(Los Angeles / Thursday – March 16, 2023) Nitro Rallycross has announced the full entry list for Group E, Side-By-Sides and NRX NEXT at its 2022/23 season finale this weekend. The expanded roster includes highly-decorated drivers with Race of Champions, WRC, Extreme E and Formula Drift pedigrees – including four female competitors – and is ready to throw down at LA’s iconic Glen Helen Raceway Friday, March 17 through Sunday, March 19.
Stacked Driver Lineup:
With the racing community raving about the next level performance of the 1,070 hp equivalent FC1-X, Mexico’s Benito Guerra will make his Nitro RX debut at Glen Helen. Guerra is both a rally pro, having competed in WRC since 2006, and a Race of Champions veteran. He took the ROC checkered flag in 2019, beating out F1 stars Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly for the win at Foro Sol in front of his home country fans.
From L-R: Benito Guerra (MEX) and Timo Scheider (GER) join LA Group E field
Also getting behind the wheel of the FC1-X is legendary multi-discipline driver Timo Scheider (GER). Scheider competed in DTM for 15 years and is a two-time champion. He was named German Sportsman of the Year in 2008. Scheider has also won the 24 Hours of Spa and podiumed at 24 Hours of Le Mans, raced in WRX, and competed in Extreme E. With Kris Meeke (GBR unable to race due to injury, Scheider will now join Oliver Bennett (GBR) as part of XITE Energy Racing.
Turning to the Group E championship, Robin Larsson (SWE) maintains his series lead, thanks to his cool consistency under pressure (he has earned two victories and six podiums so far). But, with five winners across seven rounds, the title is still very much up grabs. Andreas Bakkerud (NOR) along with rising star Fraser McConnell (JAM) are hot on Larsson’s heels in second and third place respectively, while just behind them Oliver Eriksson (SWE) has gained ground. Pastrana is still aiming to defend his 2021 Nitro RX title. But he comes into the final weekend in fifth and will need to turn it up significantly if he wants to remain in the hunt.
Nitro RX 2022/23 LA Round 8 – 10 Season Finale: Group E Entry List (New Drivers Listed in Bold)
Driver Name
Vehicle #
Nationality
Team
Andreas Bakkerud
13
NOR
DRR JC / RX Cartell
Oliver Bennett
42
GBR
XITE Energy Racing
Kevin Eriksson
23
SWE
OMSE
Oliver Eriksson
16
SWE
OMSE
Benito Guerra*
71
MEX
OMSE
Robin Larsson
4
SWE
DRR JC / RX Cartell
Conner Martell
21
USA
Vermont SportsCar
Fraser McConnell
35
JAM
DRR
Travis Pastrana
199
USA
Vermont SportsCar
Timo Scheider
12
GER
XITE Energy Racing
*Competing in LA Round 9 – 10 only, and not participating in 2022/23 series championship
In Nitro RX’s special Side-By-Sides class, Amanda Sorensen (USA) is set to line up. Sorensen is a Formula DRIFT star (who, in her 2019 debut at 16 years old, was the youngest driver to compete in the series, and is one of only two females competing in the sport), and she recently joined Extreme E’s 2023 season. She also has deep UTV roots, winning two trophies and five podiums during the 2019 UTV championship.
From L-R: UTV and Off-Road Pros Amanda Sorensen (USA) and Sara Price (USA) to race in Side-By-Sides
Fellow Extreme E, UTV, and off-road racer Sara Price (USA) heads to Glen Helen fresh off a strong performance at last weekend’s Mint 400, where she took the win in the UTV Pro Super Stock Turbo class. Named an Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Rising Star in 2016, Sara Price’s racing career started on dirt in motocross, where she won 19 amateur titles and medaled in Women’s Super X at the 2010 X Games. Price switched to four-wheel competition in 2012.
UTV and Pro 4 racer Scottie Lawrence (USA), who topped the Nitro RX Side-By-Sides podium in Phoenix last November, is back for this weekend’s finale. Young talents Gregoire Michaud (CAN) and 13-year old Ben Maier (USA), who both made a lot of noise this season with multiple podium appearances, return as well. Joining them will be professional skateboarder, Brazilian Olympic competitor, and aspiring race car driver Leticia Bufoni, along with CrossFit athlete, social media influencer and fellow motorsport enthusiast Demi Bagby (USA).
Nitro RX 2022/23 LA Round 8 – 10 Season Finale: Side-By-Sides Entry List
Driver Name
Vehicle #
Nationality
Demi Bagby
22
USA
Leticia Bufoni
13
USA
Scottie Lawrence
77
USA
Ben Maier
67
USA
Gregorie Michaud
27
CAN
Amanda Sorensen
12
USA
Sara Price
78
USA
The world’s best up-and-coming drivers is also set to compete in NRX NEXT, Nitro RX’s developmental class. At Glen Helen this weekend, they will battle for the series’ first NEXT world championship, headlined by European NEXT winner Tommi Hallman (FIN) and North American NEXT champion Casper Jansson (SWE) who are crossing the Atlantic to face off for the global title.
But by no means will this weekend be a two-horse race: Simon Olofsson (SWE), winner at Nitro RX’s first round at the UK’s Lydden Hill, is eager to bookend that victory with a finals trophy from LA, while Jimmy Henderson (USA) and Lane Vacala (USA) are also looking to add to their NEXT podium finishes.
Nitro RX 2022/23 LA Round 8 – 10 Season Finale: NRX NEXT Entry List
Driver Name
Vehicle #
Nationality
Team
Eric Gordon
99
USA
BAK 40 Motorsports
Tommi Hallman
87
FIN
Team Faren
Jimmy Henderson
44
USA
BAK 40 Motorsports
Casper Jansson
36
SWE
OMSE
Simon Olofsson
52
SWE
STS RX
Lane Vacala
55
USA
BAK 40 Motorsports
How to Watch:
Do not miss your chance to see Nitro RX’s first global champions be crowned! Tickets to Nitro RX’s 2022/23 season finale can be purchased at nitrorallycross.com. General admission tickets in both single-day (starting at $20 each for Friday; $25 for Saturday, and $25 for Sunday) as well as weekend options ($50 each) are on sale now. For premium experiences, Club Nitro and VIP Trackside passes are also available ($100 each for Friday; $125 for Saturday, $125 for Sunday or $300 for the full weekend). All prices plus additional taxes and fees.
Children 12 years old and under can get in free with purchase of an adult ticket (except for VIP tickets – all VIP tickets are required, except for children three years old or younger with an adult ticket purchase).
Event partners for Nitro RX’s 2022/23 season finale include A SHOC Energy, Yokohama Tire, Smirnoff Ice, O’Reilly Auto Parts, myenergi, Insta360 and Wild Mike’s Ultimate Pizza.
ABOUT NITRO RALLYCROSS
Launched in 2018 by motorsports icon Travis Pastrana and the innovators of Nitro Circus, Nitro Rallycross has revolutionized motorsport. With innovative purpose-built courses, banked turns inspired by the wide-open action of Supercross and short-form, head-to-head competition, Nitro RX creates high-impact, thrill-packed racing. Nitro RX’s custom-built tracks – featuring the biggest jumps seen in motorsports – create unrivalled racing excitement. The full-throttle competition is now going global with Nitro Rallycross’ expansion into a full standalone championship series. Nitro RX is also adding Group E, an electric circuit featuring the all-new FC1-X, the most powerful Rallycross vehicle ever built. For more information, visit NitroRallycross.com.
FOURTH IN PHOENIX: Kyle Larson was fastest overall in practice and won his 15th career pole position, earning him the top spot for the start of Sunday’s race at Phoenix Raceway. During the race, the 30-year-old driver won the second stage and led a race-high 201 laps. At the checkered flag, Larson finished in the fourth position at the 1-mile desert oval.
LEADING LAPS: Claiming the front position for 270 laps thus far, Larson has led the most laps of any driver in the Cup Series in 2023. This mark puts the Elk Grove, California, native tied for fourth with Jimmie Johnson’s 2005 tally (and behind Jeff Gordon in 1995 and 2001 and Terry Labonte in 1996) for the most laps led by a Hendrick Motorsports driver through four races.
