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

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

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

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

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

TOYOTA TOP FUEL FINISHING POSITIONS 

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

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR FINISHING POSITIONS 

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

TOYOTA QUOTES

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

TF Final Result: Winner

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

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

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

FC Final Result: Winner

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

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

About Toyota

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RFK Racing Kicks off NASCAR Playoffs with Strong Showing at Darlington

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Darlington

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

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Crawford Shows Strong Pace once again at Monza

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4DAVID THORNDYKE MAKES SUCCESSFUL RETURN AT CTMP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

STRONG SHOWING FOR KENNINGTON IN CASTROL EDGE DODGE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, as well as connected services. Additionally, Ford is establishing leadership positions in mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 176,000 people worldwide. More information about the company, its products and Ford Credit is available at corporate.ford.com.
*See seller for limited-warranty details.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Twitter: @larryjacksonvrm
Instagram: @larryjackson84

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

Cadillac at Fuji: Looking to continue progress

By
Official Release
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No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R aims for first victory at penultimate race of WEC season

DETROIT (Sept. 4, 2023) – The No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R team’s goals for the sixth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship at Fuji International Speedway carry over from the last outing: minimize mistakes, remain focused and finish on the podium again — or better.

Cadillac Racing’s Hypercar will make its initial visit to the racetrack nestled in the foothills of iconic Mount Fuji and compete against 11 others in the classification over the six-hour duration.

Fuji International Superspeedway, which opened in 1965, has been a staple on the WEC calendar since 2012. No race was contested in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic.

The 16-turn, 2.84-mile road course in Sizouka Prefecture has a blend of technical and high-speed sections, including one of the longest straights in motorsports (0.92 of a mile).

The No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R will aim for its second podium finish of the season. The reliability of the racecar with the distinctive sound of its 5.5-liter V8 naturally aspirated engine has led to four top-five finishes in the five races. It is one of only five Hypercars to be running at the finish of each race.

Race and qualifying pace – the No. 2 Cadillac entry was only 0.231 of a second off the pole-winning lap time at Spa and 0.362 of a second arrears at Monza – have also been positives. Continued improvements for the first-year WEC program will be realized through experience on the various racing circuits and learning the nuances of the hybrid car that made its testing debut in July 2022.

“Our previous race, at Monza, we made another good step forward from Le Mans but we didn’t get the results to show for it,” said Earl Bamber, who co-drives the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R with Alex Lynn and Richard Westbrook. “We’re looking for a bit of redemption and to be back in the top five where we know where we can be. Toyota and Ferrari are super quick, but we are close on the edge to be in front of them.”

Cadillac Racing is third in the Hypercar Manufacturer Championship standings.

The Six Hours of Fuji for the FIA World Endurance Championship is scheduled for 11 a.m. JST Sunday /10 p.m. ET Saturday. The race will air live in the U.S. on MotorTrend with live streaming coverage of the race and qualifying on the MotorTrend Plus app. Radio Le Mans will broadcast qualifying and the race.

Cadillac Racing Six Hours of Fuji notes

  • Alex Lynn made his FIA WEC debut in 2016 at Fuji in an LMP2 entry. He also co-dove an LMP2 entry in 2022 and contested LMGTE Pro entries in 2018 and ’19 at the circuit.
  • Alex Lynn celebrates his 30th birthday Sept. 17.
  • Earl Bamber co-drove an LMP1 entry in the FIA WEC race at Fuji in 2017 and co-drove an LMGTE Am entry in 2015.
  • Stephen Mitas, FIA WEC team manager and strategist, was Earl Bamber’s race engineer for the 2015 and ’17 24 Hours of Le Mans overall victories.
  • The No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R has qualified in the top five in three of the five races, with a best starting position of fourth at Spa-Francorchamps.
  • The Cadillac Hypercar was only 0.231 of a second off the pole-winning lap time at Spa and 0.362 of a second arrears at Monza.
  • The No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R has finished in the top five in four of the five races.
  • The No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R is one of only five Hypercars to be running at the finish in all five races.
  • In the four races leading into Monza, the Cadillac Racing Hypercar advanced a total of seven positions.
  • The No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R has a best finish of third in the centenary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
  • Like most of the other circuits on the WEC calendar, Cadillac Racing is making its first visit to Fuji.
  • Cadillac Racing, which is third in the Manufacturer Championship, is contesting its first full season of FIA WEC competition.

No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R crew principals

Team manager-Stephen Mitas Strategy engineer-Jonathan Moury

Race engineer-Carlo Vermeulen Performance engineer-Carlo Miano

Crew chief-Dane Beamsley

2023 FIA WEC results

Sebring (8 hours): Qualified fifth; finished fourth

Portugal (6 hours): Qualified eighth; finished fourth

Spa (6 hours): Qualified fourth; finished fifth

Le Mans (24 hours): Qualified sixth; finished third

Monza (6 hours): Qualified fifth; finished 10th

Championships: Cadillac is third in the Manufacturer Championship

                         The No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R is fifth in the Drivers Championship

What they’re saying

Earl Bamber: “Looking forward to Fuji. Our previous race, at Monza, we made another good step forward from Le Mans but we didn’t get the results to show for it. We’re looking for a bit of redemption and to be back in the top five where we know where we can be. Fuji is one of the bright tracks on the calendar and I think it will also be interesting for us as it’s a circuit where none of our competitors regularly test, which is something we’ve gone up against through the regular season. So we’re curious to see how that plays out against our competitors. It’s going to be hot and humid as well, which is going to be a big challenge as the race is normally run later in the year. It will be a lot of new things for everyone. I think everyone at Cadillac Racing is up for the challenge.”

Alex Lynn: “I always look forward to racing at Fuji, which holds a special place in my memory. It’s a great race circuit with a beautiful backdrop. On the competition side, I think we have at least another podium in us this season. The car deserves that and this team deserves another result this year and we’ll be going to Fuji with a lot of motivation to achieve that.”

Richard Westbrook: “Really looking forward to my first time in Japan. We’ll look to keep progressing like we have done. It has been a little frustrating with some of the results, which really haven’t reflected where we are. The highlight is obviously the podium at Le Mans, but we feel like there’s more than that in our performance. We’ve done a lot of prep for Fuji, particularly in the simulator. We feel like it could be a good track for our car, but again it is going into a bit of the unknown. We want to collect as many points as we can and finish in the top three in the championship, which is where we deserve to be.”

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