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CHEVROLET INDYCAR AT NASHVILLE: TEAM CHEVY PRACTICE REPORT

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Official Release
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CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
BIG MACHINE MUSIC CITY GRAND PRIX
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
TEAM CHEVY PRACTICE REPORT
AUGUST 4, 2023

WILL POWER TOPS FIRST BIG MACHINE MUSIC CITY GRAND PRIX PRACTICE

  • Will Power, driver of the No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet, topped the first practice session to open the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix with his fastest lap of 1:16.4042.
  • Chevrolet was represented in the top-10 after the singular session of the day by Power, Arrow McLaren INDYCAR’s Alexander Rossi (third) and Pato O’Ward (fourth), as well as Power’s Team Penske teammate Scott McLaughlin (ninth).
  • Despite making slight contact with the wall at the end of the session, Power was able to maintain the first position to end the Friday practice session on top of the leaderboard.

TEAM CHEVY TOP-10 PRACTICE RESULT:
Pos. Driver
1st Will Power
3rd Alexander Rossi
4th Pato O’Ward
9th Scott McLaughlin

A second practice on the streets of Nashville kicks off Saturday morning activities for the NTT INDYCAR Series at 11:40 a.m. ET. Qualifications and the Firestone Fast Six for Sunday’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix in Nashville take place following second practice, starting at 2:45 p.m. ET. A final practice will then wrap Saturday for the Chevrolet drivers and teams, starting at 6:25 p.m. ET. All practice and qualifying will be live on Peacock, INDYCAR Radio, and SiriusXM Channel 160. The 80-lap, 168-mile race Sunday, Aug. 6 will take the green flag at noon ET live on NBC.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING (QUOTES):

Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Chevrolet at Team Penske:

“Pretty warm day here in Nashville, but overall the DEX Imaging Chevy felt pretty good. Just didn’t get a run on the green (alternate) tires, and had plenty of red flags at the end, but it feels just as good as last year which is a good thing. Car is really nice, so hopefully we can come back stronger tomorrow.”

Will Power, No. 12 Chevrolet at Team Penske:

“It’s physical. After that first round, why would I say it’s not physical? But, it’s physical. Man, it’s physical.”

At the end (of the session), what led to the contact with the wall?

“I just locked on the way in, thought I was going to make it. Just did it really, I mean, it didn’t knock the suspension off but it was enough to, yeah. It’s not ideal.

You found pace earlier than that. What is it you like about the setup that you have?

“The car is really good. I think we’re in a good window. I think all of the cars are pretty similar. It’ll be about putting it all together when it counts.”

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

“There’s not much change to the track other than a couple of walls in place a little differently from here to there. Compared to last year, I think it’s been a good start. We need to look more into it to see which direction we need to go to for qualifying, but as of now, we’re solid.”

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

“I wasn’t super happy with Practice 1. It was a fairly difficult session, and I also didn’t get a run on the Firestone Reds. Red flags kind of left us with a question mark on those tires, but what are you going to do. Pato and Alexander seemed fairly happy. We kind of diverted on setup before the weekend to see which one was best, and I think mine definitely wasn’t, so we’ll probably go to one of their cars and go from there.”

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

“It was a very good start to the weekend. We’re in the window. We know where the time to be found is, and we’ll just work on a couple things overnight and hopefully stay on top of the conditions as they change tomorrow.”

Gavin Ward, Race Director at Arrow McLaren INDYCAR:

“Decent start to the weekend for the team. Pato (O’Ward) and Alexander (Rossi) are right up there in the mix. We have a little more to find, but we’ll get to work on that. Felix (Rosenqvist) was a little bit less comfortable in the car, but the good news is that he has a couple good references to look at in his teammates, so I’m sure we’ll figure it out.”

WILL POWER, driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet – End of Day Press Conference:

THE MODERATOR: Wrapping up first practice session. Joined now by the two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion, Will Power.

Good start to the weekend, Will. Your thoughts?

WILL POWER: Yeah, good start. Certainly had good cars here last year. Just the race is a very different story to being quick in practice and qualifying.

Yep, good start. Long weekend. But very determined to start at the front. That’s been the issue. Starting at the front in Iowa is okay, but it’s very easy to pass there. If I wasn’t the first across the line in Toronto, would have been starting certainly better than sixth, maybe first. Then you have a legitimate shot at the win, otherwise you don’t.

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Will.

Q. Last race on this quirky layout. From a driver standpoint, would it mean anything to kind of conquer this type of layout before you go to the new layout next year?

WILL POWER: Just to win a race in this series is just a big deal, so… Winning a race would be amazing. Yeah, I was blown away at the announcement yesterday. I actually didn’t know that, that we’d be going down what’s the name of the street – Broadway – yeah, that’s pretty special, pretty cool. It will be a big finale. A lot of celebration afterwards with all those bars around.

Q. How is your thumb? Did that actually damage the car at all?

WILL POWER: Yeah, it didn’t look like it, but I would change the front corner. They’ll probably change it. You can’t sort of have a hit like that. Just got it, locked up a bit, boom.

Yeah, thumb is good.

Q. Since it didn’t bend or break anything, does that actually make it worse? Had it not broken, would have gotten all that force to your hand?

