Home Blog Page 1545

Ross Chastain Takes Watermelon Celebration to New Heights Ahead of EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix

By
Official Release
-
Defending EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix winner Ross Chastain threw watermelons – his trademark victory celebration – off the 251-foot observation tower at Circuit of The Americas on Friday, March 24, 2023, as NASCAR returns to Austin, Texas. Photo Credit: NASCAR at COTA/Harold Hinson Photography
  • Defending race winner Ross Chastain continues his fan-favorite watermelon smash celebration with a 251-foot drop off the iconic COTA observation tower.
  • Chastain will look to repeat his 2022 success at Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix.
  • Three-day weekend ticket packages start at just $99 and only $10 for kids 12 and under. Further details can be found at NASCARatCOTA.com.

AUSTIN, Texas (March 24, 2023) – Ross Chastain will look to smash to competition when the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix goes green on Sunday, but before he even turned a lap in practice, the Trackhouse Racing driver had a different “smash” in mind.

A nod to his family’s watermelon farming roots, Chastain continued the celebration of his 2022 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix win – the first NASCAR Cup Series triumph for both the driver and his Trackhouse Racing team – the Alva, Florida native tossed watermelons from atop the iconic 251-foot observation tower at Circuit of The Americas. After sending the fruits flying, Chastain greeted fans in attendance with autographed hats and – what else – watermelons.

“Officially set a new high water mark for the highest point (throwing a watermelon),” Chastain said. “I was a little off to the right on the first one, but each one got better… I’d love to go out there on Sunday and get three more tries next year.”

Following the watermelon toss, Chastain finished third in EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix practice. Qualifying for the race is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Tickets:

Tickets for the March 24-26 NASCAR at COTA tripleheader weekend are on sale now at NASCARatCOTA.com. Three-day weekend packages for adults including the Darius Rucker pre-race concert start at just $99 and just $10 for kids 12 and under. Further details can be found on the NASCAR at COTA website.

Follow Us:

Keep track of all things NASCAR at COTA by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@NASCARatCOTA). Keep up with all the latest information on the NASCAR at COTA website and mobile app.

TR3 Racing Adds GT4 Aston Martin for 2023 SRO Campaign

By
Official Release
-

SONOMA, CA (27 March 2023) – TR3 Racing is expanding to a second program in SRO competition in 2023, which will see the team run two programs with two different manufacturers in three series. The team will integrate a new program this year, competing in Pirelli GT4 America with Jon Branam and Paul Kiebler sharing the No. 77 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in the GT4 category. Each event weekend will feature two 60-minute races.

Branam is a veteran racer, stunt driver and coach. He has one pole and one podium in SRO action. Kiebler has experience both in single-make competition as well as previous SRO campaigns. He will have some busy weekends this year as he is also set to race the No. 77 Aston Martin in GT4 America, which features single-driver lineups in a pair of 40-minute sprint races each race weekend.

“It’s been almost a year in the making to put this program together with Paul Kiebler,” said team principal Gregory Romanelli. “The off-season was quite busy for us putting together a whole new program to TR3 Racing. We had a great outing in Daytona together, finishing first in the bronze cup in the GS race. We were able to put together a very experienced team with these cars. So we are confident to offer Paul Kiebler and Jon Branam a competitive car.”

The family-run team is looking forward to building on the relationship with this expanded program.

“I’ve had a great friendship with John for over 10 years now, and I’m very excited to be working together with him,” said Romanelli. “He really excelled for us in the Indy Eight Hour last year. I look forward to this new venture with this new program, new cars, and new drivers for TR3 Racing.”

“I’m really excited to be back in the Aston Martin with Paul Kiebler for the full season with TR3 in SRO GT4 America,” Branam said. “Having run a couple of races with TR3, I know we are in a good position to bring home some good results. We’ve spent much of the off season testing and preparing for 2023, so we are ready to get out there and go to work.”

Kiebler finished second in the 2022 Ferrari Challenge North America Coppa Shell Am action, winning two races and securing two poles. He is a podium winner in 2021 SRO Pirelli GT4 SprintX action.

The Aston Martin GT4 program will run in parallel with the TR3 Racing GT3 effort Daniel Morad and Ziad Ghandour will compete for the Pro-Am championship in Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS, racing the No. 9 Mercedes-AMG GT3. The 13-race series opens this weekend with a pair of 90-minute races at Sonoma Raceway.

Action at Sonoma opens with testing on both Wednesday and Thursday, practice on Friday and qualifying on Saturday morning. Saturday’s race schedule (all times PT) includes Race 1 for GT America at 1 p.m.; GT World Challenge America at 3:05 p.m.; and GT4 America at 4:50 p.m. Sunday’s racing includes GT America at 8:55 a.m.; GT4 America at 1:30 p.m.; and GT World Challenge America at 2:15 p.m.

About TR3 Performance:

TR3 Performance was founded by Arthur, Oliver, and Gregory Romanelli in August 2012. Frustrated with the rising costs and plummeting quality from local shops, the brothers saw an opportunity to establish a shop of their own that would live up to their high standard of excellence, where they could hold themselves to the caliber of workmanship they had sought out in the marketplace as enthusiasts. In 2015, TR3 Racing was established as the team stepped into racing at the professional level. What started out as a modest 2,300-sq.ft. enterprise has now exploded into the premier performance shop in South Florida.

Toyota Racing – NCS COTA Post-Practice Quotes – 03.24.23

By
Official Release
-

Toyota Racing – Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr.
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

AUSTIN (March 24, 2023) – Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. were made available to media after practice at Circuit of the Americas on Friday:

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing

How did the package handle for you out there?

“I thought it was good. I’m just trying to get better, being honest with you. I’m trying to gauge myself off of (Tyler) Reddick and things he does so differently. It’s kind of a style change that I’m trying to convert myself to do 18 years later.”

Is that something that you an idea about when he joined Toyota?

“He has a different approach for sure. At his sim this week, I kind of just set in on his session and watched him and tried to emulate it. I did – I was just a few seconds off.”

Is there a preferred lane on the choose?

“I’m not really sure to be honest with you. It’s interesting. I know there was a couple of people on social media that wanted the choose, but I don’t know why we have it here. It doesn’t make much sense, and I think we just kind of got pressured into it.”

Does consistent rules across all races help?

“Every track is different, right? But the difference is the main spotters can’t see it, and it is hard to see on the race track. We will adapt. We will be fine.”

How do you expect the no stops at stage breaks to affect the race?

“Again, I think we got pressured into this one. I think this one has the potential to get really strung out – a lot. If we do, I don’t want to hear any complaining on things being strung out, because that is the potential. We had stages, certainly on road courses, this will make for more strategy, but if you are 10 seconds behind the car in front of you, strategy isn’t going to matter a ton.”

MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing

What are your thoughts with this new tire and aero package?

“It’s hard to compare to last year. We’ve done so many things car wise and everything. It feels slicker, less grip, sliding around more. It was fun. We need to work on our car to be better, but overall, I thought it was okay.”

If you are slipping and sliding, that should give opportunities for passing, right?

“Yeah, for sure. But I’m worried that I’m sliding more than the guys that I’m trying to race with, and hopefully beat on Sunday. We will get to work and hopefully get it it better for tomorrow and Sunday.”

How are the Toyotas compared to last year?

“I’m not sure. At certain spots, I feel better than last year. In certain things, I feel similar. I’m not real sure. Obviously, (Tyler) Reddick was real fast, so he has something figured out. We will have to take a look at that and hopefully get some of that info. I wasn’t super happy about our speed, but I thought we were closer at the end of practice than we were at the beginning.”

Is there a preference on the choose here?

“I think if you are at the front, you want to be the inside, just to defend better, but it is going to be four-to-five wide. I think the leader has the advantage at the jump and trying to beat them into one. Everyone else it is a free-for-all.”

What will be it like with no stage breaks?

“It will be like we used to do at road courses. You will have to have a car that takes off okay, and runs well on the long run depending on how many cautions we have. Fuel mileage could come into play – I haven’t really talked to James (Small, crew chief) about how that plays out or looks. I think everyone is going to be close, but I’m sure guys will be taking chances. It will be something we haven’t done in a long time, and something we’ve never done here.”

Will knowing you aren’t going to have those stage cautions affect how you as a driver approach pushing the car?

“I don’t think so. You are still going to run as hard as you can. You don’t want to throw caution to the wind and smoke the tires off of it, because you are going to pay the price. No matter what – that would happen. I think just knowing that it could come down to long runs and strategy, and things like that. You have to be smart and hit your marks and be smooth in how you do things and maybe put yourself in position to take advantage of guys on older tires.”

CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 Rheem Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing

How was practice?

“With (Tyler) Reddick doing well, Bubba (Wallace) was up there – I don’t know. I wasn’t where I wanted to be for sure, but hopefully we can learn something from our team cars and improve for tomorrow.”

What is the tire fall off like?

“I don’t know. We really haven’t run long enough to know. It was 50-minute practice session. I think the longest run I saw out of anyone was maybe five to seven laps. I haven’t dug into it too much, but I know the longest I ran was around five. I know I’m going to have to go 20 to 25 on Sunday. It is very slick that’s for sure. Slick on stickers, slick on old tires. I think the low downforce should at least make the cars hard to drive.”

Through the esses part of the track, what is the technique through there?

“It’s difficult. One thing that the esses provides is lap time opportunity if you cut the race track. I know that I got in trouble for cutting the race track, and I’m sure many others did too. You want to straighten it out as much as you can, but there is a fine line in breaking track limits and not breaking track limits. It’s a very important part of the race track and wide-open? I would say we are nowhere near on throttle, let alone wide-open throttle. It’s very hairy part of the race track.”

Is there a preferred lane for the choose?

“I don’t think so. At some road courses, I think there will be a preferred lane, but here, the way turn one is such a big breaking zone and it widens out so much, I think either lane can do good.”

What do you think about the lack of stage breaks?

“It’s going to be a tough race on Sunday. That is for sure. I know I’ve never ran a road course race without breaks and it has been a long time since the veterans have too. I think that it is going to be a very good race as far as rewarding those cars that run well. At road courses in the past, it really was two different races between collecting stage points and racing for the race win. Now I think we will see the same guys be able to run for the race win and collect the stage points, so you are going to have be good on Sunday to get points for sure.”

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 20 electrified options, with more in showrooms later this year.

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.

TR3 Racing Set for Fanatec GT World Challenge America Campaign with AMG

By
Official Release
-

Daniel Morad and Ziad Ghandour pair in Pro-Am as team moves to Mercedes for GT3 effort

SONOMA, CA (24 March 2023) – TR3 Racing is expanding its competition program for 2023, and will field Daniel Morad and Ziad Ghandour in the Pro-Am championship in Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS.

The duo will share the driving duties on board the No. 9 Mercedes-AMG GT3. The 13-race series opens this weekend with a pair of 90-minute races at Sonoma Raceway.

Ghandour has continued to grow his experience, having moved up the ladder to the GT3 ranks with TR3 Racing after proving himself a winner in single-make racing with the team. Formed by Arthur, Oliver, and Gregory Romanelli brothers, TR3 Racing has continued to diversify its racing programs as the team looks to open a new chapter with the new GT3 platform.

“It’s been a flawless transition to Mercedes,” said team principal Gregory Romanelli. “Thanks to all the personnel behind AMG, and especially Julian Schoch (Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing Project Manager), who has made everything so simple for us. We have been running the car for a few months now and we’ve gotten up to speed fairly quickly. The SRO field will mainly be Mercedes, so we can’t wait to put ourselves up against teams that have been running the car for quite some time now.”

The driver line up of Ghandour and Morad will look to get a fast start to the season with the double-header set in California’s wine country this weekend. Ghandour, a native of Lebanon now living in California, is in his fourth season with TR3 Racing.

“We are excited to have Daniel in the car with Ziad,” said Romanelli. “We have had some great battles against each other in the past, and I can say I’m happy to have Daniel on our side now.”

Morad, a 32-year-old Canadian, is a three-time SRO winner and has won three championships in addition to numerous karting titles.

“I’m really happy to join TR3 alongside Ziad,” Morad said. “It’s great to see another top-level team switching over to the Mercedes-AMG platform. With so much prior success in the series, I’m very much looking forward to get to work with the team and tackling this new challenge.”

Action at Sonoma opens with testing on both Wednesday and Thursday, practice on Friday and qualifying on Saturday morning. Saturday’s race schedule (all times PT) includes Race 1 for GT America at 1 p.m.; GT World Challenge America at 3:05 p.m.; and GT4 America at 4:50 p.m. Sunday’s racing includes GT America at 8:55 a.m.; GT4 America at 1:30 p.m.; and GT World Challenge America at 2:15 p.m.

About TR3 Performance:

TR3 Performance was founded by Arthur, Oliver, and Gregory Romanelli in August 2012. Frustrated with the rising costs and plummeting quality from local shops, the brothers saw an opportunity to establish a shop of their own that would live up to their high standard of excellence, where they could hold themselves to the caliber of workmanship they had sought out in the marketplace as enthusiasts. In 2015, TR3 Racing was established as the team stepped into racing at the professional level. What started out as a modest 2,300-sq.ft. enterprise has now exploded into the premier performance shop in South Florida.

