The NASCAR Xfinity Series Will Have An Exclusive New Home On The CW Network

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July 28, 2023

The CW to Broadcast All NASCAR Xfinity Series Races Starting in 2025
33 Race Weekends Per Year

JULY 28, 2023 (Burbank, CA) – The CW Network will become the exclusive home to the NASCAR Xfinity Series beginning in 2025 and extending through the 2031 racing season. The CW will broadcast 33 live NASCAR Xfinity Series races annually, along with practice and qualifying events each weekend. Starting in 2025, for the first time in series history, every NASCAR Xfinity Series race will be available on free, over-the-air broadcast television with additional content available through The CW’s digital platforms. All NASCAR Xfinity Series races and ancillary content will be fully produced by the Emmy Award-winning NASCAR Productions group, in close collaboration with The CW Network.

Comprised primarily of NASCAR’s younger, up-and-coming drivers, the NASCAR Xfinity Series features the sport’s future stars often competing side-by-side against NASCAR’s biggest names – many of whom earned their stripes and won championships in the Xfinity Series. NASCAR Xfinity Series races in some of the nation’s largest markets—from Chicago to Los Angeles to Miami—and at the sport’s most iconic tracks, including the Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and the series championship at Phoenix Raceway.

NASCAR Xfinity Series races draw an average of approximately 1 million viewers per race each season, historically airing on a combination of cable and broadcast television, but will now be entirely and exclusively distributed on broadcast television. The NASCAR Xfinity Series agreement with The CW underscores recent trends in which major sports properties have prioritized broadcast television to ensure the widest reach for their fan base and industry.

“Landing the NASCAR Xfinity Series is a game changer for The CW and our CW Sports division and represents another important building block in our programming strategy,” said Dennis Miller, President of The CW. “Live sports are the most watched television content and with The CW’s national reach, moving NASCAR Xfinity Series to The CW will transform and elevate the viewing experience for the series and its fans. The CW has quickly become a destination for sports, as the NASCAR Xfinity Series joins our growing slate of sports programming, including INSIDE THE NFL, ACC college football and basketball, LIV Golf, and the motorsports documentary series 100 DAYS TO INDY. Beginning in 2025, The CW will have 48 weekends per year of live sports programming. With ubiquitous distribution across one of the nation’s five major broadcast networks, NASCAR Xfinity Series races on The CW will deliver more access for fans and far more revenue opportunities for The CW and its affiliates.”

Brian Herbst, Senior Vice President, Media and Productions for NASCAR commented, “CW’s leadership shared a compelling vision for cultivating the next generation of NASCAR talent by bringing the NASCAR Xfinity Series exclusively to broadcast television and we are thrilled for the opportunity to partner with them. With more than one million viewers tuning in each week to see NASCAR’s future stars battle some of its biggest names at our most legendary tracks, NASCAR Xfinity Series consistently delivers the moments that excite current fans and create new fans of our great sport.”

Mr. Miller added, “Live sports are key to expanding broadcast audiences and are valuable to our network affiliates and cable, satellite, telco and streaming distribution partners as well as The CW and its parent company, Nexstar Media Group, Inc. Nexstar’s owned and operated stations and The CW’s nationwide affiliate network will allow us to create local excitement for the Xfinity Series as we expand its reach and drive viewership growth. This will deliver a larger audience for NASCAR Xfinity Series competitions, its major sponsors and CW advertisers looking for national brand awareness and local activation. In addition, by creating a singular home for NASCAR Xfinity Series races, fans will be able to quickly find their favorite racing entertainment each weekend. Ultimately, bringing NASCAR Xfinity Series racing to The CW is a win-win for everyone – fans, drivers, teams, sponsors and affiliates. We can’t wait for the green flag to begin flying on The CW in 2025.”

Andy Alford, President of Nexstar’s Broadcasting Division said, “Nexstar is already NASCAR’s third-largest broadcast partner, carrying NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series races across its FOX and NBC affiliates and has a deep understanding of NASCAR’s value. NASCAR’s loyal and passionate fan base and adrenaline-fueled races will provide CW stations with highly valuable live sports content that can deliver big audiences. These exciting events resonate in our local markets and with a local Nexstar station within driving distance of each and every NASCAR market, we are uniquely suited to drive attendance, viewership and revenues through local coverage, fan engagement, promotion and value-added marketing solutions for advertisers and brands.”

2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Highlights

NXS has produced 11 different winners this season – tied for the fifth-most through 18 races (all-time: 1982-Present)
The average age of the 11 winners this season is 29.
6 of the 11 different winners are 30 years old or under. The youngest being is 18-years old.
6 of the last 11 NASCAR Cup Series championships have been won by former NASCAR Xfinity Series champions
Chase Elliott (2020), Kyle Busch (2019, 2015), Martin Truex Jr. (2017), Kevin Harvick (2014) and Brad Keselowski (2012).
13 former NASCAR Xfinity Series champions are currently active in the NASCAR Cup Series
Ty Gibbs (2022), Austin Cindric (2020), Tyler Reddick (2019, 2018), William Byron (2017), Daniel Suarez (2016), Chris Buescher (2015), Chase Elliott (2014), Austin Dillon (2013), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2012, 2011), Brad Keselowski (2010), Kyle Busch (2009), Kevin Harvick (2006, 2001), Martin Truex Jr. (2005, 2004).

About The CW Network

The CW Network, LLC is one of America’s major broadcast networks and reaches 100% of US television households. The CW delivers 14 hours of primetime programming per week in addition to sports and other entertainment programming and is the exclusive broadcast home to LIV Golf. The fully ad-supported CW App, with more than 96 million downloads to date, is available for free to consumers on all major platforms and is home to the latest episodes and seasons of The CW’s primetime programming, live streaming of its sports content, and a library of entertaining film and television content for on-demand viewing. The CW is 75%-owned by Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST), a leading diversified media company and largest CW affiliate group with 37 CW and CW Plus affiliates, covering 32% of the population. For more information about The CW, please visit www.cwtv.com.

About Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST) is a leading diversified media company that produces and distributes engaging local and national news, sports and entertainment content across television, streaming and digital platforms, including more than 300,000 hours of news, sports, and entertainment programming each year. Nexstar owns America’s largest local broadcasting group comprised of top network affiliates, with 200 owned or partner stations in 116 U.S. markets reaching 212 million people. Nexstar’s national television properties include The CW, America’s fifth major broadcast network, NewsNation, America’s fastest-growing national news and entertainment cable network reaching 70 million television homes, popular entertainment multicast networks Antenna TV and Rewind TV, and a 31.3% ownership stake in TV Food Network. The Company’s portfolio of digital assets, including The Hill and BestReviews, are collectively a Top 10 U.S. digital news and information property. In addition to delivering exceptional content and service to our communities, Nexstar provides premium multiplatform and video-on-demand advertising opportunities at scale for businesses and brands seeking to leverage the strong consumer engagement of our compelling content offering. For more information, please visit nexstar.tv.

About NASCAR

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

For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

ATV Parts: Increase Performance, Reliability and Fun with the Right Upgrades

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SM

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July 28, 2023

Sales stats for ATVs and UTVs show an interesting trend. With 780 thousand combined units sold in the US last year, these vehicles far outnumber motorcycles with just over 550 thousand units. Prices aside, there’s more to ATVs than meets the eye. New riders find them more comfortable than a comparable dirt bike as they offer a more upright seating position bolstered by the added padding in wider and larger seats.

Add to this the increased stability of four wheels, and you have a vehicle that functions equally well in different terrain and riding conditions. Besides carving up dirt trails just for thrills, these vehicles are being snapped up by hunters, farmers, and anyone looking for an off-roading adventure without the typical cost of a large SUV.

There are compromises with both types of vehicles though. While ATVs are safer, often better built, and more versatile, there’s more maintenance involved since you’ll be thrashing your ride through mud, sand, rocks, snow, and hard-packed dirt more often.

Parts that need regular inspection include the front and rear axles, the CV boots, and the drive belts. With more weight being pushed around in more demanding settings, these are the first that need replacing. You’ll also be looking at regular maintenance parts like brake pads, air filters, and spark plugs. Luckily, specialized ATV parts are easy to find and priced right, and some options can add a performance boost if you’re looking for that little bit extra.

ATV Axles and CV Boots

Many manufacturers cheap out on the factory axles, so if you’re into harder riding, these will throw up a few common signs before they finally call it quits.

Clicking or popping sounds when turning, clunks when accelerating or braking, and excessive vibrations at any speed are times when you need to check the axles and CV boots for damage. Damage occurs from overheating, mediocre build quality, subpar bearings, and parts that aren’t designed to be pushed. Any changes over stock, such as lift kits and bigger tires, aren’t forgiving either and will lead to premature wear.

Regardless if you’re looking for rear solid or front half-shaft types, there are a few key things to consider when replacing or upgrading your axles. Strength and build quality are what make aftermarket axles better in every way. Most are oversized, can take more weight, and stand up to heat much better.

This is down to the choice of the materials. Less expensive replacements are built around high-strength steel bars, paired with neoprene boots that get you better articulation in tougher terrain and the durability to perform under higher loads for much longer. Go with these if you’re the occasional ATV rider.

More heavy-duty setups have chromoly steel that adds to overall strength. Axles in these materials can last longer in more spirited driving and are well-balanced for most use cases.

If you’re into extreme riding and through the toughest terrain, consider higher grade 5340 steel axles which, besides the higher tensile strength, endure higher temperatures and are corrosion resistant. Thicker axles in this alloy are supplied with matching heavy-duty bearings and the combo can take higher torque rates, allow the use of lift kits without the risk of overheating, and can easily take on deeper mud or water.

Replacements are sold as single left or right front or rear axles or in pairs. Generally, you can swap out a single axle, though this may impact the power transfer. Opting for pairs makes more sense, especially when going for heavy-duty variants geared for more performance and reliability.

Lastly, go with replacements that fit and are compatible with your ATV. This is straightforward as most are advertised for specific ATV makes and models rather than wheel offset or size, or driveline layout.

Another concern is the CV boots. These allow the transfer of power under varying angles. They’re located at the ends of half-shafts.

