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Greg Van Alst to Pilot Young’s Motorsports No. 20 Chevrolet for Remainder of Truck Series Season

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Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, N.C.: Young’s Motorsports and Greg Van Alst Motorsports confirmed today that Daytona ARCA Menards Series winner Greg Van Alst will pilot the team’s No. 20 Chevrolet entry for the remainder of the 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series season beginning with Friday night’s TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (LOIRP).

A veteran of the short track scene, the Anderson, Ind. native will carry support from CB Fabricating for a minimum of five of the seven remaining races, including Van Alst’s hometown race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on August 11, 2023.

Headquartered in Anderson, Ind., CB Fabricating offers a complete list of fabricating from design, laser cutting, CNC punching, forming, welding, powder coating and assembly.

Their 40,000-square-foot facility allows them to service the needs of many different industries. Everything from the Automotive, agricultural, aquatic, medical, transportation, electrical enclosures and much more.

“I am very appreciative of this opportunity with Young’s Motorsports,” said Van Alst. “I have been weighing our options on what path to take for the remainder of the 2023 season and when Tyler and I chatted, the pairing made sense.

“I know he holds a lot of the same values and expectations that I have being a racing veteran but also a new face on the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series tour. I think we can put together some strong finishes that could lead to more for next season.

“I am ready to get started at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park this weekend in our No. 20 CB Fabricating Chevrolet Silverado!”

Van Alst, 42, has 36 ARCA Menards Series starts to his resume, including his popular Daytona win, three top-five and 17 top-10 finishes. In five ARCA races this season, he earned one win, one top-five and three top-10 finishes.

Before transitioning to Young’s Motorsports, Van Alst, the 2019 ARCA | CRA Super Series champion recently competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Alpha Prime Racing competing at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway respectively.

“I am thrilled to welcome Greg to the Young’s Motorsports family,” offered Young’s Motorsports team principal Tyler Young. “I have watched Greg for several years now and his determination and passion is going to be a great asset to our organization over the next three months.

“With his experience and background, we feel he can bring a lot to the table and help us not only evaluate our Truck Series program – but also offer a good trajectory for improvements for the 2024 season.

“We are definitely looking forward to Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park and the remaining six races thereafter. With Greg’s ability and craft behind the wheel, I know we’re in good hands.”

In addition to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Van Alst will return to the ARCA Menards Series tour and compete in Friday’s Truck Series preamble, the Reese’s 200 slated to roll off at 6:00 p.m. ET.

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports) and follow on Instagram (youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

For more on Greg Van Alst and Greg Van Alst Motorsports, please visit GregVanAlst.com, like them on Facebook (Van Alst Motorsports) and follow him on Twitter (@GregVanAlst35).

For more on CB Fabricating, please visit CBFabricating.com and like them on Facebook (CB Fabricating).

The TSport 200 (200 laps | 137.2 miles) is the 17th of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Fri, Aug. 11 from 3:30 p.m. – 4:05 p.m. Qualifying follows at 4:05 p.m. The 36-truck field will take the green flag shortly after 9:00 p.m. with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.

Costs of Living in Arkansas

By
SM
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Photo by Pixabay

What is the Average Cost of Living in Arkansas?

Arkansas has a lower cost of living than most states. In Arkansas, the cost of living (including rent, utilities, healthcare, transportation, and food) varies depending on your location in the state, but it is 14% lower than the national average. For example, the cost of living in urban areas such as Little Rock may be higher than in rural areas. Additionally, the cost of housing and healthcare in Arkansas are considered to be lower than the national average, while the cost of utilities and transportation is considered to be higher.

The average cost of living in Arkansas pales in comparison to the average cost of living in Chicago or Los Angeles. However, all states are feeling the rise of inflation. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that food costs have risen over 10% in just one short year. According to the BLS, the pandemic and war between Russia and Ukraine are among the many factors influencing these increased prices. 

Many Americans have difficulty paying rent due to rising costs. Additionally, 1 in 5 adults couldn’t pay an energy bill last year. If you find yourself struggling with rent, utility bills, or transportation, just know that you are not alone, and you may have resources available to you. 

How Can I Manage the Rising Cost of Living in Arkansas?

Adults living in poverty in the United States may not know how to handle inflation. If inflation has hit you hard, there are several ways to manage the rising cost of living in Arkansas:

  1. Create a budget: Track your expenses and create a budget to help you understand where your money is going and where you can cut back. You can use many different kinds of free online apps, like Mint or Goodbudget, to do this. In order to create a budget, you will first need to write down your current income and expenses. Make sure to include all sources of income. Then, using an app or spreadsheet, make a list of all your fixed expenses (such as rent or mortgage, insurance, and utility bills) and a list of your variable expenses (such as groceries, clothing, and entertainment). Keep track of how much you spend each month in both categories for at least one or two months. This will help you understand your spending and will also help you identify areas where you can cut back. Based on your information, create a budget that allocates your income to different expenses. Your budget should prioritize saving money and taking care of your debt and make sure that you review your budget regularly to make any adjustments. It is important to remember that your income and expenses may change over time, so your budget should be flexible as well.
  1. Look for deals and discounts: Take advantage of sales, coupons, and other discounts to save money on everyday expenses.
  2. Cut back on non-essential expenses: Prioritize your spending and cut back on things that are not essential to your daily life. For example, make coffee at home and skip Starbucks coffee!
  3. Shop around for better prices: Compare prices on products and services before making a purchase to ensure you are getting the best deal. Always buy generic at grocery stores! 
  4. Seek assistance if needed: Look for programs that provide assistance for housing, utilities, and other expenses. Or, apply for title loans in Arkansas if you have a paid off or close to paid off car. 
  5. Get a second job to make ends meet: If you have free weekends, consider waiting tables or walking dogs to make extra money!
  6. Seek professional financial advice if needed: If you feel like you can’t handle this on your own, there is no shame in seeking professional advice from a financial advisor. 

Remember, living below your means and saving money where you can is the key to managing the rising cost of living. While it may not be 100% effective, it is definitely worth trying!