THE NO. 5 IS HEATING UP: Larson is one of only five drivers – along with teammates Alex Bowman and William Byron – to earn multiple top-five finishes to start the season. He earned those finishes over the past two weekends at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (second) and Phoenix (fourth). Those two races also rank in the top 10 among his best races based on average position – 1.4 at Phoenix (ranks tied for third) and 2.2 at Las Vegas (ranks 10th). The 2021 Cup Series champion is second in most laps run in the top five (638) and fourth in most laps run in the top 10 (707).
300TH NASCAR START: This Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Larson will hit a career milestone. The green flag at the 1.54-mile track will symbolize Larson’s 300th start in the Cup Series. He will be the 99th driver to hit this mark. After making his Cup Series debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway for HScott Motorsports, Larson drove for Chip Ganassi Racing (from 2014 to 2020) and has been with Hendrick Motorsports since 2021. He will look to be the eighth driver and the first since Brad Keselowski (at Talladega in October 2017) to be victorious in his 300th Cup Series start. To date with 299 starts, Larson has earned 19 wins, 91 top fives, 148 top 10s, 43 stage wins and one championship.
RACING IN THE ATL: Larson’s 419 laps led at the Hampton, Georgia, venue is the most by a driver without a win and are his sixth-most at a track on the current series schedule. The two-time runner-up finisher at Atlanta has four top-10 results in 10 starts at the track.
PIT POWER: The No. 5 pit crew has the eighth-best average four-tire stop time through four races at 11.493 seconds. The team’s five-man pit crew consists of Blaine Anderson (front-tire changer), R.J. Barnette (tire carrier), Brandon Harder (fueler), Brandon Johnson (jackman) and Calvin Teague (rear-tire changer).
HENDRICKCARS.COM IS HOME: The Atlanta race marks the first 2023 home race for the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM team. Respectively, the No. 5 driver and crew can be found in their white firesuits this weekend. In addition, Hendrick Automotive Group is celebrating with a new exclusive hat program for fans. For every home race this season (15 total), there will be a unique hat that is released the week of the race and only available for sale at the trackside merchandise haulers, or available to win on HENDRICKCARS.COM. Less than 100 of each limited-edition hat will be made available to the public. See this week’s hat, which will be revealed at noon ET on Thursday, here.
ATLANTA AUTOMOTIVE NEEDS & BEYOND: The extended Atlanta market is home to nine Hendrick Automotive Group dealerships. Not located in Georgia? You can pick from any one of Hendrick Automotive Group’s 95 dealerships nationwide. Customers can also shop from the convenience of their home by selecting the category, make, model and vehicle packages that are important to them from the nearly 30,000 new, high-quality pre-owned and certified cars, trucks and SUVs available at HENDRICKCARS.COM.
WE’RE HIRING: Join 10,000+ others nationwide in working at Hendrick Automotive Group. Hendrick is hiring technicians and other positions at its dealerships throughout the country. Positions are open for all skill levels and offer tuition and training reimbursement. Individuals who are interested can apply at HENDRICKCARS.COM.
9 JOSH BERRY
Age: 32 (Oct. 22, 1990)
Hometown: Hendersonville, Tennessee
Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Tom Gray (interim)
Standings: 41st (owner’s points)
No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
BERRY GOOD SUB: This weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Josh Berry will make his third start for Hendrick Motorsports in the No. 9 filling in for Chase Elliott as he continues to recover from a fractured tibia. At Phoenix Raceway last Sunday, Berry rolled off the grid from the 17th position and powered his way to a 10th-place result. It was his first top-10 finish in the NASCAR Cup Series in just his fourth career start, making him only the seventh driver in the last 15 years to accomplish that feat in four races or less. The effort also made the Hendersonville, Tennessee, native the 29th different driver to score a top 10 for Hendrick Motorsports.
WINNER WINNER NO. 9: Last season with Elliott behind the wheel, the No. 9 team was impressive on drafting-style tracks. The team scored two wins – Atlanta in July and Talladega Superspeedway in October – and only finished outside of the top 10 in one occurrence across six starts at Daytona International Speedway, Talladega and Atlanta. Last summer, Elliott led a total of 96 laps en route to his victory at Atlanta, sweeping both stages along the way. The Talladega win last fall was the most recent visit to victory lane for the No. 9 team. It was part of a series-leading five wins on the year for Elliott and the team.
THE BERRY LOWDOWN: Berry, a full-time competitor in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports, has four Xfinity starts at Atlanta. He’s started from the front row twice and his best finish at the track is second, which he earned last July. Across 10 starts at drafting tracks in Xfinity, the 32-year-old driver has two top-five finishes, three top-10s and 48 laps led. This weekend will mark his first superspeedway-style start in the Cup Series.
HOME GAME: Four of the No. 9 team’s partners are based in the Peach State, with NAPA Auto Parts, Hooters, Kelley Blue Book and Coca-Cola all being headquartered in Atlanta. This weekend, NAPA’s blue, yellow and white colors will be back on board the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. It will mark the company’s ninth race as the primary partner of the team at Atlanta. NAPA was also the primary partner on the No. 9 for last July’s victory. See all the angles of the 2023 NAPA paint scheme here.
MAN OF THE PEOPLE: Fans will have two opportunities to see Berry on Sunday before he suits up for the 400-mile race at Atlanta. First, he’ll stop by the Chevy display for a Q&A at 11:40 a.m. in the Fan Zone and then head over to the Trackside Live stage for an appearance at noon ET.
24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 25 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Brian Campe (interim)
Standings: 29th
No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media at the Atlanta Motor Speedway media center on Saturday, March 18, at 10:45 a.m. EST.
BACK-TO-BACK BABY: Coming off a NASCAR Cup Series win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, William Byron and the No. 24 team didn’t let up there at Phoenix Raceway. After qualifying third, Byron quickly took over the lead on lap two and never looked back, capturing the stage one win. Restarting alongside Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson for the start of stage two, Byron settled into the second position and ended the stage in the runner-up spot. As the final stage began, he continued to run within the top five but a late-race caution restacked the field. Crew chief Rudy Fugle made the call for two right-side tires under the yellow, allowing his driver to race off pit road in second and line up on the front row. Byron battled with Larson in the final laps before ultimately making the pass for the win, scoring back-to-back wins for the first time in his Cup Series career.
GOOD COMPANY: The victory at Phoenix marked Byron’s sixth Cup Series career win. He joined elite company, becoming the seventh-youngest driver to capture six Cup Series wins at 25 years, 3 months, and 12 days. Those who accomplished the same feat at a younger age are all Cup Series champions – Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Jeff Gordon, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch and Richard Petty.
MY GENERATION: With two wins in 2022 and now two wins already in 2023, Byron has four total wins in the Next Gen car. He is tied for the second-most wins in the new car, just one win behind Elliott, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate.
CATCH ME UP FRONT: So far this season, Byron has led the second-most laps (240) behind only Larson with 270. His 240 laps led in 2023 are the seventh-most among Hendrick Motorsports drivers all-time through four races. In fact, in two of the four races this year, Byron has an average running position of 1.7 at Las Vegas and a 2.5 at Phoenix – both races he took home the checkered flag.
24 IN ’23: Byron and the No. 24 team are off to a hot start in the 2023 season. After four races this year, he leads the series in wins (two), stage points (49), average running position (6.79) and laps run in the top five (654). On top of that, the 25-year-old is tied for the most stage wins (three) and top-five finishes (two). Byron ranks second in top-10 finishes in a stage (six), laps led (240), laps run in the top-two positions (423) and laps run in the top-10 (768).
PIT ROAD PROWESS: The No. 24 pit crew has an average four-tire pit stop time of 11.139 – the third-best average in the field. The No. 24 pit crew consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer), Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer), Ryan Patton (tire carrier) and Landon Walker (fueler). The No. 24 pit crew once again had a strong hand in this past Sunday’s win at Phoenix, helping Byron pick up two positions on pit road during the final stop, setting him up for the front row for the final two restarts of the race.
