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Additional Hotel Options for 2023 NASCAR All Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway Announced

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Official Release
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North Wilkesboro, NC – The 2023 NASCAR All Star Race is set to take place on May 20th at the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway. With the excitement building up for this highly anticipated event, Wilkes Tourism Development Authority is pleased to announce additional hotel options for fans and race attendees.

“We are privileged to be able to work with our partners in travel and tourism and these hotel partners to create a seamless experience for race fans.” Said Thomas Salley, Wilkesboro TDA

Fans from near and far will have a range of accommodation options to choose from, all within a short distance from the track. From budget-friendly motels to upscale hotels, there is something for every taste and budget. The following hotels have partnered with Save The Speedway and Wilkes Tourism Development Authority for the 2023 NASCAR All Star Race:

  1. Hilton Garden Inn – $229/per night
  2. Hampton Inn Hickory – $229/per night
  3. Holiday Inn Express & Suites: Conover – $173/per night
  4. Holiday Inn Express: Hickory-Hickory Mart – $160/night

These hotels are offering special packages and discounts for race attendees and have a proven track record of providing quality service and amenities to guests. Bookings for these hotels can be made through each of the official hotel website for the 2023 NASCAR All Star Race.

In addition to these hotel options, North Wilkesboro Speedway and local businesses will soon be announcing additional camping options for fans who want to make the most of their experience at the race. These camping options are also located close to the track and offer a unique and authentic experience for fans who love to rough it out and enjoy the great outdoors.

The 2023 NASCAR All Star Race promises to be a thrilling event and the organizing committee is dedicated to ensuring that fans have an unforgettable experience. With the hotel options now available, fans can start planning their trip and make the most of their visit to Wilkes County

For more information on the 2023 NASCAR All Star Race, please visit the official website at www.northwilkesborospeedway.com or fans can connect with North Wilkesboro Speedway and get the latest news by following on Twitter and Instagram or becoming a Facebook fan.

About North Wilkesboro Speedway: North Wilkesboro Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned 5/8-mile racetrack located in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The speedway has a rich history, having hosted NASCAR races since 1949 and is considered one of the most historic tracks in the sport.

RACE FANS WILL SEE LEGENDARY DRIVERS AND CARS DURING ATLANTA RACE WEEKEND

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Official Release
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Atlanta Motor Speedway’s celebration of NASCAR’s 75th anniversary will be highlighted by appearances by legendary drivers Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon, and Bill Elliott during the Ambetter Health 400 weekend.

HAMPTON, Ga. (March 6, 2023) – Before racers hit the track to write the next 400 mile chapter in NASCAR’s history, fans at Atlanta Motor Speedway will have a chance to celebrate unforgettable moments in the sport’s history.

Legendary drivers and iconic cars will meet at AMS during the Ambetter Health 400 race weekend March 17-19 to commemorate NASCAR’s 75th anniversary.

Undoubtedly the highlight will be a gathering of some of NASCAR’s all-time greats: Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon, and Bill Elliott will all be on the AMS Fan Stage together to share their memories and stories from the 1992 season finale in Atlanta. Considered one of the greatest NASCAR races of all time, the 1992 finale was Petty’s last race as a competitor, Gordon’s first in NASCAR’s top series, and was won by Elliott amidst an incredibly narrow title fight with the late Alan Kulwicki, who claimed the 1992 title over Elliott by just 10 points.

“The 1992 finale is not just one of the most incredible races ever held at this speedway, it’s one of the best races in the history of NASCAR,” said AMS Executive Vice President and General Manager Brandon Hutchison. “It’s not every day you have these legends of our sport together swapping tales from that day, and I’m so excited for our fans who will get to join them in our fan zone during race weekend.”