Young’s Motorsports Circuit of the Americas Truck Series Team Preview

By
Official Release
-

Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series
Circuit of the Americas (COTA) | XPEL 225

Fast Facts
No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Kris Wright
Primary Partner(s): First National Bank (FNB)
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST
Crew Chief: Andrew Abbott
2023 Driver Points Position: 18th
2023 Owner Points Position: 23rd
Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Welcome Back To The Team: Road racing standout Kris Wright returns to Young’s Motorsports for the full 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series season continuing with Saturday afternoon’s XPEL 225 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA).

The former IMSA and Formula 3 driver returns to Young’s Motorsports after spending the 2022 season competing in both Trucks and the Xfinity Series.

Wright competed in 16 Truck Series races during the 2021 season for Young’s Motorsports earning four top-20 finishes and a season-high 12th-place finish at Daytona.

Glad You Are Here: For the fourth time in 2023, F.N.B. Corporation will serve as the primary partner on Wright’s No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado RST.

F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., is one of the 50 largest bank-holding companies in the United States, and continues their partnership with Kris Wright for the second consecutive NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series weekend at the epicenter for everything speedy in Sin City, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, on the No. 02 F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet Silverado RST for Young’s Motorsports.

Crossroads of North America Details: This weekend marks Kris Wright’s second NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) start at the Circuit of the Americas. The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series is heading to the Austin, Texas facility for the third time in its history.

Wright made his series track debut at the Circuit of the Americas, the only current FIA-certified Grade 1 track in the United States, on March 26, 2022, where he posted a season-best finish of 15th place.

Wright has one start in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) at the Circuit of the Americas. In 2021 with Sam Hunt Racing, he qualified in 36th place and finished in 32nd place due to a mechanical failure.

Road Course Stats: In four NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts on a road course, the Pittsburgh, Pa., – native recorded an average finish of 22.8. At the DAYTONA (Fla.) Road Course on August 16, 2020, Wright saw his debut in NASCAR national series competition in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, which was his single series start of the 2020 season.

This week at the Circuit of the Americas marks is the first of two road courses on the 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Schedule, with the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course being the other.

Wright has competed on 22 different road courses and street circuits throughout his career.

Calling the Shots: Guiding Wright as crew chief of the No. 02 F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet Silverado is longtime crew chief Andrew Abbott.

He will crew chief his 107th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series race on Saturday afternoon. In his previous 106 races, he has two top-five and seven top-10 finishes to his resume.

He has one prior Truck Series race as crew chief at COTA. Last March, he set up the truck that allowed Sheldon Creed to win the pole aboard the No. 20 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at the Circuit of the Americas: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ sixth, seventh and eighth NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at one of the country’s premiere tracks, the Circuit of The Americas. The organization posted a team-best finish of second place with driver Kaz Grala on May 22, 2021.

The five previous starts at the 20-turn, 3.41-mile, multi-elevational counterclockwise circuit, have earned Young’s Motorsports an average starting position of 16.2, including a pole position (2022, Sheldon Creed) and an average finish of 20.0.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., -based organization has logged 415 starts from 48 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019, 2021), seven top-five finishes and 31 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 22 and an average finishing position of 21.3.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Kris Wright, please visit, kriswrightmotorsports.com, like him on Facebook (Kris Wright Racing) and follow him on Twitter (@kriswrightraces).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Kris Wright Pre-Race Quotes:

On Circuit of the Americas: “The Young’s Motorsports No. 02 team is really confident going to the first road course of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season. They have been top-15 contenders for the past two years.

“Studying data and past notes for this upcoming event has been key for our preparation, although the forecasted rain during qualifying could throw a few question marks into the itinerary. Nonetheless, we are all excited to be going to such a great motorsports venue in the Texas capital.”

No. 12 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Spencer Boyd

Primary Partner(s): Record Rack

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST

Crew Chief: Brad Means

2023 Driver Points Position: 26th

2023 Owner Points Position: 32nd

Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Back To Familiar Territory: Fan favorite Spencer Boyd returns to Circuit of the Americas (COTA), the fourth race of the 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series season eyeing his first top-10 of the year but more importantly hunting his second win of his Truck Series career.

No. 144: This weekend at COTA, Boyd will make his 144th career NASCAR start. Boyd has three starts in the NASCAR Cup Series, 50 starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and will make his 91st start in Trucks when the green flag waves Saturday afternoon.

The highlight of his NASCAR career is a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series win at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in October 2019 driving for Young’s Motorsports.

Welcome Aboard: This weekend at COTA, Young’s Motorsports and Boyd welcome Record Rack® as the primary partner on the No. 12 Chevrolet Silverado RST for the first time in 2023.

Sportsman’s Choice®’s Record Rack® wildlife products are engineered to attract and nourish deer for overall health and antler development.

Record Rack® like “Golden Deer Nuggets™” and “Sportsman” products help attract and grow a bigger class of bucks. Whether you’re a wildlife watcher looking to see more deer on your land, or an avid sportsman looking to bring in a trophy, they’ve got the right feed to meet your goals.

National Medal of Honor Day: In recognition of National Medal of Honor Day on Saturday, March 25, 2023, Sportman’s Choice® and Record Rack (brand owned by Cargill Inc.) designed a special paint scheme to honor all Medal of Honor Recipients and Vietnam War Veterans while inviting a special family to the race.

Gary Michael Rose, Vietnam War veteran, U.S. Army Medal of Honor Recipient will be the team’s guest of honor along with his grandson, Christian Bowen, who is also a Gold Star son.

Gary Michael Rose “Mike” was presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor on October 23, 2017, by President Donald Trump at the White House for his actions that went above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Special Forces Medic.

Come Say Hi: Following Saturday afternoon’s Truck Series race, Spencer Boyd will be signing autographs at the Tractor Supply store in Buda, Texas on Sunday, March 26 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CT.

The Tractor Supply in Buda is located at 15555 S I-35 Frontage Road, Buda, TX 78610.

Spencer Boyd Truck Series Circuit of the Americas Stats: Saturday afternoon’s XPEL 225 will mark Boyd’s second NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series race at the 3.42-mile road course.

In his track debut in 2022, Boyd steered his No. 12 Derm Dude Chevrolet Silverado RST to a track best of 23rd after starting 30th in the 2022 XPEL 225 driving for Young’s Motorsports.

Spencer Boyd Truck Series Road Course Stats: At NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series tracks classified as a road course, Boyd has made six starts throughout his career. He also holds an average finishing position of 25.2.

Truck Series Rundown: In seven years of Truck Series competition, Boyd has 90 career Truck Series starts with one win, two top-five and three top-10 finishes, and a championship best of 17th in 2019 and carries an average finish of 23.8.

Calling the Shots: Guiding Boyd as crew chief of the No. 12 Record Rack® Chevrolet Silverado RST is new crew chief Brad Means.

