Home Blog Page 1550

How to Make a Career Comeback like Mitchell Cozad

Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash

Reentering the job market can be intimidating, especially when making a career shift. Take it from Attorney Mitchell Cozad. After many years engaged as a high-caliber athlete, he followed his passion for law. Mitch Cozad built his law career from the ground up. So, whether you took extended time off for family or want to explore a new line of work, follow these tips for the ultimate comeback in your career. 

Jazz Up Your Resume

Compose your resume to reflect your accomplishments, skills, and certifications. Help employers overlook career gaps by listing relevant information by importance instead of in chronological order. Instead of following a traditional CV format that outlines the timeline of past job positions, start with your proudest accomplishment. For example, Mitchell Cozad was an all-star on the field and in the weightroom thanks to his dedication, hard work, and ability to overcome opposition. Those qualities transfer into his work as an attorney. Regardless of obstacles, Mitch works hard for his clients and is calm under pressure. No matter where you have achieved success, it will impress future employers, and your career gap will become insignificant.

In addition, take the time to write meaningful cover letters that express your intent to succeed. Personalize each note to address the hiring manager and company. Attention to detail goes a long way. Finally, follow up on every resume submission, interview, and inquiry via phone or email. Show your eagerness to grow and perseverance to succeed. 

Develop an Online Presence

Businesses use online platforms to recruit top talent. Create a professional LinkedIn profile and engage with topics and discussions within the industry you want to break into. HR managers, recruiters, and business executives will see your comments connected to trending topics. This association shows you are relevant in the industry and apprised of current topics. 

Maintain a neutral and professional appearance on all social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Present yourself as career-focused and engaged with current events. Remember, everyone can be searched online. Therefore, keep posts and photos appropriate to ensure you make the best first impression on future colleagues, peers, and bosses. 

Build Meaningful Relationships

Accelerate your career comeback by networking. You never know where the next opportunity will come from. Become a known presence at community and industry events. Networking paves a path to success. Each person you meet can introduce you to five others. The more people you know, the easier it will be to move forward in your industry of choice.

Gain Industry Knowledge

One of the most difficult challenges to overcome when reinventing your career is education. A gap in employment can make you out of touch with trends or new practices. Upgrade your skills with online workshops, relevant books, and podcasts. The job market is highly competitive. The key to a successful re-entrance is a relevant, well-developed skill set, ensuring that you don’t have a skill issue within the business.

Set Milestone Goals

Undergoing a career comeback can be daunting. Learning new skills, building meaningful relationships, and breaking back into the job market can be overwhelming. Trying to grow too fast will leave you burnt out and frustrated. Instead, set personal goals for your career growth. Schedule attainable milestones that will support your comeback. For example, commit that you attend four networking events monthly. Holding yourself accountable will propel your career growth in a manageable way.

Mitchell Cozad didn’t build his law career in a day. It took years of study, practice, and networking. Major career shifts require a long-term plan. Setting small goals for yourself throughout the process makes the journey less daunting and more rewarding. 

Exude Confidence

You have built a successful career for yourself and will do it again. Have confidence in your skills and abilities. The only person that will hold you back from success is yourself. If you appear confident in your ability to take on new tasks and responsibilities, potential employers will likely invest in your future. 

Focus on You

Finally, take time to focus on your health and wellness. The better you feel, the more you will accomplish. Engage in self-care, exercises, and nutritious diets. Allow yourself to rest and get restful sleep. Taking care of your mind and body will improve your focus and drive.

Crawford Continues F2 Progress at Jeddah

Jak Crawford #9 Hitech GP, during Round two of the FIA Formula 2 Championship at Jeddah Corniche Circuit, on March 16 - 19, 2023. // Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202303190161 // Usage for editorial use only //

Starts from pole, leads first F2 lap, scores first top ten and looks forward to Albert Park debut

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (19 March 2023) – Racing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship for only the second time, Jak Crawford recorded several milestones this weekend – his first reverse pole, first top ten result, and first time leading both a Sprint and Feature event in action at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

The F2 championship runs on Formula One weekends, and the visit to Saudi Arabia marked the first time that the 17-year-old Texan had competed on a street circuit as he had two key goals for the weekend: “Be patient and be calm.”

The Red Bull Junior Team driver did exactly that as he checked off several F2 firsts on his way to ninth and 15th place finishes as he delivered a strong showing for Hitech Pulse-Eight Racing.

“It was a pretty crazy weekend, for my first time on a street course,” Crawford said. “The track was amazing, and honestly, it’s my new favorite track. It was fun to drive, especially in qualifying.”

After an uneventful practice session, Crawford came on strong in Friday’s 30-minute qualifying. Running 18th after an early fast lap, he then pitted twice. Crawford returned to the track for an early attempt with 11:15 remaining, and got a fast lap of 1:42.553-seconds that put him fifth fastest. He cooled his tires for another fast attempt – falling to 10th in the meantime – but a red flag with two minutes remaining ended the session.

“We struggled on the first run in qualifying,” he explained. “I made big steps in driving on the second run, and I think I did a really good lap. We didn’t quite have the pace in the car this weekend, but I was able to put out a really good lap.”

His best lap was good for 10th –putting him on the pole for Saturday’s 20-lap Sprint race, which inverted the top-10 qualifiers.

“I never thought I’d be on the pole in my first two F2 weekends, so I’m really excited,” Crawford said after qualifying. “We had good race pace in Bahrain, so I’m excited to start up at the front.”

Crawford got off to a good start for the Sprint race, leading the opening lap, but fell to second near the beginning of Lap 2. He was fifth at halfway, and lost two positions on the final lap to take ninth – marking his first top ten in only his third F2 race.

