New Circuit, Victory Lap Celebration in Music City among Highlights
INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023) – INDYCAR and the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix have announced the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES finale is moving to Nashville on Sept. 13-15, 2024.
All roads along the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season will lead to Nashville, as the year-long championship battle will be settled and a champion crowned on downtown Nashville’s iconic Honky-Tonk row. The 2024 season awards ceremony will also take place in the Music City, on Sept. 16 at the iconic Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
More than 250,000 fans are expected to converge on downtown Nashville for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, which has quickly become one of the sport’s marquee events since its debut in 2021 and will become a championship-crowning celebration watched by viewers across the globe. The new 2.17-mile, seven-turn circuit will continue across the iconic Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge and route directly past the Country Music Hall of Fame. The racecourse will run through the city’s honky-tonk district, home to bars owned by the biggest names in country music, including Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Garth Brooks, Eric Church, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, John Rich and Blake Shelton. Each day of racing will culminate with a takeover of Broadway and a massive street party that only Nashville can throw, featuring live performances by many of music’s biggest artists.
Considered one of the world’s finest venues, Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center will host the 2024 INDYCAR Victory Lap Celebration on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, the building boasts distinctive design elements that pay homage to the history, culture and people of Middle Tennessee. The Schermerhorn has been a favorite venue for legendary artists spanning different genres, from country music stars like Dolly Parton to contemporary pop sensations like Harry Styles.
“Nashville and the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix team are ready to host a can’t-miss, action-packed event that transforms the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season finale and elevates it to an even higher peak on the global stage,” said Mark Miles, president & CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp. “Next year’s race in Nashville will be an unbridled celebration of the most fierce and competitive motorsport on the planet, set against the backdrop of an innovative and breathtaking stage that includes one of the premier global entertainment districts in the world. We’ll have more to share soon on an entire weekend of activities, both on and off track, that fully taps into the growing reach and relevance of an ascendant and marquee city.”
While the season finale is moving to Nashville, this year’s final venue on the 2023 schedule, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, will remain on the 2024 calendar. More details about the entire 2024 season schedule will be forthcoming.
“WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca remains a beloved, historic venue for our teams, drivers and fans in an important and scenic market,” Miles said.
“The fact that INDYCAR has chosen Nashville and the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix as the crowning event is a testament to our fans, partners, stakeholders and truly the Nashville hospitality industry as a whole,” said Matt Crews, CEO, Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. “The ability to promote our city and state year-round and bring our race into the heart of Nashville is an absolute honor. The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix continues to grow to levels that I never dreamed could have been possible.”
The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix has become a marquee event for Tennessee and across the motorsport landscape, bringing fans from all 50 states and dozens of countries annually. With a global TV audience in over 200 countries and territories, the Grand Prix is elevated across a worldwide stage.
“Tennessee is already leading the nation in automotive manufacturing, hospitality and entertainment, and this announcement takes it to the next level, as the focus will be on world-class racing in the Volunteer State for the entire 2024 INDYCAR season,” said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. “As the home state of two-time series champion and current Indianapolis 500 champion Josef Newgarden, it just makes sense that Tennessee would host one of the biggest races of the season. With the national and international spotlight on Nashville, the world will see what Tennesseans already know to be true – that there’s no better stage for racing than Music City.”
For more information and to receive future news on the 2024 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, please visit www.musiccitygp24.com.
Jason Kitzmiller; A.L.L. Construction Racing Ready to Race in the Irish Hills
BROOKLYN, Mich: On the heels of his season-best finish of 11th at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway last month, ARCA Menards Series veteran Jason Kitzmiller and his A.L.L. Construction Racing team trek to Michigan International Speedway (MIS), site of Friday afternoon’s Henry Ford Health 200 riding the momentum.
Kitzmiller was super competitive at Pocono – contending for his fifth top-10 of his ARCA career.
The Todd Myers-led team ran in the top-10 for a majority of the Sunset Hill Shooting Range 150, but late-race contact stumbled Kitzmiller’s pace leaving the team with a frustrating but competitive 11th-place finish.
With a fast race car in the hauler and all eyes focused on the Irish Hills of Michigan, Kitzmiller returns to the 2.0-mile oval hungry for a top-10 finish in his fifth ARCA start of 2023.
“I’m pretty proud of our A.L.L. Construction Racing team,” offered Kitzmiller. “Pocono was a disappointment as far as our finish, but we were definitely encouraged by our overall performance.
“We had a fast No. 97 A.L.L. Construction Chevrolet and I believe we learned some things that we can apply and hopefully make Michigan our best race yet of the season.”
The Petersburg, W.V. native heads to the Great Lakes State eyeing his fourth track-start and looking to best his eighth-place finish in the 2020 VizCom 200.
Overall, Kitzmiller hasn’t finished worse than 12th at MIS and maintains an average finishing position of 10.7.
“Michigan is one of those tracks that I really seem to adapt well at,” Kitzmiller. “Michigan is a fun track to race, but it’s important to have a good balance on your race car that gives you the speed to be competitive.
“Finishing 12th in my last two races there is definitely solid, but I’m aiming for a top-10 or better on Friday afternoon. Anything below that would be a disappointment.”
In addition to the ARCA Menards Series this season, A.L.L. Construction Racing has been and will also participate in select Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour Series events.
“While we may not have had the results we wanted at this point in the year, we are still having a lot of fun,” sounded Kitzmiller. “I am hoping as we dive into the rest of the year, we can even have more fun and keep our race car near the front in both the CARS Tour and the ARCA Menards Series.
“I want to thank my team for their endless efforts of making sure we go to the track with a competitive race car and having a positive outlook. The fan vibe at Michigan is always incredible, so I cannot wait to get there and not only have a good race but hang out with the race fans as well.”
Michigan is the last planned ARCA Menards Series race on Kitzmiller’s schedule this season, although the successful entrepreneur hasn’t ruled out adding a race or two before the season concludes in October at Toledo Speedway.
“Right now, we don’t have anything solidified on our 2023 ARCA Menards Series schedule, that could change though,” added Kitzmiller. “Having a good run at Michigan this weekend could certainly boost the opportunity to compete at Kansas or Bristol next month, but we will see.
“Things are pretty busy and we’re already starting to prepare for 2024, so we will see how things unfold in Michigan and let everyone know our remaining plans in the coming weeks.”
Since 2020, Kitzmiller has 21 ARCA Menards Series starts to his credit with four top-10 finishes overall, including a career-best eighth-place finish twice at Talladega Superspeedway (April 2020) and Michigan International Speedway (August 2020) respectively.
The Henry Ford Health 200 (100 laps | 200 miles) is the 11th of 20 races on the 2023 ARCA Menards Series schedule in the 71st consecutive ARCA season. Practice begins Friday, August 4 from 1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. General Tire pole qualifying in a timed session will start a short time later at 2:30 p.m. The race is set to take the green flag later in the day shortly after 6:00 p.m. ET. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio (XM channel 391 | online channel 981) handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.
COLE CUSTER | RILEY HERBST Michigan NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview
Event: Michigan 250 (Round 21 of 33)
Date: Saturday, Aug. 5
Location: Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn
Layout: 2-mile oval
Time/TV/Radio: 3:30 p.m. EDT on NBC/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Cole Custer Notes of Interest
Cole Custer and the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang team for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) head to Saturday’s Michigan 250 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn looking to return to the form they exhibited during a dominating 11-race run from the first weekend in April to the second weekend in July. Starting with the season’s first top-five April 2 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway through their third-place finish July 9 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Custer and the Haas Automation team reeled off 11 consecutive top-10s, including victories at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway on June 3 and the Inaugural Chicago Street Race on July 1-2 among their eight top-fives during that stretch. Misfortune has struck at each of the last three races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, and Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, however, despite running in the top-five for a majority of all three. Late-race incidents at all three either ended Custer’s day early or sent him multiple laps down. He and the team are hoping to make a turnaround on the high-speed, 2-mile Michigan oval this weekend.
Saturday’s Michigan 250 will mark Custer’s fourth Xfinity Series start at the track. In his three prior starts from 2017 to 2019, he never finished outside the top-12 with a best finish of third earned in June 2018. Custer also has five starts outside of the Xfinity Series at Michigan – four in the NASCAR Cup Series and one in the NASCAR Truck Series.
