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Managing Fleet Performance with Preventative Transmission Maintenance

By
SM
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Photo by Maxim Hopman on Unsplash

Australia’s fleet vehicles operate in some of the world’s harshest environments. These arenas present unique challenges that most vehicles aren’t equipped to handle, which is why transmissions, drivetrains, and underbody components receive significant upgrades. Although owning and maintaining a fleet of upgraded vehicles is a major expense for any company, these cars, trucks, and 4WDs are ultimately responsible for keeping the country moving.

Operating a fleet comes with many challenges, especially in terms of maintaining vehicles and meeting service requirements. In tough outback conditions, these requirements are much higher than normal road use, and many companies find themselves investing in major preventative maintenance items. While rebuilding components like transmissions isn’t trivial, it’s critical to the success of a fleet, and it offers four major benefits that we’ll explore in the article below.

1. Reduced Downtime

Keeping fleet vehicles moving is a top priority in every industry. When vehicle downtime is costing you time and money, it’s important to keep on top of maintenance requirements. While most fleet operators have no trouble executing regular servicing appointments, major services like transmission rebuilds can be harder to justify. It can take multiple days to rebuild and reinstall a transmission. While the rebuilt transmission can provide years of reliable service, some operators struggle to justify the downtime.

Despite this, investments in drivetrain and transmission rebuilds are some of the most effective productivity boosters. In most cases, transmissions, driveshafts, and transfer cases will continue to run, even as they’re wearing out. This gives fleet operators ample time to schedule major service and rebuild appointments. Treating transmission rebuilds as a preventative maintenance procedure allows your service department to order parts and prepare ahead of time. Factoring these major service requirements into your maintenance schedule reduces downtime, and it prevents even greater losses from occurring when vehicles finally break down while they’re in use.

2. Cost-Efficiency

Fleet operators are often charged with managing hundreds of vehicles. This represents a major cost to any organization, particularly in Australia where companies favor expensive marques like the Toyota LandCruiser. Reducing the expenses incurred by a fleet is typically done by optimizing deployments, providing driver training, and managing maintenance requirements. Of these programs, meeting the servicing, repair, and maintenance needs of vehicles is the most challenging, but it’s also the biggest opportunity for cost savings.

Investing in transmission components and rebuilds is a major expense that you don’t want to find yourself repeatedly incurring. However, transmissions are a critical component, and a rebuilt transmission can breathe new life into old vehicles that are still serviceable. When vehicles like the LandCruiser are known for their ability to do millions of kilometers in the world’s harshest conditions, a transmission rebuild is a cost-effective way of keeping fleets on the road for longer.

3. Enhanced Safety

One of the biggest challenges facing fleet operators is the safety of drivers and other personnel. Modern, well-maintained vehicles protect drivers from harm and reduce the likelihood of accidents that can cause serious injury. These accidents not only have the potential to harm or kill operators, but they also result in downtime, and operators typically end up having to replace the vehicle to remain compliant.

While it’s uncommon for transmissions to fail without warning, a gearbox that is worn out or on its last legs represents a serious hazard. Faulty gearboxes put drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and other road users at risk of accidents and breakdowns. And, when a vehicle is being operated in remote locations – like mine sites – these minor issues can prove fatal. Maintaining, repairing, and rebuilding gearboxes on time means drivers can trust their equipment in critical moments, and it allows fleet operators to protect their employees from unnecessary risk.

4. Improved Fuel Efficiency

A vehicle’s transmission is responsible for transferring power from the engine to the wheels. That means the transmission plays a large role in how efficiently a vehicle runs. Transmissions that are damaged, worn or poorly maintained can dramatically reduce fuel efficiency. While this drop in efficiency may not be noticeable on a single vehicle, it represents a major expense for fleet operators. This is especially true in industries such as mining and power generation that rely on inefficient 4WDs that are driven in demanding, off-road conditions.

Regular transmission maintenance and changing fluids can go a long way to improving fuel efficiency and reducing operating costs. However, all transmission components have a limited life, and they will eventually need to be repaired or replaced. Simply replacing old bearings and worn gear sets can dramatically improve fuel efficiency. While rebuilding a transmission also represents a major cost to fleet operators, the long-term benefits far outweigh the expense.

How to Drive Safely at Night

By
SM
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Photo by Gabe Pierce on Unsplash

It’s essential to drive safely at all times, but safety becomes a particular concern during the night time.

Without the sun’s light illuminating your path, you need to rely on your car headlights to see the road ahead of you. Your vision is limited, and this makes it harder for you to spot hazards and take immediate action to avoid accidents while you’re driving.

You’ll know from your driving lessons and driving test that there are several different safety measures that you need to take before you set off from a stationary position. 

However, your precautions shouldn’t stop there. You should remain vigilant and take the necessary health and safety steps every second you’re behind the wheel.

Here are some key ways to improve your driving safety at night.

Wear Your Glasses if You Need Them

If you’re somebody who only occasionally wears prescription glasses to see more clearly, you might choose not to wear them when you’re driving. However, wearing your glasses during night drives is good practice because your vision is already impaired in the dark.

You might want to get yourself a pair of night driving glasses that are designed specifically for use behind the wheel at nighttime. You can store them in your vehicle’s glove box, so you’re never stuck without them in times of need.

Avoid Distractions Wherever Possible

Driving while distracted can significantly increase the risk of road traffic collisions, injuries, and even fatalities.

Common distractions include:

  • Using your mobile phone to text or call people
  • Adjusting the volume or snog your radio
  • Listening to loud music
  • Speaking to a passenger while driving

Being distracted slows down your reactions and makes you less able to avoid hazards and collisions. Remember that it only takes a split second for an accident to occur, but it could make the difference between life and death.

In most areas, driving with distractions is against the law. You could face criminal charges and a hefty fine if you’re caught using your phone while behind the wheel (unless your vehicle is stationary and the engine is turned off).

Take Well-Known and Well-Lit Routes

Driving at night can be disorienting. It’s easy to miss your turn or fail to see a stop sign because your vision is limited to the distance between your car’s headlights.

Following routes that you’re familiar with will reduce the chances of your missing your turn or failing to see a road sign. It also minimizes the risk of you getting lost and having to pull over on a dark road, which is a safety risk in and of itself. Driving on familiar roads puts your mind at ease and gives you more confidence, too!

