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JR Motorsports — NXS New Hampshire Preview

By
Official Release
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JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: New Hampshire Motor Speedway
RACE: Ambetter Health 200 (200 laps / 211.6 miles)
DATE: Saturday, July 15, 2023

Broadcast Information – TV: 3 p.m. ET on USA / Radio: 2:30 p.m. ET on PRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Sam Mayer
No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet

  • Sam Mayer heads up the east coast to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for his third career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at the 1.058-mile oval.
  • The Franklin, Wis. native is coming off a fifth-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway after a thrilling comeback following an on-track incident in the final stage.
  • In 27 starts on tracks measuring 1 to 1.5 miles in length in his NXS career, the young driver carries eight top-five and 17 top-10 efforts.
  • Last week’s run has kept Mayer seventh in the NXS Championship point standings with nine races remaining in the regular season.

Josh Berry
No. 8 JARRETT Chevrolet

  • Josh Berry’s two starts at New Hampshire have resulted in one top-10 finish (eighth) in 2021 and a pole position in last year’s event, in which he led 11 laps on the day.
  • At 1-mile tracks in the NXS, Berry has earned a victory (Dover Motor Speedway), four top-five and six top-10 finishes in nine career starts.
  • In Berry’s first start at NHMS in 2021, he was subbing for an injured Michael Annett and logged an eighth-place finish.
  • In two starts on 1-mile ovals this season in the NXS, Berry has one top-five and two top-10 finishes.
  • JARRETT Logistics Systems will be on the No. 8 Chevrolet for the second straight week and the fifth race this season.

Brandon Jones
No. 9 Menards/Watts Chevrolet

  • Brandon Jones has made six NXS starts at the “Magic Mile” and has scored two top-10 finishes. His best was a sixth place effort during the 2018 season.
  • In 34 starts at 1-mile ovals in the NXS, Jones has recorded one win (Phoenix 2020), four top-five and 14 top-10 finishes, while leading the field for 176 laps in total.
  • Crew chief Jason Burdett has called the shots for seven events at New Hampshire in the NXS and has recorded one win (2022), three top-five and six top-10 finishes.
  • Jones currently sits 15th in the championship point standings, 81 points under the playoff cutline with nine races remaining in the regular season.
  • Justin Allgaier
    No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet
  • Justin Allgaier heads into this weekend’s NXS event at New Hampshire as the defending race winner on the “Magic Mile.”
  • Allgaier started third and led 47 laps en route to his first victory at the New England track last season.
  • In 11 NXS starts at Loudon, Allgaier has earned three top fives and eight top 10s to accompany the victory. Additionally, Allgaier has placed third or better in the last three races in The Granite State.
  • In his NXS career on tracks between 1 and 2 miles in length, Allgaier has scored 12 wins, 74 top fives and 139 top 10s in 223 starts.

Driver Quotes

“New Hampshire is a track that we have not had the best luck at but I am looking forward to getting back there and capitalizing on all I have learned to have a good finish. My No. 1 team put together a solid car for me last week to fight back from that incident in the final stage and grab a solid fifth-place finish, so I hope we can continue on to another top-five effort while contending for the win.” – Sam Mayer

“New Hampshire has been a really strong track for us as of late, and it’s always a nice feeling coming back to a track as the defending race winner. Hopefully we can execute the same way we did here last year and come away with another victory with our BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet. I know that Jim (Pohlman, crew chief) and all the guys on this No. 7 team are ready to go, so we’ll see what we can do.” – Justin Allgaier

“We were pretty good at New Hampshire the last two seasons, getting a pole last year and running really well late into the race. It’s a tough place to race, as flat as it is, which puts a premium on how your car handles. We’ll take the JARRETT Chevrolet up there and give it our best shot this weekend, hopefully getting some consistency back to enter the playoffs with some momentum.” – Josh Berry

“New Hampshire races like a big short track with the long straightaways, tight turns and just how flat the track is overall. It’s a tough place to get around but Jason (Burdett, crew chief) and this team knows how to build a strong car for this place and I can’t wait to get there this weekend. We’re due for a good run and hopefully that starts this weekend.” – Brandon Jones

JRM Team Updates

  • JR Motorsports at New Hampshire: JR Motorsports has competed at the “Magic Mile” 43 times in the NXS. In those starts at the 1.058-mile oval, the organization has recorded one win, seven top fives and 22 top 10s. JRM comes into this race as the defending race winner after Justin Allgaier took home the checkered last season.
  • Jarrett: Is your supply chain partner real? Real people, real results, really responsive, really a partner? At Jarrett Companies, the difference is its real people. Fortune 500 companies and regional manufacturers trust Jarrett for their supply chain needs, covering: Logistics, Transportation, Warehousing, and Fleet Services across the globe. Jarrett can help you. Get on the fast track with Jarrett.
  • Souvenir Rig Signing: JRM drivers Justin Allgaier, Josh Berry, Brandon Jones and Sam Mayer will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports/Legacy MC souvenir rig on Saturday, July 15 from 12:35 p.m. – 1:05 p.m.

Mohawk Northeast Racing: Ryan Preece New Hampshire Advance

By
Official Release
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RYAN PREECE
New Hampshire Advance
No. 41 Mohawk Northeast Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Crayon 301 (Round 20 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 16
● Location: New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon
● Layout: 1.058-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 301 laps / 318.46 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 70 laps / Stage 2: 115 laps / Final Stage: 116 laps
● TV/Radio: USA / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Home Sweet Home: Ryan Preece and the No. 41 Mohawk Northeast Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) are heading home to New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, approximately two hours and 45 minutes from Preece’s hometown; Berlin, Connecticut. The Cup Series heads North for afternoon action at the 1.058-mile oval on Sunday, July 16 at 2:30 p.m. EDT on USA, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

● By The Numbers: Sunday’s Crayon 301 will mark Preece’s fourth NASCAR Cup Series start at the track. He has a best finish of 16th, which came in 2020 after starting 30th for JTG-Daugherty Racing. Preece has made five NASCAR Xfinity Series starts in his career, the first coming in 2013. In 2017, Preece started sixth and finished runner-up and in 2018, he started third and finished third.

● Modified Ace: Preece, the 2013 Whelen Modified Champion, has 26 modified starts at New Hampshire. He has one win, which came in 2021, and eight top fives, 14 top 10s and 266 laps led. He made a name for himself in the only open-wheel series sanctioned by NASCAR with 25 wins and 81 top-five finishes in 171 total starts.

