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Toyota Gazoo Racing North America NHRA Las Vegas Post-Qualifying Report — 4.15.23

By
Official Release
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TOYOTA TAKES TWO NUMBER TWO QUALIFIERS IN VEGAS FOUR-WIDE WEEKEND
Steve Torrence and Alexis DeJoria Claim Number Two Qualifier Spots

LAS VEGAS (April 15, 2023) – Steve Torrence posted a time of 3.712 in Friday afternoon’s first round of qualifying and his time held through three more rounds to claim the number two qualifying spot for tomorrow’s first four-wide race of the NHRA season at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Fellow Toyota dragster drivers Justin Ashley (fourth) and Shawn Langdon (sixth) also qualified in the top-half of the field.

In Funny Car competition, Alexis DeJoria drove her GR Supra to the number two qualifier position for the second consecutive weekend with a time of 3.933, which she was able to consistently run through the next two rounds. Ron Capps qualified fourth with his GR Supra and after nearly two weeks filled with repairs and logistical challenges to get to Las Vegas, J.R. Todd and his Kalitta Motorsports team unfortunately failed to qualify for Sunday’s event.

Toyota Post-Qualifying Recap
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Race 4 of 21

TOYOTA TOP FUEL QUALIFYING POSITIONS

NameCarQualifying PositionFirst Round Opponent
Brittany Force*Monster Energy Top Fuel Dragster1st (3.697)A. Brown
T. Schumacher
Steve TorrenceCapco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster2nd (3.712)B. Hull
J. Hart
D. Kalitta
Justin AshleyPhillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel Dragster4th (3.730)R. Passey
L. Pruett
A. Prock
Shawn LangdonDHL Toyota Top Fuel Dragster6th (3.754)M. Salinas
K. Baldwin
C. Millican
Antron BrownMatco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster9th (3.769)B. Force
T. Schumacher
Doug KalittaMac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster10th (3.780)B. Hull
J. Hart
S. Torrence

(*non-Toyota driver)

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING POSITIONS

NameCarQualifying PositionFirst Round Opponent
Cruz PedregonSnap-On Tools Funny Car1st (3.865)S. Densham
T. Wilkerson
B. Bode
Alexis DeJoriaBandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car2nd (3.933)J. Rupert
J. Force
P. Lee
Ron CappsNAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra Funny Car4th (3.937)C. Green
B. Tasca III
B. Alexander
J.R. ToddDHL Toyota GR Supra Funny CarDNQ 

(*non-Toyota driver)

TOYOTA QUOTES

STEVE TORRENCE, Capco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Torrence Racing

TF Qualifying Result: 2nd

How do you feel going into Sunday’s first four-wide of the season as number two qualifier?

“We’ve got confidence going into tomorrow. Today we were trying some things with what we did on Friday. I think that obviously it wasn’t the right direction and we didn’t make it down both runs. Not because we smoked the tires, but we had some issues in the engine. We’ll go back to our normal deal for tomorrow and have a good race car and hopefully carry some momentum. We’ve had a consistent race car all year. We kicked ourselves in Pomona in the second round, but these Capco Boys and this Toyota dragster, we can rebound pretty quick. That’s what we do. We just go out and race our race and try to get to the winner’s circle. Tomorrow is only three round and I feel confident we can with three of those in a row.”

ALEXIS DEJORIA, Bandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, DC Motorsports

FC Qualifying Result: 2nd

How do you feel about your qualifying effort in Vegas as you prep for tomorrow’s race?

“Three out of four runs, made it down the track – 3.933s with a really consistent car. We always do well here in Vegas. It’s fun for us to come out here and we really like coming out here. It is hot out there, but we’ve gotten some really great points over the last three rounds of qualifying. That’s good. Didn’t get any taken away from crossing anything so we’re in the good side right now. Just excited for tomorrow. Hoping to get my first four-wide win for the team.”

J.R. TODD, DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, Kalitta Motorsports

FC Qualifying Result: DNQ

How will you look back at this weekend after the work it took to get this car on track and then not making the field to compete on Sunday?

“Definitely a forgettable weekend. I put the blame on me. I should have done a better job earlier in the weekend and keeping the thing in the groove and not come down to Q4 to get in the show. All in all, I feel bad for my guys., All the work they put in this past week to get this DHL GR Supra back on track. All the guys back at PBRC (Precision Built Race Cars) and everybody at Kalitta Motorsports and back at the fab shop for busting their ass to get us back out here. This is a tough pill to swallow, but I’m sure we’ll stay and run on Monday to get this thing figured out. It’s still early in the season and there’s a lot of racing left.”

What will you tell your team?

“I told these guys, I’m sorry. They deserve better than this and I wanted to get them a win this weekend. That’s the way I can pay them back.”

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.

Hard-fought Long Beach finish for Cadillac Racing

By
Official Release
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No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R places fifth on street circuit

LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 15, 2023) — Starting seventh on the sole street circuit on the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship calendar, the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R group decided an alternate strategy was in order to challenge for its second consecutive victory.

That strategy included a full-course caution that came too late in the 100-minute race. Pipo Derani and Alexander Sims co-drove to a fifth-place finish in the third round of the Grand Touring Prototype season.

Sims brought the hybrid prototype into the pits on Lap 6 and gave way to Derani, who systematically moved up and ran second on Lap 38. Derani returned the No. 31 Cadillac to the pits for service on Lap 52 of the 78-lap total, but the strategy didn’t play out to challenge for the lead as the top four cars made one stop in the race.

“We have to make a lot of decisions and one of them was we were toward the back of the pack anyway and passing is so difficult on the track. So, our best shot was to get the driver change done as quick as possible and then any time before the halfway point — when everybody else started pitting – with a yellow flag all of sudden we’re going to have a quicker pit stop than them because they still have to do their driver change,” team manager Gary Nelson said.

“It was the right move early and with a yellow we’re in contention to win. Without a yellow, we have to try to pass people and passing is a higher risk of not finishing than the risk of pitting early.”

Derani and Sims, who teamed with endurance driver Jack Aitken to win the Twelve Hours of Sebring in March, are one point out of the championship lead. The No. 6 Porsche 963 won under caution – the yellow flag flying with three minutes left.

Sebastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande, who won the 2022 Long Beach race to lead a Cadillac sweep of the podium, were unable to mount a challenge as a first-lap incident forced retirement of the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R. It was classified eighth in the GTP class.

Bourdais, who qualified third with a lap of 1 minute, 10.981 seconds on the 1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit, lost grip making a charge for the lead entering Turn 1 and spun, with the nose of the hybrid prototype making contact with the unforgiving concrete barrier.

Cadillac Racing had won the past five races at Long Beach dating to the start of the DPi era. The two Cadillac prototypes will next challenge for the victory May 14 on the undulating 2.238-mile, 11-turn WeatherTech Raceway Laguna road course in a 2-hour, 40-minute race.

