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Safety Features to Consider When Buying a Car in Houston

Purchasing a new car is an exciting time, but it should also be taken seriously. When choosing your next vehicle, prioritizing safety is crucial. Before making your decision, it is crucial to conduct comprehensive research and carefully evaluate all facets of automobile safety. Ensure you conduct your due diligence and explore various facets of auto safety to make an informed choice. From seat belts to airbags to advanced brake assist systems, there are many features that may come installed on any given model – each meant to offer an added layer of protection in the event of an accident. In this blog post, we’ll discuss various safety-related considerations one should think about when purchasing a car!

Research the most reliable safety ratings of cars in Houston

Prioritizing safety is crucial when selecting a car. Thankfully, there are numerous organizations like https://www.classicelitechevy.com/ that carefully evaluate and rate vehicles based on their safety features and crash test performances. For Houston residents, it is crucial to find the most reliable safety ratings available. These ratings can provide peace of mind and confidence when driving on the busy roads of Houston. By dedicating time to researching these safety ratings, you can acquire valuable insights and make a well-informed choice, ensuring the selection of a car that prioritizes the safety of you and your passengers.

Consider blind spot monitoring systems to help you see oncoming vehicles 

Engaging in road travel can evoke exhilaration, yet it also bears inherent hazards that demand our utmost vigilance. Oftentimes, we might not see the oncoming vehicles that are lurking in our blind spots. That’s where blind spot monitoring systems come to our rescue. Due to recent remarkable technological advancements, contemporary automobiles are now outfitted with sensors and cameras that possess the capability to perceive nearby vehicles. These advanced systems provide us with valuable alerts and warnings, enabling us to prevent accidents and drive with enhanced safety and confidence. So, next time you embark on a journey, stay vigilant about blind spots, or better yet, let the monitoring system handle it for you!

Look into adaptive cruise control to make long drives easier and safer 

Long drives can be both exciting and exhausting, but adaptive cruise control is here to make them safer and more convenient. This handy feature allows your car to maintain a safe following distance from the vehicle ahead of you, providing a stress-free driving experience. With the ability to adjust speed and braking automatically, drivers can stay focused on the road ahead and enjoy a smoother journey without constantly adjusting the pedal. As technology continues to advance, it is always worthwhile to explore fresh avenues for enhancing your driving experience. Try adaptive cruise control during your next long drive and feel the difference it can make.

Investigate car alarm systems for added protection against theft 

Car theft is a real issue that countless drivers face every day. Although lock and key systems may appear to be the most straightforward method of securing your car, they are not always the most efficient. Consequently, car alarm systems have gained popularity among drivers seeking to protect their vehicles. These sophisticated systems work by emitting loud and attention-grabbing noises when suspicious activity is detected. Additionally, some alarms can even send an alert to the driver’s phone via an accompanying app or notify the police automatically. Investing in a reliable car alarm system may be the added protection your car needs to deter potential thieves and ensure your peace of mind.

Get an understanding of automatic emergency braking systems so you can be prepared in case of an accident

As drivers, we all face the potential danger of accidents on the road. Being prepared for the unexpected is crucial, which is why it holds significant importance. One technology that can help keep us safe is automatic emergency braking systems. These sophisticated systems utilize sensors to identify situations where a collision is likely to occur. In response, they automatically engage the brakes to assist in evading or minimizing the severity of an accident. Having an understanding of how these systems operate and knowing what to anticipate can be extremely valuable during stressful situations. By acquiring a modest amount of knowledge and making appropriate preparations, each of us can bolster our self-assurance while driving and become more proficient in dealing with any unexpected situations that may arise.

Summary

While the car buying process can seem intimidating, it’s important to take the time to research models and safety features that meet your needs and budget. Going into the process informed can often help ensure you have a better understanding of what to look for and how to properly use the different safety features available on many cars today. Understanding these systems help keep drivers and passengers safe while improving the driving experience overall. Whether looking for a reliable model with an impressive safety rating or wanting to add additional security measures to an existing vehicle, it’s important to think about what types of features might best suit your family’s needs. Researching advanced auto technologies such as blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, car alarms, and automatic emergency braking will provide your family with peace of mind while traveling throughout Houston.

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: New Hampshire

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Reser's Fine Foods Toyota, is presented Loudon the Lobster in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 17, 2023 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex swept the stages and was the dominant car all day at New Hampshire on his way to the win in the Crayon 301.

“I was thrilled to hoist the huge lobster given to the winner,” Truex said. “Especially since this is my first win at New Hampshire. And it’s a memory I’ll treasure forever. And one day, I’ll tell my kids all about it. It will be my personal lobster tale.”

2. Joey Logano: Logano came up short at his home track, settling for the runner-up spot at New Hampshire behind Martin Truex Jr.

“If some filed a motion that Truex was unstoppable on Monday,” Logano said, “I’m best qualified to ‘second’ it.”

3. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished seventh in the Crayon 301.

“Congratulations to my teammate Martin Truex Jr.,” Hamlin said. “He drove like there was no tomorrow. Unfortunately for NASCAR ratings, there was a tomorrow.”

4. William Byron: Byron finished 24th in the Crayon 301.

“Chase Elliott is in danger of missing the NASCAR playoffs,” Byron said. “But I think, with the support of Hooters and the Dawsonville Pool Hall, he’ll be able to ‘rack’ up a win to get him in the playoffs.”

5. Kyle Larson: Larson led six laps and finished third in the Crayon 301, posting his ninth top-five of the year.

“Martin Truex Jr. was just unstoppable,” Larson said. “I have nothing but kind words to say about him. Those words are so much more meaningful when they’re not a requirement of sensitivity training.”

6. Kyle Busch: Busch got loose and nailed the wall at the end of Stage 1, damaging the right side of his No. 8 Chevrolet. Busch finished last, completing only 71 laps.

“In addition,” Busch said, “I crashed in qualifying and had to start at the back of the field. So, I was pretty much handcuffed from the start. So, now I’ve been handcuffed in two countries.”

7. Ryan Blaney: Blaney finished 22nd at New Hampshire.

“This race was called the ‘Crayon 301,'” Blaney said. “Surprisingly, it’s ‘Crayon Software Experts,’ and not the crayons children color with, or many NASCAR fans write with.”

8. Ross Chastain: Chastain finished 23rd at New Hampshire.

“Ryan Newman was driving the No. 15 car for Rick Ware Racing,” Logano said. “That means only one thing: Rusty Wallace was nowhere near the race track.”

9. Christopher Bell: Bell started on the pole at New Hampshire and finished 30th, a lap down.

“I had to make an unscheduled pit stop on Lap 74 for a loose wheel,” Bell said. “That pretty much ruined my day. I don’t know who it was, but one of my pit crewmen screwed me. Actually, he didn’t screw me enough.”

