Home Blog Page 1469

Wright Motorsports Dominates at Circuit of the Americas

By
Official Release
-

AUSTIN, Tex., (May 22, 2023) – The Wright Motorsports Porsches dominated the race weekend at Circuit of the Americas, sweeping both GT World Challenge America powered by AWS victories, and earning an additional three podium finishes at the Austin, Texas- area track. Drivers Adam Adelson and Elliott Skeer won the two headlining races of the weekend, followed by second and third-place finishes by Charlie Luck and Jan Heylen in the No. 45 Porsche 911 GT3 R.

“It was an excellent weekend for our championship efforts,” said Team Owner John Wright. “We expanded our points lead in the GT World Challenge team championship, and we continued to have a strong performance in the GT America championship as well. Consistency is what wins championships, and we’re well on the way there, thanks to all the hard work from everyone at Wright Motorsports.”

GT America Race One

Rain from the previous night made the track damp for qualifying on Saturday morning, resulting in a tire gamble for Adam Adelson and the team of the No. 120 Porsche 911 GT3 R as they set the starting position for race one. After starting on rain tires and then switching to racing slicks, they set a grid position of seventh place for the afternoon. He maintained position until about ten minutes into the race, when contact between other cars occurred in front of him, and he suffered an unfortunate spin. Able to safely rejoin, Adelson salvaged a seventh-place finish, and was able to set a fast lap to start the following day’s race from second position.

GT America Race Two

Adelson took the start for race two alongside polesitter George Kurtz, but in the opening minutes made the pass and took the lead. A tight battle with the No. 14 of James Sofronas for the lead position ensued, and the pair was joined by Kurtz and Anthony Bartone to create a train of GT3 cars, all vying for position. Sofronas and Kurtz made contact and stopped in turn eight, while Bartone and Adelson held first and second under full course caution. Bartone spun on the final turn as the field charged down the front straight to the green flag, temporarily blocking Adelson as the field drove by. He was able to rejoin in seventh, with all podium hopes seemingly dashed. Not to be deterred, the No. 120 Porsche managed to conduct an impressive late-race charge from seventh in class to third place, then up to second after the race-winner received a penalty. His second-place finish marks his third podium finish in six races, getting one step closer to contending for the championship points lead.

GTWCA Race One

After a strong qualifying session, Adelson and the No. 120 Porsche sat poised to start the 90-minute race from third place, and Charlie Luck started his stint from sixth in the Pro/Am class. Luck gained a position on the start, as Adelson stepped back a spot, and the pair rounded out the top five in class in the opening laps. Luck showed a large amount of grit in his stint, holding off intense pressure from an eager Samantha Tan in a BMW, a car that showed a strong advantage on the Austin circuit. After a ten-minute battle, she eventually gained the position, as Adelson worked his way up to third behind George Kurtz and Pedro Torres. After applying heavy pressure on Torres, Adelson’s intense focus forced his competitor into making a mistake and he took second place. At the halfway point, Kurtz enjoyed a several-second lead on the field, but a full course caution at the halfway point completely erased his gap. The race went back to green after a slight delay, and the entire field pitted for the mandatory driver change. Elliott Skeer took over from Adelson and exited pit lane in fourth overall, and Jan Heylen resumed the driving duties for Charlie Luck, joining three cars behind.

From there, the final half of the race was non-stop action as the professionally ranked drivers stepped in to finish the final 40 minutes of racing. It began with the top five cars racing side by side and nose to tail in a small group, each fighting for the top position. They went three wide into turn one, a battle that removed Colin Braun from contention in turn one. Skeer slid into second place, applying non-stop pressure on the leading Porsche of Trenton Estep. He took the lead in turn one with 35 minutes to go, and charged forward to the checkered flag, earning yet another win for him and co-driver Adam Adelson.

Meanwhile, Heylen stayed close during the intense fighting up ahead, engaged in his own battle for the final podium position with the Mercedes of Corey Lewis. After completing the pass, he continued his run, taking second place from Spencer Pumpelly with ten laps to go. The pairing of the No. 45 Porsche finished in second place behind their teammates, closing out a successful day for Wright Motorsports in the championship.

GTWCA Race Two

Riding high on the momentum from the previous day’s win, both groups of crew behind the Wright Motorsports Porsche were amped up and ready to go on Sunday for race two. Skeer started the No. 120 Porsche from fourth place, and Heylen in the No. 45 just one row behind in sixth. With rain looming on the weather radar, the team knew every lap counted, and they would need to make the most of their time in clear conditions. Skeer made it up to third in the first lap, holding off heavy pressure from Daniel Morad in a Mercedes while Heylen faced a battle with Corey Lewis and his Mercedes while running eighth. The pair kept at it, and after the two leading cars began to face attrition, Skeer took the overall lead. He stayed out front for the entirety of his stint, and Adelson continued the run from the lead after taking over at the halfway point. Heylen continued his charge forward, picking off the competitors one by one.

