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The Electrifying Innovation: Exploring the Corvette E-Ray

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SM
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Photo by MurdaShots

The automotive industry is undergoing a significant transformation, with electric vehicles taking center stage in pursuing sustainable and high-performance mobility solutions. One of the most exciting developments in this realm is the 2024 Corvette E-Ray, part electric and part V8 version of the iconic Corvette sports car. In this article, we delve into the world of the Corvette E-Ray, exploring its electrifying innovation, cutting-edge technology, performance capabilities, and its role in shaping the future of sports car design.

Electrifying the Iconic

The Corvette E-Ray represents a bold leap into the future for an automotive legend. Chevrolet, the manufacturer behind the Corvette, has embraced the electric revolution while preserving the essence enthusiasts have cherished for generations. This adaptation is more than just a response to the shifting automotive landscape; it’s a testament to the brand’s commitment to innovation and performance.

Design Meets Efficiency

The design of the Corvette E-Ray showcases a harmonious blend of aesthetics and efficiency. Retaining the sleek and dynamic lines of the traditional Corvette, the E-Ray integrates electric technology seamlessly. The absence of a conventional engine in the front allows for a redesigned front end that optimizes aerodynamics and airflow. This design approach enhances the car’s visual appeal and contributes to its overall efficiency and range.

Performance Redefined

While the Corvette E-Ray embraces electric propulsion, it does not compromise performance. It redefines the concept of speed and power. The E-ray is expected to return around 19 mpg combined, the same as the Stingray.

The E-Ray has a 495-hp 6.2-liter V-8 plucked from the Stingray Z51 plus the 160 horsepower from the e‑AWD (495 horsepower from the 6.2L LT2 V8 engine plus the 160 horsepower from the e‑AWD), and it will go from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, creating a heart-pounding acceleration experience.

The vehicle’s electric powertrain also ensures consistent power delivery, eliminating the need for gear shifts and offering a seamless and exhilarating ride.

Innovative Battery Technology

Its 1.9 kWh lithium‑ion battery technology is at the heart of the Corvette E-Ray’s electrification for the first time. The vehicle utilizes cutting-edge lithium-ion battery packs that are self‑charging, picking up energy as you drive, and include an integrated power electronics system designed for efficiency, performance, and responsiveness.

Preserving the Soundtrack

Enthusiasts often associate the roar of a high-performance engine with the thrill of driving. The Corvette E-Ray preserves this auditory experience through advanced sound engineering. Engineers have meticulously crafted an artificial engine note that mirrors the resonating growl of a traditional V8 engine, ensuring that drivers are still immersed in the characteristic sounds of power and speed.

Driving the Future Forward

The Corvette E-Ray’s electrifying innovation transcends its own model and influences the broader landscape of sports car design and engineering. As other manufacturers follow suit with their electrified offerings, the Corvette E-Ray stands as a symbol of technological advancement, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of performance vehicles.

Conclusion

This fall, the Corvette E-Ray will arrive at a starting price of $104,295 for the targa and $111,295 for the convertible.

The Corvette E-Ray is more than an evolution, it’s a revolution of electrifying innovation that signifies a new era for the sports car industry that embraces sustainability, performance, and cutting-edge technology. As electric vehicles become increasingly prominent on roads worldwide, the Corvette E-Ray paves the way for a future where high-speed exhilaration and environmental responsibility coexist harmoniously.

For more in-depth information and a closer look at the electrifying innovations of the Corvette E-Ray, enthusiasts can visit https://corvetteerays.com.

The Basics Of Tipping Etiquette

By
SM
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Photo by Pixabay

Whether you’re out getting a bite to eat with your Tinder date or filling your car up with fuel for a road trip, you’ve probably been in countless situations where service staff must assist you. You might be wondering when and how to tip correctly. 

Even if you have worked in the service industry, the etiquette of tipping is not always clear. In some countries, it’s even frowned upon to tip restaurant staff. 

There’s also always a new viral story on social media shaming individuals for treating service staff poorly and tipping insultingly small amounts, absurdly large amounts, or not at all. While there’s a good chance you don’t want to go viral for all the wrong reasons, it’s more probable that you want to play your part in society well. 

So we’ve rounded up the basics of tipping etiquette to help you navigate your way as a pleasant customer. 

Restaurant Waiters

It’s no secret that working in the restaurant industry as a waiter can be highly taxing. For some service staff in this industry, tips make it possible to get by on minimum wage. 

However, when tipping, you’ll want to avoid insulting tips of less than 10% of the total bill, before taxes. The general tipping guideline is 10% of the bill for decent service, 15% for excellent service, and 25% for superior service. There’s no cap on tipping waiters, so feel free to tip as much as you can afford, provided you don’t tip less than 10%.

Gas Station Attendants

When tipping gas station attendants in NJ, bear in mind that you don’t need to tip attendants. In some states, it’s against the law to offer tips to gas station attendants. The primary reason for these laws is to regulate pricing and maintain transparency with customers. 

However, if you are visiting a state where it’s legal to tip attendants and you feel compelled to show appreciation for the services you receive, consider non-monetary tipping. Offering a cold drink or even a snack is a great option. Otherwise, you can acknowledge excellent services with polite interactions and verbal expressions of gratitude. 

Taxi Drivers

Whether you’re getting around with regular yellow taxis or enjoying the convenience of rent with driver and ride-share services like Uber, these service staff are generally also entitled to tips. The app will suggest different tip options, although tipping suggestions start at 20% of the total ride cost. It makes sense to apply this rule of thumb to cab drivers. 