● Welcome Back, Mohawk: This weekend marks the second race as the primary partner on the No. 41 SHR Ford Mustang for Mohawk Northeast. A longtime supporter of Preece, Mohawk Northeast will bring their blue, white, and red colors to New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon this weekend to continue their partnership. Mohawk Northeast Inc. is one of the premier heavy-civil contractors in the Northeast. Since 1967 Mohawk has been providing the highest-quality construction services to a wide variety of clients. Specializing in heavy highway, railroad, movable and fixed bridges, and marine construction; Mohawk has completed countless projects within the industry safely, on time, and within budget. Mohawk has the ability to self-perform all phases of construction including electrical, mechanical, structural steel repair and erection, deep foundations, pier and bulkheads, fabrication and coating (AISC & SSPC Certified), and a wide range of marine services. With an extensive fleet of cranes, barges, offshore tugboats, and many other pieces of heavy equipment, Mohawk is a well-established leader in Heavy Civil Construction. Clients include, U.S. Navy, U. S. Coast Guard, USACE, General Dynamics – Electric Boat, Connecticut DOT, Massachusetts DOT, New York DOT, Metro North Railroad, Amtrak, and various private sector clients.

● Lunch with Ryan: Media and fans are invited to Tavern on the Trax in Berlin, Connecticut on Thursday, July 13 beginning at 11:30 a.m. EDT. There will be media interviews taking place, specials and deals on food and drinks in the restaurant and a merchandise trailer stocked with Ryan Preece merchandise to purchase. Preece will participate in an autograph session, too, and some of his longtime partners, like RaceChoice, will also be on-site. Come on out for a fun-filled afternoon in support of Ryan racing at his hometrack, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, on Sunday.

● Last Weekend: The series visited Altanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway in Hampton for the second time of the season last Sunday. Preece qualified 13th on Saturday and his car came alive after the first stage of Sunday’s race. The team made adjustments and he finished Stage 2 in 10th-place, grabbing one stage point for the No. 41 team. He was running in the top 10 for most of the final stage before he got spun on Lap 179. Unfortunately, all cars were called to pit road shortly after the incident due to weather and then the race was called. Preece finished 24th.

● ARCA Menards Series West Win: In June, competitors took on Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway for the season’s second road-course race. Preece kicked off the weekend on the West Coast with a victory in the ARCA Menards Series West race on Friday afternoon. He qualified his No. 9 Bonanza Ford on the pole. From there, he dominated the race by leading 55 of 64 laps and crossed the finish line 9.675 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Sammy Smith.

● Movin’ On Up: The No. 41 SHR Ford Mustang team has continued to improve in recent weeks and have seen more and more consistency, providing a heightened sense of motivation. Preece had a career weekend at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in April, earning his first Cup Series pole and leading a career-high 135 laps. In 19 points-paying events this season, Preece has six top-15 finishes, four of which came in the last seven points-paying races: May 14 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, May 29 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, June 11 at Sonoma and July 2 at the Chicago Street Course.

● Where He Stands: Preece heads to New Hampshire 25th in the driver standings with 326 points.

● Started Things Off: Preece kicked off the 2023 season with a strong showing in the non-points Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, leading a race-high 43 laps but ultimately finishing seventh after a fuel pump issue. He has a best points-paying finish of 12th this season, which came at Phoenix Raceway in March.

Ryan Preece, Driver of the No. 41 Mohawk Northeast Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

You’re extremely proud of your New England roots, how special is it going to New Hampshire Motor Speedway, a place you went to growing up?
“I always say it’s my favorite race weekend of the year. I grew up going to the track with my father and grandfather. I had a lot of success here in the modifieds and it’s just a place I’m comfortable at. Driving in and out of the track each day still brings back a lot of memories. It’s a racers track, there’s really no place like it. Someone like me, I’ve had to fight to get where I am, and I don’t take any of it for granted and this is a place that helped me achieve my goals. There will be a lot of people at the track this weekend that I know from all my time spent there and it’s always just a really special and fun weekend for me. I’m really looking forward to it. I’m heading up early for some appearances and to see some friends and family.”

NASCAR is heading to New England this weekend and your hometrack, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, what are your thoughts heading into the weekend?
“For myself, having a lot of experience, I’ve been racing at New Hampshire since 2007, so think about 16 years of going and racing on that track. There’s a lot of places that we go to on the NASCAR Cup schedule and a lot of us drivers that are newer, I don’t want to say have a disadvantage, but we don’t have as much track time as some of the others. So, when I go to New Hampshire Motor Speedway and even though it’s been in different types of race cars, I look at this weekend as a similar opportunity as when we went to L.A. The quarter-mile background was something that really fit my style and this Next Gen car and all my laps at New Hampshire, I feel like I have a good understanding of what I need to go fast there, and obviously I hope it translates this weekend.”

Is this a race that you’ve been looking forward to and have circled on your calendar?
“Absolutely. I put in a lot of preparation at going over details with Chad (Johnston, crew chief) and amongst my team every week, but when you see places like this, you put in that extra little bit. That little bit more to make sure because, you know at the end of the day, me going to New Hampshire versus me going to Kansas is my opportunity; my opportunity to win at a place like New Hampshire is greater. Definitely, I have a really good idea and feel for what I need to get around New Hampshire Motor Speedway fast. We’ve been heading in that direction. I feel really confident with what we’re bringing that we can be a contender.”

There will be a new tire this weekend at New Hampshire, what does that do for your preparation?
“That’s a good question. For me, there are some what-ifs. You really don’t know how that tire is going to react until we do get there or I get some lap times there. They did a wheelforce test, I want to say it was a few weeks ago or a month or so ago, so there is some data there and we use the tools the best we can with not having testing for ourselves now, so that’s why going into Monday and Tuesday post-New Hampshire Motor Speedway is going to be a nice moment for our 41 team and SHR to gather more data for ourselves.”

Bad luck struck again this past weekend at Atlanta, how do you stay positive when these things happen?
“It’s a building process. I’ve built enough race cars to know that some things can happen overnight and sometimes they take time. One thing I will say is we’ve been doing a good job of executing for what we can and sometimes the chips are stacked against you with track position or whether cautions fall untimely, but you need to know within your team that everybody is pulling the rope in the same direction and that’s the case. I see the gains each week, the little gains that we make each and every week, so even though, like for example, Atlanta, 24th, but we ran top 10 a good amount of that race until it ended, and I felt like we would have been fighting in the top 10 or top five had that weather not come in. Most people are gonna see 24th, I see a day of ‘hey, we had a good handling race car, let’s continue in this direction.’”

No. 41 Mohawk Northeast Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Ryan Preece
Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Crew Chief: Chad Johnston

Hometown: Cayuga, Indiana

Car Chief: Tony Cardamone

Hometown: Bristol, Virginia

Engineer: Marc Hendricksen

Hometown: Clinton, New Jersey

Engineer: Scott Bingham

Hometown: Lawrenceville, Georgia

Spotter: Andy Houston

Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Devin Lester

Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Rear Tire Changer: Kevin Teaf

Hometown: Tallahassee, Florida

Tire Carrier: Chad Emmons

Hometown: Tyler, Texas

Jack Man: Kapil Fletcher

Hometown: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Fuel Man: Dwayne Moore

Hometown: Griffin, Georgia

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Joe Zanolini

Hometown: Sybertsville, Pennsylvania

Underneath & Interior Mechanic: Clint Leatherwood

Hometown: Rockmart, Georgia

Shock Specialist: Aaron Kuehn

Hometown: Kensington, Connecticut

Tire Specialist: Matt Ridgway

Hometown: Carrollton, Georgia

Engine Tuner: Jimmy Fife

Hometown: Orange, California

Transporter Co-Driver: David Rodrigues

Hometown: Santa Clarita, California

Transporter Co-Driver: Charlie Schleyer

Hometown: Youngsville, Pennsylvania

Toyota Racing – Weekly Preview – 07.12.23

By
Official Release
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his Week in Motorsports: July 10-16, 2023

· NCS/NXS: New Hampshire Motor Speedway – July 15-16

· NHRA: Bandimere Speedway – July 16

· ARCA: Iowa Speedway – July 15

PLANO, Texas (July 12, 2023) – It’s a busy weekend across the country in motorsports as NASCAR takes on New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the NHRA is back on track for their annual Western Swing which begins just outside of Denver at Bandimere Speedway, while the ARCA Menards Series runs at Iowa Speedway.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS

Toyota closing in on milestone NASCAR victory… After two wins over the weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Toyota sits at 597 NASCAR victories, with 175 in the NASCAR Cup Series, 195 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and 227 in the NASCAR Truck Series.