Only six races remain before the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs begin Sept. 15 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Custer has already locked in his spot in the 12-driver post-season by virtue of his two wins. He and the team plan to use the final six races of the regular season to perfect their performance before racing for the championship in earnest. In the race for the regular-season championship, Custer sits fourth in the driver standings, 84 points behind leader Austin Hill.
Custer will be pulling double duty once again this weekend as he’ll also be back behind the wheel of the No. 51 BioHaven Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing in Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race. His best of four previous Cup Series outings at Michigan is 23rd, earned in August 2021.
Riley Herbst Notes of Interest
Riley Herbst and the No. 98 Monster Energy team for SHR hope to keep their stretch of solid runs going as they head into Saturday’s Michigan 250. While Herbst is still looking to score his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory, the 24-year-old racer is already a winner at Michigan. Herbst scored his second career ARCA Menards Series win in August 2020 at the track. He started from the pole, led four times for 39 laps and took the checkered flag 1.456 seconds ahead of runner-up Bret Holmes. In a prelude to that win, Herbst finished second at Michigan in his second career ARCA race in June 2018, when he started eighth and led seven laps.
Saturday’s race at Michigan will mark Herbst’s fourth Xfinity Series start at the 2-mile oval. He posted back-to-back top-10 finishes in his last two starts there in August 2021 and 2022, finishes of seventh and ninth, respectively. Both came with SHR in the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang.
The No. 98 Monster Energy driver showed his drive and perseverance in earning a fifth-place finish last weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Herbst ran in the top-five for a majority of the first stage before finishing sixth to earn stage points. On the ensuing restart on lap 25, his No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang was spun, sending him to the pits for repairs. Herbst was able to stay on the lead lap but restarted at the rear of the field. He would go for another spin on lap 33 after hitting oil on the track but was able to continue and make steady progress toward the front. Herbst survived two attempts at a green-white-checkered finish on his way to his career-best Road America finish.
With only six races remaining before the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs begin Sept. 15 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, Herbst is currently defending his spot in the 12-driver playoff field and trying to continue working his way higher in the standings. Heading into the weekend at Michigan, he sits 10th in the regular-season standings but 11th in the playoff standings. Herbst’s fourth-place result on July 22 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway and his fifth-place finish last weekend at Road America helped him extend his buffer over 13th-place Parker Kligerman from 18 to 25 points. In addition, last weekend’s result put him ahead of Sheldon Creed in the playoff standings, who is now on the bubble. The Monster Energy driver is in position to secure his top-12 position on points, but a win, of course, would guarantee Herbst a spot in the playoffs. Meanwhile, he and the team are focused on continuing their string of solid finishes through the regular-season finale Sept. 9 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City.
Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang
Michigan is one of the faster intermediate tracks on the NASCAR Xfinity Series circuit. How do you approach this race and prepare for it as a driver?
“I mean, Michigan provides a type of different racing for us just because you have to worry so much about dirty air there. You also have to worry about how you position your car, when to make moves and when not to. You can get freight-trained if you make a move at the wrong time. Ultimately, it’s just a little bit different kind of racing than a typical intermediate track. At the end of the day, though, you have to have a good car that you can be aggressive with at Michigan, just like any other track on the circuit. The No. 00 Haas Automation team has done a great job at providing me with fast Ford Mustangs all season, so hopefully we can get it done this weekend.”
Your fellow SHR driver Kevin Harvick has won at Michigan five times in the past seven Cup Series races. Have you gotten any advice from him on how to navigate this track or any others?
“I definitely asked Kevin for a lot of help when I was a rookie in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2020. I tried to call him every week to try to get an idea of what to expect at each of the racetracks in the Cup cars. He’s definitely been a big help to me in my career, and I’m thankful to have had him as a teammate. There are little things that you can do at Michigan to try and help your car, and he’s been very good at learning what those things are. So, I’m lucky to have been able to get a chance to go to him for advice on racing and life. He’s done so much for the sport.”
Riley Herbst, Driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang
You’ve had success at Michigan in the ARCA Menards Series. In August 2020, you started on the pole and led four times en route to your second career ARCA win. Talk about that win and what it meant to you.
“It was so cool to win in ARCA at Michigan. It’s such a fun and fast track, but it’s also a very difficult track where you can get into trouble really fast. I had the opportunity to get behind the wheel in ARCA when Xfinity didn’t race there in 2020, and I started on the pole. We ended up in victory lane by the end of the 100 laps, leading a couple times along the way. I led the one that mattered – the final one. It was a good day for me and my career. Hopefully, I can find my way back this weekend with the No. 98 Monster Energy team.”
The No. 98 Monster Energy team overcame multiple incidents in last Saturday’s race at Road America to earn a fifth-place finish, your third top-five since Davin Restivo became your crew chief at the end of June. Do you feel like you’re getting back into the rhythm that you and the team had at the beginning of the season?
“We’ve been on a roll, even if we’ve also had some bad luck thrown in there. Davin’s been great to work with, but just like in any new relationship, we’ve had to work on communication. I didn’t really get a chance to work with him prior to him coming to the No. 98 team, so we’ve had to learn a lot about each other in a short amount of time. It’s been great so far, so I’m excited for what the rest of the season has in store. This team deserves to be in victory lane, so I’m hoping we can get there soon.”
MICHIGAN MAN: Kyle Larson has a strong NASCAR Cup Series track record at Michigan International Speedway. The 31-year-old earned his first-ever Cup Series victory at the 2-mile track in 2016, a win that was part of a streak of three consecutive triumphs in the Irish Hills (and also the last three Cup wins for Chevrolet at this track). The moderately-banked D-shaped speedway is the winningest venue in the premier series for the 2021 Cup Series champion and he is tied for the second-most wins among active drivers there. In his 14 starts at Michigan, Larson has three victories, six top-five finishes, eight top-10s, led 220 laps and completed 2,570 of his 2,676 laps attempted (96%).
UP FRONT IN THE GREAT LAKE STATE: The Elk Grove, California, native has a streak of three consecutive top-10 finishes at Michigan. That is the third-longest streak among active drivers in the series. In that same span, he has an average finish of 4.33. In the last two Cup Series races at Michigan, Larson has run the most laps in the top five (261) and the second-most laps in the top 10 (330).
BACK & BETTER: Larson knows how to help his organization rebound from tough performances. In two of the last three races where a Hendrick Motorsports driver has not finished in the top 10, a driver from the Rick Hendrick-owned team won the next race. In April, Larson won at Martinsville Speedway after the organization was shutout of the top 10 in the dirt race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Last year, he was victorious at Homestead-Miami Speedway after the organization did not score a top 10 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
2-MILE KYLE: Larson has the third-most wins (five) on 2-mile tracks among active Cup Series drivers. Currently, the Cup Series schedule is home to two 2-mile tracks: Michigan and Auto Club Speedway. In addition to his three Michigan wins, Larson has two victories at Auto Club. His combined win total at the two tracks is tied for 11th-best among all drivers.
FOUR RACES REMAINING: With four races remaining in the 2023 regular season, Larson has earned the No. 5 HendrickCars.com team a spot in the playoffs for the third season in a row. He has won two points-paying races (Richmond Raceway and Martinsville) and the non points-paying All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. He has claimed nine top-five finishes (the most of all drivers), 10 top-10s and three stage wins. Larson has led the third-most laps (622) in 2023, which is a category teammate William Byron (810) leads. He also has run the fourth-most laps in the top-five (2,078) and top 10 (3,285) and has the fifth-best average running position in the top series (12.29). In addition, Larson is tied with Byron for the best average starting position (9.77) this season.
FOUR TIRES FAST: Through 22 races, the No. 5 HendrickCars.com pit crew has the third-fastest four-tire average pit stop time (11.113 seconds). Their four-tire stop of 9.281 seconds on lap 93 at Nashville Superspeedway in June is the fourth-fastest four-tire stop of the season. The No. 5 team’s five-man pit crew consists of Blaine Anderson (front-tire changer), R.J. Barnette (tire carrier), Brandon Harder (fueler), Brandon Johnson (jackman) and Calvin Teague (rear-tire changer). Rod Cox is currently filling in for Teague, who is week-to-week as he rehabs a knee injury.
