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Michael McDowell and the No. 34 Stage Front Ford Mustang Team Richmond Raceway Competition Notes

TEAM AND RACE NOTES:

The Stage Front colors are back with Michael McDowell and the No. 34 Ford Mustang this weekend at the Richmond (Va.) Raceway.

This year, Stage Front VIP, has brought fans closer to the action than ever before. They have offered a one-of-a-kind race experience with McDowell and the No. 34 team as they compete for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. The Stage Front VIP experience includes pit box seating, pit road access, a meet-and-greet with McDowell on race day and more.

Fans can go to www.stagefrontvip.com to learn more about the McDowell and FRM VIP experiences. There are limited packages left for this weekend, but more available for events later this season.

With just five races remaining before the playoffs begin, it’s another crucial race for the team.

Track activity will begin Saturday with practice and qualifying at 12:30 p.m. ET. Sunday’s 400-lap race is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET on the USA Network.

COMPETITION NOTES:

Coming off a 19th-place finish at the Pocono Raceway, McDowell and the No. 34 team head back to the Richmond, Virginia short track looking to best their April sixth-place finish. McDowell and team have shown major improvements in their short track program from last year and look to continue their efforts as the playoffs move closer.

McDowell is 16th in championship points with just five weeks to go before the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. He is 17 points above the playoff cut line.

CREW CHIEF TRAVIS PETERSON:

“We just have a totally different attitude towards the short tracks this year. We’ve made a lot of great gains and it has shown. I think we need a little more speed, but I think we can compete in the top-10 again and have a good day. Right now, every lap is important.

DRIVER MICHAEL MCDOWELL:

“It’s coming down to every little thing. It all matters. Every lap, every adjustment, every pit stop. It’s so close and so competitive that you’re just on this fine line each weekend. You have to execute to the best of your ability. We’ve been fortunate to do that a lot this season and we need to do it again.

“It’s great to have Stage Front VIP back with us and meet the people who are making the most of the experience. It’s a cool program and it’s been fun to be a part of.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

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

Kevin “Bono” Manion Named Interim Crew Chief for Ty Dillon, Spire Motorsports No. 77 Team

CONCORD, N.C. (July 25, 2023) – Today, Spire Motorsports announced championship winning crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion has been named interim crew chief for the team’s No. 77 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 with driver Ty Dillon, beginning with Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway.

“We really want that car to get going and, unfortunately, we had to make a change,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson. “We’ve agonized watching and waiting for the results to mirror the effort Ty (Dillon) and the 77 team puts into their program. Expectations are a funny thing. They’re a blessing and a curse and, for whatever reasons, those expectations aren’t being met. We all know, Kevin Bellicourt included, what happens at this point of the season when we are, where we are, in the overall standings. Kevin has put in a lot of hard work and has been with us from the beginning of our journey, so this decision was difficult and not taken lightly.

“At the end of the day, we are what our results say we are. We need a spark to give this team every opportunity to progress and ultimately succeed. We’re incredibly fortunate to have someone as accomplished as Bono already in-house. That said, we admit, it might not change the trajectory of the season for the No. 77 team. However, doing nothing, although tidier and more comfortable, especially with the relationships involved, clearly is not an option for us anymore and we are keen to see improvement. There is a lot of racing left in 2023 and it’s imperative that we’re raising the bar every week.”

Manion has been a staple atop the pit box since 2002 and boasts wins in NASCAR’s Cup, Xfinity and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Some of his most recognizable accomplishments include back-to-back NASCAR Xfinity Series Championships with Martin Truex Jr., (’04 – ‘05) and NASCAR Cup Series wins including the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Bank of America 500 with Jamie McMurray. He has collected nine NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series wins with six different drivers including William Byron, Kyle Busch, Daniel Suarez, Tyler Ankrum, Zane Smith and most recently Kyle Larson.

The Boylston, Mass., native is scheduled to handle crew chief responsibilities for Dillon for 14 of the remaining 15 NCS races on the 2023 schedule. Manion is scheduled to miss the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Raceway while he calls the Clean Harbors 175 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at the Milwaukee Mile.

The Cook Out 400 from Richmond Raceway will be televised live on USA Network Sunday, July 30 beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The 22nd of 36 races on the 2023 NCS schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports is a full-time, two-car NASCAR Cup Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2023, Spire Motorsports will field the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for driver Corey LaJoie and No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Ty Dillon. The team also fields NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series teams in select events.

Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on May 20, 2023, when Kyle Larson took the checkered flag in the Tyson 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Road America Challenge at Plymouth Dirt Track Promises High-Octane Action and NASCAR XFINITY Drivers on July 28th

ELKHART LAKE, Wis., July 25, 2023 – As the Road America Challenge at the Plymouth Dirt Track fast approaches on July 28th, anticipation is building for what promises to be an exhilarating evening of racing. The event, located just five miles from Road America at Sheboygan County Fair Park, is set to showcase top-tier drivers from various racing disciplines, including NASCAR XFINITY driver and local favorite Josh Bilicki, who will be pulling double duty between NASCAR XFINITY at Road America and MSA 360 Winged Sprints at Plymouth.