You should also stick to well-lit routes. Follow the main roads and drive within busy areas where businesses are open 24/7 as much as possible so you can see where you’re going.

In some parking lots or intersections, a full dome mirror can improve visibility by giving drivers a clear view around corners and blind spots. Staying vigilant and relying on these safety measures will help ensure a safer, more confident driving experience at night.

Why Car Enthusiasts Need to Have a Reliable Lawyer on Their Hands

By
SM
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Photo by Taras Makarenko

Car enthusiasts are passionate about their vehicles and often invest a great deal of time and money in maintaining and customizing them. However, owning and operating a vehicle can also come with legal risks and liabilities. That’s why car enthusiasts need to have a reliable lawyer on their side to help them navigate the complex legal landscape of the automotive world. In the text below, we’ll discuss the reasons why car enthusiasts need a reliable lawyer and how a lawyer can help them protect their interests.

The paperwork 

First of all, a reliable lawyer can assist car enthusiasts in dealing with legal issues related to vehicle ownership, such as registration and titling, licensing, insurance, and liability. These legal requirements can vary from state to state and can be confusing and overwhelming for car enthusiasts who may not be familiar with the laws and regulations. A reliable lawyer can help car enthusiasts understand their legal obligations and ensure that they are complying with all applicable laws and regulations.

It’s also good to have someone in your corner when facing consequences for violations. LA County drivers often approach this traffic ticket lawyer in Inglewood to help them handle speeding tickets and other traffic violations. Oftentimes, they can get the charges reduced or even dismissed in court.

Accidents 

Those who are involved in a car accident or other legal dispute may face complex legal issues that can be difficult to navigate without the assistance of a reliable lawyer. For example, car enthusiasts who are involved in a car accident may need to defend against claims of liability or pursue compensation for damages. If you happen to be a car accident victim in Houston, a reliable lawyer can assist you in negotiating with insurance companies, gathering evidence, and representing you in court if necessary. In addition, you may encounter legal disputes related to the purchase or sale of a vehicle, such as disputes over warranties, repairs, or financing. 

A reliable lawyer can also assist you in understanding your legal rights and obligations and negotiating favorable outcomes in these disputes. Overall, if you happen to be involved in a car accident or other legal dispute, you should consider seeking advice and representation from a reliable lawyer to protect your legal interests and ensure the best possible outcome.

Modifications and upgrades

As a car enthusiast, you’ll probably often invest a significant amount of time and money in modifying or upgrading your vehicles to enhance their performance or appearance. However, these modifications can sometimes raise legal issues that you are not aware of. For example, some aftermarket parts or modifications may not comply with emissions or safety regulations, which could result in legal penalties or fines.

A reliable lawyer can assist car enthusiasts in understanding the legal implications of their modifications and ensuring that they are compliant with all applicable laws and regulations. This may involve reviewing the specific modifications and assessing their impact on the vehicle’s safety or emissions performance. If there are concerns about compliance, a reliable lawyer can help car enthusiasts navigate the regulatory requirements and identify solutions that meet legal standards.

During purchase and sale

Also, you may benefit from the services of a reliable lawyer when you are purchasing or selling a vehicle. Vehicle sales and purchases can be complex transactions, and it is important to ensure that all legal requirements are met to avoid legal disputes and liabilities. A reliable lawyer can assist car enthusiasts in reviewing and negotiating sales agreements, conducting due diligence on the vehicle’s history, and ensuring that all legal obligations are met during the transfer of ownership.

What if you like recreational sports? 

It’s worth mentioning how a reliable lawyer can assist car enthusiasts in navigating the legal landscape of motorsports. You, who enjoy participating in motorsports, such as drag racing, autocross, or track days, may encounter unique legal issues related to liability, insurance, and safety regulations. A reliable lawyer can help car enthusiasts understand and comply with the legal requirements of motorsports and represent them in negotiations or litigation related to accidents or disputes that may occur during these events. They can also advise car enthusiasts on the legal implications of participating in motorsports, including the potential impact on their personal liability insurance or driver’s license.

Protection of property 

So, a good lawyer can help you understand and protect your rights to intellectual property. Fans of cars who design and make their own car parts or accessories may have valuable intellectual property rights, such as patents, trademarks, and copyrights. A reliable lawyer can help you identify and protect these rights, ensuring that they are not infringed upon by others. They can also assist in drafting and negotiating licensing agreements or litigating against infringing parties.

Legal advice 

Have the following in mind, a reliable lawyer can provide you with ongoing legal advice and support. As you’re passionate about vehicles, you may encounter legal issues throughout your ownership and operation, such as traffic violations, recalls, and warranty claims. A reliable lawyer can provide ongoing legal advice and support, helping car enthusiasts navigate these issues and avoid legal pitfalls. They can also keep car enthusiasts informed of changes in the law or regulations that may affect their vehicle ownership or operation.

We hope you’ll find these points helpful in understanding the importance of a capable and knowledgeable legal representative, as it can literally change your life. 

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Atlanta

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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Atlanta Motor Speedway Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Joey Logano: Logano started on the pole and was the class of the field at Atlanta, winning Stage 1 and leading 140 on his way to the win in the Ambetter Health 400.

“I knew I would win this race,” Logano said, “because I ‘am better’ than everyone else.”

2. Christopher Bell: Bell came home third at Atlanta as the top Toyota finisher. Bell helped Joey Logano to the win with a strong push that helped move Logano past Brad Keselowski.

“Notice that no Hendrick Motorsports cars were racing for the win,” Bell said. “Atlanta Motor Speedway may have 28-degree banking in the turns, but at least on Sunday, it was a totally ‘level playing field.'”

3. Kyle Busch: Busch survived a spin in the Kevin Harvick-Ross Chastain incident, and damage was minimal. Busch recovered to post a solid 10th at Atlanta.

“NASCAR really came down hard on Hendrick Motorsports,” Busch said. “NASCAR must have found some really incriminating violations in those inspections. I may have been caught with a gun in Mexico, but at least it wasn’t a smoking gun.”

4. William Byron: Byron was eliminated from the Ambetter Health 400 as an innocent victim of a crash with 71 laps left, caused when Kevin Harvick got loose in tight quarters and collected several cars.

“And speaking of ‘innocent victim,'” Byron said, “most people are saying Hendrick Motorsports is not one after their huge penalties and fines as a result of failed inspections. It’s one thing to be the victim; it’s another thing to play the victim. One of those things we do very well.”

