Home Blog Page 1599

NASCAR, NBC Sports Announce 2023 Grassroots Racing Coverage on CNBC

All Races from the ARCA Menards Series East and West, and 15-of-19 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Races to Air Tape-Delayed on CNBC

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 17, 2023) – NASCAR and NBC Sports announced today broadcast coverage for the 2023 slate of grassroots races on CNBC, including events in the ARCA Menards Series East and West, and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.

CNBC will air tape-delayed coverage of every race from the ARCA Menards Series East and West – except those that are combined events.

CNBC will also broadcast tape-delayed coverage of 15-of-19 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races. The four races not on CNBC can be seen live, exclusively on FloRacing.

In total, CNBC will air tape-delayed coverage of 30 NASCAR grassroots races.

All televised coverage on CNBC will stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.

All races from the ARCA Menards Series East and West (when not combined with ARCA Menards Series events), and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will air live on FloRacing.

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour

The season kicked off with the New Smyrna Visitors Bureau 200 at New Smyrna Speedway on Feb. 11. CNBC begins its grassroots coverage with a tape-delayed broadcast of the event on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 10 a.m. ET.

ARCA Menards Series East

The 2022 campaign starts at Five Flags Speedway on Saturday, March 25 (8 p.m. ET on FloRacing). CNBC will provide tape-delayed coverage of the event on Sunday, April 2 at 9 a.m. ET.

ARCA Menards Series West

A 150-lap race at Irwindale Speedway marks the first CNBC event of the season for the ARCA Menards Series West. It will air live on FloRacing on Saturday, April 1 at 10 p.m. ET before CNBC provides tape-delayed coverage on Sunday, April 23 at 12 p.m. ET.

Complete event/air dates and times for all three series on CNBC are below. All times eastern and schedule subject to change.

2023 ARCA Menards Series East Schedule

DateLocationFloRacing CoverageCNBC CoverageTime
Sat. March 25Five Flags SpeedwayLive – 8:00 PMSun. April 29:00 AM
Fri. April 28Dover Motor SpeedwayLive – 5:30 PMSun. May 712:00 PM
Sat. May 13Nashville Fairgrounds SpeedwayLive – 9:30 PMSun. May 2112:30 PM
Sat. May 20Flat Rock SpeedwayLive – 7:30 PMSat. May 2711:00 AM

2023 ARCA Menards Series West Schedule

DateLocationFloRacing CoverageCNBC CoverageTime
Sat. April 1Irwindale SpeedwayLive – 10:00 PMSun. April 2312:00 PM
Sat. April 22Kern County Raceway ParkLive – 11:15 PMSun. April 3011:00 AM
Sat. June 2Portland International RacewayLive – 8:00 PMSun. June 1112:30 PM
Fri. June 9Sonoma RacewayLive – 6:30 PMSun. June 1811:30 AM
Sat. July 1Irwindale SpeedwayLive – 10:00 PMSun. July 912:30 PM
Sat. Jul 29Shasta SpeedwayLive – 11:30 PMSat. Aug. 122:00 PM
Sat. Aug. 19Evergreen SpeedwayLive – 9:30 PMSat. Sept. 29:00 AM
Sat. Sept. 30All-American SpeedwayLive – 10:45 PMSun. Oct. 810:30 AM
Sat. Oct. 13The Bullring at LVMSLive – 11:10 PMSat. Oct. 2810:00 AM
Sat. Oct. 21Madera SpeedwayLive – 11:00 PMSat. Oct. 2811:00 AM
Fri. Nov. 3Phoenix RacewayLive – 2:30 PMSat. Nov. 112:00 PM

2023 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Schedule

DateLocationFloRacing CoverageCNBC CoverageTime
Sat. Feb. 11New Smyrna SpeedwayLive – 7:30 PMSun. Feb. 1910:00 AM
Fri. March 31Richmond RacewayLive – 6:30 PMSat. April 83:00 PM
Sat. May 6Monadnock SpeedwayLive – 5:00 PMFri. May 129:00 AM
Sat. May 20Riverhead RacewayLive – 8:00 PMN/A
Sat. May 27Lee USA SpeedwayLive – 7:45 PMN/A
Sat. June 10Seekonk SpeedwayLive – 8:30 PMSat. June 1812:30 PM
Sat. June 24Riverhead RacewayLive – 8:00 PMN/A
Sat. July 8Wall StadiumLive – 8:00 PMSat. July 1511:00 AM
Sat. July 15New Hampshire Motor SpeedwayLive – 6:00 PMSat. July 2210:00 AM
Fri. July 29Claremont Motorsports ParkLive – 8:30 PMSat. Aug. 59:00 AM
Sat. Aug. 5Lancaster MotorplexLive – 8:00 PMSun. Aug. 209:00 AM
Wed. Aug. 16Thompson Speedway Motorsports ParkLive – 8:00 PMSat. Aug. 2612:00 PM
Sat. Aug. 26Langley SpeedwayLive – 8:00 PMSat. Sept. 162:00 PM
Sat. Sept. 2Oswego SpeedwayLive – 7:30 PMSun. Sept. 172:00 PM
Sat. Sept. 9Monadnock SpeedwayLive – 8:30 PMN/A
Sat. Sept. 16Riverhead RacewayLive – 8:00 PMSun. Oct. 18:30 AM
Sat. Sept. 30North Wilkesboro SpeedwayTBDSun. Oct 89:30 AM
Sun. Oct. 8Thompson Speedway Motorsports ParkTBDSat. Oct. 1410:00 AM
Thu. Oct. 26Martinsville SpeedwayLive – 8:00 PMSun. Nov. 511:00 AM

About NASCAR

Celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2023, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR consists of three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series™), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series™, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour™), one local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series™) and three international series (NASCAR Pinty’s Series™, NASCAR Mexico Series™, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series™). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

NBC SPORTS’ NASCAR COVERAGE

NBC Sports is the official home of the 2023 NASCAR Playoffs, covering the race for the NASCAR Cup Series & NASCAR Xfinity Series championships. NBC Sports’ NASCAR programming also includes races from NASCAR’s regional touring series; annual events such as the NASCAR Awards and NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony; and original programming across NBC Sports’ platforms and Peacock.

