Home Blog Page 1605

Toyota Racing NCS Post-Race Duel Two Recap — Daytona 2.16.23

By
Official Release
-

TRUEX AND HAMLIN SCORE TOP-10 FINISHES IN SECOND DUEL
Pastrana Sustains Minor Damage But Will Use Learnings for Inaugural Daytona 500 Start

DAYTONA BEACH (February 16, 2023) – Martin Truex Jr. (eighth) and Denny Hamlin (ninth) scored top-10 finishes in Thursday night’s second Duel qualifying race to set the second-half of the field for Sunday’s running of the 65th Daytona 500.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Duel 2 – Daytona International Speedway
150 miles, 60 laps
Thursday, February 16, 2023

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Aric Almirola*
2nd, Austin Cindric*
3rd, Chase Elliott*
4th, Brad Keselowski*
5th, Corey Lajoie*
8th, MARTIN TRUEX JR.
9th, DENNY HAMLIN
13th, TYLER REDDICK
21st, TRAVIS PASTRANA
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 8th

What was your perspective on that wild final lap and what did you learn for Sunday?

“It’s good to get some race practice in – with no practice. I felt like the Bass Pro Camry TRD was decent – just never really had anywhere to go. I was mired at the bottom most of the race, but was able to get to the guy in front of me and push him really well as long as I had a car somewhere close to me, so that is good sign. I thought it handled pretty good, and we were sitting in a pretty decent spot there on that last lap, I thought, and then the 38 (Todd Gilliland) got turned, and we lost all of our momentum. I just kind of rode it out from there. Overall, it was a good learning experience and not a terrible starting spot, I guess. We will take it and go from there.”

TRAVIS PASTRANA, No. 67 Black Rifle Coffee Toyota Camry TRD, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 21st

What happened in the accident and what were you able to learn in the Duel to prepare for the Daytona 500?

“Learned a lot actually and we have a great car. Hopefully we can get it repaired and not have to go to a backup. It didn’t take much of an impact, just couldn’t get it slowed down quite in time. Everything was kind of happening in front of me and I couldn’t make it through that. It was intense those first couple laps running two-by-two. You don’t realize on TV what you can’t see in these vehicles. You’re following the car in front of you, but you don’t know where you are on the race track. Those two Sunoco signs are your turning points. I did learn where my car works best in the draft. Honestly, the whole race was intense. It was fun and it was exciting and even had a good time sliding across the grass. Hope to never do that again, at least this weekend.”

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.

Trackhouse Racing inks Chastain, Suarez to multiyear contract extensions

By
Andrew Kim
-
Photo by Bruce Nuttleman for SpeedwayMedia.com.

With the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season three days away from commencing at Daytona International Speedway, Trackhouse Racing solidified its full-time driver lineup for the foreseeable future by inking Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez to multi-year contract extensions in a span of two days.

It all started on Wednesday, February 15, prior to the Daytona 500 pole qualifying session when Trackhouse announced that Suarez will be remaining as a driver for the organization in a new multi-year contract extension. Now on Thursday, February 16, and ahead of a pair of Bluegreen Vacations Duels, Chastain scratched his name off the free agency list after inking himself a new multi-year deal to remain with the organization.

The news comes as Trackhouse Racing is coming off its second and finest season to date in NASCAR Cup Series competition, where both Chastain and Suarez achieved their first career victories in NASCAR’s premier series and qualified for the 2022 Cup Playoffs. While Suarez finished in a career-best 10th place in the final driver’s standings, Chastain advanced all the way to the Championship 4 round at Phoenix Raceway in November and contended for a first NASCAR Cup title for himself and the organization, where he went on to notch a career-best second place in the title standings.

For Suarez, the 2023 season is set to mark his seventh full-time campaign in the Cup Series. The 31-year-old Suarez and a former Xfinity Series champion from Monterrey, Mexico, served as Trackhouse’s first competitor during the team’s inception in 2021, where he piloted the No. 99 entry a single top-five result, four top-10 results, led 74 laps and recorded an average-finishing result of 20.1. This past season, he claimed his first career victory at Sonoma Raceway in June following a dominant performance and became the first Mexican-born competitor to win in NASCAR’s premier series. He also accumulated career-high stats of six top-five results, 13 top-10 results, 280 laps led and an average-finishing result of 16.5 throughout the season as he claimed a berth to the Playoffs for the first time in his career.

