Home Blog Page 1514

Stewart-Haas Racing: Martinsville NXS Advance (Cole Custer | Riley Herbst)

By
Official Release
-

COLE CUSTER | RILEY HERBST
Martinsville NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance
NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview

  • Event: Call811.com Before You Dig. 250 (Round 8 of 33)
  • Date: Saturday, April 15
  • Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway
  • Layout: .526-mile oval
  • Time/TV/Radio: 7:30 p.m. EDT on FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Cole Custer Notes of Interest

  • Cole Custer couldn’t be happier to return to short-track racing after a one-week hiatus as the NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to the .526-mile Martinsville (Va.) Speedway paperclip-shaped oval for Saturday night’s Call811.com Before you Dig. 250. Custer scored his first top-five of the season two weekends ago on the .75-mile Richmond (Va.) Raceway oval and is ready for another strong outing under the lights at Martinsville. The No. 00 Haas Automation driver has been fast all season, but bad luck has gotten in the way of potential top finishes. His fifth-place run at Richmond elevated Custer to 10th in the driver standings, 81 points out of first, as he heads into his first career Xfinity Series career start at Martinsville with his eyes focused on its prestigious grandfather clock trophy.
  • Custer does have a dozen previous race outings at Martinsville under his belt – six apiece in the NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series. In the Cup Series, the 25-year-old from Ladera Ranch, California, has a best Martinsville finish of 13th in October 2020, and his most recent outing last October resulted in a 14th-place finish. Best of Custer’s six Truck Series races at Martinsville from 2014 through 2016 was his fourth-place finish from the pole after leading a race-high 96 of 200 laps in the October 2015 race. That was behind the wheel of the No. 00 JR Motorsports entry, which he also drove to a seventh-place finish from the third starting position in the October 2016 race, in which he led 17 laps.
  • Custer’s overall short-track history proves it is his strong suit. Included in his 13 top-10 finishes in 20 career short-track starts in the Xfinity Series was a victory at Richmond in April 2019 during his previous fulltime season in the series. He’s led a total of 365 laps in those 20 short-track starts.

Riley Herbst Notes of Interest

  • Riley Herbst can’t wait to get back on track for what has been shaping up to be a career-best season during Saturday night’s Call811.com Before you Dig. 250. His streak of top-10s to start the 2023 Xfinity Series campaign – six in the first six races – came to an abrupt end when he was involved in an accident that took him out of contention two weekends ago at Richmond (Va.) Raceway. The driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) arrives at Martinsville second in the driver standings, 12 points behind leader Austin Hill, after collecting 66 valuable stage points in the opening seven races, during which he’s led 38 laps. He’s looking to pick up where he left off at Martinsville in his most recent outing there last October, which resulted in a third-place finish.
  • Saturday’s Call811.com Before you Dig. 250 will mark Herbst’s sixth at Martinsville in the Xfinity Series. Four of his five previous starts there resulted in top-10 finishes. Prior to last October’s third-place run, in which he fought valiantly for the win over multiple late-race restarts, he posted a pair of sixth-place finishes at the .526-mile paperclip-shaped oval – in October 2020 and April 2022, respectively.
  • Herbst has come to excel on the short tracks in the Xfinity Series, as was evident last season. In addition to his sixth- and third-place finishes at Martinsville in the spring and fall races, respectively, he added a fifth-place finish in the April race at Richmond and a fifth-place finish at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in September. Saturday night’s race at Martinsville will mark Herbst’s 17th on a short track in the Xfinity Series. His first career short-track start resulted in a sixth-place finish in June 2018 at Iowa Speedway in Newton. Since then, Herbst has added 11 top-10s, including in his past three races at Martinsville.

Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang

Martinsville is such a polarizing track for drivers – some love it and some hate it. Where do you land on that scale?

“I really like Martinsville. Ever since I first went there in the Truck Series, I’ve always loved going there. It’s definitely a place that you will love when everything is going well and hate when it all starts going bad – mostly because when it’s bad, it’s really bad. Stewart-Haas Racing has had solid runs there in the Xfinity Series in the past, so hopefully we can learn from that and show up ready to win. It would mean a ton to win a Martinsville grandfather clock. I’ve come really close there a few times in the Truck Series, and we had a few good runs in the Cup Series. That’s a trophy that everyone wants to win, and Martinsville is a place where everyone wants to win, so you always go there wanting to get that clock.”

After scoring a top-five finish prior to the Xfinity Series off weekend on the .75-mile oval of Richmond Raceway, what are your expectations heading into this Saturday’s race?