10. Kevin Harvick: Harvick led 10 laps and finished fourth in the Crayon 301.

“There are six more races until the playoffs start,” Harvick said. “That means it’s ‘crunch time.’ Now, if you’re racing anywhere near Ross Chastain, it’s always crunch time.”

Austin Hill returns to Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado for CRC Brakleen 150 at Pocono Raceway

CONCORD, N.C. (July 17, 2023) – Spire Motorsports announced today Austin Hill will steer the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado in the July 22 CRC Brakleen 150 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) race at Pocono Raceway where ARCO Design/Build will serve as the team’s primary sponsor.

Hill, a native of Winston, Ga., is a veteran of 121 NCTS starts dating to 2014 where he has earned three poles, eight wins, 27 top-five and 54 top-10 finishes. The 29-year-old driver made two starts for Spire Motorsports in 2022, including last year’s annual NCTS visit to the uniquely configured 2.5-mile Long Pond, Penn., race course.

The team and is led by championship-winning industry veterans Mike Greci and Kevin “Bono” Manion.

“I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the No. 7 ARCO Design/Build Silverado at Pocono Raceway,” said Hill. “Last year with practice and qualifying getting rained out, we had to start in back, but the Spire Motorsports team brought a fast truck, and we were able to get a top-five finish. I’ve had success and a chance to win in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at Pocono in the past, so I feel confident that we will have a shot to contend for the win.”

Hill and Greci will be looking to tap into their shared history from their three-year run at Hattori Racing Enterprises where Hill drove the team’s No. 16 entry and Greci served as general manager. Hill earned a spot in the NCWTS playoffs all three years (2019-2021), finishing as high as fifth in 2019.

Hill, the full-time driver of Richard Childress Racing’s No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, is a three-time race winner in 2023 and currently sits second in points, just 33 markers outside the top spot.

Meanwhile, Spire Motorsports has made five NCTS starts in 2023 with four different drivers including Corey LaJoie (Daytona/Darlington), Jonathan Davenport (Bristol) Kyle Larson (North Wilkesboro) and, most recently, Marco Andretti (Mid-Ohio). Larson earned the organization’s second NCTS win in dominating fashion in the Tyson 250 at NASCAR’s celebrated return to Wilkes County, N.C.

“Spire Motorsports is thrilled to have a driver of Austin’s caliber behind the wheel this weekend at Pocono Raceway,” said Greci. “It’s no secret that Austin and I have some history together, so I know, first hand, what kind of talent he is. His Xfintiy Series results this season speak for themselves. I’m confident anytime Austin is in our truck, we’re fully capable of running up front and winning races.”

The CRC Brakleen 150 from Pocono Raceway will be televised live on FS1 Saturday, July 22 beginning at noon Eastern Daylight Time. The 15th of 23 races on the 2023 NCTS schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

About ARCO Design/Build …
ARCO Design/Build (ARCO) is widely recognized as a construction industry leader for various industrial project types, including cold storage warehouses, light industrial distribution, and manufacturing. As a national design-build firm, ARCO offers turn-key design-build services that provide a direct relationship with a single point of contact, resulting in cost savings and clear lines of communication. ARCO’s capabilities span project feasibility studies, site selection, and complete design to value engineering, code consulting, and full general contracting. Additionally, ARCO is 100% associate owned as an ESOP. With in-house architectural and structural engineering services, ARCO provides clients with a streamlined and efficient design and construction process, ensuring exceptional results and turnkey project delivery.

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.

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Race Recap: New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Noah Gragson, No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

START: 29TH

FINISH: 32ND

POINTS:33RD

Noah Gragson Post-Race Thoughts: “That was a hard hit, I don’t know exactly what happened but the right front just broke. We had been working on the car all day, started off really tight and the guys really threw some big changes at it. We were about halfway decent when that happened.”

Erik Jones, No. 43 Allegiant Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

START: 30TH

FINISH: 11TH

POINTS: 28TH

Erik Jones Post-Race Thoughts: “It was an up-and-down day for the No. 43 Allegiant Chevy team. Just started out way deep in the field and had to work our way forward. We got our Chevy better throughout the day. We had one bad run, but fortunately we ran long and ended up on the good side of it. We got some track position there with the late yellow that got us back up in the top-15. We restarted 20th and came home 11th there, so it was a good run for what we had. We’ve been getting better the last few weeks; we just have a little ways to go yet. We need to get the balance a little better. I think our speed is getting there, we just have to figure out the balance and I think we’ll be in a good spot. Thank you to Allegiant and Chevrolet. We’ll keep rolling forward.”

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 ZL1 for drivers Noah Gragson and Erik Jones, 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.

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

Worth the Wait: Truex Triumphs at Crayon 301

Martin Truex Jr. celebrated in victory lane after a dominant performance in Monday's Crayon 301 NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Photo Courtesy: NHMS/Chris Owens/Harold Hinson Photography

LOUDON, N.H. – It took 30 starts, 18 years and one rain delay, but Martin Truex Jr. finally prevailed at “The Magic Mile,” turning in a dominant performance to earn the first New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) victory of his career in Monday’s Crayon 301.

“What a race car we had today,” Truex said. “Pit stops were flawless. We had some challenges, but we kept our heads down and kept digging.”

Truex led 254 of 301 laps around the 1.058-mile track en-route to his long-sought-after win. Following the victory, the New Jersey native shared memories of watching his father race at NHMS as a young race fan.

“I sat in turn one with my mom when my little brother was drinking out of a bottle; we were young. What we’ve been able to do here over the years is pretty remarkable – in K&N and the Busch Series. This feels really, really good – being able to cap it off with a lobster. This one’s been eluding me for a long, long time.”

Truex, who started on the outside of the front row, took the lead from polesitter and defending race winner Christopher Bell on the second lap of the race and blistered the competition under the New England summer sun. The win marked the ninth Crayon 301 win for Joe Gibbs Racing.

While his Toyota was clearly the best of the class, Truex’s win wasn’t without some late-race drama. The 301-lap showdown was marred by eight cautions, the last of which led to a nine-lap sprint to the finish. As he had done all afternoon, Truex executed a perfect restart to pull away from Connecticut native Joey Logano for the victory.

“I thought I had a shot to beat him,” Logano said. “I had a chance to roll his outside. If I got in front of him, I think I had him beat. When you’re at your home racetrack, second hurts more than anywhere else.”

Kyle Larson finished third. In his final start as a full-time NCS driver, four-time NHMS winner Kevin Harvick finished fourth, with Brad Keselowski rounding out the top five. New Englander Ryan Preece finished the race one lap down in 28th position.

