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4 Tips for Long-Distance Truck Drivers to Deal With Parking Woes

By
SM
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Photo by Sander Yigin on Unsplash

The American trucking industry is booming because the country needs more and more vehicles and drivers to keep the supply chain running seamlessly. According to Glassdoor surveys, the median annual wage for truck drivers is $59556 in 2023. With the consistent growth in the freight sector, the salary and job prospects look good for truckers.

On the other hand, living on American highways is challenging, and that’s what most truckers do. Whether you work with a freight company or operate independently, you may spend endless hours on the road. When you are off-duty during long-route trips, finding a place to rest is the hardest part of the job.

Did you know that breakdowns and accidents are not the worst fears for long-distance truckers? Research shows that parking is the number 1 cause of job stress for 85% of drivers in the country. You can imagine the pain of driving around to look for a safe parking spot and take a break after a long cross-country ride.

We have a few valuable tips for truck drivers looking to skip their parking woes and make life easier on long routes.

Look For Guaranteed Reservations 

According to the regulations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), truck drivers have to follow the rules and limits of driving hours. While these rules aim to prevent fatigue and accidents, drivers struggle to find a place to park and rest. You cannot expect to pull over on the roadside. Looking for guaranteed semi truck parking reservations is your best bet.

According to Big Rig Parking, getting a secure, well-lit gated facility to park a vehicle can alleviate the stress of long-distance truckers. The best part is that drivers get time to rest at a fair price without worrying about the safety of their vehicles. It minimizes the wastage of time searching for a safe spot and enables drivers to operate more efficiently.

Plan Your Route

Route planning is essential for long-distance truck drivers as it can help in saving time and fuel. You need not worry about losing your way, struggling with traffic jams, or getting on a bad road if you plan your route beforehand. Beyond these evident benefits, route planning can minimize your parking woes during a long journey.

Before each trip, study the map and decide where you intend to stop on the way. You can even calculate the stops according to the distance and time limits. Also, remember that things may not always go your way on the highway. Delays and setbacks occur on long routes due to bad road conditions, inclement weather, or full parking areas. You should be prepared for the worst. 

Go Through Weather Forecasts

According to the Department of Transportation, weather events can impact the roads in several ways. Precipitation and high winds can cause visibility impairments, while temperature extremes may affect vehicle performance, driver capabilities, roadway infrastructure, and traffic flow. The best option for truck drivers is to take a break when the weather conditions get adverse.

Even better, go through weather forecasts and plan to deal with emergencies. Look for parking reservation providers along the route so that you don’t have to search for a spot during a bad-weather event. With the right provider, you can book a slot online to avoid hassles and deal with unexpected parking woes on the fly. 

Park Safely and Strategically

Getting a parking space is a stress-buster for truck drivers. But you must do your bit to ensure safety while you are there. Safety boils down to parking strategically and following the provider’s rules and regulations. Reputable ones have surveillance cameras in the area, so ensure your vehicle is in the system’s range.

While you can be quite sure about the safety in a reserved parking lot, going the extra mile always makes sense. Lock the doors and close all windows, secure your cargo, and keep your valuable possessions out of sight. Practice patience while parking the vehicle and taking it out because you don’t want to scrape another truck on the way.

Wrapping Up

Parking woes are a real thing for long-distance truck drivers. The sheer size of the vehicle keeps you from finding a perfect space to park it. You also have to follow the rules regarding the journey breaks, so you may struggle for a spot in the middle of your long route. 

Planning your route and checking reservation options in advance can help you address the challenge and ensure a smooth ride, no matter how long and tiring it is. 

Tips to Pass Your DMV Wheel Test Without Much Hassle

By
SM
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Photo by Samuele Errico Piccarini on Unsplash

After studying the rules of the road and getting the driving permit, next comes the DMV test. Are you ready to pass the DMV test? Be real and accept the fact that it is pretty intimidating to take a wheel test, especially for beginners and those people who do not know what is going to come. Luckily many others have passed this road, and specific tips can help drivers pass the DMV test. Contact Miramar Insurance & DMV Registration Services to pass the test. 

