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Flying Lizard Motorsports Announces GT3 Porsche Effort in GT America

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Official Release
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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

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Official Release
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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

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Official Release
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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”

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Official Release
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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

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Official Release
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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

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Official Release
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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

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Official Release
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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

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Official Release
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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.

David Starr’s “Let’s Go Racing” podcast to hit 100th episode

By
Official Release
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This week, the racing podcast “Let’s Go Racing with David Starr” will complete its 100th episode ahead of the kickoff to NASCAR’s 75th season in Daytona Beach, Fla.

“Let’s Go Racing with David Starr,” which airs weekly on all podcast platforms and YouTube, is led by its three original founders — NASCAR racer David Starr, national television and radio broadcaster Tyler Jones, and The Racing Experts’ editor-in-chief Dominic Aragon.

The show, which started in late 2020, focuses on weekly events around national motorsports with a focus on NASCAR, and guests from across the racing world.

“I never even dreamed the podcast would be as cool as it is, working beside two guys that are amazing,” said Starr, who is embarking on his 25th season as a NASCAR racer. “Dominic’s good on stats on the sport, and Tyler’s knowledge and passion for NASCAR, bringing me in to be a part of that is an honor, to have a podcast to share our passion for auto racing in general has been so cool.”

“The variety of guests that want to be on our podcast, it’s extremely humbling and an honor for me.”

Since the show’s inception, Starr and crew have recorded most of their episodes from their home studios, with a few live shows a year. Past guests have included Mario Andretti, Jaques Villeneuve, Geoff Bodine, Greg Biffle and others.

Bringing the most podcast experience is Jones, with his expertise producing his own podcast — The Jones Report — since 2012. Jones’ punching voice leads and guides the show each week.

“It’s been so cool to share a passion for racing with two of my best friends while getting to talk with some of the heavy hitters that make this sport what it is,” Jones said. “The first 100 went by so fast, and I can’t wait for what’s ahead in the next 100!”

For Aragon, the 28-year-old statistician of the group, following and covering the sport from a state where NASCAR fandom isn’t commonplace has always been a point of pride.

The University of New Mexico graduate and Grants, New Mex. native reflected on his time a part of the show.

“I think it is quite a phenomenal feat that we have done,” Aragon said. “I remember early on celebrating with David and Tyler about the fact that we had made it to 13 episodes, because half of all podcasts do not make it to that mark, so it’s pretty incredible that we have come this far.

“I really enjoy working with them every week, and it has been exciting to see the following that the podcast has amassed.”

As the show hits the century mark, the group says they want to continue producing the podcast and continue to share the stories of many racing personalities across the industry.

The three will be on-site at Daytona International Speedway this weekend for a live show, ahead of the kickoff for the Daytona 500 and NASCAR’s 75th season.

4 Tips to Prepare For the Perfect Off-Roading Adventure

By
SM
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While many people like to enjoy the sweet fruits of living in an advanced and modern civilization, there will always be people who love nature. 

Whether it brings you peace, allows you to spend quality time with your loved ones away from technology, or gives you a sense of adventure, going on an off-roading trip can be a great experience. 

The best thing about it is you can plan a short one-day or a weekend trip, and even a week or a month-long getaway.

Whether you’re planning to go with your family, friends, or by yourself, you need to be prepared. To help you have a safe and exciting trip, here are some tips for planning for the perfect off-roading adventure. 

Get Your Vehicle Ready

The most important thing about off-roading is making sure your vehicle is fit for the adventure. 

For this, you first need to see if you have the right vehicle. If your car is not a 4×4, then you need to rent or borrow a 4×4 vehicle for your trip. 

If you do have a 4×4, then you need to thoroughly check the vehicle to make sure it won’t give you any trouble on the road and off the road. That means, checking the tires, spare tire, oils, coolants, lights, gears, and brakes, among other things. 

Since you will be going off-road, it can get pretty dark at night. That’s why you should install LED Light Bars – VicOffRoad on your vehicle, they are both functional and stylish.

Map Your Route In Advance

Many people don’t simply go only off-roading. They add camping to the mix to take the experience to another level. If you’re going camping, make sure to prepare your car for a great camping experience as well. 

On the other hand, you can look into motels and lodging areas on the route.

Regardless of what you choose, you need to plan your route well in advance and make sure to identify all the gas stations, rest stops, and fun things on the way. For this, you can create a route using Google Maps and highlight all the stops on the route. 

Get the Right Gear

Since you’re going off-roading, you won’t have any chance to buy gear or supplies on the way as you need them. You must buy everything in advance to have a safe and stress-free experience. 

The most important thing is a spare gas tank. You can’t rely on your vehicle’s gas tank because it will run out and leave you stranded. That’s why you should have at least one or two extra gas tanks filled up. 

Other things you may need are jumper cables, flashlights, camping gear, fishing gear, rope, tow straps, a good first aid kit, and a phone. If you can, look into getting a satellite phone. 

Pack Everything You Want and Need

To make the trip truly stress-free, you should have everything packed and ready to go the day before the trip. Otherwise, you might forget to pack things. 

Other than the gear mentioned above, you should pack:

  • Cooler full of drinks and cold sandwiches
  • Snacks
  • Water, water, and more water
  • Meals, if you’re not planning to eat off the land or buy on the way
  • Paper plates, cups, and disposable utensils
  • Bug spray 
  • Toolbox
  • Rain gear
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