Tickets:

Fans can renew their tickets for the 2024 NCS race at NHMS.com. The official 2024 NCS schedule, including their annual stop in New England, will be released later this year.

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Keep track of all of New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s events by following on Facebook (@NHMotorSpeedway), Twitter (@NHMS) and Instagram (@NHMS). Keep up with all the latest information on the speedway website (NHMS.com) and mobile app.

Truex dominates for third Cup victory of 2023 at New Hampshire

LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JULY 17: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Reser's Fine Foods Toyota, is presented Loudon the Lobster in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 17, 2023 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images).

In his 30th start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Martin Truex Jr. is no longer winless at the track dubbed the Magic Mile after capping off a dominant performance to win the rain-postponed Crayon 301 on Monday, July 17.

The 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion from Mayetta, New Jersey, led five times for a race-high 254 of 301-scheduled laps, including the final 24, in an event where he swept both stages and dominated after assuming the lead from teammate and pole-sitter Christopher Bell on the second lap. Amid mixed strategy and a late call for two fresh tires during a late caution period, Truex reassumed the lead from Kevin Harvick with 24 laps remaining and had appeared to cruise to the victory before two late caution periods for two separate incident under the final 22 laps stalled his progress. Then during a nine-lap dash to the finish, Truex was not to be denied after he rocketed away from the field and held off a late charge from Joey Logano to capture his first elusive checkered flag at the Magic Mile and his third of the 2023 Cup season.

With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Saturday, July 15, Christopher Bell notched his first Cup pole of the 2023 season after posting a pole-winning lap at 124.781 mph in 30.524 seconds. Joining him on the front row was teammate Martin Truex Jr., who posted the second-best qualifying lap at 124.752 mph in 30.531 seconds.

Prior to the event, Kyle Busch dropped to the rear of the field due to repairs after wrecking his primary car during Saturday’s qualifying session.

When the green flag waved and the race commenced on Monday after Sunday’s scheduled start was postponed due to precipitation, Bell jumped ahead while starting on the outside lane and fended off teammate Truex and Joey Logano to retain the lead through the first two turns and entering the backstretch. As the field behind battled within two lanes before fanning out through Turns 3 and 4, Bell managed to lead the first lap ahead of Truex.

On the second lap and as the field continued to fan out and jostle for early positions, Truex gained a run on Bell through the backstretch and made his move beneath his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate to assume the lead in his No. 19 Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota TRD Camry entering Turns 3 and 4. Bell, however, fought back as both dueled for the lead through the frontstretch before Truex managed to rocket ahead on the outside lane and clear Bell through the first two turns. As Logano tried to close in on Bell for the runner-up spot, Truex continued to lead at the fifth lap mark.

Through the first 10 scheduled laps, Truex was leading by nine-tenths of a second over teammate Bell followed by Logano, Aric Almirola and Ryan Blaney while Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, William Byron, Daniel Suarez and Brad Keselowski were running in the top 10. Behind, AJ Allmendinger was in 11th ahead of Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chase Elliott, Michael McDowell and Denny Hamlin while Austin Dillon, Austin Cindric, Chris Buescher, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Larson were in the top 20. Meanwhile, Alex Bowman was in 26th ahead of rookie Ty Gibbs, Ross Chastain was mired in 29th behind Erik Jones, Chase Briscoe was strapped in 30th, Kyle Busch was back in 32nd and Ryan Newman was in 35th.

Ten laps later, Truex stabilized his advantage to more than a second over teammate Bell while third-place Logano trailed by more than three seconds. With Almirola and Blaney continuing to run in the top five, Reddick, Byron, Wallace, Suarez and Keselowski continued to run in the top 10. By then, Hamlin moved up from 15th to 12th while Elliott lost a spot from 14th to 15th. In addition, Harvick moved up from 19th to 18th and Kyle Busch moved up from 32nd to 31st.

Then on Lap 27, the first caution of the event flew when Allmendinger, who was running just outside the top 10, spun in Turn 2 after getting loose on his own, though he managed to proceed without sustaining any damage to his No. 16 Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Allmendinger’s spin served as the scheduled competition caution planned on Lap 30, with Truex still leading ahead of teammate Bell, Logano, Almirola and Blaney.

During the competition caution period, nearly the entire field led by Truex pitted for service while Stenhouse remained on the track to assume the lead. Following the pit stops, Byron exited first after only opting for two fresh tires followed by Hamlin while Truex, the first competitor who changed for four fresh tires, exited third ahead of McDowell, Almirola, Suarez and Reddick amid mixed strategies ensuing. Amid the pit stops, Austin Dillon and Corey LaJoie were both penalized for speeding on pit road.

When the race resumed under green flag conditions on Lap 33, the field fanned out through the first two turns as Truex tried to overtake both Byron and Stenhouse for the lead. With Truex briefly getting loose, Byron managed to cycle his No. 24 RAPTOR Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 into the lead followed by Truex. As the field continued to fan out and jostle amid competitors on mixed strategies, Almirola and Reddick moved up to third and fourth while Stenhouse was being intimidated by Hamlin and Suarez for fifth. With Bell, who endured a slow service during the competition caution, also trying to move back up to the front as he was mired in the top 10, Byron, running on two fresh tires, was still leading by half a second over Truex and his four fresh tires.

Just past the Lap 40 mark, the battle for the lead started to intensify as Truex closed in and tried to gain a run to overtake Byron for the top spot. Then on Lap 43, Truex overtook and cleared Byron for the lead through Turns 3 and 4. With Truex back out in front, Reddick started to gain ground on the two leaders while Almirola and Hamlin were in the top five. Meanwhile, Stenhouse had drifted back to 25th in his No. 47 Kroger Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 while on four worn tires while Blaney, Bell, Suarez, McDowell and Logano were running in the top 10.

At the Lap 50 mark, Truex was leading by more than a second over Byron followed by Reddick, Almirola and Hamlin while Blaney, Bell, Suarez, Logano and McDowell were in the top 10. Behind, Brad Keselowski was in 11th ahead of Larson, Bowman, Ty Gibbs and Buescher while Harvick, Wallace, Elliott, Ryan Preece and Cole Custer were mired in the top 20. Meanwhile, Chastain was in 21st ahead of Justin Haley, Briscoe was in 23rd ahead of Harrison Burton and Cindric, Allmendinger was mired back in 26th in front of Kyle Busch and Stenhouse had dropped back to 34th behind Austin Dillon and rookie Noah Gragson.

Ten laps later, Truex extended his advantage to more than three seconds over Byron while third-place Reddick trailed by more than four seconds. Behind, Almirola, Blaney, Bell, Hamlin, Suarez, Logano and McDowell remained in the top 10 while Larson moved up to 11th ahead of Keselowski. In addition, Harvick cracked the top 15 in 14th, Elliott retained 18th and Kyle Busch only moved up to 26th behind Allmendinger.