WILL POWER: I think if you break it, you’re probably in harder. When it grabs, goes all the way around, it’s sort of…

I think it did it quick. Got the end there. Wasn’t terrible. Yeah, it’s fine. It’s fine. Just a little tight.

Q. You were also the fastest guy in the session, by a quarter of a second.

WILL POWER: A lot of the quick guys did get a run on their reds. But greens… And I was pushing, yeah. I haven’t been down runoffs this year. Trying to push the limit a little bit.

It was the second run, too. It surprised me that happened. Maybe it was ’cause it was the first lap, but… I didn’t go crazy deep. I just sort of grabbed the front, yeah, got to the wall.

Q. What is it like trying to game plan this race when two winners had six stops?

WILL POWER: Yeah, you can’t. There’s just really nothing you can do. It’s just like luck of the draw when it’s like that, when it’s that crazy.

Just one sort of yellow, yeah, you could try to play it safe. Man, you could start last and win it maybe the way it’s been easy. Maybe it goes completely normal. I thought that’s what would happen last year. Just didn’t. Surprised me. Just didn’t.

Q. Colton (Herta) was telling us last night that leading here isn’t fun because you’re waiting for something to go wrong.

WILL POWER: Yeah, you would expect there’s going to be a yellow. Just expect it. I mean, it’s unfortunate if you’re leading, but just know that’s going to be the deal.

Yeah, I’ve got a good pit box for yellow flag stops. If it goes full course, we’ve got a good pit box.

Q. It seems that at Mid-Ohio and Toronto the drivers have favored the primary tires over the alternates. What do you think would be the best strategy here? Do you remember what you did last year?

WILL POWER: Tires have been a bit softer this year, so it’s almost taking the soft tires out of play a bit. Sort of get them on, get rid of them. Whether you do that in the first stint, middle or last stint, depending on your risk level. If you’re starting way back there, you might start on them. If it goes yellow, get straight off them, pit, take them…

I mean, yeah, it’s kind of made the strategies mixed up. Been interesting, yeah.

Q. Was there any grinding to take away any of the bumps from last year?

WILL POWER: It’s the same, similar. The transition going into turn four is pretty good. Yeah, still the same, man. It’s pretty rough. When you’re at top speed and turning, you get roll bottoming. That’s where it’s really starting to hurt. Otherwise not terrible. It’s just those two spots, which is the end of the straights basically where you actually are having to turn, not just go straight.

Q. This is the one-year anniversary with the new tire. Does it amaze you they handle about as well as the reds did?

WILL POWER: Yeah, didn’t seem to be any compromise. I think it’s just the sidewall. Yeah, not surprised.

Q. The fact that Firestone has been able to really develop a tire, it’s a safe tire but it also degrades over a run, which helps safety and competition, the ability for engineers to be able to do that, does that amaze you sometimes?

WILL POWER: Yeah, I mean, I think it’s really important for us to have degradation. Just makes the racing better. They can make a tire that lasts forever, because they’re really good at what they do. I think they’re bringing a really good combination right now.

Q. I heard during the broadcast a comment I haven’t heard before. Could you maybe comment on that. It was mentioned how the track drives differently when you go over the bridge as opposed to when you come back over the bridge. Do you notice a difference yourself?

WILL POWER: The seam is a lot harsher coming back away from the city. You get a lot more bottoming heading to the braking zone. Just slightly different.

Yeah, probably just going further off the bridge. That’s why you go into a dip. Sort of bottoms even more, yeah. They’re harsh bumps come the second time over. It’s hard. You feel it.

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.

Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Overview- Michigan International Raceway

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Official Release
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Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport
NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Overview-
Michigan International Speedway; August 5, 2023

Track; Michigan International Speedway- Oval (2.0-Miles)
Race: Cabo Wabo 250; 125 Laps; 30/30/65; 250.0 Miles
Date/Broadcast: Saturday; August 5, 2023 3:30 PM ET
TV: NBC, and the NBC Sports App
Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) – Check Local Listings for affiliate, and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90
Social Media: Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito AutoSport; Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Parker Retzlaff – No. 31 FUNKAWAY
Chevrolet Camaro SS Preview- Michigan International Speedway

News and Notes:

  • Practice; After the completion of NASCAR technical inspection on Friday afternoon, Parker Retzlaff would first take to the 2.0-mile Michigan International Speedway (MIS) for a scheduled 20-minute practice session. In his first laps around the track situated in the Irish Hills of Michigan, Retzlaff would record a best lap of 39.258 at 183.402 mph on Lap-4 of his 21-lap session placing the Sunoco Rookie the Year Contender 13th of the 40 cars entered for Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) Cabo Wabo 250.

– Starting Position; Immediately after the conclusion of the 20-minute practice session, NXS teams would move into qualifying for the Saturday’s Cabo Wabo 250. In 2023, Intermediate sized tracks will use a single-lap of qualifying to determine the starting lineup. With 40 cars entered, two cars would miss the race. Retzlaff would lay down a fast lap of 38.823 at 185.457 mph putting the No. 31 FUNKAWAY Chevrolet Camaro SS 24th on the board. At the conclusion of qualifying Retzlaff would qualify outside Row 12 in the 24th position.