Toyota NCS Daytona Quotes — David Wilson 2.17.23

Toyota Racing – David Wilson
NASCAR Quotes

DAYTONA BEACH (February 17, 2023) – David Wilson, president, TRD was made available to media prior to the Daytona 500 on Friday:

DAVID WILSON, president, TRD (Toyota Racing Development)

What’s new for you heading into 2023 and what are you most excited about?

“2023, there’s a lot of excitement, anticipation that we all share at this time of the year – being back at the beach. For Toyota, 2023 represents our 20th anniversary of coming into the sport and into the Truck Series. We’re going to spend some time celebrating that and recognizing that as it’s been an incredible journey and continues to be. Of course, we’ve got a couple of new faces. Looking forward to our year with Tyler Reddick, Ty Gibbs of course and we’re going to have some fun this weekend with Travis (Pastrana) racing in the Daytona 500. Might have to help with his enthusiasm level (laughter), but we’re looking forward to a great season and here we go again.”

Where do the OEMs stand on electrification within your NASCAR program?

“Obviously social and market forces are driving all of us as car manufacturers to be respectful and to be sensitive to put carbon reduction at the front of our business. When you take it to the race track, I think every motorsport globally is faced with the same pressures, including NASCAR. The question is how and when and what. What I’ll say is all of us sitting up here have been working very closely with NASCAR on new technologies, on a focus towards reduction of carbon, but it continues to be a work in progress.”

Do you feel you’ve been kept in the loop on information around the Garage 56 program?

“I have to start by saying that I have to kind of be nice to both of these guys as I might be leaning on them for Formula 1 tickets later (laughter). All kidding aside, yes, we were outspoken about it. Here’s the good news is that NASCAR has been amazingly transparent with all of us on what’s been happening on the testing. We’ve attended testing, the data has been shared with us and the silver lining is that NASCAR is learning some things from that testing and will learn some things when they take that car to Le Mans that will benefit all of us. Will it benefit some just a little bit more? Of course, yeah.”

Would the OEMs be open to a team salary cap and how would you expect to be impacted?

“The issue of budget cap falls under the larger umbrella of cost containment of putting some business sustainability across this sport that our teams have struggled with. This isn’t something new, it’s something that other sports have engaged, stick and ball obviously, but also Formula 1 on the motorsports side. Generally speaking, we’re supportive of it in the interest that it could again put some measures of reasonableness on what’s spent. That’s not a bad thing. The challenge, like every other application of budget cap is going to be on how and how it’s implemented and measured and controlled. As we all sit up here today, we have direct engagements with our team partners and more of those are not check writing engagements, they are technology based. Technology is a form of currency so how you value those and measure them will be a challenge, but principally right now, this is a conversation between our racing teams and NASCAR.”

Did you figure out why Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick suffered from carbon monoxide exposure at the Clash?
“Yes, they both did suffer from some carbon monoxide exposure. The subsidization is it was a multi-faceted issue. One probably being the mufflers that we ran, and the other racing in a bowl and a lot of time at low speed contributing to that. I’m not aware if other drivers suffered to the same extent, but we don’t have any cause to believe that it is a Toyota-specific issue.”

Do you have enough data to feel comfortable about what happened to rear of the car?
“I would start by saying that the simulation that NASCAR has done, the crash testing that NASCAR has done, the engineering that NASCAR has done is all positive and sound. Like anything else, the real experience is going to be in what happens on the race track. We are going to see that – good, bad or otherwise – it is going to happen, and we are going to continue to collect data. We are satisfied that NASCAR continues with a mentality that there is no such thing as a perfectly safe race car, and it is something that all of us as an industry have to remain focused on and committed on continual improvement.”

If you had to go and find the next Christopher Bell, what would it take in today’s dollars to develop them?

“A gazillion. Is that fair? All kidding aside, Christopher (Bell) certainly, arguably, is the poster child. I’ve said before – everything that we’ve invested, our partners like JBL, ExxonMobil and Safelite, all that they have invested. All it takes is one Christopher Bell to make it all worthwhile. We’ve checked that box. The motivation was certainly to grow our own, but that was just a motivation. More broadly, as a stakeholder, as a company that gets so much value from competing, it has become more of a social responsibility and culture. It mirrors part of our culture – in having respect for people and giving these young athletes opportunities that they may not otherwise have had. There is nothing more that I enjoy more than walking down the grid any given Sunday afternoon and giving out hugs and high-fiving a third of the grid, a half of the grid – it seems like, because we have helped them in some matter – I don’t care who they drive for. Their success is our success to some extent. We will continue to be committed to that, and we are good. We will be okay.”

Are we going to continue to see more development in World of Outlaws?

“That has been a passion project for TRD. We have had that 410 engine on our to do list for a better part of a decade, ever since we turned a wheel in USAC, in the midgets, it became apparent that we needed to develop a Sprint Car engine. The World of Outlaws season started just the other day. We are getting closer to a broader coverage of our TRD 410 but want to make sure it is right and ready for a broader market as well. Stay tuned.”

What will the Toyota Racing program and TRD look like without Kyle Busch?

