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RFK Advance | Darlington I

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Official Release
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Darlington I Event Info:
Track Info: Darlington Raceway, 1.366-mile
Date: Sunday, May 14
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Darlington, S.C.
Format: 293 laps, 400.2 miles, Stages: 90-95-108
TV: FS1
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 10:35 a.m. ET, Practice (FS2, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 11:20 a.m. ET, Qualifying (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 3 p.m. ET, Race (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

6 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Matt McCall
Partner: Castrol Edge

  • The No. 6 will pay homage this weekend to the Castrol heritage brand with a classic GTX scheme for Darlington.

17 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Partner: Fifth Third Bank

  • While the No. 17 is not officially a throwback scheme, the car will feature the No. 17 font that Hall of Famer Matt Kenseth ran during his years at Roush.

Pace Laps:

  • The NASCAR schedule heads to the ‘Lady in Black’ this weekend as Darlington hosts the 13th points race of the season, and first of three-straight close to home.
  • Jack Roush has 20 wins all-time at Darlington including five in the Cup Series.

Keselowski at Darlington
Starts: 18
Wins: 1 (2018)
Top-10s: 9
Poles: 3 (2015, 2020, 2021)

  • Keselowski makes his 19th Cup start at Darlington on Sunday. He has nine top-10s and five top-five finishes in 18 starts with a 12.1 overall average finish.
  • Keselowski won the fall race back in 2018, one of his five top fives overall at the track Too Tough to Tame. He’s coming off two-straight P7 finishes in the last two fall races, and finished 34th in this race last spring after a crash just over halfway through the race.
  • Keselowski does have three poles at Darlington – 2015, 2020, 2021 – with a 11.1 average starting position and 11 starts inside the top-10.
  • He also made seven Xfinity Series starts with one win (2018) and three top-10s.

Buescher at Darlington
Starts: 11
Wins: —
Top-10s: 2
Poles: —

  • Buescher is set for his 12th Cup start from Darlington where he is coming off two top-10s in the last four starts. He ran ninth in both of the 2021 events and has a 18.2 average finish.
  • Prior to 2021, Buescher’s top finish stood as 12th (2019 fall race). Last spring he finished 16th.
  • He carries a 23.2 average starting position with a best starting spot of 11th which came in the 2021 spring race.
  • Buescher also made four Xfinity starts at Darlington with a fifth-place run in 2015.

RFK Historically at Kansas
Cup Wins: 5 (Mark Martin, 1993; Jeff Burton, 1999, 1999; Greg Biffle, 2005, 2006)

Darlington Two-Step: RFK has twice won consecutive NCS races at Darlington, including a season sweep in 1999 with former driver Jeff Burton. RFK also earned victories in consecutive seasons at the egg-shaped oval in 2005 and 2006 with Biffle.

Tale of the Tape: In 256 all-time NASCAR starts at ‘The Lady in Black,’ Jack Roush’s Fords have 20 wins, 69 top-five and 119 top-10 finishes, along with 20 poles. Over the years RFK has led 4,500+ laps across the Cup, Xfinity and Truck series, with more than 89,000 miles logged at the 1.366-mile track. In NCS action alone, RFK has finished top-10 in 43 percent (72-of-170) of the races with 35 top-five results and five wins.

Kickin’ it Old School: Legendary RFK drivers Mark Martin, Jeff Burton and Greg Biffle are responsible for the five Cup wins for Jack Roush at Darlington. Martin earned Roush’s first Cup win back in 1993 after leading 178 laps. Burton swept the 1999 events as the dominant car, and Biffle earned the two most recent victories in 2005 and 2006.

Most All Time: It’s no secret that when Roush has dominated in the Xfinity Series at Darlington. In 79 starts, the organization has 15 wins, 33 top-five and 44 top-10s. Mark Martin is responsible for eight of the victories, second-most for him among any track, after winning five of the first seven races at the track for Roush from 1993-96. He also went on to win in 1999 and swept again in 2000. Jeff Burton got in on the fun with wins in 1997, 2001 and 2002, while Biffle earned a win in 2004. Most recently, Kenseth drove to victory lane in 2005 and 2009.

RFK Darlington Wins

1993-2 Martin Cup

1999-1 Burton Cup

1999-2 Burton Cup

2005 Biffle Cup

2006 Biffle Cup

1993-2 Martin NXS

1994-1 Martin NXS

1994-2 Martin NXS

1995-2 Martin NXS

1996-1 Martin NXS

1997-2 Burton NXS

1999-2 Martin NXS

2000-1 Martin NXS

2000-2 Martin NXS

2001-2 Burton NXS

2002-1 Burton NXS

2002-2 Burton NXS

2004-1 Biffle NXS

2005 Kenseth NXS

2009 Kenseth NXS

Last Time Out & Where They Stand
Kansas: Chris Buescher earned stage points in stage two and went on to finish 17th at Kansas, while Keselowski finished 19th Sunday afternoon.

Points Standings (6: 10th, 17: 13th): Keselowski enters the weekend in 10th in points, while Buescher sits 13th.

