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CHEVROLET INDYCAR AT INDIANAPOLIS 500: TEAM CHEVY PRACTICE REPORT

By
Official Release
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CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
INDIANAPOLIS 500
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
TEAM CHEVY PRACTICE REPORT
MAY 17, 2023

SANTINO FERRUCCI AND THE NO. 14 AJ FOYT RACING TEAM LEAD TEAM CHEVY AT THE FIRST INDIANAPOLIS 500 PRACTICE DAY AT INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Santino Ferrucci, in the No. 14 Homes for Our Troops Chevrolet with AJ Foyt Racing led the Bowtie brand at the conclusion of first on-track practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with his fastest speed of 228.977 MPH.
Ed Carpenter Racing’s Rinus VeeKay led the no-tow speed of the day at 223.212 MPH, followed by his teammate and team owner Ed Carpenter at 222.341 MPH. Will Power rounded out the top three no-tow speeds and giving Team Chevy a sweep of the first three spots with his lap at 221.803 MPH.
Four Chevrolets finished in the top-10 of first practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with four drivers representing three teams.
RC Enerson, in the No. 50 Abel Motorsports Chevrolet, completed his rookie orientation and officially becomes the 34th entry for the 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500.

TEAM CHEVY TOP-10 PRACTICE RESULT:
Pos. Driver

3rd Santino Ferrucci
5th Scott McLaughlin
8th Ryan Hunter-Reay
9th Josef Newgarden

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING (QUOTES)

Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 Chevrolet at AJ Foyt Racing:

“After the Open Test, I don’t think we were feeling too strong, so to roll out of the box here and after the first few laps in the car, I just got out and said hey, look, the car’s good. We just broke for lunch, went down for a couple of hours to get things sorted, but the raw speed of the car out of the box was phenomenal. To make two or three small changes, a couple of little aero or ride height things, you’re not looking at mind-blowing reinventing-the-wheel changes. By the time we were done, we went out with new tires and even passed some cars. We were just working on trying to follow closer, and the lap time was there. To be the fastest Chevy in the No. 14 is pretty cool. Start the month of May off, and we just have to carry the momentum.”

Talk about some of the passing and gains you feel like you made today…

“I’ve said this all year, and I feel Chevys have been really good on top-end. And I felt that not just on the ovals, but on the road courses as well. So, I think today to be in your fastest lap and then pass a car, and almost pass another into Turn 1, on the same second half of the track is pretty impressive and pretty stout. I feel really comfortable being in the Chevy for the top-end wise this year, especially in race trim. I’d like to see if we can obviously bring home the Borg Warner (trophy) for Chevy. That’d be pretty awesome and spectacular for our team.”

Ryan Hunter-Reay, No. 23 Chevrolet at Dreyer & Reinbold Racing:

“Today was a very productive day for us. We got through a lot of the checklist we hoped to. We lost a little bit yesterday with rainout. But the car has some good speed in it. We have some things to sort out tomorrow. I am cautiously optimistic with it. We are keeping our heads down and working hard. The track conditions were good today, not too hot. Track temperature got up a bit in the afternoon and the surface got greasy. It was beautiful day to be at the Speedway. We expect it to be much hotter and more difficult on race day. We are looking forward to Thursday’s action.”

Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Chevrolet at Team Penske:

“Felt really good in the No. 2 car. I think most of us here at Team Penske were really happy with the progress we made. It was a good, clean day all six hours which was welcome after yesterday’s rain. Feeling good, confident in the Shell car. Just need to keep it up. This weekend, we’re really going to find out where we’re at. A lot of work to do, but stay tuned with us.”

Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Chevrolet at Team Penske:

“Awesome to get back on track in the Pennzoil Chevy. The yellow sub is always a crowd favorite, but yeah, really good day for us. We ticked a lot of boxes. Don’t know where we are speed-wise right now, but every time we wanted to do some speed, we managed to do a reasonable time. It feels nice. We’ll see what we’ve got for the rest of the week.”

Will Power, No. 12 Chevrolet at Team Penske:

“We got through a bunch of stuff early in the session, working on qualifying configurations. We felt really happy about that. We got three good race runs in after that and the Verizon Chevy was really good. It’s the first day and we have a lot more on our list to work through, but it’s hard to say this wasn’t a good first day here at Indy.”

Conor Daly, No. 20 Chevrolet at Ed Carpenter Racing:

“Today was interesting and we worked through a lot of our list today. We got in over 120 laps today which is nice on the first day. We are decent in traffic which will come in handy on race day. Looking forward to getting back tomorrow and working some more.”

Rinus VeeKay, No. 21 Chevrolet at Ed Carpenter Racing:

“Today was good, then it was bad and then it was good again. That is Indy for you. Overall, today was productive. We tried a lot of stuff on the No. 21 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet and at the end of the day we found the speed for traffic runs. Of course, being on top of the no-tow is always a plus.”

Ed Carpenter, No. 33 Chevrolet at Ed Carpenter Racing:

“We had a pretty productive day. I would have liked to be up a little higher on the timesheet – just for egotistical reasons, but it felt productive. We worked through some things with our race trim that we wanted to investigate further after the Open Test. I am excited to get back to debrief and look through everything. There are thousands of configurations now with the new downforce options we have this year. We are a lot more competitive than what the big board says today.”

Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Chevrolet at Arrow McLaren INDYCAR:

“Today was interesting and we worked through a lot of our list today. We got in over 120 laps today which is nice on the first day. We are decent in traffic which will come in handy on race day. Looking forward to getting back tomorrow and working some more.”

Felix Roseqvist, No. 6 Chevrolet at Arrow McLaren INDYCAR:

”It was good to get some actual runs in. They were mostly error runs in the beginning with a little race running in the end, but that was fun. I think we’re in a good window. We had some issues in the end; we couldn’t do a full run and we had to do a couple pit stops. I think we’re pretty much where we left off last year. It’s very tight. We want to catch the Ganassis, they were really strong last year and they continue to be strong. We have to bridge that gap, but otherwise, we feel really strong. I think we’re in the mix.”

Alexander Rossi, No. 7 Chevrolet at Arrow McLaren INDYCAR:

”It was a good day, lot of laps ran. We’re still learning, but a lot of positives to take from today, and we’re happy with where we are. We’ll just continue to work tomorrow.”

Tony Kanaan, No. 66 Chevrolet at Arrow McLaren INDYCAR:

”Good day for us, we did almost a hundred laps trying to make big changes, changes that take a lot of time to figure out, so from tomorrow on it’s just going to be tweaking the car. All in all, an awesome day for the No. 66 team. I think the whole team looked pretty strong, we did a lot of laps, and now on to tomorrow.”

Gavin Ward, Race Director at Arrow McLaren INDYCAR:

“Strong first day running for the team. We’re focused on our own program here, a lot of race prep work. We’re pretty pleased with everything, got through a lot of tests today and we have a lot of data to chew through this evening. The drivers all seem reasonably comfortable for day one on track. Looking at the notes, we’re pretty happy where we sit. It’s always hard to judge around this place, but so far so good.”

Agustin Canapino, No. 78 Chevrolet at Juncos Hollinger Racing:

“We did some laps in a big pack. It was really, really good. Of course, it’s tough. It’s really difficult, but at the end of the day, I think we had a good first day for us.”

