Power
2022: Scott McLaughlin
Pole Awards: 2
2018: Will Power
2022: Scott McLaughlin
Podiums at Portland by Team Chevy: 3, since the 2018 return to Portland International Raceway
Laps Led at Portland by Team Chevy: 221 laps led since the 2018 return to Portland International Raceway
2023 CHEVROLET BY THE NUMBERS:
197: NTT INDYCAR SERIES races as V6 engine supplier since 2012 return to INDYCAR.
12: Indianapolis 500 victories by Chevrolet at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
5: Indianapolis 500 wins by Chevrolet since 2012 in the V6 2.2-liter twin turbo direct injected era.
26: Wins by Will Power since 2012 – all with Chevrolet power – most of any driver with the same manufacturer.
14: Consecutive seasons with at least one win by Will Power, including the past 11 with Chevrolet power.
9: Wins from the pole by Will Power with Chevrolet power since 2012, most by any driver.
46: Pole starts by Will Power since 2012 in a Chevrolet-powered car, most of any driver.
*Will Power’s career total of 70 poles makes him the all-time pole winner in INDYCAR.
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.
-Carson Hocevar will make his first NASCAR Cup Series start at Darlington on Sunday -NXS: Starts: 1; Best Start: 28th (2023), Best Finish: 6th (2023); Top 10s: 1; Laps Led: 3 -NCTS: Starts: 4; Best Start: 5th (Fall, 2021), Best Finish: 2nd (2022); Top 5s: 3; Top 10s: 3; Laps Led: 10
2023 NASCAR Cup Series Season Stats
-Starts: 1; Best Start: 26th (WWT Raceway); Best Finish: 36th (WWT Raceway)
2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Season Stats
-Starts: 18; Wins: 3 (Texas, Nashville, Richmond); Best Start: 2nd (North Wilkesboro); Top 5s: 9; Top 10s: 10; Laps led: 223; Current Points Position: 4th
About Sunseeker Resort: Opening in 2023, Florida’s newest luxury resort located in Charlotte Harbor is the first resort property of Sunseeker Resorts, a wholly owned subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Company. Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor occupies over 22 waterfront acres with 785 guest rooms, including 189 Signature Sunsuites™. Set upon the Peace River and Florida Gulf Coast, this premier resort offers 20 original food and beverage concepts; including seven stand-alone restaurants, eleven bars and lounges, two poolside offerings and a 25,000-square-foot multi-dining experience. Additional hotel amenities include a waterfront promenade, two unique rooftop and waterfront pool experiences, 60,000-square-feet of combined convention space, full-service spa and salon, a 7,100-square-foot state-of-the-art fitness center with four group exercise studios with specialty instructor lead classes, three retail and market shops, and an 18-hole championship level golf club exclusive to hotel guests only. The resort is conveniently located within a short drive of Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, Sarasota, St. Petersburg-Clearwater, and Tampa airports. For more information, visit www.sunseekerresorts.com. Follow us on Instagram: @sunseekerresorts and like us on Facebook: @sunseekerresorts.
Welcome to the Club: On Monday, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB announced that NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series standout, Carson Hocevar, would join the team to drive the No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet at Darlington Raceway. Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 will mark Hocevar’s second career Cup start, and a link to the full press release from the announcement can be found here.
NASCAR Cup Series Debut: Carson made his NASCAR Cup Series debut at World Wide Technology Raceway in June, filling in for the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet team. He impressed early on, qualifying ahead of his teammate in the 26th position, but would be relegated to a 36th place finish due to a brake rotor failure which led to a crash.
Focusing on Cup: Hocevar was originally slated to drive the No. 77 Chevrolet entry for Spire Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Darlington this weekend, but has opted to skip the event so he can pour all of his focus into competing in the Cup race. In five NXS starts this season, Hocevar has finished inside the top-10 on two occasions and earned his best finish of sixth place in the spring race held at Darlington.
Darlington Success: Carson can dance quite well with the Lady in Black. Counting five total starts at Darlington, Hocevar has finished inside the top-10 in every single race except for one, where he finished 11th. In last year’s Truck Series race at the historic track, he came close to taking home the checkered flag, and would wind up finishing in the runner up spot.
Championship Contention: 2023 has been an incredible season for Carson Hocevar in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Back in April, the driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet was finally able to break through and secure his first career win at Texas Motor Speedway in an exciting finish. As the year went on, Hocevar would capitalize and win two more races at Nashville Superspeedway and Richmond Raceway. Most recently, at the Milwaukee Mile, Hocevar would challenge GMS Racing’s Grant Enfinger for another win, ultimately finishing second. Currently seeded fourth in the playoffs standings, he has a large buffer to the cutline and has his sights set on advancing to the Round of 8.
Lambert at Darlington: Luke Lambert has 13 starts on top of the pit box in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway. His first race as a Cup crew chief at this track came in 2013, and since that time, his cars have finished in the top-10 five times. In the spring race, the No. 42 team finished in 26th position. Lambert has made three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Darlington, and last year, his team finished second in the spring race and won in the fall.