To take the test, it is vital for you first to make an appointment. DMV has a good reputation because they are very particular about their policies. So taking positions in advance is mandatory. You can schedule your appointment for the test.

Listed below are specific tips that can help you pass the DMV test quickly

Make sure your car is in good order

Before the test, the DMV instructor will inspect every aspect of your car to ensure it is in good order. If the vehicle is not in good order, you cannot take the test. The same inspection process also applies when the DMV does inspections for commercial truck title loans and other vehicles. Any mechanical problems with your car or truck will be noted during the inspection.

Make necessary adjustments

The test will begin before you realize it. The second you step into the car, the testing starts, not when you crack up the engine. So, once you are sitting inside the vehicle with the DMV instructor, you must adjust a minor thing, even like buckling up your seat belt, before you decide to start the engine. These little things also help you get brownie points.

Do not compromise with traffic laws

The DMV test varies from state to state, but one thing is very consistent in every place, no matter where you take the test, you must follow the traffic rules. The traffic rules are clearly outlined in the rulebook. You have to follow that. It would help if you took a quick review, and you might also take a book on practice tests.

Maintain a consistent and steady speed

The maximum speed limit is signed, and you have to function accordingly. If there is traffic or you notice there is bad weather, then you must slow down. In normal conditions, also you have to keep optimal speed and not rush. One important thing to note here is you cannot go too slow because even that can lead to failing the test.

Scanning the road

Defense driving is the key. It would help if you always looked for potential problems while on the road and did not make small mistakes, as the DMV examiner will not notice that. The exam now is constantly watching you to make sure you have full knowledge, and you are fully aware of what is happening in the surroundings and then why you are taking appropriate reactions. 

Therefore, many drivers don’t know what they are doing, which leads to feelings. So, it is essential for you not to get nervous and act appropriately while undertaking the test. Therefore, the cue here is to practice enough so that you even nail down the test on the very first attempt.

Three Big Stories: Gateway (2023)

By
Tucker White
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MADISON, Ill. - JUNE 4: Confetti strewns the finish line of World Wide Technology Raceway, after the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 on June 4, 2023, in Madison, Illinois. Photo: Simon Scoggins/SpeedwayMedia.com

MADISON, Ill. — Well that was a race.

Kyle Busch slowly turns into a fan favorite. Richard Childress Racing’s a force to reckon with, again, and blown brake rotors.

So without further adieu, let’s dive into the three big stories of the NASCAR Cup Series’ second race at World Wide Technology Raceway.

1. Kyle Busch turning into a fan favorite?

MADISON, Ill. – JUNE 4: Kyle Busch, driver of the #8 3CHI Chevrolet, celebrates victory in the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway on June 4, 2023, in Madison, Illinois. Photo: Simon Scoggins/SpeedwayMedia.com

Busch climbed over the metal stairs to walk to the media center, as throngs of fans huddled around him. While security cleared the way, he signed diecasts and posed for pictures.

Even his son, Brexton, signed autographs.

Which begs the question: Is Kyle Busch turning into a fan favorite?

Yes, he always had a hardcore fanbase, “Rowdy Nation,” but the reaction he receives from fans at driver introductions is no longer universal jeering. Now there’s still a noticeable amount of boos, but Sunday, I heard a lot more cheers mixed in.

Could you imagine this kind of response a decade ago? After all, this same driver needed police escorts into and out of tracks, after wrecking Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Richmond Raceway in 2008, and dealt with months upon months of death threats.

Busch wore the metaphorical black hat with pride for years, while he gestured to those who booed him to cry about it.

That guy might now be a fan favorite.

2. RCR is a force, again

MADISON, Ill. – JUNE 4: Richard Childress sprays champagne over the #8 3CHI Chevrolet team, after Kyle Busch won the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway on June 4, 2023, in Madison, Illinois. Photo: Simon Scoggins/SpeedwayMedia.com

Richard Childress came into the deadline room with a bottle of “Victory Cuvée.” It’s his third victory of the season. All of which came with Busch.