Stefan Wilson, No. 24 Chevrolet at Dreyer & Reinbold Racing:

“We finished day two of practice which was really day one after Tuesday’s rainout. It was a very solid day in the No. 24 Cusick Motorsports/CareKeepers Chevy. We just worked on race setup today and focused on the race car to make it better each time out. We tried things in traffic and found some things that worked well and some which didn’t work. We are now going through all of the data that was accumulated today. We are accessing some of the changes we made and see where we can improve. We’ll look at some of the things we want to try later in the week too. Overall, it was good first day for the team.”

RC Enerson, No. 50 Chevrolet at Abel Motorsports:

“We finally concluded day two, but day one got washed out on us. We finally got a chance to run ROP and went through that pretty flawlessly. Got to finally come our for our practice at the end of the day here. We’d come to the garage, and lost a bit of time there trying to get gears changed and all of that. But we finally got back out, got to see what our single car speed is like. Got to dabble a little bit in traffic, which I think that’s something that’s going to have to get more comfortable for me. Overall, a pretty productive day.”

SANTINO FERRUCCI, NO. 14 CHEVROLET AT AJ FOYT RACING, AND RINUS VEEKAY, NO. 21 CHEVROLET AT ED CARPENTER RACING – End of Day Press Conference:

MODERATOR: We are joined by Rinus VeeKay, driver of the No. 21 Bitnile.com Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing, the top no-tow speed today at 223.212 miles an hour, pretty important as you look ahead to qualifying this weekend Saturday and Sunday, and also Santino Ferrucci, 228.977 miles an hour in the 14 Sexton Properties Chevrolet for AJ Foyt Racing. Rinus, overall your thoughts on your day today, P1 on the no-tow.

RINUS VEEKAY: “Yeah, it was a good day, good to be out here, and got that first day over with.

It was pretty good, good no-tow speeds. We think there’s still a lot more in it, so that’s a good sign, but also mostly the focus all afternoon has been race running, just making sure the car is good enough for the race, getting behind the backup cars, and yeah, we found out a lot about bad and good changes.”

THE MODERATOR: “Santino, you’ve always been good at the speedway. I’m thinking back a couple years ago, a fourth here in 2020. You liked your car so far today, so far this month?”

SANTINO FERRUCCI: “It sure looks like that. We didn’t really change much today, just a couple small things. We rolled out actually — we weren’t strong on the open test at all, but we didn’t really have everything together, and to have all that extra day, especially the rain day yesterday to roll out today and to immediately just be comfortable was really, really nice. I haven’t been this comfortable in a couple of years.”

Q. Santino, obviously it’s hard to know what everybody else is doing up and down the pit lane and it’s probably difficult to know where you should exactly be on the leaderboard, but I guess are you feeling very confident after today’s run?

SANTINO FERRUCCI: “Yeah, no, we’re in full race trim, nose down, rear wing is pretty stacked on there.

Honestly, we were looking for a tow lap like everybody else. What I didn’t expect was to be passing people in that lap, and to be able to follow as closely as we did because we did make a change before we put the set of stickers on because the left rear is a little bit softer this year, so with the track being as green as it is, they’re not quite lasting as long as we probably would have liked the first day, but expect that to obviously change.

No, I’m pretty comfortable, and this is definitely a car that I can see not needing too much adjustments for next Sunday. It’s nice to see that.”

Q. For both of you, we know one car is going home. Does that fact add any tension to the briefings or anything else, or is it just business as usual, we’re not going to worry about it, we’re just going to do what we do?

RINUS VEEKAY: “Not for us. I think ECR is not going to be worried.”

SANTINO FERRUCCI: “I don’t know, I don’t ever give it any thought.”

SANTINO FERRUCCI: “If you go back a couple years, maybe 20 years ago, there was like 40 of them. I think that would make people more stressful. I think one is what it is.”

Q. Rinus, you led last year’s first practice on the no-tow chart, too. Is that something you work on as a team on the first day, and can you really gain anything by working on your qualifying stuff?

RINUS VEEKAY: “It’s good to get a feel on it. It feels like far away, but in two days we’re at Fast Friday.

It’s good to get a feel for it, get some data on a lower downforce trim, see what that gives us, and where the balance migrates. It’s good to be fast on my own. It’s a consistent battle to be faster in a group of cars because things change all the time and one little change can make a lot of difference, but just raw pace, you don’t find that with the quick change.”

Q. Rinus and Santino, Conor was talking this morning about how you guys have lacked grip, you just don’t have the pace so far this season. It’s been a tough season, that you needed a good two weeks here. What’s this season been like, and how does it feel to have the fastest non-tow speed on day one?

RINUS VEEKAY: “It’s definitely been my hardest season so far. It’s been a struggle, but we keep working, and hopefully we can find back that pace.

This might be the turnaround. I know we have a fast car here. It showed again today. The whole team does. And of course driving we get a bit more data, and hopefully it just lifts up the spirits of the team and hopefully we nail that setup coming to road and street courses later in the season, and yeah, hopefully it gets better. That’s the goal.”

Q. Did you have this circled as sort of like hey, Indy 500, I’ve qualified well there, I know we’re good there, we’re good on ovals? Through the road and street courses where you guys were struggling, were you looking at this as a place could you make your speed?

RINUS VEEKAY: “Definitely. One thing is for certain, ECR has fast cars on the speedway. That makes me excited, but also it’s just nice to really only have to fine tune the car, not the little details, because we’re already right at the top.

It feels really good, but it’s Indy; we keep working on the car, and one day is good, the other might be worse, and it’s a roller coaster always. Don’t be too relaxed; tomorrow is another day, and only on Saturday and Sunday it counts this week.”

Q. Santino, you said you haven’t felt this kind of comfort in two years or whatever, and I saw Larry Foyt and some other people out there smiling. What’s it meant for the team to just have day like this where things are clicking when they haven’t that much this year?

SANTINO FERRUCCI: “I think a lot of people know that this year at the team there’s been a lot of changes, a lot of personal changes, and I’m commenting as the veteran driver. With Michael Cannon coming in, a lot of his focus has been put towards this race and the second half of the season. I think we actually showed quite a bit of speed in the GP, especially for the race, to go from last up to about 13th before we had a small issue.

I think our season is going to turn around hopefully starting with this race. But it’s not for lack of trying. We’ve definitely had some really good pace and results up to certain points that I think people can see if they pay attention.

No, it’s just keeping our heads down, and today I think was a huge relief because we didn’t really know what we were going to have, and to just roll out and be straight comfortable, I don’t know, I don’t feel like that’s something we’re going to lose this month.

I think the team is really proud of themselves. I’m really proud of the team. We’ll just keep the Homes for Troops car up there.”

Q. Along those lines, AJ said he really didn’t want to come this month, but then he decided it would get his mind off of things. A day like today probably makes him pretty happy. I don’t know what kind of conversations you’ve had with him, if any, since he’s arrived, but —

SANTINO FERRUCCI: “Yeah, no, I think it was good to see him in the GP, in the stand, and I think obviously we were having a really good day. He was really happy to see that. I think he’s happy to see the program coming along.

I know for a fact in the garage on Sunday and on Monday he was really, really happy to see the car and to see the progress, to see I think something he hasn’t seen out of this team in a long time as far as build quality and all of the work that’s gone into it and all of the development that’s gone towards this car. He’s super excited, so I think to have a day like today to back that up is huge.

It’s a huge confidence boost for the whole organization, for the sponsors, for everybody, and to be honest with you, I think to maintain it, it’s difficult. It’s the most difficult race of the year. It’s very stressful, ever-changing.