“We hope to keep building on what we did at Richmond. Martinsville is a place where tempers can flare, though, and you have to be ready for that. Sometimes you just have to get going, so either you have to move people out of the way if they’re holding you up, or you get moved. It’s a place where, as the laps start winding down, you’re going to get aggression from the drivers trying to win that clock. Hopefully we’ll come out on top and continue to turn our luck around. We’ve had the speed, so hopefully we can park our No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang in victory lane on Saturday night.”

Riley Herbst, Driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang

Richmond didn’t have the ending that you wanted, but there were a ton of positives that came out of it. Talk about that race and what you expect heading into another short-track race at Martinsville.

“Yeah, Richmond didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but there are a ton of positive things that we can take away. We got into a bad situation there, but prior to that we were leading laps, running up front and contending for the win. It proved that we can do that each and every week. I’m excited to head back to Martinsville now and try to take that same mentality from Richmond and from last October’s race. Everyone wants to bring home a grandfather clock, everyone wants to be the best at Martinsville. Sometimes to be the best, though, you have to do some beating and banging, and we’ve seen feelings get hurt. Either way, Martinsville is always a fun race.”

It was a season of growth for you in 2022, but it feels like you’re coming into your own in 2023. You’re leading laps, contending for wins, and consistently a top-five car. How has the journey been to get you to this point mentally?

“We’ve come a long way from that first season, and I’ve come a long way as a driver. It took me a while to understand that I’m Riley Herbst. I’m not Cole Custer, I’m not Chase Briscoe. I’m a completely different driver with a different style. Once I felt like I got that settled and would be able to be myself, have fun and try to drive the racecar the way I want to drive the race car, things started to turn around. I have so much confidence in Richard (Boswell, crew chief) and everybody on the No. 98 team. I know that they have confidence in me, and that’s what matters.”

Weekend schedule for Martinsville Speedway

By
Angie Campbell
-
Photo by Ted Seminara for SpeedwayMedia.com.

This weekend NASCAR heads to Martinsville Speedway for some short-track racing.

Chase Elliott will also make his much-anticipated return to Cup Series competition after missing the previous six races due to a broken left leg sustained in a snowboarding accident on March 3.

“We’re looking forward to having Chase back in his race car to pick up where he left off,” Rick Hendrick said in a statement issued by Hendrick Motorsports Wednesday afternoon.

“Since the injury, he’s worked extremely hard and focused all his time and energy on returning to the No. 9 team. Throughout the last six weeks, he’s stayed fully engaged with everything we’re doing, and we know he’s chomping at the bit to get on the racetrack and compete for wins.”

Martinsville Speedway has hosted 148 Cup Series races since the first event in 1949. There have been 57 different race winners and this weekend 10 of those drivers will be competing on Sunday.

Denny Hamlin tops the list with five victories, followed by Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch with two wins each. Christopher Bell, William Byron, Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick have each visited Victory Lane once at the 0.526-mile track.

The Xfinity Series has hosted 39 races at Martinsville with 25 different race winners. Saturday’s race will host the second segment of the Dash 4 Cash competition. Justin Allgaier won the first segment at Richmond and will compete against Josh Berry, John Hunter Nemechek and Chandler Smith for the $100.000 bonus.

Friday night the Camping World Truck Series hits the track for the 45th race held at Martinsville. Four of the drivers entered have won previously at ‘The Paperclip” and include Kyle Busch (2016, 2019), Matt Crafton (2014, 2015), Grant Enfinger (2020) and Zane Smith (2021).

Friday, April 14

3 p.m.: Truck Series Practice – Group 1 & 2 – FS1
3:35 p.m.: Truck Series Qualifying (Impound) Single Vehicle/2 Laps/All Entries) FS1
5 p.m.: Xfinity Series Practice – Group 1 & 1 – FS1
5:35 p.m.: Xfinity Series Qualifying (Impound) Single Vehicle/2 Laps/All Entries) FS1
7:30 p.m.: Truck Series Long John Silver’s 200
Stages 50/100/200 Laps = 105.2 Miles
FS1/MRN/SiriusXM
The Purse: $693,842
Post Truck Series Race: Press Pass

Saturday, April 15

4:35 p.m.: Cup Series Practice – Group A & B
FS2/MRN/SiriusXM
5:20 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying (Impound) Group A & B – Single Vehicle/2 Laps/2 Rounds) FS2/MRN/SiriusXM
7:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series Call811.com Before You Dig. 250
Stages 60/120/250 Laps = 131.5 Miles
FS1/MRN/SiriusXM
The Purse: $1,403,623
Post Xfinity Series Race: Press Pass

