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Leland Honeyman Jr. debuts at Phoenix Raceway

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MOORESVILLE, N.C (March 7, 2023): Leland Honeyman Jr. will be making his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in this weekend’s United Rentals 200 at Phoenix Raceway in the No. 45 Klean Freak Body Wipes Chevrolet Camaro. Honeyman, a Phoenix-area native, is scheduled for seven starts in 2023 on a variety of tracks and will put his short-track racing background to the test at the 1-mile track located just west of Phoenix.

Klean Freak Body Wipes are single use body wipes infused with amazing, natural ingredients and conveniently packaged for the on-the-go individual. Teaming up with scientists to formulate the “best of the best” body wipes, Klean Freak Body Wipes provide a refreshing, confidence-boosting kind of clean while hydrating skin and ridding it of bad bacteria. All Klean Freak products have been cleared by the FDA and are safe for even the most sensitive skin. You can find Klean Freak Body Wipes on Amazon and the Klean Freak website.
“Joining Alpha Prime Racing for my NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Phoenix Raceway is a dream come true,” said Honeyman Jr., driver of the No. 45 Klean Freak Body Wipes Chevy Camaro. “I’m ready to push myself to the limit and compete against the best competition this series has to offer. It’s an honor to represent this team and I’m grateful for the opportunity to prove myself on the track. My main goal is to bring a clean racecar back after the checkered flag waves.”

“The paint scheme captures everyone’s attention immediately,” said David Schildhouse, Vice-President of Alpha Prime Racing. “Klean Freak is all about being fresh and the car looks the part. We’re looking forward to seeing Leland and the entire 45 team clean up the competition in Phoenix.”

Tune in to the United Rentals 200 this Saturday on FS1 at 4:30 PM ET.

Stewart-Haas Racing: Phoenix NXS Advance (Cole Custer | Riley Herbst)

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COLE CUSTER | RILEY HERBST
Phoenix NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance
NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview

• Event: United Rentals 200 (Round 4 of 33)
• Date: Saturday, March 11
• Location: Phoenix Raceway
• Layout: 1-mile oval
• Time/TV/Radio: 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Cole Custer Notes of Interest

• As this year’s West Coast Swing comes to an end with Saturday’s United Rentals 200, Cole Custer would like nothing more than to pick up where he left off in his most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series outing at Phoenix Raceway in November 2019. At the same time, the driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) and his team look to garner as much information as they can this weekend with their eyes also focused on their return to the desert mile oval 29 races hence, when they hope to be battling for the Xfinity Series championship during the Nov. 4 season finale.

• The United Rentals 200 will be Custer’s seventh Xfinity Series start at Phoenix. After a 21st-place finish in his debut at the track in March 2017, he went on to never finish worse than eighth in his next five Xfinity Series starts there, highlighted by a second-place finish in the November 2019 race. Custer also has 12 starts outside of the Xfinity Series at Phoenix – six in the Cup Series with a best finish of ninth in March 2020, three in the Truck Series with a best finish of third in November 2014, and three in the K&N Pro Series West. His victory from the pole in March 2014, when he led a race-high 62 of 80 laps, was his best of his three K&N Pro Series West outings, with finishes of third and sixth in the other two starts.

• Custer’s return to the Xfinity Series has been a roller coaster in terms of results, but the speed in his Haas Automation Mustang has been evident each of the first three weekends. He earned a ninth-place finish in the season-opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, his best finish at the track. The following week at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, he won the opening two stages and led 46 laps before a cut right-front tire relegated him to a 27th-place finish. Last weekend at Las Vegas, Custer qualified third but was forced to start from the rear of the field after going to a backup car due to damage sustained from the Fontana race. He worked his way up to 12th, where he finished the race, despite struggling with the balance of his No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang. Custer is currently seventh in the Xfinity Series points standings.

Riley Herbst Notes of Interest

• Riley Herbst will feel right at home at the desert-mile oval of Phoenix Raceway this weekend. The third-generation racer from just up the road in Las Vegas has taken his family name from the iconic off-road events of the Desert Southwest to the asphalt tracks of NASCAR. He began racing go-karts up and down the West Coast at age 5. He soon followed in his family’s footsteps in 2006 when he transitioned to off-road racing, where his grandfather Jerry, his dad Troy, and his uncles Tim and Ed, all became Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame inductees after their numerous championship-winning campaigns. But by age 10, Herbst sought a return to pavement, which began with Legends cars, then transitioned to Speed Trucks, Super Late Models, the K&N Series, NASCAR Trucks Series, the Xfinity Series, and the Cup Series. Last weekend, FOX aired a feature story highlighting the Herbst family motorsports legacy, and third-generation racer’s story about breaking away from the off-road scene. Watch it HERE.