“We were so close to getting out of here. (laughter) I was the one touting everything that Kyle Busch and Toyota have done together in the past decade and a half. I guess I said last year that we will forever celebrate that record of success, because of the Kyle Busch rule being implemented, there will probably not be another driver ever that matches his level of success with one manufacturer. He is going to be missed. Life goes on. I sleep well at night because I know how that went down and how everybody acquitted themselves, so we are focusing forward. We have a terrific young man in Tyler Reddick. We are convinced that he is going to be great for our brand. He is a good person. We are going to – and are – having fun with him. On the Truck side, you mentioned TRICON and our friends along those lines. That is a very capable outfit – one of only three vertically integrated teams in the Truck garage that can not only go race, but can built their trucks. We were very intentional in bringing them in the fold. They have become an extension of our driver development program. It is a process. One of the things we are intentional about is being strategic and focusing forward and anticipating changes. It is not going to happen overnight, and certainly there are days that we will miss Kyle and there are days that we won’t.”

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.

Ford Performance OEM Press Conference / Mark Rushbrook

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
OEM Press Conference | Friday, February 17, 2023

Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports was part of a panel discussion this afternoon where a variety of issues were discussed with members of the media. Here is a transcript of Rushbrook’s answers.

MARK RUSHBROOK, Global Director, Ford Performance Motorsports – WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST IN 2023? “I think 2022 was obviously a revolutionary season with the new car and a lot of changes coming, so we see 2023 very much as evolutionary. It’s good to see some of the changes in the cars that are being made and all the teams continue and manufacturers continue to learn these cars, so it’s gonna be interesting as we saw strengths and weaknesses across the three OEM’s last year throughout different parts of the season. I’m sure that’s gonna continue as we go through 2023 as well, so definitely an evolution of the Next Gen car. Also an evolution for us is we had three rookies last year with Austin and Harrison and Todd and we’re excited about continuing to watch their individual development as drivers and also welcoming Ryan Preece into a full-time Cup ride with Stewart-Haas. We’re definitely excited about that, and then in the Truck Series welcoming ThorSport back and seeing Hailie Deegan with a new opportunity there. There’s a lot of excitement across all the different series.”

WHERE ARE WE IN THE EV PROCESS? “In the question you talk about hybridization or electrification and I think that is important for relevancy at some point when it’s right. It’s also about the carbon reduction as David said. We see in a lot of other series and certainly to be discussed here, and part of the decision for the sport, while keeping a combustion engine going to a low carbon fuel or a responsible fuel. You see that in a lot of other series. There’s certainly an opportunity to do it here as well as the overall carbon footprint of the sport, not just what we’re doing on track. I think those are areas we continue to work together as OEM partners and with NASCAR on that, and then electrification, as I said to start out, it’s just when the time is right and when the technology is right. We’ve got a great formula here with Cup and Xfinity and Truck and three good national series, but there’s an opportunity to look and do more and try to introduce that technology in a way that makes sense.”

LATER TODAY THE GARAGE 56 ENTRY IS GOING TO BE REVEALED BY CHEVROLET AND NASCAR. TOYOTA AND FORD WERE OUTSPOKEN ABOUT THAT ISSUE LAST YEAR. HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW? “We both definitely were outspoken and a lot of that though was because we didn’t know all the details of exactly what was going to happen with the plan. What’s good about this sport is we do work together as partners, NASCAR does listen, and from that discussion I think there’s a good plan so we are able as manufacturers to attend the tests as David said. We are able to see all the data. I think with what the car is we’re comfortable with what can be learned from it and there are some good things that are being learned that can be shared with everybody and to help the sport, but it’s also really good for the sport to have that car competing at Le Mans. I think it makes a good statement. I know it’s a Chevy, but it’s still a good statement for the sport and at the end of the day it’s good for all of us.”

TEAMS SAY THEY ARE OPEN TO A SALARY CAP OR BUDGET CEILING. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? “Certainly, for the sport to be sustainable the business model for the teams and the manufacturers, and all the stakeholders in the sport, needs to be sustainable. So, how a cost cap would be implemented is obviously going to be very important. How it’s tracked. How it’s enforced, but I think even before we get to that there’s still a lot more that we can do with the rules in the sport to take out cost and spend for both the teams and the OEMs.”

WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE WAYS TO HELP TEAMS AND MANUFACTURERS? “Well, there are things that have already been done, such as the wind tunnel hour restrictions. That could still go lower. The number of CFD runs drives a lot of costs in engineers and CPU time. We’ve made improvements at different points in time with some of the engine rules and seals. I think there is further opportunity there, so it’s really just looking across everything that we do and where we are as an industry – OEMs, teams, other stakeholders – where is the money being spent and where is it really adding value to the sport to the fans.”

IS THERE A WAY TO ACHIEVE HIGHER HORSEPOWER WITH A LONGER LIFESPAN FOR THE ENGINES? “In terms of controlling costs, the biggest thing that we can do is keep the horsepower and the rules steady and constant and not be moving them up or down in different years. That’s one thing we can do because development is one of the areas where we spend a lot of money. There are also in most other series there’s a homologation of the engine that it’s not as much open development that’s allowed week to week throughout the year and by reducing the number of specifications through a season it reduces your development and some of your spend for the engineering as well as the durability testing.”

DOES THE INVOLVEMENT IN F1 IMPACT ANYTHING WITH YOUR CUP TEAMS AND RELATIONSHIPS THERE OR WHAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM IN THE FUTURE? “The way that we’re approaching it is Formula 1, for us, is an overlay to our existing programs. It is not substitutional or displacing any of our current plans.”

NASCAR Unveils Garage 56 Car and Livery to Compete at 24 Hours of Le Mans

The NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has been adapted for endurance racing

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 17, 2023) – NASCAR officially unveiled the Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and livery it plans to race as the Garage 56 entry in the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Garage 56 project, which is anticipated to be approved for entry by l’Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) in the coming weeks, is a partnership between NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet and Goodyear – the winningest team, manufacturer and tire in the sport’s 75-year history.