– Michigan International Speedway Stats; Saturday’s Cabo Wabo 250 will mark Retzlaff’s debut at the Michigan International Speedway 2.0-mile oval.

Featured Partner

  • FUNKAWAY; Headquartered in Waukegan, Illinois, FunkAway is a line of odor elimination products that removes the horrible effects of bad smells. Guaranteed to work on clothing, shoes, gear, pet products, car interiors and more, FunkAway allows customers to renew and refresh, rather than throw away. To learn more about FunkAway, visit Funkaway.com and connect on Instagram and Facebook. #FUNKINFAST31

Jeb Burton– No. 27 Bommarito.com/EasyCare
Chevrolet Camaro SS Preview- Michigan International Speedway

News and Notes:

  • Practice; After the completion of NASCAR technical inspection on Friday afternoon, Jeb Burton would first take to the 2.0-mile Michigan International Speedway (MIS) for a scheduled 20-minute practice session. In his first laps on track, Burton would record a best lap of 39.393 at 182.774 mph on Lap-1 of his 17-lap session placing Burton 19th of the 40 cars entered for Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) Cabo Wabo 250.

– Starting Position; Immediately after the conclusion of the 20-minute practice session, NXS teams would move into qualifying for the Saturday’s Cabo Wabo 250. In 2023, Intermediate sized tracks will use a single-lap of qualifying to determine the starting lineup. With 40 cars entered, two cars would miss the race. Burton would record a lap of 38.799 at 185.572 mph placing the No. 27 Bommarito.com/EasyCare Chevrolet Camaro SS 23rd overall. At the conclusion of qualifying Burton would qualify inside Row 12 in the 23th position.

– Michigan International Speedway Stats; Saturday’s NXS Cabo Wabo 250 will mark Burton’s fourth NXS start at MIS. In three previous starts, Burton holds an average finish of 20.0 with an 98.7% lap completion rate finishing 384 laps of the possible 389. Burton’s best MIS finish would come in 2019 where he would finish in the 9th position after starting 11th. 2021, would see Burton with a new team and a 29st place finish after running out of fuel running in 4th position after leading 23-laps on the day. The following year would see Burton with yet again a new team and a 22nd place finish after starting in 19th spot.

Featured Partner

  • Bommarito Automotive Group; A primary supporter of Jordan Anderson Racing, Bommarito Automotive Group is celebrating over 50 years in the St. Louis marketplace, the Bommarito Automotive Group currently operates 20 automotive franchises throughout every St. Louis neighborhood led by president John Bommarito and the over 900 dedicated team members. Bommarito is recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal as Missouri’s No. 1 selling automotive group and is currently ranked 52nd in the nation. What once started as a vision to have one Bommarito vehicle in every driveway, is today a reality thanks to the ‘Where Price Sells Cars” mission.
    For more information on the Bommarito Automotive Group, visit them online at Bommarito.com, and follow their social channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
  • EasyCare/ APCO Holdings; Since 1984, EasyCare has been helping some of the most successful dealerships in the nation drive results in their stores with a full suite of F&I products, forward-thinking training, dealership development, consultative participation programs, and a best-in-class claims experience. EasyCare has the only F&I products named a “MotorTrend Recommended Best Buy” for franchised dealers and has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. EasyCare is part of the APCO Holdings, LLC, a family of brands, which has protected over 11 million customers and paid over $3.5 billion in claims.

For more information about what EasyCare has to offer, visit EasyCare.com for information about the APCO Holdings family of brands, visit APCOHoldings.com.

About Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport

Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito AutoSport is a NASCAR team, owned by owner/driver Jordan Anderson and Bommarito Automotive Group President, John Bommarito. Established in 2017 the organization is fueled by an incredible, close-knit team of employees, fans, and sponsors with a focus on integrity in the pursuit of excellence. Our goal is to embrace the journey we’re on and to never give up – whether on the track, in the pits, or in life. Every single team partner, and fan of ours, is what keeps our race cars running strong and our team performing at the highest level.

Cadillac 1-2 in both sessions at Road America

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Official Release
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Both Cadillac V-Series.Rs top time sheet in practice on the 4-mile course

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (Aug. 4, 2023) – Cadillac Racing recorded the quickest lap times in free practice 1 and 2 – with different Cadillac V-Series.Rs holding the top spot on the time sheet – in preparation for the IMSA Sports Car Weekend at Road America.

Pipo Derani took over the seat in the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R from Alexander Sims midway through the 90-minute afternoon session and posted the best lap of Grand Touring Prototype cars at 1 minute, 47.986 seconds on the recently resurfaced 4-mile, 14-turn road course.

His 34th and final lap time pipped Sebastien Bourdais, who registered a best lap of 1:48.187 in the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R. Bourdais and teammate Renger van der Zande topped the time sheet in the morning session (1:49.538), with the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R second (1:49.592).

Derani and Sims enter the 2-hour, 40-minute race atop the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP standings. Cadillac leads the Manufacturer Championship standings.

Cadillac Racing posted eight podium finishes at Road America in the DPi era, including victory in 2021 (Derani, Felipe Nasr).

Bourdais and van der Zande earned a podium result at Road America in 2022 – one place behind the runner-up finish of the sister Cadillac DPi-V.R driven by Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn. Van der Zande has also driven to third place in 2021 and second in 2020 in the Cadillac DPi-V.R at Road America.

