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Nate Cicero Wins 2022 Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout

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Thomas Annunziata and Heather Hadley earn additional Mazda scholarships; Reid Sweeney and Chase Jones named to Mazda Spec MX-5 team

KERSHAW, S.C. (Nov. 29, 2022) – After two days of driving, several meetings and multiple sessions spent reviewing data at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina, three drivers earned scholarships in the 15th edition of the Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout. Additionally, two karting stars were selected to be Mazda club racing factory drivers.

Nate Cicero of Pound Ridge, New York came away from the 2022 Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout with the big prize; a scholarship valued at $110,000 to compete in next year’s Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires.

Two $75,000-value scholarships were awarded to runner-up Thomas Annunziata of Colts Neck, New Jersey, as well as a second to Heather Hadley of Mooresville, North Carolina. From the group of karters, Reid Sweeney and Chase Jones have been named as official Mazda drivers in the Spec MX-5 series for 2023.

Operating three identical cars, Flis Performance prepped and maintained the MX-5 Cup vehicles, while Advanced Auto Sports tended to the Spec MX-5 cars. Every driver received their own set of BFGoodrich Tires for the duration of the event.

The Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout judging panel consisted of professional racers Tom Long, Jonathan Bomarito and Andrew Carbonell.

The Spec MX-5 judging panel was composed of professional race car drivers Max Papis and Stevan McAleer, former MX-5 Cup scholarship winners Chris Nunes and Connor Zilisch, and Pagid Motorsports Director – Americas Jim Emerson.

Following an extensive evaluation from the MX-5 Cup judges, Cicero was determined to be the racer that best embodied Mazda’s ideals and speed.

“It’s pretty insane, I’ve been working for this the entire year,” said Cicero, who participated in the Spec MX-5 Shootout last year. “I am kind of speechless, but so happy that I’m going to be racing in MX-5 Cup next year. I am going to just keep working from here. I felt pretty good about how I did off track, and felt decent about how I was in the car, but I wasn’t sure how it was going to play out. When they called (Thomas as runner up), I was thinking that it was either first, or nothing for me but I was really hopeful. I’m just super happy.”

Cicero follows in the steps of current champion Jared Thomas who won the Shootout in 2019, followed it up with Rookie of the Year honors in 2020 and finally the series title this October.

“I am very proud of all these drivers and the way they’ve risen to the challenge presented to them,” said Mazda Motorsports Program Manager Jonathan Applegate. “It never gets easier to choose a winner, but Nate (Cicero) was poised and professional, and, naturally, very fast. We think he has a great head on his shoulders and is well positioned for a long career in motorsports.”

Thomas Annunziata was deemed to be a close second in the competition and received a $75,000 scholarship.

“I can’t believe it, it is a dream come true to be holding this $75,000 check” said Annunziata. “I can’t thank everyone at Mazda Motorsports enough. The coaches were so talented and helpful, and the judges were great. I had so much fun, and I’m so excited to be living my dream next year and racing at this level.”

As part of Mazda Motorsports’ commitment to create opportunities for female racers, Heather Hadley was declared the winner of the $75,000 Women’s Initiative Scholarship.

“I was shaking up there,” admitted Hadley of her nerves ahead of the winner announcement. “This is the best day of my life. This is life-changing, just amazing. I was really unsure the whole time of how I was stacking up. Sydney (McKee) and Laurin (Brallier) were so amazing the whole time, really competitive and super consistent both days. We were all right there and I am sure it was a tough call for the judges because they were so amazing. It was a blast to get more comfortable in the car, listening to the coaches advice, and applying that to what I was doing in the car and keep pushing myself and my own limits. This was such a great experience.”

Mazda is committed to helping young drivers realize their dreams of racing professionally. That starts by bridging the gap between karting and cars. From a field of nine karters, Reid Sweeney and Chase Jones were chosen to become Mazda club racing factory drivers. They will receive financial support, testing opportunities, a driver coach and motorsports mentor to guide them through the motorsports industry and so much more.

“The level of talent I witnessed at this competition assures me that Spec MX-5 will continue to showcase some of the most talented drivers in the country,” said Josh Smith, Head of Technical Development for Mazda Motorsports. “It’s an honor to provide aspiring racers a path to break into racing. I look forward to watching Reid and Chases’ motorsports careers progress.”

The 2023 Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup season begins January 25 – 27 at Daytona International Raceway.

About: The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires is the signature spec series for Mazda Motorsports. The series has been operated by Andersen Promotions since 2017 and is currently sanctioned by IMSA. Mazda-powered grassroots champions can earn Mazda scholarships for this pro-level series. The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup champion is awarded $250,000 as the top rookie nets $80,000.

Find out more at http://www.mx-5cup.com.

RFK Racing Scores Record Year with 2022 MarCom Awards

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Official Release
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Award-Winning Marketing Team Honored for Excellence and Outstanding Achievement

CONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 29, 2022) – As NASCAR celebrates its annual awards week, RFK Racing has announced the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals (AMCP) has once again recognized the team for its excellence in the field of marketing and communication, honoring the team’s creativity, ingenuity and hard work over the past year with multiple awards across several disciplines in 2022.

RFK was awarded 11 Platinum Awards and five Gold Awards for its 2022 efforts, including collaborative work with and on behalf of primary partners Castrol, Fifth Third Bank, Fastenal, King’s Hawaiian, Violet Defense and Kohler Generators. The MarCom Awards receives over 6500 entries, with only 18 percent being awarded with the Platinum Award and 22 percent Gold. RFK has been awarded 30 Platinum MarCom Awards since 2011.