“I think we just missed the balance in the Sprint race,” Crawford said. “We also struggled a bit with tire warmup, so we were off with all the safety cars. It was a tough race, mentally, going backwards, which made it tough. Finishing ninth was a shame, because we started pole, but we really didn’t have the pace to stay with the guys up front.”

Sunday’s Feature event saw Crawford gridded 10th. Joining the other front-runners in starting the race on a super-soft tire compound, he had gained a pair of positions in the early going, and then moved to take the lead as the various tire strategies played out with teams having two compounds to use during the Sunday Feature. After a spot on lap eight for medium-compound tires, Crawford returned to the race in 15th, and was up to 14th by lap 10. He had several good battles throughout the remainder of the race, running 15th for the final 10 laps leading to the checkered flag.

“Today I had a really good first lap, and we had a really good super-soft stint,” Crawford said. “Everything was looking good, but then after the pit stop when we went to medium tires I got into quite a few battles and really hurt the tires early in the stint. I wasn’t able to recover the tire life until the very end, and by then it was too late and all the damage had been done. We definitely could have scored points today, but didn’t quite have the pace for the top guys.”

Crawford gets another opportunity to tackle a street circuit when F2 returns to action in two weeks – making his first visit to Melbourne, Australia to compete at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit on April 1-2.

“I’ve driven this track on the sim a couple of times, and the track looks really fun,” he said. “I’m looking forward to go to Australia for the first time and experience the country itself. I’m also super-eager to get back racing. I feel I have a lot more to show.”

When and Where Race Fans Can Catch Their Favorite Drivers During NASCAR at COTA Weekend

NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. signs autographs for race fans at the 2022 NASCAR weekend at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. Truex, along with other drivers, will be making fan appearances throughout this weekend's NASCAR at COTA event. Photo Credit: NASCAR at COTA/Adam Glanzman
  • Harrison Burton, Chase Briscoe, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., A.J. Allmendinger and Brad Keselowski will make appearances during Sunday’s Trackside Live in the Fan Zone.
  • Fans can purchase a Track Pass for special access to Q&A sessions with Ross Chastain, Justin Marks, Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney plus NASCAR Cup Series driver introductions and the Darius Rucker pre-race concert.
  • Fans should visit NASCARatCOTA.com/Events/EchoPark-Automotive-Grand-Prix/Driver-Appearances for the most up-to-date driver appearance schedule.

AUSTIN, Texas (March 20, 2023) – One of the most memorable experiences for NASCAR fans is seeing the stars of the sport up close on race day. Fans attending this weekend’s NASCAR tripleheader at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) will have plenty of opportunities to catch their favorite drivers for a picture, autograph or even a fist-bump.

NASCAR at COTA weekend driver appearances kick off on FEVO Friday with a Q&A session with NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) driver Dean Thompson at the Toyota Racing Experience display in the Fan Zone at 2:15 p.m. CT.

Before they strap in for Saturday’s XPEL 225 NCTS race, drivers Grant Enfinger, Rajah Caruth and Daniel Dye will be answering fan questions at the Team Chevy display in the Fan Zone at 9:45 a.m. Fans can also catch a Q&A session with NCTS driver Taylor Gray at the Toyota Racing Experience display in the Fan Zone at 10 a.m.

Prior to Saturday’s Pit Boss 250 presented by USA TODAY NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) race, Sammy Smith will take questions from fans at the Toyota Racing Experience display in the Fan Zone at 11:45 a.m. while Brandon Jones (11:45 a.m.) and Josh Berry (12 p.m.) will be at the Team Chevy display in the Fan Zone. At noon, fans can meet Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer, Miguel Paludo, Jones and Berry at the JR Motorsports/Legacy Motor Club souvenir rig in the Fan Zone.

NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) driver Daniel Suarez will be at Freeway Insurance on North Interstate Highway 35 in Austin, Texas Saturday at 3 p.m. meeting race fans in town for Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix.

On Sunday morning, fans enjoying the plethora of free entertainment in the Fan Zone in the Grand Plaza can see NCS drivers Harrison Burton (10:30 a.m.), Chase Briscoe (10:30 a.m.), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (11 a.m.), A.J. Allmendinger (11:15 a.m.) and Brad Keselowski (11:45 a.m.) on the EchoPark Fan Zone Stage during Trackside Live hosted by Jose Castillo.

Defending EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix winner Ross Chastain will be meeting with fans Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at the TxDOT display in the Fan Zone while Denny Hamlin will be at the Toyota Racing Experience display in the Fan Zone at 12 p.m. answering fan questions.

Before Darius Rucker takes the stage at 12:45 p.m. for a one-hour concert prior to the 2:30 p.m. EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix NCS race, Chastain, Trackhouse Racing team owner Justin Marks, Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney will join host Castillo on the pre-race stage on the frontstretch for Q&A sessions from 12:05-12:30 p.m. While the NCS driver Q&A sessions, driver introductions and Darius Rucker pre-race concert are free with any race ticket, the purchase of a Track Pass ticket upgrade will allow those fans to move from the grandstands to the front of the stage for premier access.

