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DGR NCWTS Advance: Phoenix Raceway

By
Official Release
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Friday, November 4th
Track: Phoenix Raceway, one-mile paved tri-oval
Race: 23 of 23
Event: Lucas Oil 150 (150 laps/150 miles)

Schedule

Thursday, November 3rd
Practice: 8:05 p.m. ET

Friday, November 4th
Qualifying: 6:00 p.m. ET
Race: 10:00 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)

Hailie Deegan, No. 1 Wastequip Ford F-150 

  • Hailie Deegan will make her final start of the 2022 season in her second NCWTS appearance at Phoenix Raceway this Friday.
  • In the series’ last outing at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the Ford development driver started in seventh before handling issues rendered her to a 17th-place finish.
  • Deegan finished 17th in last year’s Phoenix contest. She has also added finishes of fourth in the ARCA Menards Series West in 2019 and a seventh-place ARCA National performance in 2020.
  • The 21-year-old will head into the season finale with a career-high two top-tens, including her best-ever finish of sixth at Talladega Superspeedway.
  • Veteran Crew Chief Jerry Baxter has eight starts at the one-mile oval under his belt, boasting an average finish of 9.1 to go along with a career-best result of fourth with Daniel Suarez in 2015

Tanner Gray, No. 15 Ford Performance F-150

  • Tanner Gray will make his 71st career NCWTS start on Friday night when the series enters the final race of the year at Phoenix Raceway.
  • At Homestead-Miami two weeks ago, Gray was on his way to a hard-earned top-15 result. However, an improper fueling penalty sullied his strong run, rendering the Artesia, NM native to a 25th-place finish.
  • Crew Chief Mike Hillman Jr. has one victory at the unique oval, winning in 2005 with driver Todd Bodine. Guiding his drivers to an average finish of 7.3, Phoenix remains one of the veteran signal-callers most successful tracks on the NCWTS schedule.
  • After three seasons of partnership, Ford Performance will don the hood of the No. 15 Ford F-150 for the final time this weekend. Starting in 2023, the newly rebranded TRICON Garage will realign with Toyota, making Gray one of the pilots of the team’s flagship lineup.

Taylor Gray, No. 17 Ford Performance F-150

  • Taylor Gray will make his eighth and final start of 2022 as the NCWTS season comes to an end at Phoenix Raceway.
  • The 17-year-old made his only NCWTS appearance at Phoenix in 2021, bringing home a 29th-place finish after a flat right-rear tire cost him an opportunity for a lead lap finish. Gray claimed his first-career ARCA Menards Series win at Phoenix Raceway earlier this season, securing a victory by way of a clutch overtime restart.
  • Gray is gearing up for his first full-time run in the Truck Series, starting at Circuit of the Americas for the newly branded TRICON Garage in 2023. The 17-year-old will miss the first three races of the season due to NASCAR’s age restriction policy.
  • Chad Johnston will sit atop the pit box this weekend for the No. 17 team. He guided Gray to an ARCA Menards Series victory at the one-mile oval in March, adding to the five top-fives and eight top-tens he amassed at the facility over his NASCAR Cup Series career.

M&M’S Racing: Kyle Busch Phoenix Season Finale Advance

By
Official Release
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KYLE BUSCH
End of an Era

HUNTERSVILLE, North Carolina (Nov. 1, 2022) – While Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale 500k at Phoenix Raceway marks the end of the 2022 season, the race will also mark the end of multiple eras, as well.

Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 M&M’S Thank You Fans Toyota Camry TRD for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), will be making his final start with the team he first joined as a 22-year-old in 2008, and partner Mars and its iconic M&M’S brand will be making its final appearance as a team primary sponsor. Over the last 15 seasons, the combination of Busch, the Mars Wrigley brands, and JGR have proven to be a winning one. The team, driver, and sponsor combination has accounted for 56 wins and two Cup Series championships during their time together.

M&M’S is using its final NASCAR race to honor NASCAR fans and Mars associates, who are a featured part of the No.18 M&M’S Thank You Fans Camry mosaic scheme this weekend. At the start of the season, M&M’S asked fans and Mars associates to share their images on social media, and hundreds of those will ride along with Busch and M&M’S one final time at Phoenix.

In addition to the special paint scheme on the No. 18 M&M’S Camry this weekend, the Grand Marshal Toyota Camry pace car will be wrapped with M&M’S branding as it circles the Phoenix Raceway mile oval prior to Sunday’s race.

Once the green flag waves, Busch will look to win at a place where he knows victory lane well. He won at Phoenix for the first time in the fall of 2006, but went 12 years before his next turn at tasting victory there when he won back-to-back in the fall 2018 and spring 2019 races. Those were the first two events on the renovated and reconfigured track surface with the start-finish line moved from what is now the backstretch over to the dogleg in front of the new main grandstand. Busch, in fact, has led a whopping 491 laps since the track was reconfigured and has added two more top-five finishes to those aforementioned wins at Phoenix.

