Home Blog Page 1368

Ford Going For Ninth Straight Cup Victory at Michigan International Speedway

By
Official Release
-

MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY NOTES

Saturday, August 5 – NASCAR XFINITY Series, 3:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
Sunday, August 6 – NASCAR Cup Series, 2:30 p.m. ET (USA)

There is no track on the NASCAR circuit that Ford has been more successful at than Michigan International Speedway, which is where the NASCAR Cup and NASCAR Xfinity Series will be racing this weekend. Ford has won eight straight Cup races at the facility and 43 overall, which is the most for the manufacturer at any track.

FORD ALL-TIME MICHIGAN WINS LEADER

No manufacturer has had more success at Michigan International Speedway than Ford, which comes into this weekend looking to extend an eight-race winning streak. Since the track opened in 1969 there have been 105 NASCAR Cup Series races and Ford Motor Company has won more than half of them (52%). Overall, the company has 55 MIS victories with 43 being Ford and 12 Mercury. David Pearson is the track’s all-time leader in wins with nine (all Mercury) while Bill Elliott has the most Ford wins with seven.

FORD LOOKS TO EXTEND MIS WIN STREAK TO NINE

Ford comes into Sunday’s scheduled race having won the last eight series races at the two-mile facility with five of the last seven coming courtesy of Kevin Harvick. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver became the first driver in NASCAR history to win races on back-to-back days at the same track when he did it during the weekend doubleheader in 2020. Ryan Blaney continued the streak in 2021 when he held off William Byron and Kyle Larson while Harvick snapped a 65-race winless drought with last year’s win. Here’s a look at Ford’s current winning streak:

YEAR – DRIVER
2018 – Clint Bowyer (1) and Kevin Harvick (2)
2019 – Joey Logano (1) and Kevin Harvick (2)
2020 – Kevin Harvick (1 and 2)
2021 – Ryan Blaney
2022 – Kevin Harvick

HERITAGE TROPHY SUCCESS

Since Michigan International Speedway began handing out the Heritage Trophy to the winning manufacturer in August 2013, Ford has taken it back to World Headquarters in nearby Dearborn more times than any other manufacturer. Ford has won 10 races since the trophy came into existence while Chevrolet has won six and Toyota one.

Kevin Harvick: “I know how much Edsel and everybody at Ford enjoys winning at Michigan, and I know the emphasis that comes from the car and I know that Doug and his group put a lot of emphasis on that and that comes straight from the top because when you go to Michigan you want to be able to take that manufacturer trophy home and put it in your facility until next year. Fortunately, for us, Michigan has just been a racetrack that we’ve had a lot of success at and with the emphasis that Ford has put on that and you add that to what Stewart-Haas Racing does with the race cars, it’s been a track that hasn’t been topped by many other tracks and it comes at an important racetrack for Ford and its brand.”

Brad Keselowski: “Racing in Michigan is special because of the fact of how close it is to all the OEMs and all the people that work on the lines or work in the corporate offices and make things happen in the OEM world. That makes it really, really special and any success you have in front of them means the world.”

Ryan Blaney: “When we won in Michigan in 2021 Edsel Ford was there, so that was super cool to have him there in Victory Lane with me and to keep the Heritage Trophy at Ford’s headquarters. That’s something we take a lot of pride in and that was a cool moment. I talked to Edsel a little bit before that day, and he told, ‘I’ll see you in victory lane.’ I think the first thing I said to him was, ‘Well, I guess you were right. You told me so.’ It was super cool. Obviously, Michigan is so important for Ford to win there right in Ford’s backyard, and then to have Edsel there was just like the cherry on top.”

Aric Almirola: “I’m excited because I thought we had a good tire test there. Michigan has been a great racetrack for Ford over the years, so I’m looking forward to going to Michigan. I think we should have an opportunity there. Kevin won last year, so it’s not gonna be easy, but I think Ford has always figured out how to find a way to get to victory lane, so I would love for that to be our opportunity.”

TEAM PENSKE REGISTERS 50TH WIN WITH FORD

Joey Logano started and won from the pole for the second time in his career at Michigan International Speedway when he captured the June race in 2016. Logano finished ahead of Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson with Penske teammate Brad Keselowski ending up fourth. The new aerodynamic package, promising to produce lower downforce, didn’t disappoint as there were 14 lead changes with Logano leading six times for 138 total laps. The win gave Team Penske its 50th Cup win with Ford and produced the 100th victory for Roush Yates Engines in the NASCAR Cup Series.

MERCURY AND FORD SWEEP MIS OPENING SEASON

Ford Motor Co. swept the inaugural season of NASCAR Cup Series races at Michigan International Speedway in 1969 when Cale Yarborough (Mercury) and David Pearson (Ford) took turns going to victory lane. Yarborough won an intense battle in the track opener on June 15 after passing Lee Roy Yarbrough with three laps to go to take the Wood Brothers to victory lane. That capped a finish which saw Yarborough, Pearson and Yarbrough swap the lead 20 times over the final 146 laps. The second date took place on Aug. 17 and this time it was Pearson and Holman-Moody taking the checkered flag. Pearson sat on the pole and led 79 of the 165 laps completed. The race, which was originally scheduled to be a 600-mile event, was halted at that point and declared official due to rain. Pearson went on to win a record nine times at MIS, which puts him as the speedway’s all-time NCS winner.

FOUR STRAIGHT FOR AWESOME BILL

Bill Elliott is the only driver to win four straight NASCAR Cup Series races at Michigan International Speedway, sweeping both events in 1985 and ’86, and he capped that impressive streak in dominating fashion. Elliott led 125-of-200 laps on Aug. 17, 1986 to beat Tim Richmond to the finish line and win the Champion Spark Plug 400. Elliott went on to win seven career races at MIS and currently ranks third on the all-time list, trailing only David Pearson (9) and Cale Yarborough (8).