Beauty Salon Services

Nothing beats the fresh feeling of having your hair or nails done at your favorite salon. But are you tipping these expert service staff enough to show appreciation? Many customers assume that it’s unnecessary to tip because beauty treatments already cost quite a bit. But tipping 10% of the bill is the general standard in the industry. This will vary depending on the salon service and what you are getting. So it would be wise to look into a nail salon tipping guide, as well as a hairstylist tipping guide, just so you can have a better idea before you go.

Whether you’re eating out, filling up with gas, or getting your nails done, remember to tip according to the general standards and express verbal gratitude to the service staff. 

Ford Performance NASCAR – Watkins Glen International Advance

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Official Release
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WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL NOTES

Saturday, August 19 – NASCAR XFINITY Series, 3:30 p.m. ET (USA)
Sunday, August 20 – NASCAR Cup Series, 3 p.m. ET (USA)

The NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series travel East to the New York Finger Lakes region to complete consecutive weeks of road course racing with Watkins Glen International. The NASCAR Playoff outlook grows more intense in the final regular season events, as Mustang currently holds six Cup and two Xfinity spots above the cutline. Team Penske’s Joey Logano has notably seen a lot of success at The Glen, which includes a weekend sweep in the 2015 season.

REGULAR SEASON WINDING DOWN

There are only two races remaining in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season and four Ford drivers have officially clinched postseason berths after Michael McDowell’s win on Sunday. He joins fellow winners Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Chris Buescher while Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski remain above the cutline in points.

BUESCHER ROAD COURSE STREAK ENDS

Chris Buescher’s streak of top-10 finishes on road courses barely came to an end on Sunday at Indianapolis as his 11th-place run ended his streak at eight. Buescher’s average finish, including Sunday’s result, is a sparkling 7.3 in those events.

2023 Indy – P11

2023 Chicago – P10

2023 Sonoma – P4

2023 COTA – P8

2022 Roval – P6

2022 Watkins Glen – P9

2022 Indy – P10

2022 Road America – P6

2022 Sonoma – P2

Brad Keselowski: “The Glen is its own track. It’s got banking, it’s got high-speeds, and most road courses don’t have that, so there’s not a ton that carries over. A little bit with some braking stuff, but not much. Long green flag runs, aggressive battling on restarts, especially through the bus stop and then probably fuel mileage at the end. I’ve finished second there three years in a row (2011-2013), and I remember just thinking, ‘Darn, I should have won one of these races.’”

Ryan Blaney: “I think there are some things you can take (from one road course to another). The Glen is different – a ton of elevation, a lot of grip. Sonoma has more elevation than The Glen, but the surfaces are so much different, so you really can’t take much from there. You’re so much faster at The Glen. One of the biggest things that you try to get good at but you can’t really predict at any other road course is the bus stop at The Glen. That’s a huge place to make time and how your car reacts off the curbs – kind of jumping all four tires. It’s hard to really learn anywhere else because there is no other place you really do that. I think there are some things you can take: Like from Indy, heavy braking zones. There are places that you can really take road course to road course like how your car reacts under heavy braking zones. I think that’s one of the biggest things we look for when we go to these road courses – comparing and trying to learn for each one is how your car brakes. Your Turn 1 and 7 at Indy, that’s kind of the same like Turn 1 into Watkins Glen… I think it’s 10 off the back-stretch. I think those are the basics you take away.”

Ryan Preece: “Yeah, so from a road course perspective, I didn’t run Formula 1, IndyCar or V8 Supercars, but it’s always something I’ve enjoyed because of my short track background – heavy braking and the downshifting. All those little things you do as a race car driver. The road course races are ones I look forward to being aggressive and having good days.”

Chase Briscoe: “It’ll be nice to sort of be in that road course rhythm. I don’t think at any other time in the year we run back-to-back like this, so it’ll be nice to be in that mindset moving forward. Last year, we were actually really good there, but just got caught up in a wreck. We won the first stage and then just fell apart after the wreck. We had speed there last year, so hopefully we can have speed again this year. That’s a track where you can definitely play some strategy and do some things. I’m looking forward to it. I always feel like it’s always a beautiful weekend up there, so it should be a good.”

Austin Cindric: “Watkins really only has two left-handers, so it’s probably one of the more asymmetrical places you go to. Last year’s qualifying was really intense. You can really push the car quite hard and be very aggressive. It’s a very high-speed racetrack on very high loads. There are not a lot of braking opportunities, so you’re really getting the back-spin of the tires and the chassis less than the brakes.”

HISTORIC SWEEP

Joey Logano became the first driver to sweep a NASCAR Xfinity/Cup weekend at Watkins Glen International when he did it in 2015. Fuel mileage ended up deciding the Cup race as leader Kevin Harvick ran out on the last turn, which allowed Logano to pass him and make it to the finish line first. The win was Logano’s first on a road course and also marked the first series triumph for car owner Roger Penske at the historic track.