• Saturday’s race will mark Herbst’s eighth career Xfinity Series start at Phoenix, which has proven to be one of his better tracks. After an early race accident in his series debut there in November 2019 earned him a 30th-place result, Herbst finished 11th or better in his next four Phoenix starts, highlighted by fourth-place finishes in both the March and November 2021 events. He earned a seventh-place finish in the series’ latest visit to Phoenix for last November’s season finale. Herbst also finished 10th in his lone NASCAR K&N Pro Series West start at the track in November 2019, and 15th in his only NASCAR Truck Series start there in November 2018.

• With three races down this season, Herbst is continuing the momentum he closed the season with in 2022. He is one of four Xfinity Series drivers to finish in the top-10 in every race so far this season, joining Austin Hill, John Hunter Nemechek, and Justin Allgaier. After running in the top-three for a majority of the season opener at Daytona, the Monster Energy driver avoided mayhem in the final laps to finish sixth. When the series rolled into Fontana two weekends ago, he ran in the top-10 for most of the day before finishing seventh. Last weekend in his hometown of Las Vegas, he was putting down some of the fastest lap times on his way to a seventh-place finish. He is currently fifth in the Xfinity Series points standings.

Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang

You’re heading into the final race of the West Coast swing at Phoenix Raceway. Talk about your expectations.

“Phoenix means a lot just because it’s where the championship race takes place. You want to have a strong spring race there so you can take it into the fall race. It’s the first short-track race of the year, so we’ll see where we’re at as a team at that point. I’ve done well there in the past, so hopefully we can find the speed and have a perfect day.”

Is there any extra pressure heading into Phoenix knowing that the championship race will be held there in November and you could very well be racing for the title?

“You definitely put a little more emphasis on Phoenix at this time of the year just because you know how big this race will be when we return in November. It’s a race that means a lot later in the year, and you never know if you’ll be one of the ones racing for a championship or not. You’re always going to bring the best you’ve got to a race, but there might be a little more pressure to get it right this time so you can be as perfect as possible later on.”

Riley Herbst, Driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang

After a solid run at Las Vegas last weekend, you’re heading to Phoenix, which has been one of your stronger tracks. You finished fourth in both races there in 2021 and came back to finish seventh in last year’s season finale. What are your goals heading into the race this weekend?

“The goal is to win. Always. Phoenix is no exception. We obviously want to keep being consistent and running in the top-10, but we also want to get better. These guys deserve to go to victory lane, and we have the speed to get there. Phoenix is a fun racetrack, and I’ve had strong runs there in the past. You need to have a perfect day to make it to victory lane. Hopefully, we can figure out how to do just that this weekend. In addition, this is an important race in terms of preparing for the championship race at the end of the season. Anyone can make it to the Championship 4, so you always want to be prepared.”

You’ve been consistent to start the 2023 season with three straight top-10 finishes. How does kicking off the season with such consistency help you and the team?

“It’s a confidence booster, for sure. It just shows how much hard work we’ve put in the past two seasons and during the offseason. The addition of Cole Custer to the team only strengthens us more because he has so much knowledge and experience in the Xfinity Series. I think this will be a big year for us, and to kick off the season like this only gives us more hope. It proves that we can run well at a variety of tracks, as well.”

SPIRE MOTORSPORTS TO FIELD ENTRY FOR CARSON HOCEVAR IN MULTIPLE NASCAR XFINITY SERIES RACES

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Official Release
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Michigan Native to Make NXS Debut at Dover Motor Speedway

CONCORD, N.C. (March 7, 2023) – Spire Motorsports announced today it will field an entry in six NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) races in 2023 with Carson Hocevar behind the wheel and Premier Security Solutions as the team’s primary sponsor.

Hocevar, 20, is a veteran of 56 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) starts and will race a Spire Motorsports prepared No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro, beginning with the April 29 A-Game 200 at Dover Motor Speedway.

Kevin “Bono” Manion and Mike Greci will lead the effort with technical support provided by JR Motorsports.

“I am eager to make my Xfinity Series debut for Spire Motorsports with support from JR Motorsports,” said Hocevar “I am very grateful for their partnership and for Premier Security’s belief in me. Together, they are providing me with a fantastic opportunity to grow as a driver and I intend to make the most of it.”

Hocevar made his Truck Series debut August 1, 2019 at Eldora Speedway for Jordan Anderson Racing. Since then, the Portage, Mich., native has collected one pole, 10 top fives and 20 top 10s, including four runner-up efforts. He finished 10th in NCTS points in 2021 and 2022. Hocevar won the famed Winchester 400 super late model race at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway in 2020.

