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CHEVROLET NCS AT NASHVILLE: Ross Chastain Media Availability Quotes

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Official Release
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NASCAR CUP SERIES
NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY
ALLY 400
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
JUNE 24, 2023

ROSS CHASTAIN, NO. 1 WORLDWIDE EXPRESS CAMARO ZL1, met with the media prior to the NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session at Nashville Superspeedway. Media availability quotes:

YOU’RE STILL LOOKING FOR YOUR FIRST WIN THIS YEAR. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE SPEED IN YOUR NO. 1 CAR EACH WEEK?

“I feel really good. I feel the continued evolution of the car as the whole garage continues to find ways to take the same piece that we started with last year and make it faster, handle a little bit better and a little more forgiving. I feel like we’re on the leading edge of that and that showed yesterday. One of the few times we’re looking at a 50 minute practice, we go out and we plan making a nice 20 lap run if it’s good. If not, we’ll stop and work on it. We ran 20 and then we ran until the caution came out. We were going to run 30. That was a good sign that we didn’t have to change much. We’re unloading really close; it’s just those fine details and we’re tuning on it. I feel good.”

FOR A WATERMELON FARMER, WHAT’S IT GOING TO BE LIKE TO DRIVE THROUGH THE CITY OF CHICAGO IN A RACE CAR?

“It’s going to be new. It’s new.. it’s totally different. Not like the roads in Alva, for sure. It’s a way to move the needle with our sport. I think over three-quarters of the tickets already sold are new fans, and I’m sure a lot of people are just going to walk-up when they hear the engines fire up. I think there’s signs all over town so they’ll at least know about it. And then when we go roaring down through there, there are going to be so many new fans. I’m bought-in. It doesn’t matter, for me, how my personal race goes or my weekend goes. I could very easily drive it into the tire barriers about every corner if I’m not careful. I’ve done that on the simulator quite a bit. You make the brake zone by just a few feet and there’s no run-off. Yes, I want points and I want to win, but I’m more looking at it from the big picture of us as a whole and if it elevates all of us, it’ll pay off for me in the long run.”

THIRD YEAR HERE AT NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY. PRACTICE YESTERDAY.. HOW DID THE TRACK FEEL AND HOW DID YOUR CAR FEEL? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR GOING INTO QUALIFYING LATER THIS AFTERNOON?

“It felt just as unique as I remembered it. This place is unlike any other. When I go down the straightaways, I feel like I’m on a 1.5-mile track, and then I get to the corner and I brake like I’m at a short-track. Like I’m braking for the corner and overdriving. I have to consciously get myself to slow down early enough. Slower on entry really is faster.

I don’t feel great making laps. And then we’re quick – we show good in all measurable aspects. The car isn’t really doing anything too crazy, but it just doesn’t feel good because there is so little banking and such tight corners. It’s not pleasant to drive. I feel like I’m not hustling it because you’re on a flatter track, even though to me the way it’s laid out – the garages, media center – it’s a 1.5-mile foot print that’s shrunk. So every lap, I have to consciously remind myself of that. I’m ready to hustle it like I’m at Kansas (Speedway).”

JUSTIN (MARKS) MADE THOSE VERY PUBLIC REMARKS AFTER DARLINGTON. IS IT A COINCIDENCE THAT SINCE THEN, THERE SEEMS TO BE THE ROSS CHASTAIN THAT WAS PRE-DARLINGTON AND MAYBE, FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, YOU’VE BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE CONSERVATIVE SINCE THEN?

“Well I think it’s exactly that.. it is the outside and what we do at Trackhouse Racing – say, talk about and plan for is what’s so cool about sports is that we’re enclosed in our own world of 140 men and women, and it’s up to us to go about our business however we see fit. I’m definitely going to learn from Darlington (Raceway). I don’t want to wreck myself. I want to win races. Whatever I can do to wreck less and win more will definitely be top of mind and priority. I take what people say to heart though, especially my boss, my owner. The guy that hires me and guides me. He’s a racer himself, so we’ve talked as just racers and buddies just as much as we’ve talked as owner and driver. People can think what they want. I know what our path is, has been and is currently in what we’re planning, and I’m totally comfortable in the spot we’re in.”

CAN YOU SHARE WHAT IT’S BEEN LIKE THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS? ARE YOU TRYING TO FIND MAYBE A DIFFERENT RHYTHM OR A DIFFERENT WAY TO APPROACH THINGS ON THE RACE TRACK?

“I’m trying to find victory lane. I found it.. it’s right here. I was there last night with Carson Hocevar and I’ve got to get back myself.

Yep, that’s all we’re trying to find.”

YOU ARE HIGH UP IN POINTS. I UNDERSTAND YOU WANT TO WIN EVERY RACE YOU COMPETE IN, BUT YOU ARE HIGH UP ENOUGH IN POINTS. IS THERE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT GIVES YOU SOME COMFORT ANYWAYS? IF NOT, ARE THERE CERTAIN TRACKS THAT YOU REALLY FEEL OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SCORING A WIN AT BETWEEN NOW AND THE PLAYOFFS?

“Chicago is a huge question mark, so I don’t really know where to rank that one, even though we’ve been really good on road courses.

No.. there’s none that I really put above the others. Gateway, we weren’t that good in the race, but I thought if we were slotted in 10th, we could run 10th. I just got kind of beat up on restarts and that’s just part of it.

There’s none that I really hold any higher than the others. With this car, it’s the same car every week. Like we literally change a few settings of the geometry and the body, but it’s so small that you can’t even see the difference. Where with the old car or any other race car, you bring it to a superspeedway, you can tell in the fenders, the body lines and the way the car sits that it’s built for Daytona (International Speedway). And then when you take it to Martinsville (Speedway), you can tell it’s a totally different built race car. Ours look the same, to me. I can’t see the differences. So with that, it shrunk the window for highs and lows of tracks that seem to be better or worse because we’re running truly the same car.

Yeah, I don’t have any higher or lower, really.”

(NO MIC)

“I want to grab, scrap and pickup any points anybody drops.. anytime and all the time. The most points will be better. But no, we want to win and that’s the focus. That’s the goal. That’s the objective and that’s where our sights are set.”

CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF PERSPECTIVE ON CHICAGO? YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE 50 MINUTES OF PRACTICE, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE MULTIPLE CAUTIONS POTENTIALLY IN THE PRACTICE SESSION, SO YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE LIMITED TIME AND MAYBE GET TWO OR THREE RUNS, IF THAT. AND THEN WHEN YOU GO TO QUALIFY, YOU’LL HAVE TO BUST OUT A REALLY STRONG LAP BECAUSE TRACK POSITION IS GOING TO MATTER. WHEN YOU GET IN THE CAR FOR QUALIFYING NEXT WEEK, HOW NERVE-RACKING IS OR HOW MUCH DO YOU EMBRACE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR A BIG MOMENT?

“That’s NASCAR racing.. that’s every week. That’s what’s so cool about this series and this level is that there’s so much pressure involved with everything. I do wish that we did focus more on the cool factor of driving the car and how on-edge we are. You see a champion of our sport spin out in practice yesterday. If you watch the in-car, it looks innocent all the way to the point that it snaps. We’re all on that edge and we’re fighting that every lap, especially with the bump down in turn four there at Nashville (Superspeedway). There’s one big bump here. We have no idea at Chicago. They’ve repaved some, but we’ve all driven on repaved roads – sometimes it’s worse than it used to be. So I have no idea what to expect, but yeah when we go out, it’s going to be who can learn the fastest. We’re all logging laps in our simulators, but until you actually get on the surface – we don’t even have the most accurate renderings in for the walls because it’s going to be evolving as they put them in. A big ask of the operations team building the track because they’re just figuring it out as they go.