Sunday, April 16

3 p.m.: Cup Series NOCO 400
Stages 80/180/400 Laps = 210.4 Miles
FS1/MRN/SiriusXM
The Purse: $7,324,203
Post Cup Series Race: Press Pass

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series News and Notes: Martinsville Speedway

By
Official Release
-

KRIS WRIGHT
No. 02 F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet Silverado RST
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series News and Notes
Event: Long John Silver’s 200
Date: Friday, April 14
Venue: Martinsville Speedway
Location: Ridgeway, Virginia
Track Description: .526-mile(s)
Race: 200 laps / 105.2 miles

The Paperclip Review … This week marks Kris Wright’s third Martinsville Speedway appearance with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS). Because of its small size, tight corners and unique shape, the Martinsville Speedway is described most often as a paperclip. The Pittsburgh, Pa.,- native collected a career-best finish at ‘The Paperclip’ of 13thplace (2021). Wright made his NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series track debut at the Martinsville Speedway on October 30, 2021.

In addition, Wright has one start in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) at the Martinsville Speedway, resulting in a 26th-place
finish in 2022.

Short Track Stats: In five NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts on a short track (less than one mile in length), Kris Wright has an average starting spot of 22.8 and an average finish of 29.0 on short track racetracks.

The 28-year-old also has two combined NASCAR Xfinity Series starts on short tracks.

QUOTE WORTHY

Kris Wright, driver of the No. 02 F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet
Silverado RST for Young’s Motorsports
On the Martinsville Speedway:
“Let’s get back to some short track racing at the Martinsville Speedway. I am really excited to have the opportunity to race
at Martinsville this week with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series for some short-track action to round out our five
week stretch.”

Kris Wright on Social Media … To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, visit KrisWrightMotorsports.com, or connect with Kris Wright on Facebook (/KrisWrightRacing), Twitter (@KrisOnNASCAR) or Instagram (@krisonnascar).

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series History at the Martinsville Speedway … This weekend
will mark Young’s Motorsports’ 28th, 29th and 30th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at the Martinsville Speedway.

The organization posted a team best finish at the track of ninth-place with Austin Hill on March 26, 2018. The 27 previous starts at the longest continuously running track on the NASCAR schedule have earned Young’s Motorsports an average starting position of 20.1 and an average finish of 21.6.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series History … Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C.,-based organization has logged 424 starts from 49 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019, 2021), seven top-five finishes and 31 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 22.1 and an average finishing position of 21.4.

Catch the Action … The Long John Silver’s 200 at the Martinsville Speedway will be broadcast on FS1 on Friday, April 14 at 6:30 p.m. (ET) beginning with NASCAR RaceDay: Craftsman Truck Series at Martinsville Speedway. It will also broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 7:00 p.m. (ET). In addition, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series practice and qualifying at the Martinsville Speedway will air on Friday at 3:00 p.m. (ET) on FS1.

Chase Elliott to return at Martinsville

By
Official Release
-
Photo by Kirk Schroll for SpeedwayMedia.com.

CONCORD, N.C. (April 12, 2023) – Chase Elliott will return to the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the April 16 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway after recovering from a leg injury.

Elliott, 27, suffered a fractured tibia while snowboarding on March 3 and underwent successful surgery at The Steadman Clinic, a U.S. Olympic National Medical Center in Vail, Colorado. The 2020 Cup Series champion rehabilitated in Colorado before returning to his home in Dawsonville, Georgia, in late March to continue physical therapy.

After being medically cleared Tuesday, Elliott tested Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning in the Chevrolet Driver-in-the-Loop simulator in Concord, North Carolina, before making the final decision to return at Martinsville.

“We’re looking forward to having Chase back in his race car to pick up where he left off,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “Since the injury, he’s worked extremely hard and focused all his time and energy on returning to the No. 9 team. Throughout the last six weeks, he’s stayed fully engaged with everything we’re doing, and we know he’s chomping at the bit to get on the racetrack and compete for wins.”

Josh Berry has filled in for Elliott in five of the last six Cup Series events with a best finish of second, which came at Richmond Raceway. Jordan Taylor drove the No. 9 Chevrolet at Circuit of The Americas, starting fourth and finishing 24th in his Cup debut.