Even though the M&M’S driver went 25 races between wins on the mile oval, he has been incredibly consistent throughout his career there. In 34 Cup Series starts at the “Diamond in the Desert,” Busch has 12 top-five finishes and 24 top-10s while scoring top-fives in nine of his last 14 starts there, including those back-to-back victories in 2018 and 2019.

So as the Cup Series season comes to an end, and Busch, M&M’S and JGR head to the racetrack one final time together, the two-time Cup Series champion will hope to wheel his No. 18 M&M’S Camry to victory lane once again and bring down the curtain in style, much like he has over the last 15 years.

KYLE BUSCH, Driver of the No. 18 M&M’S Thank You Fans Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing:

Do you have some confidence at Phoenix with how much success you’ve had there of late?

“I really like Phoenix, and we won there a couple of times since they changed the start-finish line. So much has changed since then. It’s entirely different now, so maybe we can still be good when we go back there, hopefully, but a lot’s been going on in the development of everybody’s cars this year with the NextGen car, so we will see where we stack up and how much has changed since we were there in March. We’ll see what we have this weekend with our M&M’S Camry and we would like nothing better than to spoil the fun and take another trophy home. It’s been quite a ride with M&M’s over the years and it’s pretty cool to have a lot of images of Rowdy Nation along for the ride. We’ll give them all we can this weekend.”

You won two of the first four Cup Series races at the mile oval following the reconfiguration. Do you enjoy racing at Phoenix?

“Phoenix is a pretty neat place, even though they made some changes with the repave and then more recently flipping the start-finish line to a different spot. For some reason, I’ve always run well there. I don’t know if it’s that I’m comfortable being back close to home on the West Coast, or what. I always have a little more fan support out there, as well. As for the track itself, you have two distinctly different sets of corners at Phoenix.”

You have good memories at Phoenix. How does that play into this weekend?

“The last several times we’ve been to Phoenix, we’ve run pretty well, but a few tough finishes in there for various reasons. Hopefully, that can translate to this time around again. We were decent at Richmond and normally Richmond translates well there. Loudon (New Hampshire Motor Speedway), that translates there, even though we didn’t get to see how good we could be there this summer. I think we can do OK. It’s just a matter of running another clean race and not making mistakes.”

What does it take to be successful at Phoenix?

“You’ve got to have a good car, but you’ve got to have a good-turning car, and you’ve got to have a good car that can accelerate off of turn two and go fast down the backstretch. There’s a lot involved at Phoenix, but heading there with our M&M’S Toyota Camry will be interesting to see how the race plays out.”

Event Overview:

● Event: Season Finale 500k (Round 36 of 36)

● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 6

● Location: Phoenix Raceway

● Layout: 1-mile oval

● Laps/Miles: 312 laps, 312 miles

● Format: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 125 laps / Final Stage: 127 laps

● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Meet the No. 18 M&M’S Thank You Fans / Joe Gibbs Racing Team

Primary Team Members:

Driver: Kyle Busch
Hometown: Las Vegas

Interim Crew Chief: Seth Chavka
Hometown: Soldotna, Alaska

Car Chief: Nate Bellows
Hometown: Fairfax, Vermont

Spotter: Tony Hirschman
Hometown: Northampton, Pennsylvania

Race Engineer: Jaik Halpainy
Hometown: Blockville, New York

Over-The-Wall Crew Members:

Gas Man: Justin White
Hometown: Lynnville, Tennessee

Front Tire Changer: Blake Houston
Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

Jackman: David O’Dell
Hometown: Springfield, Illinois

Tire Carrier: Jake Holmes
Hometown: Westborough, Massachusetts

Rear Tire Changer: Daniel Olszowy
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky

Road Crew Members:

Engine Tuner: Dan Bajek
Hometown: Camden, New York

Truck Driver: Chris Miko
Hometown: Bronx, New York

Truck Driver: Eloy Trevino
Hometown: Adrian, Michigan

Mechanic/Tire Specialist: Justin Peiffer
Hometown: Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Mechanic: Scott Eldridge
Hometown: Warsaw, Indiana

Mechanic: Tony Hamm
Hometown: Walla, Walla, Washington

Notes of Interest:

● All in the Stats:Busch has three wins, 12 top-five finishes and 24 top-10s and has led a total of 1,190 laps in 34 career Cup Series starts at the Phoenix. Busch’s average Phoenix finish is 10.7.

● 224 and Counting: Busch will be aiming to add to his record 224 overall wins among NASCAR’s top three series this weekend at Phoenix. In addition to his 60 Cup Series wins and 102 in the Xfinity Series, Busch has 62 wins in the Camping World Truck Series.