A lot of times, I wish this room could ride with me physically in the car because it’s incredible what’s happening in there. And I remember growing up, just watching and viewing these drivers as these larger than life figures because if you can ever see the car wiggle, it’s crazy inside for the driver. And if you were in there, you could feel it. More two-seaters need to be available to give rides. When we do that, I’ll gladly signup to drive everybody in this room around these tracks.”

FIVE, SIX, SEVEN YEARS AGO AS YOU’RE TRYING TO WORK YOUR WAY UP INTO NASCAR – NOW A FEW YEARS LATER, YOU’VE DRIVEN INSIDE A STADIUM, A CUP CAR ON A DIRT TRACK, DRIVEN AT NORTH WILKESBORO AND NOW YOU’RE GOING TO BE DRIVING ON A STREET COURSE. THE IDEA, THAT CONCEPT AND HOW QUICKLY THINGS HAVE CHANGED – WHAT COMES TO MIND IN TERMS OF THAT YOU’RE IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ERA THAN WHAT YOU WERE FIVE YEARS AGO AND WHAT YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE IF YOU REACH THIS LEVEL?

“I’ll have to quote one of my guys, David, when I got in the No. 42 car in 2021. We were super excited and then we happened to be on the phone one day and we looked at the schedule together, and he’s like- ‘there’s seven road course races.. I didn’t know this. Why did we signup to drive a Cup car the first time that there’s seven when there was always two.’ And we were honestly a little scared and I had to go to school. I still go to school to learn. It is what it is. I wanted to be a Cup driver. I sacrificed a lot to get here, and whatever it means to be a Cup driver, I want to be that. This level, this garage – I want to be in there with the other teams and competing at this level. This is all I’ve wanted.

Yeah, wherever we go – we go across the world, it doesn’t really bother me. I signed up for this and I’m here for it.”

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR SUNDAY?

“After driving the rocket ship I had yesterday in practice, my expectations are high. We’ll have a shot. We’ll be able to go and wherever we qualify, we’ll be able to race throughout tomorrow night’s race and put ourselves in position.

Yeah, expectations are to go compete. We have fast cars. We have good support. Trying to tie up all the little loose ends. We just want a shot.. that’s it. It’s going to come down to restarts throughout the final stage and adjusting our car throughout the night. I feel like that’s been a bit where I struggled. I feel like when we’ve been better throughout the weekend or early in the race, I get kind of complacent because I’m not sure what to tell them. I’m pushing the car; I have good balance. And then somebody nails their balance – it’s been a little bit slower and they’ve nailed it because they kept firing changes at it. I’m a little more reserved in my desire – as long as it’s close, I’ll go get the rest. But at this level, at the end of these races, it has to be pretty darn perfect. I feel like we’ve been beat there, so I’ve worked on just mentally, how do I push myself past where I’m comfortable with the car. I feel like I’ve got everything I need to go win. There’s probably something else I could ask for to make it a little bit better. The risk is that it could be worse, but let’s work on it – whether it’s air pressure or wedge. Our options are pretty small in the race, so what I’m looking for is small, little crumbs at the end of the race to be able to go fight for it.”

WHAT TONY STEWART SAID HE’S LOOKING FOR IN A DRIVER IS WORK ETHIC. YOU REALLY DIDN’T GET YOUR FIRST SHOT UNTIL 28 WHEN YOU GOT WITH A BIG TEAM AND YOU’VE MADE THE MOST OF IT SINCE. DOES WORK ETHIC STILL MATTER IN THE GARAGE? DO YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY DUES AND SHOW THAT YOU’RE COMMITTED?

“I’m so happy for Josh (Berry). I hate that we’re going to lose him at GM. I’m not going to be able to go to the gym in the morning and see him next year. But gosh, being friends, its been so cool to see his emotion as it’s come through and got done. There were times where I could tell he was working out a little extra because that carrot was out there, and it’s everything he’s ever wanted and worked for professionally. And same with me – it’s my life, it’s what we wanted. I’m sad I’m going to have to race against him, but I’m happy for the guy and his family.

What the owners look at, I’m not sure. I’m not a race team owner, so I don’t even begin to think that I understand how their brains work. I don’t own race cars, I drive them. Everybody had to pay something.. everybody had to write a check. The amount might have been one or two zeros different, but it’s the dark side of our sport that not a lot of people like to talk about. Yes, I had to spend money, my family had to spend money, to get me into the sport. Somebody had to pay for every driver that’s racing a car anywhere – I don’t care if you’re running a rental go-cart race. The $20 for the 10 minutes you run in a rental go-cart, you have to pay for it.. somebody has to pay for it. Whether it’s that or to the Cup Series, yes – I don’t know everybody’s details, but I know mine. Yes, we had to spend money. I’m not going to hide from that. I’ve been able to pay that back now and I’m proud of that. The thought that people are here on zero dollars is not true. Whether it was truly you or your family or somebody that was like family – they had to be like family if they’re going to spend the money it takes to get into any kind of racing. If you race local late models these days, it’s a lot of money. It’s the dark side of our sport. I live in it; I work in it. I’m in the trenches on it for me and other people trying to figure out how to pay for this stuff. I’m not a sponsor finder.. I don’t want people to think that. I don’t find money for anybody. But the dark side is – everybody pays, it’s just a matter of if it pays off.”

 
 

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

Carson Hocevar Earns his Second NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Victory at Nashville Superspeedway

By
Official Release
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Lebanon, Tenn. (June 24, 2023) – Carson Hocevar crossed the finish line first for the second time this season in his No. 42 WWEX Racing Chevrolet, earning the victory in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Nashville Superspeedway on Friday night.

“This Niece Motorsports team has been on a roll lately,” said Hocevar. “We’ve been running up front and close to Victory Lane so many times over the last couple of months in our Worldwide Express Chevrolet.

I’m proud of everyone at this organization for their hard work. I’m thankful to be behind the wheel of these fast Chevys and ready to get to Mid-Ohio in a few weeks. Thanks to Al Niece and Phil Gould and all of our partners in the WWEX Racing program. We couldn’t do it without their support.”

The win comes in Hocevar’s 67th NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start. It marks Hocevar’s second win of the 2023 season; his first coming in April at Texas Motor Speedway. It is the sixth win for Niece Motorsports in only its seventh full-time season.

Dating back to Darlington Raceway in May, Hocevar has not finished outside of the top-five, earning three consecutive fourth-place finishes in the last three races. Hocevar and the No. 42 WWEX Racing team have earned 235 points over the last five races – the most of any driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series during that time frame.

“We’re one team at Niece Motorsports, it takes every single person at this organization to be successful, and it means a so much when it all comes together,” said Niece Motorsports General Manager Cody Efaw. “Carson drove a smart race and Phil [Gould] and the entire 42 team executed well. We’re proud to build our own chassis and bodies in house, it’s a labor of love to get these Chevrolets to the race tracks, and means the world when they get to Victory Lane. We appreciate Al Niece for giving us the opportunity to do what we love. We’re not done yet.”

Hocevar kicked off the day as the fastest truck in the lone practice session, and followed it up with a seventh-place qualifying effort for the Rackley Roofing 200. Hocevar collected stage points in the first and second stage, running a fairly uneventful race.

Hocevar took the lead on Lap 111, and never looked back. A caution with less than 10 laps remaining in the race shuffled the running order, but Hocevar and team opted to stay out on the track instead of visiting pit road.

Hocevar kept the lead on the restart and was able to hold off a late charge from the No. 38, on his way to Victory Lane.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will return to action on Saturday, July 8 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Hocevar finished third at the road course last season.

The O’Reilly Auto Parts 150 at Mid-Ohio will air live on FS1, The Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on July 8 at 1:30 p.m. ET.

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.