By the Numbers at Darlington

Race      Win       T5           T10         Pole       Laps       Led        AvSt      AvFn     Miles

172         5              35           73           7              54789    2735       17.1        16.2        74841.7
79           15           33           44           12           10616    1856       9.9          12.9        14501.4
7              0              1              3              1              944         9              16.0        15.9        1289.50
258         20           69           120         20           66349    4600       14.7        15.2        90632.6

Chase Purdy- No. 4 Bama Buggies Silverado Craftsman Trucks Darlington Preview

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Official Release
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Chase Purdy: Driver, No. 4 Bama Buggies Chevrolet

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Overview:
Event: Buckle Up South Carolina, Race 9 of 23, 147 Laps – 45/45/57; 200.8 Miles
Location: Darlington Raceway (1.33-mile, egg-shaped oval)
Date/Broadcast: May 12, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

‘Chase’n Checkers:

Chase Purdy and the No. 4 Bama Buggies team head to Darlington Raceway for this week’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. Purdy will be looking to rebound from a disappointing race at Kansas Speedway in his last start. Purdy qualified third, finished the opening stanza in fifth and crossed the stripe for Stage Two in the eighth position. Unfortunately, in the Final Stage he got caught up in a five-truck accident that ended his night and relegated the No. 4 team to a 33rd-place finish and their first DNF of the season.

Despite being only eight races into the 2023 season, Purdy enters Friday night’s race having already produced a career-high four top-10 finishes and having achieved a career-best runner-up finish earlier this year at Texas Motor Speedway. Purdy currently ranks 11th in the Craftsman Truck Series point standings, 136 tallies behind points leaders Zane Smith and Ty Majeski. With eight races remaining before the playoffs begin, the 23-year-old driver sits 12th on the playoff grid, 18 points below the cutoff line.

Across three prior Truck Series starts at Darlington, Purdy has recorded an average finish of 28.7. His best result was a 15th-place finish in September of 2021. In last year’s race, he finished 35th for Hattori Racing Enterprises, while John Hunter Nemechek won the pole and led a race-high 69 laps en route to victory for the No. 4 team.

The Mississippi native is in his third full-time season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and first with KBM. He enters Saturday’s race having totaled one top-five, nine top-10 finishes, and 18 laps led across his 60 career Truck Series starts. Purdy finished 16th in the Truck Series final standings in 2022 after competing in 22 of the 23 events. He posted two top-10 finishes and nine laps led, with a season-best finish of seventh coming at Talladega Superspeedway in October.

Purdy will be trying to etch his mark in the KBM historical archives this weekend at Darlington as he looks to collect the organization’s 100th NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory. KBM-owner driver Kyle Busch collected KBM’s record-extending 99th-career victory with his dominant victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway earlier this year leaving his organization one shy of the century mark. Overall, 18 different drivers have won at least one race behind the wheel of a KBM truck, led by Busch’s 47. Four drivers rank second on the list with seven victories: Byron, Christopher Bell, Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek. KBM has collected two of those victories at Darlington, most recently with John Hunter Nemechek last year. Kasey Kahne picked up the organization’s first win at “The Lady in Black” in 2011.

Jimmy Villeneuve is atop the pit box for Purdy and the No. 4 Chevrolet team this season. Prior to being promoted to crew chief for the 2023 season, Villeneuve served as a Truck Chief at KBM since the 2017 season and in that role was a part of 18 wins, a driver’s championship with Christopher Bell in 2017 and the 2019 owner’s championship with the No. 51 team. Prior to joining KBM the New Hampshire native served as a truck chief at Athenian Motorsports in 2015 when the team won with John Wes Townley at Las Vegas. He was promoted to crew chief five races into the 2016 season. Saturday’s race will be Villeneuve’s first atop the pit box at Darlington.

Bama Buggies, your one-stop shop for all the biggest names in powersports and utility vehicles, will be the primary sponsor on Purdy’s No. 4 Chevrolet Friday night and for the majority of the events on the 2023 schedule. They are Central Alabama’s powersports experts, serving as an authorized dealer of Polaris, Slingshot, and Seadoo.
Chase Purdy, Driver Q&A:

You had a tough race at Kansas. Are you glad that there is another race on the schedule right away?
“I’m glad that we are strapping right back into our trucks not even a week later. That’s a really good thing mentally as a driver — having an opportunity to get a good finish and quickly get your confidence back.”

Darlington is a unique race track. How do you attack the race Friday night?
“Obviously it requires a lot of focus and it’s a driver’s race track. It’s important to have a truck that is stable enough and has enough security to run up against the wall and be aggressive. I think the driver who can run on top and run against the wall the best is going to be the driver to beat. You have to keep the nose on it and stay clean — don’t make mistakes like we did last weekend. It’s back to the drawing board this weekend and it’s an opportunity to have a good point’s day and put ourselves back in contention — if we do everything right maybe even come out with a win.”

At what point do you start looking at where you stand on the playoff grid?
“I’ve already started looking at it and it’s already been on my mind. I know we are 11th in driver’s points and we’re sitting 12th in playoff points — I think we’re 18 points out or something like that. Realistically we are only one good day away from being in, but obviously we’d like to win and guarantee ourselves a spot.”