Friday, March 24

Toyota Racing Experience Display in Fan Zone (Q&A Session)
2:15 p.m. – Dean Thompson

Saturday, March 25

Team Chevy Display in Fan Zone (Q&A Session)
9:45 a.m. – Grant Enfinger, Rajah Caruth and Daniel Dye
11:45 a.m. – Brandon Jones
12 p.m. – Josh Berry
Toyota Racing Experience Display in Fan Zone (Q&A Session)
10 a.m. – Taylor Gray
11:45 a.m. – Sammy Smith
JR Motorsports/Legacy Motor Club Souvenir Rig in Fan Zone (Autograph Session)
12 p.m. – Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer, Miguel Paludo, Brandon Jones and Josh Berry
Freeway Insurance, 11139 North Interstate Highway 35, Suite 150, Austin, TX 78753 (Meet-&-Greet)
3 p.m. – Daniel Suarez

Sunday, March 26

Trackside Live on EchoPark Fan Zone Stage (Q&A Session)
10:30 a.m. – Harrison Burton and Chase Briscoe
11 a.m. – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
11:15 a.m. – A.J. Allmendinger
11:45 a.m. – Brad Keselowski
TxDOT Display in Fan Zone (Meet-&-Greet)
10:30 a.m. – Ross Chastain
Toyota Racing Experience Display in Fan Zone (Q&A Session)
12 p.m. – Denny Hamlin
Pre-Race Stage on Frontstretch (Q&A Session)
12:05 p.m. – Ross Chastain and Justin Marks
12:15 p.m. – Martin Truex Jr.
12:30 p.m. – Ryan Blaney

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.

Mobil 1 Racing: Kevin Harvick COTA Advance

KEVIN HARVICK
COTA Advance
No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix (Round 6 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 26
● Location: Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas
● Layout: 3.426-mile, 20-turn road course
● Laps/Miles: 68 laps/231.88 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 15 laps / Stage 2: 15 laps / Final Stage: 38 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix Sunday at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, is the first of six road-course races on the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series schedule. After COTA, the series’ next road-course race is June 11 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway. The four remaining road-course races after Sonoma are July 2 on the streets of downtown Chicago, Aug. 13 on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Aug. 20 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, and Oct. 8 at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval.

● This weekend marks NASCAR’s third appearance at COTA. The 3.426-mile, 20-turn road course was constructed in 2011 and has been America’s home to Formula One since the global motorsports series returned to America with the 2012 United States Grand Prix. The United States Grand Prix dates back to 1950 when the Indianapolis 500 counted as a round of the world championship. Eleven times from 1950 to 1960, points scored at Indy were added to a Formula One driver’s season tally, and in 1959 America hosted two Formula One races when in addition to Indianapolis, the United States Grand Prix was held at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway. It served as the ninth and final round of the 1959 season. In 1960, Formula One moved to Riverside (Calif.) International Raceway before finally settling down for a 20-year tenure at Watkins Glen from 1961 to 1980. From 1976 to 1980, Watkins Glen was joined by Long Beach, California, on the Formula One schedule, with the United States Grand Prix West taking place until 1983. After Watkins Glen fell off the calendar, Las Vegas took its place for two seasons (1981-1982) with the Caesars Palace Grand Prix being held on its hotel parking lot. In 1982, America hosted three Formula One races when in addition to Long Beach and Las Vegas, Detroit was added to the schedule. Detroit hosted Formula One on a bumpy street circuit for seven years, with its last grand prix coming in 1988. Dallas made a one-race appearance in 1984 when Fair Park was converted to a Formula One circuit for the Dallas Grand Prix. Phoenix was next up for Formula One from 1989 to 1991 before a nine-year absence of the sport from America’s shores. But then Indianapolis Motor Speedway built a road course within the confines of the historic 2.5-mile oval and Formula One returned with the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis from 2000 to 2007. Sadly, Formula One in America fell off the calendar again. It wasn’t until COTA was constructed, becoming the first purpose-built Formula One facility in the United States, that Formula One was able to return to America. In 2023, COTA is one of three Formula One stops in the United States, with the series first coming ashore May 5-7 for the Miami Grand Prix before racing at COTA Oct. 20-22 for the United States Grand Prix and then culminating its three-race U.S. stint Nov. 16-18 with a return to Las Vegas, but this time on the city’s streets, including its famous Strip.

● Contrast best describes a lap around COTA. High speed and rapid changes of direction comprise the layout between turns two and 10, with this first sector akin to the Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel complex at the famed Silverstone Circuit in England. The end of the lap from turn 12 through turn 20 before hitting the frontstretch features low-speed combinations. The long backstraight, however, is where drivers want to retain as much speed as possible to either attack or defend through the tight turn 12. This corner, along with the uphill run to turn one and the hairpin in turn 11, provide good passing opportunities.

● Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), has made a total of 55 NASCAR Cup Series starts on road courses. He has 21 starts at Sonoma, 21 at Watkins Glen, five at the Charlotte Roval and two apiece at COTA, Road America, Indianapolis and the road course at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. He has scored two road-course wins – Watkins Glen in 2006 and Sonoma in 2017 – along with 12 top-fives and 27 top-10s with 199 laps led.

● In Harvick’s last road-course race – Oct. 9 at the Charlotte Roval – he started 22nd and worked his way into the lead with six laps to go. Harvick was first when a late caution set up a green-white-checkered finish. Harvick stayed out to maintain his lead, but others behind him had fresher tires with fewer laps. Christopher Bell was one of those drivers. He lined up alongside Harvick for the race’s final restart and took the lead entering turn one, eventually earning a 1.790-second advantage over Harvick when the checkered flag waved. Said Harvick after the race: “This is a tough racetrack just to get a good finish because of the fact that it turns into being rough at the end. We were half a lap from getting to the white (flag) and probably winning the race, but just not quite as good on the restart compared to Christopher (Bell) and his new tires, but still a great day. I knew we were gonna have to have a perfect corner there with Christopher having such fresher tires. He was able to get through traffic and was able to roll through a little bit more speed in turn one, turn two, turn three and turn four and just got in front of me, but we were able to hold off Kyle (Busch), so it’s still a good day. Our Mobil 1 Ford Mustang guys did a great job of putting us in position and having a chance.”