GMS Racing NCTS Race Recap: Nashville Superspeedway

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Official Release
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Grant Enfinger, No. 23 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet Silverado RST

START: 6TH

FINISH: 13TH

POINTS: 3RD

Post-Race Quote: “Overall, it was a pretty rough night all the way around in Nashville. We couldn’t really catch any breaks and couldn’t really make anything happen on our end too. It was unfortunate, because we felt like we had a pretty good truck after practice; we were just on the tight side. We fired off in the race a little bit loose, and then we kind of got stuck back in some bad traffic after a series of bad restarts and pit road mistakes and everything else. Then, we got in a wreck on pit road, and it drove a fair amount worse after that. Then, somehow we got involved in another incident off turn four there at the end. Honestly, after everything that we had happen to us tonight we were fortunate to salvage a 13th place finish. It was just a little bit of a frustrating day.

I did feel pretty confident in what we had in practice and feel like there is some promise there that we can take away with this truck, but we just missed some stuff in the race. We’ll take a look at it when we get back and regroup and get ready for Mid-Ohio.”

Rajah Caruth, No. 24 Born Driven Chevrolet Silverado RST

START: 3RD

FINISH: 32ND

POINTS: 16TH

Post-Race Quote: “Our Born Driven / Wendell Scott Foundation Chevy Silverado was really good tonight, just had some mechanical problems there when we were got the lead and started stumbling. Thanks to my team for getting it back going and salvaging so we could pick up some spots. I’m really disappointed because I feel like we could have gotten a win there for Mike Beam, Maury Gallagher, and Ron Booth, GM, Chevy, ButlerBuilt Seats, Alpinestars and everyone that supports me. Definitely really dissappointed, but we were fast.”

Daniel Dye, No. 43 Champion Container Chevrolet Silverado RST

START: 9TH

FINISH: 22ND

POINTS: 17TH

Post-Race Quote: “It felt really good to have speed for honestly, the whole day today at Nashville. We had a good qualifying effort and I had a ton of high hopes for the race. Our team kind of fought the handling on our truck tonight, but Blake made some good adjustments and we were getting better. It’s unfortunate that we had that incident in turn one which ultimately ruined our night, but I’m going to try and take as many positives away as I can tonight. I’m thankful to Champion Container for their support of me, as well as all of our other partners that help our program at GMS Racing. I’ve been to Mid-Ohio before, so next race will be fun for us. We’ll get back to it after a weekend off.”

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.

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes – NCTS Nashville Post-Race Quotes

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Official Release
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Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Rackley Roofing 200 | Friday, June 23, 2023

Ford Finishing Results:

2nd – Zane Smith

9th – Ben Rhodes

12th – Jake Drew

15th – Matt Crafton

20th – Mason Maggio

21st – Cory Roper

26th – Chase Janes

28th – Hailie Deegan

31st – Ty Majeski

ZANE SMITH, No. 38 Speedco/Fleetguard Ford F-150 (Finished 2nd) – “We just simply just struggled from first to second, but we were really good from third to fourth. That’s all there was to it. I was honestly kind of bummed out when the caution came out there, because I knew we struggled all day on restarts. But, we had a really fast Speedco Ford. Just wish we had the clean air there. It’s been a rough four to five weeks. So to leave here with a stage win and being able to contend all night long, we should all be pretty proud.”

BEN RHODES, No. 99 Bommarito Ford F-150 (Finished 9th) – “We made a lot of gains throughout the race. When we unloaded, I wasn’t happy with the truck at all. Even in qualifying, which is why we started back in 16th. But all night long, Brian Ross, my pit crew and all my guys worked on it. We eventually got to a point where we found ourselves in the top-five. So, I was like, ‘Wow, we did really well here. Let’s keep it going.’ But ultimately, as the race went on, the track started to change once the sun went down. It went in the opposite direction from what we thought and what we were planning for all day. The track got a little bit away from us, and I’d say that was the difference between a fifth place and down to where we were in ninth. All-in-all though, those are good notes for next year, and it was a very solid effort by this Bommarito Automotive Group Ford F-150 team. The truck is in one piece… It was a sketchy race. So, that’s all I can ask for. We got good points tonight, and we’re just going to move on to the next one. This is a marathon, not a sprint. We’re in it for the long-haul.”

JAKE DREW, No. 66 Capstone Engineering Solutions Ford F-150 (Finished 12th) – “The day goes by so fast with only a short practice, and then straight into qualifying and the race. So, it’s hard to get to the grips of everything. I made a few mistakes throughout the day, but I was super stoked to have learned and progressed all day long. I had a great team behind me – Capstone and Thorsport brought me a good Ford F-150. It was a super fun day, and I hope to be able to do more.”

Toyota Racing – NCTS Nashville Post-Race Report – 06.23.23

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Official Release
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HEIM ADDS TO POINTS LEAD WITH ANOTHER STRONG RUN
The Toyota development driver earned his series-leading 10th top-10 finish

NASHVILLE (June 23, 2023) – Corey Heim led a race-high 57 laps, won a stage and brought home his Tundra TRD Pro home in fourth position in Friday night’s Truck Series race at Nashville Superspeedway. Despite missing the last race at Gateway due to illness, Heim continues to lead the overall point standings on the strength of 10 top-10 finishes in 12 races competed.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Nashville Superspeedway
Race 13 of 23 – 150 Laps, 199.5 Miles

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Carson Hocevar*

2nd, Zane Smith*

3rd, Nick Sanchez*

4th, COREY HEIM

5th, Bayley Currey*

8th, TYLER ANKRUM

11th, TANNER GRAY

14th, TAYLOR GRAY

16th, TIMMY HILL

17th, TONI BREIDINGER

18th, STEWART FRIESEN

24th, JONATHAN SHAFER

33rd, DEAN THOMPSON

35th, MEMPHIS VILLAREAL

*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

COREY HEIM, No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage

Finishing Position: 4th

How much more did you need in the end?

“I feel like we had a little more to go to be the best truck, but I can’t say enough about TRICON Garage and Toyota Racing. This Safelite Tundra TRD Pro had speed tonight. I’m still feeling a little bit under the weather, so to come out here and run well and collect some points and really have a shot at it is all you can really ask for. We will keep plugging away at it. I feel like we’ve been a top-five truck consistently the last five weeks of the season. If we keep that momentum up, I think we click some wins off soon.”

How do you feel about your team heading into the summer stretch?

“I’m super happy with everybody. Scott Zipadelli (crew chief) and the 11 crew have been making great calls throughout the year. We’ve had really fast Tundra TRD Pros throughout the whole year. I said this throughout the 2023 season, I’ve felt like we’ve been progressing every week. This isn’t one of my best tracks, so I feel like it was a solid run for us, good points. We will keep that momentum rolling – keep plugging away at it.”

Can you tell us more about your race tonight?

“First off, I’m so grateful for everyone at Toyota Racing, TRD and TRICON Garage for the support these last couple weeks. It really hurts to be out of the truck – when we worked so hard to be as successful as possible. I feel like we have done a really good job this year of collecting points and staying out front and doing everything we can to compete. I feel like we’ve had speed to win a couple of races this year. I had a good Tundra TRD Pro tonight. I feel like we needed a little bit more for our Safelite Tundra to be a winning truck, but certainly not a bad night for us.”

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.

CHEVROLET NCS AT NASHVILLE: Kyle Busch Media Availability Quotes

By
Official Release
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NASCAR CUP SERIES
NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY
ALLY 400
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
JUNE 23, 2023

KYLE BUSCH, NO. 8 CHEDDAR’S SCRATCH KITCHEN CAMARO ZL1 – Media Availability Quotes

HAVE YOU STARTED ANY PREPARATION FOR THE CHICAGO STREET COURSE, WHETHER IT’S SIM OR GOING OVER THINGS WITH THE TEAM?

“Yes.”

WHAT IS YOUR IMPRESSION OF THE CIRCUIT AND WHAT ARE YOUR TAKEAWAYS?