Chase Purdy Career Highlights:

  • Across 60 career Truck Series starts, has produced 18 laps led, one top-five and nine top-10 finishes. Posted a career-best runner-up finish at Texas Motor Speedway in April of 2023.
  • Finished 16th in Truck Series championship standings in 2022.
  • Finished fourth in the 2018 ARCA Menard’s Series championship standings after recording 84 laps led, 10 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes.
  • Earned the 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East rookie of the year honors and finished fourth in the championship standings after posting four poles, 200 laps led, five top-five and eight top-10 finishes across 14 starts.
  • Won the prestigious Snowflake 100 Pro Late Model race at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla., in Dec. of 2018.

Chase Purdy’s No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado RST:

KBM-73: The No. 4 Bama Buggies team will unload KBM-73 for Friday night’s race at Darlington. Purdy earned a runner-up finish with this same Silverado at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this year. John Hunter Nemechek piloted this chassis twice last year, with his best result being a third-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

KBM-73 Performance Profile:
KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected two wins, 274 laps led, four top-five and seven top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 14.2 across 14 starts at Darlington Raceway. John Hunter Nemechek led a race-high 69 laps en route to victory in last year’s race at the egg-shaped oval. Kasey Kahne picked up the organization’s first win at “The Lady in Black” in 2011.
  • KBM holds the Craftsman Truck Series records for most career wins (99) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway last year, Corey Heim became the 18th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
  • The No. 4 has 18 career victories at KBM and was the number for both of the organization’s driver championships.

Corvette Z06 Hardtop Convertible To Pace 107th Indianapolis 500

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Official Release
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2023 Indianapolis 500 - Pace Car

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, May 9, 2023) – For the first time in the storied history of this iconic car model, a hardtop convertible Chevrolet Corvette Z06 will lead the field to the green flag for the 107th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 28 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The exterior and interior of the Corvette Z06 convertible will be on full display as the car fulfills responsibilities on and off the track.

This is the first generation of Corvette Z06 to offer a hardtop convertible, greatly expanding the convertible’s ability to serve on track at any speed and provide open roof comfort on the street.

Corvette is the longest-running car nameplate in automotive industry history, so it’s no surprise Corvette has paced “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” more times than any car. The 2023 race marks the 34th time for Chevrolet to pace dating back to 1948 and the 20th time overall and since 1978 for America’s favorite sports car.

“As we celebrate the rich history of the Corvette Pace Car at IMS, it’s amazing to see the evolution of these cars on and off the track,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “The hardtop convertible on the 2023 Corvette Z06 is just another example of the Chevrolet innovation that translates from track to street.”

Red Mist Metallic exterior paint and two-tone Jet Black and Sky Cool Gray with Torch Red accents on the interior pair nicely with the Indianapolis 500 logos. Spider-design forged aluminum wheels finished in Tech Bronze complete the car’s iconic, race-ready look.

The 2023 Corvette Z06 is set apart by its beating heart, the 5.5L LT6 which creates 670 horsepower, making it the highest-horsepower naturally aspirated V-8 ever to ever hit the market in any production car. All that power will be held to the track with the Carbon Aero package, providing 734 pounds of downforce at 186 mph, more than any other Corvette.

In its 70-year history, Corvette has become synonymous with American sports cars, and the Z06 is the definition of America’s supercar. It’s authentic, optimistic, proud, young at heart and ingenious – values synonymous with both the Indy 500 and Chevrolet.

“We are honored to be pacing the 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500 with the Corvette Z06 convertible,” said Scott Bell, vice president, Global Chevrolet. “Chevrolet and INDYCAR share the same spirit of competition, and we are proud Z06 will lead the pack across the bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.”

Visit IMS.com for tickets and more information on all Month of May events and activities at IMS.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 80 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.

Lawless Alan – Buckle Up South Carolina 200 Race Advance

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Official Release
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Lawless Alan – Buckle Up South Carolina 200 Race Advance
Darlington Raceway (147 Laps / 200.8 Miles) | Friday, May 12 | Darlington, South Carolina
7:30 p.m. ET | TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Team: No. 45 AUTOParkit Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Lawless Alan (Los Angeles, California) | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Lawless Alan: Twitter: @lawlessalan25 | Instagram: @lawless_alan | Facebook: /LawlessAlanRacing | Web: www.lawlessalanracing.com

Alan on Last Race at Kansas Speedway: “It was nice to have a drama-free race Saturday night in Kansas. We battled with the balance of the truck for most of the race and in the end, I think we had a truck to battle with. Unfortunately, we had to put scuff tires on at the end of the race which made it a little difficult. But, a 17th-place finish in our AUTOParkit Silverado is a step in the right direction and I hope we can build on this momentum.”

Alan at Darlington Raceway: For the second week in a row, Alan will visit a track that he has more than one start at, a rare occurrence for the second-year full-time driver. In two starts at the Darlington Raceway, Alan has an average finish of 23.5 including a top-20 in 2022.