After the pit stops and driver changes, Charlie Luck immediately started his stint with an exciting battle with Samantha Tan for third in class, while Adelson joined the race from second in class. He quickly took the lead back from the No. 9 Mercedes, and coasted to the checkered flag, earning another victory. Meanwhile, Luck continued his intense run with Tan, putting on one of the best shows the series had seen all year. In the end, he and Heylen kept their position, earning a third-place result, just behind their race-winning teammates.

Both the GT World Challenge America and GT America championships will resume next month VIRginia International Raceway June 16-18, officially marking the halfway point of the title fights. For additional information, visit wrightmotorsports.com.

DRIVER QUOTES

Charlie Luck // No. 45 Porsche 911 GT3 R

This weekend was one of consistency for us. With a second-place finish and a third-place finish, it was a good points race weekend. We learned a lot. I know I did, with my driving and my race craft. Jan did a bunch of work with me, which was super helpful. He also did his typical heroic job of making up ground for us, especially in race one. We’re coming. I feel it.

Jan Heylen // No. 45 Porsche 911 GT3 R

It was a good result after NOLA. We needed a good points weekend. I’m happy with how we came back and overall proud of the job the entire team did. It was a really good race. It’s hard to match the straight-line speed of some of the other cars, but our whole effort is what brought us to the front.

Adam Adelson // No. 120 Porsche 911 GT3 R

This weekend was an absolutely incredible effort by the whole Wright team. Elliott has been incredible in coaching me and helping me stay confident and continuing to push regardless of whatever we face. Race two was a pretty straightforward race, pretty I’m super proud of the whole team and Elliott, and its extra special to have my family with me today.

Elliott Skeer // No. 120 Porsche 911 GT3 R

What a weekend. I can’t be prouder of my family here at Wright. I had a wonderful race car all week. The crew did an amazing job giving us what we needed, and the set up was exactly what we needed. I just did my part, Adam did his, and at the end of the day, we accomplished exactly what we set out to do.

Wright Motorsports
Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series and international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy, and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013, and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team, and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. In 2020, the team captured the GT World Challenge America Am championship. In 2021, Wright Motorsports had a wildly successful season, capturing nine championships across their five racing efforts.

Buescher Wins Heat Race, Finishes 16th in All-Star Race

By
Official Release
-

Pit Crew Turns in Third-Quickest Time in Friday Pit Crew Challenge

WILKESBORO, N.C. (May 22, 2023) – Chris Buescher and the No. 17 Fastenal team rode a wave of momentum into Sunday’s All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. In Friday’s pit crew challenge, the 17 team turned in the third-quickest pit stop of any team in the field, which earned Buescher a pole position in his heat race on Saturday, where he led every lap and won the 60-lap qualifying race.

This weekend’s action at the historic short track was the first return since 1996, as Buescher and team were one of a handful of teams to test there in recent weeks, bringing even more familiarity to the revamped facility.

Friday kicked off on-track action with a full practice session as both RFK cars finished inside the top five on speed, with the pit crew challenge returning for Friday night. Of all the teams in the field (Open and All-Star), the Fastenal team performed third-best, which gave Buescher a P1 starting position in heat race No. 2 on Saturday.

Buescher dominated the heat, leading all 60 laps to cement his starting spot of 2nd for Sunday night’s All-Star Race.

Unfortunately, to start, Buescher was caught on the high side on the initial start and fell from his P2 starting position. He recovered, though, working back up to inside the top five in the final 100 laps. Surprisingly, no caution flew in that span, a strategy that wouldn’t pan out for the Fastenal Ford, which fell off to ultimately finish 16th.

Racing returns to Charlotte this weekend as the Coca-Cola 600 is set for Sunday night. Race coverage kicks off at 6 p.m. ET on FOX, with radio coverage on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Keselowski Finishes 19th in All-Star Race

By
Official Release
-

NEXLIZET Ford Strong to Start Weekend before Uneventful Sunday Night Race

WILKESBORO, N.C. (May 22, 2023) – In NASCAR’s return to North Wilkesboro Speedway, Brad Keselowski and the No. 6 team showed promise in Saturday’s heat races before going on to finish 19th Sunday night in the 200-lap All-Star Race.

The return to the historic venue for the first time since 1996 brought an action-packed weekend, with a pit crew challenge on Friday, heat races Saturday night, and then Sunday night’s marquee event.