Cracked or ripped CV boots will cause lubricating grease to escape leading to excess friction and heat while letting water, mud, and dirt eat away at the axle from the inside. The front boots are more at risk than those at the rear.

You’ll notice difficulty turning and maintaining direction once the boots start to slip and tear. In worst-case scenarios, the boots and joints will lock up, so you won’t be going anywhere. When buying axles, also check the quality of the supplied CV joints and boots.

Drive Belts

These help transfer the power from the engine and transmission through the driven axles. They too are some of the first parts that wear out sooner and need replacing.

Generally, belts can last anywhere between 3 and 5 thousand miles in occasional weekend runs lasting a couple of hours. But if you like having fun with your ATV and pushing it through tougher terrain or participating in racing, those numbers quickly change.

Wear and tear in belts is down to very high temperatures, fractures or cracks in the cogs, or the belt slipping and being misaligned in the first place. This can also be caused due to clutch slippage. Abrupt changes in drive speeds cause uneven wear, and sudden bursts of throttle, with higher engine loads, are what can tear belts in two.

When buying replacements, look for respected brands and belts made of high-quality natural and synthetic materials (reinforced rubber, Nylon, Kevlar, and carbon fibre). These are layered throughout the different sections to provide optimal strength. While the teeth will see the most wear, the belt backing also cops its fair share of mud, water, and dirt.

On the whole, drive belts are some of the least expensive ATV parts. Going for something more high-end guarantees consistent performance for longer periods. Usually, belts are priced according to engine power output, so bigger displacement ATVs will need belts that cost a few dollars more.

General Maintenance and Replacement Parts

Like bikes, cars and trucks, ATVs and UTVs will need periodic replacement of general parts such as brake pads, air filters, and spark plugs. These are low-cost items but necessary for day-to-day use. These are low-cost items but necessary for day-to-day use. This is especially important if considering a side by side rental.

ATV owners can also find performance replacements, such as ceramic pads for improved stopping power, pre-oiled filters to keep the engine clean, and performance plugs for improved combustion. As with axles, CV boots, and drive belts, buy ATV parts at a dedicated and well-stocked auto, bike, and ATV/UTV stores.

It’s also important that your ATV lights work properly at all times to ensure your safety, so make sure to add lights and bulbs to your list of replacement parts. Such upgrades ensure that your ATV is running at its best and you can keep pushing it to the limit without worrying about breakdowns or poor performance.

Katherine Legge Joins SS GreenLight Racing

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Official Release

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July 27, 2023

IndyCar & IMSA Star Returns to NASCAR for 2023 Races at Road America, IMS, WGI and Charlotte

ELKHART LAKE, WI, July 27, 2023 – With one of the most diverse careers in motorsports, spanning everything from INDYCAR/Indy 500, IMSA sports cars and NASCAR to testing a Formula 1 car, Katherine Legge will return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series for four races this season, beginning with this weekend’s Henry 180 at Road America.

She will also be entered in the upcoming Xfinity Series races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Watkins Glen International, and Charlotte Motor Speedway, all with SS Greenlight in the #07 Chevrolet.

“The Indy 500 made me realize that life and racing careers are too short not to go for it,” said Legge. “My interest and passion is to continue to break new ground in motorsports. I’ve been proactive over the last year in thinking about what I want to do in my career and how I can accomplish those things. I’m so thankful to [SS Greenlight team owner] Bobby Dotter for the opportunity; and to Wayne Auton, Mike Helton, and Jim France, for welcoming me back to NASCAR, especially at one of my favourite tracks, Road America.”

In May, Legge made history with her Indy 500 qualifying run, turning the fastest single lap and four-lap qualifying average by a female driver in the 107-year history of the Indianapolis 500. Her four-lap average of 231.070 eclipsed the mark of 229.439 set in 2002. Legge became the ninth woman to compete in the Indy 500 in 2012; and in 2023 was the only woman in the race, generating 50 million media impressions for her third start in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

“Female athletes are the rarest of birds because they are able to transcend audiences in a way that their male counterparts cannot, said Klint Briney, Legge’s agent. “At the Indy 500 this year, we saw unprecedented demand around Katherine from media outlets and major advertisers. It signals a sea change in our sport and highlights a new and emerging audience for figures like
Katherine. We’re very optimistic about her future, as she’s racing now more than ever before and see great potential in maximizing her opportunities on and off the racetrack.”

Legge currently competes full-time in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Series driving the #66 Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo22. She has scored four top-10 finishes this season, including finishing fourth in the 24 Hours of Daytona. She also brought NSX its first ever win worldwide in Detroit in 2017.

The springboard to her professional career was winning the Toyota Atlantic series season opener in Long Beach in 2005, in her first career start, to become the first woman to win a developmental open-wheel race in North America. She also won that season at Edmonton and San Jose, finishing the season 3rd in the points championship and subsequently turning pro and moving up to Champ Car. She spent three seasons in Europe driving for Audi in the premier DTM series, and was a key part of the DeltaWing project in the American Le Mans Series.

Formula One offered her a test in 2005 at Vallelunga Circuit in Italy. In 2018, Legge competed in four NASCAR Xfinity Series races: at the Mid-Ohio SportsCar Course, Richmond Raceway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Road America, where she had her best finish of 14 th out of 40 entries. For her return this year, her #07 machine will carry sponsorship from ref-ology + Blast Equality Collab (BEQ), Team Schuler of Compass Real Estate and the Women’s Premier Basketball Association (WPBA).Blast Equality Collab, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded by Shelley Russi is a leadership collaboration taught through the lens of diverse sports experiences. Blast Equality Collab aims to help members and partners learn how to put people first while making decisions with a higher degree of integrity and accuracy by having to do it in real-world game/event situations. We partner with, and receive donations from, entities where our members are provided opportunities to put into practice Embodied Leadership at the intersection of Sports +Officiating, and beyond.

“Katherine Legge and SS Greenlight Racing embody the Blast Equality Collab (BEQ) Mission,” said Russi. “This opportunity to collaborate with Katherine, who trail blazes throughout the world, makes her the perfect fit to drive the SS Greenlight 07 at Road America. Katherine is a powerful sports figure who aligns with the BEQ Embodied Leadership vision. Alongside Team Schuler, we are supporting the first Black Woman-owned, FIBA certified league in California
where the WPBA is generating opportunity for WPBA players to land contracts
internationally/domestically, in a playing capacity or in leadership roles impacting corporate culture.”

Following this weekend’s Henry 180 NASCAR Xfinity Series Road America 180 on July 22 (televised on NBC at 3:00 PM ET), Legge’s remaining 2023 schedule will include:
– Road America IMSA SportsCar Weekend August 6 (USA Network, 11:00 AM ET).
– NASCAR Xfinity Pennzoil 150 presented by Advance Auto Parts on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course on August 12 (USA Network, 5:30 PM ET).
– NASCAR Xfinity Shriners Children’s 200 at Watkins Glen International on August 19 (USA Network, 3:30 PM ET).
– IMSA SportsCar Michelin GT Challenge at VIRginia International Raceway on August 27 (USA Network, 2:00 PM ET).
-IMSA SportsCar Battle on The Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course on September 17 (NBC, 1:00 PM ET).
– NASCAR Xfinity Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina on October 7 (NBC, 3:00 PM ET).
– IMSA SportsCar Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on October 14 (USA Network, 6:30 PM ET).

Practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Road America 180 will begin on Friday, July 28 at 5:05 PM, with qualifications following at 6:05 PM, and the race on Saturday, July 29 at 3:00 PM ET. All on-track action can be seen on NBC or NBC’s Peacock Premium streaming service.

For more on Katherine Legge, please visit katherinelegge.com, and for more on ref-ology + Blast Equality Collab, please visit shelleyrussi.com. Join the Blast Quality Collab Team in our campaign with HundredX and give without spending. Every piece of feedback you share supports our mission to support embodied leadership education through diverse sports experiences. Text ‘Blast’ to 90412, join the NASCAR affiliation and have your voice heard!

About Katherine Legge
Legge, an Atlanta transplant but native of Haslemere, United Kingdom. She currently competes in the NASCAR Xfinity Series road course events in the #07 GS Greenlight Chevrolet; and in the #66 Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Legge has appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, TODAY with Hoda & Jenna, 60 Minutes, The Tamron Hall Show, GMA, Modern Marvels, and Jay Leno’s Garage. Legge is represented by BRANDed Management and Klint Briney, who long oversaw the career of nine-time Indy 500 starter Sarah Fisher. For more on Katherine, please visit katherinelegge.com.

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Richmond

By

Official Release

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July 27, 2023

5 KYLE LARSON
Age: 30 (July 31, 1992)
Hometown: Elk Grove, California
Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels
Standings: 7th

No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

RICHMOND REPEAT: On Sunday, Kyle Larson will seek his second Richmond Raceway win of 2023 after going to victory lane there in April. The 30-year-old driver has earned two wins, four top-five finishes and eight top-10s in 17 NASCAR Cup Series starts at the Virginia short track. Over the last three Richmond races, Larson has posted the second-most laps run inside the top five (622) behind only teammate William Byron (648). He is also one of only five drivers to lead at least 100 laps at the 0.75-mile venue since the start of 2022.

SHORT-TRACK SUCCESS: In 2023, Larson has won every Cup Series race held on a pavement short track: the points-paying events at Richmond Raceway and Martinsville Speedway and the non-points NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The last driver to win three straight paved short-track races was Rusty Wallace in 1993. In Larson’s first 38 (of 48 total) short-track starts, he earned one pole position, one win and six top-five finishes. In his most-recent 10 races, he has posted two poles, three victories and six top-fives on short tracks.

UP FRONT: Larson, the 2021 Cup champion, has earned two wins and a series-best nine top-five finishes this season. After taking the second stage at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, he now has 45 career stage wins, which is third-most amongst all Cup drivers. Larson has led 622 laps in 2023, good for third-best in the series behind Byron (810) and Martin Truex Jr. (763). This year, he ranks fourth in both laps run in the top five (2,078) and laps run in the top 10 (3,280).

