TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
Sonoma Raceway
Sonoma, California
June 10-11, 2023

WEEKEND OUT WEST

The NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) will join the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) out west as two of NASCAR’s top series will take on the 1.99-mile, 12-turn Sonoma Raceway. Situated within the southern Sonoma Mountains, the challenging road course has been a staple stop on the schedule for NASCAR’s premier series since 1989. Chevrolet has notched a manufacturer-leading 13 NCS wins at Sonoma – including back-to-back wins in the series’ past two appearances at the Northern California circuit.

The NXS will look to start a new chapter in Sonoma Raceway’s history book as the series will make its first-ever appearance at the circuit this weekend. The series is in the midst of back-to-back road course events on the west coast. Despite coming just one spot short of the triumph at Portland International Raceway last weekend, the Bowtie brand is carrying the momentum of four top-five finishes out west as the manufacturer looks to become Sonoma’s first NXS winner.

 BACK-TO-BACK MONUMENTAL WINS

Team Chevy’s Kyle Larson and Daniel Suarez have found recent success at Sonoma Raceway – delivering the manufacturer wins in the past two NASCAR Cup Series events at the 1.99-mile Northern California road course. While extending Chevrolet’s record as the winningest manufacturer in NASCAR’s premier series at the circuit, each triumph holds a special place in Larson and Suarez’s young careers.

A native of Elk Grove, California, Larson’s victory in the 2021 event at his home track marked his first-ever road course victory in NASCAR’s premier series. What turned into a career season for the 30-year-old Hendrick Motorsports driver, he went on to add two more road course victories later that season (Watkins Glen International and Charlotte ROVAL) en route to his first career championship title.

Most recently, Suarez made history after driving his No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Camaro ZL1 to the win at Sonoma Raceway last season – his first career NCS victory. A monumental victory for Suarez, the win was also one for the history books for NASCAR with Suarez becoming the first Mexico-born driver to win in the series. The 31-year-old Monterrey, Mexico, driver also became just the fifth foreign-born driver to win in NASCAR’s premier series – joining the elite company of Marcos Ambrose (Australia), Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Earl Ross (Canada) and Mario Andretti (Italy).

 ELLIOTT EYES NEXT ROAD COURSE RECORD

Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott found victory lane in the NASCAR Cup Series for the first time on a road course – taking the win in the series’ visit to Watkins Glen International in 2018. The former champion has gone on to collect seven career NCS road course wins – the most among active drivers. Taking the impressive feat one step further, Elliott’s seven NCS road course wins have been recorded at five different road course circuits – also a series’ record.

Looking for his first win of the 2023 season, a victory by Elliott in Sunday’s event would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart on the NCS’ all-time road course wins list with eight. Topping the list is career Chevrolet driver Jeff Gordon – who amassed nine NCS road course victories in his lustrous career.

TEAM CHEVY’S ROAD COURSE WARRIORS

A road course favorite in recent years, Chevrolet has made its way to victory lane in 15 of the past 18 NASCAR Cup Series races – dating back to Chase Elliott’s victory at Watkins Glen International in August 2019. Within that time span, the manufacturer notched a streak of 11 consecutive road course wins in the series – a run that started with Elliott’s victory in NASCAR’s debut at Circuit of The Americas in May 2021.

The Bowtie brigade features a powerhouse lineup of drivers that have found success making left- and right-hand turns. Six active drivers from four different Chevrolet teams have at least one career NCS road course win on their resume:

Hendrick Motorsports:

Chase Elliott – seven (Watkins Glen – 2018 & 2019; Charlotte ROVAL – 2019 & 2020; Daytona R.C. – 2020; COTA – 2021; Road America – 2021)
Kyle Larson – four (Sonoma – 2021; Watkins Glen – 2021 & 2022; Charlotte ROVAL – 2021)

Richard Childress Racing:

Kyle Busch – four (Sonoma – 2008 & 2015; Watkins Glen – 2008 & 2013)

Kaulig Racing:

AJ Allmendinger – two (Watkins Glen – 2014; Indianapolis R.C. – 2021)

Trackhouse Racing:

Daniel Suarez – one (Sonoma – 2022)
Ross Chastain – one (Circuit of The Americas – 2022)
 
HOME STATE HERO

Career Chevrolet driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer, Jeff Gordon, has a storied history of success at his home track of Sonoma Raceway. The Vallejo, California, native retired from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition in 2015, but still holds on to the title as the winningest road course driver in series’ history with nine career triumphs. Gordon recorded five of those road course triumphs at Sonoma Raceway – also a series-leading feat at the circuit.

In his 23 career starts at Sonoma Raceway, Gordon’s legacy at the Northern California circuit continues to live on – maintaining a series-best record in average finishing position (8.3), runner-up finishes (five), top-fives (14), top-10s (18), laps led (457) and pole wins (five).

 SONOMA WELCOMES NXS DEBUT

Part two of the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ west coast adventure will deliver a whole new set of unknowns with Saturday’s DoorDash 250 marking the series’ debut at Sonoma Raceway.

Chevrolet has already notched one NXS road course win this season (AJ Allmendinger – COTA), and the manufacturer is coming off another stout road course performance at Portland International Raceway last weekend. Team Chevy drivers took six of the top-nine positions in the final running order – with JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier leading the Bowtie brigade with a runner-up finish. Allgaier and fellow Team Chevy driver Sheldon Creed led a combined 70 of the race’s 77 laps.

Among the seven NASCAR Cup Series regulars slated for double-duty at Sonoma Raceway this weekend, five come from the Chevrolet camp. Of those entries includes Team Chevy’s two most recent NCS winners at the circuit – with Kyle Larson behind the wheel of the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro SS and Daniel Suarez taking over the driving duties for the No. 07 SS Green Light Camaro SS. Road course favorite AJ Allmendinger will make his second NXS start of the season in the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Camaro SS. The last time Allmendinger got in the seat of the entry was at Circuit of The Americas in March – where he added yet another road course victory to his name. Ross Chastain – who also got his first career NCS win on a road course – will be piloting the No. 91 Camaro SS for DGM Racing.

 
GMS RACING HITS MILESTONE VICTORY

GMS Racing’s Grant Enfinger became the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ (NCTS) third repeat winner of the season – taking his No. 23 Silverado RST to victory lane at World Wide Technology Raceway last weekend.