5. Kevin Harvick: Harvick was a victim in one of two final stage wrecks at Atlanta. With 71 laps left, Harvick got loose with Ross Chastain right on his bumper, and Harvick spun into traffic, triggering a crash that involved 12 cars.

“The easy way out would be for me to blame Chastain for causing the crash,” Harvick said. “Why? Because everyone would believe it, even Ross himself.”

6. Ryan Blaney: Blaney posted his second consecutive top 10 with a seventh at Atlanta. He is fourth in the points standings,

“NASCAR handed down quite a list of penalties, suspensions, and fines to Hendrick Motorsports,” Blaney said. “Heck, I bet when NASCAR made the announcement, they, like Hendrick themselves, probably used a ‘cheat sheet.'”

7. Ross Chastain: Chastain had an eventful day at Atlanta on his way to a 13th-place finish in the Ambetter Health 400.

“Obviously,” Chastain said, “my reputation precedes me. Just ask Kevin Harvick. Now, I’m being accused of wrecking people even when I don’t even touch them.”

8. Kyle Larson: Larson was, unfortunately, running behind Aric Almirola with 52 laps left, as Almirola, on old tires, blew a right rear tire and collected Larson, who was competing in his 300th Cup series start.

“I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Larson said, “much like the thousands of gamers who were listening to me back in April of 2020.

“Hendrick Motorsport’s best finish was a 14th by Alex Bowman. It was a sad day for Hendrick. But I must say, I’ve seen worse days, pretty recently, actually.”

9. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski settled for the runner-up spot at Atlanta, unable to hold off former teammate Joey Logano on the final lap. It was Keselowski’s best result of the year.

“Me and Joey go way back,” Logano said. “Or at least Joey says I go way back, because he won the Cup last year; I won it way back in 2012.”

10. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished sixth at Atlanta, joining Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Christopher Bell (third) and Ty Gibbs (ninth) in the top 10.

“I was penalized 25 driver points and fined $50,000 for making intentional contact with Ross Chastain at Phoenix,” Hamlin said. “And, as I am prone to do, I’ll ‘admit’ it, and say it was worth every penny.”

Keselowski Flirts with Victory, Comes Up Just Short of Win at Atlanta

By
Official Release
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“You Just Keep Running Like This with Good Finishes and the Wins Will Come,” Brad Keselowski

HAMPTON, Ga. (March 19, 2023) – Brad Keselowski led the field in the closing moments of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The driver/owner of the King’s Hawaiian Ford Mustang led 47 laps in the 260-lap event, including 28 of the final 29. As cool as the crisp west Georgia afternoon, Keselowski held off a pack of charging Penske Fords for the final 25 laps, but despite the valiant effort from the NASCAR Champion, lost the lead as the field moved into turn three with just under half a mile left in the 400-mile event.

Keselowski and the No. 6 Team held on for the second-place finish, RFK’s best finish at the 1.5-mile track since 2010.

“A great run all-in-all for our RFK King’s Hawaiian Ford Mustang,” said Keselowski after the race. “We were right there. I’m glad a Ford won and it was a heck of a battle. I’m proud of my team and the effort, just not much we could do there at the end.

“It’s night and day from where we were a year ago, 100 percent,” added an optimistic Keselowski. “You just keep running like this with good finishes and the wins will come.”

Keselowski started the day fourth based on Saturday’s strong effort in qualifying. He finished stage one in third position and moved to second as the field went green for stage two. After a green flag pit cycle the No. 6 King’s Hawaiian Ford finished the second stage sixth.

Keselowski took the lead for the first time on lap 209 and led the majority of the race’s final 50 laps. He appeared poised for the victory coming into the final lap, but was unable to hold off the charge from the No. 22 and his teammates.

“The bottom row came with a huge run,” said Keselowski. “I thought I had it blocked and Joey (Logano) just kept shaking and his car didn’t stall out. I couldn’t get the push down the back, but it was still a great run for our team and something we’ll continue to build on until we get there. We are getting really close.”

Keselowski, who has now led in all five races this season, moved up to fifth in the Cup point standings, one point behind fourth and 17 outside of first place.

The No. 6 team returns to action next week in road-course racing action at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. Race coverage Sunday is set for 3:30 p.m. on FOX. Radio coverage can be heard on PRN and SiriusXM Channel 90.

Late Accident Spoils Strong Performance for Buescher at Atlanta

By
Official Release
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Buescher, No. 17 Team Battle Back from Penalty before Getting Caught Up in ‘Big One’ at AMS

HAMPTON, Ga. (March 19, 2023) – Chris Buescher had a fast No. 17 Violent Defense Ford for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, staring seventh and running the majority of the race’s laps firmly inside the top 10. Unfortunately he would get a caught up in a multi-car accident near the front of the pack on lap 189 and relegated to a 35th-place finish.

Buescher had battled back from a pit-road speeding penalty, moving from 28th to third in just under 20 laps, before getting caught up in the wreck.

“First off, our Violet Defense Ford Mustang was really fast and I’m proud of everybody for that,” said Buescher. “I made a mistake on pit road by getting a speeding penalty and that put us back in the field. We drove back up to third. The speed was there and we were doing it without unnecessary pushes in the center of the corner. I haven’t seen a replay to know exactly what happened, but I’ve got a pretty good feeling.”

Buescher finished the first stage in eighth and moved into the top five during the second stage, working with teammate Brad Keselowski. After a green flag pitting sequence, he finished stage two in ninth, but was flagged with a pit road speeding penalty and forced to restart in 28th.

Buescher quickly went to work on the field, powering his Ford back inside the top-15 in just under 10 laps, before moving inside the top five when he was claimed in the day’s first big wreck of the race.

Buescher and the team return to action next weekend at a road course in Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Race coverage on Sunday is set for 3:30 p.m. on FOX. Radio coverage can be heard on PRN and SiriusXM Channel 90.

Logano executes final lap pass for a thrilling Cup victory at Atlanta

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

The patience and determination to execute a winning move on the final lap amid the draft paid off for Joey Logano as he capped off a dominant run with a final lap victory in the Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 19.