“Premier Security Solutions has supported Carson since his days racing short tracks in the Midwest,” said Premier Security Solutions CEO Dave Forystek. “We continued to support him when he moved up the ladder to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and we are looking forward to seeing him compete at the next level. We are so proud to partner with Spire Motorsports and Chevrolet as Carson makes the leap to the NASCAR Xfinity Series.”

In addition to his NXS debut, Hocevar will also race the No. 77 machine at the following races in 2023:

  • Charlotte Motor Speedway – May 27
  • Nashville Superspeedway – June 24
  • Michigan International Speedway – August 5
  • Darlington Raceway – September 2
  • Bristol Motor Speedway – September 15

“Carson Hocevar is a rising talent who earned the opportunity to compete in the NASCAR Xfinity Series,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson. “Spire Motorsports prides itself on identifying talented race drivers who are still in the early stages of their career and pairing them with veterans who can help get the most out of that talent. Carson fits the bill perfectly. We’re eager to provide him with the opportunity to showcase his talent and work with Bono, Mike Greci and the group from JR Motorsports.”

Hocevar began racing USAC quarter midgets when he was seven-years-old and went on to amass 79 feature wins and 15 national championships. He has close ties to fellow Michigan driver Johnny Benson Jr., a former NXS and NCTS Champion.

Hocevar earned his first super late model victory at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway at just 13-years-old and went on to win the track’s premier division championship in 2017. He continues to be a regular at some of the nation’s most high-profile pavement super late model races as he continues to pursue NCTS Championship honors for Niece Motorsports.

“Carson Hocevar is a proven winner and has absolutely shown he’s ready for this opportunity,” offered Manion. “I’ve been around the sport a long time and it’s always exciting to work with a young driver like Carson. Dover is definitely a big challenge and one we’ll all embrace.”

“We’re looking forward to supporting Spire Motorsports and Carson for these six Xfinity Series races,” added JR Motorsports Senior Vice President of Motorsports, L.W. Miller. “This is a great opportunity for Carson to take another step up the racing ladder while getting next-level experience with a solid team.”

The A-Game 200 from Dover Motor Speedway will be televised live on FS1 Saturday, April 29 beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The NXS 2023 visit to the Monster Mile will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

About Premier Security Solutions …
Premier Security Solutions provides both armed and unarmed security guards as well as state of the art video surveillance with real time, live monitoring. The combination of guards on site and live surveillance monitoring brings a level of unparalleled safety and detection to all types of commercial, industrial, and residential locations. Premier Security Solutions has a large presence of security personnel in K12 schools, protecting nearly 25,000 students in many southeast and central Michigan public and private school districts.

Premier Security Solutions seeks to provide peace of mind and is known for their efficient service and the ability to deliver a safe environment. With extensive experience securing property and inventory for major corporations and logistics companies, they specialize in rapid deployment of security personnel to locations around the Midwest. On any given day, Premier Security Solutions is guarding billions of dollars of property in storage facilities in multiple states.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports is a full-time, two-car NASCAR Cup Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2023, Spire Motorsports will field the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for driver Corey LaJoie and No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Ty Dillon. The team also fields NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series teams in select events.

Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway.

Hendrick Motorsports statement on Chase Elliott

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Official Release
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CONCORD, N.C. (March 7, 2023) – As NASCAR Cup Series star Chase Elliott recovers from a leg injury, Josh Berry will continue to drive the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports at upcoming oval tracks while road racing standout Jordan Taylor will compete for the team at Circuit of The Americas.

Elliott, 27, suffered a fractured tibia while snowboarding in Colorado on March 3 and underwent successful surgery that evening. He was released from the hospital Saturday and did not race Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, marking the first missed start of his career. The 2020 Cup Series champion is currently rehabilitating in Colorado. His recovery is expected to last approximately six weeks.

“We’re focused on getting Chase back to 100%, so we’ll take however much time is necessary and make sure he has the best resources available,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “Josh was impressive this weekend under difficult circumstances, and we look forward to having him drive the oval tracks until Chase is able to return. Jordan is a world-class road racer and has recently been working with our Garage 56 team preparing for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He’ll be able to step in and do a great job at COTA.”

Berry, 32, filled in for Elliott at Las Vegas, finishing 29th in his third career Cup start. Driving for Hendrick Motorsports affiliate JR Motorsports, the Hendersonville, Tennessee, native is a five-time race winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series: Martinsville Speedway (2021), Las Vegas (2021 and 2022), Dover Motor Speedway (2022) and Charlotte Motor Speedway (2022).

