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LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Race Preview: Las Vegas Motor Speedway II

Race Information
Round: NASCAR Cup Series Race No. 33 of 36 (Playoffs Round of 8)
Track Location: Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Las Vegas, Nevada
Race Name: South Point 400
Broadcast: Sunday, October 15th at 2:00 PM ET live on NBC (TV), PRN (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90

Team Entrants:

No. 42 | Carson Hocevar & Luke Lambert – Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
No. 43 | Erik Jones & Dave Elenz – Allegiant Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Carson Hocevar, No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Stats

-NCTS: Starts: 4; Best Start: 5th (Fall 2021); Best Finish: 7th (2023); Top-10s: 1; Laps Led: 36

-NCS: Starts: Carson Hocevar will make his first NASCAR Cup Series start this weekend at LVMS.

2023 NASCAR Cup Series Season Stats

-Starts: 6 Best Start: 16th (Bristol); Best Finish: 11th (Bristol); No. 42 Owners Points: 32nd

About Sunseeker Resort: Opening in 2023, Florida’s newest luxury resort located in Charlotte Harbor is the first resort property of Sunseeker Resorts, a wholly owned subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Company. Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor occupies over 22 waterfront acres with 785 guest rooms, including 189 Signature Sunsuites™. Set upon the Peace River and Florida Gulf Coast, this premier resort offers 20 original food and beverage concepts; including seven stand-alone restaurants, eleven bars and lounges, two poolside offerings and a 25,000-square-foot multi-dining experience. Additional hotel amenities include a waterfront promenade, two unique rooftop and waterfront pool experiences, 60,000-square-feet of combined convention space, full-service spa and salon, a 7,100-square-foot state-of-the-art fitness center with four group exercise studios with specialty instructor lead classes, three retail and market shops, and an 18-hole championship level golf club exclusive to hotel guests only. The resort is conveniently located within a short drive of Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, Sarasota, St. Petersburg-Clearwater, and Tampa airports. For more information, visit www.sunseekerresorts.com. Follow us on Instagram: @sunseekerresorts and like us on Facebook: @sunseekerresorts.

Guess who’s back?: Carson Hocevar is back this weekend for the NASCAR Cup Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway where he will make his first series start at the 1.5-mile track. Hocevar is slated to run the rest of the season in the No. 42 Chevrolet as he simultaneously is in the running to the championship four in the NASCAR Truck Series.

Photo skills: Last weekend at Charlotte’s ROVAL, Hocevar was a there to cheer on the team as he observed Mike Rockenfeller and the No. 42. He showed a fun side by taking over the team social media instagram and photography. Visit LEGACY M.C.’s Intagram account for the behind the scenes look from Carson’s vantage point.

Signed for 2024: Hocevar announced this week the news he would be racing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2024 in the No. 77 Spire Motorsports entry.

Luke at Las Vegas: Crew chief Luke Lambert has 14 career starts in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and has one top-five and four top-10’s with five different drivers. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Lambert has three starts with two different drivers who never started worse than fourth and never finished worse than third with 165 laps led.

Carson Appearances: Fans attending the Las Vegas race will have opportunities to meet LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet:

Carson Hocevar Merchandise Rig Autograph Session | Sunday, Oct. 15th: Carson will be at the track and will sign autographs at the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB merchandise trailer in the Fan Zone from 8:30 AM to 9:00 AM.
Race Day Q&A Session | Sunday, Oct. 15th: Located in the Fan Midway at the South Point Casino Stage, Carson will do a Q&A with fans from 9:00-9:15 A.M.
Breast Cancer Awareness: As we enter the month of October, a team tradition that has taken place for many years will continue for the next three races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, and Martinsville Speedway. Both LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ cars will carry pink ribbons onboard to honor family members of the respective car’s crew members that have been affected by breast cancer.

Quoting Carson Hocevar: “I like running at Las Vegas. We’ve been quick there and have had some speed in the truck. With that race being at the start of the year for us in the Truck Series, it’s been a tougher race balance-wise to try and win the race or go for stage points. It’s always a fun track, one that you can move around a little bit. The Cup cars look like they can be a lot of fun there. Luke (Lambert) and this No. 42 group feel pretty confident about going back to Vegas after their spring outing, the post-work they’ve done, and everything that the team has put together on their mile-and-a-half package. We’re all excited to go there and excited to get to work.”

Erik Jones, No. 43 Allegiant Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Stats

NCS Starts: 12; Poles: 1 (Fall 2018); Best finish: 8th (Spring 2018 & Fall 2022); Top-10s: 4

NXS Starts: 2; Best start: 2nd (2016); Best finish: 3rd (2016); Top-5s: 1; Top-10s: 1; Laps led: 7

NCTS Starts: 2; Best start: 13th (2014); Best finish: 1st (2014); Top-5s: 1; Top-10s: 2; Laps led: 19

2023 NASCAR Cup Series Season Stats

Starts: 32; Best start: 8th (COTA) ; Best finish: 3rd (Kansas); Top-5s: 1; Top-10s: 7; Laps led: 24; Points position: 27th

About Allegiant: Las Vegas-based Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) is an integrated travel company with an airline at its heart, focused on connecting customers with the people, places and experiences that matter most. Since 1999, Allegiant Air has linked travelers in small-to-medium cities to world-class vacation destinations with all-nonstop flights and industry-low average fares. Today, Allegiant’s fleet serves communities across the nation, with base airfares less than half the cost of the average domestic roundtrip ticket. For more information, visit us at Allegiant.com.

Last time around: In his last attempt at the 1.5-mile tri-oval, Erik Jones qualified 22nd and fell a lap down during the later stages of the race. Jones earned the free pass on lap 265 as the caution came out and was back into contention, seen running just outside of the top-15 with 20 laps to go. Unfortunately, Jones was collected in the overtime chaos but still managed to come home with a respectable 19th-place finish despite being collected in the wreckage.

Playing his Cards right: In 2014, Jones picked up his second win of the season in the NASCAR Truck Series. This marked his first win in the truck series on a mile-and-a-half track. Despite having an error on pit road, Jones worked back to the front to take the lead with just under 20 laps to the checkered flag. He led for 19 laps and almost all of these came when it mattered most as he held off his then-teammate Bubba Wallace, marking a milestone 35th victory for his former truck team, Kyle Busch Motorsports.

