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Air Show Will Again Thrill Fans Prior to Toyota/Save Mart 350 Green Flag

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Northern California jet team is part of a packed NASCAR race weekend schedule

SONOMA, Calif. (February 21, 2023) – Fans at Sonoma Raceway’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 in June will momentarily shift their focus from track to sky for a dramatic air show as part of the pre-race festivities. As part of an action-packed weekend schedule, the Patriots Jet Team will thrill race fans with 25-minutes of choreographed aerobatics during the fanfare prior to the green flag.

The California-based Patriots Jet Team is the largest civilian-owned aerobatic jet team in the Western Hemisphere, and has been entertaining audiences since 2003. In the cockpits are some former U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and U.S. Navy Blue Angels pilots and Reno Air Race competitors.

The pre-race demonstration will feature six-L-39 albatross jets strutting their fast-paced formation flying, choreographed aerobatic maneuvers and their signature “Tail Slide,” where the aircraft actually slides backwards toward the ground. This will be the 16th year the team has performed at a Sonoma Raceway major event.

The air show is one of the many great facets of the NASCAR weekend schedule. Fans will be treated to 3 full days of racing action culminating with the NASCAR Cup Series stars in Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350. Saturday’s schedule is jam packed with the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ first visit to Sonoma for the DoorDash 250, preceded by two full hours of Cup Series practice and qualifying. Friday will feature the ARCA Menards Series West General Tire 200 and the Historic Trans Am series will run throughout the weekend.

With so much fun for the whole family, remember kids 12 and under are admitted FREE on Friday and Saturday, and NASCAR race-day tickets for children 12 and under are just $10 with the purchase of an adult ticket. Tickets, camping spots and add-ons can be purchased by visiting sonomaraceway.com or calling (800) 870-RACE [7223]. Weekend racing schedule can be found here: sonomaraceway.com/events

Sonoma Raceway is a 2.52-mile and 12-turn road course and quarter-mile drag strip located at Sears Point in Sonoma County, California. Built in 1968 the track is carved into rolling hills with 160 ft of total elevation change. It is host to one of the few NASCAR Cup Series races each year that are run on road courses. It is one of the world’s busiest racing facilities, with track activity scheduled an average of 340 days a year. A complete and versatile motorsports complex, it is home to one of the nation’s only high-performance automotive industrial parks with approximately 70 tenants.

Monster Brewing Set to Unleash Beast with 23XI Racing and Tyler Reddick

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The Beast Unleashed Ready to Race NASCAR on the No. 45 Toyota Camry TRD

Mooresville, N.C. (Feb. 21, 2023) – 23XI Racing announced today that The Beast Unleashed, Monster Brewing’s first malt beverage, will serve as a primary partner with Tyler Reddick and the No. 45 Toyota Camry TRD team for several races during the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Monster Brewing will unveil the savage new paint scheme at a special event at Monster’s global headquarters in Corona, Calif., this week, before The Beast Unleashed makes its first appearance on track this weekend at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, supporting Reddick in his inaugural season with 23XI Racing.

“I’m really excited to represent The Beast Unleashed on track for the first time ever,” said Reddick. “I’m looking forward to my first year with this team and being a part of a new chapter for 23XI and The Beast Unleashed. I can’t thank our partners like Monster Brewing enough for the support they provide.”

“We are constantly looking for new ways to provide our partners with a unique platform to showcase their brands, and this is a great example of that,” said Steve Lauletta, 23XI team president. “It’s not often you have the opportunity to highlight such an exciting new product and we’re eager to help introduce The Beast Unleashed to NASCAR and all of our fans.”

To “We are psyched to finally unleash The Beast on the world of NASCAR — and we believe Tyler is the man to set it loose,” added Renold Aparicio, VP of Monster Equity Brands at Monster Brewing. “We cannot wait to see them both carve up the track this weekend.”

About The Beast Unleashed
Our original crew has been making drinks for 30+ years now. Our favorite brand, Monster Energy, is about to turn 21. We figured why not celebrate the big day by making an adult beverage? We hit delete on the energy blend, cut out the caffeine and ditched the sugar. We brewed up the smoothest tasting alcohol ever and blended it with our tried and true flavors. Introducing The Beast Unleashed — available in four flavors: Mean Green, White Haze, Peach Perfect and Scary Berries. Get ready to celebrate and don’t be afraid of the big bad beast!

About 23XI Racing
23XI Racing – pronounced twenty-three eleven – was founded by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin in 2020. With rising NASCAR star Bubba Wallace selected to drive the No. 23 Toyota Camry TRD, the team made its NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2021 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Wallace made history on October 4, 2021, when he captured his first career Cup Series win, becoming just the second African American to win in the Cup Series, and earning 23XI its first-ever victory. 23XI expanded to a two-car organization in 2022 with Cup Series Champion Kurt Busch driving the No. 45 Toyota Camry TRD. With a win at Kansas Speedway in May of 2022, Busch earned 23XI the team’s first-ever playoff berth. In 2023, 23XI features the lineup of Bubba Wallace in the No. 23 Toyota and Tyler Reddick in the No. 45 Toyota.