“Well, he’s helped us all around,” he said. “Number one, he’s winning races, showing we can win races.”

For almost a decade, Childress lacked wins.

From 2014 to 2021, RCR won a grand total of four Cup Series races. Never had a multi-win driver in that time. That changed with Tyler Reddick in 2022, until he left for greener pastures, like Kevin Harvick in 2014.

Hell, at this point, last season, Reddick was zero in the win column. After 15 races, he’s won three.

“You know, we won a lot with Harvick, won a lot with Earnhardt,” he said. “Our plan is to win a lot with Kyle, and not only be a contender for that championship. If we make the Final Four, we’ll have a shot at winning it for sure.”

From a shadow of its former glory to a championship contender, and with Busch at the head.

The irony of which is that this win fell on the 12th anniversary of Childress punching Busch after a Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway. According to Childress, that’s water under the bridge.

“We talked about it,” he said. “That was one of the first things we talked about. That’s history. We’ve both grown a lot. I know I’ve grown up. I’ve grown older, but I’ve grown up, too. There’s an old song out there, I’m still growing up but I’m getting older.”

3. Blown brake rotors

Four.

That’s how many cars blew brake rotors, Sunday, at Gateway.

So what’s the reason?

Well according to Busch’s crew chief, Randall Burnett, a combination of a lack of track data and the choice of rotors.

“I think people probably came back — I think teams last year came here a little more conservative last year not knowing, and I think we all took data from that and went home and looked,” he said. “We get options on heavy-duty rotors or light-duty rotors, so we can choose that, and we can obviously choose how much cooling we run to them.”

Last season at Gateway, we had a number of cut tires leading to wrecks. Sunday, you can’t blame Goodyear. Rather, it’s a confluence of factors.

“It’s kind of a tough place because the straightaways are so long and you’re off the brakes for such a long time, and then you apply them really hard at the end of the straightaway, so the cycles of getting really cool down the straightaways and then really spiking up the heat, it takes a toll on the rotors,” Burnett said.

Is the answer more practice so we don’t see scary wrecks like we saw with Noah Gragson?

I don’t know.

That’s for NASCAR and various factions to decide.

“I’m sure everybody will take a look at that and try to understand what happened with those cars,” he said.

Siegel Drives to Sweet Redemption with First Career Win in Detroit

By
Official Release
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DETROIT (Sunday, June 4, 2023) – Just 24 hours after one of the most heartbreaking races of his career, sweet redemption came Sunday for Nolan Siegel.

Rookie Siegel earned his first career INDY NXT by Firestone victory on the streets of Detroit, taking the lead on Lap 2 from his No. 3 starting spot in the No. 39 HMD Motorsports with DCR car and holding off his rivals on two restarts. Siegel crossed the finish line .6559 of a second ahead of championship leader and teammate Christian Rasmussen in the No. 6 HMD Motorsports with DCR machine.

SEE: Race Results

Siegel, 18, who graduates from high school this Friday in Northern California, led by more than five seconds with two turns to go in the first race of the INDY NXT by Firestone Detroit Grand Prix on Saturday when a driveshaft broke while the checkered flag was waving. He limped across the finish in eighth place in the 45-lap race won by Reece Gold.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” Siegel said. “Yesterday was obviously super disappointing. I think we deserved two (wins) this weekend. But to get it today after what happened yesterday, it’s not losing – it’s how you come back from a loss like that and how you come back from a bad day. We came back from a bad day and won.

“I think that shows a lot about our team, and I think we’re going to be up here a lot more.”

Pole sitter Louis Foster finished third in the No. 26 Copart/USF Pro Championship car Sunday, followed by Andretti Autosport teammate Hunter McElrea in the No. 27 Smart Motors car. Danial Frost rounded out the top five in the No. 68 HMD Motorsports with DCR machine.