“We are very proud to have been recognized to this level by the AMCP and the MarCom Awards,” said the team’s vice president of marketing and communications Kevin Woods. “We have a wonderful team of creative, hardworking and passionate people here at RFK and that shows in both the effort and the end results.

“At the same time, we have a dynamic group of partners that share a common passion and creative spark and trust our team in helping to maximize our partnerships through various marketing and communications platforms,” added Woods.

This season marked a banner year for the RFK Marketing team, who brought home multiple platinum honors from the Hermes, dotCOMM and MarCom awards.

MarCom Awards is an international creative competition that recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communication professionals. Entries come from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, public relations firms, design shops, production companies and freelancers.

2022 RFK MarCom Awards

Platinum Awards

Fifth Third Bank Fight to End Hunger – Corporate Social Responsibility
King’s Hawaiian Slider Sunday – Social Ad Campaign
Kohler Generators Season Launch – Integrated Marketing
Castrol Sustainability 2022 – Corporate Social Responsibility
Violet Defense Content Series – Social Branding Campaign
Socios Throwback Weekend – Social Media Campaign
“Christopher” Buescher – Publicity Campaign
Lebron James Family Foundation – Corporate Social Responsibility
RFK Rebrand – Branding Refresh
ASMR – Viral Marketing Campaign
RFK Racing LinkedIn Page – LinkedIn Site

Gold Awards

King’s Hawaiian Partnership Announcement – Communication Plan
RFK Truckin’ (Navistar) – Social Media Campaign
Violet vs. Violet Campaign – Social Campaign
Kohler Generators Weekly Post – Social Ad Campaign
RFK Tune-In Graphics – Web Graphics
Honorable Mention
6 Days in Daytona – Video/Film Documentary
Fastenal’s Got Your Back – Social Campaign

Gordy’s Hwy 30 Music Fest Announces Second Location for Fall 2023

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Official Release
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World-Famous Four-Day Music Festival will be Held at Texas Motor Speedway

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (November 29, 2022) – The music world has spoken, and Gordy Schroeder is listening as the founder behind the beloved Hwy 30 Music Fest announces the event’s expansion to Fort Worth, Texas. Beginning next year, the four-day concert series will be held in two locations, its original home of Filer Idaho, and now Texas Motor Speedway in the “Culture Capital of the Southwest” from October 19-23, 2023.

First debuting in 2009 as a fundraiser for a local school in a tiny Idaho town, Hwy 30 Music Fest has grown to the largest in the state, attracting attendees from across the nation and overseas. Hoping to double that success, Schroeder spent years looking for a second city to hold his event, also known as the “People’s Festival.” The name of the event will also remain true, with Fort Worth’s premier location on Interstate 30, which connects the South’s hardworking blue-collar towns.

“As soon as we arrived in Fort Worth to scout for a second location, it immediately felt like home,” said Schroeder. “Our attendees have been asking us for years to consider this expansion and we know that the Texas Motor Speedway will be able to provide that family-friendly, homegrown atmosphere that people come to us for while still attracting some of the biggest acts in the world.”

The lineup for the brand-new Hwy 30 Music Fest in Fort Worth will be announced in early 2023. Meanwhile, tickets are selling quickly for the June 21-24 festival to be held in Idaho at the Twin Falls County Fairgrounds. Both events will host special dedication days, including honoring military and first responders. To learn more, visit www.hwy30tx.com.

TICKETS:
Season tickets and camping for Texas Motor Speedway’s 2023 major event season are on sale now. Save up to 33 percent versus buying individual tickets, take advantage of interest-free monthly payments, get the best seat selection and more. All-new reduced rates are available for the GEICO Infield, GEICO VIP and WinStar World Casino & Resort Lone Star Circle camping areas. Click HERE for more information and to purchase season tickets.

MORE INFO:
Keep track of all of Texas Motor Speedway’s busy schedule by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Keep up with all the latest news and information on the speedway website and TMS mobile app.

About Gordy’s Hwy 30 Music Fest
Gordy’s Hwy 30 Music Fest is a four-day music event that takes place each June at the Twin Falls County Fairgrounds in Filer, Idaho. Originally created by locals Gordy and Megan Schroeder as a school fundraiser in 2009, the family-friendly fest now attracts tens of thousands and showcases a collection of country, Americana, rock, and red dirt artists. For the very first time, the event will be held in a second location at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas in October 2023. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.hwy30musicfest.com.

Tickets go on sale today for 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series and NTT INDYCAR SERIES events at Portland International Raceway

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Official Release
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Multi-day tickets for Pacific Office Automation 147 and Grand Prix of Portland now available to the public

PORTLAND, Ore. (Nov. 29, 2022) – Public ticket sales begin today for two premier events next year at Portland International Raceway (PIR): the Pacific Office Automation 147 (June 2-3, 2023), featuring the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the Grand Prix of Portland (Sept. 1-3, 2023), featuring the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Beginning at 10 a.m. PT, 2-Day tickets go on sale for the Pacific Office Automation 147 at NASCARPortland.com, and 3-Day tickets for the Grand Prix of Portland will be available at portlandgp.com.

Multi-day Grandstand seats, General Admission tickets, parking passes and limited RV spaces will be available for both events. Pit and Paddock Passes can also be purchased for the Grand Prix of Portland. Single-Day tickets for each race weekend will be released in 2023.

