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Toyota Gazoo Racing North America NHRA Gainesville Post-Race Report — 3.12.23

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TWO FINAL ROUND APPEARANCES FOR TOYOTA DRIVERS AT GAINESVILLE
Todd, Torrence Kick Off NHRA Season with Final Round Runs

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 12, 2023) – Two Toyota drivers made final round appearances in the season kickoff race for the NHRA at Gainesville Raceway. J.R. Todd drove his GR Supra Funny Car through three rounds against Blake Alexander, Robert Hight and Chad Green to make a final round appearance against race-winner Matt Hagan.

Toyota Top Fuel dragster driver Steve Torrence worked his way past Scott Palmer, Tony Schumacher and Doug Kalitta to make it into the final round against race-winner Mike Salinas.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series
Gainesville Raceway
Race 1 of 21

TOYOTA TOP FUEL FINISHING POSITIONS

NameCarFinal ResultRound-by-Round
Steve TorrenceCapco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel DragsterFinal RoundW. 3.689 vs. 3.871 (Palmer)W. 3.741 vs. 4.348 (Schumacher)W. 3.779 vs. 5.773 (Kalitta)
Doug KalittaMac Tools Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSemi-FinalsW. 3.646 vs. 3.804 (Massey)W. 3.716 vs. 7.799 (Brown)L. 5.773 vs. 3.779 (Torrence)
Antron BrownMatco Tools Toyota Top Fuel DragsterRound 2W. 3.706 vs. 3.704 (Langdon)L. 7.799 vs. 3.716 (Kalitta)
Justin AshleyPhillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel DragsterRound 1L. 3.754 vs. 3.669 (Salinas)
Shawn LangdonCMR Construction and Roofing Toyota Top Fuel DragsterRound 1L. 3.704 vs. 3.706 (Brown)

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR FINISHING POSITIONS

NameCarFinal ResultRound-by-Round
J.R. ToddDHL Toyota GR Supra Funny CarFinal RoundW. 3.893 vs. 3.953 (Alexander)W. 3.913 vs. 23.626 (Hight)W. 3.903 vs. 3.967 (Green)
Alexis DeJoriaBandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny CarSemi-FinalsW. 3.900 vs. 8.424 (Pedregon)W. 3.931 vs. 9.617 (Capps)L. 3.912 vs. 3.896 (Hagan)
Ron CappsNAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra Funny CarRound 2W. 3.855 vs. 6.478 (Haddock)L. 9.617 vs. 3.931 (DeJoria)

TOYOTA QUOTES

STEVE TORRENCE, Capco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Torrence Racing

Final Result: Final Round

How do you feel about your performance on this opening race weekend?

“Great weekend overall. Really a good way to start the season. Don’t know what it did, but we’ll keep working at it. This is a huge step in the right direction for the Capco Toyota dragster. I’m really excited and really optimistic about what’s in store because this thing just keeps getting better with every lap. We just need to figure out the game plan on it and our tune-up then I think we’re going to be a contender for certain.”

What did you feel on the last run?

“Just a good lap, but it was probably a little soft in the middle. Cloud cover coming and going, you don’t know what to do. Those guys (Scrappers Racing) have been pretty stout all day, but we just went up there and ran our own race and maybe it wasn’t enough.”

J.R. TODD, DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, Kalitta Motorsports

Final Result: Final Round

What happened on the final run?

“Running really well all day and then in the final round, it’s running really well again and didn’t see him (Matt Hagan) and spun the tires and stayed with it and it blew up.”

How do you feel about starting off the season with a final round appearance?

“Really good. We tested really well. The car is definitely more consistent than what we’ve had in years past. I feel like it responds to what the crew chiefs are telling it to. Definitely shows that it has a lot of potential so it definitely has me excited for the rest of the season. Starting out in the final round, it’s always nice to finish off a final round, but can’t really complain starting off the season like this compared to last year.”

DOUG KALITTA, Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

Final Result: Semi-Finals

How was your race today overall and how do you feel about the start to your season?

“I was hoping to make it to the final for sure. The car was running strong all day and just super excited about the way things are going so far. Everyone is working together really well and the crew chiefs are really happy with what they’re seeing. Kind of the way it was in testing as well so I’m glad we were able to roll it into the first race. I don’t know what happened on that last run, but it was unfortunate to just smoke the tires. You know drag racing, it happens. Looking forward to getting to Phoenix.”

Your first round win was a career-best pass. Tell me about that run.

