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Carson Hocevar – O’Reilly Auto Parts 150 Race Advance

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Official Release
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O’Reilly Auto Parts 150 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (67 Laps / 151.3 Miles)
Saturday, July 8 | Lexington, Ohio | 1:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Team: No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Carson Hocevar (Portage, Michigan) | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Carson Hocevar: Twitter: @CarsonHocevar | Instagram: @CarsonHocevar | Facebook: /carsonhocevarracing | Web: www.CarsonHocevar.com

Nashville Recap: After setting the fastest lap in practice, Carson Hocevar and the No. 42 Worldwide Express team had their eyes set on taking home the trophy and the Gibson guitar in Nashville. Fortunately for the team, they were able to achieve their goal to pick up their second victory of the 2023 season. Hocevar collected 16 stage points, along with the race win, to close the gap to point leader Corey Heim.

Hocevar on Last Race at Nashville Superspeedway: “It’s so great to have this success after the beginning of the year started out so rocky. These Worldwide Express Silverados have been so fast no matter where we’ve been this year. I feel that we’re firing on all cylinders right now and this team wants it more than anyone out there.”

Heating Up: It took Carson Hocevar 58 starts to capture his first NASCAR victory. Now, just eight starts later, Hocevar is a two-time Craftsman Truck Series winner and the hottest driver in the series after his win in Nashville. The Portage, Michigan-driver has finished inside the top-five in five consecutive races and has tallied the most points in that time-span. Since his fifth-place finish at Darlington in May, Hocevar has an average finish of 3.6, the best in Truck Series competition during that span.

Hocevar at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course: In one start at Mid-Ohio, Hocevar started and finished third. He collected stage points in each stage, en route to a podium finish.

Hocevar on Saturday’s Race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course: We were so fast earlier in the year at COTA, so it really hurt that we weren’t able to finish that race. But, that gives me a lot of confidence going into Mid-Ohio this weekend that we’ll have a fast WWEX Racing Silverado yet again.”

On the Truck: Hocevar’s No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado will race with support from the WWEX group of brands, which comprises Worldwide Express, Unishippers and GlobalTranz, and offers full-service logistics expertise to more than 115,000 customers across the country.

About Niece Motorsports:

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2023, Niece Motorsports enters its eighth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Media Inquiries: media@niecemotorsports.com | www.niecemotorsports.com

About Worldwide Express:

The WWEX group of brands, which comprises Worldwide Express, Unishippers and GlobalTranz, offers full-service logistics expertise to more than 115,000 customers across the country. With access to industry-leading small package, truckload, less-than-truckload and managed transportation solutions, its customers benefit from enhanced visibility and value for their supply chains. The company is the second-largest privately held freight brokerage and largest non-retail UPS Authorized Reseller® in the U.S. , with an annual systemwide revenue nearing $5 billion through a network of company-owned, franchise and agent locations. A highly selective carrier portfolio, proprietary technology, unique data assets and business intelligence capabilities provide clients with unmatched options and flexibility to meet their shipping needs. The WWEX Racing initiative was borne of a desire to address the complex but underserved logistic needs of the performance motorsports industry, using the unique combination of capabilities offered by the three brands’ combined 80+ years of insight. To learn more about the WWEX Racing program, visit www.wwexracing.com. For media inquiries, contact racing@wwex.com.

98-year-old Marine, Iwo Jima Survivor Don Graves to Perform God Bless America Prior To NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Autotrader Echopark Automotive 400

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Official Release
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Texas Motor Speedway Executive Vice President & General Manager Mark Faber stands with 98-year-old U.S. Marine and Iwo Jima survivor Don Graves outside Graves' home in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo credit to Texas Motor Speedway).
  • Fort Worth resident made first assault of Iwo Jima on Feb. 19, 1945
  • Graves served his community as a preacher for 32 years
  • The Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 will air Sunday, September 24, at 2:30 p.m. CT on USA Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90, PRN, and 95.9 The Ranch-local)

FORT WORTH, Texas (JULY 3, 2023) – Don Graves, a 98-year-old U.S. Marine and one of a very special group of living American heroes who made the successful assault on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima during World War II, will perform God Bless America prior to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 NASCAR Cup Series playoff race Sept. 24 at Texas Motor Speedway.

The Fort Worth resident has sung God Bless America and The Star-Spangled Banner prior to numerous events but this will be his first time at a NASCAR Cup Series event with a national television audience.