But I think we’ll be able to stay somewhere in that really top realm. I think the Ganassi cars are obviously really, really good and competitive, and I think that’s what we’re going to strive to get to.”

Q. Do you feel like you need to do that for AJ?

SANTINO FERRUCCI: “I feel like yeah, I feel like it’s definitely — I wouldn’t say need. I feel like it’s kind of deserved to see that. Yeah.”

.

Q. Santino, Michael Cannon is widely respected in this business. Talk just a little bit about your working relationship and how that’s been to date for you.

SANTINO FERRUCCI: “Yeah, you know, I met Michael Cannon in 2018 when I came into the sport and worked with him as a young driver and as a rookie and in my first rookie season in 2019. To be honest, we finished seventh here as Rookie of the Year, then we went on to have three fourth-place finishes and almost a win at Gateway.

He’s just someone that I grew really close to, and we had a lot of success for me, who’s never really seen any of the tracks before and didn’t grow up in the Indy Lights series. So speaking with him this winter and getting him — before I did anything in my career, I’d always talk to him, moving forward with my path, because he’s someone that I’ve always trusted.

So given that opportunity for the stars to align at AJ Foyt, it was really cool that he wanted to come on board, work together again, and try and get some of that unfinished business out of the way a couple of the races that we felt like we gave away in ’19, particularly this being one of them that we knew we had a hell of a car back then, and we were definitely in contention to win, I just had no idea what I was doing as a rookie.

But the dynamic is awesome. Seeing him in the team working with my race engineer Daniele and with Benjamin’s race engineer Roberto has been phenomenal, and a lot of his focus is taking the pressure off of those guys and doing different things and working in different areas so they can focus on the day-to-day tasks with the race car.

It’s paying off. I think we do show a lot of success in the races regardless where the results say we are, and I think coming here where Mike has put a lot of his efforts into this car, today I think it shows.”

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.

Sato, Dixon Reach 229 as Ganassi Flexes in First Indy Practice

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, May 17, 2023) – Past winners Takuma Sato and Scott Dixon both topped 229 mph as Chip Ganassi Racing drivers took four of the top seven spots on the speed chart in the first day of practice Wednesday for the 107th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

Two-time “500” winner Sato led with a top lap of 39.2261 seconds, 229.439 mph in the No. 11 Deloitte Honda, turned in the final two hours under sunny skies and air temperatures in the mid-70s. 2008 Indy 500 winner Dixon was second at 229.174 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda on a lap turned in the first 10 minutes of the day.

This is Sato’s first “500” outing with the powerful Ganassi team. He won the race in 2017 with Andretti Autosport and in 2020 with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

“The organization is very impressive,” Sato said. “Everything is in the right place and the right people. They use their resources and make the most of it. Preparation is simply impressive.

“Today on the track, all four drivers divided a few different programs. I wasn’t particularly happy with the kind of sensation I was getting in the morning. We’re just working on what’s the best way. In the afternoon, the group run by Ganassi was a great hint for me about what needs to be done. We went for it, and we had a big tow, and that’s why we have a very successful platform right now.”

Santino Ferrucci was third at 228.977 in the No. 14 Homes For Our Troops Chevrolet fielded by AJ Foyt Racing. 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion and current series points leader Alex Palou was fourth at 228.720 in the No. 10 The American Legion Honda fielded by Chip Ganassi Racing.

Scott McLaughlin was fifth at 228.473 in the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet. Reigning “500” winner Marcus Ericsson rounded out the four-car Chip Ganassi Racing team in seventh at 227.701 in the No. 8 Huski Ice Spritz Honda.

RC Enerson completed the three-phase Rookie Orientation Program in the No. 50 Abel Motorsports Chevrolet, as all 34 entries combined to turn 3,455 laps (8,637.5 miles) in the busy, six-hour session after Opening Day was rained out Tuesday.

Practice resumes from noon-6 p.m. ET Thursday. Public gates open at 10 a.m.

The 107th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 28 (11 a.m. ET, NBC, Peacock, Universo, INDYCAR Radio Network). PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying is Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21.

How to Drive in True Los Angeles Style

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SM
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Photo by Cedric Letsch on Unsplash

Los Angeles, often called the ‘City of Angels,’ is recognized globally as a hub of glamour, creativity, and diversity. It is a place of contrasts, where the laid-back beach culture coexists with the hustle and bustle of Hollywood, where the glitz of Rodeo Drive meets the grit of DTLA. Yet, if there is one thing that unifies this sprawling metropolis, it is the city’s love affair with the automobile. LA’s car culture is legendary, and so is its traffic. But don’t fret; driving in Los Angeles is more than just navigating freeways. It’s about embodying the city’s style, spirit, and spontaneity. 

Here are a few tips on how to drive in true Los Angeles style.

1. The Car Matters

The first step towards driving LA-style starts with the right car. Whether it’s a classic muscle car, a sleek sports car, or a luxurious convertible, your vehicle is more than just a mode of transport – it’s a style statement. If you want to completely immerse yourself in southern California car culture, there are many different Los Angeles movie car rentals you can choose from that will make you feel like a famous Hollywood celebrity.

2. Know Your Freeways

Los Angeles is a city intertwined with an intricate network of freeways. It’s said that LA was built around cars, and you can only truly appreciate the city by understanding its freeways. Each freeway has its own unique character and serves different parts of the city. There’s the infamous 405, known for its maddening traffic, and the 101, which will take you from Hollywood to the beautiful coastline in Ventura County.

In true LA style, Angelenos refer to their freeways with ‘the’ as a prefix to the freeway number. This is a peculiarly Southern Californian dialectical quirk – you won’t hear people in Northern California say ‘the 101’. They’ll call it ‘101’. So, if you’re hoping to blend in, remember to call it ‘the 405’, ‘the 10’, ‘the 101’, etc.

You’ll need to learn the significant interchanges to navigate the freeways truly. The Four-Level Interchange, known as the ‘Stack’, is a sight to behold. This towering, multi-level interchange connects US Route 101 with Interstate 110, and it’s a marvel of mid-century engineering. Another notorious intersection is the 405 and the 10, often rated as one of the worst bottlenecks in the country.

Understanding the freeways is about more than just knowing their numbers, though. It’s about understanding their ebbs and flows. For example, the 10 freeway heading into downtown LA in the morning is usually slow-moving due to the rush of commuters. Conversely, the 405 heading toward the Valley is usually congested in the evening. It takes time, experience, and a bit of intuition to predict and navigate LA’s freeway traffic.

3. Embrace the Traffic

LA’s infamous traffic is something you’ll have to make peace with. Instead of getting frustrated, consider it a part of the LA experience. Use this time to listen to some of the city’s best radio stations or catch up on your favorite podcasts. Alternatively, plan your drives outside of rush hour times, often before 7 am and after 7 pm.

4. Master the Art of Parallel Parking

Parallel parking is an essential skill to have in Los Angeles. With parking spaces at a premium in many areas of the city, particularly in busy neighborhoods like Hollywood, Silver Lake, and Downtown LA, you will often have to squeeze into tight spots on the side of the street.

Parallel parking is an art form. It requires precision, spatial awareness, and patience. Start by signaling your intent to park, then align your vehicle with the one you plan to park behind. Check your mirrors, start backing up slowly, and turn your wheel when your rear wheels align with the other car’s rear bumper. Remember to check your surroundings constantly to avoid any unwanted dings or scratches.