EXTRACURRICULAR: In addition to his full-time Cup Series schedule, Larson often races dirt during the week. On Tuesday, Larson competed in the High Limit Sprint Car Series race at Kokomo Speedway in Kokomo, Indiana. This is a series that he co-founded with brother-in-law Brad Sweet. The No. 57 sprint car driver finished in second at the checkered flag. For the full High Limit Series schedule, click here.
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9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 27 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 20th
No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media at the Michigan International Speedway media center on Saturday, Aug. 5, at 11:45 a.m. local time.
IRISH HILLS NUMBERS: Heading into this weekend, Chase Elliott holds the best all-time average finish (8.00) of NASCAR Cup Series drivers with more than two starts at Michigan International Speedway. He has placed inside the top 10 in 10 of his 12 career Cup starts there – tied with Martinsville Speedway for his most top 10s at a track. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native has also collected three top-five finishes at the Irish Hills track – all of which are runner-up results – and has paced the field for 144 laps.
RUNNER-UP FINISHERS: Elliott is in good company as one of five drivers with the most runner-up finishes at Michigan before their first win at the track. NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon also earned three second-place results before capturing his first win on the Irish Hills oval (1998). Elliott joins Martin Truex Jr., Brad Keselowski and NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte in having three runner-up results without a win at the Brooklyn, Michigan, venue.
SOLID ON 2-MILERS: On Sunday, Elliott is set to make his 20th Cup start on a 2-mile oval (Auto Club Speedway and Michigan). In his 19 previous Cup Series starts on this track length, Elliott has earned five top-five finishes – including four runner-up efforts – and 14 top-10s. In his most recent start at Auto Club earlier this season, the 27-year-old driver finished stage one in ninth and stage two in seventh before taking the checkered flag in the second position.
BUILDING CONSISTENCY: Over the last seven races in the 2023 season, Elliott holds the best average finish (8.56) and has earned the fourth-most points (215). He has three top-five finishes and four top-10s in that span, with a best finish of third coming at the Chicago Street Course. In addition, the 2020 Cup Series champion has completed 100% of the laps in those seven events, one of only four drivers to do so.
GUSTAFSON AT MICHIGAN: Alan Gustafson is set to call his 35th Michigan Cup Series race from atop the pit box on Sunday, just one day after his 48th birthday. In his previous 34 starts at the venue with five different drivers (Elliott, Gordon, Kyle Busch, Mark Martin and Casey Mears), Gustafson has collected two wins (Martin in 2009 and Gordon in 2014), five top-five finishes, 17 top-10s and 370 laps led. For the 2014 victory, Gustafson’s team started from the pole position. Gordon’s qualifying lap that weekend of 206.558 mph still stands as the fastest-ever qualifying speed that did not occur at a superspeedway.
PLAYOFF OUTLOOK: With just four races left in the regular season, Elliott currently sits 20th in the driver point standings and is 40 points below the provisional cutline to advance to the Cup Series playoffs. Last weekend at Richmond Raceway, the 2020 Cup champion gained 16 points on the cutline and has been impressive on the four tracks coming up on the schedule. In addition to three runner-up results at Michigan, Elliott has a best finish of fourth at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, two wins at Watkins Glen International and two second-place efforts at Daytona International Speedway. A victory would lock the driver of the No. 9 into the postseason. Stage points and strong finishes will also be key over the next four weekends to keep the five-time National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver in the hunt to point his way in.
GET UP AND GO: NAPA Auto Parts is back on board the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this weekend at Michigan. The Atlanta-based company has been the primary partner for Elliott for all but three of his Cup starts on the 2-mile oval, including all three of his runner-up finishes. Get a look at all the angles of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet here.
24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 25 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 3rd
No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
EYE ON THE PRIZE: With four races left in the regular season, William Byron is third in the NASCAR Cup Series driver points standings, 43 markers behind the leader. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native is looking for his first Cup Series regular-season championship and the extra 15 playoff points that come with it. To this point, Byron leads the series in wins (four), laps led (810), laps run in the top five (2,688) and stage wins (seven). His 810 laps led mark a new season-high for the 25-year-old driver. In addition, Byron is tied for second in top-five finishes (eight) with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson (nine) leading the way in that category, tied for third in top-10s (11) and has run the third-most laps in the top 10 (3,595). He also has an average running position of 9.53, which is second-best in the field.
MICHIGAN MINUTES: With 10 NASCAR national series starts at Michigan International Speedway under his belt, Byron will be adding one more to his résumé this Sunday. Of those 10 races, eight have come at the Cup level, where he has a track-best starting position of third (August 2019) and a track-best finish of second (in 2021). In fact, of the last five races at the Brooklyn, Michigan, track, Byron has an average finish of 9.60. He has also spent 213 laps running in the top 10 in the last two races there – the fifth-most among active drivers. Byron has one NASCAR Xfinity Series start at the 2-mile D-shaped oval, where he qualified fourth and ended the race in the runner-up position. He also has one NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start, where he started third and finished fourth with crew chief Rudy Fugle on top of the box.
OH SO CLOSE: Sunday will mark Fugle’s third Cup Series event at Michigan. In his previous Cup Series starts, the Livonia, New York, native has a track-best finish of second coming with Byron in 2021. Aside from those two Cup Series starts, Fugle has eight other starts in the Irish Hills, with seven coming in the Truck Series. In those truck starts, he has six top-five finishes and six top-10s. To further break it down, Fugle has finished second on three occasions, third once, and in the fourth position two times, with his only finish outside of the top four coming in 2019. This weekend, he hopes to continue his success by capturing his first checkered flag at the Michigan venue.
PIT ROAD PROWESS: After 22 races in the 2023 season, the No. 24 pit crew remains in the top spot with the fastest average four-tire pit stop time of 10.991 seconds. The No. 24 pit crew consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer), Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer), Ryan Patton (tire carrier) and Landon Walker (fueler).
LIBERTY U IS BACK: For back-to-back weekends, Byron will sport his Liberty University paint scheme. Featuring a white base with navy flames and red accents, the Liberty University No. 24 will be sure to stand out on track. Liberty University has a long history with Byron starting back in 2014 in the late model ranks. Liberty University has been Training Champions for Christ since it was founded in 1971. Located in the mountains of Central Virginia, Liberty is a liberal arts institution with 17 colleges and schools that offers more than 600 degree programs from the certificate to the doctoral level, on campus and online. Working on an undergraduate degree in strategic communication, Byron is now in his junior year at Liberty University through its online program. For a better look at Byron’s Liberty University paint scheme, click here.
48 Alex Bowman
Age: 30 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Resides: Concord, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Blake Harris
Standings: 21st
No. 48 Ally X Detroit Pistons Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION: With just four points-paying races left in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series regular season, Alex Bowman is currently ranked 21st. The driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is 42 points below the provisional cutoff line. As it stands now, Bowman needs to gain an average of 11 points per event on the cutline to make the postseason. The 30-year-old driver has made five straight playoffs since joining Hendrick Motorsports full time in 2018.
MICHIGAN ON MY MIND: This Sunday, Bowman will take on Michigan International Speedway for the 14th time in his Cup Series career. He has three top-10 finishes and the Tucson, Arizona, native has an upward trend in his results over the last few races at the 2-mile D-shaped track, including his track-best finish of ninth in 2022. In addition, he won at fellow 2-miler, Auto Club Speedway, in 2020.
HORSEPOWER AND HOOPS: This weekend, the No. 48 Ally Chevy will don the iconic red, white and blue colors of the NBA’s Detroit Pistons. Ally, who is a partner of the No. 48 team and the Pistons, brought their worlds together for this Sunday’s race. Click here to check out all the angles of the fresh look for Michigan.
PISTONS VISIT: On Friday at the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center, Bowman, crew chief Blake Harris and Ally influencer and Super Bowl champion Bernard Pollard will visit the Pistons facility. There, they will do basketball drills, play A-L-L-Y (Ally’s version of H-O-R-S-E) and then talk about what it means to have the NBA world crossover with NASCAR. The trio will start the tour at 4:00 p.m. local and be available for interviews from 5:45 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. local. To RSVP to this event, please email jarneson@hmsracing.com.