The live USA Network telecast and Peacock streaming of the race starts at 11 a.m. ET Sunday, Aug. 6. Outside the U.S., streaming will be available at IMSA.com/TVLive. IMSA Radio at IMSA.com, RadioLeMans.com plus SiriusXM live (XM 207, Web/App 992) broadcast of the race also starts at 11 a.m.

No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R

Sebastien Bourdais following the first practice in which he posted the quickest lap: “It’s just a very different from the Road America from what we knew. I think it will get better after time. On the INDYCAR weekend it must have been really exciting because basically nothing had run before, and even now after INDYCAR, after NASCAR and testing it’s still surprising when you go down the inside. I think it’s going to be tricky in traffic. There is a high amount of grip on the line and on the inside and in the braking zones it’s low. We’ll sort it out. Overall, I think we learned things at the Indy road course that helped us figure out a few things and we’re on the right path with the 01 Cadillac.”

No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R

Pipo Derani following the second practice in which he posted the quickest lap: ““It was a positive day for all of us at Cadillac Racing. A better order in the second practice, I would say. Jokes aside, it’s not only being quick in practice 1 and expecting to be quick in practice 2. You have to keep working on it, trying different things to find a little bit here and a little bit there. It was a good start but obviously the competition is very stiff and strong. It’s a long track and a small mistake going really quick can cost you a couple of tenths (of a second) and a position. Trying to put everything together is not easy and that’s why we’re trying to have a car that’s good and easier to achieve the desired lap times. At the end of the day it’s competition whether it’s’ practice or qualifying. You always want to be the quickest. Practice is very tight and we shouldn’t expect anything different in qualifying., which means that every detail is going to count.”

Bobby Ford Band to perform at World Wide Technology Raceway’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 INDYCAR event

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Official Release
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Back by popular demand: local group played WWTR NASCAR race in June

ST. LOUIS, August 4, 2023 – St. Louis-based country music group The Bobby Ford Band will perform at World Wide Technology Raceway’s annual Bommarito Automotive Group 500 NTT INDYCAR SERIES event on Saturday, August 26.

The Bobby Ford Band plays nothing but high energy, sing-along, can’t-sit-still country music. They will perform on the midway stage on Saturday of race weekend from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

If you read their bios, you can tell they’re just a great bunch of musicians who love to perform.

Bobby Ford (lead vocals) — Grew up singing in the church choir. Moved to Nashville at age 21 to pursue a career in country music. Returned to St. Louis for family reasons and now is a local star who has opened for a number of touring country artists.

Chris Konya (guitar) – Started in the business as his father’s roadie. Formed his own band in high school, and, like Ford, worked in Nashville.

Chet Votruba (guitar) — Raised on rock ‘n’ roll and Motown, he’s had a passion for music since he picked up his brothers purple Mexican Stratocaster at age 10.

Steve McNicol (bass) — After trying his hand at several other instruments, Steve picked up a bass guitar at age 17. He’d finally found an instrument that he enjoyed so much that no one needed to remind him to practice.

Connor Coffey (violin) — Coffey’s introduction to music was through classical composers. Studying classical music at the age of 6 years old, Connor quickly fell in love with the solo violin concertos of Mozart, Tchaikovsky, as well as the solo violin compositions of Bach. A chance encounter with Grammy Award-winning fiddler Mark O’Connor changed his style.

Gabe Pecher (percussion) — Raised in a musical family, Gabe quickly found his way to playing percussion in the school band and even quicker to starting a band with his older brother. His love for punk rock and heavy metal in high school put him on the stage opening for national acts like Motley Crue, and Static-X.

The annual NTT INDYCAR SERIES Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline brings the cars and stars of the Indianapolis 500 to the St. Louis-Metro East region. The August 26-27 race weekend includes INDY NXT and USAC Silver Crown Series racing, as well as Vintage Indy exhibition runs and displays.

For INDYCAR tickets and information, please call WWTR at (618) 215-8888 or visit wwtraceway.com. Follow @WWTRaceway on social media.

Saturday, August 26

7 a.m. – Parking lots open.

7:30 a.m. – Spectator gates open. Paddock and Gateway Garage Experience open.

8 a.m. – Vintage Indy exhibition.

8:55 a.m. – INDY NXT practice.

10 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice.

11:45 a.m. – INDY NXT qualifying.

1 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying.

2:35 p.m. – INDY NXT OUTFRONT Showdown race.

4 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Group A highline practice.

4:15 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Group B highline practice.

4:45 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES final practice (all cars, 60 minutes).

7:30 p.m. – Paddock and Gateway Garage Experience closed.

Sunday, August 27

7 a.m. – Parking lots open.

7:30 a.m. – Spectator gates open. Paddock and Gateway Garage Experience open.

8 a.m. – USAC Silver Crown Series practice.

9 a.m. – Vintage Indy exhibition.

10:15 a.m. – USAC Silver Crown Series qualifying.

11 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver autograph session.

12 p.m. – USAC Silver Crown Series pre-race ceremonies.

12:15 p.m. – USAC Silver Crown Series OUTFRONT 100 (80 laps, 100 miles, 60 minutes).

1:55 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline driver introductions.

2:19 p.m. – Invocation and national anthem.

