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NTT INDYCAR SERIES Unveils New Campaign Voiced by Drivers

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2022 - St Petersburg GP

McLaughlin Puts Viewers in Driver’s Seat before Season Debut with ‘ZERO’

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, March 1, 2023) – The NTT INDYCAR SERIES offers the most competitive and challenging racing in motorsports, and its new promotional campaign will bring all the action, drama and intrigue to new audiences as the season gets ready to launch this weekend.

The first INDYCAR campaign spot of the year – “ZERO” – focuses on the fierce race for victory at the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding at St. Petersburg, Florida, where exactly ZERO mistakes can be made by the driver hoping to stand atop the podium Sunday, March 5.

“ZERO” is narrated by 2022 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg race winner Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske.

SEE: ‘ZERO’ Campaign Spot

In the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, every track and every race is different – but the one thing they have in common is their combination of breakneck speed, harrowing turns, epic crashes and unbeatable competition. As the season progresses, INDYCAR will introduce a new spot, tailored to various stops on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar and narrated by a driver with a special tie to that event.

“We know our racing is the best on the planet, and we know there’s no greater challenge in motorsport than winning an NTT INDYCAR SERIES race,” said Penske Entertainment President & CEO Mark Miles. “From a very personal and engaging perspective, our drivers are going to tell everyone what makes our sport unique and what it takes to win at each specific venue.”

Spots will run from Wednesday to Sunday of Race Week and are part of a larger multichannel, national media plan.

INDYCAR partnered with creative agency Motive to develop the spots and with local Indianapolis agency EchoPoint Media as a paid media partner. The next spot will be unveiled ahead of the PPG 375 on Sunday, April 2 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Live coverage of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding starts at noon ET Sunday, March 5 on NBC, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes on Universo and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

Toyota Racing – Weekly Preview- 03.01.23

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Official Release
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This Week in Motorsports: February 27-March 5, 2023

· NCS/NXS/NCTS: Las Vegas Motor Speedway – March 3-5

PLANO, Texas (March 1, 2023) – NASCAR keeps the racing going on the West Coast as the top three series compete at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS | NCTS

Bell plans to continue strong start… Christopher Bell earned his first career NASCAR Cup Series pole last season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and led 32 (of 274) laps before finishing 10th. The Oklahoma-native has earned top-10 finishes in two of his last four starts at the mile-and-a-half facility.

Truex desires to add another Vegas victory to his tally… Martin Truex Jr. has battled through adversity to earn top-15 finishes in both races to start the season and is looking to add to his 31 career Cup Series wins with a visit to victory lane in Las Vegas. The former Cup Series champion has won twice at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – in this race in 2017 and in the fall event in 2019.

Hamlin looks to close in on 50 wins… Denny Hamlin, who continues to sit at 48 career NASCAR Cup Series wins, heads to another good track for him as he looks to close in on his 50th career victory. Hamlin won at Las Vegas in September 2021 and led laps in both races last season – including a top-five finish in the fall event.

Nemechek plans to continue adding wins… John Hunter Nemechek has had a stellar start to his 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season as the North Carolina-native followed his runner-up performance in Daytona with a win in the final race at the two-mile Auto Club Speedway on Sunday. Nemechek heads to a special place for him as Las Vegas Motor Speedway was the site of his first Toyota victory just two years ago. He is looking for his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at the track but did score a runner-up finish in 2019.

Double duty for Grala, Reddick… Both drivers behind the wheel of Sam Hunt Racing (SHR) Supras will have twice the fun in Las Vegas as they will be competing in two events. Tyler Reddick will make his second start in the No. 24 Toyota GR Supra on Saturday before Sunday’s Cup Series race, while former Truck Series winner Kaz Grala will make his TRICON Garage debut as he wheels the No. 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro on Friday night before boarding his GR Supra for SHR on Saturday.

Gray plans to beat career-best finish for second straight race… Tanner Gray started off the season for the new-look TRICON Garage with a strong runner-up finish – which was a career-best run for the 23-year-old New Mexico-native. He heads to one of his best tracks – Las Vegas Motor Speedway looking for his first career Truck Series win. Gray has two top-five finishes at the track, including a third place run in his rookie season and a fifth-place finish in this race one season ago.

Tundra strong in Vegas… Toyota’s Truck Series teams look to continue a strong run of success at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as Tundra drivers have won the last seven races at the track and nine of last 10. Nemechek is among the previous winners who will look for another win in his first race for TRICON Garage.

Stay Connected

https://www.toyota.com/racing @ToyotaRacing.com @ToyotaRacing

facebook.com/ToyotaRacing Camera With Flash on Apple iOS 11.3 ToyotaRacingMedia.com

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.