CLASSIC FINISH

One of the all-time classic finishes at Watkins Glen International came when Marcos Ambrose went slip sliding away on the final lap, but still resulted in him winning the NASCAR Cup Series race for the second straight time on August 12, 2012. In a race that had more twists and turns over the final three laps than many can remember in recent years, Ambrose was the one who survived a massive streak of oil that had been laid down on the track, allowing him to pass Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski for Ford’s third win of the season. Busch appeared to be headed toward victory, but as he came into turn one on the final lap, he slipped in some oil and got loose. Keselowski came up from behind and hit Busch, sending him spinning off the track. A battle between Ambrose and Keselowski ensued from that point with both drivers trying to avoid the slickness that had covered the course. Ambrose followed Keselowski through the grass at one point, but was able to get by in the treacherous carousel when Keselowski slid one final time.

THREE STRAIGHT

Mark Martin became the first driver to win three straight NASCAR Cup Series races at Watkins Glen International, and he capped that streak on Aug. 13, 1995 after passing Wally Dallenbach, Jr. on lap 84 of the 90-lap event. Martin, who led a race-high 61 circuits overall, held off the road racing specialist to win by one second. That victory completed a three-year run that saw him not only sit on the pole every time but lead 183-of-270 laps (68%).

FINAL VICTORY

When Chemung, NY, native Geoffrey Bodine took the checkered flag in the No. 7 QVC Ford Thunderbird on Aug. 11, 1996 he established a strategy that hadn’t been used to that point. He, along with crew chief Paul Andrews, employed an “only stop when you have to” strategy and that resulted in making only two stops in the 90-lap event, compared to three for everyone else. Bodine passed Ken Schrader with eight laps to go and then held off Terry Labonte over the final laps to win. That marked the 18th and final victory of his NASCAR Cup Series career, and it came in front of his hometown fans.

66-FOR-66

The first time Ford won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International was when Marvin Panch drove the Wood Brothers to victory on July 18, 1965. There were only 19 cars in the field that day and it proved to be a Ford show as all 66 laps were led by three drivers sporting the Blue Oval. Ned Jarrett, who finished second, led the first lap before Junior Johnson passed him on lap 2. Johnson led the pack for 12 circuits until his engine blew, which enabled Panch to inherit a lead he never gave up, going the final 53 laps and making it first to the checkered flag. The win was Panch’s fourth of the season and next-to-last in his career, which ended with 17 victories.

WATKINS GLEN RECORD

Saturday’s race will be Riley Herbst’s third career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Watkins Glen International. In his previous two, he’s started in the top 10 both times with finishes of 13th and 7th. Likewise, Cole Custer has had great consistency, posting an average finish of 9.0 in his four series starts with a best finish of 6th in 2018.

FORD’S NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS

AT WATKINS GLEN

1965 – Marvin Panch

1993 – Mark Martin

1994 – Mark Martin

1995 – Mark Martin

1995 – Mark Martin

1996 – Geoffrey Bodine

2011 – Marcos Ambrose

2012 – Marcos Ambrose

2015 – Joey Logano

FORD’S NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WINNERS

AT WATKINS GLEN

1993 – Bill Elliott

2008 – Marcos Ambrose

2012 – Carl Edwards

2013 – Brad Keselowski

2014 – Marcos Ambrose

2015 – Joey Logano

2016 – Joey Logano

2018 – Joey Logano

2019 – Austin Cindric

Siemens Racing: Martin Truex Jr. Watkins Glen Advance

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Official Release
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Martin Truex Jr.
Watkins Glen Advance
No. 19 Siemens Toyota Camry TRD for Joe Gibbs Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Go Bowling at the Glen (Round 25 of 36)

● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 20

● Location: Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International

● Layout: 2.45-mile, 7-turn road course

● Laps/Miles: 90 laps / 220.5 miles

● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 20 laps / Stage 2: 20 laps / Final Stage: 50 laps

● TV/Radio: USA Network / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Martin Truex Jr., and the No. 19 team for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) set the tone for the season right out of the gate by winning the 150-lap feature in the non-points Clash at the Coliseum on Feb. 5 in Los Angeles. Truex won his heat race, then went on to lead the final 25 laps of the feature en route to a victory that gave him and the team much-needed momentum heading into the 2023 season. While the team was knocking on the door over the first 10 points-paying races, the breakthrough win finally came at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway on May 1, and Truex has added two more points-paying victories and four overall this season – June 11 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway and July 17 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon.

● Siemens will appear as primary sponsor for the first time for Truex and the No. 19 team this weekend at Watkins Glen. Siemens has worked with JGR since 1999 and is the official technology partner for Joe Gibbs Racing. Over the years, JGR has leveraged Siemens’ software solutions to solve some of the most extreme engineering challenges. JGR engineers rely on Siemens to help them create a digital twin of the car so they can simulate its performance and try different combinations virtually. With the introduction of the NextGen car, these design and simulation capabilities have been helpful to the team as it learns and grows each week.

● 34 and Counting: Truex’s win at New Hampshire was the 34th of his Cup Series career, putting him in a tie with 2004 Cup Series champion Kurt Busch for 25th on the all-time win list in NASCAR’s top series.

● Road-Course Ace: Truex has a total of five wins, 13 top-five finishes, and 18 top-10s at the three permanent road-course venues on the Cup Series schedule – Sonoma, Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, and Watkins Glen. Four of those wins came at Sonoma and one at Watkins Glen.

● Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen marks the fifth of six road-course races on the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series schedule. Truex finished 17th in the first road-course race of the year March 26 at COTA before bringing home the June 11 win at Sonoma, He was 32nd in the series’ inaugural street race July 2 in downtown Chicago, and seventh this past Sunday on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The final road-course race of the season is Oct. 8 on the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval.