“Having such high-caliber drivers available was a huge benefit, especially under difficult circumstances,” said Jeff Andrews, president and general manager of Hendrick Motorsports. “Josh and Jordan each brought a tremendous amount of professionalism to our team, and we’re truly grateful for their contributions. Their preparation and talent made a big difference. We can’t overstate it.”

Hendrick Motorsports has received a waiver from NASCAR to allow Elliott to be eligible for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

Kaulig Racing Weekly Advance | Martinsville Speedway

By
Official Release
-

NOCO 400
Martinsville Speedway
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Sunday, April 16 at 3:00 p.m. EST on FS1

  • Kaulig Racing has made four starts at Martinsville Speedway in the NCS.
  • The team earned its third top-10 finish of the season at Bristol Motor Speedway, tying its season-best finish, after Justin Haley finished sixth in the Food City Dirt Race.

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Action Industries Camaro ZL1

  • AJ Allmendinger has made 23 NCS starts at Martinsville Speedway.
  • Allmendinger has two top fives and seven top-10 finishes with an average finish of 19th at Martinsville

“We’re hoping we can make improvements on our short track program this weekend. We really struggled in Richmond so our primary focus is to improve on what we had there and keep moving forward.” – AJ Allmendinger on Martinsville Speedway

Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1

  • Justin Haley has made four starts at Martinsville Speedway in the NCS.
  • Haley earned his best finish of the 2023 season at Bristol Motor Speedway after finishing sixth in the Food City Dirt Race.

“Martinsville is another super unique short track on our schedule. We didn’t have the best results last year, but I think we are gradually improving our short track program. We’re hoping for a good weekend after another top-10 finish at Bristol.” – Justin Haley on Martinsville Speedway  

Call 811.com Before You Dig. 250
Martinsville Speedway
NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS)
Saturday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. EST on FS1

  • Kaulig Racing has made 15 starts at Martinsville Speedway in the NXS.
  • The team has earned three top fives and six top-10 finishes, including 99 laps led at Martinsville.
  • So far in the 2023 NXS season, Kaulig Racing has earned two wins, two pole awards, seven top fives and 15 top-10 finishes.

Derek Kraus, No. 10 International Order of T. Roosevelt Chevrolet Camaro

  • Derek Kraus will make his first start at Martinsville Speedway in the NXS this weekend and his second start in the series with Kaulig Racing.
  • Kraus has four previous starts at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) , earning one top-10 finish at the short track in 2020.
  • Kraus earned a top-10 finish in his first-ever NXS start with Kaulig Racing at Richmond Raceway in the ToyotaCare 250.

“It will be interesting to learn the differences between a truck and a Xfinity car at Martinsville. It’s a short track that takes a lot of patience, and I learned in the truck series that you need to be around at the end to have a shot. I can’t wait to get to work with the Kaulig Racing team again. We learned a lot together in my first start at Richmond and we can continue to build on that going into Martinsville.” – Derek Kraus on Martinsville Speedway

Daniel Hemric, No. 11 AG1 Chevrolet Camaro

  • Daniel Hemric has earned two top fives, three top-10 finishes and has an average finish of 6.8 in four starts at Martinsville Speedway.
  • Hemric has led 46 laps at Martinsville Speedway.

“We all look forward to short-track racing here at Kaulig Racing. Our short-track program has been hit or miss over the last handful of races. It was good to see our teammate get a win at the last short track in Richmond. Hopefully we can carry that momentum and go out and do a good job at Martinsville. It would be cool to put one of those grandfather clocks in my house!” – Daniel Hemric on Martinsville Speedway

Chandler Smith, No. 16 Quick Tie Products Chevrolet Camaro

  • Chandler Smith will make his first start at Martinsville Speedway in the NXS this weekend in the Call811.com Before You Dig. 250.
  • Smith earned a fourth place and sixth-place finish at Martinsville in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) in 2021 and 2022 and led two laps in the 2022 Blue Emu Maximum Pain Relief 200.

“It’s great to get right back to racing at another short track. These kinds of tracks are the ones I’m most comfortable at. It’s where I’ve grown up racing. I’ve driven a couple times at Martinsville before and really like the feel of it. It’ll be my first time in the Xfinity car there so it’ll be a new challenge compared to racing Trucks. It’s going to get physical with other cars and drivers, and I’m prepared for that.” – Chandler Smith on Martinsville Speedway  

 
About Kaulig Racing™

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

Lawless Alan – Long John Silver’s 200 Race Advance

By
Official Release
-

Martinsville Speedway (200 Laps / 105 Miles)
Friday, April 14 | Martinsville, Virginia | 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Team: No. 45 AUTOChargit 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 at Martinsville Speedway: In one start at Martinsville Speedway, Lawless Alan qualified 15th and finished 20th.