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Racing: Aric Almirola Fontana Advance

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Official Release
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ARIC ALMIROLA
Fontana Race Advance
No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Pala Casino 400 (Round 2 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Feb. 26
● Location: Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California
● Layout: 2-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 200 laps/400 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 65 laps / Stage 2: 65 laps / Final Stage: 70 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● History at Fontana: In 14 cup series starts at Fontana, Aric Almirola has three top-10 finishes and seven laps led, all coming since he joined Stewart-Haas Racing in 2018. He finished sixth in his most recent start. Almirola will race for his fourth consecutive top-10 finish at Fontana this weekend.

● Last weekend at Daytona Almirola won his Duel qualifying race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway for the second time in three years and earned the fourth starting spot in Sunday’s 65th edition of The Great American Race. He led a race-high eight times for a total of 16 laps. It was the most laps he’s led in 23 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Daytona. The No. 10 Smithfield Ford driver was involved in an accident on the final lap and finished 21st.

● Driver Points: Almirola arrives at Fontana 13th in the driver standings with 29 points.

● Drew Blickensderfer returns as crew chief for the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang for the second year in a row and for the fourth season overall with Almirola. Blickensderfer and Almirola were together in 2017 and 2018 at Richard Petty Motorsports. The Illinois native is no stranger to victory lane at Fontana’s 2-mile oval. In 2009, just a week after winning the Daytona 500 with NASCAR Hall of Famer Matt Kenseth, Blickensderfer won again with Kenseth at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, making him the fifth crew chief to score back-to-back wins to start a season.

● Almirola’s career: In 425 NASCAR Cup Series starts, Almirola has earned three wins, 28 top-five finishes, 91 top-10s, three poles, and has led 990 laps.

● Smithfield Foods rejoins Almirola and the No. 10 Ford team as the anchor sponsor for the 2023 NASCAR season. Fans will see the iconic white, black, and gold scheme adorn Almirola’s Ford Mustang with IHOP on the lower side panel. Smithfield has been a sponsor of Almirola’s for the entirety of his fulltime NASCAR Cup Series career – making it one of the longest-lasting partnerships in NASCAR.

● Back for More: Last year, Almirola announced that he would step down from fulltime racing following the 2022 season.Through the course of the year, he discovered a new balance between his passion for racing and dedication to his family. His wife Janice, and kids Alex and Abby, joined him on most race weekends, oftentimes enjoying once-in-a-lifetime experiences together as they traveled the country. His rapport with crew chief Blickensderfer flourished, and the intense pressure he had put on himself was replaced with the joy of simply being present. Not only did Almirola see the sport from a new perspective, so did anchor partner Smithfield Foods, who broached the subject of Almirola returning to fulltime racing in 2023. On Aug. 26 in the media center of Daytona, Almirola, SHR and Smithfield Foods announced his return with a multiyear agreement and Smithfield’s largest allotment of races since joining the team in 2018.

● Beyond the 10 YouTube Series: In 2023, Almirola will continue to share his life beyond the No. 10 Smithfield Ford with season five of his award-winning YouTube series. Fans and media can subscribe on YouTube to see Almirola’s personality on and off the track. Episodes have already featured life as a dad, a husband and an athlete, and it gives fans a unique perspective on what goes on in the life of a professional NASCAR driver. Fans can also follow Almirola’s social media channels: @Aric_Almirola on Twitter and Instagram, and @AricAlmirola on Facebook.

Aric Almirola, Driver of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

What will it take to have a successful season?

“We have to minimize mistakes and take advantage of opportunities when we have fast racecars. Drew (Blickensderfer, crew chief) and the 10 team know what it takes and they’re one of the most motivated teams in the garage. If the driver can minimize mistakes and the pit crew stays on top of it like they did in Daytona, and we continue to put all of the pieces together, we’ll be in contention for a top-10 every weekend. The goal is to be consistent so when we do have top-10 cars, we make it a top-five day, and when we have a top-five car, we capitalize and go for wins. The field is so competitive with the new car, so you have to be sharper than ever.”

With that said, how do you prepare for the race weekend? Is the simulator the most important tool?

“Yeah, it’s extremely important – arguably the most important tool we have because it’s the only thing we have to allow us to go and test and change setups and change things on the racecar prior to going to that event. In years past, we could go to the racetrack and we could completely overhaul the setup on the racecar after practice. We can’t do that anymore. We show up to the racetrack and we can change minimal things on the racecar before qualifying. And once we qualify, the setup is locked into the car for the race. So we have to rely on that simulator heavily to guide us and lead us in the direction that we’re going to go with the setup of our racecar.”

You ran well at Fontana last year in the Next Gen car’s debut. How much more helpful will those notes be heading back there this weekend?