JARRETT WINS FIRST CUP RACE

Dale Jarrett registered his first NASCAR Cup Series victory in memorable fashion at Michigan International Speedway on Aug. 18, 1991. Jarrett, who was in his second season driving for the Wood Brothers, found himself in a furious battle with Davey Allison, who stalked him over the final dozen laps in his No. 28 Texaco Havoline Thunderbird. Allison made a move to the outside coming off turn four and got alongside Jarrett as the two took the white flag together. They took turns exchanging the lead, but never left each other’s side. As they came off turn four both Fords made contact, but it was Jarrett who ended up edging Allison by eight inches at the finish line.

BIFFLE WINS FORD’S 1,000TH

Greg Biffle posted Ford’s 1,000th NASCAR victory when he took the checkered flag on June 16, 2013 in the Quicken Loans 400. The milestone win, which included combined victories in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck, NASCAR XFINITY and NASCAR Cup Series, was Biffle’s second straight at MIS and fourth overall.

HERITAGE TROPHY FIRST

When Joey Logano won the Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Aug. 18, 2013 it represented his first win with Ford and new car owner Roger Penske. But it also marked the first time the speedway awarded the Michigan Heritage trophy, which goes to the winning manufacturer of every NASCAR Cup Series race at MIS. Logano, who won the pole and led a race-high 51 laps, passed Mark Martin for the lead with four laps to go after Martin’s car ran out of gas.

MEMORABLE WEEKEND FOR MARTIN

NASCAR made its second trip of the 1993 season to Michigan in August and resulted in Mark Martin completing a sweep for Ford. Martin kicked off the weekend by leading 92-of-100 laps in his Jack Roush Ford Thunderbird to give Ford its first series win at MIS. He followed that up by leading 81 laps the following day to capture the Cup Series race as well.

DOUBLE DUTY DOMINANCE

Mark Martin and Carl Edwards are the only Ford drivers to win multiple series races at Michigan. Edwards was first victorious in 2008, and his 2011 performance gave Ford its most recent victory. Edwards completed the pass on fellow Ford racer Ricky Stenhouse Jr. during a long green-flag run with eight laps remaining. While Edwards held on for the win, Stenhouse Jr. leapt to the top of the leaderboard – ultimately helping Ford to its third series manufacturers’ championship. Both Martin (1993) and Edwards (2008) have another commonality – winning both series races on the same weekend.

FORD’S NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS AT MICHIGAN
1969 – David Pearson (2)
1984 – Bill Elliott (1)
1985 – Bill Elliott (Sweep)
1986 – Bill Elliott (Sweep)
1987 – Bill Elliott (2)
1988 – Davey Allison (2)
1989 – Bill Elliott (1)
1990 – Mark Martin (2)
1991 – Davey Allison and Dale Jarrett
1992 – Davey Allison (1)
1993 – Mark Martin (2)
1994 – Rusty Wallace and Geoffrey Bodine
1996 – Rusty Wallace and Dale Jarrett
1997 – Ernie Irvan and Mark Martin
1998 – Mark Martin (1)
1999 – Dale Jarrett (1)
2000 – Rusty Wallace (2)
2002 – Matt Kenseth and Dale Jarrett
2003 – Kurt Busch (1)
2004 – Greg Biffle (2)
2005 – Greg Biffle (1)
2006 – Matt Kenseth (2)
2007 – Carl Edwards (1)
2008 – Carl Edwards (2)
2012 – Greg Biffle (2)
2013 – Greg Biffle and Joey Logano
2016 – Joey Logano (1)
2018 – Clint Bowyer (1) and Kevin Harvick (2)
2019 – Joey Logano (1) and Kevin Harvick (2)
2020 – Kevin Harvick (Sweep)
2021 – Ryan Blaney
2022 – Kevin Harvick

FORD’S NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WINNERS AT MICHIGAN
1993 – Mark Martin
1995 – Mark Martin
1998 – Jeff Burton
2001 – Ryan Newman
2008 – Carl Edwards
2011 – Carl Edwards

Michael McDowell and the No. 34 Martin Transportation Systems/ Love’s Travel Stops Ford Mustang Team Michigan International Speedway Competition Notes

By
Official Release
-

TEAM AND RACE NOTES:

Michael McDowell and the No. 34 team will travel to the Michigan International Speedway this weekend.

McDowell and the No. 34 team will have returning partner Martin Transportation Systems (MTS) and Love’s Travel Stops with them.

A loyal Love’s Travel Stops customer headquartered in Byron Center, Michigan, MTS is a family owned and operated transportation and logistics company with a fleet of over 1,100 trucks and employs over 2,500 drivers and support staff. MTS provides dedicated, just in time “JIT” services to its customers with a dedication to safety, customer service, and technology.

The MTS/Love’s Travel Stops Ford Mustang will first hit the track Saturday with practice and qualifying at 12:35 p.m. ET. Sunday’s 200-lap event is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET.

COMPETITION NOTES:

After finishing 22nd at the Richmond (Va.) Raceway, McDowell and the No. 34 MTS/Love’s Travel Stops team continue their push for a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. The team is 16th in points and 18 points ahead of the cut line.

McDowell comes into the Michigan Speedway with 16 previous starts at the track in the NASCAR Cup Series. His best qualifying result came just last season when he started 14th. His best finish at the track is 20th.

CREW CHIEF TRAVIS PETERSON:

“We will be ready for Michigan. I’m confident in that. We know we have better cars and Michael is driving at his best right now. The challenge is always the race strategy. Will it be fuel mileage? Will it be just a bunch of long runs? That’s what makes it fun as a crew chief.”

DRIVER MICHAEL MCDOWELL:

“This season has given us the best chance to finish well at Michigan. It’s because I am confident in Travis and the team. I know they will bring me a great MTS/Love’s Travel Stops Ford come Sunday.”