Kaulig Racing Weekly Advance | Las Vegas Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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Kaulig Racing Weekly Advance | Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Pennzoil 400 Presented By Jiffy Lube
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Sunday, March 5 at 3:30 p.m. EST on FOX

  • Kaulig Racing has made four starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NCS
  • The team has earned one top-10 finish (Allmendinger, 2022) and has led 16 laps (Haley, 2022) at the 1.5-mile race track.

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Action Industries Camaro ZL1

  • AJ Allmendinger has earned two top-10 finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the most recent coming in his first NCS start with Kaulig Racing at the 1.5-mile track in the 2022 South Point 400.
  • Allmendinger has one win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS), the 2021 NXS Alsco Uniforms 300.

“I’m looking forward to going back to Las Vegas. It’s one of the tracks I ran at in my part-time Cup schedule last year with Kaulig Racing, and we had fairly decent speed. Hopefully we unload close to what we had and build from there.” – AJ Allmendinger on Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1

  • Justin Haley has made four starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NCS.
  • In the most recent event at Las Vegas, Haley led 16 laps for Kaulig Racing and earned a top-15 finish at the 2022 South Point 400.

“Las Vegas was a track that was good to us last year. We really excelled on the mile-and-a-half tracks that are high-grip racetracks. We had some really good runs at both Las Vegas races, but especially in the fall race. We were in the lead there with less than 30 to go, so I feel like we’ve definitely got that style of racetrack figured out in this NextGen car. I’m looking forward to getting back there and hopefully showing that same speed.” – Justin Haley on Las Vegas Motor Speedway  

Alsco Uniforms 300
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS)
Saturday, March 4 at 4:30 p.m. EST on FS1

  • Kaulig Racing has made 24 starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NXS.
  • The team earned one win, three top fives, 15 top-10 finishes and has led 128 laps at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NXS.

Kyle Busch, No. 10 LA Golf Chevrolet Camaro

  • Kyle Busch has made 15 starts at his home track of Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NXS.
  • Busch has earned two wins, two pole awards, five top fives, six top-10 finishes and has led 619 laps at Las Vegas in the NXS.

“So to me I think the Trucks are most resemblant of today’s current Cup cars, where years ago I would say the Xfinity cars were very similar. You know, just running the Xfinity Series again and being able to get back in the Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing is going to be fun and I look forward to that. Being with a new team and a new group of guys and you know just the chance to go out there and help their program and develop them a little bit and give them some of my expertise. I love the Trucks as well, being with Kyle Busch Motorsports and racing my own stuff there, so it’s going to be fun to get back to Vegas and go triple time. Hopefully everything goes well and we can win one, two or all three. That would be cool.” – Kyle Busch on Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Daniel Hemric, No. 11 South Point Chevrolet Camaro

  • Daniel Hemric has made nine starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NXS.
  • Hemric has recorded four top fives, six top-10 finishes and led 75 laps at Las Vegas in the NXS.

“For the past six years or more, Las Vegas has felt like a second home to me, because of the hospitality and support I’ve received from the Gaughan Family, everyone at South Point Hotel and Casino, and our great race fans. Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a crucial race in our schedule — the first of two tracks we visit on our west coast swing that we will see again in the fall during our playoffs, so it means a ton to us to gather great data at this event. I’m excited to have a familiar paint scheme on board this coming weekend. We’re ready to get back out west and put the work in.” – Daniel Hemric on Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Chandler Smith, No. 16 Quick Tie Chevrolet Camaro

  • The Alsco Uniforms 300 will be Chandler Smith’s first start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NXS.
  • Smith has four starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, all in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS).
  • He has recorded one win, one top-five finish and led 32 laps at Las Vegas in the NCTS.

“Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a place that I’ve had a lot of success at in the Truck series. Although this will be my first time there in a Xfinity car, I feel confident in how quickly we have been able to learn and gel as a team at Kaulig Racing. I’m looking forward to continuing that trend this weekend and carrying the momentum we have from our top five-finish at Auto Club into this weekend.” – Chandler Smith on Las Vegas Motor Speedway  

 
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.