GOT 99 PROBLEMS, BUT WINNING AIN’T ONE: With his wins at Las Vegas and Phoenix, Byron continues to make his mark on the legacy of the No. 24 at the Cup Series level. Those two wins bring the No. 24 one victory away from 100. Currently fifth with 99 wins, the No. 24 is only behind the No. 3 with 101, the No. 2 with 102 wins, the No. 43 with 200 wins and the No. 11 with 228 wins on the all-time list.
THE ATL ARCHIVE: Byron has seven Cup Series starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but this Sunday will be only his third at the 1.54-mile track since the reconfiguration prior to the 2022 season. In this race last year, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native rocketed to the front of the field, leading 111 laps before going on to score his first win of the 2022 season. His spring win made him the fourth-youngest winner at Atlanta at 24 years, 3 months and 20 days. In both starts at the Georgia-based venue last year, Byron led 152 laps – the most of any driver.
LIBERTY U IS BACK: This Sunday, Byron will sport his updated Liberty University paint scheme for the first time in the 2023 season. Featuring a white base with navy flames and red accents, the Liberty University No. 24 will be sure to stand out on track. Liberty University has a long history with Byron starting back in 2014 in the late model ranks. Liberty University has been Training Champions for Christ since it was founded in 1971. Located in the mountains of Central Virginia, Liberty is a liberal arts institution with 17 colleges and schools that offers more than 600 degree programs from the certificate to the doctoral level, on campus and online. Working on an undergraduate degree in strategic communication, Byron is now in his junior year at Liberty University through its online program. For a better look at Byron’s new Liberty University paint scheme, click here.
48 Alex Bowman
Age: 29 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Resides: Concord, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Greg Ives (interim)
Standings: 23rd
No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
PHOENIX REBOUND: Last Sunday, Alex Bowman continued to flex his racing muscles, finishing ninth at Phoenix Raceway – his best result at the 1-mile venue since his 2016 appearance in the No. 88 when he placed sixth. The driver of the No. 48 finished the first stage in 14th and the second stage in 12th, before notching his fourth consecutive top-10 finish in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.
CAN’T TOUCH ME: Bowman is carrying a lot of momentum heading to Atlanta Motor Speedway for this Sunday’s race. Through four races, the 29-year-old driver has his best marks at this point in a season with two top-five finishes, four top-10s and an average finish of 6.25. He also won the pole position for the DAYTONA 500, has led 31 laps and has an average starting position of 8.50. Bowman is one of five drivers with multiple top-five finishes – including teammates Kyle Larson and William Byron – and the only driver to finish in the top 10 in all races this season.
BEST IN SHOW: Bowman joins some of the Hendrick Motorsports greats to start a season with four consecutive top-10 results. Ricky Rudd (1991), Terry Labonte (1997), Jimmie Johnson (2005 and 2006), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2013) and Jeff Gordon (2014) have all accomplished the same feat.
AB IN ATL: This Sunday, the Cup Series takes on the repaved and reconfigured Atlanta venue for the second year. In the last four races at the 1.54-mile track, two of which came on the old Atlanta surface, Bowman has scored two top-five finishes and three top-10s. His 10th-place finish in March 2022 was on the new configuration. In July 2022, Bowman started the race in eighth and finished the first stage in second, before being caught in an on-track incident that ended his day early due to the damaged vehicle policy.
LET THEM COOK: The No. 48 Ally Racing pit crew holds the fourth-fastest pit stop of the 2023 season. On lap 185 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the five-man crew made a four-tire pit stop of 9.776 seconds. The over-the-wall crew is made up of rear-tire changer Andrew Bridgeforth, fueler Jacob Conley, jackman Allen Holman, tire carrier Scott Riddle and front-tire changer Donnie Tasser.
SAVE THEM ALL: Bowman and primary partner Ally are teaming up this year to bring back the Best Friends Animal Society donation effort. This week, the duo will make charitable contributions to the Street Paws, which serves the local community in Atlanta. Bowman and Ally will donate $4,800 to Best Friends and the Street Paws. Ally will increase its donation to $10,000 if the No. 48 team wins on Sunday.
DAY ‘N’ NITE: The No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will adorn two versions of its primary scheme during the 2023 Cup Series season. The No. 48 Ally Chevy “day” scheme will host a white base with bright plum, grapefruit, and seafoam stripes down the side. This version of the primary scheme will appear at races that take place during the day. When the lights come on over the racetrack, the black-based No. 48 Ally Chevy “night” scheme will be sported with a similar design to its daytime counterpart. This weekend, the No. 48 machine will adorn the “day” scheme. Check out all the angles of the new look here.
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS /
Hendrick Motorsports
2023
All-Time
Atlanta
Races
4
1,313
68
Wins
2*
293*
16*
Poles
2*
241*
5
Top 5
7*
1,197*
64*
Top 10
10*
2,055*
101*
Laps Led
542*
77,859*
3,619*
Stage Wins
4*
83
5*
*Most **Most (tie)
CLOSING IN ON 300: William Byron’s win at Phoenix Raceway puts Hendrick Motorsports seven points-paying victories away from 300 in the NASCAR Cup Series. Twenty drivers have combined to reach the organization’s current total of 293 wins, which is the most in the sport by any one team.
ATOP THE BOX: For this weekend’s race, Kevin Meendering (No. 5), Tom Gray (No. 9), Brian Campe (No. 24) and Greg Ives (No. 48) will fill in as crew chiefs. While appealing penalties assessed by NASCAR coming out of Phoenix, Hendrick Motorsports has elected not to request deferral of personnel suspensions. Meendering and Ives have a wide range of experience as crew chiefs and currently lead the organization’s NASCAR Xfinity Series efforts. Gray, the former lead engineer on the No. 9, will be serving as a crew chief in the Cup Series for the first time. Campe, Hendrick Motorsports’ technical director, has experience as a Xfinity Series crew chief, but Atlanta will also be his first Cup Series race atop the pit box.
MULTITUDE OF WINS: Byron’s latest victory gave Hendrick Motorsports its 36th multi-win season in the Cup Series. In each of the last 30 seasons, the organization has won at least two races.
BEST IN THE WEST: In the last two races of the 2023 season (at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Phoenix), Hendrick Motorsports has led 506 of the 588 laps run (86.05%), ran one-two for 401 laps (83.76%), tallied four stage wins, two race wins, five top-five finishes and seven top-10s. Sunday’s race at Phoenix saw the organization place all four of its drivers in the top 10 – Byron in first, Kyle Larson finished fourth, Alex Bowman placed ninth and Josh Berry in 10th.
FRONT RUNNING: Through four races this season, Hendrick Motorsports has led 542 laps. That mark is the second-most in the organization’s history through this point in the season and 10th all-time among all teams at this point in the season – 797 laps led in 1995 is the most by the team through four races. With 270 laps led by Larson and 240 by Byron, the squad is the first to have two drivers with at least 240 circuits out front through four races in a season.
HOPEFUL HARBINGER: Byron’s two wins in the first four races marks the eighth time that the 14-time Cup Series championship-winning organization has accomplished that feat. In five of the previous instances, the team went on to win the title: Jeff Gordon in 1995 and 1997 and Jimmie Johnson in 2006-07 and 2010.
GREAT EIGHT: The Rick Hendrick-owned team has seen eight drivers win at Atlanta – the most among all organizations. Gordon and Johnson each won five times at the Georgia oval. Darrell Waltrip, Ken Schrader, Jerry Nadeau, Kasey Kahne, Chase Elliott and Byron have one victory apiece.
BREAK OUT THE BROOMS: In last season’s two races at Atlanta, the Concord, North Carolina, based team nabbed both wins. Byron won the spring race, which was the first on the repaved and reconfigured track that utilized the superspeedway rules package. Elliott was victorious for his first home track win in the Cup ranks. Overall, Hendrick Motorsports led a series-best 278 laps at the 1.54-mile track last year, exactly 191 laps more than the next closest team. Byron and Elliott ranked one-two in laps led with 152 and 125, respectively.
