Motul set to be official supplier for all race teams at the resurgent endurance classic in Malaysia
Wide spectrum of fan and customer engagement activities planned throughout the race weekend
Support for Sepang 12 Hours highlights Motul’s push for greater awareness and commitment for Asia motorsport scene
SINGAPORE, Mar 15, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Motul has announced that it would unveil a wide range of events, targeted at its customers and race fans, during the Sepang 12 Hours endurance race. The announcement is part of Motul’s wider involvement in the resurgent race as the official lubricant supplier for teams across all race categories.
Asia’s best drivers and teams will be making their return at Sepang International Circuit between March 16th and 18th 2023 – after a 6-year hiatus. Known for its intense heat and humidity, the challenging Asian climate at the Sepang 12 Hours will put Motul lubricants to the test, which are already renowned within the endurance racing space as they provide outstanding quality and performance at top races globally.
The return of endurance racing in Malaysia signifies the growing interest in motorsports in developing markets along with changing consumer demand for more high-performance products for their vehicles. Motul’s support of the event comes off of the back of continued commitment to foster motorsports in this part of the world. In addition to the brand exposure, this event presents an opportunity for Motul to engaging distributors, partners, community and enhance the on-going communication activities in Malaysia and beyond.
To commemorate the return of the Sepang 12 Hour, Motul will be hosting a raft of experiential activities that will promote greater awareness and enthusiasm for Asia’s motorsport scene. Firstly, Motul will hold a trackside launch event of its latest lubricant, the 8100 Power, in front of attending media, online influencers and VIPs. Originally launched at the Singapore Motor Show, Motul will provide further details on the product’s general market availability, and host product workshops to discuss the 8100 Power and the importance of motor oils towards vehicle performance and protection.
Other activities include:
On-going pitlane visits for key customers and members of the media during practice sessions;
Meet-and-greet sessions with professional racing teams and drivers supported by Motul, including Craft-Bamboo Racing and Viper Niza Racing;
“Hot Lap” driving experiences for media, influencers and customers in Mercedes-AMG cars – driven by professional race drivers
Guest access and participation in pre-race celebrations at the grid, prior to the race start
Carlo Savoca | Chief Marketing Officer, Motul Asia Pacific
“Motul is very excited to be a major partner for this iconic endurance race. The track itself is a gruelling challenge for driver and machine alike, and this event serves as a fantastic showcase of Motul’s product leadership. Motorsport is a crucial element of our business. Every day, we work with the world’s best drivers and teams to gain professional input of our lubricant technology on the race track, allowing us to finetune our products that would help them discover even more performance. In addition to product innovation, we are expanding our operational footprint, and optimizing our logistical processes by investing in facilities. Ultimately, this would enable us to be closer to our OEM, distribution and retail customers, and understand their market trends and priorities even more.
Beyond products, however, we are excited to see motorsport coming back after COVID19 lockdowns across the region. Motul is passionate about motorsport after all, and we are thrilled to see audiences around the region attend the race. It will be a great event to meet all the partners and distributors that help execute our vision on the ground level. We look forward to seeing our guests enjoy the weekend and experience life at Sepang!”
Ravi Shankar | Country Manager, Motul Malaysia Sdn Bhd
“Motul Malaysia is extremely happy and proud to be associated with the long awaited Sepang 12 Hours. Motul’s sponsorship at the race shows our continued commitment towards racing and product development. The Malaysia market has seen significant growth since the pandemic; according to Statista, vehicle sales in increased by 41.6% so as the leading lubricant brand, we are best positioned to work with the country’s ecosystem of distributors, retailers and car care professionals. We are excited that more consumers will discover the Motul brand, and share our passion for performance.” We look forward to engaging with customers on a deeper level through our ongoing activations in 2023.
ABOUT MOTUL
Motul is a world-class French company specialised in the formulation, production and distribution of high-tech engine lubricants (two-wheelers, cars and other vehicles) as well as lubricants for industry via its Motul Tech activity. Motul offers a whole range of products for everyday car use, including the 8100, H-tech, RBF series, ATF, CVTF and DCTF among others. Motul products ensure all parts of the car are kept in pristine condition to extract maximum performance and reliability.
Unanimously recognised for 170 years for the quality of its products, innovation capacity and involvement in the field of competition, Motul is also recognised as a specialist in synthetic lubricants. As early as 1971, Motul was the first lubricant manufacturer to pioneer the formulation of a 100% synthetic lubricant, issued from the aeronautical industry, making use of esters technology.
Motul is a partner to many manufacturers and racing teams in order to further their technological development in motorsports. It has invested in many international competitions as an official supplier for several championship winning racing teams.
Motul is committed to its growing business presence in Asia Pacific. Over the years, the company has expanded operations significantly. Currently it has 3 major manufacturing facilities and 2 R&D centres across the region to cater to the ever-growing demand. These centres focus on refining the lubricant technology for Asian climate and driving conditions, which are vastly different from Europe.
MOTUL Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd 1A International Business Park, #06-03 Singapore 609933 www.motul.com
DOVER, Del. (March 14, 2023) – Everyone is invited to enjoy live music, drink specials, FanZone attractions, a cornhole tournament, arcade games and more at Dover Motor Speedway’s Monster Mile Bash on Saturday, April 29, following the A-GAME 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash race.
The planned festivities come in the middle of the Monster Mile’s April 28-30 NASCAR tripleheader weekend.
The 2nd Annual Monster Mile Cornhole Tournament, presented by Crown Royal, is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Proceeds will benefit Speedway Children’s Charities, Dover Motor Speedway chapter, a non-profit organization that provides funding for underserved children throughout the United States.
Hosted by Delaware Cornhole, registration for the tournament is available now online through April 29 at 3:45 p.m., with the boards set up just steps from the famous Monster Monument at Victory Plaza. Additional cornhole boards will be available for non-competitive free-play as well.
The entry fee is $50 for a two-person team, with a guaranteed prize pool of $2,500 at stake. All ages and skill levels are welcome to participate. Registration is first-come, first-served, with a limit of 100 teams. Players can sign-up at the link above or in person in the FanZone on Saturday.
The tournament is just a part of the Monster Mile Bash festivities on April 29. Other entertainment options include:
DRINK SPECIALS: Happy hour drink specials all night long, featuring an assortment of Crown Royal Ready to Drink Cocktails, including Whiskey & Cola, Whiskey Lemonade, Peach Tea, & Washington Apple.