“The opportunity to sing God Bless America to a national TV audience is a rare treat and I am so thrilled to be able to do it,” said Graves. “It is a great honor.”

Graves, the son of a U.S. Marine, joined the Marines the day after his 17th birthday in 1942 after being turned down, for being too young, immediately following the Pearl Harbor attack on Dec. 7, 1941. He was trained as a flame thrower and his first combat assignment was the initial attack on Iwo Jima beginning Feb. 19, 1945.

The Detroit native was one of only 18 of the 335 men of his Second Battalion, Fifth Marine Division to survive the successful 36-day assault forever memorialized by the Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph by Joe Rosenthal of the Stars and Stripes being raised atop Mount Suribachi. He was honorably discharged from the military in 1946 with the rank of corporal.

Graves became a minister in the mid-1970s and retired from preaching in 2007 after 32 years of service to the community and his parishioners.

Texas Motor Speedway Executive Vice President & General Manager Mark Faber made the invitation to Mr. Graves in person on June 22 at Graves’ home in Fort Worth.

“All of us at Texas Motor Speedway are honored to welcome a true American hero like Don Graves to sing God Bless America prior to the start of the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400,” said Faber. “We will celebrate Mr. Graves for his valiant service to his country as a U.S. Marine in World War II as well as his 32 years of service to his church and parishioners. He is a hero to us all.”

The NASCAR Playoffs weekend will be highlighted by the NASCAR Xfinity Series Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 on Saturday, September 23, 2023 (2:30 p.m. CT on USA Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90, and PRN), and the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 on Sunday, September 24, 2023 (2:30 p.m. CT on USA Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90, PRN, and 95.9 The Ranch-local).

Texas Motor Speedway’s always-busy events schedule is well underway. Upcoming 2023 events include Solar Car Challenge (July 13-15), Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 NASCAR Playoffs weekend (September 23-24), Goodguys’ Summit Racing Lone Star Nationals (September 29-October 1), Speedway Children’s Charities Smoke Show (October 11) and Gordy’s Hwy 30 Music Fest (October 19-22). The year wraps up with the family-favorite and speedway tradition Gift of Lights holiday light show.

TICKETS:

For ticket information for the September 23-24 NASCAR Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 weekend, please visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com.

MORE INFO:

Keep track of all of Texas Motor Speedway’s busy schedule by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Speedway website and TMS mobile app.

ABOUT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Texas Motor Speedway is among the largest sports stadiums in the United States and features an array of amenities such as the world’s largest TV that make it one of the premier venues in the world of sports. The 1.5-mile superspeedway located in Fort Worth hosts all three NASCAR national series as well as the NTT IndyCar Series among its various races and specialty events throughout the year. Texas Motor Speedway is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, LLC, a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. For more information, please visit texasmotorspeedway.com.

New England Native Kaz Grala Returns to Hometrack of New Hampshire Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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Grala set to return to “The Magic Mile” for the first time since 2019 to compete in the Ambetter Health 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on July 15.

By Trisha Westfall, Sam Hunt Racing
Special for New Hampshire Motor Speedway

LOUDON, N.H. – Kaz Grala, a native of Boston, Mass., will make his return to his hometrack of New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) for the first time since 2019. On Saturday, July 15, Grala will pilot the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra in the Ambetter Health 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) race at “The Magic Mile” on the hunt for the trophy and Sam Hunt Racing’s first win.

“It’s been a few years since I’ve raced at NHMS, and I’m so ready to get back there in front of my home crowd,” said Grala. “It’s always nice to see the New England race fans and how passionate they are about our sport in addition to having more of my friends and family at the track than anywhere else. The track is just over an hour from where I grew up in Massachusetts, so that makes it by far the closest track to home for me. I’m definitely going to make the most of my trip home and hopefully cap it off by finishing up front on Saturday.”

At the young age of four, Grala strapped in to a go-kart for the first time at the former F1 Boston in Massachusetts, unknowingly on his way to multiple karting championships as he continued to grow his skills behind the wheel. By the age of nine, Grala had started his journey to and from short tracks throughout the east coast, grabbing wins and championships in Bandoleros and Legend Cars, which catapulted the young talent to stock car racing at the age of 14.