Fans attending the Ambetter Health 400 weekend will also see machines hailing from all eras of NASCAR, including the car Richard Petty drove in his final NASCAR start at AMS 31 years ago from the Petty Museum. On top of Petty’s iconic No. 43, fans will see a gathering of historic automobiles – from the #22 Red Byron wheeled in the sport’s earliest days to Bill Elliott’s #11 from 1992 – courtesy of the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame.

It’s all part of a weekend full of racing and entertainment at Atlanta Motor Speedway March 17-19. Tickets and camping for the Ambetter Health 400 weekend are available now at www.AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com or by calling 877-9-AMS-TIX.

About the Ambetter Health 400 weekend:

Atlanta’s spring NASCAR weekend is headlined by the Ambetter Health 400 on Sunday, March 19, with intense, door-to-door racing around the historic high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The race weekend also features Atlanta’s same-day NASCAR doubleheader on Saturday, March 18, 2022. The thrills of the Fr8 208 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race and the RAPTOR King of Tough 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race all happen in one action-packed day that race fans look forward to every year.

More information on the March 17-19, 2023, Ambetter Health 400 weekend and ticket availability can be found online at AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.

Follow Atlanta Motor Speedway:

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

Kaulig Racing Post-Race Report | Las Vegas Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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Kaulig Racing Post-Race Report | Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube

Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1

  • Justin Haley qualified 27th for the Pennzoil 400.
  • Throughout stage one, Haley reported his No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1 ran a bit tight, but had good balance. Haley climbed into the top 20 before the green-flag pit stops began and ultimately finished the stage 18th.
  • The No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro continued to run slightly tight throughout the second stage but was able to keep his position to finish the second stage in 18th.
  • Haley continued battling a tight-handling No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Camaro ZL1 throughout the final stage and made his final green-flag pit stop with 45 laps left. With four laps remaining in the race, the caution flag fell, and crew chief, Trent Owens, made the call to pit for four tires. The call paid off, and during the final few laps, Haley drove from 16th to finish the race in eighth, earning his first top-10 finish of the season.

“We had a really good long run car today and this is our Fontana car. We’re one of like three teams, three individual cars that repaired our stuff and brought it this week. I’m proud of the effort and the grind. They hung a body in this thing in the snow in Fontana a few days ago. That’s pretty awesome for our little team. I appreciate Matt, Chris, and everyone at Leaf Filter. This was a good run for us, especially with the start of season we’ve had.” – Justin Haley

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Action Industries Camaro ZL1

  • AJ Allmendinger qualified 21st for the Pennzoil 400.
  • During the first stage, Allmendinger reported his No. 16 Action Industries Camaro ZL1 was tight handling. He went on to finish the opening stage in 20th. The team opted for a longer stop at the end of stage one to make a bigger adjustment to help Allmendinger in traffic.
  • Keeping his track position and gaining one spot, Allmendinger finished the second stage in 19th, as the team continued to make adjustments to the No. 16 Camaro ZL1.
  • After these adjustments, Allmendinger felt confident in the handling of the No. 16 Camaro ZL1 and worked his way up to 11th before the green-flag pit stops began.
  • Unfortunately, on the final restart, Allmendinger spun and finished the race in 18th.

“We struggled with balance all day in our No. 16 Action Industries Camaro ZL1. The team worked hard and “Squid” (Matt Swiderski, Crew Chief) made positive adjustments all day. We got to where we thought we were going to be okay, and we tried to make up some ground on the final restart and just got into a mess.” – AJ Allmendinger  

Alsco Uniforms 300

Chandler Smith, No. 16 Quick Tie Chevrolet

  • Chandler Smith earned his first-career NXS pole in only his sixth start for the Alsco Uniforms 300.
  • Smith battled to finish 4th in stage one after leading the first 12 laps. Midway through, he dropped back to follow teammate Daniel Hemric to shake off debris that landed on the grille of the Quick Tie Chevrolet, lowering the rising water temperature.
  • In stage two, Smith once again led a number of laps before his right-front tire blistered near the stage’s end. He finished sixth after 90 laps.
  • Smith led 92 of the final 110 laps, lapping all cars in the field except for the top-12 runners.
  • Smith finished third after getting passed in the closing laps, recording his highest-career finish in the NXS