FOUR TIRES FAST: After 21 points-paying races in 2023, the No. 5 HendrickCars.com pit crew stands third in the Cup Series in average four-tire pit stop time (11.110 seconds). The team’s 9.281-second performance on lap 93 in last month’s race at Nashville Superspeedway ranks as the second-fastest four-tire stop in the series this season. The No. 5’s pit crew consists of Blaine Anderson (front-tire changer), R.J. Barnette (tire carrier), Brandon Harder (fueler), Brandon Johnson (jackman) and Calvin Teague (rear-tire changer). Rod Cox is currently filling in for Teague, who is week-to-week as he rehabs an injury.

BIRTHDAY RACE: Larson, who hails from Elk Grove, California, will turn 31 years old on Monday, July 31, following the race at Richmond.

EXTRACURRICULAR: In addition to his full-time Cup Series schedule, Larson often races dirt during the week. On Wednesday night, he finished second in a rescheduled High Limit Racing Sprint Car Series event at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pennsylvania. He posted a heat race win and dash victory before leading the opening 18 laps of the main event.

HENDRICKCARS.COM IS HOME: Larson and the No. 5 crew will wear their white “home” fire suits this weekend at Richmond for the 10th home race for the HendrickCars.com team in 2023. Every HendrickCars.com home race this season (15 total) will feature a unique hat released the week of the event and exclusively available for purchase at trackside merchandise haulers or to win on HendrickCars.com. Less than 100 of each limited-edition hat will be made available. Check out this weekend’s Richmond hat here. The No. 5 team celebrates home races in markets where Hendrick Automotive Group car dealerships are located.

THE (CAR) CAPITOL: The River City is also a car town. The Richmond, Virginia, market is home to Hendrick Automotive Group dealership Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Buick GMC Richmond. Not located in Richmond? Customers can pick from any of Hendrick Automotive Group’s 95 dealerships nationwide and shop from the convenience of their home by visiting HENDRICKCARS.COM. The website offers searches by category, make, model and vehicle packages from the nearly 30,000 new, high-quality pre-owned and certified cars, trucks and SUVs.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 27 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 21st

No. 9 UniFirst Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

RICHMOND RUNDOWN: On Sunday, Chase Elliott will make his 15th Richmond Raceway start in the NASCAR Cup Series. In his previous 14 races at the 0.75-mile oval, he has collected five top-five finishes – one being a runner-up result in April 2018 – and six top-10s. Additionally, he has made four Richmond starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, never finishing outside the top five and earning a win in 2015.

RECAPPING RVA: In Elliott’s most recent Richmond start last fall, he started 23rd at the Virginia short track and steadily climbed through the field throughout the 400-lap event. The 2020 Cup Series champion ended stage one in the 11th position and stage two in the eighth spot before taking the checkered flag fifth. During the spring Cup Series event this year, driver Josh Berry filled in for the injured Elliott. After being mired deep in the field for much of the race, the No. 9 team used pit strategy to get Berry track position. They ended the day with a runner-up finish.

SHORT-TRACK PERFORMANCE: On Sunday, Elliott will make his 43rd short-track start in the Cup Series. In his previous 42 races, he has garnered one win (Martinsville Speedway in 2020), 14 top-five finishes, 22 top-10s and 1,491 laps led. This season, Elliott has one points-paying start on a track measuring less than 1 mile in length, placing 10th at Martinsville Speedway in his first race back following a leg injury.

READY FOR A WIN: This season, Elliott has finished in every position inside the top five except for first. He placed second at Auto Club Speedway prior to sitting out several weeks for an injury. Since returning, Elliott has added to his top-five tally, finishing third at Darlington Raceway, fifth at Sonoma Raceway, fourth at Nashville Superspeedway and third at the Chicago Street Course. After starting just 14 of the 21 Cup Series races in 2023, the 27-year-old driver has five top-five finishes – tied for 10th-most at the sport’s top level. In fact, over the last six Cup events, the Dawsonville, Georgia, native has the best average finish in the field (7.83).

PLAYOFF PUSH: With his 10th-place finish Sunday at Pocono Raceway, Elliott moved up to 21st in the Cup Series standings, 56 points outside of the provisional cutline for a playoff spot. With five races left in the regular season, the Hendrick Motorsports driver needs to average 12 markers per race against the cutline to advance to the playoffs on points. While pointing his way in is mathematically possible, the surefire path for Elliott is a victory. At the five tracks remaining in the regular season, the driver has two wins at Watkins Glen International and a combined six runner-up finishes coming at Richmond (one), Michigan International Speedway (three) and Daytona International Speedway (two).

GREAT GUSTAFSON: On Sunday, No. 9 team crew chief Alan Gustafson is set to call his 35th Richmond race in the Cup Series. In his previous 34 starts at the track with five different drivers (Kyle Busch, Casey Mears, Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon and Elliott), Gustafson has accumulated 15 top-five finishes including five runner-up results, 19 top-10s and 625 laps led.

UNIFIRST IS BACK: UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF), a North American leader in providing customized work uniform programs, corporate attire and facility service products, is back on board as the primary partner on No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for its third of three races in 2023. Last year, UniFirst extended its partnership with Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports and the No. 9 team through 2028. Starting in 2024, the company will increase to five primary races per season with the team. Get a look at all the angles of the UniFirst Chevrolet here.

24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 25 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 2nd

No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

NOTHING REGULAR ABOUT IT: With five races left in the regular season, William Byron is second in the NASCAR Cup Series driver standings, just 30 points behind leader Martin Truex Jr. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native is looking for his first regular-season Cup championship and the extra 15 playoff points that come with it. Byron leads the series in wins (four), laps led (810), laps run inside the top five (2,682) and stage wins (seven). After just 21 of 36 points-paying races in 2023, his 810 laps led are already a personal full-season record. In addition, the 25-year-old driver is tied for second in both top-five finishes (eight) and top-10s (11) and has run the second-most laps inside the top 10 (3,516).

SHORT-TRACK SUCCESS: Byron is carrying momentum into Richmond Raceway, the third short-track race of 2023. Since the start of 2022, he ranks fifth in points scored on short-track layouts. He also has three top-five finishes, which tie him for fourth among drivers in the same time period. In fact, Byron has led more than 100 laps in three of the last seven short-track events.

RICHMOND READY: Sunday’s race will mark Byron’s 11th Richmond start in the Cup Series. His personal-best finish of third at the 0.75-mile oval occurred in April 2022 after starting on the front row and leading 122 laps. However, Byron came close to picking up a Richmond victory earlier this season after winning stage one and leading 117 laps before he was involved in an incident that left him with a 24th-place result. In the last three races there, he has run 648 laps in the top five and has led 239 laps – both the highest of any driver in that span.

RUDY AT RICHMOND: No. 24 team crew chief Rudy Fugle has seven combined NASCAR national series starts at Richmond Raceway: four in the Cup Series, two in the Xfinity Series and one in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. In April 2022, Byron and the No. 24 team had a track-best weekend at Richmond, qualifying second, leading 122 laps and ultimately finishing third in the Cup event after being passed for the win with four laps to go.

PIT ROAD PROWESS: After 21 races in 2023, the No. 24 pit crew is the best in the Cup Series with an average four-tire pit stop time of 11.013 seconds. The No. 24 pit crew consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Landon Walker (fueler), Ryan Patton (tire carrier), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer) and Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer). The team boasts three of the 10 fastest stops in the series this season, which rank sixth (9.383 seconds), eighth (9.443) and ninth (9.504).

LIBERTY U IS BACK: On Sunday at Richmond, Byron will sport his Liberty University paint scheme. Featuring a white base with navy flames and red accents, the Liberty University No. 24 will be sure to stand out on track. Liberty University has a long history with Byron starting back in 2014 in the late model ranks. Liberty University has been Training Champions for Christ since it was founded in 1971. Located in the mountains of Central Virginia, Liberty is a liberal arts institution with 17 colleges and schools that offers more than 600 degree programs from the certificate to the doctoral level, on campus and online. Working on an undergraduate degree in strategic communication, Byron is now in his junior year at Liberty University through its online program. For a better look at Byron’s new Liberty University paint scheme, click here.

48 Alex Bowman
Age: 30 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Resides: Concord, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Blake Harris
Standings: 20th

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

RICHMOND WINNER: Heading to Richmond Raceway for the second time in 2023, Alex Bowman has garnered one win (April 2021), one top-five finish, four top-10s and one pole position (April 2023) in 14 NASCAR Cup Series appearances at the 0.75-mile oval. In his first race there this season, he finished seventh in both stages en route to an eighth-place result. The Tucson, Arizona, native will make his 275th career Cup start on Sunday.

VIRGINIA IS FOR VICTORS: Bowman is no stranger to victory lane at Virginia-based tracks. The 30-year-old driver has two Cup Series wins in the Commonwealth: March 2021 at Richmond and November 2021 at Martinsville Speedway. He is one of just three drivers to record multiple Virginia wins in the last 11 Cup races.

ALLY ARENA: Ally announced Monday on its social media platforms that the No. 48 primary sponsor is hosting a sweepstakes for Ally Racing fans where Fortnite users who beat Bowman’s Chaos Course time of 4:53 in the Ally Arena (arena code: 3804-0541-8611) have the opportunity to win tickets to Daytona International Speedway for final race of the 2023 regular season.

MAKING POINTS: With just five Cup Series races left before the 2023 playoffs, Bowman is 46 points behind the provisional cutoff line. As it stands, the 30-year-old driver would need to gain an average of 10 markers per event on the cutline to make it in on points alone. A win in one of the five upcoming races would solidify Bowman’s spot in the playoffs.

SAVE THEM ALL: Bowman and primary partner Ally are teaming up this year to bring back the Best Friends Animal Society donation effort. This week, the duo will make charitable contributions to the Prevent A Litter Veterinary Hospital, which serves the local community in Virginia’s capital city. Bowman and Ally will donate $4,800 to Best Friends and the Prevent A Litter Veterinary Hospital. Ally will increase its donation to $10,000 if the No. 48 team wins on Sunday.