Foster and Rasmussen drag-raced down the long back straightaway on E. Jefferson Avenue at the start of the 45-lap race on Lap 2 after the initial start was waved off, with Rasmussen on the outside. Both drivers went wide in the Turn 3 hairpin corner at the end of the straight, leaving an opening for Siegel to dart through for the lead.

Siegel then showed the same smooth speed and composure on display Saturday when it appeared he was cruising to victory, building a gap of one second before the field bunched for a full-course caution on Lap 15 when Jagger Jones hit the barrier at the exit of Turn 2 in the No. 98 Lead Sled car fielded by Cape Motorsports.

Rasmussen pulled on the outside of Siegel in the Turn 3 hairpin on the ensuing restart on Lap 20, but Siegel stayed tight to the apex of the corner and kept the lead. Siegel then gradually drove away from the field, building a lead of 1.6 seconds when Kyffin Simpson hit the barrier in Turn 9 in the No. 21 HMD Motorsports with CGR car, triggering the third and last full-course caution of the race.

The race was decided on a two-lap dash to the checkered after the restart on Lap 44. Siegel got a good jump on E. Jefferson Avenue and never was challenged into the Turn 3 hairpin, pulling away over the last two trips around the nine-turn, 1.7-mile temporary street circuit with no mechanical gremlins before the finish.

Rasmussen kept the championship lead with his runner-up finish by just two points over the surging Siegel, 178-176.

The next race is the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Road America on Sunday, June 18 in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

INDY NXT by Firestone Detroit Grand Prix Race 2 Results

  1. (3) Nolan Siegel, 45, Running
  2. (2) Christian Rasmussen, 45, Running
  3. (1) Louis Foster, 45, Running
  4. (5) Hunter McElrea, 45, Running
  5. (8) Danial Frost, 45, Running
  6. (11) James Roe, 45, Running
  7. (6) Ernie Francis Jr., 45, Running
  8. (7) Colin Kaminsky, 45, Running
  9. (9) Jacob Abel, 45, Running
  10. (10) Enaam Ahmed, 45, Running
  11. (18) Matteo Nannini, 45, Running
  12. (4) Reece Gold, 45, Running
  13. (13) Toby Sowery, 45, Running
  14. (12) Rasmus Lindh, 45, Running
  15. (17) Christian Bogle, 44, Running
  16. (14) Jamie Chadwick, 40, Running
  17. (19) Kyffin Simpson, 33, Contact
  18. (16) Josh Green, 30, Running
  19. (15) Jagger Jones, 14, Contact

Race Statistics
Winner’s average speed: 79.506 mph
Time of Race: 00:55:51.8030
Margin of victory: 0.6559 of a second
Cautions: 3 for 11 laps
Lead changes: 1 among 2 drivers

Lap Leaders:
Foster, Louis 1
Siegel, Nolan 2 – 45

Lawless Alan – Toyota 200 Race Recap

By
Official Release
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Team: No. 45 AUTOParkit Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Lawless Alan (Los Angeles, California)
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsports | Instagram: @NieceMotorsport | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Driver: Twitter: @lawlessalan25 | Instagram: @lawless_alan | Facebook: /LawlessAlanRacing | Web: www.lawlessalanracing.com
Start: 23rd | Finish: 21st | Points Standings: 24th

Alan On Saturday’s Race at World Wide Technology Raceway: “We battled a really free truck for most of the race and kept making big swings at it throughout the day. We were battling inside the top-15 and top-ten at times today but weren’t able to get the finish we deserved. I’m really proud of these guys and the constant work they put in to make these trucks fast each week.”

Race Recap: Lawless Alan was able to show top-15 speed at times throughout the Toyota 200 at Gateway Saturday afternoon. But in the end, Alan would bring his AUTOParkit Silverado home 21st.

The first two stages were relatively calm for Alan and his No. 45 team as they would position themselves inside the top-20 for most of the event. When a caution flag flew with just a few laps left in the first stage, Wally Rogers would call Alan down pit road for four tires and a wedge adjustment. From there, Alan drove up to 18th by the end of the stage and would be able to stay out on track during the stage break. Additionally, Alan would ride steady in the second stage to finish 21st in the penultimate stage.