The No. 6 pit crew looked strong and turned in the second-fastest pit stop of the competition Friday, but a loose wheel penalty meant Keselowski would begin his heat race from the tail end of the field. He fired off eighth for the second heat in damp conditions that saw just one yellow flag.

After restarting ninth at lap 33, Keselowski flipped a switch and began a hard charge forward, driving to fourth by race end, which put him eighth on the grid for Sunday night’s star-studded event.

Sunday night saw just one caution flag fly outside of the scheduled break at lap 100. Keselowski was 21st at the time of that break, but the race ran caution-free from there with the No. 6 crossing the stripe 19th.

Racing returns to Charlotte this weekend as the Coca-Cola 600 is set for Sunday night. Race coverage is set for 6 p.m. ET on FOX, with radio coverage on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR radio.

Kyle Larson Cashes In At The NASCAR All-Star Race

By
Official Release
-
Kyle Larson celebrates after winning Sunday's NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. (NWS/HHP photo)

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (May 21, 2023) – Kyle Larson left no doubt as to who shined brightest in Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The iconic track’s 27-year wait for NASCAR’s return led to Larson pulling a remarkable weekend sweep – winning the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Tyson 250 on Saturday – and following it with a convincing All-Star Race win a day later.

Larson started 15th in Sunday’s 200-lap showcase event, but he struggled with an ill-handling car in the early stages. One pit stop after a Lap 15 caution – for tires and chassis adjustments – transformed Larson’s No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet into a rocket, but he had to go through the entire field after being penalized for speeding on pit road. Larson went from the tail end to second in 36 laps, and passed pole winner Daniel Suarez for the lead on Lap 55.

Larson led 145 of the remaining 146 laps and beat Bubba Wallace to the finish line by 4.124 seconds. Tyler Reddick finished third with Chase Briscoe fourth and Chase Elliott fifth. Ryan Blaney was sixth with Suarez seventh. Erik Jones – in a throwback STP No. 43 Chevrolet, painted like NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty’s iconic car – finished eighth.

Ty Gibbs and Joey Logano rounded out the top 10.

The victory was Larson’s third in a NASCAR All-Star Race, and his third at a different facility. He won the 2019 event at Charlotte Motor Speedway and the 2021 running at Texas Motor Speedway.

Josh Berry, subbing for the injured Alex Bowman, won Sunday’s All-Star Open and finished 15th in the All-Star Race.

KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET (RACE WINNER): “It was a great night. Great job to Marcus (Smith, Speedway Motorsports’ president and CEO) and his whole team on reviving this place. I don’t think any of us thought that when Dale (Earnhardt Jr.) was here cleaning up weeds and cleaning it up for iRacing (in December of 2019), that we’d ever be here racing. The vibe was great tonight, with all the fans, and it helped that my car was quick. I didn’t expect to be fast at all. … Friday (in practice) we were really bad. We had a good one-lap run but if you looked at my 30-lap average, it was like second to last. I thought we’d run around 15th tonight.

“We pitted for tires, I sped on pit road and we restarted last, but I started picking off some cars and I could get my line working and manage my tires. Once I was picking people off, I was wondering, ‘Is my car this good, or is the tire fall-off this bad?’ We got the lead, and I was like, ‘I want to lap as many cars as I can.’ I think they said I had a 12-second lead at one point. It’s just so cool to dominate like that, like you used to see people dominate races here in the 1980s. I’m very proud of winning this race at three different venues. I am extremely proud to have won the All-Star Race, but to win it at three different tracks is really neat. … This track is so cool. It has a grassroots feel to it, and to me, I think that’s what makes it so special.”

CLIFF DANIELS, NO. 5 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET (WINNING CREW CHIEF): “I wasn’t sure how the flow of the race would go. I was watching old North Wilkesboro races earlier this week on YouTube, and there were a lot of green flag runs. I knew that drivers were going to be driving the track, so there was a chance that there would be fewer caution flags. When we pitted (after the Lap 15 caution), we were in 18th, so I thought we needed to do something different than the leaders.”

BUBBA WALLACE, NO. 23 23XI RACING TOYOTA (RUNNER-UP): “We won ‘the best of the rest.’ (Kyle) Larson was lights-out, so congrats to him. Those guys, they’ve been hitting it on the head really all season, so running second to them isn’t so bad. … I’m proud of my team. Our Columbia Toyota Camry was super strong. … To keep our name in the mix is super important for us. The momentum train is still real. It’s still rolling.”