Top 5 Safest Car Brands

By
SM
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Photo by Dan Dennis on Unsplash

There are a lot of factors that go into deciding what brand of car to buy. Some people prefer a brand known for building fuel-efficient cars, while others prefer a brand known for off-road vehicles. But the one constant many drivers consider when car shopping is a brand’s reputation for safety.

Car companies have gone to great lengths to ensure the safety of their cars for drivers, passengers, and other motorists. From enhanced airbags to innovative crash prevention measures, motor vehicles are exponentially safer today than they were just a decade ago. In this article, we’ll discuss the car brands leading the way in vehicle safety and how their efforts make the road safer for everyone.

5. Ford

As one of America’s foundational car brands, Ford has seen every one of the industry’s innovations and either met or improved upon them at every opportunity. As the company has shifted towards SUVs and trucks in recent years, it has introduced safety features like Ford Co-Pilot360 Safety Suite. This includes a lane-keeping system and automatic emergency braking, ensuring everyone on the road around you remains safe at all times.

4. Subaru

Subaru has gone to great lengths to become a model of vehicle safety, and it has largely succeeded at every turn. The Subaru Legacy, in particular, is a Top Safety Pick+ for IIHS, and the brand’s other models include advanced safety features like adaptive cruise control. 

Where Subaru’s safety really shines is in its EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. This safety initiative includes pre-collision braking and throttle management, which serves to both prevent and reduce the severity of accidents.

3. Hyundai

Hyundai’s diverse range of vehicles makes them popular for drivers who enjoy options. And while many of their vehicles may look different, they all share many of the same exemplary safety features that Hyundai has worked tirelessly to provide. 

With Hyundai SmartSense, drivers can feel more confident when changing lanes, backing out of parking spots, and more. One of its most innovative features is the Driver Attention Warning (DAW) functionality which detects drowsy or inattentive driving and alerts drivers with a sound cue and warning message.

Add some good coverage to the mix and you’ll see the insurance rates for Hyundai vehicles are lower than average. People from all over Guilford County like to reach out to Jamestown’s leading insurance provider for a quote and a tailored policy working in their favor. This is a clear testament to the brand’s commitment to safety.

2. Volvo

Volvo is no stranger to vehicle safety. As the inventor of the 3-point safety belt, Volvo has been at the forefront of groundbreaking safety features. The company has tailored every aspect of its cars toward the comprehensive safety of everyone inside and outside the vehicle. From energy-absorbing car seats to speed caps, Volvo’s vehicles routinely push the boundaries of driver safety.

1. Mazda

No one does vehicle safety like Mazda. Whether it’s one of their sedans or SUVs, Mazda vehicles offer unparalleled protection against collisions and other hazards. Between its SKYACTIV-Body and i-ACTIVSENSE sensors, Mazda drivers have comprehensive protection from all manner of accidents. Even the brand’s entry-level vehicles come with adaptive cruise control, ensuring drivers don’t have to pay a premium for essential safety features.

Roni Davis is a writer, blogger, and legal assistant operating out of the greater Philadelphia area. She writes for Cousin Benny, a car accident lawyer in Philadelphia.

Wallace faced suspension for breaking NASCAR’s cardinal rule

By
SM
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NASCAR is one of the most popular motorsports in the world with a massive audience. With such an audience comes a significant expectancy from its drivers to remain professional and keep everything within the rules. These rules apply to the drivers and the teams they associate with. Of course, any deviations from the rules will face appropriate repercussions. The enforcement of these rules is something that is not common but recently the need for this has come up.

Referring to Bubba Wallace’s recent escapade of intentionally wrecking Kyle Larson. The incident happened just moments after the two made contact during Stage 2 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Following this, the driver was suspended for one race, something that has not happened since 2015 when Matt Kenseth was suspended for an on-track incident.

What does this incident mean for NASCAR eSports betting?

Wallace’s incidents apart from having repercussions in real life are sure to reflect within NASCAR games and the eSports scene. Depending on how he continues to handle himself he could lose out on many opportunities such as being featured in future games and attending eSports events. Furthermore, this could jeopardize his position as an ambassador for Logitech for their G923 wheel and pedals set as well as the driving force shifter.

As for the gambling part of the eSport, there should not be many significant changes. If Wallace was a regular eSports competitor this would greatly affect the betting scene. Which makes the space still open for beginners. Additionally, as NASCAR has embraced gambling sponsors many new eSports gambling sites for beginners related to NASCAR eSports betting have popped up. This is great since the industry has much to offer to its users and the sport as well. 

How did the incident occur?

The incident might have been understandable if Wallace had chosen just to retaliate for being raced into the outside wall by Larson. But the next actions made it so that they traveled down the front stretch or backstretch, with a pop into the rear bumper and a shot to the left rear to send Larson spinning into the infield grass. But this is not where it all ends. Following this, Wallace went on to nosedive down the banking off the fourth turn to chase Larson all the way to the edge of the infield grass. Jacking up the right rear of the Chevy with the left front of his Toyota. 