Although the final stage produced carnage amongst most of the field, Alan was able to steer clear of incidents until a spin with ten laps to go. When the checkered flag flew, Alan crossed the line in 21st-place.

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

About AUTOParkit:
-AUTOParkit™ designs, manufactures, and constructs fully automated parking systems for new and existing buildings. AUTOParkit system structural steel and modular design can provide double the capacity of a traditional parking garage, providing up to 17 LEED points and drastically reducing construction time.

-AUTOParkit automated systems are 40 percent less expensive to operate, safer for the user and reduces carbon emissions associated with parking by more than 80 percent. AUTOParkit’s charging pallets provided by AUTOChargit, are a fast and convenient way of charging EVs and Hybrids. AUTOChargit’s patented technology allows for shuffling charged vehicles cutting infrastructure costs by up to 80 percent.

-For more information on AUTOParkit, visit www.autoparkit.com

About AUTOChargit:
AUTOChargit designs, manufactures and installs EV charging systems for automated and conventional parking applications. AUTOChargit can decrease capital expenditures by up to 75 percent by providing automated coupling and decoupling of EV charging stalls from the power source. For conventional parking applications, a single 40-AMP circuit coupled with a single AUTOChargit System can be multiplexed to four, eight, or 12 stalls. Each charging stall is individually metered for the exact tracking of electricity usage. The AUTOParkit Mobile APP provides a touchless experience for the user.

Carson Hocevar – Toyota 200 Race Recap

By
Official Release
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Team: No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Carson Hocevar (Portage, Michigan) | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Carson Hocevar: Twitter: @CarsonHocevar | Instagram: @CarsonHocevar | Facebook: /carsonhocevarracing | Web: www.CarsonHocevar.com
Start: 4th | Finish: 4th | Points Standings: 7th

Hocevar on Saturday’s Race at World Wide Technology Raceway: “This was one of the most exhausting races of the season thus far. From starting up front, to getting in a wreck on lap one, to finishing in the top-five, this one was wild for our No. 42 Worldwide Express team. This was a very fast truck, and it shows by this finish with all the damage to the door. That’s a testament to how hard these Niece Motorsports guys work and I hope we can keep this momentum up in Nashville after the break.”

Race Recap: Coming into this weekend’s race at World Wide Technology Raceway, Carson Hocevar has been arguably the hottest driver in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. When the checkered flag flew on the Toyota 200, that statement still rings true after his fourth straight top-five finish. Although, Hocevar’s weekend wasn’t as smooth as the No. 42 team would’ve liked.

While Hocevar put his Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado fourth in Friday’s qualifying session, he was forced to start in the rear due to a fuel pressure issue. But, Hocevar’s problems continued on lap one as a spinning truck would tag the side of his Silverado and create substantial damage. Despite the damage causing the 42 to visit the pits more than a handful of times, he was able to rally for ninth-place stage points in Stage One.

Stage Two contained more of the same for Hocevar as crew chief, Phil Gould, would bring him down pit road multiple times to repair the damage to his truck. The Michigan-born driver would wind up finishing 30th in the second stage.

In a caution-filled final stage, Hocevar was able to make continuous gains to position himself in the top-five after a two-tire call with 54 laps to go. But in the end, and a NASCAR Overtime finish, the driver of the No. 42 would finish in fourth-place and advance to eighth in the driver’s championship standings.

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

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.

Bayley Currey – Toyota 200 Race Recap

By
Official Release
-

Team: No. 41 Unishippers Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Bayley Currey (Driftwood, Texas) | Crew Chief: Mike Hillman Jr.
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Bayley Currey: Twitter: @BayleyCurrey | Instagram: @bayleycurrey05 | Facebook: /bayleycurrey05 | Web: www.bcurrey.com
Start: 11th | Finish: 16th | Owner’s Points Standings: 16th

Currey On Saturday’s Race at World Wide Technology Raceway: “I feel like I learned a lot this weekend. It was my first time racing at Gateway so I had a few mistakes, but ran inside the top-15 for most of the race and finished just outside. Overall, I’m just very fortunate to drive these fast trucks with the support of Unishippers and WWEX Racing and I’m looking forward to the next one.”