1.5-Mile: In his most recent attempts at 1.5-mile tracks, specifically Kansas and Texas, Jones has exhibited remarkable speed and competitiveness. At Kansas, he earned an impressive third-place finish, marking his highest of the season. Meanwhile, in Texas, Jones was a standout performer, spending most of the race in second place, trailing only Kyle Larson, while maintaining an almost three-second lead over the third-place car. Unfortunately, his day was cut short in Texas as he was involved in a wreck on the front stretch, ending the race 22 laps shy of the checkered flag for the No. 43 team.

Pole Sitter: Jones clinched his second career Cup Series pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, as he led the field green for the 2018 South Point 400. Jones displayed impressive speed by clocking the fastest lap time of 28.705 seconds while reaching a speed of 188.121 miles per hour. This marked his first pole position of the year and his 17th top-10 start during the 2018 racing season.

Dave at Vegas: Crew Chief Dave Elenz has a noteworthy record of 11 career Xfinity Series starts during his tenure with JR Motorsports. His track record includes six top-five’s, eight top-10’s, and six laps led. Additionally, Elenz has coached five drivers to an impressive average finish of 8.1 in races spanning from 2015 to 2021, with six laps led. In his three NASCAR Cup Series starts alongside Jones, Elenz and the team have achieved one top-10 finish.

Learning from the Bossman: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s co-owner, Jimmie Johnson, has a remarkable history at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with a track record that includes seven top-five finishes, ten top-10 finishes, and 595 laps led. Johnson holds an impressive average finish of 11.6 across 22 starts. Johnson’s performances have solidified his status as a dominant force at the 1.5-mile asphalt tri-oval. Johnson holds the record for the most wins, having four trips to victory lane. Notably, three of these victories came consecutively from 2005 to 2007, capturing the checkered flag once again in 2010.

Quoting Erik Jones: “I am really looking forward to Vegas. Our mile-and-a-half package has been really good most of the year, especially in the last half of the season. Texas was a good day for us with a lot of speed, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out for us in the end. I think our Vegas car has been given a lot of extra effort and preparation to make sure that we are bringing a really good piece. So, I am excited to get out there and see it play out. I like the track a lot, I am really looking forward to Vegas.”

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB:

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB is a professional auto racing club owned by businessman and entrepreneur Maurice J. Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (NCS) Jimmie Johnson. The club competes full-time in the NCS fielding the Nos. 42 and 43 Chevrolet Camaro entries, respectively, along with the No. 84 part-time entry for Johnson in 2023. Richard Petty “The King” serves as team ambassador.

In 2021, Gallagher acquired Richard Petty Motorsports and renamed the team to Petty GMS. With the addition of Johnson to the ownership structure in 2023, the organization rebranded to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (LEGACY M.C.). With a unique title signifying a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for all motorsport enthusiasts to celebrate the past and future legacies of its members, while competing for wins and championships at NASCAR’s elite level.

Based in Statesville, N.C., LEGACY M.C. operates alongside GMS Racing (GMS), which currently fields three full-time entries in the NASCAR Truck Series. Since the formation of GMS in 2012, Gallagher and Mike Beam, team president, have shared incredible success. GMS Racing captured the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship, the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Truck Series championships and the 2019 and 2020 ARCA East championships, accumulating over 65 wins across six national racing circuits.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow LEGACY MOTOR CLUB on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Joe Graf Jr. | RSS Racing Las Vegas Motor Speedway October NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Preview

RSS Racing with Lefcourt Brothers | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway | Alsco Uniforms 302

Fast Facts

No. 38 RSS Racing with Lefcourt Brothers Team:

Driver: Joe Graf Jr.

Primary Partner(s): G-Coin®

Manufacturer: Ford Mustang

Crew Chief: Steve Addington

Spotter: Joe Campbell

Engine: Roush-Yates Engines

Driver Championship Point Standings: 23rd

Team Championship Point Standings: 30th

Notes of Interest:

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

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

Saturday afternoon’s race from Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway signifies the 12th race of the second half of the 2023 Xfinity Series season and just four races remain on circuit this season.

Welcome Aboard: Joe Graf Jr. and RSS Racing welcome G-Coin® as the primary partner of the team’s No. 38 Ford Mustang for Saturday afternoon’s Alsco Uniforms 302.

The annual fall Las Vegas Motor Speedway race marks the 30th race of the 2023 Xfinity Series season and the 20th race overall from 2021 to 2023, where G-Coin®, a product that brings gold into the digital age, making it accessible and giving it true utility, will be the primary partner.

G-Coin serves as a primary partner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Joe Graf Jr. at RSS Racing for the sixth time this season.

Sponsor Intel: G-Coin® (gcoin.com) is a digital title to real physical gold, where 1 G-Coin® equals 1 gram of a 99.99% pure, ethically sourced Responsible Gold™ kilobar.

G-Coin® allows for easy savings and sending of real gold with zero transaction fees and near instantaneous settlement times.

With G-Coin®, users can now effortlessly buy, sell, and monitor the value of their gold from the convenience of their smartphone.

Download the app from Google Play or the Apple App Store and Go for Gold!

Thanks For Your Support: With a little more than 87 percent of the 2023 Xfinity Series season complete, Joe Graf Jr. and RSS Racing would like to thank their associate marketing partners:

ArmsList.com, AVOID, Bass Reaper Bait Company, Bucked Up Energy Drink, CoverSeal, EAT SLEEP RACE Apparel, fgrACCEL, G-Coin®, GTECHNIQ, JACOB Companies, Lefcourt Brothers Racing, Love Motorsports, Model Electronics and ShopRite for their continued support.

Catch Him On The Dial: Before Joe Graf Jr. straps into his No. 38 G-Coin® Ford Mustang on Saturday, the RSS Racing with Lefcourt Brothers driver will be featured on “The Frontstretch” on SiriusXM Satellite Radio Channel 90 with host Pat Patterson on Saturday morning, October 14, 2023, at approximately 10:00 a.m. ET.

Graf will also spotlight a commercial featuring G-Coin® in several spots throughout the weekend, including the complete four-hour program on Sunday, October 15, 2023.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Alsco Uniforms 302 will mark Graf’s seventh start at the 1.5-mile speedway.