The systems and components of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 are largely unchanged from the Next Gen race car that competes weekly in the NASCAR Cup Series. Among the changes made to prepare the car for an endurance race are functioning headlights and taillights, a larger fuel cell, carbon brake discs and specially designed Goodyear Eagle race tires.

“From the beginning of this project, it was important to us that the car we bring to Le Mans is a true NASCAR stock car,” said Jim France, NASCAR Chairman and CEO. “While there have been some adjustments to allow the car to compete in a 24-hour endurance race, fans in Le Mans will be treated to the full NASCAR experience.”

On-track testing for the project began last August at Road Atlanta with two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller, who will be joined by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and 2009 F1 world champion Jenson Button behind the wheel at the upcoming 100th anniversary of the world-famous endurance race. Altogether the test car and its previous iteration have logged more than 3,600 miles at six separate tests (Road Atlanta, Virginia International Raceway, Goodyear Proving Grounds, Carolina Motorsports Park, Sebring International Raceway and Daytona International Speedway).

NASCAR Next Gen Garage 56 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Specs:

Length:                                     195.4” / 4,961 mm
Width:                                       78.6” / 1,996.4 mm
Height:                                      50.4” / 1,280 mm
Wheelbase:                               110” / 2,794 mm
Weight:                                     2,960 lbs / 1,342 kg
Spoiler:                                     6” / 152.4 mm
Body:                                        2023 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 composite symmetric body featuring integral flap systems, camera mounts and dive planes

Underwing:                               Full carbon undertray w/Le Mans spec splitter, engine panel and rear diffuser
Chassis:                                   Steel tubing w/bolt-on front and rear clips and front/rear bumpers
Transaxle:                                 5-speed paddle shift sequential with ramp and plate differential
Suspension (Front and rear):     Double wishbone billet aluminum control arms w/adjustable coil over shock absorbers
Steering:                                   Rack and pinion
Wheels:                                    Dry Fronts – BBS-G56 forged aluminum 18” x 12.5” / 462 mm x 317.5 mm

                                                Dry Rears – BBS-G56 forged aluminum 18” x 13.5” / 462 mm x 342.9 mm

                                                Wets – BBS forged aluminum 18” x 12” / 462 mm x 304.8 mm
Tires:                                        Dry Fronts – Goodyear Racing Eagles – 365/35R18 (day / night)

                                                Dry Rears – Goodyear Racing Eagles – 380/35R18 (day / night)

                                                Wets – Goodyear Racing Eagles – 365/35R18 (inter / full)

                                                ** Cured in-tire, passive TPMS system, Powered by Goodyear Sightline

Brakes:                                     Six piston monobloc front calipers / four piston monobloc rear calipers – heavy duty carbon disc packages

Front Brake Rotors:                   15” x 1.57” / 381 mm x 40 mm carbon disc w/titanium bell
Rear Brake Rotors:                   14” x 1.26” / 355.6 mm x 32 mm carbon disc w/titanium bell
Engine:                                     NASCAR Cup Series Chevrolet R07 cast iron small block V8
Engine displacement:                358 cu in / 5.8 L
Induction system:                      Naturally aspirated
Fuel system:                             Fuel injection
Oil system:                               Dry sump
Engine cooling:                         Air exits radiator through hood louvers
Exhaust:                                   Split-side exit exhaust
Fuel cell:                                   32 gallons / 127 L (Total Excellium Racing 100)

About NASCAR

Celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2023, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Pinty’s Series (Canada), NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 12 countries and more than 30 U.S. states. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

About the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA)

International Motor Sports Association, LLC (IMSA) was originally founded in 1969 and owns a long and rich history in sports car racing. Today, IMSA is the sanctioning body of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the premier sports car racing series in North America. IMSA also sanctions the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and the IMSA Prototype Challenge, as well as four one-make series: Ferrari Challenge North America, Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires, Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America and Porsche Carrera Cup North America. IMSA – a company within the NASCAR family – is the exclusive strategic partner in North America with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) which operates the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The partnership enables selected IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. For more information please visit IMSA.com, www.twitter.com/IMSA, www.facebook.com/IMSA or www.instagram.com/imsa_racing.

About Hendrick Motorsports

Founded by Rick Hendrick in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports is the winningest team in NASCAR Cup Series history. At the sport’s premier level, the organization holds the all-time records in every major statistical category, including championships (14), points-paying race victories (291) and laps led (more than 77,000). It has earned at least one race win in a record 38 different seasons, including an active streak of 37 in a row (1986-2022). The team fields four full-time Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entries in the NASCAR Cup Series with drivers Alex Bowman, William Byron, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson. Headquartered on more than 100 acres in Concord, North Carolina, Hendrick Motorsports employs approximately 600 people. For more information, please visit HendrickMotorsports.com or interact on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 80 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 74,000 people and manufactures its products in 57 facilities in 23 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

Frankie Muniz’s ARCA Debut Finally on Deck at Daytona International Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: After months of preparation and a successful preseason test in the books, global television, film star and professional motorsports athlete Frankie Muniz’s highly anticipated ARCA Menards Series debut is finally on deck this weekend in Saturday afternoon’s BRANDT 200 Supporting Florida FFA.

With support from HairClub and the devoted attention of his Rette Jones Racing team led by championship crew chief Mark Rette, Muniz is hoping for a successful weekend bookended with a strong finish that will propel him forward in his ARCA championship chase.

“I am really excited that Daytona is now here,” said Muniz. “There has been a lot of time, effort and focus put into this week’s activities and I’ll be glad to get behind the wheel of my No. 30 HairClub | Rette Jones Racing Ford Mustang on Saturday afternoon and see what we can accomplish.”

Daytona is one of 20 events on the 2023 ARCA Menards Series schedule and while every event offers its peaks and valleys, especially for a rookie driver, the former Malcolm in the Middle television actor knows how much Daytona means not only for himself but his all those who continue to support his racing endeavors.