BIG BOUNCE AMERICA: The world’s largest bounce house experience will be a centerpiece of Dover’s FanZone when NASCAR returns to the Monster Mile. Certified by Guinness World Records, Big Bounce America’s bounce house, 12,000-plus square feet of colors, inflatables and adventure is the world’s largest bounce house. Along with “The Giant,” a 900-foot long course containing more than 50 obstacles to pass through, the Big Bounce America experience will be FREEfor race fans from 9 a.m. to dusk.
LIVE MUSIC – DIRTY DEEDS, THE AC/DC EXPERIENCE: For more than 20 years, the Boston-based musical group has been touring the U.S. with its high-energy tribute to one of the world’s great rock bands and performing all of AC/DC’s timeless hits. Showtime: 4 p.m.
BARCADE: A new hangout for campers and fans all weekend near the Monster Monument, featuring a full bar with Anheuser-Busch products, more than one dozen classic arcade favorites, big-screen TVs and more. Saturday hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
BIG ROUND WHEEL AMUSEMENTS: Enjoy bumper cars and the popular Himalayan ride.
AXE THROWING: Test your aim with six available lanes in this challenging skill contest.
SATURDAY NIGHT FIREWORKS, PRESENTED BY KENT COUNTY TOURISM: The spectacular display is visible from all areas of the property at 9 p.m.
NASCAR TICKETS:
Dover Motor Speedway’s 2023 race schedule includes:
Sunday, April 30, 2 p.m.: Würth 400 NASCAR Cup Series race (FS1, PRN, Sirius NASCAR Radio)
Saturday, April 29, 1:30 p.m.: A-GAME 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash race (FS1, PRN, Sirius NASCAR Radio)
Friday, April 28, 5:30 p.m.: General Tire 125 ARCA Menards Series East race (FloRacing)
Call 800-441-RACE to discuss your options with an account representative or visit DoverMotorSpeedway.com.
Friday and Saturday tickets are FREE for kids 12 and under (with a paying adult) at the Monster Mile and just $10 on Sunday.
The Würth 400 NASCAR Cup Series race is the Monster Mile’s 105th NASCAR Cup Series race. Dover Motor Speedway is one of only 10 tracks in the country to host 100 or more NASCAR Cup Series events.
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NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Overview: Event: Fr8 208, Race 3 of 23, 134 Laps – 30/30/75; 207.9 Miles Location: Atlanta Motor Speedway (1.54-mile quad-oval) Date/Broadcast: March 18, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90
‘Chase’n Checkers:
Chase Purdy will make his third start for Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) behind the wheel of the No. 4 Bama Buggies Silverado in Saturday’s Fr8 208 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The 23-year-old driver has posted an average finish of 12.5 across his first two starts this season, with a season-best eighth-place finish in the series last stop at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After just two races, Purdy sits 10th in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series point standings, 20 points behind defending series champion Zane Smith.
In his two prior Truck Series starts at Atlanta, Purdy has compiled an overall average finish of 19.0, achieving a track-best 14th-place finish in last year’s event. While he only has two starts in the Truck Series at Atlanta, Purdy won several races on the flat quarter-mile track located on the frontstretch known as the “Thunder Ring”, racing Bandoleros there from the ages of 12 to 14.
The Mississippi native is in his third full-time season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and first with KBM. He enters Friday night’s race having totaled six top-10 finishes and 18 laps led across his 54 career Truck Series starts. He posted a career-best sixth-place result in 2021 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. Purdy finished 16th in the Truck Series standings in 2022 after competing in 22 of the 23 events. He posted two top-10 finishes and nine laps led, with a season-best finish of seventh coming at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in October.
Purdy will be looking to etch his mark in the KBM historical archives this weekend at Atlanta as he looks to collect the organization’s 100th NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory. KBM-owner driver Kyle Busch collected the KBM’s record-extending 99th-career victory with his dominant victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway leaving his organization one shy of the century mark. William Byron collected KBM’s record-breaking 51st Truck Series victory in July of 2016. Overall, 18 different drivers have won at least race behind the wheel of a KBM truck, led by Busch’s 47. Four drivers rank second on the list with seven victories: Byron, Christopher Bell, Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek. Four of KBM’s wins have come at Atlanta Motor Speedway, most recently with first-time winner Corey Heim in last year’s event.
Since becoming a full-time entry for KBM in 2015, the No. 4 truck has captured both of KBM’s driver championships and totaled 18 wins with five different drivers. The number has found victory lane for KBM in six of its seven seasons, excluding 2018. John Hunter Nemechek piloted the No. 4 to seven wins in his two seasons behind the wheel (2021 and 2022) before moving into a full-time ride in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for 2023.
Jimmy Villeneuve is atop the pit box for Purdy and the No. 4 Chevrolet team this season. Prior to being promoted to crew chief for the 2023 season, Villeneuve served as a Truck Chief at KBM since the 2017 season and in that role was a part of 18 wins, a driver’s championship with Christopher Bell in 2017 and the 2019 owner’s championship with the No. 51 team. Prior to joining KBM the New Hampshire native served as a truck chief at Athenian Motorsports in 2015 when the team won with John Wes Townley at Las Vegas. He was promoted to crew chief five races into the 2016 season. Friday night’s race will be Villeneuve’s first calling the shots for a race at Atlanta.
Bama Buggies, your one-stop shop for all the biggest names in powersports and utility vehicles, will be the primary sponsor on Purdy’s No. 4 Chevrolet Saturday and for the majority of the events on the 2023 schedule. They are Central Alabama’s powersports experts, serving as an authorized dealer of Polaris, Slingshot, and Seadoo.
Chase Purdy, Driver Q&A:
Talk about racing as a kid on the quarter-mile track at Atlanta Motor Speedway. “I have a lot of history at Atlanta – actually for a few years I spent probably every winter running the Winter Flurry deal and the Thursday Thunder on Thursday nights. Every Wednesday we would get there and practice all night and Thursday come back and race on the little quarter mile. So, lots of history there. I love Atlanta – I think its cool that it’s a totally different race track now. It used to be old, worn out and slick, and now it’s wide open and races like Talladega and Daytona. I’m really excited to get back there and see what happens.”