The victory – Chevrolet’s seventh in 12 NCTS races – also marked a milestone victory for GMS Racing. With now 44 all-time NCTS wins, GMS Racing surpassed Kevin Harvick Incorporated’s win record – giving GMS Racing the title of the winningest Chevrolet team in NCTS’ history. A partner with Chevrolet since the team’s inception in 2012, GMS Racing has also accounted for two of Chevrolet’s 14 NCTS Driver Championship titles (2016 and 2020).

“Maury Gallagher, Mike Beam and everyone at GMS Racing have been great partners to Chevrolet since the organization entered the Truck Series a decade ago,” said Dayne Pierantoni, GM Racing Program Manager for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. “We’ve had an incredible history together both on and off the track, and their partnership has been a key component to Chevrolet’s success in the series.”

BOWTIE BULLETS:

· Of the five active NASCAR Cup Series drivers that have previously won at Sonoma Raceway, three come from Team Chevy:

Kyle Busch – two wins (2015, 2008)

Daniel Suarez – one win (2022)

Kyle Larson – one win (2021)

· Chevrolet has recorded wins in 15 of the past 18 NASCAR Cup Series road course races. Within that timespan includes a streak of 11 consecutive wins – from Chase Elliott’s win at Circuit of The Americas (May 2021) to Kyle Larson’s win at Watkins Glen International (August 2022).

· Chase Elliott leads all active drivers with seven career NASCAR Cup Series road course wins. Those victories have been recorded at five different road course circuits – a record in series’ history.

· Chase Elliott ranks third on the NASCAR Cup Series’ all-time road course wins list – behind NASCAR Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon (nine wins) and Tony Stewart (eight wins).

· Only three drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series are repeat winners this season, all coming from Team Chevy (William Byron – Las Vegas, Phoenix & Darlington; Kyle Larson – Richmond & Martinsville; Kyle Busch – Auto Club and Talladega). Byron and Busch are tied atop the leaderboard with three wins each.

· In 15 points-paying NASCAR Cup Series race this season, Chevrolet continues to lead the series in wins (nine), top-fives (33), top-10s (63), stage wins (16) and laps led (2,007).

· Chevrolet leads the series in wins across all three NASCAR national series this season with nine victories in 15 NASCAR Cup Series races, eight victories in 13 NASCAR Xfinity Series races and seven wins in 12 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races – all with a win percentage of more than 50%.

· With Grant Enfinger’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win at World Wide Technology Raceway, GMS Racing is now the winningest Chevrolet organization in NCTS’ history with 44 all-time wins in the series.

· With William Byron’s win at Darlington Raceway, Hendrick Motorsports now sits at 296 all-time NASCAR Cup Series victories – all recorded with Chevrolet.

· Chevrolet’s series-leading nine NASCAR Cup Series wins this season have been recorded by drivers from three different Chevrolet teams: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (JTG Daugherty Racing), Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing), William Byron and Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports).

· Chevrolet drivers have recorded 16 of the 30 NASCAR Cup Series stage wins this season: William Byron (seven; series-leading), Ross Chastain (five), Kyle Larson (two), Chase Elliott (one) and Kyle Busch (one).

· Chevrolet continues to sit atop the manufacturer points standings in all three NASCAR national series, leading by 44 points in the NASCAR Cup Series, 45 points in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and 33 points in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

· With its 41 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer’s Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver’s Championships, and 842 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title of winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

 
TUNE IN:

· NASCAR Cup Series: Toyota / Save Mart 350

Sunday, June 11, at 3:30 p.m. ET

(FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

· NASCAR Xfinity Series: DoorDash 250

Saturday, June 10, at 8 p.m. ET

(FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

 
QUOTABLE QUOTES:
ROSS CHASTAIN, NO. 1 KUBOTA CAMARO ZL1

You still seem to run in more than one series on weekends, why is that?

“I think it’s important to get as many reps as possible. It’s something I’ve always done no matter what the equipment is like. You look back several years ago and I was running in as many series as I could each weekend just to get that seat time because I feel it’s really important for me. I even went out to Sonoma a few weeks ago to drive a Skip Barber school car just to get more laps at Sonoma. I wanted to start getting my mind trained to turning left and right again so that it comes more natural this weekend. I’ve done a ton of left turns in my life. Even on the farm, we always turn the tractor left with the way we work the fields. No idea why that really is, it’s just the way we’ve always done it. I would hate to add up all of the left turns I’ve made in my life, versus right.”

AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BREZTRI CAMARO ZL1

How do you prepare for Sonoma Raceway?

“I prepare for Sonoma Raceway by spending a lot of hours on the Chevrolet simulator, and I’ve been at the go-kart track quite a bit this year, which in the past I haven’t done. I could probably run Sonoma in my sleep. I’ve put a lot of effort into this race. I can’t wait to get there in my No. 3 BREZTRI AEROSPHERE™ (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Chevrolet Camaro. I really like the track; it’s a fun, slick road course. We have a lot of high hopes for this race to break through and have our best finish on a road course. We’ve been getting better at road racing the last couple of years. We have a shot to qualify well, lead laps, and come out with a good run.”

Does Sonoma Raceway lend itself to the same kind of aggression as Watkins Glen or Circuit of the Americas?

“Yes, it does. Sonoma Raceway has some aggression, but it’s more controlled because of the tire wear. It’s easy to overdrive the car; you have to take care of the rear tires and try not to slide the front tires. The aggression is always there on road courses, and especially in turn 11, the final turn. You know what you are getting when you go into turn 11 and where you can attack and make passes.”

You were strong at COTA earlier this season. Are you excited to get to Sonoma?

“Circuit Of the Americas didn’t go well for us. We didn’t get the finish we deserved after getting spun at the top of the hill. I’m excited about Sonoma Raceway. Ever since the race was over at COTA, we’ve been working on our road course program to come out strong this weekend. I feel like my RCR team is prepared as much as we can.”

KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 VALVOLINE CAMARO ZL1

Larson on racing at Sonoma Raceway:

“I always love going back home and racing at Sonoma (Raceway). I always get to see a lot of friends, family and race fans that grew up watching me race sprint cars and stuff around Northern California. I think all of us drivers look forward to going to Sonoma a lot, but with me being from only an hour and half away, it’s a special place. I’ve always qualified really well there. Since I’ve raced with Hendrick (Motorsports), we got a win there in 2021, led some laps in 2022 and had a fast car. We just missed the strategy some and then had a wheel fall off as we were starting to get back into contention. It’s kind of a flowy track. The tires wear out, so you kind of manage your runs quite a good bit. There’s a lot of elevation change too. I enjoy all that.”

