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Weekend schedule for Chicago Street Race

By
Angie Campbell
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The NASCAR Cup Series and the Xfinity Series travel to Chicago’s Grant Park this weekend for the inaugural Chicago street race and music festival. The Black Crowes will perform a pre-race concert Saturday before the Xfinity Series race while The Chainsmokers will close out the night after the race.

But, before The Chainsmokers take over the stage, the Cup Series drivers will be introduced as part of a special event. The fans will also be included with a crowd selfie and a group photo of the Cup Series drivers to commemorate the event.

Prior to the Cup Series Grant Park 220 race, Miranda Lambert and Charley Crockett will provide the musical entertainment.

The CRAFTSMAN Truck Series is off and will return to competition on July 8 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

NASCAR Press Pass will be available after qualifying and post-race for each series.

All times are Eastern.

Saturday, July 1

11 a.m.: Xfinity Series Practice – All entries – USA

12 Noon: Xfinity Series Qualifying
Impound (Groups A & B) Multi-Vehicle/Two Rounds
USA

1:30 p.m.: Cup Series Practice – All entries – USA

2:30 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying

Impound (Groups A & B) Multi-Vehicle/Two Rounds
USA/MRN/SiriusXM

5 p.m.: Xfinity Series race – The Loop 121
Stages 15/30/55 Laps = 121 Miles)
USA/MRN/SiriusXM
The Purse: $1,627,771

Sunday, July 2

5:30 p.m.: Cup Series Grant Park 220
Stages 20/45/100 Laps = 220 Miles
NBC/Peacock/MRN/SiriusXM
The Purse: $7,565,807

JR Motorsports — NXS Chicago Preview

By
Official Release
-

JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Chicago Street Course
RACE: The Loop 121 (55 laps / 121 miles)
DATE: Saturday, July 1, 2023

Broadcast Information – TV: 5 p.m. ET on USA / Radio: 4:30 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Sam Mayer
No. 1 Huck’s Market Chevrolet

  • Sam Mayer heads to the Chicago Street Course for the inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series street race after a strong third-place effort at Nashville Superspeedway last week.
  • In 12 starts on road courses in the NXS, the Franklin, Wis. native has recorded two top-five and eight top-10 finishes with his best (third) coming at Portland International Raceway this season.
  • Mayer is currently sitting eighth in the championship point standings, 156 markers behind the leader.

Josh Berry
No. 8 Tire Pros “Summer for Heroes” Chevrolet

  • Josh Berry heads to the Chicago Street Course this weekend on the heels of a fifth-place finish last weekend at Nashville.
  • Berry has been solid on road courses in his NXS career, earning three top-five and seven top-10 finishes in 10 starts. His best came last season at Road America with a third-place effort.
  • This week, Berry is set to run a new Tire Pros scheme as they honor their partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation.

Brandon Jones
No. 9 Menards/Little Hug Chevrolet

  • Brandon Jones has made 34 career starts on road courses in the NXS and has recorded five top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. His best finish of second came at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course in 2020.
  • Jones has a victory on a road course in his career. The 26-year-old won at Watkins Glen International during an ARCA Menards Series race last season. He started second and led the most important lap – the last one – to claim the victory.
  • Jones has made two career starts with Little Hug Fruit Barrels branding displayed on the hood and holds an average finish of 5.5 in those races.

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet

  • It’s homecoming weekend for Justin Allgaier, as the Riverton, Ill. native returns home for the NXS event on the streets of Chicago. This weekend is also a homecoming for partner BRANDT, who is headquartered in Springfield, Ill. and crew chief Jim Pohlman, who hails from Oak Lawn, Ill.
  • Allgaier has previously gone to Victory Lane twice in his homeland, taking the checkered flag at Chicagoland Speedway in 2011 and 2017.
  • In his NXS career on road courses, Allgaier has scored three combined wins, 15 top fives and 29 top 10s in 47 starts.
  • Miguel Paludo makes his return to JRM and the No. 88 for the second time this season.
  • In Paludo’s first start in 2023, the native of Nova Prata, Brazil, came home with a 13th-place finish in the March NXS event at the Circuit of the Americas.
  • In seven starts in the NXS for JRM, Paludo has scored a best finish of seventh, coming in 2021 at Daytona’s road course.
  • As in his previous seven starts for JRM, BRANDT Professional Agriculture will be on board the No. 88 for the seven-time Porsche Carrera Cup Champion.