● When Harvick scored his first road-course victory at Watkins Glen in 2006, he had to beat his current team owner to do it. Tony Stewart – the “Stewart” in Stewart-Haas Racing – had won the previous two NASCAR Cup Series races at The Glen and was poised to capture a third straight win as he was leading Harvick with four laps to go in the 90-lap race. But Harvick, who had already led once for 24 laps, passed Stewart on lap 87 as the two drag-raced down the frontstretch and into turn one. Harvick held onto the lead despite Stewart in his rearview mirror, earning a margin of victory of .892 of a second.

● Harvick’s second career road-course win also had a connection to Stewart. When Harvick won at Sonoma in 2017, he gave Stewart-Haas Racing its second straight victory at the 1.99-mile, 10-turn road course. The winner in 2016? None other than Stewart. It ended up being his 49th and final NASCAR Cup Series victory as Stewart retired from NASCAR racing at the conclusion of the season.

● Harvick’s last road-course win was his first in a Ford. When Harvick won at Sonoma in 2017, he became the 83rd different driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race behind the wheel of a Ford. Harvick has now won 25 Cup Series races with Ford, which makes him one of only 13 drivers to win 20 or more races with the manufacturer. He stands 10th on Ford’s all-time win list and is now only one win away from tying Brad Keselowski, Junior Johnson and Fred Lorenzen for ninth. Harvick has won more races driving a Mustang (15) than any other driver since the iconic muscle car became Ford’s flagship model in 2019.

● Harvick has four road-course wins outside of the NASCAR Cup Series. Two came in the NASCAR Xfinity Series – Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 2007 and Watkins Glen in 2007 – and two were in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West – Sonoma in 1998 and Sonoma in 2017. Harvick’s K&N Pro Series win at Sonoma in 1998 was three years before his Cup Series debut on Feb. 26, 2001 at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham.

● Turning left and right. Going up and down through the gears. Hitting the apex of corners and, sometimes, riding the curb with such force that it puts the car on two wheels. It’s all a part of road-course racing, and it demands maximum performance from every part and piece on the racecar. Harvick has an added advantage with Mobil 1. Not only is the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand the primary sponsor of his No. 4 Ford Mustang at COTA, Mobil 1 products are used throughout his racecar and they extend beyond just engine oil. Power steering fluid, transmission fluid, gear oil and driveline lubricants from Mobil 1 give Harvick a technical advantage over his counterparts by reducing friction, heat and rolling resistance. Mobil 1 is a sponsor whose technology makes Harvick’s No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang faster.

Kevin Harvick, Driver of the No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang

How do you approach a road-course weekend?

“There’s just a lot more time that goes into a road-race week. You have to spend a lot of time in the simulator. You have to spend a lot of time with your previous notes and make sure you have the shift points and all the things that you remember as far as curbs you need to hit and things you don’t need to hit, where you need to be on the racetrack, tire falloff. You have to have everything memorized before you get there so that the first few laps are valuable because you’re still going to be learning the real-life tolerances of the grip level. And you’re going to have to blend that into also trying to do it in a short amount of time and get something out of those practices to give some feedback about the cars. It’s a different preparation week for the road courses than it is anything else.”

When it comes to road-course racing, do you feel that more of the race is in your hands?

“You do have more in your hands, for sure, especially when it comes to shifting and all the different things that could happen. But strategy and track position are a big part of that element too. It’s just like anything else, you’ve got to have the whole piece of the puzzle to put it all together.”

This year, while the road course races still have stages, the race will remain green with no yellow-flag breaks at the end of each stage, which is something you’ve lobbied for. Why did you want to see it happen?

“The strategy is back. You had two strategies before – win or collect stage points. Now, with the rolling stages, it opens up more options for what you can do.”

In only its second year, the current car seems to have acclimated well to all the tracks, but does it perform best on road courses since this car carries a lot of sports-car DNA?

“It’s definitely leaning more toward handling well at the road courses just because that’s kind of the nature of how it was designed. I think for me, our first road course was a lot more comfortable in the car than what we were last year. For the braking and things that come with this particular car, it’s been good for us on the road courses, so far.”

With the sequential shifter in these cars, how is shifting on a road course? Do you have to be more methodical in what you do to ensure you’re in the right gear?

“That’s still a little bit of a transition just because the cars are not hard to shift, but they’re hard to constantly shift correctly, and the timing of it with the way the gears are cut, you can mistime the shift really easily. So it’s definitely something that, as you go throughout the day, you have to pay attention to.”

Whether it’s a road course or a short track or any kind of track, you have an added advantage with Mobil 1 as a sponsor and technology partner. How advantageous has this relationship been?

“The oil in the engine, the oil in the transmission, the oil in the rear gear and the things Mobil 1 provides us from a lubricant standpoint, it all adds up in the form of quicker lap times. On an oval, we can pick up a tenth-and-a-half or two-tenths of a second. On a road course, Mobil 1 helps with preservation, because we beat the heck out of our racecars – hitting curbs and shifting all the time. The level of technology and commitment to the things that go in our car, every piece of it adds up to a pretty big chunk of speed and an incredible amount of reliability.”

COTA is a race weekend that features all three of NASCAR’s top national touring series – Cup, Xfinity and Truck. How important is it for the drivers in the Xfinity and Truck Series to be racing on the same weekend at the same track where the Cup Series is racing?

“It’s important to have these training grounds at the same facilities, with a lot of the same officials, and to be able to see what’s happening during practice and how teams function. It all happens at such a young age for a lot of the drivers who come up now. You have to be able to see the professionalism of what’s happening and how it functions, the marketing side of what happens. There’s a lot more to it than just jumping into the racecar. And you see the huge production of the race weekends, and coming to your first Truck race, and coming on a Truck weekend and being able to see the facilities that you get to race in, it’s an eye-opening experience. But you have to have somewhere to do that. The good news is, in the Truck Series and Xfinity Series, you can see all that, and there are a lot of things you can check off the list in the Xfinity and Truck Series before you get to Cup.”