● So far this season, Truex has scored three points-paying wins, eight top-five finishes, 13 top-10s and has led an impressive 828 laps through 24 races. To put the laps-led number in perspective, Truex led just 572 during the entire 36-race season in 2022.

● Ahead at this Stage: With his two stage wins at Michigan two weeks ago, Truex extended his lead in the NASCAR Cup Series with 61 stage wins since the beginning of the stage era in 2017. He is the only driver with 10 or more stage sweeps with another sweep coming at Michigan, and that most recent sweep of the opening two stages added more valuable playoff points to carry into and through the postseason. Truex also leads the series all-time in stage points with 1,967.

● After last weekend’s seventh-place finish at Indianapolis, Truex retained his lead in the Cup Series driver standings. He has 830 points, 60 ahead of second-place JGR teammate Denny Hamlin. The regular-season champion will receive 15 playoff points when the postseason begins Labor Day weekend in September. Between his stage points and the playoff points earned with his three victories, Truex now has accumulated 20 playoff points this season. Just two races remain in the regular season and Truex can clinch the regular season championship and the bonus points following this weekend’s race at Watkins Glen if he has an advantage of 56 points or more over second-place.

Martin Truex Jr., Driver of the No. 19 Siemens Toyota Camry TRD

How important is getting the corner right in turn one heading up into the esses to set up the rest of your lap at Watkins Glen?

“It’s a tough corner. It’s downhill and bumpy and heaving-braking, it sets up the whole run through the esses. The esses are really fast and you have to come out of (turn) one up to speed. If you bleed time off of turn one, your whole lap is over, so it’s very critical. It’s a high-speed track and a momentum track so they are all critical spots, but that’s what starts the lap, so it’s the first most important part there. And, if you make it through there, you have to navigate the bus stop and that’s probably the biggest challenge at the track. We have Siemens on board with us this week for the first time, so it’s a good track for them to be along with us, a place I like a lot. They’ve been a technology partner with JGR since 1999 and they do a lot of things behind the scenes to help our engineers to keep learning and make us better. Excited to have them on our car this weekend at Watkins Glen.”

With the tracks you visit during the last three races of the regular season not part of the playoffs, do these races matter as much as others at tracks that are in the playoffs?

“Every single race is important. I don’t know how anyone can say they don’t matter. We are looking at locking up 15 bonus points by trying to get the regular-season championship. It’s an opportunity to lock up a lot of bonus points and that’s what matters in the playoffs. Every race is equally important. All 26 matter and all 26 can earn you points and do things that will help you in the playoffs. For us, it’s business as usual and these races are all important.”

Denny Hamlin said on his podcast that you and your team are hot right now and gauging himself on what your team is doing. How does it feel to be that guy within JGR right now?

“It’s a lot of fun. It wasn’t that long ago – last year – when I was the guy at the bottom. Things change quickly in this sport. Certainly, my team is doing a great job. They have all year long and we’re just clicking. I think we made a lot of changes and did a lot of things last year to try to learn and those things are paying off this year. We’ve always been known to be aggressive and been learning setups for this car and just learning as much as we can. Hopefully we haven’t peaked too soon and we can keep it going and continue to do what we’ve been doing throughout the playoffs.”

No. 19 Siemens Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Martin Truex Jr.

Hometown: Mayetta, New Jersey

Crew Chief: James Small

Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

Car Chief: Chris Jones

Hometown: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

Engineer: Nick Burton

Hometown: Arvada, California

Engineer: Jeff Curtis

Hometown: Fairfax Station, Virginia

Spotter: Drew Herring

Hometown: Benson, North Carolina

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Ryan Martin

Hometown: Mechanicsburg, Virgina

Mechanic: Todd Carmichael

Hometown: Redding, California

Interior/Tire Specialist: Tommy DiBlasi

Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Engine Tuner: Gregg Huls

Hometown: Beatrice, Nebraska

Transporter Driver: Kyle Bazzell

Hometown: Fairbury, Illinois

Transporter Driver: Eddie DeGroot

Hometown: Baldwinsville, New York

Over-The-Wall Crew Members

Gas Man: Matt Tyrrell

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Jackman: Kellen Mills

Hometown: Mesa, Arizona

Tire Carrier: CJ Bailey

Hometown: Outer Banks, North Carolina

Front Tire Changer: Lee Cunningham

Hometown: Leaf River, Illinois

Rear Tire Changer: Danny Olszowy

Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

Michael McDowell and the No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford Mustang Team Watkins Glen Competition Notes

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Official Release
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TEAM AND RACE NOTES

The NASCAR Cup Series is back at a road course this weekend at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. Watkins Glen is a traditional road course. Michael McDowell will be back with the Love’s Travel Stops colors this weekend and ready to run it back after Sunday’s win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.

The Love’s Travel Stops team is now locked into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and will be looking to advance their seeding for a championship run.

Track activity will begin Saturday with practice and qualifying at 12:30 p.m. ET. Sunday’s 90-lap race is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET on the USA Network.

COMPETITION NOTES

McDowell and the Love’s Travel Stops team is currently the 12th-seed in the upcoming playoffs in three weeks. Winning a race stage and the race will give McDowell additional playoff points and advance his seeding.

Going to Watkins Glen, McDowell and the team feel confident of being in contention again. McDowell will be making his fifth start for Front Row Motorsports at Watkins Glen. He started third and finished sixth last year to earn his first top-10 at the track in the Cup Series.