TAKING STOCK: Hendrick Motorsports has been to victory lane 16 times at the Georgia venue. That total is the most among all Cup teams and is the fifth-most victories for the organization at any one particular track. Martinsville Speedway (27), Dover Motor Speedway (22), Charlotte Motor Speedway (21) and Pocono Raceway (19) stand as the only tracks where the team has compiled more wins.
DRAFTING DOMINANCE: Hendrick Motorsports has 31 all-time wins on drafting tracks (Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and as of last year, Atlanta). That total is 11 more than the next closest organization.
LEADERS OF THE PACK: Since the start of the 2022 season, Hendrick Motorsports leads the following categories on drafting tracks: wins (three), laps led (430) and average start (9.86). The organization is tied for the most poles (two) and top-10 finishes (10) during that span.
QUOTABLE /
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the season so far: “We had a shot to win in Daytona and I crashed. In Fontana, we had the mechanical issue early in the race, but fixed it and the last two runs of the race we were by far the fastest car. In Vegas, we were the second-best car to William (Byron) and finished second. In Phoenix, again, we had a great car there and had a shot to win late. No win in the column, but I’m super pleased with our performance and look forward to every upcoming race. I feel like no matter where we go right now, we will have a shot at a good finish and hopefully some wins along the way.”
Josh Berry, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his first top-10 finish in the NASCAR Cup Series and looking ahead to Atlanta Motor Speedway: “The top-10 finish at Phoenix (Raceway) was really cool for us to accomplish. And for Atlanta (Motor Speedway), we just want to keep building on what we’ve been doing and just continue to improve. Atlanta is going to be a tough race without a doubt, but Hendrick Motorsports has been really strong there. I think if we can just stay out of trouble and hopefully stay up front, we’ll have a chance of getting a good finish.”
Berry, on what has helped get him more comfortable with the car and acclimated with the team: “It was amazing what a week of preparation did for us at Phoenix (Raceway). Just being around each other and spending some time in the sim and just getting a little bit more comfortable with each other has definitely helped a lot. This week, I’ve also spent some time with Eddie (D’Hondt, spotter) and getting our communication better as well, which is going to be really important in Atlanta. I think we just keep pushing in that same direction. We’re trending better and better each time we go on the racetrack, so Atlanta should be fun.”
William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his confidence heading to Atlanta: “This past offseason we really took the time to evaluate where we were and what we needed to get better as a team. I think this year has shown that so far, especially to have two strong runs and wins so soon. Everyone is putting in the time and effort to make sure we are improving. Now we’re heading back to Atlanta (Motor Speedway) as the defending winner of this race last year, and two wins under our belts. It gives us an extra boost of confidence but we’re not going to let up.”
Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his consistency to start 2023: “It’s been a goal of mine for so long to get more consistent. Having finished in the top 10 in all four races so far gives me a lot of confidence in what the No. 48 Ally Racing team is doing this season. It helps that I have liked a lot of the tracks we start at this season, but we keep bringing fast race cars and maximizing every opportunity that comes our way. Atlanta (Motor Speedway) races more like a superspeedway with the repave so it’s a little bit of a tossup, but I am ready to continue the streak we are on.”
The Mohegan Sun 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is on Doubleheader Saturday, July 15 at 6 p.m. Mohegan Sun also becomes Official Casino Partner of NHMS.
LOUDON, N.H. – Mohegan Sun, one of the world’s most amazing integrated entertainment destinations, has expanded its partnership with New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) by adding its name to the biggest NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) race of the year. The Mohegan Sun 100 will take place at 6 p.m. on Doubleheader Saturday, July 15 as part of New England’s only NASCAR weekend.
“We’re honored to continue to this collaboration with NHMS, and to be named Official Casino Partner for the Mohegan Sun 100 coming up in July,” said Mohegan Sun President and General Manager Jeff Hamilton. “This is a thrilling event for NASCAR fans; we’re excited to be a part of the action and to be able to engage with guests who have interest in learning more about Mohegan Sun and all the incredible experiences we offer!”
The Uncasville, Conn. resort will also receive premium signage displays and hospitality opportunities, feature activation in the Fan Zone and the opportunity to select VIP dignitaries.
“We’re all about providing a top-notch experience for race fans here at ‘The Magic Mile,’ and the Mohegan Sun 100 is sure to entertain the crowd on July 15,” said New Hampshire Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager David McGrath. “The modifieds have deep roots in New England, and Mohegan Sun has proven to be a premier New England destination with so much to offer folks from the region and beyond.”
Mohegan Sun features some of New England’s finest dining, hotel accommodations, retail shopping, live entertainment and sporting events. Boasting two unique casinos, Mohegan Sun is also host to the Kids Quest/Cyber Quest family entertainment facility, two luxurious spas, world-class meeting facilities, a state-of-the-art Poker Room as well as three major entertainment venues with seating from 350 to 10,000.
Mohegan Sun has been involved with NHMS’s NASCAR weekend for a number of years, activating in the Fan Zone, engaging in hospitality opportunities and being featured on an on-site billboard. This year, the partnership has not only grown to include the naming rights of the NWMT race, but Mohegan Sun also becomes the Official Casino Partner of NHMS.
New England’s only NASCAR weekend gets underway on Friday, July 14 with Friday Night Dirt Duels at The Flat Track, continues with Doubleheader Saturday, July 15 featuring the Ambetter Health 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) race and the Mohegan Sun 100 NWMT race and culminates with the Crayon 301 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) race on Sunday, July 16.
Be sure to check the weekend schedule often, as it will be continuously updated as the event weekend approaches.
Tickets:
Adult tickets start at just $59 for Sunday’s Crayon 301 NCS race and $35 for Doubleheader Saturday, featuring the Ambetter Health 200 NXS race and the Mohegan Sun 100 NWMT race. Tickets for kids 12 and under are just $10 for Sunday and free on Saturday. Further details can be found on the NHMS website or by calling 833-4LOUDON.
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Keep track of all of New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s events by following on Facebook (@NHMotorSpeedway), Twitter (@NHMS) and Instagram (@NHMS). Keep up with all the latest information on the speedway website (NHMS.com) and mobile app.
About Mohegan Sun
Owned by Mohegan, Mohegan Sun is one of the largest, most spectacular entertainment gaming, dining and shopping destinations in the United States. Situated on 185 acres along the Thames River in scenic Southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is home to two unique casinos, 1,600 deluxe hotel rooms, two world-class spas, a golf course, over 70 shops, restaurants and bars as well as three award-winning entertainment venues including a 10,000-seat Arena. Mogen Sun is within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence and located 15 minutes from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country. More information is available by calling (888) 226-7711 or visiting MoheganSun.com. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @MoheganSun, view us on YouTube and find us on Snapchat at username MoheganSun.
COLE CUSTER | RILEY HERBST Atlanta NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview
• Event: RAPTOR 250 (Round 5 of 33) • Date: Saturday, March 18 • Location: Atlanta Motor Speedway • Layout: 1.54-mile oval • Time/TV/Radio: 5 p.m. EDT on FS1/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Cole Custer Notes of Interest
• Coming off of NASCAR’s three-week West Coast swing, Cole Custer is ready for a little change of scenery in the Southeast during Saturday’s RAPTOR 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It’ll be the No. 00 Haas Automation driver’s first NASCAR Xfinity Series race on the recently reconfigured Atlanta oval after contesting both NASCAR Cup Series events there in 2022. The 1.54-mile oval was reconfigured prior to last season’s events, and racing there now resembles what takes place on the behemoth 2.5-mile Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and 2.66-mile Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway layouts. Atlanta’s banking in the corners was increased from 24 degrees to 28 degrees, the track width was reconfigured to vary from 55 feet to 40 feet, and the entire track was repaved with fresh asphalt. The goal of the project was to recreate the kind of pack-style racing at Atlanta that fans enjoy at Daytona and Talladega.
• The RAPTOR 250 will be Custer’s fourth Xfinity Series start at Atlanta. In his three previous outings from 2017 to 2019, his best result was a second-place finish from the pole in the February 2019 race. Custer also has six starts outside of the Xfinity Series at Atlanta – one in the NASCAR Truck Series and five in the Cup Series. His best finish of ninth came in his most recent visit to the track with the Cup Series last July.