“Ever since childhood, it’s been my dream to pursue racing in NASCAR, and it was important for me to partner with a team that aligned with my long-term objectives and vision while providing every opportunity imaginable to grow mentally and physically as a full-time race car driver.

“I look forward to not only demonstrating my ability on the track and just how serious how I am in progressing in my racing career, but also showing my son and family what it is to chase your dreams and re-invent yourself.”

For Rette, he is ready to attack the season at full speed beginning at Daytona – especially with the dedication of his rookie driver.

“We are ready to get the season underway,” offered Rette. “I believe that Frankie is ready for this challenge. “Over the years, we’ve prided ourselves on working with new drivers who have quickly adapted to the diversity of the ARCA Menards Series and, without a doubt, we believe Frankie can do the same.”

“It is not going to be easy, and there will be a learning curve – but with his passion, focus and commitment along with the capabilities of our team, we believe we are going to put him in a position to contend for multiple wins in 2023. He did a great job at the test. He was incredibly attentive, learned a lot and I think has gained some confidence heading into one of the biggest weekend’s of his life.

“Furthermore, we’re excited that, because of Frankie’s profile, new audiences and fans will be introduced to the sport and Rette Jones Racing.”

Jones, a former competitor in the ARCA Menards Series shares the same enthusiasm as Rette about Muniz’s outlook for 2023.

“2023 is set up to be one of the most memorable seasons for Rette Jones Racing since our inception in 2016,” he said. “Without a doubt, we believe in Frankie’s ability and commitment and with Mark’s leadership we believe that he will quickly adapt on track and contend for a championship in his rookie season.”

On Thursday afternoon, Muniz whipped his No. 30 HairClub Ford Mustang to the fastest lap during final practice for the ARCA Menards Series setting off a positive tone for the driver’s inaugural ARCA weekend.

“I am incredibly blessed,” offered Muniz. “My No. 30 HairClub and Rette Jones Racing team have worked incredibly hard to bring me a fast race car and to set the fastest lap in practice is truly awesome.

“Hopefully, our strong practice session will lead to a good qualifying session Friday afternoon and then the race on Saturday.”

For the 2023 ARCA season, Rette Jones Racing will continue its longtime partnership with Ford Performance but has upgraded its fleet to include the Ford Mustang beginning this weekend at Daytona.

For more information, or to request an interview with Muniz, contact Athelo Group at adelara@athelogroup.com.

For more on Frankie Muniz please visit munizracing.com, like him on Facebook (FrankieMuniz4) and follow him on Instagram (@frankiemuniz4) and Twitter (@frankiemuniz).

For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing) or follow them on Instagram (@RetteJones30) and Twitter (@RetteJones30).

The BRANDT 200 Supporting Florida FFA (80 laps | 200 miles) is the first of 20 races on the 2023 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Group qualifying is set for Fri., Feb. 17 at 1:30 p.m. The season-opener for the 71st consecutive ARCA season is set the following afternoon on Feb. 18 to take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio (XM channel 391 | online channel 981) handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.

About Rette Jones Racing:

Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the intent of building a successful racing operation built around the fundamentals of hard work and a never-give-up attitude.

Owned by racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, RJR plans to field a full-time entry in 2023 in the ARCA Menards Series, while also planning to field vehicles in the ARCA Menards Series East respectively.

The winning ARCA team also offers technical and setup intel as part of its technical alliance partnership program.

Christian Rose ARCA Menards Series Daytona BRANDT 200 Race Preview

AM Racing | ARCA Menards Series
Daytona International Speedway | BRANDT 200 Supporting Florida FFA

Fast Facts
No. 32 AM Racing Team:
Driver: Christian Rose
Primary Partner(s): West Virginia Tourism | Secure Testing Services
Manufacturer: Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Ryan “Pickle” London
Spotter: Tony Raines
Chassis Intel: AMR Chassis No. A613
Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies
Final Practice Result: 13th

Notes of Interest:

Welcome Aboard: AM Racing will return to the ARCA Menards Series full-time in 2023 with Automobile Racing of America (ARCA) Rookie of the Year candidate Christian Rose behind the wheel of the team’s No. 32 Ford Mustang.

The 2023 ARCA Menards Series will mark the first time that AM Racing has competed full-time in the NASCAR-owned development series since Gus Dean drove for the organization during the 2018 season.

Meet Christian Rose: Rose, a former Division 1 baseball player for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore has traded the glove and bat in for a steering wheel and helmet and has set achievable goals for his first full season of stock car competition aboard the team’s flagship No. 32 Ford Mustang.

Rose joins the Statesville, N.C.-based team on the heels of a limited ARCA schedule in 2022 competing in a series of races on ARCA’s platform with Cook Racing Technologies which was highlighted by a career-best seventh-place finish at Kansas Speedway last October.

Additionally, Rose earned two additional top-10 finishes at Five Flags (Fla.) Speedway and Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway respectively.

Glad To Have You: To help steer Christian Rose and the AM Racing team towards a championship in 2023, the organization has recruited Ryan “Pickle” London to serve as crew chief of the No. 32 Ford Mustang this season.

London, a long-time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series crew chief returns to AM Racing after spending the 2020 season with the team’s Truck Series program as the truck chief.

London has plenty of experience as a leader in the ARCA Menards Series, including guiding drivers Tom Hessert and Frank Kimmel to poles and leading Grant Enfinger to victories at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway and DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds in 2014.

In addition to the two wins as crew chief, the winning NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series crew chief has numerous ARCA top-fives and top-10 efforts to his credit.

Partner Support: The Department of West Virginia Tourism will serve as the primary marketing partner on Rose’s No. 32 Ford Mustang in Saturday afternoon’s BRANDT 200 Supporting Florida FFA.