He has one top-15 and three top-20 finishes in his previous six efforts. His track-best result occurred during the 2023 spring edition of the Alsco Uniforms 300 when Graf steered to a track best of 15th after starting 17th for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Since 2020, Graf has an average Las Vegas finish of 26.3, has been running at the finish of five of his six previous starts, and has completed 1,016 of the 1,201 laps for an 84.6 percent lap completion.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Career Speedway Stats: At tracks classified as a speedway, Graf has competed in 58 NASCAR Xfinity Series races with one top-10 finish. He holds an average starting position of 25.6 and an average result of 25.6.

Joe Graf Jr. NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: In 122 career Xfinity Series starts Graf has earned four top-10 finishes, including a seventh-place outing at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February 2023. During that tenure, he also holds an average finishing position of 25.7.

He earned a career-best Xfinity Series qualifying effort of fifth in 2020 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway with SS GreenLight Racing.

With Joe Gibbs Racing, he earned his non-superspeedway career-best qualifying effort of 11th at Kansas Speedway in September 2023.

Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ROVAL | Drive for the Cure 250 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ROVAL, Graf hunted for his third top-10 finish of the season.

After starting his No. 38 G-Coin® Ford Mustang, the Mahwah, New Jersey native struggled to get the track position he desperately needed despite his best efforts. In a race where passing proved extremely difficult, Graf fought hard and maneuvered to a lead lap 31st place finish at the checkered flag.

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

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

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

He will be crew chief for his 293rd NASCAR Xfinity Series race as crew chief on Saturday afternoon and his 11th race at the 1.5-mile facility in Sin City.

In his previous 292 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected 11 wins, 10 poles, 68 top-five and 118 top-10 finishes.

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

Veteran Ryan Sieg will drive the No. 39 Sci Apps Ford Mustang, while younger brother Kyle Sieg will drive the No. 29 RSS Racing Ford Mustang and CJ McLaughlin returns to steer the No. 28 Sci Apps Ford Mustang.

Ryan Sieg is set to make his 331st career Xfinity Series start overall and 17th at Las Vegas.

Kyle Sieg is poised to make his 47th career Xfinity Series start and fourth at Las Vegas.

CJ McLaughlin is set to make his 38th career Xfinity Series start and fifth at Las Vegas.

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

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

Joe Graf Jr. Quoteboard:

On Las Vegas Motor Speedway: “I am excited to return to Las Vegas Motor Speedway flying the G-Coin® colors this weekend. In the spring, I competed for Joe Gibbs Racing and utilized their resources to help with my craft on the track.

“Las Vegas is a high-speed mile-and-a-half track where speed and finesse are essential. There is plenty of room to race, and restarts are super critical. Sometimes, strategy comes into play there, too, so we need to be prepared for that.

“I look forward to applying what I learned in March with my RSS Racing with Lefcourt Brothers team on Saturday afternoon. We’ve had a couple of rough races at Texas Motor Speedway and the Charlotte ROVAL, so I’d like nothing more than to go to Las Vegas and have a strong finish before handing the wheel off for Homestead and returning for the season’s final two races.”

On The 2023 Season: “The end of the season is on the horizon, and I am working hard between my responsibilities with RSS Racing with Lefcourt Brothers Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing to ensure I can give 100 percent behind the wheel.

“I want to make the most of this last month and deliver strong results.

“I just need to stay focused, communicate with my team, and utilize the knowledge I’ve gained over the past three years to recover and end the season on a high.”

Race Information:

The Alsco Uniforms 302 (201 laps | 301.5 miles) is the 30th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Friday, October 13, from 4:05 p.m. – 4:35 p.m. Qualifying immediately follows. The 38-car field will take the green flag the next afternoon, Saturday, October 14 shortly after 12:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. ET). with live coverage on the USA Network, the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (PT).

About RSS Racing:

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

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

ECLIPSE CLAIMS CONSULTING JOINS ELLIS, ALPHA PRIME RACING FOR LAS VEGAS

Ryan Ellis and Alpha Prime Racing are proud to announce that Eclipse Claims Consulting will be the primary sponsor of Ryan Ellis and the No.43 Alpha Prime Racing entry in the Alsco Uniforms 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday, October 14th, 2023.

Last year, Las Vegas Motor Speedway was the site of Ellis’ first race with Alpha Prime – where he recorded his best-ever finish in his first start with his new team, finishing 13th at the 1.5-mile oval located just outside of the infamous Las Vegas Strip. Since then, Ellis’ has tied that result twice (Charlotte 2022, Texas 2023) and bettered it once, finishing 11th at Talladega Superspeedway earlier this year.

Eclipse Claims Consulting, renowned as the foremost authority in the realm of insurance adjusting, has emerged as a game-changer for policyholders and businesses alike. With a steadfast commitment to securing fair settlements, Eclipse Claim Consulting has successfully reclaimed millions of dollars for its valued clients, cementing its status as the nation’s premier insurance adjuster.

In a landscape where insurance claims can be fraught with complexities, Eclipse Claim Consulting stands as a beacon of hope for those who have struggled to receive just compensation from their insurance providers. The company’s ethos revolves around putting their clients’ interests first, advocating relentlessly for their rights, and ensuring that every dollar rightfully owed is recovered.

“Tim [Woodard] and his group at Eclipse Claims have been long-time supporters of so many different types of motorsports,” said Ryan Ellis, driver of the No.43 Eclipse Claims car in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. “I’ve known Tim for several years now, and it’s really great to be making our first start together. It’s been really cool to see the growth of Eclipse Claims, and for our racing program to be part of that is really exciting as well. I’m hopeful that we can be part of their continual growth in the NASCAR market with all of the people and businesses involved in our sport.”

“Eclipse Claims is very excited to be a part of Ryan Ellis and Team Alpha Prime in Las Vegas. Ryan’s attitude and relentless pursuit of excellence are aligned with the ethics and values of Eclipse Claims Consulting. We are extremely thrilled that Ryan will be driving the Eclipse Claims car on Eclipse Saturday,” said Tim Woodard, President and CEO of Eclipse Claims. 

The No.43 Alpha Prime race car will also be supported by Erickson Manufacturing and Kebab Daddy Meats for the Las Vegas race. 

Kebab Daddy delivers exclusively sourced premium meats nationwide from renowned labels such as Snake River Farms, Certified Angus Beef Brand, and Mountaire Farms. 

Erickson is the leading provider of cargo control products in North America, offering a wide range of solutions to secure, tow, load, and winch your equipment and cargo efficiently.

LAS VEGAS TUNE-IN INFORMATION:

Coverage of practice and qualifying for the Alsco Uniforms 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway begins Friday, October 13th at 7 p.m. ET on the USA Network.