No. 4 Mobil 1 Team Roster

Primary Team Members Driver: Kevin HarvickHometown: Bakersfield, California Crew Chief: Rodney ChildersHometown: Mooresville, North Carolina Car Chief: Robert “Cheddar” SmithHometown: Whitewater, Wisconsin Engineer: Stephen DoranHometown: Butler, Pennsylvania Engineer: Dax GerringerHometown: Gibsonville, North Carolina Spotter: Tim FedewaHometown: Holt, MichiganOver-The-Wall Members Front Tire Changer: Daniel CoffeyHometown: Granite Falls, North Carolina Rear Tire Changer: Daniel SmithHometown: Concord, North Carolina Tire Carrier: Jeremy HowardHometown: Delhart, Texas Jack Man: Brandon BanksHometown: High Point, North Carolina Fuel Man: Evan MarchalHometown: Westfield, IndianaRoad Crew Members Mechanic: Tyler TrosperHometown: Mooresville, North Carolina Mechanic: Nick DeFazioHometown: Orange, California Tire Specialist: Jamie TurskiHometown: Trumbull, Connecticut Engine Tuner: Robert BrandtHometown: Mobile, Alabama Transporter Co-Driver: Rick HodgesHometown: Raleigh, North Carolina Transporter Co-Driver: Stephen MitchellHometown: Woodville, Ohio

CRC SIGNS MULTI-YEAR EXTENSION AS ENTITLEMENT SPONSOR FOR JULY NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES RACE

  • CRC Industries continues partnership with Pocono Raceway that began in 2021 with Brakleen 150 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race.
  • Truck race part of four races in three days during July 21-23 Pocono 400 NASCAR weekend.
  • Pocono Raceway celebrates partnership with a $15 discount on a Brakleen 150 race ticket to the first 150 fans.

LONG POND, Pa. (March 20, 2023) – CRC Industries, Inc. has extended its entitlement sponsorship of the Brakleen 150 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Pocono Raceway with a multi-year renewal.

CRC Industries, Inc., a global leader in the production of specialty products and formulations for the DIY enthusiasts and maintenance professional, began its partnership with Pocono Raceway in 2021 as the NCTS race entitlement sponsor.

The company, with global headquarters in Horsham, Pa., titled the race after one of its premier North American-trademarked brands Brakleen®, the original aerosol brake parts cleaner that was derived in 1971.

“We are excited to return to Pocono again to showcase our love and support for motorsports,” said Len Mazzanti, CEO of CRC Industries. “Acceleration is everything on race day. But as the crew and driver will acknowledge, braking is just as important. Because clean, reliable brakes are essential to the safety of everyone, CRC developed Brakleen® more than 50 years ago.

“Brakleen® helps ensure that brake jobs are done right the first time, with the strongest performance available, a spray pattern that penetrates and a fast-drying, residue-free formula that saves you extra clean-up time and money. Continual improvements like these have made CRC Brakleen® the most trusted brake cleaner in motorsports and garages around the world.”

This season’s edition of the Brakleen 150 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race will be held Saturday, July 22. The 150-mile, 60-lap race will begin at Noon ET (TV: FS1, Radio: MRN, SiriusXM).

“Pocono Raceway is thrilled to extend this partnership with CRC Industries and further showcase the line of Brakleen® products,” Pocono Raceway President Ben May said. “We take pride in our Pennsylvania roots, and it is great to be able to showcase another iconic Pennsylvania company that has been doing it for over 50 years.

“Pocono Raceway is motivated by CRC Industries’ enthusiasm and sustained commitment to NASCAR racing in Pennsylvania and to all the avid NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series fans who love watching the trucks race around ‘The Tricky Triangle.’”

Pocono Raceway is celebrating the partnership with their fans by offering a limited $15 discount on a Brakleen 150 race ticket for the first 150 fans. Click HERE now to see if you have qualified to purchase this exclusive ticket offer.

The race weekend features four races in three days, highlighted by the Pocono 400 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, July 23. The Brakleen 150 will be joined by the Pocono 225 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday, July 22. The weekend kicks off Friday, July 21, with an ARCA Menards Series race.

Tickets for the Pocono 400 NASCAR race weekend are on sale and various options are available HERE. For more information, please visit www.poconoraceway.com.

About Pocono Raceway

Pocono Raceway, also known as ‘The Tricky Triangle,’ is family-owned and situated in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. In business for over 50 years, the Raceway hosts multiple, national motorsports events including the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series events each year. The facility’s calendar also consists of over 200 events including Tough Mudder and a wide range of car clubs and racing schools. Pocono Raceway is recognized as the world’s first, privately-owned solar-powered sports facility. Their 25-acre, three-megawatt solar farm provides the energy needs of the Raceway, as well as, adds electricity to the local power grid. Each member of our raceway staff is committed to creating exciting experiences and lifelong memories. For more information, please visit www.poconoraceway.com.

About CRC

CRC Industries, Inc. is a global leader in the production of specialty products and formulations for the do-it-yourselfer and maintenance professional, serving the automotive, industrial, electrical, marine, heavy truck, hardware, and aviation markets. CRC North American trademarked brands include: CRC®, Brakleen®, Evapo-Rust®, K&W®, Marykate®, SmartWasher®, Sta-Lube®, and Weld-Aid®. For more information about CRC Industries, visit crcindustries.com.

Logan Bearden Returns to AM Racing at Circuit of the Americas

STATESVILLE, N.C.: AM Racing confirmed today that Austin, Texas native Logan Bearden will return to the team and compete in Saturday afternoon’s XPEL 225 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA).

Bearden will pilot AM Racing’s flagship No. 22 Ford F-150 for his second NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series start with support from local partners Bearden Automotive and Parker Electric.