Does the speed your team had at Daytona increase your optimism for Atlanta? “I’m really excited about how much speed we had at Daytona and Atlanta races like that now. I think if we can go there and have the same speed that we had at Daytona, then we definitely have a shot to win.”
Coming off a top-10 finish at Las Vega, does that help your confidence? “We’ve shown a lot of speed at both the race tracks we’ve been to this year. I’ve got a really good group of guys here at KBM. There is no quit in them and they believe in me. I have a lot of confidence going into Atlanta and these next few races as well. Hopefully, we can keep up the momentum we have rolling right now.”
Chase Purdy Career Highlights:
Across 54 career Truck Series starts, has produced 18 laps led and six top-10 finishes. Posted career-best sixth-place result at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in 2021.
Finished 16th in Truck Series championship standings in 2022.
Finished fourth in the 2018 ARCA Menard’s Series championship standings after recording 84 laps led, 10 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes.
Earned the 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East rookie of the year honors and finished fourth in the championship standings after posting four poles, 200 laps led, five top-five and eight top-10 finishes across 14 starts.
Won the prestigious Snowflake 100 Pro Late Model race at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla., in Dec. of 2018.
Chase Purdy’s No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado RST:
KBM-38: The No. 4 Bama Buggies team will unload KBM-38 for Saturday’s race at Atlanta. “38 Special” has seven career victories, including one at Atlanta in 2017 with Christopher Bell. Its most recent victory came with John Hunter Nemechek at Texas Motors Speedway in June of 2021. KBM-38 raced three times last year with Nemechek, with a best result of fourth coming in June at Nashville Superspeedway.
KBM-38 Performance Profile: KBM Notes of Interest:
KBM drivers have collected four wins, two poles, 743 laps led, 12 top-five and 15 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.5 across 29 starts at Atlanta. Corey Heim edged out his KBM teammate Chandler Smith for the victory last year, KBM Owner-driver Kyle Busch has two wins (2019 and 2021), while Christopher Bell brought home the trophy in 2017.
KBM holds the Craftsman Truck Series records for most career wins (99) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway last year, Corey Heim became the 18th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
The No. 4 has 18 career victories at KBM and was the number for both of the organization’s driver championships.
Gaffney SC – JD Motorsports will welcome back an old friend Garrett Smithley and marketing partner Trophy Tractor for the remainder of the 2023 season starting with this weekend’s Raptor 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Georgia driver Smithley, who ran four full Xfinity seasons with JDM from 2016 to 2019, is returning to JDM in the No. 4 Chevrolet at AMS, one of NASCAR’s fastest tracks.
Smithley will be teammates with Brennan Poole, who drives the JDM No. 6 Chevy.
Smithley, a steady, consistent driver who rarely ran into on-track issues in his previous stint with JDM, helped the team keep its goal of finishing strong at tracks across the demanding Xfinity schedule.
“It’s great to have Garrett back,” said team owner Johnny Davis, who is a veteran presence in NASCAR’s No. 2 level series. “He’s easy to work with, has the talent to get the most out of our race cars and knows when to go and when to be patient. We’re excited to pick up where we left off with him, Preparing fast, reliable cars to race.”
Smithley is a veteran with 146 Xfinity starts including fifth and eighth-place finishes at Daytona International Speedway and a pair of 12th place finishes at Talladega Superspeedway with JDM.
Since its 2022 renovation, Atlanta Motor Speedway fits into the superspeedway category. Elevated banking in the turns has made the track much faster and has brought pack-like racing to the track.
“I can’t wait to get back to Atlanta Motor Speedway,” said Smithley, who began his racing career at Atlanta. “Old Atlanta was my favorite track, but running the cup last year on the new surface was valuable, and I’m excited to take what I learned to JDM.”
Atlanta I Event Info: Track Info: Atlanta Motor Speedway, 1.5-mile Superspeedway Date: Sunday, March 19 Time: 3 p.m. ET Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Location: Hampton, Georgia Format: 260 laps, 400 miles, Stages: 60-100-100 TV: FOX Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Weekend Schedule: Saturday: 11:35 a.m. ET, Qualifying (FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) Sunday: 3 p.m. ET, Race (FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
6 Team Info: Partner: King’s Hawaiian Crew Chief: Matt McCall
17 Team Info: Partner: Violet Defense Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Pace Laps:
The NASCAR circuit returns to Atlanta this weekend for the first of two race weekends in 2023. This will be the second season on the repaved surface, the highest-banked intermediate track on the circuit.
Jack Roush has 13 wins all-time in Atlanta including six Cup wins.
With AMS now serving as essentially an additional Superspeedway race, more changes were made recently including backing the pit entry commitment line to the entrance to turn 3, as all drivers must maintain pit road speeds entering that turn.
Keselowski at Atlanta Motor Speedway Starts: 16 Wins: 2 (2017, 2019) Top-10s: 9 Poles: —
Keselowski makes his 17th Cup start at Atlanta this weekend where he is a two-time winner with an average finish of 15.2.
Keselowski won at the now Superspeedway first in 2017 after starting fifth and again in 2019. Overall he’s led laps in eight different Atlanta races and finished top-10 on nine occasions.
Most recently Keselowski finished 12th last spring and 18th in the fall.
He carries an average starting position of 15.8 into the weekend with a career-best effort of P2 in 2014. Overall he has five top-10 starts.
He also made eight Xfinity Series starts with six top-10s including two P2 finishes. He also made four Truck starts.
Buescher at Atlanta Motor Speedway Starts: 9 Wins: — Top-10s: 3 Poles: —
Buescher makes his 10th Cup start in Atlanta where he has three top-10s and a best finish of seventh (twice – 2021, 2022). He also finished ninth in 2019.
Last season Buescher crossed the line seventh in an incident, and was also involved in a crash in the fall to finish 33rd.
Buescher has an average qualifying position of 20.7 with a career-best effort of 11th last fall.
He also finish fourth in the Xfinity Series in 2015.