Grala’s career at the grassroots level of stock car racing provided him the platform to gain experience, make a name for himself and move up the ranks from NASCAR’s local and regional levels to the NXS today. Throughout those groundbreaking years, Grala set records that still stand today including his first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win. At 18 years, one month and 26 days old, Grala became the youngest winner at Daytona International Speedway in NASCAR’s national series history.

In 2023, the 24-year-old Grala became Sam Hunt Racing’s first full-time driver in the organization’s history, piloting the No. 26 entry for all 33 races on the NXS schedule. The 2023 season also marks Grala’s first full-time season in the series. Out of 15 races, Grala has collected one top-five finish and two top-10 finishes, and he’s on the hunt for his first career NXS win and a playoff berth.

New England’s only NASCAR weekend is July 14-16 at NHMS. On-track action kicks off Friday with practice and qualifying sessions for the NXS and Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) plus Friday Night Dirt Duels presented by New England Racing Fuel at The Flat Track. The action continues with NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) qualifying, the Ambetter Health 200 NXS race and Mohegan Sun 100 NWMT race on Doubleheader Saturday and culminates with the NCS taking on “The Magic Mile” Sunday for the Crayon 301. Don’t miss all of the exciting off-track action including Trackside Live, The Groove fan hangout, concerts from Dirty Deeds and Shot of Poison, family movie night featuring “Top Gun: Maverick,” driver appearances, a variety of live performances, fireworks and much more.

For a NASCAR weekend schedule, visit NHMS.com/Events/NASCAR-Cup-Series/Schedule/.

Tickets:

Log on to NHMS.com for tickets and more information on the weekend’s lineup of action-packed racing. Tickets for Friday Night Dirt Duels presented by New England Racing Fuel start at just $25 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. Doubleheader Saturday tickets start at just $45 for adults while kids 12 and under are free. Sunday’s Crayon 301 tickets start at just $59 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under.

Follow Us:

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.

About Sam Hunt Racing

Sam Hunt Racing (SHR) is a NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team partnered with Toyota Racing Development that provides a value-packed platform for future stars. Owned and operated by 29-year-old Sam Hunt, SHR enters its third full-time season in the NXS and first season as a two-car team. In 2022, SHR hosted 10 drivers of various skill levels and captured two top-five and five top-10 finishes. The team led its first laps in the organization’s history and tied its highest qualifying effort.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE: TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through its Toyota and Lexus brands plus its 1,800 dealerships. Toyota has created a tremendous value chain and directly employs more than 47,000 in North America. The company has contributed world-class design, engineering and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks at its 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including its joint venture in Alabama that began production in 2021. Through its Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address society’s most pressing mobility challenges. Toyota believes that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Richard Childress named Grand Marshal for Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart

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Official Release
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HAMPTON, Ga. (July 3, 2023) – NASCAR Hall of Famer and legendary team owner Richard Childress will give the command to fire engines for Sunday night’s Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart.

Childress will utter the most famous words in motorsports from inside the cockpit of the No. 29 car Kevin Harvick drove to victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2001.

“To be the Grand Marshal for Atlanta, one of my favorite racetracks as a driver and a car owner, is an honor,” said Childress.

His team Richard Childress Racing has scored 15 victories at AMS across NASCAR’s three national touring series, including nine at the NASCAR Cup Series level. With Sunday night’s race starting with an RCR car leading the field during pace laps, Childress hopes the race will end the same way after 400 miles of close-quarters racing.

“We’ve had some good runs there (since the reconfiguration). We’ve won with Austin Hill (in the Xfinity Series) but now we need to win a Cup race,” said Childress.

To visit victory lane, RCR’s drivers will need to out-duel NASCAR’s best on Atlanta Motor Speedway’s challenging high banks, with superspeedway racing that will see drivers race just inches apart under the lights. With just eight races left before NASCAR’s playoffs, sparks will fly as a hungry field of drivers chases victory.

For more information on the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart weekend or to purchase tickets, fans can visit AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com or call 877-9-AMS-TIX.

About the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart:

The Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart headlines the summer slate of NASCAR racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 9. Featuring the first weekend of night racing at AMS since 2014, Atlanta’s summer NASCAR weekend comes with increased stakes with the NASCAR playoffs looming large.

Accompanying the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart is the Alsco Uniforms 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday, July 9. The summer race will challenge the rising stars of the sport to stand out and succeed on one of the circuit’s most challenging tracks.

More information on the July 7-9, 2023, Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart weekend and ticket availability can be found online at AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.