CLIFF DANIELS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 VALVOLINE CAMARO ZL1

Daniels on what Sonoma means to the team:

“With Sonoma (Raceway) being Kyle (Larson)’s home track, it means a lot to him and it means a lot to the team. We love the track layout itself, just the configuration of the track. It’s got ups and downs and sorts of different shapes and sizes of corners that make it really challenging to set up a car to go fast. It certainly makes it challenging for the drivers, but Kyle does a great job there and we just need to do our part to give him a great car. With the way our team has been executing races, hopefully we can have a good car and have ourselves in the game to execute and have a great day.”

KYLE BUSCH, NO. 8 MCLAREN CUSTOM GRILLS CAMARO ZL1

You scored an impressive victory at Sonoma in 2008, after starting deep in the field and leading the most laps. Is that one of your most satisfying road course victories?

“Sonoma Raceway in 2008 was a really good time. We didn’t qualify very well and didn’t feel like we had very good speed overall, but the cautions fell perfectly for us that day where we were on pit road and then the cautions fell. We were able to leapfrog the competition and get track position. That happened both times we pitted so that was super-good and made our race super-easy by just being able to run hard up front. We made the most of that day. It was definitely a satisfying victory. That one was really cool. It was my first road course victory so that meant a lot.”

You have raced on a couple of different course designs at Sonoma Raceway. What are the challenges of the current layout?

“I’ve raced a few different designs at Sonoma Raceway. I enjoy all of them. The carousel is cool, it’s fun. There’s a lot of transition there and there’s a lot of technicality that you’ve got to figure out to be good on that course as well as the chute course. I don’t prefer one over the other. I think the rest of the course is so challenging in itself. What makes Sonoma special is Turn 11, up the hill in Turn 1, the esses and down the back straightway. It’s just a fun course, very technical.”

Do you think the racing at Sonoma Raceway is more physical on the driver than the other road courses?

“Sonoma Raceway is one of the more physical road courses on the circuit, for sure. You’re always fighting grip. Even when you’re on the front side of a run, you’re trying to hustle the car. you’re slipping and sliding everywhere trying to make the most of the time while not running off course and keeping the tires somewhat underneath you. You try to minimize the tire degradation as it happens as much as you can, yet you know you’ve got to be fast and try to catch the guys in front of you. And with this new Next Gen race car, that has become even more important and more challenging to get right because everybody seems to be running much closer speeds. A lot of setups are very similar, a lot of brake packages are very similar. It’s hard to find any sort of advantage in that.”

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1

Elliott on what it takes to run well at Sonoma:

“It’s one of those places that you really do need to attack a little bit. Road course racing in general is pretty aggressive, I think that’s fair to say. Last year, it was very track position oriented, and making sure you executed a good race – from having good restarts to being good on pit road to calling the right strategy. Having pace, too, and then that comes back to your qualifying effort. So really, a full weekend of being pretty aggressive, I feel like is probably the best approach to give you a good shot at it.”

ALAN GUSTAFSON, CREW CHIEF, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1

Gustafson the team’s outlook for the rest of the regular season:

“We’re going to keep working hard to get to where we want to be and improve to win some races. We’ve certainly had some pace in our cars. It hasn’t been the most straightforward season for us, but I think everyone’s handled it really well. We just need to get back into a rhythm, put together some good runs and work together to be the best that we can be. If we do those things and work super hard, then we’re going to be in good shape.”

AJ ALLMENDINGER, NO. 16 GABRIEL GLAS CAMARO ZL1

“Sonoma is always a special, important weekend for me. It’s near where I grew up and I still get to see a lot of friends and family there. Quite honestly, it’s a racetrack that I don’t have a very good average finish. I’ve felt like I’ve always been fast there, but it hasn’t worked out. Being able to run both races [NXS and NCS] I’m really looking forward to it. Sonoma is a racetrack I’ve always wanted to win at knowing it’s my home racetrack and I would be able to do that in front of a lot of friends and family. Hopefully, we can go back there and have some success to keep building on our program.”

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 RAPTORTOUGH.COM CAMARO ZL1

Byron on gains needed after the first road course race of the season and how the Next Gen car compares to the previous generation of car:

“We’re hoping to make some gains since COTA (Circuit of The Americas). We were sliding around a little too much with the rear tires there. This car seemed like it had a little bit more grip at Sonoma (Raceway) compared to previous years. However, there were some aspects that were very similar like the shifting.”

RUDY FUGLE, CREW CHIEF, NO. 24 RAPTORTOUGH.COM CAMARO ZL1

Fugle on the strategy of calling races without stage break cautions:

“When you have a known caution like we did in the past with the stage breaks, you had to short the stages and then you would cycle forward and have track position. If you raced for stage points, generally you would never make it back up there – specifically after stage two. Now, there is no known caution, so you don’t have short anything. You’re going to split the race up into what you believe is the least amount of elapsed time for the shortest race, whether that’s a two-stop, three-stop or four-stop race. Chances are you will be able to collect stage points and have a chance at the race win.”

GRANT ENFINGER, NO. 42 SUNSEEKER RESORTS CAMARO ZL1

“My thoughts are with Noah, I know how much he loves this team and the guys on it. I’m happy to help out LEGACY MOTOR CLUB and the No. 42 team.”

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 ALLEGIANT CAMARO ZL1

“Going out to Sonoma will be a good time, it’s our first time at a road course this year since COTA. We learned a lot. I think we have seen growth as a team since COTA, this track should show the steps we have taken and put them to the test. We have what it takes to get out front and compete this weekend; the whole No. 43 team has made steady progress as a group. Hate the circumstances to not have Dave come to Sonoma, but confident Joey will do a great job filling in for us. Looking to have a good run still.”

RICKY STENHOUSE JR., NO. 47 KROGER / COTTONELLE CAMARO ZL1

“I feel good going into Sonoma with our No. 47 Kroger / Cottonelle Camaro especially after our last road course race at COTA (Circuit of the Americas). We had a good race car there, and it has us optimistic about Sonoma. Our goal this weekend is to stay out of trouble and make it through some crazy late restarts. If we can do that, we will be just fine. It will be a fun weekend. We’ll spend Friday evening with our partners, and then I’m going to race a sprint car Saturday night in Petaluma.”