“I personally do best when I’m prepared. I thrive when I can study and outwork the guys I’m competing against. I can’t just wing it when it comes to performing. Last year, we relied heavily on guessing and hoping the setup was right. This year I get the opportunity to take notes not only from myself but from Ford and Stewart-Haas Racing as a whole. We saw at the Clash that we could turn a bad car in first practice into a heat-winning car that started us on the pole because we have notes and learned from last year. At Daytona, we qualified fourth and won our Duel race and had a fast car, so yeah, notes are really important, and knowing we came from the rear of the field last year to sixth (at Fontana) gives us a big boost of confidence.”

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Aric Almirola
Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer
Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Jerry Cook
Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Engineer: Davin Restivo
Hometown: Asheboro, North Carolina

Engineer: James Kimbrough
Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Joel Edmonds
Hometown: Dobson, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Mulder
Hometown: Sioux Center, Iowa

Rear Tire Changer: Trevor White
Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard
Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotton
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: James “Ace” Keener
Hometown: Fortuna, California

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Chris Trickett
Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Jacob Cooksey
Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller
Hometown: Monroe, New York

Tire Specialist: Russel Simpson
Hometown: Medford, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Steven Casper
Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy
Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

USF2000 Champion Michael d’Orlando Signs with Turn 3 Motorsport for USF Pro 2000

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Michael d'Orlando accepts 2022 USF2000 Champion trophy

2022 scholarship winner will progress to next step on USF Pro Championships ladder in 2023

Mundelein, Ill. (February 21, 2023) – 2022 USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tires champion and scholarship winner Michael d’Orlando has signed with Turn 3 Motorsport for the 2023 USF Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires season. The 20-year-old New York native is coming out of a standout year in USF2000, winning four races, five pole positions, and eight podiums, and ultimately claiming the title of overall champion in a season that came down to a thrilling last race shootout at Portland International Raceway.

A veteran of the USF Pro Championships Presented by Cooper Tires (formerly the Road to Indy), d’Orlando has three successful seasons of USF2000 under his belt, finishing fourth overall in his debut season and taking the vice champion title in 2021. In addition to his multiple poles, race wins, and podiums last season, d’Orlando scored a series-high 14 top-five finishes, three fastest race laps, a tie for the most races led, and the most laps led all season – including a weekend sweep of the Cooper Tires Freedom 75 oval race for the second year in a row – marking a truly incredible year for the young American.

A successful pre-season training program with Turn 3 Motorsport has shown d’Orlando quickly adapt to the Tatuus IP-22 car, proving the rookie will be a top competitor in 2023.

“I’m so excited to be back,” said d’Orlando. “Since the final USF2000 race in Portland last year, I’ve had very limited testing or any sort of driving time in general. I’m very appreciative of Turn 3 Motorsport’s support of me in the off-season, and I’ve absolutely loved working with them during pre-season testing. I’m confident that we can perform well together in my rookie year in the USF Pro 2000 series, especially in those beautiful USF Pro Championships scholarship colors. Bring on the season!”

“It’s a great honor for our team that the USF2000 scholarship winner has chosen us for his 2023 USF Pro 2000 program,” said Team Owner Peter Dempsey. “It shows how far we’ve come since joining the series in 2020. Michael has been a pleasure to have so far in our program throughout pre-season testing and has proved to us why he is a champion. He adapted to the IP-22 car very quickly and is certainly going to be a force to be reckoned with throughout the year. I’m confident we can give him the tools for a successful rookie season and look forward to carrying both Turn 3’s and Michael’s momentum into 2023.”

“The scholarship provided by Andersen Promotions and Cooper Tires gives these young drivers one of the best opportunities in the world to move up the ladder to the top level of motorsport,” continued Dempsey. “I know I wouldn’t be in the position I am in today without the support of Dan Andersen and Andersen Promotions during my racing career, so for us to come full circle and have our team as part of the scholarship program is a huge honor. I feel we have a strong driver lineup to push for the title this season, and we are proud to be representing the series champion in 2023.”

Turn 3 Motorsport will go into the season opener on the Streets of St. Petersburg as the reigning pole and race winners, having taken the premier victory of the 2022 season with current INDY NXT driver Josh Green. The team went on to achieve a pole and/or podium at seven of nine race weekends with three different rookie drivers, establishing a strong foundation and winning program for d’Orlando’s 2023 USF Pro 2000 Championship campaign.

d’Orlando will drive the #1 USF Pro Championships/Priority Payments Systems/Focused Project Management/Turn 3 Motorsport car for the 2023 season. Other partners include UFC Gym Mamaroneck and Rising Star Racing.

This year’s competitors will gather February 27-28 for the official pre-season Spring Training at Sebring International Raceway followed by the first event of the USF Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires season on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida from March 3-5.

To stay up to date on Turn 3 Motorsport, follow the team on social media using the handle @turn3motorsport.

For more information or images, please contact Mandy Dempsey at turn3motorsport@gmail.com.
About Turn 3 Motorsport: Turn 3 Motorsport is a full-service operation specializing in racecar preparation, engineering, and driver development. Founded and managed by racecar driver and coach Peter Dempsey, T3M is focused on professional service, team member growth, and high-level performance across multiple racing series.