“It’s really rough. It’s bumpy. It’s slippery. There’s some corners that are very challenging.. some blind ones at that. When you’re going around the Bean on the left-hander, that’s really, really slippery and there’s a huge bump going through (turn) nine before you get into (turn) 10. The wall in (turn) eight before you go around the left-hander is, to me, really narrow over there. You’re barely trying to miss getting your right front ripped off; not bouncing off that and killing your car on the left side. So there could be more room given over there, I feel like. That’s probably a really tight spot that could use a little bit of help, just based off of what the simulator is telling us. But other than that, it’s going to be a tight street course. That’s what tight street courses are.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE RACE IS GOING TO BE LIKE?

“Survival.. it’s going to be a survival race. I feel like we had a couple of those – I can’t remember the last one that we had, but I want to say it’s like turn one at Indy (Road Course). If you start 20th, you might as well not even accelerate to get to turn one because it’s probably going to look like the (Charlotte) ROVAL restart that we had when we all went off into the barrier in turn one, you know what I mean. It’s survival.”

WHAT WILL MAKE A GOOD EVENT AT CHICAGO? DOES IT NEED TO BE A SPECTACULAR FINISH OR WHAT WILL MAKE IT A SUCCESSFUL RACE FROM A COMPETITOR’S STANDPOINT?

“To me, action – having a good race and story to tell about a street course. You know, I looked at the INDYCAR race from Nashville the first year they did it. They had that big pileup and about blocked the track.. things like that. It’s not action that us drivers want to see, but fans kind of sometimes enjoy calamity. And that then turns into a social moment where they’re like – hey, check this out. If we’re those guys, then so be it and that’s kind of where it’ll lay.

It’s a spectacle, right? It’s something that I don’t think NASCAR has ever done in a long, long time – the Cup Series, if ever, I’m not sure. I know the Southwest Tour ran the streets of LA a long, long time ago in 1998. I actually spotted for my brother there. But this will be my first time ever racing on a street course and something of this nature.”

HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THE MUFFLERS YOU’RE GOING TO BE USING AT CHICAGO, AND HAVE THEY DONE ANYTHING AS FAR AS THE HEAT COMPARED TO WHAT YOU WERE FEELING IN LA?

“I’m not sure. I can’t say… I don’t know. I know Jeff Burton was working on that for us – trying to reduce some of the in-car heat. We were all kind of talking about that because some guys kind of felt a little bit hot at the Coliseum. I felt fine at the Clash.. I didn’t even run my cool shirt. I predict it’s going to be warm, but wearing a cool shirt, you should be fine.”

WHEN YOU CAME TO RCR THIS YEAR, YOU EASILY COULD HAVE SAID – I CAN’T DO CERTAIN THINGS THAT YOU WANT ME TO DO.. I NEED TO DO IT MY WAY BECAUSE I’VE BEEN DOING IT SO MANY YEARS AND I’VE HAD SUCCESS. QUITE FRANKLY, THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE FOLLOWED ALONG WITH IT. THEY’VE TALKED ABOUT HOW YOU HAD BOUGHT ALL-IN AND SAID – LOOK, I’M GOING TO DO IT YOUR WAY. WE’RE NOT GOING TO MEET HALFWAY.. I’M GOING TO GO ALL THE WAY WITH YOU. HOW CHALLENGING WAS IT AND WHY DID YOU EVEN DO IT LIKE THAT?

“To me, yes – I came over to RCR wanting to buy-in and just kind of understand and get into the Chevy system; be a part of the key partner deal and understand the Hendrick Motorsports side, the Trackhouse Racing side and the RCR side. But also the RCR team, as well – the engineering department and everything they have going on over there.

The buy-in, yeah – Randall (Burnett) is a smart guy. We’ve got some really good people over there. I really enjoy working with Justin Alexander, as well as Keith Rodden. All of those guys are pretty sharp guys. Buying into their way and their system because that’s how they’ve done it for so long was me getting an understanding and just being like – let’s go to work. But also, to just say too that I’ve brought a lot to the table, as well – from where I’ve been and some of the ways that I’ve done things before, too. We talked about that and we’re intermixing a lot of that. Whether it’s 60/40 – their way, my way – or vice versa.. I don’t care, it doesn’t matter. It’s whatever works. So how we get through those things that work for them, and then the things that I always bring up that I’m still pushing for. There’s probably, I don’t know, how many items on my checklist, but at least five that are top priority that I’m really still forking them with and trying to get them to accomplish.”

(NO MIC)

“It’s a longer process. It takes a longer time. I wouldn’t call it short-staffed.. there’s plenty of people around. Those people have jobs right. I’m asking for engineering things.. I’m looking for data sheets and things like that. It’s not just coming either A – as fast as it should; or B – at all some weekends. So really just trying to be like – look guys, this is important and this stuff can help, and it’ll give us a good basis of what we need to work on overnight going into the race. And we’re just not getting that right now. I think that’s going to be an overall help for the whole Chevy team on being able to get some of that.”

YOU TWEETED ‘NOW IT’S HAMMERDOWN UNTIL PHOENIX’ WHEN YOU GOT BACK FROM VACATION. DO YOU HAVE TO PUT THE BINDERS ON AND JUST GO STRAIGHT THROUGH THE LAST 10 AND INTO THE PLAYOFFS?

“Well, yeah.. there’s no more off weeks. I think that’s basically what it meant.. we’re going straight through from now to Phoenix (Raceway). There’s 18 races left, so that means there’s eight and then the final 10. So we’ve got eight weeks to prepare ourselves, get ready and build our program stronger and as good as we can for the start of the playoffs. Once we get to Darlington (Raceway), it’s going to be no miss. We’ve kind of been a little bit dirty to start, if you will. We haven’t had clean races a lot, and then the last three or four, we’ve had some pretty clean races respectively. So keep that momentum going for the next eight and maybe tack on another win or two and be perfect by the time the playoffs come.”

AS YOU AND RANDALL (BURNETT) LOOK AT THIS PUSH TO THE PLAYOFFS – YOU JOKINGLY SAID AFTER SONOMA (RACEWAY) THAT MAYBE YOU DON’T WANT AN OFF-WEEKEND WITH THE STRETCH OF FOUR TOP-10 FINISHES. WHERE IS THIS TEAM IN TERMS OF HOW YOU STACK UP? HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO A CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDING TEAM?

“Yeah, I mean looking at the last 10 weeks of the schedule, I would say that we feel pretty confident about how we can go about those weeks and those races. The only one that you kind of circle right now that’s a question mark, maybe two, is obviously Bristol (Motor Speedway) and Martinsville (Speedway) with the short-track package and us not being great with that. But the rest of the races, I’m looking forward to them. There’s an even slate there for us to be as good as we’ve been this year, and go out there and score some good, strong runs.

Championship-caliber team, I would say our guys are super good at building some really good cars. We’ve had some really clean stuff. The job that each member on the team has been doing has been top-notch. I get in the car, all my stuff is there – the windshield tear-offs are right, the black-out’s good.. like details. It comes down to the details. So to me, from what I can tell, it’s where we need to be. Praises to them and I’m looking forward to racing out the rest of the year with the way that we’ve had our start.”

AS WE GO INTO THE SECOND-HALF OF THE REGULAR-SEASON, HAS THERE BEEN ANYONE THAT’S SEPERATED THEMSELVES AS FAR AS WHO’S GOING TO BE THE CONTENDERS?

“No.. I mean honestly, last year the No. 22 (Joey Logano) won the championship out of nowhere. They were terrible through the summer and it kind of looks the same right now. So anything can happen.

It’s hard for me to answer that question. Like are you a championship-caliber team? Well yeah, but I think there’s probably 12 others, you know what I mean? It’s a lot more unknown with the Next Gen car, and how you go to these race tracks and how sporadic finishes can be. You think somebody is going to go out and win a race and they get wrecked, and then somebody else does that’s a surprise winner. So you just never know.. you just have to play it out.”