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Race Preview: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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Race Information

  • Round: NASCAR Cup Series race No. 3 of 36
  • Track Location: Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Race Name: Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube
  • Broadcast: Sunday, March 5th at 3:30 PM ET live on FOX (TV) and MRN (Radio)
  • Team Entrants:

No. 42 | Noah Gragson & Luke Lambert – Sunseeker Resorts Chevrolet
No. 43 | Erik Jones & Dave Elenz – Allegiant Chevrolet

Noah Gragson, No. 42 Sunseeker Resorts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Stats

  • NCS Starts: 1; Best start: 17th, Best finish: 11th (Fall, 2022)
  • NXS Starts: 8; Best start: 4th, Best finish: 2nd (three times), Top 5s: 7, Top 10s: 8, Laps led: 142
  • NCTS Starts: 3; Poles: 1 (Fall, 2018), Best finish: 12th (Spring, 2018), Laps led: 57

2023 NCS Season Stats

  • Starts: 2; Best start: 20th, Best finish: 22nd (Auto Club), Current points position: 27th
  • About Sunseeker Resorts: Opening in 2023, Florida’s newest luxury resort located in Charlotte Harbor is the first resort property of Sunseeker Resorts, a wholly owned subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Company. Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor occupies over 22 waterfront acres with 785 guest rooms, including 189 Signature Sunsuites™. Set upon the Peace River and Florida Gulf Coast, this premier resort offers 20 original food and beverage concepts; including seven stand-alone restaurants, eleven bars and lounges, two poolside offerings and a 25,000-square-foot multi-dining experience. Additional hotel amenities include a waterfront promenade, two unique rooftop and waterfront pool experiences, 60,000-square-feet of combined convention space, full-service spa and salon, a 7,100-square-foot state-of-the-art fitness center with four group exercise studios with specialty instructor lead classes, three retail and market shops, and an 18-hole championship level golf club exclusive to hotel guests only. The resort is conveniently located within a short drive of Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, Sarasota, St. Petersburg-Clearwater, and Tampa airports. For more information, visit www.sunseekerresorts.com. Follow us on Instagram: @sunseekerresorts and like us on Facebook: @sunseekerresorts.
  • Home to Vegas: Entering the third race of the season, Gragson returns to his home track. The Las Vegas native has made starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in all three of NASCAR’s premier series’. In the Truck series racing for Kyle Busch Motorsports, Gragson made three starts, scored one pole position, led 57 laps and has two top-15 finishes at the 1.5-mile track. In eight Xfinity Series starts at Las Vegas, Gragson has collected seven top-five and eight top-10 finishes. He has one NASCAR Cup Series start at the 1.5-mile track, where he filled in for the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and finished 11th last fall.
  • Vegas Golden Knights: Growing up in Vegas, Gragson was an avid Las Vegas Golden Knights fan. He will attend the team’s morning skate session Wednesday evening’s game in which the Golden Knights take on the Carolina Hurricanes at 7pm local time at T-Mobile Arena.
  • The Bullring: Like many racers from Las Vegas before him, Gragson got his start at the age of 13 racing Bandoleros at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway “Bullring”. A 14-time Bullring winner, Gragson then joined the INEX Legends Car Racing Series at the age of 15, winning the 2014 Young Lion Road Course Championship. He then moved on to Super Late Models and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West Series’ before landing a full-time NASCAR truck series ride.
  • Local Owner: LEGACY Motor Club owner and CEO of Allegiant Travel Company, Maury Gallagher also calls Las Vegas, Nevada home. Vegas is the 2024 home to Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium which houses the Las Vegas Raiders. Gallagher serves as chair of the Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee, a group comprised of community leaders in business, tourism, gaming, sports, entertainment and government which are responsible for the city’s collective hosting effort.
  • Noah Gragson Appearances: Fans attending the Pennzoil 400 will have a chance to meet Noah on race day:

Sunday, March 5th – 10:15 – 10:30 am Q&A on Stage in the NEON GARAGE

  • From the Driver’s Seat: “I’m excited to keep building momentum with our No. 42 Sunseeker Chevrolet and the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB team. Coming back to my hometown is always good to see family and friends, it’s always great anytime I can get back there and there would be nothing sweeter than to run well at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.”

Erik Jones, No. 43 Allegiant Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Stats

  • NCS Starts: 11; Poles: 1 (2018); Best Finish: 8th (2018, 2020, 2022); Top 5s: 0; Top 10s: 4; Laps Led: 0
  • NXS Starts: 2; Best Start: 2nd (2016); Best Finish: 3rd (2016); Top 5s: 1; Top 10s: 1; Laps Led: 7
  • NCTS Starts: 2; Wins: 1 (2014); Best Start: 13th (2014); Top 5s: 1; Top 10s: 2; Laps Led: 19

2023 NCS Season Stats

  • Starts: 2; Best Start: 25th; Best Finish: 19th (Auto Club), Current Points Position: 32nd
  • About Allegiant: Las Vegas-based Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) is an integrated travel company with an airline at its heart, focused on connecting customers with the people, places and experiences that matter most. Since 1999, Allegiant Air has linked travelers in small-to-medium cities to world-class vacation destinations with all-nonstop flights and industry-low average fares. Today, Allegiant’s fleet serves communities across the nation, with base airfares less than half the cost of the average domestic roundtrip ticket. For more information, visit us at Allegiant.com.
  • Jones at Las Vegas Speedway: Erik Jones will make his 12th Cup Series start at the 1.5 mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend for the Pennzoil 400 on Sunday, March 5. In his previous 11 starts at the track in the Cup Series, Jones has a best finish of eighth on three different occasions – March 2018, September 2020 and October 2022. In total, Jones has four top-10 finishes in the Cup Series.