The West Virginia Department of Tourism promotes West Virginia as a leading four-season travel destination and top state to live, work and retire.

Known as the Mountain State, West Virginia is one of the most scenic states in the United States and home to thousands of acres of parks and public lands, including America’s newest national park and 45 state parks and forests.

In addition to its majestic mountains and rolling hills, West Virginia is full of rich historic sites, enchanting art galleries, charming towns and an immense sense of belonging found only in its heaven-like landscapes.

Secured Partnership: In addition to the Department of West Virginia Tourism, Secure Testing Services (STS) will serve as a major associate marketing partner for the first of 20 races on the 2023 ARCA Menards Series tour.

Secure Testing Services LLC. is a nationwide leader in on-site drug testing located in Richmond, Virginia.

Quite simply, STS provides customized assistance to your organization’s Human Resources and Safety teams in achieving their compliance goals.

Thanks For Your Support: With the start of the 2023 on deck, AM Racing and Christian Rose would like to thank their associate marketing partners for their support: AIRBOX Air Purifier, Big Draft Brewing, Black Draft Farm & Distillery, Disability Opportunity Fund, Extreme Family Fitness, Flying Circle, Lopez Team, Mountaineer Rub, Mobil 1 and Whitetail Smokeless.

Testing, Testing 1.2.3.: In January, Rose and AM Racing had the opportunity to work together during the annual ARCA Menards Series preseason test at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

The two spent an entire day focusing on comfort and maneuverability along with speed.

The team was pleased with the results of their single-day test and opted out of partaking in the second day of ARCA Menards Series testing at the “World Center of Racing.”

Christian Rose ARCA Daytona International Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s BRANDT 200 will mark Rose’s second start at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.

In his previous effort, the Martinsburg, WV native finished 31st after suffering a late-race mechanical issue.

Christian Rose ARCA National Series Stats: In eight career ARCA National Series starts, Rose has earned one top-10 finish (seventh at Kansas Speedway | October 2022), while also showcasing four top-20 finishes overall.

Follow on Social Media: For more on AM Racing, please visit AMRacingteam.com, like their Facebook page (AM Racing) or follow them on Instagram and Twitter @AMRacingNASCAR.

For more on Christian Rose, please like him on Facebook (Christian Rose Racing) or follow him on Instagram (@christianroseracing) and Twitter (@CRoseRacing).

Christian Rose Quoteboard:

On Daytona International Speedway: “I am looking forward to a strong weekend with my AM Racing team. Our No. 32 West Virginia Tourism | Secure Testing Services Ford Mustang was fast during the test and I expect it to be even faster throughout the weekend.

“We have a planned strategy for the weekend and while we hope for it to maintain course, we will adjust accordingly if we need too. We know it’s important to come out of Daytona ahead then behind, so we just want to earn ourselves a strong finish and tackle the rest of the season.”

On 2023 Season Outlook: “There’s a lot of hype and the AM Racing team has been extremely focused to make sure we put ourselves in a position to not only be competitive but also challenge for race wins and hopefully the championship too.

“I want to win a race this season. That’s a huge goal for me and I know with the great support of our partners, my team and myself – we are going to accomplish that goal.”

Race Information:

The BRANDT 200 Supporting Florida FFA (80 laps | 200 miles) is the first of 20 races on the 2023 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Group qualifying is set for Fri., Feb. 17 at 1:30 p.m. The season-opener for the 71st consecutive ARCA season is set the following afternoon on Feb. 18 to take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio (XM channel 391 | online channel 981) handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.

ABOUT AM RACING:

AM Racing is a multi-tiered, multi-faceted Motorsports program headquartered in Statesville, N.C.

Established in December 2015, AM Racing is prided on faith, honesty and intelligent performance.

The family-owned team will compete in the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series in its seventh year of competition.

The team has named Brett Moffitt and Christian Rose as their primary drivers for the 2023 Xfinity and ARCA Menards Series seasons.

Daniel Dye to Receive 2022 ARCA Menards Series Bounty Rookie Challenge Award at Daytona

The 2022 ARCA Menards Series Bounty Rookie Challenge winner Daniel Dye will receive his award on Friday, February 17 in the lead-up to that evening’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Dye will be joined by NASCAR Cup Series driver Chris Buescher, who won the ARCA rookie of the year award in 2011, the year before he earned the series championship.

Dye joins a distinguished list of former rookies of the year, dating back to Bill Granger in 1957. Since then, sixty-four others have earned the top rookie award including notables Charlie Glotzbach, former NASCAR Cup Series champion and Daytona 500 winner Benny Parsons, three-time series champion Dave Dayton, former series champions Lee Raymond and Bill Venturini, NASCAR Hall of Famer Davey Allison, ten-time series champion and all-time leading series winner Frank Kimmel, 2021 Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell, NASCAR Cup Series stars Buescher and Alex Bowman, current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series contender Hailey Deegan, and reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Ty Gibbs.

“First off, earning a Rookie of the Year honor in any level of sports is impressive, and to do it in this series where there’s so much young talent coming up through the ranks is a great accomplishment,” Buescher said. “If I think back to my time in the ARCA series, it was a fight to earn this trophy and ultimately the series title a year later. The things I learned very early on in my career have been invaluable in where I am today, and my congratulations goes out to Daniel on his success; I’m excited to see where the ARCA Series is headed in 2023.”

“The list of drivers who have been the rookie of the year in the ARCA Menards Series includes some of the most recognizable names in American stock car history,” said ARCA president Ron Drager. “We are proud of our long, rich history and the accomplishments of those who have made the ARCA Menards Series their racing home, and the drivers who have gone on to success in the NASCAR national touring series.