Additional 410 Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series challengers who indicated they would be on hand include Knoxville Nationals winner Kraig Kinser of Bloomington, Ind., multi-time All-Star Champion Greg Wilson from Ohio, plus Bill Balog, aka The North Pole Nightmare, will be there, and IRA points leader, Texas teenager Brenham Crouch, to name a few. Crouch leads the IRA points coming into Plymouth over defending IRA series champ Jordan Goldesberry of Springfield, Ill. Other IL IRA challengers include Kyle Schuett from Philo, Ill., Jake Neuman of New Berlin, Ill., Blake Nimee of Oswego, Ill., who mentioned that they will present, as will Josh Schneidermann from Iowa, Jet Mann and Tyler Rankin from Indiana, and Joey Myers from California, plus a vast Wisconsin contingent led by past Plymouth Dirt Track Sprint Car Champs Danny Schlafer and Travis Arenz, past 2-time IRA champ Scotty Neitzel, plus Russ Borland, Kris Spitz, Dave Uttech, Austin Hartmann, Jack Vanderboom, Preston Ruh, Tyler Tischendorf, Scott Conger, and many more.

Located just five miles from Road America at Sheboygan County Fair Park, the 1/3-mile Plymouth Dirt Track will have shuttles to transport fans to-and-from Road America. Adult ticket prices are only $30, and kids 7-11 get in for $11. Fans are encouraged to buy tickets in advance. The pit gates open at 2 p.m., the spectator gates open at 4:30 p.m. Qualifying begins at 6:30 p.m., and racing begins at 7 p.m.The 1/3-mile Plymouth Dirt Track is renowned for its thrilling races and is the perfect venue for this high-stakes showdown.

Advance ticket buyers will not need to stop at the Will Call window to pick up their tickets. They will be able to present a barcode for each ticket they purchase via email or the tickets section of the MyRacePass app. The gate will open to advance ticket buyers before race day ticket buyers, so not only will advance ticket buyers have a seat but the opportunity to pick their seat. Additional event details, including ticket purchase information, is available at this link: https://bit.ly/RAChallenge

The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series, a highly respected regional series, often brings together some of the most talented sprint car teams in the Midwest, along with a few notable NASCAR stars. Over the years, the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series has seen NASCAR Cup icons Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, and Kyle Larson return to their roots and triumph on the Plymouth track. Chase Briscoe, another NASCAR standout, has also participated in the event in previous years, and more could round out the entry list.

Race enthusiasts can look forward to witnessing a field of 900 horsepower Bumper to Bumper IRA winged outlaws, ensuring an adrenaline-packed experience. Additionally, a formidable lineup of PDTR/MSA 360 winged sprints will create an incredible doubleheader evening for sprint car fans.

Apart from the thrilling races Friday night in Plymouth, the NASCAR XFINITY weekend at Road America will be jam-packed with on-track and off-track action, including the Porsche Carrera Cup, OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Challenge, and GRIDLIFE. Attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy open karting and Super Moto at the Briggs & Stratton Motorplex, offering something for everyone in the family.

With affordable ticket prices starting at just $30 and free general admission for kids 16 and under accompanied by a paying adult, the NASCAR XFINITY Weekend is the perfect family-friendly event. For those seeking an immersive racing experience, camping on-site at one of Road America’s 1,000+ campsites is a fantastic option.

For more event details and ticket purchase information, please visit www.roadamerica.com or contact 800-365-7223.

About Road America: Established in 1955, Road America is conveniently located between Milwaukee and Green Bay in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The world’s best racers have competed at this legendary four-mile, 14-turn road circuit for over 65 years. Along with over 500 events held seasonally at the 640-acre facility, several major weekends are open to the public, which include the IndyCar Series, the MotoAmerica Series, three vintage racing events, numerous Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) events, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and NASCAR. Road America’s park-like grounds offer amazing viewing opportunities, numerous camping options, fantastic concessions, and high-speed excitement to hundreds of thousands of spectators each year. Fans can also stay and play in cabins conveniently on the grounds and find all sorts of souvenirs, collectibles, and apparel at the 7,500 sq. ft Paddock Shop. Affectionately known by many as America’s National Park of Speed, Road America can accommodate groups of all sizes, including weddings and corporate events in the Tufte Conference Center. In addition to public race weekends, Road America offers various group event programs, including geocaching, disc golf, and off-road adventure tours, karting, and the Road America Motorcycle and Driving Schools. For more information, visit www.roadamerica.com Follow Road America on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube or call 800-365-7223

STENHOUSE JR. SET TO ENGAGE WITH CONSUMERS AT KROGER® RACE-THEMED STORE EVENTS IN UPCOMING RACE MARKETS

The next store appearances are scheduled for the Friday of Richmond, Michigan and Indianapolis race weekends.

