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BlueSprig Partners with Armani Williams and G2G Racing for Charlotte Truck Series Race

CONCORD, N.C.: BlueSprig, a leading provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) treatment services to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) will support Armani Williams in Friday night’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

Williams, the first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series driver openly diagnosed on the autism spectrum will make his second Truck Series start this season and first at Charlotte driving the No. 46 Toyota Tundra Pro for G2G Racing.

BlueSprig, founded in 2017, is a leading provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) treatment services to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

BlueSprig is committed to providing compassionate, individualized and evidence-based behavior analysis treatment. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, BlueSprig is a nationwide provider of ABA treatment with 140 plus locations.

Friday night’s 11th Truck Series race of the season will mark BlueSprig’s second foray in NASCAR. They first partnered with Williams for the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 1.

“There are not words to express how appreciative I am to everyone at BlueSprig for their continued support and belief in me as a driver to partner with G2G Racing for such an instrumental Truck Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway,” said Williams.

“BlueSprig provides so many wonderful services available to those in need, I am honored to have the opportunity to represent them during this Memorial Day weekend and look forward to a productive race with my G2G Racing team.”

BlueSprig is equally excited about the 134 laps that await their driver on Friday night just at the 1.5-mile track nestled just outside Charlotte, N.C.

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Armani, as he has an amazing story to tell, and has been an inspiration to not only our organization but for many families across the country,” said Jason Owen, CEO and President of BlueSprig.

“We share and celebrate Armani’s passion for raising awareness around autism spectrum disorder. It will be an exciting moment to watch Armani race the BlueSprig truck at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and we look forward to supporting him as he lives out his racing dream.”

Guaranteed to make his Charlotte Truck Series debut, Williams, a native of Grosse Point, Michigan is looking forward to building his relationship with his G2G Racing team and contend for a strong finish.

“I am very happy to compete in the Truck Series that a lot of the team consider their home track,” added Williams. “I am appreciative of the opportunity to return to G2G Racing after pairing with them earlier this year at Texas Motor Speedway.

“I am confident we can continue to build on our communication that will reward with a competitive finish for everyone at BlueSprig and those who continue to support my racing endeavors.”

Before turning his concentration towards his Truck Series duties, Williams will participate in an autograph session with his No. 46 BlueSprig Toyota Tundra Pro on display on Thursday, May 25, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the soon-to-be newest BlueSprig office located at 2407 Plantation Center Drive, Matthews, N.C. 28105.

Jessica Cloutier, senior vice president of operational support at BlueSprig explained why it was important to expand BlueSprig’s presence in the Carolinas.

“As we expand BlueSprig’s footprint in the Carolinas, it’s incredibly important to us that we create an atmosphere of support, resources and understanding for families and children who are impacted by autism spectrum disorder,” added Cloutier.

“Through this event, we are providing an opportunity for our clients, families and fans alike to meet Armani and be inspired by his story and success.”

Williams, 23, graduated to the Truck Series after stints in the premier ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West and the Canadian-based NASCAR Pinty’s Series.

He will make his sixth Truck Series start of his career in the 20th annual event.

For additional information on BlueSprig, please visit bluesprigautism.com

For more on Armani Williams, please visit teamarmaniracing.com, like him on Facebook (Team Armani Racing) and follow him on Twitter (@TeamArmaniRacin).

The North Carolina Education Lottery 200 (134 laps | 201 miles) is the 11th of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races on the 2023 schedule. The two-day show begins with practice on Friday, May 26 from 1:35 p.m. – 2:05 p.m. Qualifying kicks off immediately following practice at 2:05 p.m. The field will take the green flag later that night shortly after 8:30 p.m. with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Eastern).

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Charlotte

5 KYLE LARSON

Age: 30 (July 31, 1992)

Hometown: Elk Grove, California

Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels

Standings: 9th

No. 5 HendrickCars.com Patriotic Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

MAKING HISTORY: Kyle Larson dominated NASCAR’s return to North Wilkesboro Speedway. A day after earning a win in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race, Larson capped off what he called “a special weekend” by overpowering the competition under the lights for the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race victory. With the win, he earned the $1 million prize for the third time with each win occurring at a different track (2019 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and 2021 at Texas Motor Speedway). In 2021, when Larson visited victory lane for the All-Star Race, he also went on to win that season’s Cup Series championship. Throughout NASCAR’s history, the All-Star Race winner has gone on to win the title on 12 occasions, achieved by seven drivers. Larson’s three all-star wins are tied with Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon for the second-most in the event’s history.

CHARLOTTE SUCCESS: The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion has experienced considerable success at the 1.5-mile layout of Charlotte Motor Speedway. In 13 Cup Series starts, he has one win, two top-five finishes, six top-10s and 398 laps led. Over the last five races on the oval, he has led the most laps (378). The driver of the No. 5 won the Coca-Cola 600 in 2021 in dominating fashion by leading 327 of 400 laps – the fifth-highest total in the event’s history. This victory marked the 269th Cup Series win for Hendrick Motorsports, surpassing Petty Enterprises as the winningest team in Cup Series history. In the 2022 edition of this event, Larson came close to repeating as the winner, leading before a caution came out on lap 399. An incident in the first overtime attempt led to a ninth-place finish.

1.5-MILE POWER: Since joining Hendrick Motorsports for the 2021 season, Larson has had great prosperity on 1.5-mile tracks. In that span, he has made 18 starts on this track length (not counting the reconfigured Atlanta Motor Speedway since the start of 2022), and posted series-best marks for wins (five), runner-up finishes (five), top-fives (11), top-10s (15), stage wins (13), laps led (1,790) and average finish (7.06). The Elk Grove, California, native has led three times more laps on 1.5-mile tracks than any other driver during this time period.

FACTS ON THE FIVE: Through 13 races this season, the 30-year-old driver has led the second-most laps (582) in the series, trailing teammate William Byron (596). In 2022, he only led 635 laps. Larson has run the third-most laps in a top-five position (1,507) and the fourth-most laps in the top 10 (2,241). In addition, he is tied for second in points-paying wins (two) and top-five finishes (five).

HONOR AND REMEMBER: As part of this weekend’s 600 Miles of Remembrance, each car in the field will carry the name of a fallen service member on the windshield. United States Army E4 Specialist (SP4) Martin J. DeHimer will be remembered on the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. SP4 DeHimer was killed in action, while serving in Vietnam on March 11, 1970. The HendrickCars.com paint scheme will also take on a different look for this weekend’s race. You can check out every angle of the scheme, featuring SP4 DeHimer’s name on the windshield, here.

PIT CREW PERFORMANCE: With an average four-tire stop time of 11.232 seconds, the HendrickCars.com pit crew is ranked as the fourth-fastest on pit road. The team’s five-man pit crew includes Blaine Anderson (front-tire changer), R.J. Barnette (tire carrier), Brandon Harder (fueler), Brandon Johnson (jackman) and Calvin Teague (rear-tire changer).

FUTURE DOUBLE DUTY: In 2024, Larson will be running the prestigious Memorial Day weekend double, the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same day. In preparation to join the Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team for the biggest open-wheel event, he spent last Thursday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to get immersed in everything with the team. The Chevrolet entry will be co-owned by Rick Hendrick and carry title sponsorship from HendrickCars.com.

EXTRACURRICULAR: Along with Larson’s full-time Cup Series schedule, he races late models and sprint cars most weeks. Larson will race in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series on Friday, May 26, at Atomic Speedway in Waverly, Ohio.

HOME RACE HATS: This weekend’s race at Charlotte will mark the seventh home race of the season for the HendrickCars.com team. For every HendrickCars.com home race this season (15 total), there will be an exclusive hat that is only available for sale on the trackside merchandise haulers, or available to win on HendrickCars.com. Less than 100 of each limited-edition hat will be made available to the public. This week’s Charlotte themed hat will be released today and can be found here.

HENDRICKCARS.COM IS HOME: The Charlotte market is home to 25 Hendrick Automotive Group dealerships. Not in town for the race this weekend? There are 70 additional Hendrick Automotive Group locations nationwide. Want to browse from the convenience of your own home? Customers can select the category, make, model and vehicle packages that are important to them from the nearly 30,000 new, high-quality pre-owned and certified cars, trucks and SUVs available at HENDRICKCARS.COM.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT

Age: 27 (Nov. 28, 1995)

Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia

Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia

Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson

Standings: 28th

No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Patriotic Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

BATTLE OF THE ALL-STARS: In last weekend’s return to North Wilkesboro Speedway, the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts crew achieved the third-fastest pit stop among the teams already locked into the NASCAR All-Star Race during the Pit Crew Challenge. The quick stop allowed Chase Elliott to start second in the first of two qualifying heat races, where he ultimately scored a seventh-place result. Starting 13th for the main event, Elliott powered his way inside the top 10 by the completion of the first circuit and remained there for the rest of the 200-lap race, earning a fifth-place finish.

LOOKING BACK: In last year’s Coca-Cola 600, Elliott began the race in the 13th position and worked his way to the lead, winning the first stage of the race. He was running inside the top three with less than 15 laps to go in the second stage when his Chevrolet was damaged after contact with the wall. The No. 9 team worked hard on repairs, but Elliott was forced to retire from the race when the damaged vehicle policy clock expired. The 2020 Cup Series champion led a total of 86 laps on the night prior to the incident.