With a total of 215 career starts in the Cup Series to his resume, Suarez has previously competed for Gaunt Brothers Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing. He has also racked up a total of three Xfinity victories and one Craftsman Truck Series victory.

“Trackhouse is my home and I am very happy with this announcement,” Suarez said. “We are building something special on the No. 99 team and at Trackhouse Racing. We can’t wait to get the season started on Sunday.”

“Obviously, everyone at Trackhouse Racing is pleased with the performance and professionalism of Daniel both on and off the track,” Justin Marks, owner of Trackhouse Racing, added. “Culture has been of prime importance since the idea of Trackhouse existed only on a whiteboard in an office. Daniel has fulfilled every expectation, and we look forward to the future. The best is yet to come.”

For Chastain, this upcoming season is set to mark his third consecutive full-time stint in NASCAR’s premier series having made a total of 151 series career starts. The 30-year-old Chastain who is also an eighth-generation watermelon farmer from Alva, Florida, joined Trackhouse for its second season in 2022 after the team acquired Chip Ganassi Racing’s NASCAR assets, where Chastain had been competing in part of a journeyman career scaling back to 2014. Piloting the No. 1 entry, Chastain notched his first two Cup career victories at Circuit of the Americas in March and at Talladega Superspeedway in April following two dramatic last lap passes. Once in the Playoffs, he recorded enough points to transfer through the first two Playoff rounds. Then at Martinsville Speedway in October, which served as the third round’s finale, he executed a bold daring move while scraping the outside wall to overtake five competitors and race his way into the Championship 4 field. Ultimately, he went on to finish in third place on the track during the finale and in second place in the final championship standings.

In addition to his first two career victories and a runner-up result in the final standings, Chastain capped off the 2022 campaign with career-high stats of 15 top-five results, 21 top-10 results, 692 laps led and an average-finishing result of 13.3 as he bids for another opportunity for his first series title. To go along with his two Cup victories, the Floridian has two Xfinity victories and four Truck wins to his resume.

“It’s taken a lot of years, a lot of hard work and sacrifice, plus a lot of help from a lot of people, but I can safely say I have found a home at Trackhouse Racing,” Chastain said following the announcement of his contract extension. “There is nowhere in the world I would rather be and nothing I would rather do than race the No. 1 Chevrolet in NASCAR for Justin and the people at Trackhouse Racing.”

“Ross Chastain is the type of driver and type of person we want representing Trackhouse Racing, our employees, and our corporate partners,” Marks added. “You saw what Ross did with us in just our first year together and we think the future is even brighter. He brings a determination, dedication, and commitment to his job on and off the track that uplifts everyone in our shop. I’m proud he is part of our organization.”

Trackhouse Racing made its inaugural presence in NASCAR at the start of the 2021 season when former driver and team owner Justin Marks created a team of his own with Armando Christian Perez, going by the stage name Pitbull, assuming an ownership role with the team. Ty Norris, a former executive at Dale Earnhardt Inc., also joined the organization during its inception.

In two seasons, Trackhouse Racing has achieved three victories, 22 top-five results, 38 top-10 results and 280 laps led in a combined 109 career starts in the Cup circuit. Along with the Nos. 1 and 99 entries, the team debuted Project 91, a part-time entry that would be fielded for international competitors to compete in a Cup event, at Watkins Glen International in August with former Formula One champion Kimi Räikkönen serving as the project’s first competitor. Project 91 will be returning for select Cup events that have yet to be determined along with the team’s choice of drivers.