Taylor currently competes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for Corvette Racing. The Orlando, Florida, native won the 2017 24 Hours of DAYTONA and the 2017 championship in the IMSA prototype class. Although the March 26 race at Circuit of The Americas will represent his first career Cup Series start, the 31-year-old driver has competed at the road course multiple times, including two wins (2016 and 2017) in four IMSA appearances.

ABOUT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS:
Founded by Rick Hendrick in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports is the winningest team in NASCAR Cup Series history. At the sport’s premier level, the organization holds the all-time records in every major statistical category, including championships (14), points-paying race victories (292) and laps led (more than 77,000). It has earned at least one race win in a record 39 different seasons, including an active streak of 38 in a row (1986-2023). The team fields four full-time Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entries in the NASCAR Cup Series with drivers Alex Bowman, William Byron, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson. Headquartered on more than 100 acres in Concord, North Carolina, Hendrick Motorsports employs approximately 600 people. For more information, please visit HendrickMotorsports.com or interact on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

2023 DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Pilots No. 47 Thomas’® Camaro at Phoenix and Makes Appearance at Fry’s Food Stores

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Stenhouse Jr. meets consumers before racing his No. 47 Thomas’ ZL1 Camaro at Phoenix Raceway.

PHOENIX (March 7, 2023) – – The West Coast swing is in effect for the NASCAR Cup Series and next on the schedule is the United Rentals Work United 500 at Phoenix Raceway. This Friday, DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION and No. 47 Thomas’® Camaro driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is appearing at the Fry’s Food Store on 13730 W. Camelback Road in Litchfield Park, AZ from 6 PM to 7 PM thanks to presenting sponsors, Coca-Cola®, Cottonelle®, and Thomas’®.

“We are thrilled to treat our NASCAR fans and shoppers with this special visit by Daytona 500 Champion, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and the No. 47 NASCAR Cup Series show car. Prior to his visit beginning at 6 PM, we will have our mobile pharmacy unit on hand offering vaccinations, blood pressure/diabetes screenings, and more. Like Ricky’s premium Camaro, our pharmacy team is driven to help people live healthier lives,” said Stephanie Spark, Fry’s Food Stores director of pharmacy/health & wellness.

“I enjoy spending time in and around the Phoenix market and meeting people in the community that shop at Fry’s,” said Stenhouse Jr. “Our CPG (consumer packaged goods) partners make it exciting and possible for us to get into the community and meet our fans.”

The day after the store activation, Stenhouse Jr. qualifies his fully branded No. 47 Thomas’ Camaro and then races 312 laps on Sunday at the one-mile oval.

“Thomas’ is one of our favorite brands, and we are looking forward to having them back with us at Phoenix,” said Stenhouse Jr. “It was fun to have them and several of our partners with us at the Daytona 500 to celebrate the big win.

“We’re optimistic about the race this weekend after being one of a handful of teams that tested there in January,” continued Stenhouse Jr. “We’ve learned some things, and we’re excited to have Thomas’ on our Camaro at Phoenix.”

On Sunday, March 12th, live coverage of the United Rentals Work United 500 starts at 3:30 PM ET on FOX, MRN Radio, and SiriusXM Satellite NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90).

About Fry’s Food Stores:

At Fry’s Food Stores, a division of The Kroger Family of Companies (NYSE: KR), we are Fresh for Everyone™ and dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit®. Headquartered in Tolleson, we employ more than 21,000 associates and operate 127 Fry’s Food Stores and 100 fuel centers across the state. Fry’s has been serving Arizonans since 1960 and was selected as the 2019 Business of the Year by the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. As a division of The Kroger Family of Companies, we care about the communities we serve, working to end hunger and eliminate waste across the company through our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social impact plan. In 2021, we provided nearly 12 million meals to Arizona’s hungry families.

Bass Pro Shops Racing: Martin Truex Jr. Phoenix Advance

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Official Release
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Martin Truex Jr.
Phoenix Advance
No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry TRD for Joe Gibbs Racing

Event Overview

● Event: United Rentals Work United 500k (Round 4 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 12
● Location: Phoenix Raceway
● Layout: 1-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 312 laps/312 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 125 laps / Final Stage: 187 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Team Toyota: Truex will make his 400th Cup start in a Toyota Camry in Sunday’s 312-lap race at Phoenix.

● Truex and the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry team for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) set the tone for the season right out of the gate by winning the 150-lap feature in the non-points Clash at the Coliseum on Feb. 5. Truex won his heat race, then went on to lead the final 25 laps of the feature en route to the victory.

● Truex has one win, six top-five finishes and 12 top-10s and has led a total of 259 laps in 34 career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Phoenix. Truex’s average Phoenix finish is 15.6.

● Truex notched his lone Phoenix victory in March 2021, when he led 64 laps en route to the win.