Alan on Friday’s Race at Darlington Raceway: “Darlington is a fun track with heavy tire fall-off and a true test of driver skill and equipment. I’m excited to go back again this weekend and hope to continue with the momentum we had from last year.”

Public Appearances: Lawless Alan will make an appearance at the Speediatrics Fun Day Festival at the NASCAR Experience activation in the midway at Darlington Raceway on Friday, May 12th from 5:45pm- 6:00pm.

On the Truck: The No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado will sport the AUTOParkit colors this weekend. AUTOParkit™ designs, manufactures, and constructs fully automated parking systems for new and existing buildings. AUTOParkit system structural steel and modular design can provide double the capacity of a traditional parking garage, providing up to 17 LEED points and drastically reducing construction time.

Darlington Throwback: Alan’s No. 45 AUTOParkit Chevrolet Silverado will sport a special throwback scheme on Friday night, with a tribute to the late Adam Petty. The AUTOParkit Chevy will don the same design as Petty’s 1999 Spree Chevrolet.

Vote, Vote, Vote: Fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite throwback paint scheme at the following link: https://www.darlingtonraceway.com/paintschemevote/. Voting ends May 11 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

About Niece Motorsports:

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2023, Niece Motorsports enters its eighth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Media Inquiries: media@niecemotorsports.com | www.niecemotorsports.com

About AUTOParkit:

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

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

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

About AUTOChargit:

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

Carson Hocevar – Buckle Up South Carolina 200 Race Advance

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Official Release
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Carson Hocevar – Buckle Up South Carolina 200 Race Advance
Darlington Raceway (147 Laps / 200.8 Miles) | Friday, May 12 | Darlington, South Carolina
7:30 p.m. ET | TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Team: No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Carson Hocevar (Portage, Michigan) | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Carson Hocevar: Twitter: @CarsonHocevar | Instagram: @CarsonHocevar | Facebook: /carsonhocevarracing | Web: www.CarsonHocevar.com

Kansas Recap: After putting down a practice time inside the top-10, Carson Hocevar qualified 20th, but quickly made up ground as the race progressed. The No. 42 team was able to move inside the top-10 for the majority of the event; even securing stage points in Stage One. Unfortunately, Hocevar’s day ended early as a crash with just over 50 laps to go took him out of contention for his second win of the season. The Michigan-born driver would go on to finish 31st.

Hocevar on Last Race at Kansas Speedway: “It was heartbreaking to show so much speed and end up in a crash, but that’s part of racing. I’m proud of our Worldwide Express team for battling throughout the night and giving me a fast Silverado to work with. We’ll pick up and try to make some noise in Darlington.”

Hocevar at Darlington Raceway: Hocevar has been close to victory in all of his starts at the historic Darlington Raceway. In three starts at the famed track, Hocevar has finished inside the top-three twice, with his worst finish being 11th in Fall 2021. Additionally, Hocevar captured stage points in both stages a year ago, including a Stage Two victory.

Hocevar on Friday’s Race at Darlington Raceway: “Darlington is a historic track and one of the toughest places we go to. Finishing so well the past two years brings me a lot of confidence at a place you need it most. It would be so cool to park this Worldwide Express Dale Jarrett throwback in victory lane at a place we’ve been so close at in the past.”

On the Truck: Hocevar’s No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado will race with support from the WWEX group of brands, which comprises Worldwide Express, Unishippers and GlobalTranz, and offers full-service logistics expertise to more than 115,000 customers across the country.

We Love This Truck: Hocevar’s No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado will throw back to Dale Jarrett’s iconic 2001 UPS livery at Darlington Raceway on Friday night.

Vote, Vote, Vote: Fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite throwback paint scheme at the following link: https://www.darlingtonraceway.com/paintschemevote/. Voting ends May 11 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

About Niece Motorsports:

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2023, Niece Motorsports enters its eighth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Media Inquiries: media@niecemotorsports.com | www.niecemotorsports.com

About Worldwide Express:

The WWEX group of brands, which comprises Worldwide Express, Unishippers and GlobalTranz, offers full-service logistics expertise to more than 115,000 customers across the country. With access to industry-leading small package, truckload, less-than-truckload and managed transportation solutions, its customers benefit from enhanced visibility and value for their supply chains. The company is the second-largest privately held freight brokerage and largest non-retail UPS Authorized Reseller® in the U.S., with an annual systemwide revenue nearing $5 billion through a network of company-owned, franchise and agent locations. A highly selective carrier portfolio, proprietary technology, unique data assets and business intelligence capabilities provide clients with unmatched options and flexibility to meet their shipping needs. The WWEX Racing initiative was borne of a desire to address the complex but underserved logistic needs of the performance motorsports industry, using the unique combination of capabilities offered by the three brands’ combined 80+ years of insight. To learn more about the WWEX Racing program, visit www.wwexracing.com. For media inquiries, contact racing@wwex.com.