Alan on Friday’s Race at Martinsville: “Martinsville is a track that I struggled at last year, but I’m looking forward to getting back there. I know more about the short tracks in the NASCAR Truck Series now than I did last year, so I think coming in with more knowledge will benefit me this time at the track.”

On the Truck: The No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado will carry the AUTOChargit colors this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. AUTOChargit designs, manufactures and installs EV charging systems for automated and conventional parking applications.

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.

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.

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

Carson Hocevar – Long John Silver’s 200 Race Advance

By
Official Release
-

Long John Silver’s 200 | Martinsville Speedway (200 Laps / 105 Miles)
Friday, April 14 | Martinsville, Virginia | 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

Bristol Dirt Recap: The No. 42 team struggled early in the Weather Guard Truck Race on Dirt at Bristol. Hocevar battled a tight-handling Silverado for most of the heat race and the early stages of the feature, but his Worldwide Express team was able to fix the handling to put him inside the top-10 late in the running. Unfortunately, Hocevar lost all of the gained track position when he was forced to slow down for a late wreck, ultimately finishing 17th.

Hocevar on Bristol Dirt: “Last week wasn’t the race we expected. It took us most of the race to find our pace and make up ground; but once we did, we ran inside the top-10. It’s good to see our team capable of battling back from adversity and showing speed when it counts.”

Hocevar at Martinsville Speedway: In three starts at Martinsville Speedway, Hocevar has an average finish of 14.0 and an average qualifying position of 16.67, while leading 11 laps.

Hocevar on Friday’s Race at Martinsville: “In each race at Martinsville, we’ve been able to lead laps in some capacity, so I’m optimistic about our chances to extend that streak this weekend. I enjoy going to short tracks with this Worldwide Express team and I’m hoping for a solid result.”

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.

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 – Long John Silver’s 200 Race Advance

By
Official Release
-

Long John Silver’s 200 | Martinsville Speedway (200 Laps / 105 Miles)
Friday, April 14 | Martinsville, Virginia | 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 Week at Bristol Dirt: Dirt racer, Tyler Carpenter, was behind the wheel of the No. 41 Precision Vehicle Logistics / AutoVentive Chevrolet Silverado last weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. The West Virginia driver was able to show excellent pace throughout his heat race, but a spin on the final lap of the heat race put him at the back of the pack for the Weather Guard Truck Race on Dirt. Ultimately, various incidents throughout the night would put Carpenter out of the race early, finishing 29th.

Chastain at Martinsville Speedway: Ross Chastain has 17 starts at Martinsville Speedway across NASCAR’s top three touring series. Chastain has an average finish of 11.38 in eight starts in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at the half-mile track, including three consecutive top-10s in his last three starts. Additionally, Chastain finished inside the top-five in both Cup Series races at Martinsville in the 2022 season. Chastain made sporting news around the world with the “Hail Melon” move in last fall’s Cup Series event at Martinsville Speedway.

Chastain on Friday’s Race at Martinsville Speedway: “I’ve been fortunate to have good runs at Martinsville, especially as of late. I’m hoping the trend of good finishes continues and we can put together a good run on Friday. Our speed has been so good in the No. 41 truck this season, so I know our Worldwide Express Silverado will be fast this weekend.”

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.

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.

HAGERTY GARAGE + SOCIAL OPENS MIAMI CAR CULTURE CLUBHOUSE

By
Official Release
-

The collector car storage, concierge and social club adds its third South Florida location catering to automotive enthusiasts and VIPs

MIAMI, Fla. – Known as one of the nation’s luxury car capitals, Miami continues to see an influx of enthusiasts and their prized possessions. Hagerty Garage + Social is proud to open its third premium clubhouse and car storage facility in South Florida with its Miami location complementing existing locations in Palm Beach and Delray Beach. The Hagerty Garage + Social network has nine locations throughout North America.

“We’re excited to bring Hagerty Garage + Social to Miami’s enthusiast community, which has been a longtime fixture in car culture,” said John Belniak, managing director, Hagerty Garage + Social. “Places like South Florida are vital to Hagerty’s purpose to save driving and car culture for future generations. We look forward to bringing together Miami’s passionate community of car lovers.”