DAY ‘N’ NITE: The No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will feature two versions of its primary scheme during the 2023 Cup Series season. The No. 48 Ally Chevy “day” scheme will host a white base with bright plum, grapefruit and seafoam stripes down the side. This version of the primary scheme will appear at races that take place during the day. When the lights come on over the racetrack, the black-based No. 48 Ally Chevy “night” scheme will be sported with a similar design to its daytime counterpart. This weekend, the No. 48 machine will showcase the “day” scheme. Check out all the angles of the new look here.

HENDRICK
MOTORSPORTS /

Hendrick Motorsports

2023	All-Time	Richmond
Races	21	1,330	78
Wins	6**	297*	12
Poles	6*	245*	18*
Top 5	26*	1,216*	67*
Top 10	38*	2,083*	123*
Laps Led	1,539*	78,856*	4,472
Stage Wins	11*	90	1

*Most **Most (tie)

CLOSING IN ON 300: Hendrick Motorsports is just three points-paying victories away from its milestone 300th win in the NASCAR Cup Series. Twenty drivers have combined to reach the organization’s current total of 297, which is the most Cup Series wins by any team. With six points-paying victories in 2023, the team has posted its 36th multi-win season in the Cup Series while maintaining a streak of at least two per season for the past 30 years. The organization has gone to victory lane at more racetracks (31) than any other active team.

MILESTONE MOMENTS: In addition to 300 Cup Series wins, Hendrick Motorsports is approaching several other major milestones. With 245 pole awards, the team is just five away from 250 at the Cup level. In addition, Hendrick Motorsports engines have recorded 495 NASCAR national series victories and need just five more to reach 500.

WINNING IN THE RIVER CITY: In its storied history, Hendrick Motorsports has tallied 12 wins at Richmond Raceway. Jimmie Johnson and Terry Labonte lead the way with three victories apiece, followed by Jeff Gordon with two. Alex Bowman, Kyle Larson, Joe Nemechek and Tim Richmond each have one win at the 0.75-mile track. The seven different drivers to win in Virginia’s capital city are the most by a single organization.

SPRING REWIND: In April’s race at Richmond, Larson’s victory highlighted a strong day for Hendrick Motorsports. Josh Berry, who filled in for the sidelined Chase Elliott, finished second. Bowman finished eighth in the 400-lap event, while William Byron led a race-high 117 laps and scored a stage win. All told, the team led 228 laps on the day.

TOP-10 TRIO: Two of the last three races at Richmond have seen Hendrick Motorsports place three cars inside the top 10. The team achieved it in April 2023 and April 2022, which saw Byron finish second, Larson fifth and Bowman eighth.

NO SHORTAGE: Hendrick Motorsports leads all active Cup Series teams with 57 points-paying victories on short tracks, which is 12 more than the next-closest team. Gordon leads all drivers in team history with 17 short-track wins.

VICTORY IN VIRGINIA: Team owner Rick Hendrick grew up in Palmer Springs, Virginia, and his teams have won 40 Cup Series races in his home state. Hendrick Motorsports has gone to victory lane in Virginia at least one time in 28 different seasons, including each of the past four. The most recent 11 races in Virginia have seen one of his cars emerge victorious on six occasions with all four active drivers winning.

TOP OF THE BOARD: In the Next Gen car era (2022-present), Hendrick Motorsports has won 17 races, which is five more than any other team. During that span, all four drivers in its lineup – Byron (six), Larson (five), Chase Elliott (five) and Bowman (one) – have notched victories.

QUOTABLE /

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his short-track success in 2023: “All of our wins this year have been on short tracks: Richmond, Martinsville and North Wilkesboro. We were good at Loudon, even compared to our teammates. Honestly, we have been pretty good everywhere this year. Especially early on in the year, we were really good on 1.5-mile tracks, intermediate tracks and superspeedways even. I’ve been up front, but crash or whatever. I’m excited about going to Richmond this weekend and going back to a track that we won at earlier this year. As the season progresses, setups change and the weather is going to be different than it was earlier this year. It’s not going to be the same, but I’m confident because we have been good on all the short tracks.”

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on competing at Richmond Raceway: “We are planning to try to respect the track as much as we possibly can. This place is so difficult. We were very fortunate to have a great race car and race overall in the spring. It’s certainly been a tough place for us in the past and we know that so we are trying to have a healthy amount of respect to make sure we do the right things and study ourselves right. We won’t rest on our laurels of a great race in the spring or be lazy about our approach. We will certainly look at everything that we can or need to from the spring race and make any adjustments that we see needed. Kyle was pretty happy with the car, but we can always be better. Hopefully we can execute a very solid race and be in the top 10 by the end of it and have a shot (to win).”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Richmond: “When I think of Richmond, the surface and the age of the asphalt comes to mind first – just how that has changed the races over the last few years. You’ve had a lot of strategy options because there’s so much (tire) falloff because the asphalt’s so old. You end up having guys two-stopping stages and being able to make up enough time with their fresh tires as opposed to only making one trip down pit road. So I just think about the surface being aged and how that’s impacted strategies.”

Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on Richmond: “Richmond is actually one of my favorite tracks. I like the fact that it always has different lanes and, if your car drives good, you usually can make some progress. There are a lot of pit stops, and tires really matter there. All of those things make it a lot of fun, and the strategy can be super creative, which can help you a lot. It’s a super finicky track. You either hit it or you don’t. There doesn’t seem to be any in between. This weekend it’s going to be hot and slick for sure, so that’ll add another element. Usually when it’s that way, it really spreads out and the lanes get really wide, so that makes it interesting, too. I’m looking forward to going up there.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Richmond Raceway: “I’m excited to get back to Richmond this weekend. We ran well there in the spring and didn’t get the result we deserved. Hopefully we can redeem that this weekend. It’s going to be a hot one, though, and that’s going to play a factor. Not only from how the car handles and grip levels but also from a heat inside the car aspect. The heat will probably be the biggest thing that all of us will have to manage throughout the weekend.”

Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what differences there are from the spring to the summer race at Richmond: “We were pretty good at Richmond earlier this year, but this race will be vastly different. It’s going to be really hot and a day race. The biggest thing is that the balance is going to change. It will be looser off the corners and tighter in the middle. You’re going to have to get the grip to improve and try to get your car to do better things at slower speeds. It’s still a short track, and it’s still worn out. The basics should all still be the same. You’re just going to want to add some more grip, especially when you’ll be going about a half-second slower compared to the spring. So that’s what we will focus on.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on Richmond Raceway: “I think it’s a good track for us. We won there in 2021, and since then I feel like it has been one of my better tracks. I used to not like going there but that’s changed, obviously. We have good notes for when we go there, and we had a great car in the spring, so we expect to have success this weekend and be able to contend for a win. This team is really focused on getting into the playoffs, and I think this weekend is a place we all have circled as a track that can be good for us.”

Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his approach to Richmond: “This weekend is another chance for us to perform the way we should. The last two weeks have been frustrating because the result we have isn’t reflective of the way we have ran during the race. We had a good race in Richmond in the spring so we know what we need to run well. It just comes back to the same thing I have preached all season. We need to focus on the details, get the little things right and capitalize on others’ mistakes. There is no reason we can’t go run in the top 10 all day and have a shot to win this Sunday.”

Alex Labbe, SS GreenLight Partner with ref-ology for Road America

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Official Release

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July 27, 2023

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 26, 2023): SS Greenlight Racing, with Canadian Alex Labbe behind the wheel, on Thursday announced a partnership with ref-ology + Blast Equality Collab as the primary sponsor with Team Schuler of Compass Real Estate and the Women’s Premier Basketball Association (WPBA) as associate sponsors on the #08 Ford Mustang in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this weekend for the Road America 180 at Elkhart Lake, WI.

“Thanks to Shelley Russi and her team for the support – can’t wait to see what we can accomplish there this weekend. I am excited to drive for SS Greenlight with the ref-ology + Blast Equality Collab/Team Schuler/WPBA colors on board with me on this road course and it’s incredible to have the opportunity to run on a freshly paved Road America circuit this weekend!” says driver Labbe.

This unique collaboration represents the embodiment of transformation at many levels. ref-ology + Blast Equality Collab brings together the WPBA and Team Schuler to partner with a race team whose driver embodies what it means to push hard, turns circumstances into the path and demonstrates a
drive to win.

Blast Equality Collab, (a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization) founded by Shelley Russi – is a leadership collaboration taught through the lens of diverse sports experiences. Blast Equality Collab aims to help members and partners learn how to put people first while making decisions with a higher degree of integrity and accuracy by having to do it in real-world game/event situations. We partner with, and receive donations from, entities where our members are provided opportunities to put into practice embodied leadership at the intersection of Sports + Officiating, and beyond. Join the Blast Quality Collab Team in our campaign with HundredX and give without spending. Every piece of feedback you share supports our mission to support embodied leadership education through diverse sports experiences. Text ‘Blast’ to 90412, join the NASCAR affiliation and have your voice heard!

“We are thrilled to team up with SS Greenlight, driver Alex Labbe, Crew Chief Jason Miller and the entire 08 team at Road America,” said Russi. “This is an amazing opportunity to collaborate with Alex along with a proven, veteran team like SS GreenLight Racing and owner Bobby Dotter to represent the ref-ology + Blast Equality Collab brand on the track.”

Don Vaden, a 30-year NBA Veteran, former Finals Referee, and Russi’s business partner, will serve as one of the #08’s spotters this weekend.

“It’s an honor having ref-ology + Blast Equality Collab, Team Schuler and the WPBA teaming up with SS Greenlight and Alex in the #08. Looking forward to helping guide Alex toward the front,” says Vaden.

The Women’s Premier Basketball Association founded by Faatimah A, is the first Black Woman-owned FIBA Certified league in California. The WPBA is a collaborative of professional athletes, community leaders, coaches, and staff dedicated to the vision of upholding the highest standard in Women’s Basketball. The current 8-team League plays its final regular season games Saturday July 29 and Championship weekend at the College of Alameda in the East Bay, California on August 4-6, 2023. All things WPBA found at Instagram (@womenspba) or online (womenspba.com).