When the first stage concluded on Lap 70, Truex captured his second stage victory of the 2023 Cup season. Byron fended off Reddick to settle in second while Almirola, Blaney, Bell, Hamlin, Suarez, Logano and McDowell were scored in the top 10. At the stage’s conclusion, Kyle Busch’s No. 8 Lenovo Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 emerged with smoke after the two-time Cup Series champion made contact with the outside wall in Turn 1 and damaged the right side of his car, an incident that would end Busch’s long start in the garage. Behind Busch, Corey LaJoie also suffered the same fate as his car went dead straight towards the wall.

Under the stage break, the field led by Truex returned to pit road for service. Following the pit stops, Truex retained the lead after exiting first followed by Byron, Bell, Almirola, Blaney, Hamlin and Reddick. Amid the pit stops, Reddick and BJ McLeod were penalized for speeding while exiting pit road. Soon after, more pit issues struck for Bell, who pitted for a second time due to a loose wheel to his No. 20 Rheem Toyota TRD Camry as he was mired back in the field.

The second stage started on Lap 77 as Truex and Byron occupied the front row. At the start, the field fanned out to three lanes entering the first two turns as Truex rocketed away with the lead. Behind, Almirola challenged Byron for second while Hamlin and Blaney also dueled for fourth. During the following lap and amid more on-track battles within the middle of the pack, Logano was in sixth ahead of a battle between Larson and Keselowski while Suarez and Wallace were in the top 10 ahead of McDowell, Harvick, Buescher, Ty Gibbs and Briscoe with Bowman, Chastain, Allmendinger, Haley and Elliott mired in the top 20.

By Lap 90, Truex was leading by more than a second over Almirola while Hamlin cycled his No. 11 Mavis Tires & Brakes Toyota TRD Camry into third place followed by Blaney while Byron had fallen back to fifth. Behind, Larson moved his No. 5 Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 up to sixth in front of Logano while Keselowski, McDowell and Suarez were in the top 10.

At the Lap 100 mark, Truex extended his advantage by more than four seconds over Almirola while Hamlin, Blaney and Larson were running in the top five. By then, Byron had dropped to ninth as Logano, Keselowski and McDowell overtook him while Suarez retained 10th in front of Wallace, Harvick, Bell, Gibbs and Buescher. Meanwhile, Chastain was in 19th behind Allmendinger, Reddick was mired back in 21st and Elliott had fallen back to 24th.

Twenty-five laps later, Truex continued to lead by more than three seconds over Almirola while third-place Hamlin trailed by more than five seconds. With Blaney and Larson still running in the top five, Bell returned to the top 10 as he was 10th while trying to close in on a two-car battle between McDowell and Harvick while Byron and Suarez had fallen to 11th and 12th.

Another three laps later, green flag pit stops ensued as Reddick pitted his No. 45 Draft Kings Network Toyota TRD Camry. Bell would follow suit to pit along with Byron and Haley, both of whom made contact as Byron was trying to exit his pit stall while Haley was trying to enter his. Soon after, a bevy of names that included Wallace, Todd Gilliland, Cindric, Larson, Keselowski, McDowell, Bowman, Buescher, Briscoe, Almendinger, Chastain, Logano, Harvick, Ty Gibbs, Harrison Burton, Larson, Cole Custer, Hamlin and Blaney pitted. Truex would then pit from the lead on Lap 132 followed by Almirola and Suarez. At the conclusion of his pit stops, Truex, who exited pit road ahead of Almirola, quickly cycled back to the lead after Elliott, who cycled into a brief lead, pitted under green.

At the halfway mark between Laps 150 and 151, Truex was leading by more than four seconds over Almirola followed by Hamlin, Blaney and Larson while Logano, Bell, Keselowski, Harvick and Austin Dillon were running in the top 10. By then, 19 of 36 starters were scored on the lead lap while names that included Briscoe, Noah Gragson, Harrison Burton, Elliott, Erik Jones, Cindric and Chastain were pinned a lap down.

Then on Lap 161, the caution flew when Erik Jones, who was a lap down, spun his No. 43 Allegiant Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Turn 4. At the moment of caution, Wallace, who was mired in 18th, had managed to remain ahead of the leader Truex, who was leading by more than four seconds over Almirola, while Briscoe, who was in 19th, had managed to emerge as the first competitor a lap down over Harrison Burton and receive the free pass to cycle back on the lead lap.

During the caution period, the lead lap field led by Truex pitted. Following the pit stops and amid mixed strategy, Almirola cycled into the lead after only opting for two fresh tires along with Larson, Logano and Harvick, all of whom also opted for two fresh tires, while Truex, Hamlin and Blaney followed suit on four fresh tires.

With 17 laps remaining in the second stage, the race restarted under green. At the start, however, trouble struck for Almirola, who veered sideways through Turns 1 and 2 before smacking the outside wall after the right-rear wheel on Almirola’s No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang was loose and preparing to come off of the car. The issue stemmed from Almirola’s two-tire pit service during the previous caution period, where the rear tire changer was unable to properly tighten the right-rear tire prior to Almirola leaving the pit box. With the caution quickly returning, Larson cycled into the lead followed by Logano, Truex, Hamlin and Harvick.

During the ensuing restart with 11 laps remaining in the second stage, the field fanned out through the first two turns and the backstretch as Larson tried to fend off Truex for the lead. Truex, however, led the following lap before Larson attempted to fight back through the frontstretch before conceding to Truex, who was running on four fresh tires. With Truex back out in front, Larson retained second ahead of Logano, Harvick and Hamlin while Blaney, Wallace and Bowman pursued. Behind, contact was made between Keselowski and Reddick, though both continued to run within the top 10.

With less than five laps remaining in the second stage, Blaney and Hamlin cracked the top five on the track while Harvick fell back to sixth. In addition, Keselowski battled 23XI Racing’s Reddick and Wallace for eighth while Truex extended his advantage to more than a second over Larson.

When the second stage concluded on Lap 185, Truex captured his third stage victory of the 2023 Cup season and second of the day after retaining the lead by eight-tenths of a second. Behind, Larson settled in second while Logano, Blaney, Hamlin, Harvick, Bowman, Keselowski, Reddick and Bell were scored in the top 10.

Under the stage break, a majority of the field led by Larson pitted while the rest that included the leader Truex, Logano, Blaney, Hamlin, Keselowski, Harrison Burton, Briscoe, Elliott, Austin Dillon and Todd Gilliland remained on the track.

With 110 laps remaining, the final stage started as Truex and Blaney occupied the front row. At the start, Truex rocketed away with the lead as the field fanned out and jostled for spots through the backstretch. With the field still fanning out and battling for spots for a full lap, Blaney retained second over teammate Logano while Keselowski and Hamlin were in the top five.