 
 

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

How Driver Distraction Contributes to Car Crashes: A Comprehensive Analysis

By
SM
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Image source: unsplash.com

Do you know what’s really happening when a driver gets in an accident? Behind the scenes, there is often a story of distracted driving. From illegal activities like texting while driving to fiddling with the music or adjusting the vents, these seemingly insignificant acts can have deadly consequences that ripple out far wider than most people expect. In this blog post, we will delve deep into how driver distraction contributes to car crashes so that you can become more informed and conscious of its effects on your safety behind the wheel.

What is Driver Distraction and its Types

As we go about our daily lives, we tend to multitask, and driving is no exception. But did you know that driver distraction is one of the leading causes of car accidents? Simply put, driver distraction occurs when something diverts your attention away from driving, increasing the risk of a collision. 

While there are many types of driver distractions, the most common include visual, manual, and cognitive distractions. Visual distractions take your eyes off the road, while manual distractions divert your hands off the steering wheel, and cognitive distractions reduce your focus on the task of driving. If any of these cases escalate, you might want to employ a lawyer on your side. And if you are a Canadian resident, you might want to take advantage of a Vancouver car accident attorney that knows the local laws and can help you claim your damages. At the end of the day, no one wants to be in a car accident, so it’s important to understand the risks associated with distracted driving.

Impact of Distracted Driving on Car Crashes

Distracted driving has become a major concern on our roads. With smart devices and busy schedules, it can be all too easy to get distracted behind the wheel. Unfortunately, the consequences of such distractions can be devastating.

According to recent studies, distracted driving is a leading cause of car crashes. Drivers who are not fully focused on the road ahead are more likely to miss important cues, react slower to hazards, and make poor decisions. This can lead to serious accidents, injuries, and even fatalities. It is important that we all do our part to eliminate distracted driving and keep our roads safe for everyone.

Causes of Driver Distraction in Cars

Driving is an activity that requires focus and attention, and distractions can quickly turn simple tasks into dangerous situations. In today’s society, there are more distractions than ever before, making it crucial to understand the causes of driver distraction.

  • Use of mobile phones while driving
  • Eating and drinking
  • Adjusting music or climate control settings
  • Conversing with passengers
  • Applying makeup or preparing for work
  • Daydreaming

Research on Driver Distraction and Car Crashes

Every time we get behind the wheel, we take our safety and the safety of others in our hands. Unfortunately, a growing number of car crashes are caused by distracted drivers. Research has shown that anything from talking on the phone to eating can take our attention away from the road for just enough time to cause a potentially deadly accident. This underscores the importance of understanding and tackling driver distraction.

By studying the causes and effects of distractions on drivers, we can work towards developing smarter, more effective ways of preventing car crashes and keeping ourselves and others safe on the road.

Steps to Preventing Driver Distraction

As drivers, we have a responsibility to keep ourselves and those around us safe while on the road. But distractions can make it difficult to do so. From texting to eating, there are endless potential distractions that could take our focus away from driving. With the right steps, we can limit these distractions and keep our attention where it belongs — on the road.

  • Put away our phones while driving. Even a quick glance at a text message or notification can be enough to cause an accident.
  • Avoid engaging in other behaviors that take our hands or minds off the wheel, such as eating, grooming, or adjusting the radio.
  • If someone needs to talk to us while driving, we should ask them to wait until we can safely find a place to pull over.

How Technology is Reducing These Car Crashes

Advancements in technology have provided an innovative way to address driver distraction, a leading cause of car accidents. With smartphone integration, modern cars can now detect when a driver is not focused behind the wheel, and issue warnings. Some vehicles even take it a step further. For instance, some cars are now equipped with camera systems that track a driver’s gaze and issue alerts when their attention deviates from the road. Safety technology is constantly evolving to keep up with the growing number of distractions drivers face every day, proving that technology is undoubtedly helping to make the roads a safer place for everyone.

Driver distraction is one of the leading causes of car accidents, but with greater awareness and the right steps in place, we can all do our part to reduce its impact. Technology solutions like smartphone integration and camera systems are also playing a role in addressing these issues, helping make our roads safer for everyone. By understanding the risks associated with driver distraction and taking the right measures to prevent it, we can save lives and keep our roads safe.

The Porsche Sport eBike – Sleek, Minimalist and Pricey

By
SM
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Porsche has built an enviable reputation for design and performance that is based not only on its iconic sports cars but also on the products of Porsche Design. The automaker’s design house is today responsible for everything from watches, eyewear, clothing, and accessories – all with the signature sleek and minimalist aesthetic that characterizes the Porsche brand. 

That aesthetic is readily apparent when one notes the sheer presence of the company’s eBikes. These eBikes, from the standard Porsche eBike to the latest off-road Cross Performance model are world-class. However, at the end of 2022, Porsche revealed its latest Sport model – a Porsche eBike offering that raises the bar when it comes to visual appeal and mechanical performance. 

Let’s take a deep dive into just why the new Porsche Sport has caused such a stir.

At First Glance

If you mention Porsche to any motoring enthusiast during casual conversation you are almost certain to get a knowing nod. The iconic brand has been stylishly breaking the rules ever since 1931 when it was established by Ferdinand Porsche – and the Sport eBike continues a tradition of masterful design. It follows in the aesthetic footsteps of the iconic 911 sports car thanks to the sterling efforts of the automaker’s design department Studio F. A. Porsche and their partnership with fellow Germans at ROTWILD, a company known for its premium frame designs. 

Those designers have reached deep into the ethos of Porsche to produce something out of the ordinary The latest Sport eBike model is said to take inspiration from the flowing, minimalist lines of the Porsche Taycan, but it’s the flat tube ‘organically shaped’ full-suspension carbon frame that steals the show. 

The tubes were designed by Studio F.A. Porsche and ROTWILD to better reflect light – and they do so with an undeniable sense of style. The curves of this magnificent machine are proof that functionality and striking good looks can work harmoniously together to create something truly special. 

The designers at Porsche were determined that essential equipment such as brake and shifting cables would not interfere with the flowing lines of the bike. The result is that these components are hidden within the frame. This emphasises the minimalist and elegant design, a feature that is echoed by the Aero seat post with its integrated LED rear light and deceleration signal. 

Adding to the visual appeal of this striking bike is the fact that the rear shock is seamlessly integrated with the top tube. The result is an eBikevibe that looks and feels lighter than offerings from competing brands. The ‘upside down’ MAGURA forks add to the appeal. The suspension seems to take inspiration from equipment featured on high-end motorcycles – and that adds to

the understated, yet bold image that this velo electrique so successfully projects. The combination of cutting-edge suspension technology and the Fox rear dampers provide exceptional ride comfort. 

The sleek lines of the Sport’s frame are complimented by an uncluttered Shimano colour display that provides information on speed, distance traveled, and that all-important battery range. As per the Porsche marketing material, the fact that the brake cables are hidden inside the frame allows the rider an unobstructed view, and allows them to focus on what is important – the road ahead. 

Porsche has gone the extra country mile in ensuring that not only does this the Sport look good enough to cause envious looks on urban streets or light dirt tracks, but that it can also take the inevitable knocks that daily use will supply. The Crankbrothers Iodine 2-wheel set is a case in point, they’re easy on the eye, but also tough as nails. 

Under the Skin 

Given that this premium eBike shares the same genetics as Porsche’s groundbreaking sports cars, it will come as no surprise that performance is part of this eBike’s DNA. 

At the heart of the Porsche Sport is a Shimano EP8 drive unit, delivering a very respectable 85 Nm of torque and up to 15,5mph motor support. Those who have any fears about the battery life of electric bikes can put those fears to rest when it comes to the Porsche Sport. The 630-watt-hour battery pack will provide enough power from a single charge to keep you on the road (or dirt) for a distance of between 60 and 70 miles. The battery will charge to around 80% in approximately 2.5 hours and from zero percent charge to 100% in around 5 hours. 