Team Schuler, Compass Real Estate’s mission is to transform the real estate experience by building and maintaining a diverse team. Team Schuler utilizes a holistic approach to benefit clients and continuously delivers BEST-IN-CLASS service – in an industry of sameness, ‘WE RISE ABOVE.’ We collaborate with Blast Equality Collab through our giving campaign (per transaction donation) and specifically with the WPBA to bring the Real Estate Agent opportunity to this group of talented Professional Basketball Players as they look to build a business alongside the playing brand. For more info visit us at: Team Schuler NorCal at teamschuler.com.

For more on SS GreenLight Racing, visit SSGreenLight.com, or ‘like’ on Facebook (SS GreenLight Racing) and follow them on Twitter (@SSGLR0708) and Instagram (@ssgreenlightracing).

For more on ref-ology + Blast Equality Collab, please visit ref-ology.com, shelleyrussi.com, blastequality.org, and follow them on Instagram (@ref.ology), and follow them on Twitter (@refology).

Practice for the Xfinity Series will be shown live on USA Network on Friday July 28 at 5:00PM ET/2:00PM PT with Qualifying at 6:00PM ET/3:00PM PT.

The Road America 180 (45 laps | 182.16 miles) at Road America Raceway will take the green flag Sat. July 29, 2023. Coverage begins at 3:00PM ET/12:00PM PT on NBC, the NBC Sports App, MRN Radio, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 and the Sirius XM app.

JD Motorsports and Brennan Poole teaming up with athletes from the University of Kansas

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Official Release

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July 27, 2023

July 27, 2023 – Houston, TX – BeONE Sports – developers of a platform where accomplished athletes’ movements are digitized into a phone app with the goal of creating a training paradigm for athletes to learn – today announced the first-of-its-kind collaboration with Mass St. Collective and the University of Kansas to bring a Collegiate NIL NASCAR car to the upcoming NASCAR race on September 9 at Kansas Speedway.

The collaboration also includes JD Motorsports, eleven (11) University of Kansas student-athletes being featured on the race car, and Mass St. Collective – the KU NIL Collective founded in 2021 to help Jayhawk student-athletes build their personal brand and benefit from their name, image and likeness.

“Our goal at Mass St. Collective is to find new and unique instances where we can grow the brand of our KU student-athletes in new and meaningful ways through name, image and likeness.” says Dan Beckler, President of Mass St. Collective. “To partner with BeOne Sports and have 11 Jayhawks on a NASCAR Xfinity Series Race car is something that has never been done before, and it’s an exciting way to bring NIL and college athletes to the racing industry. Brand loyalty is the best among NASCAR fans, and we hope this car only adds to that. What makes this even more special is to debut the car in our home state at Kansas Speedway.”

“I’m so excited to be a part of something that’s never been done before! I love Kansas and it’s going to be so cool to have the college athletes on the car and give them a ride in our fast race car!” said Brennan Poole, driver of the #6 JD Motorsports Chevrolet.

Additionally, BeONE Sports is developing technology to level the racetrack. With the technology available from BeONE Sports, JD Motorsports hopes to become more competitive with the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ top teams and is exploring a variety of applications using comparative training within the team.

”JD Motorsports and Brennan Poole are teaming up with athletes from the University of Kansas for The Kansas Lottery 300 on September 9th at Kansas Speedway. We are happy to have BeONE back, Scott and I have worked very hard to put the NIL deal together to create a first in Nascar.” said Tony Priscaro, VP of Marketing and Sales for JD Motorsports.

“We believe athletes are everywhere, and we are very excited to bring new and interesting NIL opportunities to student-athletes. The KU NIL NASCAR is a great example of collaboration and driving innovation…literally,” says Scott Deans, BeONE Sports Founder and CEO.

BeONE Sports will be on location in Kansas from September 7th-9th. They will be kicking off their collaboration with athletes from the Kansas CIty Chiefs on September 7th, working with University of Kansas athletes on campus on September 8th, and at the NASCAR race on September 9th. For more information, visit beonesports.com.

About BeONE Sports

BeONE Sports has developed cutting-edge, sports training technology based on body mechanics within any sport. They’ve invented “Comparative Training,” where accomplished athletes’ movements are digitized into the technology, creating a catalog of learning potential. Using their patent-pending AI on a mobile device, young athletes around the world can train with their heroes! Athletes, coaches and parents receive immediate feedback on technique and body-position improvements, and BeONE Sports is revolutionizing the use of NIL where athletes and coaches earn income while training the next generation. For more information, visit www.beonesports.com

About Mass St. Collective

Mass St. Collective is the name, image and likeness organization serving all student-athletes at the University of Kansas. Utilizing gifts from donors, Mass St. coordinates opportunities for student-athletes to use their NIL in various ways like marketing opportunities with businesses and charitable organizations that align with their values and interests. Our mission is to create generational change for these student-athletes, all while helping them build a brand during their time at arguably the most recognizable collegiate athletics program in the country. For more information, visit www.MassStrategies.com

NHRA AT SONOMA: Team Chevy Race Advance

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Official Release

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July 27, 2023

CHEVROLET IN NHRA
2023 DENSO NHRA SONOMA NATIONALS
SONOMA RACEWAY
SONOMA, CALIFORNIA
JULY 28-30, 2023

CHEVROLET LOOKS TO GO BACK-TO-BACK IN VICTORY WITH JOHN FORCE RACING AT SONOMA

DETROIT (JULY 27, 2023) – For the 12th round of the 2023 NHRA season, the Chevrolet Top Fuel and Funny Car teams at John Force Racing round out the Western Swing in wine country at this weekend’s 2023 DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals. Nestled in the beautiful Sears Point, Calif.-area, Sonoma Raceway hosts this weekend’s event, with Brittany Force eyeing a back-to-back victory this year after capturing the Wally trophy in 2022.

Qualifying No. 5 in 2022 with a run of 3.705 ET at 335.15 MPH, B. Force knocked out John Force Racing teammate Austin Prock, driver of the Montana Brands/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster, in the first round, then Steve Torrence in Round 2, then Shawn Langdon in Semifinals before racing to the 2022 Sonoma win over Mike Salinas with her run of 3.709 ET at 335.48 MPH.

“Heading into our final race of the Western Swing in Sonoma, California this season, B. Force said. “This Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy team is excited to get there just because of how we dominated on Sunday last season. We set records and had four solid runs running in the 3.60s which was just unbelievable. We got to bring home a win and the specialty wine goblet. It was probably one of our best wins of the season last year. Our game plan going into Sonoma Raceway this season is we want to repeat, we want to do that again. We want back-to-back Sonoma Nationals victories. So we’re looking forward to getting the weekend started.”

Making a final round appearance at Sonoma Raceway in 2022, John Force, the 16-time champion, driver of the PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car and team owner at John Force Racing, finished runner-up and has his eyes focused on the Winner’s Circle.

“Coming to the end of the Western Swing up in Northern California. Looking forward to getting back in my PEAK Chevy. We’re doing good. We have some work to do but we’ve had some good runs, just need to get it together on race day,” J. Force said. “Another Bruton Smith track, they’ve done some work on the facility, maintaining it, keeping it beautiful. I love racing here, I guess who doesn’t? I’ve done well in the past so hopefully that’s a sign for this weekend. Looking for a win for PEAK, Chevy, Cornwell Tools, NK Seeds, and all our sponsors.”

Racing to the semifinals after defeating Jeff Diehl and Jim Campbell, Robert Hight, driver of the Cornwell Tools/AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car for John Force Racing, faced an early exit versus eventual event winner Bob Tasca III in 2022. Heading to Sonoma in 2023, however, Hight looks to cap off his Western Swing with a win for the Bowtie brand.

Currently idle, the Chevrolet Camaro Pro Stock teams will be back in action in Topeka, Aug. 11-13, 2023. Additionally, the FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown Chevrolet teams return for the biggest event of the season soon, the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Sept. 1-4, 2023.

The 2023 DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway in the beautiful Sears Point, California-area airs first with Friday’s qualifying on Saturday, July 29 at 12 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Saturday’s qualifying airs Sunday, July 30 at 2:30 p.m. ET, with Sunday’s Finals following on FOX at 4 p.m. ET. Coverage streaming live throughout the weekend can be found through NHRA.tv, available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:

Austin Prock, driver of the Rocky Mountain Twist / Montana Brands Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster for John Force Racing:

“I’m excited to get going at the final race of the Western Swing in Sonoma, California. This Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist car is running well, we see it. I believe we can leave Sonoma Raceway with a Wally. I’m looking forward to making sight solid runs and getting the job done.”

Robert Hight, driver of the Cornwell Tools/AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car for John Force Racing:

“I’m excited to be back in Northern California, this is my home track, I grew up coming here. I’ve never missed this national event,” Hight said. “I think this Cornwell Tools team is due for a win. We’ve struggled a bit, and had some bad luck, but I know this team, we know how to win. We keep putting in the work and it will pay off. Hopefully, it’s this weekend and we can break back into the top three in points. The Countdown is coming, and we want to be in a strong position to start the battle for another championship.”

TEAM CHEVY BY THE NUMBERS

1,434: Round wins for John Force (1st all-time).

605: Round wins for Robert Hight; 13th all-time. Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), sits 12th, with 621.

375: Number of wins in Pro Stock since 1970; 255 won in the Chevrolet Camaro body.

166: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for John Force (1st all-time).

157: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins since 1967.

79: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Robert Hight (6th all-time).

77: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins with the Camaro body.

47: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Brittany Force.

27: Number of NHRA championships Chevrolet holds as a manufacturer since entering the first in 1966. No other manufacturer has won it more than Chevrolet.

24: Wins by John Force in a Chevrolet-bodied Funny Car.

18: Number of Pro Stock championships.

20: Chevrolet career Top Fuel wins in NHRA.

16: Number of Chevrolet career wins by Brittany Force.

7: Number of Funny Car driver championships.

2: Number of Top Fuel driver championships.

UPCOMING NHRA MILESTONES

950: Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) is second all-time with 921 elimination round wins. He could reach 950 round wins with a decent run in the 18-race schedule.