Follow Atlanta Motor Speedway:

Keep track of all of Atlanta Motor Speedway’s events by following on Twitter, Instagram, and become a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Atlanta Motor Speedway mobile app.

COLE CUSTER CLAIMS INAUGURAL CHICAGO STREET RACE WIN

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Official Release
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CHICAGO, IL – July 3, 2023 – Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer won the inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Chicago following a rain-shortened Loop 121. This weekend’s win marked Stewart-Haas Racing’s 20th NASCAR Xfinity Series victory, Custer’s second victory of the season, and the 12th of his NASCAR Xfinity Series career.

“Congratulations to Tony, Gene, Joe, Jonathan, Cole, Ford Performance, and everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing on the pole award and race win at Chicago,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Thanks to NASCAR and the France family for pushing the boundaries of our sport to create this unique street circuit. It’s an honor to compete and win this inaugural event.”

“Today, we definitely wish we could have run all the laps. We don’t want to win it this way, but at the end of the day we had a really fast car and I think everybody knew that. I think this team can compete with anybody out there and we’re really hitting our stride, and I’m really proud of JT and all the guys at the shop who have worked so hard to put us in this situation,” commented Custer.

Cole Custer qualified on the pole for Saturday’s Loop 121 race. The race was scheduled to consist of 55 laps broken into three stages. Custer led every lap of the race to win the first two stages and collect 20 bonus points and two playoff points. With 30 laps remaining, the race was postponed until Sunday due to weather. After persistent rain and water pooling on the track, Sunday’s race was called and Custer was officially declared the winner. This race marked Custer’s 10th consecutive top-10 finish of the season.

Ford Performance teammate Brett Moffitt with AM Racing finished in P7.

The NASCAR Cup Series also raced at the Chicago Street Course on Sunday. After a late start due to weather, the race was shortened from 100 laps to 75. Four Ford Performance drivers finished in the top-10: Team Penske’s Austin Cindric in P6, Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell in P7, Team Penske’s Joey Logano in P8, and Roush-Fenway Keselowski Racing’s Chris Buescher in P10.

Both the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series head to Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia this weekend.
35 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 450 WINS – 415 POLES

About Roush Yates Engines
Roush Yates Engines is a leading-edge engine development company based in Mooresville, NC consisting of two state-of-the-art facilities – Roush Yates Engines and Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions, a world class AS9100 Rev D/ISO 13485 certified CNC manufacturing facility. The company’s core business includes designing, building and testing purpose-built race engines.

Ford Performance in partnership with Roush Yates Engines is the exclusive engine builder of the NASCAR FR9 Ford V8 engine and Ford Mustang 5.2L V8 engine, used in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series.

With an unparalleled culture of winning and steeped in rich racing history, Roush Yates Engines continues to follow the company’s vision to lead performance engine innovation and staying true to the company’s mission, provide race winning engines through demonstrated power and performance.

Front Row Motorsports Chicago Street Race Report: McDowell Finishes Seventh and Gilliland 19th

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Official Release
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The NASCAR Cup Series took to the streets of Chicago, Illinois for the inaugural Grant Park 220 this past Sunday.

Starting in sixth, Michael McDowell and the No. 34 Chicago Pneumatic Ford Mustang were destined for a solid run on the 2.2-mile street course. McDowell wheeled his way to fifth to close out Stage 1 in the wet. With track conditions improved, the 34 team elected to put slicks on the Chicago Pneumatic Mustang. McDowell finished Stage 2 in fifth. NASCAR made the call to shorten the race by 25 laps, forcing teams to race aggressively in the final stage of the race. McDowell held strong and finished seventh. McDowell is now 18th in championship points standings.

After suffering a broken toe link in practice, Todd Gilliland and the No. 38 gener8tor Skills Ford Mustang qualified 25th. Starting the race on wets, Gilliland got to work early, showing speed in the gener8tor Skills Mustang and avoiding incidents. Gilliland finished Stage 1 29th. Putting on slicks to start Stage 2, Gilliland moved his way into the Top-20 and finished 16th in the stage. A shortened race brought out aggressive driving for the final stage. Gilliland fought hard and finished 19th.

Todd Gilliland, Driver No. 38 gener8tor Skills Ford Mustang:

“This was a really fun track to race, I hope NASCAR does more like it. We were super fast in practice but unfortunately broke a toe link that put us in a bad qualifying spot. Our gener8tor Skills Ford team never gave up and we came out of Chicago with a top 20.”