Ross Chastain – Buckle Up South Carolina 200 Race Advance

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Official Release
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Ross Chastain – Buckle Up South Carolina 200 Race Advance
Darlington Raceway (147 Laps / 200.8 Miles) | Friday, May 12 | Darlington, South Carolina
7:30 p.m. ET | TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Team: No. 41 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Ross Chastain (Alva, Florida) | Crew Chief: Mike Hillman Jr.
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Ross Chastain: Twitter: @RossChastain | Instagram: @rosschastain | Facebook: /RossChastainRacing | Web: www.rosschastain.com/

The No. 41 Truck Last Race at Kansas Speedway: Ross Chastain and the Worldwide Express No. 41 team battled adversity throughout the weekend with a power steering problem Saturday morning. The team was able to repair the truck, but were forced to start at the rear of the field to begin the Heart of America 200 at Kansas Speedway. Chastain was able to climb through the field and made his way into 16th before the halfway point in Stage One. Ultimately, Chastain made a late pass on Nick Sanchez to steal fifth-place and secure his second top-five in four starts this season.

Chastain at Darlington Raceway: In 104 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts, Chastain has only made one start at Darlington Raceway. But, in his lone start in 2022 at the 1.366-mile track, he led 46 laps, before a mechanical issue relegated him to a 26th-place finish. In that same race, Chastain finished second in both stages. In NASCAR Cup Series competition, Chastain has led laps in each of the last four visits to the track ‘Too Tough to Tame.

Chastain on Friday’s Race at Darlington Raceway: “I absolutely love coming to Darlington, especially when I get to race all three series. Thanks to Al and the boys and girls at Niece Motorsports – we expect to have the Worldwide Express Lee Petty throwback Silverado up-front all night.”

On the Truck: Chastain’s No. 41 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado will race with support from the WWEX group of brands, which comprises Worldwide Express, Unishippers and GlobalTranz, and offers full-service logistics expertise to more than 115,000 customers across the country. Additionally, Buckle Up South Carolina will be on the door of Chastain’s truck Friday night to share the importance of safe driving and use of seatbelts in a motor vehicle.

Darlington Throwback: Chastain’s No. 41 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado will sport a Lee Petty throwback scheme on Friday night.

Vote, Vote, Vote: Fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite throwback paint scheme at the following link: https://www.darlingtonraceway.com/paintschemevote/. Voting ends May 11 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

About Niece Motorsports:

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2023, Niece Motorsports enters its eighth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Media Inquiries: media@niecemotorsports.com | www.niecemotorsports.com

About Worldwide Express:

The WWEX group of brands, which comprises Worldwide Express, Unishippers and GlobalTranz, offers full-service logistics expertise to more than 115,000 customers across the country. With access to industry-leading small package, truckload, less-than-truckload and managed transportation solutions, its customers benefit from enhanced visibility and value for their supply chains. The company is the second-largest privately held freight brokerage and largest non-retail UPS Authorized Reseller® in the U.S., with an annual systemwide revenue nearing $5 billion through a network of company-owned, franchise and agent locations. A highly selective carrier portfolio, proprietary technology, unique data assets and business intelligence capabilities provide clients with unmatched options and flexibility to meet their shipping needs. The WWEX Racing initiative was borne of a desire to address the complex but underserved logistic needs of the performance motorsports industry, using the unique combination of capabilities offered by the three brands’ combined 80+ years of insight. To learn more about the WWEX Racing program, visit www.wwexracing.com. For media inquiries, contact racing@wwex.com.

Ford Performance – Darlington Raceway 1 Advance

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Official Release
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DARLINGTON RACEWAY NOTES

Friday, May 12 – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, 7:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
Saturday, May 13 – NASCAR XFINITY Series, 1:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
Sunday, May 14 – NASCAR Cup Series, 3 p.m. ET (FS1)

The three major NASCAR series schedules converge for the first time in nearly a month at one of its most storied and long-standing racetracks as Darlington Raceway hosts its annual Throwback Weekend. Darlington debuted in the Cup Series in 1950, and Ford has been deeply rooted in the 70-plus year relationship, earning its first victory in 1956 and, most recently, during Joey Logano’s 2022 championship season.

Joey Logano: “It’s one of the best races of the year. It’s the environment of the throwback and all the cool cars that come out, which I think is fun for the fans and really competitors as well to see that. But the race itself, it’s just fun. You get a lot of tire wear, slipping and sliding hard, you’re up against the wall. It’s one of the best races we have all year.”

Kevin Harvick: “Well, Darlington is just a unique racetrack because of its shape and how narrow it is. You add in the element of racing the racetrack, that’s a real statement there. A lot of times if you can just keep the car off the wall and stay out of trouble, keeping it on the lead lap, you’re going to put yourself in position for a decent day. It’s a different style of race and much more old school just because of the fact that you have to be aware of keeping yourself out of trouble and just making laps. Darlington has been one of those tracks that’s been a part of our sport for a long time. It’s unique because it has the same shape and width of how the sport was for 50-60 years – to be able to be relevant to how they used to race there.”