HARRISBURG, N.C. (July 25, 2023) – To express gratitude to valued consumers who are NASCAR enthusiasts, our esteemed Kroger® Racing partners have arranged for a special appearance by their 2023 DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., during Kroger store’s racing-themed parking lot events in three upcoming race markets.

This exciting initiative aims to celebrate our passionate NASCAR fans and foster a deeper connection with the racing community in and around Richmond Raceway, Michigan International Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway each Friday at a Kroger store starting at 3 PM local time.

“It’s special to meet Kroger associates in our race markets and consumers shopping at Kroger thanks to the division managers, store managers and our racing partners, who make it all come together,” said Stenhouse Jr., who will be signing autographs at each event. “The fans really enjoy coming out.”

As a part of the Kroger Racing program, shoppers will receive ample-sized samples from our CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) brands at each of the three stores. Additionally, they will be able to see the No. 47 NASCAR Cup Series show car and check out a convenient mobile “Race to Vaccinate” pharmacy unit that will be offering health screenings and vaccinations provided by Kroger pharmacists.

To keep fans smiling, the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® mobile dental van will be at the Mechanicsville, VA store and the Brownsburg, IN store too. Richmond Raceway kicks off the three store visits, and the Mechanicsville (VA) store will additionally be doing a bagging contest in support of a local food bank called “Feed More.” Also, while at the store, consumers can sign up for Boost, where they can save with free delivery and 2X Fuel Points when they sign up for membership. There’s something for everyone and we look forward to creating a positive impact in the community that resonates far and wide.

Friday Store appearances:

7/31 3 to 4:30 PM Kroger 351 Atlee Road, Mechanicsville, VA
8/4 3 to 4:30 PM Kroger 1100 W Argyle Street, Jackson, MI
8/11 3 to 4:30 PM Kroger 975 N Green Street, Brownsburg, IN

Stay tuned for more store events with Stenhouse Jr. and Kroger Racing. Also, visit https://www.kroger.com/f/racing to “Earn 4X Fuel Points” when you shop participating items, with your shopper’s card, between July 19 – August 1. Purchase online or look for the 4X Fuel Points tags if shopping instore.

RFK Advance | Richmond II

Richmond II Event Info:
Track Info: Richmond Raceway, ¾-mile D-shape
Date: Sunday, July 30
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Format: 400 laps, 300 miles, Stages: 70-160-170
TV: USA
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 12:35 p.m. ET, Practice (USA, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 1:20 p.m. ET, Qualifying (USA, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 3 p.m. ET, Race (USA, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

  • Richmond hosts its second race date of 2023 this weekend as the Cup Series continues the push to the 2023 NASCAR Playoffs.
  • Jack Roush has 15 wins all-time at Richmond including five in the NCS.

6 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Matt McCall
Partner: BuildSubmarines.com

  • Having finished in the top five at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the BuildSubmarines.com car’s debut, the #CarWithAMission is set for its second race. In part, it represents approximately 1,000 Virginia suppliers within the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base. Hundreds of jobs and training opportunities are available in the commonwealth, including at more than 20 trade and technical schools in the Hampton Roads area. NASCAR fans are invited to be a part of the team that creates Navy submarines.
  • Joining BuildSubmarines.com on the car this weekend will be Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding. Its 20,000-plus employees design, build and refuel nuclear submarines among other critical work for the U.S. Navy.

17 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Partner: Fastenal

Keselowski at Richmond
Starts: 27
Wins: 2 (2014, 2020)
Top-10s: 13
Poles: 2 (2014, 2019)

  • Keselowski, a two-time winner at Richmond, makes his 28th Cup start at the ¾-mile track on Sunday. He won the lone race at Richmond in 2020 after leading 192 laps.
  • More recently, Keselowski finished 10th there this spring after starting 24th, and 15th last fall. He’s finished inside the top-15 in every race since the spring of 2015, and in that stretch has led laps in 10 different races. In total he’s led 1178 laps at Richmond in 13 different races, his most of any track on the circuit.
  • Keselowski won back in 2014 after starting on the pole, leading 383 of the 400 laps.
  • His 12.3 average finish holds as one of his best among all tracks with 13 top-10s overall and six finishes inside the top five.
  • He also has two poles – 2014 and 2019 – for an average starting position of 11th, also one of his best marks.
  • Keselowski made 17 Xfinity Series starts from 2006-17 earning four victories and 10 top-10s. He won his last NXS start there in 2017 and also went to victory lane in 2010 once and 2013 twice.

Buescher at Richmond
Starts: 14
Wins: —
Top-10s: 1
Poles: —

  • Buescher makes his 15th start at Richmond on Sunday where he has a 24.1 average finish. But, he’s coming off a career performance in this race last fall where he finished third, by far his career best at Richmond.
  • Last spring he ran 15th as his two best career results at the track have come in two of the last three races.
  • Buescher started seventh this spring, tying his best effort at Richmond to date – having also qualified seventh there back in the 2019 spring race.
  • Buescher made five NXS starts for Jack Roush from 2011-15, earning three top-10s with a best finish of seventh (2014).