Jones has two Xfinity Series starts at the track with his best start of second and best finish of third coming in his rookie season in 2016. He led seven laps during the Xfinity Series race in 2015, but his strong run was derailed late in the race by contact with a competitor and resulted in a 29th-place finish.

In the Truck Series, Jones has two starts at the track with both finishes resulting in top-nine results. His first start at the track came in 2014 where he started the race 13th and led 19 laps on his way to victory lane. During his rookie season and championship season, Jones returned to the track where he finished ninth in the 2015 event.

  • From the Driver’s Seat: “Hopefully Las Vegas will be a good race for us this weekend and we can get our season rolling. We struggled a little bit at Fontana, so looking forward to getting back to Las Vegas where we were pretty good in the Spring last year in this race and in the Fall I thought we were decent. I’m hoping we can make some gains, try some new stuff and get some good points from the weekend. Looking forward to getting there and hopefully having a good run in our No. 43 Allegiant Chevrolet.”

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB:

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB is a team that competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, owned by Maury Gallagher and Jimmie Johnson. LEGACY M.C. operates two full-time entries, the No. 42 Chevrolet of Noah Gragson and the No. 43 Chevrolet of Erik Jones. The team also fields a third part-time entry, the No. 84 Chevrolet, for Johnson’s limited racing schedule.

For the last 75 years, the iconic Petty family name has been synonymous in NASCAR, spanning four generations. Over the course of his driving career, Team Ambassador Richard Petty forever enshrined himself as “The King”, earning 200 wins and seven NASCAR Cup Series championships alongside NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief Dale Inman. GMS Racing entered the NASCAR Cup Series in 2021, later acquiring Richard Petty Motorsports to form Petty GMS.

The team was rebranded to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB in 2023 with the addition of Johnson, another seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, to the ownership structure. As a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for the automobile racing enthusiast, fostering a team environment that will breed success for years to come. LEGACY M.C.’s vision is to honor the rich history of its past and acknowledge the future of the sport with some of today’s most iconic drivers.

LEGACY M.C. operates alongside GMS Racing, which fields three full-time entries in the NASCAR Truck Series. Since the formation of GMS Racing in 2012, Gallagher, along with one of the NASCAR garage’s most accomplished figures, Team President, Mike Beam, built a victorious organization, capturing the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Truck Series championships, the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship, as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA East championships, accumulating over 65 wins across six national racing circuits.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow LEGACY MOTOR CLUB on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Lawless Alan – Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 Race Advance

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Official Release
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Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway (134 Laps / 201 Miles)
Friday, March 3 | Las Vegas, Nevada | 9:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Team: No. 45 AUTOParkit Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Lawless Alan (Los Angeles, California) | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Lawless Alan: Twitter: @lawlessalan25 | Instagram: @lawless_alan | Facebook: /LawlessAlanRacing | Web: www.lawlessalanracing.com

Alan on Friday’s Race at Las Vegas: “I’m looking forward to getting to Las Vegas for the second time,” said Alan. “Last year, we got damaged early, which heavily affected our race. I’m looking forward to running all the laps this year, and I’m optimistic about where we’ll end up.”

Alan at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: In his lone start at Las Vegas, Alan started 26th and finished 19th.

On the Truck: “Now that I know more of what I’m looking for in the track and what to expect, I can go into the race and know what to do right away. Practice will be able to help me a lot more this year, as I’ve been to Vegas in one of these Trucks before.”

Public Appearances: Alan, along with a majority of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series field, will take part in an autograph session on Friday from 3:30pm – 4:15pm at the Neon Garage in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway infield.