The Cost of Living in Arkansas and Title Loans

The cost of living in Arkansas is tough to deal with! If you continue to struggle with your bills each month and the proposed methods aren’t helping, it may be time to explore other options, such as a loan to consolidate your debt. The effectiveness of title loans can depend on your current financial situation and your goals, but it may be an option to consider! You can apply for online title loans in Arkansas with your smartphone or computer today. 

Some of the Best NASCAR Drivers of All Time

By
SM
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NASCAR has been going strong for decades. During that time, they’ve produced some of the finest drivers that auto sports have ever seen. Arguments will continuously rage on about the best of the best. In this article, we thought we would throw our lot into the mix and discuss some of the names that will frequently be named among the best. Without further ado, we are going over some of the finest drivers that have ever driven on the NASCAR tracks. 

Richard Petty

You can’t get much better known than Richard Petty in terms of popularity. The man holds several of NASCAR’s most impressive records, which many believe will never be broken. For a long while, Richard carried the moniker “The King,” and for good reason. Petty dominated the circuit throughout the 60s, and is a part of the reason that NASCAR is so popular today, both as a watched and a betting sport.

Indeed, NASCAR betting seems to dominate online sportsbooks. Tons of these websites, Novibet included, feature excellent odds on NASCAR and thoroughly cover each race. More importantly, sportsbooks also go over other popular auto sports, like F1, IndyCar, and more. While NASCAR betting has always been popular, there is no denying that Richard Petty’s popularity has significantly contributed to the sport’s popularity. 

Today, betting on NASCAR is as common as betting on most mainstream sports. Sportsbooks have certainly played a huge role in popularizing the practice, by introducing bonus offers, welcome bets, and mobile betting. 

Jimmie Johnson

When people debate the best drivers of all time, Jimmie Johnson is, inevitably brought up. The seven-time champion has won five tournaments in a row, holds quite the impressive records, and has had an immense influence on the NASCAR world. Johnson also has one of the best winning percentages, at just over 12%, or 83 wins out of 686 starts. 

In 2023, Jimmie Johnson was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, receiving an almost unanimous vote of 93%. He has certainly earned the privilege and the honor, and will likely go down in history as one of the greatest, if not the greatest drivers of all time. 

Dale Earnhardt, Sr. 

The Intimidator raced in 676 races, out of which he won 76, an impressive record to rival Jimmie Johnson. And while Johnson is the superior driver, at least on record, many still believe that Earnhardt is comparable, if not superior. Whether you believe that or not, one thing is certain; Dale Earnhardt, Sr. is an incredible driver worthy of being considered among the best. 

Unfortunately, Earnhardt’s life was cut short. In 2001, the Intimidator was racing the Daytona 500. During the final lap, something went wrong, and the driver ended up in a devastating and tragic accident. Though he passed away early, Dale Earnhardt will forever be remembered as one of the greatest drivers in the history of NASCAR.

Conclusion

All three of the men in this article had the need for speed. They’ve dominated the race tracks in their time, and their influence on the sport will never be forgotten. Though they are certainly not the only men worthy of being called “the best,” they are certainly some of the greatest to ever do it. 

Why is Auto Racing so Popular?

By
SM
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Photo by George Sultan

Auto racing, which involves the thrilling competition of racing cars, has long been a widely embraced form of motorsport. Commonly referred to as Formula 1, this exhilarating sport takes place on designed tracks known as courses. In an effort to ensure fairness and competitiveness, drivers who triumph in these races earn points. The allocation of points aims to prevent any driver or team from gaining an advantage over their competitors. The immense popularity of auto racing can be attributed to a multitude of factors influenced by historical and personal elements that differ from person to person. 

Here are some significant reasons why this sport has garnered admiration;

Speed and thrill

One of the reasons why auto racing has such a following is its incredible speed. While many sports even those at bet365 offer for New-Zealand involve paced action, none can compare to the exhilaration of witnessing a race car zooming at 200 miles per hour. There is nothing like the rush of adrenaline you feel as you watch those cars fly around the track at throttle. If you’re a fan of thrilling action missing out on the experience of an auto race would be a shame. The unmatched velocity displayed in auto racing sets it apart from any sport, which explains its popularity among fans worldwide.

Skill and precision

Auto racing has gained popularity over the years due to the skill and precision it demands from drivers. Succeeding behind the wheel requires drivers to possess reflexive thinking abilities and impeccable hand-eye coordination. The world of auto racing encompasses types of races, each requiring drivers with skill sets depending on the type of vehicle they are driving during a race weekend or qualifying sessions. 

Social and cultural tradition

Auto racing is a loved sport in countries worldwide, with a particularly strong following in the United States. It has become deeply ingrained in culture over the years. Holds a significant place in social and cultural traditions, especially among young people. People from across the globe tune in to watch thrilling auto races on television or live at the race tracks showcasing how seamlessly auto racing has intertwined with cultures. Apart from its popularity, auto racing also enjoys a fanbase.

The technology behind the sport

Auto racing is a sport that heavily relies on technology. The racing cars are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including computer systems, telemetry software, and cutting-edge materials. The relentless pursuit of progress and innovation in this field has led to the creation of groundbreaking technologies that have impacted aspects of our lives beyond racing. Valuable lessons learned from auto racing have been successfully applied in medicine, aerospace, and vehicle engineering.

Conclusion

Auto racing is a triumph, in terms of marketing and sponsorship, at levels. It has experienced growth in the years, and this upward trajectory is expected to continue. The sport is thrilling, enjoyable to watch, and offers an entertaining experience. These contribute to the enduring popularity of auto racing across the world.

Weekend schedule for Indianapolis

By
Angie Campbell
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JULY 31: The green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 31, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

Get ready for a full weekend of racing as the ARCA Menards Series and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series hit the track Friday at the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The action continues Saturday and Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course with the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

There are only three races remaining in the Cup Series regular season. Twelve drivers (Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Ross Chastain, Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, Chris Buescher, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.) have clinched a spot in the Playoffs via wins.