QUEEN CITY RÉSUMÉ: Elliott is set to make his 12th NASCAR Cup Series start at the oval layout of Charlotte Motor Speedway. In his previous 11 races at the 1.5-mile track, the 27-year-old driver has finished in the top five in five of those starts, including three runner-up finishes and a victory in the 208-lap Thursday night event in 2020. Overall, he has six top-10 finishes and has led 332 laps. Notably, Elliott currently has the longest active streak of oval races led at Charlotte, pacing the field in each of the last five events. Across these races, he has led 217 laps, third-most in the series and trailing only teammates Kyle Larson (378) and Alex Bowman (228)

1.5-MILE PERFORMANCE: In Elliott’s only start on a 1.5-mile track this season at Kansas Speedway, he started from the 21st position and led five laps en route to a seventh-place finish. Across 73 career Cup Series starts on traditional mile-and-a-half tracks, the Dawsonville, Georgia, native has two victories (Charlotte 2020 and Kansas 2018), collected 22 top-five finishes – eight of which are runner-up results – and 37 top-10s. He’s paced the field for nearly 1,000 laps (987) on 1.5-milers in his Cup career.

PLAYOFF PUSH: Since Elliott’s return to the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Martinsville Speedway in April following his recovery from a fractured tibia, he has gained 71 points on the playoff bubble. He currently sits 28th in the Cup Series point standings, just 63 markers outside of the provisional cutline for a playoff spot. To make the playoffs as the standings are currently, Elliott would need to gain an average of five points per race on the cutline. In Elliott’s five points races back, he’s finished 12th or better, averaged 14 points gained per race on the cutline and earned the fourth-most points (163) in the series. 

REMEMBERING A HERO: In Sunday’s Memorial Day weekend race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the windshield of Elliott’s No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will showcase the name of United States Army Captain (CPT) Christopher Scott Seifert, who was selected through NAPA’s relationship with the Intrepid Fallen Hero Foundation. A native of Williams Township, Pennsylvania, CPT Seifert was a member of the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps at Lehigh University. He joined the Army ranks in 1997 and reclassified from the infantry to military intelligence in 2001. CPT Seifert served as infantry platoon leader, Airborne School and Basic Infantryman Course graduate and was later assigned to the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) after attending the Military Intelligence Advanced Officer’s Course. He was killed in action on March 22, 2003, and is survived by his wife Terri and son Ben.

A SALUTE TO OUR FALLEN: This weekend, NAPA Auto Parts will trade out its classic blue, yellow and white scheme for a patriotic look on the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in honor of Memorial Day. Get a look at all angles of Elliott’s ride here.

24 WILLIAM BYRON

Age: 25 (Nov. 29, 1997)

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle

Standings: 5th

No. 24 Liberty University Patriotic Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Liberty University Patriotic Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media at the Charlotte Motor Speedway media center on Saturday, May 27, at 6 p.m. ET.

24 POWER: At the midway point of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series regular season, William Byron and the No. 24 team are asserting their position as frontrunners. In 13 races, Byron has secured two pole awards, six top-five finishes – surpassing his total from the entire 2022 season – seven top-10s and 596 laps led, compared to the 746 laps he led in all of 2022. He ranks first in the following statistical categories: Wins (three), laps led (596), laps run in the top five (1,787), stage wins (six) and top-five finishes (six). The Charlotte, North Carolina, native also holds the second-best average running position this season (8.20) – one of only two drivers to have a top-10 average running position. In the last five races, he has accumulated the most points (194) and is on a run of four consecutive top-10 finishes – the longest active streak in the field.

THAT NO. 1 FEELING: Byron has gotten off to an impressive start this season, collecting his third win, which is the most in a single Cup Series season for the 25-year-old driver. In fact, he now has five wins in the Next Gen car – tied for the most with three other drivers including Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott. Byron has collected six wins since the start of 2021, which has him tied for the third-most behind Larson (15) and Elliott (7).

1.5-MILE MOMENTUM: Byron is no stranger to success on traditional 1.5-mile tracks during his Cup Series career. Since the start of the 2021 season, he has two wins, one runner-up finish, six top-fives and 12 top-10s on that track type. This season on 1.5-mile tracks, he has recorded one win and two top-five finishes (a win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and third at Kansas Speedway). Since the start of 2022, he has collected 328 points on this style of track which ranks third.

HOME SWEET HOME: Cutting his teeth in the racing world in Charlotte, North Carolina, Byron is one of only a handful of drivers who was born and raised in the “home of NASCAR.” After visiting U.S. Legend Cars International headquarters in Harrisburg, North Carolina, with his father in 2012, Byron found himself behind the wheel for the first time the next year competing in the Young Lions Division. Winning 33 of the 69 legend car events he ran across the United States in 2013, Byron went on to lock up the U.S. Legend Car Young Lions National championship and the Thursday Thunder Young Lions championship at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Progressing to the Legend Car Pro Division the next season, Byron also signed with JR Motorsports developmental program. From that point on, he hasn’t slowed down any as he climbed the racing ranks before ultimately making it to the top level of NASCAR as a Cup Series rookie in 2018.

CUE CHARLOTTE: In his Cup Series career, Byron has six starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 1.5-mile oval, five of which have come in the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend. In just his second start at the Charlotte oval in 2019, he became the youngest pole sitter for the 600 at the age of 21 years, 5 months, and 24 days. Among his six starts, Byron has two pole awards, one top-five finish and two top-10s with 62 laps led at his hometown track, including a track-best finish of fourth in the 2021 600-mile event. He is currently on a three-race run of laps led at the oval – tied for the second-longest streak. Other than his six Cup Series starts at Charlotte, the 25-year-old driver has two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts as well as one NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start at this layout.

RUDY RUNS CLT: Sunday will mark crew chief Rudy Fugle’s third time on top of the pit box for the Coca-Cola 600. In his two starts at the Charlotte oval, he has two top-five starting positions with one top-five finish. Apart from his two Cup Series starts, Fugle has 10 other national starts at the Charlotte oval on his résumé, with eight of those coming in the Truck Series. The Livonia, New York, native has collected two wins (2013 and 2019), one pole award, four top-five finishes and six top-10s. His Truck Series drivers completed all of the laps (1,077) in those eight Charlotte starts, with 310 circuits led. One of those eight starts came with Byron in 2016, when the duo started at the front and led 25 laps en route to a 10th-place finish.

PIT ROAD PROWESS: The No. 24 pit crew has been strong on pit road with an average four-tire pit stop time of 11.128 seconds – the second-fastest average in the field. The No. 24 pit crew consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer), Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer), Ryan Patton (tire carrier) and Landon Walker (fueler). They also had the fastest four-tire pit stop in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway at 11.278 seconds.

LIBERTY U PATRIOTIC SCHEME: Liberty University will adorn Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this weekend for the crown-jewel event. As part of the annual “NASCAR Salutes” program, the Liberty University Chevy will sport a special patriotic paint scheme as a part of the 600 Miles of Remembrance to honor those who have served and continue to serve to defend our country. The scheme includes blue and gray digital camouflage down the sides of the vehicle to keep in character with the United States Navy. To see Byron’s scheme for this weekend’s race, click here.

HONORING THE SACRIFICE: As a part of the No. 24 Liberty University patriotic paint scheme for this weekend’s race, Byron’s Chevrolet will feature a tribute to United States Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO) Scott Dayton. Serving in the U.S. Navy since 1993, SCPO Dayton received 19 awards including the Bronze Star. He served with the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve and was a part of the fight against ISIS in Syria. SCPO Dayton is survived by his wife Kristin who like Byron (a junior at Liberty) is a Liberty University student as well, pursuing her MSN online through Liberty’s school of nursing.

HOME TRACK FEEL: In addition to Charlotte being the home track of Byron, a few other members of the No. 24 team also claim this as their home venue including mechanic Jacob Bowman (from Pilot Mountain) and jackman Bishop (from Pinehurst).

48 Alex Bowman

Age: 30 (April 25, 1993)

Hometown: Tucson, Arizona

Resides: Concord, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Blake Harris

Standings: 17th

No. 48 Ally Patriotic Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Alex Bowman and Blake Harris, driver and crew chief of the No. 48 Ally Patriotic Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media at the Charlotte Motor Speedway media center on Saturday, May 27, at 5:15 p.m. ET.

BACK IN THE SADDLE: Alex Bowman will strap back into the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600. Bowman was sidelined for four weeks after sustaining a compression fracture to one of his vertebra in a sprint car race at 34 Speedway in West Burlington, Iowa, on April 25. Prior to his injury, he had recorded three top-five finishes, six top-10s and an average finish of 10.30 in 10 Cup Series races this season. At 17th in the standings, he currently sits just five points outside the provisional playoff cutline.

CHARLOTTE STATS: In Bowman’s 11 starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s oval layout, the 30-year-old driver has one top-five finish (in the May 2021 Coca-Cola 600), four top-10s and has led 228 laps. His laps led total trails only teammate Kyle Larson (378) over the last five races at the 1.5-mile track.

ALL-STAR RUNDOWN: Josh Berry filled in for Bowman for the 2023 all-star weekend at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Berry had to capture one of the top-two spots in the 100-lap Open to advance. Starting second after his pit crew notched the second-quickest four-tire pit stop of all Open competitors, he led 46 laps en route to the win to qualify into the All-Star Race. That victory earned him the 22nd starting spot in the all-star event, where he ran as high as 10th before finishing the night in 15th.