“Two action-packed weekends are on tap again at PIR for our great Pacific Northwest race fans to experience,” said Jerry Jensen, vice president and general manager of Green Savoree Portland, LLC, which owns and operates both events at PIR. “The Pacific Office Automation 147 weekend will be a double feature. The ARCA Menards Series West races on Friday this time followed by the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday afternoon. Then the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns on its traditional Labor Day weekend date with the season championship in its final stages at the Grand Prix of Portland.

“Great seats are available now for both events with 2-Day Grandstand tickets to the Pacific Office Automation 147 starting at $70 and 3-Day Grandstand seats to the Grand Prix of Portland available for as low as $85!” continued Jensen.

Both the Pacific Office Automation 147 and Grand Prix of Portland offer a tremendous family value and experience. Children 12 and under receive free general admission to both events and get complimentary access to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Paddock throughout the Grand Prix of Portland weekend when accompanied by a ticketed adult.

All ticket pricing and options are posted online at NASCARPortland.com and portlandgp.com. Purchases may also be made by calling 503-400-6070. Stay up to speed on both events on social media all year long by following #NASCARPortland and #PortlandGP or by signing up for the E-Club. The complete weekend schedules for the Pacific Office Automation 147 and Grand Prix of Portland will be released in 2023.

About Pacific Office Automation 147

Portland International Raceway (PIR) is the home of the Pacific Office Automation 147. PIR is a 1.97-mile, 12-turn permanent road course owned by the City of Portland and operated under the Portland Parks and Recreation. Opened in 1960 to host sports car and drag racing, the 268-acre property hosts over 550 events annually including automotive and motorcycle road racing, motocross, cruise-ins and other special events including the Rose Cup Races. The inaugural Pacific Office Automation 147 in 2022 featured the NASCAR Xfinity Series and was won by A.J. Allmendinger. The race marked the first visit to the Pacific Northwest by a NASCAR national racing series since 2000. The Pacific Office Automation 147 is owned and operated by Green Savoree Portland, LLC, which also promotes NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ Grand Prix of Portland event at PIR (Sept. 1-3, 2023) and whose affiliate owns and operates NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series’ O’Reilly Auto Parts 150 at Mid-Ohio (July 7-8, 2023).

For more information, visit NASCARPortland.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page @PortlandGP or follow updates on Twitter @Portland_GP and Instagram at @Portland_GP using #NASCARPortland.

About Grand Prix of Portland

Portland International Raceway (PIR) is the home of the Grand Prix of Portland. PIR is a 1.964-mile, 12-turn permanent road course owned by the City of Portland and operated under the Portland Parks and Recreation. Opened in 1960 to host sports car and drag racing, the 268-acre property hosts over 550 events annually including automotive and motorcycle road racing, motocross, cruise-ins and other special events including the Rose Cup Races. PIR has been the site of many memorable INDYCAR races. Al Unser Jr. won the inaugural one in 1984, and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returned in 2018 after an 11-year absence with 2017 and 2020 Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato taking the checkered flag. The Father’s Day race of 1986 featured Mario Andretti victorious over his son Michael on the last lap by less than a second. The closest three-way road racing finish in INDYCAR SERIES history took place at PIR in 1997 when the top three were covered by just 0.055 of a second. The Grand Prix of Portland is owned and operated by Green Savoree Portland, LLC, which also promotes NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Pacific Office Automation 147 event at PIR (June 2-3, 2023) and whose affiliates own and operate three additional INDYCAR SERIES races: Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding (March 3-5, 2023), The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (June 30-July 2, 2023) and Honda Indy Toronto (July 14-16, 2023).

For more information, visit portlandgp.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page @PortlandGP or follow updates on Twitter @Portland_GP and Instagram at @Portland_GP using #PortlandGP.

Champion Front Row Motorsports Engineer to Run Snowflake 100

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Official Release
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Dylan Cappello Ready for Busy Week in Nashville and Pensacola

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (November 29, 2022) – Dylan Cappello, the championship-winning lead race engineer for Front Row Motorsports (FRM) and its No. 38 truck team, will have no time to waste this week. Cappello, 26, put his name on the entry list for this weekend’s Snowflake 100 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida knowing that he may be in Nashville celebrating a championship with Zane Smith and the rest of his FRM teammates.

With Smith securing the championship earlier this month in Phoenix, it put the plan in place for Cappello to fly from Nashville to Pensacola, with other members of the truck team, to try and race for a win in the prestigious 100-lap pro-late model event. Although it will make for a hectic schedule, Cappello is excited to get behind the wheel of his late model.

“It will certainly be a busy week with the Championship Awards in Nashville and then immediately flying to Florida to qualify and race,” said Cappello. “But I would not want it any other way. We all worked so hard this year to win the championship and it will be fun to celebrate in Nashville. I’m going to miss practice, but I know that we’ll be ready to qualify. It’s just going to be a really fun week and we’re all ready to get it started.”

Cappello is no stranger to success behind the wheel of a pro late model. In limited starts, he has three wins including the 2022 All-Star Showdown at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway earlier this year. The one advantage Cappello knows he has going for him this weekend is the interest of his team at the track and at home. That includes Smith who will be watching.

“For sure, I’ll be watching Dylan,” said Smith, driver of the No. 38 Ford F-150. “He has been a crucial part to this No. 38 team’s championship success, so it is only fitting that we root for him this weekend. He’s not only a great engineer and teammate, but also a great racer. It’s cool when guys on your team race, too. I’ll be tuned in and we all wish him luck.”