Bell one of Loudon favorites… Christopher Bell is a driver you are going to have to beat when you go to New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Bell is undefeated in NASCAR Xfinity Series competition at the track with three wins in three starts, along with an additional victory in the NASCAR Truck Series – where he has a 1.5 average finish in two starts. Bell is also the reigning winner in the NASCAR Cup Series event. The Oklahoma-native led 42 laps and won by over five seconds.

Nemechek plans to add to winning tally… John Hunter Nemechek took the lead on the final restart in Atlanta and drove away from the pack to earn his third victory of the season and add five more Playoff points to his tally. Nemechek has made two starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Loudon, with a top-five finish in his track debut in 2018.

Grala back close to home… Kaz Grala is making his first start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway since 2019, but it is sure to be an important one for him as this race is the closest event to home for the Boston-native. Grala, who is coming into Loudon off back-to-back top-15 finishes, has ran two races at his home track – earning 14th-place finishes in both events.

Toyota Xfinity Series Loudon dominance… Loudon has been a stellar place for Team Toyota. Since 2008, Toyota drivers have won 11 of the 14 Xfinity Series races they’ve competed in at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

NHRA – Top Fuel | Funny Car

Holding at 199… After a final round appearance by Justin Ashley at the series’ last race in Norwalk, Toyota continues to hold at 199 race wins in its NHRA tenure coming into Bandimere Speedway this weekend. Antron Brown is the most recent Toyota victor at the track – in 2017.

Special place for Todd… J.R. Todd has many fond memories at Bandimere Speedway. The former Funny Car world champion won his first NHRA national event in 2006 at the track, picking up the victory in Top Fuel, on his way to the Rookie of the Year title. Todd also won his first race for Kalitta Motorsports, also in Top Fuel, in 2014.

300 for Torrence… Steve Torrence hits another milestone this weekend – 300 NHRA starts. The multi-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion has 53 race wins in 83 final rounds. The Texas-native has 463 round wins.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA

Love plans to expand points lead… Jesse Love added to his points advantage in Mid-Ohio as the Toyota development driver battled through adversity to finish fourth. Love, who now leads by 43 points, has made three starts at Iowa Speedway with a best finish of seventh in 2021.

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 48,000 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 22 electrified options.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Racing: Aric Almirola New Hampshire Advance

By
Official Release
-

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

Event Overview

● Event: Crayon 301 (Round 20 of 36)

● Time/Date: 2:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 16

● Location: New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon

● Layout: 1.058-mile oval

● Laps/Miles: 301 laps/318.46 miles

● Stage Lengths: Stages 1: 70 laps / Stage 2: 115 laps / Final Stage: 116 laps

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

Notes of Interest

● Aric Almirola won the July 2021 NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. After a two-hour rain delay, he and the field battled daylight. With darkness closing in on the 1.058-mile oval, Almirola sprung to life late and pulled off the surprise victory. The win catapulted him from 27th in the standings to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year and fifth time in his career. Almirola is in the exact same points position heading into this weekend’s race.

● History at New Hampshire: While the 2021 win was his first at New Hampshire, Almirola has been on a hot streak there since joining SHR. In the last five races at “The Magic Mile,” he’s ranked fourth overall. In his first start at New Hampshire with SHR in 2018, he finished third, then 11th the following year. In 2020, he started from the pole and finished seventh before returning the next year for his first career victory at the track. Last year, Almirola started seventh and raced in and around the top-five before a mechanical issue ended his day, putting him 19 laps down. In 20 starts at New Hampshire, he has five top-10 finishes and three top-fives with 81 laps led.

● Last weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Almirola earned his second pole position at the 1.5-mile oval and his fifth pole of his career. In Sunday’s rain-shortened race, he led the first 46 laps of the 185 run before handling issues demoted the No. 10 driver to the middle of the pack. He finished 18th.

● While Almirola is seeking a victory in the NASCAR Cup Series to catapult him into the 2023 NASCAR Playoffs, the 39-year-old veteran raced his way to victory lane June 10 in the Xfinity Series race at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway.

● Driver Points: Almirola arrives at New Hampshire 27th in the driver standings, 311 points out of first.

● Almirola’s career: In 443 career NASCAR Cup Series starts, Almirola has three wins, 28 top-five finishes, 92 top-10s, five poles, and has led 1,064 laps.

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

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

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

What is it about New Hampshire that you love?

“New Hampshire is a special place to me. It was one of my very first touring series starts in the Truck Series – I think my third start in a Truck, and I ran really well. From that point forward, I just really love going there. I love going up there for the people. I think the race fans are some of the biggest race fans in our sport. It’s such a good vibe coming to the New England area in the summer and it’s just a beautiful part of the country.”

Does it give you a lot of confidence knowing you won at New Hampshire in 2021?

“It certainly does give me a lot of confidence going back to New Hampshire and to know that we are capable of winning. I get really excited about going to a place where I have notoriously run well at and, every time I show up to New Hampshire, I have just a tremendous amount of confidence. I know what I need out of my racecar. I know what I want it to feel like and so, because of those things, I just show up with the right mindset. And, if we have the car and we execute, I know we’re capable of winning. I do get excited and fired up about going to New Hampshire. It was an awesome day in 2021, and holding that lobster in victory lane and celebrating with all my team guys and knowing that that catapulted us into the playoffs gives me a lot of good memories as I get ready to go to New Hampshire this weekend, knowing that we can do that again.”

You earned your second pole at Atlanta last weekend and led the most laps of your career there. Were you disappointed that the race was cut short by the weather?

“Early in the race, we lost track position after leading the first 46 laps and then, from that point forward, we just couldn’t get the handling of the car to be where I needed it to be to get back up and battle for the lead. So we kept working on it, and then we were playing the whole lightning and rain strategy game and trying to figure out when that was going to come. We got off sequence trying to position ourselves for when the rain was going to come in and then the rain came a little bit earlier than we anticipated, and that kind of messed up our strategy. So we finished 18th with a car that was plenty capable of running the top-10 and, if we would’ve made the right adjustments and the race plays out all the way to the end, maybe we find ourselves with a shot to win.”