Down to the final 100 laps of the event, Truex was leading by six-tenths of a second over Blaney followed by Logano, Keselowski and Larson while Hamlin, Austin Dillon, Briscoe, Burton and Wallace were in the top 10. A lap later, Bell moved up to ninth followed by Burton while Wallace fell back to 11th in front of Harvick, Elliott, Buescher and Ryan Preece while Chastain, McDowell, Bowman, Reddick and Ty Gibbs were mired in the top 20.

Fifteen laps later, Truex stabilized his advantage to less than three-tenths of a second over Blaney, who also started to close in on Truex for the top spot, while third-place Logano trailed by more than two seconds. With Keselowski and Larson both trailed by more than three seconds within the top five, Bell was up to sixth while teammate Hamlin fell back to seventh. In addition, Wallace moved back up into eighth as he was running in between Briscoe and Harvick while Elliott was in 13th behind Austin Dillon and Burton.

With less than 75 laps later, Truex slightly stretched his advantage to seven-tenths of a second over Blaney followed by third-place Logano, who trailed by more than three seconds, as Keselowski and Larson remained in the top five.

Then with 66 laps remaining, green flag pit stops commenced as Blaney pitted his No. 12 Menards Ford Mustang from the runner-up spot. The following lap, Truex surrendered the lead to pit followed by Larson as McDowell, Bowman, Hamlin, Reddick, Elliott, Chastain, Gilliland, Stenhouse, also pitted. By the time Truex completed his pit service, he managed to blend back on the track and remain ahead of Blaney on the track. Meanwhile, more pit stops ensued as Keselowski, Wallace, Briscoe, Burton, Buescher, Ty Gibbs, Allmendinger, Bell, Haley and Logano, who briefly led, also pitted under green.

With nearly the entire field having made a pit stop, with Harvick and Byron being the last two, Austin Dillon, who assumed the lead on Lap 245 and is faced in a “must-win” situation to make the Playoffs, was leading by more than seven seconds over Truex with 50 laps remaining. Dillon, however, was placed in a position where he still has to make a pit stop to finish the race. Once Dillon pitted his No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 under green with 44 laps remaining, Truex cycled back into the lead while Blaney and Larson followed suit in the top three.

With 35 laps remaining, Truex, who was mired within lapped traffic, was leading by more than two seconds over both Blaney and Larson, both of whom were trying to gain ground on Truex late in the event, while Logano and Bell both trailed by more than five seconds in the top five. By then, Hamlin was in sixth while Keselowski, Wallace, Briscoe and Reddick were in the top 10.

Three laps later, however, the caution flew when Noah Gragson blew a right-front tire and went dead straight into the Turn 1 outside wall after the Las Vegas, Nevada, native reported a potential brake rotor issue to his No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. At the moment of caution, Larson had overtaken Blaney for the runner-up spot as both were trailing the leader Truex by more than three seconds.

During the caution period, nearly the entire field led by Truex pitted while Harvick and Austin Dillon, both of whom pitted later than the majority of the lead lap field during the latest green flag pit stop cycle, remained on the track. Following the pit stops, Truex exited first followed by Larson, Blaney, Logano, Hamlin and Briscoe, all of whom were among some who opted for two fresh tires while the rest opted for four fresh tires. Amid the pit stops, Blaney was penalized and sent to the rear of the field for running over his air hose while exiting his pit stall.

When the race restarted with 24 laps remaining, Harvick jumped ahead with the lead followed by Truex as Austin Dillon struggled to launch. Truex then quickly reassumed the lead from Harvick entering the backstretch as Logano made his way up to the runner-up spot. With the field behind fanning out and jostling for late positions, Larson and Harvick battled for third during the following lap while Austin Dillon and Reddick battled for fifth.

Then amid the battles, the caution returned with 22 laps remaining when Ty Gibbs sent Alex Bowman sideways entering the backstretch before Bowman was able to straighten his No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 after getting hit by Erik Jones while the rest of the competitors running within the midfield scattered to avoid the carnage.

During the proceeding restart with 16 laps remaining, Truex pulled away from Logano to retain the lead as Harvick tried to battle and overtake Logano for the runner-up spot. As Chastain went wide through Turns 3 and 4 amid the field fanning out, Truex retained the lead by two-tenths of a second over Logano while Larson overtook Harvick for third with 15 laps remaining. The caution, however, quickly returned with 14 laps remaining when Bell, who was looking to cap off his roller coaster afternoon within the top 10 as he was running in eighth, got loose entering Turns 3 and 4 and smacked the outside wall as he damaged the right rear of his pole-winning car.

With the race restarting with nine laps remaining, Truex retained the lead after another strong start on the inside lane while Logano, who opted to restart behind Truex on the inside lane instead of alongside Logano on the outside lane, battled and overtook Larson for the runner-up spot. With the field fanning out to multiple lanes, Harvick and Reddick battled for fourth as Keselowski tried to join the battle.

Down to the final five laps of the event, Truex was leading by eight-tenths of a second over Logano while Larson, Harvick and Keselowski were in the top five amid a series of late on-track battles ensuing behind.

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Truex remained as the leader by six-tenths of a second over a hard-charging Logano. With Logano gaining more ground in his No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang around the New Hampshire circuit for a final time, he ran out of time as Truex managed to cycle his Toyota back to the frontstretch and beat Logano by less than four-tenths of a second to capture his third checkered flag of the 2023 Cup season.

With his third victory of the 2023 season and his first ever at New Hampshire, Truex notched his 34th career win in NASCAR’s premier series and his 15th while driving the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. The New Hampshire victory also marked his second of the season occurring on a Monday after he also won at Dover Motor Speedway in April on Monday due to precipitation postponing the event from its original start time on Sunday.

“What we’ve been able to do here over the years is pretty remarkable and to not win was really getting frustrating,” Truex said on USA Network. “[Crew chief] James [Small] and I talked about it many times. We thought about it all weekend, talked about it with [teammate] Christopher [Bell] before the race. He was like, ‘Man, you’ve led more laps here than I have been racing Cup’. Just really awesome by everybody. What a race car we had today. Just proud of the whole team. Pit stops were flawless, race car was unbelievable. We had some challenges at times throughout the race and it was a handful at times, but we kept our heads down, kept digging. Man, this is feeling really, really good to do what we did today and finally cap it off with a lobster.”

“I sat in Turn 1 with my mom [when I was eight years old],” Truex added. “This is the first big track I ever came to with my dad and watched, and first time I’d ever seen Cup cars in person and [Xfinity] cars in person. It’s been a special place for [my family] and being able to win K&N [Series], being able to win in the [Xfinity] Series, this one’s been eluding me for a long, long time. Just really, really happy. Really thankful. [I] Can’t say enough about my team. Man, they’re incredible. I’m the lucky guy to drive these things. This one’s sweet.”