“I am really looking forward to trying something new this weekend with the Chicago Street Course. I think we will have some challenges but I am excited to see what this course brings. Super grateful for this No. 1 team and happy to have Huck’s back on the car this weekend. Hopefully we have the chance to get them in the winner’s circle.” – Sam Mayer

“This is going to be a really special weekend, especially with it being in the home state for myself and BRANDT. To come back to Chicago and race close to home is definitely going to be a great feeling. There’s a lot of unknowns heading into the race, but hopefully, we can keep all four corners clean on our BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet and be in contention for the win when it counts.” – Justin Allgaier

“This will be an interesting weekend, to say the least. It’s a new course, the first street course I’ve ever run and the first for the Xfinity Series, and it’s in the middle of a huge city. It’s going to be wild, I think, with the way the course is laid out. Our plan is to survive and be there at the end when it counts.” – Josh Berry

“This is definitely going to be a very unique weekend. We have been working hard in the sim the last few weeks to make sure we are ready when we hit the track Saturday morning. Hopefully we can keep the car clean all race and be in contention for a good finish when it’s all said and done. This team deserves it.” – Brandon Jones

“I can’t wait to get back the wheel of this No. 88 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet for JRM. We had a really good car in our last race together at COTA, and I think that we will be even better this weekend in Chicago. Street courses are definitely unique, but I have all the confidence in my guys on this team. Hopefully we bring home a 1-2 BRANDT finish with teammate Justin Allgaier.” – Miguel Paludo

JRM Team Updates

  • JRM in Chicago: Having never raced through the streets of the “Windy City,” JR Motorsports has competed just down the road at the nearby Chicagoland Speedway a combined 48 times in the NXS. In those 48 starts, the organization has tallied three wins, 12 top fives and 25 top 10s, while pacing the field for 264 laps. The most recent winner for JRM in Chicago is Justin Allgaier. He claimed the checkered during the 2017 season.
  • Road Course Racing: JR Motorsports has competed on road courses a combined 194 times in the NXS, recording five wins, 49 top fives and 104 top 10s. The most recent win on a road course for the organization came with Kyle Larson at Watkins Glen International last season in the No. 88 Chevrolet.
  • Benefitting the Gary Sinise Foundation: During the Summer for Heroes Giving Campaign, a company-wide initiative that supports American troops, veterans, first responders and their families through unique programs designed to make a difference in the lives of everyday heroes across the country, Tire Pros customers can donate an amount of their choice on the designated Gary Sinise Foundation donation page. Donate now!

Nexus Auto Transport Sponsors NASCAR Driver Dawson Cram At Inaugural Chicago Street Race

By
Official Release
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DENVER, N.C. (June 28th, 2023) – CHK Racing is excited to officially announce a partnership with NASCAR Driver Dawson Cram and Nexus Auto Transport, to sponsor the No. 74 Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Xfinity Series The Loop 125 at the Chicago Street Course on July 1st. The partnership was developed in conjunction with The Magnifyde Agency.

“I am very excited to be a part of the inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series street race from Chicago and it is an honor to be bringing in a brand new sponsor, Nexus Auto Transport, for their first race. This unique event was created in part as a way to create new opportunities to attract new sponsors like Nexus Auto Transport, to the sport. I couldn’t think of a better partner to have for my first-ever NASCAR Xfinity Series road course race,” said Dawson Cram.

While Dawson Cram needs a dedicated, efficient team to take on the streets of Chicago, it’s the same thing at Nexus Auto Transport. The company offers car shipping for personal and commercial-use across the country to all 50 states.

Whether you’re a car dealer or a family of four, it doesn’t matter. Nexus Auto Transport goes the extra mile with their easy-to-use AI-boosted car shipping calculator, to get an instant quote. They pride themselves on having a five-star support staff around the clock with personalized service.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series The Loop 125 at the Chicago Street Course will also be a home-race event for Nexus Auto Transport, with their company’s headquarters in Chicago.

Saturday’s race will also mark the debut for Dawson Cram on a road course in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The race will be Cram’s forth career-start in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, after running over 30 races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

The Nexus Auto Transport No. 74 Chevrolet Camaro will take the track from Chicago, beginning this Saturday at 5pm ET on USA Network.

For more information on Nexus Auto Transport, visit https://nexusautotransport.com/.

ABOUT NEXUS AUTO TRANSPORT

Nexus Auto Transport is an industry-leader in auto-transport services. The company is based in Chicago, IL and has been in business for over seven years, with over 90,000 cars transported, a carrier network of over 59,000, as well as over 15,000 enclosed shipments. With operations in all 50 states, Nexus Auto Transport prides itself on being the most reliable car shipping company in the industry today.

ABOUT DAWSON CRAM

Dawson Cram is a rookie in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for CHK Racing. Cram started racing in Mini Dwarf race cars in his hometown of San Diego, CA. Prior to joining the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Cram’s racing experience included various starts in legends cars, Super Trucks and late models in the Whelen All-American Series, as well as the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Cram comes from a family with deep roots in racing. His father Kevin Cram was the crew chief for driver Bill Elliott in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2000.