In addition to COTA, Bearden, 27, is expected to pilot the No. 22 AM Racing Ford F-150 in select NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races this season.

During the week, Bearden serves as a mechanic at the team’s Statesville, N.C.-based shop assisting the team’s ARCA Menards Series and Truck Series programs respectively.

“I am excited to return to AM Racing this weekend at COTA,” said Bearden. “I learned a lot in my NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series debut last year – even though we experienced mechanical hiccups early in the race.

“The team worked diligently to fix the truck so I could get as many laps as I could under my belt. Without a doubt, I believe that seat time will pay off this weekend and hopefully, I can contend for a top-15 finish in our No. 22 Bearden Automotive | Parker Electric Ford F-150.”

Outside of his responsibilities at the AM Racing shop and competing for the team in NASCAR, Bearden will also continue driving his family-owned No. 66 Super Late Model in various events in the JEGS | CRA Tour this spring and summer.

Bearden will be the third Truck Series driver for the AM Racing organization this season. In addition to Bearden, Josh Reaume and Max Gutiérrez have also piloted the team’s No. 22 Ford F-150 in the opening three races of the 2023 season.

AM Racing team principal Kevin Cywinski believes Bearden has the talent and capabilities of earning the team their first top-10 finish of the season on Saturday afternoon.

“Logan is a very methodical and talented race car driver and he is an important asset to AM Racing,” offered Cywinski. “He did not get a fair shot last year. He qualified on speed and was competitive in the opening laps of the race but unfortunately experienced mechanical gremlins early in the race.

“We are glad everything worked out where he has another opportunity to not only showcase his craft but race in front of friends and family under the AM Racing banner.

“We believe Logan will surprise a lot of people this weekend.”

Truck Series winning crew chief Ryan “Pickle” London will call the shots for Bearden in the 42-lap race.

While AM Racing won’t have two NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series vehicles in the field as they did last season, the Statesville, N.C.-based organization will field cars in both Trucks and the NASCAR Xfinity Series events on Saturday afternoon from the famed Texas road course.

Alongside Bearden, Brett Moffitt will drive the team’s No. 25 AM Technical Solutions Ford Mustang in Saturday afternoon’s Pit Boss 250 in his first Xfinity Series road course race of the year.

For more on Logan Bearden, please visit LoganBearden.com, like his Facebook page (Logan Bearden Racing) or follow him on Instagram (Logan­­_Bearden66) and Twitter (@LoganBearden66).

For more on AM Racing visit amracing.racing, like them on Facebook (AM Racing) follow them on Twitter (@AMRacingNASCAR) and Instagram (@AMRacingNASCAR22).

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, 2022, from 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Qualifying will soon follow from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. The 36-truck field will take the green flag on race day, Sat., March 25, 2022, shortly after 12:30 p.m. with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (CT).

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.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing secures Sebring one-two

Toyota City, Japan, Mar 20, 2023 – (JCN Newswire) – TOYOTA GAZOO Racing dominated the opening round of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) to earn a one-two victory in the 1000 Miles of Sebring in the face of strong Hypercar competition.

The GR010 HYBRID #7 of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez bounced back from a practice accident on Thursday to take victory after a hard-fought 239 laps at the home of endurance racing in the United States.

After a tense race-long battle at the front, World Champions and 2022 Le Mans winners Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa completed a perfect result for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing by finishing second in the #8 GR010 HYBRID, just 2.168secs behind.

Relentless consistency, flawless team operations and strong tyre management combined as TOYOTA GAZOO Racing overcame the challenge of new Hypercar rivals from Cadillac, Ferrari and Porsche to lap all competitors twice and earn the team’s 40th WEC victory.

Despite missing pole position on Thursday, the team was immediately in the fight at the front when the green flags waved in midday Florida sunshine. Sebastien kept pressure on the pole-sitting #50 Ferrari through the opening laps, while Mike held off a challenge to his third position.

An early safety car, due to a fifth-lap accident for a GT car, put the battle on hold for 25 minutes. During that interruption, the lead Ferrari pitted for fuel, moving the GR010 HYBRIDs to the front and defining the pattern of the race. Sebastien set a new Hypercar race lap record as he and Mike edged clear of the competition.

At the two-hour mark, little separated the GR010 HYBRIDs and their gap over the chasing pack was enough to keep them ahead through the first driver changes. Kamui took the wheel of the #7 and two laps later Brendon jumped into the race-leading #8, although he immediately came under pressure from the sister car.

As half distance approached, Kamui moved the #7 to the front and soon after, early in the fifth hour, he handed over to Jose. Ryo took the wheel of the second-placed #8 to resume an intra-team battle for victory, with the pair now a lap clear of the competition.

After Kamui and Sebastien returned to their respective cockpits, the gap at the front began to grow during the seventh hour. When Mike took the wheel of the #7 with 47 minutes remaining, he held a 23secs advantage over Brendon at the start of the final stint.

As the sun set on Sebring, Mike ticked off the remaining laps without taking risks and Brendon reduced the gap steadily. The chequered flag flew in darkness and Mike crossed the line 2.168secs ahead of the #8 to conquer the biggest-ever top-class grid for a WEC season-opener and earn maximum race points.

Hypercar battle resumes in Portugal in a month’s time with the 6 Hours of Portimao on 16 April, the second of seven races this season.

1000 Miles of Sebring – Result:
1st #7 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing 239 laps
2nd #8 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +2.168secs
3rd #50 Ferrari AF Corse (Fuoco/Molina/Nielsen) +2 laps
4th #2 Cadillac Racing (Bamber/Lynn/Westbrook) +2 laps
5th #5 Porsche Penske (Cameron/Christensen/Makowiecki) +4 laps
6th #6 Porsche Penske (Estre/Lotterer/Vanthoor) +4 laps

For more information, visit https://toyotagazooracing.com/wec/release/2023/rd01-race/.