Cappello will hit the track for the Snowflake 100 on Saturday with coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET on RacingAmerica.tv, click here to find out more information on the PPV broadcast.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 champions and 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters.

Pocono Raceway Wins Best Motor Speedway RV Tailgate Experience In RVshare’s First-Ever Campers’ Choice Awards, “The Campies”

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  • RVshare announces its first-ever Campers’ Choice Award Winners to recognize and give credit to outstanding RV and camping experiences across the United States.

LONG POND, Pa. (November 29, 2022) – Pocono Raceway officials announced today its recent accolade as Best Motor Speedway RV Tailgate Experience in RVshare’s first annual Campers’ Choice Awards, “The Campies.”

Earlier this summer season, RVshare, the largest online community for RV owners and renters, launched its very own annual campground awards program, “The Campies”, to help give recognition to campgrounds across the United States in a variety of categories. Through this awards program, RVshare’s mission is to highlight the best camping experiences and recognize outstanding commitments to excellence in the industry.

Pocono Raceway has been hosting NASCAR racing for 50 years and has established itself as a sought-after camping destination for avid race fans and recreational campers alike. Camping for a NASCAR race weekend at Pocono Raceway is an action-packed festival for the senses.

Starting at $250, a camping pass includes: five-day access, four nationally sanctioned races highlighted by the NASCAR Cup Series, multiple Infield Block Parties, fireworks extravaganza, bark park, free access to the Pocono Mountains Activities & Welcome Center with programming that includes morning yoga, kid-oriented arts and crafts, afternoon paint and sips, free access to the #POCONOMTNS Inclusive Playground, and much more. Over 200 RV sites have power and water hook-ups, and every spot has access to pump and water delivery service.

After establishing a record-setting number for campers at the 2021 NASCAR race weekend, Pocono Raceway surpassed that mark at its July event this season with a sizeable increase from the previous year. The record was highlighted by a sellout of all reserved RV camping.

“Pocono Raceway is thrilled to be honored with this inaugural ‘Campie’ for Best Motor Speedway RV Tailgating Experience,” Pocono Raceway President Ben May said. “It is particularly gratifying for our team knowing that we were nominated by real enthusiasts and selected by such a knowledgeable and discerning group of panelists. We pride ourselves on the overall experience we craft for our camping guests. We really believe that is what people are looking for – great experiences. We know we are doing something right if campers are telling other campers about Pocono Raceway.”

On July 19, RVshare welcomed all RV travelers, past renters, campground owners and travel enthusiasts to nominate their favorite campgrounds in a number of categories, including the best luxury RV resort, best family and pet-friendly campground, best wifi and remote-friendly experience, and many others. Nominations closed on Aug. 19, where the top finalists were then distributed to a carefully selected group of panelists to make their final selections. This year’s panelists included a range of RV travel experts, influencers, spokespeople, editors, hosts and best-selling authors in the outdoor and RV travel space. All panelists were researched and designated based on their involvement and commitment to the RV and camping industry. A full list of panelists and their biographies can be found at rvshare.com/campies.

“RVshare is on a mission to provide guidance to renters through their travel planning process while also supporting campgrounds across the country and their commitment to excellence,” RVshare’s VP of Marketing Martijn Scheijbeler said. “RVshare is proud to give recognition to these organizations, which will then allow travelers to feel confident in their decisions, knowing that they can look forward to the experiences and amenities that are most important to them. Connecting travelers with these campgrounds will ultimately lead to their own growth and expansion, as well as the flourishing of the industry overall.”

Camping sites for the 2023 NASCAR race weekend set for July 21-23 are on sale now and available by visiting poconoraceway.com/camping.

For more information about the RVshare Campers’ Choice Awards and this year’s winners, please visit rvshare.com/campies.

About RVshare

RVshare is the largest online community for RV renters and owners with a diverse selection of vehicles for rent across the US, ranging from luxury motorhomes to cozy camper vans. On RVshare you’ll find vehicles that can accommodate any outdoor adventure, whether it’s a weekend of camping or a cross-country tour of national parks. Hit the road yourself or plan for a campsite delivery to experience the unbridled freedom of RV travel. With more than 3 million nights of sleeping under the stars booked, families and groups can experience a one-of-a-kind trip and create memories that will last a lifetime. For more information, visit rvshare.com, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @rvshare.

About Pocono Raceway

Pocono Raceway, also known as ‘The Tricky Triangle,’ is family-owned and situated in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. In business for over 60 years, the Raceway hosts multiple, national motorsports events including the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series events each year. The facility’s calendar also consists of over 200 events including Elements Music & Arts Festival, Tough Mudder and a wide range of car clubs and racing schools. Pocono Raceway is recognized as the world’s first, privately-owned solar-powered sports facility. Their 25-acre, three-megawatt solar farm provides the energy needs of the Raceway, as well as, adds electricity to the local power grid. Each member of our raceway staff is committed to creating exciting experiences and lifelong memories. For more information, please visit www.poconoraceway.com.

WILL BROWNE CLOSES IMPRESSIVE ROOKIE LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR SEASON WITH A 6TH PLACE FINISH AT BAKERSFIELD

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Official Release
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Will Browne placed second in the CLS standings and fourth in the Civil War Series in 2022. Lance Jennings photo.

(Glendora, California, November 26, 2022) Impressive young racer Will Browne brought his rookie season in lightning sprint cars to a close in impressive fashion by finishing sixth at the “6th Annual Western States Lightning Sprints Championship” at the Bakersfield Speedway. The race was co-sanctioned by the California Lightning Sprint Car Series and Northern California’s Bay Cities Racing Association. It was also the final race of the five-race “Civil War Series” matching CLS drivers vs BCRA racers and the final points-paying race for the CLS in 2022.