● Ahead at this Stage: Truex leads the NASCAR Cup Series with 56 stage wins since the beginning of the stage era in 2017. He is the only driver with 10 or more stage sweeps, as well. While Truex came close to winning a stage at the season-opening Daytona 500, he does not have a stage win so far this year. Last weekend at Las Vegas, Truex finished sixth and fourth, respectively, in the opening two stages and collected valuable points that could prove important at the end of the regular season.

● With his seventh-place finish at Las Vegas last weekend, Truex heads to Phoenix fifth in the standings with 102 points, 27 out of the lead, as the Cup Series finishes off its three-race West Coast swing in the Arizona desert.

Martin Truex Jr., Driver of the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry TRD

What is the biggest challenge for you when racing at Phoenix?

Phoenix is very straightforward looking, but the two ends are so different that it’s a big challenge to get your car working good, especially with the NextGen car having come around, and we are shifting a bit. It’s definitely a fun place and it’s been really racy there the last couple of years and I enjoy going there. I feel like we needed a little bit more in Vegas and hopefully we have that this weekend in Phoenix with our Bass Pro Shops Toyota.”

Let’s say you are in the lead on the final restart at Phoenix. What’s going through your mind?

“I think just getting a good jump and getting through turns one and two. That dogleg breeds opportunities to cut the corner. If you can get to turn one with a little bit of a cushion, you are in generally good shape, so it’s all about the restart there to be able to maintain the lead and be able to bring it home.”

Your team changed the over-the-wall pit crew, but the road crew guys are the virtually the same. How do you feel about your team after the first four events of the season?

“We really had no changes to our team guys that work on the car all weekend. That’s a group that is very good, and James (Small, crew chief) does a great job leading those guys. We think in the long term our over-the-wall guys are going to help us a ton. Just looking forward to taking advantage of opportunities. James took a gamble at Vegas and put us in position to steal one, we just didn’t get the two or three other guys that we needed to gamble with us and we finished seventh instead of maybe third or fourth, so that was worth a chance. We had a good season last year but we didn’t get a win, but we had a lot of opportunities to do that and it slipped away. That’s what we are focused on, trying to limit our mistakes and trying to be better more consistently. I think the changes NASCAR has made to the cars will help us on the short tracks and other places where we struggled last year. We’ll have a little extra practice this weekend on Friday to get dialed in and see where our Bass Pro Shops Camry stacks up with some of the package changes that were made.”

No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Martin Truex Jr.
Hometown: Mayetta, New Jersey

Crew Chief: James Small
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

Car Chief: Chris Jones
Hometown: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

Engineer: Nick Burton
Hometown: Arvada, California

Engineer: Jeff Curtis
Hometown: Fairfax Station, Virginia

Spotter: Drew Herring
Hometown: Benson, North Carolina

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Ryan Martin
Hometown: Mechanicsburg, Virgina

Mechanic: Todd Carmichael
Hometown: Redding, California

Interior/Tire Specialist: Tommy DiBlasi
Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Engine Tuner: Gregg Huls
Hometown: Beatrice, Nebraska

Transporter Driver: Kyle Bazzell
Hometown: Fairbury, Illinois

Transporter Driver: Eddie DeGroot
Hometown: Baldwinsville, New York

Over-The-Wall Crew Members

Gas Man: Matt Tyrrell
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Jackman: Kellen Mills
Hometown: Mesa, Arizona

Tire Carrier: CJ Bailey
Hometown: Outer Banks, North Carolina

Front Tire Changer: Lee Cunningham
Hometown: Leaf River, Illinois

Rear Tire Changer: Danny Olszowy
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

Racing Gear Manufacturer K1 RaceGear, IMS Announce New Partnership

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INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, March 7, 2023) – K1 RaceGear, a leading manufacturer of professional-level racing safety gear and apparel, announced March 7 a new promotional partnership with Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

As part of this multiyear partnership, K1 will supply fire suits for IMS Track Rescue, Recovery and Medical staff. K1 already supports many drivers and teams who compete at IMS throughout the year in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, NASCAR and IMSA.

More fans also will be introduced to IMS and its full season of events through 60-plus K1 Speed karting centers worldwide.

“Ensuring the safety of our medical personnel and safety team is a priority,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “These dedicated individuals provide care to drivers and spectators at IMS, and K1’s innovative gear is an important component of the safety work they perform during our events.”

Founded by racers, K1 RaceGear has been a leading manufacturer of professional-level racing gear – including suits, gloves, shoes and more – for nearly 20 years. During this time, the American company has gained a reputation for exceptional quality, comfort, durability and safety. Winners and champions across various top-level motorsports choose to wear K1 RaceGear products, earning the company its slogan, “Winners wear K1: The Brand of Champions.”