With five races left in the Xfinity Series regular season, only three drivers have a guaranteed spot in the Playoffs – John Hunter Nemechek, Austin Hill and Cole Custer. Drivers can claim their spot by virtue of wins but they also have to finish the regular season and clinch on points.

The Truck Series Playoffs begin this weekend at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park with the Round of 10. They are led by Corey Heim with 2,030 points and include Zane Smith, Carson Hocevar, Christian Eckes, Grant Enfinger, Ty Majeski, Ben Rhodes, Nick Sanchez, Matt DiBenedetto and Matt Crafton.

All times are Eastern

Friday, August 11, 2023 (Indianapolis Raceway Park)

1:30 pm ET: ARCA Menards Series Practice – No TV
2:30 pm ET: ARCA Menards Series Qualifying No TV

6 pm ET: ARCA Reese’s 200 – FS1/FloRacing/MRN

3:30 pm ET: Truck Series Practice – FS1
4:05 pm ET: Truck Series Qualifying – FS1

9 pm ET: Truck Series TSport 200
Distance: 137.2 miles (200 Laps)
Stage 1 ends on Lap 60, 120, Lap 200
FS1/MRN/SiriusXM
Purse: $699,222

Saturday, August 12, 2023 (Indianapolis Road Course)

9:35 am ET: Xfinity Series practice – NBC Sports App – Delayed until 9:50 (Lightning Hold)
10:05 am ET: Xfinity Series qualifying – NBC Sports App

11:35 am ET: Cup Series practice – NBC Sports App
12:35 pm ET: Cup Series qualifying – NBC Sports App/SiriusXM

5:30 pm ET: Xfinity Series Pennzoil 150 presented by Advance Auto Parts
Distance: 151.22 miles (62 Laps)
Stages end on Lap 20 Lap 40, Lap 62
USA/NBC Sports App/SiriusXM
Purse: $1,619,312

Sunday, August 13, 2023 (Indianapolis Road Course)

2:30 pm ET: Cup Series Verizon 200 at the Brickyard
Distance: 199.998 miles (82 Laps)
Stages end on Lap 15, Lap 35, Lap 82
NBC/NBC Sports App/SiriusXM
Purse: $9,158,803

NASCAR Press Pass will be available after the Xfinity Series and Cup Series practice and qualifying sessions and post-race.

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Race Preview: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course

By
Official Release
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Race Information

  • Round: NASCAR Cup Series race No. 24 of 36
  • Track Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Race Name: Verizon 200 at the Brickyard
  • Broadcast: Sunday, August 13th at 2:30 PM ET live on NBC (TV), IMS (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90
  • Team Entrants:

No. 42 | Mike Rockenfeller & Luke Lambert – Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
No. 43 | Erik Jones & Dave Elenz – Allegiant Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Mike Rockenfeller, No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course Stats

  • Mike Rockenfeller will make his first-career start at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course across any motorsports discipline.

NCS Career Stats (2022)

  • Starts: 2; Best Start: 33rd (Watkins Glen, 2022); Best Finish: 29th (Charlotte ROVAL, 2022)

-About Sunseeker Resort: Opening in 2023, Florida’s newest luxury resort located in Charlotte Harbor is the first resort property of Sunseeker Resorts, a wholly owned subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Company. Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor occupies over 22 waterfront acres with 785 guest rooms, including 189 Signature Sunsuites™. Set upon the Peace River and Florida Gulf Coast, this premier resort offers 20 original food and beverage concepts; including seven stand-alone restaurants, eleven bars and lounges, two poolside offerings and a 25,000-square-foot multi-dining experience. Additional hotel amenities include a waterfront promenade, two unique rooftop and waterfront pool experiences, 60,000-square-feet of combined convention space, full-service spa and salon, a 7,100-square-foot state-of-the-art fitness center with four group exercise studios with specialty instructor lead classes, three retail and market shops, and an 18-hole championship level golf club exclusive to hotel guests only. The resort is conveniently located within a short drive of Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, Sarasota, St. Petersburg-Clearwater, and Tampa airports. For more information, visit www.sunseekerresorts.com. Follow us on Instagram: @sunseekerresorts and like us on Facebook: @sunseekerresorts.

Ring Around the Road Course: Veteran road course specialist, Mike Rockenfeller, was called upon by LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Co-Owner, Jimmie Johnson, to drive the No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet in the next two NASCAR Cup Series events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Watkins Glen International. Hailing from Germany, “Rocky”, as he is affectionately known, has a rich history in sports car racing. Boasting a long, storied career that began in 1995, “Rocky” has competed in several forms of international motorsports, from karting all the way to Le Mans prototypes. He has won series titles in DTM (2013), European Le Mans (2008), FIA GT (2005), and German Porsche Carrera Cup (2004).

NASCAR Garage 56: The friendship that “Rocky” made with Jimmie Johnson first developed when the NASCAR Garage 56 program was created for this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. Back in January, Rockenfeller was announced as part of an iconic driver lineup that included Johnson, 2009 Formula One World Champion, Jenson Button, and a Hendrick Motorsports team of veteran crew chiefs Chad Knaus and Greg Ives. Through several test sessions at Sebring International Raceway, a 24-hour test on Daytona International Speedway’s road course layout, Virginia International Raceway as well as the Circuit Of The Americas (COTA), Rockenfeller adapted to the unique iteration of the NextGen car quickly and was prepared to compete in the historic event. The race was held on June 10th through the 11th, and the trio of drivers completed the entire duration without any major hiccups, underlining a massive success for everybody involved in the program.

24 Hours Endurance Race Winner: Two of Rockenfeller’s most crowning achievements came in 2010 when he did the unthinkable by winning overall in both the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the same year. The incredible feat has only been accomplished four times in the history of the sport, joining the likes of world-class drivers Al Holbert, Derek Bell, and Fernando Alonso. Prior to his overall win at Le Mans, he became a GT2 class winner in 2005, becoming one of only a handful of drivers to win the event in multiple classes. The Swiss has also driven to class victories in both the 24 Hours of Nurburgring (2006) and 24 Hours of Spa (2005), adding to his impressive resume of endurance races.