ALLY’S BACKYARD: Michigan is what the full season primary sponsor of Bowman and the No. 48 team consider to be its home track. Ally Financial is based in Detroit, approximately 78 miles east of the venue. Ally Detroit Center, formerly One Detroit Center, is a skyscraper located in the downtown area overlooking the Detroit Financial District. The 43-story tower is the tallest office building in the city and the second-tallest building in the state.
SAVE THEM ALL: Bowman and primary partner Ally are teaming up this year to bring back the Best Friends Animal Society donation effort. This week, the duo will make charitable contributions to the Animal Aid of Branch County, which serves the local community in Coldwater, Michigan. Bowman and Ally will donate $4,800 to Best Friends and the Animal Aid of Branch County. Ally will increase its donation to $10,000 if the No. 48 team wins on Sunday.
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS /
Hendrick Motorsports
2023
All-Time
Michigan
Races
22
1,331
76
Wins
6**
297*
8
Poles
6*
245*
11*
Top 5
26*
1,216*
54
Top 10
38
2,083*
110*
Laps Led
1,539*
78,856*
2,658*
Stage Wins
11*
90
1
*Most **Most (tie)
CLOSING IN ON 300: Hendrick Motorsports is just three points-paying victories away from its milestone 300th win in the NASCAR Cup Series. Twenty drivers have combined to reach the organization’s current total of 297, which is the most Cup Series wins by any team. With six points-paying victories in 2023, the team has posted its 36th multi-win season in the Cup Series while maintaining a streak of at least two per season for the past 30 years. The organization has gone to victory lane at more racetracks (31) than any other active team.
MILESTONE MOMENTS: In addition to 300 Cup Series wins, Hendrick Motorsports is approaching several other major milestones. With 245 pole awards, the team is just five away from 250 at the Cup level. In addition, Hendrick Motorsports engines have recorded 496 NASCAR national series victories and need just four more to reach 500.
CALL TO THE HALL: The seven-time championship-winning duo of crew chief Chad Knaus and driver Jimmie Johnson are going into the NASCAR Hall of Fame together as part of the Class of 2024. The pairing made the No. 48 Chevrolet one of NASCAR’s most iconic numbers. They won an unprecedented five titles in a row from 2006 to 2010 as well as championships in 2013 and 2016. Johnson earned 83 victories for the team. After earning 82 triumphs atop the pit box, Knaus transitioned to his current role as vice president of competition following the 2020 season. The duo will be inducted on Jan. 19, 2024.
BLOW OUT THE CANDLES: As Hendrick Motorsports competes at Michigan International Speedway, two executives are celebrating birthdays this weekend. On Friday, team vice chairman Jeff Gordon turns 52. On Saturday, Knaus also turns 52 and No. 9 crew chief Alan Gustafson turns 48.
MICHIGAN MOJO: The Rick Hendrick-owned organization has won eight times and led a series-best 2,658 laps at Michigan. Five drivers have victories at the Irish Hills track – that mark is tied with three other teams for the most different number of drivers to win for an organization at this venue. Gordon has the most wins for the team at three, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. with two. Ricky Rudd, Mark Martin and Johnson each won once for the squad at the 2-mile track.
ON THIS DATE: Sunday’s race is set to take place on Aug. 6. In two of the last three Cup Series races held on that date, Hendrick Motorsports has been victorious. Gordon won in 1994 and Johnson won in 2006, with both triumphs coming at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
2-MILE POWER: On the current Cup Series schedule, there are two 2-mile tracks: Michigan and Auto Club Speedway in California. As an organization, Hendrick Motorsports has 20 wins combined at these tracks – which is tied for the most victories at both venues.
TOP OF THE BOARD: In the Next Gen car era (2022-present), Hendrick Motorsports has won 17 races, which is five more than any other team. During that span, all four drivers in its lineup – William Byron (six), Kyle Larson (five), Chase Elliott (five) and Alex Bowman (one) – have notched victories.
HIGH FIVE: With 26 top-five finishes in 2023, the Concord, North Carolina-based team leads all organizations in that statistical category. Larson has the most top-five results (nine) of all drivers in the series and Byron (eight) is tied for second. Elliott (five), Bowman (three) and Josh Berry (one) have also recorded top fives this season.
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Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the significance Michigan International Speedway has had in his career: “Our team is looking forward to running at Michigan (International Speedway) this weekend. My first ever NASCAR Cup Series win was at Michigan, so it’s certainly a special place to me. With only two 2-mile tracks on the schedule, our team is looking for redemption following Fontana (Auto Club Speedway). I’ve had two solid top-10 finishes with the No. 5 team in my last two starts, so I hope to be able to repeat that. The team has been putting in hard work at the shop to build a fast HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevy, so I’m eager to hit the track and give it our best.”
Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Michigan: “We are definitely looking forward to Michigan (International Speedway). It’s a super fast track. Lots of wide-open throttle time but your car also has to handle good. It’s (Michigan) got it’s own unique challenges but we have a lot of confidence in our engine shop. They have been giving us great engines and obviously that has a big impact at this track. We’ve got to do a good job of putting a good car under Kyle (Larson) and let him do his thing. Hopefully, we can go have a nice solid (race) day.”
Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Michigan: “Michigan (International Speedway) is an important race on the schedule with it being close to Detroit. It’s also a part of the country I really enjoy during the summer months and I’m looking forward to going up there. It would be great to go there this weekend, get a win for Team Chevy and lock ourselves into the playoffs.”
Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what the team can take from the strong run at Auto Club Speedway to use at Michigan this weekend: “Yeah, we had a really good run. Fontana’s so rough. The track surfaces are so different. The shapes are similar, but the surface is different. I do think there’s some things that we can use as general guidelines, but you can’t fine tune it because the surfaces are just so much different. It does make me optimistic that we can have the same success this weekend.”
Gustafson, on what it takes to run well at Michigan: “Michigan, it’s an interesting balance between, it’s fast but your car still has to handle well and drive good, and you’re just on the throttle for so long. So, having the car secure enough to run a lot of throttle through the corners is really the key.”
William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his motivation for this weekend at Michigan: “We’ve had a couple weeks now that we haven’t gotten the result we’ve wanted. I think going to Michigan (International Speedway) is going to turn that around for us. It’s a big and fast track and we’ve always had speed there. We did a tire test there earlier this year there and it went really well. We’re not going to let the last couple weeks define our team though. We’re going to show that we’ve put those races behind us and move on to the next week. That’s what is great about our team. You can’t get us down.”
Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what he expects at Michigan: “Michigan (International Speedway) is a track I’ve always liked. I think we’re going to be pretty prepared for this weekend’s race. We had speed at Michigan last year and we were able to do the tire test in May with the new tire we’ll be running. With that combination of notes, I think we’re going to unload in a good place. We’ve also been good on the intermediate tracks this season, which is a bit of added confidence in what we’re doing. I think track position is going to be key, even though it’s a wide track with multiple lanes. It’s really going to come down to your pit strategy and when within your pit window do you stop for fuel.”
Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his mindset heading to Michigan: “We have been getting better at Michigan (International Speedway) and I feel like it is one of my better tracks, especially getting my career-best result last year. We have had fast cars the last few weeks and Blake (Harris) had a great strategy in Pocono that just got taken away from us. I feel like we have a good shot every weekend with Hendrick Motorsports, but I am really confident in our team and what we can accomplish this weekend.”
Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his mindset with four races left in the regular season: “We have to win and this team is plenty capable of competing at every track we have left. Alex (Bowman) has a lot of talent and we all believe in him and his abilities. Our team is working hard to get the setups right and take notes from other places to fine tune every detail we can. Our pit crew is putting in the work to continue to have fast stops. I am really optimistic about our chances in these last few races.”
Harris, on his perspective of the paint scheme: “It is really cool to see Ally lean into their partnerships in multiple sports. The NBA and NASCAR aren’t worlds that would normally overlap, so to have the ability to do this crossover, go to their facility and see what goes on behind the scenes is something that I am really looking forward to. It’s a fun way to kick off our weekend in Michigan.”
Mooresville, NC August 3rd, 2023 – Camden Murphy and SS Green Light Racing reunite with support from “Garners Towing” at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course for the upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series event on Saturday, August 12th, “Pennzoil 150” presented by Advance Auto Parts.