With its future set, Trackhouse Racing shifts its focus on a pair of Bluegreen Vacations Duels at Daytona International Speedway that will occur on Thursday, February 16, beginning at 4 p.m. on FS1 before launching its 2023 NASCAR Cup Series campaign on Sunday, February 19, for the 65th annual running of the Daytona 500 that will commence at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

Flying Lizard Motorsports Announces GT3 Porsche Effort in GT America

By
Official Release
-

Andy Wilzoch to race traditional Lizard Livery

SONOMA, Calif. (February 16, 2023) – After recently announcing a multi-car GT4 effort in SRO America’s GT America powered by AWS and Pirelli GT4 America race series, Flying Lizard Motorsports will also contest a full-season GT3 entry in the GT America series in 2023. Longtime Lizard driver Andy Wilzoch will return to the team after a one-year hiatus, racing the No. 46 Porsche 911 GT3 R (type 991.2). Adding to the energy of the entry will be the traditional red and silver livery so closely aligned with the California-based team’s championship-winning history.

“We are really looking forward to this season in SRO’s GT America,” said Program Manager Darren Law. “ Andy Wilzoch has not only been a long-time customer, but a good friend and I am glad he is back again for another season. He is going retro with the livery dating back to the early days of Flying Lizard so it will be great to see that on track again. Andy now has the second generation 991 which should be a very competitive package.”

The GT America series pays tribute to the sanctioning body’s earlier years in sprint racing, offering bronze-rated drivers the opportunity to race in a pair of 40-minute races at each race event weekend. The 2023 race season will see competitors visit nine of the most exhilarating permanent road and temporary street courses North America has to offer, bringing the Flying Lizard Porsche to fans nationwide.

Andy Wilzoch last competed with Flying Lizard for a partial GT America season in 2021, racing in five double-header race weekends. He drove his Porsche 911 GT3 R to victory a total of four times, earning eight podiums, only finishing outside the top five once. This year, Wilzoch will compete in the full season, racing in all 18 rounds of the 2023 championship.

The 2023 GT America season will begin March 3-5 on the temporary street course in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, where the series will run in support of the NTT IndyCar series. This will be Wilzoch’s first time on track at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which first roared the city streets to life in 1985. Because the temporary course is built for the race event only, Wilzoch has been training on a racing simulator to familiarize himself with the track to make a strong start to the 2023 race GT America season.

For full schedule information, visit gtamerica.us.

Andy Wilzoch | No. 45 Porsche 911 GT3 R

It’s great to be returning to race with Flying Lizard in the GT America series. I had a fun time competing here in 2021, and I’m looking forward to continuing that experience. The GT America series offers great competition with competitive drivers. As a diehard Lizard fan, racing the Porsche in the iconic classic livery is always an absolute pleasure, and I hope the fans love it being back as much as I do. This team has a rich history, and it’s an honor to contribute a verse.

2023 Schedule

March 3-5, 2023

GT America Powered by AWS

St. Petersburg, Florida

March 30 – April 2, 2023

GT America Powered by AWS, Pirelli GT4 America

Sonoma Raceway

Sonoma, California

April 28-30, 2023

GT America Powered by AWS, Pirelli GT4 America

NOLA Motorsports Park

Avondale, LA

May 19-21, 2023

GT America Powered by AWS, Pirelli GT4 America

Circuit of the Americas

Austin, Texas

June 16-18, 2023

GT America Powered by AWS, Pirelli GT4 America

VIRginia International Raceway

Alton, Virginia

August 4-6, 2023

GT America Powered by AWS

Nashville, Tennesse

August 18-20, 2023

GT America Powered by AWS, Pirelli GT4 America

Road America

Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

September 22-24, 2023

GT America Powered by AWS, Pirelli GT4 America

Sebring International Raceway

Sebring, Florida

October 5-8, 2023

GT America Powered by AWS, Pirelli GT4 America

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Indianapolis, Indiana

About Flying Lizard Motorsports
Based out of Sonoma, California, Flying Lizard Motorsports is one of the most iconic sports car teams in motorsports, having celebrated ten driver and team championships, as well as competed internationally at the 24 Hours of Le Mans eight times.

The Lizards burst on the American Le Mans Series scene in 2004, competing in the GT class until 2012. In 2013, the team moved to the GTC class, still competing in legendary events such as the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Daytona. In 2014, the team expanded its program to include running two Audi R8 LMS in the TUDOR Championship, and in 2015, again expanded the program to include two Porsches in Porsche Club racing. Flying Lizard closed out the season with a dominating win at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill with Toyo Tires, a win they repeated in 2016, 2017, and 2018. The 2020 season proved the team’s most successful to date, earning four titles in the GT4 America championship. Flying Lizard Motorsports has proven to be a championship contender no matter the race series or race car. For more information, visit lizardms.com.