NASCAR Cup Series Experience: Rockenfeller has made two prior starts in a true stock car before, both of which came last season in the NASCAR Cup Series. Driving for Spire Motorsports, “Rocky” made his series debut at Watkins Glen International, starting the race in 33rd position and finishing in 30th. He made one more start for the team at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, where he qualified in 34th and finished in 29th.

Lambert at IMS: Crew Chief Luke Lambert has called the shots in two starts at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course layout. Lambert’s first race on this track configuration came with Chris Buescher in the Cup Series in 2021, where he started in 19th and rallied to a 12th-place race result. Last year, Lambert guided Noah Gragson to a seventh-place qualifying effort and 10th-place finish in the NASCAR Xfinity Series event which included a win in stage one.

Quoting Mike Rockenfeller: “I’m looking forward to this weekend at Indy in a NASCAR Cup car. I have been at the LEGACY M.C. shop all week working with Luke (Lambert) and the team trying to accomplish everything we need to do to get ready for this weekend – it’s been busy. It’s a short week and this came together very fast but we are feeling good about things. I’m excited to drive for Jimmie Johnson and Maury Gallagher and hope we can get a great finish in the No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet.”

Erik Jones, No. 43 Allegiant Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course Stats

-NCS Starts: 2; Best start: 28th; Best finish: 7th (2021); Top 10s: 1

2023 NASCAR Cup Series Season Stats

Starts: 23; Best start: 8th; Best finish: 6th; Top 10s: 5; Laps led: 17; Points position: 28th

About Allegiant: Las Vegas-based Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) is an integrated travel company with an airline at its heart, focused on connecting customers with the people, places and experiences that matter most. Since 1999, Allegiant Air has linked travelers in small-to-medium cities to world-class vacation destinations with all-nonstop flights and industry-low average fares. Today, Allegiant’s fleet serves communities across the nation, with base airfares less than half the cost of the average domestic roundtrip ticket. For more information, visit us at Allegiant.com.

Michigan in the Rearview: After a week filled with events, Erik Jones returned to his home track for the first time since getting married. Jones began the race in 25th and quickly moved into contention, earning a single stage point by finishing stage one in 10th. As rain set in and the race was moved to Monday, Jones picked up right where he left off, starting in third position when the race resumed. In the final stage, Jones was forced to pit as a wreck occurred in front of his No. 43 Chevrolet, leading the team to pit and check for damage. After everything was clear, Jones restarted back in 30th positioned and advanced all the way to 10th as the checkered flag was waved.

Getting in Rhythm: Jones has built momentum in his past seven races, boasting an average 12th place finish since achieving his third top-10 finish of the season at Nashville. He narrowly fell short of a top-10 placement by just one spot in consecutive races at both Atlanta and New Hampshire. At Chicago, however, the team’s strategy of an early pit stop aimed to run long was redirected after the race was shortened due to daylight, impacting the team’s potential for another top-10 result.

Jones at Indy: Jones has taken on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course twice in the Cup Series. Despite both qualifying efforts being outside the top-25, Jones has shown his success in Indianapolis earning finishes of seventh in 2021 and most recently, 15th in 2022. In his last attempt at the track, Jones had suffered a late spin just three laps before the checkered, but saved the car and continued to race without triggering a caution. Throughout his Cup career, Jones boasts three top-five and nine top-10 finishes on road courses.

Dave Elenz at Indy: In addition to Crew Chief Dave Elenz’s lone Cup Series attempt with Jones at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course which came last year, he has two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts with JR Motorsports to his credit. Starting from eighth place in 2020, driver Noah Gragson finished on the podium in third place. The following year, Gragson qualified in the seventh position and would end up finishing in fifth, capping off two years of top-five runs.

Late Model Recap: Tonight, Jones will compete in “The Battle at Berlin 250” Super Late Model race at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan. The race, which will feature several NASCAR Cup Series stars, will be broadcasted on FloRacing at 6:30 PM ET. Earlier this year, in his return to Berlin, Jones won the coveted “Money In The Bank 150”, proving to be an emotional win for Erik and his fans.

Meet Erik: On race day, Jones will appear at the United States Air Force activation display in the Fan Zone on the Midway at 11:00 am local time, where he will sign autographs for approximately the first 100 fans in line to meet him.

Quoting Erik Jones: “Indy has been different the last couple of years since it’s now a road course, but still going to the track itself and having the chance to be there is always a lot of fun. Last year, we ended up being in a spin that cost us track position at the end of the day, and we didn’t come home with the finish we wanted. However, we still felt like it was an okay day with a decent car that got up there. Regardless of that outcome, I feel like our road course performance has been improving. In Chicago, I believe we didn’t get the finish we deserved, but our car had a lot more speed than our previous attempts at road courses. So, I am excited to get there and hopefully secure a top-10 finish at a road course.”

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB:

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

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

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

SOCIAL MEDIA:

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

CHEVROLET INDYCAR AT INDIANAPOLIS ROAD COURSE: TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE

By
Official Release
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CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
GALLAGHER GRAND PRIX
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY ROAD COURSE
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE
AUGUST 11-12, 2023

CHEVROLET RACES BACK TO INDIANAPOLIS FOR THE GALLAGHER GRAND PRIX AT THE FAMED INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

DETROIT (August 9, 2023) – For the second time this season, the Chevrolet drivers and teams of the NTT INDYCAR Series will compete on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as part of a triple-header event weekend with NASCAR’s Xfinity and Cup Series.

With a stacked weekend on deck for the Bowtie brand, the INDYCAR Series will share its Saturday race day with the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Rain or shine, the Gallagher Grand Prix will showcase 85 laps, or 207.32 miles, of exciting open-wheel action Saturday at 2 p.m. ET on USA Network from Indianapolis.