About Niece Motorsports:

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2023, Niece Motorsports enters its eighth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Media Inquiries: media@niecemotorsports.com | www.niecemotorsports.com

About AUTODockit:

AUTODockit delivers fully automated boat storage. Boats are safely stored indoors in a rack and rail system, protected within a site-specific hurricane-protected structure. Vessels are placed in Rack Storage structures of unoccupied space driven by industrial automation technology. AUTODockit uses the same trusted and proven modular scalable architecture from AUTOParkit™ a market leader in Autonomous Parking Systems. AUTODockit uses all electric motors and does NOT use forklifts, overhead cranes, robotics, hydraulics, or pneumatics. Travel lanes are significantly reduced in AUTODockit sites allowing increased storage capacity and maximizing revenue

AUTODockit provides two solutions: Coastal and Inland. AUTODockit Costal lifts boats directly from the water while AUTODockit Inland is for trailered boats.

About AUTOParkit:

-AUTOParkit™ designs, manufactures, and constructs fully automated parking systems for new and existing buildings. AUTOParkit system structural steel and modular design can provide double the capacity of a traditional parking garage, providing up to 17 LEED points and drastically reducing construction time.

-AUTOParkit automated systems are 40 percent less expensive to operate, safer for the user and reduces carbon emissions associated with parking by more than 80 percent. AUTOParkit’s charging pallets provided by AUTOChargit, are a fast and convenient way of charging EVs and Hybrids. AUTOChargit’s patented technology allows for shuffling charged vehicles cutting infrastructure costs by up to 80 percent.

-For more information on AUTOParkit, visit www.autoparkit.com

Carson Hocevar – Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 Race Advance

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Official Release
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Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway (134 Laps / 201 Miles)
Friday, March 3 | Las Vegas, Nevada | 9:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Team: No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Carson Hocevar (Portage, Michigan) | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Carson Hocevar: Twitter: @CarsonHocevar | Instagram: @CarsonHocevar | Facebook: /carsonhocevarracing | Web: www.CarsonHocevar.com

Daytona Recap: In the season-opener, Hocevar was able to kick-off his championship campaign with a 12th-place finish at Daytona. He collected stage points in both stages and was able to show speed throughout the rain-shortened event.

Hocevar on Last Week’s Race at Daytona: “Daytona is really just a game of luck, but Vegas is going to be all about speed and the work the team has done in the shop,” said Hocevar. Our superspeedway program has been really good and I’m expecting more of that this week.”

Hocevar on Friday’s Race at Las Vegas: “It’s going to be really important to take advantage of all the hard work everyone has put in at Niece Motorsports in the offseason. Vegas is a tough place just because of how soon we go in the year. Everyone is good throughout the field because of how long they’ve had to prepare for the first 1.5-mile race.”

Hocevar at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: In two starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Hocevar has an average start and finish of 11 and 18.5, respectively. Hocevar led nine laps in the Craftsman Truck Series’ visit to the 1.5-mile track one year ago.

On the Truck: “I’m confident in this group on our Worldwide Express Silverado because of the long hours they’ve put into this piece. We’ve tried to take advantage of every little detail we can so we can be at the top of our game.”

Public Appearances: Hocevar, along with a majority of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series field, will take part in an autograph session on Friday from 3:30pm – 4:15pm at the Neon Garage in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway infield.

About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2023, Niece Motorsports enters its eighth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Media Inquiries: media@niecemotorsports.com | www.niecemotorsports.com

About Worldwide Express:
The WWEX group of brands, which comprises Worldwide Express, Unishippers and GlobalTranz, offers full-service logistics expertise to more than 115,000 customers across the country. With access to industry-leading small package, truckload, less-than-truckload and managed transportation solutions, its customers benefit from enhanced visibility and value for their supply chains. The company is the second-largest privately held freight brokerage and largest non-retail UPS Authorized Reseller® in the U.S. , with an annual systemwide revenue nearing $5 billion through a network of company-owned, franchise and agent locations. A highly selective carrier portfolio, proprietary technology, unique data assets and business intelligence capabilities provide clients with unmatched options and flexibility to meet their shipping needs. The WWEX Racing initiative was borne of a desire to address the complex but underserved logistic needs of the performance motorsports industry, using the unique combination of capabilities offered by the three brands’ combined 80+ years of insight. To learn more about the WWEX Racing program, visit www.wwexracing.com. For media inquiries, contact racing@wwex.com.

Ross Chastain – Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 Race Advance

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Official Release
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Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway (134 Laps / 201 Miles)
Friday, March 3 | Las Vegas, Nevada | 9:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Team: No. 41 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Ross Chastain (Alva, Florida) | Crew Chief: Mike Hillman Jr.
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Ross Chastain: Twitter: @RossChastain | Instagram: @rosschastain | Facebook: /RossChastainRacing | Web: www.rosschastain.com/

The No. 41 Truck Last Week at Daytona: Travis Pastrana was behind the wheel on the No. 41 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. Although this was Pastrana’s first start in the Craftsman Truck Series at Daytona, the action sports legend was able to secure a 13th-place finish in the rain-shortened race.