“That’s a tough one to swallow. There are some things I could have done inside (the car) before we started building tight to get my lead to be a little bit bigger and have a bigger buffer. All in all, I can’t be too disappointed in only my sixth start, my third with Kaulig Racing. We had a really, really fast Quick Tie Chevy Camaro. I’m just really appreciative for everyone at Kaulig Racing for bringing me on board and believing in me.” – Chandler Smith

Kyle Busch, No. 10 LA Golf Chevrolet

  • Kyle Busch qualified 11th for the Alsco Uniforms 300, but would drop to the rear for the start, after the team made the switch to a backup car.
  • Busch quickly worked his way up to 22nd before the first caution fell on lap four. After telling the team the No. 10 LA Golf Chevrolet fired off well with just a little more rear security needed, Busch went on to finish the opening stage in seventh.
  • Busch noted that his No. 10 LA Golf Chevy became tight-handling in the closing stages of stage two while running in the top three. A caution with two laps remaining ended the stage under yellow, and Busch went on to finish third, the highest of his Kaulig Racing teammates.
  • After picking up three spots on pit road during the stage break, Busch led the opening laps of the final stage and continued in the top five before his No. 10 Chevy began running tight. Busch made his green-flag-pit stop on lap 139 for a full service with adjustments before finishing out the race in fourth place.

“We had a really good LA Golf Camaro after we did a lot of work to it after practice to get it ready for the race today. The car would fire off a little bit loose and then trend so tight. Our biggest focus was just trying to fix the fire off, because that’s where I felt like we were getting beat. We definitely have a lot of ideas and some things to go back to the guys with and try to help get to the bottom of some of my feelings and trying to put it all where we can make these racecars better to give Kaulig Racing a better chance to win. Chandler (Smith) obviously fought the same thing, so if we can fix those things, we will be a lot better.” – Kyle Busch

Daniel Hemric, No. 11 South Point Chevrolet

  • Daniel Hemric qualified eighth for the Alsco Uniforms 300.
  • Hemric fired off well and stayed close to the top 10 for the majority of the first stage. Although he reported a tight-handling No. 11 South Point Chevrolet, Hemric went on to finish the opening stage sixth.
  • Still fighting tight, the team continued making adjustments to help the handling of the car. Hemric finished the second stage 15th.
  • During the final stage, Hemric’s pace and lap times improved, and he finished the race in 10th place.

“Vegas has come and gone. I’m a little disappointed that we struggled to run in the top 10, but we have something to build on for next time. We improved on a couple issues we had and maximized the day to come home 10th. I appreciate South Point and the entire Gaughan family for being on board and continuing our partnership together. It means a ton to me and our race team. I’m looking forward to continuing to build and heading to Phoenix.” – Daniel Hemric  
 
 
About Kaulig Racing™

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started and has won back-to-back regular-season championships. Before becoming a full-time NCS team, Kaulig Racing made multiple starts in the 2021 NCS season and won in its seventh-ever start with AJ Allmendinger’s victory at “The Brickyard” for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team expanded to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 with Justin Haley piloting the No. 31 Camaro ZL1, and an all-star lineup featured in the No. 16 Camaro ZL1. Haley will continue to drive the No. 31 full-time in 2023, alongside AJ Allmendinger, who will drive the No. 16 Camaro ZL1. The team will continue to field three, full-time NXS entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by an all-star lineup that will be announced at a later date, the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Daniel Hemric, and the No. 16 Chevrolet driven by Chandler Smith. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

$15,072.72-TO-WIN THE 72ND ANNUAL LUCAS OIL RACE OF CHAMPIONS 250 “THE GREATEST TRADITION IN MODIFIED RACING”

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Official Release
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North East, Pa. – (March 3, 2022) – “The Greatest Tradition in Modified Racing”, The Race of Champions Modified Series is getting ready to go and close out Presque Isle Downs & Casino Race of Champions Weekend with a closing act that is second-to-none, the Greatest Tradition in Modified Racing – the 72nd Annual Lucas Oil Race of Champions 250. $15,072.72 and a year with the Al Gerber Memorial Trophy awaits the winner.