RFK Historically at Richmond
Cup Wins: 5 (Mark Martin, 1990; Jeff Burton, 1998; Matt Kenseth, 2002; Kurt Busch, 2005; Carl Edwards, 2013)

  • History in the Commonwealth of Virginia: Overall, RFK has 364 starts at Richmond Raceway, earning a total of 15 wins, 90 top-five and 152 top-10 finishes. RFK Fords have sat on the pole 14 times and led 4,961 laps across NASCAR’s three major touring series.
  • To Xfinity and Beyond: RFK has earned nine victories, 43 top-five finishes, 66 top-10 finishes and an average finish of 11.8 at Richmond in the Xfinity Series. All in all, three different drivers are responsible for the nine victories at the Virginia short track (Edwards, Mark Martin and Jeff Burton).
  • Nine and Counting: RFK’s nine victories at Richmond rank fourth among all tracks the organization has competed on in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, trailing Darlington Raceway (15), Charlotte Motor Speedway (12) and North Carolina Speedway – formerly known as Rockingham – (11).
  • Tale of the Tape: RFK has started 223 NCS races at Richmond with 75 top-10 and 38 top-five finishes along with seven poles. Former drivers Mark Martin (1990), Jeff Burton (1998), Matt Kenseth (2002), Kurt Busch (2005), and Carl Edwards (2013) are responsible for RFK’s five Cup wins, and a Jack Roush Cup Series Ford has led 2,443 laps at the .75-mile track.

RFK Richmond Wins

1990-1 Martin Cup

1993-1 Martin NXS

1993-2 Martin NXS

1997-1 Martin NXS

1998-1 Burton NXS

1998-2 Burton Cup

1999-1 Martin NXS

1999 Biffle Truck

2000-2 Burton NXS

2002-2 Kenseth Cup

2005-1 Edwards NXS

2005-2 Busch Cup

2008-2 Edwards NXS

2009-2 Edwards NXS

2013-2 Edwards Cup

Last Time Out & Where They Stand
Pocono: Cautions dominated Sunday’s action at Pocono with 11 total for 44 laps. Keselowski finished 16th, while Buescher earned stage one points and went on to finish 18th.

Points Standings (6: 12th, 17: 13th): Both RFK cars still sit in the playoff picture with now five races remaining in the regular season. Buescher carries an 84-point advantage on the next-closest car without a win (the No. 23), while Keselowski is just ahead with an 11-point advantage to Buescher.

By the Numbers at Richmond

Race      Win       T5           T10         Pole       Laps       Led        AvSt      AvFn     Miles

223         5              38           75           7              86568    2443       17.5        16.8        64926
121         9              43           66           5              28923    2341       12.1        11.8        21692.3
20           1              9              11           2              3743       177         11.7        11.1        2807.3
364         15           90           152         14           119234  4961       15.3        14.9        89425.6

Connor Mosack is ‘On the Road Again’

24-Year-Old Racer Ready for Fourth Career Start at Road America, but First in the NASCAR Xfinity Series

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (July 25, 2023) – Connor Mosack just can’t wait to get on the road again.

With a background in road-course racing from 30 career starts in the TA2 division of the Trans Am Series, the 24-year-old racer has had the Henry 180 NASCAR Xfinity Series race Saturday at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, circled on his calendar since before the season began.

Three of those TA2 races have come at Road America, including just three weeks ago when Mosack sampled the newly repaved surface spanning the entire 4.048-mile, 14-turn layout.

“There’s more grip in the low-speed corners, and I feel like you can kind of just hustle through those better. But some of the high-speed corners didn’t seem to have a whole lot more grip, and it seemed like there wasn’t quite as much grip off-line, so you had to be a little more disciplined with your line. Those were really the biggest differences,” Mosack said.

“The track was obviously smoother. There weren’t any bumps, which is nice for the driver, but you also like to have the bumps to be able to familiarize yourself with different parts of the track. I’m looking forward to going back there.”

Mosack heads back to “America’s National Park of Speed” with one of the Xfinity Series’ best teams – Joe Gibbs Racing. In his first Xfinity Series start at the track, Mosack will drive No. 19 Porter Pipe & Supply Toyota GR Supra, the same car he used to qualify fourth during the inaugural Chicago Street Race over the Fourth of July weekend and then competed among the top-five before the race was cut short due to weather.

It was yet another strong road-course outing in the Xfinity Series for Mosack, who finished eighth in just his ninth career Xfinity Series start June 3 at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway.