In 2019, the team secured the Blue Marble Cocktails Radical Cup North America championship titles in the 1340cc, 1500cc, and overall classes. Later that year, Peter and Turn 3 Motorsport achieved a record-breaking win at the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race, piloting the #10 Eastern Racing / Turn 3 Motorsport Radical SR3 RSX 1340 to a dominating win, leading 638 out of 672 laps, and becoming the first car under two liters to achieve the overall win.

In the team’s rookie season, Turn 3 Motorsport attracted attention out of the gate by winning the season opener of the 2020 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires in a sweeping performance with Singaporean driver Danial Frost. Frost and the team went on to achieve a pole position, six podium finishes, and third overall in the championship in 2020.

In 2021, T3M expanded its presence in the Road to Indy by introducing a two-car program into the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship alongside its Indy Pro 2000 Championship campaign. In its debut USF2000 season, the team found victory at the season finale with American driver Josh Green as well as earning an additional podium and fifth overall in the championship. The team earned further accolades in the Indy Pro 2000 series with a race win at the season finale by Irish driver James Roe as well as a pole position at World Wide Technology Raceway and seventh overall in the championship.

In 2022, T3M showed its strength and teamwork by achieving a podium, win, and/or pole at 7 of the 9 events on the Road to Indy calendar with drivers Josh Green, Jonathan Browne, and Christian Weir each earning the aforementioned results across two different series (USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000).

COSTA OIL™ GROWS PARTNERSHIP WITH ELLIS & ALPHA PRIME RACING IN 2023

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NASCAR Driver Ryan Ellis and Alpha Prime Racing are proud to announce today that COSTA OIL™ will be the primary sponsor for Ellis in an increased number of races in the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. The COSTA OIL™ No.43 Chevy will first hit the track this weekend at Auto Club Speedway, the 2-mile oval D-shaped superspeedway in Fontana, CA, for the Production Alliance Group 300.

Costa Kapothanasis, founder and owner of COSTA OIL™, first sponsored Ellis in 2022 at Dover Motor Speedway, a “home race” for both Costa and Ellis. The Costa-sponsored No.45 Chevy team fought to a 20th-place result that day.

COSTA OIL™’s sponsorship of Ellis and the No.43 Alpha Prime Chevy will promote the brand’s wide range of automotive motor oils, oil filters, and additives. The COSTA OIL™ performance auto products are premium products designed for European luxury and sports vehicles. Through its distribution website https://oilq.com, COSTA OIL™ products can be purchased for commercial pricing for the retail consumer.

The COSTA OIL™ No.43 Chevy Camaro is currently scheduled for at least four races in the 2023 season:
● February 18th – Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway
● April 15th – Call 811 Before You Dig 250 at Martinsville Speedway
● April 29th – A-Game 200 at Dover Motor Speedway
● July 15th – Crayon 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

COSTA OIL™ is widely known for its 10 Minute Oil Change service centers. They are your family-owned option. CEO Costa Kapothanasis founded COSTA OIL™ in 2014 with the vision of creating a model that would allow for sophisticated investors as well as owner-operators to participate in the benefits of the quick lube market. Costa is “the alternative to the traditional cold shoulder quick lube” that is more concerned with upselling you into products you don’t need. The brand prides itself on doing the right thing because it’s the right thing, not for PR purposes. Every quick lube makes the claims Costa makes; however, Costa’s reviews indicate they follow through. Find the nearest location to you at https://costaoils.com/stores/.

IN THEIR WORDS:
QUOTES FROM RYAN ELLIS, BRANDON CORNELIUS, AND DAVID SCHILDHOUSE

“I’m so thankful that Costa returned to our team in 2023. I met him at the beginning of the 2022 season, and he was a motorsports fan but hadn’t been involved in racing with his brand. Working with Costa, his franchisees, and other partners has been an absolute pleasure. He’s become a friend above all else, and his support of my career means a lot to my family and me. To have him come back and increase his amount of races shows his commitment to supporting motorsports, and I hope that fans support COSTA OIL™ so we can continue to work together for years to come,” said Ellis, driver of the No.43 COSTA OIL™ Chevy.

“Being a part of Ryan Ellis’s career and the No.43 car from Alpha Prime Racing has been such an honor for us. The automotive industry and NASCAR go hand in hand, and we believe Ryan is not only a great driver but also a great steward of our brand. His passion for racing and the partnerships with sponsors make every race feel like we are family. It’s a great feeling watching him drive with the Costa Oil logo around the track,” said Brandon Cornelius, Head of Franchise Development at COSTA OIL™.

“We are really pleased to have Costa Oil back with us this season,” said David Schildhouse, Vice President of Alpha Prime Racing. “Seeing a company return for more races as a primary sponsor on our racecars speaks volumes about the progress we’ve made as a team but, more importantly, the value a business can find in supporting motorsports. Costa has stepped up to support Ryan Ellis’ journey towards competing full-time in 2023, and we’re proud to be a part of it.”