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY PRIDE CAMARO ZL1

Bowman on returning to Sonoma:

“I think Sonoma (Raceway) is a place that we can be successful at this year. Last year, we had a really fast No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro and had a shot at a top-five finish but just got caught up in someone else’s mess. Our team back at the shop has built really fast cars all year and even though I was out for a little bit, I think our team is as good as we were before I missed those couple of races. There is no reason we can’t go compete for a win on any given weekend.”

BLAKE HARRIS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY PRIDE CAMARO ZL1

Harris on the team’s outlook for Sonoma:

“I am feeling good heading into this weekend. Hendrick Motorsports had really strong cars there last year. Alex (Bowman) was en route to a top-10 run and got caught up in an on-track incident. I think it is a good opportunity after the end of our race last week to turn things around, go perform and push our team into a good spot heading into an off weekend. Sonoma (Raceway) is probably my favorite road course. I just like the atmosphere and I think it is going to be a good one for the No. 48 team.”

DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 FREEWAY INSURANCE CAMARO ZL1

Does arriving in Sonoma after a good run at St. Louis give you even more confidence?

“Definitely, man. Every time we head to a road course, whether it’s Sonoma (Raceway), or somewhere else, I am excited. I feel at home and I am excited to go back to a place where we had great memories last time and hopefully we can repeat it. Sunday’s race at St. Louis was great for us. It was a good solid run from start to finish. We just need to build on it.”

Can you win again on Sunday?

“Of course we can. We have a very good road course program. You saw how fast we were at COTA. We are going out to Sonoma with plans to sit on the pole, lead every lap and win the race.”

What do you remember about Sonoma last year?

“It was such a crazy day and I had so many thoughts in my head. I mean, it was a rough road getting to victory lane but that moment was so worth it. Not just for me but for my family, Julia, these guys believe in me – Trackhouse Racing, Justin Marks, Ty Norris. Everyone that helped me to get to this point. A lot of people in Mexico – Jay Morales and Carlos Slim. My family, they never give up on me. A lot of people did, but they didn’t. I was just very happy we were able to make it work.”

What were the final laps like last year?

“I was just trying to stay calm. I knew that it was a big stake on the line, but I was trying to stay calm. I was silent. I wanted to do my thing. I didn’t want too much noise on the radio. I knew what I had to do. I would say after the white flag is when I got out of control. I just start crying inside the helmet, just thinking about it. Especially because I had a big gap. If it wasn’t a big gap, I would be focused. Since I had a big gap, I was just thinking about every single moment that has cost me to be here.

It’s been a different journey. Every NASCAR driver has had a tough journey. Everyone has a different journey. But my journey is definitely the most different of everyone else, leaving my family, my country, and just coming to a different culture, different language.

Thinking of all those things, it makes it very, very, very special.”

 
Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturers Championships:

Total (1949-2022): 41

First title for Chevrolet: 1958

Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)

Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022

Drivers Championships:

Total (1949-2021): 33

First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)

Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)

Most Recent: Kyle Larson (2021)

Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021

Event Victories:

Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)

2023 STATISTICS:

Wins: 9

Poles: 5

Laps Led: 2,007

Top-five finishes: 33

Top-10 finishes: 63

Stage wins: 16

· Ross Chastain – 5 (Daytona), (Auto Club x2), (Dover), (Darlington)

· William Byron – 7 (Las Vegas x2), (Phoenix), (COTA), (Richmond), (Dover), (Charlotte)

· Kyle Larson – 2 (Phoenix), (Bristol Dirt)

· Chase Elliott – 1 (Talladega)

· Kyle Busch – 1 (WWTR)

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:

Total Chevrolet race wins: 842 (1949 to date)

Poles won to date: 739

Laps led to date: 247,551

Top-five finishes to date: 4,254

Top-10 finishes to date: 8,775

Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:

       General Motors: 1,176

       Chevrolet: 842

       Pontiac: 154

       Oldsmobile: 115

       Buick: 65



       Ford: 822                                                           

       Ford: 722

       Mercury: 96

       Lincoln: 4



       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467

       Dodge: 217

       Plymouth: 191

       Chrysler: 59



       Toyota: 174

 

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.

STATESVILLE, N.C. (June 8, 2023) – NASCAR Cup Series rookie driver of the No. 42 Sunseeker Chevrolet, Noah Gragson will not compete in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway. GMS Racing and NASCAR Truck Series veteran Grant Enfinger will drive the No. 42 this weekend.

Last Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway, Gragson was involved in a crash on Lap 197 and was evaluated and released from the infield care center. Upon return home to North Carolina, he began to experience concussion-like symptoms mid-week and is seeking treatment.

Enfinger is the 2015 ARCA Menards Series champion and this will be the 38-year-old’s first career start in the NASCAR Cup Series. He is a nine-time winner in the NASCAR Truck Series and has won twice already this season, most recently winning last weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway.

“Noah’s health is the highest of priorities and we commend him for making the decision to sit out this weekend,” said team co-owners Maury Gallagher and Jimmie Johnson. “We are appreciative that Grant was available and willing to step in since the Truck Series is off this weekend.”

“My thoughts are with Noah, I know how much he loves this team and the guys on it,” said Enfinger. “I’m happy to help out LEGACY MOTOR CLUB and the No. 42 team.”

The NASCAR Cup Series event at Sonoma Raceway will take place on Sunday, June 11 at 3:00 pm ET airing on FOX, PRN Radio and SIRIUS XM NASCAR Radio channel 90.

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB is a professional auto racing club owned by businessman and entrepreneur Maurice J. Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (NCS) Jimmie Johnson. The club competes full-time in the NCS fielding the Nos. 42 and 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for drivers Noah Gragson and Erik Jones, respectively, along with the No. 84 part-time entry for Johnson in 2023. Richard Petty “The King” serves as team ambassador.

In 2021, Gallagher acquired Richard Petty Motorsports and renamed the team to Petty GMS. With the addition of Johnson to the ownership structure in 2023, the organization rebranded to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (LEGACY M.C.). With a unique title signifying a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for all motorsport enthusiasts to celebrate the past and future legacies of its members, while competing for wins and championships at NASCAR’s elite level.

Based in Statesville, N.C., LEGACY M.C. operates alongside GMS Racing (GMS), which currently fields three full-time entries in the NASCAR Truck Series. Since the formation of GMS in 2012, Gallagher and Mike Beam, team president, have shared incredible success. GMS Racing captured the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship, the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Truck Series championships and the 2019 and 2020 ARCA East championships, accumulating over 65 wins across six national racing circuits.