Taking the wheel of the number #08 Garners Towing car, Murphy will navigate the legendary speedway with the backing of his newest partner, a local Indianapolis company, “Garners Towing.” This collaboration adds to Murphy’s impressive portfolio in NASCAR since 2014, competing for various teams in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Beyond NASCAR, Murphy’s passion for motorsports extends to Monster Jam, where he drives a 12,000-pound Monster Jam Truck, entertaining fans across the globe.
When asked about the race weekend, Camden said, “I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of a NASCAR Xfinity Series car and no better way to do it then at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and with the team I made my NASCAR Debut with back in 2014, SS Green Light Racing. Not to mention having a great partner like Garners Towing makes the weekend that much more special. I can’t thank Bobby Dotter enough for the opportunity and Jamie Garner for coming on board for this incredible weekend at such a historic racetrack!”. Team Owner Bobby Dotter added, “I have been a part of Cam’s NASCAR career ever since the beginning when he drove one of our trucks. I’m so proud and excited to have him back and in our car at Indy to see how well he does.”
Be sure to catch Camden Murphy in action as he showcases his versatility and talent in the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Follow his journey on Instagramor Facebook for the latest updates and behind-the-scenes moments. When: Saturday, August 12th – 5:30 p.m. ET on USA Network
Other Partners: Ronald McDonald House of Central Indiana, SimGear Simulators, DJ K Yung, Annapolis RV Center
ABOUT SS GREEN LIGHT RACING SS Green Light Racing was founded by and is operated by Bobby Dotter, a second-generation driver who began his racing career as a teenager in the Chicago, IL area. Credited for bringing DeWalt into NASCAR, Dotter has turned to developing young drivers in the sport. Over the yearsmany talented drivers have been with Dotter at SS Green Light Racing including Tim Sauter, Mike Bliss, Chad McCumbee, Butch Miller, Jason White, David Starr, Ross Chastain.
ABOUT GARNERS TOWING Garners Towing is a locally owned towing recovery and transport company. Garners Towing was founded in 1972 in Fortville Indiana by Kenny Garner. In 1997 the three-truck company was handed over to his son, Jamie Garner. Today Garners Towing operates from six locations around the central Indiana and Indianapolis area. With a fleet of almost 40 trucks and 60 employees. With Our fleet of the most modern equipment available and our well-trained staff you can rest assured, when you call Garners Towing you will get a quick, knowledgeable, trained professional response to all your needs
BROOKLYN, Mich: Returning to the ARCA Menards Series scene for the first time since Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway in May, ARCA veteran Gus Dean invades Michigan International Speedway as a man on a mission for Friday night’s Henry Ford Health 200.
In his second season as a part-time driver for the potent Venturini Motorsports (VMS), Dean returns to the driving duties of the No. 25 Dean Custom Air | Folds of Honor Toyota Camry looking to produce his second top-five finish of the season but chase his third career ARCA Menards Series victory.
In his last outing at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, Dean raced inside the top-five with a brand new No. 25 Mobil 1 | Dean Custom Air Toyota Camry, but a flat tire late in the race regulated the Bluffton, S.C. native to a frustrating 15th place finish at the checkered flag.
Having some time to get over the disappointment of racing in the team’s backyard, the popular South Carolinian driver returns to the Irish Hills of Michigan International Speedway – a track that overall has been one of Dean’s best.
“I am stoked about going back to Michigan International Speedway this weekend,” offered Dean. “It took a few days to get over Charlotte – because I felt like we had a car capable of contending if not battling for the win, but I am refreshed and refocused on going to Michigan and putting this Venturini Motorsports No. 25 team in Victory Lane.”
Dean has raced at the 2.0-mile Michigan International Speedway three times during his ARCA tenure and he has produced top-five finishes in all three races dating back to the 2017 season. In the 2022 event, Dean finished fifth after starting sixth in what was then his final race of the season for the Concord, N.C.-based team.
Returning to one of the fastest tracks on the ARCA circuit a year later, Dean believes he is in a much better place with his Venturini Motorsports team than he was last August.
“We had a good car last year, but just missed the setup a little bit that kept us from contending for a better finish,” recalled Dean. “I want to go to Michigan this weekend and compete for the win.
“I feel this is my time to shine and I believe that I can step up to the plate and put our No. 25 Dean Custom Air Toyota in Victory Lane.
“Michigan is about having that perfect balance and getting your car to maneuver through the bumps and being able to position yourself to make moves at any point in time. I have learned a lot about Michigan over the years and I plan to apply all of that knowledge on Friday afternoon.”
In addition to Daytona, Talladega, Charlotte and Michigan, Dean will return to ARCA competition with Venturini Motorsports at The Milwaukee Mile later this month.
Additional ARCA races with Venturini Motorsports could be added as the second half of the season officially kicks off.
Dean, a fan favorite is poised to have a busy 2023 season between ARCA, Late Models, Mud Truck Racing and a hopeful sporadic appearance or two in NASCAR.
“With no championship on the line for me this season, it’s about having fun,” sounded Dean.
“Whether that’s competing with Venturini Motorsports in ARCA, DLP Motorsports in Late Model competition, or the other racing endeavors we have planned for this season. Of course, the urge to still compete full-time is there, but it takes marketing partners and a lot of financial commitment to make it happen.
“Until we can hopefully put ourselves back into that position again, we’ll take the path that has been laid out before me and make the most of it.”
For the second time this season, Dean will carry the Dean Custom Air colors as the primary partner on Venturini Motorsports’ flagship No. 25 entry. In addition to Dean Custom Air, IMPACT Race Products and Folds of Honor will serve as associate marketing partners for Dean’s 63rd career ARCA race.
Since 2016, Dean has 62 ARCA Menards Series starts to his credit with two wins at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in 2016 and Elko (Minn.) Speedway in 2018 respectively. Overall, he has earned two poles, two wins, 19 top-five and 35 top-10 finishes.
For more on Gus Dean, please visit GusDean.com, like him on Facebook (Gus Dean Racing) and follow him on Instagram and Twitter (@GusDean).
The Henry Ford Health 200 (100 laps | 200 miles) is the 11th of 20 races on the 2023 ARCA Menards Series schedule in the 71st consecutive ARCA season. Practice begins Friday, August 4 from 1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. General Tire pole qualifying in a timed session will start a short time later at 2:30 p.m. The race is set to take the green flag later in the day shortly after 6:00 p.m. ET. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio (XM channel 391 | online channel 981) handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.
(Elkhart Lake, Wis.) Aug. 3, 2023 — After two successful rounds of competition at Watkins Glen International, the Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport (WTRAndretti) stable of drivers are ready to capitalize their momentum as the Lamborghini Super Trofeo field heads to Road America.
A PERFECT RECORD As the halfway point approaches at Road America, co-drivers Kyle Marcelli and Danny Formal have their sights set to continue their perfect record on the 2023 season thus far. With four wins in four races, the WTRAndretti pairing is poised to stretch their current championship lead. In the previous two seasons at Road America, Marcelli and Formal have not finished off the podium, including two wins in 2021, at the 4.048-mile road course.
ON THE HUNT Ryan Norman has continued to display impressive speed at both WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Watkins Glen International, finishing on the overall podium three out of the first four races – nearly winning the second race at Watkins Glen before a mechanical issue within the final few minutes. This may be the first weekend piloting the No. 84 Lamborghini Huracan EVO2, but Norman has had previous success racing at Road America, including one win in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and one win in INDY NXT (formerly Indy Lights).
FINDING THEIR GROOVE As a new co-driver pairing in the PRO|AM, Nate Stacy and Nick Persing ended the Watkins Glen weekend on a promising note with two top-six finishes. Entering Road America, Stacy and Persing have had the chance to get further acclimated as teammates and are ready to challenge for a podium this weekend.
ROOKIE ON A ROLL After the first two weekends on the LST schedule, rookie Graham Doyle has continued to make strides in his race craft and earned his first LB Cup podium at Watkins Glen Race 1. Like each weekend before Road America, Doyle has been able to learn and develop skills from his simulator work as well as testing and preparing with the WTRAndretti team at the race shop. With quick learning and adapting, Doyle may be on the verge of his first LB Cup win come this weekend. Action for LST at Road America begins with practice on Friday, August 4th at 10 a.m. CT. followed by qualifying for both races on Saturday, August 5th at 10:20 a.m. CT. The first LST race of the weekend will go green at 3:50 p.m. CT on Saturday and Race 2 is set for 1:35 p.m. CT on Sunday, August 6th. All race coverage will be broadcast on Peacock.