Michael McDowell, Driver No. 34 Chicago Pneumatic Compressors Ford Mustang:

“What a wild race – starting in a decent amount of rain and then drying out. Even when it was dry though, there were wet spots which is pretty crazy. Unfortunately, with the race being shortened, our strategy didn’t play out like we wanted. So, we ended up restarting like 18th there. Happy to pass a lot of cars to get back there, but we just didn’t quite have enough to get to the front.”

I think that the weekend was such a great opportunity to put on a really good show and I’m glad we got the race in. We all fought hard.”

The team returns to the Atlanta Motor Speedway next Sunday. The Quaker State 400 is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET on the USA Network.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

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

Sunseeker Resorts Partners with GMS Racing and Grant Enfinger at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

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Official Release
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STATESVILLE, NC (July 3rd, 2023) – GMS Racing is proud to announce a refreshed partnership with Sunseeker Resorts. Playoffs-eligible driver Grant Enfinger will pilot the Sunseeker colors on his No. 23 Chevrolet at the next NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series event in Mid-Ohio.

With much anticipation, Sunseeker Resorts will open their flagship resort in Charlotte Harbor, Florida, later this year, with a projected grand opening during the month of October. The resort will feature countless amenities such as a full golf course, restaurants, bars and lounges, pools, and retail shopping experiences.

“Sunseeker Resorts could not be more excited to partner with GMS Racing and Grant Enfinger on the No. 23 truck,” said Sunseeker Resorts President & Chief Operating Officer Micah Richins. “We thrilled about the opportunity to collaborate with GMS Racing and the opportunity to introduce fans throughout the season to our new world-class resort opening in Charlotte Harbor Florida this October.”

A two-time winner in the Truck Series this season, Enfinger will make his second start at Mid-Ohio on Saturday. In 2022, the veteran driver started 12th, earned stage points in both stages, and finished in the 11th position.

“I’m looking forward to representing Sunseeker Resorts on our No. 23 Chevy Silverado RST at Mid-Ohio. I’ve seen how hard their team has been working on this project since the start a few years ago, and it’s going to be exciting to see the grand opening later this year,” said Enfinger. “Our family loves taking trips down the coast, so their resort is definitely a destination that we have to visit soon. I encourage our fans to join in on the fun and see all they have in store for their next vacation.”

Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor is conveniently located at 4949 Tamiami Trail Charlotte Harbor, FL 33980 and is now accepting reservations beginning in October this year. For more information or to make a reservation at Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor, visit www.sunseekerresorts.com or call (833) 909-5700. For the most up-to-date news and information, please follow the hotel on Instagram @sunseekerresorts.

The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will host the 14th race of the 2023 season at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Saturday, July 8th at 1:30 PM ET. Live coverage of the O’Reilly Auto Parts 150 will be broadcasted on FS1, MRN, and Sirius XM. For more updates on GMS Racing, follow the team on social media @GMSRacingLLC. #WeAreGMS

ABOUT SUNSEEKER RESORTS:

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

ABOUT GMS RACING:

GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Truck Series operating the No. 23, No. 24, and No. 43 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs for drivers Grant Enfinger, Rajah Caruth, and Daniel Dye. Since the team was formed in 2012, GMS Racing has won five titles across multiple series, including the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Truck Series championship, the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship, as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA East championships. GMS has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. including operations for GMS Fabrication. The GMS Racing campus also houses operations for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, a team that competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

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

CORVETTE RACING AT MONZA: Title Within Reach

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Official Release
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After Le Mans win, No. 33 C8.R team can wrap up GTE Am championships

DETROIT (July 3, 2023) – Fresh off a stunning class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – its ninth since 2001 – Corvette Racing can add one more major honor this weekend with the resumption of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Depending on its finish and those of other title contenders, Corvette Racing can wrap up the GTE Am Drivers and Teams championships at the Six Hours of Spa. Nicky Catsburg, Ben Keating, Nico Varrone and the team of the No. 33 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R have won three of the first four WEC rounds to open a commanding 74-point advantage with 91 possible points remaining in the final three races of the season.

Such a position likely was incredibly optimistic for even the biggest Corvette Racing fan before the season began. Not only is this season the first for the Catsburg/Keating/Varrone trio, but it also is the in GTE Am for Corvette Racing. The new challenge hasn’t been too big for the team, which largely has nailed every pit stop and strategy call during this year’s campaign.