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

5 KYLE LARSON

Age: 30 (July 31, 1992)

Hometown: Elk Grove, California

Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels

Standings: 9th

No. 5 Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media at the Sonoma Raceway media center on Saturday, June 10, at 10 a.m. local time.

ST. LOUIS COMEBACK: Kyle Larson started 22nd for the NASCAR Cup Series race at WWT Raceway on Sunday. Following a tough first stage, crew chief Cliff Daniels called for several adjustments to the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. These adjustments, combined with a couple keen pit road strategy calls, allowed the 2021 Cup Series champion to position himself further up in the field. In the final stage, Larson continued to climb up through the field. He took the lead off of pit road on lap 179, thanks to a two-tire call, and held the second spot in the running order for the majority of the last 50 laps. At the checkered flag, Larson secured the team a fourth-place finish for his sixth top-five result of the 2023 season – the second-most in the series.

HOME TRACK: This weekend, NASCAR visits wine country in Sonoma, California. The event is a homecoming for Larson, who is from Elk Grove, California, and considers Sonoma Raceway his home track on the Cup Series circuit. Located less than 100 miles from his hometown, the 1.99-mile-long road course is a place Larson looks forward to racing at annually. During his championship-winning season in 2021, he led 57 laps en route to a win at the venue.

SONOMA SUCCESS: The 30-year-old driver holds the record for the most consecutive poles at Sonoma. He has earned the top starting position for the last four Cup Series races (2017-2019, 2022) to hold qualifying at the facility. Larson also started from the top spot via the qualifying metric in 2021. With an average starting position of 2.13, Larson holds the best mark of all drivers to ever compete at the California road course and he has led the most laps in the last two races there (83).

ROAD COURSE RANKS: With four road course wins, Larson is tied for second-most among active Cup Series drivers. All those victories have come with Daniels, who ranks second among active crew chiefs for wins on serpentine layouts. Both marks trail the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports duo of driver Chase Elliott and crew chief Alan Gustafson (seven wins). Larson is one of six drivers to win on at least three different road courses: Watkins Glen International (two wins), Sonoma (one win) and the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL (one win). His five stage wins on road courses rank him in a three-way tie for second-most all-time.

BETTER TOGETHER: Larson has 14 road course starts with Hendrick Motorsports. In those starts, he has four wins, one second-place finish, seven top-fives, seven top-10s, one pole, three stage wins and 155 laps led. In his 14 road course starts prior to joining the Rick Hendrick-owned organization, Larson had one top-five finish, four top-10s, three poles, two stage wins and 69 laps led.

LEADING LAPS: The driver of the No. 5 has led the second-most laps (588) of all Cup Series drivers in 2023. That total trails only teammate William Byron (717) and leads the third-place competitor by 205 laps. Larson has run the third-most laps in the top five (1,702) and top 10 (2,577).

PIT CREW POWER: The No. 5 pit crew has the second-fastest average four-tire pit stop time in 2023 at 11.088 seconds. The team’s five-man pit crew consists of Blaine Anderson (front-tire changer), R.J. Barnette (tire carrier), Brandon Harder (fueler), Brandon Johnson (jackman) and Calvin Teague (rear-tire changer).

VALVOLINE ON BOARD: Valvoline will partner with the No. 5 team for their first of three primary races in the 2023 Cup Series season at Sonoma. Valvoline Inc. is a global leader in vehicle care and supplier of premium branded lubricants and automotive services. Since 2014, Hendrick Motorsports has earned a NASCAR-best three Cup Series championships (2016, 2020 and 2021) with Valvoline products in its Chevrolet racing engines. Off the track, Valvoline is the preferred lubricant of Hendrick Automotive Group, which operates 95 car dealerships across the United States. See every angle of the paint scheme that will be on track here.

HENDRICKCARS.COM RIDES IN XFINITY: Hendrick Motorsports is back in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this weekend with the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. Larson will make his first start of the 2023 season in this particular car and his second start in the series. In his career, Larson has earned 14 victories in the Xfinity Series, including his most recent triumph at Darlington Raceway last month (with Kaulig Racing). Tune in to the race on Saturday, June 10, at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90). Learn more here.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT

Age: 27 (Nov. 28, 1995)

Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia

Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia

Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson

Standings: 27th

No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

SONOMA REWIND: Last season at Sonoma Raceway, Chase Elliott qualified second for the 110-lap NASCAR Cup Series race and led 26 laps on his way to an eighth-place result. The No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team overcame a pit road penalty at the end of the second stage to earn its second consecutive top-10 result at the California venue. It was also his fourth top-10 finish in the last five races at the track.

ROAD RACING RUNDOWN: On road courses in 2022, Elliott earned a best finish of second at Road America, which contributed to his total of three top-five finishes and four top-10s across six starts on the year. The Hendrick Motorsports driver paced the field for 121 laps on serpentine layouts last season and earned two pole awards (Road America and Watkins Glen International).

KING OF THE ROAD (COURSE): Elliott has proven his road-racing prowess, leading all active drivers with seven wins on road courses – the most recent coming at Road America in 2021. He’s also third all-time in road course victories, trailing only NASCAR Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon (nine wins) and Tony Stewart (eight wins). Elliott has won at the most road courses in series history (five) and has tallied victories at Watkins Glen (two wins), Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL (two wins), Circuit of The Americas (one win), Daytona International Speedway Road Course (one win) and Road America (one win).

IN GOOD COMPANY: In 25 Cup Series starts on road courses, Elliott has an average finish of 8.16. That mark is not only the best among active drivers, but third all-time among drivers (five or more starts), behind NASCAR legends Fireball Roberts and Buck Baker. In addition to seven wins, the five-time National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver Award winner has 14 top-five finishes and 17 top-10s on this track type. His seven stage wins on road courses are the most in series history.

LOOKING FOR A WINE COUNTRY WIN: Sonoma is one of only three road courses on the current Cup Series schedule where Elliott has yet to win (the inaugural Chicago Street Course and the Indianapolis Road Course being the others). The 27-year-old driver has an impressive record at the Napa Valley facility, earning a best finish of second in 2021. In just six Sonoma starts, Elliott has two top-five finishes and four top-10s, with 42 laps led. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native also knows his way around the track, holding the second-best average start all-time at Sonoma (5.83), behind only his teammate Kyle Larson (2.13). In fact, he’s started from the front row in his two most recent races on the California road course.