About COSTA OIL™:
COSTA OIL™s vision is an oil change with no hard selling or feeling like you must prepare for battle before coming in for an oil change. We pride ourselves in our friendly customer service approach to the normally feared task of bringing your vehicle in for an oil change. Our long line of private-label Oils, Filters, and Additives are also available for the DIY vehicle owner. For more information, visit https://costaoils.com.

About Alpha Prime Racing
Alpha Prime Racing is a NASCAR Xfinity Series team co-owned by NASCAR driver Tommy Joe Martins and Alpha Prime Sports Founder and CEO Caesar Bacarella. The team was initially founded in 2009 under the name Martins Racing and has since grown into a three-car Chevrolet team, adding the No. 43 Chevrolet in 2023, primarily piloted by Ryan Ellis.

SEBASTIAN ARIAS AND BRADYIFS PARTNER WITH REV RACING

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Sebastian Arias to Return to Sonoma and Phoenix Raceway

February 21, 2023 (Winston-Salem, NC) Back behind the wheel for his third season in the ARCA Menards Series West (AMSW), is Sebastian Arias who has committed to two races this season, BradyIFS as his sponsor. BradyIFS, one of the nation’s premier distributors of food service and janitorial products, has committed to supporting Sebastian in Sonoma this June and the final race in Phoenix this November.

Sebastian is excited to partner with Rev Racing and BradyIFS for these two races and hopes there are many more to come. Work is currently being done to secure two more race opportunities with the team in the ARCA Menards Series, as another sponsor is looking to support Sebastian as he rises in the sport. The 2022 ARCA Menards Championship winning team has proven they have what it takes to run up front consistently and that is where Sebastian wants to be. Sebastian said, “This is the start of a great relationship with Rev Racing, and I want to thank Max Siegel for giving me this opportunity. We are looking for more races in the main ARCA Menards Series this year and possibly in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. I am blessed to be in this position, and I appreciate the work being done by Max, Rev Racing and my manager Ryan Johnston.”

Over the last 20 years, Siegel and Rev Racing have made tremendous strides to increase diversity in racing by offering opportunities to women and minorities, including over 125 drivers, over 100 pit crew members, and more than 20 interns and young professionals.

“We are excited to offer Sebastian the opportunity and infrastructure to support his racing efforts in these ARCA Menards Series events,“ said Rev Racing owner Max Siegel. “We have proven success in the Series and welcome opportunities that align with our mission and goals as a championship-winning race team. As we have kicked off the start of the 2023 AMS season, we continue to be positioned for competitive excellence and look forward to successful outcomes with Sebastian. ”

This will be Sebastian’s second time at Sonoma Raceway where last year he started 13th and quickly made his way through the field up to 5th when he had nowhere to go as two cars intentionally got into each other, with one spinning in front of Sebastian, which ended his day. Sebastian will be heading to Phoenix Raceway for the fourth time in his career and is excited to have a solid car and crew to compete up front. Sebastian is thankful for BradyIFS in providing this opportunity for him and would also like to thank Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Betco, Wiley X, BeyondEnergy, SPARCO, Next Level Racing and Thrustmaster for their continued support.

Sebastian is a first-generation race car driver from Bogota, Colombia. At twenty-four years old, he is the next Colombian driver coming up the ranks of NASCAR since Juan Pablo Montoya. Owned by NASCAR, the ARCA Menards Series is a proving ground and rung in the ladder to reach the pinnacle of their sport, the NASCAR Cup Series. Sebastian is working his way to the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series and knows his sponsors are more than a blessing in his journey.

Follow Sebastian at @sebastianariasracing and watch his progression as he climbs the ladder of NASCAR.

About BradyIFS

With headquarters in Bell, CA and Las Vegas NV, BradyIFS is one of the largest foodservice and JanSan platforms in North America. The company sources, manages and distributes a broad range of products, including paper, equipment, cleaning chemicals, foodservice disposables, and packaging and dry goods to over 30,000 customers. These customers operate in the restaurant, healthcare, building service, hospitality, education, wholesale, government and food processor end markets. Founded in 1947, Brady Industries is universally regarded as one of the JanSan industry’s premier enterprises. Operating since 1926, Individual Foodservice is one of the leading broad line distributors of foodservice, JanSan, packaging, dry goods and smallwares in the United States. For more information, please visit www.bradyindustries.com, and www.individualfoodservice.com.

About Rev Racing: Rev Racing seeks to obtain the highest quality applicants representing diverse backgrounds and develop them into successful NASCAR drivers. Started by Max Siegel in 2009, Rev Racing manages the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program. Rev Racing currently operates and manages drivers in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, and a youth racing initiative.

Rosberg X Racing retains Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson for Extreme E Season 3

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21 February 2023, London: Inaugural Extreme E winners and Season 2 runners-up Rosberg X Racing (RXR) have retained their driver line-up for the forthcoming campaign. Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson will be back behind the wheel for the team founded by 2016 Formula 1™ World Champion Nico Rosberg.

RXR were narrowly denied back-to-back championship honours in the Extreme E Season 2 finale, when victory at the Uruguay Natural Energy X Prix last November went the way of Sir Lewis Hamilton’s X44 Vida Carbon Racing.