“There is nothing bigger in motorsport than the Indianapolis 500 and Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” said Jacob Brown, K1 RaceGear director of motorsports and marketing. “IMS’ commitment to safety and innovation aligns perfectly with K1 RaceGear’s mission, so we’re proud and excited to be a part of the IMS family for years to come. We can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

For more information, visit k1racegear.com/.

CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: Antonio Garcia Zoom Transcript

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CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: Antonio Garcia Zoom Transcript
Media Q&A ahead of Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring for defending GTD PRO co-winner

Corvette Racing’s Antonio Garcia was part of a media Zoom today to talk about next week’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and the second round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. He will team with Jordan Taylor and Tommy Milner in the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R. The trio finished second in the GTD PRO class to open the season at the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM

CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R

YOU’VE HAD A LOT OF GREAT HISTORY AT SEBRING. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT NEXT WEEK?

“Coming from a good race at Daytona, we should be up there. Corvette Racing always has had quite a bit of success in this race. We weren’t there (at Sebring) for the last (IMSA) test but we were there in December. Although it was with the new GT3 car, we still got some good information. It’s a new year and we had a lot of data to analyze from last year’s race. It was kind of a surprise for us to be that good, especially in the day. So I’m looking forward to getting back there. I’ve always loved this race. The Corvette fans will be out there, too. It’s always a great event for us as Corvette drivers and another one for me.”

BEFORE THE FIRST TIME YOU RACED AT SEBRING, WHAT DID A FELLOW DRIVER OR TEAM OWNER TELL YOU ABOUT THE TRACK? WAS IT THE BUMPS OR SOMETHING ELSE?

“It was 2006 or 2007… I definitely was younger! I think it was the bumps, mainly the trickier parts of the racetracks. Everyone tries to explain to you where to go and what to hit or not to hit, but it’s almost impossible to figure out what to expect until you do a few laps. It’s a tricky track to learn. After a few laps, it doesn’t feel like you can go around fast but then you get in a groove and everything comes easier. Now that I’ve done it for so many years, it feels like I know every single bump around the track. It’s much easier now.”

DO YOU APPRECIATE THAT THE TRACK HAS THIS KIND OF CHARACTER TO IT?

“I think you do. It’s the whole environment there. You start early in the morning almost with the sunrise for warmup. Most of the race is super-hot in the middle of the day and then you go straight into the night with a classic March sunset where you don’t see a thing going into Turn 17 and Turn Seven. Every single aspect of that race is unique. Even if at times it feels like it is undriveable, it’s one of my favorites if not my favorite race of the year.”

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE TRACK AND YOUR LEAST FAVORITE PART OF THE TRACK?

“At sunset and going into Turn 17 and Turn Seven, you’re hoping (the sun) gets in the clouds. With a full bright sky, you know it’s going to be really, really tough. At times, I got into the car with three hours to go so that means you get the sunset and then you go full into the dark. You need to pick the right visor and everything needs to be perfect. I’ve been in every single condition around there but for sure in the sunset – if it’s full bright – it’s tricky. That’s a time where you don’t want to be fighting too much with somebody or if traffic gets very, very tricky in those conditions because someone may not see you. It’s only 20-25 minutes, but it’s very, very tricky.”

“But I love the whole racetrack at night. When it’s full dark and you know it’s coming to the end of the race, the grip is usually back in the car. That’s the most joyful time of the race. No matter how tired you are, if you are in contention for the win then that’s when the whole magic of Sebring comes. That’s what we all remember… those last stints at Sebring and when you are in contention or winning the race.”

WHICH RACE IS TOUGHER TO GET ON THE PODIUM: DAYTONA 24 HOURS OR SEBRING 12 HOURS?

“I think probably Sebring is a bit tougher to get everything in the right spot. Everything is different. You finish in the dark, which is tough for everybody. Traffic is really bad at that point. For me, it seems like I’ve had more success at Sebring, but I think I would consider Sebring a little bit tougher than Daytona. If you have the pace at Daytona, it’s easier to pace yourself to be in contention at the end of the race. At Sebring, it’s not only pace. The weather changes more. You’re finishing in the dark, and you only run that for two hours. It’s a bit trickier, I think.”

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in nearly 80 countries with nearly 2.7 million cars and trucks sold in 2021. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Mahindra Tractors Racing: Chase Briscoe Phoenix Advance

By
Official Release
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CHASE BRISCOE
Phoenix Advance
No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: United Rentals Work United 500k (Round 4 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 12
● Location: Phoenix Raceway
● Layout: 1-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 312 laps/312 miles (502 kilometers)
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 125 laps / Final Stage: 127 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● The NASCAR Cup Series heads to the final race in the three-leg West Coast swing Sunday at Phoenix Raceway. The United Rentals Work United 500 is the fourth points-paying race of the season and marks Chase Briscoe’s fifth start at Phoenix.