RFK Historically in Atlanta Cup Wins: 6 (Mark Martin, 1991, 1994; Kurt Busch, 2002; Carl Edwards, 2005, 2005, 2008)
RFK at Atlanta: RFK has 273 starts at AMS in NASCAR’s three major touring series totaling 13 wins, 59 top fives, 112 top-10s and nine poles while leading 3,154 laps and turning over 105,000 miles. AMS/RFK History: RFK competed in its first NASCAR event at AMS on March 20, 1988, finishing 31st after getting involved in an early crash. Just three years later the organization claimed its first win there in the fall of ‘91 with the No. 6 Ford. RFK won its first of seven NXS races at the track in the spring of ’97. The team’s top outing at AMS came in the fall of 2005, when the organization placed four cars inside the top seven, with three cars finishing in the top five including race winner Carl Edwards. Altogether, in the two races at AMS in 2005, RFK posted six top-five finishes and two wins. Spring Forward: All but one of RFK’s Cup wins at AMS came in the fall, with the only spring win coming in 2005. Three of RFK’s seven NXS wins came in the fall.
RFK Atlanta Wins
1991-2 Martin Cup
1994-2 Martin Cup
1997-1 Martin NXS
1998-2 Martin NXS
2000-1 Martin NXS
2002-2 Busch Cup
2005-1 Edwards Cup
2005-1 Edwards NXS
2005-2 Edwards Cup
2008-1 Kenseth NXS
2008-2 Edwards Cup
2011 Edwards NXS
2012 Stenhouse NXS
Last Time Out & Where They Stand Phoenix: Brad Keselowski earned stage points in each of the two opening stages but unfortunately lost power on one of the race’s final restarts to finish 18th. Chris Buescher finished 15th.
Points Standings (6: 13th, 17: 14th): Both RFK cars are neck-and-neck in the standings as race five on the points schedule rolls on this weekend.
KEVIN HARVICK Atlanta Advance No. 4 Busch Light #Break4Busch Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing
Event Overview
● Event: Ambetter Health 400 (Round 5 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 19
● Location: Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia
● Layout: 1.54-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 260 laps/400 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 100 laps / Final Stage: 100 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Notes of Interest
● Want to make the commercial breaks during FOX’s broadcast of the Ambetter Health 400 NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway work for you? So does Busch Light. The coldest and smoothest light lager is providing race fans with the chance to win some cool prizes during commercial breaks. Just follow @BuschBeer on Twitter, turn on notifications, and tweet #Break4Busch and #Sweepstakes every time there’s a commercial break for your chance to win a vintage cooler, a year’s worth of beer, and a Kevin Harvick-autographed replica Busch Light racing helmet. FOX’s coverage of the race begins at 3 p.m. EDT.
● Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Busch Light #Break4Busch Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), comes into Atlanta on a three-race streak of top-10 finishes. It began with a fifth-place drive Feb. 26 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, before a ninth-place run March 5 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and continued last Sunday with a another fifth-place finish at Phoenix Raceway. Harvick’s worst result this year is 12th, earned in the season-opening Daytona 500. His average finish of 7.8 four races into the 2023 season has Harvick second in the championship standings, just three points behind leader Alex Bowman.
● The Atlanta of today is not the Atlanta Harvick and most of his counterparts grew up knowing. The 1.54-mile oval was reconfigured after the final race of the 2021 season. The banking was increased from 24 degrees to 28 degrees and the track was narrowed from 55-feet wide to 40-feet wide, and it was all covered in fresh asphalt. The goal of the reconstruction was to recreate the kind of pack-style racing seen at the behemoth, 2.5-mile Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and the even bigger 2.66-mile Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. NASCAR Cup Series drivers competed on the new layout for the first time last March, where Harvick led 11 laps before finishing 21st. In the series’ return visit to the track in July, Harvick finished 12th.
● Sunday’s Ambetter 400 will mark Harvick’s 35th career NASCAR Cup Series start at Atlanta – the most of any active driver – but only his third on the new configuration. In his 32 starts on the old layout, Harvick led the way with a series-high nine top-fives, 16 top-10s (tied with Kurt Busch), 1,348 laps led and 10,127 laps completed. Who is the all-time leader at Atlanta? That’s none other than Richard Petty. They call him “The King” for a reason: 65 career Cup Series starts at Atlanta with six wins, 22 top-fives, 33 top-10s and 1,827 laps led with 17,513 laps completed.
● Harvick’s first NASCAR Cup Series win at Atlanta was the first of his career, and it came 22 years ago on March 11, 2001. The Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 was just Harvick’s third race in a Cup Series car. He started fifth in the 325-lap contest and led twice for 18 laps, including the final six. But Harvick had to earn the win on the final lap and hold off a then three-time champion in Jeff Gordon. Harvick succeeded, outdueling the eventual 2001 series champion to take the win by a scant .006 of a second margin of victory – the seventh-closest finish in NASCAR history.
● Of course, the backstory to that first win is significant. Harvick wasn’t just driving any racecar when he won at Atlanta. He was driving the racecar that less than a month earlier had been piloted by the sport’s titan, Dale Earnhardt. The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion died on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. Team owner Richard Childress tabbed Harvick, who was racing for him in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, to pull double-duty and take over Earnhardt’s Cup ride. The No. 3, made iconic by Earnhardt, was changed to the No. 29 and Harvick made his Cup Series debut Feb. 25 at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham. Harvick started 36th that Sunday at Rockingham, but rain washed over the 1.017-mile oval just 51 laps into the 393-lap race. The race resumed at 11 a.m. ET on Monday, whereupon Harvick drove to a solid 14th-place finish. He then traveled to Las Vegas on Tuesday, married his wife, DeLana, on Wednesday, and was back in a racecar on Friday, competing in both the Xfinity Series and Cup Series events at Las Vegas. After finishing eighth on Sunday to score his first career top-10 in the Cup Series, Harvick headed to Atlanta where the first of his 60 career Cup Series wins was secured.
● Harvick’s two other NASCAR Cup Series wins at Atlanta came with SHR. In February 2018, Harvick won the Folds of Honor 500. He led eight times for a race-high 181 laps on his way to defeating runner-up Brad Keselowski by an impressive 2.690 seconds. Harvick’s most recent Atlanta victory came in February 2020 in the Folds of Honor 500. Harvick again led the most laps, pacing the field four times for 151 laps en route to an even greater margin of victory – 3.527 seconds over Kyle Busch.