“That was a cool run. For whatever reason, I was trying to steer it to the middle and it was drifting to the center towards the end. I could tell I wasn’t going to go over or anything, but it was just one of those things where I knew this thing was really running. We really appreciate everything Toyota does for us and look forward to having a good season.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 43 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With the more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, more than a quarter of the company’s 2021 North American sales were electrified.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Veloce Racing and Rosberg X Racing win Q1 Heats in Desert X Prix Round 2

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12 March 2023, Saudi Arabia: Veloce Racing and Rosberg X Racing (RXR) secured a strong start to Round 2 in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, with wins in their respective Qualifying 1 Heats.

Having both made the Final in Round 1 of the Desert X Prix, with Veloce Racing taking their maiden victory in the series, the two teams continued their impressive form in an action-packed Q1.

Qualifying 1 – Heat 1

As the five teams charged towards the opening corner, it was the Hansen brothers who made the best start. Timmy chose the inside line for Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E as Kevin charged around the outside for Round 1 victors Veloce Racing.

As Veloce Racing slotted into second, X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s Fraser McConnell was close behind in third, followed by Timo Scheider in fourth for Carl Cox Motorsport.

ABT CUPRA XE dropped to the back of the pack at the start, with the team set to serve a 30-second penalty in the Switch Zone for using the championship car, following damage to the chassis of their own ODYSSEY 21 when Nasser Al-Attiyah rolled in Round 1’s Redemption Race.

They made the most of their situation, however, hanging back to take on the Continental Traction Challenge with clear air ahead of them. This bold strategy paid off as the team went fastest through the sector, which could prove crucial if they tie on points with another outfit in Round 2’s overall Qualifying.

Up ahead the front four remained tightly packed, as Veloce Racing’s Hansen put pressure on his brother for first and Carl Cox Motorsport’s Scheider attacked X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s McConnell for third.

The teams approached the driver change in these pairs, but problems for Carl Cox Motorsport in the Switch Zone saw Christine GZ stuck in her bay as the team suffered another Qualifying DNF.

Exiting the Switch Zone, Veloce Racing’s Molly Taylor set her sights on Catie Munnings in the Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E ODYSSEY 21. The Australian refused to play it safe, pushing Munnings from the very start of their two-lap stint.

Behind them X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s Cristina Gutiérrez closed the gap as the drama continued to build, with Taylor’s bonnet flying clean off as she attempted an overtake. Taylor made use of her ENOWA Hyperdrive to complete the pass on Munnings and claim the lead for Veloce Racing on the shoreline straight.

Gutiérrez held on to her ENOWA Hyperdrive until late on, timing it perfectly as she stole second place for X44 Vida Carbon Racing as the teams approached the finish line. Munnings tried to recover but ran out of course, thus finishing third just 0.293 seconds behind Gutiérrez, with ABT CUPRA XE’s Al-Attiyah bringing the car home safely in fourth.

Veloce Racing and Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E had initially received penalties for speeding in the Switch Zone giving X44 Vida Carbon Racing the win however, following a review, these were rescinded ensuring the on-course finishing positions were retained.

Qualifying 1 – Heat 2

After an initial false start the Heat got going at the second attempt, with RXR’s Johan Kristoffersson sandwiched between the JBXE and ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team cars as the teams approached the first corner.

NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s Tanner Foust pushed for the lead as he charged up the inside line, but despite being squeezed Kristoffersson timed his ENOWA Hyperdrive perfectly to surge to the front as No.99 GMC HUMMER EV’s RJ Anderson picked up the fight for second with Foust.

Mattias Ekström was close behind for ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, and gained a position as Foust tussled with Anderson, the former dropping to fourth in the melee for the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team.

All five teams remained congested, but only JBXE’s Heikki Kovalainen had held onto his ENOWA Hyperdrive, which the Finn used to take fourth place from Foust as the front three pulled away.

Anderson tried new lines as he tried take the lead for No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing, but RXR’s Kristoffersson shut the door repeatedly as the teams approached the Switch Zone.

Laia Sanz and Amanda Sorensen were side by side as they exited their bays, but Sanz soon slotted into third for ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team behind the No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing car.

A nail-biting two laps ensued, with the frontrunners close together as they approached the end of the race.

As Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky crossed the line in first for RXR, Sanz attempted to steal second with her ENOWA Hyperdrive. The Spaniard fell 0.619 seconds short of pulling off the overtake, placing ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team third behind No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing’s Sorensen.

NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team came fourth, despite a penalty for speeding in the Switch Zone, after Emma Gilmour managed to get round JBXE’s Hedda Hösas who finished a close fifth.

With Qualifying 2, the Redemption Race and the Grand Final all still to come today, find out where you can watch the action here.