In the early days, you might find parallel parking challenging. But with practice, you’ll become adept at slipping into even the smallest parking spaces. Remember, even the most minor victory over parking in LA is a moment to savour.

Moreover, it’s essential to pay attention to parking regulations. Many residential streets require permits for parking, especially overnight. Some areas have restrictions during peak hours to accommodate rush hour traffic. And don’t forget street cleaning days – the city is strict about ticketing during these designated times. So, read the signs carefully.

5. Keep an Eye Out for Scenic Routes

While freeways are the quickest way to get from point A to point B, they’re only sometimes the most picturesque. When you have extra time, detour through the city’s scenic routes, drive along the Pacific Coast Highway for breathtaking coastal views or cruise through Mulholland Drive to glimpse the city’s sprawling skyline.

6. Respect the Rules

Lastly, remember that LA style isn’t about reckless driving. Always follow traffic rules, watch for pedestrians, and respect speed limits. Remember, safety always comes first, even in a city as relaxed as Los Angeles.

Driving in LA is an experience unlike any other. It’s a blend of style, adventure, and patience. So, buckle up, hit the road, and enjoy the journey in true Los Angeles style.

Road Safety & More- Why Regular Car Maintenance Is Essential

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SM
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Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

Safety should be at the top of your mind on the road, whether driving to work or on a long road trip. After all, getting even a little complacent can lead to a mishap. Defensive driving gives you a good start. You can go a step ahead by watching out for negligent drivers and maintaining a safe distance from them. But are these measures enough to stay safe on the road?

Did you know that 2% of car accidents happen due to mechanical failures? That seems small, but the number can be scary, considering that millions of accidents occur on American roads every year. The good thing is that these mishaps are avoidable, provided you commit to vehicle maintenance. Let us explain why keeping your car in top-notch condition is vital for road safety.

Safety first

When it comes to cruising down the road, a well-maintained car can be a lifesaver. It can make the difference between a close call and a disastrous mishap. Statistics show that faulty brakes contribute to around 5% of all car accidents in the country. That’s a mind-boggling number, right? 

The best solution is to get regular checks, maintain your vehicle with timely services, and stay ahead of repairs.

Prevention beats breakdowns 

A breakdown can be painful, whether it happens close to your home or in the middle of nowhere. Regular car maintenance can prevent unexpected breakdowns from disrupting your plans and causing delays. 

Simple tasks such as filter replacements, oil changes, and tire rotations can keep your vehicle funning and help you avoid dreaded roadside emergencies.

Save your hard-earned cash 

Besides ensuring road safety, timely maintenance can save your hard-earned cash in the long run. For example, fixing auto glass chip sooner than later can prevent an expensive windshield replacement in the long run. 

Repairing a small leak or replacing a worn-out belt costs a fraction of replacing a blown engine or a busted transmission. Remember that overlooking small issues can be the worst mistake because they snowball into major problems in no time.    

Ensure longevity 

Regular maintenance can keep your vehicle strong for years to come and enhance its longevity. Conversely, its lifespan can be short if you ignore the warning signs of trouble. 

But with some TLC, your vehicle can hit the 100,000-mile mark and beyond. The longer your car lasts, the better because you can save for the next big purchase. 

Keep the resale value high 

Another benefit of keeping your car in great shape is that it maintains the resale value. A well-documented maintenance history makes it easy to get the best price from potential buyers. 

When you upgrade to a newer model, you can make the most of the current one. It means you will have extra dollars to pay the down payment.

Conclusion 

Regular car maintenance isn’t just an extra chore or an optional task. It is an essential thing for owners looking to stay safe, save money, and keep their rides up and running over the years. You will be a proud owner and a profitable seller down the road.

The Top Tools You Need for Wind Turbine Installation

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SM
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Photo by James Sullivan on Unsplash

Wind turbines are complex machines that require careful installation to ensure optimal performance and reliability. Proper installation requires a range of specialized tools and equipment to lift, position, and secure the various components of the turbine. Here are some of them:

Cranes

When it comes to wind turbine installation, cranes are one of the most essential tools you’ll need. Cranes are used to lift and position wind turbine components, such as the tower, nacelle, and rotor blades, into place. Depending on the size of the turbine and the height of the tower, cranes can range from small mobile units to large, specialized heavy-lift cranes capable of lifting hundreds of tons. 

Choosing the right crane for the job is critical to ensuring the safety of workers and the proper installation of the wind turbine components. Experienced crane operators are also essential to ensure that the crane is used safely and effectively throughout the installation process. By investing in the right crane and experienced operators, you can help ensure a successful wind turbine installation project.

Hydraulic jacks

In addition to cranes, hydraulic jacks are another essential tool needed for wind turbine installation. Hydraulic jacks are used to lift and level wind turbine tower sections during installation, and they are crucial for adjusting the height and angle of the tower sections to ensure that they fit together correctly. 

Hydraulic jacks are typically operated by hand or by remote control, allowing for precise adjustments to be made to the tower sections as needed. Heavy rigging equipment, such as slings and shackles, are also commonly used in conjunction with hydraulic jacks to lift and move the tower sections into position. Proper use of hydraulic jacks and rigging equipment is essential to ensuring the safety of workers and the successful installation of the wind turbine.

Pneumatic wrenches

Another essential tool needed for wind turbine installation is the pneumatic wrench. Pneumatic wrenches are powerful tools used to tighten and loosen bolts and nuts during installation, and they come in a range of sizes and torque settings. They can be either electric or battery-powered and are commonly used in wind turbine installation due to their high torque capabilities. 

Pneumatic wrenches can quickly and efficiently tighten and loosen bolts and nuts, making them an essential tool for wind turbine installation teams. Proper use of pneumatic wrenches, including selecting the appropriate torque setting and ensuring that the tool is calibrated correctly, is critical to the safety of workers and the successful installation of the wind turbine.

Torque multipliers

In wind turbine installation, torque multipliers are specialized tools that play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and stability of the turbine. These tools are used to apply high levels of torque to large bolts, which are used to secure components such as the tower, nacelle, and rotor blades. Torque multipliers are often used in combination with hydraulic jacks and pneumatic wrenches to ensure that bolts are tightened to the correct torque specification. 

They come in a range of sizes and torque capabilities and are a critical tool for ensuring the safety and structural integrity of the wind turbine. Proper use of torque multipliers, including selecting the appropriate size and torque settings, is essential to the safety of workers and the successful installation of the wind turbine.

Alignment tools

Alignment tools, such as laser levels and plumb bobs, play a vital role in wind turbine installation by ensuring that components are correctly aligned. Proper alignment is critical to the safe and efficient operation of the turbine. Laser levels are used to ensure that the turbine components are level, while plumb bobs are used to ensure that they are vertical. 

These tools are especially important for the installation of large wind turbines, where even minor misalignments can have a significant impact on performance. By using alignment tools, workers can ensure that the turbine is installed correctly and operates efficiently, maximizing the energy output and reducing the risk of damage or failure.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is an essential tool for ensuring the safety of workers during wind turbine installation. The use of PPE is required by law and is a critical component of any wind turbine installation project. PPE includes items such as hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, earplugs, and harnesses. 

These items help protect workers from injury, such as head injuries from falling debris, eye injuries from flying particles and falls from heights. Harnesses are particularly important for workers who are required to work at height during the installation process. By using PPE, workers can perform their tasks safely and with confidence, reducing the risk of injury and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.