ABOUT THE MAGNIFYDE AGENCY

The Magnifyde Agency connects brands to exceptional marketing opportunities. After years of professional and personal experience, The Magnifyde Agency has not only found rapid success in growing brands through NASCAR’s demographics, but across a wide variety of marketing ventures.

Mahindra Tractors Racing: Chase Briscoe Chicago Street Race Advance

By
Official Release
-

CHASE BRISCOE
Chicago Street Race Advance
No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Grant Park 220 (Round 18 of 36)

● Time/Date: 5:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 2

● Location: Chicago Street Course

● Layout: 2.2-mile, 12-turn street course

● Laps/Miles: 100 laps/220 miles

● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 20 laps / Stage 2: 25 laps / Final Stage: 55 laps

● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), is set to make his 90th career NASCAR Cup Series start Sunday in the inaugural Grant Park 200. The event held on the streets of downtown Chicago will mark the first street-course race in the Cup Series’ 75-year history. Drivers will speed past some of the city’s most renowned landmarks, from Michigan Avenue to South Lake Shore Drive, with the start/finish line near Buckingham Fountain.

● Qualifying for the Grant Park 220 takes place on Saturday, and it’s where Sunday’s 100-lap race around the 2.2-mile, 12-turn temporary street circuit could very well be won. Track position will be paramount, as those starting up front are far more likely to stay up front.

● Though it will be the first time racing on a street course in the NextGen, Cup Series drivers are familiar with the left and right turns it will take to maneuver through the streets of Chicago. In his time in the Cup Series, Briscoe has made 15 road-course starts resulting in four top-10 finishes and six inside the top-15.

● The dirt racer from Mitchell, Indiana, has always felt comfortable on road courses. He’s been known to state that he drives them like he’s in a dirt car, doing his best to take advantage of braking zones and avoiding slipping the tires as he keeps his speed up. Prior to his promotion to the Cup Series, Briscoe earned his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory on the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval in 2018, and also took home the win in 2020 in the first NASCAR event held on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. In total, he’s earned two wins, four top-fives and eight top-10s in 11 Xfinity Series road-course starts.

● Last weekend at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, Briscoe reunited with his former Xfinity Series crew chief Richard Boswell. Boswell now leads the No. 14 Mahindra Tractors team after beginning the season as the crew chief of No. 98 SHR Xfinity Series entry. The pair continues to search for ways to improve the team’s performance in the second half of the season. Briscoe left the Music City with his best qualifying effort in the last six races – 18th.

Chase Briscoe, Driver of the No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

What do you expect in the first NASCAR street race?

“I truthfully have no idea. I think we’ve seen a lot of attrition on the restarts at road course races this year and with the NextGen car, so I’d expect some of that. Maybe there will be some guys that take it easy, but I would guess you’ll have some ruffled feathers at some point and that could lead to excitement.”

There are always a lot of critics when changes to the schedule are announced, and adding a street race is a big change for NASCAR. How do you feel about the addition?

“I’m excited. I wasn’t really sure how we were going to pull it off, at first, but the more we’ve prepared and the closer it’s gotten, the more excited I am to get there and see what it’s all about. I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of figuring out the new tracks and I’m ready to see what it’s really like when we get there.”

You now have a race under your belt with Richard Boswell back atop the pitbox. How are you feeling after Nashville, and what has it been like to reconnect?

“I think Nashville went well as far as building back on our relationship. Overall, we are not where we need to be and one change isn’t going to fix that. It’s also going to take time for me and Boswell to get back into a rhythm, but I feel like we’re in a good place. Now, we have to focus on the car and what is going on there that we can try to adjust. It’s clear that SHR is off from where we should be as an organization, but there’s no reason we should be finishing outside of the top-20.”

No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Chase Briscoe

Hometown: Mitchell, Indiana

Crew Chief: Richard Boswell

Hometown: Friendship, Maryland

Car Chief: J.D. Frey

Hometown: Ferndale, California

Engineer: Mike Cook

Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Spotter: Joey Campbell

Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Shayne Pipala

Hometown: Frankfort Square, Illinois

Rear Tire Changer: Dakota Ratcliff
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee

Tire Carrier: Jon Bernal
Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Jack Man: Michael Osinski

Hometown: Vestal, New York

Fuel Man: Corey Coppola

Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Stephen Gonzalez
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Interior Mechanic: Trevor Adams
Hometown: Naples, Florida

Tire Specialist: Keith Eads
Hometown: Arlington, Virginia

Engine Tuner: Jon Phillips
Hometown: Jefferson City, Missouri

Transporter Co-Driver: Todd Cable
Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Rob Fink

Hometown: Mocksville, North Carolina

Kyle Weatherman to be Sponsored by Pure Kick as Primary Sponsor for NASCAR Xfinity Series’ The Loop 121 Chicago Street Course on July 1st

By
Official Release
-

Gaffney, SC- JD Motorsports is delighted to announce that Kyle Weatherman, will be proudly supported by Pure Kick as the primary sponsor for the upcoming race, The Loop 121 Chicago Street Course, scheduled to take place on July 1st. Pure Kick, known for its hydration and energy offerings, is the go-to solution for individuals striving to excel in all aspects of life, whether it’s conquering the turns on the racetrack or performing at their best in everyday endeavors. With its precise blend of caffeine, vitamins, and electrolytes, Pure Kick provides the necessary boost without the added sugar.