In the interim, Bourdais and van der Zande will co-drive the No. 3 Cadillac V-Series.R in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on April 29. They will join the sister No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R in the first WEC outing at the Belgian road course for Cadillac Racing. The race will be a warm-up for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, and the Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R will also expand the Hypercar field for the centenary race in France.

The No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R will start on the fourth row Sunday in the 6 Hours of Portimão in Portugal. Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn and Richard Westbrook will share driving duties.

No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R

Sebastien Bourdais: “Weird situation for sure there. We got squeezed against the wall at the start and put marbles on the tires. We’re not exactly sure what happened and why the rears locked up. I feel bad for the team, but we’ll learn what we can from this one and move on to what’s next in the WEC, as well as Laguna.”

Renger van der Zande: “It’s unfortunate because we came into this race expecting to defend our win from last year. We have to see what actually happened. Obviously, it’s been very tough to get tire temps in the car and I think that for sure is causing a lot of issues in the warm-up laps. It’s bad for the points in the championship and I feel sorry for the whole team because this is not what we race for.”

No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R

Pipo Derani: “It was one of those races where you start from the back and then you have to try something different, and we did. It was a nice fight up until a certain point of the race. I could fight, overtook a few cars while we were close to the leading cars. We knew we were on a different strategy, and we were counting on another yellow toward the end of the race, which didn’t happen. Nevertheless, we showed that we were on par in terms of pace during the race and I think we managed to improve throughout the weekend, which is very positive. It’s a long championship and I think considering how the race evolved, it’s a good points day. We wanted we wanted to be further ahead, we showed that our Cadillac V-Series.R has a lot of promise and we have a lot to look forward to.”

Alexander Sims: “Starting seventh doesn’t do you any favors in a sprint race on a street circuit where it’s difficult to pass, so the strategy was to pit early and give Pipo tires that had a few laps on them so they would come in quick. We were looking for the yellow that never came. We showed good pace throughout the race and Pipo did a great job. It’s still learning for us and the other teams about this car, so we’ll take the improvements and data and move on to Laguna Seca.”

Use These 4 Pieces Of Advice And Find An Experienced Lawyer

By
SM
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pexels.com

If you’re facing a legal battle, your best chance of success lies in finding an experienced lawyer who can help guide you through the tactics and strategies necessary to get favorable results. It’s not enough to just find ANY lawyer; it has to be someone with a track record of successful cases, who can provide sound advice on the complexities of modern-day law. To make this daunting process easier for you, we will share 4 pieces of advice that will help you find an experienced and knowledgeable attorney that is best suited to your needs.

Research Local Law Firms 

When it comes to choosing a local law firm, it’s important to do your research to find the best fit for your needs. One great way to gain insight into a firm’s reputation is by checking out past reviews and ratings online. This allows you to see firsthand what other clients have experienced when working with that firm and can help you make a more informed decision. Pay attention to comments about responsiveness, communication, and success rates in cases similar to yours. By taking the time to research, you’ll be better equipped to choose a local law firm that can confidently and competently handle your legal needs. Whether you need a Kentucky medical malpractice lawyer or a Houston criminal defense lawyer, taking the time to research local law firms can make all the difference in finding the right fit. It’s also important to look for a firm experienced in the type of law you need, as different laws can have uniquely complex nuances.

Schedule a Consultation 

Navigating the legal system on your own can be overwhelming, which is why finding the right lawyer to represent you is crucial. After carefully researching and narrowing down your list of potential lawyers, the next step is to schedule a consultation with them. This face-to-face meeting will provide an opportunity for you to ask any lingering questions and gain a better understanding of their approach to your case. But, it can be nerve-wracking to meet a complete stranger who holds the key to your legal success. Rest assured, a good lawyer will make you feel at ease and explain the legal process in a clear and concise manner. Don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward achieving the legal results you desire.

Make Sure You Feel Comfortable With the Attorney 

Finding the right attorney can be a daunting task, especially if you’re going through a challenging time. It’s not enough to simply hire someone who has experience in the field you need help with. You also need to make sure that you feel comfortable communicating openly with them. After all, you’ll be sharing sensitive information and relying on their guidance to make important decisions. Take the time to meet with different attorneys and ask them questions about their approach and communication style. Ultimately, you want to choose someone who not only has the expertise necessary to handle your legal matter but also someone who you feel comfortable working with.

Check Their References 

When it comes to choosing a lawyer to represent you, it’s important to do your research and check their references. While they may seem like the perfect fit on paper, hearing from people who have worked with them before can give you a more accurate picture of how they operate. Contacting references can provide valuable insights into the lawyer’s work ethic, communication style, and overall effectiveness. Plus, it can help you feel confident that you’re making a sound decision in selecting a legal representative. So, if you’re considering a lawyer for your case, take the time to do your due diligence and reach out to their references before making a final decision.

As you embark on the process of finding and selecting a lawyer to serve your specific legal needs, it can be overwhelming and intimidating at times. However, if done correctly the search process can be an enjoyable learning experience that will arm you with confidence when making future decisions regarding your legal matters. Take your time researching local law firms and ask for referrals from trusted sources, compare notes, and try to shorten your list to a few top contenders. Set up a meeting to get advice about the best way to proceed with your case and make sure that all agreements are put in writing so both parties can accurately refer back to them in the future. Before signing any documents, checking references is an essential part of ensuring that you have chosen the most qualified attorney for you. With the right legal professional on your side, you can move forward with a greater sense of security and peace of mind.

4 Things You Should Do After A Car Crash

By
SM
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Photo by Clark Van Der Beken on Unsplash

No one ever plans to get into a car crash, but it happens. You can’t always control the situation, but you can control how you handle it afterward. Knowing what steps to take after a crash is essential for your safety and for protection against financial losses that could result from an accident. These four tips will help you move forward with confidence in the aftermath of a car crash so that you are well-equipped to navigate any potential medical or legal issues during this stressful period in your life.

Contact A Lawyer

After a car crash, the first step you should take is to contact an attorney who specializes in handling car accidents. An experienced lawyer can provide legal advice that will help you know what steps to take next and make sure you are protected from financial losses. A reputable Phoenix car accident lawyer notes that you should always speak to a lawyer before discussing the accident with the other party or their insurance company. That is because statements you make can be used against you in court and impact the outcome of any legal proceedings that may arise from the crash. In addition, a lawyer can help you understand how your insurance coverage might apply and which party is considered at fault. This information is key in helping you receive the maximum compensation for any damages or injuries that result from the crash. It is important to note that you may be entitled to more money than what your insurance company is offering.

A specialist with a vast knowledge of local laws can navigate the complexities of your case with precision and confidence. They’ll know how car accidents occur and what the steps are to gather evidence, work with experts, and negotiate effectively on your behalf. This expertise increases your chances of a favorable settlement while reducing the stress of managing legal details on your own. Having a knowledgeable advocate ensures that your rights remain protected throughout the process.