“I’m excited to have MTS returning to Michigan for the third year in a row. They are a longstanding partner of Love’s, similar to Love’s and their partnership with us at Front Row Motorsports. I love to see these relationships come together on and off the track, and the success that entails.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

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

FAST AND FLAVORFUL: RIVIANA FOODS’ MINUTE® RICE IS COOKING ASCO-PRIMARY OF NO. 47 KROGER RACING TEAM AT MICHIGAN

By
Official Release
-

HARRISBURG, N.C. (August 1, 2023) – The No. 47 Kroger Racing team embraces a fast-paced lifestyle, and their Michigan International Speedway co-primary MINUTE® Rice, a brand under the Riviana Foods Inc. umbrella, accommodates their busy schedule. MINUTE Rice offers flavorful and convenient products, like MINUTE Rice Cups, which are packaged in convenient, single-serve BPA free cups and ready in one minute, as well as Instant Rice and Quinoa, which is ready in five minutes and 10 minutes depending on the grain type.

The brand aims to make fans hungry with their paint scheme, as they feature a Fiesta Rice bowl, a fresh and satisfying recipe using MINUTE White Rice Cups, on the sides of DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s Kroger Racing Camaro at the two-mile D-shaped speedway for the FireKeepers Casino 400 on Sunday, August 6.

“Riviana Foods is thrilled to have its MINUTE Rice brand on display for this highly anticipated race,” said Erica Larson, Director of Marketing at Riviana Foods. “Racing fans’ love for things fast aligns perfectly with MINUTE Rice’s brand, so partnering with the No. 47 Kroger Racing team allows MINUTE Rice to reach new consumers in an exciting and fast-paced way.”

MINUTE Rice is reaching millions of brand loyal NASCAR fans through the Kroger Racing partnership. Also, Kroger Racing’s driver is locked into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and will be receiving increased media attention as the Round of 16 competition prepares to kick off at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, September 3.

“We felt strong about making the Playoffs, but you never want to count your cards before everyone is finished,” said Stenhouse Jr. “Being locked in, we can really focus on what we have been talking about. That’s executing and taking a car and finishing better than where we should have. That’s what we have got to do in the Playoffs. We’ve got to make sure that we maximize our day, no matter how our car is handling. We’re focused on having a solid day with our No. 47 Kroger® / MINUTE® Camaro at Michigan.”

In 2017, Stenhouse Jr. made a strong case for the championship.

“That year, I had some good runs and made it to the third round,” said Stenhouse Jr. “That was cool. I feel confident in this race team about where we are at, and I feel good about advancing. We have to make sure we execute on the race track, have a fast car and eliminate mistakes. We’ve got to hit our stride these next few races to make sure we go into the Playoffs strong and advance for sure.”

While the countdown is on for the Playoffs, Stenhouse Jr. is aware that there is still more work to be done as he prepares to enter Michigan International Speedway, where his best finish to date is 8th-place.

“Looking back at the two-mile Fontana track (Auto Club Motor Speedway), we were okay, but we were not as good as we hoped to be,” said Stenhouse Jr. “We’ve got some work to do on our two-mile program, and hopefully we learned some things at Pocono (Raceway) that can help us at Michigan.”

Live coverage of the FireKeepers Casino 400 begins at 2:30 PM ET on USA, MRN and SIRIUSXM NASCAR Radio.

EVENT PREVIEW: Wright Motorsports Follows Momentum to Road America

By
Official Release
-

ELKHART LAKE, Wis., (August 1, 2023) – Energized with the breakthrough of the first podium result of the season for the No. 77 VOLT Lighting Porsche 911 GT3 R, Wright Motorsports has harnessed the momentum moving this weekend at Road America. The Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin circuit will hold Round 8 of the eleven-race season, the IMSA SportsCar Weekend.

In the previous round at Lime Rock Park, drivers Alan Brynjolfsson and Trent Hindman, along with the hard work from their crew in pit lane, put in a commanding performance, racing from a 15th-place starting position to third place. As a renowned team with a track record for excellence, the strong result was long overdue as the Porsche customer racing program has performed near-flawlessly all season. With the long-awaited reward of a podium finish under their belts, the team’s drivers, crew members, and management are geared up to showcase their passion, determination, and skill as they compete at one of the favorite venues of the season.

“The team has done an amazing job all season long with the new Porsche 911 GT3 R, progressing with every lap,” said Team Owner John Wright. “Their execution is always excellent and at last they were rewarded with a well-deserved podium finish. We have a great deal of momentum heading into Road America, a track that we’ve had great success at, and where we earned our first IMSA win at in 2018. We’re ready to fight for a repeat of that this weekend.”

Having recently been repaved, the surface of the 4.048-mile track will in some ways wipe the slate clean for the 46 entries competing this weekend. The new surface will be studied closely, both during the track walk and the opening practice sessions. As a premier racing venue for motorsport enthusiasts, Road America always promises high action intense racing, making it the perfect platform for Wright Motorsports to shine. Located in scenic Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, the longest circuit on the schedule offers countless vantage points to watch the on-track activities, also providing world-class concessions to keep fans energized.

Powered by their unwavering commitment to excellence and a drive for success, the team is eager to secure top positions in this weekend’s races. The IMSA SportsCar Weekend, Sunday’s two-hour and forty-minute race, will take place on August 6 at 10:10 AM CT. In the United States, the race will air live on USA, and stream live on Peacock. Internationally, the race can be viewed on imsa.com/tvlive.

DRIVER QUOTES

Alan Brynjolfsson

Road America is my favorite track. Long straights, high speed, big brake zones, excellent passing opportunities, commitment corners, it has everything. We are coming off our best finish of the year with our podium at Lime Rock so I am excited to keep the momentum going!