“We are thrilled to join forces with Kyle Weatherman racing on our home turf and provide his team with the kick in the glass they need to stay hydrated and secure the win,” stated a representative from Pure Kick, emphasizing their excitement about the partnership.

Weatherman, a seasoned competitor with an extensive background in the Xfinity Series, will showcase the Pure Kick branding as the primary sponsor on his No. 4 Chevrolet during the thrilling Chicago race. Known for his exceptional skills and dedication, Weatherman is poised to make a significant impact on the track, backed by the support of Pure Kick.

JD Motorsports invites fans, supporters, and race enthusiasts to join them in cheering on Kyle Weatherman as he races towards victory on July 1st. With Pure Kick as the primary sponsor, Weatherman’s No. 4 Chevrolet will represent the perfect blend of hydration, energy, and determination, setting the stage for an unforgettable performance.

Stay tuned for further updates and exciting developments as Kyle Weatherman, backed by Pure Kick and the entire JD Motorsports team, takes on the challenges of The Loop 121 Chicago Street race.

About JD Motorsports

Team owner Johnny Davis first began fielding a team in what is now the Xfinity Series in 1983 with Joe Henry Thurman as the driver. From 1983-1985, Davis and Thurman competed in 41 races and put the JD Motorsports name on the map. Although JDM has seen a sharp rise in on-track performance in the past few years, success is nothing new to this team. Years of good drivers and excellent runs have paved the way for what JDM is today. www.teamjdmotorsports.com

For all things JDM, follow along on our social media pages @JDMotorsports01. #TeamJDM #TeamJDMotorsports

Toyota Racing – Weekly Preview – 06.28.23

By
Official Release
-

This Week in Motorsports: June 26-July 2, 2023

· NCS/NXS: Chicago Street Race – July 1-2

· ARCA WEST: Irwindale Speedway – July 1

PLANO, Texas (June 28, 2023) – After much anticipation, the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series teams take on the streets of Chicago this weekend.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS

Truex continues strong performance… Martin Truex Jr. followed his Sonoma race win with another strong finish as the New Jersey-native earned a runner-up result in Nashville to expand his points lead to 18 with nine races to go in the regular season. Truex has five road course victories in his NASCAR Cup Series career, including four victories at Sonoma Raceway.

Bell desires another road course victory… Christopher Bell continued his strong season with another top-10 run in Nashville, which moved the Oklahoma-native inside the top-five in the point standings. Bell earned his first career NASCAR Cup Series win on the Daytona Road Course and added another road course win at the Charlotte ROVAL last season.

Nemechek continues to lead … John Hunter Nemechek added to his points advantage after a sixth-place finish at Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday afternoon. Nemechek, who is scheduled to participate in NASCAR Night at the Chicago Cubs game on Thursday, comes into Chicago with a nine-point advantage in the Xfinity Series standings.

Xfinity drivers with street course experience… Connor Mosack and Parker Chase enter this weekend with something that most of their competition doesn’t have – street course experience. Mosack, who makes his first of three scheduled starts with Joe Gibbs Racing, has back-to-back podium finishes in TA2 competition on the Nashville Street Course, while Chase, who will be behind the wheel of the No. 24 Toyota GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing, also has multiple podium finishes in street course competition in Detroit, Long Beach, California, and St. Petersburg, Florida.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA West

Hingorani desires a return to the winner’s circle… Sean Hingorani has had several strong runs in national ARCA competition the past several weeks, including a third-place finish on Saturday evening at Elko Speedway, but the California-native returns to ARCA West competition this weekend. Hingorani is second in the points, just 12 markers out the lead.

Stay Connected

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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.

Operating Engineers Racing: Ryan Preece Chicago Street Race Advance

By
Official Release
-

RYAN PREECE
Chicago Street Race Advance
No. 41 International Union of Operating Engineers

Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Grant Park 220 (Round 18 of 36)

● Time/Date: 5:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 2

● Location: Chicago Street Course

● Layout: 2.2-mile, 12-turn street course

● Laps/Miles: 100 laps/220 miles

● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 20 laps / Stage 2: 25 laps / Final Stage: 55 laps

● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Ryan Preece and the No. 41 International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) are headed to the inaugural Chicago Street Course this weekend for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 220. Race time is 5:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The race will take place on a 2.2-mile, 12-turn temporary street circuit surrounded by some of the city’s most well-known landmarks, featuring the start/finish line at Buckingham Fountain.