While Truex celebrated in Victory Lane, Logano ended up in the runner-up spot for the third time this season while Larson came home in third place for his ninth top-five result of the season.

“Man, I thought I would have something [for Truex],” Logano said. “Right before that caution came out, two cautions to the end when we had tires on it, it seemed like [Truex] took a few laps to get going. I was running him down. I was like, ‘Man, I got a chance here’. That caution came out right when I was thinking I could make a move on the outside into [Turn] 3 and then, it seemed like the cycles helped him get his pressures up to where he can fire and be pretty quick the last couple of restarts. Dang it. [New Hampshire]’s a home track. There’s no place you want to win more than that. It stings a lot to not get the Shell/Pennzoil Ford into Victory Lane, but gosh, second just sucks sometimes. It stings the most when you’re that close, feeling like you had a shot at it, but still a good day for us.”

“We had a shot [when I] lined up on the front row at the end of one of these Cup races, so that’s a great day,” Larson said. “It was a fun, hot race. [I] Came away with a top three [finish] at a track that doesn’t really suit me or Hendrick Motorsports.”

Meanwhile, Kevin Harvick executed his late gamble to remain on the track on worn tires to perfection as he finished fourth for his fifth top-five result of the season and in his 40th and final Cup career start at New Hampshire.

“We were fortunate that we had pitted late and were able to stay out and kind of salvage something there at the end,” Harvick said. “[The team] did a good job. We were just a little bit too loose to start the race and it took us a couple of laps to get going on the restarts. We definitely didn’t dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s, but we did a pretty good job all weekend. Just a couple of little things.”

Keselowski posted his fourth top-five result of the season by finishing fifth while Reddick, Hamlin, Bubba Wallace, Austin Dillon and Chase Briscoe finished in the top 10.

Notably, Elliott finished 12th in between Erik Jones and Michael McDowell, Bowman rallied to finish 14th, Suarez ended up 16th, Blaney settled in 22nd in front of Chastain after never recovering from his late pit road penalty, Byron ended up 24th, Ty Gibbs fell back to 27th after hitting the wall prior to the final lap and Bell settled in 29th. In addition, Ryan Newman finished 30th in his second Cup Series start of the season while driving for Rick Ware Racing.

There were 13 lead changes for nine different leaders. The race featured eight cautions for 41 laps. In addition, 27 of 36 starters finished on the lead lap.

With six regular-season events remaining of this year’s Cup Series schedule, Martin Truex Jr. leads the regular-season standings by 17 points over William Byron, 62 over Christopher Bell, 66 over Denny Hamlin, 74 over Kyle Busch and 78 over Ross Chastain.

William Byron, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Ross Chastain, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, Joey Logano and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are currently guaranteed spots for the 2023 Cup Series Playoffs based on winning at least once throughout the regular-season stretch. Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, Bubba Wallace and Michael McDowell currently occupy the remaining vacant spots in the Playoffs based on points, with McDowell occupying the 16th and final vacant spot by a single point over Daniel Suarez, 20 over AJ Allmendinger, 41 over rookie Ty Gibbs, 42 over Alex Bowman, 46 over Justin Haley, 51 over Austin Cindric and 60 over Chase Elliott.

Results.

1. Martin Truex Jr., 254 laps led, Stage 1 & 2 winner

2. Joey Logano, two laps led

3. Kyle Larson, six laps led

4. Kevin Harvick, 10 laps led

5. Brad Keselowski

6. Tyler Reddick

7. Denny Hamlin

8. Bubba Wallace

9. Austin Dillon, 12 laps led

10. Chase Briscoe

11. Erik Jones

12. Chase Elliott

13. Michael McDowell

14. Alex Bowman

15. Chris Buescher

16. Daniel Suarez

17. Justin Haley

18. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., three laps led

19. AJ Allmendinger

20. Harrison Burton

21. Todd Gilliland

22. Ryan Blaney

23. Ross Chastain

24. William Byron, nine laps led

25. Austin Cindric

26. Ty Dillon

27. Ty Gibbs

28. Ryan Preece, one lap down

29. Christopher Bell, two laps down, one lap led

30. Ryan Newman, two laps down

31. BJ McLeod, six laps down

32. Noah Gragson – OUT, Accident

33. Corey LaJoie, 125 laps down

34. Aric Almirola – OUT, Accident, four laps led

35. Cole Custer – OUT, Accident

36. Kyle Busch – OUT, Accident

Next on the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the series’ lone event of this season to Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The event is scheduled to occur next Sunday, July 23, at 2:30 p.m. ET on USA Network.

Keselowski Earns Solid Top-5 at Loudon in BuildSubmarines.com Ford

No. 6 Earns Stage Two Points, Picks Up another Top-5

LOUDON, N.H. (July 17, 2023) – Brad Keselowski fought his way to fifth-place finish Monday in the BuildSubmarines.com Ford at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, his fourth top five effort of the season.

“There were a handful of cars that were really just good on the short runs – we were one of them – and some that were really good on the long run than the short run,” Keselowski said after the race. “You just have to capitalize and you saw that on the restarts, where they got really wild – three and four wide.

“We were able to capitalize. We’re clawing – just clawing. We know we’re not fast enough on these types of tracks to win, but we’re getting everything we can out of these days.”

The two-time Loudon winner began the day inside the top-10, and virtually never left once he worked back into the top-10 following stage one. The 301-lap race was moved to Monday after persistent rain Sunday in the New England area, the fourth-straight week to affect action for the Cup Series.

After finishing the opening stage in 12th, Keselowski restarted eighth for stage two at lap 77. A green-flag pit cycle broke up the stage with Keselowski’s stop coming at lap 128 from the seventh spot. The green-flag run held on all the way to lap 162 when the No. 6 ran eighth. Another caution followed right after, this time with Keselowski staying out.

He restarted eighth with 11 to go in the second stage, and finished it there, earning stage points. With the pit stop just prior, Keselowski stayed out in the stage break as mixed strategies were deployed throughout the field.

He restarted fifth at lap 191 for the final stage, and by lap 232 had worked his way up to fourth. Another green-flag pit cycle began at that point with Keselowski pitting at lap 237 in what would be one of the fastest stops on the day for the BuildSubmarines.com team.

The green-flag run stretched all the way to lap 270 when the first of three yellows in the final 31 laps was displayed. Keselowski was seventh at the time of the caution, and elected to take four fresh tires, while eight other cars in front took only two fresh tires.

The strategy ultimately paid off as Keselowski carved his way through two more restarts – one with 16 laps remaining from the ninth spot – and the final with nine laps remaining from sixth – to record the fifth-place effort.