2:22 p.m. – Command for drivers to cars.

2:35 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline (260 laps, 325 miles).

5:30 p.m. – Paddock and Gateway Garage Experience closed.

Schedule subject to change.

About World Wide Technology Raceway

World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) is the only track in the world to host the premier series of NASCAR, INDYCAR, and NHRA . Located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering more than 700 acres, WWTR is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the area. WWTR’s facilities include a 1/4-mile drag strip, 1.25-mile superspeedway, 2.0-mile road course, the Gateway Kartplex (a state-of-the-art karting facility), and the adjacent Gateway National Golf Links. WWTR and owner Curtis Francois have been recognized with several awards, including: 2021 Comcast Community Champion of the Year; 2021 Jack Buck Award; 2020 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Track Award; 2018 Innovator Award from the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission; 2017 Outstanding Facility of the Year Award from the Race Track Business Conference; and the 2017 Spirit of St. Louis Award from the St. Louis Attractions Association.

Power Picks Up Pace To Lead ‘Physical’ Nashville Practice

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Official Release
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Friday, Aug. 4, 2023) – Will Power is trying to extend a streak of winning at least one INDYCAR SERIES race every season since 2007, and he made a good start Friday toward reaching that goal this weekend by leading the opening practice for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix on the streets of Nashville.

Two-time and reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Power was quickest with a best lap of 1 minute, 16.4042 seconds in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. All 27 drivers turned laps for 75 minutes on the 11-turn, 2.1-mile temporary circuit, which is lined with concrete barriers and includes two crossings of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge per lap, amid steamy conditions of air temperatures near 80 degrees and matching humidity percentages.

“The car is really good,” Power said. “I think we’re in a good window. All the cars are pretty similar. It will be all about putting it together when it counts.”

While Power was quickest, the bumpy, tricky nature of the track snagged him late in the session, when he clipped the wall in a chicane with the right front of his Team Penske machine.

“It’s physical,” Power said. “Man, it’s physical. I just locked a little bit on the way in, thought I was going to make it, just didn’t really. It didn’t knock the suspension off, but it was enough to … yeah, it’s not ideal.”

Up next is another practice at 11:40 a.m. ET Saturday, followed by NTT P1 Award qualifying at 2:45 p.m. and final practice at 6:25 p.m. Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network will broadcast all sessions live. Live coverage of the 80-lap race starts at noon Sunday on NBC, Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

There are only five races remaining in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, with Alex Palou leading second-place Josef Newgarden by 80 points – a margin of nearly 1.5 races. Palou made a positive step toward his second championship in the last three seasons by ending up second at 1:16.6494 in the No. 10 The American Legion Honda fielded by Chip Ganassi Racing. CGR drivers Scott Dixon (2022) and Marcus Ericsson (2021) have won the first two editions of this race in downtown Nashville.

Alexander Rossi was third at 1:16.7192 in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, followed by teammate Pato O’Ward at 1:16.7778 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Toronto race winner Christian Lundgaard rounded out the top five at 1:16.9262 in the No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda fielded by Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

2022 INDY NXT by Firestone champion Linus Lundqvist, making his NTT INDYCAR SERIES debut with Meyer Shank Racing, impressed by ending up 11th and the quickest rookie in the field at 1:17.3524 in the No. 60 AutoNation/SiriusXM Honda. He is substituting for Simon Pagenaud, still recovering from a violent flip July 1 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Nashville native Newgarden, who swept the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend doubleheader two weeks ago at Iowa to pull closer to Palou, was 13th at 1:17.4154 in the No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet.

Abel Leads Tricky Opening Practice at Nashville

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Official Release
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Friday, Aug. 4, 2023) – Jacob Abel again showed why he’s a title contender this season in INDY NXT by Firestone, leading the opening practice for the Music City Grand Prix in mixed conditions Friday on the street circuit in downtown Nashville.

Abel, from Louisville, Kentucky, was quickest in the 45-minute session at 1 minute, 22.6592 seconds in the No. 51 Abel Motorsports car. Abel has been one of the breakthrough drivers this season in INDYCAR’s development series, climbing to third in the championship, 43 points behind leader Christian Rasmussen.

Drivers were forced to dig deep into their bag of skills during this session. Rain shortly before practice forced drivers to start on Firestone rain tires, with drivers switching to Firestone slicks as the damp, bumpy track dried.

“Really interesting conditions all session,” Abel said. “We got full wet, basically, and then drying and then full dry there at the end. We got to experience the track in all different kinds of states, so some good knowledge for the rest of the weekend.”

Abel will try to earn his first career INDY NXT by Firestone victory in the 35-lap race at 10:10 a.m. ET Sunday (live, Peacock, INDYCAR Radio Network). Up next is another practice at 10:35 a.m. ET Saturday, followed by qualifying at 2:05 p.m. (both live on INDYCAR LIVE, INDYCAR Radio Network) on the 11-turn, 2.1-mile temporary circuit that includes two crossings of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge per lap.

Irish driver James Roe ended up second at 1:22.9877 in the No. 29 Topcon car fielded by Andretti Autosport, but his session had a costly end. Roe hit the concrete barrier in Turn 8 on his last lap, inflicting heavy damage to the left front of the car. Roe was unhurt.