TYLER REDDICK, NO. 45 23XI RACING TOYOTA (THIRD-PLACE FINISHER): “I feel like I got into a rhythm that I needed to be in, maybe 50 laps into the race.. I knew the speed of the car was there. It was there on Friday afternoon in practice. We were stacked down in the field from the heat races (on Saturday) and we didn’t have the long-run speed we needed to get going in the right direction.”

MORE INFO:
Fans can connect with North Wilkesboro Speedway and get the latest news regarding NASCAR All-Star week and North Wilkesboro Speedway by following on Twitter and Instagram or becoming a Facebook fan.

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Race Recap: NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro

By
Official Release
-

Noah Gragson, No. 42 Sunseeker Resorts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

START: 24TH

FINISH: 23RD

POINTS: 32ND

Noah Gragson Post-Race Quote: “I’m really proud of this team for the effort they put in to get us back out there tonight. Wrecking in the “Open” was tough on everyone. We won the fan vote, which was incredible, and advanced us into the All-Star Race. I’m so thankful for the fans. The car had a lot of damage but it was so cool to see both the No. 42 and No. 43 teams working together and thrashing to get us back out there for the race. The handling of the car was hard to chase during the race. What an effort tonight by our No. 42 Sunseeker Resorts Chevrolet team. This experience at North Wilkesboro Speedway was so special, I wish we ran better, but I’m just so honored to be part of this team.”

Erik Jones, No. 43 STP Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

START: 21ST

FINISH: 8TH

POINTS: 25TH

Erik Jones Post-Race Quote: “Solid day at the NASCAR All-Star race for starting in the back of the field. Bringing the car home eighth with the No. 43 STP Chevrolet was a good finish for us. We can probably apply what we learned over the weekend at North Wilkesboro to some upcoming short track racing. At least we were in the ballpark tonight.”

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.

CHEVROLET NCS AT NORTH WILKESBORO: Kyle Larson, Chevrolet Drives to Dominating NASCAR All-Star Race Win

By
Official Release
-

NASCAR CUP SERIES
NORTH WILKESBORO SPEEDWAY
NASCAR ALL-STAR RACE
TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE NOTES & QUOTES
MAY 21, 2023

Kyle Larson, Chevrolet Drives to Dominating NASCAR All-Star Race Win

· The victory marked Larson’s third career triumph in the NASCAR All-Star Race – also extending Hendrick Motorsports’ NASCAR All-Star Race win record to a series-best 11 victories.

· Larson brought Chevrolet to the manufacturer’s 21st NASCAR All-Star Race win – the most in series’ history.

· Larson now ties Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Sr. for second on the all-time NASCAR All-Star Race wins list with three victories in the non-points paying race.

· Chevrolet led every lap of the 200-lap NASCAR All-Star Race with race winner Larson leading a race-high 129 laps and polesitter Daniel Suarez leading 56 laps.

· Kyle Larson swept the North Wilkesboro Speedway race weekend, also taking the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Silverado RST to the win in Saturday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race.

TOP TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-10 RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
1st Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1
5th Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1
7th Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Motorplex Camaro ZL1
8th Erik Jones, No. 43 STP Camaro ZL1

TOP-FIVE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
1st Kyle Larson (Chevrolet)
2nd Bubba Wallace (Toyota)
3rd Tyler Reddick (Toyota)
4th Chase Briscoe (Ford)
5th Chase Elliott (Chevrolet)

The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season continues at Charlotte Motor Speedway with the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 28, at 6 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

POST-RACE QUOTES:

Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1

Finished: 1st

Kyle, you swept the weekend. This weekend, this moment and this racetrack – what does this one mean?

“I can’t even tell you what it means. This is my third All-Star win and my third different track. In a historical place like this, you guys and the crowd made this weekend so awesome. We could feel the atmosphere all weekend.

So much fun there. That was an old-school whipping for sure. We had a great car on the long run there and was just thinking for sure there was going to be a caution. I got out to a big lead and I could see everybody’s cars were driving like crap in front of me, but I cannot thank this No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevy team enough. We were awful all weekend. In practice, I was like the worst on the 30-lap average, and went backwards in a heat race yesterday. You obviously had some strategy work out there in the beginning, but we drove from dead last to the lead and checked out by 12 or 13 seconds. Then just could pace myself there that last run.

What an amazing car. Everything that my car did bad on Friday and Saturday did great today. Again, thanks to the 5 team, Cliff Daniels (crew chief), Cal Stewart (engineer), too. Cal Stewart is our engineer. We bust his balls all the time because every time he’s at the track, something bad happens. This one is for him. I told him the other day, he said he’s going to like five of the next six. I’m like, well, we’re going to win five of the next six at least, so here we go.”

Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1

Finished: 5th

You’ve raced other cars here. How did this race compare to what you thought it was going to be bringing a Cup race back to North Wilkesboro Speedway?

“Based on what we saw in practice on Friday, I thought it was about what we were expecting from there. It was pretty anticlimactic; I would say for the most part. But Kyle (Larson), Cliff (Daniels) and the No. 5 team did a great job and really set the pace there once they took tires at the start and controlled the event from there. These races are hard to win. They’re not always going to be barn burners, side-by-side, banging door finishes. But it doesn’t take away from the fact that they’re still hard to win and that should always be celebrated.

I thought we made our No. 9 NAPA Chevy better throughout the night with the one pit stop we made, so I’ll take it.”

TEAM CHEVY RACE HIGHLIGHTS:

Daniel Suarez and the No. 99 Trackhouse Motorplex Camaro ZL1 team was off to a strong start to the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race weekend – placing second overall in the Pit Crew Competition and winning Heat One to take the pole position for the main event.

With only 10 laps in the books, Chase Elliott was already noted as the top mover of the race – moving up seven positions to seventh-place.

Varying strategy down pit road at an early race caution on lap 15, a handful of cars opted to come down pit road for the first round of pit stops of the day. Crew chief Cliff Daniels called Kyle Larson down pit road for a four tire and fuel stop from the 20th position. Larson endured a speeding penalty, forcing the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 team to restart from the rear of the field.

A fresh set of tires paid dividends for Larson with the Team Chevy driver able to power his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 up the field and 4fultimately taking the lead on lap 55.

Race leader Larson brought the field to the competition caution on lap 100 – pacing the field with a 12.57 second lead over second and lapping the field up to the 16th position.

Larson brought his No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Camaro ZL1 down pit road during the competition caution for a fresh set of four tires and field. He chose the inside lane at the choose cone to lead the field to the green with 90 laps to go.

The second-half of the race went caution free with Larson leading the field to the checkered flag to take the win in the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race.

 
 

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.

Stewart-Haas Racing: NASCAR All-Star Race from North Wilkesboro

By
Official Release
-

STEWART-HAAS RACING
NASCAR All-Star Race and All-Star Open

Date: May 21, 2023

Event: NASCAR All-Star Race and All-Star Open (non-points events)

Series: NASCAR Cup Series

Location: North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway (.625-mile oval)

NASCAR All-Star Race: 200 laps, with a competition break at or around lap 100 (125 miles)

● Race Winner: Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)

Note: The NASCAR All-Star Race was comprised of drivers who won a points-paying race in 2022 or 2023, fulltime drivers who have previously won the All-Star Race, fulltime drivers who have won a NASCAR Cup Series championship, and drivers who advanced from the All-Star Open.

SHR Finish in NASCAR All-Star Race:

● Chase Briscoe (Started 5th, Finished 4th / Running, completed 200 of 200 laps)

● Kevin Harvick (Started 15th, Finished 18th / Running, completed 198 of 200 laps)

All-Star Open: 100 laps, with a competition break at or around lap 40 (62.5 miles)

● Race Winner: Josh Berry of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)

● Second Place: Ty Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

● Fan Vote Winner: Noah Gragson of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (Chevrolet)

Note:The All-Star Open was the undercard event to the NASCAR All-Star Race, where non-qualified drivers attempted to race their way into the All-Star Race by winning the Open, finishing second in the Open, or by winning the fan vote.

SHR Finish in All-Star Open:

● Aric Almirola (Started 9th, Finished 3rd / Running, completed 100 of 100 laps)

● Ryan Preece (Started 8th, Finished 4th / Running, completed 100 of 100 laps)

SHR Notes:

● This was Briscoe’s second All-Star Race. He finished 18th last year.

● Harvick has competed in every single NASCAR All-Star Race in his 23-year career, the most of any active NASCAR Cup Series driver.

Race Notes:

● Kyle Larson won the All-Star Race with a 4.537-second margin over runner-up Bubba Wallace. It was his third win in the All-Star Race.

● The All-Star Race featured just three lead changes between two different drivers – Larson and Daniel Suárez. Twenty-four drivers comprised the field.