Cottonelle® Brings a New Meaning to DownThereCare with theNo. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Pit Crew

By
Official Release
-

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 16, 2023) – Cottonelle® is a proud sponsor of JTG racing and is excited to debut the new pit crew uniforms for the 2023 racing season – featuring Cottonelle right where it belongs – downthere.

In addition to covering the side and rear of the No. 47 Kroger® Camaro for the historic Daytona 500, Cottonelle® will have prime real estate on the pit crew’s No. 47 Kroger Racing fire suits during the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season in its entirety. Additionally, Cottonelle has premium placement on Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s Kroger Racing fire suit.

“Yeah, Cottonelle will be in the normal (chest) area on mine,” laughed Stenhouse Jr., who kept mentioning he needed to do more squats before agreeing to it. “It’s clever, and our pit crew will have some fun with it.”

This is a first-of-its-kind of product placement for both Cottonelle and JTG Daugherty Racing and an important one considering Cottonelle® has the right kind of care for everyone’s downthere – including the team’s pit crew.

“Cottonelle is dedicated to providing the right kind of care for everyone’s down there,” said Elizabeth Metz, Vice President of Cottonelle. “Whether you’re hard-to-clean, steamy, swampy, sensitive, or whatever else you may experience, Cottonelle has you covered. We’re excited to show up in a new way with our long-standing JTG partnership and better support the Cottonelle mission of downtherecare.”

Last season, the pit crew’s fire suits were black and yellow with Viega branding. This year they will have a cleaner look with white and blue colors that include Cottonelle, Kroger and additional hero branding.

“We had a sponsor in the plumbing industry last year, and it’s entertaining to keep it rolling with Cottonelle on our Kroger Racing fire suits this year,” said Nick Patterson, No. 47 Kroger/Cottonelle Camaro jackman. “We’re looking forward to having fun with it and hopefully spraying some Cottonelle TP in Daytona’s victory lane.”

The pit crew returns to action tonight (2/16) during the Daytona Duels live on FOX Sports 1, MRN Radio and SiriusXM Satellite NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90). The Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 starts at 7 PM ET followed by Duel 2 at 9 PM ET on the same networks. The iconic Daytona 500 airs on Sunday, February 19 on FOX at 2:30 PM ET.

COCA-COLA TO PARTNER WITH CHASE ELLIOTT AND THE NO. 9 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS TEAM IN 2023

By
Official Release
-

ICONIC BEVERAGE IS NOW AN OFFICIAL TEAM PARTNER

CONCORD, N.C. (Feb. 16, 2023) – The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) has joined 14-time NASCAR Cup Series champions Hendrick Motorsports as the Official Beverage Partner of driver Chase Elliott and his No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 team.

Throughout the 2023 season, Atlanta-based Coca-Cola will appear as an associate sponsor of Elliott’s race cars beginning with Sunday’s 65th running of the DAYTONA 500 (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX). The iconic beverage brand will also adorn the No. 9 team’s uniforms and equipment.

Coca-Cola has an extensive history in motor sports including title sponsorship of NASCAR’s longest race, the Coca-Cola 600, since 1985. Its storied partnerships include race car drivers such as Elliott’s father, 1988 Cup Series champion Bill Elliott.

“Coca-Cola is proud to welcome Chase to its Coca-Cola Racing Family and launch its partnership with Hendrick Motorsports,” said Chris Bigda, director of sports marketing, The Coca-Cola Company, North America. “Continuing to partner with the Elliott family is an honor and thrilling legacy, as Chase joins our Coca-Cola Racing Family 25 years after his father Bill Elliott was a founding member back in 1998. We’re excited for our future together and refreshing this championship team on and off the track.”

Elliott is the third-youngest driver to win a Cup championship, a feat he accomplished in 2020. The 27-year-old Dawsonville, Georgia, native has 18 points-paying wins across seven full-time seasons in NASCAR’s premier series and has been voted by fans as the sport’s Most Popular Driver for five consecutive years (2018-2022). In 2022, he captured a series-leading five victories, earned the regular-season title and made his seventh playoff appearance, advancing to the Championship 4 for the third straight year.