The race will now play a pivotal role early on in the chase for the coveted Race of Champions Modified Series championship.

The last winner of the event is Andy Jankowiak of Tonawanda, N.Y. Jankowiak drove his way to the lead late in the race and in to Modified racing history, adding his name to the side of the Al Gerber Memorial Trophy, taking his place in the history of the sport. Jankowiak had a great time with the trophy, even doing a photo shoot during an ARCA Series race at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, the former home of the Race of Champions.

“Winning this race changed a lot of things for me,” stated Jankowiak. “It’s incredible that it happens just an hour from home with all of the pageantry and history. We are part of a special sport and this really is the greatest tradition in our sport. I hope we have an opportunity to defend our accomplishments last season. It’s been great that we’ve been able to hang on to the trophy a little bit longer.”

The hottest driver of season to this point, Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa., will be in the field searching for his 9th victory in the race.

Competitors will be racing for their biggest purse of the season as part of Presque Isle Downs & Casino Race of Champions Weekend in the 72nd Annual Lucas Oil Race of Champions 250 with well over $60,000 in posted awards and lap money up for grabs on Saturday, April 22, 2023. The race will count toward the 2023 season championship.

Lap sponsorships are available through Race of Champions official, Laura Schroeder for the 250-lap event. Schroeder can be reached via e-mail at; lschroed@alumni.keuka.edu

Tickets may be purchased for the weekend and will be available at the Lake Erie Speedway ticket office or at https://www.lakeeriespeedway.com/roc-annual.

Where: Lake Erie Speedway, North East, Pa.

When: Saturday, April 22, 2023.

Directions: The track is located just twenty minutes of East Erie, Pa., minutes from Interstate 90 and directly of Interstate 86 at 10700 Delmas Drive, North East, Pa., 16428

What: The 72nd Annual Lucas Oil Race of Champions 250

More Information: www.lakeeriespeedway.com (Track Phone: 814.725.3303) / www.rocmodifiedseries.com

The Race of Champions is a sanctioning body presenting Modified and Stock Car racing on asphalt and dirt surfaces throughout the Northeast, with events in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey with primary marketing partners Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, Lucas Oil Products, MAVTV, MAVTV Plus, Airport Collision, Rocket Performance, Waddell Communications, Image X Design, Sherwood Racing Wheels, DirtTrackDigest.com and Speed Sport. The 72nd and 73rd annual Race of Champions weekend will take place in 2023 at Lake Erie Speedway in North East, Pennsylvania and is the second longest consecutive auto-racing event in North America, second only to the Indianapolis 500.

Sheehan Sets Sights on NOLA Following Respectable Charge at Sebring Season Opener

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Official Release
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Avondale, LOUISIANA – March 6, 2023 – New Hampshire’s Tom Sheehan prepares for the second round of the Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA Series season at NOLA Motorsports Park following a competitive showing in the 2023 opener at Sebring International Raceway. The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli event will compete at NOLA March 10 -12.

Tom clawed his way from a P31 starting spot to finish P22 at the 17-turn, 3.74-mile road course with a car that had the pace of the Top 10 runners. The driver of the No. 97 LTK Insulation Technologies Damon Racing Ford Mustang showcased his trademark tenacity in the Sunshine State.

While a late race caution stalled Tom’s charge in Sebring, he looks forward to Round 2 of the season as TA2 returns to NOLA Motorsports Park for the first time since 2016. If the Series’ last trip to The Pelican State is any indication, a promising weekend likely awaits Tom and his LTK Damon Racing team.