● This weekend marks the first race as the primary partner on the No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang for the IUOE. IUOE primarily represents operating engineers who work as heavy equipment operators, mechanics, pipeliners and surveyors in the construction industry, along with stationary engineers who work in operations and maintenance in building and industrial complexes, and in the service industries. Founded in 1896, the IUOE has more than 400,000 members in 106 local unions throughout the United States and Canada. The IUOE International Training & Education Center, along with over 100 local training and apprenticeship programs, ensures that IUOE members are the safest, most productive and highly skilled craft workers in North America.

● Operating Engineer members enjoy paid, on-the-job training with free classes at more than 100 local training sites and at the International Training & Education Center. The 265-acre campus near Houston is the largest and most comprehensive training facility for union operating and stationary engineers in North America. More information is available by texting “JOIN” to 41041 or at www.IUOE.org/41.

● Last Sunday, the series visited Music City for a 300-lap nighttime event at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway. The race marked Preece’s second Cup Series start at the 1.333-mile concrete oval. Preece, a two-time Truck Series winner at Nashville, qualified 25th on Saturday and fought a loose racecar during the opening two stages of Sunday’s race. Thanks to some significant adjustments, Preece was able to rally to a 16th-place finish.

● Prior to the sole open date on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule on Father’s Day weekend June 17-18, 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 Friday race by leading 55 of 64 laps and crossed the finish line 9.675 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Sammy Smith. Preece qualified 22nd for Sunday’s 110-lap Cup Series race and finished 13th.

● The No. 41 SHR Ford Mustang team has continued to improve in recent weeks and has exhibited an uptick in 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 17 points-paying events this season, Preece has five top-15 finishes, three of which came over a five-race stretch of points-paying races – May 14 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, May 29 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway and June 11 at Sonoma.

● Preece heads to Chicago 24th in the driver standings with 290 points.

● 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 IUOE Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

This weekend, you get to be a part of NASCAR history as the sport heads to downtown Chicago for its first-ever street course. Are you excited about the new challenge and the track itself?

“I am excited. Honestly, any time you get to be a part of something new and different, it’s really exciting. We got to do the same thing with North Wilkesboro earlier this season and its return to the schedule. NASCAR is trying new things and they’re making an effort to draw in new fans and change up the schedule and I appreciate that. It’s what we have to do as an industry to keep things evolving. On a street course in the middle of a city like Chicago, it’s awesome. I can’t wait to get there and see what the atmosphere is like because I think it’s going to be unlike anything we’ve seen before. This weekend will be a great event and I think the sport will gain a lot of traction.”

How do you prepare to race on a track that you’ve never been on before?

“For the most part, all of us drivers are in the same position this weekend. The simulator has been the biggest tool for me and my team. Studying what the track looks like from the seat of your racecar and having things memorized in your head before you get there. You’ve got to have those pretty well set in your brain so, when we first get on track, we can feel things out and get those shift points down. The way I see it, this race is going to be a learning process and all the track time is crucial. It’s fun, though, it’s so different and so new. For me, I’m just studying and talking with my crew chief and my team to make sure our car is in the best shape possible to get out there and be competitive right away. Those first few laps on the course are going to tell us a lot.”

What kind of expectations do you and your team have this weekend?

“I believe our team can capitalize on moments like this. I embrace new and different and I look forward to it, so I don’t get nervous or worried about it. It’s going to be really challenging but that motivates me. The racetrack is so narrow and it’s going to continually change throughout the weekend. There’s going to be a lot of beating and banging on these cars. You’ve got long straightaways that abruptly turn into 90-degree corners. I think knowing when to press on the brake and knowing when it’s safe to make a move will be important. But, the most important thing will be where you qualify. Starting position is going to be crucial, those who qualify up front will likely stay up front and it’s going to be so hard to pass. We’ve seen how hard it is to pass this season as it is, and now being on a new street course, it’s going to be even harder. There’s also going to be a lot of things taking place on the track around you, so you’ve got to listen to all the spotters and be alert about those things, too.”

No. 41 IUOE 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 County, California

Transporter Co-Driver: David Rodrigues

Hometown: Santa Clarita, California

Transporter Co-Driver: Charlie Schleyer

Hometown: Youngsville, Pennsylvania

​​CrowdStrike Racing by APR Takes Victory at Watkins Glen

By
Official Release
-
  • George Kurtz, Ben Hanley, Nolan Siegel drive No. 04 CrowdStrike ORECA-Gibson to LMP2 victory
  • Win comes two weeks after class victory for Kurtz, Algarve Pro Racing at 24 Hours of Le Mans
  • CrowdStrike Racing heads into CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa with strong momentum

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 28, 2023) – CrowdStrike Racing by Algarve Pro Racing (APR) and drivers George Kurtz, Ben Hanley and Nolan Siegel earned their first victory in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on Sunday in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen.