“I’m excited to partner with an iconic brand like Coca-Cola that has Georgia roots just like me,” Elliott said. “Coke has a deep history in the sport and I’m proud to represent a company that has backed some of NASCAR’s greatest drivers throughout the years, including my dad. I look forward to seeing what we will accomplish together this season and hopefully for years to come.”

With 14 championships and 291 points-paying race wins, Hendrick Motorsports is the most successful team in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series. On Sunday, the organization will seek its record-tying ninth victory in the season-opening DAYTONA 500.

“Chase and Coca-Cola are a perfect match on so many levels,” said Jeff Gordon, vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports. “Pairing one of the world’s most recognized brands with the sport’s Most Popular Driver will present a lot of opportunities. The No. 9 team is poised for another great year, so we plan to keep plenty of Coke on ice and celebrate those big moments together.”

ABOUT COCA-COLA:
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. Our company’s purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. We sell multiple billion-dollar brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Our portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta. Our hydration, sports, coffee and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Gold Peak and Ayataka. Our nutrition, juice, dairy and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife and AdeS. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We seek to positively impact people’s lives, communities and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices and carbon emissions reductions across our value chain. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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.

2023 CORVETTE Z06 SET TO PACE THE “GREAT AMERICAN RACE”

By
Official Release
-

Corvette, Camaro and Silverado Completes Pace Vehicle Lineup for 2023 Daytona Speedweeks

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2023) – A trio of Chevrolet high-powered vehicles is set to pace in the season-opening races at Daytona International Speedway.

The 2023 Corvette Z06 will lead the NASCAR Cup Series to the green flag in the 65th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 19, marking the 15th time Chevrolet has paced the “Great American Race”.

· The Corvette Z06 is powered by the all-new 5.5L LT6, creating 670 horsepower, making it the highest-horsepower naturally aspirated V-8 in any production car.

· Equipped with the Z07 Performance Package, the Corvette Z06 features a carbon fiber rear wing, aerodynamic ground effects, carbon ceramic brakes and other performance features for maximum track capability.

Chevrolet has recorded 49 all-time NASCAR Cup Series victories at Daytona International Speedway, including a series-leading 24 in the Daytona 500.

“We felt that it was important to highlight the crown jewel of our performance vehicle lineup for the 65th running of the Daytona 500 with the Corvette Z06,” said Todd Christensen, Director of Motorsports Marketing and Activation for Chevrolet. “As the winningest manufacturer in NASCAR Cup Series history, we are honored to pace the season-opening race weekend and help celebrate the start of NASCAR’s 75th anniversary.”

Completing the 2023 Daytona Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth pace vehicle lineup:

• Silverado 1500 RST in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series NextEra Energy 250 at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, February 17.

• Camaro SS 1LE in the NASCAR Cup Series Bluegreen Vacations Duels at Daytona at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 16; and on Saturday, February 18, the ARCA Menard Series BRANDT 200 Supporting Florida FFA at 1:30 p.m. ET, followed by the NASCAR Xfinity Series ‘Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300’ at 5 p.m. ET.

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 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.

Blaine Perkins Daytona Preview

By
Official Release
-

Blaine Perkins
No. 07 AUTOParkIt.com Chevrolet Camaro
NASCAR Xfinity Series News and Notes
Event: Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner 300
Date: Saturday, February 18, 2023
Venue: Daytona International Speedway
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Track Description: 2.5 mile(s)
Race: 120 Laps/300 Miles

Soak Up The Sun … Blaine Perkins will make his fourth career start (2 Xfinity Series/1 Craftsman Truck Series) at the “World Center of Racing”

“Speed”way Demon: The Bakersfield, Calif., -native has six NASCAR Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series starts on superspeedways .

New“ish” Kid On The Track: Perkins has declared to run for the NASCAR Xfinity Series “Sunoco Rookie of the Year” Award in the 2023 season. He will be one of 4 confirmed competitors heading into Daytona. With 13 starts in 2021 and 2022, Perkins will bring a good bit of experience to the ROTY battle this season.