Take Photos Of Any Damage Or Injuries

Getting into a car accident can be a chaotic and stressful situation, and it’s essential to take photos of any damage or injuries that occurred in the crash. Not only can these pictures help you remember the details of the accident, but they can also serve as valuable evidence if you need to file an insurance claim or a lawsuit. By taking clear and detailed photos of the damage to your vehicle, the other driver’s vehicle, and any injuries you sustained, you can help ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. So, the next time you find yourself in a car accident, be sure to grab your camera or phone and start snapping away. It may be the best decision you make in the aftermath of the crash.

Contact Your Insurance Company 

Contacting your insurance company may seem like a daunting task, but it’s important to ensure you have the proper coverage and support in the event of any unforeseen incidents. By providing your insurer with all necessary information, such as your policy number and details about the incident, they’ll be able to guide you through the claims process and provide any assistance you may need. Whether it’s a minor fender bender or a major accident, having open communication with your insurance company can help alleviate stress and provide peace of mind. So don’t hesitate to pick up the phone or send an email, your insurance company is there to support you when you need it most.

Seek Medical Attention As Soon As Possible

Accidents happen when we least expect them. Sometimes after an accident, it’s normal to feel fine and assume that everything is okay. However, it’s essential to seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you think you’re okay. Time is of the essence when it comes to medical emergencies, and the sooner you receive treatment, the better. Ignoring early signs of illnesses can lead to more severe medical conditions that may be difficult and costly to treat in the future. Taking care of your health should always be a top priority, and by seeking medical attention right away, you’ll be doing just that! When it comes to car accidents, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. The aftermath of a car accident can be a difficult and confusing time, but with the right information and support, you can get through this trying period.

To sum up, an automobile accident can be a traumatic event, and having a plan in place on how to handle it can make the process easier. It’s essential that you take necessary steps to keep yourself safe and secure and that includes calling the police, obtaining information from the other driver, taking photos of any damages and injuries that occurred, contacting your insurance company as soon as possible to report the incident, seeking medical attention even if you think you are fine, gathering evidence from the scene including any debris or statements from witnesses, and documenting any expenses associated with your crash. An automobile accident can disrupt many aspects of your life; however, following these guidelines can help ensure all parties involved receive fair treatment through this difficult time.

Ryan Preece sprints to first career Cup Series pole at Martinsville

By
Angie Campbell
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Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Ryan Preece won his first NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Award in 124 starts Saturday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway with an impressive lap of 19.979 seconds at 94.780 mph in his Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 Ford.

He was the only driver to post a speed under 20 seconds during the qualifying session.

“I was fighting loose that first lap,” Preece said, “It’s a pole. Not a race. So I guess from a company standpoint, it makes us all very optimistic for tomorrow, and [we] can just be smart and we can have good days. It certainly shows that our short track program is really good, and I know our superspeedway program has been extremely good too, and we’ll keep working on that.”

Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suárez was second fastest with a lap of 94.298 mph and will join Preece on the front row to lead the field to green Sunday afternoon.  

Stewart-Haas Racing brought the speed with all four drivers starting in the top 10. Aric Almirola and Chase Briscoe will start third and fourth while Kevin Harvick starts in seventh.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. qualified fifth to round out the top five.

It was a disappointing day for Hendrick Motorsports. While William Byron qualified in eighth, Kyle Larson will start 19th and Alex Bowman will begin the race in 23rd.

Chase Elliott, in his return to competition after missing six weeks due to a snowboarding incident, will also have work to do, after qualifying 24th.

“I actually feel pretty good,” he said. “I had a dismal qualifying lap, but I can’t blame my leg on that one. I had a pretty good first lap and then I really messed up the exit of [turn] two there ]on the second lap. Judging off of practice, starting in the back is going to be a lot of fun, so looking forward to that in the No. 9 NAPA Chevy. We’ll try to go forward there tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I felt fine in the car,” he continued. “Like I said, the entire practice run, I felt fine. Once you kind of get out there on the track and you start focusing on the little things that you need to be doing to hit your marks, I feel like some of that goes away, so that’s a good thing. Again, my qualifying lap wasn’t because of that, it was just a poor effort.” 

The Cup Series NOCO 400 is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET and will be televised on FS1 with radio coverage provided by MSN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Starting Lineup:

Martinsville-Cup-Starting-Lineup-12309_STARTROW

John Hunter Nemechek clocks in for dominant Xfinity victory at Martinsville

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Two weeks after having a victory at Richmond Raceway slip out of his grasp in the late stages, John Hunter Nemechek doubled down with resilience and rose to the occasion after scoring a dominant victory in the Call811.com Before You Dig. 250 at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, April 15.

The 25-year-old Nemechek from Mooresville, North Carolina, led three times for a race-high 198 of 250-scheduled laps, including the final 33, as he also capitalized on the final restart with 18 laps remaining to beat teammate Sammy Smith and Cole Custer by more than a second to claim his second checkered flag of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season in an event where he swept both stages. As an added bonus, Nemechek claimed the second Dash 4 Cash bonus with his victory at the Paperclip-shaped short track.

With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Friday, Cole Custer notched his second Xfinity pole of the season after posting a pole-winning lap at 94.411 mph in 20.057 seconds. Joining him on the front row was John Hunter Nemechek, who posted the second-best qualifying lap at 94.331 mph in 20.074 seconds.

Prior to the event, names that included Sheldon Creed, Jeremy Clements, Kaden Honeycutt, Anthony Alfredo and Alex Labbe dropped to the rear due to unapproved adjustments made to their respective entries.

When the green flag waved and the race commenced, Custer launched ahead with a strong jump on the inside lane as he cleared Nemechek and assumed the lead for a full circuit, where he proceeded to lead the first lap. Behind, the field fanned out to three tight-packed lanes as rookie Parker Retzlaff, who qualified fourth, was getting shuffled out of the racing groove while rookie Sammy Smith and Samy Mayer moved up and battled for third in front of Riley Herbst and Josh Berry.

Three laps later, Nemechek launched his bid for the lead as he drew his No. 20 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota Supra beneath Custer’s No. 00 Haas Ford Mustang through Turns 1 and 2. After dueling with Custer amid a tight side-by-side battle during the following lap, Nemechek became the new leader of the event on the sixth lap after clearing Custer in Turns 3 and 4 while Sammy Smith trailed behind in close distance.

Through the first 10 scheduled laps, Nemechek was leading by more than half a second over Custer followed by Sammy Smith, Sam Mayer and Riley Herbst while Berry, rookie Chandler Smith, Justin Allgaier, Daniel Hemric and Parker Retzlaff were in the top 10. Behind, Austin Hill was in 11th over Brandon Jones, Ryan Sieg, Brett Moffitt and Derek Kraus in the top 15 while Ryan Truex, Connor Mosack, Parker Kligerman, Kaz Grala and Josh Williams occupied the top 20.

Fifteen laps later, Nemechek continued to lead by half a second over Custer while third-place Sammy Smith trailed by more than a second. With Herbst and Mayer remaining in the top five, Berry also remained in sixth followed by Chandler Smith, Allgaier, Hemric and Retzlaff.

Another 11 laps later, the first caution of the event flew when Moffitt got loose while battling Austin Hill through Turns 3 and 4 as he spun without getting hit by the oncoming field. By then, Nemechek and Custer had reignited their early battle for the lead amid lapped traffic while 30 of 38 starters were scored on the lead lap. During the caution period, some like Josh Berry, Hill, Jeb Burton, Brennan Poole, Dawson Cram, Kaden Honeycutt, Gray Gaulding and Anthony Alfredo pitted while the rest led by Nemechek remained on the track.

During the following restart on Lap 43, Nemechek retained the lead and pulled ahead of Custer after receiving a bump and shove from teammate Sammy Smith on the inside lane amid a stacked-up restart. With Nemechek out in front, teammate Sammy Smith battled and fended off Custer to assume second while the field behind jostled amid tight-quarter lanes for positions.

At the Lap 50 mark, Nemechek was leading by half a second over teammate Sammy Smith while third-place Custer trailed by more than a second along with Mayer and Herbst.

When the first stage concluded on Lap 60, Nemechek captured his second stage victory of the 2023 Xfinity season after fending off teammate Sammy Smith by more than six-tenths of a second. Custer trailed the two Joe Gibbs Racing competitors in third while Mayer, Herbst, Allgaier, Hemric, Chandler Smith, Retzlaff and Brandon Jones were scored in the top 10.

Under the stage break, a majority of the field led by Nemechek pitted while others led by Hill and Berry, both of whom pitted on Lap 39, remained on the track. Following the pit stops, Nemechek exited pit road first followed by Sammy Smith, Hemric, Chandler Smith and Herbst.

The second stage started on Lap 71 as Hill and Berry occupied the front row followed by Dawson Cram and Jeb Burton. At the start, Hill rocketed with the lead on the inside lane followed by Berry as the field fanned out and stacked up through the turns and the straightaways. With Berry trying to close back towards Hill’s rear bumper for the lead, Nemechek shoved his way up to fourth on fresh tires behind Jeb Burton while Cram was shuffled out and falling below the leaderboard. In the process, Hemric carved his way up into the top five while Sammy Smith was mired in sixth as he battled Custer to retain the spot.

Three laps later, Berry moved his No. 8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Camaro into the lead as the front-runners settled in a single-file line. This kept Nemechek in fourth behind Jeb Burton while Hemric was in fifth ahead of Custer and Sammy Smith. By Lap 78, however, Nemechek navigated his way into second as Hemric and Custer joined the battle while Berry continued to lead.

Nearing the Lap 85 mark, the second caution of the event flew when smoke billowed out of the No. 74 entry piloted by Kaden Honeycutt exiting the frontstretch and entering Turn 1, with the driver proceeding to park his car towards the outside wall in Turn 1 as he became the first retiree of the event. During the pit stops, names that included Moffitt, Parker Kligerman, Josh Williams, Joe Graf Jr., Ryan Ellis and Brennan Poole pitted while the rest led by Nemechek opted to remain on the track.

Following an extensive caution period amid Honeycutt’s mechanical issue, the race restarted on Lap 100. At the start, Berry and Nemechek dueled for the lead entering Turn 1 before the former managed to pull ahead of the latter. Then entering Turn 3, Sammy Smith vaulted his No. 18 Pilot Flying J Toyota Supra past Nemechek as he challenged Berry for the lead on the outside lane, which he succeeded. During the following lap, Berry made contact with Smith in Turn 1, but Smith returned the favor entering Turn 3 as he bumped and moved Berry out of his path, which moved Smith back into the lead after Berry got loose and slipped up. In the process, teammate Nemechek moved into second while Berry fell back to third in front of Custer and Hemric. Meanwhile, Hill, who was stuck on the outside lane, was also locked in a side-by-side battle with Brandon Jones for sixth.

Not long after, a side-by-side battle for the lead ignited between teammates Nemechek and Sammy Smith as Nemechek, who drew himself beneath Smith, peeked ahead to lead Lap 107. Nemechek then managed to pull ahead of Smith and assume full control of both lanes with the top spot while Berry tried to close in on Smith for second.

Just past the Lap 110 mark, Berry and Sammy Smith were locked in a tight side-by-side battle for second in front of Custer through every corner and straightaway. This, however, allowed Nemechek to pull away by nearly a second with the lead.

When the second stage concluded on Lap 120, Nemechek, who extended his advantage to more than two seconds, claimed the second stage victory of the night and the third of this season. Berry muscled his way into second followed by Custer, Sammy Smith and Hemric while Brandon Jones, Ryan Truex, Herbst, Chandler Smith and Derek Kraus were scored in the top 10. By then, 32 of 38 starters were scored on the lead lap.

Under the stage break, nearly the entire field led by Nemechek pitted while Brennan Poole remained on the track. Following the pit stops, Nemechek exited first followed by teammate Sammy Smith, Brandon Jones, Custer, Berry and Hemric.

With 119 laps remaining, the final stage started as teammates Nemechek and Sammy Smith occupied the front row. At the start, Nemechek, who restarted on the outside lane, rocketed ahead with a strong start entering Turn 1 while Sammy Smith, who restarted on the inside lane, engaged in a side-by-side duel with Custer, who battled Smith hard on the outside lane, for second. In the process, JR Motorsports’ Brandon Jones and Berry battled for fourth in front of Kaulig Racing’s Hemric and Chandler Smith. It would only take three laps, however, for the caution to return when Joe Graf Jr. and Ryan Ellis made contact and wrecked up against the Turn 1 outside wall. During the caution period, Berry, who initially reported his spoiler was delaminated pitted as his pit crew later determined he had a right-front tire going down.

During the following restart with 108 laps remaining, Nemechek, who restarted on the inside lane on this occasion, muscled away from teammate Sammy Smith with the lead while Custer drew himself alongside Sammy Smith in his bid for second. It would only take one lap for the caution to return for a multi-car wreck that erupted on the backstretch that involved Dawson Cram, Ryan Ellis, Alex Labbe and Kyle Sieg.

At the start of the following restart with 95 laps remaining, Nemechek retained the lead on the inside lane while Sammy Smith and Custer reignited their side-by-side battle for second in front of Hemric and Brandon Jones. Following a heated side-by-side battle for second for two laps, Custer made contact with Smith and moved him up the track as he managed to peek ahead and grab second place. Sammy Smith, however, came under attack from Hemric and Herbst for third while Nemechek was pulling away with the lead. Then as Hemric battled and cleared Sammy Smith for third place with Herbst joining the battle, the caution returned with 89 laps remaining when Josh Williams spun between Turns 1 and 2 after cutting a right-rear tire.

During the following restart with 82 laps remaining, Nemechek pulled ahead of Custer on the inside lane to retain the lead through the first two turns. In the process, Custer, who restarted on the outside lane, fended off Hemric for second while Sammy Smith trailed in fourth in front of Chandler Smith and Herbst.

With less than 75 laps remaining, Nemechek was leading by six-tenths of a second over Custer followed by Sammy Smith, Hemric and Herbst while Chandler Smith, Brandon Jones, Kraus, Jeb Burton and Mayer were in the top 10. Behind, Creed, Retzlaff, Ryan Truex, Grala and Ryan Sieg were in the top 15 while Berry and Hill were mired back in 17th and 19th.

Down to the final 60 laps of the event, Nemechek continued to lead by a second over Custer while Sammy Smith Hemric and Brandon Jones trailed in the top five. By then, Creed cracked the top 10 in 10th, Berry moved his way up in 12th and Hill had fallen back to 20th.

Ten laps later, Nemechek stabilized his advantage to seven-tenths of a second over Custer while third-place Sammy Smith trailed by more than two seconds.

Then with 42 laps remaining, the caution flew when Jeremy Clements, who nearly made contact with the wall a few laps earlier, slapped the outside wall between Turns 1 and 2. By then, Nemechek retained the lead by a second over Custer despite encountering lapped traffic while Berry had worked his way up to eighth, though he had no fresh sets of tires for another pit stop for the remainder of the event. During the pit stops, the leaders led by Nemechek pitted and Nemechek retained the lead after exiting first followed by Custer, Hemric, Sammy Smith and Berry, who pitted for scuffed tires. Back on the track, however, a handful of competitors led by Patrick Emerling and Allgaier, who was also out of fresh tires, remained on the track. While Emerling would eventually surrender the lead to pit, Allgaier remained on the track alongside Labbe while Nemechek lined up in third place and as the first competitor on fresh tires.

During the following restart with 33 laps remaining, Allgaier, Nemechek and Custer launched ahead on the inside lane while Labbe, who restarted on the front row and on the outside lane, struggled to launch ahead of Hemric on old tires as the field stacked up. With the field fanning out to three lanes amid a stacked-up restart, Nemechek dueled and overtook Allgaier during the following lap. Sammy Smith quickly followed suit in second while Custer battled Allgaier for third. Then as Sammy Smith tried to close in on teammate Nemechek for the lead, the caution returned with 29 laps remaining when Ryan Truex turned and sent Mayer into Herbst as the latter two spun. While Herbst backed his No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang into the Turn 1 outside wall, Mayer came back down the track and collided with Jeb Burton as he emerged with extensive nose damage. The incident prompted Mayer to display an obscene gesture to Truex after emerging from his wrecked car.

Following an extensive caution period for the wreckage to be cleared, the race restarted with 18 laps remaining. At the start, Nemechek, who restarted alongside Custer on the front row, rocketed away with the lead as teammate Sammy Smith quickly vaulted himself into second. Behind, Custer battled and fended off Allgaier for third with Berry joining the battle.

Down to the final 10 laps of the event, Nemechek was leading by six-tenths of a second over Custer, who overtook Sammy Smith for the runner-up spot four laps earlier, while Berry moved his way up to fourth. Meanwhile, Allgaier settled in fifth as he was locked in a battle with teammate Brandon Jones for the spot while Creed, Hemric, Kraus and Moffitt were mired back in the top 10.

With five laps remaining, Nemechek retained the lead by six-tenths of a second over a hard-charging Custer, who continued to try and close in for his bid for the victory while third-place Sammy Smith trailed by a second. By then, fourth-place Berry trailed by two seconds while Brandon Jones was in fifth ahead of Allgaier and Hemric.

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Nemechek remained as the leader by nearly a second over Custer as Sammy Smith tried to close in on Custer for second. Amid the battles within the field, Nemechek was able to cycle his way around the Paperclip-shaped circuit for a final time and claim the checkered flag for his second victory of the season just as the caution flew when Sheldon Creed wrecked on the backstretch while vying for a top-15 finish.

With the victory, Nemechek, who delivered the third victory of the season for Joe Gibbs Racing, claimed his fourth career victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, his first since winning at Auto Club Speedway in February and his second national touring series win at Martinsville after winning the Truck Martinsville race in 2018. He also became the second multi-race winner of this year’s Xfinity season as he pocketed the second Dash 4 Cash bonus of $100,000, which was also his first in the series, to go along with the race-winning grandfather clock trophy.

“I’m just grateful for [sponsor] Pye Barker Fire & Safety,” Nemechek, whose car caught on fire while performing his victorious burnout across the frontstretch wall, said on FS1. “Martinsville Speedway, actually, uses Pye Barker Fire & Safety fire extinguishers. Thank you to them for all the safety equipment, for that amazing burnout that caught on fire. I can’t say enough about this whole team. If you would’ve asked me yesterday if we would’ve won, I thought we were a 10th-place car in practice, didn’t think we were very good. Just grateful that the guys made the right adjustments and gave me a Pye Barker Toyota GR Supra as fast as Xfinity 10G. Let’s celebrate. We’ll go celebrate with [family]. [Wife] Taylor, we got another grandfather clock to bring home.”

Behind, Sammy Smith pulled a bump-and-run move on Custer on the final turn to claim second place as Custer fell back to third. Berry navigated his way through the scuffed tires to finish fourth while Brandon Jones claimed his first top-five finish of the season by finishing fifth. The top-four finishers that include Nemechek, Sammy Smith, Custer and Berry will contend for the third Dash 4 Cash bonus next weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.

“[I] Just a little bit more drive off,” Smith said. “Congrats to [Nemechek]. They were the best car all night. We just needed a couple more adjustments to get our Pilot Flying J Toyota GR Supra in Victory Lane, but close. We’ll get’em next week.”

Like Berry, teammate Allgaier navigated his way through worn tires to finish sixth while Hemric, Kraus, Moffitt and Chandler Smith finished in the top 10.

There were seven lead changes for six different leaders. The race featured 10 cautions for 82 laps. In total, 27 of 38 starters finished on the lead lap.

Following the eighth event of the 2023 Xfinity Series season, John Hunter Nemechek leads the regular-season standings by 21 points over Austin Hill, 34 over Chandler Smith, 38 over Riley Herbst and 43 over Josh Berry.

Results.

1. John Hunter Nemechek, 198 laps led, Stage 1 & 2 winner

2. Sammy Smith, six laps led

3. Cole Custer, five laps led

4. Josh Berry, 27 laps led

5. Brandon Jones

6. Justin Allgaier, six laps led

7. Daniel Hemric

8. Derek Kraus

9. Brett Moffitt

10. Chandler Smith

11. Parker Retzlaff

12. Ryan Truex

13. Blaine Perkins

14. Jeb Burton

15. Kaz Grala

16. Austin Hill, eight laps led

17. Parker Kligerman

18. Ryan Sieg

19. Josh Williams

20. Jeffrey Earnhardt

21. Patrick Emerling

22. Matt Mills

23. Gray Gaulding

24. Anthony Alfredo

25. Leland Honeyman

26. Alex Labbe

27. Sheldon Creed

28. Ryan Ellis, one lap down

29. Brennan Poole, four laps down

30. Riley Herbst – OUT, Accident

31. Sam Mayer – OUT, Accident

32. Jeremy Clements – OUT, Accident

33. Connor Mosack, 45 laps down

34. Kyle Weatherman – OUT, Suspension

35. Kyle Sieg – OUT, Accident

36. Dawson Cram – OUT, Accident

37. Joe Graf Jr. – OUT, Accident

38. Kaden Honeycutt – OUT, Engine

Next on the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule is the series’ lone visit of the season to Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama, which will serve as the site of the third Dash 4 Cash event of this season. The event is scheduled to occur next Saturday, April 22, at 4 p.m. ET on FS1.

CHEVROLET NCS AT MARTINSVILLE: Post-Qualifying Report

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Official Release
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NASCAR CUP SERIES
MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY
NOCO 400
TEAM CHEVY POST-QUALIFYING REPORT
APRIL 15, 2023

SUAREZ DRIVES TO FRONT-ROW STARTING SPOT AT MARTINSVILLE

TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-20 STARTING LINEUP:
POS. DRIVER
2nd DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 WORLDWIDE EXPRESS CAMARO ZL1
8th WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY CAMARO ZL1
14th AJ ALLMENDINGER, NO. 16 ACTION INDUSTRIES CAMARO ZL1
16th RICKY STENHOUSE JR., NO. 47 KROGER/TREE TOP CAMARO ZL1
17th KYLE BUSCH, NO. 8 MARK III EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CAMARO ZL1
18th AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BASS PRO SHOPS CAMARO ZL1
19th KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1

TOP-FIVE UNOFFICIAL STARTING LINEUP:
POS. DRIVER

  1. Ryan Preece (Ford)
  2. Daniel Suarez (Chevrolet)
  3. Aric Almirola (Ford)
  4. Chase Briscoe (Ford)
  5. Martin Truex Jr. (Toyota)

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (April 15, 2023) – The NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) hit the track this afternoon for the first time this weekend, with the field taking on a 20-minute practice session before qualifying to set the lineup for tomorrow’s NOCO 400 at Martinsville Speedway. The .526 mile Virginia oval marks the first of two appearances at the track for the series, with the oldest track on the circuit returning as the host for the NCS’ Playoffs Round of Eight elimination round.

The event’s defending winner William Byron led Chevrolet on the overall practice speed chart, driving his No. 24 Liberty University Camaro ZL1 to a second-fastest lap overall. The Bowtie brand showed speed in both Group A and B practice sessions with Byron leading six drivers from four different Chevrolet teams to top-10 lap-times in practice. Byron’s Hendrick Motorsports’ teammate Chase Elliott was tenth-fastest overall in his first laps back behind the wheel of his No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1 after a six-race absence during recovery from a leg injury.

Byron and fellow Team Chevy driver Daniel Suarez followed up strong practice runs with a lap time that took their Camaro ZL1’s to the final round of qualifying. Suarez posted a lap of 20.081 seconds, at 94.298 mph, to take a front-row starting position for tomorrow’s 400-lap race; his third top-10 start of the 2023 season. Byron clocked-in a lap of 20.155 seconds, at 93.952 mph, ultimately qualifying in the eighth position.

FS1 will broadcast the NASCAR Cup Series’ NOCO 400 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, April 15, at 3 p.m. ET. Live coverage can also be found on the MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1: Post-Qualifying Quotes

GETTING OUT OF THE CAR, HOW IS YOUR LEG?

“I actually feel pretty good. I had a dismal qualifying lap, but I can’t blame my leg on that one. I had a pretty good first lap and then I really messed up the exit of (turn) two there on the second lap. Judging off of practice, starting in the back is going to be a lot of fun, so looking forward to that in the No. 9 NAPA Chevy. We’ll try to go forward there tomorrow.”

37 LAPS OF PRACTICE IN 2O MINUTES AND YOU HAD YOUR QUALIFYING LAP. WHERE’S THAT PAIN LEVEL AND WHERE’S YOUR COMFORT LEVEL RIGHT NOW?

“Yeah, I felt fine in the car. Like I said, the entire practice run, I felt fine. Once you kind of get out there on the track and you start focusing on the little things that you need to be doing to hit your marks, I feel like some of that goes away, so that’s a good thing. Again, my qualifying lap wasn’t because of that, it was just a poor effort.

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.

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes – Ryan Preece Earns First Career Cup Pole

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Official Release
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Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying
NOCO 400 Qualifying | Saturday, April 15, 2023

Ford Qualifying Results:

1st – Ryan Preece
3rd – Aric Almirola
4th – Chase Briscoe
7th – Kevin Harvick
10th – Chris Buescher
13th – Todd Gilliland
15th – Joey Logano
20th – Michael McDowell
21st – Brad Keselowski
25th – Austin Cindric
31st – Ryan Blaney
32nd – Harrison Burton
33rd – Zane Smith
36th – JJ Yeley

RYAN PREECE EARNS FIRST NASCAR CUP SERIES POLE

Stewart-Haas Racing’s Ryan Preece earned his first NASCAR Series pole today at Martinsville Speedway.

That gives Ford a sweep of all three poles this weekend after Zane Smith won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pole and Cole Custer took the NASCAR Xfinity Series top spot yesterday.

In all, Ford will have five drivers starting in the top 10 as Aric Almirola (3rd), Chase Briscoe (4th), Kevin Harvick (7th) and Chris Buescher (10th) join Preece at the front.

RYAN PREECE, No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang – “A lot of anticipation for tomorrow. As a race car driver you want to come here, you want to compete, you want to win races and I know my team is capable of that. I know I’m capable of that. I know my crew chief is capable of that. It’s really just been trying to put it all together and get the finishes that you feel you deserve. It’s nice to not be starting in the back for one week. We have such a fast HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang and I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”

HOW DID THE CAR FEEL ON A LONG RUN IN PRACTICE? “Honestly, we’ve been making adjustments since we started and since we came here. We weren’t really happy with it at the beginning of practice and every adjustment Chad has made and this team has made has just made it better and better. I’m pretty pumped and looking forward to 400 tomorrow.”

CHASE BRISCOE, No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford Mustang – “I thought I screwed up in the second round, truthfully. I felt like I had a really good shot at the pole and I just tried to get a little bit too much. That one’s on me, but, overall, a really good start to the weekend for the company as a whole to have all four cars in the top 10 is something that we haven’t been able to say in a really long time. We know the short tracks are where we need to capitalize and I think this is a great way to start the weekend. Track position is gonna be huge for us. I don’t know how our car is gonna be on the long run. On the short run I knew it was gonna be pretty good, but until we start racing tomorrow it’s gonna be really hard to say what we have, but so far I’m happy. I’m surprised with how well my hand has been holding up, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

RYAN PREECE POLE-WINNING PRESS CONFERENCE

RYAN PREECE – No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang – TAKE US THROUGH YOUR LAP? “The first lap when I came across the start-finish line and Andy said it was a 20.12 I knew it wasn’t enough for the pole. I was fighting loose that first lap on entry and drive, so going off into one I just grabbed myself a whole bunch of front bias and it just helped it stick and did everything I wanted to. When we crossed the line and we did that .90 I figured I lived up to my word to Chad that it was gonna take a .90 to get the pole even though it didn’t, I guess.”

ALL OF SHR WAS STRONG TODAY. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? “I think you guys out of everybody see how important track position really is nowadays and when you get, whether you have control of the race or you have track position you can’t give it up because it’s so difficult to pass. From a company standpoint, it is certainly makes us all very optimistic for tomorrow and we can be smart and all have good days, but it certainly shows that our short track program is really good. I know our superspeedway stuff has been extremely good too, so we’re just gonna continue working on the speed areas and we’ll be just fine.”

DO YOU FEEL ANYTHING FROM THE CLASH TRACK HAS TRANSLATED HERE? “I saw a lot of people comparing it, so maybe a little bit. Maybe how you would try to pass a car, but there’s a quarter-mile bullring versus this style half-mile racetrack, if you’re really gonna get into details are very, very different. How you need to make speed from a setup standpoint I have no idea. My background at Martinsville, I felt really comfortable coming here because this is where I won my first pole. I think I actually have the track record in a modified here. This is where I won my first modified race, so I’ve had a lot of success here and it’s certainly a place that suits my style.”

HARVICK SAID YOU HAVE TO RUN 10TH AND THEN TOP 5, BUT CAN YOU MAKE THAT LEAP TO VICTORY LANE? “Yeah. What it is, to win these races it takes not just a great car, not just doing everything right, your pit crew’s got to do everything right. I never really realized how many things can go wrong to take you out of contention. I feel like, yeah. I mean, we have a team that is certainly capable of it, so I feel like tomorrow if we make some changes, little things that I feel like can help us so we have that speed in a race run and do all of the right things, I think we can give ourselves the opportunity for sure. I agree 100 percent with what Kevin says. I preached it to people in the past of you’ve got to run up there consistently with those guys so they race you a certain way and not just feel like you’re in the way, but this 41 team is certainly working hard to be up there week in and week out and be a contender.”

DO YOU HAVE A CHIP ON YOUR SHOULDER AFTER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND ARE YOU A BETTER DRIVER THAT WAY? “I don’t know, it seems to be working right now, I guess. I don’t necessarily have a chip on my shoulder. There are certainly frustrations because as a driver I know I’m putting in a lot of work, a lot of effort. I know my crew and my team, we put in a lot of effort together from a team-building standpoint, from the car standpoint and sometimes it certainly gets frustrating when you don’t get the results that you feel like you work so hard for throughout the day and then statistically it doesn’t look phenomenal, especially points wise. But, you know what, it’s like I’ve said throughout the year after some of those days where you want to get negative or your want to get down, the clock resets at midnight. I mean, we just got the pole and it’s just like you’ve got to keep moving on. You can’t keep thinking about the previous week, so I think we did a good job of that and now we get to go work really hard tomorrow and hopefully I can talk to you tomorrow.”

IT’S A POLE NOT A RACE, BUT HOW DOES IT FEEL TO SHOWCASE YOUR TEAM’S POTENTIAL TODAY? “I think for the organization and for the short track stuff it was great seeing all four of our cars in the final round, so that was obviously phenomenal. Certainly, we did all the right things today and it shows when push comes to shove we can do all the right things and give ourselves an opportunity to start up front and have track position and run top 10 or top 5 and contend. I think that’s a big thing.”

YOU WON A TRUCK POLE AND WON THAT RACE. YOU WON AN XFINITY POLE AND WON THAT RACE. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO DO THAT AGAIN IN CUP TOMORROW? “Doing all the little things right, like Kevin says. Two things that I’ve taken notice – one, like I just said, doing the little things right, but, two, you can’t drive a slow car fast. We obviously have a fast race car and preparation. I know I’ve been working really hard to make sure I’m as prepared coming to the races than I’ve ever been, and that’s how I feel. I guess I’ve got some more work to do tonight to make sure that I’m 100 percent ready for when it gets to lap 200, 300, when the tracks seem to take that swing or even 100-300, just to be up to date. A lot of these guys have a lot of laps. They’ve been doing it for a long time, so they understand the way the tracks change and how to stay ahead of it, so hopefully I can do a good job and keep that statistic going.”

Kirkwood Proves Point with First Career NTT P1 Award at Long Beach

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Official Release
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LONG BEACH, Calif. (Saturday, April 15, 2023) – Kyle Kirkwood earned his first career NTT INDYCAR SERIES pole Saturday, grabbing the NTT P1 Award for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Kirkwood, from Jupiter, Florida, won the top spot for the prestigious Southern California street race with a best time of 1 minute, 6.2878 seconds on his final lap in the Firestone Fast Six in the No. 27 AutoNation Honda. Kirkwood’s previous best starting spot in his NTT INDYCAR SERIES career was fifth in March at the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding, his first race with Andretti Autosport after spending his rookie season in 2022 with AJ Foyt Racing.

“Our car is on fire this weekend,” Kirkwood said. “We’re doing really good. I’m ecstatic. We’re just constantly chipping away at it, getting better and better, and I couldn’t be any happier than this. Third weekend with the team, and I already got a pole.”

Marcus Ericsson, winner of the season-opening street race at St. Petersburg, will join Kirkwood on the front row after a top lap of 1:06.3253 in the No. 8 Huski Chocolate Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. That tied Ericsson’s career-best start of second, set in 2022 on the oval at World Wide Technology Raceway, and is his best start on a road or street course.

Live coverage of the 85-lap race starts at 3 p.m. ET Sunday on NBC, Peacock, INDYCAR LIVE and the INDYCAR Radio Network. Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network will cover the 30-minute warmup session starting at noon ET.

Romain Grosjean will start third after a top lap of 1:06.5347 in the No. 28 DHL Honda, one of two Andretti Autosport cars in the top three. 2021 series champion Alex Palou will start fourth after a best lap of 1:06.5549 in the No. 10 Ridgeline Lubricants Honda.

Six-time series champion Scott Dixon was the second Ganassi driver in the Fast Six and will start fifth after a quick lap of 1:06.5730 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Pato O’Ward, who led the first two practice sessions this weekend, was the fastest Chevy-powered driver after rounding out the Fast Six at 1:06.6039 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.