RADIO CHECK: In his only appearance as a crew chief at Charlotte’s oval layout, Blake Harris posted a top-10 finish with the No. 34 team in the 2022 Coca-Cola 600. Harris’ driver started the race in 10th and finished the 600-mile event in eighth.  

OUR HERO: The No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will carry the name of Sergeant (SGT) Nicholas Tomko, who served for the United States Army in the 307th MP Police Company, Army Reserve. SGT Tomko was killed in action in Baghdad, Iraq, while serving as a door gunner during a night patrol in November 2003. For his brave actions, he was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge.

STARS AND STRIPES: Bowman’s ride will sport a special patriotic paint scheme for the Coca-Cola 600. This weekend, the car will carry a red, white and blue look ahead of the Memorial Day weekend holiday. To see all the angles of this paint scheme, click here.

PACK THEM UP: On Wednesday, Bowman and the No. 48 Ally Racing team joined forces with volunteers from primary sponsor Ally to assemble over 2,000 care packages for the United Service Organizations (USO). Divided among two packing stations, approximately 40 volunteers were able to put together packages with snacks, candy and hand-written notes.

HENDRICK
MOTORSPORTS /

Hendrick Motorsports

2023All-TimeCharlotte
Races131,32274
Wins5*296*21*
Poles5*244*19
Top 517*1,207*69*
Top 1025*2,070*112*
Laps Led1,262*78,579*5,928*
Stage Wins9*887*

*Most **Most (tie)

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

FAN FEST IS COMING: Hendrick Motorsports will hold its annual fan appreciation event on May 26-27, 2023. Fan Fest will feature driver appearances, food trucks, activities for kids, photo opportunities, engine building demonstrations, pit stop exhibitions and more. For a schedule of events and additional information about the festivities, click here.

600 MILES OF REMEMBRANCE: The Memorial Day weekend race at Charlotte Motor Speedway remembers the men and women who gave their lives in service while defending the United States of America. Fallen service members will be honored as one name will be on the windshield of every Cup Series car.

BLACKJACK: Hendrick Motorsports has 21 wins at Charlotte, which are tied for the third-most Cup Series victories at any one particular track by an organization. The team also holds the top-two spots on this list with its win totals at Martinsville Speedway (28) and Dover Motor Speedway (22).

ENDURING STRENGTH: The 600-mile race at Charlotte is a test of everything – machine, pit crew and driver. The longest race on the Cup Series schedule has been won a record 12 times by Hendrick Motorsports – that’s more than the second- and third-place teams on the list combined (11).

DEEP SIX: Six drivers have won the Coca-Cola 600 in the team’s history. Jimmie Johnson’s four wins (2003, 2004, 2005 and 2014) are part of his track-best eight wins on the oval. Next on the list is Jeff Gordon with three wins (1994, 1997 and 1998). Darrell Waltrip was the first Hendrick Motorsports driver to win this prestigious event and he won it in back-to-back years (1988 and 1989). Casey Mears (2007), Kasey Kahne (2012) and Kyle Larson (2021) each have one win.

HISTORICAL HIGHS: In the 2021 edition of the Coca-Cola 600, Hendrick Motorsports earned its 269th NASCAR Cup Series win, passing Petty Enterprises to become the all-time winningest team in Cup Series history. All four Hendrick Motorsports cars placed in the top five, marking the first time in the history of the Memorial Day weekend event that a team had four drivers finish in the top five. Larson and Chase Elliott’s one-two finish was one of four instances that teammates have finished in the top two in this race.

OUT IN FRONT: In 2023, Hendrick Motorsports has led the most laps with 1,262 circuits out front, which equals out to 36% of the laps raced. That total is the eighth-most all-time by the team through 13 races. The team has led laps in all but one race this season (Atlanta Motor Speedway in March). Byron (596) and Larson (582) rank one-two in that statistical category.

TAKING THE STAGE: With nine stage wins this season, the Concord, North Carolina, based team is tied for the third-most all-time through 13 races. Byron leads the series with six, which is also the second-most at this point in the season in the stage racing era (start of the 2017 season). Larson has tallied two stage wins, while Elliott has one.

NEXT GEN NUMBERS: In the Next Gen era (start of the 2022 season), Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins at traditional 1.5-mile tracks with three. Alex Bowman won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March 2022, Larson triumphed at Homestead-Miami Speedway in October 2022 and Byron took the victory at Las Vegas in March 2023. Both Larson and Byron swept the stages in their wins.

PODIUM PLACEMENT: In four races this season, the 14-time Cup Series championship-winning organization has placed at least two drivers in the top-three finishing positions. In fact, they are the only organization to accomplish that at all this season. Darlington was the latest occurrence with Byron winning and Elliott placing third. This achievement also happened at Kansas Speedway (Larson was second and Byron was third), Richmond Raceway (Larson won the race and Josh Berry was second) and Las Vegas (Byron, Larson and Bowman placed one-two-three).

QUOTABLE /

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his season so far: “I feel like this (NASCAR Cup Series) season has felt so similar to 2021. We’ve had a car capable of winning every weekend. Honestly, even a little better than we were in 2021 to this point. I feel like those races were a little more drama-free for us in 2021. We would get those good finishes or finish around where we deserved. So far in 2023, we’ve probably not led as many laps, but I feel like we’ve challenged for more wins to this point than we did then. We’ve had a lot of things not work out. We’ve won twice and won the All-Star Race, so things are great. But if things had gone right like it seemed everything did in 2021, we’d probably have like six or seven wins right now. I’ve been super happy with the team and the race cars that we bring to the track. I’m confident that we can keep it up throughout the summer and into the postseason. We proved that we could do it in 2021 and we were really strong in last year’s playoffs.”

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the No. 5 team’s outlook heading to Charlotte Motor Speedway: “Momentum is a real thing. We like to think we have some momentum going our way. Obviously, the finishes haven’t always been there the last handful of weeks, but we’ve certainly been upfront and contending. It’s kind of been one of those things where we had to put the blinders on to do our best, maximize our gains and not make mistakes. We try to stay true to our process, the systems and habits that we have in place to execute our week and weekend. There’s a lot to be said for maintaining that consistency and that’s really the energy of our team right now and vision for our team moving forward. Charlotte (Motor Speedway) is a place that we love dearly. Right here close to home. There is no doubt of how tough the 600-mile race is going to be this weekend. We want to be sure we put our best foot forward.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on looking ahead to the longest race of the season: “It is a long race, but it doesn’t necessarily feel much different to me. Don’t get me wrong, it is a long race. It can certainly drag on. I just feel like when you are in the heat of the moment, racing and focused and set on a goal, it doesn’t really seem a lot different. Winning the Coca-Cola 600 is certainly a box I’d like to check and we’ve come close once or twice. I think we have as good a shot as anyone this weekend.”

Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on preparing for the longest race of the year: “All of the components in the car are pretty standard, so you just want to make sure you have it all in good condition and dot all your i’s and cross your t’s. There’s not much we can do to the car itself. I think the biggest thing is just the opportunity you have over the course of the event. There’s more pit stops, there’s more restarts, there’s more strategy calls and there’s more laps. There’s more everything. Preparing for that and being able to keep yourself in good position. Not making mistakes or get yourself behind or get yourself in trouble. Mentally you need to be ready for how long that race really is and how much focus it takes, I think it’s pretty crucial, not only from the team side, but for Chase (Elliott) and for the pit crew.”

Gustafson, on the team’s second mile-and-a-half start with Elliott behind the wheel this season: “Kansas (Speedway) was an important race for us because it just took us a while to kind of get back in the flow (after Chase’s return). Kansas was one of the first races I feel like that we got to where we needed to be and focused on the right things. We executed the race for the most part, we were competitive and towards the front. I feel like from there on, you need to continue to perform at higher levels. So, I think we need to be better yet. Charlotte (Motor Speedway) is a good place to be able to do that and build off of our Kansas performance.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what racing at Charlotte means to him: “This is one of my favorite races of the season. Not only are we racing at home, but it’s my home track. I usually have family here and the race just has so much history behind it. I remember going to Charlotte (Motor Speedway) as a kid to watch races and how memorable the weekend was. Not only that, but it’s literally right by the shop, so I know winning at Charlotte is a big deal to Mr. Hendrick and all of Hendrick Motorsports. Hopefully, we keep up the good runs we’ve been having this year and can add another one on Sunday.”

Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the difficulties of racing at Charlotte: “Charlotte (Motor Speedway) is kind of a track that it’s in the middle on tire fall off. It’s not as abrasive as the last couple of tracks we’ve raced at but it has a lot of character and a lot of bumps. There’s big, huge load bumps in turn one. In turns three and four, there’s some washboard-like bumps. That makes it difficult to get the shock package right and the spring package right. Depending on tire fall off and track position on Sunday, you may see the top lane work in but the middle lane should prevail to be the quickest way around.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on returning to action in the Coca-Cola 600: “This weekend has a lot of different emotions for me. I am getting back behind the wheel, which is something that I am ready to do. I tested at North Wilkesboro (Speedway) on Tuesday, and I feel like I am as ready as I can be to get back in the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. To return to a race with such significance is also really special. I have Sergeant Nicholas Tomko riding along with me this Sunday and being a part of NASCAR’s 600 Miles of Remembrance program where we get to honor a fallen soldier is something I appreciate doing. Without the service of our armed forces, I wouldn’t be able to race on Sunday’s, so being able to repay the teams that give me the freedom to do what I do is really special and I hope to have Nick in victory lane with me at the end of the 600 miles.”

Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what the Coca-Cola 600 weekend means to the sport: “The Coca-Cola 600 is a huge weekend for the sport, and I have been fortunate to have won a few of them in my time in NASCAR. The ability to be able to honor a soldier who paid the ultimate sacrifice and incorporate the family is pretty special. Regardless of how the weekend goes, you still feel like you have done something that goes beyond the edges of the sport.”

Harris, on having Bowman back behind the wheel: “The team overall has done a good job of battling through the adversity we have had throughout the course of the season. Getting Alex (Bowman) back in the car after the start we had this season is a big deal. Our team has done a good job of staying tuned in to carry the momentum we had before he was sidelined. We didn’t get all of the results we wanted over the last four weeks but our cars have had a lot of speed and we have been able to compete. In my mind, we can plug Alex back in and go compete for a win this weekend.”

Gus Dean Upbeat for Charlotte Motor Speedway ARCA Return

CONCORD, N.C.: Five weeks since earning a runner-up finish with Venturini Motorsports at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, veteran ARCA Menards Series racer Gus Dean returns to the series for Friday night’s General Tire 150 hunting his third career victory at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

After a sour finish in the season-opening race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway because of a mechanical failure, Dean and the Kevin Reed Jr.-led Venturini Motorsports team returned to the 2.66-mile superspeedway hungry as ever.

Dean showcased his superspeedway skills and while he attempted to steal the limelight from his Venturini Motorsports teammate Jesse Love on the last lap in the General Tire 200, the Bluffton, S.C.-native just didn’t have enough momentum to propel him past Love and settled for second – recording his best Talladega ARCA finish since winning in his second career start in 2016.

Fast forward to this week, Dean is excited about returning to Charlotte Motor Speedway with his potent team in his corner looking to finish one position higher in one of the most watched ARCA races of the season on May 26.

“I am really glad to be back with Venturini Motorsports this weekend at Charlotte,” said Dean. “I cannot thank everyone on the Venturini Motorsports team enough for continuing to give me opportunities to drive their race cars.

“Even though we came up a little short of a victory at Talladega, I am still proud to be able to assist in propelling the team to another superspeedway win. We definitely needed a good run at Talladega and we were able to achieve that.

Sniffing Victory Lane though just made our No. 25 team hungrier to go to Charlotte and do everything in our power to put ourselves in Victory Lane. We definitely deserve it. Hopefully, we can execute the race perfectly and do some celebrating on Friday night.”

Dean has two prior ARCA Menards Series starts at the 1.5-mile speedway, most recently in 2019 during his full-time campaign in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.

Paired with AM Racing, Dean started 11th and raced to a third-place podium. In his track debut in 2018, also for AM Racing, he qualified on the outside pole and finished a respectable 14th.

“Charlotte is a fun race track,” explained Dean. “It is a very fast track with a lot of characters. I am intrigued to see how the cooler temperatures this week affect the handling conditions of our race cars.

“I know our No. 25 Mobil 1 | Dean Custom Air Toyota Camry will be fast, but it will be crucial for us to make sure we stay ahead of the handling and have a mistake-free race to challenge our contenders for the race win.”

In addition to Daytona, Talladega and Charlotte, Dean will return to ARCA competition with Venturini Motorsports at Michigan International Speedway in August and Salem (Ind.) Speedway in September.

Additional ARCA races with Venturini Motorsports could be added as the season progresses.

Dean, a fan favorite is poised to have a busy 2023 season between ARCA, Late Models, Mud Truck Racing and a hopeful sporadic appearance or two in NASCAR.

“With no championship on the line for me this season, it’s about having fun,” sounded Dean.

“Whether that’s competing with Venturini Motorsports in ARCA, DLP Motorsports in Late Model competition, or the other racing endeavors we have planned for this season. Of course, the urge to still compete full-time is there, but it takes marketing partners and a lot of financial commitment to make it happen.

“Until we can hopefully put ourselves back into that position again, we’ll take the path that has been laid out before me and make the most of it.”

For the second time in his ARCA career, Dean will carry the Mobil 1 colors as the primary partner on Venturini Motorsports’ flagship No. 25 entry. In addition to Mobil 1, Dean Custom Air, IMPACT Race Products and Folds of Honor will serve as associate marketing partners for Dean’s 62nd career ARCA race.

Since 2016, Dean has 61 ARCA Menards Series starts to his credit with two wins at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in 2016 and Elko (Minn.) Speedway in 2018 respectively. Overall, he has earned two poles, two wins, 19 top-five and 35 top-10 finishes.

For more on Gus Dean, please visit GusDean.com, like him on Facebook (Gus Dean Racing) and follow him on Instagram and Twitter (@GusDean).

The General Tire 150 (100 laps | 150 miles) is the fifth of 20 races on the 2023 ARCA Menards Series schedule in the 71st consecutive ARCA season. Practice begins Friday, May 26 from 11:40 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. General Tire pole qualifying in a timed session will begin a short time later at 12:40 p.m. The race is set to take the green flag later in the day shortly after 6:00 p.m. ET. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio (XM channel 391 | online channel 981) handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.

Charlotte’s Got a Lot of Racing for Connor Mosack

24-Year-Old Racer from Charlotte, North Carolina, Competing in ARCA and NASCAR Xfinity Series Races This Weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 25, 2023) – Connor Mosack’s racing career began six years ago at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and this Memorial Day weekend, the 24-year-old returns to pull double duty at his hometown track.

It started with Mosack racing Legend Cars on Charlotte’s quarter-mile oval in 2017. Now he’s racing on the venerable 1.5-mile oval, competing in Friday night’s General Tire 150 ARCA Menards Series race and Saturday’s Alsco Uniforms 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race.

Mosack has packed a lot into a short period of time, bucking the trend of drivers who begin their careers at age four or five in go-karts. He has gone from winning five Legend Car championships to being the 2020 rookie-of-the-year on the CARS Late Model Tour to spending 2021-2022 in the TA2 division of the Trans Am Series, a stint that saw Mosack win twice, earn five poles and never finish outside of the top-four in the championship standings.

While racing in Trans Am, Mosack also competed in eight ARCA races, which set him up for debuts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series in 2022. This year, he has a six-race ARCA slate with Joe Gibbs Racing, along with a 23-race Xfinity Series schedule – three of which are with Joe Gibbs Racing while the remaining 20 are all with Sam Hunt Racing.

“The first year I ever drove something was really just a blur, and I really didn’t know much,” Mosack said. “Year two, we started to kind of get the hang of things and understand where we could go and what it would take. We’ve been kind of building on that ever since.”

That building process continues Friday at Charlotte, where Mosack will hop back-and-forth between his No. 18 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in ARCA and his No. 24 Toyota GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing in Xfinity.

“I think each car can help me with the other,” Mosack said. “It’s back-to-back, but you still get time to climb out of each car and kind of talk about what it’s doing and think about it for a little bit, and then you’re able get back in and try to apply it all.

“I’m looking forward to the ARCA race, just getting laps and learning different lines and where to put the car in clean and dirty air, and I think that’ll be pretty applicable with the Xfinity car, as well.”

The General Tire 150 on Friday will be Mosack’s 15th career ARCA start, but only his third with Joe Gibbs Racing. Mosack made his Joe Gibbs Racing debut earlier this year in the ARCA season opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. He promptly put the No. 18 Mobil 1 Toyota on the pole and then led 25 laps en route to a strong second-place finish. In his second ARCA start of the season May 6 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Mosack qualified on the outside of row one before finishing fourth.

While both Charlotte and Kansas are 1.5-mile ovals and are considered intermediate-style racetracks, there are differences.

“Kansas is really wide and has sweeping corners. We can actually go wide open, or pretty close to it, in the ARCA car, at least in qualifying,” Mosack said.

“Charlotte has a lot more off-throttle time. It’s narrower and has sharper corners, though it is more banked so you carry more load there. It has different entries, too. The banking comes all at once where, at Kansas, it’s more of a gradual entry and exit in the corners. Charlotte is more difficult because of how it goes from flat to banked and back to flat again, so it’s easy to lose the car both on entry and exit there.”

Despite those differences, getting back on an intermediate track three weeks ago at Kansas was helpful. Prior to that event, Mosack’s previous race on an intermediate track was last July at the 2.5-mile Pocono (Pa.) Raceway.

“Going into Kansas, it had been quite a few months since I’d been in an ARCA car on an intermediate-style track, so it took a little bit of time in the race to get used to how those cars act on the racetrack, particularly in dirty air,” Mosack said.

“It’s quite a bit different than how the Xfinity car is this year. So I think having that experience and being able to get out of the car and review all the notes and go back and watch the race, all the things that I could’ve done differently, that’ll help us for Charlotte. Even though it is a little bit of a different racetrack, the aero capabilities and all that will still apply.”

While still in the early years of his racing career, Mosack does have some experience on Charlotte’s 1.5-mile oval. He finished fourth in last year’s General Tire 150 and participated in a pre-season Xfinity test in January with Sam Hunt Racing.

“That test back in January probably helped me more than it helped the team,” Mosack said. “It was my first time on an intermediate track in an Xfinity car and we were able to have good speed. We were right there with Kaz (Grala) and Tyler (Reddick) when they were in the car. That gave me confidence, and I know what to expect when I go back there. Charlotte is one of the hardest, if not the hardest, intermediate track we go to, so just being able to have laps there is really beneficial.”