● A year ago this weekend, on March 13, 2022, Briscoe captured his first career Cup Series win. He started sixth on the desert mile oval, led three times for 101 laps, and drove away from Tyler Reddick, Ross Chastain and nine-time Phoenix winner and SHR teammate Kevin Harvick during a green-white-checkered shootout to score the first win for the No. 14 team since Clint Bowyer’s 2018 win at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. When he returned for last November’s season finale, the 28-year-old from Mitchell, Indiana, started third and finished fourth after leading 11 laps.

● Briscoe became the 200th Cup Series winner and the first driver to take a car carrying the No. 14 to victory lane at Phoenix. He also joined Alan Kulwicki (1988) and Bobby Hamilton (1996) as the third driver to earn his first Cup Series win at Phoenix.

● In four career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Phoenix, Briscoe has never finished outside of the top-10. His best is sixth, scored twice – March 2019 and 2020. He also made one NASCAR Truck Series appearance there in November 2017, when he started eighth and finished fourth in his Ford F-150, securing his 13th career top-10 in that series.

● Mahindra Tractors adorned the No. 14 Ford Mustang when Briscoe took the win last March and again for his top-five in the season finale. After starting this season with finishes of 35th, 20th and 28th at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Phoenix is just the place where the No. 14 team can turn things around, particularly with the debut of a new NASCAR rules package for short tracks and road courses.

Chase Briscoe, Driver of the No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

Do you think the changes made to the short track rules package will make for better racing at Phoenix this weekend?

“I think any time you can have less downforce, it’s going to bring the cars closer together and create a better race. The tires wear out and you start slipping and sliding around. It just makes it more competitive. There’s good and bad to that. It means as a team we have to be on it if we want to have a chance at a win but, if you can hit your setup right and keep track position, then it just adds that much more excitement. I don’t know that we can take much from last year because of the changes that have been made, so we’ll have to see what happens when we get on track for practice.”

You ended last season with a top-five at Phoenix and had strong runs at Martinsville and Richmond, two tracks less than a mile in length. Can you carry that over to this season and continue to find success on the shorter tracks?

“Yeah, for sure. I was never really a great short-track racer, but this NextGen car just fits my driving style better. We found something at Phoenix that translated well to those other tracks. Even after all of the things we tried throughout the season, we saw that we could show up at Richmond, Martinsville and Phoenix and run up front. I hope that’s the case, still, and we can have a shot at going back to back at Phoenix. That win means so much – that’s one moment from last year I wish I could revisit. I would love to do it again.”

No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Chase Briscoe
Hometown: Mitchell, Indiana

Crew Chief: John Klausmeier
Hometown: Perry Hall, Maryland

Car Chief: J.D. Frey
Hometown: Ferndale, California

Engineer: Mike Cook
Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Spotter: Joey Campbell
Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Shayne Pipala
Hometown: Frankfort Square, Illinois

Rear Tire Changer: Dakota Ratcliff
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee

Tire Carrier: Jon Bernal
Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Jack Man: Dylan Moser
Hometown: Monroe, North Carolina

Fuel Man: Corey Coppola
Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Stephen Gonzalez
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Interior Mechanic: Trevor Adams
Hometown: Naples, Florida

Tire Specialist: Keith Eads
Hometown: Arlington, Virginia

Engine Tuner: Jon Phillips
Hometown: Jefferson City, Missouri

Transporter Co-Driver: Todd Cable
Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Rob Fink
Hometown: Mocksville, North Carolina

RFK Advance | Phoenix I

By
Official Release
-

Phoenix I Event Info:
Track Info: Phoenix Raceway, 1-mile tri-oval
Date: Sunday, March 12
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Avondale, Arizona
Format: 312 laps, 312 miles, Stages: 60-125-127
TV: FOX
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Weekend Schedule:
Friday: 6:35 p.m. ET, Practice (FS2, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 2:05 p.m. ET, Qualifying (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 3:30 p.m. ET, Race (FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

6 Team Info:
Partner: Castrol Edge
Crew Chief: Matt McCall

17 Team Info:
Partner: Socios
Crew Chief: Scott Graves

Pace Laps:

  • The West Coast swing comes to a close this weekend in the desert as Phoenix Raceway hosts the first of its two race weekends in 2023.
  • Jack Roush has 17 wins all-time in Phoenix including seven in the Cup Series.
  • This weekend’s schedule features a full practice session on Friday as NASCAR announced updates to components of the NCS car for races held at a majority of the tracks measuring 1.058-mile or less. Those rules are in play this weekend with Friday’s session serving as the first test of the new package ahead of this weekend’s racing.
  • Phoenix is also the site of the last NASCAR-organized test where Keselowski and the No. 6 team participated in the two-day session.