Qualifying 1 Results:

Heat 1:

  1. Veloce Racing 11:25.061
  2. X44 Vida Carbon Racing +2.777
  3. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E +3.070
  4. ABT CUPRA XE +1:09.044 (PENALISED)
  5. Carl Cox Motorsport DNF

Heat 2:

  1. Rosberg X Racing 11:27.999
  2. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing +0.996
  3. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team +1.615
  4. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team +12.047 (PENALISED)
  5. JBXE +12.342

Overall Qualifying 1 Standings:

  1. Veloce Racing: 10 points
  2. Rosberg X Racing: 10 points
  3. X44 Vida Carbon Racing: 8 points
  4. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing: 8 points
  5. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E: 6 points
  6. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team: 6 points
  7. ABT CUPRA XE: 4 points
  8. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team: 4 points
  9. JBXE: 2 points
  10. Carl Cox Motorsport: 0 points

To learn more about Extreme E, visit – www.Extreme-E.com

Carl Bennett Secures His First-Career F4 U.S. Win in NOLA Season Opener

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Photo by Gavin Baker Photography

AVONDALE, La. (March 11, 2023) – Carl Bennett secured his first Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda (F4 U.S.) win in the season-opening race at NOLA Motorsports Park on Saturday afternoon. Kicking off his second season in F4 U.S., the result marked Bennett’s first-career podium finish in the series.

“This is my first win with formula cars, and that was just amazing,” said Bennett from the podium. “That was quite the battle that I had on the last lap. I’m still a little breathless right now. Just an amazing day.”

Michael Costello (No. 19 Jay Howard Driver Development / CSU One Cure / Lucas Oil / LHP Ligier JS F4) left the starting grid from the first position, but an incident on first lap relegated him to the seventh position by the time the field came back around to complete lap 1. Meanwhile, Daniel Cara (No. 10 Tenuta Foppa & AmbrosiLigier JS F4) rolled off from the seventh position, but he quickly climbed his way up to second with a strong start off the line. By lap 3, Cara took over the lead and paced the field for three laps before contact and a spin in Turn 2 took him out of contention.

Through all of the chaos, Bennett drove a steady race in his No. 9 Gonella Racing Ligier JS F4. After starting third, the driver climbed to second by the third lap, before passing Frankie Mossman (No. 6 JHDD / CSU One Cure / Lucas Oil / LHP Ligier JS F4) on a restart to overtake the lead on lap 9. With pressure from both Patrick Woods-Toth (No. 27 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) in second and Titus Sherlock (No. 31 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) in third, Bennett continued to hit his marks to lead the trio across the finish line.

F4 U.S. returns to the track tomorrow for Race 2 at 9:05 a.m. CT, followed by Race 3 at 1:50 p.m. CT. Follow the championship on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or use Race Monitor to follow live timing and scoring. This weekend’s races are streaming free at YouTube.com/SpeedTourTV.

WATCH THE STREAM: F4 U.S. Race 1 at NOLA

About Formula Regional Americas Championship & Formula 4 United States Championship, Powered by Honda: The FIA-certified Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) & Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas) are designed as entry-level open-wheel racing series offering young talent the opportunity to demonstrate their skills on an international platform while keeping affordability and safety as key elements. The Championships align with the global FIA development ladder philosophy of using common components to provide a cost-efficient, reliable and powerful racing structure as drivers ascend through the levels on their way to U.S. or global racing success. The F4 U.S. Champion is awarded a scholarship to compete the following season in FR Americas, while the FR Americas Champion is awarded a Super Formula Scholarship from Honda Performance Development and Honda Racing Corporation.

Stewart-Haas Racing: NXS Race Report from Phoenix

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STEWART-HAAS RACING
NASCAR Xfinity Series: United Rentals 200

Date: March 11, 2023
Event: United Rentals 200 (Round 4 of 33)
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Phoenix Raceway (1-mile oval)
Format: 200 laps, broken into three stages (45 laps/45 laps/110 laps)
Race Winner: Sammy Smith of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage 1 Winner: Justin Allgaier of JR Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 2 Winner: Justin Allgaier of JR Motorsports (Chevrolet)

SHR Race Finish:

● Riley Herbst (Started 10th / Finished 4th, completed 200 of 200 laps)
● Cole Custer (Started 1st / Finished 12th, completed 200 of 200 laps)

SHR Points:

● Riley Herbst (5th with 155 points, 40 out of first)
● Cole Custer (8th with 118 points, 77 out of first)

SHR Notes:

● Herbst earned his first top-five of the season and his third top-five in eight career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Phoenix.
● This is Herbst’s fourth straight top-10 of the season. He finished sixth in the season opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, seventh March 26 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, and eighth last Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
● This is Herbst’s second straight top-10 at Phoenix. He finished seventh in the series’ last visit to the track in November.
● Dating back to an eighth-place finish on Oct. 22, 2022 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Herbst has not finished outside the top-10 in a NASCAR Xfinity Series race.
● Herbst’s fourth-place finish equaled his previous best finish at Phoenix – fourth, earned in both of the 2021 races.
● Herbst finished fourth in Stage 1 to earn seven bonus points and eighth in Stage 2 to earn three more bonus points.
● Custer earned his third top-15 of the season and his sixth top-15 in seven career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Phoenix.
● This was Custer’s sixth straight top-15 at Phoenix. He finished second in his last start at the 1-mile oval in November 2019.
● Custer finished sixth in Stage 1 to earn five bonus points.
● Custer led two times for 38 laps to increase his laps-led total at Phoenix to 44.