Up Next

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Pocono Raceway next for its lone race date of the season. Race coverage Sunday afternoon is set for 2:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, with radio coverage on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Buescher Finishes 15th in Wild Ending in Loudon

Fastenal Ford Earns 14th Top-15 Result of Season

LOUDON, N.H. (July 17, 2023) – Chris Buescher and the No. 17 Fastenal team put together another solid effort and result in Monday’s postponed race from New Hampshire Motor Speedway, finishing 15th after a chaotic ending.

Monday’s race was postponed from Sunday’s slot after persistent rains in the New England area. Buescher began the day from the 26th position, but wasted no time rising from there, spending more than half of the afternoon inside the top-15.

Following a fairly uneventful stage one that saw just one caution and Buescher finish 17th, the No. 17 had to overcome a loose wheel midway through stage two. He did just that, though, driving back to a 14th-place finish by the stage two end at lap 185.

A long, green-flag run of 70+ laps allowed the field to spread out early in stage three, but three cautions would fly over the final 31 laps. Buescher sat 13th at the time of the first, and with varying strategies in play, pitted under the caution for the final time on the day.

The second caution was displayed with 20 to go, this time from the No. 48 just in front of the No. 17. Buescher had to check up to avoid him and was unfortunately scored 18th, not the position he was running when the 48 went spinning.

Despite the setback, Buescher overcame in the final 11 laps to battle back to 15th, his 14th top-15 result of the season.

Up Next

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Pocono Raceway next for its lone race date of the season. Race coverage Sunday afternoon is set for 2:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, with radio coverage on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes – NCS New Hampshire Post-Race Quotes (7.17.23)

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Crayon 301 | Monday, July 17, 2023

Ford Finishing Results:

2nd – Joey Logano

4th – Kevin Harvick

5th – Brad Keselowski

10th – Chase Briscoe

13th – Michael McDowell

15th – Chris Buescher

20th – Harrison Burton

21st – Todd Gilliland

22nd – Ryan Blaney

25th – Austin Cindric

28th – Ryan Preece

30th – Ryan Newman

34th – Aric Almirola

35th – Cole Custer

JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang – HOW MANY TOOLS IN YOUR TOOLBOX DID YOU TRY TO PULL OUT TO GET THE WIN? “I needed to go back to the store to get more tools. Not enough of them to beat the No. 19. They were fast. Gosh, I thought I had a shot to beat him right before the first caution after we put tires on – so two cautions to the end. I had a chance to roll to his outside there, right before the caution came out. That would have been my chance – if I got in front of him, I think I had him beat. But, you have to get in front of him. He just seemed to refire better the next two runs. He didn’t refire on new tires that well, but the next two he refired pretty quickly. It’s just when you’re at your home racetrack, second hurts… more than anywhere else. There is no place where I want to win more than here, and came up one spot short. That one stings, but overall I guess you still have to say it was a good day. Just mad right now.”

KEVIN HARVICK, No. 4 Busch Light Ford Mustang – “We knew we just had to get rolling on the old tires. Just rolled the bottom. Probably should have rolled the fourth lane instead of the third lane, but still a decent day. We’ll keep plugging along. This had just been a great racetrack for us – another top-five. These tracks and these fans here, especially, have been so good to me throughout the years. It’s always fun to come here.”

BRAD KESELOWSKI, No. 6 BuildSubmarines.com Ford Mustang – “There were a handful of cars that were really just good on the short runs – we were one of them – and some that were really good on the long run than the short run. Just have to capitalize. You saw that on the restarts, where they got really wild – three and four wide. We were able to capitalize. We’re clawing – just clawing. We know we’re not fast enough on these types of tracks to win, but we’re getting everything we can out of these days.”

CHASE BRISCOE, No. 14 Mobil 1 Gen G Ford Mustang – “Out of the last two or three months, it feels like a win – truthfully. At the start of the race, we weren’t really great by any means. But I said a couple weeks ago coming over here that it’s going to take awhile to figure out these cars – to learn these cars, what adjustments make the most sense and kind of what my baseline is. I felt like right there at the end, we were a seventh place car, but if we could have started the weekend there, then maybe we could have been battling for the win. So, we’re just making small steps right now and honestly to run 10th, it feels like a win – especially here. This is by far my worst racetrack. Hopefully we can continue on this. We just needed it honestly – something good to happen to us so we can get some momentum. Hopefully, this will kind of kickstart us in the right direction. Pocono is kind of the question mark just for how we’ve been running on the big tracks. Hopefully we can go there and have a good run.”

CHEVROLET NCS AT NEW HAMPSHIRE: Post-Race Notes and Quotes

NASCAR CUP SERIES
NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
CRAYON 301
TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE REPORT
JULY 17, 2023

Larson Leads Chevrolet with Podium Finish at New Hampshire

TOP TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-10 RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
3rd Kyle Larson, No. 5 Valvoline Camaro ZL1
9th Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Club Camaro ZL1

TOP-FIVE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER

  1. Martin Truex Jr. (Toyota)
  2. Joey Logano (Ford)
  3. Kyle Larson (Chevrolet)
  4. Kevin Harvick (Ford)
  5. Brad Keselowski (Ford)

The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season continues at Pocono Raceway with the HighPoint.com 400 on Sunday, July 23, at 2:30 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on the USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE QUOTES:

Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Club Camaro ZL1

Finished: 9th

“Our No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Club Chevy team fought really hard today. We didn’t have the greatest balance, but when the track changed, the car came to us a little bit and we were able to make something out of it with strategy and having a good Chevy on the long run. It was a good fight.”

Kyle Larson, No. 5 Valvoline Camaro ZL1

Finished: 3rd

What more did you need at the finish?

“Overall, it was a great race for the No. 5 Valvoline Chevy team. Honestly, I’m not sure how much work we had to do to the car. I think we were pretty good the whole race. The initial start didn’t work out and we just got stuck on the bottom. At the end of Stage One, we were able to work our way up, and then Stage Two went well. The Final Stage went good, as well. The No. 19 (Martin Truex Jr.) was the class of the field – he definitely had the car to beat. I was hoping that maybe we could get to second. It looked like his car was so good that he didn’t have to run all the way up the race track. So I was hoping if we ever got to second, we could get a shot. But it seemed like he adapted well and was able to hold off Joey (Logano). It would have been tough to get by him.

All-in-all, I felt great about my car. I think we probably had overall a third or fourth-place car, and we ended up third with it. Thank you to HENDRICKCARS.COM, Chevrolet, and to Valvoline for being on the car as a primary this week, and everyone that helps us get out on the race track each week.”

Kyle Busch, No. 8 Lenovo Camaro ZL1

Sidelined by damage sustained after making contact with the wall in Stage One.