Saturday’s pre-race coverage kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on the USA Network, with the green flag falling around 3:30 p.m. ET. Post-race coverage continues on the USA Network at 6 p.m. ET. Additional coverage will be provided by the Performance Racing Network (PRN) and Sirius XM NASCAR.


ABOUT ECLIPSE CLAIMS CONSULTING:

Eclipse Claim Consulting is a leading insurance adjusting firm dedicated to securing fair settlements for policyholders and businesses. With a proven track record of recovering millions of dollars for their clients, Eclipse Claim Consulting is at the forefront of advocating for those who have been underserved by insurance companies. For more information, visit www.eclipseclaims.com.

ABOUT ALPHA PRIME RACING:

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

It was announced on August 4th, 2023, that Ellis will compete full-time in the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season in his first-ever full-time NASCAR season.

No. 10 IHOP Ford Racing: Aric Almirola Las Vegas Advance

ARIC ALMIROLA
Las Vegas Advance
No. 10 IHOP Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

Event: SouthPoint 400 (Round 33 of 36)

Time/Date: 2:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 15

Location: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Layout: 1.5-mile oval

Laps/Miles: 267 laps / 400.5 miles

Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 80 laps / Stage 2: 85 laps / Final Stage: 102 laps

TV/Radio: NBC / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Aric Almirola at Las Vegas: In 20 career starts on the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway desert oval, Almirola has four top-10s, all coming since he joined Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) in 2018. Almirola has a best finish there of sixth (twice – September 2018 and March 2022) and a best start of fourth (twice – September 2019 and 2020).

● Almirola has four starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Las Vegas with a best finish of 11th in March 2015, and three starts in the NASCAR Truck Series (September 2006, 2009 and 2010), all top-10s.

● Driver Standings: Almirola arrives at Las Vegas 22nd in the driver standings.

● Almirola’s career: In 458 career NASCAR Cup Series starts, Almirola has three wins, 28 top-five finishes, 93 top-10s, six poles, and has led 1,081 laps.

● IHOP will be the primary sponsor on the No. 10 Ford Mustang for the second weekend in a row. For more than 65 years, IHOP has been a leader, innovator and expert in all things breakfast, lunch and dinner. The chain offers 65 different signature fresh, made-to-order breakfast options, a wide selection of popular lunch and dinner items, including Ultimate Steakburgers, Hand Crafted Melts, Burritos & Bowls and more. IHOP restaurants offer guests an affordable, everyday dining experience with warm and friendly service. As of June 30, there are 1,790 IHOP restaurants around the world, including restaurants in all 50 states, two U.S. territories and 13 countries outside the United States. IHOP restaurants are franchised by affiliates of Pasadena, Calif.-based Dine Brands Global, Inc. (NYSE: DIN).

● “Do a Pancake:” For too long, the popular circular burnout to celebrate a win has been called a “donut.” This season, IHOP is taking over the ultra-cool racecar move to make it its own by changing the name of a “donut” to its true inspiration – a “pancake.” The partnership includes Almirola’s IHOP-branded racecar at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend. In celebration, IHOP is giving International Bank of Pancakes rewards members a free PanCoin every time a winner does a “pancake” during a race featuring the IHOP car. Additionally, if Almirola wins at Las Vegas, one lucky loyalty member will be awarded 100,000 PanCoins.

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

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

Stewart-Haas and the No. 10 team have found more speed over the last few weeks. Do you feel that will carry over this weekend to Las Vegas?

“I think so. We found some things at Kansas and Texas that we didn’t have earlier in the year as an organization. There is a fine line to finding that balance, but Stewart-Haas Racing has come together more in the last month as a team to better each car and we’ve seen strides in speed ever since. We had two cars in the top-10 at Texas and have seen more consistent top-10 runs across the board, so I think we’ll see improvements from earlier this year at Vegas. Vegas is just such a tricky track to dial in each time we visit it, but I enjoy racing there and the challenge it always brings.”

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Aric Almirola

Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer

Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Jerry Cook

Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Lead Engineer: Lee Deese

Hometown: Rockingham, North Carolina

Engineer: James Kimbrough

Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Joel Edmonds

Hometown: Dobson, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Mulder

Hometown: Sioux Center, Iowa

Rear Tire Changer: Trevor White

Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard

Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotton

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: James “Ace” Keener

Hometown: Fortuna, California

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Chris Trickett

Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Jacob Cooksey

Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller

Hometown: Monroe, New York

Tire Specialist: Russel Simpson

Hometown: Medford, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Steven Casper

Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

Stewart-Haas Racing: Las Vegas NXS Advance (Cole Custer | Riley Herbst)

COLE CUSTER | RILEY HERBST
Las Vegas NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance
NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview

  • Event: Alsco Uniforms 302 (Round 30 of 33)
  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 14
  • Location: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
  • Layout: 1.5-mile oval
  • Time/TV/Radio: 3:30 p.m. EDT on USA/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Cole Custer Notes of Interest

  • Cole Custer heads to Saturday’s Alsco Uniforms 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway full of confidence as the Round of 8 begins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs. Custer locked himself into the Round of 8 on points with his sixth-place finish Sept. 23 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. With nothing to lose last weekend on the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval, Custer could focus on fighting for the victory and showing the strength of the No. 00 Haas Automation team. After starting seventh, Custer ran in the top-five for a majority of the race. Pit strategy helped him restart in the top-three during the final stage. He took the lead with seven laps to go after an incident involving the leaders before eventual race-winner Sam Mayer got by him. Custer finished second, .909 of a second behind Mayer. It was Custer’s best Roval finish in three starts.
  • The Alsco Uniforms 302 will be Custer’s seventh Xfinity Series start at Las Vegas and his 15th overall. He has seven NASCAR Cup Series starts at the track and a lone NASCAR Truck Series start. In his six previous Xfinity Series starts at the track, he’s never finished outside the top-12, and he qualified on the pole for three straight races there prior to his return to the Xfinity Series this season – September 2018, and the March and September races in 2019 – all of which resulted in top-10 finishes. His best finish at Las Vegas is third, earned in September 2018. Custer’s Truck Series outing at Las Vegas in October 2016 resulted in a third-place finish from the third starting position driving the No. 00 entry for JR Motorsports.
  • In Custer’s most recent Xfinity Series start at Las Vegas in March, the 25-year-old driver showed speed straight out of the gate after posting the fastest lap times in Friday’s practice. Despite qualifying third, he was forced to start at the rear of the field as the team had to go to a backup car. He wasted no time working his way up through the field, running eighth by the end of Stage 2. But his No. 00 Ford Mustang developed handling issues in the final stage, leaving him to persevere for a 12th-place finish.
  • Custer and the No. 00 Haas Automation team take on a pair of intermediate tracks and a short track in the Round of 8 before heading to the mile oval at Phoenix Raceway for the Championship 4 season finale. After this weekend, the Xfinity Series heads to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Oct. 21 Contender Boats 300, then concludes the Round of 8 on Oct. 28 at the half-mile Martinsville (Va.) Speedway paperclip. Intermediate tracks have been a strength for Custer in his Xfinity Series career. During his most recent fulltime Xfinity Series campaigns in 2017, 2018 and 2019, Custer scored six of his nine race wins on intermediate tracks – Nov. 18, 2017, at Homestead, Nov. 3, 2018, at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, June 29, 2019, at Chicagoland Speedway, July 12, 2019, at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Aug. 31, 2019, at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, and Oct. 5, 2019, at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway.