Browne, 18, has had a wonderful rookie season in lightning sprint cars. He started out on the first weekend in March when he placed 5th and 6th in a pair of POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series races at the Imperial Valley Raceway. After that weekend, he mostly competed with the rival CLS where he was never worse than seventh in the season-long championship standings and was locked into fourth most of the five-race “Civil War Series.” The lanky driver was in those positions when he arrived at Bakersfield for what turned out to be his last race of the year.

2022 High School graduate Browne, who lives in Glendora, California, led the CLS rookie of the year standings for most of the 2022 campaign. However, he slipped a second in that competition late in the year. Two races before the Bakersfield affair, he was 72 points behind the leader of the rookie standings. Coming into the Bakersfield event, he had whittled 32 points off that disadvantage and was only 39 out at the beginning of the finale.

Twenty-three cars showed up for the race at the 1/3 mile bank clay oval that is in the middle of Bakersfield’s rich oil fields. Browne got things going in a good way when he timed in 5th fastest of those 23 cars with a lap of 14.287. That placed him in the fifth starting spot for the eight-lap heat race. The young driver steered the handsome “Win Now Racing” #8 to a sixth-place finish.

For the final 30-lap main of the 2022 campaign, Browne started on the outside of the sixth row in the 12th position. On the original start, he stayed out of trouble when the car in front of him flipped wildly in turn two. For the restart, he moved up to the outside of row five and methodically moved his way forward throughout the race. By lap six, he was up to eighth. Four laps later he had advanced another position to seventh. He stayed out of trouble the entire race and came home sixth to close his 2022 season.

Browne hacked 14 more points off his disadvantage in the “Rookie of the Year” chase in Bakersfield. That means, he chopped 47 points off in two races! However, that was not enough and he fell 25 points short of capturing the crown. While he did not win that award, his fourth-place result in the “Civil War Series” was the best of any of the first-year drivers. Fourth in the CWS and seventh in the CLS were products of his smooth calculating style. His results in year one were extremely impressive and so was his great personality throughout the season.

Perhaps the most amazing stat in Browne’s first season portfolio is the fact that he placed in the top 10 13 times in 17 starts. In addition, seven of his top 10s were in the top five. His best result of the year was a second-place conclusion at Chico at the end of August.

With his rookie season completed, Browne is now looking toward 2023. In addition to working on equipment, he will be seeking marketing partners for his sophomore campaign. If you are looking for a young driver to be involved with, you need to look no further than Will Browne. In addition to his prowess behind the wheel, he is an extremely well-spoken, friendly young man who likes repping for his partners and meeting fans. He has a good social media presence that includes a very entertaining YouTube channel. If you would like to join the pleasant driver as a marketing partner for the 2023 campaign, drop an email or give him a call at the following: willbrowne88@gmail.com or (626) 261-5310.

Be sure to visit and signup for Browne’s YouTube channel at the following link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwSNglz0llw.

Browne and the “Win Now Racing” team would like to thank marketing partner Pacific Panel Products for being a part of his rookie campaign in lightning sprint cars

Will Browne 2022 Racing Results

March 5 Imperial Valley Raceway POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Cars 6th A Main

March 6 Imperial Valley Raceway POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Cars 5th A Main

March 25 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprint Cars 9th A Main

April 2 Merced Speedway California Lightning Sprint Cars 4th A Main

April 16 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprint Cars 7th A Main

May 14 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprint Cars 4th A Main

May 21 Ventura Raceway California Lightning Sprint Cars 6th A Main

June 11 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprint Cars 5th A Main

June 25 Ventura Raceway California Lightning Sprint Cars DNS

June 25 Ventura Raceway WMR Midgets 7th A Main

August 6 Santa Maria Raceway California Lightning Sprint Cars 9th A Main

August 26 Silver Dollar Speedway CLS/BCRA Lightning Sprint Cars 2ND A Main

August 27 Placerville Speedway CLS/BCRA Lightning Sprint Cars 9th A Main

September 10 Lemoore Raceway California Lightning Sprint Cars 12th A Main

September 17 Perris Auto Speedway POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Cars 5th A Main

September 24 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprint Cars 11th A Main

October 1 Barona Speedway POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Cars DNS

October 8 Mohave Valley Raceway California Lightning Sprint Cars DNS

October 22 Imperial Valley Raceway POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Cars 16th A Main

October 29 Ventura Raceway California Lightning Sprint Cars 4th A Main

November 15 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprint Cars 6th A Main

SEXTON GATLIN RACING HAS A TOUGH NIGHT AT BAKERSFIELD

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(Lakeside, CA, November 26, 2022) Lakeside, California-based Sexton Gatlin Racing had a rare tough night at the “6th Annual Western States Lightning Sprints Championship” at the Bakersfield Speedway. Hopes were high for SGR as Grant won a thrilling main event there on March 25th that was seen worldwide on the World of Outlaws Dirt Vision Network. This time, things didn’t pan out nearly as well.

SGR fielded two cars for the last race of the year at Bakersfield with Brent and Grant Sexton in their familiar #44 and #3 rides. On the warm November night, they were greeted by 21 other cars that showed up at the track, which is known as “The West’s Fastest 1/3 Mile High Banked Clay Oval.” Recent high school graduate Grant was the ninth fastest of the two SGR team cars when he stopped the clocks at 14.569. Brent ended up 22nd fastest with a lap of 15.149. Brent was up first for the team in heat race action. The 50-year-old Tennessee native started seventh in the eight-lapper and finished in the exact same spot on a track that was proving to be hard to pass on early on.