Race Notes:

● Sammy Smith won the United Rentals 200 to score his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory in 13 starts. His margin over second-place Ryan Truex was .641 of a second.
● There were 11 caution periods for a total of 69 laps.
● Thirty-three of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.
● Austin Hill leaves Phoenix as the championship leader with a 30-point advantage over second-place John Hunter Nemechek.

Sound Bites:

“We had a fast No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang today. Probably the best car that I’ve had at Phoenix. Man, I wish we could’ve gotten up front. I had fun though. You’re always racing for a win, and that’s what we did. We found some luck there at the end and ended up with our first top-five of the season. I’m proud of this team and how far we’ve come.” – Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang

“The day started off strong, but we really struggled after we got back in the dirty air. Our No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang was fast when we got out in front of everyone and had clean air, but we just couldn’t get the balance right as the race continued. We’ll regroup and come back stronger at Atlanta.” – Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule is the RAPTOR 250 on Saturday, March 18 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The race begins at 5 p.m. EST with live coverage provided by FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Jr III Racing Scores Sebring Pole

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IMSA VP Challenge Sebring 2023

Sebring, Fla. (11 March 2023) – Jr III (“Junior-Three”) Racing earned its second pole position in VP Racing SportsCar Challenge (VPRC) at Sebring International Raceway on Saturday as part of the prologue weekend to the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Jr III Racing driver Bijoy Garg earned his second sports car pole position of the season piloting the No. 3 S2 Cyber Ligier JS P320. The quick lap time marks a strong follow up to his run to the Daytona pole to open the season in January.

Saturday morning consisted of first practice with cooler track temperatures before the day started to heat up. Right away Garg found his groove, placing himself at the top of the leaderboard. After improving times in all three sectors of the track, Garg closed the session in a promising position, netting a quick time of 1:57.957-seconds to lead the LMP3 field.

Garg followed that up by posting the second quickest time in the following practice session as he looked forward to the late afternoon qualifying.

Garg quickly jumped to the front of the pack early in qualifying, setting quick and clean laps ahead of a quick red flag that briefly stopped the session. Garg returned to the fray and promptly posted the fastest lap time of the day with a 1:56.854-second lap to secure his second career IMSA pole position for Sunday’s first race.

“It feels pretty good to grab the pole award,” said Garg. “The Jr III Racing crew gave me the car to be competitive and I knew that from my first lap. I had to nail my qualifying laps and I did just that. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. The day will bring a lot of traffic management and I think we did pretty well in that department today. I’m pretty confident that we will do well tomorrow and hopefully find that top step.”

The first race of the weekend will start at 8:00 am ET Sunday morning followed by race two at 1:45 pm ET.

Best Ways to Increase the Resale Value of Your Car

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SM
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Our car also tends to age with time like any other thing and needs service and upgrading. If you are planning on to sale your old car and want to get a handsome payment for it then you can look up these suggestions for a good resale amount. Find experienced and reputed companies around you to get your car serviced or cleaned. Upgrade its interior and exterior by installing new seat covers, window tints, etc. You can search online to find companies and places around you, just Google; best car window tinting in Boston service station or ask friends and family for these jobs, with just a small investment you can easily negotiate to get a good profit after selling your old car.

  • Get it Serviced

Take your car to a service station and check whatever is needed to repair or changed like your engine, oil filter, gear oil, etc. This will take some investment according to the type of model or the variant you own but it will surely get you a good payment from your buyer later on. Don’t hesitate to invest some money into checking all its mechanics. A good running car with no mechanical issues will attract several of buyers giving many good options to choose from while selecting your buyer according to your expectation of payment. 

  • Wash and Clean

The impression of the look of your car matters a lot, so before putting it out for sale get your car all cleaned and washed. Take it to the garage or service station around you and get it all cleaned. Companies now with the help of technology offer quick and efficient cleaning services. This one is not even a huge investment to make but gets you a considerable profit when you sell it.

  • Fix Paint, Dents, and Scratches 

Getting some paint work done and fixing the scratches and dents can make your car look as good as new. You can easily fix dents yourself with some amazing gadgets available in the market like scratch-fixing markers etc. This small investment leaves a big impression on your buyer and saves you from long negotiations and bargaining to get a good price for your car.