As if it was not already bad enough the incident came amidst a safety crisis within NASCAR. The past few weeks have brought to light many concerts about car safety. Which was sparked by injuries caused to racers, mainly concussions. 

Wallace’s statement on the incident

The racer stated that the on-track incident was his fault and came from an intentional bump that wrecked both their cars as well as the car of Toyota teammate Christopher Bell. He also apologized for the incident on his social media platforms. Larson has stated at Homestead-Miami Speedway that he didn’t feel the apology was required and considered the matter done. Furthermore, Wallace stated that he was going to continue what he’s been doing and announced that he and Larson had a private conversation. Where both parties understood their frustrations and decided to move forward while learning how to handle these types of situations better.

Larson also provided information on the situation stating that the two racers had a great conversation, with both parties ironing out their relationship. Larson also had conversations with 23XI management where he was reminded of the repercussions of such an incident. Hopefully, this will be the last time we see something like this and the rest of the racers learn from this incident. 

Round 3 Racing First All-Female WRL Team Sweeps Weekend at Sebring

By
Official Release
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Sebring, Fla. (31 October 2022) – Round 3 Racing (R3R) fielded its first all-female team in the World Racing League powered by Hagerty for the Eastern Championship weekend at Sebring International Raceway, and the Hagerty-supported squad emerged with a double win weekend to clinch the Eastern Championship. Shift Up Now drivers Loni Unser, Sabré Cook, and Erin Vogel teamed for the first time together to bring the No. 701 Cooper Tires Porsche Cayman to the podium’s top step in both eight-hour races.

Having qualified third in the GP1 class for Saturday’s race, Cook started the race from behind the wheel of the No. 701 Porsche Cayman and moved to the lead before turning the No. 701 Cooper Tires Porsche Cayman to Vogel, who continued to extend her lead. Unser took the final stint in Saturday’s race, crossing the finish line with a two-lap lead on the GP1 field.

It was a different script on Sunday, but the same remarkable result.

Vogel started the eight-hour enduro from fourth on the grid before moving up to second and turning the controls over to Unser just after the two-hour mark. Cook took over the final stint, moving into the lead with an hour to go on the way to the team’s second win of the weekend.

“It feels awesome that we were able to get multiple wins this weekend,” said Unser. “It really shows that an all-female team can dominate just as much as an all-male or co-ed team. We really proved a point this weekend. It was also great to win the Eastern Championship for the No. 701 Porsche Cayman this weekend. I couldn’t have been happier to be part of it with Round 3 Racing, Erin (Vogel), and Sabré (Cook). Thank you to Shift Up Now for helping with this partnership.”

After Saturday’s win, the No. 701 Team Cooper Tires Porsche Cayman clinched the Eastern Championship title in the GP1 class. Unser is a regular in the Cayman but was joined by other female drivers throughout the season to help make the championship possible.

Shea Holbrook joined the team at Daytona International Speedway, where the Cayman finished fourth in the fourteen-hour race. Ayla Agren had joined the team for two eight-hour races at VIRginia International Raceway, where the Cooper Tires team won and earned a second-place finish. Wrapping up the Eastern season, Vogel and Cook joined to contribute to the championship with the win on Saturday. Mo Dadkhah and Zack Ping also played key roles on the driver roster for the Cooper Tire-supported team throughout the season.

“Our three-year partnership with Shift Up Now is very important to me,” said Brad McCall, owner of Round 3 Racing and father of three daughters. “I’m passionate about promoting the involvement of women in motorsports. I dreamt of the scene of an all-female team hoisting the trophy on the top step of the podium. It was a big goal for Round 3 Racing and a huge step for women in this sport. I’m honored and proud to be a part of it, not once but twice! Amazing to be joined by a team of talented racers.”

R3R fields three other cars in WRL, two of the three cars include Shift Up Now drivers, Sarah Montgomery and Hannah Grisham. In addition to the No. 701 Cooper Tires Team victories at Sebring, R3R’s Porsche Boxster swept the weekend and a BMW M4 GT4 won Saturday’s race and was runner-up for Sunday’s enduro.

The team competes at Circuit of the Americas next for WRL powered by Hagerty’s National Championship December 2nd – 4th. Friday will see practice and qualifying, followed by two eight-hour races on Saturday and Sunday.

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/.

Armani Williams and Visit Mesa Join Young’s Motorsports for Truck Series Finale at Phoenix

By
Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, N.C.: Armani Williams, the first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver openly diagnosed on the autism spectrum will return to the tour for the 2022 season finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway on Friday, November 4, 2022, with local support from Visit Mesa.