Ernie Francis Jr. finished a strong session third at 1:23.0896 in the No. 99 HMD Motorsports with Force Indy car, with Hunter McElrea fourth at 1:23.1181 in the No. 27 Smart Motors car fielded by Andretti Autosport.

Kyffin Simpson rounded out the top five at 1:23.1214 in the No. 21 HMD Motorsports with CGR car. Championship leader Rasmussen was sixth at 1:23.2336 in the No. 6 HMD Motorsports with DCR machine.

Roe wasn’t the only driver caught by the unforgiving concrete retaining walls of the circuit. Rookie Nolan Siegel, second in points, hit the barrier in Turn 3 approaching the bridge with about eight minutes left in the session. Siegel was unhurt, but his No. 39 HMD Motorsports with DCR car suffered heavy left-front damage.

IMSA set to return to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2024 with Michelin Pilot Challenge

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Event to feature four-hour Michelin Pilot Challenge endurance race and the debut of the Mustang Challenge

LEXINGTON, Ohio (Aug. 4, 2023) – The thrills of IMSA sports car racing will return to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course next season with a three-day event, June 7-9, 2024, headlined by the Michelin Pilot Challenge, IMSA officials announced today. The weekend will feature a four-hour Michelin Pilot Challenge endurance race – one of only two such competitions on the 2024 IMSA schedule – and the debut of the new IMSA-sanctioned Mustang Challenge.

“Sports car racing was a key foundation in Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course being built, and the track has a proud history of hosting IMSA events dating back to 1972,” said Craig Rust, president of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. “We are very excited to bring IMSA competition back to Mid-Ohio. The four-hour Pilot Challenge race, plus the inaugural Mustang Challenge event, further expands the motorsports offerings for our fans in 2024.”

The headlining four-hour Michelin Pilot Challenge endurance race at Mid-Ohio is one of two four-hour competitions on the series’ 2024 slate. Mid-Ohio joins Daytona International Speedway as the two tracks set to host four-hour races next year. The return of an IMSA sports car endurance race to Mid-Ohio next year ties into the sanctioning body’s long history at the track. The “Six Hours of Mid-Ohio” in 1972, featuring a 49-car field won by Bob Beasley and Michael Keyser, was IMSA’s first-ever race at the renowned road course.

IMSA officials’ 2024 season schedule announcement today also confirmed that the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires and VP Racing SportsCar Challenge will join the Michelin Pilot Challenge and the all-new Mustang Challenge on the weekend schedule. The Mustang Challenge, a single-make racing series featuring the new Ford Mustang Dark Horse R, will compete for the very first time in a pair of races on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn course, launching its inaugural six-weekend, 12-race campaign.

Further details about this new event and the 2024 Mid-Ohio season schedule will be released at a later date. Children 12 and under receive free general admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult at all Mid-Ohio events. Visit midohio.com for more information, and follow its Facebook page @MidOhioSportsCarCourse, Twitter @Mid_Ohio or Instagram @officialmidohio for the latest news.

About Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course:

A comprehensive motorsports facility in Lexington, Ohio, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course sits on 380 acres and features a permanent road-racing circuit with two primary race track configurations: 2.4-mile, 15-turn or 2.258-mile, 13-turn layout. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the natural terrain road course is commonly referred to as the “Most Competitive in the U.S.” and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally-sanctioned race events for amateur, club and professional drivers and riders. It is also home to The Mid-Ohio School, featuring over 20 driving and riding courses, for teenagers to professional racers using Honda vehicles. Opened in 1962, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has been owned and operated by Green Savoree Mid-Ohio, LLC since 2011, just the raceway’s third private ownership group in its history.

For more information, visit midohio.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page @MidOhioSportsCarCourse or follow updates on Twitter @Mid_Ohio and Instagram @officialmidohio.

Alpha Prime Racing signs Ryan Ellis for 2024

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The veteran driver will compete full-time in NASCAR for the first time ever in his 13-year NASCAR career.

Alpha Prime Racing is proud to announce today that they have signed veteran driver Ryan Ellis to a full-season schedule in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for 2024. Ellis, who was initially signed to compete with Alpha Prime for only 12 races in the 2023 season, will also complete the remainder of the 2023 season. He will likely end the season with 31 races run, with the team more than doubling their commitment to the 33-year-old driver from Ashburn, VA, since the beginning of the season.

Ellis first joined Alpha Prime Racing in 2022, competing in 11 races for the newly formed team. In his first-ever race with the team, he secured a new career-best finish.

Ellis is a third-generation racecar driver who began racing at the age of four in quarter midgets. His father, Jim, raced in the SCCA, and his grandfather Vic raced sprint cars in the 1950s before losing his life in a racing accident.

After multiple championships in quarter midgets, Ellis progressed through Legends Cars, NASCAR Late Models, Spec Miatas, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Series, Grand-Am, and other series before NASCAR. He made his NASCAR debut in 2012 for Jimmy Means Racing and has raced for numerous small teams in the NASCAR Truck, Xfinity, and Cup Series.