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

Byron to make 200th Cup career start at New Hampshire

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Competing in his sixth full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series and coming off a dramatic victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway, William Byron is bound to achieve a milestone start. By taking the green flag in this weekend’s event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will make his 200th career start in NASCAR’s premier series.

A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Byron made his inaugural presence in the Cup circuit at the start of the 2018 season, where he was assigned to pilot the iconic No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports led by former championship-winning crew chief Darian Grubb. By then, he was coming off a championship-winning season in the Xfinity Series while driving for JR Motorsports.

Rolling off the grid in 33rd place for his Cup debut during the 60th running of the Daytona 500, Byron finished 23rd after being involved in two separate incidents. After finishing no higher than 12th during the first six scheduled events, he achieved his first top-10 career result in NASCAR’s premier series after finishing eighth at Texas Motor Speedway in April. Byron’s additional spotlights during his rookie Cup campaign included a season-best sixth-place result at Pocono Raceway in July followed by an eighth-place result at Watkins Glen International in August. With an average-finishing result of 20.7 throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, however, Byron did not make the 2018 Cup Playoffs. He managed to earn a ninth-place result during the penultimate event of the season at Phoenix Raceway in November before finishing in 23rd place in the final standings and wrapping up the 2018 Cup Rookie-of-the-Year title over Bubba Wallace. By then, Byron joined Erik Jones as the only competitors to achieve rookie titles across NASCAR’s top three national touring series.

At the start of his sophomore season, Byron was paired with seven-time championship-winning crew chief Chad Knaus, who was a former crew member of the No. 24 team and had completed a 17-year run with seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson. Byron’s first run with Knaus atop the pit box started off on a strong note as the North Carolinian won his first Cup career pole for the 61st running of the Daytona 500 as he also recorded the 700th Cup pole for Chevrolet. Despite leading 44 laps, however, Byron finished 21st after being involved in a late multi-car wreck during the main event. After finishing no higher than 15th during the first six scheduled events, Byron recorded his first top-10 result of the season at Texas Motor Speedway in April after finishing sixth. Throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, Byron achieved four poles, three top-five results and nine top-10 results, which were enough for him to qualify for the 2019 Cup Playoffs.

During the 2019 Playoff’s Round of 16, Byron finished seventh, 24th and sixth, respectively, which were enough for him and the No. 24 team to transfer into the Round of 12. During the Round of 12, however, he finished 13th, 33rd and fifth, respectively, and failed to advance to the Round of 8. Despite recording a strong runner-up result behind Martin Truex Jr. at Martinsville Speedway in October, Byron concluded his sophomore Cup season in 11th place in the final standings. Overall, he achieved his first five top-five runs, his first five pole positions, tripled his top-10 results from four to 13 and improved on his average-finishing result compared to his rookie season from 22.1 to 14.9.

Byron commenced the 2020 Cup Series season on another strong note by winning the second of two Bluegreen Vacations Duel qualifying races at Daytona in February and securing the fourth-place starting spot for the 62nd running of the Daytona 500. Despite starting the 500 strong, his bid for the win came to an end past the one-quarter mark of the race when contact from pole-sitter Ricky Stenhouse Jr. sent the No. 24 Chevrolet spinning and head-on into the backstretch inside wall as he settled in last place of the 40-car field. During the first 18 Cup races of the season, Byron achieved five top-10 results and was fighting to remain inside the top-16 cutline to make the 2020 Cup Playoffs. After finishing in the top 14 in all but one of the following seven races, Byron held sole possession of the final transfer spot to the Playoffs by a mere margin over his childhood hero and teammate Jimmie Johnson.

Then during the 2020 regular-season finale at Daytona in August, Byron’s breakthrough moment in NASCAR’s premier series arrived after he fended off the field in during a two-lap shootout to claim his first Cup career win in his 98th series start and clinch a spot to the Playoffs. By then, he became the second competitor to win driving the No. 24 car alongside Jeff Gordon and the 195th different competitor to win a Cup race overall. Despite the team’s late regular-season surge, their hopes for the championship came to an end during the Round of 16 due to respective finishes of fifth, 21st and 38th, including an on-track incident at Bristol Motor Speedway in September that damaged Byron’s car and knocked him out of the race. With four top-10 results during the final eight scheduled events, Byron concluded his junior season in 14th place in the final standings. By then, he achieved one additional top-10 result, but one less top-five result from his sophomore season. He had also surpassed 100 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series.

The 2021 season featured another crew chief for Byron as veteran Ryan “Rudy” Fugle was promoted to lead the No. 24 team. The move marked a reunion between Byron and Fugle, both of whom worked together and won seven races during the 2016 Truck Series season at Kyle Busch Motorsports. Following two consecutive finishes outside the top 25 during the first two scheduled events, Byron responded back with a resounding victory at Homestead in February. The Homestead victory would serve as the first of an 11-race stretch where he finished in the top 10, which concluded after finishing fourth at Dover Motor Speedway in May before finishing 11th at Circuit of the Americas. With a total of nine top-five results and 16 top-10 results during the 26-race regular-season stretch, Byron clinched his spot to the Playoffs for a third consecutive season. Despite finishing 34th, 19th and third, respectively, during the Round of 16, he earned a transfer spot to the Round of 12 by two points. His title hopes, however, came to an end following the Round of 12 after finishing 18th, 36th and 11th, respectively. With three top-six results during the final four-scheduled events, including a runner-up result at Texas Motor Speedway in October, Byron concluded the season in 10th place in the final standings. By then, he capped off the season with a career-high 12 top-five results, 20 top-10 results and a career-best average-finishing result of 13.6.

Like the previous season, the 2022 season started off on a rough note for Byron, who finished outside the top 30 during the first two scheduled events. Nonetheless, he rallied during the following weekend at Las Vegas by finishing fifth. Another two races later, he claimed his third Cup career victory in the newly reconfigured Atlanta Motor Speedway in March after leading a race-high 111 of 325 laps. After finishing 12th and third at Circuit of the Americas and Richmond Raceway, respectively, he then recorded his second victory of the season at Martinsville Speedway in April after leading a race-high 122 of 400 laps and beating Joey Logano in a two-lap shootout. The victory made Byron the first two-time Cup winner of the 2022 season as it also marked his first time achieving multiple Cup victories in a season. Despite recording a single top-10 result (ninth at Sonoma Raceway) during the remaining 18 regular-season events of the season, the pair of victories achieved earlier in the season enabled Byron and the No. 24 team to make the Playoffs for a fourth consecutive season. Compared to his previous three seasons, Byron transferred from the Round of 16 all the way to the Round of 8 after finishing no lower than 16th throughout the first two rounds. Despite finishing no lower than 13th during the Round of 8, however, he was unable to transfer to the Championship Round. With a sixth-place result during the finale at Phoenix Raceway in November, Byron settled in a career-high sixth place in the final standings.