He will make his Truck Series crew chief debut at COTA on Saturday afternoon.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at the Circuit of the Americas: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ sixth, seventh and eighth NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at one of the country’s premiere tracks, the Circuit of The Americas. The organization posted a team-best finish of second place with driver Kaz Grala on May 22, 2021.

The five previous starts at the 20-turn, 3.41-mile, multi-elevational counterclockwise circuit, have earned Young’s Motorsports an average starting position of 16.2, including a pole position (2022, Sheldon Creed) and an average finish of 20.0.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., -based organization has logged 415 starts from 48 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019, 2021), seven top-five finishes and 31 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 22 and an average finishing position of 21.3.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Spencer Boyd, please like him on Facebook (Spencer Boyd Racing) and follow him on Instagram (SpencerBoydpr) and Twitter (@SpencerBoyd).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Spencer Boyd Pre-Race Quote:

On Circuit of the Americas: “After a solid outing at Atlanta Motor Speedway last weekend, I am looking forward to getting back to a road course and having an opportunity not only to improve my road course craft but showcase our awesome looking No. 12 Record Rack® Chevrolet Silverado on National Medal of Honor Day.”

No. 20 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Ed Jones

Primary Partner(s): Little Caesars

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST

Crew Chief: Joe Lax

2023 Driver Points Position: N/A |

2023 Owner Points Position: 30th

Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Welcome!: Ed Jones, a native of Dubai, United Arab Emirates joins Young’s Motorsports for the fourth NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series race of the 2023 season for Saturday afternoon’s XPEL 225 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA).

About Ed: Touted as arguably one of the most successful racing drivers from the United Arab Emirates, Jones joins the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series scene with a monstrous racing resume including experience in the Formula Renault Eurocup, Formula 3, Indy Lights, IndyCar, FIA World Endurance Championship and most recently the IMSA SportsCar Championship Series.

Jones, 28 is a four-time competitor in the prestigious Indianapolis 500 and finished third in his inaugural showing in 2017 driving for Dale Coyne Racing after qualifying 11th.

Sponsor Intel: Jones will pilot the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado with support from Little Caesars.

Headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, Little Caesars was founded by Mike and Marian Ilitch in 1959 as a single, family-owned restaurant. Today, Little Caesars is the third largest pizza chain in the world, with stores in each of the 50 U.S. states and 27 countries and territories.

Known for its HOT-N-READY® pizza and famed Crazy Bread®, Little Caesars has been named “Best Value in America” for more than the past twelve years.

Little Caesars products are made with quality ingredients, like fresh, never frozen, mozzarella and Muenster cheese and sauce made from fresh-packed, vine-ripened California crushed tomatoes.

Additional Support: In addition to Little Caesars, Jones will also carry partnership support from Spectra Resources Corporation, a specialized trading company designed for buyers and sellers to purchase and sell steel in any part of the world efficiently and economically for the 42-lap race on March 25.

Spectra Resources Corporation is involved in importing, exporting, domestic and off-shore trading, warehousing, logistics coordination and the processing of multiple steel products.

Spectra Resources Corporation boasts nearly 20 years of experience in physical steel trading and is positioned to bring a strong value proposition to your enterprise.

Ed Jones Truck Series History: 2016 Indy Light champion Ed Jones will make his inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series debut at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) nestled in Austin, Texas.

Ed Jones Truck Series Circuit of the America Stats: Saturday afternoon’s XPEL 225 will mark Jones’s first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series race at the 3.42-mile road course.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at the Circuit of the Americas: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ sixth, seventh and eighth NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at one of the country’s premiere tracks, the Circuit of The Americas. The organization posted a team-best finish of second place with driver Kaz Grala on May 22, 2021.

The five previous starts at the 20-turn, 3.41-mile, multi-elevational counterclockwise circuit, have earned Young’s Motorsports an average starting position of 16.2, including a pole position (2022, Sheldon Creed) and an average finish of 20.0.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., -based organization has logged 415 starts from 48 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019, 2021), seven top-five finishes and 31 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 22 and an average finishing position of 21.3.

Calling the Shots: Guiding Jones as crew chief of the No. 20 Little Caesars Chevrolet Silverado is veteran crew chief Joe Lax.

He will crew chief his 99th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series race on Saturday afternoon. In his previous 98 races, he has one pole and eight top-10 finishes to his resume.

This weekend marks his fifth race as crew chief at COTA.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Ed Jones, like him on Facebook (Ed Jones Racing), follow him on Instagram (@_edwardjones) and Twitter (@Edjonesracing).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Ed Jones Pre-Race Quote:

On Circuit of the Americas: “I am excited to be racing in my first NASCAR Truck Series race at Circuit of the Americas with Young’s Motorsports. This will be a new experience but I am ready for the challenge and I believe we can have a strong and productive day with our No. 20 Little Caesars Chevrolet Silverado RST.”

Race Information:

The XPEL 225 (42 laps | 143.22 miles) is the fourth of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Fri., March 24, 2023, from 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Qualifying begins immediately following practice at 4:00 p.m. The field will take the green flag on Sat., March 25, 2023, shortly after 12:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. ET) with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (CT).

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series News and Notes: Circuit of the Americas

By
Official Release
-

KRIS WRIGHT
No. 02 F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet Silverado RST
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series News and Notes
Event: XPEL 225
Date: Saturday, March 25
Venue: Circuit of the Americas (COTA)
Location: Austin, Texas
Track Description: 3.41 mile(s), Road Course
Race: 143.22 miles / 42 Laps

Crossroads of North America Details … This weekend marks Kris Wright’s second NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) start at the Circuit of the Americas. The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series is heading to the Austin, Texas-facility for the third time in its history. Wright made his series track debut at the Circuit of the Americas, the only current FIA-certified Grade 1 track in the United States, on March 26, 2022, where he posted a season-best finish of 15th-place.

Wright has one start in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) at the Circuit of the Americas. In 2021 with Sam Hunt Racing, he qualified in the 36thplace and finished in the 32nd-place due to a mechanical failure.

Road Course Stats: In four NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts on a road course, the Pittsburgh, Pa., – native recorded an average finish of 22.8. At the DAYTONA (Fla.) Road Course on August 16, 2020, Wright saw his debut in NASCAR national series competition in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, which was his single series start of the 2020 season.

This week at the Circuit of the Americas marks the first of two road courses on the 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series schedule, with the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course being the other.

Wright has competed on 22 different road courses and street circuits throughout his career.

QUOTE WORTHY

Kris Wright, driver of the No. 02 F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet Silverado RST for Young’s Motorsports

On the Circuit of the Americas: “The Young’s Motorsports No. 02 team is really confident going to the first road course of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season. They have been top-15 contenders for the past two years. Studying data and past notes for this upcoming event has been key for our preparation, although the forecasted rain during qualifying could throw a few question marks into the itinerary. Nonetheless, we are all excited to be going to such a great motorsports venue in the Texas capital.”