Quote Worthy

Blaine Perkins, driver of the No. 07 Chevrolet Camaro for SS GreenLight Racing: “I am beyond excited to get this season started. (Crew Chief) Mike (Hillman Sr) and our guys have been working hard to get us ready for the season. I’m looking forward to strapping into a fast 07 AUTOParkIt.com Chevy Camaro. We’re really looking forward to getting to Daytona and starting the season off on the right foot.”

On the Daytona International Speedway:

On racing at Daytona: “Racing at Daytona is always special. As a kid in Bakersfield, I dreamed of someday having an opportunity to race here. I’ve been fortunate enough to compete here a couple of times already in Xfinity and Trucks, but this time just feels different. SS GreenLight has a history of bringing fast cars down to the beach.”

Meet Blaine: Blaine will be making appearances on both Friday and Saturday in Daytona. Catch Blaine at the Adventure Force Kids Zone at the Daytona International Speedway Midway Friday, Feb 17th from 12:30pm to 12:45pm. Blaine will also be appearing at the Chevrolet Display with teammate Gray Gaulding Sat, Feb 18th at 9:45 am.

Follow Blaine Perkins’ on Social Media … To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, visit www.BlainePerkins.com or connect with Blaine Perkins on Facebook (OfficialBlainePerkins), Twitter (@BlainePerkins21) or Instagram (@blaineperkins21).

SS GreenLight Racing’s NASCAR Xfinity Series History…Since entering the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2015, the Mooresville, N.C. ,-based team has made 380 starts with multiple drivers. These include Cole Custer, Ross Chastain and Chase Briscoe. SS GreenLight Racing has collected one win (Fontana 2022), eight top-fives, and 23 top-10 finishes.

Follow SS GreenLight Racing on Social Media: Keep up with SS GreenLight Racing news, notes, information, exclusive content and much more! visit www.ssgreenlight.com or connect on our social media channels. Follow along on Facebook (SSGreenLightRacing), Twitter (@SSGLR0708), Instagram (@ssgreenlightracing) and TikTok (SS GreenLight Racing)

SS GreenLight Racing Statistics

About AUTOParkIt.com: AUTOParkit™ offers a viable alternative to new or existing sites that normally doubles the number of cars parked in the same volume of traditional parking and provides it approximately the same cost than a conventional approach. It is more sustainable, faster to build, less expensive to operate, safer for the community and provides a necessary, convenient, alternative to an escalating global problem.

Draft Partner: Perkins will head to Daytona eager to work with new teammate Gray Gaulding as the duo hits the high banks. Gaulding will return to Daytona International Speedway in the 08 Panini Chevrolet.

Card Collector: Heading into Daytona, Blaine Perkins Racing has partnered with Panini America as a Brand Ambassador. Perkins joins SS GreenLight Racing and Panini sponsored teammate Gray Gaulding as a Panini athlete. To start your collection, visit Panini. #whodoyoucollect

Catch the Action … The NASCAR Xfinity Series Beef, It’s What’s For Dinner 300 at Daytona International Speedway will be broadcast live on FS1 on Saturday, February 18, starting with NASCAR RaceDay: NXS at Daytona live at 4:30 p.m. (ET). It will also broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 5:00 p.m. (ET). Qualifying for the season opening event of the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule will air on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. (ET) on FS1.

Jesse Love and Frankie Muniz Both Chasing Daytona Dreams in ARCA Menards Series Season Opener

By
Official Release
-

All professional athletes started as a youngster with a dream. Every hall of fame-worthy career, whether it’s a baseball player, golfer, or racecar driver, started with that intangible desire to compete and succeed, and dreams of glory. For many, they have the ability to chase that dream from an early age, and for some, their talent and drive to succeed is evident at an early age.

But everyone isn’t able to pursue those dreams, at least while they’re a youngster.

The season-opening Daytona ARCA 200 at Daytona International Speedway, the 60th ARCA Menards Series race at the famed World Center of Racing set for Saturday, February 18, will feature two drivers who both had that dream. One was able to pursue it from childhood and one’s experiences and success in other fields has allowed him to finally chase the dream of becoming a winning race driver.