Defending winner of both the 2020 and 2021 events, as well as a two-time NTT P1 Pole Award winner in 2020 and 2021, Will Power, driver of the No. 12 Verizon 5G Team Penske Chevrolet said of the upcoming weekend, “I’m really excited to get to Indianapolis. It’s my favorite road course on the calendar, one that I’ve won five times and have a lot of pole positions. It’s always good racing. It’s also really cool to be on the same weekend as NASCAR. I think it helps both of us, and it’s a weekend I look forward to each year. It’s the only time I’ve seen them (our Chevrolet NASCAR teammates) at the same track, and it’s the only time it ever happens. It’s so cool to see those guys race, and they get to watch Indy cars go around on track. It’s awesome.”

With three pole awards total to the Chevrolet brand (2020 – Will Power, 2021 – Pato O’Ward, and 2022 – Felix Rosenqvist), in addition to 18 podiums and 630 laps led on the road course, Team Chevy looks to the weekend with anticipation in capturing victory once again this year at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Most recently, Arrow McLaren INDYCAR’s O’Ward and Alexander Rossi took to the second and third steps on the podium, respectively, in the spring event this year for the Bowtie brand banner.

Rob Buckner, IndyCar Program Manager at General Motors, said “Returning to Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course for the second time this season is a welcome stop for most of the Chevrolet-powered teams that are based in and around Indy. Even though it is a very compressed two-day race schedule, it is a big opportunity for the teams to put their best foot forward.”

“Over the years, Chevrolet has had great success on the road course at Indianapolis, but it is always a different set of challenges from spring to late summer. It’s a different time of year, so the track and air temperature will influence tire performance, which tasks our engineers to work closely with the Chevrolet-powered team engineers to get a solid setup package. We’ll also have different brands and compounds of tire rubber on the track throughout the weekend with NASCAR sharing the course, but changing track conditions aren’t unusual in the NTT INDYCAR Series and we are prepared for it.”

Adding another element of excitement to the weekend, Kyle Larson, Arrow McLaren INDYCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, and Chevrolet are proud to unveil his 2024 Indianapolis 500 car in Pagoda Plaza at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday, Aug. 13 at 11 a.m. ET.

Leading the field to the green in Saturday’s Gallagher Grand Prix, the powerful white Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51 convertible with black and yellow trim will pace the NTT INDYCAR Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course.

Finally, the Team Chevy display will be open all weekend long at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, greeting both INDYCAR and NASCAR fans alike starting Friday, Aug. 11 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

Power will join Team Penske teammates Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin on the Team Chevy stage in the midway Friday, Aug. 11 from 3:05 to 3:20 p.m. ET. Ed Carpenter Racing drivers Rinus VeeKay and Ryan Hunter-Reay will kick off Saturday’s appearances from 11:15 to 11:30 a.m. ET. Callum Ilott and rookie Agustin Canapino from Juncos Hollinger Racing will follow from 11:45 a.m. to noon ET. Pato O’Ward, Alexander Rossi, and Tony Kanaan of Arrow McLaren INDYCAR will appear from 12:30 to 12:45 p.m. ET prior to the race.

The Gallagher Grand Prix on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course starts with the first practice session on Friday, Aug. 11 at 9 a.m. ET, qualifications and the Firestone Fast Six on the same day at 12:30 p.m. ET. Wrapping Friday, the NTT INDYCAR Series sees a final practice session at 4 p.m. ET. Saturday’s 85-lap event takes the green flag live on USA Network at 2 p.m. ET. All practice and qualifying will be live on Peacock, INDYCAR Radio, and SiriusXM Channel 160.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING (QUOTES):

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

“Back in May, we had the best performance we’ve ever had on the Indy road course. It will be awesome to go back to try and repeat that podium.”

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

”I’m happy to be back at our home track. We had a great race here in May with all three cars. I love this track, and we’ll do everything we can to have that same success and get that first win for the team.”

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

”Over the past few races, we’ve experienced a few struggles. But motorsport is never a straightforward journey; it’s a test of resilience. As we return to the site of our last podium, it reminds us that every race is an opportunity to learn and grow. We’re going to harness that past success “

Gavin Ward, Race Director at Arrow McLaren INDYCAR:

“We’re back to the Indy road course this weekend where we had a strong outcome in May across the team. We know what it takes to race well here, so after a tough weekend in Nashville, we’re ready for our momentum to swing the other way as we head into the final races of the season.”

Ryan Hunter-Reay, No. 21 Chevrolet at Ed Carpenter Racing:

“It’s always special going to back to Indy! This will be my first attempt at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course with ECR. I am looking forward to developing the team’s setup package there to suit my driving style.”

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

“I am very excited to get back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, can never have enough races there! I have had lots of firsts there, first Top 5, first pole, first win. It’s a great place for me! Hopefully we can get a little redemption from earlier this year, from the Indy 500, we’re just going a different direction this weekend. We learned a lot from the Indy GP during May that should help us now in August. It’s good to be back on a road course for the first time in a while, no crazy bumps on this one! It’s going to be exciting and hopefully it’s a really good race for us and BITNILE.COM!”

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

“I’m very much looking forward to this weekend at the Brickyard. I did race there last year, but in the Xfinity car not in the Indy car. It’s a lot of fun to be partnered with NASCAR on a race weekend and I wish we would do it more often.

“I’m just a very big fan of the flow of the road course here at IMS. It has a little bit of everything from high-speed chicanes to low-speed hairpins with big brake zones. This track also races very well and we were pretty good here in May. This track is very similar to Road America and I think having a good rhythm here and understanding how to build the tire temperature for qualifying and then having a very good long-run car will be the key to getting a solid result.”

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

“With the Gallagher Grand Prix this weekend at the Brickyard, I’m very excited to return to a very smooth, permanent road course. There have been a lot of street courses lately, and bumpy ovals such as Iowa, so happy to get back to Indianapolis. This track whether it’s the oval or the road course is always special in an Indy car. I look forward to seeing all the fans and reminiscing on the strong month of May we had.”