The trio teamed for a landmark Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) victory in the No. 04 CrowdStrike ORECA 07-Gibson. Sunday’s win unofficially moved the Kurtz and Hanley team into first place in the LMP2 Drivers Championship – a remarkable accomplishment for a program that made its debut in January for the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The weekend’s win and a runner-up finish were made doubly sweet as the CrowdStrike Racing by APR team also claimed the round of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup – made up of the WeatherTech Championship’s four long-distance races. The Watkins Glen victory came two weeks after Kurtz, Colin Braun and James Allen drove an APR ORECA to an LMP2 Pro/Am win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The CrowdStrike-sponsored prototype led seven times in the Watkins Glen race for a class-high 109 laps. Kurtz started off the day by driving from fourth at the start to first place during his 90-minute stint. Siegel and Hanley also led significant portions of the race out front with Hanley moving ahead for good with 23 laps to go.

In addition to the wins at Le Mans and Watkins Glen, Kurtz and CrowdStrike Racing are on a roll with consecutive victories in the Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS, including the competition last weekend at Virginia International Raceway.

Next up for the program is this weekend’s CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa – one of the premier GT3 races in the world. CrowdStrike by Riley will field the No. 04 CrowdStrike Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the crown jewel of SRO’s Intercontinental GT Challenge.

For more information, visit CrowdStrikeRacing.com. Follow #CrowdStrikeRacing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates.

Driver quotes after the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen

George Kurtz, No. 04 CrowdStrike ORECA 07-Gibson: “We knew we had a great car, a great team in CrowdStrike Racing by APR and a great driver line-up. We also had a good race strategy and the crew did some amazing work in the pits, and I’m delighted I was able to do the job and pass the car over to Nolan (Siegel) and Ben (Hanley) so they could do their thing. Overall, being smart, staying out of trouble and just doing what we needed to do helped us take the win.”

Ben Hanley, No. 04 CrowdStrike ORECA 07-Gibson: “We can’t forget that this CrowdStrike Racing by APR program came together quite late and we haven’t managed to get out and do any collective test days yet, and that makes this win in the IMSA Six Hours of The Glen even sweeter. CrowdStrike Racing by APR has done a great job to put us in the window straight away, even though we had mixed conditions in free practice and a very limited opportunity to see how things would play out across a race stint. We managed to nail it pretty well, and it’s positive that there are still things we can improve going forward to Road America because we’re still learning about the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Michelin tires and the opposition.”

Nolan Siegel, No. 04 CrowdStrike ORECA 07-Gibson: “It has been an incredible journey since first stepping into an LMP2 car in February and I’ve loved every minute of it. It has been great to adapt this quickly to Le Mans Prototypes, and to win what is only my second LMP2 race in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with a great team like CrowdStrike Racing by APR and great co-drivers in George (Kurtz) and Ben (Hanley) is amazing.”

About CrowdStrike

CrowdStrike (Nasdaq: CRWD), a global cybersecurity leader, has redefined modern security with the world’s most advanced cloud-native platform for protecting critical areas of enterprise risk — endpoints and cloud workloads, identity and data.

Powered by the CrowdStrike Security Cloud and world-class AI, the CrowdStrike Falcon® platform leverages real-time indicators of attack, threat intelligence, evolving adversary tradecraft and enriched telemetry from across the enterprise to deliver hyper-accurate detections, automated protection and remediation, elite threat hunting and prioritized observability of vulnerabilities. Purpose-built in the cloud with a single lightweight-agent architecture, the Falcon platform delivers rapid and scalable deployment, superior protection and performance, reduced complexity and immediate time-to-value.

CrowdStrike: We stop breaches.

Learn more: https://www.crowdstrike.com/

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2023 CrowdStrike, Inc. All rights reserved. CrowdStrike, the falcon logo, CrowdStrike Falcon and CrowdStrike Threat Graph are marks owned by CrowdStrike, Inc. and registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and in other countries. CrowdStrike owns other trademarks and service marks, and may use the brands of third parties to identify their products and services.