• After starting the season with a strong ninth-place finish at Daytona, misfortune ruined what was shaping up to be another victory the following weekend on his home track, Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. After winning the opening two stages and leading 46 laps along the way, a cut right-front tire ended his victory bid and relegated Custer to a 27th-place finish. He closed the West Coast swing with a pair of 12th-place finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Phoenix Raceway. Custer showed great speed at Phoenix, laying down the fastest laps in practice and earning his first pole of the season in the No. 00 Ford Mustang and the 10th of his Xfinity Series career. He arrives at Atlanta eighth in the driver standings.
Riley Herbst Notes of Interest
• Riley Herbst is on a roll in the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang. In his first four races of 2023, Herbst is continuing the momentum he closed the season with in 2022. Dating back to an eighth-place finish on Oct. 22, 2022, at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the Monster Energy driver has scored seven straight top-10 finishes. He is one of only three Xfinity Series drivers to finish in the top-10 in every race this season – Austin Hill and John Hunter Nemechek are the others. After running in the top-three for a majority of the season opener at Daytona, the Monster Energy driver avoided mayhem in the final laps to finish sixth. When the series rolled into Fontana three weekends ago, he ran in the top-10 for most of the day before finishing seventh. In his hometown of Las Vegas two weekends ago, he was clocking some of the fastest laps of the race on his way to a eighth-place finish. Last weekend at Phoenix, he had a fast Ford Mustang for the entire race, earning valuable stage points on his way to a solid fourth-place finish, his first top-five of the 2023 season. He arrives at Atlanta tied for fourth in the Xfinity Series standings with Chandler Smith.
• Saturday’s RAPTOR 250 will mark Herbst’s sixth career Xfinity Series start at Atlanta and his third on the new layout. When Xfinity Series drivers competed on the new layout for the first time last March, it suited Herbst well as he finished fourth – his best result in four Atlanta starts. He followed that up with a ninth-place result when the series returned to the track last July. Herbst’s sixth-place finish in the March 2021 race was the best of his three Xfinity Series outings on the old Atlanta surface.
• In addition to his top-10 streak, Herbst has yet to finish outside the top-10 in any form of motorsports since last season. In November, Herbst returned to his off road roots to race in the Baja 1000, where he drove the final leg of the journey and earned a third-place finish in a Terrible Herbst Motorsports entry. Then, in February, he made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 65th running of the Daytona 500 in the No. 15 Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing, and came away with a 10th-place finish. He became just the fourth driver in NASCAR history to earn a top-10 in all three of his first starts in the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Truck Series.
Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang
You earned your best Atlanta Xfinity Series finish of second in your most recent outing there in 2019, which came on the old surface. What are your thoughts as you head back there in the new Xfinity Series car on the new configuration, having experience on it during your two Cup Series starts there last year?
“I know I’ll have to adjust to it pretty fast, but this is an interesting style of racing for me. It’s a mix between a mile-and-a-half and a superspeedway. You just kind of have to hope that everything goes right for you. There’s honestly a little bit of luck involved, too. Hopefully, we can find that luck, be fast, and keep ourselves out of trouble until the end.”
After the speed you showed last weekend at Phoenix, what are the expectations for the team for this weekend’s race at Atlanta?
“Riley (Herbst) had some really strong races at Atlanta last year, so I think it’s just a matter of learning from what he did and continuing to build that notebook. We’re always going to the racetrack looking to win. In the end, it’s all about putting it all together correctly – a perfect day with a fast car, speed, and no mistakes. That’s what we’re hoping for at Atlanta.”
Riley Herbst, Driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang
You’re coming off your best finish of 2023 so far with a fourth-place result at Phoenix. On top of that, you have not finished outside the top-10 in any form of motorsports that you’ve participated in since October 2022. What’s helped you build this consistency?
“I think just the experience I’ve gained over the past few year has helped me as a driver. It’s crazy to see that top-10 statistic, but you also have to realize that, as a driver, you take it race by race. I’m focused on the next race, running well, and continuing to grow. This No. 98 team has worked so hard over the past few years, and I’m thankful for each and every one of them. I’m happy that we’re being consistent and finishing races, but as a racer, you want to win. I think that’s the next step and hopefully we’ll get it done soon.”
You finished fourth and ninth in last year’s two races, respectively, on the reconfigured Atlanta track. Are you a fan of the pack-style of racing that’s new to the 1.54-mile Atlanta oval?
“I didn’t know what to expect when we went there for the first race last year. This was a whole new concept, and I don’t think anyone knew what would happen. We struggled during that first race, too, going two laps down at one point. Ultimately, we got our laps back and fought until the end. It worked out in our favor with a top-five. We were solid again in the summer, but I think that while this track is still new, I’ve enjoyed getting to race there. I’m excited to see what this No. 98 Monster Energy team can do this weekend.”
Fort Worth, TX. (March 16, 2023) – Standout Management Group (SMG) and NASCAR Xfinity driver Gray Gaulding are proud to announce their most recent partner FollowMe Global Business Solutions, LLC (www.followme.llc) and their participation at multiple Xfinity race events throughout the 2023 race season. The partnership will debut at this coming Saturday’s March 18th “Raptor King of Tough 250” race occurring at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Gaulding is looking forward to returning to Atlanta after a challenging West-Coast swing that included right-front blowouts at both Fontana and Phoenix. “I cannot be more excited to debut our new partner FollowMe.llc this weekend at Atlanta. Jason and his team are helping guide and motivate businesses to be more successful which really inspires me as a professional race car driver. NASCAR is a sport that is so dependent on teamwork including with our sponsors and I am excited to see what we can build together starting at Atlanta this weekend and throughout the 2023 season.”
“We, at FollowMe Global Business Solutions, LLC (www.followme.llc), are very proud and excited to be a sponsor for Gray Gaulding, the great Number 08, and to work along with Standout Management Group. As this is a new venture for us, we are extremely pleased with the direction and guidance gained from Kenneth Cameron”, stated CEO Jason Slaughter. “We look forward to being a part of the NASCAR family and fans as a sponsor. Our goal is to increase the viewer ship among the African American community in such an AWESOME sport. We feel that our sponsorship of Gray Gaulding in that Black and Old Gold number 08 car will definitely grab attention.”
Make sure to catch all the race action on FS1 at 5:00 PM ET Saturday, March 18th, 2023.
About FollowMe.llc (www.followme.llc)
We are a diverse, multi-industry, multi-divisional strategic business development consulting firm that specializes in functional group assessments, marketing, and sales value systems (training), operational expertise, acquisitions & integrations, human resources (policy, procedures, diversity training and code of ethics), and growth strategies.
We create truly unique deliverables through our patented products, award-winning services, and proprietary systems to help you solve any problem. We influence influencers. FollowMe to become even more proficient in scaling the capacity and quality of your health, wellness, and wealth. Our humanitarian efforts to support water treatment systems, Indoor Air Quality, and renewable energy across the globe has gained the attention of many large organizations and countries.
Our Divisions:
FollowMe Racing (FMR) is the official team sponsor for NASCAR driver Gray Gaulding, No. 08. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities by visiting FollowMe.racing.
FollowMe Token (FMT) is the exclusive, patented cryptocurrency for services, materials and supplies within the home improvement industry. To learn more about FMT, visit FollowMe.llc/token
FollowMe Investment Club (FMI) is an asset-backed educational club specializing in hard commodities including gold, diamonds, rubies, pearls, and other precious metals and gems. We currently have more than $1 Billion in assets under management. To learn more, visit FollowMe.investments.
FollowMe Energy (FME) is an energy consulting and services company (ESCO). We provide energy efficiency as a service (EEAAS) to government buildings and commercial spaces. We are FEMA certified and registered with USFCR (CAGE CODE: 9C8A8). Learn more by visiting FollowMe.energy and www.healthseal.org
FollowMe Africa (FMA) is our international operations division specializing in in-ground asset monetization through mining, water treatment, agriculture, and renewable energy production. Learn more by visiting FollowMe.africa.