FIRST WIN: Elliott’s first career Cup Series win came at a road course – Watkins Glen in 2018. He started the race from the third position and led 52 of 90 laps en route to the victory.

VIEW FROM THE TOP: This Sunday at Sonoma, No. 9 crew chief Alan Gustafson will call his 47th road course race from atop the pit box. In those starts, he’s led his team to seven wins (all with Elliott) – a series high among active crew chiefs – 17 top-five finishes and 24 top-10s.

PLAYOFF UPDATE: With 11 races left in the regular season, Elliott currently sits 27th in the Cup Series point standings, 98 markers outside of the provisional cutline for a playoff spot. While pointing his way into the playoff field isn’t impossible, the easiest way for the 2020 Cup Series champion to lock himself into the postseason is with a victory. Last season, the summer was a hot one for Elliott and the No. 9 team on the track. Together, they put together five consecutive finishes of second or better, including three of their series-best five wins (Nashville Superspeedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway).

24 WILLIAM BYRON

Age: 25 (Nov. 29, 1997)

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle

Standings: 2nd

No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

24’S POWER: With just 11 races remaining in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series regular season, William Byron and the No. 24 team are setting the pace in several statistical categories. Through 15 races, Byron tops the series in laps led (717), laps run in the top five (2,241), stage wins (seven), top-five finishes (seven) and average running position (8.5). He is also tied for most wins (three), poles (two) and top-10 finishes (nine). In the last seven races, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native has accumulated the most points (289).

STREAKING: Byron is on a streak of six consecutive top-10 finishes, which is the longest current active mark. This run began at Talladega Superspeedway (finished seventh) and continued at Dover Motor Speedway (finished fourth), Kansas Speedway (finished third), Darlington Raceway (finished first) and Charlotte Motor Speedway (finished second). The most recent of these results occurred last weekend at WWT Raceway, where he started seventh and finished eighth. He has also led in each of the past six races, which is his second-longest streak in the Cup Series (behind seven straight races led in 2019).

PIT ROAD PROWESS: The No. 24 pit crew has three of the six fastest four-tire pit stops in 2023 and the fastest average four-tire pit stop time this season at 10.905 seconds – the only team that has a sub-11-second average. Spencer Bishop (jackman), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer), Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer), Ryan Patton (tire carrier) and Landon Walker (fueler) comprise the No. 24 pit crew.

THAT NO. 1 FEELING: Byron has had a strong start to the season with three wins, which is the most in a single Cup Series season for the 25-year-old driver. He has five wins in the Next Gen car tying him for the most with three other drivers, including Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott. Since the beginning of 2021, Byron has collected six wins, which has him tied for the third-most behind Larson with 15 and Elliott with seven.

SONOMA STATS: This Sunday’s race will mark Byron’s fifth Cup Series start at Sonoma Raceway. In his previous four starts, his best showing came in 2019 when he qualified second and raced up front for the majority of the event, collecting 18 stage points and his first Cup Series stage win (one of three he has on road courses). However, with differing strategy, Byron was credited with a 19th-place result. Aside from his four Cup Series starts, Byron has two previous starts at this road course, both coming in what is now known as the ARCA Menards Series West. In fact, his first road race in a stock car came at Sonoma in 2015, where he qualified second and raced to a fifth-place finish. He again ran the ARCA Menards Series West race in 2018, tying his best qualifying effort of second, but crossed the finish line two spots better than his 2015 showing, in the third position.

FUGLE FILES: So far in 2023, the NASCAR Cup Series has raced on one road course – Circuit of The Americas – where crew chief Rudy Fugle and the No. 24 team earned the pole position, won the first stage and finished fifth. In total, Fugle has 13 Cup Series starts on road courses, three starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and seven in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. In those seven Truck Series starts, the Livonia, New York, native has one win, three top-five finishes, and five top-10s. One of those seven truck starts was also with Byron and the duo raced to a 10th-place finish at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in 2016.

RAPTOR® TOUGH:  For this Sunday’s race at Sonoma, Byron will climb behind the wheel of the No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. RAPTOR® is a durable protective coating that is designed to tolerate the toughest climatic conditions and can be applied to a wide range of items, including truck beds, lawnmowers, outdoor furniture and more. With 16 pre-mixed colors available, it’s easy to personalize anything you want to protect. RAPTOR® is available at local paint distributors, auto parts stores and online retailers. For a better look at Byron’s No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, click here.

48 Alex Bowman

Age: 30 (April 25, 1993)

Hometown: Tucson, Arizona

Resides: Concord, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Blake Harris

Standings: 17th

No. 48 Ally Pride Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

IN THE MIX: Alex Bowman is no slouch when it comes to road course racing. The driver of the No. 48 Ally Pride Chevy has an average finish of 15.08 in 25 starts on serpentine layouts. Most recently, Bowman notched a third-place finish at Circuit of The Americas in March. In that race, he scored a fourth-place finish in the first stage and garnered 41 points – third most of all drivers in that race.

ROAD RECORD: In six starts at Sonoma Raceway, Bowman has a pair of top-10 finishes. During his time at Hendrick Motorsports, he has recorded four top-five finishes and 10 top-10s on road course layouts. Bowman’s two runner-up finishes on road courses are the second-most among active drivers yet to win on that track type.

WEST COAST, BEST COAST: Bowman has taken home hardware from the West Coast on two separate occasions since the start of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season. He notched a win in March 2020 at Auto Club Speedway, followed by his most recent win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March 2022. 

FAST FIVE: Last Sunday at WWT Raceway, the No. 48 Ally Racing pit crew had the fastest average on four-tire pit stops at 9.978 seconds. The over-the-wall crew also posted the second-fastest stop of the race on lap 178, clocking in at 9.743 seconds. The five-man crew consists of Andrew Bridgeforth (rear-tire changer), Jacob Conley (fueler), Allen Holman (jackman), Scott Riddle (tire carrier) and Donnie Tasser (front-tire changer). 

HARRIS IN WINE COUNTRY: While crew chief Blake Harris has only one start atop the pit box at Sonoma, the 36-year-old Maypearl, Texas, native has fared well at the California road course. In last year’s race, Harris’ driver started the race in fourth and finished the second stage in eighth before capturing a third-place result.