Quoting Carson Hocevar: Hocevar’s thoughts on competing at Darlington Raceway:
“Darlington is a place that I’ve ran really well in the past, and whether that be in the Xfinity car or the truck, it’s always been a place that I found very familiar right off the bat. It’s a track that I really enjoy racing and running around, so to be able to go there in a Cup car now, a car that I’m hoping to continue to grow on and learn more about, at a place I feel really comfortable at, hopefully brings me up to speed with it. We get to have some fun this week; I’ll definitely be leaning on Erik (Jones). Being from Michigan, we were teammates at one point when we were racing late models, and now to be teammates with him on Sunday will be cool. Obviously, he won this race here last year, so I’ve got a lot of tools and resources to get myself comfortable for Sunday. I’m very thankful of this opportunity from Maury (Gallagher) and Jimmie (Johnson), and look to give the guys on this Sunseeker Resort team a good run and continue to build my notebook with their car.”
Erik Jones, No. 43 Allegiant Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Darlington Raceway Stats
-NCS: Starts: 11; Best Start: 7th; Wins: 2 (2019 and 2022 Southern 500s); Top-5s: 5; Top-10s: 7; Laps Led: 132 -NXS: Starts: 2; Best Start: 10th; Best Finish: 4th (2017); Top-5s: 1; Top-10s: 2
2023 NASCAR Cup Series Season Stats
-Starts: 26; Best Start: 8th; Best Finish: 6th (Talladega); Top-10’s: 5; Laps Led: 17; Current points position: 28th
About Allegiant: Las Vegas-based Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) is an integrated travel company with an airline at its heart, focused on connecting customers with the people, places and experiences that matter most. Since 1999, Allegiant Air has linked travelers in small-to-medium cities to world-class vacation destinations with all-nonstop flights and industry-low average fares. Today, Allegiant’s fleet serves communities across the nation, with base airfares less than half the cost of the average domestic roundtrip ticket. For more information, visit us at Allegiant.com.
Daytona in the Rearview: Jones’ aspirations for securing his second Coke Zero Sugar 400 victory and his final opportunity to enter the playoffs were cut short at Daytona. After successfully avoiding the initial major wreck of the night, Jones surged to the front. He even managed to restart from the front row; however, an untimely pit stop during the final stretch cost the No. 43 valuable track position. Consequently, Jones faced a disadvantage in the closing laps, coming home with an 18th-place finish. This outcome effectively eliminated the No. 43 from playoff contention.
First Southern 500 Win: Erik Jones triumphed his first Southern 500 at the track revered ‘Too Tough to Tame’ in 2019. Beginning the race from the 15th position, Jones earned stage points with a 10th place finish at the conclusion of stage one, and then climbed into the top-five by the end of stage two, adding to his tally of stage points on the day. Jones restarted the final stage in the front row, and would hold the lead for the final 41 laps. When the second-place threat, Kurt Busch, got into the wall with just two laps to go, Jones was able to pull away and took the checkered by an almost four-second margin. Erik led for a total of 79 laps that day, ensuring a dominant victory in his 100th career start.
The No. 43 Returns to Victory Lane: To have your face grace the Southern 500 trophy is a prestigious honor, but achieving this feat twice is an accomplishment held only by a select few drivers in NASCAR’s storied 75-year history. Erik Jones is among the fortunate few who have won a second dance with ‘The Lady in Black’. Last year, Jones was at the helm for one of the most memorable races of the year in the Southern 500, overcoming the odds stacked against him to bring the iconic No. 43 car back to the winner’s circle. His victory, which was the first for the organization, marked the historic 200th win for the No. 43 car, and was its first win since the July race held at Daytona in 2014. Notably, Jones became the first non-playoff driver to secure victory in the playoff opener at Darlington.
Dave at Darlington: Dave Elenz has found success in both the Xfinity Series and Cup Series, taking home the checkered flag in his most recent attempt in the Xfinity Series in 2020, on top of his most recent attempt at the Southern 500 last year. Elenz has three starts in the Cup Series, including last year’s victory, and has led for a total of 24 laps. In nine Xfinity starts, Elenz holds one win, one pole, 142 laps led, six top-fives, and eight top-10 finishes. Elenz’s Xfinity cars have finished inside the top-10 in all but one of his starts.
A Track with History: Darlington is known to be one of NASCAR’s oldest tracks and with Richard Petty being one of the drivers with an extensive history, he holds stats that will most likely never be touched again. ‘The King’ holds the record with 65 starts at the 1.36-mile asphalt track, and in those 65 starts Petty holds 4 poles, 3 wins, a record-breaking 25 Top-5s, 34 top-10s, and 2,391 laps led.
One Short of the Bosses: Jones has the opportunity to join some elite company should he be able to pull off a third win at Darlington. LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s own Jimmie Johnson and Richard Petty each hold three race wins at the historic track. Johnson won back-to-back in 2004 and later followed up with another victory in 2012, while Richard Petty won his first race in 1966 and then went back-to-back the next year in 1967. Combined, Johnson and Petty have led for a staggering 2,954 laps at “The Lady in Black”.