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

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series History at the Circuit of the Americas … This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ sixth, seventh and eighth NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at one of the country’s premiere tracks, the Circuit of The Americas. The organization posted a team best finish of second-place with driver Kaz Grala on May 22, 2021. The five previous starts at the 20-turn, 3.41-mile, multi-elevational counterclockwise circuit, have earned Young’s Motorsports an average starting position of 16.2, including a pole position (2022, Sheldon Creed) and an average finish of 20.0.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series History … Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C.,-based organization has logged 415 starts from 48 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019, 2021), seven top-five finishes and 31 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 22 and an average finishing position of 21.3.

Catch the Action … The XPEL 225 at the Circuit of the Americas will be broadcast on FS1 on Saturday, March 25 at 1:30p.m. (ET). It will also broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 12:30 p.m. (ET). In addition, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series qualifying at the Circuit of the Americas will air on FS1 at 9:00 p.m. (ET) on Friday, March 24, tape-delayed.

About F.N.B. Corporation
F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a diversified financial services company operating in seven states and the District of Columbia. FNB’s market coverage spans several major metropolitan areas including: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; Cleveland, Ohio; Washington, D.C.; and Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham and the Piedmont Triad (Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point) in North Carolina. The Company has total assets of approximately $42 billion and nearly 340 banking offices throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, D.C. and Virginia.

FNB provides a full range of commercial banking, consumer banking and wealth management solutions through its subsidiary network which is led by its largest affiliate, First National Bank of Pennsylvania, founded in 1864. Commercial banking solutions include corporate banking, small business banking, investment real estate financing, government banking, business credit, capital markets and lease financing. The consumer banking segment provides a full line of consumer banking products and services, including deposit products, mortgage lending, consumer lending and a complete suite of mobile and online banking services. FNB’s wealth management services include asset management, private banking and insurance.

The common stock of F.N.B. Corporation trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FNB” and is included in Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index with the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) Regional Banks SubIndustry Index. Customers, shareholders and investors can learn more about this regional financial institution by visiting the F.N.B. Corporation website at www.fnbcorporation.com.

Joe Graf Jr. | RSS Racing Circuit of the Americas NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Preview

By
Official Release
-

RSS Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Circuit of the Americas (COTA) | Pit Boss 250

Fast Facts
No. 38 RSS Racing Team:
Driver: Joe Graf Jr.
Primary Partner(s): G-Coin
Manufacturer: Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Steve Addington
Spotter: Joe Campbell
Engine: Roush-Yates Engines
Driver Championship Point Standings: 19th
Team Championship Point Standings: 21st

Notes of Interest:

New Home: After spending the last three seasons with SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt (2020 – 2022), Joe Graf Jr. moved to RSS Racing during the offseason where he’ll spend the majority of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season competing for the Sugar Hill, Ga.-based team.

In addition to RSS Racing, Graf will also compete in a limited NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule driving the No. 19 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Fast Start: With a career-best seventh-place finish earned at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway with RSS Racing and two respectable top-15 finishes with Joe Gibbs Racing at Auto Club (Calif.) Speedway and Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway respectively, Graf enters Saturday afternoon’s Pit Boss 250 at Circuit of the Americas 19th in the championship point standings.

RSS Racing’s No. 38 team has also had a solid start to 2023 – which has the team a respectable 21st in the owner championship standings likely guaranteeing Graf into Saturday afternoon’s starting field.

Welcome Aboard: Joe Graf Jr. and RSS Racing welcome G-Coin® as the primary partner of the team’s No. 38 Ford Mustang for Saturday afternoon’s Pit Boss 250.

COTA marks the sixth race of the 2023 Xfinity Series season and 15th race overall from 2021 to 2023 where G-Coin, a product that brings gold into the digital age, making it accessible and giving it true utility will be the primary partner.

The first road course of the season will mark the company’s first event as a primary partner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Joe Graf Jr. at RSS Racing respectively.

Sponsor Intel: G-Coin® (gcoin.com) is a digital title to real physical gold, where 1 G-Coin® equals 1 gram of a 99.99% pure, ethically sourced Responsible Gold™ kilobar. G-Coin® allows for easy savings and sending of real gold with zero transaction fees and near instantaneous settlement times.

With G-Coin®, users can now effortlessly buy, sell, and monitor the value of their gold from the convenience of their smartphone.

Download the app from Google Play or the Apple App Store and Go for Gold!

Thanks For Your Support: With just 15 percent of the 2023 Xfinity Series season complete, Joe Graf Jr. and RSS Racing would like to thank their associate marketing partners: AVOID, Bass Reaper Bait Company, Bucked Up Energy Drink, CoverSeal, EAT SLEEP RACE Apparel, fgrACCEL, GTECHNIQ, JACOB Companies, Lefcourt Brothers Racing, Love Motorsports, Model Electronics and ShopRite for their continued support.

Catch Him On The Dial: Before Joe Graf Jr. straps into his No. 38 G-Coin® Ford Mustang on Saturday afternoon, the RSS Racing driver will be featured on “The Frontstretch” on SiriusXM Satellite Radio Channel 90 with host Pat Patterson on Saturday morning, March 25, 2023, at approximately 10:00 a.m. ET.

Graf will also spotlight a new commercial featuring G-Coin® in several spots throughout the weekend, including the full four-hour program on Sunday, March 26, 2023.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Circuit of the America Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Pit Boss 250 will mark Graf’s second start at the 3.42-mile road course

In his COTA debut last March, he delivered a 34th-place finish after experiencing mechanical gremlins throughout the 46-lap event after qualifying on speed in the 31st position.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Career Road Course Stats: At tracks classified as a road course, Graf has competed in 11 NASCAR Xfinity Series races. He holds an average starting position of 28.5 and an average result of 26.5.

Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway | RAPTOR King of Tough 250 Race Recap: In his most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway, Graf and the RSS Racing team showcased the No. 38 JACOB Companies Ford Mustang in the fifth Xfinity Series race of the season.

Without the benefit of practice or qualifying due to inclement weather, Graf continued to showcase speed in his new tenure at RSS Racing but late-race contact with another car caused significant front-end damage to his automobile hindering him in the green-white-checkered finish.

Still, Graf clung to the lead lap and recorded a 25th-place effort. His finish was second best of the RSS Racing trio.

Sneaker Mania: Along with the adrenaline of the Motorsports competition, Joe Graf Jr. also has a vogue for hype sneakers. In his current collection, he owns and wears at least 90 limited edition sneakers – and his collection continues to grow every month.

The current estimated value of his collection tops $100,000.

From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Steve Addington is Joe Graf Jr.’s crew chief.

He will crew chief his 269th NASCAR Xfinity Series race as crew chief on Saturday afternoon and his second race at the prestigious road racing facility in the Lone Star State

In his previous 268 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected 11 wins, 10 poles, 68 top-five and 118 top-10 finishes.