  • Replace the Tires

Changing tires is an important thing to consider as they remain in contact with the road. Old tires can put your buyer into second thought, and dull-looking tiers don’t speak highly of you as they are the most important component of your vehicle. Tires should ideally be replaced before showing your car to potential buyers. 

  • Upgrade Interior and Exterior

You can also add some installments to make your car look lavish and comfortable to get a high sale prize. You can change seat covers, get window tinting, add a steering cover, etc. if you are expecting to get a prize close to its original when you bought it yourself, then this idea is practicable.  

  • Update Paperwork and Prepare Documentation

Update your documents related to the car in a proper and organized manner which gives a positive influence on your buyer and makes both parties feel legally relaxed. This highly increases the valuation of your car.

Hope these recommendations help you get a handsome resale price for your car in the market.

Which Motorsports Are the Most Watched Around the Globe?

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SM
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Photo by Borna Bevanda on Unsplash

More and more individuals are betting on motorsports on well-known gambling sites, increasing the sport’s global popularity.

As soon as we figured out how to make cars that could move, people started trying to compete in races with them. Historically, motorsports may be traced back to 1894, when the first sanctioned race took place along a 50-mile route between Paris and Rouen. Of course, hundreds of motorsports have emerged since then across the globe. But which ones have gained the most traction?

In 2020, around 87 million people will watch a Formula 1 race, making it the most-watched motorsport in the world. IndyCar just had its most-viewed season with an average of 630,000 viewers each race; NASCAR, which primarily appeals to an American audience, had 2-12 million viewers every race.

Even though the first competitors could only manage an average speed of about 10.2 mph, the first “real” motor race was held between Paris and Bordeaux the following year. They were rising from a mere 50 miles in 1894 to 730 miles by 1985!

Two years later, in 1897, Nice, France, debuted as the world’s first purpose-built auto racing track. From that moment on, it began to grow globally, eventually becoming one of the most popular sports in the world.

Today’s Motorsports

How would you describe the current state of motorsports? The first step toward formalizing and standardizing motorsports was the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) founding in 1904. The FIA has recognized and staged World Championships in eleven different events over the years, seven of which still operate today. Of course, there are uncountable sorts of motorsports around the world.

Due to its immense popularity, motorsports now feature live betting at virtually every online casino. Players can wager on various motorsports events through iGaming and betting sites. You can check here for more info about betting on motorsports. 

How to Measure Motorsport Popularity?

Arguably, two perspectives exist on why motorsports are so widely followed. The first technique involves analyzing the typical audience size for each significant or frequent event. To determine which race is more popular, for example, we may compare the number of viewers for the Monaco Grand Prix in Formula 1 to that of the Indianapolis 500.

Is that the sole yardstick, though? Popularity in sports is typically measured by how many people tune in to watch. Still, other factors, such as the number of countries where it is practiced and the sport’s prestige and brand recognition, can also be taken into account.

Counting the world’s nations is simple, but does it paint an accurate picture? Twelve small European countries with a combined population of less than a third of the United States might be fans of the same motorsport. Do European countries have a greater affinity for the sport?

Similarly, prestige is difficult to quantify because it depends on individual perception. In light of these factors, we have narrowed the field down to the eight motorsports that we feel may justifiably claim the title of “The World’s Most Popular Motorsports.”

Most Popular Motorsports

Formula 1

They are often regarded as motorsport’s highest achievement on a global scale and the FIA’s greatest accomplishment to date. It was officially recognized for the first time in 1950, and today more than 20 races take place in different countries each year. Over the years, 770 drivers representing 40 different countries have competed in the sport. Because of this, it has become the most prestigious motorsports competition in the world.

NASCAR

Attending a NASCAR race is the best way to get a true experience of Americana in motorsport. NASCAR is an abbreviation for “National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing,” which encompasses three different national series in the United States: the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, the Xfinity Series, and the NASCAR Cup Series. The first season aired in 1948 and attracted millions of spectators in the United States and beyond, making it a bit older than Formula 1.

MotoGP

When it comes to motorcycle racing, MotoGP is unrivaled. It’s the highest one ever held on a paved track. Motocross races on dirt tracks are also rather common (see below). It’s important to note that there are four distinct categories within MotoGP: Moto3, Moto2, Moto Grand Prix, and the all-electric MotoE. The MotoGP (the GP stands for Grand Prix) series, much like Formula 1, holds its races in different locations worldwide.

IndyCar

Although some may equate IndyCar and NASCAR, these two series are distinct. IndyCar has been around for fewer than half as long as Formula One, having debuted in 1992. The races themselves look similar, leading to confusion. However, the vehicles utilized in each are quite distinct.