Trent Hindman

Lime Rock served as validation that everyone’s effort has built the VOLT GTD program into a legitimate podium threat. It’s a good feeling to have some momentum to carry forward now in the second half of the year. Traditionally, the 911 GT3 R tends to be quite good at Road America, but obviously, a re-surfacing of the track can neutralize any previously held advantage. I think we as a team have been strong at learning and adapting on the fly, and I think that will play to our advantage at Road America.

Wright Motorsports

Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series and international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy, and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013, and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team, and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. In 2020, the team captured the GT World Challenge America Am championship. In 2021, Wright Motorsports had a wildly successful season, capturing nine championships across their five racing efforts.

About VOLT® Lighting

Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, VOLT® Lighting manufactures and distributes quality indoor and outdoor lighting products and systems. VOLT® is the largest manufacturer of professional landscape lighting in the world. For more information, visit www.voltlighting.com or contact the company at customersupport@voltlighting.com or 813-978-3700.

About Adelie Technik

Founded in 2011 Adelie Technik, a Service Disabled Veteran Small Owned Business (SDVOB) deploys the highest caliber engineers and consultants for our customers needs. Adelie is focused on delivery of your solution to your customer on your schedule. Adelie can deliver solutions ranging from PC deployment up to full DataCentre builds and beyond. Our engineers can also migrate your environment to the cloud. For more information on Adelie Technik, see adelietechnik.com.

We represent the highest quality in racing safety with the intention of maintain our position at the top. With 50 years in the industry, Sabelt is the world’s premier safety equipment manufacturer. A result of intense research and development.

After Finishing Second in Last ARCA Start at Pocono, Connor Mosack Eager To Bring Momentum to Michigan

By
Official Release
-

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Aug. 1, 2023) – Since scoring his second runner-up result in just his fourth ARCA Menards Series start of the season two weeks ago at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Connor Mosack has been eyeing his next opportunity to improve that finishing position by one.

The Henry Ford Health 200 Friday at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn is that opportunity, with Mosack piloting the No. 18 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing. It will be his second ARCA start at Michigan, with his first effort coming two years ago.

“Michigan was really the first big oval I’d been to, but despite being there for the first time, I felt like we had natural speed right off the truck,” Mosack said. “I remember going down the backstretch at around 190 mph – that was the first time I had been anywhere near that speed. But once I got a few more laps and kind of settled in, the car felt good. Unfortunately, we had a problem with the fuel pressure in the race, so we really didn’t get to race.

“I feel like that’s going to hurt me a little bit with the lack of experience racing there, but I know we’re going to have speed in our Mobil 1 Toyota. So, qualifying up front in clean air should allow us to stay up front and have a good race, and it all starts with qualifying.”

Mosack has qualified fifth or better in his last six ARCA starts, a streak that dates back to last August at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International when he qualified third. The Henry Ford Health 200 will be Mosack’s 18th career ARCA start, but just his fifth of 2023.

The 24-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, is making the most of his limited ARCA schedule. Mosack opened the year with a strong second-place drive in the season-opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and has gone on to score finishes of fourth, ninth and second.

“I feel like we’ve done everything in ARCA but win, and I’ve got another really good opportunity this weekend at Michigan with Joe Gibbs Racing,” Mosack said. “Just going to the shop and seeing all the resources they have – the technology, the engineering, the people – it makes a huge difference when you get to the racetrack. Matt Ross is a great crew chief and I really enjoy working with him, and then all of the sim time we get with Toyota is incredibly helpful.”

With the backing of Joe Gibbs Racing and the strength of a second-place finish in his last ARCA outing, Mosack brings momentum to a track that rewards momentum.

“Momentum is everything at Michigan, and it’s the kind of track where you have to slow down to go faster,” said Mosack about the sweeping, two-mile oval. “If you try to drive the car way off into the corner, eventually when the tires wear out, you’re going to have to get out of the gas and then the car’s going to slide way up the track because you’re going too fast for the grip you have. Then it takes you a long time to get back to the gas and you have no momentum going down the straightaway.

“You’re better off lifting early on corner entry to get the car settled down. Then you can be back to wide open before the center of the corner. That’ll allow you to get wound up so much faster and you’ll be able carry all that speed down the straightaway.”

With his limited experience at Michigan, Mosack is leaning on his time at the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway in Kansas City. While a half-mile shorter than Michigan, it has a similar D-shaped layout, and it’s one of the few tracks in ARCA where Mosack has multiple starts.

“At Kansas, you kind of start at the bottom of the racetrack and work your way up to the fence,” Mosack said. “But at Michigan, you probably won’t get all the way up to the wall, but hopefully you’ll move up to at least the second or third lane.

“They’re both high-momentum tracks, so just being able to move around and work for clean air on the car, and being able to keep your speed up in the corner, makes them similar.”

The biggest difference between two tracks is speed. That extra half-mile that Michigan has over Kansas is worth 10 mph, with qualifying speeds at Michigan edging up to 185 mph compared to Kansas’ 175 mph.

“There wasn’t any fear or worry about going fast,” said Mosack about the speed he first encountered when he made his Michigan debut in 2021. “You’re definitely excited and your adrenaline’s going, so it’s just getting used to that.

“You know the car’s driving good, it’s in the track, you’re not going to spin out, you’re not out of control or anything like that. Once you get a few laps and settle in and know what it’s going to feel like, then everything gets a little more comfortable.”

Mosack’s Friday begins at 1:30 p.m. EDT with a 45-minute ARCA practice session followed by ARCA qualifying at 2:30 p.m. The Henry Ford Health 200 gets underway at 6 p.m. with live coverage on FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Crawford Ready for Late-Season Push in F2 Rookie Season

By
Official Release
-
Jak Crawford #9 Hitech GP, during round eleven of the FIA Formula 2 Championship at Spa-Francorchamps, on Jul 27-30, 2023. Image via Red Bull Content Pool

Pair of tough-luck weekends ahead of F2 summer break has American F1 hopeful eager to get back to racing

STAVELOT, Belgium (1 August 2023) – With a rookie FIA Formula 2 season for young Texan Jak Crawford that has so far stretched from Sakhir to Baku and included everything from race-ending contact by a competitor to a breakthrough Sprint race victory, it is safe to say that the 18 year old Formula 1 hopeful has learned a lot in a short time as he navigates his first season in the highly competitive international category.