Mechanical issues at the Antofagasta Minerals Copper X Prix meant the team failed to start in an Extreme E Final for the first time. This misfortune in the penultimate round, combined with falling short of a spot in the Final in Uruguay, saw Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Kristoffersson finish just two points behind Season 2 champions Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez.

Their pace in the RXR ODYSSEY 21 was never in doubt. Out of the five X Prix in the calendar, the Swedish duo finished as fastest qualifiers three times, and took the top step of the podium twice – at the season-opener in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, and the second round of the Sardinian double-header. What’s more, the pair scored the quickest combined time in the Continental Traction Challenge in three out of the five race weekends.

Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, RXR, said: “Joining RXR last year was a dream come true. I learnt so much from Johan and the team, so to come back for another season is fantastic. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel and give it everything I’ve got. It’s going to be an epic season!”

Nico Rosberg, Rosberg X Racing Founder and CEO, said: “I’m super happy that Mikaela and Johan have signed for another season. With the experience and track record of both drivers, we will be prepared for the battle and hopefully make for some exciting action on track. Last year, we sadly didn’t take home the championship trophy, but this year we plan on giving it our all!”

Johan Kristoffersson, RXR, said: “I am very happy to continue with RXR. I am confident that we can build on our experience and come back stronger than ever. Having Mikaela on my side for another season is an extra motivation. She’s a great person on and off the track and and she has really impressed me with her development and her will to work.”

Kristoffersson, who has now secured five wins for RXR across two seasons, is the most-decorated FIA World Rallycross Championship driver in history and secured his fifth World Rallycross crown in 2022. Since joining World Rallycross in 2014, Kristoffersson has amassed 35 wins and 50 podiums.

Alongside his Extreme E and World Rallycross championship wins, Kristoffersson has won titles in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship (STCC), Superstars International Series, and Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia. The Swede brings extensive experience and skill in multiple disciplines to his Extreme E efforts, as RXR bid for their second title this year.

Prior to joining RXR, Åhlin-Kottulinsky competed for JBXE, claiming third place in the first-ever Extreme E season. The Swede started her career with Rallycross, before moving to the circuit to become the first woman to win a race in the German Scirocco R-Cup in 2014.

Only four years later, she made history with a race win in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship as the first female driver to ever compete in the series. In 2021, she finished second in the STCC, having secured four wins during her time competing in the championship.

2022 marked a strong season for Åhlin-Kottulinsky in multiple disciplines, with first place finishes in the Rally Jameel and Sprint Challenge Scandinavia alongside third in Nitro Rallycross.

Åhlin-Kottulinsky also continues in her role as test driver for Extreme E’s Founding Partner Continental, helping to develop the CrossContact tyre for the series’ ODYSSEY 21 e-SUVs.

Kristoffersson and Åhlin-Kottulinsky’s success in the sport was acknowledged last year when both were awarded the Motor Prince Medal, alongside fellow Extreme E driver Timmy Hansen. Åhlin-Kottulinsky is the first ever female driver to receive this honour.

Kristoffersson and Åhlin-Kottulinsky will kick of their Extreme E Season 3 campaign in the NEOM season-opener on 11-12 March.

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

5 Tips to Pick the Right Moving Van for Your Move

By
SM
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Photo by Kadarius Seegars on Unsplash

When you want to move, you’ve got a few options laid out in front of you. You can either hire professionals to handle the move for you or do it by yourself. If you chose the latter, then you will definitely need a moving van or truck. In this article, we will provide you with 5 tips to pick the right moving van for your move, from certified NYC movers. 

  1. Ensure You’re Renting from a Certified Mover or Renting Business

One of the more important aspects of renting a van or truck is to ensure the vehicle is road-ready and won’t break down. In order to make sure of this, you should look to rent only from reputable companies. Check for reviews online, ask for opinions from friends, and try to understand that renting cheap isn’t always the better option. 

Always do an inspection of the vehicle before driving it. If the van you’re renting isn’t in good condition, it might break down on the way to your new apartment. That’s an added stressor you might not want to deal with when moving, since moving itself is stressful enough as it is. 

  1. General Checks

As mentioned in the previous tip, it’s always good to inspect the vehicle before driving it. Check the paint to see if it’s consistent and pay close attention in case there’s any rust on the body. If the radio doesn’t work, that might not be a dealbreaker, but without lights, you might as well be driving blind. Another important thing to remember is to check the tires and see if they’re in tip-top shape. You could always ask to test-drive the vehicle, to see if there are any problems with the pedals. 

  1. Read the fine print

Rental companies are infamous for having fine print written all over the renting contract. You should always pay close attention to what you sign, and this is no exception. Another thing you should be on the lookout for is how the car is insured, and whether or not that cost is passed onto you, the client. 

If the contract stipulates that you are to be responsible for any damage the car sustains during the renting agreement, make sure to check the vehicle for any previous damage it might have incurred so the rental company doesn’t pin it on you. Also, remember that if you’re doing a one-way move, in which the vehicle leaves from one station and must be dropped off at another, you might incur additional costs. 