The team has finished in the top-10 (seventh) in the last two road course races this season.

CREW CHIEF TRAVIS PETERSON

“I said it. We’re confident in our road course package this season. Watkins Glen is different than the others. It’s a really fast track and you have to have a lot of speed around there. So, we work on that in our setup, but also ensure that Michael has what he wants.”

DRIVER MICHAEL MCDOWELL

“At Watkins Glen, I always know what I need out of the car. Where this team is good, and why we were good last year, our Love’s guys can quickly adjust in a short practice or qualifying. I can also give them feedback on our setup before we get to the track of what we need to do to be fast. So, yes, I think that gives us a lot of confidence.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

LEARFIELD and NASCAR Expand Groundbreaking College Athletics Partnerships

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Official Release
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NASCAR becomes proud partner of University of South Carolina Athletics and extends official partnership with University of Alabama Athletics

PLANO, Texas (Aug. 15, 2023) – LEARFIELD, a media and technology services leader in intercollegiate athletics, and NASCAR today announced that after establishing its first-ever official partnership with a college athletics program in 2022, America’s No. 1 motorsport will return for a second year as an official partner of University of Alabama Athletics while also becoming a proud partner of University of South Carolina Athletics for the first time.

The expanded two-year agreement will continue to offer NASCAR access to use of athletic intellectual property, in-venue and experiential activations, social and digital media engagement, and first-party data across both athletic departments.

While NASCAR focused its first-year activations on Alabama football and men’s basketball, the sanctioning body is diversifying the sports mix in year two to include Alabama baseball and softball in addition to football. Its activations at South Carolina will include football, women’s basketball, men’s basketball and baseball.

Specific sponsorship assets will include:

  • Radio spots in each broadcast of Alabama football, baseball and softball as well as South Carolina football, women’s basketball, men’s basketball and baseball.
  • Full-page program ads for South Carolina women’s/men’s basketball and baseball games.
  • Rights to display/activate onsite in Gamecock Village and the University of Alabama fan zones.
  • In-venue LED board inventory and the “NASCAR Drive Summary” videoboard feature at Alabama football games.
  • Title sponsorship of “Crimson Drive,” Crimson Tide Sports Network’s weekly show hosted on Facebook Live covering in-season sports.
  • Title sponsorship includes logo recognition, live reads and commercial spots.
  • Digital impressions and first party data across LEARFIELD’s Fan365 platform.

The holistic approach spanning sports in all three seasons enables NASCAR to promote ticket sales and tune-in for individual races in the region – including spring and fall races at Talladega Superspeedway (Alabama) and Darlington Raceway (South Carolina) – as well as other tentpole events like the Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum, The DAYTONA 500, and The Chicago Street Race, while continuing to build overall brand awareness.

Quotes from NASCAR and LEARFIELD

“We saw great results in the first year of our unprecedented partnership with LEARFIELD and the University of Alabama, and we’re eager to add the University of South Carolina into our partner portfolio this year,” said Patrick Morris, managing director of brand, creative and media at NASCAR. “Both athletics programs offer the benefit of large, passionate fanbases in key regions for NASCAR that also resonate on a national level. It gives us an incredible opportunity to engage and educate potential new NASCAR fans who have already shown an affinity for attending live sports while also reminding our existing fans who may be in the stands on these campuses or following these programs online about major events and special offers coming up in NASCAR.”

“We are excited to see the relationship between NASCAR and University of Alabama Athletics continue into year two and expand to include additional sports,” said Jim Carabin, vice president and general manager of LEARFIELD’s Crimson Tide Sports Marketing. “Year one was a success for all involved, and we look forward to the continued evolution of this partnership.”

“We couldn’t be happier to bring together NASCAR and University of South Carolina Athletics in a relationship that will span multiple sports,” said Nick Kistler, general manager of LEARFIELD’s Gamecock Sports Properties. “Gamecock sporting events and NASCAR races at Darlington Raceway are pillar events for sports fans in South Carolina, making this a perfect collaboration on all sides.”

About LEARFIELD

LEARFIELD is a media, data, and technology services leader in intercollegiate athletics. The company unlocks the value of college sports for brands and fans through an omnichannel platform with innovative content and commerce solutions. LEARFIELD services include licensing and collegiate sports properties’ multimedia sponsorship management; publishing, audio, digital and social media; data analytics and insights; ticketing software; and ticket sales, premium seating, and fundraising services; branding; campus-wide business and sponsorship development. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for NACDA’s acclaimed LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup, recognizing athletic departments across all divisions.

About NASCAR

Celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2023, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Pinty’s Series (Canada), NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 12 countries and more than 30 U.S. states. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

About Crimson Tide Sports Marketing

Crimson Tide Sports Marketing (CTSM) solely represents the University of Alabama. In complete collaboration with the university, this locally based LEARFIELD team is committed to extending the affinity of the Alabama brand to businesses and corporations of all sizes looking to align with the undeniably loyal and passionate collegiate fan base. As an exclusive multimedia rightsholder for the Alabama Crimson Tide, CTSM manages all aspects of the rights relationship, providing corporate partners both traditional and new media opportunities with the university. LEARFIELD is a leading media, data and technology services company in intercollegiate athletics.