Hello From The Other Side: Graf Jr. has two teammates at RSS Racing.

Veteran Ryan Sieg will drive the No. 39 CMRroofing.com Ford Mustang, while younger brother Kyle Sieg will drive the No. 28 RSS Racing Ford Mustang.

Ryan Sieg is set to make his 307th career Xfinity Series start overall and third at COTA. His best Xfinity COTA track finish occurred in the 2022 Pit Boss 250, where he finished 11th after starting 35th for his family-owned RSS Racing team.

Kyle Sieg is set to make his 24th career Xfinity Series start overall and first at Circuit of the Americas.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Joe Graf Jr. visit JoeGrafRacing.com, like him on Facebook (Joe Graf Jr.), follow him on TikTok (@JoeGrafJr), Twitter (@JoeGrafJr), Instagram (@joegrafjr) and YouTube.

For more on RSS Racing, please like them on Facebook (RSS283839) and follow them on Instagram (@rss283839) and Twitter (@RSS283839).

Joe Graf Jr. Quoteboard:

On Circuit of the Americas: “I am incredibly thankful to welcome G-Coin® to the RSS Racing and have them onboard for their first race of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season Saturday at Circuit of the Americas.

“Even though our finish did not reflect it, we had a very good race car at Circuit of the Americas last year. We were able to qualify on speed and progress forward before a mechanical failure ultimately hindered our day and kept us at bay from contending for a stronger finish.

“You could say that Saturday is an opportunity for us to rebound and I’d like nothing more than to do that and give my guys at RSS Racing something to be excited about.”

On 2023 Season Outlook: “This is a year of opportunity for me. I’ll be competing for two different teams which brings some pressure for me but only because I want to go out there and do my very best in every race run for both Joe Gibbs Racing and RSS Racing.

“I just need to stay focused, communicate with my team and utilize the knowledge that I’ve gained over the past three years to have my best Xfinity Series season yet.”

Race Information:

The Pit Boss 250 (46 laps | 156.86 miles) is the sixth of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Fri., Mar. 24 from 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Qualifying immediately follows at 6:00 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag shortly after 4:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. ET) on Sat., Mar. 25 with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Central).

About RSS Racing:

RSS Racing fields multiple entries in the NASCAR Xfinity Series led by mainstay driver Ryan Sieg.

RSS Racing has competed in NASCAR events since 2009 from its headquarters in Sugar Hill, Ga.

Valkyrie Velocity Announces Three-Car Driver Line-Up, Partners for Pirelli GT4 America Season

By
Official Release
-

OGH/Valkyrie Velocity Line-Up Includes Pro-Am, Silver, and Am Class Lineups and New Partners Including wear blue: run to remember With a Personal Connection

DANVILLE, Virginia (March 24, 2023) – Valkyrie Velocity, the racing platform based in the Team Hardpoint facility at VIR, and OGH Motorsports will race under the OGH/Valkyrie Velocity banner with a three-car effort in SRO’s Pirelli GT4 America throughout the 2023 season.

The effort is the first announced under the Valkyrie Velocity banner and bolsters the strengths of the race platform with OGH Motorsports’ hospitality and partner programs to compete in three different classes of the Pirelli GT4 America championship in Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsports, holding true to the Porsche legacy established under team owner and driver Rob Ferriol.

OGH/Valkyrie Velocity will make a championship run with the No. 96 wear blue/Beacon Building Products Porsche Cayman with Chris Walsh and Dominic Starkweather behind the wheel in the Silver class, Sean Gibbons and Sam Owen will pilot the No. 97 OGH/Valkyrie Porsche Cayman in Am, and Ferriol and Will Owen in the No. 95 GridRival/Valkyrie Porsche Cayman.

“From day one, our focus has been on becoming a leader both on and off the track,” Ferriol said. “Showcasing how the sport we love can be more than just cars racing on pavement. It is a sport where young careers are born, old childhood dreams are realized, and behind it all, a preeminent opportunity for corporate and nonprofit partners to tell their stories to an ever-growing community of fans, partners, and competitors. This Pirelli GT4 America program in collaboration with OGH Motorsports gives us a perfect opportunity to demonstrate that philosophy.”

The 14-race championship begins at Sonoma Raceway, March 30 through April 1, with a doubleheader weekend. All Pirelli GT4 America races stream live on the series website at GT4-America.com or on the SRO Motorsports Group official YouTube channel, GTWorld.

No. 96 wear blue/Beacon Building Products Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport

The No. 96 driven by Chris Walsh and Dominic Starkweather carries the livery of wear blue: run to remember and Beacon Building Products in the Silver class of Pirelli GT4 America during the 2023 season.

Walsh, an active-duty Air Force officer, brings the support of wear blue: run to remember in several capacities. The non-profit wear blue: run to remember is a running community that honors the service and sacrifice of the American military. The organization brings together military and civilian communities to actively remember service members who sacrificed their lives for this great nation. Through various training, running and community events, wear blue: run to remember provides opportunities to support and empower veterans, active duty military and their families. The organization is committed to creating living memorials for the fallen and opportunities to heal for those who have served.

Prior to his driving career, Walsh served as a mentor for the organization’s Gold Star Youth Mentorship program. He mentored founder Lisa Hallett’s son, Bryce, after her husband, Captain John Hallett, was killed in action along with others in his unit during a tour in Afghanistan. As part of the program, Walsh helped the young Hallett train for a 5k run in remembrance of his father and other fallen soldiers, as well as offering support and friendship in a difficult time for the youngster.

As a driver, Walsh was previously a part of Hardpoint’s eSports program, and has limited experience in the Touring car category of SRO races as well as amateur and pro-am endurance racing experience.

Starkweather drove to two podium finishes in 2022 in the same Silver class as he’ll compete in this year, finishing fifth in the drivers’ point championship. In addition to Beacon Building Products, OGH, and Valkyrie, Starkweather will receive additional assistance this season from Blenders Eyewear, Bell Beef, and Starkweather Roofing.

No. 97 OGH/Valkyrie Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport

Sean Gibbons and Sam Owen return to Pirelli GT4 America competition as a duo for the third consecutive season, running in the competitive AM category for bronze-rated drivers. Gibbons and Owen made their debut under the Valkyrie Velocity tent utilizing the Hardpoint banner in a single race a year ago and return for the full season in an extended partnership with the No. 97 OGH/Valkyrie Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.

Owen earned his first win, paired with Gibbons, during his rookie season of 2021. Made even more impressive is that the victory came at Circuit of the Americas in just the second race weekend, only two years after Owen had begun driving in any competitive capacity.