Currently, the 2023 Cup season is serving as a career year for Byron, who has notched a career-high four victories through the first 19-scheduled events, including this past weekend at Atlanta, where he rallied from an early pit road penalty and a spin that pinned him a lap behind to implement a late pit strategic call to move upfront and claim the lead prior to the event being called official 75 laps of its scheduled distance due to inclement weather. His other victories this season include back-to-back wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and at Phoenix Raceway in March before notching a victory at Darlington in May, where he recorded the 100th career victory for the No. 24. With two poles, eight top-five results, 11 top-10 results, 741 laps led and an average-finishing result of 11.4 to coincide with his four victories, Byron currently leads the 2023 Cup regular-season standings by 21 points over Martin Truex Jr.

Through 199 previous Cup starts, Byron has achieved eight victories, 10 poles, 34 top-five results, 73 top-10 results, 2,346 laps led and an average-finishing result of 16.0.

Byron is scheduled to make his 200th Cup Series career start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 16, with the event’s coverage to occur at 2:30 p.m. ET on USA Network.

Unleashing the Power: Auto Engine Evolution Simplified

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SM
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Photo credit: Joe Root

Unleashing the power of auto engines has been a fascinating journey through the evolution of automotive technology. Stepping into this world, you’ll discover the intricate systems that have shaped the industry and continue to drive its progress.

From the early days of the internal combustion engine to the modern era of electric and hybrid powertrains, each development has brought its own unique advancements and contributions to the world of automobiles.

As you dive deeper into the history of car engines, you’ll not only gain a better understanding of the mechanics behind these powerful machines, but also appreciate the innovation and engineering mastery that has gone into perfecting this essential component of our vehicles.

With a closer look at the milestones and breakthroughs, you can better grasp the complexities of these engines and revel in their ever-evolving capabilities to unleash raw power and improve efficiency.

Prepare yourself to embark on an exciting journey through the world of auto engines, where you’ll uncover the secrets behind the power that propels our cars on the road.

From the roaring combustion engines to the silent force of electric motors, every step along the way will fill you with awe and admiration for the relentless drive towards better performance and sustainability in transportation.

History and Evolution of Auto Engines

Your journey begins with the internal combustion engine, invented in the late 19th century. As you explore its development, you’ll see how it enabled cars to go from solely steam-powered to gasoline-fueled wonders.

The invention of the diesel engine was another game-changer, with its better efficiency and power-to-weight ratio.

Carburetors, an essential part of early internal combustion engines, mixed fuel and air to create a combustible mixture, such as a 2f carburetor. However, they eventually got replaced by electronic fuel injection systems for improved performance and fuel efficiency.

While gas and diesel engines still dominate, alternative technologies like compressed air engines are making their mark too, offering eco-friendly options.

Engine Performance and Efficiency

Horsepower and Torque

Your car’s performance depends on factors like horsepower and torque. Horsepower represents the engine’s ability to do work, while torque measures the twisting force the engine generates. Both are crucial for a powerful, efficient engine.

Acceleration and Speed

Acceleration and speed are also essential parameters in assessing engine performance. Better acceleration means a faster response to your driving needs, while top speed contributes to an exhilarating driving experience. Modern engines are designed to provide improved energy efficiency and reduced emissions without sacrificing speed or acceleration.

To maximize your engine’s performance, strive for a balance between power and efficiency, considering factors like horsepower, torque, acceleration, speed, and fuel economy.

Exploring Fuel Types

Gasoline Engines

Gasoline engines are the most common type found in today’s automobiles. They rely on gasoline, a fossil fuel, to produce power. These engines emit harmful emissions, but recent technological advances have led to cleaner gasoline engines.

Diesel Engines

Diesel engines offer better fuel economy and have historically powered much of the world’s transportation industry. Although they can be more polluting than gasoline engines, reducing sulfur and aromatics content in diesel fuel has resulted in immediate improvements across both on- and off-road fleets.

Hybrid and Electric Powertrains

As you drive into the future, you’ll likely see more hybrid and electric powertrains, which aim to reduce emissions and increase overall efficiency. Hybrid vehicles combine gasoline or diesel engines with electric motors, whereas fully electric vehicles rely solely on battery power. Embrace these technologies, and enjoy a more sustainable journey on the road ahead.

Advancements in Engine Technologies

Technological advancements in engine design have led to automotive excellence over the years. Thanks to cutting-edge technology, continuous improvement means more efficient and environmentally friendly engines.

For instance, engines nowadays incorporate Low-Temperature Combustion (LTC), distinct from traditional combustion concepts. This method leads to lower emissions, thus creating a greener driving experience for you and the environment.

As you may know, modern engines also blur the lines between spark-ignition and compression-ignition engines. Hybrid engine concepts combine the strengths of each type, resulting in engines that deliver excellent performance while meeting global emissions regulations.

Moreover, alternative fuels like ammonia also offer promising potential in powering future engines. Research shows that ammonia-fueled engines effectively reduce CO emissions, making another step towards greener vehicle technology.

Engine Modifications and Tuning

Muscle Cars and American Muscle

Muscle cars, often synonymous with American muscle, have a reputation for power and performance. Over time, engines in these cars have evolved, unleashing their true potential. One way to enhance their performance is through engine tuning, which adjusts the internal combustion engine for optimal power output.

Car Engine Upgrades

When upgrading your car’s engine, consider the following modifications:

  • Cold Air Intake: A simple way to increase horsepower and torque while improving efficiency.
  • ECU modifications: Customizing your vehicle’s engine control unit (ECU) can yield impressive power gains and maintain your car’s drivability.

Remember, as you explore the world of engine tuning and modifications, always prioritize safety and adhere to local regulations. Happy tuning!

Components and Aspects of Car Engines

Navigating the Engine

When exploring car engines, it’s essential to understand the various components that make up this complex system. The engine can be found under your vehicle’s hood, and it’s responsible for providing power to the wheels.

Key parts of an engine include the cylinders filled with air and fuel, and pistons that compress the mixture to ignite it. This process occurs within the engine’s chassis, the framework that supports and encases the engine and other vital components.

Your car’s body and hood are designed to protect the engine and provide easy access for maintenance. Always familiarize yourself with the layout of your engine, so you can navigate it safely and efficiently, whether you’re performing routine tasks or troubleshooting issues.

Safety and Emissions Regulations

In recent years, there’s been a significant push for improving safety, reducing emissions, and optimizing fuel consumption in the auto industry. As you may know, the EPA has been implementing emissions standards to control vehicle pollution since 1970.

New regulations and goals like the Biden administration’s carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035 are driving the evolution of auto engines. By staying informed and investing in cleaner, more efficient vehicles, you can contribute to a greener future.

The Future of Auto Engines

In the near future, you can expect auto engines to become more versatile and efficient as the automotive industry evolves. New technologies are being developed to meet strict fuel economy and emissions standards, pushing engine innovations to the limit.

You’ll still experience that adrenaline rush from the raw power of electric vehicles (EVs), which are gaining popularity as battery costs decrease. Embrace the excitement of driving in this fascinating, eco-friendly world of auto engines!