The weight of an IndyCar is around half that of a NASCAR, and the driver sits in the middle of the cockpit. It’s common for NASCAR races to include up to 60 vehicles, whereas an IndyCar race will only have 33. Last but not least, in the IndyCar series, physical contact is strictly forbidden. With the potential for flight, if contact is allowed, these vehicles are featherweight at best.

Drifting

Unparalleled in the world of motorsports, and the only item on our list that originates in Asia, Japan especially. It was made famous by motorcycle racer turned drifting icon Kunimitsu Takahashi, who competed in the All Japan Touring Car Championship.

Drag Racing

Before the advent of drag racing, no one could have imagined the limits of horsepower and torque. In a typical drag race, two high-performance vehicles race each other down a narrow, straight track. Top Fuel Dragsters are the quickest, capable of speeds more than 330 miles per hour while producing up to 9,400 horsepower at 7,200 revolutions per minute (rpm) and 7,000 pound-feet of torque at 7,075 rpm.

Rallying

Rallying is a type of off-road racing in which modified street automobiles race from one location to another. Ouninpohja in Finland, with its 75 jumps; Rally Wales in the UK, with its 94 miles and 7 stages through difficult weather and ultra-challenging conditions; and Panzerplatte in Germany, with its 25 miles but sudden shifts from asphalt to cobblestone and other surfaces, not to mention the random artillery pieces littering the place, are all famous roads in the world of rallying.

Motocross

Motocross, the most popular off-road motorcycle racing discipline worldwide, was developed in the United Kingdom and had massive muddy jumps throughout each course. The FIM World Championship, the American AMA Championship, the British Championship, and many others are now among the top competitions in the world. Many people associate motocross with freestyle riders who perform daring antics on the jumps.

Final Thoughts

While we’ve defined popularity in terms of viewership, we think there’s more to popularity than just statistics. For instance, in the United States, NASCAR and IndyCar have far more viewers than Formula 1 and MotoGP combined. Even though it’s harder to quantify and generate headlines around, another crucial metric is the level of interest and enthusiasm among the sport’s fan base.

The task is to bring the excitement of American motorsports to the world’s other motoring enthusiasts, where they remain a niche market—a solid beginning in the rapidly expanding NASCAR Whelen Euro Series in Europe.

Dalton Shirey Wins Third BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 Motorcycle Race in Four Years

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Add a win in the 2023 BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 Motorcycle Race to Dalton Shirey’s ever-growing list of career accomplishments. Shirey’s third Mint 400 win in the past four years came with David Kamo as his teammate for the second year in a row, as the duo teamed up on their #P1 Open Pro Husqvarna to complete six laps of the course in 7:34:04. The two-time and defending National Hare and Hound champion was once again far and away the class of the field, scoring this year’s win by more than 26 minutes.

“I’m feeling amazing right now,” Shirey said after crossing the finish line. “The course was super fun, and that made it easy on the body, so I’m feeling great and not too tired. The bike is in one piece, nothing too crazy—I had one little mistake in the infield, but other than that, it was a good day!”

“I’m feeling great!” added Kamo. “This bike was so amazing, it ran so good all day. We had a great time, and it’s fun being out here. So many people are out here, friends and family, so it’s awesome being out here.”

Fellow Open Pro competitors Danny Cooper and Jesse Canepa had a hard-fought battle of their own for second, with 2021 overall winner Cooper securing the spot over 2022 runner-up Canepa by just over three minutes. 201-300cc class winner Tate Dyer and Open Sportsman winner Coleman Westbay completed the top five.

Saturday’s race marked the fifth consecutive year that motorcycles have run at the Mint 400 since their 2019 return, and once again more than 80 entries lined up to compete in divisions ranging from the Open Pros to Hooligan and Scrambler classes. Alongside Shirey’s trio of victories, only Cooper and former Dakar Rally champion Ricky Brabec have scored overall wins since the race’s revival after what had been a 43-year absence.

The unofficial top overall finishers of the 2023 BFGoodrich Tires Motorcycle Race were as follows:

P1 Dalton Shirey (Open Pro), 7:34:04

P7 Danny Cooper (Open Pro), 8:00:55

P55 Jesse Canepa (Open Pro), 8:04:21

P227 Tate Dyer (201-300cc Pro), 8:39:40

S16 Coleman Westbay (Open Sportsman), 9:06:43

Full live timing and results from the event are available at live.themint400.com.

The Mint 400 has held the title of the toughest, most spectacular off-road race in North America since 1968 when it was first run. Initially, the race was a public relations event promoting the Mint Hotel’s annual deer hunt, but what started out as a hotel promotion soon grew into a legitimate desert race. Since its 2008 revival, “The Great American Off-Road Race” has only gotten bigger and more prestigious, and deeper fields every year only make it tougher to win.

More information on the 2023 BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 for racers and spectators is available at TheMint400.com, or follow the event on Facebook and Instagram.