Chastain on First Truck Start of 2023 in Friday’s race at Las Vegas: “It’s super exciting getting back into the Truck Series with Worldwide Express,” said Chastain. “I love to race anything, so for Justin Marks and Trackhouse Racing to let me do it is an honor; and I know that. The fact I get to do this with Niece Motorsports is great – they’re family. We’ve done a lot together, but we have a lot that we still want to prove.”

Chastain at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: Among NASCAR’s top-three series, Chastain has made 23 starts at Las Vegas, securing three top-five finishes and one win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. With Niece Motorsports, Chastain has an average finish of 10th in the Truck Series at Las Vegas, including a second-place finish in 2019.

About Niece Motorsports:

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2023, Niece Motorsports enters its eighth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Media Inquiries: media@niecemotorsports.com | www.niecemotorsports.com

About Worldwide Express:

The WWEX group of brands, which comprises Worldwide Express, Unishippers and GlobalTranz, offers full-service logistics expertise to more than 115,000 customers across the country. With access to industry-leading small package, truckload, less-than-truckload and managed transportation solutions, its customers benefit from enhanced visibility and value for their supply chains. The company is the second-largest privately held freight brokerage and largest non-retail UPS Authorized Reseller® in the U.S. , with an annual systemwide revenue nearing $5 billion through a network of company-owned, franchise and agent locations. A highly selective carrier portfolio, proprietary technology, unique data assets and business intelligence capabilities provide clients with unmatched options and flexibility to meet their shipping needs. The WWEX Racing initiative was borne of a desire to address the complex but underserved logistic needs of the performance motorsports industry, using the unique combination of capabilities offered by the three brands’ combined 80+ years of insight. To learn more about the WWEX Racing program, visit www.wwexracing.com. For media inquiries, contact racing@wwex.com.

Crawford Ready to Launch Rookie FIA F2 season at Bahrain

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Official Release
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Jak Crawford #9 Hitech GP, during the pre-season testing of the FIA Formula 2 Championship at Bahrain International Circuit, on February 14 - 16, 2023. // Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull Content Pool

HOUSTON (1 March 2023) – American Formula 1 hopeful Jak Crawford will take another giant step up major open-wheel racing’s ladder in 2023, when he competes fulltime in the FIA Formula 2 Championship.

The Texan – who turns 18 in May – returns as a member of the Red Bull Junior team, driving in this weekend’s season opener at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. The campaign consists of 14 two-race weekends, all run in conjunction with Formula 1.

“I’m excited for my first race in F2,” Crawford said. “It’s going to be a long season, but I think it will be really fun to have my debut at Bahrain. It’s a super-interesting track and we’ve already done test days, so I think I’ll be quite up to speed.”

F2 competition consists of 22 identical Dallara chassis powered by turbocharged 3.4L V6 engines. Weekends consist of practice and qualifying on Friday, with a 120-kilometer sprint race on Saturday followed by a 170-kilometer feature race on Sunday. Qualifying sets the grid for the Sunday race, with the top-10 qualifiers inverted for the sprint round.

“To be honest, I don’t have any expectations,” Crawford said going into the season opener. “I just want to make the most of the car and my driving ability, especially for the first race weekend, since we don’t really know where we are with speed and everything, but I do think we’re quick. I don’t have any expectations, that would be putting a lot of pressure on myself.”

Crawford finished the 2022 F3 season seventh in the points, winning the sprint race at Red Bull Ring among five podium finishes. Now, he’s ready for the next step, Formula 2.

“There are quite a few differences in F2 [from F3],” Crawford explained. “The field is a lot stronger, talent-wise, with a lot of very good drivers. It’s a bigger car, with more power, more weight, and longer races. It will be a bit more tiring, and you have to keep your focus, as well. It’s a bit of everything.”

Crawford caught the attention of the open-wheel world when he ran double-duty in 2021. The youngest driver in F3, he placed second in his debut at Spa Francorchamps. He also ran in Euroformula Open, placing third in the championship with eight victories in 16 starts despite running a select schedule when his F3 season allowed.

Following Bahrain, F2 races at Jeddah March 18-19; Melbourne April 1-2; Baku April 29-30; Imola May 20-21; Monte Carlo May 27-28; Barcelona June 2-3; Red Bull Ring July 1-2; Silverstone July 8-9; Hungaroring July 22-23; Spa July 29-30; Zandvoort August 26-27; Monza Sept. 2-3; and Abu Dhabi Nov. 25-26.