For his third Truck Series start of the season, Williams, the Grosse Point, Mich. native will compete for Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports and pilot the No. 20 Visit Mesa Chevrolet Silverado RST for the 150-lap race.

Visit Mesa, the leading destination marketing organization for Mesa, Arizona, helped establish the Mesa Regional Foundation for Accessibility, Diversity and Inclusion to enhance and implement equity, diversity and inclusion for youth and adults within the Mesa community.

The new partnership was orchestrated by fgrACCEL, a full-service sports marketing and management agency.

“There are not words to express how appreciative I am to everyone at Visit Mesa for their support and belief in me as a driver to partner with Young’s Motorsports for the final NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race of the season at Phoenix Raceway,” said Williams.

“Visit Mesa has so much to offer not only to their locals but tourists and race fans alike. I’m honored to have the opportunity to represent them during Championship 4 weekend and look forward to a productive race in my Young’s Motorsports debut.”

While the Avondale, Ariz. race track is a new venue for Williams in Truck Series competition, the 22-year-old participated in the 2020 General Tire 150 ARCA Menards Series event for Fast Track Racing.

Williams is hoping for his previous experience at the 1.0-mile track to be beneficial as he aims for a career-best effort in his fourth career Truck Series race.

“Phoenix is a very competitive race track,” Williams added. “For it is a smaller track, there is plenty of room to race which should put on a good show for the Truck Series fans on Friday night.

“Like any smaller track though, track position will be important, so I am hoping that we have a strong practice and qualifying session with our No. 20 Visit Mesa Chevrolet Silverado RST.

“From there, we can make gains throughout the race and keep up with the expected track changes and hopefully contend for a top-20 finish when the checkered flag waves on the season.”

Surrounded by the Sonoran Desert, visitors to Mesa can enjoy an inclusive destination focused on accessibility, ease of travel for all and an assortment of resources and expert trip planning.

Mesa’s outdoor recreation, culinary attractions and the city’s vibrant downtown are all experiencing record visitor attendance as increased travel demand for the area continues to take place.

“As America’s first autism-certified city, we are thrilled to partner with Armani Williams for next Friday night’s Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix Raceway,” offered Alison Brooks, Director, Destination Experience & Advocacy for Visit Mesa.

“Armani exemplifies what it means to truly live life without limits and is an inspiration to us all. We wish him and the entire Young’s Motorsports team the best of luck in the race.“

Tyler Young, team principal for Young’s Motorsports added, “We are thrilled to welcome Armani Williams to the Young’s Motorsports lineup for Phoenix. We understand how important this race is not only for him but for Visit Mesa too.

“We look forward to seeing him continue to strengthen his Truck Series resume behind the wheel of one of our trucks and have a good performance to give our team some momentum heading into the offseason and looking ahead to 2023.”

To commemorate his expanded presence in the Truck Series this season, fgrACCEL and partner EAT SLEEP RACE are launching William’s first line of Motorsports apparel. The Armani Williams tee shirt is available for pre-order here through Tuesday, November 8, 2022, with an expected ship date of December 6, 2022.

Williams, 22, graduated to the Truck Series after stints in the premier ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West and the Canadian-based NASCAR Pinty’s Series.

To learn more about Mesa, Arizona’s designation as an Autism Certified City and Visit Mesa’s mission to promote the value and vitality of Mesa’s visitor economy to create a better community, go online to VisitMesa.com.

For more on Armani Williams, please visit teamarmaniracing.com, like him on Facebook (Team Armani Racing) and follow him on Twitter (@TeamArmaniRacin).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

The Lucas Oil 150 (150 laps | 150 miles) is the 23rd of 23 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races on the 2022 schedule. Practice begins on Thursday, November 3, 2022, from 5:05 p.m. to 5:55 p.m.

Qualifying will take place on Friday, November 4, 2022, from 3:00 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. The 36-truck field will take the green flag later that night shortly after 7:00 p.m. (10:00 p.m. ET) with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (MT).

Ticket renewals begins tomorrow for 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series and NTT INDYCAR SERIES events at Portland International Raceway

By
Official Release
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Public sales will start for Pacific Office Automation 147 and Grand Prix of Portland on Nov. 29

PORTLAND, Ore. (Oct. 31, 2022) – The exclusive ticket renewal period opens tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. PT for two 2023 events at Portland International Raceway (PIR). Race fans who purchased 2-Day Grandstand seats for this year’s Pacific Office Automation 147, featuring the NASCAR Xfinity Series, or 3-Day Grandstand seats for the Grand Prix of Portland, headlined by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, get first access to do so again.

Renewal customers will have until Monday, Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. PT to renew or upgrade their Portland International Raceway (PIR) seats for these race weekends. After a thrilling debut in 2022, the NASCAR Xfinity Series returns for the second running of the Pacific Office Automation 147 on June 2-3, 2023, and the 2023 Grand Prix of Portland, the 29th professional open-wheel race at PIR, will take place over Labor Day weekend again on Sept. 1-3.