About Gamecock Sports Properties

Gamecock Sports Properties solely represents the Gamecocks. In complete collaboration with the university, this locally based LEARFIELD team is committed to extending the affinity of the University of South Carolina brand to businesses and corporations of all sizes looking to align with the undeniably loyal and passionate collegiate fan base. As South Carolina Athletics’ exclusive multimedia rightsholder, Gamecock Sports Properties manages all aspects of the rights relationship, providing corporate partners both traditional and new media opportunities with the university. They can bolster their own brand and garner maximum exposure through such inventory as venue signage; event sponsorships and promotion; corporate hospitality; radio and television; digital engagement and visibility via the official athletics website GamecocksOnline.com.

RFK Advance | Watkins Glen

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Official Release
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Watkins Glen Event Info:
Track Info: Watkins Glen International, 7-Turn Road Course
Date: Sunday, Aug. 20
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Watkins Glen, New York
Format: 90 laps, 220.5 miles, Stages: 20-20-50
TV: USA
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 12:30 p.m. ET, Practice (USA, NBC Sports App)
Saturday: 1:30 p.m. ET, Qualifying (USA, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 3 p.m. ET, Race (USA, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

  • Watkins Glen hosts the final road course race of the regular season this weekend, and second-to-last race of the regular season overall.
  • Jack Roush has six wins all-time at The Glen, with three in the Cup Series.

6 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Matt McCall
Partner: BuildSubmarines.com

17 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Partner: Fastenal

Keselowski at Watkins Glen
Starts: 12
Wins: —
Top-10s: 6
Poles: 1 (2021)

  • Watkins Glen stands as Keselowski’s best road course statistically with a 13.8 average finish in 12 starts.
  • He has six top-10 finishes, including four inside the top five, with three career runner-up results – all of which came in consecutive races from 2011-13. Most recently, he finished 19th last season after qualifying 15th.
  • Keselowski has an average starting position of 11.6 at The Glen with six starts inside the top-10, and one pole in 2021.
  • He also made 10 Xfinity Series starts at WGI with one win (2013) and nine top-10s.

Buescher at Watkins Glen
Starts: 7
Wins: —
Top-10s: 1
Poles: —

  • Buescher lines up for his eighth Cup start at The Glen this weekend, where he carries an average finish of 19.6.
  • He’s coming off his best finish to date at the track, a ninth-place result a season ago.
  • His best qualifying effort also came last summer, a seventh-place starting spot, with a 20.1 average starting position overall at WGI.
  • Buescher also made a pair of Xfinity starts at WGI in 2014-15, earning a third-place finish in 2015.

RFK Historically at Watkins Glen
Cup Wins: 3 (Mark Martin, 1993, 1994, 1995)

There’s Nothing You Can’t Do, Now, You’re in New York: In 109 NCS starts at WGI, RFK has three wins, 23 top-five and 42 top-10 finishes along with four poles. All three of RFK’s victories came with former driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin (1993, 1994, 1995).
Top of the List, King of the Hill: Martin secured three-straight wins for RFK at the famed New York road course from 1993-95. He started on the pole for each of the three races and led a combined 183 laps during the three-year streak.
Tale of the Tape – Road Courses: In 252 road course starts all-time in the NCS, Jack Roush’s Fords have won five races and tallied 41 top-five and 88 top-10 finishes, along with six poles. In those 252 starts, an RFK Ford has led 586 laps for an average finish of 17.4.

RFK WGI Wins

1993 Martin Cup

1994 Martin Cup

1995 Martin Cup

1998 Ruttman Truck

2000 Biffle Truck

2012 Edwards NXS

Last Time Out & Where They Stand
Indy RC: Buescher’s top-10 streak on road courses came to an end Sunday as he just missed out on a top-10 with a P11 finish at Indy. Keselowski used some varying strategy to finish fourth in stage two of Sunday’s race, before going on to finish 20th.

Points Standings (6: 8th, 17: 10th): Keselowski enters the weekend now just two points off of sixth place, with playoff clinch scenarios in play should there be a repeat winner at The Glen. Buescher is up to 10th in driver points, and comfortably in the playoffs with now two races remaining in the regular season.

By the Numbers at WGI

Race      Win       T5           T10         Pole       Laps       Led        AvSt      AvFn     Miles

109         3              23           42           4              9521       301         18.3        16.5        23326.5
40           1              8              17           0              3069       47           16.1        15.7        7519.1
9              2              5              6              1              503         46           7.6          10.9        1232.4
158         6              36           65           5              13093    394         17.1        15.9        32078

The Future of Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake and Rebranding

By
SM Staff
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During the 2023 F1 Season, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake has largely remained unnoticed in terms of podium finishes. However, their performance this season doesn’t discount their progress towards closing the gap between the internet and Formula 1 through sponsorships and consistency. Whilst the outcomes of races are uncertain, the team itself has a clear path for the foreseeable future.

Sponsorships

Earlier this year, Alfa Romeo’s title sponsor became Stake, who has ownership of the quickly exploding website kick.com. To the average fan, this sponsorship may be yet another source of income for the team, but it’s also no secret that live-streaming platforms massively boost the popularity of any sport, team, activity, or game.

This is good news for Alfa Romeo F1 Team and Stake. While Alfa Romeo F1 Team seeks financial backing, Stake may count on name recognition. The Stake brand has been around for a while and can be found on lists such as a list of sweepstakes casinos, but further exposure will be extremely beneficial to the company.