Kyle Marcelli, No. 1 WTRAndretti (PRO) “Always look forward to Road America and Elkhart Lake, WI. It’s a fan favorite and a racer’s favorite! Of course, this year the hot topic will be the new track surface, and everyone is curious how the Hankook tires and Lamborghini Super Trofeo race cars will respond.”
“It will be business as usual for us in the No. 1 Harrison Contracting car and I know Danny and I will continue to push each other to be the best we can and achieve the best results for our team and sponsors.”
Danny Formal, No. 1 WTRAndretti (PRO) “We’re halfway in the season and what a season it has been – four wins at four races. I’m just so thankful to be part of WTRAndretti. The car has been phenomenal. Race 3 in Watkins Glen was one of my best races ever behind a racecar, and I’m super excited to go to the to the new re-paved Road America. Road America is the longest race of the year, the track is over four miles long with huge straightaways, high speed, corners, low speed corners. It has a little bit of everything. I got my first win ever in Lamborghini Super Trofeo in 2021 – it was actually two wins in a row. I’m super excited to get back there and super thankful again for all the sponsors in our car – Harrison Contracting and ShipSigma. Kyle and I are ready to try to get another two wins for the team.”
Ryan Norman, No. 84 WTRAndretti (PRO) “I’m super excited to get back to racing! We had very strong pace at Watkins Glen but sadly had a mechanical failure in Race 2, so I’ll be pushing for the top step of the podium at Road America. I’ve had lots of success at Road America from winning Indy Lights there and winning Michelin Pilot races there as well so hope to keep that streak going!”
Nate Stacy, No. 8 WTRAndretti (PRO|AM) “After our first weekend together, Nick and I have been doing nothing but looking forward to this weekend! We both love Road America and are fired up to go after a win this weekend! Huge thanks to WTRAndretti, they have worked tirelessly to make sure we have the best car possible for this event, and we will do our best to bring home some hardware.”
Nick Persing, No. 8 WTRAndretti (PRO|AM) “For Road America, I’m extremely excited to show my speed with some solid testing and at a track I have driven. Seeing that I missed the first race at Laguna Seca, Road America is going to be huge if we want to try and make a statement in the championship. Road America is a fairly easy track to drive because of its long straights, so I have just been continuing my workout plan to make sure I stay prepared.”
Graham Doyle, No. 10 DEX Imaging with WTRAndretti (LB Cup) “I’m looking for forward to a third new track, my first time at Road America. They just repaved the track which is nice, and it’ll be cool to experience a sort of ‘brand new’ track in a sense. After all the success we had in Watkins Glen, I really think we are setup for a good weekend. I’ve studied a lot of track video as well as simulator time and I have been spending a lot of time up in Indianapolis with the WTRAndretti team, learning the car and getting more comfortable in it, working at the test track that is similar to Road America and talking with my teammates over strategy for the weekend.”
ABOUT WTRANDRETTI’S DRIVER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Wayne Taylor Racing, now with Andretti Autosport (#WTRAndretti), is a leader in sportscar racing, recognized worldwide for fielding championship winning racing efforts since 2007. WTRAndretti has run a stable of championship winning cars and drivers in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series for over half a decade, forming the basis of their Driver Development Program. Since its inception in 2015, the team has clinched eight North American PRO Driver, Team and Dealer Championship titles, fielded the first woman World Finals race winner and became the overall 2017 Champions at the World Finals in Imola, Italy. WTRAndretti’s Driver Development program has grown into interim classes and series as it evolves to encompass a greater variety of skill and experience levels. WTRAndretti currently fields a GTP program with it Championship winning No 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 effort as well as GT3 programs in both the IMSA Michelin Endurance Championship and Fanatec GT World Challenge with Harrison Contracting Company, Acura, Honda Performance Development (HPD) and Racers Edge Motorsports.
For more information on Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport’s Driver Development Program and how to get involved, contact Travis Houge at info@waynetaylorracing.com.
Track Location: Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan
Race Name: Firekeepers Casino 400
Broadcast: Sunday, August 6th at 2:00 PM ET live on USA (TV), MRN (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90
Team Entrants:
No. 42 | Noah Gragson & Luke Lambert – Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 No. 43 | Erik Jones & Dave Elenz – Allegiant Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Noah Gragson, No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Michigan International Speedway Stats
-NCS Starts: 1; Best Start: 12th (2022); Best Finish: 30th (2022); Top 5s: 0; Top 10s: 0; Laps Led: 0
-NXS Starts: 3; Best Start: 1st (2022); Best Finish: 2nd (2019); Wins: 0; Top 5s: 3; Top 10s: 3; Laps led: 39
-NCTS Starts: 2; Best Start: 3rd (2018); Best Finish: 4th (2018); Top 5s: 2; Top 10s: 2; Laps Led: 18
2023 NCS Season Stats
Starts: 21; Best Start: 10th (COTA); Best Finish: 12th (Atlanta); Top 5s: 0; Top 10s: 0; Points: 33rd
-About Sunseeker Resorts: 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.
Richmond recap: Noah Gragson qualified in the 12th position at Richmond Raceway but struggled to find grip throughout the event. He finished 28th but felt that the team learned many things and they looked forward to the two-day test at the track this week.
Gragson and the Irish Hills: Gragson’s record in the Truck and Xfinity Series’ in Michigan International Speedway (MIS) is stellar. Even though he does not have a win, across five starts he has never finished outside of the top-10. Last season Gragson won the pole position in the Xfinity Series and led 39 laps on the day, to finish third.
Meet NG: Fans can meet with Noah for an autograph session at MIS on Sunday, August 6th at 11:30am local time at the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB trackside merchandise hauler.
Luke at Michigan: Crew chief Luke Lambert has 17 starts in the NASCAR Cup Series with four different drivers. He has earned one top five and two top-10 finishes and won the pole position with driver Chris Buescher in 2021 for the event. Additionally, Lambert has two Xfinity Series starts at Michigan, most recently with Gragson. The duo won the pole position in 2022, followed by a third place finish.
Quoting Noah: “Busy week with the Richmond test and then heading to Michigan which has been a good track for us in the Xfinity Series. I like going there, its a fast track and we are going to watch some local track racing as well when we are there and then focus on getting a solid top-15 finish in the race.”
Erik Jones, No. 43 Allegiant Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Michigan International Speedway Stats
-NCS Starts: 10; Best start: 4th; Best finish: 3rd; Top 5s: 1 Top 10s: 2
-NXS Starts: 1; Best start: 2nd; Best finish: 4th; Top 5s: 1; Top 10s: 1
-NCTS Starts: 1; Best start: 7th; Best finish: 3rd; Top 5s: 1; Top 10s: 1; Laps led: 16
2023 NASCAR Cup Series Season Stats
Starts: 22; Best start: 8th; Best finish: 6th; Top 10’s: 4; 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.
Richmond in the Rearview: Coming off another top-10 finish at Pocono, the No. 43 team looked to keep the ball rolling at the short track of Richmond Raceway. Despite a fourth place finish in practice, Jones qualified 27th and worked throughout the race to gain track position. He ultimately finished 23rd.
From Byron to Brooklyn: Friends and fans will have the unique opportunity to be part of NASCAR festivities this weekend as Jones will caravan from his hometown of Byron to the track on Sunday morning with a group traveling from Byron. Click here for more information.
Mr. and Mrs. Erik Jones: Jones and his fiancée Holly Shelton had an important “date” prior to this weekends event at Michigan, which was that of their wedding. The couple exchanged vows in Bancroft, Michigan on August 2nd surrounded by their family, friends, and NASCAR legends. Oscar Jones, the family dog, served as ring bearer.
Hometown Guy: Byron Michigan native, Jones will return to his home track, Michigan International Speedway (MIS) for the FireKeepers Casino 400. Fans can join Jones for special tailgating activities throughout the weekend by purchasing the “Erik Jones Ticket Package” to show support for the hometown boy. For more details on the ticket package, click here.