  1. Familiarize Yourself with Driving a Large Vehicle

When you drive a van or a truck, you must always keep in mind that you are no longer driving a car. Cars are small and can fit on narrow roads, whereas, with trucks or vans, you must always be mindful of your surroundings. Try to drive on main roads as much as possible, take care of height restrictions (you don’t want to get stuck), and keep your distance from other cars. Respecting the speed limit and the local traffic laws is also a must. 

  1. The Size of the Truck/Van

Finally, before you decide to rent, you should take a bit of time and decide on the size of the vehicle. Ask yourself, what sort of stuff are you moving? Do you have a lot of big boxes? Are you moving furniture or delicate objects? These sorts of questions will help you find out the type of truck you need to rent. There are numerous options to choose from, but based on your need, you might only need a small van. On the other hand, if you’re moving large objects, a truck might be the way to go. 

If moving, renting, and driving a moving van is too much for you. Then you should consider a moving service such as All My Sons Moving. Professional moving services will understand the ins and outs of moving in the area and will handle your move to accommodate your busy schedule.

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Daytona

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for Speedwaymedia.com

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: Stenhouse overtook Joey Logano for the lead on an overtime restart, but a huge pileup behind necessitated another restart. Stenhouse again nailed the restart and won when Kyle Larson’s spin brought out the caution.

“This is a great day for JTG Daugherty Racing,” Stenhouse said. “Not only does it mean I’ve won the Daytona 500 and I’ve qualified for the playoffs, it also means everyone will again be treated to Brad Daugherty’s mountain hillbilly accent. Brad’s never met a syllable he didn’t like.”

2. Joey Logano: Defending Cup series champion Logano finished second in the Daytona 500.

“I feel like NASCAR’s overtime rules robbed me of a chance to go for the win,” Logano said. “It’s like NASCAR’s rule book ‘handcuffed’ me, much like Mexico’s rule book did the same to Kyle Busch.”

3. Christopher Bell: Bell came home third at Daytona, finishing the race as Joe Gibbs Racing’s top finisher.

“Let’s give it up for Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.,” Bell said. “He’s a real stand-up guy, and he’s been racing in the Cup series for 15 years, so he’s paid his dues. One thing he hasn’t paid is bail, to get out of a Mexican prison.”

4. Chris Buescher: Buescher survived a wild Daytona 500 and navigated a big final lap wreck to come home fourth.

“Driving for Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing has taught me a lot about how to be a successful driver,” Buescher said. “And Brad was especially kind enough to give me pointers on how to win at Daytona. Pointers I kindly ignored, because he’s 0-14 here.”

5. Alex Bowman: Bowman started on the pole at Daytona and won Stage 1 on his way to a fifth-place finish.

“This was the longest Daytona 500 in history,” Bowman said. “It went 211 laps, which is equivalent to 528 miles. That’s 28 extra miles than the advertised distance. And I think NASCAR needs to go the extra mile to fix or modify their jacked-up overtime rules.”

6. AJ Allmendinger: Allmendinger posted his best Daytona 500 finish ever with a sixth.

“I’m known as more of a road course expert,” Allmendinger said. “This result gives me confidence that I can post top 10 results on super speedways on a consistent basis, provided there’s a massive pileup which allows me to pass 15+ cars on the last lap.”

7. Kyle Busch: Busch took the lead on Lap 197 and was in position to make a move for the win late, but was caught in a wreck after the last restart and finished 19th.

“Sure I’m disappointed,” Busch said, “but I can’t dwell on missed opportunities. For me, it’s on to the next race in California. That’s the life of a NASCAR driver—always traveling from one destination to the next. You know what they say about Kyle Busch—‘always packing.'”

8. Ross Chastain: Chastain finished ninth at Daytona.

“Erik Jones was driving the No. 43 car sponsored by legendary rock band Guns ‘N Roses,” Chastain said. “If you placed roses inside Kyle Busch’s suitcase, you would also get ‘Guns N’ Roses.'”

9. Daniel Suarez: Suarez recovered from a late spin and finished seventh in the Daytona 500.

“First of all,” Suarez said, “as a Mexican citizen, I’d like to speak on the Kyle Busch gun incident. Kyle’s always been known as a ‘loose cannon.” His recent ordeal in Mexico pretty much confirms that.

“I just wonder what would happen to me if I was caught with a handgun and ammo here in America. I mean, besides being declared a national hero.”

10. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished 11th in the Daytona 500.

“This is my final season as a full-time driver,” Harvick said. “I’ve been doing this so long, I remember when the Daytona 500 started at noon. I believe it’s just a matter of time before it has an 8 p.m. start time.”

PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship Expands to Assist Five Female Racers In 2023

By
Official Release
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Scholarship Recipients to Compete in Formula 4 U.S. Championship, Trans Am and SVRA

CHARLOTTE (February 20, 2023) — Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) is excited to announce five female racers as recipients of this year’s PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship. Launched in 2021 as a way to create a more diverse field of drivers at the grassroots level, the program provides recipients with race entries for SpeedTour events. Previously focused on assisting drivers in Formula Regional Americas Championship Powered by Honda (FR Americas) and Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda (F4 U.S.), the program expands in 2023 to also assist drivers competing in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli and the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA). This year’s PMH Powering Diversity class includes two women racing in F4 U.S. with Hannah Greenemeier and Ava Dobson, two in Trans Am with Michele Abbate and Amy Ruman, as well as Kaylee Bryson, who will race in SVRA while she works her way toward Trans Am competition.

“We’re excited to welcome another class of the PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship—and to not only just continue the program, but to grow it and expand into other race series,” said Tony Parella, CEO of PMH. “We’ve seen drivers from previous classes like Ernie Francis Jr., Chloe Chambers and Raoul Hyman successfully use this opportunity as a springboard to help grow their careers and move to the next level. We hope that we’ll see the same level of success from this year’s class.”

Hannah Greenemeier made history when she became the first female driver in SKUSA history to win the X-30 ProTour Championship class in 2021, as well as the first female in SKUSA history to win an X30 ProTour race. At age 20, she already has more than 15 years of experience racing karts, competing in Rotax in Mini, Junior and Senior classes. She got her first taste of single-seater cars at the Lucas Oil Racing School, before being invited to the W Series test in 2022. When the lights go out at NOLA in March, Greenemeier will complete her transition from karts to cars as she kicks off a full-time season with Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport.

Fourteen-year-old Ava Dobson will need to wait a few more months until she can take to the track in F4 U.S., as she doesn’t turn the FIA-required 15 years old until June. After spending half her life behind the wheel of a go kart, Dobson will team with Jay Howard Driver Development to transition from karts to cars. With her F4 U.S. series debut scheduled for Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, the Brookfield, Wis., native will continue her development program, gaining valuable track time in the Ligier JS F4 car until joining the championship this summer.

Another driver diligently working toward the next step in her career is Kaylee Bryson. The Muskogee, Oka., native is scheduled to drive a TA2 car for Sam Pierce Racing in SVRA’s Group 10 as she works toward her Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA2 Series debut. Starting her racing career at age nine, the now 21-year-old has well over 500 races under her belt, taking the victory the 2015 Tulsa Shootout and winning the 2022 Chili Bowl Nationals’ B-Main to become the first woman to transfer to the prestigious A-Main. Spending most of her time competing in USAC and POWRi, she started the move from dirt to asphalt with some late model races, and will continue that transition in a TA2 car this season.

Michele Abbate started her racing career with regional SCCA Autocross when she was just 16 years old. The Las Vegas native quickly expanded her experience, earning her wheel-to-wheel license, and becoming a factory-backed road racing driver for Toyota/Scion. Earning five club racing championships in her career, Abbate transitioned into stock cars in 2018 and finished third in her debut in the GT-1 category at the SCCA National Runoffs. She is the only woman to have competed full-time in the Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA2 Series, and set the record for the highest-finishing female in TA2 history at Circuit of The Americas in 2021. Abbate will compete for Showtime Motorsports in the Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA2 Series in 2023.

Amy Ruman, a two-time Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli champion, will serve as a scholarship ambassador with this year’s class of female drivers. Ruman made history in 2015 when she became the first female to win a Trans Am title since the series’ inception in 1966. The following season, she set the bar even higher, becoming the first female to earn back-to-back Trans Am championships. Competing in the TA class since 2009, Ruman has tallied 16 victories in the series. In 2014, she became the first female solo driver to win a professional automobile race at Daytona International Speedway with her TA victory. In 2023, Ruman will once again pilot the No. 23 McNichols Co. Corvette for family-owned Ruman Racing, where she also serves as co-manager of the team.

Previous PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship recipients include Indy NXT driver Ernie Francis Jr., W Series driver and Formula Regional Oceania feature winner Chloe Chambers, Super Formula driver Raoul Hyman, as well as FR Americas and F4 U.S. alumni David Burketh, Maddie Aust and Emily Linscott.

Trans Am and SVRA will kick off their 2023 season this weekend, February 24-26, at Sebring International Raceway. Just two weeks later, the F4 U.S. season will open at NOLA Motorsports Park, March 10-12. Both events will be live streamed on SpeedTour TV’s YouTube channel.

About Parella Motorsports Holdings: Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) owns five major road racing series and hosts racing festivals across the United States under the SpeedTour brand name. With Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli, Formula Regional Americas Powered by Honda (FR Americas), Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda (F4 U.S.) and Prototype Sprint Series Association, PMH will exceed 5,500 entries during the 2023 season. Additionally, PMH also holds the long-term commercial rights to SCCA Pro Racing, which sanctions Trans Am, FR Americas, F4 U.S., Radical Cup, Formula Race Promotions and Formula 2000. Together, with all of its racing properties, PMH hosts motorsports festivals under the name SpeedTour. Including elements like racing, car shows and concerts, SpeedTour events often attract more than 25,000 spectators, and many of their events are live streamed on SpeedTour TV’s YouTube page. For more information about PMH’s SpeedTour events, visit SpeedTour.net.

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