The Key Takeaway

In this article, you’ve explored the fascinating world of auto engines and how they’ve evolved over time. You’ve delved into the evolution of muscle car engines and how the relentless pursuit of power and performance has transformed these vehicles into roaring beasts.

You’ve also learned about the increasing shift towards electric motors, with exciting developments in EV cars bringing new technologies and options for eco-friendly transportation.

Throughout this journey, it’s evident that auto engines have come a long way since their early days, and are likely to continue evolving to meet our ever-changing needs and desires. So, remember to stay informed and embrace these technological advancements as they unfold, allowing you to understand better and appreciate the incredible world of auto engines.

Key facts: Evolution of muscle car engines, shift towards electric motors, and continuous innovation in the automotive industry.

How to Choose The Most Suitable Thai Online Casino

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SM
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Photo by Pixabay

Introduction

Virtual casinos, known as online casinos, have revolutionized the gambling industry. Online club permit speculators to access and play club games through the Web. Odds and payback percentages are typically slightly higher at online casinos than at land-based casinos. It’s possible to have a lot of fun while playing at an online casino such as Muay Thai Online, and win some cash. It’s also safe and easy to use, even if you know little about computers. Despite these facts, playing online for real money can be scary for some people.

Security and privacy

Before signing up for an account at any web-based casino, check to see that the site is safe and has all the necessary security measures. This includes using secure payment methods and the most recent SSL encryption to protect your personal information. Moreover, you ought to ensure that the club has a security strategy to safeguard your information from unapproved access or abuse. Check that the casino’s bonuses and promotions do not require you to provide personal information to third parties.

Check the Betting Expressions

Whether you’re new to online gambling clubs or an accomplished player, perusing the betting terms before tolerating any internet-based gambling club rewards is critical. It would help to learn the rules to avoid spending less money than expected. You may have to give up both your bonus and your winnings. You must meet specific wagering requirements before cashing out your rewards from an online casino. The number of wagers you need to place varies depending on the game. Blackjack and slot machines, for instance, have a lower contribution rate than video poker.

Conduct thorough background checks 

Do background research on all your options, including Muay Thai Online, to locate a reputable and secure casino. Learn about online casino game categories, bonus terms, and payout procedures. The provision of games that are not licensed is some of the most common dubious activities that can be found in phony online casinos. Players are marked as “error,” which further delays payouts for extended periods, such as weeks or months, and winners are not permitted to withdraw more than 20% of the amount they did win.

Multiple languages

The casino’s ability to be translated into your language and its games’ variety are two additional pieces of advice. On the off chance that it doesn’t give your agreeable speech, or on the other hand, assuming its delegates can’t impart in your favored language, it may be dangerous for you to convey your point across the site. This will make a hindrance to exchange. At the online casino where you want to bet, all the games you like should be available in your preferred language.

Casino accessibility

Online casinos ought to be accessible. They must be simple, have an exemplary user interface, and work with various devices. Everyone wants to gamble on their mobile phones because of the explosion of digital media. Online gambling clubs with steady cell phone applications are an incredible choice.

Conclusion

As the above list shows, there are many things to consider before choosing a new casino. Assuming every one of the crates is checked, you ought to be okay. Search for one that does if it doesn’t.

GRAMMY-NOMINIATED COUNTRY MUSIC GROUP MIDLAND TO ROCK THE PRE-RACE STAGE AT BASS PRO SHOPS NIGHT RACE

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Official Release
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Grammy-nominated country music band Midland will perform the pre-race concert prior to the green flag for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on Saturday night, Sept. 16, at Bristol Motor Speedway.

BRISTOL, Tenn. (July 11, 2023) – Grammy-nominated country music group Midland will perform the pre-race concert to kick off the popular Bass Pro Shops Night Race on Saturday, Sept. 16 (7:30 p.m., USA Network and PRN Radio) at iconic Bristol Motor Speedway. The crown jewel event serves as the elimination race during the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 16.

Midland will take the pre-race stage inside The Last Great Colosseum at 5:30 p.m. ET for a 45-minute set that will lead into Bristol’s highly-anticipated pre-race ceremonies that culminates with Cup Series stars like Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney and Kevin Harvick, among others, walking out to the tunes of their favorite music. Guests are able to add-on a Pre-Race Infield Experience for front-row action for $90 per adult and $35 for children 12-and-under until August 15, when prices increase for all tickets.

Midland, from Dripping Springs, Texas, is a powerhouse trio that plays ‘neotraditional country’. The band is comprised of front man and lead vocalist Mark Wystrach, lead guitarist/vocalist Jess Carson and bass player Cameron Duddy.

Their critically-acclaimed sound and style, which Rolling Stone called, “a mix of George Strait, Urban Cowboy and ‘70s Yacht Rock,” has pushed their hit singles up the charts at a frenetic pace since emerging on the scene.

Midland’s three studio albums have produced seven chart-topping songs, including the Grammy Award nominated “Drinkin’ Problem.” Bristol fans also will recognize some of their other hits, including “Burn Out,” “Mr. Lonely,” “Make A Little,” and “Cheatin’ Songs.” The band also gained notoriety for famously covering Jerry Reed’s “East Bound and Down” from the movie Smokey and the Bandit during the 2018 CMA Awards appearance and the band says they still perform that cover in many of their live shows.

This is the third time that Midland has performed at NASCAR races. The band also sang in March 2022 before the Echo Park Texas Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas and played earlier this year before the NASCAR All-Star Race at revitalized North Wilkesboro Speedway.

The Bass Pro Shops Night Race weekend features three nights of electrifying NASCAR Playoff action under the lights on the all-concrete half-mile that’s been called “The Holy Grail of Short Tracks.” In addition to Saturday night’s Cup Playoff race, the weekend also includes the return of Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Bristol’s high banks in the Food City 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Friday night, Sept. 15 (7:30 p.m., USA Network and PRN Radio). The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will get the fun started on Thursday night, Sept. 14, with the running of the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics (9 p.m., FS1 and MRN Radio). The ARCA Menards Series will open Thursday’s racing to make it a doubleheader night with the Bush’s Beans 200 (6 p.m., FS1 and MRN Radio).

To purchase tickets for any or all of these events at Bristol Motor Speedway, please visit the Bristol Motor Speedway website or call the BMS Ticket Sales Center at (866) 415-4158.

About Bristol Motor Speedway
Forged amid the scenic mountains of Northeast Tennessee near the Virginia state line, Bristol Motor Speedway is The Last Great Colosseum, a versatile multi-use venue that hosts major auto races, football games, concerts and many other captivating events. The facility features a 0.533-mile concrete oval race track with 28-degree corner banking and 650-feet straightaways that offers racing in several NASCAR touring series, highlighted by two major Cup Series weekends each year. In 2020, the track also served as host of the prestigious NASCAR All-Star Race, and in 2021 began converting to a temporary dirt track each spring to take the Cup Series back to its racing roots. While at the track, fans are offered a unique viewing experience courtesy of Colossus TV, the world’s largest outdoor center-hung four-sided video screen with a 540,000-watt audio system. The adjacent quarter-mile dragstrip, Bristol Dragway, offers more than 50 events annually, including the marquee NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. The Thunder Valley Amphitheatre presented by Ballad Health transforms Bristol Dragway into a premier outdoor concert venue for the world’s greatest music performers. Three football games have kicked-off inside the oval, most notably the 2016 Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol, where border rivals the University of Tennessee and Virginia Tech met before an NCAA-record crowd of 156,990. In existence since 1961, Bristol Motor Speedway was purchased in 1996 by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., a publicly traded company that is a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. For more information, please visit www.bristolmotorspeedway.com.