With the support of Red Bull, young Crawford has taken on a significant challenge this year with his debut campaign in F2, but he wouldn’t have it any other way as he sets his sights on a shot at Formula 1. Joining the Hitech Pulse-Eight squad following an impressive 2022 effort in F3, Crawford has continued his accelerated learning curve that has included learning a new, more powerful car along with the nuances of the spec Pirelli tire, getting to grips with a new field of competitors, as well as taking on some new circuits for the first time as his scope of experience continues to expand globally.

As the F2 season takes a pause in parallel with the traditional Formula 1 summer break, Crawford has ten F2 weekends in the rear view mirror as he looks to make the most of the four week break to prepare for the final three events of the 2023 F2 season.

While the break will provide a welcome chance to train and catch up with his family, he is eager to get back behind the wheel to turn his fortunes around. Following the breakthrough Sprint Race victory at Red Bull’s home track in July, Crawford has suffered from a pair of frustrating outings in the two most recent race weekends, Budapest and Spa-Franchorchamps.

The Hugaroring visit saw an abbreviated qualifying session cost Crawford through the rest of the weekend. The red flagged session meant that he hadn’t posted his best lap before the stoppage, leaving him with a time that locked him out of the lead pack as his banker lap slotted him back on the ninth row of the grid on a track that is famously challenging to pass on.

Despite some good starts and a lot of wheel to wheel battling just outside of the top-ten, Crawfords Hungary weekend saw him leave without points in either race.

“I made a really good start in the Sprint Race but from there on, it was quite a boring race, just following the car ahead in the train we had going,” Crawford explained. “For the Feature Race, we started on the option tire with the soft compound. I made a good start again, was looking good, fighting for just outside the top 10. But then, when the person I was racing made the decision to box, I think we made quite a bold decision to go early in the box and I think this hurt us a lot. We probably could have gone on longer on the softer tire as we likely lost some pace from that.”

At Spa, which featured the traditional dose of ever-changing weather at the Belgian circuit,

rain began to fall in qualifying only moments after an early red flag period. Knowing he would get only one qualifying lap following their exit from the pits, Crawford timed in 12th fastest as heavy rain began midway through his lap. Conditions remained too treacherous throughout the final 27 minutes to prevent anyone from getting additional track time.

“Qualifying was really tough, because we weren’t sure how the track conditions would be,” he said. “For this weekend, we were completely at the back of the pit lane, so we obviously weren’t first on track. When we came out, rain was threatening, so it was just a ‘send it’ lap. It was really unfortunate, because I was on a really good lap and then it was pouring down rain when I got to the second half of the lap. At that point, I had to just survive the rain. Unfortunately, we missed out on the top 10, but it was a really solid lap before the rain came.”

On Saturday’s Sprint Race, Crawford didn’t get the start that he was looking for, losing positions at the opening of the 17-lap event. He was up to 17th before an early red flag, and then fought to gain several positions in the closing laps when the race was restarted.

“At the start, I made a mistake that put us in a tough position,” he admitted. “That was really unfortunate, because I think we could have had a decent race. Once I recovered from the start, there wasn’t much I could do. It was really tough to follow people this weekend and make overtakes, but I was able to save my tires behind people and I was waiting for everyone to drop off. I had really good pace at the end, and it’s too bad the race did not go a little bit longer.”

On Sunday, Crawford’s promising Feature Race run came to an end with less than 10 laps remaining when the 18-year-old Red Bull Junior was taken out in side-by-side contact in Turn 5 in a race run in dry conditions.

“The start of the race was definitely interesting, but to be honest, track conditions were not too bad and I was going for a top-eight, top-seven result in the Feature,” said Crawford. who was placed 17th in the final order. “We made the soft tires last long, and I was getting really good speed on the mediums. Unfortunately, then I had that incident.”

“Honestly, we were quite quick this weekend,” the Texan said. “It was unfortunate that qualifying was wet, and we were on for a really good result in the Feature Race – probably our best Feature Race of the year – and then the incident happened. I was happy with the driving this weekend. But due to circumstances, we just missed out on a few points.”

The hectic month of July saw four F2 events on five weekends, with Crawford scoring his first F2 victory in the Sprint Race at Austria’s Red Bull Ring. He now gets a month off before races at Zandvoort (August 25-26) and Monza (Sept. 1-2), with the campaign ending at Yas Marina in the United Arab Emirates on Nov. 24-25.

“Now we get a month off, and that’s a bit crazy because I want to get racing straight away,” he said. “It’s coming to the end of the season now. I love Zandvoort as a track, and I have always done well there and qualified well there. I’m looking forward to going back, and I think it could be a very strong track for me.”

Auto-Owners Insurance Racing: Martin Truex Jr. Michigan Advance

By
Official Release
-

Martin Truex Jr.
Michigan Advance
No. 19 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota Camry TRD for Joe Gibbs Racing

Event Overview

● Event: FireKeepers Casino 400 (Round 23 of 36)

● Time/Date: 2:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 6

● Location: Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn

● Layout: 2-mile oval

● Laps/Miles: 200 laps/400 miles

● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 45 laps / Stage 2: 75 laps / Final Stage: 80 laps

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

Notes of Interest

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

● Home Game: Truex heads to Michigan hoping to get his first win at the 2-mile oval in the backyard of his primary sponsor this weekend – Auto-Owners Insurance, which is headquartered north of the track in Lansing, Michigan.