Keselowski at Phoenix Raceway
Starts: 27
Wins: —
Top-10s: 13
Poles: 2 (2014, 2021)

  • Keselowski makes his 28th Cup start in Phoenix this weekend where he has 13 top-10s with an average finish of 13.7. He has four top-10s in his last six starts.
  • He’s led 283 laps in 14 different races and has six top-10s in the spring race alone at the 1-mile track. Most recently Keselowski had an electrical issue last fall and finished 23rd last spring.
  • Keselowski has two poles (2014, 2021) with an average starting position of 13.5.
  • He is a two-time Xfinity Series winner in Phoenix including winning the 2018 race in the No. 22 entry, and in 2014 for Team Penske. Overall he has 21 NXS starts with 5 top-10s. He also made two Truck Series starts in 2005 and 2008 with a best finish of sixth in his own No. 19 truck for BKR.

Buescher at Phoenix Raceway
Starts: 14
Wins: —
Top-10s: 1
Poles: —

  • Buescher makes his 15th Cup start in Phoenix this weekend. Last spring he ran his best race there to date with a P10 finish. Most recently Buescher finished 21st last fall.
  • Buescher’s best qualifying effort stands as 17th (2019, 2021) as he has an average starting position of 25.4.
  • Buescher also made four Xfinity Series starts in Arizona for Jack Roush with a best finish of 12th (2014).

RFK Historically in Phoenix
Cup Wins: 7 (Mark Martin, 1993; Jeff Burton, 2000, 2003; Matt Kenseth, 2002; Kurt Busch, 2005; Carl Edwards, 2010, 2013)

Hooked on Phoenix: RFK has 301 combined starts at Phoenix, totaling 17 wins, 75 top-five and 135 top-10 finishes. RFK Fords have nine poles and have led 4,031 laps at the 1-mile track.
Winning in the Desert: RFK has won at Phoenix in all three of NASCAR’s major divisions, with the organization’s first win coming in the fall of 1993 with NASCAR Hall of Famer and former driver Mark Martin in the NCS. RFK won the second-ever NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Phoenix in 2000 and former driver Greg Biffle claimed the organization’s 100th overall NASCAR Xfinity Series win at Phoenix in 2009.
Former driver Carl Edwards also won at the track that fall to give RFK the season sweep. All in all, six drivers have won NASCAR races for RFK at Phoenix (Martin, Biffle, Edwards, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and Joe Ruttman). In addition, Edwards swept Phoenix in the fall of 2010, winning both the NXS and NCS events.
Xfinity Success: Phoenix was one of the strongest tracks for RFK’s Xfinity program. In 93 starts, the organization won eight times, earned 27 top-fives, 53 top-10s and has led 1,406 laps. RFK most recently went to victory lane with Edwards in Nov. 2010. Its eight wins rank most of any track on the circuit behind only Charlotte (12), Darlington (15), Richmond (9) and Rockingham (10).
Tale of the Tape: RFK has started 172 NCS races at Phoenix, recording a total of seven victories, 35 top-five finishes, 61 top-10 finishes, four poles and has led 2,291 laps. Edwards earned RFK’s most recent victory at Phoenix in the March 2013 event.

RFK Phoenix Wins

1993 Martin Cup

1997-2 Ruttman Truck

2000 Burton Cup

2000 Burton NXS

2001 Biffle Truck

2001 Burton Cup

2001 Biffle NXS

2002 Kenseth Cup

2005-1 Busch Cup

2005-2 Edwards NXS

2006-2 Kenseth NXS

2008-2 Edwards NXS

2009-1 Biffle NXS

2009-2 Edwards NXS

2010-2 Edwards Cup

2010-2 Edwards NXS

2013-1 Edwards Cup

Last Time Out & Where They Stand
Las Vegas: Brad Keselowski earned stage points in each of the two opening stages before going on to finish 17th, while Chris Buescher battled to finish 21st last weekend in Vegas.

Points Standings (17: 10th, 6: 11th): Both RFK cars are neck-and-neck in the standings as race four on the points schedule rolls on this weekend.

By the Numbers at Phoenix Raceway

Race Win T5 T10 Pole Laps Led AvSt AvFn Miles

172         7              35           61           4              51535    2291       18.4        16.3        51535
93           8              27           53           5              17917    1406       11.3        11.7        17917
36           2              13           21           0              5195       334         12.3        12.4        5195

301 17 75 135 9 74647 4031 15.4 14.4 74647

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