“Daniel Dye joins that exclusive club of drivers who have won the ARCA Menards Series Bounty Rookie of Year, and he did so in a season that saw him challenge for race wins and the overall series championship. His GMS Racing team, led by veteran crew chief Chad Bryant – who has guided Parker Kligerman, Dakoda Armstrong, Kyle Weatherman, and Dalton Sargeant to rookie of the year honors as well – was solid all year. We look forward to watching Daniel’s career flourish and grow in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and beyond in the coming years.”

The battle for the 2023 ARCA Menards Series Bounty Rookie Challenge kicks off on Saturday, February 18 in the 60th Annual Daytona ARCA 200 at Daytona International Speedway. The race will be televised live on FS1 starting at 1:30 pm ET, and it will be broadcast on select affiliates of the MRN Radio network. For latest series news and information, including live timing & scoring, please visit ARCARacing.com. For up-to-the-minute news and updates, please follow @ARCA_Racing on Twitter.

Burton Finishes Ninth in Daytona Duel Qualifying Race

#22: Joey Logano, Team Penske, Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang, #21: Harrison Burton, Wood Brothers Racing, Motorcraft/DEX Imaging Ford Mustang

Harrison Burton and the No. 21 Motorcraft/DEX Imaging Mustang rode a Ford train to a ninth-place finish in the first of two Bluegreen Vacation Duel qualifying races at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday’s night.

Burton’s finish earned him the 19th-place starting spot for Sunday’s 65th-annual Daytona 500.

Burton, in the Motorcraft/DEX Imaging Mustang, lined up fifth for the start of the 60-lap, 150-mile Duel after posting the ninth-best time in pole qualifying on Wednesday night.

He dropped back a bit in the opening laps but was back among the top five by Lap 13 and ran in the top five until the Ford drivers headed to pit road at the race’s midpoint.

Burton settled in sixth place after returning to the track as the Ford pack played their strategy just right and held the lead through the pit stop cycle.

Burton ran in sixth place until the final two laps, where he dropped three positions to ninth but emerged with a Mustang with no damage heading into the two practice sessions and then the Daytona 500.

The caution-free race was won by Ford’s Joey Logano while Burton was one of seven Mustang drivers in the top nine at the finish.

“We were playing the conservative game all day,” Burton told reporters after the race. “We wanted to keep our 21 Motorcraft/DEX Imagining Ford Mustang in one piece.

“That was the biggest thing, really. The risk versus the reward for this race isn’t there unless you’re going to win it…. I tried to be smart and tried not to flip on the backstretch this year.

“I’m trying to learn from mistakes, but it was a decent day.”

Burton said the true indicator of the speed and handling of his Motorcraft/DEX Imaging Mustang won’t show until the upcoming practice sessions, when the No. 21 team will tune their car for the Daytona 500.

“We had a pretty ill-handling car just from qualifying,” he said. “We tried to go for a fast qualifying lap and did that, but that kind of hurts you in this race.”

No adjustments were allowed between qualifying and the Duels.

“We’ll get the car driving better,” Burton said. “I’ll be more aggressive on Sunday and hopefully be up front at the end of that thing.”

The first Cup practice session is scheduled to start at 5:35 p.m. on Friday, with the second and final practice getting the green flag at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The 65th-annual Daytona 500 is scheduled to start just after 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, with Stage breaks at Laps 65 and 130.

FOX Sports 1 will carry the TV coverage of the practice sessions, with FOX broadcasting the Daytona 500.

About DEX Imaging
DEX Imaging is the digital document imaging division of Staples, the world’s largest business solutions provider. DEX sells and services the broadest selection of copiers, printers and data management solutions, such as HP, Konica Minolta, Canon, Kyocera and numerous others.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES:
Reducing Operating Costs
Reducing Paper Consumption
Increasing Productivity

DEX Imaging has been the recipient of virtually every industry award since the company’s inception, including the JD Power & Associates Award for Best Customer Experience, the prestigious ProTech Service award by Konica Minolta, the Diamond Premier Dealer Award by Kyocera, and the Elite DEALER Award by ‘ENX’ magazine. Other accolades include being named ‘Best Place to Work’ by numerous business journals in the markets DEX serves.

About Motorcraft®
Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers, independent distributors and automotive-parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty* of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Omnicraft®
Omnicraft is part of the Ford lineup of parts brands: Ford Parts, Motorcraft and Omnicraft. Omnicraft is the exclusive non-Ford/Lincoln parts brand of premium aftermarket parts. With over a century of parts heritage to build upon, Omnicraft provides excellent quality and fit and is a preferred choice of professional automotive technicians. To find out more about Omnicraft, visit www.omnicraftautoparts.com or contact your local Ford or Lincoln Dealership.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Center
Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine maintenance, serving all vehicle makes and models. Quick Lane provides a full menu of automotive services, including tires, oil change and maintenance, brakes, batteries, alternator and electrical system, air conditioning system, cooling system, transmission service, suspension and steering, wheel alignment, belts and hoses, lamps and bulbs and wiper blades plus a thorough vehicle checkup report. Service is performed by expert technicians while you wait at any of nearly 800 locations in the U.S., with evening and weekend hours available and no appointment necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, as well as connected services. Additionally, Ford is establishing leadership positions in mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 176,000 people worldwide. More information about the company, its products and Ford Credit is available at corporate.ford.com.
*See seller for limited-warranty details.

Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the WoodBrothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.

Mitsubishi Motors Begins Production of Minicab-MiEV, a Kei-Car Class Commercial EV, in Indonesia in 2024, the First Local Production of the Vehicle Outside Japan

Minicab-MiEV (Indonesia International Motor Show 2023)

TOKYO, Feb 17, 2023 – (JCN Newswire) – Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announced today that in 2024, it will begin production of the Minicab-MiEV, a onebox kei-car* class commercial electric vehicle (EV), at PT Mitsubishi Motors Krama Yudha Indonesia (hereafter, MMKI), MMC’s factory in Indonesia.