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

● Truex has 10 top-five finishes and 15 top-10s and has led a total of 275 laps in 32 career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Michigan. Truex’s average Michigan finish is 13.5. The Auto-Owners Insurance driver hasn’t finished outside the top-10 at the 2-mile oval since August 2018 and has not finished outside the top-10 at Michigan in a JGR-prepared car.

● So far this season, Truex has amassed three points wins, seven top-five finishes and 11 top-10s and has led an impressive 781 laps through 22 points-paying races. To put the laps-led number in perspective, Truex led just 572 laps during the entire 36-race season in 2022.

● Ahead at this Stage: With his two stage wins at New Hampshire, Truex extended his lead in the NASCAR Cup Series with 59 stage wins since the beginning of the stage era in 2017. He is the only driver with 10 or more stage sweeps, and his sweep of the opening two stages at New Hampshire added more valuable playoff points to bring into and through the postseason. Truex also happens to lead the series all-time in stage points with 1,943.

● After last weekend’s seventh-place finish at Richmond, in which he led 18 laps, Truex retained his lead in the Cup Series driver standings. He has 744 points, 39 ahead of second-place JGR teammate Denny Hamlin. The regular-season champion will receive 15 playoff points when the postseason begins Labor Day weekend in September. Between his stage points and the playoff points earned with his three victories, Truex now has accumulated 18 playoff points this season. Four races remain in the regular season.

Martin Truex Jr., Driver of the No. 19 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota Camry TRD

Michigan has been a place where you’ve been very consistent but haven’t quite been able to break through with a win. What are your thoughts heading into the weekend?

“Michigan is the fastest track we go to. It’s really hard to hold your foot down going into turn one. Your brain is telling you that you need to start lifting, but usually the car can take a bit more. It’s super, super fast and the commitment level is very high. And the groove is not really wide, which is different than, say, Fontana, where you can go really fast but the groove is very wide. You miss it by a few inches there you will be OK. At Michigan, not so much, especially when the traction compound is live, it’s very sketchy and on edge. We’ve been very consistent there in my time with JGR, but James (Small, crew chief) and the guys have been bringing fast cars. Hoping Michigan is another place we add to the win list this weekend with our Auto-Owners Insurance Camry. Really would love to get Auto-Owners a win at their home track. They’ll have a lot of people at the track cheering us on Sunday and hope we can make them proud.”

Is there one thing you can point to explaining why you are more successful this season?

“I think just better cars, in general. Better cars, better understanding of what we need on the racetracks. Last year was a big learning curve. We were trying to figure out what direction we needed to go at races with this car and, with having 15-minute practices where you opt in on what you show up with, there is no real time to recover if you show up with some bad ideas, or things that didn’t work. You have to wait till you go back to that track again. Just all of that learning process and figuring things out has been a big factor for us. I think our cars are better this year, as well. Toyota did some work in the offseason and everybody at JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) worked hard to try to put the pieces together, so I think overall we just have a better platform to work with and a better understanding of what we need.”

You have brought home six top-five finishes in the last 10 races. How difficult is that with how close the competition is these days?

“It’s so important to execute in the race these days with how close the field is and how hard it is to pass at certain tracks. You have to do everything right. You have to do all of the little things right. We’ve been able to do that pretty well the last couple of months, for the most part, but really feel good about what we’ve done all year as far as the speed of our cars, and how we’ve able to race. I feel like we’ve had winning cars three or four races this year, already, and we’ve been leading a lot of laps and running up front each week. It was nice to get three of them, but we would like to have more, so we will keep working on it.”

No. 19 Auto-Owners Insurance Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Martin Truex Jr.

Hometown: Mayetta, New Jersey

Crew Chief: James Small

Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

Car Chief: Chris Jones

Hometown: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

Engineer: Nick Burton

Hometown: Arvada, California

Engineer: Jeff Curtis

Hometown: Fairfax Station, Virginia

Spotter: Drew Herring

Hometown: Benson, North Carolina

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Ryan Martin

Hometown: Mechanicsburg, Virgina

Mechanic: Todd Carmichael

Hometown: Redding, California

Interior/Tire Specialist: Tommy DiBlasi

Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Engine Tuner: Gregg Huls

Hometown: Beatrice, Nebraska

Transporter Driver: Kyle Bazzell

Hometown: Fairbury, Illinois

Transporter Driver: Eddie DeGroot

Hometown: Baldwinsville, New York

Over-The-Wall Crew Members

Gas Man: Matt Tyrrell

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Jackman: Kellen Mills

Hometown: Mesa, Arizona

Tire Carrier: CJ Bailey

Hometown: Outer Banks, North Carolina

Front Tire Changer: Lee Cunningham

Hometown: Leaf River, Illinois

Rear Tire Changer: Danny Olszowy

Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

IMSA at Road America: High-stakes challenge

By
Official Release
-

Cadillac V-Series.Rs primed to make statement on the 4-mile road course

DETROIT (Aug. 1, 2023) – With three races remaining in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, Cadillac Racing is determined to return to the top step of the podium at Road America and remain at the forefront of title talk.

The No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R and No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R will compete against eight other Grand Touring Prototype entries Aug. 6 in the IMSA SportsCar Weekend.

Both Cadillac hybrid racecars enter the 2-hour, 40-minute race on the 4-mile, 14-turn road course with important data gleaned from the July 28-29 IMSA-sanctioned test on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Additionally, No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R drivers Pipo Derani and Alexander Sims participated in a single-day test on the fresh Road America surface before venturing to central Indiana.

“Road America is cool to drive and now with the new tarmac a new challenge not only the new hybrid cars but trying to understand how much grip there is on the new surface,” Derani said. “We had a positive test day, which obviously will help when we hit the track for the race weekend.”

Cadillac Racing posted eight podium finishes at Road America in the DPi era, including victory in 2021 (Pipo Derani, Felipe Nasr). Cadillac leads the GTP Manufacturer Championship standings, while Derani and Sims pace the Driver/Team Championship standings.