The reigning two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion from Middletown, Connecticut, led five times for a race-high 140 of 260-scheduled laps and found himself in a prime position of battling for the victory against ex-teammate Brad Keselowski and a host of competitors running in two tight-packed lanes. After keeping the leaders within reach on the inside lane, Logano received a push from Corey LaJoie on the final lap to execute his race-winning move to the outside of Keselowski. Once he assumed the lead through the backstretch, the Connecticut native was able to pull away from the field and triumph both for the first time in the 2023 Cup season and at Atlanta.

With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Saturday, Joey Logano notched his second Cup pole of the season after posting a pole-winning lap at 177.374 mph in 31.256 seconds. Joining him on the front row was teammate Austin Cindric, who posted the second-best qualifying lap at 177.340 mph in 31.262 seconds, while his third teammate Ryan Blaney qualified third fastest on the grid with a speed of 177.215 mph in 31.284 seconds.

Prior to the event, Christopher Bell, who spun during Saturday’s qualifying session, was the only competitor to drop to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments made to his No. 20 DeWalt Toyota TRD Camry.

When the green flag waved and the race commenced, Logano jumped ahead and quickly crossed his No. 22 AutoTrader Ford Mustang from the outside to the inside lane in front of teammate Cindric to retain the lead ahead of two tight-packed lanes of competitors. As the field returned to the frontstretch, Logano led the first lap in front of his Team Penske teammates, all of whom were running on the outside lane, while the field remained in tight formation through two packed lanes.

Through the first five scheduled laps, Logano was leading ahead of teammates Cindric and Blaney while Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick were in the top five. Aric Almirola was in sixth, thus placing six Fords within the top-six spots, while Kyle Larson was the highest-running Chevrolet competitor in seventh. Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin and William Byron were in the top 10 while Chris Buescher, Michael McDowell, Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, Justin Haley, Ross Chastain, rookie Noah Gragson, Bubba Wallace, Kyle Busch and Tyler Reddick occupied the top 20.

Five laps later, the first caution of the event flew when Bubba Wallace, who was running towards the top 20, got loose and spun towards the inside wall in the backstretch, where he impacted the wall before his No. 23 DoorDash Toyota TRD Camry came to a rest in the backstretch. Despite limping his damaged car to pit road and returned following the repairs, he fell out of the lead lap category. At the moment of caution, Logano retained the lead in front of his Team Penske teammates and the field. During the caution period, some like Ricky Stenhouse Jr., BJ McLeod, Corey LaJoie, Harrison Burton, Martin Truex Jr., rookie Ty Gibbs, Ryan Preece and JJ Yeley pitted while the rest led by Logao remained on the track.

When the event restarted on Lap 15, Logano and Keselowski dueled for the lead until Logano managed to pull away on the outside lane followed by teammates Cindric and Blaney. As Keselowski dropped to fourth, Larson and Hamlin battled for fifth amid two tight-packed lanes of competitors battling within the draft.

By Lap 25, the inside lane led by Hamlin started to gain momentum as Hamlin challenged Cindric for second followed by Larson while Logano, who remained on the outside lane in front of his Team Penske teammates, continued to lead the field.

Just past the Lap 40 mark, Logano retained the lead ahead of teammates Cindric and Blaney while Keselowski and Hamlin were running in the top five. Behind, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell, Larson and Truex were competing in the top 10 as the top-32 competitors were separated by more than three seconds. By the event surpassed the Lap 50 mark, the top-32 competitors were separated by nearly four seconds as Logano continued to lead the field. In addition, nearly the entire field migrated to the outside lane and in a long single-file line behind Logano.

When the first stage concluded on Lap 60, Logano captured his first stage victory of the 2023 Cup season. Teammate Cindric settled in second followed by Keselowski while Blaney, who tried to make his move to the front on the inside lane on the first stage’s final lap, fell back to fourth. Hamlin settled in fifth while Bell, Kyle Busch, Buescher, Suarez and Truex were scored in the top 10.

Under the stage break, the lead lap field led by Logano pitted while diving into Atlanta Motor Speedway’s new pit road entrance on the apron at the start of Turn 3 under a cautious pace. Following the pit stops, Kyle Busch exited with the lead despite concerns of not having enough fuel fueled into his No. 8 Lenovo Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Keselowski exited second followed by Blaney, Cindric, Logano and Truex.

The second stage started on Lap 67 as Kyle Busch and Keselowski occupied the front row. At the start, Busch and Keselowski battled for the lead, with the former managing to move in front of the field with drafting help from Blaney and in front of a bevy of Ford competitors. Two laps later, however, Blaney made his move in Turn 1 to assume the lead from Busch. Behind, Logano battled Busch for second on the inside lane while Keselowski remained within touch of the leaders. Not long after, however, a side-by-side battle ensued between Blaney and Busch with the field locked in two tight-packed lanes.

By Lap 75, Busch was drafted back into the lead with help from Logano before Logano launched his attack to reassume the top spot. Behind, Blaney, Keselowski, Buescher, Cindric, Truex, Hamlin, Bell, Bowman and Byron battled for spots within the top 10 while 35 of 36 starters were separated by more than three seconds.

Through the first 90 scheduled laps, Logano was leading a long line of competitors running towards the outside lane followed by Busch, Blaney, Keselowski and Buescher while Cindric, Truex, Hamlin, Bell and Bowman were scored in the top 10. Behind, Byron was in 11th ahead of Corey LaJoie, Daniel Suarez, Gragson and Austin Dillon while Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ross Chastain, Gibbs, Kevin Harvick and Larson were back in the top 20.

At the Lap 100 mark, Logano continued to lead in front of Busch, Blaney, Keselowski and Buescher while the top-31 competitors scaling back to Chase Briscoe were separated by more than four seconds. By then, names like Harvick, Erik Jones, Aric Almirola, Michael McDowell, AJ Allmendinger, Harrison Burton and Tyler Reddick were mired outside the top 20 while Josh Berry, who was making his third start as an interim competitor for Chase Elliott was in 20th behind teammate Larson.

Fifteen laps later, Logano retained the lead in front of Busch, Blaney, Keselowski and Buescher while Cindric, Truex, Hamlin, Bell and Bowman were running in the top 10. Another 10 laps later, Busch surrendered the runner-up spot to pit for fresh tires and fuel along with Truex, who had no fuel pressure reported to his car. Earlier, Austin Dillon nearly missed the pit road’s entrance as he had his car serviced.