That was part of the story last year at Monza for the Corvette squad, which won in its debut at the circuit in the GTE Pro class. Tommy Milner and Nick Tandy were winners that day in the C8.R on a strategic masterpiece by the Corvette squad.

The team will need to rely on some of that quick and clever thinking this time around as the Corvette will carry 40 additional kilograms of “success ballast” in accordance with GTE Am sporting rules. That is due to the victory in the previous race at Le Mans, 10 kilograms for taking the runner-up spot at Spa (the race prior to Le Mans) and another 15 for leading the championship.

On a positive note, the No. 33 C8.R raced at Spa with 45 extra kilograms over its minimum weight and placed second, highlighted by a furious late-race defense by Catsburg to hold on to the second position.

The Six Hours of Monza is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. CET / 6:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, July 9. MotorTrend and MotorTrend Plus will provide both live television and streaming coverage, as will the FIA WEC app. Radio Le Mans will stream audio coverage of qualifying and the race.

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 33 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “Coming into the season, we were confident that we could compete for race wins and the championship. We knew we had a good team and a good car. But I couldn’t have expected the success we have had so far with three wins – Le Mans among that – and a chance to win the championship this early. Even though we are in this position, we cannot take anything for granted or lose focus. Fortunately I have teammates in Ben and Nico and a team behind us in Corvette Racing that won’t let that happen. Monza is a very good and fast track. We may be a little limited by the success ballast but it will not change our approach and mindset. I’m ready to get there and go for the best result we can get.”

BEN KEATING, NO. 33 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “I love Monza. On the WEC calendar, Le Mans and Monza are my best tracks. Interestingly enough in my first year at Monza in WEC, I rented a bicycle and was riding around. On the grandstand side, there is a driver development simulator company. I spent four or five hours there on a whim. At the time, my chief competitor was a Ferrari with Alessio Rivera, and in the sim he was my coach! So every year since then, I always book time. Monza is one of my best tracks, but I’ve yet to finish a race there. It’s been my unluckiest track. One year we had a blowout at 170 mph, and it blew apart the car so much that it bent the exhaust, blew the floor out and blew the hood off. Then last year, we lost brakes and flipped the car. Even though I feel really good about my performance at Monza, the track has not always loved me back. I have a lot of faith in the Corvette and the Corvette Racing team. I really feel like in this season, the team’s performance has been key to our results. This race will be no different. We’ll be carrying 40 extra kilograms for the race, but the other teams chasing us have weight, too. I’m hopeful we can clinch a championship there. It doesn’t require a podium finish but does require some points for us and the 25 and 85 cars having a bad race. With the 40 extra kilograms, it would be a lot to expect us to win. I’m not saying it’s impossible because anything is possible with this car and this team.”

NICO VARRONE, NO. 33 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “I love Monza! It’s a fast track with a lot of history. We have been doing a great job all year. I feel like the pressure from ahead of Le Mans is gone with the victory there. We will arrive at Monza with less pressure and I think enjoying the moment. We will do what we do every race – do what we do, do what we know, keep it clean, be as fast as we can and get the pit stops and strategy right. Everything will come to us after that. If we are champions in Monza, then great. But we are not going in with that mindset. We are going to do our best and trying to win.”

2023 FIA World Endurance Championship – GTE Am (After four of seven events)

Driver Standings

  1. Ben Keating/Nicky Catsburg/Nico Varrone – 133
  2. Ahmad Al Harthy/Charlie Eastwood/Michael Dinan – 59
  3. Michelle Gatting/Rahel Frey/Sarah Bovy – 56
  4. Francesco Castellacci/Thomas Flohr/Davide Rigon – 47
  5. Alessio Rovera/Lilou Wadoux/Luis Perez Companc – 43

Team Standings

  1. No. 33 Corvette Racing – 133
  2. No. 25 ORT by TF – 59
  3. No. 85 Iron Dames – 56
  4. No. 54 AF Corse – 47
  5. No 83 Richard Mille AF Corse – 43