● Harvick is also incredibly good at Atlanta outside of the NASCAR Cup Series. He has five Xfinity Series wins at the track, including four in his last six starts at the 1.54-mile oval, the most recent of which ended in victory – February 2018 when he walloped the field, leading four times for a race-high 141 laps and cruising to the win with a 4.183-second margin over second-place Joey Logano. In 17 career Xfinity Series start at Atlanta, Harvick has 11 top-fives and 13 top-10s with 973 laps led. And in his two NASCAR Truck Series starts at Atlanta, Harvick has a win and a second-place finish. He finished second in his Truck Series debut at Atlanta in March 2009, where he led four times for a race-high 68 laps before coming up .122 of a second short of beating Kyle Busch for the win. But in Harvick’s Truck Series return to Atlanta in March 2010, he dominated by leading twice for a race-high 100 laps and this time besting runner-up Kyle Busch by 1.308 seconds.
Kevin Harvick, Driver of the No. 4 Busch Light #Break4Busch Ford Mustang
There were a lot of unknowns when the NASACAR Cup Series raced at Atlanta this time last year. After two races on the reconfigured layout in March and July, respectively, what are your thoughts for your return visit this weekend?
“It’s just a superspeedway race on a mile-and-a-half racetrack. Things just happen a lot faster, so the decisions have to happen faster, the cars move around a lot more, the corners come up a lot quicker. A lot more seat-of-your-pants, just, ‘Go here, go there, do this, do that.’ And I think that the way the lines formed and moved and everything happened, you just had to get used to a different style of race than we’ve had before.”
Did the new Atlanta perform like Daytona and Talladega, or was the Atlanta race its own animal?
“It’s got some characteristics of superspeedway racing in the way that you wind up in a pack and you’re holding it wide open. But the way that the bumps and things are there, and the way you have to go into the corner, and the way the race developed, there wasn’t near as much pushing and shoving as there is at Daytona and Talladega.”
The first of your 60 career NASCAR Cup Series wins came at Atlanta 22 years ago. How did that race weekend unfold for you?
“We went in and, really for the whole weekend, we were competitive throughout each practice. Atlanta is always one of those places where you just want to keep yourself on the lead lap, and as the race went on, we wound up in a position there at the end of the race where it was myself, Jerry Nadeau, Dale Jr., Jeff Gordon and I believe fifth place was Dale Jarrett. And we just had a heck of a race for the last 25 laps and I think I took the lead three-wide down the front straightaway, which was probably like taboo at the time – racing etiquette was much different. I took the lead and Jeff Gordon had, by far, the fastest car on that particular day, but he somehow wound up a lap down and had to come from the back of the field. I don’t remember much about that particular day other than mixing it up like that, and the only reason I remember is because I’ve seen it so many times. Really, the only things that I remember about that particular day, because there was so much going on in life, in general, at that particular point, you didn’t know whether to be happy or sad. I just got married and there were so many things happening that you were emotionally confused. For me, the things that I remember were coming to the white flag, and the people on the backstretch had climbed up on the fence and I remember coming back the last lap and having to decide top or bottom, and I chose the top and wound up about losing the race because I underdrove the car. But that’s really the only thing that I remember other than, after my burnouts, it was the only race that I remember where the crowd was so loud that you could hear the people screaming and hollering over the engine of the car, and I think that was because everybody was just emotionally confused and people were screaming and they didn’t know whether they should scream because they were happy or sad. It was one of those moments that everybody didn’t expect to be in and there we were. I do remember driving around the track backward and just the people screaming and hollering and hanging on the fence.”
How did that first win at Atlanta change your career?
“Well, everybody kind of already knew your name at that particular point, and I always tell people that things happened backward in my career. They all knew my name first, and then you had to figure out how to earn who you were from that point forward, and then you had to walk everything back in order to be yourself. Everybody knew your name because of Dale’s passing and getting in his car, and then winning the race – that was kind of the moment that solidified the fact that you could do it. And at that point, you did it on the biggest stage because outside of Dale Jr., you had the biggest spotlight shining on you driving that particular car. It was a lot to deal with. Definitely wasn’t ready for all that. Obviously, it solidified the fact that you could drive the car, but dealing with all the things that came after that were difficult because I was 25 and we were just married, and driving home with people standing in your yard, cars parked on your street and everybody knowing where you live, and having to deal with all that was something that we weren’t really ready for.”
Did you feel the magnitude of that win right away, or is it something that time has amplified?
“You look back on it now and you realize the magnitude of all those guys walking out to pit road to congratulate you, and really they understood, or had a better sense of the situation, than I probably did. To get that kind of congratulations from a whole pit road of people is something that shows you the magnitude of the situation. When you look back on it now and you realize what that could have meant in the other direction for your career, it could’ve been catastrophic. But it really was something that, at that moment, kept RCR (Richard Childress Racing) going in the right direction and started to rebuild the process of what it was going to look like over the next decade. You look back on it now, and that was really the start of understanding what your career was going to look like for a while. Now, I look back on it and there are a lot of decisions that I could’ve made a lot better, but it was really a difficult situation that you didn’t even know you were in until you were way done with it.”
Now here you are in your final NASCAR season, still at the top of your game, but knowing that you’ll retire at the end of the year. How did you come to the decision that it was time to call time?
“For me, it was a number of things. Having to make decisions between going to watch my kids do things, and doing things that I had to do. I was looking for more flexibility in my schedule to do the things that I need to do with my kids. I’ve had a great run of 23 years in the Cup Series of success amongst a great group of people everywhere that I’ve been. I still have plans to be involved in the sport in many ways, but I want to get out of that competitive mindset because, for me, I’m absorbed with everything that comes with putting the car on the racetrack from start to finish.”
How much fun is it watching your kids grow up and follow in your footsteps, with son Keelan racing go-karts internationally and daughter Piper also getting into karting?
“I want them to be happy. That’s the real goal. For Keelan, racing has grabbed his attention. And for me, it’s easier to plan things and do things and teach things than a normal stick-and-ball sport. We’ll go through the same process with Piper as she comes along and starts to figure out what she wants to do and where she wants to go and how she wants to do it, and we’ll support that in any way possible as we did with Keelan.”