Riley Herbst Notes of Interest

  • Riley Herbst is heading home for Saturday’s Alsco Uniforms 302 Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 24-year-old Monster Energy driver grew up in the Entertainment Capital of the World before moving to North Carolina at the age of 17. The Herbst family name is well known in Las Vegas motorsports circle due to its competitiveness in another form of racing. His grandfather Jerry, uncles Tim and Ed, and father Troy are all Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame inductees as championship-winning off-road racers. While Herbst has been continuing to pursue his dream of racing fulltime in the NASCAR Cup Series like his West Coast childhood heroes, he’s made appearances in the off-road racing world – in the 2021 and 2022 Baja 1000 events. In his most recent outing last November, Herbst drove the third and final leg of the race and crossed the finish line first in the Trophy Truck Spec class. A time penalty dropped his team to third place in the highly competitive class.
  • Saturday’s Alsco Uniforms 302 will mark Herbst’s ninth career Xfinity Series start at Las Vegas. He has three top-10s in his eight previous starts at the 1.5-mile oval – and eighth-place finish when the series last visited in March, and a pair of back-to-back ninth-place outings in September 2019 and February 2020. Last year at Las Vegas, Herbst posted finishes of 14th in March and 18th in September.
  • While Herbst seeks victory lane for the first time at Las Vegas, his No. 98 team at Stewart-Haas Racing already knows the way. With Chase Briscoe behind the wheel, the No. 98 team swept both Xfinity Series races in 2020. Briscoe started second, led a race-high 89 laps, and beat runner-up Austin Cindric by 2.874 seconds in the February race. He backed up that victory in September by qualifying on the pole, leading a race-high 164 laps, and beating runner-up Noah Gragson by 1.370 seconds.
  • Prior to Saturday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Herbst will make a trip to the 1.5-mile oval Thursday for the track’s annual “Paint the Track” event in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Las Vegas native will help paint the start-finish line pink beginning at 11 a.m. local time with breast cancer survivors.
  • Last weekend on the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval, Herbst and the No. 98 Monster Energy team felt refreshed and ready to finish the year on a high note coming off the final Xfinity Series off weekend. He qualifed ninth, then ran in the top-10 for the majority of the race. In the final stage, he restarted third in his Ford Mustang thanks to a savvy pit strategy from crew chief Davin Restivo. Herbst ran in the top-four for the remainder of the race and even battled for a top-three on the final restart. Ultimately, he would finish fourth, his best in four Xfinity Series appearances on the Roval.

Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang

Las Vegas marks the first race of the Round of 8. The points are reset and you now sit fifth in the standings, just two points below the top-four cutline. What are your thoughts heading into these next three races, and what do you need to make it to the Championship 4?

“I mean, overall, I feel like we’ve been a Championship 4 car and capable of making that final round all year. It’s just a matter of doing what we’ve been doing and making sure we maximize everything going into these final few races. Then, we just have to make sure we’re staying consistent like we have been. I mean, some guys will try and get a little bit too much in the playoffs and get themselves in trouble. So, we just have to take what the races give us and go from there. I think we have a team that knows how to win races and championships. Some people might doubt us going into these next few races, but I think we’re going to surprise them. We’ve had good cars this past round, but I think the best is still to come.”

You’ve had a strong career at Las Vegas and showed speed when the series last visited in March. How confident are you in the No. 00 Haas Automation team this weekend?

“I’m confident in our performance and this No. 00 Haas Automation team. I think we’ve made really big gains on our mile-and-a-half tracks this year, and it’s showed as the season has progressed. We were really good at Kansas until that tire carcass ruined our car, which relates to Vegas. I know the intermediate tracks weren’t our strength earlier in the year, but I think we’ve learned so much as a team throughout the season, so I’m really confident that we’ll have a fast car when we roll off the truck and onto the track this weekend. I’m proud of how far this team has come, and I hope we can maximize the weekend.”

Riley Herbst, Driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang

You’re heading home this weekend for the Alsco Uniforms 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. What are your thoughts heading into this weekend?

“I’m excited to go home. The two Las Vegas races are always fun for me because I’m heading back to the place where I grew up. I started chasing the NASCAR dream at the Bullring just across from Las Vegas Motor Speedway and, now, I’m going back to race there in the Xfinity Series. While the track itself has been a rollercoaster for me, I think we have been able to show speed there and on intermediates in general. Hopefully, we can show just that this weekend. Just ready to get home and put on a show for the home crowd.”

With only four races left in the season, you’ve mentioned that you’re going back to your original goals for the 2023 season, which were to focus on consistency and chasing a win. What would it mean to score your first Xfinity Series victory at your home track?

“It would mean a lot. Getting a win in the Xfinity Series is all that I’ve been chasing, but to get it at my home track would just make it that much more special. We have some work to do, but I think we have the speed to do it. We’ve brought some fast cars to intermediate tracks this year, so I think we can compete up front. It’s going to take a fast car, fast pit stops, and no mistakes to make it to victory lane, though. I think 2023 has thrown us a lot of bad luck, but I want to finish out this year strong. There are only four races to go. Four more chances to go for the win.”