Grant, 18, came out for the second heat race at the show that was being streamed around the world on Flo Racing. At the teen’s last appearance at the track in March, he earned the accolades of the near-sellout crowd when he dared to challenge the big outside cushion that propelled him to only lead six feet in the race. However, they were the most important six feet as they came at the checkered flag. For his heat race this time around, the charismatic kid picked up right where he left off the last time he was at the track in the city known as “Nashville West.” This time he was starting on the outside of the front row. As soon as the green flag waved, the teen left the competition behind. By the end of the second circuit, he was a full straight ahead of his nearest competitor. He advanced that lead throughout the race and by the time the white flag came out, he was a ½ track ahead. But a not-so-funny thing happened in the middle of turns three and four on the last lap. The pretty white #3 that Sexton drives slowed drastically. He coasted across the line with room to spare for the victory but immediately pulled it to the inside of the racetrack. He had blown an engine and was done for the night.

With young Grant out of the competition, that meant the patriarch of the family, Brent, was going to have to fly the team flag in the main that was co-sanctioned by the California Lightning Sprint Car Series and Northern California’s Bay Cities Racing Association. And that is just what he did. Due to his uncharacteristic slow lap in qualifying, the veteran driver started the race near the back in the 19th spot. Once the race got going, he began to put on a show. The recently crowned POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series champion and two-time California Lightning Sprint Car Series champ, raced by cars early on and by lap six, he was up to ninth. Two laps later he had advanced two more spots to seventh. That was as high up as he got in the standings. Near the end, he slipped back two spots and placed ninth.

When the race ended, the team packed up their equipment and hit the road driving 316 miles north for the “Hangtown 100” on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Once they get there, the first order of business will be to put a new engine in Grant’s #3.

Joining SGR for the three-night show in Placerville will be Brent’s oldest son Dalton and San Diego racing star, AJ Bender. Last year at the Hangtown 100, Bender also drove a car for SGR. To say the least, he was impressive as he finished second in the main event on all three nights. He looks forward to bettering that great showing by winning some main this year on the quarter-mile banked red clay Oval.

Sexton/Gatlin Racing would like to thank the following companies for making the 2022 season possible. Sexton Fire Protection, BK Wings, Johnny Motorhead, Troy Dirt, Victory Graphix, Swift Powdercoat, Maxima Oil, Automated Interior, and an extra special thanks to Scotty and Jimmy Keys. If you or your business wants to partner up with the most visible lightning sprint team on the West Coast for the 2023 season, please call (619) 454-6945. You can also E-mail mailto:sextonfire@cox.net or mailto:sextonfire@gmail.com.

Sexton Gatlin Racing 2022 Schedule

March 5 Imperial Valley Raceway POWRi Wingless – Dalton 1st – Brent 7th – Grant 15th

March 6 Imperial Valley Raceway POWRi Wingless – Brent 1st – Dalton 3rd – Grant 4th

March 25 Bakersfield Speedway CLS Winged – Grant 1st – Brent 8th – Dalton 17th

April 16 Ventura Raceway VRA Sprints – Grant 1st

April 23 Imperial Valley Raceway POWRi Wingless – Bezio 3rd – Brent 4th – Dalton 5th

April 30 Barona Speedway POWRi Winged – Grant 1st – Brent 4th – Dalton 5th

May 14 Barona Speedway POWRi Wingless – Dalton 1st – Bezio 2nd – Brent 3rd

May 28 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars – Grant DNS

June 11 Barona Speedway POWRi Winged – Grant 1st – Brent 2nd – Dalton 11th

June 25 Barona Speedway POWRi Winged – Dalton 1st – Brent 2nd – Grant 3rd

July 9 Barona Speedway POWRi Wingless – Brent 1st – Grant 2nd – Dalton 6th

August 6 Santa Maria Raceway CLS Winged – Brent 1st – Dalton 15th

August 6th Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars – Grant 11th B Main

August 11 Norman County Speedway Minkota Nationals Winged – Dalton 8th – Brent 13th – Grant 25th

August 12 River Cities Raceway Minkota Nationals Winged – Brent 1st – Grant 9th – Dalton 11th

August 13 Greenbush Race Park Minkota Nationals Winged – Grant 6th – Brent 11th – Dalton 13th

August 14 Minkota Nationals Minkota Nationals Winged – Grant 1st – Dalton 15th – Brent DNS

Sept. 17 Perris Auto Speedway POWRi Winged – Chiaramonte 1st – Brent 4th – Dalton 18th

October 1 Barona Speedway POWRi Winged – Grant 1st – Dalton 4th – Brent DNS

October 8 Mojave Valley Raceway POWRi/CLS Winged – Brent 1st – A.J. Bender 2nd – Dalton 3rd

October 8 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars – Grant DNS

October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway POWRi Winged – Dalton 3rd – Grant 4th – Brent Horn 8th

October 22 Imperial Valley Raceway POWRi Wingless – Brent 1st – Horn 8th – Dalton 14th

October 22 Imperial Valley Raceway Open Comp. Sprint Cars – Grant 3rd

Nov. 15 Bakersfield Speedway BCRA/CLS Winged Winged – Brent 9th – Grant DNS

Nov. 17 Placerville Speedway BCRA/CLS Wingless

Nov. 18 Placerville Speedway BCRA/CLS Wingless

Nov. 19 Placerville Speedway BCRA/CLS Wingless

How X44 Vida Carbon Racing claimed their maiden Extreme E Championship

By
Official Release
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After narrowly missing out on title glory in Extreme E’s inaugural campaign, X44 Vida Carbon Racing entered Season 2 on a mission to win. Despite tough competition from RXR and some setbacks, they brilliantly delivered at the Uruguay Naturals Energy X Prix, claiming third place to secure their maiden Extreme E Championship title in a nail-biting final round.