At the halfway mark on Lap 130, Logano remained out in front ahead of teammate Blaney, Buescher, Cindric and Hamlin while Bell, Bowman, Byron, Suarez and Stenhouse occupied the top 10. By then, Keselowski peeled off the track to pit along with Corey LaJoie and Ty Dillon.

Two laps later, the Team Penske trio led by Logano, Blaney and Cindric pitted under green as Buescher cycled to the lead. Names that included Haley, Burton, Chastain, Suarez and Stenhouse would also pit. Amid the pit stops and with more front-runners pitting, Blaney was penalized with a pass-through penalty for speeding on pit road. In addition, Preece was penalized for a commitment line violation.

Back on the track and with nearly the entire field having made a pit stop under green, Bell, who had yet to pit and assumed the lead on Lap 137, was leading followed by Larson with nearly 20 laps remaining in the second stage. Once both pitted, Logano cycled his way back into the lead followed by teammate Cindric, Reddick, Byron and Buescher with 17 laps remaining in the second stage. Following his green flag pit stop, Bell managed to blend within the field and the draft in 13th in between LaJoie and Larson.

With less than 10 laps remaining in the second stage, Logano continued to lead in front of teammate Cindric, Reddick, Byron and Buescher while the top-12 competitors were separated by a second. In addition, the top-30 competitors were scored on the lead lap while Blaney was mired two laps down following his speeding penalty.

When the second stage concluded on Lap 160, Cindric, who made a three-wide move on teammate Logano and Reddick through Turns 3 and 4, muscled his No. 2 Menards Ford Mustang to his first stage victory of the 2023 Cup season. Logano settled in second ahead of Bowman and Reddick while Byron, Buescher, Truex, Hamlin, Keselowski and LaJoie were scored in the top 10.

Under the stage break, the lead lap competitors led by Cindric pitted and Aric Almirola cycled into the lead after only opting for fuel. Logano exited second followed by Cindric, Stenhouse, Bowman, Byron and Harvick. Following the pit stops, Buescher was penalized for speeding on pit road. In addition, Reddick made another trip to pit road to get enough fuel to his car.

With 92 laps remaining, the final stage started as Almirola and Stenhouse occupied the front row. At the start, Almirola was drafted into the lead from Logano through the first two turns before Stenhouse fought back on the inside lane with drafting help from Byron. As the field returned to the frontstretch, Stenhouse emerged with the lead followed by Byron as Harvick charged his way towards the front. With Stenhouse retaining the lead, Byron settled in second along with Almirola while Harvick, who tried to charge to the lead on the inside lane, settled in fourth place on the outside lane. Meanwhile, Hamlin, the first competitor running on the inside lane and receiving drafting help from LaJoie, was locked in a battle with Logano for fifth.

With 85 laps remaining, Hamlin emerged with the lead over Stenhouse as the field behind fanned out to two lanes while jostling for late positions. In the process, Larson moved up to fourth in front of Almirola, Harvick settled in seventh behind Keselowski, LaJoie was in eighth and Logano fell back to 12th behind Briscoe.

Down to the final 75 laps of the event, Hamlin was leading in front of Byron, Harvick, Larson and Stenhouse while Chastain, Almirola, Keselowski, Buescher and Josh Berry were in the top 10. By then, 31 of 36 starters were separated by less than two seconds.

Four laps later, however, Harvick, who was drafted into the lead with help from Chastain, got loose in front of Chastain’s front nose as his No. 4 Busch Light Ford Mustang veered sideways and backward before receiving a hard hit by Buescher and colliding against Berry and Byron in the backstretch as the caution returned. In the midst of a multi-car wreck, Kyle Busch, Harrison Burton and BJ McLeod were also involved as Harvick’s penultimate event at Atlanta, the track where he notched his first Cup career victory, came to a late end. Back at the front, Chastain managed to escape with the lead followed by Hamlin, Larson, Reddick and Almirola. During the pit stops, the leaders led by Chastain returned to pit road for service. Following the pit stops, Almirola cycled his way back into the lead followed by Larson, Keselowski, Chastain (who got pushed into the grass while exiting pit road) and Reddick. During the pit stops, Hamlin made contact with Ty Dillon, who was trying to enter his pit stall.

When the event restarted under green with 61 laps remaining, Almirola retained the lead with drafting help from Larson on the outside lane and was eventually able to control both lanes exiting the backstretch and back to the start/finish line. With Almirola out in front, Larson was in second followed by Keselowski, Chastain, Reddick and Bell while names like Bowman, Suarez, Hamlin and Haley were in the top 10.

With 51 laps remaining, the caution returned when the leader Almirola veered sideways in Turns 3 and 4 after cutting a tire. With nowhere to go, Larson hit Almirola’s No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang before he got bumped from Reddick and clipped into the side of Haley’s No. 31 LeafFilter Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and veered back across to the frontstretch’s outside wall with a destroyed No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 as Suarez also sustained damage while trying to avoid Larson. With Almirola and Larson eliminated from contention, Keselowski dodged the carnage to assume the lead. Under the caution period, names like Chastain, Truex, Ty Dillon, Haley, Austin Dillon, Suarez and Berry pitted while the rest led by Keselowski remained on the track.

During the following restart with 44 laps remaining, Keselowski, who was receiving constant guidance from veteran spotter TJ Majors, cleared the field along with Reddick as both remained first and second in front of the pack before Bowman squeezed in between both amid the draft. Soon after, Logano, with spotting help from Coleman Pressley, launched his charge to the front along with teammate Blaney, who rallied from his pit road penalty. In addition, Cindric worked his way up to fifth before eventually overtaking Reddick for fourth as Gibbs moved into the top six.

With 35 laps remaining, Keselowski’s No. 6 King’s Hawaiian Ford Mustang was leading ahead of Logano’s No. 22 AutoTrader Ford Mustang while Team Penske’s Blaney and Cindric dueled for third in front of a bevy of competitors stacked tight in a draft. A lap later, Logano moved back into the lead followed by teammate Blaney as Keselowski fell back to third. With Reddick and Cindric in the top five, Bell, Gibbs, AJ Allmendinger, Hamlin and Stenhouse battled within the top 10. With 30 laps remaining, however, Keselowski reassumed the lead from Logano as Toyota competitors Reddick, Bell and Hamlin made their way to the front. LaJoie also moved his No. 7 Celsius Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 to fifth while Logano fell back to sixth, though he kept the leaders close within his sights on the inside lane.