The first-year pairing is keen on increasing their points advantage. They won at Sebring International Raceway and have two other podium finishes.

“I think so far this season has been too much up and down despite us leading the points,” said Derani, the 2021 DPi champion. “I think there were moments when we could have had a much better result and a much bigger points lead. There are moments when you think ‘I should have done this different and it would have made the whole weekend better.’

“Being such a new program, I think everyone is in the same boat. Going into the last three races of the season we know exactly where we need to focus to try to snatch the first GTP championship.”

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, who this year are joined by Richard Westbrook for Cadillac Racing’s initial season in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

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.

See the exciting Cadillac lineup

Spectators can view the roster of Cadillac production vehicles, including the track-capable Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing sport sedan and the Cadillac Escalade-V — the most powerful full-size SUV in the industry at the Cadillac display in the track midway.

No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R

Sebastien Bourdais: “I think Road America is one of the coolest tracks in the U.S. Just a beautiful, natural, long, good old racetrack. It self-polices itself. It’s challenging but rewarding when you get it right. We weren’t able to test there, so that will set us on the back foot. It was good to test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to learn more about the car and get ready for the last few races of the season. Every time you go back to a track that’s been freshly repaved, the grip is just amazing, and I think it’s going to be exciting to give it a go.”

Renger van der Zande: “We didn’t test at Road America so it’s going to be a bit of finding the limits of our car there. We did a full day in the simulator to create a few directions of setup to try and we had the Indianapolis test to try some topics that have been on our minds for a long time. Road America’s new tarmac will be new for a lot of people, including myself. I’m sure it will be very quick, very smooth and I’m looking forward to giving it a go there and get back in Victory Circle.”

No. 31 Whelen Engineering

Cadillac V-Series.R

Pipo Derani: “It always a pleasure to go back to Road America. It’s one of the nicest tracks, I think, worldwide. Cool to drive and now with the new tarmac a new challenge not only the new hybrid cars but trying to understand how much grip there is on the new surface. We had a positive test day, which obviously will help when we hit the track for the race weekend. Road America has provided amazing racing over the last few years. It’s a track that allows easy overtaking. It creates great racing for the fans as us as drivers. I would have liked to come out of Mosport with a 100-plus points lead, which could have happened. Unfortunately, we got caught out with a yellow at the end and left Mosport almost tied in points. You just try to minimize that, and fingers crossed with three races to go that we’ll make the fewest mistakes and come out with the championship. Looking forward to having a better result than Mosport and pushing the Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series. R to its maximum potential so we can push this championship fight forward.”

Alexander Sims: “It was helpful to test there with the track rubbered in since our pre-Le Mans test when we were there in the snow and get a proper read. Extremely low grip offline, so that is going to be difficult for racing with the GTD cars. The car was working well, and we were able to gather valuable information on car setup. There will be some challenges to get through the traffic cleanly throughout the whole race to not lose any time and have any off-track excursions. I’m looking forward to the race and continuing the fight for the championship.”

Play Smart and Win More with These Sports Betting Tips

By
SM
-
Photo by Richard Boyle on Unsplash

Sports betting can be an exhilarating pastime, combining the excitement of your favorite sports with the potential to earn some extra cash. However, it’s not just a game of luck; successful sports betting requires a strategic approach and informed decision-making. Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or just starting, these expert tips will help you play smart and increase your chances of winning big.

1. Do Your Homework: Read Sports Books

One of the fundamental aspects of successful sports betting is knowledge. You need to understand the teams, players, and dynamics of the sport you’re betting on. Reading sports books can be an excellent way to gain valuable insights and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and statistics. Also, the DC sports books offer a wealth of information for bettors interested in Washington, D.C.’s local teams like the Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Football Team (NFL), and the Washington Wizards (NBA). By delving into these resources, you can learn about injury updates, team strategies, head-to-head records, and other vital factors that may influence the outcome of a game.

2. Bankroll Management: Set a Budget and Stick to It

Managing your bankroll wisely is one of the most critical aspects of sports betting. It’s essential to set a budget for your betting activities and avoid wagering more than you can afford to lose. By establishing a clear betting budget, you can protect yourself from significant financial losses and ensure that your betting remains a form of entertainment rather than a financial burden.

For example, if you have a monthly betting budget of $200, break it down into smaller units, like $20 or $25 per bet. This way, even if you encounter a losing streak, you won’t deplete your entire bankroll in a single bet.

3. Understand the Odds: Value Betting

Understanding how odds work is fundamental in sports betting. Odds indicate the bookmakers’ assessment of the likelihood of an event occurring. However, they aren’t always an accurate reflection of the actual probabilities. Look for opportunities where the odds offered by the bookmakers underestimate the likelihood of an outcome, giving you an edge in the long run. This strategy is known as value betting.

For instance, if you believe a basketball team has a 60% chance of winning, but the bookmaker offers odds that imply a probability of only 40%, it’s a value bet. Over time, consistently finding and betting on value can lead to substantial profits.

4. Research the Teams and Players

To make informed betting decisions, you need to be well-informed about the teams and players you’re betting on. Analyze team dynamics, recent performances, home and away records, and head-to-head statistics. Pay attention to key player injuries and suspensions as they can significantly impact a team’s performance.

For example, if a star player is sidelined due to an injury, it could weaken the team’s overall performance and increase the chances of an upset.

5. Avoid Emotional Betting: Be Objective

Betting based on emotions and biases can be a costly mistake. As a sports fan, it’s natural to have a favorite team or player, but allowing those emotions to dictate your betting decisions can lead to poor choices.

For instance, if you’re a die-hard fan of a particular team, you may be tempted to bet on them even when the odds are stacked against them. Instead, try to detach your emotions from your betting choices and make decisions based on data and analysis.