“The last time we were there was very promising. Actually, we finished with the best car we had all week in the GP so we’re going to be starting with that package. It was definitely very competitive in the race. Unfortunately, we had to serve a penalty due to some radio issues and we got a couple laps down, so it didn’t show the pace that we had but we’re looking forward to redeeming ourselves this weekend.”

CHEVROLET AT INDIANAPOLIS (ROAD COURSE – V6 era, since 2012):

Wins at Indianapolis Road Course: 9

2015: Will Power

2016: Simon Pagenaud

2017: Will Power

2018: Will Power

2019: Simon Pagenaud

2020: Josef Newgarden (Race 2)

2020: Will Power (Race 3)

2021: Rinus VeeKay (Race 1)

2021: Will Power (Race 2)

Pole Awards at Indianapolis Road Course: 9

2015: Will Power

2016: Simon Pagenaud

2017: Will Power

2018: Will Power

2020: Will Power (Race 1)

2020: Rinus VeeKay (Race 2)

2020: Will Power (Race 3)

2021: Pato O’Ward (Race 2)

2022: Felix Rosenqvist (Race 2)

Podiums at Indianapolis Road Course by Team Chevy since 2012: 18 total, 5 in the Fall (since adding a second event in 2020)

Laps Led on the Indianapolis Road Course by Team Chevy since 2012: 630 total, 229 in the fall (since adding a second event in 2020).*

*Note: Will Power led every lap of 75 laps for Team Chevy in the 2020 INDYCAR Harvest Grand Prix Race 2.

2023 CHEVROLET BY THE NUMBERS:

195: NTT INDYCAR SERIES races as V6 engine supplier since 2012 return to INDYCAR.

111: Wins in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES since 2012.

125: Earned poles since 2012.

7: Manufacturer Championships since 2012.

7: Driver/entrant champions since 2012.

12: Indianapolis 500 victories by Chevrolet at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

5: Indianapolis 500 wins by Chevrolet since 2012 in the V6 2.2-liter twin turbo direct injected era.

26: Wins by Will Power since 2012 – all with Chevrolet power – most of any driver with the same manufacturer.

14: Consecutive seasons with at least one win by Will Power, including the past 11 with Chevrolet power.

9: Wins from the pole by Will Power with Chevrolet power since 2012, most by any driver.

46: Pole starts by Will Power since 2012 in a Chevrolet-powered car, most of any driver.

*Will Power’s career total of 70 poles makes him the all-time pole winner in INDYCAR.

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Kaulig Racing Weekly Advance | Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course

By
Official Release
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Verizon 200 at the Brickyard
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Sunday, August 13 at 2:30 p.m. EDT on NBC

  • Kaulig Racing has made three NCS starts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, earning its first-ever NCS victory in the inaugural Verizon 200 at the Brickyard in 2021 with AJ Allmendinger.
  • So far in the 2023 NCS season, Kaulig Racing has earned two top fives, nine top-10 finishes and led 30 laps.

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Dyna-Gro Seed Camaro ZL1

  • AJ Allmendinger has made two NCS starts at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course and has earned one win, two top-10 finishes and led five laps.
  • Allmendinger earned Kaulig Racing’s first NCS win at the Inaugural Verizon 200 at the Brickyard in 2021.
  • So far in the 2023 season, Allmendinger has led one lap and earned three top 10 and seven top-15 finishes.

“The last two years at Indy have been really special. To be able to kiss the bricks in the Xfinity Series and Cup Series has been a dream come true. Our road course stuff hasn’t quite been where we need it to be, but we are definitely working hard on it. We were close last year on the Cup side and if we get to Indy and unload well, we can have a shot to go win the race.” – AJ Allmendinger on Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course

Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1

  • Justin Haley has made two starts at his home track, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course with a best finish of eighth.
  • So far in the 2023 NCS season, Haley has earned one top five and five top-10 finishes with a best qualifying effort of third.
  • Haley’s best finish of the season came from his runner-up finish in the first-ever race at the Chicago Street Course where he led 23 laps, the most he has led in a single race.
  • After completing the 2023 Coca-Cola 600 and Alsco Uniforms 300, Haley now holds the record for the most NASCAR National Series miles completed in a single day by any driver in NASCAR history.

“I’m really excited to go back to my home track at Indianapolis. I’ve had some really great finishes in both the Xfinity Series and Cup Series since we started running the road course, so I’m looking forward to hopefully another great run with my friends and family there.” – Justin Haley on Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course

Pennzoil 150 presented by Advance Auto Parts
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course
NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS)
Saturday, August 12 at 5:30 p.m. EDT on USA

  • Kaulig Racing has made nine NXS starts at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, earning one win, two pole awards, five top five and six top-10 finishes.
  • So far in the 2023 NXS season, Kaulig Racing has earned four wins, five pole awards, 15 top five and 34 top-10 finishes, with 528-laps led.

AJ Allmendinger, No. 10 LeafHome Water Solutions Chevrolet Camaro

  • AJ Allmendinger has made three NXS starts at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course and has earned one win, three top-five finishes, two pole awards and has led 52 laps.
  • Allmendinger won the 2022 Penzoil 150 at the Brickyard.
  • Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course will be Allmendinger’s fifth NXS start in the 2023 season. So far, he has earned two wins and one runner-up and four top-10 finishes.

“The last two years at Indy have been really special. To be able to kiss the bricks in the Xfinity Series and Cup Series has been a dream come true. Our road course stuff hasn’t quite been where we need it to be, but we are definitely working hard on it. We were close last year on the Cup side and if we get to Indy and unload well, we can have a shot to go win the race.” – AJ Allmendinger on Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course

Daniel Hemric, No. 11 Cirkul Chevrolet Camaro

  • Daniel Hemric has made two NXS starts at Indianapolis Road Course where he has an average finish of 17th.
  • Hemric currently sits eighth in the NXS standings and has earned four top five and 11 top-10 finishes so far in the 2023 season.