About the Owner
With over 30 years of proven results in business development and profitable growth, Jason Slaughter exemplifies a perfect symbiosis of theoretical and real-world application through his engaging and intuitive motivational teaching style. Having served over three hundred clients across seven industries, Jason Slaughter is changing the way people think about business through education and training with his proprietary systems designed to help you become even more successful.
To learn more about what we do and how we do it, please visit FollowMe.llc.
About SMG
Standout Management Group is a sports and entertainment talent management and activation agency headquartered at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. SMG is considered as an “outside the box” agency that works with brand partners and celebrities to help brands “stand out” from the rest by leveraging motorsports, music and other professional sports platforms. Additionally, SMG uses advanced technology solutions and data capture methods to maximize activation results. For more information, visit www.standoutmg com.
Cash back rewards leader partners with first U.S. driver since 2015 in his inaugural season
DENVER, March 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —Ibotta, the leading digital rewards platform, today announced its sponsorship of Logan Sargeant, who is the first Formula 1 driver from the United States since 2015. This is Sargeant’s first season on the grid, and as part of the sponsorship, racing fans will see the Ibotta logo prominently displayed on Sargeant’s helmet, beginning with his race this weekend in Saudi Arabia.
Sargeant, a Fort Lauderdale, FL native, first got behind the wheel of a go-kart at five years old, kicking off his motorsport journey. Seventeen years later, Sargeant has landed one of only 20 highly coveted F1 seats, as a driver for the Williams Racing team.
“I feel incredibly lucky to have ascended to this point in my racing career. To have a respected brand like Ibotta support me in this new chapter is truly rewarding,” said Sargeant. “I am honored to have a company with such a clear purpose and a commitment to giving back as my personal sponsor.”
“When I met Logan, I knew he was the right partner for us. His determination to stand out amongst the pack reflects Ibotta’s own history, and we think it will make him an outstanding brand ambassador for us,” said Bryan Leach, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Ibotta. “We know Logan will have a positive and lasting impact on the sport – and represent the United States – in the same way Ibotta aims to transform our own market, in the rewards space. He cares about our mission and shares our pride in having given back over $1.4B in cash back rewards to American consumers,” Leach said.
Ibotta plans to use its partnership with Logan for business development purposes, to expand international awareness of the Ibotta brand, and to attract new, younger audiences to its franchise. This sponsorship is Ibotta’s second in the professional sports arena. The brand also sponsors the New Orleans Pelicans NBA team. Partnering with Logan places Ibotta within an ecosystem of some of the world’s biggest brands, while also raising awareness in key markets like Florida and Texas, where he will be racing.
For more information on Ibotta and how to make every purchase rewarding, visit Ibotta.com.
About Ibotta Headquartered in Denver, Colo., Ibotta, Inc. (“I bought a…”) is a free-to-use cash back rewards platform that has delivered more than $1.4 billion in cumulative cash rewards to its users for making purchases in-store, on mobile apps, or via websites. Launched in 2012, Ibotta has more than 46 million downloads, is one of the most frequently used shopping platforms in the United States and offers cash back on purchases on more than 3,000 leading brands and retail partners. In addition to its owned properties, Ibotta also powers rewards programs for top retailers and makes its offer content available on a number of leading websites and apps through the Ibotta Performance Network. Ibotta was named to the 2021 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. for the fourth year in a row after debuting on the list in 2018.
About Logan Sargeant Logan Sargeant is an American Formula 1 driver competing for Williams Racing. Sargeant is the only American driver on the Formula 1 grid and is the first American to compete in the sport since 2015. Logan is a graduate from the Williams Racing Driver Academy and previously competed in the 2022 FIA Formula 2 Championship driving for Carlin, where he was awarded Rookie of the Year by finishing fourth overall in driver standings. Bursting onto the racing scene at the age of eight, Logan took the karting world by storm. Remarkably finishing third place in only his first year behind the wheel, Logan was crowned World Junior Karting Champion in 2015, becoming the first American to win the title since 1978, and then went on to win the WSK Champions Cup in Senior karting in 2016. Logan is one of the most-awarded American Karters in history.
In a weekend Magnus Racing has titled “This Sebring Life,” we’ll be piloting our No. 44 Flex-Box Aston Martin Vantage GT3 in the second round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. There’s no “Mr. Jones” here, but Mr. Potter, Mr. Pumpelly, and Mr. Lally, along with their band of groupies head to Sebring International Raceway for the Twelve Hours of Sebring, a true paved paradise. We’re excited to be “Round Here” in Sebring, the race known for having the best party of all the IMSA WeatherTech races. Falling “Accidently in Love” with Sebring is no accident, as this place brings out the best and most entertaining fans.
Since our second-place finish at the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona, it took so long and the days went drifting away as we anxiously waited to resume racing. This weekend for the 71st Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, our three drivers will race the grey, blue, and orange car that shimmers and drives, down the length of the evening, for twelve hours straight. Ready to face the notoriously bumpy surface that is Sebring International Raceway, we are prepared to race in the 53-car field, with 19 entries with us in the GTD class. We currently have rain predicted on race day, but with “Rain King” Andy Lally in the No. 44 Aston Martin, we know we will be singing “Mrs. Potter’s Lullaby” in pit lane.
You can watch the entire race live on Peacock beginning on Saturday, March 18 at 10:10 AM Eastern, or tune in for the final six hours of the broadcast from 4:30 PM to 10:30 PM on USA Network. Our friends at imsaradio.com will be broadcasting all sessions, and you can find the full event schedule at imsa.com. Fans at the event are encouraged to attend the autograph session on Friday for help to demystify the musical references in this release, don’t be disappointed when there isn’t a concert.
No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R team seeks to continue brand’s success in debut in new series
SEBRING, Fla. (March 15, 2023) — The No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R co-driven by Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn and Richard Westbrook look to extend Cadillac’s success in its inaugural race in a new series Friday in the 1000 Miles of Sebring.
The trio, after completing a successful Prologue last weekend on the 3.741-mile, 17-turn Sebring International Raceway circuit, combined to turn 46 laps in two free practice Hypercar sessions in preparation for the FIA World Endurance Championship season-opening race.
Max Angelelli has the distinction of winning in Cadillac’s debut in the Speed World Challenge GT class in 2004 at Sebring International Raceway and in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s DPi class in the 2017 Rolex 24 At Daytona.
“What a coincidence,” said Angelelli, who won the 2004 race from the pole in the No. 16 Cadillac CTS-V. He teamed with Jeff Gordon, Jordan Taylor and Ricky Taylor in driving the No. 10 Cadillac prototype to the victory at Daytona International Speedway in 2017 in the opening race of the DPi era.
“Both wins were unique, and both were the beginning of something big and something that is still going and growing a lot,” Angelelli said. “They were programs that became extremely successful – the World Challenge and then the DPi. I’ve been very fortunate.
“2004 was kind of I almost couldn’t believe it. We worked a lot in 2003 testing and everything and the car was just so perfect and was so great for Cadillac coming back after the Le Mans experience that didn’t bring the results everybody wanted. Then, P1 and win the first race. And in 2017, I remember the day before I was worrying about failures during the race, and nothing happened. We won the race and that was major as well.”
Angelelli also won from the pole at Road Atlanta in 2004. Cadillac earned the Manufacturer Championship in 2005 and ’07, and Andy Pilgrim won the Driver Championship in 2005.
“We have to applaud the Cadillac effort as a group,” Angelelli said. “I was just one piece of this enormous program. It was a real team effort, a real team win. My time with Cadillac goes back to 1999 and in a different position now I’m still involved, representing the constructor (Dallara). It’s been more than 20 years enjoying working with General Motors and Cadillac.”
Cadillac team learning the ropes
The 15-minute Hypercar qualifying session starts at 7:20 p.m. ET Thursday, with the race taking the green flag at noon Friday.