6. Shop for the Best Odds

Different sportsbooks often offer slightly different odds for the same event. Shopping for the best odds can significantly impact your overall profitability in the long run. Before placing a bet, take the time to compare odds across multiple sportsbooks to find the most favorable offer. Remember that even a slight difference in odds can make a significant impact on your potential returns, especially when betting on underdogs.

7. Utilize Different Betting Markets

In sports betting, there’s a vast array of betting markets available beyond the traditional money line or point-spread bets. Exploring different betting options can present opportunities to leverage your knowledge and expertise in specific areas of the game.

Some popular alternative betting markets include:

Over/Under (Totals): This involves betting on whether the total combined score of both teams will be over or under a certain number set by the sportsbook.

Prop Bets: Proposition bets allow you to bet on specific events or outcomes within a game, such as the number of goals scored by a particular player or the number of strikeouts thrown by a pitcher.

Parlays: Parlay bets combine multiple individual bets into one wager. While the potential payouts can be significant, all the included bets must win for the parlay to be successful.

Sports betting can be thrilling and rewarding if approached with the right mindset and strategies. By reading sports books, managing your bankroll, understanding odds, researching teams and players, remaining objective, and shopping for the best odds, you can play smart and increase your chances of winning more consistently. Keep in mind that no strategy guarantees success every time, but implementing these tips will undoubtedly put you on the path to becoming a more successful sports bettor. Always bet responsibly, and remember to enjoy the excitement of the games!

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Racing: Aric Almirola Michigan Advance

By
Official Release
-

ARIC ALMIROLA
Michigan Advance
No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: FireKeepers Casino 400 (Round 24 of 36)

● Time/Date: 2:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 6

● Location: Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn

● Layout: 2-mile oval

● Laps/Miles: 200 laps/400 miles

● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 45 laps / Stage 2: 75 laps / Final Stage: 80 laps

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

Notes of Interest

● History at Michigan: In 19 NASCAR Cup series starts at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Aric Almirola has two top-10 finishes and 13 laps led. He has three NASCAR Xfinity series starts there with a best finish of eighth, and has one win in the NASCAR Truck series in only two starts, the win coming in June 2010.

● Last weekend at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, Almirola battled from 24th to a solid eighth-place finish. It was his ninth top-10 at Richmond and second of the season.

● While Almirola is seeking a victory in the NASCAR Cup Series to catapult him into the 2023 NASCAR Playoffs, he raced his way to victory lane June 10 in the Xfinity Series race at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway.

● Driver Points: Almirola arrives at Michigan 24th in the driver standings, 384 points out of first.

● Almirola’s career: In 446 career NASCAR Cup Series starts, Almirola has three wins, 28 top-five finishes, 93 top-10s, five poles, and has led 1,068 laps.

● Smithfield has been a sponsor of Almirola’s for the entirety of his fulltime NASCAR Cup Series career – making it one of the longest-lasting partnerships in NASCAR. Smithfield is an American food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. Its 63,000 team members are dedicated to producing “Good food. Responsibly.®” Smithfield is one of the world’s leading vertically integrated protein companies. The company has pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including its industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30 percent across its entire U.S. value chain by 2030. Smithfield believes in the power of protein to end food insecurity and has donated hundreds of millions of food servings to local communities.

● Beyond the 10 YouTube Series:In 2023, Almirola is continuing to share his life beyond the No. 10 Ford with season five of his award-winning YouTube series. Fans and media can subscribe on YouTube to see Almirola’s personality on and off the track. Episodes have already featured life as a dad, a husband and an athlete, and the show gives fans a unique perspective on what goes on in the life of a professional NASCAR driver. Fans can also follow Almirola’s social media channels: @Aric_Almirola on Twitter and Instagram, and @AricAlmirola on Facebook.

Aric Almirola, Driver of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

Do you feel confident heading to Michigan?

“Michigan is always a weird place for me because, in my mind, I feel like I run well there. I won a Truck race there years ago and, from that point forward, I just always loved going to Michigan. My wife’s family is from Michigan, so I go to Michigan with such a great attitude. We have had a few top-five cars at Michigan and didn’t execute and things didn’t go our way with the restarts and I didn’t get the result, so I’m confident this 10 team can bring us a fast car. I’m excited about going back. Going to Michigan, there’s always a lot of pride for the manufacturers. I’d love to go there and keep the trophy in Ford’s backyard.”

The No. 10 team brought a top-five car to Richmond last weekend. Is that a trend in the right direction to capitalize on a win before the playoffs begin?

“Every time we bring fast cars, it lights a fire in the team and gives us a lot of confidence moving forward. It’s great timing heading into this last stretch when you’re in a must-win situation to make the playoffs.”

Can you take anything from the longer, faster tracks like Fontana and Pocono and apply that to Michigan?

“We came out of the gate with speed at Fontana this year but were caught up in a wreck during a restart and didn’t get to see how that car would play out. Pocono was a good one for us. We didn’t start the race great but ended up with speed toward the end of the race and finished 12th. I think we have the ability to get the speed we need to compete up front at Michigan. We unfortunately got caught up in a wreck at Michigan early in the race last year. We should have been in position but we just got taken out of the race. We’re heading to Michigan without having run a full race in the NextGen car, but knowing we’re capable of adapting all race to make the car better.”

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Aric Almirola

Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer

Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Jerry Cook

Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Lead Engineer: Lee Deese

Hometown: Rockingham, North Carolina

Engineer: James Kimbrough

Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Joel Edmonds

Hometown: Dobson, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Mulder

Hometown: Sioux Center, Iowa

Rear Tire Changer: Trevor White

Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard

Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotton

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: James “Ace” Keener

Hometown: Fortuna, California

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Chris Trickett

Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Jacob Cooksey

Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller

Hometown: Monroe, New York

Tire Specialist: Russel Simpson

Hometown: Medford, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Steven Casper

Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

1...1,3671,3681,369...6,658Page 1,368 of 6,658