NHRA AT CHICAGO: Team Chevy Race Advance

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Official Release
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CHEVROLET IN NHRA
2023 GERBER COLLISION AND GLASS ROUTE 66 NHRA NATIONALS
ROUTE 66 RACEWAY
JOLIET, ILLINOIS
MAY 19-21, 2023

TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE

DETROIT (May 17, 2023) – Making their return for the first time since 2019 to Route 66 Raceway near Chicago, the Chevrolet Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock drivers and teams look to take on the Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals this weekend.

Coming off of a four-series sweep in the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte, North Carolina by the Bowtie brand, drivers and teams enter the fifth round of the season carrying strong momentum and keeping their eyes on the Windy City’s Winner’s Circle.

Last finishing runner-up at Route 66 Raceway, John Force Racing’s Robert Hight, driver of the Auto Club/Cornwell Tools Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, reflects on his last run at the Joliet, Illinois track with excitement, saying, “I’m excited to get back to Chicago. I love the facility. It’s close to our shop in Indiana so we have a lot of the crew guys’ families and our Force American Made shop guys come out. There’s an extra layer of excitement for me debuting the Cornwell Tools Chevy. It’s a beautiful car and I’m looking forward to showing it off. I honestly didn’t realize I was getting that close to 600 round wins. That’s really amazing and I’m really proud of that. Hopefully I get well beyond that 600, we’ll see.”

With his win in Top Fuel at zMAX Dragway, the most recent winner Austin Prock of John Force Racing, in his Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster, heads to the track this weekend looking for redemption from his 2019 Round 1 elimination. “I’m looking forward to getting back in my Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist hotrod this weekend in Chicago. We are looking to pick up right where we left off in Charlotte,” Prock said. “The team did an outstanding job and I feel like we’re really hitting our strides. With our performance in Pomona, it allows us our first stab at the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and gives us a chance to make some extra cash and gain valuable points. It’s going to be a great weekend of racing being back at a beautiful facility and we’re hoping to pack the stands.”

Seeking his sixth career NHRA Pro Stock win, Sterling, Colorado’s Deric Kramer of KB Titan Racing last raced at Route 66 to the Winner’s Circle, defeating Elite Motorsports’ Erica Enders in the final. “I was already excited that Chicago was back on the schedule this season since I was the last person to win Pro Stock there in 2019 and now coming off our first win in four years a few weeks ago in Charlotte, I couldn’t ask for a better time to get to Chicago. The GetBioFuel.com Camaro tested right after Vegas and I think we found what’s been plaguing us for a few years now. Our performance has picked up and our consistency has too. Our team is excited to get to Chicago to defend our title.”

Defending his win in Charlotte and helping make the Chevrolet sweep complete, Factory Stock Showdown winner Len Lottig joins the rest of the COPO Camaro competitors in seeking the Route 66 Raceway Winner’s Circle. For the first time in series history since its inception in 2016, the Factory Stock Showdown field will compete in Joliet at Route 66 Raceway.

In addition to four rounds of elimination racing Sunday, the Route 66 NHRA Nationals welcome both the Pro Stock All-Star Call Out, as well as the #2Fast2Tasty Mission NHRA Challenge in the Top Fuel and Funny Car nitro ranks throughout the weekend.

Introduced last season, the Pep Boys NHRA All Star Callout takes the top-seeded driver in their respective class and allows for them to “call out” an opponent of choice to face off for the potential of winning big money and bragging rights. This year’s #2Fast2Tasty Mission NHRA Challenge sees semifinalists from the race weekend prior facing off during qualifying sessions, a race within a race, that has cash prizes and bragging rights also on the line.

The 2023 Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals action from Route 66 Raceway airs first with Friday qualifying Friday, May 19, at 7 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Saturday qualifying near Chicago airs Sunday, May 21 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1. Sunday’s Finals will also air on FS1, starting at 10 p.m. ET Sunday, May 21. Coverage streaming live throughout the weekend can be found through NHRA.tv, available via AppleTV, Android TV and Roku devices.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Brittany Force, driver of the Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster for John Force Racing:

“I’m excited to be returning to Chicago with the Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy team this weekend. Route 66 Raceway is going to be a challenging one with an added #2Fast2Tasty Challenge at a track we haven’t competed at in three years. A win this weekend would be huge for this team. We’ve held No. 1 qualifiers at this event and runnered-up so we’re ready to get to the racetrack and back with the Route 66 fans while hunting down our first win of the season.”

John Force, driver of the BlueDEF Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car for John Force Racing:

“I’m really looking forward to racing back in Chicago. We’ve already had a busy week. This being PEAK and Old World Industries’ hometown race, they had a hand in getting this race back. Just like they’ve kept me around, they’re helping keep our sport around too. Hurvis, he’s almost as old as me, we have a lot in common. He’s proud of what he’s built, brought his family in and I’m the same. He’s keeping me out here racing, I owe a lot of this to him, to PEAK, BlueDEF and all the Old World companies, they trust me, have faith in me, and that means a lot to me. It’s going to be a fun weekend with all their employees out at the race. We’re going to do our best to get them in the winner’s circle.”

Len Lottig, driver of the ITI Trailer and Truck Bodies Chevrolet COPO Camaro in Factory Stock Showdown:

“We had a great weekend in Charlotte. Really from start to finish. Low qualifier and getting the win is what every racer hopes for, especially in a competitive class like Factory Stock Showdown. The whole team was on it, we had to hustle with the weather, it was impressive. I’m lucky to be surrounded by great people. We’ve got a great team and we’re having fun and we all just want it to continue. Our new crew members, Tomi Laine and Dave Yedney, have been a huge part of our success this season, both myself and Jesse (Alexandra). We have a great team around us. So, we’re looking forward to Chicago. First time for us being at Route 66 Raceway in Factory Stock, should be a good show.”

TEAM CHEVY BY THE NUMBERS

1,426: Round wins for John Force (1st all-time)

599: Round wins for Robert Hight; 13th all-time. Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), sits 12th, with 618.

371: Number of wins in Pro Stock since 1970; 252 won in the Chevrolet Camaro body

165: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for John Force (1st all-time)

157: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins since 1967

77: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Robert Hight (6th all-time)

76: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins with the Camaro body

45: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Brittany Force

27: Number of NHRA championships Chevrolet holds as a manufacturer since entering the first in 1966. No other manufacturer has won it more than Chevrolet.

24: Wins by John Force in a Chevrolet-bodied Funny Car

18: Number of Pro Stock championships

20: Chevrolet career Top Fuel wins in NHRA

16: Number of Chevrolet career wins by Brittany Force

7: Number of Funny Car driver championships

2: Number of Top Fuel driver championships

MOST RECENT WIN IN NHRA BY CHEVROLET

Charlotte 1 (Four-Wide)

Austin Prock (Top Fuel)
Robert Hight (Funny Car)
Deric Kramer (Pro Stock)
Len Lottig (Factory Stock Showdown)

2019 NHRA CHICAGO WINS BY CHEVROLET

Deric Kramer, Pro Stock

2019 NHRA CHICAGO NO. 1 QUALIFIERS BY CHEVROLET

Robert Hight, Funny Car

Greg Anderson, Pro Stock

MOST RECENT DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIPS IN NHRA BY CHEVROLET

2022: Brittany Force, Top Fuel

2022: Erica Enders, Pro Stock

2022: David Barton, Factory Stock Showdown

2019: Robert Hight, Funny Car

UPCOMING NHRA MILESTONES

950: Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) is second all-time with 916 elimination round wins. He could reach 950 round wins with a decent run in the 18-race schedule.