“We are thrilled to again host the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NTT INDYCAR SERIES, along with many exciting support series, at PIR in 2023. Even with the wet conditions, the inaugural Pacific Office Automation 147 saw a terrific spectator turnout, and the Grand Prix of Portland continues to be a compelling late-season, September tradition,” said Jerry Jensen, vice president and general manager of Green Savoree Portland, LLC, which owns and operates both events at PIR. “We look forward to seeing our passionate Pacific Northwest race fans back at PIR next year for these two great weekends!”

Fans purchasing Gold Grandstand seats positioned in Grandstand K for the Pacific Office Automation 147 event will receive a complimentary Infield Parking Pass. Renewal customers buying Gold Grandstand seats for the Grand Prix of Portland will receive complimentary INDYCAR Paddock Passes. Grand Prix of Portland customers will also have the opportunity to purchase Champions Club memberships and Pit, Paddock and Parking Passes before general public sales begin on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 10 a.m. PT for both events.

For an additional $80, Grand Prix of Portland renewal purchasers can upgrade to a Champions Club membership offering extra benefits and exclusive access which includes an INDYCAR Paddock Pass the opportunity to participate in Sunday’s pre-race grid walk, a chance to win a two-seater INDYCAR ride on the track, and more. Renewal customers can upgrade further to a Champions Club+ membership which includes all Champions Club benefits plus pit access. Grand Prix of Portland Pit and Paddock Passes allow fans to get up close to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES cars and drivers during the September race weekend.

Renewals will be available online at NASCARPortland.com and portlandgp.com or by phone at 503-400-6070 with pricing starting at $70 for reserved 2-Day Grandstand seats for the Pacific Office Automation 147 and $85 for reserved 3-Day Grandstand seats for the Grand Prix of Portland. For all ticket pricing and 2023 event information and news, visit NASCARPortland.com or portlandgp.com.

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.

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Martinsville

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Joey Logano: Logano finished seventh in the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville and joins Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell and Ross Chastain in the championship round.

“We’re headed to Phoenix,” Logano said, “to race for all the marbles. And to win all the marbles, you’ve got to have the biggest pair of them.”

2. Ross Chastain: Chastain blasted his way into the championship round, pinning his No. 1 Chevy to the outside all and rocketing his way past Denny Hamlin for the fourth and final playoff spot.

“It was totally worth it,” Chastain said. “One side of my car may be damaged beyond repair, but at least I’m on the ‘right side’ of the playoff field.”

3. Christopher Bell: Bell came through under pressure to win at Martinsville and advance to the championship round.

“I’ve pulled out two must-win victories in the Playoffs,” Bell said. “Can I do it one more time at Phoenix? Maybe, but I’ll need all my fans to do the pulling, and then, hopefully, I can pull through.”

4. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin won Stages 1 and 2 at Martinsville, but came up short and missed the championship round by one spot.

“Ross Chastain did it to me again,” Hamlin said. “Not by wrecking my car, but by wrecking his.”

5. Chase Elliott: Elliott took 11th at Martinsville, which was enough to get him into the championship round at Phoenix.

“It was too close for my liking,” Elliott said, “but I secured the last playoff spot. I was never really too worried that I wouldn’t qualify, but with it being the day before Halloween, I was a little scared.”

6. Ryan Blaney: Blaney finished third at Martinsville, but it wasn’t enough to advance to the championship round.

“I didn’t win a single race this season,” Blaney said. “So, I don’t even belong in the championship round in the ‘first place.'”

7. William Byron: Byron started 25th and made his way up to an eighth-place finish, but missed the championship round.

“It looks like Ross Chastain got the last laugh in his season of confrontations with Denny Hamlin,” Byron said. “But if you think there was friction before Martinsville, then you haven’t seen what was going on between the wall and Chastain’s car.”

8. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished 16th at Martinsville.

“My No. 4 car had the words ‘Boosch’ on it,” Harvick said. “Ross Chastain was going so fast on that last lap, his car should have ‘Whoosh‘ on it.”

9. Kyle Larson: Larson started on the pole at Martinsville and finished second, one week after a dominant win at Homestead.

“I saved my best for last,” Larson said, “which was much later than I needed it.”

10. Daniel Suarez: Suarez finished 12th in the Xfinity 500.

“Congratulations to my Trackhouse Racing teammate Ross Chastain,” Suarez said. “His wall-riding strategy was a brilliant strategy, but will NASCAR rule in the future that such a move is illegal? Ross may have opened up a can of worms, while his team may have opened a can of paint.”