RFK Advance | Loudon

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Official Release
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Loudon Event Info:
Track Info: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, 1.058-mile oval
Date: Sunday, July 16
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Loudon, New Hampshire
Format: 301 laps, 318.46 miles, Stages: 70-115-116
TV: USA
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 12:05 p.m. ET, Practice (USA, NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 12:50 p.m. ET, Qualifying (USA, NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 2:30 p.m. ET, Race (USA, NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

  • The NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) makes its annual trek to the Granite State for racing action Sunday afternoon.
  • Jack Roush has nine wins all-time at the track including seven in the Cup Series.
  • Loudon stands as one of Keselowski’s best tracks on the circuit with a 10.0 average finish.

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

  • Keselowski’s first race in the BuildSubmarines.com car (dubbed the #CarWithAMission) comes in a key region for the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base. With more than 1,500 suppliers in the six-state New England region, there are hundreds of jobs available for NASCAR fans to be a part of the team that creates Navy submarines.
  • Joining BuildSubmarines.com on the car this weekend will be New England-based General Dynamics Electric Boat. Their 20,000-plus employees design, build, repair and modernize nuclear submarines.

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

Keselowski at New Hampshire
Starts: 22
Wins: 2 (2014, 2020)
Top-10s: 15
Poles: 4

  • Keselowski makes his 23rd Cup start in Loudon this weekend, a track that stands as one of his best all-time with an average finish of 10th. The Michigan native has two wins at NHMS – one in 2014, and the most recent in 2020 – with 15 top-10s, nine of which were inside the top five.
  • He most recently finished seventh there a season ago, one of four-straight top-10s there.
  • He’s led laps in 15 of his 22 Cup starts at the track with 598 led overall.
  • Keselowski has four poles at NHMS, the first coming in 2010, as well as 2013, 2014 and 2019, contributing to his 10.3 average starting position overall. Last season he qualified ninth.
  • The 2012 Cup Champion also has two wins in the Xfinity Series in Loudon, winning back-to-back races in 2012 and 2014. He earned the pole in five of his 10 NXS starts, including four-straight from 2010-14. Overall, he finished top-10 in every Xfinity race he ever ran at NHMS with an average finish of 3.8.

Buescher at New Hampshire
Starts: 9
Wins: —
Top-10s: —
Poles: —

  • Buescher makes his 10th Cup start at NHMS. In nine prior races he has a 23.4 average finish with a best result of 15th in 2019.
  • He also made two Xfinity Series starts there with a best finish of fifth in 2014.

RFK Historically at New Hampshire
Cup Wins: 7 (Jeff Burton, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000; Kurt Busch, 2004 (twice); Greg Biffle, 2008

Patriot’s Day: This weekend’s NCS event at New Hampshire is in the home territory of RFK’s co-owners, the Fenway Sports Group. FSG is based out of Boston, Massachusetts, and is located just 82 miles from New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Niner Niner: RFK has won in all three of NASCAR’s major touring series at New Hampshire, including seven times in the NCS and once each in Xfinity and the Truck Series. Jeff Burton drove the No. 99 to RFK’s first NCS win at Loudon back in 1997, while Greg Biffle earned the most recent win in 2008. Kurt Busch went to victory lane in 2000 in the trucks while Carl Edwards picked up the win in 2006 in Xfinity series action.
Four in a Row: RFK won at least one NCS race at New Hampshire in four consecutive seasons from 1997-2000, with former driver Burton taking the checkered flag on each occasion. In addition, RFK swept both races at New Hampshire in 2004 with former driver Busch.
Wicked Good Domination: Former RFK driver Burton posted one of the most dominating wins in NASCAR history at New Hampshire on Sept. 17, 2000, with Burton qualifying on the front row (second) and leading all 300 laps of the event en route to his fourth victory at the New England track. RFK has led over 100 laps in NCS action at New Hampshire on six different occasions, including leading over 150 laps four times and over 190 laps three times. All-in-all, RFK has led 1,557 laps at New Hampshire in the NCS.

RFK Loudon Wins

1997-1 Burton Cup

1998-1 Burton Cup

1999-1 Burton Cup

2000-2 Burton Cup

2004-1 Busch Cup

2004-2 Busch Cup

2008-2 Biffle Cup

2006 Edwards NXS

2000 Busch Truck

Last Time Out & Where They Stand
Atlanta: Rain shortened Sunday night’s race in Atlanta, where RFK led a combined 58 laps – the most of any organization. Brad Keselowski won the second stage and went on to finish sixth in the 185-lap official race, while Chris Buescher was originally scored 12th, but was later credited with 15th.

Points Standings (17: 11th, 6: 12th): Both RFK drivers continue to maintain their solid points position with Buescher in 11th, two points ahead of Keselowski in 12th.

By the Numbers at Loudon

Race      Win       T5           T10         Pole       Laps       Led        AvSt      AvFn     Miles

190         7              34           61           2              54466    1557       20.6        16.8        57625.0
45           1              9              19           0              8567       246         15.1        13.0        9063.8
28           1              10           18           0              5550       227         12.1        10.0        5871.9
263         9              53           98           2              68583    2030       18.6        15.2        72560.7    

Ryan Preece New Hampshire Advance (7.11.23)

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Official Release
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Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
New Hampshire Advance | Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Ryan Preece, driver of the No. 41 Mohawk Northeast Ford Mustang, was a guest earlier today on the weekly Ford Performance media Zoom call and talked about returning to his home track and hopes for this weekend as well as next week’s test session.

RYAN PREECE, No. 41 Mohawk Northeast Ford Mustang – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS GOING BACK TO YOUR ROOTS IN THE NORTHEAST? “For myself, having a lot of experience, I’ve been racing at New Hampshire since 2007, so think about 16 years of going and racing on that track. There’s a lot of places that we go to on the NASCAR Cup schedule and a lot of us drivers that are newer, I don’t want to say have a disadvantage, but we don’t have as much track time as some of the others. So, when I go to New Hampshire Motor Speedway and even though it’s been in different types of race cars, I look at this weekend as a similar opportunity as when we went to L.A. The quarter-mile background was something that really fit my style and this Next Gen car and all my laps at New Hampshire, I feel like I have a good understanding of what I need to go fast there, and obviously I hope it translates this weekend.”