“Chicago was a place where I feel like I never really used all the speed that I had,” Mosack said. “We were conservative in practice and qualifying and even the first part of the race. We wanted to be there in the top-five and keep the car in one piece so we could race for the win. Unfortunately, we had a carburetor issue that forced us to pit early, and then the race was cut short by weather so we never got the chance to claw our way back. But the speed was there, for sure. To get back on a road course, especially one that I know really well in Road America, with the same car I had at Chicago – that gives us a lot of confidence.”

Mosack’s confidence turning left and right came from Trans Am. He spent two full seasons (2021-2022) in the series’ TA2 class with TeamSLR, never finishing outside of the top-four in the championship standings while scoring two wins and earning five poles.

“I think the most helpful thing I got from Trans Am, aside from laps on road courses, is just that the top guys in that series are really strong and have years of road-racing experience,” Mosack said. “Being around those guys made me a much better racer, and it’s certainly helped this year as I’ve gone up against a lot of really experienced drivers in the Xfinity Series.”

Billed as America’s Road-Racing Series, Trans Am and, particularly, its TA2 division, places drivers in purpose-built, tube-frame racecars with handling characteristics similar to cars in the Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series. And with more and more national NASCAR touring series competing on road courses – Road America marks the Xfinity Series’ fifth road-course race of the season – drivers are using TA2 as a platform to sharpen their skills and hone their racecraft.

“The cars do have a different feel to them with the weight and the horsepower differences,” said Mosack about the variations between a TA2 car and an Xfinity Series car. “You can definitely hustle the TA2 car a lot harder, and it’s a little bit more forgiving when you make a mistake. You can attack the brake zones more and you can get off and on the throttle a lot harder. But I’m still able to approach the races the same way because you’re still using the gas and the brake in similar ways, so I feel like being good in the TA2 car definitely helps in the Xfinity car. It all applies.”

That application process begins in earnest on Friday with Xfinity Series practice at 4 p.m. CDT/5 p.m. EDT followed by qualifying at 5 p.m. CDT/6 p.m. EDT. Thanks to Mosack’s familiarity with the track, he already knows where to place his focus, particularly turn 11, better known as The Kink.

“The Kink is one that’s really hard to be consistent through,” said Mosack, referencing the right-hand corner between the Carousel (turns nine and 10) and Canada Corner (turn 12). “It’s a corner you always feel like you can go through faster, but when you try to, you’re on the verge of hitting the wall because it’s so close to the track. So it’s a very high-risk, high-reward corner. A lot of time can be made or lost there, but it’s also one of the easiest places to destroy your car. It’s one of my favorite corners of any track we go to. It’s fun to try to get the most out of it every time.”

The Henry 180 gets underway at 2 p.m. CDT/3 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. It will be the second race for primary sponsor Porter Pipe & Supply, a partnership Mosack brokered. Porter Pipe & Supply is a third-generation, family-owned and operated wholesale supplier of commercial and industrial pipe, valves, fittings, plumbing supplies, HVAC and refrigeration equipment and mechanical products. They made their NASCAR debut with Mosack at Chicago.

“It was awesome having Porter Pipe & Supply at Chicago,” Mosack said. “They brought a lot of their people out. We actually got to go by their headquarters there outside of Chicago and spend a lot of time with their employees. It was a really cool experience. They had their suite right there above pit road and I actually got to spend Sunday with them there for the Cup race. It’s a great group of people, an awesome family, and I’m really excited to have them back. I felt terrible for them that we didn’t get to complete the race at Chicago, so I’m very happy to have them back on the car at Road America.”

Simple, tasty, and low-calorie smoothie ideas you can enjoy guilt-free

Photo by Josh Sorenson

Today’s market offers a wide range of various food options that can help you lose weight and maintain health. Although pre-prepared and bottled juices, smoothies, cereals, protein bars, yogurt products, and salats appear like healthy breakfast or snack, most of them contain added sugar, sodium, calories, and additives that can obstruct your attempt at weight loss or a healthy diet. In the following article Weight loss clinic Chicago experts will share with you a better alternative for heavy meals and processed shakers with beneficial and low-calorie substitution. Our smoothie recipes are easy, tasty, low-calorie, nonetheless loaded with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that will satisfy your daily needs. 

Peanutbutter smoothie

Instead of making bread and peanut butter sandwiches, a better alternative is to make a peanut butter cup. Peanuts will give the number of proteins and healthy fat in your diet which is necessary, while added berries will provide antioxidant benefits. The number of calories is 159.

Ingredients for preparing 4 cups of smoothie:
6 ounces of strawberries
6 ounces of rosebarries
(instead, you can use blueberries or blackberries)
½ cup of fat-reduced Greek yogurt
3 tablespoons of honey
2 tablespoons of peanut butter
¼ teaspoon of salt
2 teaspoons of chopped unsalted dry rusted peanuts
1 cup of ice
Place all ingredients in a blender, and blends it until you have a creamy-jelly texture. Serve in 4 glasses and sprinkle with chopped peanuts.