Race Recap: A fifth-place run in Friday’s practice session had Bayley Currey feeling confident about his chances in Gateway. He then backed up his quick time in practice with a starting position just outside the top-ten.

Much like the trend a week ago in Charlotte, the first two stages went smooth for Currey and the No. 41 team. The Texan ran top-15 for most of the race, collecting a 16th-place finish at the end of Stage One. At the conclusion of the stage, Currey was able to stay out on track and gain track position after coming to pit road just a few laps before the stage ended. When the race restarted, Currey fell back to 17th and would finish the stage in 19th as the trucks with fresh tires would make their way through the field.

In the final stage of the race, the Texas-driver drove inside the top-ten before falling back later in the run. In the midst of a long-run in the third stage, Mike Hillman Jr. would bring the No. 41 down pit road for four tires and fuel as gas became a concern on pit road. Unfortunately, Currey caught an untimely caution which put him stuck a lap down until the next yellow when he was awarded the free pass.

When it was over, Bayley Currey would cross the line in 16th while the No. 41 fell to 14th in the owner’s championship standings.

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.

Bryce Ward and Daniel Morad Break Through for First IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Race Win in the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 at the Detroit Grand Prix Saturday

By
Official Release
-

DETROIT – Bryce Ward and Daniel Morad secured their first IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS) race win with a convincing victory in the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 in Saturday’s featured IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race at the Detroit Grand Prix. Winward’s victory anchored a double-podium finish in the 100-minute race that also saw three Mercedes-AMG GT4 entries finish in the top five. The debuting and Detroit-based No. 78 Thaze Competition by MC Squared Mercedes-AMG GT4 of Marc Miller and Daniel Di Meo finished third while the No. 56 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 of Jeff Mosing and Eric Foss secured its best finish of the season in fifth place.

Winward’s victory followed a then season-best finish of third last month at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and was the first for Bryce Ward in five years of Michelin Pilot Challenge competition. Ward started the race 11th in the No. 57 and quickly moved up to battle in the top 10 throughout a clean and fast-paced opening stint before handing off to Morad just past the race’s 33-minute mark.

A well-executed pit stop by the Winward team put Morad back on track in fifth place as the field circulated behind the safety car for a lengthy 10 laps following the only yellow flag caution period of the race.

Morad quickly took control when the race was restarted with just under 40 minutes to go, passing a pair of competitors to gain two positions on the first green flag lap to move into third. He passed Miller for second place on the following lap before making what proved to be the race-winning pass on the leader with 33 minutes remaining.

From there, Morad maintained a steady pace up front and gradually built a cushion on the field resulting in a comfortable 2.405 second margin of victory.

Morad’s largely unchallenged run to the win was aided by his closest competitors aggressively battling behind him for the final podium and top five finishing positions.

Miller, a Michigan native and resident, pressured for second place throughout his race-ending stint before crossing the finish line a close third for Thaze, which proudly raced as “Detroit’s Hometown Team” in its debut. Thaze’s solid weekend also included a fifth-place qualifying result for Di Meo that allowed the team to battle in the lead pack from the drop of the green flag in Saturday’s race.

The hard-earned fifth-place finish for the No. 56 Murillo entry came after Mosing started 14th in the 22-car field. Aided by a quick pit stop by the Murillo Racing team, both Mosing and closing driver Foss steadily improved throughout the race. The top five was not only the best finish of the year for the No. 56 but also gave the team and drivers some needed championship points after being knocked out of the race early at Laguna Seca.

The Laguna Seca race was won by the sister No. 72 Murillo Racing entry of Kenny Murillo and Christian Szymczak that managed to build its early-season championship lead despite a largely frustrating race Saturday in Detroit.
Murillo was the highest starting Mercedes-AMG GT4 in third place and he held that position in formation with the first and second place competitors throughout his race opening stint.