McDowell and Gilliland score Top-20 Finishes at Martinsville

By
Official Release
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Front Row Motorsports (FRM) traveled to the ‘paperclip’ this weekend for the penultimate round in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season at Martinsville Speedway and came away with two top-20 finishes after 500 laps of short-track racing.

Todd Gilliland’s scored his best finish at Martinsville with a 13th-place finish in the No. 38 Moji Sushi Ford Mustang.

Michael McDowell and the Fr8Auctions.com team brought home the No. 34 Ford in 17th place, his fourth top-20 at Martinsville.

Todd Gilliland and the No. 38 Moji Sushi team started off the 500-lap race at Martinsville from the 19th position, running some of the fastest lap times on the track throughout the first stage of the race.

During stage two, Gilliland’s Ford Mustang would trend toward the tight side, making it hard for the car to turn in on entry and snapping loose on exit. The No. 38 ultimately fell a lap down in the stage but worked hard to get the car back where it need to be.

With some late cautions, Gilliland was able to take the wave around, putting himself back on the lead lap and in a prime position to make up some positions. With only 18 cars on the lead lap, the No. 38 raced it’s way up and crossed the line in 14th at the finish. Due to a car receiving a penalty in post-race inspection, Gilliland was credited with a 13th-place finish.

“We had a really great Moji Sushi Ford Mustang,” said Gilliland. “We got off balance there a bit in stage two, but the guys did a great job on pit road getting the adjustments we need to help get where we needed to be. It feels good to come out with a 13th-place finish at a place like Martinsville. Hopefully, we can take this a build on it at Phoenix next weekend.”

At a track that has not been kind to McDowell and his Fr8Auctions.com Ford team in the past, the team went into the weekend looking to change that narrative going into this past weekend’s race. Starting the race in thirteenth after a good qualifying lap, the team did not skip a beat racing well inside the top-15 for the duration of the all-green first stage.

With a loose handling race car, the Fr8Auctions.com team took the few chances they had to correct the handling for McDowell, by taking swings at the chassis by way of wedge adjustments. With a car now more fit to McDowell’s liking, the team would have to fight from one lap down, however, still inside the top-15 after an all-green second stage. Fighting hard to gain their lap back by way of the wave-around or free pass, the team would get their chance at the end of stage three.

With a mostly green stage three as well, the drama began within fifty to go. Through a series of cautions, McDowell fought hard to become the first car one lap down, and with the last caution with less than thirty laps remaining, the team would get their chance. With fresh tires and a perfectly handling race car, the team would just fall short of passing for position after starting at the tail end of the field for receiving the free pass, with the few amount of laps that were left. McDowell and his Fr8Auctions.com/Brave Like Wyatt team would finish on the lead lap in 17th after battling for just over half the race to get back on the lead lap.

“Not the day we had hoped for, but a lead lap and top-20 finish is great even though we always hope for more. We just missed it in the second half of the race and weren’t able to capitalize on gaining back track position. We got back on the lead lap very late, but were too far behind for that last restart, but I’m proud of Blake and everyone on the Fr8Auctions.com/Brave Like Wyatt team for fighting hard and not giving up all race, and giving us a shot at it in the end.”

In the team’s final weekend of the season, Zane Smith will look to capture his first Truck title on Friday, while it’s a homecoming weekend for Michael McDowell and last rookie race for Todd Gilliland on the Cup side this Sunday.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series and the 2021 Daytona 500 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. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @Team_FRM and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

NTE Sport Takes World Stage at Lamborghini Super Trofeo Grand Finals

By
Official Release
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PORTIMAO, Portugal, (October 31, 2022) – The Lamborghini Grand Finals commence November 1-6 at Algarve International Circuit in Portimão, Portugal, and NTE Sport will make its international debut at the season finale event. The IMSA team will take the world stage for four final races in the 2022 season after the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America season has already completed 10 rounds across the United States. Tiger Tari (No. 118) and Fred Roberts (No. 189) will represent the team, competing in four final races to end the year.

“For such a young team, it’s an honor to be able to compete on an international level,” said Team Owner Paul Mata. “Both Tiger and Fred have grown so much this year as drivers, and I know they’ll make us proud as they face the new challenges this event brings.”

In the team’s first season in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series, NTE Sport has run as many as four cars in each event, earning four podiums, one win, and 14 top-five finishes. Momentum is on the side of driver Tiger Tari, who last finished in third place at the previous round of VIRginia International Raceway. Fred Roberts also recently celebrated success at VIRginia International Raceway, earning the second podium finish of his four races in 2022.

The first three days of the event will consist of five test sessions, two practice sessions, and a pair of qualifying sessions, where Tari and Roberts will set their starting positions for races 11 and 12 for the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America championship, the final two IMSA races of the season. Round 11 will take place on Friday, November 4 at 11:00 AM local time, 7:00 AM Eastern. Round 12 will follow that afternoon at 3:50 PM local, 11:50 AM ET.