Strawberry-Basil smoothie

Strawberries are known for their richness in vitamin C, B, and potassium, which have powerful antioxidant properties, while Basil will provide the amount of calcium. The number of calories is 115.

Ingredients for preparing 2 cups:
2 cups of strawberries
½ cup of basil leaves
¾ cup of almond milk
¼ low-fat Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon of honey
Mix all ingredients in the blender and serve in 2 glasses.

Berries, Oats and Ginger

Berries are fruit rich in vitamin C, A, B, and iron which help boost the immune system and fight heart disease. The benefits of oats reflect by reducing blood and cholesterol levels and constipation, while ginger decreases muscles and head pain. 179 calories in total.

¼ of prepared oatmeal
¼ cup of low-fat milk
½ teaspoon of grated ginger
1 cup of blackberries
½ cup of strawberries
1 teaspoon of honey
½ cup of ice

Chocolate and Cherry

At first, this smoothie may appear sugar-loaded, but truly, the smoothie can be delicious with chocolate and light in calories. This smoothie contains only 96 calories.

2 cups of dark cherries
1 tablespoon of unsweetened cacao powder
6 oz. of unsweetened almond milk
2 cups of spinach
Blend all ingredients in the blender and serve in 2 glasses.

Greenery smoothie

Spinach is a vegetable with great beneficial powers. It is filled with calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin C, and magnesium. These characteristics of spinach can help with osteoporosis, boost hydration, fights anemia, improve the immune system, and many other conditions. The number of calories per glass is 162.

one cup of fresh spinach leaves
1 ½ cup of fresh chopped honeydew
⅓ cup of low-fat Greek yogurt

Strawberry and Banana smoothie

While strawberries can prevent high blood pressure, and arthritis and promote heart health, the benefits of adding bananas are supporting digestive and kidney health, exercise recovery and will leave you with the feeling of a fuller stomach. The content of the calories is 119 per glass.

¾ cup of strawberries
½ banana
¾ cup of coconut milk

Extra tips

As the fluid is an important ingredient in conducting smoothie consistency, for liquid we recommend using water, coconut water, low-fat greek yogurt, unsweetened almond, cashew, and coconut milk. Most soy and rice milk contains about 1% of fat. You can also use ice cubes to freshen and cold up the smoothie and keep leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, as it doesn’t contain any conservancies.

Truck Accident Lawyer: Your Key To Seeking Justice And Compensation

Photo by Gabriel Santos on Unsplash

Have you or a loved one been involved in a truck accident? The aftermath of such an incident can be overwhelming and confusing, especially when dealing with injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and insurance companies. That’s where a truck accident lawyer comes in – they are your key to seeking justice and compensation for the damages you’ve suffered. 

In this blog post, we’ll explore why hiring a truck accident lawyer is crucial after an accident on the road involving large commercial vehicles. Read on to learn how they can help you navigate the legal system and get the compensation you deserve.

What is a Truck Accident Lawyer?

A truck accident lawyer is a specialized attorney who represents victims of accidents involving commercial trucks. Truck accident lawyers have the experience and knowledge to navigate the complex legal landscape surrounding these types of accidents.

Most truck accident cases are complex, due to the involvement of multiple parties, including the truck driver, the trucking company, and insurance companies. A truck accident lawyer will work tirelessly to build a strong case on your behalf and fight for the compensation you deserve.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident, it is important to seek legal counsel as soon as possible. Reaching out to the best truck accident lawyer in Sacramento, or elsewhere, can help you understand your rights and options and will fight to get you the justice and compensation you deserve.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

There are many potential causes of truck accidents, but some are more common than others. Here are a few of the most frequent causes of these accidents: 

1. Driver fatigue: Truck drivers often work long hours and may not get enough rest. This can lead to them falling asleep at the wheel or making other mistakes due to being tired.

2. Distracted driving: Truck drivers can be easily distracted by things like their GPS, radio, or even other vehicles on the road. This can take their attention away from the task of driving and lead to an accident.

3. Speeding: Truck drivers may feel pressure to meet deadlines and may speed in order to do so. This puts other motorists at risk as well as the driver themselves.

4. Poor vehicle maintenance: If a truck is not properly maintained, it can increase the chances of an accident occurring. This could be due to things like bald tires, faulty brakes, or even defective parts.

5. Inclement weather: Bad weather can make driving conditions more difficult and lead to accidents, even for experienced truck drivers.

How to File a Claim After a Truck Accident?

If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, you may be wondering how to file a claim. The first step is to seek medical attention if you’ve been injured. Once you’ve done that, you’ll need to gather evidence to support your claim. This may include photos of the accident scene, witness statements, and your medical records.

Once you have all of your evidence gathered, you’ll need to contact a Truck Accident Lawyer. They will review your case and help you determine what type of compensation you may be entitled to.

If the trucking company is at fault, their insurance company will likely be responsible for paying out your claim. If you’re involved in a truck accident in Chicago, for example, your truck accident lawyer will be familiar with the local laws and regulations governing these types of claims. This can make a huge difference in how successful your claim is.