Down to the final 20 laps of the event and with the field stacked to two tight-packed lanes in the draft, Keselowski was leading ahead of Reddick, Logano, Bell and Blaney while Hamlin, Cindric, LaJoie, Bowman and Kyle Busch were scored in the top 10. In addition, the top-23 competitors scaling back to Ty Dillon were separated by less than two seconds.

With 10 laps remaining, Keselowski continued to lead over Logano, Reddick, Blaney and Bell as the top-23 competitors scaling back to Austin Dillon were trailing by a second. By then, Keselowski and Logano began to duel amid the draft for the lead, with the former managing to peak ahead. With the battles towards the front ensuing, Keselowski retained the lead with five laps remaining as he cleared the field with Reddick, Bell, Logano, Hamlin and LaJoie closing in.

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Keselowski remained as the leader over Bell and the field that was fanning out. By then, Logano, who kept the leaders within reach on the inside lane, had drafting help from LaJoie to move back to the front and launch a final attack on Keselowski for the lead. Entering Turn 1, Keselowski moved to the inside lane to block Logano. He then tried to move back up the outside lane to block Logano again, but it was too late as Logano gained the momentum and the drafting help from a bevy of cars, including Bell, to reassume the lead through the backstretch. With the field fanning out through Turns 3 and 4, Logano managed to gain control of both lanes with the clean air and streak across the finish line first with the victory.

With the victory, Logano notched his 32nd career victory in NASCAR’s premier series, his first since winning both the 2022 finale and championship at Phoenix Raceway in November and his first at Atlanta in his 19th series attempt. He also became the fourth different winner through the first five scheduled events on the 2023 season and delivered the first Cup victories of the season for both Team Penske and Ford.

“First off, it’s so special to win Atlanta for me,” Logano, who credited spotter Coleman Pressley and his No. 22 team, said on FOX. “So many memories of me and my dad, racing right here on the quarter mile [design]. This is the full circle for us. So many memories of gritting over there with the Legends car and racing, having a big time and dreaming of going straight at the quarter mile and going onto the big track. That was always a dream to do it. To finally win here means so much to me personally but to this race team. The AutoTrader Mustang, this thing was an animal. It was very, very fast. [I] Was able to lead a ton of laps and race really hard there at the end. Get a good push from [Bell] to clear myself and enough of a push to get all the way to the end. Huge victory. Nice to get one early in the season. It always feels better, but what a great day for us…We’re coming home with the trophy, baby!”

Keselowski, whose last Cup victory spans back to Talladega Superspeedway in April 2021, settled in second place, which was his best as a driver/co-owner of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, while Bell came home in third place after rallying from starting at the rear of the field. Behind, Corey LaJoie notched a career-best fourth-place finish while Reddick, who was battling sickness throughout the event, completed the top five.

“The bottom run came with a huge run,” Keselowski said. “I don’t know how, and I thought I had it blocked. Joey just kept shaking and his car didn’t stall out. I couldn’t get the push down the [backstretch]. I thought, ‘I’ll get a push down the back’ and [Bell] just hauled down there. Great run, all in all, for our [Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing] No. 6 Hawaiian Ford Mustang. We were right there. Glad a Ford won. It was a heck of a battle. The coolest thing about this is two veterans showed that you can run a race here, side by side, bump drafting and not wreck the field. I think that’s the coolest thing. It can happen if you race respectfully and I thought everybody did a great job. We were right there. Proud of my team and the effort. Just not much we could do there. You just keep running like this and the good finishes and the wins will come.”

“Whenever [Logano] and [Keselowski] got side by side, I felt like I lost the race,” Bell said. “Really, I think I screwed up whenever I went to the top [lane]. Coming to the white [flag] or one of those laps, I aborted on the bottom and went to the top, and gave [Logano] the bottom, which ultimately, got him the lead. That was disappointing, but ultimately, to come home third, I’m super happy with that. Great showing for our DeWalt Camry.”

“It feels great,” LaJoie said. “Fourth is great for ourselves, these Camaros and our small team. Just a great points day. We started off the year [with the] West Coast wing, really solid and to come back here, it’s a bit of a crapshoot, but to get another career best [finish] here. I don’t expect to show up and instantly win a race. You just have to keep putting yourself in these positions like Joey. That’s why he wins all the time because he’s upfront all the time. As I get myself some more confidence, race around these guys, these guys see me up there racing with them, our day’s gonna come.”

“This morning was kind of a struggle for me,” Reddick said. “[I] Didn’t get really any sleep through the early hours of the morning. Just really thankful that our Xfinity Toyota Camry TRD was handling as well as it was. We had a good car. I was trying to make sure all three of us [including Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell] could benefit from it. Unfortunately, I feel like my hesitancy cost us.”

Hamlin, Blaney, Erik Jones, rookie Ty Gibbs and Kyle Busch completed the top 10 on the track as 23 of 36 starters finished on the lead lap.

There were 20 lead changes for 13 different leaders. The race featured five cautions for 34 laps.

Following the fifth event of the 2023 Cup Series season, race winner Joey Logano leads the regular-season standings by a single point over Christopher Bell, five over Ross Chastain, 16 over Ryan Blaney, 17 over Brad Keselowski and 22 over Kevin Harvick.

Results.

1. Joey Logano, 140 laps led, Stage 1 winner

2. Brad Keselowski, 47 laps led

3. Christopher Bell, six laps led

4. Corey LaJoie

5. Tyler Reddick

6. Denny Hamlin, 14 laps led

7. Ryan Blaney, five laps led

8. Erik Jones

9. Ty Gibbs

10. Kyle Busch, seven laps led

11. Austin Cindric, five laps led, Stage 2 winner

12. Noah Gragson

13. Ross Chastain, five laps led

14. Alex Bowman

15. Todd Gilliland

16. AJ Allmendinger

17. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., seven laps led

18. Josh Berry

19. Martin Truex Jr.

20. Austin Dillon

21. Michael McDowell

22. Justin Haley

23.  Ty Dillon

24. Chase Briscoe, one lap down

25. Cody Ware, two laps down, one lap led

26. JJ Yeley, two laps down

27. Bubba Wallace, five laps down

28. Ryan Preece, 16 laps down

29. Daniel Suarez – OUT, DVP

30. Aric Almirola – OUT, Accident, 17 laps led

31. Kyle Larson – OUT, Accident

32. William Byron – OUT, Accident

33. Kevin Harvick – OUT, Accident, one lap led

34. Harrison Burton – OUT, DVP

35. Chris Buescher – OUT, Accident, five laps led

36. BJ McLeod – OUT, Accident

Next on the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series schedule is Circuit of the Americas for the third annual EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, and for the series’ first road course event of the season. The event is scheduled to occur next Sunday, March 26, at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

Logano takes Ambetter Health 400 with last-lap pass

By
Official Release
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Joey Logano celebrates his victory in the Ambetter Health 400. (Photo courtesy: Harold Hinson Photography)

HAMPTON, Ga. (March 19, 2023) – Joey Logano earned the pole position Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway and said after qualifying that “It’s always been a dream to win on this race track.”