A home court advantage is also helpful. Charlotte is home for Mosack. He attended Covenant Day School in Matthews, North Carolina, from K-12 and then went 95 miles north on I-85 to High Point University, graduating in 2021 with a degree in business entrepreneurship.

“Having a lot of friends and family in Charlotte, I don’t feel like it adds any pressure, but it makes you want to do especially well,” Mosack said. “Having everybody there and being able to celebrate with them or have their support before the race, all of that’s really important. It’s also nice to have a good day and be able to just drive 20 or 30 minutes down the road and sleep in your own bed.”

Friday night’s General Tire 150 ARCA Menards Series race gets underway at 6 p.m. EDT. Saturday’s Alsco Uniforms 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race begins at 1 p.m. Live coverage of both will be provided by FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

JD Motorsports, Garrett Smithley, and The Hoffmann Group USA team up for Charlotte Motor Speedway

Gaffney, SC- JD Motorsports, Garrett Smithley, and The Hoffmann Group announce an exciting partnership for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

JD Motorsports is in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership with The Hoffmann Group, a renowned tool company based in Germany. This collaboration marks The Hoffmann Group’s first-ever full sponsorship on a car in the exhilarating world of NASCAR, and the team couldn’t be more excited for this milestone event.

The highly anticipated race will take place at the legendary Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 27th, bringing together the speed, skill, and relentless competition that NASCAR fans know and love. With The Hoffmann Group on board, JD Motorsports and Garrett Smithley are poised to make a strong impression on the track and showcase the cutting-edge capabilities of their precision tools.

The Hoffmann Group has built a stellar reputation as a global leader in providing innovative, high-quality tools to professionals across various industries. Their commitment to excellence and dedication to producing top-of-the-line products perfectly aligns with JD Motorsports pursuit of success in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

“We are thrilled to partner with The Hoffmann Group for this exciting race at Charlotte Motor Speedway,” said Garrett Smithley, driver of the #4 Chevrolet. “Their expertise and passion for delivering exceptional tools to professionals worldwide mirrors our own commitment to achieving greatness on the track. This partnership represents a significant step forward for both of our organizations, and we look forward to achieving great things together.”

As part of the partnership, JD Motorsports will prominently feature The Hoffmann Group’s logo on the sleek and powerful race car. This high-profile exposure will allow The Hoffmann Group to reach a vast audience of NASCAR enthusiasts, further solidifying their brand presence and expanding their reach in the American market.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway promises to be a thrilling showcase of skill, strategy, and speed. JD Motorsports is poised to leverage this exciting event and the support of The Hoffmann Group to make a lasting impact in the race and cement their position as a formidable competitor in the series.

Stay tuned for updates as JD Motorsports and The Hoffmann Group prepare to leave their mark on the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Follow JD Motorsports on social media and visit our website for the latest news, race highlights, and behind-the-scenes content.

JD Motorsports

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

About The Hoffmann Group:

Hoffmann Group USA is the United States Subsidiary of The Hoffmann Group. As the official United States branch of The Hoffmann Group, Hoffmann Group USA offers a complete line of products from the Hoffmann Group portfolio, including Garant, Holex and over 500 different brands. They offer precision cutting tools, hand tools, and storage solutions from top brands with immediate shipping from their Knoxville, Tennessee warehouse.

Daniel Dye – Charlotte Preview

Charlotte Preview
May 26 | 8:30 PM ET | FS1 – MRN – SiriusXM

2023 NASCAR Truck Series Stats
Starts: 10; Best start: 10th; Best finish: 13th (Kansas I); Laps led: 5; Current points position: 19th

Chassis History
Dye and the No. 43 team will compete with GMS Racing chassis no. 348 for this weekend’s North Carolina Lottery 200. This will mark only the second race on this chassis’ build sheet, as Daniel was on tap for its debut at Kansas Speedway at the beginning of the month. Dye earned his best-career start and finish running this Silverado, qualifying inside the top-10 and finishing in 13th.

Rookie of the Year
Dye’s 14th place finish at North Wilkesboro Speedway was the best result out of all the drivers contending for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors, moving him closer to his teammate in the rookie standings. Entering Charlotte, Daniel continues to straddle the fourth spot in points, now 77 behind leader Nick Sanchez and only 4 behind Rajah Caruth.

Daniel Dye Quote
Since you’ve raced at Charlotte Motor Speedway before, what are some of the unique characteristics of this track that separates it from most intermediates?
“Yeah, I’m really looking forward to getting to Charlotte since I’ve raced there before and already have a couple of mile-and-a-half races under my belt in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Charlotte is different compared to a lot of these other places because it’s very bumpy and rough. I know the GMS Racing team has had some success there in the past, and based off of what we were able to learn in Kansas a few weeks ago I think Blake and the rest of our No. 43 crew guys will bring us a fast truck to compete with.”

Race to Stop Suicide

Race to Stop Suicide is a non-profit organization co-founded by Daniel and Randy Dye. The organization’s main objective is to create awareness, remove stigma and normalize the conversation surrounding suicide. They provide entry-level education on what to look for, symptoms and how to check up on family and friends. Race to Stop Suicide also ensures that people have easy access to helpful resources like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and 988. For more information, visit their website at www.racetostopsuicide.com.

Travis Mack to call 100th Cup event as crew chief at Charlotte

Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images.

A significant milestone start is in the making for Travis Mack, crew chief for Daniel Suarez and the No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 team in the NASCAR Cup Series. By participating in this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Mack will call his 100th career event as crew chief in NASCAR’s premier series.

A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Mack’s racing career began as a mechanic for Frank Kimmel’s ARCA Menards Series team before joining Hendrick Motorsports as a shock specialist and front-end mechanic in 2004, where he worked with Jeff Gordon before eventually teaming up with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Nine years later, he served as a car chief for JR Motorsports’ No. 7 team and driver Regan Smith in the Xfinity Series before moving over to JRM’s No. 9 team and rookie Chase Elliott for the 2014 season, where the team ended up winning the series championship. Beginning in 2015, he became a car chief for Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports team in the Cup circuit.

At Richmond Raceway in September 2017, Mack made his debut as a Cup Series crew chief in an interim role for Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 HMS team after Earnhardt’s regular crew chief, Greg Ives, was suspended due to a lug nut infraction stemming from the previous event at Darlington Raceway. During the event at Richmond and with Mack atop the pit box, Earnhardt Jr. led 13 laps before finishing 13th.

In 2018, Mack was named crew chief for Leavine Family Racing’s No. 95 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry piloted by veteran Kasey Kahne. Following the first 15 events of the 2018 season, however, Mack was replaced by Jon Leonard after the team posted five top-20 results and finished no higher than 17th three times. Mack would return to the Xfinity Series to serve as a crew chief for Michael Annett and the No. 5 JRM team for the remainder of the 2018 season.

In November 2020, Mack, who achieved his first Xfinity victory as a crew chief with Annett at Daytona in February 2019, was named crew chief for the newly formed Trackhouse Racing and driver Daniel Suarez for the 2021 Cup season. Despite being suspended for two of the 26 regular-season events, Mack and Suarez achieved a strong fourth-place run at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Course in March along with a total of three top-10 results and nine top-15 results. While they did not make the 2021 Cup Playoffs, the duo proceeded to finish in the top 15 five times throughout the postseason before concluding the season in 25th place in the final standings.

Remaining at Trackhouse Racing and paired with Suarez for the 2022 season, Mack led the No. 99 team to two fourth-place results and a total of four top-10 results through the first 15-scheduled events. Then at Sonoma Raceway in June, Mack achieved his first Cup Series career victory as a crew chief when Suarez led a race-high 47 of 110 laps and notched his first career win in NASCAR’s premier series, thus becoming the first Mexican-born competitor to win a Cup event. To go along with five additional top-10 results for the remainder of the regular-season stretch, Mack and Suarez qualified for the 2022 Cup Playoffs. Despite transferring from the Round of 16 to 12 on the strength of three consecutive top-20 results, the duo missed the cutline to the Round of 8 by a mere margin and after a power steering issue at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course in October diminished the team’s title hopes. With only a single top-10 result during the final four scheduled events, Mack and Suarez capped off the season in 10th place in the final standings.

This season, Mack, who remains at Trackhouse for a third consecutive season, has led Suarez and the No. 99 team to four top-10 results through the first 13-scheduled events, with their best on-track result being a fourth-place finish at Auto Club Speedway in February. The duo is ranked in 18th place in the driver’s standings and trail the top-16 cutline to make the 2023 Cup Playoffs by 13 points.

Through 99 previous Cup events, Mack has achieved one victory, eight top-five results, 21 top-10 results and 395 laps led while working with three different competitors.

Mack is scheduled to call his 100th Cup Series event as a crew chief in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 28. The event is scheduled to commence at 6 p.m. ET on FOX.