Gibbons has parlayed his success off the track into success on the track. Gibbons was the runner-up in the 2019 SprintX East Am category with a win, and followed that up with an eight-win championship season in 2020 in the SprintX Am category. Gibbons has 10 career wins in SRO competition.

No. 95 GridRival/Valkyrie Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport

Valkyrie Velocity team owner Rob Ferriol and co-driver Will Owen (no relation to Sam) each make their SRO championship debuts this season as teammates in the Pro-Am class and will co-drive the No. 95 GridRival/Valkyrie Porsche Cayman.

Ferriol jumps behind the wheel of the Cayman after three seasons in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship GT Daytona (GTD) class, the last two in a Porsche 911 GT3 R under the team’s Hardpoint branding. Ferriol earned the 2021 Bob Akin award as top Bronze-rated driver and has championship aspirations in the Pro-Am class of Pirelli GT4 America. Ferriol’s racing history is strong with the German marque, as he began as a member of the Porsche Club of America before elevating to Porsche GT3 Cup North America on his way to the top of sports car racing’s ladder as a gentleman driver and as a team owner.

Owen began his professional racing career at 19 years old in open wheel racing’s Road To Indy before migrating to sports car racing, most often in the prototype ranks. Since then, Owen has raced around the world and domestically and earning a podium finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans among his honors. This season’s challenge will be his first full effort in a GT car. The gold-rated driver is also a data scientist on Valkyrie’s artificial intelligence program in Austin.

Owen is unable to participate in the season opener at Sonoma Raceway due to a scheduling conflict. Instead, Mac Clark, the 19-year-old Canadian fresh off the 2022 USF Juniors open-wheel championship title and entered in the full-season USF 2000 championship this season, will team with Ferriol. Like Owen, Clark is a piece of the Valkyrie driver program and a seamless fit.

OGH/Valkyrie Velocity Quote Board

Chris Walsh, Driver, No. 96 Porsche Cayman: “To say I’m excited about this would be the understatement of the century. I’ve been involved with Rob and the Valkyrie Velocity team for a few years now, and with Lisa and the team at Wear Blue Run To Remember even longer. That entire time, I’ve been chasing my motorsports dream and exploring every opportunity. For this to come together in one package is a dream come true, and I can’t wait to represent on the race track and raise attention and funds for Wear Blue.”

Dominic Starkweather, Driver, No. 96 Porsche Cayman: “I couldn’t be more excited about this upcoming season. I believe I’m driving for one of the best teams in the paddock in one of the best cars which is just exciting in itself. Being in the Silver class is tough, as I learned last year, but I won’t accept anything but success from myself. I need to extend a huge thank you to my parents for always believing in me and supporting me, and my amazing partners Beacon Building Products and Starkweather Roofing Inc., and to Bell Beef and Blenders Eyewear, who were are willing to take on this project with us. It’s an honor to work with Wear Blue Run to Remember. My goals are to win a championship. A lot of people say that, but I truly believe Chris and I have all the tools for a very successful season and I’m just so excited to show off what we can accomplish.”

Sean Gibbons, Driver, No. 97 Porsche Cayman: “This season will be the third season that Sam and I are driving together in Pirelli GT4 America and chasing the championship. New this season is our partnership with Valkyrie Velocity and I couldn’t be more excited to start this year. This comes after a great deal of work by Rob, Sam and I to put together a partnership between OGH Motorsports and Valkyrie Velocity after working together at Road America last year. The goal is to deliver top notch program on the track for our drivers and a platform to do business in our paddock with. As a driver, my goals this year are to turn the improvements in my pace into results. The last couple years I’ve improved my pace but hadn’t converted that to race results, but this is the year to do that.”

Sam Owen, Driver, No. 97 Porsche Cayman: “Sean and I are extremely excited for the OGH Motorsports/Valkyrie Velocity partnership for the 2023 season. Valkyrie Velocity has repeatedly proven themselves to be at the top of the elite list in the paddock. The combined skill and experience between both of our groups gives me a lot of confidence going into this season. Sean and I are ready to make this year, with Valkyrie Velocity, our best year yet.”

Rob Ferriol, Team Owner and Driver, No. 96 Porsche Cayman: “I couldn’t be more thrilled with this chapter in our team’s history. The OGH/Valkyrie Velocity Pirelli GT4 America program will give us an opportunity to lean into elements of the sport we care deeply about: showcasing young drivers, ethically supporting gentleman drivers, and activating our corporate and non-profit partners across the SRO calendar. Given my own background, I’m especially proud to welcome Wear Blue: Run to Remember to our team as they make their first foray into motorsports. The work they’re doing for Gold Star families around the country is nothing short of heroic. On the track, I’m excited to be back in a Porsche for the 2023 season alongside Mac and Will. I had the opportunity to spend some time in the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport last year and can’t wait to climb back in and send it up the hills of Sonoma.”

Will Owen, Driver, No. 96 Porsche Cayman: “I am ecstatic and grateful for this opportunity to race in Pirelli GT4 America with OGH/Valkyrie Velocity. Since I have not raced in GT before, it’s fantastic to be pairing up with Rob Ferriol who has a significant amount of experience in GT, and an extremely precise approach to racing in general. My past five years of endurance racing have taught me to adapt quickly to new cars, and pushed me to get up to speed with a small amount of laps. I will be challenged to apply those skills to the Cayman GT4, but I absolutely believe we will be one of the top contenders in the Pro-Am class. My goals for the season are to master the car as quickly as possible, and to build great relationships with all of the drivers in the OGH/Valkyrie Velocity team. It is great to be able to continue driving alongside having a professional career at Valkyrie; I can’t wait to get on track.”

Brett Moffitt | AM Racing NASCAR Xfinity Series Pit Boss 250 Race Preview

By
Official Release
-

AM Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Circuit of the Americas | Pit Boss 250

Fast Facts
No. 25 AM Racing Team:
Driver: Brett Moffitt
Primary Partner(s): AM Technical Solutions
Manufacturer: Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Joe Williams Jr.
Spotter: Tony Raines
Chassis Intel: AMR Chassis No. 005
Engine: Roush-Yates Engines
Driver Championship Point Standings: 13th
Team Championship Point Standings: 15th

Notes of Interest:

Inaugural Journey: After spending the past several seasons as a full-time team in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, AM Racing will embark on its inaugural journey in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season with driver Brett Moffitt for the entire 33-race tour continuing with Saturday afternoon’s Pit Boss 250 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA).

Future Focused: With AM’s inaugural Xfinity journey set to continue at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, the team has chosen veteran driver Brett Moffitt to lead the team’s campaign from the driver’s seat aboard the No. 25 Ford Mustang.

Moffitt, a native of Grimes, Iowa hails numerous starts across all three of NASCAR’s National Series, including the 2018 Truck Series championship with Hattori Racing Enterprises.

Moffitt, 30, arrives on the scene at AM Racing after a stint at Our Motorsports.