Kaulig Racing Post-Race Report | Atlanta Motor Speedway

Kaulig Racing Post-Race Report | Atlanta Motor Speedway
Ambetter Health 400

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Action Industries Camaro ZL1

  • AJ Allmendinger qualified 30th for the Ambetter Health 400.
  • Lacking speed and finishing the first stage 27th, crew chief, Matt Swiderski, made a strategy call on green-flag stops, resulting in a 12th place finish in the second stage for Allmendinger.
  • Allmendinger went on to finish 16th in the final stage.

“I thought we made the best of it. We got a little bit of damage in one of the wrecks and that probably didn’t help our speed, but we were just lacking speed in general which made it tough for us to make moves and we kinda got stuck. Pit stops were really good, strategy was really good. We did everything right and the car handled well, just got stuck there in pack racing and we didn’t have a lot of raw speed in the car. We just tried to make the best there with what we had and we got out with a clean race car.” – AJ Allmendinger

Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1

  • Justin Haley qualified 20th for the Ambetter Health 400.
  • During the opening stage, Haley stayed in the top 15, reporting he was happy with the handling of the No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1. Making it as high as 12th, Haley dropped back and finished the stage in 17th.
  • The balance of the No. 31 Chevy began to tighten up during the second stage. Haley made a green-flag stop for left-side tires and fuel with just under 30 laps in the stage. Losing all drafting help, Haley was stuck in 24th, where he finished the second stage.
  • After a fuel-only pit stop in the final stage, Haley worked his way up to eighth before getting hit by a spinning No. 5 car, knocking the right-front toe out of the No. 31 car. The team assessed the damage and made some repairs to the car. Haley was able to stay with the pack for the remainder of the race and went on to finish 22nd.

“We had a really great No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1 all day until we got hit on the right front in the third stage. That knocked the toe out and really affected the steering of the car. Despite the damage, we still were able to stay with the lead pack and finish 22nd. We made it as high as eighth before we got hit, so I think we had a chance for a really great finish. That’s just how these speedway races are. I’m looking forward to the next few races where we have a good opportunity to have some solid runs.” – Justin Haley  

Raptor King of Tough 250

Daniel Hemric, No. 11 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet

  • Per the rulebook, Daniel Hemric started the Raptor King of Tough 250 11th after qualifying was canceled due to inclement weather.
  • Hemric fought right-front chatter the majority of the first stage. Through all the cautions and restarts, Hemric finished 7th in the opening stage.
  • During the second stage, Hemric was collected in a wreck and sustained some right-front damage. The team was able to repair damage to the nose, and Hemric went on to finish the stage in 17th.
  • During the final stage, Hemric made his way into the top 10 alongside his teammates. Crew chief, Jason Trinchere, made the call for fuel only for the final pit stop, allowing Hemric to gain track position. Battling for the win on the final restart, Hemric made contact with the No. 48 and went on to cross the line in second place.

“In situations like the one we were in, you’re racing for a win and doing everything you can to put yourself in position to win. I’m proud of these guys at Kaulig Racing for grinding. It was a battle all night, and we didn’t quite have the speed we needed. We were one spot short tonight, but having the opportunity to get in a race car every week for Kaulig Racing is an honor. Second place is tough, but tonight I’m happy with second place.” – Daniel Hemric

Justin Haley, No. 10 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet

  • Per the rulebook, Justin Haley started the Raptor King of Tough 250 18th after qualifying was canceled due to inclement weather.
  • Haley avoided mayhem in what would become a caution-filled opening stage and went on to finish 10th in stage one.
  • As the cautions continued to fall throughout the second stage, Haley reported his No. 10 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet handled well. Bailing out of the lead pack just in time to avoid a wreck, the 9th caution of the day flew with three laps remaining in the stage, ending it under caution. Haley was scored 18th.
  • Haley worked his way into the top 10 during the final stage, racing amongst his teammates. He worked to avoid a last-lap wreck, but was hooked from behind as he crossed the line 10th.

“Our No. 10 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet was really good. It was just really long race. We worked hard to position ourselves for the end, but we just never could quite get there. Overall, we had a good day and another top 10 in the No. 10 car.” – Justin Haley

Chandler Smith, No. 16 Quick Tie Chevrolet

  • Per the NASCAR rulebook, Chandler Smith started the RAPTOR 250 in sixth after qualifying was canceled due to inclement weather.
  • Smith ran in the top 10 during the caution-filled opening stage, finishing fourth and gaining seven stage points.
  • During the second stage, Smith made contact with another car and received damage to his left-front fender. The No. 16 Quick Tie Products team repaired the damage after multiple pit stops as Smith went on to finish the stage in 19th.
  • During the final stage, the No. 16 car suffered a rear gear failure with just over 30 laps to go, leading to Smith’s retirement from the race. He finished 28th.

“It wasn’t the day the No. 16 Quick Tie team wanted, but it’s these days that show us who we are as a group. I felt like we had lots of speed and could’ve continued our top-five streak, but results like this are what you sometimes get with superspeedway racing. It’s about the process in addition to the results, though, and I felt like our crew really helped salvage the speed I knew we had without the left-front damage. That gives us all confidence that we have the potential for a special season. We’ll be back next week.” – Chandler Smith  



About Kaulig Racing™

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

Multi-Car Crash Leaves Burton 34th at Atlanta

Harrison Burton and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team were swept up in a multi-car melee on Lap 189 of Sunday’s Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, with the damage to the No. 21 Mustang too severe to be repaired in a timely manner. That dropped Burton to 34th in the finishing order.