Menlo Park, California’s Jesse Love is the prototypical young racer. Starting in quarter midgets at the age of five, Love continuously progressed up the ladder earning numerous championships along the way before moving to full-size racecars. He earned wins in the USAC midget division in California and was named the INEX Legends car rookie of the year, all before the age of 15.

In 2020, once he did turn 15, he earned a ride with the highly successful Bill McAnally Racing team in the ARCA Menards Series West. Love finished second in his first series start at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and then earned his first win on the demanding road course at Utah Motorsports Campus.

Love’s rookie season was one for the record books. He ended the year with three wins in eleven starts and the series championship.

He followed with his second West championship in 2021, but he also ventured into the ARCA Menards Series national tour for the first time, winning at the legendary Salem Speedway in his tenth series start.

Now 18, Love will pursue the ARCA Menards Series championship for the first time in 2023, paired with the powerhouse Venturini Motorsports team. The team, owned by two-time ARCA Menards Series champion Bill Venturini, his wife Cathy, and their son Billy, won the 2019 series championship with Christian Eckes at the wheel and has won the last five ARCA Menards Series races at Daytona, including the last two with Corey Heim.

“This is something all of us dream about our whole lives,” Love said. “I’ve thought about it since I started racing, what would it be like to be on the sport’s biggest stage? But now that it’s here, I have to tell myself it’s just one race out of twenty. You don’t want to let yourself get distracted by it all.”

Love isn’t feeling the pressure of making his Daytona debut, thanks to the success of the organization he’s driving for.

“You could easily add all of that pressure on to your shoulders and it could be a huge negative,” Love said. “But I respond well to that pressure. And when you look at the record Venturini Motorsports has at Daytona, it actually replaces that pressure with confidence. Now all I have to do is go out and do what I expect to do, and that’s run up front and compete for the win.”

For Frankie Muniz, the dream to be a racer existed as long as he can remember. Even while he was nominated for Emmys and Golden Globes as the titular character in the Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle, Muniz dreamed about racing.

It was a visit to the 2001 Daytona 500 when those dreams went into overdrive. Muniz spent time in the garage area, getting autographs from many of the biggest stars in the sport’s history, including Ken Schrader, Sterling Marlin, and even Dale Earnhardt, the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion who would ultimately lose his life in a last-lap crash later that afternoon.

Muniz, now 37 and a resident of Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife Paige and son Mauz, rode in the pace car prior to the race, leading the field off pit road. Just behind him, in the silver No. 40, was Marlin. Twenty-two years later, Muniz suited up and made laps at Daytona in the same racecar, now owned by team owners Terry Jones and Mark Rette and reskinned as a Ford Fusion, during a pre-season practice session at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.

When he climbs aboard the team’s new Ford Mustang for the race on February 18, it will be the culmination of years’ worth of effort, but not the culmination of the dream itself.

“I have wanted to race my entire adult life,” Muniz said. “I raced in the Celebrity Pro-Am at Long Beach and did really well. I won the celebrity division and was competitive against the professional drivers. I have had some opportunities in the past and even came close to landing an Indycar ride but a bad crash put that old hold.”

From there, Muniz did something others may dream about: he went on a world tour as a drummer with the band Kingsfoil. He has done more television over the years too, and was the runner-up on Dancing with the Stars in 2017.

But everything he did, every experience he had that others could only dream about, led him back to racing.

“I fully recognize I have been able to do things most people only dream about doing,” Muniz said. “I have been really fortunate throughout my life and it’s put me in a position to be able to finally chase my dream of being a racecar driver.”

Muniz, registered to compete for ARCA’s Bounty Rookie Challenge, is now one of the new kids on the block. It’s perhaps the ultimate “flip the script” moment from his days portraying a gifted teenager on Malcolm: he now is the adult asking talented teenagers, including Jesse Love, for advice.

“It’s strange because I am old enough to be their dad and here I am asking them questions and looking for advice while driving 200 miles an hour,” he said with a laugh.

Love, Muniz, and 38 other drivers will square off in the Daytona ARCA 200 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 18. The race will be televised live flag-to-flag on FS1 starting at 1:30 pm ET; the race will also be broadcast on select affiliates of the MRN Radio network nationwide. For complete event information, including live timing & scoring, please visit ARCARacing.com for up-to-the minute news and updates, please follow @ARCA_Racing on Twitter.