Back For More: The Statesville, N.C.-based team will sport the signage of AM Technical Solutions on the No. 25 Ford Mustang for the fourth of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season.

Headquartered in Austin, TX, AM Technical Solutions (AMTS) was founded in 1994.

AM Technical Solutions is a Global Architecture, Engineering & Construction firm specializing in the high-tech markets. AMTS has managed over $20B of global capital projects for over 170 different customers in 24 countries and across five continents.

AM Minute: In addition to Brett Moffitt, AM Racing will field an entry in Saturday afternoon’s XPEL 225 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Circuit of the Americas.

Austin, Texas native Logan Bearden will drive the team’s No. 22 Bearden Automotive | Parker Electric Ford F-150 in his second career Truck Series start as the opening act for the Xfinity Series on March 25.

Mainstay AM Racing driver Austin Wayne Self went to Victory Lane this past Saturday night with AM Racing’s Dirt Division. Self-netted his first win of the season in the American Racer Modified Tour at Harris Speedway in Rutherfordton, N.C.

Thanks For Your Support: With the start of the 2023 season underway, AM Racing and Brett Moffitt would like to thank their associate marketing partners for their support: AIRBOX Air Purifier, CForce Bottling Company, Concrete Supply, Destiny Homes, Flying Circle, Kreuz Market, Lane Frost Brand, Mechanix Wear and Mobil 1.

Brett Moffitt Xfinity Series Circuit of the America Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Pit Boss 250 will mark Moffitt’s third start at the 3.42-mile road course

In his previous two efforts, he has delivered one top-10 and two top-12 finishes. His track-best result occurred during the 2022 spring edition of the Pit Boss 250 when Moffitt steered to a track best of seventh after starting 13th for Our Motorsports.

Brett Moffitt Xfinity Series Road Course Stats: At NASCAR Xfinity Series tracks classified as a road course, Moffitt has made 13 starts throughout his career earning one top-10 finishes. He also holds an average finishing position of 25.5.

Brett Moffitt NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: In 89 career Xfinity Series starts, Moffitt has earned two top-five and 25 top-10 finishes, including a second-place outing at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February 2021.

In addition to 84 Xfinity Series starts, he has achieved 45 NASCAR Cup Series and 92 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts to his credit.

Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway | RAPTOR King of Tough 250 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Brett Moffitt and the AM Racing team continued to showcase their speed in their race cars in the fifth race of the 2023 season.

Without the benefit of practice or qualifying, Moffitt quickly advanced from his 12th place starting position aboard the No. 25 AM Technical Solutions Ford Mustang – last weekend dubbed in a retro black paint scheme.

The Statesville, N.C.-based team remained a factor throughout the race, including finding themselves in contention for the win on a green-white-checkered restart in Stage 3. Ultimately, Moffitt finished sixth – recording the best Xfinity Series finish for AM Racing in just their fifth race.

In five races this season, Moffit has delivered two top-10s, three top-15s and an average finish of 15.8.

From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Joe Williams is Brett Moffit’s crew chief.

He will crew chief his 104th NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday afternoon and his third race at the prestigious road course in Austin, Texas.

In his previous 103 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected one win (Auto Club Speedway | February 2022), seven top-five and 23 top-10 finishes.

Follow on Social Media: For more on AM Racing, please visit AMRacingteam.com, like their Facebook page (AM Racing) or follow them on Instagram and Twitter @AMRacingNASCAR.

For more on Brett Moffitt, please visit BrettMoffitt.com, like his Facebook page (Brett Moffitt Racing) or follow him on Instagram (@brett_moffitt_racing) and Twitter (@brett_moffitt).

Brett Moffitt Quoteboard:

On Circuit of the Americas: “I am very optimistic about returning to the Circuit of the Americas this weekend. We have some good momentum with our AM Racing team right now. We had a strong performance last Saturday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway and the vibe is really strong.

“Circuit of the Americas is the first of several road course races on the 2023 Xfinity Series schedule. It is important to make sure we showcase our potential on the road courses because I feel it will provide the opportunity for our No. 25 AM Technical Solutions Ford Mustang to sneak in a win and propel us into the Playoffs.”

On 2023 Season Outlook: “There has been so much effort put into the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and honestly, I am so excited about it. I cannot thank everyone on the AM Racing team enough for the opportunity and for taking a chance on me to lead them in the inaugural year.

“I believe we will exceed everyone’s expectations and not only will we challenge for race wins, but we will achieve them and contend for the 2023 Xfinity Series championship.”

Race Information:

The Pit Boss 250 (46 laps | 156.86 miles) is the sixth of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Fri., Mar. 24 from 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Qualifying immediately follows at 6:00 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag shortly after 4:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. ET) on Sat., Mar. 25 with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Central).

ABOUT AM RACING:

AM Racing is a multi-tiered, multi-faceted Motorsports program headquartered in Statesville, N.C.

Established in December 2015, AM Racing is prided on faith, honesty and intelligent performance.

The family-owned team will compete in the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series in its seventh year of competition.

The team has named Brett Moffitt and Christian Rose as their primary drivers for the 2023 Xfinity and ARCA Menards Series seasons.

RTA gigFAST INTERNET® Event Brings NASCAR Champion Zane Smith to Smithville, Texas.

By
Official Release
-

Smith Awarded Key to City

HOUSTON, Texas and SMITHVILLE, Texas (March 24, 2023) – Rural Telecommunications of America, Inc. (RTA) finalized the acquisition of local Internet Provider SCT Broadband. RTA will begin upgrading its services with RTA’s gigFAST® INTERNET, VOICE, and streaming TV services in Smithville, Flatonia, LaGrange, Schulenburg, Bastrop, and the surrounding areas offering internet speeds up to 10 gigabits per second.

As part of the launch event, RTA is hosted and RTA Appreciation Day in downtown Smithville on Wednesday. Sharon Foerster, Mayor of the City of Smithville and the Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce will be presented Zane Smith, the 2022 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Champion and last years COTA winner, with the “Key to the City.”

RTA’s mission is to bring gigFAST INTERNET® to underserved rural communities across America. Co-founded by Texas native Jim Edwards and U.S. Air Force veteran Don Workman both with deep roots in rural America and the telecom industry, began RTA with a mission to connect rural areas with affordable and reliable internet service options.

RTA now operates more than 13,000 Fiber route miles and customers in 22 states across America with its gigFAST NETWORK®.

ABOUT RURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS OF AMERICA,INC.

RTA’s gigFAST NETWORK™ provides affordable gigFAST® INTERNET, VOICE, and TV to rural America; enabling businesses and residents gigFAST INTERNET® for their entertainment, e- learning, telemedicine, and telework. Visit us at https://www.rtatel.com

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

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

1...1,5441,5451,546...6,650Page 1,545 of 6,650