How did they do it? We caught up with the X44’s leading players to find out.

Lewis Hamilton’s X44 team entered the 2022 season hungry for redemption after being denied championship glory in Season 1, due to having fewer X Prix victories than RXR over the course of the campaign. Season 2 was the opportunity to turn the tides.

Desert X Prix

At the season-opener in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, X44 Vida Carbon Racing laid down the gauntlet by securing first place in Qualifying, as well as progression through to the Desert X Prix Final.

However, despite flashes of speed, Sunday afternoon brought the team less reward. After Kristoffersson and Sanz pulled brilliant Final laps, securing P1 and P2 for RXR and ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, respectively, Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez could only secure third spot on the podium.

NEOM Island X Prix I & II

X44 Vida Carbon Racing met similar misfortune during the second round of the season in Sardinia. Here, a difficult start ensured that the NEOM Island X Prix I was the first event that didn’t have Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez competing in the Final.

While Saturday’s Qualifying 1 was tricky for the team, with Loeb even helping to change a tyre in the Switch Zone, Q2 showed promise. Here, a masterclass from Loeb saw the team gain two track positions in the five-car Heat, claiming third in Qualifying overall.

The main troubles of the weekend struck on Sunday, with a struggle to set-off after the driver switch in Semi Final 2. Gutiérrez was unable to close the subsequent gap and the team fell short of a place in the Final, ending the X Prix in sixth.

X44 returned to fighting form at the NEOM Island X Prix II, securing third in the Q1 standings, ahead of NEOM McLaren Extreme E and Genesys Andretti United Extreme E, respectively.

In Qualifying 2, Loeb and Gutiérrez picked up the chase, competing with RXR for that elusive top spot. Although the team picked up a 15-second penalty for leaving the Switch Zone too soon, their impressive pace they retained second place overall and proceeded to Semi-Final 2.

It seemed the NEOM Island X Prix II had finally delivered the whole package for X44 Vida Carbon Racing. In the Final, their pace was strong enough to claim second and their best result of the season to date. This meant the team entered the closing stages of the season on the coattails of the top three, just one point behind ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team in third.

Antofagasta Minerals Copper X Prix

In September, X44 Vida Carbon Racing finally produced a result that reflected their promise, claiming their first race victory of the season in Antofagasta, Chile.

The success of the weekend began on Saturday, with the team placing second in Qualifying overall. The team carried that momentum into Q2, where Loeb and Gutiérrez managed to secure their spot in Semi-Final 2, despite collecting a 10-second penalty for driving through a waypoint flag.

In Sunday’s Final, a dramatic turn of events saw multiple penalties accrued for X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s competitors, making way for Loeb and Gutiérrez to claim the top step of the podium.

As a result, Lewis Hamilton’s team successfully propelled themselves into the championship picture. Sitting only 17 points behind RXR going into the final X Prix weekend, the battle for the championship was in full swing.

Uruguay Natural Energy X Prix

Despite the momentum from their victory at the Antofagasta Minerals Copper X Prix, X44 Vida Carbon Racing didn’t get the start they needed in Uruguay, as crash for Gutiérrez in Q1 put the team on the backfoot.

Alongside the DNF, the team were forced to use the championship car in place of their damaged ODYSSEY 21. Adding to the struggles of adapting to a new machine, the replacement incurred a five-second penalty that would later be served in the Crazy Race.

Loeb said: “When we used the second car it was the first time, we have ever changed the chassis. We had to get used to the car, it wasn’t working exactly like ours. The seat position, the pedals, everything was wrong, so we had to adapt in Q2 to try to get used to it. In the night, the team did a great job adjusting the car to make it more like the old car, so it felt a lot better for Finals Day.”

With the odds stacked against them, Loeb took a gamble and dropped to the back of the field in his Q2 Heat. This gave the Frenchman the clean air he needed to take on the Continental Traction Challenge, and Loeb’s bold tactics paid off. The team stormed to a time half a second quicker than the nearest challengers in the sector, earning five points that proved crucial come Finals Day.

This switched-on thinking came with its risks, as the team sealed their fate with a spot in the Crazy Racing alongside championship leaders RXR – a first for both teams as the title came down a wheel-to-wheel battle between the top two. X44 Vida Carbon Racing came out on top to take the fifth spot the Final, while RXR were disqualified for using too many engineers in the Switch Zone as they tried to get their damaged ODYSSEY 21 back out on course for crucial points.

The stakes were high, as Lewis Hamilton’s outfit needing at least third place in the Final to snatch the championship, and from the outset it was clear that it would be no easy task for X44 Vida Carbon Racing as Loeb slotted into fourth on his stint.

Championship glory slipped further and further away from the challengers, as Genesys Andretti United Extreme E’s Timmy Hansen kept Loeb at bay, leaving Gutiérrez to chase down Catie Munnings. Just as time seemed to be running out for X44 Vida Carbon Racing, a seven-second penalty came through for Genesys Andretti United Extreme E for speeding in the Switch Zone.