That dream came true one day later as Logano took the checkered flag in Sunday’s Ambetter Health 400.

“(This is) so special to win Atlanta for me,” Logano reflected after the race with a grin stretching as long as the Atlanta Motor Speedway track. “So many memories of me and my dad racing right here on the quarter mile. This is the full circle for us. So many memories gritting over there with the Legends car, racing, having a big time. Dreaming of going straight at the quarter-mile and going on to the big track. That was always the dream to do it. To finally win here means so much to me here personally, but the team.

Logano’s 32nd career win ties him with Dale Jarrett for 27th on the all-time list. The No. 22 car has three top-10 finishes on the season.

Logano, who led for 140 of the 260 laps, had to come from behind with a last-lap pass to distance himself from former teammate Brad Keselowski just enough for his first victory of the NASCAR Cup series season.

Keselowski crossed 0.193 seconds behind after leading for the previous 29 laps heading into the final circuit.

Christopher Bell was third, Corey LaJoie took a career-best fourth and Tyler Reddick closed out the top five.

The first two stages featured only one caution for a single car spin, but a pair of crashes near the front of the pack curtailed the final surge to the finish.

Kevin Harvick lost control of his No. 4 Ford through Turns 1 and 2, resulting in a crash with 71 laps remaining that officially involved 12 cars. Harvick led just one lap and was relegated to a finish outside the top 30. The crash also eliminated last year’s race winner William Byron, who was bidding for his third consecutive Cup Series victory.

Harvick will look to have a better result in what will be his final start at AMS as a full-time Cup Series driver in July. NASCAR returns to the Georgia track for a summer weekend of racing at night, under the lights, headlined by the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart on July 9.

Tickets and camping accommodations for the July 4-9 summer NASCAR event at AMS are available now at www.AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.

About the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart:

The Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart headlines the summer slate of NASCAR racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 9. Featuring the first weekend of night racing at AMS since 2014, Atlanta’s summer NASCAR weekend comes with increased stakes with the NASCAR playoffs looming large.

Accompanying the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart is the Alsco Uniforms 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday, July 9. The summer race will challenge the rising stars of the sport to stand out and succeed on one of the circuit’s most challenging tracks.

More information on the July 7-9, 2023, Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart weekend and ticket availability can be found online at AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.

Follow Atlanta Motor Speedway:

Keep track of all of Atlanta Motor Speedway’s events by following on Twitter, Instagram, and become a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Atlanta Motor Speedway mobile app.

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes – Logano Drives Mustang to Atlanta Cup Victory

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Official Release
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Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Ambetter Health 400 | Sunday, March 19, 2023

Ford Finishing Results:
1st – Joey Logano
2nd – Brad Keselowski
7th – Ryan Blaney
11th – Austin Cindric
15th – Todd Gilliland
21st – Michael McDowell
24th – Chase Briscoe
25th – Cody Ware
26th – JJ Yeley
28th – Ryan Preece
30th – Aric Almirola
33rd – Kevin Harvick
34th – Harrison Burton
35th – Chris Buescher

LOGANO AND MUSTANG DOMINATE IN ATLANTA CUP WIN

  • Joey Logano won his first race of the season with today’s victory.
  • 8 Ford drivers led a combined 221 of the 260 laps with Logano leading a race-high 140.
  • Ford swept all three stages: Logano winning 1 and 3, and Austin Cindric taking Stage 2.
  • The win today is the 32nd of his Cup Series career and 30th with Ford.
  • Those 30 wins put him in a tie with Dale Jarrett for 4th on the all-time Ford win list.
  • Today’s win is Ford’s 721st all-time in NASCAR Cup Series competition.

JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Autotrader Ford Mustang – VICTORY LANE INTERVIEW

“We lost our track position there for a minute, but was able to just stay patient and work on it and this amazing fast race car allowed me to really make some great moves on the racetrack and getting the push there on the last lap to get to the outside of Brad. Just getting to break the plane of his back bumper was gonna be my only chance there and I was able to get him there and get the push from the 20 on the backstretch. Overall, just a really fast Ford Mustang is what it came down to. It’s nice to win with Autotrader on the car. I don’t think I’ve ever won a race without Shell on the car. It means a lot to get this one in Victory Lane. It’s been a lot of years coming. Atlanta, this means so much to me to win here. So many memories of driving my Legends car right here where we’re standing when I was 9 years old. This is a really special one and a dream come true.”

YOU WERE ABLE TO CONTROL THE FIELD MUCH OF THE DAY, BUT HOW DID IT CHANGE THE FINAL STAGE? “The intensity ratcheted up, obviously. I’ve got great teammates and I wanted to stick with them. There were plenty of times I could have moved up, but I didn’t want to leave my teammates down there. I wanted them behind me. I knew how fast their cars were. If I could pick one, that’s the one I want, so I was able to try to keep them with me. I thought with two to go the outside lane got three cars, four cars clear and I was like, ‘I don’t know if I’m gonna make it here,’ but I got a good push – enough to get to the outside of the 6 and that was the big difference.”

BRAD KESELOWSKI, No. 6 King’s Hawaiian Ford Mustang – “The bottom row came with a huge run. I don’t know how and I thought I had it blocked and Joey just kept shaking and his car didn’t stall out. I couldn’t get the push down the back. I thought, ‘I’ll just get a push down the back,’ and the 20 car just hauled down there. A great run all-in-all for our RFK King’s Hawaiian Ford Mustang. We were right there. I’m glad a Ford won. It was a heck of a battle. The coolest thing about this is two veterans showed that you can run a race here side-by-side bump drafting and not wreck the field. It can happen if you race respectfully and I thought everybody did a great job. We were right there. I’m proud of my team and the effort, just not much we could do there.”