Important Considerations When Choosing a Truck Accident Lawyer

-Experience: It is important to choose a truck accident lawyer who has significant experience handling truck accident cases. The lawyer you choose should be familiar with the federal and state laws that apply to truck accidents, as well as the unique challenges that can arise in these cases.

-Knowledge: Your truck accident lawyer should have a thorough understanding of the Trucking Industry Regulations (TIRs) and how they can impact your case. They should also be familiar with the rules and regulations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and how they relate to your case.

-Resources: Your truck accident lawyer should have access to the necessary resources to effectively investigate and litigate your case. This includes having relationships with experts in the field, such as accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, and investigators.

-Commitment: You need a truck accident lawyer who is committed to fighting for your rights and seeking the best possible outcome for your case. The lawyer you choose should be accessible and responsive to your needs, keeping you informed throughout the process.

Which hormones can affect your weight (and how)?

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Weight loss is conditioned not only by a healthy diet and exercise but by the influence of body hormones as well. If you regularly work out and maintain a healthy diet but still lack the weight loss results, you might consider the impact of the hormones. Hormonal changes can affect weight fluctuations. In further text, abortion clinic Fort Lauderdale experts will review the link between hormones and body functions, to reveal how they condition the body weight. The common hormones that have the most influence on weight gain:

Estrogen

Estrogen is a female hormone associated with the reproductive system that regulates many cycles in a woman’s body. Fluctuations of estrogen are expected throughout the lifetime; its levels rise significantly in puberty and decline in menopause. At a young age, estrogen is responsible for triggering puberty and gaining fat on the hips and thighs, while affecting the body shape.

Lack of estrogen can cause increased fat storage and difficulties in losing weight. The drop in estrogen during menopause accumulates visceral fat, the fat lodged in deep abdominal layers, which is why many women turn to supplements like https://magnoliaweightloss.com/blog/supplements-for-menopause-belly-fat/ for added support. These options may help balance hormones and improve the body’s ability to manage fat more efficiently.

Testosterone

Testosterone is the hormone accrued in both males and females which can be improved by exercising or eating healthy, like organic food or consuming amazon folic acid supplements. This hormone stimulates muscle formation while inhibiting body fat. People with a lower level of testosterone have less muscle mass and more body fat. Testosterone levels in men naturally drop by 5%-10% per decade, starting from the mid-20s. This explains the spontaneous gain in visceral fat in men. Men suffering from symptoms of low testosterone can look into Testosterone replacement therapy at an ED clinic, which can help in raising testosterone levels back to normal levels for their age. Sex hormone-binding globulin protein (SHBG) carries testosterone through body tissues. SHBG reduction can be influenced by insulin resistance, provoking the body to gain weight.

Leptin

Leptin is the hormone responsible for the feeling of fullness. Leptin functions as an alert in the body. When body fat increases, leptin levels lead to reduced appetite and boosted metabolism. Risen level of leptin signals the brain to discharge fat. On the other hand, when the body loses fat, leptin signals the brain that it has emerged from starvation, promoting appetite and slowing metabolism.

People with obesity have reduced sensitivity to leptin, a consequence of difficulty in losing or maintaining weight, while leptin deficiency is extremely rare. Many individuals in this situation benefit from structured weight-loss support through https://trimrx.com/ to help manage appetite and achieve sustainable results.

Ghrelin

Ghrelin is a “hunger hormone” that regulates your feeling of hunger. Secreted by the stomach, it signals the brain’s hypothalamus, which is responsible for hunger, to stimulate appetite and cravings.

Insulin

Insulin is the hormone secreted by the pancreas. It regulates energy balance and blood sugar after eating by carrying excess sugar into muscle and fat cells. At higher levels, this hormone also signals the brain to reduce food intake. The disbalance of insulin affects the body in two ways: insulin sufficiency can lead to weight gain, and insulin deficit causes serious health problems.

Cortisol

Cortisol is also known as the “stress hormone” because it’s released in response to stress. It is responsible for the body’s stress response. Cortisol levels rise with chronic stress, leading to increased appetite, abdominal fat accumulation, and, consequently, increased visceral fat. That is why cortisol is commonly linked to a bigger waistline. 

Hormones control metabolism, hunger, and fat distribution, so their role in weight loss should not be overlooked. Checking hormonal levels can help lose weight, in addition to your weight loss program, as their disbalance might be the key to more or less fat storage in your body. Keep your hormones balanced with physical activity, a healthy diet, enough sleep, and avoiding stress.

7 content marketing trends that will increase your traffic

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Content marketing is one of the many marketing features that fall under the influence of trends and Google algorithms propositions. Therefore, keeping up with emerging trends is requisite for being ahead of the competition. Therefore, in further text, web development Chicago experts will discuss the popular trends in content marketing that are currently actual and should be considered.