In 2016, Ellis stepped away from driving as a career to become the Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Go Fas Racing. When Go Fas closed its doors in the 2020 season, Ellis was fortunate enough to find support from the long-time sponsor of the GFR team, CorvetteParts.net / Keen Parts, owned by Tom and TJ Keen. Because of that sponsorship and friendship, he found himself with his best opportunity since 2016 to get back behind the wheel of a NASCAR race car part-time.

The support of the Keen’s, along with other longtime partners like Audio Video Specialists, Rich Mar Florists, Limetree Marketing, Kansasland Tire, and others, helped Ellis back into the driver’s seat. He drove several races for BJ McLeod Motorsports in 2021 before making the transition to Alpha Prime Racing in 2022.

Since then, Ellis has worked diligently with his small marketing team to find and grow valued partnerships. In the 2022 season, the Keens joined Ellis at Alpha Prime, propelling Ellis’ career into the best opportunity he had ever had in his NASCAR career. Ellis’ marketing team – led by Sarah Handy and Garrett Miller and guided by the foundation of Phillip Smalley and Motorsports Management International.

Throughout 2022 and 2023, Ellis, his internal team, and Alpha Prime Racing have grown their primary and secondary sponsorships at an unprecedented rate. In the 2023 season alone, the No.43 team has already announced/raced with primary sponsorships from Heartbeat Hot Sauce, Costa Oil (4 races), ShineWater, Rolling Plains Construction, Pella Windows + Doors of Georgia, Four Loko, Device42, Raising Cane’s, CorvetteParts.net / Keen Parts (5 races), Flexcar, Gurtz Electric, Classic Collision, Rich Mar Florists, Renascent, AAGI, and Spider Energy Drink, with at least four new primary sponsors yet to be announced.

QUOTE FROM RYAN ELLIS

“This announcement is truly a dream come true,” said Ryan Ellis, driver of the No.43 Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet Camaro. “My team and I have been working so hard to be able to get to this point. Without so many people’s support throughout my life and, specifically, the help of Sarah Handy, Garrett Miller, and Phillip Smalley of MMI, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. I’m so thankful that Tommy Joe Martins and Caesar Bacarella have had belief in me since day one, and so excited to have a shot at competing in the points standings next year. I’ve believed in their vision since Tommy first spoke about it, and it’s so exciting to be part of the program they’re building.

Ellis continued, Competing full-time in NASCAR has been a dream of mine my entire life. For most of my life, it seemed unattainable. However, even when I was working full-time in various office jobs and barely scraping together money to pay the bills and find enough sponsorship just to run a few races a year, I always had the support of my family and friends – my parents, my sister, and my entire extended family, and obviously, my beautiful wife Allison and my daughter Hayden. I feel so thankful for their support through it all, and I’m going to continue working just as hard to keep building a great future for my daughter and sustainability in this crazy world of racing. I want to be part of Alpha Prime’s continual growth, and I want to be doing it with the exact same No.43 group by my side – led by Crew Chief Michael Brandt, Ty Brazeal, Brandon Scercy, Cesar Rodriguez, everyone that helps us get to the track, everyone at the shop, our phenomenal pit crew and spotter, David Pepper.”

QUOTE FROM TOMMY JOE MARTINS

“Ryan has been a part of Alpha Prime Racing since we first announced it two years ago. He’s had to fight for every opportunity he’s had, and just like Caesar and myself, he’s committed to helping this team grow. We’ve been lucky to have him, and we’re both very excited to have him back in a car full-time next year. He’s earned it,” said Tommy Joe Martins, President of Alpha Prime Racing.

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

Joe Graf Jr. | RSS Racing Michigan International Speedway NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Preview

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RSS Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Michigan International Speedway | Cabo Wabo 250

Fast Facts

No. 38 RSS Racing Team:

Driver: Joe Graf Jr.

Primary Partner(s): No. 38 Gtechniq Marine Ford Mustang

Manufacturer: Ford Mustang

Crew Chief: Steve Addington

Spotter: Joe Campbell

Engine: Roush-Yates Engines

Driver Championship Point Standings: 21st

Team Championship Point Standings: 24th

Notes of Interest:

Settling In: After spending the last three seasons with SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt (2020 – 2022), Joe Graf Jr. moved to RSS Racing during the offseason where he’ll spend the majority of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season competing for the Sugar Hill, Ga.-based team.

In addition to RSS Racing, Graf will also compete in a limited NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule driving the No. 19 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Welcome Back: Joe Graf Jr. and RSS Racing welcome back Gtechniq, a leader in automotive protective coatings products as the primary marketing of the No. 38 Ford Mustang for the 20th NASCAR Xfinity Series race of the 2023 season.

Headquartered in Cumming, Ga., the Gtechniq range includes composite ceramic coatings, leather protection, fabric protection, wheel and trim protection, shampoos and much more.

The Cabo Wabo 250 will mark the company’s sixth event as a primary partner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series but the fifth of the 2023 season.

Promoting Marine: This weekend, Graf, RSS Racing and Gtechniq will continue to promote one of their newest products, Gtechniq Marine.

Your boat is an investment and Gtechniq Marine strives to protect and clean all surfaces to maintain a pristine appearance.

Gtechniq Marine utilizes science and technology to develop top-of-the-line products for anti-staining, surface protection and cleaning.