Jason Kitzmiller Ready for Daytona Return

By
Official Release
-

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: Inching his way towards veteran status in the ARCA Menards Series, Jason Kitzmiller and his A.L.L. Construction Racing team launch their fourth season of competition beginning with Saturday afternoon’s BRANDT 200 Supporting Florida FFA.

His fourth season of a part-time ARCA Menards Series schedule also yields his fourth trip to the “World Center of Racing” where Kitzmiller has been able to showcase speed but two of his previous three efforts have left pure frustration in the results column.

Approaching the 2.5-mile superspeedway with the same mindset he always had since his debut at the iconic track in 2020, Kitzmiller hopes Saturday’s race delivers him the finish he knows his team is capable of.

“Honestly, this year is the best I feel about probably going to Daytona in all of my previous starts,” said Kitzmiller who has an ARCA career-best 11th-place finish in Daytona in 2021.

“Our No. 97 A.L.L. Construction Chevrolet was very quick in pre-season testing and we loaded up feeling confident that we can be a key player in the race and put ourselves in a position to not only surprise a lot of people – but maybe even put ourselves in a spot to challenge for the win.

“That’s what you come to Daytona to do. Win. Any racer that tackles the high banks of Daytona – that is all that they ever think about is winning at a place like Daytona. I’m excited to get back in the ARCA groove and hopefully we can have a productive week leading up to the race and hope for the best when the green flag drops on Saturday afternoon.”

Kitzmiller, a native of Petersburg, West Virginia is also eyeing his fifth career top-10 finish in the series in 2023. Last season, he competed in four races and delivered his fourth top-10 effort at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway in July.

With a stack of top-10 finishes to his credit, Kitzmiller says he would like to see his Todd Myers-led team in a spot to earn their first top-five finish during their limited schedule this season.

“We have the speed, we just need the luck,” admitted Kitzmiller. “We’ve found ourselves in a position to be better than our best and something develops that takes us out of contention. Hopefully, we have paid our dues over the years and the dots can connect as we aim to have a strong season with our A.L.L. Construction Racing team.”

In addition to the ARCA Menards Series, A.L.L. Construction Racing will also participate in select Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour Series events.

“I am really looking forward to our 2023 season,” sounded Kitzmiller. “Between the ARCA Menards Series and the CARS Tour, I think we can not only have some fun but find ourselves in a position to win some races.”

The BRANDT 200 Supporting Florida FFA (80 laps | 200 miles) is the first of 20 races on the 2023 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Thurs., Feb. 16 with a fifty-minute session from 4:05 p.m. – 4:55 p.m. 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.

Burton Ninth Fastest in Pole Qualifying for the Daytona 500

By
Official Release
-

Harrison Burton and the No. 21 Motorcraft/DEX Imaging team were among the elite 10 in pole qualifying for the Daytona 500 Wednesday night, winding up ninth fastest in the second and final round of time trials.

That puts Burton in fifth place for the start of the first 150-mile Bluegreen Vacations Duel qualifying race Thursday night.

Wednesday’s pole qualifying session marked the first appearance on the Daytona track this week. Burton, one of the first to make a qualifying run, posted a lap at 180.014 miles per hour in the opening session. He was 10th fastest and earned an advance to the second session. He was the first driver to make a run in the second go-round and toured the 2.5-mile track at 179.748 mph.

“We definitely have a fast race car,” Burton told reporters after qualifying. “The guys at the shop worked really hard at trying to get us a good qualifying spot.

“It’s important, even for the Duels, to have track position, so we’ll see how we can play it. It’s kind of what you do with it once you get it that matters, but I’m proud of our guys.

“We have a fast Ford Mustang, and I’m excited for Motorcraft and DEX and the Wood Brothers. It could be a really great year for us, so I’m excited to go and try to get after it.”

The first of two 60-lap Bluegreen Vacations Duel qualifying races is set to get the green flag at 7 p.m. on Thursday followed by the nightcap at about 8:45 p.m.

Those races will determine the third starting position on back for Sunday’s Daytona 500.

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 preliminary events, 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.

1...1,6041,6051,606...6,649Page 1,605 of 6,649