Both Tari and Roberts will compete in the eight-car class of LB Cup, in the 27-car field that will compete in the two USA races. Following the conclusion of the pair of Lamborghini Squadra Corse North America races, the series will join their European and Asian-series counterparts for two global races, the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Grand Finals. All competitors will face off in two final races, with points awarded in each event. The competitors with the most points at the end of the final race will become the 2022 world champions. Race one will take place on Saturday, November 5 at 2:45 PM local (10:45 PM ET), followed by the event-concluding race two on Sunday, November 6 at 12:00 PM ET (7:00 AM ET).

Also known as Portimão Circuit, Algarve International Circuit is in the Algarve region of Portugal. The 2.891-mile, 15-turn circuit will host the season finale event. All races will stream live on the Lamborghini Squadra Corse YouTube page.

EVENT SCHEDULE

Tuesday, November 1

8:15 AM – 9:45 AM (4:15 AM – 5:45 AM EDT) Track Walk

11:25 AM – 12:25 PM (7:25 AM – 8:25 AM EDT) Test Session 1

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM (9:45 AM – 10:45 AM EDT) Test Session 2

4:05 PM – 5:05 PM (12:05 PM – 1:05 PM EDT) Test Session 3

Wednesday, November 2

9:00 AM – 9:50 AM (5:00 AM – 5:50 AM EDT) Test Session 4

11:00 AM – 11:50 AM (11:00 AM – 11:50 AM EDT) Test Session 5

Thursday, November 3

9:10 AM – 10:10 AM (9:10 AM – 10:10 AM EDT) Free Practice 1

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM (7:30 AM – 8:30 AM EDT) Free Practice 2

3:40 PM – 4:00 PM (11:40 AM – 12:00 PM EDT) Qualifying 1

4:10 PM — 4:30 PM (12:10 PM — 12:30 PM EDT) Qualifying 2

Friday, November 4

11:00 AM – 11:50 AM (7:00 AM – 7:50 AM EDT) Race 1

3:50 PM – 4:40 PM (11:50 AM – 12:40 PM EDT) Race 2

Saturday, November 5

7:45 AM – 8:00 AM (3:45 AM – 4:00 AM EDT) Warm Up

10:15 AM – 10:35 PM (6:15 AM – 6:35 AM EDT) Qualifying 1

11:45 AM – 12:05 PM (7:45 AM – 8:05 AM EDT) Qualifying 2

2:45 PM – 3:35 PM (10:45 AM – 11:35 AM EDT) Grand Finals Race 1

Sunday, November 6

12:00 PM – 12:50 PM (7:00 AM – 7:50 AM EDT) Grand Finals Race 2

DRIVER QUOTES

Tiger Tari | No. 118 Lamborghini

The podium at VIRginia International Raceway certainly raised my bar. I’m looking forward to safety first than hope to podium! It will certainly be a great way to experience my first international competition! I’m looking forward to it!

Fred Roberts | No. 189 Lamborghini

I’m looking forward to making my international debut this week at the Lamborghini Grand Finals! It’s an important weekend for NTE Sport as well, and I hope to make the team proud. Not only will we be wrapping up the North American championship, but we have the pleasure of competing against the international Super Trofeo series as well. I look forward to the challenge and am excited to get on track at Algarve International Circuit.

About NTE Sport
NTE Sport is based in Dallas, Texas, and first raced in 2020. Owner Paul Mata has been in the industry for over 20 years before starting his own team and has always focused on bringing together a diverse group of individuals to provide new opportunities and bring new people into the sport. Past female drivers include Sheena Monk and Ashley Freiberg, and drivers from diverse racial backgrounds include Ryan Nash, Jaden Conwright, and Kerong Li. Dedicated to bringing highly skilled individuals from various backgrounds, NTE Sport aims to continue to make North American sports car racing a fun, welcoming, supportive environment while participating in the most competitive series in North America.

Lamborghini Dallas
Lamborghini Dallas has earned the Highest Rated Lamborghini Dealer in the United States award by DealerRater 10 years in a row. With a state-of-the-art showroom, factory-certified service facility, parts depot, and a team of master technicians, Lamborghini Dallas is dedicated to the legacy of the famed raging bull. As a member of Boardwalk Auto Group, we cultivate a focus on top-flight performance. It’s the driving force behind every nameplate we represent, every car we maintain, and every customer we have the privilege to serve. Performance. It’s what we do.

Group A Apparel

We are an action sports apparel brand for the adrenaline minded athlete. Focused on Functional Fitness, Motorsport, Surf, Snow, Skydiving, etc., we aim to support and grow the ever evolving ecosystem of global action/adventure sports.

Website: www.GroupAapparel.com

Instagram: @GroupAapparel

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