The premium Shimano XT Di2 electronic 11-speed gear shift system is incredibly efficient at reducing the fatigue usually associated with pedaling alongside the electric motor. However, when it does come time to stop, the MAGURA MCi high-performance brakes, with their oversized brake discs will bring you to a halt quickly and safely. 

Is the Porsche Sport Worth the Money? 

The Porsche website provides a retail price of $11,750. Now that is by no means pocket change, but considering that you will have access to cutting-edge technology and that uniquely Porsche design, it may be a small price to pay. And you get the satisfaction of knowing that you are enjoying a bike that is at the bleeding edge of eBike evolution. 

The Bottom Line 

When the rubber of the Porsche Sport’s new Continental ‘Speed King’ hybrid dirt/tarmac tyres hits the road, you immediately realise that you are part of a uniquely Porsche experience. This is not only an incredibly versatile eBike, but also one that takes both aesthetics and mechanical sophistication to new heights. Yes, it’s pricey, but if you are looking at a Porsche of either the four or two-wheel variety you are probably not going to suffer from sticker shock. 

In short, this is an eBike that simply ticks all the right boxes – and looks incredible doing it. 

If you want to enjoy the pride of ownership that comes as standard with every Porsche product, act quickly. According to the Porsche website, deliveries are only going to be available until August 2023.

Football Live Score: Keeping Up with the Game

By
SM
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Photo by JESHOOTS.com

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on football live scores. As passionate fans of the beautiful game, we understand the importance of staying updated with the latest scores, match events, and thrilling moments. In this article, we will provide you with an in-depth overview of football live scores, their significance, and how you can easily access them. Whether you’re a devoted supporter or an avid bettor, we’ve got you covered. So, let’s kick off the excitement and dive into the world of live scores!

Why Are Football Live Scores Important?

Football live score play a pivotal role in keeping fans and enthusiasts up to date with ongoing matches and their progress. These scores provide real-time information about goals, bookings, substitutions, and other significant events taking place on the pitch. Let’s explore the key reasons why football live scores are highly important:

Immediate Updates: Live scores enable fans to instantly follow and engage with matches, even if they cannot physically attend or watch them on television. This way, supporters can stay connected and feel the excitement from anywhere in the world.

Comprehensive Coverage: Football live scores provide comprehensive coverage, allowing fans to keep track of multiple matches simultaneously. Whether it’s the local league or international tournaments, live scores keep enthusiasts informed about every game they are interested in.

Match Analysis and Strategy: For avid bettors and fantasy football enthusiasts, live scores are crucial in analyzing matches and developing effective strategies. By closely monitoring the progress of a game, punters can make informed decisions and adjust their bets accordingly.

Social Interaction: Football live scores create a sense of community among fans. Supporters can discuss ongoing matches, share their opinions, and engage in friendly banter through various social platforms. This fosters a vibrant environment for football lovers to connect and celebrate their favorite teams.

Benefits of Real-Time Football Updates

Real-time football updates through live scores offer a multitude of benefits to football enthusiasts. Let’s take a closer look at how staying updated with the latest scores can enhance your football-watching experience:

Instant Gratification: Football live scores provide instant gratification by allowing fans to witness goals, red cards, penalties, and other thrilling moments as they happen. The excitement of celebrating a goal or anticipating the outcome of a crucial penalty is unparalleled.

Informed Betting Decisions: For those who enjoy placing bets on football matches, real-time updates are invaluable. By keeping a close eye on live scores, bettors can make well-informed decisions based on the progress of the game, injuries, or tactical changes.

Enhanced Fan Engagement: Live scores promote active engagement among fans. Whether you’re watching a match at the stadium, in a sports bar, or from the comfort of your home, checking live scores and discussing them with fellow supporters adds to the sense of camaraderie and excitement.

Fantasy Football Management: For fantasy football enthusiasts, live scores are essential for managing their teams effectively. Tracking player performances, goals, assists, and clean sheets in real-time enables participants to make substitutions and strategic transfers to gain an edge over their competitors.

By staying updated with real-time football scores, you can fully immerse yourself in the game, make informed decisions, and engage with fellow fans, thereby enhancing your overall football experience.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, football live scores have revolutionized the way fans engage with the game. Through real-time updates, supporters can access instant information about ongoing matches, analyze game events, and feel connected to their favorite teams and players. The availability of numerous platforms and applications has made accessing live scores incredibly convenient, ensuring that fans never miss a moment of the action. By staying up to date with football live scores, you can elevate your football-watching experience, make informed betting decisions, and actively participate in the vibrant community of football enthusiasts.

FAQs about Football Live Scores:

Q1: How accurate are football live scores?

 Football live scores provided by reliable platforms are generally accurate and reflect real-time events occurring during matches. However, occasional delays or technical issues may affect the timeliness of updates. It is recommended to rely on reputable sources for the most accurate live score information.

Q2: Can I access football live scores for matches played in different leagues and countries?

Yes, most football live score platforms cover matches from various leagues and countries around the world. From the English Premier League to the UEFA Champions League and international tournaments, you can find live scores for a wide range of football competitions.

Q3: Can I receive notifications for specific matches or teams?

Many live score platforms offer customization options, allowing you to set up notifications for specific matches, teams, or leagues. This way, you can receive instant updates tailored to your preferences and interests.

Q4: Are there any free platforms for accessing football live scores?

Yes, numerous platforms provide free access to football live scores. Websites, mobile applications, and social media platforms often offer free live score services, ensuring that fans can stay connected to the game without any subscription fees.

Q5: Can I watch live streams of football matches through live score platforms?

While live score platforms primarily focus on delivering real-time updates, some platforms may provide links or information about official broadcasters or streaming services that offer live match coverage. However, live streaming services typically require separate subscriptions or fees.

Hocevar scores second Truck career triumph at Nashville

By
Andrew Kim
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LEBANON, TENNESSEE - JUNE 23: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 23, 2023 in Lebanon, Tennessee. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images).

In a season where he silenced his doubters and became a NASCAR race winner for the first time in his career, Carson Hocevar doubled down with another reason to celebrate after scoring a late victory in the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway on Friday, June 23.

The 20-year-old Hocevar from Portage, Michigan, led the final 40 of 150-scheduled laps in an event where he rolled off the starting grid in seventh place before keeping pace with the front-runners as the event proceeded under the lights. He assumed the lead for the first time during a restart with 40 laps remaining and Hocevar appeared to be heading toward a potential victory when a late two-truck incident with 10 laps remaining stalled his momentum momentarily. After being one of select competitors to remain on the track instead of pitting for fresh tires, Hocevar then managed to fend off a late charge from reigning series champion Zane Smith during a three-lap shootout to claim the second checkered flag of this season and of his youthful career.

With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Friday, rookie Nick Sanchez notched his third career pole position after posting a pole-winning lap at 161.915 mph in 29.571 seconds. Joining him on the front row was Bayley Currey, who posted the second-best qualifying lap at 161.844 mph in 29.584 seconds.

Prior to the event, Toni Breidinger and Dean Thompson dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments made to their respective trucks.

When the green flag waved and the race commenced, Sanchez and Currey briefly dueled for the lead entering the first turn until Sanchez rocketed ahead on the inside lane through the first turn. With Sanchez out in front through the backstretch, rookie Rajah Caruth, who qualified third, battled Currey for second. Corey Heim, the series points leader who returned from a one-race absence due to illness that caused him to miss the previous event at World Wide Technology Raceway in early June, joined the battle entering the third turn. Caruth would muscle ahead and acquire the runner-up spot as Sanchez proceeded to lead the first lap.