READwithErik: Fans are in for a special treat as they can join Erik Jones and his furry friend Oscar in the NASCAR Fan Zone at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday for a #READwithErik session. During this event, Jones will read “Hot Rod, Hot Dog” by Todd H. Doodler and donate copies of the book to a limited number of attendees.
Quoting Erik Jones: “Darlington is always a place I am excited to go to. Darlington for me has always been a good track; I always look forward to getting there and having an opportunity to run well. We were fortunate to win this race last year, so with us going back, hopes are high. I think everyone has gotten better, but I believe we have a good car and a solid opportunity to run really well. So, I always look forward to going to Darlington and having an opportunity to win a third Southern 500; that would be an awesome accomplishment.”
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.
Larry Jackson’s #84 in the O’Neil Electric Dodge at Circuit ICAR.
Photo Credit: Matthew Murnaghan
(August 31, 2023) Get ready for an electrifying performance as Larry Jackson gears up to race the #84 O’Neil Electric Dodge in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) on Sunday, September 3rd.
Currently sitting ninth in the overall championship standings, Jackson is determined to make his mark on the track and improve his position in the championship.
After a promising spring race at CTMP where he finished 13th, Jackson is looking to build on that experience for an even more impressive performance in the #84 O’Neil Electric Dodge this time around.
Adding to the excitement, a strong contingent of O’Neil Electric employees and suppliers will be present at the race, showing their unwavering support for Jackson and the #84 O’Neil Electric Dodge
Weekend Race Event Preview September 3rd, Green Flag 1PM WeatherTech 200 Race 13 of 14 in 2023 This is the 26th NASCAR Pinty’s Series race at CTMP
The Track: 2.459-mile, ten turn road course (51-laps)
Best finish: 10th, Spring race 2022
Quote: “It’s great to be back at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and to have the opportunity to race the #84 O’Neil Electric Dodge once again. The support from O’Neil Electric employees and suppliers is very motivating, and I’m determined to deliver a performance that makes them proud. Let’s make this race one to remember!” -Larry Jackson, Driver #84 O’Neil Electric Dodge
TV & Live Streaming All races will be streamed live on TSN+ and through FloRacing in the United States. The WeatherTech 200 will also air on TSN and on RDS2, dates and times TBD.
The 2023 NASCAR Pinty’s Series will consist of 14 total races in five provinces on a mixture of oval tracks along with road and street courses.
Race fans can get the latest information about Larry Jackson and the #84 O’Neil Electric team on these social channels.
About O’Neil Electric Supply Serving the electrical and construction industry since 1965, O’Neil Electric Supply is a proud Canadian owned, independent wholesale supplier of premium electrical products in the GTA and across Ontario. O’Neil Electric is also open to the public and supplies all premium brands from major manufacturers, in a complete range of electrical products in lighting, controls, power distribution equipment, conduit, wire, boxes, devices, heating & ventilation, tools and safety equipment and is well known as one of the largest stocking distributors in the GTA. Learn more about O’Neil Electric Supply http://www.oneilelectric.com/about-us-2-about-us
DJ Kennington driving the #17 Castrol EDGE Dodge at the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres - Credit: Matthew Murnaghan
August 31, 2023. The excitement is building for DJ Kennington and the #17 Castrol EDGE Dodge team as the NASCAR Pinty’s Series gears up for the final road course event of 2023 NASCAR Pinty’s Series season at the iconic Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) on Sunday, September 3rd.
Kennington’s journey through the NASCAR Pinty’s Series events at CTMP has been nothing short of inspiring. A winner on the world class race circuit in 2011, his record of consistent top performances in unparalleled. In 25 previous races at CTMP Kennington has crossed the finish line in his #17 Castrol EDGE Dodge inside the top ten on 22 occasions.
Using his skill and unyielding determination, Kennington powered his #17 Castrol EDGE Dodge to an eighth-place finish at the Spring race at CTMP. The team’s performance has been on the rise as of late and they’re looking for more success this weekend to continue the climb in the overall championship standings.
Here’s what you need to know.
Weekend Race Event Preview Saturday May 21st Green Flag 1PM WeatherTech 200 Race 13 of 14 in 2023 This is the 26th NASCAR Pinty’s Series race at CTMP
The Track: 2.459-mile, ten turn road course (51-laps)
Best finish: Winner in 2011
Career Victories: 24
Most Recent Win: Race one, Sutherland Automotive Speedway, 2022
DJ Quote: “We’ve definitely made some gains with the Castrol EDGE Dodge as the season has gone along. This weekend we’ll take what we’ve learned so far and I think we can be even better. There’s always a great turn out at CTMP and a lot of support for us and that’s a real motivator for our team.”
TV & Live Streaming All races are streamed live on TSN+ in Canada and through FloRacing in the United States. The WeatherTech 200 will air on TSN and on RDS2, date and time TBD.
Race fans can follow DJ Kennington and the #17 Castrol EDGE Dodge team on their official social media platforms:
