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How to install a lift kit on a Ford F250 – A Step-by-Step Guide

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SM
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Installing a lift kit on a Ford F250 can provide a number of benefits, including improved ground clearance, off-road capabilities, and a more aggressive appearance. However, the process of installing a lift kit can be complex, so it’s important to follow a detailed set of instructions to ensure the installation is safe and effective. 

In this article, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide for installing a lift kit on a Ford F250.

Preparation

Before beginning the installation process, it’s important to gather all necessary tools and equipment, including a jack and jack stands for Ford F250, lug wrench, socket set, torque wrench, and any other components provided by the lift kit manufacturer. 

Additionally, it’s important to secure a safe workspace, such as a garage or workshop with a level surface, and to park the Ford F250 on level ground and engage the emergency brake.

Removing the Old Suspension System

The first step in installing a lift kit on a Ford F250 is to remove the old suspension system. This involves raising the vehicle with a jack and jack stands, removing the wheels using a lug wrench, and disconnecting the brake lines, sway bar, and shocks using a socket wrench. It’s important to label or organize the old suspension components for reassembly later.

Installing the Lift Kit

Once the old suspension system is removed, it’s time to install the new lift kit components. This involves installing new leaf springs, shocks, and mounting brackets, following the manufacturer’s instructions, and using the provided hardware. 

It’s important to use a torque wrench to tighten bolts to the recommended specifications and to adjust the suspension system to the desired height, using shims or blocks as necessary. Finally, the brake lines and sway bar should be reconnected and properly secured, and tightened.

Reinstalling Wheels and Testing

With the new lift kit installed, it’s time to reinstall the wheels and test drive the Ford F250. The lug nuts should be torqued to the manufacturer’s specifications, and the vehicle should be lowered to the ground. 

During the test drive, it’s important to check for any unusual noises or handling issues and to make any necessary adjustments or fine-tuning to the suspension system, using a lift kit alignment kit if necessary. Once the installation is complete, the suspension system should be checked periodically for proper function and wear, and any necessary maintenance or repairs should be performed.

Safety Considerations

It’s important to keep in mind several safety considerations when installing a lift kit on a Ford F250. First, the installation should be performed by a qualified professional or experienced mechanic, as mistakes or errors in installation can lead to serious injury or vehicle damage. 

Additionally, the lift kit should be selected carefully based on the vehicle’s needs and intended use, as an improperly installed or inappropriate lift kit can lead to poor handling, reduced fuel efficiency, and other issues. Finally, it’s important to comply with all state and local laws regarding lifted vehicles, as failure to do so can result in fines or other penalties.

Conclusion

Installing a lift kit on a Ford F250 can be a complex but rewarding process, providing improved performance, off-road capabilities, and appearance. By following a detailed set of instructions and taking appropriate safety precautions, it’s possible to install a lift kit safely and effectively. 

Whether you’re a serious off-roader or just looking to improve the look and feel of your Ford F250, a lift kit can be a valuable upgrade.

Top 4 Luxury Motorsport Venues You Should Visit This Year

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SM
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Photo Credit: Angelo_Giordano/pixabay.com

For those who love the thrill of high-speed racing, nothing beats the experience of visiting a luxury motorsport venue. From Formula One to MotoGP, these venues are designed to offer the ultimate experience for both drivers and fans alike. With their state-of-the-art facilities and stunning locations, these tracks are more than just racing venues – they are destinations in themselves. This blog post will explore the top four luxury motorsport venues you should visit this year. Let’s get to the list.

Goodwood Festival of Speed

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is one of the world’s most iconic and prestigious motorsport events. Held annually on the grounds of Goodwood House in West Sussex, England, the festival attracts over 150,000 visitors each year. You can get the Goodwood Festival of Speed hospitality package to enjoy the breathtaking views of the track, top-notch catering services, and access to exclusive areas such as the supercar paddock. The event features a wide range of historic and modern racing cars, from vintage Bugattis to the latest Formula One machines.

In addition to the racing action, the festival also includes exhibitions, concerts, and other entertainment. The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a must-visit for any motorsport enthusiast, offering a unique combination of history, speed, and entertainment.

Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit

The Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit is one of the most famous motorsport venues in the world. Located in Northamptonshire, England, the circuit has been hosting the British Grand Prix since 1948. With its fast straights, challenging corners, and long history, the Silverstone Circuit is a favorite among drivers and fans alike.

The circuit has undergone numerous changes over the years, with the most recent redesign completed in 2010. In addition to hosting Formula One races, Silverstone also hosts a wide range of other events, including endurance races and classic car shows. For motorsport fans, a visit to Silverstone is a must-do experience.

The Nurburgring Nordschleife

The Nürburgring Nordschleife, often simply referred to as “the Ring,” is a legendary motorsport venue located in Germany. Known for its challenging and unforgiving layout, the Ring is a favorite among racing enthusiasts and professional drivers alike. The track’s 20.8-kilometer length and over 150 corners make it one of the most demanding circuits in the world.

In addition to hosting major motorsport events such as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, the Ring is also open to the public for tourist drives and track days. For those looking for a truly exhilarating driving experience, visiting the Nürburgring Nordschleife is an absolute must.

The Autodromo Nazionale di Monza

The Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, located near Milan, Italy, is one of the world’s most historic and iconic circuits. Known for its long straights and challenging corners, the circuit has been a favorite among drivers and fans for over 90 years. The circuit is best known for hosting the Italian Grand Prix, one of the most prestigious races on the Formula One calendar.

The Autodromo Nazionale di Monza also hosts a wide range of other events, including endurance races and classic car shows. A visit to this historical circuit is a must-do for any motorsport fan visiting Italy.

In conclusion, these luxury motorsport venues offer a unique combination of speed, history, and entertainment, making them a must-visit for racing enthusiasts. Whether you prefer the high-speed thrills of the Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit or the challenging layout of the Nurburgring Nordschleife, there’s a track out there that’s perfect for you. So pack your bags, grab your earplugs, and get ready for an unforgettable motorsport experience.

The Ultimate Convenience: 5 Reasons to Choose Car Hire in Sydney

By
SM
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Photo by Joshua Woroniecki

Are you planning a trip to Sydney and looking for the best way to get around? Car hire in Sydney is one of the most convenient and cost-effective transportation options. 

With car hire, you can explore the city at your own pace and avoid the crowds and high costs of taxis and public transport. Here are the five reasons to choose car hire Sydney for your next trip.

Freedom and flexibility

Car hire gives you the ultimate freedom and flexibility when traveling. With your vehicle, you can go wherever you want, whenever you want. You won’t have to rely on unreliable public transport or be at the mercy of taxi drivers who may overcharge you.

Plus, you’ll save time by avoiding those long waits at bus stops or queues for taxis. Instead, you can use car sharing services to take control of your journey and make the most of your time away.

No need to rely on public transport

Public transport in any city can be unpredictable and unreliable, leaving you stranded at best and late to your destination at worst. Car hire offers a reliable and convenient way to get around Sydney without relying on public transport. You won’t have to wait for buses, trams, or trains that are often overcrowded and uncomfortable. 

Car hire allows you to plan your route and travel when convenient. This makes it much easier to plan a trip with multiple destinations. 

No need to worry about time-consuming transfers or crowded stations. You also don’t have to worry about tickets or fares as car hire includes insurance, fuel, and parking, so you can relax and enjoy your journey! 

You can also explore Sydney’s many attractions at your own pace, giving you more time to enjoy the sights and sounds of the city. There’s no better way to discover the beauty of Sydney than with the freedom of your car hire.

Avoid the taxi queues.

No one likes having to stand in line and wait for a taxi, especially when you’re in a hurry. With car hire, you can avoid long wait times and be on your way quickly. 

Plus, you can rest easy knowing you don’t have to worry about competing with other passengers for the exact vehicle. Car hire takes the hassle out of your travels! With a car hire, you can skip the hassle and get where you need to go quickly and comfortably. 

Plus, you’ll be free to explore Sydney on your terms. No waiting around for taxis and no sharing your ride with strangers, just pure convenience and comfort.

Cheaper than you think

Car hire in Sydney is often more affordable than many people expect. Whether you’re looking for a city run-around, something more significant to accommodate the family or an executive vehicle for a business trip, you can find a car rental option that suits your needs and budget. 

Many companies also offer discounts and special offers, so it’s worth shopping around before booking. Plus, car hire in Sydney eliminates the need to pay for expensive taxi journeys or take lengthy public transport trips. All in all, car hire is an affordable and convenient way to get around the city.

Enjoy the journey

You can drive wherever and whenever you want when you rent a car. That means you can explore the area at your own pace, go sightseeing and make stops whenever you like. 

Whether discovering a hidden gem or taking in the local culture, you can make the most of your time and truly enjoy the journey. Renting a car lets, you get off the beaten track and discover more remote and untouched areas. 

You’ll be able to explore the back roads, visit little towns and witness stunning landscapes away from the hustle and bustle of the city. This will help you get a more authentic experience of the area, plus you can even make a few impromptu stops along the way if something catches your eye. 

Conclusion

When traveling around Sydney, car hire is a great way to avoid taxis and the hassle of public transport. It offers freedom and flexibility and allows you to enjoy the journey at your own pace. Moreover, car hire can be much cheaper than you think, getting around the city is an excellent option without breaking the bank. So why not try car hire for your next trip to Sydney? You won’t regret it.

GMS Racing NCTS Race Preview: Martinsville Speedway

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Official Release
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Race Information

  • Round: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race No. 7 of 23
  • Track Location: Martinsville Speedway – Ridgeway, Virginia
  • Race Name: Long John Silver’s 200
  • Broadcast: Friday, April 14th at 7:30 PM ET live on FS1 (TV), MRN (Radio), and Sirius XM NASCAR Channel 90
  • Team Entrants:

No. 23 | Grant Enfinger & Jeff Hensley – Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet
No. 24 | Rajah Caruth & Chad Walter – Wendell Scott Foundation Chevrolet
No. 43 | Daniel Dye & Travis Sharpe – Heise LED Lighting Systems Chevrolet

Grant Enfinger, No. 23 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet Silverado RST

Martinsville Speedway Stats

  • NCTS Starts: 10; Wins: 1 (2020); Best start: 3rd; Top 5s: 3; Top 10s: 5; Laps led: 56

2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Season Stats

  • Starts: 6; Best start: 7th; Best finish: 5th (Daytona & Bristol Dirt); Top 5s: 2; Top 10s: 3; Laps led: 3; Current points position: 6th
  • About Champion Power Equipment: Since 2003, Champion Power Equipment has earned a reputation for designing and producing the market’s finest power equipment. From our original headquarters in Santa Fe Springs, California, Champion has expanded its North American footprint to include facilities in Jackson, Tennessee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Toronto Canada. Today, Champion’s product line has expanded to include portable generators, home standby generators, inverter generators, engines, winches and log splitters. With over 2.5 million generators sold in North America, Champion is a market leader in the power equipment field. Visit ChampionPowerEquipment.com for more information.
  • About The Racing Warehouse: The Racing Warehouse serves and satisfies the collecting needs of a worldwide racing community. TRW has partnered with race teams in Mooresville, Concord, and surrounding areas to bring authentic, race-used sheet metal and cloth to race fans all over the world. We have several outlets for fans to acquire the many items that we offer. You can find us on eBay, Facebook, and our new website. The Racing Warehouse is open to the public and located in Lowell, NC. They are conveniently located off I-85 a short 30-minute drive from the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Visit www.TheRacingWarehouse.com to browse hundreds of race-used parts and more.
  • Chassis History/Info: Grant Enfinger and the No. 23 team will compete with GMS Racing chassis no. 336 at Martinsville Speedway this weekend. This Silverado RST was originally built in 2021 and was raced by Zane Smith twice, posting a best result of sixth place at Texas Motor Speedway. This weekend will be the first time that it races at Martinsville.
  • Past Paperclip Winner: In October 2020, Enfinger clawed his way into championship contention by capturing a win at the NASCAR Hall of Fame 200. After leading 49 laps, Grant made a victorious pass for the lead in a green-white-checkered finish. The win propelled him into his first Championship 4 appearance, capping off his best season in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
  • GE Appearances: Fans attending the Long John Silver’s 200 will have two opportunities to meet Grant Enfinger at Martinsville Speedway:

Friday, April 14th | NASCAR Experience Stage: Grant Enfinger will host a Q&A session at the NASCAR Experience Stage in the Martinsville Speedway Fan Zone on race day at 12:30 PM local time
Friday, April 14th | Team Chevy Stage: All three GMS Racing drivers will host a Q&A session at the Team Chevy Stage in the Martinsville Speedway Fan Zone on race day at 12:45 PM local time
- From The Drivers Seat: What does it take to be successful around Martinsville?

“Martinsville is definitely a ‘true’ short track. You’ve got to manage your fenders, you’ve got to manage your tires, and you’ve got to manage your temper when it comes to racing at that place. It feels like it’s a shorter race relatively compared to some of the intermediate races we run, and 100 laps goes by really quickly. You want to go there and qualify pretty well, because you’ve got to stay up front. It seems like if you get cycled to the back when you’re on equal tires, man you just use everything up. Maybe if you have to go to the back and you have a tire advantage, you could make it back up, but it’s tough. Hopefully we have a Champion Power Equipment Chevy good enough to win the race; Hensley and I have ran well here in the past and we have a pretty good record together on the short tracks, so hopefully we can rely on that and build off of what we had going for us in Bristol.”

Rajah Caruth, No. 24 Wendell Scott Foundation Chevrolet Silverado RST

Martinsville Speedway Stats

  • Rajah Caruth will be making his first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start at Martinsville on Friday.
  • NXS Starts: 1; Best start: 18th; Best finish: 12th (Fall, 2022)

2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Season Stats

  • Starts: 6; Best start: 15th; Best finish: 11th (Bristol Dirt); Current points position: 17th
  • About the Wendell Scott Foundation: Founded in 2011, The Wendell Scott Foundation, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization inspired by Wendell Scott, Sr. and provides services such as job-skill training, STEM education opportunities, mentoring, and other supportive services to at-risk, underserved youth between the ages of 8-18 years in Danville, Virginia and surrounding areas.

The Foundation’s mission of using educational attainment to end racial disparities in education and health is vital in addressing economic inequality and improving future success in African-American communities. For more information, please visit www.wendellscott.org.

  • Chassis History/Info: Rajah Caruth and the No. 24 team will compete with GMS Racing chassis no. 337 at “The Paperclip”. This Chevrolet has been raced five times prior to this weekend, winning on debut with Sheldon Creed at World Wide Technology Raceway in 2021. Jack Wood most recently drove this chassis at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park last year, finishing in 25th position. Friday will be the first time that this chassis competes at Martinsville.
  • Best Finish of the Season: Despite a mid-race spin, Rajah was able to overcome adversity in Bristol Motor Speedway and drive through the field to an impressive 11th place finish. This result marked Caruth’s best finish of the season, and tied his overall best-career finish in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series to date.
  • Sunoco Rookie Battle: Caruth’s 11th place result at Bristol Motor Speedway was the second highest finish for a rookie, helping him gain on the Sunoco Rookie Of The Year point standings. Entering Friday night’s race in Martinsville, Caruth is third in the rookie standings, 42 points behind leading rookie candidate Nick Sanchez and 22 points behind Jake Garcia in second place.
  • RC Appearances: Fans attending the Long John Silver’s 200 will have an opportunity to meet Rajah Caruth at Martinsville Speedway:

Friday, April 14th | Team Chevy Stage: All three GMS Racing drivers will host a Q&A session at the Team Chevy Stage in the Martinsville Speedway Fan Zone on race day at 12:45 PM local time

  • From The Driver’s Seat: Martinsville Speedway was the site of your best-career NASCAR Xfinity Series finish; you haven’t raced there before in a truck, but do you have high expectations heading into this race?

“Honestly, I have the same expectations every week. I work just as hard heading into a racetrack that I’ve competed at 10 times just as hard as how I work heading into a track I’ve never seen before. I’m confident in my team for bringing a fast Wendell Scott Foundation Silverado RST for every race; we’ve certainly had the pace this year but it just hasn’t quite fallen our way. My preparations and my expectations don’t necessarily change week-to-week, but I would say that my confidence is a little higher since I was able to have the good run in the NASCAR Xfinity Series car in the fall and was also able to get some track time in a late model as well the past couple of years. I’m looking forward to getting there in a truck, I’ve seen the photos of several GMS Racing drivers have success there in years past, and hopefully we can do the same this weekend.”

Daniel Dye, No. 43 Heise LED Lighting Systems Chevrolet Silverado RST

Martinsville Speedway Stats

  • Daniel Dye will be making his first start of any kind at Martinsville Speedway this Friday night.

2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Season Stats

  • Starts: 6; Best start: 19th; Best finish: 16th (Atlanta); Laps led: 5; Current points position: 20th
  • About Heise LED Lighting Systems: Metra Electronics, based close to Florida’s racing hotspot, Daytona Beach, has been “The Installer’s Choice” and a leading manufacturer of mobile electronics for more than 75 years. Metra has continued to design, engineer, and produce the most innovative products in the 12volt industry, while always keeping the installer and end-user in mind. Their wide selection of products are categorized to form a diverse family of brands, each specializing in its own segment of automotive solutions. Their Heise LED brand focuses solely on creating the highest-quality automotive LED lighting available on the market. The brand offers RGB, RGBW, and Chasing products designed to fit a wide range of vehicles, integrated with advanced thermal management, short circuit and open circuit protection, and many other innovative features.
  • Chassis History/Info: Dye and the No. 43 team will compete with GMS Racing chassis no. 335 at Martinsville Speedway. This chassis debuted at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2021 and has raced six times before, with a best finish of third at Pocono Raceway with Sheldon Creed. Jack Wood was the latest driver to drive chassis no. 335, qualifying 10th and finishing 35th at Nashville Superspeedway last season. Friday night will be the first time that this Chevrolet has been used in competition at a short track.
  • Sunoco Rookie Battle: Daniel Dye was the fifth highest finishing rookie with a 22nd place finish on the dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway. Heading into Martinsville this weekend, Dye is fourth in the Sunoco Rookie Of The Year points battle, 56 points behind leader Nick Sanchez and 14 points behind his closest competitor and teammate, Rajah Caruth in third place.
  • DD Appearances: Fans attending the Long John Silver’s 200 will have an opportunity to meet Daniel Dye at Martinsville Speedway:

Friday, April 14th | Team Chevy Stage: All three GMS Racing drivers will host a Q&A session at the Team Chevy Stage in the Martinsville Speedway Fan Zone on race day at 12:45 PM local time

  • From the Driver’s Seat: Martinsville Speedway seems to be a return to your short track racing roots, are you the most comfortable with this type of racing?

“Yeah, I’m pretty comfortable with short track racing, Martinsville is way different than anything I’ve ran before short track wise. But, it still is a half-mile track so I’m looking forward to it. We’ll see what Friday has in store for us through practice and qualifying. I’ve been looking at the weather, and with the new rain package that we have in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series it will be interesting to see if we run in the wet conditions or not. All in all, I’m happy to get back on the short tracks and get after it with our No. 43 Heise LED Lighting Systems team.”

ABOUT GMS RACING:

GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Truck Series operating the No. 23, No. 24, and No. 43 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs for drivers Grant Enfinger, Rajah Caruth, and Daniel Dye. Since the team was formed in 2012, GMS Racing has won five titles across multiple series, including the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Truck Series championship, the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship, as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA East championships. GMS has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. including operations for GMS Fabrication. The GMS Racing campus also houses operations for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, a team that competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow GMS Racing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

2023 Charity Auto Show | May 20th, 2023

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Official Release
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AmericanMuscle Invites Muscle Car Enthusiasts to Give Back

PAOLI, Pa. (April 6th, 2023) – AmericanMuscle (AM) announces May 20th, 2023, as the date of its charity auto show to be held at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, PA. Having raised more than $400k to date, AM continues to support critically ill children via Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware & Susquehanna Valley. Gates will open at 9 am with show hours from 10 am to 4:30 pm. In the event of rain, the show will be held the following day, May 21st, 2023.

AM invites the community to get involved by registering their modded muscle car and signing up for one of the show’s premium experiences. These include the Make-A-Wish opening ceremony parade, Mickey Thompson burnout competition, and Pypes revving competition. Showgoers can also take advantage of AM’s VIP Parking with 100% of the proceeds donated to Make-A-Wish.

Regular registration is being offered at a discounted rate up until May 19, 2023. Registrants will receive a swag bag and a voucher for a free t-shirt. Clubs are welcome to participate as a group with more information on the event page below. Spectator parking will be available on the day of the event for $10 per vehicle.

Spectators and participants at AM’s 2023 Charity Auto Show will rub shoulders with thousands of auto enthusiasts to enjoy a day of raffles, food, drink, racing, and most importantly, giving back!

Learn more here: https://www.americanmuscle.com/autoshow2023.html

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

About AmericanMuscle

Starting out in 2003, AmericanMuscle quickly rose to be one of the leading aftermarket Mustang parts providers in the business. With the addition of Challenger in 2018 and Charger in 2020, AmericanMuscle provides the most sought-after parts, accessories, and fast shipping. Located just outside of Philadelphia, AmericanMuscle is dedicated to supporting the Mustang, Challenger and Charger, and Corvette communities with the highest level of customer service. Please visit http://www.AmericanMuscle.com for more information.

Bass Pro Shops Racing: Martin Truex Jr. Martinsville Advance

By
Official Release
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Martin Truex Jr.
Martinsville Advance
No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry TRD for Joe Gibbs Racing

Event Overview

● Event: NOCO 400 (Round 9 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, April 16
● Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway
● Layout: .526-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 400 laps/210.4 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 80 laps / Stage 2: 100 laps / Final Stage: 220 laps
● TV/Radio: FS1 / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Truex and the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry team for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) set the tone for the season right out of the gate by winning the 150-lap feature in the non-points Clash at the Coliseum on Feb. 5 in Los Angeles. Truex won his heat race, then went on to lead the final 25 laps of the feature en route to the victory.

● All three of Truex’s three Martinsville wins in the NASCAR Cup Series have come in his time at JGR, now in its fifth season. He has a total of four top-five finishes with the team at the .526-mile paperclip-shaped oval.

● Truex’s three Martinsville wins are included in his nine top-five finishes and 15 top-10s at the track, and he’s led a total of 1,016 laps in 34 career Cup Series outings at Martinsville. Truex’s average Martinsville finish is 16.4.

● Ahead at this Stage: Truex leads the NASCAR Cup Series with 56 stage wins since the beginning of the stage era in 2017. He is the only driver with 10 or more stage sweeps, as well. While Truex came close to winning a stage at the season-opening Daytona 500, he does not have a stage win so far this year.

● After his seventh-place finish at the Food City Dirt Race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway last weekend, Truex heads to Martinsville seventh in the driver standings with 232 points, 49 out of the lead.

Martin Truex Jr., Driver of the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry TRD

When you think about the short-track package and what you learned at Richmond, what are you expecting at Martinsville this weekend?

“Definitely high confidence going into Martinsville compared to last year. Short tracks were a struggle for us last year, Martinsville especially. To be able to go run like we did at the Clash and win, and then how we ran at Richmond, it gives me a lot of confidence going forward that our Martinsville stuff should be good. I love going there, it’s been a really good track for us over the years aside from last year. Hopefully we can continue that and use that going forward with our Bass Pro Shops Camry.”

What are the challenges of racing at Martinsville as far as navigating it lap to lap and controlling your emotions there?

“The biggest thing is just the beating and banging that happens there and getting knocked out of the way. For me, I’ve really only had one issue there, which was getting taken out of the race at the end in 2018. It gets like that at Martinsville, it’s just a tough track. When it comes down to a few laps to go, you can go down there and blow the corner and run into somebody and can get the spot. That’s where the frustration comes from there, from a lot of drivers over the years.”

In the recent past you’ve raced at Martinsville at night, and this will be a day race. What’s the biggest difference between night and day racing there?

“It’s really not that different. The biggest change is just when it’s either warmer or cooler. I don’t think nighttime has changed it a whole bunch, maybe just slightly. A lot of it depends on the tire and if it puts rubber down. That’s really the game-changer from our standpoint, it changes the track more than anything.”

No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Martin Truex Jr.
Hometown: Mayetta, New Jersey

Crew Chief: James Small
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

Car Chief: Chris Jones
Hometown: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

Engineer: Nick Burton
Hometown: Arvada, California

Engineer: Jeff Curtis
Hometown: Fairfax Station, Virginia

Spotter: Drew Herring
Hometown: Benson, North Carolina

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Ryan Martin
Hometown: Mechanicsburg, Virgina

Mechanic: Todd Carmichael
Hometown: Redding, California

Interior/Tire Specialist: Tommy DiBlasi
Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Engine Tuner: Gregg Huls
Hometown: Beatrice, Nebraska

Transporter Driver: Kyle Bazzell
Hometown: Fairbury, Illinois

Transporter Driver: Eddie DeGroot
Hometown: Baldwinsville, New York

Over-The-Wall Crew Members

Gas Man: Matt Tyrrell
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Jackman: Kellen Mills
Hometown: Mesa, Arizona

Tire Carrier: CJ Bailey
Hometown: Outer Banks, North Carolina

Front Tire Changer: Lee Cunningham
Hometown: Leaf River, Illinois

Rear Tire Changer: Danny Olszowy
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

IMSA Long Beach GTP preview with Pipo Derani

By
Official Release
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Transcript: Championship leader discusses his outlook for the sprint race on street circuit

Pipo Derani, co-driver with Alexander Sims of the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R in the Grand Touring Prototype class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, met with the media via Zoom conference to preview the April 14-15 race in Long Beach, California.

Derani and Sims, along with Jack Aitken, co-drove to victory March 18 in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Derani co-drove to victory at Long Beach in 2021 for Cadillac Racing, which has won every IMSA prototype race at Long Beach since the start of the DPi era in 2017.

Q&A with Derani transcript:

You’ve had previous success at Long Beach. What is it going to take for you and Alex (Sims) to do it again?

“Looking forward to going back to Long Beach. It’s one of those race events that you’re always looking forward to – the first street track of the year. Excited to see how the new GTP cars are going to go around that track in particular. Felipe (Nasr) and I had the chance to win it together in 2021 in a very commanding way. Felipe put it on pole, and I got it from the lead and we just kept increasing until the cheered flag. Nice way to win. It’s one of those races where qualifying matters more than others because it’s just hard to pass like any other street track. Getting there with a win already under our belts this season, a pole position and the championship lead, but we’re going to attack the weekend the same way as if we had not won the last race or were not leading the championship. It’s still early days; we know how long this championship is and every point counts. Every point counts and attacking is the name of the game. We’re going to try to put it on pole again, of course, and make our lives a little bit easier for the race. If you put it on pole in Long Beach, it makes your life a lot easier.”

With no LMP2 or LMP3 cars at Long Beach, does that make it easier because you’re likely to have a better handle on the drivers in the other cars?

“That really depends because sometimes despite being the quicker car you don’t quite know if the guy has seen you and sometimes you think he hasn’t seen you and then he blocks. I think it depends on the moment you’re in the race. Sometimes in the beginning it makes no sense, you make life easy. But later in the race when GTs might be fighting for their own race and we’re trying to overtake, multi-class racing can bring you this sort of situation and you have to deal with it as you go. Sometimes you have a pretty clean race and straightforward in that regard from our side of things and sometimes you have to be a bit more on the aggressive side and make sure that you get by so you don’t get overtaken by the car behind. It’s like a chess game with the GTs while you’re trying to do your own race. In general, over the last year, we have seen quite an improvement in that area from both sides. I think the GTs are a lot better and easier to deal with because you also have the pro guys inside. Going into Long Beach, the GT cars, especially at the end of the race where the pros will be finishing the race, should be more straightforward if we cooperate with each other.”

What are your anticipations about passing for position between the GTP cars within the tight confines of Long Beach?

“There are expectations for great racing and therefore if the cars are really running close to each other, especially at a place like Long Beach, you expect to have to muscle your way around some of your competition to try and have an edge. That’s all good for the sport. Long Beach being one of our shorter races that we have all year makes for a different dynamic, so everyone coming from a long race like Sebring has to quickly switch and go for a completely different strategy in order to achieve a good result. Therefore, a little bit of argy bargy is necessary. I think tight racing and competition like that brings more fans, which is what we need, and the more we have the more success everyone will have. GTP cars are a bit bigger than DPis, so muscling your way around will be a little bit trickier than it was before.”

How does the tire situation and the short duration of the race affect the overall strategy?

“I think that depends on how the weekend evolves. It’s the kind of thing that you see as you go. If you start up front, it’s definitely going to be one way. If you’re on the back, you might want to gamble a bit. It really depends car by car as well because one car might react differently to the tires than the other depending on setup. We also have different chassis, so that has an influence. We’re still all learning the cars. There are so many things we wish we knew already, but we don’t and tire is one of them. So, we have to see as we go. I’m hoping that it’s an easy decision instead of trying to make something out of the blue. I would like for it to be a simple decision instead of a gamble.”

CORVETTE RACING AT LONG BEACH: Expect the Unexpected

By
Official Release
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Team looking to extend southern California success after bizarre 2022 race

DETROIT (April 11, 2023) – With its two longest races of the season in the rear-view mirror, Corvette Racing now faces its shortest contest of the season as it heads west to southern California for its only street race of the season.

The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is an intense 100-minute dash for the Corvette Racing program and the rest of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. It’s an event that the team has won more than another team in series history – four times since 2014 – to go along with four more victories in the American Le Mans Series era from 2007-2013.

The familiar pairing of Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor will pilot the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R in the GT Daytona (GTD) PRO class. The two finished third in last year’s Long Beach race – the first street race for the GTD-spec C8.R – despite a bizarre pitlane incident that took the Corvette out of contention for the victory.

The familiar pairing of Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor will pilot the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R in the GT Daytona (GTD) PRO class. The two finished third in last year’s Long Beach race – the first street race for the GTD-spec C8.R – despite a bizarre pitlane incident that took the Corvette out of contention for the victory.

Taylor was the class pole-winner after a last-lap flyer and led the entirety of his first stint. A loose wheel nut during the pit stop escaped the Corvette pit, hit a stone and flew into the radiator of another car – a one-in-a-million occurrence that unfortunately netted the Corvette a drive-through penalty.

Aside from that round of bad luck, there is reason to be confident again. Corvette Racing has a full year of data on the GTD-spec configuration, most notably the customer Michelin tire that all GTD teams must run in IMSA competition. Simulation tools aided the team’s preparation last year, and expectations are that 12 more months of work in the virtual world – plus sessions in the Chevrolet Driver in the Loop simulator – will put the C8.R in contention again.

The results through the first two races are encouraging for this weekend. Garcia and Taylor – along with Tommy Milner – finished second in class to open the season in the Rolex 24 and ran out front most of the Sebring 12 Hours before late-race contact and on-track chaos meant a fifth-place result.

The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. ET / 2:05 p.m. PT on Saturday, April 15. The race will air live on USA Network from 5-7 p.m. ET with full streaming coverage on Peacock. IMSA Radio will air qualifying and the race at IMSA.com along with Sirius 217, XM 207 and SiriusXM Online 992.

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “It’s been a long time since I’ve won at Long Beach. I feel like I’ve been through more ways of losing this race than winning it! There was a crash in the Hairpin that blocked the track one year, I had a shifting issue on the restart another and then last year with the wheel nut coming off in pitlane and going into another car… I’m ready for one normal year! But this is a fun event that is very unique. The fans are great and there are so many that come to watch us race. I hope we can give them a good show and finally another win for the 3 Corvette. We are due for it.”

JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “It’s always nice to go back to Long Beach. It’s the first sprint race of the year. We’ve settled in with Daytona and Sebring with endurance races, and the end of those races gets pretty intense. But Long Beach, the whole event is intense, right from the start with practice. Last year we had a great car. We were on the pole and led for the whole first stint and then had a that crazy fluke incident on pitlane which kind of put us out of contention for the win. It would be nice to go back there and be as competitive as we were and execute as well as we did last year. Having a year under our belt with this car and this class, we learned a lot throughout last season that already has been beneficial this year.”

2023 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – GTD PRO (After two of 11 events)

Driver Standings

  1. Daniel Juncadella/Jules Gounon/Maro Engel – 708
  2. Ben Barnicoat/Jack Hawksworth – 682
  3. Klaus Bachler/Laurens Vanthoor/Patrick Pilet – 659
  4. Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor/Tommy Milner – 643
  5. Jordan Pepper/Romain Grosjean – 612

Team Standings

  1. No. 79 WeatherTech Racing – 708
  2. No. 14 Vasser Sullivan – 682
  3. No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports – 659
  4. No. 3 Corvette Racing – 643
  5. No. 63 Iron Lynx – 612

Manufacturer Standings

  1. Mercedes-AMG – 708
  2. Lexus – 682
  3. Porsche – 659
  4. Chevrolet – 643
  5. Lamborghini – 612

CORVETTE RACING AT LONG BEACH: By the Numbers

  • 1: As in one team, one manufacturer and one model of car for 16 years at Long Beach: Corvette Racing, Chevrolet and the Chevrolet Corvette.
  • 3: Generations of Corvette Racing entries at Long Beach since 2007 – Corvette C6.R (2007-13) and Corvette C7.R (2014-2019) and Corvette C8.R (2021-current). All three generations have won at least once at Long Beach.
  • 4: Number of Long Beach race victories for Corvette Racing’s duo of Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor.
  • 8: Number of drivers who have competed at Long Beach for Corvette Racing – Olivier Beretta, Antonio Garcia, Oliver Gavin, Jan Magnussen, Tommy Milner, Johnny O’Connell, Nick Tandy and Jordan Taylor. Each driver won at least once at Long Beach.
  • 8: Number of Long Beach victories in 15 appearances for Corvette Racing – more than any other IMSA entrant at the circuit.
  • 10: Number of Long Beach sports car victories for Chevrolet. Throw in 12 IndyCar wins, and Chevrolet has claimed 22 victories in the event’s two premier races.
  • 14: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001.
  • 19: Number of street circuit victories for Corvette Racing – more than any other IMSA entrant at the circuit.
  • 26: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races – Baltimore, Charlotte Motor Speedway, COTA, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Daytona, Detroit, Houston, Laguna Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Miami, Mid-Ohio, Monza, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Sonoma, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen
  • 30: Number of wins in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for Corvette Racing since the start of 2014.
  • 34: Number of drivers for Corvette Racing since 1999. Ben Keating and Nico Varrone joined that list with their participation – and victory – in the 1,000 Miles of Sebring for the World Endurance Championship.
  • 123: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 113 in North America and eight at Le Mans.
  • 269: Event starts by Corvette Racing since 1999.
  • 4,081.61: Number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing in its 15 previous trips to Long Beach. That represents 2,074 laps around the 1.968-mile street circuit.
  • 353,311.01: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing since its inception. To put that in perspective, Corvette Racing is more than halfway to the distance traveled by Apollo 13 – the longest manned spaceflight in history: 622,268 miles. That means Corvette Racing has raced to the moon… and then some!

Corvette Racing at Long Beach (wins in bold)

2007

No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell – 2nd in GT1 (Magnussen fastest race lap)

No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 1st in GT1 (Gavin pole)

2008

No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Johnny O’Connell/Jan Magnussen – 1st in GT1 (Magnussen pole)

No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 1st in GT1 (Gavin fastest race lap)

2009

No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell – 2nd in GT1

No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin – 1st in GT1 (Beretta pole, fastest race lap)

2010

No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell – 2nd in GT2

No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen – 9th in GT2 (Gavin fastest race lap)

2011

No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Tommy Milner – 5th in GT

No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen – 2nd in GT (Magnussen fastest race lap)

2012

No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 4th in GT

No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 1st in GT (Gavin fastest race lap)

2013

No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 5th in GT

No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 4th in GT (Gavin fastest race lap)

2014

No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 1st in GTLM (Magnussen pole)

No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 3rd in GTLM (Milner fastest race lap)

2015

No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 3rd in GTLM

No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 7th in GTLM

2016

No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 9th in GTLM

No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 2nd in GTLM

2017

No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 5th in GTLM (Magnussen pole)

No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 1st in GTLM

2018

No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 4th in GTLM

No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 1st in GTLM

2019

No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 2nd in GTLM

No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 3rd in GTLM

2021

No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 2nd in GTLM (Taylor pole)

No. 4 Corvette C8.R: Tommy Milner/Nick Tandy – 1st in GTLM (Tandy fastest race lap)

2022

No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 3rd in GTD PRO (Taylor pole)

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in nearly 80 countries with nearly 2.7 million cars and trucks sold in 2021. 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.

No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 GTP Team Heads to Streets of Long Beach for First Sprint Race of 2023

By
Official Release
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(Long Beach, Cal.) April 11, 2023 — The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 with Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport (WTRAndretti) heads west for the first sprint event of the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Settled on the streets of Long Beach, California, full season co-drivers Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque are on a mission to stand on the top step of podium to represent Acura at their home event.

The WTRAndretti team has an impressive record around the 11-turn, 1.97-mile street course with five podiums, three victories and two pole positions. As the first two endurance events of the year are in the books, all focus for Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque and the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 team switches to sprint racing and closing the 10-point championship gap.

“Starting the sprint race portion of the season is exciting,” said Ricky Taylor, 2017 Grand Prix of Long Beach winner. “We get to go to another new track with the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06, so it will be interesting how the new GTP cars adapt to the first street course of the year. Being the shortest race of the year, we can transition our energy from purely reliability to hopefully a bit more risk-taking for Acura’s home race in Long Beach.”

“Long Beach is a special one,” said Filipe Albuquerque, two-time winner at Grand Prix of Long Beach. “I call it the Monaco of the United States. IndyCar is there and it’s in the city, near L.A., and there is a lot of action going around that weekend – classic cars are there as well. It’s always cool to go there. This year I think that we have a shot to go for the win. Especially after the past two years, we struggled a lot of with the DPi and we knew it was not a track for us, that delta is way smaller now. Bring on Long Beach and the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 team is super motivated.”

“We just finished a shakedown prior to going to Long Beach,” said Wayne Taylor. “Long Beach has always been one of the hardest circuits for us. HPD has been working really hard on throttle response, traction control and things like that. The team has been working on figuring out a way how we can run over curbs, which we normally don’t do. We have seen at Long Beach though it is a must when you go through the fountain area. We have had two races so far this year and we have shown we have a dominant car. This is an Acura event, so the pressure is on. It’s the first sprint race of the season, so it’s an important one. We will do whatever it takes to try and win this race for HPD and Acura. It’s really important to them and for us in the championship.”

Practice for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach begins Friday, April 14 at 9 a.m. PT followed by qualifying for the spring race at 5:40 p.m. PT. The green flag waves for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Saturday, April 15 at 2:05 p.m. PT with broadcast live on USA Network and Peacock for all 100 minutes.

ABOUT KONICA MINOLTA
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. is reshaping and revolutionizing the workplace to achieve true connectivity through the Intelligent Connected Workplace. The company guides and supports its clients’ digital transformation through its expansive office technology portfolio, including IT Services (All Covered), intelligent information management, managed print services and industrial and commercial print solutions. Konica Minolta has been included on CRN’s MSP 500 list nine times and The World Technology Awards named the company a finalist in the IT Software category. Konica Minolta has been recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys for fifteen consecutive years, and is proud to be ranked on the Forbes 2021 America’s Best-in-State employers list. The company received Keypoint Intelligence’s BLI 2021 A3 Line of The Year Award and BLI 2021-2023 Most Color Consistent A3 Brand Award for its bizhub i-Series. Konica Minolta, Inc. has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for nine consecutive years and has spent four years on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list. The company recognizes 150 years in global business in 2023. Konica Minolta partners with its clients to give shape to ideas and works to bring value to our society. For more information, please visit us online and follow Konica Minolta on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter.

The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 effort and Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport is supported by an outstanding lineup of partners including Harrison Contracting Company, Acura Motorsports, Honda Performance Development and Hammer Nutrition.

Kyle Busch- No. 51 Zariz Transport Silverado Craftsman Trucks Martinsville Preview

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Official Release
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Kyle Busch: Driver, No. 51 Zariz Transport Chevrolet

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Overview:
Event: Long John Silver’s 200, Race 7 of 23, 200 Laps – 50/50/100; 105.2 Miles
Location: Martinsville Speedway (0.526-mile oval)
Date/Broadcast: April 14, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

The Report on ‘Rowdy’:

KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch makes his third Craftsman Truck Series start of 2023 behind the wheel of the No. 51 Zariz Silverado in Friday’s race at Martinsville Speedway. In Busch’s last Truck Series start, an untimely caution spoiled his chance at going two-for-two in Truck Series action this season. ‘Rowdy’ was leading the race when teams had made it into their fuel window for making it to the end of the event. He decided to try and make it a few more laps beyond his competitors in an effort to have fresher tires for the end of the race, but his strategy was spoiled when a caution came out with 14 laps remaining. After making his final pit stop under caution, he would line up on the inside of row eight for the ensuing restart. He was only able to make it back up to the runner-up spot when the field took the checkered flag.

In his first start of 2023, Busch led a race-high 84 laps and crossed the stripe 4.981 seconds ahead of Zane Smith to pick up his record extending 63rd career Craftsman Truck Series victory. The win was the first for KBM under the Chevrolet banner, after collecting the first 98 with Toyota. For Busch, it was his first win in a Chevrolet truck since November of 2007 at Phoenix Raceway. With his win at Las Vegas, he extended his series-best streak of winning at least one race to 11 consecutive Truck Series seasons (2013-2023).

Busch has won 37.7% (63/167) of the Truck Series races he has entered in his career and has finished first or second in 56.8% (95/167). In addition to his Truck Series leading 63 wins, he also ranks first all-time among Truck Series drivers in driver rating (123.7), average finish (6.5) and is second in laps led (7,732). Over his last 28 Truck Series starts, Busch has an average finish of 3.07 while recording 15 wins and eight runner-up finishes.

Busch, who won KBM’s first Truck Series victory at Nashville Superspeedway in April of 2010, will be looking to collect his organization’s 100th NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory on Friday. His Las Vegas win was KBM’s record-extending 99th-career victory leaving his organization one shy of the century mark. Overall, 18 different drivers have won at least one race behind the wheel of a KBM truck, led by Busch’s 47. Four drivers rank second on the list with seven victories: William Byron, Christopher Bell, Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek.

Eight of KBM’s victories have come at Martinsville, including wins by Busch in 2016 and 2019. He also has two Cup Series victories at ‘The Paperclip’ (2016 and 2017).

Veteran crew chief Brian Pattie is calling the shots for the No. 51 team this year in his first season at KBM after spending the last 14 seasons atop the pit box in the NASCAR Cup Series. In the Cup Series, his drivers produced six wins, nine poles, 57 top-five and 131 top-10 finishes across 528 starts. In 2012, he guided Clint Bowyer to three victories and a runner-up finish in the Cup Series championship standings. In 2017, he guided Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to two wins and a berth in the playoffs. The Florida native has also recorded 11 wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and now has two wins as a crew chief in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Pattie’s lone event atop the pit box for a Truck Series race at Martinsville was a 33rd-place finish with Dario Franchitti in 2007.

The No. 51 team currently ranks fourth in the Craftsman Truck Series owner’s point standings after six races. Across six starts in 2023, the team has recorded one win, one pole, 98 laps led, three top-five and five top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 8.7.

Zariz Transport, a fast growing intermodal drayage company specializing in transporting containers from the ports, will be the primary sponsor on Busch’s Silverado for all five of his races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2023. The remaining two races on Busch’s schedule will be: Kansas Speedway on May 6 and Pocono Raceway on July 22. William Byron will return to the No. 51 HendrickCars.com Silverado May 12 at Darlington Raceway and May 20 at North Wilkesboro Speedway while Jack Wood will be behind the wheel May 26 at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Kyle Busch, Driver Q&A:

What does it take to be successful in a truck at Martinsville?
“You have to have a truck that will turn the center without getting too loose in and too loose off. You also have to play the strategy right so that you can be up front at the end of the race and have enough tire left to hold people off. The last two truck races that I’ve won at Martinsville have been 250-lap races, with the race being 200 laps now things play out a little bit differently. With the new practice system, we’ll only have 20 minutes of practice to get our Zariz Silverado dialed in — that’s if the weather holds off. So, we’ll need to make sure we unload with a truck that is close because there isn’t much you can do to improve the handling with limited or no practice and then limited pit stops in the race. Last year we didn’t get a chance to practice or qualify and we didn’t do a good job of unloading close, so I had to drive way too hard just to run in the top five and used my stuff up and we were probably lucky to finish third. Hopefully, this year we’ll do a better job of unloading with a fast Zariz Silverado and we can go out and bring home KBM’s 100th win.”

Kyle Busch Craftsman Truck Series Career Highlights:

  • Busch has a total of 167 Craftsman Truck Series starts and is ranked first all-time in wins (63), driver rating (123.7) and average finish (6.5).
  • The 37-year-old driver has won 37.7% (63/167) of the NCTS races he has entered and finished first or second in 56.8% (95/167).
  • Busch stands alone as the leader in all-time career wins in NASCAR’s national touring series with 226 total victories. He has earned 61 NASCAR Cup Series wins, 102 NASCAR Xfinity Series wins, and 63 NCTS wins.
  • In August of 2010, Busch made history when he won the NCTS, NXS and NCS races at Bristol Motor Speedway, becoming the only driver to sweep all three of NASCAR’s top three series at one track on the same weekend. He then repeated the feat in August of 2017.

Kyle Busch’s No. 51 Chevrolet Silverado RST:

KBM-62: The No. 51 Zariz team will unload KBM-62 for Friday’s race at Martinsville. This truck has finished inside the top 10 in each of its last four starts, including Busch’s third-place finish in last year’s race at Martinsville. The best finish that this chassis has achieved was a runner-up finish with Busch at Richmond Raceway in 2021.

KBM-62 Performance Profile:
KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected eight wins, five poles, 990 laps led, 26 top-five and 41 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 9.1 across 63 starts at Martinsville. Todd Gilliland picked up the organization’s most recent victory at the 0.526-mile oval in October of 2019. Kyle Busch (2016 & 2019), Darrell Wallace Jr. (2013 & 2014), and Denny Hamlin (2011 & 2012) have all collected two victories at the Virginia track while Noah Gragson (2017) has one win.
  • KBM holds the Craftsman Truck Series records for most career wins (99) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway last year, Corey Heim became the 18th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
  • With 41 victories, the No. 51 is the winningest number in KBM’s Truck Series fleet.
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