Three laps later and amid a series of early on-track battles while Sanchez continued to lead ahead of Caruth, the first caution of the event. Hailie Deegan, who was battling Lawless Alan for a spot within the top 20, got loose underneath Alan in Turn 3 as both competitors slipped sideways up the groove, with Deegan barely clipping the No. 51 Rowdy Manufacturing Chevrolet Silverado RST piloted by Jack Wood. While Deegan backed her No. 13 ThorSport Racing Ford F-150 into Turn 3’s outside wall, Alan, who was trying to save his sideways truck, ended up darting back towards the wall as he was hit by Wood before both competitors hit the wall and emerged with damaged trucks.

When the race restarted under green on the ninth lap, Sanchez fended off Caruth entering the first turn to retain the lead while Zane Smith, who restarted within the top six, got loose entering the first turn, but managed to continue without losing ground of the leaders. Shortly after, however, the caution returned when Alan blew a right-side tire and smacked the outside wall in Turn 1, his second incident of the night, and became the first retiree of the event.

During the proceeding restart on Lap 16, Sanchez and Caruth battled for the lead until Sanchez managed to pull ahead of Caruth to retain the lead during the following lap. With Sanchez leading the field, Carson Hocevar, who started seventh, battled and overtook teammate Currey for third as Corey Heim, Zane Smith and rookie Taylor Gray battled for fifth.

Through the first 25 scheduled laps, Sanchez was leading by two-tenths of a second over a hard-charging Caruth while third-place Hocevar trailed by more than a second. Behind, Zane Smith and Currey battled for fourth while Heim, Tyler Ankrum, Taylor Gray, Grant Enfinger and Tanner Gray were running in the top 10. Meanwhile, Matt DiBenedetto was in 11th ahead of Stewart Friesen, Christian Eckes, Ben Rhodes and Chase Purdy while rookie Daniel Dye, rookie Jake Garcia, Matt Crafton, Ty Majeski and Colby Howard occupied the top 20.

Five laps later, Sanchez continued to lead by a tenth of a second over Caruth, who continued to intimidate and challenge Sanchez for the lead through every turn and corner. Behind, Zane Smith muscled his Speedco Ford F-150 into third place over Hocevar and Currey while Heim trailed in sixth place.

During the proceeding five laps, the battle for the lead continued to ignite between Sanchez and Caruth. With both competitors encountering lapped traffic, Caruth made several side-by-side challenges on Sanchez to acquire the lead, but Sanchez would manage to fend off Caruth’s attacks by the time both returned to the start/finish line.

On Lap 36, Caruth managed to lead a lap for himself over Sanchez. A lap later, however, Caruth was quickly overtaken by Sanchez as Zane Smith followed suit. Zane Smith would then become the new race leader on Lap 39 after assuming the top spot over Sanchez while Caruth, who was off the pace, made an unscheduled pit stop to address a loss of fuel pressure to his No. 24 Born Driven Chevrolet Silverado RST.

When the first stage concluded on Lap 45, Zane Smith, who stretched his advantage to more than two seconds after acquiring the lead on Lap 39, captured his second stage victory of the 2023 season. Sanchez settled in second as he trailed Smith by more than two seconds while Currey, Hocevar, Heim, Ankrum, Tanner Gray, Enfinger, DiBenedetto and Taylor Gray were scored in the top 10.

Under the stage break, the lead lap field led by Zane Smith pitted. Following the pit stops, Heim managed to squeak ahead and exit first with the lead followed by Sanchez, Currey, Zane Smith, Ankrum and Taylor Gray.

The second stage started on Lap 53 as Heim and Sanchez occupied the front row. At the start, Heim retained the lead followed by Currey, who overtook Sanchez for second after pushing Heim into the lead at the restart mark. Taylor Gray would then challenge Sanchez for third entering the backstretch before Sanchez retained the spot followed by Zane Smith. Gray would then get dropkicked to eighth as Rhodes, Hocevar and Ankrum overtook him for spots within the top seven. Soon after, Gray would be challenged by Matt DiBenedetto, Eckes and a steaming pack of competitors for eighth during the proceeding laps as Heim retained the lead over Currey and a hard-charging Zane Smith.

By Lap 60, Heim’s No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro was leading by two-tenths of a second over Currey’s No. 41 Unishippers Chevrolet Silverado RST while third-place Zane Smith trailed by more than a second. Sanchez, meanwhile, was in fourth ahead of Hocevar while Rhodes, Ankrum, DiBenedetto, Taylor Gray and Christian Eckes were in the top 10.

Two laps later, Currey led a lap for himself amid a fierce battle with Heim. Both competitors would then duel for the lead before Heim reassumed the top spot during the proceeding lap. With both competitors continuing to battle for the lead by Lap 65, Heim fended off Currey’s repeated attacks to retain the lead as Zane Smith narrowed his deficit to six-tenths of a second as he started to join the battle for the lead.

At the halfway mark on Lap 75, Heim was leading by two-tenths of a second over Currey followed by Zane Smith, Hocevar and Sanchez while Rhodes, Ankrum, DiBenedetto, Tanner Gray and Taylor Gray were in the top 10. Behind, Eckes was in 11th ahead of Enfinger, Stewart Friesen, Chase Purdy and Daniel Dye while newcomer Jake Drew, Jake Garcia, Dean Thompson, Matt Crafton and Colby Howard were running in the top 20. Meanwhile, Ty Majeski, who was slow on the track three laps earlier due to an electrical issue, had pulled his truck off the course without drawing a caution.

Then on Lap 84, the fourth caution of the event flew when Stewart Friesen spun his No. 52 Ferris Commercial Mowers Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entering Turn 4. During the caution period, DiBenedetto remained on the track to assume the race lead in his No. 25 Rackley Roofing Chevrolet Silverado RST while the rest of the lead lap field led by Heim pitted. Following the pit stops, Heim exited pit road first followed by Zane Smith, Hocevar, Rhodes and Currey. Amid the pit stops, Crafton was penalized for an uncontrolled tire violation while Layne Riggs was also penalized for speeding on pit road.

With five laps remaining in the second stage, the race restarted under green. At the start, DiBenedetto maintained the lead through the first two turns as Rhodes, Heim and Zane Smith battled behind while fanned out to three lanes. Through the backstretch, however, Heim made his move beneath DiBenedetto and reassumed the lead. Amid the on-track jostles for spots, DiBenedetto was left to battle Hocevar and Zane Smith to retain second amid competing on worn tires while Heim started to pull away with the lead.

Then with three laps remaining in the second stage, the caution returned when Daniel Dye, who was running outside the top 10, got loose as his truck washed up the track through Turns 1 and 2. Dye then clipped Layne Riggs as his truck started to turn down towards the track’s banking as Riggs was sent spinning through the backstretch. Riggs was then T-boned by an oncoming Bret Holmes as both competitors came to a rest with wrecked trucks.

The recent caution period for the multi-truck wreck was enough for the second stage scheduled to conclude on Lap 95 to finish under caution as Heim captured his fifth stage victory of the 2023 season. Hocevar trailed in second followed by DiBenedetto while Zane Smith, Rhodes, Ankrum, Currey, Tanner Gray, Jake Drew and Eckes were scored in the top 10.

Under the stage break, select names that included DiBenedetto pitted while the rest led by Heim remained on the track. Among those who pitted included Grant Enfinger, the series’ recent winner at World Wide Technology Raceway who pitted for repairs to his left front after making contact with Dean Thompson on pit road during the previous caution period.

With 48 laps remaining, the final stage started under green as Heim and Hocevar occupied the front row. At the start, Heim rocketed away from Hocevar and the field to retain the lead, though Hocevar kept Heim close within his sights. Behind, Zane Smith and Ben Rhodes battled for third while Currey trailed in fifth ahead of Ankrum, Tanner Gray, Jake Drew, Eckes and Sanchez.

Two laps later, the caution returned when Thompson, who was battling Eckes for ninth, got loose beneath Eckes and started to wash up the track as he barely clipped Eckes’ No. 19 NAPA Chevrolet Silverado RST before he spun and backed his No. 5 Thompson Pipe Group Toyota Tundra TRD Pro into the outside wall, thus damaging his rear deck lid, in Turn 3. During the caution period, nearly the entire field led by Heim remained on the track while select names that included Enfinger, Eckes, Friesen and Layne Riggs pitted.