TEAM CHEVY NASCAR RACE ADVANCE: Charlotte Motor Speedway

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
Coca-Cola 600
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Concord, North Carolina
May 28, 2023

 NASCAR AT ‘HOME’ FOR TRIPLEHEADER

With the return of NASCAR’s Memorial Day tradition, NASCAR’s three national series will come together for a tripleheader race weekend at one of the most historic venues in the sport’s history – Charlotte Motor Speedway. ‘America’s Home for Racing’, the 1.5-mile oval holds one of the NASCAR Cup Series’ (NCS) oldest and most prestigious races – the Coca-Cola 600. A crown jewel event, Sunday’s 400-lap, 600-mile race marks the longest race on the series’ schedule to close out the day famously known as the ‘Greatest Day in Motorsports’.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) will drop the green flag on the tripleheader race weekend in Friday’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200. Chevrolet will look to keep its hot streak alive with the manufacturer heading into the race weekend looking for its fourth-consecutive NCTS victory this season. Returning from an off-weekend, the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ (NXS) season continues with Saturday’s Alsco Uniforms 300 – marking the series’ halfway point in the 2023 regular-season.

 ‘GREATEST DAY IN MOTORSPORTS’ HITS HOME FOR CHEVROLET

The Sunday of Memorial Day weekend has historically been considered the ‘Greatest Day in Motorsports’. Packed with three of the most iconic races in motorsports, the day kicks-off with the Monaco Grand Prix (Formula One), followed by the Indianapolis 500 (INDYCAR) and the Coca-Cola 600 (NASCAR). Unique to its competitors, Chevrolet is the only manufacturer that competes in the two U.S.-based marquee events.

Along with its series-leading 25 all-time Coca-Cola 600 victories, Chevrolet also has a history of success in ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ – registering 11 all-time Indianapolis 500 victories. General Motors brand Oldsmobile has also accounted for five wins in the prestigious event.

LEADING THE WAY

With more than six decades of history in NASCAR, Charlotte Motor Speedway has hosted 124 races for NASCAR’s premier series – the fourth most of any circuit in series’ history. Chevrolet planted early roots in the sport’s legacy at the 1.50-mile North Carolina venue with Joe Lee Johnson driving Chevrolet to the victory in the series’ inaugural 600-mile race (June 19, 1960).

Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 47 all-time NCS wins at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The most recent of those triumphs came in the 2021 Coca-Cola 600 by Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team. Setting up to what turned into a career season for the 30-year-old California native, Larson’s triumph delivered the Bowtie brand its 25th trip to victory lane in the crown jewel event – a manufacturer-leading feat.


CONQUERING IN CROWN JEWEL

Contested in the epicenter of NASCAR, the Coca-Cola 600 is a crown jewel victory that holds a special place on the resume of some of the sport’s greatest drivers. NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip leads the series with five career Coca-Cola 600 victories – all recorded in a Chevrolet-powered machine. Career Chevrolet driver Jimmie Johnson sits next on that list with four triumphs in the event. The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion will have the chance to tie Waltrip’s all-time win record this weekend as the 47-year-old California native is slated to make his next start behind the wheel of the No. 84 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s event.


GOING THE DISTANCE

On the horizon of the longest race of the year, Team Chevy drivers have proven success in the NASCAR Cup Series’ endurance-based events. Since the debut of the Next Gen vehicles at the beginning of the 2022 season, there have been nine races that have a scheduled distance of 500 miles or more, with Team Chevy drivers accounting for triumphs in seven of those events. In fact, the manufacturer has taken the victory in the series’ past five consecutive long-distance races – each recorded by a different Team Chevy driver:

  • Talladega Superspeedway (521 miles; April 23, 2023): Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Camaro ZL1
  • Daytona International Speedway (530 miles; Feb. 19, 2023): Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Camaro ZL1
  • Talladega Superspeedway (500 miles; Oct. 2, 2022): Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1
  • Texas Motor Speedway (501 miles; Sept. 25, 2022): Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Camaro ZL1
  • Darlington Raceway (501 miles; Sept. 4, 2022): Erik Jones, No. 43 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Camaro ZL1

CHASING BACK-TO-BACK AT CHARLOTTE

Chevrolet heads into the weekend not only as the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ most recent winner, but also the series’ defending winner at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Looking for his first win of the season, Josh Berry and the No. 8 JR Motorsports Camaro SS team will look to repeat their 2022 performance at the 1.5-mile North Carolina oval and make it back-to-back trips to victory lane in Saturday’s 200-lap event. The NXS made its debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1982. Chevrolet’s first triumph in the series at the track came in 1991 – recorded by Dale Earnhardt Sr. In the series’ 77-race history at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Chevrolet has amassed 22 all-time NXS wins at the track.

Josh Berry, No. 8 JR Motorsports Camaro SS

Charlotte Motor Speedway – May 28, 2022

 THREE-IN-A-ROW AND COUNTING

The Bowtie brand has hit a stride in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series unlike its manufacturer competitors with Kyle Larson’s triumph at North Wilkesboro Speedway marking the third consecutive victory for the Silverado RST this season. The manufacturer sits at an impressive winning percentage of 60 percent with five different Team Chevy drivers winning a combined six of the series’ 10 races this season. In 20 NCTS appearances at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Chevrolet has found victory lane a series-leading 11 times – most recently one year ago with NCS regular Ross Chastain driving the No. 41 Silverado RST for Niece Motorsports to the win.

BOWTIE BULLETS:

· Victories by active Chevrolet drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway:

Jimmie Johnson – eight (series-leading; 2016, 2014, 2009, 2005 sweep, 2004 sweep, 2003)

Kyle Larson – one (2021)

Chase Elliott – one (2020)

Kyle Busch – one (2018)

Austin Dillon – one (2017)

· Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 25 all-time Coca-Cola 600 victories, most recently by Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson (May 2021).

· NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip leads the series with five career Coca-Cola 600 victories. Currently sitting second on event’s all-time wins list with four triumphs, Jimmie Johnson could potentially tie Waltrip’s win record in Sunday’s 600-mile race.

· 10 drivers in series’ history recorded their first career NASCAR Cup Series win at Charlotte Motor Speedway – most recently by Team Chevy’s Austin Dillon (No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet) in the 2017 Coca-Cola 600.

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

· In 13 points-paying NASCAR Cup Series race this season, Chevrolet continues to lead the series in wins (eight), top-fives (30), top-10s (55), stage wins (14) and laps led (1,748).

· Chevrolet leads the series in wins across all three NASCAR national series this season with eight victories in 13 NASCAR Cup Series races, seven victories in 11 NASCAR Xfinity Series races and six wins in 10 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races – all with a win percentage of more than 50%.

· With Grant Enfinger’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win at Kansas Speedway, GMS Racing is tied with Kevin Harvick Incorporated as the winningest Chevrolet organization in NCTS history with 43 all-time wins.

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

· Chevrolet drivers have recorded 14 of the 26 NASCAR Cup Series stage wins this season: William Byron (six; series-leading), Ross Chastain (five), Kyle Larson (two) and Chase Elliott (one).

· Chevrolet continues to sit atop the manufacturer points standings in all three NASCAR national series, leading by 38 points in the NASCAR Cup Series, 36 points in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and 30 points in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

· With its 41 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer’s Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver’s Championships, and 841 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title of winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.


TUNE IN:

· NASCAR Cup Series: Coca-Cola 600

Sunday, May 28, at 6 p.m. ET

(FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

· NASCAR Xfinity Series: Alsco Uniforms 300

Saturday, May 27, at 1 p.m. ET

(FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

· NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: North Carolina Education Lottery 200

Friday, May 26, at 8:30 p.m. ET

(FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)


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

How do you prepare for the Coke 600?

“This is the longest race of the year and preparation begins well before the weekend to hydrate and be able to sustain a solid pace for such a long race. It’s so easy to think this is just another race weekend but you have to always have in your mind that there is a fourth stage and you still want to be as focused in that stage as you were in the first. It’s actually a really important race to have something to snack on in the car during the race. I typically have some sort of protein bar that I can eat during a stage break just to try and keep my stamina up. The weather plays a big role in the race too. Sometimes it’s really hot and it’s a lot easier to get worn out and other times the temperature is pretty mild.”

What would it mean to win at Charlotte?

“We led a bunch of laps last year at this race and I hope to repeat the same this year. Phil Surgen and the guys continue to bring me fast cars and my pit crew is very consistent and helps me out on pit road. It would be awesome to go to victory lane at Charlotte for the 600 mile race because it’s so close to the shop and it’s one of the marquee events of the year.”

AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BASS PRO SHOPS CAMARO ZL1

“My two favorite races of the year are the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600. Charlotte is a body killer. It’s a rough track. 600 miles there is a grind and I really love that race. I was able to win the Coca-Cola 600 in 2017 and very close last year to getting another win. Hopefully, Charlotte Motor Speedway owes us one more and we can go and get it done. You just know after years of being in the 600 and being able to win that race you are in for the long haul, it’s a grind because it’s so long, and mentally you must stay in it to have a chance to win. It all comes down to that last 100 miles. It’s probably the most challenging 100 miles we race all year. Leading up to 600 miles you have to be flawless. It’s a mental and physical task. The Coca-Cola 600 is a great race to be a part of.”

You think about the cool trophies NASCAR has, how does the Coca-Cola machine you won in 2017 Rank up there?

“It’s an awesome trophy. It’s a throwback with that fridge. Coca-Cola does such a great job of bringing something unique to us drivers to win. I’m proud that I have one and I want to win another.”

What does it mean to you to be able to do things with Coca-Cola at Charlotte Motor Speedway and to be a winner of the Coca-Cola 600?

“It’s a special weekend for the Coca-Cola racing family, obviously, I’m always carrying the red label and Coca-Cola. It’s a fight to see who wins it from the Coke family and hopefully, the No. 3 Chevrolet takes it home for them.”