Sound Bites:

“We were really, really fast at the end. I felt like if I could’ve ever just gotten the lead, I would’ve been hard to beat, but I’m sure a lot of other guys would say that too. It was definitely frustrating. We kind of got beat around there on that one restart. I went from running fourth to seventh or eighth, and had to drive back up to fourth. I felt like we were one of the few cars that could pass. I’m proud of that effort, but I would’ve obviously loved to win a million dollars. Truthfully, with how our last couple of weeks have been, just to get a good run and prove that we can run with these guys is nice.” – Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford Mustang

Next Up:

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to points-paying racing on Sunday, May 28 with the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. The race gets underway at 6 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FOX and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes – NCS All-Star Race Quotes

By
Official Release
-

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
All-Star Race | Sunday, May 21, 2023

Ford Finishing Results:

4th – Chase Briscoe

6th – Ryan Blaney

10th – Joey Logano

16th – Chris Buescher

18th – Kevin Harvick

19th – Brad Keselowski

21st – Austin Cindric

CHASE BRISCOE, No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford Mustang – THOUGHTS ON THIS RACE? SHOULD IT COME BACK HERE? “Truthfully, this car at every short track has kind of struggled. I think a lack of grip didn’t really fix the issues. I don’t know. It was fun. I still think this has a great opportunity to be an incredible event, but it would be different if every other race on short tracks had been really good. I think we just need to keep continuing to work on the car. I feel like we made it better on short tracks than what it was last year, but we just need to get it better. We’re slipping and sliding around and doing the things we need to do, but, truthfully, I just feel like this race would have been really, really good if the track had more than one lane. It was almost the track more than the car necessarily. It was just so fast on the bottom groove. If you miss it by six inches, you are a half-second slower. We all know that and we all just continue to fight for the bottom. I would almost just put it up as the racetrack is so bottom dominant that that’s why it’s really hard to pass.”

YOU FOUND SOMETHING AT THE END. “Yeah, we were really, really fast at the end. I felt like if I could have ever just got the lead, I would have been hard to beat, but I’m sure a lot of other guys would say that too. It was definitely frustrating. We kind of got beat around there on that one restart. I went from running fourth to seventh or eighth and had to drive back up to fourth, so I felt like we were one of the few cars that could pass. I’m proud of that effort, but I would have obviously loved to win a million dollars. Truthfully, with how our last couple of weeks have been, just to get a good run and prove that we can run with these guys is nice.”

RYAN BLANEY, No. 12 Menards/Wrangler Ford Mustang – “I had a fun night. Sixth was probably the highest we got to and where we finished, and I thought we could run fifth. Overall, it wasn’t a bad night. We didn’t have winning speed, but it was a fun night, for sure. It was just a case of how disciplined you wanted to be.”

WHAT WAS IT LIKE WITH SUCH A LONG RUN ON THIS WORN SURFACE? “The whole last run going green was super cool. It was big tire management because you never really know how many laps you’re gonna run. I kind of had it in my mind right away like, ‘Alright, we might go the whole way, so let’s kind of plan on that,’ and it happened. It was a pretty fun night trying to conserve tires. It reminded me of my late model days.”

ALL STAR OPEN RACE

Ford Finishing Results

3rd – Aric Almirola

4th – Ryan Preece

6th – JJ Yeley

11th – Harrison Burton

12th – Ryan Newman

13th – Michael McDowell

15th – Todd Gilliland

MICHAEL MCDOWELL, No. 34 FR8 Auctions Ford Mustang – WHAT DO YOU THINK GIBBS DID WRONG AND WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE WERE YOU TRYING TO SEND? “He just drove me all the way through the corner and into the 31 and wrecked both of us. I mean, it’s pretty clear none of us were gonna make the corner with the 54 driving me wide-open into the corner. Listen, it’s short track racing and we’re all trying to get into the All-Star Race. It’s a big night, so people are gonna leave with hurt feelings and tempers are gonna flare. That’s part of it. It sucks that the guy that moved you and moved a lot of cars made it in, but at the same time I’m not gonna wreck him and send him out or do something stupid with a broken car. I just wanted to let him know that it’s unacceptable and he knows that. He knows what he’s doing out there. He gets away with a lot more than he should. It was unfortunate. I felt like our FR8 Auction Ford Mustang was pretty good. We got a good restart and we were making things happen and then we just got nailed.”

IN YOUR OPINION, DO YOU THINK HE DESERVES TO BE IN THE ALL-STAR RACE? “Well, he raced his way in, so absolutely. I mean, that’s just part of it. I am not a poor sport. Racing is racing. You just hate to get cleaned out like that, so that sucks, but it is what it is.”

THAT WAS UNCHARACTERISTIC FOR YOU TO DO WHAT YOU DID. “I don’t think about any of that. I don’t care about all that. It just sucks because we moved up. We were moving forward and felt like we had a car that if we got the position we could probably hold it and I had the position – got a great restart, cleared him and got down and he just never lifted. There was no chance that I was ever gonna make turn three and, in the process, I wiped out Justin Haley with the 54 driving me through the rear bumper. It’s short track racing. I know we’re gonna beat and bang, but there was no chance of me making the corner. That wasn’t knocking somebody a little bit up the track. I was full lock and still going straight with him pushing, so it sucks. It is what it is. I hate it for the FR8 Auction folks. We had a fast car and felt like we could at least have a shot at running in that top three and see what we could do.”

TODD GILLILAND, No. 38 Boot Barn Ford Mustang – “I think my spotter said the 42 hit the inside wall. The only thing I saw was the 42 coming right across my nose and I just shot to the outside wall. That’s probably about as hard as you could possibly wreck here and it definitely sucks that we tear up a car here, but that’s racing. For me, I lost a spot on that restart. If I had just maintained, I would have been ahead of that. To me, that’s disappointing for myself that I let that happen, but at the same time I didn’t want to get stuck top of three wide.”

Toyota Racing – NCS North Wilkesboro – Post-Race Report – 05.21.23

By
Official Release
-

WALLACE, REDDICK EARN TOP-FIVES TO LEAD TOYOTA IN ALL-STAR RACE
Both 23XI Racing drivers earn career-best finishes in All-Star event

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (May 21, 2023) – Bubba Wallace (second) and Tyler Reddick (third) led Toyota with top-five finishes in the annual All-Star event at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Sunday evening. Ty Gibbs finished second in the All-Star Open to advance to the All-Star Race. The rookie drove the field to finish ninth.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
North Wilkesboro Speedway
All-Star Race

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Kyle Larson*
2nd, BUBBA WALLACE
3rd, TYLER REDDICK
4th, Chase Briscoe*
5th, Chase Elliott*
9th, TY GIBBS
12th, CHRISTOPHER BELL
13th, DENNY HAMLIN
14th, MARTIN TRUEX JR.
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

BUBBA WALLACE, No. 23 Columbia Sportswear Company Toyota Camry TRD, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 2nd

What more did you need?

“I didn’t know anything coming into this race, and after the first run, I had to go into conserve mode – conserve the rear tires. That was the biggest thing. After last night, I was really skeptical on how we were going to run – we weren’t very good. Even saving, I just didn’t have what he had. I thought we could close the gap a lot more than we did, but just didn’t have it. I’m proud of our efforts. Columbia, I want to get them to victory lane. Toyota – our Toyotas have been really strong. I’m pumped for Tyler (Reddick) finishing third. Just have to continue to carry the momentum and have some fun in Charlotte.”

What did Kyle Larson have that you needed?

“His capability throughout the whole run. He could attack hard and have something there in the end. If this was a normal race, something to be excited about – but this was for a million dollars, and you come up short and walk away with nothing. Tail tucked between our legs, but all-in-all, just continue to ride the momentum train. I want to get Columbia in victory lane. They’ve done a lot – and they came up with the best paint scheme in the field. We came up one spot short. Congrats to (Kyle) Larson. He’s been on a rail lately. We just have to keep going. Now we show up to our home turf. We have to keep the momentum rolling there and get ourselves deeper into the Playoffs. I’m excited to be where we are at right now – just came up one spot short.”

TYLER REDDICK, No. 45 The Beast Unleashed Toyota Camry TRD, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 3rd

Can you describe how the race played out for you to get to the front?

“Yeah, Billy Scott (crew chief) and everyone on the pit box did a really good job of executing the strategy. The pit crew did a really good job of having a good pit stop and getting us a few there too at the halfway break. Our car was really strong – we saw that in practice on Friday. The Beast Unleashed Toyota Camry TRD had a lot of pace. I needed to make some different decisions in the race. I was in front of Kyle (Larson) in the race, made some mistakes and let him get ahead. Things to look back on and wonder what if, but solid night for sure for 23XI.”

What more did you need tonight?

“When we practiced here on Friday, both of our cars were pretty solid. Just needed a little bit on the balance, but The Beast Unleashed Toyota Camry TRD was really fast. I made a mistake earlier in the race in the first 100 laps and let Kyle (Larson) squeeze by and he really mowed through the traffic. We lined up behind him on that restart and could kind of stay in touch, but he was able to keep just far enough away. I was trying to figure out how much to push and how much to save. I had an opportunity to get around him (Bubba Wallace) with about 40 to go, and I just made a mistake – one of the few all night – and put us behind. Honestly, a good solid car. I thought the 14 (Chase Briscoe) and the 9 (Chase Elliott) were going to beat us out. We really started to push there in the end, and I had more in the tank than I thought. I wish I could have that back, but solid effort by our guys and our team. We stumbled a little bit in the pit crew challenge, and started deep, but we were able to claw our way through it. Billy Scott (crew chief) and everyone on the box did a really good job of getting creative with that strategy earlier in the race to get us going in the right direction.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 22 electrified options.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

How To Increase Your Pickup’s Storage Space

By
SM
-

Are you planning to invest in a bigger pickup since the current one seems to run out of space for supplies, tools, and equipment you need to carry? Have you tried to maximize your pickup’s storage before concluding it doesn’t have enough space?