In 2016, Tom charged his way from his P13 to a solid P8 finish at the 16-turn, 2.75-mile road course. By all means, Tom has the experience and savvy for a strong race weekend at the renowned track situated just outside of New Orleans.

“The series returns to NOLA , the Big Easy, after years of the track being off the regular stops for TA2,” shared Tom Sheehan. “It’s got some slow speed reducing radius turns, the track requires some finesse and patience. It races pretty good with a lot of “drive it where it is “ areas, that can make for some excellent racing. I actually remember the mosquitoes that arrived after sunset more than the track, I will sharpen up on the track notes I have and prepare, prior to our first session on Thursday.”

The NOLA Motorsports Park weekend kicks off for TA2 competitors on Thursday, March 9, with morning and afternoon optional testing sessions. A practice session kicks off Friday’s activities with group qualifying starting at 1:50 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, the TA2 race, scheduled for 37 laps or 75 minutes. The green flag is set to drop at 12:25 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 11.

This year, Trans Am races are available for live streaming on Trans Am and SpeedTour’s YouTube channels with full playbacks immediately available after the race. Also, the races can be seen in edited, 60-minute features broadcasted on MAVTV’s Thursday night primetime slot at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Follow Tom’s social media channels via his Facebook page, Damon Racing, Instagram account, TomSheehanTA97, and Twitter account, TomTA2_97.

For more information on LTK Insulation Technologies, please visit the website online at https://ltkinsulationtechnologies.com.

About LTK Insulation Technologies
Putting LTK insulation jackets and covers to work on your project saves your firm real money and time. The LTK Insulation products are so fast and easy. Installation is as fast as identification. Our carefully designed products line allows fast, sure fit, 100% clean, no tool installation. LTK Insulation Products are designed for balance valves, control valves, flex hoses, in line specialties, couplings, quick connects, unions and zone pumps. Your imagination is the only limit….GOLTK!

For more information on LTK Insulation Technologies please visit the website online: https://ltkinsulationtechnologies.com/

hellowater® Makes JRM Return in Phoenix with Justin Allgaier

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Official Release
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Beverage Company back with the No.7 team for two NXS events in 2023

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 6, 2023) – JR Motorsports today announced that hellowater® will make its return to the No. 7 team with Justin Allgaier for two events during the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, beginning this weekend at Phoenix Raceway and continuing at Homestead-Miami Speedway (Oct. 21) in this its third consecutive year on the No. 7 Camaro.

Born in Chicago, hellowater® is part of Hello Beverages, LLC, a manufacturer of enhanced functional waters, and is designed to deliver quality wellness benefits in digestive health, immune defense, and pH balance. hellowater® remains affiliated with longtime JRM cornerstone partner BRANDT, and is prominently featured on the decklid of the No. 7 BRANDT Chevrolet.

“hellowater® is proud to continue our partnership with Justin Allgaier, JR Motorsports and BRANDT for the 2023 season,” said Tom Bushkie, president and founder of hellowater®. “Justin’s energetic drive and commitment to excellence is an inspiration that aligns well with our core value – to hydrate the nourishment needs of people aspiring to live active lifestyles, while positively impacting their health.”

Along with returning to JRM, hellowater® is introducing its newest product, the hellowater® Defense Drink Mix with Cyto+ technology. This new drink mix contains the perfect balance of electrolytes and immune defense with the only patented technology to strengthen the body’s defense system, eliminate toxins and work to prevent toxin overload.

“I’m really happy to have hellowater® back on board our No. 7 Chevrolet for two races again this season,” said Allgaier. “It’s been great to work with them these past couple of years and I’m really happy to see this relationship continue. Hopefully we can give them a good ride on the track and come away with a couple of victories for them at Phoenix and Homestead.”