You’ve found success at Charlotte Motor Speedway, what is it about that track that suits your driving style?

“I had a test one year there and I felt good about my arch in turn 3. I think the biggest thing as a kid was, I always sat in the condo in turn 1 and watched Jimmie Johnson win a lot of races there. I know where the car needs to be, and car placement is key there.”

KYLE BUSCH, NO. 8 ALSCO UNIFORMS CAMARO ZL1

Your victory in the 2018 Coca-Cola 600 was one of the most dominating performances of your career. How special is that win?

“To me the 2018 Coca-Cola 600 is one of the most dominant performances of my career and I think it’s a very special one. I say that because we led so much of that race and had such a fast car, a dominating car, and our team did everything perfectly. During that race they had PJ-1 sprayed down and a lot of guys were running in the PJ-1 to make time. Our stuff was good and we were so fast that we didn’t even have to use it and run in it. We could beat everybody outside of it and that really helped our tire life and our long run speed where people would wear their tires out in the glue and just take life out of their tires by having to run up there. That was a really cool win and that was the final track that I needed to get a points-paying win at that was still on the schedule. I accomplished winning at every single venue on the schedule at that point and time and it was really cool to have that honor.”

Since there is only one race each season on the Charlotte oval, does that make it extra special when you perform well?

“With only going to the oval once I think it just makes it extra special and because it’s the Coca-Cola 600. You still look at that race as one of the bucket list races of the season, one of the crown jewels, and so you definitely want to win that one. I think that race really means a lot, especially on Memorial Day weekend.”

You will recognize fallen service member Jack William Roper at the Coca-Cola 600. Mr. Roper is a native of Salt Lake City, Utah and during World War II he served as a radio technician second class aboard the USS Mahan (DD 364), a destroyer that played a pivotal role in the Pacific theater. What does it mean to you to honor men like Mr. Roper each year?

“I enjoy the fallen service member program that NASCAR does by putting the name to recognize a fallen service member on the windshield. I feel as though when you win that’s extra special to the families that are there. You get a chance to honor them and celebrate with them and have them be in victory lane with you. That’s really, really fun. We did that in 2018 and it was super cool. It’s not that easy to win, so you’d love to be able to reward those families, but you also tell them how appreciative you are. This year we get a chance to work with Jack William Roper family who is a native of Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s going to be really cool to honor him and his family.”

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA PATRIOTIC CAMARO ZL1

Elliott on looking ahead to the longest race of the season:

“It is a long race, but it doesn’t necessarily feel much different to me. Don’t get me wrong, it is a long race. It can certainly drag on. I just feel like when you are in the heat of the moment, racing and focused and set on a goal, it doesn’t really seem a lot different. Winning the Coca-Cola 600 is certainly a box I’d like to check and we’ve come close once or twice. I think we have as good a shot as anyone this weekend.”

ALAN GUSTAFSON, CREW CHIEF, NO. 9 NAPA PATRIOTIC CAMARO ZL1

Gustafson on preparing for the longest race of the year:

“All of the components in the car are pretty standard, so you just want to make sure you have it all in good condition and dot all your i’s and cross your t’s. There’s not much we can do to the car itself. I think the biggest thing is just the opportunity you have over the course of the event. There’s more pit stops, there’s more restarts, there’s more strategy calls and there’s more laps. There’s more everything. Preparing for that and being able to keep yourself in good position. Not making mistakes or get yourself behind or get yourself in trouble. Mentally you need to be ready for how long that race really is and how much focus it takes, I think it’s pretty crucial, not only from the team side, but for Chase (Elliott) and for the pit crew.”

Gustafson on the team’s second mile-and-a-half start with Elliott behind the wheel this season:

“Kansas (Speedway) was an important race for us because it just took us a while to kind of get back in the flow (after Chase’s return). Kansas was one of the first races I feel like that we got to where we needed to be and focused on the right things. We executed the race for the most part, we were competitive and towards the front. I feel like from there on, you need to continue to perform at higher levels. So, I think we need to be better yet. Charlotte (Motor Speedway) is a good place to be able to do that and build off of our Kansas performance.”

AJ ALLMENDINGER, NO. 16 ACTION INDUSTRIES CAMARO ZL1

“Memorial Day weekend is always a special weekend at the track. What we are representing is bigger than the race and we’ll take a lot of pride in having our patriotic No. 16 Action Industries Chevrolet on track this weekend to honor those that made the ultimate sacrifice serving our country. This is the longest race we have so it’s a mental and physical challenge, but it’s also a race that can be very enjoyable as well if it goes well. I’m excited to be back to run the 600.”

NOAH GRAGSON, NO. 42 BLACK RIFLE COFFEE COMPANY CAMARO ZL1

“This is a special weekend for everyone. The Coca-Cola 600 is a great race for the fans and it’s a ‘home’ race for the team. We have a special tribute on the car with Gunnery Sgt. Menusa which has special meaning to everyone at Black Rifle Coffee Company. I am thankful to all who have served and to meet the Gold Star families who are guests of our team this weekend. My family will be in town too, so I’m looking forward to the 600. We have had great cars on these types of tracks, it’s a long race and we plan to go the distance.”

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 U.S. AIR FORCE CAMARO ZL1

“Charlotte will be fun, the Coke 600 is one of my favorite races of the year for a couple of reasons, honoring the troops on Memorial Day weekend and to be able to represent the life of Major Del Bagno is something that is hard to put into words. Having a sponsor as important as the United States Air Force representing our Chevrolet is something that not a lot of people have the opportunity to do, and I have been very appreciative of the relationships we have developed over the years and hope to continue that. The 600 miles endurance race is fun and always a good time, we ran well last year, and we usually run well in Charlotte, but this is considered one of the “Crown Jewels” for us drivers, last year was intense and was over a five-hour race, it was one of, if not the longest Coke 600 in history. I am excited for that whole week, memorial day weekend is one of my favorite parts of the year and I am honored to have legacy of Major Del Bagno on our Camaro.”

RICKY STENHOUSE JR., NO. 47 KROGER / COCA-COLA CAMARO ZL1

“We remember those who answered the call of duty with immeasurable selflessness and the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We honor our fallen soldiers this Memorial Day weekend, and we humbly unite to remember them with reverence.

I ran my first ever Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway and it’s a track I’ve always ran well at. 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.”

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 84 CLUB WYNDHAM CAMARO ZL1

“It is great being back in Charlotte, it’s been a while. I’ve had so much success over the years at this track, it’s so special to me. This weekend is so important to so many, and I always treasure the time we get to spend with the families of the fallen soldiers who are on our race cars. I hope to have a good solid race this weekend, as last time out (COTA) I didn’t even get to take a lap. Happy to have Club Wyndham on the car this weekend and as soon as we are finished in Charlotte I will be heading to France and fulfilling another bucket list item – the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”

DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 JOCKEY CAMARO ZL1

Did you gain momentum at North Wilkesboro?

“The No. 99 team has had a lot of speed lately, but we haven’t had the execution and the results. We’ve been very tough on ourselves. It was good to go to North Wilkesboro, get the pole with the pit crew, win our heat race, lead a bunch of laps and have a lot of fun. Hopefully, we can keep it going this weekend in the Coca-Cola 600 Sunday.”

What is the key to success in such a long race as the Coca-Cola 600?

“As a driver, your goal is to be as fresh at the end of the race as you are at the beginning. That’s important. It isn’t about making it to the end of the race. It’s about being at your best at the end and taking advantage of other drivers who are tired.”

How do you prepare for Sunday?

“As a human being you try and perform at 100 percent the entire time, but when you’re running a marathon, you’re not going to be as strong in the last 30 minutes. That’s normal. Fatigue is setting in, your muscles are tired, you’re running out of fluid, and you’re hungry. Racing is the same way, especially in the Coca-Cola 600. We start running out of energy and you’re mind gets tired after four hours of racing. But I look to this race as a marathon, and you have to be on top of your game for the last part of this race. So, I always try to keep that in my mind when I’m in the car. This isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon.”

GRANT ENFINGER, NO. 23 CHAMPION POWER EQUIPMENT SILVERADO RST

What makes Charlotte Motor Speedway such a challenging racetrack?

“Charlotte is a pretty unique mile-and-a-half racetrack considering how bumpy it is. I guess it’s because the track was built on a landfill; but there are just so many violent bumps around that place, especially going off into turn 3. You’ve gotta have a truck good enough to be able to maneuver through those and still be able to get to the bottom if you need to. The past few years, we’ve had the track compound which has given us more of an outside groove there than what we’ve had in years past.

In order to win the race, you’ve got to be able to run well on the bottom of the track as well as up on the top. I feel like Charlotte is probably one of the trickiest tracks on the schedule in terms of how much the weather conditions from the daytime practice to the nighttime race change the handling characteristics for us. It’s a really fun place when you’re dialed in, but it is easy to miss the setup there and have a long night. Hensley and I have worked hard at this place and I’m sure we will unload our Champion Power Equipment Chevy with a good package. We’re taking the same truck that we won Kansas with, so hopefully we can go out there and contend for another win with it on Friday night.”

RAJAH CARUTH, NO. 24 WENDELL SCOTT FOUNDATION SILVERADO RST

This will be your third time pulling double duty with the Truck and Xfinity car, how much of a benefit has that been for you in the past?