YOUR TEAM HAS COME SO FAR. “It’s night and day from where we were a year ago, 100 percent. You just keep running like this with good finishes and the wins will come.”

AUSTIN CINDRIC, No. 2 Menards/Knauf Ford Mustang – “Certainly a really solid day, a great points day for our Menards/Knauf Ford Mustang. It’s great to get a car in Victory Lane. I felt like we brought three of the best cars in Georgia and I think we showed it being able to string along the bottom line better than anyone else between myself and Ryan and Joey. It was just a perfect visual representation of teamwork all the way through the weekend, so congratulations to everyone at the shop and everyone on the 22 team, Autotrader. It’s cool to get the win and try and come back here during the summer and do the same.”

CHRIS BUESCHER, No. 17 Violet Defense Ford Mustang – “First off, our Violet Defense Ford Mustang was really fast and I’m proud of everybody for that. I made a mistake on pit road by getting a speeding penalty and that put us back in the field. We drove back up to third. The speed was there and we were doing it without unnecessary pushes in the center of the corner. I haven’t seen a replay to know exactly what happened, but I’ve got a pretty good feeling.”

KEVIN HARVICK, No. 4 Busch Light Ford Mustang – “I think he 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.”

HARRISON BURTON, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang – “I don’t even know what caused our wreck. 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. It’s just one of those deals. It was such a frustrating deal. I feel like our qualifying effort was not very good, obviously. 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.”

ARIC ALMIROLA, No. 10 Smithfield 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.”

Toyota Racing NCS Post-Race Recap — Atlanta 3.19.23

By
Official Release
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FOUR TOYOTAS CLAIM TOP-10 RESULTS AT ATLANTA
Camry TRDs Claim Top Finishes of 2023 Season To Date

HAMPTON, Ga. (March 19, 2023) – Four Toyota Camry TRDs claimed top-10 finishes in Sunday afternoon’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Christopher Bell (third), Tyler Reddick (fifth), Denny Hamlin (sixth) and Ty Gibbs (ninth) all ran together in the draft pack on the high-speed Atlanta track in the closing laps, but were unable to make the pass in the closing laps to get around race-winner Joey Logano.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Race 5 of 36 – 400 miles, 260 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Joey Logano*
2nd, Brad Keselowski*
3rd, CHRISTOPHER BELL
4th, Corey LaJoie*
5th, TYLER REDDICK
6th, DENNY HAMLIN
9th, TY GIBBS
19th, MARTIN TRUEX JR.
27th, BUBBA WALLACE
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

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

Finishing Position: 3rd

What could you have done as a pack of Toyotas in the final laps of the race?
“I don’t know. Got a good finish out of it and I’m happy with that. I don’t know, I had the position the 22 (Joey Logano) had and I decided to bail on it and go to the top. To come so close is disappointing, but very happy with a third-place result. We’ll go onto the next one.”

How difficult is it to put this behind you and move onto Circuit of the Americas next week?

“That will be pretty easy. I don’t really enjoy this style of racing, but I really enjoy CoTA. Ready to go.”

Can you take us through your race today overall?

“It was a pretty smooth day really. We started in the back and we were able to get up front and get some stage points at the end of stage one so that was pretty cool. Stage two, the green flag cycle didn’t really work our way. Ultimately, we were able to keep the DeWalt Camry clean all day and put ourselves in position at the end of the race so that’s all you can ask for.”

What is your secret to the top-five finishes at this track in recent races?

“Getting lucky. Speedway racing is a lot about luck and fortunately it worked out for us at Daytona and now here.”

TYLER REDDICK, No. 45 Xfinity 10 G Toyota Camry TRD, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 5th

Was there anything you could have done differently at the end of the race to get the win?

“Oh yeah, for sure. We’ll try to just go back and look at it. Our Xfinity Toyota Camry TRD was as fast as the Xfinity 10 G network. We had Toyotas lined up there and I didn’t know if that was our move there with all three together or Christopher (Bell) was going to do it on his own. We’ll talk about it for sure. I don’t know, maybe if we all would have went it would have worked out for one of us. I’m not really sure. It didn’t really work for one of us so it’s definitely something for us to think about so that one of us can win the race there. It’s a bummer that we let someone else get it done.”

Brad Keselowski said you deserved a better finish than fifth today, did it feel like a chess match during the final laps of the race?

“There was definitely some hard work going on. Joey (Logano) was doing Joey things. He was making the bottom work really good. For me, I appreciate his (Brad Keselowski) comments there, he’s done a lot for me in my career in the past. I was also at the same time trying to create an opportunity where all three – myself, Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin could all break away and take advantage of momentum. It didn’t quite work out timing wise as it needed to for that. All in all, it was an okay day.”

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

Finishing Position: 6th

What was your takeaway from today’s race?

“The last pit road incident where cars are coming in and I’m coming out, that’s just part of it. The traffic jam that you get there. But speedways in general like this one, it’s just kind of two-by-two and you can’t really pull out to a third lane. I just restarted I think fourth on the outside row and that’s where I ended up. You have to stay in line and just watch the cars in front of you to see if you can make a hole. Overall, happy for Shingrix coming on again this week and hopefully we can keep getting more of these Toyotas up front.”

Do you think more could have been done with the group of Toyotas running together in the final laps?

“Not really. It’s just so circumstantial that you want to be able to stay as close as you can to each other to give each other runs. I thought there was one opportunity there where we all were clear and we could have all pulled down in front of the 22 (Joey Logano) and we didn’t. That probably was the key moment for us, but overall it is what it is and it’s probably the most Toyotas we’ve had in the top-10 all year. Just have to continue to get better. We just need more speed, more handling, more everything to get a little better.”

TY GIBBS, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 9th

How do you feel about your race and your performance today?

“I feel like from where we started to where we finished, we made really good progression. The team, my 54 group never gave up on me and we had great stops all day. We had a very fast Monster Energy Toyota Camry TRD, just ran out of laps there. Probably could have worked our way up a little bit and been more aggressive, but it just comes with experience, but we’re plate racing and that’s just part of it and just learning and we’ll move on and go to the next race.”

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.

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