Interstate Batteries Racing: Ty Gibbs Chicago Street Race Advance

By
Official Release
-

Ty Gibbs
Chicago Street Race Advance
No. 54 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry TRD for Joe Gibbs Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Grant Park 220 (Round 18 of 36)

● Time/Date: 5:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 2

● Location: Chicago Street Course

● Layout: 2.2-mile, 12-turn street course

● Laps/Miles: 100 laps/220 miles

● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 20 laps / Stage 2: 25 laps / Final Stage: 55 laps

● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Outrageously Dependable: Interstate Batteries – one of the most tenured team sponsors in NASCAR history – began its 32nd season as the founding sponsor of Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) with an expanded presence that features the brand’s iconic green livery across all four of JGR’s NASCAR Cup Series entries. So far this season, Interstate has adorned the No. 20 of Christopher Bell at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, and served as co-primary with Gibbs in the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and on Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota at Circuit of Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, in March. Interstate returned to Gibbs’ No. 54 Toyota this past weekend at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, where he brought home a 14th-place finish. Including this weekend at the inaugural Chicago Street Race, Interstate will adorn his car three more times this season, which also includes Sept. 24 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, and Oct. 8 on the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval.

● The inaugural Grant Park 220 on the streets of downtown Chicago will mark the first street-course race in the NASCAR Cup Series’ 75-year history. Drivers will speed past some of the city’s most renowned landmarks, from Michigan Avenue to South Lake Shore Drive, with the start/finish line near Buckingham Fountain.

● “Saturday in the Park:” Qualifying for the Grant Park 220 takes place on Saturday, and it’s where Sunday’s 100-lap race around the 2.2-mile, 12-turn temporary street circuit could very well be won. Track position will be paramount, as those starting up front are far more likely to stay up front.

● Gibbs heads to Nashville sitting 18th in the driver standings with 343 points. Gibbs is leading the Rookie of the Year standings by an impressive 189 points over second-place Noah Gragson.

● Rookie Stripe: Gibbs has experienced a season not atypical of a rookie driver in NASCAR’s top series. He has four top-10 finishes so far, but many other strong runs that didn’t yield the results he might have deserved during the most recent stretch of races, including last weekend at Nashville. Gibbs’ four top-10 finishes came in consecutive races during the spring. He brought home ninth-place finishes at Atlanta Motor Speedway, COTA, and Richmond (Va.) Raceway, and added a 10th-place finish in the Food City Dirt Race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

● At the age of 19 years, 9 months and 20 days, Gibbs made his first career NASCAR Cup Series start last July 24 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway for 23XI Racing. He became the 37th driver younger than 20 years of age to make a Cup Series start. He started at the rear of the field but completed all 160 laps on his way to an impressive 16th-place finish. Best of his 15 Cup Series starts last year was his 10th-place result Aug. 7 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.

● Dazzling Debut: Gibbs was victorious in his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in the February 2021 race on the Daytona road course. He led 14 of the 56 laps and became the youngest driver to win an Xfinity road-course race at 18 years, 4 months and 16 days. The native of Charlotte, North Carolina, also became the second-youngest winner in Xfinity Series history behind Joey Logano, who won in June 2008 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta at the age of 18 years, 21 days.

Ty Gibbs, Driver of the No. 54 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry TRD

What are your thoughts about racing in Chicago in the NASCAR Cup Series’ first-ever street race?

“Chicago will be interesting. No one has been on the track since they are just building it now and nobody has raced a street circuit in a Cup Series car. Lot of unknowns, for sure. We’ll see what we can do with our Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry TRD. Hopefully we can run well. Just going to have to be patient and learn as much as we can in the small bit of track time that we’ll have.”

You have had some time to get used to each track during your rookie season, but how does it change now as you are close to being in the playoffs on points? How will you approach trying to get in the field of 16 nine races from now?

“It’s been good. The whole season has been special and I learn each and every week. Just got to get my Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry in a good position and try to limit our mistakes as much as possible and get the most points we can each and every week. First off all, you just need to enjoy it. Not a lot of guys get to do what we get to do each week and you have to remind yourself of the bigger picture. You just take it week after week and keep working. I’m looking forward to Chicago, which will be the next challenge. I’m really looking forward to the next couple of races and we’ll keep working at it and try to work as hard as we can.”

Has it been fun to have Interstate Batteries along with you several times this year, including back-to-back weeks at Nashville and Chicago?

“It’s really an honor to be able to run an Interstate Batteries car every time we’ve been able to do it. We had a fun weekend in Nashville last weekend. We had Lain (Hancock, President/CEO) with us at the track, and I always enjoy talking with him and their guests. We were able to get a top-10 for them at Bristol Dirt, which was really cool. I thought we had a good shot at another top-10 for them at Nashville last weekend, but that didn’t end up how we had hoped there on the last pit stop and run of the race. Chicago will be interesting, and you never know what’s going to happen, but I would love to get another good run for those guys.”