The first career pole was the highlight of Kirkwood’s young NTT INDYCAR SERIES career, which started last season after he became the first driver to win titles in successive seasons in USF2000, USF Pro 2000 and INDY NXT by Firestone. Kirkwood’s rookie year with the Foyt team was marred by incidents, and he finished a disappointing 24th in the standings.

But a first NTT P1 Award created a mixture of vindication and validation for Kirkwood, 24.

“It’s just a step in the right direction, in my mind,” Kirkwood said. “I knew this day would come. I didn’t know whether this day would come this late or this early. There are a lot of tough guys out here.

“But it’s kind of solidifying myself, right? It’s like, ‘OK, he can do this now.’”

Kirkwood earned his spot in the Firestone Fast Six on a pair of used alternate guayule Firestone tires in the Round of 12, saving his brand-new tires for the final round. That ploy paid off and was just part of the drama that engulfed the latter stages of the second round of qualifying.

“We did our lap on the used tires, I thought, “Man, the car feels really good on Lap 2, but it’s going to be hard to get it done on Lap 1, which is what you saw right there in the Fast Six,” Kirkwood said.

In the second round, Marcus Armstrong ran into the tire barrier in Turn 9 in the No. 11 The American Legion Honda, triggering a red flag with 53 seconds remaining. Standouts Ericsson, Dixon, Alexander Rossi and Grosjean were outside the top six when the red flag flew.

Armstrong was unhurt but eliminated from qualifying. INDYCAR officials ruled that all 11 remaining drivers in the session had one final flying lap in the second round, creating a dramatic run to earn a spot in the Firestone Fast Six.

Grosjean jumped to the top of the Top 12 runners with his final lap, with Ericsson slotting into fourth and Dixon sixth. Colton Herta, Felix Rosenqvist and Josef Newgarden were bounced from earning a spot in the Fast Six on that last lap.

Armstrong, who will start 12th, wasn’t the only driver to make contact during qualifying. David Malukas crashed out of the first round after contact in Turn 4 in the No. 18 HMD Honda. He was unhurt and will start 25th in the 27-car field.

CHEVROLET NCS AT MARTINSVILLE: Ross Chastain Press Conference Transcript

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Official Release
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NASCAR CUP SERIES
MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY
NOCO 400
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
APRIL 15, 2023

ROSS CHASTAIN, NO. 1 UNISHIPPERS CAMARO ZL1, met with the media prior to the NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying session at Martinsville Speedway. Press Conference Transcript:

WHAT WAS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF WET TIRES LAST NIGHT?

“I thought it’s exactly what we’ve been looking for. The concrete was dry when we started the race, on the straightaways the asphalt was wet. Our tires on the No. 41 truck got really hot really quick and I blew them apart, basically. But they held air and they were fine to drive around on to race on. We just got passed by a lot of people. I thought it was great, and I was ready to bolt the second set on when the rain came that ultimately ended the race.”

DO YOU THINK THEY SHOULD LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS SAY IN INDYCAR RACING WHERE EACH TEAM MAKES THE DECISION TO GO WITH WET OR DRY?

“My thoughts are constantly evolving as we’re learning. I’m really happy that I was in the race last night to experience everything, and I think as we continue to evolve as an industry, we’ll learn and learn from last night. Yes, I think that we could open up the strategy. I think that sometimes we have to protect ourselves from ourselves and, you know, the adults in the room up in the tower need to keep their thumb on us a bit. But places like here where the rain was very light, let us do it. We do on the road courses some. Once you change one time, you’re allowed to change back whenever you want. Let us do that. They put us on wets to start, that’s great, but after that let us go. That’s kind of the safe bet if there’s any moisture, put us on wets and let us change back when we want to.”

I KNOW YOU’VE BEEN BACK HERE SINCE LAST FALL, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN A COMPETITION SETTING SO WHAT’S IT LIKE COMING BACK HERE?

“Look, that Kobota I drove that day to lift the wall out handles a little different. That thing turned really good, it was articulating. Worked really well. It’s different. Look, that was a life-changing moment for myself and my team, everybody around me. We’ll continue to feel the benefits of that for years to come. That doesn’t take anything away from the competition, though, that we want to walk in here. This place has humbled me for over a decade through the Truck Series and Xfinity and Cup. It continued to do that yesterday in the Truck race, practice, and qualifying. As much as it’s cool and awesome, and I know that we’ve got a piece of the wall any other driver has ever been able to take a piece of the wall, for good reason, home. We’ve got that, but still it doesn’t help lap time and the feeling walk out of here last night, we definitely left a lot on the table with the No. 41 Truck. That’s what’s so great about this sport, that every week you get to do it again, go to bat. This place has been humbling to me, so it’s high on the priority list to make a better lap time here.”

NEXT WEEK WILL BE A YEAR SINCE YOUR LAST CUP SERIES VICTORY. YOU’VE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS SINCE THEN, BUT DOES IT FEEL LIKE YOU HAVEN’T WON A RACE IN A YEAR, OR DO YOU GET LOST IN IT SINCE YOU’RE RUNNING WELL, CONSISTENTLY WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT?

“Most of these guys I’m racing against have forgotten about more races than I’ve ever races. So, I don’t have any issues with those kind of timelines and stuff. I’m so far ahead from where I thought I would be in the sport and definitely competitively driving at this level and compete with some of my heroes. Some of them, I still regard as my heroes even though they might not like me too much. I still look up to them and view them as guys that I watched and still watch. I study them now. Nope, I don’t get too caught up in that, and I wake up every day and try to be the best race car driver I can be. What’s great is Trackhouse and Chevrolet lets me do that and lets me kind of do it my way.”

DID YOU SEE CARSON’S (HOCEVAR) MOVE IN LAST NIGHT’S TRUCK RACE THAT LED TO HIM GETTING PENALIZED, AND IF SO, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT?

“No, I was too far back. I saw a replay of it later and, yeah, I don’t have really much to say on it. He served his penalty and NASCAR called the penalty, so I just chalk it up to that.”

ALONG THOSE LINES OF CARSON HOCEVAR, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU KIND OF BEEN A MENTOR TO HIM. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR A GUY SO THEY DON’T LOSE THEIR COOL OR GET PARKED FOR TWO LAPS?

“Yeah, I’ve done this a few years now, and a lot of that has been with Niece Motorsports. I’m super loyal and you feel like family there. No matter who is driving there, we’re going to be close and get close because I’m going to be racing there. I’ve got to know Carson (Hocevar) and try to give him advice for things I’ve done and mistakes I’ve made, and good things I’ve done and decisions. Look, we’re race car drivers driving to the limits and we’re going to make mistakes. There are going to be so many decisions to make on and off the track that if I can just help guys younger than me make one less mistake. He’s going to make mistakes; I’m going to make mistakes. Just try to minimize that, that’s the ultimate goal in how I can help guys like that and try to help everybody move forward.”

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.

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