621: Robert Hight achieved 605 Funny Car elimination wins in Chicago to rank 13th on the all-time NHRA list; Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car) sits 12th with 621.

445: By qualifying for his next race, Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) will extend his NHRA record to 445 consecutive race day appearances. His first appearance came in 2002 at Pomona 2, and he holds the longest career qualifying streak in NHRA.

138: Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) ranks third on the NHRA all-time list with 121 No. 1 qualifiers. He will tie Warren Johnson (Pro Stock, 138) for second to John Force (165) on the list.

270: By qualifying for his next race, Robert Hight will extend his NHRA record to 270 consecutive race day appearances. His first appearance came in 2010 at Pomona 2, and he currently sits seventh in career qualifying streaks in NHRA (Doug Kalitta is sixth at 276).

65: Robert Hight moved into the top 10 on the all-time NHRA victory list with his win in Pomona 1 with 63. Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock, retired) is next ninth on list with 65.

46: Erica Enders has 44 career Pro Stock victories (all with Chevrolet, first win coming at Chicago, 2012 and last win at Las Vegas 2, 2022). Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) is the all-time NHRA female leader with 46.

18: Brittany Force (16 Top Fuel career wins) will move past Shirley Muldowney (18 wins) into third on the NHRA all-time victory list for females. Erica Enders (Pro Stock, 44) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle, 46) are ahead.

6: Erica Enders (Pro Stock) could tie Warren Johnson (6 Pro Stock championships) for second on the class list. The same holds for Greg Anderson. Bob Glidden is the leader with 10.

3: Brittany Force (Top Fuel, 2 championships) would tie Shirley Muldowney (Top Fuel) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) for second on the NHRA all-time championship list by females with another title in 2023. Erica Enders (Pro Stock, 5) is the leader.

Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 100 countries and selling more than 4.0 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with 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.

TEAM CHEVY NASCAR RACE ADVANCE: Richmond Raceway / Road America

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Official Release

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July 27, 2023

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
Richmond Raceway / Road America
July 29-30, 2023

NASCAR CUP SERIES: ROUND TWO AT RICHMOND

The NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) is set for round two at Richmond Raceway this weekend with the .75-mile oval marking just the series’ second repeat visit to a track this season. The final short-track remaining in the regular season, Chevrolet heads into Sunday’s Cook Out 400 as Richmond Raceway’s reigning winner following Kyle Larson’s (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1) victory during the venue’s spring event. Adding onto the momentum for the Bowtie brigade, Larson led the manufacturer to a sweep of the podium in the race with Josh Berry – who was filling in for an injured Chase Elliott – taking the runner-up position, and Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain rounding out the top-three.

Larson’s victory took Chevrolet to its 40th all-time victory in NASCAR’s premier series at Richmond Raceway – a record among its manufacturer competitors. Three of Chevrolet’s active NCS drivers have reached victory lane at the Virginia short-track including Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch, who leads the series with six career NCS wins, and Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman (one NCS win – 2021).

AT A GLANCE: FIVE-TO-GO

This weekend marks just five races remaining in the NASCAR Cup series’ regular season – each contested on a distinctly different race track configuration. The journey to the series’ championship title run includes a short-track, an intermediate oval, a pair of road courses and a superspeedway – with Chevrolet holding the reigns as the series’ most recent winner at four of the remaining tracks on the regular season schedule:

Richmond Raceway – Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 (April 2023)
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course – Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Camaro ZL1 (August 2022)
Watkins Glen International – Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 (August 2022)
Daytona International Speedway – Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Camaro ZL1 (February 2023).

Five drivers from four different Chevrolet teams have already notched their spot in the series’ 16-driver playoff field with at least one win to their name. Four of the five spots just below the playoff cutline are occupied by Team Chevy drivers who still have an opportunity to point their way into the post-season. The first driver on the outside looking in is Kaulig Racing’s AJ Allmendinger, who moved into the 17th position in the points standings and just 17-points below the cutline following last weekend’s event. After getting caught-up in an accident that resulted in a DNF at Pocono Raceway, Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez moved to the 18th position in the points standings and 23-points below the cutline. After both missing a handful of races due to injuries at the beginning of the season, Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott sit in the 20th and 21st positions, respectively, in the points standings – but are both on the horizon of tracks they have found success, including victory lane.

LARSON STELLAR ON SHORT-TRACKS

Team Chevy’s Kyle Larson has found success on every type of race track configuration that the NASCAR Cup Series competes at, but one that stands-out this season is at the short-tracks. Larson’s two points-paying NCS wins this season came during the series’ three-race short-track swing this spring – first at Richmond Raceway in April, with the driver visiting victory lane at Martinsville Speedway just two weeks later. The former champion also put on a dominating performance during NASCAR’s return to North Wilkesboro Speedway in May for the non-points paying All-Star Race – leading 145 of the race’s 200 laps en route to the one-million-dollar grand prize.

In the NCS’ six points-paying races on tracks one-mile or less this season, Larson has finished no worse than fourth in four of those events. On top of his wins at Richmond Raceway and Martinsville Speedway, the Team Chevy driver also collected a fourth-place finish at Phoenix Raceway in March, as well as a third-place finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway just a few weeks ago.

BUSCH WITH STORIED HISTORY AT RICHMOND

An automatic favorite heading to “America’s Premiere Short Track” is Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch. In 35 career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Richmond Raceway, the 38-year-old Nevada native has found victory lane a series-leading six times. Of those triumphs includes a sweep of the events in 2018, making Busch just one of two active drivers to post consecutive wins at the Virginia short-track. On an even more impressive note, Busch has yet to post a DNF in any of his career NCS starts at Richmond Raceway. Taking it one step further, he’s completed all but one lap in his 35 career NCS starts at the track – running 14,208 of the 14,209 laps.

CLOSING OUT THE NCTS REGULAR SEASON

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) has reached the final race of its 2023 regular season – with 250 laps around the .75-mile oval of Richmond Raceway determining the three remaining spots in the series’ 10-driver playoff field.

As the points currently stand heading into the regular season finale, Team Chevy drivers account for five of the top-10 spots above the playoff cutline. Coming off his sixth top-five finish of the season, GMS Racing’s Grant Enfinger took over the third position in the points standings – now 59-points behind the leader. The 38-year-old Alabama native is one of the three Team Chevy drivers that have already clinched a spot in the post-season title run. Joining Enfinger on that list is Christian Eckes and Carson Hocevar, who sit in the sixth and seventh positions, respectively, in the standings. Team Chevy’s Matt DiBenedetto and Nike Sanchez maintained their positions above the playoff cutline following last weekend’s trip to Pocono Raceway – with DiBenedetto in the eighth position (+31 points above the cutline) and Sanchez in the ninth position (+21 points above the cutline).

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES: RETURNING TO ROAD AMERICA

Three of the next four events for the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) will be contested on a road course – with the first stop featuring the 14-turn, 4.048-mile circuit of Road America. Saturday’s Road America 180 will mark the series’ 14th consecutive appearance at the Wisconsin circuit. Chevrolet recorded its first NXS win at Road America in June 2011 with Reed Sorenson behind the wheel of the No. 32 Chevrolet for team owner Steve Turner. The manufacturer has since made its way to victory lane at the circuit a manufacturer-leading seven times. Of those slated to compete in this weekend’s event, only three drivers have found victory lane at the circuit – all of which come from the Chevrolet camp (Justin Allgaier – 2018; Jeremy Clements – 2017; AJ Allmendinger – 2013). Chevrolet has already made one trip to victory lane in the series on a road course this season after Allmendinger defended his winning title at Circuit of The Americas in March.

BOWTIE BULLETS:

· NASCAR Cup Series victories by active Chevrolet drivers at Richmond Raceway:

Kyle Busch – series-leading six wins (2018 sweep, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009)
Kyle Larson – two wins (2023, 2017)
Alex Bowman – one win (2021)

· In 133 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Richmond Raceway, Chevrolet has recorded 40 victories and 48 poles – both of which are series-best feats.

· Chevrolet recorded six consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victories at Richmond Raceway from 2006 to 2008 – a record for the longest streak of consecutive wins by a single manufacturer at the .75-mile Virginia oval.

· Hendrick Motorsports leads all active NASCAR Cup Series teams with 57 short-track wins, recorded by 14 different drivers. 12 of those victories came at Richmond Raceway.

· Three of the five repeat winners in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season come from Team Chevy:

William Byron: series-leading four wins (Las Vegas, Phoenix, Darlington & Atlanta 2)
Kyle Busch: three wins (Auto Club, Talladega, WWTR)
Kyle Larson: two wins (Richmond & Martinsville)

· In 21 points-paying NASCAR Cup Series race this season, Chevrolet continues to lead the series in wins (12), top-fives (48), top-10s (91), stage wins (18) and laps led (2,344).

· Chevrolet leads the series in wins across all three NASCAR national series this season with 12 victories in 21 NASCAR Cup Series races, 10 victories in 19 NASCAR Xfinity Series races and nine wins in 15 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races – all with a win percentage of at least 50%.

· With William Byron’s win at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports now sits at 297 all-time NASCAR Cup Series victories – all recorded with Chevrolet.

· Chevrolet’s series-leading 12 NASCAR Cup Series wins this season have been recorded by drivers from four different Chevrolet teams: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (JTG Daugherty Racing), Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing), William Byron and Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) and Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing).

· Chevrolet drivers have recorded 18 of the 42 NASCAR Cup Series stage wins this season: William Byron (seven; series-leading), Ross Chastain (five), Kyle Larson (three), Kyle Busch (two) and Chase Elliott (one).

· Chevrolet continues to sit atop the manufacturer points standings in all three NASCAR national series, leading by 57 points in the NASCAR Cup Series, 54 points in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and 46 points in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

· With Grant Enfinger’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win at World Wide Technology Raceway, GMS Racing is now the winningest Chevrolet organization in NCTS’ history with 44 all-time wins in the series.

· With its 41 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer’s Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver’s Championships, and 845 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title of winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

FOR THE FANS:

· Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Richmond Raceway.

· Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles at the Team Chevy Racing Display including: Silverado 1500 ZR2, Silverado 2500, Colorado ZR2 Premier, Camaro ZL1, Corvette Z51, Trax.

Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display:

Saturday, July 29

· Matt DiBenedetto: 1 p.m.

· Nick Sanchez: 3 p.m.

· Christian Eckes & Jake Garcia: 3:15 p.m.

· Chase Purdy & Matt Mills: 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 30

· Noah Gragson: 12:15 p.m.

· Ricky Stenhouse Jr: 12:30 p.m.

Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation:

· Saturday, July 29: 10 a.m.

· Sunday, July 30: 9 a.m.

TUNE IN:

NASCAR Cup Series: Richmond Raceway

Cook Out 400

Sunday, July 30, at 3 p.m. ET

(USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

NASCAR Xfinity Series: Road America

Road America 180

Saturday, July 29, at 3 p.m. ET

(NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Richmond Raceway

Worldwide Express 250

Saturday, July 29, at 7:30 p.m. ET

(FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

QUOTABLE QUOTES:
ROSS CHASTAIN, NO. 1 WORLDWIDE EXPRESS CAMARO ZL1

Where would you evaluate your No. 1 team is heading into these final few races before the Playoffs?

“My team is rock solid. This is year three with these guys and I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone else. What’s good is we know we are going to get to do this together for a long time. We have fun. Our hauler has fun. There’s not many people who have more fun in the Cup Series garage than we do. I’m having a blast and living my dream. I feel great about where we are.”

It looks like it’s a busy weekend for Worldwide Express in Richmond?

“It’s cool to see a partner like Worldwide Express make such a splash in a race market like Richmond. We go to so many different markets each year it’s good to leave it in a better place and really show the people that even though there is a race, there’s other elements too. How cool is it to get an opportunity to drive around the track in your street car and raise a little money! The Worldwide Express people are like family and it’s going to be a busy and fun weekend in Richmond.”

KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1

Larson on racing at Richmond Raceway:

“All of our wins this year have been on short-tracks: Richmond, Martinsville and North Wilkesboro. We were good at Loudon- even compared to the (HMS) teammates. Honestly, we have been pretty good everywhere this year. Especially early on in the year, we were really good on 1.5-mile tracks, intermediate tracks and super speedways even. I’ve been upfront, but crash or whatever. I’m excited about going to Richmond this weekend and going back to a track that we won at earlier this year. As the season progresses, setups change and the weather is going to be different than it was earlier this year. It’s not going to be the same, but I’m confident because we have been good on all the short-tracks.”

CLIFF DANIELS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1

Daniels on racing at Richmond Raceway:

“We are planning to try to respect the track as much as we possibly can. This place is so difficult. We were very fortunate to have a great race car and race overall in the spring. It’s certainly been a tough place for us in the past and we know that so we are trying to have a healthy amount of respect to make sure we do the right things and study ourselves right. We won’t rest on our lorals of a great race in the spring or be lazy about our approach. We will certainly look at everything that we can or need to from the spring race and make any adjustments that we see needed. Kyle was pretty happy with the car, but we can always be better. Hopefully we can execute a very solid race and be in the top-10 by the end of it and have a shot (to win).

KYLE BUSCH, NO. 8 X WORLD WALLET CAMARO ZL1

How much did you learn at the first Richmond race earlier this season that will help you when you go back?

“I think some of the biggest things that we learned at the first Richmond race earlier this year was what our short track package had that was good what our short track package that was bad. All year has kind of been a struggle at the at the lower downforce, shorter track races. We’re still trying to get to the bottom of all that and figure it out. We know that there is a lot of room for improvement and sometimes little things can mean big improvements. We’ll just keep working at it.”

Do you think the combination of higher track temperatures and increased tire wear will make for better racing at Richmond?

“More times than not I would say that the higher track temperature and increased tire wear does make for better racing anywhere because it allows you to save your stuff at times compared to other drivers and not have to run as hard and that will reward you in the long run. But it doesn’t always equate to that. You just have to play it by ear as the race goes along. Typically, when you get increased tire wear, that allows you to move around on the racetrack and get higher on the racetrack as the day goes.”

Do you miss the night races at Richmond? Is that something that you’d like to see back on the schedule?

“I really loved the night races at Richmond. I definitely feel like at least one of them can be a night race on the schedule. It’s hot during the day, but also being a Saturday night race always lends itself to putting on a good race and having the day off on Sunday is nice when you’re able to be home and chill out.”

AJ ALLMENDINGER, NO. 16 KAULIG RACING CAMARO ZL1

“In the Next Gen car, Richmond has probably been our worst racetrack and a place we still need to figure out. Our short track program has been getting better, and with what we are learning, we should go there and hopefully have a better race. Where that puts us at the end of the day, I’m not sure. Of the tracks left in the regular season, Richmond is definitely the one we have circled that we need to improve at. If we do that, I think that will give us confidence for the rest of them and have a shot to make the playoffs.”

JUSTIN HALEY, NO. 31 LEAFFILTER GUTTER PROTECTION CAMARO ZL1

“We struggled quite a bit the last time we raced at Richmond. We have been working hard as a team preparing for this race and improving our short-track program, and I think as long as we control everything we can control and execute like we have been lately; we will be in a good spot going into the race.”

NOAH GRAGSON, NO. 42 SUNSEEKER RESORTS CAMARO ZL1

“Richmond was a great track for me in Xfinity and we had a crash there in the spring so we didn’t get to finish the race. Going to tracks for the second time this season will be helpful as we have notes from the previous races. Hopefully last week’s finish in Pocono, and not having any in-race issues, will carry over to this weekend and a solid outcome.”

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 ALLEGIANT CAMARO ZL1

“Richmond has been okay, kind of an up and down place, but the overall track itself is just like that for everyone. You’re either going to hit on it well, but if you are a little bit off, it seems like you’re way off. I thought we had some work to do there from the spring, I think we have some different ideas and different things that can help us out. We have had some solid speed there at times in the NextGen cars, we just haven’t been able to put it together. I am hoping this is the one where we can do that and put it all together. Looking back on my career there have been some races where I feel like we were running well there, and I know the feeling that I had. So, I am just trying to get back to that and put it all together to have a good one at Richmond!”

RICKY STENHOUSE JR., NO. 47 KLEENEX CAMARO ZL1

“We’re really looking forward to Richmond. We feel like that one owed us a good finish earlier this season. And, it feels good to be locked in the Playoffs. We felt strong about making it, but you never want to count your cards before everything is finished. 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. 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.”

DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 JOCKEY CAMARO ZL1

How disappointed were you after Sunday in Pocono?

“Extremely disappointed but you can only control what you can control. You get mad but you have to forget about it and move on. We are totally focused on Richmond this week and getting a good finish there. There is a lot of racing remaining and we have to focus on today, not what happened last week or what is going to happen in the future.”

What are your thoughts with five races remaining the regular season?

“We feel like we should be part of the playoffs and that we are strong enough to make some noise once we get in the playoffs. Overall, I think we have fast cars 90 percent of the time and we have to take advantage of it. We have some tracks coming up where we have run really well. It’s going to be about execution and avoiding bad luck. We just have to do it.”

GRANT ENFINGER, NO. 23 CHAMPION POWER EQUIPMENT SILVERADO RST

You’ve ran really well in all of your previous starts at Richmond, what is it about this type of track that fits your driving style?

“I love the tracks that are low on grip and have tire falloff. Richmond is one of the toughest short tracks that we have when it comes to tire management, and it’s important to manage your stuff because of all the long runs that the place puts on. Last year I felt like we had a top-five truck, but I feel like Jeff Hensley has made our package better since then. I’m confident in all of the preparation that Jeff and the guys have put in on improving our Champion Power Equipment Chevy this time around, and would love if we could finish out the regular season with another win to give us the momentum heading into the playoffs.”

RAJAH CARUTH, NO. 24 CAMP CULTIVATION SILVERADO RST

Richmond Raceway is one of the top tracks that hold a special place in your heart, so what would a win in your home race mean to you and your team?

“It would be so special and moving to get it done this weekend. It’s been such a tumultuous last year and some change, so to be able to potentially get my first win and lock us into the playoffs would be storybook. I’m thankful to everybody that has been supporting our program here at GMS Racing this year, and it’s special to run a Camp Cultivation paint scheme this weekend. I know how hard Warrick, Chinique, and the team at the Wendell Scott Foundation and New College Institute have been working on putting that program together. It was fun to join them at the camp last week and I’m sure that running with it represented on our truck is going to help spread the word for next time. We can get it done this weekend. Whatever it takes!”

DANIEL DYE, NO. 43 BULL & BOAR BARBECUE SHOP / LIFTEDTRUCKSFORSALE.COM SILVERADO RST

As we wrap up the regular season this weekend, can you describe some of the things that you have learned and improved on by running in the Truck Series?

“I’d say this season has definitely been a much larger learning experience compared to what I was used to running with the last couple of years in the ARCA Series. The Truck Series is way more developed, and the aggression level is way higher. So, I’ve been learning how to race with all of these guys with that level of aggression, but also maintain and walk that line of being smart. Our group on the No. 43 team has definitely improved on our communication throughout the season, and I’m feeling more confident as a driver, so overall I would say that it’s been a good experience for us. I’ve never raced at Richmond before, but it reminds me of some of the characteristics of the short tracks that I grew up on, so I think we have the opportunity to run well this weekend. I’m looking forward to it.”

CHASE PURDY, NO. 4 BAMA BUGGIES SILVERADO RST

What is your approach heading into Saturday’s race?

“I would say our approach is to do everything we can to put ourselves in position to win. That’s our only option to make the playoffs and that’s what we plan to do.”

Is there a track that you’ve raced at in any series that is similar to Richmond?

“Richmond is similar to 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola (Florida) in a lot of ways. It’s a worn out short track where you have to manage and save tires and be there at the end of the race. I’ve had a lot of strong runs at 5 Flags — won the Snowflake and almost won the Derby — so I feel like Richmond is a place where I can go out and compete for the win.”