SAVE THEM ALL: Bowman and Ally have teamed up this year to bring back the Best Friends Animal Society donation effort. This week, the duo will make charitable contributions to the Pets Lifeline Animal Shelter, which serves the local community of Sonoma. Bowman and Ally will donate $4,800 to Best Friends and the Pets Lifeline Animal Shelter. Additionally, Ally will increase its donation to $10,000 if the No. 48 team wins.

WEAR IT PROUD: In an effort to support the LGBTQ+ community, the No. 48 Ally Pride Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will adorn the pride truth mark and the words “Better Together” on the hood of the car at Sonoma. As part of the employee resource group, Ally is committed to promoting inclusion practices for the LGBTQ+ community at and around Ally and in NASCAR. 

HENDRICK
MOTORSPORTS /

Hendrick Motorsports

2023	All-Time	Sonoma
Races	15	1,324	33
Wins	5*	296*	7*
Poles	5*	244*	10*
Top 5	19*	1,209*	33*
Top 10	28*	2,073*	59*
Laps Led	1,395*	78,712*	801*
Stage Wins	10*	89	5*

*Most **Most (tie)

CLOSING IN ON 300: Hendrick Motorsports is just four points-paying victories away from 300 wins in the NASCAR Cup Series. Twenty drivers have combined to reach the organization’s current total of 296 wins, which is the most in the sport by any one team. With five wins this season, Hendrick Motorsports has posted its 36th multi-win season in the Cup Series, while maintaining its streak of at least two victories per season for the past 30 years. The organization has gone to victory lane at more racetracks (31) than any other active team.

ROAD TO LE MANS: The Garage 56 contingent from Hendrick Motorsports has journeyed across the pond to get ready for the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 10-11. The driver lineup consists of Jenson Button, Jimmie Johnson and Mike Rockenfeller. Jordan Taylor is on hand as the backup driver and coach. Chad Knaus, the vice president of competition at Hendrick Motorsports, is overseeing the endeavor. Greg Ives is serving as the crew chief. The Garage 56 entry is a collaboration between Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR, Chevrolet, IMSA and Goodyear. It will compete in a special single-entry class designated for innovative cars. The endurance race gets underway at 10 a.m. ET on June 10, with coverage on MotorTrend TV, MotorTrend+ and SiriusXM (Channel 202).

VIVA LA VICTORY: The Hendrick Motorsports pit crew for Garage 56 scored a win on Tuesday afternoon. The team topped 16 competitors in the GTE class (where it was classified for this event) to win the Pit Stop Challenge with a stop of 10.364 seconds. In the overall competition, the squad placed fifth. The pit crew includes Dawson Backus (front-tire changer), Cody French (front-tire carrier), Jarius Morehead (rear-tire carrier), Mike Moss (rear-tire changer) and Donovan Williams (jackman).

XFINITY RIDES AGAIN: Hendrick Motorsports will make the second of its four starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season at Sonoma Raceway. Kyle Larson will drive the car this weekend. The entry will also make starts at Watkins Glen International with Alex Bowman and Darlington Raceway with Larson. Kevin Meendering will serve as the crew chief for the race at Sonoma. In the team’s first Xfinity start of 2023 at Circuit of The Americas, William Byron was the runner-up finisher. The organization has one championship and 26 wins in the series, with Tony Stewart recording the last victory to date at Daytona International Speedway in 2009.

EDGE OF SEVENTEEN: For the Xfinity races, the Chevrolet Camaro will carry the No. 17 with sponsorship from HENDRICKCARS.COM. The No. 17 carries special significance to the Hendrick Motorsports family as it is the same number Ricky Hendrick drove in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. That number has won 39 times in Xfinity Series history, and two of the four drivers to win in it – Darrell Waltrip and Terry Labonte – would go on to win in the Cup Series with the Rick Hendrick-owned organization.

SAVORING SONOMA: Wine country has been the site of much success over the years for the 14-time Cup Series champions. The team leads the way in wins (seven), poles (10), runner-up finishes (seven), top-fives (33), top-10s (59) and laps led (801) at the California facility. Jeff Gordon’s five wins at Sonoma are the most at the track, while Jimmie Johnson and Larson each have one win here for the Concord, North Carolina-based organization.

RULERS OF THE ROAD: With 26 wins, Hendrick Motorsports has the most all-time triumphs on road courses in Cup Series history. The two closest teams in this statistic have combined for only 22 wins. Since its inaugural season in 1984, the organization has won 28.26% of road course events (26 wins in 92 races). The team also tops the board among Cup Series teams on road courses in poles (25), top-five finishes (82), top-10s (140), laps led (2,200) and stage wins (14). Seven different drivers (most by a Cup Series team on road courses) have accounted for the 26 road course wins: Gordon (nine wins), Chase Elliott (seven wins), Larson (four wins), Tim Richmond (three wins), Johnson (one win), Geoff Bodine (one win) and Ricky Rudd (one win).

TAKING STOCK IN THE TRENDS: Of the last 15 races on the West Coast, eight have resulted in victories for Hendrick Motorsports. Larson has four wins, while Byron has two and Bowman and Elliott have one each. On this year’s three-race western swing following the DAYTONA 500, Byron won two of the three races (Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Phoenix Raceway). The team’s 43 wins on the West Coast are the most in the series.

OUT IN FRONT: In 2023, Hendrick Motorsports has led the most laps, with 1,395 circuits out front, which equates to 33.33% of the laps raced. The squad has led laps in all but one race this season (Atlanta Motor Speedway in March). Byron (717) and Larson (588) rank one-two in that statistical category.

QUOTABLE /

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Sonoma Raceway: “I always love going back home and racing at Sonoma (Raceway). I always get to see a lot of friends, family and race fans that grew up watching me race sprint cars and stuff around Northern California. I think all of us drivers look forward to going to Sonoma a lot, but with me being from only an hour and half away, it’s a special place. I’ve always qualified really well there. Since I’ve raced with Hendrick (Motorsports), we got a win there in 2021, led some laps in 2022 and had a fast car. We just missed the strategy some and then had a wheel fall off as we were starting to get back into contention. It’s kind of a flowy track. The tires wear out, so you kind of manage your runs quite a good bit. There’s a lot of elevation change too. I enjoy all that.”