Primary Team Members Driver: Kevin HarvickHometown: Bakersfield, California Crew Chief: Rodney ChildersHometown: Mooresville, North Carolina Car Chief: Robert “Cheddar” SmithHometown: Whitewater, Wisconsin Engineer: Stephen DoranHometown: Butler, Pennsylvania Engineer: Dax GerringerHometown: Gibsonville, North Carolina Spotter: Tim FedewaHometown: Holt, Michigan
Over-The-Wall Members Front Tire Changer: Daniel CoffeyHometown: Granite Falls, North Carolina Rear Tire Changer: Daniel SmithHometown: Concord, North Carolina Tire Carrier: Jeremy HowardHometown: Delhart, Texas Jack Man: Brandon BanksHometown: High Point, North Carolina Fuel Man: Evan MarchalHometown: Westfield, Indiana
Road Crew Members Mechanic: Tyler TrosperHometown: Mooresville, North Carolina Mechanic: Nick DeFazioHometown: Orange, California Tire Specialist: Jamie TurskiHometown: Trumbull, Connecticut Engine Tuner: Robert BrandtHometown: Mobile, Alabama Transporter Co-Driver: Rick HodgesHometown: Raleigh, North Carolina Transporter Co-Driver: Stephen MitchellHometown: Woodville, Ohio
Club Wyndham Helping Johnson Fulfill Racing “Bucket List”
STATESVILLE, N.C. (March 14, 2023) — LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ today announced Club Wyndham® will sponsor seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and club co-owner Jimmie Johnson for two races this season – Circuit of the Americas (COTA) on March 26 and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 28.
“COTA has been on my racing ‘bucket list’ for a very long time,” said Johnson. “But my timing was off by a year or so. I was hoping it was going to be on the INDYCAR schedule – and it wasn’t – and then they added it to the NASCAR schedule after I left. I’m excited to finally be able to check this one off the list and thankful to Club Wyndham for making it happen. From everything I’ve heard, NASCAR drivers have had a lot of fun racing at COTA, so to say I’m looking forward to it is an understatement.”
Club Wyndham empowers over 500,000 owner families to live their bucket lists and is now able to help Johnson fulfill his “bucket list” of racing at COTA, marking the first time the 47-year-old El Cajon, Calif., native will officially compete on the 3.41-mile road course. As the nation’s largest vacation club, Club Wyndham offers 100 resorts and 14,000 vacation suites across North America, including many in top race cities.
Club Wyndham has been affiliated with Team Ambassador Richard Petty for more than two decades as “The King” is a Club Wyndham timeshare owner and frequents various resorts and vacation destinations several times a year. This is the first time the Club Wyndham branding will be featured prominently on a racecar.
“NASCAR has always been a great place to identify and develop b2b relationships,” said LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s President of Business Operations, Bruce Mosley. “At LEGACY M.C., we are looking to accelerate results and create a model that surpasses anything ever done before in this space. The foundation we intend on creating will deliver a 1+1 = 3 platform for our partners and deliver a strong return on their objectives.”
“Club Wyndham owners and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB fans know what it means to be a part of a club. It means finding a place to make memories with friends and family around shared passions,” said Tom Shelburne, Chief Marketing Officer for Club Wyndham. “We are excited about this new partnership with the LEGACY M.C. team, growing from our long relationship with Richard Petty. This new agreement will be great for our owners, race fans, and our business. We can’t wait to see Club Wyndham on Jimmie Johnson’s No. 84 Chevrolet.”
This year, Club Wyndham is offering racing fans 15% off on a bucket list NASCAR vacation. Save on resort stays during race weeks in destinations near select races by booking through Extra Holidays, Club Wyndham’s rental platform. See Offer Details below.* Click to learn more http://www.extraholidays.com/legacy
As previously announced, Johnson’s 2023 schedule included the season-opener DAYTONA 500 and the Chicago Street Course in July, sponsored by Carvana. The selection of Charlotte Motor Speedway was an easy one for Johnson as he has won a total of eight races at the 1.5-mile oval, four of which were in the 600-mile event on Memorial Day Weekend.
“The Coke 600 is one of those premiere races on the schedule,” said Johnson. “For fans, it’s truly one of the greatest days in motorsports with Monaco (Formula 1), INDYCAR’s Indianapolis 500, and then NASCAR’s longest race that starts in the afternoon and ends at night. Last year I lived out another ‘bucket list’ item and was able to race in the Indy 500. I’m looking forward to driving this NextGen car at Charlotte and putting on a great show for Club Wyndham®.”
In honor of the 7-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, NASCAR at COTA is offering a special $84 ticket offer for reserved seats in the Turn 12 grandstand through March 19. Fans can purchase the Jimmie Johnson ticket special at www.NASCARatCOTA.com.
Johnson is expected to announce the remainder of his limited schedule at a later date.
*Travel offer details: Book by December 31, 2023. Travel by December 31, 2023. Two-night minimum length of stay required. Valid for new reservations only. Reservations are subject to availability. Reservations may be limited during certain holidays. Cannot be combined with any other offer. All monetary amounts are noted in U.S. Dollars unless otherwise noted.
ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB:
LEGACY MOTOR CLUB is a team that competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, owned by Maury Gallagher and Jimmie Johnson. LEGACY M.C. operates two full-time entries, the No. 42 Chevrolet of Noah Gragson and the No. 43 Chevrolet of Erik Jones. The team also fields a third part-time entry, the No. 84 Chevrolet, for Johnson’s limited racing schedule.
For the last 75 years, the iconic Petty family name has been synonymous in NASCAR, spanning four generations. Over the course of his driving career, Team Ambassador Richard Petty forever enshrined himself as “The King”, earning 200 wins and seven NASCAR Cup Series championships alongside NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief Dale Inman. GMS Racing entered the NASCAR Cup Series in 2021, later acquiring Richard Petty Motorsports to form Petty GMS.
The team was rebranded to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB in 2023 with the addition of Johnson, another seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, to the ownership structure. As a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for the automobile racing enthusiast, fostering a team environment that will breed success for years to come. LEGACY M.C.’s vision is to honor the rich history of its past and acknowledge the future of the sport with some of today’s most iconic drivers.
LEGACY M.C. operates alongside GMS Racing, which fields three full-time entries in the NASCAR Truck Series. Since the formation of GMS Racing in 2012, Gallagher, along with one of the NASCAR garage’s most accomplished figures, Team President, Mike Beam, built a victorious organization, capturing the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Truck Series championships, the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship, as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA East championships, accumulating over 65 wins across six national racing circuits.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow LEGACY MOTOR CLUB on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Saturday, March 18 – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, 2 p.m. ET (FS1) Saturday, March 18 – NASCAR Xfinity Series, 5 p.m. ET (FS1) Sunday, March 19 – NASCAR Cup Series, 3 p.m. ET (FOX)
NASCAR returns from its West Coast swing for the first of two visits to Atlanta Motor Speedway as all three top series hit the 1.5-mile track this weekend. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck and NASCAR Xfinity Series will be part of a doubleheader on Saturday with the NASCAR Cup Series taking center stage on Sunday afternoon.