Ryan Blaney: “When we started doing that a handful of years ago, it was pretty unique to see what everyone rolls out and some special schemes. I kind of wish no one put out what they were going to unload until the weekend. I think that would be kind of cool if you got the surprise when everyone rolls in with their trailers. It’s really sweet to have dad’s nineties car from the [World of] Outlaws deal on our car this year. But I like walking down and seeing all the schemes, and it’s cool to see what people come up with. Everything is unique about Darlington. It’s super narrow, the bends are way different – especially now, with it repaved in Turns 1 and 2. It’s a place when you look at it, you’re like, ‘How the heck are we going to race on this thing?’ It’s two lanes wide, and you figure out a way. Just a lot of history there, and I’d say it’s up there for one of the most unique places we go to.”

Todd Gilliland: “I think it’s really cool. I just like the whole throwback style weekend. I think it fits Darlington so well, and especially for us, to have Serial 1 on-board for the Elton Sawyer throwback is really cool to me. Getting to know Elton more and more the last couple years in the Cup series – that’s the best part, getting to know all these people in NASCAR. To be able to honor him this year is really cool.”

LOGANO LOOKING TO REPEAT

Joey Logano passed William Byron with two laps to go to win last year’s Goodyear 400 for his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season and first at Darlington Raceway. Logano dominated the Throwback Weekend, capturing the pole on Saturday and then winning the first stage before green flag pit stops and race strategy took over. He ended up leading eight times for 107 laps, most among all drivers, and dueled with Byron for the win over the final 26 laps.

 HARVICK CELEBRATES RETURN TO RACING IN STYLE

Nobody enjoyed a return to Darlington in 2020 more than Kevin Harvick, who celebrated the sport’s return to competition by winning his 50th career series race in what turned out to be the first of three NASCAR Cup Series races held at the track dubbed ‘Too Tough to Tame.’ Harvick led 159-of-293 laps and once he passed fellow Ford driver Brad Keselowski on lap 216, he never trailed again. That marked the first of two Darlington wins on the season for Harvick, who captured the annual Southern 500 in the fall.

KESELOWSKI SPARKS BACK-TO-BACK 1-2 FINISHES

Brad Keselowski was at the forefront of consecutive 1-2 Ford finishes when he swept the NASCAR XFINITY and NASCAR Cup Series fall Darlington weekend in 2018. Keselowski led the final 33 laps and won Saturday’s NXS event after Ross Chastain and Kevin Harvick made contact while battling for the lead. Cole Custer finished second to Keselowski, who registered his first win at Darlington. One night later Keselowski got his second after the No. 2 pit crew got him the lead on the final round of stops. Keselowski took off on the restart and beat Penske teammate Joey Logano to the finish line for Ford’s first Cup win at Darlington since Greg Biffle in 2006.

WOOD BROTHERS LEAD THE WAY

It comes as no surprise that the Wood Brothers are Ford’s all-time winningest team at Darlington Raceway, posting eight career victories. All but one of those triumphs came in a Mercury, which the team ran in the 1960’s and 70’s. David Pearson, who holds the record with 10 career Darlington Cup victories, led the way with six while Cale Yarborough captured the team’s first in 1968. The last Darlington win for Wood Brothers Racing came in 1981 when Neil Bonnett took the Southern 500 in 1981 behind the wheel of a Ford.

DARLINGTON MASTER

David Pearson holds the record for most NASCAR Cup Series wins at Darlington Raceway with 10 and eight of those came in Ford Motor Co. products. He won six times driving the famed No. 21 Wood Brothers Mercury (1972,’74,’76-2,’77), winning the Southern 500 twice in that span (1976-77), and two more times in a Holman-Moody Ford (1968 and ’70). Pearson won three Southern 500 titles overall, capturing his third in 1979.

FIELD OF 70

The first time Ford won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway was when Curtis Turner took the Southern 500 on Sept. 3, 1956. Unlike today, where the field is set at a maximum of 40 cars, there were 70 vehicles in the race that saw Turner lead 224 of the 400 laps. He beat Speedy Thompson to the finish line by more than two laps, and did it in record fashion with an average race speed of 95.167 mph.

MARTIN ALL-TIME DARLINGTON NXS WINNER

Mark Martin is Darlington’s all-time winningest driver in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, having won eight times during his Hall of Fame career. He won 8-of-15 series races from 1993-2000, which included a pair of three-race winning streaks (1993-94, 1999-2000) and consecutive triumphs in 1995-96. Overall, Ford has won 19 times at the Track Too Tough to Tame, including a stretch where Martin (3), Jeff Burton (3) and Jeff Green (1) combined to win seven straight.

TIE AT THE TOP

Zane Smith and Ty Majeski share the top spot in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standings with 323 points, although Smith is technically the leader because of his two victories. Regardless, both Ford drivers continue to set the pace as each has five top-5 finishes in eight starts this season. Ben Rhodes continues to hold down third place, making this the fifth straight race in which Ford drivers have filled the top three spots in the standings.