“I’m excited to get to Indianapolis, especially with it being such a special track to race at. Kaulig Racing’s road-course program has been strong this year and I look forward to building on that this weekend.” – Daniel Hemric on Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course

Chandler Smith, No. 16 Quick Tie Products Chevrolet Camaro

  • Chandler Smith will make his first NXS start at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in the Pennzoil 150 presented by Advance Auto Parts.
  • Smith currently sits seventh in the NXS points standings with one win, five top five and eight top-10 finishes.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge of the Indy Road Course, and I hope to learn as much as I can to get up to speed quickly. It means a lot for our organization to run well there.” – Chandler Smith on Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course  
 
About Kaulig Racing™

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

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes – Chase Briscoe Transcript (8.9.23)Ford Performance Notes and Quotes –

By
Official Release
-

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Verizon 200 at The Brickyard Advance | Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing, spoke with members of the media this morning ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series stop at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Mitchell, Ind. native retraced his roots and discussed his expectations of the road course layout at “The Racing Capital Of The World.”

CHASE BRISCOE, No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford Mustang – INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED RACERS FROM OTHER DRIVING DISCIPLINES ARE JOINING THE FIELD THIS WEEKEND. DO YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH ANY OF THEM? “I’d say the one I have the most experience with is probably Brodie Kostecki. He’s a guy that, growing up, there was this big, core group of guys that would play this rFactor video game. We’d usually race dirt midgets, late models and stuff all the time – me, Christopher Bell, Logan Seavey… a ton of just dirt guys. But, Brodie Kostecki was always on there as well and was always super fast – like always the guy to beat. We’d always joke because he was so fast, we’d always call him ‘Cheat-Stecki,’ because it was just unbelievable how fast he was all the time. So, I’ve known Brodie for probably 12 or 15 years now. I don’t know him well, but I definitely know him. So, he’s probably the one I’d say that I have the most experience with. I have very little experience with the other guys. [Shane] van Gisbergen: He actually came on rFactor as well and raced one night with us. He probably doesn’t remember it at all. I have a little bit of experience with those guys. Outside of those two, I don’t really have experience with any of them. But, definitely Kostecki. I know Kostecki fairly well, for sure.”

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN THE OVAL TEST WITH THE CUP CAR? “It’s going to be cool, honestly. I think for me, just knowing I’ll be one of the first three guys to run on the oval with this new Next Gen car… it’ll be something that I’m proud of, and it’s cool to be able to do that. It’ll be nice to be able to stay in Indiana for a few more days. I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be interesting. I do think that this current car seems to race really well on those styles of racetracks. It’ll be interesting. I’m a little nervous about what it’s going to drive like, truthfully, and if they try different packages and things, what’s that going to drive like. But, I’m excited for it. I do think that there’s a chance that this car can race really well there if we ever do go back to the oval. Honestly if we’re testing, I’m sure that’s down the road. Just looking forward to the opportunity. It’ll be cool. Any time there are cars on the racetrack at IMS, it’s a good day. I’m glad that I’m going to be one of the guys driving them.”

HOW DO YOU AVOID THE CHAOS ON THE ROAD COURSE LAYOUT? “It’s hard. I mean, I feel like you’re never safe there, truthfully. You can be in the front row, you can be in the middle or the back row – I think I’ve wrecked in all three of those scenarios. So, you’re never safe there, especially on the restarts. That Turn 1 is just chaos every single time. I do think the new format, or the change of the start/finish line with the restart zone, could potentially (help). I think if we do that, it might help Turn 1 a little bit. But, you’re still going to have chaos because we’re going so fast. That’s probably the biggest delta I feel like, in Turn 1 versus straightaway speed, out of any road course we go to. I guess COTA (Circuit of The Americas) would be close, but COTA is not nearly as narrow as what Indy is. I just feel like you’re always open to chaos there and calamity every time you have restarts there, just with how narrow it is in that section of the racetrack. But yeah, I don’t know if there’s any strategy you could do necessarily to be safe from all that.”

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR OUT OF THE TIRE TEST? “I don’t really know. I don’t know what it’s necessarily supposed to feel like there. I think, for me, I’m just looking for our team to try to get more understanding of what we need on the bigger tracks. On the short tracks, I feel that we can go compete for Top 10’s and top fives – not easily, but it’s a lot more doable. Where on the big tracks, it’s a struggle to run 20th. So, I think for us out of this test, we’re just trying to figure out what that feeling is, and even though Indy is such a unique racetrack compared to all the others, that’s probably the one thing I’d say that we’re looking for the most. From a feel standpoint, I just want it to drive comfortably. Obviously for Indy, we need to have durable tire. But I do think you need one that kind of wears out, that has a little bit of fall-off – as hard as that’s probably going to be at Indy, having a big fall-off delta. But I definitely think that we need a durable tire. You don’t want another race like we had that one year, when they were blowing tires all the time. I think if we’re going to go back to the oval, it needs to be a really good race – especially the first ones. Hopefully if we do that, we can find a tire at this test and put out a good product.”

WHERE WOULD YOU RANK WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL, IN TERMS OF COMFORT AND CONFIDENCE, IN COMPARISON TO THE OTHER ROAD COURSES ON THE SCHEDULE? “I’d say it’s kind of middle of the road. It’s definitely not the worst one confidence-wise that we go to. I’d say it has Sonoma by a lot. But, it’s definitely not at the top of the list either. I’d say it’s somewhere kind of in the middle. I feel like if it rains, then I feel really good about it. Last year in the rain there, we were able to win Stage 1 and be really good in the wet there. If it was going to be wet, I’d feel really good about it. In the dry, I don’t feel as good there. I’ve always been good there, but never fast enough to really lead or be up-front. I’m always kind of 10th-12th there. I definitely need a little bit more there, but for whatever reason, I just can’t seem to find it. I’d say I’m confident going there. It’s one that I look forward to, especially when we’re getting to three races left to lock into the playoffs. I feel like those are two good opportunities. The road courses have always been statistically good for us. Hopefully, we can have a good run this weekend and a good run next weekend. But, I’d say the confidence level is somewhere in the middle when we go to Watkins Glen.”