MATT MILLS, NO. 51 J.F. ELECTRIC SILVERADO RST

What do you think the differences between driving a Xfinity car and a truck will be at Richmond?

“In the truck I feel like I’ll be able to be a tad more aggressive off the corners. In the Xfinity car, being able to feather the throttle off the corners kind of fits my driving style not having to be so aggressive and attacking every lap. Hopefully, the style of driving the Xfinity car will be able to transfer over to the truck. I think you’ll have to be a little bit more aggressive with the truck but still feel like you have an egg under the throttle and make sure that you take care of your tires. It’s usually a race where you have to be smooth throughout the race and be there at the end.”

Have you set any goals for this weekend?

“The way I look at it is I want to prove that I’m not wasting this opportunity. A top 10 would be good, top five would be great and if I’m able to win it would be a dream come true. Really, this is going to be a learning curve for me. It’s going to be a great experience and kind of open up my eyes to the sport and see how the upper echelon teams operate. I feel like I need to go out there and not make a fool of myself, gain respect and take everything that I learn this weekend at Richmond and go out and be even better when we show up at Milwaukee.”

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturers Championships:

Total (1949-2022): 41

First title for Chevrolet: 1958

Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)

Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022

Drivers Championships:

Total (1949-2021): 33

First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)

Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)

Most Recent: Kyle Larson (2021)

Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021

Event Victories:

Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)

2023 STATISTICS:

Wins: 12

Poles: 7

Laps Led: 2,344

Top-five finishes: 48

Top-10 finishes: 91

Stage wins: 18

· Ross Chastain – 5 (Daytona), (Auto Club x2), (Dover), (Darlington)

· William Byron – 7 (Las Vegas x2), (Phoenix), (COTA), (Richmond), (Dover), (Charlotte)

· Kyle Larson – 3 (Phoenix), (Bristol Dirt), (Pocono)

· Chase Elliott – 1 (Talladega)

· Kyle Busch – 2 (WWTR), (Sonoma)

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:

Total Chevrolet race wins: 845 (1949 to date)

Poles won to date: 741

Laps led to date: 247,888

Top-five finishes to date: 4,269

op-10 finishes to date: 8,803

Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:

       General Motors: 1,179

       Chevrolet: 845

       Pontiac: 154

       Oldsmobile: 115

       Buick: 65



       Ford: 822                                                           

       Ford: 722

       Mercury: 96

       Lincoln: 4



       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467

       Dodge: 217

       Plymouth: 191

       Chrysler: 59



       Toyota: 177

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.

Embrace the Great Outdoors: Enhancing Family Health and Bonds

By

SM

-

July 27, 2023

Outdoor activities foster physical health, reduce stress, stimulate learning, enhance family bonds, and boost immune systems.
Technology has decreased outdoor time for children, impacting their healthy development.
Outdoor exploration is a unique opportunity for education and appreciation of nature, contributing to a healthier lifestyle.
Preparation for outdoor adventures includes researching locations, acquiring suitable transportation, and packing necessities.
Spending time outdoors with family creates lasting memories and can be an enriching experience with proper planning.

The modern age of technology comes with the convenience of indoor entertainment. Because of this, it can be easy to forget the importance of spending quality time with your family outdoors. Being outdoors can grant your family different benefits. Here’s what you need to know about spending outdoors today, the benefits that come with it, and how you can prepare for this great adventure.

Outdoors and Families Today

Studies have found that fewer children spend time outdoors now than in previous generations. This can be partially attributed to the rise of technology, in which kids play video games and use different devices. Giving your children a break from screens is essential for healthy development, and bonding with family members outdoors can help make up for any screen time that has been lost.

Benefits of Spending Time Outdoors

Spending quality time outdoors comes with various benefits. Here are some of them:

Promotes Physical Health

Spending time outdoors with your family promotes physical health through various activities such as hiking, biking, or simply playing catch. It increases activities like running, jumping, and breathing fresh air while being in nature. This will enhance their fitness levels and help them to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Spending time outdoors can help to reduce stress and relieve anxiety, especially when you find yourself in a natural environment surrounded by the sound of birds, the rustling of leaves, and the scent of fresh air. It’s a refreshing change of scenery that will help lift your mood and keep your mental health in check. It’s a great way to calm down after a long work day and relish the moments of togetherness.

Stimulates Learning

When children spend time outdoors, it allows them to explore and stimulate their curiosity. Through nature exploration, they will learn new things about the world around them and spark their imagination to inquire. Not only will it be educational, but it will also build their knowledge of appreciation and respect for nature.

Enhances Family Bonding

Outdoor activities provide a great bonding experience for families. Activities like camping, fishing, and hiking provide opportunities for families to spend prolonged periods together, creating positive memories while deepening their relationships. Bonding through nature exploration will make the experience with your loved ones all the more special and meaningful.

Contributes to a Stronger Immune System

Spending time outdoors with your family can also strengthen your immune system. Being in nature helps rejuvenate our systems with natural vitamins, fresh air, and direct sunlight. Enough exposure to these has a positive impact on physical health. Therefore, kids will be more resistant to certain illnesses outside in the fresh air.

How to Prepare For Your Outdoor Adventure

There are various ways you can prepare for this adventure. Here are four tips:

Purchase a Truck

It’s good for your family to have a truck if you’re planning on going out for camping trips or long drives. This way, you’ll be able to quickly bring the necessary equipment, such as tents, sleeping bags, and cooking supplies. If you want to save money, consider buying from a used truck dealer. These dealers offer reliable trucks at an affordable price. Used trucks are still a great choice, especially if you choose one that’s fairly unused by the previous owner, so don’t be afraid to invest in one.

Research the Location

Make sure to research the area you’re going to beforehand. This will help you know about potential hazards, such as poisonous plants or dangerous wildlife. It’s also beneficial to know what kind of activities are available in that location, so you can plan accordingly and decide which ones your family might like.

Get a Tent

You should also purchase a tent that can fit your entire family to keep everyone warm and safe from the elements. If you’re a beginner, some basic tents are suitable for families.

Pack the Necessities

Lastly, pack all the essentials, such as food, water, and first aid supplies. Bring enough clothes to keep your family warm during cold months and sun protection if it is hot outside. Don’t forget your camera, binoculars, and a map to explore the area.

Spending time outdoors with your family brings numerous benefits, big and small. It opens new opportunities for everyone to explore nature, learn something new, and create strong bonds with each other. All it takes is preparation to ensure you have the best experience possible. So grab your family and head out on an outdoor adventure! You won’t regret it.

10 Essential Accessories and Upgrades for Your Car

By

SM

-

July 27, 2023

pexels-garvin-st-villier-3972753 — Photo by Garvin St. Villier

Ah, the open road! There’s nothing quite like the feeling of cruising in your car, the wind in your hair, and the freedom to go wherever you please. But let’s face it: our cars could use a little sprucing up.

That’s where accessories and upgrades come into play. These nifty additions can transform your vehicle into a comfortable, safe, and stylish haven. So buckle up and get ready to discover the 10 essential accessories and upgrades that will take your car to the next level.

Safety Enhancements

1. Emergency Kit: Picture this—you’re stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire and no help in sight. That’s where an emergency kit swoops in to save the day. Packed with a first-aid kit, jumper cables, a flashlight, and reflective triangles, it’s your trusty companion during unforeseen situations.

2. Backup Camera System: Say goodbye to those nerve-wracking moments of reversing blindly. Installing a backup camera system provides you with an extra set of eyes at the back of your vehicle. It not only enhances rear visibility but also helps prevent accidents and makes parking a breeze.

3. GPS Tracking System: Worried about the security of your car? With real-time location tracking, a GPS tracking system helps you keep tabs on your vehicle’s whereabouts and receive alerts in case of unauthorized movement or theft. Peace of mind is guaranteed!

Comfort and Convenience Upgrades

4. Smartphone Mount: Let’s face it, our smartphones have become an indispensable part of our lives, even while driving. A quality smartphone mount is a must-have accessory, keeping your device within reach and allowing you to use GPS navigation or play your favorite tunes hands-free. Safety and convenience combined!

5. Seat Covers: Protecting your car seats from spills, stains, and general wear and tear is essential. Seat covers not only extend the life of your seats but also add a touch of personal style to your ride. From leather to fabric, there are countless options to suit your taste and budget.

6. USB Car Charger: The struggle to keep our devices charged on the go is all too real. Enter the USB car charger, a tiny but mighty gadget that keeps your smartphones, tablets, and other USB-powered devices juiced up during long drives. No more low battery anxiety!

Entertainment and Connectivity

7. Bluetooth Car Kit: If your car lacks the latest Bluetooth technology, fear not. A Bluetooth car kit can transform your vehicle into a high-tech hub. Not only can you make hands-free calls, but you can also stream your favorite music wirelessly, making those long commutes more enjoyable.

8. In-Car Wi-Fi Hotspot: Imagine having a reliable internet connection right in your car. An in-car Wi-Fi hotspot makes this dream a reality, keeping your passengers connected, entertained, and productive during road trips. It’s like having a portable Wi-Fi café on wheels.

Performance and Exterior Upgrades

9. LED Headlights: Shed some light on the road ahead with LED headlights. Not only do they provide superior brightness and clarity, but they also consume less energy and have a longer lifespan compared to traditional halogen bulbs. Talk about seeing the road in a whole new light!

10. Tire Upgrade: Your tires are the only point of contact between your car and the road, so it’s crucial to have the right ones. Upgrading to high-quality tires designed for your specific driving needs can improve traction, handling, and overall safety. Whether it’s all-season, performance, or off-road tires, choose wisely for a smoother ride.

Conclusion

There you have it—the top 10 essential accessories and upgrades to transform your car into a haven of safety, comfort, and style. Whether it’s equipping your vehicle with a backup camera system for stress-free parking or adding a touch of luxury with seat covers, these upgrades are sure to enhance your driving experience. So, go ahead and invest in these smart additions. Your car—and your passengers—will thank you for it. Happy driving!

SpeedwayMedia.comOnline Resource for Motorsports Information

SpeedwayMedia.comOnline Resource for Motorsports Information

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