A recent addition to its growing national network of enthusiast facilities, Hagerty Garage + Social Miami offers a premium clubhouse and car storage facility for car lovers and collectors. Garage + Social Miami features climate-controlled, dust-free storage with 24-hour security, personalized service, maintenance and detailing. The facility includes nearly 30,000 square feet of car storage, plus an adjoining clubhouse for members and their friends to gather and socialize. The facility can house more than 200 cars at its Little River location near Miami Beach, Fisher Island and other luxe Miami locales.

“Miami is an obvious choice for Hagerty Garage + Social’s growing network,” says Hagerty Garage + Social regional vice president Jason Rosenzweig. “From Palm Beach to Delray to Miami, our team is focused on great events, cool cars and top-notch service and hospitality. Garage + Social is here to take care of your cars with the same care and attention you would at home while acting as a local hub for car culture and personal hub for your social life.” 

Member vehicles are always in good hands and, as part of the regular storage service, receive monthly startup and exercising with tire pressure monitoring, fluid inspections, battery maintenance and more. All memberships include free access to the Hagerty Drivers Club, which provides an annual subscription to the award-winning Hagerty Drivers Club magazine, invitations to members-only events and experiences, automotive discounts, roadside assistance designed for classic and collector cars, premium automotive print and video content as well as promotions with leading automotive lifestyle brands.

All members have full reciprocity across the nine Hagerty Garage + Social locations throughout North America, including locations in Delray Beach, Palm Beach, Bedford Hills (NY), Chicago, Toronto, Seattle, Van Nuys (CA) and Culver City (CA).  Members of Garage + Social have access to the private facilities as well as a calendar full of social events including track days, exclusive test drives, vehicle previews, rallies, launches as well as access to some of the world’s most sought-after brands. Each Garage + Social facility includes a dedicated member clubhouse, kitchen area and social venue equipped for events both large and small. 

Garage + Social also offers full-service collection management for members, including new car acquisition assistance. The Garage + Social team works closely with Broad Arrow Group, a Hagerty brand, to serve members in procuring, selling and enjoying the cars they love. 

For more information about how to become a member, please visit https://www.garageandsocial.com/. Tours are available by appointment.

About Hagerty, Inc. (NYSE: HGTY) Hagerty is an automotive lifestyle brand committed to saving driving and car culture for future generations. The company is a leading provider of specialty vehicle insurance, expert car valuation data and insights, live and digital car auction services, immersive events and automotive entertainment custom made for the 69 million Americans who self-describe as car enthusiasts. Hagerty also operates in Canada and the UK and is home to Hagerty Drivers Club, a community of 750,000 who can’t get enough of cars. As a purpose-driven organization, Hagerty Impact aims to be a catalyst for positive change across the issues that matter most to our teams, our members, the broader automotive community, our shareholders and the planet at large. For more information, please visit https://www.hagerty.com/, or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Press materials can be found at newsroom.hagerty.com.

Actor Grant Gustin To Ride in Fastest Seat in Sports at Long Beach

By
Official Release
-

Star of The CW’s ‘The Flash’ To Take NTT INDYCAR SERIES Thrill Ride

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, April 12, 2023) – Grant Gustin, star of The CW Network’s hit show “The Flash,” will ride in the Fastest Seat in Sports at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Sunday, April 16, leading the full field of drivers to the green flag at one of the most thrilling and prestigious stops on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule.

The live telecast of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will start at 3 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

INDYCAR’s Fastest Seat in Sports is a high-speed, high-octane, super-charged thrill ride in a custom INDYCAR SERIES car with a special back passenger seat. At almost every race on the schedule, the car advances the field of drivers to the start/finish line to signify the beginning of the race, with a special passenger in the guest seat. Previous participants in the Fastest Seat in Sports include Lady Gaga, NBA champions Steph Curry and Kawhi Leonard, actors Simu Liu and Channing Tatum, and many others.

From Warner Bros. Television, “The Flash” debuted its ninth and final season on The CW Network this February and will have its final run at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Wednesday, May 24. Gustin will wear a special “The Flash”-themed racing helmet and suit for his INDYCAR experience Sunday.

The CW Network is also the upcoming home of “100 Days to Indy,” a brand-new documentary series chronicling the exhilarating and intense countdown to this year’s Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

The first episode of “100 Days to Indy” premieres on The CW at 9 p.m. ET/PT Thursday, April 27. See the first look at “100 Days to Indy” here.

1...1,5131,5141,515...6,649Page 1,514 of 6,649