RHODES WINS OT THRILLER

Ford has one NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win at Darlington and it came when Ben Rhodes won the South Carolina Education Lottery 200 on Sept. 6, 2020. Even though he led only four laps, Rhodes took advantage of a late-race caution that resulted in an overtime finish. Running fourth at the time, he stayed out on the track while the top three trucks pitted for tires. Despite being on old tires, Rhodes was able to hold off Dennis Kraus on the final lap and snapped a 48-race winless streak.

FORD NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS AT DARLINGTON

1956 – Curtis Turner

1960 – Joe Weatherly (1)

1961 – Fred Lorenzen and Nelson Stacy

1962 – Nelson Stacy and Larry Frank

1963 – Fireball Roberts (2)

1964 – Fred Lorenzen

1965 – Junior Johnson and Ned Jarrett

1968 – David Pearson (1)

1969 – Lee Roy Yarbrough (2)

1970 – David Pearson (1)

1981 – Neil Bonnett (2)

1982 – Dale Earnhardt (1)

1985 – Bill Elliott (Sweep)

1988 – Bill Elliott (2)

1992 – Bill Elliott (1)

1993 – Mark Martin (2)

1994 – Bill Elliott (2)

1997 – Dale Jarrett (1)

1998 – Dale Jarrett (1)

1999 – Jeff Burton (Sweep)

2001 – Dale Jarrett (1)

2005 – Greg Biffle

2006 – Greg Biffle

2018 – Brad Keselowski

2020 – Kevin Harvick (1) and (3)

2022 – Joey Logano (1)

FORD NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WINNERS AT DARLINGTON

1993 – Mark Martin (2)

1994 – Mark Martin (Sweep)

1995 – Mark Martin (2)

1996 – Mark Martin (1) and Terry Labonte (2)

1997 – Jeff Burton (2)

1999 – Mark Martin (2)

2000 – Mark Martin (Sweep)

2001 – Jeff Green (1) and Jeff Burton (2)

2002 – Jeff Burton (Sweep)

2004 – Greg Biffle

2005 – Matt Kenseth

2009 – Matt Kenseth

2018 – Brad Keselowski

2019 – Cole Custer

2020 – Chase Briscoe (1)

FORD NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES WINNERS

2020 – Ben Rhodes

L.A. Honda World Racing is First Team in the World to take Delivery of the New Honda FL5 TCR

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Official Release
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Making its global debut at Laguna Seca, drivers Ryan Eversley and Mat Pombo are first in North America to race the TCR entry

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – L.A. Honda World Racing, based in Southern California has announced Ryan Eversley, championship-winning HPD Factory Driver, and Mat Pombo, who has set three track records, will be the first to debut the JAS built FL5 Honda Civic Type R TCR in this week’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at Laguna Seca in Monterey, California.

L.A. Honda World Racing was the first team in the world to take delivery of the new FL5 Honda Civic Type R TCR and chose to test at Sebring International Speedway in February rather than enter it in a race. Since then, the team continued to test the car with JAS and HPD engineers to ensure all systems are a go and confirm it will be a weapon on track. This Saturday, May 13th, 2023 will be its first competition.

“Anytime in your career where you get to debut a brand-new car is a special moment. I was honored to handle the driving duties for the IMSA testing debut at Sebring back in February and I’m just as thrilled to be part of its North American race debut at WeatherTech Raceway! I know my teammate Mat is just as anxious as I am to get it out on track. Based on our initial testing and the experience JAS, HPD and now LAHW have put into this program, I’m confident for future success,” said Ryan Eversley.

The new car’s launch also comes with an updated livery designed by exceptionally talented and well-known artist, Andy Blackmore. Andy has a legacy of designing liveries for many championship winning teams with memorable designs that stand out in the minds of fans.

Mat Pombo said, “The L.A. Honda World team has worked tirelessly on this partnership with JAS and HPD to deliver the FL5 Honda Civic TCR car to the United States. Being the first team to debut it on American soil is a special thing. Obviously, with a new car we are going to have to work out some kinks and figure out how to be competitive. Fortunately, this team has all the right people in the right spots and we feel we are the best team to sort this car and get results. I’m looking forward to getting on track next week at Laguna Seca and seeing how we stack up against the competition.”

Team principal Mario Biundo has been part of this process since its inception and is ready to see it race. “Being the first to own this car is a real privilege. I owe a big thank you to HPD and JAS for choosing our team to be the first delivery and allowing our capable team and drivers to debut the car here in California. I trust Ryan Eversley and Mat Pombo will get it upfront and get this new FL5 Honda Civic Type R TCR the recognition it deserves in the Americas,” says Biundo.

L.A. Honda World drivers Mike LaMarra and Will Tally will take delivery of their new FL5 TCR sometime in June. The championship leaders have enjoyed the current FK7’s results and are willing to be patient for the new car with such a strong start of the season. The LA Honda World Racing program has seen tremendous success from the LaMarra/Tally driver pairing while Eversley/Pombo look to this new car as a fresh start to the season adding to their points through a challenging start after 2 races.

L.A. Honda World Racing is looking for their first championship and believe with the new FL5 Honda Civic Type R TCR that will happen. The team is eagerly awaiting the prospect of being added to the list of champions.