A shot at a repeat victory went away, however, when the No. 72 team’s pit stop strategy didn’t work with the timing of the yellow flag caution period. Pitting after the other contenders, Szymczak returned to the race out of the top five and eventually crossed the finish line in seventh. Despite the frustrating day, the No. 72 team and drivers provisionally extended their championship lead by 100 points over the nearest competitor, 1000 – 900.

Bolstered by its second victory in a row in the year’s first four races, Mercedes-AMG has provisionally added to its GS manufacturer championship lead leaving Detroit. The current tally of 1300 points is 60 clear of the nearest competitor.

Next up for Mercedes-AMG GT4 competitors in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series is round five of the 2023 championship at Watkins Glen International in New York, June 22 – 24.

Bryce Ward, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “This was the most enjoyable race I have had even though it’s a tight circuit that really requires precision. First of all, I have to thank the team because they did an incredible job on our pit stop and calling our strategy. I also have to thank Detroit because, man, they put on a great show. I am so, so excited to be here and hopefully we can come back again. We are dedicated to the Mercedes-AMG brand, we love the brand and have been with them for five years now. At the end of the day, they put a great product on the road.”

Daniel Morad, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “When you work hard and put in the preparation, like the Winward team has done, things start looking easy. But it is not easy just by nature, it’s because of all the hard work that everyone has put in, including Bryce and all on the team. The car was just perfect in the race, and everything went our way because of the decision making beforehand, the planning and the strategy. I took advantage of everyone being tentative on the restart, but I knew where the grip was and had that plan going into the restart. If you make any hesitation on a street circuit, it’s over. It was absolute decisiveness and it paid off.”

Marc Miller, Driver – No. 78 Thaze Competition by MC Squared Mercedes-AMG GT4: “When it comes down to it, it’s a hometown team with a Michigan driver at the Detroit Grand Prix, and in our first race out the blocks we are fighting for wins. It says a lot about the team, and it was a flawless pit stop. We thought we had a car that could run with Daniel, but I just couldn’t clear second place. I had a run a couple of times, made some moves and moved him a couple of times, but with 10 minutes to go I started to cruise because every time I fought him the pack would start to close. I thought ‘let’s chill out,’ gap him again and maybe have another go, but he just never made a mistake. Not a big enough mistake for me to take it to him. Overall, to be standing on the podium at the Detroit Grand Prix, I am going to savor every moment of it.”

Daniel Di Meo, Driver – No. 78 Thaze Competition by MC Squared Mercedes-AMG GT4: “I stayed patient, kept the car underneath me and tried to keep my lap times as low as possible because I didn’t want the leaders to just take off. That paid off, because when Marc jumped in the car, he came out in second. All around, it was an unreal weekend, and we couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Kenny Murillo, Driver – No. 72 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “The result really doesn’t reflect the work that was put into this weekend, but that’s just how it goes sometimes. It was an unfortunate yellow that really killed our strategy. We took somewhat of a risk, but we were just extremely unlucky. All in all, we are leaving with a bigger points lead than we had. We went from 90 points ahead to 100 and we are looking forward to the next race at Watkins Glen. We have a strong team, and everyone is firing on all cylinders right now.”

Stewart-Haas Racing: NXS Race Report from Portland

By
Official Release
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STEWART-HAAS RACING
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Portland 147

Date: June 3, 2022

Event: Portland 147 (Round 13 of 33)

Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series

Location: Portland (Ore.) International Raceway (1.967-mile, 12-turn road course)

Format: 75 laps, broken into three stages (25 laps/25 laps/25 laps)

Note: Race extended two laps past its scheduled 75-lap distance due to a green-white-checkered finish.