About BFGoodrich® Tires
With more than 100 years of heritage, BFGoodrich® Tires is dedicated to providing high performance tires for those who have a passion for driving in virtually any environment. Combining technical expertise with 50 years of motorsports experience, BFGoodrich delivers tires for a full range of driving experiences from ultra-high performance street to off-road terrain with one common theme – extreme performance. Come upgrade your performance with BFGoodrich and see where our tires can take you at www.BFGoodrichTires.com, www.BFGoodrichRacing.com, as well as on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @BFGoodrichTires.

About The Mint 400
The Mint 400 is the oldest and most prestigious off-road race in America, and is held each March in the treacherous foothills of Sin City. The multi-day event features a massive vehicle parade down the world famous Las Vegas Strip, a two day festival on historic Fremont Street, and two days of grueling off-road racing on a desolate and punishing 400-mile racecourse. Nearly 65,000 off-road and recreational enthusiasts come to watch 500 race teams in 50+ classes from 25 different states and 15 different countries go door to door, while the Livestream coverage is beamed to over 800,000 viewers worldwide. No other off road race allows fans the thrilling experience of watching the top off-road race teams from around the world battle for fame and glory, in a festival setting – complete with a luxury VIP section. The Mint 400 is “The Great American Off-Road Race”!

Toyota Racing – NXS Phoenix Post-Race Report – 03.11.23

By
Official Release
-

SAMMY SMITH SCORES FIRST CAREER XFINITY SERIES WIN
Smith leads a Joe Gibbs Racing 1-2 finish at Phoenix

AVONDALE, Ariz. (March 11, 2023) – Toyota development driver Sammy Smith earned his first NASCAR Xfinity Series win at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday afternoon. The 18-year-old Iowa-native led 92 of 200 laps to win in just his 13th career NASCAR Xfinity Series start. Ryan Truex completed a Joe Gibbs Racing top-two sweep as the New Jersey-native tied his career-best result with a runner-up finish.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Phoenix Raceway
Race 4 of 33 – 200 miles, 200 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, SAMMY SMITH
2nd, RYAN TRUEX
3rd, Sheldon Creed*
4th, Riley Herbst*
5th, Chandler Smith*
6th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
24th, CONNOR MOSACK
26th, JOEY GASE
34th, KAZ GRALA
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

SAMMY SMITH, No. 18 Pilot Flying J Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 1st

What did it take to get to this point?

“It was tough with all of these restarts. I just got to thank everyone on this Pilot Flying J team, TMC, Allstate Peterbuilt, Renda Group, Sinclair, Toyota, JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) guys – everybody on this 18 team that gave me an awesome car.”

What did it take to get to this point in your career?

“A lot of hard work and a lot of great people behind me. Without all these guys – and Pilot Flying J, TMC and Toyota, I wouldn’t be here.”

What does it mean to be in victory lane in the NASCAR Xfinity Series?

“It is amazing. It’s a dream come true – just thanks to Pilot Flying J, TMC, Allstate Peterbuilt Group, Renda Group, Toyota – all of the guys on the JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) team for giving me this opportunity. It is awesome.”

RYAN TRUEX, No. 19 Toyota Genuine Parts Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 2nd

You got it going when it counted. How was your race?

“I think the track just changed a lot more than I expected it to. That long run we were really bad – I was just hanging on. Jason (Ratcliff) and these guys let me complain on the radio and we made the right adjustments. That was a good restart at the end; I’m glad at least I could try to make it exciting. Congrats to Sammy (Smith) and I think he was the class of the field all day. His car looked so good, and he could do what he wanted. Just thankful to be here. Thank you to Toyota Genuine Parts – it was as fast as Xfinity 10 G – but I think that Sammy was just a little bit faster. I’ll try again next time.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 20 electrified options, with more in showrooms later this year.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Sammy Smith drives dominant car to NASCAR Xfinity win at Phoenix

By
Official Release
-
Sammy Smith, driver of the #18 Pilot Flying J Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series United Rentals 200 at Phoenix Raceway on March 11, 2023 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

AVONDALE, Ariz.—High school senior Sammy Smith made the most of the fastest car in Saturday’s United Rentals 200, becoming the youngest NASCAR Xfinity Series winner Phoenix Raceway at age 18.

In a race that featured 11 cautions for 69 laps, Smith held off teammate Ryan Truex after a restart with 15 of 200 laps left to give Joe Gibbs Racing its 16th victory at the 1.0-mile track.

Smith led a race-high 92 laps, including the last 52, taking the lead from Kyle Busch on Lap 149. To secure his first victory in the series in his 13th start, Smith had to survive restarts on Laps 157, 177 and 186.