About L.A. Honda World Racing

L.A. Honda World Racing is a professional racing team based in Southern California and participates in the IMSA and SRO racing series exclusively racing touring cars built by Honda Performance Development. They are also a factory authorized Honda dealer for American Honda Motor Co. www.LAHondaWorldRacing.com

About Honda Performance Development

Honda Performance Development, Inc. (HPD), has a rich heritage creating, manufacturing, and supporting Honda Racing and Acura Motorsports customers since 1993. From pinnacle racing in INDYCAR and IMSA Sports Cars to commercial racing programs, HPD powers the dreams of professional and amateur racers from age 4 to 40+. HPD is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and leads all of Honda and Acura high-performance racing programs in North America. HPD specializes in the design and development of powertrain, chassis, electronics, and performance parts, as well as technical and race support. HPD offers parts and race support to Honda and Acura amateur and professional motorsports racers and is continually expanding its palette of racing programs that make Honda racing products available to all racing styles, from karting and Quarter Midgets to the highest levels of pro racing. www.hpd.honda.com

About JAS Motorsport

JAS has been an official partner of Honda since 1998, initially as a works team and then as engineering and customer service provider. www.jasMotorsport.com

Michael McDowell and the No. 34 Stage Front Darlington Competition Notes

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Official Release
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TEAM AND RACE NOTES:

Michael McDowell debuts the Stage Front VIP Ford Mustang this weekend at the Darlington Raceway.

Bigger and better this season, Stage Front VIP, McDowell and Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is offering fans more opportunities to purchase exclusive and one-of-a-kind VIP experiences with the team at primary races and at NASCAR Cup Series events. The VIP experiences will include an up-close and insiders look at the race team and McDowell on race day. This includes tours of the hauler, a meet-and-greet with McDowell, pit road access, team merchandise from Stage Front VIP and more.

Fans can go to www.stagefrontvip.com to learn more about the McDowell and FRM VIP experiences and tickets. They can also see other VIP experiences offered by Stage Front VIP.

Sunday’s race is a 400-miler for McDowell and the Stage Front VIP team. The event will be televised live on FS1 at 3:00 p.m. ET.

COMPETITION NOTES:

McDowell has 15 NASCAR Cup Series starts at the South Carolina track known as “Too Tough to Tame.” But McDowell has had success at the track. Most recently, he has finishes of seventh and sixth last year.

CREW CHIEF TRAVIS PETERSON:

“There is always pressure, but we want to keep this steak of top-10 finishes at Darlington intact for Michael. This is tough track and a long race. Michael has done a great job of saving the car and being there at the end.”

DRIVER MICHAEL MCDOWELL:

“First, thanks to Stage Front VIP for their support at Darlington. This is such a cool weekend and a fun race. It’s a big challenge, but last year we had really fast cars in both races. That’s really given us a lot of confidence that we can go into Darlington and get a good result.

“We’ve had some speed this year, but we need to pick it back up and get a good finish.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Meyer Shank Racing Seeking to Jump-Start 2023 Season at Indy Road Course

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Official Release
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#06: Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing Honda

Pataskala, Ohio (9 April 2023) – The Month of May couldn’t come at a better time for Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) as the Ohio-based team looks to jump-start its 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season with a visit to the site of some of its best performances.

The 2.439-mile, 14-turn Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, site of Saturday’s GMR Grand Prix, has provided many of the milestones and pride points for MSR beginning with the team’s first visit in 2019, where it scored its first-ever IndyCar podium finish.

That legacy of success, which includes not only MSR’s first podium, but also its first front-row start and first laps led in the series, continued growing last year when Simon Pagenaud came from 20th on the grid to finish second.

Pagenaud’s 2022 podium was the most recent in a long history of success at the circuit for the Frenchman, who won the inaugural series event on the road course in 2014. The trip to Victory Lane was the first of a trio of wins for Pagenaud at the twisty IMS layout, followed by a 2016 effort where he took the pole and led 57 laps on his way to the top spot. He snared his third victory in 2019, passing for the lead on the penultimate lap of the day to take the win.

Helio Castroneves has threatened in a number of road-course races at Indianapolis, finishing third in 2014 and second to Pagenaud in 2016. The Brazilian has also led in three separate races for a total of 46 laps.

The 85-lap GMR Grand Prix will air on NBC on Saturday starting at 3:30pm ET. Friday’s qualifying will be shown live on Peacock beginning at 4:00pm ET. SiriusXM will also host live IndyCar Radio coverage of both sessions on XM Ch. 160.

MSR INDYCAR Driver Quotes:

Simon Pagenaud:

“I’m pretty excited to officially start the Month of May at Indy. We had a great test on the Speedway, but first is the Indy Grand Prix which has been an event that has treated me very well. Hopefully we can get on the podium once again like last year, so I really look forward to that race.”

Helio Castroneves:

“The GMR Grand Prix is coming, which means the Indianapolis 500 is coming. The GP is first and that’s sort of like preparation and getting warmed up for the Indy 500. I know the MSR cars have been quick on the road course at Indy, so I’m hoping we can have a little more luck this year and start the Month of May off strong.”

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