Race Winner: Cole Custer of Stewart-Haas Racing (Ford)

Stage 1 Winner: Sheldon Creed of Richard Childress Racing (Chevrolet)

Stage 2 Winner: Cole Custer of Stewart-Haas Racing (Ford)

SHR Race Finish:

● Cole Custer (Started 2nd / Finished 1st, Running completed 77 of 77 laps)

● Riley Herbst (Started 12th / Finished 32nd, Accident, completed 65 of 77 laps)

SHR Points:

● Cole Custer (4th with 457 points, 65 out of first)

● Riley Herbst (10th with 346 points, 176 out of first)

Victory Notes:

● Cole Custer’s victory at Portland marked SHR’s 19th Xfinity Series victory, its first of the season, and its first at Portland.

● This was Ford’s first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at Portland.

● This was Custer’s 11th career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory and his 10th with SHR.

● This was Jonathan Toney’s first win as a crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

SHR Notes:

● Custer earned his first victory of the season and his first victory in one career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Portland.

● This was Custer’s seventh straight top-10. He finished fifth April 1 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, third April 15 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, fourth April 22 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, seventh April 29 at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway, third May 13 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, and third last week at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

● Custer finished seventh in Stage 1 to earn four bonus points and won Stage 2 to earn 10 more bonus points and one playoff point.

● Custer led two times for five laps – his first laps led at Portland.

● Herbst’s 32nd-place finish bettered his previous best finish at Portland– 35th, earned in the inaugural race at the track last year.

● Herbst finished 10th in Stage 1 to earn one bonus point and eighth in Stage 2 to earn three more bonus points.

Race Notes:

● There were five caution periods for a total of 10 laps.

● Twenty-seven of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

● John Hunter Nemechek leaves Portland as the championship leader with a 14-point advantage over second-place Austin Hill.

Sound Bites:

“I mean, I was just trying to not make mistakes. I did the same exact thing as the leaders earlier in the race. I saw them drive in there so deep, and I did the same thing two restarts before. Man, I’m just so happy. I’ve never won a road course race before in the Xfinity Series. I’ve been so close so many times, and it’s just awesome to win this. I can’t thank Haas Automation and everybody at Stewart-Haas Racing in the Xfinity program and the Cup program. It’s just a great day. This is JT’s (Jonathan Toney, crew chief) first win as a crew chief. It’s awesome to get this trophy and get that out of the way. I’m so pumped for the rest of the year. We’ve got fast cars, and we’re putting it all together.” – Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang

“Man, that’s a tough one. We had a fast No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang all day and ran in the top-10 for most of the race. The race just didn’t go our way with the issues near the end. We’ll keep our heads up and head to Sonoma next weekend. Hopefully, the bad luck will truly be behind us now.” – Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule is the DoorDash 250 on Saturday, June 10 at Sonoma (Cali.) Raceway. The race begins at 8 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes – Portland International Raceway NXS Cole Custer Transcript

By
Official Release
-

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Pacific Office Automation 147 | Saturday, June 3, 2023

COLE CUSTER COMPLETES LATE-RACE PASS TO WIN AT PORTLAND

PORTLAND, OR. | June 3, 2023 – Cole Custer was victorious Saturday in the NASCAR Xfinity Series featured event at Portland International Raceway. Custer won his first series race of 2023, and notably, it was his first trip to victory lane at the Northwestern road course. He led when it mattered – not only making a surge from fourth in the final three laps to win the second stage, but also completing the race-deciding maneuver to lead the final two laps of the race to victory. Custer was triumphant in his 123rd career series start – 11 total wins – and it was his first victory since February 26, 2022 (Auto Club Speedway).

COLE CUSTER, No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang – WHAT GAVE YOU THE CONFIDENCE TO MAKE THE MOVE FOR THE LEAD ON THE RESTART? “Just trying not to make mistakes. I mean, I did the same exact thing. I saw them drive in there so deep, and I did the same thing like two restarts ago. Man, I’m just so happy. I’ve never won a road course race before. I’ve been so close, so many times. It’s just awesome to win this. I can’t thank Haas Automation, everybody at Stewart-Haas and the Xfinity program… and the Cup program. This is just a great day. J.T. (Jonathan Toney) just for coming in to crew chief… it’s awesome to get this trophy and get that out of the way. I’m pumped for the rest of the year. We got fast cars, and starting to put it all together.”

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