“To win this race, you have to have no mistakes, and that means pit road, no penalties, no issues in traffic,” said Bamber, who teamed with Lynn and Neel Jani to win the 2022 Twelve Hours of Sebring in the No. 02 Cadillac DPi-V.R. “And then second of all strategy. It’s going to be a different race for everyone with the new safety car and full-course yellow rules. And then the heat is going to be a big one. For us drivers to manage a double stint in the heat is going to be really challenging. We’ve worked on that as well at Cadillac Racing.
“With such big competition now between so many factory teams, a podium would feel like a win for our first time out against all the other new LMDh and LMH cars. We’ll make some really good calls, maybe we’ll make some bad calls, but that’s part of the whole learning process coming into the WEC.”
IMSA teams prep for first session
The No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R and No 31 Whelen Engineering V-Series.R will move onto the course at 10:10 a.m. ET Thursday for the first of three practice sessions preceding qualifications at 10:05 a.m. Friday.
Cadillac, which has won the Twelve Hours of Sebring the past two years and four of the past six, participated in an IMSA-sanctioned test at the track last month with both cars.
Cadillac swept the podium in the 2022, 2019 and 2017. Last March, Sebastien Bourdais set the qualifying lap record of 1 minute, 45.166 seconds in the No. 01 Cadillac DPi-V.R. A Cadillac has started from pole in the prototype class in 2022, 2021, 2018.
Pipo Derani, co-driver of the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R, is among five drivers (and youngest) with three wins in the Twelve Hours of Sebring (2016, 2018, 2019), joining the likes of Phil Hill and Mario Andretti.
Celebrating the anniversary of the V-Series
Cadillac is kicking off a year-long celebration of the V-Series performance sub-brand that was launched at Sebring International Raceway in March 2004. It is now the Official Luxury Vehicle of the iconic racecourse.
“Cadillac made a bold move with V-Series that continues to resonate,” said Global Vice President of Cadillac Rory Harvey. “From the racetrack to the road, V-Series has transformed Cadillac and helped redefine performance luxury for thousands of enthusiasts. Over the next 12 months we will celebrate V-Series with a number of significant moments.”
The inaugural production V-Series — the 2004 CTS-V — was developed on the racetrack and previewed on Germany’s famed Nürburgring circuit. It was the first of 13 V-Series sedan, coupe, roadster and SUV models to follow. The current lineup includes the CT4-V and twin-turbocharged CT4-V Blackwing, the CT5-V and the supercharged CT5-V Blackwing, and the supercharged Escalade-V. They will be on display in the Cadillac exhibit in the midway starting Thursday.
Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing to pace the race
The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, the high-performance sedan with a 6.2-liter hand-built supercharged V8 engine producing 668 horsepower and capable of reaching 200 mph on track, will serve as the official pace car and safety vehicle for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
The CT5-V Blackwing is a Car and Driver 10Best again for 2023: “…the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is the greatest sports sedan on sale today, if not of all time.”
Driving home the Sebring relationship
The Cadillac-Sebring International Raceway connection will also be on display this weekend with the 2023 CT4-V Blackwing Sebring IMSA Track Edition.
The track-capable car features a special matte black paint scheme in honor of the 12-hour race and a symbol of racing in the dark and other eye-catching details that are nods to the iconic racetrack. Spectators can view the limited-edition vehicle in the Cadillac Corral.
SEBRING, Florida (March 15, 2023) – Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams and drivers bring Rolex 24 At Daytona winning momentum and early-season leads in several championships to this week’s 12 Hours of Sebring at Sebring International Raceway, March 15 – 18. Nine Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams across three classes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series compete on the legendary Sebring road course today through Saturday’s 71st running of the legendary 12-hour sports car race on the 3.74-mile Sebring road course.
The second rounds of both this year’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the Michelin Pilot Challenge series, Saturday’s featured 12 Hours of Sebring is scheduled to start at 10:10 a.m. EDT. Live coverage of the in-progress race airs on the USA Network on Saturday starting at 4:30 p.m. EDT and straight through to the finish and post-race interviews until 10:30 p.m. EDT.
In January’s season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona, the No. 79 WeatherTech Racing/Proton Competition Mercedes-AMG GT3 team and co-drivers Cooper MacNeil, Jules Gounon, Daniel Juncadella and Maro Engel broke through for the first WeatherTech Championship GTD Pro class victory for a Mercedes-AMG GT3.
The win was a fitting send off for retiring team driver MacNeil, but early-season championship leaders Gounon, Juncadella and Engel and the WeatherTech/Proton team now have set a podium repeat as the goal at Sebring on Saturday. Last year in the 12 Hour, MacNeil, Engel and Gounon secured a third-place finish in just the second race of the new GTD Pro category.
The WeatherTech/Proton No. 79 is one of three Mercedes-AMG GT3 teams competing in the 12 Hours of Sebring and the full-season WeatherTech Championship.
The No. 32 Team Korthoff Motorsports and No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 teams compete in the GTD class, and both were in a strong position to win in that class at the Rolex 24.
Mike Skeen, Mikael Grenier and Kenton Koch co-drive the Team Korthoff No. 32 this weekend while full-season teammates Russell Ward and Philip Ellis are joined in the No. 57 by longtime co-driver Indy Dontje at Sebring.
Team Korthoff led a GTD class-high 227 race laps at Daytona, but a potentially race-winning performance came to a crushing end with a wheel bearing issue halfway into the 18th hour of the race. The repaired No. 32 returned to finish the Rolex 24, and the team and drivers now look to recapture the same performance demonstrated for three quarters of the race at Daytona and a year ago at Sebring. With Juncadella joining Skeen and then team driver Stevan McAleer in last year’s 12 Hour, Team Korthoff finished a season-best second in GTD in 2022 at Sebring.
The Winward No. 57 led 177 race laps and contended for the GTD victory until the final 30 minutes of the Daytona opener. Ellis battled with the other GTD and GTD Pro leaders, only to be knocked out of the race after contact on a late restart, and now joins his teammates in looking for a rebound at Sebring on Saturday.
In Michelin Pilot Challenge competition, six Mercedes-AMG GT4 teams compete in the top-tier Grand Sport (GS) class in Thursday’s two-hour race that starts at 1:20 p.m. EDT.
Murillo Racing placed both of its Mercedes-AMG GT4 entries in the top-10 at the Daytona opener and looks for more success this weekend.
The No. 72 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 of Kenny Murillo and Christian Szymczak finished fourth at Daytona while the team’s No. 56 sister entry of Jeff Mosing and Eric Foss crossed the finish line in eighth. Both Murillo teams have run well at Sebring in the recent past, with Kenny Murillo making his GS debut at Sebring in 2020 and Mosing and Foss battling for the win until the end before a fourth place finish last year.
Winward complements its GTD entry in the WeatherTech Championship this year with the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 for Bryce Ward and Daniel Morad who run their second Pilot Challenge race together on Thursday.
Longtime Mercedes-AMG Motorsport customer team Lone Star Racing competes in GS this year with the duo of Anton Dias Perera and Scott Andrews in the No. 27 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4. The team ran in the lead pack at Daytona and still managed to finish 15th despite a late pit infraction penalty.
A first-year Mercedes-AMG Customer team set for its second Pilot Challenge race at Sebring is the No. 23 JTR Motorsports Engineering Mercedes-AMG GT4 of Anthony McIntosh and Jared Thomas.
The Pilot Challenge Mercedes-AMG customer lineup at Sebring is completed by reigning Bronze Cup Champions Gary Ferrera and Kris Wilson in the No. 11 Wilsports Mercedes-AMG GT4.
The Sebring 12 Hour weekend gets underway today with Pilot Challenge practice and qualifying. WeatherTech Championship competitors take to the track for the first time Thursday for three practice runs, culminating with a nighttime session from 7:45 – 9:15 p.m. EDT. The GTD Pro and GTD classes qualify together in a 15-minute session starting at 9:15 a.m. EDT Friday while race-day Saturday starts with a 20-minute warm-up session at 8 a.m. EDT before the 71st running of the 12 Hours of Sebring goes green at 10:10 a.m. EDT.