HARVICK LEADS WEST COAST SWING
Even though he didn’t come away with a victory, Kevin Harvick showed his trademark consistency during the recently concluded West Coast swing. After leading 36 laps during the late stages of Sunday’s race at Phoenix Raceway and running away from the field, an ill-timed caution with nine circuits remaining changed the race’s complexion. The final result for Harvick was a fifth-place finish and completed a three-race stretch as one of only two drivers (Alex Bowman) to post top-10 finishes in each event. Harvick, who was fifth at Auto Club Speedway and ninth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, is second in the point standings.
FOUR FOR FORD
For the fourth consecutive week a different driver has led the way for Ford after Ryan Blaney was the manufacturer’s top finisher at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday in second place. Joey Logano topped the Blue Oval in the season-opening Daytona 500 with a runner-up effort while Kevin Harvick was fifth at Auto Club Speedway and Austin Cindric sixth in Las Vegas.
KESELOWSKI GETS FIRST CUP WIN FOR MUSTANG
Brad Keselowski gave Mustang its first NASCAR Cup Series victory as he held off Martin Truex Jr. at the finish line to win the Folds of Honor 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2019. Keselowski, who was battling an illness all weekend and had Austin Cindric standing by in case he needed relief, led the final 33 laps to post his 28th career victory. In all, Ford led 177 of the 325 laps and won for the third straight year at the 1.5-mile track.
HARVICK SWEEPS
Kevin Harvick led eight times for a race-high 181 laps in winning the Folds of Honor 500 in 2018 and completing a sweep of the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY races. After winning all three stages the day before in his Ford Mustang, Harvick took the first stage in the Cup race and then led the final 25 laps to post his 38th career victory and third with Ford. Brad Keselowski finished second and Clint Bowyer third to give Ford a 1-2-3 sweep. Ford dominated from start to finish as four drivers combined to lead 272-of-325 laps. Harvick became the first Ford driver to sweep a Cup/XFINITY weekend since Joey Logano did it in 2015 at Watkins Glen International.
SNOW DAYS
Morgan Shepherd captured Ford’s 400th series victory in 1993 when snow delayed the Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 for nearly a week. The original race date was Sunday, March 14, 1992, but a blizzard that would eventually be called the ‘Storm of the Century’ pounded the Atlanta area with 6-8 inches of snow. An estimated 82,000 fans came back the following Saturday, where they were greeted by souvenir rigs with t-shirts proclaiming ‘I Survived the Atlanta Blizzard 500.’ When the race started, Mark Martin had the dominant car as he led 140 of the first 225 laps, but engine problems put him out of the running and Shepherd took advantage as he stretched his fuel mileage to the finish, leading the final 12 laps and winning by a whopping 23.50 seconds. The win for Shepherd, who was 51 at the time, was his fourth and final victory in the NASCAR Cup Series.
SWEEP DREAMS
Marvin Panch was the first driver to sweep both AMS races in a single season when he did it in 1965 with the Wood Brothers. Georgia native Bill Elliott posted a pair of season sweeps (1985 and 1992) and won five times overall while Carl Edwards registered the first win of his career at the speedway in 2005 and matched it later that fall.
LORENZEN LAPS THE FIELD
Ford went to victory lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the first time in 1961 when NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen captured the Festival 250 on July 9 while driving for Holman-Moody. He did it in dominating fashion as well by lapping the field. Lorenzen, who led 52 laps on the day, beat runner-up Bob Welborn by one lap in his 1961 Ford. Richard Petty finished third that afternoon, but was three laps down. That victory served as a springboard for Lorenzen’s future success at AMS, which included becoming the first driver to win the Atlanta 500 three straight years (1962-63-64).
HERBST CONTINUES TOP 10 STREAK
Riley Herbst kept his season-opening Top 10 streak intact last weekend with a fourth-place finish at Phoenix Raceway. That marked his best run of the year, following an eighth-place effort in Las Vegas, seventh-place run in Fontana and sixth-place showing in Daytona. If you go back to the end of the 2022 season, Herbst now has seven straight Top 10 finishes and comes into Saturday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway fifth in the point standings.
FOUR IN TOP FIVE
It’s only been two races for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, but Ford currently dominates the standings with four F-150 drivers holding down spots in the Top 5. Zane Smith, who took the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway, leads the series by two points over second-place Ty Majeski – the first of three ThorSport drivers in the Top 5. Teammates Matt Crafton and Ben Rhodes are fourth and fifth, respectively. Crafton is the only current driver on the Ford roster with a series win at Atlanta Motor Speedway with that coming in 2015.
ORD’S ATLANTA CUP SERIES WINNERS 1961 – Fred Lorenzen1962 – Fred Lorenzen1963 – Fred Lorenzen1964 – Fred Lorenzen and Ned Jarrett1965 – Marvin Panch (Sweep)1967 – Cale Yarborough and Dick Hutcherson1968 – LeeRoy Yarbrough1969 – LeeRoy Yarbrough1975 – Buddy Baker1978 – Bobby Allison1981 – Neil Bonnett1985 – Bill Elliott (Sweep)1987 – Ricky Rudd and Bill Elliott1990 – Morgan Shepherd1991 – Mark Martin1992 – Bill Elliott (Sweep)1993 – Morgan Shepherd1994 – Ernie Irvan and Mark Martin1997 – Dale Jarrett2002 – Kurt Busch2005 – Carl Edwards (Sweep)2008 – Carl Edwards2017 – Brad Keselowski2018 – Kevin Harvick2019 – Brad Keselowski2020 – Kevin Harvick2021 – Ryan Blaney (1)
FORD’S ATLANTA XFINITY SERIES WINNERS 1992 – Jeff Gordon1997 – Mark Martin1998 – Mark Martin2000 – Mark Martin2004 – Matt Kenseth2005 – Carl Edwards2008 – Matt Kenseth2011 – Carl Edwards2012 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.2018 – Kevin Harvick FORD’S ATLANTA CRAFTSMANTRUCK SERIES WINNERS 2020 – Grant Enfinger
The first and only factory-authorized Honda dealership participating in the series
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Southern California-based L.A. Honda World Racing has announced its 2023 driver lineup for the SRO TC America Racing Series. The first and only factory-authorized Honda dealership with an in-house race team will be participating in the SRO TC America Racing Series, and is proud to have this lineup featuring drivers Spencer Bucknam (#05), Kyle Loh (#37), and Mario Biundo (#07).