“Running double duty in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and Xfinity Series is going to be a big help especially when it comes to having the extra track time. I’ve been to Charlotte before, both in the ARCA Menards Series last season and in testing the Xfinity car earlier this year. To be the first one on the racetrack and know where I need to place the vehicle as well as knowing what parts of the surface have the grip and where it’s going to be optimal to run for lap time will be very beneficial. I feel good about getting a good result for everyone at the Wendell Scott Foundation and all the men and woman on my No. 24 Chevy team. We’ve had really good pace the past few weeks but have only had one decent result to show for it, so we’ll just keep it going and give it our all this weekend.”

DANIEL DYE, NO. 43 RACETOSTOPSUICIDE.COM SILVERADO RST

Since you’ve raced at Charlotte Motor Speedway before, what are some of the unique characteristics of this track that separates it from most intermediates?

“Yeah, I’m really looking forward to getting to Charlotte since I’ve raced there before and already have a couple of mile-and-a-half races under my belt in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Charlotte is different compared to a lot of these other places because it’s very bumpy and rough. I know the GMS Racing team has had some success there in the past, and based off of what we were able to learn in Kansas a few weeks ago I think Blake and the rest of our No. 43 crew guys will bring us a fast truck to compete with.”

CHASE PURDY, NO. 4 BAMA BUGGIES SILVERADO RST

You’ve had three top-10 finishes on mile-and-half tracks this year. Are you looking forward to Friday?

“I’m excited to get to Charlotte and the chance to race on another mile-and-a-half track. We’ve shown a lot of speed and we’ve had some good runs on those types of tracks this year. Our most recent one, I thought we had a truck capable of winning and just some unfortunate things happened. Hoping to change some of that luck around and have a good weekend!”

Is the Charlotte race one of the bigger races on the Truck Series schedule?

“Charlotte is always a big one because everyone wants to win at home. This race is in everybody’s back yard and to win this one it would be really special. It makes a statement to go out and win in front of everybody in your back yard. I’ll have a lot of family and friends at the track so this will be a big weekend for us.”

Does the first race of the Triple Truck Challenge make it an even bigger race?

“Obviously everybody wants to make as much money as they can on a normal weekend but since this is one of the Triple Truck Challenge races it definitely ups the stakes a little bit. I’m going to approach the weekend like it’s a normal race, go out there and try to put everything together and win. Our trucks are fast enough to do it, we just need to limit our mistakes.”

JACK WOOD, NO. 51 EBERLESTOCK SILVERADO RST

Are you looking forward to getting back behind the wheel at Charlotte after recently having a break in your Truck Series schedule?

“Yeah, I’m looking forward to Charlotte. I think more so than any place that I’ve raced at this year it is more of a driver’s race track — it’s easier to gain and lose track position. It should be a better race for us. Having this break on my schedule since Texas I’ve been able to take advantage of being behind the scenes and seeing how the crew chief and the team operate and I think that will help improve our communication moving forward. We’ll be better now than we were before and I’m looking forward to it. It’ll be a busy day Friday as I’m doing double duty running the ARCA Race as well. With being out of the truck for a while running that race will help me knock some of the rust off and I’ll have more track time than most of the guys in the Truck Series. I’m just going to have to be on point with understanding the two different balances of the vehicles and not getting the driving styles mixed up between the two of them.”

Talk about the paint scheme you are running as part of NASCAR Salutes.

“It’s exciting to have Eberlestock back on the truck for a second time this year, this time with the Green Beret Foundation as well as Montana Knife Company as associate partners. The paint scheme turned out really cool. This weekend is a big one for our country and especially the sport of NASCAR. It’ll be exciting to have them there and to honor those that made the ultimate sacrifice. My helmet also has a special scheme — stay tuned to my social channels as we are going to be doing a special giveaway and some other cool stuff.”


Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturers Championships:

Total (1949-2022): 41

First title for Chevrolet: 1958

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

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

Drivers Championships:

Total (1949-2021): 33

First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)

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

Most Recent: Kyle Larson (2021)

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

Event Victories:

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

2023 STATISTICS:

Wins: 8

Poles: 4

Laps Led: 1,748

Top-five finishes: 30

Top-10 finishes: 55

Stage wins: 14

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

· William Byron – 6 (Las Vegas x2), (Phoenix), (COTA), (Richmond), (Dover)

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

· Chase Elliott – 1 (Talladega)

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:

Total Chevrolet race wins: 841 (1949 to date)

Poles won to date: 738

Laps led to date: 247,292

Top-five finishes to date: 4,251

Top-10 finishes to date: 8,767

Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:

       General Motors: 1,175

       Chevrolet: 841

       Pontiac: 154

       Oldsmobile: 115

       Buick: 65



       Ford: 821                                                           

       Ford: 721

       Mercury: 96

       Lincoln: 4



       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467

       Dodge: 217

       Plymouth: 191

       Chrysler: 59



       Toyota: 174


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

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Opens Le Mans 24 Hours Special Website

TOKYO, May 25, 2023 – (JCN Newswire) – TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) has launched a special Le Mans section(1) within its official website ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Le Mans 24 Hours, to be held in France on June 10-11.

Striking new visuals depicting the Toyota GR010 HYBRID #7 and #8 cars were unveiled, as well as commemorative photos of the team’s five Le Mans-winning cars from 2018-2022, which were united for the first time at the Circuit de la Sarthe. Information about events to be held during race week was also published.

  1. Major events before and during the race week

Earlier this week, at the invitation of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), a unique group of historic Le Mans-winning cars were assembled for the first time at the site of the race, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary(2). TGR has been storing and exhibiting its Le Mans-winning race cars in their original condition at the team’s Cologne base, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe(3), and within Toyota Motor Corporation(4) in Japan, while the 2020 winner, a TS050 HYBRID, was permanently loaned to the Le Mans 24 Hours Museum(5) in 2021. These cars will be displayed at the Museum from June 1 to July 2. In addition, the 2018 and 2022 winning cars will be driven by two winning drivers, Alex Wurz(6) and Kazuki Nakajima(7), respectively, alongside other historic cars in the Centenary Parade around the 13.626km Circuit de la Sarthe on June 10.

Prior to the race, a demonstration run of the hydrogen-engine “ORC ROOKIE GR Corolla H2 concept” vehicle with which ROOKIE Racing participated in the Super Taikyu Series as part of activities to make ever-better motorsport-bred cars, will take place at 12:20 on June 10 at the circuit to promote the potential of hydrogen engines as an option to achieve carbon neutrality.

  1. Exhibitions at the Centenary Village and ACO fan zone―introducing efforts to realize a Carbon Neutral society in Japan

During the race week, exhibitions will be held at the Centenary Village and ACO fan zone within the Circuit de la Sarthe to look back on the history of the Le Mans 24 Hours, where Toyota has honed and refined its vehicle technologies through competition with rival teams, and to introduce the various challenges for future realization of a carbon neutral society.

In particular, together with the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and Mazda Motor Corporation, the first Japanese automaker to win Le Mans in 1991, TGR will hold a themed exhibition to promote tourism to Japan and introduce its technological development efforts towards realizing a carbon neutral society in Japan. A concept car equipped with vehicle technologies that have been developed through numerous challenges in motorsports participation will be exhibited.

  1. Live onboard video streaming

TGR will stream a live video feed from the onboard cameras on the GR010 HYBRID #7 and #8 cars on its official website during the Hyperpole session on June 8 and the race, which starts at 23:00 (Japan time) on Saturday, June 10.

In addition, during race week, news reports and other information will be distributed alongside TGR’s social media activities. TGR sincerely hopes fans and media will enjoy watching its battle to win the Le Mans 24 Hours for the sixth consecutive time in 2023, a significant milestone in the race’s centennial year.

URL: https://toyotagazooracing.com/wec/special/2023/24h-lemans/

  1. e-Motorsports “TGR GT Cup” Round 3 to be held

The “TGR GT Cup” currently being held in Gran Turismo 7(8) will hold its third round on June 4 at the Circuit de la Sarthe, where the 24 Hours of Le Mans is held. Before the real race, please come and enjoy the race in the virtual world with GR010 HYBRID. If you enter the competition, you will receive a GR010 HYBRID Gran Turismo virtual car with the 2023 livery.

For detailed entry procedures and an outline of the event, please visit the following special website for the “TGR GT Cup 2023”.

URL https://toyotagazooracing.com/e-motorsports/join-entrant/2023/
(1) https://toyotagazooracing.com/wec/special/2023/24h-lemans/
(2) Please refer to the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe press release for more details.
https://tgr-europe-newsroom.com/blog/wec/artikel/le-mans-winners-united-for-the-first-time-2/text
(3) Home of the 2018 winning vehicle TS050 HYBRID and the 2021 winning vehicle GR010 HYBRID
(4) Home of the 2019 winning vehicle TS050 HYBRID and the 2022 winning vehicle GR010 HYBRID
(5) https://toyotagazooracing.com/wec/release/2021/0818-01/
(6) The youngest-ever winner who spearheaded Toyota’s return in 2012, remaining a key team member even after he retired from racing.
(7) Now Vice Chairman of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe, he was the first Japanese pole position winner (in 2014) and the only Japanese to win three times (2018, 2019, 2020).
(8) Gran Turismo 7 TM & 2023 Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. Developed by Polyphony Digital Inc. “Gran Turismo” logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

General Trust Group Review: Your Trading Needs

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