CORVETTE RACING AT CTMP & MONZA: By the Numbers

  • 1: As in one team, one manufacturer and one model of car for 25 years of racing: Corvette Racing, Chevrolet and the Chevrolet Corvette
  • 3: Generations of Corvette Racing entries at CTMP since 2000 – Corvette C5-R (2004), Corvette C6.R (2005-13) and Corvette C7.R (2016-2019). The Corvette C8.R raced at the track for the first time last season.
  • 3: Number of GTE Am wins in four FIA WEC races this season for Nicky Catsburg, Ben Keating and Nico Varrone with the No. 33 Corvette C8.R.
  • 6: Hours difference between the IMSA team competing at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and the Corvette Racing WEC team competing at Monza on the same days.
  • 7: Number of drivers who have won races at CTMP for Corvette Racing. Johnny O’Connell (six), Jan Magnussen (five), Oliver Gavin (four), Ron Fellows (three) and Olivier Beretta (two) each have multiple wins there with the team.
  • 7: Pole positions for Corvette Racing drivers at CTMP. Oliver Gavin leads with three with Antonio Garcia (2016) being the most recent.
  • 11: Class victories at Corvette Racing at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park – all since 2001.
  • 14: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001
  • 27: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races – Baltimore, Charlotte Motor Speedway, COTA, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Daytona, Detroit, Houston, Laguna Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Miami, Mid-Ohio, Monza, Portimão, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Sonoma, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen
  • 34: Number of drivers for Corvette Racing since 1999. Ben Keating and Nico Varrone joined that list with their participation – and victory – in the 1,000 Miles of Sebring for the World Endurance Championship.
  • 125: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 113 in North America, nine at Le Mans – including two weeks ago – and three in the FIA WEC.
  • 275: Event starts by Corvette Racing since 1999.
  • 11,080.25: Number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing in its 20 previous trips to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. That represents 4,506 laps.
  • 358,144.93: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing since its inception. To put that in perspective, Corvette Racing is more than halfway to the distance traveled by Apollo 13 – the longest manned spaceflight in history: 622,268 miles. That means Corvette Racing has raced to the moon… and then some!

Corvette Racing at Monza (wins in bold)

2022

No. 64 Corvette C8.R: Tommy Milner/Nick Tandy – 1st in GTE Pro

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in nearly 80 countries with nearly 2.7 million cars and trucks sold in 2021. 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.

Burton Finishes 30th at Chicago

By
Official Release
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On a historic day for the sport of NASCAR racing, Harrison Burton and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang finished 30th, two spots better than they started,in the Grant Park 220 on the streets of Chicago.

Not only did NASCAR’s elite Cup Series race for the first time on a street course, the race victory went to a New Zealander Shane Van Gisbergen, who became the first driver since Johnny Rutherford at Daytona in 1963 to win a Cup race in his first series start. Rutherford’s win came in a points-paying qualifying race.

Sunday’s ground-breaking race was regarded as a big success for NASCAR in spite of torrential rains that delayed the start of the race and led to the race ending 22 laps shy of the advertised 100 as darkness closed in on the Windy City.

As the skies began to clear late in the afternoon, NASCAR officials elected to start the race on rain tires. Burton and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team set in to try and overcome a poor 32nd-place starting position.

The No. 21 Mustang cracked the top 25 for the first time at Lap 15 but was running 29th at the end of the first 20-lap Stage.

In Stage Two, the team executed a strategy of running long during a round of green-flag pit stops, Burton moved into the top 10 before pitting from eighth place at Lap 27. The strategy nearly paid great dividends as the caution flag flew a lap later, but it ended up being of little help as Burton wound up 26th when the second Stage ended at Lap 45.

The intensity of the race picked up as the track dried and teams switched to the faster slick tires. Adding more drama was a decision to end the race at Lap 75 due to impending darkness.

Burton ran into a tire barrier as he tried to avoid a crash ahead of him with just over 10 laps left to run. After a trip to pit road to replace a flattened tire, he returned to the track and finished 30th.

Next up for Burton and the Wood Brothers team is a Sunday night race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 9.

About Motorcraft®
Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers, independent distributors and automotive-parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty* of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Omnicraft®
Omnicraft is part of the Ford lineup of parts brands: Ford Parts, Motorcraft and Omnicraft. Omnicraft is the exclusive non-Ford/Lincoln parts brand of premium aftermarket parts. With over a century of parts heritage to build upon, Omnicraft provides excellent quality and fit and is a preferred choice of professional automotive technicians. To find out more about Omnicraft, visit www.omnicraftautoparts.com or contact your local Ford or Lincoln Dealership.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Center
Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine maintenance, serving all vehicle makes and models. Quick Lane provides a full menu of automotive services, including tires, oil change and maintenance, brakes, batteries, alternator and electrical system, air conditioning system, cooling system, transmission service, suspension and steering, wheel alignment, belts and hoses, lamps and bulbs and wiper blades plus a thorough vehicle checkup report. Service is performed by expert technicians while you wait at any of nearly 800 locations in the U.S., with evening and weekend hours available and no appointment necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, as well as connected services. Additionally, Ford is establishing leadership positions in mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 176,000 people worldwide. More information about the company, its products and Ford Credit is available at corporate.ford.com.
*See seller for limited-warranty details.

Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.

Cadillac at Monza: Focus shifts to championship

By
Official Release
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After podium finish at Le Mans, No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R is third in Hypercar standings

DETROIT (July 3, 2023) – Developing the Cadillac V-Series.R for the 24 Hours of Le Mans was key among Cadillac Racing’s objectives in the first half of the FIA World Endurance Championship. Now, with a celebrated podium finish in the centenary event, vying for the Hypercar championships is the focus.

Entering the fifth of seven races in its maiden tour of the WEC calendar, Cadillac Racing is third in the Hypercar World Endurance Manufacturers Championship and the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R trio of drivers is third in the Hypercar World Endurance Drivers Championship.

First up is the 6 Hours of Monza this weekend on the 5.793-kilometer, 11-turn (seven right, four left) Autodromo Nazionale di Monza circuit. The “Temple of Speed” is a fast-flowing circuit, with tight, technical corners separated by the lengthy straights during which “you can stretch your legs,” according to Richard Westbrook, who co-drives the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R with Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn.

A 13-car Hypercar field is augmented by LMP2 and LMGTE Am categories for a 36-car lineup at the famous Italian road course.

“I’ve competed in Hypercar there before and many times in GT, and I think it will really suit our Cadillac,” Westbrook said. “(Tire) degradation can be quite high and that’s been a plus of our car so far.”

At Le Mans, the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R continued its consistent run of top-five finishes with its first podium. Third place after qualifying sixth energized the entire Cadillac Racing camp. The sister No. 3 Cadillac V-Series.R, co-driven by Sebastien Bourdais, Renger van der Zande and Scott Dixon, placed fourth, and the No. 311 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R with Pipo Derani, Alexander Sims and Jack Aitken sharing the seat soldiered on to place 10th in class after an early race mishap.

MotorTrend will telecast the race live in the U.S. starting at 6:30 a.m. ET Sunday, July 9. Discovery Velocity holds the rights for Canadian broadcast, while Eurosport and L’Equipe will broadcast to much of Europe. RadioLeMans.com will also call the action.

Fans can also get a driver’s view of the action via the live No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R in-car camera. HERE.

What they’re saying

No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R

Alex Lynn: “It’s going to be great racing again in the World Endurance Championship, taking a lot of momentum to Monza from our overall podium at Le Mans. There is no doubt that it was a big occasion for us as a team and for Cadillac and the brand-new car that we’re all enjoying racing. Monza is a great race to get into straight off of Le Mans. Beautiful circuit, beautiful surroundings. Exciting to get going with the guys again and win this race.”

Richard Westbrook: “I’m really looking forward to Monza coming off such a positive result for everyone at Cadillac Racing. To get an overall podium for the first time at Le Mans after being away for a long time is something that we can all be proud of. We learned so much, which we’re going to carry on forward to Monza and the rest of the season. Now, Le Mans is gone and we can focus forward. We knew where we are really strong and know where there’s a little bit where we can improve. Looking at the nature of the circuit I think it’s going to be good for us. It’s a track that I enjoy racing on. I’ve competed in Hypercar there before and many times in GT, and I think it will really suit our Cadillac. It’s a track where you can really stretch your legs and it’s important that you’re really good on the tires. Degradation can be quite high and that’s been a plus of our car so far. Looking forward to continuing the momentum.”

Earl Bamber: “I’m really enthused by the result at Le Mans and the progress we’ve made in just our first year in the WEC. It shows all the hard work that the team, Cadillac and its partners have put in, and there’s more positives to come. Monza is a great track overall and the race in the Hypercar class will be intense for the drivers and entertaining for the spectators. We’ll have to navigate the slower traffic in the tight corners, but there a long straights that will provide overtaking opportunities. I’m looking forward to returning to Monza and getting back in the seat of the No. 2 Cadillac.”

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