The Minicab-MiEV, which will be produced overseas for the first time, is equipped with an EV system proven in the world’s first mass-produced EV, the i-MiEV. The system includes a drive battery and a compact, lightweight, highly-efficient motor. In addition, by placing the drive battery under the center of the floor, the EV components are installed without sacrificing capacity, thus ensuring a large cargo space. Furthermore, this battery placement gives the vehicle a lower center of gravity, resulting in steering stability and ride comfort.

“Automakers are now being required to respond to the rapid, global movement toward a decarbonized society,” said Takao Kato, president and chief executive officer, Mitsubishi Motors. “We believe that Kei-car class commercial EVs are the optimal solution to the ‘last one mile problem’ in logistics. In order to meet the growing demand for EVs in the ASEAN region, we have made the decision to produce this vehicle locally outside of Japan for the first time. As well as continuing to support the development of Indonesia’s automotive industry, we hope to contribute to the country’s environmental initiatives.”

In December 2011, Mitsubishi Motors domestically launched the Minicab-MiEV, the only Kei-car class commercial EV produced by a Japanese automaker, mainly for use in the delivery industry. Although the company once decided to end its production, sales resumed in November 2022 in response to growing demand for such commercial EVs, particularly from logistics companies and local governments that are engaged in sustainable business activities. Such activities are rapidly increasing also in various fields aimed at achieving a carbon-neutral society.

*Kei-car is a vehicle category in Japan for microcars.

About Mitsubishi Motors

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (TSE:7211) –a member of the Alliance with Renault and Nissan–, is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has about 30,000 employees and a global footprint with production facilities in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, mainland China, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Russia. Mitsubishi Motors has a competitive edge in SUVs, pickup trucks and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and appeals to ambitious drivers willing to challenge convention and embrace innovation. Since the production of our first vehicle more than a century ago, Mitsubishi Motors has been a leader in electrification – launched the i-MiEV -the world’s first mass-produced electric vehicle in 2009, followed by the Outlander PHEV – the world’s first plug-in hybrid electric SUV in 2013. The company announced a three-year business plan in July 2020 to introduce more competitive and cutting-edge models, including the Eclipse Cross (PHEV model), the all-new Outlander and the all-new Triton/L200.

For more information on Mitsubishi Motors, please visit the company’s website at www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/.

Waiting for Ages For Your Driving Test? Get An Earlier Date Now

Photo by Alex Chernenko on Unsplash

Right now, people of all ages are waiting to take their driving test in the UK that will let them get their full driving licences. Unfortunately, waiting lists are so long that many people end up having to cancel as plans interfere with their test dates. Others just sit patiently waiting for the day to roll around.

During the 2019 – 2020 period, there were 1.6 million practical driving tests completed in the UK. Less than 50% of these resulted in a pass. This is more than just disappointing to the learner driver, it also represents a new long wait to sit the re-test.

And the problem with long waits to take driving tests is determining what to do in the meantime. Do you carry on with expensive lessons, or just wait and hope you don’t get too rusty? Or, do you simply rely on practicing with a family member’s supervision?

Or, is there a way to get your driving test date moved forward?

What is the waiting time for a UK driving test now?

Currently waiting times for most of the country are around 6 months, this was true as of February 2023. Now, when you consider that the average cost of a driving lesson is between £25 and £35, it could be off-putting for someone to continue with lessons for 6 months.

The alternative is to apply for a driving test fairly soon after starting your driving lessons. In the past, it wouldn’t be unusual to have 20 driving lessons or less to pass the test, but things have changed in the last few decades. Theory and practical driving tests are harder to complete, and on average a learner will need 40 to 45 hours of driving lessons, plus more time behind the wheel as practice.

If you find yourself waiting for months then you could find yourself hoping for driving test cancellations, as people get impatient or find other events force them to call off their test date.

Why are driving lessons backlogged?

In a word; Covid. The pandemic meant that driving tests weren’t able to go ahead as they usually did. This led to a huge backlog. During the pandemic, hundreds of thousands of driving tests got canceled due to lockdowns and social restriction rules.

During 2020, and 2021, almost 500,000 driving tests were canceled, and this led to the current waiting times of up to 24 weeks. This has led to other concerns for learner drivers too, including inflated pricing.

Driving instructors can bulk book driving tests, and this has led to some taking advantage of the delays to push the prices up. And potential students are struggling to find driving instructors as the demand is so high now.

Can you get an earlier driving test date?

A driving licence is a necessity in many cases. Especially for those whose career depends on it, or those who live in more remote areas. People who care for elderly parents or have children will find life easier with a vehicle, but the backlog and shortage of driving instructors are making it hard for people to get a licence.

There are plenty of reasons to get a driving licence, such as getting a better job, switching a foreign licence to a UK one, and being able to drive when on holiday overseas. Therefore, the long wait can be frustrating for many learners.

Fortunately, this is possible and could be the difference between you spending a fortune on refresher lessons or being able to get your licence earlier.

How can you get your date moved up?

Due to the backlog of driving tests, a market has sprung up to help learners get early dates and hopefully pass. The simplest way is through automated apps and booking services.

This method involves an app that you download to your mobile device. Once you have registered the app will start searching for earlier driving test dates. You can then choose to select a date that appears or reject it.

Another option is to input your preferred test dates and times and select automatic booking. If a cancellation occurs on those dates, one slot will be booked for you automatically.

The catch is that there will be a fee for booking a canceled driving test, but compared to the price gouging that some instructors are involved in, this may seem like small peanuts.

Summary

You should be confident on the roads before you tackle your driving test, and there are many tips to become a better driver. No one should take on a driving test until they are actually ready for it, especially with the high failure rate.

However, you also don’t want to be waiting months on end until your test date comes around. So, if you cannot wait that long, you can benefit from other learners’ cancellations through certain mobile apps.