IN THE TWO YEARS THAT YOU’VE COMPETED IN THE CUT-OFF RACE AT DAYTONA, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN MINDSET BETWEEN BATTLING FOR A FINAL SPOT AND ALREADY ADVANCING? “I don’t know. I feel like in my rookie year, I didn’t do a very good job in general on the superspeedways. Even now, I still have a lot to learn. I feel like honestly, the mindset: There’s a lot to say in the sense of just trying to get to the end. The year we needed to get a win, my rookie year, you obviously can’t win the race if you’re on the hook or in the garages. You’re just trying to survive to the end, and we ended up getting in a crash. The second race, last year, it was kind of the same mentality, truthfully – just get to the end because we didn’t have to win, but if you could, it was more playoff points. We got to where the rain was coming and I started getting aggressive, and I think I actually crashed leading the race or running second. I think you have to get to the end. I mean, we saw that last year with Austin [Dillon] – there were only 10 or 12 cars on the racetrack. If you can miss the big wreck at the end, because the desperation is going to be so high, you can kind of sneak away with one. Truthfully, I think this year is going to be the most chaotic. For one, because you have so many good cars that are going to be in desperation. You look at the No. 48, the No. 99, the No. 9… there are just a ton of really good cars that are going to have to win probably to get in. So, it’s going to be one of the most exciting cut-off races I think we’ve ever had in the history of the sport. Hopefully, all of us come out of that race safely, because I feel like there’s going to be a lot of really aggressive moves. Guys are going to be on the rev-limiter because of the aggressive nature.”

HOW DO YOU FEEL GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN SRX AT ELDORA? “I’m super excited. I’ve never had a race against Tony [Stewart], and everybody here knows that he is my absolute hero. So for me, that was the biggest draw to run SRX. I wanted to be able to say that I raced with Tony at some point in my career. Obviously knowing that the time was dwindling down, because he’s probably never going to come run a NASCAR race. So, the opportunity, truthfully, came very last minute. Last Thursday, I think at like three o’clock, [Don] Hawk called me and was like, ‘Hey, we have an opening. Would you be interested in coming to run SRX? We’re going to try to announce it at seven or eight o’clock, whenever the TV window is tonight.’ So, it was super last-minute. Like I said, I literally found out Thursday afternoon. I’m looking forward to it. High Point, my Cup sponsor, is going to be on it too, which is very cool. It’s at Eldora, which is super special to me in general, and racing against my boss. Hopefully, we can beat him at his own racetrack.”

WHERE DOES YOUR 2018 TRUCK WIN AT ELDORA RANK IN YOUR CAREER? “I’d say honestly, it’s like third or fourth. I’d put the Indy Xfinity race over it, my first Cup win would be there, and honestly the Darlington race would be there. Outside of that, I would put the Eldora Truck win right there with the Cup race just from a personal standpoint. For me, growing up a dirt guy, Eldora was my Daytona. If you got a race at Eldora, it meant something. I feel like all my heroes were always able to win at Eldora and go onto that stage on the front straightaway. For me, Eldora is super special for that reason. It’s a privilege every time I get a race there, and hopefully I can pull into victory lane there again.”

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SEASON SO FAR? “It’s definitely been an interesting season, to say the least. I feel like I’ve never had a season where it’s been just a really, really good day or really, really bad day. We either run top five, Top 10, or we run 30th or worse. There’s no in-between. So, that part has just been extremely head-scratching. It’s been hard, even with the loss… when we lost points, at the time we were in the playoffs or right there on the bubble, and now even with those points, we wouldn’t be close I don’t think. So, for us right now, we’re just trying to truthfully build for next year with the new crew chief. I think we’re five weeks in now. We know that this season, especially if we don’t win over these next three weeks, we’re not really racing for anything as far as playoffs and points go. But, we can still make ourselves way better, and we have 13 weeks to make ourselves better for the 2024 season. Really find a foundation is what we need to do as a team. I think that’s our main focus, is trying to get better. As much as we’d like to throw a Hail Mary and try to win one of these next couple races and even the ones the last couple of weeks, truthfully, we haven’t had the speed to do that. I think the first priority is finding the speed we need to be able to throw a Hail Mary, and then trying to build our team to be the best it can be going into 2024.”

Front Row Motorsports Exercises Option on Michael McDowell and Todd Gilliland

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Official Release
-

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (August 9, 2023) – With a continued increase in performance and commercial success, Front Row Motorsports (FRM) has exercised its option on drivers Michael McDowell and Todd Gilliand for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season. Both drivers will compete in all NASCAR Cup Series events.

McDowell, the 2021 Daytona 500 champion, continues to be the leader at FRM. Since joining the team in 2018, McDowell has hit the prime of his NASCAR Cup Series career. He has collected 29 top-10 and seven top-five finishes for the team. This season, McDowell is currently 17th in the championship standings and battling for the team’s second playoff appearance.

McDowell has been instrumental in developing and strengthening partnerships with Love’s Travel Stops, Fr8Auctions.com, Chicago Pneumatic, Horizon Hobby and others to help strengthen the No. 34 Ford Mustang team.

Gilliland has had a breakout sophomore season in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2023. His three top-10 finishes and consistent top-15 results have made him one of the most improved drivers in the series this year. Gilliland has become a fan favorite and a positive influence for the No. 38 partners that include Ruedebusch Development and Construction, Speedy Cash, Boot Barn, gener8tor Skills, Serial 1 E-Bikes and others.

“Both Michael and Todd are like family to me,” said Bob Jenkins, Owner, Front Row Motorsports. “They have been determined to make the team better each season and they just keep fighting to do that. I’m proud of both and now we will be focused on the remainder of 2023 and prepare for 2024 to be even better.”

Zane Smith, No. 38 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series driver and defending series champion, is exploring opportunities in NASCAR’s other national series, including remaining at FRM in 2024.

FRM remains committed and will compete in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2024. Future plans regarding FRM’s 2024 Truck Series program will be announced in the weeks to come.

The FRM NASCAR Cup Series program will continue their season at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course this weekend. The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series returns to action at the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park this Friday.

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.

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