Burton started Sunday’s race from 33rd place after getting loose in qualifying on Saturday. When the green flag flew on Sunday he spent most of the first two Stages running near the back of the pack.

He finished the first 60-lap Stage in 32nd place. In the second Stage he managed to avoid getting lapped as the Stage wound down and ended that segment in 29th place and on the lead lap.

As Stage Three got underway, Burton began to move forward. He moved into the top 25 on Lap 167 and was up to 22nd by Lap 171.

He was still inside the top 25 on Lap 189, 71 circuits shy of the finish, when a wreck that began at the front of the pack left the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang with race-ending suspension damage.

“I don’t even know what caused our wreck,” Burton told reporters at the track. “I was looking back and forth between the windshield and the mirror trying to block people from being aggressive and taking you in the middle of three-wide.

“I looked back and forth and by the time I looked back they were wrecking in front of me.”
Burton said it was frustrating to see his race end as it did.

“I feel like our qualifying effort was not very good, obviously,” he said. “I about crashed in qualifying, but I felt really good about our car in the race, but I just could not gain track position to maintain it.

“It’s really, really hard to leapfrog your way forward a lot of spots. It’s just frustrating how that worked out.

“Once you’re back there, you’re bound to get pushed into all the wrecks for sure.”

Up next for Burton and the No. 21 team is next Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

About Motorcraft®
Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers, independent distributors and automotive-parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty* of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Omnicraft®
Omnicraft is part of the Ford lineup of parts brands: Ford Parts, Motorcraft and Omnicraft. Omnicraft is the exclusive non-Ford/Lincoln parts brand of premium aftermarket parts. With over a century of parts heritage to build upon, Omnicraft provides excellent quality and fit and is a preferred choice of professional automotive technicians. To find out more about Omnicraft, visit www.omnicraftautoparts.com or contact your local Ford or Lincoln Dealership.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Center
Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine maintenance, serving all vehicle makes and models. Quick Lane provides a full menu of automotive services, including tires, oil change and maintenance, brakes, batteries, alternator and electrical system, air conditioning system, cooling system, transmission service, suspension and steering, wheel alignment, belts and hoses, lamps and bulbs and wiper blades plus a thorough vehicle checkup report. Service is performed by expert technicians while you wait at any of nearly 800 locations in the U.S., with evening and weekend hours available and no appointment necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, as well as connected services. Additionally, Ford is establishing leadership positions in mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 176,000 people worldwide. More information about the company, its products and Ford Credit is available at corporate.ford.com.
*See seller for limited-warranty details.

Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.

Stewart-Haas Racing: Ambetter Health 400 from Atlanta

STEWART-HAAS RACING
Ambetter Health 400

Date: March 19, 2023
Event: Ambetter Health 400 (Round 5 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia (1.54-mile oval)
Format: 260 laps, broken into three stages (60 laps/100 laps/100 laps)
Race Winner: Joey Logano of Team Penske (Ford)
Stage 1 Winner: Joey Logano of Team Penske (Ford)
Stage 2 Winner: Austin Cindric of Team Penske (Ford)

SHR Race Finish:

● Chase Briscoe (Started 8th, Finished 24th / Running, completed 259 of 260 laps)

● Ryan Preece (Started 24th, Finished 28th / Running, completed 244 of 260 laps)

● Aric Almirola (Started 5th, Finished 30th / Accident, completed 208 of 260 laps)

● Kevin Harvick (Started 6th, Finished 33rd / Accident, completed 190 of 260 laps)

SHR Points:

● Kevin Harvick (6th with 155 points, 22 out of first)

● Chase Briscoe (23rd with 72 points, 105 out of first)

● Ryan Preece (26th with 63 points, 114 out of first)

● Aric Almirola (27th with 63 points, 114 out of first)

SHR Notes:

● Almirola led twice for 17 laps, increasing his laps led total at Atlanta to 67.

● Harvick led one lap, increasing his laps led total at Atlanta to a series-leading 1,360.

Race Notes:

● Joey Logano won the Ambetter Health 400 to score his 32nd career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his first of the season and his first at Atlanta. His margin over second-place Brad Keselowski was .193 of a second.

● This was Ford’s 721st all-time NASCAR Cup Series victory.

● This was Ford’s 36th NASCAR Cup Series victory at Atlanta. The manufacturer won its first race at Atlanta with NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen on July 9, 1961.

● There were five caution periods for a total of 34 laps.

● Twenty-three of the 36 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

● Logano leaves Atlanta as the championship leader by just a single point over second-place Christopher Bell.

Sound Bites:

“We’ve got some work to do before we come back here. I’m not sure what exactly we were dealing with, but the balance was never where it needed to be in the draft. It would snap loose at the worst time, and that’s how we ended up in the wall and having to fix a toe link. I’m glad we were able to get some of our position back, but I wish it had been a better ending for us.” – Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford Mustang

“That was a really tough day. Just a struggle all around. We couldn’t run the top at all and then we had something wrong with the car and spent the rest of the race trying to diagnose it.” – Ryan Preece, driver of the No. 41 Autodesk/HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang

“I’m OK. It knocked the wind out of me, mostly because it caught me by surprise, but I’m OK. I blew a tire. I just blew a tire. I have no idea why. We had way less laps on that set of tires than we had earlier, so I don’t know.” – Aric Almirola, driver of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang

“I think he (Ross Chastain) just caught me so quick right there in the middle of the corner and then he kind of was up on the right rear part of the corner and he came back down and when he came back down, it just spun the thing out. I don’t think he actually even hit me, but it started chattering the rear tires and then I was just along for the ride.” – Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Busch Light #Break4Busch Ford Mustang

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix on Sunday, March 26 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. The race begins at 3:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FOX and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.