600: Robert Hight has 599 Funny Car elimination wins to rank 13th on the all-time NHRA list; Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car) sits 12th with 615.

441: By qualifying for his next race, Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) will extend his NHRA record to 440 consecutive race day appearances. His first appearance came in 2002 at Pomona 2, and he holds the longest career qualifying streak in NHRA.

138: Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) ranks third on the NHRA all-time list with 121 No. 1 qualifiers. He will tie Warren Johnson (Pro Stock, 138) for second to John Force (165) on the list.

263: By qualifying for his next race, Robert Hight will extend his NHRA record to 262 consecutive race day appearances. His first appearance came in 2010 at Pomona 2, and he currently sits seventh in career qualifying streaks in NHRA (Doug Kalitta is sixth at 272).

65: Robert Hight moved into the top 10 on the all-time NHRA victory list with his win in Pomona 1 with 63. Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock, retired) is next ninth on list with 65.

46: Erica Enders has 43 career Pro Stock victories (all with Chevrolet, first win coming at Chicago, 2012 and last win at Las Vegas 2, 2022). Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) is the all-time NHRA female leader with 46.

18: Brittany Force (16 Top Fuel career wins) will move past Shirley Muldowney (18 wins) into third on the NHRA all-time victory list for females. Erica Enders (Pro Stock, 43) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle, 46) are ahead.

6: Erica Enders (Pro Stock) could tie Warren Johnson (6 Pro Stock championships) for second on the class list. The same holds for Greg Anderson. Bob Glidden is the leader with 10.

3: Brittany Force (Top Fuel, 2 championships) would tie Shirley Muldowney (Top Fuel) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) for second on the NHRA all-time championship list by females with another title in 2023. Erica Enders (Pro Stock, 5) is the leader.

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 100 countries and selling more than 4.0 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with 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.

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Race Preview: NASCAR All-Star Race

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Official Release
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Race Information

  • Track: North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro, N.C.
  • Race Name: NASCAR All-Star Race & Open
  • Broadcast: Sunday, May 21st on FS1 8:00pm ET (TV), MRN (Radio) Sirius XM NASCAR Ch. 90
  • Team Entrants:

No. 42 | Noah Gragson & Luke Lambert – Sunseeker Resorts Chevrolet Camaro Zl1
No. 43 | Erik Jones & Dave Elenz – STP Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Noah Gragson, No. 42 Sunseeker Resorts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

2023 NCS Season Stats

  • Starts: 13, Best start: 10th; Best finish: 12th (Atlanta); Laps led: 2; Current points position: 32nd

About Sunseeker Resorts: Opening in 2023, Florida’s newest luxury resort located in Charlotte Harbor is the first resort property of Sunseeker Resorts, a wholly owned subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Company. Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor occupies over 22 waterfront acres with 785 guest rooms, including 189 Signature Sunsuites™. Set upon the Peace River and Florida Gulf Coast, this premier resort offers 20 original food and beverage concepts; including seven stand-alone restaurants, eleven bars and lounges, two poolside offerings and a 25,000-square-foot multi-dining experience. Additional hotel amenities include a waterfront promenade, two unique rooftop and waterfront pool experiences, 60,000-square-feet of combined convention space, full-service spa and salon, a 7,100-square-foot state-of-the-art fitness center with four group exercise studios with specialty instructor lead classes, three retail and market shops, and an 18-hole championship level golf club exclusive to hotel guests only. The resort is conveniently located within a short drive of Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, Sarasota, St. Petersburg-Clearwater, and Tampa airports. For more information, visit www.sunseekerresorts.com. Follow on Instagram: @sunseekerresorts and like us on Facebook: @sunseekerresorts.

Vote for Noah Campaign: Noah Gragson takes the relationship with his fans very seriously. The two-time NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver (Truck Series, 2018 and Xfinity Series, 2022) winner went to great lengths this year to help drive votes for the NASCAR All-Star Race in North Wilkesboro. Earlier this month he visited the Wilkes County town and track, delivering Black Rifle Coffee to firefighters and even checked out the iconic Liberty Theatre sampling the famous popcorn. Fans have until 12pm ET on Saturday, May 20 to cast their vote. Click here for the campaign video and to vote for Noah.

New to Noah: Gragson was not born yet when the last NASCAR Cup Series event took place at North Wilkesboro Speedway in 1996. This is also his first attempt of the NASCAR All-Star Open race as a rookie in the Cup Series.

Better Late Model Than Never: Gragson will compete in the ASA Stars National Tour Super Late Model ECMD 150 at North Wilkesboro as a warmup leading into All-Star weekend. He is racing a “Noah For Mayor” paint scheme featuring the QR code where fans can vote Gragson into the All-Star race main event.

Seven-Time is also Four-Time: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB co-owner Jimmie Johnson has the most NASCAR All-Star wins among active drivers with four wins in the exhibition event, all of which occurred when the race took place at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. Johnson won the million-dollar event in 2003, 2006, 2012 and 2013.

Meet the Mayor: Gragson will sign autographs for fans from 2:30- 3:00pm on Sunday, May 21 at the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB trackside merchandise rig at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Quoting Noah Gragson: “I’ve been looking forward to the All-Star race weekend. The “Vote for Noah” fan vote campaign has been pretty fun and the fans have really gotten into it. We’ve been handing out buttons and posting flyers everywhere. I hope to win the Open race and not need the vote, but either way, I want the No. 42 Sunseeker Resorts Chevrolet in the main event. It’s going to be a wild race at a historic track where we can highlight our pit crews and team, have some fun and go for it all. I hope the fans have a blast. It’s going to be a special weekend and I am really just happy to have the opportunity to be a part of it.”

Erik Jones, No. 43 STP Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

NASCAR All-Star Race Stats

  • NASCAR All-Star Open Starts: 4; Best finish: 2nd (2018) Top-5s: 2, Top-10s:2
  • NASCAR All-Star Starts 2: Best finish 11th (2020)

2023 NCS Season Stats

  • Starts: 13; Best start: 8th; Best finish: 6th; Top 10s: 2, Laps led: 17, Current points position: 25th

About STP: For over 60 years, and for more miles than anyone can count, STP® has been one of the most trusted names in automotive care. Car enthusiasts, “Do-it-Yourselfers” and professional racers rely on STP® oil additives, fuel additives and brake and power steering fluids to keep their vehicles running better, for longer. STP® is headquartered in St. Louis, Mo. and is part of Energizer Holdings, Inc. Visit www.STP.com for more information.

STP – The “OG”: STP, which stands for Science, Technology and Performance, is a brand of oil additives, fuel additives and brake and power steering fluids, and was one of the original sponsors in the sport of NASCAR. The pioneer brand entered NASCAR in 1972 by sponsoring the world-famous Richard Petty team. Petty’s dominance on the track dubbed him “The King” during his era as he holds more records than any driver, including 200 career wins, more than 1,185 starts, and 27 victories in one season with a streak of ten in a row. STP sponsored Petty from 1972 until 1992 when he retired. The agreement between Petty and STP marked the first national-level sponsorship deal in NASCAR.