Last Time Around: In his most recent attempt at MIS, Jones started in 10th position and worked his way to the front, leading the pack for five laps and earning stage points in both Stages 1 and 2. Jones ran a total of 176 laps within the top-15 accumulating 73 quality passes during the race, finishing the race in eighth.
Back to his Roots: Jones is set to return to his racing roots as he takes the wheel of his self-built “Erik Jones Foundation” No. 4 Super Late Model at the highly anticipated “Battle at Berlin.” The race will be held at Berlin Raceway, as Jones aims to capture his second win of the year for his Super Late Model team.
Dave at Michigan: Fellow Michigan native, crew chief Dave Elenz, has six starts at Michigan International Speedway. Across five Xfinity starts, Elenz has coached four different drivers to one pole and 18 laps led. Elenz has an average start and finish of fourth place and has a pair of second place finishes. In his lone Cup Series start, Elenz coached Jones to an eighth place finish, including five laps led for the Michigan duo at the their home track.
Meet Erik: On Sunday, August 6th at MIS, Jones will appear at the Chevrolet Racing experience at 10:30am for a question and answer session; at the United States Air Force activation display in the Fan Zone at 10:50am local time, where he will sign autographs for approximately 100 fans. Jones will then stop by the Erik Jones fan experience tailgate for those who purchased the “Erik Jones Ticket Package”.
Quoting Erik Jones: “Michigan for me is always fun, getting to go home, and spending some time up there, I will be there a little bit extra this year with the wedding on Wednesday and everything else going on, so it is kind of a cool way to cap everything off with the race on Sunday. Getting to tailgate with fans is something that we have done on and off a bit ever since I started coming to Michigan in the Cup Series, but cool to have the hometown fans at the track, and have a big group coming up to watch the race. I feel like our car was good there last year, it was kind of an up and down race, but we came home with a solid finish through it all. We had speed there the whole time, and hopefully we can have a solid car. It’s always fun to go run well there, and it’s important to me to go out and run well in front of so many people that grew up in this area like I did. No guy from Michigan has ever won there, so that’s always something that you want to keep in your mind and try to make that happen, so I am looking forward to being home and the weekend in general.”
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 ZL1 for drivers Noah Gragson and Erik Jones, 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.
AM Racing | ARCA Menards Series Michigan International Speedway | Henry Ford Health 200
Fast Facts No. 32 AM Racing Team: Driver: Christian Rose Primary Partner(s): Department of West Virginia Tourism | Secure Testing Services Manufacturer: Ford Mustang Crew Chief: Ryan “Pickle” London Spotter: Mark Soronen Chassis Intel: AMR Chassis No. A-231 Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies Driver Championship Point Standings: Fourth Team Championship Point Standings: Seventh
Notes of Interest:
Settling In: AM Racing returned to the ARCA Menards Series full-time in 2023 with Automobile Racing of America (ARCA) Rookie of the Year candidate Christian Rose behind the wheel of the team’s No. 32 Ford Mustang.
The 2023 ARCA Menards Series will mark the first time that AM Racing has competed full-time in the NASCAR-owned development series since Gus Dean drove for the organization during the 2018 season.
Meet Christian Rose: Rose, a former Division 1 baseball player for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore has traded the glove and bat in for a steering wheel and helmet and has set achievable goals for his first full season of stock car competition aboard the team’s flagship No. 32 Ford Mustang.
Rose joins the Statesville, N.C.-based team on the heels of a limited ARCA schedule in 2022 competing in a series of races on ARCA’s platform with Cook Racing Technologies which was highlighted by a career-best seventh-place finish at Kansas Speedway last October.
Additionally, Rose earned two additional top-10 finishes at Five Flags (Fla.) Speedway and Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway respectively.
Glad To Have You: To help steer Christian Rose and the AM Racing team towards a championship in 2023, the organization has recruited Ryan “Pickle” London to serve as crew chief of the No. 32 Ford Mustang this season.
London, a long-time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series crew chief returns to AM Racing after spending the 2020 season with the team’s Truck Series program as the truck chief.
London has plenty of experience as a leader in the ARCA Menards Series, including guiding drivers Tom Hessert and Frank Kimmel to poles and leading Grant Enfinger to victories at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway and DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds in 2014.
In addition to the two wins as crew chief, the winning NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series crew chief has numerous ARCA top-fives and top-10 efforts to his credit.
Partner Support: The Department of West Virginia Tourism will serve as the primary marketing partner on Rose’s No. 32 Ford Mustang in Friday afternoon’s Henry Ford Health 200.
The West Virginia Department of Tourism promotes West Virginia as a leading four-season travel destination and a top state to live, work and retire.
Known as the Mountain State, West Virginia is one of the most scenic states in the United States and home to thousands of acres of parks and public lands, including America’s newest national park and 45 state parks and forests.
In addition to its majestic mountains and rolling hills, West Virginia is full of rich historic sites, enchanting art galleries, charming towns and an immense sense of belonging found only in its heaven-like landscapes.
This weekend at Pocono, Rose and the AM Racing team will continue to showcase their breathtaking Department of West Virginia Tourism summer paint scheme beaming the adventures that await with a tour of West Virginia.
On June 20, 2023, the state of West Virginia celebrated its 160th birthday!
Secured Partnership: In addition to the Department of West Virginia Tourism, Secure Testing Services (STS) will serve as a major associate marketing partner for the 11th of 20 races on the 2023 ARCA Menards Series tour.
Secure Testing Services LLC. is a nationwide leader in on-site drug testing located in Richmond, Virginia.
Quite simply, STS provides customized assistance to your organization’s Human Resources and Safety teams in achieving their compliance goals.
Truck Series Debut Success: During the ARCA Menards Series off-weekend on July 29, 2023, Christian Rose officially made his NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series debut at Richmond (Va.) Raceway.
Rose was able to make significant gains from practice to qualifying and the race. Rose finished the race without a scratch on his No. 22 Secure Testing Services LLC. | Labworks USA Ford F-150 and was granted clearance to compete in additional Truck Series races moving forward.
Richmond was the first of a limited Truck Series schedule for the Martinsburg, West Virginia native this season.
Cue The Fun!: Planning ahead, the West Virginia State Fair is quickly approaching. From August 10 – 19, 2023, the yearly State Fair will showcase concerts, rides, animals, food, entertainment and more!
Christian Rose and his No. 32 Department of West Virginia Tourism Ford Mustang are scheduled to make an appearance on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 – before traveling to Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International for his second and final road course start of the season.
Stay tuned on the driver’s and team’s social media channels where they will offer opportunities to win concert and fair tickets!
AM Minute: Last weekend was another busy summer weekend for AM Racing.
In addition to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series team being in action at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, AM Racing’s NASCAR Xfinity Series team was roaring in action at Road America (Wisc.) with Brett Moffitt.
Aboard his No. 25 AM Technical Solutions Ford Mustang, Moffitt was contending for another top-10 finish before a mechanical issue ended the race early for the Statesville, N.C. team.
On the flip side, AM Racing’s Dirt Division returned to Victory Lane on Saturday night with Austin Wayne Self at East Lincoln Speedway. It was Self’s eighth victory of the 2023 season and the organization’s ninth overall.
To The Point(s): Entering Michigan, Rose is fourth in the ARCA Menards Series championship standings, 87 markers in the arrears to championship leader Jesse Love with 10 races remaining.
Just 13 points separate Rose from third in the championship standings currently occupied by Frankie Muniz.
Rose sits 18 points behind second place in the championship standings currently occupied by Andres Perez De Lara.
Rose is the series leader in most laps completed in 2023 at 1,204 of 1,227 at 98.1 percent overall.
AM Racing stands a respectable seventh in the ARCA Menards Series championship owner standings.
Thanks For Your Support: With 50 percent of the season complete, AM Racing and Christian Rose would like to thank their associate marketing partners for their support: AIRBOX Air Purifier, Black Draft Farm & Distillery, Disability Opportunity Fund, Extreme Family Fitness, Flying Circle, Lopez Team, Mountaineer Rub, Mobil 1, Whitetail Smokeless and Warwood Tool.
Christian Rose ARCA Michigan International Speedway Stats: Friday afternoon’s Henry Ford Health 200 will mark Rose’s inaugural tango in the “Irish Hills” of Brooklyn, Michigan.