No. 54 Interstate Batteries Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Ty Gibbs

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Chris Gayle

Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas

Car Chief: Nate Bellows

Hometown: Fairfax, Vermont

Spotter: Tony Hirschman

Hometown: Northampton, Pennsylvania

Race Engineer: Seth Chavka

Hometown: Soldotna, Alaska

Race Engineer: Kyle Abrahims

Hometown: Spring Grove, Pennsylvania

Road Crew Members

Truck Driver: Chris Miko

Hometown: Bronx, New York

Mechanic: Ryan Towles Hometown: Salem, Virginia

Mechanic: Scott Eldridge

Hometown: Warsaw, Indiana

Truck Driver: Eloy Trevino

Hometown: Adrian, Michigan

Mechanic/Tire Specialist: Justin Peiffer

Hometown: Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Over-The-Wall Crew Members

Gas Man: Peyton Moore

Hometown: Buford, Georgia

Jackman: Derrell Edwards

Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland

Tire Carrier: Jake Holmes

Hometown: Westborough, Massachusetts

Front Tire Changer: Blake Houston

Hometown: Enochville, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Mike Hicks

Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Racing: Aric Almirola Chicago Advance

By
Official Release
-

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

Event Overview

● Event: Grant Park 220 (Round 18 of 36)

● Time/Date: 5:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 2

● Location: Chicago Street Course

● Layout: 2.2-mile, 12-turn street course

● Laps/Miles: 100 laps/220 miles

● Stage Lengths: Stages 1: 20 laps / Stage 2: 25 laps / Final Stage: 55 laps

● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● This weekend marks the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race on the streets of Chicago – the first street-course race in NASCAR’s 75-year history. In an effort to continue the growth and excitement of NASCAR among fans, this 2.2-mile 12-turn temporary circuit has come full circle from a virtual idea to one of the most anticipated races the series has ever hosted. In March of 2021, the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series announced a track layout on the street of downtown Chicago. After a detailed laser scan of the physical streets, the downtown Chicago Street Course was created. On June 2, 37 drivers competed virtually during a live FOX broadcast, which piqued the interest of both fans and the league to recreate the event in real life.

● In Almirola’s 12-year fulltime NASCAR career, he never considered himself to be a road-course racer – until three weeks ago. While a Cup Series win remains the ultimate goal for Almirola, the 39-year-old veteran on June 10 made his way to victory lane in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, driving the No. 28 RSS Racing Ford Mustang. It was the first road-course victory of his career. Almirola’s best road-course outing in the Cup Series also came at Sonoma in 2018, when he finished eighth. He made it back-to-back top-10 finishes at the track when he returned for a ninth-place result in 2019.

● Driver Points: Almirola arrives at Chicago 27th in the driver standings, 304 points out of first.

● Almirola’s career: In 441 career NASCAR Cup Series starts, Almirola has three wins, 28 top-five finishes, 92 top-10s, four poles, and has led 1,018 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 are some challenges teams will face heading to a street course for the first time?

“The way the car handles and drives across the crown in the road and the bumps and uneven surfaces are all going to play a role in making this a challenging race for all of us. It’s something we have never had to deal with. We race on tracks that are purposefully built for racecars and they have a continuous grade of banking. We’re going to have to attack the track, and the condition of the car is so much different than we’re used to.”

Are you excited to race on the streets of downtown Chicago?

“I’m excited, nervous, anxious all of the above. I’m excited to do something we have never done, but there is always anxiousness about the unknown and not knowing what to expect. It’s going to be such a fantastic event for the fans. There is so much to do around the course and it’s going to be a lot of fun for them not only during the race but before and after. As a driver, I’m looking forward to saying that I got to race on the streets of Chicago.”

How do you think the racing is going to be compared to other road courses?

“I think Chicago is certainly a racetrack where you’re going to have to be very aggressive. The surface is going to be very interesting where they’ve repaved or where they’ve not repaved. What we’ve learned so far in the simulator is that we think it’s pretty low grip and it’s pretty rough with a lot of tight, blind corners. You have to be really aggressive in the braking zones and get in the corners deep but still make the corner. And there’s a huge penalty at Chicago compared to all the true road courses that we go to if you don’t make the corner, so I think you’re not only going to have to be aggressive, but you’re going to have to be conscious of how aggressive you are because the penalty for missing the corner at Chicago is going to be far greater than missing the corner at most road courses. At most road courses, if you overshoot the corner, you run off into the grass or the gravel a little bit. At Chicago, you’re going to crash. You’re going to hit a wall.”

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Aric Almirola

Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer

Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Jerry Cook

Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Lead Engineer: Lee Deese

Hometown: Rockingham, North Carolina

Engineer: James Kimbrough

Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Joel Edmonds

Hometown: Dobson, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Mulder

Hometown: Sioux Center, Iowa

Rear Tire Changer: Trevor White

Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard

Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotton

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: James “Ace” Keener

Hometown: Fortuna, California

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Chris Trickett

Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Jacob Cooksey

Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller

Hometown: Monroe, New York

Tire Specialist: Russel Simpson

Hometown: Medford, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Steven Casper

Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

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