Finished: 36th

We knew you were struggling, but it was weird to us. Was there something on the track?

“No, I’ve been lacking right-rear grip the whole time we’ve been here. Just couldn’t get the right-rear feel in the race track. You’re just going along trying to keep it under you as much as you can. It was getting late in the run, and I was trying a different line and it was just too high. I didn’t like to be that high on entry. I couldn’t give it wheel and have the right-rear stick with the lateral grip that you need.

Hate it for our No. 8 Lenovo Chevy team. Our Chevy stuff was a little off this week, at least for us anyways. We’ll get back to it at Pocono (Raceway).”

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Nutrien Ag Solutions Camaro ZL1

Finished: 19th

“Today wasn’t our day in New Hampshire. We struggled really bad in traffic all day and just couldn’t get the right adjustments to help the handling of our No. 16 Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevy. We’re definitely disappointed with our run today but we’re moving on to Pocono.”

Justin Haley, No. 31 Campers Inn RV Camaro ZL1

Finished: 17th

“We struggled the most in traffic in our No. 31 Chevy and lacked stability in the right rear. Track position was key, which made it hard to make too many adjustments for fear of losing that track position. We fought hard on that last run, and I feel like we got the most we could out of the day. Overall, I do feel like we learned quite a bit this weekend at a place that is usually one of my weaker tracks. Time to get back to work. “

Erik Jones, No. 43 Allegiant Camaro ZL1

Finished: 11th

“It was an up-and-down day for the No. 43 Allegiant Chevy team. Just started out way deep in the field and had to work our way forward. We got our Chevy better throughout the day. We had one bad run, but fortunately we ran long and ended up on the good side of it. We got some track position there with the late yellow that got us back up in the top-15. We restarted 20th and came home 11th there, so it was a good run for what we had. We’ve been getting better the last few weeks; we just have a little ways to go yet. We need to get the balance a little better. I think our speed is getting there, we just have to figure out the balance and I think we’ll be in a good spot. Thank you to Allegiant and Chevrolet. We’ll keep rolling forward.”

Daniel Suarez, No. 99 SLAM! Foundation Camaro ZL1

Finished: 16th

“It was a rollercoaster day for the No. 99 SLAM! Foundation Chevy team. In the beginning, we had track position and we were able to defend ourselves pretty decent. But once we lost track position and we lost the balance of the car a little bit in Stage Two, we just couldn’t recover. It seemed like we had some issues with the right-rear on the pit stops that cost us a lot of track position, as well. My pit crew is one of the best out there and I know that they’re going to figure it out. I’m pretty sure it was a mechanical issue and it wasn’t their problem.

All-in-all, we were expecting more, but with how many issues we had, we’ll take it.”

TEAM CHEVY RACE HIGHLIGHTS:

STAGE ONE:

· Making his 200th career NASCAR Cup Series start, William Byron and the No. 24 RaptorTough.com Camaro ZL1 team led Team Chevy to the green flag from the seventh-position in the rain-delayed Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

· The first caution of the day fell just short of the competition caution on lap 29. Varying strategies throughout pit road, crew chief Rudy Fugle called Byron in for a two-tire stop. Picking up five positions in the race off pit road, Byron took a front-row spot for the restart on lap 34.

· Byron quickly powered his Chevrolet to the top position on the restart – recording his first career laps led in NASCAR’s premier series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

· Byron went on to lead nine circuits around the 1.058-mile oval, ultimately driving his No. 24 RaptorTough.com Camaro ZL1 to a second-place finish in Stage One.

· Team Chevy Stage One: Top-10

2nd William Byron, No. 24 RaptorTough.com Camaro ZL1

8th Daniel Suarez, No. 99 SLAM! Foundation Camaro ZL1

· At the end of the opening stage, Kyle Busch made contact with that wall, resulting in right-front damage. Taking his No. 8 Lenovo Camaro ZL1 to the garage to evaluate the damage, the team was unable to make repairs, forcing Busch’s early departure from the race.

STAGE TWO:

· During the stage break caution, Byron brought his Chevrolet to pit road for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. The second car off pit road, Byron took a front-row starting spot for the beginning of Stage Two.

· Running steady in the top-three for the beginning laps of Stage Two, Byron reported to his team that he was fighting tight conditions in his Chevrolet – falling to the 11th position while the team approached the green-flag pit cycle.

· Meanwhile, Kyle Larson had worked his way up to the top-five prior to making a green-flag pit stop on lap 129. Crew chief Cliff Daniels called Larson to pit road for four tires and fuel, re-entering the field in the tenth position.

· Upon completion of the green-flag pit cycle, Larson regained a top-five running position with 25 laps remaining in Stage Two – holding onto the position until the third caution of the day fell on lap 163.

· Under the yellow, Larson was called to pit road for right-side tires only – gaining three positions on pit road to take a front-row starting position for the restart with 17 laps to go in the stage. Larson took the lead on the restart – leading six laps before settling into the second position before taking the green-white checkered flat to end Stage Two.

· Team Chevy Stage Two: Top-10

2nd Kyle Larson, No. 5 Valvoline Camaro ZL1

7th Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1

FINAL STAGE / POST-RACE NOTES:

· With many competitors staying out during the stage break, Daniels opted to bring Larson down pit road from the second position for four tires, fuel and an adjustment – taking the green flag in the 15th position for the start of the final stage.

· Among those opting to stay out during the stage break included Austin Dillon – starting the final stage from the ninth position in his No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Club Camaro ZL1.

· As green-flag pit stops cycled through for those that did not pit during the stage break, Dillon progressed to the top of the leaderboard – taking the lead with 50 laps to go. Dillon continued to pace the field until bringing his Chevrolet to pit road for a scheduled stop on lap 257 – taking four tires, fuel and a small adjustment.

· Running in the 22nd position following his green-flag pit stop, the caution fell with 31 laps to go. With the team’s pit strategy, Dillon was able to stay out for track position – taking the inside front-row position for the restart with 24 laps to go.

· Among those coming to pit road, Larson brought his No. 5 Valvoline Camaro ZL1 to pit road for right-side tires – taking the fourth position for the restart with 24 laps to go.

· After a set of cautions in the closing laps of the race, the eighth and final caution of the day fell with 13 laps remaining. Third in line at the choose cone, Larson was the first to take the inside lane – leading the field to the green flag with nine circuits remaining.

· Going green to the end, Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Valvoline Camaro ZL1 team led the Bowtie brigade to the checkered flag in the third position – his seventh top-10 finish in 13 career NASCAR Cup Series starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

· With 20 points-paying NASCAR Cup Series races complete, Chevrolet continues to lead the series in wins (12), top-fives (48), top-10s (88), stage wins (17) and laps led (2,255).


About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.