Thanks For Your Support: With a little more than 60 percent of the 2023 Xfinity Series season complete, Joe Graf Jr. and RSS Racing would like to thank their associate marketing partners: ArmsList.com, AVOID, Bass Reaper Bait Company, Bucked Up Energy Drink, CoverSeal, EAT SLEEP RACE Apparel, fgrACCEL, G-Coin®, GTECHNIQ, JACOB Companies, Lefcourt Brothers Racing, Love Motorsports, Model Electronics and ShopRite for their continued support.

Catch Him On The Dial: Before Joe Graf Jr. straps into his No. 38 Gtechniq Marine Ford Mustang on Saturday, the RSS Racing driver will be featured on “The Frontstretch” on SiriusXM Satellite Radio Channel 90 with host Pat Patterson on Saturday morning, August 5, 2023, at approximately 10:00 a.m. ET.

Graf will also spotlight a commercial featuring Gtechniq in several spots throughout the weekend, including the full four-hour program on Sunday, July 23, 2023.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Michigan International Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Cabo Wabo 250 will mark Graf’s third Xfinity start at the 2.0-mile speedway.

In his previous efforts, Graf delivered a track-best of 23rd after starting 24th for SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt during the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

In addition to his previous two Xfinity starts, he has two ARCA Menards Series starts in Brooklyn, delivering two top-five finishes during the 2018 and 2019 seasons respectively.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Speedway Stats: At NASCAR Xfinity Series tracks classified as a speedway greater than 2.0 miles in length, Graf has competed in 23 NASCAR Xfinity Series races with three top-10 finishes. He holds an average starting position of 24.3 and an average result of 25.0.

Road America (Wisc.) | Road America 180 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Road America (Wisc.), Graf made his third start in Elkhart Lake, Wisc.

After experiencing engine issues during practice for the Road America 180, the RSS Racing team skipped qualifying in order to repair their No. 38 Gtechniq EXOv5 Ford Mustang.

Throughout the race, Graf steadily moved forward and withstood a chaotic ending to the race to finish a respectable 23rd – his best finish at the famed road course.

Sneaker Mania: Along with the adrenaline of the Motorsports competition, Joe Graf Jr. also has a vogue for hype sneakers. In his current collection, he owns and wears at least 90 limited edition sneakers – and his collection continues to grow monthly.

The current estimated value of his collection tops $100,000.

From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Steve Addington is Joe Graf Jr.’s crew chief.

He will be crew chief for his 284th NASCAR Xfinity Series race as crew chief on Saturday and his ninth at Michigan International Speedway.

In his previous 283 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected 11 wins, 10 poles, 68 top-five and 118 top-10 finishes.

Hello From The Other Side: Graf Jr. has two teammates at RSS Racing.

Veteran Ryan Sieg will drive the No. 39 CMRroofing.com Ford Mustang, while younger brother Kyle Sieg will drive the No. 28 US RSS Racing Ford Mustang.

Ryan Sieg is set to make his 322nd career Xfinity Series start overall and ninth at Michigan.

Kyle Sieg is poised to make his 38th career Xfinity Series start and second at Michigan.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Joe Graf Jr. visit JoeGrafRacing.com, like him on Facebook (Joe Graf Jr.), follow him on TikTok (@JoeGrafJr), Twitter (@JoeGrafJr) and Instagram (@joegrafjr).

For more on RSS Racing, please like them on Facebook (RSS283839) and follow them on Instagram (@rss283839) and Twitter (@RSS283839).

Joe Graf Jr. Quoteboard:

On Michigan International Speedway: “I have always loved racing at Michigan International Speedway. Its incredible speed and room to race and the unique track characteristics certainly make it an entertaining race behind the wheel and for NASCAR fans.

“I feel like our RSS Racing team is trending in the right direction during the second half of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season. We continue to learn with every week on the track and it’s not out of the question that we can roll out at Michigan on Friday and have a successful weekend.

“I am excited to carry the Gtechniq Marine colors on our No. 38 Ford Mustang this weekend and I hope we’re able to have a productive race and carry some momentum towards the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course race next weekend.”

On The 2023 Season: “We started the year off really strong between RSS Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing, but unfortunately we’ve been on a rollercoaster throughout the season. Lately, I feel like we have taken the right steps to get back on track.

“It’s been a good couple of weeks for myself personally between competing for the Joe Gibbs Racing and RSS Racing teams and I hope we’re able to continue our upward trend heading into the rest of the summer stretch and overall, the remainder of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule with some strong results.

“I just need to continue to stay focused, communicate with my team and utilize the knowledge that I’ve gained over the past three years to recover and have my best Xfinity Series season yet.”

Race Information:

The Cabo Wabo 250 (125 laps | 250 miles) is the 21st of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Friday, August 4, 2023, from 3:35 p.m. – 4:05 p.m. Qualifying is set to follow practice beginning at 4:05 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag the next afternoon, Saturday, August 5, 2023, shortly after 3:30 p.m. with live coverage on NBC, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Eastern).

About RSS Racing:

RSS Racing fields multiple entries in the NASCAR Xfinity Series led by mainstay driver Ryan Sieg.

RSS Racing has competed in NASCAR events since 2009 from its headquarters in Sugar Hill, Ga.

Cabo Wabo® Tequila and NASCAR Encourage Fans to Celebrate Safely with New Responsible Drinking Campaign

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