Rejoining the L.A. Honda World Racing team on the track, driver Spencer Bucknam will be driving the latest generation HPD Honda Civic Si FE1, a race car developed and tested in-house by Honda Performance Development (HPD) engineers. Modeled after the championship-winning 10th generation Civic Si, this new Honda touring car advances the same formula for success with powerful upgrades and components to continue its heritage.
“I’m honored to be returning to the TC America series with my L.A. Honda World team. Last season was an era of learning and despite being in a new environment, we showed we had good pace,” said Bucknam. “Coming into this season with gained experience, we will be able to fight for wins on a consistent basis. I’m looking forward to driving the newly delivered, 11th gen Honda Civic Si TCA car and I think this new platform will give us what we need to fight for the championship! I can’t thank everyone at L.A. Honda World and HPD enough for the opportunity to compete at this level and get the season started.”
New to the team, but not motorsport, Kyle Loh is familiar with the Honda and HPD race cars as a recent graduate of the HPD Drivers Academy. Born and raised in Southern California, Loh began his motorsports career in karting, competing in Senior Rotax, Pro Stock Honda shifter, and S3 class racing his way up through to SuperKarts and USA California Pro Kart Challenge.
Loh made the transition to Formula 4 race cars and in his rookie season earned a 2nd in the Championship. A move to F3 in 2021, Loh drove a phenomenal season and won the Formula Pro USA FR Western Championship. His success led him to being selected by Honda Racing HPD to partake in their GT3 Academy where he graduated in 2022 and experienced the J.A.S. Motorsport built FK7 TCR. The upcoming season will prove to be a valuable experience in a familiar race car.
“There’s no better feeling than being on the racetrack with my team,” said Loh. “I’m looking forward to competing in the SRO Series, driving the J.A.S. Motorsport built Honda Civic FK7 TCR and showing our competitors that L.A. Honda World Racing is the team to beat.”
Returning driver and team principal of L.A. Honda World Racing, Mario Biundo will be embarking on his 3rd season in professional racing. A successful graduate of the Skip Barber Racing school and Karting driver in Southern California for a number of years, Biundo transitioned to touring car driver in 2021.
“I have been racing in sports cars at an amateur level for several years but chose to focus on being a father, husband and businessman. 3 years ago, a couple of our IMSA drivers said I should get back into the car, polish my craft and enjoy the fruits of my labor. My wife and 2 sons echoed the call to get into a race car and with their blessing I jumped in. SRO is a fantastic racing series and with our L.A. Honda World team taking care of me, I really am now living my early young man’s dream come true.”
Look for the 3-driver team to build on numerous podiums and wins as they embark on their quest for their first SRO Championship. Celebrating its 5-year anniversary, L.A. Honda World should be one of the teams you see accumulating points at every race.
About L.A. Honda World Racing
L.A. Honda World Racing is a professional racing team based in Southern California and participates IMSA and SRO racing series exclusively racing touring cars built by Honda Performance Development. They are also a factory authorized Honda dealer for American Honda Motor Co. www.LAHondaWorldRacing.com
About Honda Performance Development
Honda Performance Development, Inc. (HPD), has a rich heritage creating, manufacturing, and supporting Honda Racing and Acura Motorsports customers since 1993. From pinnacle racing in INDYCAR and IMSA Sports Cars to commercial racing programs, HPD powers the dreams of professional and amateur racers from age 4 to 40+. HPD is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and leads all of Honda and Acura’s high-performance racing programs in North America. HPD specializes in the design and development of powertrain, chassis, electronics, and performance parts, as well as technical and race support. HPD offers parts and race support to Honda and Acura amateur and professional motorsports racers and is continually expanding its palette of racing programs that make Honda racing products available to all racing styles, from karting and Quarter Midgets to the highest levels of pro racing. www.hpd.honda.com
About J.A.S. Motorsport
J.A.S. the official partner of Honda since 1998, initially as a works team and then as an engineering and Customer Service provider. www.jasMotorsport.com
Michael McDowell and the No. 34 Fr8Auctions.com Ford Team
Atlanta Motor Speedway Competition Notes
TEAM AND RACE NOTES:
Michael McDowell and the No. 34 Ford Mustang team are back east this weekend at the Atlanta Motor Speedway for Sunday’s Ambetter Health 400.
Fr8Auctions.com will again make their return as the primary partner for McDowell and the No. 34 crew. This is the eighth consecutive season the Atlanta, Georgia-based asset recovery business has been with Front Row Motorsports (FRM). They are one of the longest-tenured and loyal partners to FRM and now McDowell.
McDowell will qualify at 11:30 a.m. ET on Saturday. Sunday’s 400-mile race will be televised live on FOX at 3:00 p.m. ET.
COMPETITION NOTES:
McDowell and the No. 34 Fr8Auctions.com team will travel to the Atlanta Motor Speedway ready to race. The teams will have no practice before qualifying and racing on the now superspeedway-style track.
McDowell has been making the most of his simulator time, and discussing with Peterson and his engineers on how they should approach the race.
CREW CHIEF TRAVIS PETERSON:
“For sure, we’re ready to take on Atlanta. Michael (McDowell) has been putting in a ton of work getting ready for this race, especially since there won’t be practice. Him and I have been working with one another on the best strategy to approach this weekend with.
“You must stay aggressive. Michael and I both like that approach. We want to race up front and not hang back. It’s worked for both of us more than it has not.”
DRIVER MICHAEL MCDOWELL:
“I’ve always believed being up front is best in these races. We just need to have a great handling Fr8Auction.com Ford Mustang, because you need to be able to make moves. You have to use the entire track because it’s so narrow now. Both racing grooves, you must be fast and handle well in both. And that’s what we’ve been working on before Sunday.”
ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.