JR Motorsports — NXS Las Vegas II Preview

JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
RACE: Alsco Uniforms 302 (201 laps / 301.5 miles)
DATE: Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023

Broadcast Information – TV: 3:30 p.m. ET on USA / Radio: 3 p.m. ET on PRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Sam Mayer
No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet

  • Sam Mayer heads west to Las Vegas Motor Speedway coming off a dominant win at the Charlotte Roval that propelled him into the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs.
  • Heading into the first race of the Round of 8, the young driver currently sits fourth in the playoff point standings, two points above the cutline.
  • Mayer has four starts at the 1.5-mile speedway where he’s scored a pair of top 10s.
  • In 19 starts on tracks measuring 1.5 miles in length, the Wisconsin native has tallied four top-five and 11 top-ten efforts in his NXS career.

Josh Berry
No. 8 LubeZone Chevrolet

  • Las Vegas has been good to Josh Berry in his NXS career. In five starts, Berry has two wins, four top-five and five top10 finishes, an average finish of 3.6 and has led 105 laps.
  • The Hendersonville, Tenn. native has won the last two fall races on the 1.5-mile oval.
  • Berry has earned three of his five career NXS victories on 1.5-mile tracks, with a 2022 triumph at Charlotte Motor Speedway joining his two Las Vegas wins in 2021-22.
  • Berry has an enviable record on tracks measuring 1-2 miles in NXS competition. Of his 27 top-five finishes, 14 have come on such tracks, including a fifth-place earlier this year at LVMS.

Brandon Jones
No. 9 Menards/Jeld-Wen Windows Chevrolet

  • Brandon Jones has made 13 starts in the NXS at Las Vegas and has tallied two top-five and nine top-10 finishes with a best of third coming during the 2019 and 2021 seasons.
  • Additionally, Jones has made two starts at Las Vegas in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and scored one top-five and one top-10 finish coming during the 2015 season where he finished in the fifth position.
  • Jones’ average finish of 10.2 in “Sin City” is the fifth best on active tracks in the NXS for the 26-year-old.
  • On tracks measuring between 1-2 miles in length in the NXS, Jones has four wins, 19 top-five and 57 top-10 finishes in a combined 129 starts.

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet

  • Justin Allgaier enters the Round of 8 in the NXS Playoffs as the third seed, 15 points above the playoff cutline with three races remaining in the round.
  • In 18 career NXS starts at Las Vegas, Allgaier has scored 10 top fives and 15 top 10s, including four consecutive top fives dating back to 2021.
  • The Illinois native has additionally finished in the runnerup position on four different occasions in Las Vegas, including in two of the last four events at the 1.5-mile speedway.
  • Allgaier earned his way into the Round of 8 by virtue of his victory at Bristol Motor Speedway last month.

Driver Quotes

“Las Vegas is one of my favorite 1.5-mile tracks that we go to and I’m ready to get there with the momentum we have coming off a win at the Roval and transferring to the next round of the playoffs. I am so proud of this No. 1 JR Motorsports team for not giving up and building such fast Chevrolets for me to go out and perform at the highest level.” – Sam Mayer

“We are ready to go in this Round of 8 with our BRANDT Professional Agriculture team. We know what lies ahead for us and I know that we are plenty capable of doing what we need to do to get to Phoenix. I have always enjoyed racing at Las Vegas and we have been really strong there over the past couple of seasons. Hopefully, we will have that same speed that we had in the spring and be up front in contention for the win when it counts. I know that Jim (Pohlman, crew chief) and everyone on this No. 7 team will give me a great car, we just need to go out and execute the same way we have been and we should be right where we want to be.” – Justin Allgaier

“Las Vegas just seems to suit my driving style, and we’ve had a lot of success there over the past couple of seasons. We ran fifth there earlier this year and had a shot at an even better result. Having LubeZone back with us this week is really special, and we’ll go out there with all intentions of getting a victory. We want to finish out the season on a high note and doing that would be a great start.” – Josh Berry

“In our last few mile-and-a-half races, we have had a lot of speed and have had great finishes and this weekend in Vegas should be more of the same. This team has been really good at Vegas in the past and I am hoping we can be just as good this weekend, if not just a little bit better. We have a couple more races to go and I’d enjoy nothing more than to put this team in Victory Lane after everything that has happened this season.” – Brandon Jones

JRM Team Updates

  • JR Motorsports at Las Vegas: JR Motorsports has made a combined 72 starts in “Sin City”. Over the course of those starts at the 1.5-mile oval, the organization has recorded three wins, 32 top-five and 48 top-10 finishes. Las Vegas is the site of JR Motorsports’ first career organizational win as a NASCAR Xfinity Series team with Mark Martin taking the checkered flag in 2008. Josh Berry has won two straight fall races at Las Vegas and the organization also finished 1-2-3 in the two aforementioned events.
  • Souvenir Rig: JRM drivers Justin Allgaier, Brandon Jones and Sam Mayer will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports / Legacy MC souvenir rig on Saturday, Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. local time.

Toyota Racing – Weekly Preview – 10.11.23

This Week in Motorsports: October 9 – 15, 2023

· NCS/NXS: Las Vegas Motor Speedway – October 14-15
· ARCA WEST: The Bullring at Las Vegas – October 13
· NHRA: Texas Motorplex – October 13-15

PLANO, Texas (October 11, 2023) – NASCAR opens the Round of 8 for the Cup and Xfinity Series Playoffs at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, while ARCA West races at the Bullring at Las Vegas. NHRA heads to Texas as the back half of the Countdown begins.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS

Four Toyota drivers advance to Round of 8 … After a chaotic and action-packed race at the Charlotte ROVAL, four of the five Toyota Cup Series playoff drivers advanced to the Round of 8. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex, Jr., Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell, along with 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick, are still alive for the championship. Truex and Hamlin start the round above the cutline, while Bell and Reddick are below.

Inching closer to 500 … With Reddick’s pole at the ROVAL last weekend, Toyota is now two poles away from 500 in NASCAR competition. Toyota has also captured five of the last six poles in the Cup Series and leads all manufacturers with 13 this season.

Opportunity for Truex Jr. at a favorite track … Truex has many favorable tracks across the Cup Series schedule, which includes Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 20-year Cup veteran has 11 top-10s in the last 12 races in Las Vegas, including two wins in 2017 and 2019. Another top-10 would provide a major boost to his chances at a second championship.

Nemechek and Smith continue in the Playoffs … Both Toyota Xfinity Series playoff drivers, John Hunter Nemechek and Sammy Smith, made it through to the Round of 8 after last weekend’s Charlotte ROVAL race. Nemechek leads the points standings and starts the round 37 points above the cutline, while Smith is 14 below heading into Las Vegas.