A NEW TIRE THIS WEEKEND. HOW MUCH DOES THAT IMPACT YOUR SIMULATION? “That’s a good question. For me, there are some what-ifs. You really don’t know how that tire is going to react until we do get there or I get some lap times there, but they did a wheelforce test, I want to say it was a few weeks ago or a month or so ago, so there is some data there and we use the tools the best we can with not having testing for ourselves now, so that’s why going into Monday and Tuesday post-New Hampshire Motor Speedway is going to be a nice moment for our 41 team and SHR to gather more data for ourselves.”

DO YOU LOOK AT POINTS RIGHT NOW OR DO YOU JUST TALK ABOUT A STRATEGY TO WIN OR GET BETTER WEEK TO WEEK? “I think we’ve gotten better. We’ve gotten consistent, but not nearly where we want to be. I would say we’ve consistently been around the 15th spot and the next goal is top 10s, top 5s and this week at Atlanta I felt like we’ve been bringing closer cars. We’ve been bringing cars that I feel like I’m getting real comfortable with, so to go back and answer your question, this is a weekend that I feel like, similar to Martinsville, that if we execute, we bring a really fast race car, I do my job and we do everything right, we can sneak one in. I don’t think we’re not capable of winning. We’re certainly able to do that, so I would say New Hampshire, Richmond is somewhere I’m looking forward to going to and some of these road courses there are a lot of opportunities to try and be off on strategy and execute and win. I think that’s really the goal.”

IS THERE ANY DANGER OF PUTTING TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON YOURSELF OR YOUR TEAM TO DO IT THIS WEEKEND? “I’ve put pressure on myself my entire career and these guys, whether it’s my pit crew, who a lot of these guys, this is a pressure sport. If you can’t perform in a pressure situation, then you’re probably not going to continue to do this, so myself, I enjoy pressure situations and I feel really comfortable with them as well as my crew, my crew chief and also my pit crew. That’s kind of the motto and everything that we live by is performing.”

IS THIS A RACE YOU’VE HAD CIRCLED ON YOUR CALENDAR? “Absolutely. I put a lot of preparation at going over details with Chad and amongst my team every week, but when you see places like this, you put in that extra little bit, that little bit more to make sure because you know at the end of the day, me going to New Hampshire versus me going to Kansas is my opportunity to win at a place like New Hampshire is greater. Definitely, I have a really good idea and feel for what I need to get around New Hampshire Motor Speedway fast. We’ve been heading in that direction. I feel really confident with what we’re bringing that we can be a contender.”

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN DRIVING A MODIFIED VERSUS A CUP CAR AT NHMS? “From the modified standpoint, they’re restricted. They have restrictor plates. We can’t shift in those cars, but they do have 15-inch wide tires. Aerowise, they’re a lot different, but the groove and how I grew up racing at my local short tracks is very – I’ll use Stafford as an example – is very similar to how I’d want to race the Cup car at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Obviously, the Cup car I feel like in the modifieds you just try to run that outside lane, keep momentum up, you draft and slingshot. We don’t have that in the Cup cars. It’s very much like a bigger short track. Obviously, it’s one mile, but the basics of how you’d want to attack racing Stafford is very similar to how you’d want to race Loudon in a Cup car.”

WHAT ABOUT RICHMOND MAKES YOU SO CONFIDENT? “Just off of earlier this year. We didn’t have qualifying or practice and we drove up to run around the 10th-12th range, so I felt like with all the stuff that we’ve learned over the course of the past four months and the feel that I’m looking for and getting closer to that feel, we’ve definitely been putting more of an emphasis on qualifying, so if we can qualify well at Richmond, I feel like all the things and the sim sessions that we’ve had have told me that we should be able to execute and run really well at Richmond.”

THAT WILL BE THE SECOND TRACK YOU’VE BEEN TO TWICE WITH THIS TEAM. HOW MUCH DOES THAT HELP? “I think every time you go back and you have something to look at off of what you did. You within your own team and have an idea of what you fought and what your team brought with the setup – it’s definitely something that we can build on, so I think that showed. Even though we lost a cylinder at Atlanta earlier this year, I felt like in the race we had a car that I could go bottom, middle, top. I could do the things I want to do as a driver and that’s just a product of Chad Johnston and I working together and our entire team trying to find the feel that I want, so, yeah, I think when we go to places twice, we’re gonna see some big improvements.”

POCONO IS NEXT WEEK, SO HOW DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE IS THAT TRACK? “I think you’ve just got to attack that place so different, but from a driver’s standpoint, something myself as a driver, I really like the tunnel turn. I like that feeling of not necessarily being out of control, but being on the racer’s edge. I’ve always enjoyed racing there and this is no different. Chad and I, we ran the truck race together there last year and ran really well, so he knows the feel that I’m looking for and he’s had a lot more time with this Next Gen car. He’s a badass, so we’re looking forward to it.”

YOU ARE TESTING NEXT WEEK AT NHMS. HOW CRITICAL IS THAT AND WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS? “It’s an opportunity for us drivers, NASCAR and Goodyear to get it to where we can put a great show on for the fans, but have a compromise for us drivers that something that we feel is what we want for a short track package. I’ll leave it at that right now. I’m very optimistic. I’m really excited about it because this part of the sport, it’s very dynamic. We have road courses. We have intermediates. We have short tracks and we have superspeedways and this is an opportunity for me and the other drivers to shape the short track package to what could be great, and I’m excited to have a hand in that.”

WITH ONLY SIX DRIVERS IN THE TEST, IS THERE A CHANCE YOU GUYS TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU FEEL ON THE TRACK AND TRY TO GET THE RIGHT FEEL, OR IS IT MORE INDIVIDUAL BASED? “There’s definitely got to be communication between all of us and have an understanding of what we’re all trying to achieve. Myself, something we always talk about is fall off. We want, and I’ve always been a driver in the past and I’m gonna use North WIlkesboro as an example. That was probably one of the first races where I’ve ever had to go 50 percent at the beginning of a race to still have 50 percent at the end of the race. It was just a completely different way. A lot of drivers talk about the old days of you could have a guy take off and lead 15-20 laps, but he burned his stuff up and he’d pay the price and lose 5-10-20 spots, whatever it may be. That’s what we want. We want to have more tools in our toolbox to where if we don’t have the fastest car, what can I do as a driver to beat them? We just want to have more opportunities to showcase those skills.”

HOW DO YOU MENTALLY GET OVER THE CHALLENGE OF EVERYONE GIVING 100 PERCENT, BUT CIRCUMSTANCES SOMETIMES GETTING IN THE WAY AND HOLDING YOU BACK? “It’s a building process. I’ve built enough race cars to know that some things can happen overnight and sometimes they take time. One thing I will say is we’ve been doing a good job of executing for what we can and sometimes the chips are stacked against you with track position or whether cautions fall untimely, but you need to know within your team that everybody is pulling the rope in the same direction and that’s the case. I see the gains each week, the little gains that we make each and every week, so even though, like for example, Atlanta 24th but we ran top 10 a good amount of that race until it ended, and I felt like we would have been fighting in the top 10 or top 5 had that weather not come in. Most people are gonna see 24th, I see a day of ‘hey, we had a good handling race car, let’s continue in this direction.’”

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