Four Score and Over Thirty Years Ago: Team ambassador Petty logged an impressive 66 starts at North Wilkesboro Speedway, collecting 15 wins, 33 top-five and 42 top-10 finishes. Of those 15 victories, eight came while Petty carried the famed STP colors on his racecar. His final win at North Wilkesboro came in the 1981 Northwestern Bank 400 making him the winningest driver in NASCAR Cup Series history at the legendary .625-mile Wilkes County oval. The victory was his 194th overall, and 107th short-track victory.

All Hail: Richard Petty will be honored with the most famous words in racing as he will serve as the grand marshal for the NASCAR All-Star Hauler Parade in Wilkes County, N.C., on Thursday, May 17 at 6pm ET. He will also serve as co-grand marshal with fellow NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Darrell Waltrip to kick off the NASCAR All-Star Race on Sunday.

2022 Fan Vote Winner: Last season, Jones was the recipient of the All-Star Race “Fan Vote” for the event which took place at Texas Motor Speedway. He started the race 24th and finished 20th after a late race crash took him out of contention.

The history of “Day-Glo Red”: Former STP CEO Andy Granatelli always painted his own race cars a unique Day-Glo Red color, and when Richard Petty signed with the sponsor in 1972, Granatelli insisted on using the color for the No. 43. Petty pushed back, insisting on the traditional Petty Blue painted car entry. After several days of serious debate, the two racing giants finally reached a compromise to combine the two colors, and rest is history.

May is Melanoma Awareness Month: The month of May is Melanoma and Skin Care awareness – a cause very dear to the Jones family, as early cancer detection and care is one of the three pillars of the Erik Jones Foundation (EJF). Cancer detection and care have been a priority for Jones since his father, Dave, succumbed to the disease in 2016. Last October, Jones and his family attended the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) Gala in New York City, where Jones accepted the 2022 Courage Award on behalf of his late father. For more information visit: www.erikjonesracing.com/foundation/ .

Keeping up with ‘That Jones Boy’: Jones will sign autographs for fans at the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB trackside merchandise rig for 100 fans on Sunday, May 21 at 1pm ET. Wrist bands will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis on Saturday, May 20 starting at 8am and Sunday, May 21 starting at 11am. (Must have a wrist band for an autograph.)

Quoting Erik Jones: “It’s always exciting to get the chance to participate in an All-Star race and to get to do it at a historic track like North Wilkesboro is even more special. I took some advice from ‘The King’ as he said the track is so worn out it, tire fall off will be high. That kind of track really suits my driving style. With the iconic STP paint scheme on the No. 43 Chevrolet it will be like going back in time at North Wilkesboro. We hope to put on a good show for the fans of the No. 43. Richard (Petty) told me with this ‘Day Glo Red’ I can’t hide from him – and with no points and a million bucks on the line, it’s going to be an aggressive race. It would be historic to put this car in victory lane again so we are going to do everything we can to make that happen.”

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB:

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

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

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

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

Kaulig Racing Weekly Advance | North Wilkesboro Speedway

By
Official Release
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NASCAR All-Star Race
North Wilkesboro Speedway
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Sunday, May 21 at 5:00 p.m. EST on FS1 (All-Star Open)
Sunday, May 21 at 8:00 p.m. EST on FS1

  • Kaulig Racing competed its first NASCAR All-Star Race in 2022 at Texas Motor Speedway with AJ Allmendinger.

Chandler Smith, No. 13 Quick Tie Products Camaro ZL1

  • Chandler Smith will attempt his first NASCAR All-Star Race on Sunday at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
  • Smith has made one previous NCS start earlier this season at Richmond Raceway, where he finished in 17th place.

“It’s really cool getting the opportunity to race at North Wilkesboro this weekend. The history of the track and how it all came back together is awesome. What I’m most excited for is the chance to hopefully transfer in and compete in my first All-Star Race. Tire falloff will be huge all night, but it’s something I’m used to with racing Late Models on short tracks all my life. I raced in the Late Model race there on Tuesday to get an understanding for the track, so while the Cup cars handle completely different, it gives a good baseline of what to expect.” – Chandler Smith on North Wilkesboro Speedway

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Campers Inn RV Camaro ZL1

  • AJ Allmendinger has competed in six NASCAR All-Star events with a best finish of seventh in the 2022 NASCAR All-Star Race with Kaulig Racing.
  • Allmendinger will compete in the NASCAR All-Star Open and attempt to race his way into the 2023 All-Star Race.

“It’ll be interesting to see the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro come together this weekend. It’s an exciting event for fans with a track that’s rich in grass-roots-racing history. It’s always an honor to be a part of the All-Star race, so hopefully we put a Kaulig Racing car in the main event.” – AJ Allmendinger on North Wilkesboro Speedway

Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1

  • Justin Haley has competed in one NASCAR All-Star Race in 2020. He finished the race in 14th place.
  • Haley will compete in the NASCAR All-Star Open and attempt to race his way into the 2023 All-Star Race.

“I’m very curious to see what North Wilkesboro has to offer. Obviously, we are not locked into the big show, so we will have to race our way in. It will be interesting to see what the tires do, as it’s a low-grip racetrack with a lot of tire wear. Coming off a strong run in Darlington, I’m excited to see if we can turn some heads and get a Kaulig Racing car into the All-Star Race.” – Justin Haley on North Wilkesboro Speedway  

 
About Kaulig Racing™

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started and has won back-to-back regular-season championships. Before becoming a full-time NCS team, Kaulig Racing made multiple starts in the 2021 NCS season and won in its seventh-ever start with AJ Allmendinger’s victory at “The Brickyard” for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team expanded to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 with Justin Haley piloting the No. 31 Camaro ZL1, and an all-star lineup featured in the No. 16 Camaro ZL1. Haley will continue to drive the No. 31 full-time in 2023, alongside AJ Allmendinger, who will drive the No. 16 Camaro ZL1. The team will continue to field three, full-time NXS entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by an all-star lineup that will be announced at a later date, the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Daniel Hemric, and the No. 16 Chevrolet driven by Chandler Smith. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Racing: Aric Almirola North Wilkesboro/All-Star Advance

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Official Release
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ARIC ALMIROLA
North Wilkesboro/All-Star Advance
No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: NASCAR All-Star Race (non-points race)
● Time/Date: 8 p.m. EDT on Sunday, May 21
● Location: North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway
● Layout: .625-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 200 laps/125 miles
● TV/Radio: FS1 / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Almirola grew up watching his racing heroes compete at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway and dreamed of one-day taking laps himself on the iconic .625-mile oval. This weekend, his dream will come true. Not only is he looking forward to racing on the track’s original asphalt surface, but also for the chance to compete for $1 million and a trip to victory lane. While the season has been rocky for the 39-year-old veteran, the No. 10 team’s short-track program has shown significant speed. Almirola kicked off the year by winning his heat in the Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and leading the field to green in the feature race. The Smithfield driver continued to show top-five speed on the mile oval at Phoenix Raceway and the .75-mile Richmond (Va.) Raceway oval, and had a car capable of winning at on the half-mile Martinsville (Va.) Speedway oval.

● Martinsville’s .536-mile paperclip-shaped oval is the most comparable configuration to North Wilkesboro, which last hosted a NASCAR event in 1996. That bodes well for Almirola and the No. 10 team. He’s finished inside the top-10 in five of his last nine Martinsville starts, and his sixth-place finish there in his most recent visit April 16 is his highest finish of the season.