Nemechek happy to return to Las Vegas … Heading back to Las Vegas Motor Speedway puts a smile on Nemechek’s face. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has three top-fives in five Xfinity Series starts and has completed 99% of the laps run in those races. The 26-year-old is also on a five-race top-10 streak, gaining momentum at the right time with four races remaining.

Grala looking to continue hot streak … After a fifth-place finish at the ROVAL last weekend, Sam Hunt Racing’s Kaz Grala has three top-10s in the last four races. Another top-10 this weekend would be Grala’s best finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA West

Hingorani looks to further championship lead … With three races remaining in the 2023 NASCAR ARCA West season, Toyota’s Sean Hingorani is currently 37 points ahead in the championship standings going into the Las Vegas Bullring. This is Hingorani’s second start at the Bullring as he looks for his fifth win of the season, and third in the last four races.

NHRA – Top Fuel | Funny Car

Toyota leading Top Fuel with three races to go … Beginning the final three races of NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship, Toyota drivers make up four of the top five in the Top Fuel points standings. Doug Kalitta currently leads the standings by 47 points, followed by Steve Torrence in third, Justin Ashley in fourth and Antron Brown in fifth.

Everything’s bigger in Texas, including Toyota’s Top Fuel performances … Texas Motorplex has been a second home for Toyota Top Fuel drivers, who are looking for a fourth consecutive triumph this weekend and the seventh win in nine races. Ashley has won the last two seasons (2022, 2021); Texas native Torrence won at the Ennis, Texas, drag strip in 2020 and 2018; and Brown topped in 2016.

Texas is also a favorable track for Capps … While Toyota’s Top Fuel teams have dominated Texas, so has Ron Capps in Funny Car. The 2022 Funny Car champion is going for his third straight at Texas Motorplex as he tries to reel in the leaders for another season title. Currently, he sits in fourth position, 33 points behind.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 24 electrified options.

HOIST® to Serve as Official Hydration Partner of RFK Racing

CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 11, 2023) – HOIST®, one of the fastest growing hydration beverages in the U.S., and NASCAR’s Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing have teamed up for a multi-year partnership launching in 2024, which will see the fast-moving brand serve as the official hydration partner of RFK.

“We’re excited to kick off this partnership with HOIST, a brand that is up and coming throughout the beverage industry,” said RFK driver Chris Buescher. “I have been drinking HOIST for a while now and it’s changed the game in my overall hydration and performance. We know their product will take us to the next level both on and off the track and we can’t wait to ‘hoist’ our bottles in victory lane.”

HOIST offers IV-level hydration across its product line of bottled beverages, powder sticks and liquid pouches. The HOIST formula is isotonic and made to absorb instantly, making this pairing ideal for extreme athletes like Chris Buescher of RFK Racing, to excel in races and outperform competitors. HOIST is clinically proven to replenish your body with the electrolytes, carbohydrates, and fluids your body needs without delay.

“This partnership is the perfect blend of speed, precision, and hydration as HOIST keeps Chris and his team fueled for success on and off the racetrack,” said Rachel Trotta, Director of Business Development for HOIST. “We are thrilled to align with a like-minded team who shares a passion for excellence, resilience and breaking boundaries.”

RFK Racing began competing in NASCAR in 1988, growing into one of the most successful teams in NASCAR – becoming the first team in the sport’s history to amass over 300 victories. RFK boasts 141 NASCAR Cup Series wins and continues to grow with the addition of NASCAR Champion Brad Keselowski in 2021. The team placed both drivers in the 2023 NASCAR Playoffs, with Buescher currently competing for the championship in the Round of 8.

For more information about HOIST, visit www.drinkhoist.com.

For more information about RFK Racing, visit www.rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

About HOIST
Founded in 2009, HOIST provides IV-level hydration in the form of a bottle alongside a military-grade powdered product for those looking to add an elevated hydration to their liquid. Born and built in the Midwest, HOIST’s Cincinnati-based team has developed a product that’s not only a trusted hydration for the U.S. Department of Defense, it’s also the go-to hydration among many who #LiveExhausted, pushing their physical and mental limits to achieve maximum performance. For more information please visit www.drinkhoist.com.

About RFK Racing
RFK Racing, in its 36th season in 2023, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, brings to the team a championship mindset himself having won the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Championship. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

Mazda MX-5 Cup Renews Partnership with IMSA and Andersen Promotions

IMSA VIR 2023

The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires has extended its partnership with sanctioning body International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and series operations specialists Andersen Promotions. Both parties have taken the series to new heights of professionalism and popularity.

Mazda MX-5 Cup will continue to operate under the IMSA umbrella in 2024 and beyond. The relationship with IMSA began in 2021 and instantly captured the attention of sports car fans globally. The opportunity to compete at tracks including Daytona International Speedway and Sebring International Raceway, as part of some of North America’s most iconic events, has highlighted how competitive and entertaining the series can be.

“The MX-5 Cup series puts on some of the most entertaining races in all of motorsports,” said IMSA President John Doonan. “Since joining the IMSA family in 2021, the MX-5 Cup series has become quite a popular addition to IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship event weekends, with pulse-pounding action and photo finishes seemingly every time out. We are proud to confirm that the series will continue with IMSA sanctioning for at least the next three years and hopefully well into the future.”

Equally as important, the officiating and administrative services IMSA offers rival any professional racing syndicate and the AMR Safety Team is indispensable.

MX-5 Cup became part of the Andersen Promotions roster in 2016. With decades of operational experience in motorsports, Andersen Promotions brought a wealth of resources and knowledge to the table. Their staffing has brought the series to a higher level of professionalism and efficiency with a high priority placed on customer service for competitors.

“The Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship is not only the best value in motorsports, but it has awesome teams and drivers delivering fantastic racing event after event,” Andersen Promotions Owner & CEO Dan Andersen said. “It’s been a real pleasure for Andersen to be involved in series operations and work alongside the professionals at IMSA to produce something we are especially proud of. The future looks very strong thanks to Mazda.”

The continuity of these relationships ensures that MX-5 Cup is well situated for further growth as a star among spec racing series for years to come.