While buying a bigger pickup is an ideal investment, the decision should be based on something other than space, especially if you haven’t tried maximizing it. You can do many things to increase your pickup’s storage without breaking the bank. 

Before you head to the showroom to purchase a new truck with adequate storage, try out the following tricks to see if your pickup can provide the required storage space.

Declutter The Truck

Most car owners hold onto trucks more than small cars. Studies show that truck owners can keep vehicles for over ten years. During these years, lots of stuff can accumulate in a truck, especially if the owner takes little time to declutter. 

If that’s the case, even the most effective tips on maximizing truck storage might not work unless you remove unnecessary items from the truck. If you haven’t had time to clear your vehicle recently, schedule a thorough cleaning, and you might be amazed at how much space unnecessary stuff is taking into your car.

Install A Canopy

Truck canopies or shells transform your pickup from open to closed. This way, you don’t only maximize space but also ensure your truck is weather resistant. Truck canopies make pickups weather-resistant, protecting cargo regardless of the weather. 

You can ferry electronics and other equipment that shouldn’t get wet with a truck canopy. They come with security locks for maximum protection of your belongings. Research the best aluminium canopies for utes to get value for your money.

Use Truck Bed Extenders

Did you ever wish your vehicle beds were longer? Well, now you can extend your truck’s bed by adding bed extenders. These extenders help create more space for your vehicle, so you can store longer items like ladders, fishing rods, or even skis for those weekend getaways. 

While providing space for longer items, these extenders also create space for extra boxes, equipment, and anything that requires carrying. What makes truck bed extenders even better is that they are not an invasive installation. After your cargo is delivered, you can slide the extenders to conceal them from view.

Install More Tie Downs

You may need to tie items down to prevent them from moving around your vehicle while driving. It’s because unsecured objects can pose a safety threat, especially if they interfere with the vehicle’s stability on the road. To prevent safety hazards, you can install several tie-downs on your truck. They’ll help secure your items and facilitate safe driving, eliminating the risk of getting into an accident.

Add Swing Storage

Adding swing storage to your truck is another creative way to upgrade and maximize your vehicle’s storage. Swing boxes are installed on the side of the truck bed using hinge screws. You can opt for one or several boxes depending on how many items you carry. Before investing in these boxes, make sure they’re adaptable to your vehicle.

Swing storage is safe and lockable and shelters various tools and equipment. Some swing boxes come with trays on top for additional storage for small items. They’re the best alternatives to typical toolboxes.

Invest In Pickup Truck Toolboxes

Suppose you use your pickup truck for work or ferrying necessary tools and equipment for projects; under caravan storage boxes can help you organize and maximize your truck’s storage space. In that case, your vehicle is likely to shelter lots of tools. Whether simple or advanced equipment, you can find a better way to store it in your truck without wasting too much space. 

The best way to achieve these results is by investing in truck toolboxes. These boxes come in different shapes and sizes to fit various tools. Toolboxes aren’t only ideal when it comes to saving space but also;

  • Protects tools and equipment from harmful elements
  • Keeps tools neat and organized
  • Prevent items from being stolen, especially since they come with security locks
  • Makes finding items easy

Wondering where to find these? How about looking for Your Go-To Online Automotive Supplier, Midwest Aftermarket? They are known to offer toolboxes and similar truck accessories at an affordable price. The products are also regarded as top-notch in quality. You can visit their website to learn more about them.

Investing in toolboxes is among the best and most valuable investments for truck owners. It maximizes storage and keeps the truck organized.

Take Advantage Of The Cabin

Owning or transporting items with a truck doesn’t necessarily mean everything should fit in its bed. If your pickup bed is full and you still have to find space for fragile items or luggage, consider using the cabin. This tip is effective when driving alone since you don’t want to inconvenience passengers. Your truck’s cabin can hold lots of staff depending on its size and your vehicle’s model.

Conclusion

Adding bed extenders and toolboxes, taking advantage of the cabin, and investing in a truck canopy are among the best ways to maximize your pickup’s storage space. You don’t have to leave some items behind due to the lack of enough space on your truck or invest in a new truck due to inadequate storage. If you use your vehicle for work and are required to carry lots of tools and equipment, take advantage of these tricks, and you might be amazed at how much your truck can ferry.

1...1,4681,4691,470...6,658Page 1,469 of 6,658