During the following restart with 40 laps remaining, Heim and Hocevar dueled dead even for the lead entering the first two turns until Hocevar rocketed his No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado RST into the lead. With Hocevar emerging as the new leader of the event, Heim fell back to second while Zane Smith and Currey battled for third in front of Ankrum and Rhodes.

With 35 laps remaining, Hocevar was leading by nine-tenths of a second over Heim while Currey and Zane Smith, both of whom trailed the leader by more than a second, continued to battle for third as Ankrum was trying to fend off Rhodes and Sanchez for fifth. Hocevar would proceed to extend his advantage to more than a second over the new runner-up competitor Zane Smith with 30 laps remaining.

Down to the final 20 laps of the event, Hocevar stabilized his advantage to more than a second over Zane Smith while third-place Heim trailed by more than three seconds. Currey and Rhodes were running in the top five while Sanchez, Ankrum, Purdy, Drew and Tanner Gray were battling in the top 10.

Then with 10 laps remaining, the caution flew when Friesen, who was running 22nd, got loose and slipped sideways entering Turn 4 as he clipped Enfinger before colliding into Eckes and sending both to spin across the frontstretch grass. At the moment of caution, Hocevar was leading by more than a second over Zane Smith while Heim, Currey and Sanchez were scored in the top five.

During the caution period, names that included Hocevar, Zane Smith, Heim, Chase Purdy, Tanner Gray and Jake Garcia remained on the track while the rest led by Currey and Sanchez pitted amid a mixed strategy.

Down to a three-lap shootout, as Hocevar and Zane Smith occupied the front row, Hocevar received a big push from Chase Purdy to rocket ahead with the lead at the restart zone. As the field fanned out entering the first turn, Hocevar retained the lead while Zane Smith and Heim pursued the leader. Hocevar would continue to lead throughout the circuit while the field behind jostled for late positions.

With two laps remaining, Sanchez, racing on fresh tires in his No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet Silverado RST, overtook Heim for third while Hocevar stabilized his advantage to three-tenths of a second over Smith.

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Hocevar remained as the leader by three-tenths of a second over a hard-charging Zane Smith. Smith then tried to gain ground on Hocevar entering Turn 1, but he went wide and lost his momentum as Hocevar muscled away on the inside lane. Then through the backstretch, Smith and Sanchez set their final lap moves on Hocevar, but neither prevailed approaching Turns 3 and 4. This allowed Hocevar to pull away and beat both within three-tenths of a second to grab his second checkered flag of this season and of his career.

With the victory, Hocevar joined Zane Smith, Christian Eckes and Grant Enfinger as the only competitors to achieve multiple Craftsman Truck Series victories this season while also recording the sixth career victory for Niece Motorsports. The Nashville victory occurred more than two months after the Michigan native claimed his first Truck triumph at Texas Motor Speedway amid a wild last-lap battle involving Nick Sanchez and Zane Smith.

In addition, Hocevar, who is coming off four consecutive top-five results in recent weeks, claimed the third and final $50,000 bonus as part of this year’s Craftsman Triple Truck Challenge bonus.

“I would say I enjoy [this ride] a lot right now,” Hocevar said on FS1. “I led [a race] to the [start/finish] line after the white [flag] and carried it around, so I could finally get that out of the rest. Hopefully, that puts together any doubters. [Team owner] Al Niece, I hope he lets me drive a truck for a long time because I wanna win a lot of races for him. In the meantime, hopefully, I can win a lot more races everywhere else, under the sun or any car I get in. [Crew chief] Phil Gould’s a magician with these things and just glad I’m finally being able to put a fraction together of what he deserves.”

Meanwhile, Zane Smith, who is coming off four consecutive weeks of finishing 20th or worse, rallied by finishing in second place at Nashville for a second consecutive season while Nick Sanchez claimed his second top-three result of his career by finishing in third place.

“Yeah, definitely frustrating,” Smith said. “I wanna win here really bad. I love this place. Just needed to be better on restarts. [I] Struggled really bad all night from first to second [gear], but third to fourth, that was really good. [The leaders] would just be too far ahead and then, that final restart, [Heim] had just jumped outside of us and just pulled us back even more. I was catching [Hocevar]. I feel like we were better than him, but he just had the track position and he had the clean air. We did not.”

“At the end of the day, it was a good points night,” Sanchez added. “That’s what we needed, but I’d kind of be lying if I said I wasn’t a little disappointed. Third’s good, but I think we had the fastest truck. Just got to get better on my end. Got to execute a little better. I lost a little bit on pit road, so that hurt us. [I] Felt like we were always fighting behind, but can’t say enough about this No. 2 Rev Racing, Gainbridge Chevrolet crew. Every week, fast truck, so just go to Mid-Ohio and try again.”

Heim ended up in fourth place despite leading a race-high 57 laps, but he managed to retain the lead in the regular-season standings, while Bayley Currey notched his second top-five career result by finishing fifth.

Chase Purdy, Matt DiBenedetto, Tyler Ankrum, Ben Rhodes and rookie Jake Garcia completed the top 10 in the final running order.

Notably, Jake Drew, the reigning ARCA Menards Series West champion, finished 12th in his Truck Series debut while Toni Breidinger finished 17th in her third Truck career start. Enfinger ended up 13th while Friesen and Eckes settled in 18th and 23rd, respectively, following their late wreck.

There were nine lead changes for seven different leaders. The race featured seven cautions for 43 laps. In addition, 18 of 36 starters finished on the lead lap.

Following the 13th event of the 2023 Craftsman Truck Series season, Corey Heim leads the regular-season standings by 16 points over Zane Smith, 31 over Grant Enfinger, 44 over Ty Majeski and 47 over Ben Rhodes.

With three regular-season events remaining on the schedule, Christian Eckes, Zane Smith, Carson Hocevar, Grant Enfinger, Corey Heim and Ben Rhodes are currently locked into the 2023 Truck Series Playoffs based on winning at least once throughout the regular-season stretch. Ty Majeski, Matt DiBenedetto, Matt Crafton and Nick Sanchez are above the top-10 cutline based on points, with Sanchez occupying the final transfer spot by six points over both Stewart Friesen and Tanner Gray, 39 over Chase Purdy and 63 over Jake Garcia.

Results.

1. Carson Hocevar, 40 laps led

2. Zane Smith, 11 laps led, Stage 1 winner

3. Nick Sanchez, 38 laps led

4. Corey Heim, 57 laps led, Stage 2 winner

5. Bayley Currey, one lap led

6. Chase Purdy

7. Matt DiBenedetto, three laps led

8. Tyler Ankrum

9. Ben Rhodes

10. Jake Garcia

11. Tanner Gray

12. Jake Drew

13. Grant Enfinger

14. Taylor Gray

15. Matt Crafton

16. Timmy Hill

17. Toni Breidinger

18. Stewart Friesen

19. Nick Leitz, one lap down

20. Mason Maggio, one lap down

21. Cory Roper, two laps down

 22. Daniel Dye, two laps down

23. Christian Eckes, two laps down

24. Jonathan Shafer, three laps down

25. Spencer Boyd, three laps down

26. Chase Janes, three laps down

27. Layne Riggs, three laps down

28. Hailie Deegan, four laps down

29. Colby Howard, six laps down

30. Jack Wood, six laps down

31. Ty Majeski, 17 laps down

32. Rajah Caruth, 31 laps down, one lap led

33. Dean Thompson – OUT, Dvp

34. Bret Holmes – OUT, Accident

35. Memphis Villarreal – OUT, Electrical

36. Lawless Alan – OUT, Accident

Next on the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season is the series’ second annual visit to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. The event is scheduled to occur on July 8 at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

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