“IMSA and Andersen have been phenomenal partners,” Mazda Motorsports Senior Manager Jonathan Applegate said. “Andersen Promotions has streamlined the operations of the series and their staff bring a lot of experience. That’s especially helpful since our relationship with IMSA has increased our audience worldwide. I believe our competitors are equally pleased to know these top-tier services will continue.”

The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Cup season comes to a close October 11 – 13 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Watch Round 13 on Thursday, October 12 at 5:45pm ET and Round 14, Friday, October 12 at 10:30am ET, both streaming live on RACER.com.

About: The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires is the signature spec series for Mazda Motorsports. The series has been operated by Andersen Promotions since 2017 and is currently sanctioned by IMSA. Mazda-powered grassroots champions can earn Mazda scholarships for this pro-level series. The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup awards more than $1 million in prizes and scholarships.

Find out more at http://www.mx-5cup.com.

Hennessey’s 1,000-HP EXORCIST Camaro ZL1 ‘Final Edition’ Challenges Demon 170

  • Hennessey introduces its EXORCIST Camaro ZL1 ‘Final Edition,’ celebrating the end of Chevrolet’s high-performance combustion-only pony car
  • The supercharged LT4 V8 is comprehensively upgraded to 1,000 horsepower – placing the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 in its crosshairs
  • Production is limited to 57 exclusive examples, commemorating 57 years since the iconic Chevrolet Camaro first entered production
  • Each EXORCIST ‘Final Edition’ is backed by Hennessey’s comprehensive 3-year / 36,000-mile limited warranty

SEALY, Texas, Oct. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hennessey Performance, the world-renowned Texas-based hypercar manufacturer and high-performance vehicle creator, has announced an end-of-production limited ‘Final Edition’ series of the company’s famed EXORCIST Camaro ZL1 upgrades.

In stock form, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has a 6.2-liter supercharged LT4 V8 rated at 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. Hennessey’s expert technicians, who have been ‘making fast cars faster’ for more than 32 years, fit the Camaro’s pushrod V8 with a larger high-flow supercharger, high-flow air induction system and upgrade the auxiliary fuel system, fuel injectors, and fuel pump. Turning to the V8 powerplant, the cylinder heads are ported, custom HPE camshafts are fitted, and the intake valves, exhaust valves, valve springs, retainers, lifters, and pushrods are upgraded. An oversized heat exchanger is fitted for enhanced cooling, while long-tube stainless steel headers and high-flow catalytic converters improve breathing.

Following years of R&D and refinement, the EXORCIST ‘Final Edition’ is calibrated with a finely tuned HPE Engine Management software upgrade. This enhancement, along with the comprehensive overhaul of the engine, results in the LT4 engine achieving an output of 1,000 horsepower and 966 lb-ft of torque – a 54 percent increase in power and a 49 percent boost in torque. Performance is jaw-dropping, as the EXORCIST ‘Final Edition’ boasts a 2.1 second 0-60 mph time, 9.57 second ¼ mile, and a top speed of 217 mph.

The original EXORCIST, introduced in 2017 on the Camaro’s sixth-generation Alpha platform, was created by Hennessey to ‘slay the Dodge Demon,’ a reference to the rival supercharged Challenger – its 840 hp output paled in comparison to Hennessey’s 1,000 hp EXORCIST. Today, Dodge has announced its dragstrip-tuned Challenger SRT Demon 170 with an E85-fueled 1,025 hp. Despite the Challenger’s boost in power, the Hennessey’s EXORCIST Camaro ZL1 ‘Final Edition’ – tuned for the racing circuit and day-to-day driving – isn’t backing down.

John Hennessey, company founder and CEO: “Our comprehensive upgrade to the Camaro ZL1 is one of my all-time favorites. The chassis, suspension, and powerplant work seamlessly together, so all the driver experiences is raw, unbridled horsepower. There’s nothing else like our EXORCIST, so we’re eager to share this special limited edition with fans of this iconic car before it’s gone forever.”

Complementing the upgraded powerplant – each engine is embellished with a unique ‘Final Edition X of 57’ serial-numbered engine bay plaque, commemorating 57 years since the iconic Camaro first entered production. The engine badging is accompanied by EXORCIST ‘Final Edition’ graphics on the exterior.

Hennessey’s EXORCIST ‘Final Edition’ upgrade is backed by the company’s comprehensive 3-year / 36,000-mile limited warranty. Production of the model is underway. Interested parties are encouraged to contact authorized Ford retailers or Hennessey directly through HennesseyPerformance.com; or by calling +1 979.885.1300.

About Hennessey
Based in Sealy, Texas, the Hennessey business comprises Hennessey Special Vehicles, Hennessey Performance (HPE), Tuner School, and the Lonestar Motorsports Park. The company has re-engineered more than 12,000 vehicles for performance enthusiasts worldwide to deliver unparalleled driving thrills. Alongside modifying a diverse range of sports and muscle cars since 1991, the company also applies its high-performance expertise to trucks and SUVs – and boasts its own hypercars – the Venom GT and the Venom F5.

Every Hennessey product is dyno-proven, fully track-tested, street-legal, and warrantied. Customers can choose from road-ready performance-enhanced cars by Hennessey from various brands, including Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, and Jeep, all benefitting from a host of high-performance upgrades.

With its own test track, engineering curriculum for aspiring tuners, more than 100 team members, and capacity to simultaneously work on 40-50 vehicles, Hennessey Performance is one of the world’s leading specialist vehicle engineering companies. HennesseyPerformance.com

About Hennessey Special Vehicles
The Hennessey Special Vehicles team was formed to create the world-record-breaking hypercars, the Hennessey Venom GT (270.49 mph in 2014) and the current world-record-holding ‘fastest convertible’ the Hennessey Venom GT Roadster (265.5 mph in 2016).

In 2020, Hennessey Special Vehicles launched the 100% bespoke, twin-turbocharged, 6.6-liter V8 Venom F5 Coupe, which sold out in 2021. An open-top Roadster and track-focused Revolution variant joined the F5 Coupe in 2022 and 2023, boasting the F5’s prodigious 1,817 bhp ‘Fury’ engine. In mid-2023, the Texas-based company revealed the Venom F5 Revolution Roadster, which combines visceral open-air motoring with a racing circuit focus. The company is delivering like never before on its mission of ‘making fast cars faster.’ HennesseySpecialVehicles.com

Social media
Instagram: HennesseySpecialVehicles / HennesseyPerformance | YouTube: HennesseyPerformanceF5 | Facebook: @hennesseype | X: @HennesseyPerf