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what Sonoma means to the team: “With Sonoma (Raceway) being Kyle (Larson)’s home track, it means a lot to him and it means a lot to the team. We love the track layout itself, just the configuration of the track. It’s got ups and downs and sorts of different shapes and sizes of corners that make it really challenging to set up a car to go fast. It certainly makes it challenging for the drivers, but Kyle does a great job there and we just need to do our part to give him a great car. With the way our team has been executing races, hopefully we can have a good car and have ourselves in the game to execute and have a great day.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what it takes to run well at Sonoma: “It’s one of those places that you really do need to attack a little bit. Road course racing in general is pretty aggressive, I think that’s fair to say. Last year, it was very track position oriented, and making sure you executed a good race – from having good restarts to being good on pit road to calling the right strategy. Having pace, too, and then that comes back to your qualifying effort. So really, a full weekend of being pretty aggressive, I feel like is probably the best approach to give you a good shot at it.”

Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the team’s outlook for the rest of the regular season: “We’re going to keep working hard to get to where we want to be and improve to win some races. We’ve certainly had some pace in our cars. It hasn’t been the most straightforward season for us, but I think everyone’s handled it really well. We just need to get back into a rhythm, put together some good runs and work together to be the best that we can be. If we do those things and work super hard, then we’re going to be in good shape.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on gains needed after the first road course race of the season and how the Next Gen car compares to the previous generation of car: “We’re hoping to make some gains since COTA (Circuit of The Americas). We were sliding around a little too much with the rear tires there. This car seemed like it had a little bit more grip at Sonoma (Raceway) compared to previous years. However, there were some aspects that were very similar like the shifting.”

Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the strategy of calling races without stage break cautions: “When you have a known caution like we did in the past with the stage breaks, you had to short the stages and then you would cycle forward and have track position. If you raced for stage points, generally you would never make it back up there – specifically after stage two. Now, there is no known caution, so you don’t have short anything. You’re going to split the race up into what you believe is the least amount of elapsed time for the shortest race, whether that’s a two-stop, three-stop or four-stop race. Chances are you will be able to collect stage points and have a chance at the race win.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on returning to Sonoma: “I think Sonoma (Raceway) is a place that we can be successful at this year. Last year, we had a really fast No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro and had a shot at a top-five finish but just got caught up in someone else’s mess. Our team back at the shop has built really fast cars all year and even though I was out for a little bit, I think our team is as good as we were before I missed those couple of races. There is no reason we can’t go compete for a win on any given weekend.”

Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the team’s outlook for Sonoma: “I am feeling good heading into this weekend. Hendrick Motorsports had really strong cars there last year. Alex (Bowman) was en route to a top-10 run and got caught up in an on-track incident. I think it is a good opportunity after the end of our race last week to turn things around, go perform and push our team into a good spot heading into an off weekend. Sonoma (Raceway) is probably my favorite road course. I just like the atmosphere and I think it is going to be a good one for the No. 48 team.”

CONCORD, N.C. (June 8, 2023) – The Chicago White Sox and Spire Motorsports announce a partnership designating the White Sox as the primary sponsor of Ty Dillon’s No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the first ever NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend July 1-2 of the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS).

The partnership will showcase White Sox branding on both the car’s custom design and Dillon’s uniform. As part of the agreement, Dillon’s White Sox-themed No. 77 Chevy will be on display at Guaranteed Rate Field on June 23-24.

The White Sox are set to hold its first ever NASCAR Night, presented by Xfinity, on Friday June 23, inviting race fans and baseball enthusiasts alike to a one-of-kind ballpark experience. Fans will enjoy several family friendly NASCAR activations and a fully charged race day atmosphere.

Beggars Pizza, the Official Pizza of the Chicago White Sox, also will join the effort and be featured as an associate sponsor aboard Dillon’s No. 77 entry. Beggars Pizza – founded by the Garetto Family in 1976 – opened its first location on Chicago’s South Side and has grown to include over two dozen locations across Illinois and Northern Indiana.

“This partnership with Spire Motorsports is truly a unique opportunity to showcase the White Sox brand during one of the most talked about events in Chicago,” said Mike Downey, White Sox director of marketing and promotions. “The NASCAR Chicago Street Race is certain to be an event for the record books, and we’re grateful to team up with Spire Motorsports and Beggars Pizza to be part of what is sure to be a memorable event for all.”

For the first time since its formation in 1948, NASCAR will bring a race to the streets of downtown Chicago. The premier NASCAR Cup Series will take on a 12-turn, 2.2-mile street circuit, racing past and through many of Chicago’s most renowned downtown landmarks over Fourth of July Weekend, July 1-2.

Grant Park, commonly referred to as “Chicago’s Front Yard,” is a public park located in Chicago’s central business district in The Loop neighborhood. Grant Park’s most notable features include Maggie Daley Park, Buckingham Fountain, Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum Campus. The park plays host to some of the city’s largest food and music festivals, including The Taste of Chicago and The Grant Park Music Festivals, including Lollapalooza. Grant Park also is the site of the start and finish lines for the Chicago Marathon and this year, NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race.

“Spire Motorsports is thrilled to partner with the Chicago White Sox for this unique opportunity as part of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race and have Ty Dillon’s No. 77 Chevrolet on display at Guaranteed Rate Field during NASCAR night,” said Spire Motorsports President Bill Anthony. “This partnership gives both Spire Motorsports and the White Sox an opportunity to acknowledge and honor our respective fan bases and celebrate Chicago sports culture together.”

Additional information for the White Sox NASCAR Night on June 23, including a special ticket offer to receive an exclusive White Sox Co-Branded Cooler Sling, is available at whitesox.com/NASCAR.

The Grant Park 220 NASCAR Chicago Street Race will be televised live on NBC Sunday, July 2 beginning at 4:30 p.m. CT. The 18th of 36 points-paying races on the 2023 NCS schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

To purchase two-day general admission or reserved tickets for the Chicago Street Race, fans can log on to NASCARChicago.com or call 1-888-629-7223.

About Chicago Street Race …
The Chicago Street Race is the first-ever NASCAR Cup Series street race. Located in downtown Chicago, the event will take competitors past and through many of the city’s most renowned downtown landmarks on Michigan Avenue, South Columbus Drive, South Lake Shore Drive and the start-finish line near Buckingham Fountain. The Cup Series will be joined by the NASCAR Xfinity Series as part of a one-of-a-kind sports and entertainment festival headlined by Miranda Lambert, The Chainsmokers, Charley Crockett, and The Black Crowes over the Fourth of July Weekend on July 1-2, 2023. For more information, visit NASCARChicago.com.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports is a full-time, two-car NASCAR Cup Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2023, Spire Motorsports will field the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for driver Corey LaJoie and No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Ty Dillon. The team also fields NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series teams in select events.

Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway.