Defending Coca-Cola 600 winner Denny Hamlin visited Arlington National Cemetery and Joey Logano toured the USS Nitze at Naval Station Norfolk; Daniel Suarez virtually visited with Area Support Group-Jordan, while Austin Dillon and Paul Swan trained alongside the 82D Airborne Division; Aric Almirola spent a day with the 2D LAR Battalion at Camp Lejeune
Mission 600 serves as a prelude to Charlotte Motor Speedway’s patriotic pre-race salute ahead of the historic Coca-Cola 600 each Memorial Day Weekend
CONCORD, N.C. (May 24, 2023) – Mission accomplished. For the sixth consecutive year, ahead of the Coca-Cola 600 each Memorial Day Weekend, Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Mission 600 set out to honor the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces by pairing Coca-Cola Racing Family and other drivers alongside units from different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. This year defending Coca-Cola 600 winner Denny Hamlin and fellow Coca-Cola Family Racing drivers Daniel Suarez, Austin Dillon and Joey Logano, along with Aric Almirola visited military to educate the NASCAR community about the day-to-day lives of the men and women who serve. This year’s campaign included a mix of in-person and virtual visits spanning from the Middle East and Arlington National Cemetery to bases in North Carolina and Virginia.
“The Coca-Cola 600, being on the eve of Memorial Day, it’s a nice reminder to be able to bring the stars of our sport out so they can actually see what the military does each and every day – that sense of team, that sense of service, that sense of duty – the same characteristics that make for a successful race team,” said Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Walter. “When we bring these drivers out for Mission 600, it’s really cool to see them kind of rethink things. They see the military there during pre-race, but to be able to interact with them outside of the race weekend and see how they work to protect our freedoms, it’s a unique connection point for our sport to the military.”
Austin Dillon/Paul Swan visited Fort Bragg, NC (April 19)
Dillon and Swan, alongside Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Walter, spent the day learning about the equipment and training that members of the 82nd Airborne receive. The trio toured Fort Bragg in a UH-60 Black Hawk and fired an M119A2 Howitzer, rode in Infantry Squad Vehicles, dined with service members in the Warrior Restaurant, took part in an Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) and participated in live-fire exercises.
Daniel Suarez visited virtually Area Support Group – Jordan (April 27)
During the hour-long virtual visit, members of ASG-J shared with Suárez, Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Walter and Performance Racing Network President Doug Rice insights into their mission to provide logistics, communications needs, force protection and host nation coordination throughout the region. Over the course of the conversation, Suárez and the unit found common ground on topics ranging from the importance of teamwork to persevering through adversity.
Denny Hamlin visit Arlington National Cemetery (May 3)
Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing President Dave Alpern joined Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith, executives from Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and Coca-Cola Consolidated, as well as Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Walter to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, continuing an annual tradition for the defending Coca-Cola 600 race winner to kick off Military Appreciation Month each May in Arlington, Va. The group also toured the cemetery’s artifacts room, visited with members of the Old Guard and toured the Pentagon.
Joey Logano visits Naval Station Norfolk (May 10)
Logano, alongside Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Walter and NASCAR Salutes ambassador Jesse Iwuji, toured the expansive USS Nitze destroyer, met with commanding officers and the crew, toured the ship’s bridge and aft missle deck, and served chow to sailors. Following the tour, Logano participated in a ship handling trainer simulation, which gave the veteran driver an in-depth education in maneuvering a warship at sea.
Aric Almirola visited Camp Lejeune (May 16)
Almirola, along with Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Walter, met with Marines from the 2D LAR (Light Armor Reconnaissance) Battalion, flew in an MV-22 Osprey, participated in a tire-changing demonstration, learned about a variety of weapons systems, and fired an M242 Bushmaster from an LAV (Light Armored Vehicle). Almirola also served lunch to dozens of Marines, courtesy of Smithfield.
TICKETS:
Log on to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com for tickets, schedules and more information on the weekend’s three days of action-packed racing. Kids 12 and under get in FREE on Friday and Saturday.
FOLLOW US:
Keep track of all of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s events by following on Twitter and Instagram or become a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.
CONCORD, N.C. (May 24, 2023) – Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports, will return to NASCAR Cup Series competition this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway after recovering from a fractured vertebra.
Bowman, 30, suffered the compression fracture April 25 while competing in a sprint car at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. On Tuesday, he drove a Cup Series car 170 laps during a NASCAR-approved medical evaluation test at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Prior to the injury, Bowman led the Cup Series in average finish through the first 10 races of 2023. After missing three points-paying events, the Tucson, Arizona, native ranks 17th in the playoff standings, just five points behind the transfer spot with 13 races remaining in the regular season.
“It’s a boost for all of us to have Alex return to the No. 48 car this weekend at our home track,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “He’s still 17th in points, which says a lot about how well the team performed at the start of the year. Alex has worked hard to rehab the injury and come back strong, and I look for him to continue having a championship-caliber season.”
Josh Berry subbed for Bowman in all three points events with a best result of 10th at Dover Motor Speedway on April 30. He also competed in Sunday’s non-points NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro, finishing 15th after winning the All-Star Open. Berry, 32, drives full-time for Hendrick Motorsports affiliate JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
“Josh is an absolute pro,” said Jeff Andrews, president and general manager of Hendrick Motorsports. “His talent and hard work allowed the team to continue operating at a high level while Alex recovered. We can’t say enough about the great job he did under some challenging circumstances. We’re grateful to Josh and our partners at JRM for their support.”
Bowman remains eligible for the 2023 playoffs after NASCAR granted a medical waiver.
The JTG Daugherty Racing team honors fallen soldier Sgt. Alessandro L. Plutino on the windshield of the No. 47 Kroger® / Coca-Cola® Camaro at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
HARRISBURG, N.C. (May 24, 2023) – – The convergence of the Coca-Cola® 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway with Memorial Day weekend creates a truly special and significant occasion. It intertwines the thrill of racing with the solemnity of honoring our fallen heroes. This unique alignment reminds JTG Daugherty Racing and our partners of the valor and sacrifices made by brave men and women in service to our country.
“In the quiet of every Memorial Day, we remember the brave souls who answered the call of duty with immeasurable selflessness and the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom,” said Ricky Stenhouse Jr. “NASCAR Salutes honors our fallen soldiers this Memorial Day weekend, and we humbly unite to remember them with reverence.”
During the 600-mile event, we will honor and remember the brave soul, Sgt. Alessandro L. Plutino, who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. On August 8, 2011, in the rugged landscape of Afghanistan, Sgt. Plutino laid down his life in service to his country, leaving behind a legacy of unwavering courage and selflessness.
“We will be carrying the name of Sgt. Alessandro L. Plutino (aka Sandrino) on our No. 47 Kroger® / Coca-Cola® Camaro windshield,” said Stenhouse Jr. “Our team thanks his mother Dianne, father Sandro, sister Brennarae, his fiancée Natalie and entire family for allowing us to honor him.”
Fueled by the memory of Sgt. Plutino’s sacrifice, the 2023 DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION and team’s quest is to win a second crown jewel event to add to their win column. Not only would it be a personal triumph for Stenhouse Jr. and the No. 47 Kroger / Coca-Cola Camaro team, it’s a powerful tribute.
“I ran my first ever Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway and it’s a track I’ve always ran well at,” said Stenhouse Jr. “Last year, we had a competitive race car. We would love to have a shot at winning this crown jewel of the sport. We have a good shot based on how we ran at Dover (Motor Speedway) and Darlington (Raceway). We feel like that will translate to Charlotte.”
Live coverage of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway begins at 6 PM ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90).
More about Sgt. Alessandro L. Plutino:
Sgt. Alessandro L. Plutino (aka Sandrino) was an Alpha Team leader in Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. His awards included the Ranger Tab, Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, 3 Army Commendation Medals, 3 Army Good Conduct Medals, 3 Army Achievement Medals, Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/2 stars, Iraq Campaign Medals w/2 stars, GWOT Service Medal, National Defense Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, 2 Bronze Star Medals – 1 with V device, Meritorious Service Medal w/V device and a Purple Heart.
He wrestled and played football in Pitman High School, Pitman, New Jersey, Western New England College in Springfield, Ma. and Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. where he graduated with a degree in Criminology in 2005 and immediately proceeded to enlist. He enjoyed snowboarding, fishing, riding his motorcycle and spending time with his family and friends, especially his fiancée Natalie, the love of his life. He wondered why people would often “thank him” for just doing his job, one that he chose to do while “fully knowing the hazards of his chosen profession”. Sgt. Plutino is missed every day by his mother Dianne, father Sandro, sister Brennarae and his fiancée Natalie.
· NCS/NXS/NCTS/ARCA: Charlotte Motor Speedway – May 26-28
PLANO, Texas (May 24, 2023) – The NASCAR teams get a home game as the compete at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend.
NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS | NCTS
Hamlin plans for a repeat… After years of trying, Denny Hamlin earned his long-awaited 600-mile victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway last May. Hamlin won the pole and got past Kyle Busch on the final lap to earn the victory. Hamlin comes into Charlotte with three top-five finishes in the last five events, including his first win of the season in Kansas.
Bell continues to lead in top-10s… Christopher Bell sits second in the standings on the strength of a series-leading eight top-10 finishes this season. Bell earned his first Cup Series top-10 finish at Charlotte in 2020, and finished a track-best fifth in the 600-mile race last season.
Wallace continues to add top-fives… For the first time since March, Bubba Wallace holds a Playoff spot on the strength of back-to-back top-five finishes. Wallace also earned two top-five finishes at North Wilkesboro over the weekend as he scored a fifth-place run in the Truck Series race, before earning a second-place finish in Sunday’s All-Star race.
Nemechek back on top of the standings… John Hunter Nemechek took a slim one-point lead in the point standings after his series-leading sixth top-five finish of the season at Darlington Raceway. Nemechek is making his first Xfinity Series start at the Charlotte oval since 2019, but won at Charlotte in Truck Series action in 2021 and followed that up with a third-place finish last season.
Gibbs, Mosack double-duty… Ty Gibbs and Connor Mosack are running two races this weekend. Gibbs, the Cup Series rookie of the year leader, is running his second Xfinity Series race of the season in the No. 19 Toyota GR Supra. Gibbs has two top-two finishes at the track in Xfinity Series action, including a victory in 2021. Mosack is scheduled to run in the ARCA Menards Series race on Friday and the Xfinity Series race on Saturday as he makes his return to Sam Hunt Racing. Mosack is behind the wheel of the No. 24 Toyota GR Supra for the next four events (Charlotte, Portland, Sonoma and Nashville), before he makes his season debut with Joe Gibbs Racing in Chicago.
Gray, Friesen plan to grow Playoff advantage… Tanner Gray and Stewart Friesen both hold Truck Series Playoff positions with six races to go in the regular season going into Charlotte. Gray is eighth in the standings, 21 points above the cut off as he looks to earn his first Playoff berth. The New Mexico-native has three top-10 finishes in the last five races and earned a career-best sixth-place finish at Charlotte, one season ago. Friesen has moved from 14th to ninth in the point standings in the last three races, four points above the cutoff line. Charlotte has been a strong place for Friesen throughout his career as the Canadian has four top-10 finishes at the track since 2018, including a third-place run in 2019 and a fourth-place finish in 2021.
Gilliland returns to driver’s seat… David Gilliland, co-owner of TRICON Garage, will make his return to the driver’s seat for the first time in two years as he pilots the No. 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. Gilliland has run two Truck Series races at Charlotte Motor Speedway, including a top-10 finish at the track in 2009. The Tundra has six drivers behind the wheel in eight starts this season, with four top-10 finishes.
NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA
Love looks to continue winning streak… Jesse Love has taken over the points lead after back-to-back victories on the national ARCA tour. At Kansas, the 18-year-old won the pole and led 96 of 100 laps on his way to his second win of the season and fourth in his career. Charlotte is another new track for the Toyota development driver, but his 20 team led 15 laps and finished second last season.
facebook.com/ToyotaRacing Camera With Flash on Apple iOS 11.3 ToyotaRacingMedia.com
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 22 electrified options.
Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW: TRACK: Charlotte Motor Speedway RACE: Alsco Uniforms 300 (200 laps / 300 miles) DATE: Saturday, May 27, 2023
Broadcast Information – TV: 1 p.m. ET on FS1 / Radio: 12:30 p.m. ET on PRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90
Sam Mayer No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet
Sam Mayer is set to make his second start at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend coming off a hard-fought eighth-place finish at Darlington Raceway.
Mayer earned his first NASCAR Xfinity Series pole at this race last season and finished with a strong third-place effort.
In 15 NXS starts on tracks measuring 1.5 miles in length, the 19-year-old has tallied three top-five and 10 top-10 finishes.
The Franklin, Wis. native currently sits 10th in the NXS championship point standings, 115 markers behind the leader.
Josh Berry No. 8 Tire Pros Chevrolet
Josh Berry enters this week as the defending race winner on the Charlotte oval. Berry led 89 laps after a tense battle with teammate Justin Allgaier to earn the victory.
Last year’s victory came in Berry’s second start on the 1.5- mile oval and represented JRM’s first win at its home track.
In five starts on tracks measuring 1-1.5 miles this season in the NXS, Berry has a pair of top-five finishes and five top-10 results. His best finish (second) came at Dover Motor Speedway.
The Tennessee native is fourth in series points after 11 races, 57 off the lead.
Brandon Jones No. 9 Menards/Bali Blinds & Shades Chevrolet
Brandon Jones has made nine starts at Charlotte and has recorded three top-10 finishes, with a best of seventh coming during the 2016 season.
In 122 starts on tracks measuring between 1-2 miles in length in the NXS, Jones has recorded four wins, 18 top fives and 54 top 10s, along with six pole awards.
Crew chief Jason Burdett has been atop the pit box for 10 races at Charlotte and has put together five top fives and seven top 10s, with a best finish of second coming during the 2019 season.
Jones currently sits 14th in the series standings, 43 points below the playoff cutline with 15 races remaining in the regular season.
Justin Allgaier No. 7 Unilever Military DeCA RCPT Chevrolet
Justin Allgaier has scored a best finish of second in the NXS at Charlotte, coming in this event in 2019.
Last season, Allgaier dueled with JRM teammate Josh Berry, leading for 63 laps before a flat tire late in the race shuffled the Illinois native to seventh at the checkered flag.
Allgaier has amassed five top fives and 11 top 10s in 20 career NXS starts at Charlotte.
This Memorial Day weekend, Allgaier will be carrying the logos of the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) and the Round Canopy Parachute Team (RCPT) on board his red, white and blue patriotic No. 7 Unilever Military Chevrolet.
Driver Quotes
“I am really looking forward to getting back on track after the off weekend, especially at Charlotte. I was able to grab my first pole here last year and brought home a third-place finish, which was awesome. I feel super confident that the No. 1 team has built me a rocket ship for this weekend and I’m excited to go after that checkered flag.” – Sam Mayer
“We had a really strong run here last year at Charlotte. It was great to be up front and fighting for the win with Josh (Berry). Hopefully, we can replicate that same kind of speed again this year. It’s Memorial Day weekend, which is always a special time, and it’s great to be able to carry these red, white and blue colors on our No. 7 Chevrolet with the folks from DeCA, Unilever and the Round Canopy Parachute Team. We just need to go out there and do what we have done the last few weeks, and if we do that, we should be right where we need to be to fight for the win on Saturday.” – Justin Allgaier
“Winning last year was incredible after that duel with Justin (Allgaier), and I was really happy to earn JRM’s first win at Charlotte. Our intermediate program has been on the upswing for the past couple of years, and we are coming in here confident that the Tire Pros Chevrolet will be at the front. I’m happy with the consistency, but we really need to get a win and this is the place and weekend to do it.” – Josh Berry
“Jason (Burdett, crew chief) and this entire team had a really fast car for Charlotte last year and I am sure we will have that same speed when we unload on Friday. It’s always fun to race so close to home because a lot of the employees get to come out and spend time at the track with us. It would be great to be able to get our first win together this weekend with everyone there. I know this group is capable of doing just that.” – Brandon Jones
JRM Team Updates
JR Motorsports at Charlotte: JR Motorsports has competed on the oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway a combined 76 times in the NXS. Over the course of those starts at its home track, JRM has tallied one win, 18 top fives and 36 top 10s. JRM’s win came in this race last season when Josh Berry drove the No. 8 to Victory Lane.
Souvenir Rig: JRM drivers Justin Allgaier, Josh Berry, Brandon Jones and Sam Mayer will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports / Legacy M.C. souvenir rig in the Charlotte Fan Zone on Saturday, May 27 from 10:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Fan Day: JRM Fan Day is back! Join us on Thursday, May 25, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for an entire day of festivities, including autograph sessions, a Dale Jr. car unveil, driver games, and a chance to win prizes. Autograph session wristbands will be distributed at 8 a.m. Thursday morning on a first-come, first–served basis. Limit one autograph per person per session.
JRM Retail Store: The JR Nation retail store will have extended hours this weekend to ensure fans have the chance to stock up on the latest and greatest gear! The retail store will be open until 4:30 p.m. this week with Saturday (5/27) and Sunday (5/28) hours from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Memorial Day hours will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Christopher Bell Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Advance No. 20 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry TRD for Joe Gibbs Racing
Event Overview
● Event: Coca-Cola 600 (Round 14 of 36) ● Time/Date: 6 p.m. EDT on Sunday, May 28 ● Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ● Layout: 1.5-mile oval ● Laps/Miles: 400 laps/600 miles ● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 100 laps / Stage 2: 100 laps / Stage 3: 100 laps / Final Stage: 100 laps ● TV/Radio: FOX / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Notes of Interest
● Outrageously Dependable: Interstate Batteries – one of the most tenured team sponsors in NASCAR history – began its 32nd season as the founding sponsor of Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) with an expanded presence that features the brand’s iconic green livery across all four of JGR’s NASCAR Cup Series entries. So far this season, Interstate has adorned the No. 20 of Bell at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, served as co-primary sponsor for Ty Gibbs in the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, and on Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota at Circuit of Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas in March. Interstate returned to Gibbs’ No. 54 Toyota at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in April and will adorn his car four more times this season – June 25 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, July 2 at the inaugural Chicago Street Race, Sept. 24 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, and Oct. 8 on the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval. Bell returned to the Interstate Batteries machine last weekend, where he finished 12th in the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway. After the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, Bell will return to Interstate Batteries colors at Texas in September and Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in October.
● The Fund and Interstate Batteries: Interstate Batteries has partnered with Semper Fi & America’s Fund (The Fund) to help with funding adaptive vehicles for wounded service veterans which allow them to drive again, as well as assisting with vehicle maintenance and repairs. The Fund supports all branches of the military. Currently, the VA allots a one-time $24,000 grant to veterans who need adapted vehicles. The cost for adapting vehicles can run from $20,000 to $80,000 and they may get 10 to 12 years out of one vehicle before they are back to square one. This is the first time Interstate Batteries has run a military-themed/supported paint scheme and, in addition to the scheme, Interstate has made a monetary donation and is raising awareness in the hopes of driving donations to this very worthy cause Donations can be made at TheFund.org/Interstate. In addition to Interstate’s donation, The Fund appears on the hood of the No. 20 JGR Toyota Camry TRD for the Coca-Cola 600, and Interstate Batteries will be hosting guests from The Fund, including a handful of veterans who have benefitted from The Fund and its important work.
● Along with the previously announced partnership with The Fund, Interstate Batteries launched a crowdfunding campaign and hopes to help drive awareness for the ongoing needs of military families. Augmenting those efforts is the plan to feature the aforementioned military-themed paint scheme during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. For more information about Semper Fi & America’s Fund and the transportation program, visit TheFund.org.
● Bell has one top-five finish and two top-10s in four career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Charlotte, with the best finish coming in last year’s Coca-Cola 600 on the 1.5-mile oval. Bell’s average Charlotte oval finish is 14.8.
● As part of #NASCARSalutes and the
600 Miles of Remembrance initiative during the Coca
Cola 600, the No. 20 Interstate Batteries Camry will be honoring CW5 Ret. U.S. Army, William F. Sonny Hinchman, who died on July 17, 2009, near Baghdad, Iraq, in a MD-530 helicopter crash while working in support of the U.S. State Department. CW5 Hinchman was born Nov. 11, 1966, in Linton, Indiana, to Walter Jerry and Nina R. (Bosell) Hinchman. He had six brothers and sisters and graduated from Worthington-Jefferson High School in 1984 and joined the U.S. Army as a Warrant Officer Candidate. Upon completion of flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama, Hinchman began a 25-year career as an Army aviator. Over the course of his career, Hinchman had multiple tours to Iraq and other locations throughout the globe while serving in numerous aviation combat units, including Task Force 160, the Army’s Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
● Roval Master: While Bell is looking for his first Coca-Cola 600 win in his fifth start on the Charlotte oval this weekend, he has already conquered the Charlotte Roval, having earned the victory in last October’s Bank of America ROVAL 400k on the 2.28-mile, 17-turn road course within the Charlotte Motor Speedway grounds.
Interstate Batteries Stands the Test of Time: Former JGR and Interstate Batteries driver Bobby Labonte created some special memories for sponsor and team during the 1995 edition of NASCAR’s longest race, the Coca-Cola 600. In his first season with JGR, Labonte led 85 of the 400 laps enroute to his first-ever NASCAR Cup Series victory. Labonte went on to win 21 total races and the 2000 Cup Series championship in what became a NASCAR Hall of Fame career. Each of Labonte’s 21 wins came with Interstate Batteries adorning his car for JGR.
● Bell heads to NASCAR’s longest race second in the driver standings with 402 points, 37 out of the lead.
Christopher Bell , Driver of the No. 20 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry TRD
What are your expectations for the Coca-Cola 600 this weekend?
“My expectations for Charlotte are to compete for stage wins and race wins. It’s a very long and unique race because there are four stages, so there’s an opportunity to score more points, more so than a normal weekend. It’s definitely a race if you are fast and competitive, which we should be – you set yourself up to have a great points day with our Interstate Batteries Camry.”
With the race being so long, do you have to manage the Coca-Cola 600 any differently than other races?
“Not really. It is a long race in terms of miles, but the race is 400 laps and we run 400 laps at multiple tracks. We don’t treat it any differently. It’s just another race as far as that goes and we expect to go out there and run up front and be competitive. Really excited to have Interstate Batteries back on board this weekend. We have a really cool-looking, military-themed camouflage car, which is a result of their partnership with Semper Fi and America’s Fund. They do a lot of great work for finding adaptive vehicles for wounded veterans. It’s a lot of important work and I’m hoping we can make them proud at the end of the night on Sunday.”
Each year, NASCAR puts the focus on honoring fallen soldiers and their families during Memorial Day weekend at Charlotte. What does it mean to you to be a part of that as a driver?
“Memorial Day weekend is always a huge weekend for honoring our country’s military, past and present. The Coca-Cola 600 has become an iconic event that I think a lot of people tune in to. It would be great to have a great showing during one of our biggest races of the year, on a huge weekend for our country. I know there will be a lot of military families on hand at the race and I’m honored to not only have Semper Fi & America’s Fund ride along on our Interstate Batteries Camry, but also to have Chief Warrant Officer 5 Hinchman, whose name will be riding along with us on the windshield of our car, as well. It’s a special weekend for our country and I’m glad to be a part of all they do to honor the military families this weekend.”
Harrison Burton and the No. 21 DEX Imaging team are headed into the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a dual mission. They’re hoping for a strong run in Sunday’s race, the longest race, distance-wise, on the Cup Series schedule. And they intend to honor a fallen servicemember as part of the track’s annual 600 Miles of Remembrance.
Crew chief Brian Wilson said he and the other members of the DEX Imaging team, like people across the country this weekend, will be remembering those who gave their lives in service of their country.
“Heading into Memorial Day weekend, everyone on the No. 21 Ford is thinking about those who served, and currently serve our country,” Wilson said, adding that he has family members for whom Memorial Day has an extra special meaning. “Both of my grandfathers served in World War II, and both of my brothers-in- law were also in the Armed Forces.”
This weekend, Wilson will be a part of paying tribute to a young soldier who gave his life for his country.
“The DEX Mustang will proudly honor Sgt. Shawn M. Dunkin, who served in the Army,” Wilson said. “We’re planning to host members of his family this weekend and hope to make them proud with our performance.”
Sgt. Dunkin, who lived in Columbia, S.C., joined the Army in 2001. He was on his second tour of duty in Iraq on Feb. 19, 2007, when he died from injuries suffered when his vehicle was struck by a bomb. Two of his fellow soldiers, Matthew Bowe and Adare Cleveland, also were killed.
At that time Dunkin was serving as a calvary scout leader with B Troop, 1st Squadron, 89th Calvary Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division out of Ft. Drum, Ky. He was 25 years old.
His military decorations include the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Action Badge.
In interviews after Sgt. Dunkin’s death his family members told reporters stories they’d heard about him, including his giving the family Bible to a fellow servicemember who was struggling. And they learned that at the time of his death, Sgt. Dunkin had given up his leave so a younger soldier could return to the States and see his newborn child.
In another interview, Michael Dunkin described his son as “an All-American boy” who loved hunting, fishing and just being outside.
Having the Dunkin family in their pit area this weekend at Charlotte and having Sgt. Dunkin’s name on the No. 21 DEX Mustang gives the Wood Brothers team added motivation to build on the speed they’ve shown in recent races on intermediate-length tracks like Charlotte.
“We believe we hit on a setup in Kansas that Harrison liked and which produced very competitive lap times,” Wilson said. “We took those same setup ideas to Darlington, where we came away with one of our most competitive weekends this season.
“We’ll head to Charlotte with a building notebook and hopes of improving on our competitiveness.”
Practice for the Coca-Cola 600 is set for Saturday at 7 p.m., and will be followed by qualifying at 7:45.
Sunday’s 400-lap, 600-mile race is scheduled to get the green flag just after 6 p.m. with TV coverage on FOX. Stage breaks are planned for Laps 100, 200 and 300.
About DEX Imaging DEX Imaging is the digital document imaging division of Staples, the world’s largest business solutions provider. DEX sells and services the broadest selection of copiers, printers and data management solutions, such as HP, Konica Minolta, Canon, Kyocera and numerous others.
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES: Reducing Operating Costs Reducing Paper Consumption Increasing Productivity
DEX Imaging has been the recipient of virtually every industry award since the company’s inception, including the JD Power & Associates Award for Best Customer Experience, the prestigious ProTech Service award by Konica Minolta, the Diamond Premier Dealer Award by Kyocera, and the Elite DEALER Award by ‘ENX’ magazine. Other accolades include being named ‘Best Place to Work’ by numerous business journals in the markets DEX serves.
Wood Brothers Racing Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.
RYAN PREECE Charlotte Race Advance No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing
Event Overview
● Event: Coca-Cola 600 (Round 14 of 36) ● Time/Date: 6 p.m. EDT on Sunday, May 28 ● Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ● Layout: 1.5-mile oval ● Laps/Miles: 400 laps/600 miles ● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 100 laps / Stage 2: 100 laps / Stage 3: 100 laps / Final Stage: 100 laps ● TV/Radio: FOX / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Notes of Interest
● This weekend, as part of #NASCARSalutes and the yearly 600 Miles of Remembrance initiative at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600, the No. 41 team will be honoring Sergeant Bradley J. Harper of the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Born on Nov. 1, 1979, Harper was raised in Dresden, Ohio and joined the Marine Corps in December 1998. He attended boot camp in the spring of 1999 and was assigned to Lima Company (Co.), 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines out of Brook Park, Ohio, after the completion of boot camp. Harper served as a reservist until 2004, when he and his wife, Kendra Kellerman (Schiewe), moved to Chesapeake, Virginia. He transferred to the 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion stationed in Little Creek, Virginia. While he was living in Virginia, he worked as a police officer with the Virginia Beach Police Department. In 2005, Harper and his unit were mobilized to Iraq, where he was on the same base as his previous unit from Brook Park. On Aug. 3, Lima Co. conducted patrol operations and Harper volunteered to go on patrol with his former Marines. The vehicle that he and 13 other Marines were riding in ran over a roadside IED in Haditha, Iraq. All 13 Marines were killed in the attack.
● Sgt. Harper’s name will be on the windshield of Preece’s red, white and blue HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang as the series takes on the longest race of the season during Memorial Day Weekend.
● Preece will make his sixth NASCAR Cup Series start at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Sunday and his fifth Coca-Cola 600 start. His first was in 2019 for JTG-Daugherty Racing, when he started 24th but finished 31st due to a suspension issue. He has a best Charlotte finish of 22nd, which came in May 2020. Preece completed just 16 laps in last May’s Coca-Cola 600 event for Rick Ware Racing due to the Damaged Vehicle Policy. This weekend’s start will be Preece’s first Charlotte with Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR).
● In three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Charlotte, Preece has a best start of third and best finish of fifth, both of which occurred last May while driving for B.J. McLeod Motorsports in the No. 5 Ford. Preece’s lone NASCAR Truck Series start at Charlotte also came last May, when he started eighth and finished 11th for David Gilliland Racing.
● Last weekend, the series made its highly anticipated return to the newly revived North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway for the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race and All-Star Open. Preece was one of 16 drivers who needed to race his way into the main event by finishing first or second in Sunday’s All-Star Open, or by winning the Fan Vote. Preece started the 100-lap Open eighth, and his team made significant adjustments during the lap-42 competition caution, which brought Preece’s car to life. He was able to work through traffic and avoid multiple incidents on his way to finishing fourth.
● Through the first third of the Cup Series season, Preece has shown improvement and consistency at a variety of racetracks, bringing a heightened sense of motivation to the No. 41 team. He had a career weekend at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in April, earning his first Cup Series pole and leading a career-high 135 laps. Since then, although the results haven’t shown it, Preece has started coming into his own.
● Preece heads to Charlotte 29th in the driver standings with 201 points.
● Preece kicked off the 2023 season with a strong showing in the non-points Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, leading a race-high 43 laps but ultimately finishing seventh after a fuel pump issue. He has a best points-paying finish of 12th this season, which came at Phoenix Raceway in March.
● HaasTooling.com, back again in 2023 on the No. 41 SHR Ford Musting, the cutting tool division of Haas Automation led by SHR co-owner Gene Haas. HaasTooling.com was launched as a way for CNC machinists to purchase high-quality cutting tools at great prices. Haas cutting tools are sold exclusively online at HaasTooling.com and shipped directly to end users. HaasTooling.com products became available nationally in July 2020. Haas Automation, founded in 1983, is America’s leading builder of CNC machine tools. The company manufactures a complete line of vertical and horizontal machining centers, turning centers, rotaries and indexers, and automation solutions.
● RaceChoice.com, a proud partner of Preece, has launched a special racing experience giveaway for fans. The winner will receive airfare and a two-night stay during Coke Zero 400 weekend at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. RaceChoice.com will also give the winners two pit passes for the race, set for Saturday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. ET, preceded by a meet-and-greet with Preece, driver of the No. 41 SHR Ford Mustang. Visit https://racechoice.com/2023-daytona-giveaway/ for more information.
Ryan Preece, Driver of the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:
What does it mean to you to honor and remember Sgt. Bradley Harper on your No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang this Memorial Day weekend?
“I love what NASCAR does for the military and I truly don’t think there’s another sport out there that honors and supports the military and armed forces the way we do. It’s so special to be part of it and the celebration that the track and the sport puts on all weekend is unlike anything else. To be part of it is something I really appreciate and it’s always an honor to have a military member on the windshield of the car riding with me. All of us drivers want to do them and their family proud in the race and I hope that we can do that this weekend. I think anyone who comes to the Coca-Cola 600 race weekend can see just how much this sport supports the military, and it is truly very extraordinary.”
The Coca-Cola 600 is the longest race of the season. Do you have to prepare differently for it because of its length?
“For me, hydration this week is going to be really important. Because of how long the race is, the hydration preparation has already started. We need to make sure we’re good to go way before that green flag drops so we’re in good shape to make it all the way to the end. Aside from that, everything I do is like any other race weekend and race day. I’ve been working hard in the gym with my guys and trying to be in the best shape I can be, so that will definitely help me, too.”
What’s your mindset heading into this weekend’s race?
“It’s just trying to figure out where your car needs to be in the beginning in order to have it good at the end. We all talk about that because the track goes through temperature changes throughout the race with how long it is. Charlotte is one of the most temperamental racetracks that we go to, I feel like, from day to night, from track temperature and cooling off. It’s going to be extremely important to keep up with the racetrack and with communication on what you need, how much you need and at what point in the race it makes the most sense to make those adjustments. Mindset will be important, too, because when you’re at the end of Stage 1, you’re already 100 laps into the race but you’ve still got 300 more to go and, by the end of the second stage, you feel like you’ve completed an entire race, already. It’s just keeping your head in it, remaining patient and, as always, staying out of the messes so you can be up front and in position for the win at the end. We’ve seen a lot of Charlotte wins come during the last few laps, so you’ve got to be ready.”
What would it mean to you to win a crown jewel event like the Coca-Cola 600?
“Any win is very special, and I’m still going after my first Cup Series win, so for it to come on Memorial Day weekend at the Coca-Cola 600, wow, that would just be amazing. To be able to have your name on one of those trophies and in that record book when the whole industry is close to home would be so awesome. But for me, every win is special in every series, I don’t take any of them for granted in my career. But getting a win in the Cup Series is my goal. It’s been my goal for a long time and that’s what I’ve been working so hard on. So, getting to victory lane, especially this weekend, would be the ultimate win.”
Fourteen points-paying races into the season, how would you assess the No. 41 team right now?
“We’ve grown so much as a team just from Daytona. We’re a tight-knit group and that’s something that’s important to me. The relationships I have with my guys is important because every single person on this team is an intricate part of the process and we all want the same thing – to win. There are always things we can get better at and we will continue to do those things but, as far as our team morale, we all get along great and we all work together great. We’re just putting all the pieces together, now. We’ve had some really terrible luck, but we also have fast racecars and that will transition into what we want as long as we keep fighting for it, and that’s what we’re going to do. There are certainly some races I’ve got circled on my calendar coming up and we’re looking forward to those, too.”
Cadillac Racing principals from 2000-02 LMP program talk about return to France
Cadillac Racing enters the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time in 21 years with three Cadillac V-Series.Rs in the Hypercar class and ambitions to fulfill. Interviews (below and links) with individuals at the heart of Cadillac Racing’s 2000-02 LMP program for editorial use:
Q&A with Jeff Kettman, the GM Racing Le Mans Prototype manager for the start-up program who previously was the GM NASCAR program manager:
Knowing the teething pains of a new program and watching the Cadillac V-Series.R from afar, what are your thoughts?
“I see parallels to what we went through in the late ‘90s, early 2000s in that it is new technology for the time. I have a lot of respect for the program, and it blows me away the amount of technology they are doing with the hybrid. As far as the teething pains, it’s chewing off a lot to run in two series on two continents. We did that a little bit with hiring the DAMS team to help us. A big part of the reason we did that was to have a French connection so that it would ease our path into Le Mans after 50 years away. The DAMS team was both a good team and also had more knowledge of how things operated in Europe. Running two programs does enhance the knowledge base. However, it was also challenging to support four cars. We were being outspent by Audi by a large margin and that also showed in their presence at the track.
Many design and development aids today were either in their infancy or not available yet, right?
“We were using computer-aided engineering, but we didn’t have CFD back then. We were still doing 40 percent scale models. We didn’t have the simulation that they have today. There definitely wasn’t a driver simulator where they could sit in it, so everything was more like the old school way of building parts, going to the track and testing. Obviously, making sure they were structurally sound before they were built through computer engineering, but there wasn’t the simulation like you have today.”
Cadillac Racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
How do you regard the three-year program with the emphasis on Le Mans?
“The return from 50 years was a big deal and I would say from a marketing perspective it succeeded because back then ‘Arts & Sciences’ was the Cadillac marketing theme and this was the bridge from the vinyl top Cadillacs to the CTS-V, which 2003 was the first year of the production car. The whole reason that Cadillac got involved in motorsports was to shift the public perspective of Cadillac to more of a sporty vehicle. We didn’t have the results on the track but the fact that we didn’t have major problems was impressive. We really didn’t have that much time; less than a year before the first race from getting the car built from the ground up.”
What did Max Angelelli bring to the program?
“Wayne (Taylor) wasn’t afraid to say what he was thinking. Max, coming from where he was, would tell it like it was and pushed us to really get better in a lot of areas in the car development. Max, being from Italy, kind of had the tie with Pirelli tires. They did develop a tire specifically for us and we thought that could be an advantage. Everybody else who was successful, including Audi, was running Michelins, so we thought that the Pirelli tie-in would give us an advantage. In reality, it was a disadvantage because we couldn’t compare ourselves. We didn’t know if our speed was the car, the tire or something else. So, we got some Michelins and ran a test and found that we were faster. That was part of the decision in year two to switch to Michelins. There were a whole lot of changes after year one. Max, I still appreciate. He was a very aggressive driver. Wayne was more of the endurance driver and could keep a car together for the long period and Max would be more of the let’s push it and see how hard it can go, and we needed that. It was a good balance.”
What was your initial thoughts about the spectacle of Le Mans?
“I had a background in IMSA road racing with Peerless Racing; we ran a Corvette GTP car in the late ‘80s, so I had been to the 24 hours of Daytona, Sebring, but the whole pageantry and spectacle of Le Mans – the scrutineering downtown, the parade with the drivers and just the history – was definitely noticeable. The first year it was a lot of things that were above and beyond for me as a program manager because I was involved in marketing and things like that, so it was a lot of involvement beyond the actual racetrack event. The amount of interest that we had in us as the American team as General Motors and Cadillac was kind of surprising. We were quite well-received. They like the American V8. The fact that the Corvettes were coming too was a big thing.”
What does it take to win Le Mans?
“The perspective I like is that between the 24 hours of Daytona and 24 hours of Le Mans the amount of daylight is a big difference. Le Mans, it’s not getting dark until 10 o’clock at night and the sun is coming up at 5. So, you do look for the car setup in the sunny, warmer weather ideally, but you also don’t know what you’re going to get at that time of year. In our era, it was already shifting from you couldn’t just sit back and ride for 22 hours and race the last two. It was getting in the early 2000s you had to go hard much the whole time, and I see it that way today, too. It’s a combination of the ability of the cars and the ability of the drivers. You see the drivers that are pushing it from the beginning.
“It’s always preparation and being ready for any unexpected event – having spare parts, having everything already laid out and tested – that’s where you can gain an advantage.”
— Jeff Kettman
“It’s always preparation and being ready for any unexpected event – having spare parts, having everything already laid out and tested – that’s where you can gain an advantage. There’s no substitute for miles on the track, which again because of budget reasons and other reasons we were not running a full schedule back then. But after Sebring we stayed a couple of extra days and ran another 12-plus hours to get real track miles on the car. You can simulate as much as you want in a lab or computer, but it doesn’t match what you run into. And even then, it’s not the same as running in a race. That is the other part – getting your crew sharp – and that only comes from running in a race.”
How did the car between the first year and 2002 change?
“The car evolved. We worked with Riley & Scott in the beginning because they were very successful and were probably the top U.S. constructor at the time. They did a new carbon monocoque, which was new for them. But the reality was they were a couple years behind when we looked at what was going on in Europe. So, Wayne put together 3GR with Nigel Stroud and Jeff Hazell and they were based in England right in the heart of the F1 cottage industry. We didn’t have enough time to do a complete new car for ’01 so they modified what we had and made some improvements. The car basically became a European design for ’02 and made leaps and bounds improvements in car handling. The engine was kind of tweaked and fine-tuned. It was figuring out where the weak links were, just like any racing program. The engine itself always seemed to have enough power and durability-wise I don’t recall us having any major engine issues. In the first year of the program, we learned about the level of competition we faced. In the second year, we focused on collecting data and accumulating experience while racing a highly modified LMP01 chassis. In the third year, we introduced the new Cadillac Northstar that incorporated the lessons we learned and embodied the knowledge we gained.”
As 2026 F1 regulations will boost electrical power by three times, Honda enters F1 with a new partner.
Honda will hone its e-motor and battery technologies through new F1 challenges and feed them back to mass production.
TOKYO, May 24, 2023 – (JCN Newswire) – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced plans to participate in the FIA(1) Formula One World Championship (F1) from the 2026 season as a power unit supplier. Honda has agreed to enter into a works partnership with the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team to supply power units compliant with the new F1 power unit regulations which will take effect in the 2026 season.
In pursuit of its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, starting from the 2026 season, F1 will implement new regulations with an engine/electric motor maximum power output ratio of 50/50. This will represent a significant increase in the deployment of electrical power compared to the current ratio(2), while use of a 100% sustainable fuel is also required.
Specifically, the 2026 regulations require a reduction of engine output while tripling the output of the energy recovery system (ERS), which recovers kinetic energy under certain situations such as braking, and converts it into electrical energy. This will result in maximum power output that is roughly even between the engine and motor.
These changes in F1 power unit regulations are consistent with the direction Honda has been taking toward the realization of carbon neutrality. Working to these regulations will have profound significance in terms of providing Honda important opportunities to pursue the development of future technologies toward that direction. Based on this belief, Honda made the decision to take on a new challenge in F1 racing.
The Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), which has become responsible for both auto and motorcycle motorsports activities since 2022, will assume responsibility for the development of power units, race participation and the management for F1 racing as well.
Comment of Toshihiro Mibe, Global CEO of Honda “One of the key reasons for our decision to take up the new challenge in F1 is that the world’s pinnacle form of racing is striving to become a sustainable racing series, which is in line with the direction Honda is aiming toward carbon neutrality, and it will become a platform which will facilitate the development of our electrification technologies.
Honda is a company that has a history of growing by taking on challenges and winning world-class races. With the new 2026 regulations, the key for winning will be a compact, lightweight, and high-power electric motor with a high-performance battery capable of handling high and swift power output, as well as the energy management technology. We believe that the technologies and know-how gained from this new challenge can potentially be applied directly to our future mass production electric vehicles, such as an electric flagship sports model, and electrification technologies in various areas, including eVTOL which is currently under research and development.
Honda and our new partner, the Aston Martin F1 Team, share the same sincere attitude and determination to win, so starting with the 2026 season, we will work together and strive for the Championship title as Aston Martin Aramco Honda.
Honda has the utmost respect for the FIA, which made a bold decision to introduce these new and challenging regulations to ensure the sustainability of both racing activities and the global environment, and for the Formula One Group(3), which has been enhancing the brand value of F1 and ensuring F1’s evolvement as the most prestigious automobile racing in the world.”
Comment of Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman of Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team “I would like to welcome Honda and HRC to the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team. We share a mutual drive, determination, and relentless ambition to succeed on track. Honda is a global titan and its success in motorsport is longstanding and incredibly impressive. I would like to thank Mr. Mibe and Mr. Watanabe, and the whole team at HRC as we embark on this exciting future together from 2026.”
Comment of Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation “In the midst of major changes in our business and the motorsports environment leading toward the transition to a carbon neutral society, we have re-established HRC as an optimal platform to sustain and further evolve motorsport activities as a Honda strength. We will establish sustainable operational structures for our racing activities and continue to deliver more dreams and excitement for motorsports fans all around the world.”
Comment of Martin Whitmarsh, Group CEO of Aston Martin Performance Technologies “I have been fortunate in my career to work with Honda over the years and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with HRC and the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team from 2026. The new 2026 F1 power unit regulations are a huge and important change but one which we are confident we can navigate successfully together. Jointly with our strategic partner Aramco, we can look forward to open collaboration towards a common goal. Our future works partnership with Honda is one of the last parts of the jigsaw puzzle slotting into place for Aston Martin’s ambitious plans in Formula One. Finally, I would like to pay tribute to our current power unit supplier who we will continue to partner with for the next few seasons.”
(1) Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (2) Under the current 2023 regulations, the required ratio of electric motor contribution to power output is slightly less than 20%. (3) The Formula One Group is an organization consisting of multiple companies responsible for the entire commercial field of F1 racing, including Formula One Administration (FOA) responsible for exercising of F1’s commercial rights and Formula One Management (FOM) responsible for promotional and marketing activities for F1.
Honda’s Participation in F1 Racing
1964 – 1968 Participated as an “all Honda” team responsible for both the engine and chassis, marking Honda’s first victory at the Mexican Grand Prix in 1965
1983 – 1992 Participated as an engine supplier
1986: Won the Constructors’ Championship title as Williams Honda
1987: Won both Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship titles
1988-1991: Won both Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship titles for four consecutive years as McLaren Honda
2000 – 2005 Participated as an engine supplier and joint developer of the chassis for BAR Honda
2006 – 2008 Participated as an “all Honda” team responsible for both engine and chassis
2015 – 2017 Participated as a power unit supplier. Supplied the power unit to McLaren team
2018- Started supplying power units to Toro Rosso (currently, Scuderia Alpha Tauri)
2019- Started supplying power units to Red Bull Racing
2021 Max Verstappen won the Drivers’ Championship title for Red Bull Racing Honda Honda Concluded F1 participation
2022 HRC began providing technical support to Red Bull Powertrains Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen won both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship titles
About Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team
Location: Silverstone, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom
Team Principal: Mike Krack
First F1 race: 2021
The legendary Aston Martin marque first raced in Formula One in 1959 and returned to the sport in 2021 under the leadership of Canadian entrepreneur Lawrence Stroll. With a team of passionate people at its heart, and a talented squad of drivers – including double World Champion Fernando Alonso and Canada’s Lance Stroll – this is a team with both a rich heritage and a fresh perspective. Alongside collaborative and strategic partners, the Silverstone-based team is bringing new energy to the sport with a determination to shake up the order and compete at the sharp end.