“That was tough with all of those restarts—and going against some of the best,” said Smith, who takes his high school classes online. “I just have to thank everybody on Pilot/Flying J, Toyota, JGR guys and everybody on this 18 team for giving me an awesome car. This is awesome.

“This is a dream come true, and I did know that at some point this was coming. It took a lot of hard work and a lot of great people around me. Without all of these guys, I wouldn’t be here.”

In a part-time role with JGR, Truex matched his career-best finish after restarting seventh on Lap 186.

“That was a good restart at the end,” Truex said. “I thought I could at least try to make it exciting. Congrats to Sammy—he was the class of the field all day. His car was so good. He could really kind of do whatever he wanted.

“Sammy was just a little bit faster, but I’ll try again next time.”

Sheldon Creed ran a miraculous third after spinning and losing track position on Lap 148 to cause the ninth caution. Creed got help from Kaulig Racing teammates Busch and Chandler Smith, who tangled on the last lap while racing for fourth.

Smith got the better of the exchange, finishing fifth to Busch’s ninth.

Busch and Chandler Smith weren’t the only teammates who traded paint on Saturday. JR Motorsports’ Josh Berry spun off the bumper of Sam Mayer on Lap 84 and fought back to finish eighth.

Justin Allgaier, who won the race’s first two stages, crashed hard on Lap 178 after contact from JR Motorsports teammate Brandon Jones and Sam Hunt Racing’s Kaz Grala. The accident eliminated Allgaier and set up Smith’s triumphant run to the checkered flag.

Riley Herbst ran fourth. John Hunter Nemechek recovered from a restart penalty—dipping below the yellow line on the apron before the start/finish line—to come home sixth. Austin Hill was seventh, followed by Berry, Busch and Daniel Hemric.

Mayer finished 11th and pole winner Cole Custer 12th.

Hill leads the series standings by 30 points over second-place Nemechek.

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – United Rentals 200
Phoenix Raceway
Avondale, Arizona
Saturday, March 11, 2023
(11) Sammy Smith #, Toyota, 200.
(12) Ryan Truex, Toyota, 200.
(5) Sheldon Creed, Chevrolet, 200.
(10) Riley Herbst, Ford, 200.
(6) Chandler Smith #, Chevrolet, 200.
(4) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 200.
(8) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 200.
(7) Josh Berry, Chevrolet, 200.
(38) Kyle Busch(i), Chevrolet, 200.
(3) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet, 200.
(14) Sam Mayer, Chevrolet, 200.
(1) Cole Custer, Ford, 200.
(17) Brett Moffitt, Ford, 200.
(25) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 200.
(37) Parker Kligerman, Chevrolet, 200.
(9) Ryan Sieg, Ford, 200.
(18) Kyle Weatherman, Chevrolet, 200.
(15) Parker Retzlaff #, Chevrolet, 200.
(19) Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 200.
(27) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 200.
(20) Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 200.
(16) Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 200.
(21) Brandon Jones, Chevrolet, 200.
(36) Connor Mosack, Toyota, 200.
(22) Kyle Sieg, Ford, 200.
(33) Joey Gase, Toyota, 200.
(23) Leland Honeyman, Chevrolet, 200.
(32) Bayley Currey, Chevrolet, 200.
(28) Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 200.
(34) Patrick Emerling, Chevrolet, 200.
(24) Joe Graf Jr, Ford, 200.
(30) Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 200.
(31) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Chevrolet, 200.
(13) Kaz Grala, Toyota, 199.
(35) Blaine Perkins #, Chevrolet, Suspension, 192.
(2) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, Accident, 178.
(26) Gray Gaulding, Ford, Accident, 137.
(29) Dawson Cram, Chevrolet, Fuel Pump, 99.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 82.079 mph.

Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 26 Mins, 12 Secs. Margin of Victory: 0.641 Seconds.

Caution Flags: 11 for 69 laps.

Lead Changes: 14 among 8 drivers.

Lap Leaders: C. Custer 1-37;J. Allgaier 38-49;C. Custer 50;S. Mayer 51-54;J. Nemechek 55-73;A. Hill 74-85;C. Smith # 86;J. Allgaier 87-94;A. Hill 95-100;K. Busch(i) 101-102;S. Smith # 103-142;C. Smith # 143;A. Hill 144-147;K. Busch(i) 148;S. Smith # 149-200.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Sammy Smith # 2 times for 92 laps; Cole Custer 2 times for 38 laps; Austin Hill 3 times for 22 laps; Justin Allgaier 2 times for 20 laps; John Hunter Nemechek 1 time for 19 laps; Sam Mayer 1 time for 4 laps; Kyle Busch(i) 2 times for 3 laps; Chandler Smith # 2 times for 2 laps.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 7,2,18,98,11,00,10,1,20,16

Stage #2 Top Ten: 7,21,11,18,10,78,1,98,26,2

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