Whether this sponsorship continues in the coming years has yet to be announced, but we will be keeping a close eye on how the team performs leading up to the team’s rebranding at the end of this season, and 2026.

Rebranding

At the end of this season of F1, Alfa Romero F1 Team Stake will rebrand itself as Sauber going forward for two years until 2026. In 2026, the team will be joining forces with Audi to make their grand entry into Formula 1, with their new team being named: Audi Works.

Audi’s introduction to Formula 1 should be very exciting with their electric and sustainable engines powering the team’s car. Audi has stated the Sauber team is perfect for their introduction due to their rich history in the sport.

As it stands currently, we are unsure of what seats will remain open for the team going forward, but as of now, we can reasonably expect both drivers to continue their careers with the team during the transition.

Since their arrival to the team in 2022, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu have helped achieve more consistency for the team, increasing their standings by three positions for the 2022 season. Following up the following year, the not-so-rookie Guanyu has more than earned his place among other F1 Drivers in terms of consistency and performance.

While there have been rumors of seat changes for the team, neither Zhou Guanyu nor Valtteri Bottas has explicitly stated that they intend to exit the team. Going further, in a recent interview, Bottas did explicitly state that he intends to stick with Alfa Romeo in the long term and be a part of their change to Audi in 2026.

Whether or not they’re making headlines, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake has an exciting long-term plan ahead of them. With current plans to continue with the title sponsor with ties to one of the most popular live streaming platforms, and joining up with a new introduction to motorsports, we can’t wait to see future seasons progress for the drivers and team alike.

ARCA Menards Series at Watkins Glen International: General Tire 100 at The Glen Pre-race Notes

By
Official Release
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ARCA Menards Series 
The Race: General Tire 100 at The Glen 
The Place: Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, NY 
The Date: Friday, August 18, 2023 
The Time: 6 PM ET 
TV: Live, FS1, 6 PM ET 
Distance: 41 Laps/100.450 Miles 

  • The General Tire 100 at The Glen is the 13th round of the 2023 ARCA Menards Series season. It will be the fourth time the ARCA Menards Series has raced at Watkins Glen International. 
  • Jesse Love enters the Henry Ford Health System 200 with a 98-point lead over Frankie Muniz in the battle for the ARCA Menards Series championship. Muniz holds a one-point advantage over Andres Perez for the second position. 
  • Love won last Friday night at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park for his third consecutive series victory, his seventh win in 12 starts in 2023. It’s the second time he’s won three consecutive races this season. He won consecutive races at Talladega Superspeedway, Kansas Speedway, and Charlotte Motor Speedway, then a single win at Elko Speedway, and then reeled off consecutive wins at Pocono Raceway, Michigan International Speedway, and IRP.  
  • The ARCA Menards Series has previously raced at Watkins Glen International in 2001, won by John Finger, 2021, won by Corey Heim, and in 2022, won by Brandon Jones. 
  • Finger’s win at Watkins Glen in 2001 came in his first, and to date only, ARCA Menards Series start. 
  • NASCAR Cup Series driver Corey LaJoie, a three-time ARCA Menards Series winner in 2013, will make his first series appearance since that year’s finale at Kansas Speedway. LaJoie’s wins have come at Chicagoland Speedway, Pocono Raceway, and Kentucky Speedway. 
  • Brent Crews will make his ARCA Menards Series debut driving the No. 15 entry for Venturini Motorsports. 
  • Seventeen-time series winner Bob Schacht will make what is scheduled to be his final career ARCA Menards Series start in his own No. 75 Chevrolet. Schacht has one previous ARCA Menards Series win on a road course, that coming at St. Louis International Raceway in 1986. 
  • The General Tire 100 at The Glen will be the 29th ARCA Menards Series race on a road course in series history. Previous road course winners include Fred Lorenzen and Nelson Stacy at Meadowdale International Raceway in 1958 and 1960, respectively, Curtis Turner at Virginia International Raceway in 1962, Elmer Musgrave at Meadowdale in 1964, Jack Bowsher at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 1965, Bob Schacht at St. Louis International Raceway in 1986, Ken Schrader and Darrell Waltrip at Heartland Park Topeka in 1991 and 1992, respectively, Scott Lagasse on the streets of Des Moines in 1994, John Finger at Watkins Glen in 2001, Justin Allgaier and Patrick Long at New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2008 and 2009, respectively, Justin Marks at Palm Beach International Raceway in 2010, Casey Roderick at NJMP in 2010, Andrew Ranger at NJMP in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, Chris Buescher and Austin Theriault at Road America in 2013 and 2017, respectively, Michael Self on the road course at Daytona International Speedway in 2020, Ty Gibbs at Mid-Ohio in 2021, Corey Heim at Watkins Glen in 2021, Taylor Gray at Mid-Ohio in 2022, Brandon Jones at Watkins Glen in 2022, and Tyler Ankrum at Mid-Ohio in 2023. 
  • Andrew Ranger is the only driver to win more than one road course race in ARCA Menards Series history. 
  • Ty Gibbs holds the ARCA Menards Series track qualifying record at Watkins Glen International, set in 2021, at 73.771 seconds/119.754 miles per hour. 
  • Corey Heim holds the ARCA Menards Series race record at Watkins Glen International, also set in 2021, at 1 hour, 5 minutes, 32 seconds/91.968 miles per hour. 
  • The record for the most lead changes in an ARCA Menards Series race at Watkins Glen International is nine, set in 2001. The fewest was two, in 2021. 
  • The record for the most cautions in an ARCA Menards Series race at Watkins Glen is five, for a record 16 laps, set in 2022. The fewest was one for three laps in 2021. 
  • Should the race need to be extended into overtime, there will be one attempt at a one-lap “green and white together” finish.