Allgaier, JRM’s winningest driver, currently sits second in the NXS standings heading into this weekend’s event at Phoenix following a runner-up result last week in Las Vegas. Last season, Allgaier scored an average finish of 8.5 in the two primary races for hellowater at Texas Motor Speedway and Daytona International Speedway.

The No. 7 hellowater® Chevrolet will hit the track for the first time in 2023 this Saturday, March 11 at Phoenix. The race will air at 4:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:

JR Motorsports is the racing operation co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame member and 15-time Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kelley Earnhardt Miller and NASCAR Hall of Famer Rick Hendrick. Now in its 22nd year of overall competition, JR Motorsports competes in multiple divisions, including the NASCAR Xfinity Series where it currently fields four full-time teams and earned championships in 2014, 2017 and 2018. The company also races in Late Model competition and owns five championships in regional Late Model divisions and added a prized national title in 2020. To learn more about the organization, its drivers and its sponsorship opportunities, visit www.jrmracing.com.

Dover Motor Speedway inks multi-year partnership with Knockaround Sunglasses

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Official Release
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  • Knockaround Sunglasses are the official sunglasses of Dover Motor Speedway.
  • Company will have a booth near Monster Monument during April 28-30 NASCAR weekend.
  • Visit DoverMotorSpeedway.com to order NASCAR tickets.

DOVER, Del. (March 6, 2023) – Dover Motor Speedway and Knockaround Sunglasses, a California-based business which has provided affordable and durable eye protection for close to two decades, have entered a multi-year partnership, track officials said today.

Knockaround Sunglasses, headquartered in San Diego, was established in 2005 with the goal of making sunglasses that were stylish and practical at the same time.

With the agreement, Knockaround Sunglasses are the “Official and Exclusive Sunglasses of Dover Motor Speedway.”

“We are excited to partner with Dover Motor Speedway and make Knockaround its official and exclusive sunglasses,” said Jeffrey R. Hennion, CEO of Knockaround. “The NASCAR audience is ideal for Knockaround, and Dover Motor Speedway is the perfect partner for us. I have personally known Mike Tatoian and his team for a number of years and not only know how strong a partner they are but also have seen firsthand the numerous types of events and large crowds Dover hosts each year.

“In addition, this partnership allows for Knockaround sunglasses to be sold in a number of NASCAR tracks year-round, anchored by our position at Dover, and we are thrilled to be able to bring our sunglasses to NASCAR fans directly across the country.”

Knockaround Sunglasses will be available for purchase near the Monster Monument April 28-30 when America’s best drivers return to Dover Motor Speedway for another NASCAR tripleheader weekend, capped by the Würth 400 NASCAR Cup Series race (FS1, PRN, Sirius NASCAR Radio) at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 30.

“We welcome Knockaround Sunglasses to our growing partnership family,” said Mike Tatoian, Dover Motor Speedway’s president and general manager. “Monster Mile fans are the most loyal in NASCAR and we know they’ll be interested in checking out Knockaround Sunglasses while they enjoy all the excitement in our FanZone, watch our free concerts and experience the thrilling action on the track this spring.”

Knockaround Sunglasses will also be available year-round in the gift shops of the following Speedway Motorsports facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

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
Call 800-441-RACE to discuss your ticket and camping 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.

FOLLOW US:

Keep track of all of Dover Motor Speedway’s events by following on Twitter and Instagram or become a Facebook fan.

Jr III Racing Looks to Continue Momentum into VPRC at Sebring

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Official Release
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Chris Green | ChrisGreenPhoto.com

Sebring, Fla. (6 March 2023) – Jr III (“Junior-Three”) Racing heads to Sebring International Raceway for the first of two back-to-back IMSA event weekends. March 11th will mark the second round in IMSA’s VP Racing SportsCar Challenge (VPRC), followed by IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 18th.