This was the lifeline that Gutiérrez needed, and the Spaniard crossed the line within two seconds of Munnings, thus securing third place and the championship title for X44 Vida Carbon Racing, just two points clear of RXR.

Gutiérrez said: “I still can’t believe it! It was a very tough weekend for us, especially after my roll yesterday. The team did a crazy job with the (spare) car and Qualifying 2 was the first time we had driven it.

“As for the Final, on the radio they told me someone was going to be penalised but still I didn’t know. I wanted to be sure that we won so I did not celebrate before it was official. It was a rollercoaster, but it is much better than that for us as we can now believe in what we have achieved.”

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

Round 3 Racing Looks for Championship Titles at COTA Finale

By
Official Release
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Austin, Texas (28 November 2022) – The World Racing League (WRL) powered by Hagerty heads to Austin, Texas for the final round of the 2022 season at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) this weekend. The December 2nd – 4th event will feature the final two eight hour races of the season to determine several championship standings, with R3R looking to emerge with three titles to close out the year.

Round 3 Racing (R3R) goes into the weekend with the positive momentum of a five-win weekend the last time out at Sebring International Raceway.

No. 401 TEAM HAGERTY MOTORSPORTS BMW M4 GT4 (GTO)

Brad McCall, Sarah Montgomery, and Cole Loftsgard will team up one last time to end the season in the Hagerty Motorsports BMW M4 GT4. The team has qualified on pole for six consecutive race weekends and will be aiming to add another in Texas. McCall, Montgomery, and Loftsgard have earned wins at Barber Motorsports Park, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, and Sebring, alongside additional podiums at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Sebring. Currently, the team sits fourth in the national points standings.

Although last year’s race at COTA was the debut for the No. 401 BMW, the team was quickly in a competitive position, with Montgomery qualifying second for Race 1. Her qualifying effort put her on the front row, next to NASCAR driver Austin Dillon.

“My team and I have had a pretty great year this 2022 season,” said Montgomery. “We had our first outing in the BMW at this race last year and were able to get some of the kinks out before starting this season. I hope to finish the year with another great race full of trophies and great times with friends.”

No. 701 TEAM COOPER TIRES PORSCHE CAYMAN (GP1)

The No. 701 Porsche Cayman will feature a new driver lineup this week as returning drivers Loni Unser and Sabré Cook are joined by Brian Ghidinelli – who has spent the season behind the wheel of the No. 609 Sentinel BMW. The Cooper Tires team looks to continue their momentum as they are coming off back-to-back wins at Sebring. The team currently leads the GP1 national championship after claiming two wins and three podiums at Barber, Road America, and VIRginia International Raceway which have led them to this point.

During the 2021 season finale at COTA, Unser and the Cooper Tires team swept the weekend, earning wins on both days. The weekend marked the first time the team had won two races back-to-back. Though they finished the season fourth in the national points standings, the team knew they would be back to challenge for the championship this year.

“I’m so excited to have support from Hagerty and Shift Up Now to do my second race with Round 3 Racing,” said Cook. “Everyone at Round 3 is such a pleasure to work with and COTA is always a fun and beautiful place to race, so I’m certainly looking forward to it.The team and I had great success with our wins at Sebring so we will focus on fighting for that top step again!”

No. 605 TEAM HAGERTY DRIVERS CLUB PORSCHE BOXSTER (GP3)

Looking to make a strong season finish, Carter Pease, Dennis Neel, Hannah Grisham, and Buz McCall will team up one last time for the season at COTA. The Hagerty Drivers Club team is coming off a double win at Sebring alongside the Cooper Tires team. Despite not starting the season until three races were completed, the Porsche Boxster has earned six wins so far, in addition to two podium finishes at Daytona International Raceway and VIR. Sitting just fourteen points behind the leader in third place, the team is in contention for winning the national championship for a second year in a row.

Last season at COTA, the Hagerty Drivers Club team earned a second-place finish followed by a fifth-place finish in the GP3 class. The results gave the team enough points to clinch the national championship.

“I am very excited for the last WRL race of the season in the Hagerty Drivers Club Porsche Boxster with Round 3 Racing,” said Grisham. “It is going to be a tense weekend fighting for the national championship. I think we can bring it home, we just need a clean weekend and strong stints! I can’t thank the McCalls, Hagerty and Shift Up Now enough for helping me stay in a car this season!”

The national championship weekend will begin with qualifying and practice on Friday, December 2nd, followed by two eight-hour races on Saturday and Sunday. Hagerty will host a Cars and Caffeine event Saturday, December 3rd, before the green flag. Hagerty Drivers Club members are welcome to stay for the race and watch as the 90-car field battles on the F1 track.

About Hagerty

Hagerty solely started as an insurance company for your collector vehicles and boats, it has grown to be much more than that. Along with covering your favorite motorized possessions, Hagerty also offers roadside assistance through the Hagerty Drivers Club (https://www.hagerty.com/drivers-club/). As a Hagerty Drivers Club member you have access to Hagerty Marketplace (https://www.hagerty.com/drivers-club/my-garage/marketplace), the most up to date news in the automotive industry with Hagerty Media (https://www.hagerty.com/media/), Hagerty Drive Share (https://driveshare.com/), Hagerty Garage and Social (https://www.garageandsocial.com/) and more! Check out Hagerty’s entire collection of your automotive needs at https://www.hagerty.com/.

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