Maro Engel, Driver – No. 79 WeatherTech Racing/Proton Competition Mercedes-AMG GT3: “I am really looking forward to Sebring. Another absolutely iconic race on the schedule – on the world calendar – and last year there we had our first podium together as a team with WeatherTech Racing and Proton, Cooper, Jules and myself. It was amazing to send off Cooper with a Daytona win and now we look forward to Sebring. It’s a great track and a circuit on which our Mercedes-AMG GT3 has gone very well. We are looking for another strong run this weekend. There’s plenty of opportunity out there if you race smart and if you race well. We will try to get ourselves in contention, we always have a strong car with the Mercedes-AMG GT3, and I believe a really strong team with WeatherTech Racing and Proton behind us. It will be up to Jules, Dani and myself to execute at the best level and hopefully we will be there at the end of the race. Another podium is the aim, and another win would be a dream.”
Daniel Juncadella, Driver – No. 79 WeatherTech Racing/Proton Competition Mercedes-AMG GT3: “We just ran a smooth race at Daytona with no mistakes and with a great strategy toward the end of the race. It was a great start to the year in IMSA and now going to Sebring as the championship leaders. It’s time to build on that lead and continue successfully into the season. I really enjoyed my first taste of Sebring last year with Team Korthoff. I guess the track suits our car pretty well, so even if we have slight changes to the rules that don’t favor us, we are still going to be contenders for a strong result. We have won races or had top results when the rules didn’t favor our car in the past, so if you have a clean race with a good strategy, you can have a good result. The 12 Hours of Sebring is another highlight of the year, so I really want to perform at our best. We are very motivated to do so, and I believe we have a strong team behind us to fight for what we want.”
Jules Gounon, Driver – No. 79 WeatherTech Racing/Proton Competition Mercedes-AMG GT3: “Our goal this weekend will be to maximize our performance and hopefully get a good result and big points for the championship. We had a big fight at Daytona with several other cars and extracted the most out of our Mercedes-AMG GT3 to get the win. Cooper did a great job, and my teammates Maro and Daniel drove amazingly. But mostly the team did a super job in strategy and car preparation. I am very happy for how it went and really looking forward.”
Philip Ellis, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “We are looking forward to the 12 Hours of Sebring, especially after Daytona. The team showed great potential again. We also had a great race at Sebring last year until we had a technical issue while leading. I think we know pretty well what to do with the Mercedes-AMG GT3, everybody has been through Sebring before, and we had a great test with all of the boys. So, I think we are ready and prepared to have a great and successful weekend at the 12 Hour and hopefully score some valuable points for the championship. That is, of course, still our aim this year for Winward. It was very heartbreaking to just miss out at Daytona with only half an hour to go. It just makes us stronger as a team coming back to Sebring. It’s a huge strategy play in the race to be there in the last half hour to get a shot at the podium. All of our guys are experienced enough and have done enough in IMSA to know how to get us there to fight for the podium at the end. That’s our goal.”
Kenton Koch, Driver – No. 32 Team Korthoff Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3: “It feels good to come back for the 12 Hours of Sebring! We had a good test a couple of weeks ago there, everyone feels confident in the Mercedes-AMG GT3, and we were able to run through many times. We learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t. Hopefully, all of that preparation turns into a good result!”
Eric Foss, Driver – No. 56 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “This is going to be the last season for me and Jeff, so I am just really looking forward to continuing a good run this season. We had a good points score at Daytona, and it’s good to have the No. 72 team back this year. I first raced here at Sebring in 1999, I always love racing here, and the Mercedes-AMG GT4 has always been a really balanced platform, which makes it a really good car here, especially with how bumpy this place is.”
Kenny Murillo, Driver – No. 72 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “Sebring is where I made my GS debut in the summer race here in 2020. It was with Tim Probert in the No. 65 Mercedes-AMG GT4, and I learned a lot that weekend. I still implement a lot of what I learned then into my racing now. I feel like every time we roll out of the trailer it is pretty good here. We are confident going into this week. It’s a really long season, it is all about being consistent, and staying in the top five is the goal. At the end of the year, if you have really been consistent all season, you could have a really good shot at winning the championship.”
12 drivers will head to New Jersey Motorsports Park August 1st through 3rd to compete for the chance to join the team’s driver development program
SEBRING, Fla. (15 March 2023) – PT Autosport will open the application process on Saturday, April 1 for its second annual Aspiring Driver Shootout, to be held August 1st through 3rd at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) in Millville, New Jersey.
The team is dedicated to increasing the presence of junior drivers in the motorsports industry that come from diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds. Paramount to this mission is creating career development opportunities and forming an educational, competitive, and supportive environment for all team members, allowing them to grow and learn.
PT Autosport has formed a multi-tiered development program that begins with the Aspiring Driver Shootout. The winner is granted a $100,000 racing partnership and joins the team’s junior racing program, progressing to an advanced racing series within the team or with one of the team’s operational partners. Ultimately, the goal will be for each driver to graduate to the team’s professional level program, racing in the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America and beyond.
Team founder and owner Jeph Dais joined the Order of DeMolay – a top international youth leadership organization – when he was 12 years old and saw firsthand the positive effects of investing in deserving young people of diverse economic and ethnic backgrounds. Joining forces with longtime motorsports team executive Jason Myers and driver Alex Sedgwick, PT Autosport is dedicated to giving opportunities to those that otherwise would not have that opportunity and to helping the individuals that we partner with to make their dream of becoming a professional in the motorsports industry come true.
“I’m very excited about what we have the potential to build,” said Sedgwick. “With my experience as a driver coming through the ranks ‘the hard way,’ with no personal funding, I feel it places me in a very unique scenario to be able to help identify and develop those who have what it takes to make a career in motorsport.”
The flagship program will see its debut this weekend, as PT Autosport teams up with 2022 series champions JDX Racing, with Sedgwick, who also serves as the team’s driver development director, behind the wheel in 2023.
2022 Shootout winner Henry Drury has been working with the team on marketing and digital media efforts while recovering from spinal surgery, following an injury incurred whilst pursuing a career as an Olympic figure skater. The 22-year-old Londoner will return to racing later this summer in the team’s junior racing program.
“As someone who’s been working flat-out for the last five years on making a racing career possible and searching for funding, I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity that PT Autosport has given me, and to finally be in a position to chase my dream of racing,” said Drury. “I have a delayed start to my season following my surgery, but in the meantime I’m learning as much as I can from watching Alex at work and maximizing my recovery to hit the ground running once I’m cleared to start driving. I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel and prove that the team made the right choice, as well as using my season to prove to others with spine injuries that there is still hope after suffering a life-altering injury.”
Applications for the 2023 PT Autosport Aspiring Driver Shootout will open on April 1, with the Shootout taking place August 1 to August 3 at NJMP. 888 applications are available, with 88 drivers chosen after due diligence. From those 88, 12 drivers between the age of 18 and 23 will have the opportunity to participate in a competition measuring their fitness, media, interview, problem-solving, teamwork, and racecraft skills. They will vie for the $100,000 driver partnership program which will provide support for the 2024 & 2025 seasons, with awards also going to second and third place (fourth, fifth and sixth place finishers will earn guaranteed entry as a competitor in the 2024 Aspiring Driver Shootout).
PT Autosport’s top tier program makes its debut this weekend in the Deluxe Porsche Carrera Cup North America season opener at Sebring International Raceway as part of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring weekend. Race one takes the green flag Thursday, March 16 at 9:15 a.m. ET, with race two later that afternoon, at 5:35 p.m. The race will be broadcast live in the U.S., on IMSA.tv, the NBC Peacock streaming app and PorscheCarreraCup.us.
About PT Autosport
PT Autosport is a newly formed racing team currently based at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, NJ. The team is currently campaigning the rising star Alex Sedgwick (U.K.) in the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America for the 2023 season with JDX Racing. PT Autosport is working towards bringing diversity and opportunity to the motorsport industry, hosting their annual Aspiring Driver Shootout, in which aspiring drivers aged 18-23 can compete for a $100,000 racing partnership with the team. Visit www.DriverShootout.com or www.PTAutosport.com for more info and follow our Instagram @pt_autosport for updates.