MACHINERY AUCTIONEERS BECOMES NAMING RIGHTS PARTNER OF PRE-RACE STAGE FOR AUTOTRADER ECHOPARK AUTOMOTIVE 400

By
Official Release
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  • Machinery Auctioneers Pre-Race Stage to host LOCASH concert, Trackside Live show prior to the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs race on Sunday, Sept. 24 at Texas Motor Speedway.
  • NASCAR Playoffs doubleheader weekend also features the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 Xfinity Series race on Saturday, Sept. 23.

FORT WORTH, Texas (August 14, 2023) – Machinery Auctioneers secured a multi-year deal to serve as the naming rights partner for the Pre-Race Stage that will be the site of great entertainment during the Sept. 23-24 Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 NASCAR Playoffs doubleheader weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.

Machinery Auctioneers, headquartered in Castroville, TX, is an auction company specializing in big trucks, trailers, construction machinery and oilfield equipment sales that continues to expand its business footprint with Texas Motor Speedway with the latest announcement. The company hosts an auction the last Tuesday of every month and sells live to an in-person and virtual audience to attract buyers from across the United States and the world.

“Machinery Auctioneers has been involved with Texas Motor Speedway from the beginning helping them source pickups and equipment,” Machinery Auctioneers owner Terry Dickerson said. “Since then, we’ve grown exponentially and are excited to be a part of this fast-paced world; no one does it better than TMS. We’re excited to offer an experience for some of our customers who love NASCAR, and we want to gain the visibility of people we know can benefit from our services. For fans in the construction, oilfield and trucking businesses, there’s no better fit than Machinery Auctioneers.”

The Machinery Auctioneers Pre-Race Stage, which will be located at the start/finish line on the frontstretch, will play host to a pair of outstanding entertainment options for fans leading up to the start of the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs race on Sunday, Sept. 24 (2:30 p.m. CT, TV: USA, Radio: PRN, SiriusXM, 95.9 The Ranch).

The first will be a “Trackside Live Show” featuring the dynamic duo of hosts John Roberts and Kenny Wallace along with several special guests. The one-hour special show will begin at 11 a.m.

After a 30-minute intermission, LOCASH will take to the stage at 12:30 p.m. for a 60-minute concert. BBR Music Group/BMG’s Wheelhouse Records’ LOCASH consists of Preston Brust and Chris Lucas, who were named by People as “country music’s iconic feel-good duo.”

With their loud-and-proud anthem “Three Favorite Colors” as their current release, they recently delivered back-to-back high-profile collaborations with “Let It Slide” (Leslie Jordan, Blanco Brown, LOCASH) and “Beach Boys” (feat. The Beach Boys’ Mike Love and Bruce Johnston). LOCASH’s WOODS & WATER – EP (2021) marked the follow up to BROTHERS (2019) that featured GOLD #1 “One Big Country Song.”

Known for GOLD breakout “I Love This Life” and their first #1 with GOLD “I Know Somebody,” they’ve earned eight charting singles, two successful albums, and over 815 million global on-demand streams since 2015. They also were nominated for “Vocal Duo of the Year” at last year’s CMA Awards.

The NASCAR Playoffs weekend will be highlighted by the NASCAR Xfinity Series Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 on Saturday, Sept. 23 (2:30 p.m. CT on USA Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90, and PRN), and the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 on Sunday, Sept. 24 (2:30 p.m. CT on USA Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90, PRN, and 95.9 The Ranch-local).

Texas Motor Speedway’s always-busy events schedule is well under way. Upcoming events in 2023 include: Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 NASCAR Playoffs weekend (Sept. 23-24), Goodguys’ Summit Racing Lone Start Nationals (Sept. 29-Oct. 1), Speedway Children’s Charities Smoke Show (Oct. 11) and Gordy’s Hwy 30 Music Fest (Oct. 19-22). The year wraps up with the family-favorite and speedway tradition Gift of Lights holiday light show.

ABOUT MACHINERY AUCTIONEERS

Machinery Auctioneers is an auction company specializing in big trucks, trailers, construction machinery and oilfield equipment sales. We are locally owned and operated in Texas by hardworking, enthusiastic professionals. To us, you’re more than just a number. Our dedication and core values provide a top-notch buying and selling experience, making the entire process easy for both buyers and sellers. We have decades of experience in sales, auctions and live event promotions. We’re proud to offer an unsurpassed level of attention and a personal touch to this industry that no one else can. For more information, please visit www.machineryauctioneers.com.

ABOUT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Texas Motor Speedway is among the largest sports stadiums in the United States and features an array of amenities such as one of the world’s largest TV’s that make it one of the premier venues in the world of sports. The 1.5-mile superspeedway located in Fort Worth hosts all three NASCAR national series as well as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES among its various races and specialty events throughout the year. Texas Motor Speedway is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, LLC, a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. For more information, please visit texasmotorspeedway.com.

TICKETS:

For ticket information for the September 23-24 NASCAR Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 weekend, please visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com.

MORE INFO:

Keep track of all of Texas Motor Speedway’s busy schedule by following on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Keep up with all the latest news and information on the speedway website and TMS mobile app.

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