SS Racing Announces Full Schedule, Driver Line-Up for 2023

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Official Release
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Bobby Labonte, Ryan Newman and Jonathan Cash to race in SMART, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tours

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 1, 2023) – NASCAR legends Bobby Labonte and Ryan Newman, along with modified driver Jonathan Cash, will be behind the wheel of Sadler-Stanley (SS) Racing powered by Pace-O-Matic’s No. 18VA (No. 38VA for NASCAR Whelen) and No. 39VA, respectively, during the 2023 modified season. 14 SMART Modified Tour races are on the schedule, with Newman racing the majority of them, as well as four NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races. Cash is scheduled for five SMART races, while Labonte will pilot all races on the schedule.

SS Racing announced their new partnership with Labonte, a NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and 2000 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, in November 2022. Newman’s announcement came shortly after in January, with team co-owner Hermie Sadler stating Newman, the 2002 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year, could “win at any time, on any track.” Newman previously raced for SS Racing three times in 2022.

The driver line-up includes:
March 4: SMART Modified Tour, Florence Motor Speedway
No. 18VA Labonte
No. 39VA Newman
March 12: SMART Modified Tour, Caraway Speedway
No. 18VA Labonte
No. 39VA Newman
March 18: SMART Modified Tour, Lonesome Pine Speedway
No. 18VA Labonte
No. 39VA Cash
March 31: NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, Richmond Raceway
No. 38VA Labonte
No. 39VA Newman
April 1: SMART Modified Tour, South Boston Speedway
No. 18VA Labonte
No. 39VA Cash
April 15: SMART Modified Tour, Hickory Motor Speedway
No. 18VA Labonte
No. 39VA Newman
May 26: SMART Modified Tour, Franklin County Speedway
No. 18VA Labonte
No. 39VA Newman
June 23: SMART Modified Tour, Ace Speedway
No. 18VA Labonte
No. 39VA Newman
July 1: SMART Modified Tour, Caraway Speedway
No. 18VA Labonte
No. 39VA Cash
August 26: NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, Langley Speedway
No. 38VA Labonte
No. 39VA TBA
September 2: SMART Modified Tour, Carteret County Speedway
No. 18VA Labonte
No. 39VA Newman
September 9: SMART Modified Tour, Dominion Speedway
No. 18VA Labonte
No. 39VA Newman
September 30: NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour North Wilkesboro Speedway
No. 38VA Labonte
No. 39VA Newman
October 1: SMART Modified Tour, Motor Mile Speedway
No. 18VA Labonte
No. 39VA Newman
October 7: SMART Modified Tour, Tri-County Speedway
No. 18VA Labonte
No. 39VA Cash
October 14: SMART Modified Tour, Little Rockingham Speedway
No. 18VA Labonte
No. 39VA Cash
October 26: NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, Martinsville Speedway
No. 38VA Labonte
No. 39VA Newman
October 28: SMART Modified Tour, Orange County Speedway
No. 18VA Labonte
No. 39VA Newman

“Our driver line-up is second to none this modified season, and we are thrilled to have two champions on the track for SS Racing powered by Pace-O-Matic. Cash made his debut for us last year at Hickory, so we’re looking forward to welcoming him back, too.” said SS Racing Co-Owner Bill Stanley, a Virginia State Senator and owner of The Stanley Law Group.

“This is going to be an exciting season for fans of open wheel Modified racing,” said Sadler. “We’re counting down the days until we can watch Bobby and Ryan hit the track as teammates for SS Racing, and take this sport to the next level.”

ABOUT PACE-O-MATIC
Pace-O-Matic is the nation’s leading developer of skill games, creating and marketing fun and exciting games. The games provide supplemental income for small businesses, veterans groups and fraternal clubs. With a commitment to compliance, Pace-O-Matic has games in markets across the United States. The company also is focused on giving back to communities.

For more details on Pace-O-Matic, visit www.paceomatic.com, follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

ABOUT PSR PRODUCTS
Based in Midland, North Carolina and supported by an extensive dealer network throughout the Eastern Seaboard, PSR Products is a leading manufacturer of Modified racing chassis, as well as parts, components, tools, and equipment that have been winning races and championships for more than 30 years. PSR founder Phil Stefanelli and his staff, which includes motorsports veterans and some of the brightest minds in the industry, pride themselves on providing superior customer service, precise attention to detail, and an expansive knowledge base that is shared with each of PSR’s customers. For more details on PSR Products, visit www.psrproducts.net, “Like” PSR Products on Facebook, or call 704-888-3874.