Bijoy Garg will be back behind the wheel of the No. 3 S2 Cyber Ligier JS P320 after making his first sports car start at Daytona International Speedway in January. Daytona saw Jr III Racing and Garg rebound from an incident in the final practice session before qualifying. The Jr III Racing crew was able to quickly replace the entire rear end of the car within a six hour window to have the car ready for qualifying the next day. The rookie sports car driver then went on to qualify for his first pole award. Garg finished third and fifth in the two 45-minute sprint races on Saturday and Sunday.

Garg most recently competed in the Asian Le Mans series in February. Looking to get more time in the seat of a Ligier JS P320, he did just that. The first round of races was at the Dubai Autodrome, where Garg had a pair of tenth-place finishes. Garg ran the second half of the races in Abu Dhabi, which saw Garg finish eleventh and twelfth.

“I’m feeling reasonably confident going into Sebring this weekend,” said Garg. “We had the fastest car in Daytona, and my time competing in the Asian Le Mans Series helped me learn even more about the LMP3 car. Between my recent seat time and having the chance to learn Sebring during test sessions over the winter, I think we will have an opportunity for a podium.”

Jr III Racing had three starts in the now defunct Prototype Challenge at Sebring, with a highest finish of fifth in 2020. However, in 2022, Jr III Racing made its Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring debut, placing second in the LMP3 class. The Charlotte-based team most recently competed in the SportsCar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) SpeedTour weekend February 23-26 at the 3.74-mile Florida track.

“We are excited to have Bijoy back in the car for Sebring,” said Billy Glavin, owner of Jr III Racing. “He showed a lot of potential at Daytona, his first time out qualifying in a sports car, and he ended up on pole! Bijoy has gained more seat time in the Ligier while racing in the Asian Le Mans series, so between that and his start at Daytona, I think we will build on the great momentum we had at Daytona.”

The VPRC Sebring weekend will host two 45-minute races on Sunday, March 12th, starting at 8:00 am ET, followed by the second race at 1:30 pm ET.

CGS Imaging Extends Agreement for ARCA Menards Series “Four Crown Championship” Entitlement; 2023 Dates Announced

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Official Release
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CGS Imaging, one of America’s premier large format graphic printers and installers headquartered in Holland, Ohio, has extended its agreement with the ARCA Menards Series to serve as the entitlement sponsor of the CGS Imaging 4 Crown, a series within the overall series that celebrates ARCA’s diverse schedule.

The races that comprise the CGS Imaging 4 Crown in 2023 will include the April 22 race at Talladega Superspeedway, June 24 at Elko Speedway, July 7 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and August 20 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The tracks included represent the longest track on the schedule along with the shortest, a road course, and one of the two one-mile dirt ovals the series visits on an annual basis.

“We sincerely appreciate our partnership with CGS Imaging and the great products they deliver,” said ARCA president Ron Drager. “From trackside banners and billboards to victory lane graphics and decals for the racecars, CGS Imaging delivers high-quality products and they deliver on time, every time.

“Chuck and Carol Stranc have been friends of ARCA for a long time. It’s terrific to renew our agreement and we look forward to working with them well into the future.”

“Our partnership with ARCA and the ARCA Menards Series has delivered for us on multiple levels,” Chuck Stranc, president and CEO of CGS Imaging, said. “We wanted to build our business in the motorsports world, both on a national and regional scale, and locally, and our relationship with ARCA has allowed us to do that.”

The CGS Imaging 4 Crown Championship dates to 1984 when future NASCAR Hall of Famer Davey Allison won the inaugural title. Since then, 26 other drivers have earned a 4 Crown championship, including series champions Lee Raymond, Tracy Leslie, Bob Keselowski, Bobby Bowsher, Bill Venturini, Tim Steele, Frank Kimmel, Bill Baird, Chris Buescher, Grant Enfinger, Chase Briscoe, Austin Theriault, Bret Holmes, and Ty Gibbs.

In 2022, overall series runner-up Daniel Dye earned the CGS Imaging 4 Crown title by just one point on the strength of a sixth-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway, fourth-place finish at Watkins Glen International, seventh at Springfield, and third in the finale at Salem Speedway.