● Almirola will have to race his way into Sunday night’s All-Star Race by finishing first or second in the All-Star Open that precedes it, but he’s no stranger to racing his way in. In eight All-Star Open (or Sprint Showdown, as it was previously known), Almirola has one win, which came in 2021 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, and he’s finished outside the top-10 just twice. Almirola can also advance to the featured All-Star Race by winning the NASCAR Fan Vote. Fans can submit one ballot each day until 9 a.m. EDT Sunday.

● After years of complexity, the 2023 version of the All-Star Race has opted for simplicity. Two heat races on Saturday will set the starting lineup for Sunday’s main event – a 200 lapper with a competition break at or around lap 100. All laps (caution and green-flag) will count, and overtime rules are in effect to ensure a green-flag finish. Each team will start on sticker tires and have three additional sets to use. After the competition break, however, only one additional set of stickers can be used. The undercard All-Star Open, featuring drivers not previously eligible for the All-Star Race, will be 100 laps with a competition break at or around lap 40. Three Open drivers will advance to the All-Star Race – the top two race finishers and the NASCAR fan vote winner. All-Star festivities begin Friday evening with the Pit Crew Challenge to determine the starting lineups for the heat races and Open. Each car’s qualifying position will be based solely on its pit stop time. Teams must complete a four-tire stop; timing lines will be established one box behind and one box ahead of the designated pit box. The 22 drivers already locked into the All-Star Race field will be split into two 60-lap heat races on Saturday night, which will determine the starting lineup for Sunday’s main event. Results of the first heat will establish the inside row and results of the second heat will establish the outside row. The weekend concludes Sunday night with the All-Star Open and All-Star Race. Technical rules for the cars will remain the same as other NASCAR Cup Series short-track races. Those eligible for the All-Star Race include drivers who won a points event in either 2022 or 2023, drivers who won an All-Star Race and compete fulltime, and drivers who won a NASCAR Cup Series championship and compete fulltime.

● Smithfield has been a sponsor of Almirola’s for the entirety of his fulltime NASCAR Cup Series career – making it one of the longest-lasting partnerships in NASCAR. Smithfield is an American food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. Its 63,000 team members are dedicated to producing “Good food. Responsibly.®” Smithfield is one of the world’s leading vertically integrated protein companies. The company has pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including its industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30 percent across its entire U.S. value chain by 2030. Smithfield believes in the power of protein to end food insecurity and has donated hundreds of millions of food servings to local communities.

● Beyond the 10 YouTube Series:In 2023, Almirola is continuing to share his life beyond the No. 10 Ford with season five of his award-winning YouTube series. Fans and media can subscribe on YouTube to see Almirola’s personality on and off the track. Episodes have already featured life as a dad, a husband and an athlete, and the show gives fans a unique perspective on what goes on in the life of a professional NASCAR driver. Fans can also follow Almirola’s social media channels: @Aric_Almirola on Twitter and Instagram, and @AricAlmirola on Facebook.

Aric Almirola, Driver of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

What are you looking forward to the most in your debut at the iconic North Wilkesboro Speedway?

“Just racing on that iconic racetrack. I think back to when I was a kid watching Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace and Darrell Waltrip when I was 6 or 7 years old and I was a fan of the sport. I’ve driven past it so many times on my way to Bristol and always dreamed of how cool it would be to race at North Wilkesboro, and now we get to do it.”

What is going to be the key challenge to racing at North Wilkesboro?

“Traction, traction, traction, trying to get those tires to hook up to that old asphalt. We are going to be driving these cars and I bet after about five laps we will not be able to get to wide-open throttle. You are going to be driving like there is an egg literally under the gas pedal. You have to push it down so slow and so smooth to try and make those rear tires stick to the track.”

You have to race your way into the All-Star Race this weekend. How do you feel about your chances, and how much pressure is there to make the main event?

“I feel like our short-track program is really strong and we run really good at Martinsville and really good at Richmond, and I feel like we’ll have a really good shot to race our way in. It certainly does add a lot of pressure. I’ve been in the Cup Series for 12 years and I’ve been in five or six All-Star races. It’s a huge deal to walk up on that stage for driver introductions, and you’re in that All-Star Race, you’re a part of the show. That’s what every racecar driver wants to do. The last thing you want to do is go up there with your race team and go home when the big show is still going to happen, so the All-Star Race is a big deal because of the fact that not everyone gets to race it, and it puts a lot of pressure on the guys in the Open to where they go all out and put it all on the line. You do not want to be watching it at home knowing you could race for a million dollars.”

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Aric Almirola

Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer

Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Jerry Cook

Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Engineer: Davin Restivo

Hometown: Asheboro, North Carolina

Engineer: James Kimbrough

Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Joel Edmonds

Hometown: Dobson, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Mulder

Hometown: Sioux Center, Iowa

Rear Tire Changer: Trevor White

Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard

Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotton

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: James “Ace” Keener

Hometown: Fortuna, California

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Chris Trickett

Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Jacob Cooksey

Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller

Hometown: Monroe, New York

Tire Specialist: Russel Simpson

Hometown: Medford, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Steven Casper

Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

Kaulig Racing Tags Road-Racing Expert Jordan Taylor for Upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series Event

By
Official Release
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Taylor to Make First Start for Kaulig Racing at Portland International Raceway

Lexington, N.C. (May 17, 2023) – As NASCAR heads back to the west coast in June, Kaulig Racing is excited to announce the addition of road-racing expert, Jordan Taylor, to its All-Star driver line-up. Taylor will be at the helm of the No. 10 Chevrolet Camaro for his first NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) start at Portland International Raceway.

The 32-year-old is a seasoned veteran when it comes to road and street courses world-wide, currently competing full-time as a Corvette factory driver in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Taylor made his first-ever NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) start earlier this year at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) while filling in for an injured Chase Elliott.

“I am really pumped to make my first Xfinity series start with Kaulig Racing, a team that has shown it can dominate at road courses,” said Taylor. “I’ve been fortunate in my racing career to compete at so many different tracks, and I’m looking forward to checking Portland off my list.”

Taylor has earned seven wins in the NASCAR Grand-Am Sports Car Series and 24 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship wins, and has competed in numerous prestigious events, such as 24 Hours of Le Mans and American Le Mans Series races.

“Matt Kaulig and I are super excited to have Jordan [Taylor] in the No. 10 car for Portland”, said team president, Chris Rice. “Adding another driver with this much road-course expertise will be a lot of fun. Jordan impressed a lot of people in his first NASCAR start at COTA, and I can’t wait to see what he will do in his first Xfinity Series start.”

Kaulig Racing will look to defend its title in the Pacific Office Automation 147 on June 3rd with Taylor and the No. 10 team, alongside teammates Chandler Smith and Daniel Hemric. Partnership announcement will come at later date.
 
About Kaulig Racing™

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started and has won back-to-back regular-season championships. Before becoming a full-time NCS team, Kaulig Racing made multiple starts in the 2021 NCS season and won in its seventh-ever start with AJ Allmendinger’s victory at “The Brickyard” for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team expanded to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 with Justin Haley piloting the No. 31 Camaro ZL1, and an all-star lineup featured in the No. 16 Camaro ZL1. Haley will continue to drive the No. 31 full-time in 2023, alongside AJ Allmendinger, who will drive the No. 16 Camaro ZL1. The team will continue to field three, full-time NXS entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by an all-star lineup that will be announced at a later date, the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Daniel Hemric, and the No. 16 Chevrolet driven by Chandler Smith. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

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