ABOUT BOBBY LABONTE
Bobby Labonte is not only a successful NASCAR driver and NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2020 inductee, he is also a successful television race analyst, businessman, and philanthropist. Labonte is in his sixth year as a race analyst and his third season on FS1’s NASCAR RACE HUB show. He currently owns Breaking Limits, a full-service marketing, public relations, sponsorship, and events agency, he’s a co-owner of Longhorn Chassis, a successful dirt late model and modified chassis and fabrication business and he leads the Bobby Labonte Foundation, which works in partnership with the local community to empower parents, families, and children to build a strong foundation for childrens’ futures.

For more information, visit www.bobbylabonte.com or follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

New driver line-up for ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team as Mattias Ekström joins to partner Laia Sanz for Extreme E Season 3

By
Official Release
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1 March 2023, London: ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team have unveiled their driver pairing for Extreme E Season 3, with Mattias Ekström teaming up with Laia Sanz for the Spanish outfit.

The Swede replaces Carlos Sainz Snr., as the two-time World Rally Champion is still recovering from a crash suffered in this year’s Dakar Rally, in which he fractured two vertebrae. Nevertheless, Sainz Snr. will travel to NEOM, Saudi Arabia, to work and help the team throughout the Desert X Prix later this month.

ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team finished sixth in the standings in Season 1, scoring their first ever podium with third at the Arctic X Prix in Greenland. The Spanish team built upon their first season performance, and had the pace to secure third in the championship in Extreme E Season 2 – reaching four out of the five Finals and finishing on the podium twice – and will be keen to secure that long-awaited maiden victory in 2023.

Joan Orús, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team’s Team Principal, said: “This season is very important for the entire ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team. We start the year in a tough situation with the news that Carlos will not be in the car in Saudi Arabia, but we still feel we have found the best possible driver to complete the team with Laia.

“Mattias Ekström is one of the best rallycross, track and off-road drivers in the world, and his illustrious racing record will surely help us further develop as a team. Our aim is to win and we know that we can fight for the title if we all do our work right.”

Carlos Sainz Snr., ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said: “Mattias is the best signing we could have hoped for, for this new season. I know him well and I trust him completely because I know what he is capable of: I believe he is one of the best and most multifaceted race drivers in the world, and therefore it is an honour that he gets to defend the colours of ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team. I have raced against him in Extreme E and know him as my teammate in Audi in the raids, so I am aware of his potential and strengths.

“I myself will do all I can to help the team achieve its goals. I will be attending the races and supporting them to get the best results we can. Regarding Laia, she keeps growing as a race driver and she knows the team throughout. I would also like to thank Acciona, Santander Private Banking, Asterra and all our sponsors for their trust in this sustainable, egalitarian, thrilling project again.”

Ekström joins the team after a prolific racing career in the Rallycross World Championship, which he conquered in 2016, and the DTM, which he won twice in 2004 and 2007. He is also familiar with Extreme E having raced during the maiden season in 2021, finishing on the podium at the Island X Prix for ABT CUPRA XE, and is a four-time winner of the Race of Champions, securing another victory earlier this year.

Mattias Ekström, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said: “Carlos is one of my childhood idols and since we are teammates in Audi Dakar project, we’ve become friends, so it feels special and even emotional to join his team at Extreme E. With me stepping in for Carlos, it will give him more time to recover from the accident he suffered at Dakar. I also know Laia since my very first Extreme E race and I’ve seen her progress a lot and she has shown her speed on track.

“Even though it was a very late decision to join the team, I will do my best to bring success to ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team this season and I hope we can fight for race wins and titles. I look forward on meeting all the team members in person and working with Carlos as my team boss, as I’m sure it will be a fun and valuable experience.”

Sanz will race for ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team once again, and has established herself as one of the best female off-road and Extreme E drivers since debuting in 2021. This will be her third season with the team.

Prior to her switch to cars, Sanz was crowned Trial World Champion 14 times, Enduro World Champion on five occasions, and has finished the Dakar Rally thirteen times in a row between 2011 and 2023. The Spaniard marked her car debut in the 2022 Dakar Rally, and this year finished 14th in the 4×2 traction prototypes class.

The Spaniard finished ninth overall in the 2015 Dakar Rally, achieving the best result ever by a woman in the motorcycle category at the event.

Laia Sanz, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said: “I am really looking forward to the start of the Extreme E season. I feel like I improved a lot last year, but I haven’t reached my maximum and I am convinced that this season I will be able to contribute even more to the team’s success.

“It will definitely be strange not having Carlos on my side in Saudi Arabia, but his advice will be as important as always to try and achieve the result we all want.

“I am thrilled to be working with Mattias, who doesn’t really need any introduction because he has achieved so much in his long career in motorsports.”

You can find out how ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team’s new driver line-up gets on at the season opener in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, on 11-12 March.

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

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