Christian Rose ARCA National Series Stats: In 18 career ARCA National Series starts, Rose has earned seven top-10 finishes (seventh at Iowa Speedway | July 2023, seventh at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway | June 2023, seventh at Kansas Speedway | October 2022, eighth at Charlotte Motor Speedway | May 2023, ninth at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway | July 2023, ninth at Kansas Speedway | May 2023 and 10 at Elko Speedway | June 2023), while also showcasing 11 top-20 finishes overall.
Pocono (Pa.) Raceway | Sunset Hill Shooting Range 150 Race Recap: In the most recent ARCA Menards Series race at Pocono Raceway, Rose and the AM Racing team chased their sixth top-10 finish of the season together.
In his return to the “Tricky Triangle”, Rose encountered a mechanical issue in practice which forced the team to forgo qualifying and start the 10th race of the season from the rear of the field.
Methodically, Rose was able to maneuver through the field and spent most of the second half of the race, inside the top-10.
While battling for sixth with less than 15 laps to go, Rose’s No. 32 West Virginia Tourism | Secure Testing Services Ford Mustang broke loose which cause the ARCA Menards Series rookie to lose several positions before rebounding to finish ninth and collecting his sixth top-10 finish in the last seven races.
Rose also posted his seventh top-11 finish since Kansas Speedway in May 2023 for the Statesville, N.C.-based team.
Show Your Support: AM Racing and Christian Rose are proud to announce that official team 2023 apparel is available by visiting Christian Rose’s website.
You can show your support for Christian Rose and the No. 32 AM Racing team by purchasing an official West Virginia Tourism tee-shirt, as well as a team cap representing West Virginia Tourism, Secure Testing Services and Disability Opportunity Fund.
Follow on Social Media: For more on AM Racing, please visit AMRacingteam.com, like their Facebook page (AM Racing), or follow them on Instagram and Twitter @AMRacingNASCAR.
For more on Christian Rose, please like him on Facebook (Christian Rose Racing), or follow him on Instagram (@christianroseracing) and Twitter (@CRoseRacing).
Christian Rose Quoteboard:
On Michigan International Speedway: “I am very optimistic about Michigan International Speedway this weekend. I know my AM Racing team is going to bring me another fast No. 32 West Virginia Tourism | Secure Testing Services Ford Mustang, I just need to do my job behind the wheel and adapt to the track and keep making gains.
“Our goal is a top-five finish on Friday afternoon, but if we can’t be in a position for a top-five, we’ll take another top-10 to our 2023 tally and move on to Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.”
On 2023 Season Outlook: “We have reached the halfway point of the season and we’ve made some great gains. We still have more work to do though and half the season to accomplish the rest of our goals.
“I am focused on doing my part to make sure we are leaving the track every weekend with the best finish possible. Every race isn’t going to be perfect, but limiting mistakes and capitalizing on the opportunity will hopefully propel us forward as we inch closer to the second half of the season.
“We have shown speed, finesse, led laps and put ourselves in contention to win a race. I’m hopeful by October, we are able to achieve everything we set out to do.”
Race Information:
The Henry Ford Health 200 (100 laps | 200 miles) is the 11th of 20 races on the 2023 ARCA Menards Series schedule in the 71st consecutive ARCA season. Practice begins Friday, August 4 from 1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. General Tire pole qualifying in a timed session will start a short time later at 2:30 p.m. The race is set to take the green flag later in the day shortly after 6:00 p.m. ET. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio (XM channel 391 | online channel 981) handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.
About AM Racing:
AM Racing is a multi-tiered, multi-faceted Motorsports program headquartered in Statesville, N.C.
Established in December 2015, AM Racing is prided on faith, honesty and intelligent performance.
The family-owned team will compete in the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and various Dirt Modified events in its seventh year of competition.
The team has named Brett Moffitt, Christian Rose and Austin Wayne Self as their primary drivers for the 2023 Xfinity, ARCA Menards Series and Dirt Modified seasons respectively.
CHARLOTTE (August 3, 2023) – Headed back to the Music City, Darin Mock is hoping a special paint scheme on his No. 51 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang will bring him a little extra luck when the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA2 Series hits the streets of Nashville. With longtime supporter Ken Gilreath backing Mock’s effort with AAN Adjusters, another one of Gilreath’s companies will be featured on the hood for the special scheme—Gilreath Farms.
“I’m really excited to head back to Nashville this weekend for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix,” said Mock. “It will be extra special to have Gilreath Farms featured on the car. I got a chance to head out there last month to present Ken with my very first AAN firesuit and actually see the farm in person. It’s really impressive. Knowing Ken [Gilreath] and all that he’s accomplished in the business world, it’s a real honor to represent his companies on and off the track.”
Giving the livery an extra personal touch, fans will notice photos incorporated into the wrap that were taken on the Knoxville, Tenn., farm located just 200 miles east of Nashville. A family-owned cattle farm running anywhere from 75 to 100 head of registered Red Angus and Scottish Highlander cows, Gilreath and his wife, Tina, purchased Gilreath Farms in 2013. The project allows the third-generation farmer and entrepreneur to live out his passion for both.
“We own a farm and some overnight rental cabins, and we run two insurance claims businesses,” explained Gilreath. “I’m looking forward to seeing the car. It’s a design that we came up with that we’re actually running on Darin’s car, the NASCAR XFINITY car that we’re sponsoring—both at Indianapolis and Bristol—and on our own TA2 car that we use for club racing. We’re basically doing a branding campaign with it.”
With Gilreath Farms featured on the hood, another of Gilreath’s companies—AAN Adjusters—will be on the rear quarter panels. Mock has been representing the brand since he first joined the TA2 series in 2021. AAN Adjusters is an independent adjusting firm started by Gilreath in 2004, primarily as a property claims company.
“I met [Ken and Tina] probably three or four years ago at a NASA race,” recalled Mock. “They were parked next to us, and we just hit it off. As the relationship grew, we jokingly said, ‘Hey, would you be interested in sponsoring a TA2 car?’ They said, ‘Sure!’ He’s been very loyal to me and has stuck with me ever since. This is a big race for them, being based in Knoxville. They’re going to have a lot of clients and guests there, so I’ll hopefully get a good finish for them in their backyard.”
In his first year with TA2 powerhouse Nitro Motorsports, Mock has had five top-10 finishes in the eight Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA2 Series races to date. Coming off of a pair of back-to-back top 10s, including a seventh-place finish at Road America to tie his career-best result, the 20-year-old is currently tied for fifth in the championship standings.
“We’ve had a really good year so far,” said Mock. “It’s been a bit of a learning year for me after switching teams over the off-season, but I feel like I’m gelling really well with the Nitro team and my crew chief, Ron Otto. We’ve had good speed. I’ve had to work on a few things as a driver. I’m racing a whole different group of people than I was racing last year because we’re doing so much better. So, I’m getting used to the competition, as well as working on the dialogue with my crew chief to relay to him what I need out of the car. It’s been good working with Brent [Crews] and Thomas [Annunziata] as teammates. We work really well together.”
Recording his first top-10 finish on a street course in Detroit this June, the Mooresville native has some insight for what it will take to improve on his past results at the Music City Grand Prix.
“Qualifying is going to be key,” commented Mock. “Like any other street course, it’s really tight. This is a little bit more technical of a circuit than Detroit. There aren’t really as many passing opportunities at Nashville, so it’s riskier to pick up positions—you either have to take more chances or be quite a bit faster to get by somebody at Nashville. This event seems to be a race of attrition, so if we can qualify well and survive to be there at the end, there’s a good chance that it’ll be a pretty good day.”
Darin Mock will kick off the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix weekend with an appearance at FanFest with his No. 51 Gilreath Farms/AAN Adjusters/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang. The free event will take place on Thursday, August 3 on Broadway between 2nd and 3rd Streets from 5 to 7:30 p.m. CT.
The on-track action begins on Friday with a pair of practice sessions. Qualifying is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. CT on Saturday, before the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix is contested on the streets of Nashville at 3:40 p.m. CT. The 46-lap/75-minute race will air live on MAVTV, with the national broadcast kicking off at 5:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. CT. A live stream of the race will also be available on The Trans Am Series and SpeedTour TV YouTube channels beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. CT, and a 60-minute highlight show will air on MAVTV on Thursday, August 10 at 8 p.m. ET.