Like most other marketing strategies, content marketing suffers from the influence of novelties, internet development, customer preferences, and business needs. Improving and adjusting content marketing strategy to meet these needs can be challenging, especially if we know that traffic and conversion significantly depend on marketing.

Content marketing is ever-changing, and markets must stay up-to-date with these alternatives. Otherwise, their entire marketing strategy and e-commerce will suffer.

 Here are the 2023 content marketing trends that can boost your traffic:

  1. Helpful content

Users always appreciated and favored applicable content. However, 2023 seems to have increased the value of helpful content. Offering users quality content that answers their queries and provides information about how they can attain their goals is imperative in today’s content marketing.

Therefore, creating content with catchy headlines without real value for readers but is generic or plagiarized is inadmissible. Delivering quality content requires in-depth research and offering comprehensive and true information. On the other hand, to provide relevant content, you must know your target audience and understand what they are interested in and how they resonate with certain topics. Only by knowing your audience can you create, and should create, content specially tailored for them.

Quality content is also shared in different channels, linked, and recommended to others, which greatly contributes to traffic.

At the same time, today’s users have become more demanding, so providing them with quality content has become more challenging. However, taking some time to create such content will be rewarding, with increased visitor engagement and raised traffic.

  1. Refreshing old content

One of the 2023 content marketing trends is refreshing outdated content. This considers investing in existing content you created years ago, which is still relevant. This requires digging and looking for old content and finding topics that are still current and can be used. Improving and refreshing old content with new approaches and updating with more recent information will save old content from being wasted but will require less time and energy than creating a completely new one. Additionally, old content can inspire you or be a starting point in creating new content. 

  1. Short-form content with video

In today’s digital landscape, video content is a powerful marketing tool that can be significantly enhanced by integrating text elements. By combining videos with short-form content like compelling quotes or paragraph excerpts, marketers create superior engagement and effectively promote comprehensive content. Creative approaches like lip-syncing to popular songs or dialogues using lipsync ai can further add humor and relatability while trending audio clips boost discoverability. Other innovative techniques include stop-motion text reveals, animated typography synchronized with narration, humorous text overlays that contradict visuals, and perspective-shifting captions delivering unexpected punchlines. These methods transform standard marketing videos into shareable, entertaining content that maintains brand messaging while capturing attention in crowded social feeds.

  1. Enhance your content with interactive elements

Content in 2023 covers more than just relevant and valuable content. It is now about making the content more attractive and engaging by adding interactive elements. Implementing quizzes, puzzles, and surveys are popular ways to make content more interactive. This not only engages visitors to content but also encourages readers to participate while providing you valuable information about them as your target audience. Crafting interactive content should add fun and surprising effects to the content, which users nowadays find interesting, creative, engaging, and shareable.

  1. Craft the content considering the entire sales funnel

In 2023 content must cover the entire sales funnel from creating awareness to conversion. Each stage of the sales funnel should be covered with adequate content tailored for your audience. This means creating content that will attract new users, make them engaged, and encourage them to take desirable action. It also includes your website, especially if this is what is going to be linked with any content or ads that you are going to run. Should you feel like your site needs a refresh ahead of your next campaign, you might want to check out something like this YouTube channel offering wordpress full site editing tutorial resources if you need to remind yourself of anything web design related.

For crafting such content, you should consider specific keywords for each stage of a funnel. This usually means determining the basic keywords for the top of the funnel and identifying specific keywords for the mid and bottom of the funnel. For this part of the funnel, you can use reviews, case studies, or cover some particular niche topics. For the bottom of the funnel, you should impart more sale-focused and call-to-action keywords.

  1. Keep in mind social media and influencers

Social media and influencers have become significant parts of marketing in 2023. Therefore, they become part of content marketing as well. Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are some of the social media platforms where you can publish your content. Not using social media channels as an advantage is a serious failure in content marketing. On the other hand, using social media efficiently and integrating them into a content marketing strategy is a proficient way to increase traffic. This also applies to using social media influencers, which you can get in touch with through companies like viral nation for the best results. As the name itself suggests, they have a great impact and influence on the audience. Use your content and convert it, and implement it in social media forms, and use influencers’ way they communicating with an audience. Accomplishing this task will get you a powerful magnet for reaching new people and driving them to your website.

  1. Add a personal touch to your content 

The trend in 2023 is having a human touch in content instead of generated and robot-sounding content. Having a personal approach and considering individual perspectives became an essential part of the content, as these help people connect with the content personally. Additional steps that will ensure better visitor engagement are responding to the comments and reviews and promptly answering visitors’ questions about the topic and its particularities. The human side of the content provides people with a sense of brand empathy, consideration for their customers, and understanding, which readers appreciate and consequently leads to significant engagement.

Final Thoughts

Keeping your content marketing effective requires implementing current trends and tools. Content marketing is still and will stay in the future as the most effective and successful strategy for increasing traffic and engagement in websites.