For complete event information for all ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, and ARCA Menards Series West races, including live timing & scoring throughout every on-track session, please visit ARCARacing.com. Follow ARCA on Twitter @ARCA_Racing for up-to-the-minute updates and news.

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Las Vegas

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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Photo by Ron Olds for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Ross Chastain: Chastain started eighth and finished 12th in the Pennzoil 400.

“Kyle Busch won last week in California,” Chastain said. “I wanted to put myself in his place this week and win at Las Vegas. On that note, what would you get if you put Kyle in my car? ‘No. 1 with a bullet.'”

2. Alex Bowman: Bowman finished third in the Pennzoil 400 and Hendrick Motorsports went 1-2-3 at Las Vegas.

“My Hendrick teammate Chase Elliott will miss a few races after breaking his tibia in a snowboarding accident in Colorado,” Bowman said. “Chase had surgery and is recovering. Luckily, it’s all uphill from here.”

3. William Byron: Byron won Stages 1 and 2 on his way to the win at Las Vegas. A quick final pit stop put him ahead of Kyle Larson, and Byron, with two fresh tires, passed Martin Truex Jr. for the lead with two laps to go.

“When I have a car like that,” Byron said, “I feel like I’m pretty much unbeatable. If we can duplicate that on a weekly basis, I don’t think I can be stopped, except possibly by a freak roller skating accident.”

4. Kyle Busch: After winning at California a week ago, Busch was not in contention for the win at Las Vegas and finished 14th.

“I really had nothing good to say about my car,” Busch said. “Last week, people weren’t surprised to see me in Victory Lane. In Vegas, people weren’t surprised to see me complaining. My car owner is also famous for Richard Childress Wine. Now, with me, he’s known for ‘Richard Childress Whine.'”

5. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished ninth in the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas.

“This is my last year as a full-time Cup driver,” Harvick said. “If that ends with a championship, that will be great. Whatever the outcome, my plan is to pack my bags, minus guns and ammo, and ride off in the sunset, but definitely not on a snowboard.”

6. Joey Logano: Logano won the Busch Light pole but struggled with grip and handling before a spin ended his day with 88 laps left. He finished last in 36th.

“I took a spin through the infield grass and that ended my day,” Logano said. “Like a few people, I can say I left Vegas with a lot of ‘green.'”

7. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished 11th at Las Vegas and is sixth in the points standings.

“We race in Phoenix next week,” Hamlin said. “And that will end this season’s ‘West Coast Swing.’ I think I can speak for all drivers and say that none of us like swinging in the West Coast.’ If Tim Richmond were alive today, though, I think he would totally disagree with me.”

8. Kyle Larson: Larson was leading at Las Vegas with 4 laps to go before Aric Almirola’s spin resulted in a caution. In the ensuing pit stops, William Byron’s stop was a bit quicker, allowing Byron to come out ahead. Byron passed Martin Truex Jr. for the win, while Larson settled for the runner-up spot.

“It was an exciting race,” Larson said, “for the final two laps. The other 265 laps certainly lacked any drama whatsoever. In other words, it was a lot like the paint scheme of my No. 5 Chevrolet—-extremely boring.”

9. Daniel Suarez: Suarez finished 10th at Las Vegas, posting his third top 10 of the season.

“First Kyle Busch and his gun incident in Mexico,” Stenhouse said. “Then Chase Elliott breaks his leg in a snowboarding accident. I don’t know what possibly could be next, but it will probably be someone shooting themselves in the foot.”

10. Christopher Bell: Bell finished fifth at Las Vegas, recording his second top-five finish of the year.

“Danica Patrick joined Mike Joy and Clint Bowyer in the Fox broadcasting booth,” Bell said. “I think Danica brings a lot to the booth and makes it better. Ask